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Team dramatically reduces image analysis times using deep learning, other approaches

WOODS HOLE, Mass. - A picture is worth a thousand words -but only when it's clear what it depicts. And therein lies the rub in making images or videos of microscopic life. While modern microscopes can generate huge amounts of image data from living tissues or cells within a few seconds, extracting meaningful biological information from that data can take hours or even weeks of laborious analysis.

To loosen this major bottleneck, a team led by MBL Fellow Hari Shroff has devised deep-learning and other computational approaches that dramatically reduce image-analysis time by orders of magnitude -- in some cases, matching the speed of data acquisition itself. They report their results this week in Nature Biotechnology.

"It's like drinking from a firehose without being able to digest what you're drinking," says Shroff of the common problem of having too much imaging data and not enough post-processing power. The team's improvements, which stem from an ongoing collaboration at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), speed up image analysis in three major ways.

First, imaging data off the microscope is typically corrupted by blurring. To lessen the blur, an iterative "deconvolution" process is used. The computer goes back and forth between the blurred image and an estimate of the actual object, until it reaches convergence on a best estimate of the real thing.

By tinkering with the classic algorithm for deconvolution, Shroff and co-authors accelerated deconvolution by more than 10-fold. Their improved algorithm is widely applicable "to almost any fluorescence microscope," Shroff says. "It's a strict win, we think. We've released the code and other groups are already using it."

Next, they addressed the problem of 3D registration: aligning and fusing multiple images of an object taken from different angles. "It turns out that it takes much longer to register large datasets, like for light-sheet microscopy, than it does to deconvolve them," Shroff says. They found several ways to accelerate 3D registration, including moving it to the computer's graphics processing unit (GPU). This gave them a 10- to more than 100-fold improvement in processing speed over using the computer's central processing unit (CPU).

"Our improvements in registration and deconvolution mean that for datasets that fit onto a graphics card, image analysis can in principle keep up with the speed of acquisition," Shroff says. "For bigger datasets, we found a way to efficiently carve them up into chunks, pass each chunk to the GPU, do the registration and deconvolution, and then stitch those pieces back together. That's very important if you want to image large pieces of tissue, for example, from a marine animal, or if you are clearing an organ to make it transparent to put on the microscope. Some forms of large microscopy are really enabled and sped up by these two advances."

Lastly, the team used deep learning to accelerate "complex deconvolution" - intractable datasets in which the blur varies significantly in different parts of the image. They trained the computer to recognize the relationship between badly blurred data (the input) and a cleaned, deconvolved image (the output). Then they gave it blurred data it hadn't seen before. "It worked really well; the trained neural network could produce deconvolved results really fast," Shroff says. "That's where we got thousands-fold improvements in deconvolution speed."

While the deep learning algorithms worked surprisingly well, "it's with the caveat that they are brittle," Shroff says. "Meaning, once you've trained the neural network to recognize a type of image, say a cell with mitochondria, it will deconvolve those images very well. But if you give it an image that is a bit different, say the cell's plasma membrane, it produces artifacts. It's easy to fool the neural network." An active area of research is creating neural networks that work in a more generalized way.

"Deep learning augments what is possible," Shroff says. "It's a good tool for analyzing datasets that would be difficult any other way."

###

This paper stems from an ongoing collaboration in the MBL Whitman Center between MBL Fellows Hari Shroff, senior investigator at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; Patrick La Riviere, professor at the University of Chicago; and Daniel Colon-Ramos, professor at Yale Medical School. First author Min Guo is postdoctoral fellow in Shroff's lab and a former teaching assistant for Shroff in the MBL's Optical Microscopy and Imaging in the Biological Sciences course.

The MBL is opening an Image Analysis Laboratory to assist scientists with their analysis of large and complex datasets. More information is here.

The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is dedicated to scientific discovery - exploring fundamental biology, understanding marine biodiversity and the environment, and informing the human condition through research and education. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution and an affiliate of the University of Chicago.

This story has been published on: 2020-06-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
BEIJING, June 29 -- The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) is going to conduct military exercises in waters off Chinas Xisha Isands from July 1st to 5th, according to a navigation warning released by the Hainan MSA Bureau on June 27 on the website of the Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) of the Peoples Republic of China.

The No. 0059 Navigation Notice Military Exercise in Waters Around The Xisha Islands reads that there will be military training exercises in the waters off the Xisha Islands from 0000 hours on July 1st to 2400 hours on July 5th Beijing time. During the period, no vessel shall be allowed to navigate within the above lines and all vessels have to follow the guidance of the commanding ship on site.

The details are as follows:

HN0059 SOUTH CHINA SEA, MILITARY EXERCISES IN AREA BOUNDED BY THE LINES JOINING:

A:17-16.12N/111-24.65E B:18-02.19N/112-59.45E C:16-58.63N/113-48.37E

D:16-29.12N/113-44.93E E:15-41.19N/112-38.17E F:16-03.58N/111-26.69E.

FROM 301600UTC JUN. TO 051600UTC JUL, ENTERING PROHIBITED. HAINAN MSA CHINA.
The White House is seen in Washington D.C., the United States, on May 21, 2020. U.S. President Donald Trump said on that day the United States is withdrawing from the Treaty on Open Skies, the latest move to abandon a major international arms control agreement. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

By Xiang Changhe

The recent disarmament talks between the US and Russia in Vienna, capital city of Austria, seemed to end without a satisfactory result as the two sides failed to reach any consensus on issues like extending the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which will expire in 2021. This came as no surprise given the Trump administrations consistent attitude toward arms control.

Withdrawing from treaties at will, trying to involve China in everything, ignoring Europe, and going against Russia on all fronts...This is how the Trump administration has handled the arms control issue since it came in office, and this approach has wobbled the global arms control system and broken the already fragile strategic balance, to the dismay of the whole world.

After unilaterally withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), the Trump administration recently announced to retreat from the Treaty on Open Skies too, and now it acted as if it was unwilling to extend the New START.

The New START is the last remaining arms control treaty between the US and Russia today and the last brake of global arms control. The treaty, signed by Washington and Moscow in 2010, was intended to restrict their deployment of nuclear warheads and carrier vehicles. The treaty, which will expire in February 2021, may be extended for additional 5 years upon the consultations between the two countries. While Moscow has expressed its willingness to extend the validity term without setting any preconditions, Washington has given a cold shoulder to the proposal - the treaty is a remarkable achievement made by the Obama administration to reset the US-Russia relation, and discarding his predecessors diplomatic legacy has been Trumps playbook.

To achieve that goal, trying to impose an option involving China is a handy trick for the US during the arms control negotiations. Since Moscow and Washington began the talks on the extension, the US side has more than once tried to bring China in, which originally has nothing to do with the treaty. During the recent meeting in Vienna, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea has been racking his brains to manipulate the China topic.

China has long made clear its stance - countries with the most massive nuclear arsenal shoulder special and primary responsibilities for nuclear disarmament. The US and Russia jointly account for over 90% of the global nuclear weaponry, while China, with a much smaller nuclear force that cannot be mentioned in the same breath, is by far not positioned to join the nuclear arms control negotiation. It is pointed out by the media that dragging China into the talksis like an obese person forces a skinny person to lose weight together, which doesnt make any sense.

The attempt to involve China is just a trick by the US to find a scapegoat for fruitless talks. John Robert Bolton, a former US national security adviser, revealed in his explosive new book that the White House had no interest at all in renewing the New START.

Going forward, when the New START expires without a renewal, the US and Russia may begin a round of arms race that will affect the alliance between the US and European countries and seriously blow the existing international nuclear security system and global strategic stability.

A recent article on the website of The Christian Science Monitor (CSMonitor.com) stated that Washington and Moscow would lose insight to each others military strength in the absence of any arms control measures, which will be a perilous situation, where the world may plunge back into the strategic chaos that prevailed in the early 1960s.

An arms race without a brake will be a tragedy for the human race.

This article is originally published on ynet.com and translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online.
By Zhang Yajing

According to Taiwan media reports, military aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) appeared once more over Taiwan on June 26. Since the US transport aircraft flew over Taiwan on June 9, raising the level of provocation, PLA military aircraft have entered Taiwan's southwestern "airspace" eight times.

Why does the PLA frequently display its strength over Taiwan now? For one thing, this is closely related to the situation change across the Taiwan Strait.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, it has become a common practice for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to use the outbreak to seek so-called "Taiwan independence" and to strengthen its ties with the US. This practice will inevitably aggravate the already complicated, and grim situation across the Taiwan Strait. Therefore, it's quite natural for the PLA aircraft' frequent visits over the Taiwan Strait.

For another, this is a response and counter-measure to the hostile provocation of the US.

For some time, the US destroyers, reconnaissance aircraft, drones, etc., have frequently appeared over the Taiwan Strait with its presence growing. Even, it has pulled off the veil of the so-called "freedom of navigation", and directly sent military transport aircraft to fly over Taiwan. The PLA has always maintained high-level vigilance against such provocative actions.

Chieh Chung, a research fellow at a local think tank the National Policy Foundation, previously analysed that since the PLA Air Force took steps toward becoming an expeditionary air force, the Bashi Channel has become an important air corridor for the PLA's systematic air force to enter the Western Pacific. The PLA has thereby strengthened control over the airspace near the south end of the so-called "middle line" of the Taiwan Strait and the southwest corner of Taiwans so-called "air defense identification zone" to ensure the security of the north wing of the corridor.

China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) has used the word "seriously" three times in response to the frequent presence of US warships and aircraft over the Taiwan Strait. Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, a spokesperson for the MND, said that in recent years, the US has continued to take negative actions on Taiwan. Its practices have seriously interfered in China's internal affairs, seriously undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, seriously poisoned the relations between China and the US and their militaries, and sent wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatists. These actions are extremely dangerous. China will never allow foreign forces to play the so-called "Taiwan card" and will never tolerate any form of secessionist plots and actions.

With regard to the presence of PLA military aircraft over the Taiwan Strait, Senior Colonel Zhang Chunhui, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, once made a speech on the combat readiness patrol of the PLA air and naval forces. He said that Taiwan and its affiliated islands have been an integral part of the Chinese territory, and that the Chinese military's combat readiness patrol therein is fully legitimate. It is a necessary action targeting the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait. The troops of the PLA Eastern Theater Command have the determination and ability to defeat all secessionist activities, resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Disclaimer: This article is originally published on taiwan.cn and translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
President Donald Trump on Sunday tweeted approvingly of a video showing one of his supporters chanting "white power," a racist slogan associated with white supremacists. He later deleted the tweet and the White House said the president had not heard "the one statement" on the video.

The video appeared to have been taken at The Villages, a Florida retirement community, and showed dueling demonstrations between Trump supporters and opponents.

"Thank you to the great people of The Villages," Trump tweeted. Moments into the video clip he shared, a man driving a golf cart displaying pro-Trump signs and flags shouts 'white power." The video also shows anti-Trump protesters shouting "Nazi," "racist," and profanities at the Trump backers.

"There's no question'' that Trump should not have retweeted the video and "he should just take it down," Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., told CNN's "State of the Union." Scott is the only Black Republican in the Senate.


Korea will partially lift its ban on visiting elderly people at nursing homes and hospitals starting on Wednesday.

Due to COVID-19, the government imposed visiting restrictions in March. However, it has decided to ease that ban, to alleviate senior loneliness and depression due to prolonged restrictions.

Visits can be now be arranged by appointment. Local governments reserve the right to limit or cancel visits depending on the coronavirus situation in their regions.
Japan has expressed opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's invitation of South Korea to an expanded G7 summit, Kyodo News reported on Sunday.

The message was "conveyed by a high-level Japanese government official immediately after Trump on May 30 broached the idea of inviting Australia, India, Russia and South Korea to this years summit," Kyodo wrote quoting U.S. and Japanese diplomatic sources.

Kyodo said Tokyo is worried that "Seoul is out of lockstep with G7 members on Chinese and North Korean issues." It also wants to keep the G7 framework intact.

Japan is concerned about the South Korean government giving priority to inter-Korean reconciliation and maintaining a pro-China policy.

"It is up to the holder of the rotating G7 presidency to decide which countries to invite as guests to the summit," Kyodo said. "Japan would not object to South Korea merely taking part in an outreach session of the G7 meeting."

But Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told NHK, "It's very important to keep the G7 framework itself, and I believe this is an overall consensus."

Washington has said that Trump is yet to make the final decision on the issue.

Tokyo seems chary of its position as the only Asian member of the G7 and afraid that Seoul could bring up historical issues, such as Japan's wartime atrocities.

A senior Cheong Wa Dae official dismissed the report as one media outlet's viewpoint rather than an official announcement. A Foreign Ministry spokesman here said, "Restructuring of the G7 needs the consensus of the existing G7 members, and we understand that Washington is currently reviewing the issue."

But lawmaker Song Young-gil of the ruling Minjoo Party said Tokyo's resistance is part of an "anti-Korean political campaign designed to please Japanese voters. It's very regrettable that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has launched such an irresponsible campaign to win over voters just as we need a global response to the coronavirus epidemic."


The asset manager of fly-by-night Justice Minister Cho Kuk's wife Chung Kyung-shim has been found guilty of trying to hide evidence of the pair's wrongdoings.

The Seoul Central District Court on Friday gave Kim Kyung-rok a two-year suspended sentence for spiriting away Chungs office computer as a nepotism investigation was closing in.

Kim was arrested last August after removing three hard disks from Chungs personal computer at her home and a desktop from her office at Dongyang University in North Gyeongsang Province and hiding them in his car.

The computer and disks contained evidence of forged documents and other violations to pad the couple's daughter's application to medical school.

The ruling suggests that Chung will also be found guilty of similar charges.

The judge said, "Kim committed the crime of hindering the exercise of criminal justice by hiding the computer hard disks and desktop computer when prosecutors began searching [Chung's] home and office." The judge added that the offense should not be taken lightly because key pieces of evidence were on the desktop."


Flights to Las Vegas, Rome, Madrid and other top destinations have been halted since March. Before the coronavirus pandemic, around 77,000 people worked at the airport, including staff in restaurants, duty-free shops and banks. How are they faring now that business has ground to a halt?

Last year, 187,754 people came and went through the airport every day in May, according to Incheon International Airport Corporation. But the number fell 98 percent in May this year to just 4,449 people.

Some 200 check-in counters at Incheon International Airport's Terminal 2 for 10 foreign carriers plus Korean Air are deserted as what is normally the peak summer season gets underway.

One flight attendant who worked for a carrier for more than 15 years has been resting at home for the last three months after flying back from Atlanta, Georgia in early March. She was able to get some work recently flying from Gimpo to Jeju Island for a day and on another flight to Vietnam. But she only worked 50 hours this month, compared to 95 on average before the coronavirus epidemic.

After a flight to and from Los Angeles later this month, she has to rest for another three months. Her pay has declined significantly from about W6 million a month to W2.2 million (US$1=W1,200). She is able to make even that amount thanks to government subsidies supporting airline industry workers. The problem is that even those subsidies may be halted after October. "If the coronavirus situation does not improve, many flight attendants are afraid they will stop getting paid and even get laid off," she said.

Korean Air employs about 6,000 flight attendants. Between 12 to 15 make up a team on a big overseas flight, and there are 380 teams at the carrier. After the epidemic started, around 90 teams were placed on rotation every three months. Asiana Airlines, which employs around 2,700 flight attendants, is placing just 20 percent of them on planes since the number of flights has declined to just nine percent of previous levels.

The situation is even more serious at low-cost carriers. One 34-year-old flight attendant at a budget airline said, "I haven't flown since April and I haven't been paid since then.

Pilots are getting paid or not, depending on the type of aircraft they operate. One pilot who flies the jumbo Boeing 777 aircraft has not flown since March. Due to safety concerns, domestic carriers allow each pilot to operate only one kind of aircraft. Those who fly Airbus A380 or B777, which are usually deployed on long-haul flights, are suffering the most.

Korean Air owns 10 A380s and employs 200 pilots for them, and Asiana six and 130. Flights on large passenger planes like the B747-400 or B777-300 have dropped by half. But pilots flying the smaller A330 or B737 are faring better as the number of flying hours returned to 70 to 80 percent of previous levels because of a rise in domestic passengers.

More than half of the workers preparing inflight meals have been put on leave. Korean Air employs around 160 workers, and only 60 are working. The number of inflight meals served daily declined from 75,000 a day on average to just 3,400 this month. Asiana outsources its inflight meals, which declined from 34,000 to 1,300.

Duty-free shops were hit hard as well. One staffer at a cosmetics duty-free shop said, "Since April, we have seen zero sales every other day." Lotte used to generate W1 billion in daily revenues at Incheon, to cover the W20 billion in rent and wages for around 1,000 workers. But daily sales have plummeted to W30 million, resulting in snowballing losses.

One beverage stand at the airport said the daily number of customers fell from 600 to just 100.

But not everyone is in immediate trouble. The 11,300 regular staff at Incheon are on leave on full pay. One airline worker who is on unpaid leave said, "It feels like they're living in a different world."
Japan has expressed opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's invitation to South Korea to the upcoming G7 Summit. The U.S. is said to have told Japan that Trump has yet to make the final decision on the matter. The G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.K. besides the U.S., but Trump wants to include South Korea, Australia, Brazil, India, and Russia because the economic landscape has changed dramatically since the club was founded. President Moon Jae-in "willingly" accepted the invitation, but now Japan is paranoid that South Korea could in some way weaken its position.

Japan of course has the right to oppose the inclusion of new members, but the reason it gave for opposing the inclusion of South Korea is profoundly foolish. It claimed that South Korea has a "different stance" than other G7 countries in dealing with China and North Korea.

Yet global conditions require the close cooperation of world leaders now more than ever. The G7 does not exist merely to keep China in check, far less North Korea. And while the South Korean government's policies toward North Korea are dubious, but President Moon Jae-in's single, five-year term is more than half over. Japan must distinguish between the country and its current government's day-to-day politicking.

The real reason for Japan's opposition is another, namely that it wants to retain its status as the only Asian member of the group. That is clear from Japan's position that it does not oppose South Korea's one-time participation as an observer. But the nationalist government of Shinzo Abe is terribly proud that Japan is the only Asian G7 member and does not want to rub shoulders with the riff-raff. That attitude is both childish and narrow-minded and sprigs from the same mentality that prompted Japan's mad invasions of its Asian neighbors in the first half of the 20th century. The Japanese government should drop its opposition to South Korea's participation in the G7 and welcome it instead as an opportunity to raise Asia's voice within the group.


The storied history of the USS Iowa Battleship will be on display for all to see at the Estherville VFW. A model built by Loren Renze was donated to the local post home this last week.

Lorens wife Lucy, presented the model of the ship to the local honor guard. Loren died in June 2019.

Lucy said it took Loren most of 50 years to put the model together-mostly because life got in the way.

Loren purchased the model in 1966 and began working on it almost immediately. However it was stored in the spring of 1967 when he welcomed his first child Mark.

The model stayed packed away until the winter of 2017-18 when he dug it back out to finish it.

Loren, with Lucys help, cut out, sanded and painted hundreds of balsa wood parts.

The gun turrets are completely movable, and on one sie of the signal bridge, the flags spell out USS Iowa, while on the other they say L.V. Renze.

Loren had a case built for the completed work and finished it with the help of his granddaughters.

About the USS Iowa

The USS Iowa was launched Augustt 1942 and commissioned in February 1943. It was decommissioned in 1990.

A retired battleship, the Iowa was the last lead ship of any class of U.S.battleships and was the only ship of its class to have served in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans during World War II.

The Iowa carried President Franklin Roosevelt across the Atlantic to Algeria en route to a meeting in 1943 with Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

She successfully returned Roosevelt to the U.S. and prior to his departure, Roosevelt addressed the crew. From all I have seen and all I have heard, the Iowa is a happy ship, and having served with the Navy for many years, I know, and you know, what that means.

The USS Iowa also served during the Korean War, and welcomed President Ronald Reagan and President George HW. Bush aboard during her years of service.

The Iowa was officially donated to the Pacific Battleship center in Los Angeles in 2012. She now operates as a museum and is open to the public.
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Governor Kim Reynolds extended Iowas public health emergency proclamation for 30 days with all restrictions and suspensions in the proclamation continued until Saturday, July 25. One change from past extensions of the proclamation is that all team activities may resume, as long as social distancing requirements are met.

The total cases of COVID-19 in Iowa has reached more than 27,000 with nearly 700 deaths. Approximately 17,000 people have recovered from coronavirus. The TestIowa program has tested 3,000 people consistently for the entire past week, the governor said, and across the state, the positive test rate dropped below 10% to 9.9%. Over 6,600 new cases have been reported since June 1 with 55% of those cases in people aged 18-40.

The Iowa Lakes area has been a new hotbed for cases with Emmet County reaching 75 cases, Dickinson 237, Clay 119. Of those 35 have recovered in Emmet County, 107 in Dickinson and 75 in Clay.

The governor stated she is monitoring COVID-19 trends and taking it hour-by-hour and day-by-day to make decisions for Iowa.
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10:30 | Lima, Jun. 28.

"As long as the emergency lasts, the Armed Forces and the National Police will help the entire population comply with these three main regulations (wearing face masks, maintaining social distance, and washing hands constantly) wherever they are; for example, at bus stops, markets, or wherever there is a large concentration of people ," he said in remarks to RPP radio and TV station.
"We want to go gradually, in an orderly manner, with a tourism recovery process that, in the remainder of the year, will first be focused on a recovery of domestic activities. At first it will be difficult, due to the situation we are going through," he said in an interview with El Peruano official gazette
STEPANAKERT, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan visited on June 28 the southeastern border of the republic and got acquainted on site with the situation in the frontline, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The President was accompanied by Defense Minister Jalal Harutyunyan and other officials.

The Head of the State highlighted the activities of equippng the frontline with new types of armament and in this regard gave new instructions to the army's command staff.

In the words of Arayik Harutyunyan, the ongoing bellicose statements made by the Azerbaijani authorities testify that official Baku is not ready yet to discuss a peace agenda with Artsakh authorities. Thus, it is an imperative to spare no effort to stem the adversary's possible military adventure and give a worthy counterstroke.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. The media reports according to which Armenias justice minister Rustam Badasyan has been infected with the novel coronavirus have nothing to do with the reality, the ministers spokesperson Lusine Martirosyan said today on Facebook.

Justice minister Rustam Badasyan has not been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, the spokesperson said.

According to the data of June 28, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 24,645, of which 13,116 have already recovered. At the moment the number of active cases is 10,964.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian continues discussions with the health sector specialists on the ways to fight and overcome the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

This time the President had meetings with former minister of healthcare, Doctor in Medical Sciences, Professor Derenik Dumanyan, former healthcare minister, Doctor in Medical Sciences Ararat Mkrtchyan, as well as had a telephone conversation with former healthcare minister Hayk Nikoghosyan who is currently holding an executive position in the World Health Organization.

During the meetings and phone talks the sides talked about the coronavirus-related situation in Armenia, the impact of the pandemic on the healthcare system, the response and strategy adopted by the healthcare system. They exchanged views on the ways to prevent the spread of the virus. The health specialists introduced their approaches and proposals over the matter.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
On June 26, the AGBU Armenian Virtual College (AVC) together with Chess Academy of Armenia held the Online Closing Ceremony of the first Pan-Armenian Chess Tournament (PACT).Held on June 8-26, 2020 through the AVC interactive online learning platform the virtual tournament attracted over 520 participants from 36 counties all over the World.

The online ceremony was opened with welcomingmessagesfromthe AGBU AVC Founding President, Dr. YervantZorian, describing the goals and objective of this tournament,and the President of the Chess Academy of Armenia, GrandmasterSmbatLputian, referring to the impact of chess on strategic thinking.

After the introductory part, the three Champions of the Pan-Armenian Chess Tournament2020 were announced:

The 1st prize went to 16 years old Sargis Sargsyan from Vanadzor, Lori region of Armenia,

The 2nd prize went to 14 years old Kirk Ghazarian from the California, USA.

The 3rd prize went to 16 years old Tigran Arzumanyan from Goris, Syunik region of Armenia.

All the winners were awarded with dedicated certificates and special gift cards from AGBU AVC.

The idea of creating this innovative tournament was not only to attain the winners. But rather, it was most importantly to create a dynamiconline community of chess loving students with world-wide participation, emphasized Dr. YervantZorian congratulating the winners.

Representing the tournament sponsorAGBU, Vasken Yacoubian, the President of AGBU Armenia delivered a heartfelt encouraging message.

Partitioned to five geographic regions - Armenia and Artsakh, Asia and Oceania, Europe, Americas, Middle East and Africa - the tournament was structured in two stages, five regional semi-finals and three rounds of the final games. The first stage was played by the participants from each region united to come up with three finalists. At the second stage, three challenging rounds of the final tournament brought together the finalists to contest the PACT Winner title. Between the tournaments, the participants were able to visit the AVC page dedicated to PACT to take part in online chess activities with renown Armenian champions and learn new chess skills from multimedia interactive AVC Chess courses.

The Pan-Armenian Chess Tournaments regional semi-finals winners are:

The finalists from Armenia& Artsakh:

1st place - Sargis Sargsyan, Vanadzor, Lori, age 16

2nd place - Tigran Arzumanyan, Goris, Syunik, age 16

3rd place - Menua Hakobyan, Yerevan, age 12

The finalists from Middle East & Africa:

1st place - Kevork Yeghian, Aleppo, Syria, age 16

2nd place - Edward Iskandarian, Beirut, Lebanon, age 14

3rd place - ArsenKenian , Aleppo, Syria, age 9

The finalists from Europe:

1st place - Daniel Karapetyan Hakobyan, Barcelona, Spain, age 13

2nd place - DimitriosLevonZakarian, Oxford, UK, age 12

3rd place - Henrik Serobyan

The finalists from America:

1st place  Kirk Ghazarian, California, USA, age 14

2nd place  Suren Ghazarian, Saskatchewan, Canada, age 15

3rd place  Ethan Boldi, California, USA, age 13

The finalist from Asia & Oceania: Shahan Abu Sayeed, New Dehli, India, age 9

I was happy to have an opportunity to take part in the online First Pan-Armenian Chess Tournament organized by the AGBU Armenian Virtual College. Thanks to this contest, I made friends with players from different parts of the world, Kevork Yeghian, the first place finalist of the Middle East and Africa said.

The closing event was attended by over twenty renown Armenian chess champions and chess lovers from around the world.The winners received heartfelt congratulations and best wishes from the two-time Chess Olympic Champion, Grandmaster Tigran L. Petrosyan, and the European Women Team Champion, Woman Grandmaster LilitMkrtchian. Two PACT finalists Ethan Boldi form San Carlos, CA, USA and Kevork Yeghian from Aleppo, Syria expressed their gratitude to the organizers and shared their wonderful impressions from the contest.

At the end of the awards ceremony, the participants were invited to take part in a short quiz and win additional prizes. In addition, the Chess Academy of Armenia had prepared a special surprise for all participants, a live blitz chess match between two Armenian women chess champions, European Women team Champion Elina Danielyan, and Russian Women Rapid Champion Karina Ambartsumova. The hot match was emotionally commented by U.S. Women Vice-ChampionTatev Abrahamyan and U.S. Vice-Champion VaruzhanAkobian.
YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. The exclusive interview of Armenian President Armen Sarkissian, published on June 25 at Al-Ahram, the most widely circulating Egyptian daily newspaper, founded in 1875, has been widely covered by other famous Arab media outlets, the Armenian Presidents Office told Armenpress.

Some of these media outlets have not only covered the interview, but also republished it once again voicing the remarks of the Armenian President: We cannot forget the Armenian Genocide and cannot reconcile with its consequences. We cannot ignore the sufferings of the victims and the survivors and we should ensure safe and dignified future for their generations.

In particular, the Armenian Presidents interview on the Armenian Genocide has been republished by a Kurdish news agency ANF (Firat News Agency), Syrian Alazmenah news agency.

Its unfortunate that the humanity didnt learn lessons from the Armenian Genocide, it was forgotten, remained without recognition and condemnation for a long time, which could have prevented future such crimes in the humanitys history. And the humanity again witnessed other genocides after that, the Armenian President said in his interview. In my deep belief, the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is not only for us, Armenians, but first of all its a matter of approach towards the universal values, a matter of preventing that evil. Armenia is guided with this consciousness, setting the prevention of genocides as one of its policy priorities and taking active steps at the national and international levels on this direction.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS: Poland's outgoing president Andrzej Duda failed to win an outright majority in Sunday's presidential election and is set to face Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski in a July 12 run-off. According to an Ipsos projection, Duda won 41.8% of the vote and Trzaskowski 30.4%, Armenpress reports citing Euronews.

Turnout for this first round has been 62.4%, the highest in twenty years.

The ballot was initially scheduled on May 10 but got postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

An attempt by PiS to hold a postal ballot was blocked by the opposition-led Senate only four days to go amid transparency and legality concerns.

This is the second major election happening in Europe after the continent was struck by the coronavirus pandemic.

It follows Serbia's parliamentary election on June 21, which saw a 48% turnout.
YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan convened an enlarged working consultation dedicated to developing a new master plan of Stepanakert on June 29.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of Artsakh Presidents office, the Head of the State noted that due to the years-long short-sighted work of those in charge, the capital has been deprived of an opportunity of having a unique style. Arayik Harutyunyan instructed to take measures to develop a new master plan within a short period of time, highlighting that due to its importance, the final version will be discussed at a sitting of the Security Council. In the words of the republic's President, it will lay a groundwork for reviewing the previously constructed buildings, and, if necessary, making a decision to transform or demolish them.

Artsakh Republic Security Council Secretary Samvel Babayan, Minister of Urban Development Aram Sargsyan, Mayor of Stepanakert David Sargsyan and other officials took part in the consultation.
YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom informed that COVID-19 spread rate accelerates at the global level, ARMENPRESS reports, citing Ria Novosti.

Some countries have allowed businesses to work, tried to return to social life, but encountered rise in numbers. Many people are at risk zone. The difficult reality is that the situation has not been resolved yet and though some countries have progressed, the spread rate of the pandemic accelerates at the global level, Adhanom said.

Reporting by Lilit Demuryan, Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan
MSPO 2020 International Defense Industry Exhibition Kielce, Poland - 8 to 11 September 2020



For 28 years, the September International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO has been the presentation platform for defense industry companies from all corners of the world yet the expo is much more than a comprehensive showcase of military gear and equipment. The expo abounds with business meetings. This is also the place where the defence sector producers from different continents sign contracts. MSPO is ranked third among all Europes exhibition, right after the Paris and London trade shows. This years MSPO is held from 8 to 11 September 2020. MSPO continues its many-year tradition - the Lead Nation Exhibition which has become an indispensable part of the expo agenda. The United Kingdom is this years featured country which presents its potentials. The Polish Armaments Group is MSPO's Strategic Partner. It is worth recalling last year's success of both MSPO and LOGISTICS Expo - the 2019s Defence Industry Expo in Targi Kielce has gone down in history as the exhibition which brought 610 companies from 31 countries, including 303 Polish companies; the expo hosted 58 official foreign delegations from 49 countries, 30.5 thousand guests from around the world joined the MSPO 2019, this number includes 13 thousand Open Day visitors, the final expo accord which accompanies MSPO. President of Poland Andrzej Duda visited the expo for the consecutive time. It is worth recalling last year's success of both MSPO and LOGISTICS Expo - the 2019s Defence Industry Expo in Targi Kielce has gone down in history as the exhibition which brought 610 companies from 31 countries, including 303 Polish companies; the expo hosted 58 official foreign delegations from 49 countries, 30.5 thousand guests from around the world joined the MSPO 2019, this number includes 13 thousand Open Day visitors, the final expo accord which accompanies MSPO. President of Poland Andrzej Duda visited the expo for the consecutive time.

The MSPO 2020 defense industry exhibition that will take place in the city of Kielce in Poland will be attended by local and international defense companies from all over the world including MBDA, IAI - Israel Aerospace Industries, ELBIT SYSTEMS, RAFAEL, Rheinmetall, NAMMO, BOEING, Honeywell, RAYTHEON and Kongsberg. Polish and global defense industry leaders expo stands at the 2020s MSPO showcase helicopters, armoured equipment and rockets, explosives, chemical troops equipment and materials complemented with armaments and aviation equipment, air-defence systems indispensable for air defence forces and the navy. The companies which offer cutting-edge communication technologies, radio-electronic equipment and optoelectronics will also showcase at 2020s MSPO. The exhibition scope also encompasses food-stuffs and food preparation systems, storage and transport equipment complemented with various uniforms, accessories and medical supplies.



The International Defence Industry Exhibition boasts many-year tradition - Lead Nations' Exhibitions which have been an indispensable part of the Expo since 2004. Until now a whole array of countries have presented their military potentials: Germany, Norway, France, Israel, Turkey, the USA, Sweden, the V4 Member Countries, United Kingdom, Italy and South Korea. The UK Lead Nation MSPO 2020 offers the chance to visit the British Pavilion for the second time in MSPO history  UK was the Kielce MSPO featured country in 2010 for the first time. The 2010 UK MSPO Lead Nation Exhibition was formally commenced by Sir James Gerald Douglas Howarth, the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom Minister for International Security Strategy. The 2019 US Lead Nation Exhibition was truly spectacular - the F-35 fighter model on show and the magnificent American army air-parade were real smash-hits. The UK Lead Nation MSPO 2020 promises to be equally impressive.

MSPO 2020 SHOW INFORMATION Back Top Menu

MSPO 2020, is now of the most important regional defense exhibition in Europe and the event will be covered by dozens of local journalists but also from around the world.

Read more information about MSPO 2020 at this link: https://www.targikielce.pl/en/mspo/about-the-event/facts-amp-figures

a

MSPO 2020 OFFICIAL WEB SITE



Visit the official website about MSPO 2020 to have more information ( Visitors, Exhibitors, etc ...) at this link

MSPO 2020 OFFICIAL ONLINE SHOW DAILY NEWS Back Top Menu

MSPO organizers have appointed Army Recognition Group to provide the Official Foreign Online Show Daily News and Web TV of MSPO 2020, published to one of the most popular online Defense and Security magazine Army Recognition, https://www.armyrecognition.com.

During the week of MSPO 2020, Army Recognition Group will also provide the Official MSPO 2020 Web TV with news, report and full coverage about the event. As the Official Online Show Daily News with editorial and Official Web TV for MSPO 2020, the Army Recognition press team will have a significant presence at the show to provide full coverage about this event. Published online and updated daily, if you cannot attend MSPO 2020, follow all activities of MSPO 2020 with our news, reports, pictures and video. The Official Foreign Online Show Daily News of MSPO 2020 spread all activities of the event and provides all exhibitors with a global online window in parallel with MSPO 2020 exhibition about the latest defence and security technologies and innovations. To increase the visibility of your Company, products and/or services you can book advertisement, advertorial, video add in the Official Online Show Daily News and Web TV MSPO 2020. For more information and to book your advertisement today contact us now.

Army Recognition official media partner of 2020 will provide the Official Foreign Online Show Daily News and Web TV for MSPO 2020 including report, news, pictures and video. Increase the exposure of your Company and its range of products globally with our MSPO 2020 Official Online Show Daily News and Web TV.

If you want your company press releases in the online daily news simply send us at this link: * Press releases There is no charge to submit product and press releases for MSPO 2020 to our team, but we can not guarantee that all press releases will be published. Do you need some advertising and marketing services to increase your impact and presence before, during and after the exhibition with our Online Show Daily News? See our offer at this link: Army Recognition advertising and marketing services pricing list Or Contact our marketing team now:

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This new media will provide an Internet television networks and Web TV to promote Defense and Security Industry and products with high-definition, digital-quality video broadcasted on our new Web site https://www.defensewebtv.com,our Army Recognition Youtube channel and official website and video screen of MSPO 2020. During the week of MSPO 2020, Army Recognition Group will also provide the Official Web TV of MSPO 2020 available each day on our YouTube channel with news, report, interview and full coverage about the event.This new media will provide an Internet television networks and Web TV to promote Defense and Security Industry and products with high-definition, digital-quality video broadcasted on our new Web site,our Army Recognition Youtube channel and official website and video screen of MSPO 2020. Our offer: - Video Advertorial: A Video advertorial is a blend of advertisement and editorial which feature presentations of products, services, and packages for defense and security industry.

Contact us for pricing. - Video Advertising: A video advertising up to 30 sec. with 3 min. advertorial or interview Price: 4,950  Contact our marketing team now at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ;

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As Wang Xinjuan reports on ChinaMilitary, all the PLAs units will be progressively issued the new camouflage uniform unveiled during the military parade in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

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Chinese army's new camouflage uniform (Picture source: News.cn via ChinaMil)

This new uniform is currently tried on by some troops before being 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 combat accessories.
Sydney, Australia, June 29, 2020 - (ABN Newswire) - PYX Resources Ltd (NSX:PYX - News), is pleased to announce that it has received notification from the Central Kalimantan Provincial Government that after approval from the Energy and Mineral Resources Department of Central Kalimantan, the Company's application for the extension of the Production Operation Mining Activities IUP license has been granted for the maximum authorized period of 5 years, after which the license can be renewed for additional periods of 5 years. The Production and Operation IUP license allows PT Investasi Mandiri to carry out production operations including construction, mining, processing and refining, transportation and sales activities.

The terms of the renewed permit, including payment of Indonesian taxes and the honouring of other financial obligations of PYX's subsidiary PT Investasi Mandiri, are set out in the IUP-OP. A summary of some of the key provisions is provided below:

- Dead rent is payable to the Government of Indonesia at a rate of US$4 per hectare per annum;

- Royalty on Heavy Mineral Sands produced is 1.5%;

- Corporate tax of 25% is payable and set by the Government of Indonesia;

- Land and building taxes payable to the local government are applicable, at a rate of US$0.53 per hectare; and

- Environmental obligations, including reclamation bonding and plans, approved by the local government as part of the mine approval process.

Commenting on the Company's tenement license approval, PYX's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Oliver Hasler, said:

"PYX Resources is extremely pleased to report receipt of the notification for the renewal of the IUPOP license for the Mandiri deposit.

This is a major milestone for the Company, extending the term of the license, and thus enabling PYX to continue its critical exploration and development expansion activity, at a time when the premium zircon market supply is forecasted to move into deficit from this year onwards.

Story continues

The diligence and hard work of our team, and the quick response time of Indonesian government departments, officials and stakeholders is greatly appreciated."



About Pyx Resources Limited:

PYX Resources Limited (NSX:PYX - News) is a global producer of premium zircon listed on the National Stock Exchange of Australia. The Company's flagship asset is the Mandiri mineral sands deposit, located in the alluvium sediment rich region of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Boasting the world's 5th largest producing deposit of zircon, PYX is a large-scale, near-surface open pit operation in production since 2015 and with exploration to date validating the presence of additional Valuable Heavy Minerals such as rutile, ilmenite among others within its mineral sands.

Contact:

Pyx Resources Limited

T: +61 2 8823 3132

WWW: www.pyxresources.com



Source:

Pyx Resources Limited

Copyright (C) 2020 ABN Newswire. All rights reserved.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been grilled in a series of interviews following a number of blunders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The land of the long white cloud currently has 22 active cases of coronavirus.

However, earlier this month health department director-general Ashley Bloomfield declared New Zealand virus free.

Last week it was revealed most people allowed to leave COVID-19 quarantine in June did so without being tested first.

Of the 55 Kiwis granted compassionate exemptions to leave isolation between June 9 and 16, all but four did so without a test.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern provided a COVID update at Parliament in Wellington. Source: Getty Images

The Ministry of Health admitted the failing in an after-hours press release.

The compassionate exemption system was introduced to allow New Zealanders to see terminally-ill loved ones or attend funerals after racing home from overseas.

The revelation that two women were granted releases without being tested - only to test positive - prompted Ms Ardern to pause and review the exemptions regime.

Ms Ardern was grilled about the issue on Newstalk ZB radio on Monday morning.

After introducing the PM, host Mike Hosking said quarantine facilities havent been up to scratch.

You forgot that (the system) was also doing what it needed to do there, Mike, Ms Ardern said.

The Ellerslie Novotel in Auckland is being used for quarantine. Source: Getty Images

Apart from the time that it wasnt doing what it was needing to do, Mr Hosking told the PM, prompting her to reply that it has been addressed, Mike.

He then asked her if she accepted her failings.

Mike, Im going to take one quick step back here for a little bit of global context, Ms Ardern said.

There is no rule book on any of what we are doing. In fact New Zealand, by the mere fact that we have quarantine, puts us amongst only a handful of countries in the world. The fact that we mandate testing in those facilities makes us the most stringent, in the world, when it comes to our border.

Ms Ardern added NZ has had a had a 73 per cent increase in arrivals since April and the pandemic is growing across the world.

Story continues

What did you see in Ashleys face?

The PM was also grilled over Health Minister David Clarks response to the mishaps - in which he shifted the blame to New Zealands Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield.

In an awkward press conference, Dr Clark told reporters Dr Bloomfield had accepted responsibility as the director-general stood behind him.

Previously, Dr Clark had broken NZs quarantine rules in April when he drove his family to a beach 20km away.

Mr Hoskings asked Ms Ardern if shed seen Dr Bloomfield after the minister threw him under the bus.

Ms Ardern gets grilled on the AM Show. Source: The AM Show

Ms Ardern said she watched the press conference but claimed there were details which werent included in news reports, including Dr Clark praising Dr Bloomfield.

What did you see in Ashleys face? Mr Hosking said.

The PM said its the same face shes seen across people who are working in health generally.

You know, a group of people who have worked exceptionally hard for a number of months and that we do have to give some respite too. They have been working incredibly hard, Ms Ardern said.

We have been criticised for not directly blaming any individual person, because this has been a failure of our system and we have taken collective responsibility for that.

When asked if Dr Bloomfield deserved such treatment from Dr Clark, given the latter broke quarantine rules himself, the PM said ordinarily she would have fired the minister but couldnt do so during a pandemic.

Ms Ardern faced similar questioning about the incident on the AM Show on Monday.

Host Duncan Garner asked if Dr Clark takes responsibility for his bungles, to which the PM replied its not an issue which lays at the feet of an individual.

Health Minister David Clark (left) tells reporters New Zealands Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield (right) accepts responsibility for a number of blunders. Source: Newshub

The host said thats the right answer, but questioned why the minister didnt say that.

The PM said, as she had also told Mr Hosking, Dr Clark praised Dr Bloomfield for his work as well.

In my view, it was certainly not the intention to leave that impression that some have taken from that interview, she said.

with AAP

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At least 32 people died after a ferry capsized and sank Monday in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka following a collision, said rescuers, who found one man alive in a "miracle" hours later. A dozen people were initially listed as missing. The Morning Bird was hit from behind by another ferry around 9:30 am local time (0330 GMT) during the morning rush hour, when the country's largest river port is packed with vessels. "We have recovered 32 bodies... We located the ferry more than 50 feet (15 metres) deep in the river," A. Zahidul Islam, a diver in the fire brigade, told AFP. "I think we have recovered most of the bodies. The rest can only be recovered if the ferry can be salvaged and lifted... it looked like it was stuck in mud at the bottom of the river." More than 12 hours after the sinking one passenger was found alive. Rescuers were trying to raise the vessel when they saw the 35-year-old man, Suman Bapary, floating in the river, fire brigade spokesman Kamrul Islam told AFP. "He was in the sunken ship... all these 13 hours. We don't know how. But it is a miracle," Islam said. Coastguard spokesman commander Hayet Ibne Siddique said earlier that at least 50 people were believed to have been on board the vessel, which has a capacity of 150 passengers. The ferry had departed from central Munshiganj district. It sank as it was about to moor at Sadarghat, Dhaka's main river port used by hundreds of boats to travel to the country's south. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority's chief, Commodore Golam Sadeqk, told AFP the single-deck ship was "not overcrowded" and sank "due to carelessness". He said the vessel had been cleared to carry passengers until September. Witnesses told local television stations many passengers appeared to be stuck in the ferry's cabins. The deceased were put in body bags before they were laid in rows at the harbour front. Another boat would later arrive to lift the damaged vessel from the water, Siddique said. - Trapped - Masud Hossain said he was on board the ferry with two uncles when the accident happened. "It took no more than five minutes to sink," he told local newspaper The Daily Star, adding that the body of one of his uncles had been found, but another was still missing. "I thought I was going to die today... I somehow managed to open the window of the cabin (in the ferry) and come out." Another survivor told reporters that "those who were on the roof of the ferry jumped and survived". "But those who were inside the deck were trapped and possibly they have all died." Relatives gathered at Sadarghat to search for their family members, despite coronavirus social distancing concerns. "I still don't know what happened to them," a man, looking for his cousin and another relative, told reporters. Boat accidents are common in Bangladesh, which is criss-crossed by more than 230 rivers. The South Asian nation is heavily reliant on ferries for transport but has had a poor safety record. Experts blame badly maintained vessels, lax safety standards at shipyards and overcrowding for many of the accidents. In February 2015 at least 78 people died when an overcrowded ship collided with a cargo boat in a central Bangladesh river. The number of accidents has dropped sharply in recent years as authorities crack down on unseaworthy vessels. A relative of a victim of the capsized ferry mourns as rescue workers unload bodies in Dhaka, Bangladesh Divers were still pulling bodies from the wreck, with the deceased placed in body-bags and then laid in rows at the harbour-front Map of Bangladesh locating the area of a deadly ferry accident
The future of Poland's populist right-wing government hung in the balance as Poles voted on Sunday in round one of a tight presidential race that was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The frontrunner is incumbent Andrzej Duda, 48, who is backed by the governing Law and Justice (PiS) party. Duda is seen as a key ally by US President Donald Trump but his policies have raised hackles in the European Union. Polls indicate the first round will prove inconclusive and there will be a neck-and-neck run-off on July 12 between Duda and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, a liberal from the Civic Platform (PO) opposition party. The campaign has been dominated by concerns over democracy and bread and butter issues as Poland faces its first recession since the end of communism. Voters in masks were seen waiting in socially distanced queues at polling stations across the country. "I voted for Trzaskowski of course! Why? For democracy, the judiciary and respect for minorities," said Joanna Ugniewska, 66, after casting her ballot at a polling station in a school in Warsaw city centre. Poland's government has implemented popular social welfare payments in recent years but has also endorsed polarising legislation, especially judicial reforms. While the PiS insists the changes are needed to weed out judicial corruption, critics and the EU insist they erode judicial independence and democracy just three decades after Poland shed communism. Trump gave Duda his blessing this week by inviting him to the White House on Wednesday as the first foreign leader to visit since the coronavirus pandemic began, just four days ahead of election day. Originally scheduled for May, the ballot was postponed due to the pandemic and a new hybrid system of postal and conventional voting was in place on Sunday in a bid to stop the election from causing a spike in infections. Official figures show over 33,000 cases and more than 1,400 deaths in this EU country of 38 million people, although the real number is believed to be much higher. - Anti-gay rhetoric - Duda has promised to defend the governing party's raft of social benefits, including a child allowance and extra pension payments -- a key factor behind the populists winning a second term in October's parliamentary election. Economic issues are weighing heavily on voters' minds as the fallout of the pandemic is set to plunge the economy. Irena, a pensioner, told AFP in the central Polish town of Minsk Mazowiecki that she was happy with status quo. "I'd like this to continue," the 63-year-old said. Duda has also echoed PiS attacks on LGBT+ rights and Western values, something analysts see as a bid to attract voters backing a far-right candidate. Trzaskowski has instead supported gay rights and says he is open to the idea of same-sex civil partnerships. Campaigning with the slogan "Enough is Enough", Trzaskowski has promises a different Poland but many see his PO party as weak and ineffectual. The candidate has said he wants to use the experience and contacts he gathered as a former European affairs minister to "fight hard" for a fair slice of the EU's 2021-27 budget, and to repair tattered ties with Brussels. He has however vowed to keep the PiS's popular welfare payments. - 'Budapest model'? - Since winning power in 2015, both Duda and the PiS have in many ways upended Polish politics by stoking tensions with the EU and wielding influence through state-owned companies and public broadcasters. Some analysts view the election as a crucial juncture: a second five-year term for Duda would allow the PiS to make even more controversial changes while defeat could unravel the party's power. A win for Duda would pave the way to "bolstering 'Eastern' tendencies, like the rise of oligarchs... and a drift to the Budapest model (of Hungary's Viktor Orban) ? that's the danger," Warsaw University political scientist Anna Materska-Sosowska told AFP. Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) and will close at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) with an exit poll expected as soon as voting ends. Polish President Andrzej Duda is a key ally for the government Polish President Andrzej Duda is a key ally for the government Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski is expected to go head-to-head with the incumbent President Andrzej Duda in a run-off vote
The fiancee of a NSW Police officer revealed their babys gender as he was farewelled by friends and family on Monday.

NSW Police Constable Aaron Vidal, 28, was killed while travelling home from work in Rouse Hill, in Sydneys northwest, earlier this month.

Police will allege in court the driver of a ute ran a red light at an intersection and struck Cst Vidal on his motorbike.

Jess Loh farewells her fiance NSW Police Constable Aaron Vidal. Source: 7News

His fiancee, Jess Loh, addressed Cst Vidals loved ones during his funeral at St Marys Cathedral, telling them the soon-to-be dad couldnt wait to find out the gender of their first child, The Daily Telegraph reported.

You were a proud dad to be and busting to find out our babys gender and you wanted so bad to share that exciting news with everyone. Well darling, here is your last wish, we are having a baby boy, she said, according to the paper.

I have no doubt he will grow up to be just as stubborn, handsome, witty, loving and wise, just like you to the love of my life, always and forever.

Cst Vidal and Ms Loh were expecting a child together. Source: NSW Police

Cst Vidals father David, also a police officer, cried as he told those in attendance his son is many things and memorable is certainly one of them.

The constable was an organ donor and 7News reported his organs have since saved two lives.

Police Deputy Commissioner Jeff Loy paid tribute to his colleague earlier this month.

Ms Loh said her husband-to-be was the love of her life. Source: NSW Police

He said Cst Vidal worked alongside his father at the Day Street Police Station in Sydney's CBD.

The 28-year-old had been confirmed as a constable in December 2018 and was attached to the force's "proactive crime team".

"He was a man of service  he was a member of the armed forces before he joined the police force and really, a 28-year-old young man on the journey of life," Mr Loy said.

Detective Chief Inspector David Vidal cries while speaking about his son. Source: 7News

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Separatists from Pakistan's Balochistan province attacked the national stock exchange in Karachi on Monday, killing four people in a brazen daylight assault the breakaway group said also targeted Chinese interests. Four gunmen drove up to the entrance gate of the Pakistan Stock Exchange around 10:00 am (05H00 GMT) then lobbed a grenade before opening fire with automatic weapons, officials said. All four attackers were killed in an ensuing firefight as they attempted to storm the exchange, along with three security guards and a policeman, the Karachi police said in a statement. In an email to AFP, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility and said the assault was not only targeting "Pakistan's economy" but was "an attack on Chinese economic interests in response to China's exploitative plans in Balochistan". The BLA have long accused China of plundering Balochistan, the largest of Pakistan's four provinces that makes up the southwestern part of the country. The separatists say Chinese-backed projects unfairly exploit the region's mineral and hydrocarbon resources. Impoverished Pakistan has repeatedly turned to Beijing for investments and loans including under the $54-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that Western critics say will be of greatest benefit to China in the long run. The BLA have targeted infrastructure projects and Chinese workers in Pakistan multiple times in recent years, including an attack on Beijing's consulate in Karachi that killed four people in 2018. In May last year, the BLA attacked a luxury hotel near Gwadar, where a deepwater port development is a CPEC flagship project. The BLA is just one of several insurgent groups fighting primarily in Balochistan, which has been rocked by separatist, Islamist and sectarian violence for years. - Shot in the head - Pakistan's military praised the swift response of the city's security forces in Monday's attack, while the Karachi police released a video of one member of a provincial security unit describing the firefight. "I shot one of them dead... The second guy saw me and... he took out a grenade. I shot him twice in his hand and his weapon fell down. I then shot him in the head as he tried to pull out the grenade pin," said Mohammad Rafiq, a member of an elite rapid response team. The video of the officer was shared widely online, with social media users calling Rafiq a hero. Last year, the US State Department designated the BLA as a global terrorist group, making it a crime for anyone in the United States to assist the militants and freezing any US assets they may have. Following Monday's attack, Pakistani authorities vowed to strike back against any group found responsible, promising to dismantle their networks and destroy their bases. "An investigation has been launched and very soon we will reach their masterminds," Interior Minister Ijaz Ahmad Shah said in a video message. The gunmen never made it into the stock exchange and business continued as usual after the attack. "Trading is smooth and continuing. PSX benchmark index one of the Best Performer in Asia today so far," tweeted Mohammed Sohail, a broker at the exchange. For a while after the attack the bodies of at least two gunmen could be seen in a pool of blood near the exchange's entrance. The city's police had earlier said six people died in the firefight but later revised the figure. A Karachi hospital where the bodies were taken confirmed the new death toll. Karachi was once a hotspot for crime and violence, with heavily armed groups linked to politicians frequently gunning down opponents and launching attacks on residential areas. But the situation has largely stabilised in recent years following operations by security agencies against armed political outfits and Islamist militants. Militant groups still retain the ability to launch periodic attacks in many rural areas and occasionally in urban centres. Monday's attack comes more than a week after a grenade was thrown at a line of people waiting outside a government welfare office in the city, killing one and injuring eight others, municipal authorities said at the time. Police vehicles are seen in front of the Pakistan Stock Exchange building following a deadly attack by separatists from Balochistan province A private security guard's elder brother mourns his death during the funeral in Karachi -- the guard was one of four people killed by gunmen Paramilitary soldiers patrol near the Pakistan Stock Exchange building in Karachi following the attack Map of Karachi in Pakistan locating the stock exchange where a fatal gun attack took place on Monday. Police secure an area around a body outside the stock exchange -- Karachi was once a hotspot for crime and violence
Thailand's nightlife will restart with some restrictions this week, the kingdom announced Monday, part of a return to normalcy as it prepares to welcome business travellers and medical tourists after a ban on foreign entry. So far Thailand has 3,169 cases and 58 deaths from the coronavirus -- a low toll considering the kingdom in mid-January became was the first country outside China to register a case. But the country's tourism-reliant economy has been hit hard by the border closures, while a halt to its infamous nightlife has left the kingdom's informal workers -- in bars, massage parlours, and karaoke lounges -- adrift. Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha said the "most at-risk businesses" will be allowed to reopen from Wednesday, as there has been no local transmission of the virus for more than a month. "The most important thing we care about are the people who have no income for their families," he said. "Secondly we are confident that our health system is ready to handle (the situation)." Beginning July 1, bars, clubs and karaoke lounges can reopen, though they must adhere to a midnight closing time and have social distancing measures, said Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for COVDI-19 Situation Administration. Massage parlours and teahouses -- which sometimes act as fronts for brothels -- will also have to register customers using the government's tracking app. "Staff must be tested for COVID-19 from time to time and there should be no sex trade," said Taweesin. Thailand will also relax entry restrictions on foreigners with work permits or with Thai spouses and families, and people who wish to enter the kingdom for medical services. Business travellers from Japan, South Korea, Singapore and China, including Hong Kong, will also be allowed in, provided they pay for quarantine in hotels. The selected countries and cities are "important to our economy, they control the spread of the pandemic well, and they have the same health and efficiency standards", said Taweesin. Tourists will still be barred, although authorities floated the idea of "travel bubbles" earlier this month. Thailand's economy has flatlined since the virus struck, hammering tourism and exports, and annual growth is forecast to slump by between five to seven percent. Bars and massage parlours in ares such as Pattaya's infamous Walking Street will be allowed to reopen under eased coronavirus lockdown restrictions
The US pointman on North Korea voiced doubt Monday that President Donald Trump and leader Kim Jong Un would meet again before US elections, although he held out hope for progress in nuclear negotiations. Deputy Secretary of State Steve Biegun pointed to the global COVID-19 pandemic as a "wet blanket" that would make any in-person summit difficult. "I think it's probably unlikely between now and the US election," Biegun told a forum of the German Marshall Fund of the United States when asked about prospects for a Trump-Kim summit. But he said the United States will "continue to leave the door open to diplomacy." "We believe there's still time for the United States and North Korea to make substantial progress in the direction that we believe that both sides want to go," he said. Tensions have again been rising on the Korean peninsula, with the North blowing up a liaison office on the border and saying it had suspended military action against the South. Trump in 2018 became the first sitting US president to meet the leader of North Korea, with which the United States never officially ended a war that began 70 years ago this month. The reality-television star and the young authoritarian agreed in Singapore in general terms on a plan for ending North Korea's nuclear program. But a 2019 follow-up summit in Hanoi broke down as the United States refused North Korean demands for early sanctions relief, although Trump and Kim met again briefly months later when the US leader visited the Korean peninsula. John Bolton, Trump's former national security advisor known for his hawkish views on North Korea, in a new book accuses Trump of being obsessed with the showmanship of a summit and said that Pyongyang will never give up nuclear weapons. US President Donald Trump meets North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un at the start of their historic June 2018 summit in Singapore
It has been a statewide problem, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants it to stop.

Cuomo on Monday said that he is directing the New York State Police to create a fireworks enforcement detail that aims to prevent illegal fireworks from entering the state. The action is in response to numerous complaints across New York about the use of illegal fireworks.

While some fireworks are legal in New York, larger fireworks that tend to be used in professional displays are illegal. But many New Yorkers travel to other states, namely Pennsylvania, to buy fireworks that can't be sold in New York.

Cuomo said the state police's enforcement efforts will focus on routes between New York and Pennsylvania, where several fireworks stores are located near the border separating the two states.

"This is illegal and it's dangerous, so we have to stop it," Cuomo added.

There have been social media reports across New York that residents are using illegal fireworks. In Cayuga County, local authorities said last week that fireworks complaints have increased tenfold this year.
With Balter's primary victory, she will face Katko, R-Camillus, again in the general election. Katko defeated Balter by five percentage points in the 2018 campaign.

Balter had the DCCC's support two years ago, but it didn't come until a month after the primary election. The DCCC recruited another candidate, Juanita Perez Williams, to force a primary against Balter, who had won the support of local Democratic committees. Balter won the primary by 24 points. But it wasn't until early August that the DCCC added her to its Red to Blue program.

This year, it's a different situation. Less than a week after the primary, Balter is part of the Red to Blue program. But that's not the only show of support from the DCCC. The committee's chair, U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, is helping Balter raise money. Bustos, an Illinois Democrat, sent a fundraising email to Balter's campaign list after the DCCC's announcement Monday.
The Port Byron Central School District on Monday posted the following message and video to i
That wasn't surprising, especially in an election year, but it was still disappointing. This bill could have been an exception to the rule.

I called Sen. Angus King of Maine, an independent who usually votes with Democrats, to find out why the bipartisan push failed. King had voted with Republicans to allow McConnell's bill to move forward.

He said he thought it was a mistake for Democrats to block the bill.

"I think there was space for a compromise, and now I'm afraid we're not going to get anything," he told me. "My concern was that if Democrats refused to go forward, McConnell would say, 'OK, I tried,' and move on _ and that's pretty much what happened."

But King also faulted the Republican leader for refusing to let Democrats participate in drafting the bill.

"The only way to get things done in the Senate is with a bipartisan process," he said. "This was a bill on a very complex topic drafted by one party."

Even as McConnell cut the Democrats out, he submitted his bill to the White House to make sure President Trump wouldn't denounce it.

That's a normal part of legislating _ but in the process, some measures were watered down.
Board member Erin Chadwick suggested that the district can improve on this strategy by announcing on social media when there is a school board meeting.

Just in conversation with people, it seems that there are quite a few out there that didnt realize our meetings are open to the public, Chadwick said. That was kind of a surprise to some. So I think maybe just extending that invite may help increase that engagement with us, letting them know they have a voice and that it can be heard.

Nielsen agreed, noting that the public can also view the meetings online and reach out to a board member through email if they want to communicate an idea.

Strategy four looks at district building facilities and infrastructure, as well as technology needed to accomplish all the previous strategies.

Nielsen said the district does energy and safety audits at school buildings yearly. She also said COVID-19 impacted organizing a facility planning committee this spring.
The most important thing for our residents to be successful is a passion for working with underserved patients, who may live in Billings or in outlying areas. The goal is to prepare residents for working with a wide array of patients and to develop a skillset for breaking down barriers to care wherever they are. We use a team-based approach when caring for our patients -- a team that engages nurses, pharmacists, behavioral health, care management and patients themselves.

Some of my most fulfilling moments as a physician have been following my patients as they needed to be hospitalized. It means a lot when your doctor shows up in the hospital when you are sick. Our residents learn the value in that continuity of care, seeing patients in clinic and hospital, and at different stages of their life.

Sometimes patients have trepidation about being treated by medical residents. Patients under the care of residents actually have two doctors: the resident and the more experienced attending physician who oversees their work. I am immensely proud of the care our residents provide and have seen them work incredibly hard to provide truly excellent care to their patients.
He had accused me in a very aggressive way during the day, Pearce said. He said that I'm siding with the other side  the other side that he holds a grudge against  which was not the case at all.

Later in the evening, Pearce  who had what he described as several tall gin and tonics throughout the day  attempted to pull Correnti aside in an effort to reconcile their differences. Details of their conversation and the ensuing altercation are hazy.

According to Pearce, the conversation eventually escalated. While Pearce does not remember who threw the first punch, he told the Star-Tribune that the fight that followed apparently ended with him unconscious on the floor and in need of surgery.

My first memory is something happened to my neck, somewhere in there I threw a punch, and the next thing I know Im on the ground and I cant get up, Pearce said. People are trying to help me and I cant walk. My ankle just went.

He said the fight took place in a side room at the venue.
"That was from the 1950s Cold War stuff," said Klemin, whose memo is meant to address legal questions of a remote session. The committee in September will revisit it for proposals and potential rule changes.

"It's pretty hard to sit down at the last minute and try to figure all that out," Klemin said.

Capitol prep

Preparing the Capitol already is in motion.

Facility Management Director John Boyle said a number of measures are in place or in the works for 2021, including revamped cleaning procedures.

New is a cleaning worker contracted for $9,700 in CARES Act money on a trial basis for seven weeks specifically to sanitize common surfaces such as door handles in two passes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday in the Capitol. Boyle noted the contractor began after a staff member left and has cost less money. Facility Management likely will continue the service, he said.

The Capitol grounds' bathrooms will have touchless fixtures in place by 2021, including urinals, toilets, sinks and paper towel dispensers, costing a little over $100,000, covered by CARES Act money.
Up

Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health tested 662 people last week for COVID-19 during three drive-up testing events. Thirteen people had tested positive with one test still pending on Friday. The events were well-organized, and participants received results quickly. The turnout exceeded expectations, and the department plans to hold additional events in Bismarck this week. Organizers have added an online registration option to expedite the process.

Down

The price of Mandans raw water intake project keeps rising, with the cost of the project now estimated to be $36.6 million. It was estimated to cost $30 million in April and initially projected in early 2019 to cost $20.8 million. The project involves building a new water intake facility on the Missouri River. The existing facility, which is 63 years old, is prone to sand settling in front of the intake pipes. The new facility would be in a deeper, more stable part of the river. An engineering consultant says the price has increased due to shifting market factors and the challenging nature of the project.

Up

Both of North Dakotas U.S. senators paid tribute last week to Sister Thomas Welder in Washington. Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer gave floor speeches that highlighted her legacy and formally entered her obituary into the Congressional Record with unanimous consent of the Senate. The recognition was well-deserved for a woman who touched so many lives. Welder, 80, died last Monday at her monastery home south of Bismarck. Tributes will continue today during a funeral that is open to family and close friends.

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Area 1 Security made some important news last year with a pay-for-performance anti-phishing service and being named Google cloud global technology partner of the year for security. This past January or as we like to call it, the pre-covid days, they uncovered the Russian cyber breach of Ukrainian oil company, Burisma Holdings.

Patrick Sweeney, CEO of Talari Networks

Today, the preemptive email security company, announced it has closed $25 million in growth funding led by new investors, ForgePoint Capital, along with current investors Kleiner Perkins, Icon Ventures and Top Tier Capital. The company also announced the appointment of cybersecurity industry leader, Patrick Sweeney, as CEO. Sweeney comes to Area 1 Security with more than 25 years of high-tech executive and general management experience. He most recently served as CEO of SD-WAN Expo Sponsor Talari Networks (sold to Oracle in 2019) and held senior executive roles at Dell and SonicWall, where he consistently drove exceptional growth and financial performance.

Area 1 Security has a strong focus on preventing business email compromise via advanced phishing protection, multi-mode inspection, cloud-native scale and integrated prevention, detection and response.

Email security is fundamentally broken, with phishing attacks consistently breaching defenses, leading to significant business losses for organizations large and small. The simple fact is that 95 percent of breaches begin with a phish disguised as an innocuous email, said Sweeney. By focusing on the earliest stages of an attack combined with the industrys leading small pattern analytics technology, Area 1 is uniquely able to bring preemption to email security. We stop phishing campaigns prior to their inflicting damage.

In the first half of 2020 alone, Area 1 intercepted and prevented $273 million in active financial cyber fraud perpetrated through sophisticated Business Email Compromise (BEC) phish. The company also blocked millions of phish missed by cloud email providers and legacy SEG defenses, underscoring the enormity of the problem organizations face.

Alberto Yepez, co-founder and managing director of ForgePoint Capital

While email continues to be the predominant business collaboration application, innovation in Email Security has stagnated. Weve seen damage from email security failures climb to outrageous heights over the past few years, with little indication of slowing down, said Alberto Yepez, co-founder and managing director of ForgePoint Capital. Area 1s preemptive approach and a performance-based business model position the company to lead this rapidly growing market and disrupt legacy incumbents who have failed their customers time and again.

Yepez, a leading cybersecurity investor and serial entrepreneur, will also join Area 1s Board of Directors.

Area 1s expanded leadership and financing (which now totals $82.5 million) demonstrates fast-growing demand for its Cloud Email Security solution led by Fortune 500 customers across financial services, healthcare, consumer goods, manufacturing, and other industries. The new financing will continue the companys heavy product R&D investment, and significantly expand its go-to-market resources with a specific focus on an aggressive multi-tier channel strategy.

Sadly, it is fairly easy to get employees to click on phishing emails and they are becoming more targeted because hackers are getting more sophisticated and a wealth of data is available on the victims they seek. We are happy to see Area 1 Security growing and getting funding to invest in fighting hackers and hopefully preventing more business email compromise.

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The 790,000 subscribers to The_Donald have suddenly found themselves without a place to spread hate and harassment after Reddit shut down the subreddit earlier this morning, reports The New York Times. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman told reporters "Reddit is a place for community and belonging, not for attacking people. The_Donald has been in violation of that."

From The New York Times:

Reddit said people in "The_Donald" consistently posted racist and vulgar messages that incited harassment and targeted people of different religious and ethnic groups on and off its site. "The_Donald" has also heavily trafficked in conspiracy theories, including spreading the debunked "PizzaGate" conspiracy, in which Hillary Clinton and top Democrats were falsely accused of running a child sex trafficking ring from a pizza parlor in Washington. Reddit said that as of Monday, it was introducing eight rules that laid out the terms people must abide by to use the site. Those include prohibiting targeted harassment, revealing the identities of others, posting sexually exploitative content related to underage children, or trafficking in illegal substances or other illicit transactions. While the site had already banned many of these behaviors, the latest changes take a harder line on speech that "promotes hate based on identity or vulnerability."

Image: Gage Skidmore  Flickr.com, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
This is all I know, he said. When people say, Go back to your country, I tell them I dont even remember it.

He said he has no wish to argue with anyone who opposes the DACA program, and he asked me to place an emphasis upon this point: The beauty of this nation, he said, lies in the freedom to disagree.

Yet Reynoso, who said he bought into American ideals as a young child, wants to dispel the notion that he or his brothers are taking advantage of anyone or any system. He said he always dreamed that a commitment to the kind of service and unselfish discipline he witnessed at St. Lukes would demonstrate how much he values his life in Buffalo.

Its their right to feel however they want to feel, he said of Americans against DACA protections. I just hope they see how Ive spent my life  what church means to me, my work with the ambulance and hospital  and understand that Im not a bad guy, that I love my family.

Taheri has his own passionate take on it: He believes Buffalo would be a lesser place without Reynoso and his brothers, and that a resolution will someday come together because "justice and mercy always find a way to intersect."
If you've got an old, unpaid parking ticket or your water has been shut off because of delinquent payments in the City of Buffalo, new amnesty programs will waive late fees and interest through the end of the year, Mayor Byron W. Brown announced Monday.

And moving forward, the city will issue fines for low-level traffic infractions or motor vehicle equipment violations based on income instead of flat fees, the mayor said.

Beginning Wednesday, those with city parking tickets issued before June 30, 2019, will be able to satisfy the outstanding debt by paying only the original fine. In most cases, that would be $30, $35 or $40 per ticket, Parking Commissioner Kevin J. Helfer said.

Also, city residents who have previously had water service shut off for delinquent payments will not be required to pay penalties or interest that accumulated on an account.

The moves come in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, racial justice protests and the "looming economic disaster" faced by the region, state and the country, Brown said during a news conference at the Col. F.G. Ward Pumping Station.
Another Buffalo coffee shop is embroiled in conflict with workers trying to form a union.

Perks Cafe, which has three locations in Buffalo, has settled charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board by labor union Workers United.

Workers said they began organizing in December over issues such as unsafe working conditions, transphobic policies and unlawful termination.

When workers declared their intent to unionize, they said Perks owner Robert Newman became hostile, declined to sign a noninterference policy and threatened employees with lower wages, rigid schedules and a new tip policy if they voted for a union.

Workers filed for a union vote March 12. The next day, Newman retaliated by changing the store's tip policy, according to charges filed with the NLRB. Workers also allege that Newman used the pandemic to fire Perks Cafe's pro-union employees and retained other employees.

In the settlement, Perks agreed not to threaten workers with lower wages if they tried to bargain for higher pay, and not to threaten them with a loss of benefits if they vote to unionize. Perks also agreed to rescind changes to the cafe's tip policy, to pay laid off and replaced employees and to bargain over a union contract.
Gates specialists have treated fewer than a dozen patients rushed into surgery who tested positive for Covid-19 as they recovered. None of them died but some suffered considerable brain damage, he said.

Neurosurgeons can treat strokes with clot-busting drugs or by feathering specialized devices into blood vessels in the brain and removing obstructions.

Buffalo neurosurgeons have taken the latter route with Covid-related patients.

Both options are on the table, Levy said. It depends on the size and location of the clot. The bigger it is, the more likely youre going to have to go in and take it out.

In either case, he said, the faster we can get the brain tissue replenished with oxygen and blood, the more likely patients are going to have a better functional outcome.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease, cancer, accidents and chronic lower respiratory disease.

Levy urged those of any age to understand the stroke symptoms. They include a new onset of weakness or numbness in the face or limbs, difficulty with vision or speech, and an unexpected change in the level of consciousness.
The Riverline, a project seeking to transform the former DL&W rail corridor into a 1.5-mile urban nature trail along the Buffalo River, got some added heft Monday when it became part of the High Line Network.

The Western New York Land Conservancy-led initiative became one of 15 new members to join the 39-member alliance of organizations that are turning underused and abandoned areas into public green spaces. Members include the High Line in New York City, Dequindre Cut in Detroit, Rail Park in Philadelphia and the Harbor District Riverwalk in Milwaukee.

Member projects are instrumental in reshaping the landscape of our cities and offering residents wonderful new natural spaces to explore," the Conservancys Executive Director Nancy Smith said. "Although we have plenty of work left to do to make The Riverline a reality, as a High Line Network member, we look forward to exchanging ideas, knowledge, and inspiration with our peers from across North America.

The Riverline would run from Canalside to South Buffalo. Its selection coincides with the release of a report outlining strategies for the nature walk to benefit the surrounding diverse neighborhoods. It came from a yearlong planning effort with the community and nonprofit and agency partners, including the University at Buffalo Regional Institute.
Each district is posting the survey results on their websites and will use the information and the breakdown for their district to help with their reopening plans.

Cornell, who is the incoming president of the Erie and Niagara Counties School Superintendents Association, said he did not know what to expect with the survey, but he was happy so many participated.

"It's a difficult and emotional issue for people. Its a difficult and emotional challenge to overcome for superintendents," Cornell said. "We want to make sure we understand how people feel."

Three-quarters of those responding to the survey were parents, and nearly 12% of the responses came from students. Most of the respondents, 64.1%, said they work full-time and 8.9% said they work part-time. When asked if students returning to school in the fall would improve their employment situation or availability to improve the employment situation, 44.6% said yes.

Most, 62.2%, were confident or strongly confident in sending their children back to school knowing that schools will be following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control to the best extent possible. But 10.7% said they were not confident, and 4.2% said they will not send their children back to school until a vaccine is available.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EnWave Corporation (TSX-V:ENW | FSE:E4U) (EnWave, or the "Company"), announced today that it has signed an Equipment Purchase Agreement with Calbee, Inc. (Calbee), a leading global snack manufacturing company, to commission an additional two 10kW Radiant Energy Vacuum (REV) dehydration machines in Japan. The addition of the two 10kW REV machines will significantly expand Calbees commercial manufacturing capacity to launch its new line of REV-based snack products.



Calbee has successfully developed several better-for-you snack products internally using REV technology and intends to intensify its commercial efforts throughout 2020, focusing on premium, healthy fruit and vegetable snack products.

Calbee entered into a royalty-bearing commercial license agreement with EnWave approximately one year ago, and the purchase of the two additional REV machines demonstrates the commercial value of using EnWaves proprietary technology for producing premium snack products.

Calbee continues to have the exclusive rights to commercialize EnWaves REV food dehydration technology for the development of several premium, healthy fruit and vegetable snack products and ingredients in the country of Japan. The installation of the two additional 10kW machines will triple the royalty-bearing production capacity of Calbee in Japan.

About Calbee

Calbee, Inc. is one of the largest snack food companies in Japan, and is a leader in the manufacture and sale of potato, flour-based snacks, and processed cereals. Calbee holds over 50% market share for the domestic Japanese snack market and holds over 70% market share for potato-based snacks. Outside of Japan, Calbee also has major international presence in the snack markets in the United States, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, and the United Kingdom with several well-known household brands. The company was founded on April 30, 1949 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Story continues

About EnWave

EnWave Corporation, a Canadian advanced technology company, has developed Radiant Energy Vacuum (REV)  an innovative, proprietary method for the precise dehydration of organic materials. EnWave has further developed patented methods for uniformly drying and decontaminating cannabis through the use of REV technology, shortening the time from harvest to marketable cannabis products.

REV technologys commercial viability has been demonstrated and is growing rapidly across several market verticals in the food, and pharmaceutical sectors, including legal cannabis. EnWaves strategy is to sign royalty-bearing commercial licenses with innovative, disruptive companies in multiple verticals for the use of REV technology. The company has signed over thirty royalty-bearing licenses to date. In addition to these licenses, EnWave established a Limited Liability Corporation, NutraDried Food Company, LLC, to manufacture, market and sell all-natural dairy snack products in the United States, including the Moon Cheese brand.

EnWave has introduced REV as a disruptive dehydration platform in the food and cannabis sectors: faster and cheaper than freeze drying, with better end product quality than air drying or spray drying. EnWave currently offers two distinct commercial REV platforms:

nutraREV which is a drum-based system that dehydrates organic materials quickly and at low-cost, while maintaining high levels of nutrition, taste, texture and colour; and, quantaREV which is a tray-based system used for continuous, high-volume low-temperature drying.

EnWave is also active in the pharmaceutical industry through a joint development agreement with GEA Lyophil, a leader in GMP drying machinery.



More information about EnWave is available at www.enwave.net .



EnWave Corporation

Mr. Brent Charleton, CFA

President and CEO

For further information:

Brent Charleton, CFA , President and CEO at +1 (778) 378-9616

E-mail: bcharleton@enwave.net

Dan Henriques, CA, CPA, Chief Financial Officer at +1 (604) 835-5212

E-mail: dhenriques@enwave.net



Safe Harbour for Forward-Looking Information Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking information based on management's expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Company's strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures, and the expected synergies following the closing are forward-looking statements. All third party claims referred to in this release are not guaranteed to be accurate. All third party references to market information in this release are not guaranteed to be accurate as the Company did not conduct the original primary research. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although the Company 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 as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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.
GETTY

Canadas Privacy Commissioner has launched an investigation into Tim Hortons mobile app.

The investigation was launched after the Financial Post first reported the app was collecting extensive location data and information of those using it. In a months-long investigation, the article indicated that the app collected longitude and latitude coordinates more than 2,700 times in less than five months and not just when the app was being used.

A press release from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada said the investigation is in partnership with the Commission d'acces a l'information du Quebec, Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for B.C., and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta.

The investigation will look into whether Tim Hortons is in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.

More specifically, the [Office of the Privacy Commissioner] will look at whether the organization is obtaining meaningful consent from app users to collect and use their geolocation data for purposes which could include the amassing and use of detailed user profiles, and whether that collection and use of the data is appropriate in the circumstances, the release said.

In an emailed statement, Tim Hortons said it would fully cooperate with the privacy regulator.

We are confident well be able to resolve this matter, the statement read.

Since Tim Hortons launched our mobile app, our guests always had the choice of whether they share location data with us, including always sharing location data - an option offered by many companies on their own apps. We recently updated The Tim Hortons app to limit the collection of location data to only while guests have our app open, even if a guest has selected always in their device settings.

With files from Alicja Siekierska

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief.
Thinking about retirement can be overwhelming, but thanks to senior discounts, you can at least look forward to saving some money in your golden years. Senior citizen discounts can be found online and in the real world, in restaurants and retail stores, and in hotels and hair salons. However, sometimes the best deals go beyond the standard AARP discounts.

These senior savings that break the industry norm can help you enjoy your retirement sooner than later.

Last updated: Nov. 8, 2019

United Airlines

Senior discount: Varies

Southwest recently announced it was canceling its senior discount nearly 35 years after it first began the program in 1985. Other airlines, like Delta, do extend senior discounts, but not online. Other airlines offer limited and restricted discounts for older travelers. United, on the other hand, offers discount fares to customers 65 and older with few restrictions, including online, but those discounts vary depending on factors like date and destination.

AT&T

Senior discount: Waived fees and discounts on both accessories and service

AT&T offers AARP members the AT&T Signature Program, which waives up to $45 in activation and upgrade fees, plus 10% off Mobile Share Plus monthly service charges and 15% off eligible accessories.

Americas National Parks

Senior discount: Senior Pass for $20 per year, $80 for a lifetime pass

The National Park Senior Pass is not only much cheaper ($20 annually) to buy than a standard pass ($80 annually), but it also gets you 50% off of some amenity fees for services and facilities like a boat launch, camping and swimming.

PetSmart

Senior discount: 10% off a stay at PetsHotel

If youre 65 or older and you insist on luxury when you board your pet, you can save on stays at one of PetSmarts PetsHotels. Their hotel hosts are safety certified, the cost includes meals and full-service amenities, and a vet is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Senior discount: Reduced rates for travelers 55 and older

If your vacation takes place on the ocean, Royal Caribbean offers discounts to people who are still years away from being eligible for Social Security. It applies only to select sailings, but in some cases, a reduced fare can be extended to companions sharing accommodations who wouldnt qualify for a discount on their own.

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Walgreens

Senior discount: Balance Rewards card offers senior-specific specials

Older Balance Rewards members can get exclusive deals and discounts just for seniors. AARP members qualify, as does anyone over the age of 55. Walgreens also periodically hosts special Seniors Day events that offer 20% off both in-store and online purchases.

Take a Look: 50 Best Places To Retire in the US

Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort

Senior discount: $50 hotel rooms Monday-Thursday for guests 50 years old and up

Located in West Virginia but easily driveable from the Pittsburgh metro area and much of Eastern Ohio, the Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort is part of the sprawling Eldorado Resorts Collection. This deal stands out not just for its dirt-cheap $50 room offer, but also for its inclusive age-range, since the discount at the adult playground is open to seniors as young as 50.

Best Western

Senior discount: Up to 15% off for guests 55 and older

Its not unusual for hotel chains to give seniors a break on the price, but Best Western considers senior to be anyone a full decade younger than the traditional retirement age of 65. That rule holds true across all 4,200-plus Best Westerns across the world, and you still collect rewards points even if you accept the discount.

Michaels

Senior discount: 10% off entire order including sale items for customers 55 and older

Craft and hobby chain Michaels also has a generous policy regarding senior discounts  the minimum age is only 55. Even better, the discount is available every day, instead of only on specific days, like many competitor stores.

Amtrak

Senior discount: 10% off for riders aged 65 and older

If you prefer to travel by train, Amtrak offers 10% off for riders 65 and older for most fares. Or, if you ride internationally on trains operated by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada, the discount applies to passengers 60 and older. Various restrictions apply.

Hallmark

Senior discount: Whatever the mall says, goes

Hallmark follows an unusual pricing structure when it comes to discounts for seniors. It doesnt offer discounts directly, but it does honor any senior day discounts advertised in the mall or shopping center where a Hallmark store is located, provided its not more than once per week.

Verizon

Senior discount: Ages 55 and older save up to $40 per month

Verizon, too, offers a senior discount, but its not open just for AARP members  you only have to be 55 to take advantage of it. The deal includes two lines for $80 per month, as opposed to $60 for a single line. Unlimited 4G LTE, unlimited talk and text, and an unlimited mobile hot spot are all part of the deal.

Pep Boys

Senior discount: 10% for customers 55 and older

The Pep Boys discount is good for in-store visits only, not to online purchases. Its open to anyone 55 and older, and applies storewide, including tires and tire service, traditional service and repairs.

Castle Resorts and Hotels

Senior discount: Up to 25% off the best available price

Paradise isnt cheap, but older travelers can get a relative bargain on a trip to Hawaii. Castle Resorts and Hotels maintains 22 locations across the Hawaiian islands, including Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Molokai and the Big Island. People ages 55 and older qualify, and the discount applies to the best price available  not just the standard rate.

Hertz

Senior discount: 20% off base rates for customers 50 and older

The Hertz 20% everyday discount is open to people as young as 50, but thats not the only thing that sets the Hertz Fifty Plus Program apart. Members can save even more by making reservations on Hertz.com before they travel. They can also pair discounts with promotional coupons and add a spouse or domestic partner as a driver with no extra charge.

The Ultimate Financial Planning Guide: Do It Like the Pros in 8 Steps

Cinemark Theaters

Senior discount: Seniors Day screenings

Prices vary by location, but all Cinemark Theaters participate in Seniors Day. Seniors can buy one ticket only at a reduced rate, which applies to all movies and all showtimes. The special rate, however, does not apply to IMAX, Xtreme, Cinemark XD and special engagements.

Showcase Cinemas

Senior discount: $7.50 movies on Senior Wednesdays

If you dont live near a Cinemark, Showcase Cinemas celebrates seniors on Wednesdays. You only have to be 60 to take advantage of the deal, which also includes a soda and popcorn for $4.50. Even better, the discount applies to all formats, including IMAX and RealD 3D.

Kohls

Senior discount: 10% off every Wednesday

If youre 60 or older, Kohls is the place to be on Wednesdays. But the special discount is available for in-store purchases only. However, be ready to navigate a heap of restrictions on categories and brands.

Goodwill

Senior discount: Many locations offer discounts

Your local Goodwill could offer a 10% discount or more on specific days of the week. Check with your nearest Goodwill for details and age requirements, which can vary by location. Goodwill is a nonprofit human services organization.

Rite Aid

Senior discount: Wellness65+ Wednesday savings

The first Wednesday of every month is Wellness65+ at Rite Aid. Wellness65+ members get 20% off nonprescription in-store purchases. Members also get extras like a free pharmacist consultation and can participate in monthly activities based on different health-related topics.

LensCrafters

Senior discount: Up to 40% off lenses, up to 30% off frames, reduced-rate services

AARP members get exclusive discounts and services from LensCrafters. Members get exams for a $55 copay and discounts of 10% on contact lenses. Lenses or frames by themselves are 15% off, complete pairs are 30% off, and Transitions lenses are 40% off.

IHOP

Senior discount: 55+ menu

IHOP does not offer senior citizen discounts on regularly priced items, but it does have a senior menu. As the name implies, you only have to be 55 to take advantage, and its got plenty of deals for breakfast, lunch and dinner  every option is less than $10.

Denny's

Senior discount: 55+ menu

Dennys restaurants are owned by independent franchisees, which means there is no single price structure in terms of senior discounts, which vary from location to location. But like IHOP, Dennys offers a special menu for seniors with low-price entrees for all three meals.

Outback Steakhouse

Senior discount: 10% off for AARP members

AARP members can dine at the Australian-themed chain restaurant for 10% off. Known for its famous Bloomin Onion, Outback has an impressive lineup of big steaks for low prices. A recent steak and lobster deal could be had for under $20.

Harris Teeter

Senior discount: 5% discount every Thursday

The Harris Teeter food and pharmacy Thursday senior discount is open to VIC cardholders age 60 and older. The discount can be added after coupon savings. It doesnt apply to gift cards, pharmacy items, fuel or tickets.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 25 Unexpected Places To Score Senior Discounts
Alberta will increase spending on infrastructure projects, cut its corporate tax rate, establish a new investment agency and introduce a series of targeted incentives for industry as part of a plan to restart its battered economy.

Premier Jason Kenney, flanked by Finance Minister Travis Toews, said his government would spend $10 billion on projects that will immediately create jobs, including health-care facilities, pipelines, schools, drug treatment centres and more.

Of that, $6.9 billion was already earmarked in the spring budget and it's unclear just how much of the $3 billion left over is new spending that hasn't previously been announced.

CBC News is awaiting further clarification from the government.

The province did say at least $600 million will be new, large-scale projects that will start construction this summer, but no details were immediately available.

'Largest infrastructure build' in provincial history

Kenney said his United Conservative Party government anticipates the creation of 50,000 jobs tied directly to the projects across the province, which has been devastated by oil price wars and the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the plan represents the "largest infrastructure build in Alberta history."

WATCH | Alberta looks to infrastructure spending and corporate tax cuts to boost economy:

In addition to the spending, Kenney also said his government would speed up the implementation of corporate tax cuts, slashing the rate to eight per cent from 10 per cent starting on July 1. That's 1.5 years ahead of schedule.

The government claims the cuts will create an additional 55,000 jobs by 2022 and attract $4 billion in investment annually, starting in 2023.

Critics, including the opposition NDP, dispute those kinds of predictions and have railed against an earlier two per cent cut in the rate brought in shortly after the UCP took power.

Incentives and more

The plan will offer incentives for the tech sector and startups to employ workers and will funnel $175 million into the Alberta Enterprise Corporation to provide venture capital to startups.

Story continues

In addition, a new agency, Investment Alberta, will set up international offices and pitch Alberta to potential investors.

Sector-specific initiatives to spur diversification will be unveiled in the coming days and weeks.

There will also be a number of initiatives aimed at reducing regulations and red tape.

Kenney said the moves represent a "plan for a generation of growth" and that if the government does not act quickly, the "fiscal challenges will become insurmountable."

"Our future is truly at stake," he said.

Economic hits

The province, whose economy has been pummelled since a global oil price crash in 2014, has seen its deficit balloon from a projected $7 billion to $20 billion this year.

Alberta's most recent budget was based on oil fetching $58 US per barrel, a forecast critics called rosy at the time, and was rushed through the legislature by the UCP as a battle between Saudi Arabia and Russia cratered the price and the global pandemic settled on Alberta.

Economists are predicting a severe recession in the once-booming province and even Kenney has warned of "a great fiscal reckoning" to come in a province that has tied its fortunes to the swings of its main commodity.

Kenney warned unemployment could reach 25 per cent.

In March, Kenney announced a 12-member economic advisory panel, including former prime minister Stephen Harper, to provide guidance on the relaunch.

A timely gamble

Ron Kneebone, an economist at the University of Calgary and the Calgary School of Public Policy, says Alberta has a long history of "losing all sorts of revenue on short notice" and trying to find a way to make up that shortfall.

"This reaction is a little bit different because I think the premier is admitting that things are not going to come back and be the same as they were," he said, highlighting moves to shift the province away from oil and gas over the long term.

Kneebone said the government is gambling that it can reduce taxes and invest in infrastructure in order to attract investment that will help the economy rebound.

He said it's the right time for that gamble, with a relatively strong balance sheet providing some wiggle room.

"We have time to see if that happens, maybe five years from now we might have to rethink it."

Opposition reaction

NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley accused the government of handing more taxpayer money to "already profitable" corporations at the expense of regular Albertans.

She said the previous round of tax cuts did not deliver new jobs or new investments.

"It will put incredible pressure on the treasury and will underlie the attack on working Albertans that we already know is coming," she said.

The government is doing a bait and switch, Notley said, putting less money toward diversification than what was in place under the NDP and that was cut shortly after the UCP took power.

While she did say the infrastructure spending can be an effective stimulus measure, and highlighted her government's spending in that area, Notley said it does not represent a long-term vision for recovery.

She pointed to cuts in post-secondary education as a sign the government is not actually interested in investing in innovation.

"What needs to happen is there has to be a much more ambitious approach to diversifying the economy, and that's not in here."

CEO laments loss of tax credits

Keith Warner, the CEO of video game developer New World Interactive that opened a Calgary office under previous tax incentives offered under the NDP, said there is nothing that interests him in Kenney's announcement.

He says he used the previous tax credits to recruit talent to the Calgary office and can't afford to do that without the incentive and that he's not doing any hiring in the province.

Audrey Neveu/CBC

He is expanding in Montreal where he plans to more than double his staff. Quebec offers a 37.5 per cent tax credit.

Warner says he's not looking for venture capital, like what would be offered through Alberta Enterprise, and would prefer to see an investor tax credit reinstated.

In the meantime, he's raising all his investments for his U.S.-based parent company.

The case in Calgary

Calgary, where Kenney made the announcement Monday, has been particularly hard hit since 2014 by an oil price downturn that refuses to rebound.

Its downtown vacancy rate has been hovering around 25 per cent for years, leaving a big hole in the tax base that is only expected to grow.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi has said the city will require particular aid from the province and the federal government in order to ride out its current storm, but he wasn't sure just what Monday's announcement meant for the city.

He estimates Calgary could receive between $300 and $400 million, but said he really won't know until more details are provided about what's being offered to municipalities for projects.

"What we want to do is, we want to make sure if there is money coming for Calgary that it goes to stuff that creates jobs right now because that's what's needed."

Kenney said on Monday that the government will aggressively market Calgary, Edmonton and other municipalities as attractive places to set up shop and will be targeting everything from technology companies to the finance powerhouses that call Toronto's Bay Street home.

He said there is plenty of top-tier real estate that is available and cheap in a territory with less traffic than Toronto and lower taxes as well.

Nenshi, who has been beating the drum for companies to relocate to Calgary, said corporate tax cuts don't automatically create jobs or lure big companies to a new home.

"Literally no one has asked me about corporate taxes while I try to lure them here."
(SCREENSHOT: Causeway Point mall at Woodlands/Google Maps)

SINGAPORE  Causeway Point and a durian shop in Geylang are among five new public places visited by confirmed COVID-19 cases that were listed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday (29 June).

Apart from the mall in Woodlands and the Durian 36 shop at 608 Geylang Road, the other places are Siam Square Mookata at 155 Bukit Batok Street 11, Everyday Spa at 94 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, and Sheng Siong Supermarket at New World Centre.

In addition, there is an additional entry for Mustafa Centre in the list.

Persons who visited these places at the following times and dates should see a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms such as cough, sore throat and runny nose, as well as fever and loss of taste or smell, and inform the doctor of their exposure history, the MOH advised.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

(TABLE: Public places visited by COVID-19 cases on 24-26 June 2020/Ministry of Health)

There is no need to avoid places where confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been. The National Environment Agency will engage the management of affected premises to provide guidance on cleaning and disinfection, it added.

The list  which excludes residences, workplaces, healthcare facilities, and public transport  will be updated on a rolling 14-day basis or one incubation period. First published on 25 May, the list compiles places visited by infectious cases in the community for over 30 minutes.

The MOH reported 202 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of Monday noon, bringing the total to 43,661.

Follow Yahoo News Singapores GE2020 coverage here.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore
Clare's Law comes into effect Monday in Saskatchewan  the first jurisdiction in Canada to implement it.

With the new legislation, police can warn people about a partner's violent past, though the RCMP has declined to participate for now, citing federal privacy laws and saying they are still trying to figure out how they can implement it. In the meantime, people in rural communities will have to apply to municipal police for information.

Regina police Chief Evan Bray said he would like to see the RCMP participate so everyone in the province can access the legislation from their hometown, but in the meantime no one will be turned away from municipal police.

"At the end of the day, we're in the business of helping people," Bray said. "We don't close our doors to people because they don't live in our city or they happen to be a visitor in our city or whatever the case may be. If someone reaches out for help, we're going to do everything we can to help them."

Under the Interpersonal Violence Disclosure Protocol Act  a.k.a. Clare's Law  when someone applies to find out information about a partner, the request will go to a review committee that will look at prior interactions with police and whether there is a pattern of behaviour.

Applicants will be told whether they are at high risk, medium risk, or low risk in terms of the relationship. Unless a person is in immediate danger, Bray said the review committee will return its assessment within about 30 days.

Even if the risk is low, police will still offer options for support.

"[The person] still made the application for a reason, they still had a concern, and so it's important that that follow up conversation happened to help them understand what options they have to stay safe," Bray said.

He said he expects 30 to 40 applications province-wide in a year.

Regina police have been offering training to front-line workers who would take the application as well as general training for all officers so they know the legislation exists, Bray said.

Story continues

"Oftentimes, when our officers are responding to a domestic dispute or out in the community, it's important that they know what pieces of legislation are out there that could help people potentially keep themselves safe."

'Meaningful support'

Bray also said he can think of times in his career where legislation would have allowed him to share information. In a recent case, he said a woman voluntarily told the police she was in a new relationship with someone who was "very well known" to the police.

"[The person] had a long history of serious domestic abuse and assaults," he said. "Having a piece of legislation that backs up our ability to tell someone, here's some things that we think you need to do to proactively stay safe ... that can really provide some meaningful support."

Municipal police services fall under Saskatchewan privacy legislation. Bray said the committee that developed the protocols worked with the provincial privacy commissioner and ensured it was compliant with provincial laws.

He believes the RCMP are working toward common ground to make it possible to participate in the legislation.

"I can only appreciate that that must look a little different when you're looking at it on a national level," Bray said.

Privacy commissioner 'disappointed' by RCMP decision

Ron Kruzeniski, Saskatchewan's information and privacy commissioner, said he initially had concerns about how much information would be shared, but that he's happy with the final protocol.

"When I found out that the information would either say it is a low risk, medium risk or high risk, I think a good number of my concerns basically evaporated."

Kruzeniski said he doesn't understand why the RCMP won't participate.

"People have been working on this legislation for two years and I would hope that would have given them ample time to determine whether they're going to work with this legislation or not," he said.

"Like the justice minister, I'm disappointed. One of my reasons for being disappointed is since we have this protocol, I would like to think that every citizen is entitled to use it, not just those in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw and others who have municipal police forces. That's extremely disappointing."

If someone reaches out for help, we're going to do everything we can to help them. - Regina police Chief Evan Bray

He said he will be watching as the legislation is put into action. One concern he has is too much personal information getting into the wrong hands. The person applying for the information has to sign a confidentiality agreement, but what if that person breaks the agreement?

"If there were deviations by the applicant on that, that would be extremely disappointing," he said.

"Telling people that are going to help you get to a safe place is probably important. Broadcasting it would be breaching a confidentiality agreement."

Bray hopes Clare's Law will help start conversations about domestic abuse and give people another tool to protect themselves.

"Ultimately I feel like this is a real positive thing for our province," Bray said. "We have a very high, in fact it's one of the highest in Canada, rates of domestic violence. And so I think we need to show that we're going to be proactive in any way possible to try to deal with this problem."
(Reuters) - The death toll from COVID-19 surpassed half a million people on Sunday, according to a Reuters tally, a grim milestone for the global pandemic that seems to be resurgent in some countries even as other regions are still grappling with the first wave.

DEATHS AND INFECTIONS

* For an interactive graphic tracking the global spread, open https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser.

* For a U.S.-focused tracker with state-by-state and county map, open https://tmsnrt.rs/2w7hX9T in an external browser.

* Eikon users, see MacroVitals (cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?navid=1592404098) for a case tracker and a summary of developments.

EUROPE

* Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the coronavirus crisis had been a disaster for the United Kingdom and while the government would look at what went wrong it was not the right time to have an inquiry into missteps.

* The German finance agency on Monday announced plans to raise the debt issued in the third quarter to 146 billion euros ($164.13 billion) from an initially planned 56.5 billion euros.

* Zurich's health authority said it had ordered a 10-day quarantine for almost 300 guests and staff of a nightclub after a reveller tested positive for the new coronavirus and had been proven to have infected others during his outing.

* A growing number of COVID-19 cases among people under 35 is a "worrying trend," Ireland's chief medical officer Tony Holohan said on Saturday as the country reported the highest number of new infections for two weeks.

AMERICAS

* More than 2.56 million have been infected with the novel coronavirus in the United States and over 125,700 have died, according to a Reuters tally as of 0540 GMT on Monday.

* Brazil recorded 30,476 new cases and 552 additional deaths, the Health Ministry said on Sunday, while Mexico reported 4,050 new infections and 267 additional fatalities.

ASIA-PACIFIC

* South Korea's health authorities called on Monday for citizens to stagger vacation schedules ahead of the holiday season and avoid gatherings at workplaces and religious facilities, as coronavirus infections from small clusters persist.

Story continues

* Tokyo on Monday recorded 58 new cases, marking the fourth straight day that infections had exceeded 50, broadcaster TV Asahi reported.

* China's military will use a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by its research unit and CanSino Biologics.

* Australia's second most populous state, Victoria, is considering re-imposing social distancing restrictions after the country reported its biggest one-day rise in new infections in more than two months.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

* Sudan is extending a lockdown in the state of Khartoum by one week until July 7.

* Qatar aims to further ease coronavirus curbs from July 1, allowing the limited reopening of restaurants, beaches and parks.

* Tunisia reopened its land, sea and air borders for the first time in more than three months on Saturday, saying it had brought the coronavirus outbreak under control.

MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS

* China National Biotec Group (CNBG) said early human test results for a vaccine candidate suggested it could be safe and effective, the second vaccine candidate from the firm to show encouraging results in a clinical trial.

ECONOMIC FALLOUT

* World shares hit two-week lows and oil fell nearly 2% on Monday as the relentless spread of the coronavirus curbed optimism on the global economy, prompting investors to take shelter in safe-haven bonds and gold. [MKTS/GLOB]

* British private-sector economic activity fell at a record pace in the three months to June, but there are signs the decline has bottomed out, the Confederation of British Industry said on Sunday.

* Yields of safe haven German government bonds on Monday clung to one-month lows plumbed last week as coronavirus death toll topped half a million worldwide.

(Compiled by Anna Rzhevkina, Frances Kerry and Uttaresh.V; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Tomasz Janowski)
Official White House Photo by Joyce N. BoghosianBy Libby Cathey, ABC News



(WASHINGTON) -- After the city of Jacksonville, Florida, announced that masks will be mandatory for public and indoor locations starting Monday, White House press secretary Kaleigh McEnany would not directly say if President Donald Trump planned to wear one at his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention.



The event, scheduled for August, is expected to bring more than 40,000 people from all over the country to Jacksonville, and while the rules may apply to them, it's likely Trump will exempt himself.aircraft, " ABC News Contributor and retired Marine Col. Steve Ganyard said.



"I talked to the president before coming out here," McEnany said. "It's his choice to wear a mask. It's the personal choice of any individual as to whether to wear a mask or not. He encourages people to make whatever decision is best for their safety, but he did say to me he has no problem with masks, and to do whatever your local jurisdiction requests of you."



Her rationale comes on the heels of a growing number of health officials urging the public to wear masks as cases rise alarmingly across the southern United States.



At the first public task force briefing in two months last Friday, Vice President Mike Pence spent much of the time applauding the Trump administration's efforts and emphasizing how much worse the pandemic could have been without their response.



Coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, meanwhile, stressed the importance of wearing a mask.



When asked by ABC News Correspondent Kyra Phillips why Trump's campaign continues to hold rallies without mask or social distancing requirement, despite public health advice, Pence cited the Constitution.



"The freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble is enshrined in the Constitution," Pence said. "President Trump and I believe that taking proper steps as we created screening at recent events, and giving people the very best counsel that we have. We still want to give people the freedom to participate in the political process."



Pressed about how masks -- or how the decision not to wear one -- has become a political statement, Pence would only say he encouraged Americans to follow state and local leaders.



For many people, that wasn't enough.



Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., House Republican Conference Chair and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney tweeted a photo of her masked father following the task force briefing accompanied by the hashtag "RealMenWearMasks."



House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also shared the sentiment to ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos on "This Week" Sunday and voiced her support for a federal mask mandate.



"It's definitely long overdue for that," she said. "My understanding is that the Centers for Disease Control has recommended the use of masks but not required it, because they don't want to offend the president."



"Real men wear masks," she added. "It's not about protecting yourself, it's about protecting others."



In a trip to the hotspot state of Texas, Pence and his team all arrived wearing masks, as did Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, and his team, to greet Pence on the tarmac.



In a later press conference, Pence was more direct in echoing the advice of the health professionals seated beside him: "Wearing a mask is just a good idea."



Birx then stressed the importance of "100% compliance" with mask orders in several counties as hospitalization rates increase particularly among younger adults with underlying health conditions.



Notably, hours before Pence gave advice alongside Birx, he spoke at a mega-church in Dallas with over 2,000 congregants and a 100-person choir -- standing close and none wearing masks -- though the Centers for Disease Control an Prevention has warned churches can be "super spreader" sites, for one, because of singing.



By Sunday afternoon, Pence has changed his tune -- somewhat.



In a trip to the hotspot state of Texas, Pence and his team all arrived wearing masks, as did Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, and his team, to greet Pence on the tarmac.



In a later press conference, Pence was more direct in echoing the advice of the health professionals seated beside him: "Wearing a mask is just a good idea."



Birx then stressed the importance of "100% compliance" with mask orders in several counties as hospitalization rates increase particularly among younger adults with underlying health conditions.



Notably, hours before Pence gave advice alongside Birx, he spoke at a mega-church in Dallas with over 2,000 congregants and a 100-person choir -- standing close and none wearing masks -- though the Centers for Disease Control an Prevention has warned churches can be "super spreader" sites, for one, because of singing.



Despite the ramped up warnings, Trump has signaled for months that he doesn't view masks as presidential and has resisted any pressure to be photographed in one in public.



"I just don't want to wear one myself. It's a recommendation. I am feeling good," Trump said at an April 3 coronavirus task force briefing. "I just don't want to be doing -- I don't know, somehow sitting in the Oval Office behind that beautiful Resolute Desk, the great Resolute Desk, I think wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens. I don't know, somehow, I don't see it for myself."



Even as Trump's travels to more states where the coronavirus was spreading, and more Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell say people "ought to" wear them and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said, "Everyone should just wear a damn mask," Trump has resisted the pressure.



Although the White House says the president respects state and local mask mandates, Trump, himself, seems to be the exception to those rules.



At a Fox News "town hall" in Wisconsin last week, for instance, all participants were required to wear masks to enter at the event -- except for a socially-distant Trump and Sean Hannity.



But Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said Monday that without a mask, someone may not be allowed into a business or venue. This includes the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Downtown Jacksonville where the RNC is scheduled for August.



"We will continue to work on these plans as we get closer [to the RNC]," he said.



It seems unlikely come August that the Republican National Committee will force their nominee to wear a mask in the mega-indoor arena.



It seems more likely it's a "personal choice" the president will hame the same as he's done so far.



ABC News' Elizabeth Thomas and Ben Gittleson contributed to this report.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
By Alkis Konstantinidis

KOS, Greece (Reuters) - German workers who helped combat the novel coronavirus arrived on the island of Kos on Monday in the first foreign flight to reach a Greek regional airport since the health crisis erupted.

About 180 people - among them medical staff, police officers and supermarket workers - flew from Hanover and will stay for five days on the eastern Aegean island, the birthplace of ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, the father of Medicine.

The trip, organised by TUI, was offered free of charge to workers in Germany to thank them for their contribution during the pandemic. Travellers were selected by German newspaper Bild following a public nomination process.

The passengers, who wore masks as they came down the plane's staircase, said they were happy to travel to Greece. Dozens later underwent precautionary tests for COVID-19.

"The virus is still there... We have to be careful and we have to follow the rules and we'll manage it together," said Stephen, one of the passengers, who works as an officer at the German Chancellery.

Regional airports will start operating officially on July 1.

Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis said he hoped the visitors would enjoy a holiday "well deserved for their achievements".

"The island of Kos, the island of the father of Medicine, received the first airplane form Germany with the 180 corona heroes," he told Reuters.

Greece, which emerged from a decade-long debt crisis in 2018, relies heavily on tourism for an economic recovery. The sector accounts for about a fifth of its economic output and Germany is one of its main tourism markets.

So far, Greece has managed to contain the spread of the virus to just 3,376 cases, faring better than other European Union countries, mainly due to an early lockdown.

TUI said that in the first week of July it plans 56 flights to Greek destinations, including to Crete and Rhodes.

(Additional reporting by Deborah Kyrikosaios in Athens; Writing by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Peter Graff)
An older, small terrier is said to have died while being transported in a cramped, hot van.

A "sweet" husky-malamute foster who turned out to be aggressive to dogs with a history of biting.

Falsified information in documents bringing U.S. rescue puppies into Canada.

These are just a few of the allegations from several former volunteers and fosters that have surfaced against EJ Rescue Canada  a dog rescue in Airdrie, Alta.  after its name came up in connection to a crash in Idaho this spring that killed two people and 26 dogs destined for the rescue facility.

Some critics have taken their concerns to social media with Facebook groups popping up to denounce the owner's practices.

CBC News spoke with dozens of people who have fostered and/or adopted dogs from EJ Rescue Canada, and sat down with a core group of six former EJ volunteers who all left within the past year.

Submitted

They say the bottom line is EJ Rescue owner Trina Demeria brings in too many dogs  spurring a whole host of other issues that they say ultimately results in the dogs not receiving proper care both at the rescue and when fostered/adopted.

The ex-volunteers say they struggled to find enough fosters and adopters. They say they also struggled to keep up with feeding, providing bathroom breaks and play time, and cleaning up after the sometimes dozens of dogs that ended up staying at the daycare/rescue facility.

They're calling for regulatory oversight to ensure animal rescues are routinely inspected, rescue animals receive initial checks by Canadian vets and the animals' medical and behavioural histories follow them to the fosters or adopters.

Colleen Armstrong

Twyla Johnson, one of the inner circle of former volunteers and their de facto spokeswoman when they spoke with CBC News, sums up their journey from defenders of the rescue to outspoken critics, saying everyone starts out feeling like this.

"You just want to save the dogs, I just want to save all the dogs. It's not fair that they're dying," said Johnson, the former lead volunteer and ex-Dog E Daycare employee.

Story continues

"And eventually we all came to that conclusion of as much as we want to help these dogs we're not helping them, we're helping her with her dog hoarding problem," said Casey Heidinger, former foster coordinator volunteer.

EJ Rescue Canada owner declines comment

CBC News reached out to Demeria several times.

Demeria spoke to CBC News once by phone for an hour. However, she refused to allow the CBC to report any of the conversation, saying she didn't think she'd be treated fairly in the story and saying she had been the subject of harassment since the fatal crash in May.

However, Demeria asked CBC News to speak to supporters of her rescue, who could provide positive stories.

CBC News spoke to several fosters, partner rescue agencies and supporters of EJ Rescue who say they have never had a problem with Demeria or EJ.

Her supporters deny many of the allegations from critics.

Few rules govern Alberta's dozens of rescue operations

One challenge is that there is no accreditation process and they are unregulated: anyone can call themselves a "rescue."

According to the Alberta SPCA, there are more than 70 rescue organizations that shelter cats and dogs in the province.

The SPCA does not routinely inspect facilities but will investigate complaints of an animal in distress  whether that's a report of lack of food or water, inadequate veterinary care or improper shelter.

There are also no laws that state animals must see a vet when they arrive in Canada or outline a rescue's staff to animal ratio.

CBC News

Some rescues  such as Calgary-based Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) and Pawsitive Match  are registered as non-profit organizations, societies or charities.

That status means they have to report their financials, have a board and list the members.

EJ Rescue Canada is not registered as a non-profit organization or a charity. It was started in 2014 and was licensed as a business in 2020.

Dogs transported in unsafe conditions, critics say

Some of the ex-volunteers' top concerns revolve around the dogs' transportation into Canada, both in terms of transit conditions and falsified information in documents provided to border officials.

Johnson says she is still bothered by an August 2019 transport where she and Demeria went to Montana to pick up dogs from a rescue in Arizona.

They were supposed to be picking up 32 dogs  but when she woke up in a hotel, she says she found Demeria and the other agency volunteer had packed in an extra 11.

She remembers the van being so crammed with dogs in kennels that there was no room to walk around. There were no safety straps to hold down the kennels as is required by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) while travelling in Canada, and air couldn't circulate properly to cool down the stifling heat, she says.

One older terrier, who had been tucked up in a corner, died before they even reached the border, she said.

"He was too old and there was too much going on to stick an old dog in a top, hot corner," said Johnson. "I felt horrible."

Since the trip in August 2019, Johnson says Demeria has been using a gutted motorhome to transport dogs into Canada.

Paperwork questioned by border officials

Problems with paperwork also surfaced on this August 2019 trip.

The CFIA regulates the humane transport of animals in Canada and says rescue agencies can't bring puppies under eight months into Canada unless they are already adopted. The rescue staff taking them across the border must produce proof of adoption, vaccinations and certificates of health to border officials.

Rescue dogs eight months and older just need a valid rabies vaccination certificate.

Johnson and the rest of the ex-volunteers say that, shortly after the August 2019 trip, they were contacted by border officials who had questions about some of the dogs' paperwork.

Submitted by Barb Lindsay

Former foster co-ordinators Casey Heidinger and Stephanie MacNeil said they had signed documents stating they were adopting four of the Arizona rescue puppies  even though they weren't.

"According to me, I'm saving lives, so OK, it didn't seem anything random or weird," said MacNeil.

They say Demeria asked them to because the puppies needed that paperwork to enter Canada. CBC News has talked to others who say they were asked to fill out similar paperwork.

But when called by the border services veterinarian, they say they came clean.

CBC News asked Demeria about this allegation but she did not respond.

CFIA says it is aware of EJ Rescue and could not comment on the organization or any investigations at this time.

A spokesperson for the CFIA says if an animal is improperly imported the animal could be removed from Canada, fines may be applied and legal actions may be pursued.

Concerns over paperwork in fatal crash

CBC News has learned there were also concerns over paperwork related to the fatal crash in Idaho involving dogs from Arizona headed to EJ Rescue Canada.

It's alleged EJ Rescue rented the US vehicle under someone else's account  who was not involved in the crash.

Documents show the truck that crashed was rented from Enterprise Rent-A-Car under Mountain Girl Rescue, based in the U.S.  but Idaho state police have confirmed that rescue was not involved in the crash.

Both Mountain Girl and EJ Rescue are listed as the renters. But the rescue which was transporting the dogs, Who Saved Who, is not listed on the paperwork.

Idaho State Police, BlackfooT animal Clinic

Mountain Girl founder Katie Harris says she stopped doing transports with Demeria in March 2019.

Harris says she stopped working with EJ Rescue for several reasons, including concerns about the way Demeria did transports. She alleges Demeria never signed an agreement confirming she would follow the American SPCA's transport guidelines.

Harris says she's not sure why her name is on the rental agreement but says it's worrisome because she's since discovered her name is on a total of six Enterprise contracts involving EJ Rescue, between August 2019 and May 2020 for transports she wasn't involved in.

"Here I am a year later and I am wasting hours of every day dealing with this, " said Harris.

"I am going through receipts from 2015 looking for my original contract with Enterprise to show, no, Trina Demeria, was never on it," added Harris.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car says it is still investigating the matter.

Conditions at Airdrie facility concern ex-volunteers

The core group of ex-volunteers also expressed concerns about conditions at the facility in Airdrie that housed the rescues and daycare client dogs.

In Canada, there is no standard ratio for volunteers or staff to a rescue. But AARCS, for example, says its minimum ratio is six people to 35 dogs.

The ex-volunteers say usually only one daycare staff member was on duty at a time to care for all the rescue and client dogs at EJ's Airdrie facility.

Submitted

Johnson says she recalls having to potty, feed, play with and clean up after nearly 60 dogs by herself.

"I said, 'Trina, enough is enough.' That was when I had a big fight  'I have had it, there [are] way too many dogs. Nobody can do this, I'm lost,'" said Johnson.

As a result, the daycare would be filthy and cluttered, with some dogs living at the daycare for months because volunteers couldn't find them homes, usually because the dogs were too aggressive, Johnson says.

The ex-volunteers also say dogs would not always get medical care when they thought it was warranted  from initial checks to follow-up visits if dogs got injured or became ill.

Johnson and the others say sick puppies would sometimes be cared for by volunteers rather than a vet, even when there were suspected cases of parvo  a highly contagious virus that is often deadly for puppies and young dogs  especially those that haven't received vaccinations.

There is no specific treatment for the virus but supportive treatment for infected dogs includes IV fluids and electrolytes, according to the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association.

"My heart is still sick at the fact that I enabled and stuck with her choice of care as opposed to going to the vet," said Johnson in a followup email.

Adopters don't have timely access to dogs' histories, critics say

Johnson says a more common problem that she and the ex-volunteers experienced around the dogs' health revolves whether and when medical paperwork is provided to adopters.

Adopters commonly had to wait months to receive their dog's vaccination and vet records from EJ Rescue  and some people never got them, the group says.

These documents would provide a dog's underlying health conditions and age.

Typically, rescue agencies provide a dog's paperwork at the time of adoption.

Submitted

CBC News spoke to one adopter who says they were left with a hefty vet bill because they say they were never told about pre-existing conditions.

Others say they were told a dog was younger than it really was, which allowed EJ to collect a higher fee. The adopters say they found out after they took their dogs to their own vet or when they finally got their dog's paperwork from EJ.

Ken Shiel adopted what he was told was a one-year-old bully mix only to find out a few months later that, based on the dog's records, it was a shar-pei and nearly four.

"I'm pissed off that they are doing this to people. I don't feel like they are in it for the animals," Shiel said.

Some fosters say they weren't told about a dog's behavioural or medical issues until after the problem surfaced.

Richard Gottardo says he was told his foster dog, Sabrina, was a sweet husky-malamute mix but when he took her home, she was aggressive toward his own dog.

He says when he started to ask questions he was told to return the dog because the original owner wanted her back.

Submitted

Johnson confirms Sabrina did not go back to her original owner  rather she was taken to the daycare.

Other fosters told CBC News that they couldn't contact EJ or convince staff that their dog needed medical attention  whether it be for trouble walking, diarrhea or a wound suffered in a fight.

EJ Rescue's foster contract states EJ is responsible for making all medical decisions for the dogs and it will not reimburse fosters for any treatment that wasn't pre authorized by EJ.

Others defend EJ Rescue, denying allegations

CBC News spoke to several current volunteers, fosters and partner rescue agencies of EJ Rescue who say they have never had a problem with Demeria or EJ.

A current volunteer, Kara D'Costa, who says she took on a larger role around the time the other volunteers left, acknowledges EJ has organizational problems and says there are delays in getting medical records out to adopters. But she denies many of the allegations being made by critics.

"There's no one in the organization who will say that there's not things that need to be worked on but what we're saying here is like that's a far cry from dogs not getting vetted, dogs laying in their filth, thousands of dogs in a daycare piled on top of each other," said D'Costa.

D'Costa says EJ doesn't give medical records to adopters when they pay their fee and take the dog home because the first week is considered a trial period  adopters can return their dog if things don't work out and receive a refund.

Once the week is up, adopters tell CBC News, they're told EJ Rescue has two weeks to issue these documents.

EJ's policy also states adopters can get their paperwork sooner if they forgo that trial period allowing for a refund, according to information shared with adopters.

D'Costa says EJ is working on changing its policy to provide the medical and vet records after the one-week trial period is up.

D'Costa also denies that dogs at the Airdrie facility are crammed together too tightly.

Submitted by Twyla Johnson

She says dogs are often in big pens  not cages  with plenty of room at the daycare if needed.

"It's never overcrowded. Right now, she could probably have the capacity of, like, 75 dogs in there, like, comfortably. I think right now there are 12," said DaCosta.

Demeria's supporters also say dogs are not denied vet care when warranted.

'We'll have one who thinks that the dog should go to the vet because it's itchy. Well, no, there's five things you do before a rescue, [that] doesn't have corporate or government funding, will pay for that vet," said D'Costa.

If the alternative remedies don't work within a few days, then D'Costa says dogs will go to a vet.

D'Costa also says there is no money to be made in rescue and certainly not by Demeria, she says.

"If she was a puppy mill, or like what are they calling her, a rescue for profit, first of all she wouldn't be driving a rusted 1978 Jimmy," said DaCosta.

Ex-volunteers say SPCA repeatedly called to no avail

The six former volunteers say many people have complained to the SPCA about EJ Rescue  including them after they left  but say nothing changes based on what they still hear from adopters and fosters.

They say the SPCA sometimes notified Demeria before they came to inspect; other times, Johnson and another staff member say they would have to stall the SPCA and to give Demeria and the volunteers enough time to clean up, hide dogs, or move them into foster homes.

"Every time there's a big call out for fosters  the SPCA is either on their way or she's on her way to Arizona," said Johnson.

The Alberta SPCA wouldn't confirm whether officials have received complaints against EJ or if the SPCA has conducted any investigations at the rescue.

It did say its inspectors can either show up unannounced or provide notification of a visit.

Ex-volunteers call for regulation of animal rescues

The ex-volunteers say that, even though months have stretched on, they are still sharing information about EJ with the CFIA and the SPCA.

Regardless of what happens there, they're urging better regulation of animal rescues and say rules should include the need to:

Face regular inspections with followup to ensure any problems are fixed or penalties implemented.

Ensure animals are spayed or neutered, or have a voucher system for adopters to do so.

Have animals inspected by Canadian vets upon arrival and annual checkups for those still in rescue's care.

Give dogs at least a week to decompress/quarantine after arrival before being fostered/adopted.

Conduct behavioral assessments on dogs over six months.

Provide all paperwork upon time of adoption, fostering.

Make reporting of a dog's history mandatory.

Impose a fire code on the maximum number of animals allowed inside a rescue.

Implement rules for proper transport.

They're not the only ones calling for changes.

Humane Canada says there needs to be a comprehensive animal welfare law and regulation that governs animals in Canada  rather than the existing patchwork of laws governing the care and transport of animals at the municipal, provincial and federal level.

It is working on an accreditation program for the 115 humane societies and SPCAs across the country. It's voluntary and it will set out standards in 19 areas including governance, animal care and management, fundraising and foster systems.

The group of ex-volunteers hopes that the accreditation program will filter down to rescues, too.

In the meantime, the ex-volunteers urge people looking to adopt to do their homework.

They say to look up their Better Business Bureau profile and online reviews, ask to tour their facility, compare their policies with other agencies and check to see whether they are a business, non-profit or a charity.

Some adopters say looking back they didn't do any research  and urge others not to do the same when choosing a rescue.

"Because I guess for me, psychologically, there is just an assumed altruism with anyone or any organization that's rescuing dogs. There's like an implied trust, like, 'oh, these people are amazing, oh, what great people these must be, making sure these dogs didn't get put down,'" said Colette Hamon, whose adopted dog Bentley wasn't neutered.

She says she ended up paying for the operation out of her own pocket because EJ ignored her complaints.
The Canadian Press

AMSTERDAM (AP)  Goran Pandev is ready to retire from international soccer  again. The 37-year-old Pandev said Sunday that North Macedonia's final group match at the European Championship will be his last. Yes, this is it for me, the last match in the jersey of Macedonia national football team, Pandev said. I think this is the right moment to say goodbye to the national team. North Macedonia will face the Netherlands on Monday in Group C. The Dutch have already won the group and North Maced
At least three people have been killed after gunmen attacked the Pakistan Stock Exchange on Monday morning.

Two security guards and a policeman died in the incident, which Pakistan police have declared a terrorist attack.

The four gunmen have now been shot dead by officers.

Officers said militants surrounded the building and opened fire at the entrance in Karachi.

Inside the stock exchange, broker Yaqub Memon told reporters how he and his colleagues were huddled inside their offices.

As the firing ended and the gunmen were killed, Mr Memon said police gathered all the employees and brokers in a single room while security forces checked each floor to ensure there were no explosives.

There were no reports of any wounded among the brokers and employees inside the exchange.

Heavily armed special forces quickly surrounded the building located in the heart of Karachi's financial district, where the Pakistan State Bank is located, as well as the headquarters of several national and international financial institutions.

Local television stations broadcast images of police in full body armour surrounding the building.

Rizwan Ahmend, a police official at the scene, said that after the attack was over, food supplies were found on the bodies of the gunmen, indicating they may have planned a long siege.

A militant group from a neighbouring province, the Baluchistan Liberation Army, said it carried out the attack.

The group has been behind a series of attacks in Karachi in recent years, including on the Chinese Consulate in November 2018 in which two people were killed.

The Karachi stock exchange is Pakistan's largest and oldest, incorporated today with the exchanges in Islamabad and Lahore.
PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo President Hashim Thaci on Monday rejected an indictment for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and said he would not resign unless a judge confirmed that he would be put on trial.

Last week, a special prosecutor's office dealing with Kosovo's 1998-99 uprising against Serbian rule said it had indicted Thaci, former parliamentary speaker Kadri Veseli and others for murder, enforced disappearances, persecution and torture.

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.

"I may have made political mistakes in peace, but war crimes, never!" Thaci said in a televised address.

Thaci and Veseli were one of the ex-top commanders in the KLA. Veseli also has denied all the accusations.

A judge will now take several months to decide whether the cases built by the special prosecutor's office are strong enough to put Thaci, charged with nearly 100 murders, and the others on trial.

"I assure you (citizens) again, I will not face justice from this office," Thaci said. "If the accusation is confirmed, I will immediately resign as your president and face the accusations."

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.

(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
More than 1,000 protesters rally downtown to call for defunding and abolition of police, SIU

More than 1,000 protesters rallied in Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday afternoon to call for the defunding and abolition of all police forces in Canada and Ontario's Special Investigations Unit.

The No Pride in Policing Coalition, comprised of Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), queer and transgender groups, organized the event. It was called "Abolish Police in Canada: A Pride Rally and Teach-in."

Beverly Bain, an organizer and coalition spokesperson, said the event was an attempt to take Pride back to its political roots and to call for the abolition of police services across the country. She said defunding is the first step.

Bain said the killings of Black, Indigenous and brown people while in police custody, or in the midst of police wellness checks, are a pressing issue for two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities in Toronto.

"In the context of the pandemic, we are seeing the killings, the ongoing police killings, in plain sight, of Blacks, of Indigenous people, including Black women and Indigenous women, by the police, particularly in the context where they are actually doing mental health checks," Bain said.

Bain said the coalition supports the demand by Black Lives Matter Toronto for a 50 per cent cut in the Toronto Police Service budget and a redistribution of the funds to community agencies to find ways to ensure community safety.

The coalition also wants to see the abolition of the RCMP because it says officers have committed violence against Indigenous peoples, as well as changes to the Criminal Code because it says the legislation gives powers to police to use lethal force against Canadians.

Kelda Yuen/CBC

Gary Kinsman, another coalition spokesperson, said the organization wants the SIU to be abolished because it believes it fails in its role as a police oversight body.

The SIU, an arm's length agency, investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.

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"It is a completely ineffective, pro-police body. It should be abolished. No money should be spent on it," Kinsman said.

The organizers said a motion by Coun. John Matlow and Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam, which calls for a 10 per cent cut to the Toronto Police Service budget, does not go far enough.

"It means nothing to us. We want to see the police and policing abolished," Bain said.

Mayor's proposal for 'detasking' police called insufficient

Organizers said a proposal by Toronto Mayor John Tory for a "detasking" of the police, in which the city would create a new non-police response team for calls that do not involve weapons or violence, is also not sufficient. Tory said the proposal would help "to stamp out systemic racism within our police service."

Michael Charles Cole/CBC

Bain said the idea is a temporary remedy. Tory's recommendations do not call for a defunding of the service.

"The fundamental problem that we have is the way in which policing operates," Bain said.

"Right now, Black, Indigenous, racialized people, queers and trans, and Black, queer and trans people in particular, are not safe. We have not been safe. We have tried commissions. We have tried all kinds of reforms. Our money has been thrown at us. None of that has resolved the situation," she said.

Desmond Cole, an author and activist, spoke to the large crowd at the rally, asking: "If we didn't spend a billion plus on the Toronto Police Service, what could we do with the money?"

Pointing to city hall, Cole added: "We are here to say there are alternatives to the violent colonial white settler policing structure that exists and we have to put those alternatives forward so that the people inside that building can't say they didn't know or weren't told."

In a statement, the coalition said it calls upon Toronto city council, Toronto Police Services Board, the Ontario government, Ontario Provincial Police, Canada Border Services Agency, RCMP and the federal government "to immediately take legislative and operational steps and emergency budgetary decisions towards defunding all Canadian Police Services."

The statement continues: "This call is in support of widespread community calls by Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ, racialized, homeless communities, people with disabilities, activists and scholars for real defunding, disarming, demilitarization, and dismantling of Police Services. The call extends to police services at all levels of government and their police agencies."

The rally and teach-in come in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis while in police custody, a death that touched off street protests around the world.

And it comes in the wake of the deaths of Toronto woman Regis Korchinski-Paquet, 29, who fell from her balcony after Toronto police responded to a call at her home on May 27, and Mississauga man Ejaz Choudry, 62, who was fatally shot by Peel police while he was experiencing a mental health crisis on June 20. The SIU is investigating both deaths.

As well, it follows the conviction on Friday of Toronto police officer Michael Theriault in the beating of Dafonte Miller on Dec. 28, 2016.

Theriault was convicted of assault but found not guilty of aggravated assault or obstruction of justice in the incident, which left Miller blinded in one eye. The officer's brother, Christian Theriault, was acquitted of aggravated assault and obstruction of justice.

At the rally, many protesters were masked to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The prime minister and premier issued a strong warning to farmers last week to keep migrant workers safe after outbreaks on southern Ontario farms, but a farmer in Waterloo region says it's the government that needs to improve workers' rights.

Hundreds of migrant workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in southern Ontario. Last week, CBC News reported the third death of a migrant worker from a farm near Vittoria, Ont., south of Brantford.

"The ministry of labour, they need to tighten up protections, afford them and protect their rights better," said Jennifer Pfenning, who runs Pfenning's Organic Farm in New Harmburg.

Pfenning, who's also a regional councillor for Wilmot Township, was encouraged by the government insisting on protections for workers and on-site testing, which was part of the province's three-point plan released last week.

But she says it's not enough to ensure the long-term health and safety or workers.

'Not a luxury'

Regulating rest periods, length of work day as well as days off is crucial to the overall health of migrant workers, which in turn would help to reduce the risk of COVID-19, says Pfenning.

"Those are human right needs. Those are not a luxury," said Pfenning.

She also wants to see the federal government re-evaluate its criteria for permanent residents, to give migrant workers a better chance of making Canada a permanent home.

Julianne Hazlewood/CBC

Desmond Daily has been working on Pfenning's farm since 2006. He makes the journey from Jamaica every year for eight months.

He says the recent outbreaks among migrant workers in southern Ontario have been unsettling.

"When I heard this news, I tried to take more precautions," said Daily. "[COVID-19] has no colour, no race, no nationality. So we have to play by the rules."

Safety measures

Pfenning's farm, which employs about 35 migrant workers during peak season, hasn't had any COVID-19 cases.

"I don't claim that we're perfect or that we do everything perfectly by any stretch, but I've done everything that I can think of to try to reduce the risk because no one can completely eliminate it," said Pfenning.

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Pfenning looked carefully at the outbreaks at meat processing plants to learn how to keep workers safe  what caused the outbreaks and how the plants responded.

Workers at her farm have N-95 and cloth masks. Dividers have been installed in a vehicle that brings workers to and from the farm, and there are no dorm-style lodging quarters, so all workers have personal living space.

Temperature and wellness checks are conducted daily.

Kevin Martin, president of Martin's Family Fruit Farm in Waterloo, has introduced similar safety measures. Like Pfenning's farm, he hasn't had any cases of COVID-19.

'Not something we need to be told to do'

Martin appreciates the province's plan to introduce mobile testing on farms but says hearing the prime minister and premier telling farmers there will be consequences if they don't protect workers is unnecessary.

"It's just what we're going to do, it's not something we need to be told to do," said Martin.

There are about 15 farms that employ 190 temporary foreign workers in Waterloo region, according to numbers from the Region of Waterloo.

Julianne Hazlewood/CBC

There are no reported cases among migrant workers on farms in the region, according to Region of Waterloo Public Health and Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health.

It's a reality Daily reminds himself of often. He talks to his family in Jamaica every day to ensure them he's wearing gloves, a mask and staying distanced.

"They say, 'Please try to stay safe,' and I do that," said Daily.
By Dan Whitcomb and Maria Caspani

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California and Texas both marked record spikes in new COVID-19 infections on Monday, a Reuters tally showed, as Los Angeles reported an "alarming" one-day surge in America's second-largest city that put it over 100,000 cases.

Los Angeles has become a new epicenter in the pandemic as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations surge there despite California Governor Gavin Newsom's strict orders requiring bars to close and residents to wear masks in nearly all public spaces.

"The alarming increases in cases, positivity rates and hospitalizations signals that we, as a community, need to take immediate action to slow the spread of COVID-19," Barbara Ferrer, director of public health for Los Angeles County, said in a statement announcing the sharp rise.

"Otherwise, we are quickly moving toward overwhelming our healthcare system and seeing even more devastating illness and death," Ferrer said.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a "hard pause" on when movie theaters, theme parks and other entertainment venues can reopen. Los Angeles County is the biggest movie theater market in the United States.

Los Angeles County said its beaches will be closed for the Independence Day weekend and fireworks displays will be banned.

Statewide positive tests for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus, rose by at least 7,418 in California Monday to nearly 223,000, the biggest one-day increase since tracking began. Los Angeles County, with a population of 10 million, has recorded 100,000 cases.

California is among a number of U.S. states including Florida, Texas and Arizona battling a new wave of infections as the nation emerges from weeks of clamp-downs on residents and businesses. COVID-19 infections in Texas rose by 6,545 on Monday to nearly 160,000, also setting a record for a one-day increase.

Nationally, cases rose by more than 40,000, for the fourth time in the past five days.

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ARIZONA HIT HARD

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey on Monday ordered the closure of bars, nightclubs, gyms, movie theaters and water parks for at least 30 days. Ducey also delayed the start of public schools until at least Aug. 17.

"Our expectation is that next week our numbers will be worse," Ducey said at an afternoon news conference. Vice President Mike Pence will travel to Phoenix on Wednesday to discuss efforts to fight the pandemic's resurgence.

Texas and Florida ordered the closure of all their recently reopened bars on Friday.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said on Monday indoor dining will not resume on Thursday as planned and would be postponed indefinitely.

In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly imposed a statewide mandate requiring the wearing of masks in public spaces, which she said was necessary to avoid another shutdown.

Beaches in Floridas Broward County and Palm Beach County will not open for the July 3-5 holiday weekend, officials said on Sunday, a blow to residents hoping to celebrate Independence Day there. Miami-Dade County has also announced beach closures for the holiday weekend.

AMC <AMC.N>, the largest U.S. movie theater chain, on Monday said it was pushing back the reopening of its theaters to July 30 from July 15.

In June, 22 U.S. states reported record increases in new cases, often multiple times, including Alaska, Arkansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon and Utah.

The city of Jacksonville, Florida, venue for part of the Republican nominating convention in August, said on Twitter it would be requiring masks in public starting later on Monday.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Monday that Trump "has no problem with masks and to do whatever your local jurisdiction requests."

The New York Times reported on Monday that 43% of U.S. deaths from COVID-19 were linked to nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The paper cited its own tracking database.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles and Maria Caspani in New York; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu in Washington, Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut, Lisa Shumaker in Chicago and Brad Brooks in Austin; Writing by Grant McCool and Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Howard Goller, Bill Berkrot, Cynthia Osterman, Leslie Adler and Jane Wardell)
The Canadian government is flouting its international human rights obligations by failing to repatriate and provide adequate consular assistance to 47 citizens who are currently detained in northeast Syria because of alleged ties to the Islamic State, a new report from U.S.-based Human Rights Watch alleges.

Twenty-six of the Canadians being held in camps and prisons controlled by Kurdish forces are children, and many are under the age of six, according to the advocacy group. The report says they are living in deplorable conditions at overcrowded camps with a lack of sanitation, contaminated drinking water and poor access to health care.

"Abandoning citizens to indefinite, unlawful detention in filthy, overcrowded and dangerous camps and prisons does not make Canada safer," said Letta Tayler, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch and author of the report. "The lives of Canadians are on the line, and the time to bring them home is now."

An unknown number of Canadians travelled abroad to fight for the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, as the militant group took over territory in Iraq and Syria and implemented a harsh form of Islamic law.

ISIS fighters are known for graphic videos documenting the beheading of journalists and aid workers and are accused by the United Nations of crimes against humanity for carrying out mass executions, abducting women and girls as sex slaves and using child soldiers.

Human Rights Watch says the government should immediately bring home all its detained citizens to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into Canadian society and, where appropriate, prosecute anyone accused of a crime.

The Liberal government has insisted it won't put Canadian officials at risk to gather evidence and bring former ISIS fighters home to be prosecuted.

The 92-page report, titled Bring Me Back to Canada, is based on interviews with Canadian detainees, family members of detainees, and other women and children who have been held at al-Hol and Ain Issa, two of the camps in northeast Syria.

Story continues

Asked about the report Monday, Trudeau said Canada will "support Canadians in difficulty overseas."

"Syria is an area where we do not have any diplomats or any Canadians on the ground, and therefore we work through intermediaries to try to provide consular assistance as best we can," Trudeau said.

He said repatriating Canadians with alleged ties to terrorism is "more complicated."

Watch: Trudeau says Canada has to try to help all Canadians, but doesn't have personnel in Syria

Canadians detained while living under ISIS rule

The Canadian detainees are among thousands of non-Iraqi men, women and children who were living under the rule of the Islamic State and were taken prisoner in the lead-up to ISIS's defeat at the hands of U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in early 2019.

Human Rights Watch says none of the Canadians have been charged with crimes in Canada, nor have Syrian authorities brought them before a court.

"No one is saying just set these adults free," said Tayler, acknowledging that some of them may have committed crimes by joining ISIS. "[But] holding people without charge, without bringing them before a judge, simply because they're family members of ISIS suspects, is absolutely forbidden under international law and it is particularly egregious to hold children in this fashion."

Delil Souleiman/AFP/Getty Images

Some family members of the detainees told Human Rights Watch that Canadian authorities have not contacted their relatives to provide assistance since they've been imprisoned. Family members also said they have received mixed messages from the government about whether they can provide money to their detained family members for food or medicine without being accused of supporting terrorism.

On top of that, Human Rights Watch alleges that Canada has not facilitated citizenship verification for the 20 or so children who were born in Syria to Canadian parents and are therefore entitled to Canadian citizenship  a situation that renders the children virtually stateless.

"The innocent, such as the children who never chose to be born or live under ISIS, have no hope of leaving," the report says. "Meanwhile, any detainees potentially implicated in ISIS crimes may never face justice."

Romeo Dallaire

In January, a coalition of human rights organizations and some prominent Canadians, including Romeo Dallaire, penned a letter to the prime minister asking the Canadian government to repatriate children held in northeast Syria.

"Immediately and actively institute a plan for the repatriation and reintegration of Canadian children in the camps, in a manner that accords with obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international treaties," the letter said.

The letter also called on the federal government to "provide robust and active consular assistance" to Canadian citizens in northeast Syria.

The letter was sent Jan. 25. The human rights groups have yet to receive a response.

Government providing assistance 'to the extent possible'

In a letter to Human Rights Watch described in the report, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said the Canadian government is hamstrung in its ability to help Canadians detained in Syria by the lack of consular resources in the area and the security situation. Canada does not have a functioning embassy or consulate in Syria at the moment.

Champagne added that Canadian officials are in contact with counterparts at the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration for North and East Syria, the local authority in the area, and are advocating for the detainees' well-being "to the extent possible."

Canada has said that it will provide assistance to anyone who can make it to a Canadian consulate in a neighbouring country such as Turkey or Lebanon.

The fate of former Canadian ISIS militants and their families has been the subject of heated debate on the floor of the House of Commons in the past, with the Conservatives accusing the Liberals of welcoming home jihadist fighters.

Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus, the party's public safety critic, said in a statement on Sunday that the party wants to see any Canadian who joined ISIS be prosecuted.

"The Conservatives have given the Liberals all the tools they need to hold ISIS terrorists accountable and to protect Canadians," said Paul-Hus. "We will continue to hold Justin Trudeau accountable and insist that he come up with a real plan to bring the ISIS terrorists to justice."

Christian Leuprecht, an international security expert who teaches at Queen's University, said the government's reluctance to act on these detainees shows a refusal to choose between an approach to foreign fighters that emphasizes prosecution, rehabilitation or a hybrid of the two.

"Countries such as France have taken a prosecution approach. Countries such as Denmark have taken a reintegration approach. The Dutch have taken both a prosecution and reintegration approach," said Leuprecht, who also teaches at the Royal Military College of Canada. "Canada has no strategy and no approach at all."

Leuprecht said domestic political considerations are also a factor, which make bringing the detainees home seem like a "no-win situation" for any government.

"If you bring them home, there will be a public perception that the government is supporting people who  have possibly been engaged in very serious criminal offences," said Leuprecht. "It's politically easier and more expedient for the previous government and for this government not to do much about it."
The Kardashians are not ones to shy away from an over-the-top birthday party, even while social distancing. Over the weekend, Khloe Kardashian turned 36-years-old, and her little sister Kylie Jenner stepped in to make sure a celebration happened at her house.

The party was apparently, "family only," and was attended by seemingly all of the siblings except for Kim. Of course, there was an inflatable Khloe faced bouncy bounce for the kids, balloons that spelled out "Koko" and plenty of pink cakes, balloons, and flowers.

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What would a Kardashian gathering be though without a little bit of sibling fighting? In one video shared by Kendall, it seems like a small physical altercation ensued when she tried to leave. It was all love, however, as Khloe dove on top of Kourtney in order to grab Kendall by the sleeve on her way out the door.

RELATED: North West Celebrated Her Birthday in Wyoming with Most of the Kardashians and Jenners

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Kris Jenner also shared some snaps from the event, including one of four of the siblings hugging by an entire bar filled with sweets. Sure, why not?

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This is not the first party of quarantine for the family. Just two weeks ago, they all got together and threw a party for Scott Disick. Kim posted about the event on Instagram writing, "We celebrated Scotts bday a few weeks ago with just family and it was really my first time being around a group of people( small group). It was kind of nice but kind of scary too. How is everyone feeling about being out and about?" Before that, they all celebrated her daughter North's birthday in Wyoming.

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We've got about a month until Kylie's birthday and based on the last few you can place a safe bet that it will be ... a lot.
Photo credit: Gareth Cattermole - Getty Images

From Harper's BAZAAR

Stella Jean has spoken out about the racism she has witnessed when working as a black fashion designer in Italy. The Milan Fashion Week regular says that we have been given an opportunity at this unique moment in history to create significant change.

Jean has been presenting her collections in Milan for years, but chose in February to step off the schedule in favour of putting out a short film and photography project entitled Italians In Becoming, in which she highlighted multicultural Italy and 20 women of colour, who vocalised racist comments that had been directed at them.

She said that she decided not to show last season "since the situation was no longer acceptable".

Photo credit: Victor Boyko - Getty Images

"I could not fathom holding a fashion show as if nothing serious was happening," she wrote on Instagram.

And now, the designer has opened up about the lack of reaction she got for her social-awareness campaign at the time, from publications who have now promised to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

"Believe me, I knocked on every door," Jean told British Vogue. "I wrote emails and letters to all the important Italian media and people who could help. And the sad thing is, only three people answered me. When I saw [the same people] put a black square for #BlackOutTuesday and writing to say they support the cause of black Americans, the first thing that came to my mind was, 'What?! You want to talk about racial issues in the United States, but you dont see what happens in your own house every single day?'"

The designer added that although she was disappointed about this, she is optimistic for what this means for the future: "It was sad, because when I knocked, nobody answered, and now theyre all activists. But Im optimistic  I dont want to think its hypocrisy. I hope from now on they will be supportive. If not, we are losing a great chance to change."

Jean added: "This moment in history should allow us [the opportunity] to reshape our perspectives and priorities."

Story continues

Photo credit: Mondadori Portfolio - Getty Images

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Artificial Intelligence

AI Consortium Funds 26 Pandemic Research Projects

A new artificial intelligence consortium has funded 26 projects intended to advance the use of AI to mitigate COVID-19 and future pandemics. The C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute is awarding cash totaling $5.4 million and access to AI software and cloud computing and storage to researchers at the University of Illinois, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, University of California, Berkeley, University of Chicago and Princeton.

C3.ai DTI is a research consortium focused on accelerating the benefits of AI for business, government and society. The recipients of the funding are all members of the consortium, alongside Microsoft, C3.ai, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. C3.ai produces enterprise AI software, which will be used by the grantees; Microsoft is providing Azure cloud computing and storage resources.

Among the projects funded are these:

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon, MIT and the Boston University School of Medicine received $275,000 to model how the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19 affects the lungs. These models would be used to identify and develop combinations of drugs that hold the most promise for combating the virus.

Researchers at the University of Chicago and Carnegie Mellon received $250,000 to study AI and COVID-19 policy. Specifically, they're developing methods and tools to ensure that the AI and machine learning technologies developed to fight COVID-19 don't further the inequities experienced by racial minorities and other vulnerable populations when they're used to inform policy decisions.

Researchers at Princeton are developing a physical intervention system based on light projections that generates real-time information about safe trajectories and movement behavior for pedestrians.

MIT researchers are tackling approaches for reopening the economy by taking into account the role of different population groups in terms of their productivity and their risk levels.

Illinois researchers are developing algorithms and software tools for testing and controlling COVID-19.

A joint project at Berkeley and Princeton will study "housing precarity, eviction and inequality" wrought by the pandemic, by developing a system for tracking real-time eviction filings after the outbreak and developing a model to analyze the disproportionate risk of displacement.

"The enthusiastic response among scientists and researchers coupled with the diverse, high-quality and compelling proposals we've received suggests that we have the potential to alter the course of this global pandemic," said Thomas Siebel, CEO of C3.ai, in a press release. "In the face of this crisis, the institute is proud to bring together the best and brightest minds and provide direction and leadership to support objective analysis and AI-based, data-driven science to mitigate COVID-19."
A frantic week has seen Wirecard AG apply to German courts for insolvency, following the firm's board and executive team admitting to falsifying 1.9 billion of corporate accounts primarily related to Asian market activities.

AN Post customers with prepaid Money Currency cards have been left unable to access their money after United Kingdom authorities shut down activities of scandal hit German payments company Wirecard.

"We can not lift the restrictions without reassuring ourselves that the firm has been able to satisfy all our concerns for example that all clients' money is safe". The company could not confirm the amount of money involved.

Both said that customers' money is still safe, but will not be accessible for a time. Pending further actions from the FCA, Payoneer customers will temporarily be unable to withdraw the funds on their card, nor receive new payments onto their card until the issue has been resolved.

Card management service Curve, which has around half a million customers, told users to carry a backup card as Curve would be "suspended with immediate effect."

It should be noted that any funds that are in excess of the maximum balance of the Payoneer customer's cards are held by Payoneer and are therefore not impacted by the FCA's temporary freeze.

In a statement on its Website, the firm says: "We began our transition away from Wirecard a few months back and we are moving furiously down the path to complete this migration".

Anna said: "We expect the suspension to be lifted - the inability to use your account and card is temporal, and we are working to restore it as soon as possible". "We will provide further updates on our website as soon as we can".

"WDCS is working hard to have the steps in place which will enable the suspension to be lifted so business can resume as usual. We are hoping to be fully operational soon".

The FCA has told people affected to contact their card provider.

The action comes after the German parent firm Wirecard last week disclosed a 1.9bn (1.7bn) hole in its accounts, and subsequently filed for insolvency. Former chief executive Markus Braun has been arrested by authorities in connection with the case, while the company's former chief operating officer is now being pursued by prosecutors.
Britons will be able to go on summer holidays overseas as the government prepares to announce that people travelling to certain countries will no longer be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon returning to the UK.

A traffic light system will be operated - with countries classified as green, amber or red depending on virus cases.

Trips to France, Greece and Spain look on the cards after the UK Government confirmed it will revise the quarantine measures at Monday's review.

Only Britons coming home from red countries will have to self-isolate for two weeks.

"Low risk countries in the green and amber categories will be exempt from public health measures at the border", it added.

He added that the government "wouldn't hesitate to put on the brakes" on overseas travel if the situation changed.

The existing quarantine measures have attracted widespread derision since their introduction, with critics suggesting they were brought in too late and applied to some countries where COVID-19 was not as rife as in the UK.

Since June 8, all passengers - bar a handful of exemptions - have been required to go into self-isolation for a fortnight at a declared address when they arrive in the UK.

This measure though has been branded ineffective by airlines who say it will further damage the industries recovery.

The Everyday Telegraph newspaper claimed it comprehended Key Minister Boris Johnson is in talks with Portugal, Greece, and France, amongst other nations around the world, to place air bridges in position.

The 14-working day quarantine will remain for global arrivals from "countries not nonetheless considered to be safe and sound, as very well as necessities for all travellers entering the Uk to source their contact information", it added.

A full list of the low risk countries in the green and amber categories, where people will be able to enter the United Kingdom from without being required to self-isolate, is due to be published next week. "And the government gives rules where I can fly in corona times and where I shouldn't fly but still the people decide what they do", he described.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has agreed that official government restrictions on "non-essential travel" will be lifted from 6 July.

- The easing of post-travel rules will come with tighter measures for mask-wearing, with face coverings to be made mandatory by law on planes and ferries, the Government has confirmed.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29)  The regional director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said there was nothing illegal in allowing a property developer to cut down dozens of trees in Barangay Outlook Drive in Baguio City, saying a permit was issued before it happened.

The DENR said in a statement on Monday that Vista Residences Inc. met all requirements for a special private land timber permit (SPLTP), including endorsements from concerned local government units.

"The grant of SPLTP to Vista Residences was above board," said DENR Cordillera Administrative Region Executive Director Ralph Pablo.

"The application for this permit was filed in 2018 and before that the company went through the tedious and lengthy process of getting the environmental clearance certificate, mayors permit and barangay certificate," he also said.

Pablo said there were "eight conditionalities" that came with the SPLTP that must be fulfilled by the developer, including reducing to minimum the number of trees to be cut and mandatory replacement of affected trees.

Every tree cut must be replaced with 100 Benguet pine tree seedlings, making a total of 5,400 seedlings, he noted.

Pablo emphasized that during a June 25 meeting with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, DENR officials and executives of Vista Residences, the developer committed to 10,800 seedlings  twice the number needed.

The statement said Vista Residences already turned over half the number of committed seedlings, and most of these were planted during Arbor Day celebrations on June 25.

Pablo said they were closely monitoring the tree-cutting to make sure all conditions in the SPLTP were met.

Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baguio City has denounced the actions of the land developers.

"The Diocese of Baguio strongly opposes and considers as unacceptable the continuing mass killing of full grown and healthy trees," it said in a statement signed by Bishop Victor Bendico.

While aware that the developer was given a permit by the DENR, the diocese said that cutting trees to build commercial establishments "fronts and defies the Diocesan Vision-Mission on the sustenance of the environment as well as goes against the work of the late Bishop Emeritus Carlito Cenzon, who fought for the preservation of Baguio's pine trees.

Stringer Lauren Anuma contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29)  TV host KC Montero and at least 100 other local and foreign nationals were arrested at a high-end bar in Makati City on Sunday for allegedly violating community quarantine guidelines against mass gathering.

Makati police said it conducted an operation at posh roofdeck lounge bar Skye in Salcedo Village on Sunday afternoon. Authorities said at least 100 customers were caught drinking liquor  several of them even violating social distancing rules.

Makati Police Deputy Chief PMaj. Gideon Ines said 113 customers were arrested, 73 of which are foreign nationals.

"Nagpaliwanag naman yug may-ari ng bar. Ayon sa kanya, hindi daw alam 'yung panuntunan regarding sa GCQ kung talagang allowed po yung sa dine-in. But actually pagdating natin doon, 'yun pala ay isang bar na may nag-iinuman then napakarami pong customers. Pagka titingnan mo is talagang andun yung mga violation ng distancing restrictions," he told CNN Philppines' Balitaan.

[Translation: The owner explained that they are not aware of GCQ restrictions, if dine-in is allowed. But when we arrived, we saw that it was a bar. A lot of the customers were drinking. You can see that they were violating physical distancing restrictions.]

Makati City remains under general community quarantine with restaurants and cafes only allowed to operate at 30 percent of its regular capacity. Bars are still prohibited from reopening.

Following the raid, police arrested one of the bar owners and the customers. Those arrested were brought to the Brgy. Guadalupe Nuevo Gym to maintain physical distancing. Those rounded up will be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases Law, according to Makati Police Chief PCol Oscar Jacildo.

CNN Philippines is trying to reach the bar owners for comment.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29)  The Philippines has secured a fresh 250-million loan, equivalent to about 14 billion, from a France-based development agency to help stimulate economic activity amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Finance (DOF) said Monday that the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) signed two credit facility agreements to support the economy, aimed at expanding financial services to vulnerable sectors and increasing private sector participation in infrastructure projects.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and French Ambassador to the Philippines and to Micronesia Nicolas Galey signed the loan agreements on June 9.

"The Philippine government is grateful to the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) for co-financing with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) two programs supportive of President Duterte's overriding goal of accelerating infrastructure development in order to spur high growth, attract investments, create jobs and achieve financial inclusion for all Filipinos," Dominguez said in a statement.

Both programs, which are co-financed by the Asian Development Bank, aim to support and strengthen the Philippine economy post-pandemic.

According to the DOF, the Inclusive Finance Development Program (IFDP) worth 100 million will provide additional funding to government's initiatives to expand financial services across the country, especially among small entrepreneurs, farmers and fisherfolk, women and other vulnerable sectors.

Meanwhile, the Expanding Private Participation in Infrastructure Program (EPPIP), which is worth 150 million, is aimed at improving private sector participation in infrastructure financing in line with the administration's Build, Build, Build program.

Dominguez said that President Rodrigo Duterte has again put the "Build, Build, Build" program on fast track during the pandemic, given that infrastructure investments have the highest multiplier effect on the economy, particularly in terms of job creation.

"Such financial support from the country's development partners like AFD for our priority programs is crucial at this time when the Philippine government is embarking on its resource-intensive, four-pillar strategy to suppress the coronavirus outbreak and provide relief to our most affected sectors while restarting the stalled economy to a quick recovery from the global economic slump induced by the lethal virus," Dominguez said.

The DOF said the France-based lender will also finance a 1.5 million Technical Assistance (TA) program in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines, aimed at strengthening the capacities of financial inclusion stakeholders and accelerating the digital transformation of the country's financial institutions.

Apart from the fresh 250 million loan, the DOF is also exploring additional funding from other European financial institutions.

"Discussions are underway to secure additional funding from the European Unions Asian Investment Facility in the form of a grant to be channeled through the Philippines PPP Center," the DOF said in a statement.

"The proposed grant aims to facilitate and encourage the development of sustainable PPP projects at the local level, both in terms of promoting resilient infrastructure and in the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. Stimulating the development of health infrastructure will be a key component of the forthcoming European Union support," the agency added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29) The Philippine government aims to test around 10 million citizens for COVID-19 in less than a year, COVID-19 Response Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon said Monday.

Given the supplies coming in, given our increased capacity to test and screen, our goal is to test 10 million Filipinos Were looking at (within) the next 8 to 10 months, Dizon told CNN Philippines The Source.

In a previous briefing, the testing czar noted that authorities have set the goal of testing one million people by the end of July. National government data as of last week showed the country has already conducted over 600,000 coronavirus tests.

Dizon added officials will be also recommending the expansion of the Health Departments testing protocols to include non-medical frontliners-- including policemen, soldiers, supermarket personnel, and even street vendors.

He cited the need to test these individuals, as they are some of the most susceptible to the viral disease, and can potentially be some of the biggest spreaders to the wider population.

Apart from this sector, Dizon added theyre also pushing to test employees coming back to work amid relaxed lockdown restrictions including those working in the business process outsourcing industry and factories.

The idea now is we have to shift the strategy in order to manage COVID-19 and keep the economy working, in order to make sure we can bounce back from the (contraction) we experienced in the first quarter, Dizon added.

Malacanang earlier revealed that the country is aiming to cover 1.5 to 2 percent of its almost 110 million population for the COVID-19 tests, following the example of model nations, including South Korea.

Calls for mass or targeted testing have surfaced since March, when the coronavirus infections in the Philippines started to spike. Officials have argued that ramping up testing is the first step in the isolation and containment of the mysterious virus.

Cases of the infectious disease in the country have meanwhile surpassed 35,000, as of the Health Departments latest record.
(CNN)  Facebook will ban ads that scapegoat minorities, immigrants, racial or other groups as part of a wider crackdown on hate speech, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The expanded policy will prohibit ads that claim these groups are a threat, Zuckerberg said on a livestream Friday. The new policy will also ban negative ads about immigrants or asylum seekers.

"Specifically, we're expanding our ads policy to prohibit claims that people from a specific race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, caste, sexual orientation, gender identity or immigration status are a threat to the physical safety, health or survival of others," Zuckerberg wrote in a post. "We're also expanding our policies to better protect immigrants, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers from ads suggesting these groups are inferior or expressing contempt, dismissal or disgust directed at them."

The announcement comes amid a widening backlash by advertisers against Facebook who have accused the company of facilitating the spread of hate speech on the platform. Facebook took its biggest hit yet on Friday as the household goods giant Unilever announced it is pulling its ads from Facebook and Instagram through at least the end of the year. Facebook's stock fell about 7% following the news.

Zuckerberg also announced that Facebook will begin applying warning labels to user posts that are newsworthy but violate the platform's policies. Facebook was criticized for its inaction on posts by President Donald Trump that other platforms, such as Twitter, had flagged for glorifying violence or spreading misinformation.

"We want to do more to prohibit the kind of divisive and inflammatory rhetoric that has been used to sow discord," Zuckerberg said.

He did not directly address Unilever's announcement nor the #StopHateForProfit boycott campaign organized by civil rights groups.

Rashad Robinson, president of the civil rights group Color of Change, called the remarks "11 minutes of wasted opportunity" and doubled down on calls for advertisers to boycott Facebook.

"I hope companies advertising on Facebook were watching  if they want to put their money where their mouth is on racial justice, then it's time to #StopHateForProfit," he said.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Facebook will label more controversial content and tighten advertising policies."
(CNN) With the tourism industry gradually reopening around the world, Fiji has made an unusual appeal to billionaires looking for a retreat during the pandemic.

The South Pacific country, which is made up of some 300 islands, relies heavily on tourism, which typically accounts for 40% of its gross national product (GDP).

After telling the Fijian parliament last week that his vision for a "post-Covid society" included a gradual resumption of its travel sector, Prime Minister Josaia "Frank" Voreqe Bainimarama has offered an open invitation to billionaires wishing to visit the country.

In a frank statement on Twitter earlier this week, he wrote: "So, say you're a billionaire looking to fly your own jet, rent your own island, and invest millions of dollars in Fiji in the process -- if you've taken all the necessary health precautions and borne all associated costs, you may have a new home to escape the pandemic in paradise."

The country's Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, confirmed on Thursday that a group of high-net-worth individuals had been given permission to travel to Fiji.

Speaking during a national budget consultation, Sayed-Khaiyum said that around 30 individuals from "a very well-known company" would soon arrive in the country by private aircraft, before taking a seaplane to their final destination, where they would stay for three months.

"From our perspective, this is a balancing between managing our health risks and also opening up the economic pathways; it's critically important to do that," the Attorney General added.

Fiji has also started an initiative called "Blue Lanes" to welcome tourists arriving by yacht.

Sayed-Khaiyum said that travelers could serve their 14-day quarantine period on board their private vessels prior to arrival or docked in Fiji. They would then be free to "roam around" the country after a negative Covid-19 test result.

He added that Fiji would also welcome movie and television crews as long as they followed quarantine measures.

Last week, the Fijian PM announced that the country was working on a travel arrangement called the Bula Bubble between itself, New Zealand and Australia.

The Australian and New Zealand prime ministers have yet to comment on the proposal, which is named after the Fijian greeting for hello or welcome.

Fiji has confirmed 18 coronavirus infections in total, according to the World Health Organization. There have been no deaths from the virus and no new cases have been diagnosed since mid-April.

CNN's Lilit Marcus contributed to this report.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Fiji markets itself as retreat for billionaires during pandemic."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29)  President Rodrigo Duterte is set to announce new community quarantine measures on Tuesday, the day his previous order expires.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed this during his regular media briefing on Monday.

Duterte usually addresses the nation on Mondays, although some taped speeches air the next day due to time constraints. But this week, the President will meet with the COVID-19 task force and record his speech on Tuesday.

The community quarantine over the country  which placed Cebu City under enhanced community quarantine, Metro Manila under general community quarantine, and all other parts of the country under modified GCQ  is set to end on June 30.

Roque previously said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the policy-making body in the government's fight against the coronavirus disease, has informed local government units of their recommendations so they can appeal before Duterte announces his decision.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29)  Government efforts to send home locally-stranded individuals will be placed on hold in more areas as local governments struggle with the increase in COVID-19 cases in the provinces.

COVID-19 task force spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved the moratorium on the return of locally-stranded individuals to Western Visayas, Cebu Island including Mactan, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga region.

"Kaya nagkaroon ng moratorium kasi wala na silang lugar para mag-quarantine, lalong-lalo na sa Caraga. Ang Cebu Island at Mactan, ECQ kasi. Ang Region 6 at 8, kinakailangan nila ng mas maraming espasyo para po sa quarantine facilities," he said in his regular briefing.

[Translation: There's a moratorium because there are no spaces for quarantine, especially in Caraga. Cebu Island and Mactan are under enhanced community quarantine. For Regions 6 and 8, they also need quarantine facilities.]

Several lawmakers and local government officials have appealed to the national government to temporarily stop the "Hatid Probinsya" Program, considered as the source of rising number of COVID-19 cases in the regions.

National Task Force COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez admitted that the return of locally-stranded individuals was one of the factors for the rise in cases in provinces.

"Iyon ang isa sa mga reason na nagkaroon ng spike ang ating other areas. Mga galing Cebuna napunta sa Region 6 at 8. Iyon ang nakitanatin sa isa sa nakita nating spike," he said.

Roque said the IATF will meet on Thursday to craft guidelines for testing.

Related: Stranded Filipinos to undergo COVID-19 swab test before return to hometowns

Earlier this month, the Social Weather Stations said around 4.1 million working-age Filipinos were stranded due to community quarantines.

At a briefing on June 17, Presidential Management Staff Assistant Secretary Joseph Encabo said there were around 13,000 LSIs in Luzon alone waiting for transport to take them to Visayas and Mindanao. However, authorities did say they were continuously working to bring LSIs home.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29)  A lawmaker called on the House joint committee on Monday to file a case with the Office of the Ombudsman against the commissioner of National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for allowing ABS-CBN to operate its digital programs eight weeks after its franchise expiration.

During the deliberation of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises with the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, Deputy Speaker Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla said there is a "ripe case" with the Ombudsman which may be filed against the NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba for acting beyond his authority and allowing the broadcast network to operate.

"I believe we have already found a ground for this committee to file a case with the Ombudsman against Commissioner Cordoba becuse he has willfully disobeyed the power of Congress to issue franchises and allowing an entity to operate a franchise and earn money at the same time," Remulla told the joint panel.

"This is considered ultra vires on the part of NTC," he said.

Cordoba said AMCARA Broadcasting Network or Channel 43, where ABS-CBN airs digital TV, is covered in the cease and desist order issued to the network on May 5. This was the day that the media giant stopped its broadcasting operations and went off the air.

Kasama po sa cease and desist order yun pong pag-ere ng ABS-CBN under Channel 43'" said Cordoba. "Doon po sa listahan ng aming cease and desist order, sa ikalawang pahina, nakalagay po TV stations, 87-006 Channel 2."

[Translation: It is included in the cease and desist order, the airing of ABS-CBN under Channel 43. In the list we have in the cease and desist order, in the second page, it is written there TV stations 87-006 Channel 2.]

Noong binigyan po ng digital TV si ABS-CBN channel 2, ang kanila pong simulcast ay Channel 43," he also said.

[Translation: When ABS-CBN Channel 2 was given the digital TV, they simulcast through Channel 43.]

He added the NTC will issue an alias cease and desist order to stop the operations of Channel 43 tonight.

ABS-CBN CEO Carlo Katigbak, maintained, however, that the original cease and desist order does not cover Channel 43.

AMCARA Broadcasting is not owned by ABS-CBN," Katigbak pointed out. "The reason that you continue to see our channels with TV Plus is we have a block-time arrangement with AMCARA."

Katigbak said that ABS-CBN is willing to obey whatever NTC order, but he appeals for due process in the network.

"We are willing to submit ourselves to the judgment to NTC. Hinihingi lang namin (We are just asking) is to make sure na we are given due process. Whatever decision NTC comes up with, we will respect the regulatory agency," he said.

CNN Philippines correspondent Xianne Arcangel and Multi-Platform News Writers Vince Ferreras and Glee Jalea contributed to this report
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29)  The Quiapo Church in Manila was placed on lockdown effective June 19 after a visiting priest tested positive for COVID-19.

Quiapo Church Parochial Vicar Fr. Douglas Badong said the visiting priest got his positive COVID-19 result when he took rapid and swab tests in his place of assignment in Mindanao last June 19.

We learned his COVID-19 result last June 19, so we ordered then to immediately place Quiapo Church on lockdown, said Badong.

Badong told CNN Philippines the visiting priest stayed in the Quiapo Church from the start of the enhanced community quarantine on March 16 up to June 13, as he was not able to go back to Mindanao due to the tight lockdown measures.

He emphasized the visiting priest took a COVID-19 rapid test in Manila last June 10, yielding a negative result. With this, the priest secured a travel pass and left Manila for Mindanao last June 13.

We learned that from Manila, the priest had a stopover in Cagayan de Oro. So, we are not sure if the priest got the virus here or when he arrived in Mindanao, said Badong.

When they found the visiting priests COVID-19 infection, Badong said all priests and staff in the Quiapo Church are in self-quarantine for 14 days as mandated by government guidelines.

Due to the lockdown, Badong said all relief giving activities of the Quiapo Church are suspended.

Badong added the around 80 priests and staff of Quiapo Church took rapid tests last June 25 and all received negative results.

The Quiapo Church Parochial Vicar assured its devotees the church is undergoing daily disinfection procedures to further avert the spread of COVID-19.

To our devotees, we still follow protocols. To those who will go here, you must observe physical distancing, Badong advised the devotees.

Despite the unfortunate circumstance, Badong emphasized that online masses still continue and they placed a sound system and LED wall outside the church for those devotees who want to attend their daily religious activities.

Badong said the Quiapo Church lockdown will last until July 4, observing the 14-day protocol by the government.

We are in continuous coordination with the Manila city government if we will be allowed to open Quiapo Church to the public before July 4, Badong added.

Quiapo Church, also known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, is frequently visited by Catholic devotees to pray before the miraculous image of the Black Nazarene.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29)  Four Army intelligence personnel, including two officers, were killed when they were fired upon by policemen in Jolo, Sulu Monday afternoon, 11th Infantry Division commander MGen Corleto Vinluan said.

The police, however, have a different version of the incident.

An initial report from the Sulu Provincial Police Office said members of the Jolo Municipal Police Station and the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit Sulu were patrolling Barangay Bus-Bus when they spotted a vehicle with four "armed" men. They were instructed to go to the Jolo Municipal Police Station for questioning. But upon arriving at the station, they allegedly defied the order and fled.

A chase ensued but when they were collared in an area in downtown Jolo, those onboard the the vehicle disembarked and pointed their firearms at the police, according to the report.

The police report further indicated that those subject for investigation "lifted and pointed their firearms towards the PNP (Philippine National Police) personnel."

"However, before they could pull the trigger, the PNP personnel were able to shoot them in defense, thus an exchange of gunfire ensued which resulted in the death of the four suspects," the report said.

But in a phone interview, Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command Chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana defended those on board the vehicle saying they were AFP personnel assigned to the 11th Infantry Division and were on an "official mission."

Vinluan, on the other hand, insisted that the incident was not a misencounter since his troops were "unarmed."

"(They) were gunned down by the PNP," Vinluan said in a text message to CNN Philippines.

Sobejana said the vehicle the soldiers were riding was initially stopped at a PNP checkpoint where they immediately identified themselves as soldiers, and the parties agreed to have the soldiers go to the police station to clear things.

Citing "several versions" of the incident, Sobejana said he does not know why the soldiers ended up being fired upon by the cops and is asking the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate what really happened.

"I also requested the NBI to investigate to ensure impartiality. We don't want any escalation of hostilities out of the incident. Our interest is to know the facts and justice is given," he added.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the incident was "very unfortunate," however he said he would not give additional comments while an inquiry was ongoing.

"No additional comment muna while inquiry is ongoing. Very hazy pa dumadating na report  incident report pa lang [Incoming reports are still very hazy  just an incident report]. The NBI in Zamboanga will conduct inquiry," he said

In a statement on Monday evening, Sobejana said, "We are yet to establish the motive of the police."

They are also asking the public not to sensationalize the incident, adding they will wait for the completion of the investigation.

CNN Philippines Senior Correspondent David Santos contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29) With local cases continuing to spike, Cebu City may now be considered as the new focal point of COVID-19 in the Philippines, an official of the COVID-19 National Task Force said Monday.

Ang main focal point po natin ngayon (Our main focal point now) for COVID-19 is really Cebu (City), considering that the parameters, thresholds, new cases are increasing even surpassing the whole NCR (National Capital Region), NTF chief implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. said in a virtual media briefing in Malacanang.

Apart from the surge in infections, Galvez likewise cited the areas high mortality rate, adding that the number of severe and critical cases has become alarming.

He said a certain medical facility has also reported dozens of deaths in a span of two days which could translate to possible undetected severe cases.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, in an earlier television interview, said that Cebu City is now the epicenter of coronavirus in the country a statement its mayor Edgar Labella agreed to.

Labella, speaking to CNN Philippines The Source, attributed the increase in cases to relaxed lockdown policies implemented beforehand, as well as a backlog in health records.

Local and national officials have vowed to address the healthcare and manpower problems in the area, with the Health Department already ordering the deployment of doctors to the barrios to help Cebu City in its pandemic battle.

READ: DOH orders deployment of doctors to Cebu City to help in COVID-19 fight

Decision up to task force, but city hoping for GCQ

Despite the crisis situation, Labella said he would personally prefer for Cebu City to revert back to a general community quarantine, citing a high and improving recovery rate for coronavirus among its constituents. He added that Cebu City is also the gateway and center for the business, trade, and tourism industries in the region.

However, he noted the final decision still lies in the hands of the COVID-19 inter-agency task force, which is set to submit new lockdown recommendations to President Rodrigo Duterte soon.

Galvez, for his part, acknowledged the data on the recovery rate, but stressed that the city is still at a disadvantage when it comes to the critical care capacity, given they have fewer level 3 hospitals compared to the metro.

Meanwhile, the chief implementer threw praise for Metro Manila mayors, saying he was impressed with the measures implemented in the capital region during the GCQ.

Noong nagpunta ako sa Cebu, I was very impressed that the implementations of Metro Manila (are) much, much stricter of what we have seen in Cebu, Galvez said, citing observations from his recent visit.

[Translation: When I visited Cebu, I was very impressed that the implementations of Metro Manila are much, much stricter of what we have seen in Cebu.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29)  The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday that it is searching for missing fishermen and passengers in the vicinity of Occidental Mindoro where a Hong Kong flagged-cargo vessel collided with a fishing boat carrying 14 Filipinos.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo bared that the collision happened in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro early Sunday. The missing Filipino crew were on board F/V Liberty 5 from Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi Island on the way to Navotas.

The Hong Kong vessel M/V Vienna Wood, which departed from Subic and was supposedly on the way to Australia, is now being escorted by the PCG to Batangas for further investigation.

"The involved missing crew, as reported, is 12. We are already conducting search and rescue. We have a floating asset in the area and other teams are on standby," Balilo said in an interview with CNN Philippines' New Day.

In an updated report, the PCG said the 12-man crew includes the captain of the fishing boat. Two passengers were also on board.

"Some of our rescue personnel already sighted the overturned fishing boat," he added. "We will check the vicinity to find out the whereabouts of the fishermen involved."

Balilo said a PCG Islander plane and an Airbus helicopter are being deployed to assist in the operation. They will also deploy another multi-role response vessel to further intensify the search and rescue.

Those who will be located will be brought to the nearest Coast Guard station in Mindoro for medical protocol, he added.

Balilo also said that they are in close coordination with the captain of the Hong Kong Vessel.

"We are asking for the details of the incident. He is very cooperative."

Last year, a Chinese vessel sank and abandoned at the Recto Bank the Philippine boat F/B Gem-Ver-1, which carried 22 Filipino fishermen from Occidental Mindoro.

They still have yet to receive compensation from the owners of the Chinese vessel up to this day.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the latest incident will be tried and resolved by Philippine courts under local admiralty and maritime laws.

"There is no international law application here other than foreign flag ships can sail through under the concept of innocent passage. As far as accountability is concerned, mga Pilipino po ang madedesisyon diyan dahil ang banggaan ay nangyari sa ating karagatan [Filipino judges will decide on the case because the collision happened in our territorial waters]," Roque said in his Monday press briefing.

He added that he expects no impact on the country's diplomatic ties with Hong Kong, China, or the rest of the region, saying that rules covering such maritime incidents are similar to those applied when cars collide on land.
(CNN)  Pakistan's national carrier has grounded almost a third of its pilots after a government investigation revealed that hundreds across the country had fake licenses and were not qualified to fly.

In a letter to the government Friday, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said 141 of its 450 pilots will not be "utilized for any flying duties" as they had "suspicious licenses."

The letter -- sent by PIA General Manager Syed Qamar Maqbool -- was shared with CNN on Monday by the company's spokesperson, Abdullah Khan.

On Wednesday last week, Pakistan Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said 262 pilots in the country "did not take the exam themselves" and had paid someone else to sit it on their behalf.

"They don't have flying experience," he said.

Pakistan has 860 active pilots serving its domestic airlines -- including PIA -- as well as a number of foreign carriers, Khan said.

Khan said all major airlines across Pakistan had been supplied "lists with names" of the fake pilots, along with a request that "action" should be taken to "prevent them from flying." So far, PIA is the only carrier to take action.

A fatal crash

The results of the investigation were announced as part of a preliminary report into a plane crash that killed 97 people on May 22. The PIA flight from Lahore crashed in the southern city of Karachi, killing all but two of the passengers and crew on board.

Khan did not clarify if the two pilots on flight PK 8303 held fake licenses.

According to the report, the pilots were chatting about coronavirus and repeatedly ignored warnings from air traffic controllers before the plane went down in a residential area near the airport.

"The pilots were discussing corona throughout the flight. They were not focused. They talked about the coronavirus and how their families were affected," Khan said, adding that the pilots were "overconfident."

According to Khan, the pilots were told three times by air traffic controllers that the plane was too high and they should not attempt to land, "but the captain did not pay any heed to these instructions."

The pilots proceeded with trying to land -- without lowering the landing gear.

"The aircraft touched the runway surface on its engines," the report said. The engines scrubbed the runway, causing sparks and irreparable damage.

The pilots pulled the plane back into the air, but the damaged engines failed and caused the plane to crash, according to the report.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "PIA, Pakistan's national airline, has grounded a third of its pilots for having fake licenses"
(CNN)  The dramatic images rocked the nation  hundreds of thousands of people from all races taking to the streets across the United States, demanding an end to excessive police force against people of color.

What began as local outrage in response to George Floyd's death following an encounter with Minneapolis police officers soon spread throughout the country.

From coast to coast, demonstrators chanting "Black lives matter" and "no justice, no peace" united in hundreds of mostly peaceful protests, some risking their own safety. They found themselves tear gassed near the White House, allegedly assaulted by police in New York City, and shoved to the pavement by tactical teams in Buffalo.

Despite the personal risk, their voices were heard by fellow citizens and politicians alike, as demonstrators sparked a protest movement unlike anything the country has seen since the 1960s.

But it all may have been for nothing.

Partisan politics appears to have derailed any meaningful near-term reform.

Failure at the epicenter

In Minnesota, Floyd's death -- caught on camera by a bystander as a White police officer kneeled on Floyd's neck until he lost consciousness -- sparked a reform movement. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz responded by calling a special session of the state's legislature to address emergency policing reform measures.

Walz said reform measures would be aimed at police violence, grants for rebuilding local infrastructure, accountability and transparency.

But legislators had little to show for their efforts. Partisan entrenchment ruled the day, as the Republican-controlled Senate and Democratic-led House clashed over nearly two-dozen policing reform measures.

House Democratic efforts to end warrior-type training for officers, instill residency requirements for police officers, ban choke holds and institute voting rights for felons grinded to a halt as Senate Republicans responded with more narrow reforms.

Despite widespread calls for reform, the special legislative session came up empty handed.

"The people of Minnesota should certainly be deeply disappointed," Walz said, visibly upset. "This is a failure to move things, a failure to engage. It seems like there's a tendency in legislative bodies to place blame on everyone else."

In Minneapolis, where the city council continues to address policing reform, grand visions for change appear devoid of specifics and are far from being enacted anytime soon.

"We're committed to dismantling police as we know it in the city of Minneapolis and to rebuild with our community, a new model of public safety that actually keeps our communities safe," Lisa Bender, the city council president, told me earlier this month on CNN's "Newsroom."

On Friday the city council voted unanimously to replace the Minneapolis police department with a new entity focused on "community safety and violence prevention." The measure, however, still requires additional input from other city leaders and, ultimately, voters in November.

A federal failure

Minnesota lawmakers were not alone in their failure to overcome partisan politics and pass immediate, meaningful legislation.

In the US Senate last week, the chamber's Democratic minority successfully blocked GOP policing reform legislation they deemed inadequate. Democrats sought provisions banning the use of choke holds by police departments, which some cities around the country have unilaterally adopted. They also wanted provisions overhauling qualified immunity, a legal mechanism that largely shields police officers from civil law suits.

"(The GOP) bill is a half-assed bill that doesn't do what we should be doing, which is doing honest police reform," said Sen. Mazie Hirono, a Hawaii Democrat.

In the House, Democrats passed their own version of sweeping police reform on Thursday. The measure calls for limiting qualified immunity for police officers, prohibiting racial profiling and banning choke holds.

Despite the bill's passage on a largely party-line vote, the Senate is not expected to consider it, and President Donald Trump isn't likely to throw his support behind Democratic legislation championed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

'Encouragement' over 'enforcement'

For its part, the White House attempted to exert a leadership role in the national policing debate, but an executive order signed by Trump earlier this month has been criticized by his opponents, such as Sen. Kamala Harris of California, as window dressing that encourages reforms but comes with no apparent enforcement mechanisms.

The President's executive order calls for the banning of choke holds by law enforcement officers, for example, but makes an exception for "those situations where the use of deadly force is allowed by law."

Advocates who want to eliminate the technique outright seized on this loophole, which would allow an officer to use a choke hold if they fear their life is in danger.

"All police that use choke holds claim their lives were threatened," wrote Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist, after Trump announced his executive order.

The issue of banning choke holds will remain controversial. Some policing experts contend that, in a deadly situation where an officer is fighting for his or her life, anything goes.

While Trump's order purportedly takes aim at officers who "misuse" their authority, the President himself has called for the use of excessive force against those in custody.

Upon taking office, Trump praised the aggressive tactics of immigration officers and suggested that police shouldn't protect the heads of handcuffed suspects being put in the back of a car.

"When you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon. You see them thrown in rough. I said, 'Please don't be too nice,'" Trump said to applause as he addressed a crowd of police officers in New York state.

His comments were met with scorn by various law enforcement agencies.

'If we don't get it now, we'll never get it'

Despite calls by criminal justice reform activists for immediate changes to policing in America, there are some groups who appear content with buying time.

Last Monday, Bob Kroll, president of the Minneapolis police union, told me he had not read all of the bills working their way through the state legislature. But he cautioned against rushing through police reforms.

In comments that appeared tone-deaf to Floyd's pleas to the officer choking him, Kroll said of efforts to rush through policing reform: "Everybody's got to take a breath."

While the Minneapolis police union calls for more time, criminal justice advocates say lives remain in danger every day that passes without new constraints on officers.

At a recent rally outside the Minnesota governor's mansion, Del Shea Perry, the mother of Hardel Sherrel, told me her son had died in 2018 under suspicious circumstances while in jail after being arrested for domestic violence.

Perry said she and other families have been trying desperately to get the attention of elected leaders and have them take concrete steps to root out bad cops. Perry said she will continue their efforts until they are successful.

"I didn't sign up for this," Perry said. "I'm an evangelist, not an activist. But I've been pushed into an activism role."

Asked how long she will continue to be a public face for policing reform, Perry said, "Until we get justice." Seizing on this moment of unprecedented national protest against police violence, she added: "If we don't get it now, we'll never get it."

This story was first published on CNN.com 'After weeks of protests, meaningful police reform appears unlikely'
(CNN) - The coronavirus pandemic is far from coming to an end any time soon, according to World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"This is not even close to being over," Tedros said during a media briefing in Geneva on Monday.

"Although many countries have made some progress globally, the pandemic is actually speeding up. We're all in this together and we're all in this for the long haul," Tedros said. "We have already lost so much, but we can not lose hope."

Tedros also said that Tuesday marks six months since WHO first received reports of cases of pneumonia in China from an unknown cause  which would later be identified as caused by novel coronavirus infection.

"The six-month anniversary of the outbreak coincides with reaching 10 million cases and 500,000 deaths," Tedros said.

"This is a moment for all of us to reflect on the progress we have made and the lessons we have learned, and to recommit ourselves to doing everything we can to save lives," Tedros said. "Six months ago, none of us could have imagined how our world -- and our lives -- would be thrown into turmoil by this new virus."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Coronavirus pandemic "not even close to being over," WHO says"
Were adjusting, but were also learning from a lot of camps as theyve already opened up, Varner said.

Changing locations

SPY is one of those camps. Its full-day, seven-week camp for children started on June 15.

Leaders of the program, typically held at St. Johns Episcopal Church on the Square, knew the county would have to be in yellow for the program to happen, but they also knew they would be restricted to a group of 25.

That really prohibited us from having 75 campers at one spot. At that point, we actually were planning to not have it. We didnt think it would be possible, Som said

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But the community stepped up to offer a way to split the campers into four groups. Second Presbyterian Church and First United Church of Christ offered the use of their buildings, and New Life Community Church offered space at its locations in Carlisle and Mount Holly Springs.

Additional funding came from the United Way and the Partnership for Better Health to cover the approximately $20,000 in extra expenses for staffing and supplies. Combined with added support from the community, organizers were able to make sure the program, which is free to students, could continue.
Wardle said the DOH is working to ensure those connections and relationships are in place to build our capacity, should the number of contact tracers need to be rapidly expanded, as modeling projects.

The GWU model accounts for projected case load, pegging Pennsylvania at 445 new cases per day over a 14-day sampling period.

As of Monday, the states 14-day average daily increase stood at 490 new cases, due to slight upticks last week, according to the most recent DoH data.

The GWU model can also be adjusted for workload  the default assumption, based on prior experience, is that an infected person will, on average, have 10 close contacts that need to be monitored, and that a contact tracer can make 32 follow-ups per day.

Those variables can swing significantly based on who is testing positive, with cases among high-contact people, such as servers, creating a larger workload.

The reality is you may get one person who has been alone or quarantining with their partner, and then you get another case where a person has been out at a bar and may have contacted 30 people, Salsberg said. Having a restaurant worker come down [with COVID-19], youd want to get [a contact tracer] out there pretty quickly.
He said one of fluoride's disadvantages is that the chemical is toxic and requires special handling. He said the city would need to upgrade the area in which hazardous materials are stored, and the cost of the upgrades are not yet known.

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The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires that the city provide the public with a 90-day notice before making any decision on the matter. The notice has been posted on the citys website and outgoing water bills. The 90-day notice allows the public to provide the city with feedback and opinions on the removal, or continued use, of fluoride in the water.

The council moved on to authorize an agreement with Liquid Engineering Corporation for maintenance work on the citys water tanks, wells and raw water reservoirs.

Utility Director Frank Shovlin said the citys water tanks had not been serviced in seven years. He said DNR recommends servicing water tanks every three to four years. Shovlin said the citys raw water reservoir hadnt been cleaned out in nearly 25 years, and he believed they should be cleaned at least every three to five years.

The council also discussed altering the fire departments response boundaries.
Vanuatu turns the Corner LETS USE THIS AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR THE FUTURE
Naviso Health Centre, where there was no nurse present during the delivery. Photo credit: Alexis Cullen
Yes. I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home.

No. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage.

I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it.

Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time.

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As a surge of infections hits the South and West, GOP officials are pushing back against the notion that masks are about politics, as President Donald Trump suggests. Get caught up on the morning's virus developments.
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In the last month, Ive added a new word to my vocabulary  kayfabe. What does it mean? Its the theatrical master plan that people involved in pro wrestling engage in when deciding whether Boris the Black or The White Snake will win or lose a match.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has proposed a travel bubble be set up with countries having contained the novel coronavirus to resume tourism and economic activities.

The CAAV said in a recent proposal to the Transport Ministry regular flights to and from certain safe countries should be resumed at the end of July, without specifically mentioning which country. A country is defined as safe if it does not record community transmission in 30 consecutive days.

Passengers need to have stayed in this country for at least 30 days and need to provide a certificate showing they tested negative for the virus within three days before flights. Transit passengers are not allowed.

Upon arrival in Vietnam passengers will need to undergo a quick test paid for by the airline. They will then be quarantined for 14 days at a paying facility appointed by authorities.

Businesspeople, experts, students and tourists should be eligible for this "travel bubble" scheme, the CAAV proposed.

Dinh Viet Thang, CAAV director, said some Taiwan airlines have proposed to resume flights to Vietnam. Local airlines are also ready to resume international flights, he added.

Vietnam, which has gone 74 days without community transmission, is now allowing experts and high-skilled workers to enter the country with a 14-day mandatory quarantine. Tourists, however, are still banned from entering the country.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said last week Vietnam was not yet ready to open up to international tourists, and authorities need to prevent a second wave of the novel coronavirus from breaking locally.

Some ASEAN countries, such as Singapore and Thailand, are considering setting up "travel bubbles" to resume their own tourism activities.
Vietnams e-commerce market is set to maintain its recent growth momentum this year with a 30 percent year-on-year rise to reach $15 billion.

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted a change in Vietnamese consumption habits with many shifting to online shopping after brick and mortar stores had to close during a nationwide social distancing campaign, according to the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM).

Most e-commerce companies have been able to retain their staff during the pandemic and plan to hire more in the second half of the year as they see rising demand from online shopping, the report says.

A VECOM survey of 4,000 businesses found 39 percent using social media for sales last year, up three percentage points from 2018.

Respondents said social media was the most effective advertising medium, followed by search tools, mobile messages, apps and online newspapers.

Businesses have also been paying more attention to mobile shopping, with 50 percent allowing customers to order and pay for products via smartphone, up 7 percentage points from 2018, the report said.

Vietnam has recorded a compound annual growth rate of 30 percent in the 2016-2019 period. Last year, the market grew 32 percent year-on-year to $11.5 billion, a report by VECOM noted.
Vietnamese stand in line to complete procedures before boarding a repatriation flight in France, June 28, 2020. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A flight carrying over 280 stranded Vietnamese citizens from Europe, where the Covid-19 pandemic has showed no signs of slowing down, reached Vietnam on Monday.

The Vietnam Airlines flight, departing from France, landed at Van Don Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh, with children, students, seniors, sick people, pregnant women, guest workers whose labor contracts had expired, and tourists with expired visas.

They were stuck in Europe as nations hit by the pandemic closed their borders and imposed stringent travel restrictions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

All of them underwent medical checks before boarding and wore face masks throughout the flight.

They submitted health declarations and were quarantined on arrival at Van Don Airport. Their samples have been taken for testing.

Europe has so far recorded over 2.4 million infections and 190,000 deaths, with Russia having the highest number of infections at more than 634,000, followed by the U.K.

Vietnamese authorities earlier organized seven repatriation flights from Europe.

They have brought back over 7,000 people stranded abroad, including from the U.S., Canada, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asian Covid-19 hotspots.

Vietnam has had 355 cases, with the latest patients being repatriates from Kuwait. It currently has 20 active cases.
Vietnam's most critically ill Covid-19 patient, who has been hospitalized for more than three months in HCMC, could leave for Scotland next month.

Stephen Cameron, the 43-year-old pilot who staged a remarkable recovery after being comatose for more than two months, could go home on a repatriation flight set to depart from Hanoi on July 12 if he is well enough, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said.

"Hopefully the patient can walk in the next 10 days and will be strong enough to fly home," Son said Monday.

"When he leaves, a medical team will accompany him."

Son said the U.K. Embassy has sent a document to the Covid-19 treatment sub-committee under the ministry, suggesting that Vietnamese experts and authorities assess whether "Patient 91" was healthy enough to return to his native Scotland on a long flight.

The embassys proposal is for the British pilot to be taken on the July 12 Vietnam Airlines flight that is set to fly from Hanoi to the U.K. for bringing back stranded Vietnamese citizens.

The British embassy has said the patients insurance company will cover all the costs for him to leave Vietnam with the assistance of Vietnamese health specialists.

Local reports have said that leading Vietnamese specialists will have to hold another national consultation to see if the British pilot, who was to work for the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, is healthy enough to be discharged from the hospital and endure a long flight back to the U.K.

Stephen Cameron drinks water from a bottle with help from the medical staff at Cho Ray Hospital, HCMC, June 22, 2020. Photo courtesy of Cho Ray Hospital.

Cameron, known commonly as "Patient 91," has been hospitalized since he was confirmed Covid-19 positive on March 18. His fate has received unprecedented national and global attention as the strongest symbol of Vietnams success in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. A country of 96 million people that shares a long border with China, where the novel coronavirus is said to have originated, has recorded no Covid-19 deaths thus far.

The patient is currently in good health and can eat without any medical intervention. His limb muscle strength and respiratory functions have returned. He can breathe, sit up and walk a few steps on his own with the aid of a supporting frame.

The insurance company recently paid VND3.5 billion ($151,000) for the patient's medical bill at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases where he underwent treatment from March 18 to May 22 and was cured of the novel coronavirus.

Vietnam, which has recorded 355 Covid-19 infections so far, has gone 72 days without community transmission of the virus.
Five patients, including a six-year-old boy, with medical staff (C and R) at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi as they are announced to have recovered from the Covid-19, June 29, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Chi Le.

Five Vietnamese repatriated from Sweden, Finland and Kuwait were announced Covid-19 free Monday, bringing Vietnams active cases down to 20.

Among the patients, two women returned from Kuwait on June 18 while two men and a six-year-old boy returned from Europe on June 6.

They have been treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi. The three European returnees were hospitalized on June 19 while the two Kuwait returnees were admitted to the hospital on June 24.

For now, each patient has tested negative at least twice and is in stable condition. They will stay at the hospital for two more weeks for medical monitoring.

The hospital is now treating five other Covid-19 patients. One of them was admitted when she had already got pneumonia, but doctors said she is recovering and does not have to rely on the oxygen mask anymore.

"We [medical workers] are still in the fight against the pandemic and if there are new patients coming, were ready to receive them," said Tran Van Giang, deputy head at the Department of Viruses and Parasitology.

With five more patients recovering, Vietnam now has 20 Covid-19 patients left.

The country has recorded 355 cases so far, of whom 215 are those returning or coming from abroad.

By Monday, it has gone 74 days without community transmission.

The global infection tally has topped 10 million and number of deaths reached 504,613.
A tidal flood control project in Nha Be District in HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Trung Nam.

HCMCs drainage system is expected to expand to nearly 2,100 square kilometers, thrice bigger than originally planned to address the widespread flooding issue in the city.

Renovation of the citys drainage system by 2030 with the vision to 2050 to address flooding will be expanded to cover 23 districts, except Can Gio. About 20 years ago, the plan focused only on 650 square kilometers, which covers 32 percent of the inner city and surrounding areas.

The new plan aims to renovate and upgrade the drainage system and devises special plans for rainwater drainage. Experts have taken into account population growth, climate change, sea level rise and subsidence  factors not included in the previous plan.

It serves to regulate ground elevation and surface drainage, which includes an upgrade of the citys reservoir system and prioritizes investment in water drainage and wastewater treatment.

The plan entails studying the impact of neighboring provinces such as Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Binh Phuoc, and Long An on HCMCs drainage infrastructure.

Consultants have surveyed sewers of all kind stretching 835 km and measured the cross-section of rivers and canals. They additionally promoted implementing an hydraulic drainage model and calculated citys overall sewer capacity.

Phan Thanh Tuan, deputy director of Project Steering Committee 5 under the Management Board of Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project, said the project objectives are tied with natural and social issues to avoid rampant concrete construction and narrowing water flow.

However, in order to effectively reduce flooding, the project needs to be 80 to 90 percent complete, to include a management mechanism for rivers, canals and ditches.

The completed drainage proposal will be submitted to Project Steering Committee 5 by September end.

The committee will then consult with different departments, experts and communities before HCMC People's Committee submits the plan to the Ministry of Construction for appraisal and later the prime minister for approval.

According to Dr Ho Long Phi, former head of the Center of Water Management and Climate Change at Vietnam National University in HCMC, the expansion of drainage planning is necessary because the old plan is outdated and the city has been seriously affected by climate change and urbanization.

However, to achieve efficiency, the plan needs to be included in overall urban, transportation and ecosystem planning, he noted.

The expert suggested the city implement a roadmap to solve the flooding problem first and identify which areas need to be addressed first and for how long. The city should also avoid not executing the plan timely and let the city sink, he said.

Phi said authorities need to develop a system of scattered water storage areas in central residential areas as a short-term solution to combat flooding.

New residential areas should have space for water storage and a rainwater drainage system, both of which should be regulated, he stressed.

Last year, Climate Central, a U.S.-based nonprofit news organization that analyzes and reports on climate science, revealed most of southern Vietnam, including Mekong Delta and HCMC, could be flooded by 2050.

A study by Vietnam's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in 2016 found sea levels would increase by one meter by 2100, and would potentially flood about 18 percent of HCMC and 39 percent of Mekong Delta.
The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam has asked their counterparts in Pakistan to verify records and certificates of 12 Pakistani pilots working in Vietnam over fake qualification concerns.

Dinh Viet Thang, Director of the CAAV, said Monday that the Pakistani aviation authorities have confirmed that they would verify and respond soon. The Pakistanis consider "this lesson an experience so they will not conceal [anything] and will act transparent," he said.

Pending the Pakistani response, all the 12 pilots working in Vietnam have been suspended. The 12 are part of 27 Pakistani pilots licensed to work in the country. The other 15 have left Vietnam after finishing their contracts.

The CAAVs request to verify qualifications was made following reports that Pakistani authorities have suspended 262 pilots on suspicion of using fraudulent licenses. The fraud came to light during investigations into a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crash in May that killed 97 people.

A total 262 out of 860 Pakistani pilots had reportedly hired somebody else to take the license examination on their behalf and were not qualified to operate an aircraft, initial investigations found.

Thang explained further that the licenses issued by Pakistan are real but "the process of issuing them could be problematic."

He said the suspension would not affect flight schedules of the carriers involved because they have other pilots on their rooster that can fill in.

Foreign pilots go through a four-round testing process as regulated by the Transport Ministry to get a license to work in Vietnam. The license is valid for five years, while the practicing certificate is valid for one year.

If they have a valid license, the pilots have the right to apply for work for Vietnamese carriers. If they move to another country, they have to abide by documentation and qualifications required by that country.

The CAAV has also begun to conduct a license review of more than 1,200 foreign pilots in Vietnam that is set to be completed by July 31.

Thang said the overall review was necessary to ensure aviation safety, not just because of the fact that many Pakistani pilots have used fake licenses.

On May 22, PIA flight 8303, an Airbus, crashed when landing at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi in southern Pakistan, killing 97 people. Pilot error has been blamed for the tragedy.

On Saturday, Transport Minister Nguyen Van The asked the CAAV to ground the Pakistani pilots working in Vietnam pending review of their qualifications.

Vietnam's aviation market has six domestic players: Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Jetstar Pacific, Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), Bamboo Airways, and newly-licensed Vietstar Airlines, a military-run company.
President Donald Trump has made clear that the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism cannot acquire a nuclear weapon:

As long as I'm President of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.

For the past two years, the United States has waged a maximum pressure campaign using economic and diplomatic tools to prevent the Iranian regime from expanding its nuclear activities. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently announced new steps in that direction.

First, the United States has announced that the sanctions waiver for three Iran nuclearrelated projects will terminate following a 60-day period to allow entities to wind down any involvement they might have in these projects.

This relates to the Arak reactor conversion, the provision of enriched uranium for the Tehran research reactor, and the export of Irans spent and scrap research reactor fuel.

The waiver allowed projects started under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, in which the United States ceased participating in 2018, to continue without U.S. sanctions risk.

Second, the United States imposed sanctions on two Iranian officials involved in Irans nuclear enrichment activities: Amjad Sazgar and Majid Aghai.

Third, the United States sanctioned the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, the IRISL, under Executive Order 13382.

Secretary Pompeo said in a statement, IRISL has repeatedly transported items related to Irans ballistic missile and military programs and is also a longstanding carrier of other proliferation-sensitive items, including Nuclear Suppliers Group-controlled items.Those who do business with IRISL risk sanctions.

U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said the United States is taking these actions now because the regime continues to use its nuclear program to extort the international community. We will deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon.
What is good for Asia, is good for the United States, noted Gloria Steele, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Asia Bureau at the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. Our goal in Asia, she explained in a recent interview, is to help them become prosperous, free and open, and help them to achieve self-reliance.

USAID was particularly successful in helping Vietnam improve their competitiveness by increasing transparency and streamlining business practices in the country, said Ms. Steele:

Vietnam is now one of the highest growing countries from an economic perspective in the region. They have demonstrated the highest increase in terms of the WEFs  the World Economic Forums competitiveness ranking in the region. And that has had significant impacts for both the people of Vietnam in terms of quality of life, as well as markets for the U.S.

In Indonesia, USAID has been instrumental in advancing the energy sector, said Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator Steele:

We have been working with Indonesia, particularly the energy sector, and they have been able to work to make their policies such that there has been a lot of changes and improvements in modernizing the energy sector. . . .Again, this has served as a good source of investment, not just for local investors in Indonesia, but for the US investors as well.

In the Philippines, USAID has supported the growth of e-commerce with an investment in mobile banking, which has enabled people who do not have access to banking services to use their mobile phones to manage their finances. It eventually developed into a system of e-payments, which are used not just for commerce, but for distributing social welfare services for the disadvantaged and marginalized in the country.

USAID will continue to help countries in Asia become economically self-sustaining by creating conditions that encourage private sector investment. Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator Steele, said, USAID plans to work with governments to make their policies so that theyre conducive to private sector involvement and there is a level playing field for legitimate private sector entities.
Aloys Ndimbati a former municipal official in the Republic of Rwanda, is wanted for taking part in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

In his capacity as mayor of the Gisovu commune in Kibuye prefecture, Ndimbati is accused of directing communal and national police to hunt down individuals who had fled to the hills of the Besesero region to escape the violence. During approximately 100 days of violence, these attacks led to tens of thousands of deaths and large numbers of wounded. For these and other crimes the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, now known as the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, indicted Ndimbati on charges of genocide and war crimes and issued a warrant for his arrest.

The United States is cooperating with other governments, the United Nations, and the Residual Mechanism to make it harder for Ndimbati and the others to continue to elude justice. To achieve that end, the U.S. is offering a reward of up to five million dollars for information leading to his arrest.

If you or anyone you know has information on Aloys Ndimbatis activities and whereabouts, you can provide it with complete confidentiality. Please visit the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate website to contact the Regional Security Office, email the U.S. War Crimes Rewards Program at WCRP@state.gov, or contact us via WhatsApp on +1-202-975-5468. You can also visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/warcrimesrewardsprogram or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WarCrimesReward for photos of the wanted fugitives.

All credible reports will be investigated and the identity of all informants will be kept confidential.
Theyre going to identify every seep and spring in the watersheds that are currently affected by the known actions, Fox said.

The Idaho Conservation League and Idaho Rivers United also might assist by monitoring bull trout numbers near the project.

Fox also said Newcrest and the USFS will analyze traffic patterns at roads near Jack and Jenny creeks  important creeks for bull trout. Newcrest might build a permanent culvert across a creek to reduce vehicle impacts, and the company will also monitor stream turbidity.

Its still unknown if, after this project, Newcrest will want to return either to develop a gold deposit or continue exploration. Following this resolution, the company would have to receive new permissions for new activities as opposed to having pre-approval to explore for 11 more years. Perry noted that with projects like this, the likelihood of finding a valuable amount of gold is always low.

Its somewhat unusual to have a company agree to make so many changes to a project that has already been found by a federal agency to have no environmental impacts.
Karim Benzema earned lofty praise after his sensational assist teed up the decisive goal in Real Madrid's 1-0 win at Espanyol.

Guti lauds Benzema backheel

Casemiro grabbed the only goal at RCDE Stadium to send Madrid two points clear at the top of LaLiga, yet the 45th-minute strike owed almost everything to the skill of Benzema.

The former France international's 117th assist of his Madrid career came via an outrageous backheel through the legs of defender Bernardo Espinosa to give Casemiro a simple finish.

The stunning touch swiftly prompted comparisons to ex-Madrid great Guti, who famously teed up Benzema for an open goal with a similarly stunning touch against Deportivo La Coruna in 2010.

As clips were shared of both goals on social media, Guti joined in the conversation to praise his former team-mate.

Sharing a picture of his own assist, the 43-year-old tagged Benzema and posted a series of clapping emojis.

"Magic, friend," he wrote. "Brutal."
The United States has become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic and since they started reopening the economy in May, there has been a spike in confirmed cases with several states recording daily records of confirmed cases. The European Union wants to keep the U.S travel ban even after 1 July due to their failure to fully control the outbreak.

The European Union restricted nonessential travel to most of its member states under rules in effect until at least June 30. But starting July 1, European countries are loosening some of those measures and allowing travel again from more than a dozen countries, including China, that meet certain criteria.

The United States continues to count record-high numbers of new coronavirus cases and because of that they do not make the cut and that is why the EU wants to extend the travel ban which is set to end on 1 July. While the United States has failed to control the virus, Europe has become a model amid the pandemic as their number of cases have declined and remained low.



Europes vengeance on Trumps original decision

Back on 11 March, when Europe was the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic, the United States President Donald Trump announced a travel ban on anyone arriving from the 26 countries of the European Union. This ban was expanded a few days later to include the United Kingdom.

When Trump made this decision he argued that it was to protect Americans from the virus that was spiking in countries like Spain and Italy. This decision also caused confusion about who could and couldnt return to the U.S., leading to chaos at the airports.
President Donald Trump has been pressuring governors from all 50 states to reopen the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic. Texas was one of the first states to take heed and since doing so has seen a spike in new Covid-19 cases which has led the governor to take severe actions to stop the spread.

Other states like California has decided to close down all bars in several counties due to the increase of coronavirus confirmed cases in the last few weeks, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom. Back on 20 June Trump said that the United States had learned how to control the virus, but that has not been the case in reality.

It has been four days in a row that the U.S. has recorded a higher number of Covid-19 cases with more than 2.5 million people having now been confirmed as infected. The failure to control the coronavirus pandemic has other countries in Europe banning the U.S. from entering their borders when the travel ban expires on 1 July.

It is mandatory to wear face masks

New York, the epicenter of the virus in the United States, has been a role model for how to slowly reopen the economy in the country. Since they suffered the most from the virus they have ignored the pressure from President Trump to reopen quickly and are seeing a decrease in daily cases.

Other states like California, South Carolina, Texas, Florida and Arizona are seeing an increase in daily cases and their governors are imposing new measures to stop the spread. One of these is to make wearing face masks public places compulsory. For example, Florida has gone as far as fining people up to $500 for not wearing one in public.

For several weeks since reopening their economy amid the pandemic, Nevada, California, Washington and North Carolina had eased the ruling on wearing a face mask but due to the spike in cases they have made it mandatory again for people to wear one in public.
As level 3 of facing Covid-19 pandemic gets underway in South Africa the government has announced easing some restrictions on certain activities to improve economic conditions and help revive industries including restaurants, cinemas, and casinos. Businesses will be able to re-open as soon as they receive a protocol from the health authorities, which they can then follow in orde to start up operations again.



President Cyril Ramaphosa said earlier in his statement on 17 June: "In each instance, specific and stringent safety requirements have been agreed on and will need to be put in place before a business can reopen, and protocols will need to be strictly adhered to for businesses to remain open".

Re-opening restaurants and casinos:

The government recently released the level 3 amendments to the lockdown restrictions that included the re-opening of libraries and museums. Furthermore, various industries including restaurants, casinos, cinemas, theatres, and personal care services will no longer be banned, and will be allowed to get back to business following a consultation between the health minister and the cabinet minister in charge of each sector.

No home visits allowed yet:

However, people are still not allowed to pay each other home visits. Since 26 June, people have been only allowed to get together for exercise from 06:00 till 18:00, provided that the number of people in a group does not exceed four individuals, who abide by the health and social distance protocol.

As soon as new health protocols are published, people also will be able to gather at restaurants, casinos, and cinemas, while home visits will remain prohibited for this stage.

The amendments downside:

The new amendments have met with criticism, in particular from certain sections of society, as people with fewer resources and who can't afford to visit cinemas and restaurants will still not be able to see their loved ones due to the prohibition on home visits.

Furthermore, the new regulations are seen as being unfair to those lacking resources, aimed as they are at getting the economy going again. Critics argue that the amendments should have involved more flexibility, as it appears somewhat irrational to allow people to go gambling or to gather for a meal at a restaurant, while not allowing home visits.
Russia's hybrid military forces mounted an attack on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas near Krymske, with two members of the Joint Forces reported as wounded in action, the press centre of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) headquarters has reported.

"Today, June 29, the armed forces led the Russian Federation once again violated the ceasefire and fired on the positions of the JFO. Thus, according to the positions of Ukrainian defenders near Krymske, the Russian invaders used 120-caliber mortars, automatic easel grenade launchers and small arms. Amid enemy shelling, two members of the Joint Forces received shrapnel wounds," the JFO headquarters said on its Facebook page.

The soldiers were taken to a military medical institution, where they were promptly provided with medical assistance. The state of health of the wounded is satisfactory.

"The JFO units used the available weapons and responded adequately. The enemy's casualties are being clarified," the press centre said.
During a visit to Ivano-Frankivsk region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy set a task for the Cabinet of Ministers to attract international assistance for the restoration of the areas affected by the bad weather, the press service of the President's Office has reported.

"We have allocated the first UAH 750 million from the reserve fund for the restoration of the areas and [payment] of compensation to people. It is not yet possible to fully calculate the losses, but if necessary, we will allocate as much as needed. However, our international friends have rapid aid mechanisms, and this should not be ignored. We must help people in this difficult period," the president said.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported that the United States was immediately allocating $100,000 to the affected areas. Israel purchased 25,000 liters of drinking water, and Moldova sent a truck to Chernivtsi region with equipment and materials to deal with emergencies. The Multinational Engineer Battalion Tisa, which was created to prevent and respond quickly to flood threats, as well as to provide a qualified response to the consequences of natural disasters in the Carpathian region, is also involved in the restoration.
The organization of voting by Russia regarding amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation in the occupied territory of the Ukrainian Crimea, as well as the organization of participation in voting of persons who illegally received passports of the Russian Federation, will have political and legal consequences, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar has said.

"The organization of voting in the occupied territory of the Ukrainian Crimea, as well as the organization of participation in voting of persons who are holders of illegally issued passports of the Russian Federation, will have political and legal consequences for the Russian Federation. The international community has a fairly wide range of tools to respond appropriately: from political statements condemning the actions of the Russian Federation until the non-recognition of the result of the voting regarding the occupied territories and the expansion of sanctions and political pressure. The extension of Putin's tenure in power is a continuation of Russia's aggressive policy, and our society and the world should understand this. It remains unknown if every ordinary citizen of Russia understands this," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

Bodnar said that Ukraine has turned to international partners to condemn the organization of so-called "voting" in the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including by toughening sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation.

"Firstly, we expect political solidarity that the vote, especially in the occupied territories, is considered illegitimate. Secondly, personal sanctions will be applied to the persons organizing this vote, and inadmissibility on the territory of the states that impose such sanctions will be applied. I'm sure that the world community will justly see how the Russian authorities are trying to force the population in the occupied territories to take political steps to please the Kremlin leadership," he said.

The deputy foreign minister also expressed hope that citizens of Ukraine who are forced to reside in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine will refuse to participate in this from the point of view of international law by illegitimate voting.

"Instead of following the principle of the legitimacy of voting and not holding them in the occupied territories of Ukraine, which casts doubt on the entire voting process, the Russians are persistently trying to hold it in Crimea and encourage Ukrainian citizens to whom they forcibly issued their passports to go to polling stations There's a double meaning: the first is to demonstrate the alleged "own right" to the occupied territories, which is a direct violation of the sovereignty of Ukraine, the second is to artificially increase the number of people who vote to extend Putin's tenure in power," Bodnar said.

In his opinion, therefore, in this case, the only answer is the continuation of sanctions by the international community, Ukraine, individual countries in order to demonstrate to the aggressor country that its actions do not go unpunished.
Moldova may cancel mandatory quarantine of returnees and reopen kindergartens on July 15 due to a decline in new coronavirus cases, Moldovan President Igor Dodon said.

"We are witnessing a positive trend, and the level of coronavirus infections is on decline. Last week we registered 17% fewer cases than the week before: 2,050 as against 2,640 cases in the previous week. The contagiousness level [the number of people infected by one coronavirus carrier] has also declined, from 1.19% the week before to 0.94% last week," Dodon said after a weekly meeting with the parliament speaker and the prime minister on Monday.

If the trend prevails, the prime minister will initiate the lifting of some other restrictions, including cancellation of 14-day mandatory quarantine of Moldovan citizens returning to the home country, Dodon said.

"We will also consider reopening of kindergartens. This is a very big problem we need to resolve. First we will do that in the countryside, and then in cities," Dodon said.

Moldova has cancelled the coronavirus state of emergency and has lifted practically all economic restrictions: all markets, shopping malls and gyms have reopened. Flights to certain foreign countries resumed, and hotels, cafes and restaurants went back to business on May 15. The restrictions remained in place only for public sector employees, who are working in two shifts, including two weeks in offices and two weeks from home.
>>> ASEAN Leaders Interface with Representatives of AIPA a success: Official

>>> ASEAN member states cohesive and responsive to overcome difficulties

>>> 36th ASEAN Summit a success: PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc

Germanys Junge Welt Newspaper ran an article on June 27 saying that the focus of the summit was to find solutions to revive the economy post COVID-19, as well as to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN partners.

The newspaper highlighted important orientations in the opening speech of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, in which, the Vietnamese PM expressed his desire that the event would create an opportunity for ASEAN member states to reaffirm their solidarity, political will and determination to overcome the current challenges and steadily move forward.

In addition, PM Phuc also affirmed that ASEAN countries have actively shared information and experience while coordinating together to curb the disease, adding that ASEAN should continue to effectively control the COVID-19 epidemic.

The PM also stated that ASEAN will expand and strengthen equal and win-win cooperation with its partners, while affirming the blocs strong commitment to economic liberalisation and integration, striving to soon finalise the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Previously, Junge Welt also published an article on the preparation for the 36th ASEAN Summit in an online format under the chairmanship of Vietnam. The article said that 10 member states, with a population of more than 660 million people, have so far fought the COVID-19 epidemic much more successfully than Europe, but have also suffered economic losses due to the pandemic. According to the article, the possibility that ASEAN may sign the RCEP along with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand by the end of this year would lend a hand in helping ASEAN to overcome the difficulties caused by the epidemic soon.

Austrias Salzburger Nachrichten Newspaper also highlighted the organisation of the 36th ASEAN Summit in the form of video conference. The newspaper cited the information provided by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about three focuses under discussion at the summit, including coping with COVID-19, addressing geopolitical tensions, and enhancing women empowerment.

After the summit, Igor Olegovich Mishin, a Russian expert from the Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) under the Russian Academy of Sciences, stated on June 27 that in the context of the complicated developments in Asia Pacific in general and the East Sea in particular, Vietnams approach to regional issues has made significant contributions to peace and development in the region.

According to Mishin, Vietnams approach to issues in Asia Pacific and the East Sea is based on the principles of maintaining peace and friendly neighbourliness. The country supports the settlement of conflicts via international law, with the foundation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The expert expressed his belief that Vietnams active viewpoints will receive widespread support from the international community.

Evaluating the coordination between Vietnam and Russian at international forums and on Asia Pacific matters, Mishin affirmed that the time-tested relations between the two countries are those of a strategic partnership. The two sides have been collaborating effectively within the framework of ASEAN, as well as in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+). The Russian expert highly appreciated the contribution of Vietnam and Russia to regional security, affirming that both countries back UNCLOS 1982 and consider it a legal foundation to address disputes in the East Sea.
According to Giau, if there was no COVID-19 pandemic, participants would have discussed more issues, including commitments among governments in the ASEAN Community and the implementation of policies and agreements.

The interface focused on discussing COVID-19-related matters, with delegates hailing the concerted efforts made by the governments, parliaments and people of ASEAN member states. Such efforts have contributed to effectively initially controlling the pandemic.

Highlighting the speech given by NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan as Chair of the 41st General Assembly of the AIPA (AIPA-41), the official said it communicated the message initiated by the Vietnamese legislature and agreed by the parliaments of member states.

Regarding Vietnams AIPA chairmanship as part of its ASEAN Chair 2020, Chairman Giau said the pandemic has changed many of the traditional activities, for example, face-to-face meetings being replaced by online ones. Virtual meetings hosted by Vietnam have been highly valued by ASEAN governments and law-making bodies, he noted.

Concerning the contribution of Vietnam as AIPA 41 Chair to COVID-19 prevention and control and the building of a strong ASEAN Community, he mentioned the NA leaders letter urging AIPA member parliaments to join hands in protecting ASEAN from the pandemic. The letter has received significant positive feedback, he added.

The interface demonstrated Vietnams sense of responsibility as the ASEAN and AIPA host country in 2020 as well as the spirit of solidarity and consensus of ASEAN member countries in their joint work to overcome the pandemic and further enhance the task of building the ASEAN Community.

At the function, the Vietnamese NA spoke highly of and agreed with the positive progress recorded in the ASEAN Community, which, under the chairmanship of Vietnam this year, will improve bloc solidarity and promote ASEANs central role in the region. The Vietnamese NA is now working to prepare the content and theme of the AIPA-41 General Assembly.

Participants in the interface hoped AIPA would continue its role as an important partner of ASEAN, boost cooperation, dialogue, and information exchange among parliaments, and coordinate in the implementation of the programme on building the ASEAN community.
Iran's former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says, "The Iranian nation will not recognize a new secret 25-year agreement between Iran and China," and warned that any contract signed with a foreign country without the people knowing about it will be void.

Ahmadinejad was referring to vague reports recently about signing a long-term cooperation agreement with China, but no one has disclosed the details of a possible agreement or said how far such a project has progressed.

According to the former President's Telegram channel, Ahmadinejad said on Saturday June 27 during a visit to Gilan Province that the Rouhani administration has approved the draft of the agreement in its final months in office. Rouhanis term ends next June.

It was a masterful, populist jab by Ahmadinejad, who took to opportunity to appear as a nationalist defender of Irans sovereignty.

Last week, the conservative news website Tabnak revealed that the Rouhani administration has approved a 25-year deal and that Rouhani has tasked Foreign Minister Javad Zarif with finalizing talks with the Chinese side.

Meanwhile, in an unusual frontpage banner, the IRGC-linked newspaper Javan called the agreement "A pact between the Lion and the Dragon".

However, Zarif told reporters in Tehran last week that "there is no contract," and that he simply is going to talk about bilateral cooperation with China.

Later, in an odd tweet in Chinese on June 24, Zarif said that he was going to follow up on a 2016 agreement with China titled "The Cino-Iranian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," that was a $400 billion project.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Monday denied reports about the 25-year contract with China but did not say what is it exactly he is denying. However, he added that the document is a source for pride and secures the interests of both nations.

In fact, all the noise about a long-term agreement with China seems to nothing more than a wish on Irans part to forge a deal with Beijing, which has so far been silent about it. Most probably, China has not endorsed any document and what is being sold is a plan Iran would want to see becoming a reality.

But Iranian users on social media took reports seriously and generally condemned the agreement. Some people likened it to the 1828 Treaty of Turkmenchai between Iran and Russia based on which Iran (then called Persia) ceded the control of large parts of its territory to Russia.

Tabnak quoted Rouhani as having said that the agreement between China and Iran is among other things about bilateral cooperation in the areas of infrastructure, free trade zones and assimilation of investment in the areas of tourism, information technology and communication.

Using his usual jargon that has proved meaningless during the past seven years, Rouhani said "this is a long-term plan based on a win-win approach."

Having seen the fate of his most famous win-win accord, the nuclear deal with the West or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, it is difficult to make any prediction about yet another "comprehensive" plan.

Even Tabnak is not sure about how serious the deal is. The website, which is close to former IRGC Commander Mohsen Rezai puts forward reasons why it doubts the agreement: "Because the details of the agreement have not been published, it is not clear when and if the Chinese side would approve the document, it is the first long-term strategic cooperation document in 40 years with a foreign government, and because the final approval of the document by China as a superpower would be tantamount to a final turn to the East. "

Meanwhile, according to pro-Ahmadinejad Telegram channel @Dolatebahar, "some of the Chinese companies" possibly involved in this project "have Iranian owners or shareholders, which means they are the relatives of officials who have come up with the project. "

Meanwhile, Radio Farda's Iran analyst Reza Haqiqatnezhad wrote on Twitter that "most of the information released about the Cino-Iranian agreement are not true. It is not a contract. It is an invitation sent by Iran including its wishful thinking hoping to persuade China to join in."

He reminded that "China cannot enter into a $400 billion contract with Iran while it is unable to buy oil from Iran due to U.S. sanctions," adding that as a result of the sanctions, financial transactions between Iran and China is more than 20 times less that what Iran is dreaming to gain by this contract."
The spokesman of Irans foreign ministry today has complained that Romanian has not provided full information on the death of a fugitive Iranian judge who died in mysterious circumstances in Bucharest June 19.

Abbas Mousavi said that there are ambiguities surrounding Judge Gholamreza Mansouris death and Romanian has still not responded to Irans requests for transparency.

Mansouti who was implicated in a major corruption case in Iran fled the country last year and information leaked out in early June that he was in Europe. While there were reports of his presence in Germany, he surfaced in Romania where the police briefly arrested him on June 12 apparently on an Interpol request. A court in Bucharest postponed his extradition and released him under police watch.

Mansouri was staying in a hotel waiting for another court hearing when he fell from the upper floors of the hotel in mysterious and yet not explained circumstances. Romanian authorities confirmed the immediate cause of death but are continuing their investigation to see if it was suicide, accident or murder.

Iranian officials have criticized Romania since the incident and Bucharest on June 23 summoned the Iranian ambassador.

Mousavi today stressed that Irans foreign ministry has received no new information except what the media have published.

However, an Iranian police official today told ILNA news agency he cannot confirm reports that no messages have been received from Romanian police. He was referring to rumors that there was another Iranian in the hotel where Mansouri died.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a phone call to President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on June 29, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani presidential press-service.

President Aliyev congratulated President Berdimuhamedov on his birthday, and wished him the best of health and new success in his activity for the prosperity of Turkmenistan.

The Turkmen president thanked President Aliyev for his attention and congratulations.

During the phone conversation, the presidents hailed the development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan in various areas, and expressed confidence that the bilateral cooperation would continue successfully.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29

Trend:

The countries expressed support for Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs initiative to organize a special session of the UN General Assembly, Leyla Abdullayeva, spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, said, Trend reports on June 29.

Abdullayeva stressed the great importance of the Azerbaijani presidents initiative and described it as a significant contribution to the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

"As is known, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev, made a statement in connection with the countries support for the Azerbaijani presidents initiative to hold a special session of the UN General Assembly, the spokesperson added.

The initiative of convening a special session of the UN General Assembly dedicated to combating COVID-19 was put forward by the president on May 4, 2020 during the online summit of the Non-Aligned Movement Contact Group dedicated to combating the pandemic, Abdullayeva said. During the online summit, 120 member-states unanimously supported the Azerbaijani presidents proposal and agreed on behalf of the movement to submit a proposal to the UN secretary general.

Thus, the Azerbaijani president, on behalf of the NAM member-states, as the NAM chairman, addressed a letter to the UN secretary general with a request on May 13, 2020 to convene a special session of the General Assembly, the spokesperson said. The UN secretary general, in turn, having distributed the full note among the UN member-states, asked each of them within 30 days to express support for this initiative of the Azerbaijani president.

During the indicated period, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, the Foreign Ministry, Azerbaijans representative office under UN in New York, as well as other diplomatic missions abroad actively worked to inform about the Azerbaijani presidents initiative in the countries of their accreditation, the spokesperson said. As a result, the initiative was supported by over two thirds of UN member-states.

Regarding the significance of the initiative, when the whole world is struggling with COVID-19, strengthening of international solidarity in the fight against this global disaster is of great importance, Abdullayeva said.

For this purpose, high-level meetings dedicated to the fight against coronovirus were held and the issues of international cooperation, coordination and solidarity in the fight against the global pandemic and for reducing its influence were discussed at the initiative of the Azerbaijani president within the two international organizations (the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States and the Non-Aligned Movement), the spokesperson said.

The discussion of this topic at the high level within the UN General Assembly will certainly make a significant contribution to mitigation and elimination of the consequences of the global crisis in the field of heath care, expansion of international cooperation, development of multilateral diplomacy and, as a result, ensuring the security in the world," Abdullayeva added.

In accordance with paragraph 9 (a) of the procedural rules of the UN General Assembly, a special session of the Assembly may be convened, the spokesperson said. In accordance with this procedure, the Azerbaijani president addressed the UN secretary general on behalf of the NAM member-states, as well as the UN secretary-general appealed to the member-states for support.

"In accordance with the rules, the support of a majority of members of the General Assembly was sufficient to convene a session, Abdullayeva said. The initiative of the Azerbaijani president was supported by 130 UN member-states, that is, two-third of the members. I would also like to stress that the initiative of the Azerbaijani president was supported not only by the NAM member-states, but also by most of the European countries, including the members of the European Union, the leading countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America."

Then, Abdullayeva commented on Armenias position on this issue.

Is there a country opposing the initiative? There is such a country, and this is Armenia, the spokesperson said. The representative of this country to the UN, having addressed a letter to the secretary general, stressed that he sees no sense in implementing this initiative.

When the world is struggling with a global pandemic, when all countries need international solidarity and cooperation on this issue, the main reason why Armenia opposes holding a high-level meeting on this topic is, of course, related to Azerbaijan promoting this initiative, Abdullayeva added. Just imagine that this country does not support the discussion of the issue of human health on the international platform, which is of the highest value, in such a difficult period that our world is facing.

Thus, Armenia has once again demonstrated what its true values are, Abdullayeva said.

It is known that the support for this initiative of the Azerbaijani president testifies to the international communitys big confidence in our country, Abdullayeva added. While taking advantage of this opportunity, we once again thank every country that supports this initiative."

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will explain during the coming days the next steps in terms of supporting the initiative of the Azerbaijani president and the procedural rules, the spokesperson said.

In accordance with the rules of procedure, the next step is the adoption of a resolution of the General Assembly on the convening of its special session, Abdullayeva said. After the adoption of the resolution, a special session must be convened as soon as possible.

I would like to stress that on the proposal of the Azerbaijani president, a special session is planned to be held in the form of a video conference at the level of heads of state and government, the spokesperson said.

We hope that after taking the appropriate steps, a special session will be organized as soon as possible, Abdullayeva said. We believe that the special session will contribute to strengthening of the solidarity of the countries in the fight against the pandemic, strengthening of international cooperation and finding an international response to this global threat.

This initiative, put forward by the president, is in the interests of the international community, and each country supporting this initiative is interested in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the spokesperson said. Our country, together with all the countries supporting this initiative, will work on its implementation."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jun. 29

Trend:

I International Scientific Conferences of Students and Young Researchers, organized by Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS), have completed their work.

Separate closing ceremonies were held for each section of the conference, and winners were announced.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Rector of Baku Higher Oil School Elmar Gasimov congratulated all the winners and thanked each of the participants in the conference.

The first place in the section Advanced Materials and Polymers of the Conference on Chemistry and Sustainable Development in Chemical Engineering was awarded to Azerbaijani-French University, the second place - to Baku Higher Oil School, and the third place - to Azerbaijan State Oil and Industrial University.

The first place in the section Oil & Gas and Petrochemical Processes was given to Azerbaijan State Oil and Industrial University, the second place  to Baku branch of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, and the third place - to Baku Higher Oil School.

The first place in the section Environmental Problems and Biotechnology was awarded to Azerbaijan State Oil and Industrial University, the second place was given to Baku Higher Oil School, and the third place was shared by Baku Higher Oil School and the Institute of Petrochemical Processes of ANAS.

At the poster presentation, the first place was awarded to Baku Higher Oil School and the Institute of Petrochemical Processes of ANAS, the second and third places were given to Azerbaijan State Oil and Industrial University.

In addition, Baku Higher Oil School won the first, second and the third places in the section Oil and Gas Engineering of the Conference on Drilling and Renewable Energy Sources. Thus, BHOS students Zhalya Mammadova, Elvin Garashly took the 1st place, Fardin Vatani  the 2nd place, Turkan Aliyeva and Katib Aliyev  the 3rd place.

The first and second places in the section Systems Analysis, Modeling and Data Processing of the Conference on Process Automation and Information Security  2020 were awarded to Baku Higher Oil School, third place  to ADA University.

The first place in the section Environmental Problems and Biotechnology of the abovementioned conference was awarded to Azerbaijan State Oil and Industrial University, the second place was given to Baku Higher Oil School, and the third place was shared by Baku Higher Oil School and the Institute of Petrochemical Processes of ANAS.

Students of Baku Higher Oil School won all top three places in the section Information, Measurement, Mechatronics and Control Systems of this conference. (Khachali Bayramov won the first place, Eyvaz Najafli, Ali Askerov, Rustam Mammadli, Shams Aliyeva took the second place and Farid Khamidov won the third place).

ADA University won the first and second places in the section Industrial Application of Big Data, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, and Baku Higher Oil School took the third place in this section.

Students and young researchers from about 15 educational institutions in Azerbaijan, including ADA University, Azerbaijan State University of Economics, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industrial University, Baku Engineering University, Khazar University, Sumgait State University, Azerbaijan Technical University, National Aviation Academy, Institute of Control Systems of ANAS and Institute of Information Technology of ANAS, presented theses to the conference. Representatives of Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas and the Management School of Guangdong University of Technology (China) also presented theses to the conference.

Note that the 1st International Scientific Conferences of Students and Young Researchers, which were dedicated to the 97th birthday anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, were held at the international level for the first time this year from June 8 to 11.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Czech Republic and Azerbaijan are going to hold economic consultations, Martina Tauberova, deputy Minister for EU and international trade at Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade told Trend.

"Economic relations of the entire world have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Czech-Azerbaijani economic relations were not exceptional in the Q2 of 2020. Unfortunately, after the extremely promising beginning of the year, when the mutual turnover increased by 4 percent (January  March 2020), the statistics of the first month of the pandemic and lockdowns show a decrease of the mutual turnover by 15 percent. However, it needs to be emphasized that these numbers are preliminary and the final statistics of the effect of border closures will be available during the following months only," said Tauberova.

She said there are many lessons learned from COVID-19, especially in communication with partners.

"We have started to communicate with them by online platforms. Several economic consultations took place during the past three months. This tool helps us to keep the communication going and solve the ongoing issues even though there are no possibilities to having face to face meetings. With Azerbaijan, we are looking for a suitable date of our economic consultation as well and we are quite optimistic about finding it in the following weeks," the deputy minister added.

She recalled that the overarching framework for the Czech-Azerbaijani relations represents the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the countries from 2015.

"This crucial document was signed on the level of presidents and both presidential administrations monitor its implementation on governmental level. An important role in developing our relations has Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific-Technical and Cultural Cooperation between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The main function of the Commission is the coordination and development of mutual, not only economic relations. The last, Fourth Session was held in Baku in January 2017. The date of the next 5th Session that is supposed to be held in Prague is being discussed in the working order. We hope that the final date will be revealed as soon as possible after the pandemic situation will get to normal and the borders are open and safe for traveling," said Tauberova.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
TEHRAN, Iran, June 29

Trend:

Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development announced that according to the decree of the National Committee on Combating Coronavirus, the maximum increase in monthly rent of houses in Tehran should be 25 percent and if the landlords do not comply with this decree, no court will issue an eviction order for tenants.

The committee has approved a rule in May to automatically extend the rental agreements for two months with the same amount as before due to the coronavirus pandemic, Mohammadi Eslami said, Trend reports citing IRNA.

He added that it has been reaffirmed that rental agreements should be renewed up to three months after the end of coronavirus outbreak, which will be announced by the Ministry of Health.

Regarding the approved decision, he said: "According to the decree of the National Committee on Combating Coronavirus, the maximum increase in rents of tenants in Tehran is up to 25 percent, for other big cities the maximum will be 20 percent and in small cities - 15 percent."

Referring to the plan on providing facilities to tenants, the minister said that soon, a support package will be offered to the tenants, which includes housing and financial support.

Eslami advised landlords and tenants to reach an agreement in a fair manner.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29

By Samir Ali  Trend:

Following the reconstruction of Azerbaijan thermal power station, a wastewater treatment system was created at the station, Vugar Shakhmuradov, deputy vice president of Azerenergy OJSC, told Trend on June 29.

Before the reconstruction, there were difficulties in the field of treatment of wastewater mixed with fuel oil, which created environmental problems, deputy vice president added. "The constructed treatment system allows to completely remove fuel oil and oil pollution and drain it into the canal."

Shakhmuradov also stressed that the rotor blades in the boilers and turbines were replaced as part of the reconstruction of the thermal power station.

The air heaters, internal pipes of the boiler and chimneys were replaced, the deputy vice president added. Moreover, if until 2018, the blocks of the thermal power station operated on fuel with a volume of 340-350 grams, then after reconstruction these indicators reduced up to 330 grams."

"If we take into account that the annual energy productivity of the thermal power station is more than about eight billion kWh, this means millions of manat," he said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jun. 29

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Five lethal coronavirus cases were reported in Kazakhstan, bringing the total number to 183 cases countrywide, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Ministry of Healthcare.

Deaths were reported in West Kazakhstan region (woman born 1952), Mangystau region (woman born 1942), Akmola region (woman born 1967), East Kazakhstan region (man born 1958) and in Aktobe region (woman born 1962).

The first two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020.

The total number of coronavirus cases in Kazakhstan since the virus was first confirmed in the country amounted to 21,327. This includes 12,933 people who recovered from the coronavirus, and 183 patients who passed away.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

As many as 2,536 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, 162 more people have died from the coronavirus over the past day.

Sadat Lari added that the condition of 3,037 people is critical.

The official said that situation was dire in Khuzestan, Kermanshah, Kurdistan, Hormozgan, Bushehr, Razavi Khorasan East Azerbaijan, and West Azerbaijan provinces.

So far, more than 1.63 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 225,200 people have been infected 10,672 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 186,100 have reportedly recovered from the disease.

The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.

The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.

The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.
Michele Ursi/iStockBy DR. STEPHANIE E. FARBER, ABC News



(NEW YORK) -- With stay-at-home restrictions gradually being lifted across the country, many Americans are tempted to toss the takeout or home cooking in favor of returning to restaurant dining.



But with the virus still spreading, many remain cautious about the idea of eating out.



The good news is that there are still ways to keep yourself as safe as possible while enjoying a meal in a restaurant.



That's according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has released tips on how to stay safer while dining out.

How should I prepare before going to a restaurant?



Before choosing to dine at a particular restaurant, you should do your homework. That means checking with local public health officials to see if dining out is allowed in your state or county. It also means figuring out if you live in a place where infections are currently surging or are relatively stable.



When you do decide it's safe to eat out, try to ensure the restaurant you chose is taking the appropriate precautions. Larry Lynch, the senior vice president of science and industry for the National Restaurant Association, recommended looking at the restaurant's website and "make sure you're comfortable with the protocols."



In addition to asking about key measures like masking among staff, sanitation and distancing, you can also prepare by wearing your own face covering. Wearing a mask, "prevents droplets from spreading," said Dr. Graham Snyder, an infectious disease doctor and medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.



Wearing a mask might protect you from other diners who cough or sneeze near you, but it might also protect other people from you should be an asymptomatic carrier of the virus. For this reason, Snyder recommends you wear your mask as much as possible in the restaurant and ask the restaurant ahead of time if their employees will do the same.



Most importantly, Snyder said, "stay home if you're sick" and "ask [restaurants] how [they] encourage restaurant workers to not come to work sick."



What should I do when I get to the restaurant?



When possible, choose to eat outdoors.



"Mother nature's air handling is much better than indoor air handling and when out in fresh air, it's almost certain that transmission is less likely," Snyder said.



Also, maintain space between yourself and other restaurant guests, and avoid shouting, hugging or touching anyone else.



"If you do see someone you know in a restaurant you can call them later," said etiquette expert Diane Gottsman. "Don't feel compelled to cross the restaurant ... to say hello."



"Say hello, smile with your eyes, they understand and we understand," Gottsman said. "If someone does reach out to shake your hand then you just politely [decline] ... be assertive and proactive, but you can still be courteous and be polite."



And, as you walk to your table, Gottsman says, "keep your mask on ... It's a courtesy for yourself and others to mask up."

How will servers make my dining as safe as possible?



Robby Kukler, a partner at Fifth Group Restaurants in Atlanta, says that guests should expect restaurants to mandate "ongoing wellness checks with employees, masks worn by employees 100% of the time, sanitation stations throughout the restaurant for staff and guests."



Snyder adds some specific advice regarding these wellness checks that though temperature checks can help, "not everybody who has COVID-19 has a fever."



"Everybody should be doing self symptom screening and temperature screening can be used to augment that," Snyder said.



If you notice a restaurant staff member touching their face, not wearing a mask, or doing something else that makes you uncomfortable, it might be worthwhile to say something.



"I think that we have to be comfortable with a little bit of courteous discomfort," Gottsman said. "Certainly, you can ask for an adjustment. We don't want to be unkind, we don't want to be insulting, but at the same time we want to stay healthy."

What other precautions should I take during my meal?



Kukler emphasizes that the same principles apply, "masks, sanitation, distancing  those are the keys."



People obviously can't wear a mask while eating, but Snyder said it's important to make sure that all the touchable items on the table and at the restaurant are frequently cleaned.

"Practicing hand hygiene before you eat, after the bathroom, all these are important steps to keep yourself safe from the virus," Snyder said.



In addition to decreasing the potential for surface contamination, it is also smart to maintain distance while dining, especially during the time your mask is off.



In terms of contracting the virus from your food, Snyder says this is "very unlikely." Lynch agrees, noting that the Food and Drug Administration says that there is no foodborne transmission of this virus.



Overall, is it safe to eat at a restaurant?



Experts agree that, depending on the local disease prevalence, it can be safe to dine at a restaurant when all the above precautions are taken very seriously. They also agreed that the key to reducing the risk of dining out is teamwork.



"It takes good focus on both sides of the equation," Lynch said. "The restaurants are prepared, we've instructed them, and it's just making sure that the guests feel equally comfortable and they follow the same guidance."



But, not everyone may feel comfortable with all these rules. For those people, Gottsman said, "Nothing is going to be foolproof. ... If we are that concerned, what's the obvious answer? Stay home."



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
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Spain is on track to become a coal-free country in record time. All of its remaining coal-fired thermal power plants will start shutting down on Tuesday, a year-and-a-half after the closure of the coal mines, which could not survive without the state aid that the European Union has banned.

Seven out of the 15 coal-fired power stations that are still working in Spain will cease being operational on June 30, after their owners  the electricity companies  decided that it does not make financial sense to adapt them to European regulations. And four more are getting ready to shut down soon.

Yet these closures appear to have little to do with the Spanish governments policies. As a matter of fact, the Ministry for Ecological Transition has refused to join an alliance of countries pledging to set a fixed date for phasing out this type of facility. Instead it was the market itself, together with the measures coming out of Brussels, that sounded the death knell for coal.

Several of these power stations have not been producing electricity for months because it is no longer profitable due to a combination of market conditions and political decisions by the European Commission, which is the executive branch of the EU.

A closed coal mine in Cerredo, Asturias. Alvaro Fuente (Getty Images)

Until just a couple of years ago, these highly contaminating plants were accounting for approximately 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Spain. In 2018, nearly 15% of all electricity consumed in Spain came from coal-fired thermal stations.

But that seems like an eternity ago. In May of this year, coal-fired plants barely contributed 1.4% to the power mix. And they produced nothing at all between May 1 and 2, for the first time since Red Electrica de Espana (REE), the national power grid operator, began keeping records in 1990.

The seven coal-fired thermal plants that will be phased out on Tuesday are Meirama in A Coruna, Narcea in Asturias, La Robla and Compostilla in Leon, Andorra in Teruel, Puente Nuevo in Cordoba and Velilla in Palencia.

The four companies that own them  Naturgy, Endesa, Viesgo and Iberdrola  have confirmed to EL PAIS that they will cease operations on June 30 to avoid violating a European environmental directive forcing such plants to adopt technology to clean up the gases they emit.

A year ago there were still a few skeptics out there, but after the movements weve seen, I think that there is no going back to coal for Spain Pedro Linares, Economics for Energy

Together, these seven plants represent 4,630 megawatts (MW), a little less than half the installed coal power generation capacity in Spain. They provide around 1,100 jobs, including direct employees and outsourced work.

Four other plants accounting for 3,092 MW and employing around 800 workers have already filed for permission to shut down. Industry sources estimated that Iberdrolas Lada plant in Asturias, Endesas As Pontes plant in A Coruna and Litoral plant in Almeria, and Los Barrios in Cadiz could be closed by 2021 or 2022.

There are four other coal power plants in Spain that have not yet applied for closure, although their future seems uncertain.

The way things are going, I think there will no longer be any coal generation by 2025, said Tatiana Nuno, an energy and climate change specialist at environmental NGO Greenpeace. The scenario we are working with for complete closure is 2025, agreed Ana Barreira, director of the International Law and Environment Institute (IIDMA). Industry sources believe the phase-out could happen even faster, in two to three years.

On one hand, EU reforms drove up the price of CO2 in the European market. The EU emissions trading system set a price for releasing carbon dioxide that was high enough to discourage the use of this fossil fuel. During 2019, the price of a ton of CO2 was 25, meaning that in many European countries coal-fired electricity is not as profitable as other options such as natural gas or renewable energy.

Adding to this is the low price of natural gas since 2019. Spain has many combined-cycle plants that use gas and can easily replace the coal-powered plants. The price [of gas] went down because there was an excess of global supply and no place to store it, noted Pedro Linares, director of the Economics for Energy group.

The forecast for 2020 was that the price of gas would rise and make coal more competitive again. But the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted that scenario as well. As a result, coal plants have been producing electricity at historical lows since March 2019. At least four  Compostilla, Litoral, Los Barrios and Velilla  have produced nothing this year, according to their owners. And the others have been burning their remaining stock before calling it quits tomorrow.

What analysts seem most surprised about is the speed of the process in Spain. I think that the disinvestment movements have also played a role, said Barreira of IIDMA, alluding to pressure from investment funds asking companies to ditch fossil fuels. Linares, of Economics for Energy, agreed. A year ago there were still a few skeptics out there, but after the movements weve seen, I think that there is no going back to coal for Spain.

Job alternatives There are around 2,400 people working at the 11 plants due to shut down soon  seven on Tuesday and four that have already applied for government permission to cease operations. In some cases, the closure will not be traumatic, but in others, the plant represents the towns only industry and its main source of public revenue.

The immediate alternative is dismantling the plants, a process that can take up to five years and requires a lot of manpower. But this cannot begin until the executive officially publishes its authorization in the State Gazette (BOE), and this in turn requires an environmental impact analysis. The BOE is expected to publish the required information in the coming days for three plants due to shut down tomorrow: Velilla, Compostilla and Andorra.

The ministry has also been pressuring electricity companies to come up with stable plans for affected areas. Many of the proposed projects involve renewable energy and some would require more workers than those who will be laid off by the coal plant closures. In mid-April, the ministry signed a deal with the majority unions and the plant owners to introduce so-called fair transition agreements. There are 12 such agreements underway in mining and coal plant areas. The government has assigned public resources to fund these initiatives, and Spain is expected to benefit from a future Just Transition Mechanism from the European Commission.

English version by Susana Urra.
Asturias has become the first region in Spain to have gone 14 days without registering a new case of Covid-19. According to the daily reports issued by the Spanish Health Ministry, it is the only area to have passed through the two-week incubation period of the virus without recording a single infection. But while the northwestern territory has eliminated SARS-CoV-2, the situation is not likely to last for long as visitors from outside the region are expected to arrive over summer.

The 14-day barrier is one of the important benchmarks of the coronavirus crisis. Although incubation of the virus tends to take between five and six days, the period can be as long as two weeks  and even longer in some exceptional cases. Thats why quarantine measures are set for 14 days, and why each phase of the governments coronavirus deescalation plan was designed to last for two weeks. After 14 days, a population can feel assured that transmission of the virus has been eliminated, although epidemiologists add another incubation period  for a total of 28 days  to the margin to be completely sure the virus is gone.

After the great effort we have all made, we do not want to let our guard down Blanca Aranda, regional health department

Regional authorities in Asturias reported zero cases for the first time on Friday  a result that has been repeated three more times since then. Only the Spanish exclave city of Ceuta in North Africa has achieved this feat, which it recorded just a day earlier. But Ceuta is a much smaller and more isolated area, with 85,000 inhabitants compared to the one million residents in Asturias.

According to Luis Hevia, the head of Asturias largest healthcare area, the PCR tests [for Covid-19] are consistently coming back negative. At the Central University Hospital in Asturias, where much of the testing process is centralized, around 800 tests are being done a day. Tests are also being carried out on healthcare workers who show no coronavirus symptoms to make sure the virus is not being silently transmitted among those who care for the most vulnerable. Several weeks ago, the hospital was almost exclusively dedicated to coronavirus patients, but now there is only one patient in the ward and six in intensive care, according to Hevia, who is aware that the situation could change.

We have been working so much with the same routine to detect cases and define protocols that we didnt even realize that we had made the two-week benchmark, explained Rafael Cofino, the regional governments managing director of Public Health. The incidence [of the virus] has almost always been low, he added, explaining that peaks were detected because when a case was found, PCR [tests] were done on all their contacts. This is what happened following an outbreak in the El Carmen de Gijon residence at the end of May, which was the last recorded in the region.

Health authorities are concerned about the arrival of visitors from outside of Asturias who have second homes in the region

But the regional government does not want to claim victory yet and has opted for prudence. Throughout the coronavirus crisis, Asturias has reported nearly the lowest figures of any other region in Spain. This situation was helped by its geographic position, reduced travel and efficient management, which allowed all suspected coronavirus cases to be tested. At the peak of the pandemic, in March and April, Asturias was the region performing the third-highest number of PCR tests per inhabitant.

Health authorities, however, are now concerned about the arrival of visitors from outside of Asturias. Many people have second homes in the region and are expected to arrive this week to spend their summer vacations there. The idea is to continue as we have been, detecting both in primary healthcare systems and in residences as fast as possible if there are new cases, said Cofino.

After the great effort we have all made, we do not want to let our guard down, added Blanca Aranda, the cabinet head of the regional health department. We know that people outside [the region] will arrive in summer and it is very likely that the virus will be reintroduced. We have to be very vigilant to locate it in time and cut the contagion as soon as possible so that we dont become like other regions, where the number of cases is rising and they are struggling. In Aragon, for example, four comarcas  administrative areas smaller than a province  returned to Phase 2 of the deescalation plan last week after an outbreak was detected among fruit pickers.

The downward trend of the pandemic has clearly changed. After weeks of falling numbers, the most recent figures in Spain show that the situation has worsened slightly as a result of coronavirus outbreaks. On Sunday, the Health Ministry recorded 118 new cases. But what is more telling is the number of diagnoses with symptoms beginning in the last seven days. On Sunday, that figure was 343  nearly double the number recorded 10 days ago. In the last seven days, 52 people have died from the coronavirus, nine have required intensive care and 89 have been hospitalized.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
Spains Economy and Digital Transformation Ministry on Monday launched the first stage of a pilot program to test an app designed to warn users if they are at risk of contracting Covid-19. The app, called Radar Covid, will work on Android and iOS cellphones, and has been sent to Google and Apple so that it can be officially validated and included in their respective stores.

The test run of Radar Covid will take place in La Gomera, in Spains Canary Islands. For many years, La Gomera has been the most isolated island in the archipelago. It was the last island to open an airport, which was not inaugurated until 1999. Up until then, the main way to reach La Gomera was on a ferry that left from Los Cristianos in the island of Tenerife. Its relative isolation is one of the reasons why the ministry, via the State Secretarys Office for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, chose La Gomera to test the effectiveness of the Radar Covid app.

The pilot will simulate an outbreak of 300 coronavirus cases to test the efficiency of the tracking system

The pilot program will be divided into three stages, according to the Office for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. The first stage is the launch, which will focus on communication, promotion and training on a local level. The campaign will also reach shipping companies and airlines that operate between the islands in order to reach the population outside of the island when the second phase is underway, said this agency in a release. Under the first stage, a group of workers will also be trained to promote the app and assist with its installation, both in person and over the phone.

The second stage, which will begin on July 6, is the monitoring phase. This is when the central government, working alongside regional and local authorities, will simulate a fictional coronavirus outbreak of 300 cases. The simulated outbreak will occur in three waves, with infections detected from July 10, 13 and 17, until 300 are recorded.

The drill is designed to test the effectiveness of the app, which operates using Bluetooth. Once the first false positive has been activated, a small percentage of app users should receive a warning alerting them that they have come into contact with a coronavirus case. They must then contact health authorities, according to the protocol planned by the regional government of the Canary Islands. The central government says that data from the pilot program will be monitored daily to detect any relevant benchmarks.

A sidewalk cafe in La Gomera, where the pilot project will take place. Inma Flores

The last stage, called post-pilot, will begin on July 20 and will analyze three aspects of the process: how many people downloaded the app, how many positive cases were detected, and how many users kept the app on their cellphones.

But it will be difficult to assess how well the app will be adopted more broadly across Spain, given the short time frame of the pilot and the fact that users know it is a drill. According to sources from the Office for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, the goal is to reach 3,000 downloads in La Gomera, which has a population of 22,000.

Spain has taken longer than other countries to develop a coronavirus-tracking app. This technology is already available in Italy, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Latvia and Germany, where it was downloaded 12 million times just one week within its launch.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
New Delhi:

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has said that the Uniform Civil Code is not good for a country like India. "There're so many cultures in this nation and all have to be respected," the AIMPB said in a press conference on Thursday.



Excerpts from the press conference by the AIMPLB-



# Uniform Civil Code is not good for this nation. There're so many cultures in this nation, have to be respected.



# In America everyone follows their personal laws and identity, how come our nation doesnot want to follow their steps in this matter?



# We are living in this country with an agreement held by the Constitution. Constitution has made us live & practice our religion.



# Muslims equally participated in Indias freedom struggle, but their participation is always underestimated.

The Law Commission's proposal of implementing a Uniform Civil Code in the country reached a decisive phase as the body asked the citizens of the nations to give their views on ending several religious practices and customs that had been branded anti-women in all three major religions.

Also Read: (All you need to know about Uniform Civil Code)

The commission send out a list of 16 questions to gauge public opinion and the direction in which it should proceed, the Commission also asked whether to ban or regulate polygamy?

The question may appear aimed at ending the much criticized practice of a Muslim man permitted to marry up to four women. But the commission adds another question to it to end similar practices such as Maitri-Karar.

The religious and political figures from the Islam fraternity on Sunday night came down heavily against any attempt at introducing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC).



At a well attended public meeting "Against UCC and Protection of Sharia Conference" in Khilwat grounds, organised by the Seerat-un-Nabi Academy, a religious organisation, speakers said that the Muslim community will not accept an imposition of the UCC.

Describing the UCC as a dead issue, he said, "Dr B R Ambedkar was told that Muslims would never accept a common civil code. He [Ambedkar] knew that only a mad man would introduce UCC. He therefore clarified that it is not mandatory."

Those who are enemies of the country will impose a UCC, he claimed.Citing articles of the Constitution, Azmi said, "Nobody can interfere in the religion and religious practices of any person. This is a secular country. What is a secular state? And why is secularism being tarnished?"

Maulana Fazlullah Qadri, prominent Muslim cleric from the Islamic seminary Jamia Nizamia, described oral triple talaq as a "bandooq ki goli" (bullet). He said that divorce is frowned upon in the scriptures.

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New Delhi:

Jammu will receive an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in the current academic session as part of the Prime Ministers development package for Jammu and Kashmir. An out-campus will be set up in the Kashmir region later.

The Union Cabinet today approved the establishment and operationalisation of IIM at Jammu in a temporary campus at Old Government College of Engineering and Technology from the Academic Year 2016-17.

The project will involve a cost of Rs 61.90 crore in temporary campus for the initial four years from 2016 to 2020.

The student strength intake for this year in the Post Graduate Diploma Programme (PGDP) in Management is 54 which will progressively go up to a cumulative student strength of 120 in the 4th year.

"Steps would also be taken up for setting up campus at Jammu and an out-campus in Kashmir region. The detailed project report for the permanent campuses is under preparation and thereafter the process for setting up of the campuses would start," an official statement said after the Cabinet meeting.

The Cabinet also approved formation of an IIM Jammu Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. IIM Jammu will be run and managed by the Society with a Board of Governors (BOGs) to be constituted by the central government which will administer the institute and would be responsible for establishment and operationalisation of the institute.

"This is a part of Prime Ministers development package for Jammu and Kashmir. The institute, coupled with opening of IIT at Jammu, modernisation of NIT Srinagar and opening of two new AIIMS institutions, one each in Kashmir region and Jammu region, would go a long way in meeting the requirement of high quality living and education in the state," the statement said.At present, there are 19 IIMs.

Out of these, 13 are located at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode, Shillong, Ranchi, Raipur, Rohtak, Kashipur, Trichy, Udaipur. Another six IIMs which have been started in 2015 are located at Amritsar, Sirmaur, Nagpur, Bodhgaya, Sambalpur and Vishakhapatnam.

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Washington:

The US welcomes more prominent and effective role played by India on a wide range of global problems from climate change to maritime security, a top White House official has said.

"We welcome India not just because it is consequential because we share and often promote norms about a rules based order," Peter Lavoy, the White Houses point person for South Asia, told a Washington audience.

"The US welcomes more prominent and effective role that India is playing on a wide range of world problems from climate change and global health to peace keeping, maritime security and cyber governance."

He said that the US-India partnership has come a long way in the past eight years, but the best is yet to come. "We are handing over to the next team, a major defence partnership with India," he said as he highlighted the vibrant dimensions of the Indo-US relationship.

"First a growing convergence on regional issues. Second deepening cooperation on defense trade and third broadening in security partnership," said Lavoy, Senior Director for South Asia at the National Security Council (NSC), said in his remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

During the past six years of Obama Administration, he said there has been growing convergence of views of the risks, threats and opportunities.

"In part this convergence has come apart as we made monumental efforts to overcome specific areas of mistrust," he said, adding that over the years the two countries have built habits of co-operation in discussing the challenge they face.

Three regions where this co-operation has gained momentum are Afghanistan, Asia Pacific and Africa, he said. Maritime security is the key area of co-operation between the two countries.

Over the last few years, the US has significantly increased its consultations with India on their shared interest in Afghanistan, he said.

India, he said has played an important role in the collective effort of bringing stability and prosperity to that war-torn country, committing more than USD 2 billion in assistance.

The Commander of US forces in Afghanistan now regularly travels to New Delhi to exchange views with Indian leaders, he said.

Lavoy said it is fair to say that the US India defense relationship has matured in the last eight years than any period in US history.

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Mumbai:

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday opened up about his much publicised simple attire, saying he is uncomfortable in western clothes like suits but his dresses are much better than his predecessors.



Parrikar, who addressed an event in suburban Bandra, was asked about his dressing sense. The questioner said a section of government machinery thinks that the attire of Parrikar, despite having a major portfolio, is too simple.



Parrikar quipped, I am uncomfortable in western outfits like suits. Compared to previous defence minister, my dress is much better.



And I do not seek votes over my simplicity like another IITian, the Defence Minister said, in an apparent jibe at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.



Commenting on his innings in Delhi, after a stint in Goa politics, Parrikar said, I came to Delhi only because the Defence portfolio was offered to me. Otherwise, I am more comfortable in Goa.

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Ahmedabad:

AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will meet family members of Patidar youths, who were killed in the quota stir violence last year, during his Gujarat tour beginning Friday, a move dubbed as "casteist politics" and "stunt" by ruling BJP.

As per the schedule of Kejriwal's visit released by AAP's Gujarat unit on Wednesday, Kejriwal would spend four days in the state, starting October 14.

Kejriwal's visit comes as part of AAP's preparations for the Assembly polls in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, due next year.

On October 14 and 15, Kejriwal would meet some families of the deceased Patel youths in Mehsana and Ahmedabad. At least 12 youths of the community were killed last year during the violence that erupted across Gujarat following detention by police of quota leader Hardik Patel on August 25 after their mega rally at GMDC ground here.

Kejriwal will address a rally in Surat on October 16, before leaving for Delhi on October 17 afternoon. However, BJP has termed Kejriwal's "goodwill gesture" for Patels, a decisive vote-bank in Gujarat, as a "political stunt and a drama."

"Kejriwal and his AAP is known for spreading lies and enacting drama. His only intention is to gain publicity. That is why he is doing such stunts. But people of Gujarat will not be carried away with such tactics and he will never be accepted here," state unit BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said in a statement.

Slamming Kejriwal, state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani alleged that the AAP leader is creating tension in Gujarat by raking up past incidents.

"This is purely casteist politics. By visiting Patel families, Kejriwal wants to rake up issues of the past for his political gains and wants to create tension in Gujarat. But, he will never succeed in his intentions," said Vaghani.

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New Delhi:

The Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a report from the Delhi Police into burning of effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others by a section of students in the university campus on the occasion of Dussehra by projecting them as Ravana. Earlier on Thursday, the JNU administration ordered an inquiry into the issue.



We have ordered an inquiry into the effigy burning incident and are examining the issue, said JNU Vice Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar, whose picture was also put on the effigy set ablaze on Tuesday night.



The move comes nearly a week after the varsity ordered a proctorial inquiry into burning of effigy of Gujarat government and gau-rakshak (cow vigilantes) and issued show-cause notices to the students concerned.



While Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed and heads of several other militant organisations were the faces of Ravana effigies burnt on Dussehra across the country, members of Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI) chose the visages of PM and BJP chief Amit Shah to represent the demon king and burnt the effigy on Tuesday.

Watch Video | Students at JNU dub PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah as 'Ravana', burn their effigies



They claimed that it was a protest against the Centres failure to honour its promises and the continuous attacks on various educational institutions across the country.



While university officials maintained that no permission was sought for the event, the organisers claimed that effigy burning was a routine thing on campus and did not require permission from the administration.



Besides Modi and Shah, the effigy had faces of Yoga guru Ramdev, Sadhvi Pragya, Nathuram Godse, Asaram Bapu and the Vice-Chancellor. The students also carried placards with the slogan, Truth shall prevail over evil.

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New Delhi:

Congress leader and former Defence Minister AK Antony on Thursday lashed out at Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for his remarks on the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army across the LoC on the intervening night of September 28 and 29.

He called surgical strike a burden and frustration of last 30 yearssomebody must control him. I strongly object his statement, news agency ANI quoted the AK Antony as saying.

The former defence minister said that Parrikar has insulted the Indian Army and the country with his remarks.

I feel sad for what Parrikar saidhe insulted Indian army and our country as well, Antony said.

On Wednesday, Parrikar had claimed that no surgical strikes took place in the past.



Those actions can at best be called covert operations where action was taken first and the government informed later. But the September 29 strikes were a result of a government decision, Parrikar had said regarding claims of surgical strikes carried out under previous governments.

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Ahmedabad:

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has nabbed two persons allegedly working as spies for Pakistans intelligence agency ISI, police said. Both of them were held Wednesday night from Kutch district, which shares border with the neighbouring country.



ATS was keeping a close watch on the movement of two residents of Khavda village of Kutch for last one year on the suspicion that they are working as spies of Pakistans ISI. Both of them were held by ATS today, a police official said on the condition of anonymity.



We have learnt that ATS has recovered one Pakistani SIM card along with a mobile phone during the search of their house, he added.



The arrest comes amid rising tension between India and Pakistan.

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Amaravati:

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Leader of Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy Thursday sought to take their bitter political war to the Prime Minister by writing separate letters to Narendra Modi on the black money issue.

Jagans letter came a day after Chandrababu indirectly sought to imply that the YSRC leader declared an income of Rs 10,000 crore under the Income Declaration Scheme.

While Chandrababu wanted the Centre to demonitise currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination to curb proliferation of parallel economy, Jagan wanted publication of entire list of IDS-2016 and also initiate a thorough inquiry into the corruption charges against the Chief Minister.

Out of the Rs 65,000 crore disclosed across the country, Rs 13,000 crore was declared in Hyderabad and, out of it, Rs 10,000 crore by a single individual.

Also Read: (N Chandrababu Naidu demands to abolish Rs 500, Rs 1000 notes to wipe out black money)

Who is that, we can?t know as per law. Is it possible for a businessman to declare such huge money, he wondered yesterday, indirectly seeking to imply it was the YSRC president.

Separately, a couple of ministers and Telugu Desam legislators directly named Jagan as the one who made the Rs 10,000 crore disclosure, a charge the lone opposition party stoutly denied.

How is that Mr Chandrababu Naidu alone is privy to this information ? If true, then the person declared should have been a benami of Chandrababu Naidu. Otherwise, how can he be so specific on the numbers, the YSRC chief asked in his letter to the Prime Minister.

If this information is true, then we people of Andhra Pradesh should also be aware of this information. Hence, we request your office to kindly let us know?as it is also an irony that AP under Naidu has been ranked as the most corrupt state in the country by NCAER (National Council for Applied Economic Research) just recently, the Leader of Opposition said.

Chandrababu, on the other hand, praised Narendra Modi saying the country is fortunate to have you as Prime Minister at this opportune and inspiring time. Opportunity for transformational change arises rarely and even rarer when such opportunities are actually seized for national transformation.

Lauding the Income Declaration Scheme, the Chief Minister said it has reportedly resulted in pan-India declaration of undisclosed income exceeding Rs 65,000 crore, implying a tax earning of Rs 30,000 crore.

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London:

People who regularly smoke large amounts of cannabis have reduced bone density and are more prone to fractures, putting them at greater risk of osteoporosis in later life, new research has warned.



The study also found that heavy cannabis users have a lower body weight and a reduced body mass index (BMI), which could contribute to thinning of their bones.



Researchers say this could mean heavy users of the drug are at greater risk of osteoporosis in later life.



Scientists at the University of Edinburgh in the UK assessed 170 people who smoke cannabis regularly for recreational purposes and 114 non-users.



The team used a specialised X-ray technique called a DEXA scan to measure the bone density of study participants. They found that the bone density of heavy cannabis users was about five per cent lower than cigarette smokers who did not use cannabis.



Fractures were more common in heavy users compared to non-users, the study found. Moderate users, however, showed no difference from non-users.



The researchers defined heavy users as those who reported smoking cannabis on 5,000 or more occasions in their lifetime.



In this study, however, the average heavy cannabis user had taken the drug more than 47,000 times. Moderate users had, on average, taken the drug about 1,000 times.



Smoking cannabis is often associated with increased appetite so the researchers were surprised to find that heavy cannabis users had a lower body weight and BMI than non-users.



This could be because cannabis may reduce appetite when taken in large amounts over a long period of time, researchers said.



The study is the first to investigate bone health amongst cannabis users. Researchers say further studies are needed to

better understand the link between use of the drug and thinning of the bones.



"We have known for a while that the components of cannabis can affect bone cell function but we had no idea up until now of what this might mean to people who use cannabis on a regular basis," said lead researcher Stuart Ralston, from Edinburgh's Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine.



"Our research has shown that heavy users of cannabis have quite a large reduction in bone density compared with non-users and there is a real concern that this may put them at increased risk of developing osteoporosis and fractures later in life," said Ralston.



The study was published in the American Journal of Medicine.
Washington:

Donald Trump has sent a legal notice to The New York Times asking it to retract a reckless and defamatory story in which two women claimed the Republican presidential nominee touched them inappropriately.



Your article is reckless, defamatory and constitutes libel per se. It is apparent from, among other things, the timing of the article, that it is nothing more than a politically-motivated effort to defeat Mr Trumps candidacy, said Marc E Kasowitz, the attorney on behalf of the Republican presidential nominee.



That is why you apparently performed an entirely inadequate investigation to test the veracity of these false and malicious allegations, including why these two individuals waited, in one case, 11 years, and, in another case, more than three decades, before deciding to come forward with these false and defamatory statements, he said.



Clearly, The New York Times is willing to provide a platform to anyone wishing to smear Mr Trumps name and reputation prior to the election irrespective of whether the alleged statements have any basis in fact, he said.

ALSO READ | Donald Trump accused of touching two women inappropriately: Report



We hereby demand that you immediately cease any further publication of this article, remove it from your website and issue a full and immediate retraction and apology. Failure to do so will leave my client with no option but to pursue all available actions and remedies, Kasowitz said in the legal notice sent to the daily.



Earlier, 70-year-old Trump alleged the mainstream media is extension of the rival Hillary Clinton Campaign and the system is rigged including that of the non-profit that holds the presidential debate.



WikiLeaks shows something Ive been warning about for a very, very long time. The media is simply an extension of the Clinton Campaign, Trump told his supporters at an election rally in Florida.



Trump alleged that while the media has been writing stories against him, they have been ignoring the critical stories related to Democratic presidential nominee Clinton.



These dishonest people, mainstream media, they dont talk about this. They dont talk about this. Now, if Donald Trump sneezes today, its a major story, he said.



We are in a rigged system. This is a rigged, rigged system. You saw so many of the things. Ill tell you, this WikiLeaks stuff is unbelievable. They want to put it out, but they cant do that, because without the media and without the press, Hillary Clinton would be nothing. Shed be nothing. Zero, he said.



The corporate media cant report on the establishment because the corporate media is the establishment, such a big part of it, he said.



Reporters who work for these outlets like the Washington Post or the New York Times may think of themselves as journalists, but theyre actually cogs for a corrupt political machine. Thats the Clinton machine. The e-mail show the New York Times, the Boston Globe, Univision who I sued Univision, and I was very happy with what they did, Trump said.

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Moscow:

Russia on Thursday said it was ready to guarantee safe passage for rebels to quit eastern Aleppo with their weapons, amid fierce Western criticism of its bombing campaign.

We are ready to ensure the safe withdrawal of armed rebels, the unimpeded passage of civilians to and from eastern Aleppo, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid there, Russian Lieutenant General Sergei Rudskoy said in a televised briefing.

The announcement comes as Moscow and Washington gear up for international Syria talks on Saturday, the first since the United States suspended ceasefire negotiations with Russia in protest at the fierce assault on Aleppo.

Moscowwhich is backing Syrian regime forcesfirst announced in late July the creation of corridors for civilians and armed rebels to leave eastern Aleppo, but the plan was viewed by some as a cynical ploy to force the evacuation of the city and failed to work.

Rudskoy said that the Syrian army has already offered to guarantee the safety of armed rebels wishing to leave Aleppo using the Castello Road, the main route for humanitarian assistance into the divided city.

He added that Russia was ready to hear all initiatives and proposals that would ensure rebels safe withdrawal.

A brutal government offensive against rebel-held eastern Aleppo backed up by Russian airpower has plunged Syria into some of the worst violence it has seen since the five-year-old conflict erupted.

An international monitor said Syrian and Russian warplanes carried out fresh strikes on rebel-held districts of Aleppo early today, after an intense bombardment over the previous two days killed more than 70 civilians.

Russias defence ministry today denied that its airforce was bombing Aleppo at all.

I want to stress that Russian planes are conducting targeted, single air strikes against pre-verified targets outside the city of Aleppo and outside residential areas, Rudskoy said.

Washington earlier this month pulled the plug on talks with Moscow on ways to revive a short-lived ceasefire that unravelled in September.

The West has accused Moscow and Damascus of committing potential war crimes in the operations against eastern Aleppo.

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El Universal

CIUDAD DE MEXICO, junio 19 (EL UNIVERSAL).- De una manera muy a lo Rivera, fue como Lupillo le respondio a Christian Nodal sobre su comentario donde lo llamo "puerco", cuando se le pidio su opinion respecto al tatuaje de Belinda que el interprete de "Sufriendo a solas", se cubrio en el brazo izquierdo. "No hay pedo, ese vato y yo ya sabemos que yo comi primero en la mesa", fue la polemica contestacion de Rivera. En el video que el ...
Ethiopia's native staple food grain teff is at risk, with 80% of production to be hit by higher temperatures soon if not protected. For the first time, scientists have mapped thousands of the crop's varieties to fast-track efforts to save it

Teff, an ancient grain originally from Ethiopia, is a staple crop for 50 million people in the country. It is also increasingly popular worldwide, touted as a superfood for its gluten-free, high fiber and protein, and low-sugar properties.

Yet dramatic temperature increases projected in Ethiopia by 2070, could force farmers to grow it only in mountainous areas at higher altitudes, driving down production at a time when food is already scarce and the population is rising.

Teff, however, has secrets hidden within its DNA. For the first time, scientists have mapped the grain's massive diversity, consisting of 3,850 known types. Each has unique characteristics, or "traits," allowing them to cope with different environmental conditions.

The study was published in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment.

Depending on where they are grown, varieties might be heat or drought-tolerant; or produce more grain. Now, that information has been pinpointed by researchers and stored in individual "passports" for each type, which can be used to breed more resilient varieties.

"The moment you know what is in the grain, you can fast-track breeding of particular types," said Carlo Fadda, a co-author from Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. "For example, combining low-yielding types cultivated in hot areas, with highly productive types grown in cold areas, to get a highly productive, heat-tolerant grain."

"Understanding this massive genetic diversity within teff opens up a huge possibility to breed new climate-resilient varieties naturally, within a shorter timeframe of 5-10 years, compared with hundreds of years in the wild," Fadda said.

The grain can withstand temperature extremes from 2C to 38C; some can cope with almost 2,000 mm of annual rainfall; others only tolerate 542mm. There are red, brown and white types, each containing varied nutrients and flavors that are used for different dishes.

"No other country growing this crop has this level of genetic diversity, which makes Ethiopia unique," said Fadda. "This diversity can be used to increase production for local demand, or even for export, despite weather conditions."

Ethiopia produces over 90 percent of the world's teff, and as the country of origin, it has the highest teff diversity in the world. In the country, Teff production involves about seven million households and covers some 3 million hectares.

Its growing popularity has led to cultivation in Australia, China, India, South Africa and the United States.

Export potential

Scientists conducted the study entirely in Ethiopia without exporting any seed. Co-authors included researchers from the Institute of Life Sciences at the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa, Italy and the Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

"A remarkable thing with teff is that Ethiopia is not among the biggest teff exporters in the world. This is due to manifold reasons, one of which is the fact that teff cultivation is not yet at par with modern means of production," said Ermias Abate Desta, a co-author from ARARI.

"Assuming compliance with international regulations for access and benefit-sharing (e.g., Nagoya protocol), Ethiopia would benefit from the spread of teff as a global crop because it has an enormous reservoir of teff traits that are not present anywhere else in the world," he added.

The teff research is part of a broader interaction between Bioversity, Scuola Sant'Anna, and Ethiopian institutions that includes other crops. Research focuses on smallholder farmer agriculture in Ethiopia.

Compared to globally important crops, teff is understudied and is considered an "orphan" or underutilized crop. But teff research is attracting the attention of international institutions and scientists, including from Italy's Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna.

Ongoing teff research is aimed at characterizing the genetic diversity of a core collection of teff landraces - or farmer-selected varieties that have evolved over generations - and better understand their agronomic potential as it relates to traits desired by farmers.

This includes breeding new teff varieties with increased yield, resistance to pests and climatic and other abiotic stresses, and traits desired by local farmers.

"These actions involve public and private breeding efforts as well as national and international bodies concerned with the conservation of agrobiodiversity of teff in the wake of climate change," said Matteo Dell'Acqua, a co-author from Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna.

###

About the Alliance
Astronomers have made the first measurement of spin-orbit alignment for a distant 'super-Jupiter' planet, demonstrating a technique that could enable breakthroughs in the quest to understand how exoplanetary systems form and evolved.

An international team of scientists, led by Professor Stefan Kraus from the University of Exeter, has carried out the measurements for the exoplanet Beta Pictoris b - located 63 light years from Earth.

The planet, found in the Pictor constellation, has a mass of around 11 times that of Jupiter and orbits a young star on a similar orbit as Saturn in our solar system.

The study, published today (June 29th 2020) in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, marks the first time that scientists have measured the spin-orbit alignment for a directly-imaged planetary system.

Crucially, the results give a fresh insight into enhancing our understanding of the formation history and evolution of the planetary system.

Professor Kraus said: "The degree to that a star and a planetary orbit are aligned with each other tells us a lot about how a planet formed and whether multiple planets in the system interacted dynamically after their formation."

Some of the earliest theories of the planet formation process were proposed by prominent 18th century astronomers Kant and Laplace. They noted that the orbits of the solar system planets are aligned with each other, and with the Sun's spin axis, and concluded that the solar system formed from a rotating and flattened protoplanetary disc.

"It was a major surprise when it was found that more than a third of all close-in exoplanets orbit their host star on orbits that are misaligned with respect to the stellar equator.", said Prof. Kraus.

"A few exoplanets were even found to orbit in the opposite direction than the rotation direction of the star. These observations challenge the perception of planet formation as a neat and well-ordered process taking place in a geometrically thin and co-planar disc."

For the study, the researchers devised an innovative method that measures the tiny spatial displacement of less than a billionth of a degree that is caused by Beta Pictoris' rotation.

The team used the GRAVITY instrument at the VLTI, which combines the light from telescopes separated 140 metres apart, to carry out the measurements. They found that the stellar rotation axis is aligned with the orbital axes of the planet Beta Pictoris b and its extended debris disc.

"Gas absorption in the stellar atmosphere causes a tiny spatial displacement in spectral lines that can be used to determine the orientation of the stellar rotation axis.", said Dr. Jean-Baptiste LeBouquin, an astronomer at the University of Grenoble in France and a member of the team.

"The challenge is that this spatial displacement is extremely small: about 1/100th of the apparent diameter of the star, or the equivalent to the size of a human footstep on the moon as seen from Earth."

The results show that the Beta Pictoris system is as well-aligned as our own solar system. This finding favors planet-planet scattering as the cause for the orbit obliquities that are observed in more exotic systems with Hot Jupiters.

However, observations on a large sample of planetary systems will be required to answer this question conclusively. The team proposes a new interferometric instrument that will allow them to obtain these measurements on many more planetary systems that are about to be discovered.

"A dedicated high-spectral resolution instrument at VLTI could measure the spin-orbit alignment for hundreds of planets, including those on long-period orbits.", said Prof. Kraus, "This will help us to answer the question what dynamical processes shape the architecture of planetary systems."

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Noile-Immune Biotech Inc., ("Noile-Immune") and C4U Corporation, ("C4U") announced that they have entered into an agreement on joint research and commercialization of next-generation allogeneic gene-modified immune cell therapy combining C4U's CRISPR/Cas3 genome editing technology and Noile-Immune's PRIME (Proliferation inducing and migration enhancing) technology designed to improve proliferation and trafficking of immune cells into solid tumors.

The CRISPR/Cas3 technology is the C4U's core technology, which is developed by the founders and advisors of Scientific Advisory Board of C4U, Dr. Tomoji Mashimo, professor of the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, and Dr. Junji Takeda, guest professor of the Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University. CRISPR/Cas3 is the technology that can counter the CRISPR/Cas9 system, which is currently being researched all over the world, and is attracted attention as a promising genome editing technology that is not affected by the complicated patent status related to Cas9.

The PRIME technology, the core technology of Noile-Immune, is related to gene-modified immune cell therapies including CAR-T and TCR-T cells against cancer, and was developed by Dr. Koji Tamada, the scientific founder and director of Noile-Immune, professor of Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine and Invited Professor at Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo. PRIME technology not only enhances the functions of gene-modified immune cells by producing cytokines and chemokines, but also improves the ability of patient's own immune systems to cope with cancer cells.

"I am very pleased to establish an alliance with C4U, which has a unique genome editing technology, " said Dr. Tamada. "In this project, we will develop highly active allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy by combining our PRIME CAR-T technology and genome editing technology owned by C4U. Combination of these Japan-origin technologies is expected to create next-generation CAR-T cells that are highly versatile and beneficial for many solid cancer patients. This project aims to develop a stage-of-the-art cancer immunotherapy under various research supports including MEXT's Program for Building Regional Innovation Ecosystems."

"Noile-Immune's PRIME CAR-T technology is world's innovative technology that overcoming the weak points of CAR-T cells on the solid cancer and the sustainability," said Dr. Mashimo. "By combining our CRISPR/Cas3 genome editing technology to PRIME CAR-T technology, it is possible to produce more effective and superior allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy at reasonable cost compared to the conventional CAR-T cell therapy. We are confident that we can provide novel our therapy to a number of patients who are fighting to cancer."

Under this agreement, Noile-Immune and C4U will conduct joint research on allogeneic gene-modified immune cell therapy. Noile-Immune will bear part of the costs necessary to carry out this joint research. In addition, both companies have the right to commercialize the results obtained by this joint research, and the right to mutually receive royalties under the contract. Noile-Immune will pay the access fee for the core technology of C4U when commercializing. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

###

About Noile-Immune Biotech, Inc.

Noile-Immune is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of novel cancer immunotherapy products with breakthrough technology to eradicate cancer cells. The company aims to discover and develop innovative cancer immunotherapies through the partnerships with experts in academia including Yamaguchi University and The National Cancer Center Japan, and deliver the first-in-class and best-in-class therapies to patients as well. Learn more at https:/ / www. noile-immune. com/ english .

About C4U Corporation

C4U (CRISPR for You) is a life science startup founded in March 2018 and originated from Osaka University. The company is working on the development of own core technology for new genome editing. Learn more at http://www. crispr4u. jp/ en/ .

About Yamaguchi University

Yamaguchi University is a comprehensive national university with over 10,000 students in 9 faculties and 8 graduate schools. The university traces its started in 1815. Yamaguchi University has put these values to words in our motto: "Discover it. Nourish it. Realize it. A Place of Wisdom," and contributes to local development and to the development of Japanese and international society through the three fields of education, research, and social contribution. Yamaguchi University has been supported by Program for Building Regional Innovation Ecosystems (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan). Learn more at http://www. yamaguchi-u. ac. jp/ english. html .

About IMSUT (The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo)
IT Modernization

Trade groups renew bid for IT funding in stimulus

A group of tech associations urged senators not to forget money to help with federal IT modernization efforts that could help the government better deal with the outbreak when considering future COVID-19 relief.

In a June 29 letter to Senate leaders, the Alliance for Digital Innovation, BSA-The Software Alliance, Coalition for Procurement Advocacy, CompTIA, Cybersecurity Coalition, Information Technology Industry Council, and the Internet Association.

The groups asked that the Senate consider putting a higher priority on IT and cybersecurity funding in any upcoming legislative package, including putting more money into the Technology Modernization Fund, a revolving pot of multi-year funding authorized for moving legacy systems to the cloud and managed services.

The groups asked the Senate to match the $1 billion TMF infusion passed by the House of Representatives in the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act in May. The HEROES Act is a massive $3 trillion relief bill designed to continue unemployment insurance expansion and cover costs of cash-starved state and local governments during the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic. The Republican-controlled Senate has yet to take up the bill, but may look to deal piecemeal with some of its provisions.

"This will enable the government to quickly and effectively leverage commercial capabilities and services that are vital to maintaining operations, deprecating legacy systems and improving the abilities of agencies to manage IT resources effectively throughout changing circumstances," the letter states.

The groups also proposed a set of principles for IT modernization to support telework, state and local operations, cybersecurity and federal agency upgrades.
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A. announced that 25 Florida attorneys have been recognized in The Legal 500 United States 2020 Guide (U.S. Guide).

MIAMI, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A. announced that 25 Florida attorneys have been recognized in The Legal 500 United States 2020 Guide (U.S. Guide). In addition, for the fourth consecutive year and sixth time overall, Greenberg Traurig was recognized nationally as a "Top Tier" firm in "Real Estate." The practice was previously recognized in 2017-2019, and 2013-2014.

Firmwide, the U.S. Guide recognized more than 150 Greenberg Traurig attorneys and 38 of the firm's practice areas.

According to the publisher, the U.S. Guide's acknowledgements recognize practice area teams and practitioners who are "providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel." The recognitions are based on feedback from 300,000 clients worldwide, law firm submissions, and interviews with private practice lawyers, in addition to Legal 500's independent research in the legal market.

The Greenberg Traurig Florida attorneys listed below are recommended in The Legal 500 United States 2020 Guide based on the publication's industry or practice area designations as selected by researchers:

Fort Lauderdale



Bruce I. March  M&A/corporate and commercial  M&A: large deals ($1bn+)

Donn A. Beloff  M&A/corporate and commercial  M&A: large deals ($1bn+)

David C. Peck  Industry focus  Healthcare: advice to health insurers; Industry focus  Healthcare: advice to service providers

Miami



Alan I. Annex  M&A/corporate and commercial  M&A: large deals ($1bn+)

Ryan D. Bailine  Real estate  Land use/zoning

Kerri L. Barsh  Industry focus  Environment: litigation; Industry Focus  Environment: regulatory

Brigid F. Cech Samole  Dispute resolution  Appellate: courts of appeals; Dispute resolution  Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

David A. Coulson  Dispute resolution  Product liability, mass tort and class action  Defense: consumer products (including tobacco)

Robert J. Downing  Industry focus  Energy: renewable/alternative power

Jed E. Dwyer  Dispute resolution  Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense: advice to corporates; Dispute resolution  Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense: advice to individuals

Carl A. Fornaris  Media, technology and telecoms  Fintech

Richard J. Giusto  Real estate

Martin Kalb  Tax  US taxes: non-contentious

Nancy B. Lash  Real estate

Elliot H. Scherker  Dispute resolution  Appellate: courts of appeals; Dispute resolution  Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

William R. Siegel  Tax  US taxes: non-contentious

Michael J. Thomas  Real Estate  Construction

Tallahassee



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Michael J. Cherniga  Industry focus  Healthcare: advice to service providers

Barry Richard  Dispute resolution  Appellate: courts of appeals; Dispute resolution  Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

Tampa



Ryan T. Hopper  Dispute resolution  General commercial disputes ("Rising Star"); Dispute resolution  General commercial disputes; Industry focus  Environment: litigation

Richard C. McCrea Jr.  Labor and employment  Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense

Christopher Torres  Industry focus  Environment: litigation

David B. Weinstein  Dispute resolution  Product liability, mass tort and class action  Defense: toxic tort; Industry focus  Environment: litigation; Industry focus  Environment: regulatory

West Palm Beach



Tracy L. Gerber  Dispute resolution  Securities litigation: defense

Bradford D. Kaufman  Dispute resolution  Securities litigation: defense

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2200 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.

SOURCE Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Investing in mining companies can be  quite literally  a gold mine. Metals are big business, and one of the mainstays of the industrial world. But that raises an important question: Which metal to invest in?

Its tempting to stick with the old reliables, gold and silver, the original precious metals, among the earliest forms of money, and to this day still considered stable stores of value. All of that is true. But it doesnt take into account the expense of exploration and mining. It can take a long time for a gold mine to start turning a profit.

There are other metals, however, not as rare as gold, or as high priced, but in some ways more valuable in the economy. Copper is typical of that lot. It has uses in jewelry and currency, or course; even today, a lot of our small change is minted with a high copper content. But its more important in industry. Everything wires depends on copper, which is the most cost-efficient electric conductor out there, and the most common metal used in the manufacture of electric wiring.

This makes copper mines almost as good as gold. Copper is more plentiful  it is sold by the pound, rather than the ounce  and its necessity ensures a ready market. And, the metal is rarely found in isolation. Copper miners routinely extract other metals from the mines, notably zinc, silver, and, yes, gold.

Bearing this in mind, we used TipRanks database to pinpoint three Buy-rated copper mining stocks that have earned a thumbs up from members of the analyst community. Not to mention each boasts substantial upside potential of over 40%.

Western Copper Corporation (WRN)

Western Copper is the sole operator of the Casino project, a major copper and gold operation in Canadas Yukon territory. The mine, which is currently in process of being opened, has an estimated lifetime of 22 to 25 years, and proven recoverable reserves of 4.5 billion pounds of copper an 8.9 million ounces of gold.

Casino is a major asset, and Western has used the mines potential to raise capital. Earlier this month, the company closed out a successful stock offering of 4 million common shares, which brought in $3.28 million.

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Roth Capital analyst Jake Sekelsky sees potential in Casino, especially as a magnet for attracting business partners. The scope of the project, in his view, likely exceeds Westerns current capital  but the metals prices are going up. Sekelsky writes, Casino is a large-scale copper-gold project that we believe could attract a joint-venture partner in a rising price environment. Given the scarcity of projects Casino's size and development stage, we believe a rising metals price environment may spark M&A activity

Western Copper is a penny stock  but that doesnt mean it hasnt got upside potential. Sekelsky rates WRN a Buy and sets a $2.10 price target, suggestive of a 154% upside potential for the coming year. (To watch Sekelsky's track record, click here)

Western Copper has two recent analyst reviews, and both agree: this is a stock to buy, and one with high potential. The average price target is $1.95, implying a one-year upside of 136%. Shares are currently priced at 82 cents. (See WRN stock analysis on TipRanks)

Teck Resources, Ltd. (TECK)

Next up is Teck Resources, a major company with operations in Canada, the US, Peru, and Chile. The company mines copper, zinc, and gold, as well as metallurgical coal  a vital product in the production of steel. Tecks diversified operations provide some insulation against market downturns in particular metals.

Tecks largest current operation is Highland Valley, a copper-molybdenum mine in British Columbia. The mine has an average production of 160,000 tonnes of metal per year, and is expected to maintain that through 2023. Production is expected to decline after that date, to 150,000 tonnes annually, through 2027, the projected lifetime of the mine.

Other major copper mines are in Chile and Peru. Chile is well-known as one of the worlds major copper producers; Peru is a power in mining, with resources throughout the Andes. On May 27, Teck announced that its Antamina copper mine in Peru was resuming operations after a shutdown due to COVID-19.

Writing for CIBC, analyst Oscar Cabrera says, We expect the companys cost saving and operating efficiency initiatives and strong liquidity to support TECKs financial flexibility in a challenging macro environment. We believe strong operating execution and the ability to adjust production to changing market conditions while maintaining (or improving) cash returns to shareholders will be key to re-rate TECKs shares vs. its large mining diversified peers.

Cabrera rates TECK shares a Buy. His price target, at $15.40, implies a 53% upside potential for the stock. (To watch Cabreras track record, click here)

TECK gets a Strong Buy from Wall Streets analyst consensus, with 7 Buy reviews and 2 Holds on record. The stock is selling for $10.04, and the $14.19 average price target implies a healthy upside of 40%. (See Teck stock analysis on TipRanks)

Freeport-McMoran (FCX)

Last up, Arizona-based Freeport is a major mining company with operations in North and South America as well as the Indonesian archipelago. Most of the companys operations produce copper; molybdenum and gold are also extracted. Freeport boasts a $15.7 billion market cap, and in the markets rally has seen its shares bounce 100% from their trough value.

Which isnt to say that the coronavirus quarter wasnt tough on Freeport. Earnings turned sharply negative, and are expected to only partially recover in Q2. Freeport reports a ~400 million pound reduction in copper sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to compensate has announced a $1.3 billion cut in operating expenditures, and $800 million cut in capex, and a $100 million cut in administrative expenses.

The aim of those cuts is twofold: to maintain the companys ability to generate cash, and to maintain a strong liquidity position. While the companys cash on hand is down 43% year-over-year, Freeport still has available some $1.6 billion in cash and cash equivalents. Looking forward, the company is expecting 3.1 billion pounds of copper production this year, as well as a modest increase in gold production from 775K to 780K ounces.

Lucas Pipes, of B. Riley FBR, is impressed by FCXs actions. He writes, In our opinion, the costcutting measures FCX put in place were very impressive and the primary reason for the positive reaction to the release by investors... As a result of these measures, the company expects to be FCF-positive for the remaining nine months of the year, a remarkable achievement considering the decline in spot copper prices and the fact that 2020 continues to be a transition year for the company.

Pipes gives FCX a $19 price target, implying a robust upside potential of 76% and fully supporting his Buy rating on the stock. (To watch Pipes track record, click here)

This is another Strong Buy stock, with 10 Buys and only 3 Holds from the analyst consensus. FCX shares are selling for $10.89, and the $12.50 average price target suggests an upside of 18% for the next 12 months. (See Freeports stock analysis at TipRanks)

To find good ideas for precious metal stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.
Hopes of steady economic recovery are dependenton Americas ability to fight the coronavirus pandemic. However, the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, lack of a uniform nationwide strategy and no availability of vaccine put human lives at risk and stall economic recovery.

Major indexes have been going through a rollercoaster ride, closing more than 2% lower on Jun 26. In fact, loses in the week ending Jun 26 led to second weekly drop in three weeks for the benchmarks.

Rising Infections Stalling Reopening Plans

On Jun 26, U.S. states saw a single-day record rise of 47,341 new coronavirus cases, with Florida, Texas, California and Arizona at the forefront. The states surpassed their highest single-day record of 40,212cases the day before. The United States has recorded more than 2.6 million cases so far and the drastic increase in cases has halted reopening plans in North Carolina, Louisiana and Kansas.

Governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are continuing the reopening process but are imposing a 14-day quarantine for visitors from hard-hit states. Shares of companies that would benefit from an economic reopening tumbled on Jun 26. Major airlines companies like United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Airlines closed more than 3% lower, while cruiseliner Norwegian Cruise line dropped 5%.

States of Texas and Florida are the first to reverse some reopening measures. Governor of Texas has ordered bars and establishments that has more than 51% customer for alcoholic beverages to shut down operations. And restaurants have to limit on-premise dining to less than 50% indoor capacity.

In Florida, on-premise consumption of alcohol at bars has been suspended after the state reported 8,942 new virus cases in a day on Jun 26, shattering its single-day record of 5,508 cases just two days ago. Officials are now taking stern measures on businesses that don't follow guidelines like wearing masks, social distancing and limiting occupancy.

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In Arizona, the number of new cases jumped by 5.4% on Jun 26, which surpasses the seven-day average of 2.9%. Investors have been optimistic regarding development of COVID-19 vaccines that could allow economies to fully reopen and people to return to work and school. Hence, its time for investors to sail through the current volatility by investing in defensive and work-from-home stocks.

5 Stocks to Buy Now!

It is prudent to invest in defensive stocks in this highly volatile market scenario. These stocks provide stable returns regardless of market gyrations, leaving demand for these constant even during stressful times. Though defensive stocks do not give high returns when the economy is expanding compared to technology and cyclical sectors, these act as safe assets for investors.

Meanwhile, remote working stocks can also prove to be safe bets in the current scenario. These companies help businesses function in full capacity even with lockdowns in place. And given the new normal trend of work-from-home, and companies promoting employees to work remotely for safety, these stocks are poised to grow.

Hence, investing in stocks from five defensive stocks like utilities, healthcare and consumer staples and remote working can prove prudent in the current scenario. Whats more? These stocks flaunt a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

B&G Foods, Inc. BGS manufactures, sells, and distributes a portfolio of shelf-stable and frozen food, and household products. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 27.4% against the Zacks Food - Miscellaneous industrys estimated earnings decline of 16.5%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has climbed 28.7% over the past 60 days.

Vistra Energy Corp. VST engages in the electricity business, providing electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 64.7% against the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industrys estimated earnings decline of 0.6%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has moved up 14.8% over the past 60 days.

Quidel Corporation QDEL develops, manufactures, and markets diagnostic testing solutions for applications in infectious diseases, cardiology, thyroid, women's and general health, eye health, gastrointestinal diseases, and toxicology. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is more than 100% compared with the Zacks Medical - Products industrys estimated earnings growth of 3.2%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has moved more than 100% up over the past 60 days.

Zoom Video Communications, Inc. ZM provides a video-first communications platform. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is more than 100% compared with the Zacks Internet - Software industrys estimated earnings growth of 3%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has climbed more than 100% over the past 60 days.

Fortinet, Inc. FTNT provides broad, integrated, and automated cybersecurity solutions. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 13.8% against the Zacks Security industrys estimated earnings decline of 15%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has moved up 8.1% over the past 60 days.

Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential

The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. Theyre also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.

Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +50%, +83% and +164% in as little as 2 months. The stocks in this report could perform even better.

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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
LAKE MARY, Fla., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Accel Clinical Services (ACS), the parent company of Accel Research Sites, is excited to announce its acquisition of the assets of AMPLIFY Clinical. This acquisition includes AMPLIFY's highly regarded Meridien Research site network, the acclaimed NeuroStudies destination research unit, and the formidable InSearch site business development network.

(PRNewsfoto/Accel Clinical Services)

This combined enterprise will create a Southeastern U.S. clinical research powerhouse consisting of over 100 team members with multi-phase and multi-therapeutic capabilities serving Sponsor and CRO needs in both healthy and patient populations. The combined team's headquarters will be in ACS's newly established corporate office in Lake Mary, Florida.

Concurrently, ACS announces an expanded executive team with expertise in business and clinical operations, marketing, and finance. CEO Matt Maxwell describes the impetus behind Accel's recent changes. "Despite ongoing scientific advancements, the clinical research infrastructure has been slow to evolve, which has led to major inefficiencies in the way researchers, providers, and patients can connect to develop and access new solutions for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This acquisition, new corporate headquarters, and addition of new executive team members will position us to be major change agents in an industry ready for new thinking."

Maxwell will remain Accel Clinical Services' Chief Executive Officer. He joined Accel in 2018 and became CEO in April 2019. Maxwell has over 13 years of clinical research leadership experience and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Business Administration. Melissa Hodges also remains on the Accel leadership team in her recently appointed role of Vice President, Quality and Compliance. Hodges has over 25 years healthcare and research experience, including 18 years at Accel.

In addition to Maxwell and Hodges, ACS announces these additions to the executive team:

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Tim Vargas serves as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Accel Clinical Services. Vargas is the driving force behind the significant organizational transformation and the recent acquisition. He received a B.S. in Finance and Accounting from Wichita State University and an MBA with honors from Rollins College.

Christina Dolan joined ACS in February and serves as Vice President of Marketing. Dolan, a marketing veteran, will lead all marketing and patient recruitment activities, bringing extensive experience leading world-class marketing teams. Dolan holds a B.A. from Purdue University, where she currently sits on the advisory board of Purdue's LAMB School of Communications. She also holds an MBA from Rollins College.

Dr. Lora Parahovnik joined ACS in March and serves as Accel's Vice President of Clinical Operations. She is responsible for leading study conduct at all site locations for the combined enterprise. Dr. Parahovnik received her B.S., Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Bar-Ilan University and holds dual M.S. degrees in Environmental Bio-Electrochemistry and Advanced Materials Chemistry plus a Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology from the prestigious Technion - Israel Institute of Technology.

Michael Audley will serve as ACS' Vice President of Technology. He is responsible for assuring Accel maintains the highest levels of efficiency and employs the most innovative solutions in the evolving medical and research technology landscape. A Veteran of the United States Air Force, Audley holds a B.S. in Business from the University of Phoenix.

ACS plans to play a significant role in a future research landscape that is evidence-based, efficient, and provides access to treatment options for as many patients as possible. "All providers and patients deserve access to clinical trials. It is our duty to help patients in need get access to novel treatments, especially when no effective options are approved for general use," Maxwell says. "This organization and its team of over 100 researchers, stands ready to serve the patients of today and the patients of the future."

About Accel Clinical Services: Accel Clinical Services is a portfolio of companies dedicated to supporting independent physicians and their patients in the delivery of high-quality medical care. It serves as the parent company to subsidiaries built to align services around the needs of its customers: Accel Research Sites, Accel Trial Connections Network, Accel Patient Communities, Accel Provider Communities, and Accel Research Management.

About Accel Research Sites: Accel Research Sites is a multi-therapeutic network of clinical research sites dedicated to the expert delivery of treatment options to patients and providers. They partner with the most innovative and significant pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies worldwide to advance healthcare and wellness in the communities it serves.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/accel-clinical-services-expands-through-acquisition-becomes-southeast-clinical-research-powerhouse-301085219.html

SOURCE Accel Clinical Services
There's been more cloud than sunlight in American International Group Inc.'s (NYSE:AIG) world over the past couple of years.

Soon after it partially recovered from the natural disasters of 2018, its share price was pulled down, way down, by the Covid-19 and economic crises. In fact, it's now 49.35% below its 52-week high.

Of course, when most investors flee a stock with great haste, value investors rush in to search for a bargain. And that appears to be the case with some of the investing gurus followed by GuruFocus.





Among them was Steven Romick (Trades, Portfolio) of the FPA Crescent Fund, who argued in his first-quarter shareholder letter that other investors had overreacted to the Covid-19 news. He added in the May 11 report that:



"We believe that AIG has earnings power in the next few years of around $6 per share. Panicked selling caused its stock price to trade as low as an unchallenging 0.3 times tangible equity. We added to the Fund's position in AIG on this weakness."







However, Romick did prematurely think that the virus was under control; writing on May 11, "We do not think its life insurance business, which accounts for 40 percent of premiums, will be overly affected as we are thankfully seeing a flattening of the COVID-19 infection curve."

Given that the company depends heavily on its life business, one might expect it to take a serious hit because of the number of coronavirus-related deaths. However, President and CEO Brian Duperreault noted in the first-quarter earnings release, published on May 4, "in Life and Retirement, we do not believe that the impact of COVID-19 will result in a material reduction of our long-term return profile."

I would interpret that to mean he expects a hit of some degree this year, but not enough to affect long-term averages. Of course, the virus is not yet under control, so we'll have to keep an eye on that issue.

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The other 60% of AIG's business comes from property and casualty insurance, which does not offer coverage for pandemics (although some legislators would like to change that retroactively). It should be reasonably safe from material disruptions.

Looking at the company's current financial strength and profitability, it's hard to generate much enthusiasm. At the same time, the valuation table suggests the price may be attractive:

GuruFocus AIG financial strength, profitability, valuation

Given the low rating for financial strength, we might think debt is a problem, especially for a company that was chastened during the 2008 financial crisis. As we see in this 10-year chart, though, AIG has held its net debt issuance steady since the end of 2012:

GuruFocus AIG net issuance of debt

For the past two years, the company has been repositioning itself for better future performance. In his recent letter to shareholders, Duperreault wrote, "Last year we also launched AIG 200, our global, multi-year effort across the enterprise to position AIG for the future. This work will improve how we do business and strategically position AIG to become a top-performing company as we create value for all of our stakeholders."

Part of that effort involved the sale its reinsurance company, Fortitude Re, for $1.8 biilion.

From an investor's perspective, part of AIG's attractiveness is found in its dividend and buyback record:

GuruFocus AIG dividend and buyback table

Dividend yield

The company's current dividend yield is 4.17%, which is on par with its competitors and a little better than in its past.

As this 10-year chart shows, the dividend roughly doubled when the share price fell by a half:

GuruFocus AIG dividend yield and price chart

Dividend payout ratio

The dividend payout ratio sits at a comfortable 26% of earnings, down from ratios of 32% and 35% in the past two fiscal years.

This level is quite conservative, leaving the company with ample money for reinvestment and new investments to grow revenue and net income.

Forward dividend yield

The forward dividend yield is the same as the trailing 12-month dividend, so we know the most recent dividend payment was the same as the previous four payments.

Yield on cost

AIG's five-year yield on cost is at a whopping 10.29%. This means that if an investor buys at the current price and holds the stock for five years, while the company continues to raise its dividend at the same rate for five years, this would be the average annual return for that period.

However, as we saw in the chart above, the yield rose because the stock fell dramatically. It did not go up because AIG had been increasing its dividend payments aggressively.

I would say the best way to interpret that attractive yield on cost figure is to treat it as a value trap. The only way to get that kind of yield on cost would be for the share price to fall by half again over the next five years.

Still, buying and holding would likely deliver about half of that 10.29%, which would still have some appeal.

Dividend growth rate

For most companies, this section of the summary page would also include the dividend growth rate, an important consideration for income investors.

But, as we've seen, the above-average dividend is an accident, so to speak. It did not grow because of corporate policy, but because the share price took such a beating.

Share buyback ratio

The three-year share buyback ratio shows AIG repurchasing a moderate amount of its own stock over those years: The ratio is 3.7.

As this chart of total shares outstanding shows, the company has steadily reduced its share count over most of the past 10 years:

GuruFocus AIG shares outstanding

If the company continues to reduce its share count, this could contribute to significant capital gains in coming years. But is it likely to buy back more shares this year?

In the first quarter, it bought back 12 million shares at a cost of $500 million, according to its earnings release on May 4. That works out to an average of $41.66 per share, which would have been a reasonable cost in the early part of the quarter when the price was in the low- to mid-$50s.

We have had no indication on whether the company will act on its remaining $1.5 billion authorization. For this year, at least, I would expect it to hold back.

Valuation

AIG receives a 7 out of 10 for valuation, suggesting it is currently trading at a bargain price. That's backed up its discounted cash flow valuation, which shows it offers a 43.57% margin of safety.

Its price-earnins ratui has fallen to 6.18, which is a lower ratio when compared with its own history and with its competitor and peers.

Gurus

A significant number of gurus have put their capital into AIG. Hotchkis & Wiley had the biggest holding at the end of March: 25,753,105 shares, representing 2.99% of the company's shares and 3.51% of its own portfolio.

Richard Pzena (Trades, Portfolio) of Pzena Investment Management held 15,884,497 shares, while Diamond Hill Capital (Trades, Portfolio) held 14,371,178 shares.

Conclusion

Bought now, at its currently discounted price, American International Group offers an attractive dividend, particularly if it can deliver on its promise of better shareholder returns.

The five-year yield on cost offers what appears to be a misleading promise. More realistically, we would expect something like half of the 10.29% shown. Still, combined with potential share buybacks, it suggests a strong, single-digit return each year for the next five years.

Thus, AIG stock holds some promise for income investors looking for decent yield from a well established company in a mature industry.

Disclosure: I do not own shares in any companies named in this article and do not expect to buy any in the next 72 hours.

Read more here:

Taiwan Semiconductor: A High-Tech Stock With a Promising Dividend Base

AT&T: A Higher-Than-Average Yield With Relative Safety

Could The Cheesecake Factory Deliver Big Returns in the Next 5 Years?







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Amazons efforts to deal with COVID-19 at its warehouses havent been enough to sway at least some workers. The labor union Verdi has announced that staff at six sites in Germany will strike for a minimum of two days over a claimed lack of transparency regarding infections. There had been at least 30 to 40 workers infected, Verdi representative Orhan Akman told Reuters, arguing that Amazon valued profits over safety.

Weve asked Amazon for comment. In a statement to Reuters, it denied that it didnt prioritize safety and pointed to $4 billion in safety measures for both employees and customers.

The striking workers might not be swayed by that argument. There have been ongoing complaints about Amazons allegedly opaque response, including a lack of exposure info and unclear instructions on what to do when people fall ill. Staff have also pointed out difficulties in getting both paid and unpaid leave that could help them avoid infecting colleagues. They want to know just how safe it really is, and strikes like this theoretically push Amazon to respond.
DENVER, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 12.9 million students in our nation's public school system are living in poverty or considered to be homeless. And, Coronavirus has only exacerbated this problem. Because of this pandemic, over 64,000 schools have been forced to close in the United States, leaving some students in need without access to shelter or food. This is exactly why high school seniors Matine Khalighi and Alyssa Gorkin co-founded EEqual, a Denver-based 501(c)3 for-youth-by-youth nonprofit organization that aims to mitigate the impacts of economic inequality for students experiencing poverty through youth-led, targeted programming.

Aureus Tech Systems teams up with EEqual to provide support to students in poverty amidst global pandemic.

Abhishek Pakhira, COO of digital transformation company Aureus Tech Systems and member of EEqual development board, says he is thrilled to be a part of an organization that is working to combat "homelessness at the root." Aureus will be sponsoring at least one scholar a year to assist in EEqual's efforts to providing homeless students with a college education. "Poverty and homelessness are often systemic issues arising from a lack of access to education. We'd like to be a part of the solution."

Matine and Alyssa worked with the rest of their executive team, which consisted of four other high school students, Manar Jeelani, Lydia Shimelis, Maggie Power, and Tira Durrell, to create the nonprofit and all of its programs. "We first started by spending as much time as possible researching and learning about the population we were trying to serve," said Maggie. "None of us know what it is like to be a homeless student, so it's unfair to assume we know how to help them," added Lydia.

Building EEqual took the team approximately nine months, brainstorming ideas, developing programs, branding, and figuring out a creative way to launch the program. The executive team also worked to build two adult advisory boards. Katherine Palmer, teacher and member of the programming advisory board, believes that EEqual's mission is critical to supporting students in poverty "thrive as students of today and leaders of tomorrow."

Story continues

"We are a 100% youth-led volunteer organization," said Manar "so we depend on people coming out to support us at events or online donations." EEqual needs your help in supporting those in need. You can visit their website at: www.eequal.org to find out more.

For more information on Aureus, visit www.aureustechsystems.com. For press inquiries, please contact aclute@aureustechsystems.com.

Cision

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SOURCE Aureus Tech Systems LLC
ERFURT and BERLIN, Germany , June 29, 2020 /CNW/ - AMP German Cannabis Group Inc. ("AMP" or the "Company") (C4T.F) (ISIN:CA00176G1028) (XCX.CN) held its annual general meeting of shareholders (AGM) earlier today. The shareholders approved all resolutions put before them, namely:

Re-electing Dr. Stefan Feuerstein and Messrs. Alex Blodgett , Claudio Morandi and Kenneth MacLeod as directors of the Company;

Re-appointed Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton Labonte LLP, Chartered Accountants, as the Company's auditor for the ensuing year and authorizing the directors to set the auditor's remuneration.

After the AGM, AMP published a pre-recorded online question and answer session with Dr. Stefan Feuerstein , President and Director of AMP. Watch video on the following link: https://youtu.be/akQ5tJqBvVU

CSE:XCX (CNW Group/AMP German Cannabis Group Inc.)

AMP also announces the appointment of Mr. Nick Furber as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and as a new member to its board of directors. Mr. Furber will oversee financial aspects of the company, including financial planning and analysis, accounting, and financial reporting, managing tax, treasury, internal audit, and investor relations.

Mr. Furber has over two decades of experience in financial reporting, management, corporate finance, and business development in multiple industries including medical, mining, and financial services and has been the CFO for companies listed in Canada , Germany and the United States. Previously, Mr. Furber worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers in the United Kingdom and Canada , primarily in their Corporate Finance and Transaction Services groups. Mr. Furber is a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder.

Mr. Alex Blodgett , CEO & Director, commented, "We would like to thank Ms. Christine McPhie for her contribution as the Company's CFO and her help in ensuring an orderly transition. We wish Ms. McPhie all the best in her retirement."

About AMP German Cannabis Group Inc.

AMP German Cannabis Group is licensed to import European Union - Good Manufacturing Practice (EU-GMP) medical cannabis and sell to pharmaceutical distributers or pharmacists directly, the only point-of-sale for medical cannabis to German patients.

Story continues

AMP has entered into a non-exclusive distribution agreement for medical cannabis with a leading distributor of pharmaceuticals products to more than 13,000 pharmacies throughout Germany for monthly shipments starting in the second half of 2020. For more information, please visit: www.amp-eu.com

AMP social media links:



AMP Media Kit: https://www.amp-eu.com/media-kit

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates, including with respect to its business plans and milestones and the timing thereof. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such 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. These forward-looking 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.

SOURCE AMP German Cannabis Group Inc.

Cision

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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  Sri Lanka's government on Sunday lifted a curfew imposed to contain the spreading of the coronavirus.

The curfew was first imposed on March 20 and was in effect 24 hours a day for more than a month across the country.

The government began to ease the curfew after health authorities said the virus was under control in the Indian Ocean island nation. Since April, it was mostly confined to nighttime.

The curfew had been in effect from midnight to 4 a.m. since June 13.

Sri Lankan health officials say they have prevented a community spread of the coronavirus and new patients belong to two known clusters.

The country has reported 2,034 cases, including 11 deaths.

___

In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:

 South Korea has confirmed 62 additional cases of the coronavirus over a 24-hour period, as the country continues to grapple with new clusters after easing social distancing rules. The additional cases reported Sunday took the total to 12,715 with 282 deaths. Officials said 40 of the new cases were from domestic infections, while the other 22 came from overseas. Twenty-six of the 40 domestic cases were detected in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area. South Korea has been struggling to suppress a spike in new cases since it eased up on its rigid social distancing rules in early May. The new cases have been linked to nightclubs, church services, a huge e-commerce warehouse and low-income workers.

 China reported 17 new cases, all but three of them from domestic transmission in Beijing, which has seen a recent spike in coronavirus infections. But authorities in the capital say a campaign to conduct tests on employees at hair and beauty salons across the city has found no positive cases so far, in a further sign that the recent outbreak has been largely brought under control. No new deaths were reported Sunday, leaving Chinas reported total at 4,634 among 83,500 confirmed cases. Tens of millions of Chinese traveled during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival that ended Saturday, but anti-crowding measures were in force nationwide. Tourist sites were required to cap visitor numbers at 30% of capacity.

Story continues

 Australias Victoria state has stepped up efforts to contain a spike in coronavirus cases by ordering mandatory testing of all travelers returning from overseas. The state government said Sunday that travelers in mandatory quarantine will be tested twice  on the third and 11th days of their 14-day isolation. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said those who refuse to comply will be required to remain in quarantine for a further 10 days to ensure they pose no risk to the wider community. A total of 49 new cases of the coronavirus were recorded in Victoria on Sunday, continuing a sharp rise in recent days. Australias most populous state, New South Wales, on Sunday reported three new cases while Western Australia reported just one.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India must focus on bolstering the economy as it exits the lockdown phase, even as the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb. On Sunday, India reported additional 19,906 confirmed cases, taking the total to 528,859 with 16,095 deaths. Modi told a radio address that during the post-lockdown period, Indians have to stay more vigilant compared to the lockdown and only alertness can save them from the coronavirus. He again urged people to wear a mask and observe social distancing norms and other precautions, or else would be putting others at risk, especially the elderly and children at home.

___

Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Deodorant wipe manufacturers are investing in the expansion of production facilities in addition to new product launches to sustain demand through the pandemic.

ROCKVILLE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / June 29, 2020 / The deodorant wipes market is projected to surpass a value pool of US$ 70Mn during the projection period 2020 to 2030. Growing consumer awareness about the importance of hygiene during infectious disease outbreaks is a key factor that supports the growth of the deodorant wipes market during the coronavirus pandemic.

As per the Fact.MR report, the wide variety of fragrances available in deodorant wipe products contributes to sales. However, extensive transport restrictions and breaks in supply chains will hold back operations throughout the duration of the pandemic. Demand for deodorant wipes will remain sluggish after the pandemic owing to saturation and stagnation of the industry.

"The strong demand for products with superior functionality is an essential factor supporting the deodorant wipes market. The stockpiling behavior of consumers during the pandemic has created a demand and supply gap for deodorant wipe supplies. Resurgence in tourism and travel, and relaxation on travel restrictions will help in gradual market growth once the pandemic is brought under control," says the Fact.MR analyst.

Request a report sample to gain more market insights at -

https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=184

Deodorant Wipes Market - Important Takeaways

Wet deodorant wipes will remain highly sought after, owing to superior hygiene applications.

Citrus and floral fragrances remain highly popular, driven by natural and organic formulations.

Odor prevention applications contribute substantially to market revenue, owing to recent changes in consumer awareness on personal care and hygiene.

Retail stores remain the primary distribution channel. However, online channels are gaining traction owing to consumer convenience.

Shifting of viral epicenter to Europe contributes to Europe's lead in the deodorant wipes market.

Deodorant Wipes Market - Driving Factors

Story continues

Strong demand for personal care and hygiene products with easy to use functionality aids deodorant wipe sales.

High consumer need for on-the-go personal wipes, particularly in travel applications is key to market developments.

Rising incidences of hyperhidrosis and bromhidrosis supports the growth of the deodorant wipes market.

Development of natural and organic materials for deodorant wipes and rising consumer awareness about product safety generates lucrative opportunities.

Deodorant Wipes Market - Leading Constraints

Strong competition from alternatives such as baby wipes will hinder market opportunities.

Highly fragmented and competitive market reduces profitability for manufacturers in the industry.

Anticipated Market Impact of COVID-19

Workers in the personal care industry are at higher risk of transmission of the covid-19 virus. Consequently, personal care services are witnessing a substantial loss of business. In addition, lockdown orders have resulted in the temporary shut down of spas and salons. These trends will have a negative impact on the deodorant wipes market.

On the other hand, the major rise in consumer awareness about personal hygiene during the pandemic, has resulted in stockpiling behavior and extensive purchases of deodorant wipe products for personal use. Growth of online sales channels are also generating lucrative opportunities in the industry, which will aid in mitigating losses during the crisis period.

Explore the global deodorant wipe market with 153 figures, 70 data tables, along with the table of contents of the report. You can also find detailed segmentation on https://www.factmr.com/report/184/deodorant-wipes-market

Competition Landscape

Leading producers in the global deodorant wipe market are Demak'Up, Johnson & Johnson, Mandom Corporation, GATSBY, Procter & Gamble, Shiseido Company, Kimberly Clarke, Fresh Body Co. Ltd., Svenska Cellulosa, Aktiebolaget, (SCA), and Forever Fresh.

Major manufacturers are investing in new product launches to keep up with consumer needs and demands. For instance, Uniliever has released deodorant wipe products from DOVE and AXE brands catering primarily to the male demographic. Similarly, EO Products have released organic deodorant wipes.

More on the Report

The FACT.MR's market research report provides in-depth insights on deodorant wipe market. The market is scrutinized according to product (wet wipes and dry wipes), fragrance (citrus, coconut, floral, lavender, and others), application (dryness relief, itch relief, odor prevention & freshness, and others) and distribution channel (modern trade, drug stores, convenience store, e-commerce, and others) across six key regions (North America, Latin America, Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, and Middle East and Africa).

Explore Wide-ranging Coverage of FACT.MR's Retail & Consumer Goods Landscape

Baby Wipes Market: Find insights on the global baby wipes market with analysis of segments, statistics, influencers, market players and business strategies adopted over a 5-year forecast period.

Cosmetic Wipes Market: FACT.MR's report on the global cosmetic wipes market offers insights on the market set for strong growth during 2020-2030. The study covers restraining forces, revenue sources, market leaders, and market strategies.

Intimate Wipes Market: Read an analysis on the intimate wipes market with insights on growth factors, opportunities, restraints, regional market forecast, regulatory policies, and strengths of market leaders.

About Fact.MR

Expert analysis, actionable insights, and strategic recommendations of the veteran research team at Fact.MR helps clients from across the globe with their unique business intelligence requirements. With a repository of over thousand reports and 1 million+ data points, the team has scrutinized the consumer goods industry across 50+ countries for over a decade. The team provides unmatched end-to-end research and consulting services. Fact.MR's latest market reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and take critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition.

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PR- https://www.factmr.com/media-release/1495/deodorant-wipes-market-trends

SOURCE: Fact.MR





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/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES ./

LAS VEGAS , June 29, 2020 /CNW/ - Australis Capital Inc. (AUSA.CN) (AUSAF) ("AUSA" or the "Company") announced it entered into an agreement to acquire Passport Technology Inc. ("Passport") on June 25, 2020 (the "Passport Acquisition"). Pending requisite approvals, the Passport Acquisition will provide immediate revenue and profitability to AUSA:

Australis Capital Inc. Logo (CNW Group/Australis Capital Inc.)

With the acquisition of Passport Technology and anticipated growth in AUSA's Cocoon Technology and Paytron Merchant Services ("Paytron") business lines, the Company expects to be EBITDA positive in 2021 with exciting growth prospects beyond;

Passport Technology ("Passport") holds privileged gaming licenses and provides custom payment technologies through unattended kiosks and related solutions and has expanded revenue and EBITDA by double-digits annually since inception in 2016;

Like Cocoon Technology, Passport operates in highly regulated, compliance centric environments providing a high barrier to entry to new market participants; and

The Passport Acquisition will be immediately accretive, resulting in virtually no employee and infrastructure overlap.

The combined business positions AUSA in three complementary verticals within fintech leveraging purpose-built technology for highly regulated industries with a growing need for unattended kiosk solutions - a global market expected to surpass $46 billion by 2026.

For more information regarding the strategic and financial attributes of the proposed Passport Acquisition, shareholders should review the investor presentation which accompanied the June 26, 2020 Investor Call, available at www.ausa-corp.com/investors.

Governance Process

Prior to the Company's annual meeting, AUSA will provide a proxy circular that will include a fulsome summary of the background to the Passport Acquisition. The key highlights of the robust governance transaction process are as follows:

Story continues

Since the inception of AUSA, and as an investment company, the board and management have continuously sought to identify, through rigorous review, high-quality investment opportunities that fit within the Company's investment criteria with a goal of providing asymmetric return to shareholders;

On December 11, 2019 , the Company announced that it adopted a resolution to take advantage of a safe harbor under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Act") and this safe harbor allowed the Company time to take the necessary steps to ensure it complied with the Investment Act. This acquisition will ensure the Company's total investment assets stay below the required threshold of the Asset test.

Following the February 18, 2020 announcement terminating the Folium Bioscience Merger Agreement, the Company's Board of Directors met in Las Vegas on March 2, 2020 to continue its review of a range of earlier identified potential opportunities (within a safe harbor under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940), including an acquisition of Passport ( Scott Dowty was not present during that portion of the meeting);

Consistent with governance best practices, a committee comprised of independent Directors of the Board (the "Independent Committee") was formed to evaluate a potential acquisition of Passport Technology by the Company;

The first Independent Committee meeting took place on March 6, 2020 , during which it was determined negotiations of a potential transaction would be handled primarily between Cleve Tzung of AUSA and Kurt Sullivan of Passport Technology;

The Independent Committee held twelve meetings over the following 111 days to receive updates from the Company's Officers and to provide direction with respect to any requests for additional information, analysis or evaluations;

The Independent Committee engaged a reputable third-party valuation firm, Sycamore, to perform an independent valuation of Passport (Sycamore is compensated by a flat-fee structure not contingent on the outcome of the transaction). Sycamore presented its initial presentation based on a preliminary letter of intent in April, and will issue a fairness opinion in short order.

"With the assistance of our external legal and financial advisors, the Independent Committee has at all times been solely focused on what is in the best interests of the Company and all of its shareholders," said Roger Swainson , Chairman of the Independent Committee. "While we welcome constructive input and critique from the shareholders whose interests we steadfastly represent, the transaction process we have employed is beyond reproach. Any suggestion otherwise is baseless."

Closing of the Passport Acquisition is subject to shareholder approval at the Company's upcoming annual general meeting, the closing of the Private Placement of Units announced by AUSA on June 25, 2020 , and customary regulatory approvals.

"The Passport Acquisition enhances the Company's ability to drive growing and sustainable value creation for all shareholders," said Cleve Tzung , Chief Executive Officer of AUSA. "We're pleased with the early, overwhelmingly supportive inbound comments we have received from shareholders since we announced the Passport Acquisition and look forward to its successful completion."

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release in the United States . Such securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States , or to or for the account or benefit of persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.

Advisors

AUSA has retained McMillan LLP as its legal advisor, Gryphon Advisors Inc. as its strategic shareholder advisor and Longview Communications & Public Affairs. as its strategic communications advisor.

About Passport Technology Inc.

Passport partners with casino operators to increase gaming revenue by delivering funds to the casino floor through cash and cashless payment portals including CashValet, CashlessValet, POSpod, and ACMowl. Passport's proactive approach with customers and regulatory authorities in solution development has proven successful and a cornerstone of the business highlighted by responsible gambling features including self-exclusion, VIP alerts, dynamic pricing, free-play, and the industry's most robust real-time back-end reporting tools. Since inception, Passport has responsibly delivered over $2 billion in funds to casino floors. The global gambling market is expected to reach revenues of $525 Billion by 2023. For more information on Passport Technology, visit www.PassportTechnology.com.

About Australis Capital Inc.

AUSA invests in, operates and builds transformative, differentiated companies operating in highly regulated industries. Initially focused on investments in the cannabis industry, AUSA has expended to offer proprietary unattended hardware and software technology to industries with the highest regulatory compliance standards along with supporting payment and fulfillment services. The globally available kiosk platforms are purpose-built in the cloud to deliver custom solutions in complex environments while emboldening customer confidence with features including data analytics, privacy, security, and regulatory compliance. The Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) technology delivers recurring revenue through long-term exclusive agreements focused on regulated retail environments and casino gaming while portable and scalable to profitably support organic growth and complementary acquisition opportunities.

The Company's Common shares trade on the CSE under the symbol "AUSA" and on the OTCQB under the symbol "AUSAF".

For further information about AUSA, please visit the website at ausa-corp.com or contact the Company by e-mail at ir@ausa-corp.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Cleve Tzung"

________________________________

Cleve Tzung

Chief Executive Officer

Forward-Looking Information Statement

This news release contains statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including statements is respect of the completion of the Passport Acquisition, the Private Placement and the Company's future development plans. Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking information. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company's management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company's 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 statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect information, events, results, circumstances or otherwise after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law including securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

This press release includes financial outlook about the Company's expectation to be EBITDA positive in the first half of 2021, which is subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, limitations, and qualifications as set forth in the above paragraphs. Such estimates contained in this press release were made by management as of the date of this press release and are provided for the purpose of providing readers with an understanding of the Company's rationale in pursuing the Passport Acquisition. Readers are cautioned that the financial outlook contained in this document should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed herein.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Australis Capital Inc.

Cision

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Children hoping that school closures meant a break from homework were sadly disappointed as teachers took to online education during coronavirus-induced lockdowns.

Next week, 10.71 million Chinese students will sit the gaokao, a notoriously gruelling university-entrance exam that can play a decisive role in shaping their future. Many of these pupils have been preparing online by logging on to tutorial platform such as Zuoyebang.

Investors have been quick to catch on to the wave of digitisation in education during the coronavirus. They have flocked to back start-ups that promise to upgrade the conventional schoolroom using artificial intelligence and the internet for the 170 million K12 students in China.

Zuoyebang, one of the largest in the field, has amassed US$750 million in a Series E fundraising from investors including New York-based Tiger Global and Chinese private equity fund Fountainvest Partners, it said on Monday on its social media WeChat page.

Beijing-headquartered Zuoyebang's fundraising is one of the largest among the 131 across the Chinese education sector so far this year, which have raised a total of US$1.11 billion. This value is on par with the same period a year earlier despite the difficulties of bringing investors and start-ups together during lockdowns, according to data collected by alternative assets tracker Preqin.

There will be more bumper fundraisings later this year in e-learning, says Taihecap's managing partner Frank Hu, as start-ups plug the offline gap between educational resources and demand in China's sprawling provinces. About 80 per cent of Chinese live in third-tier cities and below.

"The significance of online education's boom, especially of live-streaming courses, from 2019 to 2020, is no less than ride-hailing and mobile payment opportunities in 2014 and short video in 2017. It's a rare transformational structural opportunity," said Taihecap's Hu.

Also known as zhibo.zuoyebang.com, which means "homework help" in Chinese, the start-up offers online courses to students from kindergarten to grade 12 by leveraging technology and the internet.

Story continues

The coronavirus pandemic has raised awareness of e-learning, saving start-ups hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising.

The start-up claims to have monthly active users of over 170 million, an all-time high, and the number of paying students has gone up by more than 10 times in the past two years to hit a record 12 million.

The growth rate for enrolment in live-streaming courses was 400 per cent and the retention rate for students was nearly 90 per cent.

Other investors in Zuoyebang's latest fundraising included sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority, venture capital investor Sequoia Capital China, SoftBank's Vision Fund 1 as well as Chinese investment firms Tiantu Capital and Xiang He Capital.

Competition is heating up in the sector. New Oriental Education & Technology and TAL Education Group have already listed in the US and are mulling a secondary listing in Hong Kong, according to people familiar with the matter.

Founded by Hou Jianbin in 2014, Zuoyebang was spun out of Baidu a year later and is already a unicorn, a private company valued at over US$1 billion. A spokeswoman confirmed that Baidu is still a shareholder in the company.

Zuoyebang started as a platform where students could upload their homework onto the platform and search for answers. It has since developed live-streaming courses.

Zuoyebang's last fundraising was in 2018 when it corralled US$350 million, and it raised US$150 million in a Series C round in 2017. A spokeswoman said the company had no plans to IPO at this point in time.

China's Taihecap gave financial advice on the transaction.

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.
Project Will Add New Solar Electricity Facility in Texas

Bank of America announced today its first 10-year structured renewable energy agreement for solar power in Texas. In partnership with Reliant, an NRG Energy company, the deal will contribute to Bank of Americas commitment to purchase 100% of electricity from renewable sources and builds on the companys carbon-neutral efforts. The project will provide electricity through the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region to 345 facilities, which include office sites, financial centers and ATMs. Bank of America will receive both electricity and Green-e-certified renewable energy certificates (RECs).

"Supporting utility-scale solar energy projects like this builds on our commitment to responsible growth and reduces our operational impact on the environment," said Andrew Plepler, global head of Environmental, Social and Governance at Bank of America. "By implementing new and innovative renewable energy structures, we demonstrate our strong commitment to carbon neutrality, secure stable renewable electricity at a favorable cost, and provide an economic and environmental benefit to the communities where we work and live."

The agreement will supply 160,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity to Bank of Americas Texas operations annually. The project will be located in west central Texas and is expected to be operational in mid-2022. In the interim, the banks Texas facilities will receive electricity and Green-e-certified RECs from other renewable energy projects contracted by NRG.

"Partnering with Bank of America in support of its commitment to carbon neutrality is one of the many ways NRG is putting customers at the center of everything we do," said Robert Gaudette, senior vice president of Business Solutions at NRG. "Agreements like these, which support renewable development and local communities, reflect a modern approach to retail electricity and are an important part of the transition to a sustainable electricity future."

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Bank of Americas environmental operations commitment

In 2019, the bank announced the installation of solar panels on more than 60 locations in the U.S., including offices, financial centers and ATMs. There are nine solar installations at bank facilities in Texas.

Bank of America achieved carbon neutrality a year ahead of schedule and has implemented other energy efficient and renewable energy efforts. In 2019, the companys total sourcing of renewable electricity was more than two million MWh, amounting to 100% of its global energy use  the equivalent of powering 239,000 homes for one year. In 2019, Bank of America was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the EPA Green Power Leadership EPA Green Power Leadership Award for Excellence in Green Power Purchasing. The company was also named to the CDP Climate Change A-List.

For more information on Bank of Americas environmental efforts, visit www.bankofamerica.com/environment.

Bank of America

At Bank of America, were guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. Were delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. Its demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).

NRG Energy

At NRG, were bringing the power of energy to people and organizations by putting customers at the center of everything we do. We generate electricity and provide energy solutions and natural gas to more than 3.7 million residential, small business, and commercial and industrial customers through our diverse portfolio of retail brands. A Fortune 500 company, operating in the United States and Canada, NRG delivers innovative solutions while advocating for competitive energy markets and customer choice, and by working towards a sustainable energy future. More information is available at www.nrg.com. Connect with NRG on Facebook, LinkedIn and follow us on Twitter @nrgenergy, @nrginsight.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005653/en/

Contacts

Reporters May Contact:

Kelly Sapp, Bank of America, 1.980.214.3070

kelly.e.sapp@bofa.com



Laura Avant, NRG, 1.713.537.5437

laura.avant@nrg.com
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- BHP Groups future can do without hydrocarbons.

The worlds largest digger is among the last heavyweights to mix mines with a significant presence in oil, a combination that is becoming harder to justify over the long term. Crude demand will be slow to recover after a pandemic that has kept workers home and jets grounded, and some of that appetite will never come back. Meanwhile, pressure to cut carbon emissions is only increasing. Oil giant BP Plc is the latest to take a hit, warning it expects impairments and write-offs worth as much as $17.5 billion due to a more gloomy view of what lies ahead. The Big Australian could benefit from a dose of that realism.

There is little question that the petroleum division, with assets from Western Australia to the Gulf of Mexico, has generated impressive cash over the years  if you exclude the ill-considered foray into U.S. shale, a $20 billion investment (excluding capital expenditure) much criticized by activist fund Elliott Management Corp. and eventually sold off in 2018. In the six months to December 2019, the unit accounted for about 13% of BHPs total earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, notching up an impressive 65% margin. Only iron ore, the groups top earner, was higher, at 69%. Add in low production costs that cushion the blow of 2020s lackluster oil prices, and its easy to see why putting in more cash is tempting when, as analyst Glyn Lawcock of UBS Group AG points out, the miner has few readily available alternative investments.

Its also true that while the medium-term global appetite for oil looks far less certain than it did, theres a more appealing argument to be made around fading supply. Indeed, the $115 billion miners central expectation last year of demand hitting a high point in the mid-2030s now looks bullish, compared to comments from the likes of Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BP. A peak even in the middle of this decade, BHPs low-demand scenario, may prove optimistic. On the production side, though, the miner is right to point out that the industry has been investing less, a trend that will only accelerate after a disastrous 2020 and squeeze future production. BHP has estimated ongoing natural field decline at a rate of 3% to 5% per year.

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None of this means boss Mike Henry and his team can afford to ignore the signs that this year will prove to be a turning point for oil.

Diversification has benefits, but operating synergies between oil and mining are debatable  its not an accident that while majors sold out of one or the other, none have returned. As a standalone business, the petroleum division might arguably have ventured less enthusiastically into shale. And the risk today is clear: Staying on can turn into overstaying.

Here, Henry can reflect on the experience in thermal coal, where BHP woke up too late. Rival Rio Tinto Group offloaded its last coal mine in 2018, wrapping up a process that began in 2013. BHP held on to decent assets, using up tax losses. Its now trying to retreat just as Anglo American Plc prepares to hive off its South African coal mines, and interest in the dirty fuel has dwindled. Oil has fewer easy substitutes, but it's conceivable that, with significant changes in policy, crude could be left similarly stranded.

Accepting the need for an exit from a business that BHP has been in since the 1960s is only the first step, of course. For one, a carve-out in the mold of coal-to-aluminium producer South32 Ltd., which BHP spun off successfully in 2015, is harder to advocate for oil. The move then was about getting more out of sub-scale operations. In petroleum, BHP is not the operator for many of the assets, making such efficiencies harder to accomplish.

BHP can begin by reviewing its portfolio, starting with mature assets in Australia. Partner Exxon Mobil Corp. has said that its seeking a buyer for its share of the Gippsland Basin oil and gas development in the Bass Strait; a joint sale with BHP has been considered before. Chevron Corp., meanwhile, has put its stake in the giant North West Shelf liquefied natural gas venture on the block. That operation, Australias largest LNG project, is shifting from processing its own gas to opening services to new suppliers, a business known as tolling  less suited to either Chevron or BHP. The mining giant has in any event been less enthusiastic about gas than oil.

Granted, even that wont be easy. Australia churns up a decent amount of revenue, and BHP can argue it is better to continue taking cash now, at the risk of selling for less later. Some investors may agree. A similarly short-term view in the Gulf of Mexico could see it adding to the portfolio as distressed rivals are forced out.

For newish boss Henry, though, none of those would look like the decisions of a company preparing for a greener future. He has an opportunity to outline the path to net zero emissions when BHP announces full-year results in August. An exit plan for oil would be one decisive step toward that goal.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering commodities and environmental, social and governance issues. Previously, she was an associate editor for Reuters Breakingviews, and editor and correspondent for Reuters in Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Chesapeake Energy Corporation CHK recently filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Texas. The company is one of the biggest shale natural gas producers responsible for the famous shale revolution.

The move is expected to reset Chesapeakes capital structure and business. At the end of first-quarter 2020, it had a cash balance of only $82 million, not sufficient to pay off $420 million of net current maturities of long-term debt. Importantly, $250 million of senior notes were due in 2020 and $294 million in 2021. Moreover, the companys ability to pay long-term debt of more than $9 billion is questionable since low gas prices are affecting the bottom line. Chesapeake, which once reached a market valuation of more than $37 billion, closed at $115.9 million last Friday.

The stock, which went through a reverse stock split to boost share price in April, has been under the scanner of investors for the last few months. The recent restructuring plan is expected to enable the company to reduce $7 billion of debt. As such, the decision was supported by several creditors. It secured $925 million in debtor-in-possession financing to fund operations during the reorganization process.

The Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company is expected to emerge from the Chapter 11 process on the back of its diverse operating platform, improving capital and operating efficiencies, along with well-judged capital structure. Moreover, U.S. Energy Information Administration expects the share of electricity generation from natural gas-powered plants to increase to 41% this year from 37% in 2019. This will increase the demand for natural gas in the coming days.

Notably, more than 200 companies have filed for bankruptcy protection in the last five years. The current energy market volatility aggravated by coronavirus-induced lockdowns can further worsen the situation. As such, many more upstream companies with high debt exposure will succumb to energy demand destruction, and low oil and gas prices.

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Price Performance

The stock has depreciated 8.9% in the past month compared with 4.8% decline of the industry it belongs to.

Stocks to Consider

Other top-ranked players in the energy space include Chaparral Energy, Inc. CHAP, CNX Resources Corporation CNX and Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc. BCEI, each holding a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Chaparral Energys bottom line for 2020 is expected to rise 57.8% year over year.

CNX Resources beat earnings estimates thrice and met once in the last four quarters, with average positive surprise of 111.5%.

Bonanza Creek beat earnings estimates in the last four quarters, with average positive surprise of 8.7%.

Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential

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FILE PHOTO: Man wearing a face mask is seen inside the Shanghai Stock Exchange building, as the country is hit by a novel coronavirus outbreak, at the Pudong financial district in Shanghai

By Scott Murdoch and Julie Zhu

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Firms in China brought in half of equity capital raised globally this year so far, setting a record that highlights the economy's earlier revival from the COVID-19 pandemic, plus the degree to which soured U.S. relations are turning Chinese firms homeward.

China-based companies sold shares worth $32.1 billion in January-June including multi-billion-dollar secondary listings in Hong Kong, equivalent to 49.8% of worldwide offerings, showed data from Refinitiv. The total for U.S. firms was $15.8 billion.

"With massive liquidity injections by various governments (supporting virus-hit economies), I'm not surprised by the size of Chinese capital raised this year - and the trend may continue," Li He, capital markets partner at Davis Polk, said of China firms taking advantage of their early lockdown emergence.

China was hit by the novel coronavirus in December and was the first country to impose virus-prevention lockdown measures on individual movement and business activity in late January. Markets began their return to normality in April.

Chinese fundraising has been helped by the popularity of Shanghai's year-old growth-focused STAR Market, as well as well-received initial public offerings (IPOs) in Hong Kong and the massive secondary listings - including the $3.9 billion raised by e-tailer JD.com Inc <JD.O> <9618.HK> this month and $3.1 billion by games developer NetEase Inc <NTES.O> <9999.HK>.

"For Chinese companies, both the Hong Kong and U.S. markets are getting back to normal," said Houston Huang, head of global investment banking for China at JPMorgan.

"Market activity (deal volume) is much better than anybody expected at the beginning of the year."

Escalating Sino-U.S. geopolitical tension over issues such as trade is widely expected to prompt more U.S.-listed Chinese firms to conduct secondary listings closer to home where they can raise funds in markets absent of anti-Chinese sentiment.

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Companies considering a secondary Hong Kong listing include Yum China Holdings Inc <YUMC.N> and ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc <ZTO.N>, said two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Neither Yum nor ZTO responded to requests for comment outside of regular business hours.

Secondary deals are also increasing investor interest in Hong Kong, a market with a reputation for hosting stodgy financial and property groups rather than growth-focused tech companies.

Li Hang, CLSA head of global equity capital markets and syndication, said the JD.com sale, on which his bank worked, was able to win orders not just locally but also from Southeast Asia and Europe.

"If a company is looking at a secondary listing in Hong Kong, they need to be looking at gathering investors' interest from not only from Asia, but also Europe and the U.S.," Li said.

AUDITING

Also of concern for Chinese firms are U.S. steps aimed at improving the transparency of financial disclosure but which clash with the Chinese government's reluctance to give foreign entities access to onshore records.

In May, just weeks after former market darling Luckin Coffee Inc <LK.O> said its sales had been falsified, the U.S. Senate passed a bill that could force Chinese firms to delist if they do not allow the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to access their audited accounts for three consecutive years.

Will Cai, head of U.S. law firm Cooley's capital markets practice in Asia, said the bill spurred two of his eight Chinese clients with IPO plans to choose Hong Kong over New York.

For some Chinese companies, prestige continues to propel them toward a U.S. listing in spite of political wrangling and negative sentiment toward Chinese firms following fallout from Luckin Coffee.

Chinese groups still managed to raise $1.7 billion through New York IPOs during 2020's coronavirus-hit first half, versus $3.42 billion in January-June last year.

The figure includes the $510 million raised by Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Ltd <KC.O> in early May in the first major U.S. IPO since the coronavirus outbreak - and the first since Luckin's disclosure. Its stock has since risen nearly 60%.

"We were under lot of pressure because if this one had failed, basically the U.S. market could have potentially closed the door to all Chinese companies," said Huang at JPMorgan, a lead underwriter for the deal.

(Corrects Li Hang's title in paragraph 12 to CLSA's head of global equity capital markets (not head of Greater China equity capital markets)

(Reporting by Scott Murdoch and Julie Zhu in Hong Kong; Editing by Jennifer Hughes and Christopher Cushing)
Leading HVAC and Refrigeration Firm Expands Footprint in Mid-Atlantic Region and Continues M&A Growth Backed by Ares Management

CoolSys, a parent of market-leading refrigeration and HVAC services companies nationwide, has acquired Richmond Refrigeration Service, an established commercial refrigeration and air conditioning service serving Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and West Virginia. This is the second acquisition made by CoolSys in the Mid-Atlantic region in the past seven months, and the second acquisition the company has made during the month of June as it continues its M&A growth strategy backed by its private equity investor, Ares Management.

"The acquisition of Richmond Refrigeration complements our acquisition of BRR Refrigeration seven months ago, giving us coverage across the entire state of Virginia while strengthening our presence in Maryland, West Virginia and North Carolina as well," comments Adam Coffey, CEO of CoolSys. "The Richmond Refrigeration team has a long history and excellent reputation in their region and we are excited to welcome them into the CoolSys family. This is another key step in becoming a true national solutions provider."

Based in Ashland, Virginia, Richmond Refrigeration Services specializes in the service and installation of a wide range of supermarket refrigeration systems and applications. Its convenience store division provides a full-service team of plumbers, electricians, food service technicians, HVAC/R technicians and maintenance personnel. Both of its service divisions are highly ranked by their major customers who use scoring systems with top key performance indicators (KPIs) that rank them among the highest-performing contractors across the United States.

"We know some of the folks at CoolSys and some of their recent acquisitions, and are very excited to join their growing team," comments John Lollar, president of Richmond Refrigeration Service. "The combination of Richmonds heritage and reputation with CoolSys broad spectrum of solutions will allow us to bring even greater value to our customers and growth opportunities for our employees."

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About CoolSys

CoolSys is the market-leading refrigeration and HVAC services company, specializing in a full spectrum of best-in-class service experiences and solutions for customers in the retail, food service, commercial and industrial market segments. CoolSys and its operating businesses cover every stage of mission-critical systems from engineering and design, to installation, service and maintenance, and energy optimization. Headquartered in Southern California, CoolSys has more than 1,900 highly trained, field-based service and installation experts serving the daily needs of more than 4,000 customers across North America. For additional information, please visit www.coolsys.com.

About Richmond Refrigeration Service

Established in 1954, Richmond Refrigeration Service is one of Virginias oldest commercial refrigeration, air conditioning service, and installation companies. The company provides routine service and maintenance, 24/7 emergency service, and installation work in supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, bars, cafes, and distribution centers across the state of Virginia as well as parts of Maryland, North Carolina, and West Virginia.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005126/en/

Contacts

Mike Ochoa

714-510-9595

MOchoa@coolsys.com
By Philip Blenkinsop

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - At the start of the year, U.S.-China tensions were easing after their Phase I trade deal, while Washington, Brussels and Tokyo agreed on new global trading rules to curb subsidies. A relative calm had set in.

Then the new coronavirus struck.

Countries across the world imposed 222 exports curbs on medical supplies and medicines and in some cases food, according to Global Trade Alert, a Swiss monitoring group. For medical products, it was more than 20 times the usual level.

Those curbs are now being lifted, but the pandemic has reinforced protectionist arguments by highlighting how global supply chains can deprive people of essential medical protection and disrupt food supplies, as well as threaten jobs.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants to cut ties with China, the European Union is planning barriers to state-backed investment from China and elsewhere and China is demanding declarations that food imports are virus-free.

Former EU trade chief Cecilia Malmstrom said there was a "worrying" tendency towards protectionism in the world and the re-emergence of trade conflicts briefly paused by the health crisis.

"Trade-wise we should be concerned," she told a seminar on Wednesday.

The World Trade Organization said on Tuesday that global trade in goods was set for a record fall this year and that wider restrictions could see a 2021 rebound falling short.

In the past fortnight, the United States has withdrawn from negotiations with European countries over a tax on digital firms and pledged a "broad reset" of its set of tariffs agreed with World Trade Organization partners.

It has also threatened tariffs on a new range of European products, including fresh olives, bakery items and gin, to maintain pressure in a 16-year dispute over aircraft subsidies.

RHETORIC VS REALITY

To some extent, political rhetoric is running ahead of reality: U.S. China trade rose in April after COVID-19-related falls and U.S. officials have said China is committed to buying more U.S. goods in line with the Phase 1 deal.

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Chinese leaders and EU chiefs met virtually last Monday, although Brussels told China to make good on its promise to allow greater access for European companies and criticised its actions on the coronavirus and Hong Kong.

China offered deeper cooperation on COVID-19 and urged the EU to relax export controls. On Wednesday, Beijing said it was opening up seven more sectors to foreign investors.

Beijing and Brussels are keeping up contacts with Washington and some progress has been made in limited EU-U.S. talks on food standards and technology cooperation.

Senior EU and U.S. trade officers are holding talks every three weeks, officials say. China's most senior diplomat Yang Jiechi also met with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Hawaii on Wednesday, although Trump renewed his threat to cut ties with Beijing the next day.

BIDEN

Trade is a bellwhether for the cooperation and trust needed to help economies recover, particulary those of smaller countries, said Rohinton Medhora, president of Canada-based think tank the Centre for International Governance Innovation.

Both China and Europe are bracing for rocky relations in the leadup to the U.S. presidential election, but see some hope if Trump's Democrat challenger Joe Biden wins.

"Biden as president is the only chance for China-U.S. relations to regain rationality," said Zhu Feng, dean of the Institute of International Studies at Shanghai's Fudan University.

But he did not expect relations to change dramatically in the short term. There is broad bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress for being tough on China, and European optimism over more cooperation with Washington is also tempered.

Reinhard Buetikofer, a trade expert of the Greens in the European Parliament, did not envisage a return to the "golden years" of the Clinton or Obama administrations if Biden won.

"I don't expect Biden to be soft on Europe... The mood has changed to a huge degree, not only in Washington, even more so in the U.S. states," he said, although he did envisage an approach more tuned to creating alliances.

U.S. figures show a trade deficit with the EU in goods and services of $109 billion in 2018.

Rebalancing the relationship with Europe, including on trade, was a core U.S. national interest, according to Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, director of trade think-tank ECIPE.

"The difference between the current administration, or the next or previous is really more about table manners," he said.

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; additional reporting by Andrea Shalal in Washington, Gabriel Crossley and Yew Lun Tian in Beijing; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
OTTAWA, June 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to statistics Seniors age 80 years old and older are at high risk of dying from Coronavirus disease. On June 26th, there were 8,481 total deaths related to COVID-19 in Canada. Health data in Canada showed that 72 percent of aging population had been deceased that is about 4,000 deaths (almost half are seniors). Less than 40 percent were hospitalized, and about 12 percent were admitted to ICU. This data is from the Health-Infobase Canada website on COVID-19 cases.



Cause of their death:

Most of the COVID-19 deaths in Canada among Seniors were in retirement homes. A 2016 population study by Canada estimated that more than 15.6 percent was represented by aging population 60 years old and older. Just recently, the government conducted a study with the help of the Canadian military to assess COVID-19 but has yet to address the conditions in retirement homes.

Where did Coronavirus come from?

Coronavirus originated in China in late 2019 but the virus gradually transmitted to other countries including Canada early this year.

According to Meladul Haq Ahmadzai, a Global Health researcher and CEO of Taleam Systems says, As the virus speeded up quickly due to lack of PPE measures in place, the virus has had the deadliest health attacks on the aging population.

Consequences of the virus:

The seniors have proved that they cannot handle the virus even with the support of medical staff.

Ahmadzai adds, We need to ensure that the measures outlined are respected and adhered to, for stopping COVID-19 deaths among the aging population.

This research was conducted by Meladul Haq Ahmadzai who is a Global Health researcher and CEO of Taleam Systems which provides custom health systems to hospitals and medical clinics in Canada. Visit www.taleamsystems.com to learn more about Taleam Systems products.

Media contact:

Meladul Haq Ahmadzai, CEO

Email: melad@taleamsystems.com

Phone: 613-521-9229
An activist of environmental group Greenpeace is seen beside the logo of of Swiss bank Credit Suisse in Zurich

By Rebecca Spalding and Carl O'Donnell

(Reuters) - Credit Suisse Group AG <CSGN.S> has named Rob Santangelo as a global co-head of its healthcare investment banking group, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Monday.

Santangelo, who is based in New York, will report to Robin Rankin, the Swiss bank's coverage and advisory head of global healthcare, retail and consumer products, and Latin America, the memo said. Santangelo will work alongside David Kostel, who remains a global co-head of the healthcare investment banking division.

Santangelo, who has been with Credit Suisse since 2007, was previously global head of equity capital markets (ECM) origination, and earlier in his career focused on the oil industry. Santangelo has also been named vice chairman of ECM to continue his coverage of certain energy clients, according to the memo.

A spokesperson for Credit Suisse confirmed the contents of the memo while declining to comment further.

Santangelo's appointment comes after Credit Suisse doubled the number of managing directors in its life science practice late last year in an effort to bulk up its expertise in healthcare.

(Reporting by Rebecca Spalding and Carl O'Donnell in New York; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 29, 2020) - Crystal Lake Mining Corporation (TSXV: CLM) (OTC PINK: SIOCF) (FSE: SOG) ("Crystal Lake" or the "Company") is pleased to announce 4 additions to the Company's management and technical team, as well as regulatory approval of the Name Change intent to Enduro Metals Corporation. The Company announces that, further to its news release of June 11th, 2020, its common shares will begin trading under its new name "Enduro Metals Corporation" on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") at the opening of trading on July 3rd, 2020.

The Company's trading symbol will change to "ENDR" on the TSXV and will remain as "SOG-FF" on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and as "SIOCF" on the OTC Pink sheets. The CUSIP number for the Company's common shares is 29279W102 and ISIN is CA29279W1023.

Chief Financial Officer

The Company is pleased to welcome Mr. Malcolm Davidson, CPA, CA, as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Davidson is an outgoing and dynamic corporate executive with nearly 20 years experience operating, financing, and developing TSX and NYSE listed mining companies. Prior to joining Crystal Lake, Mr. Davidson spent 8 years as CFO with Avino Silver & Gold Mines helping develop the silver and gold producer's assets in Mexico and Canada. Also, during his tenure with Avino, Mr. Davidson was CFO of Coral Gold Resources where he played a key role in selling and negotiating royalties for the Company's primary asset in Nevada to Barrick Gold, in addition to consulting for several other companies.

Chief Operating Officer

The Company is pleased to welcome Mr. Dylan Hunko B.Sc., as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Hunko is a co-founder of HEG & Associates along with Crystal Lake's President/CEO Cole Evans and has been a critical figure in the private company's growth and success since its formation. HEG is the single largest shareholder of Crystal Lake Mining. Mr. Hunko is a skilled project manager who has designed and executed projects for junior explorers and major mining companies alike in North America. Mr. Hunko started his exploration career with Archer Cathro in 2011 and has worked as an exploration geologist for several companies dominantly focused on the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, Canada. He currently sits as Vice-President of the Bob Quinn Lake Airport Society; an important infrastructure installment approximately 30km east of the Company's Newmont Lake airstrip.

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Corporate Secretary

The Company is pleased to welcome Ms. Deborah Cotter as Corporate Secretary. Ms. Cotter has over 25 years experience in the public markets for both Canadian and US listed companies, managing securities compliance, corporate governance, equity financings, and administration. Ms. Cotter is currently Corporate Secretary of Terrace Energy Corp. and is the Corporate Secretary/Corporate Compliance Lead for SpeakEasy Cannabis Club. Prior to that she held the position of Corporate Secretary of CRH Medical Corp. and Corporate Secretary of ID Biomedical Corp. until the time of its takeover offer by Glaxo Smith Kline plc. in December of 2005. ID Biomedical grew from an initial $3 million market capitalization to $1.7 billion at the time of its takeover offer from Glaxo Smith Kline plc. In 2005.

Technical Advisor

The Company is pleased to welcome Mr. John Ryan, B.Sc. Hons, to the Company's technical advisory committee. Mr. Ryan has 15 years experience specializing in the Canadian Cordillera in both greenfields and brownfields exploration. Mr. Ryan spent 8 years with Teck resources where he held a leadership role in developing industry leading methods in applied geochemistry, hyperspectral analysis, and geometallurgical modelling as a Senior Project Geologist at Teck's Highland Valley Copper; Canada's largest copper mining complex. Prior to this, he held positions with both Sabina Gold & Silver and Spanish Mountain Gold assisting in the delineation of the Hackett River VMS deposit in northwestern Nunavut (subsequently purchased by Glencore), and the SHV gold deposit at Spanish Mountain in central British Columbia, Canada.

Mr. Ryan holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Geology from the University of British Columbia Okanagan specializing in applied exploration geochemistry from the Charles Fipke Centre for Innovative Research.

We would like to thank Mr. David Cross for acting as the Company's CFO during it's transitional period, as well as Natasha Chapman for assisting as the Company's Corporate Secretary.

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 small pieces of the district-scale property that Crystal Lake has assembled through staking and optioning. Building on 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 US$807 million for a 70% interest. Chachi, a newly discovered area, generated high-grade samples of gold, silver, lead, zinc, nickel, and cobalt over a 9km x 4km area with associated geophysical responses. Diamond drilling in 2019 at the NW Zone demonstrated that the historic gold resource remains open laterally and to depth.

Work in 2020 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

www.crystallakemining.com

For further information please contact:

Investor Relations

Sean Kingsley - Director of Communications

Tel: +1 (604) 440-8474

Email: info@crystallakemining.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release may contain certain "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58763
Improving their flagship home pedicure device, The Curve launches PediCurve Solar, an innovative pedicure file device equipped with solar charging.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Today, PediCurve Solar, a solar-powered pedicure device featuring glass filing discs, launched with a pre-order campaign on Indiegogo. Inspired by growing consciousness around the environmental impacts of the health and beauty industries, The Curve improved upon its successful flagship product to incorporate solar charging.

As people turn away from single-use or limited-use products, the beauty industry needs solutions that don't sacrifice on quality and integrate into eco-conscious lifestyles. While other devices may entice customers with economical entry prices, many require regular replacing of rollers or other accessories.

PediCurve Solar is a Danish-designed, eco-friendly pedicure device that leaves feet soft and smooth. Patented PediGlass discs remove the need for harsh scrubbing devices or rollers. A rough disc removes hard skin and calluses without scrubbing or scraping. A smooth disc refreshes the skin leaving a fresh and radiant finish. Waste is minimized with PediCurve Solar as there are no rollers or batteries to replace and throw away.

Pedicures are one of the most common services offered at salons across the United States. They also serve therapeutic and medical purposes. With more than 54,000 salons and 18,000 podiatrists practicing in the United States, the demand for quality solutions is high. As more people look for at-home solutions that provide professional results, PediCurve Solar is the device consumers need.

"Taking care of our feet is a necessity, but it doesn't have to be costly," said Roberto Machuca, inventor of PediCurve Solar. "Our patented technology combined with solar charging has resulted in the best pedicure device on the market."

PediCurve Solar features an ergonomic design that is comfortable in the hand. Each PediGlass disc is designed to last years. No expensive replacement parts. It's designed to gently remove hard skin, and as such, must be used in wet conditions like the bath or shower.

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PediCurve Solar is available to pre-order starting at $76 USD by visiting pr.go2.fund/pedicurve.

About The Curve Aps

Founded in 2015, The Curve creates high-quality pedicure devices. Emphasizing innovation, PediCurve was launched with glass filing discs to remove tough skin gently and effectively. Continuously looking for ways to work with the priorities in people's lives, The Curve integrated solar technology into their product. The result is an eco-friendly, affordable solution to treat feet to a luxury pedicure. For more information, visit producthype.co/pedicurve.

SOURCE The Curve
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan said on Monday he would not seek to become the next director-general of the World Trade Organization, having previously said he was looking into the possibility.

Hogan said in a statement that the EU's trade agenda, including transatlantic tensions, the need to establish a level playing field with China and talks with Britain about future relations required the full involvement of the European Union and, in particular, the trade commissioner.

"Accordingly, I have decided that I will not be putting my name forward for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization," he said.

Hogan said earlier this month that he was exploring the option of being a candidate for the post that will become vacant at the start of September because incumbent Roberto Azevedo is stepping down a year early.

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Editing by Marine Strauss and Catherine Evans)
Below are the arrests from June 26 through June 28 by Kokomo Police Department. All those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Avery Bobby, 33, was arrested on June 28 at 5:23 p.m. at 400 S. Apperson Way. Bobby was arrested on warrants for possession of meth and escape.

Dennis Benson, 32, was arrested on June 27 at 4:40 p.m. at the intersection of Webster and Richmond streets. He was charged with PI with alcohol (class B misdemeanor).

Marshall Bryant, 29, was arrested on June 26 at 7:48 p.m. at 912 S. Market St. He was charged with possession of marijuana (class B misdemeanor).

Sierra Cavazos, 26, was arrested on June 28 at 7:38 p.m. at 1111 E. Monroe St. She was charged with possession of a syringe (level 6 felony) and possession of cocaine or narcotic drug (level 6 felony) and also arrested for warrants for false informing, possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a controlled substance, neglect of a dependent, possession of marijuana, possession of syringe, and escape.

John Clark, 50, was arrested on June 28 at 1:49 p.m. at 404 Kentucky St. He was charged with domestic battery (class A misdemeanor), criminal recklessness (level 6 felony), and intimidation (class A misdemeanor).

Alyssa Croxford, 26, was arrested on June 27 at 6:38 p.m. at 633 S. Main St. She was charged with possession of a syringe (level 6 felony) and possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug (level 6 felony).

Bradley Davenport, 37, was arrested on June 26 at 3:37 p.m. at 2620 N. Washington St. He was arrested on warrants for battery and auto theft.

John Davenport, 60, was arrested on June 26 at 4:26 p.m. at 2620 N. Washington St. He was arrested on a warrant for FTA.

Crystal Davis, 42, was arrested on June 28 at 6:05 p.m. at 1920 E. Markland Ave. She was arrested for theft (class A misdemeanor) and an escape warrant.

Kory Eitelman, 25, was arrested on June 27 at 3:44 p.m. at 633 S. Main St. He was charged with possession of a syringe (level 6 felony), possession of marijuana (class B misdemeanor), maintaining a common nuisance (level 6 felony), possession of counterfeited substances (class C misdemeanor), possession of cocaine or narcotic drug (level 6 felony), and possession of meth (level 6 felony).

Charles Frisby, 55, was arrested on June 27 at 6:50 p.m. at 1212 E. Markland Ave. He was arrested on a warrant for auto theft.

Arielle Grawey, 36, was arrested on June 28 at 4:45 p.m. at 1920 E. Markland Ave. She was charged with theft (class A misdemeanor).

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Devario Hauser, 28, was arrested on June 27 at 3:35 a.m. at the intersection of Savoy Street and South Reed Road. Hauser was charged with refusal to identify (class C misdemeanor), possession of marijuana (class B misdemeanor), and possession of paraphernalia (class C misdemeanor).

Parrish Jones, 21, was arrested on June 28 at 10:51 p.m. at the intersection of Superior Street and Apperson Way. He was charged with RLE (level 6 felony) and possession of marijuana (class B misdemeanor).

Ronnie Lanning, 42, was arrested on June 26 at 9:59 p.m. at 5617 Council Ring Blvd. He was charged with obstruction of justice (level 6 felony), RLE (class A misdemeanor), and neglect of a dependent (level 6 felony).

Brenda Leap, 56, was arrested on June 28 at 7 p.m. at 300 E. Taylor St. She was arrested for possession of meth (level 6 felony) and a warrant for possession of meth.

Shadaun Marks, 24, was arrested on June 28 at 7:07 a.m. at 2006 W. Judson St. Marks was charged with RLE (level 6 felony), RLE (class A misdemeanor), possession of a handgun without a permit (class A misdemeanor), and leaving the scene of an accident (class B misdemeanor).

Shyheim Marsh, 22, was arrested on June 28 at 10:35 p.m. at 100 S. Union St. Marsh was charged with RLE (class A misdemeanor), possession of a handgun without a permit (class A misdemeanor), and possession of marijuana (class B misdemeanor).

Jessica Newburn, 34, was arrested on June 28 at 4:45 p.m. at 1920 E. Markland Ave. She was charged with two counts of theft (class A misdemeanor).

Donald Nolley, 59, was arrested on June 28 at 9:28 p.m. at 1028 N. Ohio St. He was charged with IOP (class A misdemeanor).

Jonathan Purnell, 29, was arrested on June 28 at 12:13 a.m. at the intersection of Harrison and Webster streets. He was arrested on an FTA warrant.

Kevin Stout, 41, was arrested on June 28 at 11:02 p.m. at 1207 Silver Charm St. He was charged with domestic battery (level 6 felony).

Molly Thibeault, 32, was arrested on June 26 at 8:40 p.m. at 1920 E. Markland Ave. She was charged with possession of a legend drug (level 6 felony), theft (level 6 felony), and possession of a scheduled drug (class A misdemeanor).

Damion Vawter, 21, was arrested on June 26 at 3:33 p.m. at the intersection of Washington and Gerhart streets. He was charged with possession of stolen property (level 6 felony).

Timothy Vonogden, 25, was arrested on June 27 at 3:11 p.m. at the intersection of Alto and Albright streets. He was charged with possession of marijuana (class B misdemeanor) and possession of paraphernalia (class C misdemeanor).

April White, 43, was arrested on June 26 at 4:38 p.m. at 2620 N. Washington St. She was arrested on body attachment.
Exclusive: Malaysian energy giant's board at odds with PM over payment to Sarawak state FILE PHOTO: The logo of a Petronas fuel station is seen with the Petronas Twin Towers in the background in Kuala Lumpur

By A. Ananthalakshmi and Joseph Sipalan

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - The board and management of Malaysian national energy giant Petronas have urged the prime minister to drop a planned tax settlement with a state run by his political allies, three sources close to the company said.

Petronas rejected the Reuters report in a statement late on Friday and said it remained committed to working closely with Sarawak state and its stakeholders to reach the best outcome on the matter.

Petronas' chief executive, Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, resigned in opposition to the deal, sources told Reuters last week, and he is set to leave the company this month after 37 years.

But sources told Reuters the rest of the management were still trying to convince Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to block the pay-out to Sarawak, a resource-rich state on Borneo island.

Muhyiddin's decision will have big implications for Petronas and the national budget, and will be closely watched by foreign investors, on guard over corporate governance and financial transparency in Malaysia following a huge scandal at sovereign fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

"The Petronas board and management are totally against the deal. Management is drawing up fresh representation for the PM in a bid to convince him to see things their way," said one source.

Another said Petronas executives recently briefed Muhyiddin, telling him the deal was not viable and would set a bad precedent, but he refused to budge.

Petronas said the "alleged conflict" between the company and the prime minister was speculative.

"Petronas, in collaboration with its shareholder, is currently in the midst of negotiations with the Sarawak state government to achieve appropriate commercial resolution," it said.

The prime minister's office did not respond to requests for comment.

At the centre of the disagreement is Sarawak's demand for a sales tax payment, which went to the courts last year, before Muhyiddin took office on March 1. Petronas, which already pays federal taxes, had filed a challenge to the tax claim, questioning Sarawak's right to impose such a tax.

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A court ruled that Sarawak can impose the tax, but Petronas had appealed that decision at the federal court.

A $470 million settlement was announced last month, although Sarawak later said it was still pursuing the case, with state officials saying Sarawak was now seeking nearly $680 million.

Petronas also this week filed to withdraw the federal court appeal, though sources close to Petronas said the board did not want to end the legal fight with Sarawak.

"The decision is out of Petronas' hands. It's being driven by the prime minister," said one source.

By law, the prime minister has the final say on matters involving wholly state-owned Petronas, the world's fourth biggest liquefied natural gas exporter and Malaysia's only Fortune 500 company. It had revenue of $56 billion last year.

Previous Malaysian governments have held out against demands from energy rich states for a bigger share of oil and gas revenues.

But Muhyiddin needs support from Sarawak state's political bloc - Gabungan Parti Sarawak - to assure his single-digit majority in parliament, as he remains in a shaky position nearly four months after emerging as prime minister following the shock resignation of Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir had opposed giving more oil money to the states.

And the Petronas board and management are concerned that the settlement with Sarawak would encourage other oil and gas rich states to make similar demands, the sources said.

In addition to paying the sales tax, sources close to the negotiations have earlier said Muhyiddin had shown he was potentially open to increasing royalty payments to Sarawak and Sabah states - which could run into billions of dollars a year.

(Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Louise Heavens)
(Bloomberg) -- A growing list of Facebook Inc.s advertisers is set to halt spending on social media, undermining the companys sales outlook and putting its stock price under further pressure.

Starbucks Corp., Levi Strauss & Co., PepsiCo Inc. and Diageo Plc were among the most recent companies to say theyre curtailing ad spending, part of an exodus aimed at pushing Facebook and its peers to suppress posts that glorify violence, divide and disinform the public, and promote racism and discrimination.

No single company can significantly dent growth at Facebook, which generated $17.7 billion in revenue last quarter alone. But a rising tally adds to pressure on other brands to follow suit, and when combined with a pandemic-fueled economic slowdown, the threat to Facebook deepens.

Given the amount of noise this is drawing, this will have significant impact to Facebooks business, Wedbush Securities analyst Bradley Gastwirth wrote in a research note. Facebook needs to address this issue quickly and effectively in order to stop advertising exits from potentially spiraling out of control.

As more brands publicize plans to join boycotts or otherwise rein in ad spending, Facebook shares remain under pressure. The stock tumbled 8.3% Friday after Unilever, one of the worlds largest advertisers, said it would halt spending on Facebook properties this year, eliminating $56 billion in market value and shaving the net worth of Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg by more than $7 billion. Shares closed at $216.08 Friday after reaching a record $242.24 the preceding Tuesday.

Facebook was already bracing for weakness in the second quarter, which ends this week. Chief Financial Officer Dave Wehner noted in an April earnings call the potential for an even more severe advertising industry contraction.

The number of coronavirus cases has surged in the intervening months, prompting many parts of the country to slow or roll-back reopening efforts and giving advertisers added justification to rein in marketing spending. Facebook will eke out 1% revenue growth in the June period, followed by a 7% increase in the third quarter, according to analysts current projections, by far the smallest quarterly growth increases since the company went public.

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Starbucks said Sunday that it would pause spending on all social media platforms while it carries out talks internally, with media partners and civil rights groups in the effort to stop the spread of hate speech.

Trump Posts

While some companies are targeting social media generally, including Twitter Inc., many are singling out Facebook specifically. Zuckerberg has been more reticent to put limits on discourse, notably controversial posts by U.S. President Donald Trump, saying that he doesnt want Facebook to be an arbiter of whats true.

Thats prompted a consortium of civil rights and other advocacy groups, including Color of Change and the Anti-Defamation League, to urge advertisers to stop spending on Facebook-owned platforms for July to protest the companys policies.

Zuckerberg responded Friday to the growing criticism, saying that Facebook would label all voting-related posts with a link encouraging users to look at its new voter information hub. The social network also expanded its definition of prohibited hate speech for advertising.

We understand people want to put pressure on Facebook to do more, Facebook vice president Nick Clegg said Sunday on CNNs Reliable Sources. Thats why we made those additional announcements in Friday. Thats why well continue to redouble our efforts, because, you know, we have a zero tolerance approach to hate speech.

The Anti-Defamation League called the changes small.

The stampede of advertisers, combined with lobbying from civil rights groups, leaves Zuckerberg in a bind. He could take further steps to curtail harmful content, but that risks alienating free-speech advocates and supporters of Trump who have argued that Facebook is censoring political discourse and suppressing conservative voices.

Distinct Exodus

He could also stand pat on a bet that this advertising pause will be short-lived, as have social media ad boycotts in the past. But this exodus as distinct, Bernstein Securities analyst Mark Shmulik wrote in a research note Saturday. Theres heightened pressure to publicly demonstrate that brands stand with civil rights groups, he said. The current environment is very different, Shmulik wrote. It is very visible who is and isnt participating in the boycott where brand silence [equals] being complicit.

Will Zuckerberg budge? While major brands like Unilever and Coca-Cola have garnered most of the headlines, the vast majority of Facebooks 8 million advertisers are small businesses, many of which rely heavily on Facebook advertising for sales. Some in the ad industry dont believe that these businesses, particularly those in commerce and direct-to-consumer sales, can actually afford to halt spending.

Pulling off for a whole month would really hurt their business, Deutsche Bank analyst Lloyd Walmsley said earlier this week. Its a lot to ask for.

In its outreach to advertisers last week, Facebook has said it doesnt intend to make decisions based on sales. We have been consistent that we do not make policy changes tied to revenue pressure, Facebook said on Wednesday in a memo obtained by Bloomberg News. We set our policies based on principles rather than business interests.

Whatever additional moves Facebook makes, theres reason to believe the departure of advertisers wont end soon. Advertisers who have seen their own ads published against hateful, horrible content on Facebook -- racist, anti-Semitic poison -- they are finally saying enough, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said Friday in an interview with Bloomberg Television. Our phones have been ringing off the hook with advertisers. I can tell you more are coming.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
This recognition is a testimony to the company's inclusive culture and values amid the pandemic

TAIPEI, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- General Mills Taiwan -- part of US-based Fortune 500, General Mills, Inc. -- has been recognized among Asia's Best Workplaces 2020 across Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region by the prestigious international consulting firm Great Place to Work (GPTW) Institute.

With a 150-year-old legacy, General Mills Taiwan is one of only three CPG / FMCG companies in the top 25 list.

The Great Place to Work Certification is the most definitive 'Employer-of-Choice' recognition and is considered the 'Gold Standard' in identifying and recognizing Great Workplace Cultures. The assessment process includes key factors that define as well as compare the culture of an organization with that of its competitors.

The award recognizes General Mills' culture of collaboration and commitment across AMEA - a culture that consistently scores highly on the GPTW focused areas of Respect, Camaraderie, Credibility, Pride and Fairness. Even in times of crisis such as the ongoing pandemic, General Mills has ensured smooth transitioning to working from home for all its employees and continuing to innovate to meet emerging consumer needs.

Commenting on the recognition, Mr. Balki Radhakrishnan, Vice President and Managing Director  AMEA of General Mills said, "The recognition is a great testimony to our culture of collaboration, reflected in several winning initiatives undertaken by the company in recent times. General Mills' purpose is "Making Food the World Loves" and the commitment demonstrated by our co-workers to delight our consumers while building an inclusive equal opportunity workplace is something that we are all collectively proud of."

"At General Mills Taiwan, we blend our heritage and experience of over 150 years, with the agility and vitality of a start-up. It is a blend of best global best practices with local insights and strategies, developed by a diverse and incredibly committed team. Such balance is particularly important now, as employees and organizations wrestle with disruptive macro-economic challenges as an outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic," Mr. Radhakrishnan said.

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Mr. Tony Chang, HR Head- Taiwan said, "The secret ingredient to this milestone has been our employee-first approach, collaborative and innovative effort of leadership, employee friendly HR practices and most importantly striving to be an inclusive and equal opportunity workplace ensuring gender equality and gender diversity. At General Mills, our culture thrives on mutual trust and a learning mindset that encourages employees to learn new skills. Our flexible work environment ensures employees have more freedom to balance their professional aspirations and their personal lives."

Previously, many of General Mills markets in AMEA have also been individually recognized as a Great Place to Work as well.

Additional Note to the Editor:

Michael C. Bush, Global CEO of Great Place to Work

"The COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge facing organizations across the globe, and it puts a premium on being a high trust people-first culture. We honor General Mills for earning places on our ranking of Asia's Best Workplaces because they will outperform their competitors and we hope General Mills will inspire more companies to become a Great Place to Work For All."

About General Mills

General Mills is a leading global food company whose purpose is to make food the world loves. Its brands include Cheerios, Annie's, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki, BLUE and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills generated fiscal 2019 net sales of U.S. $16.9 billion. In addition, General Mills' share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S. $1.0 billion. Established in 2007, General Mills Taiwan aims at serving its consumers with delightful, innovative products who are seeking newer food experiences. The company is known for its global best practices in technology and food expertise with strong local market manufacturing and go-to-market capabilities.

SOURCE General Mills
By Michael Erman, Ludwig Burger and Manojna Maddipatla

(Reuters) - Gilead Sciences Inc on Monday priced its COVID-19 antiviral remdesivir at $2,340 per patient for wealthier nations and agreed to send nearly all of its supply of the drug to the United States over the next three months.

The price tag is slightly below the range of $2,520 to $2,800 suggested last week by U.S. drug pricing research group the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) after British researchers said they found that the cheap, widely available steroid dexamethasone significantly reduced mortality among severely ill COVID-19 patients.

Remdesivir is expected to be in high demand as one of the only treatments so far shown to alter the course of COVID-19. After the intravenously administered medicine helped shorten hospital recovery times in a clinical trial, it won emergency use authorization in the United States and full approval in Japan.

The drug is believed to be most effective in treating patients earlier in the course of disease than dexamethasone, which reduced deaths in patients requiring supportive oxygen and those on a ventilator. Still, remdesivir in its currently formulation, is only being used on patients sick enough to require hospitalization as a five-day treatment course.

The company is developing an inhaled version that could be used outside a hospital setting.

For U.S. patients with commercial insurance, Gilead said it will charge $3,120 per course, or $520 per vial. That is a 33% increase over the $390 per vial Gilead said it will charge governments of developed countries and U.S. patients in government healthcare programs.

'OUTRAGEOUS PRICE FOR A VERY MODEST DRUG'

In an open letter, Gilead Chief Executive Daniel O'Day said the price is well below the value it provides given that early hospital discharges could save around $12,000 per patient in the United States.

Patient advocates have argued that the cost should be lower since remdesivir was developed with financial support from the U.S. government.

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U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat from Texas, said it was "an outrageous price for a very modest drug, which taxpayer funding saved from a scrap heap of failures."

Remdesivir had previously failed as an Ebola treatment and has not shown that it can reduce COVID-19 deaths.

Gilead also said it agreed to continue to send most of its supply of remdesivir to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with the agency and states set to manage allocation to U.S. hospitals until the end of September.

There are currently more cases of COVID-19 in the United States than in Europe, with several U.S. states hitting new records for numbers of cases.

HHS has been distributing the drug since May and was due to run out after this week. A senior HHS official said the agency expects the drug will soon be a scarce resource, and so it wanted to remain involved in allocating it.

The agency said it secured more than 500,000 remdesivir courses for U.S. hospitals through September. That represents all of Gilead's projected production for July and 90% of its production in August and September, in addition to an allocation for clinical trials, HHS said.

Once supplies are less constrained, HHS will stop managing the allocation, Gilead said. The company did not discuss its supply strategy for developed nations outside the United States.

Remdesivir's price has been a topic of intense debate. Experts have said Gilead would need to avoid appearing to take advantage of a health crisis for profits.

Gilead shares were about flat on Monday.

Analysts at Royal Bank of Canada forecast the drug could generate $2.3 billion in revenue 2020, helping offset more than $1 billion in development and distribution costs. They said additional profits could be limited because vaccines and better treatments are on the horizon.

The European Union's healthcare regulator last week recommended conditional approval of the drug when used in the critically ill.

Gilead has linked up with generic drugmakers based in India and Pakistan, including Cipla Ltd and Hetero Labs Ltd, to make and supply remdesivir in 127 developing countries.

Cipla's version is priced at less than 5,000 Indian rupees ($66.24), while Hetero Lab's version is priced at 5,400 rupees ($71.54).

(Reporting by Michael Erman in New York; editing by Peter Henderson and Bill Berkrot)
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 29, 2020 / Global Self Storage, Inc. (SELF), a real estate investment trust that owns, operates, manages, acquires, develops and redevelops self-storage properties, has joined the Russell Microcap Index, following the conclusion of the 2020 Russell indexes annual reconstitution, effective today.

Membership in the Russell Microcap Index, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell indexes primarily by objective market-capitalization rankings and style attributes. Global Self Storage was last listed on Russell Microcap Index in 2018.

"Rejoining the Russell Microcap Index represents another important milestone for Global Self Storage, after generating industry-leading double-digit same-store NOI growth in the first quarter," commented company president and CEO, Mark C. Winmill. "We believe this listing reflects that we've arrived at an inflection point in terms of growth and development with our expanded and newly acquired self-storage properties. We welcome this greater visibility in the investment community as we continue to target underserved markets with our proven self-storage business model and new third-party management platform, Global MaxManagementSM.

Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Approximately $9 trillion in assets are benchmarked against the Russell U.S. indexes. Russell indexes are part of FTSE Russell, a leading global index provider.

For more information about the Russell Microcap Index and the Russell indexes reconstitution, see the Russell Reconstitution section on the FTSE Russell website.

About FTSE Russell

FTSE Russell is a leading global index provider creating and managing a wide range of indexes, data and analytic solutions to meet client needs across asset classes, styles and strategies. Covering 98% of the investable market, FTSE Russell indexes offer a true picture of global markets, combined with the specialist knowledge gained from developing local benchmarks around the world.

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FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $16 trillion is currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. For over 30 years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks have chosen FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create investment funds, ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives. FTSE Russell indexes also provide clients with tools for asset allocation, investment strategy analysis and risk management.

A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is focused on index innovation and customer partnership applying the highest industry standards and embracing the IOSCO Principles. FTSE Russell is wholly-owned by London Stock Exchange Group.

For more information, visit www.ftserussell.com.

About Global Self Storage

Global Self Storage is a self-administered and self-managed REIT that owns, operates, manages, acquires, develops and redevelops self-storage properties. The company's self-storage properties are designed to offer affordable, easily accessible and secure storage space for residential and commercial customers. Through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, the company owns and/or manages 13 self-storage properties in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.

For more information, go to ir.globalselfstorage.us or visit the company's customer site at www.globalselfstorage.us. You can also follow Global Self Storage on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information presented in this press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws including, but not limited to, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning the company's plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans or intentions, and other information that is not historical information. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "plans," "intends," "expects," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates," or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. All forward-looking statements by the company involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the company, which may cause the company's actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements, including the negative impacts from the continued spread of COVID-19 on the economy, the self-storage industry, the broader financial markets, the Company's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and the ability of the Company's tenants to pay rent. The company may also make additional forward-looking statements from time to time. All such subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, by the company or on its behalf, are also expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Investors should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties, and other factors, together with all of the other information included in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and similar information. All forward-looking statements, including without limitation, the company's examination of historical operating trends and estimates of future earnings, are based upon the company's current expectations and various assumptions. The company's expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith, but there can be no assurance that the company's expectations, beliefs and projections will result or be achieved. All forward-looking statements apply only as of the date made. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. The amount, nature, and/or frequency of dividends paid by the company may be changed at any time without notice.

CONTACTS:

Global Self Storage

Thomas O'Malley, Chief Financial Officer

1 (212) 785-0900, ext. 267

tomalley@globalselfstorage.us

CMA Investor Relations

Ron Both

1 (949) 432-7566

SELF@cma.team

SOURCE: Global Self Storage





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/595421/Global-Self-Storage-Joins-Russell-MicrocapR-Index




ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 29, 2020 / Findit, Inc. a Nevada Corporation (OTC Pink:FDIT) owner of Findit.com, a full service social networking management platform and online marketing service, has been retained by Global WholeHealth Partners (OTC Pink:GWHP) to improve overall web presence.

Findit will produce fresh content on a daily basis highlighting Global WholeHealth Partners products and technology to reach wholesale, retail and distributors of PPE products along with Diagnostic Test Kits around the world.

Charles Strongo CEO of Global WholeHealth Products since 2103 stated "We selected Findit after consulting with a number of other online marketing firms. With Findit's open platform the content they create will be able to be indexed in Google and shared to popular social networking sites that include Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Tumblr and others. Findit understands our focus which is encompassing, improving, and preserving the quality of life by providing fast, adequate and accurate test results to prompt early treatment and cut cost of accumulated diseases all over the world. We want Findit to help us get our message throughout the world during these times to reach people that need testing. We hope that by focusing on the growth of our global core business that includes our plethora of test kits and medical supplies we will provide confidence to our existing shareholders in GWHP and new shareholders that acquire stock in GWHP. We want our shareholder to know GWHP is focused on growth through sales and development of new testing kits to help combat growing health concerns around the world."







Global Wholehealth Partners (OTC Pink:GWHP) has led the fight against vector borne terminal diseases such as Ebola, ZIKA, Dengue, Malaria, Influenza and Tuberculosis, Corona Viruses, and among other vector borne diseases.

Findit will be providing Global WholeHealth Partners with content creation through at least three Findit sites owned by Global WholeHealth Partners. With the content, Findit will create this will provide a understanding of what Global WholeHealth Partners offers to wholesale, retail and distributors that are selling PPE products that include; surgical masks, disposable rubber gloves, disposable CPE Shoe Covers and No Touch Infrared Thermometers and Diagnostic Test Kits.

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Over the first 30 days, Findit will create, post and share over 200 pieces of freshly written content from Global health Partners profile sites on Findit.com. The content created will consist of Right Now status updates. Once the posts are live, they can be shared to other social networking sites that include but are not limited to: Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Tumblr and Twitter. Each post will consist of a description of the products offered by Global Wholehealth Partners.

In addition to the text written, each piece of content will also include pictures that have titles that we have manually entered for indexing purposes in Findit search as well as outside search engines that include Google, Yahoo and Bing. Findit also includes a back link to specific pages that will drive traffic to www.gwhpcorp.com.

The overall objective of the campaign is to bring awareness to Global WholesaleHealth Partners (GWHP) so they can increase sales by reaching new and existing customers of their products. GWHP.com current Alexa Ranking is 2,965,383 In global internet traffic and engagement over the past 90 days. Clark St. Amant of Findit stated, "Being selected by GWHP during Covid-19 is something we are taking on with great responsibility. We want to carry their message to reach as many people in need of the products GWHP carries. With so much demand for masks, gloves, thermometers, shoe covers products GWHP carries, many buyers are scrabbling over the past few months to find reliable suppliers that they can count on beyond one order due to lack of inventory. GWHP has over 3 million masks currently in stock in the U.S. With the team at Findit getting this information out to the public we are hopeful that we can contribute to the safety of first responders and citizens that are simply trying to do their best to adapt to these times we are now in and remain healthy."

Findit will be providing a site analysis of GWHP.com in addition to the campaign. The analysis will look at Search Engine Optimization (SEO) opportunities to present GWHP.com with. After the analysis is provided this week GWHP can decide if it would like Findit, Inc. to provide these SEO services.

The campaign is officially kicking off today, June 29, 2020. Below are several Findit sites that have been created for GWHP, that content will be posted and shared through. Each post will have a back link to GWHPCORP.COM.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

GWHP has 3 Findit Claim Your Name URLs these are:



PPE-MASK-GLOVES-THERMOMETERS

COVID-19-DIAGNOSTIC-TESTS

GWHP-CORP



Call 1-877-568-GWHP (4947) to become a distributor or buy COVID 19 rapid test rt-qPCR kits. We offer small sample size test kits, sold in packs of 100.

About Global Wholehealth Partners OTC (GWHP)

GWHP provides cutting edge technology using In-vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Real-Time PCR Machines that detect between 1 - 1  hours and Rapid Diagnostic Testing (RDT) Serum Plasma that detect between 15 -20 minutes, which predict diseases ahead of its industry competitors. Our focus is encompassing, improving, and preserving the quality of life by providing fast, adequate and accurate test results to prompt early treatment and cut cost of accumulated diseases all over the world. By so doing, GWHP has led the fight against vector borne terminal diseases such as Ebola, ZIKA, Dengue, Malaria, Influenza and Tuberculosis, Corona Viruses, and among other vector borne diseases. MISSION GWHP is committed to building long term shareholder value through the vertical integration of proven, well established business that effectively and efficiently control disease outbreak and significantly reducing health care costs. VISION Our vision is to lead the industry in infectious disease diagnostics and provide molecular solutions that lessen the time to diagnose medical results, empower healthcare professionals to make better diagnostic decisions, and lower healthcare costs.

About Findit, Inc.

Findit.com which is a Social Media Content Management Platform that provides an interactive search engine for all content posted in Findit to appear in Findit search. The site is an open platform that provides access to Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines access to its content posted to Findit so it can be indexed in these search engines as well. Findit provides Members the ability to post, share and manage their content. Once they have posted in Findit, we ensure the content gets indexed in Findit Search results. Findit provides an option for anyone to submit URLs that they want indexed in Findit search result, along with posting status updates through Findit Right Now. Status Updates posted in Findit can be crawled by outside search engines which can result in additional organic indexing. All posts on Findit can be shared to other social and bookmarking sites by members and non-members. Findit provides Real Estate Agents the ability to create their own Findit Site where they can pull in their listing and others through their IDX account. Findit, Inc., is focused on the development of monetized Internet-based web products that can provide an increase in brand awareness of our members. Findit, Inc., trades under the stock symbol FDIT on the OTC Pinksheets.

Download the Findit App today in Google or Apple today.

Google Play Findit App

App Store Apple Findit Right Now App

Safe Harbor:

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 'Exchange Act'), including statements regarding potential sales, the success of the company's business, as well as statements that include the word believe or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Findit, Inc. to differ materially from those implied or expressed.

CONTACT:

Clark St. Amant 404-443-3224

SOURCE: Findit, Inc





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TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESSWIRE / June 29, 2020 / GlobeX Data Ltd. (SWISF)(SWIS.CN) ("GlobeX" or the "Company"), the leader in Swiss hosted cyber security and Internet privacy solutions for secure data management and secure communications, is pleased to announce that it has successfully acquired the domain Sekur.com through its domain broker Webnames.ca for a total of USD 13,000, including broker fees, negotiated down from a price of USD 18,000 including broker fees. The Company already owns Sekur.ch and has been trying to acquire Sekur.com for the past 6 months.

Sekur is the Company's Swiss hosted secure communications suite, which includes encrypted messaging with self-destruct timer powered by the Company's proprietary PrivaTalk platform and an encrypted email service powered by the Company's Custodia platform. The Company plans to push the Sekur brand as a secure communications suite in addition to its existing DigitalSafe brand which is the Company's document management and collaboration suite. The Company plans to offer Sekur in July 2020 for an introductory price of USD 9.99/user/month or USD 99.90/user/year and will include 100GB of email and message storage.

The service will include the Company's proprietary SecureSend and SecureReply anti-phishing encrypted email solution. SecureSend lets a user send an email to any other recipient, whether they have Sekur or not, in full privacy and security as the email never leaves Sekur's encrypted email servers based in Switzerland. The recipient can then click on the notification and reply in the same manner using SecureReply, without the recipient having to purchase Sekur. This is also a guarantee to eliminate BEC attacks for businesses and email phishing attacks. Additionally, Sekur will include the Company's latest technology improvements made on its Custodia email platform, which include full control of email delivery, data export for SMB and large enterprises and an automatic Data Loss Prevention technology ("DLP") with real time continuous archiving. These technologies are very much in demand from financial institutions and larger enterprises.

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One of the many privacy and security features of Sekur is that the user does not register with their phone number, eliminating a huge loophole in security and privacy. Just recently, according to an article written by Lindsey O'Donnell and posted on the website threatpost.com on June 5 2020, it was disclosed that WhatsApp phone numbers and users were searchable on Google, creating a massive security and privacy breach. Earlier in the year, an article was written about a similar flaw affecting all businesses, NGOs, UN and non-profit organizations, where WhatsApp Group members were also compromised and searchable in a reverse engineering trick done on Google.

Recent data breaches in messaging applications and in particular in the WhatsApp application have created a certain urgency for businesses to protect their communications form cyber-attacks and identity theft via mobile devices.

Sekur eliminates many of the privacy and security risks by not only not requiring a phone number, which would divulge a user's phone device ID, but also by not social engineering a user's phone or computer contact list and infecting the contacts by default as well. Sekur issues each user a username and a PTM number. The PTM number is the contact ID a user would disclose in order for other PTM users to be added. The service comes with a self-destruct timer and other features as well, including GlobeX's proprietary VirtualVaults and HeliX technologies with all data stored in Swiss hosted encrypted servers.

GlobeX Data plans to offer Sekur as a secure and private alternative mostly for business users, however, consumers are also in search of more private and secure email and messaging solutions in light of all the cyber-attacks that are increasing due to WFH trends. The Company has already received interest from its partner America Movil, and plans to offer Sekur to all its global partners, starting August 2020. The service will be available for purchase by the end of July 2020 at https://www.sekur.com.

GlobeX's Data privacy solutions are all hosted in Switzerland, protecting users' data from any outside data intrusion requests. In Switzerland, the right to privacy is guaranteed in article 13 of the Swiss Federal Constitution. The Federal Act on Data Protection ("FADP") of 19 June 1992 (in force since 1993) has set up a strict protection of privacy by prohibiting virtually any processing of personal data which is not expressly authorized by the data subjects. The protection is subject to the authority of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

Under Swiss federal law, it is a crime to publish information based on leaked "secret official discussions." In 2010 the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland found that IP addresses are personal information and that under Swiss privacy laws they may not be used to track Internet usage without the knowledge of the individuals involved.

About GlobeX Data Ltd.

GlobeX Data Ltd. is a Cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure data management and secure communications. The Company distributes a suite of secure cloud-based storage, disaster recovery, document management, encrypted e-mails, and secure communication tools. GlobeX Data Ltd. sells its products through its approved wholesalers and distributors, and telecommunications companies worldwide. GlobeX Data Ltd. serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide.

On behalf of Management

GLOBEX DATA LTD.

Alain Ghiai

President and Chief Executive Officer

+1.416.644.8690

corporate@globexdatagroup.com

For more information please contact GlobeX Data at corporate@globexdatagroup.com or visit us at https://globexdatagroup.com.

For more information on Sekur visit us at: https://www.sekur.com.

For more information on DigitalSafe visit us at: https://digitalsafe.com.

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guaranteeing future performance. GlobeX cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond GlobeX's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in GlobeX's prospectus dated May 8, 2019 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, GlobeX undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

SOURCE: GlobeX Data Ltd.





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By Gina Lee

Investing.com  Gold was up on Monday morning in Asia, with investors turning to the safe- haven yellow metal as hopes of a quick economic recovery from COVID-19 were dashed.

There were over 10 million COVID-19 cases globally, with over 500,000 deaths as of June 29, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The ever-increasing number of cases served as a grim warning that the fight against COVID-19 is not over and indicated that the road to recovery will be much slower than expected.

California ordered the closure of some bars on Sunday, attempting to curb record number of U.S. cases. But the measures are a setback in reopening the worlds largest economy and kickstart its recovery.

Meanwhile in Asia, Japan reported a 12.3% drop in May retail sales year-on-year.

Gold futures were up by 0.30% at $1,785.65 by 12:02 AM ET (5:02 AM GMT). Stocks, which usually move inversely to gold, were down on Monday.

Investors will also be monitoring comments from both Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for hints on further stimulus measures as they testify before the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday.

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Grant Thornton LLP has named Robert Shea as its national managing principal for Public Policy, effective August 1, 2020. He succeeds Mary Moore Hamrick, who will retire at the end of this fiscal year in accordance with Grant Thorntons mandatory retirement policy.

In his new role, Shea will serve as Grant Thorntons primary liaison with members of Congress. He will also represent the firms policy positions with the accounting professions standards-setters, regulators and other policymakers. In addition, he will serve as the chair of Grant Thorntons political action committee.

Shea will also retain his existing role as a principal in the Strategy practice at Grant Thornton Public Sector LLC.

Shea has been working to improve government performance for 25 years  including 10 years at Grant Thornton and 15 years in the federal government. Most notably, he served for six years as the associate director for the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). While at OMB, he led an initiative to measure government programs using its Program Assessment Rating Tool. The effort received an Innovations in American Government Award from Harvard University.

Also at OMB, he oversaw programs to implement large-scale personnel reform at the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security; and he launched a federal government-wide effort to measure and reduce improper payments.

Prior to his time at OMB, Shea served as senior management counsel for the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, and, before that, as the legislative director for Congressman Pete Sessions. In addition, he has served as a professional staff member for the House Committee on Government Reform.

Shea is a leading proponent of evidence-based policymaking: He is a fellow and former chairman of the National Academy of Public Administration and he served on the Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking. "Its simple," said Shea, "government organizations must report what outcomes they're achieving and how they're going to do better."

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According to Grant Thornton CEO Brad Preber: "Roberts sterling credentials and track record improving federal governance make him the ideal person to represent Grant Thornton among policymakers. Moreover, he will be a leading voice for the accounting and consulting profession as it helps America surmount the historic disruptions and daunting challenges it now faces."

Shea received a bachelors degree from Connecticut College and a law degree from the South Texas College of Law. He has won a range of awards, including twice receiving a Fed100 award. He has also won the Andy Barr award and the Elmer B. Staats Award for Public Accountability.

About Grant Thornton Public Sector LLC

Grant Thornton Public Sector LLC helps executives and managers at all levels of government maximize their performance and efficiency in the face of limited resources and increased demand for services. It gives clients creative, cost-effective solutions that enhance their acquisition, financial, human capital, information technology, data analytics, and performance management. Grant Thornton Public Sector LLCs commitment to public sector success is burnished by a widely recognized body of thought leadership analyzing and recommending solutions to governments greatest challenges. Based in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and with a presence in more than 35 cities around the country, Grant Thornton Public Sector LLC serves federal, state and local governments.

About Grant Thornton LLP

Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the worlds leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. Grant Thornton, which has revenues in excess of $1.9 billion and operates more than 50 offices, works with a broad range of dynamic publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and civic and religious organizations.

"Grant Thornton" refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one anothers acts or omissions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005512/en/

Contacts

Jon Rucket

+1 404 984 6249

jon.rucket@us.gt.com

twitter.com/grantthorntonus

linkedin/grantthorntonus
VANCOUVER, BC , June 29, 2020 /CNW/ - Group Eleven Resources Corp. (ZNG.V) (GRLVF) (3GE.F) ("Group Eleven" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of the second and final tranche of the non-brokered private placement (the "Placement") with Glencore Canada Corporation ("Glencore"), previously announced on May 22, 2019 , through the issuance of 12,800,000 units at a price of $0.05 per unit for gross proceeds of $640,000 . All currency is denominated in Canadian dollars.

Group Eleven Resources Corp. (CNW Group/Group Eleven Resources Corp.)

Each unit will consist of one common share and one half non-transferable common share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share in the capital of the Company at $0.10 per share for 36 months from the date of issue.

The proceeds from the Placement will be used for exploration as well as for general and administrative purposes. The Placement is subject to regulatory approval and all securities to be issued pursuant to the Placement are subject to a hold period under applicable Canadian securities legislation that expires four months and one day after the closing date of the Placement.

About Group Eleven Resources

Group Eleven Resources Corp. (TSX.V: ZNG; OTC: GRLVF and FRA: 3GE) is a mineral exploration company focused on advanced stage zinc exploration in the Republic of Ireland .

Additional information about the Company is available at www.groupelevenresources.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Bart Jaworski"

Bart Jaworski , P.Geo.

Chief Executive Officer

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated use of proceeds from the Placement, future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including the timing, content, cost and results of proposed work programs, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/ reserves and geological interpretations. 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 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. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company 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, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

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SOURCE Group Eleven Resources Corp.

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Encompass Health Corp. EHC is poised to grow on the back of an ageing population, which should spur long-term demand for the services provided by the company to the said category of customers.

It is the largest owner and operator in the inpatient rehabilitation space, the fourth largest in the home health space and the 11th largest in the hospice space.

The company caters to patients with average age of 76 in the hospitals and 77 in the home health and thus it benefits from the segment of senior citizens. Its just that people with increasing age, require services that the company provides and demand for the same rises with each passing year.

Encompass Healths strategy is to gain from the market overlap by having positioned both an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF)and a home health agency in the same marketplace, typically within a 30-mile radius. This allows the company to easily coordinate the services and facilitate the transition of patients from leaving the hospital premises to going into home health.

As a solution provider, the company is a high-quality, most efficient player in its space, focused on growth going forward, taking advantage of the demographic tailwind. This growth will come in terms of same-store de novos, particularly for the IRFs, acquisitions through home health and hospice and also bed additions for IRFs.

To this end, the company recently announced that it will build a 60-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Libertyville, IL It also opened an inpatient rehabilitation hospital named the University of Iowa Health Network Rehabilitation Hospital as a joint venture with University of Iowa Health Care.

Its top line has been consistently increasing since 2010, driven by an improvement in revenues from its inpatient rehabilitation plus home health and hospice segment.

The companys mergers and acquisition strategy is aimed to augment market density, expand overlap with the companys in-patient rehabilitation facilities and adding scale to hospice. One notable buyout of the company was Alacare Home Health & Hospice, made last year. This deal expands Encompass Healths services into new markets and complements three markets in which it has existing IRFs in Alabama. The extending footprint will enable Encompass Health to emerge as one of the countrys top 10 largest hospice providers based on Medicare reimbursements.



The company aims to address demand for facility-based and home-based post-acute care services in markets where it is yet to penetrate. This could be possible either by constructing or acquiring new hospitals and purchasing or opening home health and hospice agencies in those extremely fragmented industries. We thus believe, the companys growth-by-acquisition policy bodes well for the long haul.



Its solvency position is also encouraging by virtue of strong cash flow from operations and borrowings under its revolving credit facility. However, elevated costs due to labor supply shortage can put pressure on margin expansion. Suspension of share buybacks in the face of COVID-19-induced business uncertainty can also affect the companys bottom line.



Shares of the company have lost 14.4% year to date compared with the industrys decline of 6.3%. The price performance is disappointing in comparison to some other stocks in the same space, namely Amedisys, Inc. AMED and LHC Group, Inc. LHCG, which have gained 23.2% and 24.8%, respectively, in the same time frame. However, Addus HomeCare Corporation ADUS has shed 8.3% of value.

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Encompass Health currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

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Zacks Investment Research
QINGDAO, China , June 28, 2020 /CNW/ -- Recently, Quality Assurance Organization of Japan (JQA), the Japan's state-authorized certification organization, has concluded that Hisense Fresh Master Air Conditioner fully meets industry standards in the Japanese market after a series of professional tests of "Air Volume" and "CO2 Reduction Rate". Hisense, which is the Chinese home appliance leading brand, has become the first air conditioner brand in the world passing JQA's fresh air certification.

JQAs Fresh Air certification

The test results of JQA show that, Hisense X8 Split floor type air conditioner and Hisense X8 Split wall type air conditioner can meet the "stringent" industry standards in the Japanese market in terms of the two core indicators of "Air Volume" and "CO2 Reduction Rate". Hisense Fresh Master air conditioner is also the world's first product getting JQA's Fresh Air certification.

Hisense Fresh Master X8 Split floor type air conditioner creatively combines air conditioning, fresh air and purification into one product. The fresh air volume can reach 150 m/h. It can effectively reduce the indoor carbon dioxide concentration and increase the oxygen content in 3 minutes, and effectively remove the H1N1 influenza virus and HFMD EV71 virus. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, more customers have realized the importance of indoor air health, and Fresh Master air conditioner has gradually become the first choice for people to buy.

Hisense releases fresh air conditioning

It is well known that the Japanese market is very strict about the fresh air standard. In 2003, Japan incorporated fresh air ventilation systems into The Building Standards Law, requiring the installation of "24-hour ventilation system". Hisense air conditioners are able to pass the fresh air tests in Japanese market, which owns the mature technology and strict standard, undoubtedly showing the technical strength of Hisense Fresh Master air conditioner.

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SOURCE Hisense

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SAN FRANCISCO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Idemitsu Renewables, the US-based renewable energy business of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd, announced today it has closed on debt financing for its 50 MWp Central 40 solar project in Stanislaus County, California.

Debt financing was provided by KeyBank National Association. KeyBanc Capital Markets served as sole arranger of the financing.

"This project expands Idemitsu Renewables' operating business in California," said Cary Vandenberg, Managing Director of Idemitsu Renewables. "We were happy to build upon our existing relationship with KeyBank and to close a successful transaction even amidst the difficulty of the current COVID environment."

"As a part of our continuing support for renewable energy, we are pleased to support the growth of Idemitsu Renewables' solar business in California," said Andrew Redinger, Manager Director & Group Head, Utilities Power & Renewables at KeyBanc Capital Markets.

The renewable power generated by Central 40 will be sold through a power purchase agreement with Silicon Valley Power, which serves the City of Santa Clara.

About Idemitsu Renewables (formerly Solar Frontier Americas)

Idemitsu Renewables, the US-based renewable energy subsidiary of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd, is a leading solar and storage developer and IPP. The company acquires, develops, owns, and operates utility-scale solar power generation plants; selling the clean energy to help communities both economically and ecologically live in healthier environments. With offices in California and Nevada, Idemitsu Renewables continues to develop its growing pipeline of energy projects. Learn more at http://idemitsurenewables.com/.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp's (NYSE: KEY) roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $141.5 billion at March 31, 2019. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of over 1,100 branches and more than 1,500 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit www.key.com. KeyBank is Member of FDIC.

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SOURCE Idemitsu Renewables
PITTSBURGH, June 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IIVI Incorporated (IIVI), a leader in compound semiconductors, today announced that it signed an agreement with General Electric (GE) to license technology to manufacture silicon carbide (SiC) devices and modules for power electronics.



The rapid growth in electric vehicles, renewable energy, microgrids, and power supplies for data storage and communications is driving the strong demand for SiC-based power electronics. SiC achieves superior efficiency, higher energy density, and lower system-level cost per watt compared with state-of-the-art silicon-based devices. Power electronics based on SiC have demonstrated their potential to have a highly beneficial impact on the environment via significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption.

We believe that SiC-based power electronics materials and components will become increasingly deployed in electrification systems including, for example, in electric vehicles, industrial infrastructure, and large datacenters, and so we continue to invest to position II-VI in strategic points of the evolving supply chains to enable key customers, said Dr. Vincent D. Mattera, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, II-VI Incorporated. As such, we intend to remain focused on executing our recently announced plan to scale our capacity of 150 mm SiC materials by 5-10x while scaling volume production of a differentiated 200 mm materials technology to meet the anticipated growing demand over the next five years.

Were excited to enter into this agreement with II-VI, which positions II-VI well to capitalize on the growing market demand for SiC-based electronics, said Joe Krisciunas, President of GE Aviation Electrical Power Systems. At the same time, it will broaden GEs commercial reach beyond the industry sectors we already serve with SiC technology.

GE and its industrial businesses, led by Aviation, continue to aggressively develop next-generation silicon carbide for new applications. The business offers electrical power products with power levels from kilowatts to megawatts for harsh environments in aerospace, industrial, and military applications.

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About II-VI Incorporated

II-VI Incorporated, a global leader in engineered materials and optoelectronic components, is a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in communications, materials processing, aerospace & defense, semiconductor capital equipment, life sciences, consumer electronics, and automotive markets. Headquartered in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, the Company has research and development, manufacturing, sales, service, and distribution facilities worldwide. The Company produces a wide variety of application-specific photonic and electronic materials and components, and deploys them in various forms, including integrated with advanced software to support our customers. For more information, please visit us at www.ii-vi.com .
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 29, 2020 / XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE:XPHY / FSE:4XT / OTC PINK:XPHYF) ("XPhyto" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its diagnostic partner, 3a-Diagnostics GmbH ("3a"), has confirmed active functionality of peptide biosensors that were incorporated into XPhyto's oral dissolvable thin film ("ODF") platform.

3a has developed peptide-based biosensor screening tests for bacterial and viral infectious diseases, including influenza A, scarlet fever, stomatitis, periimplantitis, and periodontitis. Additional pandemic-focused biosensors are in planning and development, specifically for COVID-19 (coronavirus), H1N1 (swine flu), and H5N1 (avian flu). Positive detection of the respective pathogen results in enzymatic release of an extreme (but safe) bitter compound. On April 20, 2020, the Company announced a definitive development, technology purchase and licence agreement with 3a for the development and commercialization of real-time, low-cost and easy-to-use screening tests using 3a's pathogen specific biosensors and XPhyto's oral dissolvable drug delivery platform.

3a has now confirmed successful enzyme activation of its peptide biosensor when delivered using XPhyto's ODF platform; in addition, ODF embedded biosensor activation has been demonstrated for biologically relevant levels of pathogen specific enzymes.

"With this biosensor incorporation and the active functionality successfully demonstrated, XPhyto's portfolio of ODF infectious disease screening tests are moving rapidly toward commercialization," said Hugh Rogers, CEO of XPhyto. "Both 3a and Vektor Pharma TF GmbH, XPhyto's wholly owned Germany subsidiary, are quickly and methodically executing the product development plan. We are extremely impressed with the progress made in a very short period of time."

On June 10, 2020, XPhyto announced that 3a and their contract research collaborators received a 254,200 grant from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research ("BMBF"). Proceeds of the grant are committed to the development and commercialization of enzyme activated biosensors for use in real-time, low-cost and easy-to-use oral screening tests for the rapid detection of influenza A virus and specific variants that are high-risk pandemic threats such as H1N1 and H5N1. The parties will continue to pursue additional opportunities for non-dilutive funding for infectious disease screening test development.

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About XPhyto Therapeutics Corp.

XPhyto is a biopharma and cannabis science company focused on formulation, clinical validation, and European imports, distribution and sales. XPhyto's 100% owned subsidiary, Vektor Pharma TF GmbH, a German narcotics manufacturer, importer and researcher has expertise in the design, testing and manufacture of thin film drug delivery systems, particularly transdermal patches and sub-lingual (oral) strips. Vektor also holds a number of narcotics licences issued by the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), including import and manufacturing permits, as well as EU GMP lab certification. XPhyto's 100% owned German subsidiary, Bunker Pflanzenextrakte GmbH, has been granted a unique German cannabis cultivation and extraction licence for scientific purposes by BfArM. Bunker has two exclusive R&D collaboration agreements with the Technical University of Munich, Chair of beverage and brewing technology and the Faculty of Chemistry. XPhyto is pursuing additional opportunities in Europe including commercial cannabis cultivation, processing, manufacturing, import, and distribution. In Canada, two exclusive 5-year engagements with the Faculty of Pharmacy at a major Canadian university provide certified extraction, isolation, and formulation facilities, drug research and development expertise, as well as commercial analytical testing capability. XPhyto signed a supply, import and distribution agreement for cannabis oils and isolates with one of the largest, highest quality, and lowest cost cannabis cultivators in the world.

For further information, please contact:

Hugh Rogers

CEO & Director

+1.780.818.6422

info@xphyto.com

www.xphyto.com

Wolfgang Probst

Director

+49 8331 9948 122

info@bunker-ppd.de

www.xphyto.com

Forward looking statements

This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "develop", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "propose" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and in this release include the statement regarding the Company's goal of building an industry leading medical cannabis company. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including: that the Company may not succeed in developing any commercial products; that the sale of any products may not be a viable business; that the Company may be unable to scale its business; product liability risks; product regulatory risk; frequent changes to cannabis regulations in Europe, Canada and elsewhere; general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; currency risks; competition; international risks; and other risks beyond the Company's control. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: XPhyto Therapeutics Corp.





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By Alex Lawler

LONDON - Iraq's oil exports have fallen by almost 9% or 310,000 barrels per day (bpd) in June, loading data and industry sources showed, suggesting OPEC's second-largest producer has delivered about three-fifths of its pledge in an OPEC-led supply cut deal.

Southern Iraqi exports in the first 28 days of June averaged 2.90 million bpd, tanker tracker Petro-Logistics, Refinitiv Eikon and an industry source found. That is down 200,000 bpd from May's official southern exports figure.

"This is the lowest level of Basra exports in five years," Daniel Gerber, chief executive of Petro-Logistics, told Reuters. "But Iraq still needs to cut by a further 300,000 bpd to achieve full compliance."

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries andallies, known as OPEC+, began a record supply-cutting deal inMay to bolster oil prices hammered by the coronavirus crisis.Iraq is cutting output by 1.06 million bpd under the deal.

The June figures imply Iraq is making progress, but has yet to fulfil its pledge completely. Iraq has told OPEC+ it will make up for over-production in May and June through larger cuts in later months.

In May, Iraq delivered 38% of its pledged cut, a Reuters survey found, much lower than top exporter Saudi Arabia. If exports in June hold steady, adherence has risen to 60%, based on Reuters calculations. [OPEC/O]

"Down yes, but not anywhere near the quota," the industry source said of Iraq's June exports.

The south is the main outlet for Iraq's crude, so a goodpart of its OPEC+ cut should show up in lower exports.

Iraq says it is in the country's interest to comply with this deal. Baghdad was reluctant to join previous OPEC-led supply cut efforts that began in 2017, and was at times OPEC's least compliant member.

Exports from northern Iraq have also fallen inJune. So far, total northern exports are about 370,000 bpd,down about 110,000 bpd from May, tanker data shows.

This would be in line with Iraq's request to Kurdishauthorities to export a maximum of 370,000 bpd in June.

(Reporting by Alex Lawler; Editing by Barbara Lewis)
Poste Italiane CEO Francesco Caio gestures during the opening of the initial public offering at the Milan's stock exchange

MILAN (Reuters) - The Italian government has picked former Poste Italiane <PST.MI> CEO Francesco Caio as Chairman of Alitalia, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said, as the carrier prepares to return under state control after 11 years of private management.

Fabio Lazzerini, who is currently serving as the carrier's Chief Business Officer, will be appointed Chief Executive, Conte said in a post on his Facebook account.

In March the government was forced to cancel a planned sale of the airline as Alitalia's deep-rooted financial problems were exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis that has devastated the global airline industry.

Airline traffic, in terms of number of kilometres travelled by paying passengers, is expected to fall by at least 65% this year compared with 2019 as a consequence of the health crisis, AlixPartners consultancy firm estimates.

(Reporting by Francesca Landini and Giuseppe Fonte)
Jadestone Energy Inc. to Acquire an Operated 90% Interest in the Lemang PSC, Onshore Indonesia

SINGAPORE / ACCESSWIRE / June 29, 2020 / Jadestone Energy Inc. (JSE.L) ("Jadestone", or the "Company"), an independent oil and gas production company focused on the Asia Pacific region, is pleased to announce that it has executed an acquisition agreement (the "Agreement") with Mandala Energy Lemang Pte Ltd ("Mandala", or the "Seller"), to acquire an operated 90% interest in the Lemang production sharing contract ("PSC"), onshore Indonesia (the "Acquisition"), for a total initial headline cash consideration of US$12 million, to be funded from the Company's cash resources, and certain subsequent contingent payments.

Overview of the Lemang PSC

The Lemang PSC is located onshore Sumatra, Indonesia. The block includes the Akatara gas field, which was previously developed as an oil producing asset, but has a best estimate gross undeveloped wet gas in place of approximately 115 bscf which, at 90% interest, equates to unrisked 2C resources of 55.2 bscf sales gas, 2.2 mm bbls of condensate, and 5.8 mm boe of liquid petroleum gas1.

The asset has been substantially de-risked with 11 wells drilled into the structure, plus three years of oil production history, up until the field ceased production in December 2019, after reaching its economic limit for oil production.

The remaining 10% working interest in the PSC is held by PT Hexindo Gemilang Jaya and, as is customary in Indonesia, the local government has a back-in right under the PSC, for up to a 10% working interest, at the time of development sanction. If exercised, this would result in an 81% interest, net to Jadestone.

Overview of the Acquisition

The Acquisition has a total initial headline cash consideration of US$12 million, based on an economic effective date coincident with completion. The transaction is structured as a purchase of the interest in the Lemang PSC by a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, with a guarantee from the Company in respect of the initial consideration.

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Further consideration of US$5 million is payable to the seller upon first gas, in addition to further contingent payments of up to US$26.7 million, which may be triggered in the event that certain upside outcomes occur2.

The Company believes the Acquisition represents exceptional value to Jadestone shareholders. Highlights include:

l US$0.70/boe of 2C resource1 acquisition cost;

l NPV 10 of US$57 - US$80 million, implying a purchase multiple of 0.15x - 0.21x 2C NAV1,3;

l Results in NAV per share accretion of 4.3-6.3%, based on the Company's 2P plus 2C net asset value4;

l Expected development capex of US$5.44/boe5;

l Low cost development due to re-use of existing wells and infrastructure and short tie-in to nearby gas export pipelines within 17km;

l Funding for the development to come from existing cash, future cash flows, and debt;

l US$126 million in tax deductible gross cost pools, arising from prior spend, to be recovered through the PSC cost-recovery mechanism6;

l Anticipated incremental production of approximately 5.3 mboe/d7, based on management's estimated average plateau gas production rate of 18.8 mmscf/d gas (gross), plus associated condensate and LPG, with a duration of six years;

l No near-term spending commitments, providing flexibility in the timing of the development and associated capital, to coincide with balance sheet capacity;

l Increase in the Company's 2P reserves plus 2C resources of 20%8; and

l Abandonment funds are set aside bi-annually on a unit-of-production basis over the life of the field and are fully cost recoverable.

In addition, the Acquisition introduces diversification and balance to the Company's portfolio through:

l Adding a further PSC asset to its portfolio. The Company's producing assets are all in royalty and tax-based regimes. Following the Acquisition, Group 2P reserves + 2C resources held via PSC increase from 36% to 47%8;

l Future fixed price gas production, creating a natural hedge to volatile oil prices and increasing the Company's proportion of long-term fixed price production from 34% to 37%8;

l Additional near-term production;

l Reducing the Company's blended unit operating costs once the asset is in production by more than 20%9; and

l An opportunity to re-establish credentials as an operator in Indonesia, increasing the Company's ability to access further opportunities in the country.

The Acquisition will be funded from available cash on hand, and funding of the development will be the subject of a future announcement, expected to comprise a mix of cash on hand, future cash flows and debt from an enlarged reserves based loan facility.

The Acquisition does not compromise the Company's ability to fund the remainder of its planned capital spending in 2020, its maiden dividend, or closing of the Maari acquisition which remains on track for H2 2020.

Completion of the Acquisition is conditional upon customary governmental consents to the assignment of the interest in the Lemang PSC to a wholly owned affiliate of the Company, the appointment of such affiliate as the operator under the Lemang joint operating agreement ("JOA"), as well as other consents under the JOA, as required, all on or before June 26, 2021.

The Company anticipates completing the Acquisition in Q1 2021. In the interim period, the seller has given customary undertakings and subject to any consents, members of the Company's team will be seconded to the project.

Indonesia

Indonesia is one of the most prolific oil and gas jurisdictions in the Asia Pacific region, and includes many assets which are either mid-life or potential near-term development candidates, thereby offering an excellent fit with Jadestone's capabilities.

The Company and its management have extensive prior experience both in operating producing upstream oil & gas assets in Indonesia and with the Indonesian regulators, including via Jadestone's prior participation in the Ogan Komering PSC. Jadestone has an in-place team in Jakarta, well versed in the commercial and operating characteristics of the Sumatra Basin, which is a core area for the Company.

Paul Blakeley, President and CEO commented:

"I'm delighted to re-establish our operating presence in Indonesia and to further balance our portfolio by adding a new gas resource to our reserves base. In addition to providing much-needed energy to a region of Indonesia which will benefit from it, this acquisition creates an opportunity to renew key relationships in Sumatra with local stakeholders, service providers and communities with whom we have worked closely in the past through the team's involvement in Ogan Komering, and various other assets in prior times.

"The Acquisition adds 17.2 mm boe of 2C gas resource, prior to any local government back-in, implying a headline consideration of US$0.70/boe, and which we believe can be developed for US$5.44/boe, thanks in part to re-use of existing facilities. While gas prices and other terms are currently being negotiated we expect to execute a gas sales agreement, ahead of development plan approval and any commitment to project capital. Local gas prices are typically in the range of US$5 - $6/mm btu, which we anticipate will generate attractive returns on investment, making this a compelling opportunity to add value to the Jadestone portfolio.

Reflecting on the current economic climate, and our deliberate measures to conserve capital resources in 2020, Lemang provides a high degree of flexibility in the forward spending profile. The PSC carries no near-term spending commitments, doesn't expire until 2037, and as such, affords us the discretion to time the development such that spending dovetails with other high-value investments across our portfolio."

Conference call

The management team will host an investor and analyst conference call at 08:30 (UK) / 15:30 (Singapore) today, including a question and answer session.

Dial-in details are provided below, in addition to a link to a live webcast of the call. The Company has posted a new presentation to its website, at www.jadestone-energy.com/investor-relations/presentations-communication/.

Webcast link: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1339243&tp_key=ecab115c51

Event title: Jadestone Energy Management Briefing

Start time: 08:30 (UK) / 15:30 (Singapore)

Date: Monday, June 29, 2020

Conference ID: 11546343

Country Dial-in Numbers Australia 1800076068 Canada (Toronto) +1 416 764 8688 Canada (Toll free) 888 390 0605 France 0800916834 Germany 08007240293 Germany (Mobile) 08007240293 Hong Kong 800962712 Indonesia 0078030208221 Ireland 1800939111 Ireland (Mobile) 1800939111 Japan 006633812569 Malaysia 1800817426 New Zealand 0800453421 Singapore 8001013217 Switzerland 0800312635 Switzerland (Mobile) 0800312635 United Kingdom 08006522435 United States (Toll free) 888 390 0605

Area access numbers are subject to carrier capacity and call volumes.

_____________________________

1 Based on an independent review of contingent resources by ERCE, an independent qualified reserves auditor, and prepared for the Company in June 2020 in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities and the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook ("COGEH"), assuming 90% interest. Based on 81% (assuming local government participation), total 2C Group resource is 15.5 mm boe, resulting in an initial headline acquisition cost of US$0.77/boe. 2C resource volumes presented represent the sub-class Development Pending, as defined by COGEH, and are presented on an unrisked basis. The main contingencies are non-technical and include the finalisation of the gas sales agreement and project FID. ERCE estimates the chance of development at 90%.

2 US$26.7 million of additional contingent consideration comprises (a) US$3 million should first gas occur prior to March 31, 2023; (b) US$3 million if audited close out costs are equal to or less than budget; (c) US$0.7 million on VAT refund related to pre-effective date expenditures exceeding US$6.7 million (gross); (d) US$3 million if Average Saudi CP exceeds US$620/MT in year one of production; (e) US$2.5 million if Average Dated Brent exceeds US$80/bbl in year one of production; (f) US$2 million if Average Saudi CP exceeds US$620/MT in year two of production; (g) US$1.5 million if Average Dated Brent exceeds US$80/bbl in year two of production; and (h) if a new discovery is made on the drilling of the final commitment well, US$3 million is payable upon approval of the resulting plan of development, and an additional US$8 million is payable if oil reserves approved under that plan of development are no less than 8.4mm bbl (gross).

3 Based on ERCE 2C volumes and reflecting a US$5 - US$6/mm btu gas price range and certain other commercial variables and assumptions. Purchase multiple based on initial headline cash consideration of US$12 million.

4 Based on 466.7mm fully diluted shares outstanding. Montara and Stag 2P NAVs as per year end 2019 ERCE audited 51-101 disclosures (ERCE assumed Brent oil prices, expressed in nominal 2020 dollars, are as follows: US$66/bbl, US$67/bbl, US$67/bbl, US$68/bbl for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023+ respectively). Maari 2P NAV based on year end 2018 ERCE audited volumes and ERCE price deck as above. ND/UM and Lemang NAVs are based on year end 2017 and June 2020 ERCE audited volumes respectively, and management estimates for development and commercial assumptions. The calculation excludes Tho Chu and SC56 2C resources of 63.7mm boe, and 21.0 mm boe respectively.

5 Anticipated development capex of US$94 million gross, based on FEED studies conducted to date and drilling of two infill wells plus two existing well workovers, and total contractors 2C resource of 17.2MM boe (and assuming local government exercises its back-in right).

6 Subject to Government of Indonesia audit for cost recovery purposes.

7 Based on 90% interest. At 81% interest (assuming local government participation), plateau rate is 4.8 mboe/d.

8 Excludes 2C resource at Tho Chu and SC56. Based on 90% interest. At 81% interest (assuming local government participation), the increase in 2P reserves + 2C resoucres is 18%, the Group PSC exposure increases to 46%, and the gas weighting increases to 37%.

9 Based on 90% interest. At 81% interest (assuming local government participation), Group unit opex falls by 19%.

The information contained within this announcement is considered to be inside information prior to its release, as defined in Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation No. 596/2014, and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of those Regulations. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

- Ends -

Enquiries

Jadestone Energy Inc. +65 6324 0359 (Singapore) Paul Blakeley, President and CEO +1 403 975 6752 (Canada) Dan Young, CFO +44 7392 940 495 (UK) Robin Martin, Investor Relations Manager ir@jadestone-energy.com Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Nomad, Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 7710 7600 (UK) Callum Stewart Simon Mensley Ashton Clanfield BMO Capital Markets Limited (Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 7236 1010 (UK) Thomas Rider Jeremy Low Thomas Hughes Camarco (Public Relations Advisor) +44 (0) 203 757 4980 (UK) Georgia Edmonds jadestone@camarco.co.uk Billy Clegg James Crothers

About Jadestone Energy Inc.

Jadestone Energy Inc. is an independent oil and gas company focused on the Asia Pacific region. It has a balanced, low risk, full cycle portfolio of development, production and exploration assets in Australia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The Company has a 100% operated working interest in the Stag oilfield and the Montara project, both offshore Australia. Both the Stag and Montara assets include oil producing fields, with further development and exploration potential. The Company has a 100% operated working interest in two gas development blocks in Southwest Vietnam and is partnered with Total in the Philippines where it holds a 25% working interest in the SC56 exploration block. In addition, the Company has executed a sale and purchase agreement to acquire an operated 69% interest in the Maari Project, shallow water offshore New Zealand, and anticipates completing the transaction in H2 2020, upon receipt of customary approvals.

Led by an experienced management team with a track record of delivery, who were core to the successful growth of Talisman's business in Asia, the Company is pursuing an acquisition strategy focused on growth and creating value through identifying, acquiring, developing and operating assets in the Asia Pacific region.

Jadestone Energy Inc. is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. The Company is headquartered in Singapore. For further information on Jadestone please visit www.jadestone-energy.com.

Cautionary statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements and information (collectively "forward-looking statements"), within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation, as well as other applicable international securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are forward-looking and not historical facts.

Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by statements that express, or involve discussions as to expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "will continue", "is anticipated", "is targeting", "estimated", "intend", "plan", "guidance", "objective", "projection", "aim", "goals", "target", "schedules", and "outlook"). In particular, forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to statements regarding reserves and resources volumes, production forecasts, the financial benefits of the Acquisition, final terms of the gas sales agreement, satisfaction of conditions under the Agreement, timing of completion of the Acquisition, application and timing of contingent payments, funding and timing of the development, the establishment of an enlarged and extended reserves based loan facility, further acquisitions in Indonesia and elsewhere, and the payment and timing of the Company's maiden dividend.

Because actual results or outcomes could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements, investors should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, which contribute to the possibility that the predicted outcomes will not occur. Some of these risks, uncertainties and other factors are similar to those faced by other oil and gas companies and some are unique to Jadestone. The forward-looking information contained in this news release speaks only as of the date hereof. The Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update the information, except as may be required pursuant to applicable laws.

The oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids information in this announcement has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities and the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (the "COGE Handbook").

A barrel of oil equivalent ("boe") is determined by converting a volume of natural gas to barrels using the ratios of six thousand cubic feet ("Mcf") to one barrel. Boes may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of 6 Mcf:1 boe is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilising a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

The technical information contained in this Presentation has been prepared in accordance with the March 2007 guidelines endorsed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, World Petroleum Congress, American Association of Petroleum Geologists and Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers Petroleum Resource Management System.

Henning Hoeyland of Jadestone Energy Inc., a Subsurface Manager with a Masters degree in Petroleum Engineering who is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and who has been involved in the energy industry for more than 19 years, has read and approved the technical disclosure in this regulatory announcement.

Glossary

2P reserves the sum of proved and probable reserves, denotes the best estimate scenario of reserves 2C resources unrisked best estimate scenario of contingent resources Average Dated Brent the arithmetic average of the daily mean of the Dated Brent quotations (in US$ per barrel) as published by Platts for the relevant twelve-month period, calculated to three decimal places Average Saudi CP the arithmetic weighted average of the monthly mean of the Saudi Arabian FOB contracts of Propane and Butane (in US$ per Metric ton) as published by Saudi Aramco for the relevant twelve-month period, calculated to three decimal places boe barrel of oil equivalent bbl barrel of oil bscf billion standard cubic feet ERCE ERC Equipose Ltd FEED front end engineering and design mboe/d thousands of barrels of oil equivalent day mm bbls million barrels of oil mm boe million barrels of oil equivalent mm btu million British thermal units MT metric tonne NAV net asset value



This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Jadestone Energy Inc.





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H.I.G. Capital, LLC ("H.I.G."), a leading global private equity investment firm with over 34 billion of equity capital under management, is pleased to announce today that John Harper has joined H.I.G. Capital as a Managing Director and Head of the London LBO team, leading H.I.G.s small cap investments in the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and Holland.

John has 25 years of mid-market private equity investing experience. He has originated, transacted and exited numerous investments across a wide range of sectors including financial and business services, manufacturing, healthcare, IT and consumer and leisure. Prior to joining H.I.G., he was a Partner at Inflexion, having previously held senior positions at Duke Street and LDC.

Wolfgang Biedermann, Executive Managing Director and Head of Europe buyouts, said, "We are delighted to welcome John to the team. He has an impressive track record of successful investments and I am absolutely confident that he is the right person to further strengthen H.I.G.s franchise in northern Europe."

About H.I.G. Capital

H.I.G. is a leading global private equity and alternative assets investment firm with over 34 billion of equity capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added approach:

H.I.G.s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses. H.I.G.s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. is also a leading CLO manager, through its WhiteHorse family of vehicles, and manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance. H.I.G.s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices.

Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of 27 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.higcapital.com.

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* Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005340/en/

Contacts

Wolfgang Biedermann

Executive Managing Director

wbiedermann@higcapital.com
FILE PHOTO: The National Australia Bank Logo is seen on a branch in central Sydney

By Paulina Duran

SYDNEY (Reuters) - KKR & Co Inc <KKR.N> and Apollo Global Management Inc <APO.N> are among potential buyers which have conducted due diligence on National Australia Bank's <NAB.AX> wealth management unit, three sources familiar with matter told Reuters.

The sale of the unit, called MLC, could fetch more than A$1 billion ($688 million), said two of the sources, who declined to be identified as the negotiations are private.

KKR's interest comes on the heels of an agreement in May to pay A$1.7 billion for 55% of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia's <CBA.AX> wealth unit, Colonial First State.

Spokeswomen for KKR and NAB declined to comment. Representatives for Apollo did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of regular business hours.

Suitors are expected to submit bids for MLC by Tuesday, one of the sources said. A second source said the timeline for the sale was fluid.

NAB, Australia's third largest bank, decided to divest its wealth management unit in 2018, but the plan has been delayed by a management overhaul and a special government-appointed inquiry into the financial services sector that found industry-wide misconduct.

It appointed Morgan Stanley <MS.N> and Macquarie Group <MQG.AX> to handle the sale of the unit, which manages over A$120 billion in funds. The unit had an operating margin of 0.46% in the six months to March, company documents show.

Blackstone Group <BX.N> also expressed early interest in MLC, two of the sources said, although it was not immediately clear if it is still interested.

A spokeswoman for Blackstone declined to comment.

A string of scandals and the findings of the year-long financial sector inquiry that ended in February 2019 have prompted Australia's biggest banks to focus on core businesses and divest wealth management and insurance units.

(Reporting by Paulina Duran in Sydney; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus O.Kravchenko participates in the meeting of the WEF Regional Action Group for Europe and Eurasia

On June 29, 2020 the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Oleg Kravchenko, took part in the fourth online meeting of the High-level Regional Group for Policy Development in Europe and Eurasia, held under the auspices of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Background information: World Economic Forum is a non-governmental organization with headquarters in Geneva. WEF is the organizer of the annual economic forum in Davos, which gathers heads of states and governments, executives of leading corporations and prominent economists.

The Regional Action Group is established to examine possible ways of the global economic recovery in the post-COVID-19 era. Foreign Minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei is a member of the Group from Belarus.

The topical issue on the meetings agenda was formats and directions for the deepening of trade ties between Europe and Eurasia with the United States in post-COVID-19 era.

Within the Regional Group Belarus advocates strengthening of the regional cooperation with a focus on middle-income countries as well as further development of the existing multilateral infrastructure projects to sustain crisis-resilient supply and production chains. Belarus considers the prompt accession of all countries in Europe and Eurasia to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a concrete step towards deepening trade ties between the region and the United States.

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Malaysias Employees Provident Fund in May announced the winners of its 2019 External Fund Managers Awards, selecting Saturna Sdn Bhd for two awards in the FTSE Shariah World Developed Mandate 2019 category: "Best International Equity Fund Manager" overall and "Best 3-Year ROI International Equity Fund Manager."

"We are honored to receive two 2019 EPF awards as recognition of our dedication to the retirement well-being of Malaysias employees. I accept the awards on behalf of the Saturna Sdn Bhd crew, who strive to innovate and continuously improve our asset management performance and create value through Islamic and sustainable investing," said Ms. Shahariah Shaharudin, president of Saturna Sdn Bhd. "We would also like to congratulate the other 2019 winners on their exemplary performance."

The EPF External Fund Managers Annual Awards recognizes outstanding performance of asset managers who invest diversified segments of Malaysias EPF pool in accordance with specific mandates. The EPF outsources portfolio management to firms based on how well their specialized investment skills and experience match a given allocation mandate and the likelihood of superior risk-adjusted, long-term performance. In 2016, the EPF selected SSB to invest a tranche of the FTSE Shariah World Developed mandate globally in shariah-compliant equities of developed markets.

The winner of the Best International Equity Fund Manager Award is selected on both financial and service criteria. The EPFs External Fund Manager Department considered SSBs three-year rolling performance, including return on investment (ROI), time-weighted rate of return, and information ratio, which measured portfolio returns against the FTSE Shariah Developed Index. SSB was also evaluated on standards of compliance, trainings provided, and service quality. As the winner of the "Best 3-Year ROI International Equity Fund Manager" award, SSB earned the highest ROI over the three-year rolling period ended December 31, 2019.

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The Annual EPF External Fund Managers Awards Dinner originally scheduled for spring of 2020 was canceled due to the global outbreak of COVID-19.

Malaysias EPF, which manages the retirement savings of private sector employees, had 924.75 billion ringgit of assets under management as of year-end 2019.

About Saturna Sdn Bhd

"Values-Based Global Asset Managers"

Saturna Sdn. Bhd., established in 2010 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saturna Capital that specializes in Islamic-compliant fund management services for individuals and institutions. Saturna Sdn Bhd is a licensed Islamic fund manager under the Securities Commission of Malaysia, and is fund manager to the ASEAN Equity Fund, and the ICD Global Sustainable Fund.

For more information about Saturna Sdn Bhd, visit www.saturna.com.my.

About Saturna Capital Corporation

Saturna Capital Corporation, established in 1989 in Bellingham, Washington, USA, is a private, employee-owned, investment adviser with US$3.8 billion in assets under management, providing investment advisory services to mutual funds, institutions, businesses, individuals, and endowments. Saturna Capital is adviser to the Amana Mutual Funds Trust, the oldest and largest family of funds in the US that follow principles of Islamic finance. Saturna Capital is also adviser to the US-based Sextant Mutual Funds and Saturna Sustainable Funds.

For more information about Saturna Capital, visit www.saturna.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200628005004/en/

Contacts

Victoria Odinotska

KANTER

Tel. + 1 703 534 3735

victoria@kanterpr.com

Ms. Shahariah Shaharudin

Saturna Sdn. Bhd.

Tel. + 603 2164 5303

shaha@saturna.com.my
According to Coherent Market Insights, the global mercury-free dental implants materials market is estimated to be valued at US$ 10.3 billion in 2020 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period (2020-2027).

Key Trends and Analysis:

The increasing number of products launches is expected to drive growth of the mercury-free dental implants materials market during the forecast period. For instance, in October 2015, Sterngold Dental launched Sterngold Implant System at the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) in Las Vegas, U.S. The Sterngold Implant System includes one surgical system with multiple restorative platforms such as TRU Implant (conical connection) and PUR Implant (tapered internal hex).

Furthermore, manufacturers operating in the mercury-free dental implant material market are engaged in adoption of inorganic growth strategies such as acquisitions and collaborations to enhance their dental care product portfolio. For instance, in January 2020, Unident AB (Unident), a portfolio company within the Triton Smaller Mid Cap Fund (TSM) completed the acquisition of Dental Systems Oy (Dental Systems) and GAMA Dental AB (GAMA Dental). This acquisition is expected to strengthen Unidents presence in Finland and Sweden, respectively.

The global mercury-free dental implants materials market is expected to witness significant growth owing to the increasing number of dental procedures. For instance, in May 2018, Straumann Group signed an agreement with Zirkonzahn USA Inc. for co-development and co-marketing of dental clinics in the U.S. and Canada. Moreover, major players such as Neodent Dental Hub, a dental implant company received the U.S. FDA approval to launch its dental implant system in the U.S. in March 2014.

Request for Sample copy @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/3950

Key Market Takeaways:

The global mercury-free dental implants materials market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period (2020-2027) owing to the increasing demand for mercury-free dental implants for dental procedures in the geriatric population worldwide. For instance, according to National Institutes of Health (NIH), around 23% of the geriatric population suffers from loss of teeth, creating a favorable environment for industry players. Over 18 million dental procedures are expected to be carried out among the geriatric population between 2017 and 2027.

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Key players in the North America mercury-free dental implants materials market are focused on launching new technologically advanced dental implants in the U.S. which is expected to drive growth of the market during the forecast period. For instance, in February 2016, Zimmer Biomet launched 3i T3 short dental implants in the U.S. market. The implant is manufactured by Biomet 3i. The product is a surgical kit designed to support site preparation and placement of these implants.

Competitive Landscape:

Dentsply Sirona, Institut Straumann AG, Coltene Group, VITA Zahnfabrik, Upcera Dental Co. Ltd., Aidite Technology Co. Ltd., Huge Dental Material Co., Ltd., Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc., Zirkonzahn GmBH, 3M, VOCO GmBH, Danaher Corporation, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., GC Corporation, Ultradent Products Inc. and SHOFU Dental Corporation.

Buy-Now this Research Report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/3950

Market Segmentation:

Global Mercury-Free Dental Implants Materials Market, By Type: Ceramic Titanium Zirconia Others

Global Mercury-Free Dental Implants Materials Market, By End User: Dental Clinics Hospitals Others



Global Mercury-Free Dental Implants Materials Market, By Region: North America By Country: U.S. Canada Europe By Country: U.K. Germany Italy Spain France Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific By Country: Australia India China Japan ASEAN South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America By Country: Brazil Mexico Argentina Rest of Latin America Middle East By Country: GCC Israel Rest of Middle East Africa By Country/Region: South Africa Central Africa North Africa



About Us:

Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having sales office at global financial capital in the U.S. and sales consultants in United Kingdom and Japan. Our client base includes players from across various business verticals in over 57 countries worldwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005555/en/

Contacts

Contact Us:

Mr. Shah

Senior Client Partner  Business Development

Coherent Market Insights

Phone:

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UK: +44-020-8133-4027

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Firm's portfolio includes 59 buildings and an additional 26 acres of land

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Merlot Marketing has been named agency of record for privately-held real estate investment firm GPR Ventures and will lead public relations efforts in support of the firm's ventures and projects in the Greater Sacramento Region. Established in 2011 in the Silicon Valley, GPR Ventures has since expanded into Sacramento and provides commercial real estate opportunities for a select group of investors, including property acquisitions and capital improvement projects.

To date, GPR Ventures' portfolio includes 59 industrial and office buildings, totaling over 1.8 million square feet, and an additional 26 acres of land. Within the Sacramento Region, GPR Ventures owns and manages 20 properties in Natomas, Roseville, Rancho Cordova and other surrounding areas. In November 2019, GPR Ventures acquired a 26,500 square foot office building in the R Street corridor of downtown Sacramento and has begun complete interior and exterior renovations.

"Merlot Marketing has deep experience in elevating the presence and authority of their clients on a local and national level, and it has been great to leverage their creativity, knowledge and expertise to expand the GPR Ventures story within Sacramento," said Phil Rolla, GPR Ventures co-founder and Managing Principal.

TWEET THIS: National #publicrelations firm @MerlotMarketing named agency of record for real estate investment firm #GPRVentures. Merlot will lead all PR efforts in support of the firm's ventures and projects throughout #Sacramento. https://www.merlotmarketing.com/blog/

"GPR Ventures is contributing greatly to the growth and prosperity of Sacramento's commercial real estate market, and they are innovative in their approach. We are excited to share their brand story both locally and nationally," said Debi Hammond, founder and CEO of Merlot Marketing.

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In close collaboration with GPR Ventures, Merlot Marketing will manage all facets of public relations as well as provide ongoing marketing consultation. The agency will publicize the company's projects through Social Media News Releases (SMNR), wire distributions and trend articles targeted to key Sacramento trade and business media.

For more information on GPR Ventures and its complete portfolio, visit https://www.gprventures.com/.

About Merlot Marketing

Merlot Marketing is an award-winning, national agency that focuses on public relations (PR.0), brand strategy, social media, advertising and digital communications  with offices in California and Nevada. For nearly 20 years, Merlot has promoted brands across the North American market, specializing in the home and building products category, and has helped companies rediscover their brand position through its exclusive REDiscover Process. Discover our passion, creativity and results at http://www.merlotmarketing.com or call 916-285-9835.

About GPR Ventures

Founded in 2011, GPR Ventures is a privately held real estate investment firm with offices in Silicon Valley and Sacramento that specializes in providing real estate opportunities for a select group of sophisticated investors. GPR Ventures uses a dynamic, fully developed process and the acquisition-to-disposition expertise of founders Glen Yonekura and Phillip Rolla to yield consistent results. The GPR portfolio includes 59 buildings totaling over 1.8 million square feet and an additional 26 acres of land. For additional information, please visit GPRVentures.com or call (916) 921-5005.

SOURCE Merlot Marketing, Inc.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Telephone Call with Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, 26 June 2020

SINGAPORE, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On 26 June 2020, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke with Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss the gradual and phased resumption of cross-border travel between Singapore and Malaysia.

Prime Minister Lee reiterated Singapore's commitment to address the needs of Singaporeans and Malaysians who were previously commuting between both countries. Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Muhyiddin agreed that any bilateral arrangement would have to include mutually agreed public health protocols, to preserve the public health and safety of citizens on both sides, while taking into account the medical resources available in both countries.

During their discussion, Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Muhyiddin agreed to establish a Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and a Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) to address the needs of different groups of cross-border travellers.

The RGL will facilitate cross-border travel for essential business and official purposes between both countries. Travellers would have to adhere to a set of COVID-19 prevention and public health measures, which are under discussion and will have to be mutually agreed upon by both countries.

The PCA will allow Singapore and Malaysia residents who hold long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes in the other country to periodically return to their home countries for short-term home leave. They will be able to return home for leave after spending at least three consecutive months in their country of work, and they will be allowed to re-enter their country of work after their home leave.

Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Muhyiddin have tasked their officials to work expeditiously on the operational details of the RGL and PCA, and to continue discussions on other proposals to gradually facilitate more cross-border movement of people, so as to ensure a stable recovery by both Singapore and Malaysia from the COVID-19 situation.

SOURCE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore
By Sharon Bernstein

June 28 (Reuters) - Mississippi lawmakers have voted to remove a symbol of the pro-slavery Confederacy from the Deep South state's flag, the latest symbol of racism to come down amid outrage at the police killing of George Floyd, a Black man, in Minnesota.

Both houses of the legislature voted this weekend to remove the symbol and appoint a panel to design a new flag, according to media reports. The state's Republican Governor, Tate Reeves, said Saturday that he would sign the bill if the legislature passed it.

We are better today than we were yesterday, Speaker of the House Philip Gunn, who authored the bill that passed on Sunday, told the non-profit news organization Mississippi Today. Today, the future has taken root in the present. Today, we and the rest of the nation can look on our state with new eyes, with pride and hope."

In the 19th century, Southern states, faced with the prospect of having to give up slavery, formed the Confederacy and broke away from the United States, leading to the 1861-1865 Civil War.

Symbols of the failed rebellion were erected throughout the South during the years of racial segregation and violence known as Jim Crow, and despite years of progress and civil rights for Black Americans, many states resisted removing them.

But after video showing a white officer fatally pressing his knee to Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes provoked outrage that sent tens of thousands of Americans of all ethic backgrounds into the streets for weeks of protests, Confederate symbols have been coming down.

"The argument over the 1894 flag has become as divisive as the flag itself and its time to end it," Reeves posted Saturday on Facebook. "If they send me a bill this weekend, I will sign it."

Walmart on Tuesday said it would no longer display the flag in its stores, consistent with its decision to not sell merchandise with the Confederate flag from stores and online sites. (Reporting by Sharon Bernstein; editing by Grant McCool)
Mississippi lawmakers have decided to drop a confederate symbol from the state flag after it was adopted more than a century ago by white supremacist lawmakers.

What Happened

The bill to change the state flag received bipartisan support in both the chambers of the Mississippi legislature.

Tate Reeves, the Republican governor, has said he will sign the bill over the next few days, which will end the official status for the current flag.

The move led to euphoric scenes as legislators embraced each other inside the chambers, while people outside the Capitol cheered and applauded.

The new flag of Mississippi cannot contain the Confederate emblem and must include the words In God We Trust.

Why It Matters

According to MarketWatch, Mississippi has been under pressure to change its flag as protests decrying racism gather momentum in the United States.

The state has 38% of African American population. Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn has been calling for a change in the flag for the last five years as he deemed it offensive.

A number of cities in the state and all of Mississippis public universities have taken down the former flag.

The states Supreme Court said in 2000 that the Mississippi banner lacked official status, but attempts made to decide the flags future led to acrimony.

In 2001, the future of the flag was put to the ballot, and people decided to retain the flag, reported MarketWatch.

Last week, Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) said it would not display the Mississippi flag outside its local stores.

See more from Benzinga

 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
- Aims to help prepare companies successfully transit to the new normal in maintenance

- Focuses on maintenance topics for key specialties

SINGAPORE, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MainTRAIN, the 5-day webinar series to be conducted by NCH under the slogan of 'Maintaining the New Normal,' should help prepare companies successfully transit to the new normal in maintenance. *NCH webinar site link: www.Nchwebinar.com

NCH Asia Pacific conducts MainTRAIN, 5-day Webinar

Focusing on maintenance topics for key specialties such as Industrial Lubricants, Industrial Maintenance, Advanced Water Treatment, Facilities Maintenance, Automated Technologies and Food Safety, the topics covered will be as follows:

The topic on Day 1 (July 6, Mon) shall be 'Better Performance, Bigger Savings for Industrial Lubricants.' Audiences may learn to analyze the root causes of wear-related failures and how proper lubricants may provide solutions against them.

Day 2 (July 7, Tue) shall deal with 'NCH Disinfection Program: 3 Steps to Keep You and Your Business Safe and Sanitized.' The session delivers knowledge on the different types of germs and their intrusion mechanism, as well as three important steps to keep you and your business safe and sanitized.

Day 3 (July 8, Wed) shall focus on 'Achieving Goals with Innovative Cooling Water Technologies.' A veteran shares his expertise on innovative cooling water technologies to help improve the efficiency of your systems, reduce the total operating costs and achieve sustainability goals.

The topic on Day 4 (July 9, Thu) shall be how to 'Wake Up Your Building.' Expert knowledge on this customized program will allow you to recommission facility and ensure creation of the safest environment for your associates and customers.

Day 5 (July 10, Fri) shall be 'Automation Day.' The topic shall be discussed live from NCH showroom, where you will be informed about our latest automated technology for Parts Cleaning, Water Treatment and Waste Water.

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Also available on Day 5 (July 10, Fri) shall be the Philippines-only session, with topic on 'Food Safety: Strengthening Your Cleaning & Disinfection Program.' Imparted to the audience will be insight on how food manufacturing companies should establish, implement and maintain pre-requisite programs to control food hazards.

Each session of the webinar shall be available for one hour at the same time of the day for 5 days, from July 6 to July 10, and target Asia-Pacific regions including Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

NCH Asia Pacific is a subsidiary of NCH Corporation operating in 50 countries with over 9000 employees. We focus on efforts and investments in developing unparalleled knowledge, technical competency, and competitive differentiation for verticals including Water Treatment, Animal Health care, Food Safety, Lubricants, Industrial Maintenance and Facilities.

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200624/2840097-1

SOURCE NCH Asia Pacific
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has raised alarm over the high number of teachers seeking mental health support in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

According to the latest report by health service provider Minet Kenya Insurance, which was contracted by TSC, 400 teachers sought mental health services in the month of April alone.

The report notes that TSC employed teachers either called or visited various health facilities countrywide seeking psychological support due to depression.

Bungoma County recorded the highest number with 28 teachers complaining of stress in one month alone. In Nairobi, 24 teachers said they were depressed while 23 cases were recorded in Bomet and 20 in Machakos.

Marsabit, Uasin Gishu, Mandera and West Pokot recorded one case each.

Most of the patients were male (54%), while 29% were female; 17% were under the unknown category.

The report notes that the main nature of the mental health concern was stress and anxiety. It also listed Kenyan teachers as a group struggling to handle depression; a mental health concern that rose sharply in the last three months.
FT. MYERS, FL / ACCESSWIRE / June 29, 2020 / NeoGenomics, Inc. (NEO), a leading provider of cancer-focused genetic testing services, announced today the launch of three liquid biopsy tests for advanced non-small cell lung cancer, all solid tumor types (pan-cancer), and certain breast cancer cases. With the addition of these new testing capabilities, physicians can now rely on NeoGenomics to deliver biomarker information from potentially any patient with a solid tumor or hematologic malignancy even when a tissue biopsy is not possible.

These new tests provide a peripheral blood option for detection of therapeutic targets and prognostic markers, and the three new assays have a turnaround time of seven days or less which can save clinicians valuable time over tissue testing in critical cases. Liquid biopsy is especially useful when tissue specimens are scarce or unattainable, as in lung cancer. Through the strategic collaboration with Inivata announced on May 26, 2020, NeoGenomics gained access to a highly competitive liquid biopsy assay, InVisionFirst-Lung, for testing patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

InVisionFirst-Lung is a ctDNA NGS liquid biopsy assay testing 37 genes relevant to the care of advanced NSCLC. The test covers all National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline-recommended genomic drivers with FDA-approved targeted therapies for NSCLC. InVisionFirst-Lung results are delivered within seven calendar days from blood draw and the test is covered by Medicare and various private insurance payers for patients with advanced NSCLC meeting certain clinical criteria.

The new NeoLAB Solid Tumor Liquid Biopsy is especially well-suited for solid tumors beyond lung cancer, including breast, colorectal, melanoma, and other cancers. It is a highly sensitive and specific next-generation sequencing test for genomic profiling. NeoLAB Solid Tumor Liquid Biopsy joins our well-established suite of 14 NeoLAB tests for patients with hematologic diseases which provide opportunities for biomarker evaluation when bone marrow biopsy is not feasible and peripheral blood counts are low.

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The QIAGEN therascreen PIK3CA RGQ PCR Kit is an FDA-approved companion diagnostic (CDx) test for PIQRAY (alpelisib). It detects 11 clinically actionable mutations in the PIK3CA gene using genomic DNA extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) breast tumor tissue or circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) isolated from K 2 EDTA anticoagulated peripheral whole blood plasma taken from patients with breast cancer. NeoGenomics validated the QIAGEN therascreen CDx for tissue testing shortly after PIQRAY (alpelisib) received FDA approval on May 24th, 2019 and in the coming weeks will launch the QIAGEN therascreen CDx for plasma testing to help address situations where PIK3CA testing cannot be performed using tumor tissue because of insufficient sample, low quantity of tumor cells or tissue sample decalcification.

"Liquid biopsy testing is an increasingly important tool. Being able to return results for solid tumor patients now means oncologists and pathologists can work with a single laboratory for comprehensive diagnostic and management testing," said Doug VanOort, CEO of NeoGenomics. "The launch of these three liquid biopsy assays exemplifies our commitment to providing the most comprehensive oncology menu for our clients as a one-stop-shop for their testing needs."

About NeoGenomics, Inc.

NeoGenomics, Inc. specializes in cancer genetics testing and information services. The Company provides one of the most comprehensive oncology-focused testing menus in the world for physicians to help them diagnose and treat cancer. The Company's Pharma Services Division serves pharmaceutical clients in clinical trials and drug development.

Headquartered in Fort Myers, FL, NeoGenomics operates CAP-accredited and CLIA certified laboratories in Ft. Myers and Tampa, Florida; Aliso Viejo, Carlsbad, Fresno and San Diego, California; Houston, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; and CAP-accredited laboratories in Rolle, Switzerland, and Singapore. NeoGenomics serves the needs of pathologists, oncologists, academic centers, hospital systems, pharmaceutical firms, integrated service delivery networks, and managed care organizations throughout the United States, and pharmaceutical firms in Europe and Asia. For additional information about NeoGenomics, visit http://www.neogenomics.com/.

About Inivata

Inivata is a leader in liquid biopsy. Its InVision platform unlocks essential genomic information from a simple blood draw to guide and personalize cancer treatment, monitor response and detect relapse. Inivata's technology is based on pioneering research from the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge. Its lead product, InVisionFirst-Lung is commercially available and offers competitive sensitivity and turnaround, providing molecular insights that enable clinicians to make more informed treatment decisions for advanced NSCLC patients. Inivata has also launched the personalized RaDaR assay - allowing the highly sensitive detection of residual disease and recurrence. Inivata is partnering with pharmaceutical, biotechnology companies and commercial partners in a range of early and late-stage cancer development programs. The Company has a CLIA certified, CAP-accredited laboratory in Research Triangle Park, NC and R&D laboratories in Cambridge, UK. For more information, please go to www.inivata.com. Follow Inivata on Twitter @Inivata.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as the result of the Company's ability to continue gaining new customers, respond to the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, offer new types of tests, integrate its acquisitions and otherwise implement its business plan, as well as additional factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2020. As a result, this press release should be read in conjunction with the Company's periodic filings with the SEC. In addition, it is the Company's practice to make information about the Company available by posting copies of its Company Overview Presentation from time to time on the Investor Relations section of its website at http://ir.neogenomics.com/.

Forward-looking statements represent the Company's estimates only as of the date such statements are made (unless another date is indicated) and should not be relied upon as representing the Company's estimates as of any subsequent date. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, even if its estimates change.

For further information, please contact:

NeoGenomics, Inc.

William Bonello

Director, Investor Relations

(239) 690-4238 (w)

(239) 284-4314 (m)

bill.bonello@neogenomics.com

SOURCE: NeoGenomics, Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/595409/NeoGenomics-Launches-Comprehensive-Suite-of-Solid-Tumor-Liquid-Biopsy-Tests-for-Cancer-Patients




(Bloomberg) -- Even in the innovative world of electric vehicles, its an unusual proposition: Plunk down as much as $5,000 now to reserve the right in a few years to buy a battery-powered truck, before seeing a prototype or manufacturing plan to assure itll ever be built.

Thats what Nikola Corp., the Phoenix-based company whose sudden stock surge has captured the attention of investors, is asking customers to do starting Monday. The reservations, which are refundable, take a page from Tesla Inc.s playbook, but they require would-be vehicle buyers to take an even bigger leap of faith than Elon Musk ever did.

Nikola founder Trevor Milton has said he hopes the truck, called the Badger, will one day rival Ford Motor Co.s F-150, which for 43 years has been Americas best-selling pickup. Nikola went public on June 4 through a reverse merger, and the stock more than doubled on June 8 after he tweeted that Nikola would start taking reservations on June 29 for what he called the most bad a-- zero emission truck.

Nikola told prospective investors before going public that its focus was on producing a different type of vehicle -- big rig semi trucks starting with a model called the Tre. In a March filing, the company said it didnt expect to draw up plans for the Badger pickup unless an established manufacturer agreed to make it.

Nikola will have more details to share this summer about its Badger manufacturing partnership, Colleen Robar, a spokeswoman for the company, said in an email.

Investors havent registered any concerns about Nikolas unorthodox approach to vehicle sales. The shares closed Friday at $63.55, up 87% since their listing, and rose as much as 7.4% shortly after the start of regular trading Monday.

At $22.9 billion, Nikolas market capitalization at the close Friday was just short of the $23.5 billion valuation for Ford, which unveiled its next-generation F-150 pickup last week.

Read more: Nikola Founder Has $7.4 Billion Fortune on Free Truck Orders

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Tesla has accepted reservations for models before the company started production, including for this years new Model Y SUV. But customers at least had a prototype to look at, and Musk has now marketed five different vehicles. Nikola doesnt expect to start delivering its first semi truck to customers until next year. It has a joint venture with CNH Industrial NV, whose Iveco unit has been building big rigs for decades, to manufacture the Tre in Germany.

Nikolas plan to work with manufacturing partners is a contrast with Tesla, which went through what Musk repeatedly referred to as production hell trying to mass-produce the Model 3 with its own factory. Cowen & Co. analyst Jeffery Osborne said in a June 17 report that Nikolas outsourcing strategy could mitigate risk.

So far, Nikola has shared only computer renderings of the Badger, and has said it will cost between $60,000 and $90,000. Milton predicts itll be a hit. Most likely itll be sold out, so be ready and gets yours reserved, he tweeted on June 15.

Interested buyers have to pay close attention to Milton on social media, where details about the Badger come out in drips and drabs. Milton tweeted on June 8 that he expects deliveries of the Badger to begin in 2022, but exact details would be laid out in a partnership announcement before an event he called #nikolaworld2020.

Eleven days later, he announced that Nikola World would take place in December -- about five months after Nikola starts taking reservations for the Badger. It will be unveiled on Dec. 4.

(Updates with shares trading in the sixth paragraph.)

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - June 29, 2020) - NOHO, Inc. (OTC Pink: DRNK), a Wyoming corporation ("NOHO") (the "Company"), announced the following:

NOHO, Inc. will be entering into an Asset Purchase Agreement for the sale of its intellectual property to Sibannac, Inc., a Nevada corporation (OTC Pink: SNNC).

The Boards of Directors of both firms are finalizing the assets to be conveyed and the terms of the sale. Notably, Sibannac intends to use the NOHO brand and its viable social media platforms and followers to launch new formulations and delivery methods of hangover products in combination with CBD (Cannabidiol). The products will be manufactured and distributed from Sibannac's new facility in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The proposed transactions will be structured in the following steps. First, Sibannac will create a privately held specific purpose acquisition company to be funded by newly registered Sibannac securities, consisting of units of common stock and warrants. The companies will then enter into an asset purchase agreement using the newly issued securities as consideration to NOHO. NOHO will then enter into a share exchange or buyback agreement, effecting the exchange of Sibannac securities for NOHO stock held by NOHO shareholders.

The transaction as contemplated will result in the exchange of free trading NOHO shares for free trading Sibannac shares. The exchange rate and share price is being negotiated at this time. The transaction is subject to accounting and audit review as well as regulatory approval.

David Mersky, NOHO's CEO, said of the acquisition, "We believe we have a transaction envisioned that will result in significant value to our shareholders. Anyone who has followed NOHO from its prior management understands the structural and financial challenges we have faced in turning the company around. This deal presents the best opportunity to deliver shareholder equity and allow the NOHO brand to flourish under Sibannac's leadership team. Sibannac not only has a beneficial, lean share structure in place, but also an excellent management team and the facilities to develop the NOHO brand."

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The parties intend to complete the transaction in the Fall of 2020. NOHO shareholders will be advised within sixty (60) days of the closing of the effective date for the shareholders of record to participate in the exchange.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.

This press release contains statements that constitute 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. These statements appear in a number of places in this release and include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Noho, Inc. (the "Company"), its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things: (i) financing plans; (ii) trends affecting its financial condition or results of operations; (iii) growth strategy and operating strategy. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "can," "believe," "potential" and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control, and actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements as a result of various factors. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's expectations include, but are not limited to, those factors that are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in documents filed by the company from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities.

Investor/Media Contact:

info@nohodrink.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58693
Northrop Grumman Corp.s NOC business unit, Northrop Grumman Systems recently secured a modification contract for production and delivery of three MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft. The company will also offer associated export compliance support under the terms of the deal.

Valued at $333.4 million, the contract will cater to the government of Australia. The deal, expected to be completed by April 2025, has been awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD. The majority of the task will be carried out in San Diego and Palmdale, CA; Red Oak, TX and Linthicum, MD.

Advantages of Triton UAS Air Vehicles

Northrop Grummans MQ-4C Triton UAS is equipped to provide real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) over vast ocean and coastal regions. The system is also equipped with a robust mission sensor suite that provides 360-degree coverage on all sensors, ensuring unprecedented maritime domain awareness for the U.S. Navy.

Triton UAS supports a wide range of missions including maritime ISR patrol, signals intelligence, search and rescue, and communications relay.

Northrop Grummans Prospects

Cost-effectiveness combined with manned aircraft and zero mortality, which UAS offers, has been bolstering demand for military drones. This, in turn, has been driving demand for Triton, a next-generation UAS.

During the 2019-2025 period, the global unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market is anticipated to see a CAGR of 15.5% to $45.8 billion (per a report by Markets and Markets research firm). Notably, rise in the procurement of military UAVs by defense forces worldwide is one of the most significant factors, which might provide a boost to the UAV market.

With Northrop Grumman being a prominent defense major and an expert UAV manufacturer, the aforementioned projections for the market should boost this defense primes growth substantially.

Other Dominant Players

To date, North America remains the largest market for UAV, driven by increasing use inborder and maritime surveillance activities, particularly in the United States and Canada.

Story continues

Besides Northrop, defense majors in the country dominating the UAV market space like Boeing BA and Lockheed Martin LMT are also poised to benefit. Notably, Boeings Insitu unit offers high-performance, low-cost unmanned aircraft systems used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). On the other hand, leveraging decades of expertise in low observable technology including the RQ-170, Lockheeds Skunk Works unit has developed survivable, interoperable next generation unmanned aerial system concepts to support future battlespace operations.

Price Performance

In a years time, shares of Northrop Grumman have lost 5.2% compared with the industrys 30.4% decline.

Zacks Rank & Key Pick

Northrop currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

A better-ranked stock in the same sector is Embraer S.A. ERJ, which holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Embraer delivered a positive earnings surprise of 14.93% in the last reported quarter. The company has a long-term earnings growth rate of 17%.

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Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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Zacks Investment Research
By Gwladys Fouche and Terje Solsvik

OSLO (Reuters) - Norwegian Air <NWC.OL> has cancelled orders for 97 Boeing <BA.N> aircraft and will claim compensation from the U.S. plane maker for the grounding of the 737 MAX and for 787 engine troubles that hit its bottom line, the Oslo-based carrier said on Monday.

The airline cancelled 92 of the 737 MAX jets, five 787 Dreamliners and so-called GoldCare service agreements related to both aircraft, just as Boeing on Monday began a crucial set of flight tests of the 737 MAX in an effort to gain regulatory approval for it to return to the skies.

"Norwegian has in addition filed a legal claim seeking the return of pre-delivery payments related to the aircraft and compensation for the company's losses related to the grounding of the 737 MAX and engine issues on the 787," the airline said.

Norwegian did not specify the amount it would seek to claim from Boeing, which it had been in talks with about compensation, and was not immediately available for comment.

Boeing said it was working with Norwegian on a path forward in a challenging time as it was with other operators but it would not comment on commercial discussions.

The problematic Trent 1000 engines, used on the Dreamliners, were made by Rolls-Royce <RR.L>, which Norwegian has been in a dialogue with about compensation. Monday's statement did not say whether Norwegian would file a legal claim against Rolls-Royce.

The European budget carrier, which revolutionised transatlantic travel by offering cheap fares, was struggling before the COVID-19 pandemic brought the airline industry to its knees.

One reason was the grounding of the 737 MAX in March 2019 following the second of two fatal crashes that together killed 346 people. Norwegian had 18 MAX passenger jets in its 163-aircraft fleet at the time.

Originally a small regional airline in Scandinavia, Norwegian made its breakthrough on the global stage with a multi-year order in 2012 for up to 372 aircraft, of which 222 were from Boeing and 150 from Airbus <AIR.PA>.

(Reporting by Gwladys Fouche and Terje Solsvik; Additional reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Leslie Adler and Christopher Cushing)
Oasis Management Company Ltd. ("Oasis") is the manager to funds that are minority shareholders of Fujitec Co., Ltd. (6406 JP) ("Fujitec" or the "Company"). On June 23, 2020, Fujitec held its annual general shareholders meeting ("AGM"). At the AGM, Oasis secured 33% of the votes in favor of its proposals for cancelling the Companys treasury shares. Additionally, there was a dramatic decrease in support of Fujitecs CEO, Uchiyama-san. Both of these results represent a strong message from shareholders to Fujitecs management that changes must be made in order to increase corporate value and stop the Company falling further behind its competitors.

Despite years of active engagement by Oasis and public calls for change from other engaged investors, the Company has for far too long remained beholden to the Uchiyama family to the detriment of its other stakeholders, including minority shareholders. We hope that the result of this years AGM will be the first step to shake Fujitecs management from their lethargy and spur them to act urgently to secure the Companys future.

Oasis will continue its active engagement with the Company and, failing any material change to the situation, will consider a wide variety of options, including calling an EGM later this year, in order to bring about a change of leadership at the Company to ensure that progress is made to improve Fujitecs corporate value for the medium and long-term, to the benefit of all stakeholders.

We hope that shareholders will likewise continue to hold the Board of Directors accountable for their decisions regarding corporate value. We call on Fujitec to listen to their shareholders and commit to focusing on enhancing corporate governance and improving corporate value, for the benefit of all.

We sincerely thank our fellow minority shareholders, including international and domestic institutional and retail shareholders, for their support. This type of support from shareholders has catalyzed change across corporate Japan, and we believe will be the catalyst for eventual change at Fujitec.

Story continues

About Oasis

Oasis Management Company Ltd. manages private investment funds focused on opportunities in a wide array of asset classes across countries and sectors. Oasis was founded in 2002 by Seth H. Fischer, who leads the firm as its Chief Investment Officer. More information about Oasis is available at https://oasiscm.com. Oasis has adopted the Japan FSAs "Principles of Responsible Institutional Investors" (a/k/a Japan Stewardship Code) and in line with those principles, Oasis monitors and engages with our investee companies. Oasis is by no means soliciting or requesting shareholders to jointly exercise their rights (including, but not limited to, voting rights) together with Oasis, and Oasis disclaims its intention to be deemed or treated as a Joint Holder (kyo-do hoyu-sha) with other shareholders under the Japanese Financial Instruments and Exchange Act by virtue of its act to express its view and opinions or other activities to engage in dialogue with other shareholders. In addition, Oasis is by no means soliciting or requesting other shareholders to grant or deliver their proxies to Oasis for any upcoming AGM. Oasis is not and should not be considered to solicit, encourage, induce, or seek from any shareholders to authorize Oasis or any other third party as their proxy in exercising their voting rights on their behalf.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200628005052/en/

Contacts

Media

Taylor Hall

media@oasiscm.com
Master limited partnerships (or MLPs) differ from regular stocks in that interests in them are referred to as units and unitholders (not shareholders) are partners in the business. Importantly, these hybrid entities bring together the tax benefits of a limited partnership with the liquidity of publicly traded securities. The assets that these partnerships own typically are oil and natural gas pipelines and storage facilities.



The Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining & Marketing MLP industry is a sub-sector of this business model. These firms operate refined products' terminals, storage facilities and transportation services. They are involved in selling refined products (including heating oil, gasoline, residual oil, jet fuel etc.) and a plethora of non-energy materials (like asphalt, road salt, clay and gypsum).



Lets take a look at the industrys three major themes:



 Gasoline sales in the United States continued to tick up in recent weeks in a recovery from historic lows as the economy reopened and lockdown measures imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic were eased. Further, oil product demand in China - the worlds second-largest energy consumer - has been gradually increasing. While overall usage remains well below pre-virus levels and stockpiles continue to swell, the refining and marketing operators should benefit from increased utilization that will also have a favorable impact on profitability.



 Most MLPs derive their revenues based on the amount of fuel transported and are relatively insulated from oil/gas and refined product price fluctuations. The defensive, fee-based business model not only provides cash flow stability to the refining and marketing MLPs through the boom and bust cycle, but also has a lower risk profile. Since the revenues they earn are volume-driven and often under long-term contracts, pipeline operators are likely to enjoy stable demand for their services even if the U.S. economy slows. Even within the fee-based contracts, a significant portion is of take-or-pay type - meaning the MLPs get paid irrespective of the volume of commodities that gets transported.



 Investors are typically attracted to the MLPs thanks to their reliable distributions and defensive characteristics. But this time, things seem to be different as the plunge in global commodity prices is forcing them to realign their strategy. A reliable high-yield income choice till recently, a number of sector components had to slash their quarterly payouts to weather the historic price crash and preserve cash. These cuts are set to deal a heavy blow to income investors, who held the stocks for their above-average distribution yield and the security to sustain the payments.



Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bullish Outlook



The Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining & Marketing MLP is a 12-stock group within the broader Zacks Oil - Energy sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #52, which places it in the top 21% of more than 250 Zacks industries.



The groups Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates bright near-term prospects. 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.



The industrys position in the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of positive earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are optimistic on this groups earnings growth potential. While the industrys earnings estimates for 2020 have increased 8% in the two months, the same for 2021 have improved 6% over similar timeframe.



Despite the encouraging near-term prospects of the industry, we will present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio. But its worth taking a look at the industrys shareholder returns and current valuation first.



Industry Lags Sector & S&P 500



The Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining & Marketing MLP industry has lagged the broader Zacks Oil - Energy Sector as well as the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year.



The industry has declined 42.3% over this period compared to the S&P 500s gain of 4% and broader sectors decrease of 38.3%.



One-Year Price Performance





Story continues





Industrys Current Valuation



Since midstream-focused oil and gas partnerships use fixed rate debt for the majority of their borrowings, it makes sense to value them based on the EV/EBITDA (Enterprise Value/ Earnings before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortization) ratio. This is because the valuation metric takes into account not just equity but also the level of debt. For capital-intensive companies, EV/EBITDA is a better valuation metric because it is not influenced by changing capital structures and ignores the effect of noncash expenses.



On the basis of the trailing 12-month enterprise value-to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio, the industry is currently trading at 7.81X, lower than the S&P 500s 11.11X. It is, however, significantly above the sectors trailing-12-month EV/EBITDA of 3.94X.



Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 18.12X, as low as 6.74X, with a median of 13.53X, as the chart below shows.



Trailing 12-Month Enterprise Value-to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) Ratio



















Bottom Line



Just like all other energy subsectors, refining and marketing MLPs have been greatly affected by the coronavirus crisis, which has led to a collapse in the demand for jet fuel and gasoline.



But it seems that crudes worst losses are in the rear view mirror with signs of gradual rebalancing. While the OPEC+ group has started to withhold output by almost 10 million barrels per day  the largest in history  from May 1, U.S. shale oil production is set to tumble in 2020 on reduced capital availability. Finally, greater financial discipline practiced by the energy companies has raised expectations that supply growth could slow down sooner than later even as fuel demand picks up on easing lockdown measures.



In fact, the International Energy Agency also said global demand would rebound to an average of 97.4 million bpd in 2021. It is about 5.7 million bpd higher than this year and the biggest annual jump ever.



As mentioned above, gasoline consumption is already on its way up with more and more people getting, leading to higher road traffic. This, in turn, will bolster cash flow generation at the partnerships with downstream exposure.



With the abovementioned catalysts set to provide near-term upside, we are presenting three stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and another with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) that are well positioned to gain.



You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. (CLMT): Calumet Specialty Products Partners focused on the production of high-quality, specialty products and fuels in North America. Over 30 days, the Indianapolis, IN-headquartered partnership  carrying a Zacks Rank #1  has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 improve 11%.



Price and Consensus: CLMT





NGL Energy Partners LP (NGL): This diversified downstream energy partnership focuses on four primary businesses: water solutions, crude oil logistics, NGL logistics, and refined products/renewables. NGL Energy Partners carries a Zacks Rank #1 and has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 surge 281% over 30 days.



Price and Consensus: NGL





Sprague Resources LP (SRLP): Sprague Resources, engaged in the purchase, storage, distribution and sale of refined petroleum products and natural gas, carries a Zacks Rank #1 and has an attractive expected earnings growth of 64.6% for this year.



Price and Consensus: SRLP





Targa Resources Corp. (TRGP): Based in Houston, TX, Targa Resources is a leading provider of integrated midstream services in North America. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has surpassed estimates in three of the last four quarters, the average being 267.7%.



Price and Consensus: TRGP





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Targa Resources, Inc. (TRGP) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Sprague Resources LP (SRLP) : Free Stock Analysis Report



NGL Energy Partners LP (NGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. (CLMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
KYOTO, Japan, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

- AI Identifies Subtle Defects with Human-like Sensitivity as Experienced Inspectors -

OMRON Corporation based in Kyoto, Japan, announced the global release in July of its new "FH Series Vision System" with the industry's first defect detection AI technology that identifies defects without learning samples. This AI technology, which reproduces human sensibility and the techniques of skilled inspectors, reliably detects defects that were once difficult to capture, automating human vision-based visual inspection.

(*1) Industry's first AI that captures defects, with human-like sensitivity without learning, in vision components or vision libraries integrated into machines. Based on OMRON investigation in June 2020.

Photo1: FH Series with defect detection AI

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M102197/202006241228/_prw_PI1lg_lB4zSQkF.jpg

Skilled inspectors are hard to come by these days, and labor costs have risen sharply. Manufacturers are now facing intense pressure to automate processes that rely on the senses of experienced human workers. Particularly when it comes to visual inspection, it's important to reliably identify subtle defects even on flexible lines producing a wide range of items. Traditionally, the sensitivity and knowledge of technicians with long-term experience have been key. However, nowadays people often need to avoid working in the same space on manufacturing sites in order to protect them from COVID-19, which leads to growing demand for labor-saving automated visual inspection. Artificial intelligence is now reaching the stage where it can recognize object features as well as humans and automatically learn criteria. While a lot of AI solutions face challenges with large amounts of image data, specialized hardware and engineering expertise, OMRON is making great progress in enabling its widespread use.

To solve these challenges, OMRON developed the industry's first defect detection AI that reproduces the techniques of skilled inspectors. This AI is now part of the FH Series Vision System that will be released. Over 30 years of OMRON's knowledge of image processing and visual inspection have been built into this new product to maximize the inspection capability using AI without learning huge amounts of data. AI has traditionally required a special environment, but OMRON's lightweight solution has been integrated into a system component. No dedicated AI engineer is required for setup and adjustment at manufacturing sites.

Story continues

Features

1. AI captures defects with human-like sensitivity (industry's first)

- A new AI-based image filter reproduces the technique that skilled inspectors use to identify a defect on any product background.

- Scratches and blemishes that were once difficult to capture can now be identified even without the use of samples or adjustment.

Photo2:

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M102197/202006241228/_prw_PI2fl_z8TM2DRr.jpg

2. AI identifies good products like experienced inspectors

- The FH Series can determine acceptable variation tolerances.

- An AI Fine Matching tool learns from the image data of non-defective products to quickly acquire the "expertise" that inspectors develop over the course of many years. This reduces costs and boosts productivity through automation.

- AI reduces over-detection.

Photo3:

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M102197/202006241228/_prw_PI3fl_Eu51rv1N.jpg

3. No special environment is required

- AI has traditionally required a high-end environment, but OMRON's lightweight solution comes in the form of user-friendly processing items that have been integrated into its popular FH Series hardware.

- No special hardware for AI or AI engineer is required.

OMRON is now committed to bringing innovation to manufacturing sites by materializing its unique concept called "innovative-Automation" to solve manufacturing site issues. As OMRON strives to "get close to, and then go beyond, the human eye," it continues to further accumulate data and conduct research and development of the latest AI technology to achieve an AI vision system which is both closer to human sensitivity and which can be easily used. Where does this lead? By expanding the scope of what can be automated in visual inspection, OMRON frees people from simple and monotonous work so they can become more engaged in the creative work that truly advances innovation in manufacturing.

About "innovative-Automation"

As a leader in industrial automation, OMRON has extensive lines of control components and equipment, ranging from vision sensors and other input devices to various controllers and output devices such as servomotors, as well as a range of safety devices and industrial robots. By combining these devices via software, OMRON has developed a variety of unique and highly effective automation solutions for manufacturers worldwide. Based on its reservoir of advanced technologies and comprehensive range of devices, OMRON set forth a strategic concept called "innovative-Automation" consisting of three innovations or "i's": "integrated" (control evolution), "intelligent" (development of intelligence by ICT), and "interactive" (new harmonization between people and machines). OMRON is now committed to bringing innovation to manufacturing sites by materializing this concept.

About OMRON Corporation

OMRON Corporation is a global leader in the field of automation based on its core technology of "Sensing & Control + Think." OMRON's business fields cover a broad spectrum, ranging from industrial automation and electronic components to social infrastructure systems, healthcare, and environmental solutions. Established in 1933, OMRON has over 35,000 employees worldwide, working to provide products and services in 120 countries and regions. In the field of industrial automation, OMRON supports manufacturing innovation by providing advanced automation technology and products, as well as through extensive customer support, in order to help create a better society. For more information, visit OMRON's website: http://www.omron.com/

Cision

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/omron-releases-fh-series-vision-system-with-industrys-first-1-defect-detection-ai-301084799.html

SOURCE OMRON Corporation
iStock/izusec(NEW YORK) -- While COVID-19 led to the shuttering of schools nationwide, a new study from the University of Michigan reveals that a third of parents aren't sure they'll let their kids go back to class this fall.

School systems nationwide are preparing various plans as to how school could resume in September, but a recent surge in coronavirus cases nationwide show the U.S. is nowhere near out of the woods yet.

In June -- even before this latest increase in cases -- researchers at University of Michigan found 1,200 parents from Illinois, Michigan and Ohio are still hesitant for things to get back to normal for the upcoming school year.

It's not an easy decision, as parents have to weigh safety with education, the scientists explained. "On the one hand, sending children to school could increase the risk of COVID-19 among children and family members," says Dr. Kao-Ping Chua. "On the other hand, children who don't return to in-person school may experience disruptions in their education. Some families simply don't have a choice because they need to go to work."

If school does come back in session, three-quarters of parents say they favor daily temperature checks, and half approved of "random, weekly coronavirus tests."

Over 60% say they're in favor of social distancing on school buses, with those parents in that majority saying it would be best to stagger the school's population, alternating between kids who attend school personally vs. those who attend virtually, via remote learning sessions.

The parents surveyed also agreed that their decision would be influenced by a school's post-COVID-19 safety protocols.

The study also reveal that while school staff, middle school and high school students should keep wearing masks, most parents agree that kids between kindergarten and second grade should not.

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
The High Court has frozen four bank accounts holding more than Ksh200 million belonging to Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua.

Mr Gachagua, a staunch supporter of DP Ruto, is said to be involved in a suspected complex scheme of money laundering in which he allegedly minted Ksh5.8 billion from various ministries and state agencies.

According to the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), preliminary investigations established that Mr Gachagua, through a company identified as Jenne Enterprises Limited, received Ksh5.8 billion within 7 years.

That within the said period, there were massive suspicious cash withdrawals, transfers, inter and intra-bank transfers from other accounts to the accounts under investigations and other bank accounts owned by Mr Gachagua in suspicious complex money-laundering schemes, the agency said.

In documents filed in court, ARA added: There are reasonable grounds to believe that the suspects bank accounts were used as a conduit for money laundering in efforts to conceal, disguise the nature, source, disposition and movement of illicit funds and should be preserved.

Of the four frozen accounts, three are registered in the MPs name whereas a fourth account, holding Ksh1,138,142, is registered in the name of Jenne Enterprises.

The other three accounts at Rafiki Micro Finance Bank hold Ksh165 million, Ksh 35 million, and Ksh773,228.

MP Gachagua is said to have received the funds from the Ministry of Lands (Kenya Informal Settlements Programme), State Department for Special Planning, Ministry of Health, Bungoma County government, Mathira Constituency Development Fund, Nyeri County government and the National Irrigation Board.

ARA argued that it was apprehensive that unless the court intervenes, the MP was likely to withdraw the funds and defeat the cause of justice.

Justice John Onyiego of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court barred the MP and Jenne Enterprises from dealing with or transferring the funds pending a petition for the money to be forfeited to the government.
Over 5,000 Households Helped Remotely with New LITT Software

Over 5,000 Households Helped Remotely with New LITT Software

PR Newswire

PHILADELPHIA, June 29, 2020

PHILADELPHIA, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Early release of EIS Data's new LITT webpage and mobile app has provided a safe avenue for welfare applications in Alabama, South Carolina, and West Virginia. Just two weeks after launch, with no advertising, an unexpected amount of people have applied for assistance. This number indicates a strong need for remote accessible software.

"We are blown away at the large number of new applicants this early in our launch"  David Bassion Jr., member EIS DATA.

LITT (Lifting Individuals Through Technology) is a new platform for government services that will allow complete remote use for the entire welfare assistance experience. Customers apply directly through an IOS/Android mobile app or webpage and can monitor their status throughout the entire process. Community action agencies, who normally require office visits for intake, will be able to video call any applicant and perform all needed interaction. This decrease in travel and wait time will allow a greater number of customers to be served. Originally planned for 2021 release, a streamlined early edition (LITT lite) was pushed out to assist the increased demand on EIS Data's customers due to the current pandemic. Video calling will be added to LITT lite in July 2020 to further improve the access for our customers.

Our partner states of Alabama, South Carolina, and West Virginia have helped formulate the most concise information needed for new applications which has created a less daunting process for clients and allowed easier access to assistance qualification information. Our partners are working with us to develop the next evolution of case management that will further target client barriers and help create a shorter path to self-sufficiency.

With over 5,000 applicants just two weeks after activation, the need for accessible remote support for the diverse population across Alabama, South Carolina, and West Virginia is being met through LITT! Community assessment, a vital tool in addressing need, will have a greater reach with the new LITT developed system. Community Action Agencies will have the ability to customize survey questions that can be sent directly to client's LITT app.

Story continues

Contact:

David Bassion Jr.

EIS Data, LLC

1735 Market St

STE A #523

Philadelphia, PA 19103

215-558-4968

242384@email4pr.com

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/over-5-000-households-helped-remotely-with-new-litt-software-301084515.html

SOURCE EIS Data LLC
VANCOUVER, BC , June 29, 2020 /CNW/ - New Placer Dome Gold Corp. ("New Placer Dome" or the "Company") (NGLD.V) (BM5.F) is pleased to announce plans for its 2020 Bolo Gold Project ("Bolo") reverse circulation (RC) discovery drill program as follow-up to its highly successful 2019 exploration campaign at Bolo comprising 10 holes totaling 1,838 metres (m), and 10.2 line-km induced polarization (IP) / resistivity survey. The 2019 drill program yielded long gold-oxide intercepts from surface and generated the discovery of new zones including anomalous silver values. The new drill plan has the potential to generate a significant mineralized area as a path towards a future mineral resource estimate.

For 2020 New Placer Dome has planned an initial 12 high-priority RC drill holes at Bolo totaling approximately 3,500 m targeting the Mine Fault and other mineralized structures that host the South Mine Fault, Uncle Sam, and Northern Extension mineralized gold zones (Figure 1).

Drilling at Bolo will focus on testing Carlin-style gold mineralization at depth in the South Mine Fault Zone where gold-silver mineralization remains open and untested along strike and at depth. The 2020 program will expand and step-out on results from the 2019 program (see New Placer Dome news release dated November 7, 2019 ) including:

84 metres of 1.37 g/t gold in hole BL19-01 1 , and

122 metres of 1.2 g/t gold in hole BL19-04 1 ,

New discovery of 12.2 metres of 3.32 g/t gold in hole BL19-042

The 2020 program will also test the continuity of mineralization between the South Mine Fault Zone and Uncle Sam Silver Zone, where a 2019 outcrop sample yielded 3.63 g/t gold with 262 g/t silver.

The combined 2019 and historical RC drilling at Bolo defines a 1.2 kilometer north-south trending corridor of gold-silver mineralization containing the South Mine Fault Zone, Uncle Sam, and Northeast Extension zones. Gold mineralization at Bolo exhibits characteristics of classic Carlin -type mineralization, including strong subvertical structural control in addition to evidence of gold mineralization extending laterally at low angles within favorable silty carbonate units. The relatively untested 500 m strike length South Mine Fault-Uncle Sam segment is particularly prospective and is the main focus of New Placer Dome's 2020 exploration designed to prove-out these compelling structural and stratigraphic gold targets.

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Mobilization of the drill and ancillary equipment is scheduled for mid-July, with drilling commencing shortly thereafter.

Maximilian Sali , CEO and Founder comments: "We are extremely excited to get back to work at Bolo. Based on our highly successful 2019 RC drill campaign, which yielded some of the highest grade oxide gold results in Nevada last year, our technical team has made significant advances in their understanding of the structural and stratigraphic controls on gold mineralization at Bolo. We're now in a position to leverage last year's exploration successes into an expanded 2020 Bolo Gold Project drill program almost twice the size of our 2019 program that has the potential scope to deliver another significant new gold discovery."

Figure 1: Bolo Gold Project 2020 Planned RC Drill Holes and Gold Targets

Figure 1: Bolo Gold Project 2020 Planned RC Drill Holes and Gold Targets (CNW Group/New Placer Dome Gold Corp.)

About New Placer Dome Gold Corp.

New Placer Dome Gold Corp. is a gold exploration company focused on acquiring and advancing gold projects in Nevada . New Placer Dome's flagship Kinsley Mountain Gold Project, located 90 km south of the Long Canyon Mine (currently in production under the Newmont/Barrick Joint Venture), hosts Carlin-style gold mineralization, previous run of mine heap leach production, and NI 43-101 indicated resources containing 418,000 ounces of gold grading 2.63 g/t Au (4.95 million tonnes) and inferred resources containing 117,000 ounces of gold averaging 1.51 g/t Au (2.44 million tonnes)3. The Bolo Project, located 90 km northeast of Tonopah, Nevada , is another core asset, similarly hosting Carlin-style gold mineralization. New Placer Dome also holds an option to acquire 100% of the Troy Canyon Project, located 120 km south of Ely, Nevada . New Placer Dome is run by a strong management and technical team consisting of capital market and mining professionals with the goal of maximizing value for shareholders through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it relates to the Kinsley Mountain and Bolo Gold Projects has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC) Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, AB , a Director of New Placer Dome Corp., and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Raffle verified the data disclosed which includes a review of the analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions contained therein.

________________________ 1 The true width of mineralization is estimated to be approximately 60-70% of drill width. 2 The true width of the lower gold zone is unknown. 3 Technical Report and updated estimate of mineral resources on the Kinsley Project, Elko County, Nevada, U.S.A., effective January 15, 2020 and prepared by Michael M. Gustin, Ph.D., CPG, Moira Smith, Ph.D., P.Geo. and Gary L. Simmons, MMSA under New Placer Dome Gold Corp.'s Issuer Profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

/s/ "Max Sali"

Max Sali , Chief Executive Officer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain statements that constitute "forward-looking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, conducting exploration work on its projects, future mineral resource estimate on Bolo, other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company and its properties, and other matters.

Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved), and variations of such words, and similar expressions are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statement are necessarily based upon a number of factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements express or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of metals, anticipated costs and the ability to achieve goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events, level of activity, performance or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: (i) risks related to gold and other commodity price fluctuations; (ii) risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration results; (iii) risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; (iv) that resource exploration and development is a speculative business; (v) that the Company may lose or abandon its property interests or may fail to receive necessary licences and permits; (vi) that environmental laws and regulations may become more onerous; (vii) that the Company may not be able to raise additional funds when necessary; (viii) the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; (ix) exploration and development risks, including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and development; * competition; (xi) the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of geologic reports or studies; (xii) the uncertainty of profitability based upon the Company's history of losses; (xiii) risks related to environmental regulation and liability; (xiv) risks associated with failure to maintain community acceptance, agreements and permissions (generally referred to as "social licence"); (xv) risks relating to obtaining and maintaining all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations relating to the continued exploration and development of the Company's projects; (xvi) risks related to the outcome of legal actions; (xvii) political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; (xix) risks related to current global financial conditions; and (xx) other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business strategy. These risks, as well as others, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, the loss of key directors, employees, advisors or consultants, adverse weather conditions, increase in costs, equipment failures, government regulations and policies, litigation, exchange rate fluctuations, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations and fees charged by service providers. Investors 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. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation.

New Placer Dome Gold Corp. Logo (CNW Group/New Placer Dome Gold Corp.)

SOURCE New Placer Dome Gold Corp.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2020/29/c6223.html
June 29 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Headlines

Mark Sedwill steps down as UK's top civil servant

https://on.ft.com/2Vvewn8

Germany to overhaul accounting regulation after Wirecard collapse

https://on.ft.com/2YGqNXK

Shale pioneer Chesapeake Energy files for bankruptcy

https://on.ft.com/2NPBLnL

Overview

UK's most senior civil servant Mark Sedwill will stand down in September, as Boris Johnson launches a controversial overhaul of the centre of power in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

Germany is to overhaul the way it regulates accountancy firms as it seeks "radical solutions" to contain the fallout from the huge fraud at Wirecard AG.

Chesapeake Energy Corp said it filed for bankruptcy on Sunday, as it succumbed in an oil-price crash that is ravaging the country's energy sector. (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)
June 29 (Reuters) - Tim Hortons' mobile app will be investigated after concerns about how the breakfast and coffee chain may be collecting and using data were raised, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) said on Monday.

Earlier this month, the Financial Post had reported https://business.financialpost.com/technology/tim-hortons-app-tracking-customers-intimate-data that Tim Hortons, a unit of Restaurants Brands International , was collecting users' location data and using a third-party company to analyze that data.

The OPC said it would join privacy commissioners of Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia to investigate on whether Tim Hortons is in compliance with Canada's federal private sector privacy law.

The investigators will also look into whether the company obtained consent from users to collect and use their data, which could include detailed user profiles, the OPC said in a statement https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/opc-news/news-and-announcements/2020/nr-c_200629.

"We will fully cooperate with the Canadian privacy regulatory authorities," Tim Hortons' Chief Corporate Officer Duncan Fulton said.

Fulton said the company recently updated the app to limit the collection of location data to only when guests have the app open.

(Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Amy Caren Daniel)
R3 International is now offering a new program for stem cell therapy for liver failure in Mexico. The program offers up to 200 million stem cells, with the cost starting at only $8975.

SAN DIEGO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- R3 International is now offering a new program for stem cell therapy for liver failure in Mexico. The program offers up to 200 million stem cells, with the cost starting at only $8975.

Millions of individuals suffer from chronic liver disease, which occurs due to a number of causes such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, metabolic diseases, and other conditions. All too often, conventional therapies fail to provide the desired result.

Stem cell therapy has been shown in several studies to produce beneficial results for liver failure. This includes a study of 43 patients from 2012 in Stem Cells and Translational Medicine noting significant increase in survival rates, along with no adverse events.

In its new program, R3 International uses the same weight based protocol. Each treatment provides up to 50 million stem cells at a time, with the treatment occurring at the stem cell therapy clinic in Tijuana Mexico. To date, hundreds of patients have received stem cell therapy in Mexico with R3 for a variety of conditions. No adverse events have been reported, and outcomes have been sensational for organ failure, arthritis, diabetes, dementia, stroke, stem cells for Lyme disease, Crohns and many more.

In order to receive treatment, patients start with a free phone consultation with the licensed, experienced stem cell doctor from R3 International. After the consult and review of medical records, the doctor provides a treatment recommendation. Then the dedicated patient concierge representative will assist with travel logistics and transportation from San Diego to the clinic is provided.

Simply call (888) 988-0515 to schedule the phone consultation and learn about options for treatment.

SOURCE R3 Stem Cell International
By Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu

WASHINGTON, June 29 Reuters) - A spike in U.S. coronavirus infections is fueled in large part by people ignoring public health guidelines to keep their distance and wear masks, the government's top infectious disease official said.

A daily surge in confirmed cases has been most pronounced in southern and western states that did not follow health officials' recommendations to wait for a steady decline in infections for two weeks before reopening their economies.

"That's a recipe for disaster," Anthony Fauci, who directs the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN in an interview broadcast on Monday.

"Now we're seeing the consequences of community spread, which is even more difficult to contain than spread in a well-known physical location like a prison or nursing home or meatpacking place," Fauci told the cable channel in the interview, which was recorded on Friday.

More than 2.5 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the United States and more than 125,000 have died of COVID-19, the respiratory illness it causes, according to a Reuters tally. The U.S. tally is the highest in the world while the global death toll https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-deaths/global-coronavirus-deaths-top-half-a-million-idUSKBN23Z0UQ in the pandemic surpassed half a million people on Sunday.

California ordered some bars to close on Sunday, the first major rollback of efforts to reopen the economy in the most populous U.S. state, following Texas and Florida ordering the closure of all their bars on Friday. Arizona and Georgia are among 15 states that had record increases in cases last week.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday pressed Americans to adopt face masks during a trip to Texas and wore one himself, a sharp turnaround for the administration. Republican President Donald Trump has refused to cover his face in public.

Pence and other top health officials were expected to visit Arizona and Florida later this week.

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In places where cases are soaring, U.S. health officials are also considering "completely blanketing these communities with tests," Fauci said, to try to get a better sense of an outbreak.

They would either test groups, or "pools," of people or have community groups do contact tracing in person rather than by phone. Contact tracing involves identifying people who are infected and monitoring people who may have been exposed and asking them to voluntarily go into quarantine.

Fauci said that he was optimistic that a vaccine could be available by year's end but that it was unclear how effective it would prove to be, adding that no vaccine would be 100% effective and citing challenges to achieve so-called herd immunity.

The top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, on Monday stressed individual actions to stop the spread of the virus, deflecting criticism from Democrats and some health experts that Trump botched the prevention effort.

"You can't say the federal government should do everything, and then say the federal government can't tell the states what to do," McCarthy told CNBC. "The governors have a big responsibility here but every American has a responsibility. They should wear a mask."

(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Writing by Grant McCool; Editing by Howard Goller)
Click here to read the full article.

Reddit first launched as an online discussion site in June 2005. Now, 15 years later, it has finally taken action to officially ban hate speech and groups that promote it.

A revised Reddit content policy, announced Monday, explicitly states that groups or users that incite violence or that promote hate based on identity or vulnerability are prohibited. Everyone has a right to use Reddit free of harassment, bullying and threats of violence, it says.

With the updated content policy, Reddit is initially banning about 2,000 subreddits, most of which are inactive, the company said. Included in the purge is The_Donald, a pro-Donald Trump forum notorious for users posting racist, misogynistic, anti-Islam and anti-Semitic content. At one point, The_Donald had nearly 800,000 active users.

In 2015, Reddit adopted a new content policy and banned several blatantly racist subreddits. But until today, the official rules still did not explicitly forbid hate or racist forums.

Reddit CEO/co-founder Steve Huffman, in an post about the new policy, said I admit we have fallen short in supporting the sites communities and moderators with respect to adopting a comprehensive anti-hate policy.

We are committed to working with you to combat the bad actors, abusive behaviors, and toxic communities that undermine our mission and exist solely to get in the way of the creativity, discussions, and communities that bring us all to Reddit in the first place, Huffman wrote.

Reddit provided examples of hateful activities that would violate the rule:

A post describing a racial minority as subhuman and inferior to the racial majority.

A post arguing that rape of women should be acceptable and not a crime.

A meme saying it is sickening that people of color have the right to vote.

A subreddit group dedicated to mocking people with physical disabilities.

All communities on Reddit must abide by our content policy in good faith, Huffman wrote. The company banned The_Donald because it has not done so, despite every opportunity. The community has consistently hosted and upvoted more rule-breaking content than average as well as antagonized

us and other communities. The smaller ChapoTrapHouse was banned for similar reasons.

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Both The_Donald and ChapoTrapHouse already had been quarantined by the site in 2019. According to Reddit, that means they were restricted due to significant issues with reporting and addressing violations of Reddits rules against violence and other aspects of the Content Policy. Reddits quarantining penalty puts a warning in front of subreddits, prevents them from generating revenue, and excludes their posts from appearing in search and recommendations.

Of the 2,000 subreddits removed for hate speech, only 10% have more than 10 active daily users, according to Reddit. The 10 most active groups among those banned (in addition to The_Donald and ChapoTrapHouse) are: darkhumorandmemes; consumeproduct; darkjokecentral; gendercritical; cumtown; imgoingtohellforthis2; wojak; and soyboys.

The latest move by Reddit comes after years of critics calling for the site crack down on hate speech, and amid nationwide protests for racial justice after the police killing of George Floyd.

Earlier this month, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian resigned from the board and urged Reddit to select a Black candidate to replace him. Five days later, Reddit named Michael Seibel, a Black venture-capital investor and adviser, to the board of directors in Ohanians place.

The new Reddit policy banning hate speech defines marginalized or vulnerable groups as including those based on their actual and perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or disability. It also specifically includes victims of a major violent event and their families, such as parents of kids killed the 2012 mass shooting at Connecticuts Sandy Hook Elementary School, who have been targeted by right-wing conspiracy theorists bizarrely claiming the attack was a hoax.

However, according to Reddit, the hate-speech ban does not protect all groups or all forms of identity. The site says, for example, that the rule does not protect groups of people who are in the majority or who promote such attacks of hate.

Reddits updated content policy also spells out a new requirement that users abide by community rules, asking them to, as Huffman put it, post with authentic, personal interest. The rule prohibits activity intended to cheat or engage in content manipulation in a subreddit, including spamming, vote manipulation, ban evasion, or subscriber fraud, as well as anything else to interfere with or disrupt Reddit communities.

Reddit said it averaged more than 430 million monthly visitors and 21 billion monthly page views as of the end of 2019.
China Nonferrous Gold Limited 

("CNG" or the "Company")

Trading Update

Update on Reporting Timetable

China Nonferrous Gold Limited  (AIM: CNG), the mineral exploration and mining company currently mining the Pakrut gold project in the Republic of Tajikistan, announces a trading update for the year ended 31 December 2019 in advance of the release of the Companys final results.

The Company is progressing the audit process but due to the challenges of COVID 19, and pursuant to Inside AIM (26 March 2020) the Company has been granted an extension to the date by which its annual accounts can be published. The new deadline by which the annual accounts must be announced is 30 September 2020, however the Board intend to publish and file these accounts on or before 31 July 2020. The Company has also received confirmation that this extended timetable is permitted under the relevant legislation in the Cayman Islands, where the Company is incorporated.

Background

The Pakrut gold mine entered production and full operation in 2019, which saw the Company transform from developer to producer.

The Company made significant achievements in 2019 and became an important Gold-production enterprise in Tajikistan. Pakrut gold mine achieved its internal production targets for 2019, which brings steady cash flows to support the sustainable development of the Company.

Post close trading update

As previously announced, since the end of the period under review, the Company drew down US$14.50 million on a US$30 million loan facility with China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited, all of which is being used for general working capital at the Pakrut gold mine.

The Company commenced full production in January 2020, and production continues at site despite COVID-19. This generates important cashflows for the Company. However, as previously disclosed in order to meet the repayment dates of certain existing loans, a broader refinancing is required. Discussions are ongoing and are positive and the Company expects to complete these shortly.

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Operational update

Through the joint efforts of company staff, the construction works at the Pakrut gold project were successfully completed in 2018, and full production commenced in 2019.

From January to December 2019, a total of 731,600 tons of ore was extracted from Pakrut gold mine, and a total of 690,300 tons of ore were processed at a grade of 2.15 g/t; 17,966 tons of gold concentrate were produced at the grade of 73.73 g/t; and 1,168 kg of gold bullion were poured with comprehensive recovery rate of 79.6%.

Full production continued at the start of 2020 despite COVID-19, and from January to April 2020, 218,360 tons of ore were processed at a grade of 2.43 g/t; the recovery rate of processing was 93%; the recovery rate of smelting was 85.5%, and 261.68kg gold ingots were sold.

CNGs cash position has improved year on year following the full production and continued refinancing. Prime operating revenues are approximately USD$49.15 million for the twelve month period ended 31 December 2019 (unaudited) and the Companys cash balance at the date of the announcement is cUSD$22 million, US$5 million of which will be used to repay the loan by 30 June 2020. The Companys loans remain in excess of USD$109 million to date.

COVID-19

With COVID-19 spreading globally, our priority is the safety and health of our people and ensuring the normal activity of the Companys operations. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Tajikistan on April 30 2020, the Company has taken appropriate steps and effective measures to ensure that staff at protected at site, but to date operations at the mine site at Pakrut continue as normal, and there are no confirmed COVID 19 cases and suspected cases in the Company in either Tajikistan and China.

Looking ahead to FY2021 and beyond, Yu Lixian, CEO of CNG, said:

"With steady state production at the Pakrut gold mine, the Company is confident of achieving the 2020 production target of 680,000 tons of ore at site, which was its internal forecast for the year.

The Company continues to enhance its production capacity and focuses on perfecting and improving the smelting process by reducing production costs, increasing recovery rates and improving competitiveness.

The uncertainty created by the coronavirus pandemic on global markets, and therefore on the production and operation at Pakrut still exists. However, the Company has implemented effective pandemic prevention and control, and is confident in the procedures it has put in place to mitigate these risks. Further details of our operations will be set out in our annual report and accounts which will be published in due course."

For further information please visit the Companys website (www.cnfgold.com) or contact:

China Nonferrous Gold Limited

Yu Lixian, Managing Director

Tel: +86 10 8442 6681

WH Ireland Limited

Katy Mitchell/James Sinclair-Ford

Tel: 0207 220 1666

Blytheweigh

Tim Blythe, Camilla Horsfall

Tel: +44 (0)20 7138 3224

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005328/en/

Contacts

China Nonferrous Gold Limited
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 29, 2020) - Revelo Resources Corp. (TSXV: RVL) ("Revelo" or the "Company") is pleased to outline its intentions for the exploration of its gold-silver projects in northern Chile.

Revelo wholly-owns four gold-silver projects covering more than 38,000 hectares of ground along northern Chile's highly prospective and productive mineral belts. Revelo intends to focus its post-Covid activities and exploration funds, subject to Revelo raising new capital, on a rolling program of exploration on these projects in order to advance towards potential discovery.

The projects are all located directly along trend from major mining districts and are associated with important fault systems that are known to control giant mineral deposits along their respective belts. Historic exploration on the projects has included proof-of-concept drilling at Victoria Sur, Las Pampas and Loro that has shown clear evidence for the styles of mineralisation sought. The Orca project has never been drilled. A brief summary of the projects follows.

VICTORIA SUR

The 6,600 hectare Victoria Sur project is located along the highly prolific Domeyko Cordillera, approximately midway between the currently operating, giant La Escondida and El Salvador mining districts, and just 22Km from the historically important Juncal silver-lead-zinc mining district. Major fault strands of the regionally significant Domeyko Fault Zone (also known as the West Fissure Fault Zone in the Chuquicamata district), which are important controls on the giant ore deposits located along the mineral belt, pass directly through the Victoria Sur project area. Victoria Sur comprises two principal targets together with several reconnaissance targets, all of which display highly anomalous gold and/or silver values in surface rock chips, trenches and/or drill holes, with some highlights as follows:

Nueve Vidas: Significant historic gold-silver intercepts related to hydrothermal breccias in trenches and drill holes - including 8m @ 10.5g/t Au + 29g/t Ag (drill hole VCNRC-10-004) and 6m @ 7.41 g/t Au + 31.9 g/t Ag (drill hole VCNRC-10-021), which cross-cut a porphyry gold system that displays long intercepts of disseminated gold mineralisation - including 72m @ 0.40g/t Au (drill hole VCNRC-10-021) and 22m @ 0.85g/t Au (drill hole VCNRC-10-017).

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Cenizas: Highly auriferous "lithocap" (high-level porphyry gold-copper style) extending over more than 2 Km2 with historic gold intercepts in drill holes - including 92m @ 0.47g/t Au (drill hole CZRC-01) and 196m @ 0.44g/t Au (drill hole CE005).

Other important precious metals geochemical anomalies together with geophysical anomalies in porphyry and epithermal settings occur within the project area but have received little exploration investment to date.

Revelo proposes to continue exploration at Nueve Vidas for both high-grade gold-silver breccias as well as possibly lower-grade but bulk tonnage porphyry gold mineralisation. Exploration at the neighbouring Cenizas target would focus on oxide gold mineralisation within the lithocap, as well as a possible deep porphyry gold-copper target. Other potential targets within the project area would be evaluated in more detail. The proposed exploration program would include further detailed geological mapping in key areas, re-logging of historic trenches and drill holes, new geophysical surveys to complement historic surveys, and drill testing of the best anomalies.

LAS PAMPAS & LORO

The 21,800 hectare Las Pampas Project together with the 4,600 hectare Loro project represent a strategic land position located directly along trend, and some 35Km to 25Km to the southwest and south respectively, from the currently operating, world-class El Penon-Fortuna bonanza gold-silver vein mining district. Both projects lie along the Paleocene Mineral Belt of northern Chile that is host to both major copper deposits and mines as well as significant gold-silver deposits and mines such as El Penon. A major regional fault zone, the Dominador Fault Zone, is an important control on the location of mineral deposits along the belt, and strands of this fault zone pass through both the Las Pampas and Loro projects, as well as neighbouring deposits and mines to the immediate north and south - including El Penon.

Las Pampas is a large project with two principal target areas prospective for low-sulphidation, epithermal "bonanza-style" gold-silver veins recognised at this time. Several reconnaissance targets that require further evaluation are also known. The highest priority targets can be summarised as follows:

Cerritos Trend: Comprises a more than 8Km NW-SE trending zone of strong geochemical anomalies from a surface soil sampling grid in an area largely obscured by post-mineral gravel cover generally 10m to 50m deep. The geochemical anomalies are dominated by two of the classic pathfinder elements for the low-sulphidation style of mineralisation sought - arsenic and antimony - but scattered silver and gold anomalies also occur in conjunction with several other elemental anomalies. A small area of low hills at the southeast end of the anomalous trend (Cerritos Sur) are host to a series of small, artisanal pits that are anomalous in silver (from zero up to 52 g/t Ag) and gold (from zero up to 0.9 g/t Au). Four historic, shallow inclined RC holes in the same area also cut narrow intervals of anomalous silver and gold. However, the drill holes were not collared within the centre of the anomalous geochemical trend. The only other drill hole along the entire 8Km zone of interest is located some 3Km north of Cerritos Sur - at Cerritos Norte - and cut 10s of metres of anomalous silver mineralisation with minor gold on the margins of a rhyo-dacite dome complex.

NW Area: Comprises an approximately 9Km x 3Km area with only minor outcrops but including a rhyo-dacite dome complex, located to the east of a major strand of the Dominador Fault Zone that can be traced to the NE and into the El Penon District, where it is considered to exert an important control on the vein mineralisation there. Epithermal quartz vein float occurs on the surface of the post-mineral gravels in the northwestern quadrant of the area and assayed up to 9.9 g/t Au. The source of this vein float is currently unknown, but existing geophysical anomalies to the east and southeast represent potential targets. At El Penon (and elsewhere), mineralised veins are second-order structures to the main fault zone and located at some distance from the fault. The NW Area to the east of the Dominador Fault, in a similar structural setting to the veins at El Penon and with several geophysical anomalies of interest, represents the new target area for testing.

The proposed exploration program would largely be focused on detailed geophysical (IP) exploration of the geochemically anomalous trend at Cerritos, and a combination of detailed surface geochemistry and geophysics in the NW Area. Drill testing would follow on from the proposed surface work.

Loro comprises a series of low hills prospective for low-sulphidation, epithermal "bonanza-style" gold-silver veins, with only minor outcrops and generally thick (1m to 10m) colluvial cover. The project is located directly south of the El Penon vein district, and lies along a possible north-south strand of the Dominador Fault Zone that extends from El Penon, through Loro, and on to the historically mined Cachinal de la Sierra and El Soldado veins and eventually to the currently mined Guanaco Mine district some 50Km south of Loro.

A small area known as Pitekun / Millahue at Loro has thinner cover and the original discovery veins were located in this area by following up vein float blocks and excavating through the thin cover with a geological hammer. Subsequently, several other small subcrops of vein material were found in other areas, although much of the area has colluvial cover that is too thick to excavate (including by trenching). Surface rock-chip sampling of isolated outcrops and short trenches in the Pitekun / Millahue area yielded silver values up to 956 g/t Ag (ranging from zero) and gold values up to 2.34 g/t Au (ranging from zero). Rock chip sampling also returned highly anomalous arsenic, antimony and mercury values from (low) up to 1,055ppm As, from (low) up to 5,950ppm Sb, and from (low) up to 37.9ppm Hg - the typical and most useful pathfinder elements for epithermal veins.

Historic drilling in the Pitekun / Millahue area comprised 10 RC holes totaling 2,970m, which cut various mineralised structures. Some holes cut broad, low-grade silver mineralisation - such as 338m @ 7.7 g/t Ag + 0.03 g/t Au (drill hole L004) and 242m @ 2.2g/t Ag + 0.02g/t Au (drill hole L009) - suggesting proximity to a possible mineralised vein. Narrow, epithermal veins with gold-silver values were also cut - such as 2m @ 115 g/t Ag + 1.38 g/t Au (drill hole L003) and 3m @ 47 g/t Ag + 0.1 g/t Au (drill hole L005).

The Pitekun / Millahue area is small - encompassing less than 1,000m x 500m - but drilling there has revealed the prospectivity of the Loro project area. Strong arsenic and antimony anomalies from an extensive surface colluvium sampling grid, supported by scattered silver and gold anomalies amongst other elemental anomalies, extend over a 5Km N-S zone to the immediate east of the Pitekun / Millahue area. Given the impossibility of trenching these geochemical anomalies due to the thick colluvial cover, an infill geochemical sampling grid together with detailed geophysical (IP and VLF) follow-up is proposed. Existing ground magnetics data suggests several structural controls in the area that would assist in interpreting the geophysical follow-up, prior to further potential drill testing.

ORCA

The 5,400 hectare Orca project is located along the prolific Coastal Mineral Belt of norther Chile, some 50Km southwest of the mining town of Copiapo and some 45Km southwest of the giant Candelaria copper-gold mine. Major strands of the coast-parallel Atacama Fault Zone are an important control on the location of many of the deposits and mines along the Coastal Mineral Belt, and one important strand passes directly through the Orca project area.

Orca comprises an auriferous shear zone system directly related to the NE-SW oriented Atacama Fault Zone in this area. A series of small, historically mined pits and shafts occur at the southwest end of the shear zone (now abandoned), with the shear zone extensions to the northeast frequently obscured by thin desert sand cover. However, the old-time miners traced the shear zone intermittently through the sand cover by digging small pits. Geophysical evidence (regional magnetics) together with historic pits and mineral occurrences give evidence to at least 10Km of potential strike of the prospective shear zone in a NE-SW direction.

The Orca project area has never been explored by modern exploration techniques, and there is no evidence for historic drilling. Revelo has completed only reconnaissance exploration to date with surface rock chip samples from old workings assaying (from zero) up to more than 18 g/t gold. The project requires detailed geophysical profiles to map the shear zone structures through the thin sand cover, possibly followed up by trenching and drill testing.

SUMMARY

Revelo wholly owns more than 38,000 hectares of mineral concessions at 4 projects in northern Chile, located along some of the world's most prospective and productive mineral belts, all with strong evidence of the potential to find significant gold and silver deposits. A rolling program of surface exploration is being considered, subject to an appropriate capital raise, that will further refine or define drill targets that the Company believes will offer significant opportunity to investors.

A technical summary, including maps, of Revelo's gold portfolio can be found on the Company's website (Revelo Gold Portfolio). Further information, including project fact sheets, more detailed technical presentations for each project, and relevant historic news releases, can be easily accessed from Revelo's website (www.reveloresources.com).

QA/QC aspects of historic results have been previously reported by Revelo (see historic news releases on the Company's website and on SEDAR). Note that it is not known at this time if historic drill intercepts represent true widths.

Readers of this news release and potential investors are cautioned that when reference to an historic or an existing mining district is made in the project descriptions in this news release and on Revelo's website, this is to help place the properties into geologic context and is for reference purposes only. There is no evidence to date that similar mineral resources occur on Revelo's properties.

Qualified Person

Demetrius Pohl, PhD., Certified Professional Geoscientist (CPG), an independent geological consultant to Revelo, is the Company's Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosures for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators and has verified the data disclosed and approved the written disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release.

ABOUT REVELO

Revelo is a Canadian company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: RVL). Revelo has interests in an outstanding portfolio of projects prospective for gold and copper located along proven mineral belts in Chile, one of the world's top mining jurisdictions. The Company has a vision to reward shareholders with wealth-generating mineral discoveries along Chile's prime mineral belts, through leveraged and more efficient capital deployment, exploration, discovery and monetization. For more information, please visit Revelo's website here www.reveloresources.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Michael Winn, Chairman

INVESTOR CONTACT

Timothy J Beale | President & CEO

T: +1 604 687-5544 | info@reveloresources.com | www.reveloresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Revelo expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "indicate" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Revelo believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

Mineral Belt Map of Northern Chile

Showing (some of)

Revelo Project Interests





Image 1: Revelos 4 Wholly Owned Gold-Silver Projects underlined in RED



To view an enhanced version of Image 1, please visit:

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58688
Wambui Kamiru Collymore, the widow of the late Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore, says she has been losing her sense of smell since her husband died on July 1 last year.

I lost my sense of smell. It returned a few months ago and then disappeared again. Its back again; so it goes and comes, she said in an interview with Sunday Nation.

In grief, any number of things can happen. You can lose your sense of memory; your eyesight can be blurred. Grief is a chemical reaction in your body and it has a chemical effect on your senses, and so, for me, it was my sense of smell  which was an indicator of the magnitude of the trauma of death, she added.

Ms Wambui also revealed that Bob was cremated a day after his passing in strict adherence to his will. The only thing he did not choose was what to be dressed in, something Ms Wambui took it upon herself.

He had chosen a strictly simple exit. And he did not just say it; he committed to it in writing. Think of it as an instruction manual written to be ticked off when you die.

Some of the details were in that document, which he signed over through a lawyer. He used to say, I dont want to hang about. Its like Im done; dont keep me around.

He (Collymore) scripted all of it. except what outfit he would be cremated in, and that was my choice. And I chose to put his body in a Mudi suit, which is a white linen suit with flowers on the front of it. And he was barefoot, with no jewellery; none of those other possessions. Just him, in his purest form, she said.

Bob Ashes & Uhurus Pledge

Ms Wambui also disclosed that Bobs ashes were deposited in the sea at his favourite beach.

Bobs ashes were deposited into the sea in Diani. Diani was his favourite beach in the whole world, so we thought it best to put his ashes in the sea there; so that no matter where any of us, his family or friends, are in the world, as long as you are near or out at sea, then you are in the presence of where his remains are, she said.

At Bobs memorial, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Collymore had asked him to take care of Wambui after his death.

Asked if the President had honoured this request, Ms Collymore said: I would say that Uhuru has been very supportive. And he has been supportive not as a President but as a friend of Bobs. I am appreciative of the fact that he has been there with my family and Im grateful for the fact that he was a good friend of Bobs.

She added that Bobs famed boys club comprising KCB Group CEO Joshua Oigara, journalist Jeff Koinange, politician Peter Kenneth, stock market trader Aly-Khan Sachu, Scangroup CEO Bharat Thakrar, Standard Chartered Banks Lamin Manjang and the then British High Commissioner Nic Hailey have been supportive.

They have been very supportive. They have checked on me constantly. I feel like Im part of a family with the boys club, she said.
Under Way in Europe Since May, In Preparation in the U.S.

Designated As An Urgent Public Health National Priority In U.K.

BETHESDA, Maryland, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RevImmune, a privately held biotechnology company developing CYT107 immune therapy for infectious diseases and cancer, announced today that it has launched the "ILIAD" Phase II trial for treatment of COVID-19.

Many COVID-19 clinical trials have focused on decreasing the hyper-inflammatory phase that often occurs in COVID-19 patients and can cause substantial damage. However, there is a growing recognition that the hyper-inflammatory phase is generally temporary, and is often followed by a stage of immune exhaustion and T cell loss. Therapy with CYT107 is designed to substantially increase the number of immune T cells and correct the immune exhaustion.

CYT107 is a therapeutic form of the master growth factor for human T cells: Interleukin-7 (IL-7). CYT107 has been administered to over 440 patients in clinical trials and is known to substantially increase the number and diversity of T cells, including in patients in the ICU with low and exhausted T cell levels from overwhelming infections. CYT107 has an excellent safety profile, even in very sick patients.

The "ILIAD" Phase II trial of CYT107 for COVID-19 was selected by the U.K. National Health System for designation as an "urgent public health national priority." The trial opened in the U.K. in mid-May and is enrolling patients at 10 sites across the U.K. The trial opened in France and Belgium in early June. Preparations for the trial are under way in the U.S.

In addition to the clinical trial in COVID-19, RevImmune has also treated 12 COVID-19 patients on a compassionate use basis. The data from the compassionate use cases support the ILIAD trial design and are in the process of peer reviewed publication.

The effects of CYT107/IL-7 in restoring immune levels are both rapid and durable. The treatment involves just two administrations per week for 2-4 weeks. In clinical trials to date, the effects have been seen within days of beginning administration of CYT107, and have been seen to continue for up to a year after the 2-4 week administration. This lasting effect of CYT107 to maintain the increase in immune cells over time is important in preventing late infections that are a frequent cause of patient relapse and hospital readmission.

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CYT107/IL-7 can readily be combined with other treatments as well. For example, CYT107/IL-7 can be combined with treatments such as Remdesivir, other anti-viral treatments and/or anti-inflammatory treatments. Thus, CYT107 offers a novel means of improving outcomes in COVID-19 and other infectious diseases by safely strengthening the patient's own immune system.

RevImmune is collaborating with a team of leading experts in critical care and immunology, including: Dr. Manu Shankar-Hari, the Principal Investigator leading the U.K. trial cohort, Dr. Bruno Francois, the Principal Investigator leading the trial cohort in France and Belgium, as well as Drs. Richard Hotchkiss and Ken Remy at Washington University in St. Louis, Drs. Lyle Moldawer and Scott Brakenridge at the University of Florida Gainesville, and Dr. Martin A. "Mac" Cheever, Director of the Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network (CITN) at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Dr. Remy commented: "data over the past few months from China, Italy, and the US have demonstrated that patients with COVID-19 infections have a sustained and severe loss of lymphocytes with a profound immune suppression. Patients who succumb to COVID-19 have the most severe loss of lymphocytes and have a 50% incidence of developing secondary hospital-acquired infections."

Dr. Hotchkiss explained that "IL-7 has well documented anti-viral activity in immuno-suppressed patients with HIV, hepatitis C, and JC virus. In addition, in a multi-center Phase II trial that we conducted with RevImmune, CYT107 also reversed lymphopenia (low levels of T cells) and improved immunity in patients with life threatening sepsis. We believe that IL-7/CYT107 represents an important new approach for treating immune-suppressed patients with a variety of infectious diseases."

About RevImmune

RevImmune is a privately held biotech company based in France, the U.S. and the U.K. RevImmune is in multiple Phase II trials with CYT107 for treatment of sepsis, certain infectious diseases and certain cancers. Over 440 patients have been treated with CYT107 in RevImmune's prior trials for multiple different viral diseases and sepsis. CYT107 showed an excellent safety profile and encouraging results in those trials.

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SOURCE RevImmune Inc
OFX Daily Market News





Posted by OFX



AUD  Australian Dollar

In the absence of any local data on Friday the Australian Dollar traded within a 55-pip range against the Greenback and struggled to make a decisive move in either direction. Having moved higher by 1.5 cents earlier on in the week touching 0.6960 the pair witnessed a sell-off as a resurgence in new coronavirus cases in the US threatened to halt the progress in reopening the US economy. With risk dominating the markets and investor nerves rising, riskier currencies like the Aussie and Kiwi are the first to go, having touched an intra-day high of 0.6895, the pair slipped lower and closed Fridays session at 0.6861.

Looking at the calendar ahead, it is a pretty quiet week for macro news. Tuesday sees RBA Deputy Governor Debelle speak may clarify the Banks position on AUD after Lowes comment this week. Thursday is Trade Balance and Friday sees Retail Sales which are expected to show some improvement. As we move into the last week of the Australian financial year, we would expect to continue to see the Aussie vulnerable with rising COVID-19 cases not only in the US, but parts of Europe and also locally in Australia.

Adopting a technical viewpoint, the Australian Dollar opened at 6860. We see initial support at 0.6810, followed by 0.6775. On the topside, the 70c continues to be a huge resistance barrier with 0.6960 a level to watch in the short-term.

Key Movers

The US Dollar Index which measures the strength of the Greenback against a basket of six major currencies was relatively unchanged on Friday. US Covid cases saw the largest daily rise in six-weeks whilst Florida and Arizona had their largest daily rise of infections. The state of Washington has paused its staged reopening amid concerns. US domestic data added to the downbeat tone, Personal Spending underwhelmed, rebounding by 8.2%, less than the 9.3% jump forecasted. This was still a sharp increase on Aprils record -12.6% drop. Meanwhile, US Consumer Confidence also came in under expectations at 78.1 in June, missing forecasts of 79.2. Whilst this is only a slight difference it is seen to be an important one as confident consumers spend money which is essential for the US economy to recover quickly. On the flip side, a nervous consumer is unlikely to spend so freely and will hold back the economic rebound leading to a more drawn-out recovery.

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The Cable is lower once again touching 4-weeks lows of 1.2314 on Friday driven by a rally of the US Dollar across the board. The GBP also lower against the EUR, getting close to critical resistance levels of 0.9100 and CHF dropped to its lowest levels since March at 1.1687

Expected Ranges

AUD/USD: 0.6810  0.6960 

AUD/EUR: 0.6040  0.6180 

GBP/AUD: 1.7780  1.8140 

AUD/NZD: 1.0650  1.0720 

AUD/CAD: 0.9350  0.9420 





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More than 80,000 bidders registered for 29 online auctions conducted over five days ( June 22  26)



VANCOUVER, BC , June 29, 2020 /CNW/ - The online strength and global network of Ritchie Bros . was on full display last week as the company set a new record, selling 35,000+ equipment items and trucks in 29 online auctions across five countries in just five daysmaking it the busiest week ever in the company's 60+-year history.

With all auctions held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ritchie Bros . also set new online traffic records, with more than 2.5 million visits to its online platforms in five days ( June 22  26). This includes the company's busiest day ever on Wednesday, June 24 , when the company hit 212,000+ visits to rbauction.com in a single day.

"We continue to see record attendance at our auctions around the world as more and more of our customers get used to participating in our auctions online," said Ann Fandozzi , Chief Executive Officer, Ritchie Bros . "With big, multi-day auctions in Edmonton , Houston , and Northeast, as well as 26 other auctions last week, we registered a staggering 80,000+ bidders in a week! Our people are working incredibly hard to ensure we deliver for our customers during these difficult times."

Total gross transaction proceeds for the record-breaking week surpassed US$295+ million, including a US$43+ million auction in Houston, TX ; a US$47+ million Northeast Regional auction; and US$69+ million (CA$95+ million) Edmonton, AB auction.

Houston, TX auction  More than 9,100 bidders from 61 countries registered to bid for the June 23  24 Houston auction. Approximately 47 percent of the equipment was purchased by out-of-state buyers from as far away as Vietnam , Poland , and the United Arab Emirates . Highlights from this auction included a 2015 Tadano GR-750XL 75-ton rough terrain crane (Lot 302) that sold for US$350,000 to a buyer from California and a 2014 Caterpillar D6N LGP dozer (Lot 214) that sold for US$150,000 to a buyer from Texas .

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Northeast Regional auction  With its first-ever Northeast Regional event, Ritchie Bros . combined equipment from four locationsNorth East, MD; North Franklin, CT ; Pittsburgh, PA ; and Williamsport , PAinto one auction. More than 5,700 items were sold in the June 23  24 Northeast event, including a 2013 Caterpillar 825H soil compactor (Lot 860 S) that sold for US$325,000 to a buyer from North Carolina and a 2015 Comacchio MC22AHT crawler blast hole drill (Lot 1104) that sold for US$260,000 to a buyer from New York . In total, more than 7,900 bidders from 64 countries registered for the two-day auction.

Edmonton, AB auction  After completing a US$131+ million auction just last month, Ritchie Bros .' Edmonton team was back at it again last week, selling 9,500+ items over three days. Approximately 45 percent of the equipment in the auction was sold to buyers from outside the province, including a 2013 Mack MRU613 Telebelt conveyor truck (Lot 426) that sold for US$291,471 (CA$395,000) to a buyer from California and a 2013 John Deere 410E 6x6 articulated dump truck (Lot 838) that sold for US$184,475 (CA$250,000) to a buyer from British Columbia .

Other highlights from this record-breaking week include a US$25+ million weekly featured auction on IronPlanet.com and US$15+ million (CA$21+ million) of equipment sold at 18 on-farm Timed Auctions across Western Canada .

Customer testimonials:

"We are ecstatic with the results we achieved this week," said Ryan Conlen , who represents Highway Materials and Tony Depaul & Son, both of which sold items in last week's Northeast Regional auction. "I can't believe what an amazing job Ritchie Bros . is doing during a pandemic."

" Ritchie Bros . is the leader in their industry and that's why we do business with them," said Johnny Roszko of Roszko Construction Limited, who sold items in last week's Edmonton auction. "They have the best marketing and the biggest audienceif you need to sell equipment, they provide the biggest market in the world."

About Ritchie Bros .:

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros . (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros . Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offers live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with featured weekly auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; and Ritchie Bros . Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales. The company's suite of multichannel sales solutions also includes Ritchie Bros . Asset Solutions, a complete end-to-end asset management and disposition system. Ritchie Bros . also offers sector-specific solutions including GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy, plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros . Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros ., visit RitchieBros.com.

Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media.

Cision

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ritchie-bros-sells-35-000-items-for-us295-million-in-its-busiest-auction-week-yet-301084925.html

SOURCE Ritchie Bros .

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2020/29/c6783.html
By Supantha Mukherjee and Kenneth Li

June 29 (Reuters) - Spotify Technology on Tuesday plans to announce local language adaptations of a popular scripted podcast as part of the Swedish music streaming company's strategy to appeal to a wider global audience.

The first show, available globally on July 7, will be Sandra, a scripted podcast released in 2018 by Gimlet, later bought by Spotify, and will be released in France, Germany, Mexico and Brazil.

The new format is far more ambitions than translating shows into local languages, Spotify said. Its producers have altered scripts, changed the names of characters for local taste, context and feel, and features known stars in those countries.

"In many cases when you have a translation done, it doesn't allow you to bring in the appropriate local tones and nuances," Courtney Holt, global head of Spotify Studios, told Reuters.

"When you think about things like slang, you think about colloquial language. It's very hard to get that across unless you start to think culturally, locally, as opposed to just thinking in global language," he said.

In "Sandra," protagonist Helen works in a company that sells an artificial intelligence-backed voice assistant, Sandra.

As one of Sandra's operators, Helen spends her days peeking into the world of Sandra users, responding to their questions and demands. One problem: the users don't know she's real.

"What I liked about Sandra is it's AI gone wrong, and as weird as it sounds, the story is as relevant today as it was two years ago," Holt said.

Spotify selected Sandra for its universal appeal, and Holt said it would look for similar candidates.

Kristin Wiig gave voice to Sandra and Alia Shawkat provided Helen's voice in the original podcast.

In France, Sandra becomes Sara and will feature the voice of Belgian-French actress Virginie Efira. In Mexico, it will be "Sonia" with voice-over by Mexican actress Aislinn Derbez.

The original seven-episode podcast had just one season. Holt said Spotify would weigh more seasons based on demand from international markets. (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru and Kenneth Li in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Dermacia Pro Eye Serum and Vitamin C Serum are now available for purchase online

LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / June 29, 2020 / Scepter Holdings, Inc., (OTC PINK:BRZL) a high-performance consumer goods sales and marketing company, releases Dermacia Pro Eye Serum and Vitamin C Serum available for purchase online through DermaciaPro.com.

Dermacia Pro Eye Serum is formulated to be Allergen Free, Paraben Free, Cruelty Free, support Anti-Aging, Smoothing, Exfoliating and Fragrance Free. To be used daily, in the morning and evening to support healthy skin around the eyes.

Dermacia Pro Vitamin C Serum is formulated to be Allergen Free, Paraben Free, Cruelty Free, support Anti-Aging, Smoothing, Detoxifying and Fragrance Free. To be used daily on the face and neck to support healthy skin.

Scepter markets Dermacia Pro products on its brand website, DermaciaPro.com, and through Amazon.com. The new Dermacia Pro Serums complement Dermacia Pro's Breathable Foundation line.

"We are pleased to introduce Dermacia Pro's Eye Serum and Vitamin C Serum, we believe these products support customers caring for their skin and complement our existing Breathable Foundation line of Dermacia Pro products.", stated Adam Nicosia, Vice President of Sales.

About Scepter Holdings, Inc.

Scepter Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") manages the sales and brand development of high-performance consumer packaged goods. The company seeks to acquire performing brands to add to the company's portfolio of products and brands sold online and through strategic retail relationships. The company has expertise manufacturing, distributing, marketing, and selling online consumer packaged goods and seeks to leverage its expertise to grow additional acquired brands. Scepter Holdings, Inc. was incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada on January 11, 2007.

For more information, please visit our website: http://scepterbrands.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including economic slowdown affecting companies, our ability to successfully develop products, rapid change in our markets, changes in demand for our future products, legislative, regulatory and competitive developments and general economic conditions. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties discussed in Scepter Holdings, Inc. filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which factors may be incorporated herein by reference. Forward-looking statements may be identified but not limited by the use of the words "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "will," "believes," "estimates," "potential," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Story continues

Investors Contact:

775-296-5768

info@scepterbrands.com

SOURCE: Scepter Holdings, Inc.





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https://www.accesswire.com/595544/Scepter-Holdings-Inc-Introduces-Dermacia-Pro-Eye-Serum-and-Vitamin-C-Serum




Perry Durning and Frank (Bud) Hillemeyer are past recipients of the PDAC Thayer Lindsley International Mineral Discoveries Award

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 29, 2020) - Silver Dollar Resources Inc. (CSE: SLV) ("Silver Dollar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Perry Durning and Mr. Frank (Bud) Hillemeyer as technical advisors to the Company.

"Perry and Bud are mine finders with a wealth of experience and I am thrilled they have agreed to join the Company," said Mike Romanik President of Silver Dollar. "I am truly excited to have the opportunity to work with them and look forward to the prospect of collectively adding a few more deposits to their impressive list of discoveries."

Mr. Hillemeyer, M.Sc., (Bud) is an economic geologist who has been actively involved in mineral exploration for 37 years and has a proven record of discovery. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a B.A. in Geology and from San Diego State University with an M.Sc. in Geology. Bud has conducted extensive exploration programs in the western United States, Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica. He has worked with an array of clients including Kennecott, Meridian Gold, BHP, Mount Isa Mines, Hecla Mining, Crown Resources, Monarch Resources, Silver SSR Mining, Canplats Resources, and The Electrum Group.

Mr. Durning, M.Sc., (Perry) is an economic geologist who has been actively involved in mineral exploration for over 50 years and has focused much of his career on grassroots exploration in pioneering areas. He graduated with a B.Sc. in geology from San Diego State University and an M.Sc. in Economic Geology from the University of Arizona. Perry has worked extensively throughout the western United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. He worked for Amax Exploration, SAGE Associates and Occidental Minerals, before becoming exploration Manager and then president of Fischer-Watt Gold Co.

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After having worked together for over a decade at Fisher-Watt Gold Co., Perry and Bud formed La Cuesta International, Inc. in 1993 and are recognized for their outstanding record of grassroots discoveries, particularly the:

San Sebastian Silver-Gold Mine, Mexico - initially placed into production by Hecla Mining in 2001, this low-cost producer currently has mineral reserves and resources of over 45 million silver-equivalent ounces (AgEQ oz)

San Agustin Gold Mine, Mexico - now in production (Argonaut Gold) with mineral reserves and resources totalling 1.06 million oz of gold and 41.6 million oz silver.

Pitarrilla Silver Deposit, Mexico - owned by SSR Mining, this development-stage project hosts a measured, indicated and inferred resources of 552 million oz of silver.

Camino Rojo Gold Project, Mexico - owned by Orla Mining, this development-stage project hosts proven and probable reserves of 1.0 million oz of gold and 20 million oz of silver and measured and indicated resources of 9.5 million oz of gold and 100 million oz of silver.

Cerro Los Gatos Mine, Mexico - placed into production in 2019 by Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining and DOWA Minerals & Metals, the underground mine generates 9.2 million AgEQ oz annually. The Cerro Los Gatos deposit currently hosts a measured, indicated and inferred resources totalling 236 million AgEQ oz.

Bud and Perry received the prestigious Thayer Lindsley International Mineral Discoveries Award in 2010. The Award is presented annually by the PDAC in memory of Thayer Lindsley, one of the greatest mine finders of all time.

About Silver Dollar Resources Inc.

Silver Dollar Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company focused on creating shareholder value by finding and developing economic precious and base metal deposits. Having completed its initial public offering in May 2020, the Company is now trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "SLV". Silver Dollar's initial exploration projects are the Pakwash Lake and the Longlegged Lake properties that are both located in the re-energized Red Lake Mining Division of Ontario, Canada. The Company has an aggressive growth strategy and is actively reviewing potential acquisition targets in mining-friendly jurisdictions, internationally.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Signed "Michael Romanik"

Michael Romanik,

President, CEO & Director

Direct line: (204) 724-0613

Email: romanikm@mymts.net

Silver Dollar Resources Inc.

Suite 200, 551 Howe Street,

Vancouver, BC V6C 2C2

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FILE PHOTO: Sony Corp's logo is seen at its news conference in Tokyo

By Makiko Yamazaki and Noriyuki Hirata

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp's image sensor business aims to replicate PlayStation's success to address its reliance on a handful of manufacturers in the fickle smartphone market: It plans to sell software by subscription for data-analyzing sensors in situ.

Transforming the light-converting chips into a platform for software - essentially akin to the PlayStation Plus video games service - amounts to a sea change for the $10 billion business, which built its dominance through hardware breakthroughs.

The effort chimes with Sony's pursuit of recurring revenue after years of loss in the volatile consumer electronics sector. Success, analysts said, could serve as a rejoinder to activist investor Daniel Loeb's calls for the business to be spun off.

"We have a solid position in the market for image sensors, which serve as a gateway for imaging data," said Sony's Hideki Somemiya, who heads a new team developing sensor applications.

Analysis of such data with artificial intelligence (AI) "would form a market larger than the growth potential of the sensor market itself in terms of value," Somemiya said in an interview, pointing to the recurring nature of software-dependent data processing versus a hardware-only business.

Sony has developed what it calls the world's first image sensor with integrated AI processor. The sensor can be installed in security cameras where it can single out factory workers not wearing helmets, for instance, or be mounted in vehicles to monitor driver drowsiness. Importantly, the software can be modified or replaced wirelessly without disturbing the camera.

The Japanese conglomerate hopes customers will subscribe to its sensor software service through monthly fees or licensing, much like how gamers buy a PlayStation console and then pay for software or subscribe to online services.

Sony has not disclosed a start date for the service, but at a news conference last month, Somemiya said there was demand from "retailers, factories - mainly business-to-business".

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MINDSET CHANGE

South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Chinese-owned OmniVision Technologies are also expanding the software capability of image sensors, but analysts said a 52% market share gives Sony a competitive edge in the emerging area.

Still, said Somemiya, a software-centred approach will require a change of mindset at a division accustomed to abiding by specifications of smartphone makers - just five of whom account for the bulk of its revenue.

The new direction comes as U.S. hedge fund Third Point LLC, a minority investor headed by Loeb, continues to push Sony to spin off the image sensor division, saying its value could be higher if it was not masked by the complexity of the company.

Sony Chief Executive Kenichiro Yoshida counters that keeping the division in house gives it easier access to group resources and has said diversity is the company's strength.

"CEO Yoshida's message suggests Sony will focus on profit growth with diversified businesses," said analyst Junya Ayada at JPMorgan Securities.

Sony's portfolio may be growing in complexity, but it still reported two consecutive years of record profit through March 2019, Ayada said.

Having technology with diversified applications can also be advantageous in times of uncertainty, said Atsushi Osanai, professor at Waseda University Business School.

"The next big thing for sensors may be in self-driving technology, but it's important to explore other applications," Osanai said.

Still, others said it is hard to factor in the potential of the sensor software subscription service as it could take years for such a business to become a driver of Sony's overall growth.

"The number of sensors used at factories and retailers will probably be small compared to those for the over one-billion-unit smartphone market," said analyst Hideki Yasuda at Ace Securities.

(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki and Noriyuki Hirata; Editing by David Dolan and Christopher Cushing)
South Korea exports to fall for fourth month but at a slower pace: Reuters poll A truck drives between shipping containers at a container terminal at Incheon port in Incheon

By Joori Roh

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean exports likely shrunk for a fourth month but at a slower pace in June due to easing global virus lockdowns and more working days, yet a second wave of infection and Sino-U.S. tension were seen clouding near-term recovery, a poll showed on Monday.

Overseas sales were expected to decline 7.8% year-on-year, according to the median forecast in a Reuters poll of 12 economists. That compared with a 23.6% plunge in May and a 7.5% fall in preliminary data for the first 20 days of the month.

"The rate of contraction should have narrowed to a single-digit due to resumption of economic activities in some parts of the world and more working days in the month," said Park Sung-woo, economist at DB Financial Investment.

Many economists see the export decline slowing further from the third quarter given signs of recovery in major economies, but major downside risks still lie ahead.

"With the second-wave infection, unemployment increase, and China-U.S. tensions clouding the near-term global outlook, the recovery path in exports is expected to be U-shaped in the second half of 2020," said DBS economist Ma Tieying.

The poll also forecast that the country's imports to tumble 9.6% year-on-year in June, much slower than a 21.0% plunge in the previous month.

Given the country's high dependence on foreign trade - with exports and imports taking up 63.7% of 2019 nominal GDP - a growing number of analysts downgraded their economic projection for South Korea this year, with the International Monetary Fund now seeing a 2.1% contraction.

In the same poll, economists saw industrial output in May slipping a seasonally adjusted 1.4% from a month earlier, a smaller decline than the 6.0% of April. Industrial output data trail trade and some other data by a month.

Eleven economists also estimated consumer prices would slide a median 0.1% in June from a year earlier, compared with a 0.3% fall a month earlier.

(Reporting by Joori Roh; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
FILE - In this Monday, July 8, 2019 file photo, Spanish Economy Minister Nadia Calvino, left, speaks with President of the eurogroup Mario Centeno during a meeting of the europgroup at the Europa building in Brussels. Spain on Thursday, June 25, 2020 nominated Economy Minister Nadia Calvino as the next head of the 19-nation Eurogroup, one of the EU's most powerful bodies. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

BRUSSELS (AP)  Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and his Luxembourg counterpart Pierre Gramegna threw their hats into the leadership ring Thursday, joining Spains Economy Minister Nadia Calvino as official candidates to head the powerful bloc of 19 nations using Europes single currency.

The person eventually named president of the Eurogroup faces a mammoth task chaperoning the eurozone through what is predicted to be Europes deepest recession in a century, as the coronavirus ravages economies around the world.

Portugals Mario Centeno announced on June 11 that he was stepping down as Eurogroup president after completing his 2.5-year term.

Should she be named, Calvino  a respected economist well known to European Union officials for her years of work at the European Commission  would be the first woman to hold the job.

Donohoe pledged that if elected, I will work to chart a common way forward on building the European recovery, strengthening the eurozone economy, and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth for member states and their citizens.

In a tweet just before the deadline for submitting candidates expired, Gramegna said: I will use my 6-year experience, all my energy and diplomacy for this task.

Todays momentous challenges require consensus and compromise between all eurozone members - small or large, he said.

Eurogroup finance ministers will discuss the candidates merits at their next video meeting on July 9. Presidents are elected by a simple majority vote. Centeno will step down three days later.

We will strike the right balance, but with one idea in mind, to elect a president that can handle all goals and challenges in the coming months and years. The choice will not be trivial, it will be of high quality, Centeno said earlier this month.

The Eurogroups main task is to ensure the close coordination of economic policies among the 19 member countries. While an unofficial body in EU terms, it remains extremely powerful and its image was badly tainted in Greece for its handling of the countrys debt crisis.

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The candidacy of Calvino, who is also one of the four deputy prime ministers in Spains left-wing coalition government, had been rumored for weeks. She worked for 12 years at the blocs executive commission; four of them in charge of the EU budget.

Since joining Socialist leader Pedro Sanchezs Cabinet, she has been a staunch defender of economic orthodoxy and often perceived as a moderate counterbalance to the anti-austerity approach of the coalition governments small partner, Pablo Iglesias Unidas Podemos (United We Can).

___

Aritz Parra in Madrid contributed to this report.
ST. LOUIS, June 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) today announced the hiring of Rob Wagman, former President and CEO of LKQ Corp. (LKQ), as a senior advisor. He will primarily work with Stifels growing investment banking team, which includes a diverse group of senior investment bankers covering all facets of the global automotive, mobility, capital goods, auto aftermarket, and auto technology sectors. Mr. Wagman currently serves as a board member to a number of leading automotive aftermarket and industrial companies and brings to Stifel more than three decades of experience as a senior executive.



Prior to his retirement in 2017, Mr. Wagman grew LKQ into a global market leader with a $12 billion market capitalization. During his tenure at LKQ, Mr. Wagman helped complete over 260 transactions in all parts of the world, establishing the firm as the leading distributor of aftermarket and recycled parts to the North American collision sector. Additionally, he led LKQs expansion into the European repair and maintenance segment through several strategic acquisitions, while also establishing a leading presence in the North American enthusiast products segment. Earlier in his career, Mr. Wagman held senior roles at Copart (CPRT), the leading salvage vehicle auction company in North America.

Rob is a tremendous addition to our investment banking practice, said Brad Raymond, Global Head of Investment Banking at Stifel. Rob brings a wealth of talent and experience that align with our goal to marry industry depth with our advisory and capital markets capabilities. We expect Rob to play a critical role in supporting our investment banking practice and are excited to have him on our team.

Stifel Company Information

Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifels broker-dealer clients are served in the United States through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, including its Eaton Partners business division; Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC and Century Securities Associates, Inc. The Companys broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank and Stifel Bank & Trust offer a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. and Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A. offer trust and related services. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Companys website at www.stifel.com . For global disclosures, please visit https://www.stifel.com/docs/pdf/pressreleases/press-release-disclosure.pdf.

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(Bloomberg Opinion) -- As Americans consider news reports that Russia offered Taliban fighters bounties to kill U.S. service members, its worth recalling the tortured history the two nations have in Afghanistan.

Going back to the days of the Afghan mujahideen and Charlie Wilsons War, Washington provided weapons  notably, surface-to-air missiles  and training to Soviet adversaries in the 1980s. When I visited Moscow as the NATO commander of the Afghan mission almost 30 years later, I met with the man who had been the last Soviet general in Afghanistan (he had retired and gone into politics). He said to me that we Americans had Russian blood on your hands.

But that was very different from allegedly providing cash payments to Taliban fighters for killing individual American soldiers, especially as peace talks are unfolding. Providing arms and training to allies and occasionally to surrogates is common international behavior  the U.S. does so for North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies and many other entities. But offering bounties for killing individual soldiers is shocking. It is especially dangerous when directed from the intelligence service of a nuclear-armed nation to the armed forces of a strategic opponent.

Whether or not President Donald Trump was formally briefed on these allegations is an open question (he denies it). But the charges are so explosive that the real question is simple: If he wasnt briefed, why not?

If I had caught a whiff of Russian bounties being placed on the 150,000 troops that were under my strategic command in Afghanistan, I would have instantly called my direct senior, the secretary of defense. And Im reasonably sure he would have immediately called the White House and set up a meeting of the National Security Council.

Certainly Congress will dive into this, and it should. If the bulk of the intelligence is accurate  and it certainly sounds plausible given what we know about the GRU, Russias shadowy intelligence service  there needs to a forceful response. Well know more in a few days and weeks, but should already be considering what the response might be.

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First, the U.S. should fully and thoroughly assess all the extant intelligence and  at an appropriate level of classification that protects sources and methods  reveal publicly what Russia has done. Washington has already shared much of this with the U.K., according to press reports. Other allies who are still alongside Americans in Afghanistan, mostly NATO nations, need to see this as well, to ensure they can maintain suitable force protection.

The U.S. also must redouble intelligence collection in Afghanistan to fully understand the double game the Russians are playing, and what other ways they are seeking to undermine the nascent peace process. There needs to be a serious assessment of the degree to which the GRU has penetrated the Taliban broadly. If bounties were offered, was this low-level activity by overactive intelligence officers, or part of a broad strategic effort by Russia to undermine the peace talks?

If the latter, what can our Afghan partners in the government of President Ashraf Ghani tell us about what is happening? What are the Russians objectives beyond killing American soldiers and embarrassing the U.S. in the country they dominated for a decade before being ignominiously driven out.

If the bounty reports are proved accurate, the Trump administration should strongly consider expelling the Russian ambassador to the U.S. and his entire intelligence team, along with consul generals. This would likely set off diplomatic retaliation by Russia, but that is a price we should be willing to pay. Similarly, no senior U.S. diplomats or military officers should meet with their Russian counterparts, including Trump meeting or talking with President Vladimir Putin or Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov.

In terms of military actions, the U.S. should reverse the recently announced removal of 10,000 troops from Germany. This is not the time to be showing a lack of resolve in our forward presence. It is also a good time to increase U.S. support to front-line allies dealing with Russia such as the Baltic states and Poland.

Finally, the U.S. should look at additional economic sanctions on Moscow, and certainly stop discussions of lifting current sanctions for its illegal invasion and occupation of Ukraine. It may be time to look at sanctions on individuals at the very senior levels of the Russian government, including Putin himself. It seems highly unlikely he would have been unaware of these bounties, particularly given his background as a KGB spymaster.

In a season of outrageous and unpredictable events, this stands out. If true, it shows such a blatant and reckless disregard for the norms of international behavior, even in a combat zone, that it puts the U.S. and Russia squarely on a geopolitical collision course.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

James Stavridis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a retired U.S. Navy admiral and former supreme allied commander of NATO, and dean emeritus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He is also an operating executive consultant at the Carlyle Group and chairs the board of counselors at McLarty Associates.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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Bangkok, Thailand--(Newsfile Corp. - June 29, 2020) - Tobacco harm reduction advocates across Asia-Pacific called on the Parliament of Australia to abort, not delay, the planned ban on imports of liquid nicotine for vaping to provide smokers with alternatives to combustible cigarettes. Factasia, a non-profit regional tobacco harm reduction consumer advocacy, said e-cigarettes or vapes, along with other smoke-free nicotine products such as heat-not-burn tobacco products and snus, have the ability to significantly reduce the health risks of millions of Australian smokers.





Factasia Logo



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"This is a technology that needs to be regulated, not restricted and banned. Adult consumers should be able to access a choice of regulated devices and liquids, including those containing nicotine. Underage use should be effectively and comprehensively banned," Factasia founder Heneage Mitchell said in separate letters sent to Australia's members of parliament.

Mitchell made the statement even as Health Minister Greg Hunt decided to postpone the ban on imports of liquid nicotine by six months amid opposition from vapers, consumer groups, tobacco harm reduction experts and even members of Parliament. This means that the ban will now be delayed to 1 January 2021 from the original plan of 1 July 2020.

Mitchell said MPs should instead push for the regulation of e-cigarettes and other smoke-free nicotine products that can substantially reduce the risks suffered by smokers from the tar - the byproduct of smoke.

"Consumers need to be truthfully and fully informed of the life-saving potential of vaping and granted access to a choice of regulated harm-reduced nicotine products which, at the moment, in Australia, they are not," Mitchell said.

"To be clear, there has never been a recorded death from vaping-regulated nicotine products since the introduction of the e-cigarette in 2001. But over the same period of time, more than 130 million smokers worldwide have died from tobacco-related illnesses and disease. They include many hundreds of thousands of our Australian brothers and sisters," he said.

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Ines Hage Nebyl from the Office of Tim Wilson MP acknowledged the receipt of the letter from Factasia and assured that Wilson remains a well-established supporter of allowing people to vape.

"In the last Parliament, he was part of an inquiry into the health impacts and regulation of vaping. The committee opposed legalisation and regulation. Tim was part of a dissenting report arguing the law should change as a regulated product. That was his view then. That is his view now. Tim's views have not changed; he wants people off tobacco. Further to this, Tim has expressed his views to the minister on the recent action, and will continue to do so," Nebyl said.

Wilson is among the politicians who opposed the ban on vaping, which they felt would encourage vapers to return to smoking. Sydney Morning Herald reported that 28 Coalition MPs and senators signed a petition opposing the ban on the importation of vaping products containing nicotine.

In a statement on 26 June 2020, Hunt said the delayed implementation of the ban aimed to help the group of people who have been using e-cigarettes with nicotine as a means to ending their cigarette smoking.

"In order to assist this group in continuing to end that addiction, we will therefore provide further time for implementation of the change by establishing a streamlined process for patients obtaining prescriptions through their GP," the minister said.

Tobacco harm reduction advocates said Hunt's statement provided them an opportunity to advocate for legalization and regulation of nicotine vaping in Australia, which has nearly 500,000 vapers, according to some estimates.

Mitchell said Hunt should review scientific evidence showing that vaping is 95 percent safer than smoking, as shown in the evidence review carried out by Public Health England, and is regarded as the most effective method of smoking cessation available to smokers by a vast number of researchers, medical professionals, genuine tobacco control experts and governments who looked at the evidence, including the U.K., the EU, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, the U.S., and recently, Hong Kong.

"The countries listed above continue to see historic declines in the number of citizens smoking as they switch to these far less harmful technologies," he said.

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) said it is time for MPs to reject the ban.

"In Australia, 21,000 citizens die every year from smoking-related disease. We feel that Australians who have made the informed choice to switch to alternative nicotine consumption, such as e-cigarettes, need to be heard by their elected representatives," said CAPHRA Executive Coordinator Nancy Loucas.

Loucas noted that in neighboring New Zealand, the Ministry of Health concluded that the effects that punitive regulation would have on the people who had chosen to move away from combustible cigarettes would be negative.

Other groups have also expressed their opposition to the ban, including the Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association (ATHRA), the Progressive Public Health Alliance (PPHA), Aotearoa Vape Community Advocacy (AVCA) and Legalise Vaping Australia (LVA).

About Factasia

factasia.org is an independent, not-for-profit, consumer-oriented advocate for rational debate about - and sensible regulation of - the rights of adult citizens throughout the Asia-Pacific region to choose to use tobacco or other nicotine-related products.

About CAPHRA

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is an alliance of consumer organizations from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand that aims to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jena Fetalino, JFPRC jena@jfprc.com, +639178150324

Push for Regulation

MPs should instead push for the regulation of e-cigarettes and other smoke-free nicotine products that can substantially reduce the risks suffered by smokers from the tar - the byproduct of smoke.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58733
(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. and China are moving beyond bellicose trade threats to exchanging regulatory punches that threaten a wide range of industries including technology, energy and air travel.

The two countries have blacklisted each others companies, barred flights and expelled journalists. The unfolding skirmish is starting to make companies nervous the trading landscape could shift out from under them.

There are many industries where U.S. companies have made long-term bets on Chinas future because the market is so promising and so big, said Myron Brilliant, the U.S. Chamber of Commerces head of international affairs. Now, theyre recognizing the risk.

China will look to avoid measures that could backfire, said Shi Yinhong, an adviser to the nations cabinet and a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing. Any sanctions on U.S. companies would be a last resort because China is in desperate need of foreign investment from rich countries for both economic and political reasons.

Nevertheless, pressure is only expected to intensify ahead of the U.S. elections in November, as President Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden joust over who will take a tougher line on China.

Trump has blamed China for covering up the coronavirus pandemic he has mocked as Kung Flu, accused Beijing of illicit espionage to steal our industrial secrets and threatened the U.S. could pursue a complete decoupling from the country. Biden, likewise, has described President Xi Jinping as a thug, labeled mass detention of Uighur Muslims as unconscionable and accused China of predatory trade practices.

And on Capitol Hill, Republicans and Democrats have found rare unity in their opposition to China, with lawmakers eager to take action against Beijing for its handling of Covid-19, forced technology transfers, human rights abuses and its tightening grip on Hong Kong.

China is going to be a punching bag in the campaign, said Capital Alpha Partners Byron Callan. But China is a punching bag that can punch back.

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China has repeatedly rejected U.S. accusations over its handling of the pandemic, Uighurs, Hong Kong and trade, and it has fired back at the Trump administration for undermining global cooperation and seeking to start a new cold war. Foreign Minister Wang Yi last month said China had no interest in replacing the U.S. as a hegemonic power, while adding that the U.S. should give up its wishful thinking of changing the country.

Both sides have already taken a series of regulatory moves aimed at protecting market share.

The U.S. is citing security concerns in blocking China Mobile Ltd., the worlds largest mobile operator, from entering the U.S. market. Its culling Chinese-made drones from government fleets and discouraging the deployment of Chinese transformers on the power grid. The Trump administration has also tried to constrain the global reach of Chinas Huawei Technologies Co., the worlds largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer.

Meanwhile, China prevented U.S. airline flights into the country for more than two months and, after the U.S. imposed visa restrictions on Chinese journalists, it expelled American journalists. It has stepped up its scrutiny of U.S. companies, with Chinas state news agency casting one probe as a warning to the White House. China also has long made it difficult for U.S. telecommunications companies to enter its market, requiring overseas operators to co-invest with local firms and requiring authorization by the central government.

One of the most combustible flash points has been the Trump administrations campaign to contain Huawei by seeking to limit the companys business in the U.S. and push allies to shun its gear in their networks.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission moved to block devices made by Huawei and ZTE Corp. from being used in U.S. networks. And the Commerce Department has placed Huawei on blacklists aimed at preventing the Chinese company from using U.S. technology for the chips that power its network gear, including tech from suppliers Qualcomm Inc. and Broadcom Inc.

After suppliers found work-arounds, Commerce in May tightened rules to bar any chipmaker using American equipment from selling to Huawei without U.S. approval. The step could constrain virtually the entire contract chipmaking industry, which uses equipment from U.S. vendors such as Applied Materials Inc., Lam Research Corp. and KLA Corp. in wafer fabrication plants.

The curbs also threaten to cripple Huawei. Although the company can buy off-the-shelf or commodity mobile chips from a third party such as Samsung Electronics Co. or MediaTek Inc., going that route would force it to make costly compromises on performance in basic products.

Huawei was on a list the Pentagon unveiled last week of companies it says are owned or controlled by Chinas military, opening them to increased scrutiny. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing accused the Trump administration of violating the very market economy principle the U.S. champions.

We are strongly opposed to this, the foreign ministry said Sunday of the Pentagons designation. China urges the U.S. to stop suppressing Chinese companies without reason and provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies to operate normally in the U.S.

After the new restrictions, the editor of the Communist Partys Global Times newspaper tweeted that China would retaliate using an unreliable entities list that it first threatened at the height of the trade war last year. Although China didnt identify companies on the list, the Global Times has cited a source close to the Chinese government as saying U.S. bellwethers such as Apple Inc. and Qualcomm could be targeted.

The fallout could extend to companies heavily reliant on Chinese supply chains, as well consumer-facing brands eager to expand sales in Asia. Boeing Co., which recorded $5.7 billion of revenue from China in 2019, and Tesla Inc., the biggest U.S. carmaker operating independently in China, are among companies most exposed if relations sour further.

Were playing in a much wider field now, said Jim Lucier, managing director of research firm Capital Alpha Partners. Were not simply talking about you tariff me and I tariff you. The playing field is virtually unlimited.

Planes and Automobiles

U.S. automakers have also been singed. In June, China fined Ford Motor Co.s main joint venture in the country for antitrust violations, saying Changan Ford Automobile Co. had restricted retailers sale prices since 2013.

Aviation has been another source of tension, as both countries squabble over access to their skies. Chinas decision to limit U.S. airlines operations to those services scheduled as of March 12 hurt carriers such as United Airlines Holdings Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc, and American Airlines Group Inc. that had suspended passenger flights to and from China because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. responded earlier this month by initially threatening to ban all flights from China, then relenting to allow two flights weekly once Chinese officials eased their restrictions. Now, in what appears to be a staged de-escalation, China gave U.S. passenger carriers permission to operate four weekly flights to the country and earlier this month, the Trump administration matched the move by also authorizing four flights from Chinese airlines.

Its happening outside of aviation too. Consider the U.S. governments decision to seize a half-ton, Chinese-made electrical transformer when it arrived at an American port last year and divert the gear to a national lab instead of the Colorado substation where it was supposed to be deployed. That move -- and a May executive order from Trump authorizing the blockade of electric grid gear supplied by foreign adversaries of the U.S. in the name of national security -- have already sent shock waves through the power sector.

The effect has been to dissuade American utilities from buying Chinese equipment to replace aging components in the nations electrical grid, said Jim Cai, the U.S. representative for Jiangsu Huapeng Transformer Co., the company whose delivery was seized. Although Cai said the firm has supplied parts to private utilities and government-run grid operators in the U.S. for nearly 15 years without security complaints, at least one American utility has since canceled a transformer award to the company, Cai said.

Trumps directive is tied to a broader effort to bring more manufacturing to the U.S. from China. This is a part of the administrations efforts to impair Chinas supply chains into the United States, said former White House adviser Mike McKenna.

Escalating tensions could jeopardize the U.S. economic recovery as well as Chinas trade commitment to buy $200 billion in American goods and services over the next two years. The countrys purchase of U.S. goods increased last month as the economy continued its recovery from the coronavirus shutdowns, but imports are still far behind the pace needed to meet the terms of the phase one trade deal, according to Bloomberg calculations based on data from Chinas Customs Administration.

U.S.-China struggles also may factor into the November presidential election. Former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton alleges in a new book that Trump asked Xi to help him win re-election by buying more farm products -- a claim the White House has dismissed as untrue.

I dont expect one single blow to send this relationship in a tailspin, the chambers Brilliant said. Each side will calibrate their reactions in a way that will not tip the scales too far.

Take the recent spat over media access. After the U.S. designated five Chinese media companies as foreign missions, China revoked press credentials for three Wall Street Journal staff members over an article with a headline describing China as the real sick man of Asia.

Then the Trump administration ordered Chinese state-owned news outlets to slash staff working in the U.S. Beijing responded in March by effectively expelling more than a dozen U.S. journalists working in China.

Both the U.S. and China have ample opportunities to ratchet up regulatory pressure. A bill passed by the Senate last month could prompt the delisting of Chinese companies from U.S. stock exchanges if American officials arent allowed to review their financial audits.

And last week, as the U.S. State Department imposed visa bans on Chinese Communist Party officials accused of infringing the freedom of Hong Kong citizens, a senior official made clear the move was just an opening salvo in a campaign to force Beijing to back off new restrictions on the city.

China, similarly, can slow licensing decisions and regulatory approvals, launch investigations under its anti-monopoly law and squeeze financial firms that want to do business in the country. For instance, the country could rescind pledges to let U.S. financial firms take controlling stakes in Chinese investment banking joint ventures, according to a Cowen analyst.

China will not make any significant compromise and will retaliate whenever and wherever possible, said Shi, the Renmin University professor.

Companies are still lured to China and its massive local market -- and tensions with the U.S. dont overcome the Asian superpowers appeal. Just one-fifth of companies surveyed by the American Chamber of Commerce in China late last year said they had moved or were considering moving some operations outside of the country, part of a three-year downward trend.

But the coronavirus pandemic has subsequently pushed more companies to reckon with the risks of relying too heavily on any single country for their supply chains, amid existing concerns about forced technology transfers, cost and rising tensions that could damp investment in China.

China is no longer the lowest-cost manufacturer, and companies are more reluctant to invest there, said James Lewis, director of the Technology Policy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.Everyone would like to be in the China market -- everyone wants it to be like 2010 -- but things are changing.

(Updates with trade data in 28th paragraph)

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WASHINGTON, June 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will address the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday on the expiration of a U.N. arms embargo on Iran, the U.S. State Department said on Monday.

The United States is pushing the 15-member U.N. Security Council to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran, which is currently set to end in October under Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The U.N. Security Council will decide on the matter and veto-powers Russia and China have signaled they oppose reimposing the ban.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Lisa Lambert)
WASHINGTON, June 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up billionaire Macau real estate developer Ng Lap Seng's appeal of his conviction and four-year prison sentence for bribing two U.N. ambassadors to help him build a multibillion-dollar conference center.

The justices left in place a lower court's 2019 ruling that federal bribery laws covered the payments made by Ng despite his contention that the statutes excluded money going to people involved in public entities such as the United Nations.

Ng was convicted in 2017 on all six counts he faced, including bribery, money laundering and corruption, after a four-week trial, then lost an appeal to the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Prosecutors accused Ng of paying more than $1 million in bribes to John Ashe, a former U.N. General Assembly president and ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda, and Francis Lorenzo, a former deputy ambassador from the Dominican Republic.

Ng was accused of making the payments in order to win support for his conference center, which he wanted to use it as a springboard for the development of luxury housing, hotels, marinas and a heliport. The center was never built.

Ng is imprisoned in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, and is eligible for release in January 2022, according to federal records. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley and Jonathan Stempel; Editing by Will Dunham)
By Jan Wolfe

WASHINGTON, June 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge by four environmental groups to the authority of President Donald Trump's administration to build his promised wall along the border with Mexico.

The justices turned away an appeal by the groups of a federal judge's ruling that rejected their claims that the administration had unlawfully undertaken border wall projects in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas harmful to plant and animal life. The groups had argued that the 1996 law under which the administration is building the wall gave too much power to the executive branch in violation of the U.S. Constitution. (Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by Will Dunham)
We recently issued an updated report on United Parcel Service, Inc. UPS.

The surge in e-commerce sales during the coronavirus pandemic is a huge positive for UPS. Notably, the need for door-to-door delivery of essentials is rising thanks to pandemic-induced social-distancing protocols, quarantine and lockdowns. Moreover, UPS' decision to impose peak delivery surcharge on companies (Amazon, Best Buy etc) responsible for surge in shipments including oversize items that are testing delivery networks, is aimed at controlling costs. This will boost the bottom line.

Moreover, UPS liquidity position is impressive. The company exited the March quarter with cash and equivalents of $9,460 million, above its current debt figure of $4,931 million. This suggests that it has enough cash to meet its current debt obligations.

Nevertheless, sluggish air freight market due to below par demand from China is a negative as UPS has significant exposure in China. Due to uncertainties related to the pandemic, the company withdrew its previously-issued 2020 projections for revenues and earnings per share. Moreover, capital expenditures for 2020 are expected to be lowered by nearly $1 billion from the previous projection, which might dent long-term growth.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

UPS currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the Zacks Transportation sector are Canadian Pacific Railway Limited CP, TFI International TFII and Teekay Tankers Ltd. TNK. All the stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Long-term earnings (three to five years) growth rate for Canadian Pacific, TFI International and Teekay Tankers is estimated at 7.5%, 4.1% and 3%, respectively.

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The Indian unit of Amazon.com Inc has eliminated all single-use plastic in its packaging across fulfillment centers in the country, in line with its target to weed out the packaging material by June, the e-commerce giant said on Monday. The company said in addition to replacing packaging materials such as bubble wraps and air pillows with "paper cushions", it had also swapped out packaging tapes with other bio-degradable options.

"We have successfully eliminated single-use plastic in all our fulfillment centers a 100%," Akhil Saxena, vice-president of customer fulfillment for the APAC, LATAM and Middle East and North Africa regions, said in an interview. Amazon, often criticised for using too much plastic and thermocol to wrap its billions of packages of shipments, had said last September that its India unit would replace single-use plastic in its packaging by June 2020.

Saxena said on Monday the COVID-19 pandemic had slowed down some of their work, but Amazon India managed to meet its target as the unit had started on the elimination project even before the national lockdown was imposed. Last October, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called on citizens to help end the usage of single-use plastic - seen as a pollutant - by 2022.

The Asian country of 1.3 billion does not have an organized system for management of plastic waste, leading to extensive littering. Many Indian cities rank among the world's most polluted, and waste generated from single-use plastic has been a growing problem. Walmart Inc's India e-commerce unit Flipkart, a local rival to Amazon, said last month that it had cut down the usage of plastic packaging in its own supply chain to about 50%.

Also read: Amazon India to hire 20,000 temporary employees in customer service
U.S. steel imports tumbled in May on a monthly comparison basis, and were also down year over year for the first five months of 2020  according to the latest American Iron and Steel Institute ("AISI") report.



The association of North American steel makers recently noted that total domestic steel imports dropped 35.5% from the previous month in May to roughly 1.79 million net tons. Finished steel imports, however, rose 13.2% to around 1.49 million net tons for the reported month.



Total and finished domestic steel imports fell 19.2% and 26.7% year over year, respectively, year to date through the end of May 2020. The AISI noted that these figures are based on preliminary Census Bureau data.



The decline in imports appears to reflect the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and 25% tariff on steel imports, which the Trump administration had levied in 2018 under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.



Meanwhile, finished steel import market share was estimated at 23% in May, per AISI. For the first five months of 2020, finished steel import market share was estimated at 18%.



For 2020, annualized total and finished steel imports are expected to be 26.4 million net tons (down 5.7% year over year) and 17.5 million net tons (down 16.7%), respectively, AISI noted.



According to AISI, biggest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore for May were South Korea with 229,000 net tons (up 42% from April), Japan with 103,000 net tons (up 50%), Turkey with 85,000 net tons (up 61%), Taiwan with 81,000 net tons (up 70%) and Germany with 65,000 net tons (up 1%).



Finished steel products that showed a significant rise in imports on a monthly comparison basis in May are oil country goods (up 71%), standard pipe (up 44%), heavy structural shapes (up 37%), tin plate (up 31%), hot rolled bars (up 28%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 18%), mechanical tubing (up 17%) and line pipe (up 15%).



Coronavirus Overhang Remains



Coronavirus has taken a big bite out of the U.S. steel industry. The pandemic, which has so far infected more than 10 million people globally, has squeezed demand for steel across major end-use markets such as construction and automotive.



The World Steel Association (WSA), the international trade body for the iron and steel industry, said earlier this month that it sees steel demand to drop 22.9% in the United States in 2020. The pandemic has led to a sharp manufacturing recession in the United States that is expected to hit the bottom in the second quarter. A decline in oil prices has put pressure on investment in the energy sector while lower income and confidence due to rising unemployment has impaired residential construction. Non-residential construction is also expected to decline in 2020, the WSA noted.

Ebbing demand has also forced U.S. steel mills to scale down production with capacity utilization plummeting to multi-year lows. Capacity utilization rate  a major indicator of the health of the U.S. steel industry  slumped to 54.6% for the week ending June 20 from 80.1% a year ago, per AISI.



U.S. steel prices have also come under pressure this year amid pandemic-induced demand destruction. The benchmark hot-rolled coil (HRC) fell below the $500 per short ton level in April on demand slowdown due to production shutdowns by automakers. However, steel mills price hike actions have helped HRC prices to gain some ground and break above that level of late. However, the current feeble demand environment coupled with the deepening Sino-U.S. rift do not look supportive for a significant uptick in steel prices over the near term.



Meanwhile, the impacts of demand slowdown are expected to get reflected in U.S. steel companies second-quarter results. United States Steel Corp. X expects results in its Flat-rolled segment to be hurt by the impact of the pandemic on customer activity, mainly in automotive and energy end-markets. Moreover, weakness in underlying demand is expected to affect its Europe segments performance. Lower energy prices are also expected to weigh on performance in its Tubular unit in the June quarter.



A slump in crude oil prices has hurt demand for steel in the energy space. Some of the major energy companies have slashed their capital spending in the wake of the oil price rout.



In response to the oil collapse, United States Steel has decided to idle all or most of Lone Star Tubular Operations and Lorain Tubular Operations. A few other steel makers have also idled operations in the wake of falling demand across major end-markets.



Moreover, Nucor Corporation NUE recently said that the coronavirus pandemic has affected its sheet and plate mills business due to weak oil and gas market activity as well as customer production disruptions. While demand in non-residential construction market has been resilient, the overall market conditions remain challenging by the impacts of the virus outbreak.

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Steel Dynamics, Inc. STLD also expects its steel operations earnings to be impacted, in the second quarter, by lower shipments stemming from the temporary closures due to the pandemic.



However, its not all gloom and doom for the U.S. steel industry. With China (the top consumer of steel) seeing a rebound and states across the United States gradually opening up, things are looking better for the industry for the second half of the year.

The resumption of operations across major steel-consuming sectors such as automotive and construction augurs well for the domestic steel industry. Notably, U.S. automakers began resuming production last month after a nearly two-month shutdown due to the virus crisis. The restart of production is likely to help revive demand for steel.

Steel Stocks Worth a Wager



A couple of stocks currently worth considering in the steel space are Commercial Metals Company CMC and Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. SCHN, both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



Commercial Metals has expected earnings growth of 9.1% for the current fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current fiscal has been revised 21.8% upward over the last 60 days. The stock is also up roughly 33% over the past three months.



Schnitzer Steel has delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 7.5% for the trailing four quarters. The consensus estimate for the current year also has been revised 135.7% upward over the last 60 days. The stock is also up roughly 38% over the past three months.



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Nucor Corporation (NUE) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (SCHN) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
VersaBank is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The Bank started as Pacific Western Trust Corporation (often known as Pacific & Western Trust) in Saskatoon, SK and received its certificate of incorporation on June 11, 1979. It was granted a licence to operate on October 12, 1979.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005177/en/

In the early 1990s, recognizing the potential for technology to transform the way Canadian small and medium-size businesses do banking, current VersaBank President and CEO David Taylor had a vision to create a new kind of financial institution, a branchless bank. Taylor purchased Pacific & Western Trust in 1993, which provided him with an operating licence and CDIC insurance, two elements that were necessary to launch a new, branchless banking platform. In less than a year, Taylor had established the worlds first branchless financial institution  and the foundation for Canadas "Bank of the Future"  continually evolving its proprietary technology to efficiently and profitably address unmet needs in the Canadian financial market.

In 2002, the now well-established financial institution was granted a Schedule I Bank licence, the first in 18 years, at the time, becoming one of just 9 Canadian financial institutions with such a licence, significantly enhancing its competitive advantage and enabling it to expand its business throughout Canada. As the Bank grew and evolved, its name was rebranded to VersaBank, reflecting its versatility as a branchless financial institution and one able to quickly adapt to an ever-changing environment by continuously developing in-house innovative products and services to respond to the needs of its niche clients and to better position them to compete successfully. In 2013, public investors were able to participate in the future success of VersaBank when it was listed on the TSX.

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"Canada was dominated by a few very large banks and had some niche markets that werent very well served," explains Taylor. "I knew we could create an innovative bank without a need for branches that leveraged sophisticated software and technology to serve these lucrative markets that were being ignored or woefully underserved."

Taylors vision continues to be realized decades later as VersaBank develops and launches innovative, high value-add offerings to meet unmet demand. In its deposit business, VersaBank created a customized banking solution for insolvency professionals that integrates with that industrys most commonly used administrative software. This offering has become the go-to solution for this industry, with the vast majority of the Canadian market using VersaBanks offering.

In its lending business, the Bank developed a technology-based solution that provides inexpensive access to capital for point-of-sale loan and lease partners, allowing them, and their own retail customers to drive growth of their own businesses. VersaBank is currently beta-testing a new point-of-sale application for home and condo developers in the real estate industry.

Always with an eye on the future trends and opportunities, VersaBank, through its Washington, D.C.-based subsidiary, DRT Cyber, developed and launched VersaVault, leveraging its banking roots and capabilities for the next wave of technology-based banking opportunities. VersaVault allows customers to conveniently, securely and privately store their digital valuables, including cryptocurrencies, in the digital equivalent of a safety deposit box  an area of increasingly high demand. DRT Cyber is now focused on a range of innovative solutions to support business and government in managing the myriad of cyber security threats.

"Its fascinating how a small trust company that started 40 years ago in Saskatoon, SK ended up being a key element in our ability to build a fully digital Schedule I bank that has a proven ability to continually identify unmet market needs and develop innovative banking solutions that make a difference," adds Taylor. "The model has evolved and changed to deal with market conditions over the years, but were still providing innovative financial solutions to profitably address underserved segments of the Canadian banking market."

About VersaBank

VersaBank adopted an electronic B2B (business-to-business) branchless model in 1993, becoming the worlds first branchless financial institution. It holds a Canadian Schedule I chartered bank licence and obtains its deposits, and the majority of its loans and leases, electronically. VersaBanks Common Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol VB and its Series 1 Preferred Shares and Series 3 Preferred Shares trade under the symbols VB.PR.A. and VB.PR.B. respectively.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005177/en/

Contacts

VersaBank

Wade MacBain

(800) 244-1509

wadem@versabank.com

LodeRock Advisors

Lawrence Chamberlain

416-519-4196

lawrence.chamberlain@loderockadvisors.com

Visit our website at: www.versabank.com
Click here to read the full article.

VF Corp. is looking to the future with changes for both its China and its emerging brands businesses.

The company, parent to Vans, The North Face and Timberland, is rejiggering its operations in Asia with plans to create a new position, president for Greater China, this summer.

More from WWD

The person who takes up that post will be responsible for VF businesses in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Greater China represents about 65 percent of VFs overall business in the Asia-Pacific region and is expected to grow to nearly 80 percent by fiscal 2024.

VFs chairman, president and chief executive officer Steve Rendle said: When we introduced our new global business strategy in 2017, we declared our commitment to invest in our [Asia-Pacific] region and accelerate growth for our brands, all with a particular emphasis on China. By creating the new position of president, Greater China, were leaning even further into the many opportunities we see to elevate our business and brands in this fast-moving, digitally driven marketplace. We look forward to announcing our appointment later this summer.

Kevin Bailey, executive vice president and group president of the Asia-Pacific business, will continue to lead it, but will relocate from Hong Kong to VFs hometown of Denver, where he will assume leadership of the the companys emerging brands business. That includes Altra, Eagle Creek, JanSport and Smartwool brands as well as the Kipling and Icebreaker brands in the Americas Region.

Bailey continues to report to Rendle and remains on the companys executive leadership team.

Rendle said: Although theyre the smaller brands by revenue in our overall portfolio, our group of emerging brands present considerable opportunities for growth. Its important to remember that our global, multibillion-dollar brands such as Vans and The North Face were once emerging brands when VF acquired them. Enabling great brands to achieve their full potential is a core competency at VF, and Kevin is the ideal person to work closely with our brand leaders to help guide these brands into the future.
Virginia Ready Initiative Incentivizes Retraining to get Virginians Back to Work

Virginia Ready Initiative Incentivizes Retraining to get Virginians Back to Work

PR Newswire

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 29, 2020

Coalition of Virginia businesses and community colleges to combat COVID-19 job losses by equipping workers for in-demand jobs

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready), a newly established nonprofit organization formed in response to the economic hardships created by COVID-19, today announced details of its plan to help thousands of unemployed Virginians access the training needed to get back to work.

VA Ready and its partners - 20 of the Commonwealth's leading businesses - provide incentives for motivated, out-of-work Virginians to reskill for in-demand jobs in high-growth sectors. Upon achieving their new credential in one of 29 selected training programs, "VA Ready Scholars" receive a $1,000 Credential Achievement Award and are offered opportunities to interview at many of Virginia's best companies.

Further partnering with Virginia's 23 community colleges and their existing FastForward initiative, a state-sponsored workforce credential grant program, VA Ready marries Virginia's business needs with high-quality, short-term training programs offered by community colleges. Funded through philanthropic donations and company contributions, VA Ready recognizes and rewards student initiative to gain new skills.

"Too many Virginians have lost their jobs, and they want to, and deserve help to, retool for in-demand jobs," said Glenn A. Youngkin, co-founder and chairman of VA Ready. "The time is now to focus training efforts on equipping our workforce for Virginia's dynamic sectors like technology, healthcare and the skilled trades. Virginia businesses in these sectors expect to hire tens of thousands of people in the coming years, and yet we have record unemployment. We need to get moving to get people ready."

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"This is an exciting new partnership to help people who are out of work because of the pandemic," said Governor Ralph S. Northam. "We have people who need work and companies who need employees, so Virginia's community colleges and employers are coming together to help. If you choose a high-demand field, our community colleges will train you and then Virginia Ready will help you find a job and give you a $1,000 achievement award. This is one more way that Virginia is demonstrating that helping workers also helps business and our economy."

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, nearly 875,000 Virginians have filed for unemployment. Lower-wage earners and minority communities have been hit the hardest. At the same time, demand is projected to grow for specialized jobs in the fields of technology, healthcare and manufacturing/skilled trades.

VA Ready's business partners represent the Commonwealth's leading companies with projected hiring needs in the technology, healthcare, manufacturing and skilled trades sectors. They include:

Founding Partners Strategic Partners Business Partners





Carilion Clinic Booz Allen Hamilton 1901 Group Dominion Energy CoStar Group Bon Secours Richmond Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) K12 Inc. Health System Genworth Financial Perspecta CNSI PwC Sentara Healthcare General Dynamics SAIC

Harris Williams



Huntington Ingalls Industries



ManTech



Maximus



Northrop Grumman

In addition to supporting credential earners with financial incentives, VA Ready business partners, through the VA Ready Talent Task Force, will consult with college leaders to ensure that program offerings and curricula remain focused and relevant to rapidly evolving industry needs. They also participate in the VA Ready Job Exchange and provide job interview opportunities to VA Ready Scholars.

Out-of-work Virginians with ambition to gain new skills can enroll in VA Ready's first cohort of VA Ready Scholars for Community College programs beginning after August 1.

"With an average out-of-pocket cost of just over $1,000, our FastForward training programs are the most affordable option in higher education today and the fastest way for someone to skill-up for a career that offers family-sustaining wages," said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia's Community Colleges. "But we know that price tag is still out of reach for too many people, especially the newly unemployed. We are pleased to work alongside VA Ready and its business partners to make those training opportunities more affordable and accessible -- and get people back to work."

"Virginia's strength lies in its people, and so many people have come together over the past few weeks to stand up this new initiative so quickly," said Caren Merrick, CEO of VA Ready. "I want to thank all of our partners in the business, education and government communities whose enthusiasm, expertise and eagerness to help have made this possible. By working together, thousands of our out of work Virginians will be able to secure new jobs, and Virginia businesses will find more of the skilled workers they need."

VA Ready is also grateful for professional partners McKinsey & Co., Pinkston, McGuireWoods and KPMG, whose in-kind contributions of research, strategic consulting, legal and communications expertise have made establishing the coalition possible.

For more information on VA Ready, including how to apply, visit www.vaready.org .

About The Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready)

VA Ready, a newly established nonprofit organization formed in response to the economic hardships created by COVID-19, is a dynamic partnership with 20 of the Commonwealth's leading businesses and the Virginia Community College System's 23 community colleges, to retrain and equip out of work Virginians who want to gain the required skills for in-demand jobs in high-growth sectors.

About Virginia's Community Colleges

Since 1966, Virginia's Community Colleges have given everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the right skills so lives and communities are strengthened. By making higher education and workforce training available in every part of Virginia, we elevate all of Virginia. Together, Virginia's Community Colleges serve more than 280,000 students each year. For more information, please visit www.vccs.edu .

WHAT VA READY BUSINESS PARTNERS ARE SAYING

Ernst & Young LLP Vice Chair, East Region Managing Partner Rich Jeanneret:

"Unprecedented times like these require innovative and impactful approaches. VA Ready will strengthen the resiliency of Virginia's workforce, in particular in underrepresented communities. EY is proud to stand with this commitment to retrain unemployed Virginians and stimulate the economy."

SAIC Chief Human Resources Officer Michelle O'Hara:

"SAIC is very proud to take part in the VA Ready program to help address the growing unemployment in Virginia resulting from these times of crisis. By retraining unemployed Virginians in skills that fill in-demand jobs, VA Ready will benefit our communities and economy while giving companies like SAIC access to a broader and more diverse talent pool."

Genworth President and CEO Tom McInerney:

"Genworth is proud to be a part of Virginia Ready. As an ally of people who need long term care and their families, we see a unique opportunity to not only make a tangible difference in the lives of newly unemployed Virginians, but also to help meet the increasing demand for professional caregivers that has challenged the long term care industry during the past several years."

Booz Allen Hamilton Talent Strategy Officer Aimee George Leary:

"Training and employment opportunities -- particularly for racial minorities, who have been disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the systemic injustices of our society -- are more important than ever. We have focused for many years on training and reskilling our employees to meet the changing needs of our clients and business. We are honored to partner with VA Ready on this vital initiative and to help fill the growing demand for skilled technology jobs."

K12 Inc. CEO Nate Davis:

"The VA Ready program stands to make a high-demand, high-potential career accessible to the many Virginians who are out of work and in need right now. With career readiness education being one of K12's top priorities, we are so proud to be supporting this program, and look forward to seeing how its upskilling opportunities will help empower people and get the state's economy moving again."

1901 Group CEO Sonu Singh:

"1901 Group looks forward to working closely with VA Ready to strengthen our economy, support career pathways, and fulfill thousands of open positions by identifying, training, and employing Virginians impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. VA Ready's vision aligns closely with 1901 Group's 10-year track record of developing sustainable IT jobs in regions such as Southwest Virginia."

Harris Williams Managing Director and Co-founder Hiter Harris:

"Harris Williams is proud to be a part of this innovative, impactful effort and is committed to supporting our community. We applaud Glenn and the corporate partners for creating the cause, and supporting Virginians during these trying times. This model provides an exponential impact in helping people get back on their feet and back to work."

WHAT STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS ARE SAYING ABOUT VA READY

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney:

"The Virginia Ready program allows our city's unemployed residents to leverage their talents and reposition their skills to compete and contribute in the high-growth sectors of technology, healthcare and manufacturing and skilled trades. Virginia Ready makes Richmonders ready, and I am pleased to support this timely initiative."

Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander, Ph.D.:

"Career Technical Education is a critical pathway that allows our young people to develop in-demand advanced skills. But the rising cost of postsecondary education continues to erect barriers to access for occupations that can elevate promising students into the middle class. We are grateful that VA Ready is helping us to take down barriers to fulfilling vocational careers and personal achievement. With this significant investment, they are supporting our students and preparing them to work across emerging industries in a rapidly evolving economy."

Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea:

"This is a tremendous opportunity for many of our citizens who have lost employment as a result of Covid 19. I want to thank Suzaane and Glenn Youngkin and Dr. Nancy Agee for making this program available to the Roanoke Valley. This effort complements the city's partnership with Virginia Western Community College and the current Star City Strong Recovery fund initiative of City Council, which is intended to support our community's economic recovery. As I have said on many occasions we are in this together."

Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., Senate Republican Leader (3rd District):

"It is very encouraging to see businesses across the Commonwealth taking the initiative to help Virginians in this way. Retraining workers for available jobs in growing business sectors has a double benefit: It helps Virginians who have lost their jobs due to this terrible pandemic, and it helps Virginia businesses find the well-trained employees they need in order to grow. Great vision and execution by Virginia Ready."

Sen. Janet Howell (32nd District):

"Virginia is home to hundreds of thousands of technology job openings, many of them located in the tech hub of Northern Virginia's 32nd District. VA Ready is the missing link in our efforts to rapidly provide employment to our unemployed neighbors and provide trained employees for Virginia businesses. It represents enlightened business at its best."

Sen. Stephen Newman (23rd District):

"VA Ready is an extraordinary plan to put Virginians back to work during these extraordinary times. The mission of Glenn and Suzanne Youngkin and the VA Ready board is simple, match living wage jobs with those hit-hard by the COVID-19 recession. Best of all it is a private sector solution from some of the best business minds in our Commonwealth. This will be a bi-partisan effort with a strong partnership with our Community College System that will pay dividends for years to come."

Del. Luke Torian (52nd District):

"I appreciate the innovation and focus of Virginia Ready where businesses and our community colleges are working together to fill in-demand, high-paying jobs. I hope Virginians across the state will take advantage of this unique opportunity to be retrained with skills that will lead to rewarding careers and help grow our economy."

Del. Kirk Cox (66th District):

"I'm excited for the launch of the Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready) in our state. As our economy begins to recover from the devastating effects of COVID-19, it's essential that workers have immediate access to the necessary skills that employers are looking for. VA Ready and their partners are giving workers the opportunity to set a new path for themselves and their families during these trying times."

Virginia Economic Development Partnership President and CEO Stephen More:

"VA Ready is a timely initiative that will help thousands of Virginians to recover more quickly from the economic damage of the COVID-19 pandemic, while also enabling them to meaningfully increase their wages and/or explore new career opportunities. What Glenn and Suzanne Youngkin have launched is an exemplar of high-impact, well-designed philanthropy that builds on great work that already is underway at community colleges across the Commonwealth. I'm grateful to Glenn and Suzanne, as well as to all the other leaders and companies involved, for envisioning this exciting program and bringing it to life in record time."

Virginia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Barry DuVal:

"Increasing access to workforce training programs in high-demand fields helps to position our talent in Virginia to lead. Investments in talent development and training, like VA Ready, are crucial to our Commonwealth's future success."

Cision

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/virginia-ready-initiative-incentivizes-retraining-to-get-virginians-back-to-work-301084980.html

SOURCE The Virginia Ready Initiative
Wall Streets ability to scale upward is currently dependent on support from the Fed and the Trump administration. To make matters worse, fresh coronavirus threats to economic revival have emerged lately. In the United States, coronavirus infection rates have started to climb, dealing a blow to Wall Street in the past week that followed an unprecedent market bounce back from the March lows.

Notably, new coronavirus cases notched a fresh record in the United States on Jun 26 of more than 45,000 cases that easily surpassed the record 39,972 cases reported on Jun 25, per Johns Hopkins University. Whats more, an uptick in hospitalization and deaths, especially in the southern and western states of the United States, has now threatened to stall both business and social activities that were completely frozen for months to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

On Jun 26, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order to shut down all bars in the state and limit restaurants capacity. Further, any kind of outdoor activities, including tubing and rafting, have been restricted. In Florida, consumption of alcohol has been banned at bars. Needless to say, coronavirus cases have been increasing among people between the ages of 22 and 44 in such states. Texas recently reported 6,426 new coronavirus cases, while Florida reported more than 8,900.

Now, many experts are saying that this spike in infections may not be a second wave, but they still believe that the first wave is continuing and has the potential to make the stock market more volatile in the near future.

At the same time, a couple of issues are threatening the stock markets rally. The National Bureau of Economic Research has stated that the United States plunged into recession in February. It comes as no surprise that the coronavirus outbreak played a huge part in dragging down economic growth in the month, before dealing a massive blow in March. And historically, in all the previous recessions since 1950, it took a pretty long time, almost 30 months, for all who lost their jobs to get employed again. To top it, now is the time for quarter-end rebalancing. Due to recession, investors have started to take more money out of stocks and park them in bonds, and other asset classes. For instance, its estimated that pension funds will move $75 billion out of stocks this week.

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Buy These 5 Ultra-Safe Stocks Now

As markets remain disturbed, investing in stocks that provide excellent risk-adjusted returns seems judicious. The best way to go about doing this is by creating a portfolio of low-beta stocks, which are inherently less volatile than the markets they trade in. In this case, a low beta ranges from 0 to 1.

These stocks are also dividend payers which boast immense financial strength and are immune to market vagaries. Such stocks reflect solid financial structure, healthy underlying fundamentals and superior-quality business. Further, they boast a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).

AbbVie Inc. ABBV discovers, develops, manufactures and sells pharmaceuticals. The Zacks Rank #2 company has a beta of 0.85. Its current dividend yield is 4.9%. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the next quarter and current year is 17.6% and 17.9%, respectively.

BG Foods, Inc. BGS manufactures, sells, and distributes a portfolio of shelf-stable and frozen foods, and household products. The Zacks Rank #1 company has a beta of 0.25. Its current dividend yield is 7.8%. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the next quarter and current year is 25.9% and 31.1%, respectively.

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited AEM is involved in exploration activities in Europe, Latin America and the United States. The Zacks Rank #2 company has a beta of 0.73. Its current dividend yield is 1.3%. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the next quarter and current year is 35.1% and 53.6%, respectively. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. EBMT operates as the bank holding company for Opportunity Bank of Montana that provides various retail banking products and services in Montana. The Zacks Rank #2 company has a beta of 0.69. Its current dividend yield is 2.3%. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 10.8%.

Carriage Services, Inc. CSV provides funeral and cemetery services, and merchandise in the United States. The Zacks Rank #1 company has a beta of 0.84. Its current dividend yield is 1.7%. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the next quarter and current year is 17.9% and 16.7%, respectively.

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The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. Theyre also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.

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WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bracewell LLP announced today that Danielle M. Varnell, a leading transactional and projects lawyer in the renewable energy arena, has joined the firm's Washington, DC office as a partner in its power practice. Varnell comes to the firm from Jones Day.

Danielle Varnell

"I'm excited to welcome Danielle to the firm," said Bracewell Managing Partner Gregory M. Bopp. "Danielle is one of the most highly regarded practitioners in the renewable energy space, and her broad expertise in wind and solar transactions adds further depth to our preeminent global power practice."

Varnell represents a broad range of clients on M&A transactions and project development in the energy and infrastructure sectors, with a particular focus on renewable energy. She has played a leading role in some of the largest wind and solar transactions in the world. Over the course of her career, Varnell has advised strategic and financial buyers and sellers on the purchase, sale or development of more than 8,000 MW of wind generation, 6,000 MW of solar generation and 4,000 MW of nuclear generation assets, with an aggregate value over $40 billion.

The outlook for the renewable energy market is optimistic despite the economic challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. States across the country are increasing mandates for renewable energy, at the same time that the cost of key project components continues to decrease. With one of the largest dedicated energy teams in the United States, Bracewell is at the forefront on these and other developments in the energy industry. The firm has one of the nation's leading power teams, which is regularly involved in wind, solar and other renewable energy projects and transactions.

"Danielle's experience advising on some of the world's largest wind and solar transactions strengthens the ability of our power team to continue to have a leading role in the energy transition," said G. Alan Rafte, chair of the firm's business and regulatory section.

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Varnell is the ninth lateral partner to join Bracewell's global energy team within the last 12 months, and the fourth to join since the start of the year. Other recent hires on our renewables team include Danielle Garbien and Martha Kammoun, both members of the power practice in New York, and Timothy J. Urban, a member of Bracewell's Policy Resolution Group in Washington, DC.

Varnell advises US and international clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances and project development. She helps negotiate and draft EPC contracts, O&M agreements, construction management agreements, joint ventures, project administration agreements, wind turbine supply agreements and REC purchase agreements, as well as other procurement and development agreements. She also represents clients in significant electric transmission projects.

"I chose to join Bracewell because it is a leading energy law firm with a powerhouse team that is ideally positioned to handle all renewable energy and infrastructure matters," said Varnell. "I'm excited to work with my new partners in helping our clients achieve their business objectives."

Varnell graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with an A.B. from Ripon College in 1993 and earned her J.D., cum laude and Order of the Coif, from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1997.

About Bracewell LLP

Bracewell is a leading law and government relations firm primarily serving the energy, infrastructure, finance and technology industries throughout the world. Our industry focus results in comprehensive state-of-the-art knowledge of the commercial, legal and governmental challenges faced by our clients and enables us to provide innovative solutions to facilitate transactions and resolve disputes.

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SOURCE Bracewell LLP
FILE PHOTO: The headquarters of Wirecard AG is seen in Aschheim near Munich

By Andreas Rinke and Neil Jerome Morales

BERLIN/MANILA (Reuters) - Germany's opposition called on Monday for a parliamentary inquiry into the collapse of payments firm Wirecard after a global fraud that left a gaping hole in its books went undiscovered by auditors and regulators for years.

The request for an inquiry came after Germany said it would cancel its contract with the country's privately-run accounting watchdog FREP as a result of a scandal that financial regulator BaFin has branded a "total disaster".

Wirecard filed for insolvency on Thursday owing creditors almost $4 billion after disclosing a 1.9 billion euro ($2.1 billion) hole in its accounts that its auditor EY said was the result of a sophisticated global fraud.

FREP President Edgar Ernst told the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper that only one employee had been tasked with looking into Wirecard after BaFin asked it to check the company's accounts for the first half of 2018.

The FREP assessment had yet to be finalised by the time Wirecard collapsed.

Liberal member of parliament Frank Schaeffler, who also sits on Bafin's supervisory board, asked for the parliamentary inquiry and said he believed there were both structural and personnel shortcomings at the financial regulator.

"The fact that the Bafin is waiting 15 months for a report from the FREP despite indications of irregularities is absurd", he said. "It's like shooting cotton balls at an elephant."

Another BaFin board member and member of parliament said the German government should be investigated too as there had been frequent reports of problems at Wirecard.

"The role of the finance ministry must be examined, as reports of irregularities have been coming in for quite some time", said conservative lawmaker Alexander Radwan.

"Fintechs offering financial services need appropriate oversight", he told Reuters.

A spokesman for the justice ministry said the government was analysing the extent to which audit oversight should be reformed.

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The Wirecard insolvency - the first by a member of Germany's blue-chip DAX stock market index - is also prompting Deutsche Boerse to study possible revisions to DAX membership rules, the stock exchange operator said.

Wirecard's implosion came seven days after EY, its auditor for over a decade, refused to sign off on the 2019 accounts, forcing out Chief Executive Markus Braun and leading the company to say that 1.9 billion euros of its cash probably didn't exist.

EY has said it had clear indications that Wirecard was an elaborate and sophisticated fraud, involving multiple parties in different institutions around the world.

'SWIFT AND THOROUGH'

EY said it had confirmed with officials at Philippine banks BPI and BDO - which have been named as Wirecard partners - that EY received false bank confirmations and statements for Wirecard escrow accounts.

BPI and BDO said Wirecard was not a client and documents purporting to show it had deposited funds with them were false.

The Philippines' anti-money laundering agency said it would conduct a "swift and thorough" investigation into Wirecard. The central bank had said earlier that no money from Wirecard entered the Philippines' financial system.

A Filipino lawyer, Mark Tolentino, who reportedly set up accounts for Wirecard, told Reuters he was surprised to be linked to the German firm and that he did not know until the scandal broke that accounts he set up were for Wirecard.

While Wirecard said on Saturday it would proceed with business activities after filing for insolvency, regulators are restricting some of its activities, forcing some financial technology firms to suspend services.

Britain's Financial Conduct Authority said on Monday that while Wirecard was addressing its concerns, restrictions placed on some of its activities would remain in place for now.

A Munich court on Monday appointed Michael Jaffe as Wirecard's administrator.

BaFin is also considering imposing a moratorium on Wirecard's banking division to prevent any money flowing out, people close to the matter said, adding that no decision on such a move had yet been taken.

While former Wirecard Chief Executive Markus Braun has been released on bail following his arrest last week, former Chief Operating Officer Jan Marsalek is not planning to turn himself in, German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported.

Handelsblatt, another German newspaper, reported that German public prosecutors had issued an international arrest warrant for Marsalek.

Philippine Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told Reuters on Friday that Marsalek was in the Philippines on June 23 and immigration records showed he flew to China the next day.

Marsalek's lawyer was not available for comment.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Christian Kramer, Patricia Uhlig, Hans Seidenstucker, Jorn Poltz, Neil Jerome Morales, Karen Lema and Joe Brock; Writing by Arno Schuetze; Editing by David Clarke)
(Bloomberg) -- Wirecard AGs British unit will be allowed to resume activities after the subsidiary of the troubled German fintech was able to meet certain conditions, the U.K.s Financial Conduct Authority said.

Wirecard filed for insolvency late last week and the company has faced a management upheaval after investigations revealed that 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) previously reported as cash were missing from its accounts and probably never existed. Since the revelations, Wirecards Chief Executive Officer Markus Braun resigned and was arrested.

Last Friday, the FCA told the companys U.K. unit to cease its activities and as a result customers accounts were frozen. On Monday, the regulator said in a statement that the company had resolved the issues and customers will now, or very shortly, be able to use their cards as usual.

Wirecard has lost about 90% of its value since news of the accounting scandal on June 18.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
DUBLIN, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Animal Nutrition Market 2019-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Research and Markets Logo

The publisher, in its research report, estimates the global market for animal nutrition to proliferate with a CAGR of 5.18% in the forecast years 2019-2028.



The industrialization of livestock, coupled with the high demand for animal nutrition products, is driving the growth of the global market. Further, there has been an upsurge in demand for meat and other such food products, which provides lucrative opportunities for market growth. Additionally, with the rise in people's disposable incomes, they are spending largely on consuming meat, as well as buying top-notch nutritional products for their pets. This is immensely aiding the animal nutrition market growth.



However, animal nutrition products can be costly, owing to which, there is limited adoption. Another issue plaguing the market growth is the wide distribution of counterfeits. Moreover, these are priced at relatively lower rates, and hence, they find many takers. However, their consumption can have adverse effects on the body. In addition, the rising environmental challenges also pose a major threat to the growth of the global market for animal nutrition.



The global animal nutrition market encompasses the regions of Europe, the Asia-Pacific, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.



The Asia-Pacific region holds the largest share in the global market. Besides, it is also the fastest-growing market for animal nutrition across the world. The region produces the largest amount of animal feed globally, which plays a crucial role in the rising demand for the use of animal nutrition products. Further, the growing production of swine feed in nations like Vietnam and Indonesia is expected to influence positive growth in the regional market over the next eight years.



The prominent companies in this market include SHV, Elanco, Cargill Incorporated, Kemin Industries Inc, Nutrien Ltd, DSM, Church & Dwight Co Inc, BASF SE, Balchem Inc, Alltech, Evonik Industries AG, Novozymes, and Tata Chemicals Ltd.



Elanco is engaged in manufacturing animal feed and animal nutrition food products for animal health across the globe. The company caters to a diverse set of customers, ranging from veterinary doctors to food producers, and other entities in the animal health industry. Elanco is a division of Eli Lilly and Company. Over 35 of its animal health & agricultural products have received approval in more than 80 nations.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Global Animal Nutrition Market - Summary



2. Industry Outlook

2.1. Market Definition

2.2. Porter's Five Forces Model

2.2.1. Threat of New Entrants

2.2.2. Threat of Substitute Products

2.2.3. Bargaining Power of Buyers

2.2.4. Bargaining Power of Suppliers

2.2.5. Competitive Rivalry

2.3. Key Insights

2.4. PESTEL Analysis

2.5. Market Attractiveness Index

2.6. Market Drivers

2.6.1. High Demand for Animal Nutrition

2.6.2. Industrialization of Livestock

2.7. Market Restraints

2.7.1. High Cost of Animal Nutrition Ingredients

2.7.2. Counterfeit Products

2.8. Market Opportunities

2.8.1. Increasing Disposable Income

2.8.2. Surging Demand for Meat and Animal-Based Food Products

2.9. Market Challenge

2.9.1. Rising Environmental Challenges



3. Animal Nutrition Market Outlook - by Product Type

3.1. Amino Acids

3.2. Vitamins

3.3. Minerals

3.4. Enzymes

3.5. Fish Oils and Nutrition Lipids

3.6. Eubiotics

3.7. Carotenoids

3.8. Other Product Types



4. Animal Nutrition Market Outlook - by Species

4.1. Poultry

4.2. Swine

4.3. Ruminants

4.4. Pets

4.5. Other Species



5. Animal Nutrition Market Outlook - by Application

5.1. Animal Feed Manufacturers

5.2. Farms

5.3. Households

5.4. Veterinarians

5.5. Other Application



6. Animal Nutrition Market - Regional Outlook

6.1. North America

6.1.1. Market by Product Type

6.1.2. Market by Species

6.1.3. Market by Application

6.1.4. Country Outlook

6.1.4.1. The United States

6.1.4.2. Canada

6.2. Europe

6.2.1. Market by Product Type

6.2.2. Market by Species

6.2.3. Market by Application

6.2.4. Country Outlook

6.2.4.1. The United Kingdom

6.2.4.2. Germany

6.2.4.3. France

6.2.4.4. Italy

6.2.4.5. Spain

6.2.4.6. Russia

6.2.4.7. Rest of Europe

6.3. Asia-Pacific

6.3.1. Market by Product Type

6.3.2. Market by Species

6.3.3. Market by Application

6.3.4. Country Outlook

6.3.4.1. China

6.3.4.2. India

6.3.4.3. South Korea

6.3.4.4. Australia & New Zealand

6.3.4.5. Japan

6.3.4.6. Asean Countries

6.3.4.7. Rest of Asia-Pacific

6.4. Middle East and Africa

6.4.1. Market by Product Type

6.4.2. Market by Species

6.4.3. Market by Application

6.4.4. Country Outlook

6.4.4.1. Saudi Arabia

6.4.4.2. Turkey

6.4.4.3. United Arab Emirates

6.4.4.4. South Africa

6.4.4.5. Rest of Middle East & Africa

6.5. Latin America

6.5.1. Market by Product Type

6.5.2. Market by Species

6.5.3. Market by Application

6.5.4. Country Outlook

6.5.4.1. Brazil

6.5.4.2. Mexico

6.5.4.3. Rest of Latin America



7. Company Profiles

7.1. Nutrien

7.2. Kemin Industries

7.3. Novozymes

7.4. Balchem Corporation

7.5. BASF SE

7.6. Tata Chemicals Ltd Spa

7.7. Cargill Inc

7.8. SHV Nv

7.9. Church & Dwight Co Inc

7.10. DSM Nv

7.11. Elanco

7.12. Alltech Inc

7.13. Evonik Industries AG



8. Research Methodology & Scope

8.1. Research Scope & Deliverables

8.1.1. Objectives of Study

8.1.2. Scope of Study

8.2. Sources of Data

8.2.1. Primary Data Sources

8.2.2. Secondary Data Sources

8.3. Research Methodology

8.3.1. Evaluation of Proposed Market

8.3.2. Identification of Data Sources

8.3.3. Assessment of Market Determinants

8.3.4. Data Collection

8.3.5. Data Validation & Analysis



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mnkuxx

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Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Popular Tibetan and Chinese food QSR chain, Wow! Momo Foods has partnered with Cafe Coffee Day to set up Wow! Momo kiosks in Cafe Coffee Day stores across the country. With coronavirus bringing the restaurant industry to a standstill, restaurant brands are looking at ways of collaborating with each other in order to stay afloat. Having a Wow! Momo Cart at CCD stores would obviously mean that CCD and Wow! Momo would share footfalls as well as rentals.

Sagar Daryani, CEO and Founder, Wow! Momo, says that to begin with, they will be setting up Wow! Momo carts in 30 CCD outlets, but going forward, there would be expanding it to 500 CCD stores. "The lockdown has forced us to look at a collaborative approach of doing business. We are looking at tying up with a few F&B brands, trying to do shop-in-shops as well as co-sharing of locations. We are also in partnership talks with hotel aggregators, other QSR chains and even telcos."

The Kolkata-headquartered QSR start-up through the lockdown has been trying hard to reinvent itself in order to stay afloat during these difficult times. Daryani, during the lockdown, has forayed into hyperlocal grocery delivery by launching a new business vertical, Wow! Momo Essentials. Out of his 345 stores, only 63 were open for delivery, so, Daryani decided to convert his stores into dark grocery warehouses and started his grocery delivery business. Wow! Momo Essentials, he claims, contributed 50 per cent to its revenue in the month of May. After doing a topline of Rs 16 crore in the month of February, its revenue went down to Rs 2.5 crore in April. "In February, we touched Rs 5 crore topline, thanks to Wow! Momo Essentials," explains Daryani.

Wow! Momo has an employee strength of 2,700, out of which it was able to employ only 735 for its food delivery business. It has recently redeployed 400 of its employees to lifestyle brand, Wildcraft. The latter has forayed into masks and has been setting up kiosks to sell masks across the country, for which it needs manpower.

While the staff that have been deployed at Wildcraft would return to the QSR company's pay-roll as soon as business gets back to normal, Daryani is not sure if he will run Wow! Momo Essentials in the long-term. "I don't see people coming to Wow! Momo Essentials to shop for grocery on a daily basis after the lockdown is lifted."
NEW TAIPEI CITY, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the severe and negative effect that COVID-19 has had on people's physical and mental health, Taiwan-based social welfare organization, The Mustard Seed Mission, has launched an official account on Line, a popular social media application. The new service - the 7885 Mustard Seed Helpline - brings inner peace to callers by providing a venue where worried individuals can chat one on one with a pastor in tandem with the loving care and assistance of over 100 pastors. Due to the fast spread of the virus worldwide, the service is in the process of adding pastors who can converse in more than 20 languages with the aim of lending a comforting ear to Chinese travellers and residents abroad and easing their concerns.

Visit the 7885 Mustard Seed Helpline official account on LINE where one can achieve inner peace with the assistance and prayers of our pastors

Since the outbreak of the virus, many people have felt themselves trapped into negative thought patterns due to shrinking income, unemployment, limitation on daily activities or social distancing. Thanks to a collaboration with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and the Taiwan Graduate School of Theology, the Mustard Seed Mission brings together experienced pastors to care and pray for callers voicing concerns. While Taiwan has recorded a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases, many countries are experiencing a widening outbreak, making the service that will soon be available in more than 20 languages, including Mandarin, English, Japanese and German, all the more indispensable.

Yu-Fen Chien, training director of the 7885 Mustard Seed Helpline as well as professor and Counseling Center director at the Taiwan Graduate School of Theology, said that training in empathy is an important concept in the counseling industry. Callers are greatly comforted in the process of feeling understood, as their negative emotions have an appropriate outlet. Shu-Ti Chang, a pastor who has been living in Germany for the last eight years, attends to callers in four languages, Mandarin, Taiwanese, English and German.

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Anyone interested can log on via the LINE app, search ID: @187yfeyj and access the service at no charge by voice or by text, or visit https://www.facebook.com/MSelearing, where anyone who would like to study at home can access and safely share an abundance of educational materials.

Media contact: Rae Chen

msm@mustard.org.tw

+(886) 2-7741-6000 ext. 2029

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200612/2828498-1

SOURCE The Mustard Seed Mission
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  June 29, 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: Alphabet GOOGL, AT&T T, Philip Morris International PM, Amazon AMZN, Microsoft MSFT, Texas Instruments TXN and United Parcel Service UPS.

Here are highlights from Fridays Analyst Blog:

Top Stock Reports for Alphabet, AT&T and Philip Morris

The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Alphabet, AT&T and Philip Morris International. These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.

You can see all of todays research reports here >>>

Alphabet shares have outperformed the Zacks Internet Services industry over the past year (+33.9% vs. +12.2%) despite the pressure on advertizing revenues as a result of the economic downturn. The Zacks analyst attributres the stock's momentum to the company's strengthening cloud unit, which has emerged as one of the top players in the space along with Amazon (AMZN) and Microsoft (MSFT).

Further, major updates in its search segment are enhancing the search results, which is a major positive. Moreover, Googles robust mobile search is gaining solid momentum. Additionally, strong focus on innovation of AI techniques and the home automation space should aid business growth in the long term.

Further, its deepening focus on wearables category remains a tailwind. However, the companys growing litigation issues and increasing expenses might hurt profitability.

Shares of AT&T have lost -24.3% over the past six months against the Zacks Wireless National industrys fall of -12%, reflecting the company's debt-heavy balance sheet during a period of economic uncertainty. The Zacks analyst believes that AT&T is well placed to benefit from streaming services like AT&T TV and HBO Max.

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The company is committed to a three-year financial framework with sustained investments and debt-reduction efforts. AT&T intends to deploy a standards-based, nationwide mobile 5G network in 2020 to spur growth. The company expects to gain a competitive edge through edge computing services that offer the flexibility to better manage data traffic.

However, AT&T is witnessing a steady decline in linear TV subscribers and legacy services. Its wireline division is also facing loss in access lines due to competitive pressure from VoIP service providers. As it tries to woo customers with discounts, freebies and cash credits, margins tend to fall. The company canceled its stock buyback program due to the severity of the virus outbreak and withdrew guidance.

Philip Morris shares have gained +2.2% over the past three months against the Zacks Tobacco industrys rise of +8.9%. The Zacks analyst believes that its second-quarter show is likely to be hurt by lower duty-free sales and delay in minimum price enforcement in Indonesia stemming from coronavirus-led restrictions, among others.

The stock further declined when management said that it expects coronavirus to be detrimental to 2020 performance, during its first-quarter 2020 earnings release. The company withdrew its 2020 earnings view and offered guidance for the second quarter, which is expected to bear the largest quarterly impact of COVID-19 this year.

Nonetheless, the company doesnt expect facing any out of stock situation in core operating income markets. Also, its first-quarter earnings and sales grew year over year, reflecting continued momentum in the smoke-free portfolio and a solid combustible tobacco pricing.

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Texas Instruments and United Parcel Service.

Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?

Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.

Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.

See the pot trades we're targeting>>

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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/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.



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United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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Zhejiang Export Online Fair 2020 (KENYA STATION for Construction and Hardware Materials) is hosted by the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province; from 29th June-3rd July, 2020. The export online fair was undertaken by the Xiandai Exhibition.

Nearly 200 enterprises from Zhejiang and Kenya will be a part of this unique online exhibition through a video conference. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on economies and societies. In an attempt to minimize the impact of lack of production of Construction and Hardware necessities and supplies, and to provide a solution for enterprises, when they are unable to take part in an on-ground exhibition and merchants are facing hassles in communication, the department of commerce of Zhejiang province has provided this unique online platform wherein an exhibition on Construction and Hardware in Kenya is being hosted.

The online fair gives a legal, effective, reliable, and affordable way to trade; giving full play to the numbers of Zhejiang economic advantages. Use of big data, mobile internet, social community-integrated digital solutions, such as precision docking. Zhejiang Construction and building materials product of procurement required in Kenya, keeping clear of the international supply chain.

Kenya pays attention to adornment quality, given the characteristics of the construction and hardware material market, Chinese building materials and construction products and daily necessities are suitable high quality and low price, so the export market in Kenya has obvious advantages.

During the online fair, digital services such as cloud exhibitions, cloud promotion, and cloud negotiation for the exhibitors will also be provided by Zhejiang province. All aspects and multiple dimensions will be displayed in the exhibits so that the overseas buyers can have a more intuitive understanding of the exhibits and relevant information and promote the online transaction between the supply and demand sides.

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The Terror Experiment is a 2010 secret government organization has a big ass problem movie. This time those wacky nut bags have a highly dangerous chemical lab in the city. A rebel group sets off a bomb in the building and it releases some of the gas that turns people into aggressive psycho lunatics. Then the killing starts. Jason London leads a group of survivors from the top of the building to the ground. Judd Nelson, Robert Carradine, C Thomas Howell and Lochlyn Munro are the few cast members I knew. It's pretty much a by the numbers bit that is well below average. Not worth watching again.

Painkillers is pretty much the same. I saw it on Amazon and it will go away after a while. The first movie was part of a multi pack of random SF movie, I'm stuck with that until I can get rid of it. It's a 2015 film with a secret organization looking for a power source in a cave in Afghanistan. The team wakes up in hospital with no memory of what happened. Colm Feore plays the doctor supervising their memories return. The soldiers don't know that he's really an evil greedy prick and he only wants the power source for his company's personal gain. The soldier's get crazy after being on a memory drug and there's some fighting and dying. The head of the squad stops taking the drug and he partially figures out what was going on. He doesn't have it quite right and some more people die. It all sorts itself out by the end and there's a hint they'd like to make another movie. What would be the point?
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Tata Steel has closed financial year 2019-20 with consolidated net profit of Rs 2,719.58 crore, registering a year-on-year decline of 73.55 per cent. The steel major had posted consolidated net profit of Rs 10,283.45 crore in the financial year 2018-19, Tata Steel said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

For the full financial year FY20, the consolidated income of the company decreased to Rs 1,41,660.14 crore as compared to Rs 1,59,089.57 crore in FY19.

For January-March quarter of FY20, Tata Steel reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 1,095.68 crore as against a net profit of Rs 2,430.92 crore in the corresponding quarter last year, dented by impairment of Rs 3,141.43 crore on non-current assets.

Consolidated revenue of the company fell 20.40 per cent to Rs 33,769.95 crore in Q4 FY20 from Rs 42,423.86 crore in Q4 FY19.

Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown: Tata Steel promises to honour all job offers to new hires

Tata Steel's board has recommended a dividend of Rs 10 per ordinary share of Rs 10 each (100 per cent) and Rs 2.504 per partly paid ordinary share of Rs 10 each (paid-up Rs 2.504 per share) to the shareholders of the company for the financial year ended March 31, 2020.

On COVID-19 crisis, Tata Steel said the lockdown has adversely impacted the Group's sales volume, mix and realisations in the various geographies it operates. During the current quarter, such impact was limited only to the later part of March 2020. Tata Steel's steel making facilities across India scaled down operations from the end week of March 2020. The company's overseas operations in Europe, South East Asia and Canada have also been scaled down and are being operated as per the local guidelines, wherever permitted, it said.

Also Read: Thyssenkrupp, Tata Steel merger talks: 'Nothing off-limits,' says German giant's CEO

However, with the continuance of lockdowns during the first quarter of the financial year 2021, the Group's operations remained adversely impacted, it added.

Ahead of earnings announcement, shares of Tata Steel ended Monday's trade at Rs 321.25, down 0.82 per cent, against previous closing price of Rs 323.90 on the BSE. During the day's trade, the stock hit an intraday high and low of Rs 325.65 and Rs 312.25, respectively.
You can sign up for the conversation at gazette.com/police and you will be able to ask the panelists your questions in real time during the video conference.

On the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, the day when the last enslaved Americans learned they had been freed, Colorado became the first state in the nation to act on police reform in the wake of George Floyds death.

Its now the law in Colorado! Gov. Jared Polis yelled immediately after signing Senate Bill 217 into law.

Among the changes to police departments coming across the state under the new measure: officers can no longer use chokeholds, they must wear body cameras when dealing with the public, they cannot use deadly force unless they feel their lives are in imminent danger, and officers can be sued individually for misconduct for up to $25,000, or for 5% of the judgment. It also requires other officers to intervene if they feel that another is using inappropriate force.

A few days after the bill signing, Colorado Springs City Council members voted 8-1 in favor of an ordinance outlining the creation of the city's first police advisory commission.

The commission has four main goals: assisting city council members with budget, appropriation and resource allocation using audits of law enforcement performance; serving as a channel for residents and the Police Department to share concerns; providing policy recommendations; and promoting an "improved understanding and relationships" between the public and Police Department.

The year of the coronavirus has suddenly morphed into a year of dramatic change for police departments and social justice reform.

So what will policing look like going forward in Colorado Springs? How have three weeks of local protests and the fresh political responses to them changed the relationship between police and people of color? Or have they?

Some of the folks most closely involved have agreed to come together, via Zoom, to discuss the coming changes and take questions from the public about it all.

The Gazette Community Conversation will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday on a computer or phone near you.

Our panelists will be: Police Chief Vince Niski, protest organizer Derrick Matthews, head of Back to the People; Ron Wynn, founder of the African American Youth Leadership Conference; and City Councilman Wayne Williams.

You can sign up for the conversation at gazette.com/police and you will be able to ask the panelists your questions in real time during the video conference. A moderator will vet questions via a chat box and then ask the panelists to address them directly.

In homes and workplaces, conversations around issues of racial equity are happening," said Tim Wise, author and a national expert on the sociology of white privilege, "and many people who have never really focused on issues of racial justice are beginning to do so.
Dozens of protesters gathered in downtown Colorado Springs to demand justice for Elijah McClain on Sunday.

McClain, 23, died after an encounter with Aurora police in 2019. Officers responding to a call of a suspicious person wearing a mask confronted McClain as he was walking home last August. During the encounter, McClain was put into a choke hold. When paramedics arrived, they administered a sedative to calm him down. McClain went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. He died after being taken off life support days later.

The case has made national headlines in recent days after receiving renewed attention in the wake of worldwide protests against police brutality. Last week, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser was appointed by Gov. Jared Polis to look into whether charges should be filed against Aurora police in his death of the 23-year-old.

The Colorado Springs protest followed a protest in Aurora Saturday in which thousands gathered to call for justice. Interstate 225 was closed while protesters marched and chanted his name.

In the evening, Aurora police reported that officers deployed pepper spray after people in the crowd threw rocks and water bottles. Not far from where protesters clashed with police, musicians gathered for a violin vigil for McClain, who's been described as a self-taught violinist.

Protesters on Sunday in Colorado Springs say they will continue to protest until something changes within departments across the U.S.

"We want to get funds that are going towards the police to be allocated to other things," organizer Jasmine Dunn explained. "We want things like education, after-school programs, a lot of money goes into the police department and we know that money can be better for the people. "

The Gazette contributed to this report. Read more at KKTV.com.

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Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Showers and scattered thunderstorms. Low 52F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Showers and scattered thunderstorms. Low 52F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Cory Gardner was between a government meeting with local officials, a Douglas County hailstorm and running for U.S. Senate on Friday afternoon. He has to return to Washington on Monday after time with his family and time making the case for why he, and Republicans, deserve more time in control of the country.
Colorado Politics senior political reporter

Joey Bunch is the senior correspondent and deputy managing editor of Colorado Politics. His 32-year career includes the last 16 in Colorado. He was part of the Denver Post team that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 and he is a two-time finalist.
Automating mobile app security certification

A partnership between federal agencies has devised a way to speed the expensive and time-consuming security compliance checks required for mobile apps developed or used by federal agencies.

Under a joint pilot program, the Department of Homeland Securitys Science and Technology Directorate and the National Information Assurance Partnership, which is managed by the National Security Agency, demonstrated that the app security certification process can be automated. This can give agencies a way to quickly, affordably and reliably determine if apps meet NIAPs security standards, or protection profiles (PP), according to a June 29 DHS S&T report on automating NIAP requirements testing for mobile apps.

The pilot set out to determine whether an automated compliance tool could deliver results comparable with the rigorous NIAP-certified testing. Kryptowire LLC, a mobile app security provider, performed an automated analysis of Android and Apple iOS versions of the Intelligent Waves Hypori virtual smartphone technology. DHS S&T awarded Hypori a Small Business Innovation Research contract to build prototypes of its virtual mobile infrastructure for government customers evaluating using Hypori as a service.

The results were analyzed by Leidos Common Criteria Testing Laboratory to determine if Kryptowires results were consistent with results expected from a conventional, manual NIAP evaluation.

The pilot was successful, demonstrating that app evaluation time can be condensed from weeks to hours, and showing that it is indeed possible to automate significant portions of the app software evaluation process, thereby increasing efficiencies, shortening approval times, and reducing costs, the report said.

The pilots success is significant in that automating these evaluations to deliver accurate and trustworthy results will lower the barrier to entry by reducing the burden needed for NIAP PP Mobile App Vetting certifications, Mobile Security Program Manager Vincent Sritapan said in a DHS statement. This increased testing will raise the security posture of the governments mobile app ecosystem and at the same time raise confidence among app end-users, primarily the tax-paying public.

Besides improving the NIAP certification process, the pilot demonstrated other potential benefits to automated app vetting:

Automated vetting will allow for faster testing and fielding of app updates.

Apps can be assessed for basic compliance before a formal NIAP evaluation, reducing risk for agencies, software vendors and end-users.

Apps can be accurately vetted without access to source code.

Apps can be vetted against updated requirements without undergoing a full recertification.

Agencies will be able to reduce risks from commercial software by being able to identify NIAP compliant apps.

DHS S&T has been partnering with Kryptowire on automated app security for several years, earning a nomination for a GCN innovation award in 2016 for its work on a cloud-based research and development system for assessing risk, analyzing vulnerabilities and archiving mobile applications.
INDUSTRY INSIGHT

The Rx for DX: Multilayered security for digital transformation

Digital transformation (DX) can be both a blessing and a curse for government agencies. New technologies simultaneously improve the user experience and expose those same users -- and the agencies themselves -- to data security threats unheard of just a few years ago.

To protect data, agencies must stop focusing on the perimeter and deploy a multilayered strategy for data security. Tactics in such an approach range from better shared responsibilities with cloud service providers to zero trust when it comes to accessing network resources.

Ive often said that the real goal of government IT security is to secure the breach. To minimize the damage caused by attacks, agencies must adopt rigorous means to secure data, not the network perimeter.

That position has been echoed in a recent threat report from a leading industry analyst firm, titled Federal Government Looks to Zero Trust Approach to Data Security. (Note: This report was commissioned by Thales.)

Doing more with less does more damage to security

The government mantra to do more with less has led agencies to adopt of a wide variety of solutions, including cloud, mobile and internet of things (IoT) technologies. DX certainly allows agencies to streamline operations and improve constituent services. Apparently, however, some agencies fall short of the mark when it comes to sufficiently securing the data accessed through transformation technologies.

Historically, organizations would concentrate security efforts on the network perimeter first, concluding that the IT infrastructure would be more easily defended behind a strong perimeter. But the report noted that the perimeter is increasingly permeable, or even non-existent with the rapid adoption of cloud and increasing amounts of sensitive data stored in the edge.

The cloud has also created an inflection point in the fight for cybersecurity, with 54% of all federal government data currently stored in cloud environments, according to the report. Sensitive data accounts for 51% of that total. Whats more, most government organizations use multicloud environments, and this combination of factors has created complications that have affected network performance and processes -- and an increasingly nightmarish data security scenario.

Perception is not reality when it comes to agency security

Agencies beliefs about their own security are incongruent with the reality painted by survey results, the report said. Some 71% of federal government respondents believed their infrastructure to be very secure from cyber threats. Nonetheless, the analysis concluded that these agencies are not sufficiently implementing the processes and investing in the technologies required to appropriately protect their data.

This position is supported by findings that more than half of agencies have either been breached or have experienced failed security audits. Most government organizations, the survey reported, incorrectly look to their cloud providers to implement data security measures for the portion of the shared responsibility model that is owned by the government organizations themselves.

Data security still holds a small share of the overall security budget for the U.S. government. Fifty-six percent of federal agencies reportedly plan to increase data security spending in the next 12 months. Nonetheless, the bulk of this spending is expected to be on network security rather than data security, which represents just over 17% of overall IT security budgeting.

A multilayered prescription

So what is to be done? Because government agencies are facing growing and increasingly complicated data security challenges, it is incumbent on IT professionals to invest -- both in terms of money and resources -- to improve their data security posture. Security policies must be established that take into account not only the current landscape of digital transformation and the cloud, but other disruptive technologies looming on the horizon.

The answer to data security, as described in the survey, is a multilayered approach, comprising better compliance with the shared security responsibilities outlined by cloud service providers to the adoption of a zero trust perspective on access and data protection. This approach requires authentication and validation of users and devices accessing applications and networks.

But even that is not enough. More robust data discovery, hardening, data loss prevention and encryption solutions must also be folded into this new multilayered approach to data security.

This prescription may be a bitter pill to swallow for agencies that thought their missions would be made magically easier through digital transformation. Improved operational efficiency is a benefit of digital transformation, but to ensure proper security, agencies must stop focusing on the perimeter and start securing the breach.
The trend that Ive seen over the last four or five days, this is pretty disturbing, to be honest with you, he said. I have no idea what the future holds, but I dont know where were going, and my concern is that well look back on the spring lockdown of 2020 and remember it fondly because of what we have to go through this fall.

That doesnt mean the supervisors have to do anything, though, other than encourage people to wash their hands, stay at home if they dont feel good and follow social distancing guidelines, he said.

Buffington said theres areas in the state and the country where people are getting together, not social distancing or taking any precautions against the virus, and bringing it back home, which is the case with the new cases in Hancock County.

The more that we throw our hands up and say, I think its over, the more that some of those things for our economy are opening up  we need to open up, but well have no choice but to shut down again in the name of public health, he said. Its extremely frustrating seeing the numbers that were seeing.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday paid tribute to the senior doctor of city government-run LNJP Hospital who died battling COVID-19, saying the society has "lost a very valuable fighter". The 52-year-old doctor served in the front line of the war against the pandemic at the government facility, and died of novel coronavirus infection in an ICU of a private hospital on Sunday.

"Dr Aseem Gupta, a senior doctor of LNJP Hospital succumbed to Covid yday. He was known for going out of his way to serve his patients. We have lost a very valuable fighter. Delhi salutes his spirit and sacrifice...," Kejriwal tweeted. The chief minister also said in his tweet that he has spoken to Dr Gupta's wife and "offered my condolences and support".

LNJP Hospital is a dedicated COVID-19 facility under the Delhi government. It recently completed 100 days of being declared a coronavirus facility. "LNJP Hospital has displayed great fortitude in the face of acute challenges. It's recovery rate is going up, death rate is reducing, ICU capacity is being ramped up - the hospital is saving so many lives," the chief minister said.

A condolence meeting to pay respect to Dr Gupta has been scheduled at 1 pm in the office of the Medical Director of the hospital, a senior official said. The doctor, a consultant anaesthesiologist died at the Max hospital, Saket in south Delhi, a private dedicated COVID-19 facility.

"He was a front line anaesthesia specialist who contracted COVID-19 infection while on duty. He tested positive on June 6, when he had mild symptoms and was shifted to a quarantine facility. His symptoms aggravated on June 7 and he was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of the LNJP Hospital," the LNJP Hospital said in a statement on Sunday.

He was shifted to Max Hospital, Saket on June 8 on his request, it said. The doctor was battling the disease for the last two weeks at Max Hospital, where he succumbed to the illness on Sunday, the statement said. He was Specialist, Grade I, in the Department of Anaesthesia at the LNJP Hospital, the statement said. Several hundreds of healthcare workers have been infected with COVID-19 till date in Delhi.

Also read: Coronavirus crisis: Supreme Court refuses to cancel remaining Rajasthan Class 10 exams
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Clear Lake has agreed to pay the developer $150,000 if construction of the project, including at a minimum the excavation of utilities or footings, begins before June 30. Another $150,000 will be paid to the developer if the hotel is operational by June 30, 2021.

Charleson Excavating Company Inc., of Clear Lake, received the contract for excavation work at the site, which was scheduled to begin after the ceremony.

Erick Molestad, Charleson president, said it was his goal to get the little dirt work done by the end of the week, weather permitting.

Clear Lake City Administrator Scott Flory said the work started Monday qualifies the developer for the first $150,000 incentive.

The city has also agreed to reimburse JSM Investment up to $50,000 to cover a portion of the franchise application fee to Marriott International, which was reviewed  and approved  in early April.

The Fairfield by Marriott hotel in Clear Lake will be among nearly 20 in Iowa, and its the only one along Interstate 35 between Ames and Burnsville, Minnesota, which Flory said speaks volumes about the developers  and Marriotts  confidence in the community.
The turbines' massive blades hung above the calm waters of the Atlantic. Standing higher than the Washington Monument, they competed in scale with the loaded cargo vessels that passed nearby.

Only one offshore wind farm currently operates in the United States, and it's in the state-controlled waters off Rhode Island. But experts say the industry's future is in the nation's federally controlled waters, which typically begin three miles from shore.

Such areas are further out of sight of tourists and out of the way of fishing operations, ports and U.S. Navy bases.

"We have 16 leases from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras," said Jim Bennett, program manager for the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's renewable energy program. "We're looking at a dozen projects on the East Coast over the next 10 years."

Among other things, the bills that Northam signed Monday stated the public benefit of getting wind energy from the proposed projects off the coasts of Virginia and North Carolina. They are still years away from coming online and will still require various types of federal and state approval along the way.

The project in Virginia is being developed by Dominion Energy, which plans to erect more than 200 wind turbines far off the coast of Virginia Beach.
Pfister said that she has been interviewing and photographing the councils top cookie achievers for many years at the String of Pearls celebration and has asked Trinity several times what her secret to successful cookie sales is. Trinity has never divulged it, however.

She has always wisely stated, It wouldn't be a secret if I told you, Pfister said. So her success is truly her own, and whatever it was, it must have been magnificent to pull off this feat.

Her future

Trinity will be entering Averett University in the fall to major in psychology.

She plans on taking a break from scouting for now to do what I need to do for college.

She will live at home while going to school, but plans to leave Danville one day. Future goals include working in social work or as a case manager and then earning a masters degree to become a psychologist.

Her mother is proud of her accomplishments.

She keeps on pressing on in spite of the situation and circumstances of our home, she said. I tell her every day to keep pressing, pushing and praying in Jesuss name because she can go anywhere or be anything she wants to be as long as she has the Lord.

And Trinitys favorite Girl Scout cookie? Thin Mints, of course.

Elzey is a freelance writer for the Register & Bee. She can be reached at susanelzey@yahoo.com or (434) 791-7991.
For the sixth consecutive year, the Danville Rotary Club has organized its Field of Honor along Memorial Drive with an impressive number of American flags.

What started as an idea brought back from a members vacation in Wyoming several years ago has turned into a regular display in Danville of patriotism and thankfulness for first responders and military personnel.

Jack Morning, a past president of the Rotary Club, said 600 flags are arranged this year, which is smaller than in the past, but its still quite the sight to see.

The idea is to honor our local heroes, he said.

The Rotary Club will hold a public meeting at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the site near the Main Street bridge, an event that will feature a brass quartet and a keynote speaker. The 45-minute ceremony will close with a rendition of Taps from a trumpeter, and then families can go home with the flag they sponsored in honor of a loved one.

In past years, Morning said the club has solicited donations from local businesses, both small and large, to sponsor flags for various entities, such as the Danville Life Saving Crew, police department or fire department, among others.
Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net
When AshLy Tubbs first thought of her business idea during the 2019 holiday season, the COVID-19 pandemic was the furthest thing from her mind. With the trend of subscription-based services for items like razor blades, movies, dog toys and food, Tubbs said she envisioned something that offered a local touch, a locally sourced gift box subscription service. A business was born.

I had the idea for a while, said Tubbs, the founder of the Helena subscription service Community Crate. I was looking for an easy way to give Christmas gifts while supporting local artists and businesses. There wasnt much out there.

Most small business owners will tell you that knowing when to embark with your own venture can be daunting, but Tubbs and director Karli Mosey didnt struggle with that decision at all.

We saw some of our favorite downtown businesses struggle trying to operate retail hours with the pandemic, Tubbs said. In April, she and Mosey delivered the first round of gift boxes full of local items to subscribers.

Helena has opened its arms to us, said Mosey, who decided to make Helena her home after an RV trip through the mountain West, where she and her husband ran out of money. Were originally from Wisconsin but things just feel right here.
Prime Minisrter Narendra Modi will address the nation at 4 PM on Tuesday, his office confirmed in a tweet. The agenda for the address has not been disclosed.

Prime Minister @narendramodi will address the nation at 4 PM tomorrow. a PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 29, 2020

The announcement regarding PM Modi's next address to the nation came shortly after Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology banned 59 Chinese mobile applications, including popular titles like TikTok, CamScanner, UC Browser, Xender, Clash of Kings, Bigo Live, etc. The ministry said the decision was taken in exercise of powers under Section 69A of Information Technology Act and other relevant rules considering information that "they are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order".

In one of his past addresses to the nation where he announced the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative, The Prime Minister also advocating 'Vocal for Local' to boost domestic industries. This has led to subsequent measures by different parts of the central government to cut down imports, with a specific focus on China.

India and China are engaged in an ugly geopolitical tussle after an altercation between soldiers of both countries which led to casualties on both sides. Senior military officials from both nations are scheduled to meet again on Tuesday to discuss ways of disengagement.

Also, right before PM Narendra Modi address to the nation was announced, Ministry of Home Affairs releaesed guidelines for Unlock 2.0, the second phase of reopening the economy. These guidelines will remain in effect till July 31.
Part of Bullock's proposal for reopening Montana included a goal of testing 60,000 people a month. Since the start of the year, 88,743 Montanans have been tested, though about 50,200 of those have come in the last month. The state is working with local groups to host surveillance testing of vulnerable populations like nursing home residents and employees, as well as testing in "destination" communities that are popular with travelers.

Events like testing in Big Horn County have identified positives.

Of the new cases reported Monday, a spokeswoman for Bullock said though investigations are ongoing, it appears few new cases are from testing events. Most positives in clusters start with the testing of symptomatic people, and through testing their contacts, the state is finding more asymptomatic cases.

Tests for symptomatic people are generally sent to the state lab, where turnaround is about 24-48 hours. Tests collected at surveillance testing events for asymptomatic people generally go to private labs, unless someone tested reports symptoms. The turnaround for asymptomatic tests at private labs has a turnaround time of about three to five days.

The Montana VA Health Care System also said Monday that enrolled veterans are eligible for free COVID-19 testing at 13 locations.
Nonetheless, CMS has continued to review similar requests.

As of June 17, 10 states were awaiting approval for Medicaid work requirements, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

In response to a request for an interview about the timeline of Montanas request, a CMS spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the agency is in ongoing discussions with Montana, but does not comment on specifics of those discussions.

CMS is required to review each states proposal on its own merits and consider whether the proposed waivers and/or expenditure authorities are consistent with federal policies, the spokesperson said.

In response to a question about what impact Montanas requirements could have during the pandemic, Bullock said during the roundtable last week that he doesnt think the rules would have severed people from the coverage.

He said Montanas new rules came with some sidelines around them, constraints around them. For example, students, people who are full-time caretakers, and people who live in areas designated as high-poverty dont fall under the work requirement.
As a product of the Helena School District, I cannot recall a time that school resource officers (SROs) were not in one of the three schools I attended. From what I saw, the SRO program was created with seemingly good intentions, although that was not my experience, and data does not support the stated goals of SRO programs.

High school was a challenging time for me both in school and outside of school. I ended up in juvenile probation for a few incidents that I think most people would agree were pretty minor teenage troublemaking - like pranking a friends car and being present when a friend attempted to shoplift. I got tangled up in the juvenile probation system for minor things and had trouble getting out. It happens to lots of kids. Im white, but I know now it happens disproportionately to kids of color. I had multiple negative interactions with SROs during school, but the worst one, and the one that had the most impact on my educational experience, happened my senior year.
SPRINGFIELD  A new report from an Illinois think tank says the state was ill-prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily because of a pre-existing shortage of nurses, and that the pandemic has left state even more vulnerable in the event of another public health crisis.

The report, by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit organization with strong ties to organized labor, also argues the state would be in a better position if nurses at more hospitals were unionized and if the state adopted a law requiring mandatory minimum nurse staffing levels, an idea that was proposed in the 2019 legislative session but was not adopted.

But while the Illinois Health and Hospital Association agrees there is a nursing shortage, it argues the lack of preparedness was more of a federal problem, and that the nursing shortage did not diminish the quality of care patients received. It strongly opposes legislation requiring minimum nurse staffing levels at hospitals, and disputes any correlation between the quality of patient care and the presence of a nurses union in a hospital.

The report notes that even before the pandemic, Illinois had a shortage of about 20,000 nurses statewide and that the shortage will likely be exacerbated in the coming years because about half of the nurses practicing are older than 55.

Even prior to the pandemic, more than 75 percent of registered nurses reported that insufficient staffing levels adversely affects their job satisfaction, the report states, citing a national survey of nurses in 2019. COVID-19 has the potential to exacerbate the nursing shortage if registered nurses feel even more overworked and stressed.

The report examines patient care data from all 169 hospitals in Illinois, 14 of which are unionized and 155 of which are not. All but four of the unionized hospitals are in Cook County and include some of the largest health care facilities in the state.

Across all levels of care, it noted, nurses in unionized hospitals were able to spend more hours per day treating their patients. They also had lower turnover rates and lower vacancy rates for registered nurses.

The report does not draw specific connections to staffing levels, or union presence, and patient outcomes during the pandemic. Frank Manzo, the institutes policy director, said its difficult to say with certainty the extent to which the nursing shortage contributed to the severity of the pandemic in Illinois.

What we can say is that we could have had more infection prevention and control staff, he said. We could have had better turnover rates and retention rates for nurses and lower vacancy rates and that would have made us better prepared for the pandemic.

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Last year, Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, introduced House Bill 2604, which would have required hospitals to have at least one nurse for every four patients in medical-surgical units; one for every three patients in intermediate care; and one for every two patients in intensive care. The bill passed out of a House committee but was never voted on by the full House.

If the legislation had been fully implemented, Illinois would have had between 17,500 and 19,100 more registered nurses  which would have eliminated the shortage of registered nurses, the report states.

But Danny Chun, spokesman for the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, strongly disagreed that hospitals werent prepared for the pandemic.

First of all, we've been drilling and doing exercises on pandemics before the pandemic hit, Chun said during an interview. Every hospital in the state, as you know, has an emergency preparedness plan for disasters of all kinds  mass shootings, traffic accidents, biochemical, biohazard, flu epidemics or pandemics. In the city of Chicago last year in the summer of 2019, Chicago hospitals did an exercise, a drill with the Chicago Department of Public Health on this exact issue  pandemics. And we were directly involved in a lot of the planning and discussions back in January, February, March where hospitals got ready for the pandemic.

Chun said hospitals were directly involved in discussions with Gov. J.B. Pritzkers administration in the early stages of the pandemic to plan mitigation efforts, including the decision to cancel or postpone nonemergency surgeries and procedures in order to free up hospital resources for COVID-19 patients.

Look at the numbers. We flattened the curve, Chun said, referring to hospitalization data from the Illinois Department of Public Health, which have shown a consistent downward trend since May in hospitalizations, intensive care admissions and ventilator usage by COVID-19 patients.

If there was any weakness in preparation, Chun said, it was with the federal government and its failure to maintain a national stockpile of personal protective equipment as well as open supply chains with China, where most PPE is manufactured.

Enacting a law requiring minimum staffing levels, Chun argued, would not solve the states nursing shortage and would likely harm many smaller hospitals as well as safety-net hospitals in urban areas that wouldnt be able to meet the requirements.

You have an existing shortage of at least 21,000 nurses in Illinois, he said. Simply requiring hospitals to have a certain number of nurses does not create new nurses. In and of itself, ratios don't do anything.

Chun argued that to address the nursing shortage, the state needs a multi-pronged strategy that includes more scholarships for nursing students, incentives to keep nurse educators in the workforce, and policies that would make it easier for nurses licensed in other states to practice in Illinois.
HICKORY  Flag Day, a day proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and later established as National Flag Day in 1949 by an Act of Congress, is a day dedicated to the adoption of the flag of the United States by resolution of the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.

The resolution stated, Resolved, that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue filed, representing a new constellation. As each new territory and or colony became a state, a star was to be added to the union. North Carolina was among the original 13 states of the Union.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks with its headquarters in Chicago, is the first and only fraternal body to require formal observance of Flag Day, June 14, at each of its subordinate lodges around the country. This mandated observance was established in 1908 at the Elks Grand Lodge annual national assembly held that year in Dallas, Texas.

True to the mandate, the Hickory Lodge conducted the patriotic observance on the Lodges front lawn with a program of music, history, and the traditional flag raising on Sunday, June 14. Adhering to the COVID-19 guidance, the small gathering of 25 may have lacked in numbers but not in the enthusiasm for the occasion.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday asked the BJP-led Centre to return donations received from Chinese companies in the PM-CARES Fund, amid the India-China border tensions. Addressing a press conference here, Singh alleged that the PM-CARES Fund, set up to strengthen India's fight against coronavirus, received donations from some Chinese companies.

"I think we must take a tough stand on China," said the Congress leader. "I don't think we can afford to take Chinese money when our boys are being killed," he said. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash with the Chinese army in Galwan Valley of Ladakh during the night of June 15-16.

Singh also named some Chinese companies which have made donation to the PM-CARES (Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations) Fund. "This is not a question of how much money has come, even if one rupee has been received from Chinese companies at a time when they (China) are responsible for COVID and secondly they are responsible for aggression against my country.

"I think this is the time whatever money has been received from Chinese companies should be returned. India doesn't need Chinese money to look after itself," he said.

Also read: India-China clash: Centre cancels Bihar's mega bridge project tender over Chinese investments
The city of Jacksonville, Florida, where mask-averse President Donald Trump plans to accept the Republican nomination in August, ordered the wearing of face coverings Monday, joining the list of state and local governments reversing course to try to beat back a resurgence of the coronavirus.

Less than a week after Mayor Lenny Curry said there would be no mask requirement, city officials announced that coverings must be worn in situations where individuals cannot socially distance.

White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany responded by saying the president's advice is to do whatever your local jurisdiction requests of you.

Trump has refused to wear a mask during visits to states and businesses that require them.

In recent weeks, the Republicans moved some of the convention pageantry to Jacksonville after Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina objected to the holding of a large gathering in Charlotte without social-distancing measures. The convention will be in late August.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has opposed a statewide mask requirement but said in response to Jacksonville's action that he will support local authorities who are doing what they think is appropriate.
Bloomberg  18 

-- 4Enrique Mora622019Abbas Araghchi
New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) The Council for Leather Exports (CLE) on Monday said it will sign a pact with Washington-based Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America and the United States Fashion Industry Association, with an aim to tap emerging opportunities in that market for domestic exporters.

CLE Chairman Aqeel Ahmed Panaruna said the Council is undertaking vigorous marketing activities to tap the emerging opportunities for the leather, leather products and footwear sector to boost exports.

'CLE will be signing MoUs (memoranda of understanding) with FDRA (Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America) and (US Fashion Industry Association) to further strengthen and enhance our market presence in the US market,' he said in a statement.

Speaking about export performance and prospects, Panaruna said that from September 2020 onwards, he expects normal exports and despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is still a huge opportunity for India as it is now a preferred sourcing destination for major markets of the US and Europe.

Export of the sector from India declined from USD 5.69 billion in 2018-19 to USD 5 billion in 2019-20.

'Our major markets of Europe and USA (to which 70 per cent of our exports are directed) were severely affected by COVID-19. Many buyers are filing bankruptcy which is a huge concern, leading to cancellation of export orders. The exporters are facing difficulties on account of such export order cancellations because ECGC coverage (insurance) is not extended for pre-shipments.

'Hence, there is a need to evolve an ECGC (Export Credit Guarantee Corporation) policy to extend coverage for pre-shipment losses also caused by the pandemic and natural calamities,' he added.

From July, he expects recovery in exports growth but if lockdown continues, there may be further decline in outbound shipments.

Recently, CLE participated in the virtual B2B meetings with Korean and Vietnamese entrepreneurs and buyers. The Council is also in touch with the EU, the UK and Russian markets.

It will be holding virtual exhibitions with Russian buyers on July 20 and 21 and with Peru on August 5 and 6.

Panaruna said, 'I am confident that we should still be able to reach USD 5 billion exports in the financial year 2020-21. Our industry is very keen to utilize the emerging opportunities and will undertake all possible efforts to revive our export growth. PTI RR HRS
Kathmandu, Jun 29 (PTI) The border issue between India and Nepal should not impact other dynamics of their bilateral ties, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Monday as he hoped that the dispute would be resolved through diplomatic efforts.

Nepal this month completed the process of redrawing the country's political map through a Constitutional amendment, incorporating three strategically important Indian areas.

India has termed as 'untenable' the 'artificial enlargement' of the territorial claims by Nepal after its Parliament unanimously approved the new political map of the country featuring Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas which India maintains belong to it.

''We are confident that the dispute would be resolved through diplomatic efforts. No move capable of causing implication on Nepal-India multi-dimensional relations will be taken. The border issue should not undermine the overall status of Nepals ties with India, Gyawali told a meeting at the National Assembly.

He said the government was in constant touch with India to resolve the disputes.

'We are in touch with India, Gyawali was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post.

'We are committed to resolving this issue through talks and I am hopeful that we will be able to resolve it,' he added. 'We will resolve the dispute but not by means of provocations and emotions.' The India-Nepal bilateral ties came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8.

Nepal reacted sharply to the inauguration of the road claiming that it passed through Nepalese territory. India rejected the claim asserting that the road lies completely within its territory.

Responding to questions, Gyawali also said that there was no border dispute between Nepal and China, days after Kathmandu refuted media reports regarding 'encroachment of the country's territory by its northern neighbour.

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He said that some media disseminated 'fake news' mentioning China's encroachment on Nepal's territory citing a fictitious report published by the Agricultural Ministry.

'Nepal and China have no border disputes, Gyawali said.

''Misinformation will mislead us, so let's not entertain such stuffs,'' he said and asked the media to be careful while covering sensitive issues and not to give space to stuffs that could jeopardize the cordial bilateral relations.

'Both countries have signed a peace and friendship border treaty and both parties are agreed to inspect the bilateral border points in every ten years,' he said.

'During the third border inspection, it was decided to place border pillars for the clarity of border demarcation. Preparations are on to resolve the issue on tri-juncture towards the west,' he added.

In response to a question, Gyawali said that China did not encroach Nepal's villages.

He said the people of Sana and Rui villages that lied in Gorkha district were asked to chose where to stay along the border before Nepal-China border was officially demarcated.

During the time of Nepal-China border demarcation, there were two villages along the border with 110 households. Sixty per cent villagers chose to live in Rui village towards China and 40 per cent chose to live in Sana village in the Nepalese side, the minister said. PTI SBP ZH ZH
Bern [Switzerland], June 28 (ANI): Children who belong to families having academic backgrounds tend to exhibit more stress during their university phase, according to a recent study. Reports published in Frontiers of Psychiatry, a Swiss-German research team has found this out by analysing the hair of female first-year students. Study authors, Professor Alex Bertrams from the University of Bern and Dr. Nina Minkley from Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB), have concluded that students may be stressed by the fear of jeopardising the social status of their families if they fail their degrees. In stressful situations, the body releases an increased amount of the hormone cortisol, which also reaches growing hair and is stored there if the levels remain high over a lengthy period of time. By analysing the hair, researchers can identify the phases when a person had more stress. In order to find out whether the stress levels of young people from different family backgrounds differ when they're starting university, the research team recruited a total of 71 test persons. "The only inclusion criteria were that they started their first semester and that they had sufficiently long hair," explains Nina Minkley from the Behavioural Biology and Didactics of Biology research group at RUB. "In the end, this meant that we recruited almost only women, and we decided not to include the few eligible men to avoid falsifying the results," Minkley added. The participants supplied the research team with three thin strands of hair each, which were cut off near the scalp. Since hair grows about one centimetre per month, the researchers examined the latest one and a half centimetres that had grown in the six weeks since the beginning of the semester. In addition, the participants filled out questionnaires in which they provided information about their parents' educational background. They were also asked about the stress they subjectively perceived. It emerged that first-year students from academic households where at least one parent had a university degree exhibit higher stress levels than those from non-academic households, even though they didn't differ in other respects. The subjectively perceived stress levels, for example, were the same. The research team interprets this result as an indication of female students from academic households being under greater pressure because failing their study would result in a loss of status for them and their families. This is in line with findings in sociological studies, which have shown that children of academics tend to go to university even if their academic performance isn't expected to be successful, based on their school grades. "Children of non-academics, on the other hand, can only win and are therefore probably less stressed," concluded Minkley. (ANI)
Hong Kong, June 28 (ANI): With China pushing ahead with the implementation of the national security law on the Hong Kong and residents fighting it "tooth and nail", it is speculated that HK will soon lose its attractiveness as the most sought after financial destination. According to a report in The South China Morning Post, the foreign firms in Hong Kong have already started looking out for options in other Asian countries as they fear the national security law will end the city's autonomy and freedom, which have been crucial to the city becoming a financial hub. Though Beijing has claimed that the security law is only aimed at restoring stability in the city, the foreign firms understand that the law might restrict the free flow of information, thus, affecting their ability to woo talent. Earlier this month, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had said that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has called for the government to "take advantage of being a safe business location, which is supported by solid democracy and the rule of law". Similarly, South Korea's financial regulator, the Financial Services Commission, announced a new set of proposals calling for regulatory reforms to promote private sector innovation, infrastructure "on a par with global standards" and administrative support for fledgling financial hubs in Seoul's Yeoido district and Busan's Moonhyun district. City-wide protests have been taking place sporadically in Hong Kong since June 2019, with protesters claiming to oppose China's increasing influence on the special administrative region. The latest wave of protests was caused by a security bill specially tailored by Beijing for Hong Kong. The security legislation, which bans secessionist activities, among other things, is seen by Hong Kong residents as undermining their liberties. However, both Hong Kong's leadership and the central government say the bill would not affect the legitimate rights of the residents. Beijing maintains that the unrest in Hong Kong is a result of international interference and vows to respect the "one country, two systems" principle. (ANI)
Earlier this year, Norton Motorcycle was pulled out of murky waters when it was acquired by TVS Motor. However, the former owner of the British company has landed himself in trouble. Stuart Garner has been ordered by the Pensions Ombudsman to pay back millions to investors. While the exact amount has not been revealed, it is rumoured to be at least GBP 11 million (about Rs 103 crore). The Pensions Ombudsman is the official ombudsman institution responsible for investigating complaints regarding pensions in the United Kingdom. It acted based on multiple complaints with regards to three pension schemes that Garner had set up.

Where did it all begin?

Back in 2012, Stuart Garner established three pension schemes - the Commando 2012 Pension Scheme, Donington MC Pension Scheme, and Dominator 2012 Pension Scheme. Members were incentivised to transfer their pension funds from other pension arrangements into these respective schemes, and Garner invested the entire funds under these schemes into share capital in Norton Motorcycle.

The Pension Schemes Act requires trustees to transfer pensions within six months of an application, however, Garner, as sole trustee of the schemes failed to do so. Investors raised complaints and the matter was looked into by the Pensions Ombudsman, eventually ruling that he acted dishonestly.

This isnt the first time these schemes have come under scrutiny. In 2018, Simon Colfer, one of the promoters of the schemes was convicted of fraud.

Whats next?

The ombudsmans determination stated, The trustee [Garner] has acted dishonestly and in breach of his duty of no conflict, his duty not to profit and his duty to act with prudence. The investments made by [Garner into Norton] on behalf of each of the schemes were made in breach of the trustees statutory, investment and trust law duties.

The ruling also ordered Garner to make a restorative payment to all the scheme members, which is rumoured to be upwards of GBP 11 million and as high as GBP 14 million (about Rs 130 crore).

Also see:

Norton Motorcycles: All you need to know
The third round of Corps Commander-level talks between Indian and Chinese militaries has begun in an attempt to de-escalate tensions in eastern Ladakh and finalise modalities for disengagement of troops from the sensitive region.

The talks are taking place in Chushul sector on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The first two meetings had taken place at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC.

"This time the talks will be held in Chushul on the Indian side. The last two meetings were held in Moldo on the Chinese side," government sources had said on Monday, adding the agenda of the meeting would be to take forward the proposals made by both the countries for disengagement.

The two sides are expected to deliberate on the implementation of an agreement arrived at the first round of the Lt General talks on June 6, the sources said. "All contentious areas during the current standoff will be discussed to stabilise the situation," they added.

At the first meeting on June 6, the two sides had agreed to disengage at multiple locations and India had asked the Chinese to return to their pre-May 4 military positions along the LAC.

On June 22, the talks between the Indian and Chinese military delegates continued for around 11 hours. The dialogue was held in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere and there was "mutual consensus to disengage".

"Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in eastern Ladakh were discussed," the Indian Army had later said.

The meeting between 14 Corps Commander Lieutenant General Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military District chief Major General Liu Lin happened on the lines of the one they held at the Chushul-Moldo border personnel meeting (BPM) point in eastern Ladakh on June 6.

Also, a Major General-level dialogue took place for three consecutive days after the violent clash at Patrolling Point 14 in Galwan Valley on June 15 left 20 Indian soldiers dead. The three-day talks were carried out to ease the situation and to get 10 Indian soldiers released, including four officers, who were in captivity.

(With inputs from agencies)
The government should stop "profiteering" from petrol and diesel, and immediately roll back price hikes as well as the excise duty imposed on the fuels, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Monday.

The former party president also said that prices of petrol and diesel are constantly increasing in the country when global crude oil prices are continuously falling.

"The biggest ill-advised decision the government took was to hike petrol and diesel prices 22 times since May 25. Not once but 22 times, they raised the prices of petrol and diesel. This decision has dealt the biggest blow to the vulnerable and the poor," Gandhi said during the Congress' "SpeakUpAgainstFuelHike" campaign.

A large number of party leaders put out their messages during the campaign to press upon the government to reduce fuel prices.

"The government should stop profiteering from petrol and diesel and should immediately reduce prices and excise duty on them," he said as part of his video message on social media.

"We demand immediate roll back of petrol and diesel price hikes and excise duties on both the products. We all should speak in one voice, then only the government will understand, the prices of petrol will be reduced," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader said the country is witnessing a COVID-19-induced crisis and unemployment and added that these storms have spared no one.

Every section of society has been "hurt", but the maximum damage has been done to farmers, traders and the middle and salaried classes, Gandhi said.

He said the Congress had earlier said that the government should step forward to help the vulnerable and the middle class, and had made two suggestions.

The first was to prepare a package on the lines of the minimum income guarantee scheme, he said, adding that the scheme could be implemented for three months, if not for a year and money be put directly into accounts of the poor every month.

With this, the poorest of the poor and the weakest would get relief, Gandhi said.

The second was, the Congress leader said, "we told the government to secure the micro, small and medium enterprises, which employ 40 per cent of our people".

The government has to save them from bankruptcy and give them a package, he said.

"But the government did not agree to this also. Instead, it waived off loans worth lakhs of crores of 15 crony capitalists and put money into their pockets," Gandhi said.

The Congress demands that the government immediately roll back excise duty and price hikes on petrol and diesel, he said in his video message.

Also Read:Coronavirus outbreak: Stock market recovery doesn't indicate economic revival

Also Read: Pharma companies send SOS to govt to clear stuck imports from China
Washington D.C. [USA], June 28 (ANI): Putting smartphones in women's hands could be a powerful tool to support sustainable development goals in the developing world, according to researchers from McGill University, University of Oxford, and Bocconi University. The study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences covers 209 countries between 1993 and 2017 and shows that access to mobile phones is associated with multiple indicators linked to global social development, such as good health, gender equality, and poverty reduction. In an effort to better understand how mobile phones empower women, the authors also conducted an individual-level analysis on 100,000 women from Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe between 2015 and 2017. Though these sub-Saharan countries show fertility decline and infant and maternal mortality rates remain high, the adoption of mobile phones is fast spreading. Results indicate that other things being equal, women who own mobile phone have a 1 per cent higher probability of being involved in decision-making processes about contraception, 2 per cent higher likelihood of using modern contraceptive methods, and a 3 per cent higher likelihood of knowing where to get tested for HIV with respect to women who do not own a phone. These effects are sizeable, as they are comparable to, if not bigger than, the effects of living in an urban area compared to living in a rural area. Similar effects are estimated on higher overall decision-making power within the household. According to the researchers, improved knowledge and enhanced decision-making power are the likely pathways through which the macro-level results emerge. The analysis of individual data also confirms that the effects are stronger in poorer and more isolated areas. Still, despite the proliferation of mobile networks, the researchers acknowledge that digital divides by gender and socioeconomic strata persist in the developing world. Women are less likely to own mobile phones on their own, use them less often when they have access, and have poorer information and communications technology skills compared to men, creating second-level (skill-related) digital divides on top of first-level (access-related) ones. "Our results suggest that deploying mobile-phone technology might serve to complement the role of other development processes such as educational expansion and economic growth rather than a replacement for it," said Luca Maria Pesando, a professor in the Department of Sociology and Centre on Population Dynamics at McGill University. (ANI)
Tokyo [Japan], June 28 (ANI): Several human rights activists of various nationalities, including Japanese, Indians, Taiwanese, Tibetans and others, staged a demonstration against China at Hachiko statue near Shibuya station in Tokyo on Sunday. The protest was called at a time when Chinese President Xi Jinping is being criticized globally for a dictatorial style of working- a trait which is unbecoming of an aspiring world leader. Since the past few years, it is quite evident that the highly ambitious Jinping is aggressively trying to expand and encroach territories of all its neighbours including Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Bhutan, South China Sea, East China Sea, either by force or by its multi-billion dollars worth Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and One Belt One Road (OROB) projects. It is noteworthy, that while denying democracy to its citizens belonging to minority communities, Jinping is trying everything within his means to suppress the genuine voices of pro-democracy youth activists in Hong Kong which is beset with pro-democracy protests for over a year. Until 1950s, Tibet used to be a beautiful peace-loving Buddhist country which now has been swallowed by Chinese expansionism. On other hand, a highly advanced and progressive country such as Taiwan is also facing various pressure tactics from China and was recently denied representation at World Health Organisation (WHO) at China's behest- even though Taiwan was one of the two countries in South East Asia, other being Vietnam which put forward a brilliant counter-strategy to combat the spread of Covid-19. Had the WHO paid heed to the early alarm raised by Taiwanese health authorities regarding COVID-19, the global devastation by Covid-19 would have been greatly mitigated and reduced. Within this context, Xi Jinping's surreptitious handling of COVID-19 and lack of transparency has raised eyebrows from all over the globe against him. The entire world is joining hands and uniting in its fight against COVID-19 where many countries have exchanged medicines and other medical equipment - either at subsidized rates or free on humanitarian grounds. Many countries have also complained receiving faulty equipment including faulty test kits from China. This may be due to genuine quality control issues. However, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) under Jinping's leadership has been caught initiating un-provoked violence in Galwan valley, eastern Ladakh, and accused India of violating the agreement between New Delhi and Beijing. Based on various media reports and intelligence inputs, this bloody fight led to martyrdom of 20 Indian soldiers and perhaps more PLA soldiers, the exact numbers have been intentionally undisclosed by China. This despicable behaviour of China has caught global attention and the need for call for a more responsible democracy in China. (ANI)
Coronavirus Updates: The Ministry of Home Affairs has releases Unlock-2 guidelines which will be in force till 31 July. Lockdown shall continue in containment zones till 31 July.

Tamil Nadu extends general lockdown in state till 31 July, while intense lockdown in Chennai, its suburbs and Madurai will continue till 5 July, said reports.

Maharashtra reported 5,257 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of infections in the state to 1,69,883. The death toll reached 7,610 after 181 new fatalities were reported.

Tamil Nadu on Monday reported 3,949 new cases and 62 deaths, taking the total number COVID-19 cases in the state to 86,224 and toll to 1,141, reports ANI quoting the state health department.

The Maharashtra government has extended lockdown in the state till 31 July, reports ANI. In areas where cases are rising, local authorities may enforce additional restrictions on non-essential activities and movement of people.>

The AAP government has decided to start a Plasma bank for COVID-19 treatment, which will be operational in the next two days, said chief minister Arvind Kejriwal during an online briefing on Monday. Meanwhile, The recovery rate of India has risen to 58.67 percent.

India reports 19,459 new cases and 380 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. With this, the country's total tally rises to 5,48,318 and toll stands at 16,475.

India registered 38,458 new cases, 794 deaths over the weekend as states continue to re-open, lifting lockdown. India's COVID-19 cases on Sunday rose by 19,906 to 5,28,859. On Saturday India's coronavirus case count rose to 5,08,953 with a surge of 18,552 cases.

India's coronavirus case count mounted to 5,28,859 on Sunday with a spike of nearly 20,000 cases in a day and the toll rose to 16,095 with 410 fatalities reported in the past 24 hours, said the Union health ministry.

Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh announced a door-to-door survey, joining several states and UTs which have opted for the exercise in their efforts to check the surge.

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Meanwhile, the Manipur government extended the lockdown in the state till 15 July.

India reports 19,906 new cases, 410 deaths in 24 hours

The Union health ministry's data updated at 8 am showed 19,906 new cases, while 410 persons succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours.

According to news agency PTI, this is the fifth consecutive day that India has added more than 15,000 coronavirus infections to its tally. The country saw a surge of 3,38,324 infections from 1 June till date as lockdown restrictions were eased.

Of the 410 new deaths reported till Sunday morning, 167 were in Maharashtra, 68 in Tamil Nadu, 66 in Delhi, 19 in Uttar Pradesh, 18 in Gujarat, 13 in West Bengal, 11 each in Rajasthan and Karnataka, nine in Andhra Pradesh, seven in Haryana, six each in Punjab and Telangana, four in Madhya Pradesh, two in Jammu and Kashmir and one each in Bihar, Odisha and Puducherry.

Of the total 16,095 deaths reported so far, Maharashtra has reported the highest with 7,273 deaths, followed by Delhi with 2,558 deaths, Gujarat with 1,789, Tamil Nadu with 1,025, Uttar Pradesh with 649, West Bengal with 629, Madhya Pradesh with 550, Rajasthan with 391 and Telangana with 243 deaths.

Maharashtra continues to lead the case count with 1,59,133, followed by Delhi at 80,188, Tamil Nadu at 78,335, Gujarat at 30,709, Uttar Pradesh at 21,549, Rajasthan at 16,944 and West Bengal at 16,711, according to the ministry data. The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 13,436 in Telangana, 13,427 in Haryana, 12,965 in Madhya Pradesh, 12,285 in Andhra Pradesh and 11,923 in Karnataka.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR," the ministry said, adding that 7,839 cases are being reassigned to states.

Recoveries exceed actives cases by more than one lakh

The number of active cases stands at 2,03,051, while 3,09,712 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, according to the updated data.

The Centre noted that recoveries now exceed active COVID-19 cases by over one lakh, stressing that "proactive steps" taken by it along with the states and Union Territories are showing "encouraging results".

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative total of 82,27,802 samples have been tested up to 27 June and 2,31,095 samples have been tested on Saturday.

India now has 1,036 diagnostic labs dedicated to COVID-19. This includes 749 in the government sector and 287 private labs, said the health ministry in a statement.

More vigilance required as curbs are eased, says Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country will have to focus on defeating coronavirus and bolstering the economy as it begins to "unlock". India has always transformed adversities into stepping stones to success and this year won't be different, PTI quoted him as saying.

He said people have to remain more vigilant compared to the lockdown period. "Always remember, if you do not wear a mask, do not observe the two-yard social distancing norms or do not take other precautions, you are putting others at risk besides yourselves, especially the elderly and children at home," he cautioned in his monthly "Mann ki Baat" radio address.

Restrictions in Maharashtra to continue beyond 30 June

Along the same lines, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said the restrictions in the state will continue even after 30 June as the crisis is not over. "Even if I am not using the term lockdown, do not misunderstand and lower your guard. In fact, we need to show more stringent discipline," he said.

"We can't leave this war halfway in this final phase. I am sure that you will continue to cooperate with the government to ensure that lockdown is not reimposed," he said in a televised address.

The unlock process, dubbed "Mission Begin Again" by the state government, is being gradually implemented to put the economy back on track, Thackeray said.

The state reported the biggest single-day spike of 5,493 COVID-19 cases, which took the tally of patients in the state to 1,64,626. The state also reported deaths of 156 coronavirus positive patients, due to which the number of victims grew to 7,429.

In Mumbai, police urged the city residents not to move beyond a two-km radius of their homes for the purpose of exercise or visiting shops and salons. Movement beyond two km is permitted only for attending office or medical emergencies, a senior police official said, adding that movement outside this radius for shopping is strictly prohibited.

With the further easing of coronavirus-induced curbs in the state, some salons opened in Mumbai on Sunday after a gap of three months while many remained closed due to lack of workforce.

Thackeray also said the 'Chase the Virus' initiative, which was launched on 27 May, received good results in worst-hit Mumbai and will now be expanded to other parts of the state. As part of the campaign, 15 close contacts of a COVID-19 patient will be compulsorily kept in institutional quarantine.

Manipur extends lockdown till 15 July

Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh announced that the government has decided to extend lockdown for another 15 days " from 1 July to 15 July, reported ANI. According to AIR News Imphal, the chief minister said that inter-district buses would be allowed to operate from 1 July with all guidelines and SOPs. No other public transport system will be allowed during this period, he said.

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Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao held a meeting with Health Minister E Rajender and officials as the number of infections in the state rose to 14,419 and the toll reached 247. The Telangana government said that a strategy to control the spread of COVID-19 cases in the city following a sharp rise in infections, including a proposal to reimpose a lockdown in Hyderabad, would soon be finalised.

Rao said the government would examine all relevant issues and take a necessary decision as several issues have to be considered if it decides to re-impose lockdown in GHMC limits. "If lockdown is imposed, it should be implemented strictly and totally. There should be a day-long curfew with one or two hour relaxation to buy the essentials," a press release quoted him as having said.

In Delhi, where the case count crossed 83,000 with 2,889 fresh cases, the number of containment zones went up from 218 to 417 after a re-mapping of such areas under a revised strategy. As part of a massive house-to house survey to limit the spread of the contagion, around. 2.45 lakh people have been screened.

"We have screened around two lakh people for COVID-19 in house-to-house survey being conducted across the city. Also, 45,000 people have been screened in COVID-19 containment zones," an official told PTI.

In an exclusive interview with news agency ANI, Home Minister Amit Shah said there was no community transmission in Delhi and said that 30,000 hospital beds would be made available by end of June.

The National Capital has so far reported 2,623 fatalities with 65 being recorded on Sunday.

Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh announce surveys

Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh said they will also conduct house-to-house survey like Delhi, Goa, Odisha and Jharkhand in an attempt to increase surveillance.

Uttar Pradesh's Additional Chief Secretary (Medical and Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said the state will launch a large-scale campaign from Meerut division in July, where house-to-house survey will be undertaken similar to the pulse polio immunisation. "It will be carried out in containment and non-containment zones," he said.

The toll due to viral infection in the state reached 660 with 11 more fatalities, while the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state climbed to 22,147 after 606 fresh infections were reported on Sunday, Prasad said.

As the number of coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradesh climbed to 13,186 and the toll touched 557, the state government said it will launch a 'Kill Corona' campaign from 1 July to control the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Under the campaign, door-to-door survey will be conducted and tests would also be done on citizens for other diseases as well, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said during a virtual review meeting on the COVID-19 pandemic

Chouhan said during the 15-day campaign, 2.5 lakh tests will be carried out and 15,000 to 20,000 samples would be collected daily, according to a press release.

Karnataka saw a record rise of 1,267 cases, of which 783 cases were from Bengaluru urban alone. The Bengaluru Police said criminal cases will be filed against those flouting face mask and social distancing rules and people can call police in case someone refuses to follow the COVID-19 preventive norms in the city,

While police and civic body officials will patrol city roads and enforce the mask rule and social distancing, the public can also do their bit and ask every other person to follow them, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao said in a series of tweets as the government stepped up efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Among others, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Goa on Sunday reported an increase in cases and fatalities.

Global cases cross 10 million

The global coronavirus cases exceeded 10 million on Sunday according to a Reuters tally, marking a grim milestone in the spread of the respiratory disease that has so far killed almost half a million people in seven months.

The figure is roughly double the number of severe influenza illnesses recorded annually, according to the World Health Organisation. while the number of fatalities " more than 497,000 fatalities" is roughly the same as the number of influenza deaths reported annually.

The milestone comes as many hard-hit countries are easing lockdowns while making extensive alterations to work and social life that could last until a vaccine is available.

Some countries are experiencing a resurgence in infections, leading authorities to partially reinstate lockdowns.

The first cases of the new coronavirus were confirmed on 10 January in Wuhan in China, before infections and fatalities surged in Europe, then the United States, and later Russia.

With inputs from agencies

Also See: Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Maharashtra registers over 1.6 lakh COVID-19 cases; 750 containment zones in Mumbai, says BMC

Maharashtra extends lockdown till 31 July; what's allowed: Non-essential markets in Mumbai to stay open from 9-5; private offices can start with 10% strength

Coronavirus Updates: Maharashtra reports over 5,000 COVID-19 cases in 24 hrs; state's tally crosses 1.5 lakh

Read more on Health by Firstpost.
(Reuters) - Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:

Lessons learned after 10 million cases and 500,000 deaths

The world now has more than 10 million cases of COVID-19 and half a million have died from the illness. In six months battling the disease, doctors have adapted strategies and won knowledge of how to treat patients, including a clearer grasp of side effects and greater understanding of ways to help those struggling to breathe.

Yet much remains unknown. Scientists are only starting to grasp the vast array of health problems the virus causes, such as attacks on many organ systems, making recovery slow, incomplete and costly.

"If the best lesson we've learned is to turn patients on to their stomachs instead of their backs, it means we're far from a miracle cure," said Valory Wangler, chief medical officer at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services in Gallup, New Mexico, referring to a strategy to relieve pressure on the lungs and stave off mechanical ventilation.

(Open https://tmsnrt.rs/2VqS5PS in an external browser for an interactive graphic on the pace of virus-related deaths)

Chinese vaccine trials

China's military has received the green light to use a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by its research unit and CanSino Biologics after clinical trials proved it was safe and somewhat efficient, the company said on Monday.

The Ad5-nCoV is one of the eight vaccine candidates being developed by Chinese companies and researchers approved to be moved into human trials for the respiratory disease caused by the virus. It has also won approval for human testing in Canada.

China is a major front-runner in the race to develop a vaccine, which must prove its effectiveness in a "Phase 3" human test involving thousands of participants before being cleared for sale. [nL3N2E503X

Reclosing time

California ordered some bars to close on Sunday, the first major rollback of efforts to reopen the economy in the most populous U.S. state as cases nationwide soar to record levels. Governor Gavin Newsom's order follows Friday's moves by Texas and Florida to do the same.

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Public health officials have identified bars as the riskiest non-essential businesses now open. Consuming alcohol reduces inhibitions, which leads to less mask-wearing and social distancing, health officials warn. Patrons in noisy bars often shout, which scatters droplets wider.

Second-wave fears build in Australia

Australias second most populous state said on Monday it is considering reimposing social distancing restrictions after the country reported its biggest one-day rise in new coronavirus infections in more than two months.

Propelled by Victoria state reporting 75 cases, Australia recorded 85 new COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, its biggest daily outbreak since April 11.

Australia has fared better than many countries in the coronavirus pandemic, with around 7,800 cases and 104 deaths. But the recent surge has stoked fears of a second wave after several weeks of fewer than 20 new cases a day.

Thailand opens its borders to some

Thailand will allow pubs and bars to reopen on Wednesday and plans to let in some foreign travellers after recording five weeks without any community transmission of the coronavirus, a government official said.

Pubs, bars and karaoke venues will be able to operate until midnight as long as they follow safety guidelines such as ensuring two-metre spaces between tables.

Foreigners with work permits, residency and families in Thailand will also be able to enter the country, but will be subject to a 14-day quarantine. Visitors seeking certain types of medical treatment such as some cosmetic surgery or fertility treatment could also be allowed into the country.

(Compiled by Karishma Singh and Linda Noakes; Editing by mark Heinrich)
Colombo, Jun 28 (PTI) The Sri Lankan government on Sunday completely lifted a curfew imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus after no new case of community infection was recorded for nearly two months in the country.

Sri Lanka has been under a continuous lockdown since March 20, a week after the first local victim of the pandemic was reported. Initially, a nationwide blanket curfew was imposed but it was later eased for about two-thirds of the country and was mostly confined to nighttime.

The government had ordered partial opening of offices and businesses mid-May. From early June, the restrictions were further relaxed with public transport being allowed.

The government further relaxed the COVID-19 curfew, which was in force from 11 pm to 4 am, to only four hours from midnight to 4 am daily from June 14 onwards.

'The curfew has completely been lifted effective from today, June 28 Sunday,' President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office said in a statement.

According to health authorities, no community coronavirus case was reported in the country since April 30 and no death due to the disease was reported since June 1.

Lanka has so far recorded only 2,033 coronavirus cases and 11 fatalities.

Political observers opine that the lifting of the curfew was mostly due to the need to hold the election for a new Parliament.

Sri Lanka's twice-postponed parliamentary polls will be held on August 5.

President Rajapaksa on March 2 dissolved the Parliament, six months ahead of schedule, and called for snap polls on April 25. However, the election commission in mid-April postponed the elections by nearly two months to June 20 due to the coronavirus outbreak in the island nation.

The commission last month informed the apex court that the polls cannot be held on June 20 because of the raging coronavirus pandemic. Subsequently, a new date of August 5 was announced earlier this month following a unanimous decision reached between the members of the election commission. PTI CORR SCY SCY
Kabul [Afghanistan], June 28 (Sputnik/ANI): At least five members of the Taliban organisation have been killed in a blast in Afghanistan's southeastern province of Paktia, the local police said on Sunday. According to a provincial police chief, the explosion took place while the terrorists were transferring landmines from the Bar Ghoreza area to the city of Gardez. A security source told Sputnik on the condition of anonymity that in a separate incident last night, a checkpoint in the southern city of Tirin Kot, the capital of the Uruzgan province, was attacked by Taliban militants. The attack left a deputy commander of battalion killed and six policemen wounded. Taliban has not yet commented on the incidents. Majid Khan, a tribal leader from the Zabul province, has cut ties with the government and joined Taliban. However, Gul Islam Sial, the spokesman for the provincial governor, said that Khan did not have a government job, and was just a tribal elder who moved from the city to the village of Khawazo, which was under Taliban's control. Meanwhile, Farid Dehqan, a spokesman for the Kunar police headquarters, told Sputnik that a special unit launched a night operation in the Sarkani district of the Kunar Province and detained four members of the Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia). (Sputnik/ANI)
London, Jun 28 (PTI) Ireland's Indian-origin Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, has stepped down to make way for new Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin as part of a historic coalition deal which will see him return as the PM in over two years time. The office of Taoiseach, as the Irish PM is known, is to rotate between Irelands two centrist parties  Varadkars Fine Gael and Martins Fianna Fail  after they agreed ambitious climate targets to seal a power-sharing deal with the Green Party this week.

Martin is expected to lead Ireland until December 2022, when Varadkar is expected to take over again as Taoiseach.

My first official duties as Tanaiste [Deputy Head] today. Commemorating the Connaught Rangers who, one hundred years ago, mutinied in India in support of Irish independence, said Varadkar in his first Twitter message as the new Irish deputy on Sunday.

I am honoured to be appointed Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and I look forward to taking up a new role and new responsibilities. Today is not a day for celebration for Fine Gael. We are doing what is right for the country. This government will be one of action, he said, when the deal was struck on Saturday.

It marks the first time in history that former Civil War rivals Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have governed together.

While the Irish parties had never entered government together before, Varadkars outgoing administration has worked on a confidence and supply agreement of conditional support with Fianna Fail since 2016.

Earlier, speaking to the Dail (Irish lower house) as the new Taoiseach at a special sitting for the first time, Martin said the focus would be on the social, economic, and cultural recovery from the coronavirus.

The vote took place on Saturday at the Convention Centre in Dublin, rather than its traditional home at Leinster House, due to Covid-19 social distancing rules.

A majority of 93 members of the Dail voted in favour of him taking the role, while 63 members voted against him.

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Varadkar has been functioning as Caretaker Taoiseach since the Irish General Election in February, which ended in a hung result.

No party won a majority to be able to form a government and then coalition talks were then halted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The party leaders and their negotiating teams finally reached agreement on a coalition deal earlier this month.

The new coalition is seen as a move to keep the republican Sinn Fein party, which saw a revival in fortunes at the polls, out of government. PTI AK IND
Beijing, Jun 28 (PTI) Majority of the projects under China's ambitious multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are either adversely or partially affected by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Chinese official.

About a fifth of the projects under the BRI, which aims to boost trade and investment across Asia, Africa and Europe to further China's global influence, had been 'seriously affected' by the pandemic, according to Wang Xiaolong, director-general of the foreign ministry's international economic affairs department.

About 40 per cent of the projects were 'adversely affected', and a further 30-40 per cent were 'somewhat affected', Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted Wang as saying.

The BRI was launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea route. The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Balochistan with China's Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of the BRI.

China last week held the first video conference of the BRI as part of its efforts to kick start the projects.

The projects which were disrupted included USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the report said.

India has protested to China over the CPEC as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Some Asian countries, including Malaysia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka have in the recent past either slammed the brakes on or reported delays for Chinese-funded projects, the Post reported.

For instance, COVID-19 disruptions have affected the CPEC, Cambodias Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone and Indonesias Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail, it said.

Many projects under BRI are either on hold or receiving minimal works.

The BRI is seen as an attempt by China to further its influence abroad with infrastructure projects funded by Chinese investments all over the world. The initiative also led to allegations of smaller countries reeling under mounting Chinese debt after Sri Lanka gave its Hambantota port in a debt swap to China in 2017 on a 99-year lease.

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By early January, 2,951 BRI-linked projects valued at USD 3.87 trillion were planned or underway across the world, the Post quoted research and publishing firm Oxford Business Group.

Many countries in Africa and Asia have not been able to continue with mega projects, mostly funded by Beijing, because they are struggling to service debts, the report said.

In Nigeria, a USD 1.5 billion rail project is facing delays because of coronavirus disruptions, while many Chinese funded projects in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Algeria and Egypt have been put on hold or may be delayed as the countries fight to control the spread of COVID-19, it said.

Many of the countries that took billions of dollars in loans from China to build mega projects  including motorways, ports, dams and railways  are knocking on Beijings door, asking for debt repayment freezes or some debt cancellations, according to the Post report.

Earlier, President Xi promised African countries to write off all their interest-free loans due this year and asked Chinese financial institutions to conduct consultations with African countries on commercial sovereign loan arrangements, it said.

Chinas overall lending to Africa stood at USD 152 billion worth of loan commitments between 2000 and 2018, the report said, citing data compiled by the China Africa Research Initiative at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

Further, Chinas policy banks  including China Exim Bank and China Development Bank  which fund most of the BRI projects, are now more cautious in their lending.

Even before the pandemic, Chinas policy banks were already reducing new belt and road loans. The lenders cut funding to energy projects to the lowest level in more than a decade last year, it said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in his address to the meeting pushed for early resumption of the projects.

'It is important to get key Belt and Road infrastructure projects restarted as early as possible, keep industrial and supply chains secure to provide a solid underpinning for the economic recovery of all countries,' he said.

Bradley Parks, executive director of AidData, a research lab at the College of William and Mary in the US state of Virginia, said given that coronavirus cases were still rising, it was difficult and dangerous to continue doing this kind of on-site construction work.

I think were going to see a significant slowdown in the implementation of (belt and road) projects, he said.

James Crabtree, associate professor in practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, said the belt and road's glory days might be over.

'Facing a crunching post-pandemic slowdown, China has far less money to splash out on expensive infrastructure in Africa and elsewhere,' Crabtree said.

He said President Xi was also facing severe political pressure on two fronts: from poor countries wanting loans cancelled and from his citizens who did not want the money sent abroad that could be used to aid recovery at home. PTI KJV ZH
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron meet in the grounds of Schloss Meseberg on June 29, 2020 in Gransee, Germany. Photo: Maja Hitij/ Getty Images

The Franco-German talks were dominated by the 750bn (683bn, $844bn) European Union recovery fund as chancellor Angela Merkel met French president Emmanuel Macron at Meseberg Castle in Brandenburg on Monday.

This was also the German chancellors first in-person meeting with a foreign leader since the coronavirus outbreak in Europe.

At a press conference following the meeting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the recovery fund, and underlined the importance of keeping the EU strong.

We are living in a serious time, Merkel said at their joint press conference. On the one side there is the pandemic and the associated economic challenges on the other.

Merkel and Macron had already jointly pushed for a 500bn recovery package in May, financed by the joint-borrowing by EU member states. They proposed that the European Commission (EC) should be authorised to borrow the money on the financial markets.

We are constantly evaluating what conclusions we have to draw from the pandemic, Merkel said. We are living in the middle of the pandemicand the fact that we do not see the virus does not mean that it is gone.

Merkel continued that together the two leaders wanted to show that Europe is our future, noting that the crisis will continue to have an impact for a long, long time.

Macron praised the strength of the Franco-German relationship, and said that the plan for economic recovery of the EU formed the core of their discussion on Monday afternoon.

"I see the importance of what we have done together over the past few weeks," said Macron. "We have demonstrated our resilience to the crisis. I see what we have done in the past two years. Now we have come to the moment of truth for Europe. We can turn the moment of truth into a moment of success."

EC president Ursula von der Leyen proposed a debt-financed 750bn EU recovery fund towards the end of May, with 500bn of that to be issued as non-repayable grants to countries.

Story continues

The fund however needs unanimous approval from every EU member, but Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark  known as the Frugal Four  have said they are against assuming joint debt to support other states.

READ MORE: Germany gears up for EU presidency as bloc navigates coronavirus pandemic

Getting all 27 states to agree on the financial package this month is a top priority for Germany as it takes over the rotating presidency of the EU Council on 1 July.

The pressure is on leader of Europes largest economy to push through not only the rescue fund during the German presidency of the council, but also to guide the EU through the final stages of agreement on the Brexit trade deal with the UK.

On Monday, Merkel said that expectations were high for Germany.

Merkel said that in addition to the EU Recovery Fund, the other major issue during her countrys presidency includes climate protection and the goal for the bloc to be climate neutral by 2050. How European trade is organised will therefore play a major role, she said on Monday.

The chancellor told the Bundestag recently that Germanys main task during its six-month presidency is to ensure that the coronavirus pandemic does not threaten EU integrity or weaken the single market.

"The German presidency of the council will take a different course than we had planned, Merkel said last month. It will be clearly dominated by the issue of combating the pandemic and its consequences.

Von der Leyen, who has also served as Merkels defence minister, said at the weekend that it was very fortunate that Germany is taking over the presidency at this time of a major crisis.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday said that it will conduct special open market operations (OMO) of government securities worth Rs 10,000 crore. "On a review of current and evolving liquidity and market conditions, the Reserve Bank has decided to conduct simultaneous purchase and sale of government securities under Open Market Operations (OMO) for Rs 10,000 crore each on July 2," RBI said in a release. An open market operation is an activity by a central bank to infuse or suck out liquidity in the financial system.

The RBI will purchase long-dated securities with tenor between 7 to 13 years amounting Rs 10,000 crore using the multiple price auction method. Similarly, it will sell short-dated securities maturing October 2020 and April 2021.

"Eligible participants should submit their bids/offers in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system between 10:00 am and 11:00 am on July 02, 2020. Only in the event of system failure, physical bids/offers would be accepted. Such physical bid/offer should be submitted to the Financial Markets Operations Department," the central bank also said.

Meanwhile, RBI has approached the Centre seeking an extension of tenure of external members on its rate-setting panel until March, 2021 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The apex bank has written a letter to the Finance Ministry regarding this, which is considering it, government officials in the know of the matter told news agency Bloomberg. Three out of the six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) are external delegates appointed to the panel for a term of four years and are not eligible for re-appointment, as per the rules.

Also read: H-1B visa ban: Infosys hiring Americans to negate work visa freeze, says CEO Salil Parekh

Also read: Coronavirus crisis: Supreme Court refuses to cancel remaining Rajasthan Class 10 exams
Kochi (Kerala) [India], June 28 (ANI): Indian Naval Ship Kesari arrived at Kochi on Sunday after 55 days of deployment to the southern Indian Ocean region as part of 'Mission Sagar'. The ship was deployed on a special 'COVID Relief Mission' as well as made port calls at Male (Maldives), Port Louis (Mauritius), Antsiranana (Madagascar), Moroni (Comoros Islands) and Port Victoria (Seychelles) for delivery of 580 tons of food aid and essential medical stores to local authorities. In addition to this, a 14-member Naval Medical Assistance Team was also deputed to Mauritius and Comoros for 20 days each which further assisted local governments in the formulation of long term strategy to counter COVID-19 through mutual sharing of experience. The shipment carrying essential medicines and medical assistance team as part of 'Mission Sagar' reaffirms India's role as a preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean region (IOR) and reflects India's commitment to work together with its maritime neighbours and partners in the IOR. The ship's long deployment in rough seas and difficult times towards delivery of essential medical aid has been widely appreciated by these countries. Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth had personally thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a telephonic conversation last month for the deployment of INS Kesari. Similarly, heads of states, as well as senior dignitaries from other countries, had also expressed gratitude for the timely aid. 'Mission Sagar' is inspired by Prime Minister Modi's vision of SAGAR -- Security and Growth for All in the Region. (ANI)
New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI): The government on Monday banned 59 mobile apps, including China's TikTok, SHAREiT and WeChat, terming them prejudicial to sovereignty, integrity and national security.

In an official statement, the IT Ministry said it has received many complaints from various sources, including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for 'stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users' data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside India'.

'The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures,' the statement said.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs, has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these malicious apps.

'On the basis of these and upon receiving of recent credible inputs that such Apps pose threat to sovereignty and integrity of India, the Government of India has decided to disallow the usage of certain Apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet enabled devices,' it said.

The statement added that this move will 'safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace'

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

Here's a list of the apps that have been banned:

TikTok

Shareit

Kwai

UC Browser

Baidu map

Shein

Clash of Kings

DU battery saver

Helo

Likee

YouCam makeup

Mi Community

CM Browers

Virus Cleaner

APUS Browser

ROMWE

Club Factory

Newsdog

Beutry Plus

WeChat

UC News

QQ Mail

Weibo

Xender

QQ Music

QQ Newsfeed

Bigo Live

SelfieCity

Mail Master

Parallel Space

Mi Video Call Xiaomi

WeSync

ES File Explorer

Viva Video QU Video Inc

Meitu

Vigo Video

New Video Status

DU Recorder

Vault- Hide

Cache Cleaner DU App studio

DU Cleaner

DU Browser

Hago Play With New Friends

Cam Scanner

Clean Master Cheetah Mobile

Wonder Camera

Photo Wonder

QQ Player

We Meet

Sweet Selfie

Baidu Translate

Vmate

QQ International

QQ Security Center

QQ Launcher

U Video

V fly Status Video

Mobile Legends

DU Privacy
Washington DC [USA], June 28 (ANI): A scene from the hit American sitcom 'The Office' that features a character showing up in blackface has been edited out to avoid any kind of racist depiction. The show's creator Greg Daniels also issued a statement about the scene from the 2012 episode 'Dwight Christmas.' In the scene, Dwight is attempting to convince his colleagues at Dunder Mifflin to celebrate a Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas. "The Office is about a group of people trying to work together with mutual respect despite the inappropriate actions of their boss and assistant manager," Variety quoted Daniels as saying. "The show employed satire to expose unacceptable behavior and deliver a message of inclusion. Today we cut a shot of an actor wearing blackface that was used to criticize a specific racist European practice," the creator added. Daniels apologised for the "pain" caused and also admitted putting up blackface for a comedy purpose is unacceptable and making the point so graphically is "hurtful and wrong." Not just 'The Office,' many other American shows are now re-analysing and taking down certain episodes that may have possibly depicted a racist content earlier. (ANI)
Islamabad, Jun 28 (PTI) The Pakistan Army on Sunday claimed to have shot down an 'Indian spying quadcopter' for allegedly violating the airspace along the Line of Control.

According to a statement issued by the army, the incident took place in Hot Spring sector of the LoC.

It said that the 'Indian spying quadcopter' had intruded 850 metres on Pakistan's side of the LoC when it was brought down.

'This is 9th Indian quadcopter shot down by Pakistan Army troops this year, the statement claimed.

India has dismissed previous such claims by the Pakistan Army.

The ties between the two nations strained following the Balakot strike when the Indian Air Force jets bombed a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Pakistan on February 26 last year to avenge the killing of 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel in the Pulwama terror attack on February 14. Pakistan retaliated on February 27 by attempting to target Indian military installations.

The ties further nose-dived after New Delhi abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir in August last. Pakistan downgraded diplomatic relations with India and expelled the Indian High Commissioner. PTI SH ZH
United Nations, Jun 28 (PTI) UN General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande has changed a phrase in the draft declaration to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations after India along with countries including the UK and the US raised objection to the sentence, understood to be similar to wording used by the Chinese Communist Party.

Muhammad-Bande circulated the draft declaration to UN Member States under silence procedure, under which if no Member State raises any objections to the draft within a specified time period, the text is adopted.

According to United Nations AssociationUK (UNA-UK), a charitable company focusing on UK action at the UN, Britain's acting ambassador Jonathan Allen broke the silence procedure on June 24 'on behalf of the members of the 'five eyes' intelligence community - the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and India.

It said that the six countries objected to one phrase towards the end of the declaration that read - 'to realise our shared vision for a common future'.

The countries wanted this wording to be replaced with 'to realise our shared vision for a better future as envisaged in the preamble of the UN Charter.' With the suggested wording, the paragraph in the draft declaration would have read, 'What we agree today will affect the sustainability of our planet as well the welfare of generations for decades to come. Through reinvigorated global action and by building on the progress achieved in the last 75 years, we are determined to ensure the future we want. To achieve this, we will mobilise resources, strengthen our efforts and show unprecedented political will and leadership. We will work together with partners to strengthen coordination and global governance for the common good of present and future generations and to realise our shared vision for a better future as envisaged in the preamble of the UN Charter. The UNA-UK said in a statement that it has heard from a number of sources that the reason the six countries objected to the phrase to realise our shared vision for a common future is because 'shared vision for a common future has some 'similarity to wording used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to describe its foreign policy aspirations.' It said the phrase was used in a report by former Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Hu Jintao to the 18th CCP congress in 2012. 'Thus, the language needs to be viewed in the context of the current great power rivalry between the USA and China, with the UK firmly allying with the US, it said.

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Following the objection, Muhammad-Bande wrote to UN Member States on June 25 proposing a re-worked phrase to substitute the sentence on which silence was broken.

'We will work together with partners to strengthen coordination and global governance for the common future of present and coming generations, the new phrase proposed by the UNGA President read.

On the evening of June 26, Muhammad-Bande said that there was no objection to the proposed new phrase.

However, he said he was notified of an issue regarding a particular element of the final draft declaration, which would require further clarification in order to conclude the process. The declaration by the Heads of State and Government representing the peoples of the world to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN is to be adopted on September 21, 2020 and takes note of the COVID19 pandemic that continues to reverberate around our world.' 'The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us in the most powerful way that we are closely interconnected and only as strong as our weakest link. Only by working together and in solidarity can we end the pandemic and effectively tackle its consequences.

'Only together can we build resilience against future pandemics and other global challenges. Multilateralism is not an option but a necessity as we build back better for a more equal, more resilient, and more sustainable world. The United Nations must be at the centre of our efforts, the declaration says.

The declaration also underscores that armed conflicts and threats against international peace and security must be urgently resolved through peaceful means. The United Nations must better address all forms and domains of threats. Terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism are serious threats to international peace and security, it says.

The declaration also emphasises on the need to upgrade the UN, saying that we commit to instil new life in the discussions on the reform of the Security Council and continue the work to revitalise the General Assembly and strengthen the Economic and Social Council. The review of the peacebuilding architecture has our full support. It is noteworthy that reform of the multilateral system and fight against terrorism are among the key priorities for India as it prepares to sit in the Security Council for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021 as a non-permanent member after overwhelmingly winning the UNSC election this month.

Termed as NORMS, Indias focus will be on New Orientation For A Reformed Multilateral System. Indias priorities include new opportunities for progress, effective response to international terrorism, reforming multilateral systems, comprehensive approach to peace and security and technology with a human touch. PTI YAS ZH
Berlin/Quetta [Germany/Pakistan], June 28 (ANI): Demonstrations were held in Balochistan as well as Germany on Sunday against the illegal and forceful abduction of Baloch political leaders and intellectuals by Pakistan intelligence agencies. In Quetta city of Balochistan, demonstration was held by Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, a non-governmental organization, which demanded the release of abducted Dr Deen Mohammad Baloch and Dr Akbar Marri. According to sources, hundreds of people gathered on the streets of Quetta for protest marking Dr Deen Mohammad Baloch's abduction 11 years ago. Along with Dr Deen Mohammad's Daughter Sammi and Mehlab Deen huge number of Baloch women, men and students participated in the protest. The protesters demanded immediate release of Dr Deen Jan and Dr Akbari Marri and all other missing persons. Similarly, the Baloch National Movement, a pro Independence Party of Balochistan, also held protests in Berlin to mark the 11 years of his abduction. The protesters raised the issue of abductions, oppression and gross human rights violations inflicted by the Pakistani state agencies in Balochistan. Asghar Baloch, Dosteen Baloch and Ali Baloch, the ones who led the demonstrations on behalf of Baloch National Movement, said the Baloch people have been facing the worst form of human rights violation since 27 March 1948 and 'barbarism' is still going on. The protesters also raised slogans against the abduction of Dr Deen Jan and demanded his immediate releases along with other Baloch missing persons. "We made several efforts for his (Dr Deen Jan) release. Today's online social media campaign is one of those efforts," Asghar said. (ANI)
Chandigarh [India], June 29 (ANI): Punjab Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan on Sunday asked the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to take whatever steps possible to arrest the COVID-19 mortality rate in the state which is currently at 2.4 per cent. "The effort should be on saving every Punjabi's life amid the pandemic," she said while directing the DCs to take special care of critical patients and asking them to take the help of the State Expert Group chaired by Dr KK Talwar and including international and national experts, read a statement from the Punjab government. In her first video conference meeting with the DCs since taking over as the Chief Secretary, Mahajan expressed concern over the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the state. She said, "It was the duty of every DC to go the extra mile to ensure proper surveillance and also arrest the mortality rate while sending as many cured patients as possible to their homes." The Chief Secretary instructed the DCs to allow COVID-19 patients to go to private hospitals at their own expense if they so wished. They should also allow patients in government centres to get their own food if needed, the statement said. The Chief Secretary said that the DCs should ensure that every people in the state should wear the mask and follow the instructions issued by the government. She said that it is critical to avoid large gatherings especially in closed spaces, and masks must invariably be worn in such situations. "Not wearing a mask, not keeping social distance or spitting in public are anti-social acts," she said. The Chief Secretary urged the DCs to continue to appeal to the people of every district to be vigilant, take precautionary measures and follow the advice of health experts, the statement said. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Health Anurag Aggarwal, Principal Secretary Finance KAP Sinha, Principal Secretary Medical Education and Research DK Tewari, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Tejveer Singh, Principal Secretary Water Supply and Sanitation Jaspreet Talwar and Secretary Health Kumar Rahul. (ANI)
Hong Kong June 28 (ANI): Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters on Sunday vowed to walk silently from Jordan to Mong Kok to demonstrate against impending Hong Kong security law. However, they were stopped by riot police, Hong Kong Free Press reported. The police cordoned off pedestrian access to the Gascoigne Road and Nathan Road junction. Earlier, police raised a blue warning flag near at the intersection of Nathan Road and Dundas Street in Mong Kok here, warning crowds that they could be seen as participating in an unlawful assembly. At least 10 citizens were stopped and searched by police in a cordoned area near the intersection of Dundas Street and Portland Street in Mong Kok. Hong Kong police on Saturday banned a major demonstration against China's planned national security law for the city, on the basis of coronavirus social distancing measures and previous unrest, its organiser said on Saturday. The Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) said the force had rejected its applications for rallies on July 1, the 23rd anniversary of the former British colony's handover to China, Hong Kong Free Press reported. The latest wave of protests was caused by a security bill specially tailored by Beijing for Hong Kong. The security legislation, which bans secessionist activities, among other things, is seen by Hong Kong residents as undermining their liberties. However, both Hong Kong's leadership and the central government say the bill would not affect the legitimate rights of the residents. Beijing maintains that the unrest in Hong Kong is a result of international interference and vows to respect the "one country, two systems" principle. (ANI)
Singapore, Jun 28 (PTI) Singapore authorities have asked the people to adhere to social distancing and other coronavrius prevention norms after the island nation reported 213 new cases on Sunday.

Of the new cases, 202 are foreign workers residing in packed dormitories, which have accounted for most of Singapore's virus cases. The government has intensified testing in these quarters.

The rest of the 11 new cases were reported from community zones, including five Singapore citizens or permanent residents (foreigners) and six foreigners on work passes, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Now, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Singapore stands at 43,459.

On Saturday, the government emphasised the need to implement measures to control the spread of coronavirus, even though the country is in its phase II of reopening after the two month-long 'circuit breaker period'.

During the 'circuit breaker' period, strict restrictions were imposed on outdoor activities and group gatherings to check the spread of the coronavirus. Only essential services were allowed in this period.

With the July 10 General Elections nearing, campaigning and other poll activities have begun in Singapore.

The government has directed candidates to follow 'required actions and best practices', including avoid physical contact.

The directives follow sporting authority SportSG's statement that all ActiveSG indoor sport halls would be closed for a time-out on Sunday, following a breach of safe measures by a group of badminton players that included a COVID-19 positive case.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to allow cross-border travel for certain groups, including residents who hold long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes.

Travellers would have to adhere to COVID-19 prevention and public health measures.

As of Saturday, Singapore had 173 coronavirus cases in hospitals, with one in critical condition, and 5,883 people recuperating in community facilities. The coronavirus has claimed 26 lives while 37,163 patients have recovered in the city-state. PTI GS IND IND
Mumbai, Jun 29 (PTI) Nearly 36 lakh tonne sugar has been exported from Maharashtra between January and June this year as against the target of 60 lakh tonne during the period, an official said on Monday.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown has slowed down the export process, Maharashtra State Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation Chairman Jayprakash Dandegaonkar said.

Nearly 570 lakh tonne sugarcane was crushed by 144 sugar mills in the state from November 2019 to June this year and 63 lakh tonne sugar was produced so far, he said.

'The export of 36 lakh tonne is completed. Various deals have been signed for another six lakh tonne and sugar is being moved out of the godowns for export, Dandegaonkar said.

So far, most of the sugar has been exported to Indonesia and Iran, he informed.

From January to June last year, 952 lakh tonne of sugarcane was crushed to produce 107 lakh tonne sugar, he added.

The sugarcane crushing generally begins from November and goes on till March. PTI ND GK GK
Iran has issued an arrest warrant for U.S. President Donald Trump and 35 others over the killing of top general Qassem Soleimani and has asked Interpol for help, Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said on Monday, according to the Fars news agency.

The United States killed Soleimani, leader of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, with a drone strike in Iraq on Jan. 3. Washington accused Soleimani of masterminding attacks by Iranian-aligned militias on U.S. forces in the region.

Alqasimehr said the warrants had been issued on charges of murder and terrorist action. He said Iran had asked Interpol to issue a "red notice" for Trump and the other individuals the Islamic Republic accuses of taking part in the killing of Soleimani.

Alqasimehr said the group included other U.S. military and civilian officials but did not provide further details.

He said Iran would continue to pursue the matter after Trump's time in office ends.

The killing of Soleimani brought the United States and Iran to the brink of armed conflict after Iran retaliated by firing missiles at American targets in Iraq several days later.

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Siliguri (West Bengal) [India], June 29 (ANI): Traders of Panitanki, the town situated near the India-Nepal border near Siliguri, have decided not to sell any Indian products to Nepali citizens following the tensions between two neighbouring countries after the Himalayan country passed a controversial amendment including Indian territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura in its map. Condemning Nepal's step in this regard, the Panitanki Babosayee Samity, the apex body of 1,210 shops have decided not to sell any Indian products to Nepali citizens over the issue. "We were sending everything to Nepal and helping them over the years. But, the Nepali government has shown India's territories into their map. So, we have decided that we will not do business with them," Dipak Chakraborty, Secretary, Panitanki Babosayee Samity, told ANI. "We will not send them anything if they do not remove India's territories from the Nepal map," he said. Santosh Singh, a member of the market committee said, "The Nepali government should think again. They should not give up on India due to pressure from China. They will be facing problems as we have stopped doing business with them. We have sent them medicines and food during the earthquake." Prakash Choudhary, a trader in the market, said, "We are putting India first, we can do business later. The governments should resolve the differences. Until Nepal takes back its decision, we will stop the export of goods to Nepal." Last week, Nepal completed the process of redrawing the country's political map through a constitutional amendment, incorporating three strategically important Indian areas -- Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura. India has termed as "untenable" the "artificial enlargement" of the territorial claims by Nepal after its parliament unanimously approved the new political map. It is noted that most of the Nepali citizens of Morang, Ilam, Jhapa districts of eastern Nepal are dependent on the local markets of Panitanki. (ANI)
When U.S. schools begin the next academic year with the country still fighting the coronavirus pandemic, students should spend half their time in classrooms and half doing online activities that pinpoint their individual learning style such as videos or reading.

That advice comes from Nimish Mathur, 17, and his team from DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky.

The "I'm So Confused Gang" team submitted its idea for re-opening school in the age of COVID-19 to a competition sponsored by Discover Your Genius (DYG), a nonprofit company that challenges young people to solve real-world business problems.

First place and $1,500 in prize money went to Team Finn from Northwood High School in Irvine, California, DYG announced on Monday (June 29). Team Finn members included Miya Liu, Matthew Kim, Helena Zhou, all 16, and Henry Chen, 17. The rest of the winners from the competition, which involved team members age 13 to 24 from 23 states vying for a piece of the $5,000 prize, will be announced on Tuesday.

Mathur's team would use any winnings to buy a URL to activate their website, Virtual Aristotle. It was named after the Greek philosopher and a teacher of Alexander the Great, who became ruler of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia.

"We were looking at how Aristotle personally tutored Alexander the Great. That inspired us," Mathur told Reuters.

"We were like, 'Wow. How can we put that in a website so that everyone can have their own personal tutoring experience?'" said Mathur.

The coronavirus pandemic that locked down U.S. businesses and schools starting in March gave a challenging assignment to the nation's roughly 57 million K-12 students and 20 million college students, and the educators tasked with teaching them. They had to find ways to learn everything generally taught in a classroom but remotely, typically using digital links to teachers and instructional material.

As the 2019-20 school year drew to a close, critics pronounced remote learning a failure for younger pupils. Students lost as much as one-third of their expected progress in reading and as much as half in math, according to a working paper from the non-profit NWEA, Brown University and the University of Virginia.

Story continues

The declines were particularly steep for less affluent communities or far-flung communities with less access to home digital technology, researchers said.

Looking ahead, some districts like Denver public schools expect to offer both remote and in-person classes in the fall, in part to accommodate parents who do not feel comfortable sending their children into classrooms during a pandemic.

About four in 10 parents and teachers oppose returning to school until a vaccine is available, according to a USA Today/Ipsos poll released in May.

With the start of the 2020-21 school year just two months away, many school leaders and education boards are scrambling to make opening plans amid countless unknowns about how the virus spreads.

Some experts said the best ideas may come from students themselves, like those in the DYG competition. They noted that schoolchildren have risen to safety challenges before, particularly in response to mass shootings.

The Louisville team's Virtual Aristotle website is designed to be used by grades K-12. Half of each class would learn remotely for half the week before switching schedules with the rest of the class, keeping classrooms sparsely filled so students can self-distance to thwart virus spread.

It would also help students prepare for another round of 100% remote learning if a second wave of the virus hits, Mathur added.
A stoic German chancellor Angela Merkel is seemingly unimpressed with US president Donald Trump at the NATO summit in London in December 2019. Photo: Michael Kappeler/Picture Alliance via Getty

German foreign minister Heiko Maas said that even if president Donald Trump lost the US election in November, it did not follow that relations between Germany and the US would automatically improve.

"Everyone who thinks everything in the transatlantic partnership will be as it once was with a Democratic president underestimates the structural changes, Maas said in an interview with the German Press Agency (DPA), published on Sunday (28 June).

"The transatlantic relations are extraordinarily important, they remain important, and we are working to ensure they have a future," Maas said. "But with the way they are now, they are no longer fulfilling the demands both sides have of them."

German chancellor Angela Merkel said in an interview with several leading European newspapers, including The Guardian, last week that the world can no longer take it for granted that the US wants to be a global leader.

Should the US now wish to withdraw from that role of its own free will, we would have to reflect on that very deeply, Merkel said.

Trump has targeted Germany repeatedly since he took office over a number of issues. He has criticised the countrys trade deficit and threatened to slap US tariffs on German cars. Trump is also vehemently opposed to the new Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline being built from Russia to Germany, and approved sanctions on companies involved in the project in December 2019.

Trumps biggest bugbear when it comes to Germany is its financial contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)  he has demanded that they be increased to 2% of the countrys GDP. Currently, German is aiming to increase its contribution to 1.5% by 2024.

This month, Trump confirmed plans to withdraw around 9,500 of the 35,000 US troops stationed in US bases in Germany. Trump said in a cabinet meeting about the troop withdrawal that we're protecting Germany and they're delinquent. That doesn't make sense. So I said, we're going to bring down the count to 25,000 soldiers."

American troops in Germany help to protect not only Germany and the European part of NATO but also the interests of the United States of America, Merkel said in the wide-ranging interview last week.

She did however, acknowledge that Germany needed to up its military spending, saying: We in Germany know that we have to spend more on defence; we have achieved considerable increases in recent years, and we will continue on that path to enhance our military capabilities.
Washington, Jun 28 (PTI) Special US Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad is travelling to Qatar, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as part of his sustained effort to bring peace in the war-torn country, the State Department said on Sunday.

Joined by US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) CEO Adam Boehler, Khalilzad left for the region on June 28, it said in a media release.

During his meetings, Khalilzad 'will urge support for all Afghans to meet their remaining commitments ahead of intra-Afghan negotiations, specifically reduced violence and timely prisoner releases,' the State Department said.

Noting that Afghan peace, economic growth, and regional connectivity are closely linked and mutually supportive, it said that the delegation will explore investment opportunities and partnerships in a range of sectors to advance the economic recovery of Afghanistan and support sustained peace and stability in the region.

'Due to the challenges of travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, Khalilzad, CEO Boehler, and their delegation will also conduct meetings with Afghan officials throughout the trip remotely via video,' it added. PTI LKJ ZH
Washington DC [USA], June 28 (ANI): United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad departed for Doha, Islamabad and Tashkent on Sunday to garner support to meet the remaining commitments ahead of intra-Afghan negotiations, specifically reduced violence and timely prisoner releases. "US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad departed on June 28 for travel to Doha, Islamabad and Tashkent. At all three locations, Ambassador Khalilzad will urge support for all Afghans to meet their remaining commitments ahead of intra-Afghan negotiations, specifically reduced violence and timely prisoner releases," the US State Department said in a statement. Khalilzad is joined by US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) CEO Adam Boehler and his team. "Afghan peace, economic growth, and regional connectivity are closely linked and mutually supportive. The delegation will explore investment opportunities and partnerships in a range of sectors to advance the economic recovery of Afghanistan and support sustained peace and stability in the region," the department said. The intra-Afghan talks were initially set to commence on March 10, under the US-Taliban peace deal, but were pushed back due to disagreements over the mutual release of prisoners. The Taliban, in particular, demanded that Kabul free all 5,000 prisoners at once. However, the prisoner exchanges that have been taking place over the last few months, as well as the Eid al-Fitr ceasefire, demonstrated some potential for a breakthrough in the Afghan peace process. Last week, Khalilzad said that intra-Afghan talks are closer than ever, praising Kabul for freeing over 3,000 Taliban prisoners and the Taliban for releasing more than 500 government prisoners. "Due to the challenges of travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ambassador Khalilzad, CEO Boehler and their delegation will also conduct meetings with Afghan officials throughout the trip remotely via video," the statement further said. (ANI)
In the times that we are in, we need to be more sensitive to the issues than we have been in the past, said KCS board chair Todd Adams.

As history has played out and we go back and learn some things about Woodrow Wilson, he may not represent the values that we care for today. He may not represent how we want our children to feel when theyre in a building.

Wilson was the 28th president of the United States and the first man from the South to be elected president since Zachary Taylor in 1848.

John M. Cooper is a historian whose 2009 book on Wilson was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

He said one of the main knocks on Wilson in his presidency was an attempt in his administration to introduce segregation in the federal workplace.

It fortunately was not formally put into practice but, informally, it was in subsequent years, with little change being made until Franklin Delano Roosevelts administration more than a decade later, and that change was slow.

It was not a good thing, Cooper said. It simply wasnt.

Kannapolis City Schools has been working hard on racial equity in the district over the last several years and this seemed like a logical step.
I spent a lot of time practicing especially when I was in high school. I would practice every day. Id go to school and build a project to practice for the masonry contest every single day. Sometimes Id build two or three a day. Id go to school and Id build one and sometimes two at school and then Id come home and build another one some days and it really pays off when you win."
The UAE has temporarily suspended all incoming flights from Pakistan until it sets up a special COVID-19 lab to test the travellers from the country, according to media reports. On Monday, Pakistan's coronavirus infection tally crossed the 2 lakh-mark after 3,557 fresh cases were reported during the last 24 hours.

As the number of coronavirus cases went up in Pakistan, the UAE has decided to not receive passengers coming from Pakistan from June 29 until a special COVID-19 lab is set up to test them. The decision would also apply to transit flights originating from Pakistan, the Express Tribune reported.

The decision by the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority came after Dubai-state carrier Emirates already suspended services from Pakistan from June 24. The Emirates suspended passenger flights from Pakistan till July 3 last week. The airline took the decision after 30 Pakistanis who flew on an Emirates flight to Hong Kong on June 22 tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The suspension will be in place till the country establishes a process of laboratory testing for COVID-19 for all departing travellers enroute to the UAE, the country's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced on Sunday. "This is a precautionary measure to ensure the health and safety of all arrivals as of Monday, June 29, 2020," the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority said late on Sunday.

The GCAA called on all travellers affected by the decision to communicate with their airline to reschedule their flights, the Khaleej Times reported. Meanwhile, Pakistan on Monday registered 3,557 new coronavirus cases, taking the total tally to 206,512.

These cases include 80,446 in Sindh, 74,778 in Punjab, 25,778 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 12,643 in Islamabad, 10,376 in Balochistan, 1,442 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 1,049 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to the Ministry of National Health Services. In the last 24 hours, 49 patients died and with the net death toll reached 4,167 in the country, the ministry said in a statement.

It also said that 95,407 patients so far recovered from the disease, while another 2,437 were in critical condition. Another 23,009 corona tests were carried out during the last 24 hours, taking the number of total tests done so far to 1,262,162.

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that Pakistan started producing its own ventilators. The first batch of ventilators is ready. We will hand over 8 to 10 ventilators to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Three designs are in final stages and will be brought forward soon, he said.

Also read: Vietnam grounds all Pakistani pilots over 'dubious' licence concerns
MATTOON  The Local History Center at the Mattoon Public Library recently added to its exhibits about restaurants, schools and more while visits to the library were limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I am so much further along than I thought I would be," said curator Chris Suerdieck. "We have taken advantage of our extra time during the quarantine."

Now that quarantine restrictions are easing in Illinois, appointments are being taken for individuals and small groups to tour this Local History Center in the library's lower level.

The center started more than two years ago as a Local History Room housing archives of city directories, news clippings, yearbooks, Mattoon history books, and other materials. This section soon expanded from the archives room to an adjacent central exhibit room and, most recently, to a south exhibit room that had been a staff break room. The expanded section has been renamed as the Local History Center.

"A Local History Room name seemed confining and we have done so much more," Suerdieck said.

The two exhibit rooms and nearby corridors are lined with story boards that Suerdieck has created with the help of graphic artists. These story boards share highlights and photos of churches, restaurants, a wide variety of retail businesses, and many other aspects of Mattoon life.

For example, the retail storyboards include one on lumberyards. Suerdieck said visitors can see that the Kull Lumber Co. warehouse along the south side of Richmond Avenue has been continuously used as a lumber yard since 1875.

Many businesses are highlighted in two long storyboards that trace the occupants of every storefront in downtown Broadway and Western avenues back to 1900.

"What I am trying to do here with these is give a snapshot, tell a story," Suerdieck said. He added, that "I don't like to leave any wall uncovered."

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Suerdieck also has covered much of the available space with artifacts, such as the past and present industry storyboards featuring a 1912 coal miner carbide lamp produced by Justrite.

The central room includes displays about Mattoon-based Consolidated Communications, First Mid Bank & Trust, and Rural King, plus related artifacts such as an antique telephone switchboard from Consolidated. Other artifacts in the room include a Central School auditorium seat and Longfellow School desk from the schools display, and a display case of milk and soda bottles from the many bottling plants that once operated in Mattoon.

"There are dozens of bottles that I am still missing that I am trying to find and hope I will," Suerdieck said of representing every plant.

Suerdieck said his goals for the Local History Center include creating binders of additional information for each display.

"Chris Suerdieck has transformed an entire floor of the library into a series of dozens of exhibits that trace Mattoon history in an informative, interesting way," said library Director Carol Walworth. "We've had groups of children, class reunions, former residents, as well as many Mattoon residents, find fun and meaningful items in Chris' ever-expanding collection."

The library encourages community members to make an appointment for a tour by calling 234-1710 or emailing carl@mattoonlibrary.org.

Beginning Monday, the regular library hours will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

"This gets us close to our pre-COVID hours," Walworth said. "We are limiting our services primarily to a 'grab and go,' format for people to pick out books from our collection or pickup inter-library loans."

The library is hosting some programming, such as weekly story times outside at Lytle Park at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays. A limited lineup of programs are being put together that will require pre-registration.

My Town: Rob Stroud talks about why he likes living in Coles County

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Highlights TikTok, ShareIt, and WeChat are among 59 apps that have been banned by the government.

The apps are said to have been siphoning off data from India to China.

The Google Play Store and Apple's App Store are likely to remove the apps.

In a huge blow to popular apps such as TikTok, the Indian government has banned as many as 59 apps that are owned by Chinese companies. The latest announcement comes close on the heels of a rumour of the same, which was termed a hoax by the government. A press release by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has listed 59 apps that will be blocked on internet and non-internet served devices in India, citing reasons that these apps "are engaged in activities prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of state and public order."

Government of India's orders follow the tensions rampant at the Indo-China border after some Indian soldiers were martyred at the Galwan river valley. Ever since the incident, there has been an uproar on social media urging boycott of anything that is related to China, including smartphone brands and apps. While there has been no announcement for the Chinese smartphone brands, the government has immediately blocked as many as 59 apps in India. This means they will not function in India, in addition to their discontinuation on both Google Play Store and App Store at large.

Here are the 59 Chinese apps that have been blocked by the Indian government:
But more than a decade has passed since a Democrat won a statewide election, and Republican nominees now aren't even seriously challenged.

Even some Republicans bemoan the situation.

Its better to have competitive races, both in the primary and general elections, said J.L. Spray, a GOP national committee member and former state party chairman. The voters should have a choice.

Democrats say their biggest problem is a lack of money, and they argue the national party is short-changing states like Nebraska in favor of states seen as more competitive in presidential politics.

Jane Kleeb, the state party chairwoman, noted that when Howard Dean was the Democratic Party's chairman, its national committee had a 50-state strategy that guaranteed at least $25,000 a month to every state party regardless of its size. That period of 2005 to 2009 coincided with Nelson's reelection to U.S. Senate and Obama's Electoral College win.

Later, Kleeb said, the party reduced Nebraskas monthly share to $2,500 a month before raising it again to $10,000. But by then, she said, the party had ceded too much ground to Republicans and had grown disconnected from rural voters, who tend to turn out in greater proportions than those in Omaha and Lincoln.
The biggest disadvantage, Hirsch said, is the time it takes.

But Im retired now so thats no problem for me, Hirsch said. I donate 24 times a year.

Hirsch remembers when he first began donating at the North Platte office on Willow Street.

I dont remember how many chairs there were, but we only had one TV set, Hirsch said. Id come in after school was out and wed all gather around there to watch 'Jeopardy!' Now we all have our own TVs and earphones, so we dont interfere with each other.

The process is different now than when he began.

When they first started, they would use two tubes, one to take the platelets out and one to return my blood so I couldnt use either arm, Hirsch said. Now its just one arm and they take my blood out and run it through this piece of equipment and that spins my platelets out, then I get my blood back.

On Monday, the process for Hirsch to actually give the platelets was scheduled for 102 minutes.

They give me a mini-examination when I come in here to check my blood pressure and my iron, Hirsch said.

The process takes about two to three hours overall, Hirsch said.
BRIDGEPORT  Earlier this month, the final stone was placed at the front of Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery, marking the completion of a Bridgeport womans dream to honor the veterans of her community.

Hazel Kleich was the driving force behind the memorial which is made up of stones engraved with the names of veterans buried in the cemetery. She visited memorials across the state to come up with ideas for the one she wanted to build in Bridgeport, Kathy Brandt, cemetery board member, said.

She was very adamant about honoring our veterans, Brandt told the Scottsbluff Star-Herald. That woman was a worker. She worked day and night getting the names.

She cared deeply for the cemetery and those resting there, and spent time taking care of the grounds. Even as she aged, Brandt said, theyd catch her out there trimming trees.

Hazel could pinpoint any grave here, said Brandt.

Kleich died in 2017 at the age of 91, but the efforts behind the memorial werent slowed.

Board president Don Landrigan said it was paid for with donations, as well as cemetery funds.

We sat aside money in our budget every year, he said.
RACINE COUNTY  While evictions filings resumed in Wisconsin on May 26, the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act still bars certain types of evictions through July 25.

The CARES Act, which was signed into law on March 27, prohibits evictions of tenants living in federally subsidized housing. Theres also an exception for tenants or homeowners living in a home with a federally-backed or federally-guaranteed mortgages, because those mortgages qualify for forebearance under the CARES Act.

Racine County Circuit Court Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz said that during his eviction hearings, he has to run through a checklist to double-check if the case falls under the CARES Act. He estimated that only about 10% do. In those cases, the plaintiff has the option of either dropping the case or rescheduling the hearing after July 25, which is when the provision expires.

None of these relieve the tenant from their fiscal responsiblity to pay the landlord, it just defers it, Gasiorkiewicz said. Youre not getting forgiveness, its just a deferral.

Last week, Gasiorkiwicz said that hed spent two days doing nothing but evictions. Granted, because those hearings are now on Zoom, they take longer due to technical issues, but there are still a lot of eviction hearings.
When Sept. 3 comes, it will have been 5  months since students were last in school.

For many of them, it will have been 5  months since they did any school work. For some students, its because teachers were not prepared to transfer to new online teaching technology. For others, its because their parents were not able to teach them at home  possibly because of work or myriad other reasons. Others have done work, but it doesnt compare to what they would have learned in school.

Students are already behind where they are supposed to be. When September comes, schools need to physically reopen and welcome students back in.

If they dont, our students will be even further behind. Students are already behind about a semester, push full school reopening to December and kids are pushed back practically a year.

And the achievement gap will only worsen.

If schools in Racine dont open and others do, Racines students will be further behind.

While there have been 766 coronavirus-related deaths in Wisconsin, none have been for anyone ages 0-19, the Wisconsin State Health Department confirmed Friday.
Global technology major, Oracle Corp launched its second cloud data centre in India at Hyderabad. This is the 23rd out of 36 data centres that Oracle plans to have across the world by the end of 2020. The Hyderabad data centre is a disaster recovery data centre. "We located the data centre in Hyderabad because it is in a different seismic zone compared to Mumbai where we set up a data centre in 2019. More importantly, it is connected to a different power grid," says Mitesh Agarwal, VP-Global Key & Lead Accounts, Oracle India.

With this launch, India joins US, Canada, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and the European Union in having multiple Oracle Cloud regions that enable better disaster recovery strategies. In addition to the Hyderabad Cloud Region, Oracle recently announced the opening of five Oracle Cloud regions in Melbourne, Jeddah, Osaka, Amsterdam and Chuncheon (South Korea).

The top clients that Oracle has include the largest financial services companies, the leading telecom operators and leading oil & gas companies. The advantage of the public cloud that Oracle offers is that the capital expenditure of companies comes down substantially. "What we are offering is a pay-per-use formula for clients," says Agarwal.

Oracle offered interesting applications that included 1GB of Reliance Jio data for buying Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate, among others. "Within a month we had 100 million impressions and the data generated was used to drive marketing campaigns," says Agarwal. Oracle has also tied-up with Niti Aayog and pharma companies to identify the fake drugs problem. In recent times, Oracle has joined hands with BITS Pilani to start providing courses on the cloud. The idea is to provide global quality of services.

On being asked, whether there are plans for any more data centres in India, Agarwal stated that each of the data centres has three fault domains - a fault domain is a grouping of hardware and infrastructure within an availability domain. So with six fault domains in India, there is enough capacity and back-up on offer within the country.

The setting up of the second data centre in India means Oracle's enterprise customers will see better performance while using Oracle's cloud products. As more companies move to the public cloud that Oracle offers, it means lower capex. Oracle has clients across banking and financial services, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, telecom and even Niti Aayog.

Also Read: Consumer spending dips from Rs 12,000 to Rs 3,600 per credit card; gold loans see uptick

Also Read: Amazon India scraps single-use plastic in packaging across centers
















Russian media recently reported the shocking case of a 42-year-old woman who had not set foot outside her family home for 26 years, despite being in perfect health, because he mother didnt allow it.Until this month, 42-year-old Nadezhda Bushueva hadnt left her mothers house in the village of Arefinsky, in western Russia, since she was 16. The only reason she decided to venture into the village was because her mother, Tatyana, had become ill and needed to be hospitalized. For the first time in 26 years she didnt have to listen to her mother, who reportedly kept her isolated for all these years to protect her from the dangers of the outside world. Nadezhda had reportedly not washed her hair in 12 years, as evidenced by the giant clump on her head, and hadnt had a change of clothes in even longer. Despite all this, she allegedly said she doesnt need any helpAccording to the womens neighbors, Tayana had always been very protective of her daughter, but things really got out of control when the woman retired. Nadezhda was in 8th grade when her mother started forbidding her from going out with other teenagers in the village, and in a couple of years the two had become complete recluses. Nadezhda didnt go to school anymore, and her mother rejected anyone who tried to interfere, telling them that they were fine and that they should mind their own business.No one knows exactly how Tatyana got her daughter to accept this isolated lifestyle, but the general consensus is that the girl slowly got used to how things were and simply adapted to the new normal. After a while, villagers stopped trying to convince her mother to give Nadezhda more freedom too, and everyone just went on with their lives.It was only earlier this month, when Tatyana got sick and needed to be hospitalized that Nadezhda ventured out of her home for the first time in 26 years. Everyone was shocked when they saw her, especially because she looked like she hadnt bathed in a while, which turned out to be an accurate assumption. After villagers brought her to the head of the local council, Vasily Tovarnov, the woman revealed that she hadnt washed her hair in 12 years, hadnt changed her clothes in even longer than that, had been living on cat food for years and had been sharing a bed with her mother and their cats, some of which were deadSo what if there are dead cats on the couch? Maybe Ill die soon here on this couch as well. My life is worse than that of a cat. A cat has more rights. I am not alive, I dont even exist. Im a walking dead, Nadezhda Bushueva allegedly said.Despite the above statement, and her apparent desire to find work and get a passport, Nadezhda didnt seem eager to change her lifestyle. Larisa Mikheeva, director of the social security services of the Vachsky district, told RIA Novosty that the 42-year-old cannot be forced into rehabilitation, and that so far she has refused all help, saying that she likes the way she lives now, and that it suits her.She is not disabled, she has no mental illness. She is an adult, she just lives with her mother and is used to this lifestyle, Mikheeva said. A person must voluntarily agree to receive some services. If they are not mentally unable to make decision, we cannot legally force them.Even though local authorities keep claiming that Nadezhda Bushueva does not suffer from mental issue, I would say that that is debatable, at least considering her situation for the lat two and a half decades, and the state she was in when she was found.Larisa Mikheeva added that both social workers and neighbors offered to help Nadezhda at least clean her home before her mother returned from the hospital. They even showed up at her house with garbage bags and cleaning products, but she flat out refused.It is very difficult to help people when they are healthy according to documents, and to make them change their idea of life if that person does not want to change anything, the social worked said.Nadezhda Bushuevas shocking story was originally featured on Russian television show By the Way last week, and has since gone viral in the media.
- The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will suspend its disconnection activities until August 31

- Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said that this is to give all the consumers more time to understand their bills

- He also shared that the company is currently focusing on stable electricity connection

- It can be recalled that Meralco received a lot of complaints from consumers who question their electricity bills during the quarantine period

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The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will suspend its disconnection activities until the end of August for consumers who cannot pay their June billing.

Meralco suspends disconnection activity; gives consumers time to understand bills

Source: Facebook

In a virtual briefing, Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said the company is currently focusing on stable electricity connection.

"We need to keep the lights on, we need to explain individually kung kinakailangang one-on-one sa mga tanong ng customers natin, so wala ho kaming magiging anumang disconnection in the next coming months," Zaldarriga said.

He also explained that, "Until the end of August ay wala kaming gagawing anumang disconnection sa customers, so that this will give all consumers more time to understand the bill.

The spokesperson also explained that the customers bills in June are high because those are the total billings of their consumption since the community quarantine started in March. He added that it was not estimated billing because consumers were already charged according to the actual reading.

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"It is definitely challenging. We will not deny that and we understand also that marami sa mga customer namin ay talagang marami pa ring tanong," also stated.

"I think as we've mentioned, we will very considerate even after the August 31 period and if it even becomes extended further," Zaldarriga added.

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In a previous report by KAMI, The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered power distributors, including Meralco, to provide new billing and suspend the collection of universal charges from consumers due to the community quarantine.

Meralco is the largest private power distribution company in the Philippines. The name is an acronym for Manila Electric Railroad And Light Company.

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Source: Kami.com.ph
1. Yes. Its important for students to stay focused throughout the year. Its a plus.

2. Yes. It would fill the learning gaps caused by COVID and would help cut youth crime.

3. No. Students and teachers deserve a summer break. Year-round school wont work.

4. No. It wouldnt work with the militarys summer PCS schedule. Its a bad idea.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without knowing how the school calendar would work.

Vote

View Results
Data from the yearly Wisconsin Synar survey shows that little cigarillos are increasingly being sold to kids, even as the number of retailers selling any tobacco product to youth has gone down slightly.

The Synar survey, which monitors the percentage of retailers across the state that sell tobacco to minors shows that the overall sales rate of tobacco products has remained stable at 5.5% in 2019 (down from 5.8% in 2019). However, the product most often sold to youth was cigarillos for the second year in a row (7.4% in 2018 and 7% in 2019). Members of the 7Cs Health Initiative expressed concern over that trend.

Seeing that retailers are selling cigarillos more often to minors is concerning, especially since we know these products are so attractive to young people, said Betty Nigh, RN BSN, Vernon County Health Department. Many of these cigarillos can be bought for as cheap as three for 99 cents, and unlike cigarettes, they come in candy and fruit flavors like Grape and Cherry, making them more appealing to youth.

In addition to their cheaper prices and kid-friendly flavors, the 7Cs Health Initiative noted that, unlike cigarettes, these products dont need to be displayed behind the counter. In fact, many times theyre placed near candy and snacks.
The Zahms, who were interviewed by the Tribune while wearing face masks, said they also require their staff to wear face masks. Since on-premise dining resumed, Ruthie estimated, 40% to 50% of customers have been wearing face masks when they enter the cafe.

Wed like to keep (outside dining) going for as long as we can, Luke said. But we also understand that we live in a climate that will allow us to do this comfortably until maybe September or October. At that point, well look at whatever our other options are. But I do think that post-COVID, having outdoor dining in some capacity is going to be in the formula for the cafe.

The Zahms said they appreciate the support that they received from their family, the community and their customers before and after the cafe reopened. While it was closed, Luke said, people kept buying gift certificates and sending nice messages and really inspired us.

The Zahms bought the Driftless Cafe in 2013 and expanded it in 2014. The cafe is known for its creative cuisine and for using locally produced ingredients, and draws customers from as far away as Chicago, the Twin Cities and Milwaukee.

About 85% of the money it spends on food is for items produced within 100 miles of Viroqua, Luke estimated.
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The Gold Line bar in Highland Park had been planning on re-opening this month until Gov. Newsom ordered bars in Los Angeles County closed immediately on June 28, (Photo courtesy of The Gold Line bar)

Shuttered since March 13, the Gold Line Bar in Highland Park was supposed to welcome back patrons as early as this week, with servers wearing face shields and gatherings limited to six people.

Then came Gov. Gavin Newsom's order Sunday: Bars in Los Angeles and six other California counties had to close immediately because of the rapid spread of coronavirus in those areas.

While Gold Line's co-owner Jason McGuire deferred to the judgement of public health officials, he worried about the financial viability of the cocktail spot.

"It's very challenging," McGuire said. "We have bills to pay."

The mandatory bar closures come barely a week after drinking spots in Los Angeles County were allowed to reopen. Newsom's order also applies to the following counties:

Fresno

San Joaquin

Kings

Kern

Imperial

Tulare

The governor on Sunday also urged eight other counties to issue local health orders to close bars:



Contra Costa

Santa Clara

Sacramento

Riverside

San Bernardino

Ventura

Santa Barbara

Stanislaus

"Californians must remain vigilant against this virus," Newsom said in statement. "COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger. That's why it is critical we take this step to limit the spread of the virus in the counties that are seeing the biggest increases."

The state's public health department cited reasons why bars were being targeted in the order, saying they posed a higher risk of transmission of COVID-19.

At bars, people mix with non-household members

Alcohol reduces compliance w/social distancing, using masks

Loud setting causes people to raise their voices and potentially lead to the "greater projection of oral emitted viral droplets"

Contact tracing is harder because of the constant foot traffic

Bars attract young people who tend to be less symptomatic and could unknowingly be spreading covid around

Tommy Mofid, owner and bartender of the Wrigley Tavern in Long Beach, reopened his doors two Fridays ago only to close again Sunday. (Gab Chabran for LAist)

In Long Beach, Tommy Mofid said he felt that bars like his -- vintage cocktail lounge Wrigley Tavern -- were being unfairly singled out. He said he had reduced his bar's occupancy to 60% and had been taking customers' temperature and squirting hand sanitizer into their hands. He said he had also been wiping down seats and tables with bleach after each use.

"I personally would be a lot more afraid of going to a gym or going to a barber," Mofid said.

Mofid reopened the Wrigley Tavern on Friday, June 19, the first day L.A. County bars were once again allowed to welcome patrons. (The pent-up demand saw about 500,000 people go out for a drink the day after, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health.)

Mofid said he was frustrated by confusing guidance from government officials who seemed to be "winging it."

He is also trying to adapt to their rules by working to revive his bar's dormant kitchen.

The California Department of Public Health guidance says bars and other watering holes can stay home if they "are offering sit-down, dine-in meals. Alcohol can only be sold in the same transaction as a meal."

An employee works at a bar in Grand Central Market on March 15, 2020 in downtown Los Angeles. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

"I wish we could continue to just be a cocktail bar only," Mofid said. "But it seems like everything is pushing us towards having to become an alcohol-and-food venue."

At Bar Covell in Los Feliz, which serves meals, could stay open, a relief for co-owner Matthew Kaner.

At the same time, he wondered if the order will hurt his business because it could shake the public's confidence in dining out.

"What's going to happen right now is everyone's getting this information and everyone's going to freak out and not feel safe to go out," Kaner said.

Kaner said that his staff have taken great pains to create a safe restaurant setting: Only al fresco dining is allowed, and seating is separated by at least six feet. Diners can only go indoors to use the restroom and must wear a mask. Multiple hand sanitizing stations dot the establishment.

While he fears falling sales, Kaner said he also believes "what the state is doing is the right decision." Kaner had anticipated that the bar closures were coming given that Texas and Florida had closed theirs.

"We knew that a place like California that's progressive and understanding of the situation would act like this as well," Kaner said. "We just didn't know when."

As we started reopening more businesses, we cautioned that we may need to change course to protect public health from this deadly virus. I support @CAGovernors order to close bars in L.A. County and other counties to limit the spread of COVID-19. https://t.co/Xa2A8mlF3N  MayorOfLA (@MayorOfLA) June 28, 2020

The governor's order comes as positive coronavirus cases sharply rise in the state, especially among younger adults, following social gatherings over Memorial Day weekend, reopened businesses in many places and widespread street protests against police brutality.

On Saturday, the state reported a rise of nearly 6,000 confirmed virus cases from the day before. Nearly 5,900 people have died from coronavirus complications in the state. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.

The list of counties impacted by Sunday's order was based on daily reports on the spread of the virus, state officials said. Counties on the state's watch list for more than 14 days are required to shut down any bar that has reopened for business.

"Closing bars in these counties is one of a number of targeted actions counties are implementing across our state to slow the virus' spread and reduce risk," the state's public health director Dr. Sonia Angell said in a statement.

Those counties on the state's watch list for between three and 14 days are being asked to close bars through local health orders.

Local law enforcement agencies said they were just learning of the order along with everyone else.

"We just got the notice. But as of right now, we have not been given any guidance, which way. It's breaking news," Officer Rosario Cervantes, a spokesperson in the Los Angeles Police Department, told City News Service.

Los Angeles County officials have reported "significant increases" in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and test positivity rates in recent days, including 2,169 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 23 additional deaths reported Saturday.

Those numbers brought the county's totals to 95,371 cases and 3,285 fatalities.

According the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, the seven-day average of daily new cases is more than 1,900, an increase from the 1,379 average two weeks ago. There are 1,698 people currently hospitalized, which is higher than the 1,350 to 1,450 daily hospitalizations seen in recent weeks.

Some officials have attributed the rise in overall cases to increases in testing, but Barbara Ferrer, the county's director of public health, said repeatedly in recent days that the metrics clearly demonstrate an increase in community spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Highlights India has banned 59 Chinese apps saying this will safeguard the interests of Indian users.

The banned apps include TikTok, Shareit, Mi Community, Du Battery Saver and others.

The apps are likely to be removed from Google Play Store and Apple App Store soon.

India on Monday evening banned 59 Chinese apps. It is a significant move that comes in the middle of India's trouble with China at its border where Chinese soldiers have occupied some Indian territory. The list of the banned apps has popular apps like TikTok, Mi Community, DU Battery Saver and Shareit and others. To see the full list of the apps, please check this.

So what happens next?

Next, the banned apps are likely to be removed from the Google Play Store and the Apple iOS APP Store as soon as the two companies are given a copy of the order by the government. We have asked both Google and Apple to understand what the two companies will do next.

Apple has told India Today Tech that "Once the government order comes in, the apps will be removed from India App Store because it is required by the law." We are still waiting to hear from Google, although chances are that the banned Chinese apps will be soon removed from the India Play Store for Android because a few months ago when an India court ordered against TikTok the app was removed.

But what happens if the banned app is already on your phone? In India, banned apps like TikTok have hundreds of millions of users. Many other apps too are extremely popular.

Chances are that the banned will stop working soon because not only India is banning these apps but also going to block them. Here is what the IT Ministry said in its statement:

"The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking of these malicious apps... the government of India has decided to disallow the usage of (these) apps."

The blocking of the apps is going to be done by blocking the apps on networks, which are 4G and wired internet connections managed and operated companies like Airtel and Jio.

Once the apps are blocked at the network level, they will stop working unless a user decides to utilise a VPNs.

Currently, the government hasn't said anything about whether people are supposed to use these apps or if using them is going to be illegal. But effectively, the government through its order makes it clear that it doesn't want TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps in India or on the phones of Indian users.
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Talk to any police officer for more than a few minutes about homelessness, and you'll eventually hear the adage, "Well, cops aren't social workers."

It's true. Cops are not social workers, but they represent a sizable portion of the day-to-day response to Los Angeles' homelessness crisis, all on the taxpayer's dime. The result is a disproportionately high number of contacts between unhoused residents of Los Angeles and police.

Police are called when a homeless person is experiencing a mental health crisis; when housed residents and business owners complain about trespassing; for enforcement of so-called quality-of-life crimes like sitting on the sidewalk, or possessing bulky-items in the public right-of-way. They accompany city sanitation employees for homeless encampment sweeps.

It often doesn't end well. Consider this: approximately one in three times that an LAPD officer uses force, it is against an unhoused person.

Theo Henderson, an unhoused man who's currently staying in the Hollywood area, says dispatching police on calls involving unhoused residents is a bad recipe. The mere presence of a uniform is enough to doom what could be even a good-faith effort because of past traumatic encounters.

"When [the police] come, they pretend that they're concerned," Henderson said. "But it's not really concern if you interpret their presence as a veiled threat. And their presence is very triggering for people. They are the first person to answer when someone calls and says they don't want to see the unhoused person. They're the first person to run a background check, the first person to put them in handcuffs, even for their own protection."

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Now, as calls to "defund the police" make their way into the political mainstream, the long simmering calls to decriminalize homelessness and create alternative first responders, such as social workers and mental health experts, are becoming a clamor.

Among them, a petition now with almost 8,000 signatures asking the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to end its partnerships with the L.A. Police Department and the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, and a proposal by the Los Angeles City Council to consider replacing armed officers in non-violent calls.

An LAPD car on Wall Street in Skid Row. (Matt Tinoco/LAist)

We'll get to that petition and that city proposal in a minute. But first, some context.

There are more than 40,000 people experiencing homelessness in the city of L.A. on any given night, and more than 66,000 across the county. Though L.A. voters have invested a significant amount of money in a sprawling system of homeless services and housing, that system does not respond in real time.

Though case workers try each day to end their clients' homelessness, they are not the ones who respond to 911 calls about a person experiencing delusions of grandeur who is walking in traffic.

The police are.

How did it happen that police became first responders to the homelessness crisis? Read on.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

To answer that question, I turned to Forrest Stuart, an associate professor of Sociology at Stanford University who wrote the book, Down, Out and Under Arrest, about the policing of L.A.'s Skid Row. Stuart says there's a direct relationship between increased spending on policing and decreased spending on public services for the poor.

"By this, I mean social services, the social safety net, mental health services, housing programs," Stuart said. "When these things are firing on a high number of cylinders, we see the police having to get involved with folks with behavioral health issues, folks with mental health disorders, people suffering from substance abuse, and unhoused folks a whole lot less."

Without a social safety net, people on a downward trajectory continue falling deeper into poverty, accruing emotional, physical and mental trauma along the way.

Approximately one-in-four people who are unsheltered in Los Angeles report a long-term mental health condition, according to the latest demographic data from LAHSA. And while most people are able to take care of themselves, there reaches a point where the cumulative trauma of living outside just becomes too much.

It's at this point the police often get called, picking up the slack for the absence of a public mental healthcare system.

"If [homeless people are] receiving treatment, then they're not going to manifest the kinds of behaviors that get the cops involved," Stuart said. "They're not going to be running out into traffic, they're not going to be cursing or having some kind of delusional rants on the sidewalk.

"The first thing we have to understand is that we only see the police having to get involved in these instances throughout history precisely because we've abandoned these other programs."

CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY

Stuart said the disinvestment in social services was matched by a robust investment in law enforcement. As homelessness has increased in Southern California, that means more officers responding to more calls where someone involved potentially has a severe mental illness.

"We have a situation where many people are living on the streets, and then people call the police to intervene. And often, the police are the only people they can call," said Shane Murphy Goldsmith, vice president of the Los Angeles Police Commission.

Consider the 2015 shooting of Charley Keunang on Skid Row, which followed a robbery call that drew several LAPD officers to Keunang's tent outside the Union Rescue Mission on San Pedro Street.

When officers arrived, they instructed Keunang to get up against a wall, but Keunang retreated to his tent. The situation devolved into a physical scuffle after officers broke down the tent. As officers piled on top of Keunang, one shouted that Keunang had grabbed hold of his gun. Keunang was shot six times, and died at the scene.

LAPD officers at the scene of Charley Keunang's death in 2015. (Matt Tinoco/LAist)

In 2018, the city of L.A. settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Keunang's family for almost $2 million. (You can watch the body-camera footage here.)

In the wake of the shooting, which was denounced by a nascent Black Lives Matter movement, LAPD officers were instructed to treat unhoused residents with "compassion and empathy." The department pledged to offer more training to its officers to help them deescalate situations in which they're interacting with someone who is mentally ill.

Now, by 2020, there is no shortage of acronyms -- the Mental Evaluation Unit (MEU) and Systemwide Mental Assessment Response Teams (SMART) among others -- to describe the various programs, initiatives and special teams devoted to responding to "mental illness" calls, to which the LAPD responded more than 20,000 times in 2019. (Those numbers do not differentiate calls involving housed and unhoused residents).

In any case, people keep dying, such as earlier this year when 31-year-old Victor Valencia was shot and killed while holding a bicycle part in West L.A. Valencia's sister told L.A. Taco that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia several years ago.

"There's no question that the police are involved in things that are not trained to be involved in," said the police commission's Goldsmith. "I believe that, in many of these cases, they should be handled by social workers, outreach workers -- people who are trained to help people experiencing homelessness get the solutions that they need."

Stuart, the Stanford sociologist, disagrees that more training will fix the problem. He says that simply retraining officers represents what people in his field call a "path dependent process."

"Once we're headed in a particular direction, we're essentially just strapping on additions or agenda items or edits or revisions to that trajectory that we're heading on, rather than actually changing the trajectory," Stuart said.

That is, instead of rewriting who responds to non-violent calls involving homeless people, or calls involving someone who is mentally ill, police are offered another training program and sent back to the job.

Stuart believes it's a fundamental mismatch: "Once the police are involved, the process is done. It's over. Like, for that person, their life is only going to get worse."

USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS AGAINST HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE INCREASING

Nowhere is that mismatch more clear than in LAPD's statistics recording how officers deploy force.

Approximately one-in-three times that an LAPD officer uses force, it is against an unhoused person.

Between 2017-19, both the number and proportion of police use-of-force against unhoused Angelenos increased, according to LAPD statistics. In 2019, fully 34% of all incidents in which a Los Angeles police officer used force was against a person experiencing homelessness. In 2018 it was about 32.5%, and the prior year about 28.2%.

In raw numbers, Los Angeles police reported using force against someone experiencing homelessness 801 times in 2019. The vast majority of these incidents are documented as "non-categorical," which means police used "non-deadly force" against another person, though categorical uses of force do occur. ("Categorical" incidents the use of deadly force.)

At the Feb. 11 meeting of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, LAPD Commander Donald Graham, who is the department's homeless coordinator, offered commissioners a breakdown of the types of non-deadly force used in the 181 non-categorical incidents against an unhoused person in the final quarter of 2019.

"What we found is that if you look at the type of [non-categorical] force used, 82% of the time, bodily force only was used as the force, which includes firm grip, bodyweight and takedowns," Graham said. "A taser was deployed 19 times as representing 10% of the incidents, a chemical agent was deployed 1% of the time, and beanbags or 40 millimeter [projectiles] were deployed 12 times, representing 6.5%."

Graham said that officers injured a homeless person in 40% of those incidents, but noted that was lower than the 55% injury-rate for non-categorical uses of force against someone who isn't homeless.

UNARMED MODEL OF CRISIS RESPONSE

This month, the Los Angeles City Council proposed replacing armed police officers on non-violent calls for service. The proposal asks city staffers, in coordination with the LAPD, LAHSA and the L.A. County Department of Mental Health, to "develop an unarmed model of crisis response" for emergency calls involving incidents such as a mental health crisis, substance abuse, or neighbor disputes.

The motion is an acknowledgement of many of the demands made by activists for decades. Though, for now, it's only a motion that calls for a report. It does not require any immediate change.

Meanwhile, police involvement with Los Angeles unhoused residents extends beyond just calling 911 for someone who needs immediate help. Thousands of complaints from residents and businesses about unsightly homeless encampments play a major role too.

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND

The other big bucket of police involvement with Southern California's unhoused community is tied to the city's "Cleaning And Rapid Engagement" (CARE) program, intended to respond to constituent 311 complaints about homeless encampments. These actions, referred to colloquially as a "cleanup" or "sweep," rely on police enforcement of various municipal laws regulating conduct and property on public property.

Theo Henderson, the unhoused man quoted earlier, says the sweeps are less about cleaning an area, and more about displacing those in the areas they target.

"The thing called a 'CARE' cleanup, or any other acronym, is basically a displacement tool to terrorize, dismantle and advocate an unhealthy person from a particular area after neighbors or businesses complain," Henderson said.

Henderson moved to Hollywood after he was effectively driven out of Chinatown -- his longtime home prior to losing stable housing -- earlier this year during a city cleanup. Henderson says enforcing laws against people for existing in public space amounts to a civil rights violation.

"Why are they to move along? They're American citizens. I have a right to be at the park like everyone else," Henderson said. "To tell people to move along is to insinuate that they've been there too long, they're criminals, and they're not wanted in the area. That's a civil rights violation."

How Los Angeles' handles complaints about the presence of unhoused people has long been criticized by activists and advocates for the homeless because they increase contacts with law enforcement and destroy personal property. Last year, the Services Not Sweeps coalition began a campaign to end what they say is a destructive process that further erodes trust within L.A.'s unhoused community.

According to police data, 11,585 tents were "processed" during encampment cleanups in 2019, up from about 9,000 the year before.

Calls to reform the cleanup system escalated this month when a LAHSA regional supervisor penned a letter calling on the group's executive leadership to break ties with the Los Angeles Police Department and the L.A. County Sheriff. LAHSA, the agency responsible for overseeing homeless services in Los Angeles County, sends homeless outreach workers along with law enforcement during encampment cleanups.

Kristy Lovich, the petition's author, supervises street-based outreach in Central Los Angeles. She says tying outreach to encampment cleanups diminishes trust between social service workers and the unhoused residents they're trying to help.

"When we are standing next to people who are taking up enforcement explicitly, we're essentially co-signing on that," Lovich said. "We're saying that we agree with this response to unsheltered homelessness.

Lovich's letter articulates a strong response towards police enforcement of municipal ordinances that allow for the confiscation of personal property, and require unhoused people to simply move somewhere else. Her letter went viral, and has since attracted nearly 8,000 signatures on a Change.org petition page. Lovich has since taken leave from LAHSA.

She says the coordination between the organization and local law enforcement goes against the agency's own guidance, which recommends against enforcing criminal ordinances to regulate conduct in public space.

"It's very clear that the [LAHSA] guidance for municipal responses says [not to] criminalize. It says sweeps do not work," Lovich said. "And yet, here we are devoting probably a third of our teams to these operations."

LAHSA has issued a public response to Lovich's letter. In a statement, the agency did not say whether or not it would disavow its working relationship with law enforcement, and praised outreach workers for their work:

"They deliver services with the compassion and empathy that is needed to help someone with the complex task of ending their homelessness. However, they don't work 24/7, and law enforcement does."

Correction: A previous version of this story referred to LAHSA's "contracts" with law enforcement, however LAHSA itself doesn't contract directly with law enforcement, which is a function of local government. The article has been updated to reflect LAHSA's "working relationship" with law enforcement. LAist regrets the error.
Colson Whitehead, the Pulitzer Prize-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of The Underground Railroad, Zone One and other titles, is scheduled to make a live virtual presentation via Crowdcast on Thursday, July 9 at 7 p.m. hosted by the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg.

During the presentation Whitehead will be discussing his latest book The Nickel Boys  released in 2019  and taking questions from the audience.

Attendees must purchase a paperback copy of The Nickel Boys to access this exclusive ticketed virtual event. Orders can be made here.

Whiteheads The Nickel Boys  inspired by true events  tells the story of The Nickel Academy a reform school for boys: juvenile offenders, wards of the state, orphans, runaways whod lit out to get away from mothers who entertained men for money, or to escape rummy fathers who came into their rooms in the middle of the night.

The Nickel Academy is based real-life events that occurred at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys  a reform school in Florida that operated for more than a century. The school was known for its harsh corporal punishments, but in 2012, anthropologists uncovered unmarked graves on the schools campus.

Whiteheads novel takes place in the early 1960s and centers on Elwood Curtis, a young man with promising future and a burgeoning interest in the words of Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil right movement. Due to a misunderstanding Elwood is sent to the Nickel Academy  which takes its name from a previous dean, though some students say its called that because their lives werent worth five cents.

The book follows Elwoods tells the story of Elwoods experiences at the Nickel Academy, the horrific abuses that occur there and his time after he leaves the school. The final pages, an NPR reviewer writes are a perfect ending to a perfect novel.

Read a chapter from The Nickel Boys on the New Yorker.
A major Russian bank with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin has filed racketeering lawsuits in Lancaster County and Palm Beach County, Florida, claiming hackers attempted to frame it as a conduit for back-channel messages between Moscow and Trump Organization servers, including one run by Lititz-based Listrak.

The lawsuits, filed June 11, come nearly two years after the banks head, Petr Aven, tried unsuccessfully to set up a back channel to President Donald Trumps transition team at Putins direction, according to special counsel Robert Muellers report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. Aven denies Putin was the reason for his outreach to Trump.

U.S. intelligence officials have warned repeatedly that Russia would again try to interfere in the 2020 election by stoking division, spreading misinformation and attempting to stir doubt about the integrity of the electoral process.

Alfa bank says its lawsuit has nothing to do with the election, but rather aims to uncover who launched a cyberattack that manufactured the appearance that they were involved in election meddling.

This action is in no way related to U.S. or international politics, nor is it an attempt to support or harm, or to align Alfa Bank with, any candidate or political party, the second sentence of the lawsuits introduction states.

Alfa has hired one of the worlds largest law firms  New York-based Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom  to represent it in the two county courts, both of which are in key swing states.

This is one of those mega Wall Street law firms that dont play around, said Bruce Antkowiak, a former federal prosecutor and current law professor at St. Vincent College. Theyre obviously willing to commit a great deal of resources and time to this, and theyve gone about it in the most serious way you could imagine.

The attacks

Alfa Bank claims that from May 2016 through September 2016, hackers sent emails to the banks servers that appeared to have come from Trump Organization servers, including Listraks.

Listrak serves hospitality companies, including the Trump Organization, by creating internet domain names that appear to be affiliated with those companies and sending mass marketing emails from them. A Listrak spokesman declined to comment.

Alfa Bank alleges hackers spoofed those domain names, making it appear emails to the bank were coming from Listraks server. Alfas servers responded the way every computer responds when it receives an email: by automatically looking up the emails origin.

Hackers launched a similar series of attacks in February and March 2017, according to the lawsuit. Each of those lookups gets logged, leaving an electronic trail. That created the appearance that Alfas servers were communicating with Trump-affiliated servers thousands of times, according to the suit.

Though the public cant access those logs, computer scientists and researchers can. They use the information to monitor for malicious activity and ensure the internet is working the way it should.

Some of them noticed the unusual traffic  Alfas lawsuit suggests the hackers might have tipped them off  and leaked the connection to reporters who were looking into the ongoing Russian state-sponsored interference in the U.S. election.

The narrative that Alfa Bank communicated with the Trump Organization  falsely created and shaped by the defendants  persists in media circles and the public consciousness, Alfa Bank said in a statement to LNP | LancasterOnline.

The banks owners want to do business in the United States.

However, after Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election they  as private Russian investors  have recognized the barriers to reaching that goal and the need to develop confidence in them again in the U.S. in light of these false cyber allegations.

During Robert Muellers congressional testimony, then-Rep. Will Hurd, a Texas Republican and former CIA officer, asked Mueller whether he believed the stories laying out the Alfa-Trump link were accurate.

Mueller said he didnt know, but my belief at this point, its not true.

Project A

Aven, the banks head, is among about 50 Russian oligarchs who meet regularly with the Russian president, Aven told Muellers investigators in 2018.

Putin has spent the past 20 years consolidating control over the levers of power in his country. Experts on the country and its politics, such as Masha Gessen, have said that when assessing Russian state actions, its more useful to think of Putin as a mafia boss than as a traditional head of state.

In their one-on-one meetings, Putin might offer Aven suggestions or critiques, which Aven understood as implicit directives, and that there would be consequences if Aven did not follow through, according to the Mueller report.

One such meeting took place shortly after the 2016 election, when Putin told Aven he was having trouble getting in touch with the president-elects team, and that impending U.S. sanctions might target Aven or his bank, the Mueller report states. Weeks later, the Obama administration would expel Russian diplomats and impose sanctions on Russia for its election meddling.

Aven told Putin hed try to protect the bank, including by trying to get in touch with the incoming administration, according to Muellers report.

Aven categorically rejects any suggestion in the Mueller report that his planned outreach to the Trump administration ... was on behalf of the Russian state, according to Alfa Banks statement. At the time, Alfa and its shareholders felt strongly that they needed to take steps to build bridges with the incoming administration so they could protect their extensive international business interests and long-term desire to invest in the U.S.

Aven asked Richard Burt, a director at another of Avens companies and a former U.S. diplomat who was angling for a Trump administration post, to help. Burt would later tell Muellers team the request was unusual and outside the realm of his dealings with Aven.

Burt, in an email to Aven on Dec. 22, 2016, referred to the outreach effort as Project A. The effort fizzled out soon afterward, according to the Mueller reports accounts of Avens and Burts interviews.

Venues

Asked whether Russian state authorities directed or urged Aven to file this lawsuit, the bank replied, No. Absolutely not. Mr. Aven is a private businessman and Alfa Bank is a private Bank. Alfa Bank initiated this litigation to serve its own goals; namely, identifying and holding those responsible for perpetrating this cyber attack.

Filing federal racketeering lawsuits in state courts rather than federal court isnt all that unusual, said Antkowiak, the former federal prosecutor. Some believe the discovery process is more favorable at the state level, he said.

Multiple experts on Russian disinformation and election interference efforts declined to speak on the record about this story, but a 2018 report by the Atlantic Councils Anders Aslund warned that the Kremlin has weaponized elements of the US judicial system and process to further its own ambitions.

According to the report, the Kremlin exploits the generous provisions for opening a discovery case, and U.S. courts unwillingness to see some of the workings of the Russian state as more akin to the mafia than a traditional government.

Crime is not an aberration, but the standard. The best understanding is that an organized crime gang led by Putin has taken over the commanding heights of the Russian state, Aslund wrote. The US and other Western governments and institutions may not be able to stop this takeover, but they must avoid colluding with it, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
After a spike in COVID-19 cases was identified last week at Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach, anyone who visited the Delaware beaches recently is asked to consider being tested.

The alert from the Delaware Division of Public Health comes after 100 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Rehoboth Beach Thursday, and another dozen tested positive at Dewey Beach.

We are extremely concerned by yet another cluster of COVID-19 cases in the beach area and the potential for spread to others both at work and in social gatherings, said Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of Delaware Division of Public Health.

The testing is recommending for those who lived at the beach with non-family members, attended a party, or ate at a restaurant or bar without a face covering or without practicing social distancing. Hospitality industry workers are also urged to get tested.

We know that some of the positive persons have been at parties recently, potentially transmitting the virus to others who may still be here or may have returned to their homes in other counties or states, Rattay said.

This is the second time in just over a week that the division of public health has asked those visiting the beaches to get tested, according to a City of Rehoboth Beach press release.

For Pennsylvania residents, a list of testing sites is available at www.health.pa.gov.
Any new cases of COVID-19 at a nursing home mean no in-person visits at that facility for at least 28 days, under a three-step reopening process Pennsylvania regulators released Saturday.

Although end-of-life visits are allowed, other in-person visits have been banned since mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the department continues to allow window visits, in which visitors remain outside the facility but can see the resident through glass.

In the newly released plan, Pennsylvania Department of Health permits certain kinds of visits at homes and other long-term care facilities in the second and third steps, as long as there are no new COVID-19 cases among staff and residents.

Under the new process, any new cases found send a home back to the beginning, and 28 consecutive days must pass without any new cases before it is back at step two and can resume those limited visits.

The department indicated that outdoor visits are preferable to those conducted indoors and that social distancing, universal masking and infection control protocols must be followed "during the entirety of the visit," with home staff monitoring visits "so all safety guidelines are met and enforced."

And it said the site of the meeting should be properly disinfected after each visit.

We continue to practice a careful, measured approach in long-term care facilities so all staff and residents can safely welcome visitors and return to a more normal routine, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said in a written statement.

Levine said the guidance was developed "through collective input from residents and families, stakeholders, academia and facility representatives to allow safe visitations with strong public health measures to balance the mental and physical well-being of Pennsylvanias most vulnerable residents."
Each Monday, our digital team takes a look at last weeks top stories on LancasterOnline.

We look at news, sports, business, life, culture and local history.

Here are the most-read stories between Monday, June 22 and Sunday, June 28.

1. Here's why the FBI is helping in the search for a missing Amish teen

East Lampeter police are winding up their involvement in leading the search of an area where an 18-year-old Upper Leacock Township woman was last seen Sunday before she was reported missing.

Police investigators are instead focusing attention on the hundreds of tips that have poured in concerning Linda Stoltzfoos since Monday, Lt. Matt Hess said Thursday afternoon.

Volunteer searchers continued to search into Friday afternoon.

2. 18-year-old woman missing after attending church service Sunday: police

A search for a missing Upper Leacock Township 18-year-old continued Tuesday after the woman never returned home from church on Sunday.

Linda Stoltzfoos, 18, was last seen at a farm on Stumptown Road in Bird-in-Hand wearing a tan dress, white apron and a white cape, according to East Lampeter Township police.

Stoltzfoos is white, approximately 510 and weighs 125 lbs.

3. By shutting out this newspaper's reporters, Biden campaign sends message to Lancaster [editorial]

Joe Biden, the Democratic Partys presumptive nominee for president, was in Lancaster city Thursday to meet with three families and discuss the Affordable Care Act. Biden also met briefly with Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace and Lancaster city Council President Ismail Smith-Wade-El to discuss housing, racial justice and community development block grants, LNP | LancasterOnlines Gillian McGoldrick reported.

But no one from LNP | LancasterOnline, including McGoldrick, had access inside the event.

National media and an Associated Press pool reporter were able to cover the event. A local television station and  inexplicably  a Pittsburgh radio station CBS affiliate were allowed in late. But not the local newspaper journalists, who politely and repeatedly asked for access but were told they couldnt enter because of space restrictions.

4. Lebanon, Dauphin, Lancaster counties lead Pennsylvania in rates of new coronavirus cases

Central Pennsylvania continues to lead the state in rates of new coronavirus infections as 12 more counties move to the green phase of Gov. Tom Wolfs reopening plan on Friday.

Lebanon, Dauphin and Lancaster counties had the states highest per-capita rates of new COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, according to an LNP | LancasterOnline analysis of Department of Health data from June 11-24.

5. Man seen carrying assault-style rifle in Central Market 'disrespecting our community and our values': mayor

A man who appeared to carry an AR-style rifle into Lancaster Central Market sometime Saturday was within his rights, Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace said after photos of the man circulated on social media.

The mayor was critical of the man, who has not been identified and was not wearing a mask. He appeared to purchase food with the firearm slung across his chest.

"Clearly, this person is disrespecting our community and our values," Sorace wrote in a Facebook post. "The gun is beyond unnecessary. And not wearing a mask in an enclosed building where social distancing is not possible is just plain inconsiderate."
THE ISSUE

As LNP | LancasterOnlines Carter Walker reported Wednesday, Lancaster County residents might soon have access to police communications, which have been restricted for the past two-and-a-half years. In response to the George Floyd protests, County Commissioner Craig Lehman ... proposed reversing a 2017 decision to restrict public access to the system, which he voted against, Walker wrote. The matter could go to the three-member Lancaster County Board of Commissioners for a vote in early August.

Its incredibly sad that it took the death of George Floyd and the impassioned worldwide Black Lives Matter demonstrations to bring the issue of police radio communications back into the local spotlight.

And its odd that a 2019 clash between the county commissioners and then-District Attorney Craig Stedman might provide the impetus for the swing vote needed to once again provide public access to police communications.

But such action would be a victory for public, no matter the winding path it takes.

So we urge the county commissioners to vote this summer to reverse their 2017 decision to encrypt police transmissions, which took effect in February 2018.

We strongly opposed that decision. Local police chiefs said then that encryption of communications protects both police officers and victims. But some in emergency medical services said blocking radio transmissions might dangerously limit their situational awareness when arriving at active crime scenes.

For this board, the issue was then, and remains, one of transparency and accountability. Those principles are even more urgent now, with the ongoing push to reform policing to eliminate brutality and systemic racism from law enforcement.

Lancaster County, unfortunately, was not alone in its 2017 move toward encryption. Nationally, many police departments have moved in the direction of secrecy in recent years.

(Its) a trend driven in part by fear that bad guys and terrorists need to do little more nowadays than download a police-scanning app to get all the intelligence they need on what police are doing and where, The Washington Post reported in 2018. And the Columbia Journalism Review noted in 2019 that the growing ease and affordability of encryption has also been a factor.

We fully understand that there must be some balance between protecting both police officers and the privacy of victims  while also ensuring the public's right to information. But theres also this: Theres no evidence that open radio transmissions have made policing more dangerous or more difficult.

Media organizations have used emergency radio transmissions for decades without incident to keep the public informed about emergency situations in the community, Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, told LNP | LancasterOnline in 2017.

What might be dangerous, we believe, is continuing to further insulate law enforcement from the communities it serves. Encrypted radio chatter worsens that divide.

Less transparency breeds mistrust and suspicion, we wrote in 2017. Thats the last thing anyone  including police  needs.

In a serious emergency  natural disaster, spreading fire, etc.  the media must work closely and quickly with law enforcement to help keep the public informed. To that end, the LNP | LancasterOnline newsroom  prior to February 2018  would monitor police transmissions for information and use the information judiciously in the interest of the publics need to know.

Lehman believes the decision to stop encrypting transmissions should be based off a simple and necessary idea: Im a firm believer that transparency is foundational to any reform, and that includes police reform, he said.

We agree.

Commissioner Josh Parsons, who voted  narrowly, he said  for encryption in 2017 said he is open to changing his vote, possibly tipping the scales in favor of opening the system for public listening, LNP | LancasterOnlines Walker reported.

Parsons said his 2017 decision hinged on agreeing with the Lancaster County Chiefs of Police Associations recommendation in favor of encryption. But he now says that stance was based largely on the chiefs credibility and on the assumption that they were acting in good faith. ... That trust has been broken.

Parsons is referring to last years fight over the disclosure of Lancaster County drug task force forfeiture records that involved the commissioners, Stedman and LNP | LancasterOnline. Amid that oft-acrimonious monthslong dispute, the Lancaster County Chiefs of Police Association criticized the county commissioners and even sent a letter accusing Parsons of misusing his position, Walker reported.

They should have been supporting our fight for ethical behavior, not opposing it, Parsons said last week of the police chiefs.

And so Parsons might now turn out to be the deciding vote on whether the encryption continues here.

The battle over drug forfeiture records was fundamentally about transparency and accountability. This matter is, too. Eliminating encryption would be a big win for the public and a needed step toward police reform.
Media Cover Up Mail Ballot Fraud in Paterson, New Jersey, Give It No National Attention

June 28, 2020 (EIRNS)A law professor University of California, Irvine, wrote back on May 20 in the Election Law Blog that there was a genuine absentee ballot fraud scandal going on in Paterson, New Jersey and it is going to get a lot of national attention. But that is just what it has not gotten over the past month, while national media have repeatedly attached the phrase with no evidence to all reports of President Donald Trumps warnings that mail-in elections could be fraudulent. A search of news items about the Paterson fraud on Google turns up only one item of coverage outside North Jersey local media in the past month, a June 14 video on NBC News Channel 4 in New York City.

Again today, an op-ed in the Washington Post by Obama Justice Department official Joshua Geltzer is called, Four Ways William Barr Is Already Subverting the 2020 Elections. And aside from the bizarre claim that Barr intervened in the 2020 election by the DOJ dropping charges against Gen. Michael Flynn, Geltzer writes that Barr is

actively spreading disinformation himself. He echoes Trumps debunked claims that mail-in ballotswhich will be crucial during the pandemicsomehow leave the country vulnerable to election fraud and interference. Barr recently told Fox News that these votes could open the floodgates of potential fraud, without providing any basis for the claim.

The Paterson election in fact provided multiple forms of evidence of how mail-in elections can result in fraud, especially where ballots are being sent by mail to many apartment buildings and other multi-family dwellings or to townhouse neighborhood mailboxes. Numerous Paterson residents whose votes were recorded attested that they did not, in fact, vote. The average disqualification rate for mail-in ballots across the state was a very high 9.6%, and 8.1% even without Paterson. Some 2,300 ballots in Paterson were disqualified for signatures which did not match those on voter records. Over 800 ballots were invalidated for appearing in mailboxes improperly bundled together. One city council race appears to have had its result completely reversed by fraud; and so on.

Another keyand apparently closeelection, this one a Democratic primary for the right to face Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in November in Kentucky, is being slowly counted over more than a weeks time now. It was entirely conducted by ballots mailed to voters. There will be many more. The Presidents, and AG Barrs clearly plausible statements which suggest great vigilance is necessary with such voting, are being censored in effect by the blanket non-coverage of Paterson.
Hold Up on China War! Mattis Aide Demands War with Russia First!

June 28, 2020 (EIRNS)Desperate to prevent the presence of Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin at the same upcoming summit meeting, British and U.S. national media and Democratic politicians continued on Sunday to go wild over the New York Times unsourced, cant-confirm-it story of Russia paying bounties to Taliban fighters who kill American soldiers. Or possibly trying tono American soldiers were killed by Taliban fighters during the period claimed. This was enough for one recent CIA and DOD official to call openly for war with Russia, now.

Not surprisingly the official who would take us back to the Cuban Missiles Crisis of 1962 is a Gen. James Mad Dog Mattis guy, Michael Patrick Mick Mulroy. Mulroy was Mattis Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense 2017-19 and is now an ABC News commentator since Trump fired Mattis for refusing to take any U.S. troops out of Syria. Said Mulroy to ABC: Russia is an enemy of the United States. We identify them as such in our national security strategy, but treat them as if they are allies. Why else would we be pushing to include a country in the G7 that invaded another country and is now killing our soldiers? ... We do not want a war with Russia and we do not want to start killing each others soldiers, but there are some actions you cant accept. If we have solid evidence that this is being done and our forces are being killed, the gloves should be hitting the floor.

The fact that Mulroy did not call on India to let gloves hit the floor and go to all-out, potentially nuclear war with China, was probably due to lack of time in his ABC News segment. Readers may judge: Is it a bad thing, or a good thing that President Donald Trump fired Mad Dog Mattis andalong with the French President and German Chancellorwants Putin to participate in a G7 summit this fall?

The White House categorically denied the Times claim that Trump was briefed by the intelligence agencies back in March.

While the White House does not routinely comment on alleged intelligence or internal deliberations, the CIA Director, National Security Advisor, and the Chief of Staff can all confirm that neither the President nor the Vice President were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence. This does not speak to the merit of the alleged intelligence but to the inaccuracy of the New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter,

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement issued last night, reported The Hill.

Richard Grenell, Trumps former ambassador to Germany and briefly the Director of National Intelligence, found himself in a Twitter war with California Democrat Ted Lieu over the Times story. Lieu tweeted at Grenell daring him to confirm whether he did not tell Trump and Pence about a Russian military intelligence unit offering financial rewards to Taliban militants to kill U.S. troops.

I never heard this, Grenell shot back. And its disgusting how you continue to politicize intelligence. You clearly dont understand how raw intel gets verified. Leaks of partial information to reporters from anonymous sources is dangerous because people like you manipulate it for political gain.

Or to start a world war. Caitlin Johnstone, a reliable exposer of Russiagate lies for years, called the Anglo-American media story propaganda at its most vile. It is unprincipled stenography for opaque and unaccountable intelligence agencies, and it is disgusting. The Times and London Guardian have found the weapon of mass destruction, and they are it.
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
Monday, June 29, 2020

David Heller, the plaintiff in Uber Technologies, Inc. v. Heller is an Uber driver who provides food delivery services in Toronto. When he signed up to work for Uber, Mr. Heller was required to sign Uber's services agreement, which provided for dispute resolution through mediation and arbitration in the Netherlands. We looked it up. The Netherlands is far away from Toronto. It's a different country entirely. In addition, in order to participate in the Dutch arbitration process, Mr. Heller would have to pay administrative and filing fees of US$14,500, plus whatever other costs he would incur in connection with the proceeding. The fees alone would come to about 2/3 of Mr. Heller's annual income. The arbitration fee might as well be $1 million.

In 2017, Mr. Heller initiated a class action suit against Uber (right), alleging violation of Canadas Employment Standards Act (ESA). Uber moved to stay the litigation in favor of Dutch Arbitration. Mr. Heller responded that the arbitration provision was unconscionable and that it attempts to contract around mandatory provisions of the ESA. The trial court granted Uber's motion, leaving it to the Dutch arbiter to determine the issue of unconscionability. The Court of Appeal reversed, noting that Mr. Heller would never get such a determination if he could not afford the cost of the arbitration. By a vote of 8-1, the Supreme Court of Canada agreed wit the Court of Appeal.

The Court's finding of unconscionability focused on two aspects of Uber's services agreement. First, the agreement imposes prohibitive fees for initiating arbitration. Second, those fees are hidden in the fine print of a complex contract of adhesion.

Speaking of hidden terms, the Court buries in paragraph 50 of its 100-paragraph majority opinion the following hint to future corporate litigators:

If Uber had adduced evidence of Dutch law, then under the two exceptions to arbitral referral recognized in Dell, this Court would have had to grant the stay in favour of an arbitrator determining the unconscionability argument.

If I am reading this correctly, Uber would have won if it had insisted on its choice of law clause, which specified that its services agreement applicable in Toronto is to be governed by Dutch law. Welcome to the gig economy, Mr. Heller.

The Court then proceeded to apply Canada's law of unconscionability to the agreement between Uber and Mr. Heller. The Court found that both elements of the Canadian test for unconscionability were met. There was a clear inequality of bargaining power, and the arbitration clause was clearly improvident.

The lone dissent sounded in theories of freedom of contract.

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/contractsprof_blog/2020/06/supreme-court-of-canada-finds-ubers-arbitration-agreement-unconscionable.html
This is a short essay on the U.S. Supreme Court's opinion in Kahler v. Kansas, in which the Court held that the right/wrong M'Naghten test of insanity is insufficiently fundamental to be required by Due Process. I argue that the holding is, in part, the symptom of a deep and pernicious positivism and moral cynicism that is itself a kind of "not knowing" of the difference between right and wrong.
Monday, June 29, 2020

Ohio Disciplinary Counsel has filed ethics charges in a matter for which the attorney has been interim suspended for related criminal allegations.

The Dayton Daily News reported on the criminal charges

>> Dayton attorney accused of theft, evidence tampering in Greene County

He was charged on 55 counts, said David Hayes of the Greene County Prosecutors Office.

He is facing over 70 years in prison, if convicted on all counts.

The bulk of the charges in the indictment allege fraudulent activity related to transfer of estate and/or trust funds from the estate of a man named Ronald Lentz, Hayes said during a press conference Wednesday.

Lentz died in August 2018 Wiggins was the attorney of the estate as well as the trustee of the trust, which were valued at more than $3 million, Hayes said.

St. Judes and Smile Train, a nonprofit for children with cleft lips and palates, were the two main beneficiaries of the estate.

Wiggins spent the money on child support payments, cosmetic surgery for a family member, houses, a boat, a car, gambling in Las Vegas and in Ohio and jewelry, Hayes said.

He is scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Friday.

A visiting judge from Franklin County has been assigned to the case.

The indictment stemmed from a Beavercreek police investigation.

Anyone with information on any other potential victims of Wiggins are urged to call detective David Holley 937-427-5520.

Wiggins previously was indicted in November on grand theft and tampering with records charges, according to court documents.

The previous case was in connection to a $90,000 check in an estate issue in Greene County. He is scheduled to go to trial April 20.

The ABA Journal had details including the cosmetic surgery in its reporting of the interim suspension

Wiggins was accused of spending stolen money on his wifes breast implants, child support, a house, a boat, a Mercedes, jewelry, ATM withdrawals at casinos, and two women who accompanied him to Las Vegas. At least one of the two women was an adult dancer.

A review indicates that Wiggins has a severe addiction to gambling, alcohol, cocaine or another illegal drug, the disciplinary counsels memorandum says.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2020/06/the-dayton-daily-news-reported-an-attorney-is-accused-of-stealing-millions-from-an-estate-that-benefitedst-judes-childre.html
Monday, June 29, 2020

The Georgia Supreme Court has accepted a voluntary license surrender "which is tantamount to disbarment"

stating that on February 4, 2020, he entered a guilty plea in Chatham County Superior Court to one count of theft by conversion. He states further that the theft charge arose from his conduct in the administration of an estate, in the course of which he sold real property on the estates behalf, deposited the sales proceeds, totaling $509,618.68, into his trust account, and then, rather than disbursing the funds to the estate, converted the funds to his own use.

The order of interim suspension is linked here.

Savannah Now reported

Suspended Savannah attorney Don Smart on Thursday was indicted for theft by conversion of more than $25,000 from clients in an estate matter.

Smart obtained funds while administering a trust and estate and did knowingly convert said funds and property to (his) own use in violation of the agreement and legal obligation, the Chatham County grand jury said in returning the single-count indictment.

The alleged conduct occurred between April 15, 2013, and Aug. 24, 2018, the indictment said.

It included a notation that the defendants actions were unknown to the state until or about the 8th day of Oct. 2016 and (were) thus excluded from the statute of limitations until such date.

The indictment, obtained by Assistant District Attorney Scott Robichaux, was a special presentment, meaning prosecutors will have to obtain a bench warrant for Smarts arrest in the case.

Chatham County District Attorney Meg Heap declined to discuss specifics of the case in line with office policy against commenting on pending cases.

The Georgia Supreme Court placed Smart on interim suspension from practicing law on Dec. 17 for fail(ing) to adequately respond to the State Bars (of Georgia)s Notice of Investigation in the same case.

Maximum sanction for the violations in the case is disbarment, the Supreme Courts order said.

State Bar of Georgia General Counsel Paula Frederick said Thursday her office asked the Supreme Court for the action against Smart based on his failure to provide the requested response, adding the bars investigation is ongoing.

A telephone call to Smarts Savannah law office for comment was not returned on Thursday.

Smart, 67 and a lawyer since 1975, served as a judge advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps and was commanding officer of the Savannah Marine Corps reserve unit when it was re-activated in 1983.

Smart served in the U.S. Marine Corp on active duty from 1975 to 1979 and continued in the Marine Corps Reserve for an additional 20 years, according to his website.

Smart earned his law degree from Emory University and an MBA from Duke University.

In addition to his law practice, Smart has run unsuccessfully for several elected offices, including the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002 and again for a Georgia House seat in 2006.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2020/06/the-georgia-supreme-court-savannah-now-reported-suspended-savannah-attorney-don-smart-on-thursday-was-indicted-for-theft-by.html
Syrian Kurdish groups recently announced plans to work together to govern the northeastern part of Syria.

United States officials have expressed support for the unity effort.

Since 2012, two groups have largely been in control of the Kurdish-majority area. One is the Peoples Protection Units, YPG, and its political organization the Democratic Union Party, PYD. The YPG is the main group within the U.S.-supported Syrian Democratic Forces, SDF. The SDF has been a major U.S. partner in the fight against Islamic State, IS, in Syria.

The other group is the Kurdish National Council in Syria, ENKS, which includes several political parties. The ENKS has opposed the PYD and its autonomous administration in northeast Syria.

'Significant progress'

U.S. officials hope the two sides will set aside their differences and work to improve the local administration in Syrias northeast.

For months, the U.S. government has been helping with negotiations between the sides. The goal of the talks is an agreement for a political solution that enables them to take part in a joint administration for northeast Syria.

Following the announcement, the U.S. Interest Section in Syria released a statement. It said the agreement will cover governance, administrative cooperation and protection.

The United States welcomes this as an important step towards greater understanding and practical cooperation, the statement said.

The U.S. Embassy in Damascus closed in 2012 after Syrian government forces attacked protestors during the early days of the countrys civil war. However, a U.S. interests office at the Czech Embassy in Damascus communicates with the Syrian public through social media.

Stabilizing NE Syria

Nicholas Heras is a Middle East expert at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War. He says the United States wants the Syrian Kurdish parties to work together to bring order to northeast Syria. This will help as the U.S. government continues its campaign against the Islamic State group.

Heras told VOA that the U.S. wants to provide a Syrian-Kurdish party that can govern northeastern Syria and that will be acceptable to Turkeys government. He added that the move will assist a U.S.-led effort to execute counter-ISIS operations.

The ENKS is considered close to Turkish officials. The Kurdish group has expressed a willingness to work in the administration established by the PYD.

The success of this agreement depends on how much the U.S. can support it while investing in our region politically, said Sulaiman Oso. He is an ENKS leader.

Other Kurdish officials say unity efforts are important to protect the gains they have made against Islamic State forces during the Syrian civil war.

Turkey and the Syrian regime are trying to damage our gains, said Mazioum Abdi, the general commander of the SDF. He told VOA that the agreement will prevent Turkey and Syrias government from using Kurdish divisions for political gains.

Turkish objection

Heras says the U.S. push for Syrian Kurdish unity could lessen Turkey's worries about PYDs strength in the northeast. Turkish forces have carried out operations against the SDF.

Turkey considers both the YPG and PYD as part of the Turkish-based Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. The PKK has fought Turkey for years in a campaign for greater rights. Turkish and U.S. officials describe the group as a terrorist organization.

Yet even with the agreement, Turkish officials say any groups that work with the PKK will be considered targets for military operations.

Im Susan Shand.

VOAs Sirwan Kajjo reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

autonomous  adj. a self-governing state

practical - adj. logical and orderly

regime  n. a ruling organization that is not democratically elected
Bob Moses says the United States is at a lurching moment for racial change. He believes these days could be as important for Americans as the Civil War and the 1960s civil rights movement he helped lead.

Moses was an organizer of the 1964 Freedom Summer project in Mississippi. The goal of the campaign was to register as many African American voters as possible.

What we are experiencing now as a nation has only happened a couple times in our history, Moses told The Associated Press, or AP.

These are moments when the whole nation is lurching, and its not quite sure which way its going to lurch, he said.

Now 85-years-old, Moses is still active with The Algebra Project, which he established. During the civil rights movement, Moses was among the many people who risked jail time, violence and even death. In doing so, they fought against racial segregation and for voting rights in the South.



AP reporters asked those active in the civil rights movement for their thoughts on the current protests across the country. These demonstrations have resulted from police killings of Black men in Minnesota and Georgia.

Jesse Jackson was a close aide to the Martin Luther King Junior, the famed civil rights leader who was murdered in 1968. Jackson is the head of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a Chicago, Illinois-based group that fights for social change.

We have kind of the perfect storm, Jackson said. Youve got COVID-19, youve got Code Blue  police brutality  you have poverty, and you have Trump.

Studies show that Black people have suffered more than other groups from the coronavirus, the resulting economic downturn and at the hands of police. And studies of likely voters show most Black people are opposed to President Donald Trump. But Jackson noted it is not just Blacks taking to the streets in large numbers.

They have been more massive, more rainbow and more global, he said.

Bobby Seale, a political activist, co-created the Black Panther Party in 1966. The 83-year-old praised the current demonstrations for bringing in hundreds of thousands of people. These are far greater numbers that he could gather back in his day.

I love it, Seale said, laughing, from his home in Oakland, California.



Like Jesse Jackson, Andrew Young worked with Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s. He later was elected as Atlantas mayor, served in the U.S. House of Representatives, and worked as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Young says he is surprised at both the sizes of the current protests and how quickly they formed. He recalled activists spending three months to organize for a 1963 Birmingham, Alabama campaign in which King and other protesters were jailed. He said only a small number of the 500 demonstrators they sought showed up.

James Meredith became the first African American to study at the University of Mississippi in 1962. Meredith, who turns 87 this month, has seen himself on a lifelong mission from God to stop white supremacy. From his home in Jackson, Mississippi, he said it is a sign from God that a young girl filmed George Floyds death at the hands of police. He told the AP that kind of evidence calls attention to continued violence against Black people.

Every time it looks like its going to be over, the same thing thats been happening now for 500 years, happens over and over, he said.



Bobby Seale said activists should use the energy from the diverse coalition growing in the streets to register new voters for lasting political change.

Jesse Jackson suggested that the demonstrators, in addition to calling for police reforms, should expand their efforts. Racism is bone deep; its not just police, he said.

Former U.S. Senator Fred Harris, 89, is the last surviving member of the 1968 Kerner Commission. That was a government effort to examine the riots in American cities at the time. Harris said he is as angry as the protesters because racism, inequality and poverty continue to exist all these years later. But he warned that violence leads to more injustice.

Im hopeful, though, Harris, who is white, said from his home in New Mexico.

But Bob Moses is not as sure. America has lurched forward racially, then fallen back before. The freeing of African slaves after the Civil War eventually led to segregation in the South. Martin Luther King Jr.s nonviolence movement and racial progress slowed after his death.

But Moses also thinks the video of Floyd dying slowly under a white police officers knee presents a powerful image.

Some Americans were shocked, it seems to me, to discover they had actually been swimming in this deep, deep sea and didnt understand it, he said.

Im Pete Musto.

Dan Sewell and Russell Contreras reported on this story for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

lurch(ing)  v. to move or walk in an awkward or unsteady way

quite  adv. to a very noticeable degree or extent

segregation  n. the practice or policy of keeping people of different races or religions separate from each other

brutality -n. cruel, harsh, and usually violent treatment of another person

global  adj. involving the entire world

mission  n. a task or job that someone is given to do

white supremacy  n. the belief that the white race is better than all other races and should have control over all other races

diverse  adj. made up of people or things that are different from each other
JOHNSON LAKE  A man was killed after his Jeep drove off an outlet bridge at Johnson Lake on Saturday, June 27.

The Gosper County Sheriffs Office was dispatched at 9:21 p.m. to Johnson Lake Drive.

According to the sheriffs office, a 2006 Jeep was northbound on Johnson Lake Drive and drove through a bridge guard rail at the outlet bridge. The Jeep then entered the water and became fully submerged in over 20 feet of water.

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Due to the nature of the incident, the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department dive team responded to the scene.

The driver and sole occupant, 38-year-old Juan Gonzalez was recovered from the Jeep and pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the Gosper County Sheriffs Office, alcohol appears to be a factor in the accident.

Several agencies assisted Gosper County, including the Dawson County Sheriffs Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Johnson Lake EMS, Elwood Fire and Rescue and the LVFD dive team.
SAN DIEGO  Whether it was destiny or karma was of no relevance to Jon Rahm. He won the U.S. Open on Sunday at Torrey Pines, the perfect time and the perfect place to become a major champion.
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Robert Nichols is the state senator for Senate District 3. First elected in 2006, Nichols represents 19 counties, including much of East Texas and part of Montgomery County. He can be reached at 699-4988 or toll-free at (800) 959-8633. His email address is robert.nichols@senate.texas.gov.
Theyre there ostensibly to celebrate the release of the book, as well as watch Fabienne shoot her latest movie. But Lumir also wants to know exactly how Fabienne has characterized her childhood in her memoir; shes outraged that Fabienne writes fondly about picking Lumir up from school, something that in real life she was always too busy to do. My memories, my book, Fabienne responds curtly. Im allowed to pick and choose, arent I?

Theres also some unfinished business between mother and daughter over a woman named Sarah, an actress who was a rival of Fabiennes when she was younger, and who acted as something of a surrogate mother to Lumir. Sarah died under mysterious circumstances, and Lumir blames her mother for sabotaging Sarahs career.

The movie that Fabienne is filming is, in some ways, a metaphor for their charged relationship. Its a gimmicky but heartfelt sci-fi film in which a terminally ill mother goes into suspended animation in space to halt the progress of the disease. She returns to Earth every seven years, exactly the same age as she was when she left, to visit her daughter, who has continued to age.
The district hopes to announce its hire in July with an August preferred start date, according to the superintendent search page on its website.

The visits come about three months after the boards choice in the earlier search backed out of his acceptance of the job. Matthew Gutierrez, a Texas superintendent who was one of three finalists in that search, wrote a March 31 letter to Reyes to rescind his acceptance just weeks after visiting the district as the superintendent-hire.

He cited the pandemic and his districts ongoing needs in the letter, which was made public a week later.

Jenkins, who will be interviewed Tuesday, is in his fifth year as a superintendent of the Robbinsdale School District in New Hope, Minnesota. He has previously held positions around the country, including in Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin, where he was an associate principal at Memorial High School in 1993-94, according to a list of past jobs in a news article announcing his hire in Robbinsdale.
Crimeas meat plant seeks to collect $50,000 of legal expenses from Navalny

 RAPSI

10:32 29/06/2020

MOSCOW, June 29 (RAPSI) - The Crimean meat processing plant Druzhba Narodov has filed an application with the Moscow Commercial Court seeking to recover from Alexey Navalny 3.3 million rubles (about $50,000) of legal expenses in a defamation dispute, according to court records.

The claim is set for August18.

In March, the Supreme Court dismissed Navalnys motion to reconsider a ruling in his defamation dispute with Druzhba Narodov ordering the blogger to remove and refute information on the enterprise he had distributed.

The Moscow Commercial Court ruled in favor of Druzhba Narodov on February 12, 2019. The court declared information distributed by Navalny in one of his videos untrue and discrediting the plants business standing.

The statements read that the meat processing plant inflated prices for food products purveyed for the National Guard, delivered bad quality goods and accused the plant employees of embezzlement during supplies.

According to the court ruling, the defendant did not furnish evidence of credibility of the disseminated information.

On July 26, 2019, the Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals upheld the ruling.
"That is the solution to making schools safe and equitable, that is the solution to dealing with conflict between young people, that is the solution to so many of the social issues the school district is worried about," Gomez said.

Its so important that we celebrate this victory, we celebrate movement, we celebrate Freedom Inc. and the Freedom Youth Squad, we celebrate all the community members and folks that have been down with us since the beginning, and even folks that jumped on the bandwagon later on  this is a bandwagon that you are more than welcome to join," Gomez added. "And theres still work to be done in terms of figuring out how to make schools safe and equitable for Black youth and youth of color.

Board votes unanimously

While some board members expressed more reservation than others, all of them voted to end the contract.

That included two who voted in favor of the contract last year in Carusi and Reyes.

Reyes, who praised the officers within the Madison Police Department during the meeting, said she "had to put aside my own personal and professional views about police in schools to reflect on the many voices that have advocated for change."
When D.J. landed in the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center on March 1, Gov. Tony Evers had not yet ordered most Wisconsinites to stay home. Most people were still showing up to work in their offices, stores and restaurants, and few were wearing masks. As he heard about the changes outside through TV news and phone calls with family, the 15-year-old (named here by initials to protect his privacy) had a front row seat to the pandemic-induced changes within detention center walls.

At the facility, coronavirus concerns have extended stays, prompted quarantines, canceled activities and forced staff to get creative. But some advocates hope the pandemic inspires adjustments that last long after weve stashed our masks.

No cases yet

In early March, as Dane County logged its first few confirmed COVID-19 cases, staff at the detention center stocked up on personal protective equipment, asked law enforcement to avoid making referrals except for serious charges, halted visits and instituted a 14-day quarantine for incoming youth.

Following guidance from Public Health Madison & Dane County, the facility has not tested any of its in-custody youth, though it did obtain 50 coronavirus test kits.

The center has yet to have a known case of the virus. We just feel fortunate we've not had to deal with that yet, said Juvenile Court Administrator John Bauman, who credits safety precautions within the center and in staff members personal lives.

It doesn't mean it won't come in the future, though.

Youth recognize the risk, and many know someone outside who has contracted the virus, said detention center superintendent Edjron Pearson. On top of that, those who were awaiting transfer to Lincoln Hills youth prison, which halted admissions for more than two months due to virus concerns, didnt know how long theyd be waiting.

Kids are just kind of wondering what's going to happen, Pearson said, and thats triggered anxiety and sleep issues.

D.J. said the coronavirus was certainly on his mind. I hope my parents dont catch it, he said, and by the time Im out, I hope this is all over with.

A.F., also 15, said he didnt know anyone whod gotten the virus, but he too was thinking about the risks facing his family. I hope theyre staying six feet apart and wearing a mask and keeping their hands and face clean, he said.

Meanwhile, activists who seek to abolish prisons and replace them with other approaches to community safety have pointed to coronavirus risks as yet another reason to end incarceration.

In a May 31 statement following the first day of recent protests against racism and police violence, Freedom Inc., Urban Triage and the Party for Socialism and Liberation called for the release of all Black people. Peace comes when the jails are empty, the statement read.

Pandemic precautions

After the initial quarantine period, youth are treated as negative for the virus and allowed to interact with each other and with staff as normal.

Social distancing is pretty much impossible unless youre in quarantine, Pearson said.

But the pandemic has sharply limited the variety of activities available to detained youth. Previously, Madison Public Library staff led art and technology activities, University of Wisconsin physical therapy students taught exercise and meditation skills, and members of UWs Black Law Student Association visited for monthly lunches. But due to virus concerns, outside facilitators are barred, forcing staff to get creative.

To keep youth busy and connected, the center obtained iPads and laptops for video phone calls with family, social workers, evaluators and lawyers, as well as for court hearings, which quickly moved online. Youth can also use the devices to watch television shows and movies.

One staff member, who is also a youth pastor in the community, is temporarily charged with providing Sunday church services. School, taught by Madison Metropolitan School District teachers, moved to Zoom. Library staff, who would typically lead in-person art and technology activities, have taken their classes online. And Pearson and instructor Albert Watson stood in line outside Costco to stock up on ingredients so that a popular Thursday cooking class could go on as planned.

Weve just kind of had to put on different hats while we're here, Pearson said.

Transfers delayed

Before the pandemic, the average stay at the detention center was 10days. But several youth recently stayed far longer due to a March 23 statewide moratorium on transfers to state prisons and juvenile facilities. At least nine youth stayed more than a month at the center, with seven of them staying for 49 days or more. One Dane County youth detained at Waupaca County Jail declined a transfer to the center, remaining at the jail for at least two months. All were Black.

This decision was made out of an abundance of caution as part of the statewide efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, a Department of Corrections spokeswoman wrote of the moratorium in an email, noting that the department takes the responsibility to protect staff and persons in our care seriously, particularly our youth.

The moratorium expired on June 1, allowing state facilities to accept transfers again.

E.O, 15, spoke to the Cap Times on June 8, a week before his scheduled transfer to Lincoln Hills. He said he was eager to be transferred to the youth prison, which he viewed as a less strict environment, and frustrated hed had to wait. But he said that his family preferred the center, worried he might contract the virus at the state facility.

They think its too dangerous, he said.

Transferred youth will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival. D.J., who had been in the controlled county facility for more than three months, didnt see why.

I obviously dont got the coronavirus. I havent been outside or anything, and all the people thats been by us dont have it either, so I dont understand why Ive got to get quarantined, he said. But Im assuming theyre just trying to be on the safe side.

By Tuesday, only three youth remained at the county detention center and none were awaiting transfer to corrections facilities.

Longer lock-up

The delay in transfer could mean those youth spend more total time in corrections, Bauman said. Thats because youth are evaluated for release based on their progress on a court-assigned treatment plan, which stipulates requirements such as completing an anger management group or drug treatment.

The sort of programming available at the detention center does not typically count toward such requirements, but toward the end of the time before transfers resumed, the center worked with the Department of Corrections to develop a group facilitated by Corrections staff that would count.

In addition, Bauman said, county staff have been urging state corrections officials to factor in the youths participation and behavior, which are documented in reports written by county staff. They were here a long time and did quite a good job, Bauman said of the youth.

Eventually, the county may offer such programming. The county had planned to build a secure facility where it could house youth in state custody following the anticipated closure of Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake. The two facilities drew criticism and investigation following allegations of abuse and were scheduled to close in 2021, but the timeline is now unclear. Dane County submitted a proposal to build the facility but told the Cap Times that the plans have been on hold since February due to delays and uncertainty in the funding process.

Kenneth Streit, an emeritus professor at UWs Law School, wrote in an email that the pandemic could offer an opportunity for county officials to develop and test drive some of the components which have been proposed for local programs which would eventually be replacing Lincoln Hills.

The programs administered at state facilities are not state-of-the-art, Streit wrote. Most likely there are professionals in Dane County who can readily deliver superior programming, and he estimated that it may be cheaper than the rate charged by the Department of Corrections.

Streit pointed to an approach used in Racine, where youth complete county-administered treatment programs before their cases are decided and avoid going to state facilities, but Bauman said the recent extended stays were an exception from the norm.

We generally dont have a group like that  who would have a long amount of time to engage in some treatment or pre-treatment, he wrote in an email, noting that the facility will resume its on-site treatment and enrichment activities when we are able and are already engaging youth virtually with providers whenever possible.

Not going back to normal

Court hearings, too, have transformed. Young defendants now appear by video conference.

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Everett Mitchell, one of four judges currently assigned to hear juvenile cases, said the shift has meant juvenile defendants have more support at their hearings, since relatives or other members of their support networks dont need to miss work, find rides or pay for downtown parking to participate in hearings and talk with the judge.

That, he hopes, could continue beyond the pandemic, along with other ways the court and detention center have used technology to keep detained youth connected to their families.

One thing I can say that this pandemic has forced communities to do is utilize technology better than they have before, Mitchell said, adding that the newly adopted tools have increased contact between youth and their families over pre-pandemic levels.

Those connections are especially important as a deadly virus threatens loved ones in the outside world.

Just to know that their grandmothers and sisters and aunts are doing good and they can see them and talk to them, I think it also aids in the anxiety so they can just focus on completing their plan and work their way back home, Mitchell said.

Bauman plans to keep using video technology after the pandemic subsides, both for hearings and for youth meetings with everyone from parents to therapists, noting that the technology could let such meetings happen more often than they did before the pandemic.

Were really excited about that option, he said, noting that it has always been a struggle to figure out how to increase the frequency of in-person family visits.

The center has also added more large TV monitors, which enable outside professionals to facilitate groups or interventions remotely. There are a lot of possibilities in this area, Bauman said.

Mitchell too is optimistic that the lessons of the pandemic will outlast the virus. I really don't believe that we're going to go back to just normal, he said. I think we're always going to rethink how we do things and try to do things a little bit more accustomed to the ways in which children and family can be supported moving forward.

Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less.
COVID-19 has left many Dane County residents grappling with financial hardships, and more people are having difficulty obtaining food.

In response to the growing need, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi signed a resolution last week for a new round of funding for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin, as well as an additional investment in the Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN).

Parisis resolution follows a surge in demand for food pantry services throughout the county and across the nation. Feeding America  a national hunger relief organization  projects a 63% increase in those who have difficulty accessing food in Dane County, due in part to the pandemic.

With 38,000 Dane County residents filing unemployment claims after the pandemic forced many businesses to cut employees salaries or close entirely, more people have had to seek assistance from food pantries, Parisi said.

There are people who were experiencing food insecurity before who continue to experience it, he said, and there are people who werent experiencing it before who now are in need of some assistance.
Youths worked on a number of the Downtown murals, either through groups like Drum Power or in groups organized by school teachers. Audifax, a street artist, got help from Edgewood High School students and some of their friends. Sharon Irwin, the grandmother of Tony Robinson, who was fatally shot by a Madison police officer in 2015, also worked with a group of youths.

A lot of people just really wanted to have their voices heard ... There arent a lot of forums in our democracy to listen to youth voices, said Karin Wolf, city arts administrator. A lot of times youth would just sort of show up.

Wolf, who worked with the Central Business Improvement District on the project, said artists receiving commissions from the city did not include employed school teachers because the program was designed to help fund working artists during the COVID-19 crisis.

As murals were being painted at the end of the school year, SJ Hemmerich, art teacher at Randall Elementary School, created a slide presentation of them. Hemmerich then presented it to students and as a last assignment asked , If you could design your own mural for (Black Lives Matter), what would it be? Then Hemmerich got the idea of why not do it for real.

Hemmerich, like other teachers, reached out to Black and brown students to get involved.
Michael Whelan, executive director of Fur Commission USA, said there have been no reports of infections among domestic mink, but ranchers are following the trade organizations safety recommendations.

Whelan said the European farms are in densely populated areas that have had heavy rates of human infection.

Most of these ranchers are in areas where people dont have it, he said. We are taking all the precautions, though. Its not just business as usual.

Bob Zimbal, owner of Zimbal Minkery in Sheboygan, said hes not concerned about the potential for infection and said his operation, the states largest, has always had biosecurity procedures in place and is doing temperature checks on employees.

He said orders to destroy mink herds in the Netherlands are a response to pressure from animal rights activists.

Its more of a political thing, Zimbal said.

The Dutch Parliament voted in 2013 to limit expansion of the fur industry and ordered all production to end by 2024. Bloomberg reported the government is considering a program to compensate producers who shut down sooner.
Afables stance follows the U.S. Supreme Courts landmark ruling earlier this month in Bostock v. Clayton County that federal law protects gay and transgender workers from workplace discrimination. The court decided that the 1964 Civil Rights Acts provision barring employment discrimination based on sex also applies to millions of gay and transgender workers.

Under Wisconsin law, its illegal to deny benefits or refuse coverage on the basis of sex. Relying in part on the U.S. Supreme Courts thinking in his memo to health insurers, Afable explained that denying health coverage based on gender identity is illegal because doing so would be based on the sex of the insured. Afable said his stance is supported by recent federal court decisions that found exclusions for services and treatment of otherwise covered benefits based upon the insureds gender identity violates the Civil Rights Act and the U.S. Constitutions equal protection clause, as well as the U.S. Supreme Courts decision on workplace discrimination.
The Louisville (Kentucky) Metro Police Department has fired Brett Hankison, one of three police officers involved in the egregious death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician who was shot dead in her home though she was not guilty of any crime. Prosecutors should go further and bring criminal charges against all three. Civilians have been prosecuted for behavior less damning.

But even criminal prosecutions of the three involved in Taylors death wont change the dynamic that prompted them to break down her door in the middle of the night, claiming they were looking for evidence of illegal drugs. After all, a judge signed off on no-knock warrants that allowed police to barge into her home. (The Louisville Metro Council has since outlawed no-knock warrants.)

Taylors murder is a consequence not only of outrageous police conduct but of the misguided, decades-long war on drugs. That campaign has fostered a lawless climate within the criminal justice system, a climate that misrepresents arrests as security, low-level dealers as drug kingpins, and imprisonment of nonviolent drug offenders as victories over the illegal drug trade.
Russia's regional resuscitator again acquitted of wrongful death of 5-year old girl

 pixabay.com

12:29 29/06/2020

ST. PETERSBURG, June 29 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov)  The Vologda Regional Court has for the second time acquitted Vologda Regional Clinical Hospital emergency physician Alexey Smironv, accused of the wrongful death of a 5-year old girl, the United press service of the Vologda Region courts informs RAPSI on Monday.

At the moment it is ruled that the physician has the right to rehabilitation; nevertheless, the court decision may be appealed in cassation in a higher court, the press service observes.

Smirnov was found guilty of the girls death and sentenced to 2 years in a settlement colony by the Vologda City Court in October 2018; later he was acquitted by the regional court acting in its capacity of an appeals instance. The parents of the girl challenged the ruling in cassation, the higher court returned the case to the regional court to be heard anew by a different constitution of the bench, which again discharged the physician.

According to the court materials, the girl being in a serious condition was hospitalized in February 2017; experts appointed by investigators said her death resulted from late and insufficient medical treatment provided by Smirnov. Later, experts appointed by the appeals instance concluded that the patient suffered from competitive diseases, so treatment of one resulted in exacerbation of the other.
This is what our farmers and ranchers dedicate their lives to: producing something that helps, sustains, and nourishes people. But family farms cannot survive on goodwill alone. Just as they keep American families fed, they too need to feed their families, pay their employees, and stay solvent to see another season.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, I have worked with all of the Idaho delegation and Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to address our farmers and ranchers needs. Secretary Perdue has led the USDA in purchasing surplus crops, finding new pathways for products to get to those in need, and instituted the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. This assistance is critical to helping farmers survive this storm, but our agricultural economy will only survive with the strong support of our communities.

The very best way people can show their support for Idahos agricultural producers is by gratefully and graciously enjoying the fruits of their labor. The next time you visit the grocery store, pick up some Idaho potatoes or milk from Idahos dairy cows. Grill a steak from cattle raised in the Gem States wide open spaces and pair it with peas and lentils cultivated in the Palouse. Everything that you do helps, and Idahos farmers and ranchers thank you for helping them weather a season of life thats been unlike any other.
He properly has acknowledged the reality of the pandemic, encouraging safety measures and ordering restrictions reluctantly (though faster than some of his Republican governor counterparts) and setting a prompt schedule for reopenings. He has cautioned that bad enough pandemic numbers may cause him to stop or roll back the reopenings. But rollbacks are hard.

Observing the fast recent rise in Idaho cases, he has tapped the brakes, sticking with the existing set of rules (Stage 4) for at least two weeks, and to eventually transition to a more regional approach in our response. How he will respond, or will be able to, if the Idaho numbers keep on rising is another question.

Regional rules have been tried in some places, such as requiring partial re-closings in high-case parts of Oregon. The health district covering Ada County, observing a large number of cases in Boise-area night spots, has downgraded some businesses back to Step 3 from Step 4, reimposing some requirements.

Still, that only helps to a point. We do not set up roadblocks between our cities and counties. If, say, Nampa clamped down and neighboring Caldwell did not, and people wander back and forth as of course they will, what good would Nampas rules do? (The same applies nationally with our patchwork of state rules, or lack thereof.)
RICHMOND  When Greg Milefsky temporarily closed his bicycle shop in downtown Richmond in March, he did so amid concerns over the coronavirus pandemic that caused other businesses around the region and the country to shutter.

After a couple weeks, as he saw other bike shops continue operating, Milefsky reopened his Balance Bicycle Shop at 904 W. Broad St. and saw business spike at a time when the virus was spurring people to get back on a bike for some outdoor exercise.

But then demonstrations in Richmond sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis turned destructive. Looters broke into his store during the overnight hours between May 30 and May 31.

They stole 70 to 80 bikes that had been in the shop, he said, including his own inventory he had planned to sell as well as dozens of bikes owned by customers.

And then Im out of a job. I have no income, Milefsky said during an interview at his store where a row of bike hooks along the wall were bare. So insurance is going to cover some of that, but realistically I couldnt even reopen this year.
Russian lawyers prison sentence for attempted embezzlement quashed

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

14:45 29/06/2020

MOSCOW, June 29 (RAPSI)  The Kostroma Regional Court has overturned sentence given to attorney Vladimir Zubkov for attempted embezzlement and falsification of documents, the courts press service has told RAPSI.

The case has been forwarded to a lower court for reconsideration. The defendant has been released on travel restrictions.

In September 2019, the lawyer was found guilty of attempted embezzlement and evidence tampering and received 4 years in prison. The court found that Zubkov attempted to steal 1.5 million rubles ($21,500 at the current exchange rate) from his client with the use of forged documents. The defendant pleaded not guilty.
RALEIGH  From July 3-5, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commissions law enforcement division will focus on boating law compliance on North Carolinas waterways and spread public awareness for Operation Dry Water, a national campaign that promotes sobriety while boating.

Over Independence Day weekend, enforcement officers will conduct sobriety checkpoints and promote public education on the dangers of operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

During last years campaign, law enforcement officers issued 572 warnings, 280 citations and removed 29 people who were boating under the influence from the states waterways. In North Carolina, a driver or vessel operator with a blood-alcohol concentration that meets or exceeds .08, or is substantially impaired by alcohol and/or drugs, is subject to arrest.

Drinking affects the skills necessary to operate a boat, including:

 Peripheral vision and ability to focus

 Judgment and rational decision-making

 Balance and equilibrium

 Coordination and reaction time
Experts from The University of Manchester and The University of Bristol are calling for permanent laws allowing so-called 'pills by post' abortion services to be enacted in Great Britain and the U.S., in order to address barriers to care highlighted by the coronavirus crisis.

Measures taken in response to the pandemic have had an unprecedented impact on people's daily lives, and their access to healthcarethe lockdown has caused clinics to close due to a lack of staff, childcare and public transport to be less available, and has made people more reluctant to visit healthcare settings.

Prior to coronavirus, the law in England, Wales and Scotland required people to attend a clinic in order to receive abortion carethey had to take the first abortion pill there, and were given the second to take later at home. This has been temporarily relaxed to allow people to be consulted about care over the phone, and receive abortion pills in the post. However, several states in the US have labelled abortion 'non-essential care', and forced clinics to close.

The researchers say that unwanted pregnancy has serious physical and mental effects on individualsand if care is delayed because people struggle to access clinics, this means that the care they receive involves more risks than it should, and also involves significant additional stress and anxiety for the individual.

They argue that restricting the availability of abortion in the US is unconstitutional, and violates the right to privacy of people needing access to care during the pandemic. They also argue that it was necessary for abortion regulations to be relaxed in Great Britain, in order for it to meet its obligations to 'respect the right to private life' and to 'freedom from inhumane and degrading treatment' under the European Convention on Human Rights.

"Remote abortion care has consistently been shown to be safe and acceptable to service users. Now that providers in Great Britain have had the opportunity to set up a 'pills by post' service to help people needing care during the pandemic, lawmakers should consider making this permanent whenever the provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 cease to be in effect, says Elizabeth Chloe Romanis, the University of Manchester.

"The different responses to the question of abortion provision during the pandemic show how far we still are from abortion being rightly recognised as essential healthcare," said Jordan Parsons from the University of Bristol. "It can only be hoped that the actions of Great Britain are viewed more favourably as we emerge from these unprecedented times."

Explore further Inequities arising from global restrictions on abortion access may be exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic
Schematic diagram of C. elegans escape behaviour. Credit: USTC

Ordered and variable animal behaviors emerge to explore and adapt to the environment. They are generally considered as the combination of a series of stereotyped motor primitives. However, how the nervous system shapes the dynamics of motor sequences remains to be solved.

In a study published in eLife, Prof. Wen Quan from School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has proposed algorithms and circuit mechanisms for the robust and flexible motor states of nematodes during escape responses.

Prof. Wen's group investigated nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to learn about neural circuit mechanisms that generate robust and flexible the motor sequences.

C. elegans are ideal subjects for their simple yet fully functional neural system with only 302 neurons, approximately 6400 chemical synapses and 890 electrical synapses. Early in the 1980s, the coupling image of neural networks were reconstituted at the synapse scale by the electron microscope, laying a solid foundation for the research on the neural circuit. Additionally, optical manipulation and detection are easily conducted considering C. elegans' overall transparent bodies.

Potential threats like mechanical or thermal stimuli robustly trigger escape responses comprising stereotyped motor modules including forward movement, backward movement and turning movement. However, the sequence and timing of actions of every module vary from each other.

With the help of optogenetic technology, calcium image and computational models, the researchers discovered that the excitatory feedforward coupling accounts for certain motor sequences robustly triggered by stimuli, while a winner-take-all operation via mutual inhibition between motor modules realizes the flexible alteration of different motor patterns. Also, the plasticity of short-term synapses and the intrinsic noise of the nervous system play an important role in the sequence and timing of motor patterns.

Applying the coupling image of neural networks of C. elegans and molecular biological methods, the researchers further proved that electrical synapses contribute to feedforward coupling, whereas glutamatergic synapses contribute to inhibition between modules through glutamate-gated chloride expressed by downstream neurons.

The study opens more possibilities to understand the mechanisms of motor manipulation of advanced organisms, and sheds new light on the design of the next generation of brain-inspired intelligence.

Explore further Synaptic variability provides adaptability for rhythmic motor pattern

More information: Yuan Wang et al. Flexible motor sequence generation during stereotyped escape responses, eLife (2020). Journal information: eLife Yuan Wang et al. Flexible motor sequence generation during stereotyped escape responses,(2020). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.56942
In this Thursday, June 25, 2020 file photo, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), attends a press conference, at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The head of the World Health Organization dismissed complaints from countries complaining that contact tracing is too difficult to implement as a control strategy for the pandemic as "lame." The U.N. health agency has repeatedly advised countries that shutting down their COVID-19 outbreaks requires having a strong contact tracing program in place, a labour-intensive process of tracking down contacts of people with coronavirus to ensure those at risk isolate themselves. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP, File)

The head of the World Health Organization on Monday dismissed complaints from countries complaining that contact tracing is too difficult to implement as a control strategy for the coronavirus pandemic as "lame."

The U.N. health agency has repeatedly advised countries that shutting down their COVID-19 outbreaks requires having a strong contact tracing program in place, a labor-intensive process of tracking down contacts of people with coronavirus to ensure those at risk isolate themselves.

In recent months, countries with large outbreaks of COVID-19, including Britain and the U.S., have said there are simply too many contacts to trace for an effective system to be put into place.

Britain had vowed to have a "world-class" contact tracing system in place earlier this month. But the U.K. ultimately ditched the digital app it developed for that purpose and politicians have acknowledged the program is not yet running at full strength despite recruiting thousands of workers. In recent weeks, British health officials have said their contact tracers are failing to reach about one quarter of people with the virusleaving thousands of people free to pass on COVID-19.

At a media briefing on Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed to his emergencies director Dr. Michael Ryan as an example of someone willing to go to extraordinary lengths to conduct contact tracing, citing Ryan's workwhile wearing a bulletproof helmet and vestduring an Ebola outbreak in a part of Congo where armed groups had attacked and killed health workers.

"He believed he had to do everything to stop Ebola and to show that saving lives actually requires that level of commitment," Tedros said.

Tedros said it wasn't acceptable that some countries claimed there were too many contacts to trace and that the process itself was too difficult. He has previously lauded the contact tracing programs adopted by countries like South Korea, Singapore and China, which involved teams of health workers tracing tens of thousands of people and ensuring that those exposed to the virus were isolated.

Activists of Communist Party of India Marxist display placards on face shields and shout slogans during a protest asking the state government to increase testing and free treatment for all COVID-19 patients in Hyderabad, India, Monday, June 29, 2020. Governments are stepping up testing and warily considering their next moves as the number of newly confirmed coronavirus cases surges in many countries. India reported more than 20,000 new infections on Monday. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Tedros said that well-resourced countries that aren't fighting wars have little excuse for not carrying out good contact tracing.

"If contact tracing helps you to win the fight, you do it, even (when) risking your life," he said. "If any country is saying contact tracing is difficult, it is a lame excuse."

He noted that Tuesday would mark six months since WHO was first informed by China of an unusual cluster of pneumonia cases, the first sign of coronavirus' emergence. The disease has since sickened more than 10 million people and killed about 500,000.

WHO said the pandemic was "accelerating," particularly in the Americas.

"The hard reality is that this is not even close to being over," Tedros said. "The worst is yet to come."

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
In this Sunday, June 21, 2020 file photo, gondolas are lined up during the Vogada della Rinascita (Rowing of Rebirth) regatta, along Venice canals, Italy. European Union envoys are close to finalizing a list of countries whose citizens will be allowed back into Europe once it begins lifting coronavirus-linked restrictions. The United States appears almost certain not to make the list, as new infections surge and given that President Donald Trump has imposed a ban on European travelers. (Anteo Marinoni/LaPresse via AP, File)

The European Union is edging toward finalizing a list of countries whose citizens will be allowed to enter Europe again in coming days, with Americans almost certain to be excluded in the short term due to the number of U.S. coronavirus cases.

Spain's foreign minister said that the list could contain 15 countries that are not EU members and whose citizens would be allowed to visit from July 1. EU diplomats confirmed that the list would be made public on Tuesday. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because the procedure is ongoing and politically very sensitive.

EU envoys in Brussels worked over the weekend to narrow down the exact criteria for countries to be included, mostly centered on their ability to manage the spread of the disease. Importantly, the countries are also expected to drop any travel restrictions they have imposed on European citizens.

The number of confirmed cases in the United States has surged over the past week, and President Donald Trump also suspended the entry of all people from Europe's ID check-free travel zone in a decree in March, making it highly unlikely that U.S. citizens would qualify.

Infection rates in Brazil, Russia and India are high, too, and their nationals are also unlikely to make the cut.

Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said the EU is considering whether to accept travelers from China if Beijing lifts restrictions on European citizens. Morocco is another possibility, although its government doesn't plan to open borders until July 10.

In this Monday, May 25, 2020 file photo, people stroll at Trocadero square near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. European Union envoys are close to finalizing a list of countries whose citizens will be allowed back into Europe once it begins lifting coronavirus-linked restrictions. The United States appears almost certain not to make the list, as new infections surge and given that President Donald Trump has imposed a ban on European travelers. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

She said she wasn't aware of pressure from the United States for the EU to reopen travel to its nationals, adding that countries have been chosen according to their coronavirus statisticswhether similar or not to that in the EUtrends of contagion and how reliable their data is.

"This is not an exercise to be nice or unfriendly to other countries, this is an exercise of self-responsibility," she told Spain's Cadena SER radio on Monday.

The safe country list would be reviewed every 14 days, with new countries being added and some possibly dropping off, depending on how the spread of the disease is being managed. Non-EU nationals already in the bloc wouldn't be affected.

More than 15 million Americans are estimated to travel to Europe annually, and any delay would be a further blow to virus-ravaged economies and tourism sectors on both sides of the Atlantic. Around 10 million Europeans are thought to cross the Atlantic for vacations and business each year.

In this Saturday, June 13, 2020 file photo, people enjoy the warm weather on the beach in Barcelona, Spain. European Union envoys are close to finalizing a list of countries whose citizens will be allowed back into Europe once it begins lifting coronavirus-linked restrictions. The United States appears almost certain not to make the list, as new infections surge and given that President Donald Trump has imposed a ban on European travelers. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)

The 27 EU nations and four other countries that are part of Europe's "Schengen area"a 26-nation bloc where goods and people move freely without document checksappear on track to reopen borders between each other from Wednesday.

Once that happens and the green light is given, restrictions on nonessential travel to Europe from the outside world, which were imposed in March to halt new virus cases from entering, would gradually be lifted.

Brussels fears that opening up to countries outside in an ad hoc way could lead to the reintroduction of border controls between nations inside the Schengen area, threatening once again Europe's cherished principle of free movement, which allows people and goods to cross borders without checks.

Explore further EU narrows down border list, US unlikely to make the cut

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

(HealthDay)As the worldwide coronavirus case count passed 10 million and the death toll topped 500,000 on Sunday, 36 U.S. states continued to struggle with alarming spikes in COVID-19 infections.

Experts cautioned that Florida could become the next epicenter for infections while Texas has seen record-breaking case counts and hospitalizations, CNN reported. Officials across the country are also warning of an increase in cases among younger people.

Over the weekend, Florida shattered its previous records and reported 9,585 new cases on Saturday and 8,530 on Sunday, The New York Times reported. Six-hour lines formed in Jacksonville as thousands showed up to get drive-through tests. Orange County, home to Orlando, has seen an explosion of coronavirus: Nearly 60 percent of all cases there have come in the past two weeks.

Much of Florida's surge in cases has followed the reopening of beaches, bars, restaurants and other social activities. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blamed the increase on a "test dump," largely from younger residents getting themselves tested for COVID-19.

"I'm one of the people who contributed to the 9,000-person day," said Ian Scott, a 19-year-old college sophomore in Orlando who tested positive on Friday. He told the Times he has no idea how he got it.

"We're seeing positive, positive, positive, positive," he said. "My generation says: 'Let's get this over with. Let's suck it up for two weeks, sit in our rooms, play video games, play with our phones, finish online classes, and it's over."

Scott barely felt sick, and was fine by the time the test results came back. Patients like him could account for the fact that while Florida's daily case count has increased fivefold in two weeks, the rate of deaths has not increased so far.

Meanwhile health experts are reporting that another troubling symptom of COVID-19 has emerged. Called hospital delirium, the condition is bedeviling coronavirus patients of all ages with no previous thinking deficits, the Times reported.

Reports from hospitals and researchers suggest between two-thirds and three-quarters of coronavirus patients in intensive care have experienced it in various ways. Some have "hyperactive delirium," paranoid hallucinations and agitation; some have "hypoactive delirium," internalized visions and confusion that cause patients to withdraw; and some have both, the newspaper reported.

Rising cases in South alarm federal health officials

Coronavirus response task coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said last week that rising positive test rates in states across the South, including Texas, Arizona, Florida and Mississippi, were causing significant concern among health officials, and that they had created an "alert system" to track them.

She used Texas as an example where higher positive test rates suggest a kind of spread that could not be explained completely by higher rates of testing. Texas is part of a group of states with test positive rates above 10 percent, a threshold the White House has used to identify areas of particular concern, she explained.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, speaking in Dallas on Sunday, said that the virus had taken a "very swift and a very dangerous turn" in his state, the Times reported. The increase in the rate of positive coronavirus tests, to over 13 percent in the past month from less than 4 percent, is an "alarm bell," he warned.

Coronavirus-related hospitalizations are also surging in that state, reaching a record high for the 16th day in a row on Saturday, the Washington Post reported.

A handful of states have actually brought the virus under control after being slammed in the early stages of the pandemic. Determined to keep case counts low, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey have said they will now mandate quarantines for travelers coming from states that are experiencing large spikes in new cases, the Times said.

On Sunday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that only five coronavirus-related deaths had been reported over the previous 24 hours, the lowest single-day death toll in the state since March 15. The number of COVID-19 patients being hospitalized also dropped below 900 for the first time since March, the Post reported. In a statement, Cuomo noted the numbers would "shoot right back up" if people failed to follow social distancing protocols.

By Monday, the U.S. coronavirus case count passed 2.5 million as the death toll neared 126,000, according to a Times tally.

According to the same tally, the top five states in coronavirus cases as of Monday were: New York with over 397,000; California with over 216,000; New Jersey with more than 173,000; Texas with over 152,000 and Illinois with over 143,000.

Millions infected unknowingly in March

Meanwhile, a new study suggests that as many as 8.7 million Americans came down with coronavirus in March, but more than 80% of them were never diagnosed, CNN reported.

A team of researchers looked at the number of people who went to doctors or clinics with influenza-like illnesses that were never diagnosed as coronavirus, flu or any of the other viruses that usually circulate in winter. There was a giant spike in these cases in March, according to the study published June 22 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Only 100,000 cases were officially reported during that time period, but there was a shortage of coronavirus testing kits at the time, CNN reported.

The team turned to CDC data collected from each state for influenza-like illness. The agency asks doctors to report all cases of people coming in for treatment for fever, cough and other symptoms caused by influenza.

"The findings support a scenario where more than 8.7 million new SARS-CoV-2 infections appeared in the U.S. during March and estimate that more than 80% of these cases remained unidentified as the outbreak rapidly spread," said Justin Silverman, of Penn State University, and colleagues, CNN reported.

An old drug brings new hope

There has been some good news in recent weeks, however. Researchers at Oxford University in England announced that dexamethasone, a widely used, low-cost steroid, appears to cut the death rate for ventilated COVID-19 patients by one-third. It also lowered the death rate for patients who require oxygen (but are not yet on a ventilator) by one-fifth, the Times reported.

"Bottom line is, good news," Fauci, who directs the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the Associated Press. "This is a significant improvement in the available therapeutic options that we have."

But at least three manufacturers of the drug have reported shortages, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, STAT News reported. Two of the manufacturers cited increased demand as a reason for their shortages.

Meanwhile, the search for an effective vaccine continues. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has said that it would provide up to $1.2 billion to the drug company AstraZeneca to develop a potential coronavirus vaccine from Oxford University, in England.

The fourth, and largest, vaccine research agreement funds a clinical trial of the potential vaccine in the United States this summer with about 30,000 volunteers, the Times reported.

The goal? To make at least 300 million doses that could be available as early as October, the HHS said in a statement.

The United States has already agreed to provide up to $483 million to the biotech company Moderna and $500 million to Johnson & Johnson for their vaccine efforts. It is also providing $30 million to a virus vaccine effort led by the French company Sanofi, the Times reported. Moderna said a large clinical trial of its vaccine candidate could begin in July.

Nations grapple with pandemic

Elsewhere in the world, the situation remains challenging.

Even as the pandemic is easing in Europe and some parts of Asia, it is worsening in India. Officials in New Delhi plan to test all of the city's 29 million residents in the next week or so, as the number of coronavirus cases passed 500,000 on Monday and pushed many hospitals to their breaking point, the Times reported.

Brazil has also become a hotspot in the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 1.3 million confirmed infections by Monday, according to the Hopkins tally. U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a ban on all foreign travelers from Brazil because of the burgeoning number of COVID-19 cases in that country, CNN reported.

Cases are also spiking wildly in Russia: As of Monday, that country reported the world's third-highest number of COVID-19 cases, at more than 640,000, the Hopkins tally showed.

Worldwide, the number of reported infections passed 10 million on Monday, with over 500,000 deaths, according to the Hopkins tally.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the Journal information: Science Translational Medicine The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus

Copyright  2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
The measure is to clear up some confusion for arriving tourists

Tourists travelling to Greece will be required from Wednesday to complete an online questionnaire 48 hours in advance to determine whether they need to be tested for coronavirus on arrival.

Over the weekend the Greek government ended random testing of travellers according to their country of origin, which had confused tourists who did not know whether they should spend a night in a hotel to be tested after landing in Athens and Thessaloniki, or go directly into quarantine.

Greece, which has a relatively low coronavirus death toll at 191, has launched a promotional campaign to revive tourismwhich accounts for a quarter of its gross domestic productand hopes to reassure potential travellers as well as Greeks who fear a resurgence of the pandemic with the return of tourists.

Under the new protocol, travellers are given scannable bar codes after they fill out a questionnaire with personal details such as their country of origin and the countries they have travelled through in the last 15 days.

The questionnaire is mandatory until August 31.

Bar codes will be scanned from printed paper or mobile devices at ports of arrival, which will determine whether travellers will be directed to the exit or to a screening area.

Those who are tested will be told to isolate at the address provided on the questionnaire while waiting for the results.

The new protocol "is most likely to be able to detect the majority of imported cases", Dimitris Paraskevis, a member of the health ministry's expert committee, told Skai TV.

All airports in the country will reopen to international flights by Wednesday and the ports of Patras and Igoumenista will again receive ferries from Italy, while other ports will be reopened to cruise ships.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 AFP
Kuznetsova keeps track of case of man acquitted of sexual battery of 1.5-year daughter

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

16:24 29/06/2020

MOSCOW, June 29 (RAPSI)  Russias Children Rights Commissioner Anna Kuznetsova holds control over the situation in the Republic of Tatarstan where a court has acquitted a man of sexual battery against his 1.5-year daughter, the ombudsmans press service has told RAPSI.

Kuznetsova is in contact with a republican minors ombudsman. She believes it necessary to sort out the situation because the matter is protection of rights of a little child who even cannot tell of the incident.

In April, a court in town of Bugulma acquitted a local resident of sexual assault on his kid because of absence of the event of a crime. Prosecutors have challenged the ruling.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Australia is a comparatively high user of residential aged care with a relatively low financial investment in the whole aged-care sector, OECD data shows.

In a new Medical Journal of Australia research article, aged care experts including Flinders University Senior Research Fellow Dr. Suzanne Dyer summarize a review of international approaches to the provision of aged care conducted for the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

They used Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data collected in 13 countries selected based on the availability of information, applicability to the Australian aged care system, and to ensure a diverse range of countries were represented.

"Long term care is the provision of services for medical needs, personal care and assistance in living independently for people with long term dependencies due to their health care needs," says Dr. Dyer and colleagues in a Perspective article in the journal.

"Long term care can be provided in institutions (e.g. nursing homes or residential aged care facilities) or by providing services to assist people to remain living in their own homes, including community services such as respite care. Australia provides institutional long term care for almost 20% of the population aged (80 years and older), and 6% of those aged (65 years and older). This places Australia as the nation with the highest proportion of older people living in institutional care compared with 11 other nations. The relative use of institutional care, as opposed to home or community care, was also highest for Australia, with 52.5% of long term care recipients aged 65 years and older, and 58.6% of long term care recipients aged 80 years and older in institutional care."

In terms of financial investment, the authors estimated gross domestic product (GDP) expenditure on long term care for older people comprising the health component of government/compulsory long term care expenditure (not age-specific) plus social expenditure on old age benefits in kind, as reported to the OECD.

"The expenditure estimates indicate that many other nations spend a much greater proportion of their GDP on long term care for older people," they found.

"The data indicate that in Australia a comparatively high proportion of older people live in institutions, with a relatively low financial investment in the whole aged care sector."

Australia's waiting list for home care packages is likely to have an impact on the proportion of people in residential care, researchers add.

"While many countries have wait lists for home care services, the wait times of over 12 months for home care packages at the approved level (for level 2 and above; i.e., beyond basic care needs, providing low to high level care) may lead to premature admission to institutional care for some people," they wrote.

"In November 2019, the Australian Government announced funding of an additional 10,000 home care packages at a cost of $496 million. However, in September 2019, there were about 63 000 people waiting for an approved home care package, and an additional 49 000 people were offered, while waiting, a package at a level lower than that approved. To reduce the number and proportion of older Australians living in residential aged care, there needs to be an increase in investment across the sector, particularly in home- and community-based care."

Explore further Canada ranks worst in elderly care home coronavirus deaths: study

More information: Dyer et al., Is Australia over-reliant on residential aged care to support our older population? MJA Perspective (2020). Journal information: Medical Journal of Australia Dyer et al., Is Australia over-reliant on residential aged care to support our older population?(2020). DOI: 10.5694/mja19.01265
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Iran reported on Monday 162 more deaths from the novel coronavirus, the highest single-day toll since the country's outbreak began in February.

"This increase in numbers is in fact a reflection of our overall performance, both in terms of reopening and in compliance with health protocols," health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said at a news conference.

The previous record daily toll of 158 deaths was reported by health authorities in early April.

Official figures have shown an upward trajectory in new confirmed cases since early May, when Iran hit a near two-month low in daily recorded infections.

Iran reported its first COVID-19 cases on February 19 and it has since struggled to contain the outbreak, the deadliest in the Middle East.

Lari announced an additional 2,536 new cases on Monday, bringing the total to 225,205. The overall official death toll is now at 10,670

Iranian authorities have refrained from enforcing full lockdowns to stop the pandemic's spread and the use of masks and protective equipment has been optional in most areas.

Iran closed schools, cancelled public events and banned movement between its 31 provinces in March, but the government progressively lifted restrictions from April to try to reopen its sanctions-hit economy.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that "momentum and effort has waned among some of the people and authorities" to combat the virus, warning the country's economic problems would worsen if the disease spreads unchecked.

Authorities launched a campaign over the weekend to encourage people to wear masks and decreed mandatory mask-wearing "in covered spaces where there are gatherings" from Saturday, the beginning of the week in Iran.

The increasing virus caseload has seen some previously unscathed provinces classified as "red"the highest level on Iran's colour-coded risk scalewith authorities allowing them to reimpose restrictive measures if required.

According to Lari, the provinces of Khuzestan, Hormozgan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Boushehr, West and East Azerbaijan and Khorasan Razavi are classified as "red".

The provinces of Ilam, Lorestan and Golestan are on alert, she added.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 AFP
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Six months since the new coronavirus outbreak, the pandemic is still far from over, the World Health Organization said Monday, warning that "the worst is yet to come".

Reaching the half-year milestone just as the death toll surpassed 500,000 and the number of confirmed infections topped 10 million, the WHO said it was a moment to recommit to the fight to save lives.

"Six months ago, none of us could have imagined how our worldand our liveswould be thrown into turmoil by this new virus," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual briefing.

"We all want this to be over. We all want to get on with our lives. But the hard reality is this is not even close to being over.

"Although many countries have made some progress, globally the pandemic is actually speeding up.

"We're all in this together, and we're all in this for the long haul.

"We will need even greater stores of resilience, patience, humility and generosity in the months ahead.

"We have already lost so muchbut we cannot lose hope."

Tedros also said that the pandemic had brought out the best and worst humanity, citing acts of kindness and solidarity, but also misinformation and the politicisation of the virus.

In an atmosphere of global political division and fractures on a national level, "the worst is yet to come. I'm sorry to say that," he said.

"With this kind of environment and condition, we fear the worst."

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 AFP
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Hospitals can get noisy, especially intensive care units, and the life-saving electronic machines monitoring patient vital signs are making most of the racket.

Mike Rayo, an assistant professor of integrated systems engineering at Ohio State University, is working to improve and organize the cacophony to help caregivers and patients alike.

For almost a decade, Rayo has collaborated on hospital alarm research with human factors and ergonomics experts like Judy Edworthy and Ohio State professors David Woods and Emily Patterson. Edworthy, a professor of applied psychology at the University of Plymouth, is considered by many to be "the godmother" of auditory alarm design.

Rayo's most recent work has allowed him to further alarm research and directly improve patient care. It began with a 2018 article in which he and his colleagues discussed designing and testing potential audible alarm signals to replace those currently in use. They demonstrated that, in all tests, their newly designed alarm signals significantly outperformed the current alarm signals.

"Judy brought a large number of us together from different disciplines to understand alarm efficacy in real health care situations," Rayo said. He and other co-authors are also members of an Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation committee, led by Edworthy, to draft a new global medical device safety standard.

Rayo's current research explores the use of the acoustical quality of timbre, the characteristics that allow the ear to distinguish sounds that have the same pitch, tempo and loudness.

"It's basically the sound quality left when you take out all the other easily described qualities, like pitch, rhythm, frequency and so on," he explained. "If I play the exact same note at the same pitch for the same duration at the same rhythm on a clarinet, a trumpet and a piano, the human ear can tell the difference."

In a 2019 study in the journal Ergonomics, Rayo and his team from the Wexner Medical Center Alarm Taskforce compared two sets of alarms in an actual inpatient setting. In a hospital environment, Rayo estimated that more than 10 alarm sources are present in any given room.

"Each of those are going to emit a number of alarms," he said. "For example, a heart monitor we observed had alarms with multiple timbres."

Rayo proposed the assignment of a specific timbre to each medical or physiological category of a monitorfor example, heart, lungs, brain and so on. Other sound qualities, like frequency or pitch, would signal differences between normalcy and urgency.

The study was conducted in 11 inpatient units at the Wexner Medical Center. Alarms were transmitted to inpatient nurses on hand-held devices typical to a modern hospital setting.

His team found that making alarms more acoustically rich by using timbre to convey medical groups and by associating other qualities with urgency improved identifiability and category match.

"Our new set of sounds were perceived as more similar within the alarm groups, facilitated better identification of individual alarm sounds and of alarm groups, and conveyed a wider range of urgency than the baseline sounds," Rayo said.

The improved, timbre-focused sounds developed by his team are now implemented on the Wexner Medical Center nurses' hand-held devices.

"I have not heard of another hospital or system that has custom-designed their alarm tones," he said. "This partnership is somewhere between rare and unique."

Susan Moffatt-Bruce, who was executive director at the Wexner Medical Center during the project, said, "This project was pivotal to truly leverage the learning health care system and improve patient safety for the entire Wexner Medical Center. This is where human factors experts like Dr. Rayo and Dr. Patterson can improve clinical outcomes and improve health care resilience."

Rayo said his team's findings also are relevant for other industries that employ a series of alarm sounds.

He believes too many assumptions are made when medical or safety alarms are designed rather than design decisions being based on data and testing.

"One assumption is if something alarms more, it must be alarming better," he said. "Another assumption often made by designers is that the alarm sound will be understood by others exactly as they intended and imagined it to be understood."

Explore further Medical alarms may be inaudible to hospital staff

More information: Michael F. Rayo et al. Using timbre to improve performance of larger auditory alarm sets, Ergonomics (2019). Journal information: Ergonomics Michael F. Rayo et al. Using timbre to improve performance of larger auditory alarm sets,(2019). DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2019.1676473
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Making health care more inclusive and accepting of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning patients means that seasoned providers and new clinical staff have opportunities to work together and bring barriers and solutions to the forefront.

That is just what two graduates of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work set out to do when they collaborated with one of their professors to publish an article in the Journal for Nurse Practitioners (JNP) in April 2020.

Adam "Akila" Aisner, MSN '18, and Adrienne Marks, MSN '18, worked with Clinical Associate Professor Michelle Zappas to produce "Primary Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) Patients."

It is okay to ask

The article aims to improve patient care and outcomes by discussing barriers that prevent health care providers from delivering comprehensive care to LGBTQ patients, and ways to overcome this. Nurses want to help their patients but may need to learn more about specific LGBTQ health and terminology. Journals like JNP are picking up on this, and producing issues which features several articles on LGBTQ care.

"A lot of people in health care don't feel comfortable asking patients about gender identity or sexual orientation," Aisner said. They may think they will offend the patient, but as Aisner and his co-authors wrote in their paper, patients often welcome the questions and are more than willing to answer them. With a little practice, providers can overcome their discomfort.

To help, the authors created a short glossary to help clarify and define some of the community's terms. Among these are non-binary, which means an individual who does not identify as exclusively male or female; and cisgender, which means an individual whose gender identity matches their biological sex.

"At the end of the day, LGBTQ individuals are the experts when it comes to their own health and needs; health care providers can learn so much just from asking their patients," Marks said.

Toward prejudice-free health care

Even as more LGBTQ people openly share information about their sexual and gender identities, they still face greater risk for substance abuse, risky sexual behavior, HIV, depression and suicide. Nurse practitioners and other providers must be adept in their assessment skills and astute in their ability to engage with patients and yield clinically significant information, the authors wrote.

Zappas, who has been on the faculty of the Department of Nursing since 2015, spent part of her career as a nurse practitioner working in the South Bronx in New York. There, she helped patients managing intravenous drug use as well as diabetes, hypertension, HIV or Hepatitis C. She eventually became an HIV specialist. Today, she remains an ally of the community.

"We've made progress, but more needs to be done to ensure that we're breaking down the barriers to quality, prejudice-free health care," Zappas said.

Among their recommendations are the use of established tools, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, screenings for substance abuse, and the HIV Incidence Risk Index for Men who have Sex with Men (HIRI-MSM), that assess a patient's level of safety and risk.

Mentoring the next generation

For Aisner, seeing his first journal article published fulfilled a professional desire he had for a long time. Zappas provided the guidance and support to make it happen, he said. She encouraged he and Marks to turn their class research projects into podium presentations at the 2019 California Association of Nurse Practitioners' conference. Afterwards, Zappas suggested they turn their work into a paper and seek publication.

"I think it is so important to raise new ideas and get the conversation started among the nurse practitioner community," Aisner said. He already has some ideas about what he would like to research and write about next. The wide range of topics he has in mind stem from issues, such as weight loss, that have come up in his nurse practitioner practice. "This article is just the beginning for me," he said.

Both Aisner and Marks were part of the first cohorts of MSN students at the school, and Zappas taught them during the beginning, middle and end of their program. "I've been lucky to see their evolution," she said.

Zappas enjoys the scholarly aspects of her professorial work and is a frequent contributor to journals. She feels pride at seeing both of her former students flourish in the MSN program and embrace the scholarship aspect of the work.

"We teach people to be clinicians but there is an important scholarly aspect as well," she said.

Nurse practitioners care for people of all diversities and help them through challenging times in their lives. Learning to recognize, accept and care for individuals no matter what their race, gender or sexuality can make a real difference in their well-being.

"I'm so glad to see that idea resonate with this next generation of nurse practitioners, that we not only want to provide the best care for the LGBTQ community, but also add to the research so that other practitioners can benefit," Zappas said.

Explore further Survey questions cancer doctors' awareness of LGBTQ issues

More information: Adam Joseph Aisner et al. Primary Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) Patients, The Journal for Nurse Practitioners (2020). Adam Joseph Aisner et al. Primary Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) Patients,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2019.12.011
Credit: Shutterstock

One of the most profound ways the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives has been in the way we work. For people lucky enough to keep their jobs, and for those of us in professions where it's possible, working from home has become the new normal.

Australia's success in "flattening the curve" means restrictions are now being lifted. With this, many employers are bringing their staff back into the office, or at least contemplating doing so.

But as the current outbreaks in Victoria show, it's dangerous to think we're now safe from the threat of COVID-19.

So, what do we need to consider as we take those first tentative steps back into the office?

First, how does the virus spread?

While there's a lot we still don't know about SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, we do know it spreads most effectively from person to person in droplet form. Infected people emit these droplets when they sneeze, cough, and even speak.

Those droplets can be transmitted directly through the airsay when an infectious person coughs in the direction of someone else close byor they can settle on surfaces, where they can remain viable for hours.

The virus enters the body of a non-infected person through contact with mucous membranes in the nose, mouth or eyes and attaches to cells in the upper respiratory tract to establish infection.

What does this mean for office workers?

In many workplaces, employees share a small office space, work in an open-plan office, or use "hot desks" that are shared between several different employees on different shifts.

Workers in these situations are often required to work for long periods in environments that make it hard to maintain the recommended 4m distancing rule.

This combinationseveral hours spent in close contactincreases the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This is illustrated by an outbreak in an open-plan call center in Seoul, where more than 43% of workers contracted COVID-19 during February and March.

Considerations for employers

First, each employee in a shared office should be able to have at least 4m to themselves. If this isn't possible, it would be a good idea to stagger staff or allow them to continue working from home for now.

Second, think about airflow. Small offices often have insufficient airflow to dilute the virus, and, if an infectious person is present, could end up with high concentrations of viral particles over the course of an hour or so.

Conversely, higher rates of airflow combined with poor ventilation can also lead to infection, as droplets can be carried further.

So where possible, increase ventilation and air exchange in open-plan workspaces. Increasing the ratio of fresh air intake to recirculated air can reduce the concentration of virus particles in air conditioned spaces. Even simply opening windows can reduce viral spread.

Third, cleaning protocols need to be increased. Where once a twice weekly visit from a contracted cleaner to vacuum the floors, empty the bins and quickly wipe over surfaces was considered sufficient, during COVID-19 you need to ensure a thorough daily clean of all surfaces.

Frequently touched surfaces, such as desks, light switches, door handles, phones, staircase railings, touch screens, keypads, taps and toilets should be given special attention and may require more frequent cleaning.

Fourth, if a worker becomes sick with respiratory symptoms, isolate them from other staff and arrange for them to go home. Advise them to get tested for COVID-19 and not return to work until they have a negative result.

Similarly, reinforce the message, "if you're sick, get tested and don't come to work". Now more than ever, the culture of "soldiering on" while unwell puts others at risk.

Finally, you might also consider asking employees to wear face masks at work. Face masks are unlikely to protect the person wearing them but can limit the disease being spread by coughs and sneezes.

Considerations for employees

First, you should clean equipment like keyboards, phones and mice regularly, and definitely between each user if desks are shared. Simply wipe your desk and equipment with a domestic spray cleaner.

Second, the best protection against the virus is personal hygiene. Washing your hands with soap and water offers excellent protection against SARS-CoV-2. When you can't wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead.

You should wash or sanitize your hands regularly throughout the day, especially any time you touch anything you suspect someone else has recently been in contact with.

Third, maintain a distance of 1.5m from other people to protect yourself from airborne droplets.

Fourth, practice good respiratory hygiene by coughing and sneezing into a tissue or the crook of your elbow. This prevents viral particles spreading over surfaces and toward people around you.

Lastly, if you have any symptoms, don't go to work. Get tested as soon as possible and stay at home until you receive the results.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
In this Friday June 19, 2020, a woman wearing a face mask passes a coronavirus billboard carrying a message in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus. South Africa's Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said Sunday June 28, 2020 the country's current surge of COVID-19 cases is expected to dramatically increase in the coming weeks and press the country's hospitals to the limit. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe/File)

South Africa's current surge of COVID-19 cases is expected to dramatically increase in the coming weeks and press the country's hospitals to the limit, the health minister said Sunday night.

South Africa, a country of 57 million people, already has more than a third of the reported cases for all 54 countries in Africa, a continent of 1.3 billion people.

More than 4,300 people have been hospitalized out of South Africa's 138,000 confirmed cases, Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said in a statement. He warned this number is expected to rise quickly.

"We are seeing a rapid rise in the cumulative number of positive COVID-19 cases indicating that, as we had expected, we are approaching a surge during the ... months of July and August," Mkhize said in a statement.

"It is anticipated that while every province will unfortunately witness an increase in their numbers, areas where there is high economic activity will experience an exponential rise," said Mkhize, saying that the cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban will see the biggest increases.

After two months of a strict lockdown, South Africa at the beginning of June began lifting restrictions to allow economic activity, as the shutdown had dramatically increased unemployment and hunger, in a country rated as the world's most unequal.

The current rise in infections has come from people who "moved back into the workplace. It was therefore inevitable that there would be cluster outbreaks as infections spilled over from communities into places of congregation such as mines, factories, taxis and buses," Mkhize said.

In this Wednesday June 17, 2020, file photo a health worker in personal protective gear takes a break at the Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. South Africa's Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said, Sunday, June 18, 2020, that the country's current surge of COVID-19 cases is expected to dramatically increase in the coming weeks and press the country's hospitals to the limit. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht/File)

Of the more than 4,300 people hospitalized for COVID-19, 80% are in general wards and about 15% of them are getting high flow oxygen treatment. About 11% of those hospitalized have severe cases and are in intensive care and of those more than 58% are on ventilation, Mkhize said. He said that the steroid dexamethasone is being given to the most critically ill patients.

He said that South Africa has built several field hospitals, including in convention centers, a car manufacturing plant and by building large tented structures. The field hospitals have increased the hospital bed capacity for COVID-19 to 27,000, Mkhize said.

Most of the critically ill are the elderly and those with conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV, cardiac disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer malignancy and obesity, the health minister said.

He said that the mortality rate for those hospitalized is about 1.8% to 2.1%.

As cases numbers are expected to rapidly rise across South Africa, Mkhize urged everyone to follow precautions.

"We are extremely concerned that fatigue seems to have set in and South Africans are letting down their guard at a time when the spread of infection is surging," Mkhize said.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
In this file photo dated April 17, 2020, showing nearly empty streets in Leicester to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. The English city of Leicester is reported Sunday June 28, 2020, to be suffering from a spike in coronavirus cases, leading to speculation that the city could be subject to Britain's first local COVID-19 lockdown later this week. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

Britain's government is considering a lockdown for the central English city of Leicester amid a spike of COVID-19 casesthe first time that a single U.K. area would face such an extreme measure during the pandemic.

The Sunday Times first reported that a lockdown could come within days after 658 new cases were recorded in the Leicester area in the two weeks up to June 16. Home Secretary Priti Patel acknowledged in a BBC interview Sunday that ministers were considering the move.

"There will be support going into Leicester and in fact the health secretary was in touch with many of us over the weekend explaining some of the measures, the support on testing, resources that will go into the local authority as well,'' Patel said. "With local flare-ups it is right we have a localized solution.''

But Patel gave no indication of the number of people who could be affected by the local lockdown being discussed or whether the surrounding area would be affected. Leicester has a city population of 330,000.

The spike comes amid fears that the disease has been spreading through the city's large Asian community, who often live in multi-generational households. The local outbreak underscores the disproportionate hit that the pandemic has had on Britain's minority communities.

In this file photo dated April 17, 2020, showing empty streets in Leicester to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. The English city of Leicester is reported Sunday June 28, 2020, to be suffering from a spike in coronavirus cases, leading to speculation that the city could be subject to Britain's first local COVID-19 lockdown later this week. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

Britain has Europe's worst confirmed coronavirus death toll, with some 43,600 dead and Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government has been strongly criticized for what has been seen as a slow, chaotic response to the pandemic.

Britain is now slowly emerging from a total national lockdown imposed on March 23, with plans to ease things further by early next month. That reopening plan has rested on the notion that local outbreaks could be tamped down through aggressive programs to track, test and trace those infected.

Now with a test case in the offing, it is becoming clear that carrying out such a plan may not prove so simple.

Keith Neal, emeritus professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, said defining the lockdown area would be "one of the biggest problems," as local authority boundaries can run down the middle of a street.

A sign welcomes people to the English city of Leicester, Sunday June 28, 2020, as the city is reported to be suffering from a spike in coronavirus cases. The Government has said it is supporting officials in Leicester in their battle against COVID-19, after a report the city could be subject to Britain's first local lockdown later this week. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

People will be confused as to who is in the lockdown and who is out, he said.

"Locking down at the regional level would be seen as unfair or worse, as Leicester City has really very little to do with rural Lincolnshire,'' he said. "People do not identify with their regional boundaries and many would not actually know where they are."

Local lawmaker Claudia Webbe accused the government of being slow to respond and said that local authorities have not been given the help and the information they need to attack the outbreak head on.

"What they've been doing is giving Leicester bows and arrows to address a major pandemic problem,'' she told the BBC. "This is ridiculous.''

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
One of thousands of protesters demonstrating across Brazil against the pandemic response of President Jair Bolsonaro

The global death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has topped half a million, as surging cases in Latin America and the United States prompted some authorities to reconsider lifting lockdown measures.

In another grim milestone, the number of infections recorded worldwide rose to more than 10 million, according to an AFP tally, complicating efforts to ease restrictions on debilitated economies.

Los Angeles ordered its bars to close again on Sunday as COVID-19 rampages across the US, which has recorded more than 125,000 deaths and 2.5 million casesboth around a quarter of the global totals.

The second hardest-hit country Brazil registered 259,105 infections in the seven days through Sundaythe country's highest of any week during the pandemic.

The latest figures came as protesters in cities across Braziland as far away as Stockholm, London and Barcelonaheld demonstrations against President Jair Bolsonaro, who has said the virus is akin to a "little flu" and railed against stay-at-home measures.

"Brazil is suffering immense pain, a hidden pain that throbs in the face of the incredible numbers of deaths caused by COVID-19," the organisers of a protest in the capital Brasilia said.

'Profound shock'

As bars closed in LA, Ireland's pubs began pouring pints for the first time in 15 weeks, as Europestill the hardest-hit continentcontinues to open up after seeing numbers of new cases fall.

US President Donald Trump is under growing pressure to set an example by wearing a face mask

"Guinness is good for you," quipped Mark O'Mahonythe first to order a pint with his breakfast at a Dublin pub. "Without it, it hasn't been much good really for 15 weeks."

In nearby Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his country had gone through a "profound shock" as he prepared to unveil a large stimulus programme.

"I think this is the moment for a Rooseveltian approach to the UK," Johnson said, referring to former US president Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal economic response to the Great Depression.

The British government still plans to reopen pubs, restaurants and hairdressers across England on July 4, even as it warns it may have to shut down the city of Leicester because of a spike in cases.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted French President Emmanuel Macron for talks as planning continues for the EU's own massive recovery fund.

New cases and deaths per day from coronavirus in the United States

"We want to use this unprecedented crisis to set in motion unprecedented changes in the European Union," said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

The Middle East's most affected country Iran reported 162 more deaths on Monday, its highest single-day toll yet, a day after the country made mask-wearing mandatory for inside gatherings.

Iran has progressively lifted restrictions since April, but supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that "momentum and effort has waned among some of the people and authorities" to combat the virus.

'Struggling to feed families'

Many of the south and west US states where the virus is most rampant are where state leaders had pushed for early economic reopenings.

President Donald Trump is under growing bipartisan pressure to set an example by wearing a face mask as his health secretary warned the "window is closing" for the country to gain control of the situation.

Hairdressers opened for the first time in months in Ireland on Monday

India is gradually easing a nationwide lockdown despite setting a daily record of 18,500 new cases and 385 deaths on Saturday

California's governor had already ordered some areas to reinstate stay-at-home orders ahead of closing bars in Los Angeles and six other counties on Monday.

Miami meanwhile announced beaches would close over the July 4 holiday weekend and bars are also shutting their doors.

China, where the virus emerged late last year, was also forced to bring back previously lifted restrictions, imposing a strict lockdown on nearly half a million people in a province surrounding Beijing to contain a fresh cluster.

India, which is gradually easing a nationwide lockdown, registered a daily record of 18,500 new cases and 385 new deaths on Saturday.

Alka, one of the country's million accredited social health activists, or ASHAs, said it was difficult for the unprotected and poorly paid all-women workers to get people to heed their advice.

"People are struggling to feed their families," she said. "What can we do?"

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 AFP
Crosses marking COVID-19 deaths are placed in front of the National Congress in Brasilia at a protest against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro

More than half a million people have died in the coronavirus pandemic, an AFP tally showed Sunday, as bars in Los Angeles were ordered to close again due to surging cases in the United States.

The worldwide number of recorded infections is now just over 10 million from the virus that first emerged in China late last year, with fears growing of a full-blown second wave. The rate of contagion has doubled since May 21.

One million new infections were recorded in just six days, according to the AFP count based on official sources, even as some countries loosen punishing lockdowns that have devastated their economies and thrown millions out of work.

The United States, the hardest-hit country, has more than 2.5 million cases alone, and efforts to reopen the world's biggest economy have been set back by a jump in new infections in big states such as Florida and California.

President Donald Trump was under growing pressure to set an example by wearing a face mask as his health secretary warned the "window is closing" for the country to gain control of the situation.

The disease is also rampaging through Latin America, where Brazil alone has over 1.3 million cases.

Infections are up too in some other parts of the world that have reopened, with Europe registering a caseload of over 2.6 million, although daily rates have stabilised.

Number of official deaths, as of June 28

'Severe and complicated'

The US state of California was the latest authority to reimpose restrictions, ordering bars in Los Angeles and six other countiesan area with 13.5 million residentsto close because of the rising number of cases.

The hardest-hit parts of the US are in the south and west, where many state leaders had pushed for early economic reopenings.

But Los Angeles, the second-largest US city, only re-opened its bars on June 19.

California had already ordered some areas to reinstate stay-at-home orders, while San Francisco announced a "pause" in its reopening.

In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis conceded there had been an "explosion" in new cases as the state notched a record 9,585 cases in 24 hours.

Young people frustrated by months of confinement have poured back to the state's beaches, boardwalks and bars, often without masks and seemingly unconcerned about social distancing.

Medical staff carry a patient infected with Covid-19 into an Airbus A400M at an air-base in Matoury, Guiana

Miami announced beaches would close over the July 4 holiday weekend and bars are also shutting their doors.

New coronavirus cases have been surging in more than half of US states, reaching record highs.

Several other countries have also imposed new restrictions to counter fresh outbreaks.

China imposed a strict lockdown on nearly half a million people in a province surrounding Beijing to contain a fresh cluster.

Beijing official Xu Hejian described the situation as "severe and complicated".

And while the British government warned it might have to shut down the city of Leicester because of a spike in cases, it still plans a July 4 reopening of pubs, restaurants and hairdressers across England.

In Paris, police used tear gas to disperse crowds of young people who had gathered for an impromptu party on Saturday evening.

A market in Leh, India, is closed amid concerns over the spread of COVID-19

'Very serious situation'

The tension between reopening battered economiesefforts pushed in the US by Trumpand public health concerns is a source of debate in nearly every country.

US deaths now exceed 125,000, about a quarter of the world total.

"This is a very, very serious situation and the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control," Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on CNN.

The EU has pushed back a decision on a list of "safe countries" from which travellers can visit Europea list which could exclude the US.

With Trump struggling to get his re-election bid off the ground ahead of the November vote, the campaign confirmed that planned events featuring Vice President Mike Pence in Arizona and Florida next week had been postponed "out of an abundance of caution".

A man holds a sign in front of Disneyland Resort calling for higher safety standards before its reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic in Anaheim, California

People wear masks as they wait in line to undergo COVID-19 swab tests at a testing station in Beijing

A woman stands next to protective suits designed for "cholitas" (indigenous women who wear typical skirts) outside a store in La Paz, Bolivia

People visit Old Spitalfields Market in London as Britian's Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledges to spend billions on infrastructure to revive the economy

Infections are also running higher in India, with densely populated cities particularly hard hit.

Although a nationwide lockdown is gradually being eased, the country set a daily record Saturday with 18,500 new cases and 385 deaths. Total infections are at 509,000, with more than 15,600 deaths.

Iran, which has struggled to curb its outbreak even as it gradually lifted restrictions from April, said it would make mask-wearing mandatory in certain areas from next week.

Many global events have had to be curtailed because of the pandemic, with the 50th anniversary of the first Gay Pride march marked mostly online.

Explore further Global virus infections top 10 million

 2020 AFP
Prosecutor seeks to free ex-accountant of theater director Serebrennikov from punishment

 Moskva news agency, Andrey Nikerichev

15:57 29/06/2020

MOSCOW, June 29 (RAPSI)  A prosecutor on Monday requested to sentence ex-chief accountant of Seventh Studio stage company Nina Maslyayava to 2 years and 3 months in penal colony and release her from punishment due to the time served in detention and under house arrest, RAPSI learnt in the press service of the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 30.

Earlier, Maslyayeva admitted guilt in full. She claimed that she was involved in monthly embezzlement and cashing of budget funds under the order of other defendants.

On June 26, the court passed a 3-year suspended sentence and a 800,000-ruble fine on the Gogol Center theater director Kirill Serebrennikov for embezzlement of 129 million rubles (about $2 million) of budget funds allocated for the theater project Platforma. Ex-head of Seventh Studio Yury Itin also received a 3-year suspended term and a fine. Producer Alexey Malobrodsky was given a 2-year suspended sentence and a fine.

Director of the Russian Academic Youth Theater Sophia Apfelbaum received a fine but was released from its payment due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

The court also granted a 129 million-ruble civil suit. Serebrennikov, Itin and Malobrodsky are to pay the money.

The court found that Serebrennikov and Itin had committed embezzlement involving Malobrodsky in the crime. However, Apfelbaum was not aware of their criminal plans but provided for the approval of the Platforma financial plans submitted by Serebrennikov. However, the court found Apfelbaum guilty of negligence resulted in grave damage.

According to investigators, defendants in the case stole 133 of 214 million rubles ($3.3 million) of budget funds allocated to the Seventh Studio company in 2011-2014 for development and popularization of contemporary art in Russia as part of the project Platforma.

Serebrennikov was arrested in late August 2017 and then placed under house arrest. In early November, Moscows Basmanny District Court seized assets belonging to Serebrennikov including apartment, car, and money in the amount of more than 360,000 rubles ($5,300), over 60,000, and $4,000.
NIH study suggests our brains may use search engine strategies to remember words and memories of our past experiences. Credit: Zaghloul lab, NIH/NINDS.

Thousands of words, big and small, are crammed inside our memory banks just waiting to be swiftly withdrawn and strung into sentences. In a recent study of epilepsy patients and healthy volunteers, National Institutes of Health researchers found that our brains may withdraw some common words, like "pig," "tank," and "door," much more often than others, including "cat," "street," and "stair." By combining memory tests, brain wave recordings, and surveys of billions of words published in books, news articles and internet encyclopedia pages, the researchers not only showed how our brains may recall words but also memories of our past experiences.

"We found that some words are much more memorable than others. Our results support the idea that our memories are wired into neural networks and that our brains search for these memories, just the way search engines track down information on the internet," said Weizhen (Zane) Xie, Ph.D., a cognitive psychologist and post-doctoral fellow at the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), who led the study published in Nature Human Behaviour. "We hope that these results can be used as a roadmap to evaluate the health of a person's memory and brain."

Dr. Xie and his colleagues first spotted these words when they re-analyzed the results of memory tests taken by 30 epilepsy patients who were part of a clinical trial led by Kareem Zaghloul, M.D., Ph.D., a neurosurgeon and senior investigator at NINDS. Dr. Zaghloul's team tries to help patients whose seizures cannot be controlled by drugs, otherwise known as intractable epilepsy. During the observation period, patients spend several days at the NIH's Clinical Center with surgically implanted electrodes designed to detect changes in brain activity.

"Our goal is to find and eliminate the source of these harmful and debilitating seizures," said Dr. Zaghloul. "The monitoring period also provides a rare opportunity to record the neural activity that controls other parts of our lives. With the help of these patient volunteers we have been able to uncover some of the blueprints behind our memories."

The memory tests were originally designed to assess episodic memories, or the associationsthe who, what, where and how detailswe make with our past experiences. Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia often destroys the brain's capacity to make these memories.

Patients were shown pairs of words, such as "hand" and "apple," from a list of 300 common nouns. A few seconds later they were shown one of the words, for instance "hand," and asked to remember its pair, "apple." Dr. Zaghloul's team had used these tests to study how neural circuits in the brain store and replay memories.

When Dr. Xie and his colleagues re-examined the test results, they found that patients successfully recalled some words more often than others, regardless of the way the words were paired. In fact, of the 300 words used, the top five were on average about seven times more likely to be successfully recalled than the bottom five.

At first, Dr. Zaghloul and the team were surprised by the results and even a bit skeptical. For many years scientists have thought that successful recall of a paired word meant that a person's brain made a strong connection between the two words during learning and that a similar process may explain why some experiences are more memorable than others. Also, it was hard to explain why words like "tank," "doll," and "pond" were remembered more often than frequently used words like "street," "couch," and "cloud."

But any doubts were quickly diminished when the team saw very similar results after 2,623 healthy volunteers took an online version of the word pair test that the team posted on the crowdsourcing website Amazon Mechanical Turk.

"We saw that some thingsin this case, wordsmay be inherently easier for our brains to recall than others," said Dr. Zaghloul. "These results also provide the strongest evidence to date that what we discovered about how the brain controls memory in this set of patients may also be true for people outside of the study."

Dr. Xie got the idea for the study at a Christmas party which he attended shortly after his arrival at NIH about two years ago. After spending many years studying how our mental statesour moods, our sleeping habits, and our familiarity with somethingcan change our memories, Dr. Xie joined Dr. Zaghloul's team to learn more about the inner-workings of the brain.

"Our memories play a fundamental role in who we are and how our brains work. However, one of the biggest challenges of studying memory is that people often remember the same things in different ways, making it difficult for researchers to compare people's performances on memory tests," said Dr. Xie. "For over a century, researchers have called for a unified accounting of this variability. If we can predict what people should remember in advance and understand how our brains do this, then we might be able to develop better ways to evaluate someone's overall brain health."

At the party, he met Wilma Bainbridge, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of psychology at the University of Chicago, who, at the time was working as a post-doctoral fellow at the NIH's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). She was trying to tackle this same issue by studying whether some things we see are more memorable than others.

For example, in one set of studies of more than 1000 healthy volunteers, Dr. Bainbridge and her colleagues found that some faces are more memorable than others. In these experiments, each volunteer was shown a steady stream of faces and asked to indicate when they recognized one from earlier in the stream.

"Our exciting finding is that there are some images of people or places that are inherently memorable for all people, even though we have each seen different things in our lives," said Dr. Bainbridge. "And if image memorability is so powerful, this means we can know in advance what people are likely to remember or forget."

Nevertheless, these results were limited to understanding how our brains work when we recognize something we see. At the party, Drs. Xie and Bainbridge wondered whether this idea could be applied to the recall of memories that Dr. Zaghloul's team had been studying and if so, what would that tell us about how the brain remembers our past experiences?

In this paper, Dr. Xie proposed that the principles from an established theory, known as the Search for Associative Memory (SAM) model, may help explain their initial findings with the epilepsy patients and the healthy controls.

"We thought one way to understand the results of the word pair tests was to apply network theories for how the brain remembers past experiences. In this case, memories of the words we used look like internet or airport terminal maps, with the more memorable words appearing as big, highly trafficked spots connected to smaller spots representing the less memorable words," said Dr. Xie. "The key to fully understanding this was to figure out what connects the words."

To address this, the researchers wrote a novel computer modeling program that tested whether certain rules for defining how words are connected can predict the memorability results they saw in the study. The rules were based on language studies which had scanned thousands of sentences from books, news articles, and Wikipedia pages.

Initially, they found that seemingly straightforward ideas for connecting words could not explain their results. For instance, the more memorable words did not simply appear more often in sentences than the less memorable ones. Similarly, they could not find a link between the relative "concreteness" of a word's definition and its memorability. A word like "moth" was no more memorable than a word that has more abstract meanings, like "chief."

Instead, their results suggested that the more memorable words were more semantically similar, or more often linked to the meanings of other words used in the English language. This meant, that when the researchers plugged semantic similarity data into the computer model it correctly guessed which words that were memorable from patients and healthy volunteer test. In contrast, this did not happen when they used data on word frequency or concreteness.

Further results supported the idea that the more memorable words represented high trafficked hubs in the brain's memory networks. The epilepsy patients correctly recalled the memorable words faster than others. Meanwhile, electrical recordings of the patients' anterior temporal lobe, a language center, showed that their brains replayed the neural signatures behind those words earlier than the less memorable ones. The researchers saw this trend when they looked at both averages of all results and individual trials, which strongly suggested that the more memorable words are easier for the brain to find.

Moreover, both the patients and the healthy volunteers mistakenly called out the more memorable words more frequently than any other words. Overall, these results supported previous studies which suggested that the brain may visit or pass through these highly connected memories, like the way animals forage for food or a computer searches the internet.

"You know when you type words into a search engine, and it shows you a list of highly relevant guesses? It feels like the search engine is reading your mind. Well, our results suggest that the brains of the subjects in this study did something similar when they tried to recall a paired word, and we think that this may happen when we remember many of our past experiences," said Dr. Xie. "Our results also suggest that the structure of the English language is stored in everyone's brains and we hope that, one day, it is used to overcome the variability doctors face when trying to evaluate the health of a person's memory and brain."

The team is currently exploring ways to incorporate their results and computer model into the development of memory tests for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

Explore further Study suggests our brains use distinct firing patterns to store and replay memories

More information: Memorability of words in arbitrary verbal associations modulates memory retrieval in the anterior temporal lobe, Nature Human Behaviour (2020). www.nature.com/articles/s41562-020-0901-2 Journal information: Nature Human Behaviour Memorability of words in arbitrary verbal associations modulates memory retrieval in the anterior temporal lobe,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-020-0901-2
She Built a Monument to Fantasy was the headline in late 1962 over an article written by Bitterroot correspondent Bessie K. Monroe.

Monroe posted a firsthand account of Luella (Lou) Greenlee detailing how she and husband Emery partnered with Mr. and Mrs. C.O. Funkhouser to build Mother Goose Land.

A native Canadian, Greenlee said the idea came to her in 1937 and she and Emery began looking around for a place to fit the scenes that would be part of the plan." She had taught school for six years in Alberta and kindergarten for a couple more in Shelby. That experience and a sense that children's literature failed to spark the imagination convinced me more than ever that children needed more than they were getting in the way of fantasy," Greenlee said. "More and more there seemed to me to be a lack of things I had known as a child and I kept thinking about it.

"Mother Goose wasn't the thing for children any more, it seemed. Well, for me, it had never lost its charm."

The Greenlees moved to Portland after Shelby and finally, in 1951, to Victor in the Bitterroot Valley. With the Funkhousers they acquired 15 acres in Lolo Canyon and two springs later Mother Goose Land became the reality the folks of Western Montana now know so well, Greenlee told Monroe.
Linda, with her firecracker personality and infectious laugh, reminisced on Thursday about the long road theyve taken together.

She moved to Missoula from Billings, and Pats from Clinton originally. They met at the Montana Development Center in Boulder in 1965 when they were both children, and they hit it off right away. They were separated for years while Linda lived with a foster family and Pat went to a nursing home in Hot Springs, but they were reunited with the help of friends and a social worker. Not wanting the commitment ceremony that many people with disabilities have in lieu of an official marriage, Linda and Pat were determined to not only get married but live on their own.

We were one of the first ones they moved out of the nursing home, Linda explained.

A wedding ceremony was held at the Community Rehabilitation Center on June 25, 1980.

He wore a tie, Linda recalls of her husband, smiling. They had a honeymoon organized by friends in Hot Springs.
Nearly 100 people staged a human rights rally at the Montana Capitol on Sunday afternoon.

The group, which varied widely in age, marched around the building and chanted the names of two individuals whose deaths at the hands of police have sparked myriad protests across the country, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Along with the chants and marching, the group held a nine-minute period of silence to mark the amount of time former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck. The rally ended with a five-minute "die-in" where protesters laid on the ground in silence.

"There are people in America who do not have their human rights," rally organizer Teddy Jumpp said in an interview. "This is comparatively smaller than some of the other protests, but I want people to see this."

The protest remained peaceful as has been the case with recent protests at the Capitol, and more than a dozen participants in safety vests served as a "de-escalation team." The leader of the de-escalation team declined to comment.

About 10 counterprotesters camped on a lawn across the street. They filmed the human rights rally with a video camera mounted in the back of a flatbed truck.

No police were visible during the event.
Its like a Stephen King horror novel where a nation is swept by a deadly and uncontrollable disease, sickening millions and killing over 100,000 citizens. Ignoring the advice of top infectious disease specialists who say, Dont go to large-scale gatherings, a crazed president insists on holding rallies for the sole purpose of boosting his rapidly sinking chances of reelection. While recklessly ignoring precautions and exhorting his followers to do the same, he leaves not hope, but contagion and death in his path. Only its not a novel, its our reality  and now Trumps traveling horror show heads west.

The level of dysfunction of this president and his benighted administration now borders on insanity. After an illusory victory over the rapid spread of the deadly coronavirus, Trump announced there was nothing left but embers  only to have infection rates skyrocket across the nation, hitting hard in southern and western states that ignored initial precautionary measures or decided to reopen prematurely.
Our national parks and public lands are what set us apart from the rest of the world. I like to think of our national parks as America's Office of First Impressions  and we must make sure our parks are in good shape. Thats why addressing the maintenance backlog of our national parks and our public lands is also so important. Today, there is a backlog of nearly $20 billion impacting our national parks and public lands, including over $700 million in Glacier and Yellowstone national parks and $450 million in trail and road maintenance needs in our national forests. This impacts visitor experience and safety. The Great American Outdoors Act also support jobs and our local economies in our rural and gateway communities.
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Court refusals to follow Constitutional Court opinion prevent consolidation of Constitution primacy

 RAPSI

17:16 29/06/2020

ST. PETERSBURG, June 29 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov)  Refusals on the part of general jurisdiction courts to follow opinions of Russias Constitutional Court or administer differently interpreted law are to be considered as noncompliance with the Courts decisions, what prevents consolidation of Russias Constitution primacy and violates the right to judicial protection, according to a recent Constitutional Courts judgment.

The new judgement resulted from a case where a family challenged eviction from their flat citing a relevant Constitutional Court decision in another case. Lower courts dismissed the familys petitions to review their case saying the Constitutional Court judgement was not relevant as it contained no indication that it could be applicable to persons not being parties to the constitutional proceedings.

The family disputed the constitutionality of the laws the courts relied on when dismissing their petitions.

In its judgement, the Constitutional Court noted that general jurisdiction courts should have no right to ignore its final judgements containing new interpretations of the legal provisions applicable in the cases they hear at any stage of the respective proceedings.

The Constitutional Court found the disputed laws to be in compliance with the Constitution as, according to the judgement, they do not envisage that an executory process against citizens not being parties to constitutional proceedings was to be continued, if those citizens petitioned to terminate such a process, in cases where the underlying court rulings based on legal acts or certain provisions thereof were declared unconstitutional or constitutionally interpreted by a Constitutional Court judgement, and where the respective court rulings had not been executed or fully executed by the time the Constitutional Court made the respective judgement.

The new Constitutional Court judgement is based on its previously expressed legal reasoning; the case of the applicants are to be reviewed, the judgement reads.
film being made about WPCC

Dr. John Tyo, professor of cinematography at Syracuse University in New York, is getting his camera ready and filming one of the many scenes to be included in a 15-minute sound and color film for Western Piedmont Community College. Tyo expects to be finished tomorrow for the informational film about the college, which will be pressed, edited and ready for showing this fall before interested local groups. In the scene being filmed today, James Cluberson is being interviewed in his office for comments as a banker on the direct economic impact of a college on the community, in addition to the less direct educational bebefits. Buddy Noles stands by with a light meter to check lighting, and student Albert Yoder checks sound levels with a headphone set. Noles is an audiovisual and duplicating technician for the production on the set. Tyo was accompanied here by a vacationing friend, Phillip Morrison of the New York State Department of Education at Albany, who assisted in shooting some of the many scenes dealing with WPCC activities.
While no final decision has been made by the RNC we understand Jacksonville is a front runner, the chair of the Republican Party of Florida, Joe Gruters, said in a tweet.

This certainly has been generating a lot of attention and excitement. We continue to believe that Florida would be the best place for the Convention.

Trump has made clear he no longer intends to hold the conventions marquee event  his acceptance speech  in Charlotte. But much of the partys more mundane business, including discussions over the platform, are still expected to be held in Charlotte because of contractual obligations.

We are going to keep our convention of, the business of the convention in Charlotte. That is for sure. Its going to be smaller and scaled down. And then we are looking for a different city for a celebration, McDaniel explained.

That celebration could generate at least $100 million in revenues for the host city, perhaps more.

Floridas prize of 29 electoral votes is considered crucial to Trumps bid for a second term, which could factor into the partys calculations.
He said it would be simple, Dyrud said. Thats what I came up with.

Telling others was a way for him to get the solve off his chest.

Boulder resident Paul Klasky thinks the treasure was hidden near him, in the small town of Cascade, Colorado. The community is home to North Pole Santas Workshop, a themed amusement park.

In a letter to The Billings Gazette, Klasky wrote that Fenns poem seemed to have the cadence of The Night Before Christmas. Consequently, his reading of the clues are linked to Santa, including the passage that reads: The answers I already know, which he said refers to Santa knowing who is naughty and nice.

Cascade, Colorado, is about an hours drive from Santa Fe, Klasky noted.

Speculation

So even with the reported solving of Fenns riddle and supposed recovery of the hidden riches, the mystery of it all continues to gnaw at treasure hunters. The Billings Gazette received emails from other seekers, including residents of Ohio and New Jersey who did not return calls seeking more information.
Before Whitney got to Johnston, an errant rocket had resulted in considerable nuclear fallout on the atoll, and so dredgers were employed to scrape up much of the surface and dump it in a deep-sea trench, then cover the entire atoll with 10 inches of new material. Also, runways were lengthened with added coral.

Whitney remembers looking at one of the giant Thor missiles, which didnt look particularly aerodynamic, with a lumpy profile and space between the nose cone and fuselage. When he asked about it, he was told, Son, that thing could be shaped like a boxcar and with the power it has behind it, its going into orbit.

Johnston was a challenging environment, just seven feet above sea level and relentlessly hot. Many fair-skinned airmen would arrive and have a quick trip to the infirmary to be treated for blisters and other heat-related issues.

The tiny atoll was populated with some 3,000 people  all male, Whitney remembers drily  less than 10 percent of which were actually Air Force men. The rest were civilian support personnel.

Russian fishing trawlers often circled the island, but would come much closer whenever preparations for a test launch were being made.

He spent a year on Johnston. It was fascinating, he said.
And suddenly America is the nation that cant vote straight, every Election Day yielding fresh embarrassments. Georgias recent primary, for instance, was a nightmare of closed polling places, broken machines and long lines, prompting one observer to dub it a hot, flaming f------ mess. Kentucky was never covered by the Act, but perhaps should have been based on its recent primary. Almost all of the nearly 3,700 polling places in the state were closed, leaving voters with just 170, supposedly because of the coronavirus pandemic. Louisville, a city of 620,000 people, nearly one in four of them black, had just one polling place.

Enough.

This sort of thing is incompatible with representative democracy. It gives the lie to everything America claims to be. And it makes clear that restoring the Voting Rights Act will not be enough. Its time for a new Voting Rights Act, one that in addition to its previous protections, also enshrines the right of voting by mail, restores to ex-felons the right to register and vote, removes the power to draw district lines from politicians and places it with nonpartisan commissions, invalidates photo ID laws and requires that a reasonable number of polling stations and working polling machines be made available.
A flood warning was also issued for the Iowa River in Wapello on Sunday, which will remain in effect until Thursday evening. According to the National Weather Service, at 7 p.m. on June 28, the river was at 24 feet and steady, three feet above the start of the flood stage and expected to affect residents near the Highway 61 bridge through minor flooding. The water is forecast to fall Thursday evening.

The main flooding was mostly on the Mississippi River in the spring, and of course theres been some really heavy rain the past couple weeks across Northeast Iowa and part of Eastern Iowa so the Cedar Rivers been in flood recently, but everything now is starting to come down, said Meteorologist John Haase.

Currently, the National Weather Service isnt seeing any huge storms, and while there is still a chance for isolated ones, they arent expected to severely affect any rivers. Temperatures may also help keep flooding chances low. As the weeks progress, we get into a hotter and dryer pattern for a while, Haase said, Its really a blocked out pattern where its potentially going to be 90 degrees for two weeks. Theres not too much in the way of rain, so I think were in pretty good shape here at the moment.
About 400 Constitution amending vote applications submitted to Russian Ombudsman

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

15:03 29/06/2020

MOSCOW, June 29 (RAPSI)  Offices of the Federal Ombudsman had received around 400 applications concerning the voting on amendments to the Constitution, the countrys High Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova told journalists on Monday.

According to the Ombudsman, people mostly wanted to receive information they were interested in, including the location of their poll station and online voting registration. She also received complaints about the vote participation coercion that was a serious law violation. Moskalkova sent about 20 such applications to prosecutors.

On June 25, the All-Russian voting on amendments to Constitution started in the country and abroad. The main voting day, according to the presidential decree, is July 1; however, citizens may also vote from June 25 to 30. Residents of Moscow and Niznny Novgorod have an opportunity to vote online.




Satellite-based Internet services continue to grow and will begin to compete with fibre and mobile broadband in the coming years.

This is according to two South African ISPs who offer satellite broadband packages  Vox and MorClick.

Most of the countrys highly-populated areas are capable of accessing the Internet via either fixed-line connectivity or mobile data coverage from the two biggest service providers in the country  Vodacom and MTN.

However, remote areas with fewer inhabitants dont offer high returns on investment in fibre and base station infrastructure, which means they have weak or no data signal.

One of the few alternative options available to users in these areas is satellite-based broadband.

To get connected to a satellite Internet service, customers require a satellite customer premise equipment (CPE), which is similar to a DStv dish unit.

This transmits and receives connectivity to and from a satellite that is positioned in geostationary or geosynchronous orbit, 36,000 km away from Earth, and linked to a landing station to break out to the Internet.

Due to the position of the satellite above the earth, it is capable of providing coverage to large areas.

Vox Head of Wireless Jacques Visser Said two primary issues with current satellite broadband connectivity were latency and cost.

The distance for data packages to travel from the CPE to the satellite and the landing station result in high latency  around 600ms -which causes a delay at the user, Visser said.

In addition, he said the service is expensive due to the high costs of the CPE, its installation and international Internet breakout when the landing station is located on another continent.

Improvements

In recent years, advancements have been made which improved data throughput, particularly for satellite connectivity operating in spectrum in the Ka-band.

MorClick said that while older satellite technologies had operated in lower frequency ranges  between 12GHz and 18GHz  Ka-band uses frequencies in the 26.5GHz to 40GHz range.

This higher frequency increases bandwidth, which means a higher data transfer rate and, therefore, higher performance and speed, MorClick said.

This means satellite Internet packages are easily capable of supporting high-demand use-cases such as video and music streaming services, as well as video conferencing.

The improvements have allowed MorClick and Vox to roll out uncapped satellite broadband products.

Packages

Visser said there are about 10 major providers that are responsible for 95% of the services provisioned over many different satellites, and MorClick noted that three of these were available in South Africa.

MorClick and Vox use the YahClick service provided by Hughes, one of the worlds leading satellite Internet providers.

Entry-level plans from Vox start at less than R200 per month, while both ISPs offer uncapped packages at the following prices:

Up to 5Mbps Uncapped  R849

Up to 10Mbps Uncapped  R1,099

Up to 20Mbps Uncapped  R1,299

Vox also provides an uncapped voice plan with unlimited calls to South African numbers at a fixed price of R172 per month. This service requires a satellite service with a voice channel at a slightly higher price.

Increased coverage, performance and pricing

MorClick said it has seen increased demand for its service during the COVID-19 lockdown.

As the need for reliable, affordable Internet connections continues to grow to run small businesses and keep your home and family connected  so we feel that satellite will become the preferred choice of many South Africans living outside of key metropolitan areas, it said.

Voxs Visser said more satellite coverage can be expected in serviced areas in the coming years, with the added increase in backhaul data services to be provided for aeroplanes and vessels.

Notably, the launch of additional Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites will offer attractive pricing for broadband and IoT services.

High-throughput satellites positioned in MEO and LEO stationary will become operational in the next 12 to 24 months. These services will play an important role in under-serviced areas, as well as IoT, Visser said.

It is expected that LEO satellite services will compete with terrestrial services from a pricing point of view, he noted.

According to Visser, LEO satellite services will be very close to earth with approximately 50ms latency at an attractive price point.

Starlink

One of the most well-known LEO projects is Elon Musks Starlink venture, which aims to put a network of 12,000 satellites in orbit to provide global connectivity to remote and hard-to-reach locations.

This service is expected to support latency of as low as 20ms, due to the satellites orbiting at only 550km above the earth.

Visser said he expects Starlink to become available in South Africa in future, especially as a connectivity provider for vehicles, aeroplanes, and IoT.

He anticipates Starlink should replace many legacy services currently in use, taking over backhauls of GSM towers and ATM connectivity.

In addition, it will be an alternative for redundant terrestrial services and can play an important role in mobile and tracking services, he added.

Starlink is set to enter service in the US and Canada by the end of 2020, with a near-global rollout due in 2021.
Michael Jordaan is one of South Africas best-known and respected business leaders who built FNB into the most innovative bank in the world.

After stepping down as FNB CEO, Jordaan founded Montegray Capital, through which he has backed 25 entrepreneurial ventures including Rain, Bank Zero, NMRQL, CodeX, and VALR.

He quickly became one of the most respected venture capitalists in South Africa, with some of his investments, like Rain, already showing excellent growth.

In this episode of Whats Next with Aki Anastasiou, Jordaan discusses how the COVID-19 lockdown is affecting companies and who the biggest winners and losers are.

He also talks about Rains 4G and 5G services, the impact of the lockdown on traffic volumes and how usage patterns have changed.

Jordaan also touches on what South Africa should do to revive the economy, the progress on Bank Zero, and his top tips for entrepreneurs.

He also gives his top book pick, which he recommends to anyone who wants to start or grow a business.

The full interview is embedded below. You can find all the Whats Next with Aki Anastasiou interviews here.
Mark Zuckerberg just became $7.2 billion poorer after a flurry of companies pulled advertising from Facebook Inc.s network.

Shares of the social media company fell 8.3% on Friday, the most in three months, after Unilever, one of the worlds largest advertisers, joined other brands in boycotting ads on the social network. Unilever said it would stop spending money with Facebooks properties this year.

The share-price drop eliminated $56 billion from Facebooks market value and pushed Zuckerbergs net worth down to $82.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

That also moved the Facebook chief executive officer down one notch to fourth place, overtaken by Louis Vuitton boss Bernard Arnault, who was elevated to one of the worlds three richest people along with Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.

Companies from Verizon Communications Inc. to Hershey Co. have also stopped social media ads after critics said that Facebook has failed to sufficiently police hate speech and disinformation on the platform.

Coca-Cola Co. said it would pause all paid advertising on all social media platforms for at least 30 days.

Zuckerberg responded Friday to the growing criticism about misinformation on the site, announcing the company would label all voting-related posts with a link encouraging users to look at its new voter information hub.

Facebook also expanded its definition of prohibited hate speech, adding a clause saying no ads will be allowed if they label another demographic as dangerous.

There are no exceptions for politicians in any of the policies Im announcing here today, Zuckerberg said.

Now read: Facebook and Twitter shares plummet
Education Minister Angie Motshekga has confirmed in a Sunday Times column that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) plans to reopen schools for more grades soon.

As the basic education sector, we are COVID-19 battle-hardened and ready, said Motshekga.

We understand the contestation from some quarters as this is a new terrain of struggle, but we shouldnt allow panic to guide public policy.

She added that research shows the longer children from poorer backgrounds are not at school, the less likely they are to return at all.

Furthermore, the current wave of COVID-19 cases reported in schools since June 8 is classic community transmissions; as yet they are not originating from our facilities, she said.

However, Motshekga cautioned that community transmissions will eventually become bushfires within schools, adding that it is not a matter of if, but when.

New school calendar

Earlier this month the DBE published the amended school calendar for 2020.

The four school terms for 2020 are gazetted as follows:

Term 1: 15 January  18 March

15 January  18 March Term 2: 8 June  7 August

8 June  7 August Term 3: 12 August  23 September

12 August  23 September Term 4: 5 October  15 December

The new calendar has been constructed so that only one day of holiday will be taken between terms 2 and 3. This is because 8 and 9 August fall on a weekend, while Monday 10 August is a public holiday.

Additionally, no more public holidays will fall on a school day for the rest of the year.

In a government gazette posted on 1 June, return dates for all grades were provided as follows:

Grade 7, 12  1 June 2020

1 June 2020 Grade 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 11  6 July 2020

6 July 2020 Grade 4, 5, 8, 9  3 August 2020

However, the gazette adds that schools may deviate from these dates depending on their capabilities.

Delay to initial reopening

Schools first reopened to Grade 7 and 12 learners on 8 June.

This was a week later than the 1 June date that was originally provided by the DBE.

The night before 1 June, the Government Communications and Information System (GCIS) released a statement confirming that schools would not be reopening to learners on the original date.

CEM (Council of Education Ministers) took informed decisions to have schools to continue to reopen on 1 June 2020, but with School Management Teams, Teachers and Non-Teaching Staff only arriving to prepare for the arrival of learners, said the GCIS.

The date on which Grade 7 and 12 learners have to report back to school, is 8 June 2020.

This was due to findings that schools were not yet ready to reopen to learners at the time.

A week later, ahead of the 8 June return date, DBE director-general Mathanzima Hubert Mweli said that 97.6% of South African schools facilities were ready to accept Grade 7 and 12 learners.

Despite this, Motshekga highlighted that in all case, schools must not reopen until they are fully prepared to do so.

The golden rule is that there will be no school that will resume if not ready to do so, said Motshekga.

Now read: New 2020 school holidays and term dates published
South Africas Department of Public Enterprises announced its withdrawal from a panel that was established to facilitate talks with the troubled national airlines workers about its planned overhaul, accusing three labor unions of undermining its work and putting jobs at risk.

South African Airways was placed into a form of bankruptcy protection six months ago after a succession of managers failed to restore it to profitability and Finance Minister Tito Mboweni urged an end to repeated bailouts.

Administrators this month published a rescue plan that would stave off the carriers liquidation by securing it at least 26.7 billion rand ($1.5 billion) in additional state aid, a first step toward laying the groundwork for a new, viable carrier.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, the South African Cabin Crew Association and the SAA Pilots Association reacted furiously to a proviso that the airline workforce be reduced by almost 80% to 1,000 people.

SA Airlink, a rival domestic carrier that says SAA owes it 700 million rand in ticket revenue, also objected to the plan, and a June 25 creditors meeting to vote on it was adjourned to July 14.

By supporting a delay to the vote, the three unions had contradicted the letter and spirit of a compact agreed by the consultative panels and created uncertainty for creditors and potential investors, the Department of Public Enterprises said in a statement. Instead of creating conditions for attracting investment and skilled South Africans, three unions have put SAA on a path towards possible liquidation.

The department urged the unions and their members to accept generous voluntary severance packages being offered by SAA, and focus on a plan that would equip them to get other jobs.

Those that accepted the packages would be entitled to apply for jobs in the new restructured airline as it expanded, it said.
Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula has announced the reopening of additional airports and the relaxation of restrictions under advanced level 3 lockdown.

Speaking at a media briefing on 29 June, Mbalula said that in addition to the four airports which were reopened earlier this month, a number of other major local airports would resume operations from 1 July.

These include the following airports:

Bram Fischer International Airport

Bloemfontein Airport

Kruger International Airport

Pietermaritzburg Airport

Port Elizabeth International Airport

Richards Bay Airport

Skukuza International Airport

According to the relaxed restrictions, all international passenger flights remain prohibited except those authorised by the Minister of Transport.

Domestic passenger flights for business purposes are permitted subject to a number of restrictions, and aerial work in various industries will be allowed to resume, including aerial harvesting, cloud spraying, fire spotting, search and rescue, and parachuting.

Mbalula said that a number of changes have also been made for business travellers, including improved screening and security processes.

He said airlines are now permitted to provide pre-packed meals which must be placed in front of the passenger before they board.

South Africans may still not engage in air travel for leisure purposes, Mbalula emphasised.

New rules for restaurants

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma recently released amended regulations related to the advanced level 3 lockdown rules.

The amended regulations relax many limitations on sit-down restaurants, cinemas, theatres, conferences, casinos, hotels, and bed and breakfasts.

Under the new rules, restaurants are only allowed 50 guests or 50% of their capacity, screening questionnaires for all diners are compulsory and all diners must wear cloth masks.

It is still prohibited to consume alcohol at sit-down restaurants, which means having wine with your meal is not allowed.

The amended regulations still restrict exercise between 06:00 and 18:00, but it can now be done in groups of up to four people.

Libraries, museums and art galleries are allowed to open as long as they adhere to the health and social distancing guidelines.
American Canyon wants to be clear that up to six cannabis businesses can come to its Green Island industrial area for indoor cultivation, manufacturing and delivery, but not retail sales.

That hadnt been so clear before. The citys 2018 law allows for up to six commercial cannabis permits. But a single business might need several state permits, such as one for indoor cultivation, another for manufacturing, another for delivery.

Given that, two businesses needing three state permits apiece could take up all of American Canyons commercial cannabis slots.

It can be really confusing, Community Development Director Brent Cooper said.

That confusion is not what the City Council intended. When it said six permits, it meant six businesses, officials said.

On June 16, the City Council began the rule changes to clarify the situation. It will continue taking the necessary votes in July.

We seem to be in the process of building a better airplane while were flying, Mayor Leon Garcia said.

American Canyon applicants
Napa County reported Monday that another 40 residents had tested positive for COVID-19  the highest two-day total since reports began in March.

This brings the total of confirmed cases of 310, with five people hospitalized. The number of deaths remained unchanged at four, the county said.

The county is no longer giving daily updates on Saturdays, so Mondays report represented two days worth of testing data, not the usual one. No testing occurs on Sundays.

The number of cases has been increasing throughout June. Mondays report of 40 cases over two testing days compares to full-week testing totals of 42 cases, 41 cases and 46 cases over the previous three weeks.

The number of cases has been rising in June as more facets of the economy open up and people begin to ease up on shelter-at-home orders. Socializing over the Memorial Day weekend was credited for the early upswing.

Seventy-five percent of last weeks cases were attributed to unknown person-to-person exposure, with 23% due to household exposure, the county reported. Officials said that a growing number of cases represent younger people.
The march placed an exclamation point on a month that had been marked for an annual slate of celebrations of Napa Countys lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community on the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall Inn uprising in New York, which is credited with kick-starting the modern gay-rights movement. Many of the festivities, however, never got off the ground after the coronavirus pandemic led the county to shut down virtually all scheduled public gatherings starting in mid-March.

Instead of large-scale LGBTQ celebrations, central Napa has instead seen a succession of protest marches inspired by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, during an arrest by Minneapolis police May 25. When it came time for the Rainbow Action Network to mark Pride month, acknowledging the renewed push for racial equality became the natural thing to do, according to Anne Sutkowi-Hemstreet, co-founder and director of the network.

By the start of June, what wed planned for Pride in a celebratory tone just didnt feel appropriate for this year, Sutkowi-Hemstreet, a community programs manager for First 5 Napa, said before the Sunday event.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on June 29, 2020

2020/06/29

CCTV: The US recently announced imposition of visa restrictions on some Chinese officials for Hong Kong-related matters. Does China have a comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: The national security legislation for the HKSAR is China's internal affair, and no foreign country has any right to interfere. The Chinese government is firmly committed to safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, implementing "one country, two systems", and opposing interference in Hong Kong affairs by external forces. The US attempts to obstruct China's legislation for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR by imposing the so-called sanctions, but it will never succeed.

Reacting to the above-mentioned erroneous move by the US side, China decides to impose visa restrictions on US individuals with egregious conducts on Hong Kong-related issues.

China Daily: The US Senate recently passed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act and a Hong Kong-related resolution, criticizing China for advancing the national security legislation for Hong Kong and threatening to sanction Chinese individuals, entities and financial institutions. Do you have a comment?

Zhao Lijian: The US Senate, in total disregard of China's solemn position, obstinately passed the negative bill regarding Hong Kong. It is vicious denigration of the national security legislation for Hong Kong, grave interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, and violation of international law and basic norms of international relations. China rejects it and has lodged solemn representations with the US.

The national security legislation for Hong Kong aims to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests, lasting peace, stability and prosperity in Hong Kong, and steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems". Hong Kong affairs are China's domestic affairs that allow no foreign interference. The Chinese government is firmly determined to uphold national sovereignty, security and development interests, implement "one country, two systems" and oppose external interference in Hong Kong. Separatist forces intending to disrupt Hong Kong can clamor as they like and anti-China external forces may try to exert pressure, but neither will stop China's resolute action to advance the legislation. Their attempts are doomed to fail. This act will be nothing more than a piece of paper.

We urge the US side to grasp the situation and immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any way. It shall not push or implement the negative bill concerning Hong Kong, even less imposing sanctions on the Chinese side based on it. Otherwise China will react firmly with strong countermeasures. And the US shall bear all the consequences.

Beijing Youth Daily: What does China expect of the upcoming China-ASEAN Senior Officials' Consultation?

Zhao Lijian: The 26th China-ASEAN Senior Officials' Consultation will be held on July 1 through video link. Assistant Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong, as head of the Chinese delegation, will co-chair the virtual event together with the Senior Official for ASEAN affairs of the Philippines, the current country coordinator for China-ASEAN relations.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, China and ASEAN countries, upholding the concept of a community with a shared future, have worked together with mutual support to fight the pandemic. President Xi Jinping held telephone calls or exchanged letters and messages with leaders of many ASEAN countries, leading the joint regional response to the pandemic. The successful Special ASEAN Plus Three Summit and Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting strengthened regional cooperation, sent out a strong message of solidarity in challenging times, and demonstrated the strategic dimension of China-ASEAN relations.

At present, China and ASEAN still face the daunting tasks of fighting the pandemic, stabilizing the economy and protecting livelihoods. China looks forward to in-depth exchange with other participants during this consultation to discuss how to coordinate anti-virus cooperation and socio-economic development as prevention and control efforts remain part of our daily routine. We also hope to work for new progress in China-ASEAN cooperation and contribute more to stability and development in the region.

CNR: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a June 24 statement blasted China's commitments to African countries at the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19, saying the CCP hides truth of COVID-19 from the world and creates an unsustainable debt burden on African countries with its secretiveness. What is your comment?

Zhao Lijian: Pompeo wants to attack and slander China with these nonsense. China firmly opposes his remarks which show no regard for facts.

Since COVID-19 broke out, China has been acting in an open, transparent and responsible manner. We have in a timely manner informed WHO and relevant countries and regions, the US included, of the latest development on the epidemic situation, shared the genome sequence of the virus, actively responded to the concerns of others, and strengthened cooperation with all sides. China has bought time and made important contributions to the global fight against the virus.

Africa is China's good brother sharing weal and woe. We have been standing by each other in the joint fight against COVID-19. At the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19, a successful virtual gathering held recently, President Xi Jinping announced a series of important initiatives and proposals which have been well received by African countries. COVID-19 dealt a heavy blow to the world economy and African countries are confronted with severe challenges. China will work with the international community to step up support for African countries and earnestly act on the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative. Some African countries have applied for such suspension with China. And we are now working on the specific details through close coordination and consultation to ease their debt burden and help them tide over the difficulties.

We hope that the US will focus on its own epidemic response and also contribute to the global fight against the virus through concrete deeds, instead of undermining and badmouthing other countries' response and spreading the "political virus". The African countries and the international community at large have no difficulty in telling who is genuinely helping Africa and who is politicizing the debt issue. Any attempt to sow discord between China and Africa is to no avail and doomed to fail.

Shenzhen TV: On June 24, US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien criticized China on a range of issues in a speech. Do you have any comments?

Zhao Lijian: The speech you mentioned is full of political lies that wantonly criticize China's domestic and foreign policies and attempt to drive a wedge between the CPC and the Chinese people. China condemns and firmly opposes it.

Since the People's Republic of China was founded 71 years ago, the Chinese people, under the leadership of the CPC, have found a development path consistent with the country's national realities and achieved great progress to the amazement of the world. These are facts witnessed by all. This US politician's comments on China, inconsistent with basic facts and in violation of the basic norms governing international relations, expose his deep-seated Cold-War mindset and ideological bias. Turning a blind eye to serious domestic problems, the US points the finger at others in an effort to distract American people's attention and cover up its own defects. But its attempt has already been seen through by the Chinese people and the larger international community.

We urge the US to immediately correct its mistakes, stop uttering erroneous comments on China, and stop undermining bilateral relations, mutual trust and cooperation.

Xinhua News Agency: The Malawi Electoral Commission chair announced on June 27 that Lazarus Chakwera, head of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), was elected the new president with roughly 59 percent of the vote. Does China have a comment? Will you offer congratulations?

Zhao Lijian: China is glad to see the smooth election in Malawi. We respect the Malawi people's choice and congratulate Mr. Chakwera on winning the presidency. Since diplomatic ties were established in 2007, China and Malawi have seen rapid and sound development in bilateral relations. We stand ready to work with the new government and people from all sectors in Malawi for new progress in our relations.

Beijing Media Network: US Secretary of State Pompeo again openly lashed out on China's response to COVID-19, accusing it of covering up the truth, which goes against its promise of putting people and their lives front and center. Does China have a comment?

Zhao Lijian: Faced with the COVID-19 outbreak, China and the US mounted two drastically different responses. China puts life first. To protect people's life and health, social and economic activities across the country were halted, decisive isolation measures enforced, WHO's professional recommendations followed, and science-based policy adopted to break the transmission route and save lives at all costs. No effort was spared in treating the infected, from a 108-year-old to a baby just 30 hours old. The results speak for themselves. In contrast, the US puts selfish political gains first. In pursuit of this priority, it made light of the epidemic, veered from science, and even resorted to blame-shifting. The result is a major outbreak that has taken its toll on American lives and people's health, dragged the economy into a recession, and triggered social unrest. According to statistics from US media in May, over one third of fatal cases in 31 US states are from nursing homes.

The Chinese government puts people and their lives front and center. Its COVID-19 response can stand the test of time and history. We have detailed our effective measures with a clear timeline and released the white paper Fighting COVID-19: China in Action, which documented the Chinese people's war against the epidemic. Despite the major strategic outcomes we have achieved, we remain vigilant, allow not the slightest relaxation, and acted promptly to contain new infections. After the COVID-19 cluster emerged at the Xinfadi Wholesale Market in Beijing, relevant departments lost no time in battling the virus. Quarantine and testing teams were put together in real time and large-scale nucleic acid testing (NAT) conducted. As of June 28, about 8.3 million samples have been taken with nearly 7.7 million tests completed. With a host of measures, the situation is quickly brought under effective control.

In the US, however, the number of confirmed cases is nearing 2.54 million with about 130,000 deaths, which means 387 deaths per million people. These numbers are respectively 30, 27 and 129 times higher than in China. US CDC Director Redfield said the number of people actually infected with COVID-19 in the US could be more than 10 times the number of confirmed cases, or more than 20 million. Recently, the US has experienced a strong rebound of the epidemic. On June 27, the daily number of confirmed cases in the US exceeded 44,000, a record high. This shows that it is useless for the US to blame others. It is more than clear whether the US or China is actually "putting people and their lives front and center".

As for Pompeo's claim that China is concealing the truth about the epidemic, let the facts speak for themselves. Wuhan's closure on January 23 made headlines worldwide, by which time there was only one publicly confirmed case in the US. When the US closed its border to China on February 2, US officials counted just 11 confirmed cases. According to open reports, statistics from Canada, France, Russia, Australia, Singapore, Japan and other countries show that the vast majority of cases in these countries are not from China. Instead, the article "Why is the United States Exporting Coronavirus" recently published by the New York Times notes that the United States, with the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world, is currently deporting thousands of illegal immigrants, many of whom are COVID-19 patients. In late April, the government of Guatemala reported that nearly one in five COVID-19 infections in the country were linked to deportees from the US, and 71 of the 76 deportees tested positive for coronavirus.

How the US, boasting the world's most advanced and sophisticated medical technology, has responded so poorly to the epidemic is both puzzling and thought-provoking. We are saddened by the loss of so many lives to the virus in the US and pay tribute to the American medical workers who are devoted to saving lives and containing the epidemic. We sincerely wish the American people an early victory over the epidemic. We once again urge Pompeo and other US politicians to give top priority to responding to the epidemic and saving lives, stop putting political expediency above people's lives, respect facts and science, and stop talking nonsense and deceiving the world.

Global Times: The Global Times reported today that Australia is waging an intensifying espionage offensive against China, by setting up intelligence stations in China, installing wiretaps in the Chinese Embassy in Canberra, deploying in China intelligence officers who have status as Australian diplomats, and instigating defection among Chinese nationals, which has seriously threatened China's national security. What is your comment?

Zhao Lijian: I have seen the report. There are a few points I'd like to stress.

First, the Five Eyes intelligence alliance has long engaged in large-scale, organized and indiscriminate cyber espionage, spying and surveillance on foreign governments, companies and individuals in violation of international law and basic norms for international relations. This is not a secret to anyone. And Australia, an important member of the Five Eyes, has been a fervent intelligence gatherer in relevant countries. I am afraid that what is revealed by the Global Times this time is just the "tip of the iceberg".

Second, some people and media in Australia are enthusiastic about producing such sensational stories as "China spying on and infiltrating Australia", yet they can not justify their stories with any solid evidence. In contrast, irrefutable evidence abound to prove Australia's operation of spying activities in China. They steal information and data from other countries, jeopardizing others' sovereignty and security. But they play the part of the victim, peddling rumors and stoking confrontation by staging a farce of the thief crying "stop thief". They have long crossed the line. They owe an honest answer to the Chinese people and the international community.

Third, China is committed to the path of peaceful development, to pursuing win-win strategy of opening-up, developing friendly and cooperative relations with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China's external cooperation in various parts of the world is widely welcomed. We have no need to interfere in others' internal affairs, nor are we interested in doing so. At the same time, the Chinese government has an unshakable resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests and to oppose interference in China's internal affairs by any external force. We urge some people in Australia to abandon the Cold War mentality and ideological bias, play fair and upright, and talk less nonsense. They should contribute positive energy to world peace and stability and mutual trust and cooperation between countries.

Associated Press of Pakistan: According to reports, some gunmen attacked the Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi today. And according to the police, four assailants were killed during the attack. Do you have any comment on that?

Zhao Lijian: China condemns all forms of terrorist attacks. We extend our condolences over the passing of the innocent victims and sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured. China firmly opposes terrorism in all manifestations and supports Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism and safeguarding national security and stability.

CRI: Mongolia's ruling People's Party won a landslide victory in recent parliamentary elections. What is your comment?

Zhao Lijian: China has noted the smooth holding of the parliamentary elections in Mongolia. China and Mongolia are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers. We would like to see Mongolia enjoy political stability, social harmony and economic development and its people live in happiness. Currently, China-Mongolia relations enjoy a sound momentum of development. We are ready to work with Mongolia to continuously consolidate and enhance political mutual trust, strengthen practical cooperation on jointly fighting COVID-19 and promoting the Belt and Road projects, and push for new progress in China-Mongolia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Reuters: You said that China will put sanctions on US visas for people meddling in Hong Kong affairs. I just want to clarify is that a new measure and can you give us any details on that?

Zhao Lijian: This is certainly a new measure. As I just said, China decides to impose visa restrictions on US individuals with egregious conducts on Hong Kong-related issues. As to who will be covered, I'm sure those who fall under this category know very well.

Kyodo News: Further to the visa restrictions on US personnel, I wonder if US officials are included?

Zhao Lijian: As I already stated clearly, China decides to impose visa restrictions on US individuals with egregious conducts on Hong Kong-related issues. As to who will be covered, I'm sure those who fall under this category know very well.

Reuters: Australian police working on behalf of Australian intelligence authorities on Friday raided the home and office of a lawmaker Shaoquett Moselmane. It's part of a foreign interference investigation that is focused on China. Mr. Moselmane has said he is not personally a suspect. What's the foreign ministry's comment on this investigation?

Zhao Lijian: We noted relevant reports and have no comment on Australia's domestic affairs. I want to point out that for a while, some politicians in Australia seem to be suffering from paranoia, dominated by China-phobia and conjectures to the extent of losing all sense of rationality and justice. Under the guise of "values", they often make groundless accusations against China in domestic politics, stigmatize and demonize normal personnel exchanges and cooperation with China, and poison the atmosphere of bilateral relations. This is totally unconstructive and irresponsible. China is firmly opposed to this.

China is committed to developing relations with other countries on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference. Interfering in other countries' domestic affairs is not in the "genes" of China's diplomacy and such a label shall never be pinned on China. We urge the Australian side to abandon the Cold War mentality and ideological bias, look at China's development in an objective and rational manner, and do more to enhance China-Australia mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation.
The most notable duty however no longer exists. It was serving as an Altar Boy. Today at least half of the altar servers are girls. In those days, we boys served Mass and had to learn all the responses in Latin.

Since Vatican II, the responses are in English (or native tongue) and all the parishioners recite the responses at Mass. I really enjoyed being an altar boy for two reasons. First, you occasionally got to serve a funeral Mass during a weekday, which meant you got out of class for a few hours. Second, was the annual Alter Boys picnic at Boyes Hot Springs in Sonoma. There were plenty of hot dogs and soda and swimming and games.

I have nothing but praise for the wonderful Dominican nuns who dedicated their lives serving God by giving us the academic foundation we needed to become useful citizens and especially for teaching us the tenets of our faith.
33.49% of ballots counted: Pashinyans bloc leads

Almost 27% of ballots counted by Armenia Central Electoral Commission (PHOTO)

19,95% of ballots counted by Armenia Central Electoral Commission (PHOTO)

2.54% of ballots counted by Armenia Central Electoral Commission (PHOTO)

Armenia Central Electoral Commission announces most preliminary results of snap parliamentary elections

Armenia's Citizen's Decision Party member not allowed to enter precinct, apprehended a little while ago

"I Have Honor" bloc: Armenia National Security Service searches mayor's apartment, 2 MP candidates abducted

Results of electronic voting: Civil Contract Party: 163, "Armenia" bloc: 135, Armenian National Congress: 43

Electric Networks of Armenia: Power outages during vote counts were systematic

Citizen who disseminated anti-propaganda leaflets against "Armenia" bloc shows up at police station

Mediaport: Power is out in Armenia's Gyumri, Vanadzor, Artik, Aparan, Dilijan and Armavir city

Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #9/48 in Yerevan district (VIDEO)

Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #9/49 in Yerevan district (VIDEO)

Tense situation at polling station #9/21 in Armenia, red beret police officers called to location

Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #14/13 in Etchmiadzin (VIDEO)

Power goes out before vote count at polling station #25/58 in Armenia's Odzun

Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov returns to US

Armenia Police receive 87 alarms via hotline as of 8:30 pm

Armenia snap parliamentary elections voter turnout 49.4%, 51.55% voter turnout in Yerevan

Armenia Ombudsman's statement on taking photos of ballots speculated

Armenia Civil Contract Party member obstructing work of opposition party proxy at polling station

Armenia advocate: National Security Service decided to conduct search in office and apartment of Masis mayor

Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #2/46 in Yerevan district (VIDEO)

Netanyahu and his family to leave PM residence no later than July 10

Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #31/02 in Gyumri

Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #8/04 in Yerevan district (VIDEO)

Gabrielyanov: Russian institutions' exit poll results of Armenia snap parliamentary elections announced

Armenian News-NEWS.am providing live coverage at polling station #17/03 in Armenia's Ashtarak (VIDEO)

Catholicos of All Armenians sends congratulatory message to Iran's President-elect

Armenia snap parliamentary elections are over

hetq.am: Ballot box at polling station in Armenia's Gavar not sealed

"I Have Honor" bloc's member: My father exited Special Investigation Service, will vote in Armenia elections

Police detect case of electoral fraud in Armenian town

China has 1 billion COVID-19 vaccinations

Artak Tovmasyan visits military pantheon, goes to cast vote in Armenia snap parliamentary elections

Armenia Ombudsman talks to democrats bloc's candidate for PM Arman Babajanyan after gunshot fired at car

Armenian attorney: "I Have Honor" bloc's supporters released

big brother: Red beret police officers brutally beat members of "Armenia" bloc's headquarters

Armenia Police: Drunk man fires gunshots into air from apartment in Yerevan

Armenia Police find data on 2,287 deceased persons, remove them from voters' lists

Armenia "I Have Honor" bloc: Ballots for numbers 1-8 were missing in package for mobile voting at hospital

Head of Yerevan district enters polling stations, addresses ruling party's proxies, records drawn up

Armenia citizens distribute electoral bribes in village, 2 persons detained

Voter turnout in Armenia snap parliamentary elections is 38.17% 3 hours before end of vote

Armenia police apprehend producer Armen Grigoryan

Criminal case opened into shooting at Armenia lawmaker, MP candidate's car

Armenia Police receive 57 reports, process 20 of them as of 4pm

Incident takes place between Armenia acting Deputy PM and citizens

Lawyer on criminal case against Armenia bloc MP candidate: That recording is equal to anonymous report

"I Have Honor" bloc issues statement on unlawful searches and detention during Armenia snap parliamentary elections

Physician, Armenia bloc MP candidate: Criminal case brought against me contains no material in it

RIA Novosti's survey shows 32% voters ready to vote for "Armenia"bloc, 24% ready to vote for Nikol Pashinyan

Armenia Ombudsman: Photographing and disseminating used ballot are prohibited by law

Armenia "5165" Movement Party's leader participates in snap parliamentary elections

Armenia opposition bloc member Taron Margaryan comes to polling station with sons, votes for national security

Armenia President's Office comments on report of car with its license plates parked outside polling station

Zalkaliani: Tbilisi ready to work within Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia format

Catholicos of All Armenians: May God increase good days in our peoples life

Armenia snap parliamentary election voter turnout 26.82% as of 2pm

Armenia MFA statement on World Refugee Day: Unprecedented humanitarian situation has unfolded

Armenia MOD: Allegations of instructing soldiers during election are assumptions of authors of those videos

Voting stopped for a while at polling station in Armenia's Sotk

Opposition Sovereign Armenia Party's MP candidate apprehended

Armenia First President casts his ballot

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Our most important task is to unite a divided society

Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan FMs speak about active participation of 3 countries in peace process

Israel doesn't rule out resumption of hostilities with Hamas

Armenia former premier: We are now voting against Azerbaijans Aliyev

Armenia 3rd President Sargsyan: We must develop relations with Georgia

Mayor of Armenia's Goris: Soldiers being blatantly guided, there are several electoral violations

Armenia opposition party's proxy and MP candidate transferred to hospital after brawl

Armenia former President Sargsyan: My stance has not changed today either (PHOTOS)

Protests held in Toronto: People demand immediate release of Armenian POWs

Mediaport: Armenia ruling bloc MP provokes fight at election precinct

US and Turkish defense ministers discuss Afghanistan

Prosperous Armenia Party leader: Who can influence me?

Armenia "I Have the Honor" bloc candidate for PM: Authorities are in agony

Armenia snap parliamentary election voter turnout 12.2% as of 11am

Brazil reaches 500,000 COVID-19 deaths

Artsakh Defense Army ex-commander: I voted that you to live with strength

Armenia acting PM comes to election precinct with his family

Searches of Armenia bloc in Sisian is an unprecedented disgrace

"Armenia" bloc: Never before in countrys history has there been such irregularity in electoral process

Armenian Ombudsman conducts independent monitoring of electoral process from early morning

Searches being carried out in headquarters and houses of Armenia bloc heads

Armenia 2nd President on their chances of winning election: Do you doubt? (PHOTOS)

Bright Armenia Party leader: Force that will buy votes is force of Ilham Aliyev

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Well consider it being done by authorities if police dont find criminals soo

UAE will ban travelers from 3 countries from entering country

Shooting occurs outside Armenia village polling station

Armenia ex-ruling party official: I receive information on use of administrative resources, directives at military units

Armenia President votes in snap parliamentary elections

Armenian CEC reports breaches of violation during day of election silence

Armenia central election commission chief: 1,996 polling stations have opened

CEC Secretary presents voting procedure: Voter must take all ballots

Report: Armenia parliament deputy speaker greets voters, speaks with them at election precinct entrance

World's tallest hotel with restaurant opens in Shanghai

Armenia village election precinct commissions ruling party member chairman takes stamp home with him in evening

Bright Armenia Party leader: I petitioned to Prosecutor General to launch criminal cases, declare wanted

Armenia lawyer Vardevanyan: Armen Charchyan will be released in few minutes
YEREVAN.  A group of representatives of the youth organization of the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) is protesting in front of the EU office. Also, they handed a letter to the EU mission.

Hayk Mamijanyan, the head of the RPA youth wing, told reporters that they will also deliver such letters to the embassies of all OSCE member countries, as well as to the UN and the Council of Europe offices in Armenia. "The content of the letter is as follows: It presents a description from the legal point of view of the permissiveness [for the privileged] that is happening in Armenia with the Constitutional Court and in general, with the logic of democratic processes. We started with the EU Office because the madam ambassador, with her biased speech and often biased silence, gives the impression that European institutions are in favor of or are silent toward these processes, whereas the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe, and the European People's Party, all have already expressed their opinion on this permissiveness," he said.

Mamijanyan added that the state of emergency is maintained in Armenia for one purpose only, so that it is not possible to carry out such actions in the country at present. "It is impossible to apprehend so many people every day. We are making these [protest] actions () so that the authorities realize that they cannot do everything. Sooner or later, the nose of our authorities must touch the floor, both in domestic political and international platforms, and they come to realize that they cannot do everything," Hayk Mamijanyan concluded.
Beijing has urged the US to stop putting pressure on Chinese companies, RIA Novosti reported referring to China's MFA statement following reports of possible sanctions on a number of Chinese companies.

Earlier, Reuters, referring to a document received at its disposal, reported that the Pentagon had compiled a list of Chinese companies the US is going to impose sanctions on.

According to the agency, the US Department of Defense has prepared a list of 20 Chinese companies that Washington believes is controlled or owned by the Peoples Liberation Army of China.

As the MFA noted, the US, again and again, generalizes the concept of national security, abuses state power and exerts pressure on individual Chinese enterprises, all of which run counter to the principles of a market economy that the US has always praised.

The Chinese MFA noted that Beijing calls on the US to stop unreasonable pressure on Chinese companies, as well as to provide honest, fair, and non-discriminatory conditions for the normal operation of Chinese companies in the US.
Armenian parliament committees may receive $ 12 thousand aid from the UN for the implementation of technical equipment to improve the quality and efficiency of their performance, Prosperous Armenia Party MP Naira Zohrabyan said on Monday during the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs sitting.

Parliament's committees need to present one representative from each parliamentary faction.

My Step ruling bloc MP Maria Karapetyan, in turn, suggested that their committee use part of the funds to attract a lawyer to help a working group that is considering fighting the violence propaganda.

Another My Step MP Rustam Bakoyan proposed to conduct field studies on the observance of the rights of women and girls in the Yezidi communities of Armenia.

The MPs gave a positive conclusion after some discussions.
This article is part of the series: Health for all? Critical perspectives on Universal Health Coverage

Promotional materials from the global campaign to achieve Universal Health Coverage by the year 2030. Copyright UHC2030  reproduced here under fair use for academic purposes.

Health for All? critically explores global moves towards Universal Health Coverage and its language of rights to health, equity, social justice and the public good. Highlighting emerging ethnographic and historical research by both young and established scholars, the series explores the translations and frictions surrounding aspirations for health for all as they move across the globe. The series is edited by Ruth Prince.

Introduction

In this piece, I explore the impacts of the rise of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) as a new global health metric for universal health coverage in India. I consider how health systems planners rely upon HTA metrics to generate populist political discourses of Universal Health Coverage that simultaneously allow for translations of the concept of the universal into politically convenient structures of health systems. The HTA is significant because governments emphasize this metric as a tool for allocating funding to health systems. Compared to previous measures including cost-effectiveness, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and others, the HTA is seen as a tool that more thoroughly captures the social, political, and commercial determinants of health. Following HTA, I explore how universal concepts are engaged and produced within health systems (Prince 2017). By identifying what type of information is produced by HTAs, I demonstrate what counts as health and for whom when this metric is used to fulfil imaginaries of health care universalism (Adams 2016: 36).

I first briefly detail the history of the HTA before providing an example of how the HTA has been used in decision-making for Ayushman Bharat (AB), Indias recent universal health insurance scheme. I argue that the HTAs branding as the metric for UHC health systems planning  recently officially endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) allows governments to call upon ambiguous meanings of universal to support political aims while still often leaving behind the most vulnerable populations (WHA 2014).

A Brief Genealogy of the HTA

The HTA was first adopted as a tool for publicly funded health systems in the United Kingdom and Australia, where HTAs increasingly became tied to notions of political accountability (Chinitz 2004). This element of accountability helped the UK and Australia become models for publicly funded UHC systems. When the era of UHC dawned, the global health community thus embraced HTA methodology as a form of capacity-building for UHC in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs).

However, the implementation of HTA in LMICs greatly differs from what has been seen in the UK and Australia. For example, for a health technology to pass assessment in the UK, it must be below a cost threshold, have better safety and efficacy than currently available in the health system, and be voted upon by health professionals, local government, and civilians (Bojakowski and Spoors 2014). However, in LMICs, determinants of medical costs to patients are more often related to insufficient supply chains than to market price, raising the question of how cost thresholds can be set which take into account the dynamics of a health system (CGD 2019). Further, patient populations in LMICs are often transient, which makes it difficult to achieve the accountability that HTAs supposedly provide (Sirohi et al. 2018). When I asked one HTA researcher how HTAs are translated to LMICs, they replied the following:

Its a priority setting process in health that brings into account evidence that is important to those decision makers  and hopefully that population  that is somewhat of a transparent and accountable process  a rejection of the dictator problem  we dont want someone making decisions in the dark.

In other words, the HTA is seen to provide a shift from illiberal, dictatorial decision-making without evidence, to health systems planning which considers evidence hopefully relevant to the health needs of the population. This evidence is thus understood to represent who and what is seen as legitimate within conceptions of universal health coverage.

The HTA Goes to India

The HTA in India is most commonly used at the level of the central government to make decisions about funding for high-cost medical technologies in national health insurance schemes. For nearly 20 years India relied upon a Medical Technology Assessment Board which employed similar methods and evolved to form todays Health Technology Assessment in India (HTAin) board (DHR 2019). To understand the use of HTA in India it is important to first discuss the broader politicization of UHC in India.

Universal Health Coverage Populism

In the 2018 central government elections, Indias new health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat (AB), was for the first time branded as UHC; grandiose claims of being on the path to UHC were seen as a central element to the Modi governments election (Narayanan 2018). However, the structure and spending of AB often supports the privatization of care (Leo 2019). Rather than choosing to invest in existing public health infrastructure, AB provides the poorest 500 million Indians with up to 5,00,000 INR in coverage which can be spent in public or private facilities (Chalkidou 2019). In an interview with the former CEO of the National Health Authority  the Ministry of Health and Family Welfares (MOHFW) implementing branch which was created for the purpose of AB  he suggests that monitoring public hospitals across India would be too challenging and tracking patient spending within AB enables a better understanding of the demand side of the health system (Arora 2019). The emphasis on the private sector in Modis method of reaching a form of UHC is echoed in other central government recommendations including private-public-partnerships in medical training (Niti Ayog 2019). Unsurprisingly, the 2020 MOHFW budget report confirmed that over 50% of AB insurance funds were spent in private medical facilities (MOHFW 2020). It is within this context of privatizing state logics that the HTAin board operates, almost exclusively for the purpose of approving health technologies for coverage within AB.

The HTA for Universal (Private) Health Coverage

When I first attempted to understand what the HTA does in India, a health economist told me that a real HTA in India is almost entirely an academic exercise and explained that in practice most HTAs are reduced to cost-effectiveness analyses. An often-cited reason for this is the decentralization of Indias health care system; health is primarily seen as a state responsibility and relies on small central government funding and insurance schemes. Aggregating state level data in a comparable way for HTAs at the central government level requires the rapid development of a robust data infrastructure  would have to [follow health outcomes] over longer time periods  [and relies on] limited human resource capabilities in health economics (Rao et al. 2018: 6). The lack of comparable and comprehensive evidence for HTAs begs a closer analysis of the activities of HTAin to understand who is seen as a legitimate beneficiary of universal coverage.

When I spoke with members of the HTA-in-India (HTAin) board, some emphasized how, despite strong advocacy, discussions of equity were almost never considered. Examples of HTAs by HTAin demonstrate their emphasis on high cost treatments; for example, some of the most recent HTAs include cardiac stints and cataract surgery equipment (Chalkidou 2019). However, the technologies reviewed by HTAin do not reflect the burden of disease shared amongst the poor. Instead, the HTA supports a notion of the universal which can only become universal by relying upon a privatized health system that ensures the efficient allocation of resources.

Accessing Universal Health Coverage

To understand what the HTA actually does for the health system it is useful to turn to the encounters patients have when attempting to access health insurance which has been shaped by HTA methodology. Elsewhere in this series, Marine Al Dahdah noted how the mechanisms of inclusion of individuals within AB can block access to health facilities  based on technical criteria (Al Dahdah 2020; also see: Barnreuther 2020, this series). Specifically, the implementation of AB was followed by anecdotal accounts of the shortcoming of the scheme. Many patients were unable to receive health insurance cards due to broken machines in government offices (Medical Buyer 2019). In January 2020, a patient died while waiting to un-enroll from one health insurance scheme in an effort to be eligible to enroll in AB (Nagarajan 2020).

Further, many large corporate hospital chains do not accept AB. Hospitals complain that AB takes too long to issue reimbursements to be considered financially pragmatic. Hospitals also complain that the reimbursement caps which have been set by AB are below the at-cost price charged by the hospital. Because of this, patients must often utilize poor quality public facilities, or resort to middle of the road private facilities. Private hospitals which accept AB have been characterized as having quality challenges, including a general lack of awareness about cleanliness, infection control, and patient safety, and insufficient infrastructure, support services, and skilled human resources (Chatterjee 2019: 4).

For hospitals which do accept AB, patients face a number of challenges in utilizing insurance for the purpose of treatment. For example, one physician anecdotally recounted to me a cancer patient who cobbled together funds for treatment expenses from AB, a state health insurance scheme, and private and public philanthropic funds, but still faced significant out-of-pocket-expenditures (OOPE). For this patient, the 5,00,000 INR cap of AB per family household was far below the total cost of their cancer treatment. Further, because the patient had to draw upon multiple funding sources, the physician had to adapt the treatment plan based upon what was covered by AB and other insurance and subsidy schemes. This had the effect of lengthening the treatment plan, and subsequently further increasing total OOPE.

What these examples demonstrate is how AB represents a notion of universal health coverage which often remains very distant from the needs of patients when accessing health care. These cases echo what has elsewhere been called austerity welfare: the provision of public health services alongside the commercial valorization of patients needs and their produced health data (Kar 2017; Al Dahdah 2020). In this case, the HTA works to enable broader populist brandings of aspirations for UHC while paradoxically necessitating privatized health services as the primary vehicle of delivery for universal health coverage.

Robert D. Smith is an MA candidate in Anthropology and Sociology at the Graduate Institute of Geneva. He is interested in primary health care in the treatment of non-communicable diseases in Delhi, India, and more broadly practices of public health policy prioritization.

Works Cited

Adams, Vincanne. 2015. Metrics. Duke University Press. https://www.dukeupress.edu/metrics/.

Al Dahdah, Marine. 2020. The Public-Private Welfare State: constructing a data-driven health coverage in India. Somatosphere. <http://somatosphere.net/2020/data-universal-health-coverage-india.html/>

Arora, Dinesh. 2019. Can Countries Afford 2019 UN High Level Meeting Declaration On UHC. Center For Global Development. https://www.cgdev.org/event/can-countries-afford-2019-un-high-level-meeting-declaration-uhc-0.

Bojakowski, Steve, and John Spoors. 2014. The Funding of Orphan Medicines in the UK. British Journal of Healthcare Management 20 (8): 38491. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjhc.2014.20.8.384.

CGD Center for Global Development. 2019. Tackling The Triple Transition In Global Health Procurement. Promoting Access To Essential Health Products Through Aid Eligibility.

Chalkidou, Kalipso, Nishant Jain, Francoise Cluzeau and Amanda Glassman. 2019. Modicare Post-Election: Recommendations To Enhance The Impact Of Public Health Insurance On UHC Goals In India. CGD Note. London, United Kingdom: Center for Global Development.

Chatterjee, Patralekha. 2019. Modis Health Reforms: Between Hope and Hype. The Lancet 394 (10208): 149598. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)32601-7.

Chinitz, David. 2004. Health Technology Assessment in Four Countries: Response from Political Science. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care 20 (1): 5560. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266462304000789.

DHR Government of India Department of Health Research. 2019. Concept Note For Establishing Medical Technology Assessment Board (MTAB) And Institutionalizing HTA In India.

Kar, Sohini. 2017. Austerity Welfare: Social Security in the Era of Finance. Anthropology Today 33 (5): 1215. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8322.12378.

Leo, Leroy. 2019. Niti Aayog Calls Healthcare System A Sinking Ship, Urges Private Medical Buyer. 2019. In Rajasthan, Registration Quagmire Leads To Zero Beneficiaries Of Ayushman Bharat. Medical Buyer (blog). 2019. https://www.medicalbuyer.co.in/in-rajasthan-registration-quagmire-leads-to-zero-beneficiaries-of-ayushman-bharat/.

MOHFW. 2020. Notes on Demands for Grants, 2020-2021. MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFAR Department of Health and Family Welfare. https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/doc/eb/sbe42.pdfz.

Nagarajan, Reema. n.d. Delhi: Caught in Cracks between Two Schemes, 17-Year-Old Dies | Delhi News  Times of India. The Times of India. Accessed May 3, 2020. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-caught-in-cracks-between-two-schemes-17-year-old-dies/articleshow/73568850.cms.

Nayantara Narayanan, Nithya Subramanian & Rohan Venkataramakrishnan. 2018. The Election Fix: How Will Voters Pick between Ayushman Bharat and a Right to Healthcare? Text. Scroll.In. https://scroll.in. 2018. https://scroll.in/article/917623/the-election-fix-how-will-voters-pick-between-ayushman-bharat-and-a-right-to-healthcare.

Niti Ayog. 2019. Public Private Partnership In MEDICAL EDUCATION. New Delhi, India: Government of India NITI Aayog. https://niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2019-12/ModelConcessionAgreement-forSetting-upMedical-Colleges-under-Public-private-Partnership-Draft-for-Comments.pdf.

Prince, Ruth. 2017. Universal Health Coverage in the Global South: New Models of Healthcare and Their Implications for Citizenship, Solidarity, and the Public Good. Michael 14 (2): 15372.

Rao, Neethi V, Laura Downey, Nishant Jain, Rama Baru, and Francoise Cluzeau. 2018. Priority-Setting, the Indian Way. Journal of Global Health 8 (2): 020311. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.08.020311.

Sirohi, Bhawna, Kalipso Chalkidou, C S Pramesh, Benjamin O Anderson, Patrick Loeher, Omar El Dewachi, Omar Shamieh, et al. 2018. Developing Institutions for Cancer Care in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries: From Cancer Units to Comprehensive Cancer Centres. The Lancet Oncology 19 (8): e395406. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(18)30342-5.

WHA World Health Assembly. 2014. WHA67.23 Health Intervention And Technology Assessment In Support Of Universal Health Coverage. Geneva, Switzerland.

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YEREVAN.  The special sitting of the National Assembly will probably take place tomorrow. Tigran Ulikhanyan, a member of the majority My Step faction, on Monday stated this in a talk with journalists in the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia.

As for the agenda of this special session, Ulikhanyan said as follows, in particular: "When the amendment to the Constitution came into force, there may be laws there related to the text of the current Constitution, which [those laws] will not be in line with it, and [therefore] a need occurs to amend them."

Also, Ulikhanyan ruled out the reports that on June 22, two MPs of the My Step faction had taken part in the NA sitting, despite knowing that they were infected with the coronavirus. "Our faction or MPs are not under compulsion from anyone. The My Step faction is undivided, and it is already worth giving a deserving assessment to the rumors about our faction," he added, in part.
A rally in support of PM Nikol Pashinyan and the government of the Republic of Armenia (RA) was held Sunday in front of the Glendale City Hall, which was attended by only ten people, Hraparak.am reported.

The video of the rally was posted on the Facebook page of Robert Makaryan, a resident of Glendale, USA, where he also wrote that about two years ago thousands of Armenians responded to such calls, whereas the number of people gathered on Sunday is barely a dozen.

The reason for this gathering was the last episode of the video series, entitled "End of Lies," by Mikael Minasyan, former RA Ambassador to the Holy See, where he criticized Pashinyan and his team, talking about the corrupt deals and failures of the halls of power. During the Saturday program, Minasyan also spoke about the interference into Armenia's internal political affairs by Glendale Armenians and, in general, compatriots living with a prosperous life in the diaspora. ().

Apparently, the Glendale Armenians, dissatisfied with Minasyan's statement, decided to show that they stand with Nikol Pashinyan, but the opposite picture turned out, Hraparak.am added.
Russell was born on May 25, 1947, the second son of Edgar Poe Millar and Ruth Mabrey Adams Millar in La Plata, Md. He was preceded in death by his infant sister, Carol Jean Millar and his brother, Douglas Millar. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Linda Graff Millar, his children, Robert Millar (Pam), and Cara Bean (Scottie). He is also survived by 5 grandchildren, Samantha Tippett (Ryan), Collin Millar, Kevin Bean, Erin Bean, and Lindon Berkley Bean. Along with 2 step grandchildren: David Thompson (Alicia) and Kayla Bean. As well as 2 great-grandchildren, Jaxon Goddard, Carsyn Tippett. Also, 2 step-great grandchildren: Remingtyn Slaughter and Ryder Thompson. He is also survived by his brother Michael Millar and many loving nieces and nephews. He embraced his brothers and sisters in Alaw with all his love.



Russell graduated in 1965 from Lack High School in Indian Head, Md. In 1967 he graduated from Charles County Community College and then attended Towson University in Baltimore. He went on to pursue a career with Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company in La Plata as a Service Technician.



In 1977 he was President of the Optimist Club of La Plata and loved to be the Santa helper each Christmas. In 1979 he moved his family from Charles County to St. Mary's County and remained there where he became very active in community service. He was a Life Member of the Optimist Club of Hollywood and held the Office of President and Chairman of the Bay Country Boat show for many years. He was a member of the Hollywood Moose Club and he was also a member of the Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization (formerly MSSA). He helped create the ROMEO Club (Retired Old Men Eating Out!) and really enjoyed the socializing portion of all meals.



Fishing was his passion and didn't miss any chance he could get to be out on the water; either by himself or with friends. Linda had to ask him to leave her a note on where he was going to be fishing so she would at least know which river to look in if he didn't come home! He passed his love of fishing and being on the water to his children and grandchildren and loved to take them out in "Granddaddy's Boat". His fishing rod and reel collection is the cause of much amusement among his family and friends. His only regret was that his declining health prohibited him from pursuing his passion in the last few years.



Russell was a loving and caring man who adored his family and loved to throw a big party for all the extended family and friends that he knew. The parties often had 75 or more people wandering around the house and yard! Cooking crabs and roasting a pig were often included on his menu for the day. You didn't want to get behind him in a buffet line because it was often said that he didn't eat to live but he lived to eat!

On many vacation trips he loved to rent a Harley in whatever State he happened to be visiting and just ride to nowhere for the day.



He will be greatly missed but we are sure he has joined old friends at a heavenly river full of his favorite Rock Fish. We take comfort in his new peace and tranquility.



A small visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at the Mattingly Gardiner Funeral Home in Leonardtown from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM where a Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM in the Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Catherine Gibson officiating. Interment will be at Old Durham Christ Church Cemetery in Nanjemoy, MD at 12:00 noon the same day. Honorary pallbearers are Robert Millar, Scottie Bean, Ryan Tippett, Collin Millar, Jaxon Goddard and Kevin Bean.Any one wishing to make a donation in his name can do so the Hospice of St. Mary's., P.O. Box 625 Leonardtown, MD 20650.
The Council of the European Union has not yet approved the final list of the countries to be permitted to visit Europe when the borders reopen from July 1, the European Commission spokesperson Adalbert Jahnz told a briefing.

According to him, the discussion is still ongoing, but so far they have nothing more to add.

If the list cannot be agreed, the EU Council will have to decide what to do next, he noted.

Draft list

According to a TASS diplomatic source in Brussels, the number of countries on this list has reached 15.

The latest list that may be adopted includes Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Rwanda, Serbia, Montenegro, Georgia, and Uruguay.

The sides cannot agree on whether to remove China or not.

According to the source, some states are afraid that the borders reopening with China, and the refusal to reopen the borders with the US may lead to increased tensions between Brussels and Washington.

Reopening criteria

Adalbert Jahnz noted three sets of criteria have been developed that are being taken into account in order to include the countries in the list.

The first set of criteria is based on the general epidemiological situation in each country, the second comes to the ability of each country to apply measures to contain the pandemic during trips, the third set is about the availability of bilateral agreements between the EU and these countries on mutual anti-epidemiological measures, which should be mirror-based.
Deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia Edmon Marukyan has posted the following on his Facebook page:

Dear citizens, colleagues, I would like to inform that on June 22, I addressed a letter to the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia to restore one mandate of the Bright Armenia faction of the National Assembly of Armenia.

Our faction submitted legal justifications stating that the Electoral Code of Armenia requires the presence of no less than 1/3 of the opposition in parliament, and the analysis of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly shows that only one entity can be deemed to be opposition, and that is a faction.

The Bright Armenia faction will provide further information about the upcoming session of the Central Electoral Commission and the procedures for consideration of the application.

The Bright Armenia faction had received 18 mandates, but deputy of the National Assembly Arman Babajanyan left the faction.
In a decision dated June 29, 2020, Ontario Superior Court Justice Michael Emery announced that he has ruled in favour of a motion brought forth by a group of Ontario Standardbred breeders against the Province of Ontario in regard to the cancellation of the Slots at Racetracks Program (SARP).

It is important to note that in his Judgment, Justice Emery ruled that since the Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) did not have a contractual relationship with respect to SARP, and as the CLPA (Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, 2019) applies to OLG as an agent of the Crown, the claims of the plaintiffs as against OLG in contract and in tort have been dismissed.

Justice Emery's Judgment also includes an order that directs a trial on damages.

Justice Emery's 10 Reasons for Judgment are listed below, followed by a PDF document of the complete ruling.

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

Emery J.

The several plaintiffs breed standardbred horses to maintain the supply of horses to race at 14 of the 17 race tracks in Ontario where standardbred horses race. In this action, the plaintiffs advance the case that higher purses awarded to horses that achieve success at those racetracks enhance the value of the horses they are breeding. In their eyes, the profitability, if not the viability of their business to breed horses from conception to starting gate is determined by the law of economics.

The defendant Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario (Ontario) is the provincial government that continues to govern all citizens in Ontario within its provincial jurisdiction, regardless of what party or group of persons hold office at any given time. Ontario acts through its legislative or executive branches, and by corporations incorporated or created by statute to carry out the will of the government.

The defendant Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is a Crown corporation. OLG is incorporated and governed by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act (the OLG Act). Pursuant to s. 2(3) of the OLG Act, OLG is for all purposes an agent of the Ontario, and its powers may be exercised only as an agent of the Crown.

Like other provinces, Ontario has increased its presence in operating gaming activities at racetracks and casinos over the years. Since 1996, Ontario has recognized that consumers who congregate at racetracks to bet on horse racing would likely be willing consumers to play slot machines (otherwise referred to as slots). In a minute passed by Cabinet in1998, Ontario introduced the Slots at Racetrack Program (SARP) to incentivise racetracks to permit slots on their premises by sharing revenues from those slots.

The creation of SARP followed in the wake of negotiations between Ontario, horsepeople and associations representing parts of the horseracing industry. Ontario and industry associations signed a Letter of Intent dated June 25, 1998 (the LOI) to set out the terms for SARP and how it would work. OLG entered siteholder agreements with individual racetracks under the infrastructure established by the LOI for its implementation.

SARP continued operating at Ontario racetracks and net profits from slots were distributed under the siteholder agreements without much fanfare until the winter of 2011/2012. On February 8, 2012, Cabinet directed OLG to give notice to terminate all siteholder agreements with racetracks, effectively ending SARP as of March 31, 2013.

The plaintiffs as the breeders of standardbred horses do not contest the right of Ontario or OLG to terminate SARP through the non-renewal or cancellation of siteholder agreements. However, the plaintiffs claim that Ontario and OLG gave them insufficient notice of that cancellation because of their rolling investment to breed horses. They claim their level of investment was reliant on representations made by Ontario and OLG that SARP would continue over the long term for the benefit of the industry and the agricultural sector in Ontario. They say the decision to cancel SARP has caused them substantial damages because their economic expectations were calibrated on a five year breeding cycle for standardbred horses.

The plaintiffs commenced this action on various causes of action that have been distilled down to breach of contract, negligence and negligent misrepresentation. Ontario and OLG have brought motions for summary judgment to dismiss the action in its entirety. The plaintiffs have brought a cross-motion seeking summary judgment for a finding of liability on one or more of those causes of action, and for directions on the assessment of damages.

For the reasons that follow, the plaintiffs motion for summary judgment is granted against Ontario for breach of contract. All claims made on other causes of action pleaded as against Ontario are dismissed as the plaintiffs are unable to continue those claims at law under the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, 2019 (the CLPA) that was proclaimed in force on July 1, 2019.
The task force set up by Prosperous Armenia Party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun political party and Homeland Party has issued the following statement:

Tomorrow, on June 30, Prosperous Armenia Party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun political party and Homeland Party will report a crime to the Prosecutor Generals Office of Armenia, with the demand to institute a criminal case in regard to facts of particularly grave offenses committed by against legislators and other top officials.

On June 30 at 10 a.m. the authorized representatives of the political parties will deliver the joint report of the three political parties on a crime to the Prosecutor Generals Office of Armenia by hand.

The political parties invite media representatives to come to the entrance of the Prosecutor Generals Office at the same hour in order to receive details about the facts and legal justifications underlying the report on the crime.
Analyst Argishti Kiviryan has posted the following on his Facebook page:

Globally speaking, today, a government that is hiding itself behind power structures is speaking on behalf of the Armenian people. The people dont support the government and stand alone. If the government had the peoples support, it wouldnt avoid solving the issue of the Constitutional Court through a referendum, regardless of the fact that that referendum was also unlawful. The government canceled the referendum and chose the option to solve the issue through the National Assembly since it knows how much the people hate this government which has left them hungry and deprived them of their rights. Any government official who goes out to the street will see the peoples hatred. This government has turned into a gang that hates its own people. It can neither go forward nor back, and it is still taking advantage of the fact that no opposition party is taking drastic measures against them, the same drastic measures that the current government took to seize power
Woodbine Mohawk Parks race office would like to inform horsepeople that the sign-up to train this Wednesday (July 1) at Mohawk Park will open at 3 p.m. today (Monday, June 29).

Training at Woodbine Mohawk Park will only be available on Wednesday this week from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Training hours will be allotted by signing up on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign-ups will start at 3:00 p.m.

Trainers are limited to no more than 10 horses per day. A limit of 50 horses are permitted in the paddock during a training time slot. Training time slots will be in 2.5-hour increments (6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 9:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.).

All paddock COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place for training hours, including the requirement to have all personnel wearing a face mask. Only trainers and essential licensed personnel over the age of 16 will be permitted through the security check point.

The link to sign-up for training is available here.

Please contact Dylan Allain with any questions at [email protected].

(Woodbine Mohawk Park)
Through complex and effective operational intelligence measures, officers of the National Security Service of Armenia in Shirak Province have obtained prima facie factual data according to which N.P., a representative of the Inquest and Operational Intelligence Department of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia in Shirak Province, being obliged to oversee taxpayers in accordance with the Armenian legislation on tax service, failed to perform his official duties, failed to take measures to eliminate the detected violations and did not apply liability measures against entities involved in illegal entrepreneurial activities, and received AMD 20,000-100,000 a month as bribes from the aforementioned entities.

The National Security Services Investigation Department has instituted a criminal case within the scope of which N. P. has been detained on suspicion.

On June 28, 2020, eight citizens were engaged as suspects on suspicion of giving a bribe to an official and being involved in illegal entrepreneurial activities (two of them were detained, and signature to not leave the country was selected as a pre-trial measure for the other six citizens).

Necessary investigative and other procedural actions are being taken to specify the real amount of damage caused to the state as a result of being involved in illegal entrepreneurial activities, to reveal other crimes committed by N. P., to establish the whole scope of persons involved in the corruption mechanism and to give an adequate criminal-legal evaluation of their act.

The National Security Service urges economic entities to carry out their activities by law and refrain from being involved in corruption.
23:29

China's ruling Communist Party headed by President Xi Jinping held a meeting of the powerful Politburo on Monday during which the top leaders reviewed the regulations on party building in the military and the election of primary-level organisations, the official media reported.

While there was no mention about any discussions about the tensions at the Line of Actual Control between India and China at the Politburo meeting chaired by Xi, Xinhua news agency reported that the meeting was held to review two sets of regulations on party building in the military and the election of primary-level party organisations.

Since he took over the leadership, 67-year-old Xi, who heads the CPC, the Central Military Commission -- the overall high command of the two million-strong People's Liberation Army -- and the Presidency with prospects of life long tenure in power, carried out widespread reforms of the military with special emphasis that it should function under party's leadership.

Party leadership and party building are crucial to the development of the people's armed forces, and bear on the cause of strengthening the military and the long-term stability of the ruling party and the country, according to the meeting, Xinhua reported.

Formulating the regulations on party building in the military is of great significance to ensuring the absolute leadership of the CPC over the military and ensuring the effective fulfilment of the military's missions and tasks in the new era, the meeting noted.

The meeting stressed unswervingly to uphold the absolute leadership of the CPC over the military and focusing on enhancing combat capabilities.

To formulate and implement the regulations on primary-level party organisation elections is in line with the requirement for the party to exercise effective self-supervision and practice strict self-governance in every respect, it said.

It is also of great significance to consolidating the organisational foundation for the party's long-term governance, according to the meeting.

Monday's meeting was the first held by the 25-member Politburo of the CPC since the current tense standoff between the armies of China and India along the Line of Actual Control. -- PTI
Filipino lawyer surprised by Wirecard link

Lawyer Mark Tolentino alleged he is a victim of identity theft after Wirecard disclosed that US$2.1 billion of cash supposed to be in bank accounts in the Philippines probably didn't exist. File photo: Reuters

A Filipino lawyer embroiled in a multi-billion dollar fraud at Wirecard, Mark Tolentino, has said that he was surprised to be linked to the German payments firm and that he was the "victim of a frame-up".



Wirecard went bankrupt earlier this week after disclosing that US$2.1 billion of cash supposed to be in bank accounts in the Philippines probably didn't exist.



The revelation led to the arrest of its former chief executive and has triggered probes in Germany, Brussels and the Philippines as investigators try to determine what happened.



Tolentino said he opened six bank accounts for a Singapore-based firm but did not know until the scandal broke that they were for Wirecard. He said the accounts never had more than a few hundred euros in them.



"It seemed that all fingers were pointing to me to be the thief and manipulator of the missing money," he said. "I want to clear my name."



"I am a victim of identity theft and fake news and frame up," Tolentino added.



He declined to provide documents or other evidence to show how he had been duped.



Tolentino, 39, has not been charged with any crime. Philippines Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that Tolentino would be questioned on Monday as part of its investigation.



"He's the first to be invited to shed light on the matter," Guevarra said.



The Philippine government has not said what its probe will focus on.



Wirecard declined to comment.



Tolentino said he opened six euro bank accounts in the name of his law firm, MKT Law, at the Bank of the Philippines Islands (BPI) and Banco de Oro Unibank (BDO) on behalf of Citadelle Corporate.



Singapore company records show Citadelle Corporate is a business administration company based in Singapore.



A Citadelle employee declined to comment by phone and an email address on the company's website was not active.



Tolentino spent ten months in President Rodrigo Dutertes administration as an assistant secretary at the transport ministry before being sacked in 2018 for discussing a government project with the president's sister.



Since leaving government, he has returned to legal practice and also teaches business law at a local university. He described himself as an experienced litigation and trial attorney on his Facebook page. (Reuters)
Fighting erupts after KMT occupies Taiwan parliament

Fighting erupts after KMT occupies Taiwan parliament

Fighting broke out in Taiwan's parliament on Monday as lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) broke through barricades erected by the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) who had occupied it to protest against government "tyranny".



More than 20 KMT lawmakers had occupied the legislature on Sunday night, blocking entry to the main chamber with chains and chairs, saying the government was trying to force through legislation and demanding the president withdraw the nomination of a close aide to a high-level watchdog.



Late on Monday morning, DPP lawmakers pulled down the barricades and forced their way in, surrounding the main podium where their KMT opposite numbers had holed up.



There were scuffles and shouting as the KMT, including its youthful new chairman Johnny Chiang, struggled to hold their position. Chiang eventually left the podium, appearing to be pulled out a side door.



The KMT, trounced in January's parliamentary and presidential elections, began its protest in parliament late on Sunday.



It said it was protesting against the DPP and President Tsai Ing-wen's forcing though of bills and Tsai's nomination of her senior aide Chen Chu to head the Control Yuan, a government watchdog.



"This year, the Tsai administration has become more tyrannical than before," the KMT said in a statement. "Tsai's obstinacy had left the KMT with no alternative but to occupy the Legislative Yuan for a parliamentary boycott."



The DPP has a large parliamentary majority.



Both the DPP and the presidential office condemned the action, with the DPP saying the KMT was orchestrating a "farce".



"This is simply trampling on the respect of their own members of parliament," the DPP said. (Reuters)
Pandemic sets stage for 'The Terminal' at HK airport

Authorities say several passengers are stuck inside Hong Kong airport due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. Image: Shutterstock

Timmy Sung reports

In what seems to be eerily similar to a well known Hollywood movie, Hong Kong airport officials have revealed that several passengers have been stuck in the restricted zone at Chek Lap Kok  one of them for over three months  after pandemic travel restrictions left them in limbo.



The issue of such passengers had made headlines recently after a passenger who arrived from Dubai and had stayed at the airport for several days showed symptoms of Covid-19, leading to hospitalisation.



The passenger was among a group who wanted to fly to the mainland, but were left in limbo as the mainland doesnt accept any transit passengers via the SAR at the moment. The rest of the group were then shifted to a quarantine centre.



Questions were raised about why the airport authorities took so many days to notify health officials about this group, especially given the pandemic situation.



But airport officials now say there are more passengers who have been living in the airport, and a quarantine area has been created for them in the restricted zone.



One of the them had arrived at Chek Lap Kok on a Cathay Pacific flight from Canada, all the way back in March.



The passenger was hoping to fly on to Vietnam, but the country had closed its borders.



The Vietnamese passenger is said to be refusing to leave the airport and wants to catch the first flight that sets off to the country.



The airport authority also said it was notified about a passenger who arrived on a British Airways flight earlier this month, intending to go to the mainland.



She isn't allowed to, but has turned down an offer from BA to return to the UK and is still at Chek Lap Kok.



Authorities said the airline failed to comply with regulations when they flew her here. They also said the passenger is chronically ill, but refusing offers of medical help.



The Centre for Health Protection said it has worked with the Airport Authority to establish procedures to deal with stranded passengers.



Officials said they have collected saliva samples from six of them for Covid-19 tests. All the results came back negative.



A hit Hollywood movie that came out in 2004, The Terminal, tells the tale of an eastern European who becomes stuck in a New York airport for months before finally flying home.
Company releases second annual ESG report and highlights response to recent global crises

DENVER -- (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Western Union (NYSE: WU), a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, today released its second annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, which spotlights the Companys 2019 ESG progress. The report also highlights Western Unions response and ongoing initiatives surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and social justice movements across the globe in early 2020.

Today, against the backdrop of COVID-19 and global protests against social injustice, businesss role in building a more united future has never seemed more relevant  or more urgent. Serving our stakeholders in todays world takes determination and innovation. It demands that we build unity through ingenuity to create new, lasting solutions for people, businesses, and societies, said Hikmet Ersek, President and CEO, Western Union. This report provides an update on Western Unions ESG efforts, and how we are addressing some of the most pressing global issues facing society, our shared environment, and our Company.

The report highlights six key areas where Western Union is making an impact globally:

Connecting people and businesses to the global economy: Our services connect people and businesses pursuing global opportunities  for example, individuals looking to better the lives of their families, and businesses looking for new partners, customers, and markets. The transactions we process build bridges across economies, geographies, and cultures.

In response to COVID-19, Western Union doubled down on its commitment to serve customers with a range of new offerings and resources including piloting home delivery of money transfers, introducing digital location concierge services to offer personalized phone or video support to help customers make digital money transfers, expanding westernunion.com to five additional countries bringing the total to more than 75, and expanding real-time account and wallet payout to 50 countries.

Fostering an engaging and inclusive workplace: Western Union works to build and support a workforce that reflects the global diversity of the 150 million customers we serve in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. It starts at the most senior levels of our business and manifests itself throughout our Board of Directors and our global workforce. We are actively engaging in open and honest dialogue with our employees and we are committed to playing a role in the fight for positive change globally. 2019 highlights include:

Reaching gender parity with our customers and employees: approximately half of our customers and half of our global workforce are women. Our executive team in 2019 was comprised of 40% women and includes leaders born in 10 different countries who have wide-ranging global leadership experience.

Moving money with integrity: We are committed to using the right combination of people and technology to protect our customers and partners, keep illicit activity out of our network, and ensure we conduct our business with integrity.

In 2019, we prevented $1.1 billion in fraudulent transactions. Overall industry data suggests a growing rate of fraudulent activity. Western Unions fraud levels, however, are trending downward. Our Financial Intelligence Unit continues to partner with law enforcement and nonprofit entities to better target and disrupt human trafficking financial flows. This team has conducted approximately 1,800 human trafficking investigations since 2013, resulting in hundreds of arrests and the rescue of hundreds of victims.

Governing and managing for success: Western Unions governance structures and practices provide oversight and guidance around critical issues, including ethics, board diversity, executive compensation, fair competition, data privacy, and cybersecurity, and board diversity. 2019 highlights include:

Our Board is comprised of a wide range of nationalities from around the world. Three of our 11 Board members were women.

Safeguarding our shared environment: We are committed to acting responsibly to respect the environment and minimize our footprint.

25% of building materials, by value, are made of recycled materials at our global headquarters. We have equipped our major offices with state-of-the-art video conferencing technology, which reduced the need for air travel between locations, even prior to COVID-19.

Catalyzing change through the Western Union Foundation: The Western Union Foundation works to provide vulnerable youth with the skills needed to succeed in todays global digital economy, and to support people across the globe through humanitarian relief.

In 2019, the Western Union Foundation launched Opportunity Beyond Borders, a three-year and $15-million commitment to provide vulnerable youth with the skills and training needed to succeed in todays global digital economy. As the impact of COVID-19 spread across the globe, Western Union and the Western Union Foundation announced a global matching challenge , with a total commitment of $1.3 million in customer, corporate, employee, and agent donations towards the global fight against the virus.

The Western Union 2019 ESG Report is available at: http://ir.westernunion.com/investor-relations/ESG/default.aspx. It is prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, and also includes responses to select relevant metrics from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Standards.

WU-G

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments. Our omnichannel platform connects the digital and physical worlds and makes it possible for consumers and businesses to send and receive money and make payments with speed, ease, and reliability. As of March 31, 2020, our network included over 550,000 retail agent locations offering our branded services in more than 200 countries and territories, with the capability to send money to billions of accounts. Additionally, westernunion.com, our fastest growing channel in 2019, is available in over 75 countries, plus additional territories, to move money around the world. With our global reach, Western Union moves money for better, connecting family, friends, and businesses to enable financial inclusion and support economic growth. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200625005415/en/

CONTACT:

Western Union Contacts

Investor Relations:

Brendan Metrano; Brendan.metrano@wu.com

+1(720) 332-8089

Media Relations:

Western Union Global Communications

Rachel Rogala; Rachel.Rogala@wu.com

+ 1 (303) 808-2674

Pia De Lima; Pia.DeLima@wu.com

+1 (954) 260-5732

Western Union Americas

Margaret Fogarty; Margaret.Fogarty@wu.com

Western Union Middle East & Africa

Mohamed El Khalouki; Mohamed.ElKhalouki@wu.com

Western Union Asia-Pacific

Karen Santos; Karen.Santos2@wu.com
Mazda Commemorates Centennial with the Best-Selling Two-Seat Sports Car in the World

- Available in both RF and exclusive red soft top, this commemorative Miata will share Grand Touring trim level features

- 100th Anniversary Special Edition Mazda MX-5 Miata has a starting MSRP(1) of $32,670 and will be arriving in dealerships later this year

IRVINE, Calif., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations announced today that the 100th Anniversary Special Edition Mazda MX-5 Miata will be offered in limited numbers for the U.S. later this year. The iconic roadster is a symbol of dynamic, top-down driving on thrilling open roads, making it the perfect vehicle to honor the brand's 100-year milestone.

100th Anniversary Mazda MX-5 Miata Arriving To The U.S.

The 100th Anniversary Special Edition MX-5 Maita is available in either the RF (retractable fastback) or exclusive red soft top. It will be offered in Snowflake White Pearl Mica premium exterior paint and accented by red styling features throughout. The front fender has a minimalist "100 Years 1920  2020" badge while the wheel center caps feature the 100th Anniversary Special Logo in red and black. The red leather seats and red carpet add a level of sophistication while giving a nod to the two-tone R360 Coupe, Mazda's first passenger car. The headrests are embossed with the 100th Anniversary Special Logo, while the red floor mats share the same badge as the front fender. To bring the package together, the key fob is embossed with the 100th Anniversary Special Logo and presented in a special edition box.

This commemorative Miata is based upon the 2020 MX-5 Grand Touring. It is equipped with a four-cylinder Skyactiv-G 2.0 engine capable of delivering up to 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque and can be paired with a Skyactiv-MT six-speed manual transmission or a quick-shifting Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Manual transmission versions will include a limited-slip differential, Bilstein dampers, front shock tower brace, sport-tuned suspension and, for the RF, a black roof. Other convenient features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated leather seats, Bose audio system that include driver and passenger headrest speakers, automatic climate control and 17-inch dark silver aluminum alloy wheels.

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The 100th Anniversary MX-5 Miata will be arriving later this year, please visit MazdaUSA.com for more information and to sign up for updates.

In addition to this special vehicle, the Mazda Collection is introducing 100th Anniversary Special Edition items to express the years of appreciation and to commemorate the brand's centennial. The new items include a cast metal keychain medallion, made in Japan ceramic mugs featuring either the Cosmo Sport or RX-Vision, and model cars in 1/43 scale that feature heritage and concept Mazda vehicles. Available in early July, is the "Mazda One Hundred" coffee table book, with a curated selection of images that honor the past, present and the future of Mazda. The book is a visual journey through Mazda's origins, its passion for motorsport, its award-winning design language and pioneering cars  all the time emphasizing the manufacturer's challenger spirit, and commitment to the joy of driving.

MSRP2 FOR THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY MX-5 MIATA IS AS FOLLOWS:



Soft Top RF 100th Anniversary MX-5 6-Speed MT $32,670 $35,425 100th Anniversary MX-5 6-Speed AT $33,195 $35,750

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through approximately 620 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

Follow MNAO's social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.

1 MSRP does not include $945 for destination and handling ($990 in Alaska), taxes, title or additional fees. Dealers set actual sale prices.

2 MSRP does not include $945 for destination and handling ($990 in Alaska), taxes, title or additional fees. Dealers set actual sale prices.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com. (PRNewsFoto/Mazda North American Operations) (PRNewsfoto/MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS)

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/100th-anniversary-mazda-mx-5-miata-arriving-to-the-us-301084630.html

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations
A toddler and a 10-year-old girl were among 14 people shot to death in Chicago in yet another weekend of gun violence that has rocked the city over the past month.

Between Friday and Sunday morning, a total of 52 people were shot in Chicago, according to police department records.

"As a mother, I am tired of the funerals. I am tired of burying our children," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot tweeted, adding that the city was in the throes of a "gun violence epidemic."

The latest carnage in the Windy City comes just a week after more than 100 people were shot, 14 fatally over the Father's Day weekend.

The string of violent weekends also follows the deadliest day for shootings in Chicago in decades. On May 31, the police investigated 18 homicides, the most the city has seen in a single day in 60 years.

On Saturday, a 22-year-old woman was driving with her 20-month-old son in the neighborhood of Englewood on Chicago's South Side when just after 2 p.m. a car pulled up beside them and an occupant opened fire, according to a police incident report. The mother was grazed in the head by a bullet while her son was shot in the chest and later died at a hospital, police said. No arrests had been made as of Sunday.

MORE: 'Nothing short of alarming': Despite stay-at-home orders, 49 people shot in Chicago in Memorial Day gun violence

The shooting came one week after 3-year-old Mekhi James was shot to death in the east Chicago neighborhood of Austin when someone pulled up alongside the car his 27-year-old stepfather was driving and opened fire, hitting the child in the back, police said.

"Everywhere you go, it is violence everywhere. You can't run from it," Mekhi's aunt, Christal Allen, told Chicago ABC station WLS.

"We do want justice, but it ain't gonna bring him back," said the boy's mother, Myesha James.

At about 9:40 p.m. this Saturday, a 10-year-old girl was hit in the head by a stray bullet that entered her apartment in the northeast Chicago neighborhood of Logan Square, police said. The girl, whose name was not released by police, was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. No arrest have been made in the incident.

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About two hours later, at 11:18 p.m., an 8-year-old girl who was sitting on a couch inside a residence in Englewood was injured when a stray bullet came through her window and gazed her head, police said. The girl was taken to Comer Childrens Hospital, where she was in fair condition on Sunday, according to police. No arrests have been made in the shooting.

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"It's on all of us to double down on our all-hands-on-deck public safety efforts with police officers, street outreach teams, trauma support workers, community and faith-based partners," Lightfoot said in a tweet posted on Saturday. "We must ask ourselves: 'What are we each doing to make this a season of bounty, not tragedy?'"

PHOTO: Police work at the scene where a person was fatally shot, June 21, 2020, in the 6200 block of North Troy Street in the West Rogers Park neighborhood in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribue/TNS via Newscom)

The shootings this weekend came on the heels of a letter President Donald Trump sent to Lightfoot and Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker on Friday criticizing their leadership on the issue of gun violence in Chicago and offering to help.

MORE: Chicago sees 18 homicides in deadliest day in 60 years

"While I have been heartened to see crime reductions nationally the last few years, I have been horrified by the continued violence in this great American city," Trump wrote.

"Your lack of leadership on this important issue continues to fail the people you have sworn to protect," Trump continued. "I am concerned it is another example of your lack of commitment to the vulnerable citizens who are victims of this violence and a lack of respect for the men and women in law enforcement."

Responding in series of tweets, Lightfoot said, "I dont need leadership lessons from Donald Trump." She went on to write that the president is "using the victims of gun violence in our city to score cheap political points, spew racist rhetoric, and ignore the impact of COVID across this country ... It is despicable, disgusting and all too typical."

Jordan Abudayyeh, Pretzker's press secretary, added in a tweet that Trump "is a failure who has once again resorted to a press stunt in an attempt to distract from his long list of failures, especially his response to the deadly coronavirus and nationwide calls for racial justice."

"The people of this state and this nation have unfortunately come to expect his unhinged attempts to politicize tragedy with his predictable and worn out strategy to distract, distract, distract," Abudayyeh tweeted. "The Governor stands with the Mayor in working to accomplish meaningful change."

MORE: Violent Chicago weekend leaves 10 dead, at least 52 wounded

Meanwhile, loved ones and friends of 20-year-old DePaul University student Gary Tinder, who was shot to death on June 21, gathered on Saturday for a vigil and to announce a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction Tinder's killer. Tinder was slain as he walked home from a Starbucks where he worked in the north part of Chicago.

"How much he was loved," Tinder's mother, Jane Tinder, said. "He was wonderful, funny, intelligent and [had] so much promise. It's senseless."

20-month-old boy, 10-year-old girl among 14 people fatally shot over weekend in Chicago: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The coronavirus is spreading rapidly and it appears to be far from peaking. The spike late last week sent jitters across Wall Street as investors pulled out cash and some also went back to gold.

With the markets mostly in the red, there were however a few stocks that went the other way. In this article, Ive picked 5 and tried to dig into why they did.

Lets take a look-

Etsy, Inc. ETSY

Etsy operates online market places Etsy.com and Reverb.com for buyers and sellers primarily in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, France and Germany. Other than approximately 66 million items in its various retail categories, it offers various seller services, including Etsy Payments, a payment processing service; Etsy Ads, an advertising platform; and Etsy Shipping Labels, which allows sellers to purchase discounted shipping labels. It also offers various seller tools.

The company did see some pressure as the pandemic hit in the March quarter, but sales are growing strongly thereafter, propped up, according to management, by the strength in face mask sales (Etsy sold more than 12 million face masks worth $133 million in April).

A few days back, a Goldman Sachs analyst raised his price target from $88 to $120. Going by download trends of Etsys app, the analyst felt that the pandemic had created significant opportunity to capitalize on the surge in e-commerce adoption as traditional retail remains less attractive to consumers.

An RBC Capital Markets analyst also raised his price target last week from $79 to $117 as he thinks the stocks recent rally is justified by sustainably healthy growth and profitability levels.

Estimates dropped after the company last reported to 45 cents, but have since jumped to $1.05 due to the increased optimism. The surprise history was impacted by the bad miss in the March quarter that is unlikely to repeat on account of the positives outlined above.

The shares carry a Zacks Rank #2.

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The Automotive  Internet-Services industry, of which its a part, is in the top 30% of 250+ Zacks-classified industries. Historically, the top half (comprising industries with the best average Zacks Ranks) beats the bottom half (industries with the worst average Zacks Ranks) by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Companies in the top half of industries typically have some things going for them and therefore tend to perform better.

eBay Inc. EBAY

eBay operates as an online shopping site that allows visitors to browse through available products listed for sale or auction through each company's online storefront. Over the years, the company has evolved from a relatively small community user-based auction site to a worldwide commercial behemoth store.

The Street mentioned a couple of price target hikes that may have contributed to the jump in share prices.

Deutsche Banks Kunal Madhukar took it from $42 to $57, saying that eBay is not getting credit for the sales it could retain after the pandemic-induced surge levels out. He says that positive buyer experiences, positive impact from its payments business and too-low estimates that dont account for any growth in the back half have led to a weak valuation. So he sees upside potential.

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey took its price target from $50 to $54, saying that the Covid-induced boost to e-commerce was bringing in new customers and reactivating old ones. There was caution in the tone however (the analyst has a hold rating on the shares) because he feels that these customers may not be retained in a more normalized environment.

But since nobody really knows exactly when the pandemic is going away or whether there will be a second wave, the company does look to enjoy this advantage for quite some time. And by then, who knows, customers may not be that eager to move away.

For now, we can take heart from the 2020 Zacks Consensus Estimate, which jumped from $3.02 to $3.45 in the last 90 days, while the estimate for 2021 went from $3.34 to $3.76.

The shares have a Zacks Rank #2 and are part of the Internet-Commerce industry, which is in the top 30% of more than 250 Zacks-classified industries.

Group 1 Automotive, Inc. GPI

Group 1 Automotive is a leading automotive retailer. As of February 5, 2020, the company owned and operated 186 automotive dealerships, 242 franchises, and 49 collision centers offering 31 automobile brands across 15 U.S. states, 33 UK towns and 3 Brazilian states. Through these dealerships, it sells new and used vehicles and related services like maintenance and repair, replacement and aftermarket services, vehicle financing and insurance.

Last week, the company provided a business update for the second quarter, in which it said that results would be better than hoped.

The companys U.S. operations opened up in early May with revenue increasing faster than cost. Its UK sales operations didnt open up until June and dealership services werent operational until May 18th, but there was dramatic strength thereafter in used vehicles and services. Brazil remained an underperformer with the virus yet to peak. So its basically the U.S. market that will support substantial profitability in the ongoing quarter, which will be marred by some one-time charges.

Analysts were quick to cut estimates as the pandemic hit, but there have been no estimate cuts in the last 30 days. On the other hand, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2021 has edged up 1.1% in the last 7 days.

The company has a solid earnings surprise history, having topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters at an average rate of 20.4%. In the March quarter, results came in 58.1% better than expected.

The shares carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and Value Score A. It operates in the Automotive - Retail and Whole Sales industry, which is in the top 23% of 250+ Zacks-classified industries.

Pure Storage, Inc. PSTG

Pure Storage provides storage-as-a-service in a multicloud world. Its software-defined all-flash solutions are uniquely fast and cloud-capable for customers. Its primary offerings are FlashArray and FlashBlade products, which include Purity Operating Environment (Purity OE) software, Pure1 cloud-based software, and FlashStack, the companys joint converged infrastructure solution with Cisco CSCO.

Last week, the company reported that both its FlashArray and FlashBlade solutions received top-rated awards by TrustRadius based directly on feedback from its customers which is an essential metric and testament to the value customers attribute to the adoption of these technologies, in the words of Megan Headley, VP of Research at TrustRadius.

The company is a leader in the 2019 Gartner Magic Quadrant for primary storage.

After dropping to a loss of 6 cents 60 days ago, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the companys 2020 EPS has now gone to a profit of 24 cents. Its 2021 EPS estimate has also jumped from 21 cents 60 days ago to 37 cents.

The shares carry a Zacks Rank #2 and belong to the attractive Computer- Storage Devices industry, which is in the top 38% of 250+ Zacks-classified industries.

Nutanix Inc. NTNX

Nutanix Inc. provides an enterprise cloud operating system that combines server, storage, virtualization and networking software into one integrated solution. Nutanixs solution can be delivered either as an appliance that is configured to order or as software-only. The company currently offers two software product families  Acropolis and Prism.

Being a cloud enabler, the company is one of the beneficiaries of the work from home trend. Based on everything we are hearing from employers and governments, this trend is here to stay. So it isnt surprising to see its shares buoyant.

Last week, there was also a bit of good news about Christian Goffi, who is bringing 25+ years of experience as Juniper Networks JNPR Channel Leader to the position of Vice President, Americas Channel Sales at Nutanix. The company has a strong product line and a sales boost is what it really needs to get in the black.

Its loss per share estimate for 2020 went up slightly from $2.93 60 days ago but then dropped to $2.67 30 days ago. It remains unchanged in the last 7 days.

The shares carry a Zacks Rank #2.

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Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Juniper Networks, Inc. (JNPR) : Free Stock Analysis Report



eBay Inc. (EBAY) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (GPI) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Etsy, Inc. (ETSY) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Pure Storage, Inc. (PSTG) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Nutanix Inc. (NTNX) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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MG (Morris Garages) Motor India announced that it has signed up 6 more start-ups for its ongoing MG Developer Program & Grant. The 6 finalists include Highway Delite, Socialcore, InCabEx, CamCom, ClearQuote, and the Alexa-based project Meeseeks. The start-ups will receive a grant and mentoring from technology experts and may get an opportunity to work directly with specialized MG teams on selected projects.

Demonstrating its firm focus on encouraging innovation within the start-up community, MG Motor India has already supported over 60 start-ups since 2017 to drive innovation in the automobile space of India. Such start-ups are working in the fields of engine & emissions, technology, child in-car safety, navigation, connectivity, and electric vehicles ecosystem alongside others. The overall objective of the program is to support the local start-up community by creating a specialized grant. The brand intends to indigenously foster innovation and contribute towards the development of the start-up ecosystem in India, thereby holistically contributing to the society.

The MG Developer Program & Grant is a part of the carmakers focus on innovation as a core pillar of the organization. Launched in partnership with several tech giants including Adobe, Cognizant, SAP, Airtel, TomTom, Unlimit, and others, the program aims to nurture ground-breaking solutions within the Indian urban mobility space.

Rajeev Chaba, President & MD, MG Motor India said, MG thrives on innovation and has developed a symbiotic relationship with the Indian start-up ecosystem. Our goal is to indigenously develop a comprehensive, sustainable, and smart infrastructure for urban mobility in our country. The MG Developer Program has received an overwhelming response and we welcome all teams who have been signed as a part of the initiative. We look forward to mentoring and closely working with them. MG will also explore synergies with these start-ups and may deploy their solutions in its upcoming vehicles.

The program had received over 300 entries, out of which, 60 teams were shortlisted in the first round. These teams were provided mentorship by 25 industry experts including MG Indias leadership as well as its technology ecosystem partners, making it one of the largest mentoring programs in the automotive segment.

Amongst the selected candidates, Highway Delite is Indias first free travel app to make highway travel and road trips both safe and fun. Meeseeks leverages Alexa/MGs Voice Assistant to digitally manage and improve customers service experience.

Socialcore uses Artificial Intelligence to enhance customer interactions with sales improvement and cost reduction, while InCabEx creates a better in-cabin experience by personalizing car profiles as per users preferences.

CamCom is an AI-based start-up that provides defect and damage assessment while ClearQuote generates repair estimates via images/videos of a damaged car.

The 6 start-ups will be joining the already signed companies including Voxomos, Driftly, and Innvolution under the MG Developer Program & Grant.

MGs journey with start-ups started back in 2017 with its first MG Innovation Hunt that was launched in partnership with TiE Delhi. Since then, MG India has conducted a total of 6 start-up programs, in partnership with Indias start-up community and leading educational institutions, all coming together in the MG Developer Program & Grant. The various MG start-up programs have attracted over 750 applications from start-ups and innovators so far in auto tech across India.
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Key Point: German war technology nearly ended Western civilization as we know it.

The forces of Nazi Germany in World War II were some of the most formidable fielded in any war. Backed by German science, engineering and modern mass-production techniques, it was a new type of highly mechanized warfare. Faster paced and deadlier than the armed forces that fought in the Great War just twenty years before, it overwhelmed slower-moving enemies and helped Germany subjugate an entire continent. Here are five examples of German war technology that very nearly ended Western civilization as we know it.

The Panzerkampfwagen VI (Tiger Tank)

The tanks modern reputation as a fast, hard-hitting, deadly war chariot is largely due to the German Armys use of the tank in the early years of World War II. Although first invented by the British in World War I, the Wehrmacht and SS took the tank to its logical conclusion, in doing so swinging the pendulum of war from defense as the dominant form of warfare back to the offense.

Although the bulk of German tank forces was composed of smaller tanks such as the Panzerkampfwagen III and IV, the Panzerkampfwagen VIor Tiger tankwas designed to be the decisive factor on the armored battlefield. At fifty-four tons, it was considerably larger than contemporary tanks, and together with its thick armor and eighty-eight-millimeter main gun, made the Tiger a so-called heavy tank. Introduced in 1942, the Tigers KwK 36 gun could gut any mass-produced Allied tank built during the war, and the tanks thick armored hide could shrug off most Allied antitank rounds.

Tigers were organized into heavy tank battalions and deployed by German Army commanders where they were needed the most. As a result, unlike other German tanks which prioritized protection and mobility over firepower in a general offensive, the Tiger emphasized firepower and protection over mobility, as it typically had specific objectives in mind.

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Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was hands down the most lethal fighter of the Second World War. Designed by legendary aircraft designer Willy Messerschmitt in the mid-1930s, it replaced a grab bag of forgettable interwar German fighters with a fresh design that included a monocoque airframe, retractable landing gear and a closed cockpit.

Early Bf109A models served in the Spanish Civil War. By the late thirties, German rearmament was in full swing and the Me109 became the main fighter of the fledgling Luftwaffe. Fast and maneuverable, it was also hard hitting, featuring two .51-caliber heavy machine guns and one twenty-millimeter cannon.

The Bf109A and the Luftwaffe served all over Europe, North Africa and European Russia, dominating all other air forces until 1943 with the exception of the Royal Air Force. The Bf109 and its wartime variants had the most serial aces of the war, including pilots such as Adolph Galland, Werner Molders and Johannes Steinhoff. Overall, 33,984 Bf109s of all kinds were built by German and Czech factories. Ironically, a variant of the Bf-109, the Czech Avia 199, served with an embryonic Israeli Air Force in the late 1940s.

MG-42 Machine Gun

The crew-served machine gun was a major contributor to the high death rate of World War I, and the interwar German Army, though small, ensured it had highly effective machine guns to help it punch above its weight. The MG-34 machine gun, adopted in 1934, was lightweight, had an extremely high rate of fire of up to 1,200 rounds per minute, and was capable of quick barrel changes on the battlefielda must for an infantry-support machine gun.

Unfortunately, the MG-34 was built made more like a watch than a battlefield weapon, and as a result manufacturer Rheinmetall could not keep up with demand. The MG-42, introduced in 1942, was an attempt to simplify the design into something that could be more easily mass-produced, and ultimately four hundred thousand were produced. The MG-42s high rate of fire proved highly beneficial in defensive battles, particularly strongpoints backed up by mobile reserves on the Eastern Front.

German small arms doctrine held that the MG42not the infantry weaponwas the foundation of infantry firepower. The infantry, armed with slower-firing Karabiner 98k bolt-action rifles, supported the machine gun. By contrast, the U.S. Army placed less emphasis on machine guns, fielding fewer of them than a comparable German unit, while at the same time increasing overall firepower with the semiautomatic M1 Garand and the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle.

The U-Boat

The German Navy (Kriegsmarine) in World War II was not the dominant arm of the German military. There would be no repeat of the German High Seas Fleet. As a result, it had to focus its limited resources on what was most effective its traditional maritime foe, the Royal Navy. While the response to the French Navy was the German Army, fighting the United Kingdom required a naval response.

But without capital ships, how would Germany take the fight to the Atlantic? The answer was the Unterseeboot, or U-boat submarine. U-Boats had been highly successful in World War I, and the Kriegsmarine heavily reinvested in them in World War II. This again proved successful, with U-boats sinking 2,779 Allied ships totaling 14.1 million tons between 1939 and 1945. The most successful U-boat, U-48, sank fifty-one ships. That translated to 306,874 tons of Allied shippingthe equivalent of three modern Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.

Not only did the U-boat campaign force the Allies to slow the flow of troops and war materials across the Atlantic and organize shipping into convoys for protection, it also affected the British civilian population, which suffered chronic shortages of foodstuffs and other goods. Initially powerful, U-boats were eventually nullified by Allied countermeasures and ultimately failed to sever lines of communication between North America and western Europe. Germanys submarine force lost heavily765 U-boats were lost during the course of the Second World War.

Panzerfaust

Germanys use of masses of tanks on the modern battlefield opened Pandoras box. Within a few years Allied forces would be returning the favor and it was suddenly the German Army that was facing large numbers of British, American and Soviet tanks. As the quality of German forces declined and the number of Allied forces went up, the Wehrmacht had a need for a cheap, inexpensive way to saturate the battlefield with tank-killing firepower. The result: the Panzerfaust.

The Panzerfaust was incredibly simple for an effective antitank weapon. A single-shot, recoilless weapon, it featured a large, egg-shaped warhead attached to a disposable metal tube. The primitive trigger ignited the black powder propellant, sending the warhead to an effective range of thirty yards. The shaped charge warhead had an astonishing penetration capability of up to 7.9 inches, making it capable of destroying any Allied tank.

The Panzerfaust made anyoneeven old men and children dragooned into the German Army late in the wara potential tank killer. The introduction of this new short-range, last-ditch weapon made Allied tank crews more cautious around German infantry that did not appear to have strong antitank defenses, such as towed guns. During the Battle for Berlin, some Soviet tankers even welded bed springs to their tanks, in hopes that prematurely detonating the shaped charge warhead would save their tanka tactic the U.S. Army used decades later with so-called slat armor on Stryker armored vehicles.

Kyle Mizokami is a defense and national-security writer based in San Francisco who has appeared in the Diplomat, Foreign Policy, War is Boring and the Daily Beast. In 2009, he cofounded the defense and security blog Japan Security Watch. You can follow him on Twitter: @KyleMizokami. This article first appeared several years ago and is republished here due to reader interest.

Image: Wikimedia Commons / Julius Jaaskelainen

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Pro-abortion activists are sure to be celebrating the Supreme Courts decision this morning in June Medical Services v. Russo to strike down Louisianas recent abortion law, the Courts first major decision regarding abortion since the appointment of Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch to the bench. To the casual observer, this case may seem to have been a matter of nine justices expressing their whimsical views on Louisianas mandate that abortionists enjoy admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. And admittedly, it is easy to get caught up in the semantics of accessibility, undue regulatory burdens, the quality of medical care, the enforceability of the statute, etc., as the Court itself did throughout its deliberations. But these are superficial questions. Ultimately, the Courts abortion-related decisions are mostly deeply affected by whether the precedents established by Roe v. Wade and reimagined in terms of viability by Planned Parenthood v. Casey are taken seriously. As long as these precedents are held to be untouchable, there is only so much maneuvering the Court can do on cases like the Louisiana one  even as new scientific considerations come to light regarding the humanity of fetuses. Indeed, Chief Justice Roberts cited the precedent of the Courts 2016 decision in Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt as he sided with the Courts liberal wing today. However, the Court has another option: to revisit  and perhaps even to overturn  Roe v. Wade in future abortion cases.

A challenge to the famous 1973 verdict has long been thought to be without the realm of possibility, but the notion has gained momentum in recent years. In 2016, Donald Trump boldly ran on an anti-Roe platform, promising to appoint justices who would overturn the case (subsequently, Trumps appointees made sure to sing the customary praises of precedent in their confirmation hearings). In January, 200 members of Congress urged the Court to use June Medical as a chance to revisit Roe v. Wade. And it is for the very purpose of challenging Roe v. Wade that pro-life state legislatures such as those in Alabama have put forth strong anti-abortion measures within the last few years. None of this would matter if the Supreme Court were entirely unwilling ever to flout stare decisis; on the contrary, the Court has recently rejected the four-decade-long precedents of Nevada v. Hall (concerning state-on-state litigation) and Apodaca v. Oregon (concerning juror unanimity for state-court felony convictions). This indicates that the body is open to breaking from tradition when it feels that the circumstances sufficiently warrant it. Practically speaking, a departure from judicial precedent is feasible in the case of Roe v. Wade: Justices Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, and Roberts have all expressed, to varying degrees, skepticism of pro-abortion laws and rulings in past legal cases. And while Roberts has proven to be the least reliable skeptic of the five, the events of 2016 taught us that the Courts composition can change on a whim  a surprise reelection of President Trump, and the subsequent appointment of a justice to the right of an exiting Breyer or Ginsburg, is not inconceivable. But it must also come to be understood why reconsidering Roe v. Wade is justified, lest this endeavor be reckoned nothing more than a political power move.

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There are several reasons why Roe v. Wade merits reconsideration. For one, the majority opinion of the Court for this case in 1973 used several historical arguments completely unrelated to the United States Constitution to justify its verdict. These arguments, intended to discredit the relatively recent vintage of anti-abortion laws, were directly contrary to Justice Harry Blackmuns claim in the decision that the Justices had resolved the issue solely by constitutional measurement, and that no emotion or political bias had factored into their decision. Justice Blackmun made several references to the abortion policies of ancient governments, such as: Abortion was practiced in Greek times as well as in the Roman Era . . . it was resorted to without scruple. Also: The Ephesian, Soranos . . . found it necessary to think first of the life of the mother, and he resorted to abortion when . . . he felt the procedure advisable. Consider, too: There has always been strong support for the view that life does not begin until live birth and, Ancient religion did not bar abortion. Legally speaking, it is hard to see how any of these arguments help to justify the Courts verdict, and their inclusion in the Supreme Court majority opinion in defense of the legalization of abortion demonstrates that they may have made an observable impact on the Supreme Courts social policy. This is simply unacceptable, considering that the Constitution and judicial precedents are meant to be the sole references for Supreme Court Justices in their verdicts. The use of ancient morality to justify a supposedly constitutionally based decision is certainly cause for at least a reevaluation of the case, especially considering that Blackmuns historical claims were shaky even on their own terms.

Of course, the Court also employed constitutional considerations; these, too, were deeply flawed. Indeed, many constitutional lawyers  among them, Yale Law School professor John Hart Ely and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia  have pointed out that the Supreme Court, in overruling state and local regulations of abortion through Roe v. Wade, engaged in social engineering outside of the power granted to the judicial branch by the U.S. Constitution. Let us see why: The Court claimed, in line with precedent dating back to 1891, that the Constitution gives an implicit guarantee of certain areas or zones of privacy. Past judicial rulings had found such a right hidden within the First, Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth Amendments; the Supreme Court, on the other hand, pointed to the 14th Amendment as the source of this right for the purposes of Roe v. Wade. However, this amendment makes no mention of privacy, let alone abortion:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

This section of the 14th Amendment is often cited in court, and for good reason: It is a chief preventer of governmental tyranny or of injustice in the administration of the criminal-justice system. However, the Supreme Courts interpretation of equal protection under the law as justification for the legalization of the surgical murder of a fetus has mystified legal scholars for decades since the ruling. The idea that laws enacted to protect unborn children are somehow discriminatory against pregnant women and violate their equal protection under the law is greatly misguided. For although one may be entitled to any number of rights and privileges, these are commonly held to end where anothers begin; none would condemn laws protecting civilians from violence as being discriminatory against those who would wish to enact such violence. Only by forming their own judgment, independent of constitutional tradition, that fetuses are property could the Court have decided that the 14th Amendment is applicable to the issue of abortion.

Scalia refutes the Courts reasoning: The Constitution, in fact, says nothing at all about [abortion]. It is left to democratic choice. Indeed, the Constitutions Tenth Amendment allows all power not explicitly granted to the federal government (such as the regulation of abortion) to fall to the states. It is greatly revealing of the personal ideology of many of the Courts justices that they have ignored this explicit constitutional directive while embracing one entirely manufactured by the Court.

In short, the Courts justification for blocking anti-abortion state legislation rests on shaky grounds and ignores common-sense constitutional interpretation. And if the precedent of any case merits being scorned  something which should be done rarely and with the utmost caution  it is the precedent of Roe v. Wade. So rather than being viewed as successful efforts to uphold well-formed precedent, the rulings of Planned Parenthood v. Casey and of today should be seen for what they are: in line with a precedent that rests on an unacceptably flimsy foundation. There are sure to be new abortion cases before the Supreme Court, and Roberts may decide to again employ stare decisis to punt the question of abortion back even further. But the issue wont really be put to rest until enough justices decide to abandon the precedent of Roe v. Wade  or to succumb to its mandates permanently.

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Aclaimant plans aggressive growth in partnerships and product development, continues to add key in-house talent

CHICAGO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aclaimant , an insight-driven workflow platform for safety and risk management, today announced it has raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Mercury Fund .

This brings the company's total funds raised to nearly $13 million, with a seed round of $2.9 million secured in 2017. Additional investors for the Series A financing include Royal Street Ventures , EBSCO Capital , KEC Ventures , RRE Ventures , and Aspen Capital Group .

Aclaimant was founded on the belief that organizations can reduce their cost of risk while providing a safe environment for employees. Aclaimant proactively uncovers problems to fundamentally change the way organizations manage risk. By combining insurance industry experts with innovative technology solutions, Aclaimant improves risk and claims management processes for all businesses. Aclaimant caters to multiple industries, including construction, manufacturing, staffing, real estate, and hospitality.

With fresh capital, Aclaimant plans to accelerate client acquisition and sales as well as marketing and partnership development. The company also plans to invest in product innovation and enhancements focused on data, compliance, and design. Aclaimant continues to add key talent across the risk management spectrum to grow and expand its in-house subject matter expertise.

"Now more than ever, organizations must create cultures of workplace safety," said David Wald, CEO and co-founder at Aclaimant. "Aclaimant fosters this by engaging the employee, employer, and insurance carrier in making workplace incidents everyone's responsibility. With the new funding, we're excited to work closely with our customers to prioritize safety by providing a workflow that allows employees and employers to report and streamline insurance claims on-the-go."

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The senior management team, including co-founders Wald, Joel Friedman, and Michael Schultz, will continue to lead the company. They are joined by Adrian Fortino, Managing Director at Mercury Fund, and Laura Brady, Managing Director at Royal Street Ventures, as members of the Board of Directors.

"The future of the insurtech and risk management industry has a lot to benefit from increased use of automated workflows and enhanced user experience," said Fortino. "We're excited to partner with Aclaimant and help them capitalize on this incredible opportunity. In this time of COVID-19, we are now in uncharted territory for the enterprise. A complete risk management workflow platform like Aclaimant is critical for both the 'back-to-work' dynamic and the post COVID focus on corporate risk management and tracking."

To learn more about Aclaimant's capabilities, visit https://aclaimant.com/ .

About Aclaimant

Aclaimant is the insight-driven workflow solution for safety and risk management. We help identify and protect what's important. Aclaimant's comprehensive product suite delivers a unified platform for employers across multiple industries, including construction, real estate, staffing, and hospitality. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Chicago, Ill., Aclaimant's solutions have helped organizations reduce business insurance costs by streamlining every phase of risk management into one, easy to use workflow tool. Aclaimant brings loss prevention, incident management, and analytics into one connected platform that removes complexity, saves time, and produces better outcomes. For more information, please visit https://aclaimant.com/

About Mercury Fund



Mercury Fund is an early-stage venture capital firm. With over $300 million under management, Mercury focuses on entrepreneurs and technology innovation originating in the U.S. Midcontinent. Our investment themes target SaaS, Cloud, and Data Science/AI platforms that make the industrial ecosystems of Middle America more competitive and efficient.

Over a decade ago, Mercury recognized the rise of entrepreneurs and innovation in the underinvested Midcontinent. Our venture investment strategy leverages our unparalleled network of midcontinent startup development organizations, corporate innovation partners, and co-investors to assist entrepreneurs with the resources they need to rapidly scale their businesses. We have spent our professional careers advising, mentoring, and investing in Mid-American entrepreneurs. We believe now, more than ever, the Midcontinent represents a great venture capital opportunity.

https://mercuryfund.com/

CONTACT:

Katie Butler

Walker Sands, for Aclaimant

aclaimant@walkersands.com

614-507-5512

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Cancer Access Partnership is expected to result in a 59 percent savings on procured cancer medicines

ATLANTA, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) today announced agreements with pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Novartis, and Mylan to expand access to 20 lifesaving cancer treatments in 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Purchasers are expected to save an average of 59 percent for medicines procured through the agreements.

American Cancer Society Logo (PRNewsfoto/American Cancer Society)

"With the rapidly growing burden of cancer in Africa, it is crucial that we improve and expand access to high-quality, affordable treatment. These agreements build on those announced in 2017 that have already delivered substantial savings and increased treatment availability in several countries, including Nigeria. By targeting the treatment needed for the cancers that cause the most deaths, these new agreements will help us to improve on quality of lives and close the mortality gap for Africans with cancer," said Professor Isaac Adewole, co-chair, African Cancer Coalition and former Health Minister of Nigeria.

Medications included in the agreements cover recommended regimens for 27 types of cancer and enable complete chemotherapy regimens for the three cancers that cause the most deaths in Africabreast, cervical, and prostate. These cancers are highly treatable and account for 38 percent of cancers in the countries covered in the agreements. The new agreements include both chemotherapies and endocrine therapies aligned to evidence-based guidelines harmonized for sub-Saharan Africa, and expand access to additional formulations, including those essential for treating childhood cancer.

"With cancer cases increasing at such a rapid rate in sub-Saharan Africa, access to affordable cancer treatment that meets the quality standards set by a stringent regulatory authority is imperative," said William G. Cance, MD FACS, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society. "This collaboration has the potential to drastically impact access to care and save countless lives."

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Sub-Saharan Africa's cancer burden is significant and growing. In 2018, there were an estimated 811,000 new cases of cancer and 534,000 deaths from cancer in the region. Cancer patients in sub-Saharan Africa are twice as likely to die as those in the United States, often due to late diagnosis and lack of access to treatment. Based on population aging alone, annual cancer deaths in sub-Saharan Africa are projected to almost double by 2030. The new agreements reach 23 countries in Africa, covering 74 percent of the annual cancer cases.

The new initiative includes Pfizer, Novartis, and Mylan, and will expand access to the priority medications and formulations in the agreements to additional countries. All of the medications included in the agreements meet the quality standards set by a stringent regulatory authority such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA). These medicines will be available for purchase at newly and independently negotiated prices in the designated countries, and the companies have committed to monitoring the impact of their respective agreements with CHAI.

This new Cancer Access Partnership is an initiative of Allied Against Cancer and an expansion of the Chemotherapy Access Partnership. ACS and CHAI began working together in 2015 to improve care and treatment of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, working with governments and cancer treatment institutions to address market inefficiencies, improve supply chains, and increase procurement to ensure quality medications were available at affordable prices. This collaboration has shown that access to high-quality cancer treatments can be expanded in a sustainable way.

Dr. Iain Barton, Chief Executive Officer of CHAI stated, "While we have made strides in increasing access to lifesaving cancer treatments in sub-Saharan Africa over the last several years, there is much more work to be done. This collaboration is a significant step in delivering high-quality cancer treatment to more patients, bringing us closer to equitable cancer treatment for all people."

In 2017, Allied Against Cancer members ACS and CHAI announced agreements with Pfizer and Cipla to expand access to 16 essential cancer treatment medications in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The market access agreements secured competitive prices, allowing these governments to realize substantial savings and improve the quality and quantity of treatment available. As a result of the agreements, several African governments and hospitals increased their commitment to procuring necessary cancer medicines by using the cost savings to increase the volumes of medicines procured, setting up innovative systems to supply high-quality cancer medications, and increasing budgets for cancer care and treatment. Countries that accessed products through the agreements saved an average of 56 percent. As a result, patients have new levels of access to quality chemotherapies in nearly all of the countries included in the original agreements. Three new countries were added in November 2019.

"Since entering into partnership with CHAI and ACS in 2017, we have seen the positive impact that sustainable access to quality, affordable cancer medicines can have on patients in vulnerable communities in Africa," said Rhulani Nhlaniki, Pfizer Cluster Lead for sub-Saharan Africa and Country Manager, South Africa. "We remain committed to this model that helps to reduce the overwhelming burden on patients and healthcare systems, and we are pleased to be able to expand our chemotherapy offerings under the program to better serve the needs of patients."

"Novartis is reimagining medicine and access to healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa with the patient at the center of everything we do," said Racey Muchilwa, Head of Novartis sub-Saharan Africa. "This agreement is an important step to provide lifesaving medicines to more cancer patients across Africa. Having personally seen the growing toll cancer takes on the patients and many affected families in Africa, I am very excited about this collaboration of multiple stakeholders to dramatically improve access to cancer medicines in many countries."

"Mylan is proud to join CHAI, ACS and this important group of industry stakeholders to help expand access to critical medicines for oncology patients. Mylan has a long-standing commitment to support those impacted by non-communicable diseases, including cancer, which significantly impact low- and middle-income countries. We look forward to continuing to do our part by expanding access to treatment through initiatives like the Cancer Access Partnership and working with all involved in the healthcare system to help serve the community," said Rakesh Bamzai, President, India and Emerging Markets, Mylan.

The market access agreements are part of a broader effort to improve access to quality cancer care in Africa. In 2019, ACS, CHAI, the African Cancer Coalition, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), and IBM joined to form Allied Against Cancer. This coalition is leveraging the strengths of each organization to connect with and empower the African oncology community to deliver high-quality cancer care and is working to pursue additional market-based collaborations to increase access to cancer medicines in the region.

NCCN, ACS, and CHAI are also working with the African Cancer Coalition, which comprises 110 leading oncologists from 13 African countries, to adapt the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) to create the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa. These NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa outline pragmatic approaches that provide effective treatment options to improve the quality of care in resource-constrained settings and are available free of charge to health care providers on www.nccn.org/harmonized. IBM and ACS also developed ChemoSafe, a suite of training resources for regional healthcare personnel to guide the safe transportation, storage, administration and disposal of hazardous drugs.

The countries included in the agreements are: Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, in Africa; and Vietnam, India, and Myanmar in Asia. Oncologists, government officials, and nonprofit organizations in many of these countries contributed to these agreements by sharing information and feedback to the CHAI team.

You can learn more about the Chemotherapy Access Partnership and see medicines available by country here: www.alliedagainstcancer.org/access-partnership

About the Team

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. The Society also works in low- and middle-income countries to expand access to high-quality chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and pain relief, as well as getting patients diagnosed and into treatment earlier. For more information go to www.cancer.org. ACS does not endorse any product or service nor any particular brand of cancer drugs. ACS is not a provider of medical services and is not responsible for any drugs, screening, diagnosis, or medical treatment.

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries. We work with our partners to strengthen the capabilities of governments and the private sector to create and sustain high-quality health systems that can succeed without our assistance. Learn more at: clintonhealthaccess.org.

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world's top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach nearly 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 109,000 people of more than 145 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com.

Mylan is a global pharmaceutical company committed to setting new standards in healthcare. Working together around the world to provide 7 billion people access to high-quality medicine, we innovate to satisfy unmet needs; make reliability and service excellence a habit; do what's right, not what's easy; and impact the future through passionate global leadership. We offer a portfolio of more than 7,500 marketed products around the world, including antiretroviral therapies on which approximately 40% of people being treated for HIV/AIDS globally depend. We market our products in more than 165 countries and territories. We are one of the world's largest producers of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Every member of our approximately 35,000-strong workforce is dedicated to creating better health for a better world, one person at a time. Learn more at Mylan.com. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at investor.mylan.com.

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SOURCE American Cancer Society
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The often see-saw action across the North African littoral from 1940-1942 was fostered in part by both the British and Axis forces racing to innovate and implement novel tactics and upgraded weaponry.

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From December 1940 through February 1941, British and Commonwealth forces under General Archibald Wavell were highly successful against the Italian Tenth Army in Cyrenaica, utilizing both surprise and the most heavily armored tank of its time, the Matilda Infantry tank. During Wavells Operation Compass, the Matilda, deploying a 2-pounder gun as its main armament, successfully engaged and defeated the more thinly armored Italian vehicles as well as infantry and artillery sangars in fortified positions.

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After German General Erwin Rommel entered the Libyan battlefield in March 1941, tactics changed dramatically. As author Niall Barr has noted, The Royal Artillerys [2-pounder] anti-tank [AT] regiments provided the backbone of AT defence for infantry and armoured divisions.When the [2-pounder] gun was formally approved in January 1936, there was little doubt that it was the best AT gun in the world. By 1940, the guns performance was less impressive and by 1941, once German tanks had been up-armoured, it was dangerously obsolete. In combat against the Deutsches Afrika Korps (DAK), British and Commonwealth AT gunners could only knock out German panzers at extremely close range with the 2-pounder.

As a DAK tactical modification, for example, during Operation Crusader, Nazi tanks stayed well outside the effective range of the 2-pounder, while their own vaunted 88mm antiaircraft gun deployed in an antitank role destroyed the recklessly charging British armored squadrons that had to close the distance with the German panzers for their 2-pounder or 37mm tank guns to be effective. After the Germans destroyed the British armor, their artillery and advancing panzers, impervious to the 2-pounder armor-piercing shot at customary combat range, knocked the British guns out quickly. After decimating much of the British forward AT artillery, the DAK would then typically attack just before dusk with the sun at their backs with tanks and infantry close behind to overrun British positions.

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An improved British 6-pounder gun was not due to arrive in North Africa in appreciable numbers until April 1942. A major reason for this delay rested on the sobering fact that over 500 2-pounder AT guns had been lost in France in 1940. The 6-pounder AT gun was ready to go into production after the Dunkirk evacuation; however, the munitions overseers were confronted with the quandary between retooling the factories or continuing production of 2-pounders to make good the loss first. Gun manufacturers were ordered to comply with the second option to avoid an interval in which the Home Isles would be devoid of a requisite number of AT guns of any kind.

The decision to continue manufacturing the 2-pounder, although expedient, was indeed problematic. The main deficiency with the 2-pounder as an AT weapon after Dunkirk was its lack of penetration at long range unless it could hit the enemy tanks turret or be presented with a shot at the less-armored flank or rear of a panzer.

British Antitank Gun Stop-Gaps

Thus, the British desert commanders needed to drastically change their field gun tactical doctrine because of the disadvantage under which the Eighth Army operated. Once the Germans had learned to stand off and suppress the 2-pounders with machine-gun and artillery fire, the guns ceased to be of much value. Until the 6-pounders arrived, an alternative AT weapon would be needed. The British addressed the problem by increasingly employing their excellent 25-pounder field gun, the mainstay of the field artillery regiments, in an AT role. Thus, the 25-pounder field gun was drawn into the desert battles as a direct-fire weapon to protect the infantry. Fortunately, its indirect fire role was not abandoned; however, every British formation commander demanded a share of the artillery guns, which, in fact, did dissipate the barrage artillery effort of the 25-pounder.

Not only did this tactic often deprive the British field artillery of its ability to develop concentrated fire, but it also increased losses among the 25-pounder guns and crews from their often forward positions as AT weapons. The 25-pounders were not deployed in a purely AT pattern, but in a dual role with the guns situated forward in open positions, sometimes in front of the infantry. Another tactical modification was for frontline British commanders to requisition tanks to be detached from the armored brigades for use with desert infantry columns. Likewise, this maneuver, although affording the infantry some much-needed protection, lessened the firepower of the armored brigade.

AA as AT?

One glaring question along tactical lines then is why the British did not use an AA gun in a similar AT fashion as the Nazis employed their 88mm guns. Some have argued that there was an alternative solution to the deficiencies of the 2-pounder AT gun while Eighth Army awaited the debut of the 6-pounder. The arrival in service of the 3.7-inch heavy AA gun made the older 3-inch 30-cwt medium AA gun, with an excellent AT potential, redundant.

According to author Michael E. Haskew, The grandfather of British AA weapons was the venerable Ordnance QF, 3-inch 30 cwt, which had been in service with the army as early as 1914. The 3-inch weapon was, by 1939, widely in use as a static and mobile gun, and it was deployed to the continent with the British Expeditionary Force in 1939. By the beginning of WWII, the 3-inch gun existed in numerous configurations, including a variety of breechblocks and carriages. While troops in the field preferred the lighter weapon over its proposed replacement, the 3.7-inch cannon, most of the guns were abandoned during the evacuation at Dunkirk in the summer of 1940 and captured by the Germans who renamed them the 75mm Flak Vickers (e). Some of the 3-inch guns found extended life in Home Guard units and coastal defenses, few of them remaining active by the end of the war.

A conversion plan, in England, was in fact underway to fit 50 3-inch pieces onto Churchill tank chasses to provide a self-propelled model and 50 other such guns onto field carriages. Unfortunately, this refitting process was so slow that it was eclipsed by another upgraded ordnance modification, namely, the production of the 17-pounder AT gun. Thus, the project was abandoned. Critics have claimed that it would have been better to have shipped as many unmodified 3-inch 30 cwt guns as possible on their wheeled mountings to Egypt for deployment as AT direct-fire guns. It has been argued that these weapons would have been no more vulnerable than the unmodified German 88mm guns used in an AT role or the British 2-pounders, which were habitually fired over the tailboards of their portee trucks.

A number of issues to such a tactical paradigm shift immediately arose, however. First, from a theoretical standpoint dual-purpose guns were problematic because of the difficulty in blending the requirements for each type and because each was deployed differently on the battlefield. Second, from a logistical perspective, the 4.5-inch gun for use in fixed emplacements and a mobile 3.7-inch, both with effective ceilings of 25,000-30,000 feet, were available when the war broke out. However, the decision to refit these modern AA weapons as AT guns was deferred since the use of these weapons was almost strictly prioritized for the defense of the home air space. Although the dark days of the Battle of Britain and the Operation Sea Lion scare had passed, the Blitz on Britains civilian population was still in full throttle.

According to authors John Bierman and Colin Smith, For the British tank crews the odds against survival were alarmingly shortened by the range and accuracy of the German 88s, and there was considerable resentment within the Eighth Army at the failure of their superiors to give them a comparable weapon, which many believed was already at hand if only the general staff had the wit to adapt it and press it into service. This was the British 3.7-inch (94-mm) anti-aircraft gun, and Lieutenant (later Major) David Parry of the 57th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, for one, felt there was no excuse for the sheer stupidity of the General Staff in not allowing it to be used in an anti-tank role. He recalled in a post-war memoir: During all this time over a thousand 3.7-inch AA guns stood idle in the Middle East. Many never fired a shot in anger during the whole of the war.

Developing the 3.7-Inch Gun

In the late 1930s, the British Army was researching the idea for a weapon between the 3-inch and 4.7-inch guns. After gunners had done some investigation, it was found that a 3.7-inch gun firing a 25-pound shell could fill the gap, and so in 1933 a specification for a 3.7-inch gun weighing eight tons, capable of being put into action in 15 minutes and being towed at 25 miles per hour, was issued. A design by Vickers in conjunction with the Woolwich Arsenal was accepted, and the prototype passed proof in April 1936 with production being authorized a year later.

The first production guns were delivered in January 1938. The main reason for this slow progress was the guns carriage. It was complex to what seemed an extreme. The gun was intended for use in the field by the Army and thus had to be fully mobile, but the final assembly can only be classified as semi-mobile. The gun and its cradle and saddle rested on a large firing platform, which in action rested on four outriggers. The front wheels were raised off the ground in action to provide some counterbalance for the weight of the gun mass, and the rear (towing end) axle was removed.

Production of the carriage soon proved to be a time-consuming bottleneck to the extent that production of a purely static carriage for emplacement in concrete began. As time went on the carriage was reengineered to a more manageable form. Thus, the first production carriage was the Mk1, the static carriage the MkII, and final production version the Mk III.

When the equipment was first issued the gunners did not take kindly to it, preferring the handier and familiar 3-inch gun, but even they came to appreciate that the performance of the 3.7-inch ordnance by far exceeded that of the older gun. In fact, the 3.7-inch had an excellent all-round performance even if moving it was sometimes less than easy. As more entered service, they were gradually fitted with improved centralized fire-control systems and such extras as power rammers and fuse setters. By 1941, the type formed the mainstay of the Armys AA defenses. It proved an excellent weapon for the remainder of the war.

The 3.7-inch QF AA had two forms, a mobile mounting used with the field army and a static mounting, the latter capable of being repositioned. Peak production was reached for guns in March 1942 and for mountings in June 1942. As Haskew has noted, Although it was slow to gain the appreciation of gun crews, the 3.7-in cannon ultimately proved to be an outstanding performer. By 1941, it was the primary anti-aircraft weapon in use by the British Army. The Germans respected the weapon highly and used those they captured in coastal defenses, renamed it the 94m Flak Vickers M.39 (e), and even manufactured ammunition for it.

A Question of Priorities

Was the Ordnance, QF, 3.7-inch AA gun the correct weapon for dual deployment in an AT role and, if so, why was it not used more frequently and effectively? According to authors Shelford Bidwell and Dominick Graham, There was much argument at the time, and since, over the refusal to use the British 3.7-inch (95 mm) heavy anti-aircraft gun in the same way as the Germans used the 88-mm FLAK.

To an artillery novice, the 3.7-inch looked very similar to the German 88mm flak weapon. It was in fact a much heavier gun altogether, weighing about 20,500 pounds, and depended on a more sophisticated fire-control system without a telescopic sight. However, these technical disadvantages could have been overcome. The 3.7-inch guns did have their sighting arrangements improved to enable better AT shooting. Those against using it in an AT role claim that the outcome of the desert war depended on the Royal Air Force (RAF) winning and maintaining air control. This required that RAF fighters be freed as far as possible from the close defense of their airfields and major base and port installations, which were vital to all of Britains military arms.

Since defense of these installations was based on the proper mixture of AA guns and fighter aircraft, any reduction in the former would require an increase in the number of planes reserved for a purely defensive role as an air umbrella. Thus, it boiled down to a question of priorities. This factor may explain Lieutenant David Parrys contention that hundreds of 3.7-inch AA guns stood idle in rear-echelon areas, namely airfields and port installations, while the tank battles of the Western Desert were raging, often with the DAK gaining the upper hand.

From a manpower perspective, up to 72 of the 3.7-inch guns (plus reserves for damaged gun and crew casualties), approximately two regiments, would have been required to make a significant impact against German armor. These two units would have required a complete training overhaul and reorientation for the dual deployment as AA and AT weapons. Furthermore, instruction into the two different patterns of deployment, perhaps even utilizing new unit and gun crew commanders, would be warranted since as an AT gun individual initiative and decentralization were vital. In contrast, central and strict fire control was utilized with AA guns. Until 1938, it had been standard practice for AA crews to be trained in a direct fire role. This dual deployment instruction was dropped to reduce costs and quicken training.

Other critics of using the 3.7-inch as a forward AT gun claim that in addition to its much greater weight than the German 88, it also had an extremely high silhouette, making it tactically unsuitable for use in forward areas. Prolonged firing at low elevations (not part of the original specification) also strained the mounting and recuperating gear. Some attempts were made to employ the 3.7-inch AA gun as an antitank weapon like the German 88. The 3.7-inch proved too sophisticated. It had been designed to work with radar data, while the German 88 had an optical sight that could be used on the ground and against aerial targets. The 3.7-inch gun weighed nine tons, quite ponderous for rapid deployment on the battlefield.

Proponents for a dual deployment role still argued that a dedicated AT carriage for the 3.7-inch gun would have produced a superior AT weapon, even though the gun was difficult to deploy and heavy, particularly for combat in the desert. Other advocates for the guns use as an AT weapon claimed, All of these difficulties had been solved in theory by the summer of 1942 (notably by the energetic efforts of Brig Percy Calvert, commander of the 4th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Bde), but with very few exceptions the 3.7in was still not used against tanks.

In an acerbic vein, Bidwell and Graham commented, In any case even if the guns [3.7-inch] had been made available it is doubtful if the desert commanders would have used them correctly, in view of the hash they made of the employment of all their own artillery.

The 3.7-Inch as Direct Fire Support

The arrival of the 6-pounder AT gun in the spring of 1942 and the later deployment of the 17-pounder in 1943 made a primary AT role for the 3.7-inch irrelevant. Despite all of the listed deficiencies as an AT gun, the 3.7-inch guns were used sparingly against panzers in North Africa and in the field artillery role quite extensively in the second half of the war in Italy, northwest Europe, Burma, and the Southwest Pacific. Counterbattery or countermortar fire was the usual role.

In the Western Desert, despite its bulk and weight, the 3.7-inch gun could knock out any German tank in service. Many of the references to the use of the 3.7-inch AA gun in an AT role have been chronicled by Henry Maule in his biography of the 7th Armored Divisions commanding general, Frank Messervy. After Gazala, Denys Reid in command of the El Adem Box allowed the AA to fire, approx 200 rounds were in the day, the German Tank commanders refused to attack (probably found an easier target).

Maule also makes reference to a direct-fire role for the 3.7-inch gun in the Burma campaign, where Messervy was also a division commander: At the Admin Box battles in February 1944, the Administrative troops of 7 Indian Division held out against a Japanese attack (including 8th Belfast HAA Regiment). At one point, Even the 3.7 HAA guns were added to the barrage, the great shells rushing straight and flat like express trains. When being shelled by Japanese Infantry guns, The Ulstermen lowered their long guns and pasted the hillside from which the fire had come.

Ultimately, the 3.7-inch gun was retained for what it was best suited, the AA role, and thus this excellent weapon never really got a chance to prove itself as the British equivalent of the German 88mm. It was used on occasion as a long-range field piece and was even at one stage of the war used as a coastal defense gun. Thus, with the exception of a few engagements as a direct-fire gun, the role of the 3.7-inch AA gun as an AT weapon largely falls into the what if category.

This article first appeared at the Warfare History Network.

Image: Wikimedia

Click here to read the full article.
2235 Ashby Ave. | Photo: Zumper

Curious just how far your dollar goes in Berkeley?

We've rounded up the latest places for rent via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to hunting down apartment rentals in Berkeley with a budget of up to $2,500/month.

Take a look at the listings, below. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.)

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions.

2333 Channing Way

Listed at $2,425/month, this 416-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom spot is located at 2333 Channing Way.

The unit offers a mix of hardwood floors and carpeting. The building features on-site laundry. Cats and dogs are not permitted. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee.

Walk Score indicates that the area around this address is a "walker's paradise," is great for biking and offers many nearby public transportation options.

(See the complete listing here.)

2515 Piedmont Ave.

Next, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment situated at 2515 Piedmont Ave. It's listed for $2,450/month.

The building has on-site laundry and assigned parking. You can also expect to see hardwood flooring and central heating in the apartment. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: This spot doesn't allow cats or dogs.

According to Walk Score's assessment, the surrounding area is friendly for those on foot, is very bikeable and has good transit options.

(See the complete listing here.)

2428 Ellsworth St.

Here's a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at 2428 Ellsworth St. that's also going for $2,450/month.

In the unit, the listing promises carpeted floors and a renovated kitchen. The building has assigned parking and on-site laundry. Cats and dogs are not welcome.

(Take a look at the full listing here.)

2450 Milvia St. (Downtown Berkeley)

Next, check out this two-bedroom, one-bathroom residence that's located at 2450 Milvia St. It's listed for $2,495/month.

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The building features on-site laundry, additional storage space and outdoor space. In the residence, you'll see hardwood flooring. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: This spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee.

(See the complete listing here.)

2235 Ashby Ave.

Located at 2235 Ashby Ave., here's a 750-square-foot two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that's also listed for $2,495/month.

You can expect to find a renovated kitchen and carpeted floors in the unit. The building has assigned parking, additional storage space and on-site laundry. Animals are not welcome. Look out for a $2595 security deposit.

(Take a gander at the complete listing here.)

Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Berkeley.

This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Additionally, if youre in the real estate business learn how to do local real estate advertising in your ZIP codes.

Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
Bernal Heights

Kate and Marco Razo, in front of their studio on Bennington Street. | Photos: Nikki Collister/Hoodline

As museums and art galleries across San Francisco remain closed, local artists have found several new ways to share their talents, from virtual exhibitions to outdoor art installations.

This weekend, a group of artists in Bernal Heights offered their own take on the phenomenon  transforming their garages, driveways, and windows into makeshift galleries that neighbors could view at a safe distance.

Dubbed "Artists in Place," the pop-up outdoor art gallery was intended to be "a fun way for neighbors to meet each other, said Laurie Wigham, who organized the event.

Wigham, a longtime Bernal Heights resident, said the idea was inspired by an art drive-by that took place last month in Long Island.

A drive-by wouldnt really work here," she said. "But the neighborhood is perfect for a walk-by.'"

Artist Laurie Wigham in front of her house in Bernal Heights.

Wigham's pandemic project: watercolor paintings of the wildflowers she discovered on Bernal Hill.

Wigham reached out to nearby neighbors to gauge interest, and word quickly spread among the hillside neighborhood. A grassroots committee of about 10 neighbors was formed, its members meeting over Zoom to pick a date and organize the event.

News of the event spread by word of mouth over the past five weeks, said Rachel Leibman, who was in charge of the sign-up form and an interactive map of participating households. By her last count, 120 individuals had signed up to display their artwork, with some registering the night before the event.

Juan Vargas and Edie Williams on their front steps. Vargas's paintings and collages draw inspiration from San Francisco scenery.

A wide variety of art was on display during Saturday's event, including paintings, collages, photography, ceramics, and sculptures.

Leibmans homemade exhibit included a series of vintage watch pieces embroidered onto hand-dyed silk. Most of the work on display was made since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, she said.

I stopped for a while," she said, citing the initial anxiety of the pandemic. But soon, the urge to create settled back in. "It was a way to return to some sense of normalcy."

Artist Rachel Leibman turned her front gate into a miniature gallery, showcasing work she created during lockdown.

Some artists were even inspired by the current crisis. Dianne Platner's interactive art piece invited neighbors to write the names of Black and minority Americans who had been killed by police, with drawings of some of the victims, like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

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Dianne Platner's portraits of Black people killed by police.

From the start, the organizers had safety in mind. News of the event was intentionally kept local, to avoid too many people crowding the streets. We wanted to be responsible and safe with social distancing, Wigham said.

In addition to affixing their artwork to garage doors and fences, artists also posted signs asking visitors keep six feet apart and wear masks.

Robert Geshlider and Todd Hanson took face masks to a new level with their performance piece, "Ozymandias."

Ilana Gauss's homemade ceramics included candle holders, bowls, and plates.

The result was an afternoon of art and conversation, with some neighbors catching up and others meeting for the first time.

While many participating households were centered around the south side of Bernal Hill and Cortland Avenue, the outdoor art gallery spanned the entire neighborhood  from Cesar Chavez to Crescent, between Mission Street and the 101 freeway.

Many of the artists told Hoodline they were grateful for an outlet to share their work, especially given the cancellation of art shows and events. Others found inspiration by witnessing the creative output of their neighbors.

"It's wonderful to be able to see what's going on behind all these walls," artist Jill Judd said, gesturing to the houses on her block.

Artwork by Jill Judd.

Jill Judd offers free art kits, containing materials like beads and colored paper, to neighbors of all ages.

Wigham isnt sure if the event will be repeated, but shes happy that Saturday's displays went off without a hitch.

Our hope is that other neighborhoods might be inspired to do the same, she said.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced the general availability of AWS Outposts in India. AWS Outposts delivers a fully managed service that allows customers to run AWS compute, storage, database, and other services on-premises, while seamlessly connecting to AWSs broad array of services in the cloud. AWS Outposts brings native AWS services, infrastructure, and operating models to virtually any datacenter, co-location space, or on-premises facility. With AWS Outposts, customers can use the same AWS APIs, control plane, tools, and hardware on-premises as in the AWS cloud to deliver a truly consistent hybrid experience.

Customers in India who have workloads that require low latency access to on-premises systems, or have local data processing requirements can benefit from AWS Outposts. These include applications that may need to generate near real-time responses, communicate with other on-premises systems, or control on-site equipment such as factory floor equipment, health management systems, and retail point of sale systems.

Puneet Chandok, President, Commercial Business  India and South Asia, Amazon Internet Services Private Limited, said, We are pleased to bring AWS Outposts to India. With AWS Outposts, our customers can benefit from the accelerated pace of innovation in the cloud, while securely storing and processing sensitive data on-premises. As AWS Outposts is a fully managed service by AWS, our customers can also focus on their end users and drive innovation that differentiates their businesses, while leaving the responsibility of managing the infrastructure to us.

With AWS Outposts, customers in India can work with the AWS Partner Network (APN) to leverage their deep experience helping businesses move applications to AWS cloud through all aspects of complex migration projects. These can include initial discovery and assessment, planning, migration, and operations, as well as cloud strategy and technology advisory services to migrate and run workloads on AWS Outposts.

Cloud4C, a CtrlS Group Company, and an APN Advanced Consulting Partner in India, welcomed the announcement. We are delighted to see AWS Outposts launched in India. Customers can choose to host AWS Outposts in their own on-premises environment to meet compliance requirements, or for latency-sensitive applications, and additionally benefit from unified managed services and security operations services offered by Cloud4C across AWS Availability Zones, said Sridhar Pinnapureddy, Founder and CEO, Cloud4C. He added, Our AWS-related business is growing 70 percent year-on-year and we are excited to see more innovations coming from AWS. Cloud4C will offer scalable and elastic cloud hosting environments on AWS Outposts in multiple locations, and datacenter hosting space, managed disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) for mission critical workloads, and virtual desktop infrastructure on AWS Outposts. Customers have the option to host AWS Outposts in their own datacenter or at CtrlS Rated-4 Hyperscale Datacenters in India, and achieve a truly consistent and seamless hybrid cloud experience.

Powerupcloud Technologies, an APN Premier Consulting partner and part of Larsen & Toubro Infotech (LTI) Limited, highlighted the opportunity for AWS Outposts among enterprises. Commenting on the announcement, Siva S, Founder and CEO, Powerupcloud Technologies, said, We are excited about the availability of AWS Outposts in India. AWS Outposts help customers run a truly consistent hybrid infrastructure with its seamless cloud and on-premises extensions. By using AWS Outposts, large enterprise companies will now find it easier to move large SAP, Oracle, and custom software workloads to the cloud. Customers can access this fully-managed hybrid setup from a simple login via their AWS management console AWS Outposts has the potential to redefine the world of hybrid cloud.

Tech Mahindra Limited, an APN Advanced Consulting Partner focusing on digital transformation, consulting, and business re-engineering services, highlighted how AWS Outposts can enable innovative enterprise and network applications. The emergence of 5G and edge computing is fundamentally changing the cloud to a distributed edge cloud, and supercharging digital transformations. The ability to serve latency-sensitive applications closer to the customer with AWS Outposts will create a new wave of innovation in enterprise and network applications. As part of our TechMNxt charter, we are excited to partner with an innovator like AWS in this ground-breaking initiative, said Manish Mangal, CTO, Network Services, Tech Mahindra.

With AWS Outposts, customers can choose from a range of compute, storage, and graphics-optimised Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) instances, and related Amazon Elastic Block Store (Amazon EBS) volume options. Customers can then easily run a broad range of AWS services locally, including Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS), Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS), Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS), and Amazon Elastic MapReduce (Amazon EMR), and can connect directly to regional services like Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) buckets or Amazon DynamoDB through private connections.
If you find it hard to believe that three whole decades have passed since 1990, I suggest cracking open a Baby-sitters Club book. In Ann M. Martins sprawling middle-grade series about girls in junior high who start their own baby-sitting service, the phones have cords, the sitters keep records in bubbly cursive, all shopping takes place at the mall and a pink sweatshirt with sequins and a large purple parrot on the front is the pinnacle of sophistication. Each novel is a time capsule of preadolescence untouched by social media or smartphones or Fortnite or the constant specter of school shootings. It was a more innocent time, one to which Martin (and the ghostwriters who authored later volumes) added an extra dose of sugary sweetness for the benefit of elementary schoolers eager to read about slightly older kids.

The Baby-sitters Club doesnt seem like a franchise that could survive these cataclysmic times, when the President calls people mean names on Twitter as young people face threats from racist policing to climate crisisand, since March, the COVID-19 pandemic has turned even friendly bedroom communities like the BSCs fictional Stoneybrook, Conn. into ghost towns. So its a wonderful surprise that the new Baby-sitters Club, a 10-episode Netflix series due out July 3, isnt an anachronism so much as a tonic. Helmed by first-generation fans Rachel Shukert (Glow) and Lucia Aniello (Broad City), who honed their voices telling lighthearted stories about women who have each others backs, the show strikes a shrewd balance between earnestness and humor, freshness and nostalgia, fidelity to Martins beloved characters and awareness of how much has changed since her books dominated girl culture at the end of the 20th century.

Unlike earlier adaptationsa short-lived 1990 HBO series and a 1995 movie, neither of which has aged wellthe new Baby-sitters is a proper reboot, with an origin story millions of women in their 30s and 40s probably remember in detail but their daughters might not know. It all begins when seventh grader Kristy Thomas (Sophie Grace) single mom Elizabeth (Alicia Silverstone, lip-bitingly funny as ever) cant find anyone to watch her youngest son. Teen sitters never pick up their cellphones. Internet-based babysitting services charge exorbitant fees. Why is this so hard? Elizabeth whines, adorably. When I was a kid, my mother would just call some girl in the neighborhood on a landline. And she would answer, because it was part of the social contract.

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Soon, Kristya sporty tomboy whose ingenuity, bossiness, self-absorption and inexplicable fondness for turtlenecks make her a prototypical mini-entrepreneuris pitching her best friend Mary Anne Spier (Malia Baker) on what will go down in BSC lore as Kristys great idea. What if parents actually could call one phone number at a predetermined time, reach a whole roomful of responsible young women and nail down a sitter on the spot? Its a smart way of justifying the seemingly obsolete conceit without which the show could not exist: club meetings, several evenings a week, where the girls cluster around a good old-fashioned landline to set up appointments, compare notes on clients and help each other through growing pains of all kinds.

Liane Hentscher/Netflix

Shukert and Aniello manage to update the characters without sacrificing their essences. While fuming over Elizabeths relationship with a rich guy, Kristy leans into #girlboss feminism. Mary Anne is still shy, with an overprotective single dad, but now shes also biracial. Their neighbor and perennial BSC meeting host Claudia Kishi (Momona Tamada) retains her artistic talents, academic struggles, secret sweet tooth and multigenerational household, complete with hilariously condescending older sister and adoring grandma; this time around, her Japanese-American heritage comes to the fore. While New York City expat Stacey McGill (Shay Rudolph) still looks perfect, has secrets and obsesses over boys, her storyline now addresses the contemporary scourge of cyberbullying. Once a blonde treehugger, California transplant Dawn Schafer (Xochitl Gomez) is now Latinx and knows how to wield terms like socioeconomic stratification. (Never mind that every family in Stoneybrook seems to have the money for sleep-away camp.)

This may all sound painstakingly woke on paper, but nothing feels forced about these updates. The main cast is spirited and authenticTamada and Grace are especially greatand they look like real tweens, not aspirational Barbies. Stoneybrook gains a thoroughly modern population, from the little trans girl who forms a bond with Mary Anne to an out-and-proud witch (though she prefers the title spiritual practitioner) who leads workshops in her backyard, without losing the tree-lined streets and stately Colonial homes that have always marked it as an all-American town. A standout episode scripted by The Wangs vs. the World author Jade Chang, in which Claudia enters an art contest and learns about her ailing grandmothers childhood in a Japanese internment camp, develops into a moving representation of a young artist finding her creative voice.

The creators still find space to acknowledge the timeless middle-school growing pains for which the books have prepared so many younger kids: strict parents and absent parents and divorced parents, first kisses and first jobs and first periods. And they bring the same playful wit to these rites of passage that made their past projects so irresistible. Revisiting the older adaptations that I devoured as a kidparticularly the TV versionI was surprised at the extent to which saccharine dialogue and uneven performances rendered them unwatchable as an adult. Yet once I started the Netflix reboot, I found it hard to stop watching (in no small part because the familiar characters and cheerful tone felt so soothing at a time when comfort was in short supply). Shukert and Aniello have said that they want the show to have multi-generational appeal, and their referential comedy accomplishes it. There are Handmaids Tale jokes. In one scene, Kristy prepares to take out a rival baby-sitting service by reading Sun Tzus The Art of War. (The wearying trend of Netflix shows promoting other Netflix shows did, however, ruin any enjoyment I mightve gotten out of a montage where the girls redecorate a room as a cover of the Queer Eye theme plays.)

Not every artifact of girlhoods past deserves to be resurrected for the current generation. Good riddance, Twilight trilogy, with your super-retrograde take on supernatural romance (but thanks for giving us Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart). Check your privilege with the doorman, upcoming HBO Max reboot of Gossip Girl. If the Sweet Valley High twinsa virgin/whore binary with long blonde tresses and size 6 figuresnever give another imperfect reader a complex again, itll be no great loss. The Baby-sitters Club takes place in a younger, gentler universe, one ruled by friendship, responsibility and inclusion, not materialism or popularity politics. Though the some of the sitters may love clothes and boys, its their big ideas and special talents that really distinguish the BSC members. The characters appeal endures not in spite of their purity, but because of it.
Balmoral is where the Queen would usually spend the summer. (Getty Images)

Rangers at Balmoral Castle, the Queens home in Scotland, have revealed people are using the grounds as a wild toilet, and leaving wipes near the trails.

Staff at the site, which is where the Queen and her husband Prince Philip would usually spend their summer, tweeted pictures of discarded wipes and waste next to paths on the Aberdeenshire estate.

The public toilets at the site are currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Park rangers tweeted: Disappointed to see so many wipes discarded on the Estate today. Next to paths and monuments. Please remember there are no public toilets open for miles around at the moment.

Toilets near Loch Muick, which are run by Aberdeenshire council, have been broken into and conditions are becoming unsanitary according to the estate.

Read more: Queen thanks armed forces and veterans saying she knows 'only too well' the pride they feel

The rangers also offered advice and guidance on how best to go to the toilet outside, including asking people to urinate at least 30 metres away from lochs and streams, and defecate as far away as possible from buildings, paths, water courses and farm animals.

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The team added: Bury faeces in a shallow hole and replace the turf.

The rangers said the litter left behind was also a problem.

They tweeted: Part of the problem is that we are seeing a lot of non biodegradable wipes being discarded in the countryside.

Also, people are choosing to relieve themselves right next to busy paths or monuments rather than move a little bit further away to avoid contamination.

Read more: Prince Charles fascinated by 'dig for victory spirit' in Britain during pandemic

Regulations in Scotland related to the coronavirus lockdown differ to England, and people are currently advised to stay within a five-mile radius of their home when taking exercise or visiting friends and family.

Local government minister Simon Clarke and environment minister Rebecca Pow have written to councils asking them to reopen public toilets.
Partnerships Support New Solar Generation to Power Bank of America Charlotte Operations and Supports New Solar Projects in Local Communities

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America announced today it is partnering with Duke Energy to further expand its renewable energy commitment by powering its headquarters and other Charlotte operations with solar energy.

Duke Energy, the nation's largest electric utility, unveils its new logo. (PRNewsFoto/Duke Energy) (PRNewsfoto/Duke Energy)

Through a renewable energy sleeved-power purchase agreement (PPA), the company is participating in Duke Energy's Green Source Advantage (GSA) program. The bank is the first company and financial institution to sign a 10-year agreement for electricity and Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) through this program.

The purchase of a 25-megawatt (MW AC ) solar project's electricity output and RECs will cover 45% of Bank of America's electricity load in the state. By participating in Duke Energy's GSA program, Bank of America further demonstrates its commitment to reduce its operational impacts on the environment, including being carbon neutral and utilizing 100% renewable electricity across its global operations.

"These unique projects and partnerships build on our achievement of carbon neutrality and expand our renewable energy commitment. By driving more clean energy solutions in our facilities, we are developing a broader sustainable energy ecosystem to help transform our operations and the communities where our employees work and live," said Andrew Plepler, global head of Environmental, Social and Governance at Bank of America. "These partnerships bring to the forefront creative thinking and innovative solutions to address a changing climate and clean energy access."

This innovative project will be constructed in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. It also adds additional clean energy to the grid, supports jobs and the local economy. The project will include the installation of a pollinator habitat surrounding 70,000 solar panels, covering approximately 180 acres, and is expected to be online in 2022.

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"We continue to look for new and innovative ways to deliver more renewable energy to customers in North Carolina," said Stephen De May, Duke Energy's North Carolina president. "Customers want more flexibility and options for renewable energy and the Green Source Advantage makes that happen."

Silver Pine Energy, a joint venture between Silver Creek Energy and North Carolina developer Pine Gate Renewables, will oversee the development of the project and will support the engineering, procurement and construction services.

"Silver Pine Energy is very pleased to be a part of the Green Source Advantage program," said Silver Pine President Ben Catt. "We are grateful to partner with Duke Energy and Bank of America for this project, and excited to continue to do our part to bring more renewable energy online in North Carolina through innovative and exciting programs such as GSA."

Duke Energy's GSA program has 600 MW of capacity for large Duke Energy customers in North Carolina. Cities  like the city of Charlotte  are also eligible to participate.

Duke Energy maintains more than 3,300 MW of solar power on its energy grid in North Carolina, which could power about 700,000 home and businesses at peak output. The company also operates 40 solar facilities in the state. North Carolina currently ranks No. 2 in the nation for overall solar power.

The Green Source Advantage program is an outgrowth of 2017's landmark solar legislation in North Carolina . Other programs such as solar rebates for customers and solar leasing were also part of that legislation. Duke Energy piloted the program, called the Green Source Tariff, in 2015.

Learn more

Learn more about Bank of America's commitment to the environment and its environmental operations focus.

Learn more about Duke Energy's GSA program and its renewable energy commitment.

Learn more about Silver Pine Energy.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.

Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit's regulated utilities serve approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states  North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to more than 1.6 million customers in five states  North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects.

Silver Pine Energy

Silver Pine is a joint venture partnership between Silver Creek Energy and Pine Gate Renewables. Silver Pine is actively developing dozens of projects across the southeast and beyond. The collective partnership combines to offer industry leading capabilities as a developer, financier, EPC, and operator of solar projects in the United States. Silver Pine currently oversees the construction and operation of 200 MWs of solar projects in the southeast and is actively developing over 1GW of solar across the country.

Bank of America

At Bank of America, we're guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We're delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It's demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom. Click here to register for news email alerts.

www.bankofamerica.com

Reporters May Contact:

Kelly Sapp, Bank of America, 1.980.214.3070

Kelly.E.Sapp@bofa.com

Randy Wheeless, Duke Energy, 1.800.559.3853

Randy.Wheeless@duke-energy.com

Cision

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SOURCE Duke Energy; Bank of America
Photo credit: Ezra Shaw - Getty Images

From ELLE

Beyonce was honored at the 20th annual BET Awards tonight with the Humanitarian Award in honor of her BeyGOOD initiative. In her acceptance speech, she encouraged Black Americans to keep up the work to "change and dismantle a racist an unequal system."

Before Beyonce spoke, Michelle Obama honored "[her] girl" as someone who is "always turning up, looking out, and making us all a little bit better, a little more fierce." She was also honored in a tribute video by her mother, Tina Lawson, Tyler Perry, Ivy McGregor (her director of social responsibility), Trayvon Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, and more.

Here is her full speech:

"Thank you so much for this beautiful honor. I want to dedicate this award to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring memarching and fighting for change. Your voices are being heard, and you're proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain. Now we have one more thing we need to do to walk in our true power, and that is to vote. I'm encouraging you to continue to take action. Continue to change and dismantle a racist an unequal system. We have to continue to do this together. Continue to fight for each other and lift each other up, because there are people banking on us staying at home during the local elections and primaries happening in states across the country. We have to vote like our life depends on it, because it does. So please continue to be the change you want to see. Thank you, everyone who took the time to speak in that beautiful presentation, and thank you BET for this honor. It means so much to me, especially comin' from ya'll. I love you, D. God Bless you, and good night."

As part of her philanthropic efforts this year, Bey teamed up with her mom, Lawson, for the #IDidMyPart mobile COVID testing in their hometown, Houston. In her speech to the 2020 graduates on June 7, she pointed out that the coronavirus pandemic is "a racial pandemic," pointing to the fact that the Black community has been disproportionately affected by the virus in the U.S.

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On Juneteenth, she released her single "Black Parade" to honor the Black community and the date in 1865 when slaves in Texas were told that slavery had been abolished in the U.S. She also p0sted artists and creators whose work her fans could support.

Tonight, she posted a letter, which she wrote with her mother, to urge Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to pass the Heroes Act.

"This bill would help provide funding to ensure that our vote is protected this election cycle," she wrote. "Read the letter and add your voice with ours. Together we can be the change we want to see in the world. Sign the petition today by clicking the link in my bio. #ANDSTILLIVOTE."

Congratulations, Beyonce.

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GUIYANG, China, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by Huanqiu.com on Big data Revolutionizing the Agricultural Sector in China.

Having finished work for the day, a Shenzhen-based engineer, Luke Yang opens the refrigerator and grabs some sweetcorn. He smothers maize with a sauce of cream cheese and baked it in a preheated oven. In front of a tablet, Yang enjoys his tasty meal and giggles at the short videos.

At the same time, NadimTong, a farmer in Danzhai County, Guizhou Province also sits in front of the tablet, checking his online sales. Luke and Nadim have never seen each other before, but e-commerce makes possible the correlation between them.

The organization Nadim works for is Guizhou Yo Yo Green Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. As a leading e-commerce company, it leverages technology, especially big data, to boost productivity and profitability. The ensuing revenue growth has hauled more and more local farmers out of poverty.

During the past few years, Guizhou has advocated the intersection of big data and the farming industry. Similar to Yo Yo Green, a multitude of rural enterprises in Guizhou have also embraced the data-driven solutions to run an agricultural business.

Basically, big data can assist the value chain optimization, plug the lacunae in the supply and demand gap. As for the traditional farming industry, peasants send their harvest to a grocer or department chain. Such a model may cause the supply-demand imbalance as it is not always possible to know precisely how much a particular crop should be ready.

However, a large volume of agricultural corporations in Guizhou now apply big data to tackle that challenge. Meitan Qinyuanchun Tea Co. LTD. could be a case in point. Equipped with big data, peasants better track the consumer trend and cushion themselves against the vagaries of markets.

"The highly-specific customer set tailors product offerings to satisfy consumers' needs, aiding our strategic decision-making. Our farmers can adjust their production based on market demand, or rather, cut excess waste by growing less tea in low demand and use the space to grow alternatives," Jiwei Zhao, the president of Meitan Qinyuanchun Tea Co. LTD told the reporter of Huanqiu.com.

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Xiuwen Kiwifruit Industrial Technology Zone harnesses big data to boost productivity.

Zhao continued, "Thanks to the database and e-commerce, one mu (666.67 square meters) of tea currently generates 5,000 yuan (706 US dollars), with an increase of 1,000 yuan (141 US dollars)."

In addition to value chain efficiency, the local farming industry also harnesses big data to boost productivity. Agriculture always involves risk factors, such as unexpected natural disasters and crop diseases, which may destroy entire harvests and cause irreversible damage.

By comparison, armed with big data, farmers may no longer need to bear the brunt of such events. An increasing number of rural enterprises in Guizhou now utilize a data-driven assessment system to track crop health and evaluate the chances of disruptive events. Xiuwen Kiwifruit Industrial Technology Zone can be a role model.

"Our zone utilizes IoT devices installed on a farm to collect data including temperature, humidity, and pH value. In this way, we can monitor the field conditions and react to emerging issues instantly. The possible damage to crops could diminish to a minimum," said a staffer of Xiuwen County State-Owned Assets Investment and Management Co. LTD to the reporter of Huanqiu.com.

Due to the valid data collection, local farmers can gain unprecedented visibility into their operations. He added, "Based on the average output of 1,500 kg per mu (666.67 square meters), the cost-saving per mu reaches 2,000 yuan (283 US dollars). The kiwifruit in the whole county can thus increase the output value by about 360 million yuan (51 million US dollars)!"

It notes that farmers can derive insights from real-time big data to maximize the harvests. The main links of the kiwifruit zone involve 57,400 farmers. Their disposable income per capita averages 26,000 yuan (3,676 US dollars), 52% higher than their counterparts outside the zone. Owing to the improvement of rural livelihoods, this model drives greater efficiency in poverty-reduction programs.

Actually, the successful utilization of big data in various aspects of Guizhou's farming industry is inseparable from the government support. In recent years, Guizhou has accelerated the advancement of smart agriculture.

As the capital, Guiyang unswervingly advocates the application of big data to agriculture and pilots the deployment of IoT. To pave the way for smart agriculture, the government takes pains to build e-commerce platforms, improve the communication infrastructure and expand the talent pool.

According to Cyberspace Administration of China, in 2019, Guizhou constructed 49 county-level e-commerce operation centers and 8,601 rural e-commerce service stations, hence reducing the logistics cost by over 20%. Additionally, 90% of natural villages with more than 30 households in the province currently have access to the 4G network. The recent years also witnessed the development of Alibaba College of Guizhou Institute of Technology.

"Big data reshapes the entire agricultural economy. Guiyang values the intersection of big data and the farming industry, which could be an effective solution to poverty alleviation. Thanks to China International Big Data Industry Expo, the data-enabled agricultural model can be generalized to broader areas," Jun Wang, the Deputy Secretary of China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation told Huanqiu.com.

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200629/2843218-1

SOURCE Huanqiu.com
In this March 17, 2020, photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, a medical worker looks at CT scans at the Huoshenshan field hospital in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province. (Wang Yuguo/Xinhua via AP)

Screenwriter Charles Randolph is set to make his directorial debut with a drama about the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan that led to the current global pandemic.

Randolph, who is also set to write the as-yet-untitled drama for SK Global, previously wrote The Big Short and Bombshell, both of which also dramatised recent real-life events. Previous titles from SK Global include Hell or High Water and Moneyball.

According to a report on The Hollywood Reporter the film  which will be shot on location in China and other international locations  will cover "the dramatic weeks in China as the heroic medical community confronts a mysterious virus, soon to be come a global pandemic."

Randolph said, "Im very happy to be working with everyone at SK Global to get this right. The deeper we dig, the richer the story of Wuhan becomes. Its one thing to fight a monster. Its another thing to fight a monster in the dark."

Charles Randolph attends the 2020 Writers Guild Awards West Coast Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 01, 2020. (Charley Gallay/Getty Images for WGAW)

The coronavirus outbreak was first formally identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan and reported to the World Health Organisation on 31 December, 2019.

The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020, and a pandemic on 11 March. More than 10 million cases of COVID-19 have now been recorded in more than 188 countries and territories. The outbreak has resulted in more than 500,000 deaths globally to date.

Coronavirus: what happened today

Li Wenliang, the doctor at Wuhan Central Hospital who tried to issue the first warning about coronavirus in December last year to 30 colleagues, was warned by Chinese police to stop "making false comments". He died in February after contracting the virus.

WHO initially praised Chinas response to the outbreak, but in June it was reported that officials had delayed the release of vital information at a time when the outbreak arguably might have been dramatically slowed.

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"Charles takes us through an electrifying and revealing drama all of us are living through," SK Global's John Penotti and Charlie Corwin said in a statement.

"His vivid storytelling and insights are at the heart of this narrative. We couldnt be more pleased to support his vision and directorial debut."

The untitled Wuhan drama does not yet have a release date.
New York mayor Bill de Blasio has agreed to $1 billion in cuts to the NYPD as part of the citys budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

In the midst of massive George Floyd demonstrations and calls by activists to defund the police entirely, de Blasio has faced pressure from City Council members to enact reforms to the department. While initially skeptical, the mayor has agreed to certain cuts to the NYPDs $6 billion budget ahead of the citys Tuesday night budget-planning deadline.

New York faces a $9 billion deficit exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. On top of the closures and demonstrations, the city has seen an almost 50-percent increase in shootings in 2020 as compared to the previous year.

A number of agencies have been cut quite a bit, but were dealing with a specific reality with the NYPD, unquestionably, de Blasio said. That is because its important to show that were going to make changes in this city.

As part of the cuts, city officers currently stationed in schools will be transferred to the Education Department, while a July class of roughly 1,100 police recruits will be canceled. De Blasio did not go into details of the plan, which has received criticism from both sides of the political aisle.

We have caved to the mob in a moment we know will come back to haunt us. The mayor is smart enough to know that these actions will create a more violent environment in New York, Councilman Joseph Borelli (R., Staten Island) told the New York Post. This is what you get when you have government-by-hashtag.

Activist Anthonine Pierre, a spokeswoman for Communities United for Police Reform, said the proposed cuts did not go far enough.

Mayor de Blasio and Speaker [Corey] Johnson are using funny math and budget tricks to try to mislead New Yorkers into thinking that they plan to meet the movements demands for at least $1B in direct cuts, Pierre told Politico. This is a lie.

More from National Review
David Frost is expected to take up the new role in the Autumn

Boris Johnsons new National Security Adviser is expected to take a tougher line on China and the role of Huawei in Britain's 5G infrastructure, defence sources have said.

David Frost, the UKs current Brexit Sherpa, was described by one source as "a real hawk" on foreign policy, and could take a "much tougher" line than his predecessor Sir Mark Sedwill.

The Daily Telegraph understands that Mr Frost is expected to take a different position on Huawei to Sir Mark and that the outgoing Cabinet Secretary reportedly advocated in favour of keeping the Huawei deal.

The Prime Minister has continued to face a US backlash for approving the Chinese telecoms giant to construct part of the UKs 5G wireless network.

A review by the National Cyber Security Centre of Huawei's involvement in Britain's 5G network in the wake of the sanctions has since been launched.

Tobias Ellwood, Chairman of the Defence Select Committee, added that with the changing landscape he anticipated No 10 will be tasking the new National Security Advisor to prioritise a review of our relationship with an increasingly assertive China which is clearly not maturing into the global citizen the world had once hoped.

Instead Beijing is deliberately shunning international accountability and any desire to follow global rules. It will be for Mr Frost to establish what role Britain might play in re-invigorating Western resolve to challenge Chinas competing geo-political ideology.

Aside from his seemingly tougher stance on China many have questioned Mr Frosts lack of a security background and queried how someone who came up the diplomatic route would be best placed to step into this career which is usually a civil servant role.

It raises the question; do you have to have the right proven politics to get into senior positions now?, one former senior civil servant said. Sir Mark was a civil servant with an extensive background in security having served as an ambassador to Afghanistan, Deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan and as a Weapons Inspector for the United Nations, among various other international postings.

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Its a coordinating role and the person usually has some background in security, the source added.

Palpably he (Mr Frost) doesnt have any experience in the security field. Its a very complex, involved, rich area and hell have a very steep learning curve.

Another senior Tory MP described him as someone who doesnt set the world on fire but was well liked by the Prime Minister.

He cautioned that Mr Frost did not have the links to the agencies that Mark had but was competent and has Boris trust and thats the critical thing.

Robert Hannigan, former director of GCHQ, told the BBCs World at One that having a political appointee doing a national security role is a good thing.

He said the role was really about shaping under the Prime Minister's of the day's vision, which alliances matter most and cultivating those and making some very difficult political decisions, which is why it makes sense.

He added that the UKs relationship with Europe would be crucial to our economic future and therefore to our national security future. It's going to be the most important relationship we have, certainly for the next few years, and getting that right is the key part of the foreign policy job so it makes sense to me to have the same person doing both.

While timings are tight Downing Street indicated that it wanted a post-Brexit deal largely concluded by the time he takes up the new role at the end of August.

Mr Frost's role as chief negotiator will end once an agreement is ratified. However the Prime Ministers official spokesman conceded it is possible there could be a small overlap with the Brexit negotiations.

David has said he will of course remain the chief negotiator while the talks are being concluded, one way or another, he added.
Sir Mark Sedwill - Reuters

Boris Johnson will on Monday begin the search for a Brexiteer to run the Civil Service after its current head was ousted ahead of a wholesale reform of Whitehall.

Sir Mark Sedwill, the Cabinet Secretary, will stand down in September after losing a power struggle with Mr Johnsons chief adviser Dominic Cummings.

The civil service union responded by accusing Downing Street of spending months undermining Sir Mark with corrosive and cowardly anonymous briefings.

Mr Johnson intends to reform Whitehall by recruiting more Brexiteers and relocating Government departments to the regions, and made it clear to Sir Mark that he was not the man to drive the revolution.

As first reported by The Telegraph, Sir Mark will also lose his joint role as national security adviser, which will be handed to Mr Johnsons chief Brexit trade deal negotiator David Frost.

Mr Frost is considered one of the Prime Minister's most loyal officials, and Downing Street said his appointment means that for the first time the role of national security adviser is classed as a political role, tying it even closer to the aims of Number 10.

Mr Frost has been appointed to the national security role despite having little experience in the field. He will also have little time to prepare for the role, as he will remain in charge of Brexit trade negotiations throughout July and could be called upon if negotiations run beyond then, currently the Governments deadline for reaching an agreement.

In his letter to Mr Johnson, Sir Mark diplomatically said we have agreed that I will stand down and leave Government service, while Mr Johnson said he had earned the gratitude of the nation.

But Sir Mark, who was appointed by Theresa May and does not share the Prime Ministers zeal for Brexit or for reform, had been the subject of constant negative briefings which were blamed on Number 10.

He was also sidelined when Mr Johnson appointed the Duke of Cambridges private secretary Simon Case as his permanent secretary and gave him the task of leading the Government review into the two metre social distancing restrictions. Mr Case is now a front-runner to replace Sir Mark.

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Senior Tory MPs said the departure of Mr Sedwill had removed the biggest remaining obstacle to root and branch reform of the civil service and would allow Mr Johnson to recruit a "believer" to implement the reforms he and Mr Cummings had put on hold because of coronavirus.

His departure comes ahead of a week in which Mr Johnson tries to switch the nations focus from crisis management to planning for the future with a major speech tomorrow the centrepiece of a series of announcements designed to get him back on the front foot.

Downing Street said the formal process of recruiting a new Cabinet Secretary would begin next month, with applications invited from current and former permanent secretaries in Government departments.

Number 10 has been populated by Mr Johnson with veterans of the Vote Leave campaign, including Mr Cummings. Michael Gove, who ran the Vote Leave campaign with Mr Johnson, used a speech at the weekend to reveal their plans for Whitehall.

He said the Government needed to be less southern, less middle class...closer to the 52 per cent who voted to Leave, and more understanding of why. Almost every arm of Government, and those with powerful voices within it, seemed estranged from the majority in 2016.

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He also said Government departments will be relocated to the regions, away from the looking glass world of Westminster.

On Sunday night Dave Penman, the general secretary of the First Division Association, which represents senior civil servants, said: The danger here is that No 10 may have won this particular round of their power play, but at what cost?..No CEO or chair of a private company would act in this way and expect their organisation to thrive.

He accused Number 10 or those around it of wanting to undermine Sir Mark and the leadership of the civil service, with a series of anonymous briefings against him over many months.

Mr Penman added: Not only is it a self-defeating and corrosive tactic, its also a cowardly one, safe in the knowledge that those who are briefed against are unable to publicly respond.

Labour accused Mr Johnson and Mr Cummings of being preoccupied with reshuffling Whitehall at a time when millions of jobs were under threat because of the coronavirus crisis.

Sir Mark will be given a life peerage and will also take up a new role heading a G7 panel on global economic security as the UK assumes the presidency of the organisation in January.

Mr Frost will also be given a peerage.
Dassault Systemes and Government Tool Room & Training Centre (GTTC) has set up four 3DEXPERIENCE Innovation Centres in the districts of Raichur, Bellary, Bidar and Yadgir (Gulbarga) in the Kalyana-Karnataka (Hyderabad-Karnataka) Region. The centres aims at reducing the skill gap between the students and the industry to facilitate employment opportunities in Karnataka in the realm of automotive design, engineering and manufacturing and in multi-industry processes like additive manufacturing, composites and mechatronics. Dassault Systemes has undertaken such similar initiatives in the past at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in Karnataka and in over 60 locations in Andhra Pradesh respectively.

The state of Karnataka is hub for leading automotive & aerospace OEMs and Tier 1 supplier companies needing a full-fledged ecosystem of varied skilled workforce right from concept design till tooling design and manufacturing. Also, Karnataka is emerging as electric vehicle and space destination for many companies and this would need the existing workforce to be skilled in the newer domain mechatronics which plays crucial role in adoption of model based system engineering. To further strengthen Indias inherent capabilities for engineering and manufacturing, it is imperative to prepare the workforce of the future and foster transfer of industry knowledge in new domains like additive manufacturing (3D Printing), composites which are applicable across several different industry domains for light weighting and complex designs.

The 3DEXPERIENCE Innovation Centres are targeted towards developing skilled workforce of the future to catalyze the industry growth in the region. At these centres, students will be trained on Dassault Systemes 3DEXPERIENCE platform and will be provided highly coveted industry-grade skill enhancement to enable better productivity and job prospects. At the successful completion of the training, Dassault Systemes along with GTTC will provide a joint certificate.

H. RAGHAVENDRA IRPS, Managing Director, GTTC said, Karnataka has been at the forefront of upskilling the manpower in the state to meet the dynamic needs of the manufacturing industry. As industry is evolving and going high-tech with adoption of advanced manufacturing practices, the first and foremost priority for the state is to be able to provide the right skills for the future workforce. With the ambition of increasing the employability of students and the professional skills of skilled manpower needed for the industry, Dassault Systemes 3DEXPERIENCE Innovation Centres will provide access to over 35 years of expertise and technology garnered from collaboration with the worlds leading Industrial companies. Dassault Systemes will help to nurture the talent through virtual and real experiences with innovative learning paths based on domain and industry practices. This would help in the socio economic development of the Kalyana-Karnataka Region (KKR).

Deepak NG, Managing Director, India, Dassault Systemes said, Developing the workforce of the future to meet the industrial requirements is extremely critical for governments and industry alike. Partnering with GTTC to set up 3DEXPERIENCE Innovation Centres in key locations in Karnataka will help the engineering talent at district level to be certified on a global and common industry platform- the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Karnataka continues to be a significant state for us in our business with strong inroads in automotive, aerospace & industrial equipment manufacturers as well as our association with the educational institutions in the regions.
First ICM device with remote programming paired with dual-stage arrhythmia detection algorithm

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for the LUX-Dx Insertable Cardiac Monitor (ICM) System, a new, long-term diagnostic device implanted in patients to detect arrhythmias associated with conditions such as atrial fibrillation (AF), cryptogenic stroke and syncope.

The Boston Scientific LUX-Dx Insertable Cardiac Monitor System is designed with a dual-stage algorithm that detects and then verifies potential arrhythmias before an alert is sent to clinicians.

The new LUX-Dx ICM System is designed with a dual-stage algorithm that detects and then verifies potential arrhythmias before an alert is sent to clinicians, thereby providing actionable data for clinical decision-making. Further, the remote programming capabilities of the device via the LATITUDE Clarity Data Management System website allow physicians and care teams to adjust event detection settings without requiring an in-person patient appointment, a feature unavailable on any other ICM currently on the market.

"For physicians, receiving accurate monitoring data and having remote access to programming provides the opportunity to operate with more efficiency and confidence," said Kenneth Stein, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer, Rhythm Management and Global Health Policy, Boston Scientific. "The LUX-Dx ICM System is designed to provide physicians the ability to accelerate critical clinical decisions and allow them to spend more time focusing on patient outcomes by reviewing monitoring data and catching false positive detections without compromising sensitivity."

The dual-stage algorithm within the LUX-Dx ICM System can be programmed to identify AF, atrial flutter, rhythm pause, bradycardia and tachycardia episodes and allows the device to detect arrhythmias each time established thresholds or parameters are exceeded. An additional level of verification filters is then applied, which was developed to catch false positive detections before an alert is sent. Additionally, after implant, patients are provided with a mobile device preloaded with the MyLUX app which connects via Bluetooth to their ICM device. The app transmits device data daily, or as needed, to the LATITUDE Clarity Data Management System giving physicians and care teams timely access to vital information.

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"The LUX-Dx ICM System represents a significant step forward in developing the diagnostic portfolio for Boston Scientific," said Scott Olson, senior vice president and president, Rhythm Management, Boston Scientific. "The addition of this new offering, alongside existing products and services, affirms our commitment to providing meaningful innovations for the detection and treatment of patients with cardiac arrhythmias."

The company will immediately begin a limited market release of the LUX-Dx ICM System in the U.S. with full launch of the product commencing later this year.

Please visit our Electrophysiology Specialties page to learn more about our products.

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for 40 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our business plans and product performance and impact. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: future economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; new product introductions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A  Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A  Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

CONTACTS:

Steve Bailey

Media Relations

(651) 582-4343 (office)

Steve.Bailey@bsci.com

Susie Lisa, CFA

Investor Relations

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BSXInvestorRelations@bsci.com

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Michael Gove said the 'looking glass' world of Westminster had caused Whitehall to be 'estranged from the majority' in 2016 - Pippa Fowles/10 Downing Street

Boris Johnson will reform Whitehall by recruiting more Brexiteers and relocating Government departments to the regions, Michael Gove has said.

The moves will come as part of a wholesale reform of the civil service that will include ousting its head, Sir Mark Sedwill.

Mr Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said the "looking glass" world of Westminster had caused Whitehall to be "estranged from the majority" when the EU referendum was held in 2016.

Mr Johnson, together with his chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, and Mr Gove, has been plotting a huge shake-up of Whitehall since he got into power and is ready to implement the plan after it was delayed by the coronavirus crisis.

Sir Mark, the Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service, is expected to announce his departure as early as Monday after Mr Johnson made clear to aides that he does not consider him the right person to implement the reforms.

Sir Mark Sedwill - Eddie Mulholland

Mr Gove used a major speech at the weekend to set out the plan, saying Whitehall could be broken up because "all major Government departments are based in London... Westminster and Whitehall can become a looking-glass world, rooted in assumptions which are inescapably metropolitan".

He said the Government's first priority should be to represent the "forgotten man" of the sort who voted Leave in 2016, adding: "We can, literally, reduce the distance between Government and people by relocating Government decision-making centres to different parts of our United Kingdom. And in doing so we should be striving to reflect the full diversity of our United Kingdom.

"How can we in Government be less southern, less middle-class, less reliant on those with social science qualifications and more welcoming to those with physical science and mathematical qualifications  how can we be less anywhere and more somewhere, closer to the 52 per cent who voted to leave and more understanding of why?

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"Almost every arm of Government, and those with powerful voices within it, seemed estranged from the majority in 2016."

Sir Mark, who is also the national security adviser, is regarded by Downing Street as being too much of a Europhile and establishment figure to force through the reforms.

Delivering the annual lecture at the Ditchley charity, which fosters transatlantic relations, Mr Gove said: "The structures, ambitions and priorities of the Government machine need to change if real reform is to be implemented and endure. It is part of my job in the Cabinet Office to help drive change."

Reflecting views expressed frequently by Mr Cummings, he said the Government wants more civil servants who understand maths, statistics and probability, and wants them to develop the expertise of "consultant surgeons" so they can propose meaningful policies.

Blaming the "whirligig" of civil service jobs that encourages people to switch roles to gain promotion rather than building up "deep knowledge" of one subject, he said policy papers prepared for ministers tend to be "formulaic, over-long, jargon-heavy and back-covering".

Instead, he said, they should present "hard choices" for ministers based on expert knowledge.

Mr Gove said the so-called "fourth industrial revolution", in which many jobs will be replaced using artificial intelligence, would mean that "many current jobs and occupations either disappear or alter dramatically. The division between the fortunate and the forgotten could deepen perilously".
Last week, Senate Democrats rejected South Carolina GOP senator Tim Scotts proposal on police reform. Maybe you think that bill goes far enough, maybe you dont, but consider the proposals in Scotts legislation:

Full disclosure of disciplinary record when a department is considering hiring an officer from another department.

Requiring police departments to report to the FBI when an officer has discharged his or her weapon or used force.

Strengthen the training methods and tactics throughout law enforcement jurisdictions, especially regarding de-escalation of force and the duty to intervene, providing law enforcement with new funding to do so.

The legislation does not ban chokeholds, but requires that all states and local units of government put in place tough policies severely restricting the use of chokeholds, except in situations where deadly force is authorized and bars any department that does not institute those policy changes from receiving federal grant money.

Create a new federal crime of falsifying a police report to hide a civil-rights violation, with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Authorizes $100 million in federal funding for police body cameras.

Makes lynching a federal crime.

If the House and Senate considered each of those proposals separately, each one would probably pass by a large bipartisan majority. But that legislation probably wont get considered at all, because Senate Democrats believe Scotts bill doesnt go far enough. The objection that Democrats have mentioned the most is that the legislation doesnt include a chokehold ban, that it merely withholds federal grant money from police departments that dont ban chokeholds themselves.

If this legislation were enacted into law, perhaps police officers would keep using chokeholds and claiming that the situation authorized deadly force, or maybe they would keep using it and attempt to cover it up, even with the stiff penalties laid out in the bill. Or maybe police departments would conclude that chokeholds represented too much risk, both to the particular officer and to the department as a whole, and stop using them. We are unlikely to get to know if these proposals would make a difference, because congressional Democrats are unwilling to permit debate on it.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is as addicted to furious, hyperbolic, negotiation-destroying rhetoric as the president is, declared, So far [the Republicans] were trying to get away with murder, actually. The murder of George Floyd. Democrats appear pretty confident that they can paint the GOP bill as not just an insufficient half-measure but something that is akin to a racist murder.

We cant make any incremental progress or try any smaller-scale potential solution because those who want grandiose sweeping actions insist it must be their solution or no solution.

Yes, the president of the United States is a rhetorical arsonist who pours gasoline on the fire of any social or political conflict. He thinks of himself as a terrific dealmaker, but his negotiations rarely end in substantive grand bargains, whether its the government shutdown, his endless fight for more funding for a border wall, trade talks with China, or nuclear talks with Kim Jong Un.

But the presidents mentality is now widespread in Washington. Many figures in political leadership have concluded that we are in a new era where there is no reward for a compromise that actually enacts legislation. There is no upside to enacting an imperfect solution; the public has no appetite for incremental changes that move slowly and steadily toward better outcomes.

It didnt start with Trump. I went back and checked a Peggy Noonan column about Obamas rhetoric, shortly before his second inaugural:

What was remarkable about the presidents news conference Monday is that he didnt seem to think he had to mask his partisan rancor or be large-spirited. He bristled with unashamed hostility for Republicans on the Hill. They are holding the economy ransom, they are using the threat of crashing the American economy as leverage, some are absolutist while others are consumed with partisan brinksmanship. They are holding a gun at the head of the American people. And what is motivating and propelling them is not a desire for debt reduction, as they claim. They are suspicious about governments commitment . . . to make sure that seniors have decent health care as they get older. They have suspicions about Social Security. They have suspicions about whether government should make sure that kids in poverty are getting enough to eat, or whether we should be spending money on medical research. . . . No one has good faith but him. No one is sincere but him. Doesnt this get boring, even to him?

Some elected officials prefer to have a problem unaddressed through legislation, believing the lack of action will help their party in November  the inaction will dispirit the grassroots of the party of the majority, and outrage the grassroots of the party of the minority. No doubt Democratic challengers in the Senate are preparing campaign ads charging that after the death of George Floyd, the incumbent Senate Republicans did nothing. Thats not true, but thats unlikely to matter. How many people who see a 30-second ad bother to look up the details?

Recent history should show us that November elections rarely bring a party the sweeping control of both houses of Congress and the presidency  and that when they do, the filibuster often limits what can be passed anyway. Few congressional leaders spend much time planning or even trying to get anything passed in cycles of divided government. Democrats pass symbolic bills in the House, trying to give the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee fodder for messaging against a do-nothing Senate. Republicans pass little in the Senate, knowing Pelosi will never allow it through the House.

And on and on it goes, cycle after cycle. A bill that might be an imperfect solution but is still a broadly supported step in the right direction, like Scotts, goes nowhere because so many lawmakers who see themselves as leaders and public servants are convinced that the next election will bring their unjustly delayed supermajority. Only then will they be able to get down to the business of legislating.

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Shannon Lee, daughter of legendary martial artist and pop culture icon Bruce Lee, denounced President Donald Trumps use of the term kung flu as a nickname for COVID-19. She also shared thoughts on harnessing the philosophy of kung fu to overcome the insult.

Lee, who regularly writes and speaks on her fathers philosophies, told NBC Asian America the presidents racist rhetoric runs counter to the actual spirit of the practice of kung fu as well as the late icons teachings. Trump used the term at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally last week after joking that the coronavirus "has more names than any disease in history."

"I can name 'kung flu,'" Trump told the crowd. "I can name 19 different versions of names."

Despite backlash from the Asian American community, the president uttered the phrase again just days later, before a crowd at Dream City Church in Phoenix while his supporters chanted the term as a sort of rallying cry. Many officials have also doubled down on Trumps words, with White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, who previously slammed the terminology as highly offensive, defending him.

Buzz Patterson, a Republican candidate running for a House seat in California, went so far as to rhetorically ask, If kung flu is racist, does that make Bruce Lee and kung fu movies racist?

Saying 'kung flu' is in some ways similar to someone sticking their fingers in the corners of their eyes and pulling them out to represent an Asian person, Shannon Lee said. It's a joke at the expense of a culture and of people. It is very much a racist comment ... in particular in the context of the times because it is making people unsafe.

She added, laughing upon hearing Pattersons rationale: My father fought against racism in his movies. Like, literally.

Image: Bruce Lee (Sunset Boulevard / Corbis via Getty Images)

Lee pointed out that in Chinese, the term kung fu refers to any discipline or skill that is achieved through hard work and practice. In referring to Chinese martial arts, she noted kung fu is a centuries-old, time-honored tradition grounded in fortitude and courage.

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Given the hate attacks and violence that have coincided with the use of terms like kung flu and Chinese virus, Lee said she finds the language troubling, particularly when keeping the roots of the martial arts practice in mind.

From a very pure martial arts standpoint, I think it's not appropriate for it to be used in this way, she said. It seems so diametrically opposed to the notion of kung fu. Kung fu is to build inner strength.

Lee cautioned against normalizing such divisive speech, emphasizing that in various aspects of her fathers life, he strived, instead, to cultivate unity. He actively hit back against reducing cultures to a stereotype.

While trying to make it in Hollywood, Bruce Lee refused to take roles that cast Chinese people in a negative light, thus losing out on certain opportunities. He ultimately moved back to Hong Kong due, in part, to the difficulty in finding appropriate roles.

He didn't believe in wanting to put forth these negative, stereotyping portrayals of people. He himself believed very much and worked very hard on himself, at being the best version of himself that he could be, being the most authentic and real expression of himself as a human being, she said. And that was what he wanted to share with the world.  He wanted to present something more real, more powerful and more authentically from himself, and that reflected his culture.

Lee noted that her father's respect for cultures and efforts to foster solidarity extended beyond his time in Hollywood. He also applied this mentality within martial arts: He believed the traditional styles had a tendency to separate people, as practitioners wouldnt reach across genres to learn from others, so he incorporated styles from various cultures into his own practice.

He had different sayings like, Under the sky, under the heavens, we're all one family, she said. He wanted to be considered first and foremost as a human being.

Lee acknowledged that amid the rising anti-Asian sentiment, many Asian Americans may feel uneasy. But she noted that at the center of kung fu practice is a sense of patience in developing oneself and said people in the community shouldnt internalize such hateful words.

Let what other people are saying or doing be a reflection of them and not a reflection of you, she said.
Record June Run Rate; Temporary Regulatory Filing Relief for Q1

VANCOUVER, BC, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - C21 Investments Inc. (the "Company") (CSE: CXXI) and (OTCQB: CXXIF) today announced the following (currency in US Dollars):

C21 Investments Inc. Logo (CNW Group/C21 Investments Inc.)

CEO, Sonny Newman, extends for a 3-year term

Debt Deferral Arrangement and Fernley Lease Extension

Record Revenue Run Rate in June at Nevada Dispensaries

CEO 3-Year Term Extension, Debt Deferral, and Fernley Lease Extension:

The Company is pleased to announce that its President and CEO, Sonny Newman, has agreed to extend his term for an additional 3 years. Under Mr. Newman's leadership, C21 has successfully integrated and streamlined its operating assets resulting in positive cashflow from operations for the Company.

Mr. Newman stated "I am pleased to commit the next three years to pursuing a prudent growth strategy for C21. With the continued assistance of the Company's strategic advisors, CB1 Capital Advisors and Eight Capital, we are optimistic C21 will soon secure a favorable, non-dilutive debt financing arrangement. This financing would allow the Company to meet its current debt obligations, provide growth capital to fund acquisitions in Nevada, and be serviceable with existing cash flows."

Maturity of the outstanding principal balance of the note totalling $18,200,000 held by Mr. Newman and due July 1, 2020 has been deferred until January 1, 2021. Monthly payments will continue pursuant to the existing terms of the note. In addition, the term of the lease for the Silver State Relief premises in Fernley, Nevada has been extended until July 31, 2023 on the existing terms and conditions, including the Company's option to purchase the leased premises.

The Company's Nevada dispensaries are experiencing a record run rate for June, which is on track to beat the record month of August 2019. The run rate for June is currently trending 26% higher than that of Q1. The Silver State Relief dispensaries also saw an increase in Nevada market share to 6% of the State, as well as 36% of Washoe County for the most recent monthly State data1 for Q1 of this year.



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Temporary Regulatory Filing Relief:

As a result of logistical delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company is relying on the British Columbia Securities Commission's blanket order, BC Instrument 51-517 Temporary Exemption from Certain Corporate Finance Requirements (the "Exemption"), and comparable exemptions in other Canadian provincial jurisdictions to postpone the filing of its first-quarter unaudited financial statements, and management's discussion and analysis (the "Q1 Filings"). The Company is otherwise required to release its Q1 Filings on or prior to June 29, 2020 pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations, which is now estimated to be filed on or before August 13, 2020, no later than 45 days after the original due date, in reliance of the Exemption.

The Company has imposed an insider trading blackout pending the release of its Q1 Filings. Members of management, directors and other insiders will comply with the Company's insider trading policy and the guidelines described in section 9 of National Policy 11-207 Failure-to-File Cease Trade Orders and Revocations in Multiple Jurisdictions, until the Q1 Filings have been released.

The Company is also relying on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission order (Release No. 34-88465) dated March 25, 2020 (the "SEC Order"), providing conditional relief to public companies that are unable to timely comply with their filing obligations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the Company is relying on the SEC Order to extend the June 29, 2020 due date for the filing of the first-quarter report on Form 10-Q (the "Q1 Report") estimated to be filed on or before August 13, 2020 (no later than forty-five (45) days after the original due date).

The CSE has not accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About C21 Investments Inc.

C21 Investments is a vertically integrated cannabis company that cultivates, processes, and distributes quality cannabis and hemp-derived consumer products in the United States. The Company is focused on value creation through the disciplined acquisition and integration of core retail, manufacturing, and distribution assets in strategic markets, leveraging industry-leading retail revenues with high-growth potential multi-market branded consumer packaged goods. The Company owns Silver State Relief and Silver State Cultivation in Nevada, and Phantom Farms, Swell Companies, Eco Firma Farms, and Pure Green in Oregon. These brands produce and distribute a broad range of THC and CBD products from cannabis flowers, pre-rolls, cannabis oil, vaporizer cartridges and edibles. Based in Vancouver, Canada, additional information on C21 Investments can be found at www.sedar.com and www.cxxi.ca.

Cautionary Statement:

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements about the Company's potential debt financing, the ability of the Company to service its current secured debt obligations, the Company's progress in resolving its short-term debt obligations, the performance and opportunities for growth in Nevada, the performance of the Company's brands and the continued demand for cannabis products, and the nature and extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including the ability of the Company to restructure and service its secured debt, the availability of future debt financing on terms acceptable to the Company or at all, and the ability of the Company's operations to continue in the ordinary course in the COVID 19 environment. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the consequences of not restructuring its secured debt, the ability to continue to service its debt, the inability of the Company to obtain debt financing on terms acceptable to the Company or at all, risks and uncertainties arising from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations, the Company's continued performance in Nevada, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the Company's expectations as of the date hereof, and are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations.







1 State of Nevada sales data for March, 2020: https://tax.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/taxnvgov/Content/TaxLibrary/NV-Marijuana-Revenue-FY20(6).pdf

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Here are some unexpected developments: In Mississippi, Republicans have decided to excise the Confederate flag; in California, Democrats have decided to legalize racial discrimination.

Who had that on their 2020 bingo card?

From the end of Reconstruction to the early 21st century, Mississippi Democrats had 136 years of legislative control to get around to that Confederate flag issue, but they left doing so to the Republicans who took control of both houses of the state legislature in 2012. Peculiar that an absolute moral necessity such as that escaped Mississippi Democrats for so long  not in the era of Theodore Bilbo but in the era of Barack Obama.

The explanation for that paradox is the calculating politics of racial clientelism, which Mississippi Democrats can see in action on the other side of the country as it is implemented by their fellow partisans in California. In 1996, California voters by a substantial margin enacted a constitutional amendment reading: The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group, on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting. The Democrat-run state legislature has just voted to repeal that amendment.

California had a long struggle with race-based admissions practices in its public universities, most famously with the Bakke case, in which the Supreme Court upheld race-based policies. The 1996 amendment was an attempt to sort that out in the most straightforward fashion, by insisting that the state take no notice of race at all in its policies. That was, for some generations, the great aspiration of most good-hearted Americans, who took it to be the dream of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.s famous speech.

But the Democratic Party, whether in California or in Mississippi, is not interested in high-minded liberal principle. It is interested in spoils and patronage. And in an education-driven society such as ours, there are few more attractive forms of patronage than controlling admissions to universities, handing them out on a constituency-by-constituency basis the way old-fashioned ward-heelers still hand out turkeys at Thanksgiving.

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Predictably, the 1996 amendments largely conservative supporters were smeared as covert racists looking to keep Californias universities white. That is one of the unlovely quirks of racial politics: The people who want to encode racial preferences into law and practice are the ones who insist they are anti-racists, and the people who want to encode racial neutrality into law and practice are taken as the latest incarnation of the Ku Klux Klan.

But reality is a little more complicated: Californias universities werent overwhelmingly white in 1996  white students composed less than 40 percent of the students, more than a third of whom were Asian Americans. Black students were 3.7 percent of the student body in 1996, exactly the same as they were in 2010. The number of Asian-American students climbed slightly after the amendment, and the number of white students declined significantly, to 27 percent. The big change was the share of Latino students, rising from 13 percent to 20 percent. Under Californias officially colorblind policy, the share of black students has remained unchanged (even as the black population of California declines) and the number of Asian-American and Latino students has grown. The white share of students has declined along with the white share of the population. It is difficult to see anything outrageous in any of that.

California Democrats such as Assemblyman Todd Gloria insist that eliminating rules against racial discrimination are necessary to advance true racial and gender equity in this state. That is, of course, nonsense. It is, in fact, self-refuting nonsense  the fact that the ethnic makeup of Californias state universities does not reflect the ethnic makeup of the state is not an indictment of colorblind university policies but an indictment of the states K12 education system and other institutions. Racial preferences do not create equality  they camouflage inequality.

Californias highly regarded state schools are extremely selective: Berkeley, for example, accepts fewer than 15 percent of applicants, putting its selectivity somewhere between Swarthmores and Cornells  pretty rarefied territory. On the other hand, California has some of the worst-performing public schools in the country, with fewer than 30 percent of eighth-graders achieving proficiency in math or reading as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Californias problem isnt who is going to Berkeleys law school  it is who isnt finishing high school, or who is finishing high school with a woeful lack of preparation for either work or higher education.

But addressing Californias actual educational problems would not pay any dividends to Democrats in Sacramento, who are utterly dominated by the states unionized public-sector workers, teachers prominent among them. Giving politicians more influence over who gets into college, on the other hand, is all gravy.

The events of the past several months are a reminder (albeit a destructive reminder in some cases) that the United States  its government and its people  have very often failed to live up to the best of our creed. The most effective advocates for civil rights, from Frederick Douglass to King, have always understood that the shortcoming was not in American principles but in our failure to live up to them. One of those principles is that all men are equal under the law and in relation to the state. That principle may have gone out of fashion in some circles, but it is still a good one, and worth defending in California and everywhere else.

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Wearing personal protective equipment, registered nurse April Bandi cares for a patient in a special negative pressure isolation room at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego on April 10. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

The seeds of the latest surge in coronavirus cases in California appear to have been planted around Memorial Day.

People had been pent up in their homes; businesses shuttered for months amid the stay-at-home order began to open. And as the reopening accelerated, a lot of people were ready to get out.

The beckon of summer rituals followed  day trips to the beach, Memorial Day barbecues, graduation celebrations, Father's Day gatherings. Around the same time, historic protests began, triggered by outrage over the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd while in police custody, which sparked unprecedented demonstrations across the nation, including in the streets of California.

It would take a few weeks of incubation. But it's now clear that Memorial Day was the beginning of California's turn from coronavirus success story to cautionary tale. A Los Angeles Times analysis has found that new coronavirus hospitalizations in California began accelerating around June 15 at a rate not seen since early April.

Statewide, the daily number of people in hospitals with a confirmed infection of the coronavirus has jumped more than 50% from when it had been stable in mid-April, The Times analysis found. Several counties said hospitals are near capacity  Riverside County reported 99% of its normal supply of beds in intensive care units occupied  while others including Los Angeles County say such conditions may be weeks away.

And officials and experts say the worst is still yet to come. It can take two weeks for the virus to incubate in the body, and an additional week or two after that to result in the hospitalization of severely ill people. That means more people may have gotten exposed to the virus around the week of Memorial Day or shortly thereafter, said Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, a medical epidemiologist and infectious-diseases expert at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.

But the behavior that is causing the rapid spread is continuing. Businesses havent been adhering to health orders to wear masks in public and stay away from crowded situations. About half of the restaurants and bars visited by Los Angeles County inspectors over the weekend were not complying with the new mask rules, and officials have seen examples of overcrowding in public spaces.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom's move to shut down bars in L.A. County and other hot spots might help, but those establishments represent only a small part of the problem.

Ive had an explosion of new outbreaks in workplaces. One that got shut down this past weekend, it had over 115 infections," said Barbara Ferrer, public health director for Los Angeles County, which surpassed 100,000 cumulative cases and 3,330 total deaths on Monday. And weve had numerous examples of outbreaks happening because families are getting together with extended family members and friends to celebrate weddings, things they had postponed, and again, created higher risk, and there was transmission."

Officials are looking with increased anxiety to the upcoming Fourth of July weekend, urging residents to only spend time in person with members of their households, avoid crowds and follow social distancing rules, while at the same time bracing for a surge in hospitalizations by people already exposed to the virus.

Los Angeles County announced beaches will close during the holiday weekend in hopes of reducing crowds.

It was clear from the outset that easing stay-at-home orders would result in a higher level of cases  but the rapid spread caught many by surprise.

Continuing to keep society shut down at such an extreme state for too long causes its own ill effects, whether it be more homelessness and deaths due to greater poverty or the effects of denying schoolchildren their in-person education, Kim-Farley said.

Its a luxury to shelter in place, added Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, chair of UC San Franciscos Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. "We have to think about how we open and minimize risk. We're going to be living with this virus for a long time."

But there is no textbook to figure out how to reopen California safely amid the world's worst pandemic in a century, faced with a never-before-seen coronavirus.

The only way to figure out how to open is to do it gradually and dial things back if the disease spreads so fast it might overwhelm hospitals later. And that's what's happening now, Kim-Farley said.

"Now, we're recognizing things are going up. So we're dialing it back down again," Kim-Farley said.

A Times analysis found that as of Monday, 5.9% of coronavirus test results received over the last week are positive. That's a significant jump from the figure the previous week, when it was 4.9%. Younger people are making up a greater share of those that are infected, a sign they are beginning to socialize again.

The rate is even worse in Los Angeles County: As of Monday, the seven-day average of coronavirus tests being confirmed as positive was 8.4%. In late May, it was 4.6%.

Closing bars in hard-hit counties marked the state's biggest step in ramping back reopening plans. But it warns more drastic restrictions could be coming.

The bottom line is: Were doing this because we have seen an increase in the spread of this virus, Newsom said. We need to take further steps and thats exactly what we did this weekend.

State officials say the consumption of alcohol in bars impairs judgment and leads to decreased use of face coverings and failing to keep socially distant from other people. The spaces are also raucous, often requiring people to speak in louder voices, which can lead to the spray of potentially infectious oral droplets while talking.

As of Monday, 14 California counties have seen increases in hospitalizations that have exceeded 10% in the last three days, according to The Times' California coronavirus tracker. They affect the state's most populated regions: Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego County and the Central Valley.

Kim-Farley, a former senior health official with L.A. County and the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said there are three protagonists  individuals, businesses and county governments  who each need to do their part to limit the spread of the disease.

Not only do government officials need to analyze data for worrisome trends, but individuals must wear face coverings and stay six feet away from other people, and business owners need to keep their establishments from getting crowded and regularly disinfect high-touch surfaces.

It's possible too many Californians responded to the reopenings of businesses as a license to resume life as they did before the pandemic arrived, Kim-Farley said. Californians never endured the trauma New Yorkers did of seeing their hospital system get overloaded by COVID-19 patients in the spring.

"It may be that they're no longer as conscious about masking and physical distancing," Kim-Farley said.

Another factor is that the political discord in the U.S. and California over the response to the pandemic, such as political fights over using face masks, is hurting our ability to control the epidemic, experts say. Countries that have had a unified public response to broad pandemic control measures, such as New Zealand and Taiwan, have kept the virus from spiraling out of control, experts say.

The pandemic could have triggered the sense of unifying around a common enemy in the U.S.

"Unfortunately, we've made it such that it's become very divisive and become very politicized," Kim-Farley said.

A Los Angeles taco chain said Sunday it was forced to temporarily close two locations after a mounting onslaught of harassment from customers angered by the business no mask, no service policy.

Experts say they hope society will learn from the spike.

Dr. Otto Yang, professor of medicine and associate chief of infectious diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said he thought L.A. County reopened too quickly.

For a lot of the things that really work to reduce transmission  like contact tracing and even masks  depend on your starting at a low [disease] control level, Yang said. Its back to the fire analogy: If the fire isnt down to just smoldering embers, but if theres still active pockets of fire, then backing off will let stuff flare up very quickly.

With the benefit of hindsight, its now clear that officials should have made more enforcement of social distancing and masking a higher priority. Earlier implementation of a mask-wearing order wouldve helped, too.

At this point, Yang said he doesnt think the public would tolerate a return to the springtime stay-at-home order. So officials will instead need to focus on more targeted approaches, such as the shutting down of bars and prioritizing the highest-risk activities.

Times staff writers Maura Dolan, Laura Newberry and Taryn Luna contributed to this report.
Democratic Party politicians are pushing to drop film legend John Waynes name, statue and other likenesses from Orange Countys airport in California because of his racist and bigoted comments.

The Los Angeles Times reported that, earlier this week, officials passed an emergency resolution condemning Waynes racist and bigoted statements made in a 1971 interview and are calling on the Orange County Board of Supervisors to drop his name, statue and other likenesses from the international airport.

The resolution asked the board to restore its original name: Orange County Airport.

There have been past efforts to get this done and now were putting our name and our backing into this to make sure there is a name change, said Ada Briceno, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Orange County.

According to those who crafted the resolution, the effort to oust Wayne, a longtime resident of Orange County who died in 1979, is part of a national movement to remove white supremacist symbols and names (that are) reshaping American institutions, monuments, businesses, nonprofits, sports leagues and teams.

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In a 1971 Playboy magazine interview, Wayne made bigoted statements against black people, Native Americans and the LGBTQ community.

He reportedly said: I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility.

I dont believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people, he said.

A bronze statue of late actor John Wayne stands before a four-storey high United States flag at John Wayne Orange County Airport in Santa Ana, California (Reed Saxon/AP)

Wayne also said that although he did not condone slavery: I dont feel guilty about the fact that five or 10 generations ago these people were slaves.

The actor said he felt no remorse in the subjugation of Native Americans.

I dont feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them.  Our so-called stealing of this country from them was just a matter of survival, he said.

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There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.

Wayne also called movies such as Easy Rider and Midnight Cowboy perverted, and used a gay slur to refer to the two main characters of the latter film.

Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner told the newspaper that he had just heard about the Democratic resolution and was unaware of its wording or merit.

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President Donald Trump made clear his opposition to the proposal in a tweet also referencing the removal of former president Woodrow Wilsons name from a university policy centre.

The president tweeted: Can anyone believe that Princeton just dropped the name of Woodrow Wilson from their highly respected policy centre.

Now the Do Nothing Democrats want to take off the name John Wayne from an airport. Incredible stupidity!
The wife of one of two Canadians imprisoned in China said Sunday she is "disappointed" by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's refusal to consider a swap for a detained Huawei executive facing extradition to the United States.

Trudeau firmly rejected appeals that he intervene in the extradition proceedings against Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial officer, in order to win the release of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

Trudeau said such a decision would put other Canadians around the world at risk by showing that Ottawa can be influenced by "random arrests."

In an interview with the CTV network, Kovrig's wife, Vina Nadjibulla, said the Canadian government should both try to gain her husband's and Spavor's release and protect other Canadians from arbitrary arrest.

"We can do both," she said. "It isn't a question of, 'We need to do everything we can to release Michael, or, 'We protect Canadians in the future.'

"Both have to be on the table, and the government has a responsibility to do both," she said.

Nadjibulla added: "There is no cost-free solution. We have to pay a price. The question becomes, who pays the highest price, and at the moment Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are paying that price, and I believe Canadians understand that that is fundamentally unfair and unjust."

After long refraining from comment, Nadjibulla recently broke her silence to demand her husband's freedom.

She said she was pleased that a debate in Canada had been opened with a letter in which some 20 public figures called on the government to send Meng back to China to obtain the release of the two Canadians.

"Even though I'm disappointed that the PM said no to this particular solution," Nadjibulla said, "I'm glad that we finally have a conversation on what can be done and options that can be explored to resolve Michael's prolonged and painful detention."

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Meng was arrested in December 2018 in Vancouver at the request of the United States, which accuses her of violating US sanctions against Iran and engaging in bank fraud.

Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Spavor, a consultant and businessman, were arrested in China days later. They were recently formally charged with espionage.

Their detention is considered in the West as retaliation for Meng's arrest, which Beijing has repeatedly denied.

In a message posted Saturday on its embassy website in Ottawa, China insisted the two matters are "totally different."

It called on Canada to stop making "irresponsible remarks" about the detained Canadians, and using "megaphone diplomacy" to pressure China.

Huawei released a statement referring to former US national security advisor John Bolton's recent book, saying it suggested President Donald Trump saw Meng's case as a political issue providing leverage in talks with China.

"This reckless and unethical perspective has left the government of Canada in an extremely difficult situation -- caught in the middle of an escalating dispute between two global powers," Huawei said.
SAP India announces the launch of Global Bharat, a program designed to enable Indian MSMEs become globally competitive by equipping them with digital technologies. In association with NASSCOM Foundation, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Pratham InfoTech Foundation, the program further compliments Government of Indias vision to empower MSME sector by providing them access to global marketplace, digital skilling for the workforce and transforming business processes.

Given the current business environment and state of economies, Global Bharat will enable Indian MSMEs to become future-ready while driving greater efficiencies by adopting these 3 initiatives:

Gaining Access to Global Marketplace: MSMEs will have open access to SAP Ariba Discovery where any buyer can post sourcing needs and any of the four million suppliers on Ariba Network can respond with their ability to deliver the goods and services required with no fees through December 31, 2020. Ariba Network is the largest digital B2B marketplace where more than USD $3.3 trillion in global commerce flows annually. By accessing the SAP Ariba Discovery offer, Indian MSMEs can enroll themselves as suppliers and access a global customer market.

Digitally Skilling Workforce: Business owners will have access to SAP Indias Code Unnati, a coveted Golden Peacock Award winning digital skilling initiative. MSMEs will be provided accessibility to 240 courses (more getting added in a few months) on Digital Financial, Soft Skills, Productivity Technologies that will digitally skill the workforce and adapt to the new working environments. The curated courses will be made available through a mobile application for people to access via their android smartphone devices. Under this digital literacy program, SAP India has already trained over 1 million youth with the help of 1500 physical training centers

Digitally Transform Businesses: Global Bharat brings affordable and accessible enterprise technology for MSMEs. Through Bharat ERP initiative, they can now adopt SAPs world class ERP; Business One Starter Pack on the cloud. We understand from SAPs partner ecosystem that they will make available this cloud offering for Rs 3999 per user per month with accessibility for maximum of 5 users per MSME. This Digital transformation will enhance efficiencies for businesses while enabling them to provide better products and services to their customers.

Speaking about the program, Deb Deep Sengupta, President and Managing Director, SAP Indian Subcontinent said, The impact of pandemic on economy and businesses has been felt majorly by MSMEs across the country. Being a potential contributor to Indias GDP (29%) and providing employment to over 111 million people, it is imperative to strengthen the sector for the revival of the countrys economy. Global Bharat, is our endeavour to enable MSMEs to augment business operations and re-access critical processes that overcome inefficiencies and make them globally competitive.

Subramanian Ananthapadmanabhan, Vice President and Head of General Business, SAP Indian Subcontinent further states, 80% of SAPs customer base are SMEs that have adopted digital technologies and witnessed exponential growth. As India opens up to a post-COVID business landscape, we are excited to partner with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises on their digital journeys and support them with technologies and skills necessary to gain scale and compete in the new environment.
Canadian start-up Candidly combats hiring bias and promotes equal opportunity in the software development job market

TORONTO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Toronto-based Candidly will be officially launching its unique skills-based job-matching platform targeting the software development market, at tech conference Collision 2020. Candidly brings an entirely new level of accuracy to the screening process, and eradicates many of the existing biases associated with it.

Candidly Logo (PRNewsfoto/Candidly)

Developers using Candidly build an anonymous profile by adding their programming skills, and are encouraged to verify these skills by taking short, custom challenges at their own pace. Using a proprietary multi-source algorithm that analyses each challenge taken, Candidly provides employers with confidence in the developer's skills that increases as more challenges are completed. Skill profiles are accurately matched with employer's needs, prioritized by those with the highest skills confidence.

Candidly's approach eliminates unconscious bias and allows for more effective recruiting. As organizations transition out of the COVID-19 crisis, employers using Candidly to kick-start their rehiring efforts are able to immediately access a transparent stream of vetted, high-quality Software Developers.

In support of the Canadian tech community, Candidly is extending its free trial period for businesses looking to hire developers as our market recovers from the hiring freezes and layoffs triggered by the pandemic.

Founder and CEO James Knupfer announced the reasoning behind extending the free trial period. "As we navigate these difficult times as a nation, Candidly offers a platform that brings speed, accuracy and inclusivity to the screening process; helping those who have been impacted by current events get back to work as quickly as possible."

Candidly is now available as a resource for both tech recruiters and Software Developers. For more information, please visit www.candidly.me.

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About Candidly:

Candidly is a talent marketplace that connects employers to anonymous Software Developers with pre-verified programming skills that removes bias, and increases accuracy and efficiency in the screening process. Through the use of custom-built challenges, multi-source machine learning and user-behavioral analytics, Candidly is able to provide employers with confidence in the programming skills of Software Developers before inviting them to apply for jobs.

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SOURCE Candidly
The loan will be used to construct Scott's Collection I, a mixed-use multifamily property in the Scott's Addition designated opportunity zone in Richmond, Virginia

RICHMOND, Va., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital Square, a leading sponsor of tax-advantaged real estate investments, announced today that the firm has secured a loan from M&T Bank to facilitate the construction of Scott's Collection I, a mixed-use multifamily property in the Scott's Addition designated opportunity zone in Richmond, Virginia.

Capital Square Opportunity Zone Funds Logo (PRNewsfoto/Capital Square)

The development of Scott's Collection I is the direct result of CSRA Opportunity Zone Fund I, LLC, a project-specific opportunity zone fund launched by Capital Square in July 2019. The opportunity zone fund raised equity to begin the development of the project.

"Capital Square's Scott's Collection I is an important part of the transformation of Richmond's Scott's Addition neighborhood," said Louis Rogers, founder and chief executive officer of Capital Square. "Our partnership with M&T Bank highlights the strength and vitality of the project. Lenders have become increasingly cautious since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Capital Square's ability to source this loan during the pandemic demonstrates the depth of our lender relationships and the importance of the Scott's Collection development as part of the revitalization of this emerging neighborhood."

Part of a collection of three mixed-use multifamily properties, Scott's Collection is Capital Square's inaugural development project and part of the transformation of Scott's Addition from an industrial part of Greater Richmond into a thriving hip, urban residential and retail destination.

Rogers noted that Scott's Collection will bring over $50 million in revitalization to the surrounding area.

Located at 3000  3008 West Clay St., Scott's Collection I is a single-structure, ground-up development that will include a five-story, Class A multifamily community with 80 units, private balconies and a lobby area. Situated on approximately 0.54 acres of land, Scott's Collection I will feature a 3,700-square-foot, elevated courtyard and 65-70 onsite parking spaces. The corner-lot property has unobstructed views of the Scott's Addition neighborhood and downtown Richmond.

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Capital Square was represented by Jamie Butler, managing director of capital markets at Walker & Dunlop, in securing the construction loan from M&T Bank.

"We are pleased to deliver this modern development to Capital Square's home city and to provide employment opportunities to those in our local community," said Adam Stifel, executive vice president of development.

About Capital Square

Capital Square is a national real estate firm specializing in tax-advantaged real estate investments, including Delaware statutory trusts for Section 1031 exchanges and qualified opportunity zone funds for tax deferral and exclusion. To date, Capital Square has completed approximately $2 billion in transaction volume. Capital Square's executive team has decades of experience in real estate investments. Its founder, Louis Rogers, has structured hundreds of investment offerings totaling in excess of $5 billion. Capital Square's related entities provide a range of services, including due diligence, acquisition, loan sourcing, property/asset management, and disposition, for a growing number of high net worth investors, private equity firms, family offices and institutional investors. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, Capital Square was awarded by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies. In 2017 and 2018, the company was also ranked on Richmond BizSense's list of fastest growing companies. In 2019, Capital Square was listed by Virginia Business on their "Best Places to Work in Virginia" and "Fantastic 50" reports. To learn more, visit www.CapitalSquare1031.com.

Disclaimer: Securities offered through WealthForge Securities, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Capital Square and WealthForge are not affiliated. Opportunity Zone Fund Investments involve a high degree of risk. There are risks associated with acquiring, financing, owning, constructing, leasing and operating multi-family real estate located in Richmond, Virginia. Investor Units do not represent a diversified investment because each of the Opportunity Zone Funds' activities will be limited to the Property. Although Capital Square and its affiliates have extensive experience in acquiring, improving and operating commercial real estate, Opportunity Zone Funds and the Manager were recently organized and do not have an operating history or significant assets. Investors will rely solely on the Manager to manage a particular Fund and the Property; the Manager will have broad discretion to make decisions regarding the Property. There are substantial risks associated with developing the Property in an economically disadvantaged, qualified opportunity zone that permits investors in a Fund to qualify for available Opportunity Zone Tax Benefits. A Fund may not make capital distributions until the sale or refinancing of the Property, if at all. Real estate related investments involve substantial risks. Funds will pay substantial fees to the Manager and its affiliates (including CS Development). The Investor Units will be highly illiquid; transferability of the Investor Units is restricted and withdrawals of capital contributions are prohibited. Substantial actual and potential conflicts of interest exist among the Funds, the Manager, Capital Square, CS Development and their affiliates. An investor could lose all or a substantial portion of his investment in any of the Funds. There are tax risks associated with an investment in the Investor Units, including the possibility that government regulations regarding Opportunity Zone investments may change.

Contact: Lauren Burgos

Spotlight Marketing Communications

949.427.1399

lauren@spotlightmarcom.com

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SOURCE Capital Square
New Offer Helps Employers Meet Accelerated Demand for Behavioral Health Support as Pandemic Continues

SAN FRANCISCO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Castlight Health, Inc. (NYSE: CSLT) today announced the availability of its behavioral health solution to help employees easily access and navigate behavioral health support and resources amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The newly enhanced offering, Castlight Behavioral Health , is now available to all customers on the company's flagship platform, Castlight Complete, in response to the growing behavioral health crisis impacting employers and the increased demand for resources by employees.

Castlight Logo (PRNewsfoto/Castlight Health)

While the negative impact of COVID-19 on physical health is well documented, the pandemic has also created a behavioral health crisis. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation Tracking Poll , 45% of Americans state that COVID-19 has had an impact on their mental health. And based on a survey by the Business Group on Health, more than a quarter of employees stated they want more mental health support from their employer. Now, more than ever, employers are faced with the challenge of managing and supporting a workforce simultaneously strained by ongoing physical, financial, and emotional stressors.

"The effects of social isolation, challenges accessing health care, and financial issues due to COVID-19 and the associated economic crisis are driving new levels of anxiety, depression, and substance misuse," said Dr. Dena Bravata, Chief Medical Officer at Castlight Health. "Employers across the country are balancing the need to safely return their employees to the workplace while also addressing the behavioral wellbeing of a strained workforce."

Castlight Behavioral Health removes the common barriers to carestigma, awareness, access, and costthat prevent employees from receiving the behavioral health and wellbeing support they need as they navigate new challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Stigma - Confidential Resources for Employees to Take Action

Stigma is a leading barrier to employees seeking help, as ordinary concerns over embarrassment or disapproval are magnified by the professional relationship with an employer. Despite this, Castlight data show employee utilization of its behavioral health resources has increased by 14% since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with psychological and psychiatric care now the third highest search term on its platform and many users reporting symptoms of stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Castlight Behavioral Health lowers the hurdle to care by enabling employees to access personalized guidance and resources discreetly, and, where needed, by directing patients to primary care providers with relevant behavioral health experience, avoiding the potential stigma of visiting a behavioral health provider.

Awareness - Making it Easy to Understand Care Options

It can be confusing for an employee seeking behavioral health support to determine which care options are personally relevant for their own specific needs. Castlight deploys industry-leading personalization via a comprehensive data setclaims, demographics, user goals, and in-app activityand predictive capabilities to help deliver the right resources for that individual. This allows proactive, targeted communication directly to employees to help ensure they are aware of the solutions most relevant to them. This highly personalized guidance is especially important for vulnerable populations, such as employees at higher risk due to underlying health conditions, those missing preventative services, frequent users of emergency room visits, or those living in high-density population areas impacted by COVID-19. Castlight Care Guides are also available to provide human-led navigation to address any anxiety or concerns.

Access - Availability of Immediate Support

Numerous reports, including those from a National Council for Behavioral Health and Cohens Veterans Network study, suggest that Americans on average must wait between three and 13 weeks to see a mental health professional. With Castlight's integrated provider directory, individuals can quickly and easily compare care options including behavioral health specialists, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providers, and telehealth services to identify the provider who is best for them or their family. Employees can immediately access care within the mobile app by clicking to initiate a teletherapy visit or calling their EAP.

Cost - Optimized, Affordable Care

Castlight data show that the average annual medical cost for an individual with a behavioral health condition is $8,800compared to $3,800 for those without. Cost is a key concern for individuals during COVID-19, when employees may be experiencing financial burdens as well as increased anxiety resulting from the economic downturn. Castlight leverages the more than 3 billion data points powering its platform to match employees with the lowest cost, highest-quality behavioral health providers best suited for their individual needs. By easing navigation to in-network, free EAP or cCBT options, Castlight can help ensure access to the most cost effective course of therapy.

Employers interested in this solution can reach out to info@castlighthealth.com for more information.

About Castlight Health

Castlight is on a mission to make it as easy as humanly possible for its users to navigate the healthcare system and live happier, healthier, more productive lives. Our health navigation platform connects hundreds of health vendors, benefits resources, and plan designs into one comprehensive health and wellbeing experience. We guide individualsbased on their unique profileto the best resources available to them, whether they are healthy, chronically ill, or actively seeking medical care. Castlight transforms the employee benefit experience into a deeply personalized, yet simple, guided one, empowering better-informed patient decisions to unlock better healthcare outcomes and maximizing return on healthcare investments.

Castlight, Castlight Health, and the Castlight logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Castlight Health, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All rights reserved.

For more information visit www.castlighthealth.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn and Like us on Facebook .

For more information:

Courtney Lamie

courtney@crosscutstrategies.com

(276) 492-4248

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SOURCE Castlight Health, Inc.
Castro, Duboce Triangle

Male Image Barbershop at 2195 Market St. has permanently closed. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

After 41 years in the Castro, barbershop Male Image (2195 Market St.) announced it will not reopen after the shelter-in-place restrictions are lifted. Owner Gary Mootz announced the closure on Facebook.

"It's with heavy hearts that after 40 years the Male Image Barbershop will not reopen," Mootz wrote. "We would like to thank all of our great customers we have had all these years."

While Mootz could not be reached for this story, longtime employee Philip Stover said that Mootz plans to retire.

"It was an era  I had a great time working there," said Stover, who's been cutting hair at Male Image since 1982. "I'm sad to see it go."

Inside Male Image Barbershop. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

According to Stover, Mootz and his late partner Jim Heady opened Male Image in August 1979. In 1982, they expanded next door with a sister shop, Image Leather, which operated until 2007. Heady passed away in the 1990s, leaving Mootz to run both businesses.

Male Image attracted a long-running coalition of barbers, who are now trying to figure out what's next.

Stover and fellow barber David Hone are currently looking for another Castro barbershop, while 25-year Male Image veteran James Romero has decided to move away from the Bay Area and retire.

"It was an amazing experience to serve the San Francisco gay community for so many years," Romero wrote on Facebook. "I have nothing but respect for my fellow barbers, and if they return, youll be in good hands."

The status of a fourth barber, Joseph Mason, is still unclear; Stover said he's not sure whether he plans to retire or find another shop. He said that all the barbers will update customers on their whereabouts via Male Image's Facebook page.

Many of Male Image's clients were as loyal as its barbers, and say they're sad to see it go.

"Male Image Barbershop was not just a place to get an $18 haircut," said longtime customer Mark Lenz. "It represented what the Castro used to be, with a folksy atmosphere steeped with all sorts of personalities and friendliness that I don't see much of these days."

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"I'm going to miss sitting in Philip's chair and conversing about politics, movies, and the neighborhood while getting the best-ever haircut."

Male Image Barbershop's logo. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

Male Image's closure adds another Castro business to a rapidly growing list of COVID-19 casualties.

Last week, Hoodline learned that the two businesses right next door to Male Image  a Verizon retailer (2199 Market) and San Francisco Pet Grooming (209A Sanchez)  will also not be reopening.

Four others businesses have also decided to close: nail salon Gloss N' Glam (258 Noe), pet store Best in Show (545 Castro), restaurant The Castro Republic (2295 Market) and vitamin/supplement store Active Nutrition (2275 Market).
CARY, N.C., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The CEO Cancer Gold Standard, the employer-led health and wellness accreditation program of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, is now helping more than seven million employees and their family members prevent and address cancer through workplace-based programming. This year, 18 Gold Standard employers mark their ten-year anniversary as Gold Standard employers, having maintained a strong commitment to the health of their employees and satisfying the latest, comprehensive requirements of the Gold Standard.

CEO Cancer Gold Standard 10-Year Employers Recognized

"As Quest Diagnostics marks ten years as a CEO Gold Standard employer, we are proud to join other companies who share a resolve to promote a world free of cancer, starting with their own employees," said Steve Rusckowski, Chairman, CEO and President, Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX). "Employers can play a huge role in reducing cancer risks among their employees with programs that include behavior modification, mental well-being and cancer screenings. As a leader in employer population health programs, Quest Diagnostics is committed to empowering our 47,000 employees and the workforces of the many organizations we serve to reduce health risks of all kinds and create a healthier world."

Employers from industries across the country are keenly aware of the positive impact they can have on health and controlling healthcare costs when they take steps to address cancer and other chronic diseases. In addition to Quest Diagnostics, the following employers are leading by example and celebrating ten years of leadership:

AlphaMed Press

Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Care

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

Cerner Corporation

Dell Technologies

Fairview Health Services

Goodmans Interior Structures

Hawi'i Pacific Health

Logistics Health

MassMutual

MDU Resources Group, Inc.

Moda, Inc.

RTI International

RWJBarnabas Health

Susan G. Komen

UPMC Chautauqua

To earn Gold Standard accreditation, an employer must take concrete actions to reduce the risk and burden of cancer: prohibit tobacco use and support tobacco cessation efforts; promote physical activity, healthy nutrition and weight management; provide health insurance options that include detecting cancer at its earliest stages, access to quality care and participation in cancer clinical trials; promote employee awareness of these initiatives; and support the needs of cancer survivors in the workplace.

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The CEO Roundtable on Cancer, a nonprofit organization of CEOs, created the Gold Standard to recognize employers for taking exceptional health and wellness measures on behalf of their employees and family members. There is no cost for employers, large or small, for-profit or not-for profit, to apply for Gold Standard accreditation.

About The CEO Roundtable on Cancer

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer was founded in 2001, when former President George H.W. Bush challenged a group of executives to "do something bold and venturesome about cancer within your own corporate families." The CEOs responded by creating and encouraging the widespread adoption of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard which calls for organizations to evaluate their health benefits and workplace culture and take extensive, concrete actions in five key areas of health and wellness to address cancer in the workplace. For more information on the CEO Cancer Gold Standard and the no-cost, web-based accreditation process, please visit www.CancerGoldStandard.org.

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SOURCE CEO Roundtable on Cancer
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After years of aggression, broken promises and falsehoods, most recently about the coronavirus outbreak, the Chinese government has finally begun to face the consequences of its misconduct. On behalf of industries that range from technology to pharmaceuticals, the United States is fighting back against the Chinese. Why then is it looking the other way as Chinese companies buy up the commercial aircraft that Americans fly?

In April, a company named BOC Aviation purchased twenty-two airplanes from United Airlines and leased them back to the carrier. The sale included Boeing 737-9 MAX and 787-9 planes that can be expected to serve in Uniteds fleet for two decades.

The previous month, American Airlines conducted a similar sale and leaseback of twenty-two of its own Boeing 787 aircraft. In May, Southwest Airlines sold ten of its Boeing 737-800 planes to the company and then leased them back as part of the deal.

Related video: Why China will emerge from COVID-19 stronger than U.S.

A May 4 article in the Financial Times appropriately titled BOC Aviation Taps Parent for Assault on Leasing Market indicates that BOC Aviation is headquartered in Singapore. In fact, BOC stands for Bank of China, which is wholly owned by the Chinese government and is therefore tied inextricably with the Chinese Communist Party and its international aspirations.

A May 8 analysis by aviation consulting firm Cirium about BOC Aviations leaseback spree, noted that the company is one of those lessors with considerable dry powder from its behemoth parent, the state-owned Bank of China. The analysis added: The lessor has partly been able to achieve this many leaseback deals due to its ability to draw down funds from a $2 billion backstop revolving credit facility, provided by Bank of China.

Think about that. Our government is allowing its foremost adversary to buy up the aircraft our citizens fly. Could this be a coincidence or simple business transaction devoid of political or national security considerations? That is a near-impossibility when it comes to China. Its foreign business activities are increasingly linked with its governmental efforts to dominate important fields and disrupt the economies of the United States and the rest of the free world.

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The Office of the U.S. Trade Representatives 2018 report on Chinese trade practices noted that Beijings commercial policies are far from benign: These acts, policies, and practices work collectively as part of a multi-faceted strategy to advance Chinas industrial policy objectives, the report states. They are applied across a broad range of sectors, overlap in their use of policy tools are implemented through a diverse set of state and state-backed actors, including state-owned enterprises. Elsewhere, the report states: Obtaining and developing cutting-edge technology in the aviation sector has long been an objective of the Chinese government.

Its easy to rationalize Beijings sudden and growing ownership of planes that Americans fly. Some say the airlines need the money amid the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Others argue that the name on a title is irrelevant since the planes are still operated and possessed by U.S. carriers.

These arguments dont hold up. The U.S. government has expended tens of billions of dollars bailing out airlines and ensuring they have access to more capital if they need it. The recipients of this taxpayer support should not double-dip with the Chinese. And even though these Chinese-owned aircraft are leased, the U.S. carriers involved are still in hock to the Chinese government, which will influence their decision-making.

The irony is that this development occurs as the Trump administration and Congress have begun trying to reduce Chinas influence over key parts of the U.S. economy. The administration recently expanded export controls against Huawei, the Chinese technology manufacturer, by banning the export of foreign-made semiconductors to Huawei, even if they were made with U.S. technology.

In Congress, Republican Sens. Rick Scott (Florida), Josh Hawley (Missouri), and Marco Rubio (Florida), and Steve Daines (Montana) have proposed legislation that would reduce Americas dependence on China for pharmaceutical ingredients and medical protective equipment. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) has offered a plan to increase U.S. military deterrence in the Pacific. Scores of other bills targeting the Chinese government are circulating on Capitol Hill. And the Trump administration is likely to announce new financial sanctions to punish China for its crackdown on Hong Kong.

The American people are on board, too. A recent Gallup poll showed that two-thirds of Americans have an unfavorable view of China; only a third see the country in a favorable light. In this environment, it seems obvious that we should not allow ever-increasing Chinese ownership of our commercial aircraft.

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Countries are racing to get a vaccine so people are able to mix freely - NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images

China's military has approved a coronavirus vaccine developed by its own research staff and a Chinese biotech firm, it was announced on Monday.

The vaccine was given the green light for use by troops after trials proved it was both safe and effective, said CanSino Biologics, the biotech firm involved.

However, its use for the time being will be restricted to military personnel, who offer a tighter medical control group than the general public.

The vaccine candidate, named Ad5-nCoV, was developed jointly by CanSino and the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology in the Academy of Military Medical Sciences. It has been in development since March.

CanSino said the results showed the vaccine candidate has potential to prevent diseases caused by the coronavirus, which has killed half a million people globally.

The company added that it was not yet possible to say if it could be a commercial success, which would depend on being able to produce the vaccine cheaply as well as safely.

It declined to comment on whether the vaccine would be compulsory or optional for Chinas two million military personnel.

The militaries of major powers are often involved in the research for vaccines as they often have well-resourced research departments tasked with examining bio-hazard threats.

The US Army is also working on a vaccine which it hopes to have ready by the end of the year.

Martin Bricknell, a former Surgeon General of the British Armed Forces who is now Professor of Conflict, Health and Military Medicine at London's King's College, told The Telegraph that Covid-19 outbreaks on board US aircraft carriers had demonstrated the threat of the virus to the armed forces.

However, he added: "Any decision by a nation to preferentially vaccinate its armed forces over more susceptible members of its population would be an international signal of its prioritisation of military security over health security."

No vaccine has yet been approved for commercial use against the illness caused by the new coronavirus, but over a dozen vaccines from more than 100 candidates globally are being tested in humans.

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China, which has lost 4,600 people to the outbreak since its outset in the city of Wuhan, is a leading player in the global scientific race.

The Ad5-nCoV is one of the eight vaccine candidates being developed by Chinese companies and researchers approved to be moved into human trials for the respiratory disease.

Two weeks ago, a Chinese drug firm, China National Biotec Group, announced positive early results of a vaccine against the coronavirus, claiming it induced an immune response in 100 per cent of those who were given it.

In Britain, trials are underway at both Oxford and Imperial College Universities, with hopes that the ZD1222 vaccine may be ready for UK citizens by September.

If effective, it would allow people to leave their homes, go back to work, and rebuild the economy.
Cirque du Soleil has filed for bankruptcy protection and terminated thousands of jobs as they attempt to cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The company made the announcement in a press release on Monday, explaining that the difficult decision was part of a solution to "restructure its capital structure" and "protect the company's future" in the wake of the pandemic.

The filing comes three months after Cirque du Soleil temporarily suspended its shows around the world, including six in Las Vegas and 10 others, including O, Michael Jackson One, and The Beatles LOVE, which were on tour, according to CNN.

"For the past 36 years, Cirque du Soleil has been a highly successful and profitable organization," Daniel Lamarre, the president and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, said in a statement. "However, with zero revenues since the forced closure of all of our shows due to COVID-19, management had to act decisively to protect the Companys future."

A spokesperson for Cirque du Soleil did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

To cope with their financial struggles, the company said it will be entering a "stalking horse" agreement or purchase agreement with its existing shareholders, TPG, Fosun, and Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, as well as Investissement Quebec as a debt provider, according to the press release.

RELATED: Cirque Du Soleil Proves a Little Circus Can Make the Big Time

The shareholders, or "Sponsors," will acquire the company's assets in cash, debt, and equity to "establish two funds totaling $20 million to provide additional relief to impacted employees and independent contractors."

That agreement is then expected to serve as the "minimum acceptable bid" in an auction to draw other bidders and "achieve the highest value available," the press release stated.

Additionally, the Sponsors will put forward $300 million towards the "restructured business to support a successful restart, provide relief for Cirque du Soleils affected employees and partners."

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The Sponsors will also assume some of the companys "outstanding liabilities," such as ticketholders who were impacted by the cancellation of performances.

Along with the financial agreements, Cirque du Soleil announced that the approximately 3,480 employees who were furloughed in March would now be terminated from their employment, claiming the layoffs were a "critical step" in its "restructuring and eventual plans to restart operations."

Those who were let go would be given financial compensation, including vacation time and other unemployment benefits, but the hope was to bring a "substantial majority" of them back once mandatory shutdowns were lifted and business conditions allowed.

"Given resident shows in Las Vegas and Orlando are expected to resume before the rest of the Companys shows, the artists and show staff of the Resident Shows Division are not affected by this measure to allow for a swift and efficient return as soon as the ban on gatherings is lifted and show operations can resume," the company added in the press release.

RELATED VIDEO: Eiffel Tower Reopens After Coronavirus Lockdown with New Safety and Hygienic Measures

Cirque du Soleil also asked that potential bidders "specify their intentions with regard to Cirques terminated employees," when putting in an offer that would include the financial compensation for these employees and how they plan on maintaining the business in Quebec, as well as rebuilding operations as a whole.

"The Purchase Agreement and SISP [sale and investment solicitation process] provide a path for Cirque to emerge from CCAA [Companies Creditors Arrangement Act] protection as a stronger Company," Lamarre said.

"The robust commitment from the Sponsors  which includes additional funds to support our impacted employees, contractors, and critical partners, all of whom are important to Cirques return  reflects our mutual belief in the power and long-term potential of our brand," Lamarre continued.

"I look forward to rebuilding our operations and coming together to once again create the magical spectacle that is Cirque du Soleil for our millions of fans worldwide," he added.
Intending to create awareness about the importance of telecom sector in Covid-19, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted an interactive session on Telecom Sector in Covid-19- Now, Next and After, with Dr R S Sharma, Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), on 29th June,2020.

Dr R S Sharma in his opening remarks thanked PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry for providing this opportunity and being supportive and organising the required interactive session in these changing times of digitization. While worrying about the unprecedented situation of Covid-19 where the number of cases are increasing day in and day out, he stated that the government has taken slew of measures to contain the spread and impact of covid-19 in the country.

Dr Sharma highlighted the importance of technology through virtual platforms, which has been the prime reason that we are able to sail through this period of isolation with such ease, in the current situation of crises across the country.

He added that Telecommunication is a platform of service which helps to connect people across the globe, India is in need technology and thus it is the need of the hour to deploy innovative technology and Digital Infrastructure in our system. Further, he concluded with supporting the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by connecting homes through digitalisation and the motto of Vocal for Local.

Dr D K Aggarwal, President, PHD Chamber in his presidential address extended warm welcome to with Dr R S Sharma, Chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). He highlighted that India has the 2nd largest telecom network and acted as a life saver to connect the business and world across the nations during Covid-19. He added that telecom sector is a big hope for the industry and the arena will leverage as a big super power for India, among nations.

Mr Sandeep Aggarwal, Chairman, Telecom Committee, PHD Chamber, said that the outbreak of Corona Virus has impacted businesses & supply chain disruptions. He mentioned that the need of the hour is to ensure broadband connectivity to urban as well as rural sectors. Further, he urged to buy 20% of the 4G equipment from Indian manufacturers to promote the PMs motto of Vocal se Local and Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

Mr Sanjay Aggarwal, Sr. Vice President, PHD Chamber while presenting the formal vote of thanks stated that telecom sector is thrust into limelight in this unprecedented situation of crises. He stated that Digital sovereignty is important in the Industry 4.0 and we must ensure investment to promote into the sector to provide opportunity for domestic players in the segment.

The Session was sponsored by Paramount Communications Ltd, Idemia Syscom india Pvt. Ltd and Superior Drinks Pvt. Ltd.. The session was attended by Mr Alok Mukherjee, Co-Chairman, Telecom Committee, PHD Chamber and Mr Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary General, PHD Chamber and received extensive participation of more than 150 industry stalwarts Pan-India.The session was moderated by Dr. Yogesh Srivastav, Principal Director, PHD Chamber .
TORONTO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Clean Air Metals Inc. (formerly Regency Gold Corp.) ("Clean Air" or the "Company") (TSX.V: AIR) is pleased to announce that a second drill has now been mobilized to the Escape Lake area of the Thunder Bay North Project. Phase 1 and 2 drilling at Escape Lake continues on with a minimum total of 20,000m of drilling going forward.

One drill continues to be focused on the southern portion of the Escape Lake mineralized zone (see press release dated June 17, 2020) conducting stepout holes testing possible lateral and along strike extensions to the south and east. The second drill has mobilized to the northern portion of the Escape Lake mineralized zone and will be helping complete Phase 1 planned holes and stepout holes to the north to follow the postulated trend of the mineralized magma conduit on the Phase 2 drilling layout.

Recent Phase 1 drilling by the Company within the Escape Lake Intrusion generated a result in Hole ELR20-003 of 78.9m of 1.66ppm (g/t) Platinum, 2.17ppm (g/t) Palladium, 0.8% Copper and 0.41% Nickel including 20.0m of 3.23ppm (g/t) Platinum, 4.27ppm (g/t) Palladium, 1.54% Copper and 0.84% Nickel (see Clean Air Press Release dated June 17, 2020).

Reconnaissance drilling by the previous project operator 650m north of the Company's Phase 1 drill pattern, obtained a mineralized intercept in favourable ultramafic conduit rocks including peridotites and olivine melagabbros in Hole 10CL0003 from 205.5m to 232.8m assaying 27.3m of 1.15ppm (g/t) Platinum, 1.3ppm (g/t) Palladium, 0.43% Copper, 0.22% Nickel (Figures 1,2).

The Company plans a systematic approach to drilling off the potential strike extensions of the mineralized conduit in Phase 2 including application of borehole electromagnetic (BHEM), borehole magnetometric resistivity (MMR) and magnetotelluric (MT) surveys to isolate conduit architecture and follow the path of electrical conductivity in the mineralized magma conduit trend.

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Figure 1: Section View of Phase 1, 2 Drilling on the Escape Lake Mineralized Conduit Trend (CNW Group/Clean Air Metals Inc.)

Figure 2: Plan View of Phase 1, 2 Drilling on the Escape Lake Mineralized Conduit Trend (CNW Group/Clean Air Metals Inc.)

CEO Abraham Drost stated that "the addition of a second drill at Escape Lake is a welcome result of the recent closing of the Company's oversubscribed C$6.7M flowthrough financing at C$0.50/flowthrough share. The second drill will help the Company to increase the pace of exploration on Phase 1 testing of the Escape Lake Intrusion mineralized zone, transitioning to Phase 2 testing of an interpreted strike extension of the mineralized magma conduit to the north and south."

COVID Policy

Clean Air Metals Inc. has adopted COVID-19 avoidance and personal protection measures for its geological and technical staff, drill contractor personnel and other goods and services suppliers. Personnel are required to use personal protective equipment (PPE), maintain physical distance, self-monitor and self-isolate or elect to work from home. Management had previously eliminated plans for a camp setup to service a planned diamond drill campaign on the Escape Lake Project. The Company is aware of Thunder Bay Health Unit guidelines that provide for "mandatory" self-isolation for returning overseas and inter-provincial travel. The guidelines previously also "strongly recommended" self-isolation after travel into the Northwest region from other areas of the Province. Mineral Exploration and Development has been deemed an essential service in the Province of Ontario (http://www.netnewsledger.com/2020/03/23/ontario-covid-19-business-allowed-to-remain-open-list-march-23-2020/). The Company has procured the services of a locally staffed and serviced diamond drilling contractor to complete the Phase 1 and commence the Phase 2 diamond drilling program.

Mr. Allan MacTavish, P.Geo. a Qualified Person as such term is defined under NI 43-101, and an employee of the Company, has reviewed and approved all technical information in this press release.

Clean Air Metals Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Panoramic PGMs (Canada) Ltd. acknowledge that the Escape Lake Property is on the traditional territory of the Fort William First Nation and the Red Rock First Nation, signatories to the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Abraham Drost"

Abraham Drost, Chief Executive Officer of Clean Air Metals Inc.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to the TSXV listing, risk related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. 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, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

Cision

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SOURCE Clean Air Metals Inc.
DENVER, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees of the Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (each, a "Fund" and together, the "Funds") have determined it is advisable and in the best interests of the Fund's shareholders to hold the July 9, 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders by telephone conference call without any in-person attendance. The Funds are taking this step because of travel limitations and other concerns relating to the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), including the health of shareholders and proxyholders. This press release provides instructions for participating in the meeting.

Clough Capital Partners Logo (PRNewsfoto/Clough Capital Partners)

Registration Instructions for the Telephonic Meeting

As described in the previously distributed proxy materials for the Meeting, any shareholder of record of the Funds as of the close of business on May 11, 2020 is entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. To participate in the Meeting, you must email shareholdermeetings@computershare.com no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 6, 2020 and provide your full name and address. You will then receive an email from Computershare Fund Services containing the conference call dial-in information and instructions for participating in the Meeting.

If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you must register in advance to attend the Meeting. To register, you must submit proof of your proxy power (legal proxy) reflecting your Fund holdings along with your name and email address to Computershare Fund Services, the Funds' tabulator. You may forward an email from your intermediary or attach an image of your legal proxy to shareholdermeetings@computershare.com. Requests for registration must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 6, 2020. You will then receive an email from Computershare Fund Services containing the conference call dial-in information and instructions for participating in the Meeting.

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Whether or not you plan to participate in the Meeting, the Funds urge shareholders to vote and submit their proxy in advance of the meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting. The proxy card included with the proxy materials previously distributed will not be updated to reflect information provided above and may continue to be used to vote each shareholder's shares in connection with the Meeting.

The Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund

The Fund is a closed-end fund with an investment objective of providing a high level of total return. The Fund seeks to pursue this objective by applying a fundamental research-driven investment process and will invest in equity and equity-related securities as well as fixed income securities, including both corporate and sovereign debt, in both U.S. and non-U.S. markets. The Fund's portfolio managers are Chuck Clough and Rob Zdunczyk. As of May 31, 2020, the Fund had approximately $145 million in total assets. More information, including the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan, can be found at www.cloughglobal.com or call 877-256-8445.

The Clough Global Equity Fund

The Fund is a closed-end fund utilizing Clough Capital's research-driven, thematic process, with an investment objective of providing a high level of total return. Having a global, flexible mandate, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets, including any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity and equity-related securities in both U.S. and non-U.S. markets, and the remainder in fixed income securities, including corporate and sovereign debt, in both U.S. and non-U.S. markets. The Fund's portfolio managers are Chuck Clough and Rob Zdunczyk. As of May 31, 2020, the Fund had approximately $270 million in total assets. More information, including the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan, can be found at www.cloughglobal.com or call 877-256-8445.

The Clough Global Opportunities Fund

The Fund is a closed-end fund with an investment objective of providing a high level of total return. The Fund seeks to achieve this objective by applying a fundamental research-driven investment process and will invest in equity and equity-related securities as well as fixed income securities, including both corporate and sovereign debt. Utilizing Clough Capital's global research capabilities, the Fund will invest in both U.S. and non-U.S. markets. The Fund's portfolio managers are Chuck Clough and Rob Zdunczyk. As of May 31, 2020, the Fund had approximately $537 million in total assets. More information, including the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan, can be found at www.cloughglobal.com or call 877-256-8445.

Clough Capital Partners L.P.

Clough Capital, a Boston-based investment advisory firm which manages approximately $1.7 billion in assets as of May 31, 2020, serves as investment adviser to the Funds.

The Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund are closed-end funds and closed-end funds do not continuously issue shares for sale as open-end mutual funds do. Since the initial public offering, the Funds now trade in the secondary market. Investors wishing to buy or sell shares need to place orders through an intermediary or broker. The share price of a closed-end fund is based on the market's value.

ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., FINRA Member Firm.

Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (NYSE MKT: GLV)

Clough Global Equity Fund (NYSE MKT: GLQ)

Clough Global Opportunities Fund (NYSE MKT: GLO)

1290 Broadway, Suite 1000

Denver, CO 80203

Cision

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SOURCE Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund; Clough Global Equity Fund; Clough Global Opportunities Fund
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Here's What You Need To Remember: The Russian Air Force has recently conducted testing of a new hypersonic aircraft missile for a modified version of the Tu-22M3M aircraft.

The Russian Air Force has recently conducted testing of a new hypersonic aircraft missile for a modified version of the Tu-22M3M aircraft. According to Russian state media, the work on the new missile began several years ago and its testing was completed simultaneously with the work on the upgraded bomber.

"Recently, a new hypersonic missile was tested on the Tu-22M3," a source in Russia's military-industrial complex told TASS. "The missile will be part of the armament range of the upgraded Tu-22M3M along with a number of other latest aviation weapons."

The source added that the missile is not part of the line of X-32 missiles, but did not provide the characteristics of it, except to confirm that it is "completely different."

The X-32 (Kh-32) is a supersonic air-launched cruise missile that has a range of 600 to 1000km, and it has been the primary missile on the Tu-22M3M bombers since 2016. The Tu-22M3M supersonic bomber is the latest upgrade of the Tu-22M3 with expanded combat potential. The upgrade provided new electronic equipment including navigation, communication, sights, engine controls, fuel mechanisms and electronic warfare. These upgrades increased the navigation precision, simplified maintenance and preflight preparation.

According to past reporting in The National Interest, the Tu-22M3M boasts 80 percent new avionics over the original Tu-22M. An important part of the upgrade package was the inclusion of up to three of the Kh-32 missiles, which are classified as anti-ship missiles, but were also developed to be effective against critical infrastructure targets including bridges and power plants. That missile allowed the Tu-22M3M to occupy a unique position between strategic and operational-tactical roles.

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Hypersonic missiles have been seen as a potential game changer, with some in the U.S. military warning that there is really no defense against the missiles due to their speed.

Given that fact and the potential the missiles could possess weapons as offensive, it is easy to see why Russia has moved forward with multiple platforms. The Russian defense industry has developed two types of aircraft hypersonic missiles TASS reported. This includes the Kinzhal, the latest Russian airborne system that consists of a MiG-31K aircraft as a delivery vehicle and hypersonic missile. The Kinzhal is the airborne version of the Iskander tactical missile system.

The hypersonic Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile was also designed to be compatible with the Tu-22M3. It is one of several flagship weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimar Putin during this state-of-nation address at the beginning of 2018. Putin and subsequent Russian commentary has stressed the missile's speed and capacity to maneuver in mid-flight, which render it non-interceptable by any existing missile defense system. It has an alleged range of 2,000 to 3,000km, which makes it a threat to critical land infrastructure and large surface targets such as aircraft carrier strike groups.

Another hypersonic missile that is currently in the Russian arsenal was created for the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter, but the missile name and characteristics are unknown.

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.

This article first appeared last month and is being republished due to reader interest.

Image: Reuters

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The parties of Boris Johnson, left, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have different views to their voters. (PA)

British voters are far less liberal when it comes to social issues than the MPs who represent them, a study has found.

The Mind The Values Gap survey, carried out by pollsters Ipsos Mori for the UK In A Changing Europe think tank, revealed there is a considerable gulf in views between politicians and the public.

Researchers questioned more than 15,000 people to examine the values of the two main parties members, MPs and voters.

There was a wide discrepancy between the public and MPs on the issue of capital punishment.

While not one Labour MP said they supported the death penalty, 11% of its party members were in favour of it, as well as a sizeable 31% of its voters.

Two-thirds of Conservative voters back the death penalty for some crimes, the survey said, compared to just 21% of its MPs.

Last year, an exclusive poll by Yahoo News found that a third of Tory MPs want to bring back the death penalty.

Voters are not as liberal as their representatives, the poll found. (UK In A Changing Europe)

The UK In A Changing Europe study also found a significant gap between Tory supporters and their partys leadership when it comes to the economy, with MPs having much more right-wing economic values.

When asked if there is one law for the rich and one for the poor, just 5% of Tory MPs and 22% of members agreed, compared to 58% of Conservative-voting public.

And the same percentage of Tory voters (58%) believe management will always try to get the better of employees if it gets the chance, a view held by only 5% of Conservative MPs.

Read more: RSPCA appeal after woman 'kicks out at mating swans'

The research found that MPs and members from both main parties are more socially liberal than their voters.

About a quarter of Labour MPs and members agree there is a need for tougher sentences for people who break the law, but that is a long way behind the 53% of the partys voters who believe the same.

Almost one in ten (9%) of Labour MPs said young people dont have enough respect for traditional British values, but this rose to 46% among Labour voters.

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When asked the same question, 44% of Conservative MPs said young people do not respect traditional British values, far behind the 85% of its voters who also agreed.

MPs and their constituents have differing views on a range of issues. (UK In A Changing Europe)

The think tank said the results of its survey indicated challenges ahead for Boris Jonson.

Professor Anand Menon, director of UK in a Changing Europe, said: The Labour and Conservative parties clearly have an interest in focusing political debates on very different issues.

Read more: Boris Johnson admits coronavirus has been a disaster

For the former, values are a way of holding their coalition together, while continuing to appeal to 2019 Labour-Tory switchers. For Labour, the focus must be on economic policy, not least given intra-party divisions on values issues.

Philip Cowley, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, said: The fact Conservative MPs so strongly reject widespread perceptions of structural unfairness hints at the challenge the Johnson government will face if the shock of COVID-19 triggers public demand for economic redistribution and reform.

If a sense there is one law for the rich and one for the poor begins to take hold, then the gap between Conservative Party people and voters could prove deeply problematic for the Johnson government.
People in face masks walk by a decoration outside a shopping mall in Beijing, China, on Sunday. (AP)

China has reimposed a coronavirus lockdown on about 400,000 people in an area near Beijing after a spike in cases.

Restrictions have been reinstated in the Anxin county area of Hebei province, about 90 miles (144km) from the nations capital.

The regional lockdown returns as the global death toll from coronavirus passed the 500,000 mark.

The COVID-19 pandemic originated in China at the end of last year but the number of new infections has since dropped dramatically.

However, 18 new cases have been reported in Anxin in the past two weeks, Chinese authorities said.

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As a result, health officials announced on Sunday that the county would be fully enclosed and controlled.

The new lockdown, which will affect about 400,000 people, means only essential workers are allowed to leave their homes.

Only one member of a household is permitted to go out once a day to shop for food or medical supplies.

People wearing face masks stand in line for coronavirus tests at a community health clinic in Beijing, China, on Sunday. (AP)

Chinese officials urged residents of Anxin to supervise each other and strictly comply with relevant requirements.

Anyone who disobeys the restrictions will face severe treatment by public security according to the law.

China follows other nations in reinstating lockdown restrictions after a spike in cases.

Last Monday, Portugal reimposed restrictions, including an 8pm curfew, in its capital Lisbon after a surge.

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And on Tuesday, Germany reintroduced a lockdown in the Gutersloh district in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia after an outbreak linked to a meatpacking plant.

Another 14 cases of coronavirus were reported in Beijing in the 24-hour period up to Sunday, bringing the total to 311 in the past two weeks.

A new outbreak was first reported in the capitals Xinfadi food market. Workers there have been ordered to quarantine for a month.

Tens of millions of Chinese people were ordered to stay at home during the lockdown at the height of COVID-19 outbreak in Hubei province and other parts of the country.

Coronavirus: what happened today

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Read more about COVID-19

How to get a coronavirus test if you have symptoms

How easing of lockdown rules affects you

In pictures: How UK school classrooms could look in new normal

How public transport could look after lockdown

How our public spaces will change in the future

Help and advice

Read the full list of official FAQs here

10 tips from the NHS to help deal with anxiety

What to do if you think you have symptoms

How to get help if you've been furloughed
New mortgage approvals collapsed by 90% in May compared to pre-pandemic levels. Photo: Mike Kemp/In PIctures via Getty Images

Just 9,300 new mortgages were approved across the UK in May, as the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the housing market to near standstill.

Statistics from the Bank of England, published on Monday, show new mortgage approvals hit an all-time low in May.

New mortgage approvals collapsed by 90% compared to pre-pandemic levels and represent just a third of the lowest level seen during the 2008 financial crisis. Mays mortgage approvals were also below economists forecasts of 25,000 new approvals.

READ MORE: Property market reopens as moves and viewings allowed

The Bank of England data reveals the unprecedented impact of the property market shut down when many surveyors were unable to visit properties to conduct valuations in-person, said Hina Bhudia, a partner at mortgage broker Knight Frank Finance.

Leading indicators suggest lending has been picking up since May, but it's clear there is still a long way to go before many borrowers experience anything resembling pre-pandemic conditions.

The government effectively froze the housing market in March when a strict lockdown was ordered across the UK. Restrictions were eased for house viewings in mid-May. Property websites like Zoopla have reported surging demand since.

However, experts warned that pent up demand may not be met with increased supply, as banks are increasingly cautious about lending.

READ MORE: 'Unprecedented' surge in property sales as English market reopens

A two-tier mortgage market has emerged in recent weeks as lenders have become more averse to risk, and have largely withdrawn from higher loan-to-value lending ahead of the wind up of government support schemes this autumn, Bhudia said.

This means the market remains particularly challenging for first-time-buyers, the self-employed, or anybody that relies heavily on commission or bonuses to top up their income.

Remortgage approvals also fell in May but less sharply than new approvals. Remortgage approvals were 42% below pre-pandemic levels.

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Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said: We still expect mortgage approvals to finish the year down 10% year-over-year and look for a 5% peak-to-trough fall in house prices.

The Bank of Englands data also showed a continued rise in household savings across the UK and more debt being paid off. Household deposits rose by a record 25.6bn ($31.6bn) last month, while people repaid 4.6bn in credit card debt and personal loans.

Gross consumer borrowing rose slightly to 13.6bn but remains 3% below where it was this time last year, the lowest annual growth rate since records began in 1994.
A passenger arrives in Valencia, Spain from Zurich, Switzerland, which has seen rising cases. Photo: Ivan Terron/Europa Press via Getty Images

Leading European stocks closed higher on Monday, as investors remained confident in economic recovery despite the mounting coronavirus death toll worldwide.

Stocks in Britain and France had briefly dropped on the open, following falls in Asia as the number of recorded deaths globally passed 500,000 on Sunday (28 June), according to Reuters analysis.

The number of cases of COVID-19 also edged past 10 million, with alarm over rising new cases in parts of the US, India, Brazil, and Asia.

In Europe, health authorities in Zurich, Switzerland, also announced a 10-day quarantine for almost 300 guests and staff at a nightclub after several people tested positive. In the UK, Leicester in the East Midlands has seen a spike in cases, though nationally infection and death rates are falling.

READ MORE: Markets brace for US jobs data and UK spending blitz

Japans Nikkei 225 (^N225) fell 2.3% overnight, while Hong Kongs Hang Seng (^HSI) index lost 1.2% and Chinas Shanghai Composite index (000001.SS) shed 0.6%.

"The increase in US COVID-19 infection rates has dented momentum across markets despite the improvements in the global economy, which continues to beat most data expectations," wrote analysts at JPMorgan in a note.

But the overall death toll worldwide has flattened in recent weeks, and investors remain broadly upbeat about eventual recovery as economies increasingly reopen. In Britain, much of Scotlands non-essential retail sector and housing market reopened on Monday.

Death counts are not rising anywhere near the percentages we saw in March and April, said Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at AxiCorp.

Britains FTSE 100 (^FTSE) closed up 0.6% after prime minister Boris Johnson promised a Rooseveltian construction blitz to boost economic recovery. Frances CAC 40 (^FCHI) was up 0.4% and Germanys DAX (^GDAXI) up 0.5% by late afternoon in Europe.

US stocks continued their stimulus-driven rally from the lows of March, with the Dow Jones (^DJI) up 1.7%, the S&P 500 (^GSPC) up 1% and Nasdaq (^IXIC) up 0.7%.

Investors now seem to be taking the view that localised flare-ups are going to happen and that they will be quickly contained," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
Protestors used their numbers Sunday to shut down North Main Street at Blankinship Oil, where on Saturday a white adult fought a black teen. P

Peace & Power Rally

A Peace & Power Rally is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at The Branches Park (Leon Williams Park). The rally is to organize and strategize as a community, according to Westley Martin, an organizer. Attendees are encouraged to wear black.

We are doing this to organize and create strategies to get justice, Martin said in a Facebook post. Though we want to do other things to express our anger, we believe this is one of our best options. Here are a few demands we will be covering: No. 1: we want those men arrested; No. 2: we want to apply pressure on our police departments; No. 3: we want to hold the City of Paris accountable for working alongside the Bershirs Construction company.

We will discuss ways that we can make a change if we do this.
WASHINGTON  The White House briefed a select group of lawmakers Monday on intelligence reports that Russia offered bounties to Taliban militants for killing American troops in Afghanistan, amid growing questions in Congress about the administration's apparent inaction on the matter.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer demanded a classified briefing for all House and Senate members Monday, while the White House downplayed the intelligence assessment and said President Donald Trump had not been briefed on the matter because it had not been fully verified.

"Congress and the country need answers now," Pelosi, D-Calif, wrote in a letter Monday to Trump's CIA director and his Director of National Intelligence.

Pelosi and other lawmakers, including some Republicans, said they want to know why Trump was not briefed on the intelligence assessment and what steps the U.S. can take to punish Moscow for targeting American troops.

"What were talking about here is putting the target crosshairs on the backs of American servicemen and women in uniform," said Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Sasse said Congress should be focused on two questions: "No. 1, Who knew what, when, and did the commander-in-chief know? And if not, how the hell not?"

Rep. Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, also said the critical question is whether Trump knew or not.

"Either he did know about it and he's lying, or his administration has de-prioritized something that puts American people's lives  our servicemembers' lives  at risk," Kim said. "I think it's incredibly damaging that the president is saying that he didn't know about this."

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the White House invited eight lawmakers from the relevant congressional committees to a briefing on Monday. It was not clear if any Democrats were invited or attended.

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Rep. Jim Banks, who serves on the Armed Services Committee  publicly confirmed that he participated. After the briefing, Banks blasted the media for disclosing the intelligence, saying the New York Times, which first reported the story, will have blood on their hands for disrupting an investigation into the Russian operation.

"The real scandal: Well likely never know the truth Because the @nytimes used unconfirmed intel in an ONGOING investigation into targeted killing of American soldiers in order to smear the President. The blood is on their hands," Banks, who served in the U.S. Navy Reserve and deployed to Afghanistan, wrote on Twitter.

Late Monday,CIA Director Gina Haspel and Trump's Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe both issued rare public statements on the matter.

Ratcliffe blasted what he called the "selective leaking of any classified information" and suggested the media reports on the alleged Russian operation had interfered with efforts to probe further into the matter.

"We are still investigating the alleged intelligence referenced in recent media reporting and we will brief the president and congressional leaders at the appropriate time," Ratcliffe said. "Unfortunately, unauthorized disclosures now jeopardize our ability to ever find out the full story with respect to these allegations."

Haspel similarly said that leaks "compromise and disrupt" intelligence analysts' ability to "collect, assess, and ascribe culpability."

While not commenting directly on the Russia intelligence, she defended the intelligence community's handling of the issue, including reports that U.S. officials had briefed allied nations while possibly not briefing the president.

When developing intelligence assessments, initial tactical reports often require additional collection and validation," Haspel said. "In general, preliminary force protection information is shared throughout the national security community  and with U.S. allies  as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of coalition forces overseas."

After speaking with Haspel and Ratcliffe, Pelosi said she still had "many serious questions" about what the White House is doing to address threats from Russia and hold Moscow accountable.

Trump denied on Sunday that he had been briefed on the Russian bounty operation, which multiple news outlets, including the Associated Press, have confirmed since the Times published its story on Friday. Trump has tried to cast doubt on the stories.

"Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or @VP," the president tweeted on Sunday night, referring to Vice President Mike Pence. "Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax, maybe by the Fake News ... wanting to make Republicans look bad!!!"

A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the report.

"These claims are nothing but lies," said Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, according to Tass, a Russian news agency. Peskov echoed Trump's Twitter post, saying the New York Times is known for publishing "elaborate hoaxes."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., wears a face mask as she arrives to speak at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, June 26, 2020.

When asked if the intelligence was included in the president's written daily briefing, McEnany responded: "He was not personally briefed on the matter."

She said Trump was not told about the intelligence findings because some intelligence officials questioned the assessment.

"There was not a consensus among the intelligence community, and in fact, there were dissenting opinions within the intelligence community," she said. "And it would not be elevated to the president until it was verified."

Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, questioned that explanation. Presidents are frequently briefed on intelligence that is not rock solid  with analysts explaining how much confidence they have in the information  so "the president can evaluate the significance of it but also asked for more information," Schiff said in an interview with CNN on Monday.

This report in particular should have been flagged for Trump because of the importance of U.S.-Russian relations and the potential threat to American military personnel, he said. "If it goes to the protection of our troops, that's something that needs to be briefed to the commander-in-chief," Schiff told CNN.

An aide to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said he would be bringing a handful of Democrats to the White House on Tuesday morning for a briefing. But Hoyer is continuing to press the White House for a full congressional briefing, said his aide, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the situation.

Democrats were not alone in raising questions about how the White House handled the Russian bounty reports.

Republican Sen. Todd Young, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he was "alarmed" that Trump, Pence and top lawmakers in Congress were not briefed on the intelligence information. Young suggested intelligence officials should be held "accountable for their gross negligence" for failing to alert the president, and he called for congressional hearings to probe the Russia allegations.

"We must work to ascertain the reliability of media reports and, where necessary, advance accountability within our own government and facilitate a punishing response to the seemingly immoral, illegal, and unconscionable actions of the dictator who lords over the Russian people," Young, of Indiana, said in a statement Monday.

Rep. Liz Cheney, a member of the House Republican leadership, said in a tweet Sunday that if the report is accurate, "the White House must explain" why the president and vice president were not briefed on the matter and "what has been done in response to protect our forces & hold Putin accountable?"

In its story on Friday, the Times reported that Russian military intelligence officials offered Taliban-connected militants bounties for killing American and coalition troops in Afghanistan. The Times story also reported that top White House officials were briefed on the matter in late March and Trump was also informed.

It's not clear if the Russian operation resulted in the deaths of American troops. The Associated Press reported that intelligence officials are investigating an April 2019 attack on an American convoy that killed three U.S. Marines after a car rigged with explosives detonated near their armored vehicles as they traveled back to Bagram Airfield, the largest U.S. military installation in Afghanistan.

Three other U.S. service members were wounded in the attack, along with an Afghan contractor. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter. The officials the AP spoke to also said they were looking closely at insider attacks  sometimes called green-on-blue incidents  from 2019 to determine if they are also linked to Russian bounties.

Trump has pushed to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan amid a peace agreement with the Taliban.

Contributing: Maureen Groppe, the Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russian bounty on US troops: Pelosi demands intelligence briefing
A husband and wife brandished firearms at protesters outside their St. Louis home during a demonstration protesting both police brutality and recent actions by Mayor Lyda Krewson, authorities said Monday.

The incident unfolded at 7:23 p.m. CT on Sunday at the foot of Portland Place in the affluent St. Louis neighborhood of West Central End, officials said.

Police described the armed man, 63, and woman, 61, as "victims" of trespassing and fourth-degree assault.

"The victims stated they were on their property when they heard a loud commotion coming from the street," the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement. "When the victims went to investigate the commotion, they observed a large group of subjects forcefully break an iron gate marked with 'No Trespassing' and 'Private Street' signs."

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The neighborhood has streets with limited access that are considered private property.

"Once through the gate, the victims advised the group that they were on a private street and trespassing and told them to leave," the police statement said. "The group began yelling obscenities and threats of harm to both victims. When the victims observed multiple subjects who were armed, they then armed themselves and contacted police."

Albert Watkins, a lawyer for the couple  husband-and-wife attorneys Mark and Patricia McCloskey  insisted his clients were "in fear of imminent harm."

"Both Mr. and Mrs. McCloskey acted lawfully on their property which sits on a private gated lane in the City of St. Louis," Watkins said in a statement to NBC News. "Their actions were borne solely of fear and apprehension, the genesis of which was not race related."

Image: A couple draws guns at protesters in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 28, 2020. (Lawrence Bryant / Reuters)

But Daniel Shular, a freelance photojournalist who was at the protest, said he didn't see anyone breaking into the neighborhood and instead recalled seeing protesters simply strolling through an open gate.

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"I kind of turned around to take some pictures of people coming through the gate, then I turned back around and by then he had his long gun in his hand," Shular told NBC News. "And the woman came out with a pistol and started pointing it with her finger on the trigger at everybody."

Shular said "people were just kind of yelling at" the couple, but he couldn't clearly make out what was said.

"It was just angry sort of  people asking, 'Why do you have a gun? Its a peaceful protest!'" Shular said, adding that he didn't see people yelling at the couple "until they started brandishing guns, then it got heated."

"I really dont remember hearing anyone yell any obscenities or anything at them until the man had the gun. He was also yelling before he had a gun in his hand," Shular continued. "I couldnt make out anything he said."

Shular recalled seeing at least one armed protester, but said that's common in demonstrations around St. Louis.

"At that time I didn't [see weapons in the crowd at the McCloskey home] but afterwards I did see one gun once everyone made it to the mayor's house. I saw at least one person with a semi-automatic rifle," he said. "That's not super out of the ordinary for the protests here. Most of the handguns are concealed because in Missouri you don't need a permit to conceal-carry. "

The photographer said protesters kept their distance from the armed couple, staying on the sidewalk.

Image: A man holds a firearm as protesters walk through his neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 28, 2020. (Lawrence Bryant / Reuters)

The attorney for Mark and Patricia McCloskey insisted his clients are supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement and only became fearful for their safety on Sunday when white protesters began to act aggressively.

The Black Lives Matters movement is here to stay, it is the right message, and it is about time, said Watkins. The McCloskeys want to make sure no one thinks less of BLM, its message and the means it is employing to get its message out because of the actions of a few white individuals who tarnished a peaceful protest.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner said Monday that her prosecutors are reviewing the case. But she seemed to find fault with the couple for possibly escalating tensions.

"I am alarmed at the events that occurred over the weekend, where peaceful protestors were met by guns and a violent assault," Gardner said in a statement. "We must protect the right to peacefully protest, and any attempt to chill it through intimidation or threat of deadly force will not be tolerated."

Sunday's confrontation ended with no arrests or injuries, Caldwell said.

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Protesters were demonstrating against Mayor Krewson, a West Central End resident, who last week infuriated police reform advocates by releasing names and home addresses of "defund the police" activists.

"Defund the police" supporters believe some taxpayer money should be taken away from local police and redirected to other public safety programs such as mental health and other social services.

Krewson apologized for releasing those names and addresses, and a representative for her office couldn't be immediately reached for comment on Monday.

The investigation into Sunday night's confrontation is ongoing and St. Louis police spokesman Evita Caldwell stopped short of clearing the couple of any wrongdoing, telling NBC News: " As for whether the victims were within their rights, you would need to direct your inquiry to the courts for further."

Still images and video of the confrontation circulated throughout social media on Sunday night and Monday morning.
A recent Wall Street Journal editorial drew attention to the source of the moral denunciation that now dominates journalism: namely, dogmas that began in the universities. These dogmas go by various names (among others, postmodernism, multiculturalism), but I will gather them under the term deconstruction, as it best encapsulates what is at their core. It consists of critiquing the writings of past authors, especially male ones, deconstructing them, which means exposing the submerged ideology of power, racism, misogyny, repression, and so on that is hidden below the overt text of a novel. This French cultural product, which began to occupy a prominent place in American university literature departments in the 1970s, has had the effect, over several student generations, of bringing literature departments, especially those of foreign languages, to extinction. Why? It is in the DNA of adolescents, even of those who have never heard of Jacques Derrida, to deconstruct, to tear apart the assumptions of their forebears. When professors stopped talking about Miltons prose and began pointing out his treatment of his daughters, students got the point immediately. Why would 18-year-olds hang around to confirm what they knew only a year or two earlier, anyway: that anyone born before their own birth year doesnt have a clue?

The academics who have brought about this state of affairs first went to school in the 1950s. I am among this generation, the early Boomers, and we have been the most privileged generation in the history of the world. The best and brightest of us who grew up in the bare and quiet 1950s  those who had mastered the three Rs, learned to write in a comprehensible hand, and absorbed the ability to sit quietly at our desk several hours a day  would by 1963 continue to the next educational and social experiment. Unlike at the beginning of the 21st century, when 70 percent of high-school graduates go to college, many of them possessing weak reading, writing, and study skills, no one in 1963 thought that the boys sitting in the back row of public-school classrooms were college material, even if most of them probably knew how to read and write.

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With college, a weeding-out process began. Moreover, unlike high-school grads who enter college today, my cohort found itself in an environment that continued to nourish and support the capacities that had been drilled into us from the first grade. Thus, the curriculum across the country, whether at Stanford and Harvard or at a Big Ten school like the one I attended, was likewise standard. Requirements, as they were called, which may or may not have anything to do with ones major, counted for a large portion of the credits needed for graduation, which included at least two years of a foreign language. Back then, it was taken for granted that Western civ was to be part of our education. When we entered the professional world circa 1973, we were high achievers who comprehended the importance of efficiency, of deadlines, of getting to work on time, and all the other prerequisites of the modern economic order.

Many of us, myself included, had majored in foreign languages in college. Just a few years earlier, in 1958, within a year of the launch of the Soviets first satellite, Sputnik, the National Defense Education Act became law, providing financial assistance for defense-oriented studies at universities: engineering, math, and foreign languages. My high-school interest in German, a most accidental enthusiasm, had occurred at just the right moment, as the foreign-language departments of universities were a serious undertaking. This reassessment of foreign-language education, combined with study abroad, produced by the mid 1970s young scholars, men and women both, trained in various European languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. It is not overstating things that my generation went on to do real scholarship on foreign literatures and languages.

We published a lot, books, articles, reviews, as is reflected in the Publications of the Modern Language Association, or PMLA. This is the journal of the Modern Language Association, or MLA, the mandate of which is the promotion of the study of modern languages and literatures. Anyone who has done a historical search of the PMLA will discover, by the late 1970s, the increasingly deconstructionist bias of articles and reviews. Deconstruction of the literary canon in which it had been trained became the focus of the scholarship of a generation that had profited so immensely from educational opportunity.

The aim of theory, as it was called in the academy, was to read forward. It would no longer be a case, as in traditional scholarship, of reading backward, of studying sources or analyzing the traces of literary predecessors (one could also apply this to historical events), documenting the immediate conditions of the creation of a work or of its reception by contemporaries, but instead it would lay bare the biases of its creation  intolerance, racism, privilege, misogyny, you name it  that lived on and was passed down in literary works. Those of my cohort who majored in English literature, which for the most part also meant the study of a foreign literature, i.e., the British literary tradition, carried out a similar job of deconstruction of that field. Currently, one of the biggest areas of research among American scholars of 18th-century British literature is the Atlantic slave trade. As I said, students already knew that anyone born before them is an idiot. They walked out of the classes long ago, and the scholars talk only to themselves.

The damage that has been done to university curricula can be seen in a report in 2018 by the MLA. Take foreign languages: The 2016 ratio [of enrollment in foreign-language instruction versus overall student registration] is less than half of what it was in 1960 and approaches the lowest ratio recorded, 7.3, in 1980. Taking a long view, modern-language enrollments have lagged far behind overall college and university enrollments since 1960. Further: The percentage of four-year colleges and universities requiring students to take courses in languages other than English dropped 17 percentage points between 1995 and 2010, to about half of all institutions. In my own field of German, for instance, course enrollment went from 95,614 in 2009 to 80,594 in 2016. But compare 1968: 216, 263! And French in 1968: 388,096.

Also, according to the MLA, in the four years since 2012, B.A.s in English have likewise fallen, by almost 11,000, or 20.4 percent, from 53,840 in 2012 to 42,868 in 2016. As the MLA admits, this downturn is not confined to English, but to all the humanities, especially history, where bachelors degree completions have fallen by over 9,500 (27 percent) between 2012 and 2016, from 35,190 to 25,686. Degrees in languages other than English and in philosophy and religious studies have also declined, by 15.3 percent and 18.7 percent, respectively, since 2012.

As the Wall Street Journal piece pointed out, the deconstructionist temperament is widespread in America, precisely because the early Boomer generation has come to occupy culturally important positions. But let me remain with the current situation of woke culture, which is primarily a phenomenon of kids who have passed through elite universities. Woke is so apposite, such a culturally apt description of the thinking (!) of kids who have been raised deconstructively. In my own long-ago experience teaching undergraduates, they are not only highly susceptible to overestimating their own worth, but they are also very idealistic. One has only to teach the novels of Hermann Hesse to a class of undergraduates to know this. (Remember Demian? Or Siddhartha?)

We should be so lucky if any of them read Hermann Hesse these days. They are no longer introduced to works that once helped young people overcome their own vanities or that encourage them to measure up to the standards of literary heroes. You cant pay them anymore to read them. Novels are the only place where you can get into the mind of another person, but the minds of the young protesters are virginal, without depth, without empathy for differences of point of view. They have become more cynical than even the most hardened criminal when it comes to the values of Western civ. Channeling their idealism into spouting shibboleths, they have become spooky commissars merrily carrying on the work of deconstruction. After all, they know what kids instinctively know: They are always right.

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Voters in deep-red Oklahoma this week could order Medicaid expansion for at least 200,000 poor adults, defying state and Trump administration officials fighting to limit the Obamacare program.

If voters approve a ballot measure on Tuesday, Oklahoma would become the first state to broadly expand government-backed health insurance to many of its poorest residents since the beginning of a pandemic that has stripped many people of coverage. At the same time, that could scuttle the Trump administrations efforts to make Oklahoma a test case for its plan to transform the entitlement program into a block grant.

While ballot measures on Medicaid expansion in recent years have succeeded in other Republican strongholds like Idaho, Nebraska and Utah, the Oklahoma vote comes at a volatile time. Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt is warning the program would be unaffordable while the state suddenly confronts an estimated $1.3 billion shortfall. Voter turnout is also in question as infection rates surge and the state braces for the possibility of cases stemming from President Donald Trumps recent rally in Tulsa. At least eight Trump staffers working the event last weekend have tested positive for the virus.

The ballot measure would extend coverage to poor adults without children earning just about $17,000 per year. Many of them have limited affordable coverage options, since they earn too little to qualify for subsidies to purchase health insurance on the Obamacare marketplace. Supporters believe the rise in urgent medical needs during the pandemic will help convince voters to approve it, though theres limited reliable polling before the vote.

In terms of the pandemic, now more than ever people understand that when you need health care, you need it now, said Amber England, the campaign manager behind the ballot measure.

Backers of the measure have adjusted their campaign to the coronavirus era  hosting socially distanced events like virtual phone banks and happy hours over Zoom  but theyre sticking with messages that resonated with voters in previous expansion referendums. Campaign organizers, whove spent nearly $2 million on advertising, according to Advertising Analytics, have largely emphasized how Medicaid expansion would improve access to health care.

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Oklahoma, one of 14 mostly Republican-led states where officials have long refused Obamacares optional Medicaid expansion, has the nations second worst uninsured rate at more than 14 percent, behind only Texas. That number seems poised to climb higher with the state's unemployment rate surging to nearly 13 percent in recent months.

If the ballot measure succeeds, it would represent a major win for Democrats, who have been frustrated by the lack of a nationwide effort to expand coverage during the worst public health crisis in a century. The Trump administration has rejected calls to expand health insurance and is still pressing the Supreme Court to overturn Obamacare. Meanwhile, the economic fallout from the crisis has prompted other states with Democratic governors to halt major coverage expansions. California Gov. Gavin Newsom paused plans to extend coverage to undocumented seniors, while a deal Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly struck with a key Republican lawmaker to expand Medicaid is on hold.

The opposition to the Oklahoma ballot initiative is being led by the Oklahoma chapter of Americans for Prosperity,a Koch-backed conservative group that recently launched a six-figure digital ad and direct mail campaign arguing that expansion would bankrupt the state.

The money doesnt just appear, said Stitt, who last month vetoed a bill that would have helped partially pay for the state's share of Medicaid expansion costs by boosting a fee on hospitals. Stitt said the levy wouldn't provide a reliable long-term funding stream for the coverage program.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Medicaid expansion supporters in Oklahoma argue the program would bring desperately needed federal support for the states long-struggling rural hospitals, which have taken a further hit by a dropoff in elective procedures after the coronavirus emerged. Since 2016, six of the states hospitals have closed and another eight have declared bankruptcy.

We simply cant afford not to expand coverage, said Oklahoma House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, a Democrat.

The outcome of the Oklahoma ballot measure will be closely watched in Missouri, where voters on Aug. 4 will also vote on expanding Medicaid in their state. The ballot measure is strongly opposed by Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican facing reelection in November. Organizers of the Missouri ballot measure have similarly focused their messaging on the plight of the states hospitals, particularly those in rural areas. Ten hospitals have closed in Missouri since 2014, according to the state's hospital association.

Its about making sure Missourians can access health care in their communities, said Jack Cardetti, a spokesperson for the group behind the ballot initiative.

Expansion supporters are also watching how Oklahomas growing coronavirus infection rates affect voting. The states election board is advising  but not requiring  poll workers and voters to wear masks. Mail-in balloting is also broadly allowed, but election law experts said state requirements that they be notarized or come with a copy of government-issued identification could depress turnout, particularly in low-income communities whod directly benefit from expansion.

Unless youre able to fill in the ballot at your kitchen table and put it in the mailbox, anything more than that is going to be more difficult, said Joseph Anthony, a visiting assistant professor at Oklahoma State University who specializes in elections and voting rights. All of these things are onerous."

Jan Largent, the president of the states League of Women Voters, said four times the usual number of absentee ballots have been requested for the June 30 vote, when the states primary election is also being held.

People are determined to get out and vote for 802, she said, referring to the ballot question number.

The ballot measure, if successful, could block Stitt from pursuing the Trump administrations proposal to install strict funding caps for the first time in Medicaids 55-year history. Ballot organizers designed the measure so it would add Medicaid expansion to the state's constitution, believing that would bar Republican officials from adding conservative elements to the program as state lawmakers in Utah and Idaho did after voters overwhelmingly approved expansion in 2018.

Oklahoma was the first state to sign up for Trumps new plan to convert the federal governments open-ended Medicaid payments into a lump sum, known as the block grant. Trump's proposal would still require states to expand Medicaid to low-income adults, but in a way that could be more palatable to conservatives whove sought to control program spending. Democrats have fiercely opposed the administrations plan, which they say is illegal and could force states to make cuts in enrollment or health care services during tough economic times.

Stitts own position on Medicaid has shifted. He had once opposed Medicaid expansion, but then came to support the Trump administrations block grant plan announced earlier this year. Weeks later, he announced Oklahoma would implement traditional Medicaid expansion this summer, even while the Trump administration reviewed his block grant plan. The move raised suspicion among expansion supporters that Stitt was trying to undercut their ballot initiative since it could invalidate the block grant plan, but Oklahoma officials said expanding early would ease the state's transition to a block grant.

But Stitt a few weeks ago scrapped plans to immediately expand Medicaid, saying the pandemic added an unexpected financial strain on the state. Meanwhile, he's still asking the Trump administration to approve his block grant proposal.

Carter Kimble, Stitt's health deputy secretary, said Oklahoma wouldnt necessarily withdraw the block grant plan if the ballot initiative passes.

Its a legal question and well play by the rules, Kimble said. But I think that there is some space for some legal conversations about what our options are.
It's part of the process to help restaurants re-open safely. (Getty Images)

Deliveroo is launching a table service part of its app in a bid to help people to social-distance from staff and other people while theyre dining out in restaurants.

The new in app function will launch on 15 July, 11 days after restaurants are officially allowed to open after the coronavirus lockdown in England.

In-restaurant diners will be able to order their food from the comfort of their table, helping them to avoid as many other people as possible.

The online food delivery company is charging 0% commission to restaurants for this service, in the hope that it helps get the hospitality industry back on its feet after the last three months of lockdown.

Read more: Deliveroos most ordered meals of 2019

Deliveroo is also offering free PPE and signage to 5,000 small restaurants to encourage people back into the establishments.

The news comes after the government said that people frequenting restaurants should use contactless apps to order their food to try to keep interactions to a minimum.

According to Deliveroo, its the first company in the UK to put this idea into practice with its new launch.

Its not just available to restaurants, but can also be used in cafes, bars and pubs - anywhere where people need to go up and order or order from a member of staff at the table.

Read more: Marmite and Lynx unveil unlikely new collaboration

Thousands of our restaurant partners stayed open during the lockdown to deliver for the NHS and the vulnerable, Will Shu, Deliveroos CEO said.

It is now time for the government, consumers, and for Deliveroo to deliver for our restaurants, helping them to survive on the high-street as they reopen for dine-in customers.

Deliveroo wants to play a significant role in helping restaurants adopt tech-led solutions to reopen safely, especially smaller partners who otherwise would be unable to develop the technology and face huge financial burdens due to COVID-19. We are committed to developing a wide package of support measures to help the sectors economic recovery.

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Read more: Marks & Spencer launches strawberry flavoured clotted cream

Despite some people being excited about the re-opening of restaurants on 4 July, others remain cautious about the development.

Professor Christina Pagel from University College London (UCL) warned that the lifting of lockdown restrictions was sending out the message that the pandemic was over.

Images of people flocking to Bournemouth beach during last weeks heatwave has added an element of concern to the plans.

Restaurants, bars and pubs have been putting strict measures in place, though, to ensure the re-opening is as safe as possible for people wishing to use them in the coming weeks.
Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty

Thousands of protesters flooded the streets of lower Manhattan on Sunday for the Queer Liberation March for Black Lives and Against Police Brutality, a rallying cry against police violence that combined the spirit of Pride with the ongoing calls of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Late afternoon reports on social media showed disturbing moments of confrontation after a largely peaceful march, with the police pushing through crowds of protesters and appearing to detain multiple people.

New York Citys First Ever Queer Liberation March Showed a New-Old Way to Feel Pride

An NYPD spokesperson confirmed to The Daily Beast that two people were arrested in the act of graffiting a police vehicle, and that pepper spray was deployed against those who tried to intervene. (The use of pepper spray was totally allowed, the spokesperson said, as intervening in an arrest is illegal.)

Despite videos and social media posts that continue to surface showing police coming after the crowd, a department spokesperson otherwise noted the days events were peaceful without widespread reports of violence or anything of that nature.

Participants first gathered under the hot midday sun in front of City Hall and made their way north, up past the historic Stonewall Inn and eventually into Washington Square Park. Approaching the West Village, the crowd spanned nearly a dozen city blocks in length.

Similar to the many protests that have continued since the death of George Floyd last month, the march was not city-sanctioned but rather fueled by explicit calls to abolish and defund the police.

Naveen Kumar

Volunteers directed protesters, held traffic, and passed out supplies, while police presence (on foot, in vehicles and at least one helicopter) occasionally rose up on the routes periphery. Altercations were only reported near the marchs endpoint in Washington Square.

The event marked the 50th anniversary of the citys first organized march for LGBTQ+ rights (known as Christopher Street Liberation Day) on what was to be New York Citys annual day of Pride celebrations.

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With the official parade canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Queer Liberation March restored the political rigor and intent that characterized Pride from its earliest days, with a robust sense of solidarity and defiance in the face of injustice.

New York City Gets Ready for the Battle of the LGBT Pride Marches

The Queer Liberation March was initially canceled as well, but the grassroots group behind the event, the Reclaim Pride Coalition, decided to remount it in the wake of the ongoing uprising over anti-Black racism.

When we saw the eruption of protests, we were reminded of AIDS-era activism, Jon Carter, a member of the coalition, told The Daily Beast. There are times when physical presence in the streets speaks volumes.

Opposing police violence is one of the founding principles of Reclaim Pride, which organized the first Queer Liberation March last year as counter-programming to the city-approved Stonewall 50 Pride parade and accompanying glut of sponsored events and parties. Reclaim Prides resistance to corporate influence, and most especially to police involvement, this year assumed obvious renewed resonance.

New Yorks 50th LGBTQ Pride March Should Be as Political as Possible

Were tapping into a decades-long intersection of the broader movements for queer and Black rights, Carter said.

Trans women of color Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who spearheaded the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement and have rightfully assumed a central place in its history, were among the trailblazers rendered in effigy, towering 20 feet off the ground on the backs of tireless puppeteers.

Carter also pointed out that the founders of Black Lives Matter have personal ties to the queer community. Its an ongoing relationship that goes back to the Queer Liberation Front collaborating with the Black Panthers in the 60s, Carter told The Daily Beast. Its always been intersectional.

Signs demanding justice for Layleen Polanco, Nina Pop, Islan Nettles, and other trans women of color rose above the crowd, along with powerful statements that pointed to anti-racism as fundamental to queer liberation (There is no Pride without Black trans lives).

While some participants dressed in the colorful, provocative tradition of Pride, the air was decidedly one of resistance and calls for justice.

Im here to join everyone in fighting for trans lives, especially Black trans lives, said Jordana, 26, cooling off in the shade of an awning near Stonewall. Im a trans woman, and this year alone, 16 of us have been killed by hate crimes.

If cis white gay men were subject to that kind of violence, there would be so much more attention, said Jordana, a New York native. Its so important for us to get out here, even despite the virus, to spread our voice and make the media pay attention to our struggles.

People stand in a crosswalk holding "Black Lives Matter" signs while stopping traffic during at the Queer Liberation March for Black Lives & Against Police Brutality on June 28, 2020 in New York City. Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty

The crowd in the street chanted: They cant deny it, Stonewall was a riot!

Ive been going to a lot of Black Lives Matter protests, and Im a gay person, and I feel we need to be in the streets and fighting for the rights of Black trans people, said Todd, 53, an East Village resident whos been attending Pride events for more than 20 years. This is what queer Pride should be.

In Washington Square Park, where exhausted and exuberant protesters gathered and reconnected, a speaker with a microphone told the growing crowd: If youre here for a photo opp, youre here for the wrong reason. If youre here to put resources toward saving Black trans bodies, Im here for that! Benches filled up and small groups sat together on the grass, recharging in the shade.

This march is not only celebratory, but focused on issues we are still trying to overcome, said Dylan, 20, draped in a trans flag and waiting to meet up with friends.

Were living in a nation where queer life is directly under attack by our government, Carter from Reclaim Pride told The Daily Beast. The fact that were able to rally together and play a role in protecting the progress weve made, and insist on further progressthats cause for celebration, he said. We have it in our hearts; even in the deepest tragedy, we find ways to bring hope and joy to our lives.

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DETROIT - What had been a mostly peaceful protest took a dangerous turn late Sunday when a Detroit police officer drove an SUV through a crowd of protesters after they surrounded the vehicle and began pounding on it.

With the overhead lights flashing, the officer behind the wheel gunned the accelerator, sending protesters flying onto the pavement while others scurried out of the way as the vehicle lurched through the crowd. At one point, the SUV jerked to a stop and then sped away with at least two protesters on the hood, throwing them to the ground a dozen yards later.

A protester is shown on the hood of a Detroit Police Department SUV before being thrown from the vehicle on Vernor Highway on Sunday, June 29.

One of the men thrown from the hood clutched his leg and limped after he stood up. The other man appeared unharmed. Both men continued to march back to Patton Park.

Jae Bass, 24, of Detroit, who was one of the men thrown from the hood, said police attempted to block the marchers from returning to Patton Park. He tried to lead the protesters through the roadblock and some of the police vehicles began moving.

Bass said he tried to stand in front of the police SUV to stop it before it endangered protesters.

"In response to that, he just floored it," Bass said. "He went super fast. Me and a couple of other organizers that were with me, just went flinging off. We went flying off. He ran over a couple people's arms, feet. He ran over her phone. I think I was the last person on the car. I was just holding onto the car. I could feel him speeding up and then he did one of these and he flinged me off the car."

Detroit police spokeswoman Sgt. Nicole Kirkwood said late Sunday the rear window of the police vehicle was smashed in. The department is investigating the actions of both the protesters and the officer who was driving, she said.

The clash happened about 9:30 p.m. on Vernor Highway west of Waterman Street. Marchers had begun the day with a rally in Patton Park. They marched up Vernor to Clark Park. They were marching back to Patton Park when the clash happened.

The rally and march brought together a diverse group of civil rights and other organizations who urged solidarity in the fight against systemic racism, police brutality, deportations, evictions and water shut-offs.

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"It's an event that has been organized through a coalition of various organizations," said Tristan Taylor of Detroit Will Breathe, who led previous marches in Detroit. "This is us, acting on what we'd said we were going to do as an organization."

About 300 protesters began the rally in Patton Park, though the crowd thinned as the group marched up West Vernor. Detroit police mostly watched from a distance.

One tense moment came just before 7 p.m. Two protesters scaled a Spanish language billboard recruiting people to join the Detroit police force. They covered it with a hand-drawn sign reading: "Abolish ICE, Defund Police, No cops in schools." They secured it with zip ties.

The crowd roared its approval as the sign unfurled and then surrounded two Detroit police officers who exited their vehicle to talk to protesters. The marchers shouted and yelled into a bullhorn: "Whose streets? Our Streets. Whose city? Our city."

The officers stood for a minute, before one of them began speaking into the radio from his hip, pressing the radio up against his ear to hear over the shouts. When the officers returned to their vehicle to leave, protesters danced and chanted "Na, na, na, na; hey, hey; goodbye."

A protester holds a photo of George Floyd while listening to speakers at Patton Park before a march along Vernor Highway in southwest Detroit on Sunday.

Bass was one of the protesters who confronted the officers at that scene as well. Afterward, he said that confrontation came because: "... the police are trying to figure out a way to control us."

Bass said that the movement is bigger than the people on the street and can't be controlled.

"What you're seeing is us taking control back as the people, and showing exactly what our needs are," he said. "I think police haven't seen that in a while so they don't know how to control that."

In addition to Detroit Will Breathe, the rally included representatives from ACCESS, BAMN, Queer Pride Detroit and Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation. Immigrant rights groups, indigenous people's groups and other activists marched from Patton Park, up Vernor Highway to Clark Park, where a rally was held Sunday evening.

Speeches before the March in Patton Park included somber moments as well.

Isra Daraiseh, 30, of Detroit is Arab-American and she acknowledged historic tensions between some Arab-owned businesses and the Black community. She noted how in George Floyds case, an Arab-owned business initiated police contact.

How can we reduce this tension between Arab-owned convenience stores and the predominantely Black communities they often serve?" she said. "I don't have all the answers but we shouldn't shy away from this difficult problem and this difficult conversation. And this seems to be a ripe area for future organizing and thought from Arab-led organizations interested in being anti-racist.

Speakers who addressed the crowd emphasized the need to build coalitions.

Samantha Magdaleno, executive director of One Michigan for Immigrant Rights, said oppressed groups must work together.

Understand that these white systems are not meant for us. If we want justice, we have to unite to get it," she said. "We will fight together. Not because we hate our oppressors but because we love one another.

Detroit immigrant rights organizer Adonis Flores told the crowd to take the fight for change everywhere.

Monica Lewis-Peoples talks to the crowd in Patton Park before the march along Vernor Highway.

We can fight in politics. We can fight in the streets. We can fight in our home, in our schools," he said. "Wherever you feel more comfortable. ... We need to fight everywhere in every corner of our society.

Flores is with Queer Pride Detroit and Michigan United.

"We're stronger when we fight together," he said. "We're all going through similar oppressions under the current military police state. The immigrant community, the LGBT community, the Black community, are all being continually harassed by over policing."

He urged the crowd to vote.

Speaker Jason Paskvan, 27, of Oak Park is with the Detroit Indigenous Peoples Alliance. He said Black people have been neglected during the coronavirus pandemic and recounted the history of injustice and oppression.

"I'm here today to talk about Black and brown solidarity," he said. "While America was founded on universal appeals to equality and independence, it was also founded on the extracted labor of enslaved Africans and expanded through the genocide of native peoples and the theft of land, also known as settler colonialism."

Paskvan said the inequalities are manifest in food and housing redlining, mass incarceration and surveillance.

Follow Angie Jackson, Evan Petzold and John Wisely on Twitter: @AngieJackson23, @EvanPetzold and @jwisely.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit police SUV drives through crowd after protesters climb on hood
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Key Point: The one saving grace was that Japan wasn't reading American newspapers.

Stanley Johnston, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune accredited to the Navy as a correspondent, had made two forays into the South Pacific aboard the aircraft carrier Lexington. He was rescued when the ship was sunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. He and other survivors returned to San Diego via Noumea. En route, Johnstons roommate aboard the cruiser Chester was Commander Morton Seligman, executive officer of the sunken carrier. Seligman had a copy of Admiral Nimitzs operation order to the Midway forces. The message was top secret. Whether Seligman actually showed it to Johnston or left it adrift in the stateroom for Johnston to read is moot. The fact that security was compromised almost had terrifying results and could have reversed the course of the war.

The ability to continue to read Japanese messages since several enemy codes had been broken was crucial to victory, and Johnston almost gave that secret away. He filed a story on the victory at Midway with the Chicago Tribune. It was picked up by the San Francisco Chronicle and run on its front page.

Johnstons exclusive said that the Navy knew of the Japanese plan for Midway beforehand and was waiting to meet the enemy there. It was an almost verbatim text of the top secret message. Anyone who read it could infer that the Japanese codes had been broken. What else could the headline, Navy Had Word of Jap Plan to Strike at Sea imply?

There was talk of bringing Chicago Tribune owner Robert R. McCormick and Johnston to trial for endangering national security. The only vestige of hope that the Navy had was that the Japanese did not read American newspapers and that Americans would soon regard the headline as yesterdays news. Evidently, the Japanese did not pick up on the blunder, and the attention of the American public was diverted.

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McCormick and Johnston were never tried lest it highlight an incident which the Navy wanted to bury. Johnston became persona non grata to the Navy. Proposals that the Navy requisition the ships bringing timber for newsprint across the Great Lakes for the Tribune or that Canada suspend delivery of pulp to McCormick never came to fruition. Admiral Ernest J. King decreed that Seligman would never be promoted to captain and retired him in 1944.

Seligman had received a Navy Cross in World War I, two more later and a Purple Heart in early 1942. Under statutes that remained in effect until 1958, as a decorated officer of the Navy, Mort Seligman became a tombstone captain. He held the rank and privileges but not the pay of a retired Navy captain.

This article by Colonel James W. Hammond, Jr. originally appeared on the Warfare History Network.

Image: "USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) hit by two Kamikazes in 30 seconds on 11 May 1945 off Kyushu. U.S. Navy. Overlaid with headline from the Chicago Tribune, June 7, 1942.

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Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services Appoints Jonathan Goldfinger, MD, President & CEO and Promotes Senior Vice President Lyn Morris, LMFT, to COO

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services Appoints Jonathan Goldfinger, MD, President & CEO and Promotes Senior Vice President Lyn Morris, LMFT, to COO

PR Newswire

CULVER CITY, Calif., June 29, 2020

CULVER CITY, Calif., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Didi Hirsch Mental Health Servicesa national leader in suicide prevention and one of Los Angeles County's largest nonprofits treating families, youth, and adults with mental illness and substance use disordersis proud to announce the selection of Jonathan Goldfinger, MD, MPH, FAAP, as the next President and CEO of the 78 year-old organization.

Dr. Jonathan Goldfinger, MD, MPH, FAAP was selected to be next President and CEO of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. He succeeds outgoing President/CEO Kita S. Curry, PhD, who is retiring after more than two decades at the agencys helm.

Dr. Goldfinger's selection followed a year-long planning process by the Board of Directors, which included a nationwide search by Koya Leadership Partners, an executive search firm that specializes in placing leaders at mission-driven nonprofits worldwide. In selecting Dr. Goldfinger, Didi Hirsch's Board Chair Christopher J. Harrer, a Financial Advisor for UBS Financial Services, said, "We considered a deep bench of highly qualified and diverse candidates and found Dr. Goldfinger to be uniquely qualified to lead Didi Hirsch successfully into the future because of his background in healthcare policy, clinical innovation, strategic partnerships and technology."

A nationally recognized pediatrician and advocate for the health and wellbeing of children and families, Dr. Goldfinger comes to Didi Hirsch from Goldfinger Health where he advised diverse organizations on behavioral health innovation, business strategy, and policy. Prior to that he served as Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Innovation at Center for Youth Wellness (CYW) in San Francisco, which spearheaded the national effort to address Adverse Childhood Experiences such as abuse, parental mental illness, and discrimination.

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Like Didi Hirsch, advancing equitable access to care and outcomes has been a cornerstone of Dr. Goldfinger's career. He currently advises the California Office of the Surgeon General on trauma-informed primary care; the LA County Department of Public Health and First 5 Los Angeles on improving children's development and behavior services; and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on maternal-infant healthcare quality improvement. A long-time advocate for underserved communities in Los Angeles, Dr. Goldfinger completed his BA at Columbia University, MD and MPH degrees at Mount Sinai Medical School, and residency and fellowships at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

"I am grateful to the Board of Didi Hirsch for this exciting opportunity," said Dr. Goldfinger. "Didi Hirsch is a trusted leader in mental health and suicide prevention because their care is fundamentally committed to quality, innovation, and inclusion, all things society needs more than ever. Their work erasing stigma and counseling those in crisis has saved countless lives. I look forward to partnering with the Board, Ms. Morris, the executive leadership team, and staff to build on this legacy of excellence so our state and nation can heal intergenerational trauma and the resulting mental health pandemic of our day."



Lyn Morris, LMFT, the current Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer in recognition of the broader role she will play supporting Dr. Goldfinger. Ms. Morris has more than 20 years of experience at Didi Hirsch overseeing program development; managing major grants and contracts; and leading its mental health, substance use and suicide prevention services. A leading suicide prevention advocate, she is a frequent conference presenter and spokesperson with local and national media. "I look forward to my new role as COO and partnering with Dr. Goldfinger to bring growth and innovation to our programs and services," Ms. Morris said.

Dr. Goldfinger will succeed retiring CEO Kita S. Curry, PhD, who joined Didi Hirsch 26 years ago. Dedicated to providing quality services in communities where stigma or poverty limits access, the agency has tripled under her leadership with a budget of $56 million. The agency provides mental health and substance use services, as well as training and education, to 17,000 youth and adults at 10 locations in greater Los Angeles; it also provides suicide prevention services to 140,000 individuals nationwide. Dr. Currywho will stay on as outgoing CEO through August to support Dr. Goldfinger, who joins July 6, 2020expressed confidence in the Board's selection. "Dr. Goldfinger's commitment to ameliorating the negative impact of childhood trauma and using technology to reach even more clients is just what Didi Hirsch needs as we enter yet another recession when even more youth and adults will need our help."

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services transforms lives by providing mental health, substance use and suicide prevention services in communities where poverty or stigma limits access to care. Learn more at www.didihirsch.org

Cision

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SOURCE Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
In February, Texans experienced forced rolling and extended blackouts ordered by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas as demand for electricity spiked during a winter storm. On Monday, ERCOT took precaution to avoid blackouts by urging Texans to conserve power through Friday as summer temperatures continue to rise. Approximately 12,000 megawatts of generation were offline Monday, and ERCOT officials said the outages were unexpected. Are you satisfied with ERCOTs oversight of the states electric grid?

You voted:
The Justice Department announced charged four men with destruction of federal property for attempting to tear down a statue of Andrew Jackson in Lafayette Square last week.

The FBI and the United States Park Police said Virginia resident Lee Michael Cantrell, D.C. local Connor Matthew Judd, 20, Maryland resident Ryan Lane, 37, and Graham Lloyd, 37, of Maine, had been seen on video trying to tear down the statue. While Judd has been arrested, the other three men have yet to be apprehended.

The United States Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia will not stand idly by and allow our national monuments to be vandalized and destroyed. This Office remains steadfast in its commitment to protect the sacred First Amendment right of individuals to peacefully protest, but these charges should serve as a warning to those who choose to desecrate the statues and monuments that adorn our nations capital: your violent behavior and criminal conduct will not be tolerated, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin said in the release.

President Trump, who said last week that he had 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, tweeted out multiple images of those caught on tape at the riot in Lafayette Square.

On Friday, he signed an executive order to prohibit the desecration of public monuments.

I just had the privilege of signing a very strong Executive Order protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues  and combatting recent Criminal Violence, Trump tweeted. Long prison terms for these lawless acts against our Great Country!

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Stores nationwide now offer yet another convenient contactless option

ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Domino's Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ), the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales, is offering customers of the brand yet another way to carry out their favorite pizza: via Domino's Carside Delivery. Domino's Carside Delivery is a new contactless carryout option that customers can choose when placing a prepaid online order, and it is now available in stores across the U.S.

Dominos Carside Delivery is a new contactless carryout option that customers can choose when placing a prepaid online order, and it is now available in stores across the U.S.

"Domino's is all about providing a delicious, hot meal, the way customers want it  whether via carryout or delivery," said Dennis Maloney, Domino's senior vice president-chief innovation officer. "Domino's Carside Delivery gives customers the option to stay in their vehicle while a team member delivers their order to them, making for a convenient, contactless carryout experience. It's carryout, delivered."

When customers place a prepaid digital carryout order, they'll see the option for Domino's Carside Delivery. Once they make that selection, they will be prompted to add their vehicle color, make and model, which will be used to identify them when they arrive at the store. Customers can also select where they'd like their order placed  the passenger side, back seat, trunk or the option to decide when they arrive. Customers can notify the store when they arrive by hitting the "I'm here" button on Domino's Tracker page or by replying "HERE" to Domino's opt-in text, and a team member from the store will bring the order to their vehicle.

Domino's Carside Delivery is currently available from 4-9 p.m. in stores across the nation. Additional hours may vary by location. To find the nearest Domino's location or to place an order, visit dominos.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.

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Please visit our Investor Relations website at biz.dominos.com to view news, announcements, investor presentations, earnings releases and conference webcasts.

Dominos is now offering yet another way for customers to carry out their favorite order: via Dominos Carside Delivery.

Cision

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SOURCE Domino's Pizza, Inc.
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Developed during World War II era, the Douglas A-26 Invader would see action in the Vietnam War nearly twenty years later. This twin-engine attack aircraft was in essence an upgraded version of the A-20 Havoc. However, the A-26 featured more powerful engines, had a longer range and heavier armament than the A-20one version even had 18 forward firing .50 caliber machine guns!

In 1948, the aircraft was re-designated B-26 and subsequently saw service during the Korean War (1950-53), where it was mainly used as a night intruder against North Korean supply lines. The plane was removed from service in 1958, and that could have been the end of the story.

Yet it returned to duty twice moreand in a different role for the war in Vietnam.

In 1961, the United States Air Force recalled many Invaders back into service for use in clandestine operations in South Vietnam, where they were used as tactical bombers. While the B-26K aircraft were officially in service with the South Vietnamese Air Force, the Invaders were actually flown by American aircrews.

Two decades of use in combat took its toll and in 1964 the aircraft were retired again, yet those that remained in use were provided with a strengthening wing strap along the bottom of the wing spars as a way to prolong service life. This proved so successful that the USAF had forty Douglas Invaders upgraded and extensively modified by On Mark Engineering in Van Nuys, California. This included a rebuilt fuselage and tail, strengthened wings, improved engines, reversible propellers and wing-tip fuel tanks among other refinements.

The improved B-26K was henceforth known as the Counter Invader when it returned to Southeast Asia where it was used in ground-attack missions along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The aircrafts forward, fixed armament consisted of eight .50 caliber machine guns in the nose and three more on each wing, while up to 8,000lbs of mixed ordnancerocket pods, conventional drop bombs, gun pods and cannon podscould be carried externally at multiple underwing hardpoints.

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The modified aircraft could reach speeds of 323 miles per hour and had a range of 2,700 miles, as well as a ceiling of 30,000 feet.

The aircraft were deployed to Southeast Asia and attached to the 606th Air Commando Squadron and were based in Phanom Air Base in Thailand. As Thailand didnt permit the basing of bombers on its territory, in May 1966 the aircraft were reassigned the old attack designation of A26A, which brought the Invader full circle.

In addition to be being deployed against the Ho Chi Minh trail, the B-26K/A-26A Counter Invaders were flown over the panhandle of Laosan area along the North Vietnamese border known as the Steel Tigerin operations that were highly black and as result the national insignia were painted over to maintain plausible deniability should the aircraft be forced down.

Because North Vietnamese anti-aircraft defenses were installed along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, most of the combat missions over Laos were flown at night as it would have been too dangerous to fly the slow-moving piston-engine B-26K during the day. When possible, the aircraft were equipped with AN/PVS2 Starlight scopes for enhanced nighttime visibility.

By the summer of 1968 the night interdiction missions had been gradually taken over by the AC-130A and AC-130E gunships and the Counter Invaders were phased out of active service. Losses were heavy, with no less than twelve out of thirty that had served in Thailand lost to enemy action.

The A-26 was the last propeller-driven twin-engine bomber produced for the United States Army Air Forces, and it was one of the few wartime aircraft still in service with the post-war U.S. Air Force, but it was also the only American bomber to fly in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.

Image: Wikimedia

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Piers Morgan (right) and Eamonn Holmes attend the ITV Gala at London Palladium in 2015. (Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Eamonn Holmes has warned that Piers Morgans tenure as host of Good Morning Britain could end at any point if the former Britains Got Talent judge decides hes had enough.

Morgan, 55, has been hugely critical of the governments handling of the coronavirus crisis, and his bullish interview technique has seen thousands of viewers make official complaints to television watchdog Ofcom.

But his ITV colleague Holmes called Morgan the saviour of breakfast television for shaking things up, and suggested the reason people watch him is that they dont know how long he will last in the role.

Read more: Dizzee Rascal accuses Piers Morgan of stereotyping him as 'the aggressive black man' in TV interview

The This Morning host made the comments while appearing on the journalist Rodney Edwards Human Nature podcast.

Homes said: He came there and shook it up. He was the right man in the right place at the right time. And so far, so good.

"But the thing about Piers, and probably why a lot of people watch him, is you dont know how long itll last, you dont know how long he will last. You dont know when hell have had enough.

Piers Morgan and Good Morning Britain colleagues attend the 2019 Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall. (Wiktor Szymanowicz/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

He also praised his pal for saving GMB from going down the drain of vanilla blandness.

Holmes added: Hes worth watching, hes worth waking up to.

I think it takes all sorts and I think we should have a choice of what to watch and if you dont like it theres another channel so switch over.

Read more: Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford celebrate 10th wedding anniversary

But I think Piers has been the saviour of breakfast television.

Morgan responded to the comments with gratitude by thanking Holmes via Twitter.

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Despite the claims Morgan could go at any moment, his fans should be able to rest easy as he announced recently he has extended his GMB contract until at least 2021.

The Human Nature podcast is available to listen to online now.
EastEnders' Albert Square has a new mural of a black woman, drawn by artist Dreph. (BBC)

When EastEnders returns to screens later in the year viewers will notice an extra addition to the landscape of Albert Square as a new mural has been added.

The artwork on the side wall of the Beales' house, opposite the Queen Vic, is a portrait of a black woman intended to reflect "modern Britain".

It comes as the show has now resumed filming on the long-running BBC programme. It is currently off air due to a halt in filming new episodes because of the coronavirus.

Read more: June Brown cant watch EastEnders due to poor vision

The mural was created by British artist Dreph who is known for his large-scale works. His You Are Enough project in 2017 saw portraits of black women painted across London as he paid tribute to his friends for their work in communities and society.

The mural has been painted by artist Dreph. (BBC/Jack Barnes)

Dreph, real name Neequaye Dsane, commented: The opportunity to have my art work on the set as a permanent feature, having the same impact as my work has on the streets of London, was a really exciting opportunity. I remember watching the very first EastEnders episode 3 decades ago, so I was really surprised to hear from the team!

"Im so pleased that EastEnders has found a way to reflect modern day UK in a time when so many of us are finding ways to voice anti-racism and Im so happy that my work will become the backdrop to future storylines in the show.

The soap's Executive Producer Jon Sen added that the mural "reflects events taking place in the real world".

He said: "Anti-racism is something that the cast, crew and producers care passionately about at EastEnders and the show is well known for tackling social issues and celebrating diversity and inclusivity through its characters and storylines.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joined with liberals on the Supreme Court to strike down a Louisiana abortion law. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press )

Commentators have been busy trying to discern what Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. was up to when he joined the Supreme Court's four liberals Monday in striking down a Louisiana abortion law virtually identical to a Texas statute the court overturned in 2016.

Was he cynically voting to save the Republican Party from the political fallout of an anti-abortion ruling? Or maybe a concern for the court's legitimacy led him to act hypocritically, genuflecting at the altar of precedent despite the fact that he himself has voted to overrule prior decisions such as a 2018 case in which the court reversed a



41-year-old precedent that allowed unions to collect "fair share fees" from non-members.

Or was Roberts signaling that he might be open to overruling Planned Parenthood vs. Casey, the 1992 decision that reaffirmed the essential holding of Roe vs. Wade. (Slates Mark Joseph Stern suggested that Roberts opinion weakened a standard the court had set in the 2016 Texas case for deciding when a restriction imposed an undue burden on the right to abortion.)

Whatever Roberts' supposed ulterior motives, his decision can be explained by the fact that he wanted to keep his word.

At his confirmation hearings in 2005, Roberts told the Senate Judiciary Committee that overruling a precedent causes a "jolt" to the legal system.

Roberts was responding to a question from Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, a pro-choice Republican. (Specter later switched to the Democratic Party.) Specter, who referred to Roe vs. Wade as a super-duper" precedent, was satisfied enough by Roberts' reply to vote for his confirmation, as did 22 Democratic senators.

The Louisiana law at stake in Monday's decision, which required physicians performing abortions to have admitting privilege at a nearby hospital, was virtually identical to the Texas law the court struck down in a 2016 case called Whole Women's Health vs. Hellerstedt.

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Roberts dissented in that case and on Monday said that he still thought it was wrongly decided. But he went on: "The question today however is not whether Whole Womans Health was right or wrong, but whether to adhere to it in deciding the present case."

He continued: "The legal doctrine of stare decisis requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike. The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore Louisianas law cannot stand under our precedents."

Its hard to imagine a bigger jolt to the legal system than a repudiation of a precedent that is only four years old involving essentially the same piece of legislation. Roberts would have looked ridiculous if he hadnt voted as he did  and the court would have as well.
Photograph: Joshua Roberts/Reuters

After spending over $30m to help elect Donald Trump in 2016, the National Rifle Association faces a deepening financial crisis with over 200 staff layoffs and furloughs in 2020, according to three NRA sources, gun analysts and documents.

The situation is likely to hinder efforts by the gun rights group to help Trump and other Republicans win in Novembers election.

The 200-plus layoffs and furloughs, which have not previously been reported and were mainly at NRA headquarters in Virginia, were spurred by declines in revenues and fundraising, heavy legal spending, political infighting, and charges of insider self-dealing under scrutiny by attorneys general in New York and Washington DC, the sources say.

The widespread Covid layoffs and furloughs have further harmed both the NRAs legal capacity and political influence beyond what was already a troubling deterioration, said one NRA official who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters. The official added the outlook this year for NRA political spending was deeply concerning.

Related: Revealed: top official did special favors on guns for NRA at interior department

NRA staff learned about the furloughs, plus 20% staff pay cuts, four-day work weeks and other belt tightening, in an April email from Wayne LaPierre, the longtime top executive of the NRA, which claims it has 5 million members.

LaPierres email to the NRA family said we have lost significant revenue and linked the austerity moves to the pandemics stay-at-home orders. The email said the NRA hoped to bring back those furloughed when its finances improved.

The NRA declined to comment on the extent of the layoffs and furloughs, which sources said were continuing.

The NRAs financial problems were palpable long before the pandemic but have increased due to a few factors, including the cancellation of a number of NRA fundraising dinners following the onset of Covid-19.

The NRA typically pulls in tens of millions of dollars yearly from Friends of NRA dinners in many states, but most were canceled after January and February, said the sources.

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The NRAs woes, say gun analysts, are expected to sharply reduce spending this year compared with the $30m the group spent on ads to help Trump win in 2016. They are also likely to mean cuts to its once formidable get out the vote operations in key states that historically provide big boosts to GOP candidates. Overall in 2016, the NRA spent close to $70m on ads and voter mobilization drives, say NRA sources.

In 2018, the NRAs financial problems caused it to spend a relatively lackluster $9.4m on the midterm elections, and gun control groups outspent the NRA for the first time, which analysts say helped the Democrats win the House majority.

The NRA is entering the summer and fall campaign with a series of crippling financial, legal, and political problems, said Robert Spitzer, a political science professor at Cortland State University in New York.

Spitzer added: As its anemic political spending in the 2018 midterm election showed, they will not be able to match anything like the roughly $70m they spent in 2016, as they continue to be plagued by a major revenue shortfall, a fact exacerbated by the impact of the coronavirus shutdown.

Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the NRA, speaks at CPAC in February. Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA

The drop in revenues accelerated in 2019 when several large NRA donors began a drive to oust LaPierre over allegations of mismanagement and self-dealing, and to promote reforms. The website helpsavethenra.com, which is headlined Retire LaPierre, boasted in December that $165m in donations and planned gifts had been withheld.

The donor revolt has been spurred in part by several reports of lavish personal spending by LaPierre. The Wall Street Journal revealed last year that according to the NRAs former ad firm Ackerman McQueen, which has been in legal battles with the NRA and LaPierre, he took about $240,000 worth of trips to Italy, Hungary, the Bahamas and other locales that were charged to the ad firm. The Journal reported that the ad firm had paid for about $200,000 in expensive suits for LaPierre, including some from a Beverly Hills boutique.

LaPierres yearly salary in 2018 was close to $2m.

Two Democratic attorneys general in New York and DC have reportedly been investigating whether the NRA abused its non-profit tax-exempt status in different ways such as improperly transferring funds from an NRA Foundation to the NRA.

Further, the AGs are said to be examining the allegations of self-dealing by NRA leaders, including financial transactions involving LaPierre, the NRA and the former ad firm.

If the AGs bring charges, the NRA could lose its coveted non-profit status in New York, where it has long been chartered.

The NRAs top outside lawyer has said it is complying with the investigations but has attacked the NY AGs zeal and the investigations partisan purposes.

During the pandemic, the NRA and pro-gun allies have waged successful legal battles in a number of states to make gun shops and shooting ranges essential businesses and circumvent stay-at-home measures.

Related: The NRA is in grave danger: group's troubles are blow to Trump's 2020 bid

But in mid-June, second-amendment advocates and the NRA suffered a stinging legal setback when the supreme court declined 10 petitions to review lower court rulings involving gun laws in several states, including Illinois and Massachusetts, which have banned assault weapons.

The NRA attacked the high courts inaction in a statement, blasting it for allowing so-called gun safety politicians to trample on the freedom and security of law-abiding citizens.

Due to the pandemic, the NRA earlier this year canceled its annual meeting in Nashville, which Trump has faithfully attended since taking office to solidify his NRA ties. It is now slated to be held on 5 September in Springfield, Missouri.

At last years meeting was concluding, Trump in a tweet urged his NRA allies to stop the internal infighting amid the charges of self-dealing by its leaders and to get back to GREATNESS. FAST. For now, Trumps aspirations for a speedy NRA recovery seem largely unfulfilled.
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Here's What You Need To Remember: Regardless of the conclusions arrived upon by the ongoing assessment, it is likely both the A-10 and F-35 will perform CAS missions in the immediate years ahead.

The US Army wants the F-35 to support its ground troops.

Its that simple. We hear volumes of information about the Marine Corps vertical-take-off-and-landing F-35B, Navy carrier-launched F-35C and Air Force F-35A - but what does the Army think of the emerging Joint Strike Fighter?

Does the Army think the 5th-Gen stealth fighter would bring substantial value to targeting and attacking enemy ground forces in close proximity to advancing infantry? What kind of Close Air Support could it bring to high-risk, high-casualty ground war?

When you are in a firefight, the first thing infantry wants to do it get on that radio to adjust fire for mortars and locate targets with close air support with planes or helicopters. You want fires. The F-35 has increased survivability and it will play a decisive role in the support of ground combat, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told reporters at the Association of the United States Army Annual Symposium.

Gen. Milleys comments are quite significant, given the historic value of close air support when it comes to ground war. His remarks also bear great relevance regarding the ongoing Pentagon evaluation assessing the F-35 and A-10 Warthog in close air support scenarios.

Over the years, close-air-support to Army ground war has of course often made the difference between life and death - victory or defeat. The Army, Milley said, wants next-generation close-air-support for potential future warfare.

We fight with the Navy, Marines and Air Force. Our soldiers have never heard an Air Force pilot say I cant fly into that low-altitude area, These guys take incredible risk. If there are troops on the ground, they are rolling in hot, Milley said.

While Milley of course did not specifically compare the A-10 to the F-35 or say the Army prefers one aircraft over another, he did say the F-35 would be of great value in a high-stakes, force-on-force ground war.

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Long-revered by ground troops as a flying-tank, the combat proven A-10 has been indispensable to ground-war victory. Its titanium hull, 30mm cannon, durability, built-in redundancy and weapons range has enabled the aircraft to sustain large amounts of small arms fire and combat damage - and keep flying.

At the same time, as newer threats emerge and the high-tech F-35 matures into combat, many US military weapons developers and combatant commanders believe the JSF can bring an improved, new-generation of CAS support to ground troops. Thus - the ongoing Office of the Secretary of Defense comparison.

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Accordingly, the Pentagon-led F-35/A-10 assessment is nearing its next phase of evaluation, following an initial first wave of tests in July of this year, Vice Adm. Mat Winter, Program Executive Officer, F-35 program, recently told a group of reporters.

Mission performance is under evaluation, Winter said.

Pre- Initial Operational Test & Evaluation test phases, are currently underway at Edwards AFB and Naval Air Station China Lake, officials said.

Mission performance is being evaluated in the presence of a robust set of ground threats and, to ensure a fair and comparable evaluation of each systems performance, both aircraft are allowed to configure their best weapons loadouts and employ their best tactics for the mission scenario a statement from the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation said.

Upon initial examination, some might regard a stealthy, 5th-Gen F-35 as ill-equipped or at least not-suited for close air support. However, a closer look does seem to uncover a handful of advantages - speaking to the point Milley mentioned about survivability.

Long-range, computer-enabled F-35 sensors could enable the aircraft to see and destroy enemy ground targets with precision from much higher altitudes and much farther ranges than an A-10 could; the speed of an F-35, when compared to an A-10, would potentially make it better able to maneuver, elude enemy fire and get into position for attack; like the A-10s 30mm gun, the F-35 has its own 25mm cannon mounted on its left wing which could attack ground forces; given its sensor configuration, with things like a 360-degree Distributed Aperture System with cameras, the F-35 brings a drone-like ISR component to air-ground war. This could help targeting, terrain analysis and much-needed precision attacks as US soldiers fight up close with maneuvering enemy ground forces.

An F-35 might be better positioned to respond quickly to enemy force movement; in the event that enemy air threats emerge in a firefight, an F-35 could address them in a way an A-10 could not, obviously; an F-35 would be much better positioned to locate enemy long-range fires points of combat significance and destroy hostile artillery, mortar or long-range-fires launching points. Finally, while the A-10 has a surprising wide envelope of weapons, an F-35 could travel with a wider range of air-ground attack weapons - armed with advanced targeting technology.

Also, fighter-jet close air support is by no means unprecedented. F-22s were used against ISIS, F-15s were used against insurgents in Iraq - and the F-35 recently had its combat debut in Afghanistan.

There are, however, some unknowns likely to be informing the current analysis. How much small arms fire could an F-35 withstand? Could it draw upon its hovering technology to loiter near high-value target areas? To what extent could it keep flying in the event that major components, such as engines or fuselage components, were destroyed in war? How much could A-10 weapons and targeting technology be upgraded?

Regardless of the conclusions arrived upon by the ongoing assessment, it is likely both the A-10 and F-35 will perform CAS missions in the immediate years ahead.

When it comes to the Army and the F-35, one can clearly envision warfare scenarios wherein Army soldiers could be supported by the Marine Corps F-35B, Navy F-35C or Air Force F-35A.

We dont fight as an Army - we fight as a joint force. What makes us different is the synergistic effect we get from combining various forces in time and space, Milley said.

Kris Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army - Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at CNN and CNN Headline News.

This first appeared in Warrior Maven here.

This article first appeared earlier this year and is being republished due to reader interest.

Image: Wikimedia

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The FCA froze Wirecard's UK business on Friday (26 June). Photo: Sven Hoppe/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)

The UKs financial watchdog said on Monday it wont relax strict restrictions on Wirecards UK business as it is still concerned about the safety of client money.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said in a brief update that while good progress had been made with Wirecard Card Solutions Limited over the weekend, the regulator doesnt feel comfortable lifting restrictions.

We are maintaining pressure on the firm to resolve these issues which would allow it to operate under certain conditions, the regulator said.

However, we cannot lift the restrictions without reassuring ourselves that the firm has been able to satisfy all our concerns, for example, that all clients' money is safe. We hope to be able to issue an update soon.

READ MORE: Customer cash frozen as Wirecard's UK business ordered to stop operating

The FCA unexpectedly froze Wirecards UK business on Friday, ordering it to stop all regulated activity and freezing client cash. It came after the collapse of the business German parent company, which discovered a 1.9bn (1.7bn, $2.1bn) hole in its balance sheet. Wirecards former chief executive has been arrested in connection with the case.

The FCAs actions threw many UK fintech businesses into crisis on Friday (26 June). Several companies use Wirecard to run their card network and payments. None were aware the FCA was planning to impose restrictions.

Without this suspension being removed rapidly, we believe there will be significant and lasting damage to individuals, companies and the UKs current and future prospects as leaders in fintech, Tony Craddock, the director general of the Emerging Payments Association, said in an open letter sent to the FCA on Monday.

Craddock said many of the fintechs that rely on Wirecard are specifically targeted at low income people and Friday was payday.

A few will be merely inconvenienced, but many will suffer and some will become emotionally distressed and traumatised, with unknown consequences to their wellbeing and health, Craddock said.

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U Account, a money management account for low income customers, said wages and benefits paid to its 18,000 customers would bounce back as a result of the freeze. The company said on its website that customers had expressed understandable anger in direct contact with us or on social media.

READ MORE: Wirecard CEO quits after billions go missing from balance sheets

We understand the frustration and distress that the requirements imposed on Wirecard UK by the FCA are causing our customers, said Paul Smith, the chief executive of doorstep lender Morses Club, which owns the U Account.

We are in regular contact with the FCA and Wirecard UK to understand the situation and find a swift resolution for our U Account customers. While our customers' money is not at risk, we understand the difficulty this temporary suspension is causing our customers and we are working tirelessly to find a solution.

Pockit, another money management app for people with low income, said it was working around the clock to find a way around the freeze.

We appreciate the disruption and distress this is causing to you, the company wrote in a blog post. We are doing everything we can to solve this as quickly as possible.

READ MORE: Central bank says Wirecard's missing funds didn't enter Philippines

ANNA Money, a current account for freelancers with 20,000 customers, said in a blog on Monday: We expect the suspension to be lifted, and we are working to restore access to your card and account as soon as possible.

The company said it would also use its own funds to backstop customer cash if needed, although it said this would take up to two weeks to put in place.

Were acting as quickly as possible to take steps to guarantee customers funds, keep them informed and get back up and running again so they can access their accounts, ANNA Moneys co-founders Boris Dyankonov and Eduard Panteleev said in a joint statement emailed to press.

Curve, a startup that lets people combine all their cards in one, was also hit by the freeze on Friday. It told customers in an email on Monday that cards would be reactivated after the business spent the weekend migrating onto new systems.
Karl Brauer went to work in mid-June doing a job he loved, and he ended the day with news it had come to an end.

"I was let go the day after my seventh anniversary," said Brauer, 50, a longtime industry authority as executive publisher of Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader. "I've got a wife and we're a single-income family with two kids, 21 and 19, with one on the autism spectrum and both in college."

He had no warning he was going to lose his job. A few weeks before, he had been out new car shopping, but held off.

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"There are plenty of people out there who just have no idea what is going to happen," Brauer said. "They may feel completely confident in their job, but they've got friends or relatives who felt confident in their job two weeks ago and now they're unemployed. It's not really a question of responsibility as much a question of the unknown, of variability."

It's stories like Brauer's that have a lot of consumers hesitant to make major purchases, like buying a car, right now.

Video: Consumer Reports rank top cars of 2020 based on price range

So Ford Motor Co. is launching a special program to offset this consumer anxiety.

The company is allowing customers who buy new or used cars through Ford Credit to return that vehicle within a year if payments can't be made because of job loss. The special "Ford Promise" program announced publicly Monday runs through September 30.

It applies specifically to 2019, 2020 and 2021 purchased or leased new, used and certified pre-owned vehicles. Commercial use contracts do not qualify.

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Karl Brauer, who recently lost his job as executive publisher of Kelley Blue Book, is seen here on Dec. 21, 2019 with his daughter Katherine in New York City.

'Not comfortable'

This latest initiative is a response to economic fear seen by car dealers.

"I definitely know there are customers who are uncertain about making a large financial decision at this time," said Brian Godfrey, president of Pat Milliken Ford in Redford, Michigan. "We've seen customers who have put off a purchase or a decision on renewing their lease because of the uncertainty."

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This new program, he said, is designed to give customers a little extra confidence.

Consumer data collected by Ford actually documents the concern.

"We've been doing a lot of different research since the pandemic started," said Matt Atkenson, U.S. retail communications manager at Ford. "We've found in the data that there's a growing population of customers saying, with everything going on, they're just not comfortable pulling the trigger. Not just automotive, but major purchases."

Matt Atkenson, U.S. retail communications manager at Ford, has studied data that reflects consumer anxiety associated with the uncertain economy. He is pictured here with his wife Stacy on April 27, 2019, in New York.

Fear of job loss is key, he said. As economic forecasters continue discussing the crisis and more companies announce bankruptcy  including J. Crew, Neiman Marcus, J.C. Penney, Pier 1 Imports, Hertz, Gold's Gym and Tuesday Morning  no one knows what to expect.

Ford pointed to Cox Automotive data that an estimated 32% of potential customers are delaying auto purchases, citing market uncertainty and fear of unemployment.

"To qualify for this debt waiver," Atkenson said, "you have to have involuntary job loss. If someone is eligible for state unemployment, that will qualify them to receive this. It begins 30 days after a vehicle purchase."

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Hyundai-Kia pioneered this kind of program to allay customer anxiety during the Great Recession.

In recent months, automakers including Ford have allowed customers to delay making car payments under certain circumstances related to COVID-19, but this is the first time an automaker is guaranteeing you can return your new vehicle.

Ford Credit will buy back the vehicle at its average trade-in value. If the difference between the vehicle value and the amount owed is greater than $15,000, the program limit, then the customer is responsible for that difference, Ford said. The customer would also be responsible for any late or deferred payments and vehicle damage.

'Getting worse'

"The uncertainty is off the charts right now," said Charles Ballard, a professor of economics at Michigan State University.

"This is an unprecedented situation. Think about 'normal' times. Like the recession: We thought that was a big problem back in the day. But then all we had to forecast was basically how the financial market meltdown  how that was going to evolve. All we had to worry about was the economic behavior of banks, businesses and households. That was simple compared to the COVID-19 recession," he said. "Now we have to figure out banks, businesses and households in the midst of huge uncertainty compounded by the fact that we don't know how the virus is going to go. It appears to be getting worse."

Ballard praised the innovative Ford program as a "clever idea" that creates a workaround to uncertainty.

"When people are worried, they do not make big-ticket purchases. Or when people are scared," he said.

Cuts and more cuts

Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights at Edmunds.com, said the impact of economic uncertainty cannot be overstated.

"There have just been so many job cuts throughout the economy, and I don't think we're necessarily out of the woods yet from a jobs standpoint," she said. "Anyone buying a car now, running through their mind is, 'Is my job secure? Am I going to be able to pay for this?'"

Brauer, who lives in Lake Forest, California, said he was talking to a Ford dealer about purchasing a Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R just weeks before getting the bad news on June 18.

He was holding off because of uncertainty.

And, for now, his wife isn't panicking.

"I pride myself on my powers of frugality," said Stacie Brauer, 56. "Karl has been between jobs before, and last time I put a Post-it note up in the kitchen saying, 'Spiritually grounded in a life of simplicity. Ive re-created that Post-it note, with the words once again added."

No one anywhere is truly safe from job elimination these days, Karl Brauer said.

"There's a bunch of people still at Cox Automotive who just saw me get laid off and they're thinking, 'If it can happen to Karl, who else is next?' Should I buy a new car?'" he said. "Then you hear Ford say if you buy that you can return it, and that just took a lot of fear out of buying a car."

Contact Phoebe Wall Howard at 313-222-6512 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid. Read more on Ford and sign up for our autos newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ford buy-back program tackles consumer fear over unpredictable economy
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union announced today it has earned the top spot for the second consecutive year as Forbes' #1 Best Credit Union in Pennsylvania and one of America's Best Credit Unions. "Earning this prestigious honor for the second year in a row is a testament to the passion and commitment of our 220+ team members, dedicated volunteer board of directors, more than 67,000 consumer members and 1,500 business members," said Tricia Szurgot, Chief Operating Officer of First Commonwealth.

FIRST COMMONWEALTH FEDERAL CREDIT UNION NAMED FORBES #1 PENNSYLVANIA BEST-IN-STATE CREDIT UNION AND ONE OF AMERICAS BEST CREDIT UNIONS FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

"We take delivering on our brand promise at every touchpoint and with every interaction very seriously. Our top priorities as we align our business to the future are people  our employees, members, consumers and communities, data and technology. Our ability to gather, analyze and leverage continuous real-time feedback from our members to better serve their immediate and long-term needs while identifying gaps in our products and service delivery has led to many value-added enhancements to our industry-leading products and services. We're investing in people, technology and infrastructure to deliver the right balance of banking technology, easy access, personalized experiences and continuous value to our members."

Fewer than 3.5% of the nation's 5,200 credit unions were recognized by Forbes, who partnered with market research firm Statista to survey over 25,000 individuals regarding their banking relationships. Credit Unions were assessed and selected based on factors including trust, branch services, digital services, and financial advice. According to the Forbes article, "Americans generally gave their banking institutions good reviews on satisfaction with scores of 4.2 on average on a scale of one to five. But banks can't touch credit unions; credit unions averaged 4.5 satisfaction scores."

"The growing trend of consumers choosing to spend their hard-earned money with brands whose purpose and values align with their own is exciting for us. As a purpose-driven, not-for-profit financial institution we look forward to this trend continuing. We encourage more consumers to choose purpose-driven credit unions for all their financial needs. We are in good company on Forbes' list this year and congratulate our fellow top credit unions in Pennsylvania for this honor: First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union (1); Police and Fire FCU (2); Citadel FCU (3); People's First FCU (4) and PSECU (5), respectively," added Szurgot.

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ABOUT FIRST COMMONWEALTH FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union is a leader in banking innovation and the largest credit union in the Greater Lehigh Valley. With a mission of "empowering the pursuit of financial happiness" and core values of "honesty, integrity, generosity, humility, excellence and respect" First Commonwealth is among the highest ranked credit unions by the National Credit Union Administration (2020) and Forbes (2020). With eleven financial centers, a best-in-class digital banking center and dedicated small business center, First Commonwealth serves more than 67,000 members and 1,500 businesses in the communities they serve. As a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, First Commonwealth is a leader in the B2C and B2B financial services marketplace and has been committed to growth, innovation, technology and personal, friendly service since 1959. First Commonwealth serves its membership through purpose-driven and mission-based values to help members empower their pursuit of financial happiness.

Cision

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SOURCE First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union
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Beginning this summer, the Israeli government will be able to upend a decades-long status quo with the Palestinian Authority by voting for the annexation of the West Bank. Divided into Areas A, B, and C, the West Bank consists of a meandering, complex system of interwoven communities of Israelis and Palestinians. Area C, which constitutes 61 percent of the West Bank, has been fully controlled by Israel since the 1995 Oslo II Accord. The prospect of Israel annexing significant blocs of Area C as part of its mainland territory is increasing. This is important because Area C is also where the vast majority of the West Banks water, agricultural, and mining resources are located.

When nations attempt to exert control over or monopolize shared essential resources, advocates can argue they are doing so to enhance their own security. They may in fact be doing the opposite. Depriving marginalized groups of necessary resources intensifies tensions and makes conflict more likely. By voting for the annexation of Area C, the Israeli government could permanently withhold economic development opportunities for a future Palestinian state and worsen long-term security needs for Israelis.

The Israeli Supreme Court affirmed in 2011 that private Israeli companies are entitled to exploit natural resources in Area C. Two years later, a World Bank report found that if Palestinians had adequate access to the lands and resources of Area C, Palestinian GDP would increase by over $3.5 billion, or 35 percent. In essence, the report argues existing policy restrictions and the bureaucratic complacency of Israels Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories prevent Palestinians from extracting value out of the natural resources in the area.

Permitting in Area C

For the roughly three hundred thousand Palestinians living in Area C, obtaining permits for construction, agricultural development, housing, or infrastructure from the Israeli government has historically been difficult due to a bureaucratic impasse. Israel has granted thousands of permits for Israeli settlers in Area C over the last decade while granting a maximum of just fifteen annually to Palestinians. Overall, less than four percent of Palestinian building permits have been approved by Israel since 2000. This is largely attributed to 70 percent of Area C being off-limits to Palestinian construction, which falls under the municipal jurisdiction of local settlement councils. Palestinians living in Area C are barred from conducting development activity in these jurisdictions due to their lack of Israeli citizenship. But even in the 30 percent of Area C territory outside of these settlement blocs, many economic development and infrastructure projects that have been pitched by the Palestinian Authority have never been carried out. This is largely due to either outright rejection or long-drawn-out deliberations between government officials.

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In July 2019, Israels security cabinet demonstrated a willingness to support Palestinian-led development with its approval of 700 new Palestinian building permits alongside the provision of 6,000 new Israeli settlement permits in Area C. Despite this promise, no formal announcement or plans have been released. It remains unclear whether these newly issued permits pertain to new construction or legalization of existing buildings. Regardless, these permits will be for Palestinian homes, not building new infrastructure for economic development or resource extraction.

While significant disparity exists in infrastructure development, its important to note that an unequal provision of permits does not necessarily result in inadequate access to basic resources. In the case of access to water, it is a more complicated story.

According to one study, the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Water Committee has a permit approval rate for Palestinian water projects approximately 20 to 50 percent lower than Israeli water projects. However, Israel also supplies West Bank Palestinians with over 248 million of cubic meters of water (MCM), which is 21 MCM above its obligation of 227 MCM under the Oslo II Accord. This has resulted in over 95 percent of Palestinians in the broader West Bank having access to water infrastructure and safely managed sanitized water. Despite the greater flow of water coming from Israel, many of the most water insecure communities in the West Bank are in Area C, as they are not connected to the Palestinian water network and therefore face higher prices of using water tankers instead. The quality of this water is also typically poor and has both negative health and economic impacts on these communities. Annexation of Area C would make this situation permanent.

The Resource-Conflict Nexus

Competition over scarce resources is known to be a major incendiary component of conflict. Israel is no stranger to this, as it has a long history of defending its own agricultural and water resources to survive. In a 2017 report entitled, Security First, over two hundred retired Israeli generals, intelligence officers, and police officials made the case for improving the welfare and economic vitality of Palestinians in the West Bank as a way to relax tensions and social unrest. They specifically cite the lack of building permits, agricultural development, and restrictions on the transport and export of goods in Area C as impediments to political and social stability. As basic livelihood and sustenance relies greatly on economic and natural resources, their accessibility becomes a literal matter of life and death in situations where competition escalates to conflict.

Since the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel has controlled some of the most resource-abundant places in the region, including the Golan Heights and Area C. The Israeli governments monopoly over new settlement construction, construction permits, and water supply is now exacerbating social strife and conflict in Palestinian communities in Area C by suppressing economic development and access to those resources. Annexation could further hinder a viable peace, solution and cooperation as a result.

Individual empowerment and opportunity are the backbone of any sustained and secure society. Uprisings and subsequent conflict becomes ever more likely with growing uncertainty of access to basic resources like food, water, and housing. Israeli annexation would make this uncertainty set in stone by significantly limiting Palestinians ability to develop and cultivate land in Area C. Annexation could constrain the viability of an economically independent Palestinian state and thereby potentially damage Israels own long-term security.

David Harary is the Board Chair of the Center for Development and Strategy and a Fellow with the Climate and Security Advisory Group in Washington, D.C. His writing has been published in Slate, the National Interest, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and The Jerusalem Post. He serves on the D.C committee of Israel Policy Forums Atid young professionals group.

Image: Reuters

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Michael Rothenberg.

Courtesy of Michael Rothenberg

The former high-flying San Francisco venture capitalist Michael Rothenberg is, for the first time, facing criminal charges over allegations that he defrauded investors in his venture fund.

The US attorney's office in Northern California announced the charges on Friday after investigations by the FBI and the IRS criminal-investigations unit.

A whistleblower came forward about Rothenberg's business dealings in 2016.

In a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, he was barred from the investment business for five years and ordered to pay more than $31 million in fines and disgorgement.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The former high-flying venture capitalist Michael Rothenberg is, for the first time, facing criminal charges over allegations that he defrauded investors in his venture fund.

The new charges were announced Friday by the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California after investigations by the FBI and the IRS criminal-investigations unit.

Rothenberg has been under scrutiny for years over allegations that he found ways to funnel money from investors to himself or his venture firm instead of using the funds to buy shares in startups. The new federal charges allege that he charged investors management fees above the contractual amount they agreed to and lied to a bank when applying for a loan. They also allege he convinced investors to wire him $1.35 million to buy shares of a startup but then transferred the money elsewhere and never bought the stock.

All told, the US attorney's office said it was charging Rothenberg with 23 crimes for what it described as "multiple schemes to defraud spanning from 2013 to 2016," including wire fraud, bank fraud, and making false statements to a bank.

The criminal charges are the latest troubles for the 36-year-old who was once considered an outlandish but rising star of Silicon Valley's venture world.

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He was known for his lavish parties and over-the-top lifestyle until one day, his newly hired chief financial officer told employees that the company was out of cash and could not pay them, Business Insider reported in 2016.

That same year, a whistleblower came forward to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Business Insider reported at the time. The SEC then asked people to speak with the FBI and the US attorney's office, a person close to the matter told us at the time. TechCrunch and Backchannel wrote exposes.

The SEC was first to act. In a 2018 settlement with Rothenberg that accused him of "misappropriating" millions, the SEC barred him from the brokerage and investment-advisory business for five years. A year later a federal judge ordered Rothenberg to pay more than $31 million in fees stemming from the SEC case.

Friday's charges are the first criminal charges he has faced, meaning that he could be sentenced to prison if found guilty. Each wire-fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison plus other penalties. The charges of bank fraud and false statements to a bank each carry a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, according to the US attorney's press release.

One reason it may have taken the US attorney four years after the whistleblower came forward to announce these charges is that Rothenberg's business affairs were a complex web of interrelated companies and transactions, Drew Olanoff, one of his former employees, said. Olanoff is a former TechCrunch reporter who was working for one of Rothenberg's companies during the time period when it ran out of cash.

"On my way out the door, I saw it unravel. And as it unraveled it became very clear: This was extremely complicated and complicated for a reason  to hide things," Olanoff told Business Insider.

Rothenberg did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
TIANJIN, China, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On the afternoon of June 23, the Fourth World Intelligence Congress kicked off in Media Theater, Tianjin. Wan Gang, Vice Chairman of CPPCC and Chairman of China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), attended the online opening ceremony. CPC Tianjin Committee Secretary Li Hongzhong addressed the congress. Li Xiaohong, President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), congratulated the congress through video. Huai Jinpeng, Executive Vice Chairman of CAST, Zhang Guoqing, Mayor of Tianjin attended the meeting. Park Won Soon, Mayor of Seoul, Republic of Korea, delivered a speech via video. The congress was presided over by Gong Ke, Chairman of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations. 58.6 million people watched the cloud opening ceremony and theme summit at the same time on 40 live streaming websites and platforms, and the total number of views reached 392 million.

Venue of the Fourth World Intelligence Congress (PRNewsfoto/The 4th World Intelligence Cong)

Wan Gang pointed out that the congress is a high-end platform for artificial intelligence communication jointly created by Tianjin and CAST. We will open up big data, apply blockchain and innovate in cloud services during the pandemic prevention and control; promote the development of new industries, further drive the intelligent process and digitization of the entire industry chain, and continuously boost the close combination of artificial intelligence with real economy; create a new platform for employment, build an open source sharing platform, and forge the "Sci-Tech Innovation China" brand; continuously deepen basic research, build a world-class artificial intelligence development platform and industrial ecosystem; and promote international cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence.

Li Hongzhong said that Tianjin comprehensively promotes the strategic layout of the new generation artificial intelligence industry, and intelligent technology is becoming the core driving force for high-quality development in the city. Tianjin will take the initiative to embrace the new era of intelligence, push forward the construction of a pioneer city in the fourth industrial revolution, build itself into an innovative city in intelligent technology, an energization city of the intelligent industry, and an ecological city of intelligent development, continuously optimize its business environment, and strengthen cooperation in intelligence fields with various parties from home and abroad.

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According to Li Xiaohong, Tianjin has embarked on a new way of innovation-driven development with the intelligence technology industry as the lead, and Tianjin Intelligent Port shows a promising future.

Park Won Soon said that this year is a crucial year for the construction of 5G networks in Tianjin. He hoped Seoul and Tianjin will strengthen communications and share experience on the construction of intelligence industrial infrastructures.

At the theme summit, representatives from the global intelligence technology industry and academia delivered speeches on site or via video accesses. Among them include Gao Wenjiu, academician of CAE, Ma Huateng, Chairman of the Board of Tencent, Max Tegmark, tenured professor at the MIT Department of Physics, Yang Yuanqing, Chairman of Lenovo Group, Yang Xu, Global Vice President of Intel Corporation, Edmund Phelps, laureate of Nobel Economics Award, Wang Jian, Chairman of the Technical Committee of Alibaba Group, and Raj Reddy, foreign academician at CAE and winner of Turing Award.

Themed on Intelligence New Era: Innovation, Energization and Ecology, the Fourth World Intelligence Congress applied the modes of "meetings, exhibitions, contests and intelligence experience" to hold six cloud events namely, cloud promotion, cloud release, cloud bilateral talk, cloud intelligence experience, cloud intelligence technology exhibition, world intelligent driving challenge contest, "Fifth Space" intelligent safety competition, Tianjin "Haihe Talents" Entrepreneurial Competition, as well as 13 cloud parallel forums, cloud and on-site contract signing activities.

Contact:

Cui Kejia

Tel: +86-400-019-0516

Mobile: +86-15120084132

Email: wic@wicongress.org

Night view of Tianjin, host city of the 4th WIC (PRNewsfoto/The 4th World Intelligence Cong)

(PRNewsfoto/The 4th World Intelligence Cong)

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SOURCE The 4th World Intelligence Congress
Former French Prime minister Francois Fillon (R) and his wife Penelope Fillon (2nd-R) arrive at the Paris' courthouse on June 29, 2020 for the ruling on a trial for embezzlement in the context of an alleged job fraud - THOMAS SAMSON/ AFP

Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and his British wife Penelope received prison sentences on Monday after being found guilty of embezzlement in a fake job scandal that wrecked his presidential bid.

Mrs Fillon was paid nearly 1 million of public money over 15 years for a purported job as her husbands parliamentary aide. But the Paris Correctional Court found that she had not performed the duties associated with such a role.

In an unprecedented fall from grace, Mr Fillon, 65, once the frontrunner to become president, was given a five-year sentence, with three years suspended. His 64-year-old wife received a three-year suspended sentence.

The couple, who wore face-masks to attend the court judgment, were ordered to repay the money.

They were also fined 328,000 each.

Mr Fillon, one of the big names in French conservativism, has denied the charges and said he was the victim of a political hit job.

His lawyers immediately lodged an appeal to prevent him being taken to prison, leaving him free to return to his country estate in northern France.

Under French law, he cannot be jailed until the appeal has been heard, a process that could take months. The explosive allegations, dubbed Penelopegate, emerged in the investigative newspaper Le Canard Enchaine as Mr Fillon appeared to be coasting to victory in the 2017 presidential election. He was charged just weeks later.

His support crumbled, paving the way for Emmanuel Macron, then a relative political unknown, to seize the presidency at the age of only 39. Mr Fillons trial was seen by many as a test of whether Frances political elite can be held accountable.

Nine years ago, former president Jacques Chirac received a suspended sentence for corruption, and many observers assumed Mr Fillon would receive a similar punishment.

Instead, he is the most senior figure to receive a custodial sentence since Frances Fifth Republic was established in 1958.

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Antonin Levy, Mr Fillons lawyer, described the verdict as unjust and said: There will be another trial.

The defence had been demanding that the verdict be postponed after a former prosecutor told a parliamentary inquiry that her superiors had pressured her to deal with the case quickly. Mr Fillons supporters seized on this, and what they said was the unusual swiftness with which he was charged, as evidence of political meddling. They claimed he had been tried by media. Bruno Retailleau, the leader of the conservative Republican group in the Senate, tweeted: Francois Fillon had already been found guilty before the trial.

Mr Macron ordered an inquiry into the prosecutors claims, but the court went ahead with its ruling. During the trial, Mr Filllon insisted that his wife, who holds a law degree from Bristol University, had been his closest advisor. But she told the court she could not recollect details of her parliamentary job and the couple failed to provide emails or documentary evidence of her role, or any proof that had visited the National Assembly for work.

Questioned in court about an interview she gave the Sunday Telegraph in 2007 in which she said: I have never been actually his [Mr Fillons] assistant or anything like that, Mrs Fillon responded: I did not want to appear to be taking his place. Above all I did not want [the reporter] to think I had a role to play between Great Britain and France.

Marc Joulaud, 53, who stood in for Mr Fillon and did his constituency work when he was prime minister under the former president Nicolas Sarkozy, was also found guilty and handed a two-year suspended sentence.

All three defendants were charged with embezzlement of public funds, fraud, theft and criminal complicity.
G20 Interfaith Forum Gathers Regional European Leaders for Consultation on COVID 19, Equality, Environment and Innovation

G20 Interfaith Forum Gathers Regional European Leaders for Consultation on COVID 19, Equality, Environment and Innovation

PR Newswire

BRUSSELS, June 29, 2020

BRUSSELS, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The G20 Interfaith Forum, the world's leading organization focused on bringing faith and policy together, hosted its first European regional virtual meeting today, kicking off a series of regional meetings that will produce policy recommendations for the formal G20 Interfaith Forum to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 13 to 15. The gathering brought together a set of European expert working groups and leading religious actors, government officials, academic experts and business leaders who have been charged by G20 Interfaith Forum organizers with developing policy recommendations that will be submitted in November to world leaders at this year's G20 Summit.

European Commission Vice-President for Promoting Our European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas said: "The admirable examples of solidarity we have witnessed during the pandemic should not be limited to crisis times but also be part of our future policies. This spirit of solidarity is certainly present at European level and the European Commission considers it is an essential component of its post-crisis strategy. Through our structured dialogue we will continue focusing on issues which relate to the core values and ethical concerns and which should be at the heart of EU policies. We will ensure that they are built into our action, not remain empty words."

Metropolitan Emmanuel of France issued a broad call to action on behalf of all participants for meaningful contributions from faith, government and business leaders to the G20 process and outlined avenues for developing meaningful substantive policy recommendations. He outlined the three ad hoc working groups that will be developing substantive recommendations over coming weeks on (1) Empowering People and Fostering Gender Equality, (2) Religious Engagement with Safeguarding the Planet; and (3) Frontiers at the Intersection of Governance, Faith, and Technology. For more detail on these focus areas and related subthemes, visit www.g20interfaith.org/regional-events/. He also joined two other prominent European religious leaders in a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Elizabeta Kitanovic from the Conference of European Churches who is a member of the Executive Committee of the G20 Interfaith Forum Advisory Council, to address key themes emerging in concert with this year's G20 priorities.

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President of the Conference of European Rabbis, Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, raised the issue of freedom of religion or belief in European context in light of a challenge to a Belgian ban on ritual slaughter pending before the European Court of Justice and the importance of European Institutions providing strong protections of the fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief in the first address. He said: "This issue needs to be discussed within future G20 Interfaith Forum meetings to ensure that there is legal protection of religious freedom or belief for all."

Metropolitan Emmanuel of France addressed policy recommendations regarding the environment that need to focus among other things on food waste. "Food waste is without doubt one of the most incongruous challenges of our time," he said. "I am encouraged to note that the European Commission has made reducing food loss and waste one of the pillars of its newly adopted strategy on addressing the challenges of sustainable food systems. This needs to be reflected on the political agenda of the G20 Summit."

Grand Mufti Nedzad Grabus of the Islamic Community in Slovenia said: "The governing principle for relations between Muslim communities and the rest of European society is intercultural respect and understanding. Whether new arrivals or longstanding citizens, many Muslims struggle with negative narratives, prejudices and misunderstandings. European Muslim communities must increase their ability to teach children in a European context so that they are able to critically discuss and articulate their convictions as part of modern European discourse."

The Brussels gathering launches a series of interactive webinars that will be conducted by commissioned working groups focused on issues linked to the G20 Summit priorities. Each will gather inputs on key themes from experts and a broader circle of stakeholders over the next several weeks, culminating in recommendations that will be submitted to the G20 Summit through the G20 Interfaith Forum process.

"These European interfaith initiatives provide a vital model for similar initiatives going on in other parts of the worldin the Middle East, Latin America, North America, Africa and Asia. They will address an array of issues including inequality, racism and discrimination," said Professor Cole Durham, President of the G20 Interfaith Forum Association and Founding Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies. He added that the European Regional Consultations have particular significance because of the role of the EU and EU countries in the G20 process generally, and because of the strong channels of cooperation and engagement between religious communities and the public sector in Europe.

Dr. Elizabeta Kitanovic, moderator of the event, joined Professor Durham in specifying the important ongoing work in developing relevant policy recommendations. They were joined by key partners for this year's G20 Interfaith Forum: the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), the UN Alliance of Civilizations and the National Committee for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue in Saudi Arabia.

About the G20 Interfaith Forum

The G20 Interfaith Forum seeks for global solutions by collaborating with religious thought leaders and political representatives. It builds on vital roles that religious institutions and beliefs play in world affairs, reflecting a rich diversity of institutions, ideas and values. The membership includes interfaith and intercultural organizations, religious leaders, scholars, development and humanitarian entities and business and civil society actors.

Convened each year in the host country of the upcoming G20 Summit, the formal G20 Interfaith Forum for 2020 will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 13-15. The G20 Interfaith Forum offers an annual platform where a network of religiously linked institutions and initiatives engage on global agendas. The goal of the meetings is to contribute meaningful insight and recommendations that respond to and help shape the G20 Summit and thus global policy agendas. The 2020 G20 Interfaith Forum agenda builds on the goals of social cohesion, equity and sustainability that have been a central underlying theme for the Forum from its inception.

For more information please visit www.g20interfaith.org.

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SOURCE G20 Interfaith Forum
GUANGZHOU, China, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The proud new owner of a GS4 SUV, Dr. Noel Jusay Lacsamana already has his eyes set on a GS8 SUV. It wouldn't be his first, though. In fact, Noel already had a GS8 - and it helped save his life.

Dr. Noel Jusay Lacsamana receives his new GS4 SUV at GAC Dream Cars San Fernando

On the evening of February 2, Noel and a friend were on a leisurely drive in his original GS8, cruising down Scout Limbaga Street in Quezon City, the Philippines. As he passed the intersection at Scout Ybardolaza Street, a speeding car charged onto the crossing and smashed into the right side of his car, with the collision's impact sending it flying into the air. The car finally landed five meters away, rolling onto its left side.

Thankfully, Noel and his friend were not seriously hurt. The car's airbags, seatbelts, and side impact protectors worked together to help shield them during impact. Not only did this experience fully affirm his faith in GAC MOTOR vehicles, but the GAC Dream Cars San Fernando staff ensured that his transport needs were met in the aftermath of this incident. Incredibly moved, Noel expressed his gratitude on social media, sharing his astonishing story with family and friends.

Dr. Noel Jusay Lacsamana shares his astonishing story with family and friends on social media

GAC MOTOR believes that "safety is the first priority", and is committed to ensuring customer well-being by integrating comprehensive and rigorous safety features into their vehicles. Adhering to international safety standards, the GS8 is equipped with the German Bosch ESP with "14-in-1" function. Featuring faster response and more reliable stability, the active safety system effectively prevents vehicle sideslip in emergencies. Advanced intelligent driving assistant technologies including adaptive cruise control system, forward collision warning, active brake assist, lane departure warning and 360 full-view parking image are also applied on GS8 to ensure the vehicle safety anytime.

The exceptional safety offered by the GS8 lies in GAC MOTOR's heavy focus in R&D. The company spent five years developing the GS8 to not just meet but exceed the most stringent of safety standards. As a result, the vehicle boasts the second-generation GAC (Geometric Absorption Control) brand-new safe body design, a cutting-edge collision energy absorption technology. Meanwhile, 95% of the passenger compartment is fortified by high-strength steel in accordance with the SUV top crush resistance standard in North America, enabling it to withstand the shock of collision with ease. The GS8 is also equipped with all-round 8 airbags to provide comprehensive protection.

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The GAC MOTOR GS8 receives a 5-star safety rating with an excellent performance of 57.7 points

With its robust features, the GS8 has achieved high ratings for its safety. During the China-New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) crash test, the GS8 was awarded a 5-star safety rating with an excellent performance of 57.7 points and outperformed its counterparts. Moreover, GAC MOTOR ranked number 1 in the J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study for seven consecutive years from 2013 to 2019.

"During the crash, I saw how safe and durable the GS8 is. I love this car," said Noel, the proud GAC MOTOR car owner, who has also bought a GS4 after receiving the extraordinary service from the dealer of GAC Motor. Winning consumers' trust with high-quality product and considerate service, GAC MOTOR will continue its commitment to provide safe and enjoyable experience of mobility to global consumers.

For more information, please visit:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GACMotor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gac_motor

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/gac_motor

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/GACMotorOfficial

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Former Defense Secretary James Mattis wanted to downplay the threat posed by Iran, former National Security Advisor John Bolton claims in his upcoming book.

Mattis was nicknamed Mad Dog and Chaos, but Bolton portrays the retired four-star Marine general as a voice of moderation in President Donald Trumps early cabinetespecially as Bolton pushed for a self-described policy of regime change towards Iran.

[T]he ghost of Mattiss protestations about taking Iran seriously would dog us right until the end of 2018, when he departed, and beyond, Bolton wrote.

Mattis, through a spokesperson, declined to comment on the book.

The conflict between Bolton and Mattis over Iran began on April 7, 2018, when Bashar al-Assad was accused of launching a deadly chemical weapons attack on civilians in the rebel-held city of Douma.

Trump had earlier bombed Syrian military bases in response to a similar incident in 2017. Bolton wanted to make Assad, whose government was defended by Iranian troops, pay dearly for using chemical weapons again.

But, he claims, Mattis pushed relentlessly for an innocuous response. Mattis was, in Boltons eyes, focused on ISIS rather than Iran in Syria.

France, Britain and the United States bombed a group of Syrian chemical research facilities on April 14. Six soldiers and three civilians were injured, according to the Syrian government.

The Pentagon's proposed response to Syria's chemical weapons attack was far weaker than it should have been, largely because Mattis had stacked the options presented to Trump in ways that left little real choice, Bolton wrote.

Mattis butted heads with Bolton again later that month, when Trump was considering nixing a 2015 deal aimed at regulating the Iranian nuclear program. Bolton instead wanted to pursue a pressure campaign either to bring Iran to its knees, or to overthrow the regime.

Mattis sent Bolton a classified document weighing in against the decision, although he also said that he could live with it, according to Bolton.

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Trump eventually pulled out of the deal.

At a July 26 meeting to discuss the progress of the campaign against Iran, Mattis tried to downplay the overall importance of Iran in the international threat matrix, according to Bolton.

Tensions over Iran flared up for the last time in September, when attackers fired on the U.S. Consulate in Basra, Iraq.

Coming days before the anniversary of 9/11, and with the 2012 assault on our Benghazi diplomatic compound on our minds, we needed to think strategically about our response, Bolton wrote. Dead Americans in Iraq, tragic in themselves, might accelerate withdrawal, to our long-term detriment, and that of Israel and our Arab allies.

Bolton thought that the attackers were undoubtedly supplied by Iran, but says that Mattis argued that we werent abolustely sure the Shia [Muslim] militia groups were tied to Iran, which defied credulity.

After two more attacks, even Mattis could not deny the Iran connection. The State Department evacuated the consulate in Basra and issued a statement blaming Iran.

Mattis and Bolton found themselves on the same side at the end of the year, both fighting to keep Trump from withdrawing U.S. forces from Syria. But Bolton could not help but insult Mattiss views on Iran.

I also wanted to minimize any potential gains for Iran, something Mattis never seemed to prioritize, he wrote, claiming that Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford understood better the Iranian threat.

The bureaucratic fight over Syria eventually prompted Mattis to publicly resign from Trumps cabinet.

He may have established a reputation as a warrior-scholar for carrying with him on the battlefield a copy of Marcus Aureliuss Meditations, Bolton wrote, but he was no debater.

Less than a year later, Bolton was also out of the White Housefired by a tweet.

Matthew Petti is a national security reporter at the National Interest. Follow him on Twitter: @matthew_petti.

Image: Reuters.

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By 1943 it was obvious to the Germans that their tank production could not keep pace with battlefield losses. One of their efforts to expedite weapons production was the conversion of old, outdated tank chassis into tank destroyers, or Jagdpanzers. Early efforts demonstrated the rushed and sometimes rough mating of a small, old tank with a large, powerful gun. The Marder series especially appeared cumbersome and top heavy. The most successful conversion was the Jagdpanzer 38(t), commonly referred to as the Hetzer.

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A Versatile Czech Chassis

With international tensions rising in Europe, in 1937 the Czech Army began a search for a new modern tank. After exhaustive testing, the Czechs adopted the LT vz 38. It had riveted armor with a maximum thickness of 25mm and a minimum of 10mm, which was comparable to similar tanks of the era. A four-man crew included the driver, bow gunner, gunner, and commander. The main gun was a Skoda A7 37mm cannon, equivalent in performance to the Germans own 37mm or the British 2-pounder. A Praga inline 6-cylinder gasoline engine gave the LT vz 38 a top speed of 26 miles per hour and a range of 125 miles. All around, it could outperform or was at least comparable to any tank in the German Army with the exception of the PzKpfw. IV with a short-barreled 75mm gun, but this tank was available only in small numbers.

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When France and Great Britain sacrificed Czechoslovakia to the Nazis to gain Prime Minister Neville Chamberlains Peace in Our Time, the Germans were more than happy to get their hands on the famous Czech arms industry and its products. The vz 38 was not in service with the Czech Army yet, but the Germans eagerly adopted all existing models for themselves as the PzKpfw. 38(t), with the t designating the Czech origin of the vehicle, and kept the production lines rolling. The Germans used the PzKpfw. 38(t) to equip their 7th and 8th Panzer Divisions for the invasion of Poland in 1939 and France in May 1940. The PzKpfw. 38(t), with various upgrades, remained in frontline service with the Wehrmacht as a light tank until 1942, when new Soviet armored vehicles such as the T-34 medium and KV series of heavy tanks outclassed it.

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However, the chassis and powertrain were still quite viable. These became the bases for a variety of German tracked vehicles, including self-propelled artillery, tank destroyers, assault guns, reconnaissance vehicles, a self-propelled 20mm antiaircraft gun, and an assortment of weapons carriers. The most successful of these was the leichte (light) Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer. The term Hetzer, or baiter, was never official nomenclature but rather a misunderstanding between German Army officials and Czech manufacturers. The name stuck unofficially.

An Effective Tank Destroyer Design

The Jagdpanzer 38(t) retained the Praga AC/2800 water-cooled inline, six-cylinder engine, the 150- to 160-horsepower transferred through a semiautomatic five-speed Praga transmission and Wilson clutch and steering brakes to the final drive. The original front drive sprocket, rear idler wheel, and leaf spring suspension of the PzKpfw. 38 was retained, but the four rubber-tired steel road wheels were larger than the originals and the track had only a single return roller on top. Relatively lightweight at 16 tons (the design specs calling for 13 tons) and with a 35cm wide track, the Hetzer had a ground pressure of 0.76kg/cm2. Although at 26 mph (42 kph) it was nowhere near as fast as the 55-60 kph originally called for in the design parameters, it had good cross-country performance, and although sluggish at low speed it could be quite nimble with the engine kept revved up to high rpms. It also featured a pivot steer, with one track going forward while the other reversed, enabling it to turn around basically within its own length.

The new hull was designed with armor protection and not crew comfort in mind. The frontal armor was of rolled steel plates interlocked and welded, 60mm thick with the top sloped at a 60-degree angle and the lower plate sloped at 40 degrees. The side and rear armor was of a lower quality alloy steel and only 20mm thick. The top plates sloped at 40 degrees, and the lower hull and rear sloped at 15 degrees. Top armor was only 8mm thick, and the bottom plate 10mm.

One German after-action report by a battalion commander of a Hetzer unit noted the effectiveness of this armor. The frontal armor resists penetration by the Russian 7.62cm antitank guns. Up to now, losses have only occurred due to penetration of the sides and rear. It is therefore especially important to only present the strong front to the enemy.

It was a low, compact armored vehicle, the hull 15 feet, 9 inches long, just over eight feet wide, and less than seven feet tall, hardly higher than a standing man. Main armament was the reliable and powerful 75mm L48 PaK39, with a secondary armament of a top-mounted 7.92mm machine gun. Small, low and easy to hide, fairly nimble, and with a powerful gun, the Hetzer made an excellent tank destroyer.

The same colonel quoted above said, The leichte Panzerjager 38 had passed its test in fire. The crews are proud of this Jagdpanzer and the infantry have faith in it. Especially praised is the  machine gun. The effective weapons, low profile, and well-sloped armor make it fully adaptable to both its main roles in combating enemy tanks and supporting infantry in both attack and defense.

In a short period, one company destroyed 20 tanks without a single loss. A task group destroyed 57 tanks, of which two were JS 122s at a range of 800 meters.

The Hetzers Shortcomings

As with many wartime improvisations there were, of course, problems. Due to the width of the hull, the 75mm main gun had to be mounted on the right side, the mount supported by the thick upper plate. This limited the gun to a relatively narrow traverse of only five degrees left and 11 degrees right; anything further, or if engaging a crossing target, the driver had to turn the vehicle toward the target. The extra weight on the right side put undue pressure on the suspensions leaf springs and also made the vehicle nose heavy, with the rear end sitting 10cm higher than the front. As production continued, improvements were made, such as beefing up the leaf springs and drive train and lightening the gun mantle. Other various modifications to ease manufacture and maintenance, such as small hatches in the armor for the fuel, oil, and antifreeze caps, were also incorporated over the life of the vehicle.

Nothing could be done to make more room inside the small hull, and the crew had little space. The driver, gunner, and loader were all seated in a line up the left side of the hull. The commander was perched in the right rear with the recoil guard of the main gun all but isolating him from the rest of the crew, hurting the vital teamwork of the whole crew. His view was restricted to the SF14Z scissors periscope forward and a small rear-facing fixed periscope.

The driver was squeezed into the front left corner with the transmission and gun mount right at his elbow. Steering was via two horizontal rather than vertical joysticks with exposed linkages, and his field of view was poor with only two periscopes pointing straight forward. Since he could not communicate well with the commander, there were three lights on the drivers control panel which the commander could turn on and off to signal the driver to go left, right, or straight. Driver safety was limited to a thick leather pad above his head and a small, thick rubber pad on his left.

Because the gun was mounted on the right, the loader had to feed it from the wrong side, reach over it to switch the safety, breech block opening lever, and extractor release, as well as reach across the recoil path or the gunner to pull some of the stowed ammunition. The loader had a single periscope fixed in the 9 oclock position to see out the left side of the vehicle.

The gunner was seated directly to the left of the gun breech, with hand-cranked traverse and elevation wheels directly on the right. His gunnery sight was the SFl.Z.F.1a periscope, which ran up through the roof. The reticule on the sight consisted of seven triangles that were four mils apart, enabling the gunner to aim without obscuring the target, calculate range, and lead a target. The reticule could be dimly lit for lowlight shooting. An adjustable range drum was graduated in 100-meter intervals for the trajectory of the four different types of ammunition used. When the whole crew was buttoned up, there was essentially no vision to the right side of the vehicle.

A remote-control MG-34 7.92mm machine gun was mounted on the roof for close-in defense against infantry. Behind the loader were the controls, rather like a submarine periscope with two folding handles, a rotating 3x periscope to aim through, and a trigger lever on the handlebar. While it did work, it was limited to a belt of only 50 rounds inside a metal drum; with a cyclic rate of fire of 800-900 rounds per minute, it was only good for a few short bursts. Reloading required the loader to pop out the hatch and expose himself to enemy fire.

The Hetzers Deadly Armament

It was the PaK 39 that was the heart of the whole system, and although only 75mm it was powerful enough to handle any Allied tank with the exception of the Soviet heavies like the Josef Stalin. Four types of ammunition were carried, with a total of 41 rounds. The Pzgr.40 high-velocity, sub-caliber, tungsten core round was the best antitank shell, firing a 4.1kg projectile at 930 m/s. Striking at a 30-degree angle, this round could penetrate 120mm of armor at 500 meters and 97mm at 1,000. The sight drum was graduated to 2,000 meters for this load.

The tungsten-cored Pzgr. 40 ammunition was often in scarce supply, and the runner up for anti-tank performance was the more plentiful Pzgr. 39 armor piercing, ballistic-capped with explosive filler and tracer element, launching a heavier 6.8kg projectile at a lower muzzle velocity of 750 m/s. It could pierce 106mm and 95mm of armor at 500 and 1,000 meters respectively.

The Gr. 38 HL/C round was designed around the shaped charge HEAT (high explosive antitank) principle used in the bazooka and panzerfaust, but was actually much less effective against armor than either of the other two AT rounds as well as being much less accurate. It could be used in lieu of the standard high-explosive round for soft targets.

With the Pzgr. 39 or 40 ammunition, the Hetzer was capable of first-shot hits at 1,000 meters. The German Army testing procedure assumed correct range estimation and a competent gunner and expected with Pzgr.39 ammo a 99 percent chance of a first-shot hit at 500 meters and a 71 percent chance at 1,000 meters. The small vehicle, camouflaged and waiting in ambush, could be deadly with such shooting. An Allied tank column would not know the Panzerjager was there until the lead tank burst into flames.

Hetzer Teams in Action

A German Army after-action report from the Eastern Front detailed what Hetzers with good crews could do, even against the Soviet giants.

The 3rd Company with four Jagdpanzer 38s was in a firefight with a JS-122 at a range of 1,200 meters. The Russian heavy tank fired 10 rounds at the commanders Jagdpanzer that had taken up a good position on a reverse slope. All 10 rounds came directly at the Jadgpanzer but always landed 100 meters too short.

This shows the value of what tankers call a hull-down position. Basically, if the driver could see the target the gunner could engage it. The gun itself needed only 1.4 meters of clearance to fire; thus, in a hull-down or defilade position, the Hetzer presented a target only .77 meters tall.

The company commander immediately sent a Jagdpanzer off to the right along a concealed route through a depression to attack from the flank. The sixth shot from this Jagdpanzer 38 penetrated the side of the Josef Stalin 122, and it burned out. This reemphasized the experience that if possible a single Jagdpanzer 38 should never engage in a firefight. When firing the powder smoke is blown back and envelops the commanders scissors periscope and strongly hinders the ability to observe and correct the gunners aim. A second Jagdpanzer can observe the flight and strike of the rounds and relay corrections by radio to quickly destroy enemy tanks.

So, teamwork was not only important with the individual crews, hampered by the recoil shield around the commanders position, but also with the other vehicles in the company. The tactical use of terrain, cover, and concealment was nearly as important. Deploying single Hetzers, especially without infantry support, was almost certain to end in failure.

Postwar Service in the Swiss Military

Even after the end of the war in Europe, some Hetzers were manufactured from existing stocks and production facilities in Czechoslovakia. The Czechs built 180 for their own military forces, mostly used for training, and Switzerland ordered 158 export models of the Hetzer, which were given the Swiss Army nomenclature G-13.

Why, one would ask, with all the Hetzers little problems, would a postwar nation want them? The Swiss military system and doctrine was defensive in nature. When needed, the Swiss could mobilize some 500,000 troops. Every soldier, after serving his mandatory time in the armed forces, took all his equipment, including his rifle, home and was subject to periodic training. Individual marksmanship was especially emphasized, with nearly every town having shooting competitions on weekends, and the reservists issued both practice and ready ammunition.

The Swiss had authorized a marked increase in defense funding in 1936 and purchased weapons that they could not manufacture. They realized well, perhaps better than some larger and more powerful nations, the importance of armor and aircraft. One of the main rearmament purchases was for 100 Czech LT zv 38 tanks. Only two dozen had arrived, without the main gun yet installed, before the Germans took over Czechoslovakia and confiscated all existing tanks.

The Swiss armed their tanks with an odd 24mm gun and distributed them in three eight-tank companies, one each in support of their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Light Brigades, but this was obviously little more than a token gesture. Although they had extensive fortifications in the Alps and could produce artillery pieces up to 150mm, their antitank arm was extremely weak. The German General Staff drew up two major plans to invade Switzerland, but both projects were fortunately dropped. Switzerland breathed a sigh of relief in 1945, but the nation was determined not to be caught in such an uncomfortable situation again.

Thus, the Hetzer was a good choice to quickly and cheaply begin to build up Swiss antitank capabilities, and its design was perfectly suited to their strictly defensive military doctrine. Additionally, the existing LT vz 38s had given them experience with running and maintaining the same automotive systems and could provide spare parts in a pinch.

The Hetzers were but a first step, and the Swiss postwar arsenal came to include exports such as the French AMX-13 and British Centurion tanks, as well as a host of infantry anti-tank weapons. The Swiss began building their own tanks in the early 1960s. Still, the G-13 soldiered on, with most converted to diesel engines in the early 1950s, until the last was retired in 1970.

This article first appeared at Warfare History Network.

Image: Wikimedia

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EPA

German foreign minister Heiko Maas has said that even if Donald Trump loses the upcoming election in November, the relationship between the US and Germany could still be severely damaged.

"Anyone who thinks that having a Democrat in office would reinstate the transatlantic partnership to what it was before is underestimating the structural changes," Mr Maas said in an interview with German Press Agency (DPA).

"The transatlantic partnership is extremely important, will remain important, and we are working to secure its future. But in its current form, it no longer meets the demands that both sides have of it. That's why there's an urgent need for action there."

Mr Trump has exacerbated strain on transatlantic ties throughout his presidency, often vocal in his criticism of the countries' contributions to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and having presented strong opposition to the new Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline being built from Russia to Germany.

Earlier this month, Mr Trump claimed that Germany is delinquent for billions of dollars in its NATO payments and announced that he would withdraw thousands of troops from Germany, reducing its military presence in the country by roughly a third.

Germany doesnt owe the US, or Nato, as members pledge to spend two percent of their GDP is not contingent on other countries support.

Following the presidents comments, Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel said US troops defend both Germany and the interests of the US.

American troops in Germany help to protect not only Germany and the European part of NATO but also the interests of the United States of America, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said this week in an interview with The Guardian.

We in Germany know that we have to spend more on defence; we have achieved considerable increases in recent years, and we will continue on that path to enhance our military capabilities.

In March, Mr Trump suggested that the US should treat Germany more like an enemy because the two countries were adversaries in World War II while lobbying for closer US-Russia relations.

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"They also fought World War II. They lost 50 million people," Mr Trump said of Russia and the Soviet Union.

"Germany was the enemy. ... And Germany's [now], like, this wonderful thing," he added.

Last week, Ch Merkel hit back the US by suggesting that it may wish to consider its position as a world power.

We grew up in the certain knowledge that the United States wanted to be a\ world power, the German chancellor told reporters in an interview on Friday.

Should the US now wish to withdraw from that role of its own free will, we would have to reflect on that very deeply."

Read more

Trump may drop out of 2020 race if polls dont improve: GOP sources

Trump and Polish president split over US troops leaving Germany

Trump faces GOP revolt over order to withdraw troops from Germany

Merkel issues coronavirus warning as countries reopen

Trump to postpone G7 meeting a day after Angela Merkel snubbed invite
E-scooters from the electric pedal scooter sharing provider Tier Mobility parked in Sudstadt, Lower Saxony, Hanover, Germany. Photo: Hauke-Christian Dittrich/DPA/Picture Alliance via Getty

Tier Mobility, the German electric-scooter startup, has hired two former senior Uber (UBER) executives to help it launch in the UK.

The Berlin-based startup, which offers shared e-scooters and electric mopeds, announced on Monday that Fred Jones would become Tiers UK general manager, and Benjamin Bell will be the head of public policy for Northern Europe.

Jones was most recently the general manager of UK and Ireland for Uber. Bell was on Ubers UKI leadership team, recently heading up public policy nationally across Uber and Jump.

Fred and Ben are already leaders in the e-mobility world and, as we expand across Europe, their years of experience at a hugely successful fast growth business will be invaluable, Tier Mobility co-founder and chief executive Lawrence Leuschner said in a statement. We are very happy to have both of them on board as we look to establish ourselves as the leading UK provider of e-scooters.

READ MORE: Tier becomes first e-scooter company to use swappable batteries

A press spokesperson told Yahoo Finance UK that they estimate the first trials in the UK will be live at the end of July  but cannot say more at this stage since the trials are decided on a city-by-city basis and the speed of launch will depend on the procurement process of individual cities.

Social distancing rules can be difficult to maintain on public transport, and the risk of transmission has made public transport a less appealing option for many people.

The UK government announced in May that it was considering fast-tracking legislation to allow for the first e-scooter trials, with a view to legalising rental scooters.

Tier said that the new hires come at a landmark moment in Tiers two-year history, with both set to play integral roles in the companys plan to bring its market-leading e-scooters to cities across the UK, following the Department for Transports move to fast-track trials in the wake of COVID-19.

Tier, which was founded in 2018 by Lawrence Leuschner, Matthias Laug, and Julian Blessin, holds a 20% global market share in the e-scooter sector, and has a presence in over 60 cities in nine countries.
People visit the Krumme Lanke lakeside in Berlin, Germany, 26 June 2020 - HAYOUNG JEON/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

German states have put in place internal quarantines for domestic travellers amid a series of coronavirus outbreaks across the country.

The quarantine measures come as the southern state of Bavaria announced a "free test offensive", while Berlin has begun issuing fines for mask avoiders for the first time.

With the summer holiday season kicking off across Germany, some states have begun implementing bans and quarantines for people arriving from heavily-affected regions.

In most states, travellers from the town of Gutersloh in North Rhine Westphalia must be quarantined for two weeks on arrival or show evidence of a negative coronavirus test in order to enter.

Gutersloh, along with neighbouring Rheda-Wiedenbruck and Warendorf, have all been placed under lockdown due to serious coronavirus outbreaks at meat processing plants in the region.

Passengers wearing masks on the Berlin underground - Emmanuele Contini/NurPhoto via Getty Images

In addition, accommodation providers in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria and Lower Saxony have banned travellers from high-risk areas  regardless of evidence of a negative test  while in some cases holiday makers from these regions have been asked to leave.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig confirmed to German broadcaster ZDF that vacationers from Gutersloh had been told to return home.

Ms Schwesig said that while her states "safe tourism" policy was strict, it has been well received both by tourists and by locals.

North Rhine Westphalia's Prime Minister Armin Laschet said he welcomed the restrictions  even though they were primarily directed against travellers from his own state - but emphasised that people from certain regions should not become stigmatised in the battle against the virus.

The effort was worthwhile. It's a good thing that we now have common regulations in all states for how we combine risk prevention and freedom from travel, he said.

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The insecurity and stigmatisation among travellers from Gutersloh in the past few days must not be repeated. We can only defeat corona together, not [fighting] against each other.

A demonstrator holds a sign that reads 'respecting animals instead of slaughtering them - go vegan' as she protests in front of the headquarters of abattoir company Toennies on June 20. The German army was there to establish a test center for the novel coronavirus. - Ina FASSBENDER / AFP

Meanwhile, Germany's second-largest state of Bavaria has announced plans to make coronavirus testing free for all of its 13 million residents, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.

Bavaria has been one of the hardest hit by the virus, with a number of new outbreaks in recent weeks.

State health minister Melanie Huml said on Sunday that all citizens of Bavaria will therefore be promptly offered to be tested with or without symptoms by a resident contract doctor in a massive expansion of the testing regime.

The state will cover the costs unless they are already covered by health insurance providers.

Ms Huml said the goal was to prevent major outbreaks like that in Gutersloh.

And in Berlin, police on Saturday announced fines of between 50 and 500 euros for anyone not wearing masks on public transport  two months after the requirement was first implemented.

Police said the fines were motivated by increasing non-compliance with the requirement in Germanys largest city, where masks are also required in all supermarkets and retail stores.

A spokesperson for the Berlin transit network, BVG, said they welcomed police involvement as transit workers do not have the authority to sanction violations of state regulations.

The spokesman said approximately 25 percent of the three million daily passengers were not adhering to the mask requirement.

Despite escaping the worst of the virus during its initial spread, Berlin has seen several outbreaks in recent weeks amid fears of complacency among the citys four million residents.
New survey reveals uninsured residents interested in health plans due to coronavirus

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GetInsured , a health insurance marketplace platform provider, purchased and retired $1.6 million of medical debt in the State of New Jersey after a new survey revealed that 60 percent of respondents in the state have faced high or surprise medical bills. The New Jersey Resident Medical Debt Survey also revealed that given the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, more than half of those without health insurance would consider enrolling in a plan if the state were to open a special enrollment period. According to the latest data by Infection2020.com, the State of New Jersey has been hit second-hardest with the novel coronavirus in terms of deaths and third in terms of cases in the United States.

GetInsured Logo (PRNewsfoto/GetInsured)

"Faced with a public health emergency and an economic crisis, having a state-based marketplace offers states the flexibility to act quickly and in the best interest of their residents," said Chini Krishnan, co-founder and CEO of GetInsured. "We applaud the efforts of local policymakers in working to bring this to fruition, and, particularly in light of the pandemic, we are glad to be able to assist some residents by clearing their medical debt."

GetInsured's philanthropy is a continuation of the company's state-by-state effort to steadily eliminate as much medical debt as possible across America. New Jersey is the fifth state to receive a charitable contribution from GetInsured, and the fourth state in which the Company has polled residents on the issue of medical debt.

According to the GetInsured survey, emergency care was cited as the leading health / medical service that led to medical debt or financial hardship by more than one-third of New Jersey respondents (36 percent), despite the fact that more than 90 percent surveyed have health insurance.

GetInsured teamed up with RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit organization, to locate and purchase medical debt across New Jersey. Those who will benefit from GetInsured's donation earn less than two times the federal poverty limit and have spent more than five percent of their gross income on medical bills. Also helped by the debt purchase were those who are insolvent due to medical debt, meaning they owe more due to medical expenses than assets they own.

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Earlier this year, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance announced that GetInsured was selected to develop and operate the technology to transition from the federal marketplace to a state-based exchange for Plan Year 2021, in order to improve health coverage access for New Jersey residents, and allow the state more autonomy over its health insurance market.

The GetInsured New Jersey Resident Medical Debt Survey was conducted online in March 2020 among more than 400 adults ages 18+ who reside in New Jersey. For more information about this survey and GetInsured's commitment to alleviate medical debt nationwide, visit https://company.getinsured.com/medical-debt-forgiveness/.

About GetInsured

Founded in 2005, GetInsured builds and operates award-winning enrollment tools that serve state-based exchanges, brokers, insurers, and consumers. In addition to eligibility determination, plan selection, and enrollment technology for state agencies, the company delivers innovative agent marketing and call center tools and services. GetInsured has the largest state-based marketplace footprint, and operates the technology for five state health exchanges, including Nevada, California, Idaho, Minnesota, and Washington State. The company is currently launching exchanges in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, which will bring the total number of individual enrollments nationwide to 2.5 million for the 2021 plan year. To learn more visit company.getinsured.com.

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SOURCE GetInsured
DUBLIN, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Medical Devices Industry Competitive Landscape for the Year 2019" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Research and Markets Logo

With long life expectancy and emerging economies increasing expenditure on healthcare, there is an increased demand for technologically superior medical devices. More stringent regulations, specifically in the mature markets of the U.S. and Europe, compel medical device manufacturers to launch sophisticated devices that incorporate new materials, focus on in-depth indications, and generate additional new data.



Technically sophisticated medical devices are needed for clinical research, as the market is highly competitive and companies must constantly reinvent product portfolios to enter new markets and gain positions as major players in the healthcare system. There is currently a shift toward a value-based healthcare market in which price and purchase decisions are based on outcomes. This resulted in increased scrutiny of the technology of devices. Consequently, the degree of competition has risen. The above reasons are compelling enough to research and analyze the medical device market. The market has tremendous growth potential.



This research report incorporates an in-depth analysis of the medical device market and its competitive landscape through 2019. Major players, competitive intelligence, innovative technologies, and company profiles are discussed in detail.

The report also examines recent developments and product portfolios of major players, along with market share analysis and ranking in the market. Regulatory landscape analysis focuses on recent regulations in regions such as the U.S., Europe, and Japan.

The Report Includes:

61 data tables and 110 additional tables

Competitive landscape of the top 50 medical device manufacturers in the global medical devices market

Analyses of the global market trends, with data corresponding to market size in dollar value terms, and revenue forecasts through 2019

Assessment of manufacturers ranking by R&D expenditures and annual growth, their market share analysis and key strategies adopted, and innovations have taken place in medical devices marketplace

Information pertaining to new product launches and approvals, mergers and acquisitions, alliances and joint ventures, and R&D efforts within the medical devices industry

Review of patents and patent applications (numbers) filed on medical device technologies with a breakdown of patent data by technology type, assignee country, and stakeholder company

Discussion on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the medical devices industry with an emphasis on key factors underlying the impact and significant takeaways

Profile description of the major market players, including 3M, Abbott, Becton, Dickinson and Co., Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Danaher Corp., Roche, GE Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson and Siemens Healthcare AG

This report discusses the medical device industry and its competitive landscape in terms of major player market ranking and top medical devices. Company profiles of the top 50 medical device companies, innovative products and technologies, trends and market dynamics, competitive intelligence, and regional trends are well-researched and analyzed in this report.

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Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Introduction

Study Goals and Objectives

Reasons for Doing This Study

Scope of Report

Methodology

Primary Data and Information Gathering

Secondary Data and Information Gathering

Market Revenue Forecasts

Chapter 2 Market and Technology Background

Background and Definitions: Medical Devices

Uses of Various Devices

Evolution

Types

Imaging Systems

In Vitro Diagnostics

Cardiovascular Disease Procedures

Orthopedic and Spinal Procedures

Innovations in Medical Devices

Stakeholders Involved in the Innovation Process

The Medical Device Industry

Patents and Patent Applications

The Cost of Medical Device Innovation

Current Trends in the Medical Device Industry

Notable Trends

Importance of Innovation

Challenges Facing the Sector

Public Health Systems

Balancing Patient Needs and Financial Sustainability

Competitiveness and Innovation

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Restraints

Opportunities

Strategies

Distribution Network

Trends

New Products and Technologies

New Materials

Refurbished and Replacement Market

Mergers and Acquisitions

Recommendations

Chapter 3 Impact of COVID-19 on the Medical Device Market

Key Factors Underlying the Impact of COVID-19 on the Medical Device Industry

Decline/Delay in Elective Procedures

Supply Chain Disruptions

Strong Impact on China

Impact of COVID-19 on Medical Device Product Segments

Key Takeaways

Chapter 4 Regulatory Structure: Medical Devices

Regulatory Background

Regulatory Systems for Medical Devices, by Region/Country

U.S.

European Union (EU)

Japan

Chapter 5 Medical Device Industry Competitive Landscape

Overview

Key Strategies of Major Medical Device Manufacturers

Distribution Networks

Trends

New Products and Technologies

Mergers and Acquisitions

Recommendations

Key Developments of the Major Medical Device Manufacturers, 2015-2020

Chapter 6 Company Profiles

3M

Abbott

Alcon Inc.

B. Braun Melsungen Ag

Baxter

Becton, Dickinson And Co.

Biomerieux Sa

Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc.

Boston Scientific Corp.

Bruker

Canon Medical Systems Corp.

Cardinal Health

Carl Zeiss Ag

Coloplast Group

Convatec Group Plc

The Cooper Companies Inc.

Danaher Corp.

Demant A/S

Dentsply Sirona

Dragerwerk Ag & Co. Kgaa

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.

Essilorluxottica Sa

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Fresenius Medical Care Ag & Co. Kgaa

Fujifilm Holdings Corp.

General Electric

Harvard Bioscience Inc.

Hitachi Ltd.

Hologic Inc.

Institut Straumann Ag

Integra Lifesciences Holdings Corp.

Intuitive Surgical

Johnson & Johnson Services Inc.

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Medtronic

Microport Scientific Corp.

Nihon Kohden Corp.

Nipro

Olympus Corp.

Resmed Inc.

Siemens Healthcare Ag

Smith & Nephew

Sonova

Stryker Corp.

Sysmex Corp.

Teleflex Inc.

Terumo Corp.

Varian Medical Systems Inc.

West Pharmaceutical Services Inc.

Zimmer Biomet

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4yeu5c

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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SOURCE Research and Markets
GRWC board thanks Jonathan Bonnette as he moves to oversee subsidiary and welcomes Terry Kennedy to guide next phase of growth

HENDERSON, Nev., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Grow Capital, Inc (OTCQB:GRWC) today announced that it has retained award-winning businessman and author Terry Kennedy as Chief Executive Officer. Former CEO Jonathan Bonnette will oversee GRWC subsidiary Bombshell Technologies - the technology company specializing in providing solutions that power financial services companies. GRWC acquired Bombshell Technologies in July 2019. Bonnette will also serve as Chief Technology Officer for Grow Capital, Inc.

Terry Kennedy, new CEO of Grow Capital, Inc.

"Terry Kennedy is a proven leader who started and grew a very successful financial services company during our last financial crisis," said GRWC Chairman James Olson. "His company Appreciation Financial was founded in 2009 when most companies were folding. Kennedy not only persevered, his company emerged as the largest 403b sales force in the US and disrupted an entire industry. Kennedy is well positioned to take us through this unprecedented time in market history and steer us to long-term profitability."

"The board and I want to thank Jonathan Bonnette for his leadership. He guided us through a headquarters move, renaming, rebranding, repositioning, and made our goal to be laser-focused in the FinTech space clear," continued Olson. "His leadership in our company Bombshell Technologies is a perfect fit."

"I am honored to guide the team at GRWC," said Terry Kennedy. "I believe in the positioning and business model at GRWC. We have the talent and connections to capitalize on the changing financial technology space as we evolve into a more virtual business environment. Our vision is that GRWC will be the holding conglomerate for businesses that financial services companies rely on to efficiently manage their clients and maximize their budgets."

Kennedy has been a consultant with GRWC since July 2019 and helped establish the current vision for the company.

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Terry Kennedy is Founder, President and CEO of Appreciation Financial, a full-service national financial powerhouse with headquarters in the Las Vegas valley. Appreciation Financial is an Inc. 5000 company two years in a row (2018 and 2019).

Kennedy received the 2019 and 2020 Gold American Business Awards Stevie Award for Entrepreneur of the Year-Financial Services and was a Finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019. Appreciation Financial received the Gold award for "Company of the Year-West US" by the Best in Biz awards and was also named one of the "Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America" by Entrepreneur Magazine's Entrepreneur 360 list.

Appreciation Financial gives back to underserved schools and teachers through its non-profit arm Appreciation Ambassadors.

Kennedy is a published author, having co-written the best-selling salesforce training book "This Change$ Everything" published in 2020 and available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084QJT2K9) . Kennedy is also a sales trainer and investor.

Terry Kennedy will take over as Chief Executive Officer of GRWC effective April 1, 2020.

Learn more about Terry Kennedy's experience here: www.TerryKennedy.life

Read Terry Kennedy's full bio here: http://appreciationfinancial.com/terry/

Kennedy will maintain his role of Founder, President and CEO of Appreciation Financial. Both companies are headquartered in Henderson, Nevada where Kennedy lives with his wife Amanda and their daughters.

To be added to the distribution list please email info@growcapitalinc.com with "GRWC" in the subject line.

Learn more about Bombshell Technologies suite of products here: www.bombshelltechnologies.com

Forward Looking Statements Disclaimer: This release may contain statements that constitute 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. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Grow Capital, Inc's ability to control, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Such forward -looking statements include the words "vision," "seek", "grow", "plan" and other expressions of a forward-looking nature. More information about the potential factors that could affect the business and financial results is and will be included in Grow Capital, Inc's filings with the OTC Markets, Securities and Exchange Commission and/or posted on the company's website.

Grow Capital Inc Logo (PRNewsfoto/Grow Capital Inc)

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SOURCE Grow Capital, Inc
Karachi Police at the Pakistan Stock Exchange, which was attacked on June 29, 2020.

Ahtkar Soomro/Reuters

Gunmen opened fire at the Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi, Pakistan, on Monday.

Four assailants were killed, Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon told Reuters.

The attackers killed at least three people, police told the Associated Press (AP).

Security forces have surrounded the building, which is being swept for explosive devices, the AP reported.

The Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to CNN.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Gunmen opened fire at the Pakistan Stock Exchange building in Karachi, Pakistan, on Monday, according to Reuters.

The assailants killed at least three people, including two guards and a policeman, according to the Associated Press (AP), citing police. All four gunmen were killed, Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon told Reuters.

The attackers arrived in a silver Corolla car, police said. They were armed with grenades and automatic weapons when they stormed the building, according to officers.

Police official Rizwan Ahmend told the AP that the attackers had been carrying food supplies, suggesting they had been readying themselves for a long siege. They were instead killed by security forces.

Ambulances parked outside Pakistan Stock Exchange building after an attack in Karachi June 29, 2020

Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

Heavily armed special forces have surrounded the building, the AP said. Police spokesperson Shazia Jehan told the agency that the bomb disposal squad has also been called and is sweeping the building for explosive devices.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi, the largest in Pakistan, is the country's financial center. A statement on its official Twitter account said that the situation is unfolding, but that security forces and management were in control.

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Maj. Gen. Omar Ahmed Bukhari of the Pakistan Rangers Sindh paramilitary group, told CNN that the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The US State Department lists the BLA as a terror organization and describes it as an armed separatist group. The group seeks independence for Balochistan, Pakistan's largest but least populated province.

According to the Times of London, the group put out a statement saying it had "carried out a self-sacrificing attack on Karachi stock exchange."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Hackensack Meridian CDI Scientists Uncover Signposts in DNA that Pinpoint Risks for Cancers and other Diseases

Hackensack Meridian CDI Scientists Uncover Signposts in DNA that Pinpoint Risks for Cancers and other Diseases

PR Newswire

NUTLEY, N.J., June 29, 2020

Inclusion of cancer samples in detailed surveys, down to the level of single alleles, provides information about risks of cancer and some common diseases

NUTLEY, N.J., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- By sequencing entire genomes for DNA modifications, and analyzing both cancer tissues and healthy ones, Hackensack Meridian Health researchers and doctors have found what could be a key to risks for cancer and other diseases: specific locations in the DNA where those expression changes (methylation) are imbalanced, according to a new publication.

Hackensack Meridian Health

The authors, from the Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI), Hackensack University Medical Center and its John Theurer Cancer Center (JTCC), and the National Cancer Institute-recognized Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Consortium, published their findings in the major journal Genome Biology on June 29.

The most strongly disease-relevant genetic variants can be hard to localize in widespread scanning of the genome  but by zooming in on key genetic locations associated with these DNA methylation imbalances in multiple normal and cancer tissues, the scientists report they have uncovered promising new leads beneath the broader statistical signals.

"Our dense map of allele-specific methylation (i.e., DNA methylation imbalances dictated by genetic variation) will help other scientists prioritize and focus their work on the most relevant genetic variants associated with diseases," said Catherine Do, M.D., Ph.D., assistant member of the CDI, and the first author. "Because we also dug into the mechanisms of this phenomenon to understand how it can result in disease susceptibility, our study will help identify new interesting biological pathways for personalized medicine and drug development."

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"Cancer cells are gangsters, but in our approach we make them work for us in a useful way," said Benjamin Tycko, M.D., Ph.D., the CDI lab director who oversaw the study. "These 'footprints' of allele-specific methylation are more abundant in cancers than in normal tissues, but since Catherine's work has shown they are produced by the same biological pathways, we can use our dense maps to understand the beginnings of both cancers and non-cancerous diseases  such as autoimmune, neuropsychiatric, and cardiometabolic disorders."

The current study generated one of the largest high-quality datasets used in this kind of approach. Among the DNA samples studied were various tissue types from 89 healthy controls, plus 16 cancer samples from three types of tumors treated by oncologists and surgeons at the JTCC: B-cell lymphomas, multiple myeloma, and glioblastoma multiforme (a common and difficult-to-treat brain tumor).

The scientists identified a total of 15,112 allele-specific methylation sites including 1,838 sites located near statistical signals of disease susceptibility from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). These data have been made publicly available so that other scientists can test new hypotheses in "post-GWAS" studies.

Also among its novel findings, the paper reports evidence that non-coding mutations (that do not change protein sequences) "might play roles in cancer through long range regulatory effects on gene expression." One specific example cited in the paper is a mutation that causes allele-specific methylation in the TEAD1 gene, which evidence has shown becomes over-expressed in aggressive and treatment-refractory forms of multiple myeloma.

Another discovery is that some disease-relevant genetic variants can reside in "chromatin deserts," places in the DNA which few or no specific biological signals in available tissue types  but which are revealed by the footprints of allele-specific methylation and may have been active at different times of the cell history or development stages.

"This could be a key breakthrough in determining how cancer starts  and give us a better chance to treat it," said David Siegel, M.D., founding director of the Institute for Multiple Myeloma and Lymphoma at the CDI, and also the chief of the Multiple Myeloma Division at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, and one of the authors. "Finding non-coding mutations that cause epigenetic activation of genes such as TEAD1 in multiple myeloma can potentially help us narrow in on the most promising targets for developing new treatments."

"Advanced epigenetic research like this will drive clinical decisions in the near future," said Andre Goy, M.D., M.S., physician-in-chief for oncology at Hackensack Meridian Health and director of John Theurer Cancer Center, also an author of the paper. "Studies like this, looking at the most detailed changes of DNA methylation and gene expression, could help us solve the riddle of how cancer starts  and perhaps how to conquer it."

"I applaud this important contribution to our understanding of cancer and its underlying biology that can potentially be applied to other disease," said Louis M. Weiner, M.D., director of Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute. "This research finding is yet more evidence of what can be achieved by bringing together investigators from different institutions and specialties."

Authors of the study from the JTCC and CDI also include David (Kar Fai) Chow, M.D., attending pathologist and medical director of the Hackensack Meridian Health Biorepository; Rena Feinman, Ph.D., an associate member of the CDI; Emmanuel Dumont, Ph.D., a research assistant member of CDI working in Dr. Tycko's epigenetics group; George J. Kaptain, M.D., director of Neuro-Oncology, Skull-Base Surgery and Radiosurgery within the Department of Neurosurgery at Hackensack University Medical Center; Samuel Goldlust, M.D., a neuro-oncologist at John Theurer Cancer Center; Nicholas Illsley, D.Phil, senior scientists in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Hackensack University Medical Center; Angelica Castano, M.D., a research associate in the Tycko lab; and Martha Salas, also of the Tycko lab. Subha Madhavan, Ph.D., chief data scientist at the Georgetown University Medical Center and director of the Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics (ICBI) and associate professor of Oncology was another author; and other important collaborators took part from Columbia University, Johns Hopkins, and the Karolinska Institute.

ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH

Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care.

Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 17 hospitals from Bergen to Ocean counties, which includes three academic medical centers  Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, JFK Medical Center in Edison; two children's hospitals - Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital in Neptune; nine community hospitals  Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin; a behavioral health hospital  Carrier Clinic in Belle Mead; and two rehabilitation hospitals - JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison and Shore Rehabilitation Institute in Brick.

Additionally, the network has more than 500 patient care locations throughout the state which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers and physician practice locations. Hackensack Meridian Health has more than 34,100 team members, and 6,500 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves.

The network's notable distinctions include having four hospitals among the top 10 in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report. Other honors include consistently achieving Magnet recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and being named to Becker's Healthcare's "150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare/2019" list.

The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University, the first private medical school in New Jersey in more than 50 years, welcomed its first class of students in 2018 to its On3 campus in Nutley and Clifton. Additionally, the network partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to find more cures for cancer faster while ensuring that patients have access to the highest quality, most individualized cancer care when and where they need it.

Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies.

For additional information, please visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org.

About the Center for Discovery and Innovation

The Center for Discovery and Innovation, a newly established member of Hackensack Meridian Health, seeks to translate current innovations in science to improve clinical outcomes for patients with cancer, infectious diseases and other life-threatening and disabling conditions. The CDI, housed in a fully renovated state-of-the-art facility, offers world-class researchers a support infrastructure and culture of discovery that promotes science innovation and rapid translation to the clinic.

About John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center

John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center is New Jersey's largest and most comprehensive center dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, management, research, screenings, and preventive care as well as survivorship of patients with all types of cancers. The 14 specialized divisions covering the complete spectrum of cancer care have developed a close-knit team of medical, research, nursing, and support staff with specialized expertise that translates into more advanced, focused care for all patients. Each year, more people in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area turn to John Theurer Cancer Center for cancer care than to any other facility in New Jersey. John Theurer Cancer Center is a member of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Consortium, one of just 16 NCI-approved cancer research consortia based at the nation's most prestigious institutions. Housed within a 775-bed not-for-profit teaching, tertiary care, and research hospital, John Theurer Cancer Center provides state-of-the-art technological advances, compassionate care, research innovations, medical expertise, and a full range of aftercare services that distinguish John Theurer Cancer Center from other facilities. For additional information, please visit www.jtcancercenter.org.

(PRNewsfoto/Hackensack Meridian Health)

Cision

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SOURCE Hackensack Meridian Health
Boris Johnson has said he wants to see all pupils back at school in September - Kevin Coombs/Reuters

Headteachers have threatened to undermine the Government's plan to reopen schools in September by refusing to punish parents who keep their children at home.

Teaching unions said many would use a loophole in the law to avoid levying fines on parents failing to send their children to classes.

Some headteachers, however, urged the Government to tighten the rules to ensure that parents without a valid excuse are fined for the non-attendance of their children.

It comes amid widespread fears that continuing school closures risk harming the life chances of a generation of children.

This week, Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, is expected to announce that attendance will be compulsory when primary and secondary schools fully reopen in September.

That means parents who refuse to send their children to lessons because of coronavirus fears will face fines of 60, rising to 120. If they refuse to pay and are then prosecuted, the maximum penalty rises to 2,500 and three months in prison.

Under current laws, however, headteachers have the discretion to authorise absences in "exceptional circumstances", something usually reserved for religious reasons or the death of a close relative.

Teaching unions suggested many headteachers would use the loophole to allow parents who are concerned about health risks to keep their children off school without fear of being fined.

Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), the main union for secondary headteachers, told The Telegraph: "Our members will have a generosity of spirit and may well feel sympathetic to parents who might fear for their child's safety.

"I think it unwise to bring in fines in September. Headteachers should not be put in this position. We should learn from other countries where many parents have been concerned to send their kids to school.

"We should be playing the long game here, and the public need to have much more confidence that reopening schools will be completely safe. Bringing in the fines also risks pouring further misery on disadvantaged families."

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Since the virus pandemic struck, the Government has effectively suspended fines for parents who keep their children out of school.

But in an interview with the The Mail on Sunday, Boris Johnson signalled that the amnesty would end when schools fully reopen.

"We need to get the kids back into school. I want all pupils back in school in September," the Prime Minister said. Asked whether that would be compulsory, he replied: "Yes. It's the law."

The Government's announcement later this week will outline exceptions to the rules, including for children with certain medical conditions or from households in which someone is self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms, it is understood.

But some headteachers urged the Government to close the loophole that allows parents without a valid excuse to escape fines.

"If it's deemed safe enough for schools to return, parents should have an obligation to send their children to classes," said Rob Campbell, the CEO of the Morris Education Trust, a multi-academy trust in Cambridgeshire. "There have to be consequences for not doing so.

"It could be another 18 months until a vaccine comes along, so are we really saying children can be kept off school until then? That's madness.

"I do fear that many heads  especially of smaller schools  may fall victim to the 'pester power' of parents and give in. So I think the Government should make sure there is little room for manoeuvre in the rules."

The Telegraph understands that the Government plans to scrap social distancing in schools, while "bubbles" will be expanded to enable all pupils to return to their classes full-time.

Pupils will not be expected to keep two metres or even one metre apart at all times while in school buildings. Instead, schools will be asked to focus on limiting the extent to which children mix outside their class or year group and on implementing strict handwashing.

A Department for Education spokesman said: "Throughout the pandemic, we have been guided by the scientific evidence.

"We are working across Government and with the sector to ensure plans for a full return in September are in place, and we will publish further information in the coming days."
Anglo Asian Mining PLC (LON:AAZ) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 2 days. You can purchase shares before the 2nd of July in order to receive the dividend, which the company will pay on the 30th of July.

Anglo Asian Mining's next dividend payment will be UK0.045 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of UK0.08 per share. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Anglo Asian Mining has a trailing yield of 4.7% on the current stock price of 1.37. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether Anglo Asian Mining's dividend is reliable and sustainable. That's why we should always check whether the dividend payments appear sustainable, and if the company is growing.

Check out our latest analysis for Anglo Asian Mining

If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Fortunately Anglo Asian Mining's payout ratio is modest, at just 47% of profit. That said, even highly profitable companies sometimes might not generate enough cash to pay the dividend, which is why we should always check if the dividend is covered by cash flow. Fortunately, it paid out only 43% of its free cash flow in the past year.

It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously.

Click here to see how much of its profit Anglo Asian Mining paid out over the last 12 months.

AIM:AAZ Historic Dividend June 29th 2020

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Businesses with strong growth prospects usually make the best dividend payers, because it's easier to grow dividends when earnings per share are improving. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. It's encouraging to see Anglo Asian Mining has grown its earnings rapidly, up 74% a year for the past five years. Earnings per share have been growing very quickly, and the company is paying out a relatively low percentage of its profit and cash flow. Companies with growing earnings and low payout ratios are often the best long-term dividend stocks, as the company can both grow its earnings and increase the percentage of earnings that it pays out, essentially multiplying the dividend.

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Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. In the last two years, Anglo Asian Mining has lifted its dividend by approximately 15% a year on average. It's great to see earnings per share growing rapidly over several years, and dividends per share growing right along with it.

Final Takeaway

Is Anglo Asian Mining an attractive dividend stock, or better left on the shelf? We love that Anglo Asian Mining is growing earnings per share while simultaneously paying out a low percentage of both its earnings and cash flow. These characteristics suggest the company is reinvesting in growing its business, while the conservative payout ratio also implies a reduced risk of the dividend being cut in the future. Anglo Asian Mining looks solid on this analysis overall, and we'd definitely consider investigating it more closely.

On that note, you'll want to research what risks Anglo Asian Mining is facing. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Anglo Asian Mining you should be aware of.

We wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see, though. Here's a list of interesting dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

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.
Josefina and Marcelino Rodriguez said they were signed up for a PACE home improvement loan without their permission and now worry they will lose their home because they can't afford the payments. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

It wasn't until the work was done that Marcelino and Josefina Rodriguez said they learned the truth.

They had been signed up for a roughly $45,000 PACE home improvement loan at nearly 10% interest  even though they said a woman working with the contractor told them their new roof and water heater would be free through a government program.

The Rodriguezes contacted the authorities, but the nearly $4,500 annual bill came due anyway  a financial hit for the household of four who scraped by on less than $30,000 each year as garment workers paid by the piece.

If they didn't pay, Marcelino, 67, and Josefina, 64, could lose the Pacoima home they've owned since 2001, one that provided them and their sons stability after years of bouncing from rental to rental. So to get by, they started selling food and one of their sons said he exhausted his savings.

It was working  until the coronavirus slashed their incomes.

"I don't know how we are going to pay," Marcelino Rodriguez said in Spanish through a translator. To lose the house "would destroy me."

As the economy struggles to recover from coronavirus-induced damage, consumer groups are raising concerns of a coming foreclosure wave stemming from PACE home improvement loans.

For years, the industry has been dogged by allegations that some home improvement contractors exploit a loan approval process with weak safeguards to mislead people into financing they can't afford, by telling them either that work would be free or that it would be less than it ultimately cost.

Consumer attorneys say they were seeing PACE-driven foreclosures even before the current crisis and now fear a surge as the recession cuts off economic lifelines for people already living on the edge.

"Our clients, who were barely holding on financially, are now falling off a cliff," said Stephanie Carroll, an attorney with Public Counsel, which is representing the Rodriguezes.

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Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, loans first took off in the middle of last decade  the result of a private-public partnership created to finance energy- and water-efficient home improvements.

Various government authorities set up the programs, which use private money to help the environment and partner with private lenders to offer loans that are paid back as a line item on a homeowner's property tax bill.

The private lenders, in turn, have relied on home improvement contractors to pitch their products and help sign people up for the special tax assessment financing. When consumers sign off that the job is done, the lenders then pay the contractors directly for the work.

The PACE industry says that overall the programs have been a success and stories of misrepresentation are the result of a few bad actors that lenders have worked to weed out.

According to PACENation, an industry trade group, PACE-funded projects in California stand to save, over the lifetime of the improvements, 19.3 billion gallons of water and result in greenhouse gas savings equal to taking 1.5 million cars off the road for a year.

Colin Bishopp, the group's executive director, said that victims of fraud should be "made whole" and his group supports efforts to help borrowers during the current economic crisis. But he said consumer groups are overstating the risk of foreclosure.

"The overwhelming number of homeowners who used PACE to make an upgrade to their homes from the very beginning had a positive experience," he said.

Consumer groups, however, say that the problems are more widespread than the industry acknowledges and that they worry too many people with PACE loans have been set up for failure.

Before 2018, PACE loan eligibility was largely based on home equity with no required analysis of whether the applicant had the income to repay the loan  a step mandated for mortgage loans.

Contractors could use lender systems to look up exactly how much a homeowner qualified for, allowing them to pitch products that would strip all available equity. Homeowners could then sign up on tablet computers that contractors handed to them and borrowers didn't always need to speak with lenders to confirm they understood their financing.

Complaints were particularly high among seniors and people who didn't speak English. Some homeowners alleged contractors didn't show them all the documents and even set up fake email addresses where loan documents would be sent and then forged.

Bishopp said complaints over financing have declined since a package of state laws took effect in 2018, including the one that required lenders to conduct an analysis of ability to repay.

The laws, which received support from some big lenders, required lenders to call all borrowers to confirm they understood the financing and barred lenders from revealing to contractors the total amount of financing homeowners qualified for.

But nearly 145,000 loans worth $3.4 billion were outstanding at the end of 2017, before the laws took effect, according to state records. And consumer groups say the rules are still too lax, pointing to allegations of fraud such as those made by the Rodriguezes, who received their loan in 2019.

Los Angeles County cited the difficulty of contractor oversight as one reason it recently stopped allowing new loans through its program, although PACE financing is still available in L.A. County through statewide programs.

"Any time you don't have an ability to repay analysis, there is a greater chance people will be in loans that are unaffordable," said Tara Twomey, an attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. "What the PACE assessments take away is any cushion or breathing space to handle any setback."

At the California Statewide Communities Development Authority, one of the state's big PACE program sponsors, it's too early to know the effect that earlier underwriting standards will have on borrowers' ability to pay during the downturn, Managing Director James Hamill said. But he said his organization is working with other statewide programs to help homeowners through today's "unprecedented times."

He didn't have specifics, but he said that repayment plans are likely options and that he hoped to announce more this summer.

"We have seen this coming with the outbreak," Hamill said. "We do not want to foreclose on anybody."

The PACE program, through which Marcelino and Josefina Rodriguez received a heat-blocking roof and an energy-saving water heater, was set up by the California Statewide Communities Development Authority.

Hamill declined to comment on the Rodriguezes' situation.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has expressed interest in allowing people who still have PACE loans through its program to defer payments for a year, although that could prove difficult. The loans have been packaged into securities and sold off to investors and, according to a recent report from the county's tax collector, state law requires PACE assessments to be "collected at the same time and manner as county property taxes."

The extent of potential hardship PACE borrowers are facing is difficult to gauge because of the financing's complicated nature.

Bishopp of PACENation said available delinquency and foreclosure data indicate that despite "horrendous" cases of fraud, lenders didn't approve hordes of unaffordable loans that are now prime for default.

For example, as of October, investors in PACE loans had started foreclosure proceedings on only nine assessments since the programs started, representing 0.004% of PACE loans in California, while the overall delinquency rate for PACE loans stood at 1.73%, according to the trade group.

But data from L.A. County indicate PACE delinquency had inched up before the pandemic. And consumer attorneys say they were seeing PACE-driven delinquencies and foreclosures that wouldn't show up in industry or county data.

In these cases, attorneys said, people who have an underlying mortgage took on an unaffordable PACE assessment and have seen their mortgage servicer pay their PACE assessment and then foreclose themselves.

In some cases, homeowners originally paid their property taxes through a mortgage escrow account and fell behind on their mortgage after the servicer adjusted their payment to reflect their new PACE assessment. In other cases, homeowners paid their property taxes separately, but the servicer stepped in anyway.

Stacey Tutt, director of UC Irvine's Consumer Law Clinic, said that any government help needs to address such instances and that since the fall of 2018 her clinic has handled eight cases in which mortgage servicers initiated foreclosures because of PACE hardships, a number she called significant given the limited capacity of the clinic.

Public Counsel, meanwhile, took on 76 new clients last year who had fallen behind on their mortgages or were about to because of PACE hardships, up from 42 in 2018, according to attorney Nisha Kashyap.

Going forward, mortgage forbearance programs, created to provide relief from the pandemic's economic strains, stand to give some borrowers additional time to regain income or sell their homes.

Marcelino and Josefina Rodriguez haven't received a foreclosure notice but have an underlying mortgage and fear they'll eventually lose their home.

The couple said their nightmare started last year when a woman who gave her name as Kelly showed up at their door, asked for Marcelino by name and said there was a problem with their water heater.

The Rodriguezes said the woman told them a free government program would replace it and they trusted her because she knew Marcelino's name and they assumed she was with the nonprofit organization that previously provided them with other free home improvements.

When the woman and workers showed up to replace their water heater, Marcelino Rodriguez, said the workers damaged their roof and the woman said the government program could replace that for free as well.

Their PACE loan documents, which the Rodriguezes say have their forged electronic signatures, show a for-profit business named Eco Technology was the contractor that installed the water heater and roof. And the last time Kelly visited their house, they said, she was wearing an Eco Technology T-shirt.

The Rodriguezes said that after their work was done a neighbor who used the same contractor warned them he had been signed up for a loan without his permission.

Marcelino's son, Daniel, said he then called the lender, PACE Funding Group, and discovered that his parents also had a loan through the company  even though they said they never signed any documents, nor had any phone calls with the lender to confirm financing.

The California Department of Business Oversight recently barred Eco Technology from working with lenders to offer PACE loans, alleging the Encino company falsely told multiple homeowners they would get free home improvements through a government program and then, to make deals go through, forged customer signatures and impersonated homeowners on calls with lenders.

It was the first time the department had made such a move since the 2018 reforms gave it the authority, but the allegations mirror complaints PACE Funding made in a 2019 lawsuit against Eco Technology, as well as allegations homeowners have made for years against other contractors.

Eco Technology, through its attorneys at Plumtree & Associates, denied the allegations and said the company didn't forge the Rodriguezes' signatures or commit fraud in any case.

Nick Brunner of Plumtree & Associates said Eco Technology also denied that anyone from the company told the Rodriguezes they would get work done for free.

"If somebody did go to the Rodriguezes' home and make these representations, it was not ever condoned by Eco, it was not ever supported by Eco," he said.

According to their bank statement from right before the Rodriguezes received their PACE loan in 2019, the home improvement financing and their mortgage could be expected to have taken up nearly 70% of their gross income, well above recommended levels.

In an email, PACE Funding Group's chief compliance officer, Ryan Griffin, declined to comment on the Rodriguezes' situation, citing PACE Funding's lawsuit against Eco Technology.

But he said that PACE Funding is "investigating and responding" to each homeowner complaint involving Eco Technology "in an attempt to help facilitate a fair outcome to homeowners."

When asked if someone with the Rodriguezes' debt-to-income ratio would qualify for a PACE assessment through the company, Griffin said it was "very unlikely." He didn't respond to follow-up questions asking what sort of income documentation PACE Funding requires before approving a loan and whether it conducts independent checks to verify that income documentation is accurate.

Public Counsel's Kashyap, who is representing the Rodriguezes, said PACE lenders are required to verify a homeowner's income and the fact her clients received a loan suggests something "went wrong in the approval process."

"This loan should not have been approved," she said.

In the meantime, Daniel Rodriguez is worried about his father's health. Not only is Marcelino diabetic and at greater risk for serious complications if he contracted COVID-19, he's also not sleeping, worried that the house he's worked so hard for will be lost.

"It's been a year of hell," Daniel Rodriguez said. "The damage that this stress can cause, that's what worries me the most."

Marcelino Rodriguez called what has happened to his family an injustice: "They always told me everything was going to be free."

For the record:

9:12 AM, Jun. 29, 2020: An earlier version of this post stated that, according to industry trade group PACENation, PACE-funded projects in California stood to save, over the lifetime of the improvements, 19.3 million gallons of water. The correct amount is 19.3 billion gallons of water.




When former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman launched a bid for his old job last November, his entry to the race elicited one immediate question: Why?

Now, on the eve of the state's Republican primary, many GOP voters are asking that very question. Huntsman, despite once owning 90 percent approval ratings as governor and a surname thats legendary in Utah, is struggling to fend off Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox for the GOP nomination.

Back in 2009, just a few months after he was reelected to a second term with nearly 80 percent of the vote, Huntsman left Utah to serve as ambassador to China under then-President Barack Obama  before fleeing Beijing abruptly in 2011 for an ill-fated presidential campaign against the man who appointed him.

Then Donald Trump, in need of a credible ambassador in Moscow after Russia's interference in the election, tapped the experienced Huntsman for the job  even though the former governor had called on him to drop out after the "Access Hollywood" tape.

Huntsmans willingness to serve in both Democratic and Republican administrations  as well as his reputation for moderation that includes his role as a co-chair of the bipartisan group No Labels  is testing Utah Republicans' tolerance for the kind of technocratic governance he represents.

"This race is kind of Huntsman versus Huntsman," said Doug Foxley, a political strategist and senior adviser to the Huntsman campaign. "Some of these people have feelings about Jon  and they're either voting for him, or they're voting against him."

Recent polls show the primary as a near-tie between Huntsman and Cox. Also on the ballot are two well-known state Republicans  former state House Speaker Greg Hughes and former state GOP chairman Thomas Wright  who have ranked behind the two frontrunners.

In between ambassadorial assignments, Huntsman told POLITICO in 2014 he had no intention of running again. "Ive been governor, elected twice as governor, but when you get elected with about 80 percent of the vote, if you try to do that over again, youre never going to be as good as the first time around," he said then.

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Now, Huntsman is trying to convince GOP voters that his work in his home state isn't done yet.

I want to go big, Huntsman said during a debate earlier this month, vowing to double the states GDP while in office. Were the most brilliant population in the country. Weve got so much to give. Weve got so much to innovate and build and grow around.

An already difficult race became even harder in its closing weeks, when Huntsman contracted the novel coronavirus, forcing the candidate into a strict quarantine in his home. In a series of videos chronicling his time in quarantine, Huntsman described the acute fatigue he was suffering as a result of Covid-19, in addition to providing updates on his campaign.

I dont think it hurts him, said Frank Pignanelli, a Salt Lake City-based political strategist. Citing the former governors public comments on receiving a test and delayed results, the question, he said, will be Was there a sympathy [vote], or was there, Ok, this guy's been through it. He knows how to deal with it?' No one knows that."

Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox speaks during the daily briefing on the state's efforts to fight COVID-19, Thursday, June 25, 2020, at the Utah State Capitol, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Cox, who has been endorsed by Utah's current Gov. Gary Herbert, is leading the states coronavirus response. He has used his leadership role to highlight his own firsthand knowledge of the crisis, running an incumbent-like campaign, even as coronavirus cases are rising in the state.

Still, Cox has been accused of politicizing the virus through his endorsement of a no-policy policy on wearing masks in public.

"[The coronavirus] really changed and reshaped the way politics is done," Cox said in an interview, adding that he took over a month off from campaigning to manage the outbreak. "We've done a lot more tele-town halls, Zoom meetings, those types of things. Which is hard because my style  I feel much more comfortable when I'm connecting directly with voters."

Huntsman, whose campaign declined an interview request for this story, has used his personal experience with the virus to inform his campaign platform, which stresses economic renewal, expanded mental health resources and a more robust vote-by-mail system. He has countered Coxs claim of continuity with the message that his familiarity with Utahs economy as a former governor best positions him to dig the state out of financial ruin.

As governor, Huntsman oversaw a period of considerable economic expansion for Utah, cutting taxes by more than $400 million. The state was named among the nations best managed by the Pew Center on the States in 2008, just before he was reelected to a second term.

His strongest suit has been his ability to construct a new coalition of voters who might not have normally participated in the states closed primary. Polling shows that Huntsman is the favorite among unaffiliated voters, a group he consistently courted on the campaign trail. Tuesday is expected to bring strong turnout in the all-mail election, and his allies say that will consist largely of independents-turned-Republicans who wish to participate in the four-way primary.

Cox alluded to this, saying, "my opponent is working really hard to register Democrats as Republicans. The big question is how many of those registered Republicans actually do cast a ballot."

The Huntsman name is widely known in Utah  and thus-far undefeated politically. Huntsmans father is the late billionaire philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr., who was a leader in state business and politics. He chaired Ronald Reagans 1984 campaign in Utah and his business, Huntsman Chemical Company, patented a number of widely-used fast food containers, including the clamshell that became famous as the vessel for McDonald's Big Mac cheeseburgers. Huntsman's brother, Paul, is the owner and publisher of The Salt Lake Tribune.

If elected, Huntsman said he will not leave office again. His focus, instead, is on rebuilding the economy of his state and preserving its citizens' physical and mental health. Still, a number of factors  the coronavirus spread, the number of candidates running and his record as ambassador under Democratic and Republican presidents  make a Tuesday an even bigger question mark than usual.

What he's trying to do with this economic plan, obviously, is to focus on something important, but also to kind of remind people, 'Yeah, I've been there. Ive done that,'" said Matthew Burbank, an associate professor of political science at the University of Utah. "And, of course, with the Huntsman name, that's a relatively easy message to get out there."
ILLINOIS  All regions of Illinois were on track to move into phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan on Friday, with coronavirus cases and deaths hitting the benchmarks required for reopening. That means the reopening of indoor dining at bars and restaurants, the reopening of gyms and plans for schools to reopen in the fall.

Last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Illinois' confirmed coronavirus cases continued to drop, despite some day-over-day spikes in cases, and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike said the state had seen five consecutive weeks of declining coronavirus cases and deaths.

State of Illinois

But in other parts of the country, especially places that reopened earlier, like Texas, Florida and Arizona, coronavirus cases and deaths are again on the rise  threatening to hit early "worst case scenario" predictions and overwhelm hospitals.

Florida Ends Second Straight Week Of Coronavirus Records

Illinois schools will reopen in the fall, state officials said, with mask requirements, social distancing rules and new sanitizing procedures.

While some Illinois parents are eager to get kids back in school, others are wary. Some parents are considering homeschooling their students in the fall, the Chicago Tribune reported, with one mom telling the newspaper, "I know teachers just don't have the capabilities to monitor every student to make sure that they are taking the precautions required."

The Great Mask Debate: How Illinois Residents Feel About Them

In an Illinois Patch survey, some readers  34.1 percent  said they will send their kids back to school in the fall, masks or no masks, but another 33.6 percent said they would consider keeping them home if masks aren't required and 32.2 percent weren't sure.

How are you feeling about schools reopening in the fall? Take the survey below to share your thoughts.

The survey is not meant to be a scientific poll, with random sampling and margins of error, but is meant only to gauge the sentiments of our readers in an informal way. Results will be posted Tuesday.

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This article originally appeared on the Across Illinois Patch
Rosemary Ketchum is the first openly transgender elected official in West Virginia. She is associate director of the Greater Wheeling National Alliance on Mental Illness and serves on the boards of several organizations, including the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy. Ketchum will begin her first term on the Wheeling City Council on July 1. Follow her on Twitter at @RosemaryKetchum.

I never wanted to run for office. The people who occupied the world of politics didn't look like me, live like me, or seem to want the same things as me. So, rather than working in politics, I did the next best thing: I became a community organizer. For years, I've worked to tackle issues like poverty, mental health, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ equality in West Virginia.

When I'm organizing a protest or rally around injustice, or helping build a platform that will allow people's voices to be heard, I'm in my element. This work has given me purpose and opportunity, but it has also frustrated me deeply.

We knew how to create lasting change. But we didn't yield the same power our politicians did.

As organizers, we knew what was needed to help alleviate every issue we worked on. Racial injustice? Let's reform law enforcement, educate and empower communities, and build platforms for Black and brown voices. Voter suppression? Make Election Day a federal holiday, expand polling locations, and provide enhanced civic educational opportunities. Gender inequality? End the pay gap, increase representation in government at all levels, and pass the Equal Rights Amendment.

We knew how to create lasting change. But we didn't yield the same power our politicians did.

I live in Wheeling, WV, a small town of a little fewer than 30,000 people, known as "The Friendly City." I wasn't born in Wheeling, which, in a town this size, would typically be enough to end an outsider's political ambitions. I knew when I relocated here in 2010 that I needed to work extra hard to engage my community and earn their trust. I went to college in Wheeling, graduated with a degree in psychology, and landed a good job in my field. And in the meantime, I joined every board, committee, and organization I could and built a pretty solid reputation.

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I was content working in mental health and community organizing. I not so secretly loved the idea of being a scrappy underdog fighting for the issues I care about, especially while living in what some could consider "Trump country." However, it didn't take long for me to realize that some of the biggest obstacles to my liberal-media, progressive, gay agenda - can you sense my sarcasm? - were the elected officials around me. But even then, I didn't immediately decide to run for public office. Like many people, I suffer from undiagnosed imposter syndrome and live in constant fear of being discovered as a "fraud." So I first tried to convince all my friends that they should run, to little avail.

Related: Joe Biden Responds to SCOTUS Ruling on LGBTQ+ Worker Protection, Vows to Sign Equality Act

Then came a light-bulb moment. I recalled a passage from Michelle Obama's memoir Becoming, in which she describes being in a room with some of the most powerful and important people in her law firm, who were overwhelmingly men. At the time, she was still Michelle Robinson, a young, talented, Black lawyer who had every right to be in that room - but she too felt inadequate and unworthy. In this way, I related to her experience and decided that perhaps my biggest obstacle to actually solving the issues I cared about was myself.

And with that, I threw my wig in the ring.

I considered that my identity as a trans woman may be a liability, but I also knew that my community needed an advocate, and I was best prepared for the challenge. I decided if I wanted to run a successful race, I needed to build a strong team. I gathered my closest friends, asked for their blessing, and started brainstorming what a local campaign could look like. We quickly got to work organizing grassroots community forums, phone banks, and a district-wide canvass.

Then the coronavirus hit. We were in the middle of campaign season when the governor issued a statewide stay-at-home order on March 24. I knew immediately that we needed to cancel any future events and halt all face-to-face contact with voters - not ideal circumstances for winning an election. Nevertheless, we persisted, shifting our strategy in the coming months as we inched closer to the election on June 9.

Finally, it was Election Day, and I felt anything but confident. We worked tirelessly to connect with voters and share our message for an entire year, but I worried that I could have done more.

Once the polls closed, we prepared the salsa, chilled the Champagne, and turned on the news. The results trickled in slowly, and the suspense was killing me. Then around 10 p.m., my phone rang. It was the local paper. I rushed outside to take the call, and they proceeded to explain that, according to their data, I was the projected winner. Within seconds, I could hear my friends inside cheering as the final numbers flashed across the screen. We had won by 15 votes.

Related: 5 Actions You Can Take to Fight Racial Injustice Right Now and Moving Forward

By the next morning, my inbox had exploded. I fielded media requests from CNN, MSNBC, Time, ABC, and more. I was the first openly trans person elected in the state of West Virginia, and the response was overwhelming. I was eager to share my story in hopes of shifting the narrative about what it's like to be a West Virginian and an elected official in a rural community. I didn't run for office to make history - I ran to make a difference.

We have the opportunity on the local level to lead by example in the fight for racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, economic justice, and so many more critical issues.

My community suffers from homelessness, a crumbling infrastructure, opioid addiction, and so many other issues we need to address. Issues that require holistic, comprehensive, and community-based solutions. It's vitally important that we invest our time, energy, and money into local politics. Local government is where grassroots organizing begins and where structural and institutional change is most possible.

The people I speak to every day feel an incredible sense of apathy toward politics, often telling me their vote doesn't count anyway or that the system is rigged against them. These feelings are as dangerous as they are common. Because as soon as we begin to believe we have no say in our government, that belief becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

This is just one reason I hope to see a political shift toward local government. Folks who care deeply about their communities and are passionate about solving the big issues need to run for office - then actively engage their constituents once they're elected. We have the opportunity on the local level to lead by example in the fight for racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, economic justice, and so many more critical issues that directly impact neighborhoods across the US. We can redefine what it means to be a community: wholehearted, compassionate, and engaged.

I'm pretty new to this, but I know that the roots of change will first sprout from our cities, towns, and neighborhoods. Not from Congress and not from the president.

The democracy we deserve starts here.
SOZO Devices to Power Network's Initiative to Prevent Lymphedema in Cancer Patients

CARLSBAD, Calif., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ImpediMed Limited, a medical software technology company that non-invasively measures, monitors and manages fluid status and tissue composition using bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), today announced a national purchasing agreement with The US Oncology Network (The Network), a leader in value-based cancer care, for its SOZO Digital Health Platform and Lymphedema Prevention Program (LPP). Under the contract, Texas Oncology, a member of The Network, is implementing 17 units, which represents a major expansion of the use of ImpediMed's SOZO technology as part of a new LPP.

The national purchasing agreement allows 1,200 physicians at 470 cancer treatment locations across the country access to SOZO and ImpediMed's BIS (L-Dex) technology. Together, these physicians treat more than 1 million cancer patients annually.

SOZO is the only rapid, noninvasive, FDA-cleared tool that aids in the assessment of subclinical lymphedema. SOZO helps physicians and care teams to prevent cancer-related lymphedema with BIS technology by calculating a patient's L-Dex score, a measure of extracellular fluid. A significant increase in a patient's L-Dex score is a trigger to evaluate the patient and potentially initiate intervention.

"Staying on the leading edge of technology is part of our commitment to provide the best care for our patients," said Loren Rourke, MD, MHCM, chief surgical officer, The US Oncology Network. "With SOZO, we will enhance our survivorship program by offering lymphedema prevention as part of our comprehensive cancer care. This adds tremendous value to our patients, and we expect to see further expansion of SOZO in our network in the months ahead."

The LPP utilizes ImpediMed's technology for early detection and intervention of cancer-related lymphedema. The LPP is being implemented at prestigious institutions across the globe utilizing ImpediMed's Test, Trigger, Treat protocol, which has been developed in conjunction with physicians for early detection and intervention with the goal of ending cancer-related lymphedema. ImpediMed's PREVENT Trial, the largest multi-site randomized controlled trial ever performed to study lymphedema prevention, demonstrated that routine monitoring with L-Dex combined with early intervention resulted in a 95% reduction in lymphedema progression at one year.

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"This is only the beginning of our new partnership with The Network and will establish a comprehensive LPP in locations throughout the US," said Richard Carreon, Managing Director and CEO of ImpediMed. "We believe this program will be a model as we expand the program to additional locations within The Network and with other prominent programs similarly committed to innovative, high quality care for cancer survivors and their families."

About Lymphedema

Lymphedema is a side effect of cancer treatment. It currently affects about 1-in-3 patients who have undergone surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, each of which may compromise the lymphatic system. Lymphedema is characterized by abnormal swelling that generally occurs in one of the arms or legs, and sometimes both arms and both legs. Patients with lymphedema also have a greater risk of getting infections. Cuts or small breaks in the skin can lead to serious complications and hospitalizations. Currently, no cure for lymphedema exists. By the time patients experience swelling, the condition is typically irreversible. However, new research indicates that prevention is possible, if lymphedema is caught early.

About The US Oncology Network

Every day, The US Oncology Network (The Network) helps more than 1,200 independent physicians deliver value-based, integrated care to patients  close to home. Through The Network, these independent doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to delivering better patient outcomes. The Network provides practices with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and the experience, infrastructure and support of McKesson Corporation. This collaboration allows the providers in The Network to focus on the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health of their practices. The Network is committed to the success of independent practices, everywhere.

About ImpediMed

Founded and headquartered in Brisbane, Australia with US and European operations, ImpediMed is a medical software technology company that non-invasively measures, monitors and manages fluid status and tissue composition using bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS).

ImpediMed produces a family of FDA cleared and CE Marked medical devices, including SOZO for multiple indications including heart failure, protein calorie malnutrition and lymphoedema, sold in select markets globally.

For more information, visit www.impedimed.com.

Media Contacts:

David Schull

Russo Partners

(212) 845-4271

david.schull@russopartnersllc.com

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SOURCE ImpediMed
The Indian government on Monday evening said it was banning 59 apps developed by Chinese firms over concerns that these apps were engaging in activities that threatened "national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India" in what is the latest standoff between the world's two most populated nations.

Among the apps that India's Ministry of Electronics and IT has ordered to ban include ByteDance's TikTok, which counts India as its biggest overseas market; Community and Video Call apps from Xiaomi, which is the top smartphone vendor in India; two of Alibaba Group's apps (UC Browser and UC News); Shareit; CM Browser, Club Factory, which claims to be India's third-largest e-commerce firm; and ES File Explorer.

This is the first time that India, the world's second largest internet market with nearly half of its 1.3 billion population online, has ordered to ban so many foreign apps. New Delhi said nation's Computer Emergency Response Team had received many "representations from citizens regarding security of data and breach of privacy impacting upon public order issues."

"The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India," it said.

The apps India is banning

Tarun Pathak, an analyst at research firm Counterpoint, said the order would impact roughly one in three smartphone users in India. TikTok, Club Factory and UC Browser and other apps put together had more than 500 million monthly active users in May, according to one of the top mobile insight firms.

And, 27 of these 59 apps were among the top 1,000 Android apps in India last month, according to the mobile insights firm -- data of which an industry executive shared with TechCrunch.

It's unclear what exactly the "ban" means and how mobile operating system makers and internet service providers are expected to comply. At the time of writing, all of the aforementioned apps were available to download from Google Play Store and Apple's App Store in India.

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Google said it had yet to receive the order from New Delhi. Apple said it was reviewing the order. The companies have traditionally complied with such app removal requests.

New Delhi said it had received "many complaints from various sources, including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India."

Monday evening's announcement is the latest standoff between the two neighboring nations following a deadly clash at the border earlier this month that stoked historical tensions. In recent weeks, custom officials at major Indian ports and airports have halted clearances of industrial consignments coming from China.

Read More

Jayanth Kolla, an analyst at research firm Convergence Catalyst, told TechCrunch the move was surprising and will have huge impact on Chinese firms, many of which count India as their biggest market. He said banning these apps would also hurt the livelihood of several Indians who directly or indirectly work for them.

Anti-China sentiment has been gaining mindshare in India in recent weeks, since more than 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a military clash in the Himalayas earlier this month. "Boycott China" -- and variations of it -- has been trending on Twitter in India ever since as a growing number of people posted videos demonstrating destruction of Chinese-made smartphones, TVs and other products.

Chinese smartphone makers command more than 80% of the smartphone market in India, which is the world's second largest. For SoftBank-backed TikTok, which has more than 200 million monthly active users in India, New Delhi's move is its latest headache. The Chinese firm has also faced scrutiny in Europe and the United States in recent quarters.

TikTok has been facing backlash in India since the second half of May after users unearthed and shared numerous recent TikTok videos on Twitter that appeared to promote domestic violence, animal cruelty, racism, child abuse and objectification of women. Many in India rushed to leave a poor rating of the TikTok app in the Google Play Store to express their disgust -- and the Android-maker had to intervene and delete millions of comments.

Days later, an app called "Remove China Apps" gained popularity among some Indians. Google pulled the app later from the Play Store citing it violated its guidelines. A TikTok spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In April, India amended its foreign direct investment policy to require all neighboring nations, including China, with which it shares a boundary to seek approval from New Delhi for their future investments in India. The nations Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade said it was taking this measure to curb the opportunistic takeover of Indian firms that are grappling with challenges due to the coronavirus crises.

When TikTok app was blocked in India for a week last year, ByteDance had said in a court filing that it was losing more than $500,000 a day in the nation. In a statement on Tuesday (local time), TikTok said that it was working to comply with New Delhi's order.

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A U.S. intelligence official claims that intelligence reports alleging Russia offered bounty payments to Taliban militants to target American forces in Afghanistan were uncorroborated and hence not presented to President Trump as part of his briefings on national security matters.

The unidentified intelligence official told CBS News Catherine Herridge that the National Security Agency assessed that the intelligence collection report does not match well-established and verifiable Taliban and Haqqani practices and lacks sufficient reporting to corroborate any links. The report reached low levels of the National Security Council but did not travel further up the chain of command  and was not included in briefings with the president or vice president  because it was deemed uncorroborated and there was dissent in the intelligence community about the veracity of the allegations.

Last week, reports broke that U.S. intelligence found that at least one American soldier, as well as a number of Afghan civilians, died as a result of secret bounty payments that Russia paid to Taliban militants in Afghanistan.

Several American service-members died as a result of monetary rewards that a Russian military intelligence unit offered to terrorist militants to target U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan, the Washington Post reported.

A similar report in the New York Times said that President Trump was briefed on the bounty allegations  a claim the White House denied.

Trump said in a tweet Sunday night that intelligence officials did not brief him on the allegations because they did not find them credible, adding that the information was possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax.

Nobodys been tougher on Russia than the Trump administration, he added in another tweet.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Monday that neither the president nor the vice president were briefed on the matter and said the intelligence about the alleged Russian bounty payments has not been verified.

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There is no consensus within the intelligence community on these allegations, McEnany said. There are dissenting opinions from some in the intelligence community with regards to the veracity of whats being reported, and the veracity of the underlying allegations continue to be evaluated.

Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have demanded answers about the reports of alleged Russian bounty payments.

Representative Liz Cheney, who ranks third in House GOP leadership, called on the White House to explain why the president and vice president were not briefed on the intelligence as well as what has been done to protect American forces and hold Russia accountable if the intelligence is true.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have both called for briefings on the matter for all members of their respective chambers.

The administrations disturbing silence and inaction endanger the lives of our troops and our coalition partners, Pelosi said.

The U.S. has long accused Moscow of supporting the Taliban with weapons and other aid but has never accused Russia of soliciting Taliban members with bounties to kill U.S. forces and allies.

The Kremlin has denied the reports that it solicited militants with bounties to target American forces.

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CLEVELAND, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Brian G. Bembenick has joined McDonald Hopkins LLC as Of Counsel in the firm's Cleveland office, where he will bring 30 years of experience to the firm's Intellectual Property Department.

Brian G. Bembenick has joined McDonald Hopkins LLC as Of Counsel in the firms Cleveland office, where he will bring 30 years of experience to the firms Intellectual Property Department.

Bembenick is an accomplished intellectual property counsel and strategist specialized in all areas of intellectual property including patent, trademark, and copyright. His effectiveness for clients comes from his broad skill set and experience, spanning multi-industry, military, government, private practice, and in-house levels. Bembenick has deep expertise in budget creation/oversight, risk identification/mitigation, due diligence, and staff supervision, and he is recognized as a strategic, cross-functional partner with the ability to develop meaningful, value-add IP portfolios in collaboration with global business partners.

"We're proud to have Brian join our IP team," said David Cupar, chair of McDonald Hopkins' Intellectual Property Department. "Brian's experience as an in-house lawyer in a major legal department as well as his experience as a USPTO examiner gives him unique and powerful insight on assisting clients with important legal and business solutions."

Bembenick earned his J.D. from the Catholic University of America - Columbus School of Law and his B.S. in Chemistry/Biology from Gannon University.

Bembenick can be reached at 216.430.2004 or bbembenick@mcdonaldhopkins.com.

About McDonald Hopkins

Since 1930, McDonald Hopkins has thrived by building long-lasting relationships with businesses and individuals who share an entrepreneurial spirit. As the business advisory and advocacy law firm celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2020, it has a renewed commitment to providing exceptional client service and insight for the challenges at hand and on the horizon. To learn more, visit mcdonaldhopkins.com.

CONTACT:

David Carducci

McDonald Hopkins LLC

600 Superior Avenue, East, Suite 2100

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Phone: 216.348.5814

Email: dcarducci@mcdonaldhopkins.com



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McDonald Hopkins LLC. (PRNewsFoto/McDonald Hopkins LLC) (PRNewsfoto/McDonald Hopkins)

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SOURCE McDonald Hopkins
Carpenter is recognized for her exceptional accomplishments, leadership and contributions within the financial services industry

LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FiComm Partners ("FiComm"), an integrated communications agency specializing in the financial services industry, today announced that CEO and Co-Founder Megan Carpenter is named to InvestmentNews' 2020 40 Under 40 List. The 40 Under 40 designations spotlight young leaders making both professional and personal contributions to the financial services industry. InvestmentNews' editorial team reviewed more than 1,000 nominations and selected the recipients based on their accomplishments, leadership, and promise.

Under Carpenter's leadership, FiComm is today a multi-million-dollar business that partners with its wealth management clients to differentiate their businesses and firms through telling meaningful stories. With more than 15 years of financial services experience, she is one of the drivers behind the industry's conversation around modernizing advisor communications.

"I am truly honored and humbled to be selected as a 40 under 40 recipient among this amazing group of next-generation leaders," said Carpenter. "I thank the team at InvestmentNews for their consideration and extend my congratulations to all recipients as we innovate together to evolve the wealth management industry."

Since the company's founding in 2013, Carpenter expanded FiComm's offering to include seven core specialties - marketing and branding, public relations, video-first communication, virtual marketing workshops, digital outreach, crisis communications, and business consulting. In response to the wealth management industry's demand for more nimble and virtual offerings, Carpenter recently spearheaded the launch of the firm's Advisor Education workshops, which provide advisors with guidance and tools to modernize their proactive marketing strategies.

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"Meg's humble approach to leadership combined with an intense passion for bettering the financial services industry inspires us all," said Tim Welsh, President, Nexus Strategy and business partner at FiComm Partners. "I have watched her build FiComm and I know her full team is so proud of her accomplishments. It's thrilling to see how the company has grown under her leadership, and we look forward to continue to execute on vision for the company."

In tandem with leading FiComm's business, Megan's industry leadership is shared with advisor audiences through her frequent speaking roles at leading conferences, including Schwab IMPACT, InvestmentNews's Top Advisory Firm Summit and Best Practices Workshops, Pershing INSITE, Bob Veres' Insider's Forum, ECHELON Partners Deals and Deal Makers Summit, and FPA NorCal, among others.

In addition, Carpenter personally supports the industry by leading FiComm's pro-bono effort for the Foundation for Financial Planning, the InvestmentNews Impact Forum, and through her involvement with the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning Workforce Development Advisory Group. She is also part of the Pledge 1% global movement, pledging one percent of personal equity, profits, time, and product to non-profits in the financial advice community. Current 1% recipients are the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning and the Foundation for Financial Planning.

About FiComm Partners, LLC

Founded in 2012, FiComm Partners is an integrated communications agency with a singular focus on wealth management and financial services. FiComm partners with clients to differentiate businesses and firms by telling impactful stories and using meaningful words offering seven core specialties  marketing and branding, video-first communication, virtual marketing workshops, digital outreach, public relations, crisis communications, and business consulting. The company works primarily with broker-dealers, custodians, asset managers, WealthTech providers, and large RIAs/financial advice firms, with offices in New York City and Los Angeles. The team has earned a strong reputation for delivering tangible value to clients as a best-in-class agency whose clients view them as an extension of their brands. For more information about FiComm, please visit www.ficommpartners.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

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Iran has issued an arrest warrant and asked Interpol for help in detaining President Donald Trump and dozens of others it believes carried out the US drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, a local prosecutor reportedly said.

While Mr Trump faces no danger of arrest, the charges underscore the heightened tensions between Iran and the United States since Mr Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Mr Trump and more than 30 others whom Iran accuses of involvement in the January 3 strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad face murder and terrorism charges, the state-run Irna news agency reported.

Mr Alqasimehr did not identify anyone else sought other than Mr Trump, but stressed that Iran would continue to pursue his prosecution even after his presidency ends.

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Interpol, based in Lyon, France, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mr Alqasimehr also was quoted as saying that Iran requested a red notice be put out for Mr Trump and the others, which represents the highest-level arrest request issued by Interpol.

Local authorities generally make the arrests on behalf of the country that requests it.

The notices cannot force countries to arrest or extradite suspects, but can put government leaders on the spot and limit suspects travel.

After receiving a request, Interpol meets by committee and discusses whether or not to share the information with its member states.

Interpol has no requirement for making any of the notices public, though some do get published on its website.

A warship launches a missile during an Iranian naval exercise (Iranian navy/AP)

It is unlikely Interpol would grant Irans request as its guideline for notices forbids it from undertaking any intervention or activities of a political nature.

That was something noted by Brian Hook, the US special representative for Iran, who dismissed the announcement during a news conference in Saudi Arabia on Monday.

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Its a propaganda stunt that no one takes seriously and makes the Iranians look foolish, Mr Hook said.

The US killed Gen Soleimani, who oversaw the Revolutionary Guards expeditionary Quds Force, and others in the January strike near Baghdad International Airport.

It came after months of rising tensions between the two countries.

Iran retaliated with a ballistic missile strike targeting US troops in Iraq.
Iran has called for the arrest of President Trump.

Getty

Iran has issued an arrest warrant for President Donald Trump and 35 other US political and military figures.

Tehran accused Trump of a "terrorist act" for the killing, by drone strike, of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

They called on Interpol to issue an international "red notice" for the president's arrest.

Interpol is likely to refuse the request.

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Iran has issued an arrest warrant for US President Donald Trump for the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and it's asked Interpol for help detain him.

Tehran called for an Interpol "red notice" on 36 US political and military figures, including the president, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported Monday.

Iranian prosecutor Qasi Mehr said the figures had been charged with "murder and terrorist acts" for the killing of Soleimani by US drone strike in Baghdad in January.

The strike on Soleimani on January 3 was justified by the US Department of Defence as being "aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans."

The president has broad powers in matters of military conflict under the US constitution. But some experts have questioned the legality of the strike.

The US's international allies, including the UK and Germany, also criticised the strike at the time, with Berlin warning that it risked a "dangerous escalation" in the region.

Interpol has yet to respond to Iran, but it has the power to refuse its request.

Red notices are issued to law-enforcement agencies around the world requesting that the person is located and arrested, but they do not compel them to do so.

It is unlikely that Interpol would accept Iran's request for a red notice given that it is required under its own regulations to reject any request that it judges to be politically motivated.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Soleimani's death was mourned widely in Iran and parts of Iraq - Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA

Interpol has rebuffed a request by the Iranian regime to issue a so-called red notice for Donald Trump over the assassination of Qassim Soleimani, one of the regime's most senior commanders, earlier this year.

On Monday, an Iranian prosecutor announced he had issued an arrest warrant for the US president and was also seeking help from Interpol.

But shortly after, Interpol announced it would not consider the Iranian request, which means the President faces no risk of being detained.

According to local media reports, Ali Alqasimehr, an Iranian prosecutor, said Mr Trump and 35 other individuals were wanted by Iranian police for their role in the assassination of top general Qassim Soleimani.

Mr Alqasimehr said the warrants had been issued on charges of murder and terrorist action.

He added that Iran had asked Interpol to issue a "red notice" for Mr Trump and the other individuals which the Iranian regime believes took part in the killing of Soleimani.

An Interpol red notice is a formal request to police forces worldwide to arrest a criminal suspect who is wanted by another country.

However, Interpol says it cannot compel the law enforcement authorities in any country to arrest someone who is the subject of a red notice. Interpol also does not consider requests which are politically motivated.

The Iranian prosecutor said the group of wanted individuals included other US military and civilian officials but did not elaborate further, and that Iran would continue to pursue Mr Trump after his time in office ends.

The warrant and Interpol request reflect deep and persistent tensions between the Trump Administration and Iran, which very nearly erupted into a full-blown armed conflict after Soleimanis death in January.

Soleimani, the leader of the Iranian regimes elite Quds Force, was assassinated on January 3 during a US drone strike at Baghdad airport in Iraq.

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At the time, Washington believed that he was planning a terrorist attack against Western forces in the region, and had also accused him of masterminding attacks on US targets with the help of pro-Iran militias.

Iran responded by firing missiles at US targets in Iraq several days after the killing, but warned this was only part of its retaliation strategy.

Those airstrikes marked the first time in recent years that Washington and Tehran had attacked each other directly rather than through proxies in the region.

It raised the chances of open conflict erupting between the two rivals, who have been at odds since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution and the subsequent US Embassy takeover and hostage crisis. More recently, US-Iran tensions have escalated over Mr Trumps withdrawal from the Iran deal in May 2018.
An Iranian prosecutor said the country had issued an Interpol arrest warrant for United States Donald Trump for his role in the assassination of a leading military commander earlier this year.

The Tehran prosecutor, Ali Alqasimehr said the international warrant included Trump and more than 30 others allegedly involved in the 3 January drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani, commander of Irans clandestine overseas paramilitary force, the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported on Monday.

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TEHRAN  Iran has put out an arrest warrant and requested a red notice be published by Interpol for President Donald Trump following the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani in January, the Iranian state news agency FARS reported Monday.

Ali Alghasi Mehr, the prosecutor general of Tehran, said arrest warrants had been ordered for 36 people who were involved in or cooperated with the terror of Soleimani, including U.S. military and political officials, the news agency reported.

A judicial official has also "declared a red notice on Interpol," Mehr added, according to FARS.

The Department of State and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump is at the top of the list of those wanted, according to FARS. No other officials were immediately identified.

A red notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action. It is at the discretion of local law enforcement authorities whether to act on the notices.

When asked whether Iran had requested a red notice for Trump, among others, a spokesperson for Interpol said in an emailed statement that its constitution forbids it from undertaking "any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character."

The spokesperson did not say whether Interpol had received Iran's request.

The U.S. killing of Soleimani, the high-profile commander of Irans secretive Quds Force, on Jan. 2, brought simmering tensions between Tehran and Washington to a boiling point. Iran retaliated days later by firing more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi air bases housing U.S. forces.

In a statement announcing the death of Soleimani in January, the Department of Defense said that the U.S. military had taken "decisive defensive action" to protect U.S. personnel abroad.

"This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans," the Defense Department added. "The United States will continue to take all necessary action to protect our people and our interests wherever they are around the world."

Trump withdrew the United States from a nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers in 2018 and has imposed a wave of economic sanctions on the country's oil industry, as well as banking and other key sectors. The 2015 nuclear deal eased U.S. and United Nations sanctions on Iran in return for limits on Tehran's nuclear program.
Former Minneapolis Police officer J. Alexander Keung (L) leaves with his attorney Thomas Plunkett after a hearing at the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota. - Stephen Maturen

A Minnesota judge on Monday warned that he is likely to move the trials of four police officers charged in George Floyd's death out of Minneapolis if public officials and attorneys do not stop talking about the case.

Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill stopped short of issuing a gag order on attorneys, but he said one is likely if public statements continue. Cahill added that such a situation would also make him likely to grant a change-of-venue motion if one is filed.

"The court is not going to be happy about hearing about the case in three areas: media, evidence and guilt or innocence," Cahill said.

It was the second pretrial hearing for the officers, who were fired after Floyd's May 25 death. Derek Chauvin, 44, is charged with second-degree murder and other counts, while Thomas Lane, 37, J. Kueng, 26, and Tou Thao, 34, are charged with aiding and abetting Chauvin.

Angela Harrelson addresses the media after a court hearing in the case against Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis - Reuters

Floyd died after Chauvin, a white police officer, pressed his knee against the handcuffed 46-year-old Black man's neck for nearly eight minutes. The officers were responding to a call about a man trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at a nearby store.

Floyd's death was universally condemned in Minnesota, with elected officials including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey calling for the officers to be charged. Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said Floyd's death was "murder."

Cahill asked Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank to use his influence to keep public officials silent, warning that if they continued to discuss it publicly, he likely would "have to pull (trials) out of Hennepin County and they need to be aware of that."

Cahill set a March 8 trial date for the former officers if they are tried together, though he said he expects motions to be filed to separate their trials. The next court date is Sept. 11.

The defendants have not entered pleas. Chauvin's attorney has not commented publicly on the charges, while Lane's and Kueng's attorneys have sought to minimize their clients' roles and deflect blame to the more senior Chauvin in Floyd's death, which sparked protests around the world against police brutality.

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Former Minneapolis Police officer Thomas Lane (L) leaves a hearing at the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility. He is charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder in the death of George Floyd - Getty

Chauvin remains in custody on $1 million bail and Thao is being held on $750,000 bail. Lane and Kueng are free on bond.

Cahill also rejected a defense request to reconsider his earlier decision to allow cameras in the courtroom during pretrial proceedings. Defense attorneys asked to allow such coverage, but prosecutors objected. The judge has not ruled on whether to allow cameras for the trial itself, which in Minnesota usually requires the consent of all parties.

Kueng's attorney, Tom Plunkett, was the attorney asking Cahill to reconsider his ruling on cameras. He asserted that prosecutors and other officials forfeited their right to object to cameras in the courtroom by making public comments that went as far as "saying the defendants are guilty of murder." He said allowing electronic coverage of pretrial proceedings would actually make it easier to impanel a fair jury by helping to "educate the public that there may be more to the cases than what has been told to them by the state."

The charges against Chauvin are unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Second-degree murder carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, third-degree murder carries up to 25 years and manslaughter up to 10.

The other three former officers are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Those charges are legally tantamount to the counts against Chauvin and carry the same penalties.
Kym Marsh's fans spotted her armpit in Instagram post. (Getty Images)

Actor Kym Marsh has visited the doctors after fans urged her to get a lump in her armpit checked.

The 44-year-old posted a workout photo on her Instagram page that showed one of her arms above her head holding a kettlebell.

It prompted remarks from concerned followers encouraging Marsh to get the lump visible under her arm checked out by doctors.

The Coronation Street actor revealed to her followers that the lump was a bit of inflammation to a muscle in an updated caption under the photo.

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Followers had been quick to question if she was all right. One said: I was just wondering is your arm okay there seems to be a lump?

You have a lump in your underarm, another stated.

Read more: Woman diagnosed with cancer 48 hours before giving birth

Marsh updated the caption on the photo to address her followers concerns.

It said: Just so you guys know....after the recent photo and peoples concerns over the lump in my armpit, I went and had it checked anyway. Its all good guys and is just a bit of inflammation to a muscle. Thank you all for your concern xxx.

She went into more detail about it in her OK! Magazine column, saying the lump had been playing on her mind for a while.

I noticed the lump for a while and assumed it was nothing, but it had been playing on my mind and I knew I had to get it sorted, she wrote.

I was lucky to get a doctor's appointment straight away and went to a clinic for an ultrasound.

I am so grateful to everyone who reached out and urged me to get it looked at. It could have been something more serious, so thank goodness people online are looking out for each other.

Read more: Dame Julie Walters opens up about bowel cancer diagnosis

Regular checking of your lymph nodes is recommended by cancer charities. Although lumps can be caused by a myriad of things  as Marsh discovered  its always important to get them assessed by a GP.

People should check their lymph nodes once per month, according to UK charity Skin Support.

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The charity says: Lymph node are usually too small to feel except in slim people when they can be felt as smooth pea-sized lumps in the groin.

Another common exception is when people get a sore throat or an ear infection, which can make the neck lymph nodes enlarged, painful and tender.

Lymph nodes can also become enlarged if cancer cells lodge in them. In this case, they are usually painless.

Read more: Cancer patients share lockdown tips

At the same time as checking your armpits, doctors recommend also doing a general check of your body  including moles  to note any other changes.

To check a lymph node in the armpit, Skin Support recommends placing four fingers inside of the armpit and gradually feeling your way from top to bottom.

As well as feeling the centre of the armpit, its important to move your fingers along the front border and the back border as well as the inner border of the arm.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK Lifestyle
Pastors, gang interventionists and other community members meet with LAPD Chief Michel Moore at the Abundant Life Christian Church in mid-June. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

How are you going to take the fear away from us?

Candace Jordan's voice broke as she addressed Chief Michel Moore of the Los Angeles Police Department at an intimate gathering inside an Exposition Park church.

With her 16-year-old son sitting beside her, the bus driver for L.A. Unified School District described her mistrust of the citys police. Whenever she is driving and sees young Black men pulled over by law enforcement, Jordan said she feels the urge to stop.

I need to see if someone else is looking, if someone else is watching the scene, are those boys going to get home? she said. How are you going to take this fear away from us because its running real, real deep. I dont fear just for me. I fear for those I dont even know.

At a quietly publicized roundtable in mid-June at the Abundant Life Christian Church, about two dozen pastors, gang interventionists, and other community members met with Moore in an effort to increase mutual understanding in the aftermath of the George Floyd protests.

The 90-minute forum reflects significantly different approaches within the Black community toward how to create lasting change from the unrest. While some leaders have said that meetings with law enforcement are critical to rebuilding relationships and battling misconceptions, others have firmly rejected the idea of dialogue.

Pastor Shep Crawford of Experience Christian Ministries listens as LAPD Chief Michel Moore fields questions at a June 12 meeting at the Abundant Life Christian Church. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Those activists say that conversations with police and the widely circulated images of officers taking a knee with protesters will not lead to sweeping change in public safety, and that rather than attempt to reform the system from within, talks should occur with City Hall officials.

We absolutely do not need to be sitting down and meeting with police, said Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter in L.A. Its not a reformable system  developing dialogue is the last thing we should be doing. Were looking to reimagine public safety, not to buy into the existing system.

On June 15, a coalition of activists led by Black Lives Matter participated in a nearly two-hour special meeting at City Hall devoted to the Peoples Budget, an alternative spending plan for the city budget that pushes for widespread defunding of the LAPD, with money moving instead to housing, mental health and other services.

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Abdullah said that while Black Lives Matter will continue to issue its demands at the public meetings of the Los Angeles Police Commission, were not going to pretend like theres any trust to be built." Its members have maintained a presence at the commission for years, forcefully decrying shootings and at times disrupting meetings that have ended with arrests.

Brenda Stevenson, a history and African American studies professor at UCLA, said that within a large movement, people with similar goals will differ both on how entrenched problems are, and how to approach them.

Some people believe having dialogue with the police or allowing police to take a knee is a photo op and not more important than that, she said. Some people feel that this is a really severe problem [that] you feel like you have to do more than sit down with the police to eliminate, and some people feel thats a first step.

Melina Abdullah, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter in Los Angeles. (City of Los Angeles)

During the civil rights movement, Stevenson said, activists adopted multiple strategies. While many engaged in nonviolent protest by staging sit-ins at segregated lunch counters, others focused on legal efforts to end segregation. The Black is Beautiful movement also sought to uplift Black communities.

"All these different practices are necessary, she said. You have to chip away at peoples consciousness, at whats culturally important to them, along with changing laws and sitting with lawmakers.

But Donna Murch, a history professor at Rutgers University, said that dialogue "is often a way to quell demand" and that in order to achieve systemic change, protesters should use their political leverage with elected officials.

If we want change, what scale do we need it at? she said. The scale is going to be broader than the police-protester dialogue."

Fernando Rejon, executive director of the Urban Peace Institute, said he understands wariness of superficial reform. In a recent letter to Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rejon and a group of intervention agencies called for increased funding for community-based resources like gang intervention workers in light of proposed LAPD cuts. He said that while the departments Community Safety Partnership program, which places officers in neighborhoods where they work on youth programs and other initiatives, has been a promising model, it has not been brought to scale in a way that transforms the LAPD's mission.

He fears that the program ends up being window-dressing that prevents the conversation about creating systemic shifts and radical restructuring of law enforcement."

Candace Jordan, left, and her son Shamar Clemons, 16, far right. "How are you going to take the fear away from us?" Jordan asked LAPD Chief Michel Moore. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

LAPD Chief Moore also recently spoke at a virtual forum led by LaWanda Hawkins, the founder of Justice for Murdered Children, a group seeking justice for homicide victims. During the meeting, which received more than 1,000 views online, Moore answered questions about addressing racism in policing, saying that the department will expand training on implicit bias. He also said that crime dropped to record lows after efforts to grow the department to 10,000 officers.

When you dont have enough officers to have a presence in a community and time in which to engage communities in conversation, officers are just tasked to go from one call to another, from one emergency to another, he said. The relationship with the community suffers.

Several of the meeting's participants expressed strong support for Moore.

Hes the best chief I know so far, Najee Ali, a Black community activist, said during the dialogue. I would encourage everyone to lift up the chief, who right now is under tremendous pressure.

Some Black pastors have also been engaging in dialogue. Jawane Hilton, a pastor and Carson city councilman, said that faith leaders have been speaking regularly with the captain of the Carson sheriffs station, asking questions that include how to increase the number of Black people in law enforcement.

We can sit on the side and say things, but if we dont take an active part in being involved, in encouraging our young people to be police officers, jurors, we are just as complicit as those people who dont believe in the movement, he said.

LAPD Commander Gerald Woodyard takes a knee with protesters and clergy members on June 2 in downtown L.A. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

Meanwhile, over the last few weeks, Pastor Michael Fisher of Greater Zion Church Family in Compton, which has about 3,000 families, has conversed with the captain of the Compton sheriffs station about the need to create a local community advisory council that would increase accountability over deputies.

The church has previously held several town halls with the sheriffs department. The church organized one meeting to address racial profiling after Fisher said a law enforcement official flashed a light into the car of a pastor who was leaving church after locking up, which he called an unprovoked intimidation tactic.

I think its important to have dialogue to debunk the things that law enforcement believe, he said. All of this is a product of narrative Dialogue does not mean I need to water down my message.

Fisher is also focused on electoral participation as a means for change. At a recent church meeting during which he invited pastors, rabbis and elected officials to speak about the protests, Fisher told congregants that those who dont vote are part of the problem" and "don't need to attend another rally."

In contrast, faith leaders like Pastor James Thomas of the Living Word Community Church in Sherman Oaks, which has about 25 families, question the productivity of dialogue with police. Thomas has been working with other pastors to build an organization that will help congregations become involved in Black Lives Matter.

"We want to defund and abolish policing as we know it, he said. Our position is this  no one would ever approve reforming the institution of slavery, they sought to abolish it."

Stephen Cue Jn-Marie, the pastor of a congregation that meets in downtown L.A.'s skid row, agreed. He joined Black Lives Matter at the city's police commission meetings after Charly Africa Keunang, an unarmed homeless man, was fatally shot by LAPD officers in 2015, an incident that led to a nearly $2-million settlement.

He said that only a total cultural change, not just more implicit bias training, would stop police brutality against Black people.

We have dialogue and we never get justice, so the system remains the same, he said. We cant continue to do the same thing weve been doing and expect different results. Right now, to sit down and have a conversation with police is a matter of insanity.

During the meeting at the Abundant Life Christian Church, Moore took questions about the LAPD's use of the chokehold and deadly force. He acknowledged that police can lose community trust "in a moment," referring to an LAPD officer that was recently charged with assault in connection with a video that shows him repeatedly punching an unarmed homeless man in Boyle Heights last April.

That episode is us, he said. We got to recognize it. We got to go out and do 10,000 more times efforts of genuine engagement and trust-building for that one episode of abuse.

Skipp Townsend, a gang interventionist who helped organize the meeting, said that interventionists currently hold a position of power as community liaisons for law enforcement. He noted that public forums with the chief help keep him responsible for the department's actions.

We have to maintain that relationship, that balance, even though I may not agree with what the officers are doing, he said. He has to be held accountable in the community."
People wear masks in downtown Los Angeles on June 25. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles County health officials issued a dire warning Monday that conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic are deteriorating rapidly and the highly contagious virus is spreading swiftly in the nation's most populous county.

They said they are now faced with one of their biggest fears: that the reopening of L.A. County would coincide with sudden jumps in disease transmission that have the potential to overwhelm public and private hospitals.

L.A. County has long been the epicenter of the coronavirus in California  with nearly 98,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,300 deaths  but officials said Monday that the outbreak is worsening.

Barbara Ferrer, the director of public health for L.A. County, said that new data show "alarming increases in cases, positivity rates and hospitalization."

"This does indicate  definitively  that we have increased community transmission," Ferrer said. "There's so much at stake, since these continued increases will result in many more people becoming seriously ill, and many more deaths of COVID-19."

"This is the time to hunker down back in your home whenever you can," Ferrer said, urging people to wear their masks and practice social distancing. "Please, let's not let go of everything we worked hard and sacrificed for."

She urged people to avoid crowds. "It's just not safe right now," she said.

"Were seeing more people get sick and go into the hospital. This is very much a change in the trajectory of the epidemic over the past several days. It's a change for the worse and a cause for concern," said Dr. Christina Ghaly, L.A. County's director of health services.

The daily number of new coronavirus cases that require hospitalization could be four to five times the peak of what L.A. County saw in late March and early April, "placing tremendous burden on our healthcare system and hospitals and resulting in much otherwise unnecessary suffering and mortality," Ghaly said.

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L.A. County could see the number of daily new cases that require hospitalization be four to five times higher than what it was in April and May, officials warn. (Los Angeles County Department of Health Services)

With a predicted increase in hospitalizations, for the first time since the coronavirus crisis seemed to ease locally, L.A. County is now projecting the possibility of running out of hospital beds in two to three weeks. Likewise, the number of intensive care unit beds could be exhausted sometime in July.

L.A. County could run short of the existing supply of intensive care unit beds in weeks, officials say. (Los Angeles County Department of Health Services )

If the increased disease transmission rate continues as it has done so over the last few weeks, it "suggests that we are at risk of running out of hospital beds if we don't take steps to increase that capacity within the next two to three weeks," said Dr. Roger Lewis, a biostatistician, director of the COVID-19 demand modeling unit for L.A. County and chair of the emergency department at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

"We did anticipate that we would see increases in cases of hospitalization. The problem was that we didn't expect to see increases that were this steep so quickly," Ghaly said.

The county is able to meet hospital demand currently, but many of the patients who have already been exposed to the virus will now be filling the beds in the coming weeks. It can take three to four weeks after exposure to the virus for infected people to become sick enough to be hospitalized, and four to five weeks after exposure for some of the most vulnerable patients to die from the disease.

"So even if steps are taken immediately to reduce the spread in the community, we do expect to see a continued uptick in the next two to four weeks," Lewis said.

All public and private hospitals in L.A. County need to be prepared to treat more patients based on these projections, Ghaly said. Hospitals can create new capacity by reducing elective procedures and surgeries and take steps to expeditiously discharge patients who no longer need hospital care.

Hospitals can also add more beds beyond their normal licensed capacity, typically 20% to 40% over, by creating space they normally wouldn't utilize for in-patient care, such as emergency departments, recovery rooms, and pre- and post-operative care units, Ghaly said. Some hospitals can also reopen previously licensed or staffed wards.

The best place to treat a patient who needs hospital care is in a hospital. Alternate care sites present a host of challenges, Ghaly said.

The number of new cases expected in L.A. County hospitals has dramatically changed upward since last week. (Los Angeles County Department of Health Services )

The effective transmission rate of the coronavirus has now increased. Previously, through the beginning of May, for every one person infected, fewer than one other person on average was infected  a testament to the success of the stay-at-home order. But by early June, as the reopening accelerated, the coronavirus transmission rate had crept above 1, meaning for every one person infected, an additional 1.26 people are infected on average.

"We expect the number of cases to rise quickly," Ghaly said.

Although this rate is lower than what L.A. County saw earlier in the pandemic, when every one infected person on average infected three other people, the current rate can still cause a much larger number of new cases "because of the much broader base of infected individuals that we have today," Ghaly said.

Last week, there was an estimated 1 in 400 people in L.A. County who was infectious with the virus and infecting others  people who weren't hospitalized or in isolation at home. Now, there's an estimated 1 in 140 people people actively infecting others, Ghaly said.

That means a typical large, busy store is likely to have multiple infectious persons enter and shop every day, officials said.

The increase in transmission likely occurred sometime around the week of Memorial Day week or shortly thereafter. At the time, L.A. County officials decided to gradually reopen the economy because the data were stable, with no increases in hospitalizations and a decline in new deaths, Ferrer said.

But unfortunately, people and businesses haven't been adhering to health orders to wear masks in public and stay away from crowded situations. Just this past weekend, masks or face shields were not being worn by workers at about half of inspected restaurants and bars. Officials have also seen examples of overcrowding at public spaces.

"I've had an explosion of new outbreaks in workplaces. One that got shut down this past weekend, it had over 115 infections. Again, very little compliance with the directives on how to operate a factory with as much safety as possible," Ferrer said.

"And we've had numerous examples of outbreaks happen because families are getting together with extended family members and friends to celebrate weddings, things they had postponed, and again, created higher risk, and there was transmission," Ferrer said.

Ferrer also said that, according to data by Foursquare, that the weekend after June 20, the day when bars reopened in L.A. County, 500,000 people visited nightlife spots. And the county has observed a 40% increase in coronavirus cases among younger people, between the ages of 18 and 40, in the last two weeks.

People are often most infectious with the coronavirus before they develop symptoms, Lewis said. There are people who also become infected and can transmit to others who never develop any symptoms at all.

Health officials urged people to avoid gathering with friends and family for the Fourth of July weekend. "We'd love to spend it with close family and friends [but] I strongly advise against it," Ferrer said. "This is a time to still stay within your household, as much as possible."

She said outside activities with household members are good. "Take solace in the fact that we're all going to do it this way ... in hopes that by next July Fourth, which I see is totally possible, we're celebrating in ways we're much more accustomed to," Ferrer said. "We need to get this back under control."

Now is a tenuous moment in L.A. County, and Ferrer urged the elderly and those with underlying conditions to stay at home. "There is far too much risk at the moment ... Everyone else should stay home as much as they can," Ferrer said.

"Businesses and individuals need to figure out how we personally are going to help to turn things around," Ferrer said. "Otherwise, we're quickly moving towards overwhelming our healthcare system and seeing even more devastating illness and death."
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Following the recapture of Tarhuna, the alliance composed of the Government of National Accord (GNA) and Turkey launched a new offensive to retake the cities of Sirte, along the Libyan coastline, and al-Jufra, in the centre of the country, in addition to four other towns. Both cities rank high in terms of perceived importance. The former stands out because it is the main port in central Libya and recapturing it would go a long way towards securing Turkish interests, in particular by enabling Turkey to expand its naval capabilities in the Eastern Mediterranean. The latter is also key as the al-Jufra airbase is being used by both Libyan National Army (LNA) General Khalifa Haftar and Russia as a military supply point and the al-Jufra area holds strategic relevance because of its central position.

The fight for Sirte and al-Jufra is at the center of the latest escalation of the conflict. On June 20, more than a week after Turkey and the GNA declined a ceasefire proposal from Egypt, Turkey warned Cairo that the only way a lasting ceasefire would be reached would be through the return to the conditions of the 2015 accord. If that were to happen, then Sirte and al-Jufra would be brought back under the control of the internationally-recognized government and, with that in mind, Ankara said Haftar must withdraw his forces from both Sirte and al-Jufra.

Given the refusal of the ceasefire, on June 22 Egyptian President Adbel Fattah al-Sisi stated his country had international legitimacy to directly intervene in Libya, which was endorsed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE and was viewed by the GNA as a declaration of war. He also declared Sirte and al-Jufra as red lines and ordered the Egyptian army to be prepared to carry out any mission, here inside our borders or, if necessary, outside our borders.

The Egyptian warning was likely motivated by the continuing Turkish presence in Libya that would interfere with Egyptian interests. Turkey is reportedly considering using the al-Watiya airbase and the Misrata naval base. In light of Turkeys interest in developing its naval assets in the East Mediterranean, Turkeys insistence on capturing Sirte suggests Ankara likely has similar ambitions for Libyas main port outside of Tripoli. Turkeys naval ambition would then directly collide with Egypts interests and represent a strategic threat the country simply cannot disregard. It is all the more concerning for Cairo that this comes after Turkeys 2019 maritime agreement with the GNA, which creates an exclusive zone between Turkey and Libya that would grant Ankara offshore drilling rights, directly affecting Egyptian interests of energy exploitation in the Mediterranean. The situation would only be worsened if the GNA-Turkey alliance indeed recaptured Sirte and exercised control of its major port.

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That being said, despite the unfavorable current circumstances for Egypt, the al-Sisi administration likely only sees a direct intervention as a last resort. At the moment, his government faces security challenges such as the filling of the Ethiopian mega-dam that threatens water supply to Egypt, Islamic State activity in the Sinai which has not yet been dealt with, and the economic/security challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

The warning then is primarily aimed at strengthening the Egyptian position and pressuring Turkey and the GNA to accept a ceasefire under the terms proposed by Cairo. In the rejected ceasefire proposal, the al-Sisi government called for the removal of all mercenaries from Libya and the election of a leadership council, without taking Haftar out of the picture, a point that Turkey will probably press for in a functional ceasefire.

That does not mean that Egypt will not act at all. Instead of intervening in the Libyan conflict directly, Cairos way of dealing with the current threats to its interests may develop into support for Libyan tribal militias which have already expressed their approval of the Egyptian approach.

Turkey will not accept a ceasefire under the terms proposed by Egypt. Firstly because Cairos initiative still gives life to Haftar, and secondly because removing Turkish-backed fighters at this point when Ankara has the upper hand in the conflict is simply unrealistic. Therefore, Turkey is more likely to engage in a Russian-brokered ceasefire, or even one brokered by the UN than the Egyptian initiative in this format.

Considering the significance of Turkey continuing to oppose the Egyptian proposal, Cairo will likely have to show it is serious and thus turn to the Libyan tribal militias to intervene indirectly. In the face of a possible escalation in the conflict, an agreement with more realistic conditions to suspend hostilities may be struck, with the Russian-brokered or the UN-led ceasefires receiving focus again since they seem to be more achievable.

In conclusion, the next developments of the Libyan war will certainly revolve around the cities of Sirte and al-Jufra, with Turkey and Egypt playing a game of chicken to see who will back down first. A direct military confrontation between the two countries, although not unthinkable, is, for the moment, off the table. As for Haftar, although he is not finished, it is unlikely that the GNA-Turkey alliance will sign a ceasefire, let alone a peace agreement, with him leading the LNA. In the meantime, the UAE will continue throwing its support behind Egypt, and Russia will keep on acting in various fronts, such as continuing to hold talks with Turkish officials, supporting the Egyptian ceasefire proposal while sharing al-Sisis red line declaration and exploring the possibility of securing military bases and establishing a presence in the Mediterranean.

Marco Tulio Lara is a Regional Security Analyst at Le Beck International, a geopolitical security consultancy based in the Middle East.

Image: Reuters.

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Laurence Fox attends the Walpole British Luxury Awards 2019 at The Dorchester on November 18, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Walpole)

Actor Laurence Fox has called for the BBC to be defunded, labelling it a corrupt organisation that sows division.

Fox took to Twitter to respond to a post from BBC Countryfiles account which highlighted how many in Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups see the countryside as being a white environment.

The post appeared to anger Fox, who quoted the initial tweet to demand the BBC be defunded.

Read more: Laurence Fox quits social media over fears for his career

Responding, the 42-year-old said: Having lived in the countryside for 10 years, Im fairly confident nature doesnt give a f*** what colour you are.

In a separate tweet, he added: Defund this rubbish. Nature isnt racist. Get a grip. He signed off the tweet with the hashtag #DefundTheBBC.

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He later tweeted: The @bbc is a corrupt organisation that sows division between friends. If they want to compete for our appreciation, they should do so within the free market.

The rallying cry to #DefundTheBBC appears to have gathered momentum recently, with Twitter accounts, websites and Go Fund Me pages now active, referring to itself as a grassroots campaign.

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Fox, who is known for appearing in TV series such as Lewis, The Frankenstein Chronicles and White Lines, made headlines earlier this year after appearing on Question Time.

He has since been waging a very public war against all things woke, something he says had led to him fearing for his ability to secure acting work.

Read more: Harry Potter stars labelled 'spoiled millionaires' by Laurence Fox over JK Rowling criticism

In February he tweeted: I find that I wake up in dread of whats to come. Im a fairly private if opinionated person and its been very painful and difficult to cope with. However I also believe in passionately in free speech. I stand wholeheartedly by peoples right to express themselves.

But I am fearing for my future and my ability to provide financially for my children. A thought that keeps has kept me awake most nights. People tell me it will blow over, but when you are in it, it doesnt feel like it will...

He recently set up a Patreon account for fans who wanted to support the great un-cancelling of Lozza Fox by donating money to him each month on the site or via PayPal.
Leading pre settlement firm one of few companies still funding despite BSA's bankruptcy filing.

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal-Bay LLC, the Lawsuit Pre-Settlement Funding Company, announced their commitment to assisting victims of childhood sexual abuse. The Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February, and plaintiffs believe the move was made to avoid paying the 275 cases already ruled upon, and the more than 1400 cases still waiting to be decided.

Legal-Bay LLC Logo (PRNewsFoto/Legal-Bay LLC)

Statute-of-limitation extensions in states like NJ, NY, PA, and CA have created an influx of new filings, but have also made negotiations regarding settlements and ultimately settlement values or amounts more difficult to evaluate. The BSA has already paid over $150 million in settlements since 2017, and future settlement amounts will be determined based on the organization's total assets and the amount of debt they hold. The non-profit's viability post-payout will also be a consideration.

Chris Janish, CEO, commented on the situation, "Legal-Bay has been a leader in funding sexual abuse lawsuits, however there remains uncertainty on exactly how the Boy Scouts Bankruptcy case will unfold. Nonetheless, we remain one of few companies who are still actively funding the Boy Scout claims."

To apply for funding right now, visit the company's website by clicking HERE.

Legal-Bay has funded many BSA cases throughout the country, as well as sexual assault and/or harassment in the workplace, commercial litigation cases, racial discrimination cases, police brutality lawsuits, slip and fall, personal injury, car and truck accident cases, and many more. Legal-Bay's fast-track approval process can have you approved in one day, and funding within 48 hours of your initial application.

If you or a loved one require an immediate cash advance, please visit the company's website HERE or call 877.571.0405 where agents are standing by to hear about your specific case.

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Legal-Bay's programs are non-recourse lawsuit cash advances, also known as case funding, which means no risk, as you only repay the settlement advance if you win your case. Many clients refer to funding as a law suit loan, lawsuit loan, lawsuit loans, pre-settlement loans, settlement loans, or settlement loan  however they are not deemed as loans because if plaintiff loses their case then they don't need to pay back.

Contact: Chris Janish, CEO

Email: info@Legal-Bay.com

Ph.: 877.571.0405

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Shown is the Los Angeles Times building in El Segundo. (Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: I am a South L.A.-based African American writer, playwright and book author. Despite having submitted numerous opinion pieces to the Los Angeles Times, I have been published only twice in 17 years. ("L.A. Times faces painful reckoning over race in its staff and pages," June 24)

The Times' op-ed editors were clearly uninterested in local, progressive Black voices and rarely acknowledged the complexity of L.A.'s African American communities, especially vis-a-vis gender, LGBTQI+ issues and educational justice. Over the past decade, the op-ed pages have devolved into a bastion of non-local white writers with high-profile book deals.

In 2015 and 2018, I along with a group of Black and Latinx female youth leaders, wrote letters of complaint to The Times' editors and never received a response. I subsequently canceled my subscription.

Now that the newspaper industry is in a death spiral, and it's become politically correct for corporate America to be perceived as "anti-racist," the paper's overt white supremacy is no longer expedient for its bottom line.

Sikivu Hutchinson, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: There is a horrific hypocrisy at your paper on the subject of race, and you have traveled at a snail's pace to correct it.

You have a sea of white faces that daily dominate your pages. At the same time, you constantly preach to the rest of us about inclusion and how diversity is our strength. These white faces don't come close to matching their proportion in L.A. County by a long shot.

Whites make up only 26% of Los Angeles County, but they are 61% of your journalists. To me, that smacks of systemic racism.

The same finger-wagging you've done to others unmercifully over the years has come back to bite you hard. I think they call that karma. And, if diversity was your strength, then you might also add diversity of opinions to your opinion pages. Apparently, conservatives need not apply.

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If diversity is our strength, then prove it. Put your money where your mouth is. Your credibility is on the line.

Dan Jones, Rancho Santa Margarita

..

To the editor: Recently, I learned that nonwhites and Latinos now make up the majority of people under age 16 in this country. I also learned that The Times' newsroom has 502 journalists, the bulk of whom are white in a [county] where whites are only 26% of the population.

Two years ago, the Times began to hire more reporters and missed a golden opportunity to diversify its ranks. The oversights in hiring are now lamented by Executive Editor Norman Pearlstine.

Publisher and owner Patrick Soon-Shiong has indicated his support in keeping Pearlstine, but as a long-time reader, I disagree with that decision. His hires were made willingly and were done with indifference to the racial homogeneity of his staff.

If this shift in consciousness to diversity is to last, the leadership must reflect that diversity through lived experience. No minority leader at the executive level would ignore or miss hiring opportunities as Pearlstine has.

More importantly, the urgency that hiring decisions require at this time demand an executive editor who has experienced oversights such as this.

Carmen R. Gonzalez, Glendale

..

To the editor: While The Times is confronting its glaring deficiencies and missteps regarding race, could it also consider improving the diversity of opinion at the paper?

In its reporting and punditry, The Times is overwhelmingly progressive. In Los Angeles County, about 22% of voters are Republican or conservative, judging by the vote in the 2016 presidential election.

Are there any conservatives journalists in The Times' newsroom?

Glynn Morris, Playa del Rey
President Trump speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hamburg, Germany, in July 2017. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)

To the editor: So, U.S. intelligence agencies gathered yet more evidence that Russia intended to harm our country, this time by reportedly offering bounties to militants for killing Americans in Afghanistan. By now we all know the drill at the White House:

Denounce the report as fake news. Deny that the president or the vice president had been briefed on it. Downplay its findings. Have the president's propagandists concoct an exculpatory briefing for delivery by a glib press secretary. Dispatch her to disingenuously dissemble and dodge questions at a hastily convened news conference.

Finally, denounce, demote or discharge whoever was responsible for preparing the intelligence briefing. Ensure that all the involved agencies' employees are discouraged from documenting facts that contravene Trump's contrived realities.

All in a day's work at history's most Orwellian White House.

Sandra Perez, Santa Maria

..

To the editor: U.S. intelligence agencies claim to have warned our government that Russia offered bounties for killing Americans in Afghanistan. Trump claims never to having been so advised.

This prompted many to ask, "Why wasn't he told?" Instead, what everyone should be asking is, "Why should we believe a denial by an inveterate liar who for years, even before his presidency, did not hesitate to abandon the truth when it conflicted with his self-interest?"

This thinking is supported by Trump's obsequious relationship to Russian President Vladimir Putin. After all, if he had recognized the wrongfulness of this conduct, he would not have called for Russia to be readmitted to the G-7.

So I ask again, why believe his denial?

Rick Dunn, San Diego

..

To the editor: Trump claims he wasn't told about the Russian bounty information.

Really? This has gone way too far.

This man demanded to speak at the commencement ceremony at West Point and now, it turns out, he probably ignored reports that American soldiers in Afghanistan were targeted and rewards were paid for killing them.

It's time for the Los Angeles Times to call for the immediate resignation of this president.

Peter Marquard, Northridge




Louisville police block off the scene of the shooting at a protest over the death of Breonna Taylor: AP

Authorities in Louisville, Kentucky have arrested and charged a man for the murder of another protester at a demonstration in the citys Jefferson Square Park on Saturday night.

Steven Lopez, who was taken to hospital after the incident, has been in police custody at University of Louisville Hospital since the incident, in which he fired several shots into a crowd of protesters  several of whom apparently returned fire.

One man, 27-year-old Tyler Gerth, was killed; another was injured. Mr Lopez was reportedly shot in the leg.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the Louisville Metropolitan Police Departments Lamont Washington screened footage of the violence, and explained what had transpired since.

The man who is believed to be the primary aggressor in this incident is currently in police custody at the hospital. We are confirming with the commonwealth attorneys office on appropriate charges to be filed.

This man had been participating in the protests since they began, and he had been arrested a couple of times over the past several weeks. He had been repeatedly asked by other members in the park to leave due to his disruptive behaviour.

In addition to this man, multiple other people in the park were armed at the time of the incident, and our homicide investigators are still working to identify all the parties who may have fired during the incident.

The protest at which the killing occurred was the latest in months of similar demonstrations sparked by the death of Louisville resident Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was shot dead in her apartment by officers executing a so-called no-knock warrant.

The officers involved in her death were not immediately disciplined, but were fired after the public outcry began. One of them, Brett Hankinson, is now appealing against his firing, saying that the department was precipitous in firing him before the full facts of Ms Taylors death had been established.
SAN DIEGO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dowling & Yahnke Wealth Advisors is proud to announce that Mark Wernig, CFP has been named to InvestmentNews' 40 Under 40 list for 2020. Mark was chosen from a nationwide pool of about 1,000 nominees by a panel of reporters, editors, and other representatives of InvestmentNews to make a list of 40 talented individuals. Mark is the second Dowling & Yahnke advisor to be honored by the nominationGrant Webster, CFP, CDFA receiving the title in 2019.

Since 1991, Dowling & Yahnke has offered time-tested, objective financial planning advice and investment management services designed for the financial health of our clients. Located in San Diego, California, the Firm manages approximately $4 billion for more than 1,000 clients, primarily individuals, families, and nonprofit organizations. Dowling & Yahnke is one of the largest independent wealth management firms in San Diego as measured by discretionary assets under management. (PRNewsfoto/Dowling & Yahnke Wealth Advisors)

InvestmentNews' 40 Under 40 project strives to award the young talent that is rarely recognized in the financial advice industry. By rewarding these honorees, InvestmentNews hopes to reveal the promising future for the industry.

"The 2020 class of 40 Under 40 honorees represent the best of the future of the financial advice community," said George B. Moriarty, Chief Content Officer of InvestmentNews. "These men and women have already made their marks on the industry through exceptional leadership and service to their communities."

Prior to joining Dowling & Yahnke in 2015, Mark proudly served nearly eleven years in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer. He is presently a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Mark humbly serves on the board for both the San Diego Military Advisory Council and Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton. In addition, Mark is the San Diego Ambassador for the CFP Board and a CFP board member for the Workforce Development Advisory Group where he provides guidance on programs to attract the next generation of financial planners. He is also an active board member for Cancer for College, a group providing need-based college scholarships and educational experiences to cancer survivors.

To learn more about Mark Wernig, the other 2020 winners, awards and the luncheon please visit www.40under40inadvice.com.

About Dowling & Yahnke, LLC

Since 1991, Dowling & Yahnke has offered time-tested, objective nancial planning advice and investment management services designed to secure the nancial health of its clients. Located in San Diego, California, the Firm manages over $4 billion for more than 1,200 clients, primarily individuals, families, and nonprot organizations. Dowling & Yahnke is one of the largest independent wealth management firms in San Diego as measured by discretionary assets under management.

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For more information, visit www.dywealth.com.

InvestmentNews Disclosures: InvestmentNews accepted nominations of professionals from all sides of the financial advisory industry, including registered investment advisers, registered representatives, financial planners, brokers, insurance agents, certified public accountants, bank trust officers, firm executives and those working for industry organizations. Nominees' eligibility for the 40 Under 40 list were based on the following criteria: accomplishment to date, contribution to the industry, leadership, and promise. There was no fee to participate.

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With its top-mounted pan magazine the Pulemyot Degtyaryova Pekhotny (Degtyaryovs infantry machine gun)better known as the DP-28looked archaic but it proved to be a very efficient design. The light machine gun was reliable, accurate and most importantly durable. As with other Soviet small arms it could be manhandled, used in foul conditions and still work like it was new. It could, and did, endure freezing temperatures and continue to lay down fire on enemy positions when other weapons wouldnt function.

One look at the weapon and it isnt hard to see how it earned the nickname the record player as it featured a large pan magazine on the top that held 47 rounds of 7.62x54mmR ammunition, the same caliber that was used in Russian/Soviet militarys Mosin Nagant bolt action rifle. While there is no evidence that it was based on the American-designed Lewis Gun that was used by the British military during the First World War, it certainly had similarities in the design.

The DP-28 as it is known in the west, despite the fact that according to some sources it was never known by that name within the Red Army, was designed by Vasily Alekseyevich Degtyaryov in the late 1920s. Degtyaryov was one of those Soviet arms designers who had managed to survive the end of the Imperial Russian Czarist era and went on to work for the new Communist regime. He even rose to head the very first Soviet firearms design bureau.

During his lengthy career he created several types of machine guns, submachine guns and even anti-tank weapons. Degtyaryov reached the rank of Major General of the Engineering and Artillery Service, was a doctor of technical sciences and later was awarded the Hero of Socialist Laborbecoming the second recipient of that honor after Joseph Stalin!

One of his first weapons was actually the DP-28 light machine gun. But light is certainly relative, and unlike what current video games may suggest, it really couldnt be fired easily on the move. The top loading pan magazine may seem an odd choice today, but it must be remembered that many other arms manufacturers and designers considered how gravity could aid the feeding process, which is why the British Bren Gun and other light machine guns of that era also featured top loading magazines. In the case of the DP-28 the round magazine provided plenty of ammunition but it also ensured that the line of sight over the weapon wasnt obscured. By placing the rounds on top of the weapon it also provided mobility that was lacking in belt-fed light machineguns.

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While heavier than a rifle, a single Red Army soldier could still carry and operate itmuch like the Bren, Lewis or the American Browning Automatic Rifle. Weight-wise, at roughly 20 pounds unloaded/25 pounds loaded, it was a bit heavier than the BAR but around the same as the Bren. But unlike those other weapons a soldier needed to be prone or have the bipod supported on a flat service if the shooter hoped to have any accuracy at all.

Simple but Robust

The DP-28 featured a simple design with very few partsjust 80 in total in the early modelscompared to other machine guns of the era. The gas operated weapon was able to fire approximately 550 rounds per minute, a lower rate of fire than some machineguns but this actually helped reduce the risk of the barrel overheating. This was important because, unlike the Bren or the German Armys MG34 general purpose machine gun, the DP-28 didnt feature a changeable barrel. Despite this shortcoming in combat situations, it filled the role of a squad light machinegun very well.

A far bigger issue with the DP-28 was that the magazine held just 47 rounds and changing the magazine was far from a quick process. Even worse was the fact that reloading the magazines was a slow and tedious process. DP-28 gunners typically carried the gun with a loaded pan magazine and had three more in a carrying pouch.

The weapon was updated in 1943/44 as the DPM and this version featured a more rigid bi-pod and added a pistol grip that made it easier to hold. In total only about 795,000 DP-28/DPM light machine guns were produced by the Soviets between 1928 and the early 1950s. Copies of the weapon were later produced by Poland in the early days of the Cold War while Communist China produced its own copies of the late-war DPM as the Type 53.

It was the standard Soviet infantry light machine gun during the World War II and afterwards the weapon was used in the Chinese Civil War, the Korean War and even the Vietnam Warwhere both DP-28s and DPMs were provided to the PAVN and VietCong forces. Examples have been seen in modern conflicts including Somalia, as well as in the ongoing civil wars in Libya and Syria and even in Afghanistan. That is a testament to Degtyaryovs designit is the record player that just keeps going!

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.

Image: Creative Commons.

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It just might be the most recognized boat of the Second World War. The Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel, called the LCVP, or the Higgins Boat as it is more commonly known, is familiar from photographs and film shot during the war, particularly the Normandy Beach landings.

Most famously, a brave Coast Guard photographer took the iconic photograph Into the Jaws of Death from the back of a Higgins Boat. The haunting image depicts U.S. Army soldiers jumping off the boat into the water and towards the Omaha Beach. The story of the Higgins boat begins earlier though, before the war.

Rumor has it that the early Higgins boat was designed for bootleggers and smugglers who small sturdy boats capable of beaching quickly from shallow water. With the end of Prohibition in the early 1930s, the boats designer and namesake Andrew Higgins needed a new market for his nimble boat.

Dissatisfied with the landing boats designed by the Navy, The United States Marine Corps tested several commercial designs in the late 1930s, eventually settling on the former bootlegger boat designed by the Higgins boatbuilding company.

Although the design was indeed capable of beach landings, offloading men and supplies was rather slow as the design lacked a ramp. To disembark, Sailors and Marines had to jump off the sides or bow, badly exposed to fire from the shore. Still, the boat could perform better than other landing boats the Navy designed and it was rushed into service as a stop-gap measure.

Higgins Boat

Though Higgins early design was accepted, he was tasked with building a better landing craft, specifically a boat that would allow troops to more quickly disembarkvia a bow mounted ramp.

The Higgins boat itself was rather small and simple. Its cargo space, located at the forward three quarters of the boat, could carry 8,000 pounds, or a little over 3,600 kilograms. This translated to thirty-six fully-armed soldiers, or an Army Jeep and a smaller, twelve-man squad.

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Although the front ramp was made of steel, the Higgins sides were made of laminated plywood to save that precious wartime commodity. A mostly-wood construction also lowered the boats weight and allowed it to have a relatively shallow draft, the distance from the bottom of the hull to the waterline. A low draft allowed the boat to unload men and supplies quite close to the shorelineof crucial importance for ship-to-shore operations.

Two gunners fired .30 caliber Browning machine guns over the heads of the troops onboard from firing cockpits in the rear. The driver sat on the port side next to the engine in the boats center. An extremely accurate recreation of what riding to shore in a Higgins was like can be seen in the opening sequence of the 1998 hit Saving Private Ryan.

Postscript

During the war, the Higgins boat ferried troops onto the beaches of North Africa, in France for the Normandy landings, and throughout the Pacific. Without Higgins, the Marine Corps island hopping campaign would not have been possible.

The boats usefulness could not be overstated. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander sang Higgins praises, stating that Andrew Higgins is the man who won the war for us. He went on to explain, If Higgins had not designed and built those LCVPs, we never could have landed over an open beach. The whole strategy of the war would have been different. A resounding endorsement from the one of the greatest generals of one of the greatest wars.

Caleb Larson holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy. He lives in Berlin and writes on U.S. and Russian foreign and defense policy, German politics, and culture.

Image: Wikimedia

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When it was introduced in 1895, the Russian Nagant revolver was quite unique in a number of ways. It was a seven-shot handgun, produced in both double- and single-action versions, it was developed for Imperial Russia by Belgian industrialist and friend of the Imperial court Leon Nagant and it used a proprietary 7.62x38mmR cartridge that featured a distinct gas-seal system. That latter aspect of the weapon allowed it to be suppressedwhich made the Nagant M1895 the first revolver that could be equipped with a silencer type device.

Nagant, who had achieved success with solid frame double action revolvers, previously worked with Captain Sergei Ivanovich Mosin of the Imperial Russian Army to develop the Model 1891 Mosin-Nagant bolt action riflewhich would go on to be used in countless wars for well over a century. Moreover, the 7.62x54mmR, which was developed for use in the M91 Mosin-Nagant, has remained one of the few standard-issue rimmed cartridges still in military use, while it has the longest service life of all military-issued cartridges in the world and shows no signs of going away.

How much actual input Nagant had on the Mosin-Nagant remains a point of debate, but he was an established firearms designerone who has even been compared to American gun designer John Browningand his work gave him an in with the Czars ordnance office. Reportedly even Czar Nicholas II took a liking to Nagants revolutionary design. The Czar, along with many of the European nobility, had a fascination with firearms but more importantly he tended to favor modern and forward-thinking designs, which he believed could give Russia an advantage on the battlefield.

The fact that the Nagant revolver held seven shots, at a time when most service revolvers held five or six rounds, may have sounded like a great idea to the Czar and his sycophant military advisors. The court may have found the notion that the Nagant revolver was produced in a double action model for officers and a single action model for the ranks (called the privates model) appealing as well. It was a weapon that showed proper class distinction.

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Yet, the most distinguishing feature of the M1895 Nagant was its gas-seal system, which moved the cylinder forward when the gun was cocked, closing the gap between the cylinder and barrel. The revolver was chambered for that aforementioned proprietary cartridge, which itself was unique in that the cartridge featured a projectile that was deeply seated entirely within the cartridge case. By sealing the gap in this way, the velocity of the bullet was increased by as much as fifty to one-hundred-and-fifty feet per second.

While the concept of sound suppressorsoften referred to today as silencerswere in their infancy in the 1890s, it isnt likely that Nagants goal was to actually suppress the sound, but rather his gas-seal design was a clever effort to increase the weapons velocity. This may seem needlessly complicated, but it actually worked well even if it did require a special cartridge. Moreover, the Nagant was still built with Russian soldiers in mind, meaning that a hammer was often the only tool available to repair anything!

Despite the fact that it may have sounded like a forward-thinking weapon to the court, it was largely obsolete by the time it was adopted. By the outbreak of the First World War, automatic pistols such as Germanys Luger and the American Colt M1911 .45 pistol had been introducedyet the Imperial Russian military stuck with the Nagant.

Ironically, the weapon that found favor with Czar Nicholas II was also used to execute him along with his wife, son and daughters in July 1918. The M1895 Nagant was carried by both the Reds and Whites in the Russian Civil War, and even remained in production after the Communists came to powerbut interestingly after 1918 it was only produced in the double action version. Whether that was a result of class warfare or just as a way to simplify the production is a matter of debate.

Perhaps because it was the gun that was used to kill the Czar, it was a favored weapon of the Cheka, NKVD and later the KGBall of which used silenced Nagant revolvers in various clandestine operations. Suppressed versions were later used by the Viet Cong to carry out assassinations during the Vietnam War. The latter fact highlights that while it was a largely antiquated design when it was introduced, its distinct attributions still made it a favored weapon in covert operations decades later.

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.

Image: Wikimedia

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The Soviet RPD was a weapon that was ahead of its time, yet soon after its widespread adoption was quickly superseded by superior firearms. Yet in many ways it was a portent of better firearms designs in the early Cold War era.

Its history began with the development of a new cartridge for a new breed of weapons.

From Assault Rifle to Squad Assault Weapon

The German StG44 was the worlds first assault riflea new category of weapon denoted by the use of an intermediate caliber round that was smaller than the standard rifle cartridge but larger than the pistol round employed in submachine guns. In the case of the Germans this was the 7.92x33mm Kurz cartridge, and soon Soviet small arms designers created the Red Armys own 7.62x39mm M43 round.

That cartridge would go on to be used in the infamous AK-47, but before that it was used in two weapons developed at the tail end of the Second World War. The first was the semi-automatic SKS, a weapon that vastly improved on the wartime Tokarev SVT-40, while the other was a new light machine gun developed by Vasily Degtyaryovwho had headed the very first Soviet firearms design bureau.

Degtyaryov was one of those Soviet arms designers who had managed against the odds to survive the end of the Imperial Russian Czarist era and still went on to work for the new Communist regime. During his lengthy career he created several types of machine guns, submachine guns and even anti-tank weapons. Degtyaryov rose to the rank of Major General of the Engineering and Artillery Service, was a doctor of technical sciences and later was awarded the Hero of Socialist Labor. He was actually the second recipient of that honor after none other than Joseph Stalin!

His final contribution to the Red Army was a weapon that was an improvement over his previous designs yet was far from a perfect firearm in many respects. That was the RPD (Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyaryova), a gas-operated, hand-held, belt-fed light machine gun. It was developed to replace his aging DP machine guns that were chambered for the full-size 7.62x54mmR rifle cartridgewhich was used in the Soviets Mosin-Nagant bolt action rifles.

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The RPD was chambered for the intermediate 7.62x39mm round and was fed from a drum that could hold 100 roundsensuring that the soldier who carried it had plenty of ammunition. But because the rounds were smaller, and the gun was more compact than comparable weapons of the era, even with a full load out of ammunition the RPD weighed less than the comparable Bren Gun or American M60 light machine gun.

Degtyaryovs design was one of three prototypes considered by the Red Army, and was ready for mass production in 1944. However, due to the fact that the Soviets were still only slowly recovering from the Nazi invasion, large scale production of the RPD didnt actually commence until 1953.

It didnt take long for military planners to see that it wasnt a perfect weapon however.

While it was light enough to be used as a large automatic rifle, the placement of the magazine made it hard to operate in such a manner as the ammunition could rub on the shooters arm if held like a rifle. A bigger issue was that its barrel couldnt be changed outa serious problem in that it could only be operated in fully automatic mode. With a rate of fire of nearly 750 rounds per minute that barrel could heat up rather quickly.

As a result, operators were trained to fire only in short bursts, as anything more than 150-round bursts for more than a few minutes could burn up the barrel. The RPD was thus an example of three steps forward and one backa trait not uncommon with Soviet small arms.

By the early 1960s, the Red Army adopted the Kalashnikov-designed PK machine gun, and the RPD was withdrawn from first-tier units across the Warsaw Pact. However, as the Soviets had produced vast quantities of the RPD, it was supplied in large numbers to the Vietcong and used as its standard light machine gun. The RPD was also produced in China as the Type 56 and Type 56-1, and in North Korea as the Type 62 light machine gun. Even today and despite its shortcomings, the RPD remains in active service with many African and Asian nations.

The lasting legacy of the RPD is that it was the first machine gun to be chambered for an intermediate cartridge and it served as a precursor to the modern squad automatic weapon (SAW).

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.

Image: Peter Suciu

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Chris Tagert , P.E., CFM, Named Regional Practice Lead - Water for the Mountain Region

DENVER, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, announced today that Chris Tagert, P.E., CFM, has been promoted to Regional Practice Lead  Water for the Mountain Region. In his new role, Mr. Tagert will lead the Region's efforts to grow the firm's Water Practice and ensure the highest levels of technical capabilities and quality. He will be based out of the firm's Denver Office.

Michael Baker International

"As we continue to grow and deliver project excellence for our Water clients, we're excited to lean on Chris' leadership and expertise in this expanded role," said Jeff Kullman, Mountain Regional Director at Michael Baker International. "He has led a successful 15-year career with Michael Baker International managing municipal, state and federal contracts and understands how to tailor project coordination and delivery to meet the needs of his clients, which include FEMA, Mile High Flood District, Boulder County, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority, among many others."

Most recently, Mr. Tagert was a Department Manager for Michael Baker's Water and Planning services in Denver, a group that delivers water resources, GIS and planning projects to the state and other regional clients. He has expertise in surface water planning and design, master planning, stream restoration, natural disaster response, resiliency planning, development of customized GIS and technology solutions and the communication and outreach that is integral to these projects.

Mr. Tagert is a member of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) and the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers (CASFM). He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering/Environmental Engineering from Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania.

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About Michael Baker International

Michael Baker International, celebrating 80 Years of Making a Difference, is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker's more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit www.mbakerintl.com.

Contact: Julia Covelli

julia.covelli@mbakerintl.com

(866) 293-4609

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Iranian authorities asked INTERPOL to issue an arrest warrant for U.S. President Donald Trump, a few days after the Trump administration asked the United Nations Security Council to extend its sanctions on Iran.

The diplomatic spat turns international institutions into a political battleground, pitting Russia and China as well as Iran against the United States. And it puts European nations in an awkward position as they try to preserve international agreements, including the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.

We foresee another failure for the U.S. in this arena, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi told reporters on Monday. We advise them not to test what they have tested before and not to pave a way which leads to a deadend.

U.S. Amb. Kelly Craft and Special Representative Brian Hook had presented a resolution to the Security Council last Wednesday asking the body to extend its arms embargo on Iran. Hook is currently in the Middle East to discuss the embargo, and met with senior officials in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

The embargo was set to expire in October 2020 under the nuclear deal with Iran, which puts restrictions on the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for economic relief.

The Trump administration left the deal in 2018, prompting Iran to resume its sensitive nuclear activities. The United States is now reserving the right to activate the snapback mechanism, which would restore UN sanctions on Iran, including the arms embargo.

Russia and China have rejected any U.S. right to activate snapback. European members of the Security Council were more cautious, warning that it would be a bad idea without saying whether the United States has the right to do it.

We firmly believe that any unilateral attempt to trigger U.N. sanctions snapback would have serious adverse consequences in the U.N. Security Council, Britain, France, and Germany declared in a June 19 joint statement. We would not support such a decision, which would be incompatible with our current efforts to preserve the [nuclear deal].

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Hook countered in a conference call that nobody can argue that Irans behaviour since 2015 merits a lifting of the arms embargo.

Iran has also gone on the diplomatic offensive, asking INTERPOL on Monday to issue a Red Notice for several U.S. officials, including Trump. The international law enforcement agency rejected Irans request for an arrest warrant, stating that it cannot undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.

Iranian authorities accuse Trump of orchestrating the assassination of Maj. Gen Qassim Suleimani, an Iranian special forces commander who was killed by a U.S. drone in January.

U.S. officials originally claimed that the killing was necessary to stop Suleimani from carrying out an imminent attack, but later told Congress that it was a move to deal with Irans broader strategic escalation in Iraq.

The Trump administration had designated Suleimanis branch of the Iranian military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a terrorist group in April 2019.

Hook mocked the Iranian request for an arrest warrant at a joint press conference with Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir.

This has nothing to do with national security, international peace, or promoting stability, so we see it for what it is, Hook said. It's a propaganda stunt that no one takes seriously, and makes the Iranians look foolish.

Matthew Petti is a national security reporter at the National Interest. Follow him on Twitter: @matthew_petti.

Image: Reuters.

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Minneapolis has spent over $63,000 to provide private security for members of its city council, which has been outspoken in calls to defund the police department following the death of George Floyd.

Andrea Jenkins (Ward 8), Phillipe Cunningham (Ward 4), and Alondra Cano (Ward 9) are being provided details that cost $4,500 a day, a city spokesperson confirmed to local outlet FOX9.

While Cano did not return a request for comment, Cunningham said he was not comfortable publicly discussing the death threats against me, but said the security was temporary. Jenkins  an African American man who identifies as a woman  told FOX9 that the security was over concern for the large number of white nationalist(s) in our city and other threatening communications Ive been receiving.

A Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson told FOX9 that the police had not been made aware of any threats against city council members.

The city spokesperson explained that the current measures are a temporary bridge to more formal procedures for council members, and are not expected to pass $175,000, which would require official approval by the City Council.

Last week, the Minneapolis City Council voted 12-0 to further advance a proposal for dismantling the citys police department. City Council president Lisa Bender has argued in response to questions over safety that fear comes from a place of privilege.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 instead, she told CNN earlier this month.

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BURBERRY GROUP PLC

THE NUMBERS

Employees: 10,000 worldwide, according to LinkedIn

Nationalities represented: 120

Executive board: 11 members; 1 Black member, Debra Lee

IN THE MIRROR: Burberry chief executive officer Marco Gobbetti didnt mince words: We dont have all the answers, he said. But we know that the step change we need to make is increasing representation at all levels of our company.

While neither Gobbetti nor Burberrys survey response articulated current numbers or defined targets, their absence read as reflective of a work in progress rather than evasion. We have prioritized getting a complete picture of our employee population so we can make informed, meaningful commitments, the survey response said, adding that Burberry will provide details on overall strategy in the coming months, including a holistic and global D&I [diversity and inclusion] policy that will cement both resources and accountability on how we achieve greater inclusivity.

The company spelled out two areas of focus: hiring diverse talent and heightening leadership and ownership of that process. The current talent acquisition process, including goals on representation, is under review.

We are firmly committed to accelerating our progress in this respect, Gobbetti said, holding ourselves accountable, promoting deeper ally-ship and ushering in positive and lasting change, in line with our values and Thomas Burberrys legacy.

Evaluation of Burberrys employee composition predates the killing by police of George Floyd. Gobbetti noted that more than a year ago, the company started on a journey to educate ourselves and be more representative of the communities that inspire us.We know we have a long way to go. As individuals, as an organization and as an industry, we must do more to create a culture of inclusion, equity and belonging.

D&I initiatives include bifurcated training processes  unconscious bias training for all employees and inclusion training for leadership. Last year, Burberry established an Internal Diversity and Inclusion Council comprised of employees. The group meets formally three times a year in addition to ad-hoc consultations. An external six-person Cultural Advisory Council provides feedback on operations, programs and progress.

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Regarding its talent identification methods, the company noted the need to diversify our talent pipeline within the company and as an industry, and to challenge ourselves to ensure our hiring processes and short lists reflect our ambitions. The company will now require diverse short lists at the application stage and through the interview process.

The company is also involved in educational work. One effort through the Burberry Foundation aims to provide exposure to the creative industries to people who may not otherwise have had access. Burberry Inspire, an in-school art and culture program, partners with organizations in Yorkshire [England] and New York. It will be assessed clinically by the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Program Support of the City University of New York, which is measuring its impact on students hopes for the future, confidence, self-belief, critical thinking skills and other areas of growth. Over the next five years, Burberry will also sponsor 50 scholarships for students from underrepresented communities.

Burberrys statement stressed the companys commitment to continuing difficult conversations around diversity, to holding itself accountable for making necessary changes and for closely monitoring results of its efforts. We have to continue to make sure the conversations we are having arent limited to the short term, it said.

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CAPRI HOLDINGS LTD.

THE NUMBERS

Employees: 16,000 worldwide; 7,200 in U.S.

U.S. employees: 40% white; 32% Hispanic/Latino; 12% Asian; 10% Black/African American; 4%, two or more races; 1% American Indian/Alaskan Native; 1% Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander

Management: 75% white; 15% Asian; 5% Hispanic or Latino; 3%, two or more races; 2% Black or African American

Executive team: 4 members; 1 person of color, Daniel T. Purefoy

Board: 8 members; 1 Black member, Jean Tomlin

IN THE MIRROR: Capri Holdings ceo John Idol sees this fraught cultural moment as one of powerful possibility. As an organization and as individuals, we have the opportunity to positively impact the future, he said.

Diversity and inclusion are embedded in the DNA of each of Capri Holdings three brands [Michael Kors, Versace and Jimmy Choo]. We foster an inclusive environment where employees and customers of diverse backgrounds are welcomed, valued and celebrated, Idol noted.

Black employees account for 10 percent of Capris overall employee population, and 2 percent of its management ranks. We recognize that we have more work to do with diversity amongst our workforce, Capris survey response said. We are committed to hiring diverse talent across every function and region, and providing all employees with the necessary tools and training programs to thrive. Essential to the process, Capri recently formed its Global Diversity and Inclusion Council, comprised of diverse members from across all brands. The company does not have quantifiable targets, but is working diligently on short- and long-term impactful initiatives to further equality for our employees and the communities that we serve. Those plans are works-in-progress, which Capri will release when ready.

Externally, the company has committed to the Open to All pledge and CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion. Capri is donating to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, and will contribute to other organizations to support diversity and inclusion. Capri Holdings was named a 2019 Best Employer for Diversity by Forbes.

We are continuing to work diligently with our global diversity and inclusion council on initiatives to foster greater equality for our employees and the communities that we serve, Idol said. We are committed to listening, learning and taking the necessary actions to support long-term positive change for the Black community.

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CHANEL SA

THE NUMBERS

Employees: 28,000 worldwide, according to LinkedIn

IN THE MIRROR: Diversity and inclusion is integral to who we are as a responsible and citizen employer, a Chanel spokesperson said in a statement to WWD. The house discussed the work it is doing around that focus in broad strokes. It did not give numbers.

We believe that data and quotas are not the only way of showing the importance of these issues, it offered, while noting that laws on tracking ethnic and racial employment demographics differ from country to country. [This] makes it very difficult for an international company like ours to report on these matters reliably at a companywide scale.

The statement acknowledged that the killing of George Floyd by police and subsequent calls for social justice have intensified the need to heighten its diversity efforts. The recent events in the U.S. have reinforced our determination to continue to address systemic racism and inequality, both within our company and in our communities, it said. We are committed to strengthening diversity and inclusion within our organization to ensure people are free to be themselves, that their differences are valued and empowered, and they have equal opportunity to achieve.

Chanel made D&I a formal initiative in 2016, at the time focusing primarily on gender diversity. The company has since broadened its priorities, now also aiming to increase diversity representation to better reflect the specific diversity challenges in each of our local markets/countries.Each local entity sets its own objectives. The company is working on very tangible and regionally specific plans on diversity representation and inclusive culture, including conducting appropriate quantitative and qualitative analyses.

In the U.S., Chanel recently launched a D&I task force including employees of color who contribute to action-planning. The company has strengthened recruitment actions, instituted unconscious bias training and established procedures aimed at increasing and retaining people of color. Over the past few years, such initiatives have led to an increased number of people of color in management positions, the statement said, without quantifying.

In addition, at the companys January 2019 global executive committee meeting, it was decided that each region, division and global corporate function would also address at least one other demographic/perspective that is underrepresented in the respective organization, taking into account local specificities. While Chanel would not confirm that the chosen demographic in the U.S. is people of color and Black people specifically, its hard to fathom a more pressing issue. This local approach is intended as a practical and tangible way to enhance the makeup of our organization and diversity of thought across the company, but does not mean other perspectives or demographics are not considered or valued.

Externally, philanthropic efforts championing women cross over into Black communities. Fondation Chanel was established in 2011 for the economic and social betterment of women and girls around the world. In the U.S., it often supports programs focused on on racial justice issues as a critical component of gender equality. These include New York Fund for Girls and Young Women of Color and A New Way of Life Re-Entry, which aids previously incarcerated women. In addition, Chanel has committed $1 million toward establishment of a fund supporting grassroots, people of color-led racial justice organizations that build the leadership of people of color.

While Chanel humbly recognizes that its D&I initiatives must continue to evolve, it feels efforts already in play are a sound start. By giving our people a voice and implementing actions around our processes and work environment, we are continually measuring and ensuring a culture that provides equal opportunity to contribute and succeed, the statement said.

The recent events that have taken place in the United States have further reinforced and accelerated our drive toward realizing the full spectrum of our strategy to enable meaningful change.

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COTY INC.

THE NUMBERS

Employees: 20,000 worldwide

U.S. employees: 59.7% Caucasian; 17.2% Black; 12.5% Hispanic; 8.6% Asian; 1.6% mixed race; 0.4% American Indian/Pacific Islander

Management, director level and above: 20% from a diverse group; 2.9% Black

Data based on U.S. employees who have self-identified; 24.4% of Coty U.S. employees have not self-identified

Executive committee and senior leadership team: 11 members; 0 people of color

Board: 11 members; 1 Asian member, Justine Tam

IN THE MIRROR: A Coty Inc. spokesperson forwarded an internal letter sent on June 10 from its president of North America, Andrew Stanleick, to U.S. employees. It included the U.S. employment demographics (above), as posted on the beauty industrys Pull Up for Change. We do not yet have the diverse representation we would like, but we are taking action  and indeed, increasing our action  to realize a shared vision for a better, more inclusive and just future, Stanleick said.

He revealed the launch of Change the Conversation, an internal education series on race and justice in America. He noted Cotys Beauty That Lasts program, intended to build a more inclusive business and society with greater leadership diversity, and pointed out recent donations by individual brands to the NAACP and Black Lives Matter.

Like others in our industry, we in the U.S. can do better to ensure our teams more adequately reflect the diversity of the consumers we serve and the sea of professionals who might lend their talents to our work. We will do better, Stanleick wrote.

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THE ESTEE LAUDER COS. INC.

THE NUMBERS

Employees: 77,000 worldwide

U.S. employees: 45% people of color

Executive director and above: 25% people of color; 3% Black

Executive officers: 14; 3 people of color: Deirdre Stanley (Black); Tracey T. Travis (Black); Carl Haney (Latinx)

Board: 16 members; 3 people of color: Wei Sun Christenson (Asian); Richard Parsons (Black); Jennifer Tejada (Asian American)

IN THE MIRROR: The Estee Lauder Cos. Inc. was early to recognize the need for formal attention to D&I; it established the position of chief inclusion and diversity officer in 2004. Marilu Marshall holds the post and reports to executive chairman William P. Lauder. The Global Diversity Council, co-chaired by Lauder and ceo Fabrizio Freda, is comprised of 16 senior executives charged with oversight of D&I strategies. Individual brands have inclusion and diversity champions.

We are proud of the overall progress and commitment we have made to inclusion and diversity, the survey response said. But we also recognize that we have much more work to do in order to accomplish greater results. To that end, since the killing of George Floyd  and after an internal dustup surrounding board member Ronald Lauder  the group has committed to numerous concrete employment goals.

A spokesperson forwarded several memos from Offices of William P. Lauder and Fabrizio Freda, sent earlier this month to all employees in the U.S. and Canada. One addressed employee outrage over Ronald Lauders contributions to the Donald Trump campaign. We are both keenly aware that we come from a place of privilegeand cannot truly understand what it feels like to be marginalized, the chairman and ceo wrote. They committed to redoubling our efforts and continuing our work in this space. At the same time, they affirmed the right of all individuals in the company, Lauders included, to make political donations as they choose, and that such donations do not represent the companys views.

Three days later, June 8, William Lauder and Freda sent a memo titled, Our Commitment to Take Action. It sets forth various goals and key performance indicators subject to semiannual review. Among the areas under study: the diversity quotient of the companys workforce as well as its supplier network. Of the latter, Lauder and Freda pledged to leverage our power to support Black-owned businesses. Over the next three years, the company will at least double spending on sourcing ingredients, packaging materials and supplies from Black-owned businesses. It will also ensure that its brands meet the diverse shade and formula needs of the Black community and our Black consumers, as appropriate by market.

Regarding its workforce, the Lauder-Freda memo commits the company to creating equal career development and advancement opportunities for Black employees in the U.S., including leadership training and mentorship programs with senior executives, and to hold ourselves accountable for creating a workforce that is more representative and responsive to people of all backgrounds. Black candidates will be identified and considered for all senior executive positions.

Before Black employees can grow within the Lauder companies, they have to make it in the door. Lauder and Freda pledged to achieve U.S. population parity for Black employees across all levels over the next five years, and will require diverse slates of candidates, internal and external, for all positions at the executive director level and above.

Over the next year, the beauty group will double the number of diverse recruiting firms it engages and forge stronger recruiting partnerships with organizations such as the National Black MBA Association. It will continue to engage Jopwell, a start-up that connects companies with candidates from underrepresented groups.

The company will double its recruiting efforts from historically Black colleges and universities, a network from which it already recruits. Last year it participated in career fairs at Spelman College, Morehouse College, Howard University and Clark Atlanta University. Lauder is the first beauty-industry corporate sponsor of Howards 21st Century Advantage Program, through which Fortune 500 companies adopt undergraduates to aid their professional development.

In their June 8 memo, Lauder and Freda also articulated hiring commitments beyond its full-time employee sphere. In the U.S. and other markets where appropriate, the company will increase its hiring of front-of-camera Black talent for campaigns. It will also engage more Black creative talent behind the camera, and require input from Black professionals or consumers in the development of concepts.

The survey response noted updates to unconscious bias training procedures, as well as the companys $10 million pledge over the next three years to support social justice organizations. As a company, the response said, we will be stronger advocates, we will contribute more funds, we will hold ourselves and our leaders accountable and we will continue to make the structural changes necessary to accurately mirror our values. Some of our actions will be immediate, others will take time, but we will ensure that all are lasting and impactful.

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GAP INC.

THE NUMBERS

Employees: 129,000 worldwide

U.S. employees: 44% white; 25% Hispanic; 18% Black; 7% Asian; 5% other

Headquarters: 54% white; 10% Hispanic; 4% Black; 27% Asian; 5% other

Distribution/call centers: 47% white; 19% Hispanic; 23% Black; 9% Asian; 2% other

Store employees: 42% white; 27% Hispanic; 20% Black; 6% Asian; 5% other

Store leadership: 70% white; 17% Hispanic; 9% Black; 3% Asian; 2% other

Executive board: 10 members; 1 Indian member, Sonia Syngal

Board: 14 members; 2 people of color, Sonia Syngal (Indian); Jorge P. Montoya (Spanish)

IN THE MIRROR: Theres much to be said for plain speaking, especially when youve got much to say. You can find our current diversity stats here, and information about our board here, a Gap Inc. spokesperson wrote, indicating two links on the companys web site. He noted that over the past two years, Gap has made a deliberate effort to diversify the makeup of its board and that two current members (Sonia Syngal and Jorge P. Montoya) identify as people of color. The board is committed to improving those numbers further, he said. Syngal is ceo of Gap Inc.

While that effort started a while back, the global calls for social justice forced Gap Inc. to take a hard lookto ensure we are doing our part in dismantling racism and discrimination, and that we are creating and engaging with the most diverse workforce possible.

Now Gap is listening, learning and taking immediate action. On June 17, the company posted to its corporate web site a new set of commitments, crisply articulated. On Transparency, Gap has reported overall race and ethnicity data since 2013, and will begin immediately to share additional data on how employees identify their race and ethnicity, including at the store and headquarters levels. Gap will also publish an annual Equality and Belonging Report.

On Representation, the retailer stated that although 55 percent of its U.S. employees identify as people of color, that number alone isnt good enough. The company pledged to double the number of Black and Latinx employees at all levels in U.S. headquarters offices by 2025, with particular attention given to job functions that make and market products, to ensure we are creating for all, with all. Also by 2025, Gap will increase by 50 percent the number of Black employees in U.S. Store Leader capacities. And because hiring the right talent isnt enough, the company will strive to foster a deep sense of belonging throughout our end-to-end employee experience.

On Inclusive Creativity, Gap is determined to express D&I throughout its product range. That requires decision-makers who reflect the diversity of our customer base and help us reach new customers. One dynamic employee on the case: Bahja Johnson, who two years ago cofounded The Color Proud Council, a product inclusivity initiative, its mission to ensure that the in-house product life cycle remains inclusive from design through marketing. The council operates across all Gap brands.

On Black Voices, Gap said it will work with more Black and Latinx talent and partners in messaging and marketing.

Finally, in order to make retail experiences Open to All, the company pledged to show up and stand up in a bigger way to authentically serve all of our customers and communities, the memo said, a pledge that includes anti-racism training as part of ongoing employee and customer-belonging initiatives.

Externally, in February, Gap hosted the Product Inclusion Summit for attendees of various industries. The company is a sponsor of Harlems Fashion Row, a partnership with new developments percolating. The childrens brand Janie and Jack has also partnered with HFR, on a collaboration launching this fall.

In terms of recruiting, Gap participates in diversity-focused symposia, career fairs and on-campus events, including outreach at historically Black colleges and universities. It also attends conferences of the National Association of Black Accountants and the Association of Latino Professionals for America. In addition, an internship program, Gap Foundations This Way Ahead is aimed at helping young people ages 16 to 24 facing barriers to employment develop professional skills. Its goal: By 2025, 5 percent of new entry-level store hires will be program graduates.

This incomplete litany of Gap Inc. efforts indicates dedication and long-term commitment. Since our founding, the spokesperson offered, Gap Inc. has pledged to do more than sell clothes, with our teams and brands working to be a force for good.

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GIORGIO ARMANI SPA

THE NUMBERS

None supplied

IN THE MIRROR: Giorgio Armani himself sent a commentary to WWD in response to George Floyds killing, resulting in demands for social justice. The color of someones skin, ethnicity, social background, age, not to mention sexual, political and religious orientation for me do not make, nor have ever made, any difference, Armani said. The commitment to act free [from] any form of discrimination when it comes to hiring and career advancement is deeply rooted in the Armani Groups value system.

Still, Armani acknowledged that he and the Armani Group may now have to articulate more granularly the companys D&I initiatives. I understand that, in light of the current situation and widespread ignorance and discrimination, we may need to define this aspect more explicitly and openly to the outside, Armani offered, without providing specifics. I am willing to take this further step, in order to express myself more clearly.

Calling diversity an asset to be nurtured and inclusion a moral and professional duty, he maintained that anyone can move up the ranks, at any time; individual abilities and initiatives are the way for this to happen.

The company did not provide detailed demographics on its employee composition, the collection of which many countries, including Italy, forbid within their borders. Armani did note that in America, one of his groups first and most important branches, the percentage of Black and Latinx employees is more than 50 percent, and includes members of the management team. In Milan, Armani noted, we have Black executives who report directly to me. We do not tolerate discrimination because what I am looking for is talent, in every area, and talent knows no color nor race. This principle is embedded in every aspect of the company.We can always improve, of course.

Armani said operating internationally demands a global vision made up of different ethnic groups and cultures, and that requires relying on local workforces and ensuring a healthy mix of cultures, from which the company benefits immensely.

Yet despite the Armani Groups global scope, Armani said he views all my employees, in Italy and abroad, as a family I have to take care of, whether they are part of the management or the sales force in the store. I respect everyone equally.

Still, Armani acknowledged room for improvement. I am aware of that, at all times, he said. Collectively, as a civil society and as a fashion system, we must strive to eliminate the exclusivity and lack of openness of our work environments. I have always worked in this direction and will continue to do so with renewed commitment.

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HERMES INTERNATIONAL SA



THE NUMBERS:

Employees worldwide: 15,000, according to LinkedIn

IN THE MIRROR: Hermes sent a statement to WWD and referred as well to the companys 2019 annual report. At Hermes, we strongly reject and condemn all forms of racism, discrimination and inequality the statement read. Diversity of people and talent is at the foundation of the houses identity, reflected in our creativity and international presence. The Hermes code of ethics promotes equality, active promotion of diversity and career development, with zero tolerance for all forms of discrimination, while mandatory corporate training seeks to confront issues of discrimination and unconscious bias.

The recent events of racial injustice and the apparent systemic inequality that Black Americans experience demands urgent action to eradicate any form of racism in our society, but in particular if it is structural, the statement said. We join others around the world in saying, unequivocally, that Black Lives Matter. The memo pledged that Hermes will continue to take tangible action in its local markets, without discussing the specifics, including employment targets. Hiring, mentoring, helping, educating, nurturing and caring will help bring the change that is needed.We solidly make this commitment not just for today, but for tomorrow and all the days to come as in-depth transformation requires time, work and relentless effort.

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KERING

THE NUMBERS:

Employees: 38,000 worldwide

Executive committee: 12 members; 0 people of color

Board: 13 members; 2 people of color, Tidjane Thiam (Black); Jean Liu (Asian)

Kering Americas: Employees: 62% people of color

Recruitment: In 2019, people of color were 61% of total hires.

Senior management: 21% people of color. An increase of 36% minority representation in 2020. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of all women in senior management rose 18%. The number of women of color doubled.

IN THE MIRROR: At Kering, corporate citizenship is as core to the business as Gucci handbags. Known for its global leadership in environmental initiatives, the group is focusing just as acutely on workplace equality, setting an overarching goal thats far from modest.

Our aim is to reimagine the diversity and inclusion paradigm, said Kalpana Bagamane Denzel. Her job title alone  chief diversity, inclusion and talent officer  telegraphs that Kering prioritizes diversity and inclusion not as offshoots of talent recruitment, acquisition and development, but as equal, interdependent pillars.

I see my role at Kering as mission critical, said Bagamane Denzel, who assumed her post in October. An integral step is to focus on all aspects of the employee experience, from selection and integration to development and mobility.

Like most other non-U.S.-based companies queried, Kering noted that some countries, including its home countries of France and Italy, prohibit the accumulation of employment statistics based on ethnicity. Unlike most European respondents, the company acknowledged that the U.S. has no such restrictions, and provided some Kering Americas figures. Overall, 62 percent of the U.S. workforce identifies as people of color. The number in senior management has seen a strong recent increase, particularly among women. A spokesperson called those numbers an incomplete part of the picture since this year is just halfway, while stressing the importance of transparency. It was relevant for us to share the employee data of the country that has ignited the much-needed global conversation about diverse representation, she said. She also pointed out that earlier this month, two people of color were elected to the groups board: Tidjane Thiam, who is Black, and Jean Liu, who is Asian.

While Kering targeted its survey response to the primary line of questioning  internal diversity  it noted, as well, donations on behalf of its brands to the NAACP and Campaign Zero, an organization focused on reducing police violence in the United States.

Kering sees diversity as multifactorial, encompassing cultural and ethnic representation, gender, age, LGBTQ and those with disabilities, and is working to increase employment across those groups. It has made particular strides toward gender equality, in leadership positions and on the executive board as well as across the general workforce. A major goal now, with our robust diversity and inclusion strategy, said the spokesperson, is to increase representation of Black employees and other minority groups.

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Wherever you come down on nonviolencewhether or not Malcolm Xs famous challenge to the practice resonates more than Martin Luther King Jr.s longtime embrace of it or, perhaps, your move away from more patriarchal tenets and into the framework of transformative justicethere is much to be grateful for in Rep. John Lewis. The documentary Good Trouble, which comes out on demand July 3, takes a dutiful if often unimaginative approach to situating Lewis nonviolent and interracial activism and political career in the civil rights movement. Whats most worth taking from the film is Lewis appeal to an expansive spiritual center in freedom work.

The writer James Baldwin always understood how vital various Black activist leaders were during the life-or-death momentum of the civil rights movement, even and especially when taking their political differences into account. In the manuscript Remember This House (adapted in Raoul Pecks documentary I Am Not Your Negro), Baldwin wrote about his friends Malcolm, Martin, and anti-segregation activist Medgar Evers, who was also assassinated in the mid-60s, I want these three lives to bang against and reveal each other, as in truth they did and use their dreadful journey as a means of instructing people whom they loved so much, who betrayed them, and for whom they gave their lives.

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Baldwin understood that Black activism, particularly within the civil rights movement, was a kind of optimistic sacrifice. Even Malcolm X, in moving away from the Nation of Islam and becoming a Sunni Muslim, relinquished a framework of racial separatism and came to respect more liberal organizations like the SNCC (which, right around Malcolms death, rejected MLK Jr. as a messainic figure and expelled white members to become an all-Black organization). Lewis, who attended Malcolm Xs funeral, explained in an interview that Southern civil rights activists saw Malcolm as paradoxical to our own philosophy, to our own methods of operating in the South. But we were willing to listen to Malcolm, because on one hand, [he] inspired us. Malcolm [...] said things in New York, in particular, in Chicago, but around the country, that maybe some people in the South, or in other parts of the country, didn't have the courage to say.

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Good Trouble emphasizes the kind of meditative spirituality that has propelled Lewis freedom work both within the political sphere and beyond it while also revealing how adherence to a deeply hierarchical political system can greatly limit that work.

While the film characterizes the nonviolent majority of the civil rights movement as radical, the many Black radicals who became involved in the Black Panthers, Black Liberation Army, American Communist Party, and more would not agree. The nonviolence movement within the civil rights movement was rooted in Christianity, though the tenants of nonviolence or Ahimsa are grounded in Eastern religious beliefparticularly Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism as practiced in India. Still, nonviolence as a method for freedom work has swirled around the continents: Russian novelist Leo Tolstoys belief in passive resistance inspired the most famous nonviolence practitioner, Mahatma Gandhi, who in turn inspired King as well as labor activists Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez in the U.S.

Lewis has at times romanticized his brutalization by policeand one might argue that his softness on these experiences stems from his spirituality. The congressman supports the Black Lives Matter movement but rejects the appeal to Black power. Yes, its important to point out that Black life is not valued equally in our society, but to Lewis, to insist on attaining power would be a negation of love. Kwame Ture, formerly Stokely Carmichael, a Freedom Rider, took over leadership of the SNCC in 1966 (Lewis was elected to Congress in 1986); this move led to the separatism of the SNCC, though Ture eventually stepped down as he rose in fame as leader of the Black Power movement and eventually joined the Black Panther Party. Black radical circles where activists like Ture were focused on liberation rather than coexistence came to scorn the moralism and party-politics focus of the nonviolent crew. The only figure who has somewhat successfully been able to bridge this gulf has been Cornel West, a Christian socialist who politically falls further left than Lewis, but also adheres to a worldview centered on love and moralism and recently campaigned for Bernie Sanders.

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Rep. Lewis frequently speaks about saving our democracy in the U.S., which suggests that we have had a democracy in the first place. Its fair to debate this question, though its undeniableand Lewis knows this probably better than anyone else alivethat democracy has been systematically denied to Black people from the day our ancestors were kidnapped from Africa and brought to the Americas. Saving our democracy, then, means continuing to fight for inclusion in a set of rights that has mostly been secured and protected for wealthy white able-bodied cis heterosexual menusually with their working-class counterparts engaging in the dirty work of lynching and policing.

Good trouble, then, is the idea that we can practice love while refusing injusticea noble idea that has to shift with time, because refusal looks different every generation, even every year. What Lewis does now is a kind of cooperationnot with the Trump administration, but with a Democratic Party system that has gleefully participated in its own fair share of violence, both domestically and abroad. Nonviolence and peace are instead being revitalized as rigorous concepts by prison and police abolitionists as well as decolonial thinkers and healers, who believe we must work outside of the state to ever develop justice- and freedom-oriented ways of living and healing.

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Last week, a Florida man was filmed shoving a Walmart employee after he was told that he could not enter the store without a mask. Three days later, in a Los Angeles Trader Joes, a shopper who refused to cover her face caused a scene, calling crew members democratic pigs.

These are the kinds of stories that fill Amanda Rodriguez with rage. Rodriguez, who has asthma, gave birth without pain medication  and she did it while wearing a mask.

Amanda Rodriguez, who welcomed her daughter, Camila, on May 6, is frustrated by anti-mask supporters. (courtesy of Amanda Rodriguez)

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My mom works at a salon and her customers complain all the time about wearing a mask, the Lockhart, Texas-based teacher told TODAY Parents. Im like, if I can push through labor with a mask on, I think your customers can go through a haircut with theirs on.

Rodriguez, 28, happily kept her mouth and nose under wraps for her entire two day stay at the hospital.

Was it comfortable? No. But I knew it was for my own safety, she explained. "It's irritating to me that people are upset they have to wear a mask to the grocery store."

Moms who wore masks during childbirth are expressing similar frustrations on Twitter.

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I dislike inconvenience and discomfort as much as the next person, but I wore a mask while giving birth to a whole-ass baby. Who are these feeble losers who whine about wearing masks to run half-hour errands? novelist Steph Cha wrote.

In a follow-up tweet, Cha added, I kept it on when I saw my baby in the NICU, even thought it meant waiting to kiss him until we went home. But sure, you need your deep breaths in the frozen food aisle

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Jai Kershner welcomed her son, Mak, on June 18.

Jai Kershner, a radio host in Nashville, Tennessee, echoed the sentiment.

If I can wear a mask though 38 hours of labor, a c-section, and recovery you can do it for an hour while running to the grocery store and/or other errands, Kershner wrote. #WearADamnMask.

Kershner, 36, has asthma, which means she may be at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Wearing a mask is at most an inconvenience. Youre not losing your freedom. Be inconvenienced for a little bit and let's protect each other, Kershner told TODAY Parents. "We all want to get back to our regularly scheduled lives. If we ban together, we can stomp this out a little quicker."
Students, parents can avoid campus crowds on move-in days by allowing Collegeboxes to deliver items to dorms

PHOENIX, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Collegeboxes, the No. 1 student storage and shipping provider in the country, is offering students early delivery service to their schools to help them comply with safety protocols and achieve social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Collegeboxes, the No. 1 student storage and shipping provider in the country, is offering students early delivery service to their schools to help them comply with safety protocols and achieve social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Colleges and universities across the country are looking for ways to help their students return for the fall term while following CDC guidelines. Many campuses plan to institute daily limits on the number of students moving into university housing.

"To prevent students from gathering on campus all at once, Collegeboxes is encouraging the use of our Ship-To-School service," said Dain Howell, Director of Collegeboxes. "With the Ship-To-School options, students don't have to load up their car or lug items to the airport.

"The Early Delivery option with our Ship-To-School service is great because we're able to work directly with schools to deliver students' items to their dorm room before they arrive on campus. This will make move-in easier and safer."

Call (866) 269-4887 or email info@collegeboxes.com for more information.

DISCOUNT CODE: Collegeboxes is offering 10% off shipping on orders that include the Ship-To-School service. Students will enter the promo code "STS2020" on the website, or mention it when calling.

Students who sign up for Ship-To-School at collegeboxes.com can elect to order a Collegeboxes Supply Kit, or use their own boxes. Once items are packed, students will print labels from their Collegeboxes account and schedule the delivery. Items are then shipped to a U-Haul facility near their school until it's time for them to be brought to the student residence.

With Ship-To-School, Collegeboxes can deliver items to hundreds of dorm rooms with only a few workers, preventing students and parents from congregating and risking their health.

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"Collegeboxes is changing the way students move," Howell added. "We're reducing the amount of shipments to campus mailrooms. We're reducing the number of vehicles on campus. We're reducing the amount of contact students and parents have with others to keep them safer."

Because Collegeboxes is backed by U-Haul, whose services are available throughout the U.S., it can assist students at almost every school in the country  from small colleges to the largest universities. And Collegeboxes can be available to help on short notice.

As an essential service provider, U-Haul remains open to meet the needs of its communities. For details on what U-Haul has done to enhance cleaning protocols, protect Team Members and customers, and encourage the use of programs that inherently promote social distancing and contactless business, please reference our multi-media press release: "Moving Safely and Smartly during the COVID-19 Pandemic."

About U-Haul

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of 22,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 167,000 trucks, 120,000 trailers and 43,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 697,000 rooms and 60.7 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry, and is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S.

Contact:

Andrea Batchelor

Jeff Lockridge

E-mail: publicrelations@uhaul.com

Phone: 602-263-6981

Website: uhaul.com

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Marking the anniversary of the 1950-1953 Korean War is always a heavy emotional affair. You can see the strain and grief in the eyes of the men (the youngest now in their late-80s) who fought on the frontlines and continue to carry the memories of that horrible three-year ordeal with them. Nobody is anticipating an official conclusion of the war anytime soon, which means the vast majority of these veterans will die without seeing a peace treaty signed between Washington, Seoul, and Pyongyang. The fact that a full seventy years have passed with the armistice still in place only compounds the sadness and leads many who experienced the conflict to wonder whether peace will ever be possible.

Its this context why the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU)s latest unification survey is so timely and important. Seven decades after the first shots were fired on the Korean Peninsula and over eight months since U.S. and North Korean officials last met for face-to-face nuclear talks, how are South Koreans feeling about the prospects for peace with their northern neighbor? Are they discouraged? Sad? Angry? Hopeless? Or do they hold at least some sliver of hope that the situation could turn around?

According to KINUs poll, there is no question South Koreans are a bit apathetic about the North. Trust in North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns regime has declined from 23.8% in November 2019 to 15.6% today, a result of a two-year inter-Korean reconciliation process that hasnt resulted in the divine peace and harmony South Korean President Moon Jae-in promised in 2018. Nearly 90% of South Koreans believe North Korea will never give up its nuclear weapons regardless of what the U.S. and Seoul offer in return. 41.7% are skeptical there is anything the South Korean government can do about the Norths nuclear developmenta seven-point rise from the previous year. The South Korean population, at least if KINUs survey is any indication, largely looks at North Korea and sees an uncooperative, stubborn, if not irreconcilable entity that will remain a nuclear power for years to come.

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You cant fault the South Korean people for this perception, particularly given the events of the last two weeks, with North-South communication links cut, the liaison office blown up in a spectacular show of defiance, and Moon himself showing the limits of his patience with Pyongyangs antics .

KINU, however, also finds that South Koreans are quite pragmatic with respect to North Korea policy. While Kims trust numbers may be in the toilet, the percentage of South Koreans who said that dialogue and compromise with the North should be pursued increased from 38.1% last November to 45.7% today.

These numbers are confused on the surface, but there is actually some logic to it.

First, Moon Jae-ins engagement policy with Pyongyang appears to be one of his biggest positives. As the poll suggests, the South Korean people remain supportive of what Moon is trying to do: establish a degree of tranquility with the Kim regime in order to minimize the possibility of a miscalculation, demonstrate to the North that there are more goodies in cooperation than confrontation, and strive toward the day when the two Koreas can finally exchange ambassadors, operate embassies on one anothers territory and celebrate normal diplomatic relations. Sure, the Blue House may not have much to show for its efforts (partly because Washington continues to put Seoul on a leash and restrict what it can do on the reconciliation track), but its not like Moons conservative political opposition has a better idea about how to address the problem.

Second, never underestimate the power of history. The Korean War is a graphic reminder to tens of millions of Koreans on the peninsula of how bloody and destructive inter-Korean relations can get if dialogue is sacrificed. While younger South Koreans dont exactly have North Korea top of mind in their daily lives, the three-year war between the North and South is baked into the national narrative on both sides of the DMZ. South Koreans have been living for decades under the cloud of North Korean artillery stationed a few dozen miles outside of their capital city. Any renewed armed conflict between Seoul and Pyongyang would certainly involve Washington and likely drag Beijing into the mix as well. While North Korea wouldnt be able to compete with U.S. and South Korean military hardware, the Kim regime could unleash a torrent of fire on South Korean soil that would kill hundreds of thousands of peoplemillions if nuclear weapons become part of the equation.

Maintaining a dialogue, or at least channels of communication, is a low-cost and common-sense mechanism to ensure the worst doesnt happen.

Unless something unexpected happens, the inter-Korean track and U.S.-North Korea negotiations will be frozen in place this year. President Donald Trump will be focused on his re-election campaign over the next five months and believes the political costs of another summit with Kim Jong-un outnumber the benefits. As Frank Aum of the U.S. Institute of Peace pointed out in May, Its hard to envision anything that could cause any dramatic shifts from either side, at least this year. No truer words have been written.

South Koreans, however, dont see many viable alternatives to keeping the phone lines open.

Daniel R. DePetris is a columnist at the Washington Examiner and a contributor to the National Interest.

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Newton Public Health Nurses to Picket Outside City Hall on July 1 from 4-6 to Protest School Committee's Failure to Maintain Pay Equity With Teachers at a Time When School Nurses are the Key to Safe Reopening of Schools for Students and Staff this Fall

Newton Public Health Nurses to Picket Outside City Hall on July 1 from 4-6 to Protest School Committee's Failure to Maintain Pay Equity With Teachers at a Time When School Nurses are the Key to Safe Reopening of Schools for Students and Staff this Fall

PR Newswire

NEWTON, Mass., June 29, 2020

For five years the city has recognized the value of school health by providing nurses, who have the same education and certification requirements as teachers, with pay parity, but are now reneging on that commitment when it matters most

Despite going a year without a contract, when the pandemic hit, school nurses stepped up: providing contract tracing for the community, reaching out to educate students and parents, and working with parents in need to ensure they have access to food and other resources

NEWTON, Mass., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of a recent decision by the City of Newton to renege on its longstanding commitment to ensure school nurses pay parity with teachers in the system, the 28 school nurses plan to conduct informational picketing outside Newton City Hall on Wednesday, July 1, from 4  6 p.m. The nurses are protesting what they see as a blatant show of disrespect at a time when the role and value of school nurses has never been more essential to the health and safety of the students and the community.

Massachusetts Nurse Association (PRNewsFoto/Massachusetts Nurses Association) (PRNewsfoto/Massachusetts Nurses Association)

"As nurses, we fought for 25 years to finally achieve what we deserved all along, which was to be treated and compensated like all the other professionals in our school system, which finally occurred in 2014 when we negotiated a pay scale on par with teachers, social workers, and other valued professionals in the system," said Sue Riley, RN, a longtime nurse in the Oak Hill Middle School, and chair of the nurses local bargaining unit the Massachusetts Nurses Association. "But now Mayor Fuller is proposing that we accept a contract that devalues our pay scale and reneges on the commitment this city made to its nurses and the students we care for. And the fact that they are doing this in the midst of this pandemic, when our role and value has never been more apparent, is nothing short of insulting."

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Newton, along with almost 90% of all school districts in Massachusetts, has paid its nurses the same as other educators. Nurses, like teachers, are required by state law to have the same education, certification, and licensure requirements from Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Additionally, nurses must obtain and maintain their professional nursing license from the Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN) as well.

The Newton Public Health department employs 28 school nurses providing comprehensive school health services to 12,641 students, as well as all staff in 22 schools: including 15 elementary schools (K-5), four middle schools (6-8th grade), two high schools (9  12) and two alternative high school programs and an integrated preschool program serving 184 students. Over 70 different languages are spoken within the student/parent population. The Newton school district belongs to the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO), a state-funded voluntary educational desegregation program enrolling over 400 Boston students in Newton schools. Newton is also a Member of the Education Collaborative for Greater Boston (EDCO), which includes 17 urban and suburban communities.

In a typical school year, Riley explained that school nurses keep children and adolescents safe and ready to learn. "Studies show that a healthy child is a better learner and that without the care and expertise of school nurses, many of our children could not attend school," said Riley.

"We administer and monitor a host of medications to students every day, and we also provide health education to students to try and teach them healthy lifestyles, as well as how to manage their illnesses. And of course, the school nurse is on-hand to provide acute and episodic emergency care should your child suffer a serious injury or unexpected illness on school grounds.

Our school children faces issues of diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, cancer, heart conditions, life threatening allergies, as well as psychological disorders, congenital issues, muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis, all requiring and demanding more nursing care to stay in school," Riley explained.

School Nurses Respond to Pandemic

Despite the fact that the nurses have gone over a year without a contract to maintain parity, the full value of school nurses was made clear when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Massachusetts and the schools were closed.

"Our nurses did not stay home and take time off, instead we swung into action to protect our students and our community," Riley said.

The nurses made sure that students belongings were returned to them, and the nurses set up office hours each week to communicate with parents and children, particularly those less fortunate who had food insecurities and other issues that compromised their health and safety. Nurses participated in zoom classes to educate students and parents about the virus and how to protect themselves. They delivered food to families, and one nurse set up a cooking class for students to keep them engaged. The nurses also helped the broader community by supporting efforts for testing and contact tracing to monitor the spread of the virus in the community and to counsel residents on how address their health needs.

"I am so proud of how our members have responded to this very unique situation, but this is what public health nurses do, this is just part of our DNA, we care for the community," Riley added.

In the coming months, as the schools prepare to plan to reopen in the fall, and as nurses and other public health experts worry about a potential second wave of the pandemic, the role of school nurses will take on primary importance in this process, providing guidance on how to open schools safely, educating staff and parents on the process, and then monitoring the health and safety of students and all staff who re-enter the schools to prevent community spread.

"It will be our job to ensure that students and staff understand how to follow safety protocols, how to wear a mask and socially distance. We also anticipate confronting a number of mental health issues that this crisis will exacerbate, and to ensure that students have the support they need to cope with this unique situation," Riley explained. "If schools want to open safety, our school nurses will be at the center of that process," Riley said.

According to recent research, the investment school health the nurses are seeking will pay for itself in the benefits it provides. A 2015 study in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, which focused on the impact of school nurses in Massachusetts, found that having full time registered nurses in schools more than paid for itself by averting medical costs and lost work for parents and teachers. The authors calculated that every dollar invested in the school nurse program saved $2.20 overall.

As of June 30, the Newton Public Health nurses have been without a contract for a year. In the meantime, the teachers have settled a new contract that provides them with pay increases over four years, while the City made a proposal last in November that would devalue the nurses pay scale and no longer allow the nurses pay to keep pace with their professional colleagues.

"This is not the time to be devaluing our role and we only hope this picket draws attention to the need for the city to treat us with the respect we deserve," Riley concluded.

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.

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Smoke engulfs the Nissan logo as workers burn tires during a protest in Barcelona, Spain, where the automaker is closing its plant, costing 3,000 direct jobs. (AP/Emilio Morenatti)

TOKYO  Nissan Chief Executive Makoto Uchida told shareholders Monday he is giving up half his pay after the Japanese automaker sank into the red amid plunging sales and plant closures in Spain and Indonesia.

Uchida apologized for the poor results and promised a recovery by 2023, driven by cost cuts and new models showcasing electric-car and automated-driving technology.

We will tackle these challenges without compromise, he said at a live-streamed meeting. I promise to bring Nissan back on a growth track.

Executives for the company also blasted suggestions in media reports of a conspiracy within the company to oust Carlos Ghosn. The former chairman's 2018 arrest in Japan on financial misconduct charges has led to much speculation that the move was orchestrated by Nissan executives who opposed closer ties with partner Renault.

I know that in books and the media there has been talk about a conspiracy, but there are no facts whatsoever to support this, Motoo Nagai, chairman of Nissans auditing committee, told shareholders at the companys annual general meeting.

Responding to demands from a shareholder to address the speculation, Nagai argued that the investigation into Ghosn was conducted both internally and by outside law firms.

All the worlds automakers have been hurt by nose-diving sales caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

But the problems are especially serious for Nissan, which already was fighting to salvage its reputation after the financial misconduct scandal of former star executive Ghosn.

Nissan, based in Yokohama, Japan, sank into its first annual loss in 11 years, reporting a 671.2 billion yen ($6.3 billion) loss for the fiscal year that ended in March. It has not given a projection for this fiscal year, citing uncertainties over the virus outbreak.

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One angry shareholder got up and said executives should give up more of their pay since investors were getting zero dividends. Another said Nissan needed to do more to strengthen its governance, arguing things have been getting worse, not better, since the departure of Ghosn.

One stock owner appeared to speak up for Ghosn, stressing Nissan had lost peoples trust after ousting him without giving him a chance to defend himself over problems that might have been solved internally, instead appearing to collude with prosecutors and government officials.

Nissan officials denied any collusion and said the company has sued in civil court, seeking compensation for the damages it says it suffered because of Ghosn.

Ghosn was set to face trial in Tokyo on charges of under-reporting future compensation and breach of trust when he fled to Lebanon in late 2019. He says he is innocent.

Uchida again outlined Nissans strategy to focus on three major global markets, Japan, China and North America, including Mexico, and relying on alliance partners for the other markets. The company also plans to reduce the number of models it offers.

But one investor noted Nissan sales werent picking up in the U.S. or China, and Nissan stock prices were continuing to slip.

Uchida reiterated Nissan wants to close the Barcelona plant, but said negotiations were ongoing. Auto union workers have protested the move, which will lead to the loss of 3,000 jobs in the region.

One shareholder got applause from the crowd when he said Nissan lacks an attractive vision compared to Japanese rivals Toyota, which is aggressively developing ecological technology, and Honda, boasting robots and jets in its lineup.

After a nearly two-hour shareholders meeting, the reappointment of all 12 board Nissan members were approved, shown by applause, and including votes taken ahead of time.

The board members include Jean-Dominique Senard, chairman of Nissans alliance partner Renault, who took part online from France but said nothing.

Two men suspected of helping Ghosns escape were arrested last month in the U.S. Japanese prosecutors are seeking their extradition. Japan is also trying to get Ghosn extradited, but Japan has no extradition treaty with Lebanon.

Material from Reuters was used in this report.

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The Material Innovation Initiative, a new nonprofit, is trying to speed up the development of sustainable materials for the fashion, automotive and home goods industries.

The group is trying to make those sectors more environmentally friendly with a three-part strategy. The first part is to identify and assess innovative materials and technologies. Investing, researching and developing to scale select innovations is also part of the plan. Thirdly, MII will partner with brands, retailers and suppliers to get sustainable materials to market.

MII is bringing together scientists, entrepreneurs, retailers and consumers to drum up green manufacturing. As things stand, the average consumer throws away 70 pounds of apparel and footwear each year. In addition, the fashion industry contributes 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, due to its long supply chains and energy-heavy production, according to the United Nations Partnership on Sustainable Fashion.

Striving to strengthen the growth of the market for the next generation of materials, MII is setting up an ecosystem with the helps of brands, incubators, entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, academics, mills, material suppliers, retailers and nonprofit organizations. The nonprofit is exploring biological materials like mycelium and new ways to upcycle existing materials. MII also conducts international research to try to get a better handle on consumers perception of non-animal and animal-based materials.

The aim is to unite scientists and entrepreneurs to give brands technical know-how and support from authorities. Rawling said, We can transform the materials industry and solve enormous environmental problems.

MIIs founders Stephanie Downs and Nicole Rawling each have experience in the plant-based food movement. They are trying to bring animal-free, sustainable options to the fashion industry. Downs, a start-up specialist, was cofounder of Good Dot, a leading plant-based meat company in India. Rawling, an attorney, was most recently director of international engagement at the Good Food Institute.

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Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Manhattan on Sunday to join the Queer Liberation March for Black Lives and Against Police Brutality, the second annual event for the Reclaim Pride Coalition and the first to take place in the pandemic-related absence of the city's mainstream Pride celebration.

Marchers gathered in lower Manhattans Foley Square, where federal and state courthouses were still covered in anti-police graffiti from protests earlier this month. Protesters then marched west, and then north up Sixth Avenue, before marching by the historic Stonewall Inn and into Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village.

Organizers estimated that 50,000 protesters joined the march.

The Queer Liberation March passes Washington Place and Sixth Avenue toward The Stonewall Inn in New York City on June 28, 2020. (Tim Fitzsimons / NBC News)

When the marchers arrived at their final destination  a rally in Washington Square Park  they allegedly faced police brutality, according to witnesses and march organizers. Videos posted to social media and aired on local TV stations also appear to show police shoving and swinging batons at protesters with at least one officer using pepper spray.

NBC New York reported that after the massive march, the event took a violent turn after demonstrators began shoving matches with police. A cameraman for the station caught on tape a police officer shoving a demonstrator roughly off a bicycle with a baton and reporter Chris Glorioso asked the police present for comment on the shoving, reporting still no context on that.

According to NBC New York, the New York City Police Department confirmed three people were arrested for allegedly assaulting officers, adding that the use of pepper spray and force on protesters transpired after cops tried to arrest one of them for allegedly vandalizing a police vehicle.

The Reclaim Pride Coalition released a statement following the march alleging that as protesters passed by the Stonewall Inn  the site of the iconic 1969 Stonewall uprising, where patrons of the gay bar fought back against the NYPD amid yet another raid  and were entering Washington Square Park, an NYPD officer stepped forward to arrest a marcher (reason unknown and the NYPD wont say), and a crowd gathered to object, chanting Let him go.

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Suddenly, a large crowd of NYPD officers rushed in and attacked with pepper spray. All that did was increase the crowd yelling at them to go home, while marchers nursed their pepper spray wounds, the statement read. One NYPD member reached out to slam a woman on a bicycle to the ground. Other marchers were punched and violently shoved.

Jake Tolan, one of the Queer Liberation Marchs organizers, said the turn of events did not surprise him and said the NYPD should be abolished.

"I wish that I could say what I saw today was shocking, but how could I reasonably expect anything else from the NYPD? Tolan said, according to the Reclaim Pride Coalition statement. "51 years after the Stonewall Rebellion, the NYPD is still responding to peaceful, powerful, righteous queer joy with pepper spray, batons, and handcuffs.

Marti Gould Cummings, an LGBTQ activist and candidate for New York City Council, said they were present when the police pepper sprayed the crowd. As Cummings, who uses they/them pronouns, and their husband were leaving the rally on the north side of Washington Square Park, everyone started putting their hands up and saying, Dont shoot, dont shoot, and everyone took a knee, and we saw cops moving in, which was weird, because it was a calm, beautiful, peaceful day, they said.

The next thing we know, they were pushing people, some folks got pepper sprayed right in front of us, Cummings said. It was crazy! On the anniversary of Stonewall? Like, really?

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Former President Barack Obama told aides this month that the nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd are a tailor-made moment to help his former vice president Joe Biden defeat Donald Trump in November.

According to a New York Times story based on interviews with more than 50 Obama confidants, the former president was made anxious after riots and looting rocked many American cities in the days following Floyds death and Trump began trumpeting law and order in response.

Lets not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves, Obama wrote in a Medium post earlier this month.

But Obamas confidence has since grown as the protests have continued and Trumps polling numbers have dipped. The Times cited sources who claim the former president does not challenge his former attorney general Eric Holder, who says Trump is a racist, and believes Trump engages in racial demagoguery.

I dont want a country in which the president of the United States is actively trying to promote anti-Asian sentiment and thinks its funny. I dont want that. That still shocks and pisses me off, Obama reportedly said in a private fundraiser last week, after Trump called the coronavirus kung flu during a Tulsa rally.

Trump has remained committed to running hard on law and order, signing an executive order last week to prohibit the desecration of statues and other public landmarks after dozens nationwide have been destroyed in recent weeks.

In conversations with Bidens campaign, Obama has advised that the former vice president to limit his public engagements with short speeches and interviews to keep the focus on the Trump. He has also raised concerns about Bidens durability, allegedly telling one Democrat donor that I wasnt even 50 when I got elected, and that job took every ounce of energy I had.

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When meeting with Democratic presidential candidates last fall, Obama reportedly told one of them that Biden really doesnt have it when it comes to creating bonds with potential voters.

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Associated Press

Afghanistan's is racing to ramp up supplies of oxygen as a deadly third surge of COVID-19 worsens, a senior health official told The Associated Press in an interview Saturday. The government is installing oxygen supply plants in 10 provinces where up to 65% of those tested in some areas are COVID positive, health ministry spokesman Ghulam Dastigir Nazari said. Afghanistan's 24-hour infection count has also continued its upward climb from 1,500 at the end of May when the health ministry was already calling the surge a crisis, to more than 2,300 this week.
One person was killed and a 14-year-old boy was injured in a shooting on Monday morning near Seattle's self-declared Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone.

The Seattle Police Department responded to multiple reports of shots fired at about 3 a.m. near 12th Avenue and Pike Street. Police said callers had reported several unidentified people had fired shots into a white Jeep that had been at or near one of the barriers of the zone.

A Black male victim who was brought to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle following Monday morning's shooting died, police said. Another victim, a 14-year-old Black boy, was hospitalized with gunshot injuries. People who identified themselves as "CHOP medics" brought the two victims to the hospital, police said they were told.

No suspects have been publicly identified, and no one was in custody. Police said they were investigating the incident, but while searching the Jeep for evidence discovered that the crime scene had been "disturbed."

"The typical things we search for in a case like this, or in a shooting like this, werent there, and it was abundantly clear to our detectives  people had been in and out of the car after the shooting," said Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best during a morning news briefing. "Detectives are trying to get information from other witnesses, but as has been the case in other crime scenes up in this area, people are not being cooperative with our requests for help."

"Were not sure who shot at the car or why they shot at the car," Best said.

The

The Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone, or CHOP, was established earlier this month by demonstrators protesting police brutality and the killing of George Floyd after the Seattle Police Department vacated the East Precinct there.

Monday's shooting was the fourth shooting near or in the CHOP zone within nine days, NBC affiliate KING reported. At least one other person has been killed, and on June 22, Seattle officials ordered those occupying the area to leave.

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"Enough is enough here," Best said Monday. "Two men are dead and a child, a 14-year-old, is hospitalized, and we dont know what is going to happen to that kid."

"Two African American men dead at a place where they claim to be working for Black Lives Matter. But theyre gone, theyre dead now and weve had multiple other incidents  assaults, rape, robbery, shootings  and so this is something thats going to need to change," she said.

"Were asking that people remove themselves from this area for the safety of the people, if they care about people, theyre going to have to try to help us to make it safe," Best added. "There are people who live here, there are multiple people being injured and hurt, and we need to do something about it. Is it absolutely irresponsible for this to continue."

She said it was taking officers three times the amount of time as usual to get to the area when responding to incidents.

"We want people to move out of the area," Best said. "Continue your peaceful protest in a space where youre not affecting public safety."

Seattle officials said Sunday that CHOP would be dismantled, but it remained intact as of the nighttime.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said last week that officers would return to the East Precinct, but she did not say when.
Observing physical distance, first-grade teacher Caitlin Hicks gives an air hug to Sid Solomon, 6, as she meets students one final time in June, when students pick up schoolwork left behind after Center Street Elementary in El Segundo closed in March. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

When it comes to education, the new state budget goes beyond providing $70.5 billion in funding for K-12 schools  it sets fundamental accountability rules for a new era of distance learning in California by requiring teachers to take online attendance and document student learning.

The budget bill, which Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign, anticipates that schools will continue to rely heavily on online instruction when campuses reopen in the fall. It also implicitly acknowledges the deep learning losses of the last semester, especially among students from low-income families, when school systems struggled to get all students online.

The new directives establish minimum teaching parameters for distance learning while protecting teachers against immediate layoffs.

"Educators and teacher unions have won fairly steady funding from Sacramento to reopen schools this fall," said UC Berkeley education professor Bruce Fuller. "Now the imperative is to deliver a rich blend of online and face-to-face instruction."

Fuller said the emphasis on documentation reflects concern by state leaders that "tens of thousands of kids simply unplugged in the spring, then fell further behind."

Whether schooling is online or in person, the rules reimpose the state's minimum daily instructional minutes requirement of 180 for kindergarten, 230 minutes for grades 1 through 3, and 240 minutes for grades 4 through 12. Distance learning can be documented with student work as well as time online.

Schools also must develop procedures for reengaging students absent from distance learning for more than three school days in a school week. Schools are allowed to develop alternate plans, with input from parents, for achieving these mandates when necessary.

When the pandemic forced campuses to close in March for the remainder of the school year, the state told educators to continue teaching by any form necessary and possible  and schools statewide scrambled to distribute computers, internet hot spots and hastily assembled paper packets.

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Recognizing this burden, state officials set aside fundamental and familiar rules such as taking attendance and providing a requisite number of minutes of teaching each day. School district leaders and charter school operators frequently followed suit  emphasizing compassion over rigor and recognizing that schooling could not simply be switched instantly and seamlessly from a face-to-face classroom experience to face time over a screen.

There's also been concern that some teachers simply were unable to get up to speed with online learning that required quick acquisition of new skills, leaving a void in daily instruction.

A survey of parents by a local advocacy group found significant levels of dissatisfaction with the amount of instruction offered in the Los Angeles Unified School District after campuses closed.

Parents reported that 40% of their children received live instruction daily and 1 in 3 students had interactive contact with a teacher once a week or less, according to Speak Up. Moreover, Black and Latino students were up to three times more likely than white students to have participated in live classes once a week or less.

Also, Black and Latino students were up to seven times more likely than white students to have never interacted with teachers. English learners and students with disabilities also received less interaction with teachers, according to responding parents.

Its unacceptable that the kids that need the most help received the least amount of instruction this spring, said Katie Braude, Speak Up's chief executive.

The group surveyed its contact list of about 4,000 parents across the district, receiving more than 400 responses. While not a scientific sample, the survey encompassed geographic and ethnic diversity, although white families were overrepresented and Latinos, who are 3 of every 4 district students, were underrepresented. The survey was conducted June 10 to 24, at the end of the school year.

Parents in the survey and in an online news conference Friday overwhelmingly cited health and safety as their top concern, but they also prioritized improvements in the quality and quantity of online instruction.

While recognizing shortcomings, L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner has repeatedly praised district teachers and staff for doing so much right so quickly, especially given the unknowns attached to distance learning.

"Its not reasonable for students or educators, nor is it sound educational practice, for teachers and students to spend six hours a day in online, two-way communication," Beutner said in late March. "And families who are struggling to get by in this crisis may not be able to spend all day trying to help their children do schoolwork."

San Pedro High School English teacher Maya Suzuki Daniels found a need for flexibility on both the teaching and learning side during the last semester. Students wanted live video sessions but were more likely to join them in the evenings because of jobs or siblings to care for. Others fared better with a video they could pause and rewind. In addition, Suzuki Daniels and her husband had to juggle their own work as well as care for their son Silas, who is approaching his first birthday.

The four-hour workday that UTLA negotiated was absolutely essential," said Suzuki Daniels, who loves teaching. "I thought I was going to have to quit.

A flexible work schedule is likely to remain crucial for her, she said.

The new rules are expected to address the uneven learning and attendance problems of the last semester, especially now that school systems have had several months to develop distance learning, said Assemblywoman Christy Smith (D-Santa Clarita).

"We wanted to make sure that we establish a bare minimum standard that we are backing up with resources," Smith said. "We know how costly this is going to be for districts to rise to this challenge."

Assemblyman Patrick O'Donnell (D-Long Beach) said he had persistent concerns that school districts may need more flexibility than the new rules allow.

In the overnight rush to establish online learning, the largest charter school group in L.A., Alliance College-Ready Schools, did not require live, interactive teaching and did not mandate a specific number of working hours for teachers. But administrators estimated that teachers would need about 18 to 30 hours a week to do what was minimally necessary.

"We could not ask teachers and kids to log in at 10 a.m.," said Nathalie Benoit, Alliance's vice president for marketing and communications. "Teachers also have kids at home. And we dont know what the situation is at home for students."

Alliance did take a form of daily attendance by asking students to respond every day to questions about their emotional well-being and whether they needed help.

Anthony Martinez, superintendent of Montebello Unified, said that his district, like many, didn't take attendance after mid-March. Students, he said, were in crisis and many lacked the computers or internet access that would allow them to do assigned work, he said.

It was important to reach out to our students on a How are you doing? level, versus attendance and classwork, he said.

L.A. Unified brokered a deal with the teachers union that specified 20 hours of teacher work time per week.

It wasn't enough, said Speak Up's Braude: "We have to set much stronger minimum standards for daily live online instruction this fall. Three hours a day should be the bare minimum.

Parent Elizabeth Gomez said her seventh-grade son with Down syndrome received no instruction at all this spring. His teacher at an L.A. Unified middle school attempted only one live video class, and then gave up. And her son's district-provided speech therapist left one voicemail with no return number or email.

She acknowledged that teaching students with limited verbal skills is challenging but said more effort should have been undertaken.

"It's been very frustrating for us," Gomez said.

Raquel Toscano has two children at Maywood Center for Enriched Studies, which she called "a great school. Even so, she said, the instruction was uneven.

Sharnell Blevins, a Hamilton High School parent, said the district set expectations too low for teachers and students.

"I hope now that we understand where we are that well actually shoot for excellence, she said. "What we received in the spring wasnt enough.

But Marlowe Jefferson, a rising eighth-grader at Lawrence Middle School in Chatsworth, said her six teachers worked effectively and creatively, even though each teacher used Zoom with her class only about one hour per week.

She can't wait to get back to campus, but "I think I learned everything I needed to learn," she said, before heading off to a socially distanced rugby practice.

Times staff writer Sonali Kohli contributed to this report.
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a Louisiana law limiting access to abortions was unconstitutional. (Karen Bleier / AFP/Getty Images)

On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that a restriction on abortion in Louisiana was unconstitutional. The case, June Medical Services vs. Russo, involved a law requiring physicians performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. Although the legislations backers claimed it was about protecting the health of abortion patients, in reality, the law  one of hundreds of state statutes that make it harder for women who want abortions to get them  would have harmed women and their families.

Just four years ago, the Supreme Court decided in Whole Womans Health vs. Hellerstedt that an identical admitting-privileges law in Texas was also unconstitutional. In that case, the justices asserted that an abortion restriction whose purpose is to protect womens health must be based on demonstrated benefits and not just on the intent of the lawmaker. To survive constitutional scrutiny, the court ruled that valid data or empirical studies must show that the benefits of such laws outweigh the burdens imposed.

In June Medical vs. Russo, Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Elena Kagan found that the Louisiana law did not meet that standard. Requiring admitting privileges would have left just one physician to provide care to 10,000 women in that state. Moreover, abortion performed in a clinic carries a major complication rate of less than a quarter of 1%, and admitting privileges can be shown to have no bearing on whether the few women who need hospitalization get it.

Chief Justice John Roberts joined the liberal judges to arrive at the 54 decision, but his reasoning was primarily based on honoring the precedent established in the Whole Woman's Health case. He refused to rule on whether the Louisiana restriction created an undue burden on the right to abortion, and he rejected the need to weigh the evidence as the Whole Woman's Health decision requires.

I can imagine why Roberts, known to be opposed to abortion, would shy away from weighing the benefits and harms in the June Medical case. Any such exercise would not only go against requiring hospital privileges, it would upend other similar restrictions on abortion rights.

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I led the Turnaway Study at UC San Francisco, which followed 1,000 women, some of whom received abortions and others of whom sought abortions at the very same clinics but were just a few days or weeks further in pregnancy and were denied the procedure. The comparison of outcomes of these two sets of women shows  empirically, with valid data  that access to abortion services improves women's physical health and increases economic security for them and their children.

My team of researchers interviewed women for five years after they either obtained or were denied an abortion. We found that those who were turned away, who carried unwanted pregnancies to term, experienced lower rates of full-time employment, greater poverty, a higher likelihood of continued violence from the man involved in the pregnancy, more short-term anxiety, and more serious health complications from pregnancy such as hemorrhage, eclampsia and even death.

Abortion opponents may hope that women denied abortions would embrace the idea of becoming a mother or having another child, and possibly marry the man involved in the pregnancy. Or, if the woman cannot raise the child herself, that she will simply place the child up for adoption. But these scenarios are not common among the women we studied who carried unwanted pregnancies to term.

Only 3% of women denied abortions got married in the next two years. (And 3% of those who were married at the time of conception got divorced over that time period.) Of those who carried a pregnancy to term and gave birth, only 9% chose to place the child up for adoption.

The results of 50 scientific papers stemming from the Turnaway Study data show the measurable harms that result from being denied a wanted abortion. It forces women to have and raise children under less optimal circumstances than women who receive an abortion and choose to have children in the future. As one woman in California who was denied an abortion at age 18 put it, I wish I had had [my daughter] when I was older, more stable, more financially set  because it was like raising her and trying to figure me out. But I was raising both of us  myself and her.

Chief Justice Roberts adherence to precedence will be celebrated by those who favor abortion rights. His vote has helped preserve not just the right to abortion but access to it. And yet, an honest assessment of the costs and benefits of laws that whittle away at access to abortion would go even further, working against all the laws that block women from exercising their rights. Denying people control over their own childbearing carries provable negative consequences that last a lifetime.

Diana Greene Foster is a UC San Francisco professor and director of research at the universitys Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health project. She is the author of the Turnaway Study: Ten Years, a Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having or Being Denied an Abortion.
With today's abortion decision in a Louisiana case, Chief Justice John Roberts becomes key to whether abortion rights continue to be protected. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)

The Supreme Courts decision to strike down a Louisiana law restricting access to abortion provides the strongest indication in years that Roe vs. Wade may survive, and that women will continue to have access to safe, legal abortions. The court, in a 5 to 4 decision, declared unconstitutional a Louisiana statute that required doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles.

By itself, this decision is unremarkable. Four years ago, in 2016, the court declared a nearly identical Texas statute unconstitutional in Whole Womens Health vs. Hellerstedt. The larger significance of this case is to be found in Chief Justice John Roberts casting the fifth vote to invalidate the law based on the importance of following precedent.

In the last decade, many states have adopted hundreds of laws  often targeting providers and clinics  seeking to restrict abortion. Some, like Alabamas, would prohibit all abortions. Others, like laws prohibiting abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, such as in Iowa and Ohio, would forbid abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy and effectively prohibit most abortions.

The question up to now had been how the court would deal with these laws, and even whether it might overrule Roe vs. Wade, in light of its newest justices. In 1992, when the court reaffirmed Roe vs. Wade in Planned Parenthood vs. Casey, Justice Anthony Kennedy was the fifth vote for the majority to continue constitutional protection for abortion rights. Likewise, in 2016, Kennedy was the fifth vote to strike down the Texas law in Whole Womens Health v. Hellerstedt. Now Kennedy is gone, replaced by Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch.

Based on what he wrote as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, there was little reason to think that Kavanaugh would vote in favor of abortion rights. Nor was there much hope that Gorsuch would do so.

Chief Justice John Roberts didnt seem like a probable champion of the right to choose, either. He came onto the Supreme Court in 2005 and, until Monday, had not once voted to strike down any restriction on abortion. Prior to Monday's decision, it had seemed there would be a consistent five votes to limit abortion rights, and even to overrule Roe vs. Wade.

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In the Louisiana case decided Monday, there was a strong reason to assume Roberts would vote with conservatives to uphold the law, which would have also signaled that a majority on the court might now be willing to uphold even more severe restrictions on abortion. Roberts had earlier voted to uphold the similar Texas law requiring doctors to have admitting privileges.

But that is not what happened. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote an opinion joined by Justices Ginsburg, Sotomayor and Kagan explaining why the Louisiana law was an unconstitutional undue burden on a womans right to abortion. There is no evidence that a requirement for admitting privileges at hospitals in any way protects womens health. Rarely do women receiving abortions need to be hospitalized. Even if they do, the doctors there will provide treatment. At the same time, such requirements greatly limit access to abortion. Indeed, that is precisely what they are intended to do.

These four justices all were in the majority in striking down the Texas law in Whole Womens Health, too, and it was expected that they would vote to invalidate the nearly identical Louisiana law. But then Roberts came to the same result as the four liberal justices, using different reasoning. He voted to invalidate the law by saying the court should follow its precedent. He said he dissented in the Whole Womens Health case, and still thinks it was wrongly decided, but he feels the need to follow precedent. He wrote: The legal doctrine of stare decisis [respect for precedent] requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike. The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore, Louisianas law cannot stand under our precedents.

Of course, the ruling is important for women in Louisiana in protecting their access to abortion. But even more important, the vote signals a willingness of Roberts to follow precedent in the area of abortion rights. It strongly calls into question his willingness to be the fifth vote to overrule Roe vs. Wade.

Perhaps when the question of overruling Roe is squarely before the court, Roberts will see it differently and not feel the same need to adhere to precedent. And if President Trump gets to replace one of the four liberal justices with a staunch conservative, Roe surely will be overruled. But for today, supporters of womens reproductive freedom can breathe more easily, as there seem to be five votes for following precedent and protecting the right of women to decide for themselves whether to continue or terminate a pregnancy.

Erwin Chemerinsky is dean of UC Berkeley School of Law and a contributing writer to Opinion.




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Paris Fashion Week will venture online next week aided by a host of tech and media partners, including Launchmetrics, YouTube and Instagram, WWD has learned.

The Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, French fashions organizing body, said it conscripted Launchmetrics, a data and technology company, to build digital platforms for the upcoming couture and mens weeks.

Both sites will feature spaces reserved for professionals, but are accessible to the general public in order to capture a wide audience.

The platforms are headlined by official calendars, where videos will be unveiled at scheduled times and can be viewed again following their initial broadcast.

Editorial content, in cooperation with fashion school Institut Francais de la Mode, will assemble interviews, making-of clips and Zoom gatherings supplied by participating brands and designers, cultural institutions, media firms and others.

To us, creativity is the driving force and the core of all our attention and efforts, said federation president Ralph Toledano. The difficulties that designers have to face in this period make it even more necessary to find new ways of expression.

The platforms will also feature conversations, concerts and cultural visits, some reserved for professionals, and be grouped under one section, while another segment will be dedicated to the weeks official partners: DEFI, LOreal Paris and DS Automobiles.

Visitors to the sites can learn more about the participating houses and designers via a corporate space that will be partially accessible to all and partially reserved to professionals, according to the federation.

Finally Sphere, a showroom dedicated to young brands, will also be held online and hosted on the mens Paris Fashion Week official platform. The federation noted that it partnered with the B2B sales platform Le New Black and with Grand Shooting for processing imagery for the virtual showroom.

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To bolster traffic, the federation said it forged partnerships with YouTube, Google, Instagram and Facebook. Particulars of the deals were not disclosed. For China, it partnered with Hylink, a major Chinese communications agency that will engage with the most important Chinese social networks.

Additional partnerships were struck with Frances Canal + Group for an events channel, and with The New York Times, which is to broadcast videos in a dedicated space on its web site. Radio Nova is to help animate editorial content and events, while participating cultural institutions include the Musee du Louvre, Palais de Tokyo, Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Musee de la Mode de la Ville de Paris and Theatre du Chatelet.

An online version of Paris Couture Week is set for July 6 to 8, while the digital showcase for the mens collections for spring 2021 is to follow from July 9 to 13. The calendar of couture shows was published by the federation late Monday.

Schedules for the two digital fashion weeks are to be released shortly.

Mens Fashion Week in the French capital has been gaining momentum in recent years, the schedule bulging with buzzy designers from London and the U.S., in addition to marquee heritage houses such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Berluti and Hermes.

Once the mens event in Paris wraps up, Milano Digital Fashion Week takes over from July 14 to 17. It is to showcase spring 2021 mens collections in a smorgasbord of online formats, together with womens and mens pre-collections for next spring.

Paris has traditionally been the last fashion week for mens and womens collections in Europe, with London and Milan preceding it. Couture week is traditionally scheduled after Paris Fashion Week mens, but the entire international calendar has been in flux due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In late March, the Federation canceled the summer runway shows in Paris. Mens fashion week had been scheduled from June 23 to 28 while the haute couture shows were originally slated for July 5 to 9.

Megabrands and independent designers alike have been grappling with how to replace physical runway shows, long the dominant model for unveiling new collections.

But Paris Fashion Week for womens wear will take place this fall with physical shows, augmented by a digital platform, the federation said last week.

The spring 2021 womens wear fashion week will be held from Sept. 28 to Oct. 6 and will comply for its implementation to the recommendations of public authorities, the Federation said, adding that its organization will be completed by the platform set up for Paris Fashion Week online.

Fashion month is scheduled to begin with New York Fashion Week on Sept. 11, showcasing collections for spring 2021.

Gucci, Saint Laurent and Michael Kors have indicated they will not take part in Milan, Paris or New York fashion weeks, respectively, while Burberry revealed it would stage an outdoor presentation on Sept. 17 and broadcast it online. Fendi plans to kick off Milan Fashion Week on Sept. 22 with a show at its headquarters in Rome with guests and a digital element.

See Also:

Launchmetrics CEO on Amplifying Digital Fashion Weeks

Fashion Flips Focus From Runway to Film

Ralph Toledano Talks Runway Shows, Paris Fashion Week

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If you cant beat em, join em.

That was the thinking of Paul Stuart, which will open its first pop-up store in the Hamptons this week.

The 1,900-square-foot space at 50 Main Street in Southampton will carry the companys collection of mens and womens apparel and accessories and remain open through Dec. 31.

When we were able to do curbside pickup [at our Madison Avenue flagship], we started calling our customers, explained Paulette Garafalo, chief executive officer. We have a very close relationship with them, many of whom have been our customers for years  we dont get a lot of walk-ins. But nearly every person the staff called said they werent planning to return to New York City until after Labor Day and would instead be staying out in the Hamptons, the Berkshires or elsewhere in the suburbs.

At the same time, Paul Stuarts head of merchandising heard about an empty storefront in Southampton and suggested Garafalo consider it. It was perfect for us, and in two weeks we had signed the lease, she said. Were moving in now and well be open July 1.

She said in addition to summer merchandise such as bathing suits, knit polos and other sportswear, the store will sell suits, sport coats, robes, shoes, even made-to-measure merchandise. Itll be the same breakdown as our other stores, she said.

Garafalo revealed that Paul Stuart will open its first Custom Lab outpost, another pop-up for the companys newly launched opening-price-point made-to-measure collection, on Greene Street in SoHo in September.

Brick-and-mortar has been so tough, but while everybody else is closing stores, we wanted to be brave in the worst of times, she said. Were looking at these stores as more short-term lease stores than pop-ups and were treating them like full-service stores. Our intention is to experiment and see if there are long-term opportunities for us.

Garafalo said the companys four U.S. stores have reopened and while the two Chicago units are doing extremely well, the Washington, D.C., store is newly opened and still not attracting business, and the New York flagship is struggling. New Yorkers are not coming back into the city so quickly, she said. Thats why we had to find a location outside of town. Right now the rents are favorable and were a small business so we have the flexibility to take advantage of that. We have the inventory  we were closed for three months and no one has even seen spring  so there are opportunities we want to take advantage of.

Garafalo took over as ceo in June 2016 and is the first non-family member to helm the retailer. Mitsui bought the business from the founding family at the end of 2012. It had been the companys Japanese licensee since 1975 and operates more than 100 Paul Stuart shops in Japan as well as two flagships in Tokyo.

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When Fort Lauderdale police fired rubber bullets at protesters on May 31  leaving one woman with a fractured eye socket and 20 stitches  they said they were responding to a mob of violent agitators who attacked an officer in an unmarked vehicle at a city parking garage shortly before 7 p.m.

Where it went bad, we had a female officer in her vehicle who was attacked. She came over the radio screaming for help. She was being surrounded, Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Rick Maglione told the Miami Herald shortly after the Black Lives Matter protest. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department provided photos taken the following day of shoe prints on the trunk of the vehicle that they say are evidence of protesters jumping on the car.

But a review of dozens of time-stamped photos and videos taken at the garage does not reflect the terrifying attack  during which the officer said she felt her life was in imminent danger, according to her official incident report.

While protesters yelled and held up signs in front of the officers vehicle, none of the more than 100 photos and videos reviewed by the Herald show anyone touching the car around the time of the distress call. Witnesses interviewed by the Herald, including three photojournalists covering the protest, said they did not see anyone attack the car. The officer said she did not turn on her body camera.

The photos and videos call into question the narrative put forward by police and Mayor Dean Trantalis that the crowd instigated the violence after a protest that had remained peaceful all day. In fact, the visual documentation supports what witnesses have been saying for weeks: that a police officer ignited the violent clash that lasted for two hours in the streets of downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Around 6:45 p.m., after the protest wound down, many marchers were heading back to their cars in a city parking garage two blocks from Huizenga Plaza, where the demonstration had been staged. Others continued marching and chanting in smaller groups.

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Officer Stylianee Hayes was stationed in an unmarked black Toyota Camry at the mouth of the parking garage. Photos taken at 6:50 p.m. show that a small group of protesters walking down the street and holding up signs turned to face her vehicle. Its not clear why they chose to stop there. But protesters had been stopping to block intersections temporarily throughout the afternoon.

Interaction between police and protesters at Southeast First Avenue and Second Street at 6:50:06 p.m., May 31. Within the next minute, an officer in the black Toyota radioed for emergency backup saying her life was in danger.

The protesters do not appear to obviously threaten Hayes or her vehicle. Still, Hayes felt her life was in danger, according to her official incident report.

Interaction between police and protesters at SE 1st Ave and SE 2nd Street at 6:51:36 p.m., May 31. Around the same time, an officer in the black Toyota, pictured in the bottom left of the image, radioed for emergency back up saying protesters were jumping on the vehicle.

The crowd swarmed my vehicle and I had no avenue of escape. Unknown subjects were pounding on [the] vehicle, the windows, and subjects even began to jump on the trunk of my car, Hayes wrote in her report. I locked the doors on my vehicle and realized I was trapped with a hostile crowd of subjects intending to cause harm to me. I believed that my life was in imminent danger.

Interaction between police and protesters at SE 1st Ave and SE 2nd Street in Fort Lauderdale at 6:51:41 p.m., May 31. Around the same time, an officer in the black Toyota, pictured in the bottom right of the image, radioed for emergency back up saying her life was in danger.

Hayes called for emergency backup. The precise time of the call is unclear. Dozens of other officers say it came at 6:51 p.m., according to their incident reports. A police spokeswoman said radio transmissions show the call went out about 30 seconds before that. The departments computer assisted dispatch records, which can operate on a slight delay, say it was nearly 6:52 p.m.

Fort Lauderdale Police Departments Computer Assisted Dispatch log from May 31, 2020.

Alex Dixon, a freelance photographer covering the protest, was photographing the group as it approached the garage. Dixon said he saw nothing resembling the incident described by Hayes.

The Herald reviewed 89 photos Dixon took between 6:50 p.m. and 6:53 p.m. None showed protesters swarming or jumping on the car. Hayes could not be reached for comment. (Reporters ensured the accuracy of the timestamps by comparing metadata from camera and cell phone photos taken simultaneously.)

Herald staff photographer Carl Juste was also standing near Hayes car when her distress call went out. If they were jumping on her car, I would have noticed, Juste said. I would have shot it. Alexia Fodere, a freelance photographer working for the Herald, said she did not see protesters attack the car either.

The photos show another officer sitting on a motorcycle feet away watching protesters who were standing near the car moments before Hayes put out her emergency distress call. Records do not show the other officer made a distress call.

The department provided seven photos of Hayes vehicle, taken June 1, showing a dent in the rear passenger-side door and several scratches and footprints on the trunk. We are reviewing Officer Hayes report as part of our comprehensive after-action review, the department said. Her vehicle was damaged.

Fort Lauderdale police provided photos of Ofc. Stylianee Hayes vehicle showing footprints on the trunk. Hayes said protesters jumped on her vehicle and sent out a distress call believing her life was in danger, according to her official report.

Whatever may have happened between protesters and Hayes, it quickly defused. Almost immediately after Hayes radioed her distress call, protesters had moved away from her vehicle, photos show. Calm seemed to have been restored.

The first documented physical altercation that day began when an officer, Steven Pohorence, one of the first to respond to the distress call, confronted members of the crowd and pushed a young woman in the head at 6:52 p.m. She was kneeling with her hands up at the time. Angered by the officers violent conduct, protesters pelted him with plastic water bottles as he retreated.

Thats when all hell broke loose, Juste, the Herald photographer, said.

At a Black Lives Matter protest in Fort Lauderdale on May 31, Ofc. Steven Pohorence turns to look at a kneeling young woman just moments before shoving her in the head.

At 6:52 p.m., police officers were pouring into the garage in response to Hayes emergency distress call. Most arrived in time to see the water bottles flying but not what provoked the protesters. Officers quickly responded with tear gas, according to their reports. Some protesters threw the canisters back and also hurled rocks. Roughly a block away, the rear passenger-side window of a different police vehicle was smashed. Police said protesters threw rocks. The officer inside was unharmed.

At the parking garage, officers shot rubber bullets into the crowd.

Just minutes after the distress call, protester LaToya Ratlieff, a 34-year-old nonprofit grant writer from Delray Beach, encountered the confrontation on her way back to her car. She joined others who were trying to restore calm by encouraging the group of angered protesters to kneel in the street in front of the parking garage instead of fighting back. With their hands in the air, the group told the phalanx of police officers in riot gear they wanted peace. The cops continued to shoot projectiles and throw tear gas. In incident reports, police said people throwing rocks were using the peaceful group as human shields.

At 7:07 p.m., Ratlieff was choking on gas and being led away from the scene when an officer raised his weapon and shot her in the face with a rubber bullet from roughly 30 feet away. The impact fractured her eye socket. The Fort Lauderdale Police Departments training protocols state officers should only aim for the head and neck if deadly force is warranted. The officer said he was aiming for a man behind Ratlieff who tossed a tear gas canister back at police.

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After Ratlieff was shot, the conflict intensified and spread. Clashes broke out in other areas around the park where the protest had started peacefully. For two hours, lines of riot police used tear gas, rubber bullets and a sound cannon on protesters. Some protesters launched bottle rockets and fireworks at them.

One officer wrote in his incident report that after being struck by an explosive and becoming instantly disoriented by the concussion, he pointed his firearm loaded with live rounds at protesters  but did not open fire.

In the 133 pages of incident reports released in response to a public records request, only two officers mentioned that Ratlieff was shot.

And not a single officer reported that one of their colleagues seemed to have ignited the violence by shoving the kneeling young woman. The only exception was an officer who chased Pohorence away from the scene and berated him. But her report was heavily redacted, because the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating Pohorences actions. He has been suspended from active duty.

For more than three hours before the clash at the garage protesters had marched without incident. Organizers from the Black Lives Matter Alliance of Broward had trained volunteers to keep the crowd calm and away from buildings. Police reports indicate a handful of businesses were vandalized, but none along the protest route. An undercover officer in the crowd also noted that it was peaceful and well-organized.

Detective Ali Adamson, a spokeswoman for Fort Lauderdale police, said the departments overall response that day was justified.

It is a fact that people who attended this demonstration used stacked concrete, bricks, and rocks. Others brought explosives, spray paint, and bottles of other unidentified liquid. There was destruction to property and deliberate attacks on our officers that day, Adamson said in a statement.

Police did not provide video or photo evidence of protesters swarming Hayes car. Nor did they provide photos of stacks of bricks or concrete. They also did not answer when asked if they had identified the unidentified liquid in bottles.

Protest organizers had passed out plastic bottles of water throughout the day.

Herald reporters covering the protest witnessed no rocks or explosives being thrown by protesters until after Pohorence shoved the kneeling woman.

After being presented with the Heralds findings, Maglione maintained that protesters started the violence by attacking the police vehicle, according to a department spokesperson.

Trantalis, the mayor, said it was important that we find out how the violent activity suddenly materialized out of an otherwise peaceful event.

But he said that based on information from the police, it did not seem that Pohorence was solely responsible for the violence that day.

How would that incident have ignited what happened? How many people would have watched that and seen what he did and then swarm and attack? he said. It wasnt like he was on stage and everyone could see it from the big screen. How did it all the sudden ripple through the crowd? It seems like the melee had already begun and it wasnt triggered because of what he did to the woman.

Ready for a fight?

Protesters and police both started out the day with a plan: stay away from each other.

During mass protests, physical distance reduces the chance of tensions from either side erupting into violence.

Police are trained to avoid provoking violence, said Philip Sweeting, former deputy chief of police for Boca Raton.

We, the police, are supposed to keep our emotions in check. Were supposed to de-escalate, Sweeting said. Its called anger management. The police are not to allow their emotions to override their decision-making. Unfortunately, it happens all the time.

Maglione, the chief, told the Herald that he had instructed the departments riot squad and armored vehicles to stay out of sight. Sometimes having visible uniforms and vehicles  that makes it worse, he said.

But his officers incident reports suggest many were expecting a fight.

Several officers reported being concerned about a pile of bricks found near the parking garage in the afternoon. A radio call went out alerting the entire force. Many immediately assumed the worst.

The bricks were not located anywhere next to a construction site and appeared to be randomly placed there, one officer wrote. This information was alarming due to the fact that stacks of bricks have been showing up next to peaceful protests nationwide so agitators can tum it violent.

Another officer said that he recognized [the bricks] as a potential strategy to incite civil disruption and violence.

The bricks were removed by officers, according to incident reports, but when is not clear. A spokeswoman for the department said police were not currently investigating the pile of bricks and had no information as to how they got there. Around the nation, protesters have been accused of stockpiling pallets of bricks to use as weapons, although in many cases it turned out the bricks found near rally sites were related to construction and had often been there for months, according to Factcheck.org.

At least a dozen officers mentioned the pile of bricks in their reports. All knew exactly where the bricks were located: the street corner outside the parking garage from where Hayes would later send her distress call, though their accounts varied wildly on when the bricks were found. The fact that Hayes said she was coming under attack at the same place where the bricks were found alarmed several officers, according to their reports.

When they arrived on the scene, officers thought they saw the dangerous mob they had been expecting after hearing about the bricks. They seemed to ignore or not realize the fact that their colleague had ignited the fracas.

Walking up I noticed a large crowd of over 100 people who appeared to be angry. It was immediately apparent that this was no longer a group of peaceful protesters, but an angry mob, one officer wrote. As I got closer  I saw Ofc. S. Pohorence walking away from the crowd and plastic bottles of water were being thrown at him.

As the conflict escalated, officers reported suffering a variety of minor injuries, including bruises, small cuts and burns that did not require medical attention. One officer had such a bad reaction to the tear gas his colleagues had deployed  blistering of the skin in all unprotected areas of my body  that he ended up in the hospital.

Most officers said their body armor, shields and helmets prevented them from being injured by the rocks and fireworks tossed by protesters.

Deadly aim

Detective Eliezer Ramos arrived at the parking garage as part of the initial SWAT response.

We received information via police radio that the SWAT contingent assigned to protect the protesters was under attack by violent agitators near the parking garage, Ramos wrote in his report recounting Hayes distress call.

His job, as he understood it, was to provide less-than-lethal cover for other officers, he wrote.

But the foam rubber bullets shots from his 40 mm launcher at nearly 300 feet-per-second are not less than lethal. Manufacturer specifications and Fort Lauderdale police training policies describe them as potentially deadly weapons. The proper term is less lethal. Shooting someone in the head with such a projectile is only permissible when the use of deadly force has been authorized.

Commanding officers on the scene authorized the use of less-lethal munitions but not deadly force.

Herald reporters found discarded casings from foam batons littering the scene of a George Floyd protest in downtown Fort Lauderdale on May 31.

Ramos said that he took numerous shots at violent agitators who threw items at Officers with the intent to cause bodily harm and/or injury.

Then, around 7:07 pm, Ramos took a shot that could have been lethal, according to the manufacturer and police. The person he shot in the face wasnt violent. She hadnt thrown anything. It was LaToya Ratlieff.

Ramos said he wasnt aiming for Ratlieffs head. He was attempting to shoot the midsection of a man who had been throwing tear gas canisters, according to his report. But, Ramos said, the man moved quickly to conceal himself behind an unknown female protester moving in the same direction. (Video shot by a bystander shows the man was yards behind Ratlieff.)

The less-than-lethal direct impact round appeared to strike the female, causing her to fall to the ground, Ramos wrote in his report, which he filed four days after the incident and after he had reviewed body camera footage. That footage has still not been made available to Ratlieffs attorneys or media organizations, including the Herald, that requested it under Floridas public records laws.

After a police officer shot LaToya Ratlieff in the face with a foam rubber bullet as she stumbled away from tear gas, other protesters rushed to the aid of the bleeding woman. Fort Lauderdale Police Department protocols say officers should only aim for the head and neck if they intend to use deadly force.

In his report, Ramos never acknowledged that the shot could have been fatal. He is now under internal affairs investigation but remains on active duty. He should have received annual training on the use of rubber bullets that would have gone over department protocols. The department has not yet provided his training records.

Police protocol says officers should render aid to people they shoot with rubber bullets. Officer Larry Reyes and a few members of the SWAT team said they tried to help Ratlieff, who was being aided by other protesters.

I shouted out and motioned for the group to bring the protester to us so that we could render aid, Reyes wrote in his report. However, they began to move her away from the area.

At the time, Reyes was in full riot gear and had a rifle strapped to his chest.

Their attempts to help were stymied, officers said, when someone in the crowd threw what appeared to be a quarter stick of dynamite at them.

Ratlieff is briefing a congressional subcommittee about her ordeal Monday morning. She has not yet met with police internal affairs investigators.

Her attorneys Benedict Kuehne and Michael Davis said in a statement that she continues to suffer the horrific and life-impacting injuries from that use of excessive and potentially deadly force. There is and can be no legitimate justification for what was done to her.

Some of the violence was documented by police body cameras. But incident reports suggest that the 8,000 minutes of footage the department is reviewing did not capture everything that happened that night.

One of the most frequently repeated statements in the officers reports: their body-worn camera was not activated.

Miami Herald staff writer Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report.
DALLAS  Vice President Mike Pence peeled off his White House-branded mask and smiled at a crowd of thousands Sunday morning. Yet he wasnt technically headlining a political rally  he was at church in a state that has seen a dramatic spike in coronavirus cases.

Pence was in Texas to discuss the deepening crisis with Gov. Greg Abbott, but first, he stopped off at First Baptist Church Dallas, a massive complex led by Pastor Robert Jeffress, a dedicated Trump supporter, to headline the Celebrate Freedom rally. At the event  a patriotic jamboree that was part worship, part pre-Fourth of July celebration  Pence preached a message of hope to the congregants, framing the fight against COVID-19 as grounded in liberation.

We will put the health of the people of the Lone Star State first, and every single day we will continue to reclaim our freedom and our way of life, said Pence, who also said that during these times, wed do well to remember that the foundation of America is freedom, but the foundation of freedom is faith.

Speaking for nearly a half-hour about patriotism and faith, Pence also touched on the nationwide protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by Minneapolis police, and the recent push to remove Confederate statues.

We all know the tragic events of recent days, and let me say theres no excuse for what happened to George Floyd, said Pence. Theres also no excuse for rioting, looting and violence that ensued. Burning churches is not protest. Tearing down statues is not free speech.

Vice President Mike Pence removes his mask to make comments at First Baptist Church Dallas on Sunday. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

Church services have been part of one of the most contentious debates amid the spread of the coronavirus, juxtaposing freedom of worship with public health.

President Trump has been vocal in his support of churches reopening, even as health experts have cautioned that gathering a large number of people in an enclosed space could risk new outbreaks. Already, a recent outbreak in West Virginia has been tied to churches.

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Singing during religious services may enhance that risk, by spreading respiratory droplets even further.

Yet in Dallas, those warnings did not appear to concern those in attendance.

Over 2,000 attendees, the majority  but not all  in masks, sat shoulder to shoulder in the long lines of pews that packed the church. A full orchestra blared American classics such as Yankee Doodle, and the choir members, who numbered more than 100, belted out the national anthem and other patriotic songs.

Pences church visit came as Abbott continues to roll back the states reopening amid a resurgence of the virus. Texas recorded more than 25,000 new coronavirus cases last week, and the positivity rate for lab tests, a key measure of spread, rose to more than 11 percent after dipping below 5 percent in May.

Attendees wave flags before Pence delivers his remarks at First Baptist Church Dallas. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

Abbott responded by closing bars and instructing restaurants to return to 50 percent capacity.

Members of the Trump administration have continued to insist the U.S. has made progress in combating the virus, while expressing concern about the rising cases nationally. Alex Azar, the health and human services secretary, told CNN on Sunday that the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control.

Azar urged that critical reversals must happen at the local level. The window is closing. We have to act, and people and individuals need to act responsibly, he reiterated on NBC.

Abbott echoed those concerns in a joint Sunday press conference with Pence and members of the White House coronavirus task force. COVID-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past two weeks, Abbott said.

The governor pushed wearing face coverings when possible, as well as hand sanitizing and social distancing as tools Texas can use to attempt to lower positive cases.

If you dont need to get out, theres no reason to go out at this particular time, Abbott said. If you can keep your distance from others, thats a very good, safe place to be.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, left, makes comments as Pence and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott look on. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

Kate Bedingfield, Joe Bidens deputy campaign manager, claimed that Pences Dallas trip epitomizes the dismissive attitude this administration has taken in addressing this crisis from the onset.

Our leaders should be tackling this pandemic head on and laying out concrete recovery plans for the American people  not jet setting around the country to hold events that go against basic public health guidance, wrote Bedingfield.

The Biden campaign has not held an in-person rally since coronavirus cases locked down the U.S., and Biden has made limited public appearances in Pennsylvania and his home state of Delaware.

Last week, Dallas County saw the single greatest increase of COVID-19 cases since the outbreak began. One of the main coronavirus transmission mitigation efforts has been the mandating of face coverings.

Even so, the wearing of masks has become the latest partisan culture war, with recent polling showing that Republicans are less likely to wear face coverings than Democrats nationally. Attendees of the Trump campaigns first rally in months were not required to wear marks. Trump has only been photographed in a mask once, leading to criticism that mixed guidance is coming from the very top.

At the Dallas press conference, Pence demurred when asked if the White House should be more public and forceful in its support of mask wearing, instead asserting that since he is the head of the coronavirus task force the administration is promoting the practice of mask wearing.

For anyone, if you cant maintain social distancing, its just a good idea to wear a mask, said Pence.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
A couple pointed guns at protesters who were on private property outside their home Sunday night, as the demonstrators marched past on their way to St. Louis mayor Lyda Krewsons residence to demand her resignation. Police are now investigating the incident to determine whether the protesters committed trespassing and fourth-degree assault by intimidation.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey stood outside their home on Portland Place, a private street, as hundreds of protesters, some of them armed, marched by and chanted. The McCloskeys had been inside their home when they heard loud activity outside and saw a large group of subjects forcefully break an iron gate marked with No Trespassing and Private Street signs, St. Louis police said.

The group began yelling obscenities and threats of harm to both victims, the police said. When the victims observed multiple subjects who were armed, they then armed themselves and contacted police.

Law experts have noted that Missouris Castle Doctrine allows homeowners to use deadly force to defend their private property from intruders.

In an interview with KSDK, the local NBC affiliate, Mark McCloskey said that he called to the protesters that they were on private property and told them to leave when they first broke through the gate. When they did not, he got his rifle and stood outside, continuing to tell the crowd that they were on private property.

At that point, everybody got enraged, McCloskey said. There were people wearing body armor. One person pulled out some loaded pistol magazines and clicked them together and said that you were next. We were threatened with our lives, threatened with the house being burned down, my office building being burned down, even our dogs life being threatened. It was about as bad as it can get.

I really thought it was storming the Bastille, that we would be dead and the house would be burned and there was nothing we could do about it. It was a huge and frightening crowd, he added.

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Albert Watkins, an attorney for the McCloskeys, said that the couple felt threatened after two individuals exhibited such force and violence destroying a century-plus-old wrought iron gate, ripping and twisting the wrought iron that was connected to a rock foundation, and then proceeded to charge at and toward and speak threateningly to Mr. and Mrs. McCloskey.

The McCloskeys Renaissance palazzo mansion is valued at $1.15 million, according to city records. The couple are attorneys who work together in a law office that has now been boarded up due to threats theyve received since the incident.

More from National Review
Leading healthcare network to improve delivery outcomes for the people of the Bahamas

NEW YORK, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infor, a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry, announced today that the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) has selected Infor CloudSuite Healthcare Financial and Supply Chain Management applications. Implemented by Infor's Consulting Services (ICS) practice, these capabilities will replace PHA's legacy systems and help PHA improve outcomes in public healthcare delivery in the Bahamas. Infor CloudSuite Healthcare is an industry-specific software platform that encompasses a comprehensive suite of business solutions unique to healthcare organizations, including clinically integrated finance and supply chain business processes.

"The Public Hospitals Authority has made great strides in improving and modernizing its financial and supply chain systems. With the successful completion of Phase 2 of our Infor CloudSuite Healthcare Financials implementation, we have reduced our dependency on legacy systems as we have transitioned many critical financial processes into Infor CloudSuite Healthcare. Our achievements set the foundation for future improvements within the PHA and beyond, which will lead to improved outcomes in healthcare delivery for the people of the Bahamas," said Lyrone Burrows, deputy managing director of the Public Hospitals Authority.

PHA will use Infor applications to take better control of financial operations in order to control costs and manage margins. PHA will be able to improve transparency with advanced analytics, consolidate data from disparate sources, reconcile for period-end closings, and benefit from increased visibility into activities that impact finances across the enterprise. In addition, supply chain capabilities will allow users to automate the procure-to-pay process. PHA will be able to spend less time on administration and more time on securing reliable suppliers, negotiating competitive pricing, and driving sustainable cost savings.

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"Modern healthcare organizations are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to deliver value-added care to achieve the best patient outcomes. This especially rings true when looking at healthcare supply chain operations," said Chuck Whinney, Infor senior director of healthcare strategy. "Infor offers a complete, scalable, proven suite of solutions designed specifically to support the healthcare industry. By partnering with us, leading organizations such as PHA will be able to strive to keep their business running with maximum efficiency, so their teams can put more focus on delivering quality, safe, affordable care."

For more information visit http://www.infor.com/industries/healthcare/.

About Public Hospitals Authority

The Public Hospitals Authority is recognized as one of the best public healthcare systems in the Caribbean, earning praise for being a provider and employer of choice for the Bahamas. For more information visit http://www.phabahamas.org/.

About Infor

Infor is a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry. With 17,300 employees and over 68,000 customers in more than 170 countries, Infor software is designed for progress. To learn more, please visit www.infor.com.

Infor customers include:

14 of the 25 largest U.S. healthcare delivery networks

The top 20 aerospace companies

9 of the top 10 high tech companies

19 of the 20 largest U.S. cities

18 of the top 20 automotive suppliers

14 of the top 20 industrial distributors

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4 of the top 5 brewers

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For more information:

Christina Ledger

Infor

312-662-2135

christina.ledger@infor.com

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/public-hospitals-authority-modernizes-financial-and-supply-chain-systems-with-infor-301084526.html

SOURCE Infor
If partisans in Congress need further evidence about why they should forgo partisan divisions and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, they need look no further than Wilmington, North Carolina.

There, just last week, three Wilmington police officers were fired after a dashcam video inadvertently recorded conversations in which the officers discussed their enthusiasm to kill Black people: We are just gonna go out and start slaughtering them fu----- ni-----. I cant wait. God, I cant wait.

Racism is not an isolated problem, but it's a deep undercurrent that runs through the veins of our policing culture and, sadly, too many of its sworn officers.

If we wait to change hearts and minds, the body count of Black Americans will continue to rise. To change behavior, we need unequivocal standards and real accountability.

Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., talks about the George Floyd legislation on June 25, 2020.

The legislation has the potential to bring about swift change by categorically outlawing at the federal level dangerous police behavior like chokeholds and no-knock warrants, and driving local and state governments to do the same if they want federal funding. These outrageous practices were prime factors in the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, among others, and this legislation is the best chance we have to quickly eradicate them from policing behavior.

From Recy Taylor to Breonna Taylor: Plight of Black women often forgotten when it comes to justice

The proposal would require that deadly force be used only as a last resort and only after officers attempt de-escalation techniques. How many cases have we seen where police killed an unarmed Black person or shot a Black person in the back? More cases than we can count.

Deadly force against Black people is so common that virtually every Black parent feels the need to have the talk with their child about how, hopefully, to survive an encounter with police: Keep your hands on the steering wheel and visible. Dont move. Dont reach for anything.

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But too often, grief-stricken parents learn that these protective actions arent enough. Could it be that those officers, like the officers we heard on the Wilmington tape, were actively looking for an opportunity to start slaughtering us, knowing they could hide behind a concocted claim that they feared for their lives?

Voices: Prison experience helps me lead my company through uncertainty of COVID-19

Importantly, the legislation requires the use of bodycams and dashcams. If Floyds horrific death had not been caught on video, it would have been another lost moment, not the spark for a lasting movement. Without video evidence, law enforcement officers are taken at their word and given the benefit of the doubt. With video evidence, their real words, like those of the Wilmington officers, make clear their intentions, and we have something better than the benefit of the doubt: We have the benefit of the truth.

The demand of Americans protesting from one end of our nation to the other  and supported by voices around the world  is for an end to racial injustice, for those whose hearts and minds cant be changed to be held accountable for their behavior. The Floyd legislation recognizes that accountability requires consequences, so it makes it easier to prosecute offending officers and recover civil damages when a citizens constitutional rights are violated.

While we hope the Wilmington officers are aberrant outliers and not the poster children of a racist police culture, we have an obligation to root out officers with toxic attitudes and intolerable track records. The proposal would help cleanse the ranks of law enforcement by creating a nationwide police misconduct registry to prevent bad cops from moving undetected from one jurisdiction to another. And it mandates reporting of use-of-force data to document the extent of the problem.

Juneteenth: Changing local politics, not just protests, vital for racial progress

While the legislation quick-starts change by building in real action, transparency and accountability, it also promotes the longer, cultural transformation to reshape hearts and minds by reimagining the role of police in communities.

As proven by the masses who have taken to the streets, we are at a historic tipping point, and Americans are expecting meaningful, lasting change. Our leaders in Congress, regardless of their political stripe, would do well to follow the people at this pivotal moment and embrace the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Ben Crump is a civil rights attorney and founder of the national law firm Ben Crump Law, based in Tallahassee, Florida. He represents the Floyd family.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Racist comments of N.C. cops support need for swift passage of Floyd Act
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, right, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are among the rising political stars profiled in "And She Could Be Next." (PBS)

Its 2018. Rashida Tlaib is running for Congress. The cameras for the documentary series And She Could Be Next are following her. When the firebrand wins, shell be one of the first Muslim American women to do so. Fox News will fixate on her and other women of color like Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as an imminent threat to the American way. The president will tell Tlaib and the rest of The Squad to go back to where they came from (in Tlaibs case, its Detroit).

Back then, Tlaib was one of many women from marginalized communities around the country who were running for office against all odds. Lets show them we belong here, she tells a crowd of Black and immigrant voters. Theyll have to learn how to say our names.

And now they can't stop talking about her. The progressive representative's victory is one of many documented in the two-part "POV" series, which premieres Monday and continues Tuesday on PBS. It chronicles a year when women of color fueled a movement that transformed American society and politics.

Filmed over 2018 and 2019, the production chronicles the rise of female candidates and organizers such as Georgias Stacey Abrams, congresswomen Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) and Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), California state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (Los Angeles) and Nse Ufot, executive director of the New Georgia Project. The series shows the ground-up ethos, and the constant push, that's made female-led campaigns such as #BlackLivesMatter and Fair Fight, Abrams operation to end voter suppression, so effective.

We're running for office, and we're winning, and we're in this space now, Tlaib, 43, said over the weekend from Detroit. "But no matter how many people we get into Congress, its the movement outside of the halls of Congress where decisions are made. The movement to stop oppression ... everything that's happening is because we havent been heard or seen in the same way that so many other communities are.

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Tlaib figures prominently in the documentary, one of 12 new programs airing on PBS this summer in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Shes part of a herculean effort by women to change the status quo and represent the needs of the underserved, combat gun violence, put the power of government back into the hands of the people and other issues lost on Washington for years.

Directed by Grace Lee ("American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs") and Iranian documentary filmmaker Marjan Safinia ("Seeds") and coexecutive produced by Ava DuVernay, "And She Could Be Next" jumps from state to state as women like Tlaib galvanize their supporters.

When I watch this film, it's so surreal, Tlaib said. To see what was happening in other places at the time. It's like, 'Oh, my God, that happened to Stacey too? It brings it home that we're all in this together.

Here the campaign trail includes Durazo working on speeches in her cramped kitchen, minivan squads of moms canvasing Georgia neighborhoods for Abrams and single parent Tlaib trying to strategize how to win while simultaneously policing her young sons soda intake.

Her kids are unapologetically with her every step of the way  in the campaign headquarters, next to her at the podium during speeches. Its a refreshing twist on the usual election year documentary, where men in crisp suits dont have to worry about packing the kids' lunches before the rally, let alone feeding themselves.

I'm the eldest of 14 kids, and I've just always taken care of those around me, said Tlaib of those scenes in the series. I have never not been near my kids. The work Im doing and how I'm very laser-focused is because of my kids, because of being a mom. I walk in a room and I'm not a Democratic congresswoman. I'm a mom. Men may be like what? But moms know what I'm talking about.

"I feel like if we cleared out the [decision] room and put a bunch of moms in there, we'd end gun violence. We'd actually pass meaningful change," she continued. "It's part of their work, part of everything that they are.

Tlaib's name became shorthand for "wild-eyed liberal" in the mediasphere of right-wing outrage. She's been labeled anti-American for her criticisms of the Trump administration and "politically stupid" for a campaign promise about POTUS: We're going to go in and impeach the [expletive]! She's also been accused of anti-Semitism for her criticism of the Israeli government and the United States' Middle East policy as well as her support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

The most consistent blowback, however, is because she's Arab, Muslim and female, and those things won't be reprinted here.

One thing that is very clear: We can out-work the hate agenda," said Tlaib. "We can out-work it through the protesting, the movement, the policy changes. It's getting out there and speaking truth to power. It's engaging and talking to people who have never been spoken to. All of that's out-working the hate agenda that is being pushed from the White House.

That work is at the heart of And She Could Be Next, a documentary that shows how the disenfranchised have been invigorated, largely through the unifying power of women.

They don't want us to humanize poverty, they don't want us to humanize what's happening in our incarceration system, said Tlaib of politics as usual. They dont want us to talk about what killed George Floyd. That's why they're so focused on the Who. Because if they talked about the What, they would actually talk about corporate greed, the tainting of our government system, who's corrupt, who sold us out and how the system is set up for the wealthy and not those that look like us. But here we are, talking about it.
Sean Rayford/Getty

By Christian K. Anderson, The Conversation

When I toured the South Carolina Governors Mansion in 2019, I noticed the multi-volume papers of John C. Calhoun on display. It struck me as remarkable that Calhouns ideas would be featured so prominently given his vigorous defense of slavery and his role in laying the groundwork for the Civil War.

But the reality is Calhouns legacy until now has been quite prominent in American societyand not just in the South.

His statue stands between the two chambers of the House and Senate in the South Carolina Statehouse. However, a separate statue in Charleston has been removed from the town square following nationwide protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd during an encounter with police. The statue had stood for 124 years just a block from Mother Emanuel Church, site of the horrific shooting massacre in 2015 of nine Black worshipers by an avowed white supremacist. The church is also located on Calhoun Street.

Despite his historic prominence, Calhouns days as a revered icon in the public sphere are gradually coming to an end.

A worker uses a saw at the foot of the statue of John C. Calhoun atop the monument in his honor at Marion Square in Charleston, South Carolina. Sean Rayford/Getty

CALHOUN IS ALL AROUND US

Numerous cities and counties, streets and roads, schools and other public places are named for Calhoun, a slaveholder who served as secretary of state, secretary of war, a U.S. senator, and two terms as vice president.

For instance, the Calhoun State Office Building sits in the capitol complex in Columbia, South Carolinas state capital city.

There are counties named for him in his home state, as well as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and elsewhere in the South. There is even a Calhoun County in Michigan named for him.

Major streets in Columbia and Charleston, still bear his name.

Despite his prominence elsewhere, Calhoun is about to become less prominent on the landscape of American higher education.

The board of trustees at Clemson University, a public university, announced on June 12 that its Honors College would no longer be named after Calhoun.

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South Carolinas Heritage Act prevents renaming of buildings without legislative approval, but the honors college is an organizational unit, not a building.

This is a particularly significant development given that Clemson University sits on what was once Calhouns plantation, which his daughter and her husband, Thomas Clemson, inherited.

While public memorials of Calhoun appear to be on the decline, what I find more significantand more troublesomeis the way that Calhouns ideology has been ingrained in the American culture and psyche, thanks in large part to the way his ideas were embraced in U.S. institutions of higher learning long after his death.

I make this observation as a historian and author of a chapter for the forthcoming book Persistence Through Peril: Episodes of College Life and Academic Endurance in the Civil War South.

Calhoun, who was born in 1782 and died a decade before the Civil War began, in 1850, was not only a slaveholder and an ardent defender of slavery, but a chief architect of the political system that allowed slavery to persist.

More enduring than the effects of his political careerwhich included the annexation of Texas to expand the number of slaveholding statesare the repercussions of his political ideology.

As a political theorist, Calhoun is best known for two ideas: concurrent majority and nullification. A concurrent majority is the notion that a minority of the electoratenamely, one with money and propertycan veto a political majority.

This idea is related to his belief in nullification theory, which is the idea that a state can void federal laws. Nullification made the idea of South Carolina seceding from the nationand the creation of the Confederacya political possibility and then a reality.

Calhoun laid out his arguments for these ideas in his treatise A Disquisition on Government.

While some Americans defended slavery as a necessary evil Calhoun viewed slavery as a positive good.

He held paternalistic views of Black people as well as other non-whites, declaring: We make a great mistake when we suppose that all people are capable of self-government.

National Portrait Gallery

THE CALHOUN CURRICULUM

Calhouns political doctrines were taught explicitly in college classrooms for decades after his death. There are still remnants in the curriculum.

His own views on nullification theory, states rights and secession were formed when he studied at Yale University where the colleges president, Timothy Dwight, introduced to him the idea that New England could leave the young nation and become a separate country. Yale named a residential college in his honor in 1931. It renamed it in 2017 after the intense pressure from students and alumni that followed the Charleston massacre at the Mother Emanuel Church.

In the chapter that I am writing for Persistence through Peril, I am explaining how Calhouns ideologies permeated Southern institutions of higher education. His views were taught at the Military Academy of South Carolina, before, during and after the Civil War. When those cadets studied the U.S. Constitution, their professors and texts emphasized Calhouns interpretation of it.

John Peyre Thomas, a Citadel graduate and Confederate Army colonel who served as professor, superintendent and later trustee at The Citadel, heaped praise upon Calhoun, having served as editor for The Carolina Tribute to Calhoun in 1857.

In a speech given at Clemson University on June 22, 1897, Thomas declared, It is conceded that Calhouns standard in the science of government is so lofty as in some respects to be unattainable in our day and generation.

A portrait of former senator John C. Calhoun hanging on the wall near the U.S. Senate Chamber in 2015. Mark Wilson/Getty

THE ROAD AHEAD

Decades of teaching a particular doctrine do not fade easily or quickly. The United States is now witnessing another racial awakening with protests for social justice. Symbols of racism and white supremacy are being removed from higher education.

On June 17, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees reversed its 16-year moratorium on renaming buildings, put in place after the statue known as Silent Sam was torn down in 2018.

The University System of Georgia, which includes the University of Georgia, also moved in June 2020 to review the names of its buildings. This would include the University of Georgias Grady School of Journalism, which is named after Henry Grady, an avowed white supremacist.

After Calhouns death in 1850, his colleague in the Senate, Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri, remarked about him: He is not dead. There may be no vitality in his body, but there is in his doctrines. He was prophetic in his words.

Calhouns ideologies fueled the Civil War, gave comfort to those who believed in the Lost Cause (that is, to show the Civil War in the best light possible from the Confederate point of view) and perpetuated the teaching of racist and white supremacist attitudes.

Because the ideas he espoused have flourished, I believe that dismantling his legacy will take much more than just removing statues of his likeness or renaming buildings, streets and other public places named in his honor.

Christian K. Anderson is an associate professor at the University of South Carolina

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Bipartisan agreement in U.S. politics is extremely rare these days. But democracy for Iran is one cause that effortlessly unites the left and the right in unprecedented ways. On Wednesday, senior lawmakers from both parties joined leaders of Iranian-American communities in a Congressional briefing to introduce House Resolution 374.

The bipartisan resolution, endorsed by a strong majority in the House, condemns Iranian state-sponsored terrorism and expresses unambiguous support for the Iranian peoples desire for a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear republic in Iran.

H. Res. 374 has a growing list of Democratic and Republican co-sponsors, recently reaching 221 before it was presented to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The initiative involves representatives in Congress from forty-one states and twelve committees. It received enthusiastic support from the State Department as well.

During Wednesday's online conference, senior-ranking members of Congress, including Republican Tom McClintock and Democrat Brad Sherman, spoke to Iranian-Americans and lent their support to their cause.

McClintock said the resolution "comes at a time when the Iranian opposition to the regime, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), is steadily gaining momentum. It has thus become the main target of the regime's global terrorism." Members of Congress point to a thwarted bomb plot against an NCRI rally near Paris in 2018 as evidence.

He also said: "Many of [NCRI] supporters have reportedly been arrested in Iran for their affiliation with this group."

The second-ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Brad Sherman, said: "Now, more than ever, after thousands of people have been killed just in November of 2019, we stand with the people of Iran who are continuing to hold legitimate protests against an oppressive and corrupt regime."

The House resolution lines up equally well with Democratic principles and with the Trump administrations strategy of maximum pressure on the Iranian regime. It outlines an assertive policy against a brutal regime but stops well short of endorsing boots on the ground. Instead, it supports the homegrown organized opposition.

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Following the 2018 and 2019 mass protests against the theocracy, regime officials, including supreme leader Ali Khamenei, blamed the largest component of the NCRI, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (PMOI/MEK), for organizing and leading protests.

The largest series of protests broke out in 2018, a year that Maryam Rajavi, the NCRI's President-elect, had previously predicted would be a "year full of uprisings."

On Wednesday, in a video message to the Congressional online conference, Mrs. Rajavi commended representatives of the American people for co-sponsoring Resolution 374. She added: "The Iranian people have struggled against two dictatorships and for freedom. They overthrew the Shah and will continue their struggle to overthrow the mullahs regime and to achieve freedom. They are encouraged that this resolution supports one of their goals for a republic based on the separation of religion and state. The Iranian people will be inspired to know that the representatives of the American people hear their voice."

Previously, H. Res. 4744, condemned the regime's crackdown on dissidents, including the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in the summer of 1988. Significantly, the new resolution makes it clear that such incidents are part of the DNA of the regime, and that they give Irans organized Resistance movement an undeniable right to pursue the ouster of the theocracy.

H. Res. 374 recognizes the Iranian people's struggle "to establish a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear republic of Iran." This is a clear expression of values that are shared across the political spectrum in the United States. It represents the endorsement of a grassroots Iranian movement to emulate democratic principles in the heart of the Middle East.

That vision has been laid out in some detail by Maryam Rajavi in the form of a ten-point plan for the free future of the country. If put into place with moral support from the American people and the rest of the international community, that plan would establish free and fair elections, separation of religion from the state, equal protection under the law for women and minorities, and a commitment to non-aggression and non-intervention with neighboring countries that are currently reeling under the destructive influence of the mullahs regime.

The further implications of the ten-point plan will inevitably be discussed in even greater detail at the NCRI annual rally scheduled for July. A number of American dignitaries will be in attendance, representing both parties.

The moral impact of this resilient support for Iran's democratic movement is immeasurably encouraging for people facing a ruined economy, political injustices, and fatal pandemics. At a time when the Iranian people show an overwhelming appetite for overthrow and democratic change, they can see that people around the world, especially in the United States, are cheering for their cause.

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a business strategist, Harvard-educated scholar, board member of Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council. He can be reached at dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu.

Image: Reuters

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Beauty consumers will never be the same.

On the heels of a global health crisis and social uprising demanding true justice for all, everything from how we buy to what we expect from the brands we use has been permanently altered.

Weve been seeing remarkable behavior changes across so many categories as a result of the pandemic, and beauty is no exception, says Kristopher Hull, senior vice president, senior client officer at Ipsos.

The pandemic has had an impact on what [people] buy, where they buy it, their openness to new brands, he continues. Also, its having an impact on how they think about shopping after the pandemic eases up and as the economies reopen.

As confinement is being rolled back in countries around the world, peoples appearance remains important to them. Just under 60 percent of those recently polled worldwide by Mintel reported no change in terms of how thats prioritized, while 50 percent to 60 percent said they havent altered how much money theyre spending on beauty products.

Sarah Jindal, associate director, global beauty and personal care at Mintel, says if you peer into consumers beauty bags, theyre as full as before.

Its just the composition of whats in it has shifted, she explains. Its more skin care, more self care. Maybe they are trading down in certain categories with regard to price, but they are still spending.

Skin care started to grow to the point where it captured almost half the volume of the total industry, says Larissa Jensen, the NPD Groups vice president, industry adviser, beauty, referring to the U.S. market. This is unprecedented.

Consumers, adds Jindal, are still engaged. Yet the complexion of their engagement differs markedly from generation to generation.

Generation Z

Sales of makeup declined in the U.S. during the pandemic. Jensen pins much of that to younger people wearing less of it.

Add to that the fact that the younger consumer is more likely to be shopping online, and you stir in the pandemic, where online became the only channel for consumers to use, and youre starting to see the preferences of the younger generation potentially, she says.

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Additionally, many Gen Zers are missing some of their big life events, such as an 18th or 21st birthday, prom or graduation, due to the lockdowns. In other words, why get dressed up when theres nowhere to go?

A recent GlobalWebIndex study showed that in numerous product categories, delays for making purchases were led by Gen Z. More than four in 10 said that was the case in buying clothing, for instance. They were also the demographic to most likely delay buying a smartphone, smart device or personal electronic device.

How are brands going to build these long-term relations over time and actually make connections to keep Gen Z interested, if Gen Z are going: Actually, Im feeling a bit cautious about what were going to spend our money on, Bishop says.

For a generation thats somewhat in the doldrums theres an opportunity today for a brand to connect, inspire and even just entertain. As an example, Bishop cites E.l.f.s virtual TikTok challenge.

That tapped into the mind-set of Were looking for brands to be there for us, even if were not buying right now, Bishop says.

Another key is go to the places and spaces where Generation Z exists, in other words omnipresent branding that might involve brands sending text messages to consumers or having them create user-generated content.

Its not trying to replicate what you would experience in store, but to use technology to your advantage, to have virtual-reality experiences, gaming experiences that will resonate more with younger generations because they are more open to technologies, says Michael Nolte, creative director at BeautyStreams.

Well-being is another key focus. Ipsos asked consumers in the U.S. about what matters more to them since the pandemic began. For both Gen Z and Millennials, safety is the most important; about 40 percent of them said safety matters more to them since COVID-19, says Hull, adding mental health was second, at 35 percent, followed by family, at 34 percent.

Masks being worn gave the biggest reassurance for all age groups queried. But Millennials and Gen Z were more interested in how deep [stores] cleaning protocols were and how frequently [stores were] cleaned, Hull says.

In keeping with a pre-COVID-19 trend, Gen Zs being open and vocal on social media about brands messaging or marketing is not expected to diminish. They are among the loudest voices calling for change during the protests around racial injustice, and it is clear that they expect transparency from the companies they spend money on. That will extend moving forward, Jindal says.

Millennials

While the U.S. was in lockdown, about 15 percent of Millennials told Ipsos that theyd tried a new beauty product, and that was split pretty evenly between cleansing items and facial care.

They were three-times as likely to have tried a new product than Gen X or Boomers, says Hull, adding such behavior tends to have stickiness. Probably on average 50 percent to two-thirds of people who have tried a new brand are willing to continue using it after the pandemic.

Many expect to see Millennials trading up when it comes to beauty. Maybe they want premium experiences, like taking an appointment with a brand and experiencing new items in a very small group, Nolte says.

A holistic approach to life will probably resonate a lot among Millennials and the Gen X  so everything that is healthier, cleaner, has an approach from inside-out, body and soul is key, without excluding the other generations, he continues.

Kathryn Bishop, foresight editor at The Future Laboratory, says the pandemic has been a massive period of digital connection for Millennials, who have embraced connection with beauty brands over platforms such as FaceTime and Zoom in their quest for a personal experience, education and guidance.

With Millennials mind-set skewing toward wellness, brands might focus more on self-care products and services.

That was a takeaway for Hershesons, for instance. While the companys salons remained shuttered in the U.K., it introduced Zoom appointments for clients. Many Millennials who signed on for those didnt actually want hair-related advice, but instead to chat with a hairstylist.

It turned into a bigger mental-wellness and well-being conversation, and that says a lot around the potential future services we could start to see from beauty and wellness brands. There is an opportunity to tie wellness, layer that conversation, that human layer back into digital service, says Bishop, who also expects Millennials penchant for DIY products probably to continue post-pandemic.

Generation X

During the pandemic, Generation Xers have tended to turn to their trusted brands.

They do trust advisers from brands and also word of mouth, like with their peers, Bishop says. For brands who want to speak to Gen X [nowadays they] need to be thinking: How do we tap into the kind of word of mouth of this generation?

When Ipsos asked older U.S. consumers about what matters more to them since the start of the pandemic, while safety remained important, physical health entered into the discourse.

Mintels numbers showed that Baby Boomers became increasingly concerned about their risk of exposure to COVID-19 as the pandemic continued.

So that fear factor, especially for the older Gen X and Baby Boomer generation, is going to stay for a long time, and that will have an impact on how quickly they are ready to get out in the world and get back to normal, Jindal says. Starting to think about how to cater to some of those consumers from a retail and a brand perspective is going to become really important.

[Gen Xers] are going to be the ones who really champion the return to stores, Bishop says. Most of them are still very much focused on this idea of browsing and buying in store.

There, Nolte suggests sales people might take on an even more important role for the demographic that might be sensitive to the added value of speaking with an expert.

Bishop suggests Gen Xers will be looking for products with greater benefits in sync with positive aging and renewal.

Its also going to be around an emergence of antibacterial claims woven into some products, she says. Gen X has this quite cheeky, fun, ironic, sarcastic streak that is sometimes overlooked, and actually brands need to play into that a little bit.

Baby Boomers

Ipsos reports that during the pandemic, Baby Boomers in the U.S. went from buying about 14 percent to approximately 44 percent of their high-end beauty online.

The older consumers were more likely to stick with [such online purchases], says Hull, citing 38 percent of Boomers, 53 percent of Gen Xers and approximately 26 percent of Gen Zers and Millennials.

Still, for older consumers, visits to brick-and-mortar stores will remain paramount.

A lot of these older Boomers  or even older elders  are often a little bit isolated from the other generations, so shopping for them is also a way to get in contact with people, Nolte says. To have real trained salespeople, who are good communicators, who are not just there to sell you something but also exchange, will have a real added value in offline retail.

Industry experts are noting a hankering in Boomers wanting pampering in hair salons post-lockdown.

Bishop cited a Mintel report saying that the 65-plus set was the demographic most likely to first race to British salons once they reopened.

Regarding product preferences, she says: They want formulations that are going to be tailored to their skin, the changes in the way that they look and how theyre feeling.

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Junior, left, Mari, Cheyenne and Subhi, the cast of the documentary "Unsettled." (Open Door Productions)

According to the documentary Unsettled, it is illegal in 70 countries to be gay, lesbian or transgender. In several of these nations, the penalty is death.

For many of these LGBTQ people facing daily threats and abuse, the U.S. has until recently seemed like the promised land, a place where they can live and love freely. Achieving refugee status, however, is often just the start of what can be an arduous journey.

The absorbing film, directed by Tom Shepard, follows four young LGBTQ refugees as they seek new lives in San Francisco: Subhi, a charismatic gay man from war-torn Syria, where he was threatened by ISIS; Cheyenne and Mari, a sweet lesbian couple ostracized by their community in Angola; and Junior, a gay Congolese man who first fled to South Africa only to be beaten by police after being disowned by his conservative Christian family.

Even in the Bay Area, with its diverse LGBTQ community, vigilant activists and supportive non-profit organizations, securing stable housing and employment, developing relationships and maintaining legal status are challenges. Bureaucracy, the high cost of living and discrimination become obstacles for these young men and women.

Lonely and isolated, they navigate a complex legal system that can sometimes keep them from working for months at a time, preventing them from attaining the security theyve dreamed about.

Shepard doggedly chronicles each narrative thread, balancing the refugees' reversals of fortune. As one subject's hopes are dashed, another's seem ascendant. For the most part, it's an efficient, observational documentary with sit-down interviews used judiciously, preserving the flow.

Its no secret that the U.S. has become less welcoming to refugees since 2016. In sharing these often harrowing stories, Unsettled paints a sobering but ultimately hopeful portrait of possibility for those who are allowed to enter.
Under Way in Europe Since May, In Preparation in the U.S.

Designated As An Urgent Public Health National Priority In U.K.

BETHESDA, Md., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RevImmune, a privately held biotechnology company developing CYT107 immune therapy for infectious diseases and cancer, announced today that it has launched the "ILIAD" Phase II trial for treatment of COVID-19.

Many COVID-19 clinical trials have focused on decreasing the hyper-inflammatory phase that often occurs in COVID-19 patients and can cause substantial damage. However, there is a growing recognition that the hyper-inflammatory phase is generally temporary, and is often followed by a stage of immune exhaustion and T cell loss. Therapy with CYT107 is designed to substantially increase the number of immune T cells and correct the immune exhaustion.

CYT107 is a therapeutic form of the master growth factor for human T cells: Interleukin-7 (IL-7). CYT107 has been administered to over 440 patients in clinical trials and is known to substantially increase the number and diversity of T cells, including in patients in the ICU with low and exhausted T cell levels from overwhelming infections. CYT107 has an excellent safety profile, even in very sick patients.

The "ILIAD" Phase II trial of CYT107 for COVID-19 was selected by the U.K. National Health System for designation as an "urgent public health national priority." The trial opened in the U.K. in mid-May and is enrolling patients at 10 sites across the U.K. The trial opened in France and Belgium in early June. Preparations for the trial are under way in the U.S.

In addition to the clinical trial in COVID-19, RevImmune has also treated 12 COVID-19 patients on a compassionate use basis. The data from the compassionate use cases support the ILIAD trial design and are in the process of peer reviewed publication.

The effects of CYT107/IL-7 in restoring immune levels are both rapid and durable. The treatment involves just two administrations per week for 2-4 weeks. In clinical trials to date, the effects have been seen within days of beginning administration of CYT107, and have been seen to continue for up to a year after the 2-4 week administration. This lasting effect of CYT107 to maintain the increase in immune cells over time is important in preventing late infections that are a frequent cause of patient relapse and hospital readmission.

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CYT107/IL-7 can readily be combined with other treatments as well. For example, CYT107/IL-7 can be combined with treatments such as Remdesivir, other anti-viral treatments and/or anti-inflammatory treatments. Thus, CYT107 offers a novel means of improving outcomes in COVID-19 and other infectious diseases by safely strengthening the patient's own immune system.

RevImmune is collaborating with a team of leading experts in critical care and immunology, including: Dr. Manu Shankar-Hari, the Principal Investigator leading the U.K. trial cohort, Dr. Bruno Francois, the Principal Investigator leading the trial cohort in France and Belgium, as well as Drs. Richard Hotchkiss and Ken Remy at Washington University in St. Louis, Drs. Lyle Moldawer and Scott Brakenridge at the University of Florida Gainesville, and Dr. Martin A. "Mac" Cheever, Director of the Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network (CITN) at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Dr. Remy commented: "data over the past few months from China, Italy, and the US have demonstrated that patients with COVID-19 infections have a sustained and severe loss of lymphocytes with a profound immune suppression. Patients who succumb to COVID-19 have the most severe loss of lymphocytes and have a 50% incidence of developing secondary hospital-acquired infections."

Dr. Hotchkiss explained that "IL-7 has well documented anti-viral activity in immuno-suppressed patients with HIV, hepatitis C, and JC virus. In addition, in a multi-center Phase II trial that we conducted with RevImmune, CYT107 also reversed lymphopenia (low levels of T cells) and improved immunity in patients with life threatening sepsis. We believe that IL-7/CYT107 represents an important new approach for treating immune-suppressed patients with a variety of infectious diseases."

About RevImmune

RevImmune is a privately held biotech company based in France, the U.S. and the U.K. RevImmune is in multiple Phase II trials with CYT107 for treatment of sepsis, certain infectious diseases and certain cancers. Over 440 patients have been treated with CYT107 in RevImmune's prior trials for multiple different viral diseases and sepsis. CYT107 showed an excellent safety profile and encouraging results in those trials.

Cision

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SOURCE RevImmune Inc
Paramedics load Bernie Erwig, 84, into an ambulance while he was removed from Magnolia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on April 8 in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Riverside County intensive care unit beds nearly hit capacity Sunday, when patients occupied 99% of the normal number of beds. Suspected and confirmed coronavirus patients account for about 35% of those beds, said Riverside spokeswoman Brooke Federico.

The shortage prompted a local member of Congress, a medical doctor, to call for the county to act immediately.

"I am calling on the County to immediately reverse their decision to rescind public health safety measures and reinstate their order to wear masks in public and to transparently communicate their social distancing and stay at home surge intervention plans and enforcement mechanisms," U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz, (D-Palm Desert) said in an email.

Local health authorities said the official numbers on bed capacity paint a misleadingly bleak picture.

Though Riverside County normally offers 385 licensed ICU beds, hospitals have already placed some overflow patients in surge-capacity beds. The extra beds are temporarily transitioned for intensive-care usage, with monitors, ventilators and IV pumps.

Michael Ditoro, chief operating officer at Desert Regional Medical Center, said the facility hit ICU-bed capacity "well prior to COVID. Year after year." The medical center's surge beds are equally equipped to treat patients as regular ICU beds, he said.

Bed capacity might not be their biggest challenge, Ditoro said. Instead, it's scant staffing.

"You don't really have a centralized area with the beds all around it where it's really quick to get to them. Instead, you may be in a longer hall unit where you need staff closer to each room," he said of the surge units.

Alan Williamson, the vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer at Eisenhower Health, reiterated the concern.

In the most drastic scenario, Eisenhower Health could accommodate 155 intensive-care patients. "But the question would be, 'Are you able to muster enough nursing staff and ancillary staff to run 155 ICU beds?'" he said.

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Hospital staff has been creating surge-capacity plans since the coronavirus broke out in March, Williamson said. He added that Eisenhower Health has planned five phases of surge capacity. He predicts that at Riverside County's coronavirus peak, the number of ICU patients at the hospital will double.

There are about 3,560 total licensed hospital beds at the 17 hospitals in Riverside County, 37% of which remain available, Federico said. Hospitals have stated that many of these beds can be transformed for intensive-care usage. Still, Williamson said only some rooms are ideally fit to treat COVID-19 patients, with negative pressure ventilation and transparent glass walls.

Though beds run low, many ventilators are unused. Out of the 680 ventilators in Riverside County, 499 remain available.

In late May, more than 60 patients from Imperial County were transferred to Riverside County for treatment. The transfers have since dropped and now the number of Imperial County patients has been reduced to three, said Federico.

"The state sent a medical assistance team to set up medical stations in Imperial County. We saw fewer transfers after that," she said. "And now, our hospitals are not available to take as many transfers."

The coronavirus situation in Riverside County remains bleak. As of Monday, Riverside County had tallied a total of 16,634 cases, 991 of which were reported since Friday. The number of infections doubles approximately every 27 days.

Riverside County remains on the state's "Targeted Engagement" watch list for counties that fall outside of acceptable health metrics defined by the California Department of Public Health. To fall within the acceptable metrics, the county would need to have more available ICU beds, fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people and a positive test rate lower than 8%.

Though Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered Sunday that seven counties immediately close all bars and nightclubs, Riverside County was not included in the order. State officials did suggest that local Riverside County officials put a similar order in place.

Riverside County residents are bound by Newsom's California-wide order on June 18 that all people wear masks while in public or high-risk settings.

Wearing masks and social distancing are the most effective ways to reduce the spread of coronavirus. It will take at least two weeks to see the results of any action taken today, so these measures must be put in place immediately. Any delay will only prolong the surge and cause many more people to become infected, sick and possibly die," Ruiz said.
Robert Jenrick has been accused of ignoring calls to reject the planning - REUTERS/Toby Melville/REUTERS/Toby Melville

Robert Jenrick has found himself under fresh pressure, after a whistleblower claimed he ignored pleas from senior officials to block the controversial Westferry printworks project.

The Housing Secretary reportedly overruled objections from civil servants and lawyers to greenlight Tory donor Richard Desmonds 1 billion development in January, with one source saying he showed total disregard for the law.

Mr Jenrick had weeks earlier watched a promotional video for the luxury East London project on the businessmans mobile phone during a dinner at the Savoy hotel in London.

Home Secretary Priti Patel insisted she would not be watching videos at Conservative fundraisers when quizzed on the matter on Sunday.

Ms Patel also argued that going to Tory events would absolutely not help a persons chances in securing planning permission as she described the matter as "closed".

She told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "I haven't followed the details of every single decision on this but what I do know and what I can tell you is that the correspondence, the documentation is out in the public domain on this particular application - and rightly so.

"The papers have been published, the Secretary of State has followed all issues around transparency.

"It has been discussed in Parliament a number of times, questions have been answered on this and the matter is deemed to be closed."

She defended Mr Jenrick after it was reported that civil servants warned him that the Westferry development violated planning rules and was "70 per cent to 80 per cent" likely to be judicially reviewed.

Mr Jenrick told officials that there was no point in arguing with his decision and failed to inform them he had met and texted with Mr Desmond, according to The Sunday Times.

Meanwhile, Mr Desmond claimed that Boris Johnson told him he would change gambling rules to help his business after the pair met at a Downing Street event in September.

According to the media mogul, Mr Johnson ran up to him and said he would raise the maximum legal jackpot for his Health Lottery to 1 million.

Mr Desmond said: He agreed it... He said, Right, good news for you. Were gonna do it.
The Constitution does not prohibit Louisiana from requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges in hospitals near where they operate. We know this fact from reading it; from the debates over the ratification of its provisions, none of which suggest that anyone believed that it could be used in such a fashion; and from the fact that for many decades states prohibited abortion altogether without anyones even alleging that they were violating the Constitution. Now five justices of the Supreme Court have conceded this obvious point.

The Court will not allow Louisiana this regulation anyway. Chief Justice John Roberts is one of the five justices who do not believe the law conflicts with the Constitution, rightly interpreted. He voted in 2016 that an identical Texas law should be upheld, and his opinion in the Louisiana case says that he still agrees with his reasoning then. Nevertheless, he claims to believe that the Louisiana law is too similar to the law that his colleagues in 2016 struck down over his dissent. The force of precedent, he maintains, requires the law to be nullified. Otherwise, Americans would lack confidence in the rule of law. It is, on the other hand, wonderfully inspiring to that confidence for a justice to strike down a law that he concedes the state had the constitutional authority to enact.

It is impossible to credit Robertss claim that respect for precedent dictated his decision. He has been perfectly willing to overrule precedents in the past. Some of them were of much longer standing. Janus v. AFSCME (2018), on public-sector unions, overruled Abood v. Detroit (1977). Some of them involved cases that presented nearly identical fact patterns. Gonzales v. Carhart (2007) upheld a ban on partial-birth abortion of a type that had been struck down in Stenberg v. Carhart (2000).

The Courts abortion precedents bear the marks of repeated torture. In Roe v. Wade (1973), the Court purported to find a right to abortion in the Constitution. Casey v. Planned Parenthood (1992) put new limits on that right while saying it had to stay in the name of precedent: Abortion regulations would be upheld unless they placed an undue burden on the right. Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt, the 2016 decision, purported to apply Casey while changing it: Now abortion regulations had to pass a cost-benefit test imposed by the justices. In the latest decision, Chief Justice Roberts pretends that Whole Womans Health had not changed Casey at all. Never mind that in 2016, he joined an opinion that explained how it had changed it. Behold the majesty of the law.

Story continues

The pro-life movement has persisted all these decades, no matter how long the odds, no matter how beleaguered the cause, no matter how insistently it was told that the question of the human rights of unborn children had been settled. It is secure in the conviction that all human beings have a right not to be killed, whatever their age or size or location or condition of dependence. It knows that what the Supreme Court has kept saying about our nations fundamental law is a slander. This latest sad and unconvincing decision should not cause pro-lifers to slacken for a moment.

One can only speculate why Chief Justice Roberts has engaged in his contortions. Perhaps he believes that this decision will somehow strengthen the legitimacy of the Supreme Court as an institution above political strife. Instead, he has reinforced the impression, on all sides of our national debates, that he is the most politically calculating of the justices. He has diminished the belief in the impartiality of judges among those Americans who have been most reluctant to give it up. What he has accomplished for his institution is further disgrace.

More from National Review
Click here to read the full article.

The Israeli defense and technology company Rafael is participating in Polands newest anti-tank program. The program, called the Ottokar-Brzoza tank destroyer program, aims to outfit Polish forces with a powerful new anti-tank capability.

The NLOS is the longest-range variant in Rafaels SPIKE missile family. According to company data, the NLOS has a standoff range of thirty-two kilometers, or nearly twenty miles, giving the missile a large coverage area. The NLOS guidance unit identifies targets visually, without laser guidance, tracking radar, or GPS. As a result, the missile is less likely to be detected and intercepted before reaching its target and is considered stealthier. The missile uses forward observers on the ground or UAVs in the air to relay optical target information to the missile, which can differentiate between high- and low-level targets while in flight.

If the SPIKE NLOS is accepted, the Israeli company would license missile production to Mesko, a Polish munitions manufacturer, and the NLOS would be manufactured in Polandan attractive offer for Polands domestic defense industry.

Rafaels design features a hull-mounted missile launcher that holds eight SPIKE NLOS missiles and may be mounted to Polands KTO Rosomak 8x8 vehicle, or alternatively to Polands Soviet-era BWP-1. Mating the NLOS system to the latter platform could potentially give an otherwise obsolete vehicle new abilities.

Importantly for both Poland and Rafael, the newer NLOS launcher is compatible with the thousands of SPIKE missile variants that Poland already has in service, including the SPIKE LR and SPIKE LR2, and would give Polish forces a greater amount of logistical flexibility. The NLOS is also slated to participate in Polands Kruk attack helicopter program, a competition that aims to replace the aged Mi-24 helicopter fleet still flown by the country.

If Rafael wins the tender, the deal could potentially be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on how many NLOS units Poland buys and how widely the anti-tank missiles are distributed. Despite being manufactured by a non-NATO country, the SPIKE NLOS and other SPIKE variants are interoperable with NATO, another beneficial feature for the Alliance partner.

Story continues

NATO Compatible, But Uncertainties Remain

Polands tank destroyer program is intended to bolster the countrys defenses against major armored movements from the East, namely Russia. Still, uncertainties linger.

NATO recently completed Defender-Europe 20, which was the largest deployment of U.S.-based forces to Europe in more than 25 years with 20,000 soldiers deployed directly from the U.S. to Europe, according to official reports. Another exercise within the Defender-Europe framework, Allied Spirit, focused on interoperability at the tactical level and saw 6,000 Polish and American troops training together in Poland.

Both exercises come on the heels of President Trumps threat to remove Germany-based American troops, though where exactly the troops would be moved to remains uncertain. Locations as far away as Guam and Hawaii have been suggested as part of Americas reorientation toward the Pacific, though moving formerly Germany-based troops to Poland isnt out of the question.

An American presence in Poland is seen as essential to deterring Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. In 2019, Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda reportedly agreed to move up to 1,000 American troops to Poland, and more American troops in Poland would not only be welcomebut necessary for preventing or resisting a Russian invasion. With or without the Americans, Polish capabilities appear poised to grow.

Caleb Larson is a defense writer with the National Interest. He holds a Master of Public Policy and covers U.S. and Russian security, European defense issues, and German politics and culture.

Image: Reuters

Click here to read the full article.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration's handling of Russia-related matters came under renewed scrutiny Monday as officials acknowledged that U.S. spies obtained intelligence about a Russian bounty program in Afghanistan  but they said the president wasn't told about it.

An official familiar with the intelligence told NBC News that it shows that U.S. service members and Afghan civilians died as a result of Russian payments to the Taliban, but other officials said the intelligence hasn't been corroborated.

The official didn't offer details, and the CIA and other agencies declined to comment. President Donald Trump and his own spokeswoman offered contradictory descriptions. Trump said in a tweet late Sunday that "Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me" or to Vice President Mike Pence.

At a White House briefing Monday, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said "there was not a consensus" among the intelligence community about the information, which was first reported Friday by The New York Times. She added that there "are dissenting opinions" and that the intelligence "was not verified." The deaths resulting from the Russian payments were first reported Sunday by The Washington Post.

Presidents are frequently briefed on intelligence that isn't fully verified, current and former officials said. In the spy world, saying intelligence is unverified doesn't automatically bear on whether it is credible.

Members of Congress from both parties have demanded that the Trump administration respond, and they have questioned why the president wouldn't have been in the loop. The director of national intelligence is expected to announce an interagency review, a senior official said.

Download the NBC News app for breaking news and alerts

McEnany's comments are consistent with what multiple officials told NBC News: that there is intelligence about Russians' offering a bounty to kill Americans but that officials disagree about the implications and significance of the plot.

Story continues

Two senior administration officials said the U.S. received "raw intelligence based on limited sourcing" suggesting that Russia was offering cash for deaths of U.S. troops and coalition forces in Afghanistan.

The officials said that the intelligence wasn't corroborated broadly within the intelligence community and that there was disagreement about it.

IMAHE: Marine commandant meets with Task Force Southwest personnel (Sgt. Justin Updegraff / U.S. Marine Corps file)

Some officials thought the intelligence was valid, while others disagreed, the officials said.

The issue came up at a meeting of low-level staffers at the National Security Council in March, the two officials said. The meeting was about Russia's malign activity broadly, and the intelligence was part of the discussion.

The National Security Council officials examined options for responding in case the intelligence was verified.

Trump learned about the matter only after it became public in news reports, the officials said.

The Taliban denies that there was a bounty program, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, pushed back in an exclusive interview, calling reports of such a program "ridiculous."

"It's a little bit rude, but this is 100 percent bulls---," Peskov said. "It's as simple as that."

U.S. defense and intelligence officials say Russia has been supporting the Taliban for years, and the Russian military intelligence unit in question  Unit 29155  is believed to have been involved in assassinations around the world, including the 2018 poisoning of an ex-Russian spy and his daughter in England.

It's therefore not surprising, these officials say, that this Russian group would be plotting violence against the U.S.

That world-weary view doesn't explain, however, why the president wouldn't be briefed about intelligence of a lethal program run by one of America's top adversaries.

"This information was circulating among his most senior advisers, and they had an obligation to bring that to him so that he could have a part in the discussion," said NBC News contributor Nick Rasmussen, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center.

Rasmussen said Trump's dismissal of the matter was disturbing.

"I'm not sure either of [the president's] answers  nobody told me or I wasn't aware  should give the American people much comfort," he said.
By Marwa Rashad

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi and U.S. officials on Monday urged the global community to extend a U.N. arms embargo on Iran, saying that failing to do so would allow Tehran to further arm its proxies and destabilise the Middle East.

The arms curbs on Iran are due to expire in October under the terms of Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The U.N. Security Council will decide on the matter and veto-powers Russia and China have signalled they oppose reimposing the ban.

"Despite the embargo, Iran seeks to provide weapons to terrorist groups, so what will happen if the embargo is lifted? Iran will become more ferocious and aggressive," Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs Adel al-Jubeir told a joint news conference with U.S. Iran envoy Brian Hook in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in several proxy wars in the region, including in Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling the Iran-aligned Houthi movement for five years.

Jubeir said a shipment of Iranian weapons bound for the Houthis was seized as recently as Sunday. Hook said similar shipments were intercepted in February and last November.

The conference venue displayed weapons, including drones and missiles, that Saudi authorities said were used in cross-border Houthi attacks on Saudi cities.

"We urge the international community to extend the embargo on selling arms to Iran and on Iran's ability to sell arms to the world," Jubeir said.

Iran denies arming groups in the Middle East, including the Houthis, and blames regional tensions on the United States and its Gulf allies.

Hook said lifting the ban would "only embolden" Tehran, drive greater instability and trigger a regional arms race.

"This is not an outcome that the U.N. Security Council can accept," he added.

Iran has warned it will respond if the embargo is extended and said such a decision would endanger the 2015 nuclear pact, under which Tehran agreed to halt its disputed uranium enrichment programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Washington withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to stop complying with key restrictions imposed on its nuclear activity by the accord.

(Reporting by Marwa Rashad; Additional reporting by Alexander Cornwell and Lisa Barrington in Dubai; Writing by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Dakar (AFP) - It took one morning in late May to cut a large chunk from the side of a seaside volcanic hill in Senegal's capital Dakar, to make way for a hotel.

A man had turned up with permits and diggers got to work, according to Mamadou Mignane Diouf, an official from a local campaign group called Forum Social, who fought against the development.

"No one should build here," said Diouf, who explained that the hill, which supports the city's lighthouse, is a protected site.

Exploitable land is limited in the rapidly expanding West African metropolis of some three million people, which is situated on a peninsula that juts into the Atlantic.

For years, developers have targeted Dakar's picture-postcard shoreline for developing luxury hotels and apartment blocks, manoeuvring anarchic building regulations.

But with open spaces declining, locals are complaining the shoreline is being destroyed, and that developments block their access to some of the last open spaces in the cramped city.

May's incident with the volcanic hill touched a nerve, triggering protests as well as a national debate about how to conserve the shoreline.

- 'Already a lot of damage' -

A Dakar landmark, the seaside hill is one of a pair known as the "Mamelles" -- French for "udders" -- and is already surrounded by building sites.

Local police have stopped the building work, after the uproar, but a large earth-red gouge remains in the hillside.

"They've already done a lot of damage," said Diouf, standing among rubble at the foot of the hill.

"Why do a few privileged people think that only they have the right to access the coast, to privatise it?" he said, reflecting a widely held frustration.

Senegal's urbanisation minister Abdou Karim Fofana told AFP that the government is working on a law to protect the coastline.

But land titles and building permits awarded under previous administrations mean that many ongoing building projects will likely go foward, he said.

Story continues

Senegal is a poor nation of some 16 million people, where a push for economic development is going hand in hand with growing concern about environmental issues.

- 'Law of the strongest' -

Marianne Alis Gomis, a local government official who is fighting shoreline build-up, said that poor records explain Dakar's construction free-for-all.

"The main problem is land title," she said, explaining that little documentation concerning land ownership usually exists.

The vast majority of buildings in Dakar are illegal, Gomis said, while many local government officials misunderstand building codes.

Gomis' local commune, Mermoz-Sacre-Coeur, is currently embroiled in a dispute over an apartment block development beside one Dakar's main open beaches, raising fears that it will be privatised.

The developers have a permit, but they received it from a neighbouring commune.

Gomis and other colleagues in the Mermoz commune insist that the construction site is in their commune. Both local authorities have submitted arguments to the local gendarmerie.

Mermoz mayor Barthelemy Diaz called the project a "blatant attack" on the public domain, which would lead to coastal erosion.

Abdou Karim Fofana, the urbanisation minister, said the government is committed to protecting the shoreline but cautioned that building would be impossible to stop in some cases.

"The damage has already been done, the titles have been given," he said.

The minister added that the government is working on a new law to protect the shoreline, however, while trying to help local authorities properly assess requests for planning permission.

"We have to save the parts (of the coast) that aren't occupied so that the Senegalese and Dakar population can access it," Fofana said.

Local residents are adamant, however, that all building should stop.

Balla Magassa, 43, who runs a small bar on a narrow stretch of beach surrounded by developments -- below the Mamelles -- said he was afraid his patch of sand would one day be engulfed.

"It will spill out," he said, adding that the whole area was once sandy beach.

"It's the law of the strongest," Magassa added.
DUBLIN, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Shore Power Market by Installation (Shoreside, Shipside), by Connection (New Installation, Retrofit), Component (Transformers, Frequency Converters, and More), Power Output (Up to 30 MVA, 30 to 60 MVA, Above 60 MVA), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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The shore power market size is projected to reach USD 1.4 billion by 2025 from USD 1.1 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 6.7%.



Rising adoption of new technologies for limiting carbon emissions in the developed regions is the key driver for this market during the forecast period.

Shoreside installation is expected to be largest market during forecast period

The market has been segmented, by installation, into shoreside and shipside installations. The shoreside segment is expected to be the most shore power market, by installation, during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the high cost of components that need to be installed in shoreside shore power systems. Also, some additional components are required on the shoreside to make the shoreside shore power system more flexible and meet the power requirements of different types of vessels.

New installation segment is expected to be largest in the shore power market, by connection, during forecast period

The shore power market, by connection, has been segmented into new installations and retrofit. The new installation segment is expected to be the largest in the shore power market, by location, during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the increase in the number of stringent environmental norms by various countries. All under-construction ports and upcoming vessels are being installed with shore power systems during construction or beforehand. This procedure also reduces the cost of implementation.

Frequency converters segment is expected to hold largest share of shore power market, by component, during forecast period

Story continues

The market has been segmented, by component, into transformers, switchgear devices, frequency converters, cables and accessories, and others, including safety grounding equipment and plugs. Frequency converters enable the shoreside shore power system to supply frequency matching the vessel's operating frequency.

North America is expected to lead in global shore power

Though the Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market during the forecast period, North America is the largest shore power market, followed by Europe and the Asia Pacific. It is expected in North America that there will be maximum adoption and implementation of shore power systems owing to the favourable regulations in multiple states across the countries. Major countries in this region include the US and Canada. The North American region experiences significant vessel movement owing to the sea-bound trade of commodities. Additionally, the US and Canada are among the top oil producers in the world who export this oil to other parts of the world.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Introduction

2 Research Methodology

3 Executive Summary



4 Premium Insights

4.1 Attractive Opportunities in Shore Power Market

4.2 Shore Power Market, by Region

4.3 Shore Power Market, by Installation Type

4.4 Shore Power Market, by Connection

4.5 North American Shore Power Market, by Installation Type and Country, 2019

4.6 Shore Power Market, by Component

5 Market Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Covid-19 Health Assessment

5.3 Market Dynamics

5.3.1 Drivers

5.3.1.1 Growing Noise and Air Pollution from Port Operations

5.3.1.2 Increasing Number of Cruise Passengers

5.3.1.3 Rising Government Initiatives to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ports and Supportive Shore Power Regulations

5.3.2 Restraints

5.3.2.1 High Capex Investments

5.3.3 Opportunities

5.3.3.1 Retrofitting Older Ships and Ports With Shore Power Technology

5.3.3.2 Integrating Shore Power With Offshore Wind, Floating Solar, and Other Renewables

5.3.4 Challenges

5.3.4.1 Low Fuel Costs and Minimal Returns

5.3.4.2 Operational Difficulties and Technical Challenges

5.4 Impact of Covid-19

5.4.1 Impact on Shipping Industry

5.5 Technology Analysis

5.5.1 Wireless Shore Power

5.6 Value Chain Analysis

5.6.1 Shore Power Manufacturers and Providers

5.6.2 Port Authorities

5.6.3 Shipping Industry

5.6.4 Government Regulations



6 Covid-19 Impact on Shore Power Market, Scenario Analysis, By Region

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Impact of Covid-19 on Gdp

6.2.1 Scenario Analysis of Cargo Shipping and Cruise Liner Industry

6.2.2 Optimistic Scenario

6.2.3 Realistic Scenario

6.2.4 Pessimistic Scenario

7 Shore Power Market, by Installation Type

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Shoreside

7.2.1 Emphasis on Curbing Carbon Emissions Creating Requirement for Shoreside Installations

7.3 Shipside

7.3.1 Low Cost of Deployment and Seamless Integration of Port Operations Boosting Market for Shipside Installations

8 Shore Power Market, by Connection

8.1 Introduction

8.2 New Installation

8.2.1 Stringent Government Regulations and Low Installation Cost Foster Market for New Installations

8.3 Retrofit

8.3.1 Increased Need to Minimize Carbon Emissions and Noise Levels from Old Ships Encourages Adoption of Retrofit Solutions

9 Shore Power Market, by Component

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Transformers

9.2.1 Growing Transformer Requirement for Smooth Operation of Shore Power Systems

9.3 Switchgear Devices

9.3.1 Rising Need for Switchgear Devices to Ensure Reliable and Safe Shore Power Operations

9.4 Frequency Converters

9.4.1 Surging Demand for Frequency Converters to Match Shipside and Shoreside Frequencies

9.5 Cables and Accessories

9.5.1 Growing Necessity for Cables and Supporting Accessories for Proper Transmission of Power

9.6 Others



10 Shore Power Market, by Power Output

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Up to 30 MVA

10.2.1 Requirement for Low Capex, Coupled With Their Compact Dimensions, Boosting Demand for Shore Power Systems Having Power Range of Up to 30 MVA

10.3 30 to 60 MVA

10.3.1 Focus of Shipbuilders to Construct Large and Extra Large Ships to Drive Demand for Shore Power Systems With Power Output Ranging from 30 to 60 MVA

10.4 Above 60 MVA

10.4.1 Ability to Supply Multiple Ships Parallelly to Propel Growth of Market for Shore Power Systems Having Power Output of Above 60 MVA

11 Shore Power Market, by Region

11.1 Introduction

11.2 North America

11.2.1 Impact of Covid-19 on North American Shore Power Market:

11.2.2 Us

11.2.2.1 Growing Shipping Industry With Increasing Tourism and Trade to Boost Demand for Shore Power Systems

11.2.3 Canada

11.2.3.1 Increasing Investments in Oil & Gas Projects to Promote Shore Power Setup at Ports

11.3 South America

11.3.1 Impact of Covid-19 on South American Shore Power Market:

11.3.2 Brazil

11.3.2.1 Growing Oil Export Activities in Brazil to Create Need for Shore Power Systems

11.3.3 Argentina

11.3.3.1 Increasing Trading of Mined Minerals to Be Beneficial for Shore Power Market in Future

11.3.4 Rest of South America

11.4 Middle East & Africa

11.4.1 Impact of Covid-19 on Middle Eastern & African Shore Power Market:

11.4.2 Uae

11.4.2.1 Increasing Oil Trading and Tourism Activities to Generate Need for Shore Power

11.4.3 Saudi Arabia

11.4.3.1 Increasing Trading Activities of Oil and Natural Gas to Create Favorable Conditions for Shore Power Market

11.4.4 Egypt

11.4.4.1 Rising Focus on Implementing Shore Power Systems on Multiple Ports to Foster Market Growth

11.4.5 South Africa

11.4.5.1 Growing Trading-Related Activities of Oil and Natural Gas to Encourage Utilization of Shore Power Technique on Ports

11.4.6 Rest of Middle East & Africa

11.5 Europe

11.5.1 Impact of Covid-19 on European Shore Power Market:

11.5.2 Sweden

11.5.2.1 Surging Requirement for Importing Goods and Growing Cruise Ship Tourism to Propel Shore Power Market Growth

11.5.3 Germany

11.5.3.1 Rapidly Growing Maritime and Shipping Industries to Accelerate Demand for Shore Power Systems

11.5.4 UK

11.5.4.1 Thriving Shipping Industry in Country to Fuel Installation of Shore Power Systems

11.5.5 Russia

11.5.5.1 Increasing Sea-Bound Trade to Boost Shore Power Demand

11.5.6 Netherlands

11.5.6.1 Enhancing Maritime Industry in Country Stimulating Need for Shore Power to Minimize Pollution

11.5.7 Norway

11.5.7.1 Rising Focus on Deployment of New Technologies Such as Shore Power to Reduce Carbon Footprint

11.5.8 Rest of Europe

11.6 Asia-Pacific

11.6.1 Impact of Covid-19 on Shore Power Market in Asia-Pacific:

11.6.2 China

11.6.2.1 Increased Vessel Movement With Growing Trading Activities to Propel Growth of Shore Power Market

11.6.3 Japan

11.6.3.1 High Emphasis on Reducing Carbon Emissions, Coupled With Expanding Trading Activities, to Spur Shore Power Demand

11.6.4 South Korea

11.6.4.1 Rapid Growth of Shipbuilding Industry Requires Country to Be Well Equipped With Shore Power Systems

11.6.5 India

11.6.5.1 High Government Focus to Make Country Cleaner and Greener, Along With Thriving Maritime Industry, to Support Adoption of Shore Power Technology

11.6.6 Australia

11.6.6.1 Trading of Fuels and Growing Shipbuilding Industry to Create Opportunities for Providers of Shore Power Systems

11.6.7 Singapore

11.6.7.1 High Emphasis of Government on Utilization of Green Solutions to Reduce Carbon Emissions Likely to Encourage Implementation of Shore Power Solutions

11.6.8 Rest of Asia-Pacific

12 Competitive Landscape

12.1 Overview

12.2 Competitive Leadership Mapping (Overall Market)

12.2.1 Star

12.2.2 Emerging Leaders

12.2.3 Pervasive

12.2.4 Other Players

12.3 Market Share, 2019

12.4 Revenue Analysis of Top 5 Players

12.5 Competitive Scenario

12.5.1 Contracts & Agreements

12.5.2 Partnerships & Collaborations

12.5.3 Investments & Expansions

12.5.4 Product Launches

12.5.5 Mergers & Acquisitions

13 Company Profiles

13.1 Siemens

13.2 Schneider Electric

13.3 Cavotec

13.4 Wartsila

13.5 Vinci Energies

13.6 Danfoss

13.7 Abb (Hitachi)

13.8 Esl Power Systems

13.9 Igus

13.10 Blueday Technology

13.11 Cochran Marine

13.12 Preen

13.13 Smartplug

13.14 Piller Power Systems

13.15 Power Systems International

13.16 Ratio Electric

13.17 Sydney Marine Electrical

13.18 Ocean Electrics

13.19 Conntek Integrated Solutions

13.20 Patton and Cooke



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SOURCE Research and Markets
Antarctica is bearing the brunt of climate change, according to scientists. (Getty)

The South Pole, the most remote place on the planet, has warmed three times faster than other areas over the past three decades, scientists have said.

Research published in Nature Climate Change found that an abrupt shift has seen temperatures at the pole rocket upwards from 1989.

Since that point, temperatures at the South Pole have risen 0.6C per decade, three times the rate for the rest of the planet.

Researchers believe that the high temperatures are being fuelled not just by a rise in greenhouse gases, but also by natural weather shifts in the tropics.

Read more: A 1988 warning about climate change was mostly right

The 'double whammy' sheds light on why Antarctica is bearing the brunt of climate change.

Dr Kyle Clem, of Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, said: These trends were unlikely the result of natural climate change alone.

The effects have likely worked in tandem to make this one of the strongest warming trends on Earth.

The South Pole has warmed at over three times the global rate since 1989, he added.

The average rise of 0.61C per decade was mainly driven by natural tropical climate variability  and was likely intensified by the burning of fossil fuels, Dr Clem said.

Paradise Harbor in Antarctica, where warming has risen sharply in recent years. (Getty)

His team analysed weather station data, gridded observations and climate models to examine the phenomenon.

The study found it was chiefly driven by warmer ocean temperatures in the western tropical Pacific.

This has lowered atmospheric pressure over Antarcticas Weddell Sea  and increased the delivery of warm air.

Dr Clem said: These changes along the coast are an important mechanism driving extreme multi-decadal climate anomalies in its interior.

Read more: Melting snow in Himalayas drives growth of green sea slime visible from space

They must be considered to accurately assess and attribute large or abrupt changes over the data-sparse Antarctic interior.

There are strong regional contrasts in temperature within the Antarctic, the researchers said.

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Dr Clem added: Most of West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula experienced warming and ice-sheet thinning during the late 20th century.

By contrast, the South Pole  located in the remote and high-altitude continental interior  cooled until the 1980s, but has since warmed substantially.

These trends are affected by natural and anthropogenic climate change, but the individual contribution of each factor is not well understood."

Read more: Why economists worry that reversing climate change is hopeless

They appear to be caused by increasing tropical western Pacific temperatures and regional changes in winds induced by a warming planet.

Dr Sharon Stammerjohn and Dr Ted Scambos, environmental scientists at Colorado University who were not involved in the study, said the take-home message is no place is immune to climate change.

They said: Warming at the South Pole is significant, but its mean temperature is still far below freezing.

This is not the case for the coastlines of Antarctica, nor for its weak underbelly, the marine-grounded West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

"Without a doubt, these are unprecedented times, both for the health of our planet and for its inhabitants.

Unless we take measures to flatten the curve on global carbon emissions, Antarctica's contribution to a warmer world and sea-level rise could potentially be catastrophic given the strong feedbacks and tipping points inherent in polar systems.
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Here's What You Need To Remember: To this day, virtually no declassified information exists on the evacuation of Tallinn.

Early in World War II, a bitter joke circulated within the Soviet military. It ran, What is the first thing Russia does when war is declared? It scuttles the fleet! The joke referred to sad events in Russian naval history. In 1855, after the Crimean War, Russia lost the right to maintain a fleet in the Black Sea, and in 1904-1905 during the disastrous Russo-Japanese War, Russia lost two out of its three fleets. In 1941, the Soviet Union, born out of old Imperial Russias ashes, almost lost its Baltic Fleet.

Containing the Soviet Fleet

In 1940, without firing a shot, the Soviet Union absorbed the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, situated on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. Along with territorial acquisition, this move was a major coup in projecting Soviet naval presence westward. Besides taking in the tiny navies and merchant marine fleets of the three states, the Soviet Red Banner Baltic Fleet acquired a number of important naval bases on the Baltic Sea. Chief among them was Tallinn, capital of Estonia and a major port city. A chain of several other bases, including a large one at Riga, the Latvian capital, extended farther west along the coast.

On June 22, 1941, mutual expansionist policies inevitably brought Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union into armed conflict. Lacking capital ships in the Gulf of Finland, which rated a low priority, the German Marinekommando Nord fleet consisted mainly of torpedo boats, minesweepers, and submarine flotillas, augmented by the small but skilled Finnish Navy. In contrast, its opponent, the vastly superior Soviet Baltic Fleet, was composed of two battleships, four cruisers, and 15 destroyers plus numerous smaller craft and submarines.

The rapid pace of the German invasion of the Soviet Union took the Soviet High Command by surprise. As German troops briskly pressed eastward through the Baltic States, the Soviet naval bases began falling like dominoes. The escaping Soviet naval vessels were being pushed farther east into the Gulf of Finland. By mid-August 1941, Tallinn had become the westernmost Soviet naval base on the Baltic Sea.

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Just days before hostilities began, the German Kriegsmarine and its Finnish allies had begun laying extensive minefields in strategic locations in the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Germans and Finns relied heavily on mines to negate the Soviet advantage and to protect their own shipping lanes. East of Tallinn, in the immediate vicinity of Cape Juminda, was a heavily mined area of the Gulf of Finland. This major minefield was designed to interdict Soviet operations between their Kronstadt base on Kotlin Island near Leningrad and the rest of the Baltic Sea. Overall, more than 2,000 mines were in place in Juminda waters.

From the opening of hostilities, the Soviet Navy lost the initiative despite its numerical and qualitative superiority. Its losses began to mount steadily, mainly falling prey to mines. Hardly a day went by without a ship sunk, often with all hands. Aggressively led German and Finnish light forces effectively cowed the Soviet naval presence in the Baltic.

On the landward side, Red Army forces were led by Marshal Kliment Voroshilov, who possessed the highest Soviet military rank but was not a capable military tactician. His paramount attribute was complete political reliability and unquestioning obedience to the instructions of Premier Josef Stalin. Despite his best efforts, Voroshilov was completely unable to shore up his crumbling front.

Driving toward Leningrad, German Army Group North brushed aside the Soviet Eighth Army, the closest Soviet formation to Tallinn. No plans to defend the city from a land-based attack were prepared before the war, and it was too late now. On July 22, the Germans struck at the juncture of the X and XI Rifle Corps of the Eighth Army. As a result of this action, the X Rifle Corps was cut off from the rest of the army and fell back to the vicinity of Tallinn. On August 5, the Germans cut the Tallinn-Leningrad railroad and reached the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Tallinn now lay 200 miles behind the German lines.

The Defense of Tallinn

Responsibility for defending the city and the naval base fell to the commander of the Baltic Sea Fleet, Admiral Vladimir F. Tributs. The Red Army forces available for defense were woefully insufficient, consisting mainly of the depleted X Rifle Corps and the 22nd NKVD (Secret Police) Division, which had performed guard and escort duties in the Baltic states before the war, shuttling prisoners to the horrific gulags.

To supplement the Army troops, any sailors who could be spared from the ships were formed into naval infantry detachments to fight on land. In addition, all naval shore facilities were swept of nonessential personnel, and they were placed in naval infantry detachments as well. These measures produced more than 10,000 sailors to bolster the citys defenses. Additionally, several militia regiments totaling close to 4,000 Latvian and Estonian communists and volunteers joined the defenders. There was no time to train the sailors and militia units in infantry skills, and they suffered appalling casualties in the subsequent fighting. Initially, there were not enough rifles to arm them, and the weapons had to be flown in from Kronstadt.

Because of the weakness of the ground forces, artillery became the backbone of Tallinns defenses. Ships anchored in Tallinns harbor provided fire support for ground units. Numerous naval spotter teams were placed with the ground units to facilitate fire control, but frequent communication difficulties made the massive naval gunfire often ineffective. Still, on many occasions, all that prevented German breakthroughs was the tremendous volume of fire provided by the cruiser Kirovand her destroyer escorts. Additional fire support came from large-caliber shore batteries, some mounting 305mm guns.

As the Germans came closer and closer, the Red Air Force lost its airfields as well, with most of the surviving aircraft flying east where they joined in the defense of Leningrad. A small number of older Ilyushin I-16 fighters belonging to the Soviet Navy continued operating for a time from a tiny landing strip jammed between a fishing village and the waters edge. Eventually, they followed their Air Force counterparts eastward, and Tallinn was left without air support.

On August 21, the Germans breached the defenses of the city itself. Despite valiant efforts, the dwindling Soviet forces could not hold them back. Tallinns harbor was now within range of German field artillery, and Soviet ships began taking hits. This caused the ships to frequently change positions, reducing the effectiveness of their fire and further weakening the land defenses.

The Red Army Evacuates

Despite the gravity of their situation, nobody at the headquarters of the Baltic Sea Fleet, including Admiral Tributs, dared to ask Voroshilov for permission to evacuate the city. Punishment for being labeled a panic-monger was very real, often carrying the death penalty. Finally, on August 25, Tributs went over Voroshilovs head and submitted a carefully phrased request for instructions to Chief of the Navy Admiral Nikolai G. Kuznetsov. The last portion of the report stated, The harbors and piers are under enemy fire. The Military Council  is requesting your instructions and decisions concerning the ships, units of the 10th Corps and fleet shore defenses in case of enemy breakthrough into town itself and the pullback of our forces to the sea. Embarkation on transports in this eventuality would be impossible. Tributss concern mirrored Admiral Kuznetsovs own misgivings, and he took this matter directly to the high command. After much deliberation, permission to evacuate Tallinn and break through to Kronstadt was finally granted late on the evening of August 26.

With permission granted, the Soviets began frantic planning for the evacuation of over 200 ships and close to 40,000 military personnel and civilians. The ships gathered in Tallinns harbor were a hodgepodge of both warships and support vessels ranging in size from massive civilian passenger liners converted into transports to the heavy cruiser Kirov, destroyers, submarines, and tugboats.

Fortunately, while waiting for final orders, senior Soviet commanders had already put together contingency plans for evacuation. Now these plans had to be finalized and last-minute corrections made. At the same time, special teams began destroying military equipment that could not be evacuated. The citys utilities and other infrastructure were also rendered inoperable to deny their use to the enemy.

Three Routes of Retreat

There were three routes of retreat to Kronstadt through the Gulf of Finland, which is only 20 nautical miles wide in some places. The northern route, close to the Finnish shore and under the enemy air support umbrella, was immediately ruled unacceptable even though it was almost completely free of mines. According to intelligence reports that the British government passed on to its Soviet allies, there were no German capital ships in the Baltic Sea or the Gulf of Finland. Lacking their own intelligence sources, the Soviet commanders still classified the British reports as unconfirmed and unreliable. Without any concrete data about the German surface fleet, Soviet admirals allowed for the possibility of German warships attempting to interfere with the run to Kronstadt.

The southern route would have taken the fleet along almost 200 miles of coastline occupied by German forces. Orders arrived from Voroshilovs headquarters expressly forbidding Tributs to evacuate his fleet along this route. Ostensibly, these categorical instructions stemmed from the fact that this route would expose the fleet to treacherous and shallow waters and fire from German shore batteries. Several senior officers headed by Rear Admiral Yuriy F. Rall argued that this channel already had been successfully navigated by more than 200 ships. German artillery fire that could be brought to bear on the fleet would be conducted mainly by field artillery, easily countered by the heavier and more numerous guns of the Soviet naval vessels. Even a shore battery mounting 150mm guns captured by Germans at Cape Juminda was no threat to the Soviet ships.

The real reason for denying the southern route was Soviet mistrust of the Latvian and Estonian crews of numerous transports carrying evacuees and equipment. This paranoia was fed for two reasons. There was an incident in which a converted transport captained and crewed largely by Estonian civilian sailors had been intentionally run aground on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland so that the crew could defect to the Germans. It was also feared that the crews of Soviet naval vessels, given an opportunity, might defect to the Germans.

Therefore, the Soviet high command ordered the evacuation from Tallinn to proceed along the middle route, even though it was thickly sown with German and Finnish mines. The Germans and Finns had been mining the waters of the middle route even before the German invasion of the Soviet Union, and the Axis sailors had been amazed at the apparent Soviet passivity.

Planning the Evacuation

The mission was made further hazardous by the dearth of minesweeping vessels. Obsessed with powerful warships, the Soviet shipbuilding industry had severely neglected the production of support vessels, and the Soviet Navy entered the war with a pronounced shortage of minesweeping capability. To further aggravate the problem, those minesweepers that were available were often used in capacities for which they were not designed, especially as transport ships. Admiral Rall and his staff estimated that almost 100 minesweepers would be necessary to adequately lead the Baltic Fleet during the breakout from Tallinn. Instead, only 10 modern minesweepers were available. They were supplemented by 17 older and slower converted trawlers and a dozen converted Navy cutters.

This small number of minesweepers was tasked with the gargantuan responsibility of shepherding more than 200 vessels to safety. The civilian transports, including 22 large ones, were divided into four convoys, each closely guarded by a few small naval vessels and led by older trawler minesweepers. The naval force was split into three elements: the main force, the covering force, and the rear guard. Ten modern minesweepers were allocated five each to lead the first two combat elements, particularly safeguarding the Kirov.

According to plan, the civilian and military convoys were to leave Tallinn on a staggered schedule. The Soviets were well aware of the danger posed to the convoys by mines off Cape Juminda, and they developed a schedule to allow the ships to traverse the minefields during daylight hours.

The evacuation route was divided into two portions, from Tallinn to Gogland Island, roughly in the middle of Gulf of Finland, and from Gogland to Kronstadt. The first section presented the most danger because of the minefields off Cape Juminda and the lack of air cover. Reaching Gogland Island by nightfall, the fleet would be within range of air cover based at Leningrad and Kronstadt. In addition, a task force of ships from Kronstadt was organized and stationed at Gogland to assist in any rescue and recovery efforts.

The whole operation would require very careful timing. Under relentless German pressure, Soviet ground units were barely holding the line on the outskirts of Tallinn. Admiral Tributs and his staff realized that some of these troops would have to be sacrificed and abandoned to fight hopeless rearguard actions, allowing the majority of forces to embark aboard ships. To avoid a panicked retreat to the harbor, the forward units were not informed about the pullback until the afternoon of August 27. Barricades were erected in the streets for the last-ditch defense. But as they observed NKVD troops manning barricades, many people came to realize that the barricades went up not to halt the Germans but to prevent a panicked rush to the harbor.

Chaos at the Pier

By 8 pm, the withdrawal began in earnest under a protective barrage of naval gunfire. Instead of an orderly retreat, the embarkation immediately deteriorated into complete chaos. The Soviet defenders could no longer hold back the Germans, who continually shelled the harbor. Several transport ships, with shells falling around them, were forced to leave their embarkation stations without picking up their designated units and evacuees.

Crowds of soldiers, sailors, and civilians were surging back and forth along the piers, storming the gangways of waiting transports. People were trampled underfoot in the maddened rush to the ships. The scene was punctuated by exploding German artillery shells and backlit by the burning city. The whole town appeared to be engulfed in flames; burning and exploding, recalled Admiral Tributs in his memoirs.

While several transports cast off largely empty, the majority of vessels were overcrowded. Writer Nikolai G. Mikhailovskiy, attached to the headquarters of the Baltic Fleet, recalled, The staterooms are filled to overflowing. People are standing, sitting and lying down in the narrow corridors and on decks. Many, coming off line after sleepless nights, settled on deck. One had to step over them in order to get from one point to another  The whole shore is aflame. It is strange that during a bright sunny day the harbors are darkened by smoke. Signals relayed by flags are impossible to see. The searchlights shine brightly. Only they can penetrate this incredible darkness.

As the transports filled up, they cast off and slowly moved to their staging areas off Naissar and Aegna Islands across the bay from Tallinn. In many cases, people desperate to get aboard continued clinging to the gangways, often forcing the crews to cut the gangways in order to get clear of the pier. Over 23,000 troops, including more than 4,000 wounded and several thousand civilian evacuees, were taken aboard. Despite Vice Admiral Yuriy A. Panteleyevs claim in his memoirs that not a single platoon was abandoned to the enemy, almost 10,000 more men were left behind on Tallinns piers.

The wind continued picking up throughout August 27, creating choppy seas and further exacerbating the chaotic embarkation. Because of these delays, the first convoy did not sail until noon on August 28, a full 12 hours behind schedule. The naval and civilian convoys stretched in a line more than 15 miles long. Owing to deployed minesweeps, which required slow speeds to be effective, the convoys crept along at under 10 knots.

Bombs from the Air, Bombs in the Sea

Things quickly began to go wrong. Less than one hour into the voyage and several miles east of Aegna Island, one of the minesweeping trawlers leading the first convoy hit a mine and disappeared under the waves within seconds. The appearance of a mine in waters considered to be safe shocked everyone. The most likely explanation for this tragedy was that the heavy winds and waves generated by the previous nights storm tore loose the moorings of a mine and the gulfs current carried it into the midst of the Soviet ships. This loss was the forewarning of swarms of loose mines that were to plague the Soviet convoys for the next two days.

Undeterred, the convoy sailed on. German bombers appeared overhead and cautiously attacked the strung-out convoys. The Soviet Navy ships, spaced along the line of civilian transports, put up a spirited antiaircraft barrage and managed to keep the German planes at bay for a time.

Around 6 pm, the first civilian convoy arrived off Cape Juminda and its minefields. The nightmare began. At 6:05, a large explosion went up at the head of the convoy. The transport Ella, a passenger ship converted into a military transport, hit a mine and began to sink. The tugboat S-101, following in her wake and herself overloaded with evacuees, moved in to assist and hit a mine as well, virtually disintegrating. Of more than 1,000 passengers and crew aboard Ella, most of them wounded, fewer than 100 people were subsequently rescued. No one was saved from S-101.

German aircraft now renewed their attacks. Shortly after Ella went down, the icebreaker Voldemarswas hit by a bomb and sunk with significant loss of life. The large transport Vironia, a converted liner, was damaged by two near misses. Its upper decks, thickly packed with evacuees, were swept by steel fragments, tossing people aside in disfigured heaps and throwing overboard many passengers, both alive and dead. The rescue vessel Saturn moved in and took the damaged transport in tow. Several minesweepers, desperately attempting to keep the 200-meter channel clear, hit mines themselves and went down in quick succession.

Under relentless air attacks, Soviet ships were forced to maneuver to avoid the bombs. This compelled them to leave the narrow channel cleared by the minesweepers. Several naval vessels went down as if chasing each other to the bottom of the gulf. One of them was Saturn, leaving the practically immobile Vironia bobbing in the water.

Around 6:30, with the Soviet convoys floundering in the minefields in full view of Cape Juminda, a German battery, well-camouflaged in the wooded terrain, opened fire on the Soviet ships. However, its 150mm guns were no match for the ships heavier armament. One of the destroyers closed in and laid down a thick smoke screen, while Kirov replied with several volleys of its nine 180mm main guns. It was unknown whether the German battery was destroyed, but it fell silent.

More Casualties to Mines

There was no safety anywhere. Just before 10 pm, the submarine S-5, closely following Kirov on the surface, hit a mine and disappeared under the waves. Shortly thereafter, Kirov caught a mine in the right paravane, forcing the cruiser to stop. While a welder was lowered almost to the waters surface to cut loose the metal pole with a torch, another mine became entangled in the left paravane. Valuable time was lost cutting loose and replacing both paravanes. While this was going on, the destroyer Gordiy, escorting the cruiser, hit a mine and lost mobility. It was eventually able to get moving again and limped to Kronstadt on its own.

Shortly after Gordiy was damaged, the venerable Yakov Sverdlov, originally commissioned in 1913 as Novik and lending its name to a class of destroyers, went down. Enjoying a distinguished combat record in World War I, this ship held a special place in Tributss heart as the only vessel the admiral had ever commanded. He witnessed the Sverdlovs demise from Kirovs bridge: At 20:47 hours, suddenly a column of fire and smoke 200-250 meters high burst out from under Yakov Sverdlovs body and settled down hissing, burying the surviving crew members  only several dozens of men were saved.

As more and more ships sank or became disabled, the convoys lost cohesion and became intermingled. Naval detachments, moving on a nearly parallel course to the civilian convoys, often passed by the vulnerable and defenseless transports without providing fire support for them.

In the gathering darkness, lookouts were posted on the ships bows to spot mines. At about 10 pm, a mine exploded near the destroyer Minsk, the flagship of Rear Admiral Pantelyev. The explosion reverberated through the destroyer, bursting seams in multiple compartments and leaving the vessel inoperable. Pantelyev ordered another destroyer, the Skoriy, to render assistance. The majority of Pantelyevs staff officers transferred to the other destroyer. Skoriy hardly had time to cast off and attempt to take Minsk in tow before also striking a mine, breaking in two, and sinking in front of stunned onlookers.

The slaughter continued. The frigate Tsiklon went down, falling prey to a mine. Only 15 minutes after Skoriy was lost, another destroyer, Slavniy, was soon damaged but remained afloat and continued moving under its own power. Shortly thereafter, the destroyer Kalinin, with Rear Admiral Rall aboard, hit a mine and began slowly sinking. As the destroyer Volodarskiy was transferring wounded crewmen from the Kalinin, it hit a mine as well and went under. Admiral Rall, suffering from a concussion, was taken aboard a cutter. The destroyer Artyom also went down.

The toll of noncombatant vessels was also high. The damaged transport Vironia hit a mine and sank. Even a near miss from an exploding bomb would create havoc on ships overflowing with evacuees. The fate of immobilized wounded men, swathed in bandages and plaster and often trapped below decks in compartments blazing with fire or filling with icy water, was particularly terrifying. The ships of the first civilian convoy experienced particularly heavy casualties.

The Convoy Recuperates

As the convoys doggedly continued eastward, many of them had to navigate through floating debris fields and spreading oil slicks of destroyed and damaged vessels. In many instances, unable to stop, they mowed under the survivors bobbing in the water among dead bodies. Whenever possible, though, every effort was extended to rescue the survivors. Still, hundreds perished, succumbing to wounds and exposure. Hundreds more were plucked from sure death in cold water, desperately clinging to whatever pieces of debris that would float. In one truly miraculous instance, a sailor was rescued after clinging to a floating mine for hours.

Throughout the day there were multiple false sightings of German submarines. Every time a phantom periscope was spotted on the surface, one or two destroyers or sub chasers would dart out and drop depth charges. Despite multiple claims by Soviet eyewitnesses, no German submarine operated in the area at the time.

Worried about attacks by German and Finnish torpedo boats as well, the Soviet ships twice opened fire on a group of unidentified small vessels racing toward the fleet. Because of the lack of coordination and communication, the torpedo boats thought to be enemy vessels turned out to be a Soviet detachment returning from screening and scouting north of the main channel. The friendly fire incident resulted in one Soviet torpedo boat taking a direct hit and disintegrating.

With darkness falling, it became impossible to navigate the mine-studded waters, and Admiral Tributs ordered all ships to halt where they were. Even though this went against accepted naval doctrine, the halt at least eliminated the possibility of ships running into stationary mines. German aircraft disappeared with nightfall as well, and now the only danger lay with floating mines cast adrift in the waves. On most ships men lined up along the sides, armed with poles for pushing away the mines. In many cases volunteers took turns jumping into the water to guide the mines away from the ships with their bare hands.

During the halt, almost no crewmen were able to rest. Those not directly standing watch or dealing with floating mines were frantically conducting whatever repairs they could. Small cutters darted from ship to ship assessing damage. The scope of the disaster began to take shape. The destroyer force, representing the bulk of Tributss naval contingent, was cut in half. Admiral Ralls rearguard force ceased to exist, and he was injured. Of the main force, only one destroyer and one frigate still accompanied the Kirov. Even worse, a significant number of the priceless minesweepers had been lost.

Abandoning the Transports

At dawn on August 29, good weather meant the return of marauding German bombers. Having moved clear of the minefields, the naval vessels, now unencumbered by mine sweeps and paravanes, raced ahead at more than 20 knots. Around 5 pm, Kirovs group arrived at Kronstadt. Its hasty departure left the virtually defenseless transports at the mercy of German aircraft, which appeared around 7 am.

While significant numbers of German planes pursued the departing warships, especially concentrating on Kirovs group, the majority of Luftwaffe aircraft fell upon the defenseless civilian transports. Beset by German dive-bombers, most transport captains gave up any hope of reaching Kronstadt. At most, they hoped to reach Gogland Island and disgorge their human cargo before German bombs could send them to the bottom of the gulf.

Shortly before 8 am, the large transport Kazakhstan, loaded with almost 5,000 soldiers and civilian evacuees, was damaged by bombs. Its captain, N. Kalitaev, was tossed overboard by the shockwave. Severe panic ensued aboard, with people jumping into the water. After heroic efforts, however, the crew of the transport managed to make minimal repairs and keep the ship afloat. After being thrown overboard and suffering a concussion, Kalitaev was rescued by a submarine and delivered to Kronstadt on the evening of August 29, a full day before Kazakhstan limped in. Arrested by the NKVD and accused of cowardice and abandoning his post, Kalitaev was promptly shot despite multiple testimonies of his innocence.

Under a rain of German bombs, the transports continued their race to Gogland. On many ships the soldiers desperately attempted to keep German aircraft at bay with rifle and pistol fire. As the hours ticked by, transport losses mounted to include Naissaar, Ergonautis, Balkhash, Tobol, Ausma, Kalpaks, Evald, Atis Kronvaldis, Skrunda, and Alev.

Several damaged transports managed to limp to Gogland and run themselves aground, disembarking their passengers. German aircraft easily found the immobile transports and finished them off. By the end of the day the burned-out hulks of transports Vtoraya Pyatiletka, Ivan Papanin, Lake Lucerne, and floating workshop Serp-i-Molot smoked on Goglands beaches. Still, despite tragic losses, more than 12,000 people were offloaded on Gogland Island and eventually shuttled to Kronstadt and Leningrad. But before they were taken off the island, German aircraft made several low-level passes, strafing the survivors with machine guns and dropping bombs. Scores of people who thought themselves safe died on this tiny speck of land.

As the transports were being pounded into oblivion by German aircraft, scores of smaller vessels slipped by Gogland Island and headed to Kronstadt. They continued the struggle until the afternoon of August 30. The Tallinn breakout was over.

A Success or a Disaster?

Events at Tallinn were comparable to the Allied evacuation of Dunkirk over a year earlier. At Dunkirk, 338,000 Allied soldiers escaped the Germans. This was accomplished under British air cover and over a much shorter distance, 20 miles compared with 200 at Tallinn.

The results of the Tallinn breakout are disputed as simultaneously a success and a disaster. Despite the loss of more than 11,000 evacuees, including roughly 3,000 civilians, almost 17,000 people, mostly evacuated ground troops, reached Leningrad and joined in the defense of the city. The Kirov was saved, along with the destroyers Minsk and Leningrad. Of the original 10 destroyers, five were lost, mostly of the old Novik class. The guns mounted on Kirov and the destroyers assisted in the defense of Leningrad, and the majority of the smaller naval vessels made it back as well. The real losses were among the civilian vessels, with more than 40 of them, including 19 large transports, sunk.

The Soviet government offered little official comment about the events. To this day, virtually no declassified information exists on the evacuation of Tallinn.

This article originally appeared in 2018 and is being republished due to reader interest.

This article by Victor J. Kamenir originally appeared on the Warfare History Network.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

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Here's What You Need To Remember: The Blackbird wouldnt stay officially secret for much longer. Pres. Lyndon Johnson would run for election in 1964, and to counter criticisms from Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater, revealed the SR-71 during a speech on July 25.

There are few secret projects like U.S. Air Force black projects, and that was certainly the case for the famed SR-71 Blackbird.

The SR-71 was no ordinary aircraft but a big, beautiful and state-of-the-art spy plane designed in the 1950s and early 1960s to fly quickly at high altitudes over the Soviet Union, filling in for the U-2 Dragon Lady which had become vulnerable to then-new surface-to-air missiles.

Designer Lockheed and the Air Force treated the project with intense secrecy, and when still totally classified, the CIA recorded any hints that reporters, analysts or civilian plane watchers might have as to the jets existence. It didnt matter who suspected it. If airport cab drivers were spreading rumors about secret doings at Lockheed, the agency wanted to know.

To keep the program under wraps, Lockheed engineers quietly worked on the plane at the companys Skunk Works division in Burbank, California and the Air Forces isolated Nevada base  known as Area 51  beginning in 1958. The first Blackbird flew four years later.

The government surrounded the Blackbird with so much silence because it was an experimental plane and the first stealth aircraft , owing to its radar-reflective design. The SR-71's extreme performance  a speed of Mach 3.3 at an altitude of 85,000 feet  was highly sensitive information.

However, aviation experts and the press picked up on the project and did so relatively quickly, sometimes through sheer guesswork, according to the CIAs recently declassified official history obtained by Governmentattic.org .

The first outsider to notice was John B. Pearson, a retired admiral who was then working for North American Aviation, the company which built the legendary F-86 Sabre and X-15 rocket plane. As it was his job to study the military aircraft industry, he suspected by April 1962 that the Air Force, Lockheed and the CIA were up to something big.

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He had several reasons for the hunch. For one, Lockheeds chief SR-71 designer, Clarence Kelly Johnson, had become hard to reach. Pearson also speculated to a friend working at Hughes Aircraft Company that engineers developing the firms GAR-9 missile must be assisting a secret aircraft program at Lockheed, because the F-108 Rapier  the only known plane which could fire the missile  had been cancelled.

In fact, Lockheed was developing an (eventually cancelled) interceptor version of the Blackbird which would have carried the GAR-9. The old friend was noticeably startled and changed the subject which Pearson took as another clue, the CIA recorded in a document listing examples of industry suspicions of the Blackbird project.

In any case, Pearson knew his stuff  and he knew that a long-range, high-speed and high-altitude surveillance plane was exactly what the Pentagon needed given the growing vulnerabilities of the U-2.

In January 1963, a manager named William Clegern at a Denver technology firm speculated that Lockheed was working on a super U-2, according to the CIA history. Like Pearson, Clegern had made an educated guess, although he had some help from an unrecalled source during a visit to Los Angeles.

In a tightly-knit industry with overlapping suppliers of hardware and spare parts, word got around and traveling vendors were often a source of grist for the rumor mill.

Robert Widmer, then vice president of Convair, reported that it was generally known in the industry, particularly on the West Coast, that Lockheed was working on a similar but more advanced successor to the U-2.

Pearson and his colleagues at North American Aviation were also aware that the Pentagon was pouring millions of dollars into developing the huge J-58 turbofan engine  of which the SR-71 fitted two.

They observed that the funds allotted to developing the J-58 did not seem to them justified unless there was some high altitude airplane available in which to utilize the J-58, the CIA noted.

By March, Pearson and his coworkers studied shipments of liquid hydrogen and oxygen fuel, movements of test pilots and even subcontractors working on specialized precision valves to deduce not only the existence of a new spy plane, but guess its specifications. They werent dead-on accurate, but they were close.

Taxi drivers shuttling Lockheed contractors from Los Angeles airport to the companys terminal started asking questions. Even airline crews had spotted the A-12 Oxcart  a shorter version of the SR-71 flown by the CIA  in flight.

And the media got involved.

In January 1963, Fort Worth aviation newspaper Cross Country News reported that sources spoke of a highly guarded  super-sonic transport in the works at Lockheed, apparently mixing up the Blackbird with the U.S. supersonic transport program.

Even in the X stage Lockheed officials say nothing, the paper reported. No details came from this tip, from sources considered highly reliable.

Then disaster struck. On May 24, an A-12 stalled, went into an unrecoverable spin and crashed during a test flight in Utah. Fortunately, pilot Kenneth Collins ejected and survived.

Even in remote Utah, its hard to hide a crash. A local deputy witnessed the incident and a vacationing family snapped away with a camera. The CIA promptly seized their photographs and paid $25,000 each to the deputy and the family to keep quiet, according to a 2010 story in the Seattle Times.

The Associated Press reported on the incident and described the crashed aircraft as a jet trainer. The same day, the Las Vegas Review-Journal published a story stating the plane was an F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bomber, citing Air Force officials.

The Thunderchief claim was an elaborate cover story. But by July, Robert Hotz  longtime editor ofAviation Week and a former bomber pilot during World War II  indicated his awareness of developments at Burbank.

And in November, a Los Angeles Times reporter began making phone calls to engine maker Westinghouse, asking questions about CIA involvement in a secret project in the desert. TheFontana Herald News ran an article in November speculating about a super secret project site.

The Blackbird wouldnt stay officially secret for much longer. Pres. Lyndon Johnson would run for election in 1964, and to counter criticisms from Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater, revealed the SR-71 during a speech on July 25.

More than a half-century later, the SR-71 is a museum piece. But secret aircraft projects, and strange sightings over the western United States, have not stopped. When observers notice and publicize their suspicions, an anonymous official is somewhere, surely, typing away notes.

This article was first published last year.

Click here to read the full article.
Millions more U.S. homes are in danger of flooding than federal emergency planners have previously warned, and the threat to those trillions of dollars of properties is rising because of climate change, according to a new analysis.

The data from nonprofit research group First Street Foundation provides detailed property-level flood risk information for the public at a time when the private sector is taking steps to prepare for the damage from floods, storms and other climate-driven disasters, in the absence of aggressive action from the federal government. POLITICO has reported that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored enterprises that back half the U.S. mortgages, suspect they dont have a firm handle on the climate risks to their portfolio, even as banks and insurers are quietly building their own databases of climate-driven risks like flooding and wildfires.

First Street assessed the risks specific sites face from flooding that go into greater detail than the Federal Emergency Management Agencys existing floodplain maps, and its maps account for the way the warming planet is boosting sea levels and driving more extreme rains. Those trends are already driving some homeowners to abandon coastal areas and subjecting others to recurring floods.

Experts such as floodplain managers, risk management officials and climate scientists have complained for years that FEMA has failed to consider those climate-driven changes and that the agency underestimates even the current flood risks because of long delays in updating its maps.

We're trying to democratize this data so that everyone has the same set to be able to make decisions with, said Matthew Eby, First Streets executive director.

Using its flood-risk scores, First Street found that far more U.S. homes  an estimated 14.6 million  face flooding conditions on par with those in FEMA's 100-year floodplain. In contrast, FEMAs maps classify 8.7 million homes as carrying substantial risk.

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The true figure climbs to 16.2 million homes by 2050 when the effects of climate change are included, according to First Streets modeling.

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2017 file photo, Department of Homeland Security personnel deliver supplies to Santa Ana community residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Guayama, Puerto Rico. Federal authorities said Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019, that they have arrested two former officials of the Federal Emergency Management Authority and the former president of a major disaster relief contractor, accusing them of bribery and fraud in the efforts to restore electricity to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File)

First Street, which built its models in cooperation with advisers and partners from University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University and consulting firms like Rhodium Group and IBM, is among a raft of groups aiming to analyze how climate change will affect communities. The foundation also plans to sell bulk data sets to companies for more complex analysis.

Mapping the areas at risk of flooding has long been a political minefield. Local governments and property owners worry about new maps incorporating them in at-risk zones, since the designation can lower property values and sap tax revenues. FEMA delayed its Risk Rating 2.0 program, which promised more accurate flood mapping, by one year until October 2021 as concerns mounted that flood insurance premiums would spike.

Yet FEMA has faced criticism for years from climate experts that it underestimates flood risk. The agency doesnt predict how climate change will alter flood patterns, and it hasnt updated many maps for decades because of lackluster federal funding.

But lenders, banks and real estate investment firms are expecting the risks to continue climbing, and many have bought boutique flood risk products to guide their portfolios. New research published earlier this month by Jesse Keenan, an associate professor at Tulane University, and Harvard University doctoral student Jacob Bradt indicated that lenders appeared to be selling the mortgages on properties with the highest flood risks to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored enterprises that back about half of the U.S. mortgage market, in order to move climate-exposed loans off their books.

Services documenting the property-by-property threats are out of reach for most Americans. Data are opaque for home buyers  21 states have no requirements for sellers to disclose flood risk, while rules vary among the rest, according to the environmental advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council.

While generally perceived as a good-faith attempt to fill in the market information gaps, the First Streets efforts have nonetheless prompted some criticism and cautionary notes. For example, the change could devastate the value of properties owned by people of color, especially Black Americans whose ancestors were forced into less valuable lowland areas after the Civil War and were regularly limited to properties in floodplains through racist lending and zoning practices.

It will disproportionately affect African Americans or other minority groups who live in communities that are set up to not be able to appreciably build equity, said Tina Johnson, director of the National Black Environmental Justice Network. It will advantage developers or young white people who can get their parents to help.

Those types of concerns are one reason why the Union of Concerned Scientists decided against pursuing property-level evaluations when it researched flood risk with databases provided by online real estate database company Zillow in 2018, said Rachel Cleetus, the organizations clean energy and climate policy director.

A lot of people own homes that will now be revealed are exposed to be at risk. The question is where does that leave some of those homeowners? she said. Its important to have science-based information out there and it should be available broadly so people can use it, but its so far from sufficient.

Cleetus also said complications assessing elements like tidal behavior, the effects from human-built structures such as levees, and practices for managing stormwater left UCS believing that its findings werent accurate enough to predict the risks for individual properties.

Thats why one of First Streets innovations that led to its expansive list of flood-prone properties is perhaps its most controversial. The effect of rainfall, especially inland, has proven extremely challenging to measure on the local level, said Keenan, the Tulane professor.

That human component of it is less predictable and has a lot more complexity, he said. The downside is you may miscommunicate that confidence to some people and that may communicate the wrong signal to the market.

First Street used many data sources to determine local variations. For example, the researchers relied on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers national levee database  comprising roughly 30 percent of U.S. levees  and leaned on modeling, news articles, Corps' technical manuals and other sources to identify other levees.

It also adjusts models based on national assumptions to account for built infrastructure that we don't see like underwater storm management systems, said Jeremy Porter, First Streets research and development director, and he said First Street would update its model as new, local information becomes known.

For all their faults, FEMA maps go through a thorough public vetting process that amounts to the gold standard," said Chad Berginnis, executive director of the Association of State Flood Plain Managers. Those maps are defensible when businesses or citizens take local governments to court, he said, and are essential tools for understanding where to site infrastructure to help manage flooding.

Overall, homebuyers would likely benefit from knowing their flood risk, Berginnis said. But the challenges of accounting for local conditions could yield imprecise data with negative implications for land-use planning and perceptions of personal flood risk.

That is an awfully big promise, Berginnis said. We've just got to be careful where to contextualize that data and what it means.
The explosion of Covid-19 cases in Sun Belt states is becoming another albatross for President Donald Trumps reelection hopes  and creating a new opening for Joe Biden and Democrats in November.

Republican governors in Florida, Arizona and Texas followed Trumps lead by quickly reopening their states while taking a lax approach to social distancing and mask-wearing. Now, each of them is seeing skyrocketing coronavirus caseloads and rising hospitalizations, and Republican leaders are in retreat.

Its hard to overstate the gravity of the situation for Trump: Lose any one of the three states, and his reelection is all but doomed.

Liberal outside groups and the Biden campaign have launched digital and TV ads in Florida, Arizona and Texas hitting Trump for allowing a second wave of coronavirus. The developments have buttressed Bidens main argument against Trump: that hes incapable of bringing stability or healing in a time of crisis.

Anita Dunn, a senior adviser to Biden, said Trumps actions have only exacerbated Republicans vulnerabilities in the three states. Polls indicate Florida is Bidens best pickup opportunity, followed by Arizona and then Texas, a bigger reach.

The reality is, when it comes to this presidents handling of the pandemic and the subsequent economic disaster thats befallen our country  which was totally predictable coming out of the pandemic and his handling of it  Trumps failed leadership has been exposed in a profound way, Dunn told POLITICO. She added that it makes him abnormally vulnerable in states that have not traditionally been as competitive as they are now.

Its still too soon to tell how the pandemic will affect voters in the three states. While RealClearPolitics lists Texas as a toss-up, Trump has led two of the past three polls in the reliably red state. Arizona was trending toward Democrats before the pandemic and polls show Biden with a small lead there, but Democrats expect a battle.

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Trumps campaign accuses Democrats of exploiting tragedy.

While President Trump has been leading the country through the coronavirus crisis, all Joe Biden and his allies have done is try to use a public health issue as a political weapon, Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said. Its despicable but typical. They really should focus their attention on New York, where theyve had a disastrous response  10 times worse than a state like Florida, which has a higher population.

Floridas official coronavirus death toll stood at 3,419 as of Sunday, compared with New Yorks 24,835. Texas official death toll is 2,366 and Arizonas is 1,588.

Trump won all three Sun Belt states in 2016 and needs to again this year; movement of even 2 to 3 points toward Democrats in any of them could make the difference.

Priorities USA is airing ads in Florida and Arizona pointing to Trumps recent comments that he urged a scale-back in testing. Texas Democrats are running digital ads doing the same. Democrats in each of the states are highlighting the disproportionate impact on Latinos, many of whom are front-line workers and lack health insurance.

The three states were among the earliest to reopen, with each governor allowing his states stay-at-home order to expire on April 30. Heres a look at the politics in each of them.

Arizona

Demographic change and the recent surge in Covid-19 cases have put Arizona and its 11 Electoral College votes up for grabs. The last time a Democratic nominee carried the state was Bill Clinton in 1996.

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) said he expects hospitalizations and deaths to rise in the coming weeks in the state. Ballots drop in October. The president essentially has two months to try to turn this around in Arizona, Gallego said. By then, Whats going to be on the TV is Covid-19.

In late March, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order barring local governments from requiring masks in public. Two weeks ago, Ducey reversed himself amid pressure from mayors, residents and health care professionals.

As infections surged, Trump held a rally last week with thousands at a Phoenix megachurch, where photos showed the crowd sitting in close proximity and few wearing masks. Ducey brushed off calls to cancel the event. Days before, Phoenix required mask-wearing, but the city order was ignored.

Were going to protect peoples rights to assemble in an election year, Ducey told reporters at a press conference last week, defending his decision to wait until after the Trump event to emphasize to all Arizonans to wear masks.

Trump won Arizona by just 3 percentage points in 2016, with the help of suburban voters.

Those suburbs that initially won Arizona for Trump have soured since, said Mike Noble of OH Predictive Insights, who polls the state for nonpartisan clients.

Texas

Texas is a bedrock of Trumps reelection, akin to Californias importance to Democrats. The Lone Star State hasnt been won by a Democrat since Jimmy Carter in 1976. But polls show the competition between Trump and Biden for its 38 Electoral College votes is unexpectedly close. Dunn called Texas an expansion target for Democrats.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott moved to reopen Texas in early May even though it had not met benchmarks set by the Trump administration. The state had one of the shortest shutdowns in the country.

Texas Gov.Greg Abbott gives an update on the coronavirus, Friday, March 13, 2020, in Austin, Texas. Abbott declared a state of disaster Friday as the coronavirus pandemic spread to all of the state's biggest cities. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

At the time, Trump applauded Abbott.

Texas is opening up and a lot of places are opening up. And we want to do it, and Im not sure that we even have a choice, Trump said during an Oval Office meeting on May 7 with Abbott. I think we have to do it. You know, this country cant stay closed and locked down for years.

Texas soon saw the proportion of coronavirus tests that came back positive spike to nearly 12 percent, in addition to a record-breaking number of hospitalizations. Last week, Abbott said Covid-19 is now spreading at an unacceptable rate in Texas, and it must be corralled. He ordered bars to reclose and restaurants to limit capacity to 50 percent, down from 75 percent.

Brendan Steinhauser, a Texas political consultant who helped organize tea party protests in 2009, echoed fellow Republicans and Democrats who think Trump will still carry Texas. But not by much, he said, because the economy is in bad shape and theres a growing belief the president botched the response to the coronavirus.

Its a big impact and the combination with the perception the president has mishandled racial issues and criminal justice issues, Steinhauser said.

Florida

Of the three states, only Florida has been a true presidential swing state in recent decades. If Trump loses its 29 Electoral College votes, his chances of a second term are close to zero.

The RealClearPolitics polling average in Florida has Biden ahead by nearly 7 percentage points.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, a staunch Trump ally, has offered mixed messaging in response to coronavirus. He's repeatedly boasted about his data-driven approach but refused to heed advice from medical experts who say that a statewide mask-wearing order would work.

While DeSantis said he was deferring to local governments, Republicans filed a lawsuit last week when a mask-wearing ordinance was passed by Leon County, where the state Capitol is located.

Our people are ticked off. Most of them are upset about the media coverage about the coronavirus and feel its overblown and its part of a strategy to bring down the president, said Evan Power, chairman of the county GOP, the plaintiff in the lawsuit.

While many Democrats have watched their poll numbers rise as theyve handled coronavirus, DeSantis approval ratings have dropped (though, unlike Trump, hes still above water).

Emboldened Democrats released an ad on Twitter last week contrasting DeSantis swagger in late May with the recent rise in coronavirus infections. State Democratic Party Executive Director Juan Penalosa said hes considering putting money behind the ad because it struck a nerve.

Trump has botched every stage of this response and people are starting to see DeSantis as Trumps lapdog, Penalosa said.

Miami Democratic Rep. Donna Shalala, the former Health and Human Services secretary, said the states tourism is suffering.

We have no national strategy, we have no state strategy and the state has opened too early  and why are we surprised that cases have surged? Shalala said. Theyre going to hold the president responsible for mismanaging the Covid-19 crisis for missing it. Hes still saying, I told my people to stop testing.

Shalala dinged Trump for steaming ahead with the Republican convention in Jacksonville, creating another potentially dangerous situation.

If we have to shut down again, thats a Trump shutdown, she said. We have a governor who is following the Trump playbook. I think Trump is in trouble in Florida.
Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has launched a campaign under the theme 'Set your AC at 24C Auto and Save' which is aimed at rationalising district cooling energy consumption and thus reducing energy consumption and bills.

The consumption rationalisation campaign, which runs until the end of summer, will encourage its customers to rationalise the district cooling consumption during the summer season by setting the air- conditioner thermostat at 24C, as well as using innovative and eco-friendly methods that help in reducing indoor temperature and monthly costs, and achieving significant savings in energy and resources.

Empower pointed out that the campaign targets all the customer segments across residential and commercial buildings that are provided with company's district cooling services.

It is keen to launch such campaigns regularly to raise awareness and enhance the engagement of its more than 120,000 customers, who plays a key role to achieve a sustainable development.

"Rationalizing district cooling consumption during the summer season in particular, contributes to preserving natural resources and protecting the environment, and Empower is always striving to reduce energy consumption through sustainability solutions that help achieving green economy," remarked its CEO Ahmad bin Shafar.

The company achieved AED3.2 billion in saving of electricity consumption thanks to the use of environment friendly district cooling systems which help conserve energy and resources, he stated.

Bin Shafar pointed out that Empower's readiness was a priority in all seasons, particularly in the summer, thanks to the advanced technologies of the Command Control Centre (CCC), which embraces smart control operations, including accurate measurement of temperature in residential and commercial units, maintenance of measurement devices, and thermal sensors checkup.

"This process ensures smooth flow of grid operation and machines, and plant readiness to deal with emergency situations," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Funds will support growth in custom probiotics market, advance scientific publications, and scale delivery of its comprehensive gut probiotics solution

SAN DIEGO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Genomics , the direct-to-consumer custom probiotics and gut health company, announced today $8.65 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Pangaea Ventures with additional investments from Danone Manifesto Ventures , SOSV , Human Longevity, and Nascita Ventures. Chris Erickson, Founding General Partner at Pangaea Ventures, has joined as a new Board member.

Sun Geonomics Logo

"As we continue to understand the connection between the microbes in our gut and immune system dysfunction, consumers are becoming increasingly interested in their own personal microbiome, seeking solutions to gut-related issues," said Sunny Jain, CEO and founder of Sun Genomics. "We are building the world's largest longitudinal dataset to better understand gut health, allowing us to custom design probiotics for the exact needs of each and every customer. Today's announcement is a clear indicator in the progress we have made and our future potential. We are excited to work with our new partners to reach even more consumers."

Sun Genomics is the first to market with completely personalized probiotic solutions based on whole-genome sequencing diagnostics. With the global human microbiome market expected to reach $1.4 billion by 2020, Sun Genomics will use this round of funding to support its growth in the custom probiotics market, scale delivery across the U.S., enter international markets, and propel the publication of its studies in partnership with leading academic institutions.

"Sun Genomics is a market leader in microbiome analysis and gut health," said Chris Erickson, Founding General Partner of Pangaea Ventures. "We value the impact they make on physical health, immunity, and mental health with many more clinically relevant opportunities to come. We are excited to be an investor and look forward to working with the Sun Genomics team to build a world-class company."

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Sun Genomics was founded in 2016 with the release of its flagship product Flore, a microbiome test and gut probiotics solution that utilizes whole-genome sequencing to evaluate different digestive system data points and ensure that customers receive a completely personalized product that is based on their unique gut profiles. The company also offers Flore Tots, which is available for kids up to age 12 and comes in an easy digestive powder to mix with their favorite drink. Since Sun Genomics' Seed funding in October of 2019, the company has seen consistent growth in headcount and revenue. This additional financing brings the total funding to $11.75 million to date.

"We see Sun Genomics as a leader in bringing personalized probiotics to consumers, blending scientific knowledge of the microbiome with new ways of providing customized health solutions," said Laurent Marcel, Chief Executive Officer of Danone Manifesto Ventures. "Backed by Danone's strong scientific expertise in gut, immunity and microbiome, we are excited to support Sun Genomics into their next stage of growth."

About Sun Genomics

Sun Genomics is a first-of-its-kind, custom probiotics startup with the mission to improve gut health through personalized science. The company's first consumer product, Flore, allows consumers to analyze the microflora of their stool and uses the results to craft a custom probiotic. Through DNA sequencing, Flore formulates the right probiotics for each customer's specific needs and delivers it directly to their door. Sun Genomics has created the first feedback loop to allow customers to see their probiotics show up on their report, through a retest, and allows customers to improve their microflora over time. For more information, visit www.sungenomics.com or follow on Twitter: @SunGenomics .

About Pangaea Ventures

Pangaea Ventures is the world leader in advanced materials venture capital. It invests in companies that make a measurable impact on the world by using advanced materials to tackle tough problems such as CO2 reduction, freshwater saved, more food and health. Pangaea was founded in 2000 and has offices in Vancouver, Canada and Phoenix, Arizona.

About Danone Manifesto Ventures

Danone Manifesto Ventures is the corporate venture arm of Danone, launched in 2016 with a mission to support the growth of innovative food and foodtech companies and partner with entrepreneurs that share its vision of a healthy and sustainable future. Through this venture team, Danone makes financial investments and provides strategic and operational support to its portfolio companies while preserving the autonomy required to grow their entrepreneurial projects. Danone Manifesto Ventures has invested in various companies including Harmless Harvest, Forager Project, Farmer's Fridge and Nature's Fynd in the USA, Michel et Augustin, Yooji and Agricool in France, and Epigamia in India. In 2018, it became the first corporate venture to be certified B Corp independently. (More info at www.danoneventures.com )

Cision

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SOURCE Sun Genomics
Abortion opponents participate in a rally outside the Supreme Court building in March. (Sarah Silbiger / Getty Images)

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joined the Supreme Court's liberal justices to deal a surprising setback to abortion opponents on Monday, striking down a restrictive Louisiana abortion law and reaffirming the court's past rulings that have upheld a woman's right to choose.

By a 5-4 vote, the court threw out a Louisiana law that would have required abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. If put into effect, it was expected to result in the closing of all but one of the state's abortion providers.

It came as no surprise that the four liberal justices opposed the law since they struck down a similar Texas law four years ago. But the chief justice, a conservative who has consistently opposed abortion rights in the past and had voted to uphold the Texas law, cast the fifth vote with them, citing precedent as his reason.

It was the court's first abortion ruling since President Trump's two appointees took their seats, and it dashed hopes of abortion opponents who expected the more conservative court to move to repeal Roe vs. Wade, or at least give states more power to narrow it.

It also marked the third major decision in the past two weeks in which the chief justice joined with the court's four liberals. The court extended workplace protections for LGBTQ employees and blocked Trump's repeal of the Obama-era policy that protected so-called Dreamers from deportation.

A statement from the White House press secretary called the decision "unfortunate," adding that "unelected justices have intruded on the sovereign prerogatives of state governments by imposing their own policy preference in favor of abortion to override legitimate abortion safety regulations."

Anti-abortion advocates cast the loss in political terms, saying the ruling underscored the need to reelect Trump in November so he could appoint another conservative justice to provide the fifth voted needed to repeal Roe vs. Wade.

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"Today's ruling is a a bitter disappointment, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which opposes abortion. It is imperative that we reelect President Trump and our pro-life majority in the U.S. Senate so we can further restore the judiciary, most especially the Supreme Court."

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said the November election would be critical to protecting abortion rights.

"Lets be clear: Republicans in state legislatures will stop at nothing to get rid of Roe -- and we have to be just as strong in our defense of it," Biden said. "They are trying to get these laws appealed to the Supreme Court in the hope that Trumps justices will vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. Its wrong. Its pernicious. And we have to stop it."

Roberts, in a 16-page concurring opinion for June Medical Services vs. Russo, said he did not agree with the legal reasoning in Justice Stephen Breyer's ruling, joined by the three other liberal justices, which said that the court should balance the health costs and benefits of each abortion regulation. A similar argument was used to strike down the Texas law.

But Roberts concluded nevertheless that the court should honor the outcome of the Texas decision.

"The legal doctrine of stare decisis requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike. The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore Louisianas law cannot stand under our precedent," he said.

Roberts' decision to cross the ideological divide to support a liberal precedent is in keeping with his stated concerns that the court is increasingly viewed by Americans through a partisan lens. In public statements, Roberts likes to say the justices do not decides cases as Republicans or Democrats.

Some Senate Republicans turned their ire on the chief justice. "If the court cares about preserving its legitimacy as a non-political institution, then it shouldnt make decisions based on how its judgments will be perceived politically," said Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). "The problem with todays decision is absolutely terrible jurisprudence. Simply, bad lawyering.

Roberts' opinion on Monday suggested he would uphold some abortion regulations, but not those that greatly hamper women. Roberts also described as precedent the court's 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood vs. Casey, which reaffirmed the central principle of Roe vs. Wade that states may not put a "substantial obstacle" in front of women seeking abortions.

But in a line that might worry abortion rights advocates, Roberts also noted that in the Louisiana case, "neither party has asked us to reassess the constitutional validity of that standard." That left open the possibility that he would be open to overturning Roe vs. Wade and the right to abortion if that question were squarely presented to the court.

Roberts' defection does not bode well for at least a dozen Republican states that have enacted laws in the past two years that would severely limit or entirely ban abortion.

For years, former Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, a moderate Republican appointee, had cast the deciding votes with liberals to maintain the right to abortion.

Four years ago, the court struck down a Texas law nearly identical to the Louisiana law on the grounds that it put a heavy burden on women seeking abortions because it had the effect of closing more than half of the state's clinics that provided abortions. Women who lived outside the state's major cities would be forced to travel hundreds of miles to find an open clinic. By a 5-3 vote, with Kennedy, the court said the burdens of the state's restrictions greatly outweighed the claimed benefits to health.

Roberts was among the conservative dissenters at the time. After Kennedy retired in 2018, he was replaced by the more conservative Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh.

Last year, four members of the court  Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr., Neil M. Gorsuch and Kavanaugh  voted to allow the Louisiana law to take effect once it had been upheld by the 5th Circuit Court in New Orleans. But Roberts joined with the four liberals to put the law on hold while its constitutionality was reviewed.

Abortion rights advocates were relieved by Monday's decision, but not ready to claim a final victory.

Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of the Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport, La., described the mood at the clinic Monday morning as absolute giddiness." But she added, "This week, we're winning the battle, and that means we can stay open to fight another day. But as a provider, I'll tell you, I'm celebrating today, but I'm still worried about our future.

Others said the court narrowly avoided a devastating setback for women of color. Dariely Rodriguez, director of the economic justice project for the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said, Louisianas law would have had an especially stark impact on low-income Black women who have long faced systemic and structural barriers to healthcare, including abortion."

The court heard arguments in the case during the first week in March, shortly before the court, like much of Washington, shut down because the coronavirus outbreak. The justices sounded closely split, and the chief justice did not signal how he would vote.

Lawyers for Louisiana defended the admitting privileges rule as a health and safety measure. They said it would help assure that only competent and trusted physicians were performing abortions and that their patients could be quickly transferred to a hospital in an emergency.

Abortion rights lawyers called the rule a sham and a deceptive scheme designed to shut down already embattled abortion clinics. They said that because early abortions are very safe, patients rarely are sent to a hospital. Typically, hospitals extend admitting privileges to doctors who regularly send patients there. And because abortion remains controversial, many hospitals, and especially in small towns and rural areas, are wary of having an affiliation with a doctor who performs abortions.

During the March argument, they told the justices that if the Louisiana law were upheld and the clinic in Shreveport closed, pregnant women could be forced to travel several hundred miles to New Orleans to see a doctor who provides an abortion.

Times staff writer Jenny Jarvie in Atlanta contributed to this report.
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In a long-awaited ruling this week, Supreme Court moved to limit the independence of the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the nations chief consumer watchdog agency.

The court, in a 5-4 decision (PDF), said that the leadership structure of the bureau was unconstitutional because it violated the separation of powers. Under that structure, the President could only remove the director, who serves a five-year term, under special circumstances. At most other federal agencies, the president has the authority to fire the leadership at will.

Although the decision limits the independence of the director, it does leave the agency in place. The court case had challenged the constitutionality of the bureau.

The court could have overturned the CFPB in its entirety, but it did not do that, says Anna Laitin, director for financial fairness and legislative policy for Consumer Reports. Still it is disappointing that the court found the single-director to be unconstitutional.

For consumers, the decision doesn't have any immediate impact. But it does mean that whoever wins the presidential election in November will have the authority to put their own person at the agency.

A Controversial Agency

For now, the court decision is a victory for President Donald Trump and those in the business community who have urged more limits on the CFPB, which was founded in 2011 under President Barack Obama. Business leaders complained that the agency was politically biased and engaged in regulatory overreach.

The CFPB's creation was spearheaded by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who conceived the bureau when she was a professor at Harvard Law School. Its mandate is to combat unfair and deceptive financial practices on behalf of consumers, many of whom were struggling in the wake of the 2008-2009 recession.

Among other the measures, the CFPB has acted to limit predatory lending practices, assisted student loan borrowers from abuses by lenders, and sought full restitution for Wells Fargo customers who had phony accounts opened in their names by the bank.

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The CFPB also maintains a Consumer Complaint Database, which tracks and responds to consumers problems with banks, mortgage and auto lenders, student-loan servicers, and other financial services companies. Bureau staff are assigned to follow up on those complaints and encourage financial companies to address them.

The CFPB's current director, Kathy Kraninger, took office in 2018, replacing acting Director Mick Mulvaney, who also served as director of the Office of Management and Budget and later White House chief of staff.

What Consumers Can Expect

During this time, the CFPB has eased many of its regulatory restrictions, including rolling back an earlier rule designed to limit short-term, high-interest loans, known as payday loans.

A 2019 study (PDF) by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America found that that CFPB enforcement actions had declined by 80 percent between 2015 and 2018, while the monetary relief provided to consumers dropped by 96 percent.

Yet consumer complaints filed to the agency have surged in recent years, with complaints setting new records in March and April, in large part due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to research by the nonprofit U.S. PIRG.

The Supreme Court decision does not mean the agency will act differently for consumers now. But there could be a big change if a new administration comes in, following this years presidential election, says Mike Landis, litigation director at the U.S. PIRG.

Since the CFPB director can now be appointed at will, the next administration could put in someone who will stand up for consumers, Landis says.

Despite the shift in CFPB policy, consumers should still file complaints with the agency, says Christina Tetreault, financial policy manager for Consumer Reports.

At a time of great financial uncertainty, the bureau is still a place to seek help, says Tetreault.

Consumers can also look to their state consumer protection agencies, which may be able to act on complaints.





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The Supreme Court issued a narrow and limited ruling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press)

The Supreme Court on Monday struck down the semi-independent status of the consumer protection agency created in the wake of the 2008 financial collapse and ruled that the president has the power to hire and fire its director at will.

The justices, by a 5-4 vote, said Congress violated the presidents constitutional authority over the executive branch when it established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with a director who was appointed by the president for a five-year term but who could not be fired except for a specific cause, such as neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.

However, the decision was narrow and limited. It does not directly threaten independent agencies like the Federal Reserve or the Securities and Exchange Commission which are governed by a multimember board. Moreover, the court's ruling does not upset or throw out any of the decisions made by the consumer agency.

The case highlighted a sharp dispute between the court's conservatives and liberals over the Constitution and the balance of power between the president and Congress.

The court's conservatives, including Chief Justice John G. Roberts, believe the Constitution created a strong chief executive who has the power to control agencies and who is accountable to the voters for results.

"The presidents power to remove  and thus supervise  those who wield executive power on his behalf follows from the text of Article II," he said, referring to the clause of the Constitution that says, "The executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States of America." Roberts added, "The entire 'executive power' belongs to the president alone."

"We therefore hold that the structure of the CFPB violates the separation of powers," Roberts wrote in Seila Law vs. CFPB.

In dissent, Justice Elena Kagan pointed out the constitutional clause he cited says nothing about the president's power to remove officials at will. She and her liberal colleagues insisted the Constitution authorizes Congress to structure the government through legislation, and she said the court should stand aside.

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"Throughout the nations history, this court has left most decisions about how to structure the executive branch to Congress and the president, acting through legislation they both agree to," she wrote. "In second-guessing the political branches, the majority second-guesses as well the wisdom of the framers and the judgment of history. It writes in rules to the Constitution that the drafters knew well enough not to put there."

In the end, the ruling may prove to benefit the Democrats. If former Vice President Joe Biden is elected in November, he would be authorized to replace the current director, Kathy Kraninger, who was appointed by President Trump two years ago. If the high court had upheld the five-year term provision, Trump's appointee could have served for three years in a Biden administration.

The consumer agency was created in 2010 at the behest of then-Harvard law professor and now-Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), with the aim of protecting consumers from Wall Street and other powerful financial interests. Its congressional sponsors sought to shield the agency from political influence by giving the director a five-year term in office.

Business groups have fought the bureau from the start, and they challenged its constitutionality in court.

While Roberts agreed with the four conservatives that it was unconstitutional to have a single director who could not be easily removed by the president, he said that feature of the law could be severed from the rest, leaving the agency undisturbed. Some had argued that if the provision about the director was deemed unconstitutional, the entire law should be declared invalid and the agency itself disbanded.

Generally speaking, when confronting a constitutional flaw in a statute, we try to limit the solution to the problem, severing any problematic portions while leaving the remainder intact," Roberts wrote. "Even in the absence of a severability clause, the 'traditional' rule is that the unconstitutional provision must be severed unless the statute created in its absence is legislation that Congress would not have enacted.

This passage should be encouraging for defenders of Obamacare, which is facing a constitutional attack from President Trump and a group of Republican attorneys generals led by Texas. A key issue there is whether the entire Affordable Care Act should be struck down because Congress effectively repealed the so-called individual mandate, which penalized Americans who did not buy insurance.

The CFPB case began when agency officials were looking into allegations that a small Orange County law firm was violating its restrictions on the advertising and marketing of debt-relief services. When the consumer protection agency sent a demand for information, the law firm refused and alleged the bureau was operating unconstitutionally.

A federal judge and the 9th Circuit Court rejected that claim, but the high court agreed to hear the case. Roberts said the case would be sent back to the appeals court to decide what to about the demand for records.
The Supreme Court announced a major ruling on abortion, deciding that the Louisiana law is unconstitutional and should not stand.

The opinion was written by Justice Stephen Breyer, joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Chief Justice John Roberts also filed an opinion concurring for the majority.

The case, June Medical Services v. Russo, was a challenge to a Louisiana law that required abortion providers have admitting privileges with a nearby hospital -- an agreement between a doctor and a hospital that allows a patient to go that hospital if they need urgent care.

Abortion providers argued this was an unnecessary requirement unrelated to health outcomes that only served to prevent them from being able to provide abortion care. Admitting privileges can be difficult for abortion providers to obtain as hospitals do not want to be associated with them due to the stigma and as abortion is a statistically safe procedure, requiring extremely limited numbers of patients to have to go to hospitals for care.

MORE: Family's abortion story sheds light on stakes of Supreme Court ruling

In fact, in 2016, the Supreme Court ruled, in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, that a nearly identical hospital admitting privileges law out of Texas caused an "undue burden" on patients seeking abortions after it caused roughly half of clinics in the state to shut down. In the 2020 opinion, Breyer called the Louisiana law "almost word-for-word identical to Texas' admitting-privileges law."

"This case is similar to, nearly identical with, Whole Woman's Health. And the law must consequently reach a similar conclusion. Act 620 is unconstitutional," Breyer wrote in conclusion on the June Medical opinion.

That 2016 case set what was supposed to be a precedent that laws like Texas' that "'do little or nothing for health, but rather strew impediments to abortion' cannot survive judicial inspection," Ginsburg wrote in a concurring opinion, referencing a lower court case.

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MORE: Explaining the third-party question in the Supreme Court abortion case

Roberts had been on the dissenting side of the Texas Whole Woman's case. In his concurring opinion with the majority on June Medical, Roberts explained that he still believed his 2016 opinion that "the case was wrongly decided," but he joined the majority this time around because "the question today" is on "whether to adhere to [the Whole Woman's case] in deciding the present case." Essentially, Roberts based his decision not on his opinion on the law itself, but on the basic concept of court precedent.

"The legal doctrine of stare decisis requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike," he wrote. "The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore Louisiana's law cannot stand under our precedents."

June Medical Services v. Russo (ABC NEWS)

The action that brought this case to the Supreme Court was that in 2018, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals surprised court watchers by reversing a decision on the Louisiana law that struck it down based on the 2016 Supreme Court case. Instead, the Fifth Circuit ruled Louisiana's admitting privileges law could stand.

Since 2016, the Supreme Court's makeup has changed. Justice Anthony Kennedy represented the swing vote on abortion in the 2016 case, then siding with the liberal-leaning justices. Following Kennedy's retirement in 2018 and the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016, their replacements -- Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh -- are seen as more conservative.

In June Medical, both Gorsuch and Kavanaugh sided with the minority and wrote their own separate opinions. In his dissent, Gorsuch focused on the supposed benefits to patient health the law could pose, positioning abortion as a potentially unsafe procedure. Kavanaugh, meanwhile in a shorter separate opinion, wrote that he believed the Louisiana law could be different from Texas and that there should be more fact-finding.

MORE: Supreme Court set to hear critical Louisiana abortion case

In bringing the case to the Supreme Court, Louisiana added another challenge on, questioning what's called "third-party standing," which means that a third party -- like an abortion provider -- is allowed to argue on behalf of the person actually impacted -- a patient.

While Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that declared abortion a protected right, included an individual patient challenging the law, every major abortion case since then has been presented by providers and clinics like Whole Woman's Health, Planned Parenthood or June Medical Services.

In the majority opinion, the court also said that third-party standing applied to this case, as precedent had set in many other cases both on abortion and otherwise.

"In short, the State's strategic waiver and a long line of well-established precedents foreclose its belated challenge to the plaintiffs' standing," Breyer wrote.

The dissenters on the court, in the minority, disagreed with this.

PHOTO: People participate in an abortion rights rally outside of the Supreme Court as the justices hear oral arguments in the June Medical Services v. Russo case, March 4, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life, an anti-abortion group, said in a statement, "No abortion facility should receive a free pass to provide substandard care. This decision underscores the importance of nominating and confirming judges who refrain from legislating from the bench, something pro-life voters will certainly remember come November."

Amy Hagstrom Miller, president and CEO of Whole Woman's Health, said in a statement, "In a time where our nation yearns to move forward progressively, the Trump Administration acted to move the dial back decades by filling the courts with conservative judges and justices. This ploy did not work. The Supreme Court was on the right side of history last week, and they are again today. Hope Medical Group for Women WON and the Whole Woman's Health precedent still stands in the USA."

"We're relieved that the Louisiana law has been blocked today but we're concerned about tomorrow," Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which argued the case for the providers, said in a statement. "With this win, the clinics in Louisiana can stay open to serve the one million women of reproductive age in the state. But the Court's decision could embolden states to pass even more restrictive laws when clarity is needed if abortion rights are to be protected."

Northup concluded her statement by calling on Congress to pass the "Womens Health Protection Act, a federal bill that would ensure the promise of Roe v. Wade is realized in every state for every person."

Supreme Court hands down major decision reaffirming abortion rights originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Supreme Court on Monday struck down restrictions on abortion imposed by the state of Louisiana.

The Louisiana law required abortion practitioners to have admitting privileges at a hospital no further than 30 miles from the abortion clinic. In a 5-4 ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts sided with liberal justices to declare the law unconstitutional.

According to plaintiffs in the case, the Louisianas restrictions would have allowed just one doctor in the entire state to perform abortions. About 10,000 women per-year currently seek abortion procedures in the state.

Roberts and the group of liberal justices said that the Louisiana law imposed similar restrictions to those of a previous law in Texas, which the Supreme Court had struck down in 2016.

The legal doctrine of stare decisis requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike. The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, Roberts wrote. Under principles of stare decisis, I agree with the plurality that the determination in Whole Womans Health that Texass law imposed a substantial obstacle requires the same determination about Louisianas law.

Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his dissent, [Plaintiffs] sole claim before this Court is that Louisianas law violates the purported substantive due process right of a woman to abort her unborn child. But they concede that this right does not belong to them, and they seek to vindicate no private rights of their own. The justice added, Our abortion precedents are grievously wrong and should be overruled.

More from National Review
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court ruled Monday that Louisiana's tough restriction on abortions violates the Constitution, a surprising victory for abortion rights advocates from an increasingly conservative court.

The 5-4 decision, in which Chief Justice John Roberts joined with the court's four more liberal justices, struck down a law passed by the Louisiana Legislature in 2014 that required any doctor offering abortion services to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles. Its enforcement had been blocked by a protracted legal battle.

Two Louisiana doctors and a medical clinic sued to get the law overturned. They said it would leave only one doctor at a single clinic to provide services for nearly 10,000 women who seek abortions in the state each year.

The challengers said the requirement was identical to a Texas law the Supreme Court struck down in 2016. With the vote of then-Justice Anthony Kennedy, the court ruled that Texas imposed an obstacle on women seeking access to abortion services without providing any medical benefits. Kennedy was succeeded by the more conservative Brett Kavanaugh, appointed by President Donald Trump, who was among the four dissenters Monday.

Justice Stephen Breyer, who wrote the Texas decision, also wrote Monday's ruling. The law poses a substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions and offers no significant health benefits "and therefore imposes an undue burden on a woman's constitutional right to choose to have an abortion."

Roberts said he thought the court was wrong to strike down the Texas law, but he voted with the majority because that was the binding precedent. "The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore Louisiana's law cannot stand under our precedents."

Image: An exterior photo of the Hope Medical Group for Women on Feb. 20, 2020, in Shreveport, La. (Rebecca Santana / AP file)

The Center for Reproductive Rights said the burdens on access to abortions in Louisiana would have been even more restrictive than those in Texas, where about half of the state's abortion clinics were forced to close. It also said the law was unnecessary, because only a small fraction of women experience medical problems after abortions, and when they do, they seek treatment at hospitals near where they live, not ones near the medical clinic.

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"As Republicans continue their assault nationally on Roe v. Wade, they are also fighting on a state by state basis," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement. "Louisiana's draconian abortion ban was a clear and intentional violation of the Constitution, explicitly designed to permanently destroy women's reproductive freedoms and dismantle their right to make their own decisions about their health, bodies and timing and size of their families."

Louisiana had defended the law, arguing that the requirement to have an association with a nearby hospital would provide a check on a doctor's credentials. But opponents said a hospital's decision about whether to grant admitting privileges had little to do with a doctor's competence and more to do with whether the doctor would admit a sufficient number of patients.

"In an unfortunate ruling today, the Supreme Court devalued both the health of mothers and the lives of unborn children by gutting Louisiana's policy that required all abortion procedures be performed by individuals with admitting privileges at a nearby hospital," the White House said in a statement. "States have legitimate interests in regulating any medical procedure  including abortions  to protect patient safety."

A federal judge ruled in 2017 that the law was likely unconstitutional and blocked its enforcement. But a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted to lift the stay, finding that it would present far less of an obstacle than the Texas law would have, because less than one-third of Louisiana women seeking an abortion would face even the potential of longer wait times.

The Supreme Court put that ruling on hold while it considered the case, which prevented the law from taking effect.

The court's four dissenters said the challengers were not legally entitled to bring the lawsuit, because the abortion right belongs to women, not to doctors and clinics. "Our abortion precedents are grievously wrong and should be overruled," Justice Clarence Thomas said.

Justice Samuel Alito said in both Monday's ruling and the previous decision striking down the Texas law that "the abortion right is used like a bulldozer to flatten legal rules that stand in the way." Justice Neil Gorsuch said the court should have given more deference to Louisiana's reasons for enacting the law, and Kavanaugh said he would have sent the case back to gather more information on its potential effects on access to abortion services.
Joseph DeAngelo, the man now known as the Golden State Killer, pleaded guilty on Monday to 13 counts of first-degree murder in front of dozens of victims and victims' relatives, prosecutors said.

The plea deal also required him to admit to multiple uncharged acts, including rapes, which were described in horrific detail by prosecutors.

In many cases, DeAngelo broke in, confronted couples asleep, then tied up the man and raped the woman. He often threatened to kill them and would eat their food and steal belongings.

After DeAngelo was taken into custody in 2018, he said to himself in an interview room, "I did all those things. I destroyed all those lives," according to prosecutors.

PHOTO: A police officer pushes the wheelchair of Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. as he arrives at the Sacramento County courtroom for a hearing on crimes attributed to the Golden State Killer, in Sacramento, Calif., June 29, 2020. (Fred Greaves/Reuters)

Instead of a courtroom, DeAngelo, in an orange jumpsuit and using a cane, appeared in a California State UniversitySacramento ballroom. With over 150 victims and relatives expected to attend, prosecutors sought a room that would be large enough to accommodate them and promote social distancing, The Sacramento Bee reported.

The deal will "allow the remaining victims and family members ... to hear the defendant admit that he committed these acts," Sacramento County Deputy District Attorney Amy Holliday said at Monday's hearing.

PHOTO: Former police officer Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. speaks at the Sacramento County courtroom during a hearing on crimes attributed to the Golden State Killer, in Sacramento, Calif., June 29, 2020. (Fred Greaves/Reuters)

The death penalty will be taken off the table and he will serve life without parole, Holliday said.

DeAngelo, now 74 years old, was accused of committing 13 murders as well as multiple rapes and burglaries in the 1970s and 80s, terrorizing communities from Northern to Southern California.

DeAngelo was a police officer during the crimes in the 1970s.

PHOTO: In this April 10, 2019, file photo, Joseph James DeAngelo, suspected of being the Golden State Killer appears in Sacramento County Superior Court as prosectors announce they will seek the death penalty if he is convicted in Sacramento, Calif. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP, FILE)

DeAngelo on Monday admitted the counts against him in a weak, strained voice, saying each time, "I admit."

He admitted to shooting and killing Claude Snelling in front of Snelling's daughter when he broke into their home in September 1975. DeAngelo kicked the daughter three times in the face and then fled, prosecutors said.

DeAngelo also admitted to the attempted murder of a police officer but was not charged with the crime. DeAngelo shot at the officer when the officer confronted him trying to ransack a home in 1975.

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MORE: Inside the timeline of crimes by the 'Golden State Killer'

He also said "I admit" to the February 1978 killing of Brian and Katie Maggiore.

The couple was walking their dog when Brian Maggiore was shot. Katie Maggiore ran away and yelled for help, but DeAngelo caught up with her and shot her in the head, prosecutors said.

DeAngelo admitted to the killing of a couple in Goleta, California, in 1979, after which he rummaged through the fridge and ate leftovers.

Also in Goleta, friends Cheri Domingo and Gregory Sanchez were killed in July 1981.

Sanchez was shot and then beaten to death, bludgeoned in the head two dozen times, prosecutors said.

MORE: 'Golden State Killer' victim's sister: 'I can finally breathe again'

DeAngelo then bound Domingo, raped her and beat her in the head more than 10 times, prosecutors said.

Domingo's daughter, Debbi Domingo McMullan, told ABC News there's "no such thing as closure. Its a lifelong process."

"Weve served time all these years, now its his turn to serve time," she said.

DeAngelo admitted to killing Lyman and Charlene Smith in their Ventura home in March 1980. Charlene Smith was also bound and raped.

The couple was later found dead by Lyman Smith's 12-year-old son.

PHOTO: A crime scene photo from an attack by the 'Golden State Killer.' (Courtesy FBI )

DeAngelo admitted to the killing of Keith Harrington and the rape and killing of his wife Patrice Harrington, who were bludgeoned to death at their home in Dana Point in August 1980.

Keith Harrington, a medical school student, and Patrice Harrington, a pediatric trauma nurse, had been married for three months, said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

MORE: 'Golden State Killer' victim recalls rape that 'terrorized' her

DeAngelo admitted to the murder of Manuela Witthuhn, who was bound, raped and bludgeoned to death while home alone on Feb. 5, 1981. Her body was found by her mother, Spitzer said.

He admitted to the killing of 18-year-old Janelle Cruz, who was also bound, raped and bludgeoned in the face and head at her home in May 1986.

"You attacked her, you beat her and you raped her," Spitzer said in court, addressing DeAngelo.

"Three of her teeth had been knocked out and she had swallowed a significant amount of blood," he said.

The "Golden State Killer" crimes went unsolved until April 2018, when DeAngelo was arrested in Sacramento County.

PHOTO: A view of the home of accused rapist and killer Joseph James DeAngelo is pictured on April 24, 2018 in Citrus Heights, Calif. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

DeAngelo became the first public arrest obtained through genetic genealogy, a new technique that takes the DNA of an unknown suspect left behind at a crime scene and identifies him or her by tracing a family tree through his or her family members, who voluntarily submit their DNA to public genealogy databases.

This allows police to create a much larger family tree than using law enforcement databases.

To identify DeAngelo, investigators narrowed the family tree search based on age, location and other characteristics.

PHOTO: In this April 27, 2018, file photo, Joseph DeAngelo, 72, who authorities said was identified by DNA evidence as the the Golden State Killer, appears at his arraignment in Sacramento, Calif. (Randy Pench/Sacramento Bee/Pool via REUTERS, FILE)

Authorities surveilled DeAngelo and collected his DNA from a tissue left in a trash. Investigators plugged his discarded DNA back into the genealogy database and found a match, linking DeAngelo's DNA to the DNA found at crime scenes, prosecutors said.

Since DeAngelo's arrest, over 150 other crime suspects have been identified through genetic genealogy.

ABC News' Jenna Harrison and Annie Pong contributed to this report.

'Golden State Killer' pleads guilty as horrific crimes recounted by prosecutors originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump denied Sunday being briefed on intelligence that reportedly showed Russia had offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing US soldiers in Afghanistan.

The report by The New York Times sparked renewed questions about Trump's reluctance to confront Russia over behavior that, if accurate, would represent a serious national security challenge.

In a pair of early-morning tweets, Trump angrily slammed the report as "probably just another phony Times hit job, just like their failed Russia Hoax."

"Nobody briefed or told me, @VP Pence, or Chief of Staff @MarkMeadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an 'anonymous source' by the Fake News @nytimes," he wrote.

"Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us...."

"Nobody's been tougher on Russia than the Trump Administration."

The Times, citing anonymous officials, said Trump was briefed on the US intelligence findings in March, but has not decided how to respond.

According to the report, US intelligence had concluded that a Russian military intelligence unit offered rewards to Taliban-linked militants to kill troops of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan.

The rewards were purportedly incentives to target US forces as Trump tries to withdraw troops from the conflict-torn country -- one of the militants' key demands -- and end America's longest war.

While Trump cast aspersions on the Times report, neither he nor other top administration officials denied the underlying intelligence conclusion about the Russian activities.

John Ratcliffe, the new director of national intelligence, issued a statement late Saturday denying Trump or Pence had been briefed "on any intelligence alleged by The New York Times in its reporting."

He also vouched for an earlier White House statement that denied Trump had been briefed on the matter but left open the possibility that the intelligence existed.

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"This does not speak to the merit of the alleged intelligence but to the inaccuracy of The New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said.

- 'Another day at the office' -

John Bolton, Trump's former national security advisor and now peddling a highly critical tell-all book, said if it's true Russia was paying to have US troops killed, "that is a very, very serious matter."

Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," Bolton said, "To me it looks like just another day at the office in the Trump White House."

Top Democratic lawmaker Nancy Pelosi accused Trump of seeking to "ignore any allegation against Russia."

"This is totally outrageous. You would think that the minute the president heard of it he would want to know more instead of denying that he knew anything," she said on ABC's "This Week."

- Taliban, Russian denials -

The Taliban have denied the report, reiterating that they were committed to an accord signed with Washington in February that paves the way for withdrawing all foreign forces from Afghanistan by next year.

The militants also said homemade explosives account for most fatalities among US forces.

"The 19-year jihad of the Islamic Emirate is not indebted to the beneficence of any intelligence organ or foreign country," the Taliban said in a statement issued in Kabul.

The group, widely believed to have received years of support from Pakistani intelligence, also denied previous US accusations it was given arms by Russia.

Russia also denounced the report, with its embassy in Washington tweeting that the "baseless and anonymous accusations" in the Times story had "already led to direct threats to the life of employees" at its embassies in Washington and London.

- Tortured history -

Russia has a tortured history in Afghanistan, where the former Soviet Union in its final years was bogged down in a devastating fight against Islamist guerrillas, backed at the time by Washington.

The Times said there were different theories on why Russia would support Taliban attacks, including a desire to keep Washington bogged down in war.

It said Russia may also be seeking revenge over the US killing of Russian mercenaries in Syria, where Moscow backs President Bashar al-Assad.

According to the newspaper, the Taliban operation was led by Unit 29155, an arm of Russia's military intelligence agency GRU, which has been blamed in numerous international incidents including a 2018 chemical weapons attack in Britain that nearly killed Russian-born double agent Sergei Skripal.

Some Republicans called for clarity from the White House over the allegations, with Representative Liz Cheney asking on Twitter "Who did know and when?... What has been done in response to protect our forces & hold Putin accountable?"

burs-st-jm/bgs/mdl
MONTREAL, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - In collaboration with the Government of Quebec, the Government of Canada, the Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec (CDPQ) and the Quebec CPA Order, TaxCOOP invites the tax community to attend the TaxCOOP2020 World Tax Summit under the theme "Give Tax Cooperation a Chance."

TaxCOOP 2020 Logo (CNW Group/TaxCOOP)

TaxCOOP2020 will be held online from October 13 to 15 and in person at the Montreal Science Centre on October 15, in compliance with the sanitary measures in effect at that time. In addition, on the morning of October 16, a session focusing on the Quebec fiscal context will be presented in collaboration with Sherbrooke University's Chair on Taxation and Public Finance.

TaxCOOP2020 is a free public summit where governments, politicians, businesspeople, academics, experts and civil society come together to discuss international taxation. TaxCOOP2020 will bring together diverse tax leaders, including Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy and Finance of France, Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the OECD's Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, and Gabriel Zucman, Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley, and author.

While countries are currently going through the biggest economic crisis since the crash of 1929, they are simultaneously incurring debt to combat the effects of COVID-19. Now more than ever, international tax cooperation is essential to ensure that the cost of the crisis is fairly shared among all taxpayers and that our governments have the means to finance the various economic stimulus measures taken. "Without such cooperation, tax competition could increase to the detriment of communities everywhere," says Brigitte Alepin, co-founder of TaxCOOP.

TaxCOOP offers a new experience with creative events , including debates, international competitions, brainstorming workshops, citizens' evenings, and a presentation of the documentary, Fast & Dangerous Race to the Bottom.

About TaxCOOP: TaxCOOP is a Canadian NPO organizing free and neutral public conferences on international tax competition and cooperation. After being held at the MMFA in Montreal in 2015, the World Bank in 2016, the UN in 2017, the OECD and COP25 in 2019, TaxCOOP is back in Montreal to organize the 2020 World Tax Summit. TaxCOOP is among the 50 most influential tax organizations and personalities in the world, according to International Tax Review magazine.

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UAE Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has announced that all government employees will be back in offices from July 5.

The staffing capacity in all ministries will be 100 per cent, an important step that contributes to achieving the UAE strategy for a post-COVID-19 situation, reflecting country's pursuance to be one of the fastest-growing and developing countries in the world through the resumption of various economic and social activities, even as it abides by all Covid-19 countermeasures.

The Authority has circulated the decision to all federal departments. This includes cancelling all special permissions granted to employees of the federal government.

However, these exceptions are limited to only one category of employees, those with chronic diseases on the submission of a detailed medical report approved by the relevant medical committee, said the statement from FAHR.

The decision also stressed the importance of the federal authorities to adhere to a set of conditions, the foremost of which is strict adherence to the application of the "The Guidelines for Office and Workplace Environment during Emergency Conditions'', and the instructions related to professional safety and health with an emphasis on social distancing to the employees in federal government departments it stated.

The decision stipulates the continuance of flexible working hours and dividing employees into groups when attending and leaving work to reduce gatherings to achieve physical distancing, and to activate the use of the remote work system approved in the federal government following the regulations and provisions contained therein, which ensures the continuity of service provision, work and production.

The decision is based on a large number of normative studies and research, especially the "safe return protocol" to the workplace set by the relevant committee in the Ministry of Health and Prevention in coordination with the Health Authority - Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Health Authority and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, NCEMA.

It also reflects the UAE government's flexible strategy during the last stage to address efficiently the challenges that accompanied the spread of the coronavirus pandemic worldwide.

The strategy demonstrated the readiness of various federal government departments and their ability to keep pace with developing systems and work methods able to adapt to the exceptional circumstances and meet the requirements of each stage in a way that ensures business continuity as well as maintains public health and safety standards.
MIAMI  Noel Guillermo, 47, a delivery worker for Instacart, is not happy with what he's seeing as Florida grapples with a surge in coronavirus cases.

Im extremely worried about the exposure, he said. All the grocery stores are super tightly packed. There are maybe 70 other people in there. And here in Miami, there are tons of people not taking it very seriously  so many people just disregarding the rules and not wearing their masks or gloves.

Even when I go to restaurants, there are a lot of people not wearing protective equipment, Guillermo said.

Florida is one of several states seeing a significant spike in COVID-19 cases. After several days of record-shattering new case numbers, the state's total number of cases as of Monday is over 146,000, according to the Florida Department of Health.

As the demand for deliveries has surged, a largely Latino and immigrant workforce has been working on the pandemics front lines providing meals, groceries and medicine to people at home.

Guillermo, who made a living driving for Uber before the pandemic hit, said he felt he had to choose between forfeiting his income or risking his health for work. With millions out of work from pandemic lockdowns and Floridas unemployment rate at 14.5 percent, many feel they have no choice.

Normally, Im a preschool teacher, and I am a babysitter throughout the summers, Carolina Calderon, 53, said. But in the pandemic, there arent any options for getting a job. So I figured I needed to drive for Uber Eats.

But Im terrified of the risk, she said.

Nestor Guevara, 46, drives for Uber and Amazon Fresh.

If you want to make a living, you have to go to work, no matter what, he said. This is the way this country works.

These big companies that we work for could do more for drivers like us, Guevara added. "I work every single day for them. I never stop. I wish they would do more to help us."

Image: Nestor Guevara (Julia Logue / for NBC News)

Timothy Carter, a public relations manager at Amazon, noted the company's efforts to keep its employees safe.

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"Were investing over $800 million in the first half of this year on safety measures like temperature checks, masks, enhanced cleaning, gloves and testing, to name a few, he said.

In an email to NBC News, Carly DeBeikes, a representative from Ubers Safety Communications Department, said that the company has been supplying drivers with masks and cleaning supplies since April. Our focus has been cities with the highest need, giving supplies to the most active drivers, she said.

Guevara's cousin, Eleazar Guevara, said he contracted COVID-19 early on. Since I was a contractor for Amazon Fresh and was infected, I applied to their relief program and got $2,000. That helped  but it wasnt the same as working for a month  for 31 days, I could not leave my room."

Eleazar, 40, left Venezuela two years ago after a 17-year career in business and politics. He sought asylum, claiming government persecution, and it was approved; he's now in the process of applying for permanent residency.

The arc of it all has been a bit difficult, he said. I came as an immigrant with professional training and experience; its difficult to come with all this knowledge and not be able to use it." He's had to socially distance from his family to keep them healthy, which he says is very hard.

His story is a common one among delivery workers in Miami, who draw on a largely immigrant workforce.

Increased competition

As people in other industries lose their jobs, delivery workers face increased competition from a surging number of drivers.

All the restaurants, studios, fitness places, everything closed their doors, and all of these people needed to make money, too," said Nestor. "So even though there was a massive ramp-up in demand [for delivery], there was a massive ramp-up of drivers."

In the last few weeks, so many people have joined the platform that its almost impossible to get deliveries, said Guillermo. Instacart started off paying really well, but now its totally dependent on the amount of jobs you can find.

Despite the increased competition, Eleazar said the silver lining is that there are grateful customers who are saying thanks with their pocketbooks.

On an average delivery job, Im earning double than I did before because people are paying so much in tips, he said. People are really putting in the effort, especially now. I think they realize the risk we are putting ourselves into.

Though delivery workers are apprehensive as the state sees the coronavirus cases rise, Eleazar says he also feels a sense of pride in what he does.

We are a part of the front lines  we help keep the restaurants in business, we help keep sales high in grocery stores, and we help keep people in their houses where they feel safe, he said. And at the end of the day, I count the amount of deliveries I did, and I think  'OK, I delivered 45 packages to 45 houses today. I kept 45 people feeling safe.' And I feel really good about that.

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In February 1991 I fought as a green 2nd Lieutenant under then-Captain H.R. McMaster, who would go on to win combat fame in 2005 Iraq and as Trumps National Security Advisor. I watched McMaster provide exceptional leadership of our unit prior to war and watched him perform brilliantly under fire during combat. It gives me no pleasure, therefore, to note that his most recent work in Foreign Affairs has to be one of the most flawed analyses Ive ever seen.

McMasters essay, The Retrenchment Syndrome, is an attempted take-down of a growing number of experts who argue American foreign policy has become addicted to the employment of military power. I, and other likeminded advocates, argue this military-first foreign policy does not increase Americas security, but perversely undercuts it.

We advocate a foreign policy that elevates diplomacy, promotes the maintenance of a powerful military that can defend America globally, and seeks to expand U.S. economic opportunity abroad. This perspective takes the world as it is, soberly assesses Americas policy successes and failures of the past decades, and recommends sane policies going forward that have the best chance to achieve outcomes beneficial to our country.

Adopting this new foreign policy mentality, however, requires an honest recognition that our existing approachespecially since 9/11has at times been catastrophically bad for America. The status quo has to be jettisoned for us to turn failure into success.

These failures have not been merely policy mistakes but have had profound consequences for our country, both in terms of blood unnecessarily wasted and trillions of dollars irretrievably lost. The very last thing we should do is defend a failed status quo and subvert new thinking. McMaster does both in his essay.

McMaster grievously mischaracterizes the positions of those who advocate for a sane, rational foreign policy. He tries to pin a pejorative moniker on restraint-oriented viewpoints via the term retrenchment syndrome.

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Advocates for a restrained foreign policy, he says, subscribe to the romantic view that restraint abroad is almost always an unmitigated good. McMaster claims Obamas 2011 intervention in Libya failed not because it destabilized the country but because Washington didnt shape Libyas political environment in the wake of Qaddafis demise. And he claims Trumps desire to withdraw from Afghanistan will allow the Taliban, al Qaeda, and various other jihadi terrorists to claim victory.

In other words, the only policy option is to keep doing what has manifestly failed for the past two decades. Just do it harder, faster, and deeper.

But the reality of the situation is rather different.

We had won all that was militarily winnable on the ground in Afghanistan by the summer of 2002 and we should have withdrawn. Instead, we have refused to accept reality for eighteen additional years and we have lost thousands of American service members and trillions of American tax dollars to finance permanent failure.

We should never have invaded Iraq in 2003. But once we realized the justification for the war had been wrong, we should have rapidly withdrawn our combat troops and diplomatically helped facilitate the establishment of an Iraqi-led state. Instead, we refused to acknowledge our mistake, fought a pointless eight-year insurgency, and then instead of allowing Iraq to solve its own problems when ISIS arose in 2014, unnecessarily went back to help Baghdad fight its battles.

Likewise, the U.S. continues to fight or support never-ending combat actions in Syria, Libya, Somalia, Niger, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and other lesser-known locations. There is no risk to American national security in any of these locations that engaging in routine and perpetual combat operations will solve.

Lastly, large portions of the American publicand even greater percentages of service members who have served in forever-warsare against the continuation of these wars and do not believe they keep us safer. What would make the country more secure, however, is adopting a realistic foreign policy that recognizes the world as it truly is, acknowledges that the reason we maintain a world-class military is to deter our enemies without having to fight, and recognizing that our interests are far better served by being an exemplar to the world rather than trying to force it to behave a certain way.

The time has come to admit our foreign policy theories of the past two decades have utterly failed in their objective. We have not been made safer because of them and the price continually imposed on our service members is unnecessary and unacceptably high. It is time to abandon the status quo and adopt a new policy that is based on a realistic view of the world, an honest recognition of our genuinely powerful military, and realize that there are better ways to assure our security and prosperity.

Daniel L. Davis is a Senior Fellow for Defense Priorities and a former Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army who retired in 2015 after 21 years, including four combat deployments. Follow him @DanielLDavis1.

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Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Denver. Bike tour of Denver murals celebrates Black artists, mourns Black lives Read the full story on 9NEWS. Police investigating after woman stabbed on Sunday Read the full story on CBS Denver. Denver groups plan virtual town hall to address public safety Read the full story on CBS Denver. Denver Art Museums Norman Rockwell retrospective places artist at center of progressive, 20th-century thought Read the full story on The Know. Denver elementary principal removed after district finds she discriminated against Black student Read the full story on www.denverpost.com. 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.

After protesting in Aurora on Saturday, Quincy Shannon got the idea from his 11-year-old daughter to show people the murals they love.

A woman was taken to the hospital on Sunday morning following a stabbing. Denver police responded to High Street near 23rd Avenue.

The virtual town hall will be Tuesday at 6 p.m.

"Norman Rockwell: Imagining Freedom" tells the story of a painter who mastered the persuasive powers of art and deployed them as a force for good.
Photo: Grant Porter/Unsplash

Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Fresno.

Newsom orders closure of bars in Fresno, Tulare and 5 other counties

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday ordered the closure of bars in Fresno, Tulare and five other counties due to the rising spread of COVID-19.

Read the full story on CBS47 Fresno.

Man killed in suspected DUI wreck in Fresno

The California Highway Patrol - Fresno Division says a 25-year-old man was killed in a suspected DUI crash. The CHP says the man was driving northbound on Friant Road, near Willow Avenue, when he lost control of the car and crossed over the southbound lanes around 4:05 PM Saturday.

Read the full story on FOX26.

Father shot by his own son in northeast Fresno after heated argument

The dad tried to block the bullet with his hand.

Read the full story on The Fresno Bee.

Fresno Pacific University earns nursing accreditation

"Accreditation affirms the quality of our program, providing students with confidence that they have made a good choice," said Karen M. Cianci, Ph.D., dean of the FPU School of Natural Sciences.

Read the full story on Oakdale Leader.

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.
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Missed the most recent top news in New York City? Read on for everything you need to know.

11 people shot across NYC in less than 12 hours

Eleven people were shot in less than 12 hours across New York City as of early Sunday morning, law enforcement sources told The Post. The victims were wounded during eight shootings in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens and Manhattan between 5:30 p.m. Saturday and about 5 a.m. Sunday, sources said.

Read the full story on New York Post.

Occupy City Hall grows in numbers as NYPD budget deadline looms

As the tent encampment meant to Occupy City Hall has grown in recent days, protesters kicked off their sixth consecutive morning on Sunday taking up space in New York City to demand at least $1 billion out of the NYPD's $6 billion budget be slashed before the city budget deadline on Wednesday.

Read the full story on Fox News.

NYC to crack down on mystery fireworks



Mayor Bill de Blasio has formed a task force aimed at halting the illegal sale of fireworks that have prompted thousands of complaints.

Read the full story on NPR.

17 corrections officers face disciplinary action over death of trans woman in solitary confinement

Seventeen officers with the New York City Department of Correction will face disciplinary action for their involvement in the death of Layleen Cubilette-Polanco, a Black transgender woman who died last year while in solitary confinement at Rikers Island.

Read the full story on Business Insider.

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.
American Hospital Dubai, part of Mohamed & Obaid Al Mulla Group, has selected Oracle Cloud Applications and Cerner, a Gold Level member of Oracle Partner Network (OPN), for a major digital transformation.

The initiative is aimed at reducing cost, optimising physician performance, driving better inventory management, avoiding losses to over or understocking, and hiring and retaining the best talent.

As per the agreement, Cerner will deliver a new health IT platform  an electronic health record (EHR) to improve the safety, quality, and healthcare experience for patients and caregivers. In addition, Oracle will provide the digital business platform and Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Cloud to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve controls. Both solutions will integrate hospital business and clinical operations to improve efficiency and business decision-making based on real-time data.

The new EHR and ERP platforms will provide American Hospital Dubai with the ability to truly automate its end-to-end clinical and business processes. The implementation of these industry-leading solutions will enable the hospital to deliver a seamless patient journey, drive efficiency, and provide high quality, affordable care. In addition, the wealth of data collected will be used to report and improve patient outcomes, which ultimately will help optimize clinical and business performance across the entire organisation.

Sherif Beshara, chief executive officer of Mohamed & Obaid Al Mulla Group, said: Medical well-being is integral for the progress of our nation and its people, and we are consistently seeking intelligent methods to improve quality of care and to enhance the patients experience. Our partnership with Cerner and Oracle significantly improves our clinical and non-clinical services and further positions American Hospital as a beacon of medical service excellence and expertise in the region and beyond.

American Hospital Dubai will also implement Oracle Human Capital Management (HCM) Cloud to further equip its 1,200 employees with the tools they need for the digital healthcare era. This initiative will help American Hospital retain and hire the best talent, initiate training programmes, and ensure enhanced employee satisfaction.

The Oracle Cloud Applications implementation is aimed at automating American Hospitals core processes to provide a single source of truth with better budgeting and planning tools for the hospitals leadership  as well as increasing employee satisfaction and reducing turnover, said Rahul Misra, vice president  business applications, Lower Gulf, Oracle.

American Hospital is a true pioneer and with this transformation, the healthcare provider is preparing for its next growth phase and continued delivery of excellent patient care.

Alaa Adel, managing director, Cerner Middle East & Africa, said, We are excited to work collaboratively with American Hospital to roll out a network wide EHR that will create a patient-centric health care delivery system and engage individuals in a culture of proactive health management. During the time of Covid-19 pandemic, the role of technology becomes even more prominent. With Cerners innovative solutions, American Hospital will not only further enhance its response to the global crisis, but more importantly be well-equipped with cutting-edge technologies to thrive in the new era of post-pandemic healthcare. -- Tradearabia News Service
President Trump responded Sunday night to multiple reports that Russia had paid Taliban fighters to kill American troops in Afghanistan, writing on Twitter that U.S. intelligence did not find this info credible and that he was never briefed on the matter.

Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or @VP. Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax, maybe by the Fake News @nytimesbooks, wanting to make Republicans look bad!!! Trump tweeted Sunday night.

The New York Times, which broke the story citing anonymous officials, said the intelligence was briefed to Trump and discussed by the National Security Council in March, but a formal response was never announced.

According to the reports, U.S. officials have focused on an April 2019 attack that killed three U.S. Marines after a car rigged with explosives detonated near an armored convoy that was returning to Bagram Airfield, the largest U.S. military installation in Afghanistan. Further evidence came from interrogations of captured Afghan militants and criminals, as well as a raid of a Taliban outpost that was conducted earlier this year by SEAL Team Six and recovered roughly $500,000 in American dollars.

Both the Russians and the Taliban denied the allegations. The Associated Press reported that the Trump administration was going to brief select members of Congress on the matter Monday.

Trumps account was bolstered by CBS Newss Catherine Herridge, who reported that a senior official told her the GRU/Taliban bounty allegations were not contained in the Presidents Daily Brief (PDB).

The official confirmed the NSC has been doing due diligence, and going back through their files since the story broke Friday, and they have not found the intelligence assessment described in media reporting, Herridge tweeted. The official said the review is ongoing, but given current talks with the Taliban, intel about a GRU operation involving the Taliban, targeting US forces would have risen to the level of inclusion in the PDB.

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One month after President Donald Trump ordered the nations governors to immediately reopen churches, his administration is facing a difficult dilemma.

Clusters of Covid-19 cases are surfacing in counties across the U.S. where in-person religious services have resumed, triggering questions about whether his administration should reassess its campaign to treat houses of worship the same as other essential businesses, or leave them alone and risk additional transmission of the deadly coronavirus  including in communities that are largely supportive of the president.

An outbreak at a Pentecostal church in Oregon, where hundreds of worshipers resumed gathering over Memorial Day weekend, forced an entire county to return to phase one of its reopening after local officials traced 258 cases of Covid-19 back to the facility. In West Virginia, six health departments across the state have reported coronavirus outbreaks linked to churches. One of them, a Baptist church in Greenbrier County, had 34 congregants test positive for the virus. And in Texas, which hit an all-time high of new cases last week, health officials have received numerous reports of church-related exposures.

The disturbing trend did not stop Trump and other senior administration officials from visiting an Arizona mega-church this week for a Students for Trump rally, where MAGA ball caps were far more ubiquitous than face masks. Images from the event  showing hundreds of mask-less teenagers sitting in close quarters for the presidents remarks  embodied the predicament Trump now faces: Many of his Christian supporters rushed to embrace the countrys reopening, which has included the return of in-person worship services in many states. Now, re-imposing previous restrictions to protect other Americans could impair the presidents relationship with his own base.

So far, administration officials have declined to single out church-related outbreaks as problematic.

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A senior administration official briefed on the discussions said members of the White House coronavirus task force began expressing serious concerns this week about rising infection rates in a dozen states, particularly after Florida reported record-breaking cases last Wednesday  leading to the task forces first briefing in two months on Friday. But the same official said the task force does not consider churches to be super-spreaders, or hotspots for Covid-19 transmission, at this time.

Others, including Trump, have chalked up the rising number of cases in places like Arizona, Texas, North Carolina and Florida to expanded testing capabilities, even as White House officials privately acknowledge the volume of newly confirmed cases exceeds that which increased testing would account for.

A spokeswoman for the Justice Department, which intervened in several states to seek equal treatment for churches in the reopening process, declined to comment on whether the agency plans to change its current approach pushing to reopen houses of worship.



At the task forces press briefing on Friday, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said federal, state and local officials have a lot of work ahead to prevent a second viral wave as businesses reopen and small social gatherings are once again permitted. Americans can be confident weve got a rock solid foundation to help us get back to work, school, worship and back to health care where we tackle surges of the virus where they occur, Azar said.

Vice President Mike Pence called on Americans to follow existing guidelines from public officials  and to pray. I just encourage every American to continue to pray. Pray for all the families that have lost loved ones. Pray for our health care workers on the front lines, Pence said. Pray that by Gods grace, every single day, will each of us do our part to heal our land.

Previous guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  which urged churches to suspend choir activities, eucharistic sharing, the recitation of creeds and other programming  had roiled Trump aides late last month who felt the public health agency was burdening faith communities with unnecessary restrictions. In updated guidance posted shortly after Trump demanded that states allow churches to reopen, the CDC said its recommendations were not intended to infringe on rights protected by the First Amendment.

Some governors have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential. Its not right, so Im correcting this injustice and calling houses of worship essential, Trump had said at the time, following public complaints from some of his top allies on the religious right about ongoing church closures.

On the same day Trump pronounced churches essential businesses, the lead pastor at Lighthouse Pentescostal, the Oregon church now at the center of the states worst coronavirus outbreak, wrote in an Instagram post that he would begin in-person services that weekend in accordance with President Trump.

Other religious institutions filed lawsuits against state officials who declined to lift restrictions on church gatherings, calling the rules unconstitutional since other businesses were permitted to resume service.

Now Trump is grappling with the fallout  unforeseen or not  of his aggressive push to reopen churches at a time when he cant afford to agitate his religious supporters.

Polls conducted since the coronavirus pandemic began have shown a steady decline in his favorability rating among white Catholics and white evangelicals, demographics that helped carry him to victory in 2016 and whose backing he will need to defeat Joe Biden, his expected Democratic challenger, this fall.

Despite the outbreaks occurring in churches and elsewhere, the presidents response lately has been to double down on his effort to jumpstart the U.S. economy and reopen houses of worship, restaurants, manufacturing facilities and retail suppliers.

Vice President Mike Pence removes his face mask to make comments at First Baptist Dallas on June 28, 2020.

As part of the White Houses efforts to maintain its indispensable bond with religious conservatives, Pence has visited two churches in the past month in Maryland and Pittsburgh, and  despite postponing campaign events  still appeared Sunday at First Baptist Dallas in Texas, which is run by Rev. Robert Jeffress, one of the presidents most visible evangelical advisers.

Jeffress, who authored a pamphlet at the beginning of the pandemic asking whether the coronavirus outbreak was a judgment from God (it wasnt, ultimately he concluded), flouted stay-at-home recommendations back in March to hold in-person services at his 13,000-member Texas megachurch. In June, he pressed other churches to begin the process of returning to [in-person services] in a safe way in an op-ed for Fox News.

But Jeffress also ventured into territory Trump has danced around by insisting that protective masks should be mandatory inside houses of worship. Draft guidance circulated inside the administration last month also called for the use of face coverings during church services, though it was later changed to say they should be worn when social distancing cannot be practiced.

Unfortunately, wearing a mask has become a political issue for many people. Its not a political issue; its a medical issue. Its not about your freedom; its about keeping other people safe, Jeffress wrote.

Trump, who declined to wear a face covering while speaking to students inside the Phoenix megachurch on Tuesday, repeatedly assured the crowd the U.S. is nearing the end of the pandemic.

At the task force briefing on Friday, Pence acknowledged rising cases and outbreaks in several Southern states and joined other senior administration officials calling for renewed vigilance. But he did not explicitly call for wearing masks, instead saying Americans should heed the guidance of state and local officials.
Getty

Donald Trump may drop out of the 2020 presidential race if he believes he has no chance of winning, a Republican Party operative reportedly told Fox News.

The claim comes in a report in the presidents favourite news outlet that cites a number of GOP insiders who are concerned about Mr Trumps re-election prospects amid abysmal polling numbers.

Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, currently holds an average lead of nine points over the incumbent, according to a tracker of 2020 polls by RealClearPolitics.

Crucially, Mr Trump has lost support from older white voters  typically a bedrock of support for the Republican Party and a group that was crucial to his narrow 2016 victory. Mr Trump is also trailing the former vice president in almost all the swing states.

Its too early, but if the polls continue to worsen, you can see a scenario where he drops out, one anonymous GOP operative told Fox News.

Charles Gasparino, the author of the Fox News report, said in a series of tweets that he had spoken to major players in the Republican party for the story. One of them described Mr Trumps mood as fragile as his chances of a second-term looked increasingly dim.

Another of the GOP sources cited in the report said of the likelihood that Mr Trump will drop out: Ive heard the talk but I doubt its true. My bet is, he drops if he believes theres no way to win.

Mr Trump has repeatedly hit out at polling that shows him far behind Mr Biden. Last month, he tweeted that Fox News should fire their Fake Pollster. Never had a good Fox Poll!

On Monday, he tweeted: "Sorry to inform the Do Nothing Democrats, but I am getting VERY GOOD internal Polling Numbers. Just like 2016, the @nytimes Polls are Fake! The @FoxNews Polls are a JOKE! Do you think they will apologize to me & their subscribers AGAIN when I WIN? People want LAW, ORDER & SAFETY!"

But polls from all polling organisations show Mr Trump consistently behind by similar margins. In particular, they have shown high levels of disapproval over the presidents handling of the coronavirus and mass protests calling for racial justice after the police killing of George Floyd.

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A recent Washington Post-Ipsos poll found that 36 per cent of American adults approve of Trumps handling of the protests, while 62 percent disapprove. A New York Times poll returned similar numbers.

The same New York Times-Siena College poll found 58 per cent of Americans disapprove of his handling of the coronavirus outbreak, while only 38 percent approve  the worst ratings since the crisis began.

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The Trump campaign called reports that the president would consider dropping out the granddaddy of fake news.

Everyone knows that media polling has always been wrong about President Trump  they undersample Republicans and dont screen for likely voters  in order to set false narratives, Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh told Fox News.

It wont work. There was similar fretting in 2016 and if it had been accurate, Hillary Clinton would be in the White House right now.
Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Donald Trump has continued to suggest that fear of contracting Covid-19 is not a good enough excuse not to appear at the polls, and that Americans should only be able to vote by mail under limited circumstances.

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Trump is wrongfully conflating no-excuse vote by mail, a system where anyone can request a ballot, and universal mail-in voting, a system where all registered voters are mailed a ballot. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia allow anyone to request an absentee ballot, but just five have universal vote by mail.

While fraud is extremely rare in mail-in voting, the New Jersey case Trump referenced occurred in a local election held entirely by mail and was caught as ballots were being counted.

The president and his campaign have repeatedly tried to make the false distinction as part of an effort to explain why Trump and many other administration officials have voted by mail, even though they staunchly oppose the practice.

Trump has argued that it was acceptable for him to vote absentee in Florida in March because he was out of the state during the primary election, and could not appear to vote in person.

Pressed on Trumps history of voting by mail during a Sunday interview on 60 Minutes, Justin Clark, a senior adviser to the presidents campaign said, the president votes absentee. Thats different. If you are absent, you are ill, youre outta state, you name it, there needs to be a mechanism whereby people can get their vote cast.

That distinction is not accurate. Like 33 other states, Florida does not require an excuse to vote by mail. In Florida, all voters essentially go through the same process to request an absentee ballot, regardless of the reason they want to vote by mail. Florida itself describes its system as vote-by-mail and does not use the term absentee on the state website explaining the process.

In Florida, whether you want to call it vote-by-mail or whether you want to vote absentee, you must request to receive the ballot Paul Lux

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In Florida, we refer to this method as vote-by-mail, said Mark Ard, a spokesman for Floridas secretary of state, Laurel Lee.

Florida changed the word absentee in our law to say vote by mail. Theres no question that in Florida vote by mail is an absentee or synonymous, said Paul Lux, the supervisor of elections in Okaloosa county, Florida. The envelopes are the same, the ballots are the same, everything is identical whether youre doing absentee voting or voting by mail.

He added: In Florida, whether you want to call it vote-by-mail or whether you want to vote absentee, you must request to receive the ballot.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.

The presidents statement comes amid a roiling debate across the country about how easy it should be to vote by mail amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which the president has repeatedly downplayed. Sixteen states require an excuse to vote by mail, and there is a push to make concern over contracting Covid-19 an acceptable excuse.

Some states, such as New York and Kentucky, have been willing to waive their excuse requirement for the primary, while other states, like Texas, have refused to. In Kentucky, the state saw record turnout after it waived its requirement to provide an excuse to vote by mail during the primary.

Its not yet clear whether Kentucky and the other states that usually require an excuse to vote by mail will be willing to make similar accommodations for the November general election.

Mr President: you still have no idea what you are talking about, tweeted Amber McReynolds, a former election official in Denver who is now the chief executive of the National Vote at Home Institute.

It would make sense for you and your advisors to tour an election office or seek expert advice from those of us that have actually run an election.
Ethan Ketner

Two police cars drove into a crowd of people protesting against systemic racism and police brutality in Detroit on Sunday.

A video of the scene, which reportedly took place at around 9.30pm in southwest Detroit, shows one squad car driving through the group of protesters.

Detroit Chief of Police James E Craig said in a press conference on Monday that authorities were not aware if any protesters were injured during the incident, but said no officers in either car were hurt.

Ethan Ketner, who recorded the video, said that 10-12 people were struck by what he called the reckless driver.

These officers drove into our protest after we walked past their vehicles. They did not need to drive past us for emergency purposes because they had other officers on the other side ready. This was a clear act of aggression, he said in a Facebook post.

In Mr Ketners footage, one of the cars is surrounded by protesters who are chanting and waving signs as one demonstrator seemingly lays on the hood.

The car then accelerates and some protesters jump on the cars bonnet while others move out of the way. The squad car breaks and accelerates a number of times as protesters scream and people are thrown from the vehicle.

Jae Bass, a 24-year-old demonstrator who said he was hit by the vehicle during the incident, told The Detroit Free Press that protesters were standing in front of the car until the crowd was safely out of the way.

In response to that, he just floored it, Mr Bass told the newspaper.

He went super fast. Me and a couple of other organisers that were with me, just went flinging off. We went flying off. He ran over a couple peoples arms, feet. He ran over her phone. I think I was the last person on the car. I was just holding onto the car. I could feel him speeding up and then he did one of these and he flinged me off the car.

Chief Craig said that two police cars were parked in a certain position to divert protesters from a main road before the vehicles were surrounded.

Story continues

He claimed that the police car was slowly moving, trying to get through the crowd of protesters until one of the cars back window was smashed.

Once they had heard the back window smash, it was very loud, they were not certain that they were not being fired upon so it was important for them to get out of there for their safety, he said.

The chief provided an image of a smashed window of one squad car but could not provide footage of the back windscreen being smashed due to the limitations of front forward-facing video.

He estimated that the vehicles reached between 20-25 miles per hour during the incident.

Mr Ketner took to Facebook to dispute Chief Craigs version of events.

Youre lying to the people, your officer struck us with the vehicle before anyone touched it, he wrote in response to the conference.

Chief Craig insisted that the city has seen weeks of non-violent protests and said that violence escalated due to a select number of demonstrators who were clearly agitated. He also alleged that both cars had been attacked.

He confirmed that officers will remain on duty while an investigation into the incident, both in regards to the protesters and the police officers involved, is underway.

Activist group Detroit Will Breathe is demanding that officers who drove through the crowd be identified, fired, and brought up on charges and are asking for the resignation of Chief Craig.

This shows a police force that feels too emboldened to put innocent lives at risk. The officer driving the SUV should be fired, the group said in a statement.

But this is not the only incident we have seen of police violence against protestors. Chief Craig must resign because he has failed to bring any accountability or transparency to the police force, they added.

Read more

Man charged with murder after opening fire at Breonna Taylor protest

Trump shares video of couple pointing guns at St Louis protesters

Barack Obama gives powerful Stonewall speech

Teenager killed in Detroit as protests rage in cities across US
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The afternoon of July 2, 1863 was hot and cloudless. Tens of thousands of soldiers in blue and gray had spent the morning in the humid, uncomfortable heat, maneuvering for position and occasionally exchanging shots as they eyed one another with resolution. For more than a day, portions of the two armies had ferociously grappled with one another in and around the small but strategically situated Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg.

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Up to this hour the battle had gone in favor of the Confederates, whose superior numbers had pushed two Union corps back through the town and onto a ridge and several hills that lay to the southeast. The victorious Rebels had not pressed their advantage, though, and by the preceding evening, U.S. General Winfield Scott Hancock had managed to establish a solid line of defense on Cemetery Hill with Union reinforcements.

Union Army commander Maj. Gen. George G. Meade had arrived on the field too late to witness the fighting. But after a quick survey of the field he readily agreed with his subordinate generals that Cemetery Hill and neighboring Culps Hill were suited for a defensive battle should Lee wish to continue his attack the following day.

Standing alone, however, this high ground was insufficient to guarantee a satisfactory outcome for the Union. To the left of Cemetery Hill, a low-lying ridge ran south through relatively open country along the Taneytown Road toward two more hills known locally as the Round Tops. Meade decided that his III Corps, led by Maj. Gen. Daniel Sickles, was best suited to protect this vulnerable flank from attack. Although Sickles Corps was among the smallest, it was the obvious choice for the job, because his men had spent the previous night encamped nearby after having made a forced march from Emmitsburg, Md., on muddy and almost impassable roads. Later in the morning, Meade ordered V Corps to occupy a position in support of Sickles near the Round Tops.

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Confederate Troops Made for High Ground, Threatening Sickles Position

Sickles followed Meades instructions, placing his two divisions adjacent to Hancocks II Corps along Cemetery Ridge. Around noon, however, worrisome news arrived from units Sickles had dispatched to reconnoiter the territory in front of his position. Confederate troops in large numbers were reportedly moving to occupy some high ground in the vicinity of the Wentz and Rose farms near the Emmitsburg Road. Should this area fall into Rebel hands, Sickles would be at a disadvantage, because his troopseven on what was left of the declining Cemetery Ridgewould be exposed to plunging fire.

Sending word to Meade of his intentions, Sickles ordered his two divisions approximately one mile forward of Cemetery Ridge. Marching out with full colors flying and brigade bands playing, Sickles positioned Brig. Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys 2nd Division facing west along the Emmitsburg Road for about a half-mile stretch. Major General David B. Birneys 1st Division continued this line by curving back to the south at a right angle at the Wentz farm peach orchard for another half-mile.

On the far left flank of Sickles line was a rise of mostly barren, rock-strewn ground known as Houcks Ridge. To the south and running almost perpendicular to the ridge was a stream called Plum Run. It meandered through a gully of large boulders overgrown with vines and bushes. This area was called Devils Den or Devils Cave by locals, being named after a large rattlesnake known as the Devil that had occupied it in the early days of pioneer settlement. On the far side of Plum Run lay the heavily wooded slopes of Round Top, also called Sugar Loaf Hill, whose rocky crest was almost a half-mile from the creek. Adjacent to this hill and lying to the rear of Houcks Ridge was a smaller, rock-strewn hill called Little Round Top which had recently been cleared of timber. Sickles had insufficient men to cover the hills in this sector, leaving the far left of the Union line vulnerable to attack.

The battle for this portion of the field began shortly after the arrival of approximately 1,500 Yankees from the 2nd Brigade of Birneys Division under the able and experienced command of Brig. Gen. J.H. Hobart Ward. The 40-year- old Ward was a native of New York City and came from a family of soldiershis grandfather had served in the American Revolution and his father in the Mexican War. Ward himself had enlisted in the 7th Regiment of the U.S. Army at age 18, rising to the rank of sergeant major in just four years. He, too, served in the Mexican War, receiving wounds at Monterrey and again at Vera Cruz where he was also captured. After the war, he served as Commissary General of New York. When the call to arms came in 1861, he recruited the 38th New York Volunteers and served as the regiments colonel until earning a promotion to command of the 2nd Brigade in the fall of 1862.

Ward Commanded Two Elite Sharpshooter Units

Wards Brigade comprised eight regimentsmost of whom had seen hard service over the previous year in the battles of the Peninsula, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and most recently Chancellorsville. This was attested by the fact that virtually all of them counted fewer than 250 men in their ranks, and several had less than 200. The core of Wards Brigade consisted of four old veteran regiments: the 20th Indiana, the 3rd and 4th Maine, and 99th Pennsylvania. A few months earlier, they had been joined by the 86th and 124th New York of Whipples now defunct 3rd Division. Although less experienced, both had seen heavy action at Chancellorsville. All proudly wore the symbol of the red diamond on their forage caps, known affectionately by the 1st Division as the Kearny patch after their commander Phillip Kearny, killed leading his men at Second Bull Run.

Ward also had under his command the 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters. These were elite units of expert marksmen dressed in dark green uniforms who often served on detached duty. In fact, on July 2, both the 1st U.S. Sharpshooters and the 3rd Maine operated independently of Ward under Colonel Hiram Berdan. They spent the early afternoon of July 2 engaged in skirmish duty near the center of III Corps position.

Wards Brigade arrived at the ridge at about 3:30 pm and was formed up into battle order. Ward sent out the 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters under Major Homer R. Stoughton as skirmishers about a half-mile ahead. He then deployed four of his regiments over a space of about 450 yards along the crest of the ridge. Lined up shoulder to shoulder was the 20th Indiana on the right, followed by the 86th New York, 99th Pennsylvania, and 124th New York, which was situated just above Devils Den. Much of the brigade was positioned in woods. The only exception was the 124th New York and an adjacent company of the 86th New York, which were completely out in the open. Off to the right, separated by a gap of about 250 yards, lay Colonel Regis de Trobriands 3rd Brigade. It was formed up along a stone wall and in some woods with its rear lying at the edge of a large wheat field. No efforts were made to construct breastworks by any of these men.

Soon thereafter, Wards men were joined by Captain James E. Smiths 4th New York Battery, which was sent to support Birneys defense of this position. Smith quickly sized up the situation and decided to place four of his six 10-pound Parrot rifles on the left side of Wards Brigade in the exposed area at the top of the ridge. Another section of two cannon along with the batterys caissons and horses were sent 150 yards farther south and to the rear in the Plum Run valley to cover the left flank. It was difficult work, because the rocky slopes were steep, and the ridgeline contained little in the way of flat ground suitable for placing cannon. As these guns were being moved into position, the first shots from Confederate cannon located a half-mile distant began to fall along the ridge.

Seeing the logic of Smiths decision to cover the Devils Den flank, Ward sent off nine of the 10 companies of the 4th Maine under Colonel Elijah Walker to bolster Smiths two detached guns. Picking their way down into the low marshy swale, these men formed a rough line in the midst of the boulders located on the northern rim of Devils Den that stretched across to the far side of Plum Run. Wary of surprises, Walker then sent a company of skirmishers forward (south) into the valley, while another squad was deployed to the left on the lower slopes of Round Top.

Walker Makes a Regrettable Tactical Error

Smith soon rode up to Walker and pleaded with him to remove his men to the far side of Devils Den and form them in the woods at the base of Round Top. He argued that he could take care of his own front well enough with two guns, but feared that their flank would be turned if the Rebels controlled this strategic point. Walker did not comply, a decision he would soon regret.

Less than a mile away, the first troops of Maj. Gen. John Bell Hoods Division of Lt. Gen. James Longstreets Corps began stepping out from Seminary Ridge. Others would soon follow all along Longstreets front, which stretched a mile and a half toward the direction of the town of Gettysburg. Seeing the advance pickets of Hoods troops off in the distance, Smith immediately ordered his four cannon on the ridge to shift their fire toward the ominous ranks of gray. At this distance, case shot was used when enemy lines were observed in the open, and solid shot when they were seen moving through trees. Several Confederate batteries, including Lathams and Reillys, kept up a sharp return fire from a position just to the rear of the assaulting Rebel lines.

Brigadier General Henry Hunt, Meades chief of artillery, appeared at this time in the midst of the 4th New York artillerymen, and conferred with Smith among the exploding shells around them. While effective at long range, it was evident that Smiths battery would be unable to depress their muzzles far enough to sweep much of the steep slope to their front, and Hunt believed the position untenable. Seeing that the artillery was already engaged, though, he saw no point in ordering Smith off the ridge. Confederate shots landed to the rear of the ridge in the midst of a cattle herd, causing a stampede that nearly crushed Hunt as he moved to the rear.

Although Hoods advancing lines took casualties all along their path of assaultHood, too, was severely woundedthe artillery fire did little to deter the momentum of the attack. More destructive was the accurate skirmish fire from Stoughtons sharpshooters, which forced at least one regiment in the Rebel line to break three times and run to the rear. Once the Rebel forces passed through this fire in the open fields of the Timbers and Rose farms, however, they benefited from cover provided by the reverse slope of a slight hill and woods about 200 yards in front of the main Federal position.

Wards Skirmishers Received a Withering Volley of Bullets

The first Confederate troops to appear in front of Wards main line were the 3rd Arkansas and 1st Texas Regiments of Brig. Gen. Jerome Robertsons Brigade. They came into view formed up in columns yelling and shouting at the edge of a triangular-shaped field that came to a point just below the crest of the ridge. Pushing back Wards skirmishers from the 99th Pennsylvania, they received a withering volley at 200 yards from the well-prepared ranks of blue lining the top of the ridge. This caused the gray ranks to pull back and retreat down the rocky slope while the Yankees quickly reloaded their weapons. Another assault was made back up the hill less than 15 minutes later, this time more deliberately as the Confederates made better use of the stone walls and rocky outcroppings for protection. They were also given the assistance of two more regiments that appeared on their right. These were the 44th and 48th Alabama, which were part of Brig. Gen. Evander Laws Brigade that was heading toward the wooded slopes of the Round Top.

About this time, Colonel William Perry of the 44th Alabama was instructed by Law to aim his regiment for Smiths Battery with the intention of capturing it. Unfortunately for these Confederates, their assignment would be full of danger. Working their way with some effort through the rocks and boulders of Devils Den, the 44th Alabama was hit without warning by a well-aimed canister charge from the two 4th New York guns, joined by several volleys from the concealed skirmishers of Walkers 4th Maine.

As the 44th pulled back to regroup, skirmishers from the 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters appeared among Walkers men farther up the creek. Forced to withdraw due to low ammunition, they warned the men of the 4th Maine that they were being outflanked by more Rebels coming down through the woods of Round Top. Hardly had this warning been given when advance elements of the 48th Alabama came into view. The officers of the 4th Maine immediately refused the left flank of their line to meet this new threat and opened up on the approaching enemy. Volleys were exchanged at 20 paces. Although the portion of the 48th that was in the Plum Run gully pulled back quickly, those men who were better concealed on the slopes of Round Top remained, causing heavy losses among the 4th Maine. As the blue and gray ranks mixed together, Smiths two cannon located to the rear had to cease their fire in order not to hit Union soldiers in their fire zone.

Up until this time, the Federal line on Houcks Ridge had held firm against all that Hood could throw at it. After the second assault was repulsed, Ward even pushed the 270 men of the 86th New York forward about 50 yards to a stone wall to maintain a harassing fire on his opponent. Even so, the pressure on Wards front and left flank increased as additional units from Hoods other brigades were sent in to support the attack. Concerned about his left, Ward shifted the 99th Pennsylvania off the ridge and sent them down into Devils Den to bolster the 4th Maine. This left the 20th Indiana alone to fend off attacks on the far right of Wards Brigade. To compensate, Lt. Col. William Taylor formed Companies B and H of his regiment into a skirmish line that reached back into the woods.

Meanwhile, word was sent back to the rear that Wards Brigade was running low on ammunition. The situation was looking grim all along the 1st Division line, as division commander Birney was well aware. Seeking to compensate, he began to dispatch regiments from one brigade front to another to hold his line intact. He reported later that my thin line swayed to and fro during the fight, and my regiments were moved constantly on the double-quick from one part of the line to the other, to re-enforce assailed points.

Desperate, Colonel Ellis Makes a Bold and Risky Move

On the ridge, the men of the 4th New York Battery kept up a rapid fire that soon exhausted their supply of canister and case shot. Undeterred, Smith ordered his gunners to use shell as well as solid shot to maintain the pressure on the surging enemy line down below, even going so far as to order them not to waste time sponging the gunsa desperate measure that endangered the men working the cannon. By this time, the Confederates had advanced to within only 20 to 30 yards of the thin Federal line on the crest of the ridge. It looked as though Hunts prediction was about to come true.

It was at this desperate moment that the commander of the 124th New York decided to turn the tables with a bold and risky move. Sensing that his line was vulnerable to the superior numbers of the enemy working their way up the slope, Colonel Augustus Van Horne Ellis mounted his gray horse and ordered his small regiment of just over 200 men to fix bayonets and follow him in a countercharge down the hill. The Orange Blossoms, as the regiment from Orange County, NY, was known, stood up in unison, let out a cheer, and faithfully followed their young colonel down through the lines of Confederates. This impetuous action broke the momentum of the Rebel attack, sending Southerners scurrying down into the protection of the rocks and woods at the base of the ridge to elude capture.

The impetus of the 124th New York charge would not last long. Joined now by reinforcements from the 15th Georgia of General Henry A. Bennings Brigade, Robertsons Brigade of Texans quickly turned and began to fire into the ranks of the intrepid New Yorkers. The New York regiment came to a halt at the base of the ridge, where about a quarter of its number fell, along with Ellis and his major, James Cromwell, both of whom were knocked off their horses and killed. Facing imminent capture, the remainder of the 124th New York gathered many of their wounded and slowly fell back to the crest of the corpse-strewn slope. Although it could not stem the entire assault, the New Yorkers counterattack compelled the Confederates to sort out their lines before renewing their attack.

Within the hour, all three brigades commanded by Robertson, Law, and Benning were in position to launch a more concentrated assault back up the slope. Now supported by several of Andersons Georgia regiments that had worked their way through the Rose Woods, this last charge finally broke through to the top of the ridge. In actuality, there was little real fighting during this phase of the Houcks Ridge battle, because Ward had ordered his exhausted brigademost of whom were out of ammunitionto retreat behind the ridge in the direction of the Wheat Field. Cheers rang out among Hoods men as they triumphantly reached their objective, which included Smiths three Parrot rifles (one had been damaged and removed earlier).

For Pennsylvania and Our Homes!

Meanwhile, down along Plum Run, Benning ordered the 2nd and 15th Georgia into Devils Den while another of his regiments, the 17th Georgia, joined with the Texans in the final assault up Houcks Ridge. These men moved forward at a run and overwhelmed the Federals advance line, capturing about 40 men who had been occupying positions among the large boulders. Unaware that he was outnumbered, Colonel Walker of the 4th Maine responded to the Confederate advance by ordering his men to fix bayonets and counter charge. Joining in this effort, Major John Moore of the 99th Pennsylvania ordered his men to attack, shouting, For Pennsylvania and our homes!

The counterattack was surprisingly brief. Scattered elements of several Confederate regiments at the top of the ridge were hit unawares and quickly pulled back down the hill, temporarily abandoning the three cannon they had just claimed. The triumphant Federals did not remain long themselves. Finding the ridge was no longer a part of the Yankee line, they too were withdrawn to the rear. The cost was heavy though: Each regiment had lost many of their number, including Colonel Walker and his major, Ebenezer Whitcomb. In spite of severe wounds, however, Walker refused to leave and stayed with his men until they fell back. As they retreated, Sergeant Henry O. Ripleythe last survivor of the 4th Maine color guarddefiantly waved his flag in the face of the enemy. A total of 31 new bullet holes were later counted in its folds.

Still the see-saw fight was not over. The men of the 40th New York had arrived, having been ordered away from de Trobriands Brigade rather belatedly to provide support for the depleted 4th Maine near Plum Run. This regiment from New York City was known as the Mozart Regiment because it had been sponsored by the Mozart Hall Committee, a part of the citys Democratic machine. Unaware of the Union intention to abandon Houcks Ridge, Colonel Thomas W. Egan formed his men just up from Plum Run and ordered them forward to plug the gap that had been left by the Maine and Pennsylvania regiments. As they moved forward into Devils Den, they ran headlong into the ranks of the 17th and 2nd Georgia, which were cautiously advancing through the gully amid the destructive fire from Smiths two remaining guns. The Rebels fell back behind the large boulders along Plum Run to take cover, and then opened fire. They had assistance from several companies of the 48th Alabama, which were still positioned behind rocks and trees on the lower slopes of Round Top.

A short and vicious fight ensued, with repeated attempts by the 40th New York to dislodge the Confederates. There was much confusion in the smoke-filled defile, obstructing the view of all combatants. The crash of iron and lead against the granite rocks and the concussion of sound from rifle and artillery blasts further added to the terror. Even after another III Corps unit, the 6th New Jersey, joined in supporting the attack, no headway was made in an area that became known as the Slaughter Pen by the end of the battle.

Covered by the arrival of the 6th New Jersey on its right flank, the 40th New York eventually pulled back from Devils Den in the direction of the Wheat Field. Here, its commander had difficulty rallying the regiment because Confederates from Houcks Ridge were now descending into the valley and threatening their flank. Within the next few moments, the last two guns of Smiths beleaguered battery were withdrawn along with the 6th New Jersey, thereby conceding this portion of the battlefield to the advance regiments of Hoods Division.

The Fate of Devils Den

Although intense and bloody fighting would continue nearby in the Rose Woods, Wheat Field, and along the slopes of Little Round Top for the next hour, the Confederate assault on Devils Den was over by 6 pm. The Rebels had outflanked and outgunned the left flank of the III Corps before it could be sufficiently reinforced by the arriving brigades of the V Corps sent by Meade. Although more could have been done to recapture Devils Den, once the adjacent land in the Wheat Field and Rose Woods was taken by Hoods men later in the evening, this section of the field was no longer defensible.

But the fighting in and around Devils Den was still not quite over. Sporadic fighting would continue over the next two days as Union forces positioned on Little Round Top traded shots with Confederate units that dug in and around Devils Den. Still more men would fall amid the rocks and boulders of the gorge and adjacent ridge, at times receiving wounds from ricocheting bullets and shell fragments.

This sporadic picket firing prevented either side from burying their scattered dead comrades until long after the fighting ended. In some crevasses of the rocks and boulders bodies were piled three and four high. A large number of still-unburied corpses lying among the rocks was captured three days later in more than a dozen photographs by Washington photographer Alexander Gardner. They still testify to the ferocity and horror of the struggle.

Losses were heavy on both sides. The seven regiments of Wards Brigade that served in this sector suffered 732 casualtiesalmost half of their total strength. Among the worst hit were the 20th Indiana, 4th Maine, and the 40th New York from de Trobriands Brigade, each of which lost around 150 men. Another 110 men from the 99th Pennsylvania, 90 from the 124th New York, and 66 from the 86th New York were casualties. Ward also reported the loss of eight of his 14 field officers.

Union or Confederate Victory?

Confederate casualties were equally severe. Robertsons Brigade, which had been engaged primarily on Houcks Ridge and Devils Den, lost 597 men. Hardest hit was the 3rd Arkansas, which lost 142. Andersons Brigade took 671 casualties, while both Laws and Bennings Brigades each suffered about 500. Given the manner in which the various regiments of these other three brigades were shifted around on this portion of the field, it is difficult to determine how many men actually fell on Houcks Ridge and among the boulders of Devils Den.

Who won the battle for Devils Den? Although the Confederates did gain control of this portion of the field, the defense of Houcks Ridge and Devils Den was ably conducted by Ward and Smith. The Union forces held their ground in the face of superior numbers for more than an hour and a half, launching well-timed counterattacks that kept their adversaries off balance and unable to coordinate their efforts until their greater numbers finally told. No doubt the difficult terrain, dense clouds of powder smoke, and frequent barrage of well-aimed artillery fire aided the defense of this position as well.

The chief merit on the Federal side was that the soldiers there secured the left flank of the Union Army in time for Vincents V Corps to arrive and hold Little Round Top. Birney had nothing but praise for Wards Brigade, proudly stating that it held also a post of great honor and importance, and fully sustained its old reputation. Perhaps Wards words are even more appropriate in honoring the bravery of his small but resolute brigade that sacrificed so much for their country: To the officers and men of my command, without exception  the thanks of the country are eminently due.

This article first appeared at the Warfare History Network on November 24, 2015.

Image: Wikimedia

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Congressional pressure is building to reprimand Turkey for its military campaign against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq.

The Turkish military is carrying out two offensivesOperation Claw-Eagle and Operation Claw-Tigeraimed at rooting out Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

The operation has struck rural PKK hideouts as well as populated areas, including the Makhmour Refugee Camp and the Yazidi community of Mount Sinjar.

I strongly condemn the Turkish air strikes & ground operations near Kurdish & Yazidi civilian areas, Rep. Eliot Engel (DN.Y.) announced in a Friday statement. This type of reckless endangerment of civilian lives is unacceptable, especially for a NATO ally.

Engel, the outgoing head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called on Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to stop the operation immediately.

Rep. Jim Cooper (DTenn.) added on Saturday that he was disturbed by the operation. Cooper represents Nashville, a city with a large Kurdish community.

The lawmakers comments came after a widely-shared video showed an alleged Turkish bomb striking a lake while a family played nearby. Local journalist Jil Swani claims that the video showed his brother and nephew in Kunamasi, a town in Sulaymaniyah Governorate.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, appointed by Congress to investigate human rights worldwide, condemned the offensive for its effects on Yazidi genocide survivors.

Turkish forces represent a dangerous escalation of violence in an already-fragile area, USCIRF chair Gayle Manchin said in a June 19 statement, and are particularly threatening to hundreds of traumatized Yazidi families attempting to return to Sinjar and to other civilians in northern Iraq.

Rep. Frank Pallone (DN.J.) shared the statement on Twitter, adding that the United States must diplomatically work with our allies to end Erdogan's reckless, dangerous, and cruel actions in the region.

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USCIRF previously slammed Turkeys military offensives against Kurdish militants as a threat to religious freedom in Syria.

Turkey defends its cross-border incursions as a defensive campaign against the PKK, which both the Turkish and U.S. governments consider a terrorist group. PKK militants have waged a decades-long war against the Turkish state.

The only target of our heroic Turkish Armed Forces in the successful Operation Claw-Tiger was the terrorists, the Turkish defense ministry announced in its own Friday statement. As before, no civilians were or will be harmed in this operation.

The Turkish offensive has killed at least five civilians so far.

Iraqs central government condemned the operation as a violation of its sovereignty, summoning the Turkish ambassador in protest. Iran also shelled several Kurdish villages during the operation, the Iraqi government alleges.

Turkish foreign minister Hami Aksoy told reporters on June 26 that Turkey would like to reiterate one more time our expectations such as cooperation and acting in harmony with Turkey against the [PKK] terror organization.

Iraqi Kurdish authorities have been more muted. Iraqi Kurdistan has hosted thousands of Turkish troops for years, and the regions ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party is a rival of the PKK.

The U.S. State Department has also been muted, despite the mounting pressure from Congress.

We continue to urge all of Iraqs neighbors to respect its sovereignty. At the same time, we recognize that Turkey has legitimate security concerns, a State Department spokesperson told the National Interest on June 16. This is a matter of sovereignty for both countries that needs to be settled on a bilateral basis.

Matthew Petti is a national security reporter at the National Interest. Follow him on Twitter: @matthew_petti.

Image: Reuters.

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As the number of Covid-19 recoveries in the UAE continues to climb, Transguard Group reveals that it has been at the forefront of the countrys containment efforts in its field hospitals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Since late April, more than 500 Transguard staff from Security, Facilities Management and Hospitality have been providing key support for the nations field hospitals, said Greg Ward, Managing Director.

This was built upon our previous experience in the medical sector, which was crucial to our strategic support of this major national health initiative.

Transguards activities within three of the UAEs field hospitals (ADNEC in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Parks & Resorts and Mohammed Bin Zayed City) capitalised on the wide array of talent employed by the business solutions provider: Roles included cleaners, security guards, systems integration technicians, nursing assistants, a lab assistant, waste management specialists, laundry stewards, F&B staff, loaders and more, each of whom was carefully integrated into the respective patient care teams to ensure delivery of the right facilities services.

With a continuing focus on excellent health care, Transguard will continue to play a strategic role in the gradual closure of the facilities as the UAEs curve continues to flatten. -- Tradearabia News Service
A warrant that was unsealed Monday detailed disturbing allegations against the University of Connecticut student who led police on a multi-state manhunt last month.

Peter Manfredonia, 23, is accused of killing a 62-year-old man with a samurai sword and injuring another elderly man in Willington before fleeing. The 62-year-old, identified as Theodore DeMers, was found by his neighbors with a severed right hand, the flesh of his tricep area almost completely severed from his body, a severed left thumb and index finger and multiple lacerations on his head and back.

Peter Manfredonia. (Connecticut State Police)

One witness told police that on the morning of May 22 he saw a man about 6 feet tall in a motorcycle helmet grappling with another person, later identified as DeMers, before attacking DeMers with a thin metal instrument, the warrant said. The man then turned to an 80-year-old man who was not identified by police.

The witness ran inside and told a woman what was happening, and yelled to the attacker to stop and that they were calling the police, according to the warrant. They then ran inside and locked their doors when the man began approaching them. The man then left on a red motorcycle described by the witness, the warrant said, as a crotch rocket.

DeMers was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The 80-year-old man who was also attacked survived and is in stable condition.

Police found an abandoned ed Kawasaki Ninja sport bike registered to Manfredonia nearby, as well as a samurai sword covered in a blood-like substance, the warrant said.

They also found an abandoned white motorcycle helmet with a red and green pattern and dark colored shirt that had Chinese-lettering along with the phrase "world peace" both covered in a blood-like substance as well.

The University of Connecticut Police conducted an information search on Manfredonia and authorities interviewed a female friend of the student, who told authorities Manfredonia had an obsession with samurai swords and owned at least two. She also told police that she stopped seeing Manfredonia on May 18 because she discovered he hacked her social media accounts in April.

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Another male, not identified by police, corroborated her story, adding that they recently discussed her getting a restraining order against Manfredonia, the warrant said.

Two days after DeMers was killed, a man claimed Manfredonia held him captive at his home. Troopers went to check on the Willington man after Derby Police said his F-150 truck was found damaged and abandoned.

The man, only identified in the warrant as Witness 11, was found tied to a chair in the basement. He told police in a statement that he was asleep in his recliner when he was abruptly awakened by a young man holding a gun to the back of his head at about 5:15 a.m. on May 23, the day after DeMers was killed.

He turned his head to see a young man in his 20s wearing what appeared to be soiled black sweatpants and a black T-shirt.

He had a blank look on his face, the captive said in his statement. There were no emblems or logos on his shirt or pants. I hadn't seen a picture of the murder suspect yet on the news but I was thinking that it was probably him.

The captive had his hands tied using zip ties he suspected were from his garage and was duct taped to a chair. At the time, Manfredonia identified himself as Rick but the man he held captive later found that to be a lie as he attempted to talk to his kidnapper about his family and life.

While we were talking the news came on and it showed a picture of the murder suspect from Willington and his name, the statement said. When I saw the picture on the news, it looked like the young man who was with me but a younger picture of him. I asked him if his name was really Peter.

Manfredonia then confirmed his name was Peter, not Rick, the captives statement said.

Related: Peter Manfredonia, 23, is being sought in connection with two deaths, one in Willington and one in Derby.

The captive then asked whether Manfredonia wanted to talk about the murder and what took place. Manfredonia allegedly told him that he hadnt slept for five days and just snapped.

He said he didn't know why he did it and that he was remorseful for it, the statement said. I suggested that we call the authorities and try to work something out for him. He was calm and apologetic but couldn't explain why he did that.

During their conversation, Manfredonia allegedly rejected the idea of turning himself in.

Manfredonias captive said a neighbor came by at some point and called to say he was at his door, after the neighbors wife had called to check on him. When the neighbor asked to get together in the morning, the captive agreed even though Manfredonia instructed him to say they should meet two days from then.

We ended the phone call and Peter told me my buddy screwed up the next morning for him, the statement said.

Manfredonia took food, money, a grill lighter and other items from the house in preparation to leave the next morning, according to the warrant. Manfredonia told the man he would call Connecticut State Police at noon if no one found him by the morning, then left at about 5:15 a.m., according to the mans statement.

Manfredonia is also accused of killing Nicholas Eisele, 23, in Derby, later that day on May 24.

Authorities eventually found Manfredonia three days later in Maryland after a nearly weeklong manhunt.

He is currently facing multiple charges including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, home invasion, and assault of an elderly person.

A judge ordered Manfredonia be held on a $7 million bond and be placed on a suicide watch. He has not entered a plea and is next expected in court on July 10.

Connecticut Department of Corrections records show Manfredonia is still in custody at the Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown.
The UK government's borrowing has surged to cope with the pandemic. Photo: Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The UK government plans to sell a record 275bn ($340bn) of debt between April and August, as it raises cash to fund its efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

The fundraising drive means the government will look to raise twice as much in five months as it raised in the whole of the last financial year.

Prime minister Boris Johnsons government needs the cash to bankroll wide-ranging measures to relieve the economic downturn, estimated at more than 130bn this year. It also needs to compensate for tumbling tax receipts as activity suffered an unprecedented peacetime collapse during lockdown and several taxes have been deferred.

The government has spent 22.9bn just on the furlough scheme, subsidising more than 9 million workers wages at organisations hit hard by COVID-19 and the lockdown.

The borrowing figures were confirmed on Monday by the UK Debt Management Office, which will hold 33 government bond auctions in July and August. The latest figures mark a 50bn increase on its previous plans for April to July.

READ MORE: Stocks rise despite global death toll passing 500,000

The announcement comes amid increased government reliance on Britains central bank to buy up its debt.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey told Sky News last week the Bank of England was forced to step in and help the government raise money in March. Last week also saw the bank announce it would buy another 100bn of government bonds by the end of the year.

Meanwhile Boris Johnson is preparing to announce a new spending blitz on Tuesday. The government has announced plans to help boost economic recovery through a major construction drive for public sector projects, such as schools, hospitals and prisons.

An infrastructure delivery taskforce chaired by chancellor Rishi Sunak will be told there are no excuses for delays to building programmes.

But 50 new school improvement projects announced on Monday will only see construction begin in September 2021. Former chancellor Alistair Darling had called last week for the government to prioritise shovel-ready projects likely to support recovery more swiftly.
MPs have angrily called for the government to take action against China following the latest reports about its campaign against the Uyghur population in the Xinjiang region.

Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael said the Chinese governments actions are reminiscent of genocide.

Conservative MP and former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who called the issue into the House of Commons on Monday, added the UK cannot continue as business as usual with the state.

An AP investigation has suggested China is taking draconian measures to slash birth rates among Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang in order to curb its Muslim population.

The report said China  which has denied the allegations  is forcing women to be sterilised or take birth control.

Carmichael also cited separate reports of organ harvesting, when people are killed in order for an organ to be removed.

A satellite image of a 're-education' camp in Xinjiang from 2018. (Maxar Technologies via Getty Images)

He said: These incidents would be horrific if they were standalone instances, but of course we know theyre not. Theyre part of a course of conduct that we have seen in recent years. The re-education camps [one million people from ethnic minority groups, including Uighurs, are said to be in detention camps] the reports of organ harvesting.

This is a systematic operation reminiscent of genocide which has been visited on the Uyghur population.

Foreign Office minister Nigel Adams said: He was right to have mentioned organ harvesting, I know how concerned members are with this alleged practice. We take these allegations very seriously.

Nigel Adams said the government is taking reports of organ harvesting in China 'very seriously'. (Parliamentlive.tv)

Tory MP Steve Baker said of China: It is with the utmost horror that I record what is at stake in this debate.

The full might of an industrialised advanced state with a single party government appears, under a mounting body of evidence, to be seeking to eliminate from its society a section of people based on their identity  not for the first time in history.

Duncan Smith, opening the debate, had said: The world wants to deal with China but cannot continue as business as usual while this sort of blatant activity continues.

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Furthermore, given the Chinese governments appalling record on human rights, its attack on freedoms in Hong Kong, its bullying behaviour in border disputes from the South China Sea to India, its blatant breaching of the rules-based order governing the free market and its delayed declaration on COVID-19  will the government now initiate an internal review on the UKs dependence on China with a view to significantly reducing this dependence?

Adams said the UK will continue to make our concerns directly known to China and where we need to intervene, we will.
United Airlines Holdings Inc UAL plans to resume services to China, following a temporary suspension of services to the nation amid coronavirus concerns.



Effective Jul 8, the carrier will re-start its China services with twice-weekly flights between San Francisco and Shanghai's Pudong International Airport via Seoul's Incheon International Airport. The Chicago, IL-based airline will utilize the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to operate the route on Wednesdays and Saturdays.



United Airlines, carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), operated five daily flights to Shanghai from its hubs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York/Newark, prior to coronavirus-related flights suspensions in February. Notably, the carrier has served Shanghai for more than 30 years.

United Airlines Holdings Inc Price

Besides restarting service to Shanghai, the airline will reinstate service between Chicago and Tokyo, adding new service to Tokyo's Haneda Airport, in July. It will also resume services to Seoul and Hong Kong.



Some of the measures United Airlines is taking to ensure a safe journey for passengers amid the current situation include enhanced aircraft sanitization, touch-less baggage check-ins and using filters to circulate air and remove up to 99.9% of airborne particles. Customers are required to confirm they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and should wear a mask onboard. Non-compliance to wearing a mask will lead to the customers travel privileges being temporarily revoked by the airline.



With easing coronavirus-led travel restrictions, U.S. airlines are restarting services to China. Last week, Delta Air Lines DAL, carrying a Zacks Rank #3, resumed flights between Seattle and Shanghai-Pudong via Seoul-Incheon, operating twice a week. From July onward, it will operate flights once a week from Seattle and Detroit, also via Incheon.



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PHILIPPINE SEA (June 23, 2020). The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group transits in formation with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group while conducting dual carrier and airwing operations in the Philippine Sea June 23, 2020. Dual carrier operations unify the tactical power of two individual carrier strike groups, providing fleet commanders with an unmatched, unified credible combat force capable of operating indefinitely. The Nimitz and Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike groups are on scheduled deployments to the Indo-Pacific. (Photo: Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Dylan Lavin/U.S. 7th Fleet)

BEIJING (AP)  A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple territorial disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons. The waters are a major shipping route for global commerce and are rich in fish and possible oil and gas reserves.

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US CARRIER STRIKE GROUPS DRILL

Two U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups are conducting dual operations in the Philippine Sea in a show of the services ability to rapidly deploy overwhelming force in support of allies locked in disputes with China.

Ships and aircraft assigned to the Nimitz and Ronald Reagan groups began the drills Sunday, the U.S. 7th Fleet responsible for operations in the Indo-Pacific said in a news release.

Dual carrier operations demonstrate our commitment to regional allies ... and our readiness to confront all those who challenge international norms, Rear Admiral George Wikoff, commander Carrier Strike Group 5, was quoted as saying.

The U.S. Navy regularly conducts integrated strike group operations to support a free and open Indo-Pacific, and promote an international rules-based order wherein each country can reach its potential without sacrificing national sovereignty, the release said.

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ASEAN LEADERS REBUKE CHINA

Southeast Asian leaders have issued one of their strongest ever statements opposing Chinas claim to virtually the entire disputed waters on historical grounds.

The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations took the position in a statement issued by Vietnam on Saturday on behalf of the 10-nation bloc.

We reaffirmed that the 1982 UNCLOS is the basis for determining maritime entitlements, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and legitimate interests over maritime zones, the ASEAN statement said.

The leaders were referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that defines the rights of nations to the worlds oceans and demarcates exclusive economic zones where coastal states are given the right to exclusively tap fishery and fuel resources.

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Three Southeast Asian diplomats told The Associated Press the statement marked a significant strengthening of the regional blocs assertion of the rule of law in a disputed region that has long been regarded as an Asian flash point. China has been seen as seeking to block such statements by calling on support from Cambodia and other allies within ASEAN.

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PHILIPPINES WARNS ON CHINESE ADIZ

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is warning that any move by China to establish an air defense identification zone over the South China Sea would be highly destabilizing.

It is my fervent hope that China would not proceed with this planned action for the continued peace and stability in the entire South China Sea, Lorenzana said in a statement on June 25.

China is believed to be considering setting up an ADIZ in the region similar to the one it declared over the East China Sea in 2013. That earlier declaration was largely ignored, with the U.S. among countries saying it would not cooperate with Chinese demands to announce flight plans and identify its aircraft.

China has said a decision on whether to set up an ADIZ in the South China Sea would depend on to what degree it felt threatened.

Lorenzana said a Chinese ADIZ would violate other countries rights to their exclusive economic zones.

They would continue to use these waters and airspace, and thus would further raise an already heightening tension and could result in mishaps or miscalculations at sea and in the air, Lorenzana said.

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US, JAPANESE SHIPS EXERCISE TOGETHER

U.S. and Japanese naval vessels held joint exercises in the South China Sea on June 23, bringing together two of Chinas biggest military rivals in a waterway Beijing claims as its own.

The exercise was designed to practice and enhance bilateral interoperability between the two navies, the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a news release.

The drills brought together the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kashima class-training vessel JS Kashima and Shimayuki-class training vessel JS Shimayuki (TV-3513)

China frowns on all U.S. military activity in the South China Sea and says Japans presence there reawakens concerns about Japanese militarism dating before World War II.
As the calendar flips from June to July, temperatures will be soaring across the Plains states, with some cities hitting the triple-digit mark for the first time this season.

The extended nature of the heat may put a strain on budgets due to high cooling demands and can be dangerous for those spending time outdoors if proper precautions are not taken.

The core of 100-degree-Fahrenheit heat will shift slightly eastward toward Wichita, Kansas, and Oklahoma City into Wednesday. This would be the first time either city has hit the century mark this year, and Oklahoma City may even come close to Wednesday's daily record of 103 F set in 1917.

High temperatures in the middle to upper 90s will be felt elsewhere across the south-central Plains into the middle of the week, but even in these areas where thermometers fail to crack 100, AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures are likely to be in the lower to middle 100s during the afternoon hours.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

Precautions will need to be taken for those spending any length of time outdoors in the sizzling conditions to lower the risk of heat-related illnesses. If you must be outside, take frequent breaks in the shade and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Use caution when touching door handles or steering wheels as they could become hot enough to cause a minor burn, and avoid playgrounds directly in the sun during the afternoon hours.

Never leave a child or pet in a locked vehicle even with the windows cracked as the temperature can climb to lethal levels in minutes.

Gusty winds will create an elevated fire danger across the southern Plains. Residents are encouraged to avoid the use of outdoor flames, power equipment or fireworks.

Farther north, temperatures in the 90s and even close to 100 that were experienced across the northern Plains on Monday will be replaced with 80s into Wednesday in the wake of severe thunderstorms.

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However, forecasters say an area of high pressure will build northward across the center of the country later this week, causing temperatures to soar once again.

"Just in time for July Fourth celebrating, the heat across the western Plains will expand into the northern Plains and the Ohio Valley later this week," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.

Highs are likely to trend upward into the lower to middle 90s during Friday and July Fourth around Minneapolis, with AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures near 100. Similar temperature readings may be reached around Chicago, Indianapolis and Cincinnati for the holiday weekend.

While such temperatures are not record levels for these metro areas, record highs may be broken farther north Friday and Saturday, including around Duluth and International Falls, Minnesota. Here, temperatures are forecast to be 15 degrees above average in the lower 90s.

For example, the record high in International Falls on Friday is 90 degrees. The current forecast for that day is 92 degrees. While the city is commonly referred to as the "Icebox of the Nation" during the winter months, it will be anything but that on Friday and Saturday.

In addition to the surging heat, the overall trend in the weather pattern heading into the July Fourth weekend will be drier across the North Central states, when compared to the rounds of showers and thunderstorms expected to fire up daily into the middle of the week.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
If you are looking for the best ideas for your portfolio you may want to consider some of Wedgewood Partners top stock picks. Wedgewood Partners, an investment management firm, is bullish on Motorola Solutions Inc. (NYSE:MSI) stock. In its Q4 2019 investor letter  you can download a copy here  the firm discussed its investment thesis on Motorola Solutions Inc. (NYSE:MSI) stock. Motorola Solutions Inc. (NYSE:MSI) is a communications equipment company. Unfortunately, the stock is down 18.8% since the Wedgewood Partners pitch in January 2020.

On January 13, 2020, Wedgewood Partners had released its Q4 2019 Investor Letter. Wedgewood said that Motorola Solutions Inc. (NYSE:MSI) was a top detractor to its performance during the fourth quarter of 2019. Motorola Solutions Inc. (NYSE:MSI) stock negatively impacted Wedgewoods return by 0.14% in the fourth quarter of 2019.

However, Wedgewood sees a value in Motorola Solutions Inc. (NYSE:MSI) and believes that it offers a compelling growth opportunity. The company's sales and earnings are expected to grow in the near future.

For the quarter ended December 31st, 2019, Wedgewood Partners fund recorded a return of 9.57%, compared to 10.62% of Russell 1000 Growth Index and 9.07% of S&P 500 Index. This brings its 2019 full-year return to 31.96%, compared to 36.39% of Russell 1000 Growth Index and 31.49% of S&P 500 Index.

Lets take a look at comments made by Wedgewood about Motorola Solutions Inc. (NYSE:MSI) in the letter.

"Motorola Solutions reported +7% revenue growth, driven by software and services growth of +12% along with continued margin expansion. Recall that Motorola Solutions primary business is providing specialized communication infrastructure, equipment and software to public safety, law enforcement, and increasingly to large corporations. Motorolas backlog of sales to these customers, which we typically use as a reasonable proxy for future revenue growth, was up +17% overall and up +26% in the higher margin software and services segment. As such, we continue to believe Motorola Solutions has room to accelerate top and bottom-line growth, while the stock continues to exhibit an undemanding, market multiple  rare, in our view, whereby almost any company these days exhibiting double-digit growth commands rich multiples."

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Smartphones with the Best Battery Life

In Q1 2020, the number of bullish hedge fund positions on Motorola Solutions Inc. (NYSE:MSI) stock decreased by about 17% from the previous quarter (see the chart here), so a number of other hedge fund managers don't seem to agree with Motorola's growth potential. Our calculations showed that Motorola Solutions Inc. (NYSE:MSI) isn't ranked among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds.

The top 10 stocks among hedge funds returned 185% since the end of 2014 and outperformed the S&P 500 Index ETFs by more than 109 percentage points. We know it sounds unbelievable. You have been dismissing our articles about top hedge fund stocks mostly because you were fed biased information by other media outlets about hedge funds' poor performance. You could have doubled the size of your nest egg by investing in the top hedge fund stocks instead of dumb S&P 500 ETFs. Below you can watch our video about the top 5 hedge fund stocks right now. All of these stocks had positive returns in 2020.

Video: Top 5 Stocks Among Hedge Funds

At Insider Monkey we leave no stone unturned when looking for the next great investment idea. For example, 2020s unprecedented market conditions provide us with the highest number of trading opportunities in a decade. So we are checking out stocks recommended/scorned by legendary Bill Miller. We interview hedge fund managers and ask them about their best ideas. If you want to find out the best healthcare stock to buy right now, you can watch our latest hedge fund manager interview here. We read hedge fund investor letters and listen to stock pitches at hedge fund conferences. Our best call in 2020 was shorting the market when the S&P 500 was trading at 3150 after realizing the coronavirus pandemics significance before most investors. You can subscribe to our free enewsletter below to receive our stories in your inbox:

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
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VF. Corp has its sights set on expansion in Greater China  and its reconfiguring its organizational structure to accelerate that objective.

The Denver-based company  parent to Vans, Timberland and The North Face  said today that it is creating a new role aimed specifically at advancing its goals in the Asia Pacific region. This summer, VF plans to fill the newly-created position of president, Greater China. The individual appointed to the post will be responsible for managing business in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan  which VF believes will allow it to move faster and with focused agility to pursue growth opportunities in this important market.

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When we introduced our new global business strategy in 2017, we declared our commitment to invest in our [Asia Pacific] region and accelerate growth for our brands, all with a particular emphasis on China, said VF president and CEO Steve Rendle in a statement. By creating the new position of president, Greater China, were leaning even further into the many opportunities we see to elevate our business and brands in this fast-moving, digitally-driven marketplace.

VF Corp. shared details for expanding its China business during its investor day in September 2019. At that time, the corporation announced plans to open more doors in Greater China and increase its omnichannel capabilities in the region, as well as work closely with Chinese tech giants such as Tencent and Alibaba. By fiscal 2024, VF expected Greater China to account for 80% of all VF business in APAC, up from 65% in fiscal 2019. While the company was forced to close the majority of its doors during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, it has since been able to reopen all units.

In addition to creating a new post, VF announced that EVP and APAC group president Kevin Bailey is relocating from Hong Kong to Denver. Bailey will continue to lead APAC and will also head VFs Emerging Brands platform. The platform includes the Altra, Eagle Creek, JanSport and Smartwool brands, as well as Kipling and Icebreaker in the Americas region  which Rendle said present considerable opportunities for growth.

Its important to remember that our global, multi-billion-dollar brands such as Vans and The North Face were once emerging brands when VF acquired them, Rendle said. Enabling great brands to achieve their full potential is a core competency at VF, and Kevin is the ideal person to work closely with our brand leaders to help guide these brands into the future.
LEHI, Utah, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vivint Solar (NYSE: VSLR), a leading full-service residential solar provider, today announced it has secured $300 million in new tax equity financing commitments from two repeat investors to support the growth of Vivint Solar's residential solar business. With the addition of these two tax equity commitments, Vivint Solar has committed financing capacity for approximately 185 MWs.

Vivint Solar (PRNewsfoto/Vivint Solar)

The investment is expected to allow Vivint Solar to design and build low-cost, clean energy systems for approximately 24,000 new residential customers.

"These two tax equity deals satisfy our tax equity financing needs well into 2021 and are the second step in a string of capital raising designed to provide the company with increased financial flexibility and funding runway," said Thomas Plagemann, chief commercial officer and head of capital markets for Vivint Solar. "We appreciate the repeat business from our tax equity partners, with whose support we continue to expand our solar + battery storage offerings in markets across the nation. As we have in the past, we continue to emphasize installation and operational excellence to provide our capital partners a reliable investment, and our customers a best-in-class solar energy service."

Vivint Solar operates in 22 states and has raised more than $5.8 billion in cash equity, tax equity and debt from institutional investors, private equity firms and major Wall Street banks since its inception in 2011.

Note on Forward-looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding Vivint Solar's expectations in connection with its Asset Financing Facility and the tax qualification of its solar energy systems. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved, if at all. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the date of this press release, and they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in these statements will be achieved or will occur, and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Vivint Solar does not undertake and expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. You should read the documents Vivint Solar has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC for more complete information about the company. These documents are available on both the EDGAR section of the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of the company's website at investors.vivintsolar.com/ .

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About Vivint Solar

Vivint Solar is a leading full-service residential solar provider in the United States. With the help of Vivint Solar, homeowners can power their homes with clean, renewable energy, typically achieving significant financial savings over time. Vivint Solar designs and installs solar energy systems for homeowners and offers monitoring and maintenance services. In addition to being able to purchase a solar energy system outright, homeowners may benefit from Vivint Solar's affordable, flexible financing options, including power purchase agreements, or lease agreements, where available. Vivint Solar also offers solar plus storage systems with LG Chem home batteries and electric vehicle chargers with ChargePoint Home. For more information, visit www.vivintsolar.com or follow @VivintSolar on Twitter.

Media Contact:

Wyatt Semanek

385-202-6577

pr@vivintsolar.com

www.vivintsolar.com

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SOURCE Vivint Solar, Inc.
Safeen, the marine services subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports, will provide emergency response services and support maritime rescue operations throughout the territorial waters of the UAE.

An MoU to this effect was signed by the UAEs Federal Transport Authority (FTA) Land and Maritime with Safeen, a WAM report said.

The MoU signing is part of FTAs effort to expand its partnerships with key national companies and authorities in the maritime sector, with the aim of optimising the safety, security and environmental protection of the marine domain within the UAE.

As outlined in the MoU, the responsibilities will include responding to all marine emergencies, including oil spills, firefighting, wreck removal, salvage, grounding, rescue towing, maritime surveying, search and rescue, as well as a host of ancillary services.

Under the terms of the MoU, Safeen will work closely with the FTA to provide services and rapid response during emergencies, in addition to continuously exchanging information and knowledge, along with sharing resources with the FTA when requested.

The MoU signing took place during a virtual ceremony and was attended by Engineer Ahmed Mohamed Sharif Al Khoori, Director General of the Federal Transport Authority, and Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports.

"Our MoU with Abu Dhabi Ports is a major step in upgrading the standards of health and safety in the UAEs maritime sector, and reaffirms our commitment to forge a future that places our nation as a world leader in creating a sustainable maritime society," said Al Khoori.

Commenting on the agreement, Captain Al Shamisi said: "We are honoured to partner with the FTA in delivering on the Governments overall strategic vision for this important sector of our economy. This agreement is a testament to Abu Dhabi Ports and Safeens capability in providing maritime services nationwide, and marks an important moment in the development of the UAEs maritime industry." -- Tradearabia News Service
Photo: iStock

You can leave your umbrella at home through Friday, but rainfall is in the forecast for Houston later in the week, according to the seven-day forecast from drone-powered weather service Saildrone. Sunday's forecast projects 3.56 inches of rain, while the chance of rain will remain below 30 percent for the balance of the week.

The next few days will also bring hot temperatures, forecast to stick around through Sunday. The weather will bring a high temperature of 104 degrees on Friday.

Skies will be cloudy today and mostly cloudy on Tuesday. Winds are forecast to reach a modest high of 15 mph today, but will get calmer starting on Thursday.

This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Westinghouse Electric Company today announced that Melissa Cummings has been named Executive Vice President, Digital and Innovation, effective immediately.

Melissa Cummings, Westinghouse Executive Vice President, Digital and Innovation

"Melissa has an impressive track record of designing, building and implementing modern digital capabilities in capital intensive and regulated industrial segments," said Patrick Fragman, Westinghouse president and chief executive officer. "In this critical role, Melissa will drive the digitalization and innovation agendas for Westinghouse, for the benefits of our clients globally."

Prior to joining Westinghouse, Cummings served as the Senior Vice President of Digital Solutions and Services at Baker Hughes, one of the world's largest energy technology companies. In that role, she led a global solutions business providing technology and transformation efforts for energy customers across the world.

Cummings has more than 20 years of industrial software experience in product, service and technology innovation across the power generation, health care, mining and oil and gas sectors. She began her career in program and product management, progressing through a series of increasingly responsible positions at companies including Sun Microsystems and McKesson Provider Technologies. Cummings has also served in leadership positions within GE and ABB, where she advanced to globally responsible roles supporting digital solutions for customers around the world.

Cummings earned a bachelor's degree in international economics from The George Washington University and attended the University of Colorado for business administration and information systems.

Westinghouse Electric Company is the world's pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world. Westinghouse supplied the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport, Pa., U.S. Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants. For more information, please visit www.westinghousenuclear.com.

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Contact: Sarah Cassella

Director, External Communications

Email: cassels@westinghouse.com

Phone: +1 (412) 374-4744

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SOURCE Westinghouse Electric Company
For two decades, Americans have argued about voter fraud  often in simplified terms. Republican lawmakers tend to argue that voter fraud is a major problem that undermines democracy. Democrats, meanwhile, counter that real instances of voter fraud are vanishingly rare, and that Republican remedies such as voter ID laws are just thinly veiled attempts at discouraging turnout, particularly among minorities.

Thankfully, the issue has been studied at length. And those studies have routinely shown that while its inaccurate to say that voter fraud doesnt exist, its also wrong to say that its in any way common.

Analysts argue that there is a better way of approaching the issue. First, how do we balance election security with voter access? In other words, how do we increase the integrity of election results while also increasing voter participation?

Second, how much abuse is there? And perhaps most important, are the proposed solutions to current problems effective and proportional, or do they do more harm than good?

Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights pioneer who was beaten nearly to death by Alabama state police in 1965, once described voter ID laws as a cure where there is no sickness.

Lewis was not saying that voter fraud does not exist. He was saying that voter ID laws to combat voter fraud are too costly and onerous a way to eliminate something that happens infrequently: voter impersonation.

Voter impersonation is one of a few main ways that opportunities for voter fraud exist. Another is if people are registered in multiple states and vote multiple times. A third is when those who are not allowed to vote under the law do so anyway, such as a noncitizen or  in some states  convicted felons. But even here, intent matters. Fraud occurs only when someone knowingly breaks the rules.

One study found 31 credible examples, over 14 years, of voters impersonating someone else. Another study between 2000 and 2012 found 10 cases of voter impersonation.

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Even a database of fraud cases compiled by the conservative Heritage Foundation found only 80 cases of double voting over the course of the past several decades. The Heritage database, in fact, might be one of the best resources to demonstrate the rarity of voter fraud and election fraud.

Conservatives often cite the Heritage data set as showing 1,100 incidents of fraud. But a 2017 analysis of the database argued that the conservative groups documentation of the issue actually undermines its claim of widespread voter fraud.

The database includes an assortment of cases, many unrelated or tangentially related, going back decades, with only a handful pertaining to noncitizens voting or impersonation at the polls. They add up to a molecular fraction of the total votes cast nationwide, wrote Rudy Mehrbani of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, a leading group advocating for greater voting rights.

One of the more prominent claims of voter fraud in recent decades involved the 2008 U.S. Senate election in Minnesota, which Democrat Al Franken won by just over 300 votes. More than 100 people with felony records were later convicted of voting in the election.

U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken on Nov. 4, 2008. (Cory Ryan/Getty Images)

Republicans said Franken might have won with the help of unlawful voting. But local prosecutors dismissed that idea, along with conservative suspicions that perhaps more than 1,000 people illegally cast ballots. The state made reforms to prevent the problem in the future.

There is also a 2012 Pew study, which found 1.8 million dead people still listed as voters, and 2.75 million names listed as voters in more than one state. But the study did not find any fraud, and there is almost no evidence of voters trying to impersonate dead people outside of some historical instances of election fraud.

Election fraud is different from voter fraud. This is when insiders  politicians, operatives they hire or elections officials  try to break the rules or cheat. It usually poses more of a threat to some small, local elections, although there are some examples of it famously happening on a wider scale.

Republican lawmakers, however, have focused much more on voter fraud over the past two decades.

George W. Bushs attorney general, John Ashcroft, turned the focus of the Justice Department away from preventing voter suppression under the 1965 Civil Rights Act and made preventing voter fraud and election fraud a top agenda item. Since then, the threat of voter fraud has been used to make it harder to vote in many states. Voter ID laws are now in force in 34 states.

Most experts say that voter ID requirements have likely done more to prevent Americans from voting than they have to stop fraud. Poor Americans are most likely to lack a drivers license or other forms of valid ID, and often do not have access to documents needed to obtain valid ID, such as a birth certificate. In some states as well, DMVs have strictly limited the times when they are open or register voters.

Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, and one of the top experts on the issue of voting, has called the top proponents of the voter fraud threat hucksters who are providing fake scholarly support for the notion of a widespread problem.

In 2008, disputes over the prevalence of voter fraud made their way to court. The American Civil Liberties Union sued Kris Kobach, then the secretary of state in Kansas, over a law he had helped get passed that required a birth certificate or passport to vote.

Kansas's then-Secretary of State Kris Kobach in 2015. (Christopher Smith/Washington Post via Getty Images)

Its Kobach, in fact, who may have helped persuade President Trump to make wild claims that millions of undocumented immigrants voted in 2016 and enabled Hillary Clinton to win 3 million more votes than he did. Kobach is running this year for the U.S. Senate.

But when the ACLU sued Kobach and he was forced to present evidence in a court of law, he could only offer proof of less than 40 noncitizens attempting to vote over a 20-year period in one of the states biggest counties. Most of those were the result of confusion or error, and only five of those 40 actually voted.

Judge Julie Robinson, a Bush appointee, held Kobach in contempt of court and overturned the law, finding that it had disenfranchised tens of thousands of voters.

The law, Robinson wrote in her opinion, was a bigger problem than the one it set out to solve.

Cover thumbnail photo: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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Read more from Yahoo News:
WASHINGTON  White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters Monday that it was a matter of debate within the U.S. intelligence community on allegations that a Russian military intelligence unit had paid bounties to militants in Afghanistan to attack American troops in Afghanistan, and, as a result, President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were not briefed on the matter.

There was not a consensus among the intelligence community. In fact, there were dissenting opinions, McEnany said. It would not be elevated to the president until it was verified.

The allegations that bounties were paid by the Russians first surfaced in a New York Times article published Friday. The newspaper reported that U.S. officials concluded the bounties were paid months ago based at least in part on interrogations of captured Afghan militants and criminals. According to the Times, Trump was briefed about the bounties, which an arm of Russias military intelligence agency, the GRU, allegedly offered to Taliban-linked fighters.

In a follow-up article published on Sunday, the Times reported that intelligence officials and special operations officers believed at least one U.S. troop death was the result of the bounties. Suspicions were raised after a large quantity of U.S. cash was discovered during a raid on a Taliban outpost.

White House officials denied the papers claim that the president was briefed about the accusations, as did Trump himself. Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or the vice president, Trump tweeted on Sunday night.

During the briefing, McEnany was repeatedly pressed on whether the president was told about the matter, if his comment meant he had been briefed since reports about the alleged bounties were published, and if the issue was previously included in the presidential daily briefing, which contains high-level intelligence, including some reports that are not fully verified. The press secretary said she wouldnt comment on the presidents private correspondence beyond saying that he was not briefed prior to the initial article.

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White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. (Evan Vucci/AP)

While the White House does not routinely comment on alleged intelligence or internal deliberations, the CIA director, ... national security adviser, and the chief of staff can all confirm that neither the president nor the vice president were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence, McEnany said.

She confirmed that a bipartisan group of eight members from congressional committees responsible for oversight on the issue were briefed by the White House about the allegations on Monday.

The allegations are significant because they would represent an escalation in Moscows support for the Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group that controlled Afghanistan prior to the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. While Russia has officially declared the Taliban a terrorist organization, in recent years both U.S. and Afghan officials have accused Moscow of giving militants weapons and other aid to the group.

The GRU has been repeatedly linked to Russian operations aimed at destabilizing the West, and the Trump administration is currently pursuing peace talks with the Taliban. The Kremlin responded to the initial Times report by suggesting it would address the allegations if they were made officially. A Taliban spokesperson denied its members received bounties from Russia.

Trumps relationship with Russia has been particularly fraught following conclusions by the U.S. intelligence community that the Kremlin had interfered in the 2016 presidential election  including through operations led by the GRU  with the goal of helping Trumps campaign. An investigation led by former special counsel Robert Mueller ultimately found there was no evidence Trumps team cooperated with those efforts, though it was eager to benefit from them.

McEnany brought up Russian election interference and Muellers probe, which Trump has repeatedly described as a witch hunt and hoax, as she denied the Timess claim that the president was briefed about the alleged bounties.

The press secretary declined to say what action Trump might take if the alleged Russian bounties were verified, saying she did not want to get ahead of the president on further action. However, she stressed that Trump has been extremely strong on Russia and pointed to sanctions issued against the country and the expulsion of Russian officials from the U.S. in response to revelations about its election interference. McEnany also noted that Russian mercenaries were killed in U.S. strikes on Syria in 2018 after attacks on American troops there.

There is no stronger advocate for our servicemen and -women than President Trump, McEnany said, adding, He never hesitates to act where there is a threat.

President Trump, with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley behind him on the right, addresses members of the U.S. military during a surprise Thanksgiving Day visit to Afghanistan in 2019. (Alex Brandon/AP)

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Read more from Yahoo News:
Iranians burn a US flag during a demonstration against American "crimes" in Tehran on 3 January, 2020 following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards Major General Qasem Soleimani in a US strike on his convoy at Baghdad international airport: (2020 Getty Images)

Iran has issued an Interpol arrest warrant for Donald Trump for a drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani, commander of Irans clandestine overseas paramilitary force, the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported on Monday.

Mr Trump is among 36 people who have been issued warrants by Iran in relation to the targeted killing in January this year. Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone strike in Baghdad, was the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) group, Quds Force.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said that Iran plans to prosecute Mr Trump at the end of his time as president, and clarified that he is their priority target.

Iran asked Interpol to issue a "red notice", which allows local authorities to make an arrest on behalf of a country.

But the request was quickly denied by Interpol, which said in a statement that guidelines for notices forbids it from any intervention or activities of a political nature.

Who was Qasem Soleimani?

Mr Soleimani, who died at the age of 62, gained notoriety during Irans war with Iraq during the 1980s, where he became known for bravery and military nous, according to the Daily Beast.

Qassem Soleimani became the commander of the IRGCs Quds Force in 1998, after he moved up the ranks of the Revolutionary Guard, and served in the role until his assassination in 2020.

In that role, he crisscrossed the Middle East to direct various Iran-backed militias in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. He is believed to have played a crucial role in the Syrian government's brutal suppression of the uprising that threatened the rule of president Bashar al-Assad.

He was seen as the countrys second most powerful man, behind only the supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, according to Reuters.

Why did Iran issue an arrest warrant for US president Donald Trump?

Mr Soleimani, along with four members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), was killed in an air strike at the Baghdad International Airport on 3 January, after Mr Trump approved the assassination.

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The White House accused Mr Soleimani of being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of US forces and allies in the months prior to his killing, and claimed he had more attacks planned.

The killing reignited tensions between the two countries, and at the time of his assassination, Iran said there would be severe revenge.

It retaliated by launching ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq.

On Monday, Iran issued a warrant for president Donald Trumps arrest, as they want to try him and the other 35 people they believe to have been involved in the drone strike.

Mr Alqasimehr said that Iran wants Mr Trump and dozens of others to face murder and terrorism charges for the killing of their top general, who had been in his role for 22 years.

Iran is currently struggling economically, because of sanctions by the US that have been tightened by the Trump administration, which makes it difficult for them to do business with US allies.

The coronavirus has also hit them hard, and they are currently facing a dramatic rise in deaths and cases after they reopened early to try and restart their struggling economy.

The other 35 individuals issued a warrant have not yet been revealed by Iran.

Read more

Soleimanis death leaves US power in Middle East weakened
Click here to read the full article.

Editor's Note: As the world commemorates the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, the Center for the National Interests Korean Studies team decided to ask dozens of the worlds top experts a simple question: Do you believe that the Korean War will finally come to an end before its next major anniversary in 2025? The below piece is an answer to that question. Please click here to see even more perspectives on this important topic.

When we speak of Americas forever wars, we tend to think of Afghanistan and perhaps Iraq, but of course, the United States has been at war with North Korea for over three times as long. If the term forever war implies that many people are beginning to question whether it is worthwhile, then North Koreas status as a longtime U.S. adversary seems so etched into the minds of foreign policy inclined Americans that pressure for it to end pales in comparison to the acceptance of this status quo. As the war reaches its seventieth anniversary, the prospects of its ending warrant special attention.

We debate the causes and consequences of North Koreas nuclear weapons program, but some causes that few would disagree with, although their importance can be debated, is that the United States is much more powerful than North Korea, has a military alliance with South Korea (not to mention Japan and Australia), has not formally recognized North Korea despite President Donald Trumps recent summitry, and has not ended the Korean War. Given all this, should we be surprised that North Korea has turned to nuclear weapons, especially after the fate of Saddam Husseins Iraq and Muammar el-Qaddafis Libya?

I would argue that one way for the United States to end North Koreas love affair with nuclear weaponsif that is indeed possiblewould be for the United States to somehow credibly commit to living with North Korea. This now means credibly committing to living with a nuclear North Korea, which many Americans and others would not be willing to do. But if the alternative is war on the Korean Peninsula, then isnt this at least worth further consideration?

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There are several challenges, not least of which is that Kim knows democratic leaders come and go and that their successors can always press the reset button on the North Korea relationship. Kim, therefore, has little incentive to play along. We can criticize Trumps summitry for its lack of lower-level planning, but even had this been much better, Kim still would have had strong incentives to demand much, to commit little, to play a long game and see who would succeed Trump. After seven decades of mistrust and little communication, cycles of threats and confrontation are hard to get away from.

Ending the Korean War seems a goodperhaps the best?way for a U.S. president to signal to North Korea that Washington not only wants to ratchet down tensions but is willing to at least seriously consider living with a nuclear North Korea. But the many forces which have pushed against this thus far lead me to regard this as unlikely; it may be most likely if Trump wins a second term in November. If he continues his summitry with North Korea, then there may be a good chance that the end of the war will be part of a larger settlement. Of course, if this settlement involves the United States in any way weakening its alliance with South KoreaI expect it wouldit could be a very destabilizing outcome that might even lead to a greater probability of conflict. In that event, Trump or his successor could still reinstitute the state of war with North Korea much more easily than the current state of war could be ended. Given that these pressures to maintain, or reintroduce, a state of war seem far greater than any initiatives to overcome them, Id predict that the Korean War will most likely not have ended by 2025. So it may be the ultimate forever war of our time.

Michael D. Cohen is is a senior lecturer (assistant professor) at the National Security College of the Australian National Universitys Crawford School of Public Policy. He is author of When Proliferation Causes Peace: The Psychology of Nuclear Crises and is co-editor of North Korea and Nuclear Weapons: Entering the New Era of Deterrence.

Image: Reuters.

Click here to read the full article.
Photo credit: Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

From Popular Mechanics

Scientists have recreated conditions on Neptune and Uranus in a lab at Stanford's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

The team explored how sheets of diamond rain form on the ice giants using lasers.

The phenomenon may explain why Neptune's core is strangely hot.

Scientists don't know much about the ice giants on the other end of our solar system. They're a constant source of mystery and intrigue.

Take the conundrum, for example, of how the chemical reactions inside of Neptune and Uranus may cause diamonds to rain down on the planets' cores. Under immense pressure deep below the planets' surfaces, carbon and hydrogen atoms are smushed together, forming the crystals.

Scientists first conducted an experiment to explore this phenomenon in 2017, but now they've finally narrowed down exactly how these diamonds likely formed, publishing their results today in the journal Nature Communication.

"Our experiments are delivering important model parameters where, before, we only had massive uncertainty," physicist Dominic Kraus, of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf research institute in Germany, said in a press statement. "This will become ever more relevant the more exoplanets we discover." Kraus and his team conducted the experiments at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford University.

To better understand how this molecular magic happens, the researchers recreated the diamond rain within Neptune's core in the lab. Instead of using methane, which would be found inside the ice giants, as their sample, the scientists used the hydrocarbon polystyrene (C 8 H 8 ), known colloquially as Styrofoam.

Kraus and his colleagues applied heat and pressure to the polystyrene and then used an optical laser to generate shockwaves that rippled through the material. When those shockwaves met, temperatures soared to 8,540 degrees Fahrenheit. (Earth's core, for reference, is about 10,800 degrees Fahrenheit.) Pressure within the material also skyrocketed.

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"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," Kraus said.

The scientists then used SLAC's Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) instrument to direct X-rays at the sample and measure how light bounced off of electrons inside it. For the first time, they watched the chemical reaction inside the non-crystalline substance unfold. The hydrocarbons split apart; the carbon rapidly converted to diamond and sank while the hydrogen escaped.

Kraus says the experiment may explain why Neptune's core produces a perplexing amount of energymore than twice the amount it absorbs from the sun. These sheets of diamonds, the researchers suspect, could generate gravitational energy and subsequently heat energy as they rain down on the planets.

Ultimately, the experiment will help scientists solve mysteries here in our own solar system and in distant star systems.

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The World Health Organization said on Monday that "the worst is yet to come" in the fight against the novel coronavirus and that "the pandemic is actually speeding up."

There's already a playbook for what works well to stop the virus, but not everyone is using it, WHO said.

The multipronged strategy includes widespread testing, tracing, and continued vigilance with social distancing when new clusters of cases emerge.

"Every politician needs to look in the mirror and say, 'Am I doing enough to stop this virus?'" the executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Program said.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A park ranger wears a face mask while patrolling a trail in Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona on May 25.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

It's been six months since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency, but on Monday it told the world to prepare for the "long haul" ahead.

"The worst is yet to come," WHO's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on a call with reporters from Geneva. "I'm sorry to say that. But with this kind of environment and condition, we fear the worst."

WHO officials stressed repeatedly on the call that not all countries were combatting the virus with the same levels of success or vigilance. With more than half of the 10 million coronavirus cases to date and almost half of the 500,000 deaths in the Americas, there's a lot more that both governments and people in overburdened countries like the US and Brazil could be doing to stop this virus.

"We all want this to be over, we all want to get on with our lives, but the hard reality is this is not even close to being over," Tedros said. "Although many countries have made some progress, globally, the pandemic is actually speeding up."

Without naming any names, Tedros chided countries for not doing more to stop the spread of the virus as economies reopen.

The virus' spread "could have been prevented through the tools that we have at hand," Tedros said. "Time after time and country after country, what we have seen is this virus can be suppressed if the governments are serious about the things they have to do  their share  and if the community can do its share."

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Read more: Dozens of drugmakers are racing to develop coronavirus vaccines. Here's how they see 2020 playing out and when the first vaccines might be available.

Some countries can 'pounce on disease' better than others

Emerson Gorman, 66, a Navajo elder, at his property near the Navajo Nation town of Steamboat, Arizona, on May 23. The traditional healer, who lives on the largest Native American reservation in the US, said he sees it as his duty to pass on his wisdom as the community elders face an existential threat from the coronavirus pandemic.

Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images

WHO applauded previously hard-hit countries, like South Korea and China, and others that dealt with recent recurrences of the virus, including Germany, Singapore, and Japan, adding that coronavirus vigilance requires a concerted effort from both politicians and citizens.

Many of the most successful coronavirus-fighting countries have adopted a multilayered public-health approach allowing them "to pounce on disease" quickly and effectively where it reemerges, said Mike Ryan, the executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Program.

"What you have to do is push the disease down to the lowest possible level," he said, stressing that in addition to more nationwide testing and tracing and good public-health surveillance systems, the most successful strategies relied on diligent citizens who stay home when coronavirus transmission is widespread.

"Communities have made a huge sacrifice for that to happen," Ryan said. "They're staying at home. They're staying away from their families. They've contributed tremendously to suppressing infection."

Read more: Antibody drugs to prevent and treat the coronavirus are storming into the clinic. Here are the 8 top drugmakers crafting these treatments, which could be ready this fall.

But that hasn't been the case across much of the US, where many basic public-health measures, such as wearing a mask to prevent asymptomatic transmission and staying home when the virus is spreading in a community, have been couched as political choices.

In a poll conducted earlier this month by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center poll, a majority of Republican and Republican-leaning independents said they thought the worst of the coronavirus outbreak and its related problems "is behind us," while less than a quarter of Democrats and Democratic-leaning participants said the same.

"We cannot continue to allow the fight against this virus to become and be sustained as an ideologic fight," Ryan said. "We cannot beat this virus with ideologies. We simply cannot."

Medical staff members consult with a Navajo man at a COVID-19 testing center in the Navajo Nation town of Monument Valley, Arizona, on May 21.

Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images

Increasingly, top health officials and politicians on both sides of the aisle in the US have encouraged people  including President Donald Trump  to wear masks when they're out in public. Masks can help prevent the disease from spreading to other people, especially from asymptomatic people who may feel perfectly healthy. (Trump said on the first day that the federal government recommended face coverings, "I don't see it for myself.")

Meanwhile, some governors have started to allow cities and local communities more control over their own virus precautions, as more cases have sprouted up in some heavily populated areas of the US.

"Every individual needs to look in the mirror and say, 'Am I doing enough?'" Ryan said. "And every politician needs to look in the mirror and say, 'Am I doing enough to stop this virus?'"

Read the original article on Business Insider
Industry 4.0 boosts factory productivity in the factory of the future, where the only things that are static and fixed are the floors, walls, and ceilings, said Bosch, a global technology company, noting that the factory of the future constantly reinvents itself as needed.



The internet of things (IoT) helps manufacturing companies react more flexibly than before to disruptions, since the utilization and condition of each individual machine can be tracked in real time, and there is transparency along the supply chain.



Especially in exceptional times such as the current crisis, connectivity makes companies less vulnerable and helps them keep an even keel, said Rolf Najork, the member of the Bosch board of management responsible for industrial technology.



For example, where the risk of infection makes physical proximity a challenge, shift handovers can be handled digitally. Digitalization enables remote monitoring and maintenance of systems and machines, with no need for a technician on site. Intelligent software can track goods and deliveries, and ensure replenishment, from any location. All this is possible thanks to Industry 4.0.Connected solutions will help make manufacturing and logistics simpler, more efficient, more flexible  and also more robust. Bosch is an IoT pioneer. The company began adding connectivity to manufacturing and logistics in 2012both in its own plants and in those of its customers.



Industry 4.0 boosts factory productivity In the factory of the future, the only things that are static and fixed are the floors, walls, and ceilings. The factory of the future constantly reinvents itself as needed. It is guided by a vision of a manufacturing set-up that can produce thousands of different products and variants, down to a batch size of one, without the need for expensive retrofitting. This is why Bosch is committed to connectivity. Projects in this area drive progress and deliver measurable benefit. With the help of Industry 4.0, it is possible to increase productivity at individual locations by up to 25 percent.



Connectivity is essential for any company that wants to stay competitive. Industry 4.0 is a historic opportunity, offering enormous potential, Najork said.



We are not only improving factory productivity, but also enabling companies to respond quickly and appropriately to changes. To take the example of Bosch, the transition of the automotive industry means pressure on costs for its powertrain division, as well as pressure to adapt. For precisely this reason, the division will be investing some 500 million euros in comprehensively digitalizing and adding connectivity to its manufacturing operations over the next few years. The expected saving will be twice as high: roughly 1 billion euros by 2025.



And the use of artificial intelligence is expected to add even more of a boost. The focus here is on AI-based solutions for predictive maintenance of machinery, for quality assurance, and for improving production processes. For example, AI is used in highly complex wafer fabs  such as the Bosch plant in Reutlingen  for detailed production scheduling, saving time and costs as it guides the wafers through more than 500 processing steps. This alone means a 5 percent faster wafer throughput, with an investment payback time of just three months, he added.



From individual projects to large-scale implementation In Germany, six out of ten industrial companies with more than 100 employees already use Industry 4.0 applications, according to a recent study by the industry association Bitkom. In many cases, however, the applications are only piecemeal. The VDMA, the association of German machinery and equipment manufacturers, estimates that 80 percent of the countrys existing machinery has yet to be digitalized.



Theres still a lot more we can do in manufacturing, and many points we can tweak and adjust. Our task now is to make Industry 4.0 the norm in all parts of the manufacturing sector, Najork said.



For companies, the biggest obstacle to implementing Industry 4.0 is the large sums of capital this requires (Bitkom, 2020). In fact, machinery can also be retrofitted with communications technology and sensor systems. Doing so opens the door to the industrial internet of things. The Bosch Rexroth plant in Erbach, Germany, shows how even minor investments in large-scale machine lines can pay off: It spent a total of 25,000 euros on equipping these lines with sensors and light barriers, and now saves some 200,000 euros a year.



Balancing economic and ecological factors through connected solutions



As a leading IoT company, Bosch has all the core competencies required to shape Industry 4.0. Its portfolio includes software packages for maintenance, monitoring, and logistics, robotics systems for manufacturing and transport, retrofit solutions for existing machinery, and assistance systems for machine operators.



Now Bosch is debuting a software-based, 5G-capable control technology that is open to third-party applications. ctrlX Automation marks an end to isolated solutions in factories. Featuring more than 30 data protocols, the new Bosch Rexroth automation platform will be the control center of the factory of the future.



With its improved Nexeed Industrial Application System, Bosch Connected Industry offers more than simply an app store for manufacturing and logistics. The various software applications can be ordered, used, and combined with one another as needed. All machine data is available in a clear and standardized format, thus ensuring greater transparency and efficiency in the factory.



A prime example of how to harmonize economic and ecological considerations is the Bosch Energy Platform. Once a machine has been connected to it, its power consumption can be tracked, analyzed, and controlled. The result is factories that are more economical, require less energy, and emit less CO2. Connectivity will play a major role in making manufacturing climate neutral.  TradeArabia News Service
Centuria Capital Group (ASX:CNI) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in . If you purchase the stock on or after the 29th of June, you won't be eligible to receive this dividend, when it is paid on the 8th of July.

Centuria Capital Group's next dividend payment will be AU$0.052 per share, and in the last 12 months, the company paid a total of AU$0.095 per share. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, Centuria Capital Group has a trailing yield of approximately 5.1% on its current stock price of A$1.885. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether Centuria Capital Group's dividend is reliable and sustainable. So we need to check whether the dividend payments are covered, and if earnings are growing.

See our latest analysis for Centuria Capital Group

Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned in profit, then the dividend could be unsustainable. Centuria Capital Group distributed an unsustainably high 188% of its profit as dividends to shareholders last year. Without more sustainable payment behaviour, the dividend looks precarious.

When the dividend payout ratio is high, as it is in this case, the dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut in the future.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

ASX:CNI Historic Dividend June 29th 2020

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Businesses with shrinking earnings are tricky from a dividend perspective. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. Centuria Capital Group's earnings per share have fallen at approximately 15% a year over the previous five years. Such a sharp decline casts doubt on the future sustainability of the dividend.

We'd also point out that Centuria Capital Group issued a meaningful number of new shares in the past year. Trying to grow the dividend while issuing large amounts of new shares reminds us of the ancient Greek tale of Sisyphus - perpetually pushing a boulder uphill.

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The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. Since the start of our data, ten years ago, Centuria Capital Group has lifted its dividend by approximately 6.9% a year on average. That's intriguing, but the combination of growing dividends despite declining earnings can typically only be achieved by paying out a larger percentage of profits. Centuria Capital Group is already paying out a high percentage of its income, so without earnings growth, we're doubtful of whether this dividend will grow much in the future.

Final Takeaway

Is Centuria Capital Group an attractive dividend stock, or better left on the shelf? Earnings per share are in decline and Centuria Capital Group is paying out what we feel is an uncomfortably high percentage of its profit as dividends. It's not that we hate the business, but we feel that these characeristics are not desirable for investors seeking a reliable dividend stock to own for the long term. This is not an overtly appealing combination of characteristics, and we're just not that interested in this company's dividend.

So if you're still interested in Centuria Capital Group despite it's poor dividend qualities, you should be well informed on some of the risks facing this stock. For example, Centuria Capital Group has 3 warning signs (and 1 which is a bit unpleasant) we think you should know about.

We wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see, though. Here's a list of interesting dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

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.
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Key Point: These clever weapons allow the SEALs to be stealthier. Here's how they make SEALs among the most lethal forces out there.

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The Navys SEALs are well-known for their exotic gunseverything from machine gun to grenade launchers  and several iconic, quiet handguns.

The Navy stood up the Sea Air Lands teams in 1962 and quickly sent them to Vietnam to search out the enemy and work with local forces. The naval operators realized a suppressed pistol would be ideal for many of their most secretive missions.

The value  of suppressed weapons had been noted prior to the teams deploying for combat operations in Vietnam, noted SEAL historian Kevin Dockery writes in his book Special Warfare Special Weapons. But very few weapons of that type were available during the early years of the war.

At the time, the Pentagon still saw silencers as a highly specialized tool for individual operations. During World War II, intelligence organizations like the Office of Strategic Servicesthe forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agencywere far bigger customers.

Still, the technology was by no means new. Hiram Maximof Maxim machine gun famegenerally get credit for inventing the first sound suppressor for firearms and patenting it in 1909.

The noise of a gun firing comes from gasses popping out from behind the bulletjust like a backfiring car or opening a bottle of champagne. The deviceswhich Maxim trademarked as a silencerwork mainly by giving all of those fumes a different place to go.

The OSS and their British counterparts ordered a variety of suppressed pistols, submachine guns and rifles during the war, according to a contemporary U.S. Army study. And these weapons lingered on in both military and CIA arsenals well after the conflict ended.

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With the close connection between special operations units and the CIA early on, the SEALs managed to get their hands on some of these guns. But the firearms were aging  and never intended for regular combat use.

For instance, the CIA had become particularly fond of a wipe type silencer. This kind of suppressor includes a soft rubber or plastic disc to help seal in the gasses after the bullets pass through.

But these wipes wore away quickly under the stress of firing, Dockery explains. The intent was for the operator to use the weapon for a mission and then get rid of the suppressor.

The SEALs needed a weapon that could handle day-to-day use out in the field. So the Navy set to work developing a replacement.

In 1967, the naval commandos got the first of new MK-3 noise suppressors. The silencers were fitted to specially modified nine-millimeter Smith & Wesson Model 39 pistols.

The MK-3 was still a wipe design, but essentially had a suppressor inside a suppressor. A large spring and O-ring held a separate insert firmly in place inside a main tube.

As the wipes were blasted away, the gasses could still expand inside this outer shell. Individual commandos could unscrew the whole arrangement and install a fresh insert back at base.

The MK-3 becomes less effective after firing 24 rounds, an official naval manual notes. The suppressor insert refurbishes the suppressor.

The weapons themselvescalled the MK-22also had a bar to prevent the slide from moving back and forth. This feature would make the gun a single-shot affair, but also eliminate the noise from the shifting parts.

To top this off, the elite sailors got unique subsonic ammunition that wouldnt make the cracking sound that results from breaking the sound barrier. The pistol quickly became a popular and iconic addition to the SEALs arsenal.

In Vietnam, commandos fired the guns to take down lone guards or, more often, kill animals that could give them away. SEALs dubbed the weapons hush puppies  for obvious reasons.

Very seldom did I used [sic] the hush puppy against a persondogs and ducks raising an alarm were a much more common target, Dockery quotes an unnamed SEAL as saying in his book.

The naval commandos kept their quiet pistols after the fighting Southeast Asia came to an end. But the teams were clearly tiring of the expendable wipe suppressors.

By the 1980s, the Navy had purchased a number of Heckler & Koch Model P9S pistols along with new silencers to replace the older combination. A company called Qual-A-Tech made the suppressors, which collected the propellant gasses in fixed chambers, according to a separate Air Force test report.

At the same time, the Pentagon was searching for a new pistol to replace the decades-old M1911. The SEALs and the fledgling Special Operations Command were both less than thrilled with the resulting nine-millemeter Beretta handgun.

SOCOM asked private companies to come up with what it called an Offensive Handgun Weapon System The weapon would shoot ammo that was hotterloaded with extra or more powerful gunpowderthan traditional military rounds.

Companies also had to supply suppressors and lasers with their test guns. Only Heckler & Koch and Colt responded to the request.

SOCOM eventually chose the H&K offering. After the selection, the designers tweaked the pistolinitially called the EX-23in a number of ways.

Most notably, designers replaced the original boxy suppressor. Knights Armament Company supplied a more traditionally shaped device with fixed baffles like the Qual-A-Tech silencer.

Most of the new weapons, finally dubbed the MK-23, went to the SEALs. The guns became the first caliber .45 [caliber]  pistol to enter U.S. military service since the venerable government-model 1911A1, the official operators manual states.

As of 2012, the SEALs still had their MK-23s, according to a SOCOM briefing.

This first appeared several years ago.

Image: Reuters

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo at a news conference at LaGuardia Airport's new Terminal B in New York City on June 10, 2020.

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Video: Flight attendants explain how COVID-19 has affected their jobs

New Yorkers who travel to states with high coronavirus infection rates will lose their COVID-19 sick leave benefits, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo signed an executive order on Friday saying that New York employees who voluntarily travel to a state with a positive test rate higher than 10% will no longer be eligible for benefits from New York's COVID-19 paid sick leave law. The order does not apply to people who are traveling for work.

"If we are going to maintain the progress we've seen, we need everyone to take personal responsibility  that's why I'm issuing an executive order that says any New York employee who voluntarily travels to a high-risk state will not be eligible for the COVID protections we created under paid sick leave," Cuomo said in a statement.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University last updated on June 28, nine states currently have positive test rates greater than 10%: Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah, and Texas.

In March, Cuomo expanded paid sick leave benefits for New York employees who were quarantined as a result of the coronavirus or who had to care for a family member infected with COVID-19.

Story continues

The new law said that employers with more than 100 employees had to provide at least 14 days of paid sick leave and guarantee job protection for the quarantine's duration. Employers with 11 to 99 employees and employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income of more than $1 million had to provide at least five days of paid sick leave as well as job protection.

A planes takes off with New York City as a backdrop at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey in December 2019.

REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo

In addition to New Yorkers losing these COVID-19 paid sick leave benefits after visiting high-risk states, any travelers arriving from states where the virus is surging have been ordered to self-quarantine for two weeks.

Earlier in the week, Cuomo, along with the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut, implemented a 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving from high-risk states based on the same 10% positivity rate threshold. Those who are found to have broken the self-quarantine can be fined more than $2,000, Cuomo said.

As Business Insider's Jake Lahut reported, governors from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have touted their states' lower numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations after seeing the most severe outbreaks in the US.

COVID-19 cases are surging across the US

New York is experiencing its lowest numbers of coronavirus-related deaths and hospitalizations since the beginning of the pandemic in March. On Saturday, less than 1% of tests administered came back positive.

However, cases are rising in 36 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas, CNN reported. Only two states  Connecticut and Rhode Island  are seeing their cases decline, while numbers for new cases remain steady in many other states, including New York. Some states, such as Texas, are pausing their reopenings or rolling back openings of bars and restaurants.

The US just reached an all-time high for daily new cases, with more than 40,000 new cases reported on Friday, per data from Johns Hopkins University. Total US cases now exceed 2.5 million.

On Friday, Cuomo said that New York was offering assistance to states with high COVID-19 infection rates like Texas, Florida, and Arizona.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic at the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma.

Netflix

The zoo from Netflix's "Tiger King" series is under investigation after photos and a video emerged allegedly showing lions apparently neglected and with maggots and flies infesting their ears.

The photos were provided to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) by a whistleblower and show lions at the zoo suffering from severe "flystrike"  a condition caused by flies laying eggs on other animals.

The park was formerly owned by Joseph Maldonado-Passage, otherwise known as Joe Exotic, but is now being run by Exotic's former business partner Jeff Lowe, who is said to be cooperating with officials.

PETA is asking the US Department of Agriculture to revoke Lowe's license and take away the animals.

In an email comment provided to Insider, a representative from the park said: "Are you seriously going to listen to PETA?", calling them "the number one terrorist organization in the United States."

The lions are receiving veterinarian care and are being monitored by the USDA.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Federal officials are launching an investigation into the zoo made famous in Netflix's "Tiger King" series after pictures surfaced allegedly showing lions neglected, injured, and with maggots and flies infesting their ears.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) says it received three photos and one video sent to by a whistleblower that allegedly show lions at The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma suffering from severe "flystrike"  a condition caused by flies laying eggs on other animals, which eventually hatch into maggots that eat flesh.

"Veterinarians who observed the documentation have opined that the wounds would be extremely painful and that if the lions aren't appropriately treated immediately, they risk losing their ears," PETA wrote in a statement.

The Garvin County Sheriff's Office said the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have both visited the park to investigate after receiving a series of complaints about animal welfare, according to a release issued on Facebook.

Story continues

The park was formerly owned by Joseph Maldonado-Passage  famously known as Joe Exotic  but is now being run by Exotic's former business partner, Jeff Lowe. Garvin County Sheriff Jim Mullet said that Lowe is cooperating with authorities, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

One picture obtained by PETA shows more than a dozen flies covering a lion's ear, while another shows a lion's skin looking raw and bloody.

PETA is also asking the USDA to revoke Lowe's license and take away the animals, additionally filing an emergency motion with the court to have the lions transferred immediately.

tiger king zoo animal treatment peta

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

The deputy general counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement, Brittany Peet, said: "The USDA's inaction allowed 'Joe Exotic' to abuse and neglect animals for years, and so far, it's also failed to help the big cats held by Jeff Lowe."

"In the wake of 'Tiger King,' the public eye is on the USDA to do its job and shut Lowe and his despicable roadside zoo down pronto," Peet added.

In an email comment provided to Insider, a representative from the zoo said: "Are you seriously going to listen to PETA?", calling the animal rights organization "the number one domestic terrorist group in the United States."

"We've invited news crew out here but everyone is scared to report the truth," the statement added.

Lowe purchased the park in 2016 to help Exotic, who was struggling financially due to a legal battle with animal rights activist and rival, Carole Baskin.

Exotic is currently serving a 22-year federal prison term for killing five tigers at the zoo and plotting to have Baskin killed. Earlier this month, a federal judge awarded ownership of the zoo to Baskin, although the zoo's animals remain in the possession of Lowe.

"Since he [Exotic] went to jail, I have been fixing many of his mistakes. Although this is Joe's debt stemming from his mismanagement of the zoo, much like how I am taking care of the animals he abandoned, we are looking into taking care of this as well," a statement by Lowe, published on the park's website says.

The Garvin County Sheriff's Office said the animals are receiving veterinarian care in isolation and are being monitored by the USDA.

Read the original article on Insider
Dr Samson Arigbamu, a Nigerian medical practitioner based in U.S, said he has invented a stethoscope equipped with components capable of identifying adventitious lung such as COVID-19 infected lungs immediately.

Arigbamu told newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan that the stethoscope was in production at prototype and optimisation stage.



Arigbamu had lived in the U.S for 22 years and was currently the Director of Nursing at Future Care Lochearn, a 200-bed capacity health rehabilitation centre in Baltimore, Maryland.

He said that the final product would commence by December, noting that the process can be expedited with resources from individuals, organisations or even the Nigerian government.

Arigbamu maintained that the eventual production of the stethoscope would be a great achievement and pride to Nigerian government.

The stethoscope will be great achievement and pride to Nigeria for the fact that her citizen invented such critical medical equipment worthy of U.S patent. I am soliciting support from Nigerian government, he said.

Arigbamu said that having worked in the healthcare field for over 20 years, he had seen healthcare providers including nurses, mid-level providers and physicians struggle with identifying lung and heart sounds.

According to him, they struggle because chest x-rays, EKGs and other cardiac interrogative tests are often ordered to identify adventitious lung and heart conditions.

Clinical issue with these expensive tests and devices are incapable of identifying adventitious sounds and providing immediate and accurate feedback.

Consequently, utilisation of such devices often result in significant clinical and health issues for the patients as well as a waste of valuable resource.

Arigbamu said that in 2018, he commenced work towards inventing a digital stethoscope that could identify lung and heart sounds, interpret the sounds and immediately announce its findings to the users.

He said that the stethoscope was also capable of integrating its data into electronic medical record.

With such capabilities, it will enhance physical assessment vital to healthcare providers and novice users.

It will also ensure opportunities for timely intervention and prevention of further health decline in patients.

The stethoscope is also equipped with Electronic Medical Record (EMR) integration capabilities (essential to telemedicine) in order to improve care coordination and patient information portability.

The project received a USA patent on June 2, and is currently in prototype phase of production in the U.S and Ukraine, he said.

Arigbamu had been in the employment of the company for 10 years.

Prior to that, he was a director of nursing at Manor Care Woodbridge in Baltimore Maryland for over three years.

He also owned and operate a private clinic called Upsurge Health Associate in Freeland, Maryland.

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Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo, said his administration went against the law to ensure the burial of Abiola Ajimobi, former governor of the state, went ahead in Oluyole Estate, a Government Reserve Area.

Ajimobi died last Thursday of multiple organ failure following complications from COVID-19 at First Cardiologist Consultant, Hospital in Lagos. He was 70 years.



He was buried at his Oluyole Estate residence on Sunday.

The burial was initially scheduled for Friday according to Islamic injunction, but according to Bolaji Tunji, special assistant on media to the former governor, the event was postponed following consultations with the governments of Lagos and Oyo.

In a statement on Saturday, Taiwo Adisa, the governors spokesman, said the state government is not responsible for the delay of the burial.

He said the family of the deceased had sought approval to bury the late former governor on a plot of land at Agodi GRA, but the request was denied because the land was under litigation.

But he said the governor allowed the late former governor to be buried at his Oluyole residence against the state rules on land.

In view of the intense enquiries from news media organisations regarding the perceived delay in burying the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the Oyo State Government wishes to place on record that there is no truth in the rumour making the rounds that the burial is being delayed by the state government, he said.

The rumour, which is being deliberately spread to give the state government a bad name and to play undue politics with the dead, initially came by the way of social media gossip, which gained traction to attract the attention of traditional media outfits.

Several media outfits reached out to the Media Office of the Governor of Oyo State to make enquiries on this barefaced lie on Saturday.

Let it be stated clearly that the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has played no role at all in causing any delay whatsoever regarding the burial of his immediate predecessor, Senator Ajimobi.

The truth of the matter is that the family, through a proxy, approached the state government and sought approval to bury the late governor on a plot of land at Agodi GRA, which is currently under litigation. Incidentally, it was the same former Governor Ajimobi who instituted the legal action.

Governor Seyi Makinde had no choice than to state the facts as they are to the emissaries and turn down the request.

Governor Makinde, however, against the established land use rule in Oyo State, gave approval that the family can bury the late governor in his Oluyole Estate residence.

It is to be noted that the rules guiding land use in Government Reservation Areas (GRA) forbid the burial of bodies in such locations as Oluyole Estate and Agodi GRA.

Let us also put on record that whereas the family did not follow the laid down protocols in passing information on the sickness and eventual demise of Senator Ajimobi, Governor Makinde overlooked all that and directed the full cooperation of the government with the family on this matter.

It can only amount to a wicked lie to insinuate that the incumbent government in Oyo State attempted to obstruct the burial of the immediate past governor.

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Home | News | General | Why FG should replace NYSC with military service - House of Reps member

- A member of the House of Representatives, Zakariya Dauda Nyampa, has advocated for fresh graduates to be enlisted into the army

- Nyampa said the military service should replace the mandatory one-year NYSC scheme

- The lawmaker made the recommendation at a virtual meeting organised by a non-governmental organisation

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A member of the House of Representatives, Zakariya Dauda Nyampa, has advocated for fresh graduates to be enlisted into the army.

Nyampa who represents representing Michika/Madagali constituency of Adamawa state, said the military service should replace the mandatory one-year National Youth Services Corps (NYSC).

Reps member tells FG to enlist fresh graduates into army: Photo credits: Nigerian Army

Source: UGC

The lawmaker made the suggestion at a virtual meeting organised by a non-governmental organisation, Leadership newspaper reported.

He said graduates who do not have the interest to serve as military personnel should be allowed to venture into other endeavours after the mandatory one-year training and service in the Nigerian army.

One hour not enough for Sunday services - CAN cries out as FG gives update on religious gatherings

Meanwhile, the lives were saved and some herds of cattle recovered in Kaduna on Sunday, June 21, as the operatives of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) thwarted an attack by armed bandits along the Kwauya-Tsamiya village.

This was revealed in a statement released on Monday, June 22, by Major General John Enenche who is the coordinator of defence media operations at the Defence Headquarters.

Legit.ng gathers that the attack was repelled by the personnel of the 404 Force Protection Group (404 FPG) NAF Base Kaduna.

Enenche explained that the bandits had raided the Fulani settlements and seized some herds of cattle at gun point.

A Rapid Response Force (RRF) team supported by NAF special forces and local vigilantes was

In another report, a security expert and public affairs commentator, Terrence Kuanum, has attributed the incessant cases of violence and bandit attacks in parts of northern Nigeria to the activities of failed politicians.

Ize-Iyamu betrayed us as consensus candidate - Ogiemwonyi

Kuanum said these politicians are only focused on painting the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in a bad light.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Sunday, June 21, Kuanum said information available to him indicates that most of the cases of violence and banditry in northern Nigeria are politically motivated.

He said these criminal activities are sponsored by those who contested and lost against the ruling party in recent elections.

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President Buhari commissions first Nigerian drone | Legit TV

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Home | News | General | 9 soldiers, 16 insurgents killed during ambush attack on Nigerian troops by Boko Haram in Borno

- Nine men of the Nigerian military troops have been killed by suspected Boko Haram members

- The ambush attack was carried out on Damboa/Maiduguri highway in Maiduguri, Borno state

- 16 insurgents were, however, neutralised in the attack that also left many wounded and vehicles in ruins

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The fight against insecurity was partly punctured on Saturday, June 27, as nine men of the Nigerian military troops were annihilated during a suspected ambush attack in Borno state.

According to the Joint Task Force (JTF) and security sources, the attack was carried out on Damboa/Maiduguri highway about 60 kilometres from Maiduguri in Konduga council area.

Members of the JTF were also wounded with some troop members were missing while three vehicles belonging were severely damaged.

A source told the press that a score of the Boko Haram insurgents was also killed by troops in the clash.

Kajuru violence: Nigerian govt is failing the people - ACF cries out

The ambush attack was carried out on Damboa/Maiduguri highway in Maiduguri, Borno state.

Source: Twitter

I can confirm to you that 25 people were killed, we lost Arramma (Malaminta) the Operation Commandant of Youth Volunteer (CJTF) Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State in the ambushed.

Nine soldiers and 13 Boko Haram terrorists killed. Three of our members (CJTF) are still missing after a deadly attack on military escorting of motorists from Maiduguri to Damboa on Saturday, a top CJTF source said.

The Nigerian Army has not confirmed the attack.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian Army has said its troops killed nine Boko Haram insurgents in Mainok, Borno state, in a fresh gun battle on Wednesday, March 13.

Sagir Musa, the spokesperson of the army, said in a statement that gun trucks were also recovered from the insurgents while two soldiers were slightly injured.

The statement reads partly: Troops of Sector 1, Operation LAFIYA DOLE have successfully staged an ambush at identified Boko Haram terrorists crossing point at Mainok-Jakana axis in Kaga local government area of Borno state at about 1830 hours on the 13th of May 2020."

Operation Katsina: We've killed 392 bandits, says Nigerian military

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In a related development, the Africa Women Arise for Change Network (AWACN) has hailed the Nigerian militarys clearance operation against Boko Haram terrorists within the Timbuktu triangle.

According to the women's network, the operations of the army serve as, the sole bright spot in an utterly gloomy Coronavirus (COVID-19) season.

Buhari inducts combat helicopters to fight insurgency, says he wont fail Nigerians | - on Legit TV

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Home | News | General | President Buhari to approve next stage of COVID-19 restrictions

- President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to approve the next stage of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic

- The meeting between the Nigerian leader and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on coronavirus is scheduled for Monday, June 29

- The task force is expected to give recommendations for the next stage of the country's national response to the pandemic

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Nigerians will be expecting the federal government to remove restrictions on the interstate travel when the President Muhammadu Buhari approved the next stage of national response to the COVID-19 pandemic after a meeting with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on coronavirus.

The meeting between the Nigerian leader and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on coronavirus is scheduled for Monday, June 29, The Nation reported.

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to approve the third stage of COVID-19 restrictions. Photo credits: Presidency

Source: Facebook

The task force is expected to present its assessment of the level of compliance by Nigerians to the COVID-19 regulations and guidelines and also give recommendations for the next stage of the country's national response to the pandemic.

Kano begins house-to-house sample collection for Covid-19 test, relaxes lockdown on these days

The chairman of the PTF, Boss Mustapha had on Thursday, June 25, said Nigerians would be updated about the next step in the fight against the virus after the scheduled meeting with the president.

He pointed out that the second phase of the eased lockdown, which took off from June 1, would be ending soon, making a need for the third stage.

Nigerians had been clamouring for reopening of activities and total removal of restrictions and lockdowns, especially with respect to schools and interstate travel.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 490 new cases of Covid-19 in Nigeria as the country inches close to 25,000 cases. The new cases were announced on Sunday night, June 28, via the health agency's official Twitter handle.

With the new cases announced, Nigeria now has 24,567 confirmed Covid-19 cases, 9,007 recoveries and 565 deaths.

Police lecture SARS personnel on handling of crisis

The data also shows that 382 people have recovered in the last 24 hours while seven people have died during the same period.

A breakdown of the new cases indicates that Lagos leads with 118 cases while Delta and Ebonyi states follow with 84 and 64 cases respectively.

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Many Nigerians still don't believe Coronavirus exists - NOA DG | Legit TV

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Home | News | General | Beauty with brain: Gorgeous Nigerian lady celebrates academic achievement as she finishes her MBA with amazing grade

- Nigerian ladies are not just beautiful, but also brilliant, and Dr Stella Tadese is one of them

- Dr Tadese recently took to LinkedIn to celebrate her academic achievement after finishing her Master of Business Administration degree with a 4.29/5.0 GPA

- She thanked everyone that contributed to her success, including her colleagues, friends, family, and her husband

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A Nigerian lady identified as Dr Stella Tadese has celebrated her academic achievement after finishing her Masters of Business Administration degree with a 4.29/5.0 GPA.

The lady, who is an epitome of beauty and brain, took to her LinkedIn page to celebrate her academic achievement and thanked everyone that contributed to her success.

She wrote: "It indeed takes a village and I'm grateful to everyone that has been a part of this journey from my colleagues, friends, family, and my husband who literally reviewed my final project.

Meet Nigerian woman saving the earth from destruction, various harms (photo)

"Officially an MBA holder and proud of the woman I'm becoming."

Dr Stella Tadese. Photo credit: Dr Stella Tadese/LinkedIn

Source: UGC

In other news, a Nigerian man who arrived Canada as a student five years ago has taken to Twitter to share his success story.

The man identified as Tunde Omotoye said he arrived Canada five years ago as a student who was unsure of what the future had for him in the North American country.

Despite the uncertainty, he revealed that he has launched his own company five years after leaving the shores of Nigeria.

According to Omotoye, his company's aim is to help immigrants like him navigate their immigration and career journeys confidently and swiftly.

He tweeted: "5 years ago, I arrived Canada. A student, unsure of what the future had for me in Canada.

"Today, I launched a Canadian company that will help immigrants like me navigate their immigration and career journeys confidently and swiftly.

Beautiful family photos of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's family break the internet

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a valedictorian identified as Ashanti Palmer celebrated her high academic title in addition to having never been absent from class.

The 17-year-old girl recently graduated from Nellie A. Thornton High School in Mount Vernon, New York, with perfect attendance.

Ashanti said she has not missed school since pre-K, and intends to keep it going throughout the higher institution.

How I graduated with a 6.0 CGPA  University of Ibadan best Geology student | Legit TV

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The Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector in Dubai Economy has started an inspection campaign in the livestock market in Al Qusais to protect consumers from exploitation and price manipulation in view of Eid Al Adha.



Ahmad Al Zaabi, Director of Consumer Protection in Dubai Economy, said: We started with compliance and awareness campaigns for the livestock market to ensure the application of sound practices, in line with the Consumer Protection Law, such as clearly displaying prices, not using the high demand as an excuse to exaggerate prices, and ensuring the absence of any other negative practices that may harm consumers.



Al Zaabi called on livestock traders to adhere to the Consumer Protection Law by issuing purchase invoices to consumers, clearly detailing product and price details, and displaying livestock prices in a visible and legible way.



Al Zaabi noted that Dubai Economy welcomes consumer communication, complaints, and enquiries through the Dubai Consumer app available on the Apple, Google, and Huawei stores, on the Consumererrights.ae website, or through the call centre.



Complaints about price increases should be submitted on the Price.ded.ae portal, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Home | News | General | US arraigns 11 Nigerians over fresh $6m fraud

Barely two weeks after the United States indicted six Nigerians for their alleged involvement in over $6m internet fraud, 11 more Nigerians have been arraigned over another $6m bank fraud.

According to a statement by the US Attorneys Office, District of New Jersey, the defendants are Sulaiman Dosunmu, 39; Tunde Adeowo, 40; Muritala Adeowo, 55; Ayanniyi Alayande, 47; Ahmmed Ponle, 41; Margiettu Kamu, 34; Rafiat Sarumi, 36; Babatunde Oke, 40; Adekunle Owolabi, 49; Olayinka Olaseinde, 42; and Olugbenga Oyedele, 47

They were charged for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud in Southern New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania over the course of four years, US Attorney, Craig Carpenito said.

The suspects, said to have swindled hundreds of victims through accounts domiciled in American banks including Wells Fargo, were arraigned on multiple counts such as fraud, forgery, amongst others.

Their charge sheet partly read, The defendants are allegedly members of a Nigeria-based, multi-layered organization that engaged in a massive bank fraud conspiracy in several states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Rhode Island, between June 2016 and March 2020.

Members of the group stole numerous business checks from the United States mail, altered the payee on the checks to a fraudulent name and deposited the checks in bank accounts that had been opened with forged foreign passport documents and fraudulent US visas that matched the names on the stolen checks.

Members of the organization have used over 400 fraudulent accounts with fake identity documents to defraud the banks.

The organization also laundered the proceeds of the fraud by several means, including using debit cards to purchase money orders from third-party stores and using those money orders to purchase used automobiles from different automobile auction companies in Pennsylvania.

The vehicles were then exported to Nigeria and other countries in Africa to launder the stolen funds and to increase profits by selling the vehicles at the higher market values obtained for vehicles in these foreign countries.

Each of the suspects risks a penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1m if found guilty.

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Home | News | General | Nemesis Already Catching Up With Tinubu  Bode George

chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West have accused Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of a surreptitious move to replace the partys National Chairman, Uche Secondus, with you. How will you react to that claim?

It is the most senseless statement that could be ever credited to this party. The governor of Oyo, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde called a meeting of elders and stakeholders where he was pleading for unity in the party and the complete lopsidedness in distribution of party positions. South- West has six states, sub-divided into three zones. Lagos/Ogun is one zone; Oyo/Osun is second zone and Ekiti/Ondo is the third zone..

There are three positions who are members of the National Working Committee (NWC). In a saner manner, each zone is supposed to take one each. During the period of Ayo Fayose as Ekiti state governor, he distributed these three positions in a manner that two positions went to one zone, and then another zone had nothing. In particular, Oyo had zero. Osun had a Deputy Publicity Secretary who is a member of National Executive Committee (NEC). They also have the Zonal Secretary in Osun but Oyo had nothing. The number one zone which is Lagos and Ogun had Deputy National Chairman (South) which is from Ogun state. Lagos also had nothing. If these state chairmen understood the dynamics of politics, they wont make the baseless allegations they made because the issues are very clear. We are concerned because we dont want people outside to see the inadequacies of the managers of the party because issues like these are also important to the electorates. The culture of PDP is Justice, Unity and Progress which also means fair is fair.

What we are concerned about is how to reset the wrong done by the former Ekiti governor and balance the system. For these people to now release a statement that Governor Makinde is plotting to replace Secondus with me is the peak of indolence and lack of knowledge of the depth and culture of the party. Nothing like that was discussed at the meeting. Is it possible for only Makinde to remove Secondus and make me the National Chairman? It is so idiotic and some of them have come here to say they were wrong. They said they never knew that that was what inside the statement but they were only given to append their signatures. I have written Guardian newspaper to retract that publication or get themselves in trouble. Even the chairmen who issued that statement should be subjected to serious punishment because what they said was never discussed at the meeting.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers made a statement last week that if care is not taken, the crisis in PDP will be far worse than that of APC. That is what elders like us are trying to avoid. The governor of Oyo who is doing everything humanly possible to reposition the party for greatness should be supported. By making that unfounded allegation, they are undermining him and me. It is a very unpatriotic comment. We know the person behind the plot .He was the one that called for the meeting where they issued that false statement. We are all concerned about resolving the lopsidedness in the party because if It continues this way, it wont augur well for peace.

Many Nigerians believe that latest developments in the ruling APC is targeted at weakening Asiwaju Bola Tinubus political base ahead of the 2023 presidential election. What is your perspective on this?

From the very beginning, I used to tell them that the party APC is a congregation of strange bedfellows. When you have a big party like that and someone wants to hijack it, there will be problem. First of all, it is a misnomer in a presidential system for a man who is not elected into any position to come out and say he is the National leader of the party.

How is that possible? There is only one National leader of the party and that is the President. How can a ragamuffin from somewhere just wake up and say he is the National leader and not the President? What does that mean? We saw the way Chief John Odigie- Oyegun was removed as national chairman. To me, what is happening to Tinubu is a judgment of God. You think you can appropriate the whole countrys resources like he did in Lagos state to your own family? It cannot work! I believe nemesis is catching up with Tinubu. We warned him but he refused to listen. The Yorubas have a saying that a child who fails to listen to corrections at home will be corrected outside. Tinubu thinks he is wiser than everyone but the breeze has blown and exposed the behind of the hen. In Yorubaland, a single person cannot be all-in-all. Tinubu thinks he can grab everything with his teeth but they have removed all his teeth.

Some of his loyalists are mounting pressure on him to pull out of the APC alliance? Do you see him doing this?

That is his decision. I cant decide for him. He just issued a statement saying he has not told anyone that he wants to become President in 2023 and his focus now is how to alleviate the sufferings of the people. But you can see what he is doing in Lagos. What about Alpha Beta? Who is still collecting the money for Alpha Beta? Yet he said he wants to alleviate the sufferings of the people? Let him bring out all our money in Alpha Beta since year 2000 till date. The managing director of Alpha Beta who ran away said they owed him N40b. That money alone would have taken care of millions of poor people in Lagos today. Enough of this brigandage and classic example of greed.

I have always said Tinubu will vomit everything he has stolen and the day of reckoning is here. Only Almighty God can reign yesterday, today and forever. No one else can attain that height. For me, when you start seeing the signal, if he is a very clever person, he will recall himself and have a deep introspection. If he thinks he can run Nigeria the way he did to Lagos, he is making a mistake. The local government secretariat of Ikoyi/ Obalende was formerly on Glover Road in Ikoyi but he converted the place to his own and moved the local government to Obalende beside the cemetery. He made the daughter the Iyaloja of Lagos.

How can Iyaloja of Lagos be from Iragbiji?. She, on her part went and locked up Computer Village, insisting that she must be paid certain amount of money. The son is the one getting all public advertisement contracts for Lagos at the moment. You need to see the sons convoy, you will think its the President that is moving. For how long will this continue? We came into this world naked and we will leave naked. Nobody will leave with anything no matter how much wealth you have amassed for yourself while in existence.

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Home | News | General | Breaking: FG finally lifts ban on interstate movement, extends eased lockdown by 4 weeks

After three months of hues and cries, the federal government on Monday, June 29, lifted the ban on interstate movement effective from Wednesday, July 1.

The Nation reports that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and chairman Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this on Monday, June 29, during the daily media briefing in Abuja.

Legit.ng gathered that the national coordinator of PTF, Sani Aliyu, also added that only fifty percent of the passengers of the buses are allowed during travels.

Only 50% of the passengers are allowed with compulsory use of face mask, he said.

The PTF, however, reaffirmed the continuation of the nationwide curfew between 10 pm and 4 am adding that travels are not expected at this period.

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Home | News | General | Akeredolu breaks his silence on alleged withdrawal of his deputy's security detail

- The feud between Ondo deputy governor and his boss, Governor Akeredolu continues

- The Ondo state governor recently cleared the air concerning the alleged withdrawal of his deputy's security detail

- Governor Akeredolu explained that none of Ajayi's security aides were withdrawn as he made the public to believe

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Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has opened up on the alleged withdrawal of security details attached to the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi amid the fractured relationship between them.

According to The Nation, Akeredolu on Monday, June 29, stated that none of Ajayi's security was withdrawn as he had made the general public believe.

Recall that the deputy governor of Ondo state had raised an alarm alleging that Salami Bolaji, the state commissioner of police ordered the withdrawal of his police escort, therefore putting his life, and family in danger.

Edo election 2020: Three APC chieftains drag Obaseki to court over alleged certificate forgery

The governor who made his position known in a statement through Segun Ajiboye, his chief press secretary, further said all of his Ajayi's security have remained intact.

Governor Akeredolu says none of his deputy's security aides were withdrawn.

Source: UGC

Akeredolu speaking further said that his deputy raised the alarm after he got approval for six security operatives from the police IG, Mohammed Adamu.

He went on to note that after sending police escort he did not trust back and disengaging his ADC and another sergeant, Ajayi then cried foul.

However, deputy governor's spokesman for the said the IGP in a memo addressed to Salami, ordered the CP to restore Ajayi's security detail.

This is coming a few days after the CP in Ondo reacted to the allegation connected to the posting and withdrawal of officers attached to deputy governor.

In reaction to rumours making the rounds that he has a hand in the withdrawal of the deputy governor's security details, Bolaji made it clear that only the Inspector-General of Police has the right to make such a decision.

Senate president Lawan, others visit Orji Kalu after release from Kuje prison (photos)

He said: "...let it be known that policemen attached to Government Houses take directives from the chief security officer to the governor who can post and withdraw according to the reason and purpose that suit him."

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Meanwhile, the embattled deputy governor of Ondo state has reabsorbed all his aides who were sacked by Governor Akeredolu on Tuesday, June 23.

Among Ajayi's aides who were sacked by Akeredolu include Allen Sowore, his special assistant on new media, the chief press secretary to the deputy governor, Babatope Okeowo and five others.

However, in his discussion with journalists on Tuesday, Okeowo said that all the aides have been reappointed by Ajayi. He said: Yes, it is true that the governor announced our sack, but there is no cause for alarm, as we have been reabsorbed by the deputy governor.

Edo election: Obaseki will win any form of primary - Edo deputy governor declares

5 years after, Nigerians speak about Buhari's administration | Legit TV

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Home | News | General | Despite rising COVID-19 cases, Nigerians reject another lockdown (see poll)

- Recent polls conducted by Legit.ng have shown that majority of Nigerians are not in support of another lockdown

- Respondents in the polls overwhelming voted against any further COVID-19 lockdown in the country

- Nigeria has been recording hundreds of COVID-19 cases on a daily basis

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Recent polls conducted by Legit.ng have shown that the majority of Nigerians are not in support of another lockdown despite the daily rise of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has been confirming hundreds of COVID-19 cases daily.

COVID-19: Poll shows that majority of Nigerians do not support another

Source: Twitter

The health agency on Sunday, June 28, announced 490 new cases of Covid-19 in Nigeria as the country inched close to 25,000 cases.

According to the NCDC, 382 people have recovered from coronavirus in the last 24 hours while seven people died during the same period.

Retention of military chiefs is a disservice to Nigeria - Group tells Buhari

However, despite the soaring cases of the disease, polls indicate that many Nigerians do not see another lockdown as a way to deal with the pandemic.

According to Legit.ng poll on Facebook, 75% of respondents voted overwhelmingly against any further lockdown, while just 25% supported it.

A similar poll on twitter showed that 25% of respondents backed the call for another lockdown but 58.7% of the respondents voted against it.

Meanwhile, Nigerians will be expecting the federal government to remove restrictions on the interstate travel when the President Muhammadu Buhari approved the next stage of national response to the COVID-19 pandemic after a meeting with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on coronavirus.

The meeting between the Nigerian leader and the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on coronavirus is scheduled for Monday, June 29.

The task force is expected to present its assessment of the level of compliance by Nigerians to the COVID-19 regulations and guidelines and also give recommendations for the next stage of the country's national response to the pandemic.

Kaduna, Gombe and others named among 32 states that may find it difficult to pay salaries after Covid-19

The chairman of the PTF, Boss Mustapha had on Thursday, June 25, said Nigerians would be updated about the next step in the fight against the virus after the scheduled meeting with the president.

He pointed out that the second phase of the eased lockdown, which took off from June 1, would be ending soon, making a need for the third stage.

Nigerians had been clamouring for the reopening of activities and total removal of restrictions and lockdowns, especially with respect to schools and interstate travel.

In another news report, over 380,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Africa, with more than 181,000 recoveries and 9,500 deaths, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

There are 380,207 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Africa, and 9,552 people have succumbed to the virus.

In the list compiled by the organisation, South Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 cases with 138,134 cases, while Egypt has 63,923 cases of the deadly virus.

Beware: These 4 things can get you arrested, prosecuted in FG's latest lockdown measures

Nigeria's COVID-19 cases stand at 24,567, while Ghana has 17,351 cases of the virus.

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Many Nigerians still don't believe Coronavirus exists - NOA DG | Legit TV

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Home | News | General | These are the countries leading as WHO confirms over 380,000 COVID-19 cases in Africa (full list)

- Africa has 380,207 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the World Health Organisation has said

- The organisation says 9,552 people have succumbed to the deadly virus in Africa

- South Africa has the highest number of cases with 138,134 cases

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Over 380,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Africa, with more than 181,000 recoveries and 9,500 deaths, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

There are 380,207 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Africa, and 9,552 people have succumbed to the virus.

In the list compiled by the organisation, South Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 cases with 138,134 cases, while Egypt has 63,923 cases of the deadly virus.

Nigeria's COVID-19 cases stand at 24,567, while Ghana has 17,351 cases of the virus.

See in the list below:

If you have fever, its more likely due to malaria than COVID-19 - PTF coordinator says, begs private hospitals not to reject patients of other diseases

WHO compilation of COVID-19 cases in Africa. Photo Credit: WHO

Source: UGC

In other news, with severe travel restrictions all over the world occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, many airlines have been grounded with many employees in the aviation sector sent home on unpaid leave.

Pilots have not been an exception and they have been forced to find alternative ways of survival as the virus continues to bite even as governments worldwide mull reopening of the skies.

One such pilot is Nakarin Inta, a Thai commercial pilot who has four-years experience.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that while the body of one Babafemi Adebayo who recently died of coronavirus in Brazil was bundled away for burial, his widow could be seen in a heartbreaking video broken down in tears as she begged him to wake up.

In the video, the woman begged her husband to wake up, saying his family was at home waiting for him.

State by state breakdown of Covid-19 cases in Nigeria as total exceeds 11,000

The woman said: Babafemi are you sleeping? Please wake up. Your mother is at home, your children are at home, your elder and younger siblings are at home. Please wake in the name of Jesus. Jesus have mercy on me. Jesus, take pity on me.

Ahhh, Adebayo. Babafemi. Im calling you. Its me calling you, not someone else. Your wife is the one calling you. I ask you to wake up in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, Im calling you."

Coronavirus: My business has collapsed totally - Man laments | Legit TV

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Home | News | General | Mompha leaves cryptic post after deleting all his Instagram posts

Popular Nigerian socialite, Mompha deleted all of his Instagram posts recently and left one just one which contains a cryptic message.

The Instagram celeb removed all of his Instagram posts which features his extravagant day-to-day lifestyle with expensive cars, clothes and all days after the Dubai police released a video detailing Dubai-based Nigerian big boy, Hushpuppis arrest..

According to the Dubai police, Hushpuppi had been in their for months prior to his arrest on the 9th of June, 2020.

Mompha who is currently being tried by the EFCC for N32 billion fraud, left a cryptic post on his IG page which reads,

I usually give people more chances than they deserve but once Im done, Im done.

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Home | News | General | 5 Humanitarian Workers Kidnapped By Boko Haram Beg FG Come To Their Rescue

Four humanitarian workers and a security guard, abducted by Boko Haram terrorists earlier this month, have appealled to the federal government as well as their respective organisations to intervene for their release.

This was contained in a two minutes and 37 seconds video clip released by the terrorist group on Sunday..

The video showed the humanitarian workers from Action Against Hunger, Rich International, International Rescue Committee and a staff of the State Emergency Management Agency urging the government to do something about their release.

In the video exclusively received by Daily Trust, all abductors were shown sitting on local mats begging the authorities.

My name is Abdulrahman Babagana. I am the camp Manager of SEMA in Monguno. I left Monguno on our way to Maiduguri but they captured me on that day and we came to their base.

Now I am in their hands.

I am begging the government to rescue me from this plight. It was June 1st we encounter them and as I am speaking, it is June 21st.

Please, come and rescue me, Abdulrahman begged.

AStaff of Rich International, Abdulrahman Dungus, said: On my way going back to Monguno, we were caught by this army called the Khalifa on the 8th June.

I am appealing to my organisation to do whatever they can to get me out of here, he begged.

A private security guard, on his part, said: My name is Joseph Prince. I am a staff of Alje Security Organization.

On my way from Maiduguri to Monguno for an official assignment on the 1st June 2020 as at 11:37am, we encountered Khalifa soldiers and they captured us and of course took us to where we are now.

As I speak to you now, todays date is 21st June year 2020.

I am still in their custody.

I am requesting that my organisation should please rescue me.

Thank you. Ishaiku Yakubu, a staff of Action Against Hunger, an NGO in Borno State, said: On the 8th of June 2020, on our way going back to Maiduguri from Monguno, we were caught by this army called the Khalifa.

They brought us here and actually we dont know where we are.

I want to beg my organisation; Action Against Hunger, to do something about me to see how I can be released,  he pleaded.

Another captive, Luka Filubus of International Rescue Committee, based in Monguno Local Government Are, said: On 8th of June, I left Monguno for Maiduguri and had an encounter with Khalifa soldiers.

They captured me and brought me to their base.

As I am speaking with you, its 21st of June.

So, I am appealing to IRC to come and rescue me from Khalifa soldiers.

Daily Trust had reported that suspected Boko Haram insurgents abducted four persons, including three humanitarian workers and a soldier along Monguno/Maiduguri highway.

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Home | News | General | Gen. Soleimani: Iran issues arrest warrant for US President, Trump, ask Interpol for help

The Iranian government on Monday issued a warrant of arrest for the United States, US, President, Donald Trump.

It also asked the International Police to help detain Trump for ordering the drone attack that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad..

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Trump and more than 30 others were involved in the January 3rd strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani.

He said Trump and the others not mentioned will face murder and terrorism charges, Aljazeera reports.

Alqasimehr stressed that Iran would continue to pursue Trumps prosecution even after his presidency ends.

He stated that Iran requested that a red notice be put out for Trump and the others, which is the highest level of arrest request issued by the Interpol.

Recall that a US airstrike had in January killed General Soleimani of the Revolutionary Guards expeditionary Quds Force near Baghdad International Airport.

This came after months of incidents raising tensions between the US and Iran.

Giving reasons for the airstrike, Trump had claimed that Soleimani plotted to kill lots of American citizens but was caught in the process.

Iran had then threatened to attack the US White House.

The threat of a counter-attack was issued by the Iranian MP, Abolfazl Abutorabi during an open session of parliament in Tehran, Iran, the countrys Labour News Agency reported

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Home | World | Africa | Chinese company compensates shot employee

A Chinese company whose senior manager shot at an employee over a pay dispute has so far paid out US$20 000 for medical bills towards the victims' family while the Asian national implicated in the case languishes in prison.

They have also paid out an unspecified amount as compensation to the employee for the incident

David Zhou, the leader of the Chinese business community in Zimbabwe told a press briefing on Friday that the family of Kenneth Tachiona, who was allegedly shot on the ankle by Zhang Xuelin, a manager at Reden Minehas so far been given USD$ 20 000 while all medical bills are being catered for.

"We are helping in the best possible way that we can. This is a regrettable incident and we believe that it won't happen again. We have also assisted Wendy Chikwaira who was also shot on the arm and we are still engaging the concerned families so that we can find a solution to this," said Zhou.

Chikwaira and Tachiona reportedly approached Xuelin to demand their unpaid wages before they got into a brawl that ended when he shot and wounded them.

Tachiona is recovering at Midlands Provincial Hospital in Gweru where he was admitted while Chikwaira was treated and discharged.

Zhou said the behaviour of Xeulin was personal and does not reflect the entire Chinese community in Zimbabwe.

The company stated that mine manager who is still in police cells fired two shots in the air but the employees, who were demanding to be paid in USD$, continued to charge towards him. Out of fear he shot the victim on the ankle.

China and Zimbabwe have long-standing friendship and cooperation but the Asian giant has often being accused of abusing the cordial relations.

Reeden Mine is located some 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) south of Gweru along the Matobo road.

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International Motor Trading Agency (IMTA), the exclusive distributor of China's Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co (JAC Motors) in Bahrain, has opened a new showroom for the brand.

The showroom in Tubli was inaugurated by IMTA President Suzan Salman Kanoo and Vice-President K.N. Singh on June 28.

The launch event was done internally with the adherence of all safety norms considering the Covid-19 pandemic situation. It was seen virtually by thousands over social media platforms.

The inauguration also kicked off the launch of JAC Motors in Bahrain with attractive introductory offers on certain models for a limited period.

The offers include - free insurance, free registration, free rust proofing, free window tinting, free five years warranty with unlimited mileage, free service for three years or 60,000kms whichever comes first and a special introductory offer price for a limited period.

The new state-of-the-art showroom will deliver exceptional service through a seamless integration of all touch-points in the customer journey and through innovation bring in new customer experiences.

Customers visiting the showroom can choose from an extensive range of JAC passenger vehicles that includes the S3 Crossover SUV, S4 Medium sized SUV and M4 MPV van.

The JAC range of commercial vehicles available in Bahrain through IMTA includes N-series commercial light duty trucks, Sunray van and T6 pickup.

Commenting on the new partnership, IMTA President Suzan Salman Kanoo said: "We are pleased to launch cars from JAC, a brand that's invested so much in evolving and enhancing its offering. It is our company philosophy to ensure that we provide our customers with the best products and services at a good price that will guarantee a high level of satisfaction in their motoring experience."

Talking about the new showroom, IMTA Vice-President K.N. Singh said: "Customer care is fundamental to our business and we are constantly trying to improve ourselves on this front. We are of course adhering to social distancing, sanitisation measures and compulsory mask regulations in line with the health and safety directives. All vehicles are fully sanitised before being delivered.

The new showroom, located opposite Bahrain Pride supermarket in Tubli, will be open from 8am to 12.30pm and from 3.30pm to 7pm. It will remain closed on Friday. - TradeArabia News Service
Home | World | Africa | Chihuri says Mnangagwa targeting him over a woman

Former Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri has claimed that President Mnangagwa is persecuting him over a war time clash over a woman, in a case where he is challenging the validity of the Unexplained Wealth Order Act.

This comes after a High Court order called on Chihuri to explain his wealth after the State listed his assets for forfeiture.

The State accused Chihuri of diverting US$32 mln of public funds into family companies and buying a large swathe of properties. The State seeks to freeze Chihuri's companies and the properties, which his family acquired during his 25 years at the helm of the police force, pending the final outcome of possible criminal investigations and civil suits.

In his court application, Chihuri through his lawyers Kantor and Immerman, is challenging the validity of some sections of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2019 in terms of which the unexplained wealth order had been granted.

He says the order violates his constitutionally guaranteed rights especially the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. The order, which is final in nature against Chihuri, did not afford him the right to be heard and violates his right to protection of the law.

By limiting itself to only people who hold property whose value is greater than US$100 000, the Act unfairly and discriminately targets the Chihuri family on the basis of their social and economic status. Chihuri also said that parts of the Act take away the liberty to deal with his family properities as they please.

He calls the order an incurably bad law.

Revenge act from President Mnangagwa?

Chihuri believes that the root of the problem is politically targeted persecution of his family. He puts it on record that his social relationship between President Mnangagwa and himself has been broken since the liberation struggle and degenerated into a personal hate.

He narrates that he got married "the Zanu way"in Chomoio in Mozambique before then political commissar the late Mayor Urimbo around 1976 and the following year in 1977, his wife got pregnant.

According to Chihuri, President Mnangagwa upon learning of the pregnancy used his position to get his wife transferred to Shai Shai in Mozambique where he forced her into an affair.

"I tried to terminate the marriage but the Political Commissar threatened me not to dare do it, citing that Mnangagwa was a dangerous man and would behead me as he was not hesitant to kill."

Chihuri said there were suggestions that the pregnancy be terminated but even though it was tried, it failed.

He said the late Cde Serbia who was working under Mnangagwa in the Security Department told him about the termination of the pregnancy and that Mnangagwa had vowed that as long as he lived, Chihuri would pay for not giving up on his wife to him.

"Cde Serbia warned me again to keep quiet or else I would perish and never see the light of day."

"this is a personal matter being turned into a national spectacle for the purpose of victimisation."

Refusal to participate in the coup

Chihuri, who led the police force for 27 years said that the main reason for persecution was his refusal to participate in the November 2017 coup that toppled the late President Mugabe. "I was consequently retired from the force, when other Service Chiefs were reassigned to other portfolios"

He also said allegations that he ordered the arrest of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga at the Harare International Airport were made up to sow divisions of hate.

Chihuri says that in spite of his long service he was "chased out of the office like a dog" and was not given a chance to do a handover to current Commissioner General Godwin Matanga. This was because then Home Affairs Minister had directed that he vacates the office immediately.

"I was not given an opportunity to even take my personal belongings including my family pictures, which Commissioner General Godwin Matanga is still holding up to this day"

Chihuri said Matanga had been promoted to that post as a reward for participating in the coup even though his appointment was not procedural.

According to Chihuri, Matanga is incompetent due to his lack of education. "He realises that a mere ZIPAM holder is in a vulnerable position as his deputies are more educated than him. He does not even hold an O-Level certificate which is a basic requirement for a constable to join the police."

He alleges that Matanga was involved in the fire incident at his Harare home, which saw several records being destroyed. He claims that Matanga had made use of his kinsmen who was stationed at his residence and that while a report had been made, it had not been acted upon.

How he acquired his wealth

Chihuri said that he worked hard for his wealth and that all of his dealings were above board after having been subjected to legal procurement procedures.

He said the properties which were listed by the Prosecutor General were legitimately sourced and have nothing to do with alleged money laundering. The Greendale (Athlone) property was bought in 1985 for cash after he sold a property in Mutare, Darwendale (Fishponds) were bought in 1990, Quinnington Stand was bought in 1999 with construction works being completed in 2004 while the Zengeza property was acquired in 2007.

He noted that some of the stands listed were not theirs, some had been surrendered while others were legally disposed off. He also queried the estimated values of the properties of $150 mln saying they were thumb sucked."For example how can a Zengeza high density 3 roomed house be valued at $7 mlnan old house built by the Chitungwiza municipality."

Chihuri said he had ventured into business in 1996 when he acquired a loan from CBZ. The company Kisdale Enterprises (heavy machinery and equipment) operated from 1996 to 2017. "This company was our biggest source of income."

He also explains that some of his farms were acquired before the land reform programme and noted that after the coup, GMB refused to take his maize produce which he had to distribute to his village at a loss.

He provides glimpses into the allocation of stands at Gletwyn where he bought and consolidated several stands. He says Mashonaland East State Minister consolidated two stands together and also notes the animosity that exists between them. Ex- ZRP commissioner Oliver Chibage, Farai Matsika, VP Chiwenga and Former DCG Matibhire had all consolidated two stands in the area.

He says that most of the companies that supply to the police were linked to the officers including Matanga under the banner of indigenisation and all tenders go through an adjudication process . He said they never received a complaint about substandard goods and that it was surprising that only the department, which fell under Matanga during his tenure had raised concerns about the supply of services from his linked companies.

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Home | World | Africa | Mat North schools ready for June exams

SCHOOLS in Matabeleland North province are ready for the Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (Zimsec) June exams, the Provincial Education Director Mr Jabulani Mpofu has said.

Speaking during a donation of Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) by Dingani Bookshop and Bheksaz Shalom Solutions at a local bookshop yesterday, Mr Mpofu said all the 42 Zimsec centres for the June exams have been disinfected.

"As a province we are ready for the June exams which are going to start on Tuesday and we have 42 centres that are going to be conducting the examinations.

"All the centres have been disinfected from disinfecting chemicals donated by National University of Science and Technology (Nust) while Lupane State University provided with 1000 litres of sanitisers," said Mr Mpofu.

Mr Mpofu said most of the June candidates are private candidates with pupils who are borders expected to be at the centres by today (Sunday).

He expressed gratitude to partners for their timely donations which will go a long way in mitigating the spread of Covid-19.

"Most of the candidates are private candidates and those who are pupils and will be writing the June exams are numbering over 1000.

"We are grateful to the partners who have assisted us with donations to ensure that as schools we are ready for the examination periods. The donation of 1000 face masks by these two companies will ensure that teachers and students are equipped with PPE," said Mr Mpofu.

Dingani bookshop owner Mr Witness Dingani said, "It is our mission to make sure we provide for the society. As a bookshop we deal with schools and there are currently facing challenges thus need the for us to assist them. They have to prepare for the exams at the same time fight against this global pandemic."

BSS chief executive officer Mr Bhekokuhle Dube said as a logistics company working closely with Government, they felt the need to chip in with support.

"As Bheksaz Shalom Solutions together with our brand Ambassador LeeMcHoney we are happy to be part of this initiative as our income comes from the people who send parcels through us on daily basis including Government institutions, hence it is our duty to help where we can.

"Teachers play a vital role in the country hence it is our duty as community to take care of them as safety is a priority in one's life," said Mr Dube.

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The thing that has prepared me best for this job is the relationships Ive built within the community, he said, referencing his time as an award-winning journalist.

Ben Bowman, the executive director of Central Virginia Career Works, agrees. After a competitive interview process, Saunders was hired for his breadth of knowledge and his ability to distill complicated topics into something more digestible.

Tim has been an absolute blessing to have on board during this time, Bowman said. To have someone like Tim who understands the value of good reporting is so important because we need to do a very good job with communicating whats most important to our citizens.

While the local manufacturing and health care industries have fared better than other sectors of the economy, food service and hospitality businesses have been especially hard hit. Saunders is optimistic the Lynchburg region will recover, as it did following 2008. But he is acutely aware of the challenge ahead.

We have to accept that this pandemic is going to reshape our workforce, he said. There will be opportunity for people on the other side of this but they may be working in a career field that they hadnt considered before.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court sided with energy companies and the Trump administration Monday in reinstating a critical permit for a proposed natural gas pipeline that would cross under the Appalachian Trail.

The justices ruled 7-2 to throw out a lower court ruling that had canceled the permit for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. It would bring natural gas from West Virginia to growing markets in Virginia and North Carolina. Its supporters say the pipeline would bring economic development, thousands of jobs and reduced energy costs for consumers.

Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for a majority of the court that the "Forest Service had the authority to issue the permit here." Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented.

Other legal issues remain before construction of the pipeline could begin. The narrow question before the Supreme Court was whether the U.S. Forest Service has the authority to grant rights-of-way through lands crossed by the Appalachian Trail within national forests, as project developers Dominion Energy and Duke Energy and the Trump administration argued.

The pipeline would run in part through the George Washington National Forest, where a 0.1-mile segment of the pipeline would cross about 600 feet (about 183 meters) beneath the Appalachian Trail.
Registration to open for more free drive-through testing in Nelson County

The Thomas Jefferson Health District will perform free drive-through COVID-19 testing in Massies Mill on July 2.

Registration is required, and tests are available for people ages 6 and older. People can call (434) 972-6261 June 30 or July 1 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to schedule an appointment.

Testing is limited and appointments will be scheduled on a first called, first scheduled basis. Staff will respond to voicemails as they are received.

The free testing will take place at the Fleetwood Community Center, 1357 Crabtree Falls Highway in Massies Mill from 8 to 10 a.m.

As of Monday, Nelson County has reported 18 cases of COVID- 19, according to the Virginia Department of Healths website.

 Nick Cropper

Protesters call for release of police force reports

NORFOLK  Protestors are demanding a Virginia citys police department release use-of-force reports from the past decade.
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Emirates continues to add travel options for customers with the announcement that it will re-start passenger flights to Cairo (from July 1), Tunis (from July 1), Glasgow (from July 15) and Male (from July 16).

This will bring Emirates network to 52 destinations in July, offering travellers convenient connections between the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas through its Dubai hub, while ensuring the health and safety of customers and employees on the ground and in the air.

These flights can be booked online at www.emirates.com or via travel agents.

Customers from Emirates network can also travel to Dubai following the announcement last week that the city will be 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 visitors and communities.

Health and safety first: Emirates has implemented a comprehensive set of measures at every step of the customer journey to ensure the safety of its customers and employees on the ground and in the air, including the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes to all customers. For more information on these measures and the services available on each flight, visit: www.emirates.com/yoursafety

Travel restrictions: Customers are reminded that travel restrictions remain in place, and travellers will only be accepted on flights if they comply with the eligibility and entry criteria requirements of their destination countries. Visit: www.emirates.com/wherewefly. Visitors to Dubai should hold an international health insurance policy covering illness from Covid-19 for the duration of their stay.

UAE citizens and residents: Residents returning to Dubai can check the latest requirements at: www.emirates.com/returntoDubai. - TradeArabia News Service
Economic development in Council Bluffs is spearheaded by the Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation, and the woman behind that organization is Carson native Paula Hazlewood.

Hazlewood left Carson in 10th grade and moved to the metro area outside of Washington D.C. where her father was recruited to work for a larger newspaper. Going from a class of 25 students to 600 was an eye opener, she said.

After graduating, she went straight into the workforce, working in a large team of auditors for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. Thats where she met her husband, David, who is now the director of NeighborWorks Home Solutions in Council Bluffs.

At the time, he was in the Marine Corps and stationed in Quantico, Virginia. The couple married in 1993 and moved to central Texas a year later. Hazlewood began working in health and human services and became a supervisor for an agency that assisted low-to-moderate income people so they could work and go to school, she said.

We were there for 10 years, she said. When my parents decided to move back (to the Council Bluffs area), my husband and I decided to make the move back.

The family of three left central Texas for Iowa; wanting the same educational experience for their son that Paula had growing up.
Lovegood said he has had roles in productions all over from New York, Hawaii and Arizona to name a few.

I started professional dancing right out of high school at 18 years old, said Lovegood. What brought me to this area is a job opportunity dancing ballet in Omaha, Nebraska.

A piece that Lovegood choreographed was based on a short story ballet called Sudako, based off of the book Asian Themes.

Area audiences have watched Lovegood dance in roles such as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Albrecht in Giselle, the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, Cavalier in The Nutcracker, the Asp in Erika Overturffs: Cleopatra, Puck in Oscar Antunezs: A Midsummer Nights Dream, and the leading role in Ann Reinkings staging of In the Style of Bob Fosse. Also a choreographer, he has premiered works with numerous schools and professional companies, including Bacchanale Variations, Signs of Life, Sadako, Poseidon, Transcription, Caprice, and Swan Lake for American Midwest Ballet.

As a ballet master, Lovegood wears many hats. He is in charge of creating the daily schedule, which can sometimes be a puzzle of what dancers can do at one time and where, Lovegood said.
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Many of his students attended that production over at the Playhouse, DeChant said. He was a renowned actor over that.

Bob Snipp, who played opposite of Boyd for many years, talked fondly of their friendship. Snipp worked with Boyd for 29 years, out of Boyds 818 performances, 770 of those were with Snipp.

Dick and I had a special bond because I was the one that caught his flight from the playhouse stage to the top of the bed, said Snipp, referring to a scene from A Christmas Carol in which Boyd was lifted in the air. Snipp recalled a time when Boyds harness would unhook while he was in mid-air and the show had to stop in order to get him down.

During a performance when we were lifted from the bed, but Boyd was a little too far out and ended smack against the bed frame, Snipp said. He ended up ripping his lip open, and of course we didnt stop the show, so he had blood running down his face and the glitter was sticking to it. I dont think anyone noticed.

Steve Priesman, longtime stage manager for A Christmas Carol, said Boyd never missed a show. He performed when he felt well or ill. Priesman said if he had a cold or if his knees were bothering him, the audience would have never known. Some of the cast would have never known.
Mary is home.

A years-long effort to bring a statue of St. Mary from the old St. Patricks Catholic Church location off of Kanesville Boulevard to the new location on Valley View Drive in Council Bluffs is complete, thanks to the work of a group of parishioners.

We wanted to bring her over so the legacy of St. Mary at St. Pats wouldnt be lost, Jim Bojanski, a member of the committee that helped make the move happen, said as members of the group took a look and celebrated the statue on a June 19. It was a big group effort.

The new St. Patricks opened in June of 2018, without the statue on display.

The Our Lady of Grace statue of Mary was constructed in 1954, commissioned after an anonymous donor gave funds for its construction, according to parish officials. The Rev. James Hannan, a Midwest Jesuit priest, designed and built the statue  his payment the building materials, three meals a day and a place to sleep while in town working. Several of his shrines have stood or still stand in Council Bluffs, church officials said, including at CHI Health Mercy Hospital, St. Bernards, St. Franci Convent, St. Peters Church, St. Joseph Cemetary and a private citizen. Bojanski noted he found two of the statues sisters  at Creighton Prep High School and College of St. Mary in Omaha.
OGALLALA, Neb.  A 24-year-old Kansas man was sentenced to four years probation on Friday morning in connection with a 2017 vehicle-motorcycle crash that killed four Iowa residents.

Jeser I. Cisneros-Hernandez was also ordered to serve 400 hours of community service as part of the sentence handed down by Judge Michael Piccolo in Keith County (Nebraska) District Court.

Cisnernos-Hernandez had been scheduled to be sentenced on April 3, but the case was continued to Friday. Cisneros-Hernandez was out on bail at the time and living in Kansas. Travel restrictions due to the coronavirus were noted in the motion to continue the case at the time.

Cisneros-Hernandez pleaded no contest on Feb. 4 to one amended felony charge of motor vehicle homicide that covers all four victims.

The plea agreement came the day his trial was to have begun. He initially was charged with four counts of motor vehicle homicide, and three counts were dropped in the plea agreement.

Cisneros-Hernandez could have been sentenced to up to three years in prison under the felony guidelines with a post-release supervision term of 18 months. A fine of up to $10,000 could have been imposed as well.
Bentzinger the best choice for sheriff

I have been a close friend and classmate of Danielle Bentzinger for years. As a mother, I can see there is not a more passionate candidate in the race for Pottawattamie County sheriff than her. Even from a young age, shes been a competitor. She always wants to do her best, and I know she will do an excellent job if elected as sheriff.

Throughout her entire life, Bentzinger has been a fighter. No matter the obstacle, or people, who have stood the way, she is always ready to stand up for what is right. She doesnt back down from tough situations and will always give you the truth. No matter the issue, I know that we will always get an honest answer from her. This is a quality that I admire about her, and quality I want from my representatives.

On the campaign trail, you can see the dedication that Bentzinger has to the job of sheriff. Not only does she want to listen, but she seeks to understand our situation and the problems we are facing as a county. This dedication is far more reaching than her own circles. She wants to connect with those she has never met before and ensure that they have a voice in county leadership.

Her ability to go into tough situations with an open mind, and heart, is what makes her stand out in this race. She is truly the leader we need here.
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By Nazish Hussian and Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net

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Mumbai: Responding to the reinstatement of four accused police officers after they were suspended for their alleged involvement in the custodial killing of her 27-year-old son Khwaja Yunus in 2003, 72-year-old Asiya Begum is in disbelief.

Why the government did this to us? How could they take the murderer policemen back into the police force, she said.

Khwaja Yunus, a Parbhani resident in Maharashtra, was an engineer by profession. As per his family, he had been working in Dubai before returning to Parbhani in 2002 to attend his sisters wedding. However, soon after returning Mumbai police arrested under him under the stringent Prevention of Terrorism Act on December 25, 2002, and claimed his involvement in a bomb blast in Ghatkopar on December 2.

Yunus died in police custody in January 2003 after allegedly being interrogated by the police officers in charge. The police claimed that Yunus had run away from custody on the day of his death, however, his co-accused in the case told the POTA court that they saw Yunus being stripped, assaulted severely, and vomiting blood. The CID inquiry into the death of Yunus found that he was murdered in police custody.

While the other co-accused met justice and were acquitted by the court. However, the fight for the justice of Yunus continued. Bombay High Court filed chargesheet against 14 police officers, however, only 4 police officers were put under trial for the murder of Yunus.

Despite the ongoing trial, the four accused police officers were reinstated.

Yunuss old and frail mother still strives for justice.

With tears welling up in her eyes, Asiya Begum remembers her son. It has been 17 years now. What we have gone through only Allah knows. I cant explain. Whenever my son is brought up in discussion, everything is reminded before me, she told TwoCircles.net.

The family still lives in Parbhani  some 500 kilometres away from Mumbai, and hope for justice.

Asiya Begum recalls how the family went through great difficulty to provide their son with an education. We had to take loans and it was all good as he got a job in Dubai. He was returning home for the first time after two years of getting a job. Pandra din bhi nahi tehra bacha hamare saath (He couldnt even stay with us for 15 days before he was taken away). My son kept saying that he is innocent. He did not do anything, she said.

Asiya Begum said that initially, they kept saying that my son is absconding. After three years they agreed that Khwaja Yunus died in police custody. Till that time, they kept misleading us.

Asiya Begun said that the family has already spent a lot of money on the case. What more can we do? The government is theirs. Even the police are theirs, she said.

Yunus was one of four siblings. Yunuss elder brother Syed Muhammad told TwoCircles.net that, Those who were charged along with him were all acquitted. And now they are living happily. If our boy was alive today, he too would have lived happily like others.

Yunuss sister-in-law Zeba Siddiqui told TwoCircles.net that the family was very disappointed how the case was proceeding.

My father in law got so disappointed with the case proceedings. He was so broken. In his grief, he burned many documents of Yunus lamenting over what they (police) did to him. He kept saying, Yunus studied so hard and this is what they did to him, she said.

Syed Muhammad says that their father passed away while fighting the case. The daily commuting from here to Mumbai, facing harassment and under constant tension shot up his blood pressure and he eventually passed away, he said.

After his death the court allowed Asiya Begum to be the petitioner of the Kjwaja Yunus case.

She has become very weak. She cant work that much now. The train journey to Mumbai is so difficult for her. Despite all these hurdles, we want justice, says Muhammad.

Talking about the ordeal the family had to go through to fight for justice for their son, Asiya Begum says, We have put every effort to get justice for our son. I and my husband used to go to Mumbai regularly for court hearings. After he passed away I continued going there and handled things at the court.

Asiya Begum lamented that instead of punishing the culprits, they have been reinstated. What kind of justice is this? When justice is delayed, it is not justice. I want the state government to work with honesty. I believe within six months the case will be final. It is because of the judiciary we have reached till here. And I hope there will be justice, she said.

The court had framed charges in 2012. It took five years to begin the trial in 2017.

After the High Court decision, we felt that we would get justice for our child. But as time passed, nothing happened. I say let the court decide. If they come out clean from the court, then they may have their jobs back, says Muhammad.

Muhammad said that he doesnt understand how the accused police officers were reinstated when the trial is still going on.

Mihir Desai, the Mumbai based lawyer fighting Yunuss case told TwoCircles.net that they have filed a contempt of court case. As the police officers were suspended by the courts order and without the courts order their suspension could not be taken back/revoked. But still, they withdrew/took back the suspension. We have filed a contempt of court. We have asked the government to appoint their lawyer, he said.

Yunuss frail mother has not lost all hope. She is determined to get justice for her son.

Till a mother is alive she cant lose hope for her child. No matter how sick I get, I would still get up for him, she said.

Related: Khwaja Yunus murder case: will Aasiya Begum get justice?
The Daily News publishes death notices and obituaries on a daily basis for Norfolkans, area residents and former residents.

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Norfolk and area funeral homes have detailed information about placing an obituary in the Daily News. If individuals want to submit obituary information themselves, it can be emailed to funerals@norfolkdailynews.com or faxed to (402) 644-2080.

People needing additional information about death notices and obituaries can call the Daily News at 371-1020 or (877) 371-1020 and ask for the newsroom.
A shopping mall in Arizona. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Arizonas coronavirus crisis is not slowing down. The state set another record on Sunday with 3,858 new coronavirus cases reported. (Due to reporting glitch, only 625 cases were reported Monday.) The states total number of cases has now reached 74,000, and Governor Doug Ducey warned last week that the numbers will rise. We expect that our numbers will be worse next week and the week following in terms of cases and hospitalizations, he said.

Blame for the outbreak has been pinned on the states aggressive reopening, which began on May 15, and the governments failure to require masks. It wasnt until June 17, after much lobbying on behalf of local leaders, that city governments were even allowed to issue local mask orders.

As Arizona continues to produce some of the nations most worrisome coronavirus statistics, here are some scenes from life there.

Doctors and nurses are overwhelmed.

As hospitals fill with patients  4,634 were hospitalized as of Monday, with close to 90 percent of the states ICU beds full  medical professionals are witnessing up close what their counterparts in New York, and before that Italy, dealt with earlier this year. In the Times last week, Dr. Bradley A. Dreifuss detailed the situation in the hospitals:

Health care workers are exhausted. Staffing shortages and increasing fatigue are the new normal for emergency departments, intensive-care units and Covid-19 units, and across hospital wards. Staffing levels are being set with an emphasis on productivity as determined by financial calculations rather than clinical severity or the complex needs of our patients and the community we serve.

Staff members call in sick or feel so emotionally drained that they need a mental health day to face another shift on the front lines. Staffing shortages are being made even worse by the furloughs of some of our most experienced team members. Inexperienced new nurses remain and plunge into caring for increasingly ill patients with less mentorship and support.

Rafters packed a river over the weekend.

With temperatures ranging into the triple digits, rafters put aside virus concerns and swarmed the Salt River this weekend. Masks were in short supply.

Crowds of people flocked to the Salt River near Phoenix, AZ, over the weekend armed with plenty of tubes and coolers, but barely any masks pic.twitter.com/sLXRaoZWmx  NowThis (@nowthisnews) June 29, 2020

Bars in Scottsdale are being shut down.

The governors office is cracking down on bars in Scottsdale for not following rules put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus. While the bars deny flouting protocol, staff at Riot House in the city have been observed not wearing masks and not keeping a safe distance, police say. Videos taken earlier this month also showed crowds packed into the club, which was charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly failing to enforce their own safety policies regarding social distancing, according to local news

Bars in Tempe arent doing any better.

Native tribes are locking down.

In early June, the Navajo Nation lifted the weekend-long curfews that had been in place since March. The curfews mandated people stay inside from Friday night to Monday morning to help curb the outbreak in the nations largest Native American reservation. As cases spiked across the rest of Arizona, leaders brought the curfew back the past two weekends.

Now, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, which has seen an eighth of its 13,500 residents test positive for the virus, is instituting similar lockdown measures. People were not allowed to leave their yards over the weekend and the use of alcohol is banned for the rest of the year.

On the Havasupai reservation, which has no cases, officials are threatening white-water rafters with arrest if they step on the tribes land.

The White Mountain Apache Tribe is taking some of the most drastic actions in Arizona to protect its 13,500 residents, more than one-eighth of whom have already tested positive for COVID-19.https://t.co/q0b9MToxZF  ABC 7 Amarillo (@ABC7Amarillo) June 27, 2020

Some local leaders are sticking up for freedom.

While the leaders of Arizonas biggest cities were eager to enact mask mandates, Bryce Hamblin was not. The mayor of Eagar in Eastern Arizona said he will err on the side of freedom and not require masks. He also wont cancel planned summer events. Never before has our government been more eager and willing to take away freedoms from the citizenry, he said in a statement reported by the Arizona Republic. Never before has the citizenry been more willing to give them up.

Last week, Scottsdale City Councilman Guy Phillips, a Republican, made national news after he mocked the last words of George Floyd during an anti-mask protest. He later apologized.


The Duchess of Sussex called to offer support to a teenager who was a victim of an alleged hate crime at the weekend.

Althea Bernstein - who was allegedly doused with lighter fluid and set on fire by a group of white men in Wisconsin last week - spent around 40 minutes on the phone to the duchess on Saturday (27.06.20) afternoon, after she called to "hopefully be a small source of comfort" to the 18 year old.

The 38-year-old royal's husband, Prince Harry, also joined the conversation for around 10 minutes.

Meghan had reached out to the president of the Boys & Girls Club of Dane Country, Michael Johnson, who has also been acting as a spokesperson for Althea, to get in touch with the teenager and promised to stay in contact after the call.

Michael told Wisconsin news outlet Channel 3000: "Her and Meghan talked about the importance of self care and allowing herself to heal.

"And she applauded her for the way that she responded and pretty much said, 'Hey Michael, give me her cellphone number. I want to stay in touch. And let me know when you want me to come back and talk to people in Wisconsin."

Michael was impressed with what the former 'Suits' actress had to say as she sounded "almost like a seasoned high school counsellor" and he's thrilled she has agreed to appear on a virtual town hall to speak with young people in the area.

He said: "As I heard her, I thought 'She has to talk to more kids,' and I'm thankful she agreed to do it."

Althea was "moved" by the conversation with Meghan and Harry - who have 13-month-old son Archie together - and it "lifted her spirits".

Michael said: "She's struggling. It's a challenge for her, it's very, very emotional. I talked to her three or four times today, and I'll tell you Meghan lifted her spirits."

Meghan was said to have encouraged the teenager to stay away from social media to avoid reading negative comments, and they spoke about faith and their experiences of being biracial.
The Financial Action Task Force holds its summer plenary meeting Wednesday, covering a gamut of topics around anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF).

With cryptocurrency now firmly in the global watchdogs sights, heres what to expect from the hearing, which will be the first time a FATF plenary will take place virtually.

Its been close to two years since FATF said it was including virtual assets within its ambit and a year since the final recommendation was made. During the June 2020 plenary, the FATF will be gauging regulatory and industry progress towards the implementation of its AML Recommendations.

Related: Blockchain Bites: PayPal's Push, FATF's Rules and 'Overstated' Libra Fears

The Travel Rule recommendation, introduced in June 2019  which requires financial institutions participating in a transaction to exchange relevant beneficiary and originator know-your-customer (KYC) information  will be one of the topics of discussion as the FATFs 12-month review process reaches its conclusion.

Member states will also have to report back on the measures their jurisdictions have taken to ensure compliance with Recommendations 15 (New Technologies) and 16 (Wire Transfers). Countries will have to demonstrate progress made developing domestic regulatory frameworks to ensure virtual asset service provider (VASP) compliance with the recommendations.

Read more: All Global Crypto Exchanges Must Now Share Customer Data, FATF Rules

People have been treating this as a sort of deadline, said Sian Jones, senior partner at XReg Consulting and a former delegate on the FATF Policy Development group. I think this has been overstated. It is a milestone, but its not a hard deadline.

Related: Identity Startup Notabene Launches Exchange Tool for FATF Travel Rule Compliance

The 37 FATF member states form a quasi-treaty organization that mutually evaluates progress on digital asset regulation from country to country, and also how the industry has done at creating technical solutions and standards. A number of technical solutions have emerged with some clearly intended to land around the time of the plenary meeting.

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Since the FATF published its guidance last year, out of the 200+ countries that comprise of the FATFs member jurisdictions, only around 10% of regulators have published frameworks and legislation fully-aligned with the new guidance, said Elsa Madrolle, general manager of International at CoolBitX, a wallet provider that developed the Sygna Bridge solution for the Travel Rule.

Jones said there will likely be an acknowledgement that FATF members such as the U.S., Europe, Switzerland and Singapore have made progress, as has the crypto industry. There may be some notification of areas and jurisdictions where more work is needed  but this all takes place behind closed doors.

In Madrolles opinion, South Korea, Singapore, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Abu Dhabi and Switzerland deserve to be praised widely for establishing comprehensive regulation around the issuance and use of digital currencies, aligned with FATF requirements.

However, some countries such as Japan or the U.K. have stopped short of implementing specific regulations to encompass the Travel Rule requirement, said Madrolle, while the U.S. has issued regulations encompassing the Travel Rule without enforcing compliance.

In addition, the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) greatly complicates the debate of AML measures versus data privacy. The two sets of AML guidance issued by FATF and the European Union have yet to be fully aligned, resulting in a patchwork of regulations being devised across the EU with some countries falling behind on timelines, said Madrolle.

Read more: In Banking First, ING Develops FATF-Friendly Protocol for Tracking Crypto Transfers

The event, which normally takes place over a whole week in Paris and can attract as many as 800 delegates, has been boiled down to three hours on Wednesday

Virtual assets are an important item and a number of countries will want to speak on it. That might last ten minutes; it might last half an hour, Jones said. But as everything has been truncated, I imagine it will just be a matter of ten or 20 minutes on this topic.

In fact, the hard work has already been done, Jones said, in the form of a report by the FATF Policy Development Group.

This report will have been circulated in advance of Wednesday, and there will have been various recommendations, said Jones. Countries can take their positions and the business of the plenary will be quite formal.

The FATF report, once it has been approved by member countries, will be sent on to the G20, which kicked off the process by asking the FATF to look at digital assets back in 2018.

The report will be published in some form probably a week or two after the plenary meeting, said Jones. Its unlikely to be the full report, I expect there will be some abridged form.

Read more: Identity Startup Notabene Launches Exchange Tool for FATF Travel Rule Compliance

In addition to the work done by the permanent Policy Development group, an ad hoc Digital Asset Contact Group was formed to monitor progress and liaise with countries and the private sector.

I think its highly likely the Contact Group will be renewed for another 12 months, said Jones.

The social distancing imperative could have an effect on outcomes and progress regarding the complex work of digital assets, Jones lamented, because theres less opportunity to have side meetings over coffee. That may mean fewer ways to address issues or broker compromises.

All the formal stuff at these big international meetings, in a sense, provides the backdrop for many important encounters between delegates and conversations on the margins, during which they can start to iron out problems, she said.

COVID-19 is likely to feature in some of the upcoming Travel Rule discussions as regulators may need more time in light of the current landscape, said Madrolle.

We should see a trend towards harmonization between AML initiatives such as 5AMLD and FATF, possibly through further explanatory guidance notes from one side or the other, she said. One of the most complicated issues for FATF to tackle during this plenary remains the sunrise issue, where different regulation is devised and implemented at different times around the world.

Related Stories
A chorus of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have called for President Donald Trump's administration to address startling new reports that Russian operatives are believed to have offered bounties to Taliban-linked forces in exchange for the killings of American troops in Afghanistan.

Details of the alleged payments were first reported Friday by The New York Times and subsequently confirmed by the Associated Press and The Washington Post, all of which cited anonymous government sources.

According to the Post, "several U.S. service members" are thought to have been killed as a result of the alleged Russian bounties to what the AP described as "Taliban militants and linked associations."

The Islamist group was removed from power in Afghanistan when the U.S. invaded in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Twenty American troops were killed in 2019 in Afghanistan from hostile forces, according to available data. That number shrank drastically this year following a February agreement intended to pave the way for the U.S.' exit from Afghanistan  a central Trump promise since his successful 2016 campaign rebuking the Middle Eastern conflicts of his predecessors.

The Post and the Times reported that the White House held a meeting about the intelligence on the possible bounties in March; and, according to the AP and the Times, the president was also briefed on the information, which he denies.

The Times also reported that the information was included in the President's Daily Brief of select information. On Monday, the paper further reported Trump was given a written briefing on the matter in February.

Administration officials reportedly discussed various responses to Russia, but none have been agreed upon.

This dispute  what the president knew and when, and what he should do about Russia  have quickly become key to the outcry from lawmakers about what is really going on, in light of Trump's open fondness for Russia's autocratic president, Vladimir Putin.

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The White House briefed certain members of Congress on Monday and Tuesday, according to the AP and Politico.

While the CIA, the Pentagon, the State Department and the White House National Security Council initially declined to comment and have not publicly challenged the accuracy of the intelligence about Russian bounties, as described in news reports, the White House on Saturday said Trump had never been briefed on it.

"The United States receives thousands of intelligence reports a day and they are subject to strict scrutiny. While the White House does not routinely comment on alleged intelligence or internal deliberations, the CIA director, national security advisor and the chief of staff can all confirm that neither the president nor the vice president were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence," Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany insisted in a statement.

"This does not speak to the merit of the alleged intelligence," she continued, "but to the inaccuracy of The New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter."

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images President Donald Trump

A spokesman for the National Security Council said Monday: "The veracity of the underlying allegations continues to be evaluated."

Echoing McEnany, an administration official maintained to PEOPLE that Trump "was never briefed on this issue because there is no consensus within the intelligence community on these allegations."

On Twitter, his favored platform, the president defended himself in a series of posts. He wrote in one: "Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or [Vice President Mike Pence]. Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax, maybe by the Fake News."

Indeed, certain key details remained unclear from the new reporting, including how many bounties may have been paid out to militants, for how much and for how many U.S. deaths and how such an arrangement was communicated by Russian agents.

It was also unclear how involved top Russian officials are believed to have been, according to these reports.

Among the American deaths being investigated was an April 2019 explosion that killed three Marines, the AP reported. So-called "green-on-blue" deaths, officially blamed on rogue Afghan security forces, were also being probed.

The Times reported that "the Russian plot to pay bounties to Taliban fighters came into focus over the past several months." The paper noted a key discovery of a large amount of money from a Taliban location that got "everybodys attention," one official said.

The AP reported that $500,000 was found in a Navy SEAL raid on the location earlier this year.

Once a "closely held secret" in the government, officials have been more openly discussing their assessment of the alleged bounties, according to the Times.

The motives of the Russia government remained the subject of debate, according to these reports, though in recent years the country and the U.S. have dueled for influence in parts of the Middle East and Russia has inserted itself into the U.S.' protracted negotiations with the Taliban to end the war in Afghanistan  moves that experts say reflects Russia's larger antagonism toward a U.S.-led global order.

Referring to a 2018 fight in Syria between the U.S. and Syrian forces who were joined by Russian mercenaries, an official told the Times: "They are keeping a score sheet, and they want to punish us for that incident."

Russia and the Taliban, both of whom have well-documented histories of animosity toward the U.S., both insisted such reporting was false and tantamount to insultingly obvious propaganda.

A Putin spokesman was more blunt in an interview with NBC News, saying: "You know, maybe I can say it's a little bit rude but this is 100 percent b-------. It's an undiplomatic thing, but it's b-------." (A longer interview with the spokesman will air Monday night on NBC Nightly News.)

THOMAS WATKINS/AFP via Getty U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan

According to the Post, a spokesman for the Taliban said: We categorically reject the notion of ever planning or carrying out targeted attacks against U.S. or foreign forces at the behest of foreign intelligence or for the sake of collecting bounty, and we also reject receiving material support from foreign intelligence because such undertakings are harmful for the sovereign decision-making of any country and movement.

Leading members of both the Democratic and Republican parties raised concerns since the Times' initial article.

"This is as bad as it gets, and yet the president will not confront the Russians on this score, denies being briefed, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday on ABC's This Week.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, tweeted Saturday that it was "Imperative Congress get to the bottom" of the reporting about the alleged bounties.

Rep. Liz Cheney, the House Republicans' third-ranking member, went further. She tweeted on Sunday: "If reporting about Russian bounties on US forces is true, the White House must explain: 1. Why werent the president or vice president briefed? Was the info in the PDB [daily brief]? 2. Who did know and when? 3. What has been done in response to protect our forces & hold Putin accountable?"

Former Vice President Joe Biden, who will likely face Trump in November's general election, also denounced Trump's reported handling of the information about Russian bounties.

Its a betrayal of the most sacred duty we bear as a nation to protect and equip our troops when we send them into harms way, he said. Its a betrayal of every single American family with a loved one serving in Afghanistan or anywhere overseas.
The Principality of Monaco, a popular haven for the mega-rich, has begun approving security token fundraising efforts, the first step to becoming a regulated on-chain finance hub.

Announced Thursday, Monacos Office of Digital Affairs has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Luxembourg-based blockchain startup Tokeny, which is part-owned by European stock exchange operator Euronext N.V.

The MoU coincides with a dedicated security token offering (STO) law voted in by Monacos National Council last week, and the whole tokenized finance endeavor will support environmental and social governance (ESG) projects to be approved by the government.

Related: Germany's Neufund Shuts Down Security Token Platform, Saying BaFin Failed to Act

Monaco is moving towards its ambition to become a funding nation for progress with our STO framework, Principality of Monaco Delegate for Digital Affairs Frederic Genta said in a statement. Two key milestones were achieved: a dedicated STO law was voted by the National Council and we are welcoming Tokeny to the Principality to operate our STOs.

Given Monacos high concentration of wealth (one in every three people is a millionaire and the place attracts hundreds of billionaires), its surprising it doesnt have much of a financial center like the comparably small Lichtenstein or Luxembourg.

[Monaco] is not a financial place for the moment, so they took this opportunity with security tokens to prove in Europe they can do compliant, on-chain finance, said Tokeny Solutions CEO Luc Falempin. Most of the high-net-worth people in Monaco are buying real estate. The idea now is for investors and money in private banks in Monaco to invest in green projects.

STO spenders

Prospective security token holders being wooed in Monaco are qualified investors, roughly the same as accredited investors in the U.S., explained Falempin, which means coming up with a minimum investment of about $100,000.

Story continues

Related: Stellar Proposes Changes Allowing Exchanges to Better Enforce Regulations

The tokens will reach investors thanks to publicity around the ESG projects Monaco approves, and also distributions channels via private banks and brokers, said Falempin. Investors benefit from a selection and approval process and the Tokeny platform makes it very easy to manage digital assets with features like a recovery process, he said.

For projects looking to issue a token, these will have to first be presented to the government of Monaco, which will assess and approve them. The token issuer also needs to obtain a visa and set up as an entity in Monaco.

Monaco will select between five and 15 projects a year and each of these will be looking to raise between $20 million and $200 million, said Falempin. So, it could mean raising around $1 billion a year.

Tokeny tech

Under the hood, the tokenizing system is based on Ethereums ERC-20 standard and the tokens are compatible with all Ethereum wallets. If projects want to market tokens to U.S. investors, for example, they will have to comply with local rules, so a Reg D or Reg A in the case of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Further announcements involving Euronext, which owns a 23.5% stake in Tokeny and has two seats on the startups board, will emerge in the coming weeks, said Falempin, adding that the firm wants to keep its powder dry on the topic of secondary markets for now.

As a strategic investor in Tokeny Solutions, we are pleased that the Principality of Monaco has appointed the company as the tokenization platform of government-approved innovative projects, said Pierre-Edouard Borderie, a member of Tokenys board of directors who represents Euronext. We are proud that this project embeds clear ESG components and enables sustainable finance.

Movie magic

The first environmentally focused project made public comes from Icebreaker, a production company behind March of the Penguins from Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Luc Jacquet.

Falempin explained the IceBreaker project is looking to raise around $50 million and plans a number of exhibitions and other projects, in addition to a movie.

As well as March of the Penguins, they did the hugely successful Antarctica exhibition. Now, they are planning four or five others, and token holders will get revenue shares on all of these, he said.

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The considerable optimism surrounding oil at the end of 2019, when Brent was trading at $68 a barrel has turned sour. The demand shock triggered by the coronavirus and subsequent Saudi-Russian price war, which threatened to substantially expand global supply, caused oil prices to crash. The International Brent price plummeted to levels not seen for over two decades.

The latest rally, which has seen Brent rise to just over $40 per barrel, has provided little relief for Colombian oil producers. That price is below the breakeven price for many Colombian drillers, impacting their profitability and forcing them to curb spending. This has instigated considerable fallout for Colombias oil industry and ultimately the economy.

The Latin American nation, the regions fourth-largest oil producer, bet its economic future on oil with growing investment and production seeing petroleum provide a fifth of fiscal revenues before the 2014 oil price collapse. The latest developments have triggered an economic crisis of unprecedented proportions for Colombia. Oils prolonged slump is causing much needed foreign investment in the nations oil patch to dry-up, significantly impacting exploration and production.

In January 2020, Colombias peak industry body the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP Spanish acronym) estimated annual oil investment would increase by 23% year over year to just under $5 billion. That was contingent on Brent trading at over $60 per barrel during the year. The latest oil price collapse coupled with the coronavirus pandemic saw considerable belt-tightening among upstream Colombian oil companies. It is estimated that much-needed investment in the oil industry will fall by over $1 billion from the ACPs original estimate, triggering serious challenges for Colombias petro-economy. An especially worrying development is oil companies like Frontera Energy, Colombias largest private oil producer, Parex Resources and Gran Tierra Energy have slashed spending. This is in response to the difficult operating environment created by the latest oil price crash which is forcing them to protect balance sheets and cash flow. Related: Chinese Oil Majors Could Form A Powerful Buyers Club

Frontera announced it had reduced its original 2020 capital budget from $245 million to $275 million to plunge between $80 million and $100 million. Consequently, Frontera shuttered roughly 15,000 barrels of daily production causing first quarter 2020 oil output to soften by 6% year over year to a daily average of 63,572 barrels. That will substantially impact Colombias oil output and fiscal revenues because Frontera was responsible for around 8% of the Andean nations 2019 oil production.

Other private oil companies in Colombia have taken similar measures. Parex slashed its budgeted 2020 capital expenditures by over half and suspended drilling. Gran Tierra, the single largest landholder in the southern Putumayo Basin, pared-down capital spending by almost two thirds, taking 7,000 barrels daily of oil production off-line.

Colombias largest oil producer, government-controlled Ecopetrol has trimmed up to $2.5 billion from its original 2020 budget. That will cause oil production to plunge seeing Ecopetrol forecast 2020 average daily oil output of 660,000 to 710,000 barrels which is 5% to 12% lower than its original guidance.

Accordingly, drilling activity in Colombia has almost skidded to a halt. According to Baker Hughes data, only one rig was operational at the end of May, compared to 25 rigs a year earlier, causing oil production to tumble. Colombias May 2020 average daily oil output fell a worrying 18% year over year to 732,120 barrels and was 8% lower than Aprils 796,164 barrels per day.

Colombias government believes 2020 full-year average daily production will be somewhere between 750,000 and 850,000 barrels. Based on the numbers released by drillers operating in Colombia, annual 2020 production will likely be toward the lower end of that range. Oil production will remain constrained heading into 2021 for as long as Brent trades at below $42 to 45 per barrel, the estimated breakeven price for most drillers. That is likely with the EIA predicting that Brent will average $48 per barrel during 2021. This coupled with drillers needing to protect balance sheets and cash flows, after a disastrous 2019, will cause exploration and development spending to remain low.

The mix of sharply weaker oil prices, the COVID-19 pandemic, and dwindling oil output is weighing heavily on Colombias oil-dependent economy. By April 2020, crude was responsible for 30% of Colombias total exports by value, underscoring its economic importance. The Colombian peso plunged against major currencies when the price of oil collapsed.

This will have a sharp impact on Colombias economy. The IMF believes that 2020 GDP will contract by 2.4% but that could be as high as 7%, which would be the worst performance on record. Government tax revenues are expected to decline by 10%, or possibly more, leading to a distressing budget deficit of as high as 6.1%, even after making substantial spending cuts and receiving international loans. These events have sparked a sense of urgency in Bogota as President Duques administration seeks to protect the economically crucial oil industry. This sees the government considering providing relief from royalties and other taxes as well as the costs associated with utilizing oil pipelines.

Colombias diminishing oil production will, nonetheless, help to alleviate the global supply glut which has existed since 2015, helping to stabilize prices. There is, however, considerable pressure on Bogota to boost oil exploration and production as fiscal revenues falter and economic growth declines.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

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OPEC further restricted its oil production in June compared to May as it aims to withhold a record volume of supply from the market together with its non-OPEC allies led by Russia, according to tanker-tracking company Petro-Logistics.

However, the cartel still produced more than its collective quota.

OPEC has reduced its collective oil production in June by 1.25 million barrels per day (bpd) compared to May, Petro-Logistics told Reuters in an email.

In May, OPECs crude oil production stood at 24.19 million bpd, down by 6.3 million bpd from April, as per OPECs secondary sources in the latest Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR).

Saudi Arabia slashed in May its production to the required 8.5 million bpd quota. The key Saudi partners in the Gulf, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), also cut production to the required levels, whereas Iraq, while cutting production by 340,000 bpd to 4.165 million bpd, was still way off the mark.

According to Petro-Logistics estimates, OPEC made efforts in June to further reduce production, including from laggards such as Iraq and Nigeria, who were scolded by the leaders of the OPEC+ coalition for loose compliance in May. Nevertheless, the OPEC members bound by the pact were still off-target for full compliance.

Excluding Iran, Libya and Venezuela, which are not part of the curtailment agreement, OPEC-10 supply remains about 1.55 million bpd away from full compliance, Petro-Logistics told Reuters.

Related:

Iraq, Nigeria and Kuwait are the main countries that have lowered their supply since May, with more limited cuts by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Angola, Petro-Logistics said.

OPECs second-largest producer, Iraq, which is also the least compliant member of OPEC+, is said to have made significant cuts in its crude oil exports in June, suggesting that it is improving its compliance with the record production cuts.

The OPEC+ group has achieved a compliance rate of 87 percent and vowed to reach 100-percent compliance by demanding compensation schedules from the laggards to offset their over-production with deeper cuts in Q3.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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From a super contango in April, the Brent Crude futures curve has flattened and flipped to backwardation for the nearest months, wiping out was is seen as one of the most lucrative oil trades Production cuts from Saudi Arabia to the U.S. shale patch, combined with recovering oil demand, have changed in recent weeks the oil futures curve more to the liking of the OPEC+ group.

From a super contango in April, the Brent Crude futures curve has flattened and flipped to backwardation for the nearest months, wiping out the most significant financial incentive for oil trading houses to profit from the price structure a when oil demand crashes.

During the peak lockdown period when every major economy except China was under lockdown in late March and early April, the oil market was in a state of super contango. In this market situation, front-month prices were much lower than prices in future months, pointing to a crude oil oversupply and making storing oil for future sales profitable. Traders rushed to charter supertankers for floating storage for several months to a year so they could sell the oil at higher prices later.

In the middle of June, production cuts and an uptick in oil demand helped the Brent Crude price structure flip to backwardation, signaling a tightening of the physical oil market.

Backwardation  the opposite of contango  is the market situation that typically occurs at times of market deficit. In backwardation, prices for front-month contracts are higher than the ones further out in time.

Backwardation is currently only seen for the next two to three months, but analysts expect the full Brent futures curve to be in backwardation by the end of the year thanks to recovering demand. Bank of America (BofA) Global Research, for example, sees inventories in most regions beginning to draw down in the second half of this year, and the full Brent futures curve could flip by the end of the year to backwardation.

A backwardated futures curve is definitely the preferred market structure for OPEC and its allies, which rely on higher front-month prices to help draw down excess inventories and record floating storage, which would push oil prices higher if demand continues to improve.

At the same time, the new shape of the oil futures curve is already discouraging what was the most lucrative trade in the oil market two months ago at the peak of the demand loss.

Related: Chinese Oil Majors Could Form A Powerful Buyers Club



Quite simply the contango is no longer there, so it does not make any economic sense to enter into a new floating storage trade, unless the deal was locked in when the contango was sufficient to cover freight costs, Richard Matthews, an analyst who monitors the trade at E.A. Gibson Shipbrokers, told Bloomberg.

This new phase in the oil market is in stark contrast to the wild rush for chartering oil tankers, either for floating storage incentivized by the super contango, or for the record volumes of Saudi oil that flooded the market in April.

Floating storage has started to recede from record-highs in April in almost every region as demand began to recover from the record plunge.

According to estimates from the International Energy Agency (IEA), floating storage of crude oil dropped in May by 6.4 million barrels to 165.8 million barrels, from its all-time high of 172.2 million barrels in April.

Estimates by Bloomberg showed earlier this month that floating storage of North Sea oil had started to shrink as most of Europe lifted their lockdowns.

Tanker operator International Seaways said last week that it estimates 160-180 million barrels are being stored on ships currently. The strong oil contango earlier this year made it profitable to store oil, creating a demand for time chartered ships for storage, further reducing ship supply and increasing rates, the tanker operator said in a presentation to its annual meeting of stockholders.

In recent weeks, however, the contango has decreased, and the short-term floating storage of crude oil is declining, International Seaways notes.

For tanker owners, the vanishing of the contango and the record cuts from OPEC+ is bad news for tanker demand and rates. They knew that the super trades with the super contango would not last long and would have to eventually face a new market reality with OPEC+ withholding supply to decrease the glut and increase oil prices.

For OPEC+ and for tanker operators alike, continuous demand recovery would be excellent news  if it holds.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Iraq produced more than 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) above its target output level in May and is now being asked to make up for its non-compliance in future months. Rystad Energy estimates Iraqs actual ability to cut more barrels is limited to between 300,000 and 500,000 bpd. Achieving any output target below 4 million bpd is overambitious given Iraqs dire economic need for oil revenues right now.

Out of the 650,000 bpd, Iraq has asked international companies such as BP, ExxonMobil, and Lukoil to help out with 350,000 bpd of cuts in the Basrah region, and the state operator  Basra Oil Company (BOC)  to cut the remainder 300,000 bpd.

Iraq committed to OPEC to produce 57,000 bpd below its target production level of 3.75 million bpd in July and then go deeper and come in 258,000 bpd below in August and September against the slightly higher target production level of 3.96 million bpd. There is even talk of trying to get Kurdistan to contribute with 100,000 bpd of production cuts  an effort we believe to be futile.

Rystad Energy estimates Iraqi oil production reached 4.8 million bpd in October 2018, the month used as a reference in estimating the production cuts for the OPEC+ member nations. Iraqi oil production reached 4.6 million bpd in April 2020 and the compliance level was set at 3.7 million bpd.

Now, Iraq plans to cut 650,000 bpd from southern Federal Iraq (FI) and has directed the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) to cut about 100,000 bpd. If Kurdistan doesn't "hand over the barrels", Iraq will be forced to hatch a new plan and look at other fields that can fill the gap. Related: Suppliers Fight For Dominance In This Crucial Gas Market

Even before Covid-19 hit, Iraq and the rest of OPEC+ were cutting production to manage the market. Then, after the group failed to renew the agreement in March it was an all-out production war. But Iraq failed to ramp up production, so when the deeper cuts started in May, most BOC fields were already at near-compliance levels, leaving little to cut, says Rystad Energys senior analyst Aditya Saraswat.

There are many points of contention on oil resource management between Federal Iraq (FI) and the Kurdistan region of Iraq (KRI). Economic strategies are not aligned and revenues flow into separate budgets, which makes it unlikely that KRI will acquiesce to the request of FI to cut 100,000 bpd. The KRI controls about 450,000 bpd of oil production and over 90% of volumes are exported through a pipeline to the Ceyhan terminal in Turkey.

FI demands a bigger share from the pipeline exports. On the other hand, KRI operates as an independent government entity with an independent fiscal regime and growth ambitions that do not fall in line with OPEC. Like most of the oil-dependent economies, KRIs financials are struggling which has led to deferrals in oil payments to IOCs and salaries for public employees. Thus, the tightening gridlock with vulnerable oil prices poses a risk to that KRI will be able to contribute with cuts.

Lower oil demand amid Covid-19 has forced about 300,000 bpd in production cuts in Iraq, as buyers in lockdown in Asia either canceled orders or storage became limited. PetroChina had to halve production at Halfaya field down to 200,000 bpd. Petronas had to shut down 100,000 bpd of production capacity at Garraf due to quarantine measures taken to protect workers. In short, Covid lockdowns are a natural force in keeping oil in the ground and bringing Iraq closer to compliance. A swifter return to the normal would adversely affect the countrys compliance.

A reason for Iraqs under compliance is its very urgent need to use oil export revenues to help build up its gas production potential to meet surging demand. The need to become self-sufficient in natural gas stems from the fact that Iraqs main gas supplier  Iran  is under all sorts of sanctions and the US is encouraging Iraq to halt Iranian imports or potentially face sanctions.

Iraq gas reserves are primarily associated gas  extracted alongside with oil. But due to limited infrastructure, Iraq flares most gas it produces. The country was relying on the giant Akkas and Mansuriya gas field developments to feed demand, but international operators have had to declare force majeure due to worsening security conditions north of Baghdad.

Citing the above, Iraq has opposed the process to decide its quota with OPEC as it points out that it doesnt take its fiscal situation and regional issue with KRI into consideration. To address this, Saudi Arabia and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the Akkas and Mansuriya fields, respectively, to help ease Iraqi investment obligations.

As both time and cuts are of the essence, a mere initial gas agreement wont help Iraq address peak gas demand for the upcoming summer season, again putting another kink in Iraqs motivations to comply or fill up its budget.

It will be a very tall order for Iraq to lower oil production below 4 million bpd, given the reference level of 3.7 million bpd combined with the fact that cut contributions from BOC and KRI will only be marginal. The country would have to think of a Plan B if they want to go for complete compliance, adds Saraswat.

Additional measures could include forced shutdowns as well as including other state operators like North Oil Company (NOC) and Dhi Qar Oil Company (DQOC) in the cut agreements. These two operators can at least provide 100,000 bpd of additional cuts but this might not be a sustainable option as most of this production feeds regional refineries.

But the question that remains at large is  for how long? Former oil minister Thamir Ghadhban recently said in an interview, "With a lower price and reduced production, the petroleum cost repayments could exceed 40% of Iraq's total oil revenue which has to be paid to international oil companies, and which Iraq cannot afford."

By Rystad Energy

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Fuel demand in the United States has been gradually increasing in recent weeks, clawing back over half of the consumption lost during the first couple of weeks of lockdowns. Gasoline demand has been rising since early April as lockdowns eased and people started driving more. Distillate fuel and jet fuel demand, however, is still struggling--especially jet fuel.

Gasoline production has also risen since April lows, but growth has been much slower than the pace of consumption recovery, suggesting that there are still sizeable fuel stocks that refiners need to sell first before ramping up crude processing rates and capacity utilization to pre-crisis levels.

Refiners across the U.S. are not rushing to quickly increase processing rates, leaving the market to first draw down the fuel oversupply, Reuters market analyst John Kemp says.

According to the latest weekly inventory report of the Energy Information Administration, refinery crude oil inputs and capacity utilization have been rising at a slower pace than the implied gasoline consumption.

The EIA reported an inventory draw of 1.7 million barrels of gasoline for the week to June 19, compared with a decline of the same size for the previous week. Gasoline production last week averaged 8.8 million bpd, up from 8.4 million barrels daily a week earlier.

In distillate fuels, where demand has been slower to recover than in gasoline, the EIA reported an inventory rise of 249,000 barrels for the week to June 19. Production of distillates averaged 4.6 million bpd last week, compared with 4.5 million bpd a week earlier.

Refinery runs averaged 13.84 million bpd, up from 13.6 million bpd a week earlier. Compared to the same week a year ago, refinery crude oil inputs were down 20.2 percent. Production of motor gasoline at 8.8 million bpd was still 16.3 percent lower than in the same week last year when gasoline production was 10.512 million bpd.

Related: Chinas Oil Imports From Saudi Arabia Jump To Record High



Jet fuel is still profoundly depressed, with production at 694,000 bpd, down by 63.6 percent from the 1.9 million bpd of jet fuel produced in the same week last year.

Gasoline demand stood at 8.6 million bpd in the week to June 19, up from 7.87 million bpd from the prior week, but still well below the 9.466 million bpd demand in the same week in 2019.

Gasoline demand is returning, but it still has a long way to go to reach its normal levels for this time of the year.

Refinery capacity utilization is rising much slower as refiners and the market have to draw down excess fuel inventories that surged at the start of the lockdowns.

U.S. refinery capacity utilization has been slowly creeping up over the past weeks, by less than 1 percentage point each week, to reach 74.6 percent in the week to June 19, from a low of 67.6 percent in the third week of April. To compare, in the third week of June last year, refinery utilization was 94.2 percent as demand was soaring with the start of driving season. Typically, U.S. capacity utilization is around 95 percent in the summer season.

If refiners continue operating at much lower-than-normal utilization rates, they could help draw down the excess fuel stocks faster.

However, while gasoline demand is now more than halfway back to pre-crisis levels, it is unlikely to return to normal by the end of this year, according to IHS Markits company Oil Price Information Service (OPIS).

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. There is still more ground to cover, but the positive trends are a sign of recovery, OPIS president Fred Rozell said.

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, Kloza noted.

The gap in consumption between this year and last year will continue to narrow, but at this point we dont see demand reaching the record levels of last year, Kloza said.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Europes Mediterranean region is emerging as Europes main front of commercial rivalry  natural gas producers that rely on pipeline supplies and utilize primarily oil-indexed or hybrid-pricing terms are taking on LNG exporters, tallying unprecedented numbers throughout the first half of 2020 as LNG prices in Europe remain so low that many gas producers are marketing their volumes to their financial detriment. We have looked into the energy choices of Greece, yet the rivalry taking place in Turkey seems even more grand-scale  the Turkish natural gas market is supplied by two Russian conduits, two pipelines from Azerbaijan including the newly-built TANAP, a pipeline from Iran, not to forget the ever-increasing number of LNG cargoes feeding its economy.

Substantial amounts of cheap LNG have blown up the Turkish gas market  in the case of Iran, the sentence might even be read literally to a certain extent. Flows through the Iran-Turkey gas pipeline (throughput capacity of 14 BCm per year) were halted March 31 after a sabotage attack on Turkish territory (a mile from the Iranian border) which Ankara has blamed on PKK insurgents. There was at least a dozen of such instances in past years and usually the repair works rarely go beyond several weeks  this time Turkeys national gas company BOTAS seems to be stalling maintenance on the back of said LNG abundance. Irans national gas company has signaled that gas flows would be restarted by July 21, however this was not corroborated in any way by the Turkish side.

Graph 1. Turkeys LNG Imports in 2017-2020 (million tons of LNG).

Source: Thomson Reuters.

All the while Turkeys gas imports from Iran will decrease palpably this year from their 2019 level of 7.5 BCm, gas trade with Azerbaijan seems to be suffering much less than with any other pipeline partner. In fact, in Q1 2020 Azerbaijani pipeline exports to Turkey have gone up 20% year-on-year to 2.73 BCm, indicating yet another year of growth on the back of increasing Shah Deniz volumes. With this, Azerbaijan has consolidated its position as the leading gas supplier to Turkey, accounting for 23% of its gas needs, a status long held by Russia. This is all the more noteworthy as landed LNG prices to Turkey remain firmly below $2 per MMbtu for the third month in a row (having ended 2019 at $5.50 per MMbtu which was back in late last year considered to be really cheap).

In January-May 2020 Turkey has brought in 6.97 million tons LNG (9.5 BCm), an almost 40-percent increase year-on-year. February 2020 hit an all-time monthly intake record with 1.81 million tons LNG delivered, of which almost half was from the United States, supplied across 11 deliveries. Since then US LNG exports to Turkey have dropped back to 1-3 vessels per month but LNG purchases were tangibly beneficial to the mending of US-Turkey political ties (not to speak of halting Iranian imports and minimizing Russian ones). In the end, however, geographic proximity seems to have prevailed as currently Algeria and Qatar stand atop the leading LNG suppliers list; the former delivered 5 cargoes both in May and June, out of the 14 and 10, respectively. Related: Chinas Oil Imports From Saudi Arabia Jump To Record High

According to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, Turkeys reluctance to buy natural gas might stem from the hefty debts garnered by their energy companies in 2019. Under long-term take-or-pay contracts (albeit at a fixed discount of 15%), these private entities still owe Gazprom around $2 billion for past deliveries, their deals underperformance notwithstanding. Much of the transaction financing goes through Turkish state banks, potentially leaving Ankara with additional exposure from Gazprom. These banks would ultimately prefer to restructure the liabilities amassed as Turkeys economy is expected to decline by 4 percent in 2020, aggravated by the value drop of the Turkish lira and the weak tourism season on the back of COVID restrictions.

This being said, Turkish authorities have argued that Gazprom would be politic not to pressurize them with immediate reimbursement demands and wait out the trouble, otherwise Turkey would conclusively move towards further diversification. A recurring theme in the Russo-Turkish energy relations, the Erdogan administration has used it vis-a-vis Gazprom since at least 2015 when the downing of a Russian fighter aircraft provoked a spectacular rapture between Presidents Putin and Erdogan. Navigating the difficult geopolitical landscape with some skill, Russian and Turkey witnessed a thaw in their relations which also boosted energy cooperation  in 2017 Turkey imported 29 BCm of natural gas (see Graph 2), an all-time high. Despite winding down Russian pipeline imports this year, Turkey did not derail the construction of TurkStream and kept the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear plant rolling.

Graph 2. Turkeys Imports of Russian Gas.

Source: Gazprom.

Thus far there seemed to be little intent to extrapolate political matters into the realms of energy cooperation, despite having amassed several flash points. The fate of Idlib, where Turkish and Russian armed forces are positioned side-by-side and clash directly over the future of the entire governorate and the role federal Syrian authorities might play therein, remains a constant thorn in the flesh. Yet developments in Libya have turned out to be potentially even more consequential  Field Marshal Haftars advance on Tripoli followed by the eventual fizzling out of LNA steam continues to poison their relationship, to the extent that the planned June 14 Istanbul summit between the nations foreign and defense ministries was postponed indefinitely.

With LNG costing half of what Russias pipeline-supplied gas does, Turkish gas companies like BOTAS have reoriented themselves towards liquefaction. Given BOTAS 8 BCm per year take-or-pay requirement (its supply contract runs out in 2021), it becomes understandable why Turkish authorities press Gazprom to relax pricing conditions and to exercise flexibility. Gazprom has to tread lightly as it would want to avoid underutilization of the 7 billion TurkStream and another layer of prolonged arbitrage disputes, all the while NordStream 2 is still not commissioned. Gazprom has previously indicated that it expects its 2020 annual export volumes by 16% to 167 BCm and its average European price to drop a hefty 37% year-on-year to some $133 per MCm.

By Viktor Katona for Oilprice.com

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This story has been published on: 2020-06-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.

Cinemas, restaurants, theatres and casinos can start operating again, albeit under strict conditions, after having closed for three months in the COVID-19 enforced lockdown. This comes after Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, on Thursday signed and gazetted an amendment to the reg... See more
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The feast at the Lavra of the Trinity gathers all Russian Orthodox bishops and crowds of pilgrims every year. Another monk from the patriarchal monastery of the Presentation, near Lubianka, has died of coronavirus. The starets Sergij (Romanov) continues his battle against the patriarchate and political leadership, accusing them of having created "Satan's electronic lager".

Moscow (AsiaNews) - The patriarchal administration has announced the cancellation of the great feasts for Saint Sergij of Radonezh, the saint who inspired Russia's victories over its enemies. The statement explains that the cause is the "ongoing coronavirus emergency". The feast of St. Sergius annually gathers the entire Russian episcopate, together with large crowds of the faithful, at the Lavra of the Most Holy Trinity where the remains of the saint rest, the main destination of pilgrimages from all over Russia. The monastery is located in the city of Sergiev Posad, about 70 km north-east of Moscow.

Meanwhile, the pandemic continues to claim victims in the Orthodox Church. A few days ago, on June 23, another 44-year-old monk died in Moscow, Nikolai (Muromtsev, photo 2), from the patriarchal monastery Sretensky (of the Presentation) in Lubyanka, right next to the headquarters of the FSB (ex-KGB) in the center of the capital. As the site of the monastery itself recalls, the missing monk was known as "uncle Kolja", and was much loved by his brothers for his dedication to the many services of the monastery, including the "continuous reading" of the Psalter and the cleaning of the monastic sauna.

In the Urals, on the other hand, the rebellion of the skhiigumen Sergij (Romanov, photo 1), the former criminal and murderer (before his conversion) and idol of the most radical Orthodox monarchists, continues. The ecclesiastical court met again on June 26 to evaluate the priest's suspension, who however decided polemically not to appear, as explained by one of his supporters, Vsevolod Moguchev, "to retire in prayer". According to his disciple, Father Sergei has decided not to participate in this so-called ecclesiastical court, primarily because he does not want to take part in an organized show; secondly, he decided to dedicate the time that awaits him to meditation and deeper prayer. "

The rebel starets has not, however, withdrawn all its accusations against the country's political and ecclesiastical leadership, which in his latest videos he accuses of having created "Satan's electronic lager". The Igumen has also been summoned by the local police to civil court on July 7 to respond to charges of "extremism", for which he risks a hefty fine.

In another video released on social networks, Sergej also accused the well-known activist and provocateur Oksana Ivanova, whose activity is coordinated by Metropolitan Kirill of Ekaterinburg and the protoierej Maksim Minjailo, for having spread outrageous information about my relationship with the journalist Ksenja Sobchak , one of the best known faces of Russian television. He believes there is a defamatory campaign being waged against him.
General John J. Pershing Statue

by Nicole Meldahl



"This is a statue of a worthy man and a gift of a worthy San Franciscan. May it inspire us, in peace and in war." --Mayor James Rolph, at the dedication of the General John J. Pershing statue in Golden Gate Park, November 11, 1922.

Statue Stats

Location: Golden Gate Park, Music Concourse

Artist: Haig Patigian (Armenia, 1876-1950)

Benefactor: Dr. Morris Herzstein (Germany, d. 1927)

Dedicated: November 11, 1922 - Armistice Day

Inscription: "In tribute to General Pershing and the victorious armies of the United States and her co-belligerents during the World War 1914-1918. Presented by Dr. Morris Herzstein, 1922."

Introduction

The story behind the General John J. Pershing statue tucked just off the Music Concourse behind the Francis Scott Key Monument in Golden Gate Park feels like the beginning of a tall tale, the kind that meanders but is worth the wait at the end. It goes: an artist, a doctor, a politician, and a newspaperman all walk into a bar

Alright, maybe not THAT kind of story. However, this a statue that remembers not only the first great world war, but also a beloved military man with tragic ties to San Francisco. It was commissioned by a philanthropic surgeon, an immigrant from Germany seemingly determined to prove himself patriotic as his country of choice fought his fatherland, but it became a reality thanks to the tireless promotion of a (recently) controversial Congressman. Both of these men, as well as the prolific Bay Area sculptor responsible for the bronze piece, also had significant ties to the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum nearby. So, what we thought we be a simple story about a statue turned out to be a much larger tale about how San Francisco survived and chose to remember World War I; it's a story that holds meaning beyond the figure memorialized in bronze.

General John J. Pershing

John J. Pershing, a native of Missouri, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and went out into a world of war. In one way or another, he was connected to most major conflicts of the late 19th- and early 20th-centuries: the Sioux Wars in the 1891; the Spanish American and Philippine-American Wars from 1898-1902; the Russo-Japanese War in 1905; the Mexican Border War from 1910-1919; World War I from 1917-1919; and World War II, as an outspoken advocate for military aid to the United Kingdom as early as 1940.

At the beginning of 1914, he took command of the 8th Brigade at the Presidio of San Francisco where his wife, Helen, and their four children - ;Mary, Francis, Anne, and little Helen - ;settled. He almost immediately deployed to Fort Bliss, Texas in the Spring of 1914 as tensions escalated between the United States and Mexico. Tragically, his family was finalizing arrangements to join him at the border when a fire broke out at the Pershings' Presidio home in the early morning hours of August 27, 1915; his wife and three daughters died from smoke inhalation, but his son survived. His sister and son joined him in Texas as he embarked on the Mexican Punitive Expedition in which he's best known for spearheading the capture of Pancho Villa. The prestige of this campaign put his name at the forefront as the United States prepared to enter World War I. After the sudden death of Major General Frederick Funston, Pershing's superior in Mexico who was initially tapped to lead our troops abroad, he was selected as Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.).

We won't delve into a military history here but the way in which he conducted himself and the AEF in World War I earned him international acclaim. In comparison with other high-ranking officers, there was a humanness about him and Pershing often personally impacted those he met. The death of his young wife and daughters endeared him to many, and several Bay Area women who served as Telephone Operators with the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France during the war, like Mildred Lewis, made reference to his kind, sad eyes. This ability to connect with people is directly responsible for his statue in Golden Gate Park.

Pershing crossed paths with Congressman Julius Kahn and his personal physician, Dr. Morris Hertzstein, in Chaumont while the pair were on an official trip to France visiting "the scenes of war" shortly after the Armistice and the adjournment of Congress that year. Congressman Kahn recalled the impression Pershing left on Dr. Herzstein. "We learned what a tremendous thing he had done in insisting the American soldiers sent to fight must fight as an American army, and in gaining his end despite the determined attempts of the British and French to have the Americans fight as subordinated units of their forces."[i] Details like this weren't yet known to civilians at home due to wartime censorship, and Dr. Herzstein was "deeply impressed with what General Pershing and other forces under his command had done and done without full realization of it by our people at home."[ii] This is when he decided to erect a monument to Pershing and his A.E.F. in San Francisco.

Haig Patigian

Dr. Herzstein commissioned a well-known local sculptor named Haig Patigian to begin work on a statue that would be years in the making. Dr. Herzstein was patient, and the sculptor had to balance this work with unforeseen complications and additional commissions. The son of missionaries, Patigian was born in Armenia in 1876 and came to California with his family at the age of 15, settling in Fresno where he worked as a vineyard laborer and a sign painter. He moved to San Francisco in 1899, enrolling at the Mark Hopkins Institute and earning wages in the art department at the San Francisco Bulletin. The first decade of the 20th-century was marked by hardship for Haig as the Patigian family lost four members to consumption and the city was devastated by the 1906 earthquake and fire. He left San Francisco and moved to Paris, where his work was critically well-received, returning at the end of 1907 to marry Blanche Hollister - ;daughter of the late Dwight Hollister, a wealthy California pioneer and former member of the California Legislature.

The pair lived in a home on Russian Hill known as "The Gables" and Patigian's career gained traction from his Van Ness Avenue studio. He became a popular member of the Bohemian Club and made a living from his art, to the confusion of a registration clerk who took pause when Patigian listed his profession as "sculptor" while registering for the primary election in 1910. (The clerk asked if he meant to put down "stone mason" instead, and Patigian indignantly corrected him.) He sketched and painted but primarily worked in bronze and marble, producing traditional sculptures well as architectural adornments. He was hired to design large spandrals and four heroic statues mounted to the exterior of the Palace of Machinery at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) in 1915. Although this was torn down at the close of the fair, his architectural work can still be seen on the exterior pediment of the former Metropolitan Life Insurance Building (now a Ritz Carlton Hotel) at 600 Stockton.

As Word War I came to a close, a worldwide influenza pandemic took hold of civilians and soldiers alike - ;spreading the war's casualties beyond the battlefields. Entire sections of local cemeteries show the impact of this virus in the Fall and Winter of 1918. In late December of that year, Patigian was admitted to St. Mary's Hospital with symptoms of the influenza in critical condition, and he wouldn't recover until February of 1919.

The Greatest War Exhibit in the West

Meanwhile, Congressman Kahn and Dr. Herzstein were focused on memorializing the Great War beyond the mere erection of a statue. Dr. Herzstein was well-off; since arriving in California from Germany in the 1890s, he supplemented his income as a successful surgeon with money earned from the acquisition and sale of property in San Francisco. He traveled liberally throughout Europe where he also liberally purchased fine art, antiquities, and other decorative artifacts. He was a member of the San Francisco Club's Golden Gate Park Memorial Museum (as the de Young Museum was then known) endowment committee, and, as such, was an active donor. In 1916, he donated a life-size figure of Cleopatra and a sculpture of Jeanne d'Arc by the Italian sculptor Rafaello Romanelli, as well as a bronze reproduced by Chiurazzi of Naples from the original by Giovanni Balogna in the Bargello Museum at Florence. But his donations showcased a range of collecting, everything from pottery shards from Cyprus to an ancient Hebrew manuscript of the Book of Esther.

In February 1919, just as Patigian was recovering from influenza, M.H. de Young announced plans for a new building to replace the original 1894 structure that had been heavily damaged in the 1906 earthquake. The end of de Young's announcement was marked with the presentation of a "beautiful floral piece" from Dr. Herzstein with the inscription, "From one of many grateful citizens."[iii] Louis Christian Mullgardt, known for his work at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE), was the primary designer for the new building and he hired PPIE colleague Haig Patigian to design architectural sculpture work for the tympanum. As plans for his new building progressed, M.H. de Young also made plans to expand and refresh exhibitions within the museum. This included a comprehensive collection of war trophies and souvenirs collected by Congressman Kahn and Dr. Herzstein while reviewing A.E.F. battlefields in France that was jointly donated to the Museum by both men.

In June of 1920, Dr. Herzstein and de Young toured the Museum for a better part of a Saturday afternoon, "arranging for the proper display of the gift."[iv] Before these pieces would find a permanent home in the "New de Young," the arms and armor collections were removed from display in the "Old de Young" to make room for the newest acquisitions. Numerous crates from France had already arrived and were waiting to clear customs. Crates filled with arms, armor, trench warfare weapons, cannons, munition wagons, airplanes (many parked in front of the museum for a time, capturing the curiosity of park visitors). Amongst other artifacts, their collection also included "paper costumes worn by the Germans in default of other clothes," war maps showing the Western Front and Parisian defenses during air raids, and a German propaganda leaflet dropped from "Boche aeorplanes" over American lines.[v] M.H. de Young contributed his own pieces to the exhibition, notably reproductions of Ferdinand Gueldry's crayon drawings commissioned by the French Government to document the atrocities of war.

Heralded as "the most complete and detailed war exhibition in Western America," it was a large draw for veterans and their families; and if newspaper reports are to be believed, veterans were so moved that they "forgot time and place and gave dramatic descriptions of battles in which they played a part."[vi]

The Statue's Dedication

After working in secret on Dr. Herzstein's commission for two years, Haig Patigian's statue of General John J. Pershing was announced to the public in August 1922. The San Francisco Chronicle describes it quite well. Sculpted from photographs, General Pershing's "right hand hangs easily at his side and the left is raised a little to the level of his belt, holding in a firm grip a handful of papers. At his feet is a battered German helmet, giving a touch of action to the composition and balancing the figure." His face frozen with "the characteristic expression of alertness and energy" and his stance "full of controlled poise and ease. Differing from many stiff and inexpressive statues of military leaders, the Pershing statue is marked by a sense of life and animation."[vii] In fact, many of General Pershing's personal acquaintances would remark on Patigian's skill in capturing their friend. At the unveiling, West Point classmate General E.B. Smith would say, "That face, that figure, speak to me. That's John Pershing."[viii]

By mid-October, the eight-foot gilded bronze piece was in place atop a five-foot pedestal of California silver granite (although it remained covered until the dedication ceremony). Plans were in progress to unveil the statue on Armistice Day, November 11, 1922 during a city-wide commemoration. Following the war, General Pershing had been promoted to General of the Armies of the United States - ;the highest rank possible in the U.S. Army, a position created specifically for him. He was not only still alive, unlike the subjects memorialized by other monuments in Golden Gate Park, but very much in demand and there was speculation as to whether or not he would make the journey to see himself set in stone. Congressman Kahn, Mayor James Rolph, and Major General Charles G. Morton, commander of the 9th Corps Area, all began a campaign to convince General Pershing to attend the ceremony. Congressman Khan assured local press that "every pressure [would] be brought to bear" to bring General Pershing to San Francisco, but the San Francisco Chronicle was appropriately pessimistic, noting that "Pershingis as modest about appearing with the statue of him as Dr. Herzstein has been about getting the statue set up."[ix]

On the morning of November 11th, everything was in place. The organizing committee had asked San Franciscans to decorate their homes and businesses with gold star and other service flags from the U.S. and her allies. A large military parade with troops from the Presidios of San Francisco and Monterey, sailors from Yerba Buena and Goat Islands, and marines from Mare Island marched to the Pershing statue. They were escorted by a squadron of airplanes from Crissy Field and reviewed by high ranking military and naval men, city and State officials, and other dignitaries in the park stadium. Thousands were on hand to watch the festivities.

General John J. Pershing, however, was not on hand - ;preferring instead to address the National Civic Federation in New York that day. Veterans from three wars encircled the veiled bronze figure with a ring of flags, and VIPs like Patigian, Dr. Herzstein, Mayor Rolph, and Park Commissioner William F. Humphry stood on the platform waiting to begin. "The crowd moved up and around them like a tide, pressing close and filling in the open space."[x] Trumpeters sounded a call to attention and all in attendance observed a moment of silence at 11:00am. Then Reverend Joseph P. McQuaide, chaplain of the 62nd Artillery and the 1st California Volunteers, pronounced the invocation and Federal Judge W.W. Morrow spoke, reading messages from the President of the United States and the Secretary of War before introducing Dr. Morris Herzstein.

In his speech, Dr. Herzstein advocated for preparedness and spoke of his trip to France with Congressman Khan. Specifically, he remembered seeing the American flag pitched in a battlefield, "unfolding its stars and stripes, waving in the morning breeze, keeping watch over our boys on the Rhine. With bowed head I acknowledged the mighty power of this Nation, proud to be an adopted son of this country." He went on to utter a hope for the future. "The best blood ofour allies, intermingled with ours, has been shed in the battle field. May it cement a perpetual friendship and bring the world everlasting peace."[xi] He finished by saying: "To you General Pershing, for the distinguished service you have rendered your countryin memory and as tribute to you, to the veterans of this country and the veterans of our allies this statue is dedicated," and it was unveiled.[xii] The granite pedestal was simply inscribed: "In tribute to General Pershing and the victorious armies of the United States and her co-belligerents during the World War 1914-1918. Presented by Dr. Morris Herzstein, 1922."

Mayor Rolph accepted the statue on behalf of the City of San Francisco, saying "This is a statue of a worthy man and a gift of a worthy San Franciscan. May it inspire us, in peace and in war," and Humphrey accepted it on behalf of the Park Commission.[xiii] There were addresses by de Young, who extolled the greatness of the park with a sort of back-handed compliment. "I am sure that the majority of you do not appreciate our Golden Gate Park enough, and really it is hardly possible to appreciate it until one has traveled the world over and seen what they have in other places."[xiv] Then Congressman Kahn took the stage and applauded Dr. Herzstein as "a citizen of the new mode" for supporting the park in life and not with a post-mortem bequest.[xv] He also urged preparedness in support of a bill he had just introduced in the legislature, and excused General Pershing's absence, which he believed was a reaction to the traumatic memory of losing his wife and daughters here in 1915. He then took credit for the subsequent use of stone building materials in the Presidio following that tragedy. It's as true yesterday as it is today, that politics are always in play.

Festivities continued into the evening at a large celebration hosted in the Civic Auditorium. The crowds dispersed and Pershing was left alone where he still stands today, his kindly eyes affixed on his creator's other contribution to Golden Gate Park - ;the brand new de Young building across the way.

The Final Act

Congressman Julius Kahn died on December 18, 1924 following a long illness. Dr. Morris Herzstein, his friend and physician for decades, cared for him in his final days and then served as an honorary pallbearer alongside notable San Franciscans, among them Sigmund Stern, Herbert Fleishhacker, James Phelan, and Daniel Koshland. Just after the funeral, Dr. Herzstein suffered a stroke and his paralysis was complicated by pneumonia in February 1925. Newspapers tracked his health daily for a week and he did survive, but was much diminished. In February 1926, the San Francisco Chronicle published a poem titled "A Fine Spirit is A Lasting Tonic":

"You may break,

You may shatter

The vase if you will,

But the scent

Of the roses

Will hang round it still,'

Wrote a poet

Long and long ago,

And these words come back

And hover around

As a body sits

In a big easy chair

In the apartment

Of Dr. Morris Herzstein

Up on Sutter street

And lets fall the eyes of him

On the old doctor,

A little bit shattered

By flight of time

And a little bit broken

By a life of hard work,

But sweet with the scent

Of old ambitions

And new enthusiasms

He takes what comes

With a philosophical grin

And looks forward

With an engaging smile

To the soon-coming day

When he'll be up and away

On the rolling air

Of wide balloon tires

To the cutdoors of blossoms

And sun-shining skies

And little soft breezes

In his summer home

In a California valley."[xvi]

House-bound for the rest of his life, he finally succumbed in October 1927. "He died leaving a host of friends, after a long and useful life. In the practice of medicine, he not only ministered to the sick but he gave to them during their illnesses kindness and encouragement, always doing his work with the thought of their comfort, both physical and mental. No poor were ever denied helpMany are the friends who have mourned his passing, and his life is an example which many may follow in order that their life's work may be as well done."[xvii] Attorney Adolph Sutro, of the firm of Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro, was assigned to handle Herzstein's estate of more than $1,000,000, and his will, allegedly the longest ever read in a San Francisco court up to that time, went into probate. Unmarried, he specifically excluded blood relatives in Germany from his will, which was drawn up around the time of World War I - ;a final act of patriotism. "If, by any act of mine I should allow any of my property to go to my relatives bearing allegiance to the enemy of my country, I should feel that I had abused one of the sacred rights of citizenship in the United States and that I had turned traitor to the principles of liberty and justice."[xviii]

He spent his money in death as he spent it in life. The principal beneficiaries of his estate were the University of California and Stanford University, with bequests providing for endowed chairs in biology, scholarships for students doing medical research, and a lecture series geared towards medical professionals but also open to the public. An avid collector of California art, the de Young Museum received many plein air landscapes and other works by notable artists, such as Whistler. Allotments ranging from $100 to $120,000 went to friends and colleagues who had been in his loyal confidence and employ. To his secretary, William Keller, went personal effects such as clothes and jewelry, and to Margaret Andrews, his nurse and office assistant for 35 years, life tenancy at his Los Altos property. Additional monies went to local hospitals, orphanages, and, of course, he left $5,000 for maintenance of the General John J. Pershing statue in Golden Gate Park.

Conclusion

The more research we do on monuments found throughout Golden Gate Park, we find that the reasons for the statues, the way in which they came to be, often speak louder than the lives of the men memorialized. For immigrants of German birth, living in the United States during World War I was not easy as anti-German sentiment increased apace with increasing hostilities abroad. It's easy to wonder how much of Dr. Herzstein's civic fervor was amplified as an attempt to prove his loyalty in light of mounting suspicions. In times of war, enemies are seen everywhere - ;even in the kindly doctors who served everyone without prejudice.

This is not to question Dr. Herzstein's loyalty to America or the purity of his philanthropic intent, which is clear, but rather to situate him within a much larger dynamic. Late 19th-century immigrants and their communities were responsible for numerous statues in Golden Gate Park. They were grateful to find a home on foreign shores and these gifts to San Francisco reflect that, but It was also a way for these new Americans to claim territory, establish belonging, and be seen. In the process, they helped to create a park for everybody.

Sources not cited in the text:

"Rose Patigian Dead," San Francisco Chronicle, November 22, 1905; Marriage License, San Francisco Chronicle, December 31, 1907; "Miss Blanche Hollister and Haig Patigian Wed at Grace Church," San Francisco Chronicle, January 2, 1908; Patigian resisters for the primary election; "Bohemians Unveil a Bronze of Bromley," San Francisco Chronicle, April 15, 1911; "Patigian Designs Statue for the Hall of Justice," San Francisco Chronicle, October 8, 1912; "Haig Patigian Completes First Exposition Work," San Francisco Chronicle, September 21, 1913; "Heroic Statues for Exposition," San Francisco Chronicle, July 4, 1914; "Haig Patigian III With Influenza," San Francisco Chronicle, December 23, 1918; Patigian recovering from influenza; FAMSF Artist Listing; "Fine Statues Given to Park Museum," San Francisco Chronicle, January 17, 1916; "Park Museum is Mecca for Lovers of Art," San Francisco Chronicle, January 24, 1916; "Gifts to Park Memorial Museum Are Increasing," San Francisco Chronicle, May 15, 1916; "Propaganda Leaflet in S.F. Museum," San Francisco Chronicle, January 2, 1919; "Crayon Reproductions of Atrocities of War," San Francisco Chronicle, June 29, 1919; "Plan to Extend Memorial Museum and to Foster Art in S.F. is Told by M.H. de Young," San Francisco Chronicle, February 1, 1920; "Main Corridor at Museum is Big Attraction," San Francisco Chronicle, October 10, 1921; "To Unveil Statue," San Francisco Chronicle, October 3, 1922; "Mayor Appoints Committee to Plan for Armistice Day," San Francisco Chronicle, October 26, 1922; "General Pershing Expected to Be Here for Ceremonies on Armistice Day," San Francisco Chronicle, October 27, 1922; "General Pershing Statue Will Be Unveiled," San Francisco Chronicle, November 4, 1922; "Every Branch of Service to Show in Line," San Francisco Chronicle, November 11, 1922; "Judge Morrow Speaks at Pershing Statue Unveiling," San Francisco Chronicle, November 12, 1922; "Tribute Marks Observance of Armistice Day," San Francisco Chronicle, November 12, 1922; "Dr. Morris Herzstein Victim of Pneumonia," San Francisco Chronicle, February 3, 1925; "Simple Rites for Pioneer," San Francisco Chronicle, October 26, 1927; "Stanford and U.C. Named Legatees of S.F. Physician," San Francisco Chronicle, November 2, 1927; University of California Register, 1954;

[i] "Statue of Pershing to Be Unveiled on Armistice Day," San Francisco Chronicle, October 15, 1922; .

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] "Work of Collecting Exhibit Takes Mr. De Young Greater Part of 24 Years," San Francisco Chronicle, February 23, 1919;

[iv] "Big Collection of Trophies of War Here Soon," San Francisco Chronicle, June 16, 1919;

[v] "Canvas of King Louis XV in The Battle of Laces' Gift to Memorial Museum," San Francisco Chronicle, June 22, 1919; .

[vi] "War Trophies Elicit Tales from Heroes," San Francisco Chronicle, August 4, 1919;

[vii] "General Pershing's Statue to be Placed in Park," San Francisco Chronicle, August 6, 1922; .

[viii] "San Francisco Pays Tribute to War Heroes," San Francisco Chronicle, November 12, 1922;

[ix] "Statue of Pershing to Be Unveiled on Armistice Day," San Francisco Chronicle, October 15, 1922;

[x] "San Francisco Pays Tribute to War Heroes," San Francisco Chronicle, November 12, 1922;

[xi] "Dr. Herzstein Pays Honor to Gen. Pershing," San Francisco Chronicle, November 12, 1922;

[xii] "San Francisco Pays Tribute to War Heroes," San Francisco Chronicle, November 12, 1922;

[xiii] Ibid.

[xiv] Ibid.

[xv] Ibid.

[xvi] "Yir Frein' Scotty Philosophizes," San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1926;

[xvii] "Dr. Morris Herzstein Leaves Name to Be Remembered," San Francisco Chronicle, November 2, 1927;

[xviii] "$1,000,000 Estate of Herzstein Probated," San Francisco Chronicle, November 18, 1927; .

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" " Demonstrators demand statehood outside a San Juan hotel where then-VP Dick Cheney was speaking in 2004. In 2012, a referendum on the island showed statehood received the most votes for the first time ever. Getty Images

In 2012, for the first time since Puerto Rico became a commonwealth in 1952, a majority of Puerto Ricans voted against the current relationship with the U.S. It was a close contest, with 54 percent saying "no." But when asked what political status they preferred, "statehood" received the most votes by a large margin [source: Fabian], though a quarter of voters of the first question left that second question blank. In 2017, the question was asked again in a low turnout contest. More than 500,000 people favored statehood in that referendum, followed by nearly 7,800 votes for independence/free association and more than 6,800 votes for the current status.

A non-binding referendum on the subject will once again be held in November 2020, with a yes/no choice to "Should Puerto Rico be immediately admitted into the Union as a state?" But even if it gets a big "yes," it's not enough to make the commonwealth a state.

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Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth that is "associated" with the U.S. Thanks to a 1917 law, Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but since Puerto Rico isn't a state, the island's inhabitants cannot vote in presidential elections. In an odd twist, they can vote in presidential primaries, because primaries are organized by the Democratic and Republican national committees, not the federal government [source: Helgesen].

According to Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, only Congress has the ability to authorize the creation of a new state. Specifically, Section 3 prohibits the creation of new states from the territory of others without their consent, or the combining of two or more states without congressional approval [source: Monk].

In practice, a majority of the 50 states began as U.S. territories. Either the territories petitioned Congress for permission to draft a state constitution and elect representatives, or they followed the more aggressive "Tennessee Plan." Tennessee, the very first U.S. territory, was rejected in its first bid for statehood, but decided to draft a state constitution anyway, and send two senators and a representative to Congress [source: Lehleitner]. Although Congress refused to seat the men, they successfully lobbied for statehood. Several other states followed the Tennessee model, including Alaska.

Official admission to the Union requires Congress to draft  and the president to sign  a bill called an "enabling act." For Puerto Rico to become a state, it would need to convince Congress and the president that statehood is not only in the best interest of the Puerto Rican people, but in the best interest of the United States as a whole. The U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives would need to approve the statehood admission by a two-thirds majority vote [source: The Week].

For some perspective, let's look at where the other 50 states came from, and how the United States grew from 13 coastal colonies to the world's third-largest country.
" " Conservations that deal with matters of race can be sticky, but also very rewarding and productive. Purestock/Getty Images

The fallout from the recent deaths of Black people like Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks and Breonna Taylor has sparked an increase in discussions about race in the U.S.  or at least an interest in doing so. But this topic can be a minefield when discussed between people of different ethnic backgrounds.

Jennifer Johnson of Americus, Georgia, who is white, remembers a conversation she had with a Black friend after Trayvon Martin died. "We were in complete disagreement," she recalls. "The one part I just couldn't get out of my head was her explaining the fear that Black people have when they encounter police. I had a gun pulled on me once by a cop and I didn't much care for the feeling but for her it is more than fear, it is panic."

Johnson reached out to her friend after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis to apologize for being slow to come around, which her friend accepted with joy. "She has really taught me a lot about racial and cultural differences," she says. "I know now that racism is alive and well in the South; it has just taken an event like this to show me how many racist people surround me," Johnson says. "My friend has been the most instrumental in making me think and empathize, and imagine how things would be different if I had been born in different skin."

That conversation ended positively. But often people are afraid to even begin to have the talk. "I have been avoiding the topic in fear of saying the wrong thing. I don't want to offend anyone," says Holly (name changed) in Atlanta, who is white. Her worries are compounded, she says, by the fact that some people call out others on social media for not speaking up about racial injustice. "I feel like I am being weak and a scapegoat after reading people's posts about people like me," she explains.

But Amisha Harding, an Atlanta-based activist and founder of Courageous Conversations for the Collective, finds her concern actually heartwarming. "She cares enough to be thoughtful and mindful, that her voice as a white person could be misconstrued," says Harding, who is African American. "She doesn't want to add more wood to the fire."

That said, it would be beneficial to the racial justice movement if Holly and others like her could find the will to engage in conversations to learn and make change. "For many many years these conversations haven't taken place. It's been the elephant in the room," explains Dr. Courtland Lee, a professor in the Counselor Education Program at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and an expert on multicultural counseling. "It's a very very complicated and challenging subject to talk about."

Harding understands the fear of speaking up in the current climate. "But if people don't take time to sit down and talk and create space for mutual understanding and respect then nothing changes," she says. But for that to work, people on both ends of the conversation need to be open, receptive and patient. "We need people to feel built up and empowered. We need them to show up and lift their voices."

No matter who's involved in the conversation, here are some helpful guidelines for keeping charged conversations constructive.

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1. Keep It Kind

Racial issues have always been hot-button, but there's an added edge right now. "People are fearful, confused, angry and enraged," Harding says. "It's important to understand with those heightened emotions that we have to remember to be kind and thoughtful."

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2. Think Through Your Intentions

What are you hoping to gain from such a conversation? Are your intentions helpful? Harmful? Productive, or just the opposite? If you go into a conversation, social media post, text thread with an agenda that isn't positive or open-minded, chances are good that the resulting dialogue won't be that way, either.

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3. Be Open, Honest and Unafraid

"Somebody has to be courageous to say, 'Hey, let's talk about it,'" Lee says. "I think the best way to start it is to speak your truth. Basically, say what's on your mind." For example, if you are a person of color and you hear something that strikes you as racist, don't be afraid to speak up and spark a discussion, he says.

White people shouldn't hesitate to ask for insight to issues they don't understand, either. "Say, 'I am white. I've never experienced this. I don't freak out when I get pulled over by a police officer for speeding, I don't understand the fear that Black people have. Can you tell me why you're so afraid?'" says Lee.

He notes that white people are often afraid to refer to people as "Black," even though it's not a negative or condescending descriptor. "One of the things that I find with white friends and colleagues is when they're talking about a person they'll describe their height, weight, clothes. They can't say the word 'Black.' They're stumbling, they're embarrassed," Lee says.

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3. Sympathize, Don't Empathize

No matter how good the intentions, a white person is never going to fully understand what it's like to be a person of color. So, don't try to normalize the other person's experiences or apply your own situation.

"One of the things that I don't want people to say is 'I understand where you're coming from.' No you don't. This really pisses people off," Lee says. "That becomes a conversation stopper right there." He also cautions against the use of trite, tired phrases like "I hear you."

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4. Legitimately Listen

This might be the most important point. "So often, people are so bent on voicing their position that they don't listen," Harding says. But don't just half-listen while planning your rebuttal. "Listen to listen, not to respond. If you listen you'll find that you can actually have a real conversation. With your ears, but with your heart, too."

Even if you can't fully comprehend the other person's situation, it is important to validate them. "You're trying to listen and be educated about this person's context and reality. Accept it for what it is," Lee says, adding that you can't interpret it or apply it to your own worldview. "Try to understand that this is their reality."

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5. Don't Get Defensive

We've all seen people counter "Black Lives Matter" with "All Lives Matter." Many people who do this don't understand the context of the slogan, so the resulting defensiveness is undeserved. "For example, when Black people talk about oppression and racism and you hear white people say, 'My people didn't have it easy either,'" Dr. Lee says. "That may be true, but you're not trying to understand this person's context and where they're coming from. Don't right away become defensive and defend your culture."

That's why a lot of these conversations don't go anywhere, Lee notes. Rather than listening, people shut down and adopt a defensive posture. "I think, and this goes for both sides, you have to listen for understanding."

Harding recalls being at a protest march for racial justice and seeing a white woman holding a sign that said we should all be colorblind. "I knew her intention was good," she says. "She didn't know how to support us but she wanted to be down there. I said, 'Thank you for being out here and being an ally I want to commit to you as a Black woman, that I'm happy to talk to you about your experience and help you to develop understanding.' [You could see] a weight lifted off of her. I could have said, 'That sign is offensive.' But that would have shut her down and shut her out."

Few complex issues are thoroughly understood or resolved after one conversation, but each one is a step in the right direction. If done correctly and with respect, at the end of the talk both people might not totally get each other's positions, but they'll be in a better place to continue the talk later.

If it does deteriorate on the opposite end, don't be too distraught over the loss of friendship, Lee advises. "If a frank, honest and open discussion about race destroys a friendship it wasn't a friendship to begin with."

Now That's Cool It's important for white people to learn from people of color, but that's not the only place to turn. "Learn about white privilege and white fragility," Harding says. She suggests seeking out the website of diversity expert and educator Jane Elliott, known for her "Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes" exercise. Lectures and videos can be accessed there.
Beijing will likely name a senior official from the Ministry of Public Security who is familiar with foreign intelligence agencies to head its new national security office in Hong Kong, according to sources and observers.

Official sources said the candidate  who will lead the mainland agency mandated under the new national security law that Beijing is imposing on Hong Kong  will be announced soon after the legislation process is completed.

According to state news agency Xinhua, Li Fei, head of the Constitution and Law Committee of the National Peoples Congress, reported amendments to the draft law at a meeting of the legislature on Sunday. The controversial law  targeting secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign and external forces to endanger national security  is expected to be passed by the Standing Committee of Chinas legislature on Tuesday at the close of the three-day meeting.

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A source familiar with the situation in Hong Kong said that since the new office would report directly to the Communist Partys Central National Security Commission, it would be headed by a senior security official with solid experience of Hong Kong matters and who understands the rules of engagement with foreign intelligence agencies.

The source also said that Beijing would likely choose a senior member of the public security ministry, which controls the police, since leaders of its spy agency, the Ministry of State Security, rarely took up public roles.

A mainland expert on Hong Kong affairs said knowledge of the city, as well as Macau and Taiwan, would also be an important factor in making the selection.

This official must have in-depth knowledge of Hong Kong matters and understand how they are linked to issues like Taiwan and foreign relations. Theyll need to have a helicopter view on these matters, said the expert who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to comment on the issue.

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Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, agreed that a candidate with a strong security background would be chosen given Hong Kongs unique position.

It is well-known that Western countries have established extensive intelligence networks in Hong Kong, Lau said. Their main target is the mainland, not Hong Kong.

Lau also said that the United States and Britain had expressed strong opposition to the new law because they would have to retreat [from Hong Kong] once the new law is implemented and Chinese national security personnel come in.

Chen Siyuan, assistant public security minister, is seen as a front runner to head the new office. Photo: Handout

Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, believed the assistant public security minister, Chen Siyuan, was a front runner for the job.

He said sending Chen  as part of a tough and capable team  to the city would give a clear message that Beijing had put Hong Kong high on its security agenda. It would also be a step up, as the new position was at the higher vice-ministerial level.

Chen, who is from Anhui province and has spent much of his career in the Beijing police force, was appointed head of the ministrys Domestic Security Protection Bureau in August. But the 55-year-old took part in official meetings in the capacity of director of the ministrys Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Affairs Office back in January.

Liu Yuejin is another potential candidate for the Hong Kong posting. Photo: Xinhua

Along with Chen, there is speculation two other senior public security officials could be candidates for the Hong Kong posting after they recently stepped down from their roles: Liu Yuejin, 61, who was the counterterrorism commissioner; and Meng Qingfeng, 63, who was the deputy public security minister and specialises in commercial crimes.

Meng Qingfeng recently stepped down as deputy public security minister. Photo: Handout

Separately, a pro-Beijing think tank based in Hong Kong on Monday said it had conducted a telephone survey on the national security law last week. The Bauhinia Research Institute said its poll of 1,297 residents found that 67.8 per cent believed Hong Kong had a responsibility to safeguard Chinas national security, while 55.7 per cent supported Beijing setting up a national security office in the city.

It said 57 per cent of those surveyed were not worried about being charged under the new law, while 55.7 per cent did not believe their freedom of speech would be affected by the legislation.

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Cannes Market officially wrapped its first ever virtual edition on Friday. While many deals are still in the works, here are the five takeaways from this unusual 2020 edition:

The Winners

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Cannes Marche du Film and the Hollywood agency-led A Demain Platform initiative delivered on the dealmaking front, re-invigorating the market after months of anxiety-inducing lockdown. The number of participants, projects launched and deals closed showed that the industry is still standing  in spite of the massive disruption created by the pandemic. More than 10,000 professionals took part in the virtual Cannes Marche du Film while the scheduled 12,000 screenings drew 42,000 views, said Jerome Paillard, the executive director of the Marche du Film. Panels and conferences also attracted record numbers of participants. On top of jump-starting the business and reconnecting people, the virtual format also had the merit of allowing folk who are usually not able to attend Cannes to take part, notably many producers, as well as additional staff in distribution and sales companies, explained Paillard, adding that the Marche du Film will likely incorporate virtual elements into its physical program going forward.

The New Ancillary

German broadcasters could lose 300 million ($327 million) to 500 million ($545 million) in TV advertising this year, said Constantins Martin Moszkowicz. That has an inevitable effect on how much money they have to buy new product. This is a pattern repeated over much of the world. So on big movies, distributors are looking for true blue theatrical propositions. On other titles, distributors may be buying with one eye on the new ancillary: Pick-ups by platforms, regional or global. Streamers may of course want world rights. During COVID-19, that hasnt been too much of a problem for distributors, which have been relieved of the necessity of paying for a title, while compensated quite handsomely by OTT players for giving up rights. Cannes Market also revealed an increasingly contrasting landscape, between a smaller pool of big, diversified or medium-sized buyers, which were able to make acquisitions, and others left on the sidelines, who may have to scale down in the coming months. A flurry of deals were signed during this past week, but they did not involve such a wide array of distributors; in fact, many titles sold went to the same buyers in major territories. Independent distributors were struggling long before the pandemic: The crisis has undeniably aggravated their situation.

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What Happened to 50/50?

Last year at Cannes, some of the buzziest titles definitely skewed female. Celine Sciamma and Mati Diops in particular. This year, Cannes hottest packages, at least at the get-go, mostly skewed male. Distinguished male cineastes direct Spencer, Paris Trap, Armageddon Time, Emancipation, Ferrari and The Card Counter. Only two have female leads. Late last week, Rocket Science unveiled Eva Hussons Mothering Sunday, starring on-the-rise actress Odessa Young, plus an Ellen Kuras project with Kate Winslet as Vogue cover model and photojournalist Lee Miller. The Official Selection, meanwhile, included 13 films directed by women  one fewer than in 2019  after three female directors decided to hold their films over to next year. It was left to Cannes Marche du Film showcases to really give a sense of a build in womens filmmaking, and especially female filmmakers. Cinefondation boasted strong female coming-of-age stories: Raven Johnsons Ruby: Portrait of a Black Girl Living in the Suburbs; Payal Kapadias All We Imagine as Light; five of the 13 titles at Frontieres, the Marches genre selection, were directed by women. In The Retreat, a queer women couple are assailed; they fight back.

Rebate Rev Up

Buying and selling forms just part of Cannes. Its also a shop-window for many other things, such as big shoot locales. As governments fixate on platform business, including big series shoots, as potential post-COVID 19 recovery drivers, thats never been truer. This year. France touted a 40% tax-rebate for VXF-heavy foreign productions, Spain its game-changing 30%-50% tax rebates, and credits, Uruguay a newish and most likely increased 25% cash rebate, and Greece a rise in its foreign shoot incentives. Government budgets, so direct subsidy muscle, is likely to come under ever larger pressure around the world. So more companies  think Latin Americas Cimaron, Spains Adrian Guerra  are becoming double hybrids: film/TV producers, and production and service companies. Its one way forward.

See You At?

As of today, the first physical editions of international film festivals will be Venice, of course, then Deauville in France and San Sebastian in Spain. While Deauville and San Sebastian have invited movies from Cannes Official Selection, the latter may well welcome the biggest contingent of industry participants from Europe post-COVID. When it comes to the next physical film market, however, there is absolutely no certainty that AFM will actually take place along completely traditional lines. Toronto industry activities will take place mostly online this year. If AFM switches its 2020 edition to virtual, industry players might have to wait for the European Film Market in Berlin in February to see one another in the real world  assuming the postponement of 2021s Oscars until April doesnt end up causing Berlin to push back its 2021 edition.

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The coronavirus pandemic is "not even close to being over", the WHO warned Monday, as the global death toll passed half a million and cases surged in Latin America and the United States. In another grim milestone, the number of infections recorded worldwide topped 10 million, while some authorities reimposed lockdown measures that have crippled the economies worldwide. "We all want this to be over. We all want to get on with our lives," World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "But the hard reality is this is not even close to being over," he said, adding that "although many countries have made some progress, globally the pandemic is actually speeding up." The virus emerged at least six months ago in China, where the WHO will send a team next week in the search for its origin, Tedros said. COVID-19 is still rampaging across the US, which has recorded more than 125,000 deaths and 2.5 million cases -- both around a quarter of the global totals. US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the April-June quarter was expected to see the largest decline in GDP on record, adding that recovery would depend on government efforts to contain the outbreak. Many of the south and west US states where the virus is most rampant are where state leaders pushed for early reopenings. But even in New York, deemed to be in good health comparatively, the iconic Broadway theatre district announced it would remain closed through the end of the year. And with numerous US states forced to reimpose restrictions on restaurants, bars and beaches, President Donald Trump has come under growing pressure to set an example by wearing a mask. Trump's health secretary has warned the "window is closing" for the US to regain control, but the president has largely turned away from the crisis, holding indoor rallies with big, largely maskless crowds against the advice of his experts and refusing to cover his own face in public. - 'Profound shock' - And while opposition Democrats have urged Trump to reissue an emergency declaration on coronavirus, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the president had "no interest" in doing so. However, he may not be able to avoid masks forever -- the Florida city of Jacksonville, where Trump's Republicans are due to hold their national convention in August, declared face masks mandatory on Monday. Underlining Trump's increasing isolation on the issue, Senate Majority Leader Mitch- McConnell, who is usually in lock step with the president, spoke out on the urgency of mask-wearing. "We must have no stigma, none, about wearing masks when we leave our homes and come near other people," he said. "Wearing simple face coverings is not about protecting ourselves, it is about protecting everyone we encounter." The second hardest-hit country Brazil registered 259,105 infections in the seven days through Sunday -- the country's highest of any week during the pandemic. Ireland's pubs began pouring pints for the first time in 15 weeks, as Europe -- still the hardest-hit continent -- continues to open up after seeing numbers of new cases fall. "Guinness is good for you," quipped Mark O'Mahony -- the first to order a pint with his breakfast at a Dublin pub. "Without it, it hasn't been much good really for 15 weeks. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his country had gone through a "profound shock" as he prepared to unveil a large stimulus programme. - Constant threat - His government plans to reopen pubs, restaurants and hairdressers across England on July 4, but on Monday ordered schools and non-essential shops in Leicester, central England, to close after a localised outbreak. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron called for a "strong" and "efficient" recovery fund for the European Union. In Merkel's Germany, which has been praised for how it has tackled its COVID-19 outbreak, the North Rhine-Westphalia state extended a lockdown on a district hit hard by a slaughterhouse outbreak. In neighbouring Switzerland, organisers said that 2021's Geneva International Motor Show was cancelled, after already scrapping this year's event. China has imposed a strict lockdown on nearly half a million people in a province surrounding Beijing to contain a fresh cluster. In a reminder of the constant threat of newly-emerged pathogens, researchers in Chinese universities and the country's Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced they had discovered a novel swine flu that was capable of triggering another pandemic. Named G4, it is genetically descended from the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009. It possesses "all the essential hallmarks of being highly adapted to infect humans," said the authors of a study published Monday in the US science journal PNAS. The Middle East's most affected country Iran reported 162 more deaths on Monday, its highest single-day toll yet, a day after it also made mask-wearing mandatory for inside gatherings. India, which is gradually easing a nationwide lockdown, registered a daily record of 18,500 new cases and 385 new deaths on Saturday. Alka, one of the country's million accredited social health activists, said it was difficult for the unprotected and poorly paid all-women workers to get people to heed their advice. "People are struggling to feed their families," she said. "What can we do?" burs-ft/bgs
Israel's aim to annex parts of the occupied West Bank is clearly "illegal", the UN's human rights chief said on Monday, warning that the consequences could be "disastrous". In a move condemned by Israel, Michelle Bachelet added her voice to the chorus urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to drop a proposal to annex its West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley. "Annexation is illegal. Period," the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement. "Any annexation. Whether it is 30 percent of the West Bank, or five percent," she said. She urged Israel to "listen to its own former senior officials and generals, as well as to the multitude of voices around the world, warning it not to proceed along this dangerous path." International condemnation of the possible Israeli annexations has mounted ahead of July 1, when the Jewish state could take its first steps toward implementing part of a US-proposed Middle East peace plan. US President Donald Trump's proposals, rejected outright by the Palestinians, pave the way for annexing key parts of the West Bank, including settlements long considered illegal by the majority of the international community. - 'One-sided' - Bachelet urged Israel to shift course, warning that "the shockwaves of annexation will last for decades, and will be extremely damaging to Israel, as well as to the Palestinians". Israel's foreign ministry reacted angrily to the statement, noting that it was "not the first time" that Bachelet "has politicised her office against Israel, in a one-sided manner. "For a while now, Israel has lost any faith in (her) abilities to promote human rights in our region in a fair manner," a spokesperson said, recalling that Israel had frozen its ties with Bachelet in February. The UN rights chief meanwhile stressed that there was still time to reverse the annexation plans. The precise consequence of the move were difficult to predict, she said. "But they are likely to be disastrous for the Palestinians, for Israel itself, and for the wider region." The UN rights chief warned that "any attempt to annex any part of the occupied Palestinian territory will not only seriously damage efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region, it is likely to entrench, perpetuate and further heighten serious human rights violations that have characterised the conflict for decades". Her statement cautioned that such a move would almost certainly lead to increased restrictions on Palestinians' right to freedom of movement, as their population centres would become enclaves. In addition, significant tracts of private land would likely be illegally expropriated, and even in cases where this does not occur, many Palestinians could lose access to cultivate their own lands. And Palestinians who found themselves living inside the annexed areas would likely experience greater difficulty accessing essential services like healthcare and education, while humanitarian access could also be blocked. - 'Highly combustible mix' - Bachelet's office warned that Palestinians inside the annexed area would come under heavy pressure to move out, pointing out that entire communities currently not recognised under Israeli planning would be at high risk of "forcible transfer". And settlements, which are already recognised as a clear violation of international law, would almost certainly expand. "This is a highly combustible mix," Bachelet said. The UN rights chief stressed that illegal annexation would not change Israel's obligations under international law as an occupying power towards the occupied population. "Instead, it will grievously harm the prospect of a two-state solution, undercut the possibilities of a renewal of negotiations, and perpetuate the serious existing human rights and international humanitarian law violations we witness today."
The filamentary structures observed by LOFAR at the center of Abell 2255, here reported in red. These radio emissions are due to trails of particles and magnetic fields released by the galaxies during their motion inside the cluster. Credit: Botteon et al. (2020)  LOFAR  SDSS

An international team of astrophysicists led by Andrea Botteon from Leiden University, the Netherlands, has shed light on one of the most intricate objects of the radio sky: the galaxy cluster Abell 2255. Thanks to the incredible detailed images obtained with the European radio telescope LOFAR, the scientists have been able to observe details never seen before of the emission from the cluster. The halo in Abell 2255 is not smooth, but contains numerous filaments that have not been seen previously. The result has been presented today at the virtual annual meeting of the European Astronomical Society (EAS) and will be published in The Astrophysical Journal.

The observations carried out with the LOFAR radio telescope are changing the picture that astrophysicists had on galaxy clusters. Despite their name, clusters are not only composed by hundreds of galaxies spread over millions of light years that are bound together by gravity, but also contain particles moving at speeds close to the speed of light that are able to emit radiation in the radio band, when they interact with the cluster magnetic field. These radio emissions, that extend from cluster centers for millions of light years and are produced when two clusters of galaxies collide, have been called radio halos due to their generally spherical and smooth appearance.

The halo in Abell 2255 appears to be anything but smooth, though. First author Botteon: "We discovered the existence of numerous filaments within the halo emission that have not been seen previously. This was possible thanks to LOFAR, which has a sensitivity and angular resolution much higher than the radio telescopes that have observed galaxy clusters in the past, and also because the discovered filaments emit most of their radiation in long radio wavelengths, precisely those detected by the LOFAR antennas."

Radio halos are still enigmatic sources for astrophysicists. One of the most accepted hypotheses on their origin is that they form due to the turbulent motions generated in the cluster gas, triggered when two clusters collide. In this framework, the new observations could provide valuable insights on radio halos.

Comparison between the radio image of Abell 2255 obtained from a 48h observations carried out 10 years ago with the radio telescope WSRT (credits: Pizzo et al. (2009)  WSRT), and the new image obtained by LOFAR with an integration time of 8h. Credit: Botteon et al. (2020)  LOFAR

"The filaments discovered by LOFAR could form exactly as a consequence of these turbulent motions," says Gianfranco Brunetti of INAF-Bologna (Italy) and second author of the study. "Another possibility that we are considering is that the filaments originate from the interaction between the galaxies, which move at speeds of many hundreds of km/s inside the cluster and the plasma that produces the radio emission of the halo."

"The filamentary nature of the emission shows the importance of turbulent magnetic fields, as the bands of emission are likely to follow the threads of magnetic fields," adds team member Marcus Bruggen from the University of Hamburg, Germany.

But there is much more in the LOFAR images of Abell 2255, where radio signals coming from regions very distant from the cluster center are also observed. Astrophysicists believe that these emissions trace shock waves that propagate outwards at great distances and are able to accelerate energetic particles and amplify magnetic fields. In this peripheral environment the emission from the hot intergalactic gas is extremely weak, at the limits of the capabilities of the current instruments that observe in the X-rays and of the Planck satellite. Therefore, radio observations give the unique opportunity to reveal the motions of matter in unexplored cluster regions.

"In order to study how far the radio emission extends in the cluster, in the past few months LOFAR has carried out an even deeper observation of Abell 2255," says co-author Reinout van Weeren from Leiden University, the Netherlands. "One of the goals is to understand if the radio emission extends also beyond Abell 2255, tracing the gigantic cosmic web that connects clusters of galaxies in the universe."

Explore further Radio halo detected in the galaxy cluster PSZ2 G099.86+58.45

More information: The beautiful mess in Abell 2255. arXiv:2006.04808 [astro-ph.GA] The beautiful mess in Abell 2255. arXiv:2006.04808 [astro-ph.GA] arxiv.org/abs/2006.04808

Provided by European Astronomical Society
Contradictory messaging. Credit: Alex Bee / Shutterstock.com

As we begin to engage with the climate emergency and the impact of carbon dioxide emissions, calls have grown to stop investing in companies engaged in fossil fuel productiona practice known as divestment.

The University of Oxford became one of the latest institutional investors to pledge to drop all fossil fuel companies from their 3 billion endowment. Enormous pressure from students and staff alike has been put on other universities to follow suit, creating a culture of shame on those that continue to hold these shares.

Many scholars in the UK may be horrified to hear that one of the largest university pension schemes, the University Superannuation Scheme (or USS) has the oil company Shell as its largest holding of 500 million. Recent changes to the USS investment strategy ended its investment in a number of controversial holdings, including tobacco manufacturing, coal mining, cluster munitions (a form of explosive) and landmines. But USS continues to invest in a number of fossil fuel companies saying they intend to engage with them as a "force for good."

So long as they do wield this influence, we believe this is the right approach for investors who want to combat climate change. Many of those lobbying for divestment will have good intentions. Divesting from fossil fuel companies is likely to make investors feel morally cleansed, having washed their hands of dirty investments that make profits from environmental damage. But it may act as a diversion tactic, allowing the lobbyists and investors who follow their lead to feel good about themselves. And yet they will have done little to combat climate change.

Divestment, leading to the selling of fossil fuel company shares, should put downward pressure on the share price, making it harder for the company to raise new capital. But for the majority of them, even in the face of substantial divestments, it will be very much business as usual, having no effect at all on their day-to-day operations.

If more people want to sell shares than buy them, this will affect the share pricebut most oil companies are well beyond the situation where it would cause them significant issues. Neither BP nor Shell, for example, are likely to need to raise new financing in the foreseeable future as they have large cash reserves. Both have share repurchase schemes, where they are able to use dips in their share prices to buy their own shares back, allowing investors to benefit without paying taxable dividends.

But if a company's shares become sufficiently cheap relative to its profit stream, it will be ripe for a takeover. Most likely this will come from an even bigger, non-European oil company or by a wealth fund. It is highly likely in either case that the new purchaser will be less concerned about minimizing the company's environmental impact than those divesting. And any such commitments could easily be dropped in favor of a more concentrated focus on profits.

More worryingly, divestment is highly likely to constitute a small step in a chain of events that will perversely lead to precisely the opposite of the lobbyist's desired outcome. When the University of Oxford (for example) sells its shares, they won't simply disappearrather they will be sold on the market to another investor. And the investors that are actively buying oil shares right now are unlikely to be those who are concerned about the environment.

Shareholder rights

The divestor also gives up the opportunity for shareholder activismsomething USS does with the fossil fuel companies in which it holds investments. This is where shareholders can put pressure on companies they part own to introduce more sustainable ways of doing business. Although there is still much to be done, there is growing evidence that this kind of activism is having a positive effect on fossil fuel companies.

Many European oil companies are much better than their peers when it comes to environmental performance. While oil extraction and refinement is by its nature a dirty business, Shell, for instance, has a strong commitment to climate change mitigation. It aims to cut its net carbon footprint by 30% by 2035, and by 65% by 2050, meanwhile increasing the role of renewables in its energy production. Contrast this with some oil majors in the US whose only commitment is to the development of more effective extraction processes and more efficient fuel.

A counter-intuitive strategy for divestment activists would be for them to actually encourage the maintenance of large equity holdings in fossil fuel companies by sympathetic institutional investors, such as universities and USS. Then, by working together with other large shareholders and shareholder activist groups, bring real ownership pressure to bear in order to reduce the polluting activities of these companies. This would work by hitting them where it hurtsfor instance, by blocking the awards of executive pay rises and bonuses.

Divestment puts shares in big oil into the hands of those who don't give two hoots about the climate emergency, discourages such companies from taking mitigating steps and does nothing whatsoever to curb fossil fuel usage. If the question is how to tackle climate change, divestment is not even part of the answer.

Explore further Fossil fuel divestment will increase carbon emissions, not lower themy

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: Shutterstock

Education minister Dan Tehan will be meeting with university vice-chancellors to devise a new way of funding university research. They will have plenty to talk about.

Australia's universities have been remarkably successful in building their research output. But there are cracks in the funding foundations of that success, which are being exposed by the revenue shock of COVID-19 and the minister's reforms announced this month, which would pay for new student places with money currently spent on research.

I estimate the gap in funding that needs to be filled to maintain our current research output at around $4.7 billion.

The funding foundations crumble

The timing of Dan Tehan's higher education reform package could not have been worse for the university research sector.

The vulnerability created by universities' reliance on international students has been brutally revealed this year. Travel bans prevent international students arriving in Australia and the COVID-19 recession undermines their capacity to pay tuition fees.

Profits from domestic and international students are the only way universities can finance research on the current scale, with more than A$12 billion spent in 2018.

Based on a Deloitte Access Economics analysis of teaching costs, universities make a surplus of about A$1.3 billion on domestic students. Universities use much of this surplus to fund research.

Tehan's reform package seeks to align the total teaching funding rates for each Commonwealth supported studentthe combined tuition subsidy and student contributionwith the teaching and scholarship costs identified in the Deloitte analysis.

On 2018 enrolment numbers, revenue losses for universities for Commonwealth supported students would total around $750 million with this realignment. With only teaching costs funded, universities will have little or no surplus from their teaching to spend on research.

International student profits are larger than domesticat around $4 billion. Much of this money is spent on research too, and much of this is at risk. The recession will also reduce how much industry partners and philanthropists can contribute to university research.

Australia's Chief Scientist estimates 7,700 research jobs are at risk from COVID-19 factors alone. Unless the Commonwealth intervenes with a new research funding policy, its recent announcements will trigger further significant research job losses.

Combined teaching and research academic jobs will decline

Although less research employment will be available, the additional domestic students financed by redirecting research funding will generate teaching work.

More students is a good thing in itself, as the COVID-19 recession will generate more demand for higher education.

But this reallocation between research and teaching will exacerbate a major structural problem in the academic labor market. Although most academics want teaching and research, or research-only roles, over the last 30 years Commonwealth teaching and research funding has separated.

After the latest Tehan reforms, funding for the two activities will be based on entirely different criteria and put on very different growth trajectories.

An academic employment model that assumes the same people teach and research was kept alive by funding surpluses on domestic, and especially international, students. With both these surpluses being hit hard, the funding logic is that a trend towards more specialized academic staff will have to accelerate.

We can expect academic morale to fall and industrial action to rise as university workforces resist this change.

The funding squeeze will also undermine the current system of Commonwealth research funding. This funding is allocated in two main ways. In part, it comes from competitive project grant funding, largely from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Research Council.

Academic prestige is attached to winning these grants, but the money allocated does not cover the project's costs. Typically, universities pay the salaries of the lead researchers and general costs, such as laboratories and libraries.

Universities are partly compensated for those expenses through research block grants, which are awarded based on previous academic performance, including in winning competitive grants. But because block grants do not cover all competitive project grant costs, the system has relied on discretionary revenue, much of it from students, to work. It will need a major rethink if teaching becomes much less profitable.

The stakes are high

University spending on research (which was over $12 billion in 2018), has nearly tripled since 2000 in real terms.

Direct government spending on research increased this century, but not by nearly enough to finance this huge expansion in outlays. In 2018, the Commonwealth government's main research funding programs contributed A$3.7 billion.

An additional $600 million came from other Commonwealth sources such as government department contracts for specific pieces of research.

In addition to this Commonwealth money, universities received another $1.9 billion in earmarked research funding from state, territory and other (national) governments, donations, and industry.

These research-specific sources still leave billions of dollars in research spending without a clear source of finance. Universities have investment earnings, profits on commercial operations and other revenue sources they can invest in research.

But these cannot possibly cover the estimated $4.7 billion gap between research revenue and spending.

With lower profits on teaching, this gap cannot be filled. Research spending will have to be reduced by billions of dollars.

We are at a turning point in Australian higher education. The research gains of the last fifteen years are at risk of being reversed. The minister's meeting with vice-chancellors has very high stakes.

Explore further Coronavirus halted years of research, and Canada needs a strategy to fight back

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The paradise tree snake mid-glide during the team's motion experiments. Credit: Jake Socha

When the paradise tree snake flies from one tall branch to another, its body ripples with waves like green cursive on a blank pad of blue sky. That movement, aerial undulation, happens in each glide made by members of the Chrysopelea family, the only known limbless vertebrates capable of flight. Scientists have known this, but have yet to fully explain it.

For more than 20 years, Jake Socha, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics at Virginia Tech, has sought to measure and model the biomechanics of snake flight and answer questions about them, like that of aerial undulation's functional role. For a study published by Nature Physics, Socha assembled an interdisciplinary team to develop the first continuous, anatomically-accurate 3-D mathematical model of Chrysopelea paradisi in flight.

The team, which included Shane Ross, a professor in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, and Isaac Yeaton, a recent mechanical engineering doctoral graduate and the paper's lead author, developed the 3-D model after measuring more than 100 live snake glides. The model factors in frequencies of undulating waves, their direction, forces acting on the body, and mass distribution. With it, the researchers have run virtual experiments to investigate aerial undulation.

In one set of those experiments, to learn why undulation is a part of each glide, they simulated what would happen if it wasn'tby turning it off. When their virtual flying snake could no longer aerially undulate, its body began to tumble. The test, paired with simulated glides that kept the waves of undulation going, confirmed the team's hypothesis: aerial undulation enhances rotational stability in flying snakes.

Questions of flight and movement fill Socha's lab. The group has fit their work on flying snakes between studies of how frogs leap from water and skitter across it, how blood flows through insects, and how ducks land on ponds. In part, it was important to Socha to probe undulation's functional role in snake glides because it would be easy to assume that it didn't really have one.

"We know that snakes undulate for all kinds of reasons and in all kinds of locomotor contexts," said Socha. "That's their basal program. By program, I mean their neural, muscular program?they're receiving specific instructions: fire this muscle now, fire that muscle, fire this muscle. It's ancient. It goes beyond snakes. That pattern of creating undulations is an old one. It's quite possible that a snake gets into the air, then it goes, 'What do I do? I'm a snake. I undulate.'"

But Socha believed there was much more to it. Throughout the paradise tree snake's flight, so many things happen at once, it's difficult to untangle them with the naked eye. Socha described a few steps that take place with each glidesteps that read as intentional.

First, the snake jumps, usually by curving its body into a "J-loop" and springing up and out. As it launches, the snake reconfigures its shape, its muscles shifting to flatten its body out everywhere but the tail. The body becomes a "morphing wing" that produces lift and drag forces when air flows over it, as it accelerates downward under gravity. Socha has examined these aerodynamic properties in multiple studies. With the flattening comes undulation, as the snake sends waves down its body.

Virginia Tech researcher Jake Socha positions a paradise tree snake on a branch during motion experiments. Credit: Michael Diersing

At the outset of the study, Socha had a theory for aerial undulation he explained by comparing two types of aircraft: jumbo jets versus fighter jets. Jumbo jets are designed for stability and start to level back out on their own when perturbed, he said, whereas fighters roll out of control.

So which would the snake be?

"Is it like a big jumbo jet, or is it naturally unstable?" Socha said. "Is this undulation potentially a way of it dealing with stability?"

He believed the snake would be more like a fighter jet.

To run tests investigating undulation's importance to stability, the team set out to develop a 3-D mathematical model that could produce simulated glides. But first, they needed to measure and analyze what real snakes do when gliding.

In 2015, the researchers collected motion capture data from 131 live glides made by paradise tree snakes. They turned The Cube, a four-story black-box theater at the Moss Arts Center, into an indoor glide arena and used its 23 high-speed cameras to capture the snakes' motion as they jumped from 27 feet upfrom an oak tree branch atop a scissor liftand glided down to an artificial tree below, or onto the surrounding soft foam padding the team set out in sheets to cushion their landings.

The cameras put out infrared light, so the snakes were marked with infrared-reflective tape on 11 to 17 points along their bodies, allowing the motion capture system to detect their changing position over time. Finding the number of measurement points has been key to the study; in past experiments, Socha marked the snake at three points, then five, but those numbers didn't provide enough information. The data from fewer video points only provided a coarse understanding, making for choppy and low-fidelity undulation in the resulting models.

The team found a sweet spot in 11 to 17 points, which gave high-resolution data. "With this number, we could get a smooth representation of the snake, and an accurate one," said Socha.

The researchers went on to build the 3-D model by digitizing and reproducing the snake's motion while folding in measurements they had previously collected on mass distribution and aerodynamics. An expert in dynamic modeling, Ross guided Yeaton's work on a continuous model by drawing inspiration from work in spacecraft motion.

He had worked with Socha to model flying snakes since 2013, and their previous models treated the snake's body in partsfirst in three parts, as a trunk, a middle, and an end, and then as a bunch of links. "This is the first one that's continuous," said Ross. "It's like a ribbon. It's the most realistic to this point."

In virtual experiments, the model showed that aerial undulation not only kept the snake from tipping over during glides, but it increased the horizontal and vertical distances traveled.

Ross sees an analogy for the snake's undulation in a frisbee's spin: the reciprocating motion increases rotational stability and results in a better glide. By undulating, he said, the snake is able to balance out the lift and drag forces its flattened body produces, rather than being overwhelmed by them and toppling, and it's able to go further.

The experiments also revealed to the team details they hadn't previously been able to visualize. They saw that the snake employed two waves when undulating: a large-amplitude horizontal wave and a newly discovered, smaller-amplitude vertical wave. The waves went side to side and up and down at the same time, and the data showed that the vertical wave went at twice the rate of the horizontal one. "This is really, really freaky," said Socha. These double waves have only been discovered in one other snake, a sidewinder, but its waves go at the same frequency.

"What really makes this study powerful is that we were able to dramatically advance both our understanding of glide kinematics and our ability to model the system," said Yeaton. "Snake flight is complicated, and it's often tricky to get the snakes to cooperate. And there are many intricacies to make the computational model accurate. But it's satisfying to put all of the pieces together."

"In all these years, I think I've seen close to a thousand glides," said Socha. "It's still amazing to see every time. Seeing it in person, there's something a little different about it. It's shocking still. What exactly is this animal doing? Being able to answer the questions I've had since I was a graduate student, many, many years later, is incredibly satisfying."

Socha credits some of the elements that shaped the real and simulated glide experiments to forces out of his control. Chance led him to the indoor glide arena: a few years after the Moss Arts Center opened, Tanner Upthegrove, a media engineer for the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology, or ICAT, asked him if he'd ever thought about working in the Cube.

"What's the Cube?" he asked. When Upthegrove showed him the space, he was floored. It seemed designed for Socha's experiments.

In some ways, it was. "Many projects at ICAT used the advanced technology of the Cube, a studio unlike any other in the world, to reveal that which could normally not be seen," said Ben Knapp, the founding director of ICAT. "Scientists, engineers, artists, and designers join forces here to build, create, and innovate new ways to approach the world's grandest challenges."

In one of the center's featured projects, "Body, Full of Time," media and visual artists used the space to motion capture the body movements of dancers for an immersive performance. Trading dancers for snakes, Socha was able to make the most of the Cube's motion capture system. The team could move cameras around, optimizing their position for the snake's path. They took advantage of latticework at the top of the space to position two cameras pointing down, providing an overhead view of the snake, which they'd never been able to do before.

Socha and Ross see potential for their 3-D model to continue exploring snake flight. The team is planning outdoor experiments to gather motion data from longer glides. And one day, they hope to cross the boundaries of biological reality.

Right now, their virtual flying snake always glides down, like the real animal. But what if they could get it to move so that it would actually start to go up? To really fly? That ability could potentially be built into the algorithms of robotic snakes, which have exciting applications in search and rescue and disaster monitoring, Ross said.

"Snakes are just so good at moving through complex environments," said Ross. "If you could add this new modality, it would work not only in a natural setting, but in an urban environment."

"In some ways, Virginia Tech is a hub for bio-inspired engineering," said Socha. "Studies like this one not only provide insight into how nature works, but lay the groundwork for design inspired by nature. Evolution is the ultimate creative tinkerer, and we're excited to continue to discover nature's solutions to problems like this one, extracting flight from a wiggling cylinder."

Explore further UFO cross-section gives snakes a lift

More information: Undulation enables gliding in flying snakes, Nature Physics (2020). www.nature.com/articles/s41567-020-0935-4 Journal information: Nature Physics Undulation enables gliding in flying snakes,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-020-0935-4
Corn fields being harvested in central Mato Grosso (in the Cerrado), Brazil. Credit: Stephanie Spera.

Brazil is one of the top three producers of both soy and corn globally, and its agricultural sector accounts for one-fifth of the country's economy. Deforestation and land-clearing practices have long been linked to decreases in biodiversity, and increases in temperature, stream flow, fire occurence, and carbon dioxide emissions. According to a Dartmouth study published in Nature Sustainability, these land-clearing practices in Brazil are also altering the climate and can significantly reduce corn yields.

The study examines the Cerrado, a biome located in the heart of Brazil, where most of the soy and corn for export is grown. The Brazilian Cerrado is far less protected than the Amazon. Previous research has found that the Amazon is being saved at the expense of the Cerrado. If you own land in the Amazon, legally, you are required to protect 80 percent of the land; however, if you own land in the Cerrado, you are only required to protect 20 percent of the land. As a result, only 3 percent of the entire Cerrado is legally protected.

To examine the impacts of agribusiness and climate change in the main agricultural areas of Brazil, the researchers used a regional climate model from the National Center for Atmospheric Research. They ran the model over a 15-year period from 2000 to 2015 using six different land-cover scenarios: Brazil before land-clearing, Brazil with observed land-clearing as of 2016, Cerrado with just soy grown in one season (single cropping), Cerrado with soy and corn grown in the same season (double cropping), and Amazon deforestation arc states with single cropping and double cropping. In this region, soy is planted as the primary crop and corn is the secondary crop.

The team compared each of the scenarios to Brazil before land-clearing. They examined different variables, including evapotranspirationhow much water is recycled back into the atmosphere, the start and end of the rainy season, Cerrado and Amazon rainfall, and critical agricultural temperature thresholds.

Soy and corn in Brazil rely on rainfall. Only 6 percent of cropland in Brazil is irrigated. Fewer trees due to land-clearing reduces evapotranspiration, which decreases water recycled back into the atmosphere and can lead to less rainfall.

Land-use change from 2000 to 2019 in southern Piaui (in the Cerrado), Brazil. Green - natural vegetation; bright rectangles - fields. Satellite images by NASA: Landsat 7 on 7/10/00, and Landsat 8 on 8/8/19. Credit: Diagram with true color composite of satellite images compiled by Stephanie Spera.

To investigate how changes in climate due to land-clearing impact soy and corn yields, the researchers used a statistical crop model based on the observed relationships between climate and yield. In order for corn to thrive, nights must be cool. Nights above 24 degrees Celsius (referred to in this study as "warm nights") can damage corn.

The study provides evidence that land-clearing has degraded weather in the Brazilian Cerrado, a region that relies on rainfed production. The data revealed the following key findings:

All of the land-clearing scenarios contained significantly more growing season days with temperatures exceeding the critical temperature for successfully cultivating corn.

With decreases in evapotranspiration rates, the water/energy balance is significantly affected across all land-clearing scenarios, particularly during important periods of crop development.

The results demonstrated that with more warm (24+ degrees Celsius) nights, corn yields were reduced by 6 to 8 percent when compared to before extensive land-clearing scenarios. The most conservative land-clearing scenario demonstrated that there were eight more warm nights than before land-clearing, as compared to 20 to 30 more warm nights in the most extreme scenario. Soy yields were not affected but soy is much more resilient to higher temperatures.

"Our findings reveal how deforestation and land-clearing practices in the Brazilian Cerrado are undermining rainfed crop production, which is one of the main reasons that the Cerrado is cleared," explained co-author Stephanie A. Spera, an assistant professor of geography and environment at the University of Richmond, who was a post-doctoral fellow at the Neukom Institute for Computational Science at Dartmouth at the time of the study.

Under Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, deforestation in Brazil is the highest it's been since 2008, as deforestation in the Amazon increased by 55 percent from January to April 2019, as compared to the same period the year before, and deforestation enforcement actions are sharply down. The COVID-19 pandemic has further reduced enforcement of deforestation. "The Amazon and lesser-known Cerrado are incredibly vulnerable to the impacts of climate. How long these regions will be able to sustain agricultural production under changing land use is an essential question for Brazil and the world's food supply," added Spera.

Explore further Agriculture expansion could reduce rainfall in Brazil's Cerrado

More information: Brazilian maize yields negatively affected by climate after land clearing , Nature Sustainability (2020). www.nature.com/articles/s41893-020-0560-3 Journal information: Nature Sustainability Brazilian maize yields negatively affected by climate after land clearing ,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-0560-3
Image of Durrelle Scott and his graduate student taking water samples on the New River as part of his research that uses data to examine how climate change has impacted flooding in the U.S. Credit: Virginia Tech

There's a tendency in modern America to think of flooding as nothing but dangerous, a threat to homes, farms, roads, and bridges. But floodingwhen the waters of a river rise above the banks and inundate the nearby landis a natural phenomenon that benefits wildlife habitat and has been crucial for human civilizations ever since the first ones relied on the flooding of the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile rivers to irrigate their crops.

Durelle Scott, an associate professor of Biological Systems Engineering affiliate of the Global Change Center at Virginia Tech, is the lead author of a paper recently published in the academic journal Nature Communications that examines flooding in the continental United States in nearly unprecedented detail. Scott and his co-authors looked at what Scott calls "everyday" flooding in streams and rivers of all sizes, using data from 5,800 flood monitoring stations operated by the United States Geological Survey. With measurements typically taken every 15 minutes or every 30 minutes, that amounted to more than 2 billion individual measurements. For every station, the team performed 1,000 realizations of flooding thresholds to capture uncertainty, applying statistical techniques on a large computer server.

"The big picture is that flooding across the world is increasing with climate change, but not all flooding is bad and catastrophic," said Scott, who is in both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering. "We wanted to do an analysis where we captured the variability in annual flooding that occurs within small streams to larger rivers."

Most flood studies are focused on single river basins or geographic regions, he said. By studying the entire lower 48 states, Scott and his team can examine flooding in both large and small rivers and conclude the entire nation could better manage its floodplains.

Among the paper's findings: smaller streams flood more often than larger ones, but for shorter durations. The more frequent flooding means that smaller streams serve as a conduit between the landscape and the adjacent stream.

That's a mixed blessing: "Delivery of nutrients and sediment to floodplain environments is partially why you have very rich soils and agriculture set up along river systems," Scott said. But the movement of nutrients and sediment goes both ways, and when it moves from the floodplain into the river, it can be harmful to water users downstream.

"When excess nutrients get into a stream or river and are delivered downstream, you end up with algae blooms and the like, and that has implications whether it's related to human health or detrimental to commercial or recreational fisheries," Scott said.

One of Scott's findings is that the exchange of sediment and nutrients between rivers and floodplains depends not just on the levels of flooding, but on how long a flooding event lasts.

"If you have very short floods, you'll end up having more net delivery from the floodplain into a river than removal of a specific nutrient or sediment," Scott said. "That was unique in our study. We were able to quantify approximately how long water was on these floodplains and found for small streams the inundation is usually much less than a day, so there's not usually an opportunity for removal of nutrients."

This has implications for wetland restoration intended for water quality benefits. There has been much money and effort spent in recent decades to return rivers and floodplains to something resembling their natural state. This type of restoration, Scott said, must go beyond simply reconnecting a stream to a floodplain, by removing channels or levies that once contained the stream. If the water only tops the stream banks during high flows, flooding will be short and heavy, which could send more harmful material downstream. Instead, restoration within mid-sized rivers may produce more gradual flooding, to achieve what Scott called "the balance of optimal inundation time and nutrient supply for water quality benefits."

Scott's research could also have lessons for how we manage rivers to prevent catastrophic flooding. Serious flooding is certainly something to be prevented, but we may be over-protecting ourselves against moderate flooding to enable construction on low-lying floodplains.

"We've put in lots of levies to reduce infrastructure damage," Scott said. "The flipside is if you put up a levy in a town and a town downstream doesn't have as big of a levy, you're making it worse for the downstream community. With more frequent flooding on the horizon, future water management needs to balance economic development within flood-prone areas relative to the societal costs of post-flood reconstruction."

Explore further Study find delta helps to decrease the impact of river flooding

More information: Durelle T. Scott et al. Floodplain inundation spectrum across the United States, Nature Communications (2019). Journal information: Nature Communications Durelle T. Scott et al. Floodplain inundation spectrum across the United States,(2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13184-4
Credit: Ingela Skullman/Pixabay

In a new article in the Australian Journal of Management, researchers warn employers not to make hasty decisions in either dismissing or discounting the input of older workers.

"Employers are well known for targeting mature workers when downsizing their workforcebut this might be a costly mistake," says Dr. Valerie Caines.

She notes that governments can also overlook the value of older workers, as shown by the SA Government recently pulling its funding to DOME (the Don't Overlook Mature Experience training organization), which provided valuable support services to mature job seekers.

"A common mistake is to think of mature workers as all being the same," says Dr. Caines. "There is huge variation among mature workers' motivations, capabilities and needs. Their experience is especially valuable now, because mature workers can offer considerable value to an organization during a crisis and play an important role in helping a business progress to the 'next normal.'"

Dr. Caines says older workers may also hold the solution for filling employment gaps in organizations, due to diverse skill sets they have developed through their working life.

"Mature adults demonstrate considerable resilience," she says. "The aspect of role modeling resilience is an especially important influence on younger workers. It includes mature coping strategies, emotional intelligence and empathyand these attributes have never been more important in the workforce."

Dr. Caines says such resilience represents a key capability for workers engaged in the Fourth Industrial Revolution with the accelerating embrace of Artificial Intelligence, robotics and automation.

She emphasizes that mature workers can adapt to new work environments and there may be unexplored opportunities within organizations as they re-configure their workforce after COVID-19 disruptions. Addressing such changes may help provided clarity for mature workers wanting to know how they fit into the workforce in the future.

Another significant employment change in times of economic downturn is that entrepreneurship increases, especially among older people. Dr. Caines believes it is likely that many retrenched mature workers will look to self-employmentbut she also believes that such entrepreneurial endeavor should be harnessed within a company's workforce.

"Now, more than ever, organizations need intrapreneurship to find and address unseen opportunities," says Dr. Caines. "That knowledge and spark of inspiration may well come from older current employees, or older potential employees."

Dr. Caines says the employment sector must initiate greater planning and more structured policy that recognizes and specifically includes older workers.

"Our research is focusing on the ever-growing numbers of older workers and possible considerations for workplace practices and policies that make the most from the qualities older workers bring," she says.

To achieve such an improved use and retaining of older workers, more organizations need to have meaningful conversations about how older workers can contribute to the organization, and how best to accommodate individual needs.

Explore further Age discrimination laws don't protect older women as they do older men

More information: Valerie Dawn Caines et al. Older workers: Past, present and future, Australian Journal of Management (2020). Valerie Dawn Caines et al. Older workers: Past, present and future,(2020). DOI: 10.1177/0312896220918912
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Religious beliefs have shaped societal attitudes toward sexual minorities, with many religious denominations vocally opposing expanded sexual minority rights. Because of this stigmatization, lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals are less likely to affiliate with a religious groupbut research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Old Dominion University suggests they are not abandoning their faith altogether.

In a new study, sociologists Brandi Woodell and Philip Schwadel found that emerging adultsfrom adolescence to early adulthoodwith same-sex attraction are twice as likely to disaffiliate from organized religion than their heterosexual peers, but there was little change in prayer.

"I think that is something we expected, that there'd be a difference between affiliation on one hand and prayer on the other," said Schwadel, Happold Professor of Sociology at Nebraska. "In the previous research on adolescent religion, in particular, and in later adolescence or early emerging adulthood, we see a lot of declines in the organized aspects of religion, but we see less of a decline in prayer. Prayer is something people can often do on their own at home or wherever they want."

And, not in an environment that may be stigmatizing toward sexual minorities, the authors wrote in the paper.

The scholars used two longitudinal surveys, the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, and the National Study of Youth and Religion to examinefor the first timethese declines in religiosity over time for sexual minorities in emerging adulthood.

"Almost all previous research was cross-sectional, only looking at, 'do people who identify as gay or lesbianare their religious activities and beliefs different?'" Schwadel said. "It didn't look at how they change over time, especially during this stage of the life course, when individuals are really figuring out who they are."

The study also showed a significant difference in religiosity declines between gay and bisexual individuals, further demonstrating that sexual minorities are not a monolithic group.

Woodell, a 2018 Nebraska alumna and assistant professor of sociology at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, said this study joins a novel line of research examining the differences between bisexual, gay and lesbian individuals.

"Past research has most often combined sexual minorities into one group, and that was largely due to a lack of data that separated them, but some newer research has suggested there are differences, which led us to separate the groups out," Woodell said. "We found that those who identify as bisexual show a greater decline in their religious attendance than gay and lesbian individuals."

This difference could be explained by some research that has found bisexuals are less likely to be accepted than their gay counterparts, even in affirming denominations, Woodell said.

"There is newer research showing that bisexuals have experienced stigmatization in their congregation because their sexuality is viewed as a choice," Woodell said.

While the study found little change in prayer among the sexual minority groups, there was a small decline among bisexuals. Schwadel and Woodell said they are pursuing this research further, breaking down differences among gender.

"We're currently looking at how these things differ for men and women," Schwadel said. "We know that gender is strongly related to religiosity, and we expect that gender plays a role in terms of how sexuality is related to religious change."

Further research is also needed, they said, to examine how these declines in religiosity among lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals continue to change in later adulthood.

Explore further Social exclusion could lead to increase in alcohol use disorder in LGBTQ

More information: Brandi Woodell et al, Changes in Religiosity Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Emerging Adults, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (2020). Journal information: Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion Brandi Woodell et al, Changes in Religiosity Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Emerging Adults,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/jssr.12653
Initial forest loss at a gold mining site at Mahdia, Guyana 2016. Credit: Michelle Kalamandeen 2016

Gold mining significantly limits the regrowth of Amazon forests, greatly reducing their ability to accumulate carbon, according to a new study. The researchers warn that the impacts of mining on tropical forests are long-lasting and that active land management and restoration will be necessary to recover tropical forests on previously mined lands.

Gold mining has rapidly increased across the Amazon in recent years, especially along the Guiana Shield, where it is responsible for as much as 90% of total deforestation. The Shield encompasses Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Venezuela and small parts of Colombia and northern Brazil, and its forests hold roughly twenty billion tonnes of aboveground carbon in its trees.

The ability of tropical forests to recover from gold mining activities has remained largely unquantified. Now, an international study led by the University of Leeds is the first to provide detailed field-based information on the regeneration of forests in Guyana after gold mining, and the first ground-based estimate of carbon sink lost as a result of gold mining activities across the Amazon.

The team's findings, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, found that forest recovery rates on abandoned mining pits and tailing ponds are amongst the lowest ever recorded for tropical forests. At some sites there was nearly no tree regeneration even after three to four years since mining had stopped.

They estimate that mining-related deforestation results in the annual loss of over two million tons of forest carbon across the Amazon. The lack of forest regrowth observed following mining suggests that this lost carbon cannot be recovered through natural regeneration.

Lead author Dr. Michelle Kalamandeen, began this research as a postgraduate researcher in the School of Geography at Leeds she is now a postdoctoral researcher at Cambridge University. She said: "This study shows that tropical forests are strongly impacted by mining activities, and have very little capacity to re-establish themselves following mining.

"Our results clearly show the extraction process has stripped nitrogen from the soil, a critical component to forest recovery, and in many cases directly contributed to the presence of mercury within neighbouring forests and rivers. Active mining sites had on average 250 times more mercury concentrations than abandoned sites.

Tailing ponds established at mining site in Puruni region, Guyana. Credit: Michelle Kalamandeen 2016

"Not only does this have serious consequences for our battle against global warming by limiting Amazonian forests' ability to capture and store carbon, but there is also a larger implication of contaminating food sources especially for indigenous and local communities who rely on rivers.

"A positive finding from this study shows that overburden sites, areas where topsoil is deposited during the mining process, recorded similar recovery rates as other Central and South American secondary tropical forests abandoned after agriculture or pasture.

"Active management and enforcement of laws is clearly needed to ensure recovery and to safeguard communities and there are methods available, such as replacing the soil using the overburdens at abandoned sites. But there is an urgent need for large-scale recovery management to be tested and implemented.

"We could be facing a race against the clock. The current crisis is significantly increasing the demand for gold, given its perceived role as an economic stabiliser. With current gold price more than US$1700 per ounce and estimated to reach US$2000-3000 in the coming months, many artisanal and small-scale miners are already rapidly responding to this increase in pricing, and the weakening of environmental laws and policies as we've seen in Brazil, leading to further deforestation in the Amazon."

The team used forest inventory plots installed on recently abandoned mines in two major mining regions in Guyana, and re-censused the sites 18 months later. The study analysed soil samples and determined individual trees' above-ground biomassthe tree's living plant materialto determine recovery and chemical changes caused by mining.

Their results suggest that forest recovery is more strongly limited by severe mining-induced depletion of soil nutrients, especially nitrogen, rather than by mercury contamination. The high rate of mercury does however have serious implications for negative impacts on food security, water supply and local biodiversity.

Study co-author, Dr. David Galbraith, Associate Professor in Earth System Dynamics at Leeds, said: "Currently approximately 1.3 million square kilometres of the Amazon is under prospecting for mining activities.

Tailing pond and mining pit established during gold mining at Mahdia, Guyana. Credit: Michelle Kalamandeen 2017

"This research provides support to local and national governance structures to critically approach policy implementation and development for land management, including how and where mining occurs, and more stringent monitoring and action for forest recovery. It shows that carefully planned active restoration projects will be critical in this regard.

"But responsibility lies beyond remediation efforts to mitigate the damage done. Investors and consumers alike need increased awareness and accountability of the environmental footprints of gold mining."

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) who supported the fieldwork are optimistic that the results from this research will help in making more informed decisions for their reclamation policies and programmes, monitoring and enforcement.

Mr Newell Dennison, Commissioner of the GGMC said: "The research results showed two important aspects: that overburden areas recovered relatively well and there was limited recovery in mining pits and tailing ponds. The latter being areas where we need improved management. The more data we can accumulate for recovery of secondary forests in mined out areas, the better we are all positioned for the implementation of effective programmes and operations that aid in the recovery of our rainforests. We look forward to working with Dr. Kalamandeen and her team in the future."

The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) expressed gratitude and appreciation to the research team for the important and impressive empirical work done in [this] paper.

Mr Gavin Agard, Commissioner of the GFC said: "We expect that this scientific work has greatly improved Guyana's baseline and understanding of the forest degradation impacts of mining with respect to biomass recovery and sets a foundation for more dynamic, focused studies to advise planning and policy for improving secondary forest growth and restoring biomass capacity.

"The findings and recommendations from this study will significantly impact policy and management strategies for forest restoration and rehabilitation in mined-out areas, which is a key objective for Guyana under the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC.

"The contribution of deforestation and degradation to climate change cannot be ignored, and thus we welcome the contributions of this research team to build and improve our communal knowledge and understanding of our changing forests as we continue to pursue the highest standards of sustainable forestry in Guyana."

Explore further Amazon suffering 'epidemic' of illegal gold mines

More information: Michelle Kalamandeen et al, Limited biomass recovery from gold mining in Amazonian forests, Journal of Applied Ecology (2020). Journal information: Journal of Applied Ecology Michelle Kalamandeen et al, Limited biomass recovery from gold mining in Amazonian forests,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13669
Para-aramid nanofiber sheets atop Twaron sheets after fragment simulation projectile testing. Credit: Grant Gonzalez/Harvard SEAS

Since World War I, the vast majority of American combat casualties has come not from gunshot wounds but from explosions. Today, most soldiers wear a heavy, bullet-proof vest to protect their torso but much of their body remains exposed to the indiscriminate aim of explosive fragments and shrapnel.

Designing equipment to protect extremities against the extreme temperatures and deadly projectiles that accompany an explosion has been difficult because of a fundamental property of materials. Materials that are strong enough to protect against ballistic threats can't protect against extreme temperatures and vice versa. As a result, much of today's protective equipment is composed of multiple layers of different materials, leading to bulky, heavy gear that, if worn on the arms and legs, would severely limit a soldier's mobility.

Now, Harvard University researchers, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (CCDC SC) and West Point, have developed a lightweight, multifunctional nanofiber material that can protect wearers from both extreme temperatures and ballistic threats.

The research is published in the journal Matter.

"When I was in combat in Afghanistan, I saw firsthand how body armor could save lives," said senior author Kit Parker, the Tarr Family Professor of Bioengineering and Applied Physics at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve. "I also saw how heavy body armor could limit mobility. As soldiers on the battlefield, the three primary tasks are to move, shoot, and communicate. If you limit one of those, you decrease survivability and you endanger mission success."

"Our goal was to design a multifunctional material that could protect someone working in an extreme environment, such as an astronaut, firefighter or soldier, from the many different threats they face," said Grant M. Gonzalez, a postdoctoral fellow at SEAS and first author of the paper.

Harvard University researchers, in collaboration with the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (CCDC SC) and West Point, have developed a lightweight, multifunctional nanofiber material that can protect wearers from both extreme temperatures and ballistic threats. Credit: Grant Gonzalez/Harvard SEAS

In order to achieve this practical goal, the researchers needed to explore the tradeoff between mechanical protection and thermal insulation, properties rooted in a material's molecular structure and orientation.

Materials with strong mechanical protection, such as metals and ceramics, have a highly ordered and aligned molecular structure. This structure allows them to withstand and distribute the energy of a direct blow. Insulating materials, on the other hand, have a much less ordered structure, which prevents the transmission of heat through the material.

Kevlar and Twaron are commercial products used extensively in protective equipment and can provide either ballistic or thermal protection, depending on how they are manufactured. Woven Kevlar, for example, has a highly aligned crystalline structure and is used in protective bulletproof vests. Porous Kevlar aerogels, on the other hand, have been shown to have high thermal insulation.

"Our idea was to use this Kevlar polymer to combine the woven, ordered structure of fibers with the porosity of aerogels to make long, continuous fibers with porous spacing in between," said Gonzalez. "In this system, the long fibers could resist a mechanical impact while the pores would limit heat diffusion."

The research team used immersion Rotary Jet-Spinning (iRJS), a technique developed by Parker's Disease Biophysics Group, to manufacture the fibers. In this technique, a liquid polymer solution is loaded into a reservoir and pushed out through a tiny opening by centrifugal force as the device spins. When the polymer solution shoots out of the reservoir, it first passes through an area of open air, where the polymers elongate and the chains align. Then the solution hits a liquid bath that removes the solvent and precipitates the polymers to form solid fibers. Since the bath is also spinninglike water in a salad spinnerthe nanofibers follow the stream of the vortex and wrap around a rotating collector at the base of the device.

By tuning the viscosity of the liquid polymer solution, the researchers were able to spin long, aligned nanofibers into porous sheetsproviding enough order to protect against projectiles but enough disorder to protect against heat. In about 10 minutes, the team could spin sheets about 10 by 30 centimeters in size.

Para-aramid nanofibers provide mechanical strength with void or empty space limit heat diffusion Credit: Grant Gonzalez/Harvard SEAS

To test the sheets, the Harvard team turned to their collaborators to perform ballistic tests. Researchers at CCDC SC in Natick, Massachusetts simulated shrapnel impact by shooting large, BB-like projectiles at the sample. The team performed tests by sandwiching the nanofiber sheets between sheets of woven Twaron. They observed little difference in protection between a stack of all woven Twaron sheets and a combined stack of woven Twaron and spun nanofibers.

"The capabilities of the CCDC SC allow us to quantify the successes of our fibers from the perspective of protective equipment for warfighters, specifically," said Gonzalez.

"Academic collaborations, especially those with distinguished local universities such as Harvard, provide CCDC SC the opportunity to leverage cutting-edge expertise and facilities to augment our own R&D capabilities," said Kathleen Swana, a researcher at CCDC SC and one of the paper's authors. "CCDC SC, in return, provides valuable scientific and soldier-centric expertise and testing capabilities to help drive the research forward."

In testing for thermal protection, the researchers found that the nanofibers provided 20 times the heat insulation capability of commercial Twaron and Kevlar.

"While there are improvements that could be made, we have pushed the boundaries of what's possible and started moving the field towards this kind of multifunctional material," said Gonzalez.

"We've shown that you can develop highly protective textiles for people that work in harm's way," said Parker. "Our challenge now is to evolve the scientific advances to innovative products for my brothers and sisters in arms."

Harvard's Office of Technology Development has filed a patent application for the technology and is actively seeking commercialization opportunities.
With the nation deeply polarized, research by David Broockman and Joshua Kalla has found that advocates for hot-button issues can improve their chances of changing an opponents mind when they ask questions, listen sincerely and engage them with stories. Credit: Tania Liu via Flickr | CC BY-ND 2.0

The nation is locked in a state of polarization unprecedented in the past half-century, with deep, volatile divisions around issues of politics, race, religion and the environment. These issues can split families, break friendships and create enormous stress in communitiesand yet, having a constructive discussion about the disagreements often seems impossible.

If you're trying to persuade someone on the other side of that chasm, UC Berkeley political scientist David Broockman says that, chances are, you're going about it the wrong way. In a series of studies over the past five years, he has found insights that contradict much of what we think we know about engaging those who disagree with us.

When it comes to changing someone's feelings about issues, he says, data are less compelling than human stories. Listening is more powerful than just talking. Accepting the other person, even if their ideas feel offensive, may open the door to constructive dialog.

"It's really hard to change people's minds," Broockman said in a recent interview. "When we talk about persuasion, we talk so much about how to make the most effective arguments, the most effective talking points. But we don't talk so much about how to be a good listener, or about how to make people comfortable in talking to you and hearing from you."

The ideas are counterintuitive. But the studies done by Broockman and Joshua Kalla, a former Berkeley Ph.D. student now on the faculty at Yale University, are backed by data collected in extensive fieldwork, and they've won attention for bringing new understanding to the art and science of political persuasion, where traditional tools don't seem to work.

Their key work has focused on transgender rights and on immigration, two flashpoints in the nation's culture wars, and they could be valuable across a range of our most rancorous debates, from racial justice to climate change and the November election. While their findings are not a cure-allfar from it, Broockman saysthey could offer a path to reduced tension and improved dialog for a sorely divided nation.

Inspired by painful personal experience

In some senses, the idea is not far from the "how to win friends" nostrums of Dale Carnegie in the mid-20th century, or from some schools of modern psychotherapy. But Broockman's work rose from his experience as a young gay man growing up in Texas.

During his high school years, he attended a mock state government program with other students, many of them conservative, and found a climate of what he called "super-rampant homophobia." In the same period, Texas voters approved a ban on same-sex marriage.

"I was a white, upper-middle class kid who could have had every privilege in the world," he recalled. "And then, all of a sudden, I realized there's this big asterisk on that. It's of course not the same as if I were a person of color, but it did give me insight into what it's like to be on the wrong end of an important power relationship."

From that experience rose his interest in political engagementand in trying to understand people's attitudes.

He earned his bachelor's degree from Yale University in 2011, and his Ph.D. from Berkeley in 2015. After four years on the faculty at Stanford University, he returned to Berkeley this year as an associate professor. And while he has published widely on government, elections and discrimination, persuasion has been a central focus.

Political campaigns are, of course, exercises in shaping opinion, and billions of dollars are spent on that goal. But a 2018 study by Broockman and Kalla shows that such campaigns are often an exercise in futility. After reviewing 49 published studies on political opinion and persuasion, they came to a stark conclusion: "The best estimate of the effects of campaign contact and advertising on Americans' candidates choices in general elections is zero."

In other words, persuasion by conventional means in most partisan political campaigns is very rare.

But studies published in 2016 and earlier this year show Broockman and Kalla exploring unconventional means, and it's here that they broke new ground.

Human connection through deep canvassing

In a polarized climate, on issues of existential importance, it can be difficult even to hear opinions that contradict our ownon issues such as same-sex marriage, for example, or climate change, or Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump. It seems offensive that someone doesn't see the world as we do, and there's a tendency to correct them, to tell them they're not just wrong, but deplorable.

Expressing such frustration may provide emotional relief, but it's not likely to persuade. In fact, it can make people harden their existing views.

For a 2016 study published in Science, Broockman and Kalla worked with the Los Angeles LGBT Center and SAVE, a South Florida LGBT organization, on a field assessment of voter attitudes toward a new Miami-area law protecting transgender people. One group of door-to-door canvassers, a control group, said nothing to residents about transphobia.

But another group engaged in "deep canvassing," a process based on asking sensitive questions, listening to the answers with sincere interest and then asking more questions. If residents expressed bias toward transgender people, the canvasser might ask them to recall a time when they were treated unfairly for being different and what that felt like.

The outcome? "These conversations substantially reduced transphobia, with decreases greater than Americans' average decrease in homophobia from 1998 to 2012," the research found. In effect, about 10% of the deep canvassing respondents shifted toward a more sympathetic view of transgender rights, with effects lasting for at least three months.

A second study, published this year, confirmed the 2016 research on transgender rights and showed that this two-way exchange was key to a conversation's effectiveness. The study also added additional fieldwork on undocumented immigrantsand again, the deep canvassing had a substantial effect, even though it was conducted during the heat of the 2018 U.S. Congressional election.

Among residents who were not asked about immigration, 29% supported pro-immigrant policies. But for those who were engaged in the reflection and storytelling of deep canvassing, the number rose to 33%; respondents were far more likely to say, for example, that undocumented immigrants should receive legal support and should not have to live in fear of deportation. Again, the impact was durable, lasting three months or more.

"I think, in today's world, many communities have a call-out culture," Broockman told Vox. "Twitter is obviously full of the notion that what we should do is condemn those who disagree with us. What we can now say, experimentally, (is that) the key to the success of these conversations is doing the exact opposite of that."

When people get defensive, they resist

Why does deep canvassing work? Broockman offered a possible explanation:

Political and cultural opinions, including biases, are so deeply ingrained that they are part of our core identities. People almost universally want to do the right thing, and they want to be associated with groups that do the right thing. When that rightness is challenged, it's a threat to their core identity.

"People don't like to be told they're wrong," he explained. "So when people hear something that contrasts with their self-image, they immediately start generating counter-arguments."

Deep canvassing short-circuits that dynamic. Instead of presenting facts and data, or value judgments, he said, "you ask questions, dig in, make it a kind of collaborative dialog where you're genuinely open-minded. And then you might find that the other person is more able to be open-minded."

That's where sharing stories becomes important. "People want to listen to stories," Broockman continued. "They kind of suspend their disbelief. They say, 'Alright, I'm hearing a story, I want to get into it. I'm not going to treat this like an argument where I need to counterpunch. This is just someone sharing their authentic experience with me. And then, I'm going to kind of reach my own conclusions.'"

Because bias toward LGBTQ people or other groups can be deeply rooted in identity, this more compassionate approach to persuasion reduces the sense of threat. "Actually changing attitudes is going to require an approach that's not just based on statistics or arguments," Broockman said, "but on stories that humanize those groups."

An expanding sense of possibility

Even with deep canvassing, shifting opinions is difficult. Race-based prejudice is freighted with a long, shameful history, and Broockman predicts that will be especially resistant to change.

Still, he's hopeful. In his research on immigration, deep canvassing produced a gain of four percentage pointsthat's not much, but in a close election, four points can turn defeat to victory. He also sees possible applications for this approach across a range of issues and elections.

Broockman made another observation about conducting the researchone that was informal, but essential: Deep canvassing also opened canvassers' minds to substantive conversations about difficult issues with those who disagreed with them. Just as the vast majority of voters willingly had such conversations, canvassers trained in the technique were eager to keep having them, too.

That appetite on both sides can create the conditions for change. And it suggests that individuals, too, can use principles of deep canvassing to engage with family and friends trying to build a bridge across the divide.

"We live in an age of righteous indignation toward those who disagree with us," Broockman said. "It's on all sides, in so many current social debates.  But a lot of that can get tempered when you actually meet and engage with the people who disagree with you. It's work, and it can be difficult. But what we gain from that, in addition to advocating for our causes, is realizing that we might have more in common than we think."

More information: Kalla et al. Reducing Exclusionary Attitudes through Interpersonal Conversation: Evidence from Three Field Experiments, American Political Science Review (2020). Journal information: Science , American Political Science Review Kalla et al. Reducing Exclusionary Attitudes through Interpersonal Conversation: Evidence from Three Field Experiments,(2020). DOI: 10.1017/S0003055419000923
The unnamed cub was born on Sunday, the zoo said

A giant panda gifted by China to Taiwan has given birth to a second female cub after being artificially inseminated, Taipei Zoo announced Monday.

Yuan Yuan and her partner Tuan Tuan have been top attractions since arriving from China in 2008 as a symbol of what were then warm relations between the two sides.

The unnamed cub, weighing 186 grammes, was born on Sunday after a five-hour labour, the zoo said.

"We were hoping the mother could look after the cub. But Yuan Yuan was probably very tired from the birth... so after evaluation we decided to remove the cub" to be fed by caretakers, the zoo said in a statement.

It added that the newborn cub was in stable condition after being treated for a minor injury to its back.

Yuan Yuan gave birth to a daughter Yuan Zai in 2013the first giant panda born in Taiwan.

Beijing usually only loans its pandas, and any progeny must be sent to China.

But in a rare departure from that protocol, Taiwan was allowed to keep Yuan Zai as her parents were a gift, according to Taipei officials.

China's decision to give Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan to Taiwan was a symbolic gesture when the self-ruled island was run by a Beijing-friendly Kuomintang administration.

Fewer than 1,600 pandas remain in the wild

Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan arrived in Taiwan in 2008

"Tuanyuan"a combination of the Chinese characters of the pandas' namesmeans "reunion" or "unity".

The pair's arrival sparked a panda mania on the island, especially after Yuan Zai's birth.

Taiwan and China have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949 and Beijing has vowed to one day bring the island back into the fold, by force if necessary.

Since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wenwho views Taiwan as a de facto sovereign state and not part of "One China"Beijing has ramped up military, economic and diplomatic pressure.

Fewer than 1,600 pandas remain in the wild, mainly in Sichuan province, with about 300 in captivity around the world.

Explore further Panda cub, mother reunited at Taiwan zoo

 2020 AFP
Credit: Shutterstock.com

How do different types of households respond to economic volatility?

A recent paper by University of Chicago economists shows that income shockssudden but temporary reductions in incomeaffect Black and Hispanic households more strongly than their white counterparts, as a result of the persistent racial and ethnic wealth gap in the United States.

Using a dataset linking bank account data with voter registration records containing race and ethnicity, Assoc. Prof. Damon Jones and Asst. Prof. Peter Ganong of the Harris School of Public Policyalong with Asst. Prof. Pascal Noel of Chicago Boothwere able to examine household spending behaviors with unprecedented levels of specificity. Their findings revealed how Black, Hispanic and white households behave differently when faced with sudden income reductionssuch as those precipitated by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"Race and ethnicity are significant predictors of the degree to which households cut spending in response to income shocks," Jones said, "and the differences in wealth between these groups appear to be an important factor in driving these differences."

An expert on public and household finance, Jones appeared June 23 before the House Budget Committee, testifying on how COVID-19 has exacerbated existing social inequality in America. Jones cited the recent research during the hearing, suggesting that the pandemic will have disproportionate impacts on households with the lowest levels of liquid assets. "While it may seem that the current crisis calls on all of us to make sacrifices, not all households have to tighten their belts equally," he said.

Examining the spending patterns of 20 million households from October 2012 through April 2018, the working paper finds that Black and Hispanic households appear less able to engage in "consumption smoothing" to maintain their lifestyle habits when faced with a sudden reduction of income. Economists use the term "consumption smoothing" to describe the behavior of an individual or a household to balance spending and saving so that their standard of livingas measured by consumptioncan stay consistent in times when income is volatile.

"On average, in comparison to white households, Hispanic households responded to income shocks with a 20% greater reduction in consumption while Black households responded with a 50% greater reduction," said Ganong, an expert on income volatility. "This is a significant finding for policymakers to consider as the economic crisis unfolds, particularly in light of how to date it has disproportionately affected minority racial and ethnic communities."

The paper is part of a broader research effort conducted in partnership with the JPMorgan Chase Institute, which explores racial gaps in financial outcomes.

The researchers find that the larger effects of income disruptions on Black and Hispanic households are likely explained by the ethnic and racial wealth gapthe difference between the accumulated assets of white and non-white households. Although they conclude that Black and Hispanic households do behave differently than white households, they also find that these differences largely disappear when controlled for wealth, as estimated through liquid assets.

The research also explores the effect of income shocks on household welfare as calculated by a combination of consumption and income. The study finds that eliminating the shock would result in a welfare gain that is 46% to 56% higher for Black households and 22% to 32% higher for Hispanic households in comparison to white households. These findings diverge from previous literature that assumes the effect of income shocks on welfare to be zero.

This study focuses on the typical income shocks that may be caused by temporarily reduced hours, seasonal variation or other typical variations that affect wage-earners, and helps to shed light on how the wealth gap affects short-term, month-to-month financial behavior.

"These findings have important implications for any policy that aims to mitigate the impact of income volatility and to reduce economic inequality between racial and ethnic groups," Ganong and Jones emphasized.

Explore further Racial wealth gap worse for families with children

More information: Peter Ganong et al. Wealth, Race, and Consumption Smoothing of Typical Income Shocks, SSRN Electronic Journal (2020). Peter Ganong et al. Wealth, Race, and Consumption Smoothing of Typical Income Shocks,(2020). DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3583707
Pseudotargeted metabolomics method is a new method integrating the advantages of untargeted and targeted metabolomics methods. Credit: WANG Ting

A research group led by Prof. Xu Guowang from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed a protocol by systematically summarizing and upgrading the pseudotargeted metabolomics method.

The study was published in Nature Protocols on June 24.

Metabolomics is the science of studying endogenous metabolites. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry is the most widely used analytical tool.

There are mainly two kinds of analysis strategies: untargeted method and targeted method.

The untargeted method uses high-resolution mass spectrometry to obtain abundant metabolite information, with disadvantages of complex data handling, poor repeatability, and narrow linear range.

The targeted method uses triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Although data quality is improved, only known metabolites can be detected.

Prof. Xu's group firstly proposed the idea of pseudotargeted metabolomics in 2012. Its innovation lies in a quantitative ions selection algorithm. Both known and unknown metabolites in samples can be measured by using the retention time locking gas chromatography-mass spectrometry- selected ions monitoring. It merges the advantages of untargeted and targeted metabolomics methods.

The idea was extended to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in 2013. In the subsequent works, Xu's group further developed software to automatically select ion-pairs to improve the efficiency of method establishment.

On this basis, in order to increase the number of ion-pairs included in the method and improve metabolite coverage, a pseudotargeted metabolomics method based on the sequential windowed acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion was developed.

In their latest work, in order to further improve the coverage, a pseudotargeted method was developed based on a two-dimensional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system with high peak capacity. It can be used to separate and analyze amino acids, bile acids, carnitine, and lysophospholipids, etc.

These methods have played an active role in the studies of malignant tumors, diabetes and other metabolic diseases. The pseudotargeted methods and idea have also been used by other laboratories.

At present, high-coverage quantitative/semiquantitative metabolomics methods are receiving more and more attention in different fields of life sciences, and the pseudotargeted method will play an increasingly important role in the future.

Prof. Xu's group has further optimized the development procedures of pseudotargeted metabolomics, upgraded and provided open-accessed software and tools to allow more colleagues to use the pseudotargeted method.

Explore further Researchers propose a new, quick way to detect coronavirus

More information: Fujian Zheng et al. Development of a plasma pseudotargeted metabolomics method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatographymass spectrometry, Nature Protocols (2020). Journal information: Nature Protocols Fujian Zheng et al. Development of a plasma pseudotargeted metabolomics method based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatographymass spectrometry,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-0341-5
Scientists on the Global Reef Expedition research mission to the Solomon Islands conducted over 1,000 standardized surveys of coral reefs and reef fish and created maps for over 3,000 square kilometers of coastal marine habitats in the Solomon Islands. Credit: Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation/Ken Marks

Scientists at the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF) have published a report on the status of coral reefs in the Solomon Islands. Released today, the Global Reef Expedition: Solomon Islands Final Report summarizes the foundation's findings from a monumental research mission to study corals and reef fish in the Solomon Islands and provides recommendations on how to preserve these precious ecosystems into the future.

Over the course of five years, KSLOF's Global Reef Expedition circumnavigated the globe collecting valuable baseline data on coral reefs to address the coral reef crisis. In 2014, the Global Reef Expedition arrived in the Solomon Islands, where an international team of scientists, local experts, and government officials spent more than a month at sea surveying the reefs and creating detailed habitat and bathymetric maps of the seafloor. Together, they conducted over 1,000 standardized surveys of coral reefs and reef fish in the Western, Isabel, and Temotu Provinces, and created maps for over 3,000 km2 of coastal marine habitats in the Solomon Islands.

What they found were impressive reefs covered with abundant and diverse coral communities, but few fish. Most of the big fish were gone, and many of the nearshore reefs appeared to be overfished. There was also evidence of damage to reefs from a prior tsunami, and scars on the reef from predatory crown-of-thorns starfish, which had eaten away large patches of living coral.

Reefs in the Solomon Islands were covered with abundant and diverse coral communities, but few fish. Most of the big fish were gone, and many of the nearshore reefs appeared to be overfished. Credit: Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation/Ken Marks

"Our most alarming finding was the overall lack of fish, particularly on reefs near coastal communities," said Renee Carlton, a Marine Ecologist at the Living Oceans Foundation and lead author on the report. "Overfishing not only impacts on the amount of fish on the reef, but it also impacts the coral community as well as people who rely on the fish for food and income. By prioritizing local management and taking steps now to protect the reefs and reduce fishing pressure, the long-term sustainability of the reefs in the Solomon Islands can be improved to be used well into the future."

Although several years have passed since the expedition, the data from this research mission will be critical for monitoring changes to the reefs over time. Data from the research mission can also inform management plans to conserve critical marine habitats in the Solomon Islands and help marine managers identify which areas may require additional protection.

Many of the sites visited on the expedition were remote and under-studied, so not much was known about the state of these reefs before this research mission. Because Prince Khaled bin Sultan donated the use of yachtthe M/Y Golden Shadowfor the Global Reef Expedition, the research team was able to access remote and otherwise inaccessible research sites far from port. These remote reefs in the Solomon Islands were generally healthier and in better shape than those near coastal communities and had some of the highest coral diversity observed anywhere on the Global Reef Expedition.

The Global Reef Expedition: Solomon Islands Final Report summarizes the foundation's findings from a monumental research mission to study corals and reef fish in the Solomon Islands and provides recommendations on how to preserve these precious ecosystems into the future. Credit: Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation

"The coral communities on reefs surrounding the Solomon Islands were simply stunning. It was a privilege for the Living Oceans Foundation to visit them and collect a broad portfolio of data, in the field and from satellite, which can be used to set a baseline condition for the country's reefs against which change can be tracked," said Dr. Sam Purkis, KSLOF's Chief Scientist as well as Professor and Chair of the Department of Marine Geosciences at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

Dr. Purkis and his team used a combination of satellite data, depth soundings, and field observations to make detailed maps of the reef down to a 2-square-meter scale. These are some of the highest-resolution bathymetric and habitat maps ever created of the Solomon Islands. They identify the location and extent of reefs surveyed by KSLOF in the Solomon Islands, as well as other important coastal marine habitats such as mangrove forests and seagrass beds. These maps can be explored on the foundation's website at LOF.org, and can also be used by marine managers, scientists, and conservation organizations to track changes to the reefs over time.

"This report provides the people of the Solomon Islands with relevant information and recommendations they can use to effectively manage their reefs and coastal marine resources," said Alexandra Dempsey, the Director of Science Management at KSLOF and one of the report's authors. "Our goal at the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is to provide people with data and scientific knowledge to protect, conserve, and restore their marine ecosystems. We hope this research will encourage the Solomon Islands to consider robust marine conservation and management efforts to protect their coral reefs and nearshore fisheries before it is too late."

Explore further Report on New Caledonia's coral reefs offers a glimmer of hope for the future

More information: Global Reef Expedition: Solomon Islands Final Report: Global Reef Expedition: Solomon Islands Final Report: t3g9m2b3.rocketcdn.me/wp-conte  nds-Final-Report.pdf

Provided by Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Rainfall after fire brings immediate relief but the environmental effects can sometimes be as significant as the fire itself.

Edith Cowan University (ECU) environmental experts Professor Pierre Horwitz and Dr. Dave Blake are investigating the long-term impacts of water supply contamination after fire has swept through a region.

Over the next four years in collaboration with the Water Corporation, the ECU researchers will lead a comprehensive investigation of forested water catchments in the Perth Hills from Mundaring Weir to Collie.

Dr. Blake said that water quality is not at the forefront of people's minds during the management of a fire, but this could result in problems with community's water supply for years.

"After vegetation cover is burned, and the soil is scorched, what's left is the concentrated and chemically transformed ash, exposed and vulnerable to wind and water erosion. Heavy rainfall will wash this ash, topsoil and incompletely burned vegetation into streams and water reservoirs," he said.

"All of this eroded matter is accompanied by dissolved organic compounds, carcinogens and heavy metals from the soil that are exposed and concentrated after a fire. Water treatment plants aren't set up to deal with this sort of contamination and can suspend water supply if faced with this sort of contamination."

Lessons from Yarloop

The ECU team completed an initial study in the Yarloop region in South West WA after the devastating bushfire destroyed more than 69,000 hectares of land in 2016.

Professor Horwitz said water was one of the big concerns of the Yarloop community after the megafire.

"After the danger had passed Yarloop residents were looking for immediate guidance on how to protect their water assets from the effects of the fire. So, having a better understanding of the long-term consequences for water would be a powerful tool to help to guide fire management protocol," he said.

Investigations in Yarloop helped researchers map erosion hotspots and variable fire risk to determine potential contamination risks around water catchments.

"We found that in this region erosion was particularly harsh on steep terrain where the fire had been very severe," Dr. Blake said.

"Now we want to expand our work to a wider region, and consider land after fires of different burn intensities, like prescribed burns and wildfires, and wherever possible, collect pre-fire and fire history information as well."

Professor Horwitz said the research would lead to tools for environmental managers to apply in their areas to prevent post-fire erosion and subsequent water contamination.

"By factoring in the land topography, fire severity and rain intensity we can identify how long it takes burnt material to make its way into reservoirs used for water supply, then perhaps we can prevent the contamination altogether," he said.

"Understanding why some areas are particularly vulnerable will tell us where to go, and when and how, to stop particular sources of contamination from soil erosion after a fire."

Assessment of post-wildfire erosion risk and effects on water quality in south-western Australia and can be read here in the International Journal of Wildland Fire.

Explore further Bushfires and storms threaten water supply and much more

More information: David Blake et al. Assessment of post-wildfire erosion risk and effects on water quality in south-western Australia, International Journal of Wildland Fire (2020). David Blake et al. Assessment of post-wildfire erosion risk and effects on water quality in south-western Australia,(2020). DOI: 10.1071/WF18123
Hunting African lions is controversial but is legal in Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Mozambique. Credit: Alex Braczkowski

Griffith University scientists have revealed the devastating effects a trophy hunting ban will have on wildlife conservation and livelihoods in Africa. Although controversial, the practice of trophy hunting conserves land that wouldn't otherwise be protected.

Dr. Duan Biggs, leader of the Resilient Conservation Research Group at the Environmental Futures Research Institute worked with a group of international collaborators to investigate the effect a trophy hunting ban would have on South African landowners, who hold the majority of the hunting market in Africa.

In an article published this week in The Conversation, the researchers stress the timeliness and importance of their findings in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated the African tourism economy.

"Trophy hunting is facing increasing pressure due to perceptions as being grotesque and morally reprehensible, with many groups calling for a complete ban," Dr. Biggs said.

Hunters from the U.S., Russia, Spain and other global locations travel across the continent to hunt animals from the size of small antelope to 200 kg male lions.

Dr. Biggs and colleagues' research suggest that, despite its negative perception, trophy hunting conserves broad swathes of land that would not otherwise be protected. These areas contribute about USD$ 200 million annually to African economies, supporting millions of livelihoods.

"Our study explored how private landowners would respond to a legislative hunting ban being lobbied for by several NGO's and international governments," said Dr. Hayley Clements, a member the Center for Complex Systems in Transition at the University of Stellenbosch.

"Private conservation land, where trophy hunting occurs, comprise about 14-17% of South Africa, that's more conservation land than in national parks," said Dr. Alta De Vos from Rhodes University, who co-led the study.

"This hunting land is critically important as it provides linkages between private and public conservation areas, and funds further conservation efforts. It turns out that about two thirds of landowners in South Africa would move away from a wildlife-based land use if trophy hunting is banned," Dr. Biggs said.

Dr. Biggs and his colleagues then asked whether ecotourism could be a viable alternative to trophy hunting.

Their study of South African private conservation landowners found a switch to photographic tourism wasn't feasible for the majority, due to the financial constraints related to entering and competing in an already saturated tourism market.

"High-end photographic safaris are often touted as an alternative solution to trophy hunting, but only one third of our 22 respondents said that they would switch to photo safaris or intensify the wildlife viewing they already have," said Kim Parker, co-lead researcher from Rhodes University.

"Evidence shows that hunters will travel to politically unstable and risky destinations to hunt, and severing limited funding in an already strained system would be catastrophic for both wildlife conservation and livelihoods in many parts of Africa," said Dr. Biggs.

"Advocacy groups and the policy makers they're pressuring to end all trophy hunting need to consider these potential ramifications of hunting bans, especially in the current COVID-19 climate. Alternative revenue streams and transition plans must be developed with landholders and communities where hunting is a key source of income to sustain both conservation land use and livelihoods before the implementation of any ban."

Explore further What does trophy hunting contribute to wild lion conservation?

More information: Kim Parker et al. Impacts of a trophy hunting ban on private land conservation in South African biodiversity hotspots, Conservation Science and Practice (2020). Kim Parker et al. Impacts of a trophy hunting ban on private land conservation in South African biodiversity hotspots,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/csp2.214
This Arctic heat wave has been unusually long-lived. The darkest reds on this map of the Arctic are areas that were more than 14 degrees Fahrenheit warmer in the spring of 2020 compared to the recent 15-year average. Credit: Joshua Stevens/NASA Earth Observatory

The Arctic heat wave that sent Siberian temperatures soaring to around 100 degrees Fahrenheit on the first day of summer put an exclamation point on an astonishing transformation of the Arctic environment that's been underway for about 30 years.

As long ago as the 1890s, scientists predicted that increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would lead to a warming planet, particularly in the Arctic, where the loss of reflective snow and sea ice would further warm the region. Climate models have consistently pointed to "Arctic amplification" emerging as greenhouse gas concentrations increase.

Well, Arctic amplification is now here in a big way. The Arctic is warming at roughly twice the rate of the globe as a whole. When extreme heat waves like this one strike, it stands out to everyone. Scientists are generally reluctant to say "We told you so," but the record shows that we did.

As director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center and an Arctic climate scientist who first set foot in the far North in 1982, I've had a front-row seat to watch the transformation.

Arctic heat waves are happening more oftenand getting stuck

Arctic heat waves now arrive on top of an already warmer planet, so they're more frequent than they used to be.

Western Siberia recorded its hottest spring on record this year, according the EU's Copernicus Earth Observation Program, and that unusual heat isn't expected to end soon. The Arctic Climate Forum has forecast above-average temperatures across the majority of the Arctic through at least August.

Arctic temperatures have been rising faster than the global average. This map shows the average change in degrees Celsius from 1960 to 2019. Credit: NASA-GISS

Why is this heat wave sticking around? No one has a full answer yet, but we can look at the weather patterns around it.

As a rule, heat waves are related to unusual jet stream patterns, and the Siberian heat wave is no different. A persistent northward swing of the jet stream has placed the area under what meteorologists call a "ridge." When the jet stream swings northward like this, it allows warmer air into the region, raising the surface temperature.

Some scientists expect rising global temperatures to influence the jet stream. The jet stream is driven by temperature contrasts. As the Arctic warms more quickly, these contrasts shrink, and the jet stream can slow.

Is that what we're seeing right now? We don't yet know.

Swiss cheese sea ice and feedback loops

We do know that we're seeing significant effects from this heat wave, particularly in the early loss of sea ice.

The ice along the shores of Siberia has the appearance of Swiss cheese right now in satellite images, with big areas of open water that would normally still be covered. The sea ice extent in the Laptev Sea, north of Russia, is the lowest recorded for this time of year since satellite observations began.

The loss of sea ice also affects the temperature, creating a feedback loop. Earth's ice and snow cover reflect the Sun's incoming energy, helping to keep the region cool. When that reflective cover is gone, the dark ocean and land absorb the heat, further raising the surface temperature.

Sea surface temperatures are already unusually high along parts of the Siberian Coast, and the warm ocean waters will lead to more melting.

The risks of thawing permafrost

On land, a big concern is warming permafrostthe perennially frozen ground that underlies most Arctic terrain.

When permafrost thaws under homes and bridges, infrastructure can sink, tilt and collapse. Alaskans have been contending with this for several years. Near Norilsk, Russia, thawing permafrost was blamed for an oil tank collapse in late May that spilled thousands of tons of oil into a river.

A satellite image shows the Norilsk oil spill flowing into neighboring rivers. The collapse of a giant fuel tank was blamed on thawing permafrost. Credit: Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2020, CC BY

Thawing permafrost also creates a less obvious but even more damaging problem. When the ground thaws, microbes in the soil begin turning its organic matter into carbon dioxide and methane. Both are greenhouse gasses that further warm the planet.

In a study published last year, researchers found that permafrost test sites around the world had warmed by nearly half a degree Fahrenheit on average over the decade from 2007 to 2016. The greatest increase was in Siberia, where some areas had warmed by 1.6 degrees. The current Siberian heat wave, especially if it continues, will regionally exacerbate that permafrost warming and thawing.

Wildfires are back again

The extreme warmth also raises the risk of wildfires, which radically change the landscape in other ways.

Drier forests are more prone to fires, often from lightning strikes. When forests burn, the dark, exposed soil left behind can absorb more heat and hasten warming.

We've seen a few years now of extreme forest fires across the Arctic. This year, some scientists have speculated that some of the Siberian fires that broke out last year may have continued to burn through the winter in peat bogs and reemerged.

A satellite images shows thinning sea ice in parts of the East Siberian and Laptev Seas and wildfire smoke pouring across Russia. The town of Verkhoyansk, normally known for being one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth, reported hitting 100 degrees on June 20. Credit: Joshua Stevens/NASA Earth Observatory

A disturbing pattern

The Siberian heat wave and its impacts will doubtless be widely studied. There will certainly be those eager to dismiss the event as just the result of an unusual persistent weather pattern.

Caution must always be exercised about reading too much into a single eventheat waves happen. But this is part of a disturbing pattern.

What is happening in the Arctic is very real and should serve as a warning to everyone who cares about the future of the planet as we know it.

Explore further The Arctic is on fire: Siberian heat wave alarms scientists

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This March 25, 2020, file photo shows a small load of pollack being sorted as it comes off a boat at the Portland Fish Exchange in Portland, Maine. The amount of commercial fishing taking place worldwide has dipped since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but scientists and conservation experts say it's unclear if the slowdown will help jeopardized species of sea life to recover. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Commercial fishing taking place worldwide has dipped since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but scientists and conservation experts say it's unclear if the slowdown will help endangered species of marine life recover.

Hours logged by fishermen at sea fell by nearly 10% around the world after the March 11 declaration of a pandemic, and in some hard-hit countries such as China, fishing completely stopped. The fishing decline has spurred questions about food security, ocean management and global trade.

As countries begin to resume fishing, new questions are emerging about whether an extended fishing slowdown could help rare ocean animals, such as the North Atlantic right whale. The whale numbers only about 400 and is vulnerable to fatal entanglement in fishing gear.

Less fishing could also help jeopardized fish stocks of the Mediterranean Sea, which is home to the overfished Atlantic bluefin tuna. And many rare species are vulnerable to accidental catch, called bycatch, in fishing gear.

But it's too early to hail the respite from fishing lines and nets, said David Kroodsma, director of research and innovation for the nonprofit Global Fishing Watch. And since millions of people rely on fishing for their livelihoods and sustenance, any benefit to sea life has come at a cost, he said.

"I don't think we should be celebrating anything here. Not by making people suffer incredibly," Kroodsma said. "I bet what we'll find is, it is not sufficient for rebuilding stocks in places they have to rebuild."

Fishermen around the world logged about 6.8 million hours at sea from March 11 to April 28, down about 700,000 hours from averages the previous two years, according to data compiled by Global Fishing Watch. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said the pandemic has brought "changing consumer demands, market access or logistical problems" that could keep fishing difficult indefinitely.

This March 25, 2020, file photo shows workers gathered outside the Portland Fish Exchange after unloading fish in Portland, Maine. On this day just one boat brought in a load of fish. The amount of commercial fishing taking place worldwide has dipped since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

The time spent with boats docked was much more severe in countries such as Italy, Spain and France, which suffered large virus outbreaks, Kroodsma said. Fishing in those countries was down 50% to 75%, he said.

Fishing dropped off because of concern about spreading the virus on boats and because of decreased demand for seafood. Two-thirds of the U.S. seafood spending is in restaurants, according to a study in the June 2020 journal Nutrients, and thousands of those remain shuttered by social distancing rules.

As a result, some fishermen are bringing less catch to the docks so far this year. The American catch of Atlantic herring was down more than a fifthalmost 3 million pounds (1.4 million kilograms)through the end of May, according to federal statistics. Herring is a key species because it's used as human food and as bait for more profitable fisheries, such as lobster.

None of this necessarily means fish populations are rebuilding, said Gavin Gibbons, spokesman for the National Fisheries Institute trade group. American fisheries are managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the plans to help species recover can be highly technical and take years to implement, Gibbons said.

"It's much more specific than just give fish a break and they'll rebuild," he said.

But in some corners of the world, there is hope less fishing will help fragile ecosystems recover. In the Indian Ocean island nation of Madagascar, Wildlife Conservation Society's Marine Conservation Director Ravaka Ranaivoson said that overfishing, along with climate change, threatens the health of coral reefs.

"We're always concerned about people using illegal fishing gear, and not respecting rules about the size of fish catches and other restrictions," Ranaivoson said, adding that her team has worked with local communities to try to implement more sustainable practices.

In this May 21, 2020, file photo a fishing trawler arrives in Portland, Maine. The amount of commercial fishing taking place worldwide has dipped since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The lack of fishing has also spurred questions about food security, ocean management and global trade around the world. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

But the virus has also created many disruptions for Madagascar's fisheries, a key piece of the economy.

First, communities that generally follow good fishing practices are hurting financially because their regular customers, especially tourist hotels and restaurants, don't need to buy as many fish, leading to lower prices. "The price of fish has dropped 50-70%," Ranaivoson said.

On the other hand, more people without regular work need to somehow feed themselves.

"In some areas, people who live there are afraid to go outside because of the virusbut sometimes people from outside come to the area to fish," and they are less concerned about the long-term health of the fisheries, she said.

A study in the journal Marine Policy this year stated that somewhat less lobster fishing won't necessarily harm fishermen economically, but it could help the endangered right whale. The authors, who performed the study before the pandemic took its toll on fisheries, said fishing less yet more efficiently could actually lead to more profitability for lobster boats.

Co-author Hannah Myers, a graduate student at University of Alaska Fairbanks, said the virus outbreak represents "an unfortunate natural experiment" that is sure to impact fisheries.

The long-term impacts of the fishing slowdown remain to be seen, though with coastal communities starting to return to work, they could wind up being short lived.

"We're definitely seeing cleaner water, fewer ships out and fewer entanglements," said Jake Bleich, a spokesman for the conservation group Defenders of Wildlife. "We'll see what happens when the economy restarts."

Explore further Fishing less could be a win for both lobstermen and endangered whales

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Can racial prejudice be reduced or is it a constant of the human condition? And can interventions unfold effects that persist? Especially in light of recent events such as the Syrian refugee crisis, and more recently, the Black Lives Matter protests in the US, answers to these questions are desperately needed. In the long run, integration appears to have a positive effect on racial attitudes, which are passed on from generation to generation.

The paper, "Shocking Racial Attitudes: Black G.I.s in Europe," by David Schindler, assistant professor of economics at Tilburg University and Mark Westcott, engagement manager at Vivid Economics, forthcoming at the Review of Economic Studies, sheds lights on these questions.

150,000 African-American soldiers

During World War II, around 1.5 million American soldiers served in the United Kingdom, of which approximately 150,000 were African Americans, serving almost exclusively in segregated support units.

Troops were posted across England and Wales, solely according to military requirements, and without accommodating potential pre-existing differences in racial prejudice. To estimate the causal effect of troop placement on racial attitudes, the researchers exploit the fact that where African American support units were stationed (compared to white support units) should be orthogonal to any possible confounder.

Using survey evidence from the 1940s, the researchers demonstrate that African American soldiers updated their opinions about the British positively and they thought the British did improve their attitudes toward Americans. Descriptive evidence further demonstrates that British people tended to regard African American soldiers more favorably after having interacted with them. For most British, these interactions were the first with non-white people, as the United Kingdom only saw large flows of non-white migration after the end of the War.

Reduced racial prejudice

We find that the historical interactions between African American soldiers and the British population reduced racial prejudice even around 60 years after the end of World War II. Areas in which more African American troops were posted saw fewer members of and votes in local elections for the British National Party (BNP), a far-right party with racist policy positions, during the mid-2000s. These effects arise primarily in rural areas, where subsequent in-migration is lower than in urban areas.

Furthermore, the researchers incorporated results from a large online survey from the same period. Survey respondents living in areas hosting more African American units reported warmer feelings toward black people and displayed less prejudice in an Implicit Association Test (IAT) designed to capture implicit bias against black people. When splitting the survey responses into birth cohorts, the researchers observed that the estimated effect first appears for the generation who would likely be the descendants of those directly exposed to the troops at the time. This is consistent with a model of vertical transmission, where changes in attitudes are transmitted from parents to children.

The findings have important implications to reduce racial prejudice in an increasingly integrated world. Policymakers should make sure that minorities and majorities have a chance to interact to overcome negative racial attitudes. The study shows the effects can persist over long time periods and can be passed on over generations.

Explore further Reducing racial bias possible in older children, study finds

More information: Schindler et al. Shocking Racial Attitudes: Black G.I.s in Europe. Review of Economic Studies (2020). Schindler et al. Shocking Racial Attitudes: Black G.I.s in Europe.(2020). www.cesifo.org/DocDL/cesifo1_wp6723_0.pdf
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My husband had an MRI that showed an abnormal spot on his prostate. The last time he had a prostate biopsy, he got a severe urinary tract infection, which led to him being hospitalized. It took him weeks to recover. Is he at risk of another serious infection after this prostate biopsy? Is there anything we can do to reduce that risk?

ANSWER: Although its uncommon to contract an infection as a result of a prostate biopsy, as your husband found out, it can happen. A new technique for prostate biopsies has been developed, however, that reduces the odds of an infection to almost zero. That technique, called transperineal fusion biopsy, is a good alternative to consider, particularly for someone like your husband who has already had one severe infection due to a biopsy.

A prostate biopsy is a procedure that removes samples of suspicious tissue from the prostate gland, so they can be examined for signs of cancer. Until recently, prostate biopsies had to be performed with a probe inserted through the rectum. During the procedure, a needle is passed through the rectal wall to obtain tissue from the prostate. This approach, known as a transrectal biopsy, exposes the biopsy needle to bacteria found in the rectum.
Stefanik voted against a Democratic bill. She criticized Democratic opponent Tedra Cobb for saying that she would have voted for that bill, which Stefanik said allows more rights for violent criminals than it does for good police officers doing their jobs to protect our North Country communities. This is an unacceptable position in our district, where we have productive and effective relationships with our brave law enforcement who put their lives on the line for us each day.

Cobb said in a statement that she does not support defunding the police, but believes reforms are needed. She supports the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which bans chokeholds, eliminates no-knock warrants, requires de-escalating and demands the duty of officers to intervene when excessive force is being used.

Student loan relief

Stefanik has introduced a bipartisan bill to provide temporary relief for Perkins student loan borrowers.

The legislation would allow the nearly 2 million borrowers to forgo making payments on the loans until October, according to a news release. This bill would close a loophole in which certain borrowers were not eligible for the student loan program under the federal stimulus package.

Helping apple farmers
JOHNSBURG  The town highway employee who pleaded guilty to a felony crime last year has reached a nearly $53,000 settlement with the town to get his job back after being fired.

Daniel W. Hitchcock served 4 months in jail following his guilty pleas in March 2019 in Warren County Court to burglary and forcible touching. Hitchcock was charged for an incident on July 15, 2018, where he entered a rental home without permission and fondled a resident there as she slept.

Hitchcock was released from jail in June 2019.

Hitchcocks father, former Johnsburg Highway Superintendent Daniel B. Hitchcock, said after the arrest that his son had been drinking before the incident.

He sought to have his son return to work at his motor equipment operator job and asked the Johnsburg Town Board to re-hire his son.

Only two members of the board, Laurie Arnheiter and Eugene Arsenault, voted to hire him back. Then-board member Peter Olesheski voted no and Supervisor Andrea Hogan and board member Arnold Stevens abstained.

However, the younger Hitchcock kept showing up for work for months  without getting paid.
A cluster of coronavirus cases just over the border at a slate quarry in Fair Haven, Vermont has gotten 12 New Yorkers sick, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday.

All 12 people likely live in Washington County, County Attorney Roger Wickes said, but the county has been working since Friday to confirm details. So far, no one in the county has been listed as officially testing positive due to the cluster.

But its just a matter of time, Wickes said.

We are trying to track down all these people, he said. Some of them, apparently English is not their first language.

Vermont Public Health tested at least some of them, but some gave their first names only for identification. Its possible they are withholding details out of a fear of deportation, but Wickes said thats not clear yet.

I can just tell you language has been a barrier in some cases, he said. Thats why were working with Vermont to ID the people. Thats why its taken awhile.
Right now we have an insufficient capacity to do the job we need to, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said recently, announcing he wanted to use federal coronavirus relief funds to increase the number of contact tracers to 900.

Arkansas already has 200 doing the job, but infections have risen more than 230% and hospitalizations nearly 170% since Memorial Day. Businesses that had closed because of the virus were allowed to reopen in early May, and the state further eased its restrictions this month.

In addition to needing more staff to handle rising case numbers, contact-tracing teams also must build trust with people who might be uneasy or scared, said Dr. Umair Shah, executive director for Harris County Public Health in Houston, where an outbreak threatens to overwhelm hospitals.

That's difficult to do if infected people don't return calls.

In Louisiana, only 59% of those who have tested positive since mid-May have responded to phone calls from contact tracers, according to the latest data from the state health department. Just one-third answered within the crucial first 24 hours after the test results. Tracers there get an answered phone call, on average, more than two days after receiving information about the positive test.
A new study suggests that white people are likely to reflect on their racist or sexist statements and avoid making future mistakes after they are confronted with their prejudice.

The findings, published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, show that when white men and women were confronted after expressing a bias about African Americans, Latinos or women, they sought to identify and regulate their own biases regarding multiple groups of people.

Many people are reluctant to confront instances of bias because they worry about backlash from others, said Kimberly Chaney, a doctoral graduate student in social psychology at Rutgers University-New Brunswicks School of Arts and Sciences.

But we found that confronting prejudice can be a powerful way to reduce not just one but multiple types of prejudice. We all have the ability to make a change and sometimes speaking out against small instances of bias may make a big change.

In the first experiment, a group of 161 white college students looked at images of white and Black people accompanied with descriptive sentences. Then they were asked to draw inferences about the people pictured. Three photos of black men included sentences intended to evoke a stereotypical response, such as This man spends a lot of time behind bars. The task could draw the stereotypical response of This man is a criminal or a neutral response like bartender, the researchers said.

Half of the participants were then randomly assigned to be verbally confronted for using a negative stereotype in their response. They then completed a similar task with different faces and sentences, including ones with women that could elicit stereotypical responses.

For example, responses such as This person works at a hospital could elicit a stereotypical response of nurse instead of doctor. Participants who were confronted for using a negative black stereotype used significantly fewer stereotypes about women than participants who were not confronted for using a negative black stereotype.

In another experiment, the researchers looked at whether confrontation for using a stereotype about women reduces expressions of bias toward ethnic and racial minorities.

Each white adult male participant believed he was interacting with another white adult male online to discuss moral dilemmas. One scenario involved a nurse who discovered an issue at a hospital and was asked to discuss with their partner what the nurse should do. Half of the participants who referred to the nurse as she during the online discussion were confronted by their online partner.

Those participants were later asked to finish a task that could elicit negative stereotypes about blacks and Latinx Americans. Participants who were confronted for using a negative stereotype about women used significantly fewer stereotypes about Black and Latinx Americans than participants who were not confronted for using a negative stereotype about women.

There is still a lot more to understand about confronting prejudice, including how it should be done, what you should say and when it will be most effective, said study co-author Dr. Diana Sanchez, a professor of psychology.

Confronting someone is challenging, but we hope that knowing that it can be effective might make people more willing to step up.

Source: Rutgers University
Were just so happy to be out of the house, Kate Linboom said.

Jaxons favorite part of the zoo was feeding koi fish in the pond.

Kate Linboom said she heard on the news outside gatherings are safer. We would have never come because of the spike (in COVID-19 rates) if it hadnt been outside, she said.

Not far away, Jovani Eldor, 2, was with his mom, taking in all of the animals. He gazed wide-eyed at the creatures around him. He liked the ducks and the fish, said his mother, Brenda Mends, of Moline, who plans to bring her son back to the zoo.

Several parts of the zoo, including indoor exhibits and the petting zoo, were closed to visitors. The gift shop was open, and zoo staff monitored visitors carefully to ensure no more than 12 guests at a time were allowed inside. Additionally, masks or face coverings are required in the building.

To maintain and monitor capacity requirements, all guests, members and pass holders included, now must reserve timed tickets online at www.niabizoo.com before they visit.
The first day of in-person school for all students will be around Aug. 11-12, Morrow said. But thats subject to change, depending on what the governor or the Rock Island County Health Department says, after UT gives it its plan.

Freshmen only will report Aug. 6 and Aug. 7, Morrow said, stressing all dates are tentative. It had been Aug. 4.

And when the rest come back, its not going to be every kid in session, Morrow said. Its going to be kind of split up. We have to figure out how its going to be split up.

Social distancing concerns in the classroom, hallways and cafeteria were among considerations, he told the board.

District 30 has about two weeks to decide its dates and procedures and give it to the state board of education for approval as well as the health department. Once we get that plan all together, weve got to get that to the public health department for their approval, Morrow said. If they say, OK, this meets the requirements set forth by (Illinois Department of Public Health), then we are able to move forward.
DES MOINES  Starting Wednesday, Iowans will be free to carry guns in courthouses  but not in courtrooms, and they also could face harsher punishments for animal cruelty.

Also, lemonade stands are now legal in Iowa.

Believe it or not, kid-run lemonade stands were technically illegal in Iowa prior to this years legislative session. They are now legal thanks to the actions of state lawmakers and Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The legalization of lemonade stands is one of many new laws that has gone on the books this year, and a host more will go into effect on Wednesday, July 1.

Many pieces of legislation still await Reynolds approval or veto. Because the new coronavirus pandemic forced lawmakers to put the session on hold for nearly three months, they did not complete their work until June 14.

Here are some of Iowas newest state laws, and some that just need Reynolds signature:

LAW ENFORCEMENT CONSTRAINTS

The 2020 session of the Iowa Legislature likely will most be remembered for significant racial justice legislation, which was approved in the wake of ongoing protests over the death of a Minnesota man who was killed after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly 9 minutes.
Second, it will take years after the pandemic ends to bring the unemployment rate back down to where it was early this year. That means there will be plenty of otherwise idle workers for public projects even if they don't get off the ground until 2022.

Private infrastructure projects, for their part, can boost employment in the short term and, at the same time, help make companies more resilient to Covid-19.

For example, evidence suggests that poor ventilation may increase the spread of the virus. Yet most buildings don't meet minimum standards. Also, many companies report that having employees work from home has gone far better than expected, because video conferencing has turned out to be more convenient than in-person meeting. However, many at-home workers could stand to have much improved internet connectivity.

Such changes call for large investments. But the private sector, unlike the federal government, faces increasing constraints on how much it's able to borrow. Congress could help by using its own borrowing capacity to give private investors the extra liquidity they need.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act moved in this direction by raising the limit on certain corporate and investor tax deductions. It allows those not claimed in one year to be claimed in future years.
As a leader, you dont do stuff like that ... its only right that we visit her at her home, said State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, speaking into a megaphone at the protest Sunday.

During the video briefing Friday, Krewson held up a stack of crumpled papers and then read from them.

Heres one that wants $50 million to go to Cure Violence, $75 million to go to Affordable Housing, $60 million to go to Health and Human Services and have zero go to the police, the mayor said. She then read the name of the person and their address.

Krewson listed several other names and addresses, and stated that each individual called for defunding the police entirely. As the mayor spoke, viewers commented and asked her to stop sharing demonstrators personal information.

The video was removed later that night. Krewson apologized in a statement late Friday, saying she did not intend to cause distress or harm to anyone.

Emails or letters to elected officials, including names and addresses, are generally considered public records but are typically released only after a formal request.
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Swift came under investigation after he contacted the undercover FBI agent on the Kik messaging app in February, according to an affidavit signed by Brent Gromer, supervisor of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit in South Dakota.

Swift allegedly said he was sexually active with a 4- and 7-year-old boy and sent the agent videos of a man sexually abusing a child.

The New York-based agent contacted the FBI in Rapid City who asked ICAC to continue the investigation, the affidavit says. A Homeland Security agent then began messaging Swift on Kik, posing as a woman who sexually abuses her five-year-old daughter.

Swift allegedly told the second agent that he wanted to arrange a swap where he would sexually abuse the five-year-old and bring a child for the woman.

The agent met Swift at his workplace on March 24 to discuss plans. Instead, the agent had Swift arrested.

Swift let agents seize his cellphone and laptop, the affidavit says. He allegedly admitted to Gromer that it was him chatting with the agents but said he had never really planned to have sex with the five-year-old and that he hadnt sexually abused one of the children he had mentioned to the agents.
According to a representative from the General Department of Tax, when implementing Decree 41, the agency propagated through many channels and most of the taxpayers were well aware of the policies. Under these policies businesses are able to categorize which group they belong to and if they are eligible to apply for a certain benefit or extension. However, the number of small and micro businesses applying is very low, because they have already filled tax obligations before the extension period from March 2020.

Electronics is a key export sector in Vietnam, and the Covid-19 pandemic has left many electronic businesses unable to cope with daily production. The input market of imported components and accessories, and the output market for export of finished products is now almost at a standstill. However, according to the Vietnam Electronic Industries Association (VEIA), many businesses are still concerned about regulations to support the extension of tax and land rent.

According to these enterprises, Decree 41 provides only general provisions and has many cumbersome procedures. Businesses also find the period of five months too short, as it is not enough time to recover production, especially during the current scenario of the Covid-19 pandemic. The world export market has not yet fully opened and not only are electronic enterprises affected but almost all business groups are in some turmoil as well.

Many business enterprises feel that the provisions of Decree 41 could be more of a liability than help when in applying for tax and land rent extension. Some businesses expressed concern about Article 4 in Decree 41, when stipulating that tax authorities do not have to notify taxpayers, but taxpayers themselves determine rates and are responsible for extensions under this decree.

According to VEIA, a number of electronic businesses have filed for registration for tax payment extension, then they will receive an extension of five months, without written approval from the agency. Some other businesses expressed concern that the tax authorities may find, after inspection, that the enterprise is not subject to an extension. At that time, enterprises will be forced to pay outstanding tax amounts, fines and even late payment interest.

In a document sent to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Dong Nai Business Association said that the provisions of Article 4 in Decree 41 states that when businesses submit their request and tax authorities do not send a confirmation, then they do not know how to fix this situation. If enterprises declare their assets incorrectly, later, when inspecting tax returns or auditing, enterprises are fined which makes them vulnerable to tax authorities.

According to Asso.Prof. Pham The Anh, Chief Economist at Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR), policies to support enterprises need to be more flexible and more thought must be given to businesses that have been forced to shut operations in the current scenario.

Luu Thuy
Soon after the Annual General Shareholders Meeting (AGM) in 2019, the new seven-member Board of Directors at Vinaconex made some very careful and cautious moves to ensure the continued sustainable development of the Vinaconex Corporation.

Big commitments

Although the consolidated revenue at Vinaconex in 2019 reached only 98% of the targeted plan, after tax profit (CIT) still soared by 6% and increased by 23% compared to 2018, reaching VND 787 bn. In the parent company, revenue in 2019 increased by 13% compared to 2018; and profit after tax reached VND 727 bn, an increase of 12% in the targeted plan and 24% more compared to 2018. Member companies showed good business results as well, such as Vinaconex 25, Vinaconex 9, Vinaconex Invest, Vinaconex CM, NEDI2, VIWACO, VINASINCO, and Dung Quat. Among these, four companies achieved a turnover of about VND 1,000 bn.

The main activities of Vinaconex are construction, real estate and financial investment. Among the successful projects are the Mikazuki 5-star Resort Hotel complex in Da Nang; the 5-star Grown Hotel in Laos; the Vincity Ocean Park; StarLake; the Bac Ninh apartment building; the 25-floor Nam Cuong apartment building; the 27-floor Dai Dong A apartment building; the Flamingo Cat Ba; Long Son petrochemical refinery; Bohemia at 25 Nguyen Huy Tuong; 97-99 Lang Ha; and 93 Lang Ha.

In the field of construction, Vinaconex has been looking for new investment projects such as in industrial urban areas and in resort urban areas in all three regions of the country from Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, and Ha Nam to Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Phu Yen, Phan Thiet, and Dong Nai Provinces. In financial investment, subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates having stable capital contribution will form an additional value chain for construction and real estate activities, and contribute to increasing the scale and profitability of the Corporation.

To implement projects as well as participate in BOT projects under the plan of building some North-South Expressway sections in the East assigned for the period of 2017-2020 at the General Meeting of Shareholders on 29 June, the Board of Directors of Vinaconex are expected to consult about the issuance of more than 66 mn shares at VND 15,000 per share, to increase charter capital. Expected proceeds from the issuance could be over VND 990 bn. The proposed projects of Vinaconex will include: Nghi Son-Dien Chau; Dien Chau-Bai Vot; Nha Trang-Cam Lam; Cam Lam-Vinh Hao; and Phan Thiet-Dau Giay.

At the AGM, the Board of Directors of Vinaconex submitted a report on transferring about 441 mn VCG shares from HNX for listing on HOSE. According to a proposal at the AGM, Vinaconex expects to pay 6% cash dividend to shareholders, equivalent to about VND 265 bn.

Strong leadership

Mr. Dao Ngoc Thanh, Chairman of Board of Directors at Vinaconex, shared some company successes in the first year of changing ownership structure. He said that the human factor has played a very decisive role in the economic growth of the Corporation, and by moving in the direction of sustainable development, has defined the goal of the company very clearly. He firmly believed that it was the effort and determination of all 1,500,000 employees under leadership of the Party Committee and the Board of Directors that brought about this success. Faith and determination have been the key players in Vinaconex reaching its present goal.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dong, General Director of Vinaconex, said that the field of construction was one of Vinaconex strengths, and Vinaconex will step up the bidding, especially for infrastructure projects and public investment projects invested by the State. In the real estate business, where Vinaconex has for many years ranked at the top, the company will prioritize resources to invest in key transport infrastructure BOT projects to create jobs for the whole Corporation. The company will also prioritize acquisition of real estate projects for an early investment, to create jobs and improve efficiency in the short and long term.

In financial investment activities, Vinaconex will promote the activities of member companies to form links and complement each other. In addition, Vinaconex seeks investment and divestment opportunities in some ineffective units, or non-core units, to use capital gained to invest in newly established companies in core business areas, or in which the company is operating efficiently.

Solutions in Splendora project

One project that has been the subject of diverse views among major shareholders of Vinaconex is Splendora, the Bac An Khanh New Urban Area project. The project is being implemented by the An Khanh New Urban Development Joint Venture Company Ltd (An Khanh JVC), who also are the investor. An Khanh JVC has chartered capital of about VND 680 bn with two major shareholders Vinaconex and Phu Long Real Estate JSC both contributing 50% capital equally. Such capital contribution has created some disadvantages in implementing projects invested by the company due to important issues that must be agreed by both parties. This is also the reason for delay of the project.

In order for the project to be completed, a restructuring plan for the North An Khanh Urban Area was proposed by Vinaconex at the AGM, authorizing the Board of Directors to implement the plan. Option 1 was to transfer all of Vinaconex capital in An Khanh JVC to the remaining capital contributing member or other investors wishing to recover capital and invest in some potential projects. Option 2 was for Vinaconex to negotiate buying the entire remaining capital contribution from An Khanh JVC, so that Vinaconex could immediately set about implementing and completing the project.

Ha Thanh
Hugo Cardozos Paraguayan Horror flick Morgue is quietly becoming one of the biggest success stories in the international horror scene. Two more bits of news have happened for the original flick over the week.

Let's catch up first.

Morgue follows a security guard who is working the night shift at a regional hospital when he gets trapped in the hospital morgue where he has a paranormal encounter.

Morgue was the top-grossing local release in Paraguay last year, out-grossing It: Chapter Two and Annabelle Comes Home.

My friends at FilmSharks have already licensed rights for the film to territories like Russia, South Korea, Japan, Colombia and Chile, with negotiations still ongoing for the US, UK, Mexico, Brazil, France, and Germany.

They also sold the remake rights to screenwriter Eric Heisserer (Arrival, Bird Box) for an English-language "re-imagining" of Morgue through his production company, Chronology. Cardozo and FilmSharks head Guido Rud will serve as executive producers.

So what else has happened?

On Tuesday ScreenDaily reported that HBO Latin America acquired the PayTV and SVOD (subscription video on demand) rights for the flick.

Now. About those US rights. This morning Variety just announced that Well Go USA have picked up the distribution rights for Morgue in North America. This is great news for fans of international horror because Well Go USA has always handled their acquisitions very well and it usually meant a theatrical release in big market cities, including here in Canada.

We are so excited to be working with Guido and his team at FilmSharks on Morgue, said Well Gos Doris Pfardrescher. We cant wait for our North American audience to experience this incredibly scary movie, she added. We love how Doris and Well Go handle and take care of their films; they do an amazing job to make films shine, said Rud.

Well Go plans to release Morgue by early 2021.
Australian beverage company Lion announced that it has found no evidence that hackers have stolen information from its systems.

The Australian brewery and dairy conglomerate Lion suffered two cyber attacks in a few days this month.

Lion is a beverage and food company that operates in Australia and New Zealand, and a subsidiary of Japanese beverage giant Kirin. It produces and markets a range of beer, wine, cider, RTDs and spirits, as well as dairy and other beverages.

When the first attack took place, the systems at Lion were infected with the REvil ransomware and attackers demanded a ransom of reportedly $1 million last week. At the time of the first attack, the security breach caused the disruption of manufacturing processes and customer service.

On June 26, the company shared an update on the incident confirming that it has restored many key systems at its sites.

In an update shared on June 26, the company said it restored many key systems at breweries and dairy and juice sites.

As we progress our recovery efforts, it is our number one priority to get back to our usual high standards of service levels before this cyber attack, and support our many valued business partners in what we hope will be a better second half of 2020. reads the update published by the company.

To date, we still do not have evidence of any data being removed. As we indicated last week, it remains a real possibility that data held on our systems may be disclosed in the future. Unfortunately, this is consistent with these types of ransomware attacks,

Our expert teams are continuing to do all they can to investigate this further and as previously stated, if we do identify any cases of data being taken or misused, Lion will contact the affected individuals directly.

Lion did not share technical details of the attack, but REvil ransomware operators claim to have hacked the company and to have stolen its data before encrypting its systems.

REvil operators published on their leak site a message to the company, inviting it to contact the to pay the ransom to avoid the publishing of its files.

otherwise all your financial, personal information your clients and other important confidential documents will be published or put up for auction. reads the message.

As proof of the hack, the threat actors published some screenshots allegedly showing the data stolen from the companys systems.

Some screenshots show that some of the folders are dated June 18, 2020, this means that the ransomware operators may have continued exfiltrating data more than a week after Lion discovered the security breach.

Last week, researchers from Symantecs Threat Intelligence team reported that the REvil ransomware operators have been observed while scanning one of their victims network for Point of Sale (PoS) servers.

Sodinokibi ransomware operators are very active in this period, a few days after the gang has leaked the files allegedly stolen from the UK power grid middleman Elexon it has announced to launch an auction site to sell data stolen from victims that have chosen to not pay the ransom.

REvil ransomware operators focus on corporate networks that breach using exploits, launching brute-force attacks on Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) servers, or compromising Managed Service Providers.

The group mainly targets large enterprise which is believed they would be willing to pay a large ransom to decrypt their systems.

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs  hacking, Lion)
A new malware dubbed GoldenSpy is being distributed embedded in tax payment software that some businesses operating in China are required to install.

GoldenSpy is a new backdoor that is being distributed embedded in tax payment software (the Aisino Intelligent tax software) that some businesses operating in China are required to install.

The campaign is active since at least April 2020, but experts found some samples that suggest the attacks begun at least December 2016.

In October 2016, Chenkuo Technology announced a partnership with Aisino for big data cooperation. However, it is not clear the role of the companies in the attacks.

According to the security firm Trustwave, a Chinese bank has forced at least two western companies to install tainted tax software.

The two companies recently opened offices in China, they are a UK-based technology vendor and a major financial institution.

Trustwave SpiderLabs has identified a new threat targeting corporations conducting business in China. The victim company is required to install software that will enable payment of local taxes. reads the report published by Trustwave. However, a backdoor is hidden within the software package that provides full remote command and control of the victim system, enabling arbitrary remote execution of code, and a remote shell.

Experts noticed that the software covertly installs the hidden GoldenSpy backdoor (svm.exe) two hours after the tax software is installed.

The backdoor attempts to connect a Chinese domain that was used in past campaign to distribute the GoldenSpy, it allows to gather basic system information and continuously beacons to a remote server for updates. The update functionality enables GoldenSpy to remotely execute arbitrary code and implements remote command execution capability.

Svm.exe gathers system information and exfiltrates it to www.ningzhidata[.]com on port 9006. The malware maintains persistence by monitoring itself and if the process is stopped, it will respawn. continues the report. Additionally, it sends requests to a remote server to update itself (a method to execute additional operations), and it stands open as a backdoor into the environment enabling the command and control server to upload and execute arbitrary code or commands with System privileges.

The backdoor is digitally signed by a company named Chenkuo Network Technology. Experts noticed that once installed GoldenSpy is independent of the tax software, this means that even installing the Intelligent Tax software, the GoldenSpy will continue to work.

The Svm.exe installs itself as two services named SVM and SVMM, and has two main functions:

ExeProtector that spawns off a separate thread to protect svm.exe and svmm.exe, it also allows the malware to achieve persistence.

Connects to a C2 that in turn sends additional commands

Trustwave experts are not able to determine the full scope of the GoldenSpy campaign and its real extent.

The report published by Trustwave includes recommendations to mitigate the risk of attacks and Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) for this campaign.

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs  malware, GoldenSpy)

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Researchers revealed that the number of daily brute-force attacks on Windows RDP has doubled during the pandemic lockdown.

Security experts from ESET revealed that the number of daily brute-force attacks on Windows RDP has doubled during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The phenomenon is not surprising because during the COVID-19 lockdown employees were forced to work from home remote accessing company infrastructure.

Cybercrimianls are aware of this situation and are attempting to take advantage of the crisis, in April researchers from Kaspersky Lab reported a significant increase in the number of RDP brute-force attacks since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early April, researchers from Shodan reported a 41% increase in the number of RDP endpoints exposed online, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

RDP brute-force attacks skyrocketed in March due to remote working imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic that forced organizations to deploy more systems online accessible through RDP connections.

Threat actors, especially ransomware operators, intensified their operations attempting to brute-force Windows remote desktop service to access target organizations.

ESET researchers also said the attackers also attempt to exploit RDP connections to try to install coin-mining malware or create a backdoor.

Threat actors also conduct the following actions after an RDP compromise:

clearing of log files, thus removing the evidence of previous malicious activity,

downloading and running the attackers choice of tools and malware on the compromised system,

disabling of scheduled backups and shadow copies or completely erasing them, or

exfiltrating data from the server.

Unfortunately, most organizations often neglect the protection of RDP accesses and workers use easy-to-guess passwords and with no additional layers of authentication or protection.

ESET telemetry data shows a significant increase in the daily number of brute-force attacks against RDP.

Between December 2019 and until February 2020, the experts observed a number of attacks between 70,000 and 40,000 on a daily basis. The situation changed from February, when the number reached 80,000.

The number of attacks surpassed 100,000 in April and May, while most countries were reporting a peak in the COVID-19 infections.

Most of the attacks between January and May 2020 originated from IP addresses in the U.S., China, Russia, Germany, and France. Most of the targeted IP addresses were in Russia, Germany, Brazil, and Hungary, ESET telemetry data shows.

Below the recommendations provided by ESET on how to configure remote access correctly:

Disable internet-facing RDP. If that is not possible, minimize the number of users allowed to connect directly to the organizations servers over the internet.

Require strong and complex passwords for all accounts that can be logged into via RDP.

Use an additional layer of authentication (MFA/2FA).

Install a virtual private network (VPN) gateway to broker all RDP connections from outside your local network.

At the perimeter firewall, disallow external connections to local machines on port 3389 (TCP/UDP) or any other RDP port.

Protect your endpoint security software from tampering or uninstallation by password-protecting its settings.

Isolate any insecure or outdated computers that need to be accessed from the internet using RDP and replace them as soon as possible.

For a detailed description of how to set up your RDP connection correctly, please refer to this article by ESET Distinguished Researcher Aryeh Goretsky.

Most of these best practices apply to FTP, SMB, SSH, SQL, TeamViewer, VNC and other services as well.

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs  hacking, COVID-19)

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 Data bleg on gender, crime, victims and punishment | Main | Texas CCA finds procedural bar to considering amor-afflicted death sentence 

September 16, 2009

Details on the botched Ohio execution attempt, issue spotting, and seeking predictions

Cleveland Plain-Dealer

For more than two hours, the team attempted to insert two shunts into a vein of the compliant Broom, who tried several times to assist his executioners by shifting positions, rubbing his arm and pointing out possible usable veins. The delay will likely add to the debate about the death penalty in Ohio and what constitutes cruel and usual punishment. "The sentence is death, not torture plus death," said Kathleen Soltis, chairwoman of the Cleveland Coalition Against the Death Penalty. "What does reprieve mean in this case? This is getting crazier than usual." At one point, Broom, 53, lay back on his bed, covered his face with his hands, and cried. Another time, while sitting up, he was seen grimacing as the execution team appeared to seek a vein around his ankles. A reprieve at this stage of an execution has never happened since the death penalty was reinstated in 1999, said Terry Collins, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. He said he called the governor and asked for the reprieve after it became clear the execution team was having trouble. "I could tell my team was becoming somewhat frustrated," Collins said. The reprieve extends only until Sept. 22. The drama played out before the family of Tryna Middleton, the 14-year-old girl Broom was convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing 25 years ago. Tryna's mother and father, Bessye and David Middleton, were there to witness the execution, as was an aunt. They sat in front of a glass window through which they were expecting to see Broom die. Instead, he never made it out of his nearby cell, where two shunts were to be installed in veins. The shunts allow three drugs to enter the veins and sedate, paralyze and kill the inmate. The family and others watched the preparation on closed-circuit monitors mounted in the witness area. A camera filmed Broom and captured much of the difficulty the execution team had, as well as Broom's frustration. Broom requested no witnesses initially, but about an hour into the process asked for his attorney, Adele Shank, to be present. A visibly upset Shank appeared in the witness room not knowing of Broom's request but out of concern for the length of time for the execution. "The chief justice and the governor have been notified of what's going on," Shank said after the execution team spent 90 minutes trying to insert the shunts. Collins said the execution team was able to access several veins but they collapsed once saline solution was administered. He defended the execution team and said: "They continued to do a job that most wouldn't do or couldn't do."... Shank, Broom's lawyer, said she is considering additional appeals. "We don't want to see a repeat of this ever," she said.

This story from thehas more details on Ohio's botched effort to execute Romell Broom yesterday and some reactions to it:

I suspect that Broom's lawyer (whom I happen to know and respect greatly) will have little trouble developing a federal Eighth Amendment claim based on what's happened to her client so far. But I am wondering about other possible legal issues that might be raised in this setting.

Most obviously, Broom could make a state claim based in the Ohio Constitution's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. State provisions similar to the Eighth Amendment are often, but not always, interpreted in harmony with federal jurisprudence. Notably, the Ohio Constitution's Bill of Rights also has provisions securing Inalienable Rights and Redress in Court, which perhaps are other avenues Broom's lawyers might exploring in state court.

Moving beyond Broom, I am wondering if other defendants on death row in Ohio (or in other states that rely on lethal injection) might now have a due process right to access to any preserved video that apparently "captured much of the difficulty the execution team had, as well as Broom's frustration." I think that video would be relevant and important evidence for making constitutional claims surrounding lethal injection protocols in Ohio and perhaps in other states.

In the same spirit, might lawyers involve in other lethal injection litigation now seek to take Romell Broom's deposition? It seems that what Broom was experiencing physically (and perhaps also psychologically) would be relevant to claims surrounding lethal injection protocols. Could a federal court involved in some other lethal injection litigation order a stay of Broom's new September 22 execution date in order to preserve him as a possible witness in another proceeding?

And let's throw in a little First Amendment fun: does the media (and/or an interested and responsible blogger) have a right to access any preserved video that apparently "captured much of the difficulty the execution team had, as well as Broom's frustration"? Does the media have a right to access Broom himself to interview him about his experiences yesterday?

I could go on and on, but you all get the point of how much this real case now seems like a law school exam hypothetical. And, of course, what ultimately happens to Broom and broader debates over lethal injection in Ohio or elsewhere is much more important than being able to spot all the issues. Thus, I am interested in hearing predictions from any and everyone about what they expect to have happen next.

Related posts on botched Broom execution:

Some related posts on litigation in Ohio and elsewhere over lethal injection:

UPDATE: This article from CBS News highlights that the aboitionist community is already calling for a moratorium on all executions in Ohio:

The problems prompted the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio to ask state officials to immediately halt executions. "Ohio's execution system is fundamentally flawed. If the state is going to take a person's life, they must ensure that it is done as humanely as possible," ACLU Ohio counsel Carrie Davis said. "With three botched executions in as many years, it's clear that the state must stop and review the system entirely before another person is put to death."

September 16, 2009 at 12:40 PM | Permalink

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As far as I know, the cameras that depict the preparation of the inmate for execution are Closed Circuit. At least they were in 2004, and no video or other recording is made of the process.

Posted by: Erika Cunliffe | Sep 16, 2009 1:43:30 PM

-----------

In the same spirit, might lawyers involve in other lethal injection litigation now seek to take Romell Broom's deposition? It seems that what Broom was experiencing physically (and perhaps also psychologically) would be relevant to claims surrounding lethal injection protocols. Could a federal court involved in some other lethal injection litigation order a stay of Broom's new September 22 execution date in order to preserve him as a possible witness in another proceeding?

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The asshats who wanted Schiavo kept alive at all costs had similar ideas.

Posted by: anonymous | Sep 16, 2009 2:08:43 PM

There was an attempted execution many, many years ago (1800s?) and the rope broke or something when they tried to hang him. If memory serves, he was set free under the double jeopardy clause or something. Maybe I'll search for it for a cite. Trying to find a vein is a substantial act in furtherance, so there was an attempt to execute just as there was an attempt to hang.

Posted by: George | Sep 16, 2009 2:49:25 PM

@George

SCOTUS held 5-4 that it's not double jeopardy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_v._Resweber

Posted by: . | Sep 16, 2009 3:01:36 PM

"botched"? Doug, you're not serious, are you? I thought "bothced" was what they called actual executions that had possibilities that the inmate suffered. Here they couldn't find a vein, so the execution was called off. In other words, they did things right.

Posted by: federalist | Sep 16, 2009 3:19:55 PM

2:49

Francis v. Resweber is of dubious jurisprudential value. The opinion was a plurality opinion. Four votes voted no constitutional violation even if Eighth Amendment applied. Four votes voted constitutional violation. One vote voted no violation as the Amendment was not applicable against the states. Clearly the 8th Amendment has since been held applicable. A decent argument could therefore be made Francis is no longer binding.

Posted by: .. | Sep 16, 2009 3:21:59 PM

This point is pretty cynical, I know, but if Mr. Broom's sentence is commuted, would it create an incentive for long-term intravenous drug use by persons on death row?

Posted by: Ed Unneland | Sep 16, 2009 3:27:34 PM

Ed: Shouldn't persons on death row for a long time (as most are) be unable to be involved in long-term intravenous drug use?

Fed: Are you suggesting I call what happened in Ohio yesterday a "successful" attempted execution? Maybe I should call it an aborted execution so that folks concerned about abortions as well as executions come by to share their thoughts.

Posted by: Doug B. | Sep 16, 2009 4:09:16 PM

What about a Lackey/Pratt-and-Morgan type claim? Those claims are based on the idea that the mental terror of years or decades of waiting for execution---particularly if that wait includes "near misses," revoked execution dates, or repeated failures of the state to follow constitutional requirements---eventually rises to a level that constitutes cruel and unusual punishment barring execution. I don't see how many claimants could have ever had a nearer miss, or better basis to substantiate such mental terror.

Posted by: anon | Sep 16, 2009 4:17:56 PM

Sorry Doug--pro-life ends at birth.

Posted by: Res ipsa | Sep 16, 2009 4:54:21 PM

Doug, haven't you learned not to try to trade punches with me? Unfunny sarcasm is lame.

In any event, "botched" is a loaded term here. I would expect that a law professor would avoid that. But hey, that's just par for the course for you anyway.

They couldn't do it right, so they didn't do it at all. Hmmm. Sounds like caution to me. In any event, "unsuccessful execution attempt" is probably the most accurate way to describe it. You'll note, Doug, that I tend not to engage in euphemy. So trying to accuse me of wanting to engage in over-the-top euphemy (and calling the abortive big jab yesterday a "successful attempted execution" is just that) falls pretty flat.

Posted by: federalist | Sep 16, 2009 4:55:22 PM

You are truly, federalist, a legend in your own mind. Sparring aside, masked commentor, I think the best term is likely botched execution attempt, and I have now altered my post headline accordingly.

Posted by: Doug B. | Sep 16, 2009 7:57:25 PM

"failed" seems less loaded than "botched"

"aborted" would just be ironic

Posted by: anonymous | Sep 16, 2009 8:25:19 PM

Botched, of course, connotes a mistake or incompetence. Crappy veins don't mean that a mistake was made or that the people were incompetent. Leave it to a second-rate talent to insult public employees doing their jobs.

As for legend in my own mind, perhaps so. But I've whipped you plenty of times.

Posted by: federalist | Sep 16, 2009 8:38:07 PM

What would Scalia do? Look it up!

botch

1 : to foul up hopelessly often used with up

2 : to put together in a makeshift way

The execution was definitely fouled up hopelessly enough to delay it, at least for a week, maybe forever.

This is ignoring the possibility that the protocol is makeshift.

Posted by: George | Sep 16, 2009 10:32:27 PM

All phony issues spotted and unspotted are pretextual. Any judge allowing any should be voted out or driven out.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Sep 16, 2009 11:27:50 PM

I am looking forward, federalist, to cites to support your claim that you've "whipped [me] plenty of times."

Let's start with this latest example, in which I think botched is the right word because all the circumstantial evidence suggests something was messed up.

For some reason, the techs in Ohio could not get IVs set up here though in 1000 other modern LI executions, never before has this been SUCH a problem. It seem you think that Broom has some kind of special veins, but he has been locked up for 25 years, so if his veins are a problem I think the Ohio prison system must be involved in some way botching up his circulatory system.

Call it whatever you want, there are lots of interesting legal issues raised by this case.

Posted by: Doug B. | Sep 17, 2009 8:06:49 AM

Doug, in a perfectly-constituted correctional facility, you would be right (especially on death row). The reality is that the inmates have 24/7 to observe the human weaknesses of those who guard them, and to find and exploit the interstices of inattention and procedural gaps. As for me, I think the death penalty should exist. If murder is an essentially different crime, then an essentially different punishment should exist. It need not be sought all the time. In fact, I would have a central panel of judges in each state that would have to give permission to bring what New York would call 1st degree murder before a grand jury. (This would establish a common law of death-eligiblity, and stop any possible shenanigans with getting pro-prosecution juries by eliminating the ones who won't sentence to death under any circumstances.)

Speaking of New York, I also think the Capital Defender's Office is a great idea and ought to be replicated elsewhere.

Posted by: Ed Unneland | Sep 17, 2009 8:14:51 AM

In federalist's mind, an ad hominem pot shot is "whipping." It's more likely that Supremacy Claus will join the ABA than that federalist will cite actual, credible examples of "whipping" you.

Posted by: Res ipsa | Sep 17, 2009 8:48:56 AM

"the abolitionist community is already calling for a moratorium on all executions in Ohio"

In other shocking news, Families Against Mandatory Minimums is trying to end mandatory minimum sentencing.

Also, for the record, I, too, have "whipped" everyone who's ever disagreed with me. Any disagreement with this proposition is based on inertia and/or denial.

Posted by: anonymous | Sep 17, 2009 11:44:04 AM

hilarious! "whipped"...I laughed so hard when I read that. Are you that delusional, really? Thanks for the comedy break, federalist.

Similarly, this cannot be described as "public employees doing their jobs." As referred to in a later posting, these people were "corrections employees who may work part time on local fire departments" as EMTs. The word "botched" is perfectly apt.

Posted by: DEJ | Sep 17, 2009 12:46:25 PM

"Let's start with this latest example, in which I think botched is the right word because all the circumstantial evidence suggests something was messed up."

Now, there we go. A law prof jumping to conclusions on speculation, er, "circumstantial evidence".

"It seem[s] you think that Broom has some kind of special veins, but he has been locked up for 25 years, so if his veins are a problem I think the Ohio prison system must be involved in some way botching up his circulatory system."

Doug, this is simply a bizarre response. First of all, venous access can be tricky. Second of all, attributing fault to the Ohio prison system for the state of Broom's veins is just wacky. If it's sarcasm--it's weak.

As for whipping you, we can go back to the threads about the Founding Fathers being "obsessed" with procedure and the commentary on juvie LWOP for crimes where death does not result.





Posted by: federalist | Sep 17, 2009 1:22:16 PM

What are the chances that Strickland will grant clemency? His directive hinted at that possibility.

Posted by: DaveP | Sep 17, 2009 5:41:44 PM

When the lawyer says issues, or many issues, or issue spotting, those are code for procedure, disputes, and endless billable hours.

The adversarial system was the method of finding the truth in Scholasticism. It is taken from the Catholic Church and prohibited by the Establishment Clause. It has no scientific or external validation. It does not even have reliability (repeatability) statistics. The adversarial system is Medieval, anti-scientific, church derived garbage. But it generates jobs for three lawyers, one on each side and the dolt in the middle. That is its sole real aim.

Whatever issues there are, does any involve the possibility of his innocence or some other major mistake? If not, any method of execution is far kinder than the way 90% of us will die. There is no justification the death of a murderer has to be perfect and peaceful, and far superior to that of most of us. We do know the murderer believes in the death penalty, by a method that does not meet Eighth Amendment standards, and for a selfish purpose. He should not mind if someone sneaks up behind him and shoots him in the head at close range.

Because all judges allowing these appeals are doing so to generate lawyer jobs, they are defrauding the taxpayer. They should be removed for theft of public funds. If they are not removed, there is moral justification for the public to retrieve its money in self-help.

The theft of public funds by lawyer rent seeking is an issue that will never come up on any law school exam.



Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Sep 18, 2009 1:32:14 AM

Res: Correct. Zero chance I will ever be a member of the ABA, even if I become a licensed lawyer (no chance of that either).

However, the ABA will be putting up statues to the Supremacy in 100 years. The Supremacy is the best friend the lawyer has ever had, and will save the profession no matter how hard it resists. He loves the lawyer and the rule of law that much.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Sep 18, 2009 1:37:23 AM

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September 18, 2009

Latest litigation update surrounding Ohio's unexecuted and re-execution plans (UPDATED with stay details)

This AP article provide the latest, but certainly not the last, update on the litigation surrounding Ohio's botched execution attempt this past Tuesday and its plans to try again this Tuesday. Here are a few highlights:

An attorney for an Ohio inmate whose lethal injection failed this week asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday to halt an unprecedented second execution attempt, and cited in a separate affidavit the inmate's claims that executioners hit muscle and bone when they tried to find a vein suitable for injection. Tim Sweeney, an attorney for Romell Broom, also filed lawsuits in federal district court and in the Ohio Supreme Court in Columbus on Friday arguing that a second execution attempt, scheduled for Tuesday, would violate Broom's civil rights. If unsuccessful in achieving clemency for Broom, Sweeney will argue that he shouldn't be executed until a new procedure can be put in place that ensures what happened on Tuesday won't be repeated. And trying again only a week later would be "unconscionable," Sweeney said.... In an affidavit from Broom that was to be submitted as evidence in the federal district court filing, Broom said officials first tried three separate times to access a suitable vein in the middle of both arms. He said nurses told him to take a break after those six attempts, after which the nurse tried twice to access veins in the left arm. "She must have hit a muscle because the pain made me scream out loud," Broom said. "The male nurse attempted three times to access veins in my right arm. The first time the male nurse successfully accessed a vein in my right arm. He attempted to insert the IV, but he lost it and blood started to run down my right arm. The female nurse left the room. The correction officer asked her if she was OK. She responded, 'No' and walked out. "The death squad lead made a statement to the effect that this was hard on everyone and suggested that they take another break." Officials later moved to Broom's feet to find an accessible vein. "During this attempt, the needle hit my bone and was very painful. I screamed," Broom said in the affidavit.... On Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio filed a public records request with the state in an attempt to learn information about the preparation for the first attempt, details about the attempt and information about preparations for the next scheduled attempt. The Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers sent Strickland a letter Thursday asking him to place a moratorium on Ohio executions given Tuesday's events. A prisons spokeswoman said Thursday that officials at the Southern Ohio Corrections Facility where Broom is being kept in a cell in the infirmary in preparation for next week's attempt are monitoring how much he's drinking. Dehydration could make it more difficult to find veins, but the spokeswoman said there's no evidence that's what caused Tuesday's problems. In the affidavit, Broom said that on Monday, the day before the execution attempt, he drank seven cups of coffee, five cups of water and three cups of Kool-Aid.

Candidly, I will be a bit surprised if we make it though the weekend without some kind of stay ordered to prevent the state of Ohio from starting the execution process on Monday. It is my understanding that an execution process gets started a day or so before the actual scheduled execution (including the ordering of a last meal and all), so I will be surprised if all state and federal courts wait until Monday to rule on a stay. Though perhaps the state courts are hoping the federal courts will intervene first, and vice versa. In short, as I like to say, stay tuned.

Related posts on botched Broom execution attempt:

UPDATE: This new New York Times piece provides the latest news, including the details of a stay:

An Ohio prisoner whose execution was halted on Tuesday, and then immediately rescheduled for next week, because technicians were unable to inject him with lethal drugs won a stay of execution on Friday. The stay, issued by Judge Gregory L. Frost of the Federal District Court in Columbus, expires at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 28. A hearing on a further stay has been scheduled for that day.

September 18, 2009 at 03:28 PM | Permalink

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This is all abolitionist pretextual gotcha. The criminal dependent press, the criminal dependent lawyer profession are agitated, and running about because someone flubbed an IV. It is meaningless and trivial. Go to the left of the chest. Counting down from the top of the chest, go to the fifth space between the ribs, insert the needle into that space, point upward and inject into the heart. Use the other fingers to feel for a pulsating mass. Aim toward it.



Not one of these left wing ideologue has a word to say when these people are dispatched by an injection of potassium directly into the heart, 1000's of times a year, around the world.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18271890?dopt=AbstractPlus

No procedural due process for those people. No outrage. No noise. No ACLU. No governor. No appeals. No articles. No Supreme Court. Nothing.

Why? No lawyer fees.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Sep 18, 2009 4:31:57 PM

I'd be shocked too if this execution doesn't get postponed. But then again, last week I would have been shocked to discover that a state spent two hours trying unsuccessfully to kill someone.

Posted by: KCADP | Sep 18, 2009 4:51:05 PM

I am always shocked when people want to give 1000's of correctly convicted murderers absolute immunity for all future crimes, and a license to kill at will, freer and less accountable than that of James Bond.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Sep 19, 2009 12:28:12 AM

Oh, you crossed the line now! Leave James Bond out it!

Posted by: George | Sep 19, 2009 4:02:20 AM

I am occasionally bemused by the extent to which a blog devoted to sentencing law downplays, or flat-out ignores, sentencing law.

This case is almost certainly controlled by Francis v. Resweber, 329 U.S. 459 (1947). There, the Court, with Justice Frankfurter casting the deciding vote in his concurrence, held that after a botched execution considerably more horrifying than the one here, the state was nonetheless entitled to go forward a second time, which it did, successfully.

The gravaman of the opinion was that, where the error that caused the execution to get screwed up was not intended to cause pain and suffering, and was not a product of reckless indifference on the part of the authorities, the lawfully ordered execution can go forward. Readers might remember that a very similar analysis was adpoted by Chief Justice Roberts writing for the Court in the Baze case.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Sep 19, 2009 11:40:46 AM

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 The technical challenges posed by technocorrections | Main | More on Ohio's execution troubles and what could happen next 

September 15, 2009

Ohio struggling, legally and practically, with effort to execute offender today

A lawyer for a condemned inmate in the state death chamber says execution team members have taken a break after struggling to access the inmate's veins. Attorney Tim Sweeney says the team is having trouble inserting IVs into the arms of Romell Broom, sentenced to die for raping and killing a 14-year-old girl. It was the second delay of the Tuesday execution, originally scheduled for 10 a.m. Broom entered the death chamber shortly before 2 p.m. after losing a last-minute appeal request. In 2005, an execution was delayed for more than an hour after the team failed to properly attach an IV, an incident that led to changes in Ohio's execution process.

One would think that, with four executions completed in the last few months, Ohio would now have its modern system of state killing down to a science. However, as this new AP report details , the state is having a very hard time completing an execution that was scheduled for 10am this morning:

Though I am about to head to class, this seems like a story worth watching closely for a variety of reasons. First, I think this might be the first significant examples of a difficult (botched?) execution since the Supreme Court approved the constitutionality of lethal injection protocols in Baze last year. Second, as detailed here, the Sixth Circuit has been fighting over whether it can even consider on the merits a post-Baze challenge to Ohio's lethal injection procedures. Third, Ohio has lots more execution scheduled for the next few months, and these difficulties might end up causing some notable political ripples.

Whether and how this story becomes a big deal might turn ultimately on whether and how Ohio finishes its attempts to execute Romell Broom today. If Ohio cannot complete this execution (or if it completed the execution and lawyers can claim it was badly botched) this could become a huge story. But if the execution is completed with little final fuss, not so much. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: This local story now indicates that Ohio's Governor has stepped in: "Strickland ordered a week-long reprieve this afternoon after executioners struggled for about two hours to locate suitable veins for inserting IVs into 53-year-old Romell Broom." As suggested above, this could become a big story if the abolitionist community seeks to jump on it. But I suspect that, in the wake of Baze, most of the abolitionist community has moved on to other battle-fronts.

September 15, 2009 at 03:48 PM | Permalink

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 Execution Attempt in Vein from Crime and Consequences Blog

"Gov. Ted Strickland ordered a weeklong reprieve for a condemned inmate on Tuesday after the Ohio execution team had problems finding the inmate's veins during the lethal injection process," reports Stephen Majors for AP.I have said from the beginning ... [Read More]

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Once again, the states fall into the trap of "appeal = stay". The state should have continued the procedure despite the pending appeal.

States make it way to easy for these last minute appeals. There is no rule that says that states have to facilitate courts getting their orders to the right person to stop an execution.

Posted by: federalist | Sep 15, 2009 4:03:01 PM

"There is no rule that says that states have to facilitate courts getting their orders to the right person to stop an execution."

You think that if a federal court has issued a stay of execution, it's valid for a State to prevent it from being enforced through deliberate inaction? Put aside the comparison you're drawing between the filing of an appeal and the granting of a stay for the moment.

Posted by: JC | Sep 15, 2009 4:46:19 PM

JC, I didn't say that. But court orders have to be transmitted. And there's no rule that fax machines have to be turned on or that phone calls have to be answered.

Posted by: federalist | Sep 15, 2009 5:01:28 PM

Strickland delayed execution for a week.

Posted by: federalist | Sep 15, 2009 5:12:42 PM

"JC, I didn't say that. But court orders have to be transmitted. And there's no rule that fax machines have to be turned on or that phone calls have to be answered."

If you think it is permissible for a State to keep its fax machine turned off in order to prevent the receipt of a federal stay order, then I think that is exactly what you said.

Posted by: JC | Sep 15, 2009 6:18:23 PM

So litigants have to facilitate service . . . .

Posted by: federalist | Sep 15, 2009 6:33:16 PM

Litigants are obligated to obey the orders of the court. Deliberately evading knowledge of an order for the purpose of circumventing the authority of the court is contemptuous.

Posted by: JC | Sep 15, 2009 7:32:57 PM

Federalist = Anarchist, your comments make it clear that you don't like the rule of law unless you agree with the law being enforced at the time. Deliberate ignorance must be an aspirational goal for you -- just think what our government would like if all the bureaucrats were deliberately ignorant instead of being ignorant in fact.

Posted by: Not a bomb thrower | Sep 15, 2009 9:07:46 PM

Guys, just because I am in a lawsuit doesn't mean I have to answer my phones.

Posted by: federalist | Sep 16, 2009 9:59:22 AM

Federalist, when it becomes acceptable for a government to behave with no greater grace or decency than the most shifty and obstreperous ordinary litigant, we will have become (precisely) a society governed by the lowest common denominator. That will not be government consistent with populism, rightly understood. It will not be government in conformance with democratic principles or anything close. It will be a tyranny of twits and thugs; a sovereignty of scofflaws.

Posted by: Dean Strang | Sep 16, 2009 1:12:35 PM

Dean, then the condemned should file their appeals earlier. Then the problem could be avoided. Moreover, why should a murderer get the benefit of all sorts of state employees jumping through hoops to help the murderers' "kitchen sink" last-minute litigation strategy. I'd make the murder turn square corners. And that means that I don't make it easy for some court to call off an execution by making a phone call.

Posted by: federalist | Sep 16, 2009 1:41:28 PM

I understand your argument, Federalist. It certainly is not inappropriate to set procedural rules and hold everyone to them. But again, if the murderer sets the accepted general standard for the sovereign, collectively we are destined to degenerate pretty quickly to the murderer's level.

Posted by: Dean Strang | Sep 16, 2009 2:19:10 PM

Well, Dean, if we held everyone to those rules, then we wouldn't have these problems. But I see no reason why Deputy AGs should be kept up way into the night because some murderer files his claim very late. It's ridiculous. And I don't think the state has to participate in making those tactics easier.

Posted by: federalist | Sep 16, 2009 3:16:45 PM

Federalist, we ought not go back and forth indefinitely. If you happen to imagine, though, that someone on death row -- or, more accurately, his counsel -- complacently plots not to seek relief until the 11th hour as a strategic matter or because she is laconic about rules, you probably don't understand how the process actually works on the ground. The practical obstacles are too many to catalog, and I suspect you wouldn't accept a stranger's word any way. So, a suggestion: take a death penalty post-conviction challenge, at the state post-appeal collateral attack stage, and learn for yourself. Tell me later, after you have confronted the reality that your client will die if you prove to be the second best lawyer in the case, whether it all still looks the same to you after two, three, five or eight years. Tell me whether you or your client were the actual cause of any unwarranted delay in that process. And tell me then also whether you still view government actors with the same deference and broad confidence.

Posted by: Dean Strang | Sep 16, 2009 4:28:29 PM

Hey (anti-)federalist:

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

Posted by: true federalist | Sep 27, 2009 6:18:07 PM

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September 17, 2009

Will (and when and how will) SCOTUS have to weigh in on Ohio's desire to try execution again?

Lawyers plan state and federal lawsuits and a request to Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland to stop next week's unprecedented second execution attempt of a man whose lethal injection failed on Tuesday. Cleveland attorney Tim Sweeney said Thursday that he expects lawsuits to be filed no later than Friday in an effort to halt the next attempt to put Romell Broom to death. Sweeney argues that a second try at an execution is unconstitutional. At the very least, he said, Strickland should further delay Tuesday's execution. Broom "sustained both physical and mental injuries," Sweeney said. "It's going to take time for all the psychic trauma to dissipate. Even if it never goes away, I think it's wrong to try to do it again so quickly in these circumstances." Strickland stopped Broom's execution after executioners tried unsuccessfully for two hours to find a usable vein. Broom, who at one point wiped his face with a tissue and appeared to be weeping, told his attorneys he was pricked as many as 18 times. Broom, 53, was sentenced to die for the rape and stabbing death of a 14-year-old Tryna Middleton, a girl he kidnapped in Cleveland in 1984. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason said it was ironic that Broom was complaining about the execution given the nature of his crime. "I am absolutely certain that it was Tryna Middleton that suffered from cruel and unusual punishment," Mason said. Broom remains at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, where the prison system is monitoring how much he's drinking, said prisons spokeswoman Julie Walburn. Officials want to make sure Broom is not dehydrated before the execution, but they can't force him to drink more, she said. Dehydration could make it more difficult to find veins, however, Walburn said there's no evidence that caused Tuesday's problems.... Also Thursday, two federal public defenders asked U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Frost to order that Broom be made available to them for a legal deposition. The fact that Broom survived the execution "creates a singular opportunity to confirm that he, in fact, experienced serious pain in violation of his constitutional rights, not just a 'substantial risk' of serious pain," David Stebbins and Allen Bohnert argued in a court filing.

This new AP article , headlined "Lawyers try to stop second Ohio execution try," reports on the latest legal news concerning Ohio's plan to try again to execute Romell Broom. Here are highlights:

It was easy to predict that lots of litigation would ensure upon Ohio's indication that it wants to attempt to execute Broom again next week. But, as the title of this post flags, it is hard to predict if and when and how the US Supreme Court will be brought into this fray (and, for that matter, whether the usual amici suspects will be eager to jump into this high-profile and high-speed and unique lethal injection litigation). As I often have to say in these kinds of matters, stay tuned.

Related posts on botched Broom execution attempt:

September 17, 2009 at 03:34 PM | Permalink

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If someone is to be killed, the trauma of some IV's is trivial. Went to a party in Cali. This death penalty appellate lawyer is handing me the standard arguments justifying her reprehensible work. I tell her, the sole cruelty of any method is to set a date. Even a terminal patient does not have a set date of death.

She then opened up her arm. The crook of her elbow was black, blue and a bunch of colors in between. I look at it, and ask what was that? She said, she needed blood work, and people could not get a good vein and kept poking around there. I asked if that lab technician digging around passed Eighth Amendment muster, and why doesn't it in the death chamber? She said she consented to the digging around. I replied, the condemned had a $million's worth of due process, far more than her consent.

She didn't think I was funny. However, I thought she was hilarious, and that I had just gone through a lawyer Twilight Zone moment. The lawyer will pick on the tiniest pretext.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Sep 17, 2009 3:58:53 PM

"Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason said it was ironic that Broom was complaining about the execution given the nature of his crime. 'I am absolutely certain that it was Tryna Middleton that suffered from cruel and unusual punishment,' Mason said."

Pandering to the local lynch mob, I see. What a jackass.

Posted by: JC | Sep 17, 2009 4:12:11 PM

Why don't they have Bill Mason rape him and stab him to death, and then put his head on a pike in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What he did justifies lowering all of us to the same level, right?

Posted by: anon | Sep 17, 2009 4:54:50 PM

When we say, pretext, that means a false use of the law. I would like to see the abolitionists be investigated for professional ethics violation. Unfortunately, these false uses further cult rent seeking, and no discipline of such fraud can ever take place.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Sep 17, 2009 6:00:59 PM

"If someone is to be killed, the trauma of some IV's is trivial."

That was my thought too. I think it's comments like those in the article where the anti-death penalty crowd loses a great deal of credibility.

And JC. Since when is telling the truth "pandering". The killer may have suffered on death row, but it's not pandering to remind people that his suffering is not the only suffering at issue. It's the truth.

Posted by: Daniel | Sep 17, 2009 6:16:41 PM

Daniel:

Unless I missed something his victim wasn't kept in a cage for decades knowing death could come at any moment, watching her friends one by one carried off to be killed while other much more horribly guilty are left to live, and then systematically tortured in the name of the people in an effort to achieve "justice." What Broome did was inexcusable, brutal and inhumane. What Bill Mason and the State of Ohio want to do is likewise inexcusable, brutal and inhumane, except Bill & co. are doing it in your name and mine.

Posted by: .. | Sep 17, 2009 11:08:51 PM

I take it the pain element has mucho legal significance. Suffering from pin pricks sounds like a whole lot of sniveling, but depending on the reporter and the editorial slant of the paper, we don't know what was cut out or was taken out of context if anything. After giving it some thought, it is more than pin pricks, probably more like water boarding, because with the pin pricks that just about everyone got some time in their lives, we know the doctor is not trying to kill us. That would make a difference and the good guys who have empathy when the condemned don't probably can't imagine getting pricked by someone trying to kill. Who's the psychopath now?

Posted by: George | Sep 17, 2009 11:08:59 PM

It's not really clear to me why comparing the cruelty inflicted *by* the perpetrator to that inflicted *on* the perpetrator is useful. The former is illegal. It is a private act. Through the legal process and punishment of the offender, we collectively condemn it. The problem with the latter is that even if it is mild in comparison, it is done with the sanction of law. It is a state action. It is done in our name. It purports not to rend our values but to restore them. It seems to me that if we want to punish people in a way that takes the cruelty of the criminal act seriously, we need take cruelty seriously and not so casually inflict it on others.

Posted by: dm | Sep 18, 2009 8:12:19 AM

Death row inmates get reprieves all the time.

Posted by: federalist | Sep 18, 2009 12:41:12 PM

As typical on this blog, most commentators don't bother to read. I never justified the prosecutor's statement. I only said that his words could not be fairly described as "pandering". I stick with that.

I am sympathetic to the claim that comparing suffering is not all that useful a tactic. But insfoar as such a comparison reminds us of the fact that the interests of more than one party is at stake then I will accept it.

Posted by: Daniel | Sep 18, 2009 12:58:34 PM

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March 18, 2016

"How many times should a state be able to try to execute someone without running afoul of the Constitution?"

The question in the title of this post is the first line of this notable new commentary authored by Austin Sarat concerning the work of the Ohio Supreme Court in Ohio v. Broom (previously discussed here). Here is more of the commentary:

[T]he Ohio Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that neither the federal nor the state constitution forbids Ohio from trying to execute someone more than once. While this ruling may set up another opportunity for the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the constitutionality of capital punishment, it nonetheless allows the nightmarish possibility that the state can proceed in a negligent manner in carrying out an execution and, if it fails in the first attempt, to try, try again. This should shock and trouble those who support capital punishment as well as those who oppose it.... On Sept. 15, 2009, Broom, who had been convicted of kidnapping, rape, and murder, was brought to Ohio's death chamber where he was to be executed by lethal injection. His executioners repeatedly attempted to insert an intravenous line into Broom's arms and legs. As they did so, Broom winced and grimaced with pain. At one point, he covered his face with both hands and appeared to be sobbing, his stomach heaving. After an hour had passed, Broom tried to help his executioners, turning onto his side, sliding the rubber tubing that served as a tourniquet up his left arm, and alternatively squeezing his fingers together and apart. Even when executioners found what they believed to be a suitable vein, it quickly collapsed as they tried to inject the saline fluid. Broom was once again brought to tears. After more than two hours of executioners sticking Broom's arms and legs with the needle, the prison director decided that the execution team should rest. The governor of Ohio issued a reprieve stopping the execution.... It is almost certain that the Bromell case now will make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court and that it will offer that court the chance to revisit the unfortunate precedent it set more than 60 years ago [allowing Louisiana to try again after a failed electrocution in the Francis case]. One can only hope that the Court will now insist that if the government is going to carry out executions that there be no room for error. Neither simple human decency nor the 8th Amendment can tolerate a government carrying out a death penalty sentence in a shoddy manner. If we are going to have a death penalty, we cannot allow death, as the dissenting justice in the Francis case put it, to be carried out on the installment plan.

Prior related post:

March 18, 2016 at 10:04 AM | Permalink

Comments

Until they get it right.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Mar 18, 2016 10:43:25 AM

To be honest, I don't think there would be a bar on the number of times to attempt an execution, only whether or not botching it is cruel and unusual. I certainly think whether they're successful or not is a factor to consider, but if there is a lawful death sentence, it makes sense that they're able to carry it out provided it otherwise complies with the Eighth Amendment.

Posted by: Erik M | Mar 18, 2016 1:55:19 PM

It probably relies on the extent of the "trying."

For instance, if it is a matter of repeatedly taking a person, latching him or her on the table etc., that can be psychologically damaging etc. Might not be enough for the 8A or state analogues that might have a somewhat stronger standard.

But, if you have to repeating stab the person with needles here, apply voltage like in the 1940s case or actually repeatedly have the person consume the drugs (it failing a couple times), it is going to cross the line at SOME point.

Posted by: Joe | Mar 18, 2016 2:25:23 PM

Typical Sarat nonsense.

He writes:

"One can only hope that the Court will now insist that if the government is going to carry out executions that there be no room for error. "

Constitutionality has never had perfection as a standard and never can. Obviously.

Posted by: dsharp | Mar 19, 2016 11:19:33 AM

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March 16, 2016

Split Ohio Supreme Court decides state allowed to try again to execute Rommell Broom after prior botched attempt

This official summary from the Ohio Supreme Court office of public information provides a detailed summary of a notable capital punishment ruling today, and it starts this way:

An execution had not begun when an IV line could not be established to deliver lethal drugs into an inmates body even though a needle was inserted multiple times, and neither the U.S. nor Ohio constitution bars the state from carrying out the execution, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled today. The Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that a second attempt to execute Romell Broom by lethal injection would not violate the cruel and unusual punishment or the double jeopardy clauses of the federal and state constitutions. Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger stated in the majority opinion that by law the death penalty begins with the application of lethal drugs, and since the execution team stopped after it could not keep an IV catheter functioning, Brooms punishment had not started. In separate opinions, dissenting justices countered that Broom is entitled to a hearing to prove a second attempt would also fail under the states procedures, and that the first attempt constituted cruel punishment.

The full opinion in Ohio v. Broom, 2016-Ohio-1028 (Ohio S. Ct. March 16, 2016), is available at this link. I may comment more about this novel Eighth Amendment case in coming days. But even without having a chance to review the opinions, I can predict with relative certainty that there will be an appeal to the US Supreme Court that may well interest some of the Justices. Given that likelihood, as well as the difficulties Ohio has had with obtaining execution drugs, I think we can and should still expect Romell Broom to remain alive for many, many more future election days in bellwether Ohio.

March 16, 2016 at 01:50 PM | Permalink

Comments

Good opinions covering the ground in a little over 30 pages in a well formatted fashion.

Posted by: Joe | Mar 16, 2016 9:45:02 PM

I do not always agree with Justice French , but she is right on in her dissent 

Posted by: Docile Jim Brady  the Nemo Me  Impune Lacessit  in Oregon  | Mar 19, 2016 3:36:41 PM

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December 12, 2016

With only two dissenters, SCOTUS refuses to hear Ohio death row defendant's arguments against a second execution attempt

I am somewhat surprised to see Rommell Broom's case, recently discussed here and here, on the cert denied list on this morning's Supreme Court order list. Interestingly, this denial of cert came with two dissenters: Justice Breyer and Justice Kagan. And Justice Breyer mentioned the Broom case and others is a broader three-page dissent from the denial of cert in another capital case at the end of the order list. Here are excerpts from that dissent:

Henry Sireci, the petitioner, was tried, convicted ofmurder, and first sentenced to death in 1976. He has lived in prison under threat of execution for 40 years. When he was first sentenced to death, the Berlin Wall stood firmly in place. Saigon had just fallen. Few Americans knew of the personal computer or the Internet. And over half of all Americans now alive had not yet been born.... Forty years is more time than an average person could expect to live his entire life when America constitutionally forbade the inflict[ion] of cruel and unusual punishments. Amdt. 8; see 5 Dictionary of American History 104 (S. Kutler ed., 3d ed. 2003). This Court, speaking of a period of four weeks, not 40 years, once said that a prisoners uncertainty before execution is one of the most horrible feelings to which he can be subjected. In re Medley, 134 U. S. 160, 172 (1890). I should hope that this kind of delay would arise only on the rarest of occasions. But in the ever diminishing universe of actual executions, I fear that delays of this kind have become more common.... <P> Nor is this case the only case during the last few months in which the Court has received, but then rejected, a petition to review an execution taking place in what I would consider especially cruel and unusual circumstances. On September 15, 2009, the State of Ohio attempted to execute Romell Broom by lethal injection. State v. Broom, 146 Ohio St. 3d 60, 6162, 2016-Ohio-1028, 51 N. E. 3d 620, 623. Medical team members tried for over two hours to find a useable vein, repeatedly injecting him with needlesand striking bone in the process, all causing a great deal of pain. Id., at 62, 51 N. E. 2d, at 624. The State now wishes to try to execute Broom once again. Given its first failure, does its second attempt amount to a cruel and unusual punishment? See In re Kemmler, 136 U. S. 436, 447 (1890) (Punishments are cruel when they involve . . . a lingering death). I would have heard Brooms claim. As I and other Justices have previously pointed out, individuals who are executed are not the worst of the worst, but, rather, are individuals chosen at random, on the basis, perhaps of geography, perhaps of the views of individual prosecutors, or still worse on the basis of race. See Glossip v. Gross, 576 U. S., ___, ______ (2015) (BREYER, J., joined by GINSBURG, J., dissenting) (slip op., at 917)... Cf. Smith v. Alabama, 580 U. S. ___, (Dec. 8, 2016) (judge overrode jurys recommendation of a life sentence) (this Court, by an equally divided vote, denied a stay of execution). I have elsewhere described these matters at greater length, and I have explained why the time has come for this Court to reconsider the constitutionality of the death penalty. Glossip, supra, at ___ (dissenting opinion); see also Knight v. Florida, 528 U. S. 990, 993 (1999) (opiniondissenting from denial of certiorari); Valle v. Florida, 564 U. S. 1067 (2011) (opinion dissenting from denial of stay); Boyer v. Davis, 578 U. S. ___, ___ (2016) (opinion dissenting from denial of certiorari); Conner v. Sellers, 579 U. S. ___ (2016) (opinion dissenting from denial of certiorari and denial of stay). Cases such as the ones discussed here provide additional evidence that it is important for us to do so. See Lackey v. Texas, 514 U. S. 1045 (1995) (Stevens, J., memorandum respecting denial of certiorari). I would grant this petition for certiorari, as I would in Broom v. Ohio, No. 165580, and Smith, and include this question.

December 12, 2016 at 09:45 AM | Permalink

Comments

Reading the tea leaves, Kennedy doesn't appear very enthusiastic about execution procedure cases -- Glossip v. Gloss et. al. From what one can tell from news accounts, the recent execution that a majority of the murderer's jury recommended not occur & four justices wanted to delay (and Thomas held up temporarily) didn't go that well. So, if Kennedy (hard to think if he was open to idea RBG & Sotomayor wouldn't have gone along) didn't think this case, at this point, was worth taking, don't know what one would. Unless there was some other procedural wrinkle or whatever against taking it.

Posted by: Joe | Dec 12, 2016 10:30:39 AM

Breyer clowns himself with this opinion. Here's an excerpt:

"As I and other Justices have previously pointed out, individuals who are executed are not the 'worst of the worst,' but, rather, are individuals chosen at random, on the basis, perhaps of geography, perhaps of the views of individual prosecutors, or still worse on the basis of race."

First of all, some are the worst of the worst (as if that were a legal standard instead of a description)--e.g., Cooey, Henry Hays, Arturo Resendiz and various other bad dudes. So, Breyer's statement should read that that some are not "worst of worst" and that some "worst of worst" escape death.

Putting aside that bit of sloppiness, whining about geography? Is he kidding? There is ZERO logical support for the idea that jurisdictions within a state are constitutionally required to have uniform practices for the selection of who catches a DP prosecution or that jury decisions have to have some sort of cross-murderer consistency. Jurors (or often, a single juror) can simply be merciful.

As for prosecutors---Breyer seems to forget the fact that prosecutors are human beings who view different crimes differently. What is the "worst of the worst" to one prosecutor may not be to another. The Constitution clearly does not require robotic unanimity of a thought process.

What points up the sheer idiocy of Breyer's view--if one jurisdiction in a state chose never to seek death, then no other jurisdiction in the state could.

Posted by: federalist | Dec 12, 2016 10:46:20 AM

Will no one defend Breyer? Ha ha ha ha.

Posted by: federalist | Dec 13, 2016 9:55:31 AM

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June 29, 2020

Sixth Circuit panel rejects Romell Broom's constitutional arguments that Ohio cannot try again to execute him after botched first attempt

I somehow missed that last week a Sixth Circuit panel handed down a notable unanimous ruling on a novel (and disconcerting) issues of capital punishment administration . Even long-time readers may have forgotten about the case of Romell Broon, but the start of the Sixth Circuit ruling in Broom v. Shoop, No. 19-3356 (6th Cir. June 23, 2020) (available here), provides the still-remarkable essentials:

In an infamous September 2009 incident, the state of Ohio tried to execute death-row inmate Rommel Broom, and failed. More specifically, the state tried to execute Broom by way of lethal injection, but was forced to abandon the effort when the execution team concluded  two hours into the process  that it could not maintain a viable IV connection to Brooms veins. The state then returned Broom to his cell, to await a second execution attempt on another day. That second execution attempt has not yet happened, however, because the parties have spent the last eleven years litigating whether the U.S. Constitution bars Ohio from ever trying to execute Broom again  Broom relies on both the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment and the Fifth Amendments prohibition on double jeopardy. The state courts, including the Ohio Supreme Court, have rejected Brooms contentions on the merits, as did the district court below on habeas review. Brooms case now comes before us. We in no way condone Ohios treatment of Broom; that it took two hours of stabbing and prodding for the state to realize that it could not maintain a viable IV connection to Brooms veins is disturbing, to say the least. But because the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA) permits us to reverse state court merits decisions in only a narrow set of circumstances, and because the Ohio Supreme Courts decision rejecting Brooms constitutional claims on the merits does not fall within that set of circumstances here, we AFFIRM the district courts judgment denying Broom habeas relief.

Ohio has not executed anyone in two years due in part to litigation and uncertainty over execution protocols, and Broom recently had his 2020 execution date pushed back to March 2022. I could discuss at great length not only why this case is so jurisprudentially interesting, but I continue to fear that SCOTUS will not be inclined to take up this case. And for those interested in more coverage of all the facts and law, here are posts on the case going back more than a decade now:

June 29, 2020 at 09:53 AM | Permalink

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The title of this post is the title of this new report from the The Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard Law School. Here is a small part of the start and end of the long "Executive Summary" from the 156-page report:

Over the last few decades, advocates in the United States have exposed the injustices of high fines and fees that courts charge people sentenced to criminal and civil violations. Courts impose fines as punishment for offenses  often in addition to other punishment such as probation or jail  and they charge fees (also referred to as costs or surcharges) to fund the court and other government services. The number of fees and the amounts assessed have been increasing over the last decades, in part because fees are being used to generate revenue for local and state governments. Rarely, if ever, do U.S. courts consider peoples ability to pay before imposing these sanctions. When people are unable to pay, they can become trapped in the system, facing a cycle of consequences including additional fees, court hearings, warrants, arrest, and incarceration.

In response to advocacy exposing how these punitive practices harm people and communities, jurisdictions have begun to reform. The most direct efforts seek to repeal revenue-raising fines and fees. More common, however, is the adoption of requirements that courts assess peoples ability to pay at the sentencing hearing, and/or before punishing people for nonpayment. Though high monetary sanctions are prevalent in all courts, much of this reform attention has focused on misdemeanor courts that sentence ordinance violations and misdemeanor crimes. This is because fines are a common component of misdemeanor criminal sentences, and because there are clearer conflicts of interest inherent in the structure of some lower level courts that rely on fines and fees to fund their operations.

It is in this reform context that academics, advocates, and government leaders have considered day fines as a potential model for the United States. Day fines are used in over 30 countries in Europe and Latin America to calculate fine amounts that are tailored to peoples ability to pay. Day fines are set using a two-part inquiry. Courts first consider the nature and seriousness of the offense, measured in units or days. For example, a common low-level misdemeanor may receive 20 units. Courts then calculate how much the person can pay per day/unit based on their individual financial circumstances. The amount a person must pay per day is called the daily rate. Someone earning very little may be required to pay $5 per unit for a total fine of $100, while someone earning more may be required to pay $20 per unit for a total fine of $400. Day fines provide a framework for setting a fine based not just on the nature of the offense, but also on how much a fine will impact the person given their financial circumstances. The resulting fines are theoretically more fair because people of different means experience the fines similarly. A $400 fine affects a person earning that amount per week differently than a person who earns that amount in one day. In the United States, day fines hold the promise not only of making fines more fair, but also of making fines affordable to avoid the spiral of negative consequences that people face upon nonpayment.

Despite the theoretical resonance of day fines as a potential solution, there has been very limited information available about how this model works in practice. This project fills this knowledge gap....

This Report begins with a detailed overview of day fines in Germany, including specific policy details about the systems design. In the second part, we analyze that system and identify areas of consideration for those who might implement day fines in the United States. We conclude with a decision guide for jurisdictions and advocates considering day fines.
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - Media OutReach - 29 June 2020 - Covid-19 pandemic badly hit global economy and currency market. However, Chinese Yuan has back to stability, fluctuating within 6.84 to 7.09. Apparently, China plays utmost important role in the economy of US. According to US-China Trade Council in year 2018, data shows Michigan had exported $3.6billion value of goods to China whereas import has reached nearly $10.4billion, but transaction volume decreased to $8.7billion since 2019.

Besides, Trump President emphatically accused China for the pandemic, which ushered in level of unemployment approaching in Great Depression and even demanding financial compensation from China on the pandemic issue. This is intensifying relations between the two countries, and become a threat to stock market and foreign exchange. However, BIS (Liquidity Provider, LP) provides another investment option, which is the world's first shared-liquidation system.

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Posted on: June 29, 2020 6:35 AM

The former Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa has completed its transition into an autonomous Province of the Anglican Communion. The approval for the move was given by the Primates of the Anglican Communion when they met in Jordan in January. The Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council had already given the new Province the go-ahead.

The General Synod of the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East approved the request from the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa to secede from its province. Under its constitution, the diocese fell under the temporary Metropolitical authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who signed a Dead of Relinquishment legally inaugurating the new Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria.

The Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria will serve 10 countries as the official Anglican Communion presence: Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Chad, Mauritania, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. It is named after the north Egyptian city which was home to one of the earliest branches of the Christian Church.

Announcing the development, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, said: In recent years we have seen enormous growth in what was the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa, particularly  but not only  in the Gambella region of Ethiopia. It was one of the largest and most diverse dioceses in the Anglican Communion and also one of the fastest growing regions.

It is great credit to Archbishop Mouneer and the clergy and people of the diocese that this growth occurred in spite of the great cultural diversity and complex political situations in the region it serves.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said that he was absolutely delighted to welcome the inauguration of the new Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria as the 41st Province of the Anglican Communion. Of course it has been part of the Anglican Communion for very many years, going right back into the past, he said. It has been part of the Episcopal Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East but now with growth and development and the planting of churches in the Horn of Africa and elsewhere; with its service to its community regardless of ethnicity or of religion, it has grown to the point where it is now becoming an independent Province.

Circumstances mean that I have not been able to go and join them as I would have liked to have done; but that makes no difference, for God is with them. In Jesus Christ they are full of life and hope; by the power of the Spirit they are continuing to serve and love amidst challenges that every church faces.

Although I will not be there physically, I will be there to pray for them Spiritually, alongside them, rejoicing with them. And I ask the whole Anglican Communion to join in thanks, in joy, in celebration and in intercession, for this new 41st Province, for Archbishop Mouneer, for all its clergy and people, for the whole range of this Province of Alexandria  such a historic name in such a historic area. May it draw on the history of the saints and their inspiration; and may it proclaim the Gospel afresh in this generation. Amen!

The first Episcopal / Anglican Archbishop of Alexandria, Mouneer Anis, said: All my colleagues and I thank God for His goodness. He fulfilled our dreams. We are also grateful for all the support we receive from Archbishop Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury; Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion; all the Primates of the Anglican Communion, the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) and our colleagues at the Anglican Communion Office and Lambeth Palace for their hard work.

We are aware that many brothers and sisters, who served before us, have sown many seeds and now we are harvesting. May the Lord keep us faithful to Him and to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

He added: the early church in Alexandria has shaped the Christian thought of the whole world during the first millennium. It is our prayers that the new Province of Alexandria would do the same during the third millennium.

As a new member of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the Province of Alexandria, commit ourselves afresh to our Triune God and His mission. We also pray so that the Lord may use us to bring peace and reconciliation in our region.

Archbishop Michael Lewis, Primate of the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East and the Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf, sent his heartfelt prayers and good wishes to our brothers and sisters in the existing Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa.

He added: They have for many years been an integral and valued part of our Province. Now we bless them on their way towards being inaugurated as the new Province of Alexandria. As in the past, so in the future, they will live out the unchanging worldwide Anglican calling of faithful worship, loving service, and welcome to all.

A new phase in the life of Anglican presence and engagement in north-east Africa is beginning. From Algeria through Egypt to Ethiopia and in all neighbouring nations they will by God's grace be a blessing to their communities and peoples.

Other Anglican leaders also welcomed the new Province. The Chair of the Anglican Consultative Council Primate of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, Archbishop Paul Kwong, described the territory of the new Province as being lands full of rich, diverse and historic civilisations, cultures, religions and socio-politics.

He said: The Province named after Alexandria, the famous ancient home to a lighthouse ranking among the seven wonders of the world, a storied library and a seat of learning, will have a lot to offer equally and significantly to the Anglican Communion today. I am convinced that the new Province will play a much larger role in Inter-faith dialogue and involve more actively in health care ministry than the former diocese once committed. I look forward to serving with Archbishop Mouneer in the Communion.

The new Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria is a member of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa (CAPA). Its Chair, the Primate of Central Africa and Bishop of Northern Zambia, Archbishop Albert Chama, said: We as CAPA on the continent of Africa welcome the formation of the Episcopal / Anglican Province of Egypt.

Egypt has been a very important and strategic diocese for the Church in North and the Horn of Africa. The formation of the new Province . . . certainly will open a new chapter in the life of the Anglican Communion on the continent of Africa, and also this will stimulate the growth of the Anglican Church in North and the Horn of Africa itself.



The former diocese of Egypt has played a vital role in inter-faith dialogue given the environment in which the Church operates. The new Province will certainly be a big player in fostering peace and reconciliation in the region. Already the former diocese has been helping the refugees from South Sudan and other countries along it borders. . .

The new Province is very strategic for the growth of Church. The critical role she is expected to play is that of inter-faith dialogue, as a means of encouraging people of different faiths to live together as they have done before, though this chapter will provide them with more influence as they act as one of the Provinces in the Anglican Communion worldwide.

The General Secretary of CAPA, J W Kofi deGraft-Johnson, added his congratulations, saying: We are delighted to read of the birthing of the new Province of Alexandria to consolidate the long history of Anglicanism and the work of Anglicans in Egypt, North Africa and the Horn of Africa.

Alexandria, could not have been a better name considering its place in Church history and as a seat of knowledge both for the Church and ancient civilisation.

The birthing of the Province of Alexandria therefore provides greater opportunity for the Anglican Communion in Africa for fuller continental expression. This will enhance the role of the former Diocese of Egypt in building on the social transformation and inter-faith ministries within the North Africa region, across the continent and within the wider Anglican Communion in general.

It is indeed a most welcome news to the Anglican Communion in Africa and a celebration of the contribution of the former Diocese of Egypt to the ongoing work of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA).

An international service of thanksgiving to celebrate the inauguration of the new Province will be held in Cairo at a later date, once global travel restrictions have been eased. The Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria have been allocated Sunday 2 August in this years Anglican Cycle of prayer  a date which had been allocated to the now-postponed Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops.
People in face masks seen along Orchard Road on 19 June 2020, the first day of Phase 2 of Singapores re-opening. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman /Yahoo News Singapore)

By Lawrence Loh

SINGAPORE Singapore goes to the polls on 10 July. While the general election allows individuals to cast their ballots, businesses do carry significant influence on the outcomes. Many voters are business owners or work in the myriad businesses in various sectors.

The election was called at a most unprecedented time amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Singapore had its fair share of challenges in responding to the crisis. The economy is forecasted to contract in the range 4 per cent to 7 per cent this year. But for businesses, it is the business that matters. It is about a fundamental consideration  how can they get back to business even if it is not as usual but at least it is back?

The election comes on the heels of four national budgets, within four months, that total S$93 billion. These provide assistances and reliefs, but businesses may not expect the support to last forever. If the pandemic is to persist longer, businesses want to see how the newly elected government can continue helping them.

The critical question is  what is behind the budget goodie bag? What are the ways in which businesses may work with the government to bounce back to normalcy, even if it is the new normal. In specific terms, businesses will be concerned along three aspects.

First, businesses want certainty on the revenue side. The pandemic has resulted in losses of markets and customers. Beyond tourism-related sectors like travel and hospitality and human-intensive sectors like retail and food and beverages, the damages have spilled to many other sectors. Businesses will want to be assured of the governments help on the financial toplines. Initiatives in transformation and digitaliSation have been rolled out amidst national efforts to prepare for the future economy and for the country to emerge stronger. But it is in the implementation that may cause anxiety. The question is: how can the initiatives benefit the specific businesses, one business at a time?

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Second, businesses are challenged on the cost side. On wages, the government has been defraying up to 75 per cent of these costs during the pandemic, capped at $4,600 of the monthly wages. But the support will end in August. The question is: what happens after that? The main cost gripe is probably the high rentals charged by landlords, many of which are large government-linked companies. The budgets offer property tax rebates for landlords to pass down as rebates for the business tenants. Businesses certainly want more permanent reductions or assistances in rental costs.

Third, and most significantly, it is about a dilemma of trust. After the election, the government will be in a better position to take calibrated risks, balancing public health with economic revitalisation. Businesses cannot remain shut forever but there are risks when safety measures become too liberalised. Businesses will have to rely on the government to make the right thoughtful decisions. The concern for the election is which form of parliament can they bestow the trust to, whether this is one characterised by a clear-cut ruling-party mandate or one drawn from more diverse representations.

Ultimately, the interest of business is business. At the practical level, this is all that matters to business. The pandemic has been aptly termed as the crisis of a generation. The critical panacea will be a strong economy. Businesses will like workable solutions. They want an election outcome that will not inadvertently result in the generation of a crisis.

Lawrence Loh is Director of Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations at NUS Business School where he is also associate professor of strategy and policy.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) on Monday agreed to have a group of experts mediate a dispute over Colombia's imposition of duties on frozen fries from three EU countries.

The dispute concerns anti-dumping customs fees imposed against fries from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

Brussels says the measures announced by Bogota in November 2018 are completely unjustified and harm European companies.

Anti-dumping measures are permitted by the Geneva-based WTO, but only under certain conditions and are often subject to challenges.

On Monday, "WTO members agreed to a second request from the European Union for the establishment of a panel to rule on Colombia's anti-dumping duties on frozen fries," a Geneva trade official said following a meeting of the organisation's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB).

Colombia said it "remained ready to seek an amicable solution with the EU", added the official.

Brussels made a first request for a settlement panel earlier this year, which was refused by Bogota. Under WTO rules, a second panel request is, in practice, automatically accepted.

- India ICT tariffs -

At Monday's DSB meeting, the first held since March 5, the EU also secured the establishment of a panel to rule on Indian tariffs on certain information and communication technology goods.

"First requests for panels on India's ICT tariffs from Japan and Chinese Taipei were blocked by India," the Geneva trade official said.

In March, the EU said India had committed not to apply import duties on ICT products but for several years had strengthened and regularly hiked them, up to 20 percent.

Brussels consulted with India on the matter in May 2019, but failed to resolve the dispute.

The European Union says annual exports worth 400 million euros ($450 million) are being affected by the duties.

"India said it was disappointed with the EU request," the trade official said.
Stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic rebounded from last week's losses on Monday as optimism over easing lockdowns won out over fear of surging coronavirus infections. Most of the European session was tepid "with the positive implications of easing lockdown measures weighed up against surging COVID-19 cases throughout the" United States, said Joshua Mahony, senior market analyst at online trading firm IG. But by the close, European key markets were more than one percent higher, helped by steady gains on Wall Street over the New York morning. The Dow led US indices, finishing up 2.3 percent, or 580 points, to 25,959.80. The biggest gainer was Boeing, which surged 14.4 percent as the US Federal Aviation Administration undertook a long-awaited certification flight of the 737 MAX, which has been grounded since March 2019 following two deadly crashes. Major Wall Street indices lost more than two percent on Friday as coronavirus cases spiked in numerous southern and western states, exacerbating worries the US economic recovery would be derailed. While new COVID-19 cases in the US remained at a high level Monday, analysts expect a spate of major economic data releases this week to show sequential improvement from very weak levels. "The market is seeing the glass half-full today versus the glass half-empty at the end of last week," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at National Securities. London got a mild boost from investors after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the coronavirus crisis needed the type of massive economic response US president Franklin D. Roosevelt mobilized to tackle the Great Depression. Travel stocks were up, with both TUI and EasyJet surging higher. BP's share price jumped after the British energy major, hit hard by weak oil demand, announced the sale of its petrochemical business to privately-owned rival Ineos. Earlier, Asian equity markets had tanked in response to rising virus cases in the US, and after China imposed a strict lockdown on nearly half a million people in a province surrounding Beijing to contain a fresh cluster, with a city official calling the situation "severe and complicated." - Key figures around 2040 GMT - New York - Dow: UP 2.3 percent at 25,595.80 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 1.5 percent at 3,053.24 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP 1.2 percent at 9.874.15 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 1.1 percent at 6,225.77 (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 1.2 percent at 12,232.12 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.7 percent at 4,945.46 (close) EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.9 percent at 3,232.02 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 2.3 percent at 21,995.04 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 1.0 percent at 24,301.28 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.6 percent at 2,961.52 (close) West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.2 percent at $39.70 per barrel Brent North Sea crude: UP 1.7 percent at $41.71 per barrel Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1242 from $1.1219 at 2100 GMT Dollar/yen: UP at 107.56 yen from 107.22 yen Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2291 from $1.2336 Euro/pound: UP at 91.42 pence from 90.94 burs-jmb/cs
The British are far fatter than any other nation in Europe bar the Maltese so there needs to be a debate about how to tackle soaring rates of obesity which cost the country dearly, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.

Johnson, who said at the start of the year that he needed to lose weight, was hospitalised in April with coronavirus and treated in intensive care with oxygen. He later said doctors in the National Health Service (NHS) had saved his life.

Asked about how ill he had been in an interview with Times Radio, Johnson said: "I did lose some weight - that is perfectly true - as you do in ICU (Intensive Care Unit)."

"I have taken a very libertarian stance on obesity but actually when you look at the numbers, when you look at the pressure on the NHS, compare, I'm afraid this wonderful country of ours to other European countries, we are significantly fatter than most others, apart from the Maltese for some reason. It is an issue."

The United Kingdom has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world: nearly one in three adults are obese, according to the OECD. Worldwide, obesity has nearly tripled since 1975 and more than 650 million people are obese - defined by the World Health Organization as having a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater.

Johnson, who in his youth was slender, has ditched takeaways since his illness and even told meetings that its all right for you thinnies when discussing the novel coronavirus, British media reported.

"I am not going to pretend I have original thinking about this nor am I going to pretend that it is easy for politicians to solve - everybody knows that this is a tough one," Johnson said. "It's something we all need to address."

Asked if he was now an interventionist who would support a sugar tax, Johnson did not give a direct answer.

"We certainly must have a care for the health of our population and we will be happier and fitter and more resistant to diseases like COVID if we can tackle obesity," Johnson said. "It is hugely costly for the NHS."

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Johnson did some press ups to show he was "as fit as a butcher's dog" in an interview with the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

Asked if he did the press ups because there was a narrative that he was not fit, he said: "Well I certainly hope not. Well no, yes."

"When I came out of hospital I did notice there were occasional pieces in the papers saying I was looking a bit wraithlike, or something someone said," Johnson said. "Complete nonsense I want you to know."

"I am feeling very well, yes thank you, again thanks to our National Health Service," he said.
UK holiday-makers will soon be able to travel to some countries without quarantining upon return. Photo: S O C I A L . C U T/Unsplash

Holiday companies have seen bookings explode as COVID-19 travel restrictions are set to be relaxed next week.

According to data and comments collated by the BBC from lastminute.com, tour operator TUI (TUI.L), and the Eurotunnel, bookings have surged since the UK government announced that Brits will be allowed to travel to certain European countries without having to spend two weeks in quarantine upon their return, from 6 July.

Andrew Flintham, managing director of TUI UK and Ireland told the BBC, "we've already seen bookings increase by 50% this week, versus last [week], with holidays to Spain and Greece looking the most popular this summer.

Lastminute.com reported an 80% increase on holiday sales compared to last week, attributed to Spain lifting the quarantine for Brits.

READ MORE: The top 10 countries Brits will visit once travel restrictions are lifted

Spain-holiday.com, the third biggest holiday rental site in Spain, said it experienced record-breaking Saturday sales.

Peter Jarvis of Spain-holiday.com, told the Mail Online: Were already seeing a huge increase in online interest in our holiday homes from the UK market, with pool properties being the most popular  up 104%.

Vigilance is absolutely still needed but with sensible precautions on either end we are confident we will see a safe summer in the sun for Brits again this year.

Meanwhile, the Eurotunnel website crashed on Friday as too many customers [were] trying to make a booking, the company said.

John Keefe, director of public affairs at Eurotunnel, said phones had been "ringing off the hook."

READ MORE: Travel bubbles, air bridges and bilateral discussions  international travel in the COVID era

However, he added that Eurotunnel saw an increase of bookings weeks ago, suggesting many Brits had already started to "discount the quarantine measures."

The full list of travel corridors  agreements between countries to let tourists travel without restrictions  is set to be announced next week.

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Trips to Spain, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Turkey, Germany and Norway are expected to be allowed  but not Portugal or Sweden.

Travel companies reported their biggest sales ever as holiday-makers rushed to book before the traffic light system letting Brits travel to the safest destinations is announced on 1 July and put into effect on 6 July.

The systems will rank how badly countries have been hit by coronavirus, with travel corridors or air bridges opening to green and amber nations.

READ MORE: Shocking pictures  world slams holiday-goers in Britain's Bournemouth beach

Only those travelling to red nations will still have to follow the 14-day quarantine upon return rule, which is enforceable with a 1,000 ($1,233) fine.

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel told Sky News: As we see rates of the virus drop with other countries in the world, and also as we see domestic transmission fall, it is right we look at how we facilitate travel and the air corridors, or the travel corridors, that I and my colleagues have spoken about.

And a government spokesman told the BBC its measures would give people "the opportunity for a summer holiday abroad" while also boosting the UK economy, but stressed that it "wouldn't hesitate to put on the brakes," if the situation changes.
A Ryanair plane. (Nick Potts/PA Wire/PA Images)

Ryanair (RYA.L) said it would shut down two bases and cut 120 pilot jobs in Ireland, its home market, unless the pilots bypass their union and accept a 20% pay cut, according to a memo seen by Reuters.

The airline, which resumes flights on 1 July, is demanding pay cuts of up to 20% for flight crew and 10% for attendants across Europe, to compete with rivals that have received state bailouts. However, it faces resistance from trade unions.

READ MORE: Virgin Atlantic to restart flights to 17 additional destinations

In the memo, director of operations Neal McMahon told pilots the union council representing Irish pilots had walked away from talks. But Forsa, the second-largest trade union in Ireland, has denied this.

McMahon also said a union request for an extension of a 30-day consultation on job cuts was a "stalling tactic."

The memo sent on the company's internal messaging system asked pilots to click a button to accept a pay cut of up to a fifth of their salary, which would be gradually reversed over four years.

It also asked them to agree to split up available work via job shares and unpaid leave, as well as several "productivity improvements."

A Ryanair spokeswoman told Yahoo Finance UK the company has "nothing further to add to [the memo].

READ MORE: Coronavirus  Holiday bookings surge as travel rules are relaxed

The number of job losses, and whether bases at Cork and Shannon airports remained open, would depend on how many accepted.

Forsa, which called the proposal unacceptable as it would leave pilots on zero-hour contracts and provide no guarantee job losses would be avoided, said it has requested third-party mediation but not yet received a response from Ryanair.

French flight crew have accused Ryanair of redundancy blackmail by similarly informing them they risked losing their jobs if they didnt accept pay cuts.

Earlier this month, Europes biggest budget carrier warned it may have to cut up to 3,000 jobs  15% of its workforce  as it faces a slow recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Despite making profit of 1bn (894m, $1.1bn) in the year to 31 March, the financial year ahead will likely be difficult and uncertain, as it may take up to two years for passenger levels to return to 2019 levels, it said.

Meanwhile, airline Jet2 is proposing to cut 102 pilot jobs, the British Airline Pilots Association union said last week.

The Leeds-based carrier is not due to recommence flying until 15 July by which time it will have grounded its entire fleet for more than three months.

The travel industry has been hit hard by the pandemic but things are starting to look up as lockdown rules ease. In the UK, holiday companies have seen bookings surge as COVID-19 travel restrictions are set to be relaxed next week.
Thailand and Hong Kong are to hold talks on establishing a so-called travel bubble, with the country starting to ease border restrictions as the coronavirus pandemic loosens its grip in the region.

The Hong Kong government on Monday welcomed the move towards opening up travel between the two destinations, saying discussions with the Thai authorities would start within the next fortnight.

From Wednesday, a handful of short-term business travellers will be allowed into Thailand from five jurisdictions, including Hong Kong, according to Chinese state media Xinhua.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

But a comprehensive bilateral agreement between the city and Bangkok also covering tourists is to be negotiated in the coming days.

Thailands Deputy Secretary General to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs, Dr Kobsak Pootrakool, revealed the plan during an online business forum jointly organised by Thailand Board of Investment and the Hong Kong government, although no specific details were offered on how the corridor might work.

Referring to the travel bubble with Hong Kong during a separate briefing, Natapanu Nopakun, from Thailands foreign affairs ministry, said: There will be special arrangements done through bilateral agreements and travel bubbles which will involve four countries and one territory for short-term business visitors.

The implementation will still need to be discussed in practical terms.

Also on Monday, Thailands Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reportedly said that short-stay business travellers and government guests from mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Singapore would be allowed to enter from Wednesday.

This special arrangement will initially allow entry to 200 inbound travellers per day, said CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin.

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Hong Kong commerce minister Edward Yau Tang-wah, who attended the webinar, said the prospect of a bilateral travel deal was very encouraging news for both Hong Kong and Thailand.

If the special relaxation arrangements for cross-border control can be established between the two places, cross-boundary business exchange can be gradually resumed for Hong Kong, which is set to give a tremendous boost to our economic recovery, he said.

Thailand has been a popular holiday destination with Hong Kong people. Over the past five years, an annual average of nearly 900,000 Hongkongers have visited Thailand. More than 500,000 visit Hong Kong from Thailand a year.

Yau said: We are keen to explore with the government of Thailand the special travel arrangement.

We are confident that we can reach an agreement expeditiously and become one of each others first partners of the special travel arrangement for cross-border control.

Hong Kong is also working towards a deal with mainland China and Macau to create travel bubbles, to start the process of reopening the city to travellers.

If successful, Thailand will be the first overseas country to form a travel bubble with Hong Kong.

The relevant discussion will touch on details of the relaxation measures for cross-border control, specific operation arrangements to reduce the risks of spreading the virus across the borders, the provision of transport services and more, Yau added.

The Hong Kong negotiation team will be led by the commissioner for tourism and include representatives from the Food and Health Bureau, the Transport and Housing Bureau, and the Department of Health, according to the city government.

Hong Kong legislator Yiu Si-wing, who represents the tourism sector, said it was an encouraging sign for the citys frozen tourism sector.

It is hoped that Thailand and Hong Kong can strike a deal in July, starting with allowing business travellers. Then maybe we can deal with usual tourists. Both sides may try to work out a quota system, say, allowing a specific number of tour groups from Hong Kong every day, Yiu said.

The deal with Thailand will also set a good precedent, and we may be easier to form similar travel bubbles with other places afterwards.

More from South China Morning Post:

This article Thailand and Hong Kong to open talks on setting up travel bubble first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Holes are seen in the Ukraine International Airlines' Boeing 737-800 plane wreckage in a picture from investigation team released in Kiev

(Reuters) - The shooting down of a Ukrainian airliner in Iran in January was due to human error and not an order from senior military authorities, the military prosecutor for Tehran province, Gholam Abbas Torki, said on Monday, Tasnim news agency reported.

There was no indication that the downing of the airliner, which killed all 176 people aboard, was due to a cyber attack on Iran's missile or air defence systems, Torki said, adding that three people were under arrest related to the accident.

The airliner was shot down shortly after takeoff in Tehran, when Iran's air defences were on high alert, hours after Iran had fired missiles at a U.S. base in Iraq in retaliation for the killing of an Iranian commander. Iran has already described the shooting down of the plans as a tragic mistake.

The operator of the air defence system should have received orders from his superiors before firing two missiles at the airliner, Torki said.

"Twenty six seconds passed between the first and second firing but unfortunately during this time the operator also did not get permission for the second firing from the network," Torki said.

The black boxes of the airliner have been physically damaged and reading them is technically complicated, Torki said.

France's BEA crash investigation agency said on Friday it would download the black boxes from the airliner at Iran's request, easing a stand-off over where they should be read.

(Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Catherine Evans)
At least 32 people died after a ferry capsized and sank Monday in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka following a collision, said rescuers, who found one man alive in a "miracle" hours later. A dozen people were initially listed as missing. The Morning Bird was hit from behind by another ferry around 9:30 am local time (0330 GMT) during the morning rush hour, when the country's largest river port is packed with vessels. "We have recovered 32 bodies... We located the ferry more than 50 feet (15 metres) deep in the river," A. Zahidul Islam, a diver in the fire brigade, told AFP. "I think we have recovered most of the bodies. The rest can only be recovered if the ferry can be salvaged and lifted... it looked like it was stuck in mud at the bottom of the river." More than 12 hours after the sinking one passenger was found alive. Rescuers were trying to raise the vessel when they saw the 35-year-old man, Suman Bapary, floating in the river, fire brigade spokesman Kamrul Islam told AFP. "He was in the sunken ship... all these 13 hours. We don't know how. But it is a miracle," Islam said. Coastguard spokesman commander Hayet Ibne Siddique said earlier that at least 50 people were believed to have been on board the vessel, which has a capacity of 150 passengers. The ferry had departed from central Munshiganj district. It sank as it was about to moor at Sadarghat, Dhaka's main river port used by hundreds of boats to travel to the country's south. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority's chief, Commodore Golam Sadeqk, told AFP the single-deck ship was "not overcrowded" and sank "due to carelessness". He said the vessel had been cleared to carry passengers until September. Witnesses told local television stations many passengers appeared to be stuck in the ferry's cabins. The deceased were put in body bags before they were laid in rows at the harbour front. Another boat would later arrive to lift the damaged vessel from the water, Siddique said. - Trapped - Masud Hossain said he was on board the ferry with two uncles when the accident happened. "It took no more than five minutes to sink," he told local newspaper The Daily Star, adding that the body of one of his uncles had been found, but another was still missing. "I thought I was going to die today... I somehow managed to open the window of the cabin (in the ferry) and come out." Another survivor told reporters that "those who were on the roof of the ferry jumped and survived". "But those who were inside the deck were trapped and possibly they have all died." Relatives gathered at Sadarghat to search for their family members, despite coronavirus social distancing concerns. "I still don't know what happened to them," a man, looking for his cousin and another relative, told reporters. Boat accidents are common in Bangladesh, which is criss-crossed by more than 230 rivers. The South Asian nation is heavily reliant on ferries for transport but has had a poor safety record. Experts blame badly maintained vessels, lax safety standards at shipyards and overcrowding for many of the accidents. In February 2015 at least 78 people died when an overcrowded ship collided with a cargo boat in a central Bangladesh river. The number of accidents has dropped sharply in recent years as authorities crack down on unseaworthy vessels.
Low Thia Khiang (left) of opposition Workers' Party smiles while Chen Show Mao (second from right) and Pritam Singh (right), candidates of the party for the 2011 general election, wave to supporters as they celebrate winning Aljunied GRC. (AFP via Getty Images file photo)

By Gabriel Choo

SINGAPORE  From shocking victories by the opposition to controversial incidents involving election candidates, Yahoo News Singapore takes a look back at some of the most dramatic moments during past General Election (GE) seasons over the years.

Biggest opposition win since independence  GE1991

In an unprecedented victory, GE1991 saw the opposition winning four single seats, as many voters expressed a desire for more alternative voices in Parliament.

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) scored major gains, winning three seats in the Potong Pasir, Nee Soon Central and Bukit Gombak Single Member Constituency (SMC). The party won Nee Soon Central by the slimmest of margins, with its candidate Cheo Chai Chen winning by just 168 votes, or 50.3 per cent against the ruling Peoples Action Partys (PAP) Ng Pock Too. SDP Secretary-General Chiam See Tong retained his Potong Pasir seat while Ling How Doong won Bukit Gombak. It was the SDP's best ever GE performance.

The last opposition seat was filled up by Low Thia Khiang of the Workers Party (WP), who won in Hougang. It marked Lows entry in Parliament and he went on to become MP for almost 29 years including for Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

GE1991 marked the biggest seat loss for the PAP since Singapores independence. It was a huge setback for then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, less than a year after he became the countrys leader in November 1990.

At a press conference after the GE, PM Goh attributed the loss to his "open and consultative style of government" and promised to re-examine his approach.

Singaporean politician and lawyer Tang Liang Hong (left). (FILE PHOTO: AP/Bernama)

Tang Liang Hong vs PAP heavyweights  GE1997

During the GE1997 campaign, WP candidate Tang Liang Hong was criticised by PM Goh of being a Chinese chauvinist. In his defence, Tang claimed that he was merely making comments in support of Chinese-educated people.

Tang ran as a candidate in the WP team in Cheng San GRC and lost to the PAP, with 45.2 per cent of the votes.

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After the GE, Tang was sued by PAP heavyweights Goh, Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Deputy Prime Ministers Lee Hsien Loong and Tony Tan and several other PAP members. They sued Tang for defamation and accused him of making unreasonable statements that cast doubts on their integrity during the GE campaign.

Facing rising litigation costs, Tang fled Singapore and went on a self-imposed exile to Australia. He has not returned to Singapore since.

Chee Soon Juan shouting at Goh Chok Tong  GE2001

SDP chief Dr Chee Soon Juan was involved in a controversial incident when he used a megaphone to shout at PM Goh during a walkabout. "Mr Goh! Mr Goh! Come here, Mr Goh! I want to talk with you, come here! Where is our money, Mr Goh? You can run but you cannot hide, Chee called out at Goh.

Dr Chee alleged that Goh had lent $17 billion to the late Indonesian President Suharto.

Running as one of the SDP candidates in Jurong GRC, Dr Chee only won 20.3 per cent of the votes at GE2001. The SDP was also unsuccessful in two other constituencies which it contested that year.

Goh and Lee Kuan Yew subsequently sued Chee for defamation in two separate cases. Lee labelled Chee as "a liar, a cheat and all together an unscrupulous man". Chee was later declared a bankrupt when he failed to pay $500,000 in damages from the two cases and left the political scene.

Dr Chee would return to election campaigning in GE2015 when he contested and lost in the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

James Gomezs lost application form  GE2006

A member of the Workers' Party, James Gomez was embroiled in a controversy when he was applying to run in GE2006. Gomez had accused the Elections Department (ELD) of losing his minority-race candidate's application form.

Making a scene, Gomez warned that there would be consequences if the ELD had misplaced his form. But CCTV footage evidence showed that Gomez had put the form in his bag and left the ELDs premises without submitting it.

Gomez was forced to apologise and claimed that he was busy and became distracted. He was one of the WP candidates for Aljunied GRC at GE2006 and the party lost to the PAP, with 43.9 per cent of the votes.

After the election, Gomez was questioned by the police for his alleged criminal intimidation and let off with a stern warning.

Workers Partys historic GRC win  GE2011

Since the GRC system came into effect in 1988, the opposition had failed to win a multi-member constituency until GE2011. The WP made history when it won the 5-member Aljunied GRC with 54.7 per cent of the votes against a strong PAP team led by Ministers George Yeo and Lim Hwee Hua.

Together with its victory in Hougang SMC, the WP won a total of six seats in parliament  the best parliamentary performance by an opposition party since Singapores independence.

The PAP won 81 out of 87 seats, and registered its lowest ever share of overall votes at 60.1 per cent.

PM Lee and the PAPs secretary-general said in a post-election press conference that many Singaporeans desired to see more opposition voices in parliament, and he would accept and respect the voters decisions.

WPs Low declared its wins in Aljunied and Hougang as a "political landmark in modern Singapore", and called on the PAP to be a more responsive, inclusive, transparent and accountable government.

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) celebrates during the 2015 General Election. (FILE PHOTO: AP/Ng Han Guan)

PAP comeback in first GE after death of Lee Kuan Yew  GE2015

Buoyed by the GE2011 results, opposition parties contested all seats at the 2015 General Election  the first time it has happened since Singapores independence in 1965.

However, it was their turn to suffer a setback, as PAP won 83 out of 89 seats with 69.9 per cent of the popular votes  a dramatic 9.7 per cent improvement from the previous GE. They also reclaimed the Punggol East SMC from WP, which retained Hougang SMC but barely held on to Aljunied GRC.

Analysts attributed PAPs strong showing to two factors. The first was the death of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew six months before the election. His passing sparked a strong surge of appreciation among Singaporeans for what he and the PAP had done for the country.

The second was the round-the-year celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Singapores independence, which similarly gave a boost for the PAP in reminding the public of how much progress the country has made under their governance.

PAP would-be candidate Ivan Lim withdraws  GE2020

From the time Ivan Lim was introduced as a PAP candidate for the GE, he was beset by multiple allegations about his character.

Several online posts - purportedly from former colleagues, people who have served under him in National Service, and his acquaintances - have accused him of being arrogant, elitist and lacking compassion.

His campaign was over within just three days from his official introduction.

Initially maintaining that he was determined to stay the course last Saturday, he changed his mind just hours later when he wrote in a letter to PM Lee that he was withdrawing his candidacy. In his letter, he said that the controversy has caused intense pain and stress for his family. PM Lee described the controversy as unfortunate.

Follow Yahoo News Singapores GE2020 coverage here.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

GE2020 stories:

Facebook takes down Fabrications About the PAP pro-government page

Low Thia Khiang: Most memorable quotes from his 32-year political career

GE2020: A look at elections in countries around the world amid COVID-19

GE2020: Ivan Lim withdraws as PAP candidate, PM Lee calls controversy unfortunate
By Barani Krishnan

Investing.com - Bets that U.S. economic data and road traffic numbers will get better over time is helping the oil bull, even as coronavirus infections set new records in Florida, South Carolina and Nevada.

Crude prices rose as much as 2%, front-running the expectations of those banking on an optimistic U.S. jobs report for June and better weekly demand numbers for fuel  both expected later in the week.

Assurances of free and unlimited flow of stimulus from the Federal Reserve  a long-running theme across U.S. markets  also gave oil a friendly nudge higher.

New York-traded West Texas Intermediate, the benchmark for U.S. crude futures, settled up $1.21, or 3.1%, at $39.70 per barrel.

London-traded Brent, the global benchmark for oil, rose 83 cents, or 2%, to settle at $41.85.

The rebound, which came on the back of a higher Dow on Wall Street, almost restored the 3.2% drop on the WTI last week and the 3% lost by Brent. Those declines were deemed necessary by analysts to correct prices misaligned with fuel demand that has only just started improving from lockdowns enforced over the Covid-19. At Mondays prices, WTI is up nearly 300% from two months ago, while Brent is up more than 170%.

The only immediate positive for oil in Mondays trade was a report from market intelligence firm Genscape showing a modest decline of 153,330 barrels at the Cushing, Oklahoma, hub that stores crude delivered on expiring WTI contracts.

I'm sure there'll be plenty who are relieved at crude floating around the $40 mark, but I don't expect it will linger around these levels too long, said Craig Erlam at New York-based trading platform OANDA. Between agreements expiring and economies heading in various directions, depending on the viciousness of phase two, oil prices will likely remain highly volatile for some time to come.

Florida counted 9,585 new cases on Saturday, followed by 8,530 on Sunday, the New York Times reported. Governor Ron DeSantis said young people ignoring social-distancing rules were the main culprits in spreading the virus.

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In Texas, the largest oil refining state, Governor Greg Abbott shut bars back down and cut restaurant capacity to 50%. He also shut down river-rafting trips, which have been blamed for a swift rise in cases, and banned outdoor gatherings of over 100 people unless local officials approve.

In Monday's market, however, crude bulls tried to shut out any noise associated with the virus, focusing instead on upcoming data such as the U.S. jobs report for June, due on Thursday. A consensus of analysts tracked by Investing.com shows that U.S. non-farm payrolls may have increased by as much as 3 million this month versus Mays growth of 2.5 million.

Market bulls are also betting that refiners would have drawn down more crude last week to process into fuel in anticipation of higher demand from Americans embarking on road trips for the July of 4th celebration this week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration will report on Wednesday supply-demand numbers for the week ended June 26.

In the previous week to June 19, the EIA reported a surprise 1.4 million-barrel build in crude stockpiles, versus the 300,000 barrel rise anticipated by forecasters.

On the fuel demand side, gasoline stockpiles declined by nearly 1.7 million barrels, about 400,000 more than expected. But to offset that, distillates inventories, led by diesel, rose nearly 250,000 barrels against a forecast drop of 620,000.

U.S. crude production also rose by a surprise 500,000 barrels during the week to June 19 to 11 million barrels per day, It was the first rise in U.S. production in 13 weeks, and comes after a 20% drop in output that followed the demand destruction for fuel caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir and U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook attend a joint news conference, in Riyadh

By Marwa Rashad

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi and U.S. officials on Monday urged the global community to extend a U.N. arms embargo on Iran, saying that failing to do so would allow Tehran to further arm its proxies and destabilise the Middle East.

The arms curbs on Iran are due to expire in October under the terms of Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The U.N. Security Council will decide on the matter and veto-powers Russia and China have signalled they oppose reimposing the ban.

"Despite the embargo, Iran seeks to provide weapons to terrorist groups, so what will happen if the embargo is lifted? Iran will become more ferocious and aggressive," Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs Adel al-Jubeir told a joint news conference with U.S. Iran envoy Brian Hook in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in several proxy wars in the region, including in Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling the Iran-aligned Houthi movement for five years.

Jubeir said a shipment of Iranian weapons bound for the Houthis was seized as recently as Sunday. Hook said similar shipments were intercepted in February and last November.

The conference venue displayed weapons, including drones and missiles, that Saudi authorities said were used in cross-border Houthi attacks on Saudi cities.

"We urge the international community to extend the embargo on selling arms to Iran and on Iran's ability to sell arms to the world," Jubeir said.

Iran denies arming groups in the Middle East, including the Houthis, and blames regional tensions on the United States and its Gulf allies.

Hook said lifting the ban would "only embolden" Tehran, drive greater instability and trigger a regional arms race.

"This is not an outcome that the U.N. Security Council can accept," he added.

Iran has warned it will respond if the embargo is extended and said such a decision would endanger the 2015 nuclear pact, under which Tehran agreed to halt its disputed uranium enrichment programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Washington withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to stop complying with key restrictions imposed on its nuclear activity by the accord.

(Reporting by Marwa Rashad; Additional reporting by Alexander Cornwell and Lisa Barrington in Dubai; Writing by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Founder Ashly Lou of Yoga Inc. (PHOTO: Yoga Inc.)

By: Wenting Ang and Reta Lee

(Updated)

Amid the struggles and uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers and brands across the globe suffer extensively from the social distancing and travel restrictions put in place to curb the virus.

Even before the lockdown kicked in, the drop in tourists due to the pandemic had already brought about the first wave of challenges for many lifestyle brands. In April, apparel brand Esprit announced that it will shut all of its 56 stores in Asia outside of China, including 12 outlets in Singapore. Dubai based online luxury retailer The Modist, a Canadian footwear brand Aldo Group, and dessert brand Dean & DeLuca had all fallen victim to the pandemic, leading to their bankruptcy filings.

Closer to home, Yahoo Lifestyle SEA talked to brands in Singapore and Malaysia on their decisions to shift operations online or even biting the bullet and shutter doors to tide through the pandemic.

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Tiong Bahru is suffering another loss; their independent neighbourhood bookshop BooksActually will be shutting down its physical operations and moving online, according to a statement shared on Saturday (12 Sept).

BooksActually has been closed since 4th April due to the previous Circuit Breaker measures and operating from a home basis, conducting Instagram Live chats with authors and members of the local arts scene.

In a Facebook post shared by owner Kenny Leck, BooksActually turns 15 years old this year, but it has been "the strangest year of all, whether for an individual or a business entity like ours."

He added: "As the world changes around us, the bookstore has to move in tandem as well. As it ushers into the 15th year, BooksActually will transform fully into an Online Store. It is a new beginning for all of us, not just our team but also for you, accompanying us on this journey ahead. As horrible as the pandemic has been, it has also given BooksActually its "Online Store Sea Legs". After nearly half a year of being solely an Online Store, we are now ready to make it a reality."

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The bookshop was started by Leck and another co-founder Karen Wai in 2005.

To purchase books online, head on to BooksActually Online Store.

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When the circuit breaker kicked in, it was definitely impossible for us to function as a record store or serve drinks as a bar, Darren Tan, the founder of White Label Records Singapore shared. Despite receiving help from the Enhanced Jobs Scheme that the government rolled out to help SMEs tide through the difficult periods ahead, it could only help offset some of the essential spendings.

The lean team of three had to give up employing their part-timers, mostly students, during the lockdown. It saddens me. I have spent the past two years getting to know them and working with them, and not being able to keep them on (due to COVID-19).

With the shift placed on moving businesses online during the pandemic, Darren and team had decided to go back to their roots to overcome the challenges thrown to them with the enforced islandwide shutdown of non-essential businesses. We have always been a web and social media-based company. We are taking this period to look back to our core business of online media.

Asking Tan on his plans in the near future, seeing that coronavirus is still running its deadly course, he shared with us #vinyloftheday, an online music community platform that aims to bring vinyl and music collectors together, and is currently one of the biggest music and vinyl communities in Southeast Asia.

We now look to push forward with #vinyloftheday and building Singapore Community Radio platform in hope that well be able to do our part for the future of Singapores arts, culture and music. I hope our customers continue to support the artists you love, especially in these challenging times and hope to see them soon again!

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Meanwhile, Adeline Chong, founder & Chief Curator of Snackfood in Bangsar, Malaysia gave us an insight into how the MCO had made it impossible for them to continue operations.

Not only it has shaken our financials, but we have also made operational loses during the 3.5 months lockdown.

In her 10th year run now, Adeline knew there would be a change coming up and the pandemic helped made this decision clearer.

Receiving a small relief under the Geran Khas PRIHATIN (GKP)/ Special Grant of RM3,000 to Micro-SMEs that were affected by COVID-19, Snackfood didnt pursue more because our reason for exit is different, Chong shared.

Looking to recharge and reimagine a Snackfood 3.0, the founder is looking forward to time off.

I wish to take time off to nourish my spirit, nurture my family relationships, and spend more playtime with my daughter, Jade.

However, this will not be the last you hear from the entrepreneur.

My next task will be to formalise an online shop. But I wish to explore beyond conventional e-commerce of click-and-buy. Currently, Snackfood engages shopping through chat commerce via various features offered on Instagram. I love this method because we get better insights through conversations with our customers from all around the world. Special requests can be made, and if you wish to video chat, we are ready. This is almost first-class customer service we all deserve in the digital age.

In the meantime, Chong promised that Snackfood on Instagram and Spotify fresh will continue to be updated. To her customers in Singapore, the founder wished to thank everyone who had been a part of Snackfood. Thank you for making Snackfood your day trip destination. Lets stay connected!

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Back home in Singapore, while an average of 5500 companies was set up during this period from 2015 - 2019, only about 3800 business entities were created in April 2020. In the meantime, an approximate of 3800 companies shuttered in April, 100 more than the same period over the past five years. This does not take into account businesses where part of their business or stores were closed down due to the pandemic.

With gyms and yoga centres shuttering over the past three months during the circuit breaker, many end up making the tough decision to close down certain outlets to ensure most stay afloat. One person who knows the struggles that were brought on by the mandatory closure is Ashly Lou, the founder of Yoga Inc., Singapore.

Tiong Bahru outlet was around for four years and we would not have closed it if not for this pandemic. The overheads that we have to pay (rent, utilities, staff, etc) while not being able to operate is too much to bear, and we expect to have stringent restrictions to class size even after reopening.

Making the tough decision to shutter their Tiong Bahru outlet, Lou let on that she had to forfeit the security deposit due to the closure and reserve her resources for the other four outlets.

Being one of those who did not manage to get much government aid for her business, Lou was, however, thankful that three of her locations were under government landlords and received a 4-month waiver in rent.

With the pandemic continue to affect lives, Lou is less optimistic on recovery. It's too early to think about recovering now. I could only think about how to lose less money in the next few months, and as much as possible, without shortchanging our members.

Operating with a high running cost, Ashly shared that the business will not be sustainable if they had to serve less than ten pax per class. Social distancing, put in place to help flatten the curve, will drastically limit Yoga Inc.s operating capability.

Having to let go of some staff and teachers due to the closure of Tiong Bahru outlet, Lou is doing her best to keep as many staff on her payroll as she could.

We hope this (the pandemic) would not last long.

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Bollywood is not for everyone.

Some realise it sooner and tread different paths to make different achievements in life, while others keep trying till the industry throws them off.

In this giant rigmarole of realisations and refusals, we have seen many of our beloved celebs fading out into oblivion, leaving us wondering, where are they, how are they...?

This Missing Report series digs deep into the untold stories of such missing stars, and today we are covering Puru Raaj Kumar. who was the son of yesteryears iconic Raj Kumar.

Puru Raaj Kumar

Goes without saying that it was a cakewalk for the star-kid to get his foot in the Bollywood threshold. His debut happened in 1996 opposite not just an A-lister, but the Box-office favorite Karisma Kapoor, in Bal Brahmachari. Despite having a storyline strategically woven around him to establish him as the next go-to, the film turned out to be a total washout.

He had decided to join the industry after completing his degree in Economics, Psychology, and Theater from Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania, in the hopes of replicating his father's stardom. But gaining even a fraction of that success appeared tough for the lad who had also lost his father months before his first film hit the theaters. Raj Kumars son had failed to woo his audience with his debut and was up for an uphill battle of survival in the industry.

Luck or the lack thereof played a significant role in frustrating his plans every time Puru geared up for anew. One reason his career need took off was most of the movies that had signed him in pivotal roles, like Kabhi Kabhi Aisa Bhi Hota Hain, Desh, Mohabbat Ho Gayee Hain Tumse, or Raghuvanshi, got shelved.

Puru Raaj Kumar in 'Humara Dil Aapke Paas Hai'

Puru waited for his next opportunity for four years, and hit the silver screen in a whole new avatar, this time in a negative role. Wont be an exaggeration if we said that the portrayal of the vicious rapist Babloo Choudhry in the Aishwarya Rai-Anil Kapoor starer Humara Dil Aapke Paas Hai is his only memorable performance that has stayed carved in the audiences otherwise flimsy memory even after 20 years.

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Impressed by his essaying of Babloo Chaudhury, filmmakers started showing up at his door with offers, albeit, of playing the bad guy. He was being considered for a major role in Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rais action-thriller, Josh that had released in 2000. Some miscellaneous misunderstanding coaxed him to decline the offer which later fell in the lap of Sharad Kapoor. Nevertheless, Puru managed to get multiple releases the following year that include Mission Kashmir and Khatron ke Khiladi.

Puru Raaj Kumar in 'Veer'

Eventually, he began taking up supporting characters, but in films of big banners featuring industry headliners, glimpses of Puru often slipped through the popcorn-munching, coffee-sipping breaks. Almost all of us have seen Umrao Jaan, Jaago, Veer, and LOC Kargil. But only a handful of us may have taken notice of the Bal Brahmachari actor in those. He was never handed a script suggesting he would be the leading man; what came to him was mostly inconsequential. Puru was last seen in Ajay Devgn and Sonakshi Sinhas 2014 movie, Action Jackson.

His personal life has been just as rocky as his professional. He was briefly engaged to socialite Ramona Garware, the surviving wife of deceased industrialist Jaideep Garware. In 1993, much like the Salman Khan hit-and-run case, Puru got embroiled in an accident in Bandra when he ran his car over 4 homeless people asleep on the street, killing two and injuring the other. He paid a hefty compensation to their families and escaped a long jail term. Life turned a new leaf for Puru in 2011 when he tied the knot with Croatian model Koraljika Grdak after a 7-year-long courtship. It was a closed traditional ceremony in the capital city of Croatia. The couple is settled in Mumbai.
However, there are signs that in-person campaigning will return. In her official capacity as a congresswoman, Finkenauer made an in-person visit June 22 to various locations in western Dubuque County to look at infrastructure projects. She met with masked local officials in a parking lot before individuals got into their own vehicles for the driving tour, Noble said.

Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is thrilled to be able to safely continue her 99-county tour, campaign spokesman Brendan Conley said. Like other candidates, Ernst is taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but looks forward to more events to come soon.

Her challenger, Democrat Theresa Greenfield, would like to be out shaking hands in person, but right now our priority is campaigning virtually to do our part to protect public health and following the advice of the experts who stress that the coronavirus pandemic still is very much a threat, said spokeswoman Izzi Levy.

The Linn County Democratic Phoenix Club is planning to host Greenfield sometime in July for a Zoom meeting, but may consider an outdoors event, organizers said.
A few weeks into the Trump administration, I overheard a friend who works in publishing remark, Possibly the only good thing that will ever come of this is a bunch of tell-all memoirs that will be a lot juicier than the typical White House book. That prediction, rather like a Trump campaign promise, has yet to be fulfilled. Exposes of the dysfunctional inner workings of the Trump White House have reaped plenty of cash for the book business, but the best dish has mostly come from outsiders, journalists like Michael Wolff (2018s Fire and Fury), Bob Woodward (2018s Fear), and Washington Post reporters Carol D. Leonnig and Philip Rucker (this years A Very Stable Genius). Books by former Trump staffersof which John Boltons headline-making The Room Where It Happened is the most recenttend to be stunted, partial accounts, twisted like bonsai trees by the authors needs to make excuses, cover their tracks, and justify choices that in retrospect look poor indeed.

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But taken all together, these staffer memoirs offer a sense of something that no outsider can ever completely understand: what its like to live in Trump World. Thats what its denizens call the alternate reality surrounding our petty, distractible, praise-hungry president. Under its spell, people strive to gain and hold onto their perches in what has to be one of the worst workplaces in the history of the ruling classes, short of Caligulas Rome. The Room Where It Happened contains its share of outraging scoops, thoroughly covered elsewhere, and is as replete with pontification, chickenhawk saber rattling, and numbing notebook dumps as its initial reviewers have attested. But it also provides the public with yet another facet of the mad tea party that is Trump World.

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Bolton replaced H.R. McMaster, who had been forced out as Donald Trumps national security adviser, and whose own memoir is due in September. According to A Very Stable Genius, by the end of McMasters tenure, Trump had taken to imitating McMaster behind his back by puffing up his chest and barking in a fake shout like a boot camp drill sergeant. Bolton claims that he went in with no illusions about his ability to change Trump, perhaps believing that his frequent quoting of Eisenhower, Cato the Younger, and Thucydides would at least succeed in shaping policy. In this, he firmly belongs to the White House contingent he names the axis of adults, officials with experience in governing who sought to direct Trumps wayward impulses and uninformed notions into some kind of consistent leadership. But Bolton insists that these people (a group that presumably includes such figures as former Secretary of Defense James Mattis, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and McMaster) failed because they didnt do nearly enough to establish order, and what they did do was so transparently self-serving and publicly dismissive of many of Trumps very clear goals (whether worthy or unworthy) that Trump became mistrustful of his advisers and saw conspiracies behind rocks. Bolton did succeed in ticking off a few items on his to-do list, most notably the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear dealan obsession of his, as is everything Iranianbut eventually he got on everyones nerves and was fired in September.

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The Trump White House has to be one of the worst workplaces in the history of the ruling classes, short of Caligulas Rome.

In opposition to the adult staffers who deluded themselves that they could manage Trump are the believers, who have published their own set of memoirs. These include staffers like former press secretary Sean Spicer, communications aide Cliff Sims, and Trump satellite Chris Christie. Of these three, Spicer voices the fewest reservations about Trumps management style. At times, in his 2018 memoir, The Briefing, his obeisance verges on Stockholm syndrome. After only six months in the White House, Spicer was effectively pushed to resign when Trump hired Anthony Scaramucci over him as communications director, the position Spicer had been seeking since the campaign. This is the change you need and deserve, he said to the president when handing over his resignation letter. OK, if thats what you think, was Trumps reply, prompting Spicer to rhapsodize about having seen a side of the president that is caring, kind, and gracious. (Scaramucci lasted only 11 days but got his own book out of it anywayone that was so slim that, as with Omarosas, even I could not be bothered to read it.)

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Christie grovels a bit less, having known Trump since the days when his political aspirations looked like nothing more than a publicity stunt. After the Bridgegate scandal scuttled Christies own presidential ambitions, he became an early Trump endorser, claiming, in his 2019 memoir, Let Me Finish, that he recognized that Trump was everything I was, but on jet fuel. Trump commandeers Christies memoir, with Christies own career taking a back seat to his herculean efforts to come up with the campaigns 30-volume transition plan, only to see it dumped in a trash can by Steve Bannon. Let Me Finish could just as easily be titled I Told You So, so often does Christie return to the plan as rosy phantom of what might have been. Trump strung Christie along for months with promises that he might be made vice president or attorney general, before snatching away the prizes and offering instead such lesser roles as secretary of labor and ambassador to Vatican City.

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Dangling and withdrawing goodies is a classic Trump move, one he used repeatedly on Bolton. He relishes a drawn-out interviewing process that requires petitioning luminaries to come through various Trump HQs like contestants in one of his beauty contests as the media breathlessly speculates on every visitor. Another Trump standby is keeping officials at postings in an acting capacity so that they must constantly court his favor instead of telling him facts he doesnt want to hear.

While it is in many respects a vile object, Cliff Sims Team of Vipers, a 2019 account of Sims 500 days in a relatively minor White House job, probably offers the clearest picture of Trumps management style. This is my Wilbur, Sims observed Trump saying as he introduced Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Sims, who generally takes a positive view of Trump despite having been burned by him, notes that the first-person possessive is a term the president reserves for those with whom he feels a special connection. More accurately, it reflects the fact that, in Trumps mind, he doesnt so much hire staff as obtain them like trophies for display.

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Trump went on to boast to Sisi that Ross is so famous on Wall Street, all you have to say is Wilbur, and everyone knows who youre talking about. Despite what his supporters often praise as a maverick independence from elites, Trump could not be a more slavish credentialist. He betrays his credulous investment in conventional opinion every time he rattles on about what people or everyone is saying, and the class that dispenses prestige and Ivy League degrees, or talks about Wilbur, is the same class his base adores him for appalling. Similarly, the term central casting comes up a lot in the accounts of Trump staffers. Youve got to understand, Chris, Trump told Christie when he picked Mike Pence as his running mate. Hes out of Central Casting. Sims describes the two words as Trumps favorite phrase, because for the president, looking the part was every bit as important as doing a good job.

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Like many a terrible boss, Trump is fundamentally a coward.

Meanwhile, Trump is forever asking his staff for impromptu performance reviews, particularly negative ones, of other staffers. He couldnt even complete a sentence today without stuttering, Trump once told Sims of Spicer. What do you think about Sarah Sanders? Would she be better? Most Trump World memoirs feature several conversations like these. This passive-aggressive move is manifestly designed to make everyone feel as insecure and paranoid as he does, but believers like Sims, Christie, and Spicer seem oblivious to Trumps intent, persuading themselves that scheming colleagues alone were responsible for the misery of their workplace. Its not until Sims decides to fink on a co-worker he suspects of leaking unflattering information to the press and Trump calls for a pen and paper so that he can start taking down names for what Sims calls an enemies list that the aide gets an inkling that this fish may be rotting from the head.

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Like many a terrible boss, Trump is fundamentally a coward. In direct contrast to the image he cultivated on The Apprentice, he rarely has the nerve to fire anyone to their face. More often than not, he uses belittling treatment and other indirect means (such as hiring Scaramucci over Spicer) to force them to quit. Or he simply announces their replacement on Twitter, as he did to Tillerson. Trump may lose his temper and berate his underlings, but exercising calm, considered, and deliberate authority is another matter.

This insecurity lies at the root of Trumps fascination with autocrats like Vladimir Putin and North Koreas Kim Jong-un. He envies not just their totalitarian powers but the ease with which they wield them. According to Sims, one Trump biography claims that Trumps father, Fred, used to intone to his sons, You are a killer.  You are a king.  You are a killer.  You are a king. As a result, killer became the single highest compliment in Trumps pantheon. He praised his Wilbur as a killer and Kim, as well. In Kims case, it is the literal truth. He was like 26 or 25 when his father died, Trump is quoted saying in A Warning, the 2019 book by an anonymous senior official, and all of a sudden  he goes in, he takes over, and hes the boss. By Boltons account, Trumps infatuation with Kim took on the bizarre quality of a teenage crush. The president proclaimed that the two had fallen in love and fussed for months about delivering a gift to the despot: a Trump-autographed Elton John CD.

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That this strange courtship followed closely on the heels of a nerve-wracking incident in which Trump threatened North Korea on Twitter with fire and fury like the world has never seen underscores just how capricious this presidency has been. In an interview with ABC News Martha Raddatz, Bolton said that he could discern no coherent basis, no strategy, no philosophy in the White House. Decisions are made in a very scattershot fashion. This is partly because, as Sims puts it, Trump believes himself to function comfortably in chaotic conditions that leave his adversaries at a disadvantage. But in what sense can the presidents own staff be considered his adversaries? Who makes an enemies list of the people working for him? Is Trump really so threatened by his prized pet generals and assorted killers that he needs to keep them in what Bolton describes, with a hilariously gratuitous display of Latin, as a Hobbesian bellum omnium contra omnes (war of all against all)?

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Yes, probably, but these memoirs also suggest that Trump doesnt trust some members of his administration because he simply doesnt understand them. Their behavior springs from a commitment to principles he not only doesnt possess but cant. Some of these principles have to do with morality, which Trump lacks, but others require a long-term or big-picture perspective of which he also seems incapable. According to Bolton, Trump believed he could run the Executive Branch and establish national-security policies on instinct, relying on personal relationships with foreign leaders. Everything is personal and therefore ephemeral. Even without the shit-stirring that Trump regularly engaged in with his staff, his fundamental rudderlessness can only have left them to their own devices and at cross-purposes with one another.

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This blind spot also put Trump on a collision course with not one but two G-men, James Comey and Andrew McCabe, authors of the two most readable books about working under Trump. In their notorious discussion during which Trump asked, improperly, for Comeys loyalty, the FBI directors hedging counteroffer of honesty led Trump to jump to the conclusion that theyd reached a deal: Comey would provide him with honest loyalty. As Comey sees it, his primary commitment is to the truththe title of his 2018 memoir, A Higher Loyalty, refers to thisbut such abstractions mean nothing to Trump. He blows past them as so much meaningless babble. Loyalty, however, is personal, and that he gets.

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Both FBI directors are ideally positioned to compare Trump to a mob bossbut, really, isnt this an insult to mob bosses?

McCabe, who succeeded Comey to become acting director of the FBI, is less philosophically inclined than Comey, but he was fiercely devoted to the FBI, where he had worked for more than 20 years. Both Comeys book and McCabesThe Threat, published in 2019feature dramatic backstories about investigating organized crime and terrorism, which are a lot more entertaining than tales from Spicers early work on political campaigns or Christies time running for the board of freeholders in Morris County. Comey in particular has a fine eye for revealing character traits, noting that, while Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama always met with him while sitting in armchairs by the fireplace in the Oval Office, Trump made a point of sitting behind the famous Resolute desk, as if girding himself with an authority he felt unable to assume without it.

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For his part, McCabe witnessed some of the presidents most flagrantly vindictive pettiness. Trump insisted that the FBIs investigation of Hillary Clintons emails was tainted because of donations McCabes wife received for an unsuccessful political campaign in Virginia. During a telephone call, Trump told McCabe to ask his wife what it was like to lose. It must be tough to be a loser. Later, after taunting McCabe on Twitter for racing the clock to retire with full benefits, Trump had Attorney General Jeff Sessions fire McCabe less than two days before his pension was fully vested.

Both Comey and McCabe have backgrounds that ideally position them to compare Trump to a mob bossbut, really, isnt this an insult to mob bosses? Running an extensive and ongoing criminal enterprise requires a consistency and an accountability to ones underlings that Trump has never exhibited. And as Sims ruefully puts it at the end of Team of Vipers, He hadnt lifted a finger for countless loyal aides before me, and Im sure he wouldnt for countless loyal aides to come. It was well known that in Trump World, loyalty was mostly a one-way street. Mafiosi may impose primitive honor codes, but as Comey observes with no small fascination, these are nevertheless codes that apply to everyone. How long could a mob boss as capricious and untrustworthy as Trump last before his lieutenants revolted and replaced him with someone more competent?

For Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below.
Its not even a matter of doubt at this point thatas Columbia Law Schools Elora Mukherjee put it last weekAmerica is now closed. Despite the surprise of the Supreme Courts ruling on DACA earlier this month, the vast majority of Donald Trumps yearslong campaign to close the borders to immigrants, asylum-seekers, refugees, and guest workers has proven almost unerringly successful. Last weeks executive order limiting immigration to the United States through the end of 2020, plus the Supreme Courts ruling on expedited deportations, plus the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals authorization of the administrations expansion of expedited removal to people nationwide are all part of a massive, largely successful effort to keep certain types of people out, and the doors locked, in ways that transcend daily news headlines.

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Undoing this damage will be a heavy lift for whoever next occupies the Oval Office, but there is some cause for optimism. Last Sunday, on World Refugee Day, Joe Biden laid out how he would reverse Trumps assault by committing to several essential immigration actions: Having pledged that if he is elected he will restore Americas historic role as leader in resettlement and defending the rights of refugees everywhere, Biden had set specific targets that will increase refugee resettlement in the United States. His plan would aim to admit 125,000 refugees to the U.S. (thats up from a ceiling of 18,000 under Trump, and more than Obama admitted). In his announcement last week, he added a new pledge: to work with Congress to establish a minimum admissions number of at least 95,000 refugees annually. In addition to those actions, Biden has promised to

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pursue policies that increase opportunities for faith and local communities to sponsor refugee resettlement. I will make more channels, such as higher education visas, available to those seeking safety. I will repeal the Muslim banand other discriminatory bans based on ethnicity and nationalityand restore asylum laws, including ending the horrific practice of separating families at our border. I will work with our allies and partners to stand against Chinas assault on Hong Kongs freedoms and mass detention and repression of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities and support a pathway for those persecuted to find safe haven in the United States and other nations.

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The proposal mirrors the plan set forth in the Refugee Protection Act of 2019, now pending a vote in the House of Representatives. It signals that Biden isnt just running against Trumps anti-Muslim, anti-refugee, anti-immigrant dog whistles, but is also committing energy and, more importantly, resources to fulfilling the United States reputation as a nation that welcomes those in need of shelter, and also to making the U.S. government a central player in solving a global refugee crisis that has only grown more exigent as a result of COVID-19. It signals that Biden understands that solving the refugee crisis is both a hefty administrative lift and a moral and democratic imperative. Also notable is that Biden isnt seeking to simply return to Obama-era policies, but is going further, faster, in a tacit statement that Barack Obamas immigration legacy was not, in fact, anything to celebrate.

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Should Biden win the White House in 2020, he will face an administrative state that has been hollowed out from within. The government agencies tasked with refugee resettlement will need to be rebuilt to do the work of meeting the 125,000 refugee admission target, and as we learned in the Obama era, even with a Democrat in the White House, refugees have been a constituency with little power or pull. But the commitment to work with Congress to create a new floor on refugee admissions is the truly radical aspect of Bidens new pledge. It would mean that whoever takes office in future could not do what Trump and Stephen Miller did and set a future ceiling at 18,000 or even lower, because there would be legislation in place to preclude it. If nothing else, these past four years have revealed what kind of statutory protections refugees will require to prevent another Trump-like presidency from closing Americas doors again.

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As is the case in so many contexts, rebuilding the refugee resettlement program so that the United States can once again meet its global commitments will require a huge rededication to the proposition that the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world is only enriched by its status as a safe haven for those in need of a safe haven. Credit where it is due: Biden is showing that the only ethical response to immigration and asylum policies by dog whistle and cruelty is to instate policies and programs that welcome refugees and immigrantsthe people who help make America great.
Trump Vincibility Watch is a subjective and speculative estimate of the likelihood that Donald Trump actually loses the 2020 election, or in other words, that he suffers the consequences of his actions for the first time in his life rather than wriggling out of yet another jam (see: the Mueller investigation, the Ukraine scandal, the 2016 popular vote, his six bankruptcies, and everything else).

Donald Trump got some bad polling news last week. No, correct that. He got a lot of bad polling news last week, to the extent that hes now trailing Joe Biden by 9.4 points in FiveThirtyEights polling average. According to the same site, hes even trailing Biden by 5 points in Arizona, which has gone blue in a presidential election only once (during Bill Clintons 1996 landslide) in the last 70 years. Things are looking so bad for Trump right now that the only premise that leftist-trolling National Journal pundit Josh Kraushaar could come up with for his latest troll column is that Bidens electoral coalition appears to be so large and inclusive that he might not feel obligated to pander to the left as president.

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So what?, many Democrats who remember election night 2016 are nonetheless asking themselves. Who cares about polls and pundits? A polling lead, a pundit consensus, and 25 cents will buy you a local call on the pay phone down by Ediths five-and-dime. (These are older-skewing pretend Democrats.) Well, here are a few reasons to believe that, this time, its real.

1. The polls are different. As FiveThirtyEight notes, Biden has a bigger national lead than Hillary Clinton ever did (hers, on Election Day, was 3.8 points). His lead is also large enough at the moment to overcome the advantage that Trump gains from the Electoral College. While Clinton won the popular vote thanks to her large margins of victory in places like California, Trump triumphed in the Electoral College on the basis of extremely narrow wins in swing states. But Biden currently has leads in tipping point states like Florida, Michigan, and Wisconsin that are outside the margin of error. As various other polling geeks have noted, polls that predicted big Democratic wins in 2018 were generally accurate; there does not appear to be a nationwide cohort of secret underground MAGA voters who appear only on Election Day. (That said, as Nate Cohn pointed out in the New York Times, polls still underpredicted Republican support in 2018 in a few states, so if the race tightens up, it wouldnt be unreasonable to think Trump could pull off surprise wins here and there.)

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2. Even Trump is admitting the possibility that hes losing. No one has historically been more convinced that polls understate Donald Trumps support than Donald Trump, and it is his public-facing position that the New York Times Upshot and Fox News polls that showed him down by double digits nationally are fake and a joke. He came closer to acknowledging his general unpopularity than he ever has, though, in a June 26 interview with Sean Hannity, morosely ruminating to the Fox News host that Biden is going to be president because some people dont love me, maybe. Politico also reports that behind the scenes  the president has grudgingly conceded that hes behind, according to three people who are familiar with his thinking. If a Trump-unfriendly reality is so real that Trump admits its not fake  its probably real. As they say.

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3. Hes only got one approach to campaigning, and its not working. Trump believes that he won in 2016 by ignoring political correctness and appealing to Americans gut-level beliefs. (This is, unfortunately, accurate, insofar as he leveraged anti-immigrant sentiment, other issues of white resentment, anti-Hillary sexism, and the medias obsession with the campaign events at which he developed those themes to reach and win older white voters in the Rust Belt.) There is, as such, only one page in the Trump playbook: saying inflammatory things on Twitter and at rallies. But in part because of Trumps election, white voters with college degrees have become more liberal on race than they were four years ago, while the Democratic nominee is an old, moderate white man who does not frighten old, moderate white men. Tweeting a video of one of your supporters yelling the phrase white power, as Trump did this weekend, is not a winning move in this environment. Its also harder to get people to come to rallies when standing next to a stranger might mean acquiring a fatal disease, which means that, when you do hold them, you end up with press coverage that emphasizes how few people want to come to your rallies.

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4. Hes bad at being president. In 2016, the American economy was good by historic standards (though systemically unequal, racist, etc.) and Trump was running as an alternative to a status quo figure about whom many Americans had already formed an ineradicably negative opinion. This year, Trump has to run on his record of being president, and he has to continue being president during the campaign. By the objective standards of whether Americans are healthy and employed, he is doing a very poor job. This week, meanwhile, the leading Beltway news story is that he appears to have ignored a report that his old friends in Russian military intelligence may have paid bounties for the deaths of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. This apparent inaction has been criticized by other Republicans, and it has potential to metastasize into a long-term, oxygen-sucking scandal involving hearings and bombshells and such. Speaking of which:

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5. The idea that his loss is so certain that he might drop out of the race, while still a very long long shot, is ever so gently bubbling up out of the netherworld from which buzz is born. Things dont always happen for entirely linear, logical reasons. Sometimes someone just says something, and then someone else picks it up, and eventually the idea has so much momentum that people in charge think they need to do something about it, just because everyone else is doing it, and all of a sudden you cant find a plastic straw anywhere even though banning them has only a negligible effect on the environment. (A recent political example of this is when Democrats delayed the start of Trumps impeachment trial for several weeks for no other reason than a law professor suggested it and it seemed like a good idea.) On Friday, MSNBCs Joe Scarborough speculated that Trump might drop out of the presidential race if he didnt think he could win; over the weekend, Fox Business macho man Charles Gasparino reported that anonymous GOP operatives were discussing the possibility too. At this stage, all that we have are wisps of hypotheticals chasing themselves in a circle, but if the polls continue to be bad, and the rallies empty, and the news cycles gruesome, more pundits will start talking about Trump dropping out, and more Republican donors will worry if they should spend their money on a lost cause, and more Republican politicians will wonder if the MAGA brand is the right fit for their future ambitions.

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Maybe that wont happen. But I wouldnt bet against the possibility that some politics editor, somewhere, has already assigned a story about Mike Pence and Nikki Haley making quiet moves to distance themselves from the president.

If the election were held tomorrow, assuming the pandemic-ravaged nation were able to hold an election at all, every available indicator says Trump would lose. But November is more than four months away, and many things can change between now and then. Theoretically, some of those things might be bad for Joe Biden instead of bad for Trump. Verdict: Right now, Trump is SLIGHTLY NON-INVINCIBLE.

For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below.
The Southeast Asian block rejects Chinas plan for Air Defence Identification Zones in the South China Sea. They defend the principle of freedom of navigation in the disputed waters. They face the difficult task of balancing trade integration with China and the need for diversified partners and investors.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  In the final communique of their annual summit, the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have stressed the importance of freedom of overflight in the South China Sea, weary of Chinas increasing assertiveness.

The ten-member organisation has rarely taken a common position against Beijing's territorial claims of almost 90 per cent of the South China Sea. On their own, ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia strongly oppose them.

Last April, the Philippine government condemned the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat in the South China Sea, which Hanoi blames on a Chinese coastguard ship.

In an official note sent to the United Nations in late May, Indonesia backed a ruling by the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague against the "Nine-Dash line," Beijings historic territorial demarcation claim, which it says has no legal basis and violates the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

In addition to occupying and militarising a series of islets and coral reefs in the sea, China did not rule out the possibility of imposing an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the area. Beijing in 2013 did just that with the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

The ASEAN statement shows that member states are concerned by "the land reclamations, recent developments, activities and serious incidents" in the sea, insisting on the principle of freedom of navigation in the disputed waters. The United States and its Asian allies share this view.

Territorial issues with China overlap economic ones. ASEAN is in fact concerned about its economic stability, threatened by the post-coronavirus recession.

The pandemic has shown the vulnerability of supply chains linked to China, Southeast Asian countries main trading partner. For analysts, ASEAN countries will be forced to find on new point of balance in their relations with Beijing.

Efforts at boosting trade with China, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, will have to be accompanied by diversification of partners and investors. To this end, the United States and Japan are offering opportunities to move businesses away from China.
Chief Justice John Roberts handed reproductive rights advocates a victory on Monday when he joined the liberals to strike down Louisianas draconian restrictions on abortion clinics. The outcome is, indisputably, a triumph for Louisianas three remaining clinics, which can now remain open thanks to the Supreme Court. But Roberts opinion itself is far from an unalloyed endorsement of a constitutional right to choose. In fact, the chief justice cut back protections for women seeking abortions and laid the groundwork for a future erosion, if not outright reversal, of Roe v. Wade.

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Mondays case, June Medical Services v. Russo, dealt with abortion restrictions that are identical to a Texas law that the Supreme Court struck down in 2016s Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt. Louisiana required abortion providers to obtain admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their clinic. These privileges are often impossible to obtain, since hospitals can deny them for a panoply of reasons, including their opposition to abortion and their view that the provider admits too few patients to justify the credential. Had Louisiana enforced this requirement, it wouldve left the state with just one doctor authorized to terminate pregnancies.

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In Whole Womans Health, the court ruled that Texas admitting privileges law imposed an undue burden on the constitutional right to abortion. Since Louisianas law is indistinguishable from Texas, it should have been plainly unconstitutional under Whole Womans Health. But the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals effectively defied precedent by upholding the Louisiana regulation. The 5th Circuit may have hoped the Supreme Court had changed since 2016: Justice Anthony Kennedy, who cast the fifth vote, retired, replaced by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a foe of abortion rights. Thus, the big question in June Medical is whether Roberts, who dissented in Whole Womans Health, would nonetheless invalidate Louisianas law on the grounds of stare decisis, or respect for precedent.

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And thats exactly what Roberts didwith a catch. The court actually splintered 414: Justice Stephen Breyer wrote for the four liberals, the chief justice wrote an opinion concurring in the judgment, and the four other conservatives dissented. Breyer, who wrote Whole Womans Health, faithfully applies his own precedent. He explained that the burdens of the law outweigh its alleged benefits to patients, rendering it an undue burden and a substantial obstacle to abortion. Under 1992s Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the landmark decision reaffirming Roe, a restriction on pre-viability abortion violates the Constitution if it imposes an undue burden or substantial obstacle.

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Although Roberts supported Breyers bottom line holding, he declined to join Breyers opinion. Instead, he penned a separate, narrow concurrence to explain his views. Because the chief justices opinion is narrower than Breyers, it is controllingthat is, its the law of the land. Advocates on both sides of the abortion debate will thus be scrutinizing Roberts concurrence for years to come. And it gives both sides reason for encouragement.

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Start with Roberts agreement with the liberals that the Louisiana regulation placed a substantial obstacle in patients path to abortion. The chief justice explains that the result in June Medical is controlled by our decision four years ago invalidating a nearly identical Texas law. Under principles of stare decisis, the court is obligated to acknowledge that Whole Womans Healths analysis requires the same determination about Louisianas law: It is unconstitutional. Here, the federal district court made factual findings that the Louisiana law would impose an undue burden by shutting down two of the states three clinics, making it much more difficult for residents to terminate a pregnancy. The law requires SCOTUS to abide by those findings unless it sees a clear error. While the other four conservatives contested these findings, the chief justice accepted them, requiring him to affirm the district court.

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Its not even clear that Roberts loose test will survive for long.

In short, Robertsalone among the conservativesagreed with the liberals that Louisiana cannot pretend its law creates no real burden for abortion patients in the face of ample evidence that it would shutter clinics.

But the chief justice then whittled down the holding of Whole Womans Health, replacing its balancing test with a stingier rule that may give states broader leeway to restrict abortion. Roberts expressly disavowed Breyers test, which weighed a laws benefits to patients against its burdens. There is no plausible sense in which anyone, he wrote, let alone this Court, could objectively assign weight to such imponderable values as the potentiality of human life and a womans own concept of existence. Rather, he declared, the court must retreat back to Caseys cramped standard, which asks only if an abortion restriction imposes an undue burden, and does not permit courts to consider the benefits, or lack thereof, in making that determination.

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Roberts revision marks a retreat from Whole Womans Health, effectively overruling its expansion of Casey and preventing courts from invalidating moderately burdensome abortion limitations. Consider this hypothetical example: A state requires patients to wait one week between requesting an abortion and obtaining one. During that period, she must visit the clinic at least three times to view multiple anti-abortion documentaries, ostensibly to ensure she understands the consequences of her decision.

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Under Breyers balancing test, this law would obviously be unconstitutional: It provides no actual medical benefits to patients while imposing at least some real burdens. But under Roberts version of the Casey standard, it might be constitutional: Yes, the law would put an obstacle in patients path to abortion, compelling them to make repeated visits to a clinic that might be hundreds of miles away and spend hours viewing propaganda. But it is, at least in theory, a surmountable obstacle (even though in reality many women would just give up). So Roberts may well find that it is not an undue burden.

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In truth, however, its not even clear that Roberts loose test will survive for long. The chief justice noted that I joined the dissent in Whole Womans Health and continue to believe that the case was wrongly decided. He then pointed out that no party in June Medical has asked us to reassess the constitutional validity of Casey. Here, Roberts strongly suggests that he would be open to overruling Casey if a state asked him to. But because Louisiana did not challenge that decision, Roberts felt obliged to stand by it.

Fourteen states have already passed laws banning abortion before viabilitythat is, before the fetus can survive outside the womb. Because SCOTUS has ruled that states cannot ban abortion before viability, these laws are an indisputable violation of Casey. The states are defending their abortion bans by explicitly asking courts to overrule Casey and abolish the constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. The Supreme Court could take up one of these cases next year. In June Medical, Roberts refused to accept Louisianas misrepresentations of its own law. Yet he didnt side with the liberals out of a newfound respect of womens autonomy. He did so because he decided this particular case was not the right vehicle to overturn Casey. Abortion rights have survived another day, but a chill wind still blows.
Lawmakers in the Mississippi House and Senate voted Sunday to remove the Confederate battle emblem from their state flag, which is the last in the nation to display the symbol. There was raucous applause in both chambers Sunday after the votes that came a day after Gov. Tate Reeves said for the first time that he would sign the bill if it obtained approval from the states legislators.

The legislature has been deadlocked for days as it considers a new state flag. The argument over the 1894 flag has become as divisive as the flag itself and its time to end it.

If they send me a bill this weekend, I will sign it. pic.twitter.com/bf3vyzuObt  Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) June 27, 2020

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The vote follows years of pressure for the state to change the flag that a number of cities and all of the states public universities have taken down on their own. But despite all the years of debate, in the end the vote wasnt even close in the state that has a 38 percent Black population. The states House approved the bill 9123 Sunday afternoon, and then the Senate approved the measure 3714. Today we and the rest of the nation can look on our state with new eyes, with pride and hope, House Speaker Philip Gunn, a Republican who has been pushing for the state to change the flag for five years, said.

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Although there has been a yearslong campaign to get the state to change the flag that many saw as a symbol of racism, segregation, and slavery, the pressure on the state increased over the past month amid the protests against police brutality and systemic racism that have engulfed the country. For many residents of the state that has the countrys highest percentage of Black Americans, the flag was a painful reminder of the states history. I would guess a lot of you dont even see that flag in the corner right there, said state Rep. Ed Blackmon on Saturday. There are some of us who notice it every time we walk in here, and its not a good feeling.

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Before the votes, lawmakers gave emotional speeches to make their case as to why the states flag should change, while those who defended it insisted it should be up to voters to make such a monumental decision through a referendum. Whether we like it or not, the Confederate emblem on our state flag is viewed by many as a symbol of hatetheres no getting around that fact, Jason White, a Republican state representative, said on the floor of the House on Saturday.

Now a commission will be tasked with designing a new flag for the state that cannot include the Confederate symbol and must contain the words In God We Trust. Voters will have to give final approval to the new design in the November election.

For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to The Gist on Apple Podcasts or listen below.
One month after Donald Trump was sworn into office, thenWhite House chief strategist Steve Bannon spoke to a gathering of conservative activists about the new presidents agenda. One of the three pillars of that agenda, Bannon explained, was the deconstruction of the administrative state, or the system of regulations and services that carries out the bulk of governments work, largely through administrative agencies. While the strategist may be gone, the strategy remains in place. The presidents two Supreme Court appointees delivered on that strategy in an important decision today, invalidating the governing structure of a major administrative agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The courts reasoning, which chips away at the validity of independent agencies rather than invalidating them wholesale, resembles how courts have eroded the legal right for abortion (though abortion providers eked out a narrow, Pyrrhic victory today in June Medical Services v. Russo). The legal reasoning in the courts decision will cast a pall over myriad administrative agencies that Bannon and Trump set in their crosshairs, leaving them vulnerable to legal challenge.

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Seila Law v. CFPB involved a constitutional challenge to the design of the CFPB, which is headed by a single director who is removable only for cause by the president. That restriction meant that a president could not remove the CFPB director merely because he disagreed with how the director was enforcing consumer protection statutes, for example. The Supreme Court has previously upheld these kinds of limitations on presidents authority to remove the heads of agencies. But in those cases, the agencies were led by multiple individuals rather than just one.

In Mondays decision, the court said that the CFPBs single-director structure was more of an intrusion on the presidents powers than a multimember commission. But as Justice Elena Kagan pointed out at argument and in her dissent, that reasoning is precisely backward. A president would have more control over an agency if he only had to deal with or convince one person than an agency where he had to go through several individuals.

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Yet the Supreme Court relied on that small differencethe distinction between a single-director agency and a multimember oneto conclude that the CFPB was unconstitutionally structured. In doing so, the court mimicked the legal strategy for chipping away at legal protections for abortion. In the abortion context, rather than outright overruling decisions that say women have a constitutional right to an abortion, the court limits those decisions in seemingly technical but practically important ways that allow states to dramatically reduce the availability of abortion. For example, in the lead-up to the courts last major abortion decision, some courts said that abortion restrictions were valid even when they had no demonstrated effect of improving the health and safety of the abortion procedure. Courts also said that abortion restrictions were constitutional so long as there was one clinic every 150 miles or so (an area larger than some states). Those principles, while not overruling the foundational cases, would render the abortion right a practical nullity for many women by allowing states to pass restrictions that close many abortion clinics.

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The legal strategy of whittling away at cases or principles that are disfavored can seem more minimalist than outright overruling those cases. In the CFPB case, for example, the court said that Congress cannot limit the presidents ability to fire the director of a single-director agency rather than declaring all restrictions on presidents authority to remove agency heads unconstitutional. But that minimalist appearance can be deceiving. The courts legal reasoning in striking down the CFPB provides a blueprint to invalidate the structure of many other agencies as well.

The courts decision applies beyond the CFPB because the majority relies on a single insignificant difference between the CFPB and the agencies that it previously upheld in order to invalidate the CFPB. But there are many differences between agencies. If the court can seize on any difference, even if that difference should not matter to the constitutional question, then any number of variations can be held up as grounds for a challenge to other administrative agencies. Agencies have different powers over litigation, budgets, and adjudication; different substantive areas of focus; different numbers of directors; directors who serve for different lengths of time; and directors who are required to represent different views. Do those differences matter?

The courts decision leaves open the possibility that any distinction between agenciesincluding differences that do not meaningfully change the amount of presidential control over an agencyare enough to invalidate them. Steve Bannon would approve.

Update, June 29, 2020, at 12:56 p.m.: This post was updated with the new name of June Medical Services v. Gee, June Medical Services v. Russo.

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Every day for the past two weeks, Texas has set a new record for coronavirus hospitalizations. Since the state started keeping track of this metric back in April, this number hadnt surpassed 2,000. Now, the number of hospitalizations is over 5,000. On Mondays episode of What Next, I spoke with Ross Ramsey, the executive editor of the Texas Tribune, about how the state reached such a grim milestone. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Mary Harris: I want to focus a little bit on Houston because thats where so many new cases are cropping up right now. Harris County has this odometer its developed to track the coronavirus threat level. And this weekend, it moved it to red, which was the highest it could go, right?

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Ross Ramsey: Its like the old thermometer they had after 9/11 to judge the threat level. The county judge there, Lina Hidalgo, wanted this in place so that you could quickly communicate what the situation was. Theyre looking at the number of ICU beds that are available. Were on the 16th or 17th day of record levels of new hospitalizations in Texas, and Houston has been feeling the brunt of that. So thats what theyre telling their citizens: This is very dangerous right now. Were on high alert. Meanwhile, youre hearing from state officials and federal officials something a little bit different. And its confusing.

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Im glad were talking about Lina Hidalgo, because I feel like shes an interesting character. Why has this county judge emerged as such a central figure?

Unincorporated Harris County, the part of Harris County thats not in the city of Houston or any of the other little cities around it, actually has more population than Houston does. The coronavirus doesnt know boundaries or respect them. And the person who is at the executive position over the greatest number of people in that area, other than a governor, is the county judge. So shes been really, really active.

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Shes really young, and she speaks Spanish. I think shes 29?

And youve never seen her in public since this started without a mask on, which is really interesting. She doesnt even take the mask off when shes at the mic or at the podium. Shes been very, very consistent in her messaging. Shes done all the things shes telling people to do, which isnt true of a lot of other leaders.

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You mentioned the masks. Masks are where she really started to tangle with the state government. She tried to require them for people back in April, right? What happened when she did that?

We ran into this civil libertarian streak in Texas. A lot of people rankled at the idea that the government was telling them they had to wear a mask to go out. So a couple of governments, including Harris County, said, Well, were going to require it. And the governor said, Im going to have a state executive order that blocks local governments, cities, and counties from imposing fines or penalties for people who are not wearing masks. People ought to wear masks, but were not going to require it.

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The governor is getting a lot of pressure from the conservative end of his party to put personal freedoms ahead of restrictions. And as a political matter, hes tried to straddle that. But it means that he has to tell the county judges they cant do the things that theyve been trying to do, and now that were looking at the numbers in Texas, the county judges have been on the right track. If they had been able to do what they were trying to do, we might not have the numbers that we have now. We might not be in the crisis situation that were approaching now.

I went back to some video from May of Gov. Greg Abbott meeting with President Donald Trump. And its weird to watch now because it feels like hes taking a victory lap.

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Coming out of March, we were slow to put restrictions in place in Texas, but we got restrictions in place. And by the beginning of April, they had things pretty locked down. And by the time you got to the end of April, it was actually looking pretty good. Then they took their foot off the brake. And not just that, but they hit the accelerator. The governor came out in late April and said were gonna have some phased-in reopenings. They started to do that, and the pressure to do that more quickly mounted very fast. And so the governor really sped up this phasing out of the restrictions.

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They were looking at something that they call the positivity rate, which is the ratio of positive coronavirus tests to all tests taken. If thats over 10 percent, youve got problems. I think the latest number that I saw was 13 percent. We havent seen 10 percent since early April. So you see how this curve is going. About halfway through May, you started seeing the governor come into press conferences with a mask on, which we hadnt been seeing before. We still havent seen the lieutenant governor with a mask on. The governor closed all the bars on Friday. He told restaurants to dial it back. And he kind of found a way for local officials to require people to wear masks. He said you cant require an individual to wear a mask and you cant fine him or jail him if they dont, but you can require a business to require employees and customers to wear a mask.

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It just seems really complicated because its relying on a lot of individuals to do the work that you might expect the government to do.

Part of the problem here is that theyve worked themselves into a place where enforcement is very difficult. We had this famous incident where hair salons and barbershops were told not to open as part of the April restrictions. There was a hairstylist named Shelley Luther in the suburbs of Dallas, who basically said, Im going to open my salon, and figuratively raised her middle finger.

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They took her to court. And the judge said: Look, the law here is clear. The governors order is that you cant open. And she said if you put that in a court order, I will defy it. Thats straight-up contempt of court. So he put her in jail. It became this big symbolic freedom thing. The very conservative lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, paid her bail to get her out of jail. And the governor at that point said, Im not going to allow local authorities, cities, and counties, to fine or jail people for violating my executive orders. Its like he removed his own teeth.

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The problem now is that the governor can make an order. And people can say, Maybe I will. Maybe I wont. After his last order on bars, the mayor of Abilene said, Were not going to close our bars in Abilene. Thats a heck of a deal when a governor orders something and the mayor says that were not going to do that. Hes already removed his ability to do anything about it.

Are people seeing Abbotts moves here as an admission of failure?

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He actually said that about the bars. He was on television in El Paso. And they asked him: Would you have done anything different if you were doing this over again? He said, Yeah, I dont think I would have opened the bars. Thats as close as hes gotten to a Hey, I screwed up here.

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I want to return to a completely separate agent of chaos, which is the lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick. And in Texas, the lieutenant governor has a lot of power, and hes more conservative than your governor. Just last week, he was going on Fox News and saying: Listen, were not going to reverse ourselves. Were not going to go backward. Can you talk about Patrick and his role here?

Hes really the political leader of the most conservative part of the Republican Party. Hes a former radio talk show host in Houston. You see him a lot on cable TV. People all over the country know him from earlier in the pandemic, when he suggested that he would rather have some people die than tank the economy to meet the coronavirus. Hes been very defensive of the people who are ignoring these kinds of restrictions and orders.

So has the governor lost control of his lieutenant governor?

I dont think he ever had control of his lieutenant governor. In Texas, you dont run as a tickettheyre individually elected. Dan Patrick and Greg Abbott are representatives of different parts of the Republican Party. Abbotts really the most powerful Republican in office, but hes not the most adept Republican in office. Thats probably Dan Patrick. When you get long-lasting debates like the one over how to meet the coronavirus, and one speaker is Patrick and one speaker is Abbott, Patricks more consistent, hes more effective, and he carries the day in a way that constrains what Greg Abbotts able to do.

Is Texas a warning to a state like New York thats lifting restrictions?

I think you have to lift restrictions with the other numbers in mind. Theres a balance here. A ravished economy or a wrecked social structure is as damaging and as unhealthy as this disease. Youve got to balance these things in some way. But we keep swinging back-and-forth.

Listen to the full episode using the player below, or subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.
This article is part of Privacy in the Pandemic, a Future Tense series.

With so many of us working, teaching, and socializing online much more than usual due to the pandemic, strong encryption is more important than ever for ensuring commercial information security and protecting personal privacy. Zoom, whose video conferencing software has nearly replaced in-person meetings for many people, has felt this pressure directly over the past few months. At the start of the pandemic lockdowns, the company faced intense scrutiny as it surged in popularity and suffered from a series of privacy and security issues, from Zoom bombing to misleading advertising about its encryption. The companys leadership scrambled to respond, going so far as to acquire an entire cryptography company.

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Earlier this month, the CEO announced a plan to roll out end-to-end encryption. E2EE is the gold standard of messaging encryptionit allows data, including messages, to stay scrambled in transit and only be decrypted by the recipient. But Zoom was only planning to make it available for paid corporate users, explicitly stating that the company didnt want to offer E2EE to free accounts because we also want to work together with the FBI, with local law enforcement. The backlash was swift, and within two weeks, Zooms security team updated its E2EE plans to extend the option to unpaid users. It was a victory.

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But on Tuesday, a group of Republican senators introduced the Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act, which would make Zooms plans illegaland more broadly threaten privacy just as Americans are relying on their devices more than ever.

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This bill would compel tech companies to build lawful access mechanisms into a range of encryption products, including E2EE. E2EE means that the company providing the messaging platform, such as WhatsApp, doesnt ever see the unscrambled data as the message crosses its servers. It cant turn over the decrypted data to law enforcement even if it wants to. Cryptographers argue that theres no way to allow lawful access without putting all of the data at risk as it travels the internet.

The new bill would also require law enforcement backdoors to encrypted data at restthink a locked iPhone or protected hard drive. Apple currently doesnt have copies of iPhone decryption keys, so when the FBI demands it unlock a seized phone, it genuinely cannot comply, leaving the bureau to find another way into the phone. Although there has been controversy over the exact number, the FBI has been stymied at least 1,000 times by encrypted phones. Attorney General William Barr complained in October that this debate has dragged on, and  our ability to protect the public from criminal threats is rapidly deteriorating. Proposals for regulating encryption have been floated since the 1990s, each time spurring loud objections from researchers and digital liberties groups.

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Over the past year, the FBI has focused on the problem of encrypted data at rest, especially those seized phones. Seny Kamara, a cryptographer and associate professor of computer science at Brown University, told me that the resurgence of this debate over the past few years meant people sort of assumed something was coming  the government had been making veiled threats about this for a while. But some researchers had hoped the FBI would leave aside the question of accessing E2EE data in transit in any new regulations. A bill solely requiring lawful access to devices wouldnt necessarily be worse during a pandemic lockdown; accessing a locked device requires law enforcement to have physical custody of a phone or hard drive. But scooping up encrypted data in transit from anywhere on the internet? Thats much more threatening now that so much day-to-day life is happening online.

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Privacy advocates were skeptical that the federal government would be satisfied with just unlocking seized phones, though, and LAEDAs requirement of lawful access to any encrypted data proves them right. Riana Pfefferkorn, associate director of surveillance and cybersecurity at the Stanford Center for Internet and Society, wrote in her analysis of the bill that she did not believe for a single moment that law enforcement or Congress would settle for only regulating encryption as to devices and not data in transit. Pfefferkorn told me she believes the push now to regulate messaging in addition to encrypted devices is at least in part a reaction to Facebooks 2019 announcement that the company would add E2EE to all of its messaging products. This new bill also comes hot on the heels of another proposal that critics say is secretly designed to kill strong consumer encryption, called the EARN IT bill, and the ambitious scope of LAEDA may be designed to make EARN IT look reasonable by comparison.

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Even if this bill doesnt end up succeeding, any uncertainty in the meantime might make companies like Zoom unwilling to push ahead with ambitious plans for encryption, which could hold back privacy timelines months or possibly years. Its a disruptive environment, Pfefferkorn said, referring to the continual pressure from law enforcement over encryption. She added that tech investors are following this debate closely. Even for a company that wants to work with law enforcement, the uncertainty about what might be required for lawful access and how to accomplish it make it difficult to allocate limited resources.

Companies like Zoom and Slack have faced backlash too as their products expanded from an enterprise model to consumer accounts. Employers have long had an expectation that workers would give up some amount of privacy while at work, allowing bosses to monitor behavior and performance. Communication products aimed at enterprise customers sometimes have surveillance features allowing employers to access corporate email accounts, read chats, or monitor attention on webinars. Those features were developed within a labor employment law, HR context, said Pfefferkorn. As these tools have expanded directly to consumers, there has naturally been a backlash against those features as privacy invasions.

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Many of those corporate surveillance features are compatible with the types of legal access LAEDA is asking for, and incompatible with E2EE. Some types of data mining, like what Google has been known to allow with Gmail, are also incompatible with E2EE. Pfefferkorn believes the government is using these types of corporate data collection as justification for law enforcement access: The government will say, well, if corporate has access to this type of information, we should be able to get our hands on that too. Sometimes, law enforcement can even buy third-party data directly, circumventing warrants altogether.

Tech companies trying to plan their privacy strategy over the next year or few years will have to balance different demands from enterprise interests, government, and consumers, said Kamara. Its difficult to sort of juggle. Tech companies and researchers also need to be thinking not just about whether theyre protecting the privacy of the data theyve collected, but considering should they have the data in the first place?

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With many people working remotely for the foreseeable future, away from prying eyes of bosses, more people might look askance at back doors in their communication platforms regardless of who the back door is intended for. Having conversations with colleagues overheard in the office is one thing, but the idea of someone spying through your work video chat into your private home feels very different.

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And with massive protests ongoing against law enforcement violence and systemic racism, giving those back doors to law enforcement is likely to be especially unpopular with consumers, particularly those from marginalized groups. Kamara pointed out that communities of color have historically borne the brunt of surveillance of all kinds. The new surveillance powers proposed in LAEDA would very likely also be applied disproportionately to Black people and other marginalized communities, many of whom are currently suffering disproportionately from the coronavirus pandemic.

With coronavirus cases rising in much of the United Statesincluding the states of the three Republican sponsors of this billand many places still in various forms of lockdown, voters might consider whether trying to weaken online security is the best use of congressional energy.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
This article is part of the Free Speech Project, a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech.

Reddit announced on Monday that it is banning about 2,000 subreddits including r/The_Donald, the sites largest pro-Trump community, as a result of updates to its policy banning hate speech. The subreddit, which had more than 790,000 members, was notorious for hosting violent threats, racist content, harassment, and conspiracy theories. All communities on Reddit must abide by our content policy in good faith. We banned r/The_Donald because it has not done so, despite every opportunity, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman wrote in a statement.

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Reddit is introducing eight rules that more clearly and forcefully define behaviors that are not allowed on the site. Huffman specifically accused r/The_Donald of violating rules having to do with identity-based harassment, inauthentic behavior (that is, coordinated troll campaigns) that disrupts other Reddit communities, and interfering with the sites functions. Reddits Monday purge also included a subreddit dedicated to the left-wing podcast Chapo Trap House, which had about 160,000 users, because its moderators had allegedly failed to rein in rule-breaking. Most of the other banned communities were fairly obscure and inactive; only 200 of them had more than 10 daily users.

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Among the larger banned subreddits were r/gendercritical, which focused on trans-exclusionary feminism, and r/wojak, which was associated with the Wojak meme popular among incels.

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The r/The_Donald subreddit was founded in June 2015, right around when Donald Trump first announced his run for the presidency. Since then it has been home to inflammatory memes and fringe conspiracy theories like Pizzagate. Though its not directly associated with the president, Trump has shared content that originated in the subreddit and once participated in an Ask Me Anything session with its members in 2016. After Media Matters for America revealed that members had been posting violent threats against Oregon police and officials last June, Reddit quarantined r/The_Donald, meaning that users would have to click through a warning message before being able to access the subreddit. The site also removed the subreddit from search results and recommendations. No surprise: These days The_Donald is a ghost town.

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Reddits ban is only the latest in a wave of decisions by social media companies to moderate content put out by Trump, his campaign, and his supporters. In May, Twitter began attaching warning labels and fact-check alerts to tweets that Trump had sent about mail-in voting and the police brutality protests in Minneapolis. Since then, Facebook has also deactivated a Trump campaign ad that featured a symbol once used by Nazis and implemented stricter rules for what politicians are allowed to post on the platform. And on Monday, shortly after Reddits announcement, the Amazon-owned video streaming service Twitch temporarily suspended an account belonging to the Trump campaign.

Republicans have predictably chafed at this spate of bans. Indiana Sen. Jim Banks said to Axios of Reddits decision, R/The_Donald played an outsized role in helping Trump win in the 2016 election. With 2020 fast approaching, they just cant help themselves. Trump and other conservative lawmakers have threatened to target Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which gives legal protections to platforms that moderate their own content. Pro-Trump supporters are also vowing to decamp to other platforms. (These days, many far-right internet users are flocking to the alternative social media network Parler, which purports to have much more lax rules for what users can post.) Members of r/The_Donald had actually already created a new forum called thedonald.win last year, and the subreddit itself has become much less activeits only had one post in the last 100 days.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
After tasting defeat in his first two races of 2020, Our Max Phactor N ($8.40) put it all together in Sunday's (June 28) featured event at Harrah's Philadelphia, a $14,400 top-level conditioned pace.

While the eight-year-old Art Major gelding employed similar tactics as he did in a narrow defeat to Prairie Panther at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on June 20, the outcome proved far more favourable. George Napolitano Jr. used Our Max Phactor N early from post 5 to secure the pocket behind 12-1 pacesetter Imarocnrollegend N. Napolitano Jr. was content to draft behind stout early splits of :26.3 and :54.4 before angling out of the pocket on the backstretch. Our Max Phactor N worked to the lead with five-sixteenths to go, pressed on to a widening advantage past three-quarters in 1:21.3 and braced for a late push from odds-on favorite Dealt A Winner off the final turn.

Straightening for home, Our Max Phactor N had built a two-length lead, but Dealt A Winner lifted boldly off cover and closed stoutly in the final sixteenth. Our Max Phactor N responded to the challenge, prevailing over Dealt A Winner by a diminishing half length in 1:50.1. Love Me Some Lou finished third, two-and-a-quarter lengths farther back, after leveling off at head-stretch.

Trainer Andrew Harris co-owns 26-time winner Our Max Phactor N with Michael Goldberg Racing LLC, Bruce Areman and the Prem Dan Stable.

Trainer Ron Burke scored a hat trick on the 14-race card, sending Seeing Eye Single ($4.80, 1:52.2), Mayfield Duke ($9.00, 1:52.4) and Larry Karr ($3.00, 1:50.3) to victory. Yannick Gingras drove all three.

David Miller earned top honours among drivers with four winners on the program.

Live racing returns to Harrah's Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon (July 1), with Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Stallion Series action for 2-year-old pacing fillies headlining the 14-race program. First post is 12:25 p.m. (EDT).

(Harrah's Philadelphia)
For many states and counties in the U.S., the dark days of the coronavirus pandemic in April unfolded on their television screens, not on their doorsteps. But now, some places that appeared to have avoided the worst are seeing surges of infections, as worries shift from major cities to rural areas.

While much of the focus of concerns that the United States is entering a dangerous new phase has been on big Sunbelt states that are reporting thousands of new cases a day  like Texas and Florida  the worrying trend is also happening in places like Kansas, where livestock outnumber people.

In early June, Kansas looked to be bringing its outbreak under control, but its daily reported case numbers have more than doubled in recent weeks. On June 5, the seven-day average for daily new cases hovered at around 96; by Friday, that figure was 211. As cases rise, the U.S. Army commander at Fort Riley in the states northeast ordered his soldiers to stay out of a popular nearby restaurant and bar district after 10 p.m.

Idaho and Oklahoma have seen similarly large percentage increases over the same three-week period, albeit from low starting points. In Oklahoma, the seven-day average for daily new cases climbed from about 81 to 376; Idahos jumped from around 40 to 160.
Israel has conducted a number of airstrikes in Syria, targeting and killing Iran-backed groups operating in the east and south of the country writes Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Air strikes targeting positions of Iran-backed militias in eastern Syria killed nine fighters on Sunday in the second such raid in 24 hours, a war monitor said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Israel was likely responsible for the strikes near the Iraqi border.

They came hours after a similar raid killed six other Tehran-backed fighters, raising the total toll to 15 killed in 24 hours, according to the monitor.

The fighters killed in the early Sunday raids were mostly Iraqi nationals, according to Observatory head Rami Abdul Rahman.

There was no official comment from Israel.

Israel has launched hundreds of strikes in Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011.

It has targeted government troops, allied Iranian forces and fighters from the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah.

It rarely confirms details of its operations in Syria, but says Irans presence in support of President Bashar al-Assad is a threat and that it will continue its strikes.

On Saturday, air strikes also blamed on Israel hit positions belonging to regime forces and Iran-backed militias near the border with Iraq, the Observatory said.

Four Syrian nationals were among the six fighters killed in that attack, the monitor added.

Saturdays raids came only days after Israeli strikes in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor and the southern province of Suweida killed seven fighters, including two Syrian soldiers, according to the Observatory.

The uptick in attacks has prompted concern among Iran-backed forces in east Syria that Israeli agents may be among their ranks, the monitor said.

These forces have arrested four people on suspicion of providing intelligence to Israel, the war monitor reported on Sunday, shortly before the latest raids.

The war in Syria has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced more than half of the countrys pre-war population since 2011.

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.
Following a drone attack that hit the Hemeimeem Airbase, the Syrian army has used artillery and missiles to pound the defences of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and other jihadi groups reports Al-Masdar.

The Syrian army launched a heavy attack on the northern countryside of the Lattakia Governorate this weekend, targeting several sites under the control of the jihadist rebels.

According to a military report from Lattakia Governorate, the Syrian Arab Army and Republican Guard repeatedly struck the jihadist positions in the Jabal al-Akrad and Jabal al-Turkmen regions, using heavy artillery and missiles to weaken the militants defenses.

The attack by the Syrian Arab Army primarily targeted the jihadist rebels of the Turkestan Islamic Party and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, who the military blamed for the drone strikes on the coastal city of Jableh and Hemeimeem Airbase earlier this week.

This latest attack by the Syrian Arab Army also comes at a time when the Syrian army is building up its forces along the frontlines in the al-Ghaab Plain and Jabal al-Zawiya region.

These aforementioned regions in northwestern Syria are partially under the control of hardline groups like the Turkestan Islamic Party, Hurras al-Deen, and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

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.
Fadhel Wardeh has been elected to the People Assembly, despite being a known war criminal who leads the National Defense militia writes Baladi News.

The leader of the National Defense militia in the city of al-Salmiya won second place in the latest Baath Party elections, earning a spot in the regimes Peoples Assembly.

According to the National Defense militias page, Fadhel Wardeh, who heads the militias Salmiya branch, won second place at the governorate level in Hama, in what is known as party domestication.

The presence of figures responsible for killing and displacing Syrians has caused activists to criticize the Baath Party, which has devoted itself to a policy of including criminals, including Hafez al-Assad, and glorifying them over the decades.

Activist Saif al-Abdullah said, While claiming that the Baath is the party of peasants and workers, the truth says the exact opposite. The criminals and ignorant rapists who have ruled Syria for decades have been the face of the party.

Ali Farouq, another activist, says that, the arrival of the leader of the National Defense militia in Salmiya is considered proper within the Baath Party, which the Assad family has invested in and refused any Syrian outside of it, whether in public life or government employment. This is to turn the party into a canton for criminals who put Assad above their heads. They have a firm conviction that Assad is their guardian, so it is only natural that those who killed and displaced Syrians for a chair with Assad are given advanced positions in the Baath Party, built on a sectarian and racist approach.

The Baath Party follows the principle of party domestication to nominate members from its ranks to occupy positions in the Peoples Assembly, or what is known as the Applause Assembly. The council has 250 seats, most of which are occupied by the Baath Party.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The head of the Syrian Network for Human Rights has urged people not to publish the Caesar photos irresponsibly or erroneously identify victims writes Fresh Syria.

Fadel Abdul Ghany, head of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, affirmed that the family of writer Adnan Zirai denied that recently published photos, taken by Caesar, were of him. Ghany warned once again against publishing the photos haphazardly, as this causes terror and sadness for the families of the victims. At the same time, he stressed the need for specialized publishing of the photos.

In an interview with Shaam News Network, Ghany said that investigating the identities of the victims is a complicated process. How can an activist collect photos and statements from Facebook and around the internet, and then claim that he is communicating with the families? I dont know where this audacity comes from, for an activist or a page that is not specialized in making [these kinds of] allegations to claim that these photos in the Caesar file are of such-and-such people.

Ghany stressed that each photo is its own special case, and needs confirmation from the families, and perhaps for the families to provide photos of the individual from different angles. They also require forensic experts specialized in analysing dead bodies.

He pointed out that they have an initial program that matches images of the victim from before their death to later photos. But the program needs much more development so that it can handle the distorted Caesar photoswork is ongoing in that regard. It also needs information on the location of detention, timing and other details.

In a previous statement, Ghany expressed his rejection of publishing the Caesar photos of people who died under torture in Syrian regime prisons on social media pages without the permission of their families.

He pointed out: These days, the means of publishing these photos is regrettable. Many people think that these photos are new, and are an addition to the photos first published in 2014. Some people forget that the date of Caesars defection was August 2013, meaning that any detainee or torture victim after this date is not included in these photos! We have received dozens of cases that were published as new cases, but when cross-checking them with the 823 cases we have already recorded, we found that they were in fact old.

He concluded, My visit to Bosnia in 2013 taught me that some families of the dead or disappeared want to delude themselves that a recovered body is that of their loved one (even if it isnt), so they are relieved from the torture of feeling loss every day, over whether their loved one is alive or dead, and the wounds recede. This is how we feel in Syria about our relatives and friends who have disappeared. I ask you to please have mercy on us.

The past two days have seen many published links to photos of torture victims who died in Syrian regime prisonsphotos from among those leaked by Caesar. Many of them were previously published and were republished by many sides. This has caused shock to many family members who have loved ones held in regime prisons and who have begun searching for photos that look like those theyve lost, despite the fact that the photos portray only a portion of the people who have gone missing before 2013.

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.
Maj. General Ma'an Hussein has been arrested by regime intelligence , as they dismantle what is believed to be a CIA-linked spying ring reports Zaman Al-Wasl.

Syrias Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russian Intelligence reports, has dismantled an espionage network, including top security and army officers, a well-informed source told Zaman Al-Wasl Saturday.

Maj. General Maan Hussein, one of Assads top aides and the head of the armys communication department, has been arrested as part of a wide security operations.

The arrest campaign has included senior Intelligence officers, the source said.

The source said the espionage network is most probably linked to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The main mission of the communication department, which coordinates with security and military services, is to spy on the Syrian telecommunications, and monitoring local TV channels, social media accounts.

The State Intelligence, backed by information and data from the Russian intelligence, has tracked the network following the death of Irans Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani on Jan. 7, 2020, in Baghdad.

At the time, intial reports accused a Syrian agent of providing information about the Soleimanis movements inside Syria and the exact time of his departure from Damascus airport before his death in a US drone attack two hours later.

The CIA has had a deep and long history in Syria since March 1949, when it was involved in Syrias first military coup.

Then-army Chief of Staff, Husni al-Zaim took power, overthrowing President Shukri al-Quwatli.

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.
2019 was a watershed year for us, in a number of ways. We celebrated our 30th anniversary. Our long-time Winemaker Neil Collins was named Paso Robles Wine Industry Person of the Year. We were invited to be the pilot vineyard in the new Regenerative Organic Certification that we think will become sustainable farming's gold standard. We were honored by our first-ever feature article in the Robert Parker Wine Advocate. But for me the most significant achievements were grape-related. First, we completed our collection of Chateauneuf-du-Pape grapes with the grafting of Muscardin into the vineyard. And second, we got our first-ever harvest from three new grapes: Cinsaut, Vaccarese, and Bourboulenc.

Bourboulenc's arrival had particular significance because it meant that we finally had all the approved Chateauneuf-du-Pape white grapes in the cellar, joining Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Clairette Blanche, and Picardan. (As well as Viognier and Marsanne, which are allowed in Cotes du Rhone though not Chateauneuf du Pape.)

Rhone whites are generally thought of as settling on the richer, more textural, lower-acid side of the white wine spectrum. And that's definitely one face of what the Rhone offers. But it's far from the only face of the family. It includes rich, low-acid wines (like Viognier). Rich, mid-acid wines (like Roussanne). Rich, high-acid wines (like Grenache Blanc and Bourboulenc). Medium-weight, low-acid wines (like Marsanne). Medium-weight, high-acid wines (like Picpoul and Picardan). And light-weight, high-acid wines (like Clairette Blanche). The fact that the wines that were preferred by growers beginning particularly in the 1970s tended toward the richer, lower-acid part of the spectrum (think the rise of Roussanne, Marsanne, and, most dramatically, Viognier, of which just 35 acres were planted in total in the late-1960s) was a function of the marketplace's preferences toward powerful, aromatic wines, and of what worked in that comparatively chilly decades that preceded the 1990's.

Starting with the 1990s we've seen three decades each warmer than the last, and each the warmest on record world-wide. With the climate warming around the world, all grapes achieve ripeness more reliably than before. I remember my dad commenting five or six years ago that the warming climate had basically eliminated bad vintages in France (typically characterized by thin, acidic wines from cold, rainy years). Of course, those warmer years also produce wines with less acid and more sugar (and therefore more alcohol and body). That reduces the risk of growing the grapes on the higher-acid, lower-body edge of the spectrum, because they're likely to get to full ripeness and have enough body. It also makes the lower-acid grapes more at risk of being heavy or out-of-balance. For this reason, Clairette Blanche is currently seeing a resurgence of interest in Chateauneuf-du-Pape for its ability to bring freshness and elegance to the ever-weightier Roussanne and Grenache Blanc.

Enter the forgotten Rhone varieties: Picpoul Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Bourboulenc, and Picardan. All four have high acids at harvest. All four saw years of decline in the Rhone, and because international markets tend to follow what is in demand in a grape's homeland, all four were late to arrive in California. None pre-dated our arrival. And even as we brought in Roussanne and Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Viognier, we decided to wait to focus on these less-planted white varieties. It wasn't until we saw what a revelation Grenache Blanc turned out to be here in Paso Robles that we dipped our toes into the water, importing Picpoul Blanc in 1997, planting it in 2000, and getting our first small crop in 2003. All it did was force its way into (and displace Viognier out of) our Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc in 2004, just its second harvest.

Our next round of imports began in 2003, but because these grapes were so rare that we had to take field cuttings, all our imports had virus and had to be cleaned up by UC Davis. The grapes trickled out of quarantine, Clairette Blanche in 2009 (we planted it in 2010) and Picardan in 2012 (we planted it in 2013). Bourboulenc didn't make it until 2015 (we planted it in 2016). But both Clairette and Picardan showed Picpoul's precocity, finding their way into Esprit Blanc in 2017, their fifth and second vintage, respectively, at Tablas Creek.

It probably shouldn't have surprised us. We're convinced that grapes like Picpoul and (to a lesser extent, Grenache Blanc) are victims of a vicious circle in France. Because they're not much respected and don't command a high price on the market, they tend to be only viable economically if they're cropped heavily. So, they're usually overcropped and then earmarked for quick fermentations and inexpensive bottles, which reinforces that they're of low value. Here in California, we crop them modestly, give them the same attention in the cellar as our other grapes, and then allow them to find their place in the blends and varietal bottlings through the blind tastings that kick off our blending trials each year.

For the first time, in 2019, we have all four as varietal bottlings to share with you. They were bottled the week of June 8th, and I opened these four high-acid wines this past week in order to write tasting notes for our Web site. I thought it would be fun to share them with you now. I've linked all the wines (except the Bourboulenc, for which we're still waiting for a bottle photo) to its page on our Web site if you want detailed production notes.

2019 Clairette Blanche: a clean mineral nose of lemongrass, lychee, and honeydew melon. The palate is bright and yet mouth-filling, with flavors of fresh apricot, lemon, chalky minerality, and a little sweet anise-tinged spice. The finish is clean, long, and mouth-watering, with a lingering citrus note.

2019 Picardan: clean but rich aromas of nectarine, yellow raspberry, and sun-dried hay. On the palate, quite rich texture balanced by yellow plum flavors and a preserved lemon pithy bite. The finish is long and peachy, with a lingering note of saline minerality.

2019 Picpoul Blanc: an immensely appealing nose of yellow roses, fresh pineapple, sea spray, and sweet green herbs. The palate is mouth-watering, with flavors of salted pineapple, yellow raspberry, and briny minerality. Tropical and saline notes come back out on the long, vibrant finish. Drink now and over the next few years.

2019 Bourboulenc: a rich golden color. On the nose, aromas of marmalade, caramel, and a briny sea spray minerality. The palate is richly textured yet bright, with flavors of mandarin and nectarine, and a little Meyer lemon pithy bite coming out on the long, minerally finish.

We didn't make much of any of these wines: just 70 cases of Clairette Blanche, 80 cases of Picardan, 145 cases of Bourboulenc, and 280 cases of Picpoul. And because we have so many whites from 2019 -- not just these, but Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier, and our blends -- we've decided to space out their releases. We'll be announcing the release of the first two (Clairette and Picardan) to club members this week. Picpoul will follow next month, and Bourboulenc will go out to members of our VINsider "white-only" club in September.

After my tasting of these four wines, I just can't imagine that these grapes will remain obscure for long. Although each had its own personality, every one had texture and richness, vibrant fruit and refreshing acids, and all showed the saline minerality we attribute to our calcareous soils. We can't wait to share them with you.
The Indian government on Monday banned 59 Chinese apps in the country. The list contains popular apps such as TikTok, Shareit, Clash of Titans and UC Browser that enjoy a huge fan following in India.

The Ministry of Information Technology in a statement said that the listed Chinese apps had been banned as they posed a threat to the countrys safety, security, integrity and public order. This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace, the ministry said in a statement.

It is worth noting that the decision comes in wake of the growing border tensions between India and China. This has also resulted in the rise of the anti-China sentiment in India.

So, here is a list of all the China-based social apps that you need to uninstall from your smartphone right now:
The government has banned 59 Chinese apps in India. The long list of apps include popular ones like TikTok, Shareit, Shein and Clash of Kings.

The Ministry of Information Technology in a release said that these 59 Chinese apps pose a threat to India in view of information available they are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.

The release also mentions that there are security concerns with these apps. At the same time, there have been raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians, the release added.

It further adds that there have been multiple complaints from various sources on how some of these apps are being misused on Android and iOS.This decision from the government comes amid the ongoing clash with China in Ladakh. There have been many calls on social media to boycott Chinese products as well. But till now there was no definite move by the government that puts a halt to Chinese goods or services in India.

Most of these Chinese apps are very popular in India. TikTok, for example, has the highest number of users in India. These apps cater to different uses like social media, photo editing, online shopping and gaming. The ban on these apps have been announced but theyre still available on the Google Play Store and App Store.

Heres the full list of all the Chinese apps banned in India.

1. TikTok

2. Shareit

3. Kwai

4. UC Browser

5. Baidu map

6. Shein

7. Clash of Kings

8. DU battery saver

9. Helo

10.Likee

11.YouCam makeup

12.Mi Community

13.CM Browser

14.Virus Cleaner

15.APUS Browser

16.ROMWE

17.Club Factory

18.Newsdog

19.Beauty Plus

20.WeChat

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The Boeing 737 MAX has been grounded globally since March 2019 following two major crashes that together killed 346 people

US regulators conducted the first a test flight of the Boeing 737 MAX on Monday, a key step in recertifying the jet that has been grounded for more than a year following two fatal crashes.

A MAX aircraft took off from Boeing Field in Seattle at 1655 GMT, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson said.

The test lasted several hours, and included two take offs and landings, before finally touching down around 2115 GMT, according to an AFP photographer.

The initial flight will be followed by additional trips expected over about three days, the FAA spokesperson said in a statement.

But though the certifications flights are a critical phase, the regulator stressed that the process for returning the once top-selling aircraft to the skies is not over.

"While the certification flights are an important milestone, a number of key tasks remain," the FAA spokesperson said, adding that the agency will be "deliberate" and "thoroughly review Boeing's work" before allowing the plane to return to service.

"We will lift the grounding order only after we are satisfied that the aircraft meets certification standards."

The MAX has been grounded worldwide since March 13, 2019, following an Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 people. That catastrophe came just a few months after a Lion Air MAX crash that killed 189 people.

Nadia Milleron, mother of a victim of the Ethiopian Airlines crash, watches as FAA administrator Stephen Dickson leaves a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on June 17, 2020, in Washington, DC

The troubling similarities between the two accidents, both of which occurred shortly after takeoff, along with the pilots' inability to regain control of the plane, led global aviation authorities to ground the model indefinitely.

For months, the US aerospace giant has been struggling to get the medium-haul aircraftpreviously Boeing's biggest source of commercial plane ordersback into service.

The MAX's anti-stall flight system, the MCAS, was partially to blame for both crashes. But other technical malfunctions, including one involving electrical wiring, were subsequently detected during the aircraft's modification process, slowing down its recertification.

Shares of Boeing opened sharply higher Monday and rose further following news the flight had taken off, closing at $194.49, up 14.4 percent, and leading the Dow.

US regulators launched the first test flight of Boeing's grounded 737 MAX from Boeing Field in Seattls

Delay after delay

Civil aviation authorities cannot approve the modified model until they have examined how it performs in the air, and looked at the thousands of data points collected during the test flights.

But beyond that Boeing still must develop pilot training protocols for the MAX that will be subject to public comment and a final review by a technical advisory board.

All MAX aircraft manufactured since the crashes also will need to be personally inspected by FAA staff, the agency said.

"The FAA has not made a decision on return to service," the agency said.

A few months ago, Boeing anticipated the MAX would be back in the skies in mid-2020. But the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in travel restrictions and lockdown measures to try to slow its spread, upset the schedule.

Boeing needs to get the 737 MAX back in the air in order to pull itself out of a historic crisis.

Boeing anticipated the MAX would return to service in mid-2020, but the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in travel restrictions and lockdown measures to try and slow its spread, has upset the schedule

The 737 MAX for more than two-thirds of Boeing's order book and is therefore crucial to the mid-term survival of the manufacturerwhich, like the entire aviation industry, is suffering from the effects of the coronavirus crisis

The aircraft accounts for more than two-thirds of the company's order book and is therefore crucial to the survival of the manufacturerwhich, like the entire aviation industry, is suffering from the effects of the coronavirus crisis.

The company already has made cutbacks to shore up its finances. At the end of April, Boeing released details on a downsizing plan to cut total headcount by 10 percent, or roughly 16,000 employees in all.

In March, credit ratings agency S&P downgraded its debt grade for Boeing to BBB from A-, moving it into a speculative category.

Additional modifications on the MAX expected to be required by foreign aviation authorities also could add substantial costs to the program.

Explore further Boeing 737 MAX could take off Monday for commercial survival

 2020 AFP
The Boeing 737 MAX has been grounded globally since March 2019 following two major crashes that together killed 346 people

Boeing's 737 MAX plane could begin key recertification flight tests as soon as Monday, a crucial step for the survival of a top-selling plane that has been grounded for more than a year following two fatal crashes.

Tests of the MAX "could begin as early as tomorrow, evaluating Boeing's proposed changes to the automated flight control system on the 737 MAX," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a message to lawmakers on Capitol Hill Sunday.

"Testing is expected to take several days, and will include a wide array of flight maneuvers and emergency procedures to enable the agency to assess whether the changes meet FAA certification standards."

A Boeing spokesman said Monday the company would defer to the FAA on the mechanics of the test, including timing. The FAA did not respond Monday to queries.

The MAX has been grounded globally since March 13, 2019, following an Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 people. That catastrophe came just a few months after a Lion Air MAX crash that killed 189 people.

The troubling similarities between the two accidents, both of which occurred shortly after takeoff, along with the pilots' inability to regain control of the plane, led global aviation authorities to ground the model indefinitely.

Nadia Milleron, mother of a victim of the Ethiopian Airlines crash, watches as FAA administrator Stephen Dickson leaves a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on June 17, 2020, in Washington, DC

For months, the US aviation giant has been struggling to get its medium-haul aircraftwhose sales were its main source of revenue before the groundingback into service.

The model's anti-stall flight system, the MCAS, was partially to blame for both crashes. But other technical malfunctions, including one involving electrical wiring, were subsequently detected during the aircraft's modification process, slowing down its recertification.

For weeks, Boeing has been awaiting the green light from authorities to conduct test flights to prove the modifications provide maximum safety.

Sunny skies

Civil aviation authorities cannot approve the modified model until they have examined how it performs in flight. They will also look at the thousands of data points collected during the flights.

And even after the test flights, there are still "a number of steps" before the plane is cleared to fly, the FAA said in the message to Congress.

US regulators are getting close to undertaking a test flight of Boeing's grounded 737 MAX

These include the development of pilot training protocols on the MAX that must receive public comments that are reviewed and a final review by a technical advisory board.

New MAX aircraft that have been built since the crashes will also need to be personally inspected by FAA staff, the FAA said.

"The FAA has not made a decision on return to service," the agency said.

Flights are expected to take off from Boeing Field, just outside Seattle, the manufacturer's birthplace in the northwestern US state of Washington.

The weather is difficult to predict, but forecasts show a five percent chance of rain Monday and sunny skies in the afternoon.

According to the New York Times, an FAA pilot will be at the controls to test out the modifications conducted on the plane, and a Boeing test pilot will also be on board.

In general, test flights are meticulously prepared for.

Boeing anticipated the MAX would return to service in mid-2020, but the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in travel restrictions and lockdown measures to try and slow its spread, has upset the schedule

The 737 MAX for more than two-thirds of Boeing's order book and is therefore crucial to the mid-term survival of the manufacturerwhich, like the entire aviation industry, is suffering from the effects of the coronavirus crisis

Delay after delay

A few months ago, Boeing anticipated the MAX would return to service in mid-2020, around June.

But the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in travel restrictions and lockdown measures to try to slow its spread, has upset the schedule.

Boeing needs to get the 737 MAX back in the air in order to pull itself out of a historic crisis.

The aircraft accounts for more than two-thirds of the company's order book and is therefore crucial to the mid-term survival of the manufacturerwhich, like the entire aviation industry, is suffering from the effects of the coronavirus crisis.

At the end of April, Boeing released details on a downsizing plan to cut total headcount by 10 percent, or roughly 16,000 employees in all.

In March, credit ratings agency S&P downgraded its rating for Boeing to BBB from A-, moving it into a speculative category.

Additional modifications expected to be required by foreign aviation authorities could also add substantial costs to the MAX program.

Explore further US 737 MAX test flight could be as soon as next week: sources

 2020 AFP
Legitimate JavaScript library injected with additional code. Credit: Malwarebytes

A particularly nasty form of consumer credit card theft centers on the use of skimming devices embedded in credit card machines at locations such as gas stations and convenience stores. As a customer swipes a card, the hidden device records the name, number and expiration date on the card.

Leave it to the ingenuity of digital criminals to dispense with the need for a physical credit card and instead devise a way to gather the same data through online transactions.

The cybersecurity company Malwarebytes reported this week a new twist on an old form of online scam. Hackers, they said, are inserting malicious code inside image files on web sites that set the stage for capturing users' personal data.

The code is inserted into a favicon, the company's tiny logo or related image file that appears on a browser's web page tab or along the address bar. All images contain EXIF data that are used for non-visual, text information such as image description, camera settings and copyright notices.

"When we first investigated this campaign, we thought it may be another one of those favicon tricks," Malwarebytes explained. "However, it turned out to be different and even more devious."

In a variant of what researchers call a magecart attack, hackers ignore the favicon throughout most of the site. Instead, they surreptitiously insert code only into the favicon that appears on the checkout page of a website. The latest scam has been detected mainly on the WooCommerce plugin used for digital storefronts on web sites hosted by Wordpress. Researchers say the plugin's popularity and widespread use make it a ripe target for hackers.

Implanting malicious code on web sites is not uncommon. The new twist here is the use of steganography (the embedding of malicious code) in a favicon for the purpose of stealing credit card information.

The personal data is in turn stored in another image file that the hackers subsequently download.

Malewarebytes said an analysis of the code indicates a likely connection to the Bulgarian hacker ring Magecart Group 9.

Magecart attacks have been around for about four years. Wired magazine listed the group behind the attacks on their list of Most Dangerous People on the Internet in 2018.

Among the groups targets have been Ticketmaster, New Egg Electronics, Forbes magazine subscribers and British Airways.

While hackers are continually devising new and creative ways to get their hands on your cash, it's still best to maintain an up-to-date anti-virus or anti-malware suite on your devices. Also banks offer apps that generate one-time-only, on-the-spot credit-card numbers for online purchases that ensure if the card number falls into unauthorized hands, it cannot be used again.

Cyberthreat security firm Sophos recommends keeping plugins up to date with the latest security patches and also advises online merchants to change the default Wordpress username in settings from "admin" to something harder for hackers to determine.

Explore further Sears says that some Kmart stores targets of security breach

 2020 Science X Network
Varied cloud cover, such as here outside the Angstrom Laboratory at Uppsala University, makes reliable forecasts of solar irradiance challenging. Credit: Joakim Munkhammar

A new mathematical model for predicting variations in solar irradiance has been developed at Uppsala University. It may help to promote more efficient use of electricity from solar energy. In tests of various data models, the model proved capable of making highly reliable forecasts, and emerged as the best for this purpose in some respects. The results have now been published in two articles in the journal Solar Energy.

As clouds pass overhead, solar power generation from a photovoltaic system fluctuates from one minute to the next. To adjust their electricity use according to supply, local producers of their own solar energy (for a single property, for example) need to know how the amount of sunlight is changing. Forecasts of solar irradiance (the amount of solar radiation reaching a given surface, measured in watts per square meter, W/m2) may be a way of achieving greater control of solar power production.

Project leader Joakim Munkhammar of the Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering at Uppsala University says, "Our MCM model, as it's called, serves to predict what will happen in the next minute, hour or day, based on what usually follows a particular solar irradiance level. This model has a simple design, is easy to train and use, and provides surprisingly accurate solar irradiance forecasts."

The model, presented to the scientific community last year, is based on a hidden Markov model, a statistical model for recognition and probabilistic forecasting of processes and patterns. The MCM (Markov chain mixture) distribution model divides solar irradiance into levels and calculates the probabilities of sunlight in the next and subsequent time periods being at the various levels. On this basis, it is possible to forecast when and between which levels sunlight will vary, and to compare the forecasts with actual observations to see how well the former match reality.

Solar cell array at Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, owned by the Uppsala Region property service. Credit: Joakim Munkhammar

The model has now been tested by both scientists. This included test runs to compare the model with several other models. In one study, in which the researchers tested the model and five established benchmark models (used for comparison to evaluate the relative performance of new models), the new MCM model yielded the most reliable forecasts, especially for the near future.

The Uppsala researchers now hope it will be feasible to use their model to control technical systems.

"We look forward to working with other scientists and companies on testing the model with real physical systems, such as those for battery energy storage. We're going to try and boost the cost effectiveness of storage systems by adjusting the charge based on forecasts of local solar power generation," Munkhammar says.

Explore further Research study improves solar radiation forecasting models by 30%

More information: Kate Doubleday et al, Benchmark probabilistic solar forecasts: Characteristics and recommendations, Solar Energy (2020). Journal information: Solar Energy Kate Doubleday et al, Benchmark probabilistic solar forecasts: Characteristics and recommendations,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2020.05.051
The Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce combined two of its annual events  The Chamber Experience and Business and Bites  to bring the business community together for fun, networking and fundraising for the chamber. It was the chambers first large-scale in-person event since early 
Richwood, TX (77531)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low 79F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low 79F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
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A United States federal district court has finally sentenced a Russian hacker to nine years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty of running two illegal websites devoted to facilitating payment card fraud, computer hacking, and other crimes., 30, pleaded guilty in January this year to two of the five charges against him for credit card fraudone count of access device fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, identity theft, computer intrusions, wire fraud, and money laundering.Burkov admitted to operating a website namedthat was dedicated to buying and selling stolen credit card and debit card data for anywhere between $2.50 and $10 per payment card, depending on the card type, origin, and availability of card owner information.According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Cardplanet hosted roughly 150,000 payment card details between 2009 and 2013, most of which belonged to U.S. citizens and used to make over $20 million in fraudulent purchases."Aleksei's massive fraud victimized hundreds of thousands of people and resulted in over $20 million in losses," said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia."Tackling global cybercrime means holding accountable leaders like Burkov who have allowed cybercrime to become organized and hyper-specialized. I want to thank our prosecutors and investigative partners for their terrific work on this complex case."In addition to Cardplanet, Burkov ran another invite-only forum website for elite cybercriminals where they advertised stolen personal identifying information (PII), malicious software, and other criminal services, like money laundering and hacking.To become a member of Burkov's cybercrime forum, one needed to pay $5,000 as insurance and three existing members to vouch for their excellent reputation among cybercriminals.According to the court documents, such measures were put in place to "keep law enforcement from accessing Burkov's cybercrime forum and to ensure that members of the forum honored any deals made while conducting business on the forum."Burkov was arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, in December 2015 and extradited to the U.S. in November 2019 after he lost his appeals against extradition in the Israeli Supreme Court and the Israeli High Court of Justice.Before his extradition to the U.S., Russia also offered Israel a deal to release Burkov in exchange for freeing Israeli citizen Naama Issachar, imprisoned in Russia for drug offenses, but Israel refused to release Burkov and approved the U.S. extradition request.Burkov had faced a maximum of 15 years in prison for the charges he admitted in January, but today the U.S. federal district court judge sentenced him to nine years in prison.


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Joe Biden is nowhere to be seen. From refusing to hold campaign rallies to ducking media interviews, the Biden campaign is the quietest  and least consequential  in recent history.

On the bright side, the former vice president avoids gaffes by staying behind closed doors  far from the eyes of everyday Americans. According to the New York Times, Mr. Biden has held few events and therefore committed few missteps. He has largely stuck to script, protecting his campaign from a penchant for gaffes.

Thats quite the endorsement from the Times. Of course, Bidens pre-pandemic politicking confirmed that his penchant for gaffes is the most laughable it has ever been. This is a man who has butchered the Declaration of Independence, confused his wife and sister, and vowed to beat himself during the same election cycle. Bidens missteps even have a name: The gaffe machine, which is reportedly worrying Democrats on a daily basis.

But Biden gaffes are unlike any others. They point to a deeper and darker truth: Biden is mentally unfit for our nations highest office. Whether he is suffering from dementia or simply losing his oral skills with age, watching a five-minute clip of Biden is enough to realize that this Democratic presidential candidate is way, way past his prime (if there ever was one).
SEOUL  The timing of John Boltons tell-all The Room Where It Happened was positively diabolic. Could it be mere coincidence that it hit the book stores in a month of significant anniversaries?

Few Americans know or care, but the book went on sale two days before the 70th anniversary of the invasion of South Korea by North Korean troops on June 25, 1950. That date, so important in modern Korean history, is as little remembered in the United States as the day the Korean War truce was signed on July 27, 1953.

The forgotten war, however, may not be quite as forgotten by Americans now as it was for the first few decades after it ended. Thats because North Koreas nukes and missiles remind the world of a threat thats not going away. While the dates for when the war began and ended may be meaningless for most of his readers, Bolton lets us know just how hopeless were those three meetings at which President Donald Trump pleaded with North Koreas Kim Jong-un, please give up your nukes.
CONCORD, NH  The Future Forest Economy Initiative awarded three grants that will drive a $1.7-million investment in the regions forest economy, seeking to diversify markets for wood and wood products from the Northern Forest region.

Were making these grants at a time when the region needs to find new markets for its existing wood supply, said Alicia Cramer, vice president of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities. Market changes due to the coronavirus pandemic and the recent loss of a pulp-making facility in Jay, Maine, have left landowners, loggers and wood product manufacturers in northern New England seeking new markets for harvested wood.

The $847,840 in grant funds will go to the Town of Ashland Maine to expand markets for structural round timber, a mass-timber building product; to a wood heat marketing consortium aiming to increase demand for wood heating fuels by 50 percent in the region; and to the Burlington (VT) Electric Department for design and pre-engineering to advance a wood-fired district heating system to serve the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Grant recipients and other sources are matching the grant funds with $852,053, bringing the total investment in new wood uses and marketing to $1,699,893.

The initiative  a cooperative effort of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities, and the Northern Forest Center  grew out of a congressional mandate to support the development of markets for wood products. The grant awards are the first in a three-year program that will invest $2.6 million to expand innovation, create market demand and create conditions that will allow businesses and communities to benefit from these innovations.

Were investing in these three projects because they each are significant opportunities to maintain and grow markets for wood, which in turn support forest stewardship and forest-based jobs that are an essential part of the regions economy, said Joe Short, vice president of the Northern Forest Center. The Ashland project is aiming to generate $1-2 million in sales; the Burlington project could mean $500,000 more in wood purchases each year once its online; and increased use of modern wood heat can help replace lost markets for low-grade wood that are key to forest landowners and loggers.

The Town of Ashland, Maine, will receive $450,000 for an initiative to position Ashland and the Maine Woods to take advantage of an estimated $130 million market for structural round timber products in the northeastern United States. Structural Round Timber is a low carbon mass-timber building product that can be used as an alternative to steel. It requires no adhesives, minimal processing, and can be fabricated using existing facility infrastructure and local timber supplies.

Ashland has been looking at multiple market opportunities to restore more wood products manufacturing to our local business mix, says Cyr Martin, town manager for Ashland. Were strategically located at the gateway to the Northern Maine forest resource and have proximity and transportation access to significant markets. The Town has a 100-acre industrial park and numerous un- or under-utilized manufacturing sites that could support such businesses. What is missing is market demand to justify business investment in those sites, and this project will help us grow one of those markets, he said.

The wood heat marketing consortium, a regional initiative, will invest $300,000 in a 3-year marketing campaign to build public support for a broad range of wood heating options and increase use of Northern Forest wood pellets and chips in lieu of imported fossil fuels. It aims for a 50% increase in low-grade wood used for heat, a gain of 900,000 tons over 2018 levels. Funds allocated to this project will invest in a multi-media advertising and public relations campaign that underscores the environmental and community benefits of heating with wood in this region. The Northern Forest Center manages the collaborative project.

Northern New England imports all of its fossil heating fuels from other regions and other countries, exporting billions each year from our economy, said Charlie Niebling, a consultant to Lignetics, Inc., one of 25 participants in the marketing consortium. We have the technology to use wood to heat homes and buildings efficiently and cleanly  and keep those fuel dollars here at home where they support local jobs. Wood fuels like pellets and chips provide markets for low-grade wood that have been lost in recent years, which supports good forestry and our forest industry. Wood is a renewable, low carbon fuel that delivers many benefits as a heating fuel, he said.

The Burlington Electric Department in Burlington, Vermont, will receive $97,840 for design and pre-engineering to advance a wood-fired district heating system to serve the University of Vermont Medical Center. The work is a precursor to retrofitting the existing 50-megawatt McNeil biomass-powered electricity generator and to recovering some of the plants waste heat. If completed, the project would stabilize a significant market for low-grade wood  the plant currently uses 400,000 tons a year  and would grow that market by 15,000 tons a year.

For decades, Burlington has been working to enhance Burlington Electric Departments McNeil Generating Station to include a district energy system that would provide renewable thermal energy to large customers in Burlington, said Darren Springer, general manager of Burlington Electric Department. We were proud to announce earlier this year with our partners VGS and University of Vermont Medical Center that we were launching Phase 2 of an updated district energy project. With McNeil being such an important supporter of forest economy jobs in Vermont and the region, we were fortunate to receive such generous support from the Future Forest Economy Initiative that, with other funds, gets us the engineering analysis and refined economic feasibility modeling necessary to take us to a decision point on district energy in Burlington, he said.

The US Endowments Cramer added, The Northern Forest region is among the continents most heavily forested areas, with a long history of economic activity rooted in forests. We are working with the Center and the EDA to help the forest economy overcome losses due to mill closures and ensure that the sector can continue to benefit the region.

Funds for the program come from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and a congressional appropriation of $3 million secured by the regions congressional delegation in federal fiscal year 2018 that directed the agency to support the development of markets for wood products in northern regions of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. The federal funds are matched by $300,000 from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities to help cover project development and administrative costs.

More information about the Future Forest Economy Initiative, including instructions for submitting grant concepts, is available at https://nfcenter.org/FutureForestEconomy.

The Northern Forest Center is a regional innovation leader and investment partner creating rural vibrancy by connecting people and economy to the forested landscape. www.northernforest.org.

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nations working forests and forest-reliant communities. www.usendowment.org.

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By Daniel Itai  The Zimbabwe Daily

Victoria, Seychelles  Seychelles is amongst the very few countries in the world that is still depicting a level of normalcy when it comes to basic livelihood.

Most countries are on a nationwide or partial lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The southern African country has now 69 confirmed COVID-19 cases but despite that, business is still going as usual.

On Saturday, ten non-Seychellois people tested positive for COVID-19. The countrys Public Health Commissioner, Jude Gedeon said that one of the COVID-19 patients who tested positive is a French woman who has been on vacation in Seychelles since March.

We have already started to trace people who may have come into contact with her, as this may be a possible community transmission case, as we cannot yet pinpoint where she may have been infected, said Gideon.

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In light of the new cases, the local health authorities have renewed appeals for adherence to health safety guidelines, urging the population to better protect themselves by practising social distancing, maintaining good hygiene at all times and wearing masks.

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By Daniel Itai  The Zimbabwe Daily

Kinshasa, DRC  Tensions between the Common Front for Congo (FCC) and the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) are mounting as days progress over a proposed amendment of the Justice Bill.

Although the FCC and the UDPS are currently in a coalition government, the proposed amendment to the Justice Bill has caused members of the two political parties to clash.

The FCC, which is former President Joseph Kabilas political party brought up the proposed Justice Bill amendments.

Celestin Tunda ya Kasende, the Minister of Justice was on Saturday arrested and later on released after he clashed with President Felix Tshisekedi over the contested legal changes.

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The FCC proposes to have the office of the prosecution answer to the Ministry of Justice, a situation which is being opposed by the UDPS, other political parties and the National Union of Magistrates.

According to President Tshisekedis UDPS, the FCC is aiming to protect criminals and encourage impunity at all costs, the proposed amendments wont resolve any difficulty related to the functioning of the judiciary, but aims to undermine justice for the benefit of the Ministry of Justice.

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People are currently infecting each other at parties and barbecues. These should be forbidden, says Minister of Health Paulette Lenert.

The number of new infections in Luxembourg has increased this past week. Even though it is too soon to draw conclusions, a big party held last week was largely responsible for a new spike in cases.

Further positive tests were reported over the weekend. All in all, Luxembourg could be facing a second wave, Lenert said in an RTL interview on Monday morning.

The government imposed little restrictions, but rather recommendations, in the deconfinement process. This self-responsibility has resulted in quite some new cases - look here for our latest stats and graphical update on Sunday.

Most infections appear after private gatherings, whether birthday parties or barbecues. The minister strongly believes it would be better for them to be banned.

Lenert urges residents to adhere to the recommendations, avoid social contact and note down the names of people they were close to should tracing be necessary.

Large-scale testing is in place, and nearly 560,000 test invitations have been sent out. Only 100,000 people have accepted a free test, which is less than 20%.

Luxembourg is also working on a tracing app, but this technology will never be able to replace analog tracing - that of writing down names and contact details of people you met up with.

Schools return back to normal this Monday, and groups A and B are merged. According to the ministry of health, schools are organised structures and very few to almost no new infections tend to be the reported here. Furthermore, students are taught in class about how to take responsibility and watch out for others regarding coronavirus.

Testing is currently underway in schools, and will continue.

Should there be a rise in infections in schools, Lenert does not exclude the possibility of having to place a class in isolation.
Leave for familial reasons and short-time working schemes have left bitter traces in Luxembourg's social system.

The government implemented extended leave for familial reasons and short-time working schemes to soften the blow of the pandemic to Luxembourg's economy. The measures were important but left tangible traces in Luxembourg's social security system. Minister of Social Security Romain Schneider took stock of the recent developments in a budget and finance commission at the Chamber of Deputies this Monday morning.

According to LSAP MP Georges Engel, the pandemic has left a 1 billion hole in social security funds. He explained that the deficit was largely due to the measures that were taken to fight the economic fallout from the coronavirus. "The measures cost a total of 600 million. Another 400 million of lost revenue is added to that amount," he said.

The government argued that state finances were still healthy despite the staggering deficit plaguing the social security funds. Officials are hoping that the relaunch next year will be lucrative enough to balance the deficits.

CSV MP Gilles Roth rang the alarm bells: if the relaunch is less lucrative than expected, the overall situation could become quite grim. "The state always records deficits. We also no longer record very positive numbers at the municipal level. If a sector like social security, which always embellished state finances, also goes down the drain, we have to start worrying [...]," he said.

Pirate Party MP Sven Clement meanwhile explained that this scenario could, in his eyes, trigger higher social welfare contributions.

The Minister of Social Security also explained this Monday morning that a number of deadlines, such as the anticipated expiration of pension insurance funds, are preponed by approximately three years.
The Ministry of Education confirmed earlier this Monday that nine pupils and two teachers have tested positive for COVID-19 since the reopening of Luxembourg's schools.

The most recent infections took place at a secondary school in Luxembourg city, Minister of Education Claude Meisch explained in his reply to a parliamentary question. Three pupils of the same class contracted the virus.

It is the second time that two or more pupils of the same class contract the virus since schools reopened. According to the minister, the two incidents do not give reason to speak of a "cluster" or regard schools as virus breeding grounds.

If a pupil or teacher tests positive, Meisch explained, the Ministry of Health immediately alerts the schools boards and principals. He added that it is up to the school administrators to inform the pupils, teachers, and parents.

Pupils or teachers who test positive are quarantined and the Ministry of Health carries out contact tracing. Individuals who were in direct contact with the infected person are quarantined for one week and tested on the fifth day of their isolation. If the test comes back negative, the pupil or teacher can return to school after a 7-day quarantine period.

Only last weekend, Claude Meisch argued that "in principle pupils do not infect each other at school."
It remains unlikely for the time being that Luxembourg's nursing staff will receive a one-off bonus, parliament said on Monday afternoon.

Even though a one-off bonus remains unlikely for the time being, MPs did not altogether discard the idea of a reward for nursing personnel. The Ministry of Health for instance applauded the recent petition demanding a bonus for Luxembourg's nurses.

Representatives of Luxembourg's nursing staff will be able to present their complaints during a meeting with MPs in autumn. According to the website of the Chamber of Deputies, officials will try to find concrete solutions after this meeting, including "the question of reward."

Minister of Health Paulette Lenert stressed that the "crisis is not over yet" and that the time to take stock "has not yet come." She promised that "we will come back to this point once we are able to evaluate the efforts that were made [by nursing staff during the crisis]."

The petition that gave birth to this debate received almost 4,600 signatures.
On June 11, the court ruled it would lift the automatic stay on the shovels, allowing Komatsu the chance to reclaim the shovels or pursue the millions of dollars the company claims its owed from the former owner, Blackjewel, in bankruptcy court. At the court hearing Wednesday, the judge agreed to an evidentiary hearing.

Environmental violations

When Blackjewel filed for bankruptcy last July 1, it did so with a pile of unmet land, water and safety fines at several of its over two dozen facilities. Blackjewel has continued to not comply with the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Art or the Clean Water Act throughout the country, several conservation groups and environmental regulators allege in court documents.

After failing to secure sufficient interim funding to keep its coal facilities operational during bankruptcy proceedings, Blackjewel shuttered 32 mines across Wyoming, West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky.

The company has since auctioned off several of its coal mines, but hundreds of mining permits remain in the insolvent companys hands. The neglected permits  dotted throughout West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky  carry steep liabilities.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Wyoming grew by 33 on Monday, with the number of confirmed cases rising by 30 and the number of probable cases rising by three, according to the Wyoming Department of Healths daily update.

Thirteen new coronavirus recoveries were also announced: 10 confirmed and three probable.

Probable cases are defined by officials as close contacts of lab-confirmed cases with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

A patient is considered fully recovered when there is resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and there is improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath) for 72 hours AND at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.

There are now 1,450 cases  1,151 confirmed and 299 probable  and 1,070 recoveries  843 confirmed and 227 probable  recorded in the state, as well as 20 deaths.

As of Friday, there have been 42,402 tests performed for COVID-19 in Wyoming: 20,912 from the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory and 21,490 reported by other labs.

Less than 74% of confirmed patients have fully recovered.
The Evansville mayor who resigned from her position last week did so as a component of an agreement to plead guilty to a single misdemeanor in criminal court, according to documents filed in connection with the case.

Jennifer Sorenson entered her plea in writing on June 19 and  the documents state  prosecutors agreed to recommend that she pay a $1,000 fine for the conviction. The agreement did not require her to appear in court to enter the plea in person.

The fine is the maximum allowable under state law for the crime.

The law also states that a conviction for the crime is sufficient cause for termination of a public employees employment or for removal of a public official or public member from his office or position.

Her defense attorney, Frank Chapman, said Monday that Sorensons resignation indicated she accepts responsibility for the misconduct.

Sorenson resigned June 22, the Monday following filing of the plea agreement.

Her co-defendant  Matt McGraw, an Evansville police officer  on the same day signed paperwork pleading guilty in the case. McGraw pleaded to a single count of conspiracy to misuse public office and two misdemeanor counts of drug possession, according to the documents.
Crystal Brogdon, an event coordinator at the convention, said she heard a number of profanities coming from the lobby while she was listening to keynote speaker Charlie Kirks presentation. She looked into the hall and saw Pearce following Correnti, she said. After alerting security and locking the doors to prevent people from flooding the lobby, she exited to see Correnti take down Pearce and hold him down in a bear hug while telling him repeatedly to calm down, she said.

While she did not witness Pearce throwing a punch, Brogdon said that she helped to restrain and watch Pearce after the fight had ended.

He was so inebriated he couldnt sit in the chair without falling over, she said.

Brogdon denied that Pearce was ever unconscious, which he previously claimed.

The Wyoming Republican Party, which hosted the event, had not released a statement on the incident as of Monday afternoon. In a text message several hours after the incident on Saturday night, Wyoming Republican Party Chairman Frank Eathorne said he had not heard anything about the incident. The Star-Tribune has reached out to Eathorne for further comment.
The reasons are many. Republican Bill Pownall, a former Campbell County sheriff who sits on the Judiciary Committee, said in an interview that he is satisfied with current levels of funding as well as current training standards, adding that any other policies should be decided at the local level. Casper Republican Art Washut, a criminal justice instructor at Casper College and fellow member of the Judiciary Committee who also served as his citys police chief, agreed with that sentiment, writing in an email that the issues leading to disparities in policing stem from societal concerns that go beyond policy.

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There may be some need to address a few things legislatively, but I think we need a whole lot more information before we start mandating solutions to a perceived problem that we dont fully understand, Washut wrote in an email. Lots of solutions may seem ideal and obvious when you are safe and comfortable in the House of Representatives. It is a whole different situation at three in the morning in a dark alley.
The three broad public health orders that were set to expire this week have been extended, with no changes, through mid-July, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon announced Monday, as the state continues to grapple with a spike in coronavirus cases.

Its the first time in six weeks that orders have been extended without being loosened, a reflection of the nearly 300 cases  out of 1,144 confirmed since mid-March  that have been identified in the past two weeks. The extended orders, effective until July 15, still allow for opened businesses, large outdoor gatherings and indoor gatherings of up to 250, all of which are permissible under certain circumstances.

It is clear from the recent increase in cases statewide that the dual threat of COVID-19 to both the health of our citizens and the health of our economy is not going away, Gordon said in a statement accompanying the release. No one wants to see the progress we have made vanish, but that requires each of us to make a concerted effort to slow the spread of the virus. It is really simple and depends on everyone practicing good hygiene, social distancing and doing their best to wear a mask in public where social distancing isnt possible. Its the way you and our economy will both stay healthy.
Many of us know dinosaurs once roamed Wyoming. Far fewer know flamingos were once commonplace.

Wyoming has a storied past, from the days of ocean tides and rainforests to early people pulsing back and forth in waves to settlers marching and rolling wagons across the prairies. Luckily, pieces of that history have been preserved for you to visit.
THE Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is yet to receive the file on the criminal probe into suspicious bank accounts belonging to Assistant Commissioner of Police Irwin Hackshaw.

Hackshaw, who a few weeks ago held the rank of acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, is back to his substantive post of Assistant Commissioner.

He is scheduled to retire from the Police Service in September.
THE Police Service Commission (PolSC) has the green light to proceed with a new shorter process to appoint a Police Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner.

Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis made this clear yesterday in response to a story in the Sunday Express which stated that the legal notice giving effect to the process was to be debated in the Parliament today.
China-based companies sold shares worth $32.1 billion in January-June including multi-billion-dollar secondary listings in Hong Kong

HONG KONG: Firms in China brought in half of equity capital raised globally this year so far, setting a record that highlights the economys earlier revival from the COVID-19 pandemic, plus the degree to which soured U.S. relations are turning Chinese firms homeward.

China-based companies sold shares worth $32.1 billion in January-June including multi-billion-dollar secondary listings in Hong Kong, equivalent to 49.8% of worldwide offerings, showed data from Refinitiv. The total for U.S. firms was $15.8 billion.

With massive liquidity injections by various governments (supporting virus-hit economies), Im not surprised by the size of Chinese capital raised this year - and the trend may continue, Li He, capital markets partner at Davis Polk, said of China firms taking advantage of their early lockdown emergence.

China was hit by the novel coronavirus in December and was the first country to impose virus-prevention lockdown measures on individual movement and business activity in late January. Markets began their return to normality in April.

Chinese fundraising has been helped by the popularity of Shanghais year-old growth-focused STAR Market, as well as well-received initial public offerings (IPOs) in Hong Kong and the massive secondary listings - including the $3.9 billion raised by e-tailer JD.com Inc 9618.HK this month and $3.1 billion by games developer NetEase Inc 9999.HK.

For Chinese companies, both the Hong Kong and U.S. markets are getting back to normal, said Houston Huang, head of global investment banking for China at JPMorgan. Market activity (deal volume) is much better than anybody expected at the beginning of the year.

Escalating Sino-U.S. geopolitical tension over issues such as trade is widely expected to prompt more U.S.-listed Chinese firms to conduct secondary listings closer to home where they can raise funds in markets absent of anti-Chinese sentiment.

Companies considering a secondary Hong Kong listing include Yum China Holdings Inc and ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc, said two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Neither Yum nor ZTO responded to requests for comment outside of regular business hours.

Secondary deals are also increasing investor interest in Hong Kong, a market with a reputation for hosting stodgy financial and property groups rather than growth-focused tech companies.

Li Hang, CLSA head of Greater China equity capital markets, said the JD.com sale, on which his bank worked, was able to win orders not just locally but also from Southeast Asia and Europe.

If a company is looking at a secondary listing in Hong Kong, they need to be looking at gathering investors interest from not only from Asia, but also Europe and the U.S., Li said.
CONSPIRACY theorists with too much time on their hands were the ones who created an issue over the arrival of 80 vials of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine that came to the country last week for use by officials at the National Security Ministry.

So said Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday at the Covid-19 media conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Anns.
This is the question being asked on the heels of the police killing of three men in Morvant on Saturday and the release of two videos.

A somewhat fuzzy video surfaced on social media on Saturday night showing the police encounter with the men and what seemed to be one of the men with his hands up in the air.
AT THE recent annual Energy Conference, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley finally acknowledged the need for energy transition and for the greater inclusion of renewables in our local energy mix.

Five and a half years late! And this country simply accepted this utterly scandalous irresponsibility. Dont we realise the enormity of his error?
This is a long overdue letter of thanks to the Public Health Department of the Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development of the THA.

We, the residents of Calder Hall Trace, Scarborough, have long enjoyed excellent service from the sanitation workers who operate in our neighbourhood.
Employers advised to allow work from home as much as possible

Health workers record the details of a woman during screening for coronavirus infection in Ramabhai Ambedkar Nagar in Ghatkopar East in Mumbai. (DC Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)

Mumbai: The government of Maharashtra, the worst corona-affected state in India, announced Monday that it would extend its lockdown restrictions till July 31.

This follows a decision by Tamil Nadu, the third worst-affected state to clamp stern restrictions on the state capital Chennai to contain the virus, whose spread has grown more vigorous in recent weeks.

Maharashtra's decision to extend its lockdown by a month is a certain indicator that other states such as Delhi, Telangana and Karnataka too will extend their restrictions in the hot spot areas

The current lockdown in Maharashtra was to end on June 30. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had on Sunday ruled out lifting the lockdown from that date.

An order issued by chief secretary Ajoy Mehta on Monday said wearing face covers or masks, maintaining social distancing, restricted gatherings, and other measures would continue to prevail.

The state government has also advised employers that work from home should be followed as much as possible.

Mehta's order said private offices can operate with up to 10 per cent strength or 10 people whichever is more.

On Monday afternoon, Maharashtra's coronavirus tally stood 1,64,626 after a surge of more than 5500 cases in each of the past two days. The state's death toll has gone up to 7429.
ON Sunday morning, just like Saturday morning, there was a lot of loud talking coming from the back of a mini- mart in Santa Cruz.

A mini-bar that has no bar licence (because it is in the middle of a residential community) but is a liming spot that has some great ties that apparently keep their loose practices untouched.
Todays Labour Day is the second to be observed under conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, imposition of a 19-hour curfew as part of the current state of emergency makes for even greater stringency against public activity.
Leer en espanol

Conceding he made a mistake in allowing them to reopen, Gov. Doug Ducey on Monday shuttered all bars in the state for at least the next 30 days.

Ditto gyms, water parks, movie theaters and tubing along Arizona rivers.

And schools won't open until at least Aug. 17, two weeks later than the planned start date for most districts on traditional calendars.

The moves come as Ducey acknowledged the explosion of cases of COVID-19 that started two weeks after his mid-May order reopening the state economy. That two weeks pretty much coincides with the incubation period of the virus when people are exposed.

"We're fixing it" the governor said when asked if he screwed up in letting bars reopen six weeks ago.

He separately banned gatherings of more than 50 people. Churches and political rallies are exempt.

This could put a damper on any planned Fourth of July celebrations, though he did give individual cities and towns the power to permit larger crowds, including to watch fireworks, if there are assurances there will be proper social distancing.

Public swimming pools, those run by cities or in hotels or motels, will have to restrict groups in or out of the water to no more than 10. For semi-private pools at apartment complexes and condos, owners will need to post notices about the 10-person limit.
Residents in the southern Catalinas between Catalina Highway milepost 3 and Redington Road were given evacuation orders Sunday night due to the Bighorn Fire, which surpassed 100,000 acres.

The northern and southern boundaries of the evacuation zone don't follow a specific road but can be found on the Bighorn Wildfire Alert Zones map, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said when issuing the alert.

The southern border runs straight east at a starting point near the Babad Do'ag Scenic Overlook the first scenic overlook parking area going up the mountain.

The northern border of the evacuation zone runs straight east of the Bud Spring Trailhead, just north of the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Area.

Redington Road is closed at the end of the pavement, the department said.

Residents in the evacuation zone can call 520-351-3473 for more information. The Pima Animal Care Center, 4000 N. Silverbell Rd., is sheltering small animals for evacuated residents.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department has also designated the area directly south of the evacuation area as being in "set" mode, in which residents are urged to voluntarily leave or be prepared to evacuate if conditions change.

Bighorn Fire evacuation zones The red area south on the southeast end of the Catalinas was declared an evacuation zone Sunday evening. Areas in red are where an evacuation 

Wind on Saturday helped propel the Bighorn Fire to 104,000 acres and it continued to be a concern for firefighters Sunday, officials said.
Delhi government and MCD are keeping a tab on the COVID-19 daily situation, he said

New Delhi: Disagreeing with Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodias earlier statement that the national capital will have 5.5 lakh COVID-19 patients by July 31, Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday also rejected claims that Delhi is witnessing community transmission of the global pandemic.

Mr Shah also said that one crore 20 lakh guest workers have reached their native places till now, who were rendered jobless due to the nation-wide lockdown and many states are now working to create employment opportunities for these guest workers within the respective state.

In an interview to a news agency, Mr Shah said the coordination team of the Union government, Delhi government and MCD are keeping a tab on the COVID-19 daily situation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also updated by him on the issue on a daily basis. Mr Shah said by June 30 every house in containment zones will be inspected by health officials for COVID-19 systems and by July 31, house to house inspection of the entire city will be completed. Mr Shah also said that by June 30, there will be 30,000 COVID-19 beds available and till June 25, daily testing reached at around 16,000 per day which is going to further increase to check the virus spread.

In second week of this month, Manish Sisodia had made a remark that by July 31, Delhi will have 5.5 lakh coronavirus cases and that it will be bad situation in DelhiI dont want to get into it but after this remark and a suggestion by the PM to take an initiative, we decided to hold a coordination meeting on June 14 of the Union government, Delhi government and the MCDthe Centre is not interfering but coordination with others in this matterthe decision of inspection of all houses in containment zones and house to house inspection were taken after suggestions given to us during the coordination meetings, including by experts, said Mr Shah.

He also said that rates of isolation beds, ICU treatment have been brought down and a committee to doctors have been set up after many complaints were received regarding arbitrary charges by private hospitals for treatment.

When asked about the plight faced by guest workers, Mr Shah said both him and the PM spoke to all chief ministers to ask them to provide food and other facilities for guest workers and around 2.5 crore guest workers were provided food by state governments and through NDRF, 11,000 crore were transferred to the states after the PMs direction for guest workers.

Around 63 lakh guest workers have travelled long distance through Shramik trains and 42 lakhs have reached their homes in nearby states through busesmany states like UP, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, made facilities like quarantine centres for these guest workersprovided them with food kit and some amountthis is a temporary situation and when condition improves, many will want to return to states where they were working, some might want to stay at home and work and many states are making arrangements in this regard, said Mr Shah.
Traphagen has worked in the San Bernardino Valley since 1996 and serves as the science coordinator for the Malpai Borderlands Group. Like several others who spoke with the Star, he was concerned about these gates they say theyre going to lower and raise.

With the new design, the gates will open to accommodate the northward flow of the river, Michael Hyatt, patrol agent in charge of the nearby Brian A. Terry Station, said in the June 12 call. Agents will open the gates when they see rainstorms building. During the monsoon season, the gates will be kept open from late June to September.

If theyre going to be open that much, why build such an expensive structure in the first place? said Jeff Sturges, one of the organizers of the Hands Across the River event in January that drew 1,000 supporters. Its ludicrous.

Tricia Gerrodette, a longtime advocate for the San Pedro River, said the design doesnt adequately address concerns about debris buildup and flooding, let alone the creatures.

Still, the swing gates are way better than just having bollards in the river bed, Gerrodette said. If the gates are given proper attention they may help protect the river from flooding.
Vegetation and wildlife are returning after the rivers dry spell this year.

The birds and toads are back

A large wetland area that formed near 29th Street after the releases first started appears to be coming back. Green shoots of cattails are sprouting all over that area, next to yellowed marsh plants that died after the water releases were cut.

The birds, toads, roadrunners and other wildlife that had flocked to the area last year also have returned, said Michael Bogan, an assistant University of Arizona professor of natural resources who has been monitoring the riverfront for the past year.

Theres an accidental wetland here, said Bogan, as he stood just above where four small channels of water were rippling through bright green trees and shrubs. When the water was first released, the channel it created went toward some large tamarisk trees. The trees held the riverbank there in place, and kept it from eroding. That allowed the marsh to form. It was great, not part of anybodys plan.

After the county started removing sediment and the trees from the riverbed, Bogan was concerned that might let water speed away and cause the wetland to drain.
Getting a doctors advice or a therapists help without risking infection from a face-to-face visit to a medical office has been essential for many Tucson residents during the pandemic.

Now, with Arizonas rate of infection still rising and no vaccine in sight, many are wondering how long insurance providers will keep covering the video visits and telephone calls commonly referred to as telemedicine or telehealth.

The uncertainty is troubling for Tucson mothers like Sara Nixon-Kirschner and Dianne Westfall, whose young children have challenges that require medical care and therapies while also making them especially vulnerable to viruses and infection.

Nor is it comforting for Tucson residents like Melinda Parris, whose immune system has been weakened by cancer treatments. She needs pain medication but cant renew her 30-day prescription without an in-person visit, which is especially frustrating after being able to use video appointments for pain medications in April.

My nephrologist and my pulmonologist are still available by telehealth, my primary care is not offering it, nor is my oncologist, she said. So, its hit or miss, and Im taking what I can get.

On Friday, Parris saw a notice on an insurance form that telemedicine might not be covered anymore, so she started investigating.

My doctor says call Medicare, who said to call Humana, who said as far as they can tell its covered, she said Friday. When I pressed for a coverage date, the person I spoke to said she doesnt see any date so she assumes its Dec. 31, 2020.
However, Anstey cautioned, there are founding factors to consider before defaulting to any conclusions that drinking varies by race.

"Patterns of alcohol drinking are associated with socio-economic status and other cultural factors," she said. "It is very difficult to disentangle the biological from social mechanisms at play here."

In the end, this new study doesn't change what most doctors already recommend, experts say.

"In my clinical practice, I look at the totality of evidence and then individualize recommendations for the person being cared for," Isaacson said.

For women, a general maximum target is about four to six drinks per week in his Alzheimer's prevention clinic, he said. In men that would be 10 to 12 servings per week.

"But this is not a 'one size fits all' choice," Isaacson added. "These decisions should be tailored based on body weight, for example, and also modified based on whether the person has a history of alcohol or substance abuse.

"Further, it's not just about 'what and how much' alcohol, it's also important to consider 'when and how' the alcohol is consumed, Isaacson said.
The maker of a drug shown to shorten recovery time for severely ill COVID-19 patients says it will charge $2,340 for a typical treatment course for people covered by government health programs in the United States and other developed countries.

Gilead Sciences announced the price Monday for remdesivir, and said the price would be $3,120 for patients with private insurance. The amount that patients pay out of pocket depends on insurance, income and other factors.

Were in uncharted territory with pricing a new medicine, a novel medicine, in a pandemic, Gileads chief executive, Dan ODay, told The Associated Press. Read the full story here:

Here's an update on all developments. Scroll or swipe further for in-depth coverage.
by Thomas Han

Card Soo-jung Yeom celebrated the Eucharist in Myeongdong Cathedral marking 70 years since the start of the Korean War. The prelate remembered the victims of persecution, and called for the reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula.

Seoul (AsiaNews)  With a 10 am Mass celebrated at the Myeongdong Cathedral, the Archdiocese of Seoul yesterday marked the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, which started on 25 June 1950 when North Korea launched its invasion of the south.

Archbishop Card Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul, who is also Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, led the service. During the celebration, he declared his intention to dedicate the Diocese of Pyongyang to Our Lady of Fatima.

Four auxiliary bishops co-celebrated the liturgy: Vicar General Benedict Son Hee-Song, Timothy Yu Gyoung-chon, Peter Chung Soon-taek, and Job Koo Yobi, along with several priests from Seoul, including Mgr Matthew Hwang In-kuk, Vicar of the Diocese of Pyongyang, Fr Achilles Chung Se-Teok, and Fr Luke Lee, president and vice president of the National Reconciliation Committee, which organised the event.

Also present were Mgr Mario Codamo, charge d'affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature, and the ambassadors of Mexico, El Salvador, Timor Leste, and the Philippines.

Lay worshippers and members of the clergy filled the cathedral within the limits set by anti-coronavirus health and safety regulations.

At the entrance, temperatures were taken. Inside the church, people were required to wear a mask and sit at least a metre apart. The organ played music, and there was no singing.

Some seventy members from different countries of the Neocatechumenal Way, including seminarians from the Redemptoris Mater seminary in Seoul, sat among the worshippers

As one of the few bishops who lived through the Korean War, Card Yeom (born in 1943) could not hide his emotions. In his homily, he mentioned the soldiers and civilians who died on both sides (almost 2 million in all), as well as the tragic fate of the refugees and the persecution of Christians.

As one who directly lived the June 25th War, said the prelate, the reason I am looking back on our history of 70 years ago is to to ask you to unite all your energy and hearts in order to serve in some way the construction in our Korean Peninsula of a society in which all the people, of the South and the North alike, freed from the shackles of the past through the purification of memory, live a truly human life in a true peace that the Lord gives us, (cf Jn 14:27).

Last year, at the autumn plenary assembly, the Bishops of Korea decided to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War on 25 June 2020 at the diocesan rather the episcopal level. For this reason, the Archdiocese of Seoul held a solemn yet simple Mass, focused on international solidarity.

By God's grace, people were able to mark this truly historic day in Korea. With his homily and dedication of the Diocese of Pyongyang to Our Lady, persecuted amid the shadows, the cardinal tried to encourage the faithful to undergo spiritual renewal and engage in the new evangelisation of the Korean Peninsula.
The government must come clean on what the position on the Line of Actual Control is

Both parties, prisoners of the predictable, continue to viciously kick each other in the shin even as the Chinese kick us on the border. PTI Photo

In Satyajit Rays unforgettable classic Shatranj Ke Khilari, based on a story by Premchand, two nawabs continue to find ways to play chess even as the British subsume Awadh.

The conduct of the nawabs is strangely reminiscent of the current behavior of the BJP and the Congress. Both parties, prisoners of the predictable, continue to viciously kick each other in the shin even as the Chinese kick us on the border.

The vaudeville show goes on endlessly, oblivious to the looming priority of how to deal unitedly with the arrogant belligerence of China.

To be sure, the Opposition, in a democracy, has the right to interrogate the government. But even this should be done with the right degree of substance and gravitas.

The temptation to be clever with words in the age of Twitter is irresistible but can be very superficial. So, Rahul Gandhi puns on the word surrender, and labels Narender Modi as surrender Modi.

This kind of attack may provoke a few laughs, but a great many Indians must be wondering whether the key motive here is to find out from the government what the real position on the ground is, or to make a personal attack on the PM. If it is the latter, then the humour is rather misplaced.

When the country is facing an external threat, the priority cannot be the dislike that Rahul Gandhi has for Narendra Modi, or vice versa.

The priority must be to use the vibrancy of democracy for a national response which allows for interrogation but not divisive animosity. Such shortsighted internal rivalry has been the bane of India for centuries. It must be pleasing the Chinese greatly.

The government must come clean on what the position on the Line of Actual Control is. Are the Chinese claiming the whole of the Galwan Valley, and if so, are they now in possession of territories that we have traditionally claimed to be ours? What is the position at Pangong Lake? Are the Chinese now patrolling in areas, specifically between Finger 8 and Finger 4, which was part of our beat? How far has the dragon come in the Depsang plains, and is it really several kilometres on our side of the LAC?

There is little point served in obfuscating an answer to these questions by invoking nationalism and using it to shoot the messenger.

The nation is aware that the Chinese have a superior defence infrastructure and use it with impunity to salami slice the LAC when they wish to. We are not a walkover certainly, and the spirited fight our brave soldiers gave to the Chinese at the Galwan Valley, shows that.

But we are dealing with a stronger adversary, known for its bullying, and it is best that the country is truthfully made aware of what has happened -- or is happening -- on the border.

However, the BJPs response to these key questions appears to be to show that the Congress and the Chinese are in bed together! Suddenly, an avalanche of evidence has come to light about who made donations years ago to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Apparently, the Chinese government was one such donor. From this it is concluded that the UPA government had sold out to the Chinese. The Congress, on its part, accuses the BJP of being the B team of the Chinese Communist Party, and cites as evidence agreements it had signed in the past with the BJP. It alleges that the PM, especially when he was Gujarat chief minister, of having a veritable love affair with the Chinese. In other words, both the principal parties in the country are busy accusing the other of being in cahoots with the Chinese! When argumentation, in the worlds largest democracy, in the face of a serious external threat, reduces itself to this ridiculous level, we become the laughingstock of the world.

The truth is that both the UPA government, and the BJP government now, are guilty of underestimating the threat posed by China, which is our principal strategic adversary. Both governments should have done more to increase our defence preparedness, and our border infrastructure, to deal with China. By far the worst Raksha Mantri we have had is the UPAs A.K. Antony, who suffered from a debilitating morality paralysis that stumped our defence preparedness for years. The leadership of both political parties is culpable of having been seduced by Chinas carefully choreographed engagement strategy, including at the summit level. The time has now come for the nation to collectively introspect and take stock and build a national security strategy to counter the Chinese threat on an enduring basis. Can we, as a nation, rise to this challenge?

Sometimes, I worry. On a recent TV programme where I was present, Sambit Patra, the national spokesperson of the BJP, said that his party will effectively deal with the three Cs -- Corona, China, and Congress! What kind of response is this?

Like Rahul Gandhi, he too was being clever with words, whereas it is time to be wise in action. There was a time when our nation showed the great ability to deal with democratic differences with dignity.

In 1962, Atal Behari Vajpayee, then a young MP, sought answers from PM Jawaharlal Nehru, for our defeat by China. Nehru convened Parliament on his request and answered his queries with respect.

Alas, the level of national political debate has sunk so low that Indias great civilisational asset of samvad, or civilised discourse, is now at stake.
Ronda Moriarty is an ASL instructor who has taught at Arizona State University, Mesa Community College and Phoenix College. She also works as an ASL Master for Netflix.

The internet is great to have; it was very beneficial when teaching my class. But teaching a class with 11 or more people on the computer was really hard, she said.

There were students trying to take the class on their phones, but because its so small on the screen its hard for them to see and it was very distracting. They had to put the phone down to sign and it would fall over. However, they did the best they could with what they had, Moriarty said.

For those who use sign language, facial expressions are essential for proper communication. Sign meanings can change depending on the type of facial expression, such as exaggeration.

Melissa Echo Greenlee is the founder of deaffriendly.com, an online resource where people who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing provide input for local businesses in order to increase deaf-friendliness.
The company said it would continue using social media to communicate with its clients and employees.

Starbucks, which employs large numbers of racial minorities in the US, has itself faced criticism over its handling of racial issues. (Photo | Wikimedia Commons)

Washington: Starbucks said Sunday that it will pause its advertising on social media while it studies ways to stop the spread of hate speech as part of a growing corporate movement.

We believe in bringing communities together, both in person and online, and we stand against hate speech, the Seattle-based corporation, which operates thousands of restaurants around the world, said in a brief statement.

We believe more must be done to create welcoming and inclusive online communities, and we believe both business leaders and policy makers need to come together to affect real change.

The coffee-selling giant added, We will pause advertising on all social media platforms while we continue discussions internally, with our media partners and with civil rights organizations in the effort to stop the spread of hate speech.

Amid an intense national debate over racism and frequent eruptions of ugly, hate-filled speech on social media, Starbucks thus followed the lead of other big corporations like Unilever and Coca-Cola, which announced similar pauses on Friday.

Major social media platforms, but particularly Facebook, have faced sharp criticism for failing to eliminate racist or hate-filled posts.

Calls for an advertising boycott of Facebook next month have come from the NAACP, the big civil rights group that defends African Americans interests, and the Anti-Defamation League, which fights anti-Semitism.

But like Coca-Cola, Starbucks said it was not joining that boycott.

The company said it would continue using social media to communicate with its clients and employees.

Starbucks, which employs large numbers of racial minorities in the US, has itself faced criticism over its handling of racial issues.

In April 2018, the arrest of two black men in a Starbucks restaurant in Philadelphia, who had made no purchases but refused to leave when asked, caused a nationwide uproar.

The men, who were marched out of the restaurant in handcuffs, were later released without charge.

The chain issued an apology, made clear that its policy going forward would not allow a repeat of the Philadelphia incident, and closed its more than 8,000 company-operated US stores to allow employees to receive racial-diversity training.
OPINION: Our latest contributor says TPD and the city "must not whitewash this event by saying it was the result of 'bad apples.'" What should be done instead? "Address police violence at the department level."
Editors note: I wish that the people who live here love Vietnam very much and that love is not going to allow them to throw garbage on the soil of Vietnam, Camila Villegas from Colombia shared her thoughts about littering habits in Vietnam with Tuoi Tre News.

Villegas comments were made at a request from Tuoi Tre News after news that 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 following comments were edited by Tuoi Tre News for clarity, consistency, and coherence.

It has been three years since we moved to Vietnam because of a job offer my huband recieved. Many Westerners have no idea what Vietnam looks like and all we know [about the country] is the war. I was one of them; I will not lie.

But once you get here, the country catches you in a very special way. You feel like you want to know more and experience the local culture. Everything is so different and exotic that I feel there will never be enough time to learn everything about Vietnam. My husband and I fell in love with this country, and that is why we feel that we must support Vietnam as much as we can so that the country can improve. That includes the issue of the environment.

I like to travel a lot to beaches like Mui Ne, Vung Tau, and Ho Tram and we always make big groups of foreigners to spend 2-3 hours cleaning the garbage in the sea and on the beach, sometimes locals will join us when they see us doing it. But sometimes they also make fun of us or just throw more garbage.

In the past, when I was on the beach as well as tourist areas here in [Ho Chi Minh City] like Ben Thanh Market and the surrounding area of District 1, if I saw someone throwing garbage on the streets I would ask them to pick it up and throw it in a can.

In a few cases, people felt ashamed and picked it up; sometimes they picked it up and threw it again when they were away from me; but usually people got really upset and insulted me or shouted at me. That hurt my feelings a lot so I stopped.

Now I dont say anything and I dont do anything if I see someone littering on the streets. I just do my own part to never throw garbage and clean up some spaces myself like at the park or the beach. If I see litter on the streets, I used to care a lot and wanted to help but now I just step aside.

Now I hope if children see me picking up trash, maybe one of them will do it themselves later. If I'm on the beach picking up trash and someone joins me, I feel happy because maybe that person will do it alone later. Don't get me wrong, Im here to learn about Vietnam, not the other way around. But if I can share some good examples that I know will be helpful, that makes me feel like I can help.

Camila Villegas is seen in a photo she provided Tuoi Tre News.

I wish that the people who live here love Vietnam very much and that love is not going to allow them to throw garbage on the soil of Vietnam. Because thats how I feel: I love Vietnam, so I take care of it because its my home.

The beautiful places in Hanoi where people go to take photos are very crowded; many people gather to hang out and take their food and drinks there to be with family and friends. Thats no problem. The problem is that afterward they forget to pick up the garbage and leave the place clean so that more people can enjoy it.

I think that people dirty the streets because they have not been taught the importance of the environment and the advantages of having a clean city. There should be more education and enforcement of the laws so people can learn.

I think they should do a lot of campaigning about cleaning, garbage disposal, and taking care of the city and tourist places. Clean streets also attract tourism and businesses, which is good for Vietnam and for its people.

Campaigns against littering must be everywhere: at schools, in the workplace and on the streets, and must always be accompanied by laws, so people can know the information and apply it.

In my country, Colombia, people used to throw a lot of trash on the ground 30 years ago, but they began to carry out many campaigns in schools and on public roads. In addition to that, new laws and fines were enforced.

People learned so much about cleanliness that almost nobody litters today. If you do that, it is possible that people on the streets will do public shaming and force you to take your trash and put it in a bin. It is very embarrassing.

If a police officer sees you doing it, depending on the amount of trash, you can be fined or go to jail. In any case, people do not litter simply because they would be very embarrassed to be seen and exposed. They know that it is their home and they should not dirty it.

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Two young entrepreneurs started a black garlic manufacturing business with just a rice cooker hoping to make some extra cash. They never expected their operation to balloon into 11 industrial fermentation machines that would help them rake in VND2.4 billion (US$103,500) in monthly revenue.

Son La Provinces Yen Chau Town is constantly blanketed by the soft scent of garlic lingering in the air.

To find out where the smell originates, visitors need only follow their nose to a manufacturing workshop operated by Nguyen Van Toan and Nguyen Anh Duc, aged 30 and 33, respectively, the two entrepreneurs credited with transforming the region into Vietnams black garlic hub.

From rice cookers to industrial machinery

Toan was a new university graduate when he returned to his hometown in the northern province of Son La looking for work.

When he noticed Japanese importers scouring the area for black garlic  a fermented form of garlic  and willing to pay VND1.5-2 million ($64-86) per kilogram, he knew he had to get in on the action.

In comparison to fresh bulbs, black garlic packs a whopping array of health benefits, including aiding the cardiovascular system, lowering cholesterol, and reducing blood pressure.

Using his expertise as a biotechnology major who had researched black garlic in university and capitalizing on his hometowns designation as a major garlic production hub, Toan got to work putting together a black garlic production facility.

His first step was to enlist Duc, a teacher at the time, to serve as his right-hand man. The duo then began experimenting with different fermentation processes using online tutorials and a rice cooker.

Duc and Toan offered taste tests of their first two batches to friends and tweaked their recipe based on the feedback.

They then went on to soft-launch their product by distributing 15 kilograms to coworkers, earning them VND9 million ($385) in revenue.

The two of us started from scratch. We used up our salaries to buy ingredients the moment we got paid and were utilizing the lunch breaks at our day jobs to work on the project. We also gave up our evenings for years so that we could produce black garlic, Duc said.

As a form of quality control, Duc and Toan spent a good chunk of money purchasing black garlic from other producers in order to compare it to their own and better understand the market.

We used [those products] to understand where we were quality-wise. At points we event spent VND1.5-2 million [$65-86] on just one kilogram so that we could compare it with ours, Duc said.

Though Toan and Duc eventually perfected their fermentation process, they found themselves struggling with production issues, namely their inability to push out enough products to meet rising demand.

They eventually found themselves with a choice. They could continue working a low capacity for low revenues or they could drop a whopping VND500 million ($21,580) on a machine that would allow them to ferment one metric ton of garlic in a single batch.

As neither option seemed reasonable, the duo got to work on designing their own fermentation machine despite a lack of mechanical know-how between them.

Unsurprisingly, their first prototype was not quite a success.

Some batches turned out great and some did not. They canceled each other out, Toan said.

After much trial and error, they eventually fine-tuned their design and began churning out consistently solid products.

According to Toan, the most crucial part of the machine is the controller and the heat insulation system  the more heat insulated, the more energy efficiency the machine can achieve.

Their adjustments eventually led to them invited to sign up the machine, named CY-01, for Son La Provinces 2018 Young Technical Innovation Competition.

From their humble start with a rice cooker, the two entrepreneurs-mechanics have now built a total of 11 industrial-scale fermentation machines, each capable of turning 1.5 metric tons of fermented garlic per production cycle.

Yen Chau black garlic is displayed on the shelves at a facility in Son La Province, Vietnam. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

Great lengths to go

In their manufacturing workshop, tons of fresh garlic is dehydrated twice over, sending the spices scent wafting through the air of Yen Chau Town.

Working the batch of garlic in the workshop are female workers of the local Thai ethnic minority in Son La, their hands well-versed in handling the fermenting machines.

After preliminary processing and cleaning, the garlic is laid on trays and placed in the machines.

During the fermentation process, temperature within the machines fluctuates between 70 and 90 degrees Celsius based on each fermentation phase.

Fresh garlic needs to be subjected through two dehydration and fermentation processes  all within one month  to reach its final black garlic form.

Quang Thi Mai, a 50-year-old Thai worker at the facility, shared that she earns VND3.6 million ($155) per month operating the machines and packaging garlic in this workshop.

I did farming for a living before I worked here. Im used to strenuous work, but working here is better because Im out of the hot weather, Mai said.

Duc and Toan currently employ six full-time workers to operate their machines.

Yen Chau black garlic, considered one of the highest quality black garlic varieties around, has built up a fine reputation amongst connoisseurs.

The two entrepreneurs are working to develop their customer base in nearby places through a series of promotion activities.

We tell each other: We have to go further, Duc shared. Starting in Moc Chau, we carried black garlic on motorbikes to different boutiques asking them to display our product on consignment contracts.

During our visit two months later, the boutique owners were excited to sign with us because they saw potential in our product."

A Thai ethnic worker (right) handles garlic in this photo taken at a black garlic manufacturing workshop in Son La Province, Vietnam. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre

In 2016 during the boom of e-commerce in Vietnam, the pair began distributing their product on cyber platforms, including Shopee and Lazada.

The wholesale price for their regular product is currently set at VND300,000 ($13) per kilogram, with that number rising to VND500,000 ($21.5) per kilogram for higher-end variants.

Toan and Duc are also branching out into new ventures. They have so far signed processing contracts with business partners from southern provinces.

Using ingredients supplied by the partners, they are able to handle manufacturing and can resell the finalized products back to the supplier.

With help from the local farmers association in 2016, the duo was able to showcase their products in trade fairs all over Vietnam.

They have opened a subsidiary to separate their administrative operations from their manufacturing.

Their monthly revenue currently sits at VND2.4 billion ($103,500), according to Toan.

The key to a successful business is passion and smart product segmentation that can meet market demand. A product that the market doesnt need is sure to fail, Toan said.

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With the COVID-19 pandemic upending the lives of millions of children around the world, UNICEF is delivering life-saving supplies despite unprecedented transport and logistical constraints caused by the virus.

From supply shortages to transport constraints, COVID-19 has brought enormous challenges to our supply operations, UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore was quoted as saying in a press release on Monday.

However, with support from our partners, we were able to meet some of the most pressing needs and keep children and communities safe.

So far this year, UNICEF has given key personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to over 100 countries to support their response to the pandemic, including 7.5 million surgical masks, 2.8 million N95 respirators, nearly 10 million gloves, over 830,000 gowns, and nearly 600,000 face shields.

The UN body also shipped over 550,000 diagnostic tests, with an additional 912,000 planned to be delivered through August, and is sending over 16,000 oxygen concentrators to 90 low- and middle-income countries.

In Vietnam, UNICEF handed over to the Ministry of Health 15,000 coveralls for distribution to health facilities in need.

UNICEF also distributed life-saving supplies including soap bars, hand sanitizer, and ceramic water filters to schools, commune health centers, and communities in seven provinces, including Soc Trang, Ben Tre, Ninh Thuan, Lao Cai, Dien Bien, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum.

These locally procured supplies reached more than 340,000 vulnerable people  mainly children  to protect against the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases.

Limited availability of commercial flights has also taken a heavy toll on shipments of supplies for regular programs.

From March to May in a typical year, UNICEF would have made more than 700 vaccine shipments to countries around the world.

During the same period in 2020, just over half that amount  391 shipments  was delivered.

Despite such challenges, UNICEF was able to procure and timely deliver 800,000 doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) to Vietnam for routine immunization and this contributes to ensuring adequate stock and continuity of IPV vaccination in the country.

In addition, 340 medical refrigerators for vaccine storage are on the way to Vietnam and should be delivered in July 2020.

To address vaccine shipment challenges, UNICEF is appealing to governments, the private sector, the aviation industry, and others to provide solutions for freight space at an affordable cost for life-saving vaccines.

For example, a recent charter pooled what would have been separate vaccine shipments into one, making eight stops in West African countries that would otherwise be hard to reach.

UNICEFs COVID-19 response builds on a strong year for its supply operations in 2019, when its procurement of supplies and services reached a record level of US$3.826 billion, representing a nearly 10 percent increase from 2018 levels.

Over one-third of the total procurement was for vaccines at $1.656 billion, accounting for 2.43 billion doses for nearly 100 countries to reach 45 percent of the worlds children under five years of age.

UNICEF also exceeded its savings target for 2019 by over 35 percent, achieving $363.3 million in savings across a range of products by leveraging strategic procurement approaches.

Our collaboration with national governments, partners, and the private sector is vital to our efforts to reach children with the supplies they need, said Etleva Kadilli, director of the UNICEF supply and procurement headquarters.

Through our global reach and innovative approaches, we leverage our purchasing power and achieve significant savings for governments and donors.

"As we work together to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, this approach becomes even more important to maximize each dollar spent so that regular programs can be maintained, as countries also scale up COVID-19 response efforts.

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Read what is in the news today:

Society

 No new COVID-19 case was reported in Vietnam on Monday morning. The national tally stands at 355 infections, with 330 reoveries and no death.

 Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi will each close one of their runways and some taxiways from Monday for maintenance and an upgrade.

 Police in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak have summoned and held in custody more than 50 young people who chased and fought one another with machetes and petrol bombs on Ama Khe and Ama Sa Streets in Buon Ma Thuot City on Sunday night.

 Police in Nam Tu Liem District in Hanoi on Sunday afternoon said they had arrested a 28-year-old man for allegedly robbing a gold shop on Me Tri Thuong Street and stabbing a pursuer on Friday evening.

 Two brick gates, which are believed to have been used as secret shortcuts for imperial guards during the reign of Vietnams Nguyen dynasty between 1802 and 1945, have been discovered during site clearance within the Cidatel of Hue, a national relic and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

Business

 Leaders, experts, and business representatives from six provinces and cities in the southeastern region of Vietnam on Sunday morning attended a conference in Tay Ninh Province to discuss plans and solutions for boosting regional tourism and development. Several tours jointly organized by enterprises in the six localities were also introduced at the event.

Sports

 Vietnamese lender Sacombank on Sunday morning accompanied the Vietnam Youth Federation to launch an online jogging/walking tournament to raise funds to build community culture houses for ethnic minorities. The competition will take place nationwide until July 26, with Sacombank donating VND1,000 to the fund for each kilometer a participant covers. (US$1 = VND23,265)

 The Embassy of India and the administration in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan held an event marking the sixth International Day of Yoga in Phan Rang-Thap Cham City on Sunday, drawing nearly 1,000 participants from local yoga clubs. On the same day, close to 2,000 yoga practitioners of 49 clubs across the country attended a similar event organized in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

World news

 The novel coronavirus has infected over 10.2 million people around the world while killing more than 503,900, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health's statistics. Over 5.5 million patients have recovered from COVID-19.

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Ho Chi Minh City authorities on Monday took samples from all residents on a floor of an apartment block where a recovered COVID-19 patient whose retest had returned positive lives.

All households on the 12th floor of Block D at the Pham Viet Chanh apartment buildings in Ward 19, Binh Thanh District was subject to the sampling for COVID-19 tests, Bui Thi Hong Que, chairwoman of the ward, said in a notice issued the same day.

The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCMC CDC) had ordered the sampling to prevent the transmission of the virus, Que said.

A recovered COVID-19 patient lives in Block D of the Pham Viet Chanh apartment buildings, Nguyen Tri Dung, director of the HCMC CDC, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday evening.

The patient, 20, is an overseas Vietnamese student who returned to Vietnam from France on May 24, according to the Ministry of Health.

The student was quarantined upon entry and tested positive for the novel coronavirus on May 25.

The patient was declared free of the virus on June 9 after treatment at a hospital in the city.

The recovered patient was then sent to a quarantine center in Binh Thanh for 14 more days after being discharged from the hospital, as per regulations.

The patient has lived in the Pham Viet Chanh apartment buildings in the past six days.

Health workers have tested the person for the pathogen regularly during the time. One of the tests yielded a weak positive result on June 20.

The health ministry said on Monday that recovered COVID-19 patients who retest positive are not infectious.

They cannot transmit the pathogen because their body simply contains the remains of the coronavirus after recovery, Nguyen Van Kinh, former director of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, once said.

The retests simply pick up the remains and fragments of the virus during the bodys elimination process, Kinh added.

Vietnam has reported 355 COVID-19 cases as of Monday night, with 335 recoveries and zero deaths, according to the health ministry's latest figures.

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Back in 2008 I noted an ABC documentary Our Boys (broadcast in 2004) may have been the inspiration for Chris Lilleys Jonah character, which first appeared in the acclaimed Summer Heights High (2007).

The synopsis read:

Follows the lives of students and teachers at Canterbury Boys High. This week we meet Filipe Mahe, a cheeky, disruptive 15-year-old from Tonga who has slipped through the net  hes made it into Year 9 without being able to read or write.

Filipe Mahe, now 33, has told the Sydney Morning Herald, I knew from that episode Jonah was me.

Ive always thought it was racism to Tongans but never spoke out, he said. I would have been labelled a sook or cant handle the banter so I didnt say anything. He added, Young Tongan boys have been stereotyped as dumb, clowns, a nuisance, little shits, violent and foul-mouthed. I feel like Im responsible for this stereotype and that hurts the most. In earlier interviews Lilley maintained visiting a number of schools to research Summer Heights High. The character went on to star in his own series, Jonah from Tonga.

But filmmaker Kerry Brewster, who made Our Boys, also maintains the character had a detrimental affect on the young Filipe.

Our Boys lifted its subjects up, showing their complicated real selves, she said. For Filipe, who was a vulnerable child, it took courage and enormous trust.

He paid a terrible price when Lilley exploited him, even if he just meant it for comic effect, to create the derisive brown-face caricature. Its mocking portrayal of Jonah was racist and cruel.

She has also written an opinion piece for the Sydney Morning Herald:

After Our Boys was broadcast in 2004, Lilley was given access to the school to research his new project for the ABC, Summer Heights High. He sat anonymously for a day or two at the back of classrooms, with his hoodie up. In 2007, a year after Filipe had left Canterbury Boys, the schools Islander students tuned in to Summer Heights High. At the end of the first episode they were uncomfortable. The second episode clinched it. They were mortified, the school was embarrassed and its teachers furious. The boys stopped watching or talking about the new TV show that entrenched Lilleys reputation as comedic genius. I did the same. I had recognised scenes. Some of Jonahs lines were close to word for word. But theyd been twisted against the real boy. My co-producer, Andrea Lang, shared my alarm that a vulnerable child had been used to create a national figure of fun. Netflix has removed Angry Boys, Summer Heights High, We Can Be Heroes, and Jonah From Tonga from circulation but Jamie Private School Girl and Lunatics remain. Princess Pictures, which made Lilleys comedies, has not responded to enquiries.

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Who Do You Think You Are?

Outback Truckers

Paramedics

The Montreal Comedy Festival

Criminal Minds

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The Cardinal blames "lack of adequate preparation" for failure of the president's meeting and calls for "shared unity" to "save society from hunger, misery, deprivation", to face challenges and reconcile the nation. A warning over episode involving US ambassador: the sentence stains the image of the judiciary and is contrary to the Constitution.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - The Baabda national meeting "unfortunately worsened the political rift" within the country due to the "lack of adequate preparation," says the Maronite patriarch, Card. Beshara Rai, referring to the recent "reconciliation summit" convoked by President Michel Aoun. In reality the gathering only exacerbated the internal divisions in Lebanon with a boycott of Sunnis and opposition Christians.

The Cardinal has also intervened on the controversy regarding the judicial sentence against the US ambassador to Lebanon. In recent days, a judge in Tire, a Shiite majority city in the south, banned Lebanese and foreign media from interviewing Dorothy Shea for a year. The US diplomat had attacked the pro-Iranian Hezbollah in the press. "Freedom of expression" recalled Card Rai, is an element that "characterizes" the nation in the region.

In his Sunday homily the Patriarch observed that freedom of speech, is "sanctioned by the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose preamble was conceived by the Lebanese Charles Malek during the presidency of the UN General Assembly in 1948 ". He continued "We are very disappointed by the judicial sentence, which has banned a diplomatic figure who represents a world power from having the right to express opinions". This ruling, he says, "stains the image of the Lebanese judiciary and is contrary to the Constitution".

Regarding the theme of the national meeting, the cardinal stressed that it was born with the aim of "preserving political integrity and the democratic system", thanks also to a "joint union of efforts" to "save society from hunger, misery and deprivation ". "However - he adds - due to the lack of adequate preparation it has increased the internal political divisions".

Pope Francis is also concerned by this emerging reality and yesterday renewed the call to improve the "dramatic situation" of the Syrians and the Lebanese, inviting political leaders to "responsibility" in view of the fourth Conference of the European Union and the UN scheduled for tomorrow. In spite of the errors and shortcomings of the ruling class, Patriarch Rai addresses the young people asking them to "resist" and promote "unity and solidarity" with the institutions, to overcome the drama "of despair and migration".

Finally, the Cardinal renewed his appreciation for the efforts promoted by President Michel Aoun with a view to dialogue and reconciliation; if the failure of the Baabda meeting is evident, the Cardinal suggests proceeding with the preparation of a "global national conference, in coordination with ally nations" that will permit all of the actors involved "to face the challenges and reconcile" within the Arab family and in an international context. The government has the task of "restoring internal and external trust" to revive structural reforms.
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)
EQS Group-News: Bellevue Asset Management AG / Key word(s): Personnel



Media release Kusnacht, June 29, 2020 BB Pureos Bioventures expands its advisory board by appointing Dr. Omar Khwaja Pureos Bioventures is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Omar Khwaja, MD, PhD, as a new addition to the fund's advisory board. Omar brings a rich and diverse experience in research and translational clinical drug development in neuroscience, neurogenetics, and rare disease in both industry and academic roles. Omar Khwaja is Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research and Development at Voyager Therapeutics, Inc., a Boston-based biotech, developing therapies for neurological disorders through innovative adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector engineering and optimization. Before joining Voyager, Omar served as Global Head of Neuroscience Translational Medicine and Global Head of Rare Diseases at Roche. During his tenure at Roche, Omar initiated and led the first clinical programs in gene therapy and delivered multiple clinical programs across various therapeutic modalities and indications such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Huntington's disease. Prior to that, Omar was Director of the Clinical Neurogenetics Program at Boston Children's Hospital and on the faculty of Harvard Medical School. Pureos is a venture capital firm investing in young biotech companies that seek to cure or treat severe diseases by translating scientific innovation into therapeutics. Based on the team's broad operative and investment experience, Pureos' special investment focus is on biotech companies developing the next generation of biologic drugs and drug formats. The fund supports its portfolio companies through all stages, from inception and through clinical trials. "We're thrilled to be able to work more closely with Omar at Pureos," stated Dr. Martin Munchbach, Managing Partner at Pureos. "He is uniquely qualified to provide additional direction to Pureos. As a physician, he has a deep understanding of patients' needs and as a researcher he has the cutting-edge scientific expertise to both help inform our investment decisions and translate scientific innovations into positive clinical outcomes" Dr. Omar Khwaja commented: "I am very pleased to join Pureos' Advisory Board. The fund pursues the right strategy focusing on companies that develop innovative treatments and that puts the benefit to patients and the quality of the data in the center. I will be glad to contribute to bring some of these investments and treatments forward." Omar received his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. He trained in paediatrics and clinical genetics in London, UK and Melbourne, Australia and at Massachusetts General Hospital and was Chief Resident at Boston Children's Hospital. He is a Member of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom and a Member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

For more information:

Bellevue Asset Management AG, Seestrasse 16 / Postfach, 8700 Kusnacht/Zurich

Tanja Chicherio, Tel. +41 44 267 67 09, tch@bellevue.ch www.pureosbio.com About BB Pureos Bioventures

Pureos Bioventures is a newly formed venture capital fund, advised by Bellevue Asset Management, with offices in Zurich, London and New York. Active since 1993, Bellevue manages more than six billion dollars in the healthcare sector. Pureos invests exclusively in private innovative drug development companies, with a special emphasis on the next generation of biological drugs and drug formats. With its dedicated and experienced team of venture capitalists and biotech entrepreneurs, Pureos strives to impact patients' lives by advancing innovative treatments for severe diseases. For further information, see www.pureosbio.com Disclaimer

The state of the origin of BB Pureos Bioventures L.P. (the "Fund") is Guernsey. For Switzerland: The Representative in Switzerland is ACOLIN Fund Services AG, Leutschenbachstrasse 50, CH-8050 Zurich, whilst the Paying Agent is Quintet Private Bank (Schweiz) AG, Bahnhofstrasse 13, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland. In Switzerland, the Fund documents may only be distributed to qualified investors within the meaning of Art. 10 Para. 3, 3bis and 3ter CISA. In respect of the units distributed in or from Switzerland, the place of jurisdiction is Guernsey. The basic documents of the Fund as well as the annual and the quarter-annual reports may be obtained free of charge at the registered office of the Swiss Representative.



End of Corporate News


Boeing 737 Max aircraft are parked in a parking lot at Boeing Field in this aerial photo taken over Seattle

By Eric M. Johnson and David Shepardson

SEATTLE/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pilots and test crew members from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing Co <BA.N> are slated to begin a three-day certification test campaign for the 737 MAX on Monday, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The test is a pivotal moment in Boeing's worst-ever corporate crisis, long since compounded by the novel coronavirus pandemic that has slashed air travel and jet demand.

The grounding of the fast-selling 737 MAX in March 2019 after two crashes in five months killed 346 people in Ethiopia and Indonesia triggered lawsuits, investigations by Congress and the Department of Justice and cut off a key source of Boeing's cash.

The FAA confirmed to U.S. lawmakers on Sunday that an agency board had completed a review of Boeing's safety system assessment for the 737 MAX "clearing the way for flight certification testing to begin. Flights with FAA test pilots could begin as early as tomorrow, evaluating Boeings proposed changes to the automated flight control system on the 737 MAX."

After a preflight briefing over several hours, the crew will board a 737 MAX 7 outfitted with test equipment at Boeing Field near Seattle, one of the people said.

The crew will run methodically scripted mid-air scenarios such as steep-banking turns, progressing to more extreme maneuvers on a route primarily over Washington state. The plan over at least three days could include touch-and-go landings at the eastern Washington airport in Moses Lake, and a path over the Pacific Ocean coastline, adjusting the flight plan and timing as needed for weather and other factors, one of the people said.

Pilots will also intentionally trigger the reprogrammed stall-prevention software known as MCAS faulted in both crashes, and aerodynamic stall conditions, the people said.

Boeing declined to comment.

The FAA email said the testing will last several days and "will include a wide array of flight maneuvers and emergency procedures to enable the agency to assess whether the changes meet FAA certification standards."

Story continues

It added the "FAA has not made a decision on return to service" and has a number of additional steps before it can clear the plane to to do so.

The rigors of the test campaign go beyond previous Boeing test flights, completed in a matter of hours on a single day, industry sources say.

The tests are meant to ensure new protections Boeing added to MCAS are robust enough to prevent the scenario pilots encountered before both crashes, when they were unable to counteract MCAS and grappled with "stick shaker" column vibrations and other warnings, one of the people said.

Boeing's preparation has included hundreds of hours inside a 737 MAX flight simulator at its Longacres facility in Renton, Washington, and hundreds of hours in the air on the same 737 MAX 7 test airplane without FAA officials on board.

At least one of those practice flights included the same testing parameters expected on Monday, one of the people said.

After the flights, FAA officials in Washington and the Seattle-area will analyze reams of digital and paperwork flight test data to assess the jet's airworthiness.

Likely weeks later, after the data is analyzed and training protocols are firmed up, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, a former F-15 fighter pilot who has promised the 737 MAX will not be approved until he has personally signed off on it, will board the same plane to make his assessments, two of the people said.

If all goes well, the FAA would then need to approve new pilot training procedures, among other reviews, and would not likely approve the plane's ungrounding until September, the people said.

That means the jet is on a path to resume U.S. service before year-end, though the process has been plagued by delays for more than a year.

"Based on how many problems have been uncovered, I would be stunned if the flight tests are 'one and done,'" said another person with knowledge of the flight plans.

Regulators in Europe and Canada, while working closely with the FAA, will also conduct their own assessments and have pinpointed concerns that go beyond the FAA. They may require additional changes after the 737 MAX is cleared to return to service.

"This is new territory," said one industry source with knowledge of prior Boeing tests. "There's a lot more play between regulators, and certainly a lot more pressure and public attention."

(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Grant McCool)
CONSUS Real Estate AG / Key word(s): Takeover/Investment

CONSUS Real Estate AG: ADO Properties S.A. acquires control





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.



Berlin, 29 June 2020 - ADO Properties S.A. ("ADO") announced today that it has exercised its call option to acquire control of Consus Real Estate AG (the "Company"). ADO also intends to launch a public voluntary tender offer at the same 0.2390x ADO shares for each share of the Company (to be adjusted for a rights issue) to all remaining minority shareholders of the Company in due course.



Consus expects that the acquisition of control by ADO results in the occurrence of a change of control in accordance with the terms of the Company's EUR 450m 9.625% senior secured bond due 2024 (the "Senior Secured Bond") and the Company's EUR 200m 4.00% convertible bond due 2022 (the "Convertible Bond"). The Company will make all required notices under the terms of the Senior Secured Bond and the Convertible Bond.



Furthermore, ADO has announced that it intends to change the Company' business strategy to focus on build-to-hold as part of the combined group. Under a revised business strategy, the Company expects that certain forward sales and upfront sales currently planned for 2020, which would have contributed to the Company's 2020 results, will not be undertaken. For this reason, the Company is withdrawing its guidance of an Adjusted EBITDA of approx. EUR 450m for 2020.



Upon settlement of the call option and ADO acquiring control, Andreas Steyer (CEO) and Benjamin Lee (CFO) will leave the Company and during a transition period will continue to support it.





Contact:

Investor Relations

phone +49 30 96535790264

investors@consus.ag Information and Explanation of the Issuer to this News:



About Consus Consus Real Estate AG ('Consus'), with its headquarters in Berlin, is the leading real estate developer in the top 9 cities in Germany. As of 31 March 2020, Consus' development portfolio had a gross development value (GDV) of EUR 12.3 billion. Pro forma for the two upfront sales announced in May 2020, the development portfolio has a GDV of EUR 8.0 billion. Consus focuses on the development of neighbourhoods and standardised multi-storey residential construction, which are sold to institutional investors through forward sales. Due to its own construction expertise and the digitalisation of construction processes, Consus operates along the entire value chain of real estate development. Consus provides the realisation of projects from planning and execution to handover, property management and related services through its subsidiaries Consus RE AG and Consus Swiss Finance AG. The shares of Consus are included in the scale segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the m:access segment of the Munich Stock Exchange and are traded via XETRA in Frankfurt, among others. Disclaimer This document and the information contained herein are for information purposes only and do not constitute a prospectus or an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. Any securities referred to herein have not been and will not be 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 pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. This document does not constitute an offer document or an offer of securities to the public in the U.K. to which section 85 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the U.K. applies and should not be considered as a recommendation that any person should subscribe for or purchase any securities as part of the Offer. This document is being communicated only to (i) persons who are outside the U.K.; (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 (as amended) (the 'Order') or (iii) high net worth companies, unincorporated associations and other bodies who fall within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as 'Relevant Persons'). Any person who is not a Relevant Person must not act or rely on this communication or any of its contents. 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. This document should not be published, reproduced, distributed or otherwise made available, in whole or in part, to any other person without the prior consent of the Company. This document contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the current views, expectations, assumptions and information of the management of the Company. Forward-looking statements should not be construed as a promise of future results and developments and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those described in such statements due to, among other things, changes in the general economic and competitive environment, risks associated with capital markets, currency exchange rate fluctuations, changes in international and national laws and regulations, in particular with respect to tax laws and regulations, affecting the Company, and other factors. The Company does not assume any obligations to update any forward-looking statements. 29-Jun-2020 CET/CEST The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.dgap.de


Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits the construction site of Ealing Fields High School in west London, Monday June 29, 2020. Photo: Toby Melville/Pool via AP

The UK prime minister will on Tuesday pledge to build back better, build back greener, [and] build back faster as he announces details of the governments COVID-19 economic recovery plan.

Boris Johnson is set to outline plans to bring forward 5bn ($6.1bn) worth of capital investment projects, including 1.5bn to spend on hospitals, 1bn to build new schools, 900m for shovel-ready local projects, and 100m for roads.

It sounds positively Rooseveltian. It sounds like a New Deal, Johnson is expected to say in a speech in the West Midlands on Tuesday morning.

All I can say is that if so, then that is how it is meant to sound and to be, because that is what the times demand. A government that is powerful and determined and that puts its arms around people at a time of crisis.

READ MORE: UK recession to be worse than France, Italy, Spain, and Germany, warns OECD

The New Deal was an programme of public works, economic support, and reforms enacted by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s to help the country recover from the Great Depression. The programme, which is estimated to have cost over $40bn (32.5bn), was famed for funding the building of dams, schools, hospitals, and more across the United States. The spending spree also helped to end the worst recession in modern times.

Johnson will on Tuesday set out a similar ambition to fund infrastructure projects across the UK in a bid to kick-start economic growth.

An undated photo of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt at Campobello Island, off the coast of New Brunswick, Canada. Photo: AP Photo

This is a government that is wholly committed not just to defeating coronavirus but to using this crisis finally to tackle this countrys great unresolved challenges of the last three decades, the prime minister will say.

To that end we will build build build. Build back better, build back greener, build back faster and to do that at the pace that this moment requires.

The backdrop is a calamitous economic collapse brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and months of lockdown. UK GDP has fallen 25% since the shutdown was first announced in late March and the UK is forecast to suffer the steepest recession out of any developed nation in the world.

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Last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that the UK economy is likely to shrink by 10.2% this year in the wake of the coronavirus. Its World Economic Outlook forecasted a 4.9% decline in global output this year, in a far steeper downturn than the Great Depression. It had previously predicted a 3% decline in April.

READ MORE: Three months on, economic damage of lockdown is clear

If we deliver this plan together, then we will together build our way back to health, the prime minister will say.

We will not just bounce back, we will bounce forward  stronger and better and more united than ever before.

Johnson is expected to set out new measures to support jobs and skills in his speech. Some 9.2 million people are currently reliant on the state for their wages under the job retention scheme.

At the weekend, Britains opposition party Labour warned that joblessness in the UK could be as bad as it was in the 1980s unless the government does more to assist businesses. There are already 2.8 million people unemployed in the UK and this figure could go up by another million, it warned. In 1984, unemployment in the UK peaked at 3.3 million.

More details of the prime ministers New Deal are likely to come next week when Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivers a full update on the health of the UK economy. A National Infrastructure Strategy will be published in the autumn.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN OR INTO, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SWITZERLAND, ISRAEL, JAPAN OR SOUTH AFRICA

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.

Story continues

PRESS RELEASE - ADVERTISEMENT

Hyloris Pharmaceuticals Announces the Coverage of the Base Offering Throughout the Price Range of its Initial Public Offering on Euronext Brussels

Liege, Belgium  June 18, 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 that the base offering of 5,000,000 new shares of its Offering (as defined below) is fully covered throughout the price range of EUR 10.00 to EUR 11.50 per Offered Share.

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 (0)4 346 02 07

contact@hyloris.com





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 (high-barrier generics). Hyloris currently has two early commercial-stage products, Sotalol IV for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, commercialized through its partner AltaThera, and Maxigesic IV, a non-opioid analgesic product for the treatment of pain, developed with the Companys partner, AFT Pharmaceuticals. Additionally, Hyloris has 12 product candidates in various stages of development across the Companys wider portfolio. Read more at www.hyloris.com . 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 Companys website ( www.hyloris.com ) 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 "Underwriters") 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.




Trading information for KKR & Co is displayed on a screen on the floor of the NYSE in New York

(This June 18 story corrects to say in para 5 that PAI Partners bought Roompot for 503 million euros (not 600 million euros) in 2016.)

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - U.S. private equity firm KKR <KKR.N> said on Thursday it had reached an agreement to buy Dutch vacation parks firm Roompot from French private equity firm PAI Partners.

KKR and Roompot did not disclose the price of the deal, but a source familiar with the transaction said it valued the Dutch company at around 1 billion euros (902 million pounds).

PAI put Roompot up for sale last October. It is the second-largest operator of vacation parks in Europe, operating its own 33 parks in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, and providing services to more than 100 other operators across Europe.

With over 2,100 employees catering for approximately 3 million guests per year, the company generates around 400 million euros in annual sales.

PAI Partners bought Roompot for 503 million euros in 2016 from Dutch investor Gilde.

(Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Mark Potter and Susan Fenton)
The measure is expected to take effect on 1 July. It imposes life in prison for separatism, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. Activist flees for fear of arrest. Police will deploy 3,000 to 4,000 officers to prevent the traditional 1 July rally.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  Pro-democracy groups are preparing for Hong Kongs new security law, which should take effect tomorrow after a three-day meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).

Activists fear they might be arrested and sent to China for trial by mainland courts, which are controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. Some, like pro-independence militant Wayne Chan Ka-kui, have already fled abroad for fear of arrest.

The new legislation, whose content is not yet known, creates the crimes of separatism, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces.

Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kongs lonely delegate on the NPC Standing Committee, said that violators could get life imprisonment. He added that the law is applicable to the local population as well as foreign companies and media, and that it is retroactive, covering crimes committed after 28 May, when it was approved by the NPC.

According to the pro-democracy movement, backed by the United States and other Western countries, the legislation cancels Hong Kong's autonomy, as guaranteed by its Basic Law.

In view of the situation, Hong Kong police plan to deploy 3,000 to 4,000 officers on 1 July in order to block any protests against the law.

The authorities have in fact banned the pro-democracy rally traditionally held on that day since 2003. Seventeen years ago, on July 1 of that year, more than 500,000 people took to the streets to protest a public security bill proposed by the Hong Kong government.

Meanwhile, protests have been taking place in Hong Kong for more than a year. Initially, they were aimed at the cancellation of a proposed extradition bill, but eventually turned into a movement for full democracy. Since then, extremist groups and police have often clashed.
Al-Qaeda's North Africa wing has confirmed that its Algerian chief Abdelmalek Droukdel is dead, according to SITE, the US watchdog for extremist groups. France said early this month that its forces killed Droukdel in northern Mali near the Algerian border, where it says the group has bases it uses to carry out bombings and abductions of Westerners. "After nearly two weeks, AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) has officially acknowledged the death of its long time leader Droukdel (Wadud), with a video eulogy narrated by AQIM's head of media, pledging continued battles against occupying French forces and others in N. Africa and the Sahel," SITE director Rita Katz said Thursday on her Twitter account. French Defence Minister Florence Parly said June 6 that many close associates of the Algerian -- who commanded several groups under the AQIM banner -- were also "neutralised." AQIM emerged from a group started in the late 1990s by radical Algerian Islamists, who in 2007 pledged allegiance to Osama Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network. The group has said it has carried out numerous attacks on troops and civilians across the Sahel, including a 2016 attack on an upmarket hotel and restaurant in Burkina Faso that killed 30 people, mainly Westerners. The death of Droukdel -- once regarded as Algeria's enemy number one -- could leave AQIM in disarray, French military sources have said. France has deployed more than 5,000 troops to combat jihadist groups in the region -- a largely lawless expanse stretching over Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, where drugs and arms flow through porous borders.
By Colin Packham and Renju Jose

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will spend A$1.35 billion (755.29 million) over the next 10 years to boost its cyber security defences, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday, as Canberra seeks to combat a wave of attacks.

The announcement comes just weeks after Australia said a "sophisticated state-based actor" has been attacking all levels of the government, political bodies, essential service providers and operators of critical infrastructure.

Although Australia has declined to say who it believed was responsible for the attacks, three sources briefed on the matter told Reuters the country believed China was responsible, a suggestion swiftly dismissed by Beijing.

"The federal government's top priority is protecting our nation's economy, national security and sovereignty. Malicious cyber activity undermines that," Morrison said in a statement.

The package will include A$470 million to hire an extra 500 security experts in the Australian Signals Directorate, the country's cyber intelligence agency.

The funding is part of a A$15 billion investment in cyber warfare capabilities, Australia's Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said, a plan that was accelerated after an electronic attack on Australia's parliament and three largest political parties in 2019.

Australia has never publicly disclosed who was responsible for the hack that came just months before an election, but Reuters reported late last year that the country's intelligence agencies quietly determined China was responsible for that cyber-attack.

China denies that it was responsible for the attack.

(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian police on Thursday arrested a former aide to President Jair Bolsonaro's eldest son in a graft investigation threatening to undermine the far-right leader and ratchet up his battle with the judiciary.

Fabricio Queiroz, who worked with Senator Flavio Bolsonaro when he was a Rio de Janeiro state lawmaker, was arrested outside Sao Paulo in a home owned by a personal lawyer for the Bolsonaro family, according to prosecutors.

Investigators sought Queiroz for questioning over more than 1.2 million reais ($230,000) in bank transactions in a suspected scheme to embezzle the salaries of phantom employees in the Rio state assembly. The senator has denied any wrongdoing and called the investigation a political attack on his family.

"I face today's events with tranquility. The truth will prevail!" Senator Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter after the arrest of Queiroz. "Another piece on the playing board was moved to attack Bolsonaro ... It's a brutal game!"

Queiroz's lawyer, Paulo Emilio Catta Preta, said his client's arrest was "totally unnecessary" and ruled out him making a plea deal.

Speaking later Thursday on Facebook Live, the president said Queiroz had not been in hiding but was targeted for a "spectacular" arrest, as if he were "the greatest thug on earth."

He added that he had no ties to the case.

Two sources told Reuters that Bolsonaro, earlier in the day, had summoned officials including Justice Minister Andre Mendonca and the secretary-general of the presidency, Jorge Oliveira, to coordinate a response to the arrest.

Bolsonaro, a former army captain, ran for office in 2018 pledging to get tough on crime and end decades of political corruption exposed by Brazil's notorious Car Wash graft investigation.

Since then, critics allege he has backpedaled on his push to clean up politics. Bolsonaro, meanwhile, has engaged in an increasingly fraught power tussle with Brazil's Supreme Court that has sparked fears among opposition politicians and others for the constitutional integrity of the country.

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Former federal judge Sergio Moro, who oversaw the Car Wash probe and joined Bolsonaro's government last year, quit in April and accused the president of meddling in police appointments for personal reasons, triggering a federal investigation.

The Queiroz case has hung like a dark cloud over Bolsonaro's presidency, raising awkward questions about his and his son's political past in the rough-and-tumble world of Rio politics. Before becoming president, Bolsonaro represented the state as a federal lawmaker for nearly three decades.

($1 = 5.35 reais)

(Reporting by Eduardo Simoes and Leonardo Benassato; Additional reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier in Rio de Janeiro; Writing by Gabriela Mello; Editing by Brad Haynes, Alistair Bell and Tom Brown)
The United Nations has decided that the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago lies with Mauritius. The United Kingdom and the United States believe that the UNs views on the matter are inappropriate. Mauritius says that UK will further isolate itself on the international scene by holding on to the islands.

The United Nations celebrates its 75th anniversary on 26 June. For the small island state of Mauritius, this thing (le machin), as General De Gaulle called it in 1960, embodies hope following decades of struggle to restore its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago.

The islands were excised from Mauritius in 1965, before it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1968. Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos islands, was then leased by Britain to the United States, for use as a military base.

True to its mission to give a voice to the voiceless, the United Nations served Mauritius pretty well.

The United Nations has allowed Mauritius to be part of this large committee of nations where we have been able to network and exchange views. Its very principle of self-determination has enabled us to lay our claims, said Ambassador Jagdish Koonjul, the permanent representative of Mauritius to the United Nations.

On 25 February 2019, the UNs International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded that the decolonisation of Mauritius was not lawfully completed in 1968.

On 22 May 2019, the United Nations General Assembly voted an overwhelming 116 to 6, in favour of a resolution demanding that the United Kingdom withdraw its colonial administration from the Chagos Archipelago within six months.

The UN also stressed that it is urgent to proceed with the resettlement of Chagossians and urged the UK to cooperate with the process.

The United States, Hungary, Israel, Australia and the Maldives backed the UK in the vote and 56 countries abstained, including France and Germany. China and Russia, the other two permanent members of the Security Council, voted in favour of Mauritius as did India.

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Britain and the USA vehemently rejected the decisions of both the Court and the Assembly, as they are not the appropriate forums to resolve what in their view is purely a bilateral matter between two States.

Unlawful British occupation

Britain failed to leave the Chagos Archipelago by November 2019, as instructed by the UN.

A response, wrote Philippe Sands, legal counsel for Mauritius at the ICJ, that placed it [Britain] in the rogue-state company of apartheid-era South Africa, which in 1971 defied a similar opinion from the International Court on the status of Namibia.

Mauritius called UK an illegal colonial occupier.

Meanwhile, the island is garnering global support for its cause. The African Union and the Non-Aligned Movement back Mauritius on the Chagos issue. As did Pope Francis when he visited the island in September of last year.

30 cross-party British MPs  including Labour, SNP, LibDem  signed a letter, on 19 June, calling on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to immediately act on the ICJ ruling.

We are concerned that the governments refusal to return sovereignty of the Chagos Islands risks undermining our countrys credibility in these matters on the world stage, wrote the MPs.

In February 2020, the United Nations published an updated world map where the Chagos Archipelago is clearly depicted as part of Mauritius and no longer as British Indian Ocean Territory which is how the UK government continues to refer to the archipelago.

Henri Marimootoo, veteran journalist at Le Week-End, a Mauritian weekly, told RFI the change is a great leap forward.

In the context of the dispute between Mauritius and its former colonial master, it is very important that the UN insisted that the Chagos Archipelago is a Mauritian territory, he said.

Blackmailed into ceding Chagos

Marimootoo wrote a series of articles, the Diego Files, after he examined pre-independence talks when UK declassified its records in 1997.

He says Britain blackmailed the Mauritian delegation led by Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam who will later become the islands first Prime minister.

On 23 September 1965, Sir Seewoosagur met Prime Minister Harold Wilson who told him that The Premier [Ramgoolam] and his colleagues could return to Mauritius either with independence or without it. The best solution of all might be independence and detachment by agreement

According to Marimootoo, the UK records show that Wilson was advised by the Colonial Office to take a tough line with this guy.

This guy refers to Sir Seewoosagur. It is not only contemptuous, like a master to slave attitude, but it clearly shows how Britain threatened the Mauritians ahead of independence. Wilson later wrote in his memoirs that it was a fair deal, declares Marimootoo.

Britain insists that the 1965 agreement is legally binding and was confirmed in 2015 by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea arbitral tribunal.

Any suggestion that Mauritian independence was conditioned on detachment is simply not based on fact, Britain argues at the UN.

However, the ICJ clearly said that it is not possible to talk of an international agreement when [Mauritius] was under the authority of the latter [United Kingdom].

You see, the UK was both the buyer and the seller. On top of it, it is in complete violation of the 1960 UN Resolution 1514 which forbids a colonial power to dismantle a territory prior to its independence, explains Marimootoo.

Diego Garcia, a crucial military base

In 1966, UK and the United States entered a uniquely close partnership to use the Chagos as a joint military base. The agreement now runs till 2036. To make this possible, all Chagossians (around 1,500) were forcibly removed between 1968 and 1973 and transported to Mauritius and Seychelles.

When Mauritius announced a visit to the archipelago early 2020, the United States reacted strongly. The US, through its Embassy in Mauritius, called it a provocation that will severely damage relations between the United States and Mauritius.

For the US, the islands status as a UK territory is essential to the value of the US/UK military base on Diego Garcia.

But Ambassador Koonjul told RFI that Mauritius can certainly do what the UK is doing and even more.

Come 2036, UK will not be able to renew the US lease on Diego Garcia. But we, Mauritius, are prepared to give a 99-year lease to the United States, he added.

Money for rights

Britain earmarked, in 2016, a support package of 40 million (over 44 million) for Chagossians in the UK, Seychelles and Mauritius. The funds cover support for improved access to health, education, employment and cultural conservation.

The 40 million is meant to divide the Chagossians because Britain is in dire straits. It is facing mounting pressure from the Chagossians and the international community, says Marimootoo.

He added that the funds are also meant to put Mauritius in an embarrassing position.

How can Mauritius possibly tell the Chagossians not to accept any money? Its the same divide and rule policy that has served Britain well in the past.

Marimootoo believes that most Chagossians would like to live in UK.

They know the value of money and that of a British passport. If they had to choose between living on the archipelago, in the UK or Mauritius, most of them would choose UK, he says.

But for Olivier Bancoult, leader of the Chagos Refugees Group, the fundamental rights of Chagossians cannot be traded for money.

The British support package also includes visits to the various islands of the archipelago. Around eight have so far taken place since 2017, the latest being in February 2020.

This is a trap, Bancoult told RFI. We cannot accept visits if our rights are not respected.

He added that, apart from short visits to the islands, the Chagossians have received none of the other benefits promised in the support package.

I was born on Peros Banhos, and I am to be treated like a visitor in my homeland, while there are foreigners paying six month permits to enjoy barbecues on our land. Belongers cannot be visitors!

For Koonjul, the position of the United Kingdom is untenable.

We dont have an army to go to Chagos and just claim it back.

Sooner or later, they [UK] will have to talk to Mauritius if they want to be respected as a nation committed to the rule of law.

Dont you think it is ironical that the UK, a founding father of the UN, should go against the very values and ideas it brought to this institution?
Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

Coronavirus infection rates in the US have increased to a record high, putting hospitals under severe pressure and turning election battlegrounds Florida, Texas and Arizona into the latest hotspots.

Related: Fauci doubts effectiveness of coronavirus vaccine in US due to anti-vaxxers

More than 2.5 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the US ,and more than 125,000 have died of Covid-19, the respiratory illness it causes, according to Johns Hopkins University. These are the biggest totals in the world and raise fears of worse to come.

The window is closing for the US to get the pandemic under control, Alex Azar, the health secretary, warned on Sunday as 36 states reported rises in new cases compared to the previous week. Only two states  Connecticut and Rhode Island  reported a decrease.

Thwarting official promises that the pandemic would be beaten by now, last week the daily number of confirmed infections jumped to an all-time high of 40,000 nationwide. Florida had a record 9,585 infections on Saturday, followed by 8,530 on Sunday. Texas reported 5,400 to nearly 6,000 new cases per day between 23 and 28 June.

Donald Trump is accused of a historic failure of leadership not once but twice: first for downplaying the virus and sidelining experts when it erupted five months ago, and now for all but ignoring its resurgence across southern and western states, including several seen as crucial to his chances of re-election in November.

The president has focused squarely on economic recovery, but some states have now been forced to scale back reopening efforts. California ordered some bars to close, the first major reversal of efforts to reopen the economy in the most populous state. Texas and Florida have done likewise.

Meanwhile, a former Florida health department data scientist has claimed officials asked her to manually change numbers so it would appear the viruss spread was not bad enough to delay reopening.

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It was very clear at that point that the science behind the science-driven plan didnt matter, because the plan was already made, Rebekah Jones told National Public Radio (NPR).

The rise has been worst in states that did not follow official recommendations to wait for a steady decline in infections for two weeks before reopening their economies.

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN: Thats a recipe for disaster. Now were seeing the consequences of community spread, which is even more difficult to contain than spread in a well-known physical location like a prison or nursing home or meatpacking place.

In places where cases are rising, officials are also considering completely blanketing these communities with tests, Fauci said.

Vice-President Mike Pence on Sunday urged Americans to wear masks, and wore one himself during a trip to Texas, although Trump refuses to do so.

Wear a mask, wherever its indicated or wherever youre not able to practice the kind of social distancing that would prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Pence said.

Texas governor Greg Abbott, facing criticism for reopening too soon, admitted: Covid-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past few weeks.

Abbott has also banned elective surgeries in the states biggest counties.

The pandemic has transformed the political landscape in an election year. At the start of 2020, Trump seemingly believed he was cruising to re-election on the back of a robust economy. Now he is he most vulnerable incumbent since George HW Bush lost in 1992, under attack for a lack of national strategy, inadequate contact tracing and effectively abandoning state governors to fight the virus alone.

Trump has also defied public health guidelines by staging campaign rallies with few face masks and little physical distancing. Just before a recent event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his campaign directed the removal of thousands of Do Not Sit Here, Please! stickers from seats which were intended to establish physical distance between supporters.

His opponent, Joe Biden, said in a speech in Pennsylvania last week: Hes like a child who just cant believe this has happened to him. Its all whining and self-pity. This pandemic didnt happen to him. It happened to all of us.

Trump finally appears to be paying a political price. Several polls show Trump, also under pressure for his response to Black Lives Matter protests, is now trailing Biden by double digits nationally and losing in six battleground states that were key to his win in 2016.

The Washington Post reported that some Trump advisers and allies are privately pushing for sweeping changes to the campaign, including the idea of a major staff shake-up and trying to convince the president to be more disciplined in his message and behavior.

One unnamed Trump ally told the Post: If the election was today, we are in big trouble. Thankfully, it is not.

Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey who endorsed Trump in 2016, told ABC News: He is losing. And if he doesnt change course, both in terms of the substance of what hes discussing and the way that he approaches the American people, then he will lose.

Biden has primarily been campaigning from his home in Delaware, because of virus lockdown restrictions. He has gone more than two months without holding a press conference and is not expected to host a traditional rally in the near future.

Christie added: Theres no question that while these national polls are less significant in terms of the raw numbers, the trend is obvious. The trend is moving towards Joe Biden, when Joe Biden hasnt said a word.

Joe Bidens hiding in the basement and not saying anything. No  no discredit to the vice-president, if youre winning without doing anything, why do anything?
Global audit giant EY is facing growing questions and threats of legal action over its role in the bankruptcy of German payments processor Wirecard after signing off on the accounts for years. Some plaintiffs have already launched legal cases against EY after Wirecard's spectacular bankruptcy last week. German shareholders' association SdK said Friday it had launched a case targeting two auditors still working at EY and one former employee. Listed on the blue-chip DAX index since 2018, Wirecard filed for insolvency Thursday after acknowledging that 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) supposedly held in trust for it in bank accounts in the Philippines did not exist. - 'Breach of obligations' - German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz has called the Wirecard collapse an "unprecedented scandal in the financial world," saying it was a "wake-up call that we need more supervision" in financial markets. Neither Wirecard's private-sector auditors nor Germany's financial markets watchdog BaFin saw the crunch coming. Press reports had since 2015 pointed to possible irregularities in Wirecard's business model, while the Financial Times published a string of articles from early 2019 on fraud suspicions in the group's Asian operations. BaFin reacted by imposing a ban on traders betting against Wirecard stock and announcing a probe into FT journalists. This week the London-based business daily took aim at EY, alleging that the auditors did not do a thorough job. In a Friday article, the paper reported that EY did not ask for account information for over three years from a Singapore bank where Wirecard claimed to hold a cash balance of one billion euros. "Checking the existence of bank deposits is one of an auditor's easiest tasks," the SdK shareholder group complained, normally following "clearly regulated" procedures. Berlin-based law firm Schirp and Partner launched a lawsuit against EY in early June, saying on its website the group could not have certified Wirecard's accounts "without a breach of an auditor's auditing obligations". Given Wirecard's share price has collapsed by 98 percent in 10 days, Schirp told shareholders that "EY is economically the better claimant for aggrieved investors", urging them to join a class action suit. - Beyond German borders - Outside Germany, Dutch association European Investors (VEB) has demanded an out-of-court settlement from EY to fend off a threatened lawsuit, business daily Handelsblatt reported. The audit group said last week there were "clear indications that this was an elaborate and sophisticated fraud" after refusing to sign off on Wirecard's 2019 accounts. "Multiple parties around the world in different institutions" must have acted with "a deliberate aim of deception", EY added. But such statements could yet be turned against the auditors, in the shape of claims they should have informed the public sooner about their doubts. EY had been checking Wirecard's books since 2009. - Ghost of Arthur Andersen - The audit firm is also in the sights of mammoth Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, which plans legal action against EY according to German weekly Der Spiegel. In spring last year, SoftBank bought 900 million euros of convertible bonds issued by Wirecard, believing it was investing in a trustworthy company. EY told AFP that it had not been informed of a legal action and could not yet comment on the Spiegel report. Comparisons between the Wirecard scandal and the collapse of Enron in the early 2000s have multiplied in recent days. When it emerged that the US energy firm had been cooking the books, the ensuing scandal brought down the world's fifth-largest auditor Arthur Andersen after the firm was found to have obstructed justice.
A group of Rohingya say they were beaten by traffickers and drank their own urine to stay alive on a perilous four-month journey at sea until their dramatic rescue near the Indonesian coast. The bedraggled survivors -- about 100 in all, mostly women and children -- described a high-seas horror story that saw them reduced to throwing the dead overboard as their rickety craft drifted thousands of kilometres towards Malaysia. Two survivors claimed that people smugglers paid to transport them had beaten the Rohingya who were later moved to a new boat and abandoned at sea. They were rescued by fishermen in Indonesia on Wednesday and pulled to shore by locals the next day, thousands of kilometres south of Bangladesh. "We suffered so much on that boat," 50-year-old Rashid Ahmad told AFP at an immigration detention centre in Lhokseumawe city on Sumatra's northern coast. "They tortured us and cut us. One of us even died. "There was food at first but when it was done they (the traffickers) took us onto another boat and then let us float away alone," he added. Another survivor, Habibullah, said: "They beat everyone badly. My ear was cut and I was beaten on the head." AFP could not independently verify the accounts of four members of the vulnerable Muslim minority group, who said they set off earlier this year near a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh, next to their native Myanmar. - Starving, thirsty - Survivor Ziabur Rahman Bin Safirullah, 35, said the group got by on small rations of rice and nuts while relying heavily on rainwater to survive. "Sometimes we squashed wet clothes and drank the water from them," he said, adding that those who died were thrown into the sea. Korima Bibi said at least two people died during the voyage and that some on board resorted to drinking urine to stay alive, as others got sick from the rough seas. "We didn't get enough food or water," the 20-year-old said, "(but) we survived." Among the roughly 100 in the group were 48 women and 35 children. They set off from the Balukhali refugee camp in southern Bangladesh, but were originally from Myanmar's conflict-torn Rakhine State, according to survivors and an account given to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). A spokesperson for the group told the IOM that one woman had died on the way, leaving behind her two children. Another three children, two of them siblings, and a 10-year-old girl were unaccompanied. The group also included a pregnant woman, according to the IOM. The smugglers were charging each person about $2,300 to get them to Malaysia, the IOM said. Around a million Rohingya live in cramped and squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh, where human traffickers also run lucrative operations promising to find them sanctuary abroad. Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim majority nation, and neighbouring Malaysia are favoured destinations for Rohingya fleeing persecution and violence in mostly Buddhist Myanmar. Thousands try a perilous escape via smugglers across the sea each year. About 1,400 Rohingya have been stranded at sea this year -- and at least 130 of those have died, according to IOM figures. - 'A thousand thanks' - Last week, a Malaysian coastguard official said dozens of Rohingya were believed to have died during a months-long journey to that country. There had originally been more than 300 people on board the boat that was intercepted by authorities this month, with the 269 survivors given temporary shelter. Neighbouring Indonesia has previously allowed Rohingya to land and many to stay. But wary officials have turned them away in recent months, worried they could be carrying the deadly coronavirus. That concern played out in dramatic fashion on a beach in Lhokseumawe on Thursday when the Rohingya survivors were pulled to shore by locals furious at the refusal of authorities to give them shelter over COVID-19 fears. They had spent the night several hundred metres offshore, waiting for a decision on whether they could land. Authorities eventually relented -- a move cheered as a victory by rights groups. All have since tested negative for the coronavirus, local officials said. But the group's fate remains uncertain. "As a fellow Muslim I felt compassion for them, especially because there were so many children and women -- it broke my heart," said Lhokseumawe resident Saiful Hardi. "I hope we continue to help them as fellow human beings." That decision will be up the government, meaning an uncertain fate for survivors like 20-year-old Bibi. "You people saved us so a thousand thanks for that," she said. "Now it's up to you."
Ed Miliband arrives for a service of thanksgiving for the life and work of former Cabinet Secretary Lord Heywood at Westminster Abbey in London.

Ed Miliband says he believes Sir Keir Starmer is "definitely" a better Labour leader than him from what he has seen so far.

The former leader of the party, who resigned in 2015 after a heavy election defeat to David Cameron, was asked about his successor's potential during an appearance on the BBCs Andrew Marr Show.

The Oxford graduate controversially won the 2010 leadership contest due to trade union backing, despite MPs and party members preferring his brother and rival David Miliband.

He was heavily criticised and returned to the backbenches after the Tories won a surprise 12-seat majority at the 2015 poll.

Labour Leader Keir Starmer during a visit to Stevenage, Hertfordshire, to discuss the economic recovery in the wake of COVID 19.

Miliband returned to the shadow cabinet in April this year after Sir Keir made him shadow business secretary.

Host Andrew Marr asked Miliband on Sunday: "One slightly mean question to end with.

You've seen Keir Starmer now in operation for a few months. Is he going to be a better leader of the Labour Party than you?"

Miliband replied: "Definitely. I think you've seen that already. Look, I certainly never had his approval ratings.

"I think he's made a great start. I think he's shown not just competence but the kind of seriousness that this crisis demands.

"I think the more people see of him the more they'll see the integrity, the principle and decency I know really well."

It comes as an Opinium poll for The Observer found that 37% of voters thought Sir Keir would be better at leading the country than current Downing Street incumbent Johnson.

A total of 35% thought Tory leader Johnson was the better option to have in charge.

The pollsters said that while Sir Keir had been enjoying a higher approval rating than the prime minister for the past six weeks, it is the first time the former director of public prosecutions has polled higher when asked about who would make the better PM.

Sir Keir replaced Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader in April following a disastrous election defeat for the party in December.

The Conservatives, according to the results published on Saturday, still hold a four-point lead in terms of voting intentions, despite Sir Keir's public popularity.

Out of those polled, 43% said they would vote Tory at the next election, compared to 39% choosing Labour.
Unity and prophecy are the themes of Francis' homily on the day dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. It is pointless, even tedious, for Christians to waste their time complaining about the world, about society, about everything that is not right, said Francis. Today we need prophecy, but real prophecy: not fast talkers who promise the impossible, but testimonies that the Gospel is possible. What is needed are not miraculous shows. [. . .] We need lives that show the miracle of Gods love.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis today celebrated Mass for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul in the Vatican Basilica. In his homily, he said that if we prayed more and complained less, [. . .] so many closed doors would be opened, so many chains that bind would be broken.

The two saints were two very different individuals who could argue heatedly. They were very different people, yet they saw one another as brothers, as happens in close-knit families where there may be frequent arguments but unfailing love. Yet the closeness that joined Peter and Paul did not come from natural inclinations, but from the Lord, who did not command us to like one another, but to love one another.

This is how the first Christian community was at the time of persecution. Yet at that tragic moment no one ran away, no one thought about saving his own skin, no one abandoned the others, but all joined in prayer. From prayer they drew strength, from prayer came a unity more powerful than any threat.

Let us notice something else: at that dramatic moment, no one complained about Herods evil and his persecution. No one abused Herod  and we are so accustomed to abuse those who are in charge. It is pointless, even tedious, for Christians to waste their time complaining about the world, about society, about everything that is not right. Complaints change nothing. Let us remember that complaining is the second door that closes us off from the Holy Spirit, as I said on Pentecost Sunday. The first is narcissism, the second discouragement, the third pessimism. Narcissism makes you look at yourself constantly in a mirror; discouragement leads to complaining and pessimism to thinking everything is dark and bleak. These three attitudes close the door to the Holy Spirit. Those Christians did not cast blame; rather, they prayed.

Let us ask for the grace to be able to pray for one another. Saint Paul urged Christians to pray for everyone, especially those who govern (cf. 1 Tim 2:1-3). But this governor is, and there are many adjectives. I will not mention them, because this is neither the time nor the place to mention adjectives that we hear directed against those who govern. Let God judge them; let us pray for those who govern! Let us pray: for they need prayer. This is a task that the Lord has entrusted to us. Are we carrying it out? Or do we simply talk, abuse and do nothing? God expects that when we pray we will also be mindful of those who do not think as we do, those who have slammed the door in our face, those whom we find it hard to forgive. Only prayer unlocks chains, as it did for Peter; only prayer paves the way to unity.

The unity Francis mentioned is particularly linked to the Solemnity of Peter and Paul. On this day a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate traditionally comes to Rome. Not this year, said the Pope, because of the pandemic.

Today is also the day on which the Pope blesses the Pallia, symbol of unity, which are given to the Dean of the College of Cardinals and to metropolitan archbishops appointed during the year. Today is the day when the statue of Peter in the Vatican basilica is dressed in episcopal insignia.

Prophecy is the second word Francis cited today. Prophecy is born whenever we allow ourselves to be challenged by God, not when we are concerned to keep everything quiet and under control. Prophecy is not born from my thoughts, from my closed heart. It is born if we allow ourselves to be challenged by God. When the Gospel overturns certainties, prophecy arises. Only someone who is open to Gods surprises can become a prophet. And there they are: Peter and Paul, prophets who look to the future. Peter is the first to proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Mt 16:16). Paul, who considers his impending death: From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord will award to me (2 Tim 4:8).

Today we need prophecy, but real prophecy: not fast talkers who promise the impossible, but testimonies that the Gospel is possible. What is needed are not miraculous shows. It makes me sad when I hear someone say, We want a prophetic Church. All right. But what are you doing, so that the Church can be prophetic? We need lives that show the miracle of Gods love. Not forcefulness, but forthrightness. Not palaver, but prayer. Not speeches, but service. Do you want a prophetic Church? Then start serving and be quiet. Not theory, but testimony. We are not to become rich, but rather to love the poor. We are not to save up for ourselves, but to spend ourselves for others. To seek not the approval of this world, of being comfortable with everyone - here we say: being comfortable with God and the devil, being comfortable with everyone -; no, this is not prophecy. We need the joy of the world to come. Not better pastoral plans that seem to have their own self-contained efficiency, as if they were sacraments; efficient pastoral plans, no. We need pastors who offer their lives: lovers of God. That is how Peter and Paul preached Jesus, as men in love with God.

Dear brothers and sisters, said Francis, Jesus prophesied to Peter: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. There is a similar prophecy for us too. It is found in the last book of the Bible, where Jesus promises his faithful witnesses a white stone, on which a new name is written (Rev 2:17). Just as the Lord turned Simon into Peter, so he is calling each one of us, in order to make us living stones with which to build a renewed Church and a renewed humanity. There are always those who destroy unity and stifle prophecy, yet the Lord believes in us and he asks you: Do you want to be a builder of unity? Do you want to be a prophet of my heaven on earth? Brothers and sisters, let us be challenged by Jesus, and find the courage to say to him: Yes, I do!
MAIDUGURI (Reuters) - Islamist militants have abducted four aid workers and a private security worker in northeast Nigeria, the hostages said in a video seen by Reuters on Monday.

The hostages identified themselves and said they each worked for different organisations. With just their heads and shoulders showing against leafy plants outdoors, they named large aid groups Action Against Hunger, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and REACH.

"I am appealing to the International Rescue Committee to come and rescue me," said one of the hostages, who gave his name as Luka Filibus.

The incident underscores the increasing risk for aid workers in northeast Nigeria, where a decade-long conflict with Boko Haram and Islamic State's regional ally has fuelled one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The abduction is also a sign of how dangerous the region has become since Nigeria's military withdrew into garrison towns they call "super camps", leaving previously safe major roads, much of the countryside and smaller towns unprotected.

Nigeria's army has this year touted major victories against the insurgents, but recent attacks and the abductions undermine the claims.

While the hostages did not name Islamic State or Boko Haram, they referred to their captors as soldiers of the "khalifa". Previously, captives have used the term to refer to Islamic State West Africa Province, rather than Boko Haram.

The IRC and Action Against Hunger said in separate statements they were working to secure the release of their colleagues.

REACH did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

(Reporting by Maiduguri Newsroom; Additional reporting by Paul Carsten in Abuja; Editing by Alison Williams and Ed Osmond)
Operators have shut down the remaining reactor at the Fessenheim nuclear plant in eastern France early Tuesday morning after 43 years in operation. Environmental groups have welcomed the closure, which comes with no clear contribution to meeting energy transition goals.

After coming operational in 1977, the second reactor at the nuclear power plant in Fessenheim along the Rhine near Frances borders with Germany and Switzerland went permanently off the grid as of 11:00 pm (2100 GMT) on Tuesday.

In a procedure similar to the one that took the first reactor offline in February, reactor number two will start to power down late in the evening and be disconnected from the power grid after its nominal capacity reaches 8 percent, said its operator, state-owned energy firm EDF.

It will take several months for both reactors to have cooled enough in order for clean-up teams to start removing highly radioactive spent fuel, in an operation projected to last until 2023.

It is the first time a pressurised water nuclear reactor has been stopped and completely dismantled, an EDF spokesperson told AFP. The plant itself is scheduled to be disassembled between 2025 and 2040.

Closure brings mixed response

Former French President Francois Hollande made closing the plant part of his successful 2012 campaign, and after many delays, current head of state Emmanuel Macron gave the final green light to the closure in 2018.

Green campaigners who long warned of contamination risks, especially after the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, celebrated the plants closure.

Unions representing workers were unhappy with the closure. The plant employed some 750 staff and 300 service providers in late 2017, but only 294 are needed for the fuel removal and then about 60 for the disassembly.

Fifteen hours to go. Its terrible coming to work with knots in your stomach, having to wait until our workplace is sadly euthanised. All employees are in mourning, tweeted the branch of the CGT trade union representing staff.

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While the government says workers will be transferred to other EDF sites, the town of 2,500 people was concerned about the loss of the plant that drove its economy.

Clearly, after the shutdown, weve got nothing and are far from any project, said Jean Rottner, president of the regional council in eastern France. Rottner said the closure was a political decision.

Fessenheim Mayor Claude Brender said it was absurd and incomprehensible to shut down a plant that was in good working condition and passes all safety inspections.

Uncertain contribution to energy transition

Frances remaining 56 nuclear plants currently provide about 71 percent of its electricity and capacity is expected to be bolstered by a third-generation EPR reactor at a plant in Flamanville in Normandy, currently 10 years behind schedule.

The French governments energy transition targets involve reducing the share of atomic power in its electricity mix to 50 percent by 2035  a target that raises eyebrows.

We closed Fessenheim, but I dont think were going to be able to close many other nuclear plants, says Maxence Cordiez, an engineer in the energy industry.

The 50 percent target is not realistic, he says: "It offers nothing to carbon transition, will cost a lot of money and will reduce the profitability of nuclear power plants.

One of the criticisms of the closure of the Fessenheim plant is that electricity is likely to be assured by a new greenhouse-gas-emitting coal plant in Germany.

In the European network, the electricity production capacities are used by increasing variable prices, so renewable capacities are called first, because they have no variable prices, Cordiez says.

That means electricity from non-dispatchable renewable energy sources like wind and solar power is used first, but only when it is available. When it is dark or when the wind is not blowing, demand turns first to nuclear and then to fossil-fuel-produced energy.

If you have nuclear capacity available, it will produce before gas or coal power plants, he says. If you close Fessenheim, what you dont produce will be produced by a European gas or coal plant.

The government said in January it would shut 12 more reactors nearing or passing 40 years of operation by 2035, but on Friday ruled out any further full closures of nuclear power plants.

(with AFP)
Asylum seekers in Glasgow have been treated like Amazon parcels during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a charity calling for an inquiry into their accommodation facilities.

It comes after six people including a police constable were injured in a knife attack carried out by 28-year-old Badreddin Abadlla Adam, from Sudan, who was shot dead by officers at the Park Inn Hotel on West George Street.

The hotel was being used to house asylum seekers at the time, with campaign groups criticising the decision to do so having been in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.

Badreddin Abadlla Adam, from Sudan, who died after being shot by armed officers during the incident (Police Scotland/PA)

Private housing provider Mears is subcontracted by the Home Office and has come under fire for moving refugees from self-contained accommodation to the hotels during lockdown.

Homelessness and human rights charity Positive Action in Housing, whose office is situated just a few doors down from the Park Inn, is now pushing for an independent investigation into the procurement process after Fridays events.

Director Robina Qureshi said: You and I know that staying inside a house is difficult enough through the pandemic.

But staying in a hotel with four walls and not being able to socially distance, not being able to clean your own environment, not being able to wash your own clothes, not able to cook your own food  all of this conspires to create mental pressure on a human being.

People that Mears took and the Home Office uprooted in March at the height of the lockdown were vulnerable people.

They were not Amazon parcels, they were human beings with feelings and thoughts and fears, and they were terrified of what was happening next and why they were put into these hotels.

She added: Some have told us directly they were told they were going into long-term accommodation, but were put into two vans (four or five to a van), and then parcelled off into hotels all over the city, not just jeopardising the asylum seekers, but also jeopardising the public health of the city of Glasgow.

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This was not a movie. This was a real thing. And they were very frightened people who have been traumatised on the journey from being tortured.

Among concerns raised by the charity are claims the asylum seekers are no longer receiving their allocated 5.39 a day.

Police officers at Park Inn Hotel in West George Street, Glasgow (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Ms Qureshi said they had been told this was for concern for their safety in case to catch a virus from the coins.

One asylum seeker, Andrew, was staying at the Park Inn Hotel for two months but has since been moved to the Hallmark Hotel after Fridays incident.

He said: We dont have the opportunity to have money to take care of ourselves.

They water we are drinking, when we were in the Park Inn hotel, was from the tap water inside the toilet.

Police barriers at the scene in West George Street, Glasgow, on Monday (Douglas Barrie/PA)

Alison Thewliss MP said: The Home Office must take responsibility for the wellbeing of all asylum seekers currently being accommodated in hotels in Glasgow.

Support payments must be reinstated immediately.

A Home Office spokesman said: Throughout this pandemic, we have prioritised providing asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute with free and safe accommodation that enables public health guidance to be followed as well as access to healthcare services.

Cash allowances are not provided as their essential living needs and costs are being met by the accommodation provider.

A statement from the Mears Group said: Our thoughts remain with those in hospital and others impacted by this tragedy. We are doing everything we can to provide additional support to service users.

We immediately moved service users from the Park Inn Hotel into new accommodation on Friday night. Mears staff slept here also to provide additional help and support.

Glasgow City Council have provided four social workers from their Major Incident Support Team to be on site. We are providing access to additional counselling support and to essential items such as clothing.
FILE PHOTO: Repatriated Kuwaitis from Amman, wearing protective face masks, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), prepare their luggage while arriving at Kuwait Airport

CAIRO (Reuters) - Kuwait's cabinet decided on Thursday to eases curfew hours to start from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. effective June 21, Kuwait TV citing government spokesman's live conference.

The cabinet also decided to extend working with the first phase in a 5-phases plan to go back to normal life for one more week, also total lockdown on Hawally area has been lifted.

Kuwait will also allow traveling for patients with critical health conditions and students who might be missing exams with applying needed precautionary measures.

(Reporting by Alaa Swilam and Omar Fahmy, writing by Alaa Swilam, Editing by Franklin Paul)
PARIS (Reuters) - France's president on Monday accused Turkey of massively importing jihadists into Libya, labeling Ankara's intervention "criminal" and he lambasted Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambivalence towards his country's mercenaries operating in the North African state.

Ties between NATO allies France and Turkey have soured in recent weeks over Libya, Northern Syria and drilling in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey has intervened decisively in recent weeks in Libya, providing air support, weapons and allied fighters from Syria to help the internationally recognised government based in Tripoli repel a year-long assault by eastern military leader Khalifa Haftar.

"I think it's a historic and criminal responsibility for a country which claims to be a NATO member," French President Emmanuel Macron said.

Without providing any evidence on the nature of the fighters, he said Turkey was "massively importing" jihadists from Syria.

Paris has been accused of supporting Haftar politically, having previously given him military assistance to fight Islamist militants. France denies backing Haftar but has stopped short of rebuking his allies, especially the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has also been singled out by the United Nations for violating an arms embargo.

Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) is backed by the UAE, Egypt and Russia. In recent weeks, French officials have repeatedly said that Turkey's intervention was encouraging Russia to gain a greater foothold in Libya.

Libya's National Oil Corporation said on Friday Russian mercenaries had entered the Sharara oilfield. A United Nations report in May said Russian private military contractor Wagner Group had up to 1,200 people deployed in Libya.

Macron spoke to Putin on Friday, but stopped short of denouncing Moscow as he has with Ankara. He said the two leaders agreed to work towards a common goal of a ceasefire.

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On Monday, Macron said Putin had told him that private contractors did not represent Russia.

"I told him of my very clear condemnation of the actions which are carried out by the Wagner force... he plays on this ambivalence."

(Reporting by Michel Rose; Writing by John Irish; Editing by Chris Reese and Marguerita Choy)
Malawi's newly elected President Lazarus Chakwera vowed Sunday to maintain unity in the southern African country after quashing the incumbent's bid for a second term in the re-run of a hotly contested election. It was a dramatic twist of fortune for outgoing president Peter Mutharika, whose victory in a May 2019 ballot was overturned by the Constitutional Court over fraud allegations. Chakwera, a former evangelist preacher, was declared the winner of the election replay with almost 59 percent of the vote, according to results announced late Saturday. Malawi is only the second sub-Saharan African country to have presidential poll results overturned in court, after Kenya in 2017. It is also the first time in the region that a vote re-run has led to the defeat of an incumbent leader. The election was hailed by leaders across the continent as a peaceful transition of power. "It is an honour forged in the furnace of your desire and your demand for change," Chakwera said after taking his oath of office. Addressing thousands of supporters in Lilongwe's Freedom Square, the 65-year-old vowed to restore "faith in the possibility of having a government that serves" and "fights for you". He appealed to those who did not vote for him, saying: "Malawi is home to you too... so long as I am its president, you too will prosper." - 'Impossible feat' - Chakwera leads Malawi's oldest party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which previously ruled from 1964 to 1994 under Hastings Banda's one-party rule. Some 6.8 million Malawians returned to the polls on Tuesday after the country's top court found the first election had been marred by "grave" and "widespread irregularities" -- including the use of correction fluid to tamper with result sheets. Chakwera was pronounced the winner with 2.6 million votes against 1.75 million for Mutharika. Turnout was just under 65 percent. In power since 2014, Mutharika won 38 percent of the discredited vote last year, ahead of Chakwera's 35 percent. "Today is unbelievable because this feat seemed impossible just a month ago," said Christina Nkosi, a supporter of the opposition United Transformation Movement whose leader Saulos Chilima was sworn in as vice president. "We have waited too long for this dawn," echoed 70-year-old Mary Kaponda, a retired nurse sporting MCP garb. IT expert Daud Suleman, a key witness in the election court case, told AFP: "We have made history and demonstrated how much we can achieve as a people. "Now the challenge will be to challenge this energy into moving the country forward." Around half of landlocked Malawi's 18 million people live below the poverty line. Many rely on subsistence farming. The country is also grappling with a coronavirus outbreak that has infected over 1,000 people and killed at least 13 -- although numbers are widely thought to be underestimated due to lack of testing. - All complaints 'resolved' - Mutharika, 79, has not yet commented on his defeat. On Saturday, he had argued the re-run was flawed -- citing violence and intimidation against monitors allegedly "beaten, hacked and abducted", and describing the vote as the "worst in Malawi's history". The Malawi Electoral Commission dismissed the accusations and said all complaints had been "resolved". But Mutharika's Democratic Progressive Party has reiterated calls for the commission to annul the results of the second vote and declare a third poll, something political analysts doubt will happen. Mutharika supporter Tay Grin was accepting of the outcome. "Our political choices might be different but we remain united knowing that friendship means much more." - 'Very clear' lesson - Several African leaders and politicians congratulated Chakwera. "The mandate our Malawi brothers and sisters have given you... is a confirmation of their desire for progressive leadership," Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta said. Kenya's former prime minister Raila Odinga -- who lost to the incumbent in the 2017 re-run -- commended Mutharika for facilitating a "peaceful and orderly transfer of power". "The election was followed keenly beyond Malawi and is a symbol of hope for those who support democracy in Africa and around the world," he tweeted. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, also African Union chairman, "congratulated the people of Malawi for conducting peaceful elections which have served to deepen democracy," according to a presidency statement. Tanzania's opposition Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT Wazalendo) said Malawi had given a "very clear" lesson ahead of the east African country's own elections in October. "Authoritarian and repressive governments can be beaten when the opposition unites," its leader Zitto Kabwe said. "President-elect Chakwera's election victory is an important moment for democracy in the African continent." str-burs-sch/txw
By Marine Strauss and Bart Biesemans

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - While Belgians confront their colonial past in the wake of global protests over the death of George Floyd in police custody, a neighbourhood in Brussels seen by some as a haven for Black citizens is gearing up for a big celebration.

The Matonge quarter, named after a district in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on Tuesday marks 60 years since the DRC gained independence from Belgian colonial rule.

While social distancing will make the planned barbecues, live music and parties harder to arrange, people say they won't let that get in the way.

"There is no limit here in Matonge; everything is possible," said 34-year-old rapper Gabriel Fodderie.

Statues of colonial-era King Leopold II have been defaced this month as Belgians across the ethnic spectrum joined in anti-racism demonstrations.

In Matonge, known for its hairdressers selling hair extensions, wigs and African cuisine, the focus has also been on reopening after the coronavirus lockdown. Most salons were shuttered from March 18 until May 4.

"I completely understand it (the removal of statues) is being done because one must recognise that a lot of countries we call developed, industrialised, civilised, built their towns with a lot from Africa," said Monique Fodderie, Gabriel's mother who manages the Inzia restaurant named after a street in Kinshasa.

"And it's not taught in history books or schools," she said.

Tucked away between the luxury stores of Brussels' upmarket Avenue Louise and the European Union institutions, Matonge long suffered from a reputation for crime, including drug dealing.

Kelountang Ndiaye, co-owner of L'Horloge du Sud African restaurant, said migrant communities gave the area its unique atmosphere in terms of trade and activities. It is also where he feels safest.

For some, it is simply a home from home.

"It feels like you're in Africa, but in Belgium," said 34-year-old Nicky Chou, who's lived in Belgium for 22 years.

(Reporting by Francois Lenoir, Bart Biesemans, Marine Strauss; editing by Robin Emmott and Mike Collett-White)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosts French President Emmanuel Macron for talks on Monday, days before Germany takes on the rotating presidency of the European Union with the trading bloc in the throes of the most severe economic crisis since World War II.



There is no shortage of difficult issues for the German and French leaders to discuss.

The crises in Libya and Syria, for example, or EU relations with the United Kingdom in the wake of an as-yet-to-be-finalised Brexit divorce, to say nothing of the crucial shift to an economic model which makes fewer demands on a struggling environment.

But the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic devastation it has wrought will obviously dominate Monday's bi-partite talks.

"In Europe alone, it has claimed more than 100,000 lives. A few weeks of economic standstill was enough to endanger what we have built up over years."

Member states are anxiously looking to Europe's biggest economy to take charge.

In an interview published last Saturday, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said it was "very fortunate that Germany is taking over the presidency at this time of a major crisis".

Merkel's long experience and credibility "helps enormously," the Commission chief told the Handelsblatt newspaper.

Money to help those hardest hit

Merkel and Emmanuel Macron have already sketched out the backbone of the 750 million-euro fund proposed by von der Leyen to bolster the bloc's economy.

The fund would offer grants -- with no repayment obligation -- to countries hardest hit by the pandemic, a major policy U-turn for Berlin.

With an eye on the devastating blow taken by the worst-hit countries like Spain or Italy, Merkel explained that it was "imperative that Germany not only thinks of itself but is prepared for an extraordinary act of solidarity.

"In such a crisis, everyone is expected to do what is necessary. And what is necessary in this case is rather extraordinary," she told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

The recovery fund is likely to be among the key points raised when Merkel and Macron hold talks at the German government retreat near Meseberg on Monday, with frugal nations such as Austria and the Netherlands sharp critics.

Observers believe that, as the EU's biggest paymaster, Berlin will force even those reluctant saviours to put their hands in their pockets.
A woman is comforted by a friend after a relative was gunned down by unknown assailants outside a garage, in Mexico City

By Drazen Jorgic and Uriel Sanchez

MEXICO CITY/ACAPULCO, Mexico (Reuters) - The coronavirus is threatening to hamstring Mexico's fight against some of its most vicious drug gangs, as police and officials fall sick, security forces are diverted to guard medical centers and military barracks are converted to COVID-19 clinics.

The powerful Jalisco cartel and its rivals are exploiting a security void to step up the fight for control of the drug trade in Mexico, security officials and analysts say.

The number of murders nationally has risen to record levels even as the amount of other crimes have tumbled due to most of the country staying at home to avoid the coronavirus.

In recent weeks, gunmen abducted and killed seven police officers, murdered 10 people in a drug rehab center and dumped 12 bullet-riddled bodies of a rival crime outfit, all in areas where the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartel operates.

The military, a central part of Mexico's anti-cartel fight, has been drafted to help stem the coronavirus, converting barracks into COVID-19 treatment clinics.

Police officers who are overweight or have underlying health conditions have been taken off the streets in some regions because they are regarded as being at high risk from COVID-19, Mexican officials say.

In Guerrero state, where about 40 armed groups including the CJNG operate, the police have been debilitated by outbreaks of coronavirus in its ranks, a senior Guerrero police official said.

When one officer gets sick, on average four more have to isolate for two weeks, he added, complaining that some officers were also turning up with dubious sick notes to avoid work.

In rural Guerrero, a mountainous state on the Pacific coast that governments have long struggled to control, armed vigilante groups that analysts say have links to cartels have imposed curfews and barred residents from leaving villages to try to contain the virus, residents told Reuters.

With an official tally of over 18,300 fatalities, Mexico has the seventh-highest coronavirus death toll in the world.

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Coronavirus is straining the federal government's bandwidth to deal with organized crime, another senior security official said.

"Coronavirus is the priority right now, no doubt," the official said. "You can feel that."

Nationally, 4,700 National Guard security personnel, out of a total of 90,000, have been tasked with guarding hospitals, medical equipment and health workers, the federal security ministry told Reuters.

The Mexican government did not directly answer a request from Reuters for comment about whether combating coronavirus is holding back the fight against cartels but a senior security ministry official said the government remains focused on its duties.

The official said only a small percentage of the National Guard militarized police force has been reassigned to coronavirus duties and that the majority maintain their crime prevention and combat functions.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said this month that Mexico is "not going to stop responding to and confronting organized crime."

MURDER RATE GROWS

CJNG's push for dominance helped drive homicides rates to an all-time high in the first four months of 2020, dealing a blow to Lopez Obrador. A record 34,582 people were murdered in 2019.

Lopez Obrador this month said about 70% of the homicides this year were cartel-linked.

Mexico has been in lockdown due to the coronavirus since March 23, when it ordered schools, business and government offices to shut.

But drug turf battles pushed murder rates higher in March, when 3,000 homicides were recorded. That was the second-highest monthly tally ever, and the biggest since Lopez Obrador assumed power in Dec. 2018.

The daily murder rate was near-identical in April, government data showed and on June 7, Mexico suffered its most violent day of the year with 117 murders.

"There are shootouts that you can't miss almost daily," said Jose, a student in Aguililla, one of many towns in the state of Michoacan where local cartels are fighting to keep the Jalisco gang out.

CJNG, led by former policeman Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera who has a $10-million U.S. bounty on his head, has faced stiff resistance from smaller gangs in its quest for control of smuggling routes for methaphetamine, heroin and fentanyl to the United States. Last month police in Michoacan found 12 bodies of suspected CJNG members in a truck.

A note draped over the bodies, purportedly signed by The Familia Michoacana cartel, taunted a CJNG regional chief.

Cartels have long fought for the control and drug trafficking routes across the large strip of land known as Tierra Caliente, or "Hot Land" region of western Mexico, encompassing the states of Michoacan, Guerrero and Mexico.

Even before the pandemic, federal and state authority was often absent from rural areas across the region.

"There are areas where the government doesn't enter...and crime groups have total control," said Gregorio Lopez Jeronimo, a Roman Catholic priest better known as "Father Goyo" in the Michoacan town of Apatzingan, part of the Tierra Caliente.

Adding insult to injury, gangs are trying to take over some of the role of government to ease social needs during the pandemic.

In several regions they are lending money to hard-up businesses in areas where people have taken an economic hit due to the shutdown, according to a government document detailed by local newspapers.

Videos of gun-toting fighters from several gangs doling out groceries to impoverished local populations during the lockdown have driven home the government's loss of territorial control.

"The pandemic has completely exposed the gaps in the government's control over certain territories," said Mike Vigil, a former U.S. Drugs Enforcement Administration agent.

"Those voids are being filled, unfortunately, by the drug cartels."

(Reporting by Drazen Jorgic and Uriel Guerrero; additional reporting by Diego Ore; Editing by Alistair Bell)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow will react if Berlin takes new actions against Russia over the killing of a Georgian national in the German capital last year, Russia's ambassador to Germany said on Thursday, Interfax news agency reported.

Ambassador Sergei Nechayev, who was summoned by the German Foreign Ministry over the case on Thursday, said accusations that Russia had ordered the killing of the man, a former Chechen rebel, were groundless and were not supported by the evidence, Russian news agencies reported.

(Reporting by Andrey Ostroukh; Editing by Gareth Jones)
For Francis, we often go to him only in times of need to ask for help. But God sees further and invites us to go further, to seek not only his gifts but [also] Him. Above all, the most important thing in life is to make life a gift.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  During the Angelus, Pope Francis spoke of life as a gift and called on the faithful to entrust their lives to Jesus, as Peter did.

On the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, patrons of Rome, the pontiff said that "The most important thing in life is to make life a gift", to give it, as Peter did. The latter "did not become a hero for being released from prison, but for giving his life here. His gift transformed a place of executions into the beautiful place of hope in which we find ourselves today.

Here is what we must ask God: [Give us] not only the grace of the moment, but [also] the grace of life. This applies to everyone: parents towards children and children towards their elderly parents. What comes to mind is the many elderly people left alone by their family like waste material. The loneliness of the elderly is a tragedy of our times.

In today's Liturgy, Francis said, we read that Peter was arrested, was in prison, and the Church, fearing for his life, prayed incessantly for him. Then an angel came down to release him from prison (cf Acts 12:1-11). Years later, when Peter was a prisoner in Rome, the Church certainly prayed, but on that occasion, his life was not spared. Why was he freed from trial a first time, but not later? Because there is a path in Peters life, which can illuminate the path of our life.

The Lord granted him many graces and freed him from evil. He does the same with us as well. However, we often go to him only in times of need to ask for help. But God sees further and invites us to go further, to seek not only his gifts, but [also] Him who is the lord of all gifts, to entrust him not only with problems, but [also] with life. Thus, he can finally give us the greatest grace, that of giving life. Yes, the most important thing in life is to make life a gift. And this applies to everyone.

"Today, before the Apostles, we can ask ourselves: How do I prepare life? Do I think only of the needs of the moment or do I believe that Jesus is my real need, the one who makes me into a gift? And how do I build life? On my abilities or on the living God? May Our Lady, who entrusted herself entirely to God, help us place him at the base of each day.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Thursday it was already preparing for a new wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the autumn, after officials reported their lowest daily rise in new infections since May 1.

Russia has rapidly eased its lockdown restrictions in the past fortnight as it has reported a gradual decline in daily new infections, from a peak of 11,656 on May 11.

On Thursday, officials confirmed 7,790 new cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the nationwide tally to 561,091, as well as 182 deaths that brought the death toll to 7,660.

Speaking at a government meeting on state television, Anna Popova, the head of the state consumer health watchdog, said she hoped the outbreak would continue to recede this summer but that Russia must be ready it for to worsen.

"... the risks that this epidemic will return to growth and development in autumn are fairly high, we are currently preparing for that," she said.

Kremlin critics have accused the authorities of lifting restrictions too fast to pave the way for a nationwide vote on reforms that would allow President Vladimir Putin run twice more for president after his current term ends in 2024.

The Kremlin has denied the decision to allow the vote to take place was politically motivated.

Residents of Moscow, Russia's worse-hit region, were allowed this week to visit museums and restaurant terraces for the first time in more than two months.

The city is also preparing to hold a grand military parade in Moscow on June 24 to commemorate the Soviet World War Two victory.

(Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov; additional reporting by Alex Marrow; Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Alex Richardson)
The management of Air France has announced that it will be presenting its reorientation strategy for the survival of the company to aviation industry unions on 3 July.

Next month's exceptional general meeting will also address the consequences for jobs within the company, following the collapse of the aviation sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Employees are waiting to hear exactly how many job losses there will be within the Air France-KLM group.

A similar meeting regarding the future of Air Frances regional airline Hop! is also due to take place on 3 July. The groups short distance carrier is also expected to be hard hit by the restructuring plan.

According to unions, several thousand jobs are on the line, but most of the redundancies are expected to be voluntary, in the form of contractual terminations that will be negotiated by Air France personnel.

Meanwhile, Frances minister for finance, Bruno Le Maire has called on Air France not to initiate "forced" departures as part of its "transformation plan", saying that that would be crossing a "red line".

Neither Air France, nor Mr.Le Maire would confirm that the job losses could amount to between 8,000 and 10,000 redundancies, which accounts for between 15% to 20% of employees - figures that have been tallied by the economics daily Les Echos.

Air France director general Benjamin Smith announced at the end of last month that a plan to reduce internal flights by 40% would be put in place between now and the end of 2021, along with the closure of several destinations when there is a rail alternative within 2 hours 30 minutes and when this service does not reach the Roissy-Charles-De-Gaulle hub.

The decision to restructure Frances national carrier was made after the French government granted Air France a financial rescue package of 7 billion euros, including 4 billion bank loans guaranteed 90% by the State and 3 billion direct loans.

Following the bailout, Air France was told to improve its profitability and its environmental impact, and to start rethinking its regional network in France.
Donald Trump pleaded with China's leader Xi Jinping for help to win re-election in 2020, the US president's former aide John Bolton writes in an explosive new book, according to excerpts published Wednesday. In a meeting with Xi last June, Trump "stunningly turned the conversation to the US presidential election, alluding to China's economic capability to affect the ongoing campaigns, pleading with Xi to ensure he'd win," former national security advisor Bolton claims in his upcoming tell-all. In excerpts published by The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, Bolton writes that Trump stressed the importance of America's farmers and how "increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat" could impact the electoral outcome in the United States. "I would print Trump's exact words but the government's prepublication review process has decided otherwise," Bolton said, referring to the requirement that he have his manuscript vetted months ago by US agencies. He also described multiple episodes of behavior by Trump that Bolton said "looked like obstruction of justice as a way of life, which we couldn't accept," according to the excerpts. The bombshell revelations come months after Trump's impeachment in the House and subsequent Senate acquittal, and in the thick of a presidential race against his Democratic rival Joe Biden. Bolton, long a controversial conservative figure in US politics, spent 17 turbulent months in the White House before resigning last September. He declined to testify during the House impeachment process last December, saying he only would if compelled by a judge. After Trump's impeachment, Bolton said in January he would testify before the Senate trial if he was issued a subpoena, but the chamber's Republicans blocked such an effort by Democrats. Bolton did not explicitly say whether Trump's newly revealed actions amounted to impeachable conduct, but he said he told Attorney General Bill Barr about them and that they should have been investigated by the House. He also said Democrats committed "impeachment malpractice" by limiting their inquiry to Trump's dealings with Ukraine. The president is accused of pressuring Kiev in order to gain dirt on his Democratic rivals. "Had the House not focused solely on the Ukraine aspects of Trump's confusion of his personal interests," Bolton writes, "there might have been a greater chance to persuade others that 'high crimes and misdemeanors' had been perpetrated."
The fate of the U.S. shale industry seems to be doomed, at least in the near term, with industry players projected to write down the value of their assets by a whopping $300 billion, per a recent estimate by Deloitte. The firm expects the industry to witness notable resource impairments and asset write-offs during the second quarter of 2020, which, in the worst case scenario, might lead to a wave of bankruptcies.

Such estimated impairment charges cloud the industry's growth prospects. On top of that, with debt level staying the same, its the industrys leverage ratio, which is going to shoot up in the near future. The Deloitte report has found 30% of shale operators being technically insolvent with oil prices at $35, while 20% are stressed financially.

Reasons Behind the Industrys Fall

Thanks to the inelastic demand for petroleum, backed by rapidly increasing transportation, construction, power generation and travelling activities, the U.S. shale industry has been booming over the past few years. Nevertheless, this boom seems to have been only in terms of oil production growth and not in terms of cash generation. Notably, tight oil production more than doubled over the past five to six years. However, the industry experienced over $450 billion of invested capital impairment and lost $300 billion in net cash flow over the past 15 years.

One of the primary headwinds affecting this industrys players is oil price war among producers. Even as the industry was coping with this headwind, the novel coronavirus outbreak hit hard and changed the entire dynamics. Starting from March 2020, oil demand started to sink rapidly as stringent lockdowns were imposed and regular economic activities were stalled. Consequently, oil prices tumbled significantly and reached its worst, causing West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude to plunge into negative territory for the first time, owing to repressed demand and lack of oil storage. Adding to the woes of the industry, along with the price fall came significant production cuts. According to data from Genscape, oil price crash led to at least 1.5 million bpd of production shut-ins between the beginning of April and late May.

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Stocks to Watch

With the U.S. shale industry having witnessed over 190 bankruptcies since 2010, we focus on the following oil stocks that have either reportedly filed for bankruptcy or are expected to do so going forward. Since their 2020 sales and earnings estimates indicated dismal performance, prudent investors need to exercise caution while keeping them in their portfolio.

Whiting Petroleum Corporation WLL: Denver, CO-based Whiting Petroleum Corporation is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas properties in the United States. It filed for bankruptcy on Apr 1, making it the first U.S. shale producer to go for insolvency. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2020 sales indicates decline of 43.9%, while that for earnings indicates a plunge of 386.1%.

Extraction OG XOGAQ: Denver-based Extraction Oil& Gas is focused on the acquisition, development and production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids reserves. In mid-June, it filed for bankruptcy. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 sales implies decline of 29.4%, while that for earnings indicates a drop of 93.5%.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. CHK: Oklahoma City, OK based Chesapeake Energy is primarily an oil, natural gas and NGL exploration and production company. Per major media resources, this shale pioneer is preparing for a potential bankruptcy filing, after reporting a loss of $8.3 billion in the first quarter and skipping interest payments of $13.5 million, according to SEC filings. The consensus estimate for 2020 sales suggests decline of 18.4%, while that for earnings indicates decline of 43.8%.

California Resources Corporation CRC: Los Angeles-based California Resources is engaged in exploration and production of oil and gas. The company is talking with lenders for a financing package of up to $600 million to carry its operations through a planned bankruptcy proceeding, after it failed to make a $30 million interest payment, the Wall Street Journal reported. The consensus estimate for its 2020 sales indicates decline of 36.1%, while that for earnings indicates a plunge of 885.7%.

Recovery in sight?

U.S. oil price has been ticking up a little bit over the past few days and so has been oil production. Still considering the fact that COVID-19 is here to stay for a while, along with its resultant economic turmoil, a stark rebound in the U.S. shale industry will be hard to achieve any time soon. Analysts at Enverus and IHS Markit told Bloomberg that production will likely take until at least 2023 to return to the pre-oil price crash levels.

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Wirecard scrambles to find missing 1.9 billion as loan crunch looms FILE PHOTO: The headquarters of Wirecard AG is seen in Aschheim near Munich

By Douglas Busvine and Patricia Uhlig

BERLIN (Reuters) - Wirecard's auditor has refused to sign off its 2019 accounts over a missing 1.9 billion euros (1.7 billion), sending its shares down more than 60% as the German payments firm said the delay could cause billions in loans to be called in as soon as Friday.

EY was unable to confirm the existence of 1.9 billion euros in cash balances on trust accounts, representing around a quarter of its balance sheet, Wirecard said, adding that there was evidence of "spurious balance confirmations".

Chief Executive Markus Braun said in Thursday's statement that Wirecard <WDIG.DE>, which was founded in 1999, was urgently seeking to clarify the balances in question.

"It is currently unclear whether fraudulent transactions to the detriment of Wirecard AG have occurred. Wirecard AG will file a complaint against unknown persons," Braun said.

Wirecard later added that it had appointed James Freis as management board for compliance, replacing board member Jan Marsalek with immediate effect.

The firm also warned that a failure to provide certified annual and consolidated statements by Friday would allow approximately 2 billion euros in loans to be terminated.

In-house auditor EY had regularly approved Wirecard's accounts in recent years, and its refusal to sign off for 2019 confirms failings found in an external probe by KPMG in April.

Thursday's twist is a stark reversal of fortune for the Munich-based fintech, which was lauded as a homegrown success and propelled into Germany's blue-chip DAX index in 2018 at the expense of Commerzbank.

Wirecard has long been a target of short sellers who have questioned its financials and "shorted" its stock, which fell by 60% in Frankfurt, wiping 8 billion euros off its market value.

"We are stunned," Ingo Speich, head of corporate governance at $350 billion fund manager Deka Investment, which owns Wirecard stock, said, while calling for a change at the top.

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"A new start is now more urgent than ever. We hope that the market's loss of confidence will not have an impact on its business operations," Speich said.

Bondholders were also rattled, with its 500 million euro bond due in 2024 <DE000A2YNQ58> down by more than 40 cents and last bid at 37 cents on the euro, Tradeweb data showed.

'ACT DECISIVELY'

Wirecard had already delayed its annual report after the KPMG report, which addressed allegations of fraud and false accounting in a series of Financial Times reports.

In the most serious finding, covering the years 2016-18, KPMG said it had been unable to verify the existence of 1 billion euros in revenue Wirecard booked through three obscure third-party acquiring partners.

Activist investors, led by British fund manager Chris Hohn, seized on the KPMG audit to demand the departure of Braun, who owns a 7% stake in Wirecard. Hohn then filed a criminal complaint with the Munich prosecutor.

German financial watchdog Bafin, which previously suspected short sellers of colluding to manipulate Wirecard's share price, has shifted its attention to the company.

Prosecutors raided Wirecard's headquarters in a Munich suburb on June 5 and opened proceedings against management as part of the probe initiated by Bafin. A spokesperson said it would investigate the latest delay to results.

Wirecard has said it was cooperating with the investigation and the allegations against it were unfounded.

"Today is a partial vindication for myself and other critics," said Fraser Perring, co-author of a bearish report on Wirecard by Zatarra Research in 2016.

"The prosecutors need to act decisively to make those at fault accountable."

(Additional reporting by Thyagaraju Adinarayan and Yoruk Bahceli in London, John O'Donnell in Frankfurt and Joern Poltz in Munich; Editing by Mark Potter, Keith Weir and Alexander Smith)
For the second year in a row, three University of North Georgia (UNG) students have received the Department of Defense (DOD) Cyber Scholarship. Two have received the honor for the second time, while one is a new recipient.

Dating back to 2018-19, when UNG had two recipients, the school's students have received eight DOD Cyber Scholarships in a three-year span.

A total of 186 students nationwide were awarded these scholarships for 2020-21. Recipients receive funding for one year that covers tuition, fees and books. They also receive a $25,000 stipend for a laptop and living expenses.

The scholarship pays for an internship and guarantees a job upon graduation. The DOD Cyber Scholarship is "designed to encourage the recruitment of the nation's top cyber talent and the retention of DOD personnel who have skills necessary to meet DOD's cyber requirements and help secure our nation against threats of information systems and networks," according to the DOD website.

Dr. Bryson Payne, professor of computer science in the Mike Cottrell College of Business and director of UNG's Center for Cyber Operations Education, is the principal investigator for the DOD Cyber Scholarship at UNG.

"This really is a life-changing scholarship. It invests in people who want to work in federal cybersecurity service and who want to make a difference in cybersecurity," Payne said. "They can focus on sharpening their cyber skills. It makes them better cyber employees, and it helps them be able to do more extracurricular activities and be more well-rounded students."

Because of the National Security Agency's (NSA) security requirements, the recipients' names are not released. Payne was allowed to release general facts about the scholars. They are:

A senior pursuing a degree in cybersecurity with a minor in business administration.

A senior pursuing a degree in computer science with a concentration in information assurance and security.

A senior pursuing degrees in cybersecurity and computer science with a concentration in information assurance and security.

"Receiving this scholarship again means so much to me. It has opened the door to an opportunity that I couldn't imagine when I started college," said one of the repeat recipients, a young woman from Gainesville, Georgia. "I couldn't believe that I had received the scholarship once, and definitely not twice. I feel proud knowing that my hard work is finally paying off."

Two juniors and one senior from UNG received the scholarship in 2019-20, which was higher than the 1.4 average of recipients per school with recipients. UNG made its mark again with three more scholarships awarded this year.

Recognized by the NSA and Department of Homeland Security, UNG is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.

Dr. Tamirat Abegaz, assistant professor of cybersecurity, said UNG's continued success at receiving the DOD Cyber Scholarships helps other students realize they can compete for such opportunities.

"We have a track record that our students apply and get the scholarship and internships," Abegaz said.

Upon graduation, the students work for the DOD for a year. For more information on how to apply when the application process begins in January 2021, contact Payne at bryson.payne@ung.edu or visit UNG's DOD Cyber Scholarship page.

"Going into the third year of DOD Cyber Scholarship program, we're grateful to the NSA for the opportunity to support our students with real-world experiences that will make them better cyber defenders," Payne said.
After years of courting closer economic ties with China, the European Union is ratcheting up its rhetoric against Beijings heavy-handed approach to the economy and human rights, with many officials describing what they once saw hopefully as a partnership as more of a rivalry. Foreign Policy reports in its article How Europe Fell Out of Love With China that relations between Europe and China got frostier this week, after a long-delayed leaders summit ended with no joint communique and prompted tough talk from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

For years, much as the United States did in the past, Europe has sought to nudge China to make reforms in how it trades and does business but has nothing to show for it. Now, European officials openly talk of China as a rival that needs to start making changesor face increasing restrictions from Beijings biggest trading partner.

We are committed to making swift and substantial progress, said von der Leyen after the summit, ticking off a litany of unfulfilled Chinese promises on trade, investment, industrial subsidies, climate change, and human rights. We count on the Chinese leadership to match our level of ambition.

This weeks summit, and the increasingly terse tone taken by top European leaders, follows a spate of new EU initiatives meant to curb Beijings worst excesses. Last week, the EU unveiled a new scheme meant to fight back against Chinas use of state subsidies to give its firms an unfair advantage against European rivals; this fall, a long-planned investment screening mechanism meant to shield key European firms and industries from predatory acquisitions will finally be implemented. Both, while nominally directed at all non-EU countries, aim squarely at China.

Taken together, it gives the impression that the EU wants to show that it is time for a change, time for a recalibration of the relationship, and that it is time for China to give more, said Frans-Paul van der Putten, an expert on China at the Clingendael Institute, a think tank in the Netherlands.

If many of Europes complaints about China sound familiar to those levied by U.S. officials including President Donald Trump in recent years, thats because they are. But theres one big difference, for now, in Europes reaction to China that still sets it apart from Trumps scorched-earth approach.

Europe is much more concerned about China, and there is a much greater sense of urgency that something needs to happen, van der Putten said. But there is still a very strong conviction in Europe that there is no future without Chinawe are not going to decouple or have an economic disengagement. You dont see that in the European mindset.

For much of the past decade, Europe and China were growing increasingly intertwined economically. Two-way trade in goods and services has grown over the last decade by about 60 percent, to more than half a trillion euros annually. Britain, when it was still part of the EU, literally rolled out the red carpet for Chinese investment, and for the past five years sought to ingratiate itself with Beijing, until starting to reverse course this year. In other parts of Europe, big Chinese investment in ports, railroads, telecommunications, and the power grid offered countries like Greece, Italy, and Portugal much-needed investmentand China a measure of influence inside the now 27-nation bloc. Italy even formally signed on to Chinas trillion-dollar Belt and Road program of infrastructure investment and even at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has sought to deepen its relationship with Beijing.

But that very deepening of the economic ties between the two also bred suspicion and concern that China was snapping up some of Europes crown jewels. Leaders in France and Germany, in particular, worried that Chinese acquisitions of key companies could undermine national security. Countries across the EU have been torn over whether and how much to allow Chinas Huawei to participate in the development of advanced, fifth-generation mobile phone networks. The just-unveiled EU plan to treat foreign industrial subsidies with the same strict rules as the bloc applies internally for illegal state aid is just the latest sign that Chinas state-led economic model has tried Europes patience too much.

What China didnt understand is that by launching national champions and throwing state money at them, that created a lot of hostility all over the world but in Europe in particularGerman and French companies feel that they are facing some very unfair competition, said Philippe Le Corre, an expert on China and Europe at the Harvard Kennedy School. The new anti-subsidies measure, he said, really says a lot about the shifts in the mood in Europe and the fact that the commission is translating that into action.

If Europe showed more spine this week, it has been a long time stiffening. Previous EU leaders, for example, launched the investment-screening measure to try to limit Chinas ability to snap up critical European firms; this fall, the new mechanism will finally be in place. Likewise, Europes new foreign-policy chief, Josep Borrell, speaks unabashedly of China as a rival to Europe, sharpening the rhetorical confrontation with Beijing that has been steadily building in recent years.
Writers, poets and composers devoted many works to the events in the Azerbaijani city of Khojaly in 1992, when 613 civilians were killed by Armenian nationalists, 487 people were critically injured, while more than 150 people, including women and children, remain missing to date. One of the most heart-wrenching works about the Khojaly tragedy was Abuzar Manafzade's music.

Manafzade, composer, pianist and conductor, laureate of international competitions, is the first Azerbaijani graduating from the conductor's department of the University of Music and Performing Arts of Vienna, one of the world's most renowned music universities, at the same time earning a master's degree in piano at Anton Bruckner Private University in the city of Linz.

Manafzade's music takes us almost three decades ago, when the Armenian nationalists, with the support of the 366th motorized rifle regiment, attacked Khojaly, encircled the town and after a powerful artillery bombardment captured it destroyed and burst into fire. In one night Khojaly was razed to the ground. Locals, saving themselves from dying, were forced to flee to the mountains. Unarmed people were shot. Children and the elderly froze in the mountains, many went missing. It was real genocide, carried out with particular cruelty. Many of the victims were burned alive, heads of some people were chopped off, eyes were gouged out, and their ears were cut off. Traces of violence were found on the bodies of pregnant women. No matter how many years have passed, it is impossible to close this tragic page.

The culprits of the genocide against the Azerbaijani people in Khojaly, not only have they not been punished, but later occupied high positions.



The memories of the Khojaly events is important not only for Azerbaijan, but for the whole world. The peoples must know the consequences of frenzied nationalism and intolerance. The executive and legislative bodies of 22 U.S. states, the parliaments of Scotland, Jordan, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Serbia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Paraguay, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Honduras, Sudan, Guatemala, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation recognized the Khojaly tragedy as genocide and condemned it.

Despite the occupation and the presence of more than a million IDPs, Azerbaijan is committed to a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Ending the occupation and returning Azerbaijanis to their homes could be a decisive factor in creating mutual trust between the parties to the conflict, but most importantly, such tragedies should never be repeated, that monstrous acts of genocide and extermination on ethnic grounds would never be committed against any people.
The Georgian Parliament has approved today the draft constitutional amendments on the electoral system in the third hearing.

The Parliament endorsed constitutional amendments with 117 votes in favor and 3 opposed in a third and final round of voting on June 29, clearing the way for reforming the electoral system in the run-up to the parliamentary polls due in October, civil.ge reported.



Opposition lawmakers from United National Movement and European Georgia parties boycotted the vote.



The freshly-approved amendments will introduce a parliamentary composition based on 120 proportional and 30 majoritarian seats, and fix the election threshold at 1% of votes.



The draft amendments also stipulate the so-called 40% locking mechanism. Particularly, the party which receives less than 40.54% votes under the proportional system, will not be able to form an independent majoritarian government.



The National Movement and European Georgia factions refused to take part, claiming that the March 8 A agreement between the government and the opposition on the electoral system has not been fully fulfilled, as one of the leaders of the opposition Giorgi Rurua still remains in custody.



On March 8, 2020, the opposition and the government agreed on the electoral system. However, the opposition claimed that part of the agreement was to release political prisoners.



Two leaders of the opposition, former Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava and former Minister of Defense Irakli Okruashvili were released from custody on May 15, after being pardoned by the President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili. Giorgi Rurua, the founder and shareholder of the opposition-minded Mtavari Arkhi TV, still remains in custody, while the opposition claims that he is a "political prisoner" and demands his release "as part of the March 8 Agreement between the parties."
by Biju Veticad

It is among the oldest churches in India, with 5 million faithful, 34 dioceses, 8500 priests, 32 religious. Bishops and priests are suffering heavy attacks from inside and outside the Church. Dead who are reported as suicides; corruption charges against Card. Alencherry. The strength of this Church, its schools and hospitals, make it a target for criticism. The need for reform.

Cochin (AsiaNews) - The Syro-Malabar Church, among the oldest churches in India, dating back to the apostle Thomas (according to tradition), is a vital and growing community, although for some years it has been targeted by serious criticism both from inside and outside of the Church.

The Syro-Malabar Church is the second largest Eastern Catholic Church (after the Ukrainian Church) in terms of numbers, with 5 million faithful. Since 2004 it has been a "Sui iuris" Church: the Holy See has guaranteed it full administrative powers, including the power to elect bishops and to take care of the pastoral ministry of its faithful throughout the world. In fact, of the 34 dioceses of the Church, only 18 are in the state of Kerala, the original founding place; the rest are in other indian states (13) or abroad, founded for the faithful who emigrated to other countries: the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand. For other countries in Europe, there is an apostolic Visitor who lives in Rome.

The Church has more than 8,500 priests and 32,000 religious. On June 18, despite many limitations due to Covid-19, the 62nd Syro-Malabar bishop was consecrated in the person of Msgr Peter Kochupurackal (photo 2). He is now the auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Palaghat (Kerala).

Despite this long tradition that is linked to the arrival of St. Thomas the apostle in the year 52, this Eastern Church - bishops, priests and nuns - is suffering serious attacks from inside and outside the Church.

Since the start of 2018, Card. Alencherry (photo 3), who is the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly and President of the Syro-Malabar Synod, has been accused of corruption in selling some lands of his archdiocese. It is now clear that the sales were arranged by his collaborators and that he gave the final signature to allow the sale. However, his own priests turned on him even organizing demonstrations against the cardinal. As supreme head of the Syro-Malabar Church, petitions were even sent to the Vatican, which the Holy See subsequentley resolved. But the civil cases continue.

Some deaths have also fomented anger. Recently, on May 7, the novice Divya P. John was found dead in a seminary well near Thiruvalla. There were rumors of suicide. In the same period and in exactly the same way - in a well for drinking water - the body was found of Fr. George Ettuparayil in his parish in Punnathra (Kerala). In itself the death of Fr. George is due to a fire in the parish in which four people died. But for media TV and social media talk of suicide persist and the higher authorities are discussed and accused of not listening to the priest, who encountered many difficulties in accepting the assignment to the parish.

Fr Noble Parackal, spokesman for the diocese of Manathawady and writer, explained to AsiaNews that the public often does not seek "the truth" and stop at criticism. It should also be noted that part of these criticisms emerge for the fact that the Syro-Malabar Church is solidly established in Kerala and this generates envy or tension.

In any case, he says, unfounded and unmotivated charges are always disproportionate.

He believes that bishops and priests are continually criticized due in particular to the great influence that these people have in educational and charitable institutions: the Syro-Malabar Church manages 4860 schools; 2614 charitable and health institutions, as well as hundreds of highly organized parishes.

Fr. Parackal points out that in any case, it is time for the Syro-Malabar Church to carry out structural and qualitative reforms. The first commitment should be a greater unity of the Synod. An example: each bishop of the Syro-Malabar Synod has decided to set up the liturgy in his diocese either following the ancient rite, or with "Latinizing" reforms, but they have not reached a "harmonious" decision. In this way, the hierarchy risks not witnessing the Gospel to the faithful.
Four gunmen attacked the Pakistani Stock Exchange building in the city of Karachi on Monday but security forces soon killed them all, police said.



Two other people were also killed, the military said.



The gunmen attacked the building, which is in a high security zone that also houses the head offices of many private banks, with grenades and guns, Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said.



"Four attackers have been killed, they had come in a silver Corolla car," Reuters cited Memon as saying.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Pakistan has long been plagued by Islamist militant violence but attacks have become less frequent in recent years.



The gunmen initially threw a grenade then opened fire on a security post outside the building. The four were killed when security forces posted there responded.



"The situation is still unfolding and management, with the help of security forces, is managing the security and controlling the situation," the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) said on Twitter.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is convinced the country will get over the coronavirus-triggered crisis with minimal losses.



"I think Russia will be able to get over everything, to cope with everything and survive. The question is the price of it," he said in an interview with the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin program on the Rossiya-1 television channel on Sunday when asked whether Russia could have withstood such a crisis should it happen twenty years ago.

According to the Russian head of state, the countrys authorities have generally managed to protect the populations from the coronavirus infection. He noted that although in terms of the overall number of coronavirus cases Russia is the third in the world but can boast one of the lowest death toll.

"So far, thank God, it is so. I hope it will continue like that or even better, since the situation is improving," Putin sressed.
Iran's Foreign Minister Zarif will deliver a speech at UN Security Council session about Resolution 2231 on Tuesday through a video conference, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said

"Iranian FM held two video conference with his Chinese and Omani counterparts on issues of mutual interest in previous days," the Mehr news agency cited the spokesman as saying.

He is scheduled to talk with his Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani through a video conference today," Mousavi noted.
ASEAN and all member states must collaborate to establish a better tax policy system to build sustainability and resilience across the region, found a report launched on Thursday in Ha Noi.

Nguyen Duc Thanh, VEPRs Chief Advisor, speaking at the launch of the report Towards Sustainable Tax Policies in the ASEAN Region. Photo VEPR

The report 'Towards Sustainable Tax Policies in the ASEAN Region: the Case of Corporate Tax Incentives' by the Viet Nam Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR), Oxfam, Tax and Fiscal Justice Asia (TAFJA), the PRAKARSA and Viet Nam Tax Justice Alliance (VATJ) proposed solutions for ASEAN to improve policies and actions for increasing domestic revenue to fund public goods.

With ASEAN suffering from unprecedented economic inequality, the region has struggled to invest sufficiently in public goods due to a lack of tax revenue. Raising revenue was critical to overcoming interrelated challenges like high levels of poverty, widening inequality and the climate crisis while recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the report found.

The report cited statistics that 11 per cent of ASEAN's 653.9 million people struggled in poverty well before COVID-19 and this number might go up rapidly with economic activities slowing and recovery a long way away.

The governments were handicapped in spending on public wellbeing, and all ASEAN countries would likely face budget deficits in 2020 at an average of 4.2 per cent of GDP, compared to the average budget deficit of 1.5 per cent of GDP in 2018.

Some countries were also heavily indebted. With escalating spending to battle the pandemic, its economic fallout, and falling tax revenues due to crippled productivity, deficits and debt were likely to keep mounting, according to the report.

The report pointed out that in ASEAN, revenue collection levels as a ratio to GDP remained very low in comparison to other regions. In 2018, the ASEAN average was 19.1 per cent of GDP, less than half of that of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and lower than the average of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Now, more than ever, ASEAN and the member states must collaborate and agree upon a common minimum standard for corporate tax incentives in the region. They need to prevent harmful tax practices that drain essential public revenue and create self-destructive competition among members, Nguyen Duc Thanh, VEPRs Chief Advisor, said.

The tax incentives have helped big corporations to prosper at the expense of Asian people. This must come to an end. ASEAN must blacklist - draw a line - and say no to harmful tax incentives which drastically deplete much needed national revenues. If any incentives are to be allowed, they must only be meaningful investments that benefit the people, with no exceptions, Thanh stressed.

Countries in ASEAN were still highly dependent on revenue from corporate income tax (CIT). However, they were giving up huge amounts of revenue by offering large tax incentives to foreign investors and were losing a significant amount of potential tax revenue, about 6 per cent of GDP in Cambodia and 1 per cent of GDP in Viet Nam.

Of note, countries in the ASEAN region were competing with one another in a disastrous race to the bottom by reducing their CIT rates and offering aggressive tax incentives to foreign multinationals.

The report pointed out that across the region, the average CIT rate had fallen over the last 10 years, from 25.1 per cent in 2010 to 21.7 per cent in 2020. Taking into account tax holidays of up to 20 years and other enormous profit-based incentives offered to multinationals by some countries, the effective corporate tax rate is on average 9.4 percentage points lower.

ASEAN countries with similar economies often compete with each other by offering greater incentives than their peers in order to attract investments from multinationals, rather than coordinating their actions to secure collective gains. The process of shifting production from China to the ASEAN region may worsen this competition between countries, as they seek to attract FDI inflows to further their own interests in boosting economic development, without seeing the wider regional picture, the report wrote.

Tax incentives tend to create an unfair investment environment for small and medium-sized local companies. In Viet Nam, the effective CIT rate for foreign companies in the manufacturing sector in 2016 was 8 per cent but for domestic companies, it was 14.5 per cent, and it was even higher for large State-owned enterprises at 16 per cent.

ASEAN member states need to collaborate and discard 'beggar-thy-neighbour' tax policies, including race-to-the-bottom tax incentives that translate into lost revenues which have left poorer countries and people struggling to make ends meet," Ah Maftuchan, Co-coordinator of TAFJA said.

According to the report, the region needs to set up a blacklist of tax incentives to phase them out across the region. They should agree on a whitelist of tax incentives that are acceptable and allowed. A transparent and accountable mechanism should be put in place at the ASEAN level to monitor developments in tax policy and to decide which incentives should be blacklisted or whitelisted.

Besides, ASEAN need to agree on a common minimum tax standard. The appropriate rate may range from 12.5 per cent to 20 per cent to protect countries domestic tax revenues and stop the beggar-thy-neighbour approach to policy making.

Finally, ASEAN need to agree on rules for the good governance of tax incentives.  VNS
The government of Vietnam needs to improve the business environment and transport infrastructure, in addition to simplifying administrative procedures, to attract the expected new FDI 'wave'.

Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh believes that Vietnam is in the right position to receive FDI flow in during the relocation trend.





However, Vinh said there will be both high- and low-quality investment capital, and Vietnam needs, for the sake of national interests, to choose high-quality and sustainable investments, especially from the US, European and Japanese investors.



Foreign investors are seeking non-China markets to make investment to diversify

supply chains. Vietnam, which is near China and has a favorable investment environment, can have less costs.



However, according to Vinh, there is no single country which can absorb all the investment capital to be relocated from China, the second largest economy in the world with 1.4 billion people, accounting for 20 percent of global trade.



Vinh said Vietnam needs to prepare infrastructure, policies and the labor force. Foreign investors will come only if they can see favorable conditions.



There are many other Vietnams competing to receive FDI. Be prepared well and give specific offers to investors to attract investments from the US, Europe and Japan, Vinh said.

Vietnam not only wants to become the supplier of products and materials, but also an important link in the global supply chain. This will be the basis for determining capital sources, technologies, and production or supply segments that Vietnam should strive for.

Vietnam not only wants to become the supplier of products and materials, but also an important link in the global supply chain. This will be the basis for determining capital sources, technologies, and production or supply segments that Vietnam should strive for.

Jacques Morisset, World Bank's chief economist in Vietnam, at the event organized on the occasion of the launching of the report Vibrant Vietnam: Forging the Foundation of a High-Income Economy commented that the shocks caused by Covid-19 have made global enterprises realize the need to diversify supply chains.

Vietnam has successfully attracted multi-national groups in recent years and the bustling M&A deals show that foreign investors have interest in the domestic Vietnamese market.



I believe that the wave of multi-national companies flocking to Vietnam will continue for many years, Morisset commented.



Le Hoai Quoc, chair of the HCM City Automation Association, said that the US government's giving priority to Vietnam in its strategy to develop supply chains will help Vietnam attract FDI.



However, Vietnam has weak points, especially in supporting industries and transport infrastructure. It needs to attract investments by improving the business environment, infrastructure, and administrative formalities.

Mai Lan

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,
A 100-ha hi-tech agricultural zone is scheduled to be built in the central highlands province of Gia Lai to develop breeding pigs and produce organic cattle feed and fertiliser.

A conference was held on June 24 to discuss the development of a 100-ha hi-tech agricultural zone in Gia Lai.

Authorities in Gia Lai authority spoke about the zone with its developers at a conference held by the province on June 24.

Accordingly, the DHN hi-tech agricultural zone would be developed by the Netherlands-based De Heus in Asia and the Hung Nhon Group of Viet Nam with an estimated investment capital of VND1.03 trillion (US$44.4 million).

It will apply advanced technology in pig farming and slaughter and the production of organic cattle feed and fertiliser that meets international standards.

Speaking at the conference, Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Vo Ngoc Thanh vowed to provide favourable conditions for the development of the project.

De Heus and Hung Nhon aim to expand pig farming across five central highlands provinces over the next five to ten years.

Following Gia Lai, the two groups will develop breeding pig projects in Dak, Kon Tum, and Lam Dong provinces.

These projects are hoped to turn the Central Highlands into a leading hub of breeding pig farming in Southeast Asia and Asia.

In 2019, De Heus Group and Hung Nhon Group signed a memorandum of understanding with the People's Committee of Dak Lak Province on investing in a complex of hi-tech agricultural zones in Dak Lak.

Now, the project is being developed as planned. It is expected to supply clean and high-quality pigs to the domestic market at the end of 2021.  VNS
Coffee prices in the Central Highlands and the south are predicted to continue to slide downward as prices have fallen globally.

The Robusta price in London with delivery in July 2020 was traded at $1,134 per ton on the same day, which meant a decrease of $16 per ton (1,39 percent).





Coffee beans were traded at VND30,400-30,900 per kilogram in the Central Highlands and southern region, which represented a decrease of VND700-800 per kilogram compared with one week before (June 12) and decrease of VND200-400 per kilogram compared with May.



In Bao Loc district, coffee was traded at VND30,400 per kilogram, the same as in Di Linh and Lam Ha districts. The price was higher in Cu Mgar, Ea Hleo and Buon Ho districts of Dak Lak province, at VND30,900 per kilogram.



In Kon Tum province, the price hovered around VND30,700 per kilogram. In HCM City, R1 coffee with delivery at ports was around VND33,000 per kilogram.

Coffee prices in the Central Highlands and the south are predicted to continue to slide downward as prices have fallen globally.

Prior to that, farmers witnessed a black day March 28, when the price fell out of the VND30,000 per kilogram threshold, selling at VND29,700 per kilogram only, a 15-year low, lower than the production cost of VND32,000-33,000 per kilogram.



According to the Vietnam Industry and Trade Information Center, there are few transactions and the situation has lasted one month because farmers had sold nearly all coffee they had before the end of the 2019/2020 crop.



Do Ha Nam, deputy chair of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (Vicofa), president of Intimex Group, said because of the spread of coronavirus in Europe, most coffee processing mills there have had to close. Therefore, most of the orders from Europe have been canceled.



The sharp fall of coffee price has prompted many farmers to fell coffee plants to grow other crops. Analysts warned that this would affect Vietnams coffee industry in the time to come.



The General Department of Customs (GDC) reported that Vietnam exported 63,800 tons of coffee in the first half of June with turnover of $108.08 million. It is expected that the total export amount would reach 127,600 tons in this month. The average export price was $1,680 per ton in May, down by 0.4 percent compared with April 2020, but up 2.4 percent compared with May 2019.



The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has predicted that Brazil would have coffee output of 67.9 million bags this year, while Vietnams output may decrease slightly because of unfavorable weather conditions at the beginning of the crop.



The high global inventory, predicted to reach 42 million bags, is clearly unbeneficial to coffee production countries.

Linh Ha

Wake up and smell the egg coffee A taste of Hanois famed ca phe trung or egg coffee got me out of my comfort zone of a regular black coffee without sugar to try a new treat.
A number of high-tech agricultural projects have been proposed in Hanoi, a trend encouraged by the recent Hanoi investment promotion conference.

Several projects in high-tech agriculture have been proposed in the capital, with more open for financiers

At the Hanoi investment promotion conference on June 27, 2020, Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong confirmed that this is a good chance to pour money into the agricultural sector.

Vietnam's agricultural production has largely met the local demand of 96 million people with enough left to export. In 2019, the agricultural sector gained $40 billion from exports.

Over the last five years, the value of agricultural exports increased by $2 billion per year, which is a rate few countries could reach and has resulted in improving added value in this sector.

66 per cent of Hanoi's total land area (335,000ha) is rural and agricultural land, while transport and logistic infrastructure are also developed, making a welcoming setting for agricultural development.

There are 35 agricultural institutes, 10 universities and colleges related to agriculture in Hanoi. The capital is also the centre for various agriculture products like cow and poultry breeding. Altogether, Hanoi's annual poultry output is about 350 million animals and has strong processing capacity.

"Promoting agricultural investment in Hanoi is a good choice because the demand for high-quality agriculture and agricultural products is increasing, and high-tech, smart, and organic agriculture is a rising good trend for investment," Minister Cuong stated at the conference.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will collaborate with Hanoi People's Committee and other agencies to support businesses to develop agricultural projects in the city, contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.

Some projects calling for investment and proposed by investors in 2016-2020 in Hanoi include:

1. Projects calling for investment in 2016-2018:

Cattle slaughterhouse at Tri Lai village, Dong Thai commune, Ba Vi district on an area of 4ha and total investment VND350 billion ($15.2 million);

Cattle and poultry slaughterhouse in Thang Loi commune, Thuong Tin district on an area of 5ha and total investment VND350 billion ($15.2 million);

Cattle and poultry slaughterhouse in Trach My Loc commune, Phuc Tho district on an area of 10ha and total investment VND400 billion ($17.4 million);

Integrated high-tech orchid nursery and tourism facility in Soc Son district on an area of 120ha and total investment VND5 billion ($217,400);

2. Proposed investment projects for 2020:

Integrated project on agricultural high-tech application to grow and process agricultural products and ecotourism area in My Duc district on an area of 850ha and VND750 billion ($32.6 million) in total investment;

Project on concentrated cattle and poultry slaughterhouse in Dong Cheo, Thanh My commune, Son Tay district on an area of 1ha and VND50 billion ($2.17 million) in total investment;

Agricultural high-tech area in An Thuong and Song Phuong commune, Hoai Duc district on an area of 668ha and VND1 trillion ($43.5 million);

High-tech agricultural area in Hien Ninh commune, Soc Son district on an area of 120ha and VND350 billion ($15.2 million) in total investment;

High-tech agricultural area in Thanh Xuan, Tan Dan commune in Soc Son district on an area of 70ha and VND150 billion ($6.5 million) in total investment;

Integrated project on high-tech agriculture to grow and process agricultural products and ecotourism area in Phuc Tho district on 200ha and VND1.3 trillion ($56.5 million) in total investment;

Quang Lang concentrated slaughterhouse in Phu Xuyen district on an area of 3ha and VND350 billion ($15.2 million) in total investment;

High-tech agricultural production area in Day riverbank, Dong Thap commune, Dan Phuong district on 23.3ha and VND1 trillion ($43.5 million) in total investment;

High-tech agricultural production area in Kim Son commune in Son Tay district on an area of 80ha and VND1.3 trillion ($56.5 million) in total investment;

High-tech agricultural area in Ba Vi district on 300ha and VND100 billion ($4.35 million) in total investment;

Cattle and poultry slaughterhouse in Minh Phu commune, Soc Son district on an area of 10ha and VND400 billion ($17.4 million) in total investment. VIR

Nguyen Huong

Hanoi attracts US$17.6 billion for 229 projects Hanoi is going to present investment certificates for 229 projects with a total value of US$17.6 billion and sign 38 memoranda of understanding worth a combined US$28.6 billion, according to the Tuoi Tre Online website.
Representatives of European organizations explained to Hanoitimes what the future holds for VietnamEU business cooperation on the sidelines of the Hanoi 2020  Investment and Development Cooperation conference on June 27.

Bjorn Koslowski, deputy chief representative of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK):

Bjorn Koslowski.

It really surprised me that the conference has attracted such a huge number of participants. I have never seen many ministers, high representatives of companies, and foreign diplomats in one place. It truly shows the importance of this event and, of course, Hanoi as an attractive investment destination.

For me, the event is a celebration for Hanois achievements over the last few years in terms of reform and promotion of businesses. Moreover, speakers also gave some hints about how to help the city develop further and make the city even more attractive for investors and businesses.

Tax incentives are very important to Vietnam to attract foreign investors, however, the overarching investment environment here in is much more important.

For one, you have many European companies coming to Vietnam because of all the free trade agreements that Vietnam has been a part of, for example the EU  Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which is set to take effect in August.

Second, Vietnam is located in a strategic position right between China and the rest of ASEAN countries, the labor force is very highly qualified, among others.

In my opinion, education is what really important for Vietnam to continue staying ahead of others. For example, we, as foreign firms, would need technical experts, engineers, IT staff to do business here. I think the Vietnamese government has recognized this issue, and the emphasis should be on the development of human resources.

There have been quite investments from Europe, including Germany, to Vietnam. At AHK, we recognized a lot of German investors interests to Vietnam, many are considering to diversify production facilities out of China to serve the whole Asia Pacific and European markets.

Nevertheless, some German firms may hesitate to come to Vietnam as they are not as familiar with the country as with China, or Eastern Europe. But it should change in the next few years, as more and more European investors are satisfied with the quality of the investment environment. So I think this is only a matter of time until we see more investments from European countries to Vietnam, especially as the EVFTA is coming into force.

Ywert Visser, vice chairman of European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (Eurocham):

Ywert Visser.

It is actually very amazing that we have such a conference, especially as many parts of the world are still in lockdown or limited economic-socio conditions because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Here, we have a safe environment and a conference to discuss the investment opportunities and the future of Hanoi.

I have been attending several investment promotions events, including some from Hanoi in previous years, but this one has been the largest so far.

What impressed me the most was the speech of Chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Nguyen Duc Chung, as he talked about the specific targets the local authorities have for the development of Hanoi, and also the targets for the development of e-government and other crucial fields.

Hanoi is also very hard working in ensuring smooth business activities.

For foreign investors, especially from Europe, the most important factors for them in assessing a potential investment destination is the education system, the availability of skilled workforce and infrastructures.

Vietnam pays very strong attention to how it compares with other countries in the region, this is very helpful in improving its business environment. For example, the World Bank has made a lot of assessment in doing business in Vietnam, and the country is very actively working to improve its ranking in the report.

One of the key factors to ensure greater investment capital from European countries is to push for stronger economic cooperation and trade relations with Europe, and the EVFTA is going to exactly address this. The EVFTA would make it easier for both Vietnam and European companies to cooperate and do business. Hanoitimes

Nguyen Tung

Hanoi offers good opportunities for high-tech agriculture for investors A number of high-tech agricultural projects have been proposed in Hanoi, a trend encouraged by the recent Hanoi investment promotion conference.
More M&As are expected this year, experts say.

KIDO merg

Kido's share (KDC) price soared by 84 percent last May to a high since August 2018. The catalyst that pushed the share price up after two years was the news about the merger of the group.



A document released on May 25 showed the merger of Kido Frozen Foods JSC (KDF) with KDC. Two days later, Tuong An Vegetable Oil JSC (TAC) announced a plan to merge with KDC. After that, TAC price soared by 42 percent in the second half of May.



The last trading session of May saw the price of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Agriculture International (HNG) share increase to the ceiling price thanks to news that a group of shareholders related to Thaco had been buying HNG shares.





The group of shareholders now holds 37.17 percent of HNG shares, or 412 million shares.



Thaco caught public attention recently with the takeover of Hung Vuong Seafood JSC.



M&As have been mentioned in the 2020 business plans of many listed enterprises.



Techno  Agricultural Supplying JSC (TSC) is expected to see the F.I.T. Group raising its ownership ratio in TSC to 80 percent of voting shares. Meanwhile, Indo Trans Logistics Corporation (ITL) and the Vietnam Electrical Equipment JSC (GEX) are racing to increase their ownership ratios to be able to take over the Southern Logistics Service Company (STG).



Even startups have showed interest in M&As this year. The merger of Tiki and Sendo, two e-commerce firms, is an example. The deal is expected to be completed in July.

Vinhomes, a big real estate developer, has announced a plan to develop industrial real estate projects in anticipation of foreign investors relocation moves.

M&A  strategy for the crisis period?



Analysts believe that M&Adeals are a daring but wise strategy now.



In the case of Kido, an M&A would allow the holding company to gather strength to help affiliated companies exploit its advantages in finance, administration and strategy.

Meanwhile, the KDF deal also helped attract investors attention. KDF shares were put into transactions on UpCom market in 2017, but did not catch much attention.



M&As are also useful for businesses which plan to expand their operation inother business fields, because they save costs and time.

Thaco has done this with HNG and HVG. It established THADI, a farm production, processing and distribution company, in March 2019, and has been acquiring agriculture businesses facing difficulties.



Vinhomes, a big real estate developer, has announced a plan to develop industrial real estate projects in anticipation of foreign investors relocation moves.

As a result, Vinhomes is expected to take over some businesses in the field to acquire land for IZ development as soon as possible.

Thanh Mai
Everyone is waiting to see how the science evolves around COVID-19 in the long term, so while everyone is thinking about what we may need to change, there are no drastic changes being currently drawn or penciled for this asset, Mitch Bonanno, the universitys chief real estate officer, said in a statement.
Will Vietnam be able to grasp investment opportunity from such a location shift? Workers at a production line inside a foreign-invested enterprise in Vietnam - PHOTO: QUOC HUNG The Japan-based newspaper Nikkei Asian Review recently cited sources as saying that the American tech giant Apple would for the first time produce from three million to four million AirPods wireless earphones in Vietnam. This amount of AirPods is about 30% of the total AirPods production in the second quarter of this year. In fact, Apple once requested its key suppliers to appraise plans to move around 15% to 30% of its hardware production out of China when Washington-Beijing tensions heightened last year. At present, the Covid-19 pandemic only speeds up the process. GoerTek, a key AirPods assembler which is based in China, began preparing to shift production to Vietnam as early as October 2018; It started a test production last summer. Luxshare Precision Industry, known as Luxshare-ICT, another supplier, initiated new investment in Vietnam last year, producing the wireless headphones here. Inventec, another AirPods assembler, is building a plant in Vietnam, at the request of Apple. Apple is gradually forming a complete audio system supply chain in northern Vietnam, where the California-based technology giant Cupertino has long sourced its traditional EarPods, the wired headphones that come with iPhones, from factories run by their suppliers there. Meanwhile, Merry Electronics, Apples audio system component supplier, is collaborating with Luxshare in building here in Vietnam facilities slated to be put into operation soon. Two major iPhone builders, Foxconn and Pegatron, and iPad maker Compal Electronics are all expanding their production in Vietnam. Speaking at a conference bringing together Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the business community last month, representatives of foreign companies reaffirmed their interest in investment in Vietnam. Vietnams measures to cope with the acute respiratory disease Covid-19 have helped maintain the confidence of European enterprises, according to Chairman Nicolas Audier of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham). Meanwhile, Hong Sun, vicechairman of the Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam (KorCham), said his agency would continue acting as a bridge linking qualified investors with Vietnam. Talking about the US$2.2 billion stimulus package provided to help Japanese manufacturers shift their production out of China, move it back to Japan, or open their plants in Southeast Asia, Hirai Shinji, chief representative of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in HCMC, said Japanese enterprises have paid more attention to Vietnam. Risk management capacity of keeping the pandemic under control demonstrated by the Vietnamese Government will also be positively evaluated by Japanese companies, he said. Fierce competition Although the opportunities to absorb investment from companies moving their production out of China, Vietnam still has to come face to face with her formidable rivals. Bloomberg News reports that India looks to lure more than a thousand U.S. companies. As an attractive major market whose population ranks second worldwide, India is offering a slew of incentives for foreign investors and is prioritizing medical equipment suppliers, food processing equipment, textiles, leather and auto part makers. Indian government officials have told company bosses that even though overall investment costs are still higher than China, investment in India may be more economical when it comes to land and labor than a relocation to the U.S. or Japan. Indian authorities have also insisted that India will consider specific requests on changes to labor laws and may postpone a tax on digital transactions among e-commerce companies. Thailand, another competitor, has introduced a new package of policies, including plenty of tax incentives, according to the Nikkei Asian Review. The Thai Government plans to amend the Foreign Business Law whose revision is likely to give foreign investors the green light to further expand their investment in the country. Also, the package has included measures for boosting human resources in advanced technology. According to Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a real estate consultant and management firm, Vietnam is emerging as an attractive investment destination. Limitations still exist, though. Stephen Wyatt, country head at JLL Vietnam, said wages for industrial workers in China are three times higher than in Vietnam, but their skill is higher. As far as other inherent weaknesses are concerned, Vietnams infrastructure and supporting industries have failed to meet certain requirements of manufacturers. Meanwhile, high-quality human resources remain modest in quantity. Poor connection between foreign and domestic enterprises has resulted in a lower rate of technology transfer. The complexity and overlap of administrative procedures have also slowed down their pace of investment. Therefore, observers believe that Vietnam should aggressively address these limitations. The authorities concerned should actively work with multinationals to conduct negotiations rather than waiting for them to make contact. Phan Huu Thang, former head of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said a set of criteria is needed to pick truly competent investors who are environmentally friendly and abide by international laws on investment. Vietnams proactive approach will decide on the trend of foreign investments in the coming time, said Thang. Veteran economist Pham Chi Lan said other countries are increasingly cautious with foreign investment. She said the United States has imposed regulations in which the U.S. government has the right to appraise foreign investment instead of letting it loose in the past. She suggests Vietnamese authorities should carefully scrutinize this issue so that they could lay down a set of criteria for the selection of competent foreign enterprises.SGT
The real estate market is picking up in the areas surrounding Ho Chi Minh City as inner-city options become limited and the infrastructure of these provinces is improving.

A view of Ho Chi Minh City, an economic hub in the south of Vietnam (Photo: VNA)

According to Pham Lam, general director of DKRA Vietnam, the three neighbouring provinces of Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An just outside Ho Chi Minh City are those receiving the most interest from real estate developers and investors.

Suburban provinces have a larger land fund with lower expenses for clearance and compensation, while the improvement of infrastructure is encouraging investors to come here, Lam said.

With a strategic location linking Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta provinces, Long An is one of the most sought-after destinations for property investors.

Thanks to many large-scale projects such as the completed Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong Expressway and N2 Highway, prospects are opening up for new initiatives outside the metropolis. Additionally, Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee have plans to set up a third urban railway from Ben Thanh, District 1 to Tan Kien commune, Long An with the total investment capital of VND68 trillion ($2.95 billion).

In Dong Nai, a range of infrastructure projects have been set up to connect with Ho Chi Minh City. Outstanding projects include Metro Line 1, a road parallel to Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh Expressway, and Cat Lai Bridge linking Ho Chi Minh City with Dong Nais Nhon Trach district, as well as the upcoming Long Thanh International Airport.

Meanwhile, the new Pham Van Dong road connects with Tan Son Nhat and crosses Binh Duong to the eastern provinces.

The wave of decentralisation is considered to be a determining real estate investment trend in the coming years. Together with improving the infrastructure network, the real estate market in these provinces is also booming.

Dong Nai now features two giant developers  Novaland Group and Dat Xanh Group  both of which have large projects here.

In the first quarter the southern real estate market has seen short supply and Novaland reported positive sales in townhouses and villas in Aqua City  the first venture invested by Novaland under the ecological urban area concept.

The more than 600-hectare Aqua City in Dong Nai is regarded as the most remarkable project currently in the east of Ho Chi Minh City.

Dat Xanh, meanwhile, is developing a 92ha project near Long Thanh International Airport to offer total housing space of more than 4,000 villas for a population of more than 18,000.

In Long An, after launching the Vincom project in Tan An town, Vingroup has proposed to invest in a 900ha urban development area in Duc Hoa district. Many other giant developers such as Him Lam Land and Van Thinh Phat have submitted a range of proposals at Long An. Especially, Nam Long Group is developing the 355ha Waterpoint  a riverside city which will offer accommodation for around 30,000 residents.

Meanwhile, Binh Duong and especially Di An town boast many developers like Kim Oanh Real Estate, Sacom Land, Him Lam Land, and Phu Dong Real Estate, all of which have seized the opportunities and prepared ample land reserves for their projects.

Giant developers with long vision of development are expanding their land funds in suburban areas. Buyers with good finance are going to projects in suburban provinces for the green space and a high-quality living environment they offer.

For individual investors with limited finance, buying small land areas in suburban areas is also a reasonable option. Many investors have built workshops or rented rooms to local workers in industrial parks.

Despite suburban provinces drawing interest from both developers and buyers, experts warned that the road will remain bumpy for some, and buyers and investors must consider the developers profile carefully to avoid delays.

According to Huynh Phuoc Nghia, director of business consultants GIBC, the value of the property, the improvement of infrastructure, and other facilities must be considered such as schools, hospitals, and trading centres to attract residents to those projects.

Lessons must also be learned from unused and delayed urban areas that had wide socio-economic impacts.

Another real estate expert recommended that developers, investors, and buyers should note the gap between the expected plan and the reality of those provinces. The value of investment depends mostly on the feasibility of transport infrastructure plans for another 5-7 years. This investment channel is therefore more suitable for idle capital, without any financial pressure, the expert said.

Large-scale projects are often delayed in suburban provinces. In Nhon Trach district, Dong Nai, Cat Tuong Hung Phat Complex was announced back in 2011. However, it remains unfinished to this day. Also, the district does not have ample public facilities or high population density, leading to very low liquidity of property in the area. VIR

Bich Ngoc

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.
The coffee giant said it would pause advertising on some platforms in an effort to address hate speech.

Starbucks has announced it will suspend advertising on some social media platforms in response to hate speech.

The coffee giant joins global brands including Coca-Cola, Diageo and Unilever which have recently removed advertising from social platforms.

A Starbucks spokesperson told the BBC the social media "pause" would not include YouTube, owned by Google.

"We believe in bringing communities together, both in person and online," Starbucks said in a statement.

The brand said it would "have discussions internally and with media partners and civil rights organizations to stop the spread of hate speech". But it will continue to post on social media without paid promotion, it said.

The announcement came after Coca-Cola called for "greater accountability" from social media firms.

Coca Cola said it would pause advertising on all social media platforms globally, while Unilever, owner of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, said it would halt Twitter, Facebook and Instagram advertising in the US "at least" through 2020.

The announcements follow controversy over Facebook's approach to moderating content on its platform - seen by many as too hands off. It came after Facebook said on Friday it would begin to label potentially harmful or misleading posts which have been left up for their news value.

Founder Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook would also ban advertising containing claims "that people of a specific race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, caste, sexual orientation, gender identity or immigration status" are a threat to others.

The organisers of the #StopHateforProfit campaign, which has accused Facebook of not doing enough to stop hate speech and disinformation, said the "small number of small changes" would not "make a dent in the problem".

Starbucks said that while it was suspending advertising on some social platforms, it would not join the #StopHateForProfit campaign. More than 150 companies have paused advertising in support of #StopHateforProfit.

Coca-Cola also told CNBC its advertising suspension did not mean it was joining the campaign, despite being listed as a "participating business".

The campaign has urged Mr Zuckerberg to take further steps, including establishing permanent civil rights "infrastructure" within Facebook; submitting to independent audits of identity-based hate and misinformation; finding and removing public and private groups publishing such content; and creating expert teams to review complaints.

In an interview with Reuters, one of the campaign's organisers said it would also call on European firms to join the boycott. "The next frontier is global pressure," said Jim Steyer, the chief executive of Common Sense Media. He added that the campaign hoped European regulators would take a harder stance on social media firms such as Facebook.

In June, the European Commission announced new guidelines for companies to submit monthly reports on how they are handling coronavirus-related misinformation.

Last year, Facebook reported a 27% increase in advertising revenue on the previous year. BBC
Nearly US$6 billion in foreign direct investment was poured into Viet Nams industrial parks (IPs), processing zones and economic zones (Ezs) in the first half of the year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

A view of DEEP C Industrial Zone in the northern port city of Hai Phong. The country drew US$6 billion of FDI into IZs in the first half of the year.  Photo congthuong.vn

The ministry said Viet Nam attracted 335 FDI projects in the period. The country has welcomed a total of 9,835 with registered capital of $197.8 billion so far. The disbursement capital at IPs and EZs reached 72.3 per cent of the total.

Meanwhile, IPs and EZs have received VND62.7 trillion in terms of newly-registered capital and additional capital poured into 282 projects by Vietnamese investors during the six-month period, said the MPI. Overall, domestic investors have committed VND2.3 quadrillion to IPs and EZs, of which 46.3 per cent of the amount has been disbursed.

The ministry said by the end of June 2020, the country has 336 IPs with total area of some 97,800 ha, of which 261 are operational, while 75 are in the process of site clearance and construction. The occupancy rate reached 76 per cent at operating IPs.

The country has 17 coastal economic zones covering a combined area of approximately 845,000 ha on land and water surface.

Le Dang Doanh, former director of the Central Insitute for Economic Management (CIEM), said the approval of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has been an advantage for Viet Nam in attracting FDI.

Doanh said Viet Nam should consider some issues when appealing for FDI from the EU. Viet Nam 's advantage of attracting FDI comes from the early conclusion of the EVFTA. However, this advantage only exists in the short term because the orientation of both ASEAN and the EU would create a regional FTA between the two blocs.

Nguyen Thuong Lang from the School of Trade and International Economics said when the EVFTA takes effect, not only trade but the flow of investment capital from the EU to Viet Nam would also increase significantly.

Attractive fields for EU businesses to invest in Viet Nam are clean industries, processing industry, manufacturing and high technologies. In addition, partners from other countries could also choose Viet Nam as an investment location for export to EU to take advantage of the agreement.

Dinh Trong Thinh, a senior specialist from the Academy of Finance, said COVID-19 exposed the dependency on markets, disrupting supply chains around the world, including Viet Nam.

With good prevention and control of the pandemic, Viet Nam is scoring strong points with foreign investors. They see the consensus of the people and the Government in the battle against COVID-19. At the same time, investors see that the country has a stable economy, politics and culture as well as FTAs with many large markets. Therefore, many would choose Viet Nam as an investment destination over other countries, he said.

However, it is because of the above advantages that some could commit origin fraud.  VNS
Local textile and garment firms must meet rules of origin to enjoy tax benefits of the EVFTA - PHOTO: LE HOANG Under the deal, Vietnams footwear, textile and garment industries will have to make changes to meet the conditions of origin and take advantage of preferential tariffs. For the textile and garment industry, fabrics used to make the products must originate from Vietnam or the EU, and the cutting and sewing must be performed in either the bloc or Vietnam. Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading Company (TCM) is now subject to an average tax rate of 12% in the EU market. When the free trade deal becomes effective, TCM targets to raise the export ratio in the market to 12%-15% from the current 5%-8%, focusing on products immediately applicable with a 0% tax rate. Tran Nhu Tung, a board member and deputy general director of TCM, is confident that some of TCM's products will benefit from EVFTAs preferential taxes, as the enterprise is also a yarn and fabric producer. Besides this, local enterprises will increase the purchase of TCM products to replace imports from China. Currently, TCM is expanding fabric production to grab more opportunities from the deal, Tung added. Pham Van Viet, chairman of Viet Thang Jean Company, said its products will become more competitive in the EU market given the 0% tax rate, compared with the current levels from 14% to 18%. The enterprise has shifted its cloth supplies from China to Thailand and South Korea, which have signed an FTA with the EU. According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnams apparel exports hit US$32.85 billion last year, in which goods worth only US$4.3 billion were shipped to the EU. Therefore, the deal is expected to give a boost to Vietnamese apparel exports in the market. However, unlike TCM and Viet Thang Jean, Vietnamese firms still face several challenges because most of them have only just engaged in cutting and sewing and do not produce fabric and yarn. To deal with the cloth fabric and approach the EVFTA, some enterprises have shifted to importing fabric from South Korea, which is more expensive than that imported from China and Taiwan. As a result, local firms would fail to gain huge benefits despite the tax incentives of the EVFTA. Further, local firms still find it hard to develop local material supplies due to environmental concerns. In recent years, many localities have rejected new garment and dyeing projects to avoid adverse impacts on the environment. SGT
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) maintains its forecast for Vietnams GDP growth at 2.7% in 2020, the highest in Asia, and the pace is expected to speed up to 7% in 2021.

Vietnams consumer price index is set at 3.2%, lower than the estimation of 4% this year. The economy could be subject to a strong rebound of 7% GDP growth rate in 2021.

Notably, in the IMFs latest World Economic Outlook update, Thailands economic growth forecast has been revised down to -7.7%, one percentage point lower than the organizations previous forecast in April, the largest contraction among Asian economies.

Global growth is projected at -4.9% in 2020, 1.9 percentage points below IMFs previous forecast.

The average growth forecast for ASEAN5 (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam) would record a contraction of 2% in 2020, before rebounding to 6.2% in 2021.

As the Covid-19 pandemic has had a more negative impact on activity in the first half of 2020 than anticipated, global growth is projected at -4.9% in 2020, 1.9 percentage points below IMFs previous forecast.

Major economies, including the US, China and Japan have all received a lower forecast in this update outlook, in which the US is predicted to shrink 8% (previously -5.9%), China with a positive growth of 1% (previously 1.2%), and Japan with -5.8% (previously -5.2%).

The outlook is even more gloomy for European countries, as Italy and Spain are subject to the deepest contraction of 12.8%, followed by France with -12.5% and Germany with -7.8%.

In 2021 global growth is projected at 5.4%. 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, stated the IMF. Hanoitimes

Ngoc Mai

Revised Vietnam's GDP goals to buttress growth The aftermath of the health crisis has prompted Vietnam to consider adjusting its economic growth target,
Will the fact that industrial parks (IPs) and factories are mushrooming lead to overcrowding and negative consequences for the economy, society and the environment? According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, by the end of May 2020, 336 IPs had been set up nationwide on a total natural land area of about 97,800 hectares - PHOTO: HUNG LE It is not until now that a retreat of investment away from China has been made. Prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, the Sino-U.S. trade war was a test for countries that relied heavily on supply chains from China to feel the direct, immediate impact of the punitive taxes imposed by the Trump administration. The Covid-19 pandemic is the new catalyst that urges the major shift of supply chains from China to occur faster and more vigorously. Spotting such a capital exodus, experts and analysts have identified Vietnam as one of the attractive destinations having a host of opportunities to absorb substantial investment from developed nations embracing advanced technology. In particular, Vietnams success in controlling Covid-19 has further strengthened the confidence of foreign investors, contributing to positioning the country as a safe destination for business activities of international manufacturers. Planning for new IPs According to the Department of Planning and Investment of Danang City, to promptly welcome the wave of foreign direct investment (FDI) and reach out to those FDI enterprises seeking alternative investment markets after the epidemic, this city is accelerating the completion of infrastructure and preparing a number of land plots to call for investment, particularly speeding up the necessary procedures for the development of Software Park No. 2. In addition, Danang is selecting investors for implementing its three new IPs, including Hoa Cam (the second phase), Hoa Nhon and Hoa Ninh, with a total area of over 880 hectares and total investment value of nearly VND14 trillion. It is expected that when these three IPs come into operation, the total number of IPs in Danang will rise to 10 and a total area of about 2,202 hectares, creating favorable conditions for obtaining industrial land fund to call for and attract investment in the coming time. Meanwhile, in Binh Phuoc, the Prime Minister has just given his approval in principle for the project to develop and operate the infrastructure of LEDANA Industrial Park over 424.54 hectares in Loc Thanh Commune, Loc Ninh District. Requiring a total investment of VND1.2 trillion, this project is to be implemented by Le Dai Nam International Corporation (LEDANA Corp.), a relatively new name in the development of industrial production infrastructure. Binh Phuocs provincial government has proposed establishing new industrial zones on a total area of over 7,600 hectares, including 6,300 hectares of Dong Phu Industrial, Service and Urban Complex, and 1,300 hectares of Phu Rieng Industrial Park. Also in order to receive the switch of investment and production out of China, and seize the opportunities given by the free trade agreements where Vietnam is a signatory, IDICOthe developer and operator of 10 IPs across the countrysaid they are preparing more industrial land surface in the existing industrial zones. In addition, preparations will be done so that by 2025 there will be three new IPs or so in the northern region on a total area of some 1,000 hectares, The new IPs whose diversity of products such as factories and warehouses built for rent are designed to meet the need of various investors. Careful selection needed The above situation means that IPs growing massively like a fad are likely to lead to overcrowding and many negative socio-economic and environmental impacts. However, Dr. Phan Huu Thang, former director of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said worries about an excessive development of additional IP infrastructure may not be necessary because this is an objective of the country that targets industrial production development. Moreover, the occupancy rate of over 76% at the operating IPs is relatively high, making it plausible to build more IPs to welcome new investors or allow the active ones to expand their production facilities. Meanwhile, as per a CBREs survey in Vietnam, the occupancy rate at existing industrial real estate projects is up to 90%, and the land fund offered to foreign investors remains modest. The realty consultancy firm is still concerned that if the supply of industrial land is not ready, Vietnam will see her opportunity to attract FDI slip through her fingers and arrive in other countries in the region like Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Therefore, what Phan Huu Thang noted is that it is necessary to install a filter capable of selecting really competent and environmentally friendly investors, those who also comply with international investment laws and practices. Vietnams initiative will determine the trend of foreign investment flows in the coming period, he said. According to economist Pham Chi Lan, the world is now very cautious about foreign investment. For example, the U.S. has adopted a law decreeing that the government has the right to consider foreign investment, rather than let it be. Vietnam should take this point into account when designing a mechanism to select quality foreign companies. According to analysts, to anticipate the new wave of investment effectively in the current context, it is necessary to have an orientation for in-depth sustainable IP development, improving economic efficiency and ensuring environmental friendliness. In fact, despite the long development, there is still many limitations when it comes to Vietnams infrastructure. Currently, what many IP developers are doing is simply leveling the site and then waiting for foreign investors to pour their money. There are even some IPs without internal roads for transporting materials and products. Operating an IP is not merely selling land lease rights but services must also be in sync. The most important thing for IP infrastructure is to have waste and water treatment facilities. It is because when developing any project, guaranteeing environmental factors is very crucial. Currently, IP operations are posing challenges for the environment and human health. In many parts of the world, the eco-industrial park model has been adopted for greater efficiency of resource and energy use, environmental protection and more sustainable development. Therefore, experts believe it is necessary to develop eco-industrial parks, a model of the circular economy in which the waste discharged by one individual is used as input material for another in the economy. Subsequently, the material flow will be fully utilized to create products and minimize sources of waste. SGT
Cyber security corporation Bkav yesterday released a warning about spyware VN84App that is currently aiming at Vietnamese mobile users.

Attacking method of spyware VN84App (Photo: SGGP)

This spyware can penetrate a smartphone to monitor and steal sensitive information like OTP codes and private messages of owners. Over 300 victims have been its victim in just a short time.

Spyware VN84App is spread via fake state websites such as the site of the Ministry of Public Security. When Internet users access these sites, they are instructed to download a mobile phone app with the .apk extension. After a successful installation, VN84App will silently collect confidential data like messages, phone numbers, IMEI information to send to the hackers server. The spyware also owns certain modules to perform possible attacks to other users.

VN84App is able to monitor users SMS when it requests the right to become the default message delivery on the phone. It can duplicate the original message to hide its spying action.

The spyware also asks for the right on other features of the phone like accessing the call history and phonebook.

Bkav discovered that stolen data are sent to a Command & Control (C&C) server at the IP address of 155.138.161.5, with two service portals of 22 and 80. The latter one, at http://155.138.161.5, has a Chinese interface and mostly aims at hefty bank transactions of billions of VND.

Nguyen Van Cuong, Head of Bkavs analysis team, shared that thanks to the close collaboration between the National Cyber Security Center (under the Ministry of Information and Communications) and the Cyber Security and High-tech Crime Prevention Force (PA05) under Hanoi Department of Public Security, VN84App was timely handled.

He delivered a warning to all mobile phone users to increase their awareness about calls from strangers with unknown origin, to not blindly follow any instruction of such people, and to properly install anti-virus apps for full protection of their devices. SGGP

Vien Hong

Coronavirus: Israeli spyware firm pitches to be Covid-19 saviour A firm being sued by WhatsApp claims its software can help combat the spread of coronavirus.
International experts and media have been trying to explain Vietnams extraordinary success in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnam has gone more than 70 days with no new community transmissions, almost all of its COVID-19 patients have recovered, and there has not been a single COVID-19 death in Vietnam. The truth refutes those who try to deny Vietnams achievements.

Most international media use phrases like amazing Vietnam and role model to describe Vietnam's successful battle against COVID-19, but there are a few who want to deny Vietnams undeniable achievements.

A tweet posted by Professor Steve Hanke of John Hopkins University on June 10 named Vietnam among a list of countries that "do not report COVID-19 data, rejecting the statistics reported by worldometers.info.

Former BBC reporter Bill Hayton criticized Vietnams epidemic measures as a restriction of human rights.

The facts

The opinions of the American professor and the BBC reporter are at odds with those of international organizations who have direct access to information in Vietnam.

The WHO and CDC praise Vietnam's transparency in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: WHO/VNA)

Making public up-to-date information about the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the factors in Vietnams success. The World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say Vietnam has been transparent in its handling of the pandemic. CDC Director in Southeast Asia John MacArthur affirms there is no evidence that the numbers reported by Vietnam are not accurate. He said transparency and political determination are what made Vietnam a role model in fighting the disease.

The website Eastasiaforum.org said Vietnam has kept the public informed through TV news and text messages sent to mobile phones.

Germanys Der Spiegel said the Vietnamese Health Ministry has sent daily messages to all mobile phone subscribers and used public loudspeakers to keep people informed about preventive measures to protect themselves.

David Hutt, a Southeast Asia columnist with The Diplomat, said the Vietnamese Party and State have been open in sharing up-to-date COVID-19 information, have acted responsibly, and have made public health their top priority.

The governments quick, firm actions to control the epidemic and threat infected individuals have made people feel that they are protected and no one will be left behind. A global survey in May by Singapores Blackbox Research found that 94% of respondents said transparent information about the pandemic increased their trust in the government.

Undeniable success

Mark Ashwill, an educator who has lived in Vietnam for 15 years, called BillHaytons criticism of Vietnams preventive measures a distortion by someone who knows nothing about Vietnam in 2020. Ashwill said that before discussing Vietnams epidemic prevention policy, Bill Hayton should have read an article in The Diplomat, which attributed Vietnams successful control of COVID-19 to its social cohesiveness and ability to mobilize resources quickly.

The Nation said Vietnam achieved the most effective response to COVID-19 through rapid mobilization of its health care system, public employees, and security forces, combined with an effective and creative public education campaign.

Eastasiaforum.org said the military and the police inspired public cooperation by empathizing with them in the fight against the pandemic.

These assessments were borne out by statistics from daliaresearch.com in Berlin which showed that Vietnam has the highest percentage of people who say they believe in their governments epidemic prevention policy.

A survey by YouGov, a British market research and data analytics firm, showed that Vietnam has had the best public response to the epidemic and that 95% of its citizens are happy with the governments public health policies.

Facts and figures posted by widely-respected media outlets refute the few skeptical or unfriendly denials of Vietnams successful fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. VOV5
The HCMC Department of Education and Training has announced that textbook set Inventive horizon" compiled by the Vietnam Education Publishing House was chosen to be official textbooks for first graders in the academic year 2020-2021.

The Department of Education and Training in Ho Chi Minh City has announced that textbook set Chan troi sang tao( Inventive horizon) compiled by the Vietnam Education Publishing House was chosen to be official textbooks for first graders in the academic year 2020-2021.



The set was selected as official textbook set because 80 percent schools registered to buy the set Chan troi sang tao (Inventive horizon) which is the mere textbooks compiled by authors in the South specifically those in HCMC for the very first time.

At press brief to publicize the official textbook for the new school year, Head of the Department office Nguyen Thanh Trung shared that the Department has made a selection of textbooks for first graders transparently and publicly as per the Ministry of Education and training and the municipal Peoples Committees directions.

Specifically, the procedures included four steps; firstly, groups of leading educationists studied the sets of textbooks and discussed them; secondly, a scientific council met to re-valuate sets of textbooks based on opinions of groups of educationists; thirdly, the council proposed good sets of textbooks to school managers upon council members opinions; and finally, school managers and teachers were given autonomy to select sets of textbooks.

Selection results must be publicized in schools bulletins and portal so that parents can buy it for their children for the new school year.

Mr. Trung added that though there have been difficulties due to social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, educational facilities including primary schools implemented the circular 01/2020 /TT-BGDDT well in selecting the textbooks to meet the deadline.

The selection result was reported to the Ministry and the city Peoples Committee according to the regulations.

The textbook Chan troi sang tao compiled by a group of authors including authors in HCMC includes dialects of the Southern region to make it familiar with elementary children. Moreover, the textbooks were selected by teachers who directly teach children.

Statistically, schools in 41 cities and provinces have selected Chan troi sang tao; for instance, 90 percent of schools in the Mekong Delta Province of Ben Tre chose Chan troi sang tao while most of schools in the Southern Province of Ba Ria- Vung Tau selected Chan troi sang taos literature textbook, textbooks of lessons for citizenship education, and Arts textbooks. SGGP

Dan Thuy

Education Ministry told not to compile textbooks National Assembly deputies have agreed to the Ministry of Education and Trainings (MOET) proposal on not acting as a compiler of textbooks for general education.
The pandemic has also been politicized almost from the beginning. Trump has urged the use of unproven treatments, a faster reopening of businesses, and less reliance on testing. There are some clear links between his behavior and the behavior of partisans. His calls for the widespread use of an unproven malaria treatment drove up prescriptions for the drug. His disdain for masks appears reflected in comparatively lower rates of mask use among Republicans  though a majority of Republicans in the Times survey said they wear a mask at least some of the time.
Vietnam records no new community COVID-19 cases for 74 straight days

Among the total 355 infections, 215 are imported and quarantined upon arrival.

Vietnam had no new COVID-19 cases to report on June 29 morning, marking 74 days in a row without new local transmissions, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Among the total 355 infections, 215 were imported and quarantined upon arrival.

At present, 10,027 people having close contact with patients or arriving from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined at hospitals, concentrated quarantining facilities, and homes.

The committees treatment subcommittee reported that 330 patients have given all-clear and there is no death.

Twenty-five patients are being treated at health facilities nationwide and most are in stable condition. Five have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once and five others tested negative at least twice.

Vietnam continues repatriating citizens amid travel restrictions

So far, more than 10,000 Vietnamese nationals have been brought home.

Vietnam continues to bring home hundreds of people from different parts of the worlds in recent days as coronavirus infections and deaths keep going up worldwide, including Singapore, one of the coronavirus hotspots in Southeast Asia.

On June 27, more than 300 Vietnamese citizens arrived in the home country from Singapore. Earlier on May 31, more than 340 were brought home from Singapore where coronavirus infections have surpassed 43,000.

Passengers on the priority list were children under 18, the elderly, the sick, laborers with expired working contracts, students with dormitories closed, and others of special cases, according to Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After landing in the southern city of Can Tho, all passengers have been quarantined in government-run centers.

On June 25, a group of more than 130 people from Malaysia (more than 40), Nigeria and Cameroon (90) were repatriated on a flight operated by Ethiopian Airlines and Vietnam Airlines.

The returnees, mainly stranded laborers, were quarantined in the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.

On June 19, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines brought 309 people from Angola to Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

On way from Hanoi to Angola, Vietnam Airlines transported personal protective equipment (PPE), face masks, and hand sanitizer for the Embassy of Vietnam in Angola.

So far, Vietnam has repatriated more than 10,000 citizens from abroad.

As of June 28, Vietnam has confirmed 355 infected cases and zero deaths, without infection in the community for 73 days running.

More COVID-19 patients discharged, including a boy of six



An additional five COVID-19 patients were successfully discharged from hospital on June 29, including a six-years-old child, with the countrys total number of recoveries rising to 335 cases, equaling a recovery rate of 94.4%.

The three were recently released, including cases No. 344, No. 346, and No. 348, in addition to one six-years-old boy, with many Vietnamese citizens being repatriated from Sweden and Finland. Once the group arrived at Noi Bai International Airport, many tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus on June 19.

Elsewhere, the countrys other two COVID-19 patients, No. 351 and No. 352, returned from Kuwait on flight KU1513 and tested for the virus on June 24.

The entire group was immediately placed into quarantine upon arrival.

Members of the group had originally tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease, before later being re-discharged and formally discharged from the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi.

Each of the cases now remains in a stable health condition, therefore displaying no symptoms of the virus, such as a fever, a cough, or shortness of breath.

Each of the five patients will now be placed into isolation in order to undergo a mandatory 14-day observation period in an attempt to ensure that there is no possibility of the virus reoccurring or being transmitted among the wider community.

As of June 29, the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi had given treatment to 182 COVID-19 patients, including 18 foreigners. Furthermore, 176 patients have gone on to make a full recovery, with the remaining six currently undergoing treatment.

Vietnam has also gone over 74 consecutive days without any locally transmitted COVID-19 cases.

Most notably, as many as 335 individuals out of the nations total of 355 COVID-19 cases have since gone on to make a full recovery from the virus, equal to 94.4% of all patients, with no deaths recorded as a result of the virus so far.

More than 280 Vietnamese citizens repatriated from France, Europe

Vietnamese agencies in and outside the country worked with the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and French agencies on June 28 and 29 to arrange a flight for more than 280 Vietnamese citizens in France and some other European countries to return to Vietnam.

Passengers on the flight were those under 18, the elderly, the ill, workers with expired labour contracts and students without accommodations due to school closure, and other people in difficult circumstances.

Pandemic prevention measures were implemented strictly during the flight, and crew and passengers were quarantined upon arrival at Van Don International Airport in northern Quang Ninh province, as per regulations.

At the direction of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vietnamese agencies at home and representative offices abroad will continue to conduct flights bringing citizens home based on their needs and domestic quarantine capacity.

Singapore, Malaysia agree to reopen borders for essential travel

Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to reopen cross-border travel for essential business and official purposes, the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on June 27.

This decision was made following the phone talks between Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Muhyiddin Yassin a day earlier.

The two leaders agreed to establish a Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and a Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) for different groups of travellers.

The RGL will facilitate cross-border travel for essential business and official purposes, while the PCA will allow the two countries citizens who hold long-term immigration passes in the other country to return home for short-term leave.

Singaporean and Malaysian relevant agencies are still discussing specific measures to implement the RGL and PCA, especially preventive ones against COVID-19 transmission.

Vietnam sees no new community COVID-19 infections since April 16

Vietnam has recorded no new COVID-19 infections in the community since April 16, said the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on June 28 evening.

Chinese citizens receive certificates confirming their completion of quarantine in Vinh Phuc province (Photo: VNA)

Among 355 COVID-19 cases confirmed in Vietnam to date, 215 are imported ones and were quarantined upon their arrival in the country, posing no risk of transmission in the community.

As many as 9,048 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or entering Vietnam from pandemic-hit regions are being now quarantined across the country, including 107 at hospitals, 8,051 at other establishments and 890 at home.

According to the treatment subcommittee, 330 out of the 355 patients, or 93 percent, have fully recovered and there was no death from the disease.

Five out of the remaining patients undergoing treatment at medical establishments have tested negative for the novel coronavirus SAR-CoV-2 once and five others tested negative twice or more./.

COVID-19: Two more imported cases reported, total hits 355

The Ministry of Health said on June 27 two more Vietnamese returnees from Kuwait have been diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 355.

Both new cases are women aged 48 and 43 who were among Vietnamese citizens repatriated from Kuwait on June 18.

They were placed in quarantine in Hung Yen province, bordering Hanoi capital, as soon as they landed in Vietnam.

They tested positive for the coronavirus on June 26 and were transferred to Hanoi-based National Hospital of Tropical Diseases for medical observation and treatment.

As a result, Vietnam has recorded 355 coronavirus cases as of June 27, of which 330 cases have gone on to make a full recovery and have been discharged from hospital.

The remaining 25 cases are receiving treatment at different hospitals across the country, with 10 having tested negative at least once.

June 27 also marked the 72nd consecutive day that has seen Vietnam detect no community infections. No deaths have been reported so far.

More than 300 citizens fly home from Singapore

A Viet Nam Airlines flight carrying more than 300 Vietnamese citizens in Singapore landed in Can Tho International Airport Saturday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The passengers include children under 18, the elderly, sick people and workers with expired labor contracts among others, said the ministry.

This is the 31st repatriation flights organized by Vietnamese competent authorities in collaboration with diplomatic missions and airlines since April 24, bringing home at 7,910 citizens stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic, data showed.

As the pandemic has been put under control in Viet Nam, the Government tasked the competent authorities to increase the frequency of special citizen repatriation flights in the time to come.

The Government also decided to open door to foreign experts, business managers, and skilled workers to enter Viet Nam in a move to reboot the economy after the nation became one of the first economies got back to "new normal" situation.

As the pandemic is still evolving complicatedly around the world, Viet Nam still closes borders to foreign tourists for fear of the second COVID-19 wave.

Addressing a meeting on COVID-19 on June 24, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc reaffirmed the guiding viewpoint of fending off the second COVID-19 wave in order to pursue the dual goal of the pandemic containment and economic recovery.

COVID-19: Vietnam only has 15 positive cases left

Vietnam has reported no new coronavirus cases during the past 24 hours after confirming two imported infections on June 27, and the country only has 15 positive cases left.

The cumulative number of confirmed cases remains unchanged at 355, of which 330 cases have fully recovered and have been discharged from hospital, making up 93% of the total.

The remaining 25 cases are receiving treatment at hospitals across the country, with 10 having tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

As many as 215 cases returned from epidemic hit countries, but they have not posed any risk to the community as they were placed in quarantine upon their arrival.

On June 27, two returnees from Kuwait were confirmed to have carried the virus.

Currently, more than 9,000 people who had close contact and returned from overseas are being quarantined for medical observation at hospitals, concentrated quarantine facilities and places of residence.

The British pilot is the last out of 50 foreign patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Vietnam. The patient, who is being treated at Cho Ray hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, is recovering substantially. He is expected to return to Scotland, his hometown, on July 12.

Aviva Group donates funds to support COVID-19-affected people

The Aviva Group, an international savings, retirement and insurance business, has donated over 1.4 billion VND (60,000 USD) to the Vietnam Red Cross Society to support an initiative to help people recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The donation is part of the 10 million pounds (12.4 million USD) committed by the Aviva Group and the Aviva Foundation so that the global Red Cross movement can ensure those who were made most vulnerable by the COVID-19 pandemic get the right support at the right time.

The Vietnam Red Cross Society will use this fund to organise the "Humanitarian Market" programme in 26 cities and provinces across the country.

The "Humanitarian Market" programme is designed to support vulnerable people who were directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically families covered under specific policies, the poor, the unemployed, the disabled, and people with no temporary income or loss of income caused by the pandemic.

Agricultural products supplied to the programme will be purchased by Vietnam Red Cross from farmers affected by revenue loss caused by COVID-19. With this approach, the programme can effectively support both poor families and struggling farmers at the same time.

Nguyen Thu Thuy, human resources director of Aviva Vietnam, said: The COVID-19 pandemic is still complicated in many parts of the world, and we are very lucky that the situation in Vietnam is under control. In this context, Aviva is very honoured to join hands with Vietnam Red Cross in supporting the disadvantaged group of people affected by the disease. We look forward to continuing to accompany the Vietnam Red Cross in other humanitarian and community development activities in the near future."

From 2017 to the present, Aviva has cooperated with the Vietnam Red Cross to organise programmes of the Aviva Community Fund with total funding of over 4.5 billion VND (192,000 USD). The programme has helped to realise many community development projects in Vietnam, while encouraging groups of people to provide solutions to specific and urgent problems in their respective localities.

Face masks sent to help OVs in Canada prevent COVID-19

As many as 50,000 face masks were presented to overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in Canada as the gift from the Vietnamese Government to help them effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is unpredictably developing in the world, especially in North America.

Addressing the hand-over ceremony in Ottawa on June 27, Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham Cao Phong promised that the embassy will continue accompany OVs in the country in the fight against COVID-19, and do its best in the citizen protection work amid the outbreak.

He highlighted the significance of the donation, saying that it is a vivid demonstration of the policy "OVs are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation.

Protecting citizens is one of the embassy's important tasks as the COVID-19 pandemic is raging around the world, Phong said, adding that the embassy has done its best to protect citizens and support Vietnamese students studying in Canada to find flights back home.

Notably, its website has updated the COVID-19 epidemic questionnaire for Vietnamese students in Canada, attracting more than 4,000 visits and is highly appreciated by the community.

In addition, the embassy has cooperated with the Vietnamese community in Canada to provide accommodations for disadvantaged students, while working actively with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada to suggest local universities open dormitories for students until the end of the school year.

Apart from organising three flights to bring about 900 Vietnamese people from the country back home safely, the embassy has also worked closely with agencies of the host country and asked for health protection measures for Vietnamese expatriates living in the Northern American nation.

Over 300 Vietnamese citizens brought home from Singapore

More than 300 Vietnamese citizens were brought home from Singapore on June 27.

Vietnamese authorities, the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore and national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines coordinated with Singapores competent agencies to conduct the flight.

Passengers included children under 18, the elderly, the ill, workers with expired labour contracts and students without accommodations due to school closure, and other people with difficult circumstances.

Pandemic prevention measures were implemented strictly during the flight, and crew and passengers were quarantined upon arrival at Can Tho International Airport, as per regulations.

At the direction of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vietnamese agencies at home and representative offices abroad will continue to conduct flights bringing citizens home based on their demand and domestic quarantine capacity.

Vietnamese in Ukraine make efforts in COVID-19 fight

The Vietnamese community in Ukraine has been carrying out various measures to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 amid increasing infections in the host nation.

Nguyen Nhu Manh, head of the overseas Vietnamese association and the associations COVID-19 prevention and control board in Odessa province, said the association began preparation for the fight against the disease in early March.

When two Vietnamese in the locality were found contracting the COVID-19, the board has conducted a series preventive measures and place under quarantine 76 people having contact with them, he added.

The two cases are a Vietnamese couple living in a Vietnamese residential area in Odessa city called Lang Sen (Lotus Village). They are the 304th and 305th patients of the city and are under treatment, with their health remaining stable.

The Lang Sen area has been frequently sterilised to prevent the spread of the virus, Manh said.

Meanwhile, in response to a call from the Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine, the associations executive board established a COVID-19 fund to raise financial assistance for the communitys related prevention and control work, particularly in emergency situations.

To date, the fund has received more than 6,000 USD, including 400 USD from the embassy.

According to information sources of Vietnamese expats in Ukraine, the capital Kiev has so far recorded seven Vietnamese infected with the virus.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Health posted a total of 40,008 COVID-19 cases in the country on June 25, an increase of 994 cases compared to the previous day. The local death toll reached 1,067, with 17,758 patients recovered. Odessa and Kharkov, the two provinces with large Vietnamese populations in the country, recorded 1,465 and 1,947 infections, respectively.

More Vietnamese from Africa, Malaysia brought home

Vietnamese and Ethiopian airlines repatriated more than 130 Vietnamese citizens from Nigeria, Cameroon and Malaysia.

On June 24, 90 Vietnamese citizens were brought home from Nigeria and Cameroon, with support from the Vietnamese Embassy in Nigeria in collaboration with local authorities.

They were taken to Lagos where they boarded a flight operated by the Ethiopian flag carrier to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Later on June 25, the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia and Vietnam Airlines took them along with another 40 Vietnamese workers who were stranded in Malaysia.

After landing at Tan Son Nhat international airport in HCM City, they were immediately quarantined under close medical supervision in line with COVID-19 prevention and control regulations.

Considering the pandemic situation at home and abroad and quarantine capacity in localities, representative Vietnamese agencies and domestic airlines will continue to run more charter flights to bring citizens homes.

Man who escaped from quarantine centre caught by authorities

Vi Van Hien pictured after he was apprehended for fleeing a quarantine centre.





A man returning from China who fled a COVID-19 quarantine centre in the northern province of Quang Ninh has been recaptured by the authorities.

Vi Van Hien escaped from the medical facility in Mong Cai City two days after he arrived.

Hien, a resident of Muong Chanh Commune of Thanh Hoa Province, illegally entered Viet Nam from China via border area of Quang Ninh Province in June 22.

He was caught by Vietnamese border soldiers and sent back to a quarantine facility on the same day.

Although he tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, he fled the facility and was subsequently apprehended trying to get back to his home town in Thanh Hoa Province in central Viet Nam.

Quang Ninh currently has more than 1,000 people held in isolation in designated quarantine facilities.

Viet Nam on Friday has gone 71 days without any community infection cases, with the totally caseload standing at 352 and no fatalities.
Users of the sidewalk will need a license and pay fees - PHOTO: THANH HOA Poor management of the sidewalk and some roadways in HCMC has been a chronic problem unsolved for decades. Despite the tremendous efforts expended by the authorities, urban order on the sidewalk was temporarily restored only to become chaotic again. Urban management in this regard needs new thinking and new measures. Urban order in disorder Roughly four years ago, a massive campaign was waged to reestablish urban order on the sidewalk and roadways of this city. It was really effective in many areas when the relevant local authorities were determined to restore order using forceful measures, including the demolition of existing structures in violation of the rules, which had been rarely seen previously. However, illegal occupation of the sidewalk and even some roadways is incredibly tenacious. As soon as authorities become weary, it will resurface. In HCMC, after social distancing measures against Covid-19 were lifted in late April, the situation has become worse again. Many street sections, if not all, are occupied to be used as parking lots, eateries or makeshift markets. Talking to Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper last week, Nguyen Ngoc Tuong, vice head of the HCMC Traffic Safety Board, said of the 157 streets which had been registered by local authorities as model streets in urban order, only a fifth could do so. Licenses and fees During a meeting convened by the HCMC Fatherland Front Committee to gather feedback about a decision draft on the management and temporary use of the sidewalk and roadways in the city, participants pinpointed existing problems and discussed measures for making the decision workable, reported Nguoi Lao Dong. According to Ngo Hai Duong, head of the Section for Overland Infrastructure Management under the municipal Department of Transport, the draft includes key points regarding safety for pedestrians on the sidewalk. It also deals with technology applications to the management of and regulations on temporary use of some roadways and the sidewalk. New forms of management are also recommended, such as public participation in management, leasing and fee collection, among others. However, Duong cautioned that if part of the sidewalk or roadways are used, the remaining part must be sufficient for walkers. All activities related to the sidewalk or roadways must be licensed, insisted Duong. Another speaker, Dr. Trinh Van Chinh from the HCMC University of Transport, said it is essential to introduce clear regulations on the management of the sidewalk and roadways and assign concrete tasks to different authorities to avoid overlapping. Chinh suggested licenses should be awarded to traders and hawkers to regulate their areas and work time. Such stipulations will help hawkers feel assured and be more responsible, he said. Licensing must be under strict control Lawyer Nguyen Van Hau, vice chairman of the HCMC Association of Jurists, warned that the universal permission of the use of the sidewalk and roadways, albeit temporary, may lead to indiscriminate licensing regardless of users, locations or specific purposes. Hau argued that in accordance with the effective rules regarding this issue, not every authority is vested with the right to award a license. To keep the licensing on the right track, it is necessary to make it crystal-clear. Fee collection must be put under strict control and personal responsibility and accountability of the authorities concerned must be fully assumed. Hau also mentioned a grim reality in the current management of the sidewalk where some local authorities are acting as pimps who illegally take money from people in return for their use of the sidewalk or roadways. These officials must be handled strictly, said Hau. New thinking Officials from the HCMC Department of Transport which helped draw up the decision draft present at the meeting listened carefully to participants opinions. Tran Quang Lam, director of the HCMC Department of Transport, told Nguoi Lao Dong that during the compiling process, his department took into account every factor to make it suitable to practicality, particularly the feasibility and the minimization of adverse effects on local people. Lam affirmed that opinion polls were conducted to collect thoughts from related people and households. Most of them gave their consent for the decision draft and said they are ready to comply with it. According to Lam, district governments will be authorized to award licenses. In response to suggestions that the role of lower authoritiesat the ward levelshould be increased. Such opinion will be scrutinized and included in the draft, said Lam. The key point of the draft of the new decision on the management and temporary use of the sidewalk and roadways relates to the reaffirmation that the sidewalk is principally for pedestrian use no matter whether other functions are accepted for not, said Lam. For instance, functions which are not relevant to traffic. If they [the functions] are appropriate, our department will help the municipal government issue regulations on the streets available for them. SGT
To really set free its tremendous potential for investment, trade, and tourism, Hanoi has been actively implementing different measures to promote itself domestically and abroad in a bid to become a safer and more stable destination.

Hanois famous Old Quarter is gradually getting back to normal, and itching to receive new international guests, Photo: Le Toan

Covering over 3,300 square kilometres, Hanoi is a quickly developing city with a population of more than eight million and regional GDP of 7.46 per cent.

The city boasts Noi Bai International Airport and a convenient connection to the northern port city of Haiphong, and Hanois industrial zones also include some focused on high technology. Over the years, with the aim of making itself an attractive destination for investors, Hanoi has been actively improving itself along with carrying out investing strategies with effective promotion programmes.

Self-improvement

The clearest indicator showing the outstanding improvement of Hanoi is its upgraded position in Vietnams Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), in which the city moved from rank 13 in 2017 to rank 9 out of 63 cities and provinces in 2018 and 2019.

The PCI is a useful indicator, showing the development of Hanoi. Improving this index has become one of the citys top missions to facilitate a better business climate, said Nguyen Doan Toan, Vice Chairman of Hanoi Peoples Committee.

Along with that, the citys export turnover increased gradually from $10.6 billion in 2016 to $17.5 billion in 2019. Similarly, the number of tourists to the city also increased from 24 million in 2017 to 29 million last year.

These results are showing the efficiency of the citys promotion activities, particularly those to attract foreign investment over the past five years, Nguyen Gia Phuong, director of Hanoi Promotion Agency, (HPA) told VIR.

According to Phuong, the HPA has co-operated with the citys relevant authorities to promote Hanoi to domestic and foreign investors via large political and economic events taking place across the country, such as APEC 2017 in the central city of Danang, the 2019 summit between the Republic of Korea and the United States, and a high level dialogue on ASEAN and Italian economic relations in Hanoi.

Events since 2016, such as the annual Hanoi Investment and Development Cooperation event, have proven that Hanoi is a safe and stable destination for both tourism and trade and investment, Phuong said. This years edition, taking place on June 27 after the pandemic has been controlled in the country, is a strong message that Hanoi is a safe and stable destination for both domestic and foreign investors.

With the participation of around 1,000 enterprises, embassies, trade counsellors, foreign investors, and other organisations, the conference promises to supply more information about Hanois new policies, its socio-economic development orientation as well as its plans of attracting investment capital.

We will further improve the investment environment in the city to reach the target of $5 billion of foreign investment. We will implement promotion activities aiming for new markets, particularly the ones joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Phuong said.

Attracting new markets

According to Phuong, Vietnams partners within its free trade agreements, like the CPTPP and EVFTA, are markets with high potential for the development of trade, investment, and tourism of Hanoi.

They are large, economically and technologically advanced markets, he said.

So far, Hanoi has identified that improving the management efficiency and investment environment, together with reforming administration and removing barriers for enterprises, are key duties of Hanoi authorities.

Along with that, the city will continue to promote its investment environment, in association with promoting trade and tourism as well as foreign affairs and cultural activities.

Moreover, the city plans to identify key markets and work together with large corporations to introduce potentials and advantages of Hanoi and accelerate IT application in administration, thereby improving business registration, taxation, and land-related issues.

We are working on the plan of attracting foreign investment for the 2021-2025 period with a vision towards 2030, introducing the list of projects calling for investment within the same period, and implementing both online and overseas tourism promotion programmes, Phuong said.

Yagi Hiroshi - General director, Terumo Vietnam Medical Equipment Co., Ltd. During the 10 years of our activities in the country, Terumo Vietnam has been well supported by the Vietnamese government, especially in Hanoi. With the help of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam, we have been able to express and discuss our ideas with Hanoi authorities. Investment inflows will continue with the capitals current development efforts and the many appropriate and long-term policies. The online tax system is very convenient and helps enterprises reduce administrative works. However, there are still some issues that need to be improved so that Hanoi becomes a truly attractive environment for foreign investors like us. The legal system should be improved while regulative restraints on foreign enterprises should be relieved. However, we know that over the last few years, Hanoi has made improvements in its infrastructure. On the other hand, we see infrastructure of industrial zones like Quang Minh that need to be addressed to ensure the safety for workers. We hope to widen its manufacturing scope on the back of the governments important groundwork for a sustainable macro-environment. Jeffrey Wandly - First deputy general director, BIDV Tower One of the key factors that helps Hanoi achieve the highest foreign direct investment among its peers is that Hanois leaders are responsive, and active in approaching new investors and supporting existing ones while also listening to feedback and acting according to international best practices. With recent investments from KKR and Temasek into Vinhomes, the spotlight has been put on how policies can be made clear and safe to spur growth in all sectors. With this experience of handling such large foreign investments, Hanois leaders will be able to improve further on delivering more forward-looking policies to advance the economy. One particular area to keep an eye on would be the digital transformation and making Vietnam a hub for digital banking, with a view of providing tax and other benefits to financiers. Further advantages of the city are its improved infrastructure combined with more transparent and attractive investment policies, more tax incentives to attract larger projects, improvements in human resources, and consideration of corporate and personal income tax incentives. Nguyen Dinh Nam - CEO and founder, IPA Vietnam In recent years, Hanoi has been one of the top cities and provinces luring in the largest foreign investment capital thanks to a stable political apparatus and attractive policies for key sectors. In addition, the Peoples Committee has paid special attention to improving the investment and business environment as well as reforming promotion programmes. Moreover, foreign investors and international organisations highly appreciate the citys move to increase the use of IT applications in dealing with administrative procedures. Among the prioritised sectors that gained most of the attention from overseas investors are urban infrastructure, manufacturing, and high-value services. Along with the advantages in political stability and being the countrys political and economic hub, the city is also home to a decent transport infrastructure with proximity to Noi Bai International Airport and several expressways connecting the capital to other cities and provinces as well as industrial infrastructure and skilled labour sources. VIR

Phuong Hao

Hanoi attracts US$17.6 billion for 229 projects Hanoi is going to present investment certificates for 229 projects with a total value of US$17.6 billion and sign 38 memoranda of understanding worth a combined US$28.6 billion, according to the Tuoi Tre Online website.
Life after graduation is always an unknown. But the coronavirus pandemic has added even more uncertainty for the nearly 4 million students expected to receive college degrees in 2019-20, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

I feel like when you graduate, you go out into the real world, says Stephanie Fallon, 23, who graduated in May from Temple University in Philadelphia. But this world almost doesnt feel real, she says.

Even though the real world has changed, the challenges most new graduates face havent. Heres what the class of 2020 can do to answer three essential post-graduation questions during the ongoing pandemic.

Can you get a job?

The job market looked strong for 2020 graduates before the economy took a hit from the coronavirus. A survey in fall 2019 by the National Association of Colleges and Employers projected a 5.8% increase in hiring over the previous year.

Of course, much has changed.

What [graduates] are facing now is just a horrendous market, says Edwin Koc, director of research, public policy and legislative affairs for NACE. There really isnt any other way to put it.
The law enforcement leaders voiced a willingness to work with the health department. Most of them are already working on changes driven by nationwide protests after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.

Sheriff Tony Thompson said he hopes the health department can help open up lines of conversation with marginalized communities.

Where we really have to focus on gaining and earning engagement and to responsibly respond are with those people who dont want to engage us, who dont feel comfortable engaging us, Thompson said.

He noted the COVID-19 pandemic has already helped forge that relationship.

Probably never before in the history of Black Hawk County has health and law enforcement been so intertwined and so interconnected as we are right now, and as we have been over the last four months, he said.

Waterloo Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald has been implementing aggressive changes in his department to address procedural justice since he was hired a month ago.

Now is the time for critical cultural change within police agencies, said Fitzgerald, who acknowledged past methods of policing has created economic inequality that exists today.
Fatality rate: 2.5% (no change) National average: 5.0% (down 0.1%)

The percentage of deaths out of the total number of infected.

Long-term care facility outbreaks: 24 (-2), 723 cases (-53), 364 deaths (+4)

An outbreak is added when a facility has three or more residents test positive, and removed when a facility has cleared the virus.

Percent change in cases over 14 days: 15.1% (down 0.8%) National average: 72.2% (up 12.8%)

Over 1.0 means the virus will spread, and below 1.0 means it has stopped spreading. (Info: Rt.live)

National ranking in cases per capita: 13th (no change)

The number of cases as a percentage of the total population of a state. (Info: KFF.org)
Tell me how Trump campaigns against that. Tell me how he mocks her  which is the only way he knows how to engage with opponents. Or, rather, tell me how he does so without seeming even more obscene than he already does and turning off everyone beyond the cultish segment of the electorate that will never abandon him. Duckworth on the Democratic ticket is like some psy-ops masterstroke, all the more so because it was she who nicknamed Trump Cadet Bone Spurs.
5. Lift weights.

I put on about 40 pounds when I came to this country. Then, after I had my daughters, I ran 10 miles every day. I had just 10 pounds I could never lose until I started bodybuilding. What I do now is walk and lift weights. I also do yoga, which is the reason I don't get injuries. I stay flexible.

6. Be a role model.

I have two daughters. They always want to go to the gym. They are very fit because they grew up in that environment. I took my kids to the gym. We went to the pool.

7. Just do it.

I don't believe [that because] you're 60, you're 70, now you're supposed to stop work, now you're retired. I think, What can I do now? I got my doctorate in my 50s. I became a bodybuilder in my 60s, a writer in my 70s. I've written four books in English and Spanish. I'm going to continue in my 80s, 90s and 100s. The older I get, the better I look and feel. Take a look at me on my YouTube channel  if anybody has a doubt. Just invest a half an hour. It's an amazing journey.

8. Avoid naysayers.

I didn't accept limitations when I was young in my country. My grandmother said to me: Josefina, how much longer are you going to go school? I was in my 20s and my grandmother thought I should be married. I didn't listen. I didn't disrespect her; I didn't talk back. But I knew that wasn't the thing for me to do, because I had a dream. I wanted to come to the United States to get my master's degree. Eventually I wanted to get my doctorate degree. I wanted to work in the United States.

9. Inspire people to inspire yourself.

To me, the way I live my life is normal. I've been blown away by all the people who got inspired or changed their lifestyles because of me. If you go on my Instagram, [you will] see people's pictures and testimonials. Because of my books, my YouTube channel, my postings on social media, I'm getting it now. You know what it does to me? It makes me better, it makes me more powerful, it makes me want to get better. I want to show them what is possible. Don't hesitate because the joy I get with it is so amazing.

10. When one door closes, another one opens.

I'm not sorry [the America's Got Talent judges didn't send her through]. I was wondering What am I doing here? But the message got out. America's Got Talent has been calling me every day. I have an interview from England because people are inspired. I didn't win in the sense that we understand, but I won by helping people change their minds, to see other ways, to change their paradigm. I would do it again and again. Sometimes people learn this very late, you don't have anything to lose by going for something. Think anything is possible.
SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images

En espanol | You likely know that certain chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and kidney ailments boost your risk of serious problems with COVID-19. But what if you have arthritis?

For the most part, you can breathe a sigh of relief, because rheumatic diseases in and of themselves don't appear to increase your odds of contracting COVID-19, says Ellen M. Gravallese, M.D., chief of the division of rheumatology, inflammation and immunity at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston, and the president of the American College of Rheumatology.

But some underlying issues related to your condition, as well as certain medications you may take, may raise concerns, she cautions.

Over 54 million U.S. adults suffer from some form of arthritis, a category that includes osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthriti  all of which damage joints in different ways.

Good news for those with osteoarthritis

The most common type, osteoarthritis, seems in the clear when it comes to the coronavirus. A few months ago, scientists were worried that people taking common arthritis medications known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)  a category that includes aspirin, ibuprofen, Aleve and selective COX2 inhibitors like Celebrex and Vioxx  could have an elevated risk of contracting the disease. This was based on a theory that the increase of an enzyme in the lungs from the drugs might create a welcome mat for the virus.

But so far no patient studies have linked NSAID use with the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even though the theoretical concern about these drugs doesn't seem to be playing out, if you can get relief from Tylenol or a nonprescription topical cream, you might want to switch or take NSAIDs at the lowest dose that helps, advises Lee Rubin, M.D., chief of the Total Joint Replacement Program at Yale Medicine.



Perhaps a bigger health issue with osteoarthritis right now is the way that self-isolating may affect your ability to exercise. Physical therapists like to say that Motion is lotion for those with joint issues. So if you're more sedentary because you've been avoiding the gym or pool, this can aggravate your disease. Look for new, safe exercise alternatives, like an online fitness class or taking walks or bike rides around your neighborhood, Rubin suggests.
Courtesy of @trinityprado and @the.mcfarlands

Dan McFarland, 59, walked into his Louisville, Kentucky, home's kitchen and greeted his sons. They were all wearing matching powder blue sweat suits. Then, they broke into dance.

It sounds like an overthetop scene in a musical, but for McFarland and his family, things like this come with a shrug. It's TikTok.

TikTok  a wildly popular phone app (especially among Gen Z)  is a short-video social media platform that's been downloaded billions of times. The app provides users with a host of sound clips (everything from movie monologues to popular songs) they can use to make videos, usually about 30 seconds long.

But the platform goes beyond that: It's an app for budding comedians to try out jokes, hobby enthusiasts to share tips and for people of all ages to let loose. And if you just want to watch videos, you don't even have to make an account.
Elisa Sand

esand@aberdeennews.com

Two people from Aberdeen have pleaded guilty to felony kidnapping with the charges related to an April incident.

Ryan Rencountre, 21, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with five years suspended and given credit for 38 days served. He was fined $107. Cassandra Reef, 26, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with two years suspended and fined $107.

Rencountre, Reef and two others were in an apartment with a man and demanded his property, according to court documents. Rencountre was armed with a black gun. Reef and one of the others had knives.

The man said he did not have money on him and was not allowed to leave the apartment, according to court paperwork.

The victim was later escorted to his mothers apartment to retrieve money, but once he arrived he refused and called the police. However, Rencountre and Reef were not with him at that time, according to court documents.

In other court news:
by Sumon Corraya

Card Patrick DRozario, archbishop of Dhaka, Rev Samuel Sunil Mankhin, moderator of the (Anglican) Church of Bangladesh, and other religious leaders took part in the service. Bangladesh has reported 130,474 cases so far with 1,661 deaths. At least 53,133 people have been treated.

Dhaka (AsiaNews)  A special, online ecumenical prayer was held yesterday evening, with the participation of Catholic and Protestant leaders, to ask God for an end to the pandemic in Bangladesh and the whole world.

Participants also prayed for the eternal repose of those who died from the virus and for those who are sick, that they may soon get better.

The meeting, which lasted over an hour, was promoted by the Bangladesh Christian Association, a human rights group based in the capital, Dhaka. Scores of people abroad joined the online event.

Card Patrick D'Rozario, archbishop of Dhaka, led the service. In his prayer he mentioned "those who serve in hospitals, those who lead the nation," and "those who have fallen into poverty because of the coronavirus".

Rev Samuel Sunil Mankhin, moderator of the (Anglican) Church of Bangladesh, said that with the pandemic "all homes have become houses of prayer. We can't go to church .. . so let us pray in our homes.

He urged the faithful to pray more, citing the example of Muslims who, "during Ramadan, pray five times a day and fast. How much time do we give to God?

For Nirmol Rozario, president of the Bangladesh Christian Association, gradually, the outbreak in our country is getting worse and worse. Many religious and political leaders have been affected and some have died. Even among Christians there are many positive cases and some deaths.

According to data released yesterday, some 130,474 cases have been reported in Bangladesh with 1,661 deaths. At least 53,133 people have been treated.
But even with child care facilities opening, the base will not be handle the same amount of children it did before the coronavirus pandemic, Spragg told The Capital. Even once the base opens all the facilities, the number of children that can attend will be about 700 shy.
Rich Lowry

National Review

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden agree on one thing  the other side is trying to steal the election.

Trump told a gathering of students in Phoenix that this will be, in my opinion, the most corrupt election in the history of our country.

He amplified the point, a constant theme of his, in a tweet: RIGGED 2020 ELECTION: MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES!

The president of the United States actively undermining faith in the electoral process is gross and unprecedented, but hes not alone.

Asked by Trevor Noah of The Daily Show whether he worried the election would be rendered moot by his supporters being prevented from voting, Biden replied: Its my greatest concern. My single greatest concern. This president is going to try to steal this election.

This wasnt an isolated comment. Mark my words, he warned in May, I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it cant be held.

Yes, if there is one thing everyone can now agree on, its our inability to pull off a free and fair election.

We are probably headed to the ugliest electoral smashup since 1876, when the contest between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden went into overtime, with each party claiming it had won Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina.

Perhaps a handy victory by Biden or, much less likely, Trump will take the edge off the postgame acrimony, but it is going to be ugly regardless. If the election is close, the aftermath will be a norm-busting extravaganza of conspiracy theories, lawsuits and, at the very least, threats to take it to the streets.

If Trump loses, theres unlikely to be a concession phone call  one of the little grace notes of our democracy  and he will argue that he was undone by Democratic cheating. Heck, he won in 2016 and still maintained hed been cheated.

The transition would surely be unlike any weve ever seen, with the incumbent routinely insulting his soon-to-be successor. Trump would be likelier to live-tweet Bidens inauguration than to attend.

And if he wins, it could be even even worse.

There were protests in the streets after he won in 2016. In the supercharged atmosphere of 2020, we shouldnt be surprised by riots. After once again believing hed inevitably lose and facing another intolerable four years of President Trump, the lefts shock and despair would be unlike anything either side in our politics has experienced in memory.

Its not going to lead Trumps opposition to conclude: Oh, well. We ran another flawed candidate and got overconfident again. Well retool and see you in 2022 and 2024.

One of the ironies of the 2016 election is that Democrats rightly scolded Trump for preparing the ground not to accept the election result. Then, when he won, they resisted accepting the result themselves, preferring to believe that the election had been stolen by Russia.

A close result will obviously magnify feelings on both sides. The Florida vote controversy of 2000 was the height of recent domestic contention over a presidential election. Looking back, though, it was remarkably tame.

With control of the presidency hanging by a thread in Florida, there were no large-scale demonstrations, let alone violence. The legal briefs flew fast and furious and both former President George W. Bush and former Vice President Al Gore wanted to win and distrusted the legal and electoral maneuvers of the other side.

Yet there were things that neither of them would say in public and both of them were willing, if it came to that, to concede with grace. Both men were shaped by the post-World War II consensus in American politics. They had absorbed its standards and reflexively honored its guardrails.

That was 20 years, and an eon ago.
Jeremy Fugleberg

Forum News Service

SIOUX FALLS  South Dakota officials have launched a program aimed at helping those struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program is called 605 Strong, a crisis counseling effort from the state Department of Social Services, that will promote COVID-19 related resources and support, including crisis intervention, and access to the COVID-19 Call Center.

Many individuals have been isolated from their families, have lost jobs or their businesses  the pandemic has impacted so many and we want to find a way to support them, said DSS Cabinet Secretary Laurie Gill in a news release. The 605 Strong program will help connect South Dakotans with basic needs, financial assistance opportunities, government information, and mental health and family resources.

The program is funded through a $210,723 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The money will also pay for outreach to those impacted by COVID-19, including a follow-up program for individuals in acute stress and those in need of supportive contacts, stress management skills or connection to additional services, according to the DSS.

Lutheran Social Services will provide targeted outreach and support to refugees and their families working at affected employers in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen and Huron  all home to COVID-19 outbreaks in meat processing plants, whose diverse workforces include many refugees and immigrants.

As this program moves forward, the goal is to help as many people as possible, lifting up South Dakota so that businesses, families and individuals can move toward a stronger, brighter future, Gill said.

As of Friday, South Dakota had 6,535 known COVID-19 cases and 88 deaths caused by the virus. There are 795 active COVID-19 cases and 79 people diagnosed with the virus currently in the hospital.

The 605 Strong program is funded through the first of a two-part Crisis Counseling Program grant, and DSS plans to apply for the second part of the grant this month, officials said. The grant would fund the program for an additional nine months.

The programs website is 605Strong.com.
Its clearly a way for the university to ride the national discontent and outrage over police killings and police violence against communities of color, he said. We see this as clearly a strategic move on the part of the university to still have its police force and avoid some of the public-relations disaster that comes along with that announcement.
TV

The 'Frozen' actor is reuniting Matthew Broderick and his 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' co-star Alan Ruck more than three decades after the teen comedy movie came out.

Jun 29, 2020

AceShowbiz - "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" stars Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck have been brought together virtually by Josh Gad for the final episode in his online cast reunion series.

The "Frozen" actor has been entertaining fans in coronavirus isolation with his Reunited Apart digital show, on which he's hosted chats with stars from "The Lord of the Rings", "The Goonies", "Splash", "Back to the Future", and "Ghostbusters".

The YouTube show is set to conclude on Sunday, June 28, 2020, and to wrap it all up, he's reconnected the leads of the hit 1986 teen comedy.

In a promotional teaser for U.S. breakfast show "Today", onscreen best friends Broderick and Ruck try to recall the last time they saw one another in person when they crossed paths in New York City.

"It's been a while... It was like 15 years ago this fall (autumn)," Ruck admitted.

Tune into the get-together at 12 P.M. (ET) on Sunday here.
Instagram Celebrity

The 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star celebrates the milestone by throwing an outdoor pink-themed bash, which sees the attendance of her friends and family.

Jun 29, 2020

AceShowbiz - Khloe Kardashian did all she can to keep her sisters from leaving her birthday party. Turning 36 on Saturday, June 27, the Good American founder celebrated her milestone by throwing a lavish pink-themed party on her backyard, and got into a playful scuffle with sisters Kourtney Kardashian and Kendall Jenner when they tried to leave the bash.

Sharing videos of the mischievous altercation was Khloe's youngest sister, Kylie Jenner, through her Instagram Story. In one clip, the birthday girl could be seen climbing on top of Kourtney as she grabbed hold onto Kendall's hoodie and dragged her onto the corner sofa. At one point, Kris Jenner's boyfriend Corey Gamble was captured helping Kendall.

Another clip saw pinned down Kourtney shouting to the camera, "OMG save me," before breaking into giggles. Meanwhile, a third video captured the chaotic moment Kourtney and Kendall finally managed to break away from Khloe's hold after they got into another scuffle in front of floating pink balloons.

The Saturday party itself saw the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star being joined by many members of her famous family as she commemorated her 36th birthday. Multi-colored pink balloon spelling out her nickname "Koko," bouquets of flowers and sweets were in displays. A giant inflatable slide featuring her face also adorned her backyard.

Khloe Kardashian threw pink-themed party to celebrate her 36th birthday.

Khloe's ex-boyfriend Tristan Thompson celebrated her birthday with a sweet Instagram tribute. "I'm wise enough now to know, you came into my life to show me just what it means to be an incredible person," he wrote. "I appreciate how I am able to learn from and grow because of you. I thank God for the beautiful and loving woman you are to everyone, especially our daughter True. You deserve the world Koko! True and I love you mama. Happy Birthday @khloekardashian."

Also turning to the social media platform in honor of the "Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian" host was Kim Kardashian. "Happy Birthday to the most beautiful soul," she wrote. "Thank you for always being so positive and thoughtful and caring towards everyone always! You are so loyal and just care so much about everyone around you. Your light glows and Im so proud to be your sister. I love you forever! Happy Birthday @khloekardashian."

Khloe's mother Kris, in the meantime, shared a series of her throwback pictures along with a message that read, "Happy Birthday to my special bunny @khloekardashian. I hope you have so much sparkle in your day today my beautiful girl  you are an amazing daughter, sister, auntie friend and confidant and you are the entire world to your precious daughter True!!!!!! What a spectacular Mommy you are!!!"

Khloe's outdoor party came as the lockdown caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic has begun to ease.
The symbolism of the Association headquartered in a city of the south that tore families apart during slavery, but later became a place of [emancipation] and hope for so many is incomparable, Scott said in a statement. Baltimore has always been and continues to be a city on the frontlines of civil rights. It is my hope that we do not run away from our history, but continue to build upon it.
Instagram Celebrity

When a fan asks the rapper to describe her specific symptoms, Tokyo replies, 'Fever 101.3, Body aches, Chills, No taste, Can't smell, Sore throat, Cough.'

Jun 29, 2020

AceShowbiz - Tokyo Jetz joins the list of celebrities who contracted with Coronavirus. Breaking the devastating news, the rapper recently took to her Twitter account to share that she tested positive for the novel virus and recounted the whole story including when she first realized she might have the disease.

On Saturday, June 27, she posted a video of herself getting a mobile COVID-19 test by having a swab put down her throat. "Ima just go back inside," she captioned the clip.

"So I cooked crabs yesterday and all morning I was like 'they been sitting they finna be so good' ...got home and can't even taste s**t !!!!" Tokyo then revealed her symptoms. "I can taste stuff at the back of my throat but not on my tongue."

"All day I been like "y'all don't smell that bleach'.... when in reality no one does and I can't smell anything. Luckily we broke my fever under 100 but it was 101.3," she went on explaining. "Mind you...the n***a who did my test said 'oh u sick fa sho..u don't need a test.' "

Tokyo Jetz recalled when she first realized she might have COVID-19.

When a fan asked her to describe her specific symptoms, Tokyo replied, "Fever 101.3, Body aches, Chills, No taste, Can't smell, Sore throat, Cough." However, it seemed like the female emcee's doing better now as she wrote on her account, "I know y'all was gone say that's what I get .....sooooooo I guess I deserved to be healed too."

Despite the unfortunate news, some people still threw hate at Tokyo. "It's sick af that people are happy that @REALTOKYOJETZ tested positive for COVID-19. I understand y'all mad at her, but y'all are sick af on this app," her supporter wrote, to which Tokyo responded, "Good thing idgaf. They better pray they can recover as fast as me & don't have underlying health issues."
Celebrity

Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen and Patrick Stewart get together as part of the 'Global Citizen: Unite For Our Future' benefit before the 'Deadpool' star interrupts by inviting other stars.

Jun 29, 2020

AceShowbiz - Ryan Reynolds knows no boundaries when it comes to the "X-Men". On Saturday, June 27, the "Deadpool" star gave the original "X-Men" cast excuses to leave their special reunion before it was even started when he unexpectedly interrupted their get-together by bringing in other stars from the franchise.

A part of the "Global Citizen: Unite For Our Future" benefit concert, Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen met up on Zoom to reminisce their time on the franchise. "Honestly it's kind of surreal you guys, I can't believe it's been 20 years since the first X-Men movie," Jackman first told his co-stars.

Soon after, Reynolds popped in as he greeted, "Knock knock. Whoa, so many stars!" Jackman tried to politely push him out of the reunion by saying, "Ryan, the cast and I were all just reminiscing about the movie that we're in together." The husband of Blake Lively, however, pressed on, "I hope it's okay I join. I figured we were all in 'X-Men' together...Actually, I invited a few others."

Sophie Turner and James McAvoy, who starred in "X-Men: Dark Phoenix", then joined in while Reynolds talked about the confusing timelines in the franchise. Turner, however, was quick to leave after claiming that she thought it was a "Game of Thrones" reunion. Her exit prompted the others to split as well.

Janssen was the first to say, "I actually have a James Bond reunion Zoom now." It prompted Berry to tell the others, "Oh God me too." McAvoy followed their lead by claiming, " 'Split' reunion," whereas Stewart simply noted, "Star Trek," before leaving Reynolds and Jackman as the last two stars online. Near the end, Liev Schreiber popped in for a brief seconds to declare, "X-Men Origins reunite!"

In a more serious note, Jackman celebrated those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and those fighting against racial injustice. "Sometime in the not too distant future the hard work of every global citizen will bring about a healthier, safer, more equitable world. To all the first responders, essential workers and those fighting for racial justice: I stand in awe of your efforts this year and I stand with you," he stated.
Instagram Celebrity

The 'Black Widow' raptress shows off her post-baby body in a figure-hugging top and black skinny jeans while heading to the Los Angeles Department of Motor Vehicles.

Jun 29, 2020

AceShowbiz - Iggy Azalea has been spotted out in public for the first time after secretly giving birth to her first child. The Australian raptress was photographed running an errand in Hollywood, California on Friday, June 26.

The new mom showed off her post-baby body in a black bodysuit and black skinny jeans. She also wore a frayed denim jacket and heeled strappy black sandals, while holding a black face mask which she didn't put on at the time.

In the pictures, her long blonde tresses were kept straight and let loose as she accessorized with extremely large silver hoop earrings. She sported natural makeup with nude lipstick.

The 30-year-old star reportedly visited the Los Angeles Department of Motor Vehicles that day to take a new driver's license photo. After spending 20 minutes inside, she left the building wearing the black face mask and holding a paperwork.

Iggy was reported to have given birth her first child, a baby boy, with her boyfriend Playboi Carti in April, but it's not until earlier this month that she confirmed the news. "I have a son," she wrote in a message to her fans via Instagram Stories on Wednesday, June 10. On why she waited for weeks to share the news, the Grammy-nominated artist explained, "I kept waiting for the right time to say something but it feels like the more time passes the more I realize I'm always going to feel anxious to share news that giant with the world."

Iggy, who has been keeping her relationship with her boyfriend low-key, also revealed her intention to keep her son's life private, but it was never her intention to keep him a secret. "I want to keep his life private but wanted to make it clear he is not a secret & I love him beyond words," the "Fancy" spitter declared.

Iggy and Playboi have been dating since late 2018. In December 2019, they moved into a new home in Atlanta together. In the same month, rumors of Iggy being pregnant first started going around, but neither Iggy nor Playboi ever confirmed the news.
WENN Celebrity

Revealing that the incident happened on the set of 'The Village', the former 'Boardwalk Empire' star explains why the 'Joker' actor was upset in the first place.

Jun 29, 2020

AceShowbiz - Actor Michael Pitt got an early taste of Joker's rage when he played co-star Joaquin Phoenix's guitar on the set of "The Village" and discovered it was a gift from Johnny Cash's family.

Pitt had a lot of time on his hands while making the film, and when he stumbled across his castmate's guitar he started strumming.

"I play guitar and I wasn't working and I wanted to play so I grabbed his guitar and started playing it," the actor recalls. "He came back in and almost yelled at me."

Shaken Pitt apologised and Joaquin showed him why he was so upset: "He opened up the guitar case and inside he opened up this piece of paper and inside was kind of, like, powder," the actor recalls. "I go, 'What is that?' and he goes, 'That's Johnny Cash!' It was some of his remains!".

"It was one of Cash's guitars, I'm not sure which. I'd probably yell at anyone if they touched it. I think the estate or the family had given Joaquin that inspiration to play Johnny Cash."

Phoenix was preparing to play the country music legend when he filmed "The Village" in 2004.
Instagram Celebrity

For the virtual award-giving event, the 'Black-ish' star can be seen donning a white jacket and yellow top underneath and opting for an ash blonde wig, which many troll her over online.

Jun 29, 2020

AceShowbiz - Marsai Martin was among the presenters at the 2020 BET Awards, which took place virtually on Sunday night, June 28. The 16-year-old young star was tapped to announce the winner of Best Female Hip-Hop Artist award that went to Megan Thee Stallion.

In a post on the official Twitter account of BET Award, the "Black-ish" star could be seen donning a white jacket and yellow top underneath. For her hair, Marsai opted for an ash blonde wig, which many trolled her over online.

"Marsai Martin's wig is bigger than she is," a troll tweeted not long after her appearance. "Not Marsai Martin in her mamas wig," someone else echoed the sentiment, while another hater added, "Now Marsai Martin now that she had a grown woman wig on...that wig is too grown for ME. love her tho! do you sis! lol."

Marsai appeared to catch wind of the ridicule. The actress later addressed the trolling in a tweet which read, "Sorry some of y'all don't like my hair. Or teeth ... which are my actual teeth btw. Good thing I don't put my effort into trying to please everyone. I like it. Chile I'm 16 this year, let me live. I'm trying to stay sane in quarantine. Enjoy the #BETAwards."

Marsai Martin addressed the trolling in a tweet.

She also talked about the trolling in an Instagram video. "So I was on Twitter, and a lot of people have been addressing my hair, talking about my hair and how it looks like a grandma's wig, and I don't...," she said before dramatically acting as if she was about to cry. "I'm sorry to anyone that I offended or haven't gone to your expectation about how I am supposed to be, and I apologize. I never want to hurt anyone's feelings... I'm sorry."

Marsai then pretended wiping her snot with a 100 dollar bill before she quit her acting. "Y'all, we're in quarantine. I mean, we got more to focus on than just my hair," she concluded.

Some fans fortunately came to her defense. "While y'all are worried about her appearance, did you catch her message?!?! Have you contacted the Kentucky DA? Is it on your to-do list?!?! Y'all worried about a lace front while this Queen is tryna get you worried about the front lines!" one supportive fan replied to Marsai's tweet.

"Who doesn't like what?? You looked beautiful," another user convinced Marsai. One person added, "Who's talking s**t about our baby?"
WENN Celebrity

The 33-year-old sock designer, who had been staying under the radar for years, makes his social media comeback after attending his sister Khloe Kardashian's birthday party.

Jun 30, 2020

AceShowbiz - Rob Kardashian has apparently regained his confidence after years of staying out of the spotlight. The younger brother of the Kardashian sisters, who is notoriously more private than his siblings, has made his social media comeback after attending his sister Khloe Kardashian's 36th birthday party.

On Sunday, June 28, the former "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star shared rare photos of himself to reveal his major weight loss. In one the pictures posted on his Instagram page, the 33-year-old posed with his sister Kourtney Kardashian, who looked effortlessly chic in a little black dress. "Sweet 16 woo," so he captioned the snap.

In another post, he shared an image of him standing alongside Khloe's ex and baby daddy Tristan Thompson as well as a family friend. "Woo back baby," he proclaimed in the caption. The sock designer, who wore an all-black outfit, appeared to rock longer hair which was partly concealed with his blue cap.

He was also pictured chatting with Kourtney's ex-partner Scott Disick at the party, with each of them holding a drink. "Appreciate it," he wrote alongside the snap.

Khloe's 36th birthday bash over the weekend marked Rob's first public appearance in years as he often opted to exclude himself from family events. His fans and followers gladly celebrated his social media comeback, with one exclaiming, "YESSSS rob !!"

"we missed youu," another remarked, while a third person praised his appearance, "You're looking great." Many others left gushing comments, which read, "Rob damn hottie you be looking fine AF," "So handsome rob," and "Damn Rob FINNNEEE."

Meanwhile, in a tribute to his sister Khloe, Rob posted a throwback photo from their childhood. "Happy Birthday Khlo-moneyyyy!! Woohoo ! I LOVE YOU best friend! TONIGHT WE DRINK AS KINGS (inside joke)," he wrote in the caption. Khloe replied in the comments, "Bobby!!!!!!! I love you!!! My best friend for life!!!!!!! Cheers my brother!"
GLENN COUNTY, Calif.  As more California counties reopen, state health officials are also monitoring counties that arent meeting specific targets related to curbing coronavirus cases.

There are three different factors that can cause a county to be placed on the states Coronavirus watch list: elevated disease transmission, increasing hospitalization, and limited hospital capacity.

Glenn County was added to the states coronavirus watch list Monday, June 29. The list currently includes a total of 19 counties across the state.

RELATED: Where to get tested for coronavirus in the North State

Health officials said Glenn County is experiencing elevated disease transmission. Drivers of this include an increase in outbreaks and clusters related to household contacts, social gatherings, businesses in the county, one church gathering, and one case that traveled to Mexico.

The states action to address the concerns include working with businesses on health check screenings and NPI enforcement and monitoring. Also increasing case investigators and contact tracing, more testing, and develop a process to handle incoming cases in a timely and efficient manner.

Counties on the states watch list include:

Contra Costa County

Fresno County

Glenn County

Imperial County

Kern County

Kings County

Los Angeles County

Merced County

Orange County

Riverside County

Sacramento County

San Bernardino County

San Joaquin County

Santa Barbara County

Santa Clara County

Solano County

Stanislaus County

Tulare County

Ventura County

Click here for continuing coronavirus coverage on Action News Now.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The California Department of Public Health and California Governor Gavin Newsom today released guidance on the closure of bars for counties on the County Monitoring List.

The Department recommends that counties on the County Monitoring List for three or more consecutive days, but less than 14 days, close bars through local health officer order (or do not allow for the opening if bars have not yet been allowed to open in the county). Counties which have been on the list for 14 days or more are required to immediately close bars.

Guidance for Closure of Bars in Counties on County Monitoring List

Californians must remain vigilant against this virus, said Governor Gavin Newsom. COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger. Thats why it is critical we take this step to limit the spread of the virus in the counties that are seeing the biggest increases. Each of us has the power to limit the spread of this virus. Wear a face covering and keep physically distant outside the home. Dont gather in groups, and if you are older or have a condition that puts you at higher risk of COVID-19, protect yourself by staying home.

"California is using data and science to guide our response to COVID-19. We are actively monitoring COVID-19 across the state and working closely with counties where there are increased rates and concerning patterns of transmission. Closing bars in these counties is one of a number of targeted actions counties are implementing across our state to slow the virus spread and reduce risk, said Dr. Sonia Angell, State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health. We all have our part in the fight against community spread of COVID 19. If you go out then remember, wear a face covering, keep your distance and wash your hands frequently.

Community spread of COVID-19 continues to be a concern across the state, and in particular for counties on the County Monitoring List. Community spread increases the likelihood of expanded transmission of COVID-19 in settings such as nursing homes, homeless shelters, jails and prisons. Counties will continue to take action to limit the transmission of COVID-19, including reinstituting community measures such as the closure of bars.

Impacted Counties

Recommended Bar Closure:

 Riverside

 Sacramento

 San Bernardino

 Santa Barbara

 Stanislaus

 Ventura

Mandatory Bar Closure:

 Fresno

 Kern

 Kings

 Los Angeles

 Tulare

Please note, the following counties do not have bars open currently and are recommended to keep them closed (Contra Costa and Santa Clara) or required to keep them closed (Imperial and San Joaquin) based upon their duration on the county monitoring list.

Bars are social environments where groups of people mix. In these environments alcohol consumption reduces inhibition and impairs judgment, leading to reduced compliance with recommended core personal protective measures, such as the mandatory use of face coverings and the practice of social and physical distancing. Bars are generally louder environments requiring raised voices leading to the greater projection of droplets. These factors present a higher likelihood of transmission of COVID-19 within groups, between groups, and among the workforce. Public health professionals within California and throughout the nation have identified bars as the highest risk sector of non-essential businesses currently open. Beyond the higher risk of transmission in bar settings, contract tracing, a key measure needed to control spread, is also more challenging in bars because of the constant mixing among patrons and a lack of record-keeping of those in attendance.

More information about the state's COVID-19 guidance is on the California Department of Public Health's Guidance web page.

More information about reopening California and what individuals can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19, visit Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California.
CHICO, Calif.  In the weeks since the killing of George Floyd, across the country there has been renewed focus on cases involving the deaths of black men.

In the Northern California region there is also a case that one local filmmaker is determined to keep in the publics eye.

Action News Now Morning Anchor Julia Yarbough first told you about the film last September and recently caught up with the documentary creator, Trudy Duisenberg, to speak with her about the status of the case.

The murder of Chico State University student Marc Thompson remains unsolved. His body was found in a burning car in the hills above Oroville in September of 2014.

Those who knew Thompson said he was outspoken and involved in community causes, well-liked and respected.

What I wanted to do all along was let the most people possible know his story, said Duisenberg.

She premiered a documentary in September, 2019. Obligated to the Truth detailed Thompsons case. Duisenberg said she crafted the documentary in part because the story moved her and because she hoped it might spark renewed interest and clues.

I didnt think local law enforcement would actively support my bringing this story back, says Duisenberg.

She says the documentary creates mixed emotions. Sadness the Thompson case even exists but also a small amount of hope.

Im hopeful because I think more and more of the greater society is willing to receive a think about true heartfelt change.

Yarbough reached out to the Butte County Sheriff's Office to ask, despite the passage of time, is Thompson's case still being investigated?

In a statement, the Butte County Sheriffs Office said:

Detectives assigned to this case have done their best to follow-up on the leads provided by family, friends, and other sources."

The department goes on to say, This case is not closed. We continue to investigate and have been successful in solving other cases after the passage of lengthy periods of time"

"Sadly it's like say his name. Why do we use that phrase, say the name? So they get recognition; so we acknowledge that a crime happened, explains Duisenberg.

After the Floyd case and subsequently increased in public awareness, Duisenberg says she decided to share her documentary on YouTube and not just for private distribution.

She is hopeful that with a larger audience and wider distribution, there may be someone who knows something who will come forward on this case.
Gunman at Walmart distribution center was former employee

Action News Now is learning more this morning about the gunman who targeted former co-workers at the Red Bluff Walmart Distribution Center - killing one and wounding four others. Tehama County Sheriff's Office says the suspect - Louis Wesley Lane crashed into the building and opened fire on employees with a semi-automatic rifle. Red Bluff Police say they shot and killed Lane after a firefight.

Suspect named in Shingletown shooting that killed 2, leaves 1 in critical condition



The Shasta County Sheriff's Office says deputies are searching for 35-year-old Daun Eric Sanders of Shingletown. He's wanted for shooting and killing two people and leaving another in critical condition. This happened Saturday, in the 27000 block of Gail Lane in Shingletown. Deputies say sanders could be armed and dangerous, there is a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

Tips needed after shots fired at bicyclists, drivers on busy Chico street

Chico Police are searching for the suspect or suspects involved in two drive-by shootings last Tuesday. One on 16th Street and Park Ave. the other on Humboldt Ave. and Pine Street. Callers reported a man in a dark-colored vehicle shooting at bicyclists and drivers in those areas. Since then there have been no reports of injuries. Police say this shooting does appear to be gang-related.

Chico police investigating armed gas station robbery

Police are searching for a man they say robbed a gas station at gunpoint. Chico Police say it happened Sunday night at the Speedway Gas Station on Cohasset Road just off Highway 99. Investigators say the suspect pulled out a handgun and demanded money and other items from the clerk then took off towards Manzanita Avenue.

Fireworks bring wildfire and injury risks as 4th of July nears

Butte County District Attorney, Mike Ramsey released a statement Sunday. He is reminding everyone that any possession of fireworks, even those designated as "safe and sane," within the unincorporated portions of Butte County -- is illegal and strictly prohibited. People who violate the rule could face a fine of upwards of $1,000 and up to six months in county jail.

California man faces 26 charges in Golden State Killer case

Prosecutors say Joseph Deangelo is set to plead guilty today to being the golden state killer. The plea would spare Deangelo any chance of the death penalty. Prosecutors expect Deangelo will admit to 13 murders and 13 kidnapping- related charges spanning six counties and several years.

Some US states return to previous restrictions to slow surges of coronavirus cases

The United States now has 2.5 million coronavirus cases with new records in Florida, South Carolina and Nevada. Governors are at odds over how to handle the rising numbers. The Trump Administration is facing tough questions from lawmakers about whether it's safe to reopen - and why there has been no second stimulus package to help Americans without jobs.
Unemployment in Maryland has soared since the pandemic began in March. Efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 have dealt devastating blows the economy, especially in Baltimore, where so much prosperity relies on hotels, restaurants and tourism. The citys unemployment rate has outpaced the states, jumping from 4.9% in March to 11.9% in April, the most recent data available locally. The rate across Maryland was 3.3% in March and 10.1% in April.
Its time to put the spotlight back on TRUST. A sales executive dropping off the product without checking on payment  trusting the customer to pay later for his order  would more likely be a utopian concept for many! Not true if youre one of those living in 350 plus apartment complexes where iD Fresh Food is delivering its products directly to customers.

Read Also - Livogen(R) tonics #RahoStrongIronStrong campaign encourages women

In one of the most unique initiatives, Indias largest ready-to-cook fresh food brand has launched its highly-acclaimed Trust Shop 2.0 to cater to customers in Mumbai, especially in the Covid-19 hit areas. In coordination with representatives of over 350 Resident Welfare Associations (RWA), the initiative has been launched to make fresh and healthy products available to residents locked at home due to the current situation.

While a lot of companies are directly reaching out to customers through RWAs, theyre struggling with collecting payments from hundreds and thousands of apartment residents. In fact, reconciling payments is becoming a huge bottleneck for companies and RWA members. To address this challenge, iD decided to do away with the reconciliation process, at the risk of losses that they may have to incur. Customer Trust  being the only motive driving the initiative. So if youre short of money or decide to pay later, iD will not follow-up on payment and repose complete trust in you to make the payment later.

We got a lot of distress calls from customers in Mumbai, especially in the red zone areas, saying that they were unable to step out of their homes to buy food. We were aware that the retailers and other vendors were also struggling to navigate these uncertain times. Given the nature of the supply chain disruptions and shipping delays, we decided that its best to reach out to our customers directly, especially those living in gated communities without a grocery store or shopping complexes. However, there were several concerns raised by members of RWAs over challenges they were facing in collecting and reconciling payments from hundreds and thousands of apartment residents. We at iD came up with an easy and simple solution - TRUST the customer to pay for the products they have taken, says Musthafa PC, Co-founder and CEO, iD Fresh Food.

The company had first launched the Trust Shop model, in 2016, wherein customers could take products from iD chillers - unmanned by sales personnel and with no CCTV cameras  installed at 37 apartments across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. iD trusted customers to drop off the money in a cash box attached to the chiller. The thought behind the campaign was - customers trusted iD to feed their family, and in return iD trusted the customers to drop off the money on their own. The response was phenomenal then with 90-95 per cent returns in some of the stores and its no different now!

Currently, iD delivers its flagship Idly and Dosa batter, along with Whole Wheat Parota, Malabar Parota, Natural Paneer and Filter Coffee, to close to 9,000 households, spread across 350 apartments in Mumbai, through the Trust Shop route. Buoyed by the overwhelming response in such a short period of time, the company has expanded the initiative to Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad as well.

Trust and the sense of community have been a huge part of our culture at iD. Based on our earlier experience with iD Trust Shop and its success, we decided to launch it on a much larger scale in over 350 apartments in Mumbai. We trust our fellow citizens. In fact, more than 90 per cent of our customers have made the payment online within a day. I believe, in these uncertain times, we need to trust each other and be there for one another as a community. We usually think 'trust' is a loss making proposition in a business. However, because we're selling goodness, I strongly feel it will always be profitable, added Musthafa.

Commenting on the response, Pavan Kumar BVS - Chief Business Officer, iD Fresh said, While sales was a big challenge during the early days of lockdown, solutions came in the form of customer-focused technology and some disruptive and innovative approaches that iD adopted. The Trust Shop 2.0 is not just a unique initiative but also an attempt to let our customers know that we are with them in these challenging times. Our sales team has worked hard to make this happen, and we are extremely delighted with the positive feedback that we have received from our customers. This will certainly go a long way in building customer confidence in our brand and also remind us of a value that seems to be lost in todays world.

So, even if you cant get out, fret not! iD is here, at your service. Because theres nothing like a nutritious, home-cooked meal to beat the pandemic blues. Not to forget, its myriad health benefits!
Biologist Jeremy Wade has spent the last 35 years solving mysteries that lurk in our planets rivers, lakes and seas. In 2017, he hung up his rod after nine seasons on Animal Planets one of the top-rated series, River Monsters, where he reeled in some of the rarest, most elusive and most dangerous creatures lurking beneath the waters surface. But the waters of the world run deep; theyre dark and forever changing and many mysteries remain. Jeremy returns to Animal Planet in a captivating new series that brings him back to the waters edge to investigate reports of the unimaginable and unexplained in JEREMY WADES DARK WATERS premiering July 6 at 9 PM on Animal Planet, Animal Planet HD and Discovery Plus app.

In JEREMY WADES DARK WATERS, Wade spotlights the bizarre, the weird and the mysterious as he investigates baffling, unsolved mysteries. He takes Animal Planets audiences on journeys beneath the water in remote areas, to islands lost in time and out into the open ocean to investigate reports that include, among others, entire fish species suddenly disappearing; unexplained sightings of mythical beasts; once thriving rivers now empty; and genetic oddities that may have produced the biggest monsters yet.

These are detective stories with a difference - fishy tales from remote waters, and from right under our noses, said Wade. If anybody thought that by now, Id seen it all, youre in for a surprise - as I was.

Jeremy is adventurous, passionate and one of our best storytellers. We look forward to sharing new stories and mysteries with our audiences across all screens around the globe, said Global President of Animal Planet Susanna Dinnage.

JEREMY WADES DARK WATERS episodes this season will include:

Italys Lake Monster - According to legend, one of Europes most beautiful lakes guards an ancient secret. First reported in the 16th century, the Lake Garda Monster has been described as a huge humped beast - half snake, half dinosaur. Jeremy travels to Northern Italy to investigate but is faced with more than one possible culprit. It turns out these lakes and rivers, despite being in one of Italys most populous regions, could be hiding more than one enormous beast worthy of the monster title.

- According to legend, one of Europes most beautiful lakes guards an ancient secret. First reported in the 16th century, the Lake Garda Monster has been described as a huge humped beast - half snake, half dinosaur. Jeremy travels to Northern Italy to investigate but is faced with more than one possible culprit. It turns out these lakes and rivers, despite being in one of Italys most populous regions, could be hiding more than one enormous beast worthy of the monster title. Alaskas Lost River Kings - Jeremy Wade travels to Alaska to investigate reports of the mysterious disappearance of the majestic King Salmon. His search for answers takes him from the states most heavily fished rivers to the mighty Yukon River where the King Salmon is the lifeblood of the native communities and out into the ocean, following a trail of evidence that leads him to encounters with some of Alaskas most formidable predators. Who or what is killing the kings?

- Jeremy Wade travels to Alaska to investigate reports of the mysterious disappearance of the majestic King Salmon. His search for answers takes him from the states most heavily fished rivers to the mighty Yukon River where the King Salmon is the lifeblood of the native communities and out into the ocean, following a trail of evidence that leads him to encounters with some of Alaskas most formidable predators. Who or what is killing the kings? Return of the Outback Beast  A report of an underwater attack in Australia has caught Jeremy Wades attention. The story of a diver tangling with a colossal fish is intriguing, but according to most people, there shouldnt be any fish of significant size in the area. Chasing a lead, Jeremy travels to eastern Australia to investigate, and discovers that the fish responsible for the attack could be a species back from the brink of extinction.

JEREMY WADES DARK WATERS is produced for Animal Planet by Icon Films where Laura Marshall and Andie Clare serve as executive producers with Nicholas Head as showrunner. For Animal Planet, Lisa Lucas is executive producer with Patrick Keegan as supervising producer.
The year 2020 has taught us several harsh lessons. Barely had we entered a new year with renewed hopes and expectations, when the global COVID-19 pandemic jolted all of us out of our comfortable Normal zone and flung us into an uncertain world. Terms like lockdown, social distancing, quarantine, work from home, new normal, unprecedented times and the dreaded R word  Recession  have become a part and parcel of our daily lives.

Read Also - Titan Raga Proud to be Me campaign celebrates self-love

India is just emerging out of an over two-month lockdown  a period that has changed our lives, behaviours and the way we conduct business forever. The lessons that we have learnt during the lockdown period and our experiences during the year so far, will help us navigate a world that we had never imagined. Adgullys latest endeavour  Lockdown Lessons  is an attempt to present the key learnings that Indias business honchos have learnt and imbibed, and which can help the industry navigate the new normal better.

In conversation with Adgully, Rohit Srivastava, Chief Strategy Officer, Contract India, says how the COVID-19 and lockdown period has really been about embracing the new behaviours. The amazing ability of people to adapt and find ways of working around the constraints and challenges they face has been a huge revelation, according to him.

What are the key lockdown lessons as a professional during the lockdown period?

Several, really! For one, the amazing ability of people to adapt and find ways of working around the constraints and challenges they face has been a huge revelation. The fact that a lot of processes and protocols (such as travel, face to face meetings, physical presence in office) that were always accepted as absolute essentials for business are NOT indispensable and in fact, a huge cost in terms of both time and money, both of which could be opportunities for significant savings. Another important realisation has been about the importance of very time bound engagement with well defined agendas and a clear start and end time (all of which has become an essential SOP, as people try and align their calendars for virtual meetings)  and more importantly, the significant improvement that this can produce in terms of both, efficiency as well as effectiveness. The earlier processes seem criminally inefficient in contrast  with significant chunks of time wasted in just getting people together for a meeting or rescheduling planned meetings thanks to impromptu new ones getting in the way!

Please tell us some of the key takeaways in terms of life lessons from the lockdown period?

The realisation of the work required to be done at home  which can be as taxing, as strenuous, as critical as any professional or office related work! And hence, the shocking revelation that people managing this arduous task dont even get the weekend breaks that all other working people get as a routine and a right! Also, the charm of just being together  and the realisation that having a wonderful time does not necessarily mean going out or doing things; and that just catching up, sharing memories, exchanging notes can be most enjoyable. For some people, this has also led to many revelations about their own family  their ambitions, plans, anxieties; and the resultant awareness of how little they knew about such matters, even within their small families. Of course, the rediscovery of old pursuits like cards, carrom, Scrabble, Pictionary and other such board games.

How did you manage and achieve work-life balance while working from home?

The easy part was that you were always at home! So, taking a 10-minute break for a cup of coffee with your spouse was possible, even in the middle of the day. And of course, the fact that you reclaimed more than a couple of hours of your life every day, which was otherwise destined to be spent on roads navigating through traffic. The tough part was that you were always at office! So, there was no end time (which you would normally get just because you had left for the day) and work calls and meetings were getting scheduled regardless of time. So, without conscious planning and discipline, the work could easily overtake your life, making the balance a very distant pipedream. But with some planning and discipline, a more equitable balance was a more realistic possibility.

It has been more than two months since the lockdown was enforced. How are you gearing up for back to office mode?

Well, on the administrative front, it is really about establishing safety protocols and enabling systems; for the safety of our people is of paramount importance. One personal note, its really about embracing the new behaviours (social distancing, masks, carry your own mug and so on)  which is not so difficult as this has become part of the new normal way of life anyway. Also, for me, carrying some of the good lessons of the lockdown into the post lockdown period appears to be an important thing that we must not lose sight of; and hence, avoid going back to earlier poor behaviours.

Any lessons that you picked up in financial management from the lockdown period?

Be more conservative. Save for a rainy day. Plan your investments as well as you plan your lifestyle and expenses. Every time you feel like buying something  ask yourself, is it really that important? Could that money be better spent on something else? Or, more importantly, could it be of better use for someone else, not as privileged? Essentially, learning to attach a higher value to your wealth; and use it well for more worthy causes.
Mahindra Lifespace Developers Limited, the real estate and infrastructure development arm of Mahindra Group, today announced that it has appointed Mr. Viral Oza as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). In his new role, Viral will play a pivotal role in the journey of all the Companys brands, building deep market understanding and strengthening customer insight capabilities. Viral will steer this transformation, crafting and leading marketing and growth programs across the Companys residential and industrial businesses.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Arvind Subramanian, MD & CEO Designate, Mahindra Lifespaces, said, The addition of a seasoned leader like Viral to our management team will significantly add to Mahindra Lifespaces strengths as one of Indias most trusted real estate companies. Viral brings a perfect mix of organisational leadership, marketing innovation expertise and global brand-building experience that will strengthen the effectiveness of our sales efforts and partnerships, while driving customer experience excellence.

Mr. Viral Oza added, I am thrilled to join Mahindra Lifespaces executive team, especially at a time when the Company is poised for strategic growth in its key markets. I look forward to being a part of the growth journey of all the Companys brands that have created a space in the minds and hearts of both retail and corporate customers.

Viral joins the company with over 28 years of experience across FMCG, Telecom, Media and Real Estate, spanning several countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Through his global career journey, he has developed strong business, management and leadership skills through building and growing diverse teams in companies including Unilever, Nokia and Microsoft. Prior to joining Mahindra Lifespaces, Viral was the Chief Marketing Officer at Lodha Group, where he was responsible for driving marketing excellence, building customer centricity and shaping organizational culture and talent.
On 6 June, moderator Prasad Shejale, Founder & CEO, Logicserve Digital led the discussion on Re-calibrating for the digitally transformed customer and was joined by speakers: Pawan Sarda, CMO, Future Group; Sapna Arora, CMO, OLX India; Garima Dikshit, Head of e-commerce, Mondelez India; and Sumanta Ray, Group CMO, Narayana Health.

This was part of Adgullys digital marketing webinar series DIGIXX 2020.

For the three months during the Lockdown, the consumer has stayed indoors and his wallet share his shrunk. This has impacted consumer spending and the consumer has to be more discerning about their needs and wants. While categories that are perceived as essential have seen a tremendous growth other sectors like travel tourism have come to a standstill.

In the introduction, Prasad Shejale shares his view that most of us want an idea about the return and revival of our respective industries and economies. How businesses are reviving and how people are picking new trends?

He adds, In last 80 days, we have jumped down to Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, where health has become the biggest concern.

Sumanta Ray, Group CMO of Narayan Healthcare, agrees that this pandemic is bringing healthcare ecosystem of India under the scanner. He says, Across the world, unless you have a strong healthcare tackling mechanism, it can really bring you down to knees. There will be a very renewed focus on health. An editorial in ToI said Healthcare is the new IT, where there is a huge potential of labour and economic intervention.

He observes that digital interventions in healthcare have always been there, not just digital marketing but also digital delivery for healthcare medicine like telemedicine.

From an Indian healthcare perspective, its largely a problem of access as 70% of doctors are in metro, Tier I, II cities whereas, 70% patients are in Tier III, IV areas so it is a question of bridging the gap according to Ray.

He highlights two pain points of Indian healthcare.

Monetisation  Digital payments have come in a big way to solve that problem.

Policy grey area  Nobody knew whether it was legal to provide a telemedicine service.

He concludes that Covid-19 has pushed Government to roll out initiatives for digital delivery of healthcare services, On 25th March, Niti Aayog and Medical Council of India rolled out the telemedicine policy in India creating a legal framework and standard set of guidelines. Now, all hospitals are transforming digitally, where consultations, follow ups, diagnostics, medicine delivery, prescriptions will all happen via video unless absolutely necessary to go to the hospital.

Garima Dikshit who heads e-commerce at Mondelez India says that from an FMCG perspective the initial shock was felt on physical distribution.

She identified three trends that would impact spends on FMCG category for the coming months.

Personal Safety/ Health and Wellness: This is really impacting how consumers are buying and a little bit of what they are buying.

Nesting at Home: People are snacking at home, celebrating at home, lesser outdoor activity and this trend is likely to go on for a while.

Economic insecurity: The drop in disposable income and the outcomes it will have.

She said, Consumers are drifting towards certain products a whole lot more. They are looking for products that are healthier and give them immunity at least in the foods space. People want to avoid physical shopping as much as possible and vis a vis e-commerce has boomed. It has almost doubled in its contribution.

She added, As an organisation, this pandemic will trigger long term shifts in the way we reach out to retailers and partners. Nesting at home has given rise to another kind of portfolio like larger packs and snacks which are convenient to consume at home. There is the whole trend of home chef-manship and some of our brands have pivoted into that space to encourage recipes and have fun with families at home.

In conclusion, for a company like ours, if people are nesting at home and not going outside, it impacts impulse consumption a lot. Therefore, how do we recover from that, pivot and build impulse in whatever shopping environment is left and how do we drive home consumption in a very big way. These are some of the behaviour changes we are thinking of. In smaller towns, the trends could be reversed due to economic insecurity. We could look at downgrading to smaller packs, value offerings, and deal seeking.

Pawan Sarda who is the CMO of Future Group, one of Indias biggest retailers, says FMCG and Retail is closely related so the challenges are similar in terms of logistics and people. This first thing we did was go online and launched shop.bigbazaar.com to address the customers need at that point in time. Despite everyone talking about e-commerce, if you place an order online, two key pain points emerge: How much time it takes to order online? How much time it takes to receive your order?

In his view, e-commerce sounds like the right solution from a logic perspective but it is still lacking from an infrastructure perspective. The trend of physical retail is here to stay.

Sarda is bullish about Indias retail market as middle class consumers dont have many options for outdoor recreation. He believes Malls end up being a huge social space for people to gather and meet looking from a middle-class lens. The way customers were shopping during the Lockdown period, everybody stuck to their list of buying essentials, and we didnt see them splurging. People are sticking to essentials even in categories like apparel where people are purchasing shorts, T-Shirts, night wear and it will take time for people to go back and splurge.

Sapna Arora, CMO at OLX India points out an interesting trend. She says There are two key things I would like to highlight. We pretty much expected the decline as soon as the Lockdown started. Our numbers bottomed out in the first week and stayed there for a while. What was shocking was the recovery. It has been very steady and steeper than what we expected. I have come to believe that recovery in most industries will be very smooth. Barring a few consumer trends that Sumanta and Garima were talking about, people are waiting to bounce back.

OLX is a platform for buying and selling pre-owned goods. On the selling part, people were at home so they began to declutter. There was a pressure on space and on pockets so it made sense to sell on our platform. People are seeing the merit in buying pre-owned she concludes.
Digital transformation by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has traditionally lagged behind the expected growth curve. As per Zinnov Consulting, out of the 75 Million MSMEs based in India, 16-18 Million have a social media presence, an online listing or a website. Out of 5 Million domain names registered in India, only half have a website behind them.

Ahead of International MSME Day 2020, Endurance International Group (EIG), the parent company of web presence brands like HostGator, Bluehost, ResellerClub, BigRock undertook a survey with Indian MSMEs to understand their adoption of digital presence in response to challenges during COVID-19.

According to the survey, approximately 30 percent of MSMEs started a business website or enabled e-commerce functionality since the lockdown started owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 50 percent of MSMEs surveyed / embraced video conferencing tools and WhatsApp to keep business running during these turbulent times.

The importance of digital mediums during this crisis has had a resurgence. Preference for using digital is now approximately ~1.9X more than traditional sales interactions. MSMEs in the educational services segment recorded the highest jump in the importance of using digital mediums.

With lockdown measures in place, the MSMEs who were able to offer e-commerce functionality witnessed revenue contribution from e-commerce increasing to approximately 50 percent of their total revenues. For MSMEs in retail and educational services, increase in revenue contribution from e-commerce was 53 percent and 65 percent respectively.

The negative impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs has been intense with many having to pause or entirely shut their business. In this survey, one third of MSME respondents confirmed that they are temporarily shutting their business until normalcy resumes. This pause in business is more prominent among MSMEs in metros cities and those in the retail and manufacturing verticals. Majority of MSMEs (nearly 60 percent of those surveyed) believe that it will take up to 6 months for business to return to normal.

MSMEs are seeking support from the government to tide over this crisis. More than 50 percent of MSMEs expect the government to offer tax discounts or exemptions, followed by 36 percent of MSMEs asking for loans at zero interest or cheaper rates.

COVID-19 has forced everyone to rethink daily life. In response to the lockdown, MSMEs who could embrace digital presence were able to keep some semblance of normalcy and continue to serve or engage with their customers. This crisis has made it imperative to digitally transform our places of work. We are fortunate to be able to aid businesses in their digital transformation journey through our products and services., said Manish Dalal, SVP & General Manager, Endurance Group - APAC, having web presence brands like HostGator, Bluehost, ResellerClub, BigRock.

According to the survey, lack of technical expertise and the perceived costs of developing a web presence continue to be the key challenges to creating web presence. Due to these challenges, very often MSMEs take assistance from web professionals to create digital presence. India is primarily a DIFM (do-it-for-me) market and web professionals will play a key role in the digital enablement of MSMEs.

EIG caters to small business owners and web professionals, those who help small businesses to come online, through brands such as HostGator, Bluehost, ResellerClub, BigRock. These brands provide the tools and resources needed to build and establish a web presence, be found online, and improve productivity through digital solutions like domains, hosting, business email and more.

Survey Methodology

To understand the digital trends among small businesses during the lockdown, EIG administered an online questionnaire to their MSME customers in the segments of retail, educational services, technology services, independent bloggers, consultant, advertising & marketing, travel and finance. Majority of these MSMEs are in the metro cities. The survey was conducted over the first 2 weeks of June 2020.
&TVs Gudiya Humari Sabhi Pe Bhari is a slice of the life story of Gudiya (Sarika Bahroliya), having her own unique response to life and situations. Giving us a peek into Gudiya's 'all is well' world, the show sets a light-hearted and humorous tone while depicting her simple yet unbridled approach towards life. Bringing a strong local flavour of Madhya Pradesh, the show takes you through the fascinating journey of Gudiya, intertwining the raw appeal of the region in its dialect, depiction, and characters.



Sharing her experience, Sarika Bahroliya aka Gudiya said, "I cannot express how happy, rather delighted, I am to be back on the sets. It has been quite a different experience with limited people on the sets. On arriving, our temperatures were checked, followed by meeting the other crew members. Wearing masks and following social distancing norms, we started our day with Lord Ganesh's aarti. I had carried my bag comprising of my makeup and sanitation kit, alongside my tiffin box. We sanitised our hands at regular intervals. We have some exciting episodes in the pipeline, and I am eagerly looking forward to it to go on air."
Radio has been a source of local news and feel-good content during the lockdown months. It has been one of the few mediums that is currently churning out interesting fresh content and new offerings for listeners as well as brands. However, like all other media, radio, too, has been under pressure due to the slowdown in the economy with the COVID-19 impact.

Read Also - Indian Film Festival of Melbourne goes ahead rescheduling to November 8th

Even as companies are recalibrating their business strategies, several marketing pundits and experts are of the opinion that brands need to seriously look at Tier 2 and 3 markets to grow and find new customers. Given Radios wide penetration even in rural markets, brands need to relook at effectively tapping this medium to engage with their audience.

Adgully brought together some of the best thinkers in the industry and the countrys radio business to discuss at length The Power of Radio and its Effectiveness as part of its Strategic Move Series on Saturday, June 27, 2020.

Moderated by Abraham Thomas, CEO, Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd (BIG FM), the distinguished panellists included:

Amit Dave, National Head - Sales Strategy & Planning, RED FM

L V Krishnan, CEO, TAM Media Research

Rahul Namjoshi, CEO, MY FM

Shaileen Patel, Head  Business Development and Marcom, N K Proteins

Smita Murarka, VP  Marketing and e-commerce, Duroflex

COVID-19 has been a great leveler, affecting almost all aspects of the lives of consumers and businesses alike. Since the consumer ceased travelling and was asked to remain indoors, this has impacted media consumption significantly, including radio. There have been a lot of reports about how digital and TV consumption grew significantly, but radio also saw a significant boost in consumption.

At the outset, Abraham Thomas shared data from a study conducted by the Association of Radio Operators for India (AROI) across the six metros. According to the highlights of the report, during the lockdown period, radio reached 51 million listeners across the metros, that is, it reached 82 per cent of the population in the top six metros. This was second only to TV, which reached about 86 per cent during the lockdown period. This was also a significant jump from pre-lockdown listenership of 48 million.

The next most significant highlight of the study showed that time spent on consuming content on radio went up by 30 minutes on average across SEC segments. Consumers were spending 2 hours and 36 minutes on an average, compared to pre-lockdown listenership of 2 hours and 7 minutes on the radio. While average growth in terms of time spent went up by 23 per cent, in SEC D and E markets, growth in time spent reached 28 per cent, the highest among all consumer segments.

In the new normal, the study found that most listeners were now listening to radio via their phones (52%), followed by transistors sets (30-35%) and only 16% of the listening is now happening in vehicles.

Citing more data, TAM Media Researchs LV Krishnan said, According to our data, one of the first trends that came forth was the increase in time spent on radio. There was an average of 10-12 per cent growth in average consumption. That growth was happening on the back of consumption at home and on the back of a largely female listenership. Also, unlike TV where content is consumed by the whole family, radio content was being consumed on a one on one basis. It was a personal companion.

Krishnan observed that while doing work from home or chores, consumers were looking for a companion that made for compassionate listening as it was a tough time.

MY FMs Rahul Namjoshi noted, Consumers wanted their personal space and converse with someone familiar. RJs played an important role to fulfil this need. Across India, most RJs began to conduct live shows from their home and personal space. They were not only there to host shows, but also interact with their listeners. Our RJs personally received many calls on air and engaged even further on social media pages, which were flooded with one-on-one discussions. They became a personal friend to the listener.

RED FMs Amit Dave added here, Radio was one of the most credible information drivers during the lockdown. We did not face any disruption in our operations when the lockdown began as we were completely on air. The information that we provided kept our listeners entertained and brought down their stress levels. Local RJs became the biggest influencers in cities as they spoke colloquially and were a conduit between the administration and the public. They also curtailed the spread of fake news by fact checking information on air.

BIG FMs Abraham Thomas then sfifted the conversation to brands and the opportunities they were able to create by leveraging radio.

Krishnan shared, I saw personal loans emerge as a strong category advertising on radio. Their communications to listeners was simple. Since individuals were losing jobs as organisations were losing revenue, they positioned themselves as a personal friend who can help the audience face this tough time by offering personal loans.

He further said, Another category that leveraged the power of radio were confectionery brands. An element of fear during COVID-19 is the anxiety. TV was addressing it from a content perspective via information on news channels and mythologies on GE channels. Confectionery advertisers reached to listeners on radio saying that if they are feeling anxious, consume our chocolates or sweets to feel better.

Duroflexs Smita Murarka said, As a brand it is our role to remain relevant no matter how tough the time. We are a mattress brand that has remained relevant for 55 years in this category. During the lockdown, we communicated the role of sleep in building immunity and leveraged advertising, marketing and communications channels to get this message across. While digital medium became a critical communication channel during lockdown, we believed a combination of media would be more effective. Kerala is one of our strongest markets, where the family had come together around the radio to listen to programmes. Thats why we leveraged it in our communications.

N K Proteins Shaileen Patel shared, During lockdown, it was essential to quickly communicate to our consumers that we are an essential commodity. We used radio to communicate that our distribution channels were still operational and engaged in a conversation with RJs to talk about our hygiene and sanitation standards. We wanted our customers to know that the brand they trust is still available to them.

Watch the entire discussion.
What was going to be the end result? Was this going to be a group that was founded and it would be dropped after an election cycle? Your support would not be there after that? I dont think it was necessarily heartfelt, Lewis said. They were going to do some research on what they would do. Once they changed it from African American, then they said minority and diversity, you water it down because your interest is not on we as Black people.
For the past several weeks its been the same old story for the durum market with prices remaining stable.

Cash prices have remained steady through June with most bids in the region coming between $5.90-$6.25, with a price of $6 being the most common.

Durum planting in North Dakota and Montana is complete and now the market and producers are waiting for the June 30 USDA report to find out what the final planted durum acreage number will be, according to Erica Olson, marketing specialist for the North Dakota Wheat Commission.

Back in the March planting intentions report, USDA was projecting an 11 percent decline in acres from the previous year (in North Dakota), but most analysts feel that the number of acres will be higher in the upcoming report, Olson said.

As of June 22, when Olson gave her report, most of the durum crop in the region had emerged. According to the most recent USDA crop progress report, the condition of this years crop has dropped considerably from the past couple reports. As of June 22, about 51 percent of the crop is rated in good-to-excellent condition. That compares to 73 percent the prior week and 82 percent good-to-excellent from two weeks ago.

The drop in condition rating is likely due to dry conditions out west, she said. Those conditions are starting to stress the crop a little bit. Its definitely not a disaster by any means, but it is affecting stands and yield potential.

The western half of North Dakota and into eastern Montana is still classified as abnormally dry, and some of that is classified as a moderate drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor.
The Aiken City Council is not currently pursuing or drafting an ordinance that would require the wearing of masks amid the novel coronavirus crisis, a survey of council members on Monday showed.

A similar posture is being taken at the county level.

"I would encourage people to use them," City Council member Ed Woltz said, "but we're not dictating."

Several South Carolina municipalities  Charleston, Columbia, Hilton Head, Beaufort, Kiawah Island and Greenville among them  have passed one form or another of a mask rule this month as cases of COVID-19 surge statewide.

More than 350 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the highly contagious coronavirus, had been logged in Aiken County as of Monday morning. More than 30,000 cases have been confirmed statewide.

More than 1,100 cases have been recorded every day in the Palmetto State since June 23. One in five people tested for the virus Saturday were positive, state health data shows.

"We're watching the numbers," Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon said Monday, adding that he does not consider his city a hot spot. Osbon in March declared a citywide state of emergency as coronavirus cases proliferated in the state.

At least two City Council members have heard from their respective constituents about a mask requirement. City Council member Gail Diggs on Monday said she had "been contacted by so many of my constituents in reference" to mask wearing. "And as a person that works in a health care center and also someone who was a former employee of DHEC," Diggs said, "I definitely believe that wearing a mask is something we should all do. Not just consider, but do.

"I wear this mask to protect other people, and I consider that respect, because I know how serious this virus is," Diggs continued. More than 700 virus-related deaths have been recorded in South Carolina. "Masks right now is the answer. This is not rocket science, but it is science."

The new coronavirus spreads chiefly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or yells. Face coverings, masks and shields provide a layer of defense  they "help prevent the respiratory droplets from traveling in the air and onto other people," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"I've had numerous inquiries about it, and certain people are concerned," Osbon said of a mask mandate. "I certainly encourage people to wear a mask, and I wear one when I'm out."

The mayor and City Council members Ed Girardeau, Andrea Gregory and Kay Brohl believe a mask ordinance would be difficult  if not impossible  to police. Brohl emphasized personal responsibility.

"In my opinion, a mask ordinance is not enforceable," Girardeau said. "We can recommend that everybody wear a mask, and we think that's the best thing to do. However, I don't see how that can be enforced."

S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster last week struck a similar tone: Fashioning a statewide mask requirement, he said, would be very difficult, ineffective and would be poor policymaking.

"Now, if the cities have the mechanism to enforce it in their particular area, then that is certainly up to them," the Republican governor said. "That's within their right."

Aiken County Administrator Clay Killian was unaware of any effort to require the wearing of masks countywide.

"Nobody on (County) Council has brought it up to me," he said. "The (County Council) chairman (Gary Bunker) hasn't said anything to me, so I don't think it's in the works by anybody. That doesn't mean somebody won't suggest it, but I don't know of anything we're planning right now."

When asked about the possibility of mask-related actions by County Council, Bunker replied: "At the current moment, none are being contemplated. No one has brought it up."

Staff writer Dede Biles contributed to this story.
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https://www.aish.com/jw/mo/Anti-Semitism-Gets-you-Fired-by-Labour-but-Hired-by-NYT.html

What does a new editor at The New York Times have in common with two of Jeremy Corbyn's most prominent supporters? A willingness to spread anti-Semitic myths.

It turns out The New York Times has lower standards when it comes to those who spread anti-Semitic canards than even Britain's controversial Labour Party. Tweeting an anti-Semitic blood libel about Israel being responsible for teaching American cops the tactics that led to the killing of 46-year-old George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer led to the firing of a member of parliament from the opposition party's leadership. Yet tweeting a similar lie about Israel training American cops to commit human-rights abuses was no bar to a journalist being hired this month to be one of the American newspaper's top editors.

The fate of the two figures in question  Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey and Charlotte Greensit, the NYT new managing editor of its Opinion section  does indicate that Britain's opposition party may be serious about wanting to change course after becoming a home to Jew-hatred under its former leader, Jeremy Corbyn. But it also shows that the NYT, which has a lamentable history when it comes to Jewish issues, is heading down a path in which it is being bullied into taking radical stands that are antithetical to liberal values.

Long-Bailey got into hot water this week when she retweeted an article about Maxine Peake, a British actress who is also a fervent opponent of Israel, as well as being one of Corbyn's biggest fans. Peake is a respected actress, best known for roles in British films and television series like "Silk." In her youth, she was a member of the Communist Party. In recent years, she has been a vocal public supporter of Corbyn, the leftist anti-Semite who led Labour to a catastrophic election defeat in December.

In an interview with Britain's Independent newspaper, Peake, who says that she was "in Palestine, liaising with activists" before having to go home because of the coronavirus pandemic, claimed that "the tactics used by the police in America, kneeling on George Floyd's neck, that was learnt from seminars with Israeli secret services."

The notion that Israelis teach Americans tactics used to kill blacks is a big lie that has been championed in recent years by BDS supporters like Jewish Voice for Peace and other anti-Semites. American cops and first responders get training in Israel that teaches them better community policing tactics, as well as how best to deal with medical emergencies, natural disasters and terrorist attacks  not how to kill people.

The idea of blaming Jews for terrible things that have nothing to do with them is not new. Such blood libels have been a staple of anti-Semitic propaganda since the Middle Ages. Anti-Zionists like Peake are reviving the trope to help delegitimize the right of the one Jewish state on the planet to exist.

Long-Bailey retweeted the article with the lie about Israel and Floyd's death with the comment, "Maxine Peake is an absolute diamond."

Labour's former leader might have joined her in that sentiment. But Corbyn's successor, Keith Starmer, is trying to rid the party of the anti-Semitic extremists that had flocked to it under his predecessor. A spokesperson rightly denounced Peake's comment as "an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory." The statement went on to say that "restoring trust with the Jewish community is a number one priority. Anti-Semitism takes many different forms and it is important that we all are vigilant against it."

Starmer fired Long-Bailey as shadow education secretary, a post that would have ensured her membership in Britain's cabinet if Labour were to win the next election. That was a message to Corbyn's supporters that there would be no room in Labour for them or their inherent anti-Semitism in the future.

But while Labour was attempting to change course, the most important newspaper in the United States has been heading in a different direction.

Charlotte Greensit was hired as part of a changing of the guard at the NYT after a staff revolt led to the resignation of James Bennet, the paper's opinion-page editor. Bennet was committed to trying to promote ideological diversity at the paper, something he proved by hiring writers like Bret Stephens and Bari Weiss.

But Bennet got into trouble after he published an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) that advocated the use of troops to quell riots after Floyd's death if local authorities were unable to do so. This outraged woke NYT staffers, who claimed that such an opinion "endangered" African-Americans. Publisher Arthur Sulzberger, who spoke of the paper's obligation to publish views contrary to its own, initially supported his decision. But Sulzberger was intimidated by Black Lives Matter advocates into backing down. That led to Bennet's forced resignation.

Sulzberger then vowed to change the way the opinion section operated, and to do that, he has hired Greensit. Her previous post was at The Intercept, the radical left-wing outlet that is known, among other things, for its promotion of conspiracy theories aimed at the Jewish state.

Greensit has personally tweeted in defense of the anti-Semitic statements by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and argued that Hamas was justified in seeking to invade Israel. But in 2017, she also specifically tweeted that "Israeli security forces are training American cops despite history of rights abuses," while promoting a conspiracy theory libel of Israel published by The Intercept.

After her hiring, Greensit deleted most of her past tweets, though enterprising reporters posted them before they disappeared. Yet there has been no hint from the NYT that they have any second thoughts about bringing on someone who spreads anti-Semitic blood libels. To the contrary, the paper's decision to tilt even farther left and to ensure that contrary opinions will be silenced appears to be popular with its readership and staff.

It says something that in an institution that had become as thoroughly infiltrated by anti-Semitism as Labour, there's now a new commitment to ridding the party of such hate. At the NYT, however, left-wing anti-Semitism isn't merely tolerated; it's the sort of thing that can help you to rise to the top.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org
Judging is based on a complete story of 500 words or less with a beginning, middle and end (not including the title); creativity and originality; and technical merit. Entries may be any genre except erotica, childrens fiction, or poetry. Entries with political agenda, obscene violence or exceeding 500 words will not be considered. Judges and officers of CCCMWA and their families are not eligible to enter. The authors name and Carroll County address should be in the main body of the email, and the flash fiction entry in an attachment. The name nor address should be on the attachment. Entries should be emailed to cccmwacontest@gmail.com.
Democrats are turning up the heat on President Donald Trumps secure the oil mission in northeast Syria.

The Houses version of the 2021 defense authorization bill, released this weekend, would require the defense secretary to certify that no US military forces are being used or have been used for the extraction, transport, transfer or sale of oil from Syria.

The committee remains concerned that the United States strategy for Syria expresses objectives that cannot be achieved with the means identified, a report accompanying the bill states. Furthermore, the committee is concerned about the stated purpose of US military forces serving in Syria and tasks assigned to those forces, the report adds.

The legislation also directs Defense Secretary Mark Esper to brief Congress by October on the applicable domestic and international legal authorities that would authorize the US military presence in oilfields in northeast Syria and to deny the government of Syria access to them.

Why it matters: Trump abruptly announced that he would withdraw US forces from Kurdish-held northeastern Syria last year, paving the way for a Turkish offensive. But shortly thereafter, Trump reversed course, announcing that several hundred troops would remain in Syria with a stated mission to secure the oil. US troops in Syria engaged in several tense standoffs with Russian forces advancing toward the oil fields earlier this year. Russia backs President Bashar al-Assad as he seeks to re-establish control over the rest of Syria.

Whats next: The House Armed Services Committee will debate advancing its defense bill on Wednesday. The full Senate is also debating its version of the defense bill, which does not contain the Houses Syria provision. Even if the Republican-held Senate jumps on board with the Syria provision, its not clear whether Congress will coalesce around a final law before October, the deadline House Democrats have set for Esper to brief them on the issue.

Know more: Amberin Zaman has the latest on the US-backed reconciliation talks to unify the various Kurdish factions in northeast Syria.
CAIRO  Amendments to a number of articles in the Egyptian law incriminating female genital mutilation (FGM) have recently been finalized, toughening penalties against the perpetrator of this atrocious act.

On June 14, on the National Day for Elimination of FGM, head of Egypts National Council for Women Maya Morsy told reporters during an online press conference that the proposed amendments include widening the criminalization scope and redefining the act of FGM as a form of deformity.

Morsy said that they also included a solution for incriminating medical professionals undertaking the procedure, giving no further details.

The finalized proposal was submitted by representatives of the National Council for Women, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, Al-Azhar institution and the three churches as well as a number of prosecutors.

The suggested adjustments came less than two weeks after a father had tricked his three young daughters in undergoing the procedure in southern Egypt.

A statement released June 3 by the public prosecutions office said that the man brought a doctor to the house and told his daughters that he came to vaccinate them against the coronavirus. Instead, he circumcised the girls, in a case that sent shockwaves across Egypt.

The prosecution investigated the matter and it turned out that the three sisters were injected with a drug that knocked them out before they had the invasive operation done to them. They woke up with their legs tied while suffering from severe pain in their genitals, the statement read.

The girls informed their mother, who is divorced from their father, who reported the incident to child protection.

A forensic report revealed later "the excision of [their]  reproductive organs."

Both the doctor and the father were referred to an urgent trial before a criminal court within 48 hours of the investigations. No specific date has been set for the trial yet.

At the end of January, a 12-year old girl named Nada lost her life while undergoing circumcision at a private clinic in the south of Egypt. Her death preceded the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM on Feb. 6.

Nadas parents and the doctor who performed the procedure were referred to a criminal court pending trial. They have not stood trial yet.

Such incidents led advocates of childrens rights to question the efforts and campaigns launched over the past years against the practice.

As a lawyer I believe the main problem doesnt have to do with legislation, as it may seem to some. Rather, the organizations  which hold meetings and conferences to discuss the subject and suggest recommendations  need to simplify the issue and address people in their own language, childrens rights advocate Mahmoud el-Badawy told Al-Monitor.

The dilemma here has to do with turning all those laws and recommendations into reality positively reflected on the target groups. FGM is carried out everywhere and every day in Egypt, while only a small number of cases are reported, he said.

A 2016 survey by UNICEF indicated that 87% of women and girls ages 15-49 in Egypt have undergone the procedure.

FGM, also known as genital cutting or female circumcision, is a tradition dating back to Pharaonic times. It mostly exists in Africa and some Middle Eastern countries.

Even though the practice has been illegal in Egypt since 2008, it remains rife in this populous Arab country where some doctors, nurses and midwives undertake it in secret, especially in rural areas and in the south.

The Egyptian churches and the highest Islamic institutions in the country have recurrently rejected the procedure, saying it is prohibited by Islam and Christianity for causing irreversible harm to women.

However, many parents still believe that female genital cutting preserves a girls chastity by curbing her libido and put their daughters through the ordeal.

For a large segment of society, female circumcision is a deeply rooted tradition, mistakenly linked to religion. It is related to peoples collective unconscious, psychologist Hanan Marzouk told Al-Monitor.

Throughout my experience as a researcher in this domain, I came across men who even refuse to marry uncircumcised women, believing their wives have no right to enjoy intimacy, or because they have a sense of insecurity that they will be unable to satisfy womens physical needs, Marzouk said. Im talking about communities where there is limited or no sex education available and the whole issue is considered a taboo.

Other than the physical harm, the practice has a negative impact on womens psychological well-being.

Women who underwent female circumcision are denied a normal sex life. They are ashamed of their bodies, and many of them find sex repulsive, Adel Midany, professor of psychiatry at Al-Azhar University, told Al-Monitor.

Following the act they usually experience anxiety and reactive depression, mistrusting their parents who subjected them to this violation at the time when they were supposed to protect them against the worlds evils. Over time they may also develop post-traumatic stress disorder, he said.

Depending on the grade of circumcision, women who went through this experience suffer from orgasmic dysfunction, if not frigidity, Midany said, adding that very few couples seek professional help and are trained on specific techniques to help them enjoy intimacy.

A 28-year old woman told Al-Monitor about her traumatic experience with FGM that started at the age of nine.

My mother brought a midwife to the house. I felt there was something not right. I can still feel the pain and fear I was undergoing as the old woman ruthlessly cut part of my body with a razor, while I was tied by my mother and her neighbors, she said on condition of anonymity, adding that she rejects the idea of marriage for fear of failure.

The only person who was supposed to be the source of safety and comfort acted otherwise, which made me lose faith in her as a protector ever since, she said.
Egyptian workers abroad have been facing several problems over the past few months, as a result of the economic repercussions following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and because of the political differences of other countries with Cairo.

Dozens of Egyptian expats in Libya have been detained by militias loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) in the city of Tarhuna, 95 kilometers (59 miles) southeast of Tripoli. The detainees have been subject to torture as shown in video footage that circulated on social media June 14.

The abuse of the Egyptian workers in Libya sparked an angry outcry in the Egyptian street and at the political level.

Egypt's Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriate Affairs Nabila Makram said during a meeting of the parliamentary Arab Affairs Committee June 15, The Egyptian state will not remain silent on the assault against Egyptian expats and had previously taken measures following similar incidents that took place in the past. What happened in Libya will not go unnoticed.

Alaa Abed, a member of parliament and head of the parliamentary Human Rights Committee, said during a public session in parliament June 15, Egyptians in Libya are a red line and a strong and deterrent position must be taken regarding the torture of Egyptian expats who went there in search of a livelihood.

Egypt's angry reactions prompted the GNAs Ministry of Interior to announce June 15 that it would launch investigations in the incidents and arrest the perpetrators.

On June 17, the ministry announced the arrest of those involved in the abuse of the Egyptian workers who were released from detention.

The workers were deported from Libya to return home at the request of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on June 18. The Egyptian government announced that job opportunities will be provided for the returnees who have been abused.

The Libyan incident was not the first problem for Egyptian workers abroad since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. On May 4, several Egyptian expats in Kuwait held a protest after being detained in shelter centers on charges of overstaying their residence permits, as part of Kuwaits measures to reduce the number of expats to stem the spread of the novel virus. The Egyptians demanded to be expatriated swiftly for fear of contracting the coronavirus, but the protesters were quickly dispersed by the Kuwaiti security forces. The 5,600 Egyptians overstaying their permits in Kuwait were taken to 11 shelter centers.

Since the outbreak of the virus, Egyptian airports continue to receive Egyptian expats deported from Kuwait. On June 22, the last batch of workers from Kuwait arrived onboard four repatriation flights carrying 550 workers. On June 17, 10 flights carrying some 1,502 Egyptian passengers who were stuck in Kuwait arrived in Cairo.

On June 15, a plane arrived from Qatar with 174 Egyptian workers following restrictive measures to curb the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Qatar also witnessed workers protests demanding to receive their deferred payments.

On May 7, the Egyptian Ministry of Manpower announced measures to reduce the salaries of Egyptian workers in Saudi Arabia following contacts with the Saudis, with salary cuts ranging between 1% and 40%, and the possibility of terminating work contracts due to the COVID-19 crisis.

On June 6, the minister of manpower; the minister of planning and economic development; and the minister of immigration and Egyptian expatriate affairs sent early day motions to Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly in regard to the governments plan to integrate Egyptian returnees into the labor market.

Madbouly stressed June 5, The government is reviewing the economic and living conditions of returnees, in terms of their qualifications, work experience and areas of expertise based on the forms they filled out during their stay in quarantine, in a bid to help them cope with the living conditions."

In a statement June 6, Makram said that 20,000 Egyptians and their families have been repatriated since the COVID-19 outbreak.

I proposed the formation of a committee made up of several relevant ministries and representatives of civil society organizations as well as the private sector to carefully study the data of the returnees, so that the state would find them jobs and introduce them to small projects that can be supported through the Egyptian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, or to inform them about the savings plan provided by Egyptian banks, she noted in a TV interview.

Khaled Shaaban, who is a member of the parliamentary Committee for Workforce, told Al-Monitor, Many Gulf countries have terminated the contracts of Egyptians and deported them in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

The parliament and government are working hand in hand to deal calmly with the crisis and to ensure the returnees receive their financial dues; in fact they have already received their payments. More expats are expected to return as the pandemic is not over yet, Shaaban said, referring to the end-of-service indemnity and financial dues foreign employers owe the Egyptian expats.

In regard to the abuse of Egyptian workers in Libya, he noted, The government will deal strictly with any state that mistreats Egyptian expats over political differences, via all diplomatic channels and would resort to the International Labor Organization that prohibits such practices and imposes sanctions on violating countries. (Egypt is publicly supporting the Libyan National Army, led by eastern military commander Khalifa Hifter, against the pro-government forces that control most of western Libya, including Tarhuna, where the Egyptian workers were abused.)

Minister of Manpower Mohamed Saafan told Al-Monitor, There is daily contact with Egyptians abroad through online labor office services that respond to all inquiries from the workers. The ministry is part of the crisis cells that have been formed in the Egyptian embassies and consulates to follow up on the status and problems of Egyptian workers abroad."

He added, There has been coordination with the relevant parties abroad to safeguard the rights of Egyptian workers and to organize repartition trips from several Arab nations to repartriate them as soon as possible."
Emirates Airlines is continuing to add Middle Eastern destinations to its flight schedule, the airline announced today.

On Wednesday, the Dubai-based carrier will resume flights to Cairo and Tunis. The airline said it would restart flights to destinations in Scotland and the Maldives on July 15 and 16, respectively, according to a press release.

Passenger flights in and out of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stopped in March amid the coronavirus pandemic. The revenue losses forced Emirates, a major global airline, to cut jobs.

Beginning July 1, UAE residents returning from abroad must first obtain proof of a negative COVID-19 test, the state news agency reported today.

In May, Emirates began resuming flights to multiple continents. It will be flying to 52 destinations with the July additions, the airline said.

Emirates continues to subject its routes to virus concerns. Last week, it stopped flights from Pakistan after an outbreak of the coronavirus on an Emirates flight from Pakistan to Hong Kong via Dubai.
Israels Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned Hamas against retaliating against Israel's planned annexation of parts of the West Bank.

If Hamas tests us, they will pay a heavy price, Gantz said Monday.

The Gaza-based militant group fired rockets last Friday in Israels direction a day after its spokesperson warned that annexation would be seen as a declaration of war. Israels air force responded by striking two Hamas sites in the southern Gaza Strip.

Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida said Thursday Israel would regret bitterly extending sovereignty over the Palestinian territory.

The occupation and those who stand behind it need to understand very well: The resistance considers this decision a declaration of war on our Palestinian people, Obeida said in a statement.

Gantz, who also serves as Israels alternate prime minister, said Lebanon would be held responsible for any actions Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah takes in response to annexation.

Israel will not accept any excuses, Gantz said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his government will begin the process of annexation as soon as Wednesday, conditional on US approval. Under the plan, up to 30% of the West Bank, including Jewish settlements and fertile Jordan Valley, would be incorporated into Israel.

But Gantz, Netanyahus main coalition partner, suggested Monday that annexation may need to wait until after Israel deals with its coronavirus outbreak. Citing a source close to the former army chief, The Times of Israel reported Gantz told US diplomats that July 1 was not a sacred date.

Additionally, American sources familiar with the negotiations told The Jerusalem Post that annexation would not be happening as planned on Wednesday.

Also on Monday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet condemned Israel's proposed annexation.

Annexation is illegal. Period, Bachelet said in a statement, adding, I am deeply concerned that even the most minimalist form of annexation would lead to increased violence and loss of life."
Brian Hook, the US policy coordinator for Iran, visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this weekend as part of a Middle East tour intended to discuss Washingtons efforts to extend the conventional arms embargo on Tehran, which expires in October.

Special Representative Hook updated Emirati officials on diplomatic efforts to extend the embargo, and they discussed the risk of an arms race in the region if the embargo is not renewed, the State Department said in a readout of the envoys trip.

Hook met with UAE Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority Khaldoon Khalifa al-Mubarak.

Why it matters: The United States has threatened to snap back multilateral sanctions on Iran at the United Nations in the likely event that it fails to convince the Security Council to extend the arms embargo, the first sunset provision to expire as part of the 2015 nuclear deal. However, it remains unclear whether Washington has the authority to instate snapback sanctions given the Donald Trump administrations 2018 withdrawal from the accord.

Whats next: Tehran has threatened to retaliate in the event of snapback sanctions, including expelling International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors, who gained access to Iran as part of the nuclear deal. But Hook said the international community should ignore Irans threats in an interview with the Associated Press this weekend, labeling it a mafia tactic.

Know more: Read more about Irans threats to retaliate should the United States succeed in reimposing sanctions on Iran.
Heated debates during last week's parliament meeting in Tehran are fueling concerns among millions of Iranians that the newly elected conservative lawmakers are prioritizing restrictions on social media over more urgent economic woes, which they had promised to address upon taking their seats.

The session saw Irans young Minister of Information and Communications Technology Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi cornered and grilled by powerful hard-line parliamentarians, including the speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. In their ferocious attacks, the lawmakers particularly took aim at the popular social media platform Instagram, which is being used by an estimated half of the population in a country of 84 million.

It has turned into the killing ground of the religious convictions of our young generation, ultraconservative lawmaker Mousa Ghazanfarabadi said of Instagram, the only Western social media network to so far survive the Islamic Republics strict bans. Ghazanfarabadi also blamed the app for the disintegration of many Iranian families. For his part, Ghalibaf squeezed the minister for failing to introduce regulatory policies into Irans cyberspace, which he said is plagued by disinhibition and lax rules. In his stinging criticism, the former military general called for firm oversight and state controls but without openly urging a ban on Instagram.

Female lawmaker Fatemeh Mohammad Beigi questioned Jahromi over Instagrams dominance on half of the internet data traffic in Iran. But in response, the minister blamed macroscopic policies that have blocked other social networks and have thus made way for Instagram to lead in the absence of competitors.

During his campaign rallies in 2013 and 2017, President Hassan Rouhani garnered significant public support thanks to a host of attractive promises, including wide-reaching social media freedoms. And famously, at a televised meeting in 2017, he ordered Jahromi to keep his hands off the internet filtering button. Nevertheless, the young minister, who has been trying to project the image of a progressive politician, an anti-corruption hero now reportedly eyeing the presidency in 2021, has time and again told Iranians that he is going out of his way to lift social media restrictions but that he remains tight-handed in the fight.

Bans on social networking platforms in Iran have typically been introduced in the aftermath of various upheavals that have gripped the country in recent years. The orders have come not from the ICT Ministry, but rather from the judiciary, the Supreme Council of Cyberspace or the Supreme National Security Council. The heads of the three bodies are appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In 2009, amid protests against the reelection of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian authorities denied all users access to Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, where protesters organized anti-government rallies and would freely get their messages out. Nine years later, as Iran was hit with unrest over economic grievances, the popular social media app Telegram joined the club of closed platforms. The ban sparked a mass exodus of millions of Iranian users from Telegram to Instagram, on which many educated but jobless Iranians found an opportunity to earn a living against all odds, launching small businesses amid high unemployment and a crumbling economy.

Last November, the Islamic Republic proved even less tolerant in the face of any expression of dissent  not just in the streets, but on social media as well. The entire nation was placed under an unprecedented, two-week-long internet blackout after protesters planned rallies through social networking at a moment of boiling anger against a controversial fuel price hike introduced by the moderate government. Rouhani and Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli both justified the blackout on national security concerns.

After the dust from the November turmoil settled down and connections were gradually reestablished nationwide, Instagram continued to remain accessible. The app, however, infuriated Iranian authorities and hard-liners in the aftermath of the US killing of top commander Qasem Soleimani in January. The network briefly removed any content that praised or promoted the slain general, triggering calls among hard-liners for an effective ban inside Iran. The same criticism was brought up again in the parliament meeting last week. But Jahromi told the lawmakers that a ban will not be the best solution. We dont leave the battlefield when they kill our commander, do we? he said, stressing the importance of putting out a vigorous fight in what the Iranian leadership has described as a media war against Western enemies.

Nevertheless, Jahromis explanations appeared unconvincing to some of the lawmakers, among them hard-line cleric Hassan Nowruzi, who in an interview after the meeting expressed hope that the parliaments Commission for Judicial and Legal Affairs will do everything to get the ban because the open space on Instagram is a threat to the Iranian youth and will weaken the ruling establishment.

The scathing exchanges only weeks into the parliaments inauguration were seen by some Reformist outlets as a sign that the new lawmakers are more than determined to open up yet another front against the Rouhani government. It is a shift in the backward direction, wrote pro-Reform daily Arman-e-Melli about the planned ban. A society, which was hoping to see Telegram and Twitter unlocked, now has to bite nails about a closed Instagram.  This is but a confrontational approach aimed at eradiating social media and adding fuel to the flames of public discontent against the Rouhani government.

Over the past three years, Iranian authorities have increasingly been focused on expanding domestically developed social media networks, allocating massive budgets to programs aimed at promoting and institutionalizing them. However, poor technical infrastructure coupled with public concerns over potential privacy breaches and state surveillance have made those networks no favorable equivalent in the view of most Iranians. Ironically, many of the same lawmakers urging new restrictions, and even more powerful figures in the upper echelon, including the supreme leader, the president and the foreign minister are actively using the banned platforms for public diplomacy and other purposes.

Under Iranian law, even if the ICT opposes a new ban, the Supreme Council of Cyberspace or simply an individual judge holds the authority to enforce it. In the case of Telegram, Rouhani government officials pointed the finger at Bijan Qasemzadeh  a former judge known for his harsh verdicts against Iranian journalists  as the man behind the ruling. Qasemzadeh has now fallen from grace and is facing trial for multiple corruption charges.

A fresh social media ban is a repeat of an already failed and costly policy, wrote political activist Ejlal Ghavami. At a time when economic woes are breaking peoples backs and thousands of other pressing demands remain unfulfilled, how do the lawmakers justify the urgency of blocking social media? The only explanation behind that push is their concern regarding the free flow of information, which is but a thorn in their side.
According to Iranian Foreign Ministry Abbas Mousavi, Romania has not shared any information regarding a fugitive Iranian judge who died in their country on June 19. Mousavi said June 29, This case has many ambiguities. At the moment that this happened, we asked the Romanian government to be transparent and put the necessary information before us. He continued, Until now, unfortunately, nothing has been provided from the Romanian government.

Gholamreza Mansouri, a former judge on Iran's Supreme Court, fell out of an upper-floor window earlier in the month. He was wanted in Iran on charges of receiving over $500,000 in bribes. When Mansouri left Iran, he had claimed he was going to Germany for medical treatment. It is unclear why he ended up in Romania, but he had maintained that he would return to Iran.

Mansouris bribery charges were part of a much larger corruption case in Iran. According to Iranian media, he was not facing a long prison sentence given that there were much more severe corruption charges involved in that case.

Mousavi added that Irans Foreign Ministry, Tehran's ambassador to Romania, Irans judiciary and Interpol are all pursuing the case, but he added that all they have been told so far is what they have read in Romanian media.

An article in Khabar online quoting Hadi Shirzad, the head of Irans international police, said June 29 that despite the fact Mansouri was wanted by Iran and the Romanian government had been informed of the request, he was not kept inside a jail due to the coronavirus outbreak. According to Shirzad, Iran was first notified of Mansouris death by the Romanian police, who initially ruled his death a suicide.

Shirzad said Irans police and Romanian police have been in contact, and Romanian officials have said more information will be shared. He added that Iran also requested Mansouris DNA.

Conservative parliamentarian and chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy commission Mojtaba Zolnouri referred to Mansouris death as murder. According to an article in hard-line Jahan News, Zolnouri said, There is speculation that there is a link between domestic and foreign groups. He added that its practically impossible to murder a judge and not have the police of a country know what happened. Zolnouri hinted at a grander conspiracy, saying that Mansouris murder was done in order to make Iran look like the suspect and have accusations be put against it.

While Iranian judiciary and police officials seek answers regarding the death of Mansouri, Iranian Health Ministry officials are still battling the coronavirus. In a live interview on Iranian TV on Monday, Irans Health Ministry Spokesperson Sima Sadat Lari said 162 individuals had died from the virus in the last 24 hours. This is the highest daily death total from the virus since early April. According to Sadar Lari, there have been more than 2,500 new cases in the country in the preceding 24 hours. She said there has been a concerning rise in coronavirus-related hospitalizations in Tehran, which she attributed to the reopenings and a lack of observing health guidelines.
Following the raid by the Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) against the Kataib Hezbollah headquarter in Baghdad in the early hours of June 26, pro-Iran militias and their political allies are threatening the government of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, warning him to not continue taking actions against militias targeting US bases.

Qais al-Khazali, head of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, warned the prime minister to refrain from further actions against the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Units (PMU).

Your government is a temporary government with two specific goals: early election  and addressing the economic and health challenges, Khazali said, warning him, Dont create any other issues and dont get involved in other issues that might happen.  Otherwise, you might lose everything.

He added, You want to resolve the attacks by the resistance factions against the US forces, but you could never do that. None of the previous governments could do that and none of them took such an action. Instead, they were all ignoring this issue because they knew they couldn't touch it."

This is the first time that one of the pro-Iran militias admitted that they are targeting the US bases in Iraq.

Previously, Asaib Ahl al-Haq had denied that any of the PMU are involved in attacks against the US Embassy in Baghdad, the fortified Green Zone or any other diplomatic mission in Iraq.

It seems that the raid against Kataib Hezbollah has triggered the confrontation between Kadhimis government and the militias.

The raid came after the CTS received intelligence information about possible attacks against the Green Zone soon, according to a Joint Operations Command statement issued immediately following the raid.

The CTS was tasked to arrest [the militiamen] and prevent terrorist acts against state facilities. CTS carried out the task with a high professionalism arresting 14 defendants, with the criminal evidence of two launching bases. Upon completion of the operation, a special investigations committee was formed by the Ministry of Interior that includes security services members. The defendants are kept in custody until the relevant court will address their case, the statement read.

Khazali slammed the Joint Operations Command as well, accusing it that its statement has been written by American hands.

Abu Ali al-Askary, whose real name is not known but he is introduced by Kataib Hezbollah as its security leader, also attacked Kadhimi for his action against KH militia, claiming that the detainees have been released and Kataib Hezbollah has lodged a legal complaint against Kadhimi for his illegal action. However, the Kadhimi government denies the release of the detainees, saying that they are under investigation and they will appear in court soon.

In the same vein, the militia media spread rumors that US Ambassador to Kuwait Alina Romanowski had confirmed that the US-led coalition had joint the CTS in the raid against Kataib Hezbollah, noting that it was done following the request of the Iraqi government.

The US Embassy in Baghdad immediately denied the news, saying, The remarks attributed to U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait Alina Romanowski in the Iraqi media are a malicious fabrication. Ambassador Romanowski gave no such interview and the purported 'news' originates from a website created to spread fake information."

The militias also organized multiple maneuvers in the streets of Baghdad and entered the Green Zone to show its force.

However, Kadhimi issued several orders restructuring the security numbers and officials, including the head of the Green Zone security, due to their failure in stopping the militiamen's illegal maneuvers.

In order to increase the pressure on Kadhimi, the PMUs Fatah Alliance has requested to question the prime minister in the parliament for his failure to address the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

In the same vein, the head of the Fatah Alliance, Hadi al-Amiri, said June 28 that his support for Kadhimi was conditional, implying that it can be withdrawn at any time.

Kadhimi has backing for his policies across Iraq's political spectrum. While the pro-Iran militias are preparing for the battle with the prime minister, it seems the other political forces and security organizations are entirely supportive of Kadhimi's course of action. The Kurds and the Sunnis have a clear interest in reining in the militias' ambitions, and the Shiite forces  including the PMU factions outside of the Iran circle and independent Shiite parties like Ammar al-Hakims Hikma bloc and former Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadis Nasr coalition  also want the militias to be fully under control of the state in order to bring the stability back to Iraq.

This is all taking place despite Shiite top cleric Ayatollah Ali al- Sistani urging the Iraqi government several times in the past to bring all armed groups under full control of the state. "We urge that all weapons should be subject to the authority of the state and not allow any armed groups outside of the state scope under any name or address," Sistani's spokesman Sayyed Ahmad Safi said in December 2019.

The issue of the PMU remains a thorny one for the government. Kadhimi may soon visit Washington as part of Iraqs strategic dialogue with the United States, which has given high priority to reining in those groups linked to Iran. In addition, addressing the economic crisis by inviting foreign investors to the country depends on the government's ability to protect foreign diplomatic missions and companies and stop the militias' attack on them, which is happening every now and then.
There is much more legal and political wrangling to come in regards to the case before all is finally decided. I just find it curious that such a highly unusual and surprising decision came about. I naively believe that if one admits to breaking the law, unless some exculpatory evidence is brought forth, that should be the end. Just because the defendant is a friend of the president and at some point decides to recant his guilty plea, he may deserve a new trial, but the complete dismissal of charges is going a bit too far for me.
Two days before July 1, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that annexation should not be rushed through this week and the timeframe is not set in stone. Speaking at a June 29 meeting with American peace envoy Avi Berkowitz and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman at his Tel Aviv office, Gantz reportedly said that the move can wait until after Israel deals with more pressing issues such as the coronavirus crisis. The unity deal signed between Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last April enables Netanyahu to bring annexation for a vote on July 1. Netanyahu has pledged to stick to the date.

A source closed to Gantz quoted him as saying at the meeting, July 1 is not a sacred date. Dealing with the coronavirus and its socioeconomic and health consequences is the more pressing issue that needs to be tended to right now. Gantz said that Israeli citizens are troubled by the coronavirus crisis and expect it to be addressed rapidly and seriously.

While minimizing the importance of the date set by Netanyahu for implementing Israeli sovereignty on West Bank settlements, Gantz hailed President Donald Trumps peace plan, referring to it as a historic step that constitutes the best framework to promote the Middle East peace process." Gantz added that the plan "should be advanced with our strategic partners in the region and with the Palestinians to arrive at an outline that benefits all sides in a responsible, proportional and reciprocal manner."

On June 26, Gantz posted on Facebook that he was willing to open talks immediately if the Palestinians ask seriously to negotiate. "Too many years we did not strive for peace and for an arrangement with the Palestinians. I maintain a vigorous dialogue with all the actors  Americans, Europeans and others  to see if we can jump-start a diplomatic process based on the American peace plan.  If [the Palestinians] request to have serious negotiations Im ready to be in Ramallah tomorrow morning." Gantz also reiterated his position that Israeli sovereignty will not be implemented in areas where many Palestinians live or travel. He added that any Palestinians living in annexed areas would enjoy equal rights with Israelis and that he will continue to advance efforts to work bilaterally with the Palestinians.

Berkowitz arrived to Israel with Friedman after holding extensive discussions in the White House over Netanyahus annexation plan. The Trump administration has reportedly failed to reach any final conclusions, prompting Berkowitz trip. The Jerusalem Post cited multiple American sources as saying that Israel will not take steps this week to extend its sovereignty in the West Bank.

Several reports are claiming that Netanyahu intends to bring for a vote the symbolic annexation of two settlement blocs near Jerusalem. Others say that the Blue and White Party will agree to only limited or staged annexation.
This is a very exciting moment, said Knesset member Ram Shefa of the Blue and White party in addressing the Knesset plenary on June 24 as he introduced legislation regulating the cannabis market in Israel. He knew his historic bill was assured a majority at the first Knesset hearing after the ultra-Orthodox Knesset members, the legislations staunchest opponents, cut a deal with coalition Chair Miki Zohar to absent themselves from the vote.

Zohar is considered one of the politicians closest to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the cannabis legislation would not have stood a chance without the prime ministers approval. However, this was not the only reason for the elation of cannabis liberalization proponents. In addition to its preliminary approval of Shefas bill (it needs to be approved in two more hearings to be enacted), the Knesset also approved a draft bill decriminalizing the personal use of cannabis. Its author, Likud Knesset member Sharren Haskel, led the fight for cannabis legalization in recent years and was instrumental in convincing Netanyahu to go along.

Haskels persuasive powers notwithstanding, Netanyahu, as usual, was swayed mostly by poll results presented to him on the eve of the April 2019 elections, showing legalization was a highly popular agenda issue among not only younger voters and was not an expression of social debauchery.

Netanyahus current government partner, Blue and White party leader and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, did not need much convincing, and thus, following a two-decade political and public campaign, the Knesset said yes to logic and freedom, as television presenter Guy Lerer tweeted. Lerer, a popular social media figure, had been at the forefront of the determined public and media campaign in favor of the so-called cannabis laws.

While police have eased enforcement of cannabis criminalization for recreational use in recent years, Haskells bill would anchor it in legislation stipulating that possession of up to 50 grams of cannabis for personal use would be an administrative rather than a criminal offense. It would carry a fine of up to S500 Israeli shekels ($145) rather than a jail term of up to three years as prescribed by existing law. Shefas proposed bill would pave the way for complete legalization of cannabis, allowing possession of up to 15 grams for personal use by those aged 21 years and older and its sale in designated venues (coffee shops). The Knesset is likely to combine the two proposed bills as it prepares the package for subsequent stages of approval.

The cannabis laws are nothing short of a revolution, which would not have been possible under Netanyahus previous governments that relied heavily on ultra-Orthodox parties. The current unity government with Blue and White turned the tide, along with the support of traditional advocates, such as the Meretz and Yesh Atid parties, currently part of the opposition. Once the Knesset gives its final approval, Israel will join a club of liberal states that have started regulating nonmedical cannabis use in recent years.

The intensity of the moment when the Knesset plenary board lit up with the sweeping majority votes (61 to 11 for Haskels bill and 53 to 12 for Shefas) cannot be understated. Two young lawmakers  Shefa, 35, the former head of the National Union of Israeli Students, and Haskel, 36  not only triumphed after a long, bitter struggle, but they also brought together Likud and Blue and White, at least on this issue, to defeat the adamant opposition of the ultra-Orthodox factions.

Shefas stand is particularly interesting given his role as chair of the Knessets Education Committee and the argument by legalization opponents that the move would be disastrous for school-age children and encourage social dissolution. Shefa used this very argument to explain his advocacy of the move as an expression of sanity. It is exactly as chair of the Knesset Education Committee that I am telling you that the current illegality drives some youth to want to use cannabis even more and to hook up with dubious elements, Shefa explained.

This is really good news for the freedom-loving public, Haskel declared from the Knesset podium. Regulation of the cannabis issue for personal use is one of my generations symbols of personal freedom to make choices over ones body, said the heavily pregnant lawmaker. She added, It is the expression of a persons right to privacy, a persons right to lead the life they want as long as they do not harm others, without police persecution, arrests and risk of criminalization.

When Haskel presented her bill for a vote, she referred to other countries that have adopted similar laws and to data indicating a decline in cannabis use by teens. The reason is that when they are monitored, shops are careful not to sell cannabis to underage buyers, she explained.

Haskel also referred to the forbidden fruit theory arguing that the ban piques the interest of young people in the drug. She pointed specifically to the effect of legalization in Colorado, which has seen a consistent decline in the number of school dropouts. They say that people will drive under the influence, but the rate of those driving under the influence of cannabis has not gone up in states that have legalized use, and the rate of those driving under the influence of alcohol has dropped 15%, she said. Another argument Haskel brought up was the $130 million in state revenues from cannabis taxation in Colorado, money that Israel could use to invest in welfare, education and fighting crime.

Former Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the right-wing Yamina party was not convinced, voting from the opposition benches against the bills and warning of their destructive repercussions. Legalizing cannabis would be a dangerous social experiment that will destroy future generations of Israelis, he lashed out at the bills supporters.

Various assessments put the rate of Israel's adult cannabis users at 27%, meaning over 1.5 million people.

The battle over legalization has been long and frustrating. Two decades ago, pro-legalization advocates established a party calling itself Green Leaf, which led this agenda and attracted the support of young Israelis as a symbol of liberalism  and generated opposition among certain groups that viewed legalization as promoting anarchy. The party ran in successive elections since 1999 but failed to garner sufficient votes to make it into the Knesset. It was dismantled on the eve of the last elections in March 2020, but its founders can declare victory, nonetheless. Their agenda has captured hearts and minds and defeated the politicians.
The erosion of Omans fiscal balance was discussed during high-level political meetings attended by Gulf officials, Bloomberg revealed. "Nothing has been decided," but the sultanate could seek financial assistance from its neighbors, the June 11 report mentioned.

Analysts warn such support could come with a price with regard to Oman's trademark independence in handling regional affairs. In recent years, the country stayed out of a Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen and an ongoing embargo imposed on Qatar by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Zahabia Saleem Gupta, associate director at S&P Global Ratings, told Al-Monitor the two main reasons for support from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are to prevent contagion to their own financial markets and promote their foreign policy interests."

Given intraGulf disputes, GCC foreign ministers are unlikely to speak with one voice as they did at the height of the 2011 Arab Spring protests to announce a $20 billion fund for Oman and Bahrain. GCC representatives did not respond to Al-Monitor's request for comment.

The GCC as a multilateral organization has stopped to function effectively since 2017, said Andreas Krieg, assistant professor at Kings College London. Multilateralism in the Gulf has been replaced with unilateralism and bilateralism, Krieg told Al-Monitor.

'Omanis could be tempted to join camp'

In an increasingly polarized Gulf region, some predict self-interest could take over regional unity. Krieg believes Omans direct GCC neighbors would be the priciest lenders.

Any financial assistance from either the UAE and Saudi Arabia will be conditional on Oman becoming more supportive on issues where Oman has opted out to support Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, the expert said in reference to the Qatar crisis and Omans neutral role vis-a-vis the Houthis. Also, Oman's friendly relationship with Iran is a problem for Saudi Arabia."

In the event of the UAE or Saudi Arabia bailing out Oman, geopolitical-risk firm Stratfors Middle East analyst Ryan Bohl foresees informal expectations for Muscat to use its good relationship with Washington to lobby for pro-Saudi/Emirati interests in the United States.

S&P Global Ratings notes the extremely high level of external liquid assets available for use by sovereigns in the region should they deem it politically expedient, Gupta said.

Gulf political elites from outside Saudi Arabia often quip that they do not want to become the next Bahrain, in reference to the island nations close alignment with the foreign policy of Saudi Arabia, cemented by a $10 billion bailout package promised to the island nation in 2018.

Following the failure of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, however, some in Oman raised concern over the lack of financial outcomes from the countrys active role in regional mediations.

Omanis could be tempted to join camp more decisively and more convincingly in exchange for tangible economic and financial benefits, Cinzia Bianco, a Gulf researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told Al-Monitor.

Yet Omanis interviewed by Al-Monitor in March expect neighboring countries to respect the sultanate's neutrality because it serves as an open channel to mitigate regional tensions.

Indeed, the Gulf country hosts talks between various actors involved in the Yemen conflict, and ahead of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, it provided a venue for secret US-Iran talks.

Looking north?

In this context, financial assistance from the northernmost Gulf state of Kuwait is viewed as a "politically healthy" compromise without political conditions attached. In 2019, Kuwaits energy conglomerate approved a $2 billion investment in Omans Duqm refinery.

However, hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices following half a decade of budget deficits, Kuwait is expected to be the only country in the world to run a budget deficit above 30% of gross domestic product, according to estimates.

Qatar, which is expected to be the only Gulf country to run a fiscal surplus this year despite an ongoing global recession, could play a key role. On May 21, the Omani ruler met with the minister of foreign affairs and the minister of finance of the gas-rich nation.

If Oman goes to Qatar, it is unlikely to affect its foreign policy, but the reaction of Saudi Arabia and the UAE remains to be seen given the current context, Houchang Hassan-Yari, head of the department of political science at Sultan Qaboos University, told Al-Monitor.

The UAE has been displeased with Oman's neutral role in the Qatar crisis and thought it could sway the new sultan to change sides, Krieg commented. According to Reuters, in 2017 a regionwide hacking program reportedly linked to the UAE targeted activists, officials and diplomats, including Omans head of foreign affairs.

Krieg said Oman's allowing Qatar to bypass the UAEs Jebel Ali Port  the largest port in the Middle East  makes the blockade less effective. Bilateral trade between Oman and Qatar tripled from 2016 to 2018.

Omans Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to Al-Monitors request for comment.

No easy solution

According to the June 2020 Bloomberg report, the United States also discussed ways to support Oman, including under its 2009 Free Trade Agreement with the sultanate. Contacted by Al-Monitor, the US Embassy to Muscat did not provide further details.

Omani Ambassador to Washington Hunaina Al-Mughairy told Al-Monitor in March the two countries share common interests and objectives in the Arabian Gulf area.

Last year, the United States clinched a deal to access two Omani ports as Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz raise concerns. The deal could also better position the United States in the region for what has become a global competition with China for influence, Reuters reported.

Muscat turning to Gulf partners for financial support would also signal a willingness to limit the countrys dependence on China, noted Camille Lons, a researcher specializing in China-Middle East relations at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Oman is one of the most indebted Middle Eastern countries to China, she told Al-Monitor.

Looking at a seventh straight year in the red, Oman expected to tap debt markets to cover a large chunk of its 2020 deficit, but oil prices collapsed, discussions were put on hold and the expected shortfall soared to over $10 billion, urging the country to take swift action.

Recent cuts in public expenditure led to a fiscal surplus in the first four months of 2020, yet Oman faces one of the widest fiscal deficits in the Gulf. There is certainly no easy solution, Yesenn El-Radhi, a senior analyst at Capital Intelligence Ratings, told Al-Monitor.

At the society level, Omani nationals hold to the countrys decadeslong commitment to dialogue and regional diplomacy. We will remain as the world had known us, Sultan Haitham promised in January 2020. The time has come to put words into action.
Qatar will further ease coronavirus-related restrictions on Wednesday, the government announced yesterday, citing the weakening amount of virus cases.

The Supreme Committee for Crisis Management announced that mosques will continue to reopen on July 1 to limited numbers of worshippers, and that parks, beaches and boardwalks can have pedestrian traffic. Gatherings will be allowed of five people maximum, which is reduced from the previous 10, and people can go on boats with up to 10 people. Offices can work with 50% of their employees, and restaurants, libraries and museums can reopen at a limited capacity, according to a press release.

The decision is part of the second phase of Qatars plan for a staggered reopening, which began on June 15 with the first reopening of mosques.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases are still increasing in the Gulf country, but by fewer cases than weeks prior. Qatar registered more than 1,700 cases within 24 hours of the first reopening announcement and had more than 1,000 cases a day for much of May.

In comparison, Qatar registered 693 COVID-19 cases today. This follows 750 cases yesterday and 879 cases on Saturday, according to Ministry of Health statistics. The country has had 94,993 total confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus to date and has 14,823 active cases, per the ministry.
Lebanese security forces are investigating an explosion earlier this month near the motorcade of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, his office said Sunday.

The attack, which injured no one, reportedly took place in a mountainous part of the countrys eastern Bekaa Valley as Hariri was returning from a visit with a senior Sunni cleric. Saudi-owned TV station Al-Hadath reported that security forces found the remnants of the blast roughly 500 meters from Hariris 30-vehicle convoy.

In a statement Sunday, Hariris office said the reports were generally correct and explained that he didnt initially comment to avoid exacerbating sectarian tensions.

"Since the convoy did not get exposed to any attack  [Hariri's] decision was to keep it secret and await the results of the relevant security forces," his office said in a tweet.

Hariri's father, former Sunni Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, died in a truck bombing in Beirut in 2005. A United Nations special tribunal tried several Hezbollah members in absentia for the assassination. The Shia militia group denies involvement.

The attack on Hariris convoy comes as Lebanon is mired in sectarian protests over government corruption and economic mismanagement. In October, Hariri submitted his resignation after two weeks of anti-government protests that saw hundreds of thousands call for his removal.

The mass demonstrations faded in March due to Lebanon's coronavirus outbreak but have picked up steam in recent weeks. On Friday, security forces fired tear gas to disperse crowds as protesters cut major roads across the country and demanded the release of a group arrested on charges of vandalism.

With the Lebanese pound losing some 75% of its value on the parallel market since October, the small Mediterranean country is experiencing its worst financial crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.
Iran has issued an arrest warrant for President Donald Trump over the US drone strike that killed its most powerful military commander, Qasem Soleimani, Fars news agency reported Monday.

Iran has asked Interpol to issue a red notice for Trump and 35 other unnamed officials the government believes are responsible for Soleimanis death, the semi-official state news outlet said. Citing Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasi Mehr, Fars said, US President Donald Trump stands at the top of the list and will be prosecuted as soon as he stands down [from his] presidency after his term ends.

The France-based global police agency, however, told CNN it would not consider the request, adding that it wasnt in line with the Interpol constitution, which says "it is strictly forbidden for the organization to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character."

Speaking at a news conference in Riyadh on Monday, Brian Hook, the US special representative for Iran, described the Iranian announcement as more propaganda.

This is another political stunt by the Iranian regime. It doesnt surprise us, Hook said.

Steadily worsening relations between Tehran and Washington hit a low point on Jan. 3 when a US-ordered, laser-guided Hellfire missile struck a car in Baghdad carrying Soleimani, the leader of Irans elite Quds force. His right-hand man in Iraq, militia leader Abu Madhi al-Muhandis, was also killed in the strike.

Soleimanis death, which the United States framed as a measure of self-defense, brought the two countries to the brink of war. Iran retaliated with a ballistic strike on Iraqi bases housing US troops, at least 34 of whom were left with traumatic brain injuries from the attack. In recent months, Iran-backed militias have lobbed rockets at US bases, including one at Camp Taji in March that killed two Americans and one British servicemember.

In its annual report on terrorism released last week, the US State Department described Iran as the worlds worst state sponsor of terrorism and accused it of providing a safe haven for senior members of al-Qaeda. In April 2019, the United States designated the entire Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including the Quds Force, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) returning from abroad and those wishing to enter the capital must first test negative for COVID-19, the state news agency reported Monday.

Beginning July 1, travelers cannot board a UAE-bound plane without first showing proof they are not infected with the coronavirus, WAM reported. Under the new rules, residents must receive a negative test result at least 72 hours before their arrival.

The capital city of Abu Dhabi has its own set of restrictions, with entrance allowed only for those who have tested negative in the previous 48 hours. Workers who are not based in Abu Dhabi are not permitted to enter regardless.

According to the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Committee for the Covid-19 Pandemic, test results must be shown using the governments official smartphone app or a text message from an accredited testing center.

The oil-rich Gulf country, which has been conducting tens of thousands of virus tests daily, announced 449 new cases of the novel coronavirus Monday. Of the total 48,246 infections, 314 people have died nationwide.

The UAE has loosened restrictions in recent weeks, including lifting its virus-related curfew across the country. The traditional sport of camel racing is set to resume in July.

The UAE has suspended commercial flights to Pakistan amid a concerning increase in new infections, WAM said Sunday. The halt in arrivals will remain in place until a special lab is constructed in Pakistan to test those headed to the UAE.

Last week, state-own carrier Emirates airlines suspended service from Pakistan after passengers tested positive in Hong Kong following one of its flights from the country. Pakistani health authorities have so far confirmed more than 200,000 cases of the virus.


In this weeks episode, former defense minister and head of the right-wing Yamina party Naftali Bennett calls on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare full annexation of parts of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, while expressing his confidence that Israel is winning the war against Iran in Syria.

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An Alabama man arrested late last year on multiple child sex abuse charges has now been indicted on 60 crimes.

Alabama Attorney Attorney General Steve Marshall Monday said 40-year-old Jason Park was served notice on June 26 at the Dale County Jail where he was already incarcerated after being arrested previously on many of the same charges.

A Dale County grand jury on June 17 indicted Parks on the following charges:

- 43 counts of possession of child pornography

- 13 counts of production of child pornography

- 4 counts of sex abuse of a child under the age of 12.

Marshall said Park since November 2019 has been arrested five times on a total of 40 charges. He was arrested Nov. 25, Nov. 27 and Dec. 2. Each time he was released on bond, for a total of $316,000.

His bond was revoked in February and he has been in jail since then. The multi-county indictment announced Monday includes the 40 charges for which he was previously arrested as well as 20 additional charges.

If convicted, Park faces the following penalties:

- Possession of child pornography is a Class C felony punishable by one year and one day to 10 years imprisonment for each of the 43 counts.

- Production of child pornography is a Class A felony, and because the three victims were less than 12 years old, it is punishable by 20 to 99 years or life imprisonment for each of the 13 counts.

- Sexual abuse of a child is a Class B felony, and because the two victims were less than 12 years old it is punishable by 10 to 20 years for each of the four counts.
Students returning to college campuses in Alabama this fall will have the opportunity to be tested for coronavirus before arriving on campus, and at least one university will require students to test negative before they are allowed to return.

Alabama Gov. Kay Iveys office announced Monday that the state will use $30 million in federal COVID relief funding to expand coronavirus testing on college campuses, and to lay the groundwork for having students and faculty return to campus.

The program is being designed and organized by the University of Alabama System, which includes the Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Huntsville campuses, but the free testing would be offered to all public college students in the state.

We are pleased to provide this new testing service to all public colleges and universities across our state. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Governor Ivey and her team to bring this project forward and help Alabamas citizens during this unprecedented time, UA System Chancellor Finis St. John said in a statement Monday.

Iveys office stated that funding would enable every college student attending a public four-year and two-year college an opportunity to be tested prior to reentry to campus.

Dr. Selwyn Vickers, Dean of the UAB School of Medicine and chair of the UA system re-entry task force, said the state also hopes to make testing available to students at private universities and colleges as well.

That certainly will be our goal, he said.

Vickers said the task force will recommend that the universities mandate testing for students returning for the fall.

We will leave that decision to the institutions and their campus leadership, Vickers said. I think what we do know right now, obviously, that there are people who clearly get symptomatic and need to be tested. And there are clearly people who are asymptomatic, and that appears to be somewhat common in some of our college students, who have no symptoms and perceive theyre fine, and unfortunately spread the virus pretty significantly.

So were not going to mandate what [the schools] do. Were going to allow them to make decisions about how they manage that and what risks that poses when a student chooses not to [get tested] and decide how they will continue their curriculum.

UAB President Ray Watts said that UAB will require students be tested before returning to campus.

I can say from the standpoint of UAB, we will require this test for all of our students, and we will require them to practice the right safety guidelines and to use this Health Check [symptom tracker], Watts said. Its easy to do.

Watts said that college administrators throughout the state had been collaborating to develop reopening plans and he believed many other schools would follow suit.

I cant speak for the other universities and colleges across the state, but we have had discussions, we have had the presidents and other leaders together on Zoom calls like this as recently as last week on Friday, Watts said. And theres been a lot of enthusiasm about certainly making this testing available to their students.

Vickers said that students who test positive will be asked to quarantine for 14 days before reporting to campus. In addition to testing students before they get to campus, the funding will allow for sentinel testing throughout the semester, in which a percentage of students at each campus are tested even if they are not experiencing symptoms.

Vickers said the schools are being asked to create accommodations on campus for students who test positive during the semester.

Were asking each of the institutions to really create an infirmary or a site where students can be both isolated and quarantined during the time period for their recovery from their infection, he said.

Watts said the UA system was collaborating with the Alabama Department of Public Health, and the University of South Alabama (which is not part of the UA system), HudsonAlpha and Kailos Genetics to facilitate testing in different parts of the state.

The testing will not be the invasive deep nasal swabs that most healthcare facilities have used so far to diagnose the disease, but less invasive nasal swabs or saliva tests.

Watts said the task force is also working with the Bruno Event Team and other logistics experts to coordinate widespread, if not universal, testing of the 260,000 higher education students expected to arrive on Alabama campuses for the fall semester. Details of the testing program are still being worked out and will be announced in the coming weeks.

State epidemiologist Sherri Davidson said that the testing would help identify students who may be asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 before they arrive on campus.

This free testing program will help diagnose those who are sick, but more importantly identify individuals who may not feel sick at all and do not realize they are spreading the virus while in close contact with others, Davidson said.

In addition to the re-entry testing, the UA system is planning to require use of an online symptom tracker and encourage use of a Bluetooth contact tracing app for students returning to campus. The symptom tracker prompts students and employees to report each day whether they are experiencing symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19.

The UA system is also rolling out an event passport tool that could be used to require people attending gatherings of more than 10 people to answer questions about their health status before arriving.

Vickers said the schools are committed to using whatever tools they have available to try and limit the spread of the virus when students return to campus.

We know that its going to take a comprehensive effort, Vickers said. No one of these things alone will make a difference. Human behavior is fundamentally at the foundation of this, but were going to add all the tools possible to make this future and our fall workable for our students, faculty and staff, as well as our business community across the state of Alabama.
In requesting bail, public defender Timothy Bahr argued that Seaman was a lifelong Harford and Maryland resident. When Cooper brought up how Seaman had failed to report to his probation officer since February, and noted a number of open cases against him, Bahr objected and asked the judge to not consider them when deciding his bail.
A 5-member team from the Centers for Disease Control has arrived in Alabama to assist the state with response to the growing coronavirus pandemic.

The CDC support team arrived in the state last week and will remain through at least July 3. The team, which includes an epidemiologist, a medical epidemiologist, an epidemiologist/data analyst, a risk communicator and an informatics/visualization specialist, came to the state at the request of the Alabama Department of Public Health.

The expertise of these public health professionals will further our staffs abilities to assess our processes and will help guide us in our efforts to protect the public during this pandemic, State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said in statement. We are grateful for the partnerships we have with CDC and other authorities at the local, state and federal levels.

The CDC team will work with ADPH on streamlining COVID-19 reporting, developing county-level indicators, recommend any needed interventions and develop and review outreaching and communication messages, ADPH said.

The visit comes as the state is experiencing some of its highest coronavirus case counts to date. Mondays numbers shows 1,718 new cases in the state but that number accounts for June 27 and 28 due to a delay in data.
A 16-year-old patient is on a ventilator at Huntsville Hospital due to the novel coronavirus as the pandemic begins to hammer north Alabama.

Hospitalizations in the Huntsville Hospital Healthcare System across north Alabama are soaring, CEO David Spillers said Monday, including 38 patients at the systems main hospital in downtown Huntsville, a peak number in nearby Athens and a new surge in long-struggling Marshall County.

The revelation about the teen on a ventilator in Huntsville indicates COVID-19 is not restricted to attacking the older population even as the average age of a COVID hospital patient is in the mid-50s, Spillers said.

Young people are not immune, Spillers said. This is the first teenager weve had in ICU, the youngest patient weve had on a ventilator. Young people are not immune. Its rare but it happens.

Related: AL.coms coverage of the coronavirus

Throughout 2020, Huntsville had seen relatively few infections and deaths compared to other large Alabama cities. But that seems to be changing. Madison County has reported 680 new cases in June, meaning 68 percent of all cases in Madison County happened since June 1.

We dont have this pandemic under control, Madison County Commission Chair Dale Strong said. Not in Madison County, not throughout the state of Alabama nor throughout the United States.

The recent surge is evident in the number of those requiring hospital care as well. Spillers said on June 1, there were 28 COVID inpatients across the Huntsville Hospital system. On Monday, that number had more than quadrupled to 115. In Madison County, there were 44 inpatients with six at Madison Hospital and two at Crestwood Hospital in addition to Huntsville Hospitals 38.

Marshall County, which emerged as an early coronavirus hot spot in Alabama and has seen a resurgence of cases, has 30 patients at its two smaller hospitals  21 in the Boaz hospital and nine in the Guntersville hospital.

Decatur-Morgan has seen a slight dip with 20 inpatients while Athens-Limestone is at its high mark, Spillers said, with nine inpatients. Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield has 12.

Spillers said that those who are hospitalized typically have preexisting conditions that make fighting the virus more difficult.

Testing has increased in Madison County, Spillers said, but so has the rate of positive tests. About 2,000 tests were administered at Huntsville Hospital last week, Spillers said, with a positive rate of about 7 percent. Thats up from about 3 percent a few weeks ago, though still below the statewide positive test rate of 10 percent.

The increase in hospitalizations has led to discussion about a strain on resources but Spillers said his biggest worry at this point is not having enough beds for patients but rather enough healthcare workers to attend to those patients. After all, Spillers said, healthcare workers are in the community, too, and potentially exposed to the virus.

The concern just continues to grow, he said. We will create beds. I worry less about finding a bed than running out of caregivers.

He described the situation on bed space in north Alabama hospitals as very manageable but also warned of another surge in the aftermath of the upcoming July Fourth holiday weekend. Health officials have repeatedly pointed to the Memorial Day weekend in May that coincided with the states reopening as the origin for the statewide increase in cases.

But because this virus is so infectious, it doesnt take much for that to get out of hand, Spillers said. We cant let our guard down coming into the Fourth of July. Weve got to be very careful what do over the next few weeks make sure it doesnt continue to go up.

Spillers repeated his advocacy for wearing masks, saying he doesnt understand why it has become a political issue over a healthcare issue.

You have no idea when youre out in the community if the person next to you has it or doesnt have it and could be transmitting it, he said. Its a good reason to wear a face covering and keep your distance because there are many more people out there with it.

The second takeaway is there are a certain percentage of people who when they get COVID are going to end up in the hospital. And there is a percentage of that group thats going to end up in the ICUs on vents. And thats a really bad time if youre going to spend time on a vent.
The federal agency that regulates workplace safety has opened investigations at two nursing homes where nurses died from coronavirus: Marion Regional Nursing Home and Crowne Health Care of Mobile.

A spokesman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) wouldnt release any additional information about the investigations. Both nursing homes had outbreaks of coronavirus that killed residents and staff members. The agency has also opened an investigation at Diversicare of Riverchase in Hoover, which reported coronavirus cases among its staff.

Relatives of Rose Harrison, the nurse who died at Marion Regional Nursing Home in Hamilton in northwest Alabama, said supervisors disregarded the symptoms she reported and pushed her to work in the week before her death. The spokeswoman for North Mississippi Health Services, which operates Marion Regional Nursing Home, declined to comment.

Three employees at Crowne Health Care of Mobile died from coronavirus, including 75-year-old Faye Jackson, a nurse at the facility, according to local news reports. A spokeswoman for Crowne Health Care said the company is aware of the matter and is fully cooperating with the agency.

Harrisons daughter, Jessica Black, said her mothers supervisors blew off her symptoms back in April. The 60-year-old nurse began running a low-grade fever and developed a cough, Black said. She asked to be tested, but couldnt get access because her fever did not exceed 100.4 degrees.

Her supervisors pressured her to continue working, Black said. She worked for a week before her family rushed her to the hospital in Tupelo, Miss. Less than three days after her final shift, the virus killed Harrison.

Black blamed the nursing home for her mothers death. She said they did not do enough to keep workers safe from the virus, including requiring masks after the first resident became ill.

There was no reason for her to even contract it, Black said. She should have been masked. She should have been expecting everyone to have it. They should have told everyone in that building that a nurse tested positive, and this is what were going to do.

Coronavirus has ravaged nursing homes across the country and in Alabama, and workers have not been spared. At least 1,527 have been infected, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. Data published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services show that staff members at five Alabama nursing homes have died from coronavirus.

Crowne Healthcare of Mobile saw 25 deaths among residents and staff, but now has no cases of the virus.

OSHA has issued guidelines for nursing homes to protect workers from coronavirus. The agency recommends regular screening, quarantine for exposed workers and proper use of personal protective equipment, including masks. Nursing home operators have complained about difficulties obtaining personal protective equipment and tests for staff as cases increased inside facilities.

Other states have required testing of all nursing home residents and staff, but not Alabama. Public health officials have not released any specific plans to protect residents or workers at nursing homes. Visitation has been banned since March in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

Its unclear how strictly OSHA will enforce its guidelines for nursing homes and other workplaces. In an April memo, administrators said inspectors would strongly weigh companies good-faith efforts to protect employees before assessing penalties. Citations should be issued when employers make no effort to comply, the memo said.

The agency has cited a nursing home in Georgia that delayed reporting a cluster of staff cases. In that case, six employees were hospitalized in April, but the facility did not report the cases until May. OSHA assessed a fine of $6,500.

All the open nursing home investigations in Alabama are classified as fatal or catastrophic, the category used when an employer reports a worker death or serious injury.
New York workers risk losing sick leave if they travel to Alabama or other states with high COVID infection rates.

Gov. Andrew Cuomos executive order applies to anyone from New York who voluntarily travels to states with infection rates of 10 percent or more, including Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Texas.

The order covers travel after June 25 unless required by an employer or as part of someones job.

New Yorkers have controlled the spread of this unprecedented virus by being smart and disciplined, and our progress to date is illustrated by the current low numbers of new cases and hospitalizations, Cuomo said. But as we are seeing in other states who reopened quickly, the pandemic is far from over and we need stay vigilant. If we are going to maintain the progress weve seen, we need everyone to take personal responsibility  thats why Im issuing an executive order that says any New York employee who voluntarily travels to a high-risk state will not be eligible for the COVID protections we created under paid sick leave.

New York had previously established guaranteed job protections and 14-days paid sick leave for all employed residents who were forced to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic.

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have already implemented a 14-day quarantine for anyone visiting from eight states with high rates of COVID-19.
Remington Arms Co. is preparing to file for bankruptcy for the second time and is in talks with the Navajo Nation for a potential sale, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Citing sources close to the negotiations, the Journal reported the Navajo Nation would serve as the lead bidder to purchase Remingtons assets out of Chapter 11.

North Carolina-based Remington operates a firearm manufacturing plant in Huntsville. Last year, the state canceled some $3 million in incentives for Remington after it failed to meet hiring and payroll target goals.

Remington, the nations oldest firearms manufacturer, had previously filed for bankruptcy in 2018. The company has been involved with years of litigation related to the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary when a Remington-made Bushmaster AR-15 was used to kill 20 children and six adults at the Connecticut school.

The families of the victims filed suit against Remington in 2014 and that case is ongoing.
The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Louisiana law regulating abortion clinics, which if implemented could have left the state without any clinics.

The ruling is the first Supreme Court ruling on abortion since Trumps two conservative appointees have taken the bench.

Chief Justice John Roberts joined the courts four-member liberal minority to strike down the law that would have required doctors who provide abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.

Justice Stephen Breyer wrote the law violated the precedent set in 2016 Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt, which ruled that a near-identical law in Texas was unconstitutional under Roe v. Wade.

Justice Samuel Alito was in dissent along with President Donald Trumps two appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. The appointment of Trumps new justices gave hope to abortion opponents that the Supreme Court would be more likely to uphold abortion restriction.

Today a majority of the Court perpetuates its ill-founded abortion jurisprudence by enjoining a perfectly legitimate state law and doing so without jurisdiction, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote.

A trial judge in Louisiana said the law would leave just one abortion clinic open in Louisiana, making it too difficult for people to get an abortion, violating the Constitution. In 2018 the appeals court in New Orleans upheld the law, rejecting the claim that any clinics would have to close and insisting doctors have not tried hard enough to form relationships with hospitals.

Alabama passed a similar law in 2013 requiring abortion clinics to use doctors who have hospital admitting privileges. The law was later struck down by a federal judge and in 2016 Attorney General Luther Strange said his office would drop its appeal because of the Supreme Courts ruling on the Texas law.

Alabama passed a law in 2019 banning nearly all abortions in the state. The ACLU of Alabama and Planned Parenthood Southeast sued the state of Alabama shortly after the ban was signed. It was halted from going into effect in Nov. 2019 by United States District Court Judge Myron Thompson until the ban played out in litigation in a higher court.
Mobile County saw numbers jump during lockdown, passing other Alabama counties, leading Alabama in coronavirus cases and deaths. But the outbreak seemed to level out in Mobile, at least relative to recent surges in Montgomery and now Jefferson counties.

But now Mobile health officials are worried the numbers are beginning to climb again and city officials are talking about taking one big step to stop another rapid rise: Requiring masks.

I am really worried about the direction this seems to be going in, said Dr. Rendi Murphree, an epidemiologist who is the director of the Mobile County Health Departments Bureau of Disease Surveillance and Environmental Services, referring to an uptick in deaths from one to three within a the past week. We have had an extreme rise in cases. I expect our worst fears will be true.

Mobile city officials plan to debate and could vote on a mask ordinance during its Tuesday meeting.

Mobile County has added over 520 new cases of coronavirus over the past week. And while that number lags behind the recent rise in Jefferson County, officials with USA Health and the Mobile County Public Health Department expressed concerns that hospitalizations could rise again if safe social distancing practices are not adhered to quickly.

There are more cases popping up, said Dr. Michael Chang, chief medical officer at USA Health. As best as we can tell, its a combination of more testing and significantly more disease. In Alabama, in late April, we had 500 patients across the state hospitalized with COVID-19. Now, its up to 700 and going up steadily.

Chang said that hospital bed capacity, however, remains in a controllable range at USA Health. The hospital is also participating in a joint effort with the city to provide testing to the general public at the Mobile Civic Center. Up to 250 patients a day are being tested at the public testing site.

Wear a mask

Chang, meanwhile, said wearing a face covering is one of three foundations toward stopping the spread of COVID-19 that he is imploring the public to consider during the Fourth of July weekend. The other two include standing at a 6-foot distance from others, and wash hands frequently.

Masking is absolutely key, said Chang. Its one part of a three-legged stool. It protects the wearer and the people who the wearer is exposed to. Strict hand washing is important as well and maintaining that 6-foot social distancing. Those three things working together  cumulative is more effective than (doing one of those three) individually.

The councils vote might have to wait another week. Council rules allow that the first time a new ordinance is introduced, any one council member can opt to have the vote held over for another week. Mobile City Councilman John Williams, during an interview Monday with FM Talk 106.5 host Sean Sullivan, said he planned to request the one-week layover.

Just now on #MiddayMobile Mobile City Councilman John Williams saying he will move to hold over a vote on a mask mandate.  Sean Sullivan (@fmtalk1065) June 29, 2020

But the matter most likely has the five-vote supermajority to pass. Council members Bess Rich, Levon Manzie, Fred Richardson, Joel Daves and C.J. Small have all publicly expressed support for the ordinance that would institute $50 fines against first-time violators, and $100 for a second-time offender.

Tuscaloosa and Decatur are poised to also approve mask-wearing mandates this week.

18 percent of Alabamians must wear masks, more cities could soon follow

It is absolutely clear that the coronavirus remains very active in our community and more needs to be done to slow and stop the spread of this deadly disease, said Small.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people age 2 and over wear face coverings as a barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling in the air and onto other people. According to the CDC, facial coverings are more likely to stop the spread of COVID-19 when widely used in public settings.

Intrusion vs. the smart thing

Masks have become a hotly debated issue in the U.S. within the past week as infections nationwide have soared to more than 40,000 per day.

But face coverings have become a polarized issue in recent weeks with some Americans viewing a mask mandate as governmental intrusion. They are also viewed through the countys deep partisan divisions: According to the Pew Research Center, 76% of Democrats and those who lean Democratic say they personally wore a mask all or most of the time in the past month, while 53% of Republicans or Republican leaners did the same. Conservative Republicans, according to Pew, were among the least likely to have worn a mask at all or most of the time the past month with slightly less than half  49% -- saying they did. Liberal Democrats, by contrast, were 83% likely to have worn them, according to Pew.

Chang said he felt it was never too late for a mask ordinance, noting that the countrys battle against COVID-19 remains in its early end.

We have a ways to go, said Chang. Anything we can do for prevention is a plus and masking is important.

The vote in Mobile County doesnt mean other cities in the county will follow suit. A letter signed Monday by the countys 11 city mayors urges people to wear a cloth face cover when going out in public. However, it doesnt mandate through ordinance that the coverings be required.

Saraland Mayor Howard Rubenstein said a mask ordinance is not under consideration.

We are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 data and encourage our residents to follow appropriate safety guidelines including mask usage in public areas, he said.

Mobile attributes new high in daily coronavirus cases to young people

Montgomery lifts coronavirus curfew after mandating masks
Two men were killed in Friday in Jefferson County traffic crashes, including one who was hit when he got out of his car following a wreck on Interstate 459.

The coroners office on Monday identified the victims as Harold Lee Henson, 66, of McCalla, and Mathew Scott Sartin, 22, of Louisiana.

Henson was killed Friday in the Bessemer area. Authorities said Henson was involved in a crash while he was driving northbound on Interstate 459. The vehicle that collided with him left the scene.

Henson parked his vehicle in the emergency lane on the right shoulder of the interstate and got out to check for damage. It was then he was struck by another vehicle when stepped into the travel lane.

The accident happened at 5 a.m. and he was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:14 a.m. Bessemer police are investigating.

Sartin was riding a motorcycle southbound on Interstate 59/20 about 11:50 p.m. Friday when another vehicle crashed into the motorcycle. The accident happened at mile mark 102, also in the Bessemer area. Sartin was pronounced dead at 1:04 a.m.

Coroners officials said circumstances surrounding the fatal wreck are under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
The assistant Selma fire chief has been charged in the weekend death of a motorcyclist near Bessemer.

Franklin Edwards, 49, is charged with felony leaving the scene of the accident. The warrant was obtained by Alabama State Troopers through the Bessemer Cutoff Jefferson County District Attorneys Office.

The crash happened at 11:50 p.m. Friday on Interstate 59/20 southbound at mile marker 102. Matthew Scott Sartin, a 22-year-old from Pineville, Louisiana, was killed in the crash. He was pronounced dead at 1:04 a.m.

According to troopers, Sartin was driving a 2000 BMW 1200 motorcycle. After troopers secured the scene, they found a 2009 BMW 750 sedan about two miles south of the crash. It was disabled and abandoned.

Investigators determined the vehicle had been driven by Edwards. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 11 a.m. Saturday and released at 1:44 p.m. after posting $10,000 bond.

Efforts to reach Selma Mayor Darrio Melton, who appointed Edwards, werent immediately successful.
A former police lieutenant on Monday was sentenced to prison for the rape of his stepdaughter when she was a teen.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Stephen Wallace sentenced Pete Williston to 21 years 3 months. That was the maximum punishment recommendation under state sentencing guidelines.

Williston did not show any reaction to the sentence, but prior to sentencing had pleaded with the judge for mercy. He broke down in tears several times, telling the judge and courtroom, If I could take her pain away and carry myself, I would.'

I admit I was wrong by being involved with her,' Williston said. Its caused more pain than I could have ever imagined.

A jury convicted Williston, 50, of first-degree rape in February. He was to be sentenced in April but that was postponed because of COVID-19.

Williston has been held in the Jefferson County Jail without bond since his conviction. Williston and his stepdaughter were among the four witnesses who testified during the trial.

Williston was a 17-year veteran of the Birmingham Police Department when he was arrested in June 2018. He was taken into custody after being discharged from UAB Hospital, where he was admitted for several days and underwent psychiatric evaluation amid suicide concerns after charges against him became public.

Before being placed on leave, Williston was serving as the interim commander of the citys East Precinct following the promotion of Allen Treadaway to assistant chief. Prior to that, Williston served as the departments public information officer.

The prosecution successfully argued that it met the criteria of forcible compulsion, saying that as a father-figure that led to the implication that the sex was forced. The defense argued that the stepdaughter was 16 years old at the time, so the sex was consensual. But prosecutors and the stepdaughter said she was 14 years old and couldnt consent to sexual intercourse.

The stepdaughter is now a 26-year-old mother of three. She testified at trial Williston engaged in multiple sex acts with her  usually two to three times a week  from 2008 through 2011.

The case was prosecuted by Jefferson County assistant district attorneys Jessica Hebson and Jason Wilson. Attorney Scott Harwell took over Willistons defense after his conviction.

Willistons mother and sister, both New Jersey residents, spoke on Willistons behalf Monday. Peter has never deliberately hurt anybody,' his mother, Helen Williston said. He is a loving son and a devoted father.

She said her son tried to help his stepdaughter in a way that he thought best. His family needs him,' she said. We need him.

Williston, in addressing the judge, pleaded for leniency so that he could be there for his 17-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter, when they need me most.

Though Willistons stepdaughter did not address the court Monday, Hebson said she was speaking for the victim and asked for a life sentence in the case. This has been a long road for her,' Hebson said. The prosecutor reasserted that Williston, who became the victims stepfather when she was just about 6, abused his position of authority in the home.

He became a father figure to her. He was a law enforcement officer. He was in charge in the home and the children were taught to do as he said,' Hebson said. In 2008 he decided he was going to start having sex with her. She was 14 years old.

Hebson also said she believed there had been attempts to victim shame during the case. The judge also acknowledged that aspect of some testimony. Its troubling and I want to put it to rest,' Wallace said.

The judge said Willistons position of authority in the home as well as the age difference between him and his stepdaughter were factors in his decision. The argument that she somehow invited this is not recognized legally, morally and it does not make sense,' Wallace said. The idea that they (Williston and the victim) are on an equal plane as far as her being able to consent is ridiculous.

You were the adult. You were the grownup and you took advantage of a position of trust and we cannot tolerate,' the judge told Williston. She (the victim) was the most grown up person in this whole thing because she knew it was wrong and came forward. It took a lot of bravery for her to testify.
The Max crisis has dealt a devastating blow to Boeings business. In January, the company estimated that costs associated with the grounding will exceed $18 billion, but that was before the disastrous spread of the coronavirus. The three carriers in the United States that operate the Max  Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines  have canceled thousands of flights in recent months. At Air Canada, some pilots who were licensed to fly the Max but not other planes in the carriers fleet, had to stop flying after the grounding.
Two slain Alabama police officers were remembered Monday as part of a 30-state tour to honor 146 officers killed in the line of duty countrywide in 2019.

The End of Watch Ride to Remember stopped first in Tuscaloosa in memory of Tuscaloosa Police Investigator Dornell Cousette, who was fatally shot while serving a warrant Sept. 16, 2019. The caravan then traveled to Birmingham to remember Sgt. Wytasha Carter, who was shot to death in the early-morning hours of Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019.

The tour is part of the nonprofit group Beyond the Call of Duty. Organizer Jagrut Shah, a retired police officer, launched inaugural ride this year. The group is made up of former and current officers and includes motorcycle riders that follow a customized 28-foot trailer with photos of the slain officers.

They will visit 99 departments in 30 states over a 68-day period.

Carter and Cousette were among six Alabama lawmen shot to death in 2019. A seventh was killed in an automobile crash. The others who died are: Huntsville police Agent Billy Fred Clardy, III; Lowndes County Sheriff John Arthur Big John Williams, Sr.; Monroe County sheriffs Deputy Sheriff Julius Jamal Jay Dailey; Police Officer William Ray Buechner, Jr.; Auburn police Officer William Ray Buechner, Jr.; and Mobile police Officer Sean Paul Tuder.

Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley and Mayor Walt Maddox were among those who attended the Tuscaloosa event. In Birmingham, Chief Patrick Smith wrote Sgt. Carter is missed everyday on a tablecloth bearing the department patches of the fallen officers. Some of Carters family members attended the event, as did Officer Lucas Allums who also shot in the same incident in which Carter was killed.

All of these officers made the ultimate sacrifice. They gave their life for their community, they gave their life for their department, they gave their life for their job, selfishly asking nothing in return,' Shah said. For us, its important to realize the men and women in blue everywhere should remember they havent been forgotten. Were not forgetting them. We want the families to know their loved ones have not been forgotten.

Lt. Richard Haluska, president of Birminghams Fraternal Order of Police, said its important that these officers are remembered. Its a powerful sight, he said, to see the 146 faces in one place at the same time.

It makes you happy and it makes you sad. You see all the happy moments when you see their faces because you know who those people were. If you needed help, that was the person who was going to come and they were going to help you,' he said. To know theyre gone is the sad part but to see somebody is holding those memories alive and theyre traveling around the country is absolutely fantastic.

Carters brother attended Mondays event in Birmingham. Its kind of emotional,' said WyKio Carter. He was a big key to this family. Him not being here, its hurtful but were making it through with Gods help.

I know if he was looking down,' he said. He would be really proud as well.
This week Alabama Power begins a series of public meetings on plans to reduce the dangers posed by several coal-ash ponds, amid criticism from environmental groups that it should be offering safer options than in-person public gatherings in a time when COVID-19 case counts are rising.

The Alabama Rivers Alliance, among others, has charged that the utility performed virtually no outreach, gave no detailed plans for social distancing precautions, and provided no option for virtual attendance. As COVID-19 case counts rise, the group said, We believe it is irresponsible of them to hold public meetings during this time.

Alabama Power spokesperson Michael Sznajderman said that there are no surprises about the meetings, which are part of a process that has been going on for years, and that notices were published in newspapers around the state about a month ago. As for health concerns, he said, Theres been a lot of planning put into these meetings to ensure public safety, and theres also an online option for people to weigh in with comments on the issue. The format of the meetings isnt suitable for streaming, he said.

The meetings start Monday, June 29, with a 5 p.m. session at the Carver Community Center in Eutaw, concerning Plant Greene County. On Tuesday, June 30, a meeting in Satsuma will address ash pond remediation plans at Barry Steam Plant north of Mobile. Other meetings follow for Plant Gorgas in Walker County on July 1, Plant Gaston in Shelby County on July 6 and Plant Miller in Jefferson County on July 7.

The Unintended Consequences of Convenience, a video recently released by the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, lays out the issue: In the 20th century, numerous coal-fired power plants were built near rivers, where coal could be shipped in by barge. Coal ash often was stored in large ponds, so dust wasnt an issue. A dam failed on such a pond in Tennessee in 2008, sending what the film calls a slow-moving tsunami of toxic sludge into nearby tributaries of the Tennessee River. The event raised awareness of the potential hazards of ash, which contains toxic heavy metals, and led to a new federal policy designed to present similar disasters in the future.

A new EPA rule on Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) took effect in 2015. Under it, risk-reduction action was required at numerous plants nationwide, including six operated by Alabama Power. The rule offers two paths to fix any storage pond judged to be at risk of contaminating nearby waterways or water tables. One is to truck all the ponds contents to a secure landfill. The other is to drain, shrink and cover most of the contents in place. Alabama Power has opted for the latter option at its facilities; information on its plans can be found at AlabamaPower.com.

Mobile Bay NEP says it began making its explanatory video when it was asked by its Government Networks Committee, made up of elected officials representing coastal Alabama, to present a scientifically objective assessment of issues related to the closure of the coal ash pond at Alabamas Plant Barry. Its clinical tone includes many of Alabama Powers arguments in favor of the capping approach, suggesting that the massive effort to transport the Barry ponds contents to a landfill would delay resolution of the danger and create problems that might offset the supposed benefits.

Meanwhile, Alabama Power argues that its cap-in-place strategy is more comprehensive than the name would suggest. Some of the material will moved to leave more space between the consolidated deposit nearby river banks. Water will be pumped out of the ash and treated before the site is capped, so that the dewatered mass is less likely to seep. Dikes and walls will protect against flooding and leaking, and monitoring will track the results for at least 30 years.

Not everyone is convinced. Mobile Baykeeper says its own studies show that Alabama Power is overestimating the risk and difficulties of the haul-it-out solution because cap-in-place is cheaper. It also argues that the approach isnt even legal at Barry because, given the nature of the site, Baykeeper thinks it cant meet CCR Rule requirements.

Those arguments arent addressed in the Mobile Bay NEP video, which also provides no in-depth consideration of the Barry Plants unique exposure to coastal factors such as sea-level rise and storm surges.

Alabama Power appears to have advertised the meetings mainly via newspaper notices. Those notices, which can be read on the utilitys website, do not mention coal ash at all: They say that the meetings are regarding an Assessment of Corrective Measures (ACM) for each plant and that The purpose of the ACM is to identify and discuss potential corrective measures that are available to address groundwater.

A coalition of groups have supported a petition that asks Alabama Power to reschedule the meetings, to provide more public notice and to provide an option for those whod like to attend remotely. Groups backing the petition include the Alabama Rivers Alliance, Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Coosa Riverkeeper, the Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution, Mobile Baykeeper, Sierra Club Mobile Bay Group and the Southern Environmental Law Center.

Sznajderman said that postponement isnt an option because its uncertain how long the COVID-19 epidemic will continue, and we have to hold these meetings before we can move forward with this process.

He said the meetings arent well-suited for streaming because they arent town hall-style gatherings where speakers address a panel of officials. This is more of an informational meeting, he said, with experts arranged at a series of stations to explain various points of the mitigation process. The public can come, they can ask questions of the subject matter expert at each station, he said, and theyll be able to leave written comments.

Organizers will provide masks and will strongly encourage visitors to wear them in areas where they arent mandatory. The meetings will be set up to encourage physical distancing, among other safety measures.

Sznajderman said information from the meetings will be posted along with other coal-ash subject matter at www.AlabamaPower.com. Members of the public will be able to file comments on the site, he said, but thats not the last opportunity. State regulators also have to weigh in.

There will be additional opportunities for public comment as we get into the permitting process by ADEM, he said.

The schedule of meetings:

Plant Greene County: Monday, June 29, 5-7 p.m., Carver Community Center, 720 Greensboro St., Eutaw.

Barry Steam Plant: Tuesday, June 30, 5-7 p.m., Steele Creek Lodge, 368 Juniper Ave., Satsuma.

Plant Gorgas: Wednesday, July 1, 5-7 p.m., Alabama Powers HVAC Training Center, 3711 Industrial Court, Jasper, AL.

Plant Gaston: Monday, July 6, 5-7 p.m., Wilsonville Baptist Church, 9851 S. Main St., Wilsonville.

Plant Miller: Tuesday, July 7, 5-7 p.m., West Jefferson Town Hall, 7000 West Jefferson Road, Quinton.
A 68-year-old Alabama prison inmate has died after testing positive for COVID-19.

The Alabama Department of Corrections on Monday identified the inmate as Wanda Gaye Dison. She was serving a 55-year sentenced at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women on rape and sodomy convictions out of Montgomery. She died Monday, according to prison spokeswoman Samantha rose.

Dison on June 21 was transferred to a local hospital from Tutwilers infirmary due to her advanced, chronic medical conditions and rapidly declining health, Rose said. Upon admission to the hospital, Dison was tested for COVID-19 and subsequently returned a positive test result. She remained under the care of the hospital until her death.

According to the Associated Press, Dison was convicted in 2004 of helping her husband repeatedly assault her children and grandchildren over a 27-year period. She was found guilty on seven counts of rape, sodomy and sexual abuse of child as well as failing to protect and provide medical treatment for a child.

Rose said Disons exact cause of death is pending the results of a final autopsy. The Alabama Department of Corrections extends its sympathies to the Dison family and her loved ones during this difficult time,' according to an ADOC release.

To date, six state inmates and one ADOC employee have died after testing positive for coronavirus. Last week, prison officials announced the death of a Tutwiler employee, the first employee death in the state prison system. They did not identify the employee.

Rose said 65 total cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among the inmate population, 41 of which remain active.

Among ADOC staff and contracted staff, 82 COVID-19 cases remain active. Eighty-one staff members who previously self-reported a positive test have been cleared by medical providers to return to work.
Authorities are investigating after seven people were shot early Sunday in west Alabama.

Hale County District Attorney Michael Jackson said the shooting happened about 1 a.m. It took place at an outdoor party in a field off County Road 21 between Sawyerville and Akron. That area is in the Jerusalem Settlement.

The shooting, authorities said, stemmed from an altercation. Jackson said one of the victims was shot in the face but as of Sunday afternoon, none had died. All were taken to area hospitals.

The Hale County Sheriffs Office is investigating. Efforts to reach sheriffs officials for additional details were unsuccessful. No arrests have been announced.
There is growing congressional interest in finally confronting China over its predatory trade practices. But while talk continues in Washington over the right policy response, China keeps picking off key parts of U.S. manufacturing, including the automotive industry.

A recent Senate hearing made clear just how serious the situation has become. China is now positioned as the dominant player in the lithium-ion battery supply chain for electric vehicles (EV). In fact, China is so outpacing America in battery development that one witness described the U.S. as being lapped.

Simon Moores, the managing director at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a consultancy focused on the battery supply chain, told the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources that China has 107 battery mega-factories either operating or in the pipeline. In contrast, the U.S. has only nine, with just three currently active. Moores said that China is now bringing the equivalent of one battery mega-factory online each week.

One bright spot in the U.S. has been the emergence of Tesla. But China is still far outpacing the U.S. in deployment of EVs and charging stations as well as the development of supply chains for minerals and metals needed to build EVs and batteries.

By focusing on EVs and the battery supply chain, China is aiming to dominate 21st Century automotive production. Weve seen this playbook before. Beijing overtakes an essential industry by trading profit for market share and control. For example, thanks to massive subsidies for state-controlled companies, China now produces more than half of the worlds steel. And it has even tighter control over the vital minerals and metals used to produce everything from smart phones and fighter jets to lithium-ion batteries. In fact, of the 35 minerals deemed critical to Americas economic and national security, China is the dominant supplier for 23.

The U.S. cannot afford to lose the EV arms race. We should not allow assembly lines to closeand put hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs at risk, all to benefit the false efficiency of offshoring.

The United States must not allow more industries to be gutted and relocated overseas. And Washington should not allow China to gain even greater leverage over our economy and national security.

What we need to do is to push back against Chinas industrial predation, subpar environmental practices, and systemic labor abuse. We need a recommitment to industrial policies that place a premium on secure domestic supply chains, resources, and workers.

Now is the moment to turn the tideto ensure industries start coming home as we rebuild the vital supply chains and manufacturing capacity that can underpin future prosperity and economic security.

Michael Stumo is CEO of the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA). Follow him @michael_stumo
This is an opinion column.

Companies dont do this. They just dont.

Private companies dont open their books. Not at all. They dont share the ingredients of their financial smorgasbord with anyone who doesnt have a c-suite key. They dont reveal how they spend their moneyor with whom they spend it. Nope. Not at all.

Public companies do it only to the extent they must, legally. Only revealing what digits will keep them compliant with national securities regulations.

Thats how its been. How it was as I witnessed it during more than four decades with various corporationsincluding in one in which I had an ownership stake.

So, ask a company how much it spends with Black- or women-owned companies, or other disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs). You might as well ask for the CEOs home address. Or Rolodex. (Google it.)

Yet these are, as we all know now, unique timestimes when its no longer cool to be racially oblivious. Or agnostic, especially. Pick a side.

Either Black lives matter to you. Or they dont.

Either eliminating racially insensitive symbols, labels, dress codes, tweets, and other social media posts; names of organizations, groups, and businesses (like grocery chains; we see you Winn-Dixie); monuments, memorials, flags, license plates, anythingeither it matters to you. Or it doesnt.

Either youre part of the awakening, and you want to see it through, even when it gets uncomfortable (it will), even when it demands unprecedented action (it will; bye Aunt Jemima and the rest). Or you dont.

You choose.

This week nine Birmingham corporations chose an unprecedented path. They chose to join the City of Birmingham in promising to annually report what they spend with MWDBEssomething the city has long been pressured to do.

They agreed to report publicly. To open their books. Lay it out.

For all of us to see.

The commitment was made in conjunction with the citys launch of VITALof course, Mayor Randall Woodfins acronym-happy administration crafted a catchy title. It stands: Valuing Inclusion to Accelerate Lift.

In an essay announcing the program titled Moving from Conversation to Action Woodfin wrote: We are calling on companies to join us in leveraging our purchasing and procurement power as employers to create economic opportunities for [MWDBEs].

He said while Black people comprise 28% of the regions population, its home to just 3% of black-owned businesses. That represents the largest racial disparity in business ownership among metro areas with more than one million people in the country.

The essay was cosigned by the CEOs or presidents of some of the citys most prominent corporate brands: Protective, Hoar, Shipt, Alabama Power, Altec, Encompass, Regions, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Alabama Media Group (owned by our parent company, Advance Media).

Each pledged to begin tracking corporate spending with MWDBE vendors, with the first public report to be revealed in January 2021.

The thing that makes this unique is its commitment to economic development, Shipt (a division of Target, a public company) CEO Kelly Caruso, told me. Its very intentional about that; its also a commitment to Birmingham, to ensuring businesses grow here. This doesnt mean we have all the answers or there isnt more to do and more to learn. But the time to act is now, and were going to do our part.

Kelly Caruso is the new CEO of Shipt.

Getting to now was a long, arduous journey. Too long for many who clamored for the administration to reveal how much the city spends with diverse vendors, a notion birthed in 2017 as a Woodfin campaign promise to track such spending. The new mayor arrived at City Hall and discovered gathering the data would not be easy, in part, because nowhere on the citys business license form were applicants even asked to delineate if they were an MWDBE.

There was no accurate data even on how many minority- and women-owned businesses Birmingham had, says Josh Carpenter, head of the citys Office of Innovation and Economic Development. We had census data showing among the nations top 50 metros, Birmingham was 49th in small businesses feeling as if local government was supporting them. Small businesses of all stripes were feeling malnourished.

Altering the application, analyzing spending across the many, oft-disconnected city departments, and creating citywide guidelines for vendor spending are steps that will be augmented with a comprehensive disparity study of overall spending. City officials believe it will reveal why prioritizing spending with MWDBEs is paramount in a city whose population is 75% African American.

That data could justify a set-aside strategy to help grow MWDBEs throughout the region. Today, any hint of such a strategy would run smack into a wallthe states onerous bid law, which requires municipalities to make purchases of $15,000 or more (with few exceptions) utilizing free and open competitive (sealed) bidding process with contracts awarded to the lowest responsible bidder.

However, Carpenter says, when we are able to justify with a data-driven case why a minority set-aside program is fundamental to Birminghams long-term success it offers the latitude to create strategic programming and policies that prioritize procurement so we can create a more effective economy in the long run.

A hurdle for some companies was the fear of what the numbers might revealthat spending with diverse vendors may be unacceptably low. Allowing companies six months to conduct internal assessments and saying the initial report will be viewed as a baseline from which to build rather than the endgame helped ease some fears.

It starts with being informed of: Where do we sit today? Caruso said. Weve already started this work, so weve got time to rethink it and pivot to ensure that every day were making great choices about where we spend our money.

Jim Gorrie, CEO of Brasfield & Gorrie (which is privately held), was not among the co-signers. Not because he isnt supportive of tracking and reporting B&Gs spending with diverse vendors, but because theres no widely accepted standard for success and B&G needs to look inward.

I dont mind being held accountable, I just need to know what Im being held accountable to, he shared. I love the idea of trying to double the number of black-owned businesses in our community. Thats really important and its a Herculean effort.

Brasfield & Gorrie CEO Jim Gorrie

In recent years B&G launched a program to mentor and nurture minority-owned contracting firms, helping them build capacity, perhaps the critical factor for growth in the construction field.

Weve been thinking about our own response and obligations, and what we can do, Gorrie said. It seems like the ground has been plowed and theres a unique opportunity to move forward together on inclusion throughout our companies and communities in a way thats bulletproof. Were trying to figure out the best way to do that.

Committing to the report will certainly bring new scrutinyrightfully soto other areas of the companies, including the racial composition of the board of directors and the c-suite, along with diversity throughout the workforce. These realities may be harsh and prompt criticism.

Rightfully so.

Caruso became Shipts CEO in March 2019, replacing founder Bill Smith, and said improving the companys diversity was one of my primary goals.

I started at the top, she says.

Half of Shipts c-suite is female, Caruso says, while 40% is diverse.

Thats doesnt just happen, she says, You have to be incredibly intentional through not just hiring practices but also by cultivating a talent pipeline that is diverse and nurturing that over time. And we still have a lot to do.

Gorrie says the growing national dialogue surrounding social injustice and racial inequities, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, has struck a chord within Brasfield & Gorrie.

We had a listening call not too long ago, just after George Floyd was killed, he shared. Everybody in the company called in. It was painful for so many people, including myself. We just listened. Youve got to try to understand that people are really affected and hurting. Everybodys talking about it, which is good.

A more recent company-wide monthly call attracted 250 participants, Gorrie said. The calls typically attract about 50 people. That just shows the attention and interest in the opportunity that we have now. So, I think the ground is pretty fertile.

One of the reasons I havent been out front saying were going to do this or that is the first thing we have to do is look inside. What I want to do first is get better, to improve every aspect of what were doing. Its a lot easier to help outside when youre healthy inside.

As part of the prescription, Gorrie said one of B&Gs major corporate initiatives in 2021 will be to boost its diversity and inclusion efforts. Thats a major step for us because we always only focus on two or three major initiatives a year, he said. Im really pleased our entire company is on board to really make a difference in the next year. That includes a look at our c-suite and our board. We dont have a lot of diversity in our C suite, we acknowledge that.

I just, Im encouraged that were going to be making some real progress and I wish I could sit here today and tell you what those things are.

Caruso, meanwhile, says shes actually excited about seeing the first report and believes it will help spur other companies to diversify their vendor portfolio. Not simply because its the right thing to do.

Diverse, inclusive companies perform much better from the top line to the bottom line and when it comes to innovation, she said. So, not only is it great for Shipt to have our own diversity, but to also partner with companies that have that same commitment to diverse and inclusive cultures because we know theyre going to come up with better ideas, more creativity, and theyll make us a better company.

Companies, though, dont do this. Cities, either. They just dont.

Sharing spending with MWDBEs is a necessary start. Emphasis on start.

And maybe, just maybe, its happening in the right place. At the right time.

Youll be hard-pressed to find it happening in another city. Even right now.

Even when it matters. More than ever.

A voice for whats right and wrong in Birmingham, Alabama (and beyond), Roys column appears in The Birmingham News and AL.com, as well as in the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register. Reach him at rjohnson@al.com and follow him at twitter.com/roysj
By Dr. Tori Anderson, a pediatrician, practicing in Birmingham, and serves as vice president of the Jefferson County Pediatric Society. She may be reached at: Victoria.Anderson@childrensal.org.

It seems a simple enough act to protect one another from the spread of a potentially deadly disease. Just wear a mask in public.

Yet as the cases of COVID-19 continue to trend upward all around us, we see far too many cases of Alabamians unwilling to take that simple step during this crisis and wear a mask in public.

So alarmed are we, pediatricians in Jefferson County, that we are spreading this unified message that has the potential to save lives: #mask4others.

You may see billboards, newspaper and media ads, hear PSAs on radio stations and see interviews by pediatricians on television. We are working very hard to spread this important message.

If only 60 percent of people wore face coverings that were only 60 percent effective, they would have the power to actually stop the spread of this deadly virus that has gripped our nation and the world. In Alabama in recent weeks, we have moved into the number 2 spot of increased cases in the country.

Its almost cliche to say that we are all in this together, a phrase we have often heard since the beginning of this pandemic. But its true. We are all in this together  not as victims, but as fellow human beings.

And one simple act  wearing a mask  means I protect you, and you protect me. And together, we protect each other. What better way to illustrate the compassion of looking out for one another.

I have seen first-hand many people who were initially being careful with social distancing and masking who have now started letting their guard down. Unfortunately, COVID doesnt care about the 99 times you did wear a mask. It only takes one close exposure.

Others think of it as something that happens in other places, not here at home in Alabama. But the statistics  growing daily  would quarrel with that notion. Over the past two weeks, Alabama had the second highest number of new cases per capita in the nation.

Becoming infected with COVID not only means you may endure a severe illness, but it also means that those you have been in contact with will have to quarantine for 14 days to stop the spread of the virus. That means no school or work for those affected. That means some schools or businesses may have to close temporarily because of your actions.

Dr. Selwyn Vickers, Dean of the School of Medicine at UAB, one of the nations leading medical facilities, told the Associated Press, When you open the doors, and you look at the beaches, you look at the restaurants, and you look at cities that choose not to do masks, or individuals who dont, ... I would say our behaviors create the biggest challenge for us.

Still others choose this dangerous behavior because they dont trust the numbers and think it is a hoax. There are real people behind those numbers, and this is no hoax. As of today, over 120,000 Americans and 830 Alabamians have died from COVID. If you try to compare this to flu, which killed 218 Alabamians in the 2018 flu season, there is no comparison. COVID is NOT the flu.

We all know masks can be a nuisance. But dont be swayed by this nuisance or by the rhetoric you hear from those trying to minimize the threat of this illness. Wearing a mask is worth the nuisance to potentially save a life. Consider if it was your grandmother or premature baby at risk. Listen to the doctors. Were all saying the same thing: Wear a mask in public, not only to protect you, but to protect others.

COVID is mainly spread through droplets. Wearing a cloth face covering or mask prevents YOUR droplets from spreading to others.

People who are asymptomatic can spread COVID, so you can unknowingly spread COVID to others. This can lead to illness or even death in those you love.

If we ALL wear masks, we can stop the spread of COVID even BEFORE we get a vaccine.

Its that simple. Mask for others and stop the spread.

Dr. Tori Anderson is a pediatrician, practicing in Birmingham, and serves as vice president of the Jefferson County Pediatric Society. She may be reached at: Victoria.Anderson@childrensal.org.
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Russia has never gotten over the humiliation they suffered in Afghanistan, and now they are taking it out on us, our troops, she said of the Soviet Unions bloody war there in the 1980s. This is totally outrageous. You would think that the minute the president heard of it, he would want to know more instead of denying that he knew anything.
The pontiff says that the love for Jesus should be put above family affections, that kinship ties, if put first, can deviate from the true good. He urges the faithful to pray for the people of Yemen, especially the children, who are suffering because of the serious humanitarian crisis.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis called on those who followed todays Angelus to pray that Europe and the United Nations may improve the tragic situation of Syrians as well as the Lebanese who have taken them in. Before, he noted that the Gospel says to put love towards Jesus above family affections, "that kinship ties, if they are put first, can deviate from the true good.

Speaking to a thousand people, spread out over St Peter's Square, Francis said that today's Gospel (Mt 10: 37-42) strongly echoes the call to fully live and without hesitation our devotion to the Lord. Jesus asked his disciples to take seriously evangelical needs, even when this requires sacrifice and effort.

"The first demanding request that he made to those who followed him was that of putting love towards him above family affection. He said: Whoever loves father or mother [. . .] son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, (Mt 10: 37). Jesus certainly does not intend to underestimate love for parents and children, but he knows that kinship ties, if put first, can deviate from the true good. We see it in the corruption of governments when they put love of relatives before love of country.

We could point to many examples in this regard, not to mention those situations in which family affections are mixed with choices opposed to the Gospel. On the other hand, when love for parents and children is moved and purified by the love for the Lord, it then becomes fully fruitful and produces good in the family itself and far beyond it.

Francis noted that Jesus complains about the doctors of the law for neglecting their parents and that he pushes to love parents and children.

Jesus told his disciples: whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me (Mt 10:38). It is a question of following him on the path that He himself followed, without looking for shortcuts. There is no true love without a cross, that is, without personally paying a price. Carried with Jesus, the cross is not frightening, because He is always at our side to support us in the hour of the toughest tests, to give us strength and courage.

There is no need to fret to preserve ones own life, with a fearful and selfish attitude. Jesus warned: Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (Mt 10:39). This is the paradox of the Gospel. But, thank God, we also have many examples of this even in this pandemic.

The fullness of life and joy is found by giving yourself for the Gospel and for your brothers and sisters, with openness, acceptance and benevolence. In doing so, we can experience Gods generosity and gratitude. Jesus reminded us of this [when he said]: Whoever receives you receives me [. . .] whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones [. . .] he will surely not lose his reward (Mt 10:40,42). God the Fathers generous gratitude takes into account even the smallest act of love and service rendered onto [our] brothers.

This contagious recognition helps each of us have gratitude for those who take care of our needs. When someone offers us a service, we must not think that everything is due to us. Many services are done out of love. Think about the volunteers.

Gratitude, gratitude, is first of all a sign of good education, but it is also a badge for Christians. It is a simple but genuine sign of the kingdom of God, which is a kingdom of free and grateful love ".

After the Marian prayer the Pope said that "the fourth conference of the European Union and the United Nations will be held next Tuesday, 30 June, to support the future of Syria and the region. Let us pray for this important meeting, that it may improve the tragic situation of the Syrian and neighbouring peoples, especially Lebanon, amid serious socio-political and economic crises that the pandemic has made even more difficult. [. . .] Some children are suffering from hunger."

"I call upon you to pray for the people of Yemen, especially the children, who are suffering because of the serious humanitarian crisis, as well as for those affected by severe floods in western Ukraine. May they experience the comfort of the Lord and the help of their fellow human beings.
First up are those $600 expanded benefits checks. They are due to stop coming on July 26 at the latest. And while clearly that benefit cant be maintained forever (at least not without the means to pay for it), ending them in a month looks like a terrible idea. It would be one thing if the coronavirus pandemic were definitely over or at least contained, but the latest numbers are alarming. Although Maryland has seen many of its key measures fall, other states are going in exactly the opposite direction. The number of new cases overall has been rising since mid-June with states like Arizona, Florida and Texas becoming the latest hot spots. And its not just new cases, positivity rates and hospitalizations are up as well. And thats caused some states to impose new restrictions to improve social distancing. Yet, even with those orders, some project U.S. COVID-19 deaths will rise significantly in July.
The disputed Sino-Indian border, which stretches some 3,500km (2,175 miles) along some of the worlds most rugged terrain, is roiling after soldiers from the two countries clashed violently in the last fortnight. The two militaries remain poised eyeball-to-eyeball in Ladakh  a high-altitude desert of which China claims and controls a 43,000-square-kilometre (16,602-square-mile) chunk.

Decades of negotiations between New Delhi and Beijing have not yielded a solution to their competing claims over 135,000 square kilometres of territory along the border.

Even so, violence of the kind witnessed on June 15, when 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers died in a brutal clash in the remote Galwan River Valley, is rare.

According to Indian accounts, the impasse began in early May when soldiers from Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), who were engaged in their springtime exercises in Tibet, unexpectedly crossed the de facto border  known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC)  and grabbed chunks of unoccupied territory. Indias thinly deployed military could only watch, since its springtime manoeuvres had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chinese occupation of Indian-claimed territory and the killing of Indian soldiers are a heavy challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modis image, which rests on muscular Hindu nationalism. It exposes Mr Modi to allegations of political misjudgement since he has, over the years, invested personal and political capital into wooing China and befriending its President Xi Jinping. The two have met numerous times, including in two informal summits at Wuhan in 2018 and in Chennai, in India, last year. Modi portrayed each of these meetings as heralding a new era of strategic cooperation with China.

His government has been unusually mindful of Chinas sensitivities, even as it repeatedly opposed Indias bids for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which controls the worlds export of nuclear materials. Beijing stalled New Delhis attempts in the United Nations to have a Pakistan-based radical preacher, Maulana Masood Azhar, designated a global terrorist for 10 years before agreeing to the designation last year. It also ignored Indias objections to building a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor through territory claimed by India.

Overlooking all this, New Delhi has avoided criticising Beijing over its heavy-handedness against Taiwan and Hong Kong, brutal crackdowns in Tibet and Xinjiang, its role in the COVID-19 pandemic, or even the Belt and Road Initiative that tramples on Indias territorial claims.

Most significantly, Modi has remained non-committal to blandishments from Washington for India to play a major role alongside the US in deterring Chinese adventurism in the Indo-Pacific region. New Delhi has consistently rebuffed invitations to carry out joint patrols with the US military, and chosen to project military power only in the Indian Ocean, rather than in the contested South China Sea.

Given the governments care not to offend Beijing, Indias opposition parties have seized the opportunity to lampoon Modi, who had famously claimed in a 2014 election rally that his 56-inch chest made him suitable for governing. Now his political rivals are criticising him that his musculature exists only in dealing with Pakistan, but not with China.

Modi is also facing trenchant criticism over inadequately funding the military throughout his six years in power. In the current year, the defence budget has fallen to its lowest level, as a share of GDP, since 1962. That year, debilitated by a decade of dwindling budgets, Indias military was traumatically drubbed in a war with China.

Amid a chorus of rising criticism, Modi is downplaying the Chinese intrusions, while publicly announcing that the military was handling matters. There is no word on what demands Beijing has made, if any, in on-going discussions between diplomats of both countries.

If Beijing refuses to vacate the territory it has occupied, or makes impossible demands of India, Modi will be left with few options. In what would be a tectonic shift in global power dynamics, India would probably align openly with the US, enormously boosting the emerging containment of China. While Beijing might regard New Delhis burgeoning relations with Washington as provocative, and this may have motivated it to teach India a lesson, the outcome would be a strategic debacle for China: Its largest neighbour, India, being pushed into the arms of its superpower adversary, America.

Already, Washington has signalled its readiness to stand alongside India. On at least three occasions since the beginning of May, senior US political officials have pledged support to New Delhi, following up those offers through diplomatic channels. So far, Modi has demurred, replying that India is capable of handling the situation, but this could change.

Also, on the cards is the probability of India galvanising the Quad  a four-nation diplomatic grouping with military overtones that also features Australia, Japan and the US. Since 2007, India has been mindful of Beijings sensitivities about what was billed as an anti-China concert of democracies. Now, by allowing Australia into the Malabar trilateral naval exercises, which also include the US and Japan, India could militarise the Quad, making it a significant anti-China grouping in the South China Sea.

India could also pursue economic retribution against China. In an emphatic signal, in April, New Delhi imposed restrictions on Chinese financial investments into India, blocking cash-rich Chinese companies from cheaply buying stakes in Indian firms financially distressed by the pandemic-related economic slowdown. New Delhi could also bar Chinese telecommunications firms from participating in the rollout of Indias 5G telecom network.

With Sino-Indian trade heavily weighted in Chinas favour  the trade imbalance was about $56bn last year  New Delhi could impose damaging restrictions on imports from China. However, the trade interdependence between the two countries would impose a cost on Indian firms as well. For example, Indias well-developed pharmaceutical industry relies heavily on bulk drugs sourced from China.

Perhaps the greatest damage to Chinese interests has already taken place  in its image among Indians. While Indias 1962 generation, and perhaps the next, held onto a demonised image of China, Indias millennials had tended to perceive China more favourably, as a modern economic powerhouse. Now, the Ladakh intrusions and the media glare around Chinese backstabbing has created another Indian generation that regards China with animosity.

Most immediately, New Delhi must deal with the situation of having Chinese troops in occupation of Indian territory. Given the nationalistic mood in India, which Modi himself has been central to creating, a soft response or the surrender of territory would be politically unacceptable. The governments strategy to obtain time to negotiate with Beijing by downplaying the situation has been scuttled by an active media and an opposition that is keen to corner the government on the issue of national security.

Nor have the Chinese shown any inclination to de-escalate. If anything, Beijing is upping the ante, with reports coming in of fresh Chinese intrusions at other spots along the border. With armed Indian and Chinese troops eyeball-to-eyeball and reserve formations mobilising to the border, the situation could quickly spin out of control. The various Sino-Indian confidence-building agreements that have kept the peace for the past few decades appear to have lost their validity.

Simultaneously, there are reports of cross-border firing on the Line of Control with Pakistan, raising apprehensions of Indias two main enemies  who tout themselves as iron brothers  joining hands to force a two-front war on India. With New Delhi unlikely to prevail in that unequal contest, it would have little choice but to call on Washington for assistance, or to fall back on its nuclear deterrent.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Take Maryam, who just delivered a baby girl amid the pandemic. She is anxious about how she is going to feed, clothe and nurture her newborn child  an anxiety thats exacerbated by her husbands layoff from his restaurant job, language barriers within the unemployment process, and a landlord who is doing everything he can to circumvent the statewide halt on evictions. In another part of the country, three siblings Raul, Mayra and Julio are trying to stay afloat despite pandemic-related job loss. Their mother was deported and their father remains in immigration detention  what many call a tinderbox for the spread of COVID-19.
The Maryland State Education Association, the teachers union, urged Franchot and Kopp to vote against what it said were $110.8 million of immediate cuts to education programs. That list includes state grants that go to poorer counties that are often used to help fund schools, smaller contributions toward teacher retirements, and cuts to the Healthy School Facilities Fund, which pays for projects like air conditioning and mold remediation in public schools.
It was hot and dusty at 6118 River Road on Monday, June 14. Sweaty construction workers moved steadily and with purpose. They were cleaning up debris, packing vinyl and installing drywall at Grace Harbor Lighthouse Church in Moss Bluff. It was around lunchtime and a few had gathered under a
The current mania for pulling down statues of so-called morally corrupt historical figures is a classic case of presentism: "reading modern notions of morality" onto the past. It seems that those driven to do so may be honestly trying to rectify the "sins" of the past  whether it be colonial conquest, slavery, genocide, or whatever else. How corrupt were these historical figures? Were they indeed much more reprehensible than anyone in the present day? What did these people actually think in the awful before times when our Western European ancestors discovered the "New World" and practiced conquest and slavery? We are not able to read their minds  only to speculate upon their intent by examining historical documents: the writings, recollections, and stories of those who experienced those days. Indeed, how many of these activists so intent on destroying these representations of the past are fully knowledgeable of these documents that underpin the respect once given to these historical figures resulting in their statuary honors?

David Wootton, in his book The Invention of Science, explores the development of modern thinking through the investigation of historical artifacts such as writings, literature, and recollections. He notes that in the 1600s, even the notion of history itself did not exist as we understand it today. Wootton describes the intellectual culture of a typical well educated European in the 1600s. Such a person believed that witches could turn people into pigs, for instance, and that magic could be used to retrieve stolen goods. Alchemists could turn base metal into gold, and murdered bodies would bleed in the presence of the murderer. Slavery was understood to be just one way of the world. Europeans at that time were familiar with the writings of the Romans and the Greeks and how they lived. They had no notion of progress as such  to be able to reflect on their own technologies and compare them to the capabilities of others  so the classical civilizations of Rome and Greece were seen as contemporaries rather than as ancients. We today can marvel at their ignorance, even as we take for granted the modern world that exists as a result of their imagination and curiosity.

How these Europeans of the 15th and 16th centuries, few of whom managed to cross the oceans to discover the North American continent and return to tell the tale, viewed the non-literate stone-age peoples they encountered there may not be acceptable to our modern notions of cultural respect and "cultural equivalency." We may say the European explorers and settlers exhibited hubris, "an overestimation of one's own competence, accomplishments or capabilities," in their dealings with the indigenous populations when humility would have served them better. And although any rationale for why they responded the way they did toward these peoples does not excuse the violence they perpetrated, their accomplishments, and those of their contemporaries, drove the growth of science, technology, philosophy, and the evolution of the modern world that we enjoy today.

Throughout history, there is much can be learned from both the accomplishments and the mistakes made by those that came before us. Erasing history serves only to throw the baby out with the bath water.

We are supposedly morally evolved for the better now  against slavery, racism and bigotry, conquest and war  yet one open-eyed observation across our planet today would reveal that human beings are practicing these "awful" behaviors almost everywhere in some form or another.

The statue-destroying activists are unwittingly displaying themselves as arrogant in the highest degree, for instead of acknowledging history and the lessons that could be learned therefrom to build a more compassionate and understanding present and future, they practice the same destructive behaviors that they are purportedly erasing from the past. Actually, it is the worst best case of hubris, for the activists claim to stand on the highest moral ground to support their judgments and display no self-reflective understanding of the past, themselves, or their current behavior. Most of the recent cases of destruction, if not all, demonstrate a woeful ignorance of history by the perpetrators. So although presentism may have launched this destruction, the lack of historical understanding and self-reflection renders the movement hollow, corrupt, and devoid of any humility and compassion. Instead of being able to say "we've come a long way, chaps," it appears that human behavior has not evolved one bit for the better in the centuries that have passed. How dare we disparage our historical forebears?

It raises the question  is the current violence and outrage simply a case of hubris and ignorance, or is there another purpose driving this need to erase the past? Should our historical figures be seen not as good examples at all, but as horrible warnings? Even if so, we are still charged to learn from the past to both appreciate the benefits that have sprung from their effort and forge a better future by avoiding their mistakes.

In any case, the destructive so-called activists  i.e., vandals  definitely fall into the category of being not good examples, but horrible warnings to a civil society. Woe to a human experience with no history, no memory of either joy or pain. Without memory, we have no understanding. It is better to add to the history we think we know  to unveil the hidden, to recognize and honor the forgotten, in order to make the record more honest and complete. Doing so can inform our work to build a better future's past. History demands our humble understanding, not our hubristic outrage.

Rosamina Lowi is an e-learning developer, writer, and editor. Contact her at rlowi@yahoo.com.
Charles Murray's Coming Apart documents the growing alienation among adults with differing levels of formal education. This lack of connectedness has grown in tandem with government expansion to generate a de facto ruling class that is profoundly out of touch with small-town America. In this interview, Murray explains how some Americans are chafing under this recent development:

[A]gain and again you've had people who were experts who were advocating and passing policies that ordinary people looked at and said, "This is absolutely nuts." ... Another problem with the experts  and I think that this gets to a lot of the visceral anger that people have  is that the experts have been recommending policies for other people for which they do not have to bear the consequences.

People in the managerial class are unaware of these consequences because they rely on bogus studies legitimized by a clerisy of media columnists and college professors who never met a big government program they did not like. This passage from "America's Ruling Class" by Angelo Codevilla sums up the nature of this groupthink:

Today's ruling class, from Boston to San Diego, was formed by an educational system that exposed them to the same ideas and gave them remarkably uniform guidance, as well as tastes and habits. These amount to a social canon of judgments about good and evil, complete with secular sacred history, sins (against minorities and the environment), and saints.

According to Codevilla, these values are shared by establishment politicians from both parties, but only the modern Democrat Party openly embraces them. This is why today's mainstream Democrats are backed by the most powerful corporate forces in post-industrial society. The unholy alliance between big government and big business became a permanent fixture of the political landscape during the New Deal, but thanks to the left's special relationship with the media and higher education, few Democrat voters are aware of this development.

How do we shed light on the party of the ruling class? Where can we reliably compare and contrast the effects of Democrat and Republican policies on common Americans? Since Washington, D.C. is a moral swamp where Deep State bureaucrats use all means at their disposal to destroy all adversaries to the ruling class, more can be learned at the state level.

Small businesses are in a sense the "canary in the coal mine" because they lack the resources and social connections to reasonably navigate burdensome regulations. The owners of these businesses also tend to have an independent streak that does not sit well with many of the credentialed elites who regulate them. The tight correlation between political affiliation and small business friendliness presented in Table 1 and Graphs 1 and 2 torches any reasoned case for Democrats representing ordinary Americans.

It is no paradox that the same political party that receives nearly all donations from big labor unions also drove away blue-collar jobs (Table 2). This job loss had a bigger impact on minorities who disproportionately relied on them (Tables 3 and 4). This is why black Americans are fleeing in droves from the Northeast and West coasts and settling in Southern states with right to work legislation.

In the NYT opinion piece "The Pathway to Prosperity is Blue," college professors Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson make a case for the blue state model by citing data on education, standard of living, and life expectancy. It is almost common knowledge that the northeast states have the highest percentages of adults with college degrees (Table 5). This region's world-class universities and cultural amenities play a major role in their snob appeal, but the oppressive environment for small business, and the ongoing losses of working-class residents with concurrent gains in more affluent professionals demonstrates that these blue states have been gentrifying at the expense of very people Democrats claim to care about the most. Hacker and Pierson's shallow analysis reminds us why America's most prestigious universities are a laughingstock to people living in the real world.

Root columnist Michael Harriot compared racial disparities between North and South and concluded that black-white disparities for employment, education, criminal justice, and political participation are on average smaller in the South. Harriot speculated that the racial disparities in the North are a result of northerners who "politely tuck their racism in their pockets" while discriminating in their hiring decisions and school district choices. Though I am tempted to concur with Mr. Harriot, I do not blame these disparities on hidden racism. I think the main causes of racial inequality in blue states are pride and privilege  not pride or privilege based on race, but the self-congratulatory pride that comes with voting for the party that pays more lip service to minorities and the privilege of being sheltered from the adverse consequences of the policies you support. Both of these reinforce a smug complacency that discourages these holier-than-thou progressives from exploring facts outside their echo chamber.

Hacker and Pierson insist that the key drivers of growth are not low taxes or lax regulations, but "science, education, and innovation." In other words, the benighted plebs who do not contribute this highbrow economy need to put up and shut up while more qualified experts run their lives and their livelihoods. This elitism might explain why eight of the states highlighted in blue were ranked among the worst for widening pay disparities.

America is not slouching toward Gomorrah. It is on a trajectory to Babel, a power-hungry metropolis founded upon the utopian delusion that human expertise could bring Heaven to Earth. If you look to Washington as a panacea for the ills of society, you may get your way, because despotism is the path of least resistance.

Enjoy your new overlords. They may not grant your every wish, but they will stop those Bible-clinging "deplorables" from triggering your delicate sensibilities.

Antonio Chaves teaches biology at a local community college. His interest in economic and social issues stems from his experience teaching environmental science. His older articles with graphs and images are available here.

Table 1: Political affiliation and small business friendliness

Graph 1:

Graph 2:

Graph 1, Graph 2, and Table 1: Democratic advantage scored by Gallup in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Small business friendliness scored by Thumbtack. This ranking excludes Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Vermont because they were scored by Thumbtack less than three times from 2012 to 2016. All the data compiled for Graph 2 is available here.

* GPA scores are based on the following numerical equivalents: A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0, A+ = 4.3, A- = 3.7, etc.

** Based on a one-tailed T-test the difference is significant at P = 0.00001.

Table 2: Political affiliation and share of blue-collar jobs

Table 2: Democratic advantage scored by Gallup in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Share of non-agricultural blue-collar jobs compiled by Blue-Collar Jobs Tracker. This ranking excludes Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Vermont because they were scored by Thumbtack less than three times from 2012 to 2016.

* Based on a one-tailed T-test the difference is significant at P = 0.00001.

Table 3: Political affiliation and unemployment by race

Table 3: Democratic advantage scored by Gallup in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Unemployment by race compiled by 24/7 Wall Street. This ranking excludes Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Vermont because they were scored by Thumbtack less than three times from 2012 to 2016.

* To provide more realistic data on black communities, states where African-Americans make up less than 5% of the state population are excluded from the average.

** Based on a one-tailed T-test the difference is significant at P = 0.005.

*** Based on a one-tailed T-test the difference is significant at P = 0.02

Table 4: Business friendliness and unemployment gap between white and black

Table 4: Small business friendliness scored by Thumbtack. Unemployment by race compiled by 24/7 Wall Street. The states highlighted in blue are among the ten most progressive. The states highlighted in red are among the ten most conservative. This ranking excludes Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Vermont because they were scored by Thumbtack less than three times from 2012 to 2016.

* Based on a one-tailed T-test the difference is significant at P = 0.005.

Table 5: Political affiliation and percent of adults with college degrees

Table 5: adults with college degrees compiled by the US Census. Democratic advantage scored by Gallup in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. This ranking excludes Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Vermont because they were scored by Thumbtack less than three times from 2012 to 2016.

* Based on a one-tailed T-test the difference is significant at P = 0.00002.

Image: OccupyFightsForeclosures via Flickr.
The other day, the New York Times was subtly and not so subtly promoting the claim that President Trump was standing callously by and coddling Russia's Vladimir Putin even as Putin was busily offering the Taliban bounties for the bodies of dead U.S. servicemen. It was the old "Trump is a Russian agent" canard whipped out in a new form.

The intelligence finding was briefed to President Trump, and the White House's National Security Council discussed the problem at an interagency meeting in late March, the officials said. Officials developed a menu of potential options  starting with making a diplomatic complaint to Moscow and a demand that it stop, along with an escalating series of sanctions and other possible responses, but the White House has yet to authorize any step, the officials said.

Heartless bastard, allowing Russia to pick off our men while he kaffeeklatsched with Putin and invited him to the G-7. Anything for his Russian master.

President Trump denied it. His acting director of National Intelligence at the time, Richard Grenell, denied it vehemently. Grenell's disavowal of the leak of such "partial intelligence" was something I noted here. And for what it's worth, even the Russians denied it.

But the Times pressed on with the claim and even did some additional reporting to claim that it had proof. The Guardian helped the Times along with a follow-up story beginning with "Outrage Mounts about..."

Fortunately, there was CBS's Catherine Herridge, who batted back at the press at its own game  and found some pretty exculpatory backing for the Trump administration's statements:

DEVELOPING: A senior intel official tells @CBSNews the GRU/Taliban bounty allegations were not contained in the President's Daily Brief (PDB) which is the highly classified, daily summary of national security issues delivered to the President, key cabinet secretaries + advisers..  Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) June 28, 2020

talks with the Taliban, intel about a GRU operation involving the Taliban, targeting US forces would have risen to the level of inclusion in the PDB. @CBSNews  Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) June 28, 2020

Bzzt. False issue. Fake news. Egg all over the Times' face.

Herridge is an experienced reporter and the best in the business. The story she filed came in response to some extremely shoddy journalism, promoting the hoary claim that President Trump was a Russian agent, something the Times got assorted awards for promoting, including the Pulitzer. It's almost as if it was their own now-discredited previous reporting they were promoting, complete with Deep State claims.

Report phony stuff up just in time for elections, promote fake claims that are all but impossible to check under cover of intelligence, whip up fake feeding frenzy of scandal with your buddies, see how it works?

Another top reporter, Lara Logan, has noted some pretty atrocious news reporting standards:

I have been a journalist for more then 35 years & I have never in my life witnessed such extreme disinformation coming from political figures. Four years of nonsense/lies peddled by Democrat leaders, believed by Trump haters, promoted by journalists pretending to care about truth https://t.co/0IcTd30005  Lara Logan (@laralogan) June 28, 2020

That leaves the Times to beat the dead horse of "what the president knew" even as the preponderance of evidence points to his not knowing at all. If the Times sticks to this, that's propaganda, a false picture in the name of promoting a political motive.

And it's particularly despicable when it's done with politicized intelligence. Imagine if the scenario were true: President Trump knew and set up a savage retaliation for Putin he didn't want anyone to know about? That's the problem with "partial" intelligence, as Grenell noted. It wasn't true, and now senior officials are playing the same game as the Times' original sources. What a sorry picture this is when all they had to do was report the news truthfully, in service of no "narrative."

Image credit: Twitter screen shot.
The damage by Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis, who withdrew police from his city's third precinct and allowed rioters free rein, extended across the nation. The message was clear: it was open season for violent thuggery as long as it was in the name of politically correct slogans like "black lives matter" and "antifascism." The toleration of CHAZ/CHOP in Seattle amplified the signal that there would be no legal consequences for lawlessness in the name of the correct causes.

A return to law and order, a situation in which people think twice before committing criminal acts while in mobs, will take longer, but it is finally underway. On the federal level, two New York City lawyers who allegedly aided a Molotov cocktail attack on police car face felony charges that could land them in prison for the rest of their lives. And now, on the local level, a district attorney is bringing grave felony charges against violent rioters.

"This is not Seattle," proclaimed Oklahoma County district attorney David Prater on Friday, adding, "We're not putting up with this lawlessness here" after pressing felony charges related to violent demonstrations there the last weekend in May. Nolan Clay writes in The Oklahoman:

Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater made the decisions himself on the charges in a get-tough approach meant to deter others from going too far during protests in the future. (snip) Charged in two terrorism cases was Isael Antonio Ortiz, 21, of Welch. He is accused of burning an Oklahoma County sheriff's van May 30 and attempting to burn a bail bonds business "along with a large crowd of other individuals."



Israel Ortiz mug shot (via The Oklahoman).

Predictably, the ACLU is outraged:

The ACLU of Oklahoma is accusing Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater of overcharging protesters to silence those speaking out against police brutality and racism. The ACLU criticized the district attorney Saturday evening, one day after he charged three protesters with terrorism, four with rioting and one with assault and battery upon a police officer. The civil liberties organization called the felony charges excessive, politically based and upsetting. Prater on Sunday defended the charges, saying, "When you act like a terrorist, you will be treated like a terrorist."

Charging people for violent acts does not silence protest; it only punishes violence. But there are other charges from Prater that do relate to speech itself:

Also charged Friday were five defendants identified as involved in the painting of murals in downtown Oklahoma City this week. They are accused in an incitement to riot charge of interfering with a police sergeant who was trying to take a homicide witness for an interview at police headquarters Tuesday. In court affidavits filed with the charges, police claimed that several agitators during the May 30 protest stayed to the center to keep the crowd in an agitated state. "Several people were carrying flags that were identified as belonging to the following groups: Antifa, Soviet Union (communism), American Indian Movement, Anarcho-Communism (solid red) and the original Oklahoma flag ... currently adopted by Oklahoma Socialists," police reported.

The court will determine if the incitement amounts to "shouting fire in a crowded theatre," the standard for speech prohibition offered by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes in the case U.S. v. Schenk.

Prater is unmoved by the ACLU's argument:

"These criminals have subverted peaceful protests and impaired the open discussion regarding race in our country," he said. "These criminals are diabolic and strategic in their use of tactics historically employed by terrorists throughout the world; namely, targeting innocent citizens with violence and the threat of violence, intimidation, the dissemination of propaganda to disrupt societal and communal relationships and using peaceful protestors as human shields. When you employ these tactics for a political purpose, you are a terrorist." Prater said he and others in law enforcement will not be intimidated from "protecting those we serve by aggressively enforcing and prosecuting the law." "When you act like a terrorist, you will be treated like a terrorist. All innocent citizens of Oklahoma County deserve to be protected. The citizens of Oklahoma County have a legal and constitutional right to personal safety and the protection of their property. It is my job to protect innocent citizens and their property and I will continue to do it to the best of my ability," he said.

And he has the police union behind him:

Speaking out in support of the district attorney Sunday was John George, president of the Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police. "David's always been not afraid to do what he thinks is right," George said. "A lot of elected officials and city leaders have not shown support for their police departments across the country. It was nice to see DA Prater here do the right thing and file charges on people who needed to have charges filed on them."

With President Trump promising a federal law enforcement crackdown on attempt to vandalize monuments on federal property, extending to mobilizing the National Guard, and felony prosecutions for rioters who trigger federal law, and at least some localities beginning to charge rioters with crimes carrying severe penalties, some potential rioters may be deterred.

It will be a long road back to social order.
Sidney Powell, the tenacious lawyer who corrected the judicial abuse of her client, General Michael Flynn, is reminding us that she and her client believe he was originally targeted for destruction because he was aiming to investigate what he believes was serious corruption at the CIA under its director, John Brennan. Via Lifezette:

Sidney Powell, attorney for retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, said her client, in his duties as the White House national security adviser, was prepared to "audit" the U.S. intelligence community. That, according to the former federal prosecutor, is partly why federal agents "set up" Flynn. Powell, who took over Flynn's defense last summer, told the "Vickie McKenna Show" on 1310 WIBA Madison that her client was "totally set up" because he threatened to expose wrongdoing by top intelligence officials in the Obama administration. "He was going to audit the intel agencies because he knew about the billions Brennan and company were running off the books," Powell said, referring to former CIA Director John Brennan.

I have no specific information about these suspicions, but the secrecy necessary for intelligence and counter-intelligence work, when combined with the practice of employing outside contractors for classified work, opens the door to potential financial corruption, simply because secrecy can block auditors from effective investigation and action. Sidney Powell has tremendous credibility, and she would not be mentioning this if there were not a factual and evidentiary basis, in my opinion.

I highly recommend the memoir of a retired CIA covert agent (and AT contributor) Ishmael Jones, The Human Factor: Inside the CIA's Dysfunctional Intelligence Culture, in which the author discusses the open door for corruption there. It is a riveting book that, more than anything else I have read, explains the multidimensional failures of the CIA.

Brennan, it should be noted, served as president of a major CIA contractor:

[T]he company that first developed the electronic watch lists for the government, and would have been directly involved in the Detroit fiasco [the shoe bomber's failed attempt to bring down a jumbo jet]: The Analysis Corporation (TAC). TAC is the intelligence contractor Brennan headed from 2005 to 2009 before joining the Obama administration. By that time, it was a key player in a global monitoring system that included the TSA, the State Department, and the CIA's Counterterrorism Center. And last week [Oct 2015] the Corporation was back in the news after Wikileaks released a CIA report on the company as part of a larger dump of emails uncovered by a high school student who hacked into Brennan's personal AOL account. The report on TAC, which is posted here, concerns a CIA contract that Brennan's company bid for but lost in 2007 while he was still its CEO. It underscores that Brennan would have known far more about TAC's potential role in the Detroit incident than he let on in public. But, more surprisingly, it shows that the CIA's contracting office thought that TAC was technically inept, intellectually dishonest, and heavily reliant on a handful of former officials  such as Brennan and his former boss, George Tenet  to get its way in the high stakes world of intelligence contracting. Essentially, CIA officials concluded that Brennan and other former CIA officials working for TAC and its subcontractors provided "insider information" to their procurement office. That could be a violation of federal contracting rules that, according to legal experts and contracting laws, forbid "unauthorized disclosures" of such information prior to a contract award by individuals who "have worked for, acted on behalf of, or advised the Government."

Whatever the facts turn out to be, a serious investigation is warranted, as soon as General Flynn produces an evidentiary basis.

Caricature by Donkey Hotey.
A resolution calling on Iran to give access to two of its atomic sites to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, presented by Germany, France, and England, was eventually passed on June 19, 2020, enjoying a good majority of the votes (25 countries, aye; 7 abstentions; Russia and China, nay; and Paraguay was absent).

That's good, because Iran is suspected of carrying out nuclear activities at these two sites in the 2000s in order to obtain nuclear weapons.

Tehran tried to prevent its approval by any means  using both carrots and sticks  because it was horrified at what the outcome of its passage would be.

More evidence of a change of course by the Europeans toward the Iranian regime can be found in a statement made by the same three that underlines the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. It reads in part: "We believe that revocation of the arms embargo against Iran in October will provoke complications in the security and stability of the region. We remind that the EU's sanctions on [Iran's] conventional weaponry and [its] missile technology will stay put till 2023."

At a conference last week at the office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Washington, D.C., the former deputy of the IAEA and former head of the agency's inspectors in Iran, Olli Heinonen, being well familiar with the Iranian regime's covert projects and how it whitewashes them, stated: "The Iran regime has not only increased the number of IR2 and IR4 centrifuges but has also produced a ton of 4.5% enriched Uranium. This amount, if enriched up to 90%, is enough for producing one atomic bomb."

Early reactions and positions were taken by the Iranian regime's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, and the regime's representative in Vienna, Kazem Gharib-Abadi, points to this regime being bewildered and weakened by its political dead end.

Zarif said: "We will not let the IAEA turn into a tool in Trump's hands to destroy JCPOA (Iran deal)."

Gharib-Abadi called the resolution "deeply disappointing" and said the issue of inspection is "vague and worrisome." This representative threatened that this resolution "neither incites us to give access to IAEA nor puts any pressure on us."

Tehran, predicting the resolution's agreement, had accused the U.S. of pursuing its ratification with the intention of inducing the IAEA's governing council to follow U.S. policy, even though it had left the JCPOA. In that way, Tehran wanted to prevent the inspection of its suspicious sites.

As the appeasement policy is now a defeated one and, as a result, Tehran is internationally isolated, it has to yield to this resolution otherwise it will have to face great international consequences, the most important and imminent one being continuation of the arms embargo.

Entangled as it is in critical economic conditions and the lethal coronavirus catastrophe, Tehran tries to control an explosive society with suppression. The supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, wasting all the privileges that the JCPOA had for him in exporting terrorism, warmongering, and suppression, sees no light at the end of this tunnel.

He must now decide which international roadmap to take: permit the IAEA inspectors to have access to these two sites, or face the continuation of the arms embargo.

The result of the recent session of the governing council is influential in determining the next step that both the Iranian regime and the international community will take  decisions that will lead to the continuation or abolition of the Iranian regime's arms embargo at the U.N. Security Council.

Hassan Mahmoudi is a social analyst and researcher and an independent observer and commentator on the Middle East and Iran.

Image credit: logo, public domain.
Recently, we've all enjoyed scenes of "peaceful demonstrators" burning and looting businesses all across the fruited plains of America. Young, ill educated punks throwing bricks or Molotov cocktails through store windows all seem to have the same rhetorical response: it's all covered by insurance, anyway, ain't it?

No, it's not in many cases, showing that these violent thugs know about as much about insurance policies as they know about particle physics or American history. And even if damage from riots were covered, getting reimbursed by insurance companies is as easy as extracting wisdom teeth with long, divergent roots. There's also the little matter of finding contractors, ordering materials, and dealing with the psychological scars of seeing your life's work reduced to smoldering ruins. And getting all this done during a pandemic where the rules, especially in Democrat-run locales, change hourly.

Add to that, this is the worst possible time to rebuild anything. Why?

As a thought experiment, let's stipulate that the average damaged CVS, Target, or Wendy's can easily reopen its stores in 128 days or less. As the paint's still drying and the caulk's still setting, what can those businesses then expect?

That's right: Armageddon!

In 128 days, when Donald Trump easily beats poor, senile Joe Biden, or whomever the Democrats replace the rapidly declining swamp rat with, that brand-new window glass is gonna get broken again. Everyone who didn't grab a large-screen TV during the George Floyd  or George Kirby, according to the rapidly declining Nancy Pelosi  riots will surely grab one this time. Those looting CVS will have had ample time to bone up on pharmacology and will make sure to steal some muscle relaxants to balance out their Adderall and amphetamines. A nice Louis Vuitton handbag is certainly a must to help carry all that loot.

The odds of major rioting after Trump's re-election approach 100%. The very same businesses, churches, and police stations that were recently razed will all be plundered again, those and others that escaped the first wave of rampant lawlessness.

But won't the police and National Guard protect all these institutions, you ask? Ha, ha, that's a knee-slapper, there! Any officer of the law with half a brain and any sense of self-preservation will call in sick or take vacation days around Election Day. And the cops that will be present at these riots will simply do what they were instructed to do in June: stand back and watch the mayhem.

In summary, now is an excellent time to get the hell out of Democrat-run cities and buy stock in Amazon.
Where do liberals get the idea that if you just talk nicely to warlords, expropriators, pirates, and invaders, they'll do what you say?

That's the approach Seattle's Trump-hating mayor, Jenny Durkan, took, and she's about to learn the hard way how that works, except that she doesn't learn.

She called for the shutdown of CHOP, and its defiant and entitled denizens have since walked all over her, making her look like a fool.

Here's the miserable monument to her ineffectualness, according to local KING5:

Seattle officials said barriers around the "Capitol Hill Organized Protest" zone (CHOP) would be dismantled on Sunday morning, but the scene remains intact as of Sunday night. Durkan said last week that police will begin returning to the East Precinct in the CHOP, although a timeline wasn't provided.

Instead of gratefully viewing her as their friend, the invaders are now getting in her face, taking their act to her personal doorstep:

Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant joined a large group of protesters outside the CHOP zone who marched to Durkan's house on Sunday afternoon. One of the demonstrators said, "We came down to Jenny Durkan's mansion to bring the demands of the movement and of the families who have been impacted by police violence to her doorstep as she seems to not be able to hear our demands any other way."

This, to someone who's bent over backwards to accommodate them and explain away this invading army of Antifa Marxist and anarchist agitators to outsiders, despite their literally taking over six blocks of the Seattle, the city she was sworn to uphold and defend.

Instead of sending the shock troops out for this band of thieves, pirates, and expropriators, led by a man who literally calls himself a "warlord," to scoop them up and sweep them out before they knew what hit them, she explained the whole expropriation away as a "summer of love" and a "block party atmosphere." She offered them money. She offered them praise.

Remember this?
Last week, French president Emmanuel Macron said Turkey was playing a "dangerous game" in Libya, citing it as further evidence of the "brain death" of NATO. For some time now, Turkey has been working counter to the interests of its NATO allies, fomenting unrest and instability in global hotspots such as Syria, Iraq, and more recently Libya, whilst cozying up to Iran. They have become a major threat to the organization's very reason for being, contradicting its one for all and all for one ethos.

NATO was founded as an organization to instill military cooperation and stability in a world fractured and broken by war. Theoretically, its members are bound by a common pursuit of a peaceful resolution of disputes and seeking to avoid the exacerbation of conflicts through reckless, unilateral action. Turkey in recent years, under the authoritarian and increasingly anti-Western rule of Muslim Brother Erdogan, has taken military and foreign policy steps that stand in stark contrast to these basic NATO principles.

Only last month, France and Turkey were involved in an incident in the Eastern Mediterranean, where attempts by the former to determine whether the latter's frigates were smuggling arms to Libya, in violation of a U.N. embargo, was met with hostility, aggression, and a lack of cooperation. In the grand scheme of things, this is a relatively minor incident; however, it is symptomatic of Turkey's increasingly belligerent view toward its NATO allies and points to the increasingly hostile role it is playing in Libya.

In January of this year, Turkey, along with other foreign powers, signed up to a U.N. agreement to cease sending arms into Libya at a much-heralded conference in Berlin. Yet a BBC Africa investigation found that a Turkish ship, the Bana, had delivered military escorted arms shipments to the port of Tripoli mere days later. This reveals an insincerity in Ankara's commitment to de-escalate the conflict that is staggering even by its own duplicitous foreign policy standards.

The Berlin agreement was driven by many of NATO's key members, such as France and Italy, reflecting the organization's recognition that an influx of arms benefits no one except the patchwork of extremist militias and smugglers propping up the Tripoli-based government. Turkey now appears to be using the leverage gained from sustained, illegal arms shipments to embed itself in Libya's economic future, with reports suggesting they've made direct threats to Italy's gas supply as part of that process.

Ankara calculates that tipping the tide in favor of Fayez el-Sarraj's Government of National Accord will see it wield unprecedented economic influence in post-conflict Libya, whatever the cost in blood and treasure. This strategy not only is rendering it complicit in the continuing destruction and loss of life the civil war brings, but sees it trampling over and acting in direct contradiction of its NATO allies, particularly Italy and France.

Beyond Libya, Turkey has increasingly aligned with NATO's principal adversaries, in the form of Iran and Russia, forming an unholy triumvirate that seeks to loosen the rules-based international system. At the start of the year, President Trump rightly called on NATO to take a more proactive role in facing down the network of terror and destabilization Tehran has built across the Middle East. Before COVID-19 brought the world to a standstill, the rest of the organization was increasingly falling in behind President Trump's tougher stance.

Yet Turkey has spent years working counter to these efforts, instead cozying up to Iran, weakening NATO's stance in the process. This has allowed Tehran to see an organization divided, rather than a united front willing to take on its destructive influence. This, combined with their increasingly reckless actions around Libya, shows a Turkey that holds no regard for NATO's interests and priority.

Turkey has spent millions on questionable lobbying campaigns  sometimes on behalf of the government, sometimes on behalf of quasi-state institutions  all aimed at diverting attention and hiding its duplicity. Increasingly, thanks to investigations such as that tied to Michael Flynn, or Turkey's attempts to exert control over Libya, Turkey's duplicitous behavior toward the U.S. is coming to light: it poses no strategic value if it undercuts U.S. interests at every turn.

Turkey, like other countries which actively work against the strategic aims of NATO and its honorable members, need to be called out. NATO has long, and rightly, known that it has a Turkey problem.

Graphic credit: Pixabay.
At the very moment that "hate speech" is being censored in social media and the past words and behavior of anyone in the public eye are being scrutinized for signs of bigotry, Fox Corporation, the parent of Fox News and many other broadcast properties, is choosing to offer a platform to notorious bigot Louis Farrakhan. Joel Pollak of Breitbart writes:

The new Fox 'Soul' network has announced that it will air Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan's "Message to America" on a special July 4th program, despite his history of racism, antisemitism, and homophobia.

LIVE ON FOX SOUL: THE CRITERION

THE HONORABLE MINISTER LOUIS FARRAKHAN will deliver his MESSAGE TO AMERICA on JULY 4th at 11am ET / 8am PT.



For More information visit https://t.co/cQCGt59mm7 and tune into FOX https://t.co/ZQ7BibvsBi or Download the FOX SOUL APP pic.twitter.com/CdJoQLcEnP  foxsoultv (@foxsoultv) June 26, 2020

Fox Soul explains its mission:

FOX SOUL is a new live and interactive streaming channel dedicated to the African American viewer. The programs aim to celebrate black culture and deal with real topics that impact the everyday lives of the black community through frank and insightful dialogue with local and national influencers. Audience participation is central to our mission and we invite our viewers to engage live, through calling-in directly to the shows at 1-866-FOX-SOUL and by interacting with us wherever you watch  in our apps for iPhone | Android | Apple TV | FireTV or on the web at foxsoul.tv.

Defining Farrakhan's brand of hate as a "real topic" that "impact[s] the everyday lives of the black community" is frightening to anyone who has been targeted by Farrakhan as less than human and satanic.

Obviously, the Fox media empire wants to reach black viewers, who are about 13% of the population, but touting Farrakhan as part of "our voice" and "our truth" is alarming.

I am not in favor of cancel culture, but that is the ruling ethos of the day, rigorously enforced by most of the powerful institutions of our society, culture, and economy. In these circumstances, a major broadcaster featuring Farrakhan and linking to his organization's website tends to legitimize him and his Jew-hatred in the minds of its audience.
Living in Churchill in northern Manitoba, Canada, has its perils. Situated on the banks of Hudson Bay, approximately 1,000 km north of the provincial capital, Winnipeg, Churchill is one of Canadas most remote towns. Few places are inhabited so far north, with the exception of a couple of Inuit communities and research stations. But cold and isolation are not the only challenges its residents face. Their biggest threat is polar bears.

A polar bear warning sign in Churchill, Manitoba. Photo: sirtravelalot/Shutterstock.com

Churchill stands on the migration route of these large predators, who travel along the coastline to their hunting ground in Hudson Bay, where they look for seals in the ice. Although the hunting season lasts only through fall when the sea ice has just started to form after months of summer melt, polar bears skirt the towns borders throughout the year. More often than not, one would wander into the streets and frighten the living daylights out of the residents.

Its unnerving, walking around, a Churchill resident told The Atlantic. You walk out in the morning, and from the tracks in fresh snow, you see that a bear has walked between the houses.

Churchill grew from a small remote outpost to a thriving commercial port engaging in fur trade to a strategic US military base all in the span of four hundred years. After World War 2, Churchill became part of the Canadian signals intelligence network, and later the site for rocket research for atmospheric studies. Churchill was nearly annihilated when the British government decided to test nuclear weapons there, but then chose Australia instead.

Today, Churchill is mostly a polar bears town, with nearly 800 of them living in the vicinity. That number swells to 10,000 during the hunting season. Thats the best time to watch polar bears. Tour operators take visitors to the towns fringes on giant buggies from where they can watch the animals in the wild. The vehicles height keeps the occupants safe and beyond the reach of even the largest bear.

The town of Churchill. Photo: Travel Manitoba/Wikimedia Commons

Various warning signs inside Churchill. Photo: Emma/Flickr

Tourists watching polar bears from a Tundra buggy. Photo: aceshot1/Shutterstock.com

To live in Churchill, one has exercise caution at all times. There are warning signs posted all around the town reminding people not to leave the towns borders or venture into bear sites. Many people keep the doors of their houses and vehicles unlocked, should anyone need to make a quick escape.

In the past, polar bears that wandered into the town were shot, but it only aggravated conflicts between the two species. So in the 1970s, Churchill adopted the Polar Bear Alert Program.

Now, when people spot a bear, they call a hotline number and staff from the Program then tries to scare the bear away by firing crackers shells or rubber bullets. If that doesnt work, the bear is tranquilized and taken to a holding facilitythe worlds only polar bear jail.

The Polar Bear Holding Facility. Photo: Emma/Flickr

The jail is housed inside a former military aircraft hangar, and contains a number of cells, each approximately 12 feet wide and 16 feet long. The polar bears are kept locked inside these cells for up to 30 days and fed only snow and water to discourage them from returning to town in search of food. Polar bears are accustomed to not eating for long periods of time, so this does not kill them. But its certainly not a pleasant experience.

You dont really want them to be so comfortable. You want them to not want to return, explains Brett Whitlock, the District Supervisor Conservation Officer of the Churchill District. But then he adds:

I wouldnt say its imprisoning them. Were not putting them in here to punish them for something. Were putting him in here to protect them from causing more damage or, inevitably, hurting somebody and then themselves getting dispatched or euthanized, so I dont think its a punishment. Thats why we hold call it a holding facility. The term jail really makes it sound like its a punishment by putting them in here. Were trying to save their lives.

When the bears are ready to be released, they are tranquilized again and a helicopter flies them out. Bears are marked before they are released, so that they can be tracked. Repeat offenders are held for more than 30 days. If a bear is deemed unable to be released into the wild, for various reasons such as being too young or too old, it is transferred to the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg.

The Polar Bear Alert Program receives about 300 calls on average each year. About 50 bears end up inside the jail.

A bear is caught in a trap containing seal meat. Photo: Province of Manitoba/Vice

A bear inside a cell. Photo: Province of Manitoba/Vice

Inside the polar bear jail. Photo: Province of Manitoba/Vice

Since the establishment of the Polar Bear Alert Program, bear-human conflicts have dropped drastically, but only until recent times. The climate is changing and the ice is disappearing. Polar bear needs ice to survive because it enables them to walk over the water and hunt seal. Now the summers are longer and the ice is delayed. The bears become restless for food after months of starvation, forcing them to frequently encroach into human space and not just in Churchill. The trend has been seen in Alaska, Norway, Greenland, and elsewhere in Canada.

The late freeze is coupled with an increasingly early thaw, which means that the bears spend less of the year hunting. This leaves them with not enough time to build up an acceptable amount of body fat to survive the summer. So bears start exploring alternative food sources such as whale leftover and human trash, which brings them to towns like Churchill.

Throughout the lean months, the bears feed off their reserves, losing as much as a kilogram of body fat a day. Many bears end up dangerously skinny and starve to death. Skinnier bears also produce smaller cubs, which struggle to survive. Since 1987, there has been a 22 percent decline in Churchills polar bear population. Some experts fear that two-thirds of all polar bears will be gone by 2050, and they might even become extinct in the wild by the end of the century if steps are not taken to check the global climate change.

References:

# The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/13/churchill-canada-polar-bear-capital

# The Atlantic, https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/12/trouble-in-polar-bear-capital/510839/

# National Geographic, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/11/131122-polar-bear-migration-in-hudson-bay-science/

# Go Eat Do, https://go-eat-do.com/2019/03/a-peek-inside-canadas-bear-jail/
(Image source from: Twitter.com/TelanganaCMO)

Lockdown To Be Imposed In Hyderabad Soon:- The government of Telangana is left worried about the rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the state. Most of these cases from the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The state government is slammed for conducting a low number of tests. As per the current update, strict lockdown will be imposed in the limits of GHMC for at least 15 days considering the current situations. Telangana Chief Minister KCR wanted to come up with an update on this and the decision on imposing lockdown will be taken in the next couple of days.

KCR felt that the lockdown will bring things under control. A strict daytime curfew except for relaxation for two hours will be imposed as per the news. The train and flight services to the state too will be suspended. Several issues should be taken into consideration and the officials are working on such plans. A cabinet meeting will be called in a couple of days after which the decision will be taken. Etala Rajendar, KTR, V Prashanth Reddy, Somesh Kumar and the health officials were present for the review meeting conducted by KCR.

Telangana gained good control over the cases after the strict lockdown. But after the relaxations are issued, the daily number of cases has been increasing. Most of the registered cases are in the limits of GHMC. Along with GHMC, the Telangana government is also in plans to impose lockdown in Yadadri-Bhongir, Suryapet and Siddipet districts of the state. The government of Telangana will make an official announcement very soon.
(Image source from: Hmtvlive.com)

Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju Pens A Letter For YS Jagan:- YSRCP MP from Narasapuram, Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju made some sensational comments on the leaders of his own party. He even kept Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy at a spot after he was denied appointment several times. After taking enough dig on his party leaders and legislators, Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju met several crucial leaders in New Delhi. YSRCP issued a show-cause notice to Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju asking him to come with an explanation in two weeks. Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju penned a letter to YS Jaganmohan Reddy today. Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju in the letter called himself a true soldier of YSRCP.

"I am a huge admirer and devotee of Sri Lord Venkateswara. I felt that the sale of properties of the properties of TTD would be a huge insult for Hindus and so I opposed it. I never behaved or defamed our party. I always wanted to meet you and I request an appointment. I never spoke anything against the party. I tried hard to bring to your notice about the ongoing sand mafia. I even never spoke anything against you. Some of the people around you are presenting me in a bad light. Some of them are presenting me as an anti-Christian before you" wrote Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju.

He also said that he wanted the MPs of the country to taste the Godavari flavors because of which he hosted a dinner party last year and he had no political benefits through the meeting. Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju sought the appointment of YS Jagan to clear all the differences by meeting him in person.

(Video Source: TV5 News)
(Image source from: English.varthabharati.in)

Telangana Home Minister Mohamood Ali Tested Positive With Coronavirus:- The spread of coronavirus in Telangana is unstoppable. Telangana Home Minister Mohamood Ali is the latest one to get tested positive with coronavirus. The 67-year-old politician is tested positive a couple of days after his gunmen and other team were tested positive. Mohamood Ali is being treated in a private hospital in Hyderabad. Mohamood Ali is suffering from asthma and he was rushed to a hospital considering his age though his health condition is stable.

Earlier to this, three TRS MLAs were tested positive with coronavirus. Telangana registered a huge number of coronavirus cases from the past two weeks. The situations have been worse in the limits of GHMC. Telangana Chief Minister KCR is in plans to impose strict lockdown across the limits of GHMC for two weeks. The final call on this would be taken as per the cabinet meeting that would take place in a couple of days. The total number of coronavirus cases in the state reached 14,419. 983 new cases got registered yesterday and 244 people got discharged from coronavirus. 5172 people were discharged in the state and 4 people passed away yesterday due to coronavirus in Telangana.

A total number of 247 people passed away in Telangana due to coronavirus. 816 new cases are registered in the limits of GHMC yesterday. The government of Telangana is expected to release a health bulletin about the health status of Mohamood Ali soon.
Telangana High Court Gives A Green Signal To Demolish Secretariat:- Telangana Chief Minister KCR has been in plans to construct a new Secretariat in the state and several cases have been registered in the High Court. The Telangana High Court gave a green signal to demolish the existing Secretariat building that is located in Saifabad. The court hearings and discussions are happening from the past one year and the High Court finally cleared ways for the government of Telangana. Professor PL Vishweshwara Rao, Telangana Jana Samithi's Vice President and Congress MP Revanth Reddy filed petitions in the High Court already. They argued that the government of Telangana has been wasting the money of the public to construct a new Secretariat.

Telangana government argued that the old Secretariat is not convenient and there is a need for the new building considering the development of Hyderabad. The state government even said that the secretariat building is conjusted. The government of Telangana said that the estimated cost of the new Secretariat is Rs 400 crores. The opposition parties are just bringing a political color for the movie argued the state government. Telangana Chief Minister KCR has been holding meetings with the cabinet and the officials in his Pragathi Bhavan, a new office space constructed in his home.

(Video Source: NTV Telugu)
(Image source from: Thenewsminute.com)

Another Youngster In Tamil Nadu Dies After Beaten By Cops:- The outrage of Jayaraj and Bennix created ripples across the country after the father and son duo passed away after being allegedly beaten by the cops. The whole country responded on this and the cops have been suspended. Tamil Nadu government ordered a CBI inquiry in the incident. Now one more youngster in the state passed away due to custodial violence in Tenkasi district. 25-year-old Kumaresan works as an auto driver in Tenkasi and he was beaten up by the cops at VK Pudur police station on May 10th. After 47 days, Kumaresan passed away and he was in the hospital for over two weeks.

Kumaresans father Navaneethakrishnan said his son was assaulted by two cops. The hospital authorities said that his health condition was poor when he was admitted in the hospital. He was vomiting blood for two days before his death. A complaint was filed against the cops of VK police station: SI Chandrasekhar and constable Kumar on June 18th. The FIR was registered on June 28th after Kumaresan passed away. Kumaresans father Navaneethakrishnan said that his son was taken over a land dispute and was beaten badly in the police station. Kumaresan was called to the police station several times and was beaten badly.

Kumaresan's relatives alleged that he was beaten on his private parts. He was in bad shape for days after which he passed away. Kumaresan was taken to several hospitals but his health condition never improved. He finally passed away on Saturday night. The two policemen, sub-inspector Chandrasekar and constable Kumar have been booked under section 174 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The locals staged protests and demanded stringent action on the cops.
(Image source from: Thehindu.com)

Lockdown Extended In Maharashtra Till July 31st:- Maharashtra is the worst-hit state in the country due to coronavirus. Even the number of deaths in the state have been huge. The government of Maharashtra decided to impose strict lockdown in the state till July 31st. Fresh guidelines are issued and the government called it 'Mission Begin Again'. The movement for the non-essential activities in the Mumbai Metropolitan region are restricted with immediate effect. All those who are in public places should wear masks and follow social distancing and personal hygiene.

Maharashtra government said that all those who are attending offices and are out for emergency works, medical reasons will be allowed. All the essential shops, e-commerce activities, industrial operations and others will be allowed. All the markets and shops are allowed to be open from 9 AM to 5 PM. All the government offices of Maharashtra will function with a strength of 15% and all the private offices will operate with 10% strength. Self-employed people like plumbers, electricians, pest control, garages, printing and distribution of newspapers will be allowed.

Mumbai would be under lockdown and the rest of the state is given relaxations. Maharashtra has 1,64,626 cases in the state and 7429 people passed away due to coronavirus. The Maharashtra government urged the people of the state to follow the rules and restrict themselves to their homes.

(Video Source: NDTV)
The Samsung Galaxy Fold Lite may arrive next year, not this year. That is, at least, what a new report from South Korea is claiming. That report has also shared the price possible price tag of the device.

The Galaxy Fold, as youre probably aware, was priced at $1,980 when Samsung launched it. Needless to say, that is an extremely high price tag. Well, Samsung may be looking to soften the blow with a Lite variant.

The Galaxy Fold Lite allegedly coming next year with a considerably lower price tag

The Galaxy Fold Lite is allegedly planned for next year, and it will cost around $900. That means that its price tag could be 55% lower than the Galaxy Folds.

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That is still a high price tag, but do take into consideration this is a foldable smartphone. Those users who really want a foldable smartphone, but are not ready to part with $2,000 will be right at home here.

That device was originally rumored to arrive alongside the Galaxy Note 20 series, but that wont happen. Samsung will launch five flagship-grade phones during that event, and the Galaxy Fold Lite wont be included.

That launch has allegedly been postponed to next year, which is quite a leap. In any case, Samsung will have to cut some corners in order to reach this price tag.

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What will Samsung cut, though? Well, we can only guess at this point. The SoC will have to be more affordable, the same goes for RAM, and storage.

The foldable display, and the hinge are quite pricey

The foldable display and the hinge are not exactly that cheap, so other things will have to be cut down. The cameras will probably also take a hit compared to the flagship-grade fold device(s).

It was rumored, earlier this year, that Samsung is working on several Galaxy Fold models. And that information seems to be accurate. The Galaxy Fold 2 is rumored to arrive soon, while the Lite is planned as well.

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The Galaxy Fold 2 is expected to launch in August, alongside the Galaxy Note 20. That event may take place on August 5, if rumors are to be believed.

Samsung did not share any official information just yet, though. The company is expected to do that in July, if the event will take place on August 5.

All in all, well get to see more foldable smartphones in 2020. One of them will certainly be the Galaxy Fold 2. It remains to be seen if this Galaxy Fold Lite report is to be believed.
John Bolton now reportedly says that hed be willing to testify before Canadian courts that the crimes alleged against Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou are not political in nature. Thats a belief, the former national security advisor claimed in a recent Canadian Broadcast Corporation interview, hes willing to testify to.

During the CBC interview, conducted via The Current, Mr. Bolton said that the facts are what the facts are and that the arrest, at least, wasnt political. The statement was in response to questions about Mr. Boltons memoir. The book alludes to US President Donald Trump personally linking the arrest and trade negotiations.

The defense team allegedly plans to call on the writing as part of its claim that politics are at the center of the accusations and extradition.

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This wont necessarily impact the defenses arguments

Now, Mr. Boltons statements may actually only have minimal impact on the argument put forward by Ms. Mengs defense team. That is, of course, if the team actually chooses to argue that the extradition is political. Thats because its the statements of the US President that bolster its claims, rather than the actions of any US agency. At least, according to recent reports.

The defense team will reportedly argue that President Trumps offer to get involved in the ongoing investigation and court case politicizes the arrest. The president put forward that offer with conditions. Namely, that Huawei intervenes in ongoing trade disputes between China and the US. If the company could help broker a deal, the countrys chief executive stated, then hed be willing to intervene.

The CFOs defense team has also posited that there was misconduct in the arrest to begin with, however. And it claims that the US holds evidence of that misconduct in a secret document. That document was said to have been completed only a short time before the executive was arrested. It shows, the defense alleges, that there was a coordinated effort to plot the arrest and other actions.

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Among those actions, allegedly violating Ms. Mengs rights, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSM) questioned the executive about the alleged crime and performed a search. That was, the team claims, done at the behest of the US government and more specifically the FBI. Such a move, the team asserts, bypasses proper procedures and processes.

Given that argument could ultimately hold as much, if not more, weight, the team may choose to leave the political arguments behind entirely.

Extradition of the Huawei CFO is still likely to be hotly contested, with or without Bolton

The decision to extradite Ms. Meng follows a determination by the courts, concluding that the laws she is accused of breaking would have also been a breach of laws if the charges had been pressed in Canada.

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The CFOs arrest is the result of allegations that she breached US sanctions against Iran through a secondary company. The executive also stands accused of misleading banking institutions about those interactions and transactions. That move could ultimately have landed banks in trouble with the authorities as well, with the latter fraud accusation being the more important of the two.

Mr. Meng remains in custody in Canada pending extradition.

According to John Bolton, the subsequent arrest of the Huawei CFO, at the very least was apolitical. But its unclear whether or how the presidents running commentary will factor into the outcome of the case.
The OPPO Watch may arrive in the US soon. The smartwatch with the model number OW19W12 has obtained the necessary certifications from the FCC. Some live images of the device have also been included in the regulatory listing, showing the watch in its full glory.

It is the larger, 46mm variant of the watch, which bears a striking resemblance to the Apple Watch. The images also show the watchs charging cable and wrist strap.

The OPPO Watch launched in China back in March. At that time, Brian Shen, the companys vice president of global marketing, had said that the watch would arrive in international markets, including Europe, later this year. With the device now getting the FCCs approval, its international launch may not be too far off.

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Interestingly, the description on FCC documents contains the phrase Buy from Amazon: Oppo Watch, clicking on which takes you to an Amazon.com search for the watch. This suggests that the OPPO Watch will be available from Amazon, at least in the US.

The OPPO Watch specifications

The OPPO Watch comes in 41mm and 46mm size variants featuring a 1.6-inch and 1.9-inch AMOLED display, respectively. It is powered by the Snapdragon Wear 2500 SoC, paired with the Apollo 3 co-processor. The watch switches between the two chipsets depending on the task at hand, ensuring maximum battery endurance.

This watch can run for up to 40 hours on a single charge with normal use. In power-saving mode, the battery life extends all the way up to 21 days, at least according to OPPO.

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The companys all-new Watch VOOC Flash Charging technology promises to top up 50 percent of the battery in just about 17 minutes.

The OPPO Watch comes with 8GB of storage capacity. OPPO has also equipped its first smartwatch with built-in GPS, NFC, and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity. The watch pairs with Android smartphones running Android 6.0 Marshmallow or newer.

The OPPO Watch also features an eSIM for cellular connectivity, so you can use it as a standalone device without having to pair it with your smartphone. It remains to be seen if the watch will gain eSIM support from all major US mobile carriers.

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The watch features an aluminum body and two side-mounted buttons for navigation. On the software side of things, it runs on OPPOs own ColorOS Watch system, which is based on Android.

Health features on offer include sleep and heart rate monitor as well as ECG functionality. The OPPO Watch can track a broad range of physical exercises as well.

Theres no word yet from OPPO on the watchs international release, pricing, and availability. In China, the OPPO Watch retails at CNY 1,499 (roughly $215) for the 41mm variant and CNY 1,999 (~$285) for the 46mm variant.
Verizon has seen a significant reduction in the number of unwanted robocalls in the last three months according to Fierce Wireless. Over the last year, the number of these calls has increased dramatically so this recent news is a good sign.

Verizon, who recently joined numerous companies in boycotting Facebook advertising, appears to be making some progress in this area. A 30% reduction in robocall is a great sign going forward and a testament to the work Verizon has been doing.

Verizon fights back against COVID-19 scams

With public fear high surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, many scammers changed tactic to prey on this. Therefore, there was a significant increase in scams that centred around public health and the aforementioned disease. Verizon though has worked hard to fight back against this.

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The company has identified 40 new COVID-19 scams since March. Verizon also has a Call Filter app which appears to be making a significant difference to efforts against robocalls. Ronan Dunne, chief executive of Verizon Consumer Group released a statement on the news.

He pointed out that Verizon is actively working to help government enforcement agencies root out the bad actors. This is coupled with efforts such as the Call Falter app to ensure customers are protecting themselves. This overall effort hs contributed to seven months of consecutive reduction in unwanted robocalls.

Verizon leading the way against robocalls

Verizon is at the forefront of efforts to continue this reduction of robocalls. Unwanted robocalls are the top category for informal consumer complaints.

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However, this proportion has reduced from 68% to 60% in the last 12 months. The disruption caused by the pandemic could also be a contributing factor to this reduction.

Estimates suggest that 2.9 billion robocalls were placed in each April and May 2020. This is down from roughly 4 billion to 5.6 billion for each of the 15 months prior. This, however, should not take away the significant progress that Verizon and others have made.

Other carriers offer similar sorts of defences against robocalls. AT&T offers Call Protect, T-Mobile has Scam ID and Scam Block, and Sprint offers its Call Screener for all wireless customers. AT&Ts tools have blocked roughly 1.3 billion fraudulent calls since 2016.

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T-Mobile claims it has detected 21 billion scam calls and blocked 5 billion of them since 2017. Verizon, however, estimates that its free Call Filter app has detected over 5 billion fraudulent calls since its launch in 2019. This is good timing for Verizon as it looks to push a national roll-out of 5G this year.

It is not all good news as some of these tools wanted calls have been blocked on occasion. Issues with this subject have led the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to consider adopting an order to protect service providers from liability for blocking calls.

This would mean no action could be taken against providers for blocking calls. This is provided they did so based on reasonable analytics designed to identify unwanted calls. Clearly there is a lot more to do on this issue. However, Verizon and other providers are making progress and long may it continue.
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The Pakistan army said Sunday evening that it had shot down an Indian spying quadcopter along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region.

Pakistan army troops shot down the Indian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Hot Spring sector along the LoC, Major General Babar Iftikhar, director general of army's media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations, said on Twitter.

"The quadcopter had intruded 850 meters on Pakistan's side of the LoC. This is ninth Indian quadcopter shot down by Pakistan Army troops this year," Iftikhar said.

Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire along the LoC, the de facto border between both countries in the disputed Kashmir region in 2003. However, both sides routinely exchange fire and accuse each other of ceasefire violations.

Tension has been heightened after India lifted the special status for the Indian-controlled Kashmir in August 2019. Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic relations, suspended trade relations and train service with India in response.

Pakistan and India have 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.

(CGTN)
As Singapore heads to the polls next week, the ruling partys election campaign will focus on creating jobs in what the countrys Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan described as a very tough election.

Singaporeans will be casting their votes next Friday, July 10.

I think this is going to be a very tough election, Balakrishnan said on CNBCs Squawk Box Asia.

Never, never take people for granted. Never assume that you have got their vote  each election, all parties have to make their case, he said, adding that there is a lot at stake in the upcoming elections. I have confidence in our electorate, but I do not take it for granted.

Last week, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced his decision to call for a general election as the country continues to ease most of its partial lockdown measures aimed at combating the spread of coronavirus.

Balakrishnan, a member of the ruling Peoples Action Party, outlined reasons why the government decided to call for an election despite the risk of infection cases potentially climbing again as social interactions recommence.

The first point I want to make is that we do not believe this crisis is going to recede in the next one year, or maybe even two years. It depends on when a vaccine is created, he said.

Singapore has reported more than 43,000 cases, and more than 90% of infected individuals are migrant workers who live in dormitories. They are mostly men from other Asian countries who carry out labor-intensive tasks in the city-state.

The second reason, according to Balakrishnan, is that by the constitution, the current parliaments term expires in January 2021. If we dont have a parliament in February next year, we will not have a budget, he said.

He added that with Singapore re-opening its economy, the country is in a reasonably safe space where the infection is under control and individuals are returning to work. It would be difficult, and likely more dangerous, to hold elections later, he said.

Focus on jobs

The coronavirus pandemic  which has now infected more than 10 million people worldwide and killed more than 500,000  is both a public health crisis and an economic crisis.

Due to lockdowns and stringent social restrictions, economic activity in most countries has slowed and a number of sectors, including travel and tourism, have been severely affected. Millions of people have lost their jobs globally.

Singapores central bank earlier this year projected a deeper-than-predicted recession for the city-state, which is heavily dependent on international trade. The International Monetary Fund for its part said the world is facing the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

Balakrishnan said the current crisis is undoubtedly a clear and present threat to lives and livelihoods.

The central focus of our campaign will be jobs, jobs, jobs. And jobs for all segments of our society, he said. People who have just graduated, entering into the greatest depression that the world has seen, their number one concern will be jobs.

Thousands of fresh graduates in Singapore and elsewhere face a weak jobs market where many companies have become reluctant to make new hires due to the negative impact the crisis has had on their business this year.

Those between 40 and 60 are part of a generation that has ongoing commitments and still face the brunt of the economic restructuring that is going on, Balakrishnan said.

Singapores National Jobs Council is tasked with generating 100,000 opportunities  including jobs, attachments and trainee opportunities  in the next one year, the minister said.

We think because of the prolonged nature of this crisis, there will be retrenchments, there will be disruption to the jobs sector. And thats why we are focused so obsessively with the situation on jobs, Balakrishnan said.

The bulk of Singapores massive 100 billion Singapore dollars (about $70.4 billion) fiscal stimulus has been focused on keeping firms afloat and encouraging them to hire Singaporeans, he added.

The PAP has been the ruling party in Singapore since 1959, even before the countrys independence in 1965. In the last election in 2015, the Peoples Action Party won 69.9% of the total votes  sweeping 83 out of the 89 contested seats.

(CNBC)
Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk.

Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen.

If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned.

I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country.

It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously.

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Air France and KLM will resume services to Dubai, with ten weekly flights effective the 1st of July 2020.

Air France KLM group resumes flights to and from the UAE. Image: Airbus: Air France-KLM Group, A350-900

KLM will offer daily flights to and from Dubai. Flights will be operated with a Boeing 777-200.

Air France will offer three weekly flights from Paris on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday with a return from Dubai on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; flights will be operated with an Airbus A350-900.

Our passengers comfort, well-being and health remain our highest priority. All of our flights are operated with additional sanitary measures to ensure our passengers safety. We profoundly thank our customers for their patience and the authorities involved in the UAE; in France and in the Netherlands for their continuous support, said Yeshwant Pawar, general manager, Air France KLM, Gulf, Iran and Pakistan.
Royal Jordanian (RJ) has released its 2019 financial figures.

RJ transported 3.3 million passengers last year. Image: Royal Jordanian

The meeting was headed by RJ Board of Directors chairman Said Darwazeh; attending the virtual meeting were also board members, RJ President/CEO Stefan Pichler, the deputy for the companies general controller Ayman Al Sharairi, in addition to Marwan Mayata and Mohammad Al Qudah, representing the Government Investments Management Company, RJ accounts auditor Ernst and Young and some shareholders; the latter, in their entirety, own 93% of the company capital, which amounts to 274.6 million shares.

The meeting discussed the boards report on the 2019 financial results and the business prospects for 2020, as well as the auditors report, the budget, profits and losses. The General Assembly members agreed to all the articles under discussion.

During the meeting, new Board of Directors was elected for the coming four years. Its members are: the Government Investments Management Company, which owns 82% of RJ shares and it is automatically represented with seven members out of nine on Royal Jordanians Board of Directors according to Article 135 of the Companies Law, while the voting process for the remaining two members took place electronically. The seats were awarded to: the Social Security Corporation and Mint Trading Middle East Limited.

In their speeches addressed to the shareholders in the annual report 2019, Darwazeh and Pichler presented the financial and operational results achieved last year, and the impact of COVID-19 on RJs business.

Darwazeh said that RJ witnessed significant improvement in the operational and financial KPIs. Last year, RJ registered JD10.4 million net profits after tax, while in 2018 it had posted a net loss of JD5.9 million. The increase in profitability was achieved despite the negative impact implementing the International Accounting Standard 16 had on the company.

He added that the company's gross profit amounted to JD113 million, a 30% increase over 2018 when the company's profit stood at JD88 million. The net operating profit also jumped from JD16.6 million in 2018 to JD45.5 million in 2019, signifying a considerable 174% growth.

Darwazeh noted that the company's operating revenue during last year reached JD661 million, which was close to that of 2018. Meanwhile, RJ reduced the operating cost by 5%, getting it down from JD576 million in 2018 to JD547 million in 2019. RJ paid JD146 million for fuel in 2019, or 8% less than the JD159 million it paid in 2018.

Darwazeh highlighted the huge negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on RJ, and the ensuing decisions aimed at protecting the health of the Jordanian society, including closing down Queen Alia International Airport starting with mid-March and halting all RJ passenger flights. In this regard, he stressed RJs need to obtain direct and indirect government support to be able to face the resulting financial crisis and to continue to play the significant commercial and social role it has been playing being the national carrier of Jordan.

Pichler expressed satisfaction with the achievements, unprecedented in the companys history, particularly with the airline operations. RJ increased the seat load factor to 74.2% from 73.8% in 2018. The increase is important particularly considering that the load factor was around 65% in the past years. As such, 2019 marks the highest figure registered in regard to the seat load factor in the airline history.

He said that the positive financial results of the company were obtained through the efforts exerted by all employees who worked together with team spirit to implement the pillars of the turnaround plan the company launched in the second half of 2017 and make them a reality despite the fierce competition from low-cost airlines that have been operating regular flights to Amman and Aqaba for more than a year now, which added to the significant competition posed by other airlines operating in the Middle East.

Pichler said that RJ transported 3.3 million passengers last year, an increase of 38K over 2018; the increase was due to the growing traveler demand for RJ services, robustly advocated by the sales promotions conducted by the company in the local and international markets throughout the year.

Pichler also pointed out that several operational and financial key performance indicators witnessed an increase during 2019, compared to the previous year, including a 40% increase in ancillary revenues and a JD1.6 million increase in excess baggage revenue.

He said that the effort exerted to increase the number of passengers and revenues went hand in hand with RJ staff's hard work to boost the company brand, improve its services and enhance customer confidence.

RJ, he said, took several measures to reduce the Cost per Available Seat-Kilometer (CASK) by 2%.

He underlined the considerable impact COVID-19 had on the global air transport industry. RJ, he said, is not going to be spared; it will be directly and negatively affected by the outbreak of this disease this year and in the following years, due to the complete stop of operations for a long period of time and to the strict restrictions imposed in Jordan and globally. He stressed that RJ is committed to taking all precautionary measures to maintain the wellbeing of its passengers and crew, in cooperation with the concerned authorities in Jordan and the world, after airports open and flights are resumed.

Pichler stressed that Royal Jordanian is facing considerable operational and financial challenges during 2020 as a result of the Corona pandemic. The company incurred a JD25.5 million net loss in Q1 this year, compared to the JD5 million loss in the corresponding period of 2019, due to a 19% decrease in passenger numbers, a drop of 5% in the seat load factor and of 22% in operational revenues, in addition to the slump in all operational and financial key performance indicators.

He said that the negative repercussions of COVID-19 on Royal Jordanian will be felt even stronger in Q2 2020 and the subsequent months. Even if the company resumes partial and gradual operations, one can expect a sharp decrease in the demand for travel regionally and globally, said Pichler, expressing hope to receive government support to help RJ overcome this crisis, particularly in view of the success registered by the company in 2019, which saw RJ reach profitability.
Owosso, MI (48867)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms in the morning, then cloudy skies late. High around 70F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 42F. NW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.
I wanted to get some advice on the location change for the 417 visa.



As we all know, the 417 visa comes with a 6 month work limitation (8457) for the same employer.



I was reading that you do not need to notify the department and can work with one employer for up to 12 months as long as work in one location does not exceed 6 months.



Therefore, if you worked for an organisation that had multiple offices in a city, you could re-set the 6 month limitation by moving to another office?



For example, if you worked for an organisation in Perth and spent 6 months in one office and then moved to another office with a different address (which was in another suburb also in Perth), you could work for that same company for up to 12 months?
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Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky told Axios in an interview that global travel may never fully recover, and that he sees a future where people travel much more within their own countries, possibly for longer stays.

Driving the news: "I will go on the record to say that travel will never, ever go back to the way it was pre-COVID; it just won't," Chesky told us by Zoom from his home in San Francisco. "There are sometimes months when decades of transformation happen."

Chesky, who said travel has changed more tectonically than during the Great Recession of 2008, said Airbnb data shows these trends:

"People are not getting on airplanes, they're not crossing borders, they're not meaningfully traveling to cities, they're not traveling for business."

"They're getting in cars. They're traveling to communities that are 200 miles away or less. These are usually very small communities. They're staying in homes and they're staying longer."

Airbnb says business within countries has recovered to previous levels. But international travel remains off in a way that's devastating to the platform.

'People will, one day, get back on planes," Chesky said. "But one of the things that I do think is a fairly permanent shift is ... a redistribution of where travelers go."

In the past, with what he called "mass tourism," travelers limited themselves "to like 50 or 100 cities. You know, everyone goes to Rome, Paris, London, they stay in the hotel district, they get on the double-decker bus. They wait in line to get a selfie in front of a landmark."

"I think that's going to get smaller as a percentage of travel in the future, and I think it's going to get somewhat displaced, or at least balanced, by people visiting smaller communities."

Chesky said he sees a potential boom for National Parks.

"Most people haven't gone to them," he said. "And it's pretty cheap ... You don't need to buy an airplane ticket. You can usually drive because most people live within 200 miles of a park."

"So, I think you're going to start to see travel becoming more intimate, more local, to smaller communities."

Chesky said he thinks business and convention travel will hurt for some time.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) announced at a press conference Monday that he is ordering bars, clubs, movie theaters, waterparks and gyms to close for 30 days in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Why it matters: Arizona, which has reported more than 3,000 new cases in five of the last seven days, is one of several states that has been forced to put its reopening plans on pause as the outbreak has accelerated across the Sun Belt.

Details: Ducey also said that an executive order going into effect at midnight would ban organized events of more than 50 people and push back the first day of school for in-person learning until Aug. 17.

Ducey last week urged residents to stay home and observe social distancing, but he declined until now to reverse the state's reopening, per the Arizona Republic.

"We're not going back to normal anytime soon," Ducey said, pointing to the "brutal facts of our current situation today."

The big picture: Florida and Texas  two of the other U.S. hotspots  ordered new restrictions on bars last week, while New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday that he would indefinitely postpone indoor dining after seeing the effects of reopening in other states.

Between the lines: Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb told CBS News on Sunday that even aggressive action in virus hotspots won't show effects for weeks, so Americans should expect case numbers to continue to climb.

"Look at New York. New York implemented the stay-at-home order on March 20, it was a Friday. It went into effect on Sunday. They peaked in terms of the number of daily cases that they were reporting on April 7," Gottlieb said.

"So almost three weeks after they implemented the stay-at-home order, the cases continued to build and then they started to slowly decline."

Go deeper: U.S. coronavirus hotspots failed to build up public health tools
The Chinese government is engaging in a sweeping campaign of forced birth control and sterilization on Uighurs and other minorities that is "far more widespread and systematic" than was previously known, according to an AP investigation published Monday.

Why it matters: The draconian effort, which has been carried out in the western region of Xinjiang over the past four years, has been described by some experts as "demographic genocide." It coincides with years of restrictions and human rights abuses against Uighurs and other majority-Muslim ethnic groups in China under the authoritarian leadership of Xi Jinping.

What's happening: China regularly conducts pregnancy checks, forces intrauterine devices, sterilization and even abortion on some of the Xinjiang region's minority women. The conditions have led to a "climate of terror around having children," AP writes.

Officials reportedly use the threat of detention to force minorities to comply with the population control measures, which come even as the government has encouraged some of the country's Han majority to have more children.

Police raid homes for hidden children, and parents who are found to have three or more children are taken to detention camps unless they can pay large fines, according to AP.

Inside the detention camps, IUDs are forced on some women, along with what appear to be pregnancy prevention shots, former detainees told AP. They are also forced to attend lectures about how many children they should have.

Where it stands: AP gathered the information using government statistics, state documents and interviews with dozens of ex-detainees, family members and a former detention camp instructor. AP was also provided with the following findings from new research by China scholar Adrian Zenz:

About 200,000 IUDs were inserted in Xinjiang in 2014, according to Zenz, compared to nearly 330,000 in 2018  a 60% increase. Meanwhile, the use of IUDs dropped significantly for the rest of the country.

The birth rates in Hotan and Kashgar, mostly Uighur regions, dropped by more than 60% from 2015 to 2018. In the whole of Xinjiang, birth rates fell by 24% last year alone, compared to 4.2% nationwide.

What they're saying: China's Foreign Ministry dismissed the investigation as "fake news," with spokesperson Zhao Lijian telling AP in a statement: "Everyone, regardless of whether they're an ethnic minority or Han Chinese, must follow and act in accordance with the law."

Darren Byler, a Uighur expert at the University of Colorado, told AP: "The intention may not be to fully eliminate the Uighur population, but it will sharply diminish their vitality. It will make them easier to assimilate into the mainstream Chinese population."

Our thought bubble, via China reporter Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian: "China's policies in Xinjiang have been considered cultural genocide; a policy of forced sterilization and abortion imposed on minority populations would bring their policies closer to the textbook definition of actual genocide."
Nearly 70% more properties in the U.S. are at substantial risk of flooding compared to government estimates, new peer-reviewed analysis shows.

Why it matters: Increased flooding, including from sea level rise and intensifying rains, is one of the clearest and most expensive impacts from rising global temperatures.

Driving the news: The data will soon feed a new feature on Realtor.com that displays flood risk rankings of nearly every U.S. home. It's part of an initiative by First Street Foundation, a nonprofit research and technology firm.

You can search now for your home now on FloodFactor.com, a website run by First Street, which is backed by private-foundation money.

Realtor.com plans to integrate the data soon on its website, though it doesn't have a specific launch date yet, a spokeswoman said Sunday.

What theyre saying:

There are millions of Americans who have substantial flood risk and have no idea and now theyll be able to access that ... Having that data available will change the perspective of flood risk in this country. It now makes it meaningful and personal.

 Matthew Eby, founder and executive director, First Street Foundation

Where it stands:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which manages Americas flood risk for the government, classifies 8.7 million properties as facing substantial risk from flooding.

First Streets data shows 14.6 million properties.

Thats six million households and property owners who the organization says have underestimated or been unaware of their current risk.

The discrepancy exists, the group says, because it uses more up-to-date climate data, analyzes precipitation as a standalone risk and includes areas FEMA has not.

How it works:

The areas with the largest newly revealed risk include large swaths of the Midwest and inland Western states that face risk from rain or river flooding. FEMA's traditional focus has been coastal areas. (Check out the chart on page nine of its report.)

Still, the risk is objectively larger for coastal states and grows more quickly in those regions out to 2050, as you can see in the graphic below.

risk is objectively larger for coastal states and grows more quickly in those regions out to 2050, as you can see in the graphic below. Thats because rising sea levels and coastal storms grow more intense more quickly  fueled by a warmer atmosphere and sea surface temperatures  compared to inland precipitation events, according to Jeremy Porter, director of research and development at First Street.

Adapted from First Street Foundation; Chart: Naema Ahmed/Axios

The intrigue: Every property in the U.S.  some 142 million  will receive a Flood Factor score from 1 to 10, based on its cumulative flood risk over a 30-year mortgage, and will be included on an interactive tool, FloodFactor.com, hosted by First Street.

Some companies have proprietary models that are similar, but nothing exists like this thats publicly available and that will be attached to a consumer-facing service like Realtor.com, First Street officials say.

Yes, but: Witold Krajewski, a hydrology professor at the University of Iowa who is part of a panel of outside experts reviewing the analysis, said users should keep in mind the amount of uncertainty inherent in any dataset as comprehensive as this. "As long as people approach it with caution, this can be very useful," he told Axios.

One specific shortcoming of the model for now is that it doesnt account for current and potential future adaptation measures property owners may take, such as building ever-higher seawalls or more levees. First Street experts intend to incorporate that into the data over time.

Whats next: First Street plans to sell its data to for-profit firms, such as those that have already expressed interest from the insurance and real-estate sectors. This will help fund parallel models they plan to launch on other climate-driven weather phenomena, such as heat and drought.

Go deeper:

Editors note: The name Federal Emergency Management Agency was corrected.
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) sent a letter to President Trump on Monday calling for Senate hearings over media reports that U.S. intelligence assessed that a Russian spy unit offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Why it matters: The letter, from a Republican Trump ally on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is a sign that the Senate could break partisan lines to scrutinize whether the president knew about the intelligence  and if so, why he did not act on it.

The big picture: Trump has denied reports that he was briefed on the intelligence, and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Monday that there was "no consensus within the intelligence community" about the allegations.

McEnany would not say whether the intelligence was included in the Presidents Daily Brief and instead reiterated that Trump was not personally briefed on the matter."

The White House briefed several House Republicans on the intelligence on Monday, including House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney  who called on the administration to provide answers about the reports on Sunday.

What he's saying: "Depending on where the facts lead, there should be no invitation for the Russian Federation to rejoin the G7 and you should impose sanctions directly on both President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov," Young wrote in the letter.

"It is imperative that the United States remain vigilant and uncompromising in the face of Russias threatening, provocative, and destabilizing behavior. With that in mind, I am alarmed by reports that you, the Vice President, and the relevant Congressional Committees were not briefed on this critical threat to our service members and to our national security."

"I believe that you would have wanted to know this critical intelligence information and be provided with the resources necessary to save the lives of our men and women in uniform. I stand ready to hold any members of your Administration accountable for their gross negligence in performing such a grave responsibility."

What to watch: Young recommended "the relevant Senate committees convene oversight hearings on this matter" to figure out where to "advance accountability within our own government and facilitate a punishing response," if Congress deems it necessary.

Read the letter via DocumentCloud.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a floor speech on Monday that Americans must have "no stigma  none  about wearing masks when we leave our homes and come near other people."

Why it matters: Results from months of Axios-Ipsos coronavirus polling revealed a stark partisan divide when it comes to wearing masks. In surveys conducted between May 8 and June 22, 65% of Democrats reported wearing a mask every time they leave home, compared to just 35% of Republicans.

Some opposition to masks is attributable to mixed messages at the start of the pandemic from public health officials who advised Americans against face masks in order to preserve them for front-line workers.

But President Trump and other top Republicans have also declined to wear masks in public and on the floors of the House and Senate, amplifying the perception that it's part of a culture war. Few supporters wore masks at Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last week.

Driving the news: Top Republicans are now taking a more aggressive position in favor of masks.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, specifically urged President Trump on CNN Sunday to wear a mask in order to "help to get rid of this political debate."

Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) have also asked the president to wear a mask, per Politico.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on Sunday that there should be a national mask mandate, calling it "long overdue."

What he's saying: "Wearing simple face coverings is not about protecting ourselves. It is about protecting everyone we encounter," McConnell said.

"The more we hate the pain and suffering that accompanied the strict stay-home guidelines a few months ago, the happier we should be to take responsible small steps every day to ensure our country can stay on offense against the virus."

Go deeper: Where the science stands on using face masks against coronavirus
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked evangelical supporters to lobby in favor of Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank, via a speech Sunday night to the American group the Christians United for Israel (CUFI).

Why it matters: Israeli officials say Netanyahu thinks President Trump is politically vulnerable four months before the U.S. election and that he could lose to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. He thinks Trump needs the evangelical base to go to vote in order to have a chance at winning.

The prime minister expects evangelical leaders to put pressure on the White House to give Israel the green light for annexation.

What he's saying: In his speech to the CUFI virtual conference, Netanyahu said that the Trump plan gives Israel the possibility to annex the Jewish settlements of Beit-El and Shilo, both mentioned in the Bible as places of worship and religious miracles.

Beit El and Shilo are Jewish settlements located deep in the West Bank, isolated and surrounded by Palestinian towns and villages. Annexing them to Israel will make it much harder for the Palestinians to have a contiguous state of their own. Nevertheless, Netanyahu said annexing these settlements to Israel would not harm peace but promote peace.

"These places are an integral part of the historic Jewish homeland  but also an integral part of Christian identity. There are part of your heritage. Part of our common civilization and under Israel sovereignty our common heritage will be forever protected."

 Excerpt from Netanyahu's remarks to th the CUFI

Yes, but: While Netanyahu is counting on evangelical organizations for support in his annexation bid, some evangelical leaders are publicly voicing concerns about it. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas and one of Trump's evangelical advisers, told the New York Times that the evangelical Christian world is mostly indifferent to annexation by itself.

Joel Rosenberg, a prominent evangelical activist and author who is close to Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said if the annexation happens now, it would deeply damage the alliance forged by the Trump administration between Israel and the Gulf states against Iran.

Rosenberg also points to public opinion polls who show many evangelicals are opposed to Israeli annexation.

The World Evangelical Alliance, a global organization of evangelical churches that represents more than 600 million evangelicals worldwide, issued a statement last week and expresses "deep concerns over plans for Israel to annex large areas of the West Bank."

Of note: White House envoy Avi Berkowitz arrived in Israel over the weekend for talks with the political leadership about the Trump plan and possible annexation.

Israeli officials said Berkowitz met on Saturday with Netanyahu and on Sunday with senior officials in the prime ministers office and the Ministry of Defense.

Berkowitz met on Monday with Defense Minister Benny Gantz. He is expected to return to Washington, D.C., and report to White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and Trump on the results of his talks.

Go deeper: White House meetings on Israeli annexations end with no decision
Security officials in Karachi, Pakistan, killed four men armed with guns and at least one hand grenade as the militants attempted to enter the southern port city's stock exchange building Monday, per Bloomberg. A police officer and two security guards died during the attack.

Why it matters: The Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department, claimed responsibility, AP reports. It's the worst terrorist incident in Pakistan's financial hub since 2018, when gunmen stormed the Chinese consulate and killed seven people, Bloomberg notes. That attack was also claimed by the BLA.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
The Trump administration is expected to weigh in on a lawsuit in the next couple of months that questions the legality of eminent domain to build a natural-gas pipeline, following a request from the Supreme Court on Monday. The justices will then decide whether to review it.

The big picture: The dispute, over a 120-mile pipeline from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, is one of three high-court battles that represent the culmination of fights over fossil-fuel infrastructure of all kinds that have raged over the past decade as a proxy for a broader debate about climate change and energy.

The state of play: A federal appeals court ruled in September that the developers of the PennEast Pipeline couldnt use federal law to seize land controlled by the state to build the project, citing the 11th Amendment protecting states rights.

The court said its conclusion could likely upend how interstate natural-gas pipelines have been built for 80 years. But that is what the Eleventh Amendment demands, the court wrote in its September 2019 decision.

The intrigue: This case turns conventional political wisdom upside down.

Conservatives would typically side with states rights, yet in this case, that would mean opposing a pipeline and business  which usually garner conservative support.

Liberals typically side with the federal government, but in this case, that means supporting a fossil-fuel project, something liberals are less inclined to do.

Experts say they expect the administration to be more likely to side with the pipeline and federal government, though the decision is still unknown.

The bottom line: The additional review will likely delay the high courts consideration of the lawsuit  and thus the project itself  until at least next year.

Go deeper: Supreme Court unleashes power over pipelines, natural gas
House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said on CNN Monday that it would be "unfathomable" if President Trump knew about intelligence that Russian operatives allegedly paid Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. troops and still invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to rejoin the G7 summit in September.

Why it matters: Schiff is one of several bipartisan members of Congress who have urged the Trump administration to provide answers in the wake of bombshell media reports about the alleged Russian bounties. He told CNN that he and several other House Democrats will be briefed on the intelligence on Tuesday morning.

What he's saying:

"We also want to look into this issue of whether the president was briefed on this, and if he was not briefed, why that was. Is this again a concern with speaking truth to power, that Donald Trump doesn't want to hear anything negative about Vladimir Putin? Because, after all, the president was inviting Russia back into the G8, and it's kind of unfathomable that he would do that if he was knowing of the fact that his friend Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin or Russian intelligence services ... were offering a bounty on the heads of American troops."

 Adam Schiff

The big picture: The New York Times first reported last week that Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were briefed on U.S. intelligence that a Russian military spy unit offered secret bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Trump says he was not briefed on the issue, writing in a tweet Sunday night that officials did not relay the information to him because "they did not find this info credible."

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany has also denied that Trump and Pence were briefed, and said on Monday that there is "no consensus within the intelligence community on these allegations." She declined to say if the intelligence was included in the President's Daily Brief.

Schiff said that it would not be "sufficient" for intelligence officials to have denied the president a briefing on the information simply because it was inconclusive.

"It's frequently the case that the president will be briefed, should be briefed on matters where there is no absolute certainty about the intelligence on a given topic, and what we expect our intelligence agency leaders to do is say 'Mr. President, we have intelligence that shows X, Y or Z,'" he said.

"If your president is making decisions about the U.S./Russia relationship, which we do all the time, if it goes to the protection of our troops, that's something that needs to be briefed to the commander in chief."

What to watch: Schiff called on the administration to provide a full House briefing and said that congressional hearings are likely.
At least a dozen deputies of Armenias 132-member parliament have reportedly been infected with the coronavirus amid the continuing spread of the disease in the country.

Vahe Enfiajian, a deputy parliament speaker, was the first to announce his positive test result on June 23. Several other deputies admitted testing positive in the following days.

Enfiajian said he has a fever but not pneumonia when he spoke to RFE/RLs Armenian service from his home on Saturday. He insisted that he does not know who might have infected him.

I always wore a mask in my office, said the senior lawmaker affiliated with the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK).

Enfiajian said that several other BHK deputies have also tested positive for the virus and had to self-isolate. One of them, Arman Abovian, confirmed his infection on Saturday.

Abovian, who is a senior BHK member, said he does not know whether the partys top leader, Gagik Tsarukian, has also been affected by the outbreak.

For the last two weeks BHKs 25-strong parliamentary group has boycotted sessions of the National Assembly in protest against its pro-government majoritys June 16 decision to lift Tsarukians immunity from prosecution. The BHK leader is facing accusations of vote buying which he rejects as politically motivated.

The parliamentary majority representing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians My Step bloc has also been hit by COVID-19 infections. One of its deputies, Hayk Gevorgian, told RFE/RLs Armenian service that he had a coronavirus test on June 24 hours after showing some symptoms of the disease during a parliament session. He said he believe that he was infected inside the parliament building.

According to Gevorgian, there were 7 confirmed coronavirus cases among My Step deputies as of Saturday.

Another pro-government lawmaker, Karen Hambardzumian, admitted testing positive on Monday. I am being examined in hospital, he told the Armenpress news agency.

The Bright Armenia Party, the third political group represented in the parliament, said at the weekend that there have been no infections among its deputies so far.

Despite the outbreak, the parliaments leadership reportedly decided on Monday to hold an emergency session of the parliament on Tuesday. It was not clear how it will try to prevent a further spread of the virus among deputies and parliament staffers.

The deputies have had to wear masks on the parliament floor and in their offices for the past month. The parliament statutes do not allow them to attend sessions and vote via a video link.

The Armenian health authorities have reported 25,127 coronavirus cases and at least 433 deaths caused by them so far.
By Trend

Czech Republic and Azerbaijan are going to hold economic consultations, Martina Tauberova, deputy Minister for EU and international trade at Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade told Trend.

"Economic relations of the entire world have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Czech-Azerbaijani economic relations were not exceptional in the Q2 of 2020. Unfortunately, after the extremely promising beginning of the year, when the mutual turnover increased by 4 percent (January  March 2020), the statistics of the first month of the pandemic and lockdowns show a decrease of the mutual turnover by 15 percent. However, it needs to be emphasized that these numbers are preliminary and the final statistics of the effect of border closures will be available during the following months only," said Tauberova.

She said there are many lessons learned from COVID-19, especially in communication with partners.

"We have started to communicate with them by online platforms. Several economic consultations took place during the past three months. This tool helps us to keep the communication going and solve the ongoing issues even though there are no possibilities to having face to face meetings. With Azerbaijan, we are looking for a suitable date of our economic consultation as well and we are quite optimistic about finding it in the following weeks," the deputy minister added.

She recalled that the overarching framework for the Czech-Azerbaijani relations represents the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the countries from 2015.

"This crucial document was signed on the level of presidents and both presidential administrations monitor its implementation on governmental level. An important role in developing our relations has Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific-Technical and Cultural Cooperation between the Government of the Czech Republic and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The main function of the Commission is the coordination and development of mutual, not only economic relations. The last, Fourth Session was held in Baku in January 2017. The date of the next 5th Session that is supposed to be held in Prague is being discussed in the working order. We hope that the final date will be revealed as soon as possible after the pandemic situation will get to normal and the borders are open and safe for traveling," said Tauberova.

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By Ayya Lmahamad

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved amendments to the permit system applied during the two-week coronavirus lockdown that will be in force in Baku, Sumgayit, Ganja, Lankaran, Yevlakh, Masalli, Jalilabad and Absheron region until July 5.

According to the amendment approved on June 25, only 50 percent of total number of employees are allowed to work in the areas approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The State Agency for Provision of Services to Citizens and Social Innovations issued a warning that if the number of introduced permits exceeds the established limit, they will be automatically canceled.

By means of the system, to date some of the permits that do not comply with the decree have already been canceled on the portal.

The areas where the number of employees will be reduced by 50 percent are as follows:

-production of daily care and hygiene products;

-production and repair of construction and household appliances;

-engineering and design services;

-production of packaging products;

-production of stone, metal and wood products;

-furniture Manufacture and Repair;

-pet stores, including animal feed outlets;

-points of sale of building materials and household items;

-online sales;

-dry cleaning;

-cleaning of residential buildings, except apartments;

-car repair;

-car washing points;

-animals shelters;

-translation services.

Moreover, another amendment is that citizens will be able to get permission to leave home not only by sending SMS to 8103 number, but also by means of the "E-Tbib" mobile application.

To do this, it is needed to download the mobile application and register in it.

Thus, the response to SMS messages of citizens who request permission to leave their homes comes within 15 minutes, while request made through the mobile application is answered within 5 minutes.

It should be noted that, in order to find out if permit was revoked it is needed to contact the company working for and obtain information, or register online at my.gov.az and see if the permission is active.

Azerbaijan first introduced quarantine regime on March 24, and on June 18 decision was taken to extend special quarantine regime until August 1.

On June 18, Cabinet of Ministers announced decision to impose a two-week strict quarantine regime.

It should be noted that under the new lockdown rule, citizens are allowed to leave their place of residence only after obtaining SMS permissions. In the positive response SMS message it is indicated the time during which the permit is valid.

Operation of shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, beauty salons, as well as museums, exhibition halls, sport and beaches was also suspended until July 5.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Ayya Lmahamad

Police in Azerbaijans Agdash have detained one and fined several others for violation of the coronavirus quarantine regime in the country, the regions police department reported on June 28.

According to the information, the lockdown violators had gathered to celebrate the opening of a restaurant. According to the court decision, owner of the restaurant Asif Ibrahimov was subjected to administrative detention for 10 days, while others were fined AZN 100 ($58.82) in line with Article 211 of the Code of Administrative Offences.

Earlier the quarantine violation was revealed in the village of Alijanli in Zardab region, where about 25 people gathered for the wedding celebration. Of these, the police detained 14 people, who were issued administrative fines by court order.

Azerbaijan first introduced quarantine regime on March 24, and on June 18 decision was taken to extend special quarantine regime until August 1.

On June 18, Cabinet of Ministers announced decision to impose a two-week strict quarantine regime.

Under the new lockdown rule, citizens are allowed to leave their place of residence only after obtaining SMS permissions.

It is prohibited to hold mass events and celebrations, both in public catering facilities and at home. Also, citizens are not allowed to gather in groups of ten or more people.

Operation of shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, beauty salons, as well as museums, exhibition halls, sport and beaches was also suspended until July 5.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan and the World Bank have signed a loan agreement on the "Employment Support Project", which provides for cooperation to boost the self-employment program in the country.

The preparation and signing of this socio-economic project is the result of the agreement reached between President Ilham Aliyev and World Bank Executive Director Kristalina Georgieva on 22 January 2019 during the Davos World Economic Forum on cooperation with the World Bank in expanding the self-employment program.

The project aims to expand the self-employment program based on best practices and creates small enterprises for those registered as unemployed, recipients of targeted state social assistance, women, youth and other vulnerable groups with World Bank funds.

The project is designed for 2020-2025, and is expected to involve 22,000 unemployed people.

The participants in the program will be given "Start and improve your business" later. Later, they will be provided with in-kind assets and will be able to start and own small businesses.

It is planned to attract 2,000 out of 22,000 people for training and provide them with assets during 2020.

Furthermore, small family farms for 12,000 people will be established in Azerbaijan in 2020 under the program of self-employment. It is expected to attract 5000 people to the program in each of the next 4 years of the project.

The project envisages the application of innovative solutions in the implementation of the self-employment program, training of the State Employment Service under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and development of a strategy for transition from targeted social assistance to self-employment.

Additionally, strengthening of employment services and programs (including assessment of the labor market, development of a strategy for expanding and improving vocational training centers, informing job seekers, etc.), project management, monitoring and evaluation are also key components of the project.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijans Ambassador in Japan Gursel Ismayilzada and Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kenji Wakamiya have discussed perspectives of bilateral relations in various spheres, the local media reported on June 29.

During the meeting, Ismayilzada spoke about the current economic situation in Azerbaijan, emphasizing the great importance attached to the development of the non-oil sector, including agriculture, tourism, transport, high technology and other areas.

Furthermore, touching upon measures taken against the spread of coronavirus in the country and important steps taken to maintain economic stability, the ambassador noted that during the pandemic, the government gave priority to the health of the population and the solution of social problems.

In his turn, Wakamiya noted that the Japanese economy was severely damaged as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. He also spoke about the program of support provided by the Japanese government to the population and private business.

Speaking about the development of bilateral ties, the Azerbaijani ambassador emphasized the importance of high-level mutual visits.

At the same time, the Japanese minister was given information about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Noting the high-level cooperation in the energy sector between Azerbaijan and Japan, Ismayilzada noted the participation of Japanese giants ITOCHU and INPEX in large-scale energy projects in Azerbaijan.

It was also pointed out that currently there are favourable conditions for expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan in the non-energy sector, and this is beneficial for both sides.

Moreover, in this regard, Ismayilzada emphasized the activity of Silk Way Group company. He also noted that Silk Way West has been operating direct cargo flights to Komatsu since January 2016 and to Osaka since December 2017.

Ambassador Ismayilzada highlighted the fact that Silk Way West airlines company was the first Azerbaijani company to open a representative office in Japan.

At the meeting, both sides agreed to continue joint efforts for strengthening of cooperation between the two countries.

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Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijani Parliament today adopted amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences providing for a doubling of fines for failure to use medical masks in public places.

According to the amendments passed the parliaments plenary session, individuals will be fined AZN 100 ($58.8) for not using masks in public places while the fines for officials and legal entities will be increased to AZN 200 ($118) and AZN 400 ($235) respectively.

For repeated violation, individuals will be fined AZN 200 ($117.6), officials  AZN 400 ($235.3), legal entities  AZN 800 ($470.6).

According to the current law, individuals are fined AZN 50 ($29.4), officials AZN 100 ($58.8), legal entities AZN 200 ($117.6).

Moreover, Parliament also approved an increase in fines for violations of epidemiological, sanitary and quarantine regimes.

According to the amendments, individuals will be fined from AZN 200 ($117.6) to AZN 400 ($235.3), while officials will be fined from AZN 3,000 ($1764.7) to AZN 4,000 ($2352.9) or can be subject of administrative detention for up to 1 month. Legal entities will be fined from AZN 4,000 ($2,353) to AZN 10,000 ($5,882).

On May 29, the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers approved a list of public places where wearing medical masks is mandatory on May 31 passed the law envisaging penalties for failure to use medical masks.

Public places where wearing medical masks is mandatory in public places include inter and intra city passenger transport means, markets, closed catering, commercial and service facilities (except for cases when it is necessary to remove personal protective means), public places in the open air (where social distance cannot be maintained), queues in front of terminals at public transport stops, ticket offices, ATMs and payment terminals, offices in the open space and in production facilities, in buildings where services are rendered to clients, territories intended for reception and servicing of citizens in buildings of state bodies, enclosed spaces that are considered to be monuments of history and culture, places of worship, scientific and medical institutions, social, cultural and other such enclosed spaces.

Under the decree, the population must maintain social distance of 1.5-2 meters in public places.

Azerbaijan first introduced quarantine regime on March 24, and on June 18 decision was taken to extend special quarantine regime until August 1.

On June 18, Cabinet of Ministers announced decision to impose a two-week strict quarantine regime.

Under the new lockdown rule, citizens are allowed to leave their place of residence only after obtaining SMS permissions.

It is prohibited to hold mass events and celebrations, both in public catering facilities and at home. Also, citizens are not allowed to gather in groups of ten or more people.

Operation of shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, beauty salons, as well as museums, exhibition halls, sport and beaches was also suspended until July 5.

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By Akbar Mammadov

A criminal case has been launched against five officials of the State Social Protection Fund (SSPF) in Ganja under bribery charges, the Prosecutor Generals Office reported on June 29.

The criminal case against the local officials of SSPF's Kapaz district department was initiated after the investigation by the Anti-Corruption General Directorate under the Prosecutor General based on the material received from the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.

As a result of the investigation, former sector head of the Kapaz district department in Ganja Elchin Alakbarov, Deputy Director of the same fund Bayali Khalilov and Arif Ganbarov, the head of the Kapaz department of the SSPF in Ganja in 2010-2016, were charged for repeated large-scale bribery, among other charges.

In addition, Nizami Ahmadov, who worked as the head of the Kapaz department of the SSPF in Ganja in 2016-2018, and Samaya Eminova, who worked as the head of the pension sector of that department, were charged under Article 308.1 (abuse of power) of the Criminal Code, and a restraining order was issued against them. Substantial suspicions have been established that they abused power and created conditions for the determination and payment of illegal pensions.

The Prosecutor Generals Office revealed that in 2015-2017, in collaboration with Khalilov and Ganbarov, the former sector head Alakbarov demanded money from 32 residents of the region at different times and repeatedly in the amount of 122,000 Azerbaijani manats in exchange for a pension, taking into account the work experience and degree of disability based on fake documents.

It has also been identified that Alakbarov used the help of his acquaintance Shahin Mammadov as a mediator. Moreover, the Prosecutor Generals Office identified that he repeatedly deceived 21 people and seized 70,000 manats, falsely saying that Elchin Alakbarov was able to award a pension.

Abulfaz Ibrahimov, a member of a criminal group who acted as a mediator, was found guilty of sharing and spending money for their personal needs jointly with Shahin Mammadov, as well as inciting citizens to pay bribes for this illegal act.

Therefore, Shahin Mammadov was charged under Articles 32.5, 311.3.3 of the Criminal Code (assisting to take large-scale repeated bribery with collaboration in advance), while and Abulfaz Ibrahimov was charged under Article 178.2.4 of the Criminal Code (large-scale repeated fraud abusing official position).

Earlier, on June 23, a criminal case was launched against two officials of the Absheron District Executive Authorities under bribery charges The court in Bakus Binagadi district sentenced the head of the Department of Architecture and Construction of the Absheron District Executive Authorities, Akif Aliyev to four months in jail on the charge of bribery.

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Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- Gov. Doug Ducey announced two new executive orders on Monday in the state's efforts to curb the surge in coronavirus cases in Arizona.

ONE MONTH PAUSE

One of the executive orders is a "one-month pause" that will force the closure of bars, gyms, movie theaters, water parks, and tubing rentals effective at 8 p.m. Monday (June 29).

Gov. Ducey said this closure will help relieve stress on the healthcare system and give time for new transmission to slow, but some businesses are fighting back.

A spokeswoman with the Great Wolf Lodge said late Monday that the water park is not required to abide by the governor's order because it is located on the sovereign land of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, and will remain open under further notice. "If there are changes to the Great Wolf Lodge operations in Arizona, guests will be notified with ample time," she said.

Mountainside Fitness CEO Tom Hatten said he plans to keep his gyms open and is filing a lawsuit against the governor.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

The order also prohibits gatherings of 50 or more people, even if there is social distancing. Gov. Ducey said enforcement will be led by local authorities and public health officials. Groups of more of than 10 will also be prohibited at community, apartment and private pools.

"This is a global pandemic, and its affecting all of our states and Arizona is not alone right now in terms of where we are on record cases and record hospitalizations," Gov. Ducey said.

Starting immediately, the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control will cease issuing special event licenses between June 29 and July 27.

SCHOOL DELAYED

The second order will delay in-person school until at least Aug. 17, Gov. Ducey announced.

Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases during the month of June, Gov. Ducey said the decision was made to push back the opening day for schools after consulting with Arizona Superintendent Kathy Hoffman and other school leaders. Gov. Ducey said the target day for opening schools will continue to be monitored and is still subject to change based on COVID-19 trends.

"In Arizona, we are seeing an increase higher than most other states in the country. Only four states are on the decline," Gov. Ducey said in reference to a graphic showing case increases in 29 states. "I ask for patience. Our numbers continue to increase, and are going in the wrong direction. You're safer at home. If you can stay home, stay home."

Late Monday, the Phoenix Union High School District said they plan to move forward with their Aug. 3 reopening date with "full remote learning."

MONDAY COVID-19 NUMBERS

The announcement comes on the same day the Arizona Department of Health Services reported 625 new cases in the state Monday morning with no new deaths. However, AZDHS said one of their lab partners did not report their numbers to the department on time, but that the numbers would be reflected in Tuesday's update.

CRISIS STANDARDS OF CARE

Dr. Cara Christ, the Director for the Arizona Department of Health Services, said 'Crisis Standards of Care' would also be activated at Arizona hospitals. This activates tactics to address space, staff and resource constraints as necessary for the hospital's current situation.

It will also prepare hospitals for surges and anticipate fully staffing hospitals. All surgeries will cease except for non-emergent, essential surgeries and procedures that do not impair the care of other patients.

The lab that failed to report in time, Sonora Quest Laboratories, released COVID-19 statistics around 2 p.m. Monday that were missing from this morning's update. On June 28, Sonora Quest Labs reported a total of 2,454 patients with a COVID-19 diagnostic positive result.
CHANDLER (3TV/CBS 5) -- In this pandemic, the risk for frontline workers has only amplified. They can't stay home or keep their distance from others when they've been called upon to help. It's a scary reality for a Chandler firefighter who tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

Chandler firefighter Eric Jones left work on Monday night feeling exhausted. "On Tuesday morning, I woke up, and it was just like a freight train hit me getting out of bed, and I actually passed out. I lost consciousness and ended up on the ground. It was that intense," said Jones.

The 15-year veteran of the Chandler Fire Department tested positive for COVID-19 last week. He doesn't know where he contracted it but believes he got it from work. Jones said his station has been responding to COVID-19 calls non-stop from long term care facilities. "That's pretty much all we've ran for months were COVID calls back to back to back," said Jones. "I believe it was just a matter of time before somebody showed positive with it."

Jones admits he didn't take coronavirus seriously before he caught it.

"I always doubted the severity of the coronavirus, always made fun of it. I guess not made fun of it but lightened the severity. I thought it was like the flu, but it's not, man. It's real," said Jones.

The 40-year-old's fever has gone away, but there are still complications he's dealing with. He's having an issue with his lungs and chest pains. He wants to play it safe and go to the hospital.

"I'd rather err on the side of caution and be seen by people I know and trust," said Jones. "There's only so much I can do here in my house by myself."

The Chandler Fire Department told Arizona's Family that several firefighters were sent home as a precaution. The fire department's spokesperson told Arizona's Family that they are not showing symptoms.

The Chandler Fire Department sent us this statement:
In the United States, Republicans and Democrats, pass legislation targeting individuals and businesses that threaten Hong Kong's autonomy. In India, pictures of Xi Jinping are burnt and Made-in-China products boycotted. In Australia, some politicians are suspected of being bankrolled by the Chinese Communist Party. Xi Jinping's "dream" stresses Chinese nationalism, but generates anti-Chinese nationalism.

Rome (AsiaNews)  President Xi Jinpings moves to extent Chinas economic and political reach are backfiring. His attempt to make China THE superpower through its New Silk Road initiative and "healthcare diplomacy" related to the COVID-19 pandemic, is causing waves in many countries. What follows focuses on the United States, India and Australia, but could be the same in Africa, Japan, Southeast Asia, Canada, Sweden, Czechia and the United Kingdom.

As mentioned, for Chinas intelligence community, anti-Chinese sentiment in the world, fuelled by the United States, is at its highest levels since the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. This is threatening Chinas strategic and economic interests. Anti-China criticism ranges from unfair trading practices to human rights violations.

What is worrying is that whilst Xi promotes his "Chinese dream" by stirring nationalist feelings at home, the opposite effect is being generated in other countries, as anti-Chinese nationalism grows abroad. This bodes ill for the world. (B.C.)

US Senate: Bill against the enemies of Hong Kong's autonomy

The United States Senate yesterday approved legislation that would allow the US government to impose sanctions on all those who undermine Hong Kong's autonomy, in violation of Hong Kongs Basic Law and Chinas commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The former British colonys autonomy is guaranteed by the One country, two systems principle, which gives Hong Kong a chance to enjoy a freer lifestyle, different from the mainland.

The bill is a response to Beijing's decision to impose a national security law on Hong Kong that many critics say would destroy the rule of law in the territory and mark the end of its distinctiveness vis-a-vis China.

The bill, called the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, provides for sanctions against individuals and financial institutions that carry out "significant transactions" with individuals subject to the sanctions. Individuals and financial institutions must be identified with the collaboration of the Treasury Secretary.

The bill was passed unanimously by Republicans and Democrats, and now goes to the House of Representatives. Once the two versions of the bill are reconciled, it goes to US President Donald Trump to be signed into law.

Anti-China feelings growing in India

Following clashes on the Sino-Indian border, which left 20 Indian soldiers dead, anti-China feelings are growing in India. Protests have broken out with slogans, music and burning of flags and pictures of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Delhi Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association is asking its members not to accept reservations from China and to boycott Chinese goods. The ban is largely symbolic since restrictions on foreign travellers in India have been in place as a result of the pandemic.

However, the call to ban Chinese products could have some weight. Earlier this week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered that online sellers, especially of electronic products, display the country of origin of the goods on sale on their platforms.

Amazon, which sells many Chinese products, has agreed through its Indian GeM portal. For its part, Xiaomi, a giant Chinese company that produces mobile phones and has many factories in India, has covered its logo on shopfronts with the "Made in India" banner.

Australia: police raid against a pro-Beijing politician

Australian intelligence and police raided the home of Labor Party MP Shaoquett Moselmane, on suspicions of ties with the Chinese Communist Party. Moselmane's pro-Beijing enthusiasm has been an embarrassment for his Party.

Moselmane publicly praised Xi Jinping for his " unswerving leadership during the pandemic. President Xi [. . .] mustered the resources of the nation and together with the great people of China  fought it and contained it, Moselmane wrote on his personal website.

In 2018, he gave a speech suggesting a new world order would be needed if China was to fulfil its potential.

In Australia, however, there is growing suspicion that Beijing is paying off politicians, journalists and business people not only to develop good will towards China, but also to "take over" Australias political system.

The case was made that much stronger when, in 2018, a Labor MP, Sam Dastyari, had to resign after it was discovered that he took tens of thousands of dollars from a donor linked to the Chinese Communist Party.

Because of this, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison pushed for foreign interference legislation after revelations indicated that wealthy Chinese businessmen with links to Beijing had been bankrolling local political parties and candidates. One of the people involved in influence peddling was Xi Jinpings cousin.
Contributing columnist Jose Gaspar is a news anchor/reporter for Telemundo Bakersfield and KGET. Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. The views expressed here are his own.
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Bluefield, WV (24701)

Today

Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, overcast overnight with occasional rain likely. Low around 60F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
NC Department of Health and Human Services

2001 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-2001

Ph : (919) 855-4840

: (919) 855-4840 news@dhhs.nc.gov

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has expanded the COVID-19 Dashboard to include expanded county data on trends, demographics and testing. The updated dashboard also includes a new report on COVID-19 clusters in child care and school settings.The interactive NC COVID-19 Dashboard now includes county trends over time in cases and deaths, as well as demographic information on cases and deaths by race, ethnicity, sex and age. It also displays one of the key statewide metrics by county- percent of tests that are positive. Together, these data provide a more in-depth picture of COVID-19 at the county level.Previously, testing data by county was not available because a large proportion of negative tests were reported manually and did not include county information. With more tests now being reported electronically with county data, there is now sufficient data to reliably share the percent positive by county. The dashboard will also display the number of tests that are reported electronically in each county. There are limitations to the data. About a quarter of recent tests reported to North Carolina are not reported electronically, and some counties may be more likely to use a lab that reports electronically.In addition to the expanded county data, the Department now provides a biweekly report on COVID-19 clusters in child care and school settings. A cluster is defined as both a minimum of five cases in the same facility within a 14-day period and plausible epidemiological linkage between cases.The report includes the facility type (school or child care), county and the number of cases and deaths among staff and children. This information will be part of the Outbreaks and Clusters section of the Dashboard, which also includes cases and deaths at long-term care facilities, other congregate care settings. The first report of clusters in child care and school settings will be available later today.NCDHHS will continue to assess and provide additional data as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves and more information becomes available. The dashboard can be accessed online at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard For more information about North Carolina's response to COVID-19, visit nc.gov/covid19
With summer and a pandemic occupying almost everyones attention, voting in a runoff election might not be at the top of your list of priorities right now. But Texas is indeed conducting runoff voting now to decide races from the March 3 primaries where no candidate got a majority, and your vote is important for this July 14 election.

Here are our endorsements for three key races:

Jay Wright, Republican nominee for chief justice of the Ninth Court of Appeals headquartered in Beaumont. Two experienced attorneys are seeking this post, Wright and Scott Golemon, and both are qualified. But we lean to Wright because of he has more experience with the kinds of cases that will be heard by this appeals court. Wright has handled more than 117 appellate cases, more than four times Golemons total, over his 34-year career. Wright has vast experience in criminal law (both prosecution and defense) and civil law (both plaintiff and defense) as well as juvenile and probate work, in all handling hundreds of non-jury trials. That is the kind of background this post needs.

Royce West for Democratic nominee for U.S. senator: West is going up against Mary MJ Hegar for this job, and she has run a spirited campaign. Shes an Air Force veteran of three tours in Afghanistan who even survived having her helicopter shot down by the Taliban. In 2018 she ran as a political newcomer against U.S. Rep. John Carter and in a safely Republican district near Austin and lost by less than three percentage points.

But West brings even more to the table, and Democrats will need a strong contender to take on Republican John Cornyn, the No. 2 member of his party in the Senate behind Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

West has 26 years of experience in the Texas Senate, and he could step up to the responsibilities of the U.S. Senate. Over that span, he has championed Democratic causes from better health care to criminal-justice reform. He has been particularly active in efforts to improve higher education in Texas, working tirelessly to get more funding for the states colleges and universities to make them more affordable to all students. West authored or sponsored legislation for the creation of public universities in San Antonio, Killeen and Dallas.

West has also focused on racial justice, an issue that is particularly important now in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He was the first Black section chief in the Dallas County District Attorneys Office before running for and winning a seat in the Texas Senate. West has worked for the inclusion of women and minorities in the procurement practices of state agencies and promoted Historically Underutilized Businesses. This campaign needs that viewpoint.

Chrysta Castaneda for Democratic nomination for Texas Railroad Commission. Castaneda has more experience in the oil and gas industry that this panel regulates (despite its misleading title) than her opponent, former state Rep. Roberto Alonzo.

Shes been involved in it for 30 years, starting as an engineer designing software systems for oil and gas companies and then as an oil and gas attorney.

Its also significant that she realize the need for better control over flaring, when natural gas from oil wells is usually burned instead of collected and used. Thats a growing issue in the Texas energy industry, and the Railroad Commission needs to keep working on ways to minimize it, if not end it.

Early voting began Monday and will continue for two weeks until July 10, with no voting this Friday or Saturday in observance of the Independence Day holiday. Please vote.
City of Laredo officials have confirmed 18 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Laredo, along with the first death due to the virus in Zapata County. The added cases brings the Laredo's total number of positives to 1,457.

A male in his late 40s who tested positive died Sunday morning while under treatment at Laredo Medical Center. Though the man died at a Laredo hospital, he was a resident of Zapata County, and does not factor into Webb County's data.
Five endangered and threatened sea turtle species  the Kemps ridley, loggerhead, hawksbill, leatherback and green  return to Gulf Coast beaches from March to October each year to lay their nests, according to experts with the Turtle Island Restoration Network.

After a volunteer with Turtle Island Restoration Network shared a video of beachgoers in Surfside, Texas, touching an endangered sea turtle last weekend, experts are reiterating one very specific rule: do not disturb the sea turtles if you see them.

If we want sea turtles to return to our beaches, everyone must do their part to ensure these endangered species are protected, said Gulf Program Director Joanie Steinhaus. Every nest counts.

Visitors are asked to avoid flash photography and making loud noises, as well inform others not to approach the sea turtles.

"Give her 30 feet of space as she crawls to the dunes to nest, and as she returns to the water," said experts with the Network. "Do not disturb the tracks or the nest cavity."

If a sea turtle is spotted, you are asked to call the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network in Texas at 1-866-TURTLE-5 to report the sighting. You will be asked for the location of the nest and any landmarks to identify the area.

TIRN said so far this year, 250 Kemps ridley sea turtle nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast, surpassing last years total of 190.

Experts are also reminding the public that it is a federal crime to harass or harm a sea turtle. So, not only is it strongly advised not to disturb the sea turtles, it's illegal.
Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick will decide Monday morning whether to extend the order requiring masks be worn inside commercial businesses, telling The Enterprise that he wants to first check the weekends tally of new coronavirus infections.

The mayors of the countys two largest cities on Sunday expressed support for continuing the order, which is set to expire on Tuesday.

Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames said the order requiring all customers and employees to wear a mask should remain in effect until data show a significant decrease in positive tests and until doctors advise otherwise.

Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie said reversing course at this time would be the worst mistake for the county.

On Sunday, an Enterprise reporter and photographer visited Parkdale Mall, the Beaumont Walmart and several service stations to see if people were obeying the order, which went into effect on Wednesday.

What appeared to be a vast majority of people were wearing masks. The percentage seemed higher than on the first day of the order, and much higher than before it was issued.

Public health officials say wearing masks is an important tool for slowing the spread of the resurgent virus.

The number of new cases is exploding statewide, and Jefferson County recorded a single-day record for positive tests on Friday. The county now has recorded 1,099 cases, not including hundreds more at three local prison units.

The next official count will be released on Monday.

Branick said he, too, was noticing more masking compliance, even if some folks needed to be more careful about how they wear the face coverings.

I went to Market Basket in Port Neches and didnt see one person without a mask on, he said. I think most people are being cooperative.

Maybe we need to put out a little something about how to wear it correctly. I noticed several people with the top of the mask below their nose. A couple were employees at Market Basket, so I told the manager.

Branick, who on Friday issued a letter chastising people who have politicized the issue and railed against it in language that would make a sailor blush, said he noticed more masking in church  and it is not required in churches.

His letter did not calm all passions on the subject.

At Forever 21 in Parkdale Mall, a store employee named Katherine who did not want to divulge her last name said most people are cooperative.

But not all. One customer spit on her when she asked him to put on a mask before entering, she said.

Yet Katherine was back at the store entrance on Sunday ensuring shoppers were wearing a mask and wearing it properly.

A Spencers employee, who also wished to not be identified, said a handful of customers have refused to comply with the mask order.

For many people, it is just an inconvenience, Branick said Sunday.   It is a big step to make it a constitutional deprivation.

Case law on that matter is well settled, he said, citing a 1905 Supreme Court ruling against a man convicted of refusing a smallpox vaccination.

I think we ought to stop for a minute and not make this a political issue, Branick said. Its a public health issue.

Bartie said he had not seen much resistance in Port Arthur, though he acknowledged he seldom leaves his home.

The Port Arthur mayor said he would like to see the state close back down as it did in late March and April. He reiterated his belief that Texas moved too quickly to reopen.

What I said back then was, it was public wealth versus public health, Bartie said.

You have to trust in God, or whichever deity that you have, that you will be cared for. You might not make it at the rate you are used to and cant shop and buy the most expensive things, but you will have the sanctity of life.

Fran Ruchalski contributed to this story.

chris.moore@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/chris_moore09
Bedford, PA (15522)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 88F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, overcast overnight with occasional rain likely. Low around 60F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Construction has started on new Grade A offices at a development in Belfast's Titanic Quarter, supporting 250 jobs in the building trade.

It is expected Olympic House could accommodate 1,500 workers when complete.

Newry-based construction firm O'Hare and McGovern has been appointed to carry out the build.

It will be surrounded in Titanic by other major entities including Belfast Metropolitan College, Citigroup, the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Catalyst, and the tourist attraction, Titanic Belfast.

Olympic House will be made up of two blocks of six and seven storeys including an atrium.

Potential occupants can take out space floor by floor or even on a block by block basis.

Titanic Quarter is part of Belfast Harbour Estate.

Graeme Johnston, Belfast Harbour's property and place director, said: "Belfast Harbour's ambition to develop a thriving economic hub for the region has never been more relevant, as we work with key partners to support the NI economy to 'Build Back Better' from the pandemic crisis.

"Our partnership commitment to develop Olympic House will facilitate 1,500 jobs when complete and we are pleased to play our part in supporting 250 local construction industry jobs, as building work gets under way.

"The development will be one of the most modern office buildings in the city, offering accommodation which will support both growing indigenous businesses and new market entrants."

James Eyre, commercial director for Titanic Quarter, said: "Over 480m has already been invested in Titanic Quarter which has attracted a diversified range of local and global occupiers who have established or expanded their Northern Ireland operations here.

"This is another important milestone as we move from masterplan to reality and we look forward to welcoming interest from occupiers."

Seanie O'Hare, O'Hare and McGovern construction director, said: "This is an exciting and prestigious development in an area of historical importance, and we will be working with some of the best in the construction industry. It sends out a hugely significant message to local, national and international investors that Belfast is continuing to build for the future, and OHMG are delighted to be part of that process."

Earlier this month the Belfast Telegraph revealed two other investments worth nearly 100m at Belfast Harbour are now "under review".

Belfast Harbour intends to spend 45m on quadrupling the size of its film studios at Giant's Park and to invest up to 50m on a new buy-to-let residential development at City Quays 4.

"We're still finalising the consenting process through Belfast City Council for the new extension to Belfast Harbour Studios and in parallel we will keep our investment under review, taking into consideration the timing of recovery after the current crisis," a spokesperson said.

The Harbour also said it hoped to submit a planning application for the buy-to-let development at City Quays 4 over the next 12 months "but, again, we will keep this under review as we emerge from the Covid-19 crisis".
It is an accepted axiom that every child should be a wanted child (which can discomfort those of us who weren't in that category at the outset). But is it always an advantage to be an 'over-wanted' child? Perhaps the now discredited Prince Andrew falls into that classification.

According to Sarah Bradford, the Queen's most insightful biographer, Andrew was the child his mother was determined to have, even against her husband's wishes. Philip, a veteran environmentalist, always supported the family-planning motto advocated by population control: "Stop at two." Two children would have been quite sufficient for the Duke of Edinburgh but the Queen wanted Andrew. Badly. In the end, she got her way, as any wife worth her salt should, and Andy was born in 1960 - 10 years after his elder sibling, Anne. And he was utterly adored from day one. His mother confessed that he was going to be "spoiled terribly". According to his biographer Nigel Cawthorne, that is precisely the flaw in his character - he has always been spoiled.

As a young child he had tantrums and outbursts of temper that were soothed, but not successfully corrected. At school - even at the usually strict Gordonstoun - he seems to have been able to get away with being "big-headed" and over-confident in himself. He grew tall and good-looking, and went on to be further adulated by teenage girls.

At the Montreal Olympics in 1976, a Canadian newspaper described him as "six foot of sex appeal". Attending Lakeland School in Canada the following year, he was greeted by mobs of girl groupies shrieking "We want Andy!" When he played rugby, writes Cawthorne, T-shirts were worn with the slogan "I'm an Andy Windsor girl". Such flattery would turn anyone's head, and Andy's head wasn't the brightest: he lost interest in education, and spent his later adolescence reading juvenile comics and gathering a collection of girlfriends known as "Andy's Harem". During the Falklands War of 1982, Andrew served, apparently bravely, as a Royal Navy rescue helicopter pilot. Mates have said that he was at his best during this time, just like a regular guy. His missions included acting as a decoy target for Exocet missiles. However, being hailed subsequently as a military hero and promoted to vice-admiral probably wasn't the best for his moral development, as he seems to have been susceptible to flattery and status. Again - aren't we all pleased by flattery and praise? It's only human. And yet, that is exactly what the British constitutionalist Walter Bagehot warned against: a royal prince must be on his guard against flatterers, who will surround him. Moreover, there should be some working occupation in princely lives, rather than living off easy money and the "habitual temptations" of their circumstances. "But how few princes have ever felt the anomalous impulse for real work ... how little are the circumstances of princes calculated to foster it." Andrew's life, post-Falklands, was one of mingling with celebrities - Billy Connolly, Elton John and Michael Caine were among the guests at his wedding to Sarah Ferguson in 1986 - and hobnobbing with doubtful political leaders in far-off lands. And then, as it turned out, with paedophiles like Jeffrey Epstein and the sex pest Harvey Weinstein. Expand Close Prince Andrew with 17-year-old Virginia Roberts in 2001 / Facebook

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Whatsapp Prince Andrew with 17-year-old Virginia Roberts in 2001 And thus he came to a humiliating downfall, whereby he is now sought for questioning by the FBI in America as a witness to Epstein's crimes. He has been besmirched by his ill-judged friendship with Epstein, and all but expunged from the public face of the royal family. From ubiquitous flattery to universal disparagement - it can't be easy. From what I am told, Andrew, as a divorce, behaved promiscuously, and had streams of girlfriends; but he is not a paedophile. If he had a sexual relationship with Virginia Roberts, aged 17, this is not illegal in the United Kingdom (unless it involved coercion or rape). But the BBC TV interview with Emily Maitlis in November 2019 put on display his woeful lack of judgment and foolish self-justification. Someone should have advised him to sit there and say: "Look, I've been a damn fool. I was dazzled by what seemed a glamorous lifestyle - Bill Clinton took Epstein's hospitality, too. Yes, I slept around. Not edifying, perhaps, but, so far as I know, not illegal. Did I meet Miss Roberts? As there's a picture of me with my arm around her waist, I must have done. I don't always remember everyone I've met. I certainly apologise if the lady was ill-treated in any way, and I would deplore the notion that she was trafficked." Instead of which, he insisted that he was "honourable", and went into an implausible narrative about breaking off his friendship with Epstein, eating a pizza at the time of the alleged seduction, and never sweating when he dances. He's said not to be popular within the family - neither Charles nor young William are entirely displeased at Andy's chastening. His mother has accepted his disgrace and withdrawn some of his privileges. But he still remains her favourite child, which is, quite possibly where the seeds of his downfall began.
A takeaway food delivery driver allegedly targeted 20 homes for burglary - including 12 on Christmas Day, a court heard.

Stephen Hamilton is accused of stealing jewellery and cash during a spate of break-ins across Antrim and Down.

Police claimed CCTV footage shows the 35-year-old on a scooter at the location of some of the raids.

Hamilton, of Roslyn Street in Belfast, is charged with 17 burglaries and three counts of attempted burglary.

The alleged offences were committed on dates between December 16, 2019 and February 10 this year.

Properties in Bangor, Conlig, Carryduff, Dundonald, Belfast and Carrickfergus were all targeted.

Opposing bail at Belfast Magistrates' Court, a detective claimed Hamilton is linked to some of the break-ins by mobile phone cell-site analysis and the scooter sightings.

DNA found at another house also forms part of the police case.

The charges include nine burglaries and three attempted burglaries on December 25 last year.

Defence barrister Mark Farrell argued that the case against his client is circumstantial.

Referring to the alleged scooter sightings, counsel said: "He worked for an online company that delivers food from local takeaway premises.

"He had a reason to be out and about."

District Judge George Conner accepted there may be issues to raise at any future trial.

He refused bail, however, due to the risk of further offences.

Hamilton was remanded in custody to appear again in four weeks time.
A Co Antrim teenager accused of stabbing his friend to death told police it was an "unbelievable and unreal" situation, a court heard today.

Jason Lee Martin, 31, died at a house on Orkney Drive in the Ballykeel area of Ballymena on Saturday.

Jordan McClintock, 18, appeared remotely at Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with Mr Martin's murder.

McClintock, of Orkney Drive in Ballymena, confirmed that he understood the allegation against him.

Defence solicitor Denis Moloney described the incident as a tragedy.

"I have been asked on behalf of the defendant and his whole family to extend their deepest, heartfelt sympathy to the deceased's family," he said.

The lawyer stressed that McClintock co-operated fully throughout police interviews.

"The defendant lives in close proximity to, and was a friend of the deceased," Mr Moloney submitted.

"When the matter was put to him he replied 'this is unbelievable and unreal'."

The court heard the teenager has mental health issues which were exacerbated by the Covid-19 lockdown.

"There will be further discussions regarding the legality of the charge of murder," Mr Moloney added.

No application for bail was made during the hearing.

District Judge George Conner remanded McClintock in custody, to appear again by video-link in four weeks time. ends
The leader of the Church of Ireland has said some of its members had endured a "hellish" lockdown, as people succumbed to coronavirus, while others suffered isolation and boredom.

Speaking as churches across the island of Ireland flung open their doors to worshippers again today, Archbishop of Armagh John McDowell said it was appropriate that it was happening on St Peter's Day.

"It could hardly be more fitting that it is St Peter's Day on which we symbolically receive the keys of our churches to enter them again, over the days and weeks to come, as the people of God; to worship his holy name and to gather together as the household of faith. For this we give thanks to God," he said.

"During the months of lockdown, some of you will have had hellish experiences as you have suffered the death of someone very close to you, or have endured the desolating tedium and stress of isolation.

"For these very reasons, you may welcome the freedom to worship but be worried or apprehensive about returning. When you are ready, the churches will be ready to welcome you also."

During lockdown churches became creative in their use of webcams and social media to hold services.

Churches have been open for private prayer since May, and have introduced myriad safety measures and social distancing.

He said a return to worship together would mean "always thinking of others" and making "the necessary preparations to make church safe".

"That is the impulse of the law of love and solidarity which is our vocation. We are responsible for each other," he said.

"Each of us will begin to emerge from lockdown changed in some ways. It is much too soon to say where that will leave us and lead us as a church. But whatever our experiences have been, I hope we can turn our faces in confidence and thankfulness towards God and then turn to face our parishes, our communities and our world in the unshaken promises of the Gospel against which nothing can prevail, and perhaps at sometime today join as parishes, as families or as individuals, in these well-known and memorable words:

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and lovingkindness to us, and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation and all the blessings of this life: but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Spirit be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

Elsewhere, the Catholic Bishop of Clogher, Larry Duffy, welcomed the return to public worship after a "challenging and stressful" few months.

"These last few months have forced us to celebrate in empty churches, and many of our priests were also cocooning and unable to celebrate publicly," he said.

"These months have been difficult for the faithful who have had to endure lockdown and lack of access to the Sacraments. These times have been especially difficult for families who have lost loved ones and who could not celebrate funeral liturgies in the normal way."

He also urged caution.

"Let us not rush back into trying to have things as they were. Our ways of gathering, our ways of interacting with each other will be different now. We all need to observe social distancing and hygiene regulations. We must all look out for each other, stay safe," he said.
A maternity charity in Northern Ireland has said a review of hospital visiting guidelines should lead to the partners of pregnant women being allowed to accompany them for scans.

Almost nine out of 10 (86%) of women surveyed last week by BirthWise said they attended their appointment alone.

The charity also called on Health Minister Robin Swann to permit partner visits to women in hospital.

Women who were without their partner in early labour described their experience as lonely. More than half (52%) of those surveyed had an in-patient stay since lockdown started, with the majority saying it contributed to them feeling alone, unsupported, or anxious.

Women said partner visits would have ensured emotional and physical support.

Sian Mulholland from Bangor is 33 weeks pregnant.

She said: "The partner restrictions have been hard. This is our first baby and we were looking forward to sharing all these special experiences with each other.

"Not having my husband Conor at scans is very hard for both him and me, as we feel like he has missed out."
Concerns arose after it emerged some residents of Dungannon Care Home were taken on a minibus trip at the height of lockdown on May 7 and while Covid-19 testing was under way at the premises

Relatives of residents in a Co Tyrone care home are calling for a Serious Adverse Incident (SAI) to be declared, due to ongoing concerns around Covid-19 infection control.

Concerns arose after it emerged some residents of Dungannon Care Home were taken on a minibus trip at the height of lockdown on May 7 and while Covid-19 testing was under way at the premises.

Relatives feared all those who travelled were exposed to risk, along with other residents, many of whom are vulnerable to infection. Social distancing was not possible and relatives were adamant that appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) was not used.

It has now also been confirmed Covid-19 was present in the home at the time of the trip, despite denials by the facility's owner, Four Seasons Health Care and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) health watchdog.

Both they and the Southern Trust dismissed the need for an investigation, having "received assurances" that PPE was used and Covid-19 was not present in the home.

When asked, the RQIA said discussions with the home manager "assured that staff had appropriate PPE and equipment to sanitise surfaces There were no Covid-19 cases confirmed at that time and when confirmed, further trips were cancelled".

A spokesperson for Four Seasons insisted: "Staff had appropriate PPE and the residents were not symptomatic."

When later challenged on the issue of PPE, Four Seasons repeated this was in place and had nothing to add, except: "It is important to note that there was no outbreak at the home at the time this trip took place."

But images on the care home's Facebook page show PPE was not in place, and two senior members of Four Seasons management left positive comments.

These have since been taken down, but copies were retained.

In addition, correspondence from the Southern Trust now confirms it was advised "by the home manager on 6 May that a number of staff were confirmed as contracting Covid-19. On 7 May the Trust offered testing to all residents and staff and can confirm there were further confirmations of Covid-19 among staff. A number of residents were also diagnosed with Covid-19".

Neither Four Seasons nor RQIA responded when made aware of these contradictions.

Relatives now believe a SAI must be declared, having been left frustrated and fearful for loved ones, particularly as previous concerns were dismissed.

An SAI is defined as any event or circumstance that led or could have led to serious unintended or unexpected harm, loss or damage to patients. Factors include potential issues around poor clinical or management judgement, the involvement of a large number of patients, or the incident being of public concern.

Guidance says the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB), with input as appropriate from the Public Health Agency (PHA) and RQIA, review each incident and decides whether any immediate action is required.

All agencies were alerted to the issue, including those above and the Department of Health.

The HSCB replied that this was a matter for the Southern Trust, which in turn said it had been unable to reach "key contacts" for a response, and hoped to reply next week.

The PHA meanwhile passed the enquiry to the HSCB "as they lead on SAIs from Trusts."

The RQIA confirmed the matter is being shared with its care homes team and "will require further scrutiny".

The Department of Health did not respond.
A young schoolboy from Craigavon who died suddenly at the weekend has been remembered for his "smile and bubbly personality".

Luke Lawson was a Year 8 pupil at Lismore Comprehensive School.

In a post on its Facebook page on Saturday, the school said it was saddened to learn of his "tragic and untimely death".

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Lawson family and extended family circle at this time," it said.

"Luke was a valued member of the Lismore community and his smile and bubbly personality will be missed by us all."

Among the many people who paid tribute on the page was former principal Joe Corrigan.

He said: "So very sorry to hear this news. I didn't know Luke but he was obviously very highly thought of.

"My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends and with the Lismore school community. Young deaths are particularly heartbreaking."

One post described him as "a beautiful young man with the most lovely smile, personality and manners".

Another said: "Absolutely devastated to hear this news. Luke was a beautiful boy with a big personality. He was the life and soul of his class. He will be sorely missed. May his family gain the strength to get through this very tragic and difficult time."

SDLP councillor for the area Thomas Larkham said it was "devastating news" and extended his sympathies to the entire family circle and all at Lismore.

"Each one of you are in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time," he said.
Council officials unearthed photographs from over 80 years ago when Mary Preston, daughter of the then caretaker at Castle Square, left the grounds to wed her fiance William Toland

A Co Fermanagh couple have made history by becoming the first to say their vows in the grounds of Enniskillen Castle.

Leona Rooney (29) and Christopher Read (35), both from Enniskillen, tied the knot in an outdoor civil ceremony last week.

It was the first to take place in Fermanagh since the relaxation of lockdown restrictions permitted small wedding ceremonies.

The happy couple, who have been together for more than 11 years and share seven-month-old daughter Martha, said 'I do' in front of a small group of guests some two months after their original wedding date.

Restrictions meant only 10 people could attend the celebration that made history for both the newlyweds and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. The council's deputy registrar Mandy Somerville conducted the ceremony.

The newlyweds said: "We will never forget our wedding day and we are extremely grateful to the staff of the council's registration service and the deputy registrar, Mandy, for ensuring that our special day came together so well."

Ms Somerville said she was delighted to have officiated.

"With so many weddings having been postponed or rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is wonderful to see couples now being able to put plans in place to fulfil their dreams to get married, albeit still with restrictions in place," she said. While Leona and Christopher's vows were the first to take place at the castle, previous wedding parties have visited its historic grounds.

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Whatsapp Council officials unearthed photographs from over 80 years ago when Mary Preston, daughter of the then caretaker at Castle Square, left the grounds to wed her fiance William Toland

Council officials unearthed photographs from over 80 years ago when Mary Preston, daughter of the then caretaker at Castle Square, left the grounds to wed her fiance William Toland.
Arlene Foster (left) and Michelle ONeill (right) have been addressing questions on the easing of lockdown (Kelvin Boyes/PA)

The number of people permitted to meet outdoors in Northern Ireland will increase from 10 to 30 under the latest relaxation of lockdown rules.

First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill made the announcement following a meeting of the Stormont Executive.

Mrs Foster said health minister Robin Swann would lay regulations on the issue on Monday.

The rules around indoor meetings will remain at a maximum of six people.

In the coming weeks, hotels, bars servings food, restaurants, coffee shops, attractions, hair salons and gyms are set to reopen.

However, Mrs Foster warned that this is not business as usual.

While we have managed to suppress the spread of the virus here in Northern Ireland, it has not been beaten and while the hunt for a vaccine continues and while the rate of infection remains under control, we cannot assume that that will always be the case, she said.

There had been speculation that making the wearing of face coverings mandatory on public transport was also to be discussed but it emerged that legal advice is being sought.

Mrs Foster said she expected it would be discussed at Thursdays meeting of the Executive.

The current position of the Executive is that we strongly recommend that people wear face coverings in enclosed settings such as public transport or other small areas, she said.

The infrastructure minister wants us to consider an issue around mandatory face coverings on public transport and we are currently taking legal advice on that issue.

Ms ONeill added: I dont think there is any resistance to the issue.

Both urged those mourning the death of veteran republican Bobby Storey to observe social distancing.

Ms ONeill said: Everyone who is attending the funeral should observe the public health advice, socially distance, stay apart and follow the regulations.

Mrs Foster added: It is important that people do stick to the public health regulation and respect the fact that we are still in a situation where Covid-19 could be spread.

That is of concern to us when we see what is happening currently in Leicester for example and the fact there seems to be a spike there.

Meanwhile on Monday, as worshippers returned to church services for the first time in 15 weeks, the Catholic archbishop hailed a day of joy.

Archbishop Eamon Martin paid tribute to healthcare workers who served the sick and parishioners who volunteered to carry groceries and other essentials to those living alone.

He celebrated the first public Mass in St Patricks Cathedral in Armagh since the coronavirus lockdown began in March.

We had to make sacrifices for the common good and to protect life and health Archbishop Eamon Martin

The archbishop said: The past three-and-a-half months of lockdown marked a time of great uncertainty and anxiety.

We had to make sacrifices for the common good and to protect life and health.

The numbers attending services will be substantially reduced to enable social distancing, the Primate of All Ireland said.

Every other pew was roped off and empty as Mass was celebrated, and the archbishop wore a face covering as he distributed communion bread.

He said: It is such a joy to gather physically for Mass today, as well as to join virtually with many others who are participating over webcam.

The archbishop added: Some of our liturgical customs have also been adjusted to take account of health recommendations.

I appeal to you therefore to be patient and understanding, and to cooperate in helping us fulfil our church guidelines.

On Monday, one more Covid-19 related death was reported, and the total toll recorded by the Department of Health is 551.

Other changes to Northern Irelands lockdown taking effect on Monday mean elite athletes can train indoors and contact sport training can resume, while childminders can care for the children of four families at one time.

The return of film fans to the big screen is likely to be slow and cautious, a cinema owner has said.

Cinemas across Northern Ireland have been given an indicative opening date of July 29 by the Stormont Executive.

Michael McAdam, owner of Movie House Cinemas, said: Its going to be a slow start, people arent going to be running out straight away, they are going to be cautious and we are going to be cautious ourselves in getting our staff trained up, so it is going to take us a while.

A nice gentle recovery would be perfect for us.

One-way pedestrian routes in busy public spaces could aid social distancing, guidance published by the Communities Department said.

Northern Ireland has become the first part of the UK to move from a two-metre to a one-metre guideline, with some conditions.

Bus stops may be relocated to areas where they can better accommodate safe queuing, according to information published by Caral Ni Chuilins department.

Stewards and extra staff could manage multiple lines for different businesses, official guidance for owners and operators of town and city centres such as councils and landlords added.
The new Taoiseach Micheal Martin intends to visit Northern Ireland in the coming days, deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill has said. (Niall Carson/PA)

Taoiseach Micheal Martin is planning a visit to Northern Ireland, the deputy First Minister has said.

Michelle ONeill told a press conference at Stormont that both her and First Minister Arlene Foster had spoken to the new Irish premier on the phone on Monday.

She said she believes the new Taoiseach intends to visit at some stage over the next number of days.

Ive said that I look forward to working with him in terms of delivering on the commitments of New Decade New Approach and the commitments that were made by both governments, and I look forward to a good working relationship in the time ahead, she said.

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Ms ONeill added that she had raised the North South Ministerial Council with Mr Martin, and urged a meeting, saying it hasnt met for some time.

I think the North South Ministerial Council meeting will be an opportunity for us to get to know one and other and form good working relationships for the time ahead, she said.

However the deputy First Minister also expressed her disappointment that no one from Northern Ireland was among the Taoiseachs nominees to the Seanad (upper house of the Oireachtas in the Republic of Ireland).

It is disappointing that one of the first actions that this Government has taken has ignored the people of the North, she said.

I think Ian Marshalls appointment in the past was something that was very positive and very engaging, and something that is right and proper for when we plan for what the future looks like here on this island.

Mrs Foster said she had also congratulated Mr Martin on his position.

I look forward to working with him on matters of mutual concern for both of our jurisdictions, she said.

Of course we look forward to having a positive relationship with him, he is our nearest neighbour and it is important that we have a good conversation and a good relationship.
Belfast International Airport's security staff provider has announced plans for more than 50 redundancies, Unite the Union has said.

Wilson James took over the airport's security services on November 1 and it's now thought they are planning for 54 redundancies among the airport's security staff.

Unite the Union, which represents the workers affected, has said the move is "unnecessary" and said the jobs affected could remain on furlough.

They also called for an aviation rescue strategy to safeguard future of both Belfast airports.

Regional officer for Unite George Brash said: "Unite has received a HR1 notification from Wilson James for proposals to make redundant 54 workers at Belfast International Airport.

"Three quarters of this workforce are currently furloughed under the governments Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme and there is absolutely no need to push them onto dole queues and their families onto bread lines in the midst of a pandemic.

"The workers affected have been left reeling as they had rightfully assumed that their status would be protected through the furlough scheme until the airport recovered its footfall."

Mr Brash raised concerns about the future of jobs in Belfast airports and called for politicians to safeguard the future of regional transportation hubs.

"We call on Stormont political leaders to bring forward an Aviation Rescue strategy  Northern Ireland and these workers deserve better than continued inaction.

"In response to this announcement, Unite will continue to engage with management at Wilson James to attempt to reduce job losses and to obtain the best possible outcome for our members."

A Wilson James spokesperson said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many industries, particularly aviation. The drastic reduction in flights and supporting airport operations is affecting many organisations and Wilson James is no exception.

"Our objective is to work with our team to mitigate the risk of redundancy. This process is a direct result of the unprecedented situation we find ourselves in and not reflective of our teams performance.

Throughout this public health crisis, we have prioritised transparent and ongoing dialogue. This includes weekly meetings with Unite the Union since late March 2020 and regular engagement sessions in which our aviation workforce can interact directly with our leadership team.

"Our chief priorities are therefore to reduce the impact of redundancies by working with employee representatives and union partners in a transparent and collaborative manner, and to continue to work with the whole of the Belfast community to provide a quality service to the passengers we serve."

Belfast International Airport has said they will not be making any comment.
An Taoiseach Micheal Martin arriving arriving at the cabinet meeting in Dublin Castle.

The Taoiseach has insisted he will lead a government for the entire country amid criticism about the geographic make-up of the cabinet.

Micheal Martin defended the process of appointing ministers after his partys deputy leader, Dara Calleary, expressed anger and disappointment at being overlooked for a senior cabinet position.

We are a government for the entire country and thats a very important point, Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin told a post cabinet news conference.

Mayo TD Mr Calleary was appointed government chief whip by Mr Martin following the formation of the historic Fianna Fail/Fine Gael/Green Party coalition administration on Saturday.

He will sit at cabinet but does not have a vote.

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Whatsapp Deputy Fianna Fail leader Dara Calleary said he is disappointed at being overlooked for a senior role in the new coalition government (PA)

Some voters and political activists in the west of Ireland have portrayed it as a snub and claim it is evidence of the west of Ireland being overlooked when it came to cabinet positions.

While Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton has been appointed as a super junior minister in the coalition, none of the senior jobs went to anyone from the west of the country.

The new government has also faced criticism over the gender make-up of the cabinet, with only four full ministerial roles occupied by women.

The three parties are set to face further scrutiny on gender and geography later in the week when they appoint several non-cabinet ministers of state.

Mr Martin was pressed on the issues after the first full meeting of cabinet on Monday.

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On Mr Calleary, he insisted chief whip was a very important position, particularly as there were three parties to manage in the new government.

It is very difficult and I think there will be quite a number of people who will be very, very disappointed that they didnt make the cabinet table, said Mr Martin.

And I know quite a number of people in the party who will be upset by that but we have a limited choice, each party leader has a limited number to appoint and calls have to be made.

He added: Unfortunately every time a cabinet is appointed there will be disappointment.

Fine Gael has also faced claims of ignoring the west after former minister Michael Ring, a TD for Mayo, was not reappointed to a cabinet post.

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Whatsapp Leo Varadkar at the cabinet meeting in Dublin Castle (Julien Behal/PA).

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said all ministers must have a nationwide focus.

All ministers have a national remit, he said.

Any minister whose major focus is their own constituency or their own region is actually neglecting most of the country, so ministers must have a national emit and thats the way I would certainly expect all ministers to think.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Calleary said Saturdays conversation with Mr Martin was incredibly difficult.

It wasnt the weekend I expected, he told Midwest Radio.

There werent any other jobs on the table offered to me.

We had a very difficult conversation and I told him I was disappointed.

I had hoped to lead a department, that has always been my ambition and it is still my ambition today, and it will happen, it will absolutely happen.

The Fianna Fail stalwart said he plans to make the most of the job he has been given and be a loud voice for the west of Ireland at cabinet.

Mr Calleary said he had been blown away by the messages of support from constituents since Saturday.

He acknowledged there is a lot of anger in the west.

I hear that anger, I understand that anger, I am going to take that anger on and turn it into action, he said.

I am going to take that anger on and let it drive me on around the Cabinet table to turn that into action.

I was that angry person yesterday and I am going to dust it down and make the most of this.
Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill has come under fire for travelling to Dublin at the weekend for the formation of the new Irish three-way coalition government of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green party.

The family of the new Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, could not travel to Dublin from Cork for the event, because of the Covid-19 restrictions in place in the Republic of Ireland.

The Finglas Fianna Fail councillor Keith Connolly lit the fuse for a welter of criticism of the Sinn Fein MLA when he took to social media to ask: "On a day when the incoming Taoiseach couldn't have his family in attendance due to Covid restrictions on travel why did Michelle O'Neill travel to Dublin?" Aoife Dowd wrote in response: "Agree.

"Terrible not to have Micheal Martin's family there and yet she can go wherever she likes. Smacks of disrespect."

Another commenter, Dennis Callanan, posted: "Have to agree with sentiment here.

"Bad judgment for Michelle O'Neill to travel, especially after the bad press on Council chairman nominations.

"Promotion to Lead Opposition means higher standard expected, or you cannot critique the government parties."

Others sprang to the defence of the Sinn Fein Vice-President, pointing out that the Republic's Covid-19 guidelines did not apply to people from Northern Ireland.

"Michelle O'Neill was in Dublin as vice-president of the Dail's official opposition party.

"She was not there as a family or friend of Mary Lou McDonald.

"Besides, Covid-19 travel restrictions don't apply to northerners," wrote Daniel Collins.

Defending Ms O'Neill, Meabh Mhic Giolla Cheara posted: "The VP (Mrs O'Neill) was in Dublin for a party meeting pertaining to the election of a shadow cabinet.

"FYI, there was nothing illegal in O'Neill's actions."

Sinn Fein said: Michelle ONeill is vice-President of Sinn Fein. For the purposes of her work in that role she travelled from Tyrone to the Convention Centre where she met with the partys 37 TDs from across the country.
Minister for European Affairs Helen McEntee proposed legislation enabling the operation of the Special Criminal Court which passed the Seanad on Monday evening (Brian Lawless/PA)

Legislation enabling the operation of the Special Criminal Court has been passed by the Seanad on Monday evening.

It had been due to lapse within hours and that would have thrown gangland and paramilitary non-jury trials into chaos.

New Justice Minister Helen McEntee proposed the renewal of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Acts provisions.

She said: The Garda assessment is that there remains a real and persistent threat from republican paramilitary groups on this island.

The threat level in Northern Ireland from these groups is currently regarded as severe.

We know these groups oppose peace and democracy; and regrettably they remain committed to violence and criminality.

Sinn Fein abstained from the Dail vote on the legislation last week having previously opposed it.

The partys decision came after former minister for justice Charlie Flanagan promised that a proposed review of the legislation would be independent.

The new justice minister said in the past year there had been an increase in paramilitary shootings and attacks in Northern Ireland.

She added: The continuing attempts to murder and maim, such as the attempt earlier this year to smuggle a bomb on a Belfast passenger ferry to coincide with Brexit, demonstrate a scant regard for human life.

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The cowardly attempts to intimidate journalists and politicians demonstrates a contempt for an open and free democracy.

The state will continue to confront those who act in opposition to the democratic wishes of the people of this island.

The total number of people arrested under the provisions of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 is 146.

A total of 40 people were detained for offences contrary to the provisions of the 1998 Act, which was enacted following the Real IRAs Omagh bomb.

There have been seven successful convictions in the courts in the reporting period and a further 34 are awaiting trial, the minister said.

The law also covers organised criminality which has been responsible for recent high-profile gangland violence.

It is clear that these groups have no respect for the laws of this land nor the safety of its citizens Helen McEntee

The minister said: There is stark evidence of the willingness of organised groups to engage in murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, drug smuggling, counterfeiting and other serious offences.

As public representatives, we have witnessed its devastating impact on our communities.

It is clear that these groups have no respect for the laws of this land nor the safety of its citizens.

By their behaviour, they demonstrate a callous disregard for everything that a stable and democratic society stands for.
Tui was due to serve four Greek islands when it resumes its operations for UK customers on July 11 (Nick Potts/PA)

Greece has extended its ban on flights from the UK until July 15, it has been reported.

Flights will remain restricted even after Greece reopens its borders to international visitors on Wednesday, sources told the Athens News Agency.

The policy was agreed at a meeting of government officials chaired by prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

He reportedly said: The whole opening procedure is dynamic and the data will be continuously evaluated.

Flights from Sweden are also included in the extended ban.

Tui, the UKs biggest tour operator, was due to serve four Greek islands when it resumes its operations for UK customers on July 11.
A judge ruled Johnny Depp is in breach of a court order for failing to disclose texts, which apparently show him trying to obtain drugs, to The Suns lawyers ahead of his libel trial against the newspaper (Aaron Chown/PA)

Johnny Depp is in breach of a court order for failing to disclose texts, which apparently show him trying to obtain drugs, to The Suns lawyers ahead of his libel trial against the newspaper.

The 57-year-old actor is suing the tabloids publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN), and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an April 2018 article which referred to Mr Depp as a wife beater.

The article related to allegations made against Mr Depp by his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, 34, that he was violent towards her during their marriage  claims he strenuously denies.

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Whatsapp Amber Heard alleges that Johnny Depp was violent towards her during their marriage (Anthony Devlin/PA)

In a surprise turn of events at a hearing last Thursday, NGNs legal team asked trial judge Mr Justice Nicol to strike out Mr Depps claim.

Adam Wolanski QC argued that the Hollywood star was in serious breach of a court order because he had not given NGNs legal team what he referred to as the Australia drugs texts between Mr Depp and his assistant, Nathan Holmes.

The messages, sent in late February and early March 2015  shortly before an alleged incident in Australia between Mr Depp and Ms Heard, which she claims was a three-day ordeal of physical assaults  demonstrated that Mr Depp was trying to get drugs during the Australia visit, Mr Wolanski said.

He told the court that references to happy pills and whitey stuff showed Mr Depp was trying to obtain MDMA and cocaine, which he argued was profoundly damaging to his case.

But Mr Depps barrister, David Sherborne, said the messages were not relevant as they did not relate to the allegations of domestic violence, and said Mr Depp had been frank about his drug-taking history.

He said: The issue in this case is whether the defendants can prove that the claimant committed serious domestic violence and put Ms Heard in fear.

It is not about whether Mr Depp asks for drugs.

In a ruling on Monday, Mr Justice Nicol found that Mr Depp had breached an unless order requiring him to disclose documents from separate libel proceedings against Ms Heard in the US.

The judge said: The Australian drug texts were adverse to the claimants pleaded case and/or were supportive of the defendants pleaded case.

But Mr Justice Nicol did not make a declaration that Mr Depps case was automatically struck out, and said the actors application for relief from sanctions would be heard later on Monday morning.

During last weeks hearing, Mr Wolanski said Mr Depp subjected Ms Heard to a three-day hostage-taking situation in Australia while he was taking MDMA, also known as ecstasy, and drinking heavily.

The barrister said Ms Heard alleges she was subjected to assaults after she challenged Mr Depp for taking a number of pills and washing them down with red wine.

Mr Depp expressly denies that he took the drugs, that Ms Heard found a bag of pills or that the pair had any conversations about drug use during that time, and claims Ms Heard went into a prolonged and extreme rage after a discussion of a post-nuptial agreement.

His barrister said NGNs legal representatives have had access to the text messages as they form part of the evidence in separate US libel proceedings Mr Depp has brought against Ms Heard, and that Mr Depp is aware they have been given access to those documents.

Expand Close Johnny Depps former partner Winona Ryder is expected to give evidence (Yui Mok/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Johnny Depps former partner Winona Ryder is expected to give evidence (Yui Mok/PA)

The alleged incident in Australia is one of 14 separate allegations of domestic violence, between early 2013 and May 2016, that NGN relies on in its pleaded defence to Mr Depps claim.

A three-week trial at the Royal Courts of Justice in London  which was due to start in March, but was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic  is listed to begin on July 7, with Mr Depps former partners Vanessa Paradis and Winona Ryder among the witnesses expected to give evidence.

The court has heard that Mr Depp intends to travel from his home in France to London to give evidence, while Ms Heard is believed to have already travelled to the UK from California.

The libel claim against NGN and Mr Wootton arises out of publication of an article in The Sun in April 2018, under the headline: Gone Potty  How can JK Rowling be genuinely happy casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?

The headline of the online article was amended shortly after publication to remove the words wife beater, but still referred to overwhelming evidence that Mr Depp engaged in domestic violence against Ms Heard.

Mr Depp has brought separate libel proceedings against Ms Heard in the US, which the court has previously heard are ongoing.

The pair met on the set of 2011 comedy The Rum Diary and married in Los Angeles in February 2015.

In May 2016, Ms Heard obtained a restraining order against Mr Depp after accusing him of abuse, which he denied.

The couple settled their divorce out of court in 2017, with Ms Heard donating her seven million US dollars (5.5 million) settlement to charity.
Official Home Office photograph of Badreddin Abadlla Adam, 28, from Sudan, who died after being shot by armed officers during the incident in West George Street, Glasgow, on Friday, 26 June (Police Scotland/PA)

Police have released an official Home Office image of Badreddin Abadlla Adam, who was shot dead by officers during an attack at the Park Inn Hotel in Glasgow on Friday.

Mr Adam, 28, from Sudan, was killed after six people were injured in the West George Street attack, including police constable David Whyte, 42.

Three of the other male victims are asylum seekers while two are members of hotel staff.

Official Home Office photograph of Badreddin Abadlla Adam, 28, from Sudan, who died after being shot by armed officers during the incident in West George Street, Glasgow, on Friday, 26 June. pic.twitter.com/rR0izKJUB0  Police Scotland (@policescotland) June 28, 2020

They are aged 17, 18, 20, 38 and 53 and all were still in hospital as of Saturday, one in a critical condition.

Police released the identity of Mr Adam on Saturday, saying it was based on information the deceased provided to the Home Office earlier this year.

Meanwhile, a man who said he knew the perpetrator told ITV he warned of the attack the night before.

Giving his name as Siraj, he said Mr Adam told him: I will attack so everyone should take it seriously.

Expand Close Police, alongside a floral tribute, at the scene in West George Street, Glasgow (PA/Andrew Milligan) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Police, alongside a floral tribute, at the scene in West George Street, Glasgow (PA/Andrew Milligan)

I told him no, theres no need to attack and he said they hate me, I hate them, they are against me.

He started to say a lot of stuff like that but I said nobody hates you, nobody knows you, nobody knows each other.

I reported him to the hotel reception and then the next day, yesterday morning, the housing manager talked to me and I said to him everything he (the attacker) said to me.

And in the afternoon, it happened.

Police Scotland, which has said the attack is not being treated as terrorism, has launched an appeal for any witnesses to come forward.

The Park Inn hotel was being used to house asylum seekers at the time of the incident.

Campaign groups have criticised a policy of moving asylum seekers into hotels during the coronavirus pandemic.

Scotlands Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said she is seeking an urgent call with the Home Office about asylum accommodation.

Earlier, Constable Whyte thanked his colleagues for saving lives.

He said he will never forget the scene officers attending the incident were confronted with.

He added: As the first responders on scene, myself and my colleague did what all police officers are trained for, to save lives.

The officer thanked his colleagues who put themselves in harms way to contain this incident and assist with the vital treatment given to myself and others at the scene by other emergency services.

Mr Whyte added: Despite suffering serious injuries myself, I know that the swift actions of colleagues saved lives and prevented a far more serious incident.

I would like to thank the medical staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for their outstanding care in the hours following this incident.
When it comes to the deaths of those associated with Sinn Fein and the IRA, I don't adhere to the convention that one should postpone speaking ill of them.

Sinn Fein has a mighty and ruthless propaganda machine, so it behoves anyone who can to challenge whatever fictional image of the deceased they will be disseminating shamelessly throughout mainstream and social media.

So, here's my contribution on Bobby Storey, whom we're told was gentle, kind and funny. As Kenny Donaldson of the South East Fermanagh Foundation, which helps innocent victims of terrorism, put it last week, the media should not be airbrushing away Storey's responsibility for "significant pain and misery within many families".

Instead, he should be "accepted across the board as being a mafia henchman".

I've taken an interest in Storey since the 1990s after I read Malachi O'Doherty's account of an occasion in the Felons Club when Storey, who was 6ft 4ins, had pushed 5ft 2ins Malachi into a corner to chide him about something he had written for Radio Ulster's Talkback.

"The hand he pressed against my chest was nearly as big as my chest itself," said Malachi. He wouldn't hit him, said Storey, but among other things he wished to tell him was that he was a slug close to the security forces who should shut his "f*****g mouth".

Apart from doing 20 years in jail at various times, Storey was very busy. There was his role in the 1983 Maze escape (during which 20 prison officers were injured and one died), his activities as the IRA's director of intelligence, the 2002 Stormont spy ring, the 2004 26.5m Northern Bank robbery, his bullying of and spinning against anyone criticising the leadership, his threatening of dissident republicans and plenty more. He was also a key member of the group of IRA veterans who control Sinn Fein.

No mention of any of this from Mary Lou McDonald, who expressed her "deep sadness" at the loss of this "lifelong and deeply committed Irish republican", a victim of sectarian harassment and brutality, who was a "champion of the peace process" and was "extremely committed to the pursuit of a united island with equality and social justice for all". And there was I thinking Bobby was just an IRA dinosaur, fixated on unity.

She ended with: "Ni bheidh a leitheid aris ann." ("We shall not see his like again." I retweeted this with the comment: "His victims must certainly hope so."

Michelle O'Neill was distraught. "Words cannot express the sadness I feel on the passing of one of the most amazing people I have ever had the pleasure to call my friend and comrade. To know him was to love him. Rest in peace Bobby x."

In her official party statement she described him as "a committed, selfless comrade, whose contribution to the struggle for national liberation earned him the full respect of his generation". It ended with: "I measc laochra na nGael go raibh a anam dilis." ("A faithful soul among the heroes of Ireland.").

And then there was John Finucane, who retired last year from being Belfast Lord Mayor to become an MP.

He tweeted that "it was an honour to call Bobby a friend and someone I could always rely on" and: "Ar dheis De go raibh a anam." ("May his soul be on the right side of God."). I think God would regard that as a pretty preposterous request. My favourite was the Shinnerbot tweet: "A hero of the revolution, S Africa had Mandela, we had Bobby Storey." That was swiftly withdrawn. Maybe the comparison is reserved for Gerry Adams.

Will Sinn Fein observe the rules about funerals tomorrow?

Will the media ask its leaders why they think it appropriate to hold up as a role model a man who, quite apart from being a notoriously violent thug, was - as Mairia Cahill has tweeted - either the reason for Stormont collapsing on three occasions or involved in some way?

Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar will be watching with interest.
Ben Johnston filmed by the BBC for a program with Stephen Nolan on life behind bars at Hydebank.

A YOUNG prisoner who spoke of his regret at his crimes to Stephen Nolan in a hard-hitting BBC One documentary is back behind bars over a Buckfast-fuelled attack on his mum.

Ben Johnston (20) featured in the Nolan Inside Hydebank three-part documentary that aired last month and the young offender came across as friendly and affable.

But last week, a court heard the Newtownards man kicked his mother in the face after drinking two bottles of Buckfast tonic wine and beers.

Prosecutors said she suffered a cut to her mouth during the attack at their home.

Johnston, from East Street in the Co Down town, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He also admitted criminal damage to a clock belonging to his mother in the same incident.

Newtownards Magistrates Court, sitting in Belfast, heard the victim reported the assault to police on May 2.

Johnston was among several inmates at Northern Ireland's only young offenders jail who spoke to the TV presenter Stephen Nolan (inset) about life behind bars. He came across as a different person from the one jailed for smashing up a house with a sledgehammer.

He was freed after the series was filmed last year but is now back in Hydebank. Speaking to Nolan, he said: "I'm Ben, I'm 19. I got a year for burglary at the start, but they dropped it to criminal damage 'cause I never entered the house. I wouldn't do a burglary, f*** that there, I wouldn't like it done on myself or anyone else. I went up to someone's door and put a sledgehammer to it, I wrecked the place. It was a proper 20lb sledgehammer."

Later in the documentary a more considered Johnston reflected on self-harming while inside and getting beaten up by other inmates.

Newtownards Court heard last week his mother said he had kicked her in the face following an argument.

A Crown lawyer said. "She had a cut lip and blood around her mouth."

Johnston was arrested but was initially unable to provide a statement due to alcohol taken. He told police he had drunk two bottles of Buckfast and some beers.

Defence counsel Alan Blackburn acknowledged the seriousness of the case.

"This is an unpleasant incident and he's very remorseful about it," the barrister said.

He also submitted that Johnston's guilty plea had spared his mother from having to give evidence. "He's faced up to this in a manly way," Mr Blackburn added. Imposing seven months custody, District Judge Fiona Bagnall said: "The assault on his mother was a kick to the face, which is a particularly unpleasant matter."
Meow, hiss and back off! Does this sound like you beyond the typical morning and well after the alarm goes off? Well, you little old grumpy pants, you better start changing that terrible disposition by smiling. Yes, even if it is forced. One in 10 adults in America relies on some kind of medication for depression or anxiety. The numbers are even harsher, according to the National Institute of Mental Health as more than 16 million adults experienced at least one major depressive episode every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) also found that over 200 million people worldwide suffer from depression. This is where the smiling part comes into play. A smile is a combination of factors that communicate a sense of well-being to those who see it, said Dr. Jamie Reynolds, an orthodontist, national and international lecturer and author of World Class Smiles Made in Detroit. A smile works on both the physical and emotional level to transfer positive feelings between the parties involved. If you are feeling irritable, angry or sad maybe a shift of positive vibes from flashing a smile is in order as Reynolds suggested. Here are 7 reasons why smiling is beneficial for you.

Smiling releases feel-good hormones.

Smiling is just as good as eating chocolate.

Smiling can make you more approachable.

Smiling is good for the heart.

Smiling makes you stand out during job interviews.

Smiling helps retrain your brain.

Smiling may boost your creativity.

Smiling is just an overall good thing for us to do and is something that is free and accessible to all of us. Perhaps this is a mechanism to help us cope and even thrive when we need it the most. You really have nothing to lose by trying to smile more and more often.

Smiling releases natural painkillers that are called endorphins and dopamine to help level out your mood. They also release serotonin that helps the body fight infection and boosts the immune system. These chemicals act like a natural anti-depressant. But how does this work? When you smile, you are using the muscles in your face and these movements trick the brain into releasing those feel-good chemicals.We heard how chocolate can really boost your mood, but smiling can do the same thing! It has a therapeutic impact on your system by reducing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Smiling can increase the mood-enhancing endorphins the same way as chocolate does. "British researchers found that one smile can provide the same level of brain stimulation as 2,000 chocolate bars while lowering blood pressure at the same time," Reynolds said. Instead of chocolate, go for a smile, it sure beats the calories!People are more attracted to people who smile. This might help you attract more positive people into your life. When you are smiling more and are happier, you are more congenial. This makes you a better commodity than someone who looks like they want to kill someone. A study conducted by Golle, Mast and Lobmaier found: The activity in the brains reward system when viewing attractive faces was modulated by expressed happiness of the face. Conversely, the second study by the team showed that facial attractiveness also influences the evaluation of happiness. It was easier to choose the happier of two faces if the happier face was also more attractive. "We discuss the interrelationship of happiness and attractiveness with regard to the evolutionary relevance of positive effective status and rewarding effects." Smiling not only makes you feel better but makes you a lot sexier.When you laugh the body creates a natural pain reliever by releasing endorphins and this lowers your blood pressure. People who were monitored for blood pressure after smiling saw their pressure drop. Researchers from the University of Kansas found that people who smiled also had lower heart rates. "If you're happy, you perceive stress differently and feel less threatened," said Sarah Pressman, Ph.D., the lead author of the study. When you are stressed, you can protect your ticker and your overall health by flashing a grin.No one wants to work with a grump. A person having a smile on their face will stand above other applicants who have a stone-cold look on their faces. Even if you are not a grumpy person, not smiling could be misinterpreted as such. Smiling can reap benefits beyond the interview. Once a person who smiled was hired, they have more of a positive influence on people that they interacted with. Pretty much, most people will be more satisfied with the person who beamed a smile than those who did not.Smiling actually retrains your brain for the better, author Shawn Achor explained. He asserted that if you smile enough, you will be retraining your brain to start choosing to be more positive. By doing this, a better pattern will start to develop. The more we train the brain, the easier it will be to stop negativity from developing in our lives. The results could be a boost in productivity and a boost in reasoning as well. Happiness is a work ethic. Its something that requires our brains to train just like an athlete has to train," said Achor. Start practicing your smiling abilities for a sharper mind.When we start smiling more, we become more chill about life. What happens is we start to declutter our minds and gain a better perspective on things. This can really open the channels of creativity more in your life. You will enjoy your creativity in a fresh way because as we mentioned smiling releases those feel-good chemicals like endorphins and dopamine. This helped people process information better, helped them in their decision-making and allowed them the freedom to tap into more creativity.
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Speak Out in Unity event offers safe space to discuss race

Hillary Gavan Kerry Randazzo and Claire Read attended the biweekly Speak Out in Unity event held in Riverside Park Friday evening. People took turns discussing when they first became aware of racism and discussed ways to stop it.

BELOIT  We need ears that will listen and eyes that will see.

Thats what Speak Out in Unity organizer Ashley Staver said the community needs in order to tackle racism.

About a dozen people braved the rain to gather at the Harry C. Moore Pavilion at Riverside Park Friday night to discuss their encounters with racism. Although the turnout was a bit lower than expected, possibly due to wet weather, the group shared their thoughts and experiences in a safe and supportive environment. The next Speak Out in Unity event will be held from 68 p.m. on July 10.

Staver, who is Hispanic-American, said shes concerned that less than 1% of Beloits population has been showing up to some of the recent racial justice events. Although people are probably feeling weary right now, she said its essential to continue the movement to eliminate racism.

Ignoring the needs of color people isnt acceptable. Every time we unite, we show that people of color matter to us, Staver said.

Yusuf Adama said Beloit is a small town.

The things you see and hear are a microcosm of America. It takes at least 3 percent of the population to make a dynamic change, he said.

Adama said some people are losing energy, and the fight for justice is being carried out in large part by those age 35 and under who need help. They are fighting for black families who are tired. He said people must fight the entirety of systemic racism as the unjust killings by police are the expressions of a flawed system.

Adama said there is this idea, especially among older white people, that say they were never racist. He said its important to identify racism in order to work against it.

Adama said the first time he experienced racism was as a child in Australia when he was called the N-word by another child on two occasions. He then recalled working at a paintball field in the U.S. when he was 18-years-old when a white colleague told him a family didnt want to be paired with him as they thought he would be negligent.

White people, Adama said, have probably seen more racism as other whites around them may be more likely to say racist things about people of color in their presence.

My white friends have watched friends and families be racist and lot of times they dont know what to do, Adama said.

One woman in the group said she first discovered racism in the 1970s when black people lived on the east side and whites lived on the west side and the former Roosevelt Junior High School was becoming integrated.

Kerry Randazzo said when he first became aware of racism as a child, he felt uncomfortable and wasnt sure what to do. He said he didnt realize the harm of not saying anything

Alex Aceves, who is Hispanic, said he heard his first racism comment in school when kids were doing Corn detasseling and someone said I bet your people are really good at that. When working at a restaurant as an adult he was called a racial slur.

Marc Winslow said he discovered racism growing up in Beloit. He was one of the few white kids who attended Merrill Elementary school at the time. He would hear comments outside of school and was told on more than one occasion to keep to his own kind.

Winslow said over the years hes watched racism and its time it stops.

This is the decade you have to decide. There is no room for indifference, Winslow said.

Adama encouraged everyone to speak up when they hear racist comments or jokes. Peoples job isnt to change the heart of everyone they meet, but to do the right thing.

If you are a good person, every time you let someone who is not a good person say or do something bad, theres a dissonance, Adama said.

Steve Howland, a self-described old retired white guy encouraged everyone to contact the city councilors and ask them if racism is a problem in the city and what their plan is to address it.

Although more community discussion isnt a bad thing, Howland said its time to come up with a plan.
In this photo released by the Philippine coast guard, the capsized hull of the Filipino fishing boat FV Liberty is seen in waters off the Philippine island of Occidental Mindoro after a Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship allegedly collided with it, June 29, 2020.

The Philippine Coast Guard still searching for 14 people missing from a Filipino fishing boat that capsized off Mindoro Island near the South China Sea after a Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship collided with it the night before, officials said Monday.

The MV Vienna Wood ship struck the smaller Filipino boat, the FV Liberty 5, on Sunday evening in an apparent accident in waters about 15 nautical miles (27 km) off Tayamaan, a town in Occidental Mindoro province in the northern Philippines, the coast guard said in an incident report.

The coast guard flew search-and-rescue aircraft over the area to find the 12 crewmembers and two other people who were on board the fishing boat, but had found no traces of survivors as of Monday afternoon, officials said.

Some of our rescue personnel already sighted the overturned fishing boat. We will check the vicinity to find out the whereabouts of the fishermen involved, Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo told reporters.

The involved missing crew, as reported, is 12. We are already conducting [a] search and rescue. We have a floating asset in the area and other teams are on standby, Balilo said.

According to information posted by the coast guard on its Facebook page, the captain of the Hong Kong-registered ship sent the coast guard a distress signal on Sunday about a collision incident with the Philippine fishing boat. The Vienna Wood was sailing to Australia after departing from Subic, Philippines, when the collision occurred, the coast guard said. As of Monday night, the Vienna Wood was docked at Batangas, a port on Luzon Island.

The collision that resulted in the capsizing of the Philippine boat on Sunday occurred more than a year after the Philippines protested the ramming and sinking of Filipino boat by a Chinese boat in disputed waters of the South China Sea. In that incident, 22 Filipino crew members were left to float at sea until a Vietnamese boat rescued them.

On Monday, the Philippine presidential palace said Sunday nights incident should be resolved by local laws because the collision occurred in Philippine territorial waters.

There is no international law application here other than foreign flagships can sail through under the concept of innocent passage, presidential spokesman Harry Roque told a news conference.

As far as accountability was concerned, Philippine courts could settle any legal claims stemming from the latest collision, he said.

You know, the rules of collision at sea are the same as those applied in collision on land, Roque said. So that will have not have a big implication. Thats just a collision.

But Pamalakaya, a group representing Filipino fishermen, condemned the incident.

This is the very same month last year that a Chinese vessel almost killed 22 Filipino fishermen in a hit-and-run incident in Recto Bank, an underwater reef formation in the West Philippine Sea. One year of no justice and yet another tragic incident happened, said Fernando Hicap, the groups chairman, referring to the South China Sea by its Philippine name.
Stranded passengers including overseas Filipino workers take shelter under an elevated highway outside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila, June 11, 2020.

Philippine officials said Monday they disagreed with a World Health Organization assessment that the country saw the fastest rise of COVID-19 infections among 20 countries and territories in WHOs Western Pacific region.

While conceding that the number of cases rose, presidential spokesman Harry Roque pointed out that the number of deaths had been limited. His statement came before the Philippine health department released its daily tally showing that 985 were infected, bringing the total to 36,438, and 11 had died, bringing the countrys COVID-19 death toll to 1,255.

While the government could have done better, President Rodrigo Duterte did the very best that he can and we are in control of the situation, Roque said.

Now, the WHO said that we have registered the fastest rise of cases in the entire Western Pacific region. Is this true? We beg to disagree, Roque told reporters, noting that it was unfair for the Philippines to be compared to smaller Southeast Asian nations including Singapore.

Roque was reacting to a WHO report over the weekend that from June 16 to 27, more than 8,100 cases were logged in the Philippines, according to local media reports. Second-place Singapore recorded more than 2,300 cases during the same period.

Neighbor Indonesia, the largest and most populous country in Southeast Asia, is not among the 22 countries in WHOs Western Pacific region but recorded more than 12,800 COVID-19 cases during the same period, according to health figures.

Nearly 10.2 million cases

Globally, nearly 10.2 million cases and more than 500,000 deaths have been recorded since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to disease experts at U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

As of Monday, WHO had China as the top source of COVID-19 deaths for the Western Pacific region at 4,634, followed by the Philippines at 1,255. While there were significantly more confirmed COVID-19 cases (43,000) in Singapore, deaths have been limited to 26.

Roque noted that Singapore is a tiny city-state whose population is about 5 million  smaller and about one-third the population of the Metro Manila regions 14 million people.

We are not perfect, but I guess we could have done better, Roque said.

Maria Rosario Vergeire, the Philippine undersecretary of health, warned that comparisons of COVID-19 cases between nations must be done carefully, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported on Monday. She added that factors such as health care system capacity were important in such comparisons.

If a comparison is needed, it is best to compare all the countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Vergeire said.

WHO representatives in Manila did not immediately respond to requests from BenarNews for comment.

Roque, meanwhile, said a study by the University of the Philippines showed that had Duterte not declared a COVID-19 lockdown when he did, the country would have had millions of infections.

We have avoided 3.6 million cases of COVID, Roque said. What we are doing now is that we are making sure that we still dont have a vaccine but we can slow down the spread of the disease by giving medical assistance to those in need.

Duterte is expected to announce on Tuesday whether the quarantine order stays in Manila and in Cebu in the central Visayas region, which has experienced a sudden rise in cases in recent weeks.

While Manila has been under a general quarantine, the government has eased up on rules and has allowed certain public functions to resume. Cebu, however, remains under an enhanced quarantine.
Satellite imagery shows what appears to be an amphibious assault transport ship of the Chinese Navy docked at Woody Island in the South China Sea, June 27, 2020.

Updated at 2:57 p.m. ET on 2020-06-29

China has docked what looks to be a Type 071 warship in service with the Peoples Liberation Army Navy at Woody Island, Chinas main administrative center and military base in the South China Seas Paracel Islands.

The ship will likely be used in in a large-scale naval exercise planned in the area this week. On Saturday, Chinas Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) announced a military exercise would take place in the South China Sea from July 1 to 5.

Satellite imagery seen by BenarNews shows a ship fitting the profile of the Type 071 (also called the Yuzhao-class) sitting in harbor at Woody Island as of June 27. The ship was not there on June 25.

The Type 071 is a landing platform dock capable of carrying helicopters, a battalion of marines, amphibious vehicles and other cargo for amphibious warfare. It frequently features prominently in military exercises or drills involving the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Chinas burgeoning Marine Corps (PLANMC).

Woody Island is Chinas biggest outpost and military base in the South China Sea, located in the Paracel archipelago in the regions northern half.

The island is disputed between Vietnam, China, and Taiwan, but occupied by China, which has built a settlement there and formally incorporated the artificial island into a local government district that covers the Paracel Islands and Macclesfield Bank. Macclesfield Bank is claimed by the Philippines.

Woody Island is a frequent stop for the China Coast Guard (CCG) and infamous paramilitary fishing fleets on their way to other parts of the region to assert Chinas claim to nearly the entire South China Sea. However, navy warships are rarely seen in Woodys harbor, and based on BenarNews existing satellite imagery, this is the first time the Type 071 has shown up there.

China's military exercise set to take place this week in waters also claimed by Vietnam is nothing unusual, said Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank.

"But this is part a worrying pattern. Chinas provocations in the South China Sea have grown more frequent during the global pandemic, and Beijing seems committed to escalate rather than try to calm things down," he told BenarNews.

The docking of China's warship comes after the United States conducted a massive naval exercise with two aircraft carriers in the Philippine Sea on Sunday.

Dual carrier operations demonstrate our commitment to regional allies, our ability to rapidly mass combat power in the Indo-Pacific, and our readiness to confront all those who challenge international norms that support regional stability, Rear Adm. George Wikoff said in a press release put out by the U.S. Navy.

The U.S. also conducted a bilateral exercise with Japan last week, and Singapores navy conducted training drills with the U.S. and Japan in the South China Sea on June 17 and June 22, respectively.

The deployment of warships to disputed islets and rocks in the region raises concerns over the ongoing militarization of the South China Sea.

Following the 36th ASEAN summit on Friday, Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who chaired the meeting, emphasized the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states  that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea.

The Type 071 is not alone. Satellite imagery shows what looks to be a KJ-500 maritime surveillance plane sitting on Woodys airstrip.

A plane that looks like a KJ-500 early warning aircraft sits on the apron of Woody Islands massive airstrip, June 27, 2020. (PlanetLabs Inc.)

Vessel tracking data and satellite imagery show that a ship in service to the MSA, the Hai Xun (Sea Patrol) 1110, is also in Woodys Island other harbor. Three smaller ships that could belong to either the navy or coast guard are right in front of the Type 071s bow.

On June 21, China revised a law governing the part of the armed forces that oversees Chinas coast guard, instructing it to join in exercises with other branches of the military.
Muhammad Nomud Mamud (right), the cousin of Abdullah Esomuso, chats with Pannika Wanich (left), a former spokeswoman for the now-defunct Future Forward Party, and an unidentified woman in Pattani, Thailand, before a court hearing in Songkhla, June 29, 2020.

A court in southern Thailand will hold hearings in November and December into the cause of death of a suspected insurgent who fell into a coma and died after being taken into military custody last year, his relatives and their lawyer said Monday.

They said as many as 30 witnesses would be called to testify at the court in Songklha province about whether Abdullah Esomuso died of natural causes or any injuries linked to his detention in Pattani province.

I felt very excited and scared today. It was my first court appearance and I did not know how to behave, his widow, Sumaiyah Minga, told BenarNews by phone. The court just discussed with us to prepare for the inquiry and examined the case files. It will hold inquiries in November and December.

On Monday, she and other members of Abdullahs family, as well as neighbors and a team of lawyers traveled 130 km (80 miles) from Pattani to Songkhla Court.

Abdullah, 34, was found unconscious at 3 a.m. July 21, 2019, in an interrogation center at Fort Inkayuthaboriharn, an army camp in Pattani, after being held there for 10 hours, prompting questions about whether military interrogators had tortured him.

A suspected leader of an insurgent cell had implicated him in a series of attacks by rebels, according to officials. Officials, including the prime minister, have denied that Abdullah was tortured.

Sumaiyah and other survivors said they had filed a criminal complaint with police in Nong Chik, the district where the camp is located, against any officials who could have been responsible for Abdullahs death.

Preeda Nakpew, a lawyer with Cross Culture Foundation who is representing Sumaiyah, said about 30 witnesses will be questioned between Nov. 24 and 26 and Dec. 15 and 18. The foundation is a Bangkok-based human rights group.

The public prosecutors, the widow and the family lawyers will squeeze the truth from witnesses and cross check the evidence to determine how the military personnel treated Abdullah from when he was arrested, how he was interrogated in the camp and how he was hospitalized, Preeda told BenarNews.

We aim to find the real truth of how he went into coma in Fort Inkayuthaboriharn and later died at the hospital, Preeda said. The lawyers team will also cross check the results of an investigation by the Committee to Protect Human Rights in the Deep South, which was set up by the ISOC 4.

Abdullahs cousin, Muhammad Nomud Mamud, who accompanied Sumaiyah to court on Monday, said he had little hope that their efforts would be effective.

We want to find the wrongdoers and bring them to justice. But in reality, even though we can bring them to court, it is difficult to see government officials being convicted, Muhammad told BenarNews.

Oxygen deprivation

Abdullah died on Aug. 25, 2019, more than a month after his July 20 arrest.

Committee to Protect Human Rights in the Deep South, a military-backed body, found the cause of death was severe pneumonia and septic shock, which happened after he had suffered from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (oxygen deprivation to the brain), committee member Abdul-asib Tadae-ing said at the time.

The committee reported finding no traces of physical torture.

In addition, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, who is a former army chief of staff, denied that Abdullah had been tortured.

The government says all along it does not have a policy to use violence on suspected individuals or suspects. There must be videotape on hand every time to avoid problems in the future, he said at the time as he called on authorities to ensure that closed-circuit TV cameras worked during interrogations.

The day after Abdullah died, New York-based Human Rights Watch called on the government to conduct an independent and credible investigation.

The death of Abdullah Esomuso is an important test case for the Thai government on whether it is willing to address rights violations in military detention, said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. Thai leaders need to demonstrate that they are serious about conducting an independent investigation and prosecute any wrongdoing or risk complicity for yet another unlawful conduct of soldiers.

Abdullah was in a healthy condition but stressed out during his detention and allowed to rest in the center, said Col. Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for Internal Security Operations Command-4 (ISOC-4)  the military command in Thailands heavily militarized southern border region  citing a note from an arresting police officer.

More than 7,000 people have died in violence across Pattani and other provinces and districts that make up Thailands mainly Muslim and Malay-speaking southern border region since a separatist insurgency reignited in 2004.
Berlin introduces quarantine obligation for people from German risk areas

After other federal states, Berlin is now also reacting to the corona mass eruption in Gutersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia.

 dpa

Travellers from so-called risk areas in Germany have to be quarantined for two weeks if they cannot present a current negative corona test. This means that the quarantine regulation applicable abroad will now be extended to risk regions in Germany, the Senate announced on 26 June 2020.

Until now, the quarantine obligation applied to returnees or arrivals from countries outside the EU and the European Economic Area. The EU state of Sweden is also affected due to a sharp rise in corona infections.



Following an outbreak of corona at the Tonnies meat processing plant in the Gutersloh district, several German states had adopted different restrictions for guests from certain risk areas in the region, including accommodation bans.

 dpa 7217 people recovered: Corona traffic light still green The number of confirmed corona infections in Berlin on Sunday increased by 8 to 8175 compared to the previous day. 7217 people had recovered, the Senate Health Administration announced this evening. more

 dpa BVG wants to provide more information on compulsory masks Due to the threat of a fine starting Saturday for violations of the mask obligation in buses and trains, the Berlin public transport company wants to inform its customers even more about the Corona rules. more
Bradford, PA (16701)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing overnight. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing overnight. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
The new School of Nursing will help position BGSU to meet the critical demand for nurses both in the region and throughout the country as the nursing field remains one of the fastest-growing industries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The demand for BSN degrees will also continue to rise as more workplaces make it a hiring requirement  recognizing data that shows hiring nurses with higher levels of education improves overall quality and patient outcomes. A BSN also helps prepare nurses for leadership roles and career advancement.

In addition to expanded academic programs, the School of Nursing will also feature a new Nursing Skills Lab and Simulation Center, with construction beginning at the end of summer. The project is part of an overall plan to consolidate all nursing program offices, classrooms, labs and support areas in Central Hall, formerly the Business Administration Building. The second and third floors of the building will be renovated to accommodate the relocation of the School of Nursing as the College of Business moves to its new home in the Robert W. and Patricia A. Maurer Center.

These new facilities will provide the most advanced learning environments for our students, Bussard said. The skills laboratory features 19 beds and provides opportunities for students to practice skills and do mock patient scenarios. The simulation center will have four highly computerized mannequins that will provide a realistic health care environment. We also plan to collaborate with local health care organizations to provide training to health care professionals while providing inter-professional education.

After receiving a $200,000 grant last fall to support the online RN to BSN program, BGSUs nursing enrollment has increased significantly, and its native program has partnered with several community college and diploma nursing programs to assist in a seamless transition from a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

BGSU also offers a nursing degree through a consortium with the University of Toledo. However, that program is phasing out, and the final class of consortium students will be admitted in 2021. Another pathway to a nursing degree is through the Universitys partnership and dual degree with Mercy College.

As the School of Nursing continues to serve the public good, BGSU also created a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Industry Certificate, which assists diploma LPN and LPN-to-RN students in seamlessly transitioning to a BSN degree.

This is the first Industry certificate in the Ohio area that provides LPN and LPN-to-RN diploma graduates from career technical centers with college credit for their successful completion of state board licensure, Bussard said. We are committed to working to remove barriers for nurses.

With this new certificate, students who graduated with a diploma from a PN program and passed the licensing exam are awarded 16 college credits, while students who graduated with a diploma from an RN program and passed the licensing exam are awarded 40 college credits. Nurses who received an associate degree in nursing receive credit for credit towards their BSN.

We are excited to offer these options to prospective students, and we remain equally excited about the additional opportunities to come with the future expansion of the School of Nursing, Bussard said.
Spearfish, SD (57783)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 50F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 50F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Integrate Piramal Enterprises pharma businesses into its subsidiary Piramal Pharma Limited

Piramal Enterprises Limitedand The Carlyle Group have announced that CA Clover Intermediate II Investments, an affiliated entity of CAP V Mauritius Limited, an investment fund managed and advised by affiliated entities of The Carlyle Group Inc., has agreed to invest fresh equity capital for a 20% stake in Piramal Pharma Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Piramal Enterprises Limited that will contain its pharmaceutical businesses.

The transaction values the Pharma Business at an enterprise value (EV) of US$2,775 million with an upside component of up to US$360 million depending on the companys FY21 performance.

Based on the EV (excluding the upside component), exchange rate and pharma net debt as on 31st March 2020, the estimated equity capital investment for Carlyles 20% stake in Piramal Pharma would amount to ~US$490 million. The final amount of equity investment will depend on the net debt, exchange rate and performance against the pre-agreed conditions at the time of closing of the deal.

Piramal Pharma will include (a) Piramal Pharma Solutions, an end-to-end contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) business; (b) Piramal Critical Care, a complex hospital generics business selling specialized products across over 100 countries; (c) Consumer Products Division, a consumer healthcare business selling over-the-counter products in India; and (d) PELs investment in the joint venture with Allergan India, a leader in ophthalmology in the domestic market and Convergence Chemicals Private Limited.

This transaction is one of the largest private equity deals in the Indian pharmaceutical sector, and is expected to close in 2020, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Ajay Piramal, Chairman, Piramal Enterprises Limited, said, We are pleased to announce the strategic growth investment by Carlyle, a marquee global investor, in Piramal Pharma. This is an affirmation of the strength of our ability to build new, attractive and scalable businesses with a significant runway for continued organic growth and opportunities for consolidation. This infusion of funds will further strengthen our balance sheet and provide us with a war chest for the next phase of our strategy. We are pleased to have an investor of this caliber join the Piramal family and continue our stellar track record of partnerships.

Neeraj Bharadwaj, Managing Director, Carlyle Asia Partners advisory team, said, Piramal Pharma has built a strong, diversified pharma business with a solid market position and scale in each of its core business segments of Pharma Solutions, Critical Care and Consumer Products. Given global pharma industry trends, we see attractive opportunities for organic as well as inorganic growth in each of these businesses. We are excited to work with the companys experienced management team, and will leverage our global network, extensive knowledge of the healthcare sector, and operating experience to seek to expand its platform, develop strategic opportunities and facilitate broader market access.
As shoppers continue to embrace e-commerce, payment specialist, DPO South Africa, has announced the addition of a digital credit payment option, Mobicred, to its PayGate Plus fully managed payment solution. The move gives all PayGate Plus merchants access to this popular credit offering.

Brendon Williamson, DPO SA CSO

Mobicred is a credit facility that allows consumers to safely shop online with participating retailers. Mobicred accounts allow online shoppers to make one single monthly payment for all their purchases with a revolving credit limit.The solution is already available at many of the most popular digital retailers including Game, Superbalist, Wellness Warehouse, BidorBuy and many others The addition of Mobicred ensures merchants signed up for PayGate Plus will have access to all the most relevant payment options. Allowing customers payment choice cuts down on cart abandonment and boosts sales. With e-commerce fast becoming the preferred shopping method for many in South Africa, giving customers a credit option will further increase revenue for our merchants, says Brendon Williamson, chief sales officer at DPO South Africa.Since lockdown, Mobicred has seen an increase in applications and believes the digital commerce landscape will continue to evolve and grow over the coming months.The e-commerce industry was already growing quickly but the lockdown has certainly accelerated this. Consumers are now looking to purchase more products online than ever before, so an online facility really works for them. Until now, most Mobicred customers were in the LSM seven to nine brackets, and were mostly in the millennial bracket. Over the past two months, our customer profile has expanded, especially as first time online shoppers enter the market, says Jason Sive, CEO of Mobicred.According to Sive, Mobicred can help drive sales for merchants offering the credit payment option.The Mobicred offering has the same appeal as when brick and mortar retailers offer a buy now, pay later option. Buying on credit will increase average transaction size as well as frequency of spend. We have also seen that displaying the monthly instalment price at a product level results in increased customer conversions on larger ticket items.The Mobicred offering will be included for all PayGate Plus Merchants, meaning thousands more consumers will be able to access a credit facility when shopping online.PayGate is constantly assessing new payment offerings. It's more than just about giving customers a better choice. We have seen that customers will sometimes select a retailer based on whether or not they accept certain payment options. We are excited about the new payment offering and we know our merchants will benefit from tapping into the significant spending power of the Mobicred customer base, Williamson concludes.DPO South Africa (previously PayGate, PayFast, Setcom/SiD, VCS and PayThru) is a subsidiary of the Pan-African DPO Group. It offers online retailers of all sizes instant access to simple, effective and secure online payment services, including PayGate Plus its newly launched fully managed payments solution. DPO South Africa has connections to multiple acquirers, fully managed relationships with banks, card and payment networks, and sophisticated risk management with PCI-DSS Level 1 compliance. It processes payments for merchants across SA, Namibia and Botswana. With DPO, local business owners can now accept all major payment methods in 19 African countries through a single integration into the DPO Group.For more information please visit www.paygate.co.za
It's common company practice to stick to a three-year cycle to update and upgrade employees' computers and laptops, but many of these devices still have years of use to go. So, instead of sending them off to the recycling depot, rather follow DriveRisk's example in donating them to a worthy cause. Here's how the country benefits when you rethink your CSI donation strategy to focus on the UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of improving access to quality education, with a particular focus on the role of technology at a time when we need it most.

Clair Harris

DriveRisk sits at the forefront of innovative technology, as one of South Africas leading driver behaviour management companies, with the overall mission to reduce on-road risk for fleet operators and the driver community overall. The company does so by developing and providing risk-identifying information coupled with preventative forecasting and behaviour-changing solutions, in partnership with Lytx. Not only do they create focused risk profiles of particular drivers using video and caller reports, so fleet operators can establish an accountable, structured, proactive solution to driver management, but DriveRisk is also the original innovator of the Report My Driving programme on a structured commercial platform.These solutions have transformed fleets across the world to be safer and more efficient, increasing productivity and, as a result, increasing their profit margins. But DriveRisks goal has been to move away from merely paying up the money to achieve certain BEE points, to rather to see the difference they are making to the beneficiaries of their CSI payments.As DriveRisk fall in the ICT space, what better way to contribute than to reward those students putting in the hard work that it takes to become contributing members of society.Chartered Accountant [CA(SA)], Clair Harris explains that theres no denying you only really perform at your peak when working on a laptop, something that so many in our country consider a luxury. The Covid-19 pandemic has proven laptops are actually now a necessity, as the world shifts to a new mode of working remotely from home to stay safe.This is why DriveRisk chose to donate 30 laptops to the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants Thuthuka Bursary Fund. Much of the time, their CSI spend is in areas not necessarily chosen by the BEE scorecard compilers. Instead, this tends to be driven by operational needs or guided by specific legislation. But, as their laptop donation was a socio-economic one, DriveRisk was able to choose between a wide range of beneficiaries. Clair says: Naturally, as the CFO and financial accountant, we chose a programme close to our hearts  that of supporting aspiring CAs(SA).This speaks to the importance of giving back beyond boosting corporate social responsibility to make a real difference to the countrys youth through improved access to quality education, with a focus on technology. Because with the Fourth Industrial Revolution well underway, theres no denying the importance of practical digital skills in addition to the theory needed to succeed. In addition, technology is the ultimate linchpin in better educating the youth overall, to ensure theyre up-to-speed with the latest thinking needed to enhance the future of the country.But access to the required software through digital devices is also crucial, as businesses in 2020 not only expect a mindset of constantly upskilling yourself, but also the ability to log into work afterhours, wherever you may be. If your team can only do so via the dinosaur days PCs plugged into your office network, the past few months of lockdown have most definitely served as a wake-up call for the need for a fully mobile workforce.Beyond this, education is the gateway key that reduces other inequalities as it allows other SDGs to be achieved, because when people have access to quality education, they can finally break away from the cycle of poverty and feel empowered to live healthier, more sustainable lives.Yet, studies show that 103 million youths worldwide still lack basic literacy skills, while in one out of four countries, more than half of the children fail to meet minimum math proficiency standards at the end of their primary school studies. This drops to one in three countries at the lower secondary level. These are the skills on which the global economy is built.Couple that with the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic to full understand the gloomy picture we now face. Strict lockdown measures have seen many industries unable to return to a physical office and schools are only set to start opening again in the second part of the year. This highlights the importance of UN SDG 4, of ensuring equal access for all to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education.At SAICA, we aim to contribute towards strengthening the countrys economy by playing a significant and leading role in transformation and skills development. For example, the Thuthuka Education Upliftment Fund (TEUF), which offers education-focused and community-based projects to learners and students alike from disadvantaged backgrounds, was launched in the Eastern Cape in 2002 as a pioneering initiative to promote transformation in the profession. Today, it is a well-established and successful national transformation initiative, explains Nthato Selebi: SAICA Project Director for Transformation and Growth.Through Thuthuka, high school learners are encouraged to select mathematics as a subject, as one of the major stepping stones towards a career in the finance profession. In order to improve the subjects pass rate, we also identify the most gifted maths learners to apply for a bursary from the Thuthuka Bursary Fund with messages that maths matters and to choose CA(SA).To date, our Bursary, in particular has supported over 3000 students, and has achieved excellent results ranging from over 900 BCom degrees to 600 honours degree, with 791 beneficiaries currently completing the CA(SA) training programme and over 1020 having qualified and registered as CAs(SA)  an incredible achievement, considering that it takes a minimum of seven years to qualify. But following this path is not easy  thats where you come in.Now, access to technology is a core aspect of this drive to support our students and ensure no student is left behind. Because sadly, while technology has changed the working world as we know it, much of the country still doesnt have access to the hardware that provides access to the World Wide Web. Many disadvantaged students only have access through libraries and educational institutions, which have closed under lockdown, making it impossible to use this time at home productively. To assist, Thuthuka is currently raising funds and seeking computer donations to ensure its aspiring CAs(SA) have the technology they need to continue with their studies, both during lockdown and beyond. If youre able to assist, your company is invited to follow DriveRisks example and join hands with Thuthuka to help our students during this time. Our students need our support not only in the form of tuition fees but also towards the wrap-around support we offer and right now, the need for technology is crucial. If you can help, please contact Mbali Mncwabe on az.oc.acias@milabm to make arrangements, concludes Selebi.
The month of June is recognised on a national scale as Youth Month, and Spottmedia decided that it is an opportune time to allow youth entrepreneurs to speak about their businesses.

South Africa's youth contribute passion, innovation, and new energy to the entrepreneurship world. They are risk-takers and unapologetic on what it is they want.Young entrepreneurs are not afraid to take risks and are continually searching for new and innovative solutions while exploring various sectors. It is essential to acknowledge, that without the constant need to explore and educate youth entrepreneurs, the state of entrepreneurship in this country would not be at the level that it is today.Spottmedia had conducted a 1030-minute interview, and asked a few questions about the inception of the startup business, the reason behind its existence, what differentiates its services offered in comparison to its direct competitors, what makes the business unique and how Covid-19 has impacted the business on a linear scale.Rucien Petersen, managing director of Spottmedia, who conducted these interviews, also allowed the young entrepreneurs to ask any marketing-related questions specific to their business. The primary goal of this initiative was to empower, support, and add value through assisting youth-owned businesses.Find out from the young entrepreneurs below:
Ever wondered how you could buy or sell a pre-owned mobile phone in a trusted environment and not have to use unsafe classified sites or social media? Flip Phone just might be the answer you've been looking for.

Conor Copas

Can you tell us a bit about Flip Phone?

When, how and why did you get started?

Following on from that came the idea to capture the second-hand phone market which was relatively untouched and a grey area especially when it came to being secure, transparent and ethical.

What is the core function of Flip Phone?

What are some of the obstacles you've had to overcome since starting out?

What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs?

If youve got a good idea, run with it. Dont wait for it to be perfect, it will never be. Simply get a viable product or service out there and take it step-by-step.

What has been your proudest achievement thus far?

What does the future of entrepreneurship look like to you?

What do you think is the importance of startup accelerator/incubator programmes?

What would you like to see changed in the South African startup landscape?

What do you believe are the traits an entrepreneur needs in order to succeed?

Tell us about your biggest struggles as an entrepreneur, as well as some major highlights.

Why would you encourage someone to become an entrepreneur?

Where would you like to see Flip Phone in the next 12 months?

South African-born Conor Copas started his career at Groupon and moved on as a founding member of Hyperli. In May 2020 he made the jump to grow Flip phone on a full-time basis after starting up in 2018.Copas shares the journey of the pre-owned mobile phone landscape that is Flip Phone ...Flip Phone is an online service that allows you to easily buy a certified pre-owned cellphone, or sell your existing pre-loved or new phone. Our friendly team will assist you every step of the way to make either buying or selling your phone as easy as possible.With our pioneering price promise and use of instant EFTs, we changed the landscape when it comes to selling your phone. No longer do you have to meet untrusted third parties from classified sites or social media, or wait up to a week while someone in an office 'inspects' your phone (just to give you a lowball offer!)If you're looking for a great deal, Flip Phone has you covered too. We stock a wide range of refurbished CPO and brand new Apple and Samsung devices, at unbeatable prices. Whilst we're based in Cape Town, we've got a national footprint thanks to our courier partners. Together we'll get your package from one side of the country to the other overnight (or even on the same day, if you're in Cape Town)Over the years in e-commerce and understanding the local online landscape, I started exploring ideas behind how to use tech to bring archaic or non-existing services into the present and how to fast track their growth. I originally wanted to build out a platform that catered to selling vehicles hassle-free and safely but the input costs and capital required were exorbitant.I luckily had great mentors who, after raising the car selling dilemma with, suggested mobile phones.With the rising US Dollar to the Rand, the price of tech was skyrocketing and this opened the doors to a promising used/ pre-owned cell phone market. The decision was made early on to be a tech company that buys and sells phones compared to the existing players in the market that sold and bought phones using tech. A subtle but important distinction!We are a tech company that buys and sells new and used Apple and Samsung smartphones.There were many obstacles and lessons learnt when we started out. Balancing supply and demand on the platform at first was one of the main obstacles. Another is being self-funded - weve had to box smart and maintain lean startup principles and it has served us well so far, even with the large capital requirements!With the current pandemic and lockdown in place, more and more consumers are heading online to satisfy their needs. Its an uncertain time and there is no sign of when life will be back to normal, so if you are in the fortunate position where you have extra time on your hands, put it to good use.Its not a single achievement per se, but rather the reviews and feedback we get from our customers. When we started, we set out to do customer service right - something thats neglected by far too many businesses. Its not always about getting things right on the first go (that certainly helps!) but how you handle yourself when things go wrong.The future of entrepreneurship is extremely bright. Today, tech entrepreneurs have access to great tools and services. With an ever-increasing online market for sales, and an online market for suppliers at the same time. As companies reshape themselves to adapt to Covid-19, one small positive is the spike in online shopping and the adoption of users who otherwise would not be looking online but towards brick and mortar.Accelerators are important for startups as they provide access to mentors and are a source of healthy competition. Mentors can bring a different perspective and by tackling their questions your solution will generally be more robust to the market. The healthy competition between startups on the program helps you do more faster and accelerate your business - a rising tide lifts all ships.Definitely a reduction in the amount of red tape surrounding starting and running companies! At first, it can be daunting to even get started, and the number of people who have ideas but end up not pursuing them is staggering. Nothing quite beats widening the top of the funnel so to speak.Perseverance. Everything else stems from that.Running an online business, there are certain areas you need to excel in, the main one being tech. Flip Phone is fortunate enough to have a great team and more importantly software developers. This is evident by the seamless customer journey and experience on the site.The second area to highlight is logistics. Its vital to partner with the right courier company. Many lessons have been learnt since our inception and being partnered with a poor logistics company can have a detrimental impact on your business. Highlights are definitely going live with the site in 2018. Seeing Flip Phone gain traction, filling the gap for second-hand tech is another highlight and rewarding feeling.A sense of accomplishment and ownership is very rewarding. Seeing the results and addressing a need in the market is one thing but also spending a lot of time on someone else's dream and helping them to the top, is counterproductive. Put in the work and reap the rewards.Weve got a great team behind Flip Phone and we know where we are heading and what we want to achieve. The last 2 years have given us key insight into what South Africans look for in a brand and service and on that point, we hope to find out what the rest of sub-Saharan Africa looks for too!
Every year, Youth Month presents an opportunity to transform South Africa's image as a global leader in the fight against poverty and inequality and as an advocate for empowering youth. But, there is the temptation to see what happened on 16 June 1976 as a memory disconnected from our reality, causing us to reminisce without changing our actions...
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- GAC NIO New Energy Automotive CO., (GAC NIO) is working with NIO, one of its parent companies, to research and develop a new vehicle platform based on level 4 autonomous driving technologies, Liao Bing, CEO of GAC NIO, told the local media outlet Yicai last week.

Building such a platform will involve a tremendous cost which is much burdensome to whether GAC NIO or NIO. Thus, we are discussing an introduction of more companies, said Mr. Liao.



(HYCAN 007, photo source: HYCAN's WeChat account)



Founded on April 2018, GAC NIO has a registered capital of 500 million yuan ($70,637,430), which is 45% contributed by GAC Group and 45% subscribed by NIO. It is defined as a joint venture co-created by the two automakers based on the idea of integrating their advantageous resources, absorbing advanced manufacturing experience, applying Internet thinking, as well as focusing on product R&D, marketing and relevant services.

With the asset-light strategy as a gateway, GAC NIO is able to cope with market challenges more flexibly and effectively, Zeng Qinghong, chairman of GAC Group, said in May when receiving a local interview, highlighting the user-centric idea, it invites consumers to join the development of vehicles and spin-off products.

GAC Group attaches more importance to the exploration of Internet and autonomous driving technologies and the business model innovation than to sales increase, while NIO seeks to spread R&D costs by teaming up with GAC, a person close to GAC NIO spoke of why GAC NIO was founded.

HYCAN, the BEV brand launched by GAC NIO, put its first mass-produced model HYCAN 007, onto the market on April 10, and formally kicked off the delivery on May 20. The all-electric SUV measures 4,879mm long, 1,937mm wide and 1,680mm tall, and its wheelbase spans 2,919mm, similarly sized to the GAC NE's Aion LX.

According to Liao Bing, HYCAN has been authorized to use some of NIO's technologies and it is partnering with NIO on R&D. Besides, GAC NIO also draws expertise and resources in developing service networks from NIO, which greatly touts its user experience centers and NIO Power.

We aim to deliver 5,000 to 10,000 vehicles this year, Liao Bin told the local media. This is truly an ambitious goal for a startup. As the most high-profile EV startup in China, NIO handed over a total of 42,342 new vehicles as of May 2020.
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The Mississippi state legislature voted on Sunday to replace its state flag, the last in the nation to display the Confederate battle emblem. The removal of the flag marks the latest Confederate symbol to topple in the weeks following George Floyd's death as activists have called for a reexamination of the racism that exists in all corners of society.

The bill passed by a vote of 91-23 in the House and 37-14 in the Senate.

The bill now goes to the desk of Governor Tate Reeves, who on Saturday morning said he would sign the legislation into law, reversing resistance to a legislature-led change to the flag. Mississippians will vote on a replacement flag in the November election. According to the legislation, the current flag design cannot be an option.

"I would guess a lot of you don't even see that flag in the corner right there," said Mississippi state Representative Ed Blackmon, who is black, during public comment on Saturday. "There are some of us who notice it every time we walk in here, and it's not a good feeling."
Around $24 billion of Venezuelan public money has been looted, and the Trump administration has used at least $601 million of it to construct a militarized wall on the US-Mexico border.

By Ben Norton

Since the United States initiated a coup attempt against Venezuelas elected leftist government in January 2019, an estimated $24 billion worth of Venezuelan public assets have been stolen by Washington and member states of the European Union.

President Donald Trumps administration has used at least $601 million of that looted Venezuelan money to fund construction of its border wall with Mexico, according to government documents first reviewed by Univision.

During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump insisted countless times that he would make Mexico pay to build a gargantuan wall covering all of the roughly 2,000 miles (3,145 kilometers) of its northern border.

Unable to force the country to fund his $18 billion pet project, which has already cost an estimated $30 million per mile in southern Texas, Trump has turned to other questionable sources of financing.

Univision reviewed US congressional records and court documents and found that the Trump administration tapped into $601 million of the Treasury Departments forfeiture fund to supplement the wall construction.

The United States has seized at least $1 billion of Venezuelan public funds that Washington in turn claimed were supposedly being stolen by government officials, according to Univision. This is in addition to the billions more worth of Venezuelan state assets that have been illegally taken over by the Trump administration, the most important of which is Caracas crown jewel, the oil refinery Citgo.

None of that money has been returned to the Venezuelan people, Univision reported. Instead, most of the money is being collected by the U.S. Justice and Treasury Departments and held in special forfeiture funds used mostly to fund law enforcement investigations.

Right-wing opposition upset Trump didnt give Guaido gang all stolen Venezuelan money

The Trump corruption scandal has been almost entirely ignored by mainstream corporate media outlets. Univision buried its own scoop deep in a report that advanced the talking points of Venezuelas US-backed right-wing opposition and reffered to the elected government of President Nicolas Maduro as a widely repudiated regime.

Univision, the largest corporate media network in the United States that focuses on Latino issues, is owned by billionaire-controlled private equity firms, one of the most prominent of whom is the Israeli-American oligarch Haim Saban.

Based in Miami, the de facto capital of the Latin American right, this massive media conglomerate acts as a mouthpiece for conservative forces and corporate interests across Central and South America.

The Univision article, titled Legal battle over Venezuelas looted billions heats up, refers to unelected US-appointed coup leader Juan Guaido as the leader of the countrys supposed interim government.

Univision also absolved the US and European countries of stealing billions of dollars of Venezuelan public money, justifying the theft with allegations of Venezuelan government corruption.

However, the fact that the report saw the light of day reflects a growing schism between supporters of the Venezuelan opposition and their imperial patrons in Washington. Univision was clearly upset that the Trump administration had not given the self-declared Guaido government the money that it stole from Caracas.

However, when it comes to who gets to keep the money from those looted assets, the U.S. appears unwilling to relinquish the cash, Univision wrote in frustration.

The Guaido gangs blatant corruption

What Univision did not mention in the report was that the Juan Guaido coup administration had already been exposed for numerous acts of corruption.

Top Guaido operatives spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of supposed humanitarian aid money on fancy hotels, nightclubs, dinners, and clothes during a US-led coup attempt on the Colombia-Venezuela border in February 2019.

The Grayzones Anya Parampil also exposed how Guaido allies oversaw a scam to liquidate Citgo, Venezuelas most valuable foreign asset, essentially selling it off to North American corporations.

As for the billions of dollars of Venezuelan public assets stolen by Western governments, there is no sign of that money ever being returned to the Venezuelan people.

In his new book The Room Where It Happened, former Trump administration national security advisor John Bolton boasted that the British government was delighted to cooperate on steps they could take to assist in Washingtons coup efforts, for example freezing Venezuelan gold deposits in the Bank of England, so the regime could not sell the gold to keep itself going.

The Bank of England still holds approximately $1 billion of gold that it stole from the Venezuelan government, and has refused to give it back.

According to Trump's former National Security Advisor, UK's Foreign Minister was happy to cooperate with the US in applying pressure to Venezuela by freezing our gold deposits in the Bank of England. Evidence showing Venezuela is being illegally robbed keeps surfacing. pic.twitter.com/QoX7rfHFB8  Jorge Arreaza M (@jaarreaza) June 20, 2020

Ben Norton is a journalist, writer, and filmmaker. He is the assistant editor of The Grayzone, and the producer of the Moderate Rebels podcast, which he co-hosts with editor Max Blumenthal. His website is BenNorton.com and he tweets at @BenjaminNorton. bennorton.com
Butler County, PA  In the land of the free, there are two sets of justice systems  one for all those connected to that system, and one for everyone else. Time after time, weve seen police officers and politicians alike accused of terrible crimes and they escape with little to no jail. As the following case illustrates, even family members of the connected class are extended this privilege and escape accountability for even the most heinous of crimes.

John Paul Doerr III, 34, pleaded guilty to exploiting children through possessing and distributing a massive amount of child pornography  some of which involved infants. He was facing upwards of 250 years in a cage for the whopping 45 felony counts against him.

However, Doerr happens to be the son of Butler Countys top judge, Thomas Doerr. So, instead of going to jail for the rest of his life, as he should have, Doerr will not go to jail at all. Instead this child predator was sentenced to five years probation, six months house arrest and 15 years on the Megans Law registry. According to the sentencing judge, Timothy Creany, the house arrest will be lifted if Doerr gets a job.

Naturally, this special privilege given to a child predator made people upset. As WPXI reported, dozens of people protested Doerrs sentencing outside the Butler County Courthouse on Friday, saying they believe that father-son relationship had a lot to do with the lenient sentence.

Its not fair. He (could have) gotten 252 years behind bars, (but) instead he got probation and house arrest, said Madison Morgan, a demonstrator. Its because of who his father is.

According to the report:

Doerr was initially arrested after confessing that he downloaded multiple videos, including one with a child as young as 1-2 years old. Investigators tracked him down using the IP address assigned to his computer. Butler County officials told Channel 11 there was no wrongdoing in the case. The district attorney said he immediately handed Doerrs case over to the attorney generals office and that no local judge heard the case. Authorities brought in an outside judge and prosecutor. That prosecutor said this is a standard sentence, typical for these types of cases.

Though prosecutors claimed he received equal treatment under the law, protesters pointed out that at the time of his arrest, Doerrs mugshot wasnt even printed, which is standard for all arrests.

It seems his special privilege started from the get go and now an admitted child predator is free to strike again.

As TFTP reported, this privilege is also extended to the children of police officers. Last year, a 23-year-old man in Indiana pleaded guilty to molesting a 13-year-old foster child living with his family, and was sentenced to just three years of house arrest.

Andrew Taylor is the son of Tim Taylor, the police chief in his hometown of Berne, Indiana. Taylor asked the young girl who had been placed with his family to perform oral sex on him and she agreed in October. He then told his father about what he did and turned himself in, according to court documents. Like Doerr, instead of going to jail, he flexed his connections. An injustice indeed.
Brown says first special session last week sets the stage for second session to fix budget, fight COVID- 19
The defining issue of our Council Presidency was the question of how we can work together to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and what lessons we can learn from it. For example, digital learning has taken on a whole new level of importance in light of the pandemic. We should make every effort to use this momentum to modernise our education systems. In this context, I believe it was particularly important that we focused our attention on excellent advanced VET in Europe. New European research cooperation has also proved indispensable. Despite the global challenges we are currently facing, we took important steps and worked together with our European partners to put the European Research Area (ERA) on a new footing and to launch promising initiatives in the ERA. Anja Karliczek

The coronavirus pandemic and the resulting crisis have changed our lives fundamentally. In addition, we are faced with major societal and economic transformation processes driven by both technological change and the fight against climate change. The crisis has shown us how important a united and strong Europe is for all of us.

With its Council Presidency, Germany set an important course that will enable Europe to emerge from this crisis stronger than before and better equipped to face future crises. The BMBF played a key role in working towards these objectives. Education, research and innovation are in the spotlight now more than ever. They facilitate progress. And they must be able to provide a better, more agile and rapid response to new challenges to stimulate the change, creativity and enthusiasm that will allow citizens to live a safe, future-proof and better life.

Which measures did we take?

German EU Council Presidency 2020  BMBF

Milestones for education, research and innovation in the EU

We strengthened VET that supports individual development and lifelong learning. This will help to safeguard jobs and maintain economic competitiveness. The Osnabruck Declaration and the Council Recommendation on vocational education and training served to set the right course for the future. Both documents are aimed at promoting the equivalence of academic and vocational education in particular. Special focus was placed on digital education as part of a cultural change to create the conditions for strengthening digital skills in Europe. The political agreement on the EU programme Erasmus+ and the Council conclusions on digital education provided an important foundation for this. During this process, our actions were constantly guided by our shared foundation of European values and freedom of expression  particularly in educational institutions.

Liberal values also played an essential role in the context of the European Research Area (ERA). By signing the Bonn Declaration in October 2020, the EU member states sent out a strong signal in support of freedom of scientific research in Europe. The Council conclusions on the European Research Area provided new and important impetus for improving and modernising European research and innovation cooperation. The specific objectives and joint initiatives on topics such as green hydrogen and cancer research highlight the added value of the ERA.

During the last days of the Council Presidency, an agreement was reached between the EU institutions on Horizon Europe, the new Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, as well as on the Euratom Research and Training programme and the ITER nuclear fusion reactor. This will allow the programmes to start as scheduled and a large number of research and innovation projects will now be able to receive EU funding over the next seven years.

Close cooperation with Portugal and Slovenia

The Council presidency rotates every six months among the EUs member states.

When Germanys Presidency of the Council of the EU finished at the end of 2020, Portugal took over in the first half of 2021 and will be followed by Slovenia. Together, these three countries make up what is known as a trio presidency. The three countries will reinforce the trio presidency model in the fields of education, research and innovation by following a joint roadmap that extends over 18 months.

Joint initiatives include the citizen science campaign Plastic Pirates  Go Europe! which was launched by the trio and encourages the involvement of young people across Europe. School children from Germany, Portugal and Slovenia are all called upon to gather data on plastic waste which is then analysed by scientists from these three countries. This will provide information about the state of our rivers while at the same time contributing to environmental education. It is the first time that there has been an overarching joint trio activity of this kind. The European Commission has confirmed that it will support the Europe-wide rollout of the initiative.

Germany will also work closely with its trio partners on the future of the European Education Area and the European Research Area in 2021.

Summary of events during Germanys Council Presidency

Minister Anja Karliczek chaired the following meetings of EU education and research ministers in the second half of 2020:

In addition, the following expert conferences were held, thus strengthening the European research and education community. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the events were held as virtual conferences.

Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek signs the Bonn Declaration on Freedom of Scientific Research during the Ministerial Conference on the European Research Area on 20 October 2020 in Bonn.  BMBF/Rickel EU education ministers met with European social partners and the European Commission in Osnabruck on 16  17 September 2020 to discuss the Osnabruck Declaration for an innovative, powerful and future-proof vocational education and training in Europe.  BMBF/Hans-Joachim Rickel Federal Research Minister Karliczek hosting the informal meeting of research ministers on 21 July 2020.  BMBF/Hans-Joachim Rickel Pupils of the Geschwister-Scholl-Gymnasiums in Nossen, Germany doing a sampling in and along the river Freiberger Mulde as part of the citizen science project Plastic Pirates  Go Europe!   BMBF/Gesine Born

Education and research policy in Europe

Education and research are essential elements of European cooperation which have proven successful over many decades. European exchange not only helps to develop our societies further, improve individual conditions for self-determination and support Europe's economic competitiveness. It also helps to ensure long-standing peace in Europe. Even if borders have had to be closed during the coronavirus crisis, it is imperative that they should not become barriers to us working together to overcome challenges, exchanging ideas and sharing resources in order to tackle the challenges of the future.


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SETsquared Bristol has been awarded Hottest Accelerator in Europe at The Europas 2020 in recognition of its work to support over 250 start-ups.

The University of Bristol led incubator, based at Engine Shed, supports the growth of technology-based businesses, helping them move from initial ideas into commercial viability.

It fought off stiff competition to win the title, beating 11 companies in the long list including Founders Factory and Entrepreneur First.

The Europas is the only independent awards to recognise the European tech startup scene. Set up by online publisher TechCrunch in 2009, it has spotted some of Europe's most innovative and successful startups including Spotify, TransferWise, SoundCloud and Babylon Health.

Steve Edwards, SETsquared Bristol Centre Director, said: "Bristol is now rightfully recognised on a par with other big tech areas like London, and this is because of its culture and expertise, from high-tech businesses and incubators, to the student, academic and research talent emerging from the University of Bristol and beyond."

Mike Butcher, TechCrunch Editor, said: "Regional player SETsquared Bristol has helped propel some of the UK's leading startups to success, including Immersive Labs and Ultraleap, to make the South West a hot area for tech."

The title of Hottest Accelerator in Europe continues SETsquared Bristol's ongoing success, having maintained its world-leading position of global number one university business incubator by UBI Global since 2015 as part of the SETsquared Partnership.

With bespoke training programmes, unrivalled access to a network of mentors, alumni, investors and corporate partners, and the knowledge base of the University of Bristol, SETsquared Bristol has supported over 250 start-ups to date, helping them raise more than 500 million of investment.

In the last year alone, its members raised a record 58 million turnover and created 240 new jobs in the city. Its commitment to supporting tech businesses from all backgrounds and communities has resulted in 27 per cent of its members' founders/CEOs being women, and 16 per cent of its members founders people of colour.

Bristol has recently been recognised by two leading reports for its tech and startup scenes. Tech Nation 2020 Report cited Bristol as the third top UK city for tech investment, and 8th top European city for emerging tech investment. StartUp Blink named Bristol as the best city in the UK outside of London for startups, overtaking Manchester for the accolade. The city also moved up 57 places globally to be named 68th best in the world.
Yeah, she's definitely been trained on how to use that thing. (Image via video still)

Mark and Patricia McCloskey committed a crime when they ran out of their McMansion in St. Louis, Missouri, and pointed guns at passing BLM protesters  but don't expect them to be arrested or charged.

The well-to-do white gun-toters live in the tony Central West End gated community, and were ever so displeased this weekend to see a Black Lives Matter processional on its way to Mayor Lyda Krewson's house to demand her resignation. So, they hopped off the couch and ran outside, threatening the people  who clearly had no intention of going anywhere near their home.

A couple has come out of their house and is pointing guns at protesters in their neighborhood #StLouis #lydakrewson pic.twitter.com/ZJ8a553PAU  Daniel Shular (@xshularx) June 29, 2020

This gruesome twosome are personal injury lawyers. If you wanna visit their site, note that like themselves  it is not secure.

Via The Riverfront Times:

The couple, personal injury attorneys Mark and Patricia McCloskey, shouted at marchers who seemed to be just passing through the gated community.



A video recorded by freelance photographer Theo Welling for the Riverfront Times shows Mark, dressed in a pastel pink polo shirt and khakis, brandishing a rifle with an extended clip while Patricia, wearing black-and-white-striped top with capri pants, casually holds a small handgun.



The protesters were walking to Krewson's house for a demonstration, part of the backlash the mayor is facing for broadcasting on Facebook Live the names and addresses of advocates for defunding the police department.



Multiple people marching tonight filmed the scene in front of the McCloskeys, and various angles show the couple sweeping their weapons in the direction of protesters who were standing on the sidewalk or walking past.

Jeez, the woman is on a board that reviews the ethics of other lawyers. Really?!

The reason for the protest was absolutely valid  the Mayor of St. Louis read the names and addresses of people calling for police reform on Facebook live, an appalling abuse of her office. Instead of meeting with protesters, she doxxed them. She at first stubbornly refused to apologize, even as the ACLU condemned her. Finally, she issued a tepid apology  and a vow not to step down:
James (R) & Alex (L)  I dude! (Image via Instagram)

GREG IN HOLLYWOOD: Watch ABC News foreign correspondent James Longman's proposal to his boyfriend Alex while Alex's mom secretly films. Cute.

True! Vote Collins out, Maine! (Image via Twitter)

NYT: SCOTUS has voted 5-4 to strike down a Louisiana law that would have left the entire state with just one abortion clinic. Kavanaugh  who Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine assured us wouldn't toss abortion rights  voted to toss abortion rights. This should be the nail in the coffin of her miserable career.

Smells like Van Jones helped Kushner craft this exec order, so he touts it. 'You can't polish this turd,' he said of Trump's delinquency, yet here he is with boot black & rag. As much as Fauci explains the science, Trump refuses to wear a mask. Progress comes when he is removed. https://t.co/RfzSHv0x0o  Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) June 17, 2020

DAILY BEAST: Van Jones is a horrible, horrible traitor  he apparently secretly helped Trump craft his do-nothing police bill, then praised it at his job on CNN without acknowledging he was behind it. He's sucking up to Kimye and the Kushners. How could this ex-Obama aide have fallen so far?

TIKTOK: Yes! Nikki Blonsky is now out and proud! I met the star of the movie version of the musical Hairspray back in the day at a screening, and she was a delight.

KENNETH IN THE (212): You've heard of knights in white satin? Well, here's guys in green Speedos.

And it benefits LGBTQ causes! (Image by Dani Kaplan)

TIME OUT: Hate-free chicken sandwiches in Chicago!

KTLA: Taco joint in California forced to close because too many patrons get snippy when asked to wear masks. Related: COVID-19 cases in that state are spiking again (including in low-income areas), erasing its early gains. Only a handful of U.S. states have COVID-19 somewhat under control, including my home base of New York.

GR8ERDAYS: RIP Linda Cristal, the glamorous star of TV's The High Chaparral.

FACEBOOK: Tupelo, Mississippi, Mayor Jason Shelton shuts down COVID-19 conspiracy theories:

Please listen to our health care professionals regarding covid-19. My job as mayor is do to my best to keep our... Posted by Jason Shelton on Friday, June 26, 2020

TWITTER: Scott Adams, the 63-year-old creator of Dilbert, is moaning that he lost his UPN show for being white. In 2006, he said it was because nobody watched UPN and his show had endured a time-slot change. But now, it's race-based. Even though other shows canceled by UPN the same year his show was canceled starred black people. But keep being a MAGA idiot, Scott.

Dilbert = problematic (GIF via GIPHY)

NYT: RIP Charles Webb, the author of the novel The Graduate. Thirty-three years ago this month, my graduation-from-high-school open house (that's what we called them in Michigan) was Graduate-themed, in spite of the lack of an older woman (or man) on my horizon, and in spite of the novel's bleak message:



Here I am, friendship bracelet and all! (Images via Matthew Rettenmund)

ONLYFANS: My OnlyFans is cheap, my blog is free, and subscribing to my OnlyFans, you'll get some of my photography  and a promise of no selfies!

You can set your jock by it! (Image by Matthew Rettenmund)
The Brunswick County Board of Supervisors will receive public comment on the Confederte statue located on Courhouse Sqare in Lawrenceville on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of Brunswick High School. Inscribed on the monument are the words: In memory of the Confederate Heroes of Brunswick County, 1861  1865, Love Makes Memory Eternal. The monument is surrounded by a wrought iron fence. (Bobby Conner photo)
Employees of Mother's Hemp Farms plant hemp seedlings just west of Powell. It was the first planting of commercial hemp in the Powell area. The plants are expected to be harvested in September.

Photo by Mark Davis, Powell Tribune
Manitoba beekeepers have been stung by the global pandemic as they face difficulties this year bringing in bees and migrant workers.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/6/2020 (356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Manitoba beekeepers have been stung by the global pandemic as they face difficulties this year bringing in bees and migrant workers.

"We were a little bit disrupted by COVID, what was going on with that because of our employees not being able to come in," said Mark Friesen, chair of the Manitoba Beekeepers Association.

SUBMITTED Mark Friesen, chair of the Manitoba Beekeepers' Association, says COVID-19 has affected many beekeepers' operations.

"A lot of beekeepers, like the fruit growers and vegetable growers, use foreign labour, temporary foreign workers."

The pandemic has impacted that ability to bring those workers into Canada in recent months.

"It disproportionately affects those particular beekeepers who havent got their temporary foreign workers yet, he said, adding while many got all their workers in, other got none.

For those beekeepers who were unable to bring in workers this year, its because flights were cut off early from the Philippines due to regulations because it is an Asian country, Friesen said.

"The fact that, I think, the majority of beekeepers bring in their people from Nicaragua that that was a special case where we were able to charter a flight and accommodate the largest proportion of beekeepers," he said, adding they were able to charter two flights in total.

"Thats what brought in about 80 per cent of our workers," Friesen said.

Mexico had stopped sending temporary foreign workers to Canada, but recently said it will resume sending farm workers to Canada after securing promises for more inspections and oversight to curb outbreaks of COVID-19.

At least two Mexican men have died and hundreds more have fallen ill with COVID-19 in recent weeks on farms across the country, including in Manitoba.

Friesen, who has a bee farm near Morden, said he employs one foreign worker from Belize, but much larger operations can employ 20 or 30 to assist with the operations. Most will employ four or five workers.

Manitoba generally brings in around 80 foreign temporary workers to work on the bee farms during the summer, he said, and they do "absolutely everything."

"Theres a wide range of abilities and a wide range of jobs that are required at any particular beekeeping outfit."

The province has about 500 beekeepers, but only 200 commercial operations with 50 or more hives.

Beekeepers also had trouble bringing in their queens from places such as Chile, New Zealand, and Australia earlier this year, when flights were grounded as the global pandemic hit, Friesen said.

The bees are brought in to replace winter bee losses.

That has meant many beekeepers are now running at reduced capacity, Friesen said.

"You have less dairy cows, you make less dairy," he said, and that applies to honey production as well.

Friesen said consumers shouldnt see a big difference in honey supplies. However, prices could rise a bit.

"Thats to be expected, because were in unprecedented times, anyway."

Despite the hardships this year, Friesen doubts Manitoba beekeepers will shut down their operations as a result.

"If you decide to quit your business and do an auction sale, youre going to sell at a significant loss if the industrys in retraction," he said, "so most people would try to hang on a little longer."

 brobertson@brandonsun.com, with files from The Canadian Press
On Sunday evening, unconfirmed reports on social media indicate that a tornado touched down in the Westman region near Rapid City.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/6/2020 (356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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On Sunday evening, unconfirmed reports on social media indicate that a tornado touched down in the Westman region near Rapid City.

At 5:11 p.m., Twitter user Brock Tropea, a self-described "fancy weather nerd and tornado chaser," wrote that a tornado touched down two or three times near Rapid City earlier that day.

At 5:52 p.m., Twitter user Oakhurst_WX ALERT CENTER, wrote that reports from the Rapid City area indicate that a tornado hit a home and caused damage to it, even though nobody was inside of the house at the time.

TIM SMITH/THE BRANDON SUN A tree lays on the ground at the Brandon Municipal Cemetery on Sunday evening during a break in the storm that hit Westman.

While these reports have yet to be confirmed by Environment Canada, the federal agency did issue a tornado warning for the Westman area around 3:27 p.m. Sunday.

As of 6:38 p.m. Sunday, Environment Canada meteorologists were still tracking a dangerous thunderstorm capable of producing very strong wind gusts, nickel- to ping pong ball-size hail and flooding rain.

The City of Brandon said on Twitter Sunday evening that public works emergencies can be directed to 204-729-2285.

The Sun will update this story as more information becomes available.

Rapid City is located roughly 40 kilometres north of Brandon.

 The Brandon Sun
Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 49F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 49F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow

Mostly sunny skies. High 78F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
Logo CRTV Archives

Anglophones are crying foul following Fridays appointments at the Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV.

Many are of the informed opinion that the decisions signed by CRTVs Board Chair, Rene Emmanuel Sadi at the end of the June 26, 2020Ordinary Session of the Board of Directors kept Anglophones away from influential positions at the corporation.

CRTV is a crazy house. Everyone is shocked by the appointments. Some people who never come to work, like those who hardly go on air, were catapulted to higher portfolios. Anglophones who have been burning the midnight oil were rather sidelined, said a CRTV staff told Cameroon-Info.Net, but did not want to be named for fear of reprisals.

Although those contacted denied commenting on record for fear of the unknown, Cameroon-Info.Net understands that Anglophones were carefully sidelined from the positions that matter at the corporation.

Going by the appointments read over CRTV Friday night, Dr. George Ewane was named Central Director for Radio while Chia Theophilus is new Central Technical Director.

These are more of ceremonial positions, just like the position of Deputy General Manager. It is true that Dr. Ewane is Central Director for Radio but his role is only to oversee work. It is ceremonial because the General Manager can decide to work directly with any operational director without consulting him, said someone familiar with the goings-on at the national broadcaster.

Cameroon-Info.Net understands that operational directors at CRTV are those who head departments with staff answerable to them and with direct bearing on content. Such departments include news, programmes, technical affairs, finance, human resources and CRTV Marketing and Communication Agency (CMCA).

None of these juicy portfolios are occupied by an Anglophone. If you are not an operational director, and you do not have personal relations with the General Manager, then you are a ceremonial director, a disgruntled CRTV member of staff said.

Anglophones at CRTV bemoan the fact that two of theirs who occupied operational portfolios were removed and sent to peripheral positions  offices that do not even exist on the organizational chart of the corporation.

We had two Anglophones who were operational directors. Wain Paul Ngam as Director of Programmes Radio was removed and rather appointed Technical Adviser No. 3 to the General Manager  a post that does not even exist on the organigramme. Valery Dikos Oumarou is now Director of Programmes Radio, our source at CRTV said. Tehwui Lambiv was Director of Productions which covers Radio and TV. He was replaced with Josephine Ndagnou.

According to the appointments, Tehwui Lambiv is new Mediator at CRTV. It is said that the Mediator at CRTV is a peripheral position  someone who serves as liaison between the corporation and the public. The Mediator also manages the social climate within the establishment.

Quizzed if the ceremonial positions reserved for Anglophones is because there is only one Anglophone in the CRTV Board of Directors, some journalists at the state-run broadcaster responded in the negative.

They see us as a tribe. They will tell you that they appointed one Bassa, one Beti, One Bamileke and one Anglophone, a staffer quipped.

With the uneasy social climate created by Fridays appointments, Tehwui Lambiv also has a lot to handle when he assumes the office of Mediator.

It is an open secret that an Anglophone has never been General Manager of the CRTV, 57 years since 1963 when the first English language broadcasters were recruited into Radio Cameroon Yaounde, following the Reunification in 1961.
European Union Archives

With 12,592 known cases of COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel coronavirus, Cameroon will not benefit from the reopening of the European Union external borders, which is expected to happen by the beginning of July.

Out of the number of known COVID-19 cases in the central African country, 10,100 have recovered while 313 have died. For this reason, Cameroon is excluded from the list of 54 countries whose citizens can travel to the EU when external borders reopen.

Euronews reports that EU officials failed to agree on a common list of the countries that would definitely be banned from entering the block upon the border reopening but managed to create a list of the countries with a better epidemiological situation, the citizens of which will be able to enter Europe from Wednesday.

The same sources have also confirmed that citizens of Brazil, Qatar, the US and Russia will only be able to enter Europe at a later date when the epidemiological situation in these countries improves, schengenvisainfo news reports.

The European Union has an internal process to determine from which countries it would be safe to accept travellers, EU Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said last Thursday, adding that its decisions are based on health criteria.

On June 11, the Commission presented its recommendation on the reopening of internal Schengen borders on June 15, so that Europeans can travel within the borderless area freely, just as they did pre-pandemic.

At the same time, the Commission recommended that the Member States should start allowing third-country nationals to enter the EU starting from July 1, gradually and partially, based on the epidemiological situation in each third-country.

The Commission recommended the following objective criteria for the Member States, when drafting the list of countries, the citizens of which may visit the EU after July 1: epidemiological situation and coronavirus response in that country, the ability to apply containment measures during travel, an whether or not that country has lifted travel restrictions towards the EU.

Based on these conditions, the Commission recommended that the nationals of the six Western Balkan countries should be the first to benefit from the abolishment of travel restrictions, all of which are in the above list.

Only twelve African countries are among the list of 54 countries.
Australian financial institutions with commercial links to collapsed German fintech Wirecard insist they will not be affected by the firms demise due to what auditors have described as a sophisticated global fraud.

Boutique lenders ME Bank and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank as well as big four major Westpac all confirmed they used Wirecard's services when contacted by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. However, each insisted they and their customers were not exposed to operational risks as a result of the German firm's collapse.

Australian banks say Wirecard links will not impact customers. Credit:Bloomberg

Wirecard filed for insolvency at a Munich court last week, owing creditors almost US$4 billion ($5.8 billion) after its chief executive Markus Braun was forced to admit $US2.1 billion of cash probably did not exist. "There are clear indications that this was an elaborate and sophisticated fraud involving multiple parties around the world," auditing firm EY said in a statement, after refusing to sign off on the company's 2019 accounts.

ME Bank confirmed the use of software owned by Wirecard, Cadencie  a digital payments provider that's online promotion says it delivers digital card management services including customer services, authorisation, clearing and billing.
National Australia Bank has picked a new head for its flagship business bank, hiring Andrew Irvine from Canada's Bank of Montreal, as chief executive Ross McEwan moves closer to finalising his executive team.

NAB on Monday highlighted Mr Irvine's technology experience as it announced he had been appointed to run its largest division.

NAB's new group executive for business and private banking, Andrew Irvine.

"Andrew is an experienced banker and talented leader who will play a crucial role focused on NABs strategic pillars of delivering for customers and colleagues," Mr McEwan said.

"We have an ambition to grow our market-leading business bank by helping our customers grow. Andrews deep understanding of customers developed over a career in banking and his leadership in using data, insights and technology to meet their needs will be important to achieving this ambition."
Chesapeake Energy, the archetype for America's extraordinary shale-gas fortunes, filed for bankruptcy, becoming one of the biggest victims of a spectacular collapse in energy demand from the virus-induced global lockdown.

The company filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in US Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Texas.

Even before the coronavirus, the company had struggled for years with a heavy debt load accumulated during an earlier period of aggressive expansion. Credit:Bloomberg

The company also entered into an agreement to eliminate about $US7 billion ($10.2 billion) in debt and secure $US925 million in debtor-in-possession financing, Chesapeake said in a statement.

"We are fundamentally resetting Chesapeake's capital structure and business to address our legacy financial weaknesses and capitalise on our substantial operational strengths," Chief Executive Officer Doug Lawler said in the statement. \
2020-06-29 - 5:09 p

Bahrain Mirror: Representative Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, expressed his "continued concern" over Loujain Hathloul's treatment in a letter sent to Saudi Arabia's US ambassador, Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud.

"The continued detention of Ms. Al-Hathloul, amidst a global pandemic that has taken the lives of many Saudis and Americans alike, is deeply alarming and in light of conditions during this pandemic, also dangerous," Schiff said.

"Her trial has been repeatedly delayed without explanation, nor has the evidence of her supposed crimes been described," Schiff wrote his letter. "She has been held for long periods without contact with her family, and she has reportedly been subjected to physical and mental torture while in prison, as well as threats of rape and murder."

In his letter, Schiff highlighted a House resolution passed in July 2019 that called attention to the Saudi Arabia's continued imprisonment of Hathloul and other women's rights activists.

"Saudi Arabia's failure to address these and related concerns will be a factor in decisions that Congress makes regarding future US cooperation with and support for the Kingdom," Schiff said.

The congressman reiterated his "previously stated concerns about her welfare", referring to a letter sent last year to al-Saud's predecessor. He also asked to be updated on Hathloul's current condition.

On Wednesday, Amnesty International UK released a statement highlighting the Hathloul family's pleas that the British government intervene in her case.

"My sister is being punished for daring to drive, for daring to challenge the sexism and gender discrimination of Saudi society, and for who she is: a heroic person," Hathloul's sister, Lina said.

"I hope the UK government doesn't forget about my sister's suffering - it must speak up and use its power and influence to publicly call for her release," she continued.

Hathloul's family says she has periodically been denied phone calls, and that she was censored during the calls she was allowed make.

Kate Allen, Amnesty's UK director, also asked the British government "to publicly call for the immediate and unconditional release" of all women's rights activists imprisoned in the kingdom.

"The Saudi authorities are punishing these women for their independence, their bravery and their wish for freedom - nothing more," Allen said.

"Apparently, the Crown Prince wanted all the glory for lifting the driving ban and couldn't bear to credit Loujain and her fellow campaigners with anything."

Hathloul was arrested in the United Arab Emirates and deported to Saudi Arabia in May 2018, weeks before the lifting of the kingdom's driving ban on women - a right she had long championed.

Since being imprisoned, Hathloul, along with several other female activists, have reportedly been subjected to torture.

Arabic Version
Le candidat du Social Democratic Front (SDF) Joshua Osih, a la presidentielle camerounaise, Douala, 15 aout 2018 AFP/Reinnier KAZE

Hon. Joshua Osih, 1st Vice National Chairman of the opposition Social Democratic Front, SDF, has called on the Head of State to restrict travels into Cameroon for citizens of the European Union.

The Member of Parliament for Wouri Centre put out a dispatch this Monday, June 29, 2020, in reaction to a decision that excludes Cameroon from the list of 54 countries whose citizens can travel to the EU when external borders reopen on July 1.

The member countries of the Schengen area have just decided that nationals of certain countries are prohibited from entering their territory. They also mentioned that every 15 days, this list could be updated, said Osih. It is their absolute right to isolate themselves or to discriminate against nationals of countries which may be allowed to travel to their countries on the grounds that they believe they risk bringing a new wave of COVID19 contamination. Looking at this list, Cameroon, is one of these countries.

The 2018 Presidential Candidate says this EU decision clearly means that no compatriot, even with a visa, can, until further notice, enter one of the countries of the Schengen area.

By virtue of the sacrosanct principle of reciprocity, no national of the Schengen countries should also be allowed to enter Cameroon during this prohibition period, regardless of their diplomatic or health status, the MP thundered.

He furthers that We cannot be victims of a virus introduced to us from the Schengen area and pay the price of its consequences. Worse still, these countries act as if they have lessons to give when they should have humbly put themselves in synergy with our local actors to better manage the COVID19 crisis in order to save lives in the Schengen area and in Cameroon. This is unacceptable.

As a Member of Parliament, I call on the President of the Republic to take his responsibilities and enforce or cause to be enforced the sacrosanct diplomatic principle of reciprocity vis-a-vis the countries of the Schengen area . The President of the Republic has a duty to take up his responsibilities and impose our sovereignty.

As we went to press, Cameroon had registered 12,592 coronavirus cases with 10,100 recoveries and 313 deaths. The country is yet to reopen its external borders since they were closed on March 17.
Despite deleveraging rhetoric, risks lurking in China's financial system are coming to the fore and starting to hurt a highly sensitive group: repressed savers. Eroding investor confidence and blockages in the allocation of money could become far more dangerous than previously. Beijing has few options but to backpedal on rules meant to clamp down on the unruly underbelly of its banking system.

The problems range from hotspots in the nearly $US3 trillion ($4.4 trillion) shadow lending industry to wealth management products that are posting their first losses. As COVID-19 strains household balance sheets, the strains are making for angry investors who want their money back.

China's economy has been crippled by the pandemic, and it may force officials to backpedal on plans to clamp down on the unruly underbelly of its banking system. Credit:Bloomberg

For Beijing, that's bad news. These were risks it was trying to contain through reactive rules laid out since 2018 and supposed to take full effect at the end of this year, aimed at reining in asset management and containing trust company funding, especially toward property investment. Now, regulators could find themselves squeezing lending channels at a time when they can't get credit flowing to the real economy.

The whole point of the slew of regulations was to remove implicit guarantees and duration mismatches on such products. That's exactly the problem at Sichuan Trust Co. Investors in its products are unlikely to get all their money back on 25.3 billion yuan ($5.2 billion) because the fund doesn't have enough to repay them, online media outlet Caixin reported recently. Regulators have said investigators found evidence of embezzlement by shareholders.
Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes, First State Super chief executive Deanne Stewart and former Macquarie Group chair Kevin McCann have backed a plan to create 1.8 million jobs through renewable energy and low emission projects.

"Let's look at the natural advantages we have and we can build a renewable energy superpower with a very low cost of energy generation," Mr Cannon-Brookes said at the launch of the million jobs plan on Monday by energy think tank Beyond Zero Emissions.

Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes has backed the "million jobs plan". Credit:Louie Douvis

"We can use this as an opportunity to electrify so much of our economy in lots of different ways," he said.

The million jobs plan outlines a job creation framework for the next five years based on the acceleration of new energy transmission and storage projects, the implementation of a national housing retrofit program for low-income households and the building of 150,000 new zero-energy social housing dwellings.
On the eve of his court appearance, former Channel Seven personality Ryan Phelan has "unequivocally" denied assaulting his girlfriend.

A statement released on Monday afternoon by his solicitor Claudette Chau said: "The allegation is unequivocally denied by our client."

Ryan Phelan with girlfriend Chelsea Franklin. Credit:Instagram: @ryanphelan_tv

Phelan's girlfriend, ballet teacher Chelsea Franklin, 44, attended Frenchs Forest police station on Sydney's northern beaches on June 20 to report an alleged domestic violence incident, police said.

An hour after finishing his shift at Seven's Martin Place studios on June 22, Phelan attended Manly police station, where he was arrested and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.
Suleiman is 60. His character on screen, established in his 2002 film Divine Intervention, hardly ever speaks. "This time I said 'Nazareth' when the taxi driver asks where I'm from, and, 'I'm Palestinian'. They're not even words. They're codes," he says. "I think that, as much as you can do with an image, why do you need words? It's always a challenge to limit and censor information, but I cannot stand giving information in a film; I find that extremely boring. I prefer to leave things in the poetic. So I try to reduce as much as possible and let the cinema do what it can do."

Helicopters whirr overhead in New York; ordinary citizens are inexplicably armed to the teeth in Paris; nothing seems to make sense anywhere. "My feeling is that the Palestinians might be one of the most oppressed and occupied peoples in the world today, but I can also say that unfortunately there are many layers and levels of occupations," he says. "Not only military, but also economic and psychological (ones)."

Wherever you go, there you are. It is one of the truisms of travel: that you bring more than just physical baggage with you. But Palestinian filmmaker Elia Suleiman magnifies the idea in his deceptively winsome comedy It Must Be Heaven. Wherever he goes, Suleiman  who plays himself, albeit more flummoxed by the world than he seems to be in real life  finds himself in a version of Palestine.

The silence and melancholy that underlie his sense of the ridiculous might suggest Suleiman is paying homage to Chaplin; he could be a modern version of Chaplin's tramp, fortified against misadventure with books and a frequent flyer card. "But I think what's interesting about this is that I did not watch a lot of films in my life," he says. It could be, he muses, that he is just catching up with the past. "Maybe the silent part is coming as if I were living a century ago." Although he has an abiding love of old westerns, he doesn't watch a lot of films, even now. "I don't know what it is that I do a lot of. Maybe smoking and drinking."

For him, these things are a sort of work. After all, the human oddities chronicled in It Must Be Heaven are mostly garnered from life as seen from a succession of cafe tables. "If you come and sit with me in a cafe, you will see the same things I'm seeing," he says. "You just have to be alert and watch and daydream and space out and then come back. It's really a job with the features of unemployment; you have to do absolutely nothing, then take in stuff that's happening."

One of his most bitterly funny encounters is with a Parisian producer who was excited by the idea of making a film by a Palestinian director until he read it and realised it was a comedy. Like many of the vignettes in It Must Be Heaven, this is a slightly embroidered version of a real event. "It happened when I was trying to finance my first film in the '90s," he says. "The idea that a Palestinian makes a film that has humour was not exactly welcome in the 'lefty' world in Europe, because they are the patrons of the Palestinian cause." The problem, explains the po-faced producer (played by Vincent Maraval, one of his producers in real life), is that his script just isn't Palestinian enough. Why, it could have happened anywhere!

That is exactly the sense Suleiman wanted to convey. He chose Paris and New York as his character's boltholes because he had lived in each of them for 14 years, so he didn't marvel at them as a tourist would. "There is a kind of cross-border existence going on with quite a lot of us," he says. "This is about migration, not only of the unfortunate who drown in the sea, but also of the middle classes, who are now trapped in a sense of alienation about who they are and where they want to be."

As a fellow drinker slurs at Elia Suleiman's character in a New York bar, after taking in his recent zip around the world: "Are you the perfect stranger?"
The South Pole, the most remote part of the planet, has been warming at triple the global average, as natural variability joins with climate change to produce an abrupt shift in temperature trends.

The findings, published Tuesday in the Nature Climate Change journal, show surface temperatures at the South Pole were stable in the first couple of decades of instrument records into the 1980s.

Natural variability and climate change are producing an abrupt shift in temperature trends at the South Pole. Credit:AP

A record-breaking cold for a spell then made way for even warmer temperature anomalies from the early 2000s. For the 1989-2018 period, the mercury rose an average of 0.6 degrees per decade, or three times the global warming rate, the researchers found.

The report on the flipping of temperature trends at the most southerly point comes as abnormal warmth continues to bake the planet's other polar extreme. The Russian town of Verkhoyansk last week reported 38 degrees, the warmest reading ever recorded within the Arctic Circle.
When we ignore racism, sexism and violence against others, it makes us complicit. It's comforting to think we are different but if you don't challenge the practices of sexism and racism in your workplace, then you benefit from the privileges it confers. If we are part of the dominant group, we have a vested interest when there are fewer competitors in the pool and this gives all the space to those in power. But there's also another unpleasant characteristic in all of us.

Academic Aileen Moreton-Robinson, whose life's work is on race, whiteness and racism, sees that here in Australia we too readily support the status quo because anything else would be too uncomfortable. It would mean giving up power. Can we change that?

I've been thinking about my four murdered grandparents much more over the past few weeks. Who could have stopped that from happening? Who allowed it to happen? The murder of the Jews in Europe was state-sanctioned but ordinary people endorsed it.

We are hopeless bystanders. New research from the Australian Human Rights Commission shows that the percentage of bystanders willing to act on sexual harassment they have observed in their workplace has fallen from one in two to one in three in just six years. Kate Jenkins, Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner, says one reason for this unwillingness was bystanders' fearfulness for their careers if they took action. In particular, men reported being confused about what sexual harassment was and what they should do if they witnessed it. This backs up the work of criminologist Bianca Fileborn, who says men are less likely to intervene partly because of what she describes as social embarrassment. It's unsurprising to her that the Dyson Heydon story only emerged when a woman, Susan Keifel, was installed as Chief Justice of the High Court.

Kevin Dunn, pro vice-chancellor, research, at Western Sydney University, and a lifelong researcher into racism, says plenty of folks say they would stand up for someone experiencing racism but only about 30 per cent actually do it. UTS researcher Jacqueline Nelson, who has worked with Dunn over the years, says we respond to racism within our workplace structures, that is, while some workplaces might rise to the challenge, others just reproduce racism.

As individuals, we find it hard to stand up and confront perpetrators. Instead of recognising the answer is to collectively challenge institutional power, we try to be individual heroes. But there are actions we can take beyond tweeting, Facebooking and Instagramming, which are useful for mobilising but less useful for organising to make change. Those actions help the posters feel better about themselves but are unlikely to dismantle racist and/or sexist structures.

Moreton-Robinson has some ideas. Last month, the RMIT professor was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. That's a huge deal  she's the first Indigenous scholar to be elected outside the United States. She says she's had more impact internationally than in Australia partly because we have no discipline of race studies in this country. She's loath to answer questions about how white people can help. Figuring that out should be the work of white people. But she does have some robust advice  we must all think about how we can share power.
If the Dyson Heydon sexual harassment scandal has shown anything, it is that misconduct and a flawed organisational culture can exist in any institution, including the High Court of Australia.

Former High Court judge Dyson Heydon. Credit:

As the fallout from this scandal continues, it will contain many lessons for corporate governance and Australian company directors.

"Culture" has become an increasingly important aspect of contemporary corporate governance. Although it has been described as "a slippery concept", culture has now become part of the global regulatory zeitgeist. Indeed, it was central to the banking royal commissions stated task of examining whether any improper behaviour was attributable to "culture and governance practices".

There has been a litany of recent corporate scandals associated with flawed corporate culture. These include not only banking scandals but also sexual harassment at a number of US companies such as Fox News, Uber and The Weinstein Company. Although, initially at least, the relevant companies attributed the misconduct to "a few bad apples", it later became apparent there were broader problems of corporate culture involved.
A gunman remains on the run more than 12 hours after a man was fatally shot inside his western Sydney home in what police believe was a targeted shooting.

Robert Atkinson, 44, was at home with a friend in the garage of his Wentworthville home on Jones St, shortly before 8pm on Monday, when another man fired a single gunshot that caused him to bleed to death.

A man has died after being shot at a home in Sydneys western suburbs. Credit:Nine News

Mr Atkinson had left his 41-year-old friend in the garage to answer a knock at the door of the home when another man, who was known to him, stormed inside.

A single gunshot soon rang out and the friend rushed inside to find his Mr Atkinson on the floor. An altercation ensued, however the 41-year-old was unable to detain the gunman, who quickly fled in a grey or white utility van that was being driven by another person.
NSW upper house MP Shaoquett Moselmane says he will not access his parliamentary office or use his work email, computer or phones while federal police investigate allegations Chinese government agents have infiltrated his office.

Mr Moselmane, who was suspended from the Labor Party on Friday just hours after his Rockdale home and Macquarie Street office were raided by Australian Federal Police, has taken indefinite leave from Parliament.

Shaoquett Moselmane speaks at NSW Parliament on Monday. Credit:Peter Rae

In his first public statement since the raids, Mr Moselmane said he had been told he was not a suspect in the investigation. "I have done nothing wrong", he said.

His statement came after Labor leader Jodi McKay said on Sunday she would move to have Mr Moselmane suspended from Parliament if he did not agree to step aside. The government also intends to move a motion to have him suspended.
A section of the New Farm Riverwalk outside the exclusive Cutters Landing apartments will be replaced by Brisbane City Council next year.

The council's 2020-21 budget included $7.4 million for replacing the Cutters Landing boardwalk, potentially repairing the embankment retaining wall next to it, infrastructure committee chair David McLachlan said.

The former CSR factory at New Farm is now exclusive apartments. Credit:Qld Environment Department

"The allocated budget includes funding for the potentially significant works that may be required to the adjoining embankment wall," Cr McLachlan said.

"The requirement for these works will be determined during the detailed design process."
At least one of those properties, Terrapin Nature Park, has used money from the states Program Open Space, which comes with a requirement that the projects be open to all members of the public. Commissioners discussed that requirement Tuesday, but ultimately approved the measure to close the beaches to some members of the public. They discussed using sheriffs deputies to enforce the new policy.
Police had charged two people after an incident south of Brisbane earlier this month saw a man allegedly assaulted and gunshots fired into nearby vehicles.

The pair attended a Beatty Road car yard in Archerfield about 1pm on June 18 before a fight broke out, police allege.

The pair allegedly assaulted a 61-year-old man with a series of shots damaging vehicles in the area.

A high-ranking Bandido was the alleged victim of the assault, Seven News reported at the time.

Investigations took police to northern NSW where a number of search warrants led to the arrest of a 31-year-old Tanah Merah man and a 25-year-old Coomera woman.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has not ruled out the prospect of Victoria mandating face masks in infection hotspots and on public transport.

As Victoria scrambles to contain a second surge in cases, some Australian infectious disease experts are pushing for a widespread uptake of face masks to ward off the need for another statewide lockdown.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has not ruled out the prospect of Victoria mandating face masks in infection hotspots and on public transport. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Hunt told ABC's 7.30 program on Monday night there had been "clear growth in community cases" in Victoria sparking urgent discussions between the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia and the country's medical expert panel made up on chief health officers in all states and territories about the effectiveness of face masks.

"They have developed a set of protocols here where if somebody is in close proximity on public transport, it's perfectly appropriate [to wear a mask] or if there is an outbreak then state or territory authorities are empowered and in a position to decide whether this should be encouraged or even mandatory," Mr Hunt said.
The backyard of a home in Melbourne's west will be excavated by police as detectives reopen the cold case disappearance of mother Veronica Green.

Ms Green was last seen on February 13, the day before Valentine's Day, in 1976 at the family home in Ardeer. She was reported missing by her husband two days later.

Veronica Green went missing in 1976. Credit:Victoria Police

The mother of two was 38 at the time of her disappearance, and would now be 82 years old.

On Monday, detectives from the Brimbank Crime Investigation Unit began searching the yard of the Ardeer property where Ms Green lived with her husband and two daughters.
Professor Sutton said further conversations about lockdowns would be held over the next couple of days. Drivers queue for testing at a pop-up clinic outside Keilor Community Hub. Credit:Joe Armao We dont want to drive people out of suburban areas, into new, unaffected areas, so there's a balancing act in terms of making the call on a lockdown, he said. It would be a significant logistical exercise to manage stay-at-home that's just about particular postcodes, particular suburbs or local government areas. But it is absolutely an option and we flagged the possibility of using it and we will use it if it is required. Professor Sutton said the most recent cases had been transmitted five or six days ago and more time was needed to see if people had responded to the communication blitz about the need to be tested and stay home if sick.

That has to be the focus, he said. We absolutely want people to get the message that if they have symptoms, they shouldnt be going and visiting other people, they shouldnt be going out to any other setting, including work, because that is where we are seeing transmission at the moment. Professor Sutton said he was still considering whether masks should be recommended in hotspot suburbs, particularly in enclosed spaces where it was difficult to keep a distance from other people. But he said he didn't think wearing masks would have made much difference in recent cases, as most occurred when people visited extended family in different households.

Loading "People don't wear masks to see extended family members, they wear masks when they're going out in public places but if it's got a role that can add some value in terms of reducing transmission in crowded places, I'm all for it." However, national Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth said medical officials were considering whether to recommend people in Melbourne wear masks in public. The nation's expert health committee considers its position on masks every week. "But certainly, if there is a place where we are looking to see whether masks should be recommended, it's down in Victoria." Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, epidemiologist and disease control expert at the UNSW and a member of the World Health Organisation COVID-19 experts advisory panel, said it was time authorities accepted masks were a necessity for people living in hotspots.

Loading Professor McLaws characterised Victoria's COVID situation as "a resurgence of epic proportion". Of Monday's 75 cases, only one was linked to hotel quarantine, 14 were linked to known outbreaks, 37 had been detected through routine testing and 23 were under investigation. Professor Sutton said there was still an opportunity for COVID-19 cases to turn around. If it isnt, absolutely ... changing the law is something we have to consider because we have to do whatever is required to turn this around.

Monash University Associate Professor Philip Russo, an internationally regarded expert in healthcare associated infection prevention, said logistically it would be difficult to police a lockdown of individual areas. I think Dr Sutton is right in that there is a danger it might actually drive people underground and introduce infections into areas where there are low levels of cases at the moment, Associate Professor Russo said. He said there had been an increased emphasis from authorities in recent days on the need for the public to stay home, isolate and get tested. The hope is numbers will start to turn around in the next few days and drop off, which would mean those interventions put in place five to six days ago had started to take effect, Associate Professor Russo said.

Loading However if there is a continued significant increase in cases for the next week that is when lockdown discussions would come back on the agenda. Two businesses in a COVID-19 hotspot contacted by The Age said they were confused about what a suburb lockdown would mean for them. Melbas Food Hall, a grocery store and cafe in Brunswick West, one of the COVID-19 hotspots, has been allowed to stay open through the pandemic because the supermarket component is an essential service. However, owner Vince Garuccio said that if Brunswick West went into lockdown, he may be instructed to close because people could shop in other suburbs.

That would kill me because I have got a lot of perishable products and there would be a lot of wastage, he said. Absolutely, it is a stressful period, because you dont know what to do about staff. Rodney Mom, from Brunswick West cafe Mister and Missus M, lives in COVID-19 hotspot Keilor Downs. Im not sure I would be able to travel from Keilor Downs to West Brunswick if the suburbs went into lockdown - your guess is as good as mine, he said. Professor Sutton said the risk of transmission was well managed in restaurants that had applied COVID-19 safety regulations.
Mr Tran and his mother Amy. Credit:Nine News His cousin and housemate Fiona Tran said she was watching television about 7.30pm on Monday when Mr Tran said he was heading to the gym near their Springvale home. "I heard him shake his protein shaker about 7.30pm," she said. "It was just a normal night." Ms Tran said she later received a call telling her Mr Tran had been injured and she drove her family to the scene.

She returned to the scene on Tuesday morning. "He was my cousin, but he was like my little brother," she said, sobbing. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Footage of the aftermath of the incident shows a group of young people sobbing and comforting one another on Monday night, while forensics investigators examine the footpath outside the Alimonakis Pharmacy. Police spent much of Tuesday morning asking businesses in Eaton Mall for their CCTV footage.

"I thought it was maybe random, but its more than that," Ms Tran said. "A few people from different sides, that's all we know." Fiona Tran says her cousin and housemate Tommy said he was going to the gym on Monday night before he was killed. Credit:Penny Stephens Mr Tran's girlfriend Trish Nguyen made an emotional plea for teenagers and young men to stop fighting. "Just don't do it ... look, we've lost a loved one, it's really not worth it. You shouldn't do that to people's families, you shouldn't do that to yourself, your own family, it's not fair," she said at the scene.

"It's worrying about being cool. It's not fair any more and it needs to stop." Trish Nguyen, Thomas Tran's girlfriend, was supported by friends at the scene on Tuesday morning. Credit:Penny Stephens Ms Nguyen said her boyfriend of more than two years was a "dreamer" who aspired to be a bodybuilder and wanted to create his own line of gym-wear. "Gym was his favourite place, he did whatever he wanted there," she said. "He's probably the most funniest person you would ever meet. He had the goofiest laugh. He never put himself first, he put others that he loved. He loved his family, he loved his friends. He's just a great guy and he didn't deserve that at all."

Ms Nguyen said she had heard many stories about what led to Mr Tran's death. "I just want the real story. I just want to know the truth." Thomas Tran's family in Eaton Mall where he died on Monday night. Mr Tran's mother Amy (right) sobs on the ground. Credit:Penny Stephens Local MP Steve Dimopoulos said he was shocked at the violence that unfolded in a mall that was "loved across Melbourne". "There is no place for violence in our community. Not now. Not ever," he wrote in a Facebook post on Monday evening.

"This is a location that is loved across Melbourne. It is on the map as a safe place for people to dine and come together. "Whatever disagreements people may have  it is never worth someones life." Detectives are appealing for anyone who may have been in the area of Chester Street, Eaton Mall and Atherton Road between 7.30pm and 8pm on Monday to contact police. They are also asking for anyone with camera footage to come forward. It is the third fatal brawl on Melbourne streets in the past fortnight, although the incidents are not related.

On Monday last week 21-year-old Machar Kot was stabbed outside a Melbourne CBD hotel and later died in hospital. On June 16 teenager Solomone Taufeulungaki was stabbed to death outside Brimbank Shopping Centre in Deer Park. Marco Deng, 22, has been charged with the murder of Mr Kot, while seven boys between the ages of 13 and 16 have been charged with affray in relation to the Deer Park brawl. No one has been charged directly over Solomone's death.
Further bizarre details have emerged about alleged scams carried out by au pair Samantha Azzopardi, who has been charged by police with another count of child stealing.

The 31-year-old, who sat in silence as she appeared via video link during a half-hour hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, was arrested in Bendigo on November 1 last year after she was found with a 10-month-old and a four-year-old girl.

Samantha Azzopardi.

The girls were returned to their parents unharmed and Ms Azzopardi was charged with two counts of child stealing.

In the days after her arrest, she was charged with dozens more offences, including another allegation of child stealing relating to a third victim between December 8, 2018 and June 10 last year.
A teacher's aide who repeatedly sexually assaulted a 15-year-old boy at a school in Melbourne's west justified her crimes by saying she had always wanted someone to love her.

Nicole Woods was in her early 50s, using ice and in the midst of a "personality crisis" when she abused the teenager as many as 25 times at a school in Melton. Over the space of five months in 2016 the pair regularly met at lunchtimes or after school in a small office space behind a classroom.

Nicole Woods. Credit:Nine News

The victim, now 19, told the County Court earlier this year that Woods' offending had left him "broken" and his life was now made up of "dark days, anger, pain, can't sleep properly, sleep with a knife, cutting myself".

Woods, now 55, has pleaded guilty to two representative counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16.
Industry Super Australia chairman Greg Combet has accused Liberal MPs of trying to undermine the superannuation system by pushing for rule changes that could put at risk $19.5 billion of planned investment to boost the economy.

IFM Investors and Industry Super Property Trust on Tuesday announced they would spend the money on infrastructure and property assets over the next three years, an initiative they estimate will create about 200,000 jobs.

Greg Combet has warned changes to super rules, including any delay of scheduled increases in the super guarantee, could threaten super funds' planned investment. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg earlier this month said industry and retail superannuation funds needed to be "put to work on domestic infrastructure assets more than they have been" and had a major role to play in the nation's economic recovery.

But Mr Combet warned changes to super rules, including any delay of scheduled increases in the super guarantee from 9.5 per cent to 10 per cent in July 2021 and 12 per cent by 2025, could threaten the funds' proposal.
The government has given Melbourne community television station Channel 31 a last-minute reprieve, allowing it to stay on air for another year while it transitions to a digital-only broadcasting model.

Minister for Communications Paul Fletcher said on Monday night the government had wanted community TV stations to go online since 2014 but extended deadlines several times. That happened again on Tuesday, when Mr Fletcher formally announced the extension.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has given Melbourne community TV station one more year of life on free-to-air TV. Credit:Janie Barrett

"We will be using this period to work through with them what needs to happen for them to successfully transition to digital operations so that we can still have community TV as a great place where people can work and make programs," Mr Fletcher said on the ABC's Q+A program.

Former Labor leader Bill Shorten, who was also on the panel, said he had "a few other asks as well" after Mr Fletcher made the surprise announcement.
Nationals frontbencher Andrew Gee has warned that the junior Coalition partner will only support the government's major overhaul of university funding once the party is satisfied regional education institutions are being looked after.

The sweeping changes to student fees and government funding announced by Education Minister Dan Tehan includes a suite of measures to support regional universities but vice-chancellors at some of the institutions remain concerned about the potential for unintended consequences and caution the "devil will be in the detail".

Nationals minister Andrew Gee (centre) has warned his party will need assurances before supporting the proposed university overhaul. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Mr Gee, the Decentralisation and Regional Education Minister, said the Nationals and Liberal party rooms had not yet seen the legislation to enable Mr Tehan's sweeping overhaul of funding.

"Both are separate parties. The Nationals party room will determine its position on the proposed tertiary education reforms only after we have actively engaged and consulted with our country universities, our stakeholders and our communities and examined the legislation in detail," he said.
For generations, he was lauded as a war hero, a president, and one of the founders of our democracy, and that should definitely be remembered, he said, but thats just one side of the story. He also owned enslaved Africans. When humanity is so disregarded, it leads, in the long run, to things like the murders of George Floyd [and others].  People are now looking back at history, taking a second look at the people weve been conditioned to idolize.
Millions of Australian workers may lose access to pandemic leave on Wednesday, with the existing workplace deal set to expire on Tuesday night and still no deal between employer and union groups to renew it.

At the height of the coronavirus crisis in April the national industrial tribunal gave millions of workers two weeks of unpaid pandemic leave in case they had to self-isolate. That leave covers casuals, who do not get sick leave, and permanent workers if they have to isolate but cannot use sick leave because they are not actually unwell.

Unions argue rising coronavirus cases in Melbourne make pandemic leave more important. Credit:Penny Stephens

Before JobKeeper was introduced, unions and business groups also agreed to emergency changes to workplace laws, including for more than 1 million administrative workers under the Clerks Award, which extended the hours workers could do at home without overtime and let companies tell their staff to take annual leave.

But those arrangements, designed to safeguard jobs, will also end at midnight on Tuesday unless renewed. Unions and employer groups could not come to an agreement on Monday, one source close to the negotiations said, but were told by the national industrial tribunal to come back with offers to the other side on Tuesday morning. If the sides cannot agree, the tribunal will make a decision.
Arts and culture is for everyone. Its a phrase Ive heard countless times at events across Sydney, extolled at the opening of this, or the closing of that. Its a nice thought that all in society have equal access to the best our creative industries and cultural institutions have to offer. But its a sentiment that, in many instances, doesnt ring true.

Cultural equity lies at the heart of NSWs most ambitious arts and cultural investment since the Opera House: the Powerhouse Parramatta.

An artist's impression of the new Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta. Credit: Supplied

Ive seen numerous error-filled columns from figures recently claiming to support the Powerhouse. Theyve created their own "facts" and displayed nothing but indignation for the renewal of the institution and its extraordinary collection.

Rather than be "hidden" or 'sold-off" as some have suggested, the museums globally revered collection will thrive at its new home. In western Sydney it will be seen by more visitors, more often, and with more variation than ever before.
Sexual consent laws could be about to change in Queensland.

The state government will be handed a report on Tuesday from the Queensland Law Reform Commission about whether legislation should explicitly state a person who is affected by drugs or alcohol cannot give consent.

Queensland consent laws could change to help "unblur" the lines. Credit:Angela Wylie

At present, Queensland rape victims who do not scream or cry may never get justice and their attackers could walk free because they can use a defence known as mistake of fact.

The defence allows accused rapists to claim they had an honest and reasonable belief the sex was consensual.
Funding for students at Catholic and independent schools in Victoria has grown almost 15 times faster than for state schools in the past decade, prompting warnings that disadvantaged students who need the most support are instead being left further behind.

Analysis of 10 years of school funding data reveals the total amount spent on each child in a state school grew by $178 between 2009 and 2018, compared with a $2333 increase for each Catholic school student and $2612 for students at independent schools.

The disparity in funding per student between government and non-government schools was also wider in Victoria by 2018 than in any other state or territory, analysis by school advocacy group Save Our Schools shows.

The average student at a state school in Victoria had $13,663 spent on their education in 2018, compared with $16,303 per Catholic school student and $25,000 for a student at an independent school.

The groups analysis shows the average student at a state school in Victoria had $13,663 spent on their education in 2018, compared with $16,303 per Catholic school student and $25,000 for a student at an independent school.
Australia's coronavirus contact tracing app will not switch to the model supported by Apple and Google because doing so would not provide the details of potentially exposed people to tracing teams, Australia's deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth says.

Several countries have in recent weeks either delayed development of their own contact-tracing apps or decided to switch to Apple and Google's offering, which wasn't ready when Australia first decided to launch its $2 million COVIDSafe app on April 26.

The countries have made the switch because of technical issues that have plagued nations such as Australia and have resulted in not all potential close contact data being collected.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Testing data provided to the Senate showed the effectiveness of the Australian app, particularly on Apple iPhones, remains an issue. The app only worked 25 to 50 per cent of the time during locked iPhone-to-iPhone testing on May 26. At launch, it was worse, working only 25 per cent of the time or less for locked iPhone to locked iPhone. When running in the background, it also didn't work well.
Taipei: Cities around the world have celebrated Pride events on the 50th anniversary of New York's Stonewall Riots, in spite of coronavirus restrictions forcing many into social isolation.

The biggest LGBTQ events around the globe were mostly forced to scale back or move online but in cities from Taiwan to New York, people still came out to march.

In Taipei, a giant rainbow flag led a procession across Liberty Square. Few participants wore masks, as Taiwan has only five known coronavirus cases, all of them in quarantine.

Under martial law, which ended in 1987, homosexuality was a criminal offence in Taiwan. But the island has since become a leader of gay rights in a region where such rights have lagged. Last year its government became the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.
Beijing imposes security agencies Legal experts had been uncertain how Xi could introduce a national security law into Hong Kong without going through the city's Legislative Council, a body stacked with pro-Beijing members who have, nonetheless, hesitated to take such a contentious step. Loading But Xi made a bold move to break the impasse in May, when a full session of the National People's Congress nearly unanimously passed a resolution empowering the Congress' Standing Committee to bring state security legislation into the Basic Law. The central government's decision to impose a law effectively circumvents the Hong Kong legislature. Even Hong Kong politicians who have endorsed the law, including the territory's top official, Carrie Lam, have said they have not been shown the full text by Beijing, which will bring into Hong Kong new crimes like inciting separatism and "colluding with foreign powers".

The law will also establish a new security agency in the territory to enforce the security restrictions, and Beijing will create its own separate security arm in Hong Kong, empowered to investigate special cases and collect intelligence, according to a summary issued by China's legislature. The legislation also gives the territory's chief official, who must answer to Beijing, the power to decide which judges are empowered to hear trials for state security charges, limiting the autonomy of the city's judiciary. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has sought to reassure the Hong Kong people. Credit:AP Many residents fear the law Lam, Hong Kong's local leader, has sought to reassure the public that their "legitimate rights and freedoms" will be safeguarded. She and other politicians who support the law have also said that it will target only a tiny minority of lawbreakers.

Pro-democracy activists have denounced the proposed law, and the Hong Kong Bar Association has called it unconstitutional. The Hong Kong police force has denied applications from three groups  the League of Social Democrats, the Civil Human Rights Front and pro-democracy district officials  to hold marches opposing the law on July 1, the politically sensitive anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to Chinese rule, citing risks from the coronavirus and dangers of violence. If the police decision survives appeal, it would be the first time since 2003 that a march on July 1 has been banned, the Civil Human Rights Front said. Some protesters may ignore the order and march. The decision spurred more protests on Sunday, leading to 53 arrests. Loading A survey by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute in mid-June found that 49 per cent of respondents "very much oppose" the security legislation, while another 7 per cent "somewhat oppose" it, Reuters reported. But the survey also indicated that public backing for street demonstrations had softened: support for protests fell to 51 per cent, down from 58 per cent in a poll in March. Western governments object

As China has moved forward with plans to impose security laws in Hong Kong, foreign governments have criticized the decision. Foreign ministers from the Group of 7 leading industrialised democracies called on China this month to abandon the law, saying that it would undermine the autonomy of the territory. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday that the US would impose visa restrictions on Chinese officials, including retired ones "believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy". He did not name any officials or say how many might be barred. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to allow nearly 3 million people from Hong Kong to live and work in the country. Johnson, however, has left unanswered questions about how those admitted might be able to obtain British citizenship. Taiwan said this month that it would expand efforts to provide refuge to protesters and others who wish to leave Hong Kong. The government said it could, in certain cases, provide work and study visas, as well as assistance securing housing and jobs. The New York Times
Warsaw: Poland's conservative President, Andrzej Duda, was the frontrunner in Sunday's election, but fell short of the needed 50 per cent of votes to win in a first round, according to the projection of an exit poll.

The results, if confirmed, pave the way for what is building into a very tight race in a runoff on July 12 that will most likely pit the populist incumbent against the centrist Warsaw mayor, Rafal Trzaskowski, who was in second place.

Polish President Andrzej Duda. Credit:Getty

Whether Duda ultimately wins a second five-year term in two weeks' time will determine whether the ruling nationalist party that backs him, Law and Justice, keeps its near-monopoly on political power in Poland.

The party has been in conflict with the European Union over laws that have given it control over top courts and key judicial bodies, something the 27-nation bloc has denounced as an erosion of democratic values.
Los Angeles: Seven Network US correspondent Amelia Brace has described to a US congressional committee how she was shot by non-lethal projectiles and hit by a truncheon as police violently cleared Washington DC's Lafayette Square near the White House.

Brace was broadcasting live back to Australia with her cameraman Tim Myers on June 1 when riot police began forming a line in front of them.

Seven correspondent Amelia Brace describes her experience to the US House Committee on Natural Resources. Credit:EPA

The US House Committee on Natural Resources is investigating the law enforcement crackdown against peaceful protesters at Lafayette Square prior to the arrival of US President Donald Trump for a photo opportunity outside St John's Episcopal Church holding a bible.

"A park police officer who was passing us stopped, turned towards Tim and rammed him in the chest and stomach with the edge of his riot shield, causing Tim to keel over and drop down," Brace told the committee in Washington DC on Monday.
It's not much of a shock to hear in the weekend's news that Russia has been paying Taliban fighters in Afghanistan a bounty to kill US, British and other coalition troops. It's always been a core mission of Vladimir Putin's Russia to oppose, undermine and discredit the US and the West wherever it can.

But it is a shock to hear that the US knew about this months ago and did nothing about it. On the contrary, the Trump administration actually intensified its love affair with Putin in the meantime. And that the US briefed the British government on the matter only last week.

US President Donald Trump. Credit:Bloomberg

This raises profound questions. And it's not the standard Democrat-left pile-on, although there's plenty of that. This is much deeper. Key US conservatives are asking hard questions too. There are questions not only about Donald Trump and his administration, but about the US system itself, and the value of the US as an ally. This includes tough questions that Australia has to answer.

Before the questions, the story so far. The New York Times broke the news. It reported that US intelligence officials and military officers on the ground in Afghanistan became curious when they found a big stash of US dollars in Taliban hands. When the Americans questioned Taliban prisoners and conducted other inquiries, they discovered that Russian operatives had paid the money last year as a bounty to encourage the Taliban to kill coalition forces. These included American, British and other NATO troops.
When you work in human relations, the main issue is confidentiality because you see and know things, Ms. Redd said. He respected that I never betrayed him. He was a very fair and friendly person who always got right to the point when he spoke to you but did not chastise or embarrass you. He was well-respected by the employees and was just a good boss.
Bryan, OH (43506)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning. Cloudy skies late. High 73F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Lansdale, PA (19446)

Today

Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High near 90F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
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The Directorate General of (DGCA) has issued a showcause notice to a senior executive of India after a pilot recently alleged violation of safety norms by the airline.

A official said that the showcause notice has been served post the pilot's allegations.

" India confirms receipt of the notice and we are assisting the regulator in its fact finding process. We will fully cooperate with the regulator," said an India spokesperson.

The pilot, Captain Gaurav Taneja, through a Youtube video on June 14, said that he has been suspended by the airline for standing up for "safe operations of an aircraft and its passengers".

The alleged violation is regarding a landing technique of the use of 'Flap 3' mode during landing.

The development comes after the on June 15 tweeted that it has taken note of allegations against a "particular airline".

" has taken note of the concerns raised by some stakeholders against a particular Airline and its approach to safety. DGCA has already started an investigation into the issues flagged and shall take appropriate action based on the outcome of the said investigation," it had said.
Officers first responded to calls concerning gunfire around 3 a.m. Saturday in the 200 block of Red Clay Road in Laurel. Police said people attending a party saw an assailant approach the residence and open fire on parked cars.
The contracts of two out of the four contractors who were selected for the construction of a new bridge parallel to Mahatma Gandhi Setu have been cancelled as they had Chinese partners, said Bihar Minister Nand Kishore Yadav.

The contractors were asked to change their partners before the cancellation of the contracts, but they couldn't. "Seven contractors had applied out of which three were disqualified and out of the remaining four, two had Chinese companies as partners, so we asked them to change their partners but they couldn't, so we cancelled their tender. We have ...
Assam's COVID-19 count rose to 7,492 after 327 more people tested positive for the virus on Sunday, state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Out of the 327 cases reported, 195 cases were from Guwahati.

As per the update released by Sarma, there 2,390 active cases in the state while 5,088 patients have been discharged.

Eleven fatalities have been reported in due to COVID-19 as of Sunday. Three patients have migrated out of the state.

With the highest single-day spike of 19,906 COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's count mounted to 5,28,859 on Sunday, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

There are 2,03,051 active cases and all are under medical supervision, while there are 3,09,713 cured/discharged/migrated patients. The death toll rose to 16,095 in the country with 410 people succumbing to the infection in the last 24 hours.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With two more persons testing positive for COVID-19 in on Sunday, the number of cases in the Union Territory (UT) rose to 429.

As per the information provided by the Health Department, there are 87 active cases in the UT while 336 patients have recovered from the disease, as of Sunday.

With the highest single-day spike of 19,906 COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's count mounted to 5,28,859 on Sunday, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

There are 2,03,051 active cases and all are under medical supervision, while there are 3,09,713 cured/discharged/migrated patients. The death toll rose to 16,095 in the country with 410 people succumbing to the infection in the last 24 hours.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Expertspeak How Covid-19 is impacting our mental health, and what the way forward is: In yet another record daily spike in cases, the number of coronavirus cases in India rose by 19,906 on Sunday morning. India now has 528,859 cases.

The toll rose by 410 to 16,095. Watch this interview with psychiatrist Alok Sarin about how this pandemic will affect the society in the long term, the rising no. of suicide cases, impact of isolation on our mental health, how it will affect our collective memory, what kind of societal and cultural changes need to be made to help us move forward and much ...
The Indian Film Festival of (IFFM) has announced that the 2020 edition has been pushed ahead, with dates rescheduled from August to October due to the ongoing pandemic.

IFFM 2020's program will be devised in line with public health guidance, with plans for a compact schedule taking place over a week from October 30 to November 7.

"The festival is retaining the Short Film Competition and the popular dance competition (to be held on October 31, pending easing of restrictions) but the much anticipated IFFM Awards Gala will be postponed till 2021," the organisers said in a statement.

This month, the festival is starting a new event, the IFFM Film Club, featuring some of the leading filmmakers in India discussing their work.

Functioning like a book club, the festival will ask participants to watch a classic film, and then have an opportunity to discuss the film at the virtual film club with the filmmaker.

IFFM Festival Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange said this is an attempt for film lovers to stay "engaged, entertained and educated" while at home in these unprecedented times.

"We already have a strong lineup of filmmakers from various parts of India. Well-known film journalist Rajeev Masand will moderate the session as he opens the film and its maker to a world of questions from curious fans," he said.

Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley, praised IFFM team for their efforts.

"Social distancing doesn't mean social disconnection and through the screen we can continue to be inspired by stories and perspectives from across the globe.

"I applaud the Indian Film Festival of team for its commitment to continuing to bring the IFFM spirit to film lovers and for pivoting to a new model for 2020 in response to these challenging times, he said.

In its previous editions, the festival has hosted masterclasses with acclaimed filmmakers including Rajkumar Hirani, Karan Johar, Rima Das, Zoya Akhtar, Onir, Kabir Khan among others.

Earlier this year, IFFM hosted an event where superstar Shah Rukh Khan awarded the four-year scholarship named after him to Gopika Kottantharayil Bhasi from Thrissur (Kerala), as a part of the festival's long association with Melbourne's La Trobe University.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Trump wont have to veto the measure because it will never reach him, but the White House voiced its objections anyway with a veto threat. A statement sent to lawmakers said the bill resorts to the same expensive, inefficient, and bureaucratic approach to health coverage that the health car law used, calling the bill misguided and counter to the most urgent needs of the country.
Mumbai is trying to free up tertiary care beds for more clinically sick Covid patients by continuously tweaking its discharge policies and aiming to have a faster turnaround in hospital beds. The city's leading hospitals say that the average length of stay (ALOS) for a Covid-19 patient is now around seven days, down by 50 per cent compared to 14-days in the beginning of the pandemic.

The city administration and its hospitals are trying to focus on the complex patients more - getting a critical care bed in Mumbai is still a challenge. Sample this : The city has close to 30,000 ...
The on Monday asked the Central government to find out the facts related to blacklisting and canceling of visas of foreign nationals who attended the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin area here.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar and also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna asked the Centre to find out the facts related to the matter and fixed it for further hearing on July 2.

The apex court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta "if visas of these foreigners are canceled, then why are they still in India?"

"You (Centre) can deport them. If visas are not canceled, then, it is a different situation," the court said. The top court was hearing a number of petitions challenging blacklisting and cancellation of visas filed by few foreigners.

Mehta sought more time to file a reply on the matter, after which the court posted the matter for further hearing on July 2.

The petitions, filed by the foreign nationals from 35 countries, have sought directions to the (MHA) to remove their names from the blacklist, reinstate their visas and facilitate their return to their respective countries.

The petitions sought to declare the decision of the MHA of blacklisting the foreign nationals who attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation as "arbitrary".

"Unilateral blacklisting of 960 foreigners by the Home Ministry vide press release dated April 2, 2020, and the subsequent blacklisting of around 2500 foreigners as reported on June 4, 2020, is in violation of Article 21. Therefore, it is void and unconstitutional as the petitioners have neither been provided any hearing nor notice or intimation in this regard," the plea said.

One of the petitioners named Fareedah Cheema, a Thai in the seventh month of her pregnancy, said she was quarantined in March, like other foreign nationals but was released from quarantine only in late May and is still at a facility under restricted movements, without the avenue to go back to her home nation and experience the birth of her child with security and dignity, with her loved ones.

These foreign nationals presently in India were blacklisted for a period of 10 years from traveling to India for their alleged involvement in Tablighi Jamaat activities.

The Home Ministry had said that foreign Tablighi Jamaat members, who were staying in India in violation of visa rules during the nationwide lockdown implemented to combat the COVID-19 spread, have been blacklisted.

A large congregation organised by Tablighi Jamaat in the capital in March had emerged as a major COVID-19 hotspot in the country.

The government had said the decision of banning the foreign Tablighi Jamaat members was taken after details of foreigners found illegally living in mosques and religious places emerged from various states across the country.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Raising taxes or tweaking rates will not be possible for at least a year to overcome the revenue shortfall this year as the country struggles with the Covid-19 pandemic, says Bihar Deputy Chief Minister SUSHIL KUMAR MODI.

He tells Dilasha Seth that the proposed reforms like simplified return form and e-invoicing facility, among others, will be difficult to push through in the fourth year. Edited excerpts: How do you summarise the first three years of GST? The first two years of GST went well and the revenue collections were very good despite technical and teething problems in the ...
However, the state Supreme Court said the lawsuit only challenged the limit under the Colorado Constitution, not the U.S. Constitution, so it did not have to decide whether the limit was legal under the U.S. Constitutions Second Amendment. The state Supreme Court analyzed the magazine limit under its standard for gun control regulations  its ruling in a challenge to an assault weapons ban passed in Denver in 1994.
The total number of coronavirus cases across the world has crossed the 10-million mark and the death toll has gone past 500,000. There currently are over 100 vaccines at various stages of development worldwide, including in India, Britain, China, the US, Russia and Israel.

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the chief scientist at WHO, said nearly 2 billion doses of the Covid-19 vaccine would be ready by the end of next year. But who would be the first to get a Covid-19 vaccine? Probably people in the country where the first effective vaccine is developed. Thus, there's pressure from ...
Iran has issued an arrest warrant for US President Donald Trump and 35 others over the killing of top general Qassem Soleimani and has asked Interpol for help, Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said on Monday, according to the Fars news agency. The United States and Interpol both dismissed the idea of acting on such a warrant. The United States killed Soleimani, leader of the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, with a drone strike in Iraq on Jan. 3. Washington accused Soleimani of masterminding attacks by Iranian-aligned militias on US forces in the region. Alqasimehr said ...
on Monday reopened the more than three months after it was temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but no Indian pilgrim visited the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, a top official said.

India temporarily suspended the pilgrimage and registration for the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in on March 16 in view of the outbreak.

" today opened the However, no Indian pilgrim visited it, Evacuee Trust Property Board Deputy (ETPB) Director Imran Khan told PTI.

The ETPB looks after the holy places of minorities in the country.

He said a "special Ardas" was held at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur.

"Pilgrims from Pakistan and India are allowed to visit the Darabar Sahib by following the SOPs of social distancing. The ETPB and Pakistan Sikh Gurdawara Parbhandhik Committee have made special arrangements for the safety of pilgrims," he said.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan was reopening the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for all Sikh pilgrims. "I convey to the Indian side our readiness to reopen the corridor on 29 June 2020, the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh, he said.

Sources in the government of India in New Delhi last week said Pakistan is trying to create a mirage of goodwill by proposing to reopen the corridor on June 29. They said India will take a decision on the matter after consulting health authorities and other concerned stakeholders.

The sources also wondered why Pakistan proposed to reopen it in such a short notice while a bilateral agreement on the corridor provided for information to be shared by both sides at least seven days before the date of travel.

In November last year, the two countries threw open the corridor linking Dera Baba Sahib in Gurdaspur in India and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, in a historic people-to-people initiative as part of commemoration of the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev.

Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located in Pakistan's Narowal district across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. It is the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, who had spent the last 18 years of his life in Kartarpur.

Indian pilgrims of all faiths are allowed to undertake round the year visa-free travel to the historic gurdwara.

The relations between India and Pakistan nosedived after India scrapped Jammu and Kashmir's special status on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated it into two union territories. Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India and expelled the Indian High Commissioner.

On Tuesday, India told Pakistan to slash its embassy staff in New Delhi by half - saying it would do the same in Islamabad amidst allegations of spying.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The has temporarily suspended all incoming flights from until it sets up a special COVID-19 lab to test the travellers from the country, according to media reports.

On Monday, Pakistan's infection tally crossed the 2 lakh-mark after 3,557 fresh cases were reported during the last 24 hours.

As the number of cases went up in Pakistan, the has decided to not receive passengers coming from from June 29 until a special COVID-19 lab is set up to test them. The decision would also apply to transit flights originating from Pakistan, the Express Tribune reported.

The decision by the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority came after Dubai-state carrier Emirates already suspended services from from June 24.

The Emirates suspended passenger flights from Pakistan till July 3 last week.

The airline took the decision after 30 Pakistanis who flew on an Emirates flight to Hong Kong on June 22 tested positive for the novel

The suspension will be in place till the country establishes a process of laboratory testing for COVID-19 for all departing travellers enroute to the UAE, the country's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced on Sunday.

"This is a precautionary measure to ensure the health and safety of all arrivals as of Monday, June 29, 2020," the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority said late on Sunday.

The GCAA called on all travellers affected by the decision to communicate with their airline to reschedule their flights, the Khaleej Times reported.

Meanwhile, Pakistan on Monday registered 3,557 new coronavirus cases, taking the total tally to 206,512.

These cases include 80,446 in Sindh, 74,778 in Punjab, 25,778 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 12,643 in Islamabad, 10,376 in Balochistan, 1,442 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 1,049 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to the Ministry of National Health Services.

In the last 24 hours, 49 patients died and with the net death toll reached 4,167 in the country, the ministry said in a statement.

It also said that 95,407 patients so far recovered from the disease, while another 2,437 were in critical condition.

Another 23,009 corona tests were carried out during the last 24 hours, taking the number of total tests done so far to 1,262,162.

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that Pakistan started producing its own ventilators.

The first batch of ventilators is ready. We will hand over 8 to 10 ventilators to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Three designs are in final stages and will be brought forward soon, he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump's denial of media reports that he was briefed by intelligence officials of an alleged conspiracy between and the over the killing of US troops in Afghanistan is "remarkable", former National Security Advisor (NSA) John Bolton said on Sunday (local time).

"It is pretty remarkable the President's going out of his way to say he has not heard anything about it. One asks, why would he do something like that?" Bolton said during an appearance on the NBC News broadcaster.

On Friday, the New York Times cited unnamed government sources who said that Trump was presented with an intelligence report that alleged that Moscow may have offered bounties to the for the killing of US soldiers.

Trump on Sunday denied ever being briefed on this matter, adding that Vice President and Chief of Staff Mark Meadows were also not given information about the allegations. The President slammed the newspaper for spreading what he called fake news.

In a separate appearance on the CNN broadcaster on Sunday, Bolton said that Trump's reaction showed that he did not prioritise the security of US troops.

"The fact that the President feels compelled to tweet about the news story here shows that what his fundamental focus is, is not the security of our forces, but whether he looks like he was not paying attention. So he is saying well nobody told me, therefore you cannot blame me," Bolton said.

The Russian Embassy in the United States has refuted the New York Times' allegations and called on the Trump administration to take action after the diplomatic mission received threats in the aftermath of the story being published.

The has also denied the newspaper's accusations, adding that they were an attempt at obstructing the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.
Oil India rose 1.69% to Rs 96 after consolidated net profit stood at Rs 1,597.40 crore in Q4 March 2020 compared with net loss of Rs 70.59 crore in Q4 March 2019.

Consolidated net sales slipped 15.8% to Rs 2,607.38 crore in Q4 March 2020 from Rs 3,097.26 crore in Q4 March 2019. Profit before tax (PBT) surged 199.9% to Rs 267.57 crore in Q4 March 2020 as against Rs 89.22 crore in Q4 March 2019. The board of Oil India has declared a final dividend of Rs 1.60 per share for FY20. The Q4 earnings was announced after trading hours on Friday, 26 June 2020.

"OIL has adopted the new concessional tax regime. The effective tax rate under the new regime would be 25.17%. This has resulted in reversal of deferred tax liability of Rs 821.01 crore during 2019-20," the company said.

"The firm has availed the option of Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Scheme, 2020 for settlement of its pending Income Tax disputes which is pending for approval of designated authority," it added. The lower tax rate offset drop in revenue from slump in oil and gas rates.

Crude oil price realisation during Q4 FY20 and FY20 got adversely affected due to fall in international crude oil prices because of COVID-19 and collapse in understanding between OPEC and Russia on continued production cuts. Average Crude Oil price realisation during Q4 FY 2019-20 was $52.18/bbl (bbl = barrel of oil) which was lower by 15.51% as compared to crude oil price realisation of $61.76/bbl during Q4 FY 2018-19.

Crude oil price realization decreased 13.23% to Rs 3,776.79 per barrel in Q4 FY20 compared with Rs 4,352.84 per barrel in Q4 FY19.

Crude oil production stood at 0.758 MMT (million metric tonne) in Q4 FY20 compared with 0.784 MMT in Q4 FY19. Natural Gas production was at 0.645 BCM (billion cubic metres) in Q4 FY20 as against 0.703 BCM in Q4 FY19. Oil & Oil Equivalent production stood at 1.403 MMTOE (millions of tonnes of oil equivalent) in Q4 FY20 as compared to 1.487 MMTOE in Q4 FY19.

Crude Oil sales stood at 0.748 MMT in Q4 FY20 as against 0.777 MMT in Q4 FY19. Natural Gas sales was at 0.531 BCM in Q4 FY20 as against 0.620 BCM in Q4 FY19. Oil & oil equivalent sales stood at 1.279 MMTOE in Q4 FY 2020 as compared to 1.397 MMTOE in Q4 FY 2019.

Meanwhile, On 27 May 2020, one of the gas producing well in Baghjan field in Assam suddenly became very active while work over operation was on. The effort to control the blowout is going on. Teams of OIL, ONGC and international expert are working to control the well at the earliest. Due to blow out, there is production loss of about 80,000 SCMD of natural gas which is only about 1% of OIL's daily natural gas production.

National Green Tribunal has issued an order constituting a ten-member committee for investigation. NGT has also ordered OIL to deposit Rs 25 crore as an interim money with DC, Tinsukia.

Oil India is a state-owned Navratna under the administrative control of India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. As of 31 March 2020, the Government of India held 56.66% stake in the company.

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The transaction values the pharma business at an enterprise value (EV) of $2,775 million.

Piramal Enterprises (PEL) on Saturday (27 May 2020) announced that The Carlyle Group has agreed to invest fresh equity capital for a 20% stake in Piramal Pharma, the company's wholly owned subsidiary.

The Carlyle Group is a global investment firm that deploys private capital across four business segments: corporate private equity, real assets, global credit and investment solutions. The group has assets worth $217 billion under its management as of March 31, 2020.

The transaction values the company's pharma business at an enterprise value (EV) of $2,775 million with an upside component of up to $360 million depending on the company's FY21 performance. Based on the EV (excluding the upside component), exchange rate and pharma net debt as on 31 March 2020, the estimated equity capital investment for Carlyle's 20% stake in Piramal Pharma would amount to approximately $490 million.

"The final amount of equity investment will depend on the net debt, exchange rate and performance against the pre-agreed conditions at the time of closing of the deal," the company said.

PEL's pharma revenue since the company sold its main formulation business to Abbott India has grown 3.5 times at a CAGR of 15% from Rs 1,537 crore in FY11 to Rs 5,419Cr in FY20. In this period, the pharma business EBITDA has gone up 13 times at a CAGR of 33% from Rs 110 crore in FY11 to Rs 1,436 crore in FY20 (excluding financials of Allergan and CCPL JV), resulting in a significant improvement in the EBITDA Margin from 7% in FY11 to 26% in FY20.

The transaction is one of the largest private equity deals in the Indian pharmaceutical sector, and is expected to close in 2020, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Ajay Piramal, chairman, Piramal Enterprises, said, "We are pleased to announce the strategic growth investment by Carlyle, a marquee global investor, in Piramal Pharma. This is an affirmation of the strength of our ability to build new, attractive and scalable businesses with a significant runway for continued organic growth and opportunities for consolidation. This infusion of funds will further strengthen our balance sheet and provide us with a war chest for the next phase of our strategy."

Shares of PEL fell 2.19% to Rs 1313.15 amid profit booking. The stock added 29.16% in six sessions to end at Rs 1,343.10 on Friday (26 June 2020) from its recent closing low of Rs 1,039.85 on 18 June 2020. The Nifty Pharma index had risen 1.6% during the same period.

PEL is one of India's large diversified companies, with presence in financial services and pharmaceuticals.

On a consolidated basis, PEL reported net loss of Rs 1,702.59 crore in Q4 March 2020 as compared with a net profit of Rs 454.63 crore in Q4 March 2019. Net sales fell 2% to Rs 3,341 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019.

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The case also showed for the first time that Gorsuch and Kavanaugh backed the anti-abortion cause, as hoped by longtime activists. The ruling will only further the push by social conservatives to reelect Trump so they might have a third opportunity to nominate a justice, ensuring the courts balance is fully in their favor, and in time to rule on more significant abortion cases working their way up to the Supreme Court. Many of those laws would have a far greater reach than the Louisiana case.
The Reserve Bank Of India (RBI) has decided to extend the enhanced borrowing facility provided to the banks to meet their liquidity shortages till September 30.

The RBI, as a temporary measure, had increased the borrowing limit of scheduled banks under the marginal standing facility (MSF) scheme from 2% to 3% of their Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) with effect from March 27, 2020.

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Sun Pharmaceutical Industries added 0.46% to Rs 482.15 after the company said its unit received Japan drug regulator's approval for ILUMYA, which is used in treating plaque psoriasis.

In an exchange filing made during market hours today, the drug major announced that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries has received approval from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Japan for ILUMYA (tildrakizumab) for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in adult patients who have an inadequate response to conventional therapies. Japan has approximately 430,000 people currently suffering from psoriasis, the firm said.

ILUMYA is one of the key specialty products of Sun Pharma and it was approved by US FDA in March 2018 while the European Commission approved it in September 2018.

Junichi Nakamichi, country head, Sun Pharma Japan, said, ILUMYA is the first innovative drug that Sun Pharma plans to launch in Japan. It was extensively tested in Japanese patients as part of ILUMYA's global clinical development program. The drug offers a new treatment option with only one injection every 12 weeks for Japanese patients who struggle everyday with the chronic nature of plaque psoriasis. It showed sustained efficacy for over 4 years and has safety profiles over 4 years with low rates of severe infections, malignancies and MACEs (major adverse cardiovascular events). This approval adds a biologic product to our existing strong dermatology portfolio in Japan. We will leverage Sun Pharma Japan's robust marketing network to make ILUMYA, a safe and efficacious product, available to dermatologists and patients in Japan.

Sun Pharma is the world's fourth largest specialty generic pharmaceutical company and India's top pharmaceutical company.

The company reported 37.1% decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 399.84 crore on 14.3% rise in total revenue from operations to Rs 8,184.94 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019.

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The Phoenix Mills said the company's board at its meeting scheduled today, 29 June 2020 will consider a proposal to raise funds through various modes.

The Phoenix Mills said its board will today consider a proposal to raise funds by way of issue of the company's securities (equity and/or convertible instruments), through a rights issue / preferential issue / qualified institutions placement, subject to obtaining requisite regulatory / statutory approvals.

The announcement was made after market hours on Friday, 26 June 2020. Shares of The Phoenix Mills settled 2.14% higher at Rs 598.80 on Friday.

The Phoenix Mills group is the largest player in the Indian retail mall segment, and has a portfolio of of eight retail mall assets across major cities in the country. It also has an office portfolio of in Mumbai and Pune, two operational hotels (one in Mumbai and another in Agra), and residential real estate in Bengaluru and Chennai.

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The United States has become increasingly critical of China over the past few weeks. Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, has openly castigated China over its military moves in its neighbourhood and in the South China Sea. Chinas opaque and authoritarian political structure and its expansionist policy are being denounced the world over.

This is absolutely fine. But it must not be forgotten that todays China has been, in some sense, a creation of the US and its western allies. They have been instrumental in Chinas economic rise as they have made huge ...
Delhi leaders on Monday staged a protest across the city against hike in fuel prices, raising slogans against the BJP-led central government and the AAP dispensation in the national capital.

Delhi president Anil Kumar and party workers, however, were detained later by police at a petrol pump near Parmanand hospital.

Kumar said police detained him and party workers as they tried to go to Raj Niwas, which is Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's official residence, to lodge their protest against the rising prices of petrol and diesel.

Police said they were detained around 10 am and would be released soon.

Protesting against the fuel price hike, the Delhi chief, said, "People are already suffering from coronavirus and consequences of lockdown. At such a time, the rise in prices of petrol and diesel by the Modi government and Kejriwal government in Delhi is adding to their woes."



Diesel price on Monday scaled a new high after prices were hiked for the 22nd time in just over three weeks, taking the cumulative increase to Rs 11.14 per litre.

Petrol price was increased by 5 paise per litre and diesel 13 paise a litre across the country, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies.

In Delhi, a litre of petrol now comes for Rs 80.43 per litre as compared to Rs 80.38 earlier. Diesel rates have been increased to Rs 80.53 per litre from Rs Rs 80.40.

The Delhi Congress leaders, along with party workers, held protests at petrol pumps in all the districts of the city.

Party leader Parvez Ahmed was also detained at Maurice Nagar police station.

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh on Sunday slammed the central government, accusing it of taking a loan of Rs 5,700 crore from China and on the other hand, asking people to boycott the neighbouring country.

"The drama of BJP is praiseworthy. You tell the country to boycott China and the Modi government takes a loan from China of Rs 5,700 crore. The country's soldiers are losing their lives on the borders and the BJP government is working on the basis of a submissive policy," Singh's tweet, which was roughly translated from Hindi, read.

Earlier, the Ministry of Finance on June 19 announced that the Government of India and Beijing-based multilateral financial institution Asian Infrastructure Investment bank (AIIB) signed an agreement for USD 750 million (around Rs 5,688 crore) COVID-19 assistance to India.

"The Government of India and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) signed a USD 750 million 'COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Programme' to assist India to strengthen its response to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on poor and vulnerable households. This is the first-ever budgetary support programme from the AIIB to India," the ministry had said.

The AIIB is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia. It began operations in January 2016 and has now grown to 102 approved members worldwide.

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Former Uttarakhand chief minister on Monday rode a bullock cart here to protest against fuel price hike across the country and performed puja' at a Shiva temple praying for "good sense" to dawn upon the central government.

Resorting to a unique way of protest, he rode the bullock cart waiting near the Ordnance Factory gate in Raipur area along with his supporters wearing masks and following social distancing norms.

Speaking from the bullock cart as it drove to the Shiva temple, Rawat said at a time when crude oil prices had come down everywhere in the world, the central government had increased the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG more than a dozen times hitting badly the transport system, farming and the auto industry.

"Skyrocketing fuel prices have caused a rise in the prices of essential commodities too which has come as a double blow for the economy already battered by the coronavirus crisis," he said.

After arriving at the temple, the AICC general secretary said he came to pray for "good sense" to dawn upon the central government.

He said he had also prayed for early deliverance to the people of the state and the country from coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Congress workers staged dharnas and protests against fuel price hike all over the state at the call of PCC president Pritam Singh, shouting slogans against the Modi government.

Leading a dharna at the state Congress office here, Singh said in the last six years (from 2014 to 2020), the Modi government had looted Rs 80 lakh crore of people's hard earned money and broken the back of common people battling coronavirus.

The Congress will not tolerate this loot anymore and launch an agitation against the price rise, he said.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister on Sunday said that the people of the country want to know why did the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) "take money" from China.

"The country wants to know why Rajiv Gandhi Foundation took money from China? Sonia Gandhi will have to tell the country the truth. They get donations from China and do an MoU with the Chinese Communist Party. They should apologise to the country. Congress does not even have the right to speak in the matter of protecting the country," Chouhan said in the Chhattisgarh Jan Samvad programme.

"In 2005-06, China gave a donation of Rs 90 lakh to the Congress. Does Congress have any shame? At that time, the chairperson of the Congress was Sonia Gandhi," he added.

Chouhan said, "Jawaharlal Nehru had advocated for making China a permanent member in the United Nations. Why China is shocked today after Prime Minister Narendra Modi built a road to the border. India is the only country in the world that can move ahead of China in future."

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said that Jawaharlal Nehru gave the slogan of 'Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai' (Indians and Chinese are brothers) but the latter himself did not know that when did the Chinese enter the Indian territory in 1962.

"When the Chinese had entered India, Congress had said in Parliament that what would they do with that land as even grass does not grow there, while referring to Aksai Chin area," he said.

Chouhan stated that the current scenario is different under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"China forgot that it is not the India of 1962. This is Modi's India. We are in favour of peace and we will not provoke anyone but if someone provokes us, we will not leave them," he said.

Chouhan stated that Chhattisgarh's initials CG signified "credible growth" when Raman Singh was the state's Chief Minister, but today's CG signifies "chaotic governance".

"What does Chhattisgarh mean? CG meant credible growth when Raman Singh was Chief Minister. But today's Chhattisgarh means chaotic governance. Today, the people of Chhattisgarh are feeling what Raman Singh was? He led the state for 15 years and wrote a new chapter in development," he said.

He said that the Prime Minister has done the work of increasing honour of the country in the world.

"Generations were spent to create the best India. Today, a New India has been formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi," he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Around 20 to 25 new members,



including some former Congress MLAs who joined the in March, are likely to be inducted in Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's cabinet in its second round of expansion that is expected soon, sources in the ruling party said on Monday.

The sources said 14 to 15 MLAs and around nine former Congress legislators, who joined the saffron party in March, are likely to be get ministerial berths.

Chouhan flew to New Delhi on Sunday to hold consultations with the leadership over the much- talked about cabinet expansion, they said.

Chouhan last week said the expansion of the state cabinet will take place soon.

The initial 'mini' expansion of the cabinet took place on April 21 with the induction of five ministers, nearly a month after Chouhan took oath as the chief minister for a record fourth term.

Among these five ministers, two were former Congress MLAs.

The BJP came to power in March after Kamal Nath resigned as chief minister following rebellion by nearly two dozen MLAs of the Congress.

Most of these rebel MLAs were considered close to former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the Congress and joined the BJP more than three months ago.

Meanwhile, according to Rajya Bhavan sources, the visit of Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, who has been given the additional charge of Madhya Pradesh, to Bhopal on Monday has been postponed.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Abraham Lincoln ended his second inaugural speech this way  With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to the right, let us strive on to finish the work that we are in, to bind up the nations wounds, to care for him who shall have born the battle and his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president and Maharashtra Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said that the Congress party is with the government on the China issue, but that does not mean that questions should not be asked on the issues of interest.

"The questions raised by on is not politics, but a responsibility given by the people. We cannot compare the situation in 1962 with what is happening today. Not a single soldier has lost his life on the India-China border in 45 years. Our 20 soldiers were martyred at Galwan Valley due to China's aggression," Thorat said.

"Even then the Prime Minister says no-one intruded on our territory. Using these statements of his, China is calling our martyrs as intruders. Just like the Congress Party, Sharad Pawar too must have been saddened by this," he added.

Thorat said that has raised questions that are on the minds of the general public.

"The concerns raised by Rahul are regarding the integrity of our country. Even today Prime Minister didn't utter a single word regarding the Chinese aggression in his 'Mann Ki Baat' program. This is not the time to keep quiet. BJP should not look at the suggestions of the Congress as politics! If it is about the integrity of the country, then Rahul and the Congress party will continue to ask questions," he said.

NCP president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that the security matters should not be politicised.

"We can not forget what happened in 1962 when China occupied 45,000 sq km of our territory. At present, I do not know if they occupied any land, but while discussing this we need to remember past. security matters shouldn't be politicised," said Pawar.

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The former Congress party chief took to Twitter to show his resentment and stated, "Come and join #SpeakUpAgainstFuelHike campaign." This came after the state-run oil marketing companies raised the prices of petrol and diesel on Monday, a day after there was no hike in rates that were increasing continuously for three weeks. Rahul Gandhi also shared a video wherein a person could be heard saying that the government is "rubbing salt ...

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Digital Editor
The need to create more linkages between India and south-east Asian economies like Vietnam were pointed out by industry experts at an online discussion recently organized by Business Standard which focused on 'Leveraging on MSME Strength to become a global hub'.

The online Smart Business event held in association with World Trade Centre Mumbai on 12 June saw global participation from entrepreneurs and small businesses, many of whom face liquidity, logistics and marketing challenges during the current coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, they expressed keen interest in upcoming areas as appetite for growth remains strong among MSMEs in India.

Frank Weiand, Technical Director of USAID SMELink Project in Vietnam, said small businesses across countries should use this time to strategize, identify their markets and push for refining their business plan.

Rene Van Berkel, Representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization - India, said local and global supply chains are set to be massively redrawn soon, and companies should draw on their strengths to remain in control.

Nikhil Puri, Global Head of Sourcing and Procurement at Sterlite Technologies, said despite limitations businesses should take utmost care in retaining customers and should approach day to day challenges through the prism of service towards long-standing business partner entities.

Nguyen Viet Long, Deputy CEO of Becamax, the leading infrastructure development company in Vietnam's Binh Duong Province invited Indian companies to closely trade and explore opportunities in Vietnam. Trade in information technology goods and industrial products is set to boom as Vietnam places increasing importance on India, he said.
After rising over 1 per cent in the week gone by, the Indian are likely to start this week on a weak note. The SGX Nifty is indicating a cut of around 70 points for the Nifty at open which is likely to be at around 10,270 levels. This comes amid weakness in rest of the Asian share this morning, Japans Nikkei shed 1.3 per cent and South Korean stocks were down 0.9 per cent in early deals. Overall, MSCIs broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.2 per cent.

In commodities, Brent crude was last trading flat at $41.02 a barrel.

The Indian may today react to S&P's warning that the Indian economy is in deep trouble. The rater has projected the Indian economy's growth to contract by 5 per cent this fiscal, citing India's difficulties in containing the virus, an anemic policy response, and underlying vulnerabilities as the reason behind the estimate.

Besides, macro data, geo-political tensions, corporate results, and trend in Covid-19 cases will be other top factors to steer the markets this week.

Investors will especially monitor updates on the India-China standoff as well as the US-Sino trade talks as any escalation will negatively impact the markets

Meanwhile, the worldwide coronavirus cases crossed the tally of 10 million yesterday, according to Worldometer. India reported 19,620 new cases to take the tally to 5.49 lakh while the number of deaths reached 16,487. Amid this, market participants will also watch out for any signs of the second phase of reopening although Jharkhand became the first state after West Bengal to extend the lockdown till July 31.

On the results front, over 1,400 companies are scheduled to announce their quarterly earnings this week. This includes ONGC, Vodafone Idea, MRF, RITES, and SAIL, among others.

On the macro front, Markit India Manufacturing PMI is scheduled for release on Wednesday while the Markit India Services PMI will be released on Friday. June auto sales data will start pouring in front Wednesday onwards. Besides, investors will also watch out for the meeting of US Fed's meeting held on June 9 and 10 which will be released on Wednesday.

Sources have told Business Standard that the RBI's one-time restructuring scheme may not be a blanket relaxation for all sectors of the economy, and the litmus test for qualification could be a clear-cut linkage with Covid-19-induced stress. Firms from the aviation, hospitality, and retail sectors are expected to be allowed to avail of the new scheme, whereas realty, steel, power, and telecom players could be excluded.

Moreover, after sidestepping the idea for the first half of FY21, the Centre is now considering direct monetisation of its fiscal deficit by the RBI in the second half.

And, in the end, let's have a technical look at the Nifty. Analysts at CapitalVia Global Research say that Nifty might witness resistance in subzone of 10,500, as maximum call open interest is placed here after 10,500. For the weekly expiry, the Nifty is likely to take support at 10,300 as maximum put open interest stands here after 10,000.



Read by Kanishka Gupta
Nissan Motor Co Chief Executive Makoto Uchida told shareholders on Monday that he would stick to his promise to step down as leader if he fails to deliver on his turnaround plan for the Japanese automaker.

"At the last extraordinary shareholders meeting ... I said that if Nissan's performance does not improve, please fire me," Uchida told shareholders at the company's general meeting.

"This policy remains unchanged."

Uchida, who took over as head of Nissan in December, was addressing shareholders after the automaker last month reported its first annual loss in 11 years.

Also read: SoftBank to repurchase $1.9 billion of domestic corporate bonds
The Supreme Court on Sunday dismissed a plea seeking the cancellation of remaining RBSE Class 10 board examinations slated to be held between June 29 and June 30. A 3-judge bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar said that because no new COVID-19 cases were reported from examination centres so far, the apex court said that it found no solid reason to interfere with the examination dates set by the state education board.

This plea was filed by Maghi Devi, a resident of Bikaner and parent of a class 10 student, against the Rajasthan HC order that allowed the Rajasthan state board to conduct examinations with necessary precautions. This plea stated that 11,86,418 students would be exposed to coronavirus if the exams were conducted as the designated exam centres were also utilised as quarantine centres.

The plea as accessed by news agency ANI said, "About 120 schools which are designated examination centres were used to quarantine people for shelter labourers in transit and that the conducting of examinations is wrong, illegal and discriminatory for the reason that it jeopardizes the health of the students undertaking the exams and this, amounting to violation of Article 21 and Article 14 of the Indian Constitution."

The 3-judge bench of the Supreme Court also said that the petition does not quote a single instance of complaint about inappropriate facilities or the possibility of students getting exposed to the coronavirus due to the breach of standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the government to contain coronavirus outbreak.

This, however, is not the first petition seeking the cancellation of exams junked by the Supreme Court. Earlier, SC had trashed a petition seeking the cancellation of Karnataka state board exams.

Also read: India-China clash: Centre cancels Bihar's mega bridge project tender over Chinese investments
The special insolvency resolution framework for MSMEs, at an early stage of drafting by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), recommends a much shorter timeline - 90 days instead of the existing 330 days - for completion of the process, and allows promoters of a defaulting MSME to submit resolution plan.

The special draft framework, which will be applicable for MSMEs with turnover less than Rs 250 crore or an investment less than Rs 50 crore, recommends that the insolvency procedures against an MSME can only be triggered by the MSME itself and not by any of the creditors. But for initiating an insolvency process, the MSME must take approval from unrelated financial creditors having at least 25% of the outstanding financial claims.

The draft provisions, which are yet to be made public, also envisage a complete change in the approach - from the existing creditor-in-control to debtor-in-control. That means the promoters of the MSME continues to run the company, instead of the financial creditors through the help of resolution professionals (RPs), as is the norm under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

According to the draft framework, the resolution professionals will have no role in managing day-to-day affairs of the company, but their role will be limited to conducting and supervision of the insolvency process.

The draft framework also seeks to simplify claim verification process and preparation of information memorandum. It says that to reduce the cost, the RP does not need to make public announcement of the commencement of the insolvency process in newspapers. Instead, a public notice on the website of the MSME and IBBI would be sufficient.

To make the claim process simpler, the draft framework suggests that the MSME should provide an updated list of outstanding claims, and a draft information memorandum, based on its books, which may be certified by the Chairman/Managing Director of the company, to the RP on the day he is appointed. The RP should provide the details of claims to each creditor and seek confirmation or objections.

Sanjeev Ahuja, insolvency professional and director, Grenoble Consultants Pvt Ltd, says that the 90-day timeline is too tough to comply with especially when the NCLT takes its own sweet time to hear the cases. "The time taken by the NCLT is beyond the control of the resolution professionals. In my view, 120 days plus an additional 60 days looks a more pragmatic timeline - 120 days is the normal time and in case if I need an extension, another 60 days," he says.

Ahuja, who has been part of the deliberations on the draft framework says that another problem with the proposed rules is that they do away with the need for public announcements through newspapers. "It goes against the principle of natural justice. Why do you think as Rs 240-crore MSME will have a handful of creditors? The idea of public announcement is that people across the globe come to know about it. Then they want the RPs to write each and every creditor for confirmation, which is not possible. You make public announcement and, people will come back with their claims," he says.

The framework also seeks to exempt the MSMEs from Section 29A of the IBC, which bars promoters from submitting a resolution plan. It argues that since the business of an MSME attracts interest primarily from its promoter and may not be of interest to other resolution applicants, it is in the interest of a defaulting MSME to allow its promoters to submit a resolution plan.

The promoter should be able to inform the resolution professional within 15 days of the initiation of the insolvency process if they are going to submit a resolution plan or not. The resolution plan submitted by the promoter would then be put out for Swiss challenge, and third-parties will be allowed to come up with better bids, if at all.

The Committee of Creditors (CoC) will be formed as in normal course. However, to make matter simpler, a resolution plan could be approved by the CoC if 66 per cent of the total voting shares of the creditors who cast their votes, vote in favour of the plan, which means abstinence of certain creditors would not delay the process.

It is to be noted that the Finance Minister on May 17, 2020, while announcing the special packages for industry, has proposed a special insolvency framework for MSMEs.

Even as the IBBI is working on the special framework for MSMEs, it is not certain if the same will be applicable only for the period during which normal insolvency process will remain suspended or the MSME framework would be there forever.

The framework also enables initiation of the insolvency resolution process on the occurrence of default of at least Rs 1 lakh, arising before or after 25th March 2020, irrespective of increase in threshold of default from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1 crore and suspension of initiation of CIRP under sections 7, 9 and 10 for defaults during the COVID-19 period.

ALSO READ: MSMEs crisis: New Rs 1 crore payments default threshold for bankruptcy backfires

ALSO READ: Banks sanction over Rs 75,400 crore of loans to MSMEs under credit guarantee scheme

ALSO READ: Save MSMEs campaign! Easier access to Rs 3 lakh crore loan scheme, GST rebate among top demands

ALSO READ: MSME credit guarantee scheme suffers as banks fear NPAs
The Centre has cancelled the tender of a mega bridge project over the Ganga in Bihar as Chinese companies are involved in it, officials said on Sunday. "Two of the four contractors selected for the project were Chinese and the tender was cancelled because of their involvement in it," a top Bihar government official said.

The capital cost of the entire project, including a 5.6-km-long bridge, other minor bridges, underpasses and a rail overbridge, was estimated at over Rs 2,900 crore. The decision to cancel the project came in the backdrop of the killing of 20 Indian soldiers in a clash with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley on June 15.

The skirmish at the border with China has led to a widespread call for a boycott of Chinese products and business entities. The project was cleared by the Union government's cabinet committee on economic affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on December 16, 2019.

The proposed bridge was to be built parallel to the Mahatma Gandhi Setu across the Ganga river and it would have helped the people of Patna, Saran and Vaishali districts, officials said. Besides the main bridge, the project included four vehicular underpasses, a rail overbridge, a 1.58-km-long viaduct, a flyover, four minor bridges, five bus shelters and 13 road junctions, they added.

The construction period for the project was three-and-a-half years and it was supposed to be completed by January, 2023.

Also read: Indian, Japanese, Taiwanese activists protest against Xi Jinping's 'dictatorial style of working' in Japan
The Indian Air Force is going to receive fully-battle ready Rafale fighter jets by the end of next month as tensions between India and China continue to escalate. These jets would provide India an edge over Chinese long-range missiles.

Six Rafale fighter jets along with over 150-km strike range Meteor missiles would be arriving next month. Top government sources told India Today that these jets would give Indian forces an edge over the Chinese military.

Earlier, only four were scheduled for delivery. However, amid the ongoing tensions with China, the number was increased to six. According to the sources, the jets would be deployed as soon as they reach India. Indian pilots have already undertaken extensive flights on these jets in France. Moreover, the delivery schedule was drawn up in such a manner that the training of pilots do not get affected.

The first Rafale-Meteor aircraft will be flown by the Commanding Officer of the 17 Golden Arrows squadron with a French pilot.

En route from France, the aircraft would be refuelled by a French Air Force tanker aircraft before they make a stopover in the Middle East. From the Middle East to India, there would be another mid-air refueling done by the Indian IL-78 tanker.

Moreover, the Indian armed forces have moved the air defence missile systems into Ladakh sector. "As part of the ongoing build-up in the sector, the air defence systems of both Indian Army and the Indian Air Force have been deployed in the sector to prevent any misadventure by the Chinese Air Force fighter jets or the People's Liberation Army choppers there," news agency ANI reported citing unidentified government sources.

Also read: India-China row: Indian armed forces move air defence missile systems into Ladakh sector
India is seeking the extradition of a top Pakistan militant suspected to have planned the 2008 Mumbai attacks after the United States said last week he was living freely in Pakistan, government officials said on Sunday. India and the United States have both indicted Sajid Mir of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group for the three-day attacks on hotels, a train station and a Jewish centre in which 166 people were killed including six Americans.

While Pakistan took action against the Lashkar founder Hafiz Saeed last year, it continued to provide safe harbour to other top militant leaders, the U.S. State Department's 2019 country report on terrorism said. One of them was Sajid, the "project manager" of the Mumbai attack, believed to remain free in Pakistan, the U.S. report said.

An Indian official said the government has repeatedly asked Pakistan to hand over Sajid who is charged with serving as chief planner of the attacks, directing preparations and reconnaissance and was also named as one of the Pakistan-based controllers during the attacks. "We have asked before, and are demanding again, he needs to be handed over," the official dealing with regional security issues said.

Pakistan's foreign office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Pakistan has repeatedly rejected U.S. allegations that it is a safe haven for militants and said it has prosecuted the leadership of several proscribed groups. Another Indian official said the lack of action against Sajid was in conflict with Pakistan's assurances to international organisations including the Financial Action Task Force, the global watchdog on terrorism financing. Pakistan is trying to get off the FATF grey list of offending nations.

The FBI has posted a reward of $5 million for information leading to the capture of Sajid who is also wanted for a 2008/2009 plot against Denmark's Jyllands-Posten newspaper to avenge its publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad that enraged many Muslims.

Also read: US to not extradite Mumbai attack convict David Headley as co-conspirator Rana faces extradition
What data does she have to support this theory? Does she know of the multitude of reasons that parents choose private over public? My daughter went to Mayo Elementary before I moved her to St. Marys many, many years ago. My reason for sending her had nothing to do with the fine school that Mayo was and still is. It had to do with religious education.
Several human rights activists, including Indians, Vietnamese and Bhutanese staged a demonstration against China at Hachiko statue on Sunday. The demonstration was against Chinese President Xi Jinping's dictatorial style of working. The protesters demanded the replacement of Jinping with a "responsible leader who shall be democratically elected by the Chinese people".

These protestors raised slogans against Xi's aggressive policies against Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, India, and Bhutan. According to the demonstrators, Jinping has taken several aggressive decisions in the last few years. For instance, his attempts to expand and encroach territories of neighbours, including India, Japan, Vietnam, South China Sea, Philippines, Bhutan, and several other, either by force or through projects such as Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI) and One Belt One Road (OROB).

Moreover, Jinping has continued to smother the voices of pro-democracy youth activists in Hong Kong. Additionally, Taiwan was recently denied representation at the World Health Organisation (WHO) at China's behest-even though Taiwan was one of the two countries in South East Asia, other being Vietnam which put forward a counter-strategy to combat the spread of coronavirus.

The protestors said that if the WHO paid heed to the early alarm raised by Taiwanese health authorities regarding COVID-19, the devastation wrought upon by COVID-19 would have been mitigated.

Hence, the protestors alleged that Xi manipulated Chinese communist system to secure himself as a lifelong Chinese President. The protestors demanded that China require a responsible leader who shall be democratically elected by the Chinese people.

Also read: Petrol price hiked by Rs 9.17, diesel Rs 11.14 since June 7; fuel rates cross Rs 80 in Delhi

Also read: 'Preventing shortfall during monsoon,' says govt after order to stock-up LPG creates panic in J&K
Amid dissension from some members of the ruling Nepal Communist Party, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that it is impossible to remove him. The Prime Minister also blamed India for conspiring against him over the India-Nepal map furore.

Speaking at an event to commemorate the 69th birth anniversary of the popular leader of the Nepal Communist Party Madan Bhandari, PM Oli said that meetings were underway at a hotel to remove him and that "an embassy is also active in it".

The Prime Minister said that nobody has asked him openly to quit but he can smell the undercurrent. Oli accused India of trying to destabilise his government and alleged that the Indian Embassy in the country is conspiring about the same. He said that conspiracies have been taking place since Nepal amended the map showing Indian land. "There is an open race to remove me from the post. Nepal's nationality is not weak. No one thought that a prime minister would be removed from office for printing a map," KP Sharma Oli said.

Nepal's parliament passed an amendment on June 13 to include the new political map featuring areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura. The neighbouring country laid claim over the strategically key areas along the border with India. India has maintained that these three areas belong to it and registered a strong protest.

Oli said that some Nepalese leaders are also involved in the attempts to remove him immediately. Former PM and Communist Party president Prachanda had said earlier that KP Oli has been unsuccessful on every front and he should resign. Prachanda said that siding with KP Oli was his biggest blunder as a politician and threatened to divide the party.

The India-Nepal bilateral ties came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8. Nepal reacted to the road and claimed that it passed through Nepalese territory. India rejected the claim and said that it lies completely within its territory.

Also read: New map permanent but ready for dialogue with India, says Nepal foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali

Also read: Nepal confident India, China will resolve differences through peaceful means
The pharmaceutical industry has sent a distress message to top government officials as well Prime Minister's Office (PMO) flagging delay in clearances for import from China. The industry has said that there has been an "acute disruption in manufacturing of pharmaceutical products". Delay in clearances for imports from China has come in aftermath of the border clash that triggered boycott calls for Chinese goods.

Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) informed the government that member companies have sent them distress calls over acute disruption in manufacturing of pharmaceutical products over the last three days. "Very critical key starting raw materials, intermediates & APIs are not being cleared for the reasons not known at all," said Pharmexcil, as mentioned in a report in CNBC-TV18.

Industry members said that if the import are not cleared on priority, then it will be a challenge to maintain 90-100 per cent production. Supply chain might also get "completely diluted" as a result, it said.

Industry also said that it appreciates the new policies but 'Atma Nirbharta' will come in its own time and considered manner. They have said that "man-made disruptions" have led to tremendous difficulties to the industry and asked the Department of Pharmaceuticals to urge speedy clearances of materials.

Delays in clearances have come as India is undertaking 100 per cent examination of all consignment of goods from China. Delhi-based Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator, Association of Indian Medical Device Industry and joint managing director of Hindustan Syringes said, "We are informed, all consignments of China origin are being detained at ports for 100 per cent examination." A Chennai-based industry source told BusinessToday.In that cargo will not be stopped, but will be re-examined. "Even the goods that have been given out of charge (faster clearance approval) will be re-examined," said the source.

Also read: Now, India throws the gauntlet! Imports from China held up at ports since June 22

Also read: 70% 'Made in China', eh? Centre to ask Flipkart, Amazon, others to disclose 'origin'
The Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) has said that some people are spreading rumours about depleting LPG stock in the Kashmir valley regarding a govt order. The department said that the order was given to oil companies to ensure stocking of LPG in Kashmir.

"The same has been written by the Director, FCS&CA Kashmir, to prevent any shortfall of essential commodities (particularly LPG) during the ensuing Monsoon season. We all know that the NH-44, between Ramban-JT stretch, behaves in an unpredictable manner during the rains. Currently, we maintain nearly a month of stock in Kashmir. We have requested the LPG companies to explore the feasibility of maintaining the stock for nearly 2 months to prevent any panic situations that may arise in the event of highway closure for a longer duration," said a statement by the department.

The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir had issued orders on Sunday asking oil companies to stock up LPG cylinders for at least two months. There was another order for requisition of school buildings for accommodation of securities in Genderbal district. The orders in the backdrop of the latest India-China clash created panic in the valley.

The government stated that the orders to stock-up LPG have been misconstrued before it released a clarification.

Omar Abdullah took to social media to say that the orders have created panic in the valley. "Government orders are creating panic in Kashmir & unfortunately after all the lies & false assurances last year even if/when the government explains these orders hardly any of us will take the assurances at face value. That said they still need to explain these orders," he said.

Government orders are creating panic in Kashmir & unfortunately after all the lies & false assurances last year even if/when the government explains these orders hardly any of us will take the assurances at face value. That said they still need to explain these orders. https://t.co/16mteocYAO  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 28, 2020

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) told NDTV that people were panicking because of these orders. KCCI chief Sheikh Ashique said that while everyone knows that the highway gets closed in the winters, it is unheard of for the highway to be closed for an extended time.

Also read: LPG cylinder prices hiked across India: Here are the latest rates
KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Shipments coming from China continue to be delayed at ports and airports without any convincing reason provided by Customs authorities

Containers held despite receiving delivery order for moving them out of Container Freight Station at Chennai port

Consignments coming from China being subjected to 100% physical verification

On being approached by Custom House Agent (CHA), the authorities at Chennai port blamed shortage of labour and department staff for delay in physical verification and clearance

Even as scores of shipments coming from China remain stuck at ports and airports amid escalating border tensions, it has now emerged that those containers which had been checked by Customs officials and given delivery order (DO) were also stopped from being wheeled out.

Muzaffarnagar-based Chakradhar Chemicals said its consignments worth about $25,000 were about to be loaded on truck and moved out after Customs' clearance at Chennai port but were ordered to stop.

ALSO READ: TikTok, Cam Scanner, Helo banned in India! Govt cracks down on 59 Chinese apps

"We had imported chemicals used in making water-soluble fertiliser. The consignment reached Chennai port last Friday and was cleared by Customs and issued DO, but it was stopped minutes before it was to be moved out. It is now lying at CFS there and no clear response is being given for holding it," Chakradhar Chemicals Chairman Neeraj Kedia said.

But he is not the only one impacted by delay in clearing shipments coming from China. Importers have complained of unexplained delays at ports and airports across the country.

Supertron Electronics' consignments have been held at the Chennai port for almost 10 days despite fulfilling all documentary compliances.

"Two of our shipments are pending over there (Chennai port). One is ready for delivery since June 20 but is still not out. The other was ready (duties paid and paperwork done) on June 26. The two shipments together would be valued at about Rs 2.5 crore," said VK Bhandari, Chairman and MD of Supertron.

Bhandari said that the shipments are open for physical verification but still haven't received clearance from Customs authorities.

ALSO READ: Auto manufacturers fear further disruption with imports from China stuck at ports

On being approached by custom house agents (CHA), the authorities blame shortage of labour and department staff for delay in physical verification and clearance.

Citing severe delays by Customs at various ports, German express logistics major DHL had last week decided to temporarily stop picking India-bound shipments from China, Hong Kong and Macau.

Ajay K Kadakia, Chairman of Basic Chemicals, Cosmetics & Dyes Export Promotion Council, popularly known as CHEMEXCIL, said he had been informed by members about delay in clearance of shipments coming from China.

"I have been informed that containers are not moving and I have been given an example of a particular consignment at Mumbai airport. In this case the consignment, which had come from China, landed at Mumbai airport. Duties were paid and everything was cleared but delivery has not been given," Kadakia said.

ALSO READ: Country of origin priority for only 37% customers on e-commerce platforms
The number of containment zones in Delhi has risen to 421 after the state government re-mapped such areas on Sunday. A total of 141 containment zones have been added since the commencement of the re-mapping exercise in Delhi on June 26. Before the re-mapping, there were 280 containment zones.

The Southwest district of Delhi has reported a rise of 37 zones since the re-mapping exercise started, taking the total number of such areas to 80. The North Delhi district has 59 containment zones, followed by South district (56), Central district (40), Shahdara district (38), East district (33) Southeast (32), Northwest (28), West (25), New Delhi (21) and Northeast (9).

Delhi health officials are expecting an increase in the number of containment zones as authorities are yet to complete the task.

Additionally, around 2.4 lakh people were screened till Saturday night in an ongoing exercise to check the spread of coronavirus under the revised strategy. Two lakh people were screened through house-to-house survey across the city. Also, 45,000 people were screened in the COVID-19 containment zones.

With the rising number of coronavirus cases in Delhi, the state government is ramping up its strategy to combat the virus. As per the 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.

The city has started conducting a serological survey from June 27. 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.

Delhi, on Monday, reported a total of 83,077 number of coronavirus cases, out of which 27,847 are active cases, 52,609 are cured, and 2,623 are dead, according to central government data.

Also read: Immunity boosting sandesh? West Bengal to make sweet to fight coronavirus

Also read: 'Preventing shortfall during monsoon,' says govt after order to stock-up LPG creates panic in J&K
AstraZeneca Pharma India share price hit all-time high of Rs 3,591 today after World Health Organisation (WHO) identified the candidates mentioned by Oxford University - AstraZeneca and Moderna Inc as front-runners who are working toward a coronavirus vaccine.

Also Read: Coronavirus vaccine update: Who will make it first?

While addressing a virtual media conference from Geneva, WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan stated that AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine candidate is the most advanced vaccine currently in terms of development.

The stock today opened at 3,439.95 gaining 2.7% today and later touched a fresh high of Rs 3,591, rising 7.21% against the last closing value of Rs 3,349 on BSE. Earlier, the stock also touched an intraday low of Rs 3,420.

AstraZeneca Pharma stock price trades higher than 5, 20, 50, 100 and 200-day moving averages. The stock has gained 9.9% in one week, 17% in one month and 35% since the beginning of the year. AstraZeneca Pharma stock has given 67% returns in the last one year.

Market capitalisation of the firm rose to Rs 8,910.63 crore.

AstraZeneca said they could deliver the vaccine by October if everything goes well. AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said that their potential COVID-19 vaccine candidate is likely to provide protection for a year. The company has already started human trials.

As per the chief scientist of the UN-run health organisation, the pharma company has more global scope at the moment in terms of where they are doing and planning their vaccine trials. Swaminathan said.

"They have advanced into phase 2 trials and are planning phase 3 in many countries. Moderna also has plans to go to phase 3 of clinical trials by mid-July, " she added.

Johnson and Johnson, Sanofi, Inovio, Sinovac, CanSino are other companies to have made significant progress in making Covid-19 vaccine.

Adani Green Energy share slips 5% amid plan to raise Rs 2,500 crore

Rupee vs Dollar: Rupee opens flat, rises 5 paise to 75.60 amid weak US dollar

Global Markets: Asian equities slip as coronavirus cases surge

Stocks in news: HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, IDBI Bank, Bajaj Auto, Vadilal, ITC, Coal India, Adani Power and more

Share Market LIVE: Sensex drops 240 points, Nifty at 10,308; MRF, Fortis Healthcare results today
Bharat Forge share price dropped over 11% intraday after the company reported a loss in Q4 FY20, due to lower sales and one-time exceptional loss

Bharat Forge reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 68.59 crore for the quarter ended March 2020 against net profit of Rs 324 crore in the year-ago quarter.

Following the result update, shares of Bharat Forge touched an intraday low of Rs 311.55, falling 11.65% against the previous close of Rs 352.65.

Earlier, the stock opened at Rs 353 and touched an intraday high of Rs 353.40 on BSE.

Bharat Forge stock price has lost 15% in one week, 3% in one month and 34% since the beginning of the year. Market capitalisation of the firm stood at Rs 16,196.00 crore as of today's closing session.

Bharat Forge shares trade higher than 50-day moving averages but lower than 5, 20, 100 and 200-day moving averages.

For the quarter ended March 2020, consolidated net sales were down 34.78% to Rs 1741.92 crore in Q4 FY20 from Rs 2670.78 crore in Q4 FY19.

"We are hopeful that sequentially things will start to improve from H2 FY21, as economies open up and stabilise. Although the current scenario is very different from what we have ever seen before, we are very confident that the company will come out from these difficult times stronger than before," company's management said in the regulatory filing.

Company's EBITDA stood at Rs 148.11 crore in Q4FY20, registering a fall of 75.08% YoY as against posted EBITDA of Rs 594.45 crore in Q4FY19. EBITDA margins came in at 8.5% as of Q4FY20, down 13.76% YoY against the same quarter last year.

For the financial year FY20, company reported a net loss of Rs 73.3 crore in FY20 against a profit of Rs 299.5 crore in FY19. Its revenue fell 47.2% at Rs 881.1 crore against Rs 1,668.6 crore YoY.

Shares of Bharat Forge closed 10.25% lower at Rs 316.50 apiece on BSE today.
Shares of IDBI Bank rose nearly 5 per cent, hitting 52-week high on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), after the lender said that its board has approved a plan to sell 27 per cent stake in its life insurance arm IDBI Federal Life Insurance for Rs 595 crore. In contrast, the BSE Sensex was trading 306 points, or 0.87 per cent, lower at 34,864. In the last one month, IDBI Bank shares have rallied as much as 106 per cent from the level of Rs 20.30 as on May 29, compared to 7.5 per cent rise in the BSE Sensex.

Shares of IDBI Bank gained as much as 4.89 per cent in opening deal to hit a record high of Rs 41.75 against previous closing price of Rs 39.80 on the BSE.

On the volume front, there was surge in trading as 25.01 lakh shares changed hands over the counter as compared to two-week average volume of 4.40 lakh shares.

On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), IDBI Bank share price was trading 3.63 per cent higher at Rs 41.45 against previous closing price of Rs 40. The stock opened higher at Rs 41.45 and touched a 52-week high of Rs 42 in intraday trade.

"The board of directors, at its meeting on June 26, 2020, has approved to sell IDBI Bank's stake in IDBI Federal Life Insurance Company to the extent of 23 per cent to Ageas and 4 per cent to Federal Bank at a combined value of about Rs 595 crore," IDBI Bank said in an exchange filing.

Also Read: IDBI Bank to sell 27% stake in IDBI Federal Life Insurance

The stake sale is subject to all regulatory approvals to be taken by all related parties and agreements which are yet to be finalised, the bank said.

IDBI Federal Life Insurance, formerly known as IDBI Fortis Life Insurance, is a joint venture between IDBI Bank, Federal Bank and Ageas, an European insurance company. The company was formed in 2008 with IDBI bank holding 48 per cent equity and Ageas and Federal Bank holding 26 per cent each.

Also Read: Federal Bank to buy additional 4% stake in life insurance JV from IDBI Bank

Post the stake sale, IDBI Bank's holding will come down to 21 per cent, while Ageas's stake in the insurance company will increase by 23 per cent to 49 per cent. Federal Bank's stake in IDBI Federal Life Insurance will increase by 4 per cent to 30 per cent.

IDBI Bank, which has been acquired by insurance giant Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), is planning to exit the insurance joint venture.

By Chitranjan Kumar
Chief Justice of India SA Bobde was recently photographed on a Harley Davidson motorcycle in hometown Nagpur. The photos have gone viral on social media with some saying that CJI was looking cool, while others lightly criticised the CJI for not wearing a helmet or a mask.

The CJI was sporting a t-shirt and a pair of sneakers in the photos while riding the bike on Sunday. The 64-year-old is a self-proclaimed motorcycle enthusiast and had said that he once owned a Bullet, which is a motorcycle manufactured by Royal Enfield.

However, the Harley Davidson in question does not belong to CJI Bobde.According to India Today, the Harley Davidson, Justice Bobde was pictured checking out, belongs to the son of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Nagpur.

Amongst all this, people online have been curious about the Harley Davidson motorcycle. The bike was the Limited Edition Harley Davidson CVO 2020. Here is everything you need to know about the Harley Davidson CVO 2020

Harley Davidson CVO 2020 specifications

The CVO 2020 is a top-of-the-line luxury cruiser bike manufactured by Harley Davidson which is amongst the most well-known motorcycle brands in the world. The CVO 2020 has a massive 1923 cc engine which can maintain a horsepower of 107.4 PS at 540 RPM. The CVO 2020 has a mileage of 17 km per litre. The double cylinder engine of limited edition CVO 2020 has attached to it a 6-speed manual gearbox. The bike has both rear and front disk brakes along with an anti-locking braking system.

The bike weighs around 428 kg making it much heavier than average bikes Indian roads. The Limited Edition Harley Davidson CVO 2020 comes in three colours Magnetic Grey Fade, Magnetic Grey & Wineberry With Red Pepper, Auburn Sunglo & Black Hole With Rich Bourbon.

Harley Davidson CVO 2020 Price

Those looking to copy the CJI's look would have to pay a hefty sum as the Limited Edition Harley Davidson CVO 2020 is amongst the most expensive on-road bikes in India. Though different dealers have quoted varied prices the average price of the bike is around Rs 51 lakh.

Also Read:Coronavirus outbreak: Stock market recovery doesn't indicate economic revival

Also Read: Pharma companies send SOS to govt to clear stuck imports from China
We do not challenge the right of the state to ban these (bumps stocks) prospectively for new owners, he said Monday. What we challenge is the right of the state to refuse to pay people whose own personal property is being taken because (the law) requires them to be destroyed.
Infosys CEO Salil Parekh said that the company is quite prepared to tackle any near-term challenges from the H-1B visa suspension imposed by the US government with a strong localisation strategy.

He elaborated that since the company is hiring locally in the United States (US), its dependence on H-1B visas has come down considerably. He added that the Indian IT major will hire more local employees in the US given the growing visa challenges.

Parekh was replying to shareholders' questions on the suspension of H-1B visas by Trump administration at the company's 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday. Around 1,771 shareholders participated in the meeting held virtually for the first time.

Also Read: H-1B visa: Blow to Indian IT employees aspiring for the Great American Dream

He informed that, in the last 24 months, Infosys hired more than 10,000 US citizens in the country. Parekh added that currently, around 60% of the company's employees in the US are visa dependent.

Infosys had earlier said that it hired 78% of its senior management staff locally in FY20. The company had 17,709 employees in the US at the end of FY20.

Parekh highlighted that Infosys is witnessing new areas of interest from its clients in a post-COVID world. "The new areas of client interest include cloud/digital, cost efficiency & automation, and consolidation," he said.

Also Read: Infosys well positioned to overcome coronavirus pandemic: Nandan Nilekani to investors

Meanwhile, describing the COVID-19 pandemic as unusual and unprecedented, Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani said the company is well-positioned to navigate the crisis.

"Over the last few years, we have made huge investments in making Infosys stronger and more resilient, while bringing agility and speed in everything we do," Nilekani said.
Hyderabad-based vaccine major Bharat Biotech announced on Monday that its vaccine candidate for COVID-19, COVAXIN has been granted permission for advancing to human trials. The company claims it is "India's first vaccine candidate for COVID-19, developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Virology (NIV)".

A note issued by the company says, "The SARS-CoV-2 strain was isolated in NIV, Pune and transferred to Bharat Biotech. The indigenous, inactivated vaccine was developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech's BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) High Containment facility located in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, India."

ALSO READ: Coronavirus vaccine update: Who will make it first?

It says, the Drug Controller General of India under Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has "granted permission to initiate Phase I & II human clinical trials after the company submitted results generated from preclinical studies, demonstrating safety and immune response. Human clinical trials are scheduled to start across India in July 2020."

There are no details on how long the next steps are likely to take and when the vaccine is likely to be launched in the market. Those within the industry say the company seems to have achieved vaccine stabilisation and completion of animal studies in record time considering that it was only on May 9, 2020 that the ICMR announced collaboration with Bharat Biotech "to develop a fully indigenous vaccine for COVID-19 using the virus strain isolated at ICMR's National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune".

The next step would be to complete phase I of human trials and based on that the drug regulator will indicate the number of people on whom the vaccine would have to tried in phase II. The whole process of phase I and II should take another three to four months and the vaccine could be out in around four to five months, if all goes well.

ALSO READ: China's military receives approval to use CanSino's COVID-19 vaccine candidate

"The collaboration with ICMR and NIV was instrumental in the development of this vaccine. Our R&D and manufacturing teams worked tirelessly to deploy our proprietary technologies towards this platform," the note by Bharat Biotech quotes Dr Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of the company, as saying.

"Expedited through national regulatory protocols, the company accelerated its objective in completing the comprehensive pre-clinical studies. Results from these studies have been promising and show extensive safety and effective immune responses," the note further says.

Suchitra Ella, Joint Managing Director at Bharat Biotech, adds: "Our ongoing research and expertise in forecasting epidemics has enabled us to successfully manufacture a vaccine for the H1N1 pandemic. Continuing our focus on creating the only BSL-3 containment facilities for manufacturing and testing in India, Bharat Biotech is committed to advancing vaccine development as a matter of national importance to demonstrate India's strength in handling future pandemics."

However, this is not the only Indian company working on a COVID-19 vaccine. Others in the race include Serum Institute and Biological E.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus treatment: Maharashtra govt launches world's largest plasma therapy trial 'Project Platina'
Highlights Airtel has four prepaid plans that offer 56GB data per month.

The first plan in the segment offers 2GB data per day costs Rs 298.

The other three prepaid plans are priced at Rs 349, Rs 449, Rs 698

Telecom brand Airtel came up with many interesting prepaid plans recently and tweaked some of its existing prepaid plans. Airtel known for its expensive prepaid plans had also decreased the prices of some of its prepaid plans recently. Some of the prepaid plans are good for people who are working from home as they can use their mobile data if their wifi connection goes off.

In today's article, we would focus on all the Airtel prepaid plans that offer 56GB data per month. The company offers prepaid plans that suits the pockets of all type of users. So, if you are an Airtel subscriber checkout these prepaid plans by Airtel that offer 2GB data per day

 Airtel has four prepaid plans that offer 56GB data per month. The first plan in the segment offers 2GB data per day costs Rs 298. The prepaid plan comes with unlimited local, STD, and Roaming calls on any network along with 100 SMS per day. The prepaid plan has a validity of 28 days. If compared with the Vodafone and Jio plans, the Airtel plans cost almost the same as Vodafone but the Jio prepaid plan the offers similar benefits is a lot cheaper than both Airtel and Vodafone.

The second prepaid plan by Airtel that offers 2GB data per day costs Rs 349. The prepaid plan also ships with unlimited local, STD, and Roaming calls on any network along with 100 SMS per day. The prepaid plan has a validity of 28 days. Interestingly, the prepaid plan also provides a free subscription to Amazon Prime worth Rs 999. This could be one of the prime reasons why you should get this prepaid plan.

The third plan in the list costs Rs 449 and provides 2GB data per day. The prepaid plan provides unlimited local, STD, and Roaming calls on any network along with 100 SMS per day. The prepaid plan is valid for 56 days.

 The fourth and the last prepaid plan in this segment costs Rs 698. This one is a quarterly prepaid plan by the company considering it has a validity of 84 days. The prepaid plan comes with unlimited local, STD, and Roaming calls on any network along with 100 SMS per day. Although it is a bit expensive than the other plans, It could be a good prepaid plan for people who don't wish to recharge their numbers every month.
Sony has announced its own bug bounty programme for PlayStation 4 (PS4) and the PlayStation Network. According to the company, anyone who finds critical vulnerabilities in PS4 will get a reward of $50,000 (nearly Rs 38 lakh). Sony has partnered with HackerOne to help run this bug bounty programme.

"We are inviting the security research community, gamers, and anyone else to test the security of PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Network," Sony said in a statement this week.

For PS4 the bounties start at $50,000, whereas, bugs found in the PlayStation Network will have base bounties of $100-$3,000 or more (depending on severity). The reward will be given to a hacker who will first report a previously unreported vulnerability.

Sony added, "Reward amounts will differ based on vulnerability severity, as well as the quality of the report. Sony will only award a bounty to the first researcher to have reported a previously unreported vulnerability".

Ethical hackers have broken all records by earning $100 million in bug bounties on HackerOne. So far, the global community of hackers has uncovered 170,000 vulnerabilities in nearly 2,000 customer programme. In April, $5.9 million were paid to ethical hackers for addressing the growing security needs of an increasingly interconnected society.
NASA in a recent announcement has come up with a challenge for the inventors across the world. The task is to design a toilet that can work on future lunar lander spacecraft and not just microgravity, in simpler terms a toilet that can function on the moon. The winner of the challenge for the best-designed toilet for the moon will get a reward of $20,000 dollars from NASA. There are also cash prizes for second and third place, the placeholders will get $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.

"This challenge hopes to attract radically new and different approaches to the problem of human waste capture and containment," NASA's challenge specified in an overview posted by them on last Thursday.

The cash prize is not the only reward for the winner, their toilet design will be used for NASA's Artemis program which plans to land the first woman on the moon by 2024. In the past, NASA has developed toilets for space travel that can function in microgravity but they have not been able to come up with a functioning toilet for the moon yet. Moon does have gravity but its gravitational force is only one one-sixth compared to that of Earth.

NASA has also attempted to encourage inventions from the younger generation by organising a prize for the junior category alongside its main challenge. Innovators under 18 would be able to participate in this, the top three designers will receive an item of official

NASA-logoed merchandise and public recognition form NASA.

NASA has put a few rules in place for the challenge to make the moon toilet:

The toilet should not occupy any more than 4.2 cubic feet in area

The toilet should operate with noise levels below 60 decibels

The toilet should be able to collect a litre of urine and 500 grams of faeces simultaneously making it usable just in case any astronaut suffers from diarrhea.

As the Artemis program aims at putting the first woman on the moon, the moon toilet should be able to deal with up to 114 grams of menstrual blood.

The turnaround time between two uses should not be more than five minutes.

Also Read:Coronavirus outbreak: Stock market recovery doesn't indicate economic revival

Also Read: Pharma companies send SOS to govt to clear stuck imports from China
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) hosted on 24 June an online forum titled Beyond COVID-19: Global Tourisms New Normal  the first event of its kind focusing on the post-pandemic tourism prospects for Hong Kong, Mainland, Asia, and the world.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200626005349/en/

Dr YK Pang, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, highlights the importance of restoring consumer confidence in his opening remarks at todays online forum Beyond COVID-19: Global Tourisms New Normal. (Photo: Business Wire)

Over 4,000 tourism industry representatives, journalists, and academics registered for the event as global industry leaders share insights into the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on travel, how the industry should respond, and the trends to expect as people begin travelling again in the post-pandemic period.

In his opening remarks, HKTB Chairman Dr YK Pang emphasised the importance of restoring consumer confidence. As an industry, our central mission must be to give every traveller the confidence and reassurance that their trip is safe from start to finish, he said. Our cooperation must cross geographical and business boundaries. We must pool our knowledge and expertise and draw on our collective ingenuity to navigate the challenges that lie ahead of us.

Dr Pang highlighted initiatives Hong Kongs tourism industry has taken to stay ahead of the curve in containing the spread of the pandemic, and announced that the HKTB would team up with the HKSAR Government and trade partners to create Open House Hong Kong  a unique and region-leading travel platform to tell the world Hong Kong is a COVID-safe destination ready to welcome back visitors with attractive offerings and exciting experiences. He invited trade partners from around the world to support the platform by providing enticing offers for travelling to Hong Kong as a leading destination for visitors from every continent.

Seven internationally-respected speakers representing different sectors discussed the latest consumer sentiments and behaviour, and gave their insights into the challenges confronting the industry. Here is a selection of their expert observations:

Steve Saxon, Partner, McKinsey & Company

COVID-19 is a major humanitarian challenge. Yet there are implications for the wider economy and businesses. For instance, USD 0.9 trillion to 1.2 trillion has been lost in export revenues from tourism worldwide. While global tourism may return to previous levels in 2022, China, Indonesia, and the US stand out in optimism, with travel in China coming back to around half of the previous levels currently. However, traveller confidence is still low, and recovery is slower than expected. On the other hand, there is a major opportunity to capitalise on domestic travel and younger and family travellers, as most consumers are expecting to travel less  especially internationally  after COVID-19. China, the UK, and Germany are among those with greatest potential in domestic travel.

Hermione Joye, Sector Lead, Travel & Vertical Search APAC, Google

COVID-19 has led to a generational shift in the way the world operates, the travel industry almost came to a halt with global interest in travel dropping 3 times of that of pre-COVID times (based on search data). As a result, there is no longer a predictable normal when it comes to how consumers behave, and this is particularly true when it comes to the way they are thinking about travel. I am looking forward to sharing trends, consumer insights and principles that could help marketers respond in the new normal.

Jane Sun, CEO, Trip.com Group

At Trip.com Group, we believe it is our duty to guide travellers and the industry through this challenging period. Thats why from the onset of the pandemic, our teams have worked tirelessly to process over RMB 30 billion in cancellations, and weve given our partners over RMB 1 billion in financial support. Now, as things come under control, were seeing a rebound in demand, weve launched a USD 500 million fund for partners, and were offering flexible, safe, and discounted travel options for customers  to help our customers and the industry travel on.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating global socio-economic impact, our recent research shows that more than 197 million jobs are at risk, which would cause a loss of more than USD 5.5 trillion to Travel & Tourism GDP worldwide. It is vital for the survival of the Travel & Tourism sector that we work together and map out the road to recovery, through coordinated actions, and rebuild the confidence that people need to begin travelling once again. Our recently launched Safe Travels stamp will enable travellers to recognise the businesses and destinations worldwide which have implemented the WTTC global protocols and will encourage the return of Safe Travels around the world. It will, in turn, enable the Travel & Tourism sector to reopen for business and move in a coordinated approach.

Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO, International Air Transport Association (IATA)

The revival of the travel and tourism sector is vital. Millions of livelihoods depend on it. As some parts of the world begin to reopen their economies, I have no doubt that people will still want to travel. But adapting to the realities of COVID-19 and rebuilding peoples confidence is a challenge that must be met head-on with cooperation. Aviation is a case in point. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) developed global guidelines to mitigate the risk COVID-19 transmission when traveling by air. Now governments need to align in leading the implementation with the full support of the industry. We will only be successful by working together.

Peter C. Borer, COO, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd

The hospitality industry will move forward towards a new normal, with unprecedented health and safety measures in place. As leaders of the industry, we must collaborate, leave behind the paradigms of the past and look towards a new future. The hotel industry was already moving towards digitisation, artificial intelligence and robotics, and the health crisis has accelerated this trend. In the short term, we must regain the confidence and the trust of our guests and reassure them that they are safe when they stay with us. However, in the long term, the fundamentals of hospitality will not change, and guests will always appreciate personalised service.

Kai Hattendorf, Managing Director & CEO, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI)

Exhibitions and business events are the market places and the meeting places for every industry around the world. They are key to any economic recovery, and we have the know-how and standards to make them safe to attend. COVID-19 will lead to new procedures, standards, and processes. The pandemic is accelerating trends that were already shaping up around the marriage of the on-site event with online services before, during, and after the event. Business events will become more digital. But the main element that is driving success is and remains the direct exchange, the face-to-face meeting. Clicks dont discuss deals, and eyeballs dont sign orders.

A recording of Beyond COVID-19: Global Tourisms New Normal is available for registrant to review from 8am Hong Kong time on 25 June 2020. Each registered account can view the recording on one device at a time.

Video link: https://onlinexperiences.com/scripts/Server.nxp?LASCmd=AI:4;F:QS!10100&ShowUUID=ABC3688D-5064-4F68-82CA-1222C186581A

Members of the media can download the press release and related photos from the links below:

Press release: https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/hktb/newsroom/press-releases.html

Photos: https://hktb.filecamp.com/s/qAYVvEizcFSohC21/fo

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200626005349/en/
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (Toshiba) has released the industrys first[1] photocouplers for high-speed communications that can operate with a power supply as low as 2.2V. The two devices are the TLP2312, which delivers at typical data transfer rate of 5Mbps, and the 20Mbps TLP2372. Shipments start today.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200628005005/en/

Toshiba: Industry's first photocouplers TLP2312 and TLP2372 for high-speed communications that can operate with a power supply as low as 2.2V. (Photo: Business Wire)

The new products are designed to operate at low voltage, starting at 2.2V, so as to work with the lower voltages of the peripheral circuits, even when used in such low level voltage circuits as 2.5V LVCMOS. This approach eliminates the need for a separate power supply to drive the photocouplers, reducing the component count.

With a low threshold input current of 1.6mA (max), and low supply current of 0.5mA (max) in their -40 and +125 operating temperature range, the new photocouplers can be directly driven by microcontrollers, reducing power consumption.

The new photocouplers are housed in 5-pin SO6 package with a maximum height of 2.3mm, securing a low profile and bringing greater freedom to component layout on printed circuit boards.

Applications

High-speed digital interfaces

(programmable logic controllers (PLCs), general purpose inverters, measuring equipment and control equipment, etc.)

Features

Low voltage operation: V DD =2.2V to 5.5V

=2.2V to 5.5V Low threshold input current: I FLH =1.6mA (max)

=1.6mA (max) Low supply current: I DDH , I DDL =0.5mA (max)

, I =0.5mA (max) High operating temperature rating: T opr max=125

max=125 High-speed data transfer rates:

5Mbps (typ.) (TLP2312)

20Mbps (typ.) (TLP2372)

Main Specifications

(Unless otherwise specified, @T a = -40 to +125) Part number TLP2312 TLP2372 Data transfer rate typ. (Mbps) 5 20 Package Name 5pin SO6 Height max (mm) 2.3 Absolute maximum ratings Operating temperature T opr max () 125 Output current I O (mA) @T a =25 8 Operating Ranges Supply voltage V DD (V) 2.2 to 5.5 Electrical characteristics Supply current I DDH , I DDL max (mA) 0.5 Threshold input current (L/H) I FLH max (mA) 1.6 Switching characteristics Propagation delay time t pHL , t pLH max (ns) 250 60[2] Common mode transient immunity CM H , CM L min (kV/s) @T a =25 20 Isolation characteristics Isolation voltage BV S min (Vrms) @T a =25 3750 Sample Check & Availability Buy Online Buy Online

Notes:

[1] Among IC output photocouplers for high-speed communications, according to a survey by Toshiba, as of June 2020.

[2] At V IN =2.5V, R IN =470, C IN =68pF

Follow the links below for more on the new product.

TLP2312

https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/info/lookup.jsp?pid=TLP2312

TLP2372

https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/info/lookup.jsp?pid=TLP2372

Follow the link below for more on Toshibas optical semiconductor devices line-up.

Optical Semiconductor Devices

https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/semiconductor/product/optoelectronics.html

To check availability of the new products at online distributors, please visit:

TLP2312

https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/semiconductor/where-to-buy/stockcheck.TLP2312.html

TLP2372

https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/semiconductor/where-to-buy/stockcheck.TLP2372.html

Customer Inquiries

Optoelectronic Device Sales & Marketing Dept.

Tel: +81-3-3457-3431

https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/contact.html

* Company names, product names, and service names may be trademarks of their respective companies.

* Information in this document, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the announcement but is subject to change without prior notice.

About Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation combines the vigor of a new company with the wisdom of experience. Since becoming an independent company in July 2017, the company has taken its place among the leading general devices companies, and offers its customers and business partners outstanding solutions in discrete semiconductors, system LSIs and HDD.

Its 24,000 employees around the world share a determination to maximize the value of its products, and emphasize close collaboration with customers to promote co-creation of value and new markets. The company looks forward to building on annual sales now surpassing 750-billion yen (US$6.8 billion) and to contributing to a better future for people everywhere.

Find out more about Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation at https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/top.html

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200628005005/en/
Bank of Ireland has released its latest Economic which is conducted by Ipsos MRBI with 1,000 households and approximately 2,000 businesses on a range of topics including the economy, their financial situation, spending plans, house price expectations and business activity.



The Business Pulse rose for a second month running in June. Expectations for business activity and hiring intentions for the period ahead were up and firms in the Industry and Services sectors reported some improvement in export order books.

The Consumer Pulse, which was broadly flat last month, rose in June with financial worries and concerns about job security easing and buying sentiment improving.

The index shows that spirits were low in respect of business activity over the past while, but with the economy beginning to re-open and the Government accelerating the timetable for easing the COVID-19 restrictions, expectations for business activity and hiring intentions for the period ahead were revised up. And with Irelands main trading partners now also coming out of lockdown, firms in the industry and services sectors reported some improvement in export order books in June.

Households remained very gloomy about the current economic situation this month, but with the COVID-19 restrictions starting to be lifted they were a little less pessimistic about prospects for the coming year. Financial worries and concerns about job security also eased in June as some people returned to work, while buying sentiment ticked up another notch (21% considered it a good time to make major purchases, compared with 16% in May and a low of 13% in April).



The share of households expecting house prices to fall in the next 12 months stood at just over half in June - down from almost three in five in May - but with only one in six anticipating price gains, the balance of responses remained in firm negative territory. Expectations for future rent increases were also in the red this month, albeit only marginally so.

Commenting on Bank of Irelands June Economic Pulse, Group Chief Economist for Bank of Ireland, Dr Loretta OSullivan said, "The June data confirms that a rebound in sentiment is underway, following on from the improvement seen in May, with consumer and business confidence both rising this month. It is early days though and, so far, the Economic Pulse has only recouped just under half the losses it sustained in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak."

She added, "This isnt too surprising given the unprecedented scale of the recent shock triggered by the public health emergency. But as the economy springs back to life and re-boots over the coming weeks and months, with more shop front shutters being raised and more people returning to work, sentiment should continue to strengthen."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Ireland will maintain a 14-day quarantine for travellers from the British mainland in July even as it plans to ease travel restrictions with some countries, the Sunday Times newspaper reported, citing a memo.

The memo with the Irish cabinet committee said it was "highly unlikely" that Britain would be included in Ireland's safe travel list, the report added.

Ireland plans to lift from July 9 a 14-day quarantine for people arriving from countries that have also suppressed the coronavirus, the Irish government said on Thursday. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
The Bay Restoration Fund fee is charged on water and sewer bills and was created to pay for upgrading sewage plants and replacing old septic systems to reduce pollution flowing into the streams and rivers that feed the Chesapeake Bay. The new law adds climate resilience and flood control to the list of factors that the state considers when picking which pollution projects to fund.
Didi to Halt Service in Several Japanese Prefectures Citing Impact of Covid-19

By Ding Yi / Jun 29, 2020 04:35 PM / World

Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing will scale back its core business reach in Japan as coronavirus-induced travel restrictions reduce demand for taxis in the country.

According to a statement released on its Japanese website, the SoftBank-backed company will entirely halt its taxi-hailing service in 11 prefectures including Aomori, Akita and Niigata from July 1 in Japan, a market it tapped into in September 2018.

The service will also be partly suspended in Hokkaido and the prefectures of Hyogo, Hiroshima and Okinawa, the statement said.

The move could be seen as a reversal on Didis ambitious plans for the Japan market, where the company is diversifying its business as part of efforts to turn a profit. In April, Didi launched a food delivery service in Osaka with the intention of expanding the service to other parts of the country.

When contacted by Caixin, a Didi representative attributed the business suspension to fallout from the Covid-19 outbreak, saying that the companys long-term commitment to the Japanese market remains unchanged.

Meanwhile in Japan, Didi plans to charge an app usage fee from July 13, a move seen as a makeshift one to maintain revenue in the face of the public health crisis, according to a report published on Nikkeis Chinese website. In response, the Didi representative said that the company will use the proceeds to improve its services and provide more tailored products for drivers and riders.

The Didi representative refused Caixins request for the trip volume Didi logged in Japan during the coronavirus-affected first quarter and the same period of 2019, a key indicator reflecting the companys basic income level.

Last month, Didi president Liu Qing revealed during an interview that the companys core ride-hailing business had been profitable.

Contact reporter Ding Yi (yiding@caixin.com)

Related: Didi Trials Robotaxi Service in Shanghai
The European Union may grant access to visitors from China on the condition that Beijing reciprocates, according to the latest plan proposed by senior EU diplomats Saturday, as the bloc works towards gradually lifting border restrictions after months of lockdown.

Brussels is also ready to bar travelers from dozens of other countries due to concerns over their handling of the virus, according to media reports.

Those measures are part of a draft plan which includes a safe countries list as a guide for the 27 member states to reopen their borders, although the final decision will remain in the hands of national governments.

The final list has yet to come out as the member states had not reached an agreement by Saturday evening, but the currently proposed safe list contains 14 countries  Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay  and China under reciprocal conditions, AFP reported.

Croatia, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, hopes to put this matter to a vote on Monday, although there is no visibility on where this will go, one source told Agence France-Presse.

The list would be updated every two weeks based on how well the countries contain the epidemic. Countries will be judged on at least three criteria: countries should have infection rates below or similar to the EU average, have containment measures during travel, and lift travel restrictions towards the bloc in turn.

Restrictions would remain in place for countries where the coronavirus still rages. Russia, Brazil and the United States are considered too risky by EU bureaucrats, and travelers from the three countries will remain barred from entering the EU, at least in the short term.

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said While we will all have to remain careful, the time has come to make concrete preparations for lifting restrictions with countries whose health situation is similar to the EUs and for resuming visa operations.

The European Commission on June 11 recommended its member states gradually remove the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU from July 1 as infections in the continent subside, three months after it closed external borders to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

The European Commission had also suggested lifting internal border controls of the Schengen Area by June 15 before reopening to the world. But the proposal has not gone as planned, according to Reuters.

The coronavirus has killed 502,000 and infected 10.1 million around the world, according to the latest tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Contact editor Gavin Cross (gavincross@caixin.com)
The likes of Alibaba and JD.com have been ordered to cut down on sending unsolicited texts to promote their businesses; Chinese sailors have become a hot commodity on the high seas; and ByteDances 2020 revenue more than doubles

Jun 18, 2021 06:22 PM
The United Kingdom's General Medical Council (GMC) has suspended the medical practice licence of a British-Pakistani doctor after he claimed that Covid-19 was a conspiracy to control the world.

The GMC, which maintains the official list of medical practitioners in the UK, has removed Dr Iqbal Adil's reference number from its website, Geo News reported.

"This person has been suspended from the Medical Register and may not practise as a doctor in the UK," the website said, adding that he was neither on the General Practioner (GP) register nor the specialist one.

"This doctor is not subject to revalidation (as) only doctors holding full registration with a licence to practise are subject to revalidation," the website said.

Dr Adil worked in the UK as a specialist in colorectal and emergency surgery and laparoscopy, having graduated from Bahauddin Zakaria University in Pakistan's Multan city in 1986.

The doctor has peddled various conspiracy theories about coronavirus on social media platforms and in online interviews, claiming that the virus "orchestrated by the elite and is indeed a hoax".

So far, over 10 million people have been infected with Covid-19 worldwide, while the number of fatalities crossed the 500,000 mark, according to Johns Hopkins University.

In an interview to a news outlet, Dr Adil said he had been working for the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK for almost 30 years and was dismissed because of political victimisation, according to Geo News.

The doctor, in various social media posts and YouTube videos, claimed that a vaccine was not a cure for Covid-19 while physical distancing was of no help as well to combat the virus. Almost all of his controversial videos have been taken down by YouTube.

Following the suspension of his medical practice license, the doctor set up a petition at Change.org, which has got over 300 signatures so far. It says that he "is Chairman of All Pakistan Medical Association and Global Nishtarian Organisation (GNO) with a large number of medical graduates worldwide".

"Mr Adil has a family with 3 children to support. NHS UK need doctors to work. It would not be in the best interest of the public and health system to lose experienced and highly qualified surgeon like him," it added while stressing that it was "an injustice" to suspend his license over "his personal point of view on Covid-19".

"We request to the GMC to revoke his unfair 12 months suspension ... and allow him fair chance to work in this country (for the benefit of) the health system, communities and medical graduates at large," the petition further states.

(ANI)

Also Read: China failing to silence upset familes of soldiers killed in Galwan face-off
St. Johnsbury, VT (05819)

Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 87F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 66F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
The grant will fund the collection and testing of water samples from designated recreational beaches in Oregon. The water will be tested for bacteriological water quality, and the public will be notified if and when the waters meet water quality standards and are safe for swimming and recreating.
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* Email Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. We won't share it with anyone else.

* Password Create a password that only you will remember. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address.
Do you have an athlete in mind that contributes to the team or sport, holds sportsmanship and team spirit, has epic playmaker moments and/or in general makes the the sports fun? If yes, please make your nominations for our edition of Athlete Spotlight.

CLICK TO NOMINATE
If an employer changes a workers schedule with less notice, it must give the worker an hour of predictability pay at the regular wage rate. If an employer cancels or reduces hours within 24 hours of the start of a previously scheduled shift, it has to pay workers half of what they would have made had they worked.
Photo: CTV News

Two BC Ferries vessels worked in partnership with the Canadian Coast Guard to perform a dramatic rescue in the Strait of Georgia on Sunday afternoon.

Crews responded to a distress call from a boat quickly taking on water between Nanaimo and Sechelt with three people stuck on board, reports CTV News Vancouver.

The individuals were safely rescued, but it is unknown what condition they are in or whether they sustained any injuries as a result of the incident.

BC Ferries announced sailings on the Horseshoe Bay - Departure Bay route between Nanaimo and the Lower Mainland would be temporarily delayed.

- With files from CTV News Vancouver
Photo: Twitter

Police in Louisiana were able to reel in a man captured on video swimming through a fish tank at a sporting goods store.

Kevin Wise, 26, told KSLA-TV that he plunged into the indoor aquarium at a Bass Pro Shop in Bossier City last week to follow through on a promise he made to followers on the social media platform TikTok.

I said that if I got 2,000 likes I would jump in the tank, Wise said. I got way more than that and didnt want to be a liar.

A video captured by shopper Treasure McGraw showed Wise swimming through the tank before climbing out and running from the store with wet clothes.

We heard a big splash and I thought it was one of the fish, McGraw told the news outlet. My fiance was like somebody is in the tank and we saw the guy swimming.

Bass Pro Shops filed a complaint with the Bossier City Police Department Friday, saying it cost them money to empty out the 13,000 gallon aquarium and clean it after Wises swim, KTAL-TV reported.

Wise was charged with simple criminal damage to property and released with a citation to appear in court, police said.

He told KSLA-TV he planned on continuing to make videos for his followers, but cautioned others against doing similar spur of the moment pranks.
Photo: The Canadian Press Canadian soldiers help a comrade, center, get on a helicopter after he was injured in an IED blast during a patrol outside Salavat, in the Panjwayi district, southwest of Kandahar, Afghanistan on June 7, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Anja Niedringhaus

The federal government is hiring hundreds more temporary staff to tackle the growing backlog of applications from disabled veterans asking for help.

The plan was unveiled today as new figures from Veterans Affairs Canada show nearly 50,000 disability benefits claims were sitting in the queue at the end of March.

That represented an increase of more than 3,000 requests for financial assistance from only three months earlier.

Veterans Affairs officials say they plan to hire 300 more temporary staff between now and next January as part of a broader plan to dramatically cut the number of outstanding files by March 2022.

The department is also looking at changes to how it processes claims for the most common ailments affecting veterans, such as hearing loss and ringing in the ears.

The plan does not currently include automatically approving requests for assistance from veterans, which advocates have been pressing for in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo: Unsplash/Ruben Rodriguez

A teacher in Fraser Valley has been suspended for cuffing two students and for unrelated criminal charges which had been stayed.

Sudhir Raj Pallingalthodi Jabbar had been teaching at a high school in Chilliwack in December 2017 when he hit two Grade 9 students on the back of their heads with his hand, according to CTV News Vancouver.

One student had been cuffed after making noise with a microphone during drama class and the other had answered a question incorrectly during math class.

He also reportedly asked the student who incorrectly answered the question,"Are you really that dumb?"

Jabbar was charged with assault in addition to uttering threats the following year during an unrelated incident. He also admitted to "losing his temper, raising his voice, and striking an adult with an open hand."

These charges were stayed because Jabbar agreed to counselling and anger management training.

The B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation suspended Jabbar's teaching certificate on June 22 for five days, as a punishment. He was also ordered to complete 'Creating a Positive Learning Environment' and 'Reinforcing Respectful Professional Boundaries' courses through the Justice Institute of B.C.

-With files from CTV News Vancouver
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Tourah Portland Cement sees loss widen in 1Q20

29 June 2020

Egypts Tourah Portland Cement has seen its net loss widen to EGP64.9m (US$4m) in the first quarter of 2020, compared to EGP50.9m in the 1Q19.



The company also reported an 82.8 per cent YoY decline in sales to EGP50m from EGP290.8m.

Published under
Holcim Philippines appoints new VPs

ICR Newsroom By 29 June 2020

Holcim Philippines has appointed Edwin Villas as senior vice president logistics after Mr Villas served as officer-in-charge of the department since 2019 concurrent to his role as vice president for sales, Greater Manila Region and South Luzon. He previously held senior Sales leadership roles and served in Procurement and Internal Audit. Villas is a Certified Professional for Supply Management, Certified Information System Auditor and holds a degree in computer science. He also completed the leadership program in the International Institute of Management Development (IMD) Switzerland.



Holcims plant in Lugait, Misamis Oriental, is now led by former production manager Arnold Pepino. The new VP of operations of the Lugait works has returned from a stay in Romania to learn best practices under the groups Learning Across Borders programme.



Bobby Garza, VP for operations of the Lugait plant will now lead the Norzagaray, Bulacan facility, Holcim Philippines largest plant in terms of production capacity. Mr Garza steered the Lugait plant to be recognised as among the best in the region and the LafargeHolcim Group. He is a licensed mining engineer and has attended leadership programmes in IMD Switzerland.

Published under
Years ago I heard the statement for the first time, If you want to get something done, find a busy person to do it. Meaning that people who are doers are most likely to throw themselves into new projects, even if they already have a full plate of projects and goals.

The contrast to this would be that if someones not busy, its probably because theyre undependable and unlikely to get that important matter accomplished.

In the work world, this might have some credence. People who are workaholics  or whatever we choose to call them these days  seem to thrive when theres more and more to be done. So what if Bill is already putting in 70-hour weeks. He can handle one or two more projects. So what if he might be neglecting his family, his health and personal well-being in the process. All that matters is that we get accomplished whatever we so desperately want to get done.

Interestingly, thats not how God seems to work. When it comes to matters of greatest importance, He often chooses those who might have been labeled as most unlikely to succeed in their high school yearbooks. The Scriptures are chock full of examples.

Moses was the infant son of a Jewish woman who was raised in a royal Egyptian home. Then, after he had intervened to save the life of an Israelite slave, the one-time adopted prince had to flee for his life. Add the fact that he wasnt a gifted orator. Yet it was this same Moses whom God chose to lead the Israelites out of bondage after more than 400 years, taking them to the Promised Land.

After King Saul proved to be a total bust as Israels first king, God didnt decide to replace him with the cover guy on Hebrew Man Monthly. He opted for David, a humble shepherd boy who was nothing more than an after-thought even for his father, Jesse. However, this was the fellow who would successfully defeat the giant Goliath, lead the nation of Israel to greatness, and for good measure, personally write the lions share of the Psalms.

When Jesus was choosing key followers to carry on His spiritual mission, He didnt select prominent religious leaders or members of the Jewish high society. Instead, the Lord handpicked the likes of Peter and Andrew, James and John  lowly fishermen. Also among his 12 closest disciples was a detestable tax collector named Matthew.

It was another Saul, to be renamed Paul, who turned from zealous persecutor of Christians into a courageous, unwavering spokesman for the gospel of Jesus Christ. This phenomenal transformation belonged in the Ripleys Believe It or Not of his day.

Why is this? Why does God seem to take such pleasure in designating misfits and the unqualified for His eternal, kingdom work? Because, as I heard someone recently describe it, He equips the called. He doesnt call the equipped.

Paul summarized this well in his first letter to believers in ancient Corinth: I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:3-5).

The apostle reaffirmed this in another letter, declaring, For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:5-7).

Throughout church history, some of the most fruitful servants of God have been people dealing with various physical maladies, depression, and other limitations which from a human perspective should have rendered them unsuitable for their holy callings. But God has had a different view.

I remember my first trip to Brazil in 1999 on behalf of CBMC International, a marketplace ministry I was working with at the time. When my boss insisted I make the journey, I thought he was crazy. I couldnt speak Portuguese; I was a writer and editor, not a ministry developer; and I knew absolutely no one in that huge, cosmopolitan nation. Just boarding the plane for the 10-hour flight there was an act of faith, trusting God would have someone to meet me and serve as my guide for my time there.

Thankfully, I had embraced two central truths about the Christian life, teachings Id need to rely on for such a broad step outside my comfort zone. In Jesus 15:5, Jesus had told His followers, without Me you can do nothing. I already understood from experience that was true. The other precept was Pauls confident assertion, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

As I embarked on my flight to Sao Paulo, and then on to other Brazilian cities, I had one consuming thought: Lord, Im willing, but youre going to have to do it  You will have to accomplish whatever you want through me! And thats exactly what He did. More than 20 years later, I still maintain friendships with several of the men I met, an enduring bond we share in Christ. As Ephesians 3:20 promises, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we ask or think.

Has the Lord ever impressed upon you to do something for which you felt totally unsuited, utterly unqualified? Perhaps Hes doing that right now  or will do so sometime in the future. In any case, keep in mind: God equips the called; He doesnt call the equipped.



* * *
The park itself has fresh coats of paint and improvements, and Staples said that more is being done over the summer. Some areas are still being redone, like the Beach Brews booth and the Nightmare on Shafer Street exhibit, and new things are coming in.
Back when no one thought twice about being nose-to-nose with masses of people from who-knows-where, I saw The Master of Space and Time in concert. Leon Russell died four years ago this November. I loved him.

I loved him from the first moment I heard him sing, his voice raspy and soulful. I was in high school when Leon came into my life, and I believed his words were clearly written for me. I knew his lyrics by heart, and listened to his 8-track tapes over and over.

I know your image of me is what I hope to be  Darlin cant you please see through me,

from A Song for You breaks my heart. And the older I get, the truer these words seem to be.

I went to Engle Stadium to see him in concert in high school, along with most every other Chattanooga resident under the age of 25. It was epic, and folks who were there remember it. Or at least they remember not remembering.

Wed had days and days of rain just before the concert, and the infield was not quite as solid as quicksand. Which deterred no one. Some of us took to the field on boys shoulders; others plodded through, all eager to get closer to the longhaired bored-looking poet making the piano his love slave on the stage. He opened with Jumpin Jack Flash, and he may as well have thrown a match on a field of gasoline. The crowd was on fire.

I came home with only one shoe. Other friends fared much worse. I cant say I remember every detail of this concert that I attended 46 years ago, but his music will always catapult me back to my youth.

Years ago, when my youngest son asked me where my Leon Russell albums were, I probably droned on too long. But that didnt deter him from buying Carney on eBay. And this particular son jumped at the chance to meet Leon in Nashville a few years ago, although it meant staying in a hotel room with his parents. We were actually invited to have dinner with Leon, and although we werent at his table, we were right next to him. As in he had to walk right past us to get to his table. As in we could have snatched a piece of his white hair if wed wanted to. But Leon Russell clearly wasnt interested in meeting us. He kept those hooded eyes down, not making eye contact with anyone at the gathering.

Later that night, when Leon was sitting alone in a chair, I told my son to go introduce himself.

Mom! he hissed in a tone all mothers know well.

I paid no attention.

Hi, Leon, I heard you play 45 years ago at Engle Stadium in Chattanooga. It was amazing, I gushed. I think I even told him I loved him.

Nervous and talking nonstop as he sat silently, Im pretty sure I told him my white Dr. Scholl was still somewhere in that field, probably buried deep under the pitchers mound by now. I like to think he cracked a tiny smile.

* * *

(Ferris Robinson is the author of two children's books, "The Queen Who Banished Bugs" and "The Queen Who Accidentally Banished Birds," in her pollinator series, with "Call Me Arthropod" coming soon. "Making Arrangements" is her first novel, and "Dogs and Love - Stories of Fidelity" is a collection of true tales about man's best friend. Her website is ferrisrobinson.com . She is the editor of The Lookout Mountain Mirror and The Signal Mountain Mirror. Ferris can be reached at ferrisrobinson@gmail.com )
As this week we prepare to celebrate Americas Independence on Saturday, I find my desk is groaning under the weight of things I must share, so please indulge my need to serve some leftovers lest they turn stale and be forgotten.

The most horrifying story of the month, which ends Tuesday night, came on Sunday when the lead story on Chattanoogan.com blared: BBQ Restaurant Cancels Order For Back The Police Rally After Getting Threats The Business Would Be Burned Down. The story, which you can read on this website, is sickening and, while my lifelong experiences with those who threaten me have been cowards, it is a terrible reflection on todays state of affairs.

The threatening calls to Shufords BBQ on Signal Mountain Road should trigger any of us planning to serve barbeque on The Fourth of July to consider patronizing Shufords (phone (423) 267-0080) and insist they take your credit/debit card and bill you immediately, thus foiling bogus no-shows from the evil side).

Trust me, Shufords is easily one of the best sources for BBQ in the tri-state area.

* * *

INDIAN CHIEF HAS A BETTER IDEA THAN TEARING A STATUE DOWN

Michell Hicks was the Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians for over 10 years and those of simpler minds might believe he would be at the forefront of those wishing to tear down the statue of Andrew Jackson, who as President in 1830 signed the Indian Removal Act, today better known as The Trail of Tears.

There is a statue of Jackson in front of the North Carolina State Capitol in Raleigh. And as the former chief explained on CBS: The Cherokees alone, we lost approximately a third of our population. And think about that  a third of the Cherokee population was lost because of a decision that was made at the federal level to take our land and move us west. I mean, you want to talk about social injustice 

But then, in one of the wisest statements that has been said during the latest scourge of monument attacks by the stupids across America, Hicks said this, Natives represent less than 1 percent of the overall population of the United States, although weve been here for centuries, he reasoned. However, you dont ever hear about it. And so, again, the thought of social injustice is not focused on one culture. It should be focused on all the related cultures to define the balance.

No, he definitely wants to keep the statue for a particularly important reason. He would rather there be a marker beside it, telling the full story rather than see the total story be erased.

If statues are going to be displayed, then they need to be related to the true history and not just recognized for simply the positive things that occurred under ones leadership. I mean, a true history is what natives have always asked for, Hicks said.

What better way to bring attention to todays needs of Native Americans. Today 25 percent of the Natives live in poverty. Lets talk about people in general, people in their communities, he said, and find ways to build infrastructure that really lifts up those that are living in these situations.

Is that beautiful or what?

* * *

YEAH, THERE ARE SOME HUGE MONUMENTS TO HITLER

I love reading the Rants in the Sunday newspaper. This week somebody Id love to know wrote, I, for one, love Roman numerals. Lordy, if only the rest of us could be so clever! There were several who apparently feel the same way about history and monuments that I do, in that each carries a lesson with it that has triggered and inspired thought for every generation since: One rant read: Erasing the past will not fix the present. Change hearts, folks 

I also enjoyed the view: Statues of Confederates are appropriate due to our history. So, Germany and Austria should have statues of Hitler because he is part of their history. My friend, the biggest statues in Germany, Poland, Austria and elsewhere are the largest in those countries  about 40 miles south of Berlin is the Dachau concentration camp. It is a well-kept monument that has over 800,000 visitors every year to remind the world Never again. I dare anyone to see it, and not feel the wetness that is on every face youll see. The worlds greatest atrocity is a wonderful teacher. And thats why monuments were first built.

True, in Europe youll find no memorials to Franco or Mussolini (although postcards of him hanging from a rope are still popular.) In Russia, likenesses of Stalin and Lenin are rare, yet their atrocities are taught in schools and every kid can recognize their faces, the same way you and I can readily identify a photograph of Hitler, right? Hussein  ask any GI who fought in the Gulf War..

royexum@aol.com
The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has ordered a new trial for 34-year-old Jeremy Reynolds, who was convicted in 2016 of the first-degree premeditated murder of 19-year-old Wendell Washington.

The ruling throws out the first-degree conviction and directs that Reynolds be tried for second-degree murder. The first-degree conviction carried a life prison term.

The appeals court said, "On appeal, the Defendant argues that (1) the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction; (2) the trial court erred by admitting evidence that the Defendant and other individuals were gang members in violation of Tennessee Rules of Evidence 403 and 404(b); (3) exculpatory evidence, namely the victims gunshot residue test and a photograph referenced by the gang report, were improperly withheld by the State; (4) the trial court erred by failing to compel the State to produce the above-referenced gunshot residue test and photograph; and (5) the cumulative effect of these errors deprived the Defendant of a fair trial.

"After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we conclude that the evidence is insufficient relevant to premeditation and that some of the evidence relative to gangs was improperly admitted. We remand for a new trial on one count of second degree murder, in which some gang evidence shall be excluded."

The prosecution had argued to Judge Barry Steelman that the murder was premeditated. The defense said there was not enough evidence to convict Jeremy Reynolds for the slaying.



The shootout occurred May 5, 2013 Lupton City shootout.

Prosecutor Kevin Brown had told the jury, Jeremy Reynolds was prepared. He was prepared to confront Wendell Washington. As a result of that confrontation Wendell Washington lay dead - on his own front porch, shot seven times.



Prosecutor Brown said that Deante Duncan, a fellow gang member, went with Reynolds to Washington's house. He said that the two men who are seen in a video carrying Reynolds into Erlanger Hospital on the same night of the shooting weren't hanging around to answer questions because they had just been at 3687 Northrop St. and killed Wendell Washington.



Prosecutor Brown said that one of Washington's neighbors had seen a white Mitsubishi SUV leave the street after hearing gunshots. Prosecutor Brown said this is the same white SUV that can be seen in the Erlanger Hospital video, which he said arrived seven minutes after the shooting.



He also said that the Hi-Point 45 caliber gun taken off of Gerald Jackson months later was a match for bullets found at the crime scene. He said that Jackson, who has been ruled out as a suspect, had the gun because he was Jeremy Reynolds's fellow gang member.



Prosecutor Brown said that findings from the autopsy of Washington were consistent with Washington being bent over and turning away from the gunfire.



He was trying to get away from Jeremy Reynolds, Prosecutor Brown said. He was trying to get away form the man that was killing him - that shot him on that front porch seven times.



Defense attorney John McDougal said that the prosecution was relying on emotion.



They want to scare you into convicting (Reynolds) because they don't have any evidence that he did it, he said. The evidence doesn't help them. It doesn't complete their story, it tears it apart.



Attorney McDougal said that Wendell Washington was a drug dealer and that drug dealing's a very, very dangerous occupation. He said that anybody could have shot Washington.



He recounted the testimony of Teri Arney, a special agent forensic scientist at TBI's Crime Lab. Attorney McDougal said that the 40 caliber bullet removed from Reynolds during surgery could have come from other types of guns than the 40 caliber Glock found in Washington's home.



Attorney McDougal also said that there was a distance problem, since one of the holes in Reynolds' shirt tested positive for a contact shot and Washington was shot from far away. He also said that the vehicle seen in the hospital video was gray, not white. He said that the vehicle could not have traveled from the crime scene to Erlanger as quickly as the prosecution says that it did.



The state admits they have no direct proof, said Attorney McDougal. If the state has doubt, ladies and gentlemen, how can you not have doubt?



Just because the facts don't make sense to the defense doesn't mean they're not true, said Prosecutor Lance Pope. Mr. McDougal misrepresents what the evidence is and then tries to tell you it's reasonable doubt.



He said that not all of the gunshot wounds to Washington were from far away, but that Agent Arney had found contact firearm discharge on Washington's jacket.



There's some proof in the case that Wendell Washington was involved in the sale of narcotics, said Prosecutor Pope.



He said that if Washington was doing something illegal, he deserved to be arrested, but what he didn't deserve was to be murdered on his front porch.



You get to decide you won't stand for it, Prosecutor Pope told the jury. You won't stand for (Reynolds's) guns. You won't stand for his violence, for his shootings, for his gangs. You won't stand for it.

Reynolds had previously served time for facilitation to commit second-degree murder in the 2005 death of Harold Steven Freeman.




The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning has been awarded two grants that will be used to partner with Georgia Northwestern Technical College to fund a resource center on GNTCs Whitfield Murray Campus in Dalton. The resource center will provide students with food and access to local organizations.

The first grant for $15,000 from the Two-Generation Innovation Fund Capacity Building Grant will be used to build the resource center. The second grant from the Two-Generation Innovation Fund Implementation Grant for $25,000 will be used to equip and stock the center.

The resource center is important because some GNTC students report that they sometimes struggle to afford food and they need other sources of support, said Jan Lanier, GNTC dean of Student Success. The resource center will offer a food pantry and will also assist students with accessing community resources while they are enrolled at GNTC.

Suzanne Harbin, director of the Early Childhood Initiative for the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, wrote the grants after she reviewed a survey sent out last fall by the University of Georgias School of Public Health.

The survey showed a high number of GNTC students in the community were running out of basic food items by the end of the month, Ms. Harbin said. The survey also showed that 48 percent of GNTC students in the Dalton area had children, making the need for the resource center even greater. Ms. Harbin said establishing a resource center will provide students not only with food but also connect them with organizations like Dalton Heritage Head Start who can help with childcare for young children.

We will be reaching out to those students and helping them connect with community resources in the Dalton area, said Ms. Harbin.

The center is still in the development stage and is scheduled to be complete this summer. According to Ms. Lanier, shelves, a refrigerator and other equipment has arrived at the center. Once everything is in place, the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia and Dalton Heritage Head Start will be on-hand to provide students with information.
The Tennessee Department of Education on Friday posted the Continuous Learning Plan template and rubric to assist districts as they plan for the upcoming school year.

The Tennessee State Board of Education promulgated the Continuous Learning Plan Emergency Rule 0520-01-17 and Policy 3.210 on June 22. That rule and policy required the Tennessee Department of Education to produce and post by June 26 a CLP template and rubric for districts to utilize when developing their plans for maintaining academic instruction in the new school year.

"As we navigate a new era for education, the department has been working to create expansive guidance for districts as they make local decisions for their schools in the new school year, said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. The Continuous Learning Plans represent the next phase of work to reopen schools and will help to ensure every student receives academic instruction each day, whether they are learning at home or in the classroom.

Per the State Board rule and policy, each district and public charter school must submit to the Tennessee Department of Education the CLP for their schools.

The Continuous Learning Plan template and rubric are now available for districts to utilize:



Continuous Learning Plan Template: The template includes eight required sections and one optional section that district leaders must complete to outline their plans for maintaining academic instruction for students.

Continuous Learning Plan Rubric: The rubric provides transparency for district leaders in how their CLP will be scored, and clearly outlines approaches that districts may take to ensure they are developing thorough CLPs.

The emergency rule and policy that the State Board passed last Monday are designed to support the continuity of instruction during this uncertain time," said Sara Morrison, executive director of the Tennessee State Board of Education. "No one could have anticipated the health crisis that hit at the end of last school year, but we must focus now on ensuring that students are able to access high-quality instruction as we move into the fall, recognizing that for many communities, school is not going to look like business as usual."

Also supporting district leaders to make local decisions about school in the new school year are 20+ reopening toolkits, along with other guidance documents and resources, which are made available on the Tennessee Department of Educations reopening guidance webpage: https://www.tn.gov/education/health-and-safety/update-on-coronavirus/reopening-guidance.html.








The Chattanooga Area Food Bank received a $10,000 grant from the Red Nose Day Fund to fight childhood hunger in Southeast Tennessee during the 2019 fall semester. Funding helped to provide the equivalent of 26,003 meals through the School Mobile Pantry program to children and families at Copper Basin Elementary School in Polk County.

Established in 2014, the School Mobile Pantry Program serves as a component of the Food Banks efforts to alleviate childhood hunger and increase access to healthy and nutritious food for families and children. Last year, the program distributed more than 1.5 million pounds of food which helped to provide over 1.3 million meals across the Food Banks 20 county service area.

Thank you to Comic Relief Inc. and The Red Nose Day Fund for being a constant partner in our efforts to fight hunger, said Mark Hilling, interim president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. With their help, hundreds of children and families were able to have the security of knowing from where their next meal was coming.

One in five people overall and more than one in four children could face hunger as a result of the COVID-19 pandemics economic impact. To accommodate the increased need caused by COVID-19, the Food Bank added 20 new mobile pantry distributions and expanded the number of families served at existing mobile pantries.
The Tennessee Supreme Court on Monday clarified that an appeal of an order of protection issued by a general sessions court must take place within 10 days, and the common law writ of error has been abolished.

In the case before the Supreme Court, a general sessions court entered a one-year order of protection prohibiting David New from having contact with his ex-wife, Lavinia Dumitrache, and the couples minor child. A Tennessee law gave Mr. New ten days to appeal the order, but he failed to file an appeal within that time. Forty-two days later, Mr. New filed a document in the chancery court titled Petition to Enroll and Certify a Foreign Judgment and Appeal in Nature of Writ of Error. Mr. New attached to his pleading an incomplete copy of the couples Texas divorce decree. He asked the chancery court to hold a new hearing and determine whether the general sessions court erred by issuing the order of protection. Mr. New also asked the chancery court to award him interim parenting time as provided in the couples Texas divorce decree.

Ms. Dumitrache and the minor child opposed the petition and the request for interim parenting time. They argued that the chancery court lacked subject matter jurisdiction because Mr. New had not appealed within ten days, the Texas decree was incomplete, and Tennessee had abolished the writ of error as a means of appeal. They also asked the chancery court to award attorneys fees, relying on another law that authorizes courts to award attorneys fees to parties who successfully defend against an appeal from an order of protection.

The chancery court agreed with Ms. Dumitrache and the minor child that the appeal was untimely, the Texas decree was incomplete, and the writ of error had been abolished. The chancery court dismissed Mr. News appeal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The chancery court also agreed that the law authorized attorneys fees in these circumstances, and it awarded Ms. Dumitrache and the minor child attorneys fees and costs totaling $25,398.21.

Mr. New appealed, and the Court of Appeals reversed the chancery courts determination that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction. The Court of Appeals concluded that, although the writ of error had been abolished for some purposes, it remained a valid means of appealing a general sessions courts judgment.

The Supreme Court granted Ms. Dumitraches and the minor childs application for permission to appeal, reversed the Court of Appeals, and reinstated the judgment of the chancery court. The Supreme Court explained that the law specifically providing ten days for appealing from general sessions court orders of protection applied to Mr. News appeal and that his appeal was therefore untimely. The Supreme Court also explained that the law providing for a writ of error appeal, on which the Court of Appeals relied, had been abolishedfirst by a 1959 statute establishing a statewide system of general sessions courts, including a uniform 10-day period for appealing from general sessions court judgments, and subsequently by the 1978 adoption of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, which abolished the writ of error as a means of appeal.

The Supreme Court also agreed with the chancery court that it could not enroll the Texas decree because one substantive page was missing. Finally, the Supreme Court reinstated the chancery courts award of attorneys fees. The Supreme Court explained that courts dismissing a case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction retain authority to resolve the collateral question of whether attorneys fees should be awarded. The Supreme Court upheld the chancery courts award of attorneys fees to Ms. Dumitrache and the minor child because the primary focus and purpose of Mr. News pleading was to set aside the general sessions courts order of protection. The Supreme Court refused to allow Mr. New to avoid responsibility for attorneys fees by using obsolete and defective legal means to seek review of the order of protection instead of timely appealing.

To read the Supreme Courts unanimous opinion in New v. Dumitrache et al. authored by Justice Cornelia A. Clark go to the opinions section of TNCourts.gov.
One day after Signal Mountain officials went public with the problems they would face if council members and other officials were required to meet in person rather than electronically, the state has informed the town virtual meetings will be allowed for another 60 days.

The Hamilton County Commission, which had planned an in-person session on Wednesday, instead will continue to meet electronically at 9:30 a.m.

Signal Mountain Mayor Dan Landrum  who had contacted Lang Wiseman, deputy and chief counsel to the governor asking that the state extend the electronic meetings portion of the executive order beyond its July 1 expiration date  said he got good news Monday morning.

It made the mayors day.

The expiration of the executive order (allowing virtual meetings of government bodies during the coronavirus pandemic would have put) an end to a municipalitys ability to hold electronic meetings, he said this past weekend. If a municipality allowed someone who called in to participate, whether it be a discussion or a vote, that vote could be challenged and overturned. A person calling in to listen would not count toward a quorum, or even as attending.

The email Mayor Landrum said he received early Monday postponed concerns such as that for the next two months.

Thanks for your email, Mr. Wiseman wrote in a memo to the mayor. The governor will be issuing an order today extending the remote meetings provisions for another 60 days.

That email contradicted a memorandum sent out last week by the Office of the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury to local officials across Tennessee.

It was signed by Justin P. Wilson, comptroller of the treasury, and Jason E. Mumpower, deputy comptroller.

Please be advised that Governor Bill Lees Executive Order No. 34 granting local bodies the ability to conduct essential business by electronic means is set to expire on June 30, 2020, that memo began.

Governor Lee has indicated to our office that he does not intend to extend this authority beyond that date, officials wrote.

Beginning July 1, members of local governing bodies in Tennessee must be physically present to participate and vote, according to the memo.

The threatened prohibition on virtual meetings concerned high-risk public officials such as Signal Mountain Council Member Bill Lusk between the proverbial rock and hard place.

Mr. Lusk  who suffers from diabetes and consequently is at high risk of severe complications if he gets the virus  said he thinks its unreasonable to require government officials to put in a physical appearance at public meetings where they could be exposed to COVID-19.

I wont be going (to town meetings) unless we limit the number of attendees and have at least six feet distances between council members, he said flatly.
The Bradley County Jail continues to work in compliance with all COVID-19 guidelines mandated by the Tennessee Corrections Institute. Jail administration has and will work closely with authorities at TCI; likewise, jail medical staff has and will work closely with the Bradley County Health Department, following the mandated guidelines.

The following procedures are observed today and have been since they were put into effect in March of 2020, said officials.

All incoming inmate booked at the Bradley County Jail will receive a COVID-19 screening from a nurse with the jails medical staff during his/her intake process. During this intake process, the nurse conducts a question-and-answer screening, inquiring if the inmate is experiencing any symptoms relating to COVID-19, if the inmate suspects that he/she has contracted or has been exposed to COVID-19 and if the inmate has been out of the country in the past two months. The inmate being screened is then offered the opportunity to receive testing for COVID-19, which comes at no cost to the inmate. Each inmate has the option to refuse testing, if he/she does not wish to be tested. This screening is recorded and documented with signatures from both the inmate and the nurse.

Following this screening process, if there is no indication of illness, the inmates pod assignment is defaulted to a designated isolation pod, where he/she will remain in isolation for 14-days, to ensure that he/she is free of COVID-19. While in isolation, the inmates temperature is checked once every 12 hours (twice daily) and is given an opportunity to report any contracted symptoms relating to the virus. Once his/her 14-day isolation is completed, the inmate will then be assigned and transferred to a regular pod to serve the rest of his/her time. If, at any point, an isolated inmate show confirmed signs of contracting the virus, he/she will be transferred to the designated quarantine pod.

Whether the inmate is in or out of isolation, he/she may request and receive medical attention or COVID-19 testing.

If the inmate posts bond or for any other reason does not remain in custody for 14-days, he/she will not be required to complete the full 14-day isolation.

If and when the aforementioned screening process indicates that an incoming inmate is experiencing any symptoms relating to COVID-19, has a fever or tests positive after a voluntary COVID-19 test, he/she will immediately be assigned to a designated quarantine pod. When an inmate is placed in the quarantine pod, he/she will remain there for 14-days. While in quarantine, the inmates temperature is checked once every 12 hours (twice daily) and receives appropriate care from the jails medical staff. Once the inmates 14-day quarantine is completed, he/she will be tested for COVID-19. If the test returns negative, the inmate will be assigned and transferred to a regular pod to serve the rest of his/her time. If the test returns positive, the inmate will remain in quarantine for another 14-days, at which time the same process and procedures will be followed until a negative test is received.

There are currently 33 inmates in the designated quarantine pod, who have all tested positive for COVID-19, but have remained asymptomatic. Every regular pod, including the isolation pod and the quarantine pod are provided with a cleaning cart equipped with all necessary cleaning supplies needed for proper disinfectant of surfaces. These cleaning products are provided to inmates by the Bradley County Jail. A cleaning cart is located in every pod and restocked daily.

At this time, the Tennessee Corrections Institute, which is over local jails  not to be confused with Tennessee Department of Corrections, which is over state prisons  has not issued any requirements mandating the use of masks or gloves for inmates. At the request of the Bradley County Jail, the National Sheriffs Association and Tennessee Sheriffs Association sent several hundred masks. These masks are currently undergoing modifications to meet qualifications for inmate use and will be distributed as soon as possible.

As stated in previous releases, we are doing everything we possible can to combat this virus, says Captain Jerry Johnson. As our resources allow, are going above and beyond any requirements mandated by the Tennessee Corrections Institute.

We have done our very best to stay on top of the COVID situation since the beginning, says Sheriff Steve Lawson. We will continue working closely with TCI and the Bradley County Health Department, following every guideline that is given to us, but we will also go the extra mile by using these masks for our inmates at this time. I have said it many times and I will say it again: the health of our inmates and jail staff is my top priority. We have shown that by following every mandated given to us and then some.
Families across Tennessee still have time to apply for a program designed to help support them through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tennessee Department of Human Services has extended the deadline to apply for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program until Monday, July 13, at 4:30 p.m. Central Time.



Families can apply online here.

P-EBT provides parents with $5.70 in food benefits per child for each day that child qualifies. To be eligible, children must receive free or reduced meals at school or attend a Community Eligibility Provision school. Families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits do not need to apply as their benefits will be automatically applied to their existing EBT cards.

P-EBT is designed to replace meals lost during the months of March, April, and May due to COVID-19 school closures. Qualifying families who do not receive SNAP or TANF will receive a P-EBT card in the mail in July that can be used to purchase food at any establishment that accepts EBT or online with Amazon and Walmart.

P-EBT has been providing important support to families who found themselves facing an unexpected financial burden during the pandemic, said TDHS Commissioner Danielle W. Barnes. We want to ensure every eligible family knows about this assistance and has a chance to apply. Helping families through this challenging time is how we will continue building a thriving Tennessee once the pandemic is over.

Individuals who need assistance completing their P-EBT application or have general questions about the program are encouraged to call the TDHS hotline at 1-833-496-0661. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act authorized the U.S. Department of Agriculture to approve states for Pandemic EBT. Approved state agencies may operate P-EBT when a school is closed for at least five consecutive days during a public health emergency designation when the school would otherwise be in session. Tennessee is among the more than 40 states that have received P-EBT approval.

Learn more about the Tennessee Department of Human Services at www.tn.gov/humanservices.
Illinois parents who home-school do not need to register with the state, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. The state offers a voluntary registration process, which parents can complete here. ISBE spokesperson Max Weiss noted that parents or guardians should notify their childs school about their new plan by sending a dated letter and keeping a copy for their own records. Otherwise, the school might mark a student absent and eventually refer them to a truancy officer.
Elizabeth Potthast and Andrei Castravet have been butting heads all season long on TLCs 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After season 5.

Elizabeths family has always struggled to get along with her Moldovan husband, despite their love for baby Eleanor. Chuck Potthast, Elizabeths father, as well as her older sisters, all pushed back against Andreis aggressive demeanor and criticized his inability to get a steady job in the U.S.

But Andreis sudden announcement that he and Elizabeth would soon be hosting a second wedding in Moldova for his family caught his in-laws even more off guard than usual. Whats more, the wedding would be in just a little over a month, and Andrei expected his father-in-law to foot the bill.

In a new episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After, Elizabeth and Andrei spoke with Andreis parents to discuss their upcoming wedding. Things quickly soured when Elizabeth felt that Andrei was making executive decisions without consulting her yet again.

Elizabeth Potthast and Andrei Castravet | Elizabeth Potthast via Instagram

RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Elizabeth Asks Her Dad to Pay For Her Wedding To AndreiAnd It Doesnt Go As She Expects

Andrei announced that theyd be staying with his family for three weeks in his home country

After Elizabeths father agreed to pay for their second wedding, Elizabeth and Andrei called Andreis parents to let them know the good news.

Unlike his in-laws, Andreis parents hadnt gotten to spend time with baby Eleanor yet. They were immediately thrilled to find out that they would soon be meeting their granddaughter.

Where are you going to stay? Andreis parents wanted to know.

We are going to stay at home, Andrei told them in his native language, as Elizabeth looked on curiously.

When he translated for his wife, she seemed caught off guard by the news. I cant wait for her to meet her, but I dont know that I want to stay there, she said awkwardly during the video chat.

But Andrei brushed past Elizabeths discomfort. He announced that, not only would they stay with his parents, but theyd remain in Moldova for nearly a month.

Elizabeth stayed as polite as possible during the call. But when it was over, she admitted she was frustrated that her husband had made yet another executive decision without her.

We didnt discuss that we would stay with them, the 90 Day Fiance star said, clearly frustrated. Thats a huge thing. We have a baby. And I dont understand the language. I thought that it would be a really good idea if we rented an apartment somewhere. But yet again, another thing that we didnt talk about and discuss.

Elizabeth said she wished they would stay with her family in Moldova instead

Elizabeth confronted Andrei about his decision to go over her head when it came to the upcoming wedding and the logistics of their trip. She explained that she hoped the vacation would be a good time for Andrei to repair his relationship with her family.

I thought maybe it would be a good idea if we stayed together under one roof with my family, the 90 Day Fiance star told her husbandespecially because they were going out of their way to travel to a country theyd never visited before.

My family has a lot of concerns about traveling to Moldova, Elizabeth explained. They dont know the language. They dont know what fun activities they should do. And I really think it would be a good time for Andrei to bond with my family and show them where hes from.

But Andrei pushed back, arguing that the purpose of the trip was that his parents bond with their new granddaughter. Elizabeth wants to stay with her family, Andrei complained to 90 Day Fiance producers. But since Eleanor was born, my dad has seen her once, and my mother has never seen her. So its very important that Eleanor would spend time with my family in Moldova.

The 90 Day Fiance stars argued about the upcoming wedding and their power dynamic as a couple

While Elizabeth wanted to support Andrei in his dream of having a second wedding in Moldova, she admitted that it was hard to get excited when she wasnt involved in any of the planning.

I want to be happy, and I want to be excited, she insisted. But at the same time, Im like Okay, like, youre doing all this without me, and youre not fully translating.

She asked her husband pointedly, Why are you planning all this stuff without me?

Andrei seemed baffled at Elizabeths discomfort. He explained that he was the only one of them who knew the local language and traditions, so it was only natural that he do most of the planning.

But Elizabeth pushed back, We havent talked about any of this stuff, and youre telling your parents, and youre making me the bad guy in the situation.

Elizabeths concerns didnt seem to worry Andrei, who retorted simply, Why are you always just complaining? Come on. Relax.

Still frustrated, Elizabeth finally struck a deal with her husband. The 90 Day Fiance star promised she would stay in Andreis parents home for a few days in Moldova. If she didnt feel comfortable, she would head out with Eleanor to stay with her own family instead.

Andrei and Elizabeth reluctantly came to an agreement, but it was clear that this conversation between the married couple was far from over.
After the end of his ill-fated marriage to Brazilian beauty Larissa Dos Santos Lima, 90 Day Fiance star Colt Johnson moved on with a Brazilian au pair, Jess Caroline.

On the fifth season of TLCs 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After, Colt and Jess met up for a secret weekend getaway in Chicago. Colt admitted he wasnt ready to tell his mom, Debbie Johnson, about their relationshipwhich didnt please Jess one bit. Whats more, the brand-new couple argued over Colts refusal to head out to a big party with his new girlfriend on their last night together.

But in a new sneak peek of an upcoming episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After, the pair reconciled the morning after their big fightand took a major step in their relationship.

Colt Johnson | Bryan Steffy/WireImage

RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Colt Johnson Is Trying To Sell His and Larissa Dos Santos Limas Wedding Invitations

Colt and Jess made up after their argument

Colts first meeting with Jess friends in Chicago didnt go too smoothly. Jess friends grilled Colt about his history with Larissa, his refusal to tell Mother Debbie about his new girlfriend, and his mysterious friendship with a woman named Vanessa. They also accused Colt of being controlling when he pushed Jess to head back to the hotel with him instead of going to a party.

While Jess reluctantly agreed to skip the party, she complained to 90 Day Fiance producers that Colt shouldnt tell her what to do. Im mad at Colt because I no like the situation for control me, she explained.

Jess and Colt took a walk the day after their big argument and tried to hash things out. Look, last night, you coming back to the hotel means a lot to me, Colt told his new girlfriend. It showed me that you want it to work.

The 90 Day Fiance star added that he hoped for more of a future with Jess. I want to build something. I want to work with you. I want a relationship, he told her.

I want you, Jess agreed. (The new couple was already saying I love you by this pointon only their second date.)

Colt told TLC producers that he was happy with the way the conversation had gone, especially given how fights with his ex-wife had usually ended. Its great to talk to Jess about our differences and come to some kind of accord, he said. After Larissa, I never thought that I would find love again. But with Jess, I think we have a future together.

Jess, too, was satisfied with the outcome of their first big tiff as a couple. Im glad because me and Colt have a good talkand better now, and happy, she said. But I really sad because Colt going to Vegas because I love Colt, and I want Colt with me.

The 90 Day Fiance couple discussed the possibility of a K-1 visa

As they spent their last day together in Chicago, Jess and Colt got even more real about their relationship as they discussed their future together.

I love my moments with you, Jess gushed as they walked along, hand in hand.

Its not going to be easy, Colt reminded her. A long-distance relationship?

But Jess volunteered to stay in the U.S. so their relationship had more of a chance of working out. Maybe I stay here, she ventured. Its okay, I try new visa, for stay more time here for you.

Colt seemed apprehensive as he asked his girlfriend the leading question, What visa, though?

Jess hastily said she might try a student visa. But maybejust maybe, she thoughtthey might apply for the K-1 visa (which would require them to get married within 90 days).

Surprisingly, the 90 Day Fiance star didnt shut that idea down, despite his recent tumultuous marriage and messy divorce from Larissa. Colt told TLC producers that he knew it was early to talk about applying for a K-1 visa, but he was head over heels for Jess and wanted more in-person time with her. He wasnt committing to anything just yet, but he seemed open to the idea.

Jess invited Colt to meet her family in Brazil

The couple took yet another big step in their brand-new relationship before Colt headed back to Las Vegas. Jess invited Colt to meet her family back in Brazil.

I think its important, you meeting my family, she told Colt shyly.

Colts face broke out in a grin as he agreed to meet his new girlfriends family and visit her home country. I would love to go to Brazil with you, the 90 Day Fiance star said excitedly. It could be an adventure.

Larissas ex-husband wasnt put off by Jess request so early in the relationshipfar from it, in fact. Colt explained that Larissa had shut him out of her life with her family. Jess excitement about bringing him home actually made him feel optimistic about their relationship.

It makes me feel good that Jess wants me to meet her family in Brazil, he told TLC producers. Larissa never wanted me to be involved with her family.

As he prepared to head back home, Colt seemed thrilled about his burgeoning relationship with Jess. This is a really huge step for us, and Im glad that Jess and I are starting to talk about what our future looks like together, he gushed about his girlfriend.
Superstar Brad Pitt recently received his first Oscar for his portrayal of Cliff Booth in the 2019 film Once Upon A Time in Hollywood. Rising to fame in the 1990s, the Academy Award winner has proven he can take on a wide range of roles.

While his name is synonymous with Hollywood, Pitt made a choice to use his middle name when he embarked on a career in acting. Some fans may still not be aware of his given moniker.

Brad Pitt | Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for SBIFF

Ad Astra star wanted to be a journalist

Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Pitt was raised in Springfield, Missouri. The oldest of three children, the Oscar winner originally planned on a career in journalism and pursued his studies at the University of Missouri.

It was one of the best J-schools in the country, and I had loved All the Presidents Men, so the idea of investigative journalism appealed to me, he told Leonard Maltin of his college at the 35th Santa Barbara International Film Festival in January, according to Collider. And then, it didnt.

Pitt ended up ditching school just two weeks before completing his degree in order to embark on an acting career.

RELATED: Brad Pitt Showed Off His Vocal Talent in These 3 Animated Films

I just started finding myself being drawn more to design and maybe magazine layout, but Id always had a love for film, Pitt shared. It just wasnt an option in Southern Missouri, or Missouri.

Academy Award winner hits Hollywood

The Se7en star told Maltin that his desire for showbiz was greater than his love for news writing, so he headed to the West Coast.

Id always lamented that there wasnt an avenue for film in Southern Missouri, and it just occurred to me that I could go to it, and I literally loaded up the car. I didnt graduate, Pitt revealed. All I had to do was hand in one term paper, but in my head, I was done. I was going west.

Pitt immediately sought out work as an extra on TV and film sets, and was quick to get his name in circulation.

RELATED: Brad Pitt Beat Out George Clooney for a Career-Making Role

I landed and went straight to McDonalds, the Thelma & Louise star recalled. I had $275 to my name, and I saw in the paper that you could sign up for extra work, so I signed up for three places. You had to pay $25, and within a week later, it was for an industrial film, but I was thrilled.

Missouri State Class of 2020 gets a virtual visit from Brad Pitt

Showing his allegiance to his home town, Pitt recently gave a shoutout to graduates of Missouri State University who attended a virtual ceremony due to the coronavirus crisis.

Hi everyone, Brad here from quarantine with a shoutout to the graduating class of Missouri State University! Pitt said in the video, as posted by the universitys Twitter account. It must be very strange doing this in these trying times, but know were rooting for you.

Pitt encouraged the Class of 2020 to work their hardest and pursue their dreams. Our moneys on you to make this world a better place. And we wish you all the best in your future endeavors, he told the grads. You made it! Enjoy, congrats again, and think big.

We have one more surprise for our #BearGrads: A special message from one of Springfield's own.



Thanks, Brad. pic.twitter.com/tCtWgzhozI  Missouri State (@MissouriState) May 19, 2020

RELATED: Brad Pitt Says This Quality Has Always Gotten Me in Trouble

Apparently, Pitt still goes by his middle name Brad even with residents from his home town. The Oscar winners first name is actually William, though maybe the mono-syllabled moniker Brad Pitt was the better choice for Hollywood.
Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard are raising their children differently than Jill, herself, was raised. In fact, family followers have noticed that Jill has completely changed in recent months. Not only is she benefiting, but her young sons, Israel and Sam Dillard, seem to be benefiting, too. Most recently, Jill took to her familys blog to offer parents tips for handling tattling. The blog post acknowledges anger as a healthy and understandable emotion. Anger is an emotion that family critics largely believe Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar discouraged in their own supersized clan.

Jill Duggar has made it clear: Her children can express anger

Jill and Derick have made some significant changes since they left Counting On in 2017. Not only did Derick enroll in law school, but Jill also started counseling with a licensed therapist. To further distance themselves from the Duggars, they moved into a house that was not provided by Jim Bob Duggar.

Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard are interviewed for Extra | D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra

Jill has even took to her blog to suggest anger is an acceptable and healthy emotion. In the post about tattling, she stated that she doesnt expect her children to get along perfectly all the time, nor does she expect them never to express anger and frustration. Jill noted that the process of allowing them to work out their own disagreements would help them problem solve later in life. Jills outlook, which followers have described as surprisingly healthy, seems different from the way she was raised.

The Duggar family focuses on keeping sweet

While Jill may be completely OK with her children expressing anger, thats not the way she was raised. Her blog post mostly suggested she grew up in a home that expected the kids to work out their own problems, but TV viewers may remember that the Duggar kids were discouraged from expressing feelings of anger.

The ultra-conservative Christian ministry the family belongs to places a heavy emphasis on the sweetness of a woman. In short, the Duggar girls, in specific, were expected to remain cheery and sweet at all times. The concept of keeping sweet is commonly used in the FLDS, according to FreeJinger. While the Duggars do not belong to the FLDS, many family followers believe the Institute of Basic Life Principles, the ministry the Duggars do belong to, may have adopted the concept, too.

RELATED: Counting On: Derick Dillard Confirms His Family Is No Longer a Part of the IBLP

While the concept of sweetness is assigned to the female members of the family, it appears as though expressions of anger were also discouraged for the Duggar boys. Rumors have swirled that disobedience may have led to Josiah Duggar being forced into his current marriage.

Jill has been the target of mom-shaming in the past

Even though many Duggar family followers are applauding Jills new outlook on life and parenting, she isnt immune to criticism. The mother of two has been heavily criticized for her parenting in the past, and still gets her fair share of hate on Instagram. Mainstream followers have criticized Jill for not cleaning her house enough, allowing her children to climb on unstable structures, and for leaving them mostly unattended in the familys backyard.

RELATED: Counting On: Jill Duggar Just Broke Duggar Protocol by Enrolling Her Son in School

Her ultra-conservative Christian followers have taken issue with some of the recent changes Jill has instituted in her home, too. In February 2020, Jill announced that her son, Israel, would be attending public school for kindergarten. While the decision received mostly positive comments, several people who appear to be within the familys ultra-conservative circle were concerned about the decision. Several commenters warned Jill against exposing her child to public education.
The tragic case of the disappearance, and eventual death, of seven-year-old JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryantwo of Idaho woman Lori Vallows childrenhas shocked and alarmed the nation since 2019.

In a recent interview on Dateline NBC, Vallows former friend Melanie Gibb opened up to Keith Morrison about the case. She discussed Vallows extramarital affair and spiritual connection with her now-husband, Chad Daybell (who, along with Vallow, has been arrested and is awaiting trial on related charges).

And Vallows children werent the only people surrounding the case who mysteriously died in recent months. Just weeks before Daybell married Vallow, his wife of many years, Tammy Daybell, died in her sleep. Daybell refused an autopsy. Meanwhile, Vallows ex-husband, Charles Vallow, was shot by her late brother, Alex Cox, allegedly in self-defense during a conflict.

Gibb revealed on Dateline NBC that Vallow and Daybell believed they had spiritual gifts that allowed them to predict when certain people would die. In fact, Vallow allegedly had a premonition that her own husband would soon pass on.

Dateline NBC 25th Anniversary | Jemal Countess/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

RELATED: Dateline NBC: Melanie Gibb Opens Up About What First Attracted Lori Vallow to Chad Daybell

Vallow allegedly told Gibb that she had a premonition her husband would die

After Vallow and Daybell met at a religious conference, sparks immediately flew. Both were married, but that didnt seem to stop them at all.

On the Dateline special, Gibb claimed they believed they had been married in multiple previous lives, could predict future disasters and deaths, and were destined to lead the 144,000 chosen souls to heaven at the end of days. They carried on an affair, using multiple burner phones to communicate.

Whats more, Daybell and Vallow believed they could sense when people in their lives were about to dieincluding Vallows own husband, Charles. She had told me that she had seen in a dream that he was gonna pass away, Gibb told Morrison of Vallows premonition.

Additionally, the pair believed they could tell who was a clean or unclean spirit and who had turned into a zombie or a dark spirit. Several of those who eventually passed on, including Charles, JJ, and Tylee, had been named zombies or rated dark by the couple.

Gibb claimed that Daybell singled Vallows husband out as dark before his death. Chad calls her up on the phone, she said, and says, I just want to let you know that Charles, he became this unclean spirit. They later phrased it as a zombie.

Charles talked to local police and warned them that he feared for his life

For his part, Vallows husband was understandably alarmed by his wifes claims. Body cam footage reveals that Vallow called the police and claimed his wife thought he was a demon and marked for death.

The footage, revealed on Dateline NBC, showed Vallow explaining to an officer that his wife claimed he had been taken over by a demon named Nick Snyder. Repeating what Vallow had allegedly told him, Charles said, Ive taken over Charles body. Im gonna kill you. Youre gonna be murdered tonight or tomorrow.

Charles requested a mental health evaluation for his wife. At the time, Gibb even accompanied her friend to the appointment.

I was with her, Gibb admitted. She was there for several hours. She passed easily. The Dateline guest added, She was very good. She was slick. She really knew how to convince people that she was a good person.

Gibb explained that Vallows husband died not long afterward

While Vallows husband filed for divorce two weeks later, their story was far from over. Vallow actually moved to Houston with her daughter, Tylee, to be with Charles again. He thought they were trying to make things work.

But according to Gibb, Vallows motives were actually financial in nature. When she asked her friend why she wanted to move back in with her estranged husband when she was already in love with Daybell, Vallow allegedly replied, I was told by the Lord I needed to get his finances in order.

Morrison explained on Dateline NBC that Vallows late husband had a million-dollar insurance policy. She was worried he might leave it to his sister, Kay Woodcock, JJs grandmother.

Later, Vallow moved back to Arizona, and Charles paid her a visit. Just three weeks later, in July 2019, Vallows brother shot her estranged husband in a confrontation at her home. Vallow claimed that Cox was merely responding to her husbands threats after a tussle over a cell phone. Cox passed away himself of natural causes in Dec. 2019.

Vallow called her a few days later and, according to Gibb, seemed cavalier about the news. She said, Did you hear the news? Gibb told Morrison. She said, Charles was shot. I said, What?

Gibb told Morrison that it seemed like Vallows premonition had come truebut in a much more violent way than she had ever imagined.
The now-notorious Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell, leaders of a loosely assembled extreme religious group (called a cult by some) known as the Church of the Firstborn, are currently awaiting trial for charges related to the disappearance of Vallows children, 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and seven-year-old JJ Vallow. A Dateline special recently delved more deeply into the disturbing case.

On June 9, the bodies of the two children were finally discovered by Rexburg, Idaho police behind Daybells property, marking the end to a harrowing, tragic, months-long search.

In a recent interview on NBCs Dateline NBC with Keith Morrison, Vallows ex-friend Melanie Gibb opened up about the couples intense religious beliefs. Vallow and Daybell claimed to be able to talk to spirits, predict the future, and discern whether the people around them had changed into zombies or dark spirits.

Oprah Winfrey | Tom Cooper/Getty Images

RELATED: This Dateline NBC Correspondent Just Had Her Sixth Child

Daybells religious views included beliefs in prophecy and revelation

Daybells and Vallows unconventional religious faith has been the subject of a great deal of scrutiny since the childrens disappearance was first noted. The pair met at a religious conference and formed a bond based on their beliefs in the end times, as well as their ability to predict the future.

Before JJ and Tylee disappeared, the couple allegedly agreed that they had turned into zombies or dark spirits. Vallows fourth husband, Charles Vallow, was also believed by the couple to have been inhabited by a dark spiritshortly before he died at the hands of Vallows brother, Alex Cox.

During her Dateline interview, Gibb told Morrison that Daybell believed he had a host of spiritual gifts. He thought he could talk to the spirit world, make prophecies and predictions, and speak with beings beyond the veil. Daybell was well-known within his niche religious group for writing end-times novels and speaking at spiritual conferences. He also appeared on Gibbs religious podcast alongside Vallow.

Vallows fifth husbands views became more and more extreme over time

When they first met, Gibb explained, Vallow and Daybell immediately hit it off. Almost instantly, Daybell told Vallow that they had been married seven times in previous lives.

Over time, Gibb claimed on Dateline, both Vallows and Daybells beliefs became more extreme. They came to believe that the two of them had been chosen to lead the 144,000 souls who would usher in the end times in the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Predicting a variety of different earthquakes and invasions, they began to recruit others to gather in Rexburg, Idaho, at the end of the world. Gibb told Morrison that Vallow was especially skilled at recruiting fellow believers, as she had an infectious personality that people wanted to latch onto like Velcro.

Whats more, the couple believed they were able to rate others based on their relative lightness or darknessand many of them, like Chads wife Tammy Daybell and Vallows previous husband Charles, ended up dead along the way, sometimes under mysterious circumstances. It was this belief that made even those who shared their faith, like Gibb, start to wonder about their friends motives.

Daybell and Vallow claimed the darkest spirit on the planet was none other than Oprah Winfrey

In her Dateline interview, Gibb and another of Vallows former friends, April Raymond, claimed the couple shared delusions of grandeur about their spiritual abilities and purposewhich might have contributed in part to their eventual downfall.

Morrison asked Raymond and Gibb to delve more deeply into the specifics of the couples somewhat secret beliefs (secret because they went against the major tenets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). According to Gibb, Daybell said he was a reincarnation of Martin Luther and had lived 31 previous lives.

Raymond added that Vallows obsession with rating people as clean or unclean extended not only to those she knew, but to celebrities as well. And Vallows opinion about the darkest spirit of them all was especially surprising.

She was really anxious to tell me who the darkest spirit on the planet was, Raymond said on Dateline. And she said it was Oprah Winfrey. Morrison asked about her reasoning for selecting Oprah, but Raymond explained that it was simply what Vallow believed shed been told by spirits beyond the veil.

Raymond also claimed that Vallow tried to recruit her for the burgeoning religious groupbut she wasnt interested in taking part.
The pending case around Lori Vallow and Chad Daybelltwo recently-married members of what some call a doomsday cult that predicted the world would end in July 2020has riveted and shocked the nation over the past months. A recent Dateline NBC special revealed further details about the couples tumultuous past.

Vallows adopted son, JJ Vallow, and her teen daughter from a previous relationship, Tylee Ryan, were originally reported as missing at the end of 2019. But their story came to a tragic resolution on June 9, when police in Rexburg, Idaho, found their bodies buried in a shallow grave behind Daybells home. The couple have both been arrested and are awaiting trial.

Many other recent suspicious deaths surround the case, such as the shooting of Vallows fourth husband, Charles Vallow, by Vallows late brother, Alex Cox (which he claimed was self-defense), and the death of Daybells wife, Tammy Daybell, just shortly before he married Vallow. These deaths are currently being investigated.

On a recent episode of NBCs Dateline, journalist Keith Morrison sat down with Melanie Gibb, a former close friend of Daybells and Vallows who previously shared their unconventional religious beliefs. Gibb has cooperated with the FBI and law enforcement in helping to solve the case. Gibb gave Morrison insider details about how Daybell and Vallow began their affair and what originally attracted them to each other.

Keith Morrison | Jim Spellman/WireImage

RELATED: Was Twilight Influenced By Stephenie Meyers Religious Beliefs?

Gibb said Vallow and Daybell were like gasoline and fire

Vallow and Daybell initially bonded over spiritual matters, according to Gibb. In fact, Gibbs own friendship with Vallow was forged in shared faith.

In Oct. 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona, Gibb told Morrison she met Vallow at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints gathering. Gibb was teaching a class on alternative health remedies, and they formed a fast, intense friendship. In her Dateline interview, Gibb said Vallow was once like a sister to her.

As for Daybell, his connection with Vallow was just as immediate. They were both like gasoline and fire, Gibb said of the couples instantand potentially dangerouschemistry.

Daybell was known for his unconventional religious beliefs, which he shared in end-times fiction and speeches at religious conferences for preppers, or those who believed they were preparing themselves for the end of the world. He talked about the visions he saw of the second coming, Gibb explained. People thought he had this spiritual gift of revelation.

Vallow accompanied Gibb on a road trip to St. George, Utah, for one of these conferencesand thats where Vallow first set eyes on Daybell.

She was attracted to him on a spiritual level, and that was her attraction to him, Gibb said of their instant connection. They were both married at the time, but that didnt seem to bother either of them.

Meanwhile, at least according to Gibb, Vallows relationship with her fourth husband, Charles, was sufferingespecially after she met Daybell. She seemed to be upset a lot, Gibb said of her former friends marriage. I could never figure out why.

Vallows former friend claimed that Daybell made her feel powerful

Daybell and Vallow got even closer when Vallow held a spiritual conference at her home. Her soon-to-be-husband, Daybell, drove 13 hours from Rexburg, Idaho, to attend.

Chad was there, and he asked to spend the night, Gibb said. (Vallows husband wasnt at home.) The visit appeared to solidify their relationship. After that, they seemed to be stuck like glue to one another. Both Daybell and Vallow continued to discuss their faith, eventually participating in a podcast hosted by Gibb as guest speakers.

As for what made their infatuation so intoxication, Gibb theorized on the Dateline special that Daybell made Vallow feel powerful. He discussed spiritual gifts and prophecies with her, and the couple came to believe that they were meant to lead the chosen 144,000 souls mentioned in the Bibles Book of Revelations at the end of the world.

He seemed to have a great respect for women, and so I think that was pleasing to her, Gibb told Morrison.

The couple believed they had previously been married in seven different lives

Morrison wondered if it was obvious to others that Vallow and Daybell were in love. Gibb said she immediately recognized the couples attraction. She wondered why they didnt simply leave their respective spouses and marry each other.

The answer, as usual, was a spiritual one. I asked her, why dont you get divorced? Gibb remembered. And [Vallow] said, well, Chad and I are not allowed to.

Whats more, Vallow and Daybell secretly married each other in a Mormon temple for all time and eternity, despite already being sealed to others. They justified their actionswhich would be considered blasphemous by the mainstream Mormon churchby arguing that they were exalted and had been married to one another in seven previous lives.

Daybell introduced that idea to Vallow, according to Gibband she was more than thrilled with the notion. She seemed to be very drawn to that idea, Gibb claimed. It was very exciting.

Eventually, Gibb claimed on her Dateline interview, she came to believe that the couples refusal to get divorced from their spouses and marry each other might have been motivated by money. Both of their spouses had sizeable life insurance policies, which Daybell and Vallow collected on after their sudden deaths.
The first episode of HBOs Ill Be Gone in the Dark was released on June 28. The true crime documentary series revolves around Michelle McNamaras book of the same name. Before her death, McNamara was heavily involved in investigating the Golden State Killer, a serial rapist, and killer who terrorized citizens of California between 1974 and 1986 before going dormant. In April 2018, Joseph DeAngelo was arrested for the crimes, just two months after McNamaras book was released posthumously. He stands accused of at least 13 murders, 50 rapes, and 100 burglaries and is expected to plead guilty on June 29.

Who is Michelle McNamara?

McNamara, the author of Ill Be Gone In the Dark, was a television writer before starting her blog, True Crime Diary. On the blog, McNamara wrote about cold cases but paid specific attention to a series of crimes committed in California between 1974 and 1986. Her attention to detail, and desire to uncover who was behind the string of heinous crimes spiraled into an obsession.

McNamara, who married Patton Oswalt in 2005, is often credited with giving the killer the moniker he is best known by. Before McNamara dubbed him The Golden State Killer, the perpetrator was known by multiple names, including The Visalia Ransacker, The Original Nightstalker, and The East Area Rapist.

RELATED: Ill Be Gone In The Dark: What Is the New HBO Docuseries About?

McNamara died in April 2016, two years before DeAngelo was charged with the crimes that occupied so much of her time. Upon the announcement of his arrest, Oswalt paid tribute to his late wife on social media.

Did Michelle McNamara help capture the Golden State Killer?

The announcement of DeAngelos arrest caught the world by surprise. It was just two months after McNamaras book was published. Oswalt was still working on promoting the nonfiction offering, and readers were still working their way through the 352 pages of information. One would assume, given the timing, that something inside the book led to the capture. According to Marie Claire, thats not the case. While the Sheriffs department noted that McNamaras blog and the book might have renewed interest in the case, they insist there was nothing inside the pages that led them directly to DeAngelo. Instead, a DNA match through a genealogy database helped identify the suspect.

Joseph James DeAngelo, the suspected Golden State Killer | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

McNamara may not have found DeAngelo herself, but the profile she developed from countless hours of research was incredibly close to the man who would eventually be charged with the crimes. McNamara theorized that the perpetrator had a background in the military or the police, for example. DeAngelo is a Navy veteran who went on to work as a police officer for a brief time.

Popular blogs and podcasts have led to the closing of high profiles cases before

While the sheriffs department has failed to credit McNamara with helping to solve the case, they have, at least, admitted that McNamara did help to bring renewed interest and increased tips. She is not the first, nor will she be the last, citizen detective that has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about long-forgotten cases. Occasionally, that awareness kicks investigations into high gear and helps bring killers to justice.

RELATED: 7 True-Crime Podcasts That Will Leave You Convinced Your Neighbor Is a Murderer

Payne Lindseys podcast, Up and Vanished, renewed interest in the disappearance of Tara Grinstead. Grinstead, a beauty queen, and teacher vanished mysteriously in 2005. As Lindsey recorded his podcast, a tip led the Georgia Bureau of Investigations to two friends who were charged in Grinsteads disappearance and murder. Investigators credited Lindseys podcast for bringing the case back into focus for locals.

Filmmakers, Lance Reenstierna and Tim Pilleri, are hoping for a similar outcome with their podcast, Missing Maura Murray. The duo has spent years combing over the evidence in Murrays 2004 disappearance from a lonely road in New Hampshire. The nursing student hasnt been seen since, but Pilleri and Reenstierna are hoping their podcast will help jog the memories of locals who have been reluctant to speak.
This is a pretty exciting month for musical theater fans  Hamilton is premiering on Disney+ this month. Theres plenty of television shows and new episodes joining the streaming platform for the very first time during July. From Muppets Now to a few National Geographic specials, here are a number of the television shows coming to Disney+ during July 2020.

National Geographic originals, including Alaska Animal Rescue and Secrets of the Zoo season 3

Thanks to Disneys partnership with National Geographic, there are plenty of award-winning films and television shows created by the network available on Disney+. Most recently that includes shows like Alaska Animal Rescue, Weirdest, Bestest, Truest, and Secrets of the Zoo, all of which premiere new episodes during July 2020.

Disney XDs Marvel Funko | Marvel via Getty Images

Marvel Funko

This series features a number of favorite Avengers characters, including the animated versions of Iron Man, Hulk, and Captain America. Now, the first two seasons of this show will be listed on Disney+.

Thanks to this streaming platform, though, theres plenty of Marvel content available for subscribers to binge-watch. That includes award-winning movies like Black Panther and record-breaking films like Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

Muppets Now premieres on July 31

Its time to light the lights. For the first time ever, a new Muppets series debuts on this streaming platform, titled Muppets Now. This show will, reportedly, feature everyones favorite cast of characters, including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and Gonzo. Fans will just have to wait and see what theyve got in store.

This original television series, Muppets Now, premieres exclusively on Disney+ July 31. In the meantime, though, theres plenty of Muppets content available on this streaming platform. That includes the ABC comedy series The Muppets and movies like The Muppet Movie and Muppets Most Wanted.

New episodes of One Day at Disney, Its a Dogs Life, and Disney Family Sundays

An adorable series all about dogs  it doesnt get much better than that. The Disney+ original, Its a Dogs Life, celebrates everything that makes our furry friends so fantastic. However, this series draws to a close on July 17, with the episode Snake Search Dogs and Hawaiian Conservation Dogs.

There are a few short episodes released exclusively on this streaming platform. That includes the original series, One Day at Disney, which details the lives of cast members in a variety of different roles. If youre looking for some new activities to do with the family, look no further than Disney Family Sundays, where new episodes premiere on a weekly basis.

Some of the final episodes of the original series, Pixar in Real Life, will premiere, including one about the colorful and mobile house from Up. To learn more about Disney+ and to subscribe, visit their website.

RELATED: The Little Mermaid 2: Why Disney Fans Think Ariel Is the Only Disney Princess With a Daughter

RELATED: Are the Live-Action and Animated Versions of Beauty and the Beast on Disney+? How Subscribers Are Celebrating the Upcoming Gaston and Lefou Prequel Sequel
As the chaos that is 2020 continues, Kim Kardashian West has been treating herself to a little R&R.

Since early June, the mom-of-four has been taking a break from California life and spending time in Wyoming with her husband, Kanye West. She hasnt posted much from the trip, but on Sunday, June 28, she took to Instagram and shared a couple of photos that were seemingly taken at their $14 million ranch. The pictures show them cozying up together, which caused a stir on social media as the couple typically dont put on PDA.

Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West at a party in February 2020 |Rich Fury/VF20/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

Kim Kardashian Wests Wyoming photos

The photos show the Wests posing on a balcony in all-leather outfits. In one photo, Kanye is seen resting his hands on Wests waist as she leans slightly away from him, while the other shows her hugging and kissing his neck as he looks the other way. The reality star kept the caption short and sweet, writing: Happy Sunday.

Reactions to Kim Kardashian Wests Wyoming photos

The post has garnered over three million likes, with everyone from Lala Anthony to Busy Philipps positively reacting to it. But their postures had some fans calling them things like stiff and awkward.

That second photo awkward as hell, read one comment. Echoing that, another said, They both look miserable and the affection looks forced. A third person chimed in and mused, The hug is unseasoned.

Fans also criticized their outfits, especially since its summertime, comparing them to characters in films such as Blade (1998) and The Matrix (1999). One fan jokingly asked West if shed taken the red or blue pill, referencing an iconic scene from the Keanu Reeves film, while another teased: Imagine how squeaky they sound.

The post comes amid rumors of marital trouble

The rumors began on April 29 when Us Weekly reported that the couple had been arguing a lot during the coronavirus lockdown.

A source told the outlet that Kanye is really getting on Kims nerves by leaving her with their kids while he goes to do other things. Kim finds it frustrating that [Kanye] doesnt ask her how he can help with the kids, the insider continued, referencing their four children: North, 7, Saint, 4, Chicago, 2, and Psalm, 1.

A People magazine source backed the claims, saying Its a huge chaos with all the kids at home. They noted that Kanye tends to [escape] to his office for work breaks. But at the same time, the insider said he also makes sure that his wife has time to herself. He also let Kim have a break [in late April] when he took some of the kids to Wyoming. They have been taking turns caring for the kids, the insider continued.

Still, fans believed the couple was headed toward a divorce. But West shut those rumors down in a post celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary on May 24. She shared a photo of them kissing along with the caption, 6 years down; forever to go. Until the end.

Read more: Kim Kardashian West Gives 1 Reason Why She and Kanye West Are Still Together
States that were recalcitrant ... are doing a 180, and you have the same states now wearing masks, Cuomo said. Let the president have the same sense to do that as an executive order, and then let the president lead by example and let the president put a mask on it, because we know it works.
The Brown family of Sister Wives fame is no stranger to speculation. Over the years, viewers have speculated about everything from how the family pays for their 18 children, to who Kody Browns favorite and least favorite wife is. In recent years, speculation has focused almost entirely on Meri Brown, Kodys first and former legal wife, and where her marriage stands. The couple has had a contentious relationship ever since Meri was caught in a catfishing scandal. Now, family followers have noticed that Meri is walking around without her wedding ring. Is her missing ring that big of a deal?

Meri Brown has been spotted without her wedding ring

Kody and his four wives, Meri, Janelle Brown, Christine Brown, and Roby Brown, all traditionally wear matching Claddagh rings. While the rings have been easily identifiable on the hands of Kodys three other wives, recently, Meri has been going without.

While its hard to tell what Meri is wearing on her finger in most pictures, a recent snapshot made it clear that she isnt wearing her ring. On May 12, Meri shared a photo that featured her hands balled up in fists. The accompanying caption was all about facing fears. Her hands were sans jewelry.

RELATED: Sister Wives: Kody Brown Might Be Broke, But Meri Brown Isnt

In a post from June 15, Meri waxed poetic about unity. In the photo, shes wearing a red, white, and blue shirt with the word Unite emblazoned across the front. Her hands, however, look naked, once again. Since the Claddagh ring is strongly associated with romantic commitment, Meris decision to take her ring off has led fans to assume she has officially left the family.

Other signs have led fans to believe Meri is no longer an active participant in the family

There are a number of reasons someone would decide to take off their ring, and not all of them mean a divorce is imminent. Meris decision to leave her ring at home, however, isnt the only sign that things arent going well inside her marriage. Fans have suspected Meri is only a part of the Brown family for filming purposes for years, but speculation has picked up in the last 12 months.

Meri has spent more and more time away from her famous family in recent months. Shes traveled extensively and appears to be spending the majority of her time away from Flagstaff, Arizona. During quarantine, Meri has moved between Flagstaff, Las Vegas, and Parowan, Utah. Lizzie Heritage Inn, Meris solo business, is located In Parowan. She maintains several close friendships in Las Vegas, as well.

RELATED: Sister Wives: Does Meri Brown Even Have a Home in Flagstaff, Arizona Anymore?

Fans have also pointed out that Meri has lost weight and changed up her style. She has also taken to posting inspirational quotes to her Instagram, many of which fans believe are subtle digs at Kody. While each hint alone doesnt mean Meri is done with her marriage, together, they create a compelling argument.

Is Meris missing wedding ring a big deal?

Is Meris missing ring a big deal, though? Not everyone chooses to wear a wedding ring at all times, and that doesnt mean there is trouble in the marriage. Some people have to leave their ring at home if they have an active job. Some couples opt not to exchange rings as a sign of commitment at all. Others only wear their wedding rings for special occasions. Fans, however, are convinced that Meris missing ring means something because she always wore it before.

Sister Wives stars, Janelle Brown, Meri Brown, Kody Brown and Christine Brown | Ethan Miller/Getty Images for AEG Live

RELATED: Sister Wives: Meri Brown Just Proved Kody and Robyn Break the Familys Rules

The U.S. Sun weighed in on the situation. Speaking to an alleged insider, the publication claims removing a wedding band in polygamy is a big deal. Reportedly, the missing ring might be Meris signal that shes finally done with her marriage. She may be done dealing with Kody in a romantic way, but whether shell actually separate herself from the family entirely, however, is an altogether different question.
Being a royal definitely comes with its benefits, but it comes with its drawbacks as well. Senior members of the family constantly find themselves in the spotlight, whether they want to be or not, and there are definitely times when fans and the news media can be far too critical.

In fact, it almost seems as if the majority of the criticism that royals receive isnt fair  as we know, everyone has an opinion. The constant media attention is difficult enough for those such as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and to add to the pressure they constantly have to deal with being compared to each other.

Often times, people tend to forget the duchesses lead very different lives and that being married to brothers doesnt mean that they have to dress the same, enjoy the same things, or even interact with each other on a regular basis. Here is why Kate reportedly cant stand Meghan comparisons.

From commoner to the future queen

RELATED: Why Prince William Believes Kate Middletons Naughty Sense of Humor Completes Him

When Kate was growing up, chances are, she never dreamed that she would one day be a future queen. The duchess has a typical family of five, and she led a pretty quiet and typical life before going off to college and meeting Prince William, who she eventually married.

Although many people would be under the impression that falling in love with a prince is a fairy tale come true, there were definitely a few bumps in the road for Kate and Prince William. The couple broke up briefly in 2007, and Kate was in the spotlight, experiencing a whole new side of life that she was not at all familiar with.

According to Marie Claire, her style had to change as well. There was a time when Kate could dress however she wanted, wearing everything from jeans to short skirts. Once she became the Duchess of Cambridge, she found herself having to abide by royal style rules at all times, given that she is one of the most-watched women in the entire world.

Hollywood actress to modern-day duchess

Meghan already had quite the life before she entered into a relationship with Prince Harry. Having grown up in LA, California, she knew from a young age that she wanted to pursue a life of acting, and worked hard to achieve her goals.

Meghans big break came when she landed the role of Rachel Zane on the legal drama, Suits, and her career took off from there. Today reports that she also has a passion for feminism and charity work, something that has continued even after her marriage.

Meghans life, however, has been drastically different from that of her sister-in-law  while Kate continues to be a senior working royal, Meghan and Harry took a step back from royal life and are now living a quiet life in Los Angeles with their young son, Archie.

Why Kate reportedly cant stand Meghan comparisons

Kate Middleton | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

While it is only natural that fans around the world tend to make comparisons between Meghan and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge apparently cant stand when it happens. Why is this? Well, to start, the two women have been hit hard by rumors of a feud, which are not necessarily true.

Even so, the Daily Mail reports that Kate feels that all the comparisons are a way to make it look like the news outlets are using her to put Meghan down. She doesnt like it one bit, and rightfully so. According to Daily Mail: Duncan Larcombe, a former royal editor, told New magazine, via OK!, that Kate was particularly upset by the article because she is very keen to stop comparisons being drawn between herself and her sister-in-law.

Its totally natural to not want constant comparisons and pitting the two duchesses against each other is sexist.
Based on cellulose, e.g. waste from agriculture, a sustainable plastic can be produced in a few steps with suitable catalysts. The applications of PEF (polyethylene furanoate) are many and varied: from textile fibres to diapers and packaging materials.

In the beginning, we simply took balloons, blew them up in the lab and put them over the apparatus." - Experiment with gas entering the reaction vessel.

Young researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, LIKAT, in Rostock have developed a catalytic process for bio-polymers that runs under very mild conditions. The results are building blocks of the plastic PEF, a sustainable alternative to PET beverage packaging. The production of PEF building blocks does not require petroleum, but instead cellulose, i.e. biomass, and essentially only alcohol and air. The process can be transferred into practice immediately. To make it freely accessible, the young chemists published their findings on an open-access platform.

Coca Cola was the first company to build a plant bottle factory in the USA for beverage bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which are produced entirely from plant material - but with a high energy input. The conventional process for the PET building blocks requires temperatures of up to 300 degrees Celsius and a pressure of around 100 bar.

"These harsh conditions have so far weakened the industry's enthusiasm for biobased plastics," said Dr. Esteban Meija. He is head of the "Polymer Chemistry and Catalysis" junior research group at LIKAT. The work on the new process was carried out under his leadership. The result is quasi the "green brother" of PET: PEF, full name: polyethylene furanoate. The PEF process manages with a maximum of 60 degrees Celsius, operates at normal atmospheric pressure and can increase its productivity 15 times over under continuous flow conditions. Dr. Meija: "This makes bio-based polymers such as PEF interesting again for industry.

Platform Chemical from Rice Straw

The starting material for the PEF building blocks is a so-called platform chemical, a furan derivative called HMF, which is produced from cellulose, a polysaccharide from waste products such as agricultural waste. Laboratories around the world are conducting research on a dozen such platform chemicals in order to convert the raw material for chemistry from crude oil and natural gas to biomass on a large scale. HMF, to be precise: hydroxymethylfurfural, is one of the hot candidates, as Esteban Meija says. However, new ideas are also needed for the simple and cheap implementation of this raw material and its products on a large scale.

Dr. Meija's research contacts with Vietnam led to cooperation with Nguyen Trung Thanh, a professor at Hanoi University of Technology. Meija's junior research group offered him the opportunity to develop a simplified process for the production of HMF from rice straw in his habilitation thesis. In parallel, Meija assigned a student from Venezuela, Abel Salazar, the task of improving the PEF process based on HMF.

Balloons in the Laboratory

In principle, in this process, a mixture of HMF and alcohol reacts with oxygen and in the presence of a catalyst to form an ester, or more precisely a diester, which can be polymerised to PEF in a further step (see scheme). Compared to the previous process, the new process at the LIKAT manages with a fractional amount of heat and pressure. On top of that, the researchers do not supply the required oxygen to the reaction in concentrated form, but rather from the air - which simplified the process considerably and apparently also increased the fun factor of the experiments: "At first we simply took balloons, blew them up in the laboratory and put them over the apparatus. With three or four reactions at the same time, it made for a nice party scene in the lab.

But the use of room air had a disadvantage for the reaction: it ran too slowly. The product could only be examined the next morning. Meija and his team solved the problem in two places. First, they slightly increased the pressure and found an optimum at 20 bar. "Secondly, we replaced our reaction vessel with a microflow reactor."

Continious Process

The starting materials, essentially a mixture of HMF and alcohol, are pressed through a system of fine tubes with oxygen or air. Due to the capillary forced guidance, the oxygen molecules come into contact with the starting mix in a well-dosed manner. The reaction mixture then passes through a cartridge. There the catalyst is located, which starts the reaction, in this case particles of cobalt oxide and ruthenium, applied to the surface of small beads.

This arrangement enables the "oxidative esterification", as chemists call this reaction, and above all it allows a continuous process. The catalyst is not consumed, it can be used again and again. The product, the esterified PEF component, leaves the cartridge as a liquid and can now be polymerized.

"Our reaction now runs 15 times faster than when the experiments began," says Esteban Meija. The chemist is convinced that the result will interest many people. "That's why we have decided to publish the results in open access."
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Joe Aga, pilot from Ryka UAS, brought the NOAA-sponsored project drone down to a soft landing last week in Nahcotta.
Elementary, my dear: What, exactly, were you taught in school? History-wise, that is?
Do police officers generally treat black and white Americans alike?

White evangelicals are more likely to say yes than any other major religious demographic in the United States. Black Protestants are most likely to disagree.

This rift has appeared repeatedly in surveys on American policing over the past five years, as have disparities in how these two groups understand high-profile police killings of black men and in how police make them feel. The numbers are striking:

A 2015 poll from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) found white evangelical Protestants were the only major religious group in which a majority (62%) said police generally treat white and black people equally. Only 20 percent of minority Protestants agreed.

Survey data from Pew Research Center and the Baylor Religion Survey in 2017 showed that gap between white evangelicals and black Protestants was intact two years later.

The same 2015 PRRI poll found 6 in 10 white evangelicals called high-profile police killings of black men isolated incidents; 7 in 10 minority Protestants said they see a broader pattern.

In a 2018 poll by PRRI, the isolated incident vs. broader pattern contrast was starker: Now 7 in 10 white evangelicals said the deaths were isolated incidents, while 84 percent of black Protestants said theres a pattern.

And the 2018 Cooperative Congressional Election Survey showed white evangelicals and black Protestants were, of 16 religious demographics, furthest apart on whether the police make them feel safe or unsafe.

The latest of these polls (the most recent Ive found) is two years old, and its possible opinions have shifted some, especially over the past few weeks, as the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has drawn fresh attention to official violence and racial inequality.

But that fourth bullet point troubles me. Walter Scott, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and Botham Jean were all killed by police between 2015 and 2018. White evangelicals witnessed these stories and yet came away more convinced there is no broader pattern of how police treat black Americans with which we need concern ourselves. In those same years, our black Protestant brothers and sisters became more insistent that exactly the opposite was true.

Black Christians overwhelmingly say they are treated unequally by the police. Why do so many white evangelicals disbelieve them? There are four explanations.

If black Christians overwhelmingly say they are treated unequally by the policeand they dowhy do so many white evangelicals disbelieve them? There are four explanations Id like to explore, one historical, one informational, one cultural, and one spiritual.

The historical explanation, as a recent episode of CTs Quick to Listenpodcast detailed, concerns evangelical attitudes about policing from over a century ago (and how theyve developed since). Around the turn of the 20th century, white American Christians across the theological spectrum believed crime was a secular evil, that crime was something that America was going to descend into if it turned away from God, explained historian Aaron L. Griffith, author of the forthcoming Gods Law and Order: The Politics of Punishment in Evangelical America. This produced extremely positive views of police, Griffith said, with even progressive or pacifist Christians speaking of officers as missionaries and just as essential to a neighborhood's wellbeing as social workers or ministers. Unwittingly, white evangelicals may filter what black Christians tell us through lingering, unexamined pieces of that historical lens.

The informational explanation, predictably, is about information. Before 2014, comprehensive data on police brutality and racial disparities in our justice system was inaccessible if not outright unavailable. Now we have a wealth of data and a wealth of disagreement about what it means. Those arguing racial disparities in policing are a statistical illusion tend to focus on fatal police shootings, and with that narrow dataset (perhaps narrowed again to consider only unarmed victims), they can make a plausible case. Examine other aspects of policing and criminal justice, however, and a clear racial pattern emerges in who is stopped, searched, and subjected to use of force; who is arrested, charged, and convicted for comparable crimes; who is sentenced to prison time and for how long; and who is offered pre-trial release, pardon, or commutation. Many white evangelicals may never have read these studies; many black Christians didnt need to read them to know policing works differently for them.

Article continues below

The cultural explanation is much too weighty to fairly consider here, but consider that a Pew survey in 2009 found white evangelicals were an outlier on another violent topic: torture. As CT reported at the time, white evangelicals were the group most likely to say torture could be justified, and, even more damningly, enthusiasm for it was higher among those who attended church more often. Why these polling distinctions? Do they point to something gone wrong in white evangelical culture? Is there a cruelty among us? An indifference? Another poll found this support for torture plummeted if the question were tied to what could be done to captured American soldiers. That this Golden Rule framing made a difference is hopefulbut why did we need it to remember that those suffering our governments violence are as human as us?

My last explanation is spiritual: Perhaps this disparity is the result of pride. I dont mean the simple, blatant pride of self-aggrandizement, but rather the subtler, self-deceiving pride of hubris, the false confidence of believing we understand what we do not. Are we unjustifiably certain we know how black Americans experience our countrys criminal justice system? Do we let our hubris tell us we dont need to re-examine our history, information sources, or culture? Do we let it convince us we dont need to listen to accounts that unsettle our assumptions? Though fools despise wisdom and instruction, Proverbs 1:7 says, those who fear the Lord seek to learn righteousness, justice, and equity (Prov. 1:34, NRSV).

Our black family in Christ here in America overwhelmingly say they are treated unequally by the police. Can we, with all humility and gentleness (Eph. 4:2, NRSV), accept that instruction? Can we learn to believe them?

Bonnie Kristian is a columnist at Christianity Today, a contributing editor at The Week, a fellow at Defense Priorities, and the author of A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today (Hachette).
Update (July 10): Turkeys high court and president have approved the reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

After 85 years as a museum, the Hagia Sophia is poised to once again become a mosque. Might it also again become a church?

A Turkish court is scheduled to rule on July 2 if the iconic Byzantine basilica can be opened for Muslim worship.

Built in 537 by Emperor Justinian, in 1453 the Ottoman sultan Mehmet II converted the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Five centuries later, the secularizing founder of modern Turkey, Kamal Ataturk, turned it into a museum.

UNESCO designated the Hagia Sophia as a World Heritage Site in 1985.

President Recep Erdogan has long stated his desire that the building would welcome prayer. In March, he led guests in silent Quranic recitation on the 567th anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople, dedicating the prayer to Mehmet II.

Last week, Erdogan found an unlikely supporter.

I believe that believers praying suits better the spirit of the temple than curious tourists running around to take pictures, tweeted Armenian Patriarch Sahak II, resident in Istanbul.

The site is large enough to allocate a space for Christians, [so that] the world can applaud our religious peace and maturity.

The Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church represents the largest Christian community remaining in Turkey, with an estimated 90,000 members. The Hagia Sophia used to serve as the cathedral for the Greek Orthodox Church, whose members have dwindled to an estimated 2,500.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, also resident in Istanbul, expressed his concern over the possible conversion.

Instead of uniting, a 1,500-year-old heritage is dividing us, said the Greek patriarch, who leads 300 million Orthodox worldwide.

I am saddened and shaken.

Condemnation also came from UNESCO, Greece, and the US ambassador-at-large for religious freedom.

The Hagia Sophia holds enormous spiritual and cultural significance to billions of believers of different faiths around the world, tweeted Sam Brownback.

We call on the government of Turkey to maintain it as a UNESCO World Heritage site  in its current status as a museum.

Turkey rebutted the criticism, stating the decision is a domestic issue with Turkish jurisdiction alone. A recent poll found 73 percent of Turks favor transforming the museum into a mosque.

Sahak II, whose election was covered by CT last December, wondered if his proposal to open the Hagia Sophia also as a church was too utopian.

But perhaps it would reduce the rancor.

Enter the temple, breathe silence and learn from it, tweeted the 85th Armenian patriarch of Constantinople.

Hagia Sophia will advise you that there was nothing more valuable than peace.

Turkish courts have also returned repurposed museums to their original status as churches, including the St. Pauls Church in Tarsus in 2010. And in 2015, the 16,000 member Jewish community in Turkey was permitted to hold Hanukkah services for the first time.

The salvation of the world is the covenant of the cross and the crescent, Sahak II tweeted.

And the honor of manifesting such peace to the world is worthy of the Republic of Turkey.

Other churches-turned-museums, however, have been transformed into mosques. In 2013, CT reported on the similarly named Church of Hagia Sophia, on the Black Sea coastal city of Trabzon.

And in 2019, perhaps as a prelude, the historic Chora church was converted into a mosque.

The head of Turkeys estimated 7,000-member Protestant community does not believe the government has recently treated Christian citizens with equality.

The Hagia Sophia is just another attack on us as Christians, and very sad for the Armenians, the Orthodox, and the Catholics, said Soner Tufan, stating his opinion is less important than that of the traditional churches.

The government doesnt look after us, or give us our rights.

A chief complaint of Protestants in Turkey has been the surge in denials for residency permit renewals of expatriate Christian workers, and the deportation of others.

Though Donald Trump intervened to free pastor Andrew Brunson in 2018, last week a stay-at-home mother-of-threemarried to a Turkish pastorwas told she could not return to her home of 10 years.

Social tensions are also increasing.

Fears that Christians are responsible for COVID-19 led one Turk to try and burn down a church in Istanbul. At another church in the city, protesters tore down its cross.

And while Turkish believers employed the coronavirus quarantine to participate in a global singalong initiative to bless their nation, Erdogan advanced the reopening order to coincide with the 567th anniversary of Mehmet IIs conquesthosted outside the Hagia Sophia.

Tufan believes that Sahak II realizes the cathedral is lost, so the patriarch is trying to negotiate and change the message to one of unity.

Tufan also thinks that despite the beautiful words, it is not the Armenian leaders true opinion.

Maybe he thinks this is a win-win position, but I dont think others will agree.

Nishan Bakalian, coordinator of church relations for the diaspora Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, thinks it serves Turkish propaganda.

I don't think you will find anybody in the community debating as if this was a rational proposal, he said.

It sounds like a statement made by someone who is subject to the overt and covert pressures of a minority community, under the current Turkish regime.

And for Paul Haidostian, president of the Armenian evangelical Haigazian University in Beirut, it is at best a theoretical discussion.

Sahak IIs call for cooperation might have been welcome, if Erdogans purpose wasnt purely political.

Records must be set straight, and past wrongs acknowledged, Haidostian said, in reference to the Armenian genocide.

Interreligious dialogue is better served when peoples of faith humble their hearts to seek justice and repentance, rather than illustrious and politicized spaces.
The emergency room also charged him $1,684 for using its facility and $634 to see one of its doctors. All told, he ended up with $5,649 in bills, of which his insurance plan paid $4,914. Lenner didnt end up on the hook for any of it, but he is still frustrated. Ultimately, we pay for this in higher premiums, he said.
By Sarah Bucy Klingler, an MANT student at Northern Seminary

Bodies matter.

I often wonder if Christians would truly concur with this statement. I know we believe spiritual lives matter but what about embodied lives, flesh-and-blood lives? We might say bodies matter when we discuss being pro-life and babies being knit together in their mothers womb (Psalm 139:13), and rightly so. We might say bodies matter when we discuss Jesus, fully God, fully man, beaten bloody, wearing a crown of thorns, hung on the cross for the redemption and liberation of all who would claim him as Lord, and rightly so. But are those the only instances in which embodied lives matter?

How about when children and other vulnerable persons have their bodies used and abused by church leaders? Does it matter that their bodies, which were created in the image of the triune God, were violated? If so, why do we let wolves in sheeps clothing, wicked perpetrators, off the hook so easily? Why do we allow them to feign sorrow and a false repentance and then move them along to the next sheep pasture, only to once again devour those in the pew? It absolutely matters that victims face physical, emotional, and spiritual ramifications from hideous abuse at the hands of supposed men or women of God. We cannot expect them to heal by simply providing spiritual platitudes and thoughts and prayers. Full, holistic healing of their bodies matters. It matters to God, and it should matter to his people.

How about when girls and young women are taught their bodies are shameful, that they should cover up and hide their feminine bodies, lest they provide temptation for lustful young men? Does it matter that, In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them? (Gen. 1:27b) Are female bodies by nature bad and evil? Are women by default seductresses and men unable to control their sexual desires? I wonder how much harm has been done and how many have walked away from the Church because they were shamed into believing their sexual experiences in their bodies somehow put them outside the reach of Gods grace and mercy. I know the chewed gum and the plucked petals from a flower metaphors have been used to scare many into remaining virgins until marriage or likewise from hiding their struggles for fear of being labeled and condemned. Is a womans virgin body somehow the greatest gift she can give her husband? Is a womans body only valuable when it bears a child? Or does the Creator of the Universe love each person single or married, male or female, those with children and those without.

How about when black and brown bodies have been beaten, lynched, caged, and oppressed, simply for the fact that they are of a darker hue than white bodies? Does it matter that true freedom for all never came in the founding of our nation or even with the Emancipation Proclamation or the Civil Rights Act? Does God see color? Did he create the beautiful kaleidoscope of colors we see in the image bearers around us? This is not a political statement, but I do wonder when exactly America was great for all Americans? Does even saying that reflect a desire to go back to a time when white bodies easily controlled the narrative, the history, and even the statues which were placed in town squares? When brown and black bodies could be enslaved, used, and discarded so white bodies could be comfortable, well-fed, well-dressed, well-housed, and so forth. Of course all lives matter to God, but sometimes we need to emphasize how a certain overlooked or abused or minimalized or marginalized group matters to him. Black Lives Matter.

When I look at Jesus, our true example of all it means to be an embodied human, I see God, who took on human flesh, and became one of us. Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, felt deep emotions; he loved; he got angry; he wept; he felt pain; he developed friendships; he loved those whom others despised. This tells me our bodies are not inherently bad, wicked, evil, vile, or whatever other degrading adjective you want to toss around. Human beings were created very good. (Gen. 1:31) Yes, sin taints, divides, dehumanizes, and shames. But, Christ came to show us our way back to the Garden, when human bodiesmale and femalewere created very good, for a purpose, to serve, create, live in harmony and on mission, with one another and with the God who made us.

The Kingdom way says our bodies matter. They matter to God, and they should matter to us, his people. People and their bodies are not projects. Once a soul is saved, we dont discard the person and leave them on their own, simply counting them as a number on some tally board in our church narthex. And if people dont desire to come to faith in Christ, we love them anyways. We care for them and befriend them and believe they still matter, even if we dont share a common faith.

Yes, of course, we continue to witness to the good news of the gospel. Yes, we pray people are drawn to choose the hope, peace, and redemption found in Jesus. But, we are not just spiritual beings. We also are called to care for the whole person, as Jesus did. Why else would he have taken on human flesh? Why else did he make it his lifes mission to, bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release for captives, and liberation for prisoners (Isaiah 61:1b) Why else was he raised from the dead? Raised in a body! Certainly it was a renewed body, but when he appeared to his disciples, they recognized him. They felt his nail prints. He ate with them. That Jesus is forevermore the Son of God, Son of Man, matters.

May we live an embodied faith. May we glorify God fully in our bodies. May we care about what happens to peoples bodies in this life, not simply see them as spiritual beings fit for heaven only. May we love people, in their distinct beauty and uniqueness. May we be a people who acknowledge, repent of, and turn away from ways in which we have shamed, harmed, and oppressed our brothers and sisters bodies, whether individually or systemically. May we be the hands and feet of Christ in a world where people need to know they matter.
Investigators can't rule out foul play in case of missing Amish teen Linda Stoltzfoos

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The family of Linda Stoltzfoos, an 18-year-old Amish teen from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania who went missing over a week ago after attending church, is asking the public for prayers as investigators say they cant yet rule out foul play.

Now that the primary and secondary search of the local area have been completed the primary way you can help Linda right now is through prayer. Pray that the Lord keeps her safe and that we are successful in finding her, a statement from Stoltzfoos' family posted on Facebook last Saturday reads.

At this point there are a variety of agencies involved in continuing the search for her whereabouts. Search and rescue teams, detectives, the police department, and even the FBI. If you have first-hand knowledge or information that may be considered a lead, please inform the authorities immediately.

According to East Lampeter Township Police, Stoltzfoos is about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs about 125 pounds. She was last seen June 21 around 12:30 p.m. on a farm on Stumptown Road, near Bird-in-Hand, close to where the church service was held. She was wearing a tan dress, a white apron and a white cape.

After more than a week of prayer vigils and searches for the missing teen by security officials and volunteers from the community, there is still no sign of Stoltzfoos.

Nothing leads us to believe that she wanted to leave on her own, East Lampeter Township Police Lt. Matthew Hess told The York Daily Record. We cant rule out foul play or that she left on her free will.

Local police are asking any drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians or others who may have traveled along certain roads on June 21 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to contact them, WGAL reported Monday.

Those roads are Mill Creek School Road, Stumptown Road, Gibbons Road, Beechdale Road and Mill Creek Road.

"Some people may have noticed something, observed something while they were traveling on those roadways that they feel might be insignificant, or they did see something and just weren't feeling comfortable contacting the police," Hess told WGAL. "We are reaching out to them to ask them to contact us as part of the investigation. No tip is too small. No little bit of information is not worthy of at least letting us hear about it.

While there is a history of young people leaving the Amish community in rebellion, investigators say this does not appear to be the case with Stoltzfoos. Some youngsters leave the Amish community due to the strict interpretation and application of Scripture in which the community separates itself from the things of the world.

Merv Fisher, Stoltzfoos uncle who left the order years ago, as did his wife, who is Stoltzfoos sister, told The York Daily Record on Sunday that no matter what happens with Stoltzfoos' case, the Amish community will forgive just as they did with the Nickel Mines School tragedy.

On Oct. 2, 2006, 32-year-old Charles Carl Roberts IV entered West Nickel Mines Amish School in Lancaster County's Bart Township where he killed five girls and injured five others before killing himself.

The Amish are very quick to forgive. 'Its Gods will, and we forgive,' is what they think. They know there are consequences, as far as the legal system goes. But here, they dont know what happened. There are no consequences. But they have an unwavering faith that the truth will prevail. They have an unwavering faith that God is in control, Fisher explained.

But, here, they dont know what the truth is yet. They dont know what happened. Nobody knows what happened. It seems the entire community is searching for an answer, and we dont have one yet. The darkness will be exposed and the truth will prevail. The community has hope. They know the truth will prevail.

Hess said the case was quite unusual because he hasnt encountered anything like it in the last 15 years.

I dont recall anything like this in the last 15 years. Its like she just disappeared without any reason, he told The York Daily Record.

Fisher noted however that the one positive thing he has seen from Stoltzfoos disappearance is how it has brought the community together.

Its more than Ive seen in my 40 years, he was quoted as saying. It has brought the outside English and Mennonite and Amish communities together in a way Ive never seen.

The East Lampeter Township police confirmed to Fox43 that the FBI is now assisting in the search for Stoltzfoos.
Israel pulls the plug on GOD TV, claims it is trying to evangelize Jews

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Israel has decided to remove the U.S.-based evangelical Christian station GOD TV from the Israeli cable television provider HOT due to claims that it was trying to evangelize Jews.

Asher Biton, chairman of Israels Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council, said he told the station last Thursday that it has seven days to halt broadcasting.

The channel appeals to Jews with Christian content, stated Biton, as reported by the Associated Press, claiming that the stations original request was to be a station targeting the Christian population.

The GOD TV station for Israel, known as Shelanu, has denied that it is in violation of its terms. Ron Cantor, God TV regional director in Israel, told the Messianic Jewish news site Kehila News the allegations against the station are simply not true.

From the first day we met with HOT, it was very clear what we wanted to broadcast: Messianic Jews sharing their faith in Yeshua in a variety of ways, from interviews, to music, to personal stories. And thats what we do to this day, stated Cantor.

Our content providers are Israelis. Sabras. Serving in the Army. Paying their taxes. And we are people of integrity. If we really lied to get a license, of course we would have been caught. It does not make sense. It goes against everything we teach.

In April, GOD TV launched a Hebrew-language channel on Israeli cable TV called Shelanu, under the condition that it not engage in missionary activities among non-Christian Jews. It had been given a seven-year license from the Israeli Communications Ministry.

Soon after it began airing programming, accusations were made that the station was trying to proselytize Jews, with GOD TV CEO Ward Simpson addressing the matter last month.

The governing authorities that manage these things have been receiving numerous complaints about our content and about different things with the channel, especially as it relates to the rules and regulations of what can and cannot be said on TV in Israel, stated Simpson at the time.

As far as we have been told, the [Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council] would like to shut down the channel. We have a great team of lawyers over there, probably the best in Israel. So they are working with the council now to try and figure out what to do.

Simpson insisted that the channel was not trying to convert Jews to become Christians. "Our attorneys and our staff over there have all told me that we are in compliance and that we are following the rules and regulations, that we are legal and that there is no way that they can really pull us off the air because we havent done it," he said then.
Archdiocese defends statue of Saint Louis IX after praying Catholics clash with protesters

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The Archdiocese of St. Louis in Missouri defended the statue of King Louis IX of France located in front of St. Louis Art Museum in Forest Park as praying Catholics clashed with protesters seeking to tear it down because the king persecuted Jews.

A change.org petition seeking to change the name of St. Louis the city and remove the kings statue says since the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, America has been undergoing a new civil rights movement which includes removing the statues of racists, slave masters, and Confederates from public spaces.

In 2017 St. Louis removed the Confederate Monument in Forest Park after protests. In 2020 the statue of Christopher Columbus was removed from Tower Grove Park. It is now time for St. Louis to take the bold step to remove the statue of King Louis IX from Forest Park and rename the city, it says.

For those unfamiliar with King Louis IX he was a rabid anti-semite who spearheaded many persecutions against the Jewish people. Centuries later Nazi Germany gained inspiration and ideas from Louis IX as they embarked on a campaign of murderous genocide against the Jewish people. Louis IX was also vehemently Islamophobic and led a murderous crusade against Muslims which ultimately cost him his life.

The petition, which had nearly 1,000 required signatures as of Monday evening, argues that naming the city after the king while keeping a monument to him is disrespectful to both Muslims and Jews.

Louis IX is the only king of France to be canonized in the Catholic Church. The devoted Catholic once ordered the burning of some 12,000 manuscript copies of the Talmud and other Jewish books.

In a statement on Sunday, the Archdiocese of St. Louis defended the king as a saint who reverenced God and did much to care for the poor.

The history of the statue of St. Louis, the King is one founded in piety and reverence before God, and for non-believers, respect for ones neighbor. The reforms that St. Louis implemented in French government focused on impartial justice, protecting the rights of his subjects, steep penalties for royal officials abusing power, and a series of initiatives to help the poor. King Louis IXs renowned work in charity helped elevate him to Sainthood, the archdiocese said.

His daily suppers were shared with numerous beggars, whom he invited to the royal table. On many evenings, he would not let them leave before he washed their feet. He personally paid to feed more than 100 poor Parisians every day. His care for the sick was equally moving; St. Louis frequently ministered to lepers. He also created a number of hospitals, including one for the blind and another for ex-prostitutes. For Catholics, St. Louis is an example of an imperfect man who strived to live a life modeled after the life of Jesus Christ. For St. Louisans, he is a model for how we should care for our fellow citizen, and a namesake with whom we should be proud to identify.

Protesters were encouraged to focus their energy on programs and policies that will dismantle racism and create a more equal society for all races and religions instead of tearing down statues.

The Archdiocese of St. Louis is encouraged by the winds of change that are at hand, but believes that this energy of change should be focused on programs and policies that will dismantle racism and create a more equal society for all races and religions. As Catholics, we believe that each personno matter their race, religion, background or beliefis created in the image and likeness of God. As such, all should be treated with love, respect and dignity. We should not seek to erase history, but recognize and learn from it, while working to create new opportunities for our brothers and sisters, the archdiocese said.

In a clash with protesters at the site of the statue over the weekend, Fr. Stephen Schumacherinsisted that Louis was good and had nothing to do with Africans, since during the Crusades he fought against Arabs, who had conquered North Africa.

Other Catholics who defended the statue like Anna Kalinowski told KMOX: "He stood for the truth, he stood for goodness and beauty which are attributes of God. That's why he's a saint. It was a rough time, the medieval times were difficult and he went on the crusades to help oppressed Christians in the holy lands and to spread the truth of God."
Sweden discriminates against elderly with COVID-19; 'active euthanasia,' critics say

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Controversy is brewing in Sweden amid reports that elderly patients infected with the coronavirus were not only denied crucial medical care but pushed into premature death in the nation's nursing homes.

According to Bioedge, health authorities in the Scandinavian nation have received many complaints about how their elderly relatives were treated while in such homes. Those suspected to have COVID-19 were quickly placed on palliative care, given morphine, and denied supplementary oxygen and intravenous fluids and nutrition.

For many residents, this was essentially a death sentence. Approximately half of all coronavirus deaths in the Scandinavian country were residents of nursing homes, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

People suffocated, it was horrible to watch. One patient asked me what I was giving him when I gave him the morphine injection, and I lied to him, said Latifa Lofvenberg, a nurse.

Many died before their time. It was very, very difficult.

According to official guidelines in Sweden issued by the National Board of Health and Welfare when the pandemic began, it was suggested that doctors triage patients based on their so-called biological age, considering their overall health and the prospects for recovery prior to making treatment decisions.

Sweden's response to the virus differed from many other nations in that the nation declined to shut down their economy and allowed citizens to continue living their lives relatively normally with some moderate precautionary measures; most bars, restaurants, schools, and retail stores were permitted to stay open. Swedish officials said earlier this year their goal was to reach "herd immunity."

Regarding its medical facilities, the Scandinavian country's approach was to keep hospital intensive-care units from being overwhelmed with elderly patients who had a low chance of surviving and thus keep them open for younger people should a surge in the virus occur. Such a surge did not happen and the elderly were denied access to unused facilities.

These guidelines have too often resulted in older patients being denied treatment, even when hospitals were operating below capacity, critics of the approach told the WSJ.

Some critics went even further, asserting the approach amounted to euthanasia.

Older people are routinely being given morphine and midazolam, which are respiratory-inhibiting, Yngve Gustafsson, a geriatrics specialist at Umea University, told Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.

That doctors were prescribing over the phone a palliative cocktail for the sick elderly left him aghast.

Its active euthanasia, to say the least, he said.

Echoing Gustafsson, the Discovery Institutes Center on Human Exceptionalism Wesley J. Smith noted in National Review last week that the Swedish policy is "what happens when there is an explicitly invidious health-care rationing policy."

"The nuances get lost and the discriminated-against population are deemed better off dead."

In the United States, more than 43 percent of COVID-19 deaths have come from nursing homes and other long-term care facilities though residents and workers there have made up only 11 percent of all U.S. cases, according to The New York Times.

Still, stories have emerged of very elderly people contracting the virus and then recovering from it.

100-year-old World War II veteran Lloyd Falk of Virginia survived the coronavirus earlier this year following a 58-day stay in the hospital. Falk lost his wife of 74 years to the disease a few weeks prior to his recovery, according to local NBC affiliate WXII12.

Similarly, 102-year-old Sophie Avouris survived a coronavirus infection in a Manhattan rehabilitation center, NPR reported in May. She had been in a nursing home recovering from hip replacement surgery when she fell ill. She was a newborn baby in Greece when the 1918 influenza spread across Europe.
VeggieTales creator talks Americas sin of racism, conservative pushback, how Jesus would respond

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Phil Vischer, creator of the popular Christian animation "VeggieTales" and voice of Bob the Tomato, has been actively using his platform to address issues of racial injustice. The Christian Post spoke with the animator to discover his passion behind tackling these issues and his response to his conservative followers.

Following the police-involved death of George Floyd, many Americans are discussing issues pertaining to race and the debate around systemic institutionalized racism. To add to the discussion this month, Vischer first penned a blog, titled Racial Injustice has Benefited Me - A Confession, which he followed up with a video, Race in America, that's available on the Holy Post channel on YouTube.

Below is an edited transcript of Vischers conversation with The Christian Post (watch full video interview below) where he talks about why he, as a Christian, feels a responsibility to push back against racial injustice. He revealed some of the conversations hes had with conservatives surrounding his stance and why he is willing to speak out whether people try and take it out on Veggie Tales or not.

Christian Post: Race is a topic you have discussed for some years now. Tell us what encouraged you now to share about how being white gave you access to opportunities that others did not have?

Vischer: Someone immediately said, Oh, Phil, why weren't you talking about this two weeks ago? And so I pointed them to the podcast we did three years ago and said, I was all the way back.

That started [because] my brother is the dean of a law school in Minneapolis, a Catholic University, St. Thomas University, after the Philando Castile shooting, which I believe was 2016 and led to quite a bit of protest. I-94 in Minneapolis, during the protests, was shut down, a group of protesters walked out onto the Interstate and shut it down. A lot of people in Minneapolis were very angry about that. It came out in the press that one of the leaders of that protest was an African-American woman, was a law professor who worked for my brother. Angry alumni demanded that my brother fire her for participating in that protest. He said he wasn't going to. And instead, he went back to them and said to these angry white alumni, I want you to try to think of what it would take, what would have to happen in your life that would make you so upset that you would walk out onto an interstate and shut it down. What would it take for you to be that upset?

My family started a Bible conference in northwest Iowa way back in the 1930s and it's still going on every year. My brother and I were supposed to teach a whole week class in 95% white, northwest Iowa and my brother decided to do a day on racial justice, on racial inequality. So he did a whole mess of research and then he did a day. We're talking about kind of hot button issues in our culture, but the data that he had come up with about racial inequality in America just blew my mind. So I came back to Chicago where we do the Holy Post Podcast, I mentioned on the podcast my brother taught this course, I just learned stuff, I had no idea. And people said, Oh, tell us. So I got my brother's notes and I presented them on the podcast as a special episode. That became one of the most popular episodes we'd ever done as lots of white Christians like me saud I'd never heard half of that stuff. So that was 2017.

Then we get to George Floyd in 2020. And Minneapolis, again, protests, again, shutting down interstates in Minneapolis again and then spreading all over the country. And I'm starting to see pop up all over social media: Why are they so angry? Racism is done. Racism, we ended it in the 1960s. And I started pointing people to that podcast episode to say this might help but it's an hour and 15 minutes long and you have to go 20 minutes in before it starts. So people just weren't doing it. I'm seeing all these little videos fly back and forth. Here's someone saying there's no such thing as racism. Here's two people arguing about white privilege. A lot of these videos just didn't have any data in them. They were opinions, but not history. So I thought, OK, well, what if I took that podcast episode, that hour and 15-minute podcast episode, and tried to cram it down into a short as possible video as I could? which turned out to be a 17-minute video to walk through 100 years of racial history in America. It turns out that just went absolutely viral. As of yesterday, it's been watched 5 million times.

CP: How did the information you learned turn from historical data to something where you thought you wanted to examine how racism has benefited you?

Vischer: The other part of the story is my family ... moved from Iowa to the suburbs of Chicago in 1980. I had a month left of middle school and then we started going to a church; it's in our denomination or local denominational church. ... My mother's been at that church without break for almost 40 years now. The church went through some really rough times, it was an aging white congregation and it was shrinking, just totally shrinking. And then we had no pastor and then it was getting smaller and smaller and it looked like we were kind of on death watch for our denomination. And our district superintendent in our denomination said, "Hey, I think you should talk. There's another church in the denomination right down the street that's growing that has a really dynamic young pastor. They don't have a building. You have a building, no pastor and you're shrinking. Maybe you guys should talk about merging." And we said, OK, what church is it? And it was a second generation immigrant Korean congregation. Wait, what? You want to take a mostly white congregation and an Asian immigrant congregation and just shove them together and hope that that works. We spent about a year meeting and discussing it. It's been four years ago now I was an elder at the time, both congregations voted and we decided to merge and create a multi-ethnic congregation.

So we have a Korean senior pastor, a Korean youth pastor, a Korean college pastor, a Filipino worship pastor, and then most of the rest of the staff is white from the old white church. And so we put all that together. But the amazing thing is, since we did that four years ago, the church has doubled in size. It's now about 1,000 people a week meeting, and it's African American, and it's Latino, and we have Indians. And we're getting like 120 college kids on a typical weekend because they want to worship someplace that looks like the world they're actually living in, that they're growing up in. Because of this, all of a sudden, I'm sitting around the fire in my small group with an African-American couple, listening to their stories of what it's like to live in white America, in the white suburbs. I'm talking with an Asian family about what it's like to be Asian in white America. I'm hearing stories that are just completely beyond my experience. That's what led me to start to look at my own story and the way I tell my own story, and that was the theme of that blog.

If you know my story, my dad walked out when I was nine years old, my parents split up and we went from upper middle class to probably for a couple years, we were living below the poverty line because my mother had never worked before. She had a nurse's degree but had never practiced. So she had to pull out the dusty nursing degree and try to find a job in Muscatine, Iowa, to support three kids after my dad had left. Then we relocated to the Chicago suburbs and we went to school and my brother went to Harvard and he became a successful college professor. And my sister has a doctorate and my mom got her doctorate and she became a college professor. So I used to tell the story like we had nothing, but we worked really hard and now look at us, what a success story!

Then I'm learning about, in particular, wealth inequality between African American families and white families, the average white family has 10 times the household wealth of the average black family. The average black family has 60% of the income of the average white family, but only 10% of the wealth. The reason that is because most wealth, most intergenerational wealth in America, is homeownership. That's how most Americans have generated wealth to pass from one generation to the next. We very actively, starting in the 1930s, encouraged white families to own homes and discouraged nonwhite families from owning homes. There were policies that we put in place and there were specific reasons which made sense at the time; now they look horribly racist. In hindsight, we declared that white and black families were incompatible racial groups and should never live in the same community; that was in 1932 in the Federal Housing Administration guidebook ... It was policy. Because of that, so few African-American families have homes that they've owned that have been passed through generations that have generated wealth for college, in particular wealth for how do you move and start your life over if your life falls apart? I realized that when our lives fell apart in Muscatine, Iowa, and we had nothing, we didn't have nothing. We had a nice house for Muscatine, Iowa, standards and my mom was able to sell that house and use the money to buy a much smaller house but in a nice suburb of Chicago, which had funded, by all those nice houses, fantastic schools.

CP: There are people debunking that systemic racism exists. Can you talk a little bit about that?

Vischer: There's a pretty good argument to say there aren't. It is very hard to find explicitly racist laws today because it's illegal. So even if they pop up somewhere, pretty soon somebody's going to notice and file a lawsuit, and they're knocked down. But that doesn't mean that there isn't residual racism from prior laws. So just for example, do you know why there's no unemployment insurance for agricultural workers? Because in the 1930s, during the Depression, when unemployment insurance was proposed, Southern senators insisted that it be for white people only, that no black people could get unemployment insurance. Northern senators said, No, we're not doing that. But they had to come up with a compromise. The compromise was it doesn't apply to agricultural workers or service workers, which in the South were the jobs held by black people. So it was the same thing, it was the same result. It's not an explicitly racist law but it was done in a way that had the same impact. We see that over and over again. There were whites-only zoning ordinances in suburbs where if you were a nonwhite family, it was against the realtors code of ethics to show a house in a white neighborhood to a nonwhite family. You would lose your realtor's license until 1950, if you help the black family buy a house in a white neighborhood. The realtors code of ethics is a system, so that's not an individual sin. That's a systemic sin.

We forget that the Bible has both. The Bible, we always talk about that we're called to repent as individuals of our individual sins. But Israel over and over again is called to repent as a nation for things that not every member of the nation did. After the exile, they come back and they start intermarrying with people from other nations that was against God's law. They're called to repent. Did every single Israelite intermarry with another nation with a woman from another nation? Of course not. But the whole nation is called to repentance. We're so individualistic in America that we can't stand the notion of being held responsible for anything that we didn't individually do. So we focus on the New Testament, which is a much more individualistic focus because it's not about a nation. It's about individuals within the Roman Empire. If you go back to the Old Testament, you see the people of God time and time again called to repent for things they did collectively as a nation, not individually.

I think that's a moment we in the Church, as the people of God say, OK, no, you personally never owned slaves, you personally never kicked African Americans out of your coffee shop, you personally did not redline your neighborhood so that African Americans couldn't get subsidized mortgages. But we collectively [did]. We're so quick to say, We won World War II, we won the Cold War, we sent a man to the moon. No, you didn't do any of those things but America did those things. And we love to put ourselves together when it's something good. Then you say we oppress the Native Americans; "I didn't do that." So we clearly have a double standard where we love to associate ourselves with the great things America has done and hate to be associated with the terrible things America has done.

America is no better or worse than we are. We all do good and terrible things. So some of the pushback for me has been, You're making America sound terrible and that really makes me sad. America is no nobler nor sinful than we are, it is the sum of us. So unless you reject the idea that you are sinful, you can't reject the idea that America is sinful. And we need to repent of those sins.

CP: Many conservative readers are pushing back saying, "The gospel is all that we need" and saying statements such as what youve shared are liberal. What do you say to that?

Vischer: It's funny and this is a little controversial to say, but it's true. We never say the Gospel is all we need when we talk about abortion. We say we need conservative Supreme Court justices, and we need to change laws and we need new guidelines, and we need new policies. Somehow, when we turn the page to racism, now the Gospel is all we need and we don't need any laws. We don't need to do anything to change. Nothing needs to change in society except the heart. So I find it a little funny when we're picking the issues that we personally care about and saying, "We really need to be active, we need to go out, we need to go out and protest abortion," and we do, I'm with you. Let's go out and protest abortion.

But then to say, "Oh, wait, the thing you want to protest? No, no, the Gospel is all we need." Let's take a step back and examine that. I think we might have a double standard there. So I think God cares about both. I think He cares about the unborn. I think He cares about the newborn black boy in the inner city who has a one in four chance of ending up in prison in his lifetime, who is more likely to go to prison than to go to college. I think that breaks God's heart also.

I've had people push back and say, "Well, rank them, rank abortion versus racism. I don't think God has a big wall chart of sin. So we can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can be pro-life and pro-our black friends at the same time. We can be anti-racist and anti-abortion at the same time. Our politics make it difficult. We've taken all of these issues and we've divided them between two buckets: the liberal bucket and the conservative bucket. And if you identify yourself as a conservative, you can't care about anything that the liberals care about. And if you identify yourself as a liberal, you can't care about anything that is conservative. That's ridiculous.

As Christians, here's what that means. It means we've made our political identity more important than our spiritual identity. Because Jesus is never going to say, "I would care about that issue, except I hear liberals care about that issue, or I would care about that issue, except I hear Republicans care about that issue so I'm not going to care about that issue." No! Jesus' heart went out to the least of these. And the least of these is the unborn, the least of these are African Americans in the inner city who don't have a chance to get a good job, who can't find fresh food within a five-mile radius, who will be discriminated against in housing practices.

We've seen recently when an African-American woman applies for an apartment in New York City, she's more likely to get the apartment if she has an Asian roommate, and the Asian roommate puts her name on the application instead of the African American's name. There's no law that says African-American women can't rent apartments. But you're more likely to get a note back saying the apartment's no longer available if your name sounds African American. We can be upset about that without it meaning we're somehow betraying our tribe because our tribe is Christ followers. It's not Democrats. It's not Republicans. It's Christ followers and He cares about everybody.

CP: How can we encourage people to stop being offended with what's happening right now and actually deal with their own biases?

Vischer: I go back to what my brother said to his angry alumni. When they said, "You need to fire that woman because she shut down I-94" and he said, "I want you to tell me what would make you so upset that you would do what she just did?" Just think about that.

So for every white Christian out there  whether you consider yourself liberal, conservative, libertarian, moderate, independent, I don't even care  what could happen that would make you so upset that you would go out and protest like that, that you might even feel like picking up a rock and throwing it through a window. If you say, "I would never ever do that because that's not American. We kind of have to remember that's how America started. It started as a protest with people in the middle of the night, picking up boxes of tea and throwing them violently off the ship in protest. Then OK, are you a Protestant? What does that word mean? What's the root of Protestant? It's protest. We all started out as protesters. You're American, you're a protester. You're a Protestant, you're a protester. So we're all protesters!

What we don't like is when people protest against things that we're not that upset about. Then we get kind of bent out of shape and we really don't like property damage. That's understandable. There are people all over the world that are being persecuted in ways that are real and violent and bloody, and way worse than losing your favorite Arby's. So it's OK, they had insurance, they can build a new Arby's. Stop staring at what's happened and look at the issues behind. Ask the question, what would make you so upset that you would be willing to do that?

We did a whole podcast episode about the Christian tendency to enjoy conspiracy theories. Just like the people with the coronavirus who say Bill Gates did it , conservative Christians have a high proclivity to buy into some of those stories, partly because we believe the world is actually against us, which is biblical. There is some biblical basis in that partly because of the history of the 20th century and starting with the Scopes Monkey Trial and the history of fundamentalist Christianity. We felt that American media and the American intelligentsia, the "elites" turned on us. Right about in 1920s to 1930s, we believe that America turned on us and we pulled back, we became more insular, and we became more angry and more suspicious. That's gone on ever since.

So when we hear. "I heard that Bill Gates is trying to take over the world and put microchips in all of our children. And that's probably the mark of the beast. That makes sense to me." So now it's the same thing when we see a riot. When we see a race riot and we hear, "I heard that George Soros funded that riot. That makes sense, that a rich guy who's on the other side politically is behind all this."

We just have to calm the heck down because the other side will do it to us too. I don't know if you've ever watched any episodes of "The Handmaid's Tale" on Hulu. There are people on the far left that believe that is what I want because I'm a conservative Christian, that I want America to look like "The Handmaid's Tale." So Handmaid's Tale is a conspiracy theory about conservative Christians and that's what we would do. And you can find somewhere online, a sermon from some preacher somewhere that will support that suspicion. So we do it to them and they do it to us. We find some radical voice on the left and say, "Aha, they want to ban the Bible. They want to get rid of all white depictions of Jesus."

CP: How do we keep the heart of Jesus in this, when such extreme thoughts are prevalent?

Vischer: I don't think Jesus ever looked at a stranger and assumed the worst about them. Ever! I think He always assumed the best. The story of the Good Samaritan, it literally is a story of your enemy, the person you despise, being the one who helps you, being the one who loves you. So when He's telling a story like that, He's just not letting you have prejudice against your enemy. He's not letting you think the worst, assume the worst. When we assume the worst, we're going against the teaching of Christ. So when I look at my enemy and I see him as my brother and say, "How can I show this person love? But I think he's trying to ruin America." Honestly, that is not my number one priority as a follower of Jesus, to worry about who is or isn't more likely to ruin America. My number one priority as a follower of Jesus is to show him the love of Jesus. That's it. And then we'll take it from there and we'll probably become friends.

CP: Have you been afraid that people are going to take this out on "VeggieTales"?

Vischer: "VeggieTales" is now owned by NBC Universal, which is a big giant media company and they did a deal with the Trinity Broadcasting Network to create some new episodes which I've been involved in. I need to do what I believe God has called me to do, regardless. Actually I had someone say, "Man I really love VeggieTales but I'm so sorry that you're a leftist now." If loving my neighbor means you can't like VeggieTales anymore, first of all, I'm not sure you watched episode number three, which was are you my neighbor? It was about loving the weirdos and the people that are different. So it's OK. I'll keep making veggies as long as they invite me to and I'll keep talking about interesting things.

We are in such a crucial moment where our culture is becoming increasingly post-Christian. That makes us very uncomfortable because it is very new. We are not used to being a minority and we don't know what to do with that and it's very easy to just default to anger because that's the human response to a loss of privilege, or a loss of power, or a loss of influence, is to fight back. This is a perfect opportunity to go back to the way the Church was in the first, second, and third century and say, "Well, gee, they had zero influence. They had zero political power." What do they do? They loved people. They love people and it changed the Roman Empire. It absolutely transformed the Roman Empire. So we need to think of ourselves a little more like that, that we're not living in the promised land. We're living in the Roman Empire where we are exiles and we are influenced by love, not by anger.

CP: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Vischer: I don't think so. The Holy Post Podcast. You can check it out. We talk about stuff like this every week. It gets pretty interesting. And we'll keep doing what we're doing.
Joe Biden courts evangelicals as polls show Trump slipping with voting bloc

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As polls show President Donald Trumps support slipping among white evangelicals, the campaign for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden sees an opening for their candidate to pull away voters from the presidents most faithful voting bloc.

The battle for the soul of our nation deeply resonates with evangelicals, John McCarthy, deputy national political director for the Biden Campaign, told David Brody, chief political analyst at the Christian Broadcasting Network, in a recent interview for Just the News. They would be open to Joe Bidens message as well.

Earlier this month, Robert P. Jones, chief executive of the Public Religion Research Institute, noted in an interview with The New York Times that that since 2016, the share of the American population that is white and evangelical has declined by two percentage points, to 15%. A PRRI poll also found that while 80% of white evangelicals said they approved of the job the president was doing in March, by the end of May, with the coronavirus pandemic raging along with racial discord, his favorability sank to 62%. Among white Catholics, the poll also showed a decline in approval by 27%.

He had an opportunity in March when people were looking to him. And then within four weeks he squandered it, Jones said.

While Bidens campaign admits that a majority of evangelicals are likely to remain with team Trump, they believe they can appeal to younger millennial evangelicals with more moderate views and suburban women. And they have been engaging with evangelical pastors and women around the country on issues like racial injustice, immigration reform and climate change.

Those issues tug at the heart of faith voters, McCarthy said.

A Politico report earlier this month said the Biden campaign was in the early stages of scheduling an on-camera sit-down with Brody, who also conducted several interviews with former President Barack Obama during his 2008 campaign following a successful effort of engaging with evangelicals.

Obama won 26% of the evangelical vote in 2008 and 21% in 2012. Hillary Clinton on the other hand only got 16% of the evangelical vote in 2016. She did not do significant outreach to evangelicals.

"I've been very clear that the invitation was not given in 2016, Michael Wear, former faith outreach director for the Obama Campaign in 2012, told Just the News. Broad swaths of the faith community did not feel like the Democratic nominee was interested in their vote."

Trump came away with 81% of the white evangelical vote.

Wear believes that Biden is on track to do what Obama did in his outreach to the faith community.

I think he's doing what he needs to do to let people from different faith communities, moderate and conservative Christian voters, know that they can vote for him and they'll have a partner, Wear said. "If former Vice President Biden is on track for those 2012 Obama numbers (21% of white evangelicals), he will win by a significant margin.

The Biden campaign is also targeting Latino evangelicals and Catholics despite concerns about certain issues like abortion.

Catholics are not single-issue voters, McCarthy said. Its not about just one or two issues. Its more of an overarching theme as to where are the lessons of Christ found.

New New York Times/Siena College polls show Trump trailing at least slightly behind Biden in six states that he won in 2016, including Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where he trails by double digits.

You cant win with these numbers. Theyre atrocious numbers, Edward J. Rollins, co-chairman of the pro-Trump super PAC Great America and the former campaign manager for Ronald Reagans 1984 reelection campaign, told The Washington Post.

The president must straighten his campaign out and convey to the American people that he can move forward and lead, Rollins said. Hes got to go out and add 10 points pretty quick. If he can do that, hell win. If not, Biden is sitting there as the alternative.

A Pew Research Center Survey in March shows that 55% of Americans think Biden is at least somewhat religious compared to 28% who see President Trump that way.

Heres the problem for Trump: He needs to be at 81 percent or north (with evangelicals) to win reelection. Any slippage and he doesnt get a second term, and thats where Joe Biden comes into play, Brody told Politico. 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.
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If Jesus is returning soon, should I still save for retirement?

A young man asked me exactly that question a few years ago. We were at a church service, and I had just preached a sermon on the end times. That week, at his workplace, the young mans employer had given him the option of contributing to a 401(k) retirement savings plan.

This individual knew it was important to plan for the future. But he also wondered if, in light of the Second Coming, that type of savings was an unwise use of money. He asked me for advice.

Ill be honest: Im a pastor, not an investment advisor. I dont get asked for financial planning advice very often. But I did have an answer for that young man. Before I tell you what it was, however, let me share a fascinating story. The young mans question brought to mind a unique moment in American history.

Abraham Davenport and New Englands Dark Day

History recalls May 19, 1780, as New Englands Dark Day. At the time, George Washington and the Continental Army were still fighting in the Revolutionary War. Camped with his troops in New Jersey, General Washington noted in his diary how the weather had been strange for several days. The sun had appeared to be red. The skies had grown yellowish and the clouds were the color of rust.

On May 18, he recorded the presence of dark, ominous, heavy and uncommon kind of clouds.

The next day, the morning of May 19, the clouds grew even darker. Fog and a shadowy sky settled across the region. By noon, the sun had been completely obscured across New England, as if day had become night. Indoor workers took lunch by candlelight. Outdoor laborers struggled to see their work, and some quit early.

As the darkness continued, birds returned to their nests, farm animals reacted in terror, and local commerce began to shut down. Shop owners closed their businesses. Citizens speculated about the cause.

Had the sun somehow been darkened? Was this the judgment of God? Could the darkening skies be a sign of the Second Coming of Christ?

The state legislature was meeting that day in Connecticut. As the darkness persisted, members of the governing body became uneasy. One legislator made the motion to adjourn their meeting, suggesting everyone return to their homes and families to prepare for the end of the world.

Thats when a 65-year-old councilman and militia colonel named Abraham Davenport stood up to calm his colleagues. I am against adjournment, he said in a stirring speech. The day of judgment is either approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause of an adjournment; if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish therefore that candles may be brought.

Aides brought in candles and the meeting continued. The world did not end and the skies eventually cleared. Historians later determined that the darkness was the result of extensive forest fires in Ontario, Canada, which the wind had blown south into New England.

In the days that followed, however, Davenport was hailed as a great hero and leader. The 19th-century poet John Greenleaf Whittier even wrote a poem commemorating the councilmans resolve, noting how simple duty hath no place for fear.

Should we plan for tomorrow?

This brings me to my answer to the young mans question. If the end is near, should we carry on with our daily business? Should we make wise financial decisions about the future? Should we save money at all?

Or should we simply hunker down with our families, preparing for the apocalypse and awaiting Christs return?

I believe we should follow the example set by Abraham Davenport. When Christ returns, I choose to be found doing my duty.

In other words, hope for Christs return on a future date but do the right thing today. Live as if you will experience a full life on earth. Go to school. Get married. Have children. Spend wisely and save responsibly.

Yes, contribute to your 401(k) or otherwise plan for retirement.

Not every student of Bible prophecy will give the same advice, of course. All of us know the stories of otherwise well-meaning believers who made public statements that the end would occur within a specific year or even on a particular date. These teachers were inevitably proven wrong. Many of them lost credibility  and many of their most dedicated followers lost their savings or businesses as a result.

As I explain in my new book, Tipping Point, I believe we are living in the end times and that Christs return is sooner than many expect. But while I am confident of the things I preach and teach, I am not God. I do not have the right nor the ability to set an exact date for when the end will come.

Instead, I would rather point you toward Scripture, highlighting the signs and evidence. I will leave it to God to measure time and keep the dates.

So live your life for the honor and glory of God. Do your duty  but do it with a constant awareness that the Day of the Lord may arrive at any moment, like a thief in the night.

This article is adapted from The Tipping Point: The End is Here by Jimmy Evans. You can pick up the book here.
Cloud computing has long been poised to change the business landscape. Cisco predicts that 94 percent of all workloads will be handled in the cloud by next year  and the COVID-19 crisis is speeding up the process.

As the coronavirus whips the business world into a tailspin, your company cant afford to go unprepared. Old, server-based computing options can be sluggish in the face of todays high-paced tech world. By adopting cloud computing, youre ensuring your organization has the digital tools it needs to face down whatever challenges may come next.

More and more companies are being forced to take their business online, but not all of them have the necessary digital infrastructure in place. If youre hoping to get your business through this pandemic unscathed, youll need cloud computing to help. Here are five ways it can.

Related: A COVID-19 Survival Kit For Entrepreneurs

1. Document Sharing

In times like these, businesses can no longer afford to let important documents get lost in endless email chains. Cloud-based document sharing is a great way of ensuring that key pieces of content can be viewed and accessed by anyone who needs to see them without hours of digging.

As COVID-19 sends workers home, working together is both more difficult  and more important  than ever. Thankfully, document-sharing platforms have begun responding to the pandemic, with leader Dropbox integrating many of its features with Zoom to allow for seamless collaboration. Apps like Dropbox or Google Docs make it easy to keep a tight grip on your key content, even if everything else is in flux.

2. Cybersecurity

Cyberattacks have always posed a serious threat to the increasingly digitized business world, but the pandemic is only exacerbating the problem. McKinsey research shows that the increase in employees working from home and the pressure faced by some organizations have significantly boosted the possibility of breaches.

Cloud-powered cybersecurity can solve many of the problems businesses face in this realm. Keeping security operations in the cloud gives your company significantly more digital horsepower, with many of the best security platforms utilizing artificial intelligence to detect and paralyze threats in real time.

3. Customer Service

Businesses arent the only ones hit hard by the pandemic. Consumers the world over are being plagued with uncertainty and reduced incomes. Research published in Harvard Business Review found that the virus is already making it significantly more difficult for call centers to cope, and this is only going to get worse as time goes on.

Taking your customer service to the cloud is a surefire way to help alleviate these problems. Cloud-based customer service carries the benefits of additional speed and bandwidth, but it also can make life easier for your CS agents. Cloud contact center Five9 recently partnered with Google Cloud to allow agents greater access to relevant customer information in real time. Firms need to be able to deal with high call volumes smoothly to function, and the cloud can make that a reality.

4. Remote Working

COVID-19 may have shuttered offices in the short term, but the long-term effects might be just as profound, as 74 percent of businesses plan on reducing the number of employees in their office, even after the virus subsides. Remote work has been on the rise for the past several years, but the recent spike in stay-at-home workers means that businesses need to be able to handle entire teams located outside the office.

The aforementioned document-sharing and videoconferencing platforms are crucial components of any work-from-home model, but these arent the only tools at your disposal. While Zoom allows you to make seamless video calls, it also weighs down internet connections and can be unruly at times. Messaging service Slack, however, recently underwent a speed increase and RAM usage reduction, making it a valuable cloud-communication option that wont prohibit your workers from connecting when they need to.

Related: 4 Major Cybersecurity Risks of Working From Home

5. Scaling

For almost all businesses, this is a time of great uncertainty in regards to size. While some digital firms, such as Amazon, are experiencing explosive levels of growth, many are facing the serious possibility of furloughs or downsizing. To stay solvent, you need to be able scale your business up and down on a dime.

Because the cloud doesnt require a physical server to operate, it allows you to use as much or as little computing power as you need. Research from MIT has shown that on-site data centers can take up to a year to properly build  time your business likely doesnt have at its disposal. Cloud computing lets you scale dynamically, without the need for waiting.

With COVID-19 comes an unprecedented number of unknowns, so your business needs to cover all its bases to stay prepared. Moving your company to the cloud offers your business a number of new advantages while allowing you to run all of your key operations, whether you're in the office or at home.

Related:

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The Coxes are among the lucky ones. While most people have received one-time stimulus payments from the federal government, UNITE HERE, a union representing 30,000 hospitality workers in the Orlando area, recently said that at least 1,500 of its members had yet to receive any unemployment payments from the state. Florida has been one of the slowest states to process jobless claims, in part because its system was designed to be arduous.
Chron.com is following the latest headlines on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Houston area.

4 p.m.

Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the businesses added to the city's "wall of shame" for continuing operations after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered bars to close.

The three businesses include Spire Night Club, Prospect Park, and Pour Behavior at 2211 Travis St. All three are now closed.

'ABSOLUTELY HORRIFYING': Coronavirus expert warns of dire crisis as Texas cases spike

Bars not complying will be reported to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which has already issued 30-day permit suspensions for 17 bars across the state.

Turner asked businesses and people in Houston to comply with social distancing measures, including not entering businesses that are too crowded.

If you go into a place that is crowded and you cant engage in social distancing, you should turn around and walk out, Turner said in a press conference. This is real. People are dying, people are getting sick, people are in ICU beds. Quite frankly, I have lost my patience with you in that regard.

All city-sponsored events for the month of July are suspended.

Earlier

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Texas surpassed 150,000 Sunday.

Cases across the Lone Star State went from 147,374 to 151,507, an increase of 4,133 cases (or 2.8 percent), according to data compiled by the Houston Chronicle Data Team. Texas also saw 12 new deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 2,400 statewide (a 0.5 percent increase).

The Houston region count is 40,720, which is up 359 from Saturday (a 0.89 percent increase). Harris County added 113 new cases Sunday (a 0.39 percent increase) and is now at 29,276 cases total.

There have been 526 deaths in the Houston region, up 2 from yesterday.

In a Q&A with Chron.com, Houston infectious disease expert, Dr. Peter Hotez, said state officials - led by Gov. Greg Abbott - opened the economy up again "too early."

"We opened up a month too early," Hotez said. "We didn't have a public control system in place. We also have a fringe element that campaigns against social distancing, contact tracing."

Check back for updates as they come in.

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com
This article will be updated throughout the week with coronavirus case counts and other need-to-know information about the pandemic in San Antonio.

Highest single day death count since pandemic began: The coronavirus continued its unabated spread through the area Sunday as Bexar County reported 198 new cases and eight new deaths.

July 4

High death count on Fourth of July: The coronavirus continued to exact a deadly toll in San Antonio on the Fourth of July as city official reported five new deaths and 341 new cases of COVID-19.

Saturdays death count was the highest for a single day in Bexar County since mid-April. In all, 122 people have died of COVID-19 in Bexar County since the start of the pandemic in March.

July 3

San Antonio reported another record-high number of new coronavirus cases Friday  a 1,334-case increase  after sending an emergency alert to area residents cellphones, urging them heed the state's new face covering mandate.

It was a 4,000-case jump since Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in Bexar County to 14,212.

July 2

Gov. Greg Abbott issues new order: On Thursday, the governor issued an executive order requiring Texans to wear a face mask in public spaces in counties with more 20 or more positive cases.

The order also gives mayors and county judges the ability to impose restrictions on some outdoor gatherings of over 10 people. With certain exceptions, people cannot be in groups larger than 10 and must maintain 6 feet of social distancing from others.

The face mask requirement comes during a statewide rise in COVID-19 cases.

Big Bend closes: The Big Bend National Park was ordered closed again Thursday after a park resident turned up positive for COVID-19. After being largely spared during the early stages of the pandemic, the Big Bend area is now being hit with a wave of positive COVID-19 cases.

July 1

Coronavirus cases: The novel coronavirus continued its unchecked spread through the San Antonio region as Bexar County reported 439 more cases of COVID-19 and 53 new hospitalized patients Wednesday. One more person has died of COVID-19, an Hispanic man in his 80s, bringing the toll to 111. The number of people are now hospitalized with the virus stands at 1,019.

UTSA laying off more than 300 employees: The University of Texas at San Antonio is notifying 312 employees today that their positions are being eliminated to help close a $36 million shortfall caused by COVID-19. Laid-off employees will be released from their responsibilities immediately but will maintain their pay and benefits through August.

JUNE 30

Coronavirus updates: San Antonio reported its largest one-day increase in coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, reporting 1,268 new infections. That represent a 60 percent increase from the previous one-day high of 795, which was set Saturday.

CPS employees: As the coronavirus races through San Antonio, 32 CPS Energy employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and an additional 246 workers are quarantined at home, utility officials said Monday. In other words, 8 percent of CPS Energys 3,083 employees are under quarantine.

JUNE 29

Coronavirus updates: San Antonio officials reported 650 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday as the virus rapid spread continued to put pressure on area hospitals. The confirmed new cases brought the countys total to 10,797. San Antonio-area hospitals were treating 881 COVID-19 patients, an increase of 79 since Sunday.

Half of S.A.'s COVID-19 cases confirmed in June: "Good Morning America" pointed out that more than half of the city's cases were reported in June. Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the current situation is a "stark difference" from previous months, when he said the city had one of the lowest infection rates per capita.

USAA delaying office reopening: The San Antonio insurance and financial services company informed employees last week that the bulk of its 35,000-person workforce will continue to work from home through Dec. 31, instead of Sept. 1 as originally planned. USAA employs 19,000 people in San Antonio.

H-E-B employees positive: Twenty-four H-E-B employees in San Antonio tested positive for COVID-19 last weekend. In June alone, more than 100 S.A. grocery employees had been infected with COVID-19, including the 24 cases this past weekend.

Cases surpass 10,000: San Antonio coronavirus cases continued to rise exponentially Sunday, topping 10,000 as local hospitals scramble to find enough hospital beds and nurses to care for the wave of new patients in the last two weeks.

JUNE 28

Pence in Dallas: This is all hands on deck, Vice President Mike Pence said during a June 28 meeting with Abbott and White House coronavirus expert Dr. Deborah Birx at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. President Trump wanted us to be here today with the developments over the last two weeks  with the rising positivity and the rising number of cases  with a very simple message that is to you and the people of Texas: Were with you and were going to stay with you.

TRACKING COVID-19: Maps and graphics show the spread of the virus through San Antonio and Texas.
Several Houston restaurants have temporarily closed due to COVID-19. The closures are typically announced on social media platforms and come at the discretion of restaurant owners.

HOUSTON COVID-19 UPDATES: What you need to know for July 10

To help slow the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas restaurants to return to service at 50 percent capacity on June 29. It's a reduction of the 75 percent capacity limit issued under Phase 3 of Abbott's reopening plan.

On Thursday, Texas saw the second-largest increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths since the pandemic began. From Wednesday to Thursday, cases increased by 4.53 percent for a total of 235,915 cases statewide, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis. An additional 106 new deaths were reported, bringing the state's death count to 2,976.

Below is a list of restaurants temporarily closed in Houst0n due to COVID-19.
Kim Brent / The Enterprise

You have to be sympathetic with the owner of every bar and brewery in Southeast Texas  and the people who work for them. Last week, they were slowly trying to rebuild their businesses after the recent shutdowns because of the coronavirus. Then, with three hours notice on Friday, they were told to close their doors again by Gov. Greg Abbott. Abbott also ordered restaurants to reduce their capacity to 50% from 75% and reinstated a temporary ban on elective surgeries.

These decisions will not be popular among some Texans, but they are necessary. Virus numbers are heading in the wrong direction, which is up. Our ability to cope with this surge medically is being increasingly strained. Last week 83 of the 86 intensive care beds in the Jefferson County hospitals were full. Who can be comfortable with a cushion that thin?
GREENWICH  The popular town-owned Bruce Museum opened its doors to visitors this past weekend, welcoming visitors for the first time in over three months.

Like many businesses, shops and museums, the town-owned Bruce has been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On its opening weekend, the Bruce debuted its annual iCreate exhibit, which showcases the talents of emerging high school artists, and welcomed artist Anthony Sandoval, a 2020 high school graduate from White Plains, N.Y.

Sandoval, who emigrated from Mexico, won the grand prize in the iCreate show. Sandovals drawing, Alma Yaqui, in graphite and colored pencil, shows a member of the Yaqui tribe from northern Mexico.

iCreate2020 will also be on display in the Bantle Lecture Gallery through Aug. 2.

Admission to the Bruce is free to all visitors and members, who must register before arriving at the museum as part of the new precautions in place to prevent the spread of the virus.

Visitors, who must wear a mask or face covering, will be directed to follow a one-way path through the museum as they enjoy the exhibition galleries in order to maintain social distancing. The museum will also reduce visitor levels to less than 50 percent of capacity.

Exhibitions on view include On the Edge of the World, masterworks by renowned Danish artist Lauritis Anderson Ring; and Under the Skin, an exhibition featuring sample images made possible by various forms of technologies  scanning, infrared cameras, scanning electron microscopy and more  that allow scientists to visualize the marvels of evolution that lie below the surface.

The museum is open to all from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Sundays. From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., it is open only for self-selected individuals over 65 or those who are immunocompromised. Members have one-hour special access from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

To reserve a timed ticket, visit brucemuseum.org or call 203-869-0376
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Sunday that she is in self-quarantine after being potentially exposed to COVID-19 last week. According to a statement released by Hidalgo's office, the exposure happened on Monday June 22 through a staff member at Hidalgo's office. The employee is now self-isolating, after test results were confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Hidalgo and the staff who were potentially exposed will be tested for COVID-19 and will self-quarantine for 14 days, until July 6.
Economic empowerment is a crucial goal for Houston entrepreneurs who are working to bring in more black-owned businesses to revitalize the historic Fifth Ward. One of those entrepreneurs is Arleita Myers, who founded the Cocoa Collective Xchange to support those businesses.

"I just want to empower people," Myers said. "I didn't just want it to be a place where people introduce businesses. I also wanted it to be more about social reform."

Myers is teaming with 22 Houston black-owned businesses to host a virtual marketplace. The event is slated for this weekend, July 3-5. Each day is filled with virtual informative workshops on topics such as health and wellness, financial literacy, legal literacy and social reform.

Myers said there will also be a virtual marketplace opportunity for people to shop at black-owned businesses during each day of the event. The workshop costs $5 for an all access pass, and the proceeds will be donated to a scholarship in honor of George P. Floyd.

Myers calls this event "Conscious. Cultured. Collected."

"A lot of friends are aspiring business owners. I want to tell them how to get their start. I want to uplift their spirits, " Myers said. "I know so many people who have lost people in this pandemic, and they need help. When I started this, I just wanted everybody to feel inspired. "

Myers is a Houston teacher who is also an rising Houston entrepreneur with her own branding company called, Seaux Savvy. She collaborated with Houston developer, Chris Senegal to host a seminar on June 11 called "Buy the Block," to help other entrepreneurs invest in the Fifth Ward revitalization.

"I was impressed that Chris was able to acquire this land, turn it into opportunities for homeowners, and also maintain the integrity the neighborhood," Myers said.

Myers said she had success with Cocoa Collective Exchange since her first virtual marketplace in May.

"I just want to have this be a community where people can come and get everything they need in one place," Myers said. "It just took off from there and started developing into a larger community."

The death of George P. Floyd has inspired Myers to work on social reform.

"He was one of the contributing factors in some of the platforms I came up with. Because of COVID-19, it gave us some time to stop and do something. Just changing your profile picture and getting a sign is not enough. We need to be intentional about bringing about real change. We need a real game-plan."

Myers urges Houstonians to participate in social change and wants to do her part to inspire. She's dedicating one seminar to fighting for social justice in America on July 5 at 10 a.m.

"You're saying 'the land of the free and home of the brave,' there needs to be equity and fairness across the board," Myers said. "I want people to leave feeling empowered, ready to take action and bring about positive and real change."

alison.medley@chron.com
Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta is taking his seven-year-old online gaming business public.

The new company, which will be called Golden Nugget Online Gaming Inc. when the deal closes later this year, will go public through a so-called blank check company Fertitta started last year with New York-based Jefferies Financial Group. These "special purpose entities" raise cash for future acquisitions. This entity, called Landcadia Holdings II, raised $316 million.

The deal values the new company at approximately $745 million, based on estimated 2021 revenue of $122 million, according to a press release. The price will be paid to Golden Nugget Online Gaming's parent company and will include a combination of cash and Landcadia II equity.

REAL ESTATE CRASH? Fertitta warns of real estate bust on CNBC

Landcadia -- whose name is derived from Fertitta-owned Landry's and Leucadia National Corp., Jefferies' previous name -- is the partnership's second blank-check company. In 2016, Fertitta and Jefferies' CEO Rich Handler raised $250 million through Landcadia Holdings Inc., which was used to acquire food delivery startup Waitr in November 2018 for $308 million.

Golden Nugget's iGaming business launched in New Jersey. The company said it plans to launch its online casino brand in Pennsylvania and Michigan early next year, subject to regulatory approval. The deal was first reported by the Houston Business Journal.

Fertitta will be the company's chairman and CEO, and Thomas Winter, who was brought in to develop Golden Nugget's online gaming business, will be president.

FERTITTA'S PANDEMIC PLAN: Trim, borrow and plan for a new reality

"Golden Nugget is one of the most time-honored brands in the gaming business today," Fertitta said in a press release. "When customers hear the name Golden Nugget, they know they are dealing with a trusted online gaming business. Thomas and his team have done a remarkable job, are the best in the industry, and with this transaction, will have access to growth capital to allow for the rapid expansion of the business."

Previous reporting from Paul Takahashi. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
"My husband was very scared that the rest of the family could get exposed, including our son and our unborn baby," Macri said. "I had to work through that because my first instinct is to say: I trained for this and I want to be on the front line for this. This is probably never going to happen again in my career. So that was a huge struggle for me personally. It caused more anxiety and fear than the actual management of the virus. We're trained to manage illness. And I felt strongly about it."
Student-led community activism group Katy4Justice made headlines earlier this month when the burgeoning nonprofit orchestrated a Black Lives Matter protest that drew more than 3,000 people.

Related: I grieve with hope: Thousands descend on Katy park for Black Lives Matter rally

Spurred on by the success of their first human rights endeavor, Katy4Justice is expanding its mission and raising funds for Tonys Place, a drop-in center in Houston focusing on LGBTQ+ youth up to 25 years of age who are unstably housed or experiencing homelessness.

Katy4Justices newest endeavor is selling raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes donated from local businesses.

Katy4Justice is run by three Katy ISD high school students from Cinco Ranch High School and Seven Lakes High School.

We saw the momentum that we had created with the Katy for Black Lives Matter protest, and we realized this was something that was changing, and this was an opportunity to make Katy a little bit more active and a little bit more progressive, said Katy4Justice co-founder Erika Alvarez.

Alvarez reported that the group has more than 1,000 followers on Instagram since its inception three weeks ago.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Critics say Houston needs more robust civilian police oversight board

Through Katy4Justice, were hoping to educate our community members and put a spotlight on young voices in Katy, showing our communities that we are the next generation of change, Alvarez added.

Katy4Justice has collected more than $500 in in-kind donations from local businesses, Alvarez said. Tonys Place will receive 100 percent of the funds from the raffle.

The advocacy group is currently in the process of applying for status at a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

By helping one minority, you ultimately help everybody else, Alvarez said. One fight is everyones fight.

MORE BY CLAIRE GOODMAN: SUNDAY CONVERSATION: What it means to celebrate Pride Month in Katy

Raffle tickets are $5 each, and there are five different prizes available. To purchase tickets or to learn more about Katy4Justice, visit the organizations Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/p/CBgnN2KhlHX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

claire.goodman@chron.com
I am a Dynatrap die-hard! I believe they do the best job of continuous mosquito control without using chemicals. However, they are not shipping right now, and we will probably miss this season. Dynatrap was sold to Woodstream, which is a 150-year-old pest control company.

Woodstream changed the label on the packaging, and now they must secure a new EPA label. And you know, just about every government office has been shut down the last 90 days. So, if you cant find them, or if they are backordered, now you know why. But ... mosquitoes did not get the memo, and they are out in full force or at least they are at my house.

Since we cant get Dynatrap (for who knows how long), what can you use instead? I suggest that you use Spartan Mosquito Eradicator. It is a 90-day mosquito control that you can use outdoors, and it works without electricity or batteries. Fill the tube with warm water to the fill line and shake. Hang in in a tree at least six feet off the ground. Place it close to the trunk so it will be in the shade. Spartan will substantially reduce the mosquito population in 15 days. Most of my customers say it works much faster than that.

The price of Spartan is around $30, and you get two tubes for that price. That means you get about 180 days of mosquito control. Its reasonable priced and effective. So, if you are like me and your Dynatrap is out of commission for this season, I suggest that you pick up a Spartan Mosquito Eradicator and take back your yard!

Now to the email 

I received a response to my answer a few weeks ago on the invasion of lizards at a home. I suggested Clobber and VS102. The homeowner said the green anole is already under attack from the invasive brown anole that has spread to Texas. Green anole lizards are native to Texas and extremely beneficial as they consume numerous types of harmful insects. My knowledge of lizards is probably lacking. I just know that I dont like them in my home. So instead of using a chemical like Clobber, use a repellent like ShakeAway or Fresh Cab. Hope this helps and thank you to David for keeping me updated.

Question: About a month ago, you wrote about a product to spray on the bottom of throw rugs to reduce slippage. What is the name of the product?

Answer: The product is Fiber-Lok. Do this project outdoors  there is a strong ammonia smell with you first open the jar. The smell dissipates quickly. This will help keep those rugs in place!

Question: Our flagstone path has developed crack in the mortar that surrounds it. Before the cracks get too large, is there a way to seal up the cracks. I also have hairline cracks in the driveway, what is the right product to use for the driveway?

Answer: The caulking for your flagstone is Mor-Flex. There is a beige tone one that will blend in well with the stone. For the driveway, if its just a hairline, use Rockite.

Question: I live in an area in Fulshear, Texas, that has extremely hard water. I have a water softener for indoor use but not for my outdoor water sprinkler system. The problem is that the mist from the water spray stains the brick of my house. I have tried numerous cleaning products, and none will remove the grayish powdery looking stain. Do you have any recommendations for the stain problem? Thanks in advance.

Answer: Yes, I do! Its called Acid Magic, and its great. Its a buffered muriatic acid that has 70 percent less fumes and does not burn on contact. Here is how to use it: wet the brick with water, spray on Acid Magic, let it work for a minute (it will foam up), scrub with a plastic bristle brush then rinse. And thats it! When youre finished, you could use a clear natural sealer to help with staining. DryLok makes a Natural Look Sealer that has no shine ... perfect for you. Let me know if you cant find this product, and I will help.

If you cannot find the products mentioned here locally, you can find them at www.happyhandyman.com . Click on Shop Johnnies Favorites, or call the store at 210-341-1573. Email Trudy Chuoke Lesage at happyhandyman2@yahoo.com. Mail can be sent to Johnnie Chuokes Home and Hardware, 2361 NW Military, San Antonio, TX 78231.
Conroe Mayor Toby Powell has removed Tax Assessor-Collector Tammy McRae from a lawsuit he filed last month seeking property tax relief for residents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Powell filed the suit May 15 and now only names Montgomery County Chief Appraiser Tony Belinoski. The suit asks the court to order the chief appraiser to either apply an across-the-board reduction to the value of all properties or re-assess each property individually.

I appreciate the mayor dismissing me from the lawsuit, McRae said. Unfortunately, the suit continues forward against the appraisal district at the taxpayers expense.

In the lawsuit, Powell states the appraisal district has that discretion to do these things but has refused to exercise it. Alternatively, Powell, who filed the suit in his personal capacity, asks the court to order the appraisal district to extend the deadline to file individual protests until June 30.

Property values for tax purposes are normally set as of January 1 of the tax year, and the values Montgomery County taxpayers received in the mail around April 15 were based on what their property was worth on January 1, Powell said in a press release. They do not reflect what has happened to our economy in the five months since that date.

Belinoski has declined to comment on the pending litigation.

However, in a response to Powells suit, Austin-based attorney Carol Barton with Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott LLP, who is representing Belinoski stated the case against her client should be dismissed because Powells demands against Belinoski would violate the Texas Tax Code.

Plaintiff failed to conduct a reasonable inquiry into his allegations prior to bringing his action against defendant, Belinoski in his official capacity, as his claims are purely speculative and unsupported by reliable data or information. Plaintiffs claims rely solely upon unsubstantiated claims asserting defendant Belinoski should have known on January 1, 2020, that an economic collapse was going to occur as a result of the Covid-19 crisis which did not arise, the answer to the suit states. Additionally, Plaintiff ignored decades of Texas case law requiring the exhaustion of administrative remedies by individual taxpayers prior to perfecting an appeal to district court. Additionally, Plaintiff ignored the direct authority of a Texas Supreme Court opinion holding that a taxpayer cannot certify a class of taxpayers who have not exhausted administrative remedies.

Barton also calls for sanctions against Powell for failing to conduct a reasonable inquiry into the allegations contained in his pleading, resulting in the filing of groundless pleadings against Belinoski.

Rigby Owen III, who is representing Powell, could not be reached for comment.

In March, Montgomery County health officials confirmed the countys first case of the new coronavirus. That announcement was followed by several local and state orders that ordered all non-essential businesses closed and residents to stay at home for more than a month.

What we are asking for in this lawsuit is for the appraisal district to re-appraise all of the property in the county based on what has happened to our economy since that time, Powell stated in a previous Courier article. Unfortunately, many of the properties in the county show a large increase in value because the demand for new homes and real estate was high toward the end of 2019. But that has dried up because thousands of our fellow citizens have lost their jobs or their businesses have been shut down.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
A federal lawsuit argues a man in 2017 suffered seizures leading to an induced coma after not receiving proper treatment for his epilepsy while in custody at the Montgomery County Jail.

The civil rights suit is asking for between $200,000 and $1 million from Montgomery County and the sheriffs office for damages including physical pain, medical bills and expenses, mental anguish, physical and mental impairment, disfigurement, lost wages and ability and fitness to work.

Plaintiff now suffers debilitating seizures and increased risk of death that simply increases each day and with each seizure plaintiff has, the suit reads.

The Montgomery County resident is suing under the Fourth Amendment for unreasonable detention, the Eighth Amendment for cruel and unusual punishment and the Fourteenth Amendment for state-created danger.

Filed in September in the Southern District of Texas, the 24-page suit details how the then 41-year-old man, his wife and a pharmacist were allegedly ignored by county jailers as they asked he receive specific dosages of medicine for his epilepsy.

BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: Get your Houston breaking news alerts delivered to your Inbox

The man was jailed September 2017, charged with a state jail felony. In May 2018, charges were dismissed in the interest of justice, according to court records.

But the plaintiff, the suit asserts, was only released from the county jail because he was denied proper medical care during the eight days he was held there.

According to the suit, he suffered a partial seizure his sixth day jailed and a massive seizure the following day, leading to his hospitalization and him being placed in a coma.

Unable to tell hospital staff either his medical history or precise medication needed, he had multiple smaller seizures and was released from the hospital after three days, according to the suit.

LOCKED INSIDE: A COVID-19 outbreak at Harris County Jail was the "nightmare scenario." Then it actually happened.

Still, the seizures left him entirely disabled and of unsound mind for a week after, and he only fully regained cognitive function in early October 2017, the suit states. Due to the severity of the seizures, the man was hospitalized twice in the following few months for multiple more seizures, the suit continues.

The suit blames the county and the sheriffs office for so-called dangerous conditions faced by the plaintiff.

It accuses them of failing to properly train doctors and of failing to properly supervise staff. It goes on to say defendants declined to consult with plaintiff on his medical care, lacked proper procedures and did not adequately establish and enforce safety regulations.

The plaintiff is being represented by the Houston-based Nielsen Law Firm. When reached on Monday, the plaintiffs attorneys declined to comment on the case.

The sheriffs office forwarded all comments to the Montgomery County Attorneys Office, which is representing it and the county in the lawsuit. Amy Dunham, the County Attorneys civil division chief, said a second motion to dismiss was filed Friday.

Documents show the defense is arguing the county is immune from the suits claims. The defense also asserts the plaintiff failed to establish how the county may have violated his civil rights.

jose.gonzalez@chron.com

twitter.com/jrgzztx
Four years after the San Jacinto River Authority filed a lawsuit against the city of Conroe for refusing to pay increased fees for water, a Montgomery County district court has dismissed the suit after a judge ruled the cities of Conroe and Magnolia were immune due to the contract not having a fixed water rate.

However, SJRA officials said they are planning an immediate appeal.

In a press release, Mayor Toby Powell said the citys actions have been to protect its water customers, both now and in the future and added SJRA needs to tighten its belt and stop spending whatever it wants and then simply add those expenditures into its rate base.

Mayor Pro Tem Duke Coon said the dismissal is great news for residents.

This is just one step closer to protecting our water rights, he said.

KINGWOOD EXHALES: SJRA approves seasonal lowering of Lake Conroe

SJRA General Manager Jace Houston fired back and called Conroes actions outlandish and irresponsible.

To enter into a contract to partner with 80 other utilities and then claim youre immune from the contract is outlandish and irresponsible, Houston said. Once again Conroe feels they should be treated differently no matter the effect on all the other GRP participants. After this, Im not sure why any governmental entity would enter into a contract with Conroe.

They are not above the law.

Houston said adopting rates by a rate order and not having a fixed rate is common proactive with utility contracts.

Nearly every major water provider across the state of Texas uses similar contracts to fund large-scale water supply projects. Rates are dependent upon operational costs as well as quantity of supply and cannot be predetermined with 100 percent certainty to include in a contract, Houston said noting some costs fluctuate and utilities take these into consideration when proposing annual rate orders. Our GRP Review Committee carefully considers various costs when approving rates.

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The local courts ruling could also jeopardize underlying Texas public bonds that were used to finance the $500 million GRP Water Treatment Plant at Lake Conroe and pipeline system throughout Montgomery County.

This decision could undermine contracts all over the state, said Houston. Interlocal cooperation happens all the time in the utility business. Cities, water suppliers and retailers have to be able to work together to provide services. This decision adds even more costly litigation to a battle thats been going on since 2016. We will stand with the other GRP Participants and appeal this decision.

According to SJRA, by the end of August Conroe and Magnolia will be $4.7 million in arrears to SJRA.

In 2016, SJRA filed the suit against Conroe claiming the city breached its contract after the council refused to pay increased water fees as part of the Groundwater Reduction Plan. SJRA officials claimed the citys decision put the SJRA and other Groundwater Reduction Plan participants in immediate financial risk, specifically involving the repayment of over $400 million in debt to the state of Texas.

SJRA notified the Texas Attorney General and the Texas Water Development Board of Conroes rejection of its contractual obligations regarding its GRP contract.

The city of Conroe, along with 150 other entities, entered into a contract with SJRA in 2010 to meet a 30 percent reduction in groundwater usages by Jan. 1, 2016, as mandated by the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District.

During an Aug. 16, 2016 meeting, the Conroe City Council approved a resolution refusing to pay the recent GRP fee increase to the San Jacinto River Authority. The SJRA board voted in June to raise its pumpage and surface-water fees by 18 cents per 1,000 gallons (7 percent) starting in September. The city of Magnolia quickly followed Conroes lead.

The SJRA started constructing its $500 million pipeline project in 2012 as part of the GRP. The pipes pump Lake Conroe water to Conroe and The Woodlands in order to absorb the 30 percent groundwater reduction by Jan. 1, 2016, for all large-volume groundwater users (based on 2009 consumption) as mandated by the LSGCD. All large-volume users that entered the GRP pay fees to the SJRA for the construction project, which enabled those entities to continue to pump groundwater with no reductions.

The project includes a surface-water treatment plant at the Lake Conroe Dam, 55 miles of treated water transmission pipelines and piping, metering and blending facilities at each of the surface-water delivery points.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
Montgomery County health officials confirmed 76 more COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing the countys total case count to 2,028.

The continued increase comes on the heels of Gov. Greg Abbott closing all bars and river tubing business and reducing restaurant capacity to just 50 percent. The move, Abbott said, was to slow the spiking number of new cases across the state.

According to data from the Montgomery Public Health District, of those 2,028 county cases, 797 are active with 22 of those people hospitalized. The countys death toll remained at 36.

The total number of patients in Montgomery County hospitals is 134. That number includes Montgomery Countys 22 hospitalizations and 112 patients from outside Montgomery County.

The data continues to show zip code 77301 with the most active cases at 102. That zip code includes those being held at the Joe Corley Detention Center and the Montgomery County Jail. Next with the most active cases in zip code 77386 with 70 cases followed by 77365 will 65 and 77304 with 55 active cases.

Men continue to outpace woman with the virus at 54 percent.

The age group with the most positive cases in now those in their 30s

The MCHD/MCPHD COVID-19 Call Center is open for residents needing COVID-19 testing through the countys voucher program, or for general questions. Call 936-523-5040 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
The Montgomery Independent School District is expected to announce its new superintendent Tuesday.

Jim Dossey, president of the school board, said the board plans to make the announcement at 6 p.m. during an in-person meeting at the board room of the Education Support Center at 20774 Eva St. in Montgomery.

The lone finalist will replace Beau Rees, who served as Montgomery ISDs superintendent since 2011. Rees began his position as the new superintendent at Weatherford Independent School District in June, following an announcement in April.

Montgomery ISDs school board hired the search firm, Thompson & Horton LLP, to help find a top professional with a fairly aggressive timeline to serve as the new superintendent by August.

The board unanimously approved hiring Ann Dixon, during a special meeting held on May 21, to serve as the interim superintendent for Montgomery ISD on June 1.

Public hearing set for budget

The school district will host a public hearing in-person at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. A final budget is expected to be presented and voted on.

Following the closed session during the June 16 board meeting, Dossey said the school district is facing a $1.6 million deficit budget for 2021. He expects that the administration will propose additional cuts in July.

Its going to be painful to get there but we think that is the most important thing for us at this point, Dossey said. We believe as a board that this is something that needs to be done and we need to take the hard steps to get us to that position.

MISD Board Member David Eargle said he agreed with Dossey.

I think the overall budget situation after our meeting is fixable, Eargle said. I dont think there is anything about it that is not fixable and I think this board has the courage, the strength and the smarts to make the right decisions to get this budget back to where it needs to be and to accomplish what you outlined.

MISD Board Member Gary Hammons said teacher pay is paramount because of comparisons to the area districts.

Every month going forward there is going to be substantial investigation into cost savings at all levels, jobs that are not directly associated with a classroom will be looked at in detail, Hammonds said.

Following the meeting, Dossey shared meeting highlights and stated the school district is interested in offering in person instruction in the fall, but is considering a remote learning option for students who want to stay home due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

He said the board has acknowledged a transportation issue related to the pandemic restriction to 15 students per bus, which could mean some student will need to provide their own transportation to school.

Final decisions about the school schedule and transportation needs to be made by Aug. 1 to be ready for the fall, he stated.

Dixon announced at a school board meeting in June that 12-month staff would return to work on June 8 and that the next bunch would return to work on Aug. 1, Dossey stated.

mellsworth@hcnonline.com
When Mayoli Guerra opened her business in February, she was expecting the usual challenges of new business. But nothing in her franchise manual prepared her for running a cleaning business during a pandemic.

On Feb. 3, Guerra held a soft opening for her business in The Woodlands, a new branch of the residential cleaning franchise Two Maids and a Mop. At the time, she was sure that in a few months when things picked up, a grand opening ceremony with representatives from the franchise would be the next step.

But March rolled around and with it came a global pandemic of COVID-19 and her new business was forced to close for two weeks until they were deemed essential.

Its been very unpredictable, Guerra said of how COVID has affected business. We had a very good month in May, but now June is not so much.

Some clients, fearful of having people in their house during the pandemic, have put their cleaning services on hold. Guerra said this is her biggest struggle right now. But others have contacted them because of the pandemic, wanting to have their house cleaned and sanitized.

Guerra chose the franchise route for several reasons. Her husband, Homero, works full-time in the oil and gas industry, and Guerra takes care of her elderly mother so she needed something that would give her a flexible schedule, and would be relatively easy to launch. Starting a business from a franchise means that a lot of the initial work and overhead are already taken care of.

We wanted to do something where we could help the community and we saw this as an opportunity to provide a service and help the community, Guerra said.

Soon after moving to the area four years ago, Guerra found a local food pantry at StoneBridge Church in The Woodlands that she volunteers at. She also teaches ESL classes at her own church, The Woodlands First Baptist. The franchise gives her the flexibility to continue doing both of these, while still running a business.

Before settling on Two Maids and a Mop, the Guerras looked at a few other franchise options (a gym, and property management) but the cleaning service just felt right. The ability to make personal connections with the clients was a big draw.

You can get a feel more of the community, more in contact, Guerra said. You can get to know the people and create a relationship.

Its a lot of trust, Homero said. In order to let people come into your come to do what we do, they need to get to know you a little bit more.

But even in the short amount of time that the business has been open, Guerra said they have found some dedicated clients who recommended them to family and friends. Right now they have five employees, one manager and four cleaning professionals, but were expecting to be in a better place at this point.

When its safe, Guerra pans on having her business participate in Cleaning For a Reason, a service that many Two Maids and a Mop franchises participate in that offers free house cleanings to cancer patients. This service is on hold because cancer patients are in a high risk category for COVID-19, but Guerra hopes to start it up in a few months.

For all current jobs, all the professional cleaners at the business are required to wear gloves and masks while on the job, social distance when necessary, and are tested regularly for COVID.

While she wants to grow the business, and wouldnt say no to expanding or opening another franchise, that decision wont be made for quite a while.

So far we like the experience and if we continue to grow and if everything goes well, yes we would like to expand, Guerra said.

jamie.swinnerton@chron.com
ADA, Okla. - Zach Williams checked himself into a hotel room, sat down on the edge of the bed and waited. Chills soon racked his body, and he started to shiver. He couldn't keep food down. He was drenched in sweat.

For two days in 2018, the 37-year-old Native American pharmacist for the Chickasaw Nation pushed through the wrenching symptoms of opioid withdrawal, determined to go cold turkey. On the third day, he stumbled outside to his Chevy truck, where he kept a stash of pain pills hidden among his children's dolls and McDonald's Happy Meal toys.

Williams had spent years hooked on opioids. Alone and hurting in a hotel parking lot, he faced yet another day.

"I felt like death," he recalled. "I loathed the person I was. . . . I became a slave to opioids."

At the height of the opioid epidemic, Native Americans overdosed and died at a rate that rivaled some of the hardest-hit regions in Appalachia. Nationwide, from 2006 to 2014, Native Americans were nearly 50% more likely to die of an opioid overdose than non-natives, a Washington Post analysis found.

In recent months, the novel coronavirus has added to the trials of Indian country, long plagued by health disparities, poverty, housing shortages and isolation. Arizona's White Mountain Apache Tribe and the Navajo Nation, with land that stretches over three Western states, have struggled with some of the highest per capita infection rates in the United States.

But tribal leaders say they have not lost sight of the ongoing devastation caused by prescription opioids.

As more than 3,000 cities and counties - along with most states - pursue billions in settlement dollars from opioid manufacturers and distributors, tribal leaders are fighting for a fair share of the proceeds through a series of lawsuits filed by Indian tribes.

Several of the tribes that have sued are in Oklahoma, home to more than 482,000 Native Americans in 38 federally recognized tribes, including the Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw nations. The patchwork of tribal lands is spread across most of the state's 77 counties. Here, the opioid death rate for Native Americans from 2006 to 2014 was more than three times higher than the nationwide rate for non-natives, the analysis of federal health data shows. And within the state, Native Americans were about 50% more likely to die than non-natives.

Opioid distributors shipped an average of 57 pills per person per year to Oklahoma from 2006 to 2014. That's far higher than the national average of 36 and just under the number of pills shipped to states in the opioid belt in and around Appalachia, according to a Post analysis of a once-confidential Drug Enforcement Administration database. The Post and the owner of the Charleston Gazette-Mail in West Virginia obtained the data after waging a year-long legal fight.

At least 370 Native Americans in Oklahoma overdosed and died - with a death rate roughly equivalent to that of West Virginia, federal data shows. Experts say the number of deaths for Native Americans is likely to be far higher because they are often mistakenly classified as white on death certificates.

"We were preyed upon," Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby said from the tribe's headquarters in Ada. His tribe's jurisdictional territory, dotted with cattle and casinos, covers 7,648 square miles in 13 south-central Oklahoma counties.

"It was unconscionable," Anoatubby said.

Nationwide, 169 cases have been brought on behalf of 413 federally recognized tribes against companies accused of fueling the worst drug epidemic in American history. The cases were consolidated two years ago with the city and county cases in federal court in Cleveland.

Some lawyers for the cities and counties have privately suggested a nationwide payout ranging from $25 billion to $50 billion for all the plaintiffs - including the tribes, which are sovereign nations. The lawyers said a settlement could come as early as this summer.

Opioid distributors have been trying to negotiate a settlement deal ahead of trials, which are set to begin in the coming months in New York and West Virginia. The distributors - McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen - have offered $18 billion to settle the lawsuits. In February, 21 states rejected the offer.

The litigation, considered the United States' largest and most complex civil case, has been compared to the tobacco case of 1998, in which four companies agreed to pay an estimated $240 billion over more than two decades to resolve state lawsuits. Native American tribes, however, were not involved in those lawsuits and received no settlement money.

"The opioid crisis devastated Indian country by every measure," said Lloyd Miller, a lawyer representing tribes that include the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma. "So did lung cancer. But when the tobacco litigation was all wrapped up, not a dime was allocated to tribal governments to deal with the devastation that cancer had left behind and the addiction issues. That will not be repeated."

On a Saturday morning in February, Main Street in Waurika, Okla., was all but deserted, a dusty strip of boarded-up storefronts. The town of about 2,000 residents, five miles from the Texas line, is the largest in Jefferson County. Most of the county falls within the jurisdictional territory of the Chickasaw Nation.

Inside Eck Drug & Gift, a sign with a photo of a bottle of pills reads: "Prescription opioids can be addictive and dangerous. It only takes a little to lose a lot."

Six years ago, the Eck family was given Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy's first Heritage Award for service to the university and the pharmacy profession. The store's slogan for years was: "A family of pharmacists serving your family."

The pharmacy has earned another distinction.

From 2006 through 2014, just over 2.3 million pain pills were shipped to Eck Drug & Gift, according to the DEA's prescription pill database. An additional nearly 2.5 million pills were shipped to Moore Drug, also in Jefferson County, population 6,400.

In all, opioid distributors shipped more than 5.4 million prescription pain pills to Jefferson County - an average of 94 pills per person each year. That is 2.5 times the national rate and more than twice the rate of the state.

The majority of pills were distributed by AmerisourceBergen and McKesson, two of the nation's largest opioid distributors and defendants in the consolidated lawsuit in Cleveland.

A spokesman for AmerisourceBergen said the company is committed to mitigating the diversion of drugs "without interfering with clinical decisions made by doctors, who interact directly with patients and decide what treatments are most appropriate for their care. . . . We are committed to collaborating with all stakeholders on ways to combat opioid abuse."

A spokesperson for McKesson said in a statement that the company distributes prescription opioids and other medications in response to orders placed by pharmacies and did not influence "the volume of opioids prescribed or consumed in this country."

"We are deeply concerned by the impact the opioid epidemic is having on families and communities across our nation," the statement said. "We are committed to engaging with all who share our dedication to acting with urgency and working together to end this national crisis."

Dana "Biff" Eck, a second-generation pharmacist who has owned Eck Drug & Gift since 1985, said he was surprised by the number of pills shipped to Jefferson County.

"That would amaze me that that many went through here," Eck said. "We did a lot, but I don't remember that much."

"We're just a small-town pharmacy trying to take care of our people," he added.

He said that he does not recall doctors prescribing anything out of the ordinary and that he filled valid prescriptions for as many as 120 pills at a time. He said the culture and attitude toward treating pain has shifted over the past 20 years, from when doctors were told to treat pain as "the fifth vital sign."

"Back in the day, if you were not treating pain, you were not a good doctor," said Eck, who added that he is now dispensing about a third fewer pain pills than he once did.

In Ringling, Okla., population 1,000 and about a half-hour drive from Waurika, Moore Drug has been in Tom Hildebrant's family since 1934. Hildebrant, a pharmacist who has run the store since 2012, said he was unaware of federal data showing millions of pain pills shipped to his store at the height of the epidemic.

- - -

"That really surprises me," Hildebrant said. "I know there's been a big problem, but I didn't know Jefferson County had been singled out. I wouldn't think we fill any more prescriptions than anybody else."

Other counties also experienced an influx of millions of pain pills. In Eastern Oklahoma's Adair County, where half the residents are members of the Cherokee Nation, distributors shipped more than 8 million prescription hydrocodone and oxycodone pills from 2006 to 2014 - 42 pills per person per year, The Post's analysis shows.

Nearby Delaware County, where 1 in 3 residents are Cherokee members, received more than 12 million pain pills.

"The human and economic toll inflicted on the Cherokee Nation and many other tribes around the country is just truly hard to fathom, and yet it continues and will continue until funds are available to undo some of the harm that has been caused," said Richard Fields, a lawyer representing the Cherokees and a dozen other tribal nations.

Tribal leaders and health experts say the pills flowed for a number of reasons.

Native Americans have higher-than-average injury rates from work in industries such as farming, logging and fishing, said Anthony Dekker, the former chief clinical consultant for addiction medicine and chronic pain management at the federal Indian Health Service. In rural areas, he said, Native Americans have also struggled with a lack of access to quality health care and long-term, non-pharmacological treatment options.

A 2019 audit by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that some Indian Health Service hospitals did not follow required procedures when prescribing and dispensing opioids to Native Americans.

Drug companies are also to blame, tribal leaders say.

In 2017, the Cherokee Nation, the nation's largest federally recognized tribe, filed the first tribal lawsuit against the opioid industry.

The history of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma has been marked by tragedy. The Cherokees and other tribes were forced off their land after the Indian Removal Act of 1830. During the "Trail of Tears," tens of thousands of Native Americans were made to travel hundreds of miles from their ancestral lands in the Southeast to areas west of the Mississippi River. Many suffered from disease or exposure, and thousands died along the way or shortly afterward.

Now with members spread across 14 Oklahoma counties, the Cherokee Nation is alleging in its federal lawsuit that opioid distributors and pharmacies for years ignored clear signs of suspicious ordering.

Tribal leaders said overdoses and deaths soon followed: Social services, as well as medical, welfare, law enforcement and foster-care systems were overwhelmed by families struggling with addiction.

Cherokee Nation Attorney General Sara Hill said the wreckage of opioids "permeates life in the Cherokee Nation."

The tribe's lawsuit alleges that overdose deaths more than doubled among tribal members between 2003 and 2014 and that for adults, overdose deaths now outnumber those from car accidents. In addition, for every lethal overdose, the tribe logged 10 admissions to drug treatment centers and 32 emergency room visits, according to the complaint.

"I've definitely seen the impact in our hospitals," Hill said. "We've seen it in our child welfare cases where children are brought into custody. We've seen it in the uptick in the clinics."

The drug distributors have repeatedly said they are not responsible for opioid overdoses and deaths, and they have unsuccessfully sought to dismiss the cases against them. The top three distributors, along with an opioid manufacturer, reached a settlement of $260 million with two Ohio counties in October 2019. Thousands of cases are pending.

In February, U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster, who is overseeing the consolidated case in Cleveland, sent the Cherokee lawsuit back to federal court in Oklahoma. Polster wanted one tribal lawsuit for a "bellwether" trial to help predict how other tribes might fare if their cases come before a jury. The tribe was chosen because, among other reasons, it is the largest in terms of population and was one of the first to file a nationwide opioid case.

The move, welcomed by lawyers for the tribe who worried that individual cases had hit a bottleneck, will allow the Cherokees to move forward with their own litigation against multiple companies. A trial date has not yet been set.

Other Oklahoma tribes, including the Chickasaw Nation, remain part of the lawsuit in Cleveland.

Chickasaw leaders say they are hoping to recoup some of the addiction-treatment money they have invested in recent years.

When the tribe's insurance carrier wouldn't pay for members to stay for 90 days in residential treatment facilities, the tribe decided to make up the difference with its own funds - and help pay the monthly household bills for those in treatment.

"They still have electric bills," said Jay Keel, the Chickasaw Nation's secretary of Family Services. "They still . . . are trying to feed their children. They can't keep their family hanging."

The Chickasaw Nation also started an "amnesty" program, guaranteeing job protection to tribal employees who went into treatment. The goal, tribal leaders say, is to encourage people to acknowledge their addiction and get help.

- - -

Williams, the Chickasaw Nation pharmacist, called the tribe's efforts a lifeline.

Like thousands of others during the past 20 years, Williams said his addiction started with an injury. As the quarterback for the Whippets, his high school football team in Northwest Oklahoma, Williams, a member of the Cherokee Nation, was gearing up to play in college. Then, in 1999, he collided with a linebacker.

Williams broke his neck, ending his football career. He went to the University of Oklahoma to become a pharmacist, but the neck pain lingered. Williams said he was eventually prescribed painkillers that included OxyContin. His life spiraled.

Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, said in a statement that the company is "working toward a settlement that would speed the delivery of resources and vital medicines that States and local communities, including Native American tribes, can use to address and abate the opioid crisis."

"We sympathize with all those affected by opioid abuse across America," the statement said.

Williams said he continued to take painkillers every day after he got married, had three children and began working as a pharmacist for the Chickasaw Nation.

After Williams's unsuccessful attempts to stop on his own, Chickasaw leaders sent him to residential treatment in Texas and covered his bills. Now back at work and in a tribal outpatient recovery program for the past 22 months, Williams said he's spending far more time with his wife, son and twin daughters.

He questions why so many pain pills poured onto tribal lands for years but said he holds himself accountable for his own recovery. Inside his trim, red-brick home off a two-lane country road, the walls are covered with photographs of his family and a sign that reads: "When life gets too hard to stand, kneel."

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DEA pill databasehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/dea-pain-pill-database/
Hans Christian Heg, an ardent abolitionist whose statue in Madison, Wisconsin, was pulled down this week, fell at the Battle of Chickamauga trying to make a more perfect union. Robert Gould Shaw, who commanded one of the first Black Union regiments and whose monument in Boston was defaced last month, was killed at Fort Wagner trying to make a more perfect union. Ulysses Grant, who did more than any other general to defeat the Confederacy and more than any other president to defeat the Klan, and whose statue in San Francisco was pulled down last week, devoted his life to trying to make a more perfect union.
Families are pleading with nursing homes to allow in-person visits. Some facilities are tentatively lifting restrictions, while others are still grappling with coronavirus outbreaks. As Virginia approaches the third phase of its recovery plan on Wednesday, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities say they are fearful of a resurgence of cases.

The scale of the crisis became public only recently, when Gov. Ralph Northam (D) acquiesced to demands from families, advocates and lawmakers to identify facilities with known infections after months of refusing to do so.

The data showed that nursing homes and assisted-living facilities have reported more than 6,200 infections and 889 deaths - 55% of all fatalities in the state - with many of the worst outbreaks concentrated in Northern Virginia.

And those tallies are likely to increase as the state health department works to complete universal testing at all facilities - and as families demand access to their elderly loved ones even though they are most vulnerable to the virus.

"Reopening will 100 percent add to new cases - it's inevitable," said Mike Williams, chief executive of English Meadows Senior Living, which operates eight facilities in Virginia.

The stakes are high for these facilities, said April Payne, a vice president at the Virginia Health Care Association, as Virginia, Maryland and the District ease restrictions on restaurants, fitness centers, stores and public gatherings. Many nursing homes and assisted-living centers are in intense "planning mode" for how to walk this tightrope, Williams said.

Some are constructing ventilated tents to allow outdoor visits. Others are stocking up on gloves, which restaurants and shops are buying in bulk to reopen.

"What's happening in the community is very, very different from what is still occurring in nursing homes," Payne said. "We're not over dealing with the outbreak. We're still in it."

In the state's data, 121 facilities have the classification of "outbreak closed" or "pending closure," which means that 28 days have passed without a new case of covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. Sixty-two facilities have outbreaks "in progress."

Northam on June 19 released reopening guidance for Virginia's nursing homes, which are distinct from his "Forward Virginia" plan on the lifting of commercial and social restrictions. The plan states that in-person visits inside nursing homes can resume only 14 days after the county where the facility is located enters the third phase, which is scheduled to begin Wednesday. Facilities also must have the ability to test all residents weekly.

Laura Forlano, Virginia's deputy commissioner of population health, said Virginia, in conjunction with the National Guard, plans to finish testing all residents and staff at Virginia's 280 nursing homes by early July and at the 580 or so assisted-living facilities by mid-August.

Forlano said that the state has made "good progress" on this front, though some critics point out that Virginia lags behind Maryland, where the state health department finished conducting testing of all nursing home residents and staff in early June and continues to test staff members weekly, said a spokesman for Gov. Larry Hogan (R).

Hogan recently announced that limited outdoor visits would be allowed at nursing homes in his state. On Friday, he said assisted-living facilities that have not experienced new cases in 14 days can began accepting indoor visitors.

Outdoor visits at D.C. nursing homes are allowed as part of the city's second phase of recovery, which began June 22. There must be weekly testing of staff and residents before such visits can begin.

Virginia has adequate resources to test all facilities at least once, Forlano said. But she did not address whether the state will be able to keep up regular testing of residents.

"I'm not saying it's not challenging," she said of the guidance to secure weekly testing. "I know it's a heavy lift for these facilities. . . . But this pandemic requires extraordinary measures."

Annandale Healthcare Center has had the worst outbreak in the state with 156 infections and 51 deaths. Fred Stratmann, a spokesman for the facility's parent company, CommuniCare, said the company bought 1,000 tests in April to deploy to nursing homes in Virginia and Maryland, adding that the ready availability of testing will determine how quickly these facilities can reopen to visitors.

For the past four months, testing at long-term care facilities in Virginia has been a "disjointed situation," said Rob Liebreich, chief executive of the nonprofit provider Goodwin House. He said the state helps to conduct baseline testing but provides little support for the ongoing, repeated tests needed to assess whether a facility is rid of a virus or experiencing a resurgence.

Goodwin House, which operates retirement communities in Alexandria and Baileys Crossroads, has spent more than $2 million procuring test kits and protective equipment, as well as compensating employees who normally work at multiple facilities but now can work at only one to limit the risk of exposure. These expenses will continue until a vaccine is found, which may take more than a year.

Northam last week announced a $246 million funding package for long-term health facilities, including $56 million dedicated to testing. Liebreich and other industry advocates say it's a good start but not enough.

"Without additional resources, you're going to see a number of operators having to make really hard choices," Liebreich said.

Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, said he blames the federal government for the lack of testing in nursing homes and long-term care facilities but noted that he also worries about a second wave of deaths from the deterioration of residents who have been isolated for an extended time.

He and state Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, were among the lawmakers who called on Northam to release the data on nursing homes earlier, saying increased transparency might have helped policymakers and the public understand the scope of the problem.

"No one knew how bad it was," Hope said.

At Skyview Springs Nursing Home in Luray, where the state reported 151 infections and 21 deaths, a longtime resident fed up with the restrictions recently approached administrator Jill Irby and demanded to have her son come pick her up. Irby said she called the woman's son, who said that he wished he could bring his mother home but that he works full time and cannot afford home care.

"We allow window visits - but that is not the same as seeing them in person or being able to hug and kiss them," Irby said. "It's been very depressing. Not only for residents, but for staff as well."

For Marta Cakert, one of the most difficult parts of the situation has been not being able to see her aunt Maria Arango, a resident at Leewood Healthcare Center in Annandale, who was among the first of the 115 positive cases reported at the facility.

The family started making funeral plans as Arango's condition deteriorated in April, but the woman has recovered, Cakert said.

"We can't selfishly want to see her and possibly pass something on," said Cakert, a nurse practitioner. "I personally would not be able to live with myself."

At some facilities that did not experience outbreaks, leaders have been waiting for weeks to lift restrictions and seized the opportunity to do so when Northam issued his reopening guidance.

At English Meadows Senior Living, which had no cases at seven of its eight locations, residents have begun to resume communal - but distanced - meals together, and facilities have arranged outdoor visits.

"The emotional and mental toll [the shutdown] was taking on them was getting to a point of being counterproductive," said Williams, the chief executive.

But as Virginia further lifts restrictions on social and commercial activity, Williams said, he is also concerned about the possibility of caregivers interacting with more people, especially over the July Fourth weekend, and potentially bringing the virus back into the facility.

He has urged his employees to avoid large gatherings and offered masks for them to use when they are off work.

"Caregivers go home at night, they go do things, then they come back," he said. "It's the tough X-factor in this situation."
Deputies are piecing together why a man was mortally shot in the head late Sunday night in east Harris County.

The victims brother drove him to a standalone emergency room near the East Sam Houston Parkway North near West Lake Houston Parkway around 11:50 p.m., according to Harris County sheriffs deputies. Detectives believe the shooting took place in the 300 block of Normandy Street, about 12 miles south of the ER.
Iowa Colony may be a small town, but its thinking big.

For the first 100 years or so of its existence, the northern Brazoria County city off Texas 288 south of Alvin had a population numbering in the hundreds, rising to 1,170 in the 2010 census. Then, the explosive growth seen in Pearland and Alvin came to Iowa Colony.

Sterling Lakes was the first development, and it is still expanding its west side footprint. Meridiana, is doing the same thing on the east side.

If both communities get to build out, estimates show Sterling Lakes will total more than 3,000 homes with just under 10,000 residents. Meridiana will have more than 2,700 homes and almost 9,000 residents.

The city also contains the Alvin ISD Heritage Complex, which includes the 10,280-seat stadium Freedom Field, and contains the site for the districts planned fourth high school.

Through annexation, Iowa Colonys population is now about 7,800, but that pales by what the future holds.

We are expecting between 60,000 and 80,000 residents at build-out, first-term mayor Michael Byrum-Bratsen said. The citys dynamics are changing. Its demographics are changing very fast.

Its an exciting time for Iowa Colony, and its exciting to be a part of that growth, that change.

At the moment, the city is taking precautions to limit spread of the novel coronavirus. In step with action taken by Pearland Mayor Tom Reid, Byrum-Bratsen on June 26 issued an executive order requiring that employees and visitors to a businesses in the city who are over age 9 must wear face coverings when within 6 feet of one another to limit spread of COVID-19.

Build-out anticipated by 2060

Byrum-Bratsen said total build out is expected to come by 2060.

Iowa Colony hired a consulting firm, Marsh Darcy Partners, to develop a comprehensive plan that would put the city in charge of its future development.

That plan addresses virtually every area of concern a city may have both now and in the future, such as:

Future land use

Adding and expanding thoroughfares

Building civic facilities

Adding parks and greenspace

Creating a drainage plan

Developing a water and wastewater system, and

Future city needs.

We are trying to plan out before everything grows uncontrollably, the mayor said. We have seen (other cities) grow up faster than they can keep up with. Weve seen where things have gone wrong and we were able to say, This tsunami of growth is heading our way and were on the shoreline. We need to have a plan so people can come in and know exactly what to do and we can know what the city is going to look like.

The plan gives Iowa Colony a suburban feel, but also strives to keep some rural areas intact. It all starts with making Texas 288, which runs through the city, the center for major retail development.

The 288 corridor will be high-density commercial, Byrum-Bratsen said. As we move out, we step down in density. Well have medium-density (development)  thats where multifamily (dwellings) can go along with neighborhood commercial  and outside that is the lower-density area, where you have (single-family homes on) bigger plots of land and eventually you get to the one-acre plots.

Major retailers have already expressed interest in building in Iowa Colony, Byrum-Bratsen said.

The biggest constraint on us right now is that we have a lot of areas where there are no utilities, he said. So, were doing water studies, were seeking loans from the (Texas Water Development Board), to start expanding the utilities outside of the (municipal utility districts) so we can get that commercial development in. There has been a lot of interest because were a prime location right along 288.

The plan was presented to City Council and residents at a recent meeting and received high marks.

Anna Holton, a resdident who is the wife of former mayor Michael Buck Holton, has lived in Iowa Colony since 1969 and approves of the overall plan.

The city will never stay the same because development is coming, she said. But this plans for it. Progress is good.

Council member Kacy Smajstrla appreciated the parks plan, which points out prospective sites.

I like it because it gives the city an idea where to put the parks as people get here, she said.

Sydney Hargroder has lived in Iowa Colony for two years. She said she was impressed with the scope of the plan.

I see it as a road map to the future, she said. It shows how the city should look for this council and future councils.

John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com.
Officials with The Woodlands Township closed the recreation center at Bear Branch Park on Monday after it was discovered that an employee had tested positive for the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. The facility will remain closed on Tuesday and no opening date has been determined. The Sunny Days childcare camp will be closed until July 6.

In a press release, officials stated the facility was going to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and it would be reopened when appropriate.

The facility and program re-opening will be announced later, pending the completion of safety and sanitization procedures, officials stated in the release.

According to the press release, the unidentified employee worked numerous shifts at The Recreation Center at Bear Branch Park over nine days, including: noon to 6 p.m. from Monday, June 15, until Friday, June 19, and then the 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift on Monday, June 22 through Thursday, June 25. Anyone in contact with the person will be notified, officials added.

This is the second closure of a township facility in June because an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The community swimming pool in Alden Bridge was closed for two days after an unidentified staffer tested positive for the coronavirus.

Related: Woodlands briefly closes pool after staffer tests positive for COVID-19

Other area government employees have also tested positive for the virus, including one police officer from Shenandoah and three firefighters from The Woodlands Fire Department.

Grogans Forest sign damaged

Plans to fix the stone sign that greets drivers into the Grogans Forest neighborhood are on hold while officials work details of what entity is responsible for the repairs.

During the June 24 township Board of Directors meeting, a report on the project was presented by the item was tabled for future discussion after more research was completed. The sign, which sits in the wooded median to the north of Research Forest Drive in the split lane segment of Grogans Mill Road, has been damaged for weeks after motor vehicle accidents damaged the stone sign.

The options presented to directors to repair the sign included removing the remants of the structure and waiting until work could be coordinated with officials from Montgomery County, repair the sign with a new metallic blade element with Grogans Forest stenciled on it; or to work with county officials on relocating it altogether.

The intersection of the southbound lanes of Grogans Mill Road to the north of Research Forest Drive has been undergoing repairs as Precinct 2 officials are adding a new right turn lane onto west bound Research Forest Drive.

Director Bruce Rieser said the most logical solution to fixing the sign and avoiding future repairs was to relocate the stone monument to the very eastern strip of land north of Research Forest Drive and east of the northbound lanes of Grogans Mill Road.

(People) drive through (the intersection) right into that monument, Rieser said in suggesting moving it to the other side of the road. It is remarkable it has only been knocked down three times.

Land annexation moves forward

The annexation of more than 50 acres of land into the township moved ahead on Jun 24, as directors approved a plan guaranteeing land in the Village of Creekside Park would be annexed by the township as long as all other annexation guidelines and requirements were met. The land is already in the annexation process after the city of Houston approved it being transferred to The Woodlands after water and sewer services were secuered with Harris-Montgomery Municipal Utility District 386.

Daniel Ringold of Schwartz, Payne and Harding law firm, said once the land is annexed into The Woodlands, residential home developers TrendMaker Homes and Toll Brothers will purchase the property and develop and construct a new neighborhood.

Board Chairman Gordy Bunch said the new development will add property tax revenue to the townships coffers when completed and families have moved in. The land is located north of Indian Hill Road in Creekside Park. A pathway connector agreement is also part of the annexation.

jeff.forward@chron.com
Republican Rep. Rick Gundrum, of Slinger, circulated a letter opposed to the elections commission sending the absentee ballot application. He said in the letter that while the proposal is well-intended as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are concerned about the ramifications of sending a massive mailing to voters who have not requested an absentee ballot. He specifically cited concerns about extra work and expense it would cause local election clerks.
In the parking lot of an assisted-living center in southern Illinois, Shalla McBride sat in a Buick stocked with hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes and prayed for her mother to watch over her.

Her mother had reassured the family, McBride recalled, every time she went to work at a nursing home an hour's drive north, hoping to help stave off the novel coronavirus that was sickening elderly residents. "I'll be fine," her mother had said, even as her throat began to hurt, her chest tightened and she lost her sense of taste and smell. The 65-year-old registered nurse died May 2 of covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

In mid-May, two weeks after her mother died and with an asthmatic toddler at home, McBride pushed open her car door. She had spent 18 months as a resident assistant in the assisted-living center, working, much like her mother, to care for the residents who needed her. McBride said she decided it was no time to quit, despite the risks.

"There was a feeling of peace that washed over me," she said. "Like I'm supposed to be here. This is home. These people are my family."

More than four months into the pandemic, nursing home caregivers say they have been largely left to fend for themselves even as coronavirus outbreaks continue to overwhelm facilities across the country. In recent weeks, a growing number of lawmakers and patient advocates have blamed the homes as well as the government, saying officials have been slow to act, sending inadequate and sometimes defective supplies to facilities vexed by staffing shortages and ill-equipped to control the spread of infection.

The fallout, they say, has been devastating. Tens of thousands of nursing home workers have contracted the coronavirus and at least 200 have died, according to a Washington Post analysis of state data.

The death count is likely low. The tally draws on data from 10 states and the District of Columbia, which separately report fatalities among staff members. The federal government places the nationwide death toll at more than 500, but nursing home administrators in recent weeks have raised questions about the accuracy of the data.

The count does not include coronavirus cases or deaths in other long-term care facilities, such as group homes and assisted-living centers.

At a nursing home in Connecticut, licensed practical nurse Angeline Bernadel , 52, was only weeks away from earning her degree as a registered nurse when she died of covid-19 in early April, the Hartford Courant reported. In Louisiana, registered nurse Shenetta White-Ballard, 44, had a history of respiratory issues but insisted on working during the crisis; she died of covid-19 on May 1, according to the Advocate in Baton Rouge.

In Illinois, registered nurse Krist Angielen Castro Guzman died a day later, leaving behind three children, including an infant son.

"She was a wonderful mother," said Guzman's sister, Kayla Aleksei Clayton. "It's just heartbreaking. I'm watching her husband brush her daughter's hair, and I wonder who's going to do their hair now?"

Lawmakers, industry groups and caregivers say the death count could have been limited if states and the federal government had done more to develop an early, robust and coordinated response for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

"There's been a lot of talk about essential workers," said Rob Baril, president of Service Employees International Union 1199NE, which represents nursing home workers in Connecticut and Rhode Island. "They're treated like they're expendable workers."

More than 2,100 nursing homes nationwide reported earlier this month that they lack a week's supply of N95 masks, and 2,200 said they were running short on gowns. The data was made public by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes.

In late April, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced it would coordinate shipments of gowns, masks, gloves and goggles, providing facilities with enough to last two weeks and prioritizing homes in cities with major outbreaks.

But some homes received expired masks, cloth masks possibly made from T-shirts, ill-fitting plastic gowns or partial shipments that would not last a week, said Lisa Sanders, a spokeswoman for LeadingAge, which represents nonprofit long-term care providers. The shipments came in unmarked boxes with no return address.

"At the outset of this pandemic it was clear that older adults and care workers were at the greatest risk, yet their needs and lives went ignored," Katie Smith Sloan, president of LeadingAge, said in a written statement.

Three U.S. senators recently sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor, demanding information about the shipments and the allocation of protective gear.

"Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing homes have experienced critical shortages of PPE, putting residents and workers alike at risk," wrote Democratic Sens. Gary Peters of Michigan, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Ron Wyden of Oregon.

A FEMA representative told the Wall Street Journal earlier this month that the equipment complied with federal requirements and that the company that had supplied gowns was working on an instructional video to show caregivers how to use them.

Even with sufficient supplies, experts say, years of understaffing and cost-cutting have left nursing homes vulnerable to widespread infection outbreaks. Staff turnover is particularly high among nursing aides, who often earn minimum wage and lack paid sick leave or health insurance, said Charlene Harrington, a nursing home researcher and professor at the University of California at San Francisco.

"They don't care if they burn through staff," she said.

More than 2,200 nursing homes reported earlier this month that they lacked an adequate number of nurses, and 2,600 reported a shortage of nursing aides, according to the CMS.

In recent months, government inspections by state and federal health authorities found instances where nursing staffs were stretched so thin, they did not have enough time to follow proper hygiene practices, such as washing hands in between patients.

To address potential staffing shortages, the CMS in March waived the requirement that nursing aides receive at least 75 hours of training. The move, advocates say, could exacerbate unsafe conditions by allowing homes to employ unqualified staff members.

In some states, health officials are filling the need for aides through an online certification offered by the American Health Care Association, an industry group representing more than 14,000 long-term care facilities. About 38,000 people in recent weeks have been certified as temporary nursing aides.

Nursing home caregivers say they are committed to staying on the job, despite the risks.

"We have to go to work and deal with it," said Tommy Kegbeh, a nursing assistant in central Massachusetts. "Whether you will be killed or whether you will survive, you don't know."

In southern Illinois, Shalla McBride's mother, Carolyn, was diagnosed with covid-19 on April 23. She had worked for two years at the Eden Village Care Center.

She was hospitalized a week after the diagnosis. The single mother of three who had put herself through college while on food stamps grew progressively worse, her daughter said.

"I was there right before she died, so my last memory is her hooked up to the IV and the ventilator," McBride said. "She looked very, very swollen, and I could see the color changing on her."

Officials at Eden Village did not respond to several calls and an email seeking comment.

After her mother's death, McBride said she debated going back to her job at a local assisted-living center. But in mid-May, she kissed her fiance and 3-year-old daughter, got in her car and drove past the Amish grocer where her mother once ordered ham salad and sourdough bread. Then she pulled into the center's parking lot and prepared to go to work.

Her residents, she said, are like family. But with the virus still raging, she said she worries about her fiance and daughter.

"I don't want anything to happen to me where I could die," she said. "I don't want my daughter to grow up without her mom."

- - -

Mulcahy, Shah and Jacobs are graduate students in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill Investigative Lab.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he wont delay an increase in the states minimum wage, which he pushed for and signed into law during his first year as governor.

That states minimum will increase to $10 an hour Wednesday.

Shortly after taking office in 2019, Pritzker enacted a phased increase to the states minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. The first of two increases was Jan. 1 of this year going from $8.25 to $9.25 an hour. The second increase this year is set for Wednesday.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, Pritzker closed large swaths of the states economy in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to keep hospitals from being overwhelmed with coronavirus cases. He used his executive authority to suspend or postpone several things, such as evictions or licensure fee increases and even the states tax filing deadline.

On Friday, the state entered Phase 4 of the governors five-phase reopening plan. Phase 4 allows many businesses to open with fewer restrictions, but there are capacity limits for restaurants, theaters and other businesses.

We wish governor Pritzker and the General Assembly had acted on our call to delay the minimum wage increase on July 1, said Mark Grant, Illinois state director of the National Federation of Independent Business. Our members appreciate the chance to grow customer activity and optimistically hire more workers, but an immediate hike in wages could put a damper on bringing folks back into the workforce.

State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, said small businesses need some relief.

Those that have suffered the most and that is dealing with maybe postponing the minimum wage, or rolling that back, Syverson said.

Pritzker said the minimum wage increase was needed and he wouldnt delay it.

No, Pritzker said. We have a lot of challenges in this state but one of them is people living in poverty and working the very low minimum wage that weve had.

Weve provided relief funds for small businesses across the state and were going to continue to do that but its not to the determinant of the people who are working-class people of our state, its to the benefit of them, Pritzker said.

Syverson said thats just one extra cost employers are gonna be hit with.

If unemployment rates double and minimum wage goes up at a time when businesses are struggling thats going to be very difficult to try and jump start, Syverson said.

Another issue is one of business liability during the pandemic.

When we surveyed our members last month, most of them said they were concerned about the threat of lawsuits that try to exploit the pandemic, Grant said.
While greater access to testing may be a factor in Midlands spike in cases, an increased rate of positive results among those being tested and a significant uptick in coronavirus patients requiring hospitalization are evidence the virus is spreading more rapidly in the community, Midland Memorial Hospital CEO Russell Meyers said Monday.

The number of reported cases in Midland County was 563 on Friday; there were 56 cases from the weekend and another 32 on Monday, moving the total beyond 650 during the pandemic.

Midland Memorials hotline 68NURSE, which schedules residents for testing at the hospitals drive-thru location, has received about 2,000 calls a day over the last week, Meyers said during a press conference Monday morning. He said thats about four to five times more than the hotlines normal call volume.

The hospital has also seen a higher percentage of those tested who are testing positive, Meyers said, as well a tremendous increase in the number of patients in the COVID-19 ward. There were 18 coronavirus patients at Midland Memorial on Monday, compared to three patients two weeks ago, he said.

All those things together tell us that there really is more disease in the community and theres more disease that requires treatment in the community than there was before, he said. Its not just more testing.

Midland Memorial is not testing any residents without symptoms of the virus, which makes it difficult to gauge how many asymptomatic carriers there may be in the community, Meyers said. Private providers also usually do not test people who are asymptomatic unless they have had contact to a known case.

Additionally, Meyers said there is concern among hospital officials that the testing being done doesnt represent the entire need of the community. Those who live further from testing sites or who dont have access to transportation may not be getting tested when they get sick, he said.

Its possible that accessibility of testing is still a bit of an issue and we could be doing more, he said, adding the hospital is planning to set up an additional testing location for that reason.

Midland Memorial is awaiting results on 218 tests, according to Meyers, with some of those tests being as old as last Tuesday. The hospital has been using multiple labs to fulfill tests, but as all labs experience overwhelming testing orders, results have sometimes been delayed by several days, he said.

As the number of cases in Midland has spiked, so have cases throughout Texas. There were 5,357 new cases reported on Sunday, more than four times the 1,254 cases reported on June 15. In response, Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday ordered bars to close and restaurants to scale back to 50 percent capacity.

Midland Mayor Patrick Payton had scheduled a press conference for Monday afternoon but rescheduled his remarks for Wednesday.
JERICHO, West Bank -Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat built a glitzy casino 22 years ago in this dusty town on the edge of the desert. He named it Oasis, and Israelis flocked to take a gamble on peace.

The casino's golden sign still shimmers in the hot sun, but the building sits empty, shuttered since the outbreak of the second intifada, the Palestinian uprising of the early 2000s. Weeds now wind through the paving stones at the once grand entrance.

The vision for peace captured here, though briefly, could soon be entirely out of reach. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to unilaterally annex the area surrounding Jericho, as well as other parts of the occupied West Bank, as soon as this week, and Palestinians are warning of a return to resistance, even violence.

"What we are facing here is the lowest point of Palestinian-Israeli relations in the past few decades," said Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization. He was born in Jericho, located in the Jordan Valley, and can trace his family's history in the biblical town back many generations.

"If this happens, then I am sure there will be some Palestinians who will demand one state with equal rights [for Israelis and Palestinians], but this is something Israelis will never accept. So we will be left with one state with two political systems, or apartheid," he said.

It is still unclear what Netanyahu will do this week. He has set July 1 as the date for potential action on annexation and has indicated he will begin a process of applying Israeli sovereignty to all Jewish settlements and to swaths of strategic territory, including the Jordan Valley.

President Donald Trump's Middle East plan permits Israel to annex up to 30% of the West Bank, which was captured by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, and leaves the rest for a possible Palestinian state. Trump's plan conditions annexation on restarting the now-defunct peace process.

Last week, the president met with senior advisers, including U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, to discuss the potential annexation but has yet to give Netanyahu a green light to proceed.

Some political observers predict full annexation will come immediately, as Netanyahu tries to take advantage of a supportive administration in Washington. Others speculate he will carry out annexation in stages, trying to manage widespread criticism in Israel and around the world.

In Jericho, the most populous town in the mainly agricultural Jordan Valley, there is concern among the 22,000 residents that expanded areas of Israeli control will make daily life unbearable.

"The Israelis are arrogant. They want to take everything from us and then they want us to make peace," said Mohammad Alwan, 49, a toy shop owner in the modest town center.

A popular vacation destination for Palestinians, as well as gateway to the wider world via the nearby border crossing to Jordan, Jericho was empty of visitors last week. A line of yellow Palestinian taxis stood idle in the central square, waiting for a fare or two.

"It will affect us deeply, especially economically," lamented Mahmoud Injoum, 30, one of the drivers. "As a driver, if I want to take people to Ramallah, I will have to take back roads to avoid new checkpoints and that will consume much more gas. If I want to go to Hebron, it will mean taking a much longer and tedious way around Jerusalem."

A map included in Trump's Middle East plan suggests that Israel will take control of the entire valley that runs along the border with Jordan southward to the Dead Sea. If so, Israeli territory would encircle areas designated for the Palestinians and leave places like Jericho isolated.

"Netanyahu is pulling Israel into its biggest, hardest, bloodiest ambush ever," said Bassam Abu Sharif, a former key adviser to Arafat and also a resident of Jericho. "I don't want to boast, but Palestinians will resist this."

The onetime militant known for a string of airplane hijackings in the 1970s, who was badly wounded by a letter bomb the Palestinians attributed to the Israelis, said in an interview that "security for Israel cannot be achieved by military power."

"Only peace can give this to Israel and we, the Palestinians, hold the key to peace," said Abu Sharif, whose 1988 paper on finding a peaceful solution to the conflict is widely believed to have paved the way for Palestinian participation in the Oslo accords with Israel.

Eugene Kontorovich, director of international law at the Kohelet Policy Forum, a Jerusalem-based think tank that has been advising Netanyahu, said the Israeli plan was technical, "changing the legal system" for Israelis but "not changing anything for Palestinians."

"Annexation is a loaded term," he said. "Under international law, it means taking territory by force from another country and making it your own. This is not the case here."

Oded Revivi, an official on the Yesha Council, an umbrella group for Israeli settlers, said the move would have little impact on daily Palestinian life. "The plan is to apply Israeli law to Israeli communities, not annexation or sovereignty."

But Erekat, a longtime peace negotiator whose nephew was shot dead last week by Israeli forces after his car rammed into a military checkpoint, said annexation would spell the end of his vision for peace and destroy the Palestinian national project he has worked on for the past three decades.

He pointed out that the Trump plan allows Israel to maintain overall security control of the entire West Bank, which, in reality, he said "means 100% annexation."

"It means that I, as a Palestinian, will not be able to do anything without their permission," said Erekat. "It means they will control my movements, my planning, my borders and my access to everything.. . . They are trying to suffocate me, bury me and they think I will stand for it?"

Erekat added that "in absence of a political horizon there will be bloodshed, and I have seen far too much blood this past week. It's enough."

---

The Washington Post's Sufian Taha contributed to this report.
I didnt have the strength to push him out, DeAngelo said. He made me. He went with me. It was like in my head, I mean, hes a part of me. I didnt want to do those things. I pushed Jerry out and had a happy life. I did all those things. I destroyed all their lives. So now Ive got to pay the price.
Japan News-Yomiuri

Stand-alone photo: The Kyoto Kanze Association resumed performing June 28, 2020 at the Kyoto Kanze Noh Theater in Kyoto, Japan, after a self-imposed hiatus due to the spread of the coronavirus. The eight jiutai performers who sing the verses took the stage wearing masks, an unusual move in noh, which values tradition and style. After the performance, association President Kurouemon Katayama said: "Opinion was divided on wearing masks, even among those of us in the association. However, the safety of our audience took priority."
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Monday criticized Princeton University for removing Woodrow Wilson's name from its school of public and international affairs and called a push to remove John Wayne's name from a California airport "incredible stupidity."

The president's twin broadsides, in a morning tweet, marked his latest objections to efforts to update names of facilities amid a tense national debate on race relations in the wake of the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police.

In recent weeks, Trump has also expressed objections to removing Confederate statutes, threatening lengthy jail sentences for protesters who forcibly do so, and to renaming military bases that commemorate Confederate generals.

Princeton's board of trustees voted last week to remove Wilson's name, saying the late president's segregationist policies a century ago make him an "especially inappropriate namesake" for a public policy school.

Meanwhile, Orange County, Calif., Democrats passed a resolution last week condemning film legend John Wayne's "racist and bigoted statements" made decades ago and called on the Orange County supervisors to remove his name and statue from the international airport in the county that serves the greater Los Angeles area.

"Can anyone believe that Princeton just dropped the name of Woodrow Wilson from their highly respected policy center," Trump said in his Monday tweet. "Now the Do Nothing Democrats want to take off the name John Wayne from an airport. Incredible stupidity!"

Trump's tweet came amid a flurry of other tweets and retweets, including one that included video of a white couple pointing guns at protesters in St. Louis as they marched by their residence on Sunday as part of an effort to pressure Mayor Lyda Krewson (D) to redirect city funds away from law enforcement.

Trump included no commentary of his own on the tweet, and the White House declined to comment on why he sent it or what message he was trying to convey.

Trump promoted a video Sunday that included a supporter of his shouting "white power" at counterprotesters, calling his supporters at the Florida retirement community where the demonstration occurred "great people."

The tweet of the video was later removed, and a White House spokesman said Trump had not heard the racist language when he sent the morning tweet.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany reiterated that point during a Monday morning appearance on Fox News.

"The president did not hear that phrase in that portion of the video," she said. "When it was signaled to him that this was in there, he took that tweet down."

McEnany said Trump still supports the people who live in the retirement community.

"His point in tweeting out that video was to stand with supporters, who are oftentimes demonized," she said.

---

The Washington Post's Anne Gearan and Lori Aratani contributed to this report.
UPPER THUMB  The Upper Thumb confirmed coronavirus cases increased June 29, according to the state's daily report.

Sanilac County had an increase of two cases, bringing its total to 44 cases and five deaths. Tuscola County saw an increase of one case, bringing its total to 229 cases and 26 deaths. The state is reporting two probable cases and one probable death in Sanilac County and five probable cases in Tuscola County.

Meanwhile, Huron County's coronavirus numbers remained unchanged, according to the report, with a total of 57 cases and three deaths. However, the state is reporting an additional eight probable cases.

In the statewide data, the state saw an increase of 236 cases and four deaths, bringing the total to 63,497 cases and 5,915 deaths. Additionally, the state is reporting 6,726 probable cases and 246 probable deaths.

The state updated its statistics on June 26 to report 51,099 probable recovered cases. The recovered data is based on assumed data of people that had previously tested positive of the virus on or before May 27, and did not die by June 26.

Tuscola and Huron County Health Department's Public Health Officer Ann Hepfer was urging the community to remain vigilant and continue to follow state guidelines in the department's latest press release June 22.

"Today I am warning you not to let your guard down, it is your responsibility to prevent the infection from spreading," Hepfer said. "There are no other tools in our toolbox that will stop the spread of this virus, it is up to all of us to do this. You must take this seriously and act today. This is far from over."

Hepfer said the region is at an increased risk because of the migrant worker population, which help at farms across the area.

"Public health, Michigan Department of Agriculture, and Great Lakes Bay Health Care are working with our local farmers to provide them with educational materials and resources to assist them when they hire migrant farm laborers," she said. "These workers are vital to agriculture and necessary part of their workforce. It is vitally important that you remain diligent in your actions, this means you need to wear your masks in public and practice social distancing."
FILE - In this Jan. 4, 2020 file photo, protesters demonstrate over the U.S. airstrike in Iraq that killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Tehran, Iran. Iran announced on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, that it will execute a man convicted of allegedly providing information to the U.S. and Israel about Soleimani, who was killed in an American drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020. Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili offered little information about the convicted man, beyond giving his name as Mahmoud Mousavi Majd. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File) (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP)
Rome

The world surpassed two sobering coronavirus milestones Sunday  500,000 confirmed deaths, 10 million confirmed cases  and hit another high mark for daily new infections as governments that attempted reopenings continued to backtrack and warn that worse news could be yet to come.

"COVID-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past few weeks," said Gov. Greg Abbott, who allowed businesses to start reopening in early May but on Friday shut down bars and limited restaurant dining amid a spike in cases.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom rolled back reopenings of bars in seven counties, including Los Angeles. He ordered them to close immediately and urged eight other counties to issue local health orders mandating the same.

More Florida beaches will be closing again to avoid further spread of the new coronavirus as officials try to tamp down on large gatherings amid a spike in COVID-19 cases. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said interactions among young people are driving the surge.

"Caution was thrown to the wind and so we are where we are," DeSantis said.

South Africa's health minister warned that the country's current surge of cases is expected to rapidly increase in the coming weeks and push hospitals to the limit. Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said the current rise in infections has come from people who "moved back into the workplace.

New clusters of cases at a Swiss nightclub and in the central English city of Leicester showed that the virus was still circulating widely in Europe, though not with the rapidly growing infection rate seen in parts of the U.S., Latin America and India.

Poland and France, meanwhile, attempted a step toward normalcy as they held elections that had been delayed by the virus.

Wearing mandatory masks, social distancing in lines and carrying their own pens to sign voting registers, French voters cast ballots in a second round of municipal elections. Poles also wore masks and used hand sanitizer, and some in virus-hit areas were told to mail in their ballots.

"I didn't go and vote the first time around because I am elderly and I got scared," said Fanny Barouh as she voted in a Paris school.

In Texas, Abbott appeared with Vice President Mike Pence, who cut campaign events from upcoming visits to Florida and Arizona because of rising virus cases in those states.

Pence praised Abbott for both his decision to reopen the state, and to roll back the reopening plans.

"You flattened the curve here in Texas ... but about two weeks ago something changed," Pence said.

Pence urged people to wear masks when unable to practice social distancing. He and Abbott wore face masks as they entered and left the room, taking them off while speaking to reporters.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, meanwhile, defended the fact that President Donald Trump has rarely worn a mask in public, saying he doesn't have to follow his own administration's guidance because as a leader of the free world he's tested regularly and is in "very different circumstances than the rest of us."

Addressing spikes in reported coronavirus cases in some states, Azar said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that people "have to take ownership" of their own behaviors by social distancing and wearing masks if possible.

A reported tally Sunday from Johns Hopkins University researchers said the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic had topped 500,00.

About 1 in 4 of those deaths  more than 125,000  have been reported in the U.S. The country with the next highest death toll is Brazil, with more than 57,000, or about 1 in 9.

The true death toll from the virus, which first emerged in China late last year, is widely believed to be significantly higher. Experts say that especially early on, many victims died of COVID-19 without being tested for it.

To date, more than 10 million confirmed cases have been reported globally. About a quarter of them have been reported in the U.S.

The World Health Organization announced another daily record in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases across the world  topping over 189,000 in a single 24-hour period. The tally eclipses the previous record a week earlier at over 183,000 cases, showing case counts continue to progress worldwide.

Overall the U.S. still has far and away the most total cases. At more than 2,450,000  roughly twice that of Brazil. The number of actual cases worldwide is much higher.

In the state of Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee put a hold on plans to move counties to the fourth phase of his reopening plan as cases continue to increase. But in Hawaii, the city of Honolulu announced that campgrounds will reopen for the first time in three months with limited permits to ensure social distancing.

Britain's government, meanwhile, is considering whether a local lockdown is needed for the central English city of Leicester amid reports about a spike in COVID-19 among its Asian community. It would be Britain's first local lockdown.

"We have seen flare-ups across the country in recent weeks," Home Secretary Priti Patel told the BBC on Sunday.

Polish voters were casting ballots, in person and by mail, for a presidential election that was supposed to have taken place in May but was chaotically postponed amid the pandemic. President Andrzej Duda, a 48-year-old conservative backed by the nationalist ruling Law and Justice party, is running against 10 other candidates as he seeks a second five-year term.

Iwona Goge, 79, was encouraged to see so many people voting in Warsaw.

"It's bad. Poland is terribly divided and people are getting discouraged," she said.

French voters were choosing mayors and municipal councilors in Paris and 5,000 towns and cities in a second round of municipal elections held under strict hygiene rules. Key battlegrounds include Paris, where the next mayor will preside over the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Italy was honoring its dead later Sunday with an evening Requiem concert in hard-hit Bergamo province. The ceremony in the onetime epicenter of the European outbreak came a day after Italy registered the lowest daily tally of COVID-19 deaths in nearly four months: eight.

European leaders were taking no chances in tamping down new clusters. German authorities renewed a lockdown in a western region of about 500,000 people after about 1,300 slaughterhouse workers tested positive.

Africa's confirmed cases of COVID-19 continued to climb to a new high of more than 371,000, including 9,484 deaths, according to figures released Sunday by the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hours after President Donald Trump's incendiary post last month about sending the military to Minnesota protests, Trump called Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg.

The post put the company in a difficult position, Zuckerberg told Trump, according to people familiar with the discussions. The same message was hidden by Twitter, the strongest action ever taken against a presidential post.

To Facebook's executives in Washington, the post didn't appear to violate its policies, which allows leaders to post about government use of force if the message is intended to warn the public - but it came right up to the line. The deputies had already contacted the White House earlier in the day with an urgent plea to tweak the language of the post or simply delete it, the people said.

Eventually, Trump posted again, saying his comments were supposed to be a warning after all. Zuckerberg then went online to explain his rationale for keeping the post up, noting that Trump's subsequent explanation helped him make his decision.

The frenzied push-pull was the latest incident in a five-year struggle by Facebook to accommodate the boundary-busting ways of Trump. The president has not changed his rhetoric since he was a candidate, but the company has continually altered its policies and its products in ways certain to outlast his presidency.

Facebook has constrained its efforts against false and misleading news, adopted a policy explicitly allowing politicians to lie, and even altered its news feed algorithm to neutralize claims that it was biased against conservative publishers, according to more than a dozen former and current employees and previously unreported documents obtained by The Washington Post. One of the documents shows that it began as far back as 2015, when as a candidate Trump posted a video calling for a ban of Muslims entering the United States. Facebook's executives declined to remove it, setting in motion an exception for political discourse.

The concessions to Trump have led to a transformation of the world's information battlefield. They paved the way for a growing list of digitally savvy politicians to repeatedly push out misinformation and incendiary political language to billions of people. It has complicated the public understanding of major events such as the coronavirus pandemic and the protest movement, as well as contributed to polarization.

And as Trump's power grew, the fear of the president's wrath pushed Facebook into more deferential behavior toward its growing number of right-leaning users, tilting the balance of news people see on the network, according to the current and former employees.

Facebook is now confronting a mounting advertiser boycott that has pushed down its stock price as companies demand stricter policies against hate speech. Starbucks became the latest on Sunday to say it would suspend social media advertising.

Facebook is also facing a slow-burning crisis of morale, with more than 5,000 employees denouncing the company's decision to leave up Trump's post that said, "when the looting starts, the shooting starts."

Bowing to those pressures on Friday, Zuckerberg announced policies aimed at better policing content on the site. That includes affixing labels on posts that violate hate speech or other policies - even on those from political leaders.

But the company said the post wouldn't have qualified.

As the United States heads into another presidential election while facing a pandemic and civil unrest, the latitude given to Trump may afford him an advantage. In recent months, he has used Facebook and other platforms to tout misleading information about coronavirus cures, election fraud and the motives of protesters, frequently targeting a left-wing movement as a cause of violence without citing evidence.

It also places Facebook in growing conflict with its counterparts in Silicon Valley. Twitter has labeled several presidential tweets as abusive and misleading, and social media platform Snapchat curtailed the reach of the president's account.

"The value of being in favor with people in power outweighs almost every other concern for Facebook," said David Thiel, a Facebook security engineer who resigned in March after his colleagues refused to remove a post he believed constituted "dehumanizing speech" by Brazil's president.

Facebook says the use of incendiary populist language predates social media. Nick Clegg, Facebook's vice president for global affairs and communications, said in a statement that populism wasn't invented in Silicon Valley, pointing to centuries of political history before social media companies' existence.

"From the Arab Spring to local candidates challenging political incumbents, social media has also helped to open up politics, not favor one side over the other," Clegg added. "Studies have shown the drivers of populism are complex and cannot be reduced to the use of social media, in fact political polarization has fallen in many countries with high internet use."

Facebook declined to make Zuckerberg available for an interview, though it pointed out that Zuckerberg opposed Trump when his Muslim immigration ban went into effect. The White House declined to comment.

Zuckerberg talks frequently about making choices that stand the test of time, preserving the values of Facebook and subsidiaries WhatsApp and Instagram for all of its nearly 3 billion monthly users for many years into the future - even when those decisions are unpopular or controversial.

At one point, however, he wanted a different approach to Trump.

- - -

Before the 2016 election, the company largely saw its role in politics as courting political leaders to buy ads and broadcast their views, according to people familiar with the company's thinking.

But that started to change when Trump's candidacy picked up speed in 2015. In December of that year, he posted a video in which he said he wanted to ban all Muslims from entering the United States. The video went viral on Facebook and was an early indication of the tone of his candidacy.

Outrage over the video led to a companywide town hall in which employees decried the video as hate speech that violated the company's policies. And in meetings about the issue, senior leaders and policy experts said the video was hate speech, according to three former employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. Zuckerberg expressed in meetings that he was personally disgusted by it and wanted it removed, the people said. Some of these details were previously reported.

At one of the meetings, Monika Bickert, Facebook's vice president for policy, drafted a document to address the video and shared it with leaders including Zuckerberg's top deputy, chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg, and Vice President of Global Policy Joel Kaplan, the company's most prominent Republican.

The document, which is previously unreported and obtained by The Post, listed four options. They included removing the post for hate speech violations, making a one-time exception for it, creating a broad exemption for political discourse and even weakening the company's community guidelines for everyone, allowing comments such as "No blacks allowed" and "Get the gays out of San Francisco."

Facebook spokesman Tucker Bounds said the latter option was never seriously considered.

The document also listed possible "PR Risks" for each. For example, lowering the standards overall would raise questions such as, "Would Facebook have provided a platform for Hitler?" Bickert wrote. An opening for political speech across the board, on the other hand, risked opening the floodgates for even more hateful "copycat" comments.

Ultimately, Zuckerberg was talked out of his desire to remove the post in part by Kaplan, according to the people. Instead, the executives created an allowance that newsworthy political discourse would be taken into account when making decisions about whether posts violated community guidelines.

That allowance was not formally written into the policies, though it informed ad hoc decision-making about political speech for the next several years, according to the people. When a formal newsworthiness policy was announced in October 2016, in a blog post by Kaplan, the company did not discuss Trump's role in shaping it.

In an interview, Bickert said the company ultimately made a call to maintain Trump's Muslim ban video because executives interpreted Trump's comment to mean that the then-candidate was not speaking about all Muslims, but rather advocating for a policy position on immigration as part of a newsworthy political debate. She said she did not recall the document where the options were presented.

Facebook's Bounds added that the "newsworthiness" policy was added in 2016 after content reviewers removed a photo of a naked girl fleeing a napalm attack during the Vietnam War. "Our goal was to recognize the essential public benefit of preserving content that in other contexts wouldn't be allowed," Bounds said. "In the case of elected officials, it also ensures that they will be held to account for their words," so people can judge for themselves.

In spring 2016, Zuckerberg was talked out of his desire to write a post specifically condemning Trump for his calls to build a wall between the United States and Mexico, after advisers in Washington warned that it could look like choosing sides, according to Dex Torricke-Barton, one of Zuckerberg's former speechwriters.

The political speech allowance ended up setting the stage for how the company would handle not only Trump but populist leaders around the world who have posted content that test these boundaries, such as Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil and Narendra Modi in India.

"Though [Facebook] has cracked down on misinformation, the most problematic influencers are politicians," said Claire Wardle, U.S. director of First Draft, an organization dedicated to fighting misinformation that has a partnership with Facebook to fact-check news articles. "You can do all the fact checking in the world, but these influencers have a disproportionate impact."

Trump presented a unique challenge, she added. "Until then, no one would have considered a president who would have said those things."

- - -

After the election, it became clear that Russia had used social media to sow disinformation. Facebook soon afterward became a frequent target of the president's ire. He tweeted that the social media giant was "anti-Trump" and trying to undermine his victory.

At the same time, GOP leaders stepped up criticism that platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, with leadership ranks full of liberals, sought to limit the reach of right-leaning voices.

"There's no credible research supporting Trump's claim that social platforms suppress conservative content, but he still succeeded in getting them to revise their rules for him," said former Facebook spokesman Nu Wexler, who left the company in 2018.

As Facebook scrambled to address foreign interference and misinformation, its executives in the nation's capital argued that caution and deference were necessary to survive the new political environment, according to three people familiar with the company's thinking.

Facebook's security engineers in December 2016 presented findings from a broad internal investigation, known as Project P, to senior leadership on how false and misleading news reports spread so virally during the election. When Facebook's security team highlighted dozens of pages that had peddled false news reports, senior leaders in Washington, including Kaplan, opposed shutting them down immediately, arguing that doing so would disproportionately affect conservatives, according to people familiar with the company's thinking. Ultimately, the company shut down far fewer pages than were originally proposed while it began developing a policy to handle these issues.

A year later, Facebook considered how to overhaul its scrolling news feed, the screen most users see when they open the site. As part of the change to help limit misinformation, it changed its news feed algorithm to focus more on posts by friends and family instead of publishers.

In meetings about the change, Kaplan questioned whether the revamped algorithm would hurt right-leaning publishers more than others, according to three people familiar with the company's thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. When the data showed it would - conservative leaning outlets were pushing more content that violated its policies, the company had found - he successfully pushed for changes to make the new algorithm to be what he considered more evenhanded in its impact, the people said.

- - -

With the 2020 election on the horizon, Facebook and Zuckerberg's hands-off approach to free speech was leaving it increasingly isolated in Silicon Valley.

In May 2019, Zuckerberg, citing freedom of speech, refused to take down a doctored video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., that made her appear drunk.

That summer, company leaders held a meeting to revisit its newsworthiness exception, which until then had been determined on a case-by-case basis, with the most controversial calls made by Zuckerberg. Internally, some were unclear how far that leeway extended, according to two people.

Clegg, the company's new head of global affairs and communications and a former British deputy prime minister, announced the outcome of that meeting at a speech in Washington in September 2019. Aside from speech that causes violence or real-world harm, Facebook would allow politicians to express themselves virtually unchecked on social media. Facebook's network of independent fact-checkers, which had been established as a key part of the company's response to disinformation, would not evaluate their claims, and the community guidelines would largely not apply to politicians.

Facebook did not want to be an arbiter of truth in political debate, he said, echoing Zuckerberg's long-standing position.

The speech angered some employees, triggering more than 250 of them to sign a petition disagreeing with the decision because they thought it gave politicians a pass.

One former executive, Yael Eisenstat, who worked to improve the political ads process, wrote in The Post that the controversy was "the biggest test of whether [Facebook] will ever truly put society and democracy ahead of profit and ideology."

She said that she routinely experienced how the company's efforts at integrity were often undermined by "the few voices who ultimately decided the company's overall direction."

Meanwhile, in October, as Facebook faced more potential regulation and political troubles, Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan went to the White House for a private dinner with Trump, a part of the chief executive officer's effort to cultivate personal relationships in Washington.

- - -

As the pandemic and civil unrest dominated the first half of 2020, Trump continued to turn to social media platforms to spread misinformation. He touted the unproven drug hydroxychloroquine as a possible cure for the coronavirus and claimed without evidence that the extreme-left-wing antifa movement was behind the violence at George Floyd protests.

Meanwhile, Facebook employees began challenging the company's decisions.

Two months before Trump's looting post, the Brazilian president posted about the country's indigenous population, saying, "Indians are undoubtedly changing. They are increasingly becoming human beings just like us."

Thiel, the security engineer, and other employees argued internally that it violated the company's internal guidelines against "dehumanizing speech." They were referring to Zuckerberg's own words while testifying before Congress in October in which he said dehumanizing speech "is the first step toward inciting" violence. In internal correspondence, Thiel was told that it didn't qualify as racism - and may have even been a positive reference to integration.

Thiel quit in disgust.

In May, after years of internal debate of its own, Twitter chose to go in the opposite direction. It labeled two misleading tweets by Trump about mail-in ballots with a fact-check label.

Trump responded two days later with an executive order that could hurt social media companies by removing a key exception that limits their liability for content posted on their sites.

The next day, Trump tweeted about the Minnesota protests. Twitter quickly labeled the tweet for violating rules about glorifying violence, and Snapchat stopped promoting Trump's account the following week. YouTube told The Post that it holds politicians to the same standards as everyone else.

Facebook, on the other hand, chose to haggle with the White House, asking for a deletion or a change, said the people. Axios first reported the call, which Facebook's Bounds confirmed to The Post.

As employees raged on internal message boards and externally on Twitter, Zuckerberg told workers that Facebook's policies might change again in light of Trump's post. The company had rules allowing for "state use of force," he said, but they were vague and didn't encompass the possibility that such pronouncements could signal harmful aggression. Bickert's team planned policy meetings for the weeks ahead.

In June, Facebook removed Trump campaign ads with Nazi symbolism after an initial internal assessment that found that he ads did not violate the company's polices, according to documents viewed by The Post. In meetings, senior executives argued that not removing them would be perceived as pandering too much to the president, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

Last week, the advertiser boycott picked up steam. Hershey, Verizon, Unilever, Coca-Cola and others said they were temporarily pulling ads.

On Friday, Zuckerberg told employees in a live-streamed town hall that he was changing the company's policy to label problematic newsworthy content that violated the company's policies as Twitter does, a major concession amid the rising tide of criticism. He also said in the most explicit language thus far that the company would remove posts by politicians that incite violence and suppress voting. Still, civil rights leaders said his assertions didn't go far enough.

"There are no exceptions for politicians in any of the policies that I'm announcing today," Zuckerberg said.
The decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand the list of people at greatest risk for COVID-19 is both overdue and greatly welcome, according to some local experts.

The CDC announced last week it had made changes such as removing a specific age threshold for those most at risk. The CDC previously stated that those at risk included people 65 and older. Now the guidelines state the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk.

Other changes included adding pregnancy, asthma, high blood pressure, and other conditions to the list of factors that increase a persons risk of severe illness. The CDC also changed its standards for risk due to obesity. Previously, those with a body mass index of 40 or higher were thought to be at higher risk, but now the BMI threshold has been lowered to 30.

The broadening of the CDC guidelines should have happened sooner, but are extremely important for people with various conditions to be aware of, said Michael Urban, director of occupational therapy at the University of New Haven.

In particular, he agreed with expanding the conditions to younger populations with various medical conditions, and not just those over 65.

Dr. Gregory Buller, chairman of medicine and associate chief medical officer at Bridgeport Hospital, also cheered the removal of the age threshold. Buller said he hopes the changes raise awareness about how younger people with underlying medical conditions are vulnerable to serious illness from COVID-19.

Its something weve experienced anecdotally at the hospital, he said.

However, Buller and Urban disagree on lowering the BMI threshold for obesity from 40 to 30. Buller said it is a real significant change, which should ring a lot of alarm bells, as many Americans fall into that category.

But Urban said hes long taken issue with using BMI as the standard for determining obesity. BMI is a measure of body fat, based on a persons height and weight. Over the years, some experts have criticized the BMI as an inaccurate measure, as sometimes people with high muscle mass can have a higher BMI, but arent necessarily obese.

BMI in my opinion is not helpful as, per the government standards, I am considered overweight, Urban said. However, since I have more muscle mass, which weighs more than body fat, even my own doctors do not consider that a useful guideline.

Urban said he believes measuring waist circumference is a more accurate indicator of whether someone is overweight or obese.

Meanwhile, the expansion of the guidelines means more people need to protect themselves from potential infection. Urban said people should continue with precautions such as physical distancing, mask wearing and frequent hand-washing.

Ultimately, I wish these would have come out sooner and only hope that the youth of America will note their social responsibility as we all have to play a role in controlling the spread of the virus, Urban said.
A man was struck and killed while trying to move a tarp off of a roadway Sunday night in northeast Harris County.

The man, believed to be between 50 and 60 years old, was pushing a cart in the 4200 block of Langley Road, just east of the Eastex Freeway, around 10:20 p.m. He appeared to have been holding a tarp in the middle of the roadway when the 68-year-old driver of a Chevrolet Colorado pickup struck him, according to Harris County Sheriffs Office Sgt. Dashana Cheek-McNeal.
As America deals with a global pandemic, our national epidemic - gun violence - remains just as relentless.

Last month was an especially bullet-riddled May in this country. There were 60 shootings that injured or killed at least four people each. Those bursts of gunfire left more than 250 injured and 40 dead in one month, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

That count doesn't include 200 people who were killed in incidents that involved fewer victims or who died by suicide that month. Meanwhile, the homicide rate in major cities across America stayed steady or increased.

Surprised? Of course. Because gun violence only generates big news when it involves a mass shooting, those Hollywood-scale massacres when schools, churches, synagogues, concerts or movie theaters are packed with people who become victims.

This time last year, everyone was talking about the 12 people killed by a co-worker turned mass shooter at the Virginia Beach municipal complex.

In truth, this is not the way most of the 40,000 killed by bullets annually die. And the folks who pushed for gun reform in Virginia know this.

We slaughter others and ourselves using guns on a daily basis in less public methods - domestic violence, suicides, accidents, arguments - that are immune to pandemic rules about social distancing or large gatherings.

"The pandemic is not going to stop anything," Daphne Austin, founder of the group Mothers of Murdered Sons & Daughters, told a Baltimore TV station. The number of homicides in that city has outpaced last year's total, even amid the shutdown.

While much of the nation has seen big drops in crime overall, gun violence has shown some alarming spikes. Not much of a surprise, given the surge of weekend warriors who stocked up on guns as soon as pandemic shutdowns started.

Even scientists found that "social distancing and stay-at-home orders may not decrease the rates of gun violence; in fact, the coronavirus pandemic is associated with increased rates," according to a study on coronavirus-related violence published by the Elsevier Public Health Emergency Collection.

New York, Baltimore and Chicago all saw a bloodier start to 2020 than previous years, the study found. Only Los Angeles had a drop in shootings through early April of this year.

"While multiple factors likely influence the rising number of gun incidents, unemployment, increased alcohol consumption, and increased firearm purchases are possible contributing factors," the researchers wrote.

In other words, America's gun problem is complex and close to home. And that brings us back to Virginia.

Although the commonwealth is getting a lot of scrutiny as the former seat of the Confederacy, its new legislature passed a package of gun laws that go into effect this week. They're not really sexy.

No one is sending out armored vehicles to take everyone's guns away, as gun rights lobbyists and lazy and frightened politicians cried they would.

They're not even banning the assault weapons used in some of the nation's most horrific slaughters.

What's becoming law in Virginia this week is common sense.

Hard to believe that actions such as reporting a stolen gun, safely storing weapons at a child-care facility or keeping loaded weapons stored safely away from your own children are things that need to be legislated.

But those are the ways that way too many people - children especially - have died by gunfire.

Another law is going to make it mandatory that folks served with a permanent protective order give up their guns. That's a no-brainer.

And the new laws will also expand background checks and limit the number of handgun purchases to one per month.

The background check may have kept Brenda Moss's son, Shawn Moss, from being shredded by 17 bullets in Lynchburg six years ago.

"My son was shot and killed by a convicted felon who should never have had access to a gun," Moss, a fiery and beloved speaker who volunteers with Moms Demand Action, wrote in an opinion article for People magazine on Mother's Day.

She saw the danger of gun violence escalating as the shutdowns began in the spring.

"In the midst of this unprecedented coronavirus pandemic and the surge in gun sales it has brought, we need our laws to meet the moment," Moss wrote. "We need a federal law requiring background checks on all gun sales, similar to the one Moms Demand Action volunteers just worked so hard to pass in my home state of Virginia."

Virginia will also join at least 17 other states that have red-flag laws. This will let a judge issue a temporary emergency order to keep a gun out of the hands of someone who is experiencing a crisis and deemed a risk to themselves or others.

It's the safety line sent to families locked down with a drinker, an abuser or anyone who is struggling with mental illness who also has a gun - the very recipe for most of the homicides that don't make headlines. Or the first paragraph of the horrific shootings that do.

A year after the Virginia Beach shooting, it's time to revisit the gun violence debate by taking a look at Virginia, and see the common-sense laws they have passed.

They could be the vaccine that our ongoing bloody epidemic of gun violence needs.
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Cahill asked Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank to use his influence to keep public officials silent, warning that if they continue to discuss it publicly, he likely would have to pull (the trials) out of Hennepin County and they need to be aware of that. But he also made it clear that he wants defense attorneys and Floyd family members to stay out of the press, too.
5Gs Value to Industries: China Mobile Ningbo Zhejiang's 5G+ Smart Port

Approximately 90% of global trade is carried by the shipping industry, and traditional ports are highly dependent on human proximal operation of container cranes and other machinery. With shortcomings in work and cost efficiency, it is becoming difficult for this approach to keep up with the rapid development of global shipping demands.

Fortunately, the arrival of 5G is providing the necessary means and pressing the "fast forward button" for the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, also benefiting the port industry. At the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, China Mobile Ningbo has worked with several partners to implement a number of innovative applications throughout the smart port workflow using the 5G industrial private network. China Mobile Ningbo aims to fully utilize 5G and other digital technologies to upgrade the port into a smart one, and to create a global exemplary commercial use model of 5G+ Smart Port.

Xu Mengqiang, General Manager of China Mobile Ningbo, Zhejiang, recently spoke at the online 5G+ Better World Summit.

Building the 5G+ smart port

The Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is the only port in the world with an annual throughput of over 1.1 billion tons, and it has held the title of the world's busiest port for 11 consecutive years. Given its recent transformation from a large port to one of the worlds most important, the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port needs to address challenges in three aspects. First, in terms of efficiency, the port faces great shipping pressure, low customs clearance efficiency, and difficulties in collaboration. Second, in terms of costs, cargo handling costs are increasing year-on-year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and competition in the industry. Third, in terms of safety and security, personal safety, equipment safety, and information security all need be improved.

In September 2018, China Mobile Zhejiang and Zhejiang Seaport signed a 5G smart port strategic cooperation agreement. At the 5G+ Action Promotion Conference in May, China Mobile Zhejiang, Zhejiang Seaport, Huawei, and Zhenhua Heavy Industries signed a strategic cooperation agreement on 5G-powered smart port applications in the Meishan Port Area.

According to Xu Mengqiang, through explorations and practices, China Mobile Ningbo has defined a 365 approach to developing a 5G-powered smart port. 3 represents its three goals: increasing work efficiency, reducing labor cost, and improving security management. 6 represents its six capabilities in artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, cloud computing, big data, edge computing, and security. 5 represents its five scenarios: remote control of rubber-tired gantry cranes, horizontal transport of container trucks, bridge crane intelligent tallying, assisted berthing, and integrated scheduling of port operations.

With the 365 approach, we are rapidly transforming Ningbo-Zhoushan Port into a 5G-powered smart port and making it one of China Mobile's leading demonstration projects and model use cases, said Xu.

China Mobile Ningbo was among the first in China to deploy 5G macro base stations in harbor areas. It has built a 5G network that covers the five harbor areas, 35 berths, and 77 container yards at Ningbo. To leverage 5Gs core capabilities, the operator has deployed Chinas first mobile edge computing (MEC) server for ports and is among the worlds first to utilize 5G slicing. This addresses the critical requirements for low latency and large video uplink bandwidth for remotely controlling rubber-tired gantry cranes.

Facing the risks and challenges of 5G infrastructure and business changes, the operator built a service-centric and risk-informed end-to-end security management and control system to ensure security. Its Smart Port MEC Security Application project was incorporated in GSMA's Powered-by-SA Use Cases.

China Mobile Ningbo also provided self-service purchase services for industry customers. Atomic-level capabilities are encapsulated into a standard set of API-based slice products on China Mobile Zhejiangs 5G online store. Users can select the slices they need, customize specifications, place orders with one click, and activate services online. In addition, users can obtain network SLA monitoring data in real time on the self-service page.

Innovative applications highlight 5Gs value to industries

Traditional gantry cranes require on-site operation, which is inefficient and difficult to manage, and features a poor work environment. In April 2019, China Mobile Ningbo developed China's first 5G remote control application for rubber-tired gantry cranes. This application enables real-time backhaul of 16-channel HD videos and allows gantry cranes to be controlled remotely. In May 2020, six 5G-powered, remotely controlled gantry crane clusters entered production. This was the largest project of its kind in China, and the measured efficiency improved by over 260%. Next, they will promote the development of industry standards for 5G rubber-tired gantry crane remote control systems.

Container trucks in the port areas need to run around the clock, and traditional trucks have high requirements for drivers. Drowsy driving poses a high safety risk. In May 2020, China Mobile Ningbo deployed 5G-powered Beidou reference stations, utilizing 5G, V2X, and high-precision positioning technologies to transfer Meishan Harbor Area's existing trucks into self-driving trucks. They also built an end-to-end integrated network covering container trucks, mobile port equipment, and roads to support autonomous driving. Once these trucks are mass deployed, efficiency will be improved by over 40% and labor costs will be reduced by over 50%.

Digital, automated tallying is a key part of any smart port. In December 2019, China Mobile Ningbo worked with Ningbo-Zhoushan Port Communication Co., Ltd. to backhaul HD videos of quay cranes in real time with 5G, AI, and cloud computing technologies. This enabled container numbers and container damage to be automatically identified, improving container identification accuracy to at least 95%.

These explorations and practices are just phased achievements of China Mobile Ningbos efforts to build a 5G+ smart port. According to Xu, future smart port applications will go beyond scenarios like container yards and berths to become an integrated network of solutions for the ground, sea, sky, and even space. China Mobile Zhejiang will work with its partners to continuously drive smart port upgrades through new technologies and applications.

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Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Partly cloudy early with thunderstorms becoming likely during the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High near 90F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 64F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
That could explain how the black holes in this collision grew so big, she said. The black hole that emerged from this collision and left a fiery trail through the accretion disk was at least 100 times as massive as the sun. But 50 solar masses is the weight limit for black holes formed directly from dead stars, meaning that the two holes that collided in May 2019 were right at the limit and probably even bigger. So they didnt result directly from a stellar collapse, she said. Rather, they probably formed through a series of ever-larger mergers.
New York City is one week away from entering Phase Three of reopening after the coronavirus lockdown, which means that New Yorkers may soon be able to drink and dine inside of restaurants and bars, visit nail and tanning salons and tattoo parlors. However, on Monday, both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that they will be reconsidering the inclusion of indoor eating and drinking and the reopening of malls in Phase Three.

It has become apparent that many new coronavirus cases around the country have stemmed from outings to restaurants and bars, giving the governor and the mayor second thoughts about New York Citys notoriously cramped bars and restaurants to reopen.

"We have a week before New York City enters the next phase and we have numbers every day  but malls and indoor dining are things that Im concerned about and we may consider slowing them down for next week," Cuomo told NY1. "I would not want to roll back anything weve done. I want to continue to move forward but we may move forward with caution."

The mayor was not the first elected official in New York City to raise a warning flag. New York City Council Health Committee Chair Mark Levine tweeted his opposition to allowing indoor service as currently planned for July 6 at bars and restaurants. On Monday morning, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer tweeted that he had told Cuomo of his concerns about indoor dining.

I had a constructive conversation with @NYGovCuomo this morning expressing my concerns about the health risks of allowing indoor dining to reopen July 6th.



Instead, we need to continue expanding outdoor optionsthats the safest way to do business at this time.  Scott M. Stringer (@NYCComptroller) June 29, 2020

The evidence is mounting. New York City simply can not ignore it. We can not open bars/restaurants for indoor service as currently planned for July 6. https://t.co/geTZ0JVRdg  Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) June 28, 2020

"We're at a watershed moment for the city of New York. We have to get it right, de Blasio said during a press conference. We're going to make adjustments all the time and we'll be open to you about when we need to make adjustments. But we're also going to be very open about the progress and what we need to do. When we see a problem, like concerns about indoor dining, we have to address it."

After quickly reopening despite the threat of COVID-19, states such as Texas, Idaho and Florida have already begun shutting down their bars and restaurants to try to curtail further coronavirus infections. On Monday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced that the state would no longer allow its restaurants to reopen for indoor service come Thursday, after outdoor bars and restaurants became crowded with maskless patrons over the weekend.

Cuomo said that he expects to have a decision made regarding indoor dining by Wednesday. However, restaurants have already opened up for indoor eating throughout most of the state. Other regions have been reopening at a much faster rate than New York City, which suffered from the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the state and the country. It is too soon to know how much of an effect indoor dining may have on the rest of the states residents as it can take two weeks for symptoms of the virus to show.

Dr. Danielle Ompad, an associate professor of epidemiology at New York Universitys School of Global Public Health, told City & State that unless New Yorkers learn how to properly social distance and wear their masks, they should forget about eating indoors  or even outdoors. While its impossible to eat or drink while wearing a mask, Ompad says that if youre going to a bar or restaurant you need to keep your mask on except for when actually eating or drinking. This is a social contract, Ompad said. How are you going to go to a bar and not wear a mask? If you cannot handle your liquor to the point that you don't use a mask, you shouldnt be in a bar right now. If we don't cooperate with these (social distancing and mask wearing) guidelines were either going to have to shut down the economy once again or we'll just keep opening up more businesses and more people are going to die, she continued. Either scenario is not a great scenario, so we have to cooperate.

Studies have shown that the likelihood of contracting or transmitting the coronavirus is far higher indoors, especially during large events like weddings, than when individuals are outdoors. However, even dining outside has become the subject of scrutiny lately as more and morephotos taken around the city have shown that many outdoor diners and bar-goers are without masks and are not six feet apart.

Though one is less likely to contract or transmit the virus outside, it is still a possibility if individuals do not maintain proper social distancing measures or are without masks. Its important for us to remember that the risk of COVID-19 remains active but it is significantly decreased when were outside, and especially when were 6 feet away, and especially when were wearing a mask, Dustin Duncan, an associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health, recently told City & State.
This month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Acts workplace protections extend to gay and transgender workers. The landmark decision, which bars employers from firing workers for being gay or transgender, was written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, an appointee of President Donald Trump, surprising advocates on both sides of the issue. Trumps other Supreme Court appointee, Brett Kavanaugh, argued that such a change should have been left to Congress, but acknowledged that the LGBTQ community has advanced powerful policy arguments and can take pride in today's result.

Indeed, the victory reflects growing acceptance of the LGBTQ community. In another sign of changing attitudes, two House candidates in New York  Ritchie Torres in the South Bronx and Mondaire Jones in the Hudson Valley  were leading in their Democratic primaries last week and are poised to become the first gay Black members of Congress.

But while the LGBTQ community has won a string of policy battles, others remain hotly contested. On the front lines of these battles are many remarkable individuals who are standing up for their rights. The 2020 Pride Power 100 list recognizes the most influential figures in the LGBTQ community here in New York.

1. Corey Johnson

Speaker, New York City Council

Corey Johnson - New York City Council .jpg Alt Text: New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson Title Text: New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson Caption: New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson Description: New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson Image Credit: New York City Council

For the second year in a row, New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson tops our list of LGBTQ power players. His star has only risen amid New York City Mayor Bill de Blasios perfunctory presidential run, and hes a top contender in the 2021 mayoral race. He continues his record as a prolific legislator and a foil to de Blasio on mass transit, police reform and the citys coronavirus response.

2. Brad Hoylman

State Senator

brad-hoylman-815-0725.jpg Caption: Sen. Brad Hoylman. Image Credit: All photos by Celeste Sloman

Since Democrats won the state Senate in 2018, state Sen. Brad Hoylman has been a prolific legislator. The Manhattanite, who had to travel to California with his husband for the births of his two daughters through gestational surrogacy, was behind the successful push to legalize the practice in New York through this years Child-Parent Security Act. He also spearheaded an extension of the Child Victims Act due to the coronavirus pandemic.

3. Sean Patrick Maloney

U.S. Representative, New Yorks 18th Congressional District

Sean-Patrick-Maloney---U.S.-House.jpg Alt Text: Sean Patrick Maloney Title Text: Sean Patrick Maloney Description: Sean Patrick Maloney Image Credit: U.S. House of Representatives

The first openly gay member of New Yorks congressional delegation, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney had a prominent role in the House of Representatives impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, who won a narrow majority in Maloneys Hudson Valley district in 2016. The Democrat faces what is expected to be an easy re-election campaign this November, having outraised Republican challenger Chele Chiavacci Farley by more than $1 million.

4. Paul Feinman

Associate Judge, New York State Court of Appeals

Paul-Feinman---NY-Court-of-Appeals.jpg Alt Text: Paul Feinman Title Text: Paul Feinman Description: Paul Feinman Image Credit: NY Court of Appeals

The first openly gay judge on New York states highest court, Paul Feinman has in the last year weighed in on everything from New Yorks recent rent law to the ever-expanding gig economy and disability rights. A native of Long Island and a Columbia University alum, the progressive judge is known for ruling against a firefighter attempting to stop the construction of a mosque near ground zero.

5. Emma Wolfe

Chief of Staff to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio

Emma Wolfe - Celeste Sloman.jpg Alt Text: Chief of Staff to Bill de Blasio Emma Wolfe Title Text: Chief of Staff to Bill de Blasio Emma Wolfe Caption: Chief of Staff to Bill de Blasio Emma Wolfe Description: Chief of Staff to Bill de Blasio Emma Wolfe Image Credit: Celeste Sloman

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio isnt just a lame duck  the second-term incumbent is under attack on all sides, from police unions to protesters  and even his own staff. In this time of tribulation at City Hall, Emma Wolfe remains a valuable and trusted adviser who also enjoys the respect of other political players who dont always get along with the mayor.

6. Mitchell Katz

President and CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals

mitchell-katz-health-hospitals-633x504.jpg Alt Text: Mitchell Katz Title Text: Mitchell Katz Image Credit: NYC Health + Hospitals

As head of NYC Health + Hospitals, Dr. Mitchell Katz oversees the largest municipal health system in the country. He became a central figure in New York Citys coronavirus response when Mayor Bill de Blasio tapped him to oversee the citys contact tracing efforts. He was previously director of the Los Angeles County Health Agency and director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

7. Ritchie Torres

New York City Council Member

Ritchie Torres - Emil Cohen_New York City Council.jpg Alt Text: City Council Member Ritchie Torres Title Text: City Council Member Ritchie Torres Caption: City Council Member Ritchie Torres Description: City Council Member Ritchie Torres Image Credit: Emil Cohen/New York City Council

New York City Council Member Ritchie Torres was at the center of perhaps the most closely watched congressional race in New York this month  the South Bronx Democratic primary in which Torres and fellow City Council Member Ruben Diaz Sr., a lawmaker known for his anti-gay comments, were widely seen as the leading candidates. On Election Day, Torres was leading by double digits, although results wont be final until absentee ballots are counted.

8. Donna Lieberman

Executive Director, New York Civil Liberties Union

Donna Lieberman - Jena Cumbo.jpeg Image Credit: Jena Cumbo

The New York Civil Liberties Unions Donna Lieberman is a tireless advocate for criminal justice reform. She pushed successfully for New York to repeal 50-a, which allowed police to conceal misconduct records. She founded NYCLUs reproductive rights program  the only legal organization in the state dedicated to abortion rights. She helped represent Edie Windsor in her 2013 lawsuit against the Defense of Marriage Act, paving the way for same-sex marriage.

9. Darren Walker

President, Ford Foundation

Darren Walker - Ford Foundation.jpg Image Credit: Ford Foundation

Backed by the Ford Foundations $13 billion, Darren Walker has tackled inequality and racial justice since becoming the organizations first openly gay leader in 2013. Walker called for a more just America following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. In New York, he has served on the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform and the Mayoral Advisory Commission on City Art, Monuments and Markers.

10. Kiara St. James

Co-founder and Executive Director, New York Transgender Advocacy Group

Kiara-St.James-Submitted.png Image Credit: Submitted

One of New York City's most visible transgender activists, Kiara St. James co-founded the New York Transgender Advocacy Group, or NYTAG, and serves as the trans-led organizations executive director. Instrumental in passing New York states 2019 Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Law, St. James has since turned her attention to boosting civic engagement and voter registration and encouraging transgender and gender non-conforming New Yorkers to run for elected office.
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White House press secretaries make a good salaryaround $183,000 a year, almost half the presidents pay. But taxpayers are getting a bargain in Kayleigh McEnany, who has taken on two roles: first, as the presidents spokesperson, and second, as a media critic, offering unsolicited but carefully researched and rehearsed critiques of news coverage writ large.

McEnany, a Harvard Law graduate who got her start as a combative Trump supporter on CNN, has been press secretary for less than three months. Its dicey to make a lot of predictions about her future, given that she is the fourth person to hold this job in three-and-a-half years, succeeding Sean Spicer (182 days), Sarah Huckabee Sanders (705 days), and Stephanie Grisham (281 days). (All of them lasted longer than 11-day White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci.)

McEnany got off to a promising start with her first briefing on May 1: I will never lie to you. You have my word on that, she told reporters in the White House briefing room. And then, at the same briefing, McEnany made clear that she, like Trump, sees herself as an assignment editor. She was asked about Michael Flynns efforts to pull back on his guilty plea for making false statements to the FBI. She responded by telling the press corps that they were, in essence, asking the wrong question, and should instead focus its attention on an FBI agents notes (Whats our goal? Truth/Admission or to get him to lie?) written before the Flynn interview.

Here was her admonition to the press:

I would encourage the media to cover it, because Ive watched a lot of your networks, Ive read a lot of your papers. Ive seen a whole lot of scant information about Michael Flynn, when there was a whole lot of speculation about Russia, Russia, Russia

Fair enough. A press secretary isnt doing her job right if she isnt trying to divert reporters attention from unfavorable stories.

But within days, McEnany started tacking in a different direction. Not content just to suggest angles for reporters, she waited for a question an irrelevant one, as it happenedto launch broadsides against journalists conduct.

On May 6, a reporter asked McEnany about a comment shed made before her current role; in February she had told Fox News that we will not see diseases like the coronavirus come here. While the reporter asked the question, McEnany could be seen sifting through notes on the podium. After offering a short, unconvincing answer to the question, McEnany channeled her modern-day Walter Lippmann:

I would turn the question back on the media, and ask similar questions: Does Vox want to take back that they proclaimed that the coronavirus would not be a deadly pandemic? Does the Washington Post want to take back that they told Americans to Get a Grippe, the flu is bigger than the coronavirus? Does the Washington Post, likewise, want to take back that our brains are causing us to exaggerate the threat of the coronavirus? Does the New York Times want to take back that fear of the virus may be spreading faster than the virus itself? Does NPR want to take back that the flu was a much bigger threat than the coronavirus?  Ill leave you with those questions, and maybe youll have some answers in a few days.

Then she grabbed her binder, flashed a smile and walked off the dais.

Some of McEnanys onstage correctives ought to come with their own corrections. She criticized the press again on May 28, again while consulting her notes:

You mentioned that the media apologizes for their mistruths. I mean, Im sitting here looking at their headlines. The New York Times saying, There Arent Enough Ventilators to Cope With the Coronavirus. In fact, we had an excess of ventilators weve shipped around the world. Washington Post, U.S. health system is showing why its not ready for a coronavirus pandemic. We were ready.

Neither of those statements is true. Particularly in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors were struggling to retrofit ventilators to serve multiple patients, while medical personnel resorted to wearing trash bags and snorkel masks because of the shortage of PPEs.

Now, no critic can grouch all the time. On rare occasions, McEnany will take a moment to compliment a news organization. She was particularly pleased earlier this month with the New York Posts SICK HYPOCRISY cover, which, she said, highlights the hypocrisy of the media where: This is OKprotesting. This is not OKTrump rallies. Its really remarkable, and I think the American people have taken notice.

When McEnany pivots from reporters questions to go off on unrelated diatribes, she is seeking to undermine the credibility not just of individual journalists or outlets, but of journalism itself.

Just because she works for a boss who has racked up nearly 20,000 lies and misstatements since 2017, that doesnt mean shes always wrong. Asked about Trumps string of false and misleading statements, McEnany cited some of the medias most egregious errors, including ABCs disastrously flawed 2017 report that Trump had asked Flynn to reach out to the Russians during the campaignwhich the network first clarified and then corrected altogether.

Gamblers would call such an episode the tell. McEnany demonstrated that her goal isnt to respond directly to these questions, or even to engage in a dialogue about journalistic ethics. It is to throw up so much chaff into the medias radar that even the most basic critique is deprived of meaning.

We saw this again last week, when she was asked why the president posted a video of two toddlers that had been manipulated with a false chyron. McEnany quickly pivoted to an entirely unrelated incident from early 2019:

He was making a point about CNN specifically. He was making a point that CNN has regularly taken him out of context. That, in 2019, CNN misleadingly aired a clip from one viewpoint repeatedly to falsely accuse the Covington boys of being, quote, students in MAGA gear harassing a Native American elder. Thats a harassing video, a misleading video about children that had really grave consequences for their futures.

And when McEnany was challenged a few days later on why Trump used the term Kung Flu in his recent Tulsa rally, she responded by citing news organizations terms to deflect the racism of her boss:

The New York Times called it the Chinese coronavirus; Reuters, the Chinese virus; CNN, the Chinese coronavirus on January 20; Washington Post, January 21st, Chinese coronavirus. And I have more than a dozen other examples.

McEnany is a hit in many circles. Ari Fleischer, who served as George W. Bushs press secretary, applauded her first appearance: She nailed it. She was in command of facts, and she spoke knowledgeably and comfortably from that podium. McEnanys citation of Vox and Washington Post stories threw the press for a loop, tweeted the Washington Examiner. David Brody from the Christian Broadcast Network swooned: I feel like we need some Gladiator music when she comes in or leaves. You know, Mel Gibson, Braveheart, the whole thing.

And McEnany is very much a product of this administration. She is using the press as a foil  prepared with salvos to the press that are aimed at [Trumps] base, says Martha Kumar, a scholar of the presidency who has written about the role of press secretaries. Kumar told me that McEnany reflects something really unusual: Trumps interest in delegitimizing government institutions, but also the media. I see her as an instrument of him.

Press secretaries, both the good ones and the bad, have a job to do: sell the best possible versions of their bosses. To make that work, they must regularly slather the glossiest varnish on the gnarliest stories. When theyre most successful, they spin narratives to the presidents advantage, deterring or shading the most damaging stories while highlighting those that are most beneficial.

McEnany does that, but her carping at press conduct and headlines has a deeper purpose. When she pivots from reporters questions to go off on unrelated diatribes, she is seeking to undermine the credibility not just of individual journalists or outlets, but of journalism itself. When confronted with a tweet or quote that might work to Trumps disadvantage, she tries to undermine the press rather than to address the substance of the story. That is why she comes armed to briefings with multiple examples of press failuresome valid, some fictitiousand draws White House reporters into a noxious tit for tat.

It is no mystery why this is her line of attack. The more interesting questions are whether the press is obliged to be a party to itand whether the public learns much from it. Thats grist for a future column, so if you have thoughts, please let me know at bgrueskin@columbia.edu.

THE KICKER: Ed Yong on COVID-19 and American fatalism

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Bill Grueskin is on the faculty at Columbia Journalism School. He has previously worked as founding editor of a newspaper on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, city editor of the Miami Herald, deputy managing editor of the Wall Street Journal, and an executive editor at Bloomberg News. He is a graduate of Stanford University (Classics) and Johns Hopkinss School of Advanced International Studies (US Foreign Policy and International Economics).
Last Tuesday, Wesley Lowery wrote an op-ed for the New York Times in which he wrapped the urgent media-industry conversations about diversity and coverage of race around our flawed prevailing definition of objectivitya concept shaped, in large part, by white editors and reporters with the eye of the white reader in mind. (My colleague Mathew Ingram discussed Lowerys piece and the reaction to it here.) Later the same day, Dean Baquet, the executive editor of the Times, sat for a long-scheduled interview with Max Linsky, of the Longform podcast. It aired on Friday. Linsky had planned, initially, to talk to Baquet about the coronavirus pandemic, but asked instead about objectivity and the Lowery op-ed, which Linsky read as a rebuke of the Timess institutional values. Baquet described the op-ed as terrific, and said he didnt think that he and Lowery were far apart on the objectivity question. Baquetwho has repeatedly stressed the importance of objectivity in the pastsaid that he doesnt love the term, and that he would rather frame his view of journalism around fairness and independence. The independent and fair reporter, he said, gets on an airplane to pursue a story with an empty notebook, believing that he or she doesnt fully know what the story is, and is going to be open to what they hear.

Linsky and Baquet spoke for around an hour and a half, and covered a lot of ground, from the Timess business model to the challenges of managing the papers star journalists. (If you have time, you should listen to the whole thing.) The conversation kept coming back to race and objectivity. Baquet talked about his career as a Black journalistfrom his early work as a police reporter in New Orleans to his reaction to the current momentand how his life experience has shaped his news judgment. He discussed the commonalities and the differences that he sees as having shaped his relationships with younger Black journalists. And he addressed the tensions in the Times newsroom following the decision, by the papers opinion section, to publish an inflammatory op-ed in which Tom Cotton, a Republican senator, called on the federal government to dispatch troops to US cities. Baquet said that while the firewall between news and opinion at the Times must be respected, he found the op-ed troubled, and felt a little bit of pride when many employees at the paper posted coordinated tweetsin defiance of our rules around social-media usestating that Cottons words had put Black Times staffers in danger.

ICYMI: Why did Matt Drudge turn on Donald Trump?

Hanging over everything was a single question that Baquet said has guided his editorship: What is the difference between what is truly tradition and core, and what is merely habit? He elaborated, Youve got to say, heres whats not going to change. This is core. This is who we are. Everything else is sort of up for grabs. In recent weeks, Baquet said, Black and Latino journalists at the Times have argued that efforts to diversify the newsroom have been undermined by the assumption that new hires of color would assimilate into the Timess established ways of doing things. Going forward, Baquet pledged to listen to their varying perspectives, and to do a better job of incorporating them into the papers direction.

Still, Baquet clearly feels a strong sense of responsibility to what he sees as the Timess coreas he put it to Linsky at one point, referencing critical internal voices, I have to protect the place. I have to make it better but also sometimes resist the things that they want to change. This can cause friction, especially when it comes to coverage of Trump. Baquet said that he thinks the Times has been aggressive in this regard, and that hes cautious of the demands of younger journalists, in particular, that it be even more so. The Times has done aggressive coverage of Trumpbut it has also, too often, used inadequate language to describe his behavior, been overly credulous of dishonest Trumpian talking points (especially in headlines), and promoted a false equivalence between Trumps positions and those of his opponents.

The question that I still have, coming out of Baquets Longform interview, is whether such errors stem from Baquets conception of core values (which he said includes some form of objectivity), or the Times failing, on occasion, to put those values into practice. Baquet told Linsky that he hates overly-credulous both-sides journalism; he also suggested, however, that he doesnt have especially big regrets about his papers coverage of Hillary Clintons emails in 2016which Times critics point to as a false-equivalence archetypeand that its Trump coverage has been far less opaque in the last year or two than it was in the early days of his presidency. Again, critics would point to plenty of examples of more recent opacity.

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Baquet wasnt the only big-name editor to face scrutiny over the weekendlast night, Ben Smith, the media columnist at the Times, published a critical piece on Marty Baron, the editor of the Washington Post. Smith reported some bizarre nuggetsper Smith, Baron talked Bob Woodward out of burning a confidential-source relationship with Brett Kavanaugh, and erupted when the Post published an article about the movie Cats that Baron said glorified recreational drug useas well as details of the Posts place in the industry-wide reckoning over race and diversity, which has seen current and former Black staffers (including Lowery) claim that they had lesser access to professional opportunities and advancement at the paper, and were subject to double standards around the ways they were permitted to use social media, and even around their ability to take bathroom breaks at work. (A Post spokesperson denied some of these specifics to Smith. Again, if you have time, you should read the whole column.)

There are many differences between the Times and the Post, and between Baquet and Baronnot least the formers experience as a Black journalist and editor. There are sharp differences, too, between the current reckonings at both papers. (As Smith put it in his column, Every unhappy newsroom is unhappy in its own way.) Clearly, however, a fresh wind is shaking the philosophical and representational foundations of the US news industry as a whole, and Baquet and Baronas two of the industrys most central pillarsare feeling the vibrations more than most. Like Baquet, Baron sees himself as a defender of old journalistic values and the august institution that he has been charged to lead, Smith writes. As Baquet makes clear on Longform and Smith allows in his Baron piece, the journalistic philosophies of both editors are nuanced. Both, however, sit broadly within the tradition that Lowery and others are critiquing. Failures of diversity, and coverage of race, and coverage of Trump are all intertwinedand they all require a no-holds-barred assessment of whether top journalistic institutions core values are fit for purpose, not a reflexive defense of those values as inseparable from the institution.

In his Times op-ed, Lowery wrote that all supposedly objective journalism sits atop a pyramid of subjective decision-making. Linsky raised that idea multiple times in his interview with Baquet. At one point, Linsky said that hed been present in the Timess building the day after Trump was elected, and had detected feelings of shock and sadness among the staff. Baquet agreed with that assessment, so Linsky asked, How do you take that moment and put that moment on a plane with a blank notebook to cover whats happened for the last three years? Baquet replied that it had been hard to do so, but that reporters professionalism had kicked in, and driven them to understand how Trump had won. Linsky then asked Baquet if he personally had been upset by Trump winning. For the first time in the interview, Baquet punted on the question.

Below, more on a moment:



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: The many coronavirus conspiracy theories

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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
Fraud inevitably rises after natural disasters and during economic downturns. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought both conditions to the entire globe at once.

Fraud-prevention advocates have long been warning about the coming increase in fraudulent claims. Data from Friss, a Dutch tech company that provides fraud-detection software to 180 insurers, suggests that the fraud storm is well underway.

Friss said last week that it has seen a strong uptick in the volume of fraud investigations tracked by its detection software, even though total claims volume is down. In other words, even though there are fewer claims, a higher proportion of them look suspicious.

The company, headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands, did not provide specific numbers. In a blog post last week, Friss included a graphic that showed a declining volume of claims starting when coronavirus lockdowns began in March and leveling off as lockdowns eased in June. A corresponding line showed the share of claims investigated rising sharply, easing and then rising again. Exact percentages were not revealed.

As re-opening began, we saw a sharp rise in suspicious cases, the company said in the post, written by Customer Success Manager Martino Scheepens. Investigation volumes are now on track to exceed normal volumes.

An increasing number of investigations doesnt necessarily mean more fraud. Scheepens noted that carriers are aware of the increased propensity for fraud during economic hardships, so investigation units may be ramping up.

Dan Gumpright, vice president of global products for Friss, said during an interview that the pandemic has changed behaviors so that some claims may look suspicious even if they are valid. For example, it is now common to see a bill for telemedicine services for, say, an ankle or neck injury. Before COVID-19, those injuries would rarely be treated remotely, he said.

Still, not all of the increase in investigations is due to changed practices. Gumpright said the increasing investigations are following a familiar pattern.

This is kind of similar to what weve seen in the past when theres any kind of financial crisis in the world, he said.

Gumpright said the coronavirus has both opportunities and motivations to commit fraud. For instance, a towing company suffering from the reduction in vehicle traffic may be tempted to bill for services never provided. Socially distanced medical providers, alone in their offices and proving most of their services by video, may pad their bills with upcoded services.

Some people see insurance fraud as an easy way out, he said. Its seen as a victimless crime even though we know its not victimless.

Gumpright said some insurers are on high alert. He said Friss is working with one insurer to develop software that will monitor social media to find unapparent connections between all of the people involved in a claim to expose potential scams. He said the initiative started before the pandemic, but COVID-19 made the project more urgent.

Friss isnt the only vendor sounding the fraud alarm. Data analytics provider Verisk warned earlier this month that the pandemic has created opportunities to commit medical billing fraud and abuse. The company said in April that its data showed a 14 percent increase in claims linked to providers with suspicious billing practices.

Verisk said its Insurance Service Office MedSentry team has identified several COVID-19 medical billing schemes. Among them:

Unlisted lab tests. There was no specific ICD-10 code for COVID-19 until April 1. Prior to then any COVID-19 tests were likely coded as unlisted laboratory tests. Claims for a patient who has received both an unlisted laboratory test and a COVID-19 test may be cause for scrutiny.

Hands-on therapy charges. Many providers eliminated in-office visits and began to offer telehealth sessions. Verisk said bills for hands-on therapies such as chiropractors, physical therapists, and massage therapists should be examined.

Unnecessary durable medical equipment. Insurers should be wary of misleading claims for gloves, face masks, thermometers, and similar items, especially for patients who have not been tested for COVID-19 or have tested negative, Verisk said.

Genetic testing. While there has been some very early research on the relationship between genetic factors and COVID-19 susceptibility and severity, to date there has not been a call from the medical community to conduct such testing in relation to the virus, Verisk said.

Michael J. Smith, executive director of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, said the report from Friss is the first claims-centric data that he has seen that shows a potential increase in insurance fraud. But he said there are other indicators.

Smith said the number Google searches for how to burn a car has increased 125 percent since January. Similar search terms, such as how to burn a business also saw increased use.

Smith said he searched Google himself for information on how to commit insurance fraud while preparing a PowerPoint presentation. He found a video that showed how to set fire to a car using greasy potato chips, a nine-volt battery, bare copper wire and newspaper.

Smith said the coalition documented that all types of insurance fraud increased dramatically during the Great Recession. He said the Friss data may be the tip of perhaps the largest iceberg of fraud ever.

We always see a huge spike of insurance fraud following natural disasters, he said. With COVID-19 its the perfect storm. Its really like having a global earthquake, wildfire, hurricane all over all at once.

Smith said the Coalition is concerned because U.S. insurers have not restored fraud-prevention staff and resources to the levels in place before the Great Recession. He said he knows through conversations with investigators in the field that all of them are coping with increased case loads.

Smith said some staff reductions were made because of increased use of fraud-detection software and other automation, but he fears the industry has cut too far.

What we have seen over the last decade has been across the board, American insurers are downsizing. Insurers like to use the term right-sizing.

A lot of them have been cutting back on insurance fraud resources because of the use of AI that offsets human costs. But we are in a world controlled by bean counters. Insurers may have cut too deep into their anti-fraud staffing and resources.
ANAHEIM, Calif.  Workers at Californias Disneyland Resort protested from their cars on Saturday, arguing that the Walt Disney Co has not agreed to adequate protections for employees when the destination reopens to the public amid a pandemic.

The company had planned to welcome guests back to Disneyland and neighboring California Adventure starting July 17 but delayed the restart date indefinitely.

Disney said this week that it would set a new opening date after the state issues guidelines on how theme parks can return to business safely amid the global coronavirus outbreak. That is not expected until after July 4, the company said.

On Saturday, about 200 cars formed a caravan outside the resort in the protest staged by the Coalition of Resort Labor Unions, a group of 11 unions that represent 17,000 Disneyland workers.

The unions have called on the company to commit to providing onsite testing for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

When Disney does reopen, we want it to be as safe as possible for cast members, for the guests, and for the families that cast members have to go back to, said Maria Hernandez, a union member who attended the rally.

Disney did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Saturday. In a letter to unions earlier this week, a Disney representative said existing COVID-19 testing was not recommended by U.S. health authorities for routine screening.

Instead, health officials recommend focusing on physical distancing, face coverings, hand washing and sanitization, the letter said.

The company has reached an agreement on coronavirus protections with other Disneyland unions that represent 11,000 workers. Those agreements include enhanced safety protocols that will allow us to responsibly reopen, the company said.

Disney began shutting its theme parks in January as the coronavirus spread. It has reopened parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong to a limited number of guests. The company plans to open Walt Disney World in Florida on July 11.
A shooting at a Walmart distribution center in Red Bluff, California, killed at least two people and injured four others late on Saturday, officials said.

The incident started around 3:30 pm Pacific Time, according to the office of the local sheriff.

Tehama Countys assistant sheriff said the attacker circled the centers parking lot four times before crashing his vehicle into the building and opening fire with a semi-automatic rifle.

The shooter killed an employee before police officers shot and killed the attacker.

The authorities identified the employee as Martin Haro-Lozano, 45, of Orland, California.

Walmart said it was aware of the situation and was working with law enforcement authorities.

We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident, the company said in a statement.

This is an active police investigation and we will continue to work with Tehama County Sheriffs Office and assist in their investigation in any way possible, it added.

The injured were taken to Red Bluffs St. Elizabeth Community Hospital.

Local media said the Tehama County Sheriffs Office is conducting a criminal investigation with assistance from the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Red Bluff is a city of about 14,000 people located around 130 miles (210 kilometers) north of Sacramento, California.
Wildfires prompted evacuations in Utah, Nevada and Arizona over the weekend.

Fireworks caused a wildfire in Utah that forced out residents of houses and an apartment building early Sunday as the flames encroached on a residential area, officials said.

A suspect was cooperating with law enforcement, Utah Fire Info said in a tweet. Strong wind gusts had been reported in the Lehi area as the Traverse Fire grew to more than 500 acres by 7 a.m. Sunday morning, the agency said.

Photos showed the fire erupting in the background of a residential area and behind a large church. Evacuations were ordered in Lehi and Draper, but some residents who evacuated were later allowed to return.

About 20 homes were in imminent danger when crews first arrived. Early morning rain helped tamp down the flames and no structures were considered threatened by mid-morning on Sunday, Lehi Fire Chief Jeremy Craft told KSL-TV.

A high school gym in Lehi and a middle school in Draper were offered as shelters, according to tweets from the cities.

No injuries and only minor structural damage were immediately reported, and The Red Cross said the Draper shelter was being closed because it had no evacuees.

Dangerous fire conditions were forecast for Sunday afternoon through Monday across parts of Utah. Wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour and low relative humidity levels would mean any fires that started could rapidly spread.

Rocky Mountain Power tweeted that about 7,500 customers lost power. Draper said around 6,000 of its households were in the dark.

Lehi is about 28 miles south of Salt Lake City.

Nevada

A wildfire northwest of Reno has burned nearly 5 1/2 square miles of grass and brush as of Sunday with about 400 people remaining evacuated.

The Poeville Fire was 10% contained but authorities say eight structures have been destroyed including a few homes and some outbuildings.

Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District officials say the blaze was burning on the east side of of Peavine Mountain and its cause was under investigation.

They said dozens of structures in the Seneca Drive neighborhood were threatened before residents were evacuated Saturday evening.

Evacuation orders remain in effect for residences in Horizon Hills and Raleigh Heights; Heindel Road, Myers Avenue and Lunsford Drive; Beacon Drive; Crest Hill Road; Ruby Mountain Road; the mobile home park west of Golden Valley; and all businesses north of Lemmon Drive and southwest of U.S. 395.

Southern Washoe County remains under a red flag warning until 11 p.m. Sunday due to gusty winds and dry conditions.

A federal incident management team was expected to take over the fire at some point Sunday, bringing in more firefighters and resources.

Arizona

An evacuation notice was issued Saturday for a sparsely populated rural area northeast of Tucson because of a wildfire burning brush in a desert valley after coursing across the Santa Catalina Mountains.

There are about a dozen homes in the Redington area covered by the evacuation notice, Pima County sheriffs Deputy Marissa Hernandez said.

There were no reports of structure damage or injuries, she said.

The fire swept across and crept over steep ridges and forested peaks in the Catalinas before descending to generally flatter terrain in the Redington area..

Started June 5 by lightning, the fire has forced several evacuation, including one still in effect for Summerhaven, a community on Mount Lemmon.

The fire has burned 149 square miles (385 square kilometers) and was contained around 40% of its perimeter as of Saturday.

Nearly 1,190 firefighters and other personnel supported by air tankers and helicopters were fighting the fire.

Elsewhere in Arizona, firefighters continued to fight or mop up wildfires north of the Grand Canyon, northeast of Mesa and near New River.

About the photo: The Traverse Fire burns near homes in Lehi, Utah, Sunday, June 28, 2020. Officials say fireworks caused the wildfire and forced evacuations early Sunday morning. (Justin Reeves via AP)

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Its not enough for a mayor or a police superintendent or city government, Lightfoot said. Each of us has to ask ourselves, what more can we do every single day in our lives to wrap our arms around these children. And I dont mean just the victims, I mean the shooters as well. What do we need to do to reach them, to give them hope and love and have them recognize the sanctity of human life?
Claremore, OK (74018)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- Five days after news broke that Mayor Martin Horwitz was in the hospital awaiting surgery for an undisclosed illness, nothing has changed.

As far as I know, theres no change yet, Beachwood Communications Coordinator Lynn B. Johnson said on Monday (June 29). The surgery hasnt happened yet. I dont know when its going to happen, and he remains in good spirits.

Johnson said she spoke with Horwitz earlier Monday and that she understands that the mayor is continuing to conduct city business from his hospital room via cell phone and computer.

Theres just really no change from last week, she said.

On June 24, it was learned that Horwitz, 67, was in the hospital with what Johnson said was a non-COVID-19-related illness.

She said last week that Horwitz has been in close contact with administration members and City Council President James Pasch. HIPAA privacy laws prevent Johnson from commenting further.

Read more from the Sun Press.
ELYRIA, Ohio -- The Lorain County Historical Society is nothing if not adaptable. The Board of Directors notes that adaptability is key to not only surviving, but thriving, in challenging times.

Utilizing that adaptability, the board decided they werent going to let the challenge of this unusual time due to the coronavirus stop them from executing their annual ice cream social -- this time as a drive-through event.

Each year, people flock to the old-fashioned family event for picnicking and games on the grounds of The Hickories Museum in Elyria.

The museum is a dazzlingly beautiful 1895 mansion on Washington Avenue that was home to a wealthy Lorain County family in the early 1900s. Tours are a specialty of the museum, allowing visitors to view the familys lifestyle at the turn of the 20th century. The home now also houses the Lorain County Historical Society (LCHS).

Board member Kathryn Dean-Dielman said, We have decided not to cancel, but rather to hold our annual ice cream social while adhering to the necessary health and safety guidelines set forth by the State of Ohio.

The social will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 12. Tickets are $5 per person, with proceeds benefitting the museum. Attendees should enter The Hickories driveway on the Columbus Street side. While staying in their cars, each ticket holder will receive a slice of pie with ice cream to-go.

Visit http://www.lchs.org/events to purchase tickets or email lchs@lchs.org or call 440-322-3341.

You can still visit the History Center

The LCHS business office at the History Center within The Hickories is now open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. All necessary guidelines to ensure health and safety are being followed.

Visitors who have business with the LCHS who enter the History Center are required to wear face coverings if they are physically able to do so. There are also hand-sanitizing stations and a restroom for hand washing.

Social distancing is required, and visitors who do not follow the safety protocols may be refused service and asked to leave.

The History Center is located at 284 Washington Ave., Elyria.

The History Center and The Hickories will be open to visitors for tours, exhibits and library research at a later date.

The Lorain County Historical Society collects, preserves, interprets and presents the history of Lorain County.

Read more from the Sun Sentinel.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Do you remember what you were doing last Fourth of July? Whatever it was, Im willing to bet my last box of sparklers that the coming holiday isnt going to be the star-spangled big-bang holiday weve been celebrating almost forever.

This year, theres going to be next-to-zero public fireworks, no block-buster block parties, and a very curated guest list for your annual backyard BBQ extravaganza. So, since youre paring down the numbers, why not upgrade the fare? Ditch the burgers and dogs and serve steak. And not just any steak.

For you, weve sought out some of the most respected and trusted butchers in NEOhio and asked them for advice and guidance about how to get the best taste and most flavor from some extraordinary cuts of meat. The first thing we learned is that a lot of effort goes into bringing a truly great steak to your local meat mongers counter.

Treat it with the respect and technique it deserves, and youll remember this holiday for more than the things you dont have. And maybe next year, you can share the upgrade with a few more friends and family members. Happy Independence Day, let freedom ring!

Ribeye Steak using Reverse Sear Method from Ohio City Provisions

OCP owners Trevor Clatterbuck and Adam Lambert opened their all-local food emporium three and a half years ago. The neighborhood market and destination spot for fresh meat that they meticulously raise and butcher themselves, is thriving these days. As Clatterbuck says we have worked tirelessly the last few months to increase our production and expedite orders to provide our customers with a safe shopping experience and provide their families access to healthy, locally raised meats.

When the temporary crisis hit recently, they were able to pull extra product from their own farm to make up the shortage without raising prices. Now, he says, My hope is that demand for local meats stays predictable and that myself and other local farmers can safely make the investments needed in infrastructure and their herds to feed NEO into the future.

To help facilitate that, heres a technique from Lambert that will guarantee you get the most reliable results when home-cooking their extra-thick rib eye steaks. Instead of the usual direct-heat sear and then indirect heat finish in the oven or at the side of the grill, they reverse the process. According to him the reverse sear makes it very easy to get coast to coast uniformity in cooking temperature. The steak is cooked in the oven to the same temperature from one edge to the other, and the sear at the end gives a nice crust to the outside.

One bone-in ribeye steak, approximately 2 inches thick and weighing approximately 2 lb.

1. Bring steak to room temperature, season heavily with salt and pepper. Rest for one hour prior to grilling.

2. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.

3. Place steak on a resting rack with a sheet pan underneath and bake for 45 minutes to one hour, or until internal temperature reaches 110 degrees F.

4. Heat grill on high.

5. Sear steak for four minutes per side.

6. Remove and let rest for ten minutes to allow juice to settle. Slice and serve immediately.

Ohio City Provisions 3208 Lorain Ave. Cleveland 44113

ohiocityprovisions.com

216-465-2762

A comparative look at reverse sear and sear first methods with a ribeye steak from Ohio City Provisions. (Beth Segal, Special to cleveland.com)

Grilled Picanha with EDWINS Butcher Shop Meat Rub

Brandon Chrostowski continues the EDWINS leadership mission to give formerly incarcerated adults a foundation in the culinary and hospitality industry while providing a support network necessary for their long-term success at EDWINS butcher shop. Part butchery, part deli, part grocery store, it remains one of the very few reliable sources of, among other essentials, bread flour, thanks to the bakery adjacent to the butcher shop.

During the pandemic, business has doubled at the shop, according to Chrostowski, as people are seeking dependable relationships with trusted suppliers. Right now, along with the usual popular cuts, EDWINS is featuring what Chrostowski calls traditional antique cuts such as teres major, a shoulder petit tender cut from the chuck, and picanha or coulottes, the very best part of the top sirloin cut from the rump cap muscle. Its one of the most popular cuts skewered on large swords and cooked over an open fire at Brazilian currascarias or steak houses. Here, its given a more local treatment with EDWINS signature rub.

One 2 to 2  lb. picanha steak, cut with the grain into 3-4 chunky steaks

1. Pat the meat with paper towels to dry.

2. Generously season both sides of the steak with EDWINS rub below.

3. Let sit in the refrigerator for one hour.

4. Heat grill on high.

5. Sear 2-3 minutes on each side for rare, longer for desired doneness.

6. Remove and let rest 5 minutes to allow juice to settle.

7. Cut into  in. slices against the grain and serve immediately.

EDWINS Butcher Shop Meat Rub

This rub features baharat, a warm aromatic spice mix used throughout the Middle East, and available at EDWINS. You can substitute with the Moroccan spice mix, ras el hanout, or equal parts paprika, cumin and cinnamon.

Mix together:

3 tbsp. salt

3 tbsp. paprika

2 tbsp. onion powder

2 tbsp. garlic powder

2 tbsp. dried oregano

2 tbsp. coarsely ground black pepper

2 tbsp. baharat

1 tbsp. brown sugar

1 tbsp. ground cumin

1 tbsp. garam masala

Note: For a great steak, EDWINS recommends using hardwood lump charcoal and mesquite wood chunks. Once charcoal is lit, add mesquite. When the chunks are lit, grill away. You can sub the mesquite chunks for chips, but first soak in water.

EDWINS Butcher Shop 13024 Buckeye Road, Cleveland 44120

edwinsbutchershop.org

216-417-1100

Grilled Wagyu Outside Skirt Steak from Mr. Brisket

Hank Kornblut is the second Mr. Brisket, having inherited the title from Sanford Herskovitz sometime in the last 10 years or so. But he carries on the tradition that Herskovitz began in 1974, luring people in with state-of-the-art corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, right now for curbside or to-go availability, and then enlightening them on the finer points of cook-your-own briskets and high-end steaks. And for that, home delivery and out-of-town shipping has increased exponentially, as people seek local and more reliable purveyors. He also has a brisk business selling potential award-winning briskets to BBQ competition contestants around the country.

As far as grilling goes, he says Arguably the best piece of meat I sell is a Wagyu outside skirt steak. The beauty of it is that it has great flavor and is simple to prepare. Its almost impossible to mess up as even if it gets a bit overcooked, its still tasty. I love this cut because it has a great texture in addition to a richness of flavor that one usually associates with a ribeye. Caution to all shoppers---theres a big difference between outside and inside skirt steaks. Outside skirts are more tender. Also, like any cut of beef, the marbling is critical. Thats why I love my Wagyu skirt. Enough said. Heres his simple but effective recipe.

One or two American Wagyu skirt steak(s) (about 16 oz.)

1. Sprinkle steak with generous amounts of salt, pepper, and fresh minced garlic.

2. Prepare grill by lightly oiling grates and heat to high temperature.

3. Grill skirt steak, 3 minutes per side for rare, longer for desired doneness.

4. Remove and let rest 5 minutes to allow juices to settle.

5. Slice thinly against the grain, serve immediately.

Mr. Brisket 2156 South Taylor Rd. Cleveland Heights, 44118

misterbrisket.com

216-932-8620

A look at unpeeled and peeled Wagyu skirt steaks from Mr. Brisket, both raw and on the grill. (Beth Segal, Special to cleveland.com)

Bindel Farm Steak Bites

Bindel Farms in Spencer, Ohio sells humanely-raised, heritage pastured meats, eggs, and organically grown vegetables. They also have a variety of CSA packages that includes a broad-breasted bronze turkey you can pick out yourself down at the farm. Since COVID-19, Jason Bindel says, Our farm has seen growth from new customers seeking ways to buy locally raised food. The pandemic has caused some fears of a possible food shortage with large processors shutting down, so people are now researching ways to buy farm fresh products. Our CSAs are the perfect way for people to buy Ohio-grown wholesome food. Bindel Farms also offers tours so you can see exactly how that food is grown. Their recipe for steak bites is made extra delicious with 14-day dry-aged sirloin from their grass-fed Jersey steers.

 cup soy sauce

 cup Worcestershire sauce

1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp. dried parsley

2 tbsp. dried basil

1 lb. sirloin steak, cut into  in. cubes

2 tbsp. butter

1. Mix first five ingredients in a bowl with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

2. Add steak cubes, mix, and refrigerate two to four hours.

3. Heat grill to high with a cast iron pan on the grate.

4. Add butter to pan and when melted, add steak bites to pan with  the marinade.

5. Turn cubes making sure each side cooks about one minute or to desired doneness.

6. Cool briefly and serve.

Bindel Farms 6736 River Corners Road, Spencer, OH 44275

Bindelfarms.com

330-648-2310

Steak bites from Bindel Farms in Spencer, Ohio. (Beth Segal, special to cleveland.com)

Foster Meats Grilled Leg of Lamb

Brian Foster started working at the West Side Market in 1986. In 2002, he opened Foster Meats and has never looked back. The past few months have been challenging, but lately, he says, business has been really good. The first couple of weeks when this started were slow. People probably thought the market was too big with too many people, but when grocery stores started running out of product, we got very busy and stayed that way. Theres probably no better testament to the advantage of supporting the venerable, and vulnerable, West Side Market right now and long into the future. Foster Meats is distinguished by the impressive Texas Longhorn Steer head mounted monumentally above the stand, but Foster is famous for his high quality lamb and goat. So in the interest of providing a little variety, heres how to grill a lamb (leg).

8 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

3 tbsp. Urban Herbs lamb seasoning from West Side Market OR

mix together the below:

1 tbsp. fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 tbsp. fresh parsley (OR 1 tsp. dried parsley)

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

One leg of lamb trimmed of all fat, boned and butterflied, (4- 4  lb. boneless)

1. Combine ingredients for seasoning (or use Urban Herbs mix) in medium bowl.

2. Add the rest of ingredients (except lemon juice) and spread evenly on lamb. Let rest in a large dish or pan for one hour.

3. Sear on a hot grill, three to four minutes per side, and keep flipping until done. It should take around 20-25 minutes for medium rare. Cook longer if desired.

4. Remove lamb and transfer to cutting board. Pour lemon juice over lamb, and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 15 minutes to allow meat juices to settle.

5. Cut lamb into slices and serve with juices that have accumulated on cutting board.

BONUS RECIPE:

Potato Salad with Capers and Anchovies

Steak is lovely, but its lonely all by itself. And though a good cold lPA is the obvious boon companion, its also nice to have something else to eat. So heres an easy potato salad whose piquancy is assertive enough to go mano a mano with the rich taste of the ribeye, and yet filled with enough indulgent flavors of its own to deserve a place on the plate.

2 lb. fingerling or small new potatoes

 cup diced red onion

2 tbsp. sherry vinegar

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp. minced anchovies (about 4 fillets)

1 tbsp. small capers

1 tbsp. Dijon mustard

 cup olive oil

1 tsp. dried thyme

A good handful of arugula

Bring a pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until they can be pierced with a fork. Do not overcook. Remove, drain and let cool slightly. While the potatoes cook, make the vinaigrette. Place onion, vinegar and a healthy pinch of salt in a small bowl. Stir together and let sit for 10 minutes to marinate. Add garlic, anchovy, capers and mustard, whisk in olive oil. Season to taste with salt and freshly-ground pepper. Cut potatoes in half, leave very small ones whole. Put potatoes in a large bowl and toss with vinaigrette. Set aside at room temperature to allow potatoes to absorb dressing. Toss again just before serving, add thyme and parsley. Serve with a little arugula on each plate for garnish.
COLUMBUS, OhioOutdoor visits with residents in Ohio nursing homes will be permitted to resume on July 20, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday.

Its the latest move by the DeWine administration to loosen coronavirus restrictions that have been in place for months.

Outdoor nursing-home visits will only be allowed so long as all safety standards are met, including having all residents and staff at the facility tested for the virus, DeWine said during a live briefing.

When considering whether to allow such visits, he said, each nursing home must consider the number of coronavirus cases in the facility and the surrounding area, staffing levels, access to adequate testing and personal protection equipment for residents and staff, and local hospital capacity.

The DeWine administration imposed a ban on nursing-home visits in mid-March  one of the first restrictions set up by the governor as coronavirus crisis arose. The governor lifted the ban on outdoor visits to long-term-care facilities on June 8.

About 2,000 Ohioans at nursing homes and other long-term-care facilities have died of coronavirus since mid-March -- accounting for roughly 70% of all Ohio COVID-19 deaths.

DeWine made the announcement minutes after he discussed a recent rise in coronavirus cases around Ohio, particularly in the Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Dayton areas.

Asked how he can reconcile the two, DeWine said the issue of nursing-home visits has weighed heavily on him and is one of a number of tough, tough decisions hes had to make.

DeWine said while part of his job as governor is to put measures in place to keep vulnerable Ohioans safe from the virus, it also means protecting those things that add value to life.

He continued: Visits by family members to nursing homes to their loved ones is certainly something that adds value to life, and I know that this has been gut-wrenching for families not to be able to see in person their loved ones.

On one hand, the governor said, no one wants to introduce the virus into nursing homes. But on the other hand, he continued, he and other officials have talked with people who say their loved one is going downhill because theyve been locked up in their nursing home without being allowed to see their family.

We believe that with the proper precautions that this visitation, which family members tell me -- and I can fully understand -- is very, very important to their loved ones and their well-being -- their physical well- being, their mental well-being -- that that visitation can take place in a safe environment, DeWine said.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted added that, thanks to increased testing in nursing homes, Were so much further than we were months ago when this was put in place and have made those facilities a much safer place.

The governor said he made the decision after consulting with advocates and providers in the aging and developmental disabilities communities and reviewing visitation guidelines development by the Academy for Senior Health Sciences, the Ohio Assisted Living Association, the Ohio Health Care Association, and the Ohio Medical Directors Association, and LeadingAge Ohio, a non-profit that represents about 400 long-term care organizations and hospices in the state.

LeadingAge Ohio spokesman Patrick Schwartz said in a statement that flexibility is a hallmark of the new guidelines announced by DeWine.

The pandemic has been extremely hard on residents who were used to eating with friends, visiting with family, and taking part in group activities daily, Schwartz said. Social isolation is as dangerous to an older adult as smoking cigarettes, so we look forward to seeing residents and loved ones safely connect outdoors.

Read more Ohio coronavirus stories:

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine looking at county by county coronavirus restrictions, a reversal from the past

Q&A: Is Ohio experiencing an alarming coronavirus surge? What does the latest data mean?

After staffer tests positive for COVID-19, Ohio senator refusing to return to Statehouse, citing concerns with safety protocols

Ohio reports 892 new coronavirus cases; biggest increase in 2 months

Continued jobless claims in Ohio keep falling, though new claims rose slightly last week
SANDUSKY, Ohio  Season passholders can now make a reservation to visit Cedar Point, which opens next week.

The park opened its reservation system Monday morning to season passholders, who get first dibs on the park for the first two days of operation this summer. Resort guests will join season passholders at the park starting July 11.

The park will be open to passholders and resort guests for the first two weeks of operation. Guests with pre-purchased single-day tickets will receive information this week about how to reserve a visit later in July, according to park spokesman Tony Clark.

The park is limiting capacity this season because of the coronavirus pandemic. Park officials have declined to say what daily attendance will be capped at, but earlier this month, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said capacity at both Cedar Point and Kings Island would be limited, at least to start, at about 20% of total capacity.

Total daily capacity at Cedar Point is believed to be approximately 50,000 to 55,000.

According to the Cedar Point website, reservations are being limited to between 10,000 and 12,000 guests per day, at least in the opening weeks.

Tony Clark said capacity numbers will fluctuate. With the new considerations for social distancing, weve calculated a COVID-19 capacity based on the square footage of our midways, ride queue capacity, restaurants and other locations in the park. Were starting conservatively, but will adjust as we evaluate our operations.

Passholders seeking to make a reservation must choose an arrival time  between 10 a.m. and noon. In addition, they can only hold one reservation at a time  in other words, the first reservation has to be used before a second one can be made.

This allows more guests the ability to reserve a date and visit us this season, said Clark.

Guests will be required to fill out a health questionnaire before arriving at the park, and submit to a temperature scan upon entry. In addition, guests will be required to wear face masks inside the park.

Cedar Point has made numerous other adjustments in response to the pandemic, including limiting park hours to 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., more frequent sanitizing of rides and other high-touch areas, as well as crowd-control efforts inside the park, including 6-foot spacing in ride queues.

Amusement parks are reopening across the United States, even as the number of coronavirus cases increases in Ohio and elsewhere. Kings Island, near Cincinnati, opens to season passholders on Thursday.

The number of season passholders at Cedar Point has spiked in the past year, thanks to the introduction of the Gold Pass, offered to celebrate the parks 150th anniversary in 2020. The pass initially was offered at a steeply discounted rate, $99, which included parking and admission to Cedar Point Shores.

The park announced earlier this year that 2020 season passes would extend into 2021 because of the shortened season. In addition, the park announced last week that Cedar Point Shores would not open this summer.

Read more:

Cedar Point Shores wont open for 2020; Cedar Point announces reduced hours, no Fast Lane passes for sale

Cedar Point, Kings Island, Kennywood, Waldameer prepare to reopen, with adjustments: Amusement park guide 2020

Cedar Points mask rule ignites firestorm of fan protests on social media
Black Lives Matter. Black votes should, too. Sadly, since 2013, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, ending federal oversight of potentially discriminatory state voting laws, theyve mattered increasingly less.

Section 4(b) had established a formula to identify states that needed federal approval for voting law changes because of their history of voter suppression. A 2018 report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (a bipartisan, independent agency established by Congress) found that, with it gone, there had been a growth in discriminatory laws making it harder for minorities to vote. Twenty-three states enacted restrictions: closing polling places; cutting early voting; purging voter rolls; and imposing strict voter ID laws.

These anti-minority practices were the basis for the proposed Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 (VRAA), which includes an updated formula to assess which states must secure federal approval for voting-law changes and assures the right of every American to vote. Unfortunately, the bill has languished in the Senate.

Georgias catastrophic primary election has made it clear that federal oversight of elections must be restored. Those who believe that Black Lives Matter should urge Sen. Rob Portman to join Sen. Sherrod Brown in supporting the VRAA.

Stephen Gehlert,

Cuyahoga Falls
When did America vote for fuzzy thinking?

Its a personal choice, says President Donald Trumps press secretary, on her decision not to wear a mask at his Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally. Its freedom of speech, says Vice President Mike Pence, defending the Trump campaigns decision to hold indoor political rallies, potentially exposing thousands of people to serious illness and possibly death. (Never mind that wearing a mask would not prevent speech, even lying speech.)

As an ethicist, I know that choice does not justify actions as good. Its my choice to kill my neighbors cat or stomp my sisters snapdragons. The statement does not make these actions acceptable. Choice is a prerequisite for actions; it does not make them magically right. Persons must choose actions that in themselves are good, for them and for their fellow human beings. Those choices can be hard.

Sometimes the same people who believe in choice deny choice to women seeking abortions (even though abortion is not always moral or right) or to LBGTQ persons seeking to be who they are (never mind that they know that this is not a choice).

We must get beyond fuzzy thinking, particularly that which is hurtful, mean-spirited, and sometimes just plain dumb.

Dolores Christie,

Shaker Heights
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dozens of people gathered Sunday afternoon to visit and celebrate the new Black Lives Matter mural on E. 93rd Street in Cleveland. In addition to the attendees, more than a dozen local clergymen attended, as well as live gospel performances to entertain the crowd.

The mural, which stretches from Heath to Raymond Avenues on E. 93rd Street, was painted by more than 100 local artists in honor of members of the Black community who have died at the hands of law enforcement over the years.

Even though were making a bold statement about Black Lives Matter, we also believe this serves as a bold statement that this community on E. 93rd matters too, said Blaine Griffin, Cleveland City Council member from Ward 6. Griffin also said that the mural has been getting national attention and that people from as far away as New York have come to see the mural.

At the urging of constituents, Griffin convinced the City of Cleveland and the streets department to close off the street for the foreseeable future to vehicle traffic so that many other events can take place in the coming weeks.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A bullet fired during a fistfight inside a bar in the citys Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood ricocheted off the ground and hit an innocent bystander, police say.

The man who police say fired the bullet, Robert Zoelle, 54, of Richburg, South Carolina is charged with felonious assault. He is in the Cuyahoga County Jail awaiting his first court appearance.

The shooting happened about 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Tinas Nite Club on Herman Avenue and West 54th Street.

Zoelle and his wife were together at the bar with Zoelles younger brother. The younger brothers divorce finalized that night, according to police.

The brother made unwanted advances towards Zoelles wife, whom he dated years early, according to police. Zoelle argued with his brother and the two fought, according to police.

Someone separated the two, but the younger brother lunged at Zoelle, according to police. Zoelle told police he pulled out his gun and fired a single shot at the ground. He said he fired the shot to scare his brother, not to hit him, according to police reports.

The bullet ricocheted off the ground and hit a 61-year-old man in the leg as he drank at the bar, according to police. He was taken to MetroHealth for treatment.

Zoelle stayed at the bar and told police he fired the shot, according to police. Zoelles wife gave police her husbands gun.

Read more from cleveland.com:

Man shot to death in Clevelands Central neighborhood, officials say

Cuyahoga Countys fired budget director Maggie Keenan sues county over retaliation for whistleblowing

Heres the training all Ohio police must take, including when to use force, overcoming bias, and crowd control
South Africa: Government calls on Santaco to reconsider decision

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has called on the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) leadership to reconsider their decision to incite lawlessness, and place their drivers and passengers on a collision course with law enforcement authorities.

This comes after Santaco announced that it has taken a decision to revert to 100% loading capacity in its taxis.

On Sunday, Santaco President Philip Taaibosch announced that taxis will operate at full capacity, while those travelling along long-distance routes will be allowed to continue travelling without a permit.

Taaibosch said if any taxis were stopped by law enforcement and impounded, taxi operations across the country would grind to a halt until the impounded taxi was released.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms any call encouraging taxi operators to violate provisions of the law and promote lawlessness.

We remain committed to taking forward our engagements and encourage the industry to ensure that any form of protest they embark upon is within the parameters of the law, Mbalula said in a statement.

He said government has a responsibility to ensure that all measures put in place as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic are driven by the commitment to preserve human life and avoid an uncontrolled spread of the virus.

It is on that basis that a decision to allow uncontrolled inter-provincial travel and 100% loading capacity on taxis has to be subjected to the collective decision-making.

It is rather unfortunate and regrettable that the taxi industry leadership has elected to violate the law and forcefully load taxis at 100% capacity, and undertake inter-provincial operations without the requisite permits, rather than await a decision on the matters they have tabled, Mbalula said.

He said the legal loading capacity is 70% and enforceable by law enforcement authorities.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-06-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
She heard gunshots in a nearby alley about two weeks ago but said she had never felt unsafe on the block in her three years of living there. Because of fewer people outside with the pandemic, she started taking her 7-year-old son out at night to ride his scooter, she said. Often right by where the shooting occurred.
Russian bounties offered to Taliban-linked militants to kill coalition forces in Afghanistan are believed to have resulted in the deaths of several U.S. service members, according to intelligence gleaned from U.S. military interrogations of captured militants in recent months.

Several people familiar with the matter said it was unclear exactly how many Americans or coalition troops from other countries may have been killed or targeted under the program. U.S. forces in Afghanistan suffered a total of 10 deaths from hostile gunfire or improvised bombs in 2018, and 16 in 2019. Two have been killed this year. In each of those years, several service members were also killed by what are known as green on blue hostile incidents by members of Afghan security forces, which are sometimes believed to have been infiltrated by the Taliban.

The intelligence was passed up from the U.S. Special Operations forces based in Afghanistan and led to a restricted high-level White House meeting in late March, the people said. (Washington Post)

Featured stories

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California is accusing President Trump of ignoring allegations that the Russians offered to pay bounties to Taliban fighters who kill Americans.AP

As bad as it gets: Pelosi, Democrats take aim at Trump over Russian bounty intelligence (NBC News)

500,000 global deaths are reported as the worlds coronavirus case total reaches 10 million (New York Times)

7 states hit record high for new cases of COVID-19 (ABC News)

Fauci says Covid-19 vaccine may not get US to herd immunity if too many people refuse to get it (CNN)

Why simple cloth masks without valves are better at fighting the spread of COVID-19 (Washington Post)

National news

Indefensible: Trump slammed for sharing video where supporter yells white power at protesters (USA Today)

Pence says Trump has shown great leadership during the pandemic. A new poll shows Americans disagree (USA Today)

Thousands gather near Denver to demand justice for Elijah McClain (NBC News)

Suspect in custody after man shot dead during Breonna Taylor protest in Kentucky (Associated Press)

Mississippi legislators vote to remove Confederate battle emblem from state flag (Associated Press)

20-month-old boy, 10-year-old girl among 14 people fatally shot over weekend in Chicago: Police (ABC News)

17 officers disciplined in death of transgender woman at Rikers Island (USA Today)

Evacuations ordered after fireworks spark wildfire in Utah (CNN)

Boeing 737 MAX certification flight tests to begin on Monday, sources say (Reuters)

World news

Brazil coronavirus cases rise past 1.3 million, deaths total 57,070 (Reuters)

Hebei: China locks down 400,000 people after virus spike near Beijing (BBC)

Chinese tourists will likely be allowed back into the EU, while U.S. is left out (CNN)

Israel may move to annex a big chunk of the West Bank soon, derailing hopes for a Palestinian state (Los Angeles Times)

Sir Mark Sedwill: UKs top civil servant steps down (BBC)

Multiple people dead after attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi (CNN)

Dozens arrested as Hong Kongers protest planned national security laws (Reuters)

Lazarus Chakwera sworn in as Malawi president after historic win (BBC)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday announced that state guidelines for reopening schools in the fall should be released on Thursday, a week after the expected date.

The state extended current public health orders guiding coronavirus prevention measures through the week, when DeWine says he hopes guidelines for schools and keeping Ohioans safe at work and in their daily lives -- the next phase of living with the coronavirus -- will be completed.

Nobody should read or speculate anything into that, he said. Were just expanding what we have right now for a few more days until weve fully developed the plan.

DeWine originally said on June 16 that Ohioans could expect school reopening guidelines -- which school leaders say are crucial to guide planning for the fall -- within 10 days. He said on Thursday the guidelines would be released Tuesday. But now, no briefing is planned for Tuesday.

When the schools document is released, DeWine said Ohioans shouldnt expect any surprises and that there would be a great deal of flexibility built into the plans.

New coronavirus case numbers rose by 700, the Ohio Department of Health announced Monday. At least 51,046 people have confirmed or probable coronavirus to date.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What is behind Ohio Gov. Mike DeWines flip flop on his coronavirus strategy? The governor is embracing a county by county approach that he once called a disaster.

Were talking about DeWines change of heart on This Week in the CLE.

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Listen online here.

Editor Chris Quinn hosts Mondays daily half-hour coronavirus news podcast, with help from editors Kris Wernowsky and Jane Kahoun. We answer many of the questions youve sent through our text message platform.

Youve been sending Chris lots of thoughts and suggestions on our from-the-newsroom account, in which he shares once or twice a day what were thinking about at cleveland.com. You can sign up for free by sending a text to 216-868-4802.

And youve been offering all sorts of great perspective in our coronavirus alert account, which has 13,000-plus subscribers. You can sign up for free by texting 216-279-7784.

Here are the questions were answering today:

Just how big of a flip flop has Ohio Governor Mike DeWine done in his approach to combatting the coronavirus? DeWine, while discussing coronavirus hotspots in the Dayton and Cincinnati areas at his Thursday briefing, said he was taking a county by county approach, in consultation with local officials. Earlier, DeWine resisted pressure from rural lawmakers to do just that.

Does the video from Justice Center surveillance cameras show that police instigated the violence, and is there any evidence at all that supports the claim that protesters breached the Justice Center with aims of freeing prisoners in the jail? Hundreds of hours of security video released by Cuyahoga County on Friday shows the worst property destruction during the May 30 protests downtown occurred after police shot pepper balls, pepper spray and canisters of chemical fumes into crowds at the Justice Center.

Did the weekend temper the surge weve been seeing in Ohio coronavirus cases, or were the numbers still way up? The numbers werent as high as they were on Friday, but were still on an upward trend thats concerning.

Why is Samaria Rice upset about how some artists are using images of and the death of her son at police hands to build art projects? Her suffering is compounded by the reality that the death of her 12-year-old son Tamir has made his name, and images of his shooting captured in a surveillance video, a form of public property.

Why isnt the Ohio Turnpike following the lead of Pennsylvania and abandoning tickets and turnpike clerks for automation that is safer in the coronavirus era? Ohio Turnpike officials have no intention of doing away with cash and credit card options, citing revenue concerns.

Whats the latest piece of information to arise that argues for Cleveland City Councilman Matt Zone to resign from his chairmanship of councils Public Safety Committee? When City Councils Public Safety Committee held a hearing earlier this month about police preparation and response to a May 30 riot downtown, Zone, who chairs the commttee, did not disclose that his son was one of the officers deployed at the scene.

What would hundreds of people like to replace Little Italys Christopher Columbus statue with? A petition to Cleveland City Council seeks to get rid of the statue and replace it with Chef Boyardee.

Want more? You can find all our past episodes here.

Do you get your podcasts on Spotify? Find us here.

If you use Stitcher, we are here.

RadioPublic is another popular podcast vehicle, and we are here.

On Google Podcasts, we are here.

On PodParadise, find us here.

And on PlayerFM, we are here.
COLUMBUS, OhioIn the wake of numerous police-involved deaths and subsequent protests in recent years, a lot of attention is now being paid to the training that law-enforcement officers receive.

But what is the training? And what do Ohio officers learn when it comes to things like when to use force and how to overcome ones biases?

How much training do Ohio officers get?

Each prospective law-enforcement officer must complete a basic training course, consisting of at least 737 hours in total, from one of Ohios 69 state-approved basic training academies. To graduate, each must pass a series of physical fitness tests, a written exam, and skill assessments (including a minimum of 46 hours live-fire weapons training).

The training doesnt stop there. After officers are hired by a police department, sheriffs office, or another law-enforcement agency, state law requires each of them to complete at least 24 hours of continuing education coursework each year  or more, if theres enough funding.

What are officers trained in?

The 737 hours of mandatory training includes lessons in a wide variety of subjects. The largest portion of the required training involves 125 hours of traffic-related lessons, 111 hours of legal instruction, and 84 hours of human relations (which ranges from handling domestic-violence cases to interacting with the media).

Other curriculum topics include "subject-control techniques" (78 hours), patrol-related matters (69 hours), firearms training (60 hours), investigative lessons (53 hours), physical conditioning (44 hours), administrative duty instruction (43 hours), driving lessons (24 hours), anti-terrorism work (22 hours), first aid (16 hours), and handling civil disorders (8 hours).

What are the lessons like?

Most topics include classroom instruction, which generally involve lectures, videos, PowerPoint presentations, worksheets and class discussions. Some lessons, such as firearms and driving training courses, by necessity require outdoor hands-on training.

Here are some lesson plans, handouts, and worksheets for instructors teaching courses on a number of required topics. Some of them are a few years old, as lesson plans are approved, reviewed and updated as needed every four years, according to Dominic Binkley, a spokesman for Attorney General Dave Yosts office, which provided copies of the plans.

Civil Liability & Use of Force (6 course hours)

This course aims to teach, among other things, the standard for reasonable and excessive use of force. It goes in detail about the two U.S. Supreme Court rulings that police use of force:

Graham v. Connor (1986), which states The reasonableness of a particular use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight. (This has been the guiding legal doctrine followed in many police violence cases.)

Tennessee v. Garner (1985), which holds that officers may use deadly force to 1) protect themselves or others from immediate threats of serious physical injury and/or 2) to prevent escape of a fleeing dangerous person.

It also explains when handcuffing and use of a chemical weapon or Taser may be considered unreasonable force, advises how different tactics should be used against people who are unarmed or who show signs of mental illness or diminished mental capacity, outlines what officers should consider in determining an imminent threat, and details officers civil liability in traffic accidents and vehicle chases.

Community Diversity & Procedural Justice (16 hours)

In this course, instructors must:

Convey how and why its important for the public to have a good opinion of police, regardless of whether officers agree that criticism of them is reasonable

Explain when its OK for police to be filmed, and how officers should react (basically, officers should stay calm)

Define race, culture, and ethnicity, and explain types of discrimination based on those factors

Teach what explicit and implicit biases are, as well as how to overcome them through awareness and effort

Detail the importance of listening to people and staying neutral and respectful, as well as how to communicate effectively (the course lists 11 phrases to avoid saying, including Come here! Whats your problem? and What do you want me to do about it?)

Organize a panel discussion in class with leaders or representatives from an ethnic, cultural, and/or religious group that has a significant local concentration to explain their respective groups values, social norms, and other issues

Explain how traffic stops should be conducted, including having students act out scenarios (One tip given is Do not quiz the person to see if the person knows why he/she was stopped.)

Civil Disorders (8 course hours)

This course:

Attempts to show the line between free speech and protecting public safety and property

Defines different types of mobs (such as people trying to escape something, express feelings, show aggression, or be acquisitive)

Teaches common crowd-control strategies, including monitoring, containing, blocking and/or dispersing a group of people

Details various kinds of formations officers can make when deploying against a crowd

Describes components of a successful crowd-control force (training, discipline, equipment/weapons, vehicles/horses, etc.)

Lists advantages and effects of tear gas, pepper spray and other chemical agents, as well as teach the techniques for deploying them

Explains how to administer first aid to someone exposed to pepper spray or tear gas

Read more Ohio politics and government stories:

After staffer tests positive for COVID-19, Ohio senator refusing to return to Statehouse, citing concerns with safety protocols

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COLUMBUS, Ohio - At least 51,046 people have confirmed or probable coronavirus to date, according to the Ohio Department of Health on Monday, up from 737 a day earlier.

The Ohio case figure includes at least 2,818 confirmed or probable deaths, up 11 from Sundays state report.

The increase in cases and deaths doesnt necessarily mean they all occurred in the past 24 hours. There is some lag time between when they occur and when local entities notify the state.

The figures to watch are hospitalizations and intensive-care unit admissions, which indicate serious cases, some of which can lead to death. Ohio is testing more people but Ohio physicians -- as well as Gov. Mike DeWine -- say the surge cant be blamed on increased testing alone.

Hospitalizations are up 65 to a total 7,746. The median age of someone who is hospitalized is 64.

Hospitalizations is a lagging indicator, obviously, DeWine said.

The 65 new hospitalizations is above the 21-day average of 57 people who are hospitalized.

Last week was the first of hospitalization increases in the state in over two months, DeWine said.

We have to go back since late April to the time we were at this much, DeWine said.

June 20 was the low, with only 513 beds taken at Ohio hospitals, he said.

As of Monday, 115 people were on ventilators, fighting COVID-19.

As of Monday, 770,860 coronavirus tests have been conducted in Ohio.

More coverage:

Gov. Mike DeWine announces unscheduled coronavirus update: Watch live

Ohio coronavirus cases rise by 854, surpass 50,000: Sunday update

U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Louisiana abortion law, similar to Ohios, requiring doctors to have agreements with nearby hospitals

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine looking at county by county coronavirus restrictions, a reversal from the past

Ohio state senator, concerned about coronavirus, staying away from Columbus

Ohio board may allow medical marijuana for cachexia. What is it and could cannabis help?

Majority of Ohio voters agree with Gov. Mike DeWines pace of lifting coronavirus restrictions, poll finds

Ohio Supreme Court blocks Toledo from using traffic camera appeals process
Rotunda Rumblings

Rural vs. urban: Gov. Mike DeWine has said hes now looking at county-by-county coronavirus orders, since some urban areas are experiencing hotspots. This is a reversal of the past, when he said such a patchwork would be a disaster, Laura Hancock reports.

The climb: Friday saw another big increase in new coronavirus cases in Ohio -- 987, Hancock reports. It was the largest jump in cases since heavy prison testing in mid-April. Rich Exner has the map and charts showing the concerning trends. The weekend numbers were high, too: 817 on Saturday and 854 on Sunday.

Crisis communication: During a digital conference hosted last week by the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, DeWine said that racism is a public health crisis, using the title phrase for the resolutions introduced by Black caucus members in the Ohio House and Senate. But Dan Tierney, a DeWine spokesman, said the governor did not comment specifically on the resolutions, which contain language urging the governors office to set up a task force for racial equity, among other provisions. The OLBC issued a statement thanking DeWine for his words.

Not coming down the pike: While neighboring Pennsylvania has switched to all electronic toll collections in part because of concerns about the coronavirus, the Ohio Turnpike has no plans to eliminate the option of paying with cash or credit card. As Peter Krouse reports, Ohio Turnpike officials say motorists dont use the E-Z Pass electronic payment system at a high enough rate to justify doing away with the cash and credit card options.

Back-to-school: As Ohio awaits state guidelines for schools reopening, the University of Michigan released results from a survey of 1,193 parents or guardians in Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. About 67% of respondents in all states said they intended to send children back to school in the fall., Emily Bamforth reports. The survey also gauged support for coronavirus mitigation measures, like face coverings or staggered schedules.

Thats all she wrote: The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal on a lawsuit seeking to force Ohio to loosen its signature gathering rules for ballot issues, including allowing electronic signatures. As Julie Carr Smyth reports for the Associated Press, the Supreme Court has denied the appeal filed from a group backing a slew of local marijuana decriminalization campaigns. The lawsuit originally included state issue campaigns seeking to raise the minimum wage and expand state voting access laws.

One small step for the Senate: The U.S. Senate unanimously approved legislation by Ohios Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman that would rename NASAs Plum Brook testing facility near Sandusky after Ohio astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon. The House of Representatives must approve the legislation for the name change to happen.

Not for sale: Vendors for Augusts Medina County Fair have agreed not to offer the Confederate battle flag for sale, reports Bob Finnan for the Medina Gazette. However, the fair board itself did not take a position on the issue, saying doing so could invite a legal challenge. The move comes in response to lobbying from local activists, and follows a recent, unsuccessful effort by Ohio House Democrats to ban such sales outright.

Trouble down south: DeWine "grossly mishandled" this year's primary election and has "not reacted appropriately" to the pandemic, according to a resolution passed by the Warren County Republican Party. As Scott Wartman of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports, the resolution also states that the governor should reopen Ohio to "all commerce" and allow residents "to make lawful decisions regarding their own wellbeing and safety."

One Obergefell swoop: Friday marked five years since Ohio native Jim Obergefells successful petition to the United States Supreme Court that legalized same sex marriage. The Cincinnati Enquirers Amber Hunt caught up with Obergefell, who said hes optimistic the younger generation will continue to drive activism for marginalized groups.

Sun screen: Theres another legislative attempt to prohibit minors from using tanning beds in Ohio. Senate Bill 329, introduced by Republican state Sen. Peggy Lehner of the Dayton area, would make it illegal for a tanning salon to provide services to anyone younger than 18. Right now, people between the ages of 16 and 18 are allowed to use tanning beds if a parent or legal guardian signs a permission form. Similar bills have been introduced in past sessions without success.

Now thats Italian: Just like in the state capital, there are calls in Cleveland to remove a statue of Christopher Columbus. But a group of petitioners asking Cleveland City Council to take down the statue, in the citys Little Italy neighborhood, has an alternative: replacing it with a statue of Chef Boyardee, also known as Ettore (Hector) Boiardi, known for his food and iconic mustache. Kaylee Remington has the story.

Im feeling lucky: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost wants public feedback on what seems to be a rather leading question: Should internet search engines be allowed to favor their own products and services in search results? We want to know if you think that kind of thing is unfair or deceptive, or if youre OK with it, stated Yost, who said in a release his office is considering regulations on such favoritism, as well as potential antitrust action against Google. The Connected Commerce Council, a nonprofit that counts Amazon, Facebook and Google as partners, replied in a release that our members are ready to help General Yost better understand...the unfortunate unintended consequences that disruption to the digital marketplace will have on small businesses and consumers.

Full Disclosure

Five things we learned from the Feb. 11, 2020 financial disclosure form for state Rep. James Hoops, a Napoleon Republican.

1. Hoops reported earning up to $999 from administrative pay at Northwest State Community College, stock dividends and interest on checking and money market accounts; $1,000 to $9,999 from checking account interest and administrative pay from Farmers & Merchants State Bank; and $50,000 to $99,999 for his legislative pay and the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System.

2. Hoops reported investments include stock and bonds in the Ohio Deferred Compensation Program, an IRA with Putnam Convertible Securities, interest from Universal Guaranty Life Insurance, stock in a CMFG Variable Life Insurance Policy and the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System.

3. At some point in 2019, Hoops owed more than $1,000 on a Meijer MasterCard.

4. Hoops reported receiving $7,438.08 in travel reimbursement from the Ohio House of Representatives and $266.80 in travel expenses from the Ohio House Republican Organizational Committee.

5. Hoops went to a turkey roast at Cooper Farms worth $40.

On the Move

Gov. Mike DeWine recently announced two judicial appointments: Larry N. Heiser to serve as a judge on the Marion County Family Court and Jon M. Ickes to serve as a judge on the Sandusky County Common Pleas General and Domestic Relations Court.

Birthdays

Maya Majikas, Ohio House Democrats' constituent outreach coordinator

Straight From The Source

They did all that in a week after Floyd. Its unbelievable. Name a legislature that did all that.

-Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, ticking off five actions in the Ohio General Assembly over the days after George Floyds May 25 death: State Rep. Nino Vitale claiming his skin was darker than members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus; state Sen. Steve Huffman asking if higher rates of COVID-19 in the colored population were because they dont wash their hands as well; the Ohio House passing a bill that changes voting laws, which Whaley called voter suppression; the House resuming testimony on a stand your ground, bill that could result more Black people being killed; and lawmakers rejecting an attempt to ban Confederate flags at county fairs.

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.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In the first abortion case it considered since confirmation of Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Louisiana law Monday that requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital in case complications arise.

In a 5-4 ruling -- with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the liberal wing of the court -- the high court said that the Louisiana law is an unnecessary health regulation and a substantial obstacle to a woman seeking an abortion. Its unconstitutional because its an undue burden to the right to an abortion, the court ruled.

Ohio requires abortion providers to have transfer agreements with local hospitals, which is similar to the Louisiana law but not the same because admitting privileges are different.

To be clear, the Supreme Courts decision doesnt immediately strike down Ohios transfer agreement law.

Rather, it makes two points: 1) It clarifies that abortion clinics have the right to sue over laws they deem as unfair -- an issue known as standing, and which abortion opponents had disagreed with, arguing that only women have standing to challenge laws; 2) It reinforces that such agreements can create an undue burden to the right to an abortion.

Majority opinion

The majority opinion, written by Justice Stephen G. Breyer, relies heavily on a 1990s-era Supreme Court abortion decision that specifies restrictions on abortion are allowed as long as they dont pose an undue burden on a womans right to obtain one -- a case known as Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Robert P. Casey.

It also includes maps of Louisiana to show how enforcement of the law would likely result in closure of clinics throughout the state. In addition to fewer regions having clinics, those that remained open would be crowded and have longer waiting times, Breyer wrote.

Even if they obtain an appointment at a clinic, women who might previously have gone to a clinic in Baton Rouge or Shreveport would face increased driving distances, Breyer wrote. New Orleans is nearly a five hour drive from Shreveport; it is over an hour from Baton Rouge; and Baton Rouge is more than four hours from Shreveport. The impact of those increases would be magnified by Louisianas requirement that every woman undergo an ultrasound and receive mandatory counseling at least 24 hours before an abortion.

Roberts wrote a separate opinion that concurred with the majority. He referred to a 2016 court decision about a similar Texas law -- from which he had dissented. But he wrote that his hands were tied.

The result in this case is controlled by our decision four years ago invalidating a nearly identical Texas law, Roberts wrote. The Louisiana law burdens women seeking previability abortions to the same extent as the Texas law, according to factual findings that are not clearly erroneous. For that reason, I concur in the judgment of the Court that the Louisiana law is unconstitutional.

Ohio reaction

Ohio abortion rights proponents, such as Tam Nickerson of Clevelands Preterm abortion and sexual health clinic, celebrated the ruling.

Todays Supreme Court ruling ensures that clinics can keep providing care for the patients that trust us, she said in a statement. But its not enough to keep things as they are. Systemic attacks on abortion have impacted the number of clinics open across Ohio and the country, and these attacks will not stop with todays ruling. Ohio politicians are considering many anti-abortion measures in session right now. Fortunately, todays ruling will allow us to continue serving our patients and fighting for a world where abortion and reproductive healthcare access are even more available without shame or stigma.

Aaron Baer, president of Citizens for Community Values, a Christian policy organization, said the decision was disappointing.

The Supreme Court has put politics over the health and safety of women, he said. Louisiana was simply trying to hold surgical abortion facilities to the same standard as other surgical facilities. This is the definition of an undemocratic decision when five unelected judges can overrule an entire state legislature.

Dissenting opinion

Justice Clarance Thomas, in a dissent, wrote that the Louisiana clinic didnt have standing. He argued that women dont have a right to abortion under the privacy guarantees in the 14th Amendment.

Moreover, the fact that no five Justices can agree on the proper interpretation of our precedents today evinces that our abortion jurisprudence remains in a state of utter entropy. Since the Court decided Roe, Members of this Court have decried the unworkability of our abortion case law and repeatedly called for course corrections of varying degrees, Thomas wrote.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote a dissent for himself and Gorsuch, to disagree with part of Thomas dissent. Furthermore, Gorsuch wrote part of his own dissent, as did Kavanaugh.

In any event, contrary to the view taken by the plurality and (seemingly) by the Chief Justice, there is ample evidence in the record showing that admitting privileges help to protect the health of women by ensuring that physicians who perform abortions meet a higher standard of competence than is shown by the mere possession of a license to practice, Alito wrote.

Arguments made before the court

Abortion rights advocates say the Louisiana law was adopted to shutter abortion clinics, like an Ohio law that requires abortion clinics to have transfer agreements with nearby hospitals. They argue the admissions credentials arent needed and hospitals frequently deny admitting privileges to doctors who provide abortions, for reasons ranging from ideological opposition, fear of backlash, or the fact that their patients rarely need emergency care.

Attorneys told the Supreme Court that implementing the Louisiana law would force closure of every abortion clinic in the state except one, and allow just one doctor in the state to perform abortions.

NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Deputy Director Jaime Miracle said Ohios law has forced closure of abortion clinics in Toledo and Cincinnati that couldnt get transfer agreements with nearby hospitals. Abortion providers say the agreements are unnecessary because federal laws require hospitals to take in any patient who comes to them in an emergency. Abortion clinics are also challenging Ohios law in federal court.

The Louisiana law at issue in the case, June Medical Services v. Russo, is identical to a Texas law the court ruled unconstitutional in its 2016 Whole Womens Health v. Hellerstedt decision. The laws opponents contended it should be rejected on those grounds. The attorney for June Medical Services Julie Rikelman, told the court that nothing has changed that would justify such a legal about-face.

The lack of benefits of these laws is not state-dependent, Rikelman said when the case was argued in March. The medical consensus is clear that in no state do they serve health and safety benefits. And, in fact, even the federal government a few months ago removed an admitting privileges requirement from its regulations of surgery centers nationwide, finding that the requirement is medically unnecessary and imposes burdens.

But Louisiana Solicitor General Elizabeth Murrill told the court her states law and regulatory structure are different from the Texas law that was overturned.

Louisianas decision to require abortion providers to have admitting privileges was iustified by abundant evidence of life-threatening health and safety violations, malpractice, noncompliance with professional licensing rules, legislative testimony from post-abortive women, testimony from doctors who took care of abortion providers abandoned patients, Murrill argued. Doctors and healthcare providers and healthcare facilities are heavily regulated for ethics reasons and for consumer protection.

She said the record showed that abortion doctors who applied for privileges at hospitals can get privileges, they did get privileges.

These doctors should not be able to challenge a regulation that protects people -- that -- that is intended to protect a class of people from a certain type of activity, said Murrill. Its health and safety regulations.

More coverage:

Senate Democrats including Ohios Sherrod Brown thwart consideration of GOP police reform bill

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
In our world of divisiveness, generally, most people can agree  crime is bad. But what about hate crimes? We have all heard the loaded-phrase before, but many remain unclear about what elevates a seemingly regular crime into a hate crime? Two recent incidents reported on by the Clevel
The woman, identified as Sarah J. Donohue, of Louisville, Ky., was later pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. The agency had previously provided a different name to victim. An autopsy confirmed that Donohue died from the gunshot wound to the head and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiners office.
She said Wasni had taken two earlier Uber rides the evening before, including one to Des Plaines and another from Des Plaines to Walmart. She was apparently in violation of the ride-sharing company's terms and conditions, which say customers must be at least 18 years old.
Clinton, IA (52732)

Today

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph.
Chesapeake Energy, the poster child of the U.S. shale revolution, filed for bankruptcy protection on Sunday. The move comes as the company and industry more broadly has been rocked by a drop in oil and gas prices amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The heavily indebted company has been in trouble for some time, and in May said that it had concerns regarding its long-term viability.

Chesapeake said that $7 billion in debt will be wiped out through the restructuring. The company has secured $925 million in debtor-in-possession financing in order to continue operations during the bankruptcy process. In addition, Chesapeake has secured an agreement in principle from certain existing lenders for $2.5 billion in debt financing on emergence from bankruptcy, as well as a backstop commitment for $600 million in new equity.

Franklin Resources and Fidelity are among the biggest creditors, according to people close to the company, and they will be among the primary equity holders following the company's restructuring. The company will continue operations at a much reduced capacity, with a handful of gas rigs and no oil rigs, according to those familiar with the company's plans.

"We are fundamentally resetting Chesapeake's capital structure and business to address our legacy financial weaknesses and capitalize on our substantial operational strengths," CEO Doug Lawler said in a statement.
Amazon warehouse workers have gone on strike in Germany after staff at several logistics centers tested positive for the coronavirus.

The strikes are taking place at six of the e-commerce giant's warehouses across the country on Monday and Tuesday.

German labor union Verdi said on Sunday that Amazon is endangering the lives of warehouse workers.

"Amazon has so far shown no insight and is endangering the health of employees in favor of corporate profit," said Orhan Akman, who is responsible for the retail and mail order sectors at Verdi, in a statement.

Amazon denied that it was endangering the lives of workers, adding that state health and regulatory agencies have inspected and passed 91 of its facilities since March.

A recent outbreak at a warehouse in the town of Bad Hersfeld infected at least 30 to 40 Amazon workers, the union said.

Strikes are being held at Amazon warehouses in Leipzig, Bad Hersfeld, Rheinberg, Werne and Koblenz.

"We utilize a variety of data to closely monitor the safety of our buildings and there is strong evidence that our employees are not proliferating the virus at workwhat we see is that the overall rate of infection and increase or decrease of total cases is highly correlated to the overall community rate of infection," an Amazon spokesperson told CNBC.

"We believe strongly our associates are not spreading the virus at work given the robust safety measures we've put into place. Unlike others who hide beyond HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), anytime there is a confirmed diagnosis we alert every person at the site. Employees receive a direct message noting when the person with the confirmed diagnosis was last in the building."

Similar strikes have also taken place in the U.S., where Amazon clamped down hard and fired workers.

Last month, Amazon VP Tim Bray quit "in dismay" at the firm's crackdown. In a blog post, the Amazon Web Services engineer said the firing of protesters was evidence of "a vein of toxicity running through the company culture."

Amazon has been accused of having a slower response to the coronavirus than Chinese rivals Alibaba and JD.com.

Over 50 Amazon "fulfilment centers" around the world have seen cases of the coronavirus, while some have dubbed the warehouses as "breeding grounds of coronavirus." At least eight Amazon warehouse workers have died as a result of the coronavirus.

Amazon says it has gone to "great lengths" to protect workers from the virus. Temperature checks, disinfectant spraying, "enhanced" cleaning and social distancing have been introduced at warehouses, and workers are given protective masks to wear. But the virus still seems to be spreading in some warehouses.

"The facts are: by end of June, we will have invested approximately $4 billion worldwide on COVID-related initiatives getting products to customers and keeping employees safe," an Amazon spokesperson told CNBC.

"In Germany alone, we have ordered 470 million units of hand disinfectant, 21 million pairs of gloves, 19 million units of face masks, face shields and other mouth-nose-covers, 39 million units of disinfectant wipes. Health authorities and government officials are confirming that we have the right measures in place to protect associates and customers."
A medical worker wearing a mask walks near the AMC movie theater in Times Square amid the coronavirus pandemic on May 7, 2020 in New York City.

As Hollywood once again shifts its film calendar, AMC Theatres is pushing back its reopening date.

On Monday, the largest theater chain in the U.S., said it would now begin its phased reopening of theaters on July 30. Previously, the company had planned on starting to reopen theaters in mid-July in time for the releases of "Tenet" and "Mulan."

However, late last week both Warner Bros. and Disney pushed their releases into August as cases of coronavirus continued to spike in parts of the U.S. "Tenet" is now expected in theaters on Aug. 12 and "Mulan" is slated to arrive on Aug. 21.

Earlier this month, AMC flagged to investors that it had "substantial doubts" about its ability to continue operations if it were forced to keep its theaters closed for an extended period of time. It pointed to Thanksgiving as threshold marker for how long it could remain closed without a partial reopening.

The company has also faced some resistance from creditors as it has sought to regain a foothold after being forced to shutter all of its locations in mid-March.

Shares of the company were up about 1% on Monday, but are down more than 41% since January. The stock has a market value of about $440.5 million.

Upon reopening, AMC said it will operate at a limited capacity and block off seating to maintain safety and require patrons to wear masks.
Stocks in Asia Pacific fell on Monday as the number of coronavirus cases globally continues to rise.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 2.3% on the day to 21,995.04 as shares of index heavyweight Fast Retailing and conglomerate Softbank Group dropped more than 2% each.The Topix index also slipped 1.78% to end its trading day at 1,549.22. South Korea's Kospi declined 1.93% to close at 2,093.48.

Mainland Chinese stocks declined on the day. The Shanghai composite was down 0.61% to about 2,961.52 while the Shenzhen component slipped 0.518% to around 11,752.36. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped 1.24%, as of its final hour of trading, with shares of life insurer AIA down 3.1%.

Meanwhile, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.51% to close at 5,815.

Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index declined 0.93%.

Oil prices fell in the afternoon of Asian trading hours, with international benchmark Brent crude futures dropping 1.37% to $40.46 per barrel. U.S. crude futures also slipped 1.33% to $37.98 per barrel.

On the economic data front, retail sales in Japan dropped 12.3% year-on-year in May, according to the country's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. That compared against a median market forecast of a 11.6% decline, according to Reuters.
Samantha Olivares, his fiancee, said they were planning to fix up the basement in the familys new home for them and their son, Osiris. The two met three years ago in the neighborhood, she said. She was attracted to his light brown eyes, and they clicked right away after seeing the movie All Eyez on Me about Tupac for their first date.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden told potential donors to his campaign that his administration would end most of President Donald Trump's multitrillion-dollar tax cuts  even though "a lot of you may not like that."

Biden's warning to his backers came as the candidate laid out an ambitious suite of policy goals during a virtual campaign fundraiser on Monday.

The event raised at least $2 million, CNBC reported.

Schwartz TWEET

Biden, who has largely avoided in-person campaign events throughout the coronavirus pandemic, said the recovery from the health crisis could present an "opportunity" to strengthen the middle class and make sweeping investments in clean energy and infrastructure.

"Folks, this is going to be really hard work and Donald Trump has made it much harder to foot the bill," Biden said, according to a Wall Street Journal reporter's press pool report about the event.

But even before the coronavirus crisis effectively froze the U.S. economy and sent unemployment skyrocketing, Trump's "irresponsible sugar-high tax cuts had already pushed us into a trillion-dollar deficit," Biden said.

"I'm going to get rid of the bulk of Trump's $2 trillion tax cut," Biden continued, "and a lot of you may not like that but I'm going to close loopholes like capital gains and stepped-up basis."

Biden also said he would raise the corporate tax rate to 28%, which he said would raise an estimated $1.3 trillion over the next decade. The Trump tax cuts had shrunk corporate taxes to 21% from 35%.

"We have to think as big as the challenge we face. But this is America, there is nothing we cannot do if we do it together," Biden said. "But I think the country is ready."

The Trump campaign didn't immediately reply to a request for comment.

CNBC's Brian Schwartz contributed to this report.
BlackRock's global chief investment strategist said after the market's strong gains, he is more cautious on U.S. stocks into the second half of the year because of risks from fading fiscal stimulus and potential election volatility.

The BlackRock Investment Institute, in its second-half outlook, said it retains equities at neutral, or benchmark weight in portfolios. Within that, it has an overweight on European stocks, underweight on emerging markets and neutral, or more cautious view on U.S. equities. It also favors higher-quality names across the board.

"We entered the year overweight equities and credit. At the very end of February, as the storms gathering around the coronavirus became apparent, we cut those investments back to neutral weight," said Mike Pyle, global chief investment strategist at BlackRock. But when he returned to an overweight in risk in early April, it was just in credit, an asset class the Fed and other central banks are purchasing.

"The strong policy backstop was going to mean credit assets are going to have a smoother and more resilient ride ... versus equity assets," Pyle said.

At the same time, aggressive central bank policies have made Treasurys and other sovereign bonds less attractive because of low and negative interest rates.

Pyle said the call on U.S. stocks is not very negative, just cautious and he expects U.S. equities to perform in line with global markets in the back half of the year, after outperforming.

Stocks sold off in the past week, as investors reacted to a resurgence of the coronavirus in some states and concerns that could hurt the economic recovery. The S&P 500 fell 2.9% for the week to 3,009, and it is now up about 16% for the second quarter, off from a more than 20% gain.

"I would say we are cautious on the U.S. market overall because of the fiscal story, and the remaining challenges around the public health response and what we think is a pretty volatile election season with policy uncertainty on the back of that" said Pyle. He said the tensions between the U.S. and China could also be a negative, and they are likely to continue regardless of who wins the U.S. election.

Pyle said strong policy responses in March supported the economy and helped U.S. markets rebound. However, Pyle said he is concerned about the future path of fiscal stimulus.

"We're worried about a fiscal cliff in late July around unemployment insurance and support for small businesses," he said. Pyle said it is also unclear how much support Congress will be willing to provide for state and local governments.

"I think it's likely we do see congressional action. The question mark: is it going to be enough? Is it going to be composed in the right way to support the economy," said Pyle.

"With $2 trillion plus of support fiscally as well as a monetary policy response from the Fed, as we look ahead, our concern is the U.S. runs a risk in the back half of the year of retrenching too quickly on fiscal policy," he said.

Pyle said he is concerned about the broader U.S. market facing headwinds, as companies try to recover. "I would say on the positive side we are still inclined towards tech, still inclined towards parts of health care," he said.

European stocks, however, have better prospects because of a strong policy response, and the economy is responding.

"We think that gives a lot of tail winds for Europe to outperform for the second half of the year, relative to broad emerging markets," he said. "While risks remain, it's a much more robust policy framework than we thought two or three months ago," he said.

Pyle said there are broader trends that investors need to watch, and they have been accelerated by the coronavirus and the response to it. Deglobalization is one, and the trend should continue.

"Deglobalization we see as a very significant issue on the strategic horizon. We think you are increasingly seeing countries and regions delink their economies from one another, which over time reduces correlations across the economies and reduces correlations for financial markets across those economies," he said.

Another is the flow of capital into ESG investments, or strategies that take into consideration a company's environmental, social and governance factors.

"One of the interesting things about 2020, taken as a whole, is that flows into ESG oriented funds, or portfolios has continued to grow even during the period of the drawdowns in March and through the retracement as well," he said. "It's been noteworthy that we've seen historic volatility, but one of the constants has been clients continue to allocate capital into sustainable strategies."
Burger King's U.S. same-store sales are trending flat as customers return to its locations for Whoppers and french fries.

The Restaurant Brands International chain saw its same-store sales plunge by the mid-30s in March as the coronavirus pandemic led consumers to stay home and cook. But now, even with many of its North American dining rooms closed or offering only reduced seating, Burger King is seeing customers come back and order through its drive-thru lanes. It also recently launched nationwide a meatless breakfast sandwich made with the Impossible Sausage.

The burger chain's sales trend echoes those of the broader fast-food segment, which has been quicker to recover from the pandemic than the overall restaurant industry. Fast-food chains' transactions fell just 13% in the week ended June 7 compared with the year-ago period, according to the NPD Group.

Burger King's sister chain, Popeyes, has seen its soaring same-store sales growth recede slightly. In the third week of May, its U.S. same-store sales increased by more than 40%. But as the chain starts the lap its strongest results of the prior year before the national launch of its popular chicken sandwich, U.S. same-store sales rose by just the "very high 20s" last week. In mid-June, Popeyes began testing the sandwich in Canada.

Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons, the third chain in Restaurant Brands' portfolio, saw same-store sales declines in the negative high teens as of last week. In the third full week of May, its same-store sales shrank by mid-20s. About 90% of its locations are open in Canada.

Shares of parent company Restaurant Brands were up less than 1% in early trading Monday.

Restaurant Brands does not include locations that are closed for a "significant portion of a month" in its same-store sales calculations. "Nearly all" of its U.S. locations for Popeyes and Burger King are open, but other markets, like Latin America, have seen more widespread closures.

CEO Jose Cil also said that the company will repay all outstanding amounts under its revolving credit facility this week, citing its steady business improvements and strong financial position. Restaurant Brands drew down its $1 billion revolver in late March "out of an abundance of caution."

The company is scheduled to report its full second-quarter results in early August.
Anne Schuchat, director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), speaks during a U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Stefani Reynolds | Bloomberg via Getty Images

The coronavirus is spreading too rapidly and too broadly for the U.S. to bring it under control, Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Monday. The U.S. has set records for daily new infections in recent days as outbreaks surge mostly across the South and West. The recent spike in new cases has outpaced daily infections in April when the virus rocked Washington state and the northeast, and when public officials thought the outbreak was hitting its peak in the U.S. "We're not in the situation of New Zealand or Singapore or Korea where a new case is rapidly identified and all the contacts are traced and people are isolated who are sick and people who are exposed are quarantined and they can keep things under control," she said in an interview with The Journal of the American Medical Association's Dr. Howard Bauchner. "We have way too much virus across the country for that right now, so it's very discouraging."

New Zealand's outbreak peaked in early April, when the country reported 89 new cases in a single day, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. On June 8, officials declared that there no more active infections in the island country of almost 5 million. Since then, a handful of cases have entered the country from international travelers, but health officials have managed to contain infections so far to fewer than 10 new daily cases per day through June. South Korea was among the first countries outside of China to battle a coronavirus outbreak, but health officials managed to contain the epidemic through aggressive testing, contact tracing and isolating of infected people. The outbreak peaked at 851 new infections reported on March 3, according to Hopkins' data, but the country has reported fewer than 100 new cases per day since April 1. Like South Korea, Singapore found early success in preventing the spread of the virus through aggressive testing and tracing. However, in April the virus began to circulate among the island country's migrant worker community, ballooning into an outbreak that peaked on April 20, when the country reported about 1,400 new cases, according to Hopkins' data. Daily new cases have steadily dropped since then and on Sunday, the country reported 213 new cases, according to Hopkins' data. While the outbreaks in New Zealand, South Korea and Singapore have been of different magnitudes and followed different trajectories, officials in all three countries now quickly respond to every new infection in order to stamp out what remains of the outbreak, Schuchat said. The U.S. stands in stark contrast as it continues to report over 30,000 new infections per day. "This is really the beginning," Schuchat said of the U.S.'s recent surge in new cases. "I think there was a lot of wishful thinking around the country that, hey it's summer. Everything's going to be fine. We're over this and we are not even beginning to be over this. There are a lot of worrisome factors about the last week or so."

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards
A China Eastern Airlines aircraft stands on the tarmac at the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China, on Monday, June 8, 2020. Qilai Shen | Bloomberg via Getty Images

China's struggle against the economic overhang of the coronavirus is far from over. Renewed limits on social activities has dampened the pace of recovery, as evident from the nearly 69% drop in tourism revenue during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival that officially ended Saturday. The restrictions are primarily in Beijing, where authorities increased social distancing measures and tightened scrutiny on travel in and out of the capital city after a cluster of Covid-19 cases emerged just two weeks before the holiday. Nationwide, many scenic spots are still capping visitors at a fraction of total capacity. This year, the roughly 48.81 million tourist trips during the festival brought in revenue of 12.28 billion yuan ($1.73 billion), according to China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism. That marked a drop of 68.8% from the 39.33 billion yuan in tourism revenue during the festival last year, which fell in early June. Nearly 95.98 million tourist trips were made then, according to official figures. "Tourism and other activity data from the past Dragon Boat Festival holiday (25-27 June) suggest that the recovery in services sector remains weak for some understandable reasons," Ting Lu, chief China economist at Nomura, said in a note. He pointed to increased social distancing measures and consumer confidence "clouded by elevated uncertainty and high unemployment rate." "Due to the travel bans (a)lmost no cross-border trips were made during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday this year," Lu said. "These data suggest no significant improvement from the Labour Day holiday (in May)."

Covid-19 first emerged late last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan. In an attempt to control the spread of the disease, more than half of the country extended a Lunar New Year holiday shutdown by at least a week in February. While the outbreak stalled within weeks and much of the country resumed work by April, China faced the new challenge of travelers bringing the virus into the country from overseas. The spread of Covid-19 to major economies in a global pandemic  now infecting more than 10 million and killing over half a million  also hit demand for China's exports. The country is trying to shift its reliance from exports to domestic consumption for growth. With international borders largely closed, the hope is that the billions of dollars spent on foreign tourism last year will now be redirected within China. Official figures estimated that in the first half of last year alone, Chinese tourists spent $127.5 billion overseas, primarily in other parts of Asia. It's less certain whether most Chinese consumers have the income and confidence to spend on such a level this year, given the shock of the coronavirus. Retail sales of consumer goods in China for the first five months of the year fell 13.5% from a year ago to about 13.87 billion yuan ($1.95 billion), according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Chinese travel booking site Ctrip said in a report that the pace of recovery in tourist demand slowed during the latest festival from that seen during two other public holidays in the last three months.

Demand for travel persists

But figures indicate Chinese still want to spend on vacations, even if restrictions made it difficult for travel in and out of the capital city. A two-day jaunt to a nearby destination within the country will also typically cost less than a week-long overseas shopping expedition. For example: Airplane ticket searches and bookings for the latest Dragon Boat Festival recovered to 70% of levels seen last year, according to Ctrip.

Reservations for hotels rose 15% in June from the prior month, and more than 60% of travelers booked products from four or five-star hotels, Ctrip said.

Tencent-backed Mafengwo reported an explosion in demand for customized tour packages and local tourist destinations, while noting searches for "camping" and related terms were up 122% in June from the prior month, according to state media.

Shanghai, the southern city of Guangzhou, the southwestern city of Chengdu and Sanya city on Hainan Island were the top four places of departure and arrival for air travel, according to Ctrip.

Shanghai Disney Resort and Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum in the city of Xi'an were among the 20 most popular destinations, according to Ctrip. McKinsey expects that if all tourism spending shifts to domestic markets, the value gained for China is $238 billion, versus a drop of $52 billion for the United States.

Slow recovery ahead

"We do see that travel will come back," Steve Saxon, partner at McKinsey, said in a phone interview last week. But it may be at least three years for a full recovery in air travel demand, the firm projects.

Beijing Daxing International Airport opened in the fall of 2019 on the southern edge of China's capital city. Evelyn Cheng | CNBC
Below is the transcript of a CNBC interview with Frank Appel, CEO, Deutsche Post DHL Group. The interview played out in CNBC's latest episode of Managing Asia on 26 June 2020, 5.30PM SG/HK (in APAC). If you choose to use anything, please attribute to CNBC and Christine Tan.

Christine Tan (CT): Mr. Appel, thank you so much for talking to me. From where you sit in Germany, as CEO of Deutsche Post DHL Group, when you see the disruption happening in your industry, how would you describe what you're seeing?

Frank Appel (FA) Yes, it is definitely an unexpected event. We probably haven't seen such a crisis before because it is not a recession in a normal way, there is really discontinuity. That means things are changing so rapidly. People have been in lockdown. We have seen a massive drop in consumer demand, and that's very different from other crises that we have seen before and that needs new answers somehow. But at the end of the day, we will manage that crisis somehow altogether if we are focused on what is important for the people on the planet.

CT: We know the pandemic started in China, do you remember the early weeks of the outbreak in China and the impact on your operations there? How did you react?

FA: Of course, we remember that, and we reacted probably in the same way to SARS. We probably had been more proactive at the beginning. Yes, we said, ok, we have to secure the health of our people in China. We have to watch how trade flows will work. But, if I'm honest, we probably had not anticipated that it would spread so rapidly. We felt it was probably more like SARS, it could be contained in the region and the rest would go on. If you reflect on what happened in the capital market, it was the same. The stock market was still booming. What we actually did was we started to introduce for our I.T. service centres where one was in Malaysia, we put an A/B split or red and blue team split straight from the beginning. We said the I.T. service centres were very important, the data centres were very important, and therefore, we had to protect them. We started to do these kinds of things to the rest of the world later. Actually, I travelled to Davos. In Davos, nobody felt at all that there was a danger of a pandemic, interestingly enough.

CT: Well, things quickly changed. A pandemic forced many countries to undergo lockdowns. As a global logistics player, how big of a challenge was it to operate under shutdowns and quarantines?

FA: If I look back, it was surprisingly easier than expected. The focus from the beginning was to create a task force under my own leadership with the operational heads in February. We said, ok, what we had to do was we had to align our activities in the respective countries and follow the governmental rulings or recommendations. They were different from day one in their countries. Then, we adapted our measures. We have gone through that amazingly well I have to say. The energy level and the commitment of our people have been terrific. This is what we hear from our colleagues, that we put health and safety first, then service quality second - never the other way around - and that has engaged them.

CT: DHL has a dedicated fleet of over 250 freighter aircraft, were they in high demand? Did you have to scramble to get more cargo space?

FA: We have a competitive advantage, without a doubt, that we control so many cargo airplanes. You know, since there's no intercontinental travel, there's a massive shortage on belly-space capacity and we see the benefits. We have seen financial impact at the beginning as well. We see now increasing demand, fortunately, around the world, not only in China, but also in Europe and the US. Of course, if you control 250+ wide bodies, that gives you a competitive edge. Also, for our air freight business, so that has worked very well. Of course, since we have a long-lasting relationship with many carriers, we get better control of additional capacity than some of our competitors. So, that has worked very well and to our advantage. Of course, you know, we have lower volumes as well. And therefore, financial numbers will be impacted. But overall, relatively to many of us, we have done very well, in particular because we controlled so many aircraft.

CT: So, at a time where air freight capacity is so tight, did you put more priority on health care equipment and supplies?

FA: The first thing is obvious, that you assure that you have enough supply for yourself. Of course, we helped many governments around the world get the stuff moved around the world because we prioritized PPE and delayed our stuff somehow. We have seen a massive turn particularly out of China, and there was tremendous demand around the world and there was all this shortage. We helped many governments to get stuff into the airports and then to the right places. So, that is improvisation you have to do as a company. What is most essential has to be delivered first, and we have prioritized accordingly.

CT: Like all global logistics players, you are impacted by the global disruption in the supply chain. Your first quarter earnings took a hit and you abandoned your profit forecast for 2020. At what point do you hope to gain some visibility? Could you resume guidance in the second half of the year?

FA: I think we have to come to that. What is important is that we all, together with those in leading positions regardless of what we do, whether we are in in journalism like yourself, in politics or in business, we have to give certainty again. There will be a time in the second half that we definitely will have more visibility. At the moment, the signs are encouraging. Not only the infection rate is coming down in Europe and North America, but also business is picking up again. We see the same pattern as what we have seen in Asia and particular, China. We had a significant drop and we had a good recovery. I'm pretty optimistic that we will see now, definitely in June, a good recovery in Europe and the Americas. All these take some time, but overall, the trend is definitely heading in the right direction.

CT: So, you hope to resume guidance in the second half of the year?

FA: Yes.

CT: Whether it's post parcel express, freight forwarding, e-commerce, supply chain, where are you feeling the most pressure right now? Where is growth the slowest? Where is growth being impacted?

FA: In express, we will see early recovery of volumes. We definitely expect that we will see in the second half of the year, volume growth year over year even. That is coming from a limitation of airfreight capacity, so that means there is up-trading of certain airfreight to express. There's also a significant boom intercontinental on B2C. People want to buy some things and they can't travel and can't shop somewhere else, so they buy online. We see the same in our e-commerce business around the world, particularly in Germany, but also in other markets where we do that. On the other side where we've seen negative impact is on direct mailings. So, with our letter volumes, which have dropped quite a bit because people do less advertising and that leads to less direct mailings. We also have seen impact on some of our warehouses, which were shut down because if automotive companies didn't produce, their warehouses were shut down. But more than two-thirds are already experiencing now an increase again. One-third is probably more impacted in a negative way. So, on balance, we have a pretty resilient portfolio and you will see that in the coming quarters that our profitability will be pretty resilient against the crisis.

CT: There are signs of stability. China was a first into the pandemic, now it appears they are the first into a recovery. What's the status of your operations there? Are handling volumes back to normal?

FA: Yes, we have seen in China growth even year-on-year. So, the operations are working very swift operations. I talk to the CEOs on a regular basis and our operations are back to normal almost everywhere. Most warehouses are reopened. So, we see a pretty much a normalization of our business, which is very encouraging. If I think about my own home country, Germany, and I couldn't leave Germany for quite some time, I think if I go out to the street, it feels pretty normal. You can go back to restaurants. Of course, you have to keep social distancing. Actually, looking into our global operations. the biggest learning the biggest protection is not temperature measuring or disinfection, the best indicator to reduce infection is social distancing. We can see that when we look into where we got infections around the world and what the protective measures we took, the best is social distancing. So, keep one and a half meters away from one another. That's the best protection you can get. If people are doing that, like people do that in Germany, you can lift the lockdown and things can get back to normal.

CT: So, from where you sit in Germany, are you seeing any signs that business is also stabilizing in Europe as well? How quickly could Europe follow the recovery in China?

FA: I think Europe and the U.S. will take a little bit longer, because it's a different approach anyway. It's more fragmented. The countries in Germany and in Europe are following different models somehow. Therefore, it's more scattered. The same is true probably for the U.S., where the federal states are following different models as well. But, overall, I'm pretty optimistic that we have seen already two to three weeks ago the bottom of the curve in Europe and in the U.S. We will definitely see in June a significant recovery in economic activity.

CT: So, do you think the worst is over?

FA: I think the worst is over for the first wave for the developed countries. I'm still worried about Latin America and Africa. They are less equipped to go through that and that is always a challenge. What we will learn from this crisis: the strong countries will become stronger and the weaker countries will become weaker. The same is true for companies. Therefore, the richer countries have to think about that - what can we do to help in Europe. The richer countries have to help the weaker countries in Europe, which actually the E.U. is now starting to do with the support of some governments already. America has to take a same approach to think about what they can do to help some other countries. China has to play an important role in that. We have to take care of the people, whether people in Africa and Latin America, how we can help them as a global society.

CT: As the head of a global logistics player, you would have a good sense, a good pulse of the world economy. Could we see a recovery in the second half of the year? You hopeful?

FA: Yes, I'm very confident that we will see a good recovery in the second half. What we actually have to do is we have to reinstall consumer confidence. This is not a supply driven crisis, it's a demand driven crisis. On a global scale, consumer demand dropped. We had not broken supply chains. Not a single day any block supply chain was completely blocked. We always travel. Yes, we had some delays, but the supply chain on a global scale has worked. So, globalization actually has worked very well in that environment, if you think about cargo. So, we never stopped operating a single day and we never shut down any major trade lanes. But what has dropped massively is consumer confidence. The most important thing is that people, the consumers are going back to normal. They have to adapt certain behaviors, but they should not stop spending money because then, they will hurt the economy which we are trying to avoid.

CT: Still, the lockdowns have resulted in delays. Supply chains have not fully resumed. As countries restart their operations, when do you think supply chains will return to normal?

FA: We already see many supply chains back to normal. There's only one limiting factor which will not change soon which is the limited capacity in belly space. That is a challenge. Intercontinental travel will take longer. That's the reason why we will see for the second half still a very much constrained belly space capacity. That's the reason why you have to rethink your supply chain. You have to think about longer lead times, that means you have to produce and put it on vessels or a railway. We have seen a significant surge from China to Europe on the railway. There is no rail between China and the U.S., apparently. So, we have to think about how can we design a supply chain that you have enough feed for your production in the U.S. or in Europe, that can only work through shipping vessels? So, that's different. That's the only difference. All the rest will work in a normal way. We have seen lockdowns of borders that have stopped us maybe for a day or two, then the borders re-opened and commuters were allowed to cross borders. All of these things got solved pretty rapidly. We never had a major outage anywhere in the world for anything.

CT: Frank, you're an optimist, but will the constraint in the belly-space that you're talking about hinder a rapid recovery?

FA: No, I don't think so. As I said, we have to adapt. Companies have to think about that - they need to ship. Fashion companies have to think differently when they prepare for their winter period: how much they can really fly? When the production needs to be ending so that you have everything in the stores for the Christmas season or in their fulfilment centers for Christmas? You have to redesign that. If you do that, then you can put the stuff sufficiently on shipping vessels and be prepared well for Christmas. That is the job for logistics guys in the companies. We are more than happy to support them because we know all the product lines. Of course, we can deal with more inventory in the destinations because you have to prepare better - you can't replenish by air freight. It needs careful consideration. Most of the products are on ships anyway. The fraction of airfreight is relatively small from the total volume. And that's the reason why I think the world will easily cope with that problem if we are all thinking a little bit more forward looking and say, okay, how will be the Christmas period this year which, of course, will be an important part for the economy.

CT: What will these changes that you've talked about impact freight rates which have skyrocketed in the last couple of months? Are they still climbing?

FA: Now, they are coming slowly but surely back as well. Of course, they will be higher because there is demand and supply. But we should see higher rates still in the second half, but normalization. The key driver is when we all start retraveling. As I said, I hope that I can travel in autumn to Asia and the Americas again when it's allowed again. I think we have enough protection measures around the world now to secure safe travel. That will help us to get back on track faster than we might think at the moment.

CT: Within DHL itself, as CEO, you decided to re-align your e-delivery manufacturing company StreetScooter and abandon your plans to build your own electric delivery van. Was it a move to simply conserve cash in this environment to focus on your core business?

FA: No, actually, it's just coincidence that we decided. We had just decided that more or less two weeks before the lockdown in Germany. You know, the product is great. We are still the largest user of electric vehicles on the planet for last mile delivery. The pity is we are not equipped. That's not our business. We are not somebody who buys materials for production of the next three, four, five years. You know, we are a service company. We realized that without a strategic partner or a financial investor who is committed to have a long-term perspective on car manufacturing, we were not the right company. It's a pity because the product is still the best in the market. Our employees are excited about that, but you have to be clear once in a while, what is your core? If you look into our Strategy 2025, we are focusing on our profitable core. We are great in logistics, but we are not the best OEM for cars on the planet. We came to the point where we had to decide either we make commitments for the next three, four, five years or we go the other way. It's more prudent to take the other alley. After the fact, it was a very smart decision because now with the COVID 19 crisis, things had been much worse actually, than to contain that and bring it back to our own operations somehow. So, that was a lucky strike actually in a moment where none of us really anticipated that what happened to automotive industry could happen.

CT: So, does that mean that the sale of StreetScooter is still on the table? You're looking for a buyer?

FA: Now, we are not looking actively for a buyer. Maybe there are some interested parties who might take parts of that over, and we will consider that. No, no, for us, we will reduce the operations to the level that we can operate our own fleet. We have 11,000. We will bring it still to more than 15,000 and that means maintenance and having good service quality. That means availability of the cars can be further improved. We will focus on that. If there is somebody who is interested, we are very open but we are not actively pursuing any leads.

CT: What happened to the joint venture deal you have with China's Chery? What's the latest?

FA: Yes, this is of course on hold as well. After we stop the activities, it was also very difficult before we even announced that we will wind down our StreetScooter because we couldn't travel to China and they couldn't travel to us already in January. Therefore, the whole thing is on hold. We have now to see what we do with StreetScooter anyway. If something comes out of these MOU, we have to see later.

CT: As the world's leading mail and logistics player, you have 550,000 staff for you working worldwide. Because of the group's sheer size, you obviously had to deal with infections in the workplace. What are you doing to keep your staff safe and healthy during this time?

FA: The most important learning is you have to give people the chance to work at a distance from each other. If that's difficult, you'd need masks and disinfection and all this kind of stuff. We have figured out that temperature control doesn't help too much to help reduce risk. We have, for instance, introduced two-wave deliveries. We know now that the closer the people are, the more they will get infected. So, we have reduced the first shift, the number of people who are working out of a depot and have introduced two shifts. We also have learned that people who are working outside - our couriers - they have a significantly lower infection rate. So, to be outside is good anyway. That's the reason why I think the Northern Hemisphere will also see a significant reduction in infections over summer because we are more outside. That helps. We have more infections inside, and therefore, we need more protection inside of buildings. Our absenteeism rate at the moment is lower than it is usually in May and June. We have less of the usual infections and people trust us that the measures are protecting them.

CT: What do you tell customers who are afraid that the virus could spread through the packages and the parcels that you deliver?

FA: So, there is zero scientific evidence and we make that very clear. Actually, that's interesting and we have factual evidence as well. The people who touch the parcels most are the people who are working on the street and delivering. As I said, we protected them with mask or social distancing. We had lower infection rates than on average in the population. We had lower infection rates than in the other parts of the company. And this is not just in one country, it's on a global scale. The people are moving stuff around. So, I think there is zero evidence that the infection is spread by parcels.

CT: Do you think the pandemic has totally transformed and will transform the global logistics industry?

FA: No, I don't think so. I read that as well, that people say globalization is over. The spread of the virus didn't come from cargo. I always say, at the end of the day, consumers decide. Do we really believe that consumers will say, ok, I pay 10 percent more or 20 percent more for my product because the supplier says your mobile phone is produced more resilient because we have done that more near shore? I don't think so. What we have to do is think more about how we can protect the supply chains more than we have done. That means that we need more foresight planning from our customers. It means that we are protecting our people more proactively and training them. We definitely will do fire drills even in the next couple of quarters and years to learn more about how we deal with that. Maybe PPE and masks are produced more locally, that's fair enough, but that is very small niche of a total global trade. The rest will be more different: customers probably will put more smaller production plants in countries, but they will not move from Asia back to Europe and North America. It's not affordable and that will not happen. The production will remain in Asia massively, in Latin America, maybe also parts of Africa. But I don't see that everything will be near shored in Europe or the U.S.

CT: And finally, things are still looking so uncertain, what leadership will you provide to steer Deutsche Post DHL out of this health crisis? What are you telling your employees?

FA: We, fortunately, have already a clear leadership approach which is to train our executives and we try to role model as well as our top leaders in the organization, which we call head, heart and guts. So, we have six leadership attributes. They are equally valid at the moment. So, what you need in a crisis is - that is the head part. We need to be very clear what are the targets you are going for? What are the objectives for results? Then, you have to have a heart part which is creating trust and keeping trust in the organization. So, as I said, the most important part of a CEO of a senior team is to be very transparent and consistent in what you are saying. Don't promise something you can't keep afterwards. And finally, you have to remain positive. You have to stand in front of the organization and say, listen, it's a crisis, but we will get through that. We will become stronger because we know what we are doing, and that gives confidence for the people.

CT: So, don't promise what you can't deliver. So, what are you promising your employees?

FA: I'm promising all employees that we will definitely go through the crises, that we try to keep as many people in the company, but I can't guarantee that. Some people said you have to pay a bonus for the hard work. I said, at the moment we have to keep the cash together to go through that. And I can't promise any bonus and I will not pay any bonus until this crisis is under control and we know better what is happening, and maybe by then we don't have enough cash. So, I should not do this kind of things. I tell them, listen, I understand that you work hard, it's good that you work hard and you help us to keep all promises as a company, but I don't promise anything. So, people say I don't like it, but at least it's honest. Others are saying, of course, that's great that you are focusing on keeping employment up and not thinking about other stuff. So, I think this is working very well, to be clear and straightforward. Don't hide the difficult questions. I heard from some other CEOs, "my organization feels like it's frozen." If you go into our operations, it's high energy, very agile, very committed. That makes me really proud that this organization is trying to do the best we can to help the planet to go through that crisis. I'm very proud to see that.

CT: Frank, thank you so much for talking to me. And please promise me that you'll stay safe and well during this time.

FA: I promise you and I wish the best for you as well. Thank you very much for your time.

END

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Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak takes part in a national "clap for carers" to show thanks for the work of Britain's National Health Service (NHS) workers and frontline medical staff around the country as they battle with the coronavirus pandemic, on the steps of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on April 16, 2020 in London.

The U.K. government has expanded its rescue package for start-ups impacted by the coronavirus pandemic to include businesses whose parent companies are based abroad.

The so-called Future Fund was created by the U.K. Treasury in April to provide a lifeline to unprofitable tech firms unable to gain access to other relief financing schemes. Though the government had set aside billions of pounds in emergency loans for firms hit by the crisis, start-ups said this did not apply to them as they had to prove a history of consistent profits. Many venture capital-backed start-ups operate at a loss in order to accelerate growth.

But tech industry leaders have been calling for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's administration to relax eligibility criteria for the Future Fund so that firms participating in accelerator programs like Y Combinator can apply. Such initiatives require start-ups to have parent companies located outside of the U.K. in order to enroll.

Under the Future Fund scheme, start-ups have to get their venture capital investors to apply for bridge financing from the government. The funds are administered by the state-owned British Business Bank in the form of convertible notes that become equity stakes in a start-up's next funding round  the theory being that this enables the government to make a return on the investment later down the line.
General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra addresses the gathering Wednesday, June 3, 2020 during a press conference of corporate leaders speaking out against racism and injustice at City Hall in Detroit, Michigan.

A judge-ordered meeting between General Motors CEO Mary Barra and Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley to resolve a civil racketeering lawsuit has been temporarily suspended by a federal appeals court.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday said an order by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Borman last week calling for the meeting to occur by July 1 has been "stayed pending further consideration by this court."

The suspension comes three days after GM filed a petition to remove Borman from the case. He previously called GM's civil racketeering lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler a "waste of time." GM also asked for the appeals court to vacate the order mandating the meeting.

Fiat Chrysler filed a response Monday questioning GM's intentions for attempting to remove Borman and have the case reassigned.

"GM may be unhappy about questions Judge Borman posed during oral argument that bore upon the validity of GM's claimsclaims FCA believes are wholly meritlessbut asking tough questions is a court's mandate; it is hardly grounds for a judge to be removed from a case," said the filing.

Attorneys for Fiat Chrysler argue there's "nothing remarkable" about a judge asking the parties to explore, at an early stage of a litigation, whether a "settlement is feasible."

Fiat Chrysler also reiterated in a statement Monday that it contends the lawsuit is meritless. "FCA will continue to defend itself vigorously and pursue all available remedies in response to this groundless lawsuit," it said.

Jim Cain, a GM spokesman, said the company looks "forward to the Sixth Circuit's review and decision."
This photo of a production version of Tesla's Model Y was included in the company's Q4 2019 earnings report.

Tesla is expected to report its second quarter vehicle production and deliveries numbers this week, before the 4th of July weekend.

It's not clear whether "breaking even" was referring to the company's profit margin, which may require it to sell a certain number of vehicles during the quarter, or another metric, like production numbers versus expectations or previous quarters' figures.

In the email, which was shared with CNBC, he urged workers to "go all out" with vehicle production and deliveries, and told them that "breaking even is looking super tight."

Tesla CEO Elon Musk sent one of his characteristic motivational emails to all employees at his electric vehicle company on Monday around noon California time.

In its first quarter earnings update this year, Tesla walked back prior guidance saying that it has "capacity installed" to hit 500,000 vehicle deliveries in 2020, but remains uncertain how quickly its U.S. car plant, and suppliers, can ramp up production following Covid-19 restrictions.

At that time, Tesla also said its near-term profit guidance was "on hold," dampening hopes it may achieve its first full year of profitability.

The company is gunning for inclusion on the S&P 500, which requires a minimum of four consecutive quarters of profitability. Tesla has reported profits in its last three quarters.

Earlier this quarter, Tesla's main manufacturing facility in Fremont, California, was shut down for more than a month as officials ordered non-essential businesses to shut down to slow the spread of Covid-19. Tesla and Musk clashed with officials over the restrictions and resumed vehicle production shifts the second week of May, days before the county would green light the company's "site-specific plan" to allow employees back at work.

The company is producing its latest Model Y crossover SUVs in a massive tent, where it previously made a portion of its Model 3 electric sedans. In the tent, known as GA4 (or General Assembly 4) workers make cars with more manual processes, rather than the sophisticated robotics and extensive automation they use in an indoor part of the plant.

In the first quarter of the year, Tesla said it delivered around 88,400 vehicles including combined deliveries of 76,200 Model 3 sedans and Model Y crossover SUVs, and combined deliveries of 12,200 of the older and more expensive Model S and X vehicles. It produced about 14,000 more cars than it delivered in the first quarter -- making a total of 102,672 vehicles.

Here's the email in its entirety, transcribed by CNBC.

Subject: Down to the last few days

To: Everybody

From: Elon Musk

Date: June 29, 2020

Breaking even is looking super tight. Really makes a difference for every car you build and deliver. Please go all out to ensure victory!

Thanks,

Elon
The Wirecard logo is seen at the payment company's headquarters in Aschheim near Munich, southern Germany, on June 24, 2020. Christof Stache | AFP via Getty Images

Wirecard's dramatic fall from grace has thrust corporate governance and industry regulation in Germany firmly in the spotlight. The Munich-based payments processor filed for insolvency on Thursday, reportedly owing creditors 3.5 billion euros ($3.9 billion). The company's collapse follows a series of investigative reports from the Financial Times into claims about accounting irregularities. The revelation last week that 1.9 billion euros had disappeared from Wirecard's balance sheet has seen the firm's share price collapse 98% and former CEO Markus Braun arrested on suspicion of falsifying accounts. The Wirecard saga and its broader implications raises many questions, with some experts describing the scandal as the "Enron of Germany."

Governance

Under German corporate law, companies are required to have both a supervisory board and a management board. The supervisory board is responsible for overseeing management. Chris Hohn, the head of $24 billion hedge fund TCI, had called on Wirecard's supervisory board to dismiss former CEO Markus Braun in late April. "We are of the view that the supervisory board is legally obliged to intervene," he wrote in an open letter published April 28. "In our opinion, the necessary intervention is now to remove the CEO from all management duties." Nonetheless, Braun had resisted pressure to leave. He resigned last week after 18 years at the helm and is currently out on bail after being arrested in Munich last week. The fiasco has led to fresh questions about why Wirecard's supervisory board did not act ahead of time.

"What you see with Wirecard, it's a disaster," Peter Dehnen, chairperson of the Association of Supervisory Boards in Germany, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Thursday. Dehnen is calling for reforms to Germany's corporate governance rules. Though the German corporate governance code was updated only recently, Dehnen thinks there's a need for something "new" and "dialogue-driven" that makes companies communicate with all their stakeholders  not just shareholders. "This is modern corporate governance," he said. "With the rules presently in place, I feel we're still back in the last century. And for that we need a drastic change." The Wirecard scandal is far from the first to rock the German corporate world. Siemens was hit by a corruption scandal in the late 2000s, while Volkswagen's reputation was significantly damaged by the so-called "Dieselgate" emissions scandal in 2015. Maximilian Weiss, an attorney at law firm TILP Litigation, which filed an investor lawsuit against Wirecard in May, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" last week: "We are at the beginning of one of the biggest corporate scandals we have seen in Germany."

"I think there is a lot that needs to be done," Weiss said on Wednesday. "Just take a look at the U.S., what happened after Enron. I think Wirecard is the Enron of Germany." Enron was an energy services company that collapsed in 2001 after revelations of systemic accounting fraud. The scandal was a factor in the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, introduced in 2002, to protect investors from fraudulent financial practices. Weiss said Germany required "better laws" to incentivize whistleblowers. He added that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could offer a blueprint for what happens next in the country: "I think this is going to become a political issue."

Regulators

The scandal has also renewed focus on how Germany's regulators dealt with allegations against Wirecard. Many hedge funds have criticized Germany's financial regulator, BaFin, for temporarily banning short-selling in Wirecard stock and for filing a criminal complaint against two FT journalists who reported the whistleblower allegations about the company. Felix Hufeld, president of BaFin, has admitted the situation was a "scandal" and a "total disaster." On Tuesday, the regulator filed an updated case against the company looking at "suspected market manipulation." "BaFin haven't covered themselves in glory at all," Neil Campling, a tech, media and telecom analyst at Mirabaud Securities, told CNBC on Friday. "They are supposed to regulate  all they did was bow down to any requests from the company." The watchdog has also been the target of criticism from German lawmakers. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz told Reuters on Tuesday that the scandal "raises critical questions about supervision of the company" and is calling for regulatory reform.

"Is BaFin really a financial watchdog? Or is it a puppy dog?" said TILP Litigation's Weiss. "I think they have to be very critical when it comes to what they did in this matter." However, the problem could be a cultural issue rather than a legal one, according to Jan Pieter Krahnen, scientific director at the Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE in Frankfurt. He said German regulators lack teeth when it comes to issues impacting capital markets. "It's basically an outgrowth of a culture that is not really looking at investor rights," Krahnen told CNBC. "There's really no real culture of going after companies that may be not disclosing everything in the right way so an investor can feel safe." Krahnen thinks there could also be a role for the EU to play with respect to such capital markets issues. This could come under the wing of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), he said, adding the watchdog is currently viewed as more of a rule-setter. Brussels is now calling on the ESMA to look into potential supervisory failures from BaFin. "We need to clarify what went wrong," Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission's executive vice president, told the FT on Friday.

Auditors

It is not just BaFin that needs to stand up to scrutiny, analysts say. There are also questions about why EY, Wirecard's long-time auditor, didn't pick up on accounting irregularities that date back years.
All four regions of the state as designated in Gov. J.B. Pritzkers Restore Illinois reopening plan moved into the fourth of five phases Friday. For the first time since mid-March, residents are now permitted to dine inside restaurants, go to the movies and work out at the local gym. They also can bowl, take a yoga class, grab a drink at the bar, visit zoos and attend summer camps. These renewed freedoms, however, come with a caveat from public health officials: It all can be taken away again if there is a spike in confirmed coronavirus cases or hospitalization rates. Welcome to phase four, Illinois. Even with our best behavior, we may be here awhile.
Schmidt Futures, the philanthropic foundation set up by billionaires Eric and Wendy Schmidt, is funding a new program at the University of Cambridge that's designed to equip young researchers with machine learning and artificial intelligence skills that have the potential to accelerate their research.

The initiative  known as the Accelerate Program for Scientific Discovery  will initially be aimed at researchers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. However, it will eventually be available for those studying arts, humanities and social science.

Some 32 PhD students will receive machine-learning training through the program in the first year, the university said, adding that the number will rise to 160 over five years. The aim is to build a network of machine-learning experts across the university.

"Machine learning and AI are increasingly part of our day-to-day lives, but they aren't being used as effectively as they could be, due in part to major gaps of understanding between different research disciplines," Professor Neil Lawrence, a former Amazon director who will lead the program, said in a statement.

"This program will help us to close these gaps by training physicists, biologists, chemists and other scientists in the latest machine learning techniques, giving them the skills they need."

The scheme will be run by four new early-career specialists, who are in the process of being recruited.

The Schmidt Futures donation will be used partly to pay the salaries of this team, which will work with the university's Department of Computer Science and Technology and external companies.

Guest lectures will be provided by research scientists at DeepMind, the London-headquartered AI research lab that was acquired by Google.

The size of the donation from Schmidt Futures has not been disclosed.

"We are delighted to support this far-reaching program at Cambridge," said Stuart Feldman, chief scientist at Schmidt Futures, in a statement. "We expect it to accelerate the use of new techniques across the broad range of research as well as enhance the AI knowledge of a large number of early-stage researchers at this superb university."
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Monday partly blamed spikes in the number of coronavirus cases nationwide on demonstrations in support of Black Lives Matter.

Dozens of states have reported increases in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases after reopening some businesses, with at least 12 states pushing their seven-day average of daily new cases to a record high last week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

"We phased in the openings and we knew something like this could happen but maybe not to this extent," McCarthy, a Republican, said in an interview on CNBC's Squawk Box.

California, which McCarthy represents, is among the states that has seen a substantial increase in the number of coronavirus cases in recent weeks. California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday ordered the closure of bars in Los Angeles and neighboring counties due to the spike. The governors of Texas and Florida also ordered bars to be closed following dramatic upticks in their states.

"The bars but also compounded on that, the protests," McCarthy said without citing any specific evidence linking protests to a rise in cases. "When I looked at that drone view of [Los Angeles], where it was almost a mile-long shoulder-to-shoulder of people and they're expressing, they're vocal ... and now we're finding that's the easiest way to transmit to one another, the long periods of time next to one another."
A TikTok logo is seen on a mobile device in Mountain View, California on November 2, 2019 as a photo illustration.

The Indian government this week banned dozens of Chinese mobile apps, including TikTok, over alleged security issues.

According to a release, India's Ministry of Information Technology "has decided to block 59 apps since in view of information available they are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, security of state and public order."

TikTok, operated by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, allows users to create short videos and overlay voices or music. The app, which surpassed 2 billion downloads in April, has found a huge market in India, according to Sensor Tower. Roughly 30% of downloads came from India, according to the data analytics firm. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The app has been blocked in the nation before. Last May, the Indian government banned the app's downloads for two weeks, after a court ruled that it could expose children on the app to sexual predators and graphic content. (TikTok appealed and the court reversed its ruling.)

Along with TikTok, the government banned high-profile Chinese apps WeChat, a messaging app, and Weibo, a Chinese social network that's similar to Twitter.

The ban comes amid recent geopolitical tensions with China. At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash between Chinese troops earlier this month in a region that has not seen any fatalities from conflict since 1975. In this confrontation, both countries claimed the others' troops had moved in and overstepped the boundary.

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While Trump faces no danger of arrest, the charges underscore the heightened tensions between Iran and the United States since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.

Iran has issued an arrest warrant and asked Interpol for help in detaining President Donald Trump and dozens of others it believes carried out the drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, a local prosecutor reportedly said Monday.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about a Trump administration plan aimed at helping to prevent suicides by U.S. veterans and other Americans, in the East Room at the White House in Washington, June 17, 2020.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Trump and more than 30 others whom Iran accuses of involvement in the Jan. 3 strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad face "murder and terrorism charges," the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

Alqasimehr did not identify anyone else sought other than Trump, but stressed that Iran would continue to pursue his prosecution even after his presidency ends.

Interpol, based in Lyon, France, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Alqasimehr also was quoted as saying that Iran requested a "red notice" be put out for Trump and the others, which represents the highest level arrest request issued by Interpol. Local authorities end up making the arrests on behalf of the country that requests it. The notices cannot force countries to arrest or extradite suspects, but can put government leaders on the spot and limit suspects' travel.

After receiving a request, Interpol meets by committee and discusses whether or not to share the information with its member states. Interpol has no requirement for making any of the notices public, though some do get published on its website.

It is unlikely Interpol would grant Iran's request as its guideline for notices forbids it from "undertaking any intervention or activities of a political" nature.

The U.S. killed Soleimani, who oversaw the Revolutionary Guard's expeditionary Quds Force, and others in the January strike near Baghdad International Airport. It came after months of incidents raising tensions between the two countries and ultimately saw Iran retaliate with a ballistic missile strike targeting American troops in Iraq.
People gather to protest the US air strike in Iraq that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, who headed Iran's Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds force in Sanaa, Yemen on January 6, 2020.

Iran's government has issued an arrest warrant for U.S. President Donald Trump over the killing of its top commander, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, in January, the country's semiofficial Fars news agency reported Monday.

Tehran is also reportedly asking Interpol for help, according to Fars. Ali Alghasi-Mehr, the attorney general of Tehran, named Trump and 35 others Iran has accused of involvement in Soleimani's death as facing "murder and terrorism charges," and was quoted as saying he had asked Interpol to issue "red notices" for them  the highest level notice Interpol can issue on an individual to pursue their arrest.

Trump, however, is in no danger of arrest and it's highly unlikely Interpol would honor Iran's request, as the international agency's guidelines forbid it from "undertaking any intervention or activities of a political" nature. Red notices enable local law enforcement authorities to arrest individuals on behalf of the requesting country, though they cannot force the country to arrest or extradite suspects.

The Trump administration has so far not responded to Iran's announcement. Interpol did not immediately reply to a request for comment from CNBC.

Soleimani led Iran's Quds Force, the foreign operations wing of the elite paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Trump administration labeled him a terrorist, and Washington deemed him responsible for the deaths of hundreds of U.S. troops in Iraq.

The 62-year-old Soleimani was killed in a drone strike directed by Trump in early January while in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, in a move that sent regional tensions and oil prices soaring and triggered a retaliatory attack by Iran and its proxies on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops.

In emphasizing Soleimani's significance, one defense analyst called the strike "the equivalent of Iran killing the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and then taking credit for it."
The English city of Leicester must go back into a stricter lockdown because its Covid-19 infection rate was much higher than anywhere else in the country, health minister Matt Hancock told parliament on Monday.

As the rest of the United Kingdom gears up for an easing of social distancing measures on July 4, Hancock said schools and nonessential shops would have to close in Leicester, and urged people not to travel to, from or within the city.

"We do not take these decisions lightly, but with the interests of the people of Leicester in our hearts," Hancock said.

He said Leicester accounted for around 10% of all positive cases in the country over the past week, and that the seven-day infection rate there was 135 cases per 100,000 people, three times higher than the next highest city.
These images provided by the U.S. Marine Corps show, from left, Sgt. Benjamin S. Hines, 31, of York, Pa., Staff Sgt. Christopher K.A. Slutman, 43, of Newark, Del., and Cpl. Robert A. Hendriks, 25, of Locust Valley, N.Y. All three were killed on Monday, April 8, 2019, when a roadside bomb hit their convoy near Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

The mothers of two members of the U.S. military killed in Afghanistan last year say they want a thorough investigation of reports that a Russian military intelligence unit offered bounties to Taliban-linked fighters for the deaths of American soldiers.

One of service members was among three Marines who died in an attack that reports have said may have been related to a bounty that was actually paid.

Felicia Arculeo, whose son Cpl. Robert Hendriks died in the April 8, 2019, attack, also told CNBC "that the parties who are responsible should be held accountable, if that's even possible."

Arculeo, who lives in Long Island, N.Y., said she has not been contacted by U.S. intelligence or military officials since Friday.

That was the day that The New York Times broke the news that American intelligence agencies had assessed that a Russian intelligence unit last year offered bounties to Islamist fighters in Afghanistan who killed U.S. soldiers.

Another mom, Shawn Gregoire, whose Army paratrooper son Spc. Michael Isaiah Nance was killed last July in a so-called insider attack by an Afghan soldier in Tarin Kowt, in southern Afghanistan, said she and other parents of killed soldiers should have been notified of the intelligence about the bounties.

No reports have identified her son's death as a possible case of a Russian-bounty-motivated killing.

But Gregoire said the fact that the attack was committed by an insider, who was captured after the shooting, makes her suspicious that a bounty may have played a role.

"I really want someone to get to the bottom of this," Gregoire told CNBC.

The Times has also reported that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the intelligence months ago, but as of yet had not decided on whether or how to retaliate against Russia after being presented with a menu of options. The Associated Press, meanwhile, reported that Trump was briefed on the alleged bounties in March 2019, the month before Hendriks and the two other Marines were killed.

Other news outlets, including NBC News, have confirmed that there is intelligence backing up the claim that a Russian unit offered bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.

"I just happened to randomly see" the news about the report, Arculeo said.

"I got pretty upset."

Her 25-year-old son, Hendriks, and the other two Marines, Sgt. Benjamin Hines, 31, and 43-year-old Staff Sgt. Christopher Slutman, were killed by a car bomb near Bagram Air Field. The three Marines, who had been assigned to the 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, died just days before they were scheduled to return home from Afghanistan.

On Sunday, The Associated Press reported that officials said the intelligence community was investigating whether the attack was linked to the suspected Russian bounty offer.

An official familiar with the intelligence told NBC News that the United States has gathered information showing that Russian operatives paid bounties for killing American soldiers to the Taliban, and that members of the U.S. military, along with Afghan civilians, died as a result of attacks launched to collect those cash rewards.

Arculeo said that the possible link of the attack that killed her son to Russian bounties should continue to be probed despite the White House's claim that the intelligence about the bounties is not verified.

"Absolutely, that should be investigated," she said.

Asked what should be done if it is determined that Russia paid a bounty for the killing of her son, Arculeo said, "Look, that's a tough question."

"At the end of the day, my son is still gone. He's still not coming home," she said.

Gregoire, whose son was known by his middle name, Isaiah, was fatally shot July 29, 2019, with another soldier, Pfc. Brandon Jay Kreischer, by an Afghan soldier who was being trained by U.S. military.

Nance, who was 24 years old, was on the verge of re-enlisting in the Army, where he served with the 82nd Airborne, for another three-year-stint, and planned to make the military his career, his mom said.
People sit at the bar of a restaurant in Austin, Texas, June 26, 2020. Sergio Flores | AFP | Getty Images

Governors in Washington, California, Florida and Texas are walking back some of their reopening plans as coronavirus cases rise in more than 30 states across the U.S., according to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. As of Sunday, new Covid-19 cases jumped by at least 5% over the previous week in 37 states across the country, based on a seven-day moving average, according to the Johns Hopkins data. Those states include California, Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Nevada. The number of new daily Covid-19 cases across the nation jumped 42% over the past week to an average of about 38,200 on Sunday, based on a seven-day moving average. The number of global Covid-19 cases topped 10 million Sunday, with the U.S. reporting roughly a quarter of the cases. The coronavirus has now killed more than half a million people across the globe.

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Public health officials are also closely watching hospitalizations, which can indicate how severe an outbreak is in an area. This data generally lags new cases because it can take weeks before a patient is sick enough to require hospitalization. Covid-19 hospitalizations were growing in 20 states as of Sunday, according to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by the Covid Tracking Project, an independent volunteer organization launched by journalists at The Atlantic. In New York City, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday that he could postpone restaurants from reopening their indoor dining spaces, which were scheduled to resume on July 6, as cases appear to be spiking in other states that reopened them. He added that outdoor dining, allowed in the city as of June 22, has so far worked well across the state, including in New York City. "Our reopenings have worked very well. We're not going backwards; we're going forwards," Cuomo said a press briefing. "A lot of other states have actually had to go backwards." New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday that the state's restaurants won't be allowed to resume indoor dining on Thursday as originally planned due to a growing number of coronavirus cases in other states. He has yet to determine when indoor dining will be allowed to resume. Murphy noted that some New Jersey residents and establishments haven't been adhering to social distancing guidelines or using face coverings as recommended by the state. New Jersey is still preparing to reopen its outdoor amusement centers, indoor recreational facilities, casinos, museums and libraries on Thursday. "Unfortunately the national situation compounded by instances of knucklehead behavior here at home are requiring us to hit pause on the start of indoor dining for the foreseeable future," Murphy said. On Sunday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the state's bars to close in several counties as the coronavirus shows signs of accelerating, including in Los Angeles. The state's seven-day average of new Covid-19 cases increased by more than 40% compared with a week ago, according to Johns Hopkins data. "My phone is filled with images of people taking photos of some of the bars over the weekend and saying, 'How could this help with community spread? It's only going to make things worse, not better,'" Newsom said at a press briefing Monday.

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"COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger," Newsom said in a written statement. "That's why it is critical we take this step to limit the spread of the virus in the counties that are seeing the biggest increases." Newsom has left it to municipalities within the state to decide whether they're prepared to reopen certain parts of their economy after more rural counties reported few Covid-19 cases. In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed said in a tweet Friday that she would delay the city's planned reopenings for Monday, which included nail salons, barbershops and outdoor bars, citing a recent spike in Covid-19 cases. "Yesterday we saw 103 cases. On June 15, when we first reopened outdoor dining and in-store retail, we had 20," Breed wrote on Twitter.

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On Saturday, Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee also postponed reopening in eight of the state's 39 counties that were planning to move forward. "Rising cases across the state and concerns about continued spread of the COVID virus have made Phase 4, which would essentially mean no restrictions, impossible at this time," according to the state's order from Inslee and John Wiesman, Washington's secretary of health. "Phase 4" of Washington's reopening plan would resume all recreational activities and would allow for gatherings of more than 50 people, according to the state's plan. It would also allow people at high risk of serious illness to resume public interactions with physical distancing. A county in phase four would also be allowed to reopen its nightclubs, concert venues and large sporting events. On Friday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he would roll back some of the state's reopening plans, closing bars and reducing the capacity for indoor dining, among other modifications and closures.

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Texas' seven-day average of new Covid-19 cases increased by more than 52% compared with a week ago, according to the Johns Hopkins data. "As I said from the start, if the positivity rate rose above 10%, the State of Texas would take further action to mitigate the spread of COVID-19," Abbott said in a press release. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, also announced Friday on Twitter that the state is ending onsite consumption at bars. Gov. Ron DeSantis allowed bars to reopen with modifications in early June after keeping them closed for two months.

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On Saturday, Florida reported a second day of record-breaking new coronavirus cases, recording more than 9,000 additional cases. As of Sunday, the state's seven-day average of new Covid-19 cases more than doubled compared with a week ago, according to Johns Hopkins data. Arizona cases continued to reach record highs over the weekend. The state reported 3,858 additional cases on Sunday, a new high since the beginning of the outbreak, according to the state's Department of Health.

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Wild West enthusiasts and wanderlusters alike can now own a piece of American frontier history with the purchase an entire old west town... in New Zealand. Mellonsfolly Ranch  situated within a 900-acre lot in the North Island of New Zealand  is on sale for $7.5 million and comes complete with 10 period themed buildings and a Manuka honey business. The tribute town was built in 2006 by cowboy enthusiast John Bedogni as an homage to an 1860s Wyoming frontier town.

New Zealand's 20-bed Mellonsfolly Ranch is for sale for $7.5 million. New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty

It features an "authentic and licensed saloon," a courthouse that doubles as a cinema, a sheriff's office and a billiards lounge, according to the listing from New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty. There are also three homes  the main residence plus two rental houses  that accommodate up to 22 people, it said.

Old West business opportunity

Located about six hours by car from Auckland, while also accessible by helipad, the site currently operates as a boutique hotel, with nightly hire-out rates starting from $5,000. But it also presents other possible business opportunities. Sotheby's Ben Hawan told CNBC Make It they had already seen enquiries from parties who understand the "substantial potential in the Manuka honey operation."

Mellonsfolly Ranch is home to 10 themed buildings. New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty

The native honey has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years due to its unique taste and perceived health benefits. In 2019, the ranch produced 15.5 tons of Manuka from around 600 hives, according to its current owner Rob Bartley. "There's a lot of money there. Especially with China coming back, now they're paying big money for it," he told Bloomberg.

A simpler way of life

The property, which is home to various outdoor activities like fishing, swimming and hunting, also offers a spot for sanctuary, said Hawan. "New Zealand has been in the limelight of late due to its success in battling Covid-19. But even prior to this, New Zealand has long been a desirable place to live due to the enviable quality of life here," he said.

Mellonsfolly Ranch was designed by its original, cowboy enthusiast owner. New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty
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For millions of Americans, federal stimulus of up to $1,200 per person has been the most highly anticipated payment of the year. But not everyone received their money the same way. Americans who were paid first generally got their money via direct deposit, while others received paper checks in the mail. The government also tried something new: sending the payments to some recipients by prepaid debit cards. Now, a group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill is expressing concerns about those debit cards. The stimulus payments were authorized by Congress with the $2 trillion CARES Act. Individuals may receive up to $1,200 and married couples up to $2,400, plus $500 per child under 17, provided they fall within certain income thresholds.

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About 4 million Americans will receive their stimulus payments via debit card, the Treasury Department has said. A total of at least 171 million stimulus checks are expected to be deployed. So far, the government has sent out about 160 million payments. A group of Democratic Senators, led by Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; and Jack Reed, D-R.I., sent a letter to the Treasury Department and IRS last week regarding the debit cards. Treasury did not notify the Americans who would receive debit cards to tell them how their payment would be sent, the senators wrote. Because the debit cards arrive in plain envelopes labelled "Money Network Cardholder Services," many people did not recognize the payments and possibly threw them out. More from Personal Finance:

Don't throw out that pre-paid debit card. It could be your stimulus payment

About $1.4 billion in stimulus checks sent to deceased Americans

Coronavirus legislation could usher in a second set of stimulus checks The senators also complained about high fees to replace lost cards. While the IRS has waived a $7.50 fee to replace a lost card, which usually takes seven to 10 days, getting your new card sooner will cost you $17. "We are seriously concerned about imposing these fees on individuals who urgently need the direct cash assistance to which they are entitled under the CARES Act," the lawmakers wrote. Other fees associated with the debit cards may also apply. That includes $2.00 for each out-of-network ATM withdrawal and a $5.00 per over-the-counter bank withdrawal. The senators also expressed concern about the amount of personal information the debit cards require recipients to share. Just to register their cards, individuals must provide "substantial" personal details, the lawmakers said.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin displays a debit card used to distribute Covid-19 relief funds during a cabinet meeting in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., May 19. Kevin Dietsch | Bloomberg | Getty Images

"These burdens are all the more concerning given that these individuals did not request a prepaid debit card and are unable to request a preferred method of receiving their stimulus payment with the IRS," the senators wrote. Further, the lawmakers expressed concern that that personal information could be shared with third parties for marketing or other commercial purposes. The cards are issued by MetaBank N.A., the Treasury Department's financial agent, and are managed by Money Network Financial, LLC. In order to activate their cards and move their money, individuals must divulge personal financial information.
He was a man whose story is a lot like many other immigrants. He came to America as a boy, served in the U.S. Armys Pacific theater in World War II, went to school on the GI Bill and worked as a custom tailor. He moved his family from a three-flat on the West Side of Chicago to a new home in Melrose Park where his success was further validated, living there until his death in 1994. He was a proud American and also proud to be Italian, doing a lot of advocacy work that resulted in many awards, including being knighted by the Republic of Italy.
As Singapore heads to the polls next week, the ruling party's election campaign will focus on creating jobs in what the country's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan described as "a very tough election."

Singaporeans will be casting their votes next Friday, July 10.

"I think this is going to be a very tough election," Balakrishnan said on CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia."

"Never, never take people for granted. Never assume that you have got their vote  each election, all parties have to make their case," he said, adding that there is a lot at stake in the upcoming elections. "I have confidence in our electorate, but I do not take it for granted."

Last week, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced his decision to call for a general election as the country continues to ease most of its partial lockdown measures aimed at combating the spread of coronavirus.

Balakrishnan, a member of the ruling People's Action Party, outlined reasons why the government decided to call for an election despite the risk of infection cases potentially climbing again as social interactions recommence.

"The first point I want to make is that we do not believe this crisis is going to recede in the next one year, or maybe even two years. It depends on when a vaccine is created," he said.
Take a look at some of the biggest movers in the premarket:

Gilead Sciences (GILD)  Gilead set pricing for its remdesivir anti-viral Covid-19 treatment, with developed-world governments paying $390 per dose and privately insured patients being charged $520 per dose.

Intercept Pharmaceuticals (ICPT)  The Food and Drug Administration did not approve the company's treatment for obesity-linked liver disease. Intercept said it would meet with the FDA to discuss possible paths to approval.

Starbucks (SBUX), Coca-Cola (KO)  Starbucks and Coca-Cola both announced pauses in social media ads, in the latest actions against hate speech on platforms like Facebook (FB) and Twitter (TWTR). Similar actions were announced by spirits producer Diageo (DEO) and chocolate maker Hershey (HSY).

BP (BP)  BP announced the sale of its petrochemicals business to privately held U.K. chemicals company Ineos for $5 billion. BP said the move means it has met its $15 billion divestments target a year ahead of schedule.

Novartis (NVS)  Novartis pulled its application for European approval of its dry-eye drug Xiidra after regulators said its effectiveness had not been demonstrated. The drug is already approved in the U.S.

Amazon.com (AMZN)  Amazon and Japan's SoftBank have both approached Russian conglomerate Sistema about a possible buyout of the conglomerate's online retail unit Ozon, according to Sistema's majority owner.

Delta Air Lines (DAL)  Delta will send out warnings of possible furloughs to about 2,500 pilots, due to the severe drop in travel demand. Delta is also offering some pilots voluntary early retirement.

Boeing (BA)  Recertification flights for Boeing's grounded 737 Max jet will begin today, a significant step as Boeing seeks to return the Max to service.

Coty (COTY)  The cosmetics company will pay $200 million for a 20% stake in Kim Kardashian West's makeup brand. Coty had said earlier this month that it was talking to Kardashian West about a possible collaboration. It's the second deal Coty has struck with the Kardashian/Jenner family this year, having already taken a 51% stake in Kylie Jenner's brands.

BioNTech (BNTX)  Singapore's Temasek and other investors are injecting $250 million into the German biotech firm, through the purchase of stock and convertible securities. BioNTech has a Covid-19 vaccine candidate in development and has said it expects the first clinical data on the vaccine this month or in July.

Under Armour (UAA)  Under Armour said it would end the 15-year, $280 million apparel partnership with the University of California, Los Angeles, that it signed with the university in 2016, saying it had not received the expected marketing benefits for an extended period of time. UCLA said it would fight the move to end the partnership.

Chesapeake Energy (CHK)  Chesapeake Energy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with the natural gas producer saddled by $10 billion in debt.

Beyond Meat (BYND)  The plant-based burger maker was downgraded to "underweight" from "overweight" at Barclays, which points to several factors including the impact of lockdowns on foodservice channels.

General Motors (GM)  The automaker is pushing back on a judge's order to resolve a legal dispute with rival Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) by having the CEOs of the two companies meet. GM is seeking to have that order tossed out, and continue to pursue its racketeering charge against its rival. GM had accused Fiat Chrysler of bribing union officials to gain a labor cost advantage.

Restaurant Brands (QSR)  The restaurant operator said demand is picking up as economies reopen in its major markets. Restaurant Brands said Burger King comparable sales are now trending about flat, compared to declines in the 30 percent range in mid-March. Comparable sales at its Tim Hortons brand are in the negative high teens now, compared to the negative mid-40s in March.
Justice Elena Kagan, in a dissent joined by her three liberal colleagues, wrote that the majority failed to respect the proper role of the Supreme Court in allowing the two political branches of government, Congress and the president, to decide how to structure the executive branch of the government.

"The agency may ... continue to operate, but its Director, in light of our decision, must be removable by the President at will," Roberts wrote in the majority decision, in which he was joined the court's other four conservative justices.

The 5-4 ruling overturns decisions by a federal district court and appeals court that had rejected the law firm's arguments.

The decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, agreed with a California-based law firm's argument that the CFPB's leadership by a sole director who was removable "only for cause" violated the separation of powers rule under the U.S. Constitution.

The Supreme Court in a ruling Monday allowed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to continue operating, but said that the director of the watchdog can be removed by the president of the United States "at will."

A police officer walks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court April 6, 2020 in Washington, DC.

"Today's decision wipes out a feature of that agency its creators thought fundamental to its mission  a measure of independence from political pressure," Kagan wrote.

But Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat who first envisioned the CFPB while a professor at Harvard Law School, in a tweet responding to the ruling wrote, "Let's not lose sight of the bigger picture: after years of industry attacks and GOP opposition, a conservative Supreme Court recognized what we all knew: the @CFPB itself and the law that created it is constitutional"

"The CFPB is here to stay," Warren added.

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The CFPB, which was established by Congress under former President Barack Obama in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, oversees consumer financial markets like credit cards and home mortgages.

It returned nearly $12 billion to consumers through 2017, before largely curtailing enforcement actions under President Donald Trump.

Seila Law alleged that the CFPB's director's protection from dismissal by the presidential was unlawful.

The firm, which provides debt-related legal services, was fighting a civil demand for information and documents from the CFPB related to the firm's practices.

Under the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act establishing the bureau, the director is appointed for a five-year term and may only be removed for "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office."

Roberts noted that the leadership structure of the CFPB "has no foothold in history or tradition," and that Congress has given protection from removal to principal officers of agencies in just four "isolated instances."

Those were for the the comptroller of the currency for just a one-year period during the Civil War, the Office of Special Counsel, the administrator of the Social Security Administration, and the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

"Aside from the one-year blip for the Comptroller of the Currency, these examples are modern and contested; and they do not involve regulatory or enforcement authority comparable to that exercised by the CFPB," Roberts wrote.

He added that, "The CFPB's single Director configuration is also incompatible with the structure of the Constitution, which  with the sole exception of the Presidency  scrupulously avoids concentrating power in the hands of any single individual."

Kagan, in her dissent, took aim at the majority's argument that the CFPB's structure violated the separation of powers.

"What does the Constitution say about the separation of powers  and particularly about the President's removal authority? (Spoiler alert: about the latter, nothing at all.)," Kagan wrote.

"Nowhere does the text say anything about the President's power to remove subordinate officials at will," Kagan wrote.

Jeremy Funk, spokesman for consumer watchdog group Allied Progress, in a prepared statement said, "The Roberts-led Corporate Court strikes again, predictably siding with industry groups that have an axe to grind against the CFPB or a financial motive in seeing the agency weakened."

"The CFPB's independence is what allowed it to be a powerful and effective advocate for consumers in the past, but the high court ruled that the agency should instead be guided by the political whims of the President," Funk said.

The case is formally known as Seila Law v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, No. 19-7.
Taiwan's economy has held up better than most Asian countries, thanks in part to how well it handled the coronavirus outbreak, said an economist from research house Capital Economics. Despite its proximity to mainland China, Taiwan has reported just 447 coronavirus cases and seven deaths in a population of 24 million people. Its success in keeping the lid on cases has garnered global praise for its strategy involving early screening and border controls. Recent data shows that Taiwan's economy has held up "extremely well," said Capital Economics in a note last Friday, citing industrial production that was up 1.5% in May from a year ago. Although this was lower than the 4.2% on-year growth in April, "it was still much stronger than most other countries in Asia," wrote Gareth Leather, senior Asia economist. Two of Taiwan's peers, South Korea and Singapore, recorded negative growth for industrial production in May. "A key reason for the strong performance was that Taiwan never had to lock down its economy, so manufacturing plants have continued to run as normal," Leather noted. Capital Economics is forecasting a 2% decline in Taiwan's 2020 GDP. Taiwan posted GDP growth of 2.7% in 2019.

Strong demand for electronics

"Another important factor has been strong demand for electronics products, which we think is being boosted by an increase in investment in 5G infrastructure and demand for home-working equipment," Leather added. "While the boost won't last forever, it has enabled Taiwan to ride out the worst of the global downturn relatively well." Despite the support, the Taiwanese economy overall is still very much reliant on exports and external demand, and growth will be hit this year due to disruptions from trade and tourism, said Nick Marro, global trade lead at the Economist Intelligence Unit. Even before the coronavirus pandemic hit, Taiwan's economy showed signs of resilience amid the U.S.-China trade war, and that helped Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to secure a second term in the January elections this year.

Marro said Taipei's policy action plan in 2019 to help Taiwanese manufacturers move from China back home, has led to a "surprising big amount of investments (going) back domestically"  a development that is likely to continue. However, there is still a lot of risk as technology tensions between China and the U.S. persist, said Marro. Taiwan is a major supplier of electronics and semiconductor parts, to both Chinese and American companies. Recently, Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC was forced to take sides when the U.S. moved to restrict chip sales to Huawei, the Chinese telecommunication giant. "We expect that story to continue and to feature as somewhat of a permanent fixture on the electronics industry landscape for Taiwan," Marro told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" on Monday.

Politics in play
In this article GM

General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra on April 1, 2020 tours one of the company's facilities in Warren, Michigan that will produce Level 1 face masks. GM

The chief executives of the nation's biggest companies expect the business impact from the coronavirus to linger until at least the end of 2021. Nearly a third of them fear it could persist beyond then. In a second-quarter report from the Business Roundtable released Monday, the corporate trade group said that a survey of its members  which include General Motors, Apple and Johnson & Johnson, among other major companies  showed that a majority expect most expect business conditions to recover by the end of 2021. But significant doubt remains: 27% expect the recovery to stretch beyond next year. That sizable percentage  and disagreement among the country's most powerful executives  represents how uncertain the economic climate remains as the U.S. battles a health disaster with little modern precedence. There had been hopes that the U.S. was on its way to recovery after fears and lockdown orders jolted the economy this spring. But cases of the coronavirus are back on the rise, and states like Texas have had to delay their reopening plans. On Friday alone, 45,255 additional cases were reported, bringing the country's seven-day average to more than 41% higher than the prior week.

A staff member checks a customer's temperature at an Apple Store entrance during phase one of reopening after lockdown from the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City, New York, U.S. June 17, 2020. Brendan McDermid | Reuters

The Business Roundtable report referred to the growing infection rate, saying the new cases "suggest the need for broader adoption of safety measures and for public officials to examine their reopening plans to ensure widespread use of masks, continued limitations on gathering size, and measures to keep vulnerable populations safe." In some cases, CEOs have acted before local governments, with companies such as Apple closing stores in hot-spot states before being mandated to do so. "Our battle against COVID-19 is far from over, and our top priority remains the health and safety of our employees, customers and communities we serve," said Walmart CEO and Business Roundtable Chairman Doug McMillon. "We urge lawmakers at the federal, state and local levels to coordinate as much as possible to control further spread of this virus."

Americans lined up to buy goods at supermarkets like Costco Wholesale and Walmart as fears over COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey, United States on April 18, 2020. Tayfun Coskun | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

The Business Roundtable's CEO Economic Outlook Survey  a composite index of chief executive plans for capital spending and hiring over the next six months  fell to 34.3, its lowest reading since the second quarter of 2009, as the U.S. was struggling to recover from the global financial meltdown of the previous year. The record low, which the index hit during the first quarter of 2009, is negative 5. The second quarter survey was conducted between June 1 and 22. The U.S. officially entered the coronavirus recession in February of this year. The BRT report comes as the U.S. government is still crafting its economic response to the pandemic. Lawmakers have yet to act on a follow-up piece of major legislation to the $2 trillion CARES Act signed into law in late March. While informal talks have already begun, they are expected to begin in more earnest in mid-July. On Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the top Democrats in Congress, urged the Republican-led Senate leadership to act quickly on legislation. They warned "the nation has seen a dramatic surge in both cases and deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic" and "our economy is facing one of its greatest challenges since the Great Depression."

US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (L) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (R) hold a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, May 22, 2019, following a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers an "Address to Young Americans" at the Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., June 23, 2020.

President Donald Trump's campaign, facing a growing disadvantage in polls, has started reserving spots for a television ad blitz set to run in several swing states during the final months of the race.

The ad buy, worth more than $90 million, comes as some in the Trump campaign see warning signs in multiple key states, including Michigan, Georgia and North Carolina, according to people familiar with the matter.

Ad tracking firms Advertising Analytics and Medium Buying announced that Trump's campaign is reserving ad time starting in September in the key states of Arizona, Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Trump won all six states in 2016. The ad buy comes on top of the ads currently airing against Joe Biden in North Carolina.

Advertising Analytics originally said on Monday that the buy is worth over $16 million. Later, they noted that the buy across all of the states was worth $95 million. The move comes after Trump pulled ahead of Biden last week with his Facebook ad spending.

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The new investment in these states comes as polls show Trump behind Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee. A New York Times Upshot/ Sienna College survey has Biden ahead of Trump in Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida. Trump won these states by slim margins against the 2016 Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.

Trump has been under siege by critics who argue he hasn't done enough to combat the coronavirus pandemic and that he failed to show empathy during the nationwide protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd.

The development also follows news that the Trump campaign reserving ad space in Georgia, a traditionally reliable state for Republican presidential candidates. A recent Fox News poll had Biden ahead of Trump there by two points.

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A spokesman for the Trump campaign did not return a request for comment.

The new spending indicates that the Trump campaign is ramping up its defense in states he needs to win a second term.

Elsewhere, in Michigan, Trump is down in every recent public poll. That matches the campaign's current crop of data, according to people familiar with the matter. These people declined to be named as these internal results have yet to be made public. Trump won Michigan in 2016.

Some on the campaign are convinced that the president faces hurdles even in Georgia and North Carolina, these people said.

The campaign, however, sees New Hampshire, Minnesota and Nevada as states that are all in play for Trump, these people added. Clinton won those states in 2016. The Trump campaign's data shows that Trump is ahead of Biden by wide margins in Texas, Ohio and Florida, despite Biden being ahead of Trump in some of the statewide public polls, these people added.

Still, the Trump campaign data shows that Biden has a slight edge over Trump in the Electoral College, one of these people said.

The struggles on the campaign trail for Trump also appears to reflect the edge Biden and Democrats had over the president and the Republican National Committee in their May fundraising haul.

Trump and the RNC combined to raise $74 million last month while Biden, along with the Democratic National Committee brought in $80 million. Trump and the RNC, however, had $265 million on hand going into June.

Note: This story was updated after Advertising Analytics published new spending figures.
Adam Clayton, Bono, the Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. of Irish rock band U2, arriving at Mumbai international airport for the "Joshua Tree Tour" on December 12, 2019 in Mumbai, India.

David Howell Evans, known as the "the Edge" and Adam Clayton, from the rock band U2, are backing a new technology fund in Ireland, which is aiming to raise 100 million euros ($112 million).

A spokesman for Dublin-based VentureWave Capital, the investment firm behind the fund, confirmed lead guitarist "the Edge" and bassist Clayton were both investors.

The fund, "Impact Ireland," received between approximately 20 million euros and 30 million euros in the first round of fundraising, which launched in September 2019 and closed in May 2020. The second round of fundraising is now underway.

It will invest in companies from Ireland producing global "technology for good." More specifically, it will target cloud-based technology companies in sectors such as education, healthcare, food and agriculture as well as energy and the environment.

Impact Ireland will invest in up to 15 "high-growth potential and scaling Irish companies," putting between 1 million euros and 25 million euros into each of those businesses.

The fund will be a combination of private equity and venture capital investments.

According to Pitchbook, while both are subsets of the private market, venture capital tends to invest in startups and other young tech-focused companies via a minority stake.

Meanwhile, private equity often funds more mature companies in traditional industries, typically to take a majority stake in those businesses.

VentureWave Capital said the fund is the first Irish signatory of the World Bank's International Finance Corporation's "Operating Principles for Impact Measurement," which gauges the social benefit of the investments.

Impact Ireland will also invest in "profit-driven" companies advancing the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.

Former Irish leader Enda Kenny is chair of the fund's global advisory council.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) looks at US President Donald Trump (R) walking past her during a family photo as part of the NATO summit at the Grove hotel in Watford, northeast of London on December 4, 2019. CHRISTIAN HARTMANN

Diplomatic ties between Washington and Berlin have declined markedly in recent years and Germany's foreign minister has appeared to warn that relations between the two countries may never be the same again. In the biggest signal yet of how strained relations have become, Heiko Maas said this weekend that the alliance with the U.S.  which is important in terms of economics, defense and security  might not recover even if President Donald Trump's rival for the White House, Democrat Joe Biden, won the forthcoming election. "Everyone who thinks everything in the trans-Atlantic partnership will be as it once was with a Democratic president underestimates the structural changes," Maas told German press agency DPA Sunday, Deutsche Welle reported. "The trans-Atlantic relations are extraordinarily important, they remain important, and we are working to ensure they have a future," Maas said."But with the way they are now, they are no longer fulfilling the demands both sides have for them."

Arguably the Western world's most influential economies and political blocs, the U.S. and Germany have seen their relationship deteriorate during Trump's time in office. Defense spending, a brewing trade war between the U.S. and Europe and the threat of U.S. tariffs on German car exports are all bones of contention, as well as the mega gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 (a German-Russian project) and, most recently, the Group of Seven (G-7) alliance and the U.S.' decision to withdraw troops from Germany.

Defense spending

Trump has repeatedly lambasted Germany, Europe's biggest economy, a number of times since his election in 2016. NATO has been a particular source of tension, with Trump calling out Germany on its defense spending. In mid-June, Trump once again rebuked the country by calling it a "delinquent" in its defense spending, saying it still has not met a commitment to spend 2% of its GDP (gross domestic product) on defense as required by a 2014 NATO agreement. "We're protecting Germany and they're delinquent. That doesn't make sense," Trump said, adding that the U.S. was going to "bring down the soldier count to 25,000 soldiers," arguing that the stationing of troops in Germany comes at "a tremendous cost to the United States." Germany spent an estimated 1.38% on defense spending in 2019, according to NATO estimates, whereas the U.S. spent 3.42%. Germany said last year that it aims to meet the 2% target by 2031. Trump also accused Germany, and the wider European Union, of treating the U.S. "badly" on trade, saying "so we get hurt on trade and we get hurt on NATO." Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on European car imports, a move that would greatly hurt Germany which is the home of European car production. Plans to withdraw around 9,500 troops from Germany has caused consternation in Europe and some criticism from U.S. lawmakers, concerned at how Russia could potentially exploit the withdrawal.

The Group of Seven (G-7) alliance of the U.S., U.K., Germany, Canada, France, Italy and Japan is also another arena of tension. Trump has previously refused to endorse the conclusions of a G-7 summit, an act that German Chancellor Angela Merkel called "a bit depressing." Relations took a further dive recently after Merkel rebuffed Trump's invite to a G-7 summit in Washington due to the coronavirus pandemic. Trump's wish to see Russia re-admitted to the group has also created a split in the group.

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World Health Organization officials are holding a press conference Monday to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak, which has now infected more than 10 million people across the globe, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Last week, WHO officials said coronavirus outbreaks in the Americas, which includes North, South and Central America, haven't reached their peak yet. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's emergencies program, said during a press conference that countries in the region are still suffering sustained community transmission.

The U.S. remains the worst-hit country in the world, reporting roughly a quarter of the world's cases. Cases in Brazil have climbed to more than 1.3 million, the second-highest tally across the globe.

The death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 500,000 Sunday, with the U.S. accounting for more than 20% of fatalities, more than any other country in the world, according to Hopkins' data.

"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. It is still deadly and most people are still susceptible," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on June 19.

Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the Covid-19 outbreak.

 CNBC's Berkeley Lovelace Jr. and William Feuer contributed to this report.
In this article WDI-FF

The Curve card and app displayed on a smartphone. Curve

Thousands of British consumers have been unable to access their cash as some financial technology apps relying on scandal-hit payments processor Wirecard were forced to freeze their accounts. On Friday, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ordered the German firm's U.K. unit, Wirecard Card Solutions, to stop carrying out regulated activities. It comes after Wirecard filed for insolvency following the revelation that 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) of cash had gone missing from its accounts. That regulatory action impacted several British online banking apps, including Curve, Anna, Pockit and U Account, as they relied on Wirecard's systems to process payments. Customers of the apps range from individual users to businesses depending on fintech services to operate. Curve has, however, recently managed to get its cards up and running after staff worked through the weekend to fix the situation. The company has transitioned payment processing from Wirecard to Checkout.com, a rival fintech company based in London. Curve users can now pay with their cards again, however mobile wallets like Google Pay and Apple Pay still aren't available yet. Experts say the debacle could lessen the public's trust in the U.K.'s fintech sector. Britain has one of the world's top fintech industries, with well-known homegrown start-ups including Revolut, Monzo and TransferWise.

The issue with apps such as Curve and Anna is that they rely on e-money licenses that allow them to handle payments, rather than full banking licenses that would let them hold customers' funds. Instead, the money is held with licensed third-party banks. Curve has more than 1.3 million accounts on its platform, while Pockit counts more than 500,000 users. Anna has 20,000 business banking clients. Pockit users rely on the app to receive wages and benefits payments.

No 'Plan B'

Kirstin Pauk, 37, uses U Account as her main banking provider. She told CNBC she was very disappointed at no longer being able to access her money or log into the app. Pauk said she is a paid user of the service, which provides free basic accounts as well as monthly subscriptions for access to additional features. Leanne Docherty, 40, is an Anna customer who started a clothing business three weeks ago. She says she is lucky as funds in her account were low, but "there are other people who have (high) amounts in their accounts and cannot pay staff." "I think Anna are in an incredibly difficult position," Docherty, who is based in the eastern English city of Peterborough, told CNBC Friday. "They have been great to work with during the set up of my business and have made the process so easy."

But Docherty said she couldn't understand why there was no "Plan B" at Anna to migrate away from Wirecard. Allegations of fraudulent accounting had been made about the firm as early as January 2019, while the company admitted last week that the missing cash flagged by its auditors likely didn't exist. "We fully understand the inconvenience the temporary suspension of our services has caused for our valued customers," a spokesperson from Wirecard Card Solutions told CNBC. "We are in constant dialogue with the FCA and are working hard with them and our advisors to have the steps in place which will enable the suspension to be lifted so business can resume." Anna told customers last week that their cards and accounts had been "temporarily suspended" due to the FCA's shutdown of Wirecard's operations in the U.K. Curve, Pockit and U Account all made similar statements on their websites.

Loss of trust

The FCA has also updated its initial announcement to say that it's seen "good progress" from Wirecard in meeting a set of requirements it laid out last week.
Norman Ornstein, a congressional expert at the American Enterprise Institute, pointed at the Republican leader. The way McConnell set up the process almost guaranteed this outcome, he said. If he had wanted bipartisan legislation, he could have gotten it either by turning the issue over to the Judiciary Committee (which includes members of both parties) or by forming a bipartisan group. He did neither.
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Antonio Smith is suing the City of Valdosta due to excessive force claims stemming from a Feb. 8 incident involving the Valdosta Police Department.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29)  In just one week, German firm Wirecard AG went from an e-payments industry leader to financial ruin as auditors learned that $2.1 billion (about 104 billion) of its cash is nowhere to be found.

By June 22, the company declared that the funds that were supposedly held in trust by two Philippine banks and booked in its financial statements likely never existed. This led to the collapse in its stock price, pushing the firm to file for insolvency before a court in Munich.

Wirecard's top executive Markus Braun now faces charges of accounting fraud. The current whereabouts of Jan MarsalekWirecards second-in-command who was sacked amid the scandalare unclear, with signs hinting that he may be here in the Philippines.

The accounting fraud was allegedly designed to make Wirecards balance sheet more appealing to investors by showing it has brisk revenues, partly from its operations in Asia. It's not fiction that Wirecard does business here through its unit Wirecard e-Money Philippines Inc.  a company registered with local regulators since three years ago.

RELATED: Mastercard and Visa reportedly reconsidering their relationship with Wirecard following accounting scandal

Documents obtained by CNN Philippines showed a letter dated March 9, 2017, where the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas endorsed the incorporation of the local Wirecard unit that holds a license as an e-money issuer. This allowed the company to provide services like bills payment and remittances through online channels to Filipino clients.

In that letter, the central bank said that the company could register with the Securities and Exchange Commission to do business here, a requirement for firms that want to operate in the country. The notice was addressed to a certain Andre Buzeta-Acero, identified as treasurer-in-trust of Wirecard e-Money Philippines.

SEC records  some of which used Buzeta-Aceros maiden name  show Buzeta is one of five Filipino incorporators for Wirecards Manila arm.

A week after Bangko Sentrals go signal, a bank certificate under BPI's name was issued vouching for a deposit of 100,089,490 under Buzeta's name. It was signed by BPI Salcedo branch manager Kristine Eunice C. San Jose and addressed to the corporate regulator.

That document obtained by CNN Philippines specifically states that Buzeta was treasurer-in-trust for Wirecard e-Money and that the deposit could be withdrawn in behalf of the said company once the process of registering with the SEC was completeda show money of sorts.

That certificate remains part of Wirecard e-Moneys files kept by the corporate regulator to this day.

Based on records, Buzeta as authorized representative of Wirecard e-Money signed the application to do business on the same date on the bank certificate. The papers were filed with the SEC on March 22 and the application was made under the Foreign Investments Act.

Two days after submission, the SEC approved Wirecard e-Moneys articles of incorporation and by-laws, with the firm officially registered to do business locally since March 24, 2017.

Fake document?

CNN Philippines showed BPI Chief Executive Officer Cezar Consing a copy of that bank certificate.

"When you look at the certificate carefullyand I asked my risk people to look at itthere are elements in the certificate that look fake," Consing said in an exclusive interview.

"Let us suppose it were valid  and I am not sure it is  but if it were valid, this is the kind of certificate that is typically issued by a bank when a foreign investor puts in a little money into the Philippines when they are trying to incorporate a subsidiary company," he added, noting that it was common practice for the treasurer-in-trust to close an account opened just for the SEC registration process. Often, the funds are transferred to the company's preferred financial service provider for its long-term operations, Consing explained.

"Wirecard AG does not have a relationship with this bank. I can say that categorically," the BPI chief stressed.

Consing noted that the document in question merely states that the person is a client of the bank and is a treasurer-in-trust for the company, making the account an "individual's account." He stressed that Wirecard never had any transaction with BPI.

(Please see the transcript of the interview below.)

Apart from BPI, the Sy-led BDO Unibank, Inc. has also been dragged into the scandal. Wirecard initially said the missing funds were lodged in two investment-grade Asian banks. The lenders were named on June 19 when both BPI and BDO said they were shown falsified documents as basis for Wirecard's $2.1-billion cash claim.

RELATED: NBI, BI ordered to investigate individuals involved in Wirecard scandal

Even the BSP said that the missing stash never went through the local financial system. These entities have rolled out separate investigations into the case.

Foreign shareholders

SEC records also showed a 100-million deposit supposedly with BPI earmarked for Wirecard e-Moneys initial capital to meet regulatory requirements.

The local units authorized capital stock is 100 million with shares valued at 100 each, with Germany-based Wirecard Acquiring & Issuing GmbH holding 99.99 percent of the shares.

The company treasurer, Buzeta, had a less than 1 percent stake back in 2017, but 2019 files revealed she had divested alongside four other incorporators who used to be minority shareholders as well.

The only stockholders on record as of last year were Wirecard AG, a Singaporean named Jeffry Ho as company president, an Indian national, and three Filipinos. One of those Filipinos is banker Martha Elaine Borja, currently the general manager and chairman of the board of Wirecard e-Money Philippines.

Austrian Susanne Steidl was a shareholder and company director in the local unit's early days, but no longer appears in the 2019 SEC records.

Marsalek, also an Austrian national, is not included in the SEC records as shareholder or officer of the Wirecard unit in Manila. Filipino lawyer Mark Tolentino, identified by German media as a Wirecard trustee, is not on the list either. He had earlier denied taking an active role in the payments firm or in any alleged illegal activities on Wirecard's behalf.

If the bank certificate is proven to be fake, why would Wirecard e-Money submit that document for its SEC registration? If it is indeed a dupe, how did this slip right under regulators nose? The questions go on and on.

Transcript of CNN Philippines' interview with Mr. Consing:

CNN Philippines Senior Correspondent Lois Calderon (CNN PH): This was in March 2017 Does this account still exist?

BPI Chief Executive Officer Cezar Consing (Consing): When you look at the certificate carefully, and I asked my risk people to look at it, there are elements in the certificate that look fake But, but let us suppose it were valid - and I am not sure it is  but if it were valid, this is the kind of certificate that is typically issued by a bank when a foreign investor puts in a little money into the Philippines when they are trying to incorporate a subsidiary company When the SEC approves the incorporation of the company, what typically happens is the account that is opened by an individual as treasurer-in-trust for the to-be incorporated company, what typically happens is that account is closed and transferred to whichever entity or whichever bank the foreign investor wants to establish a relationship with Wirecard AG does not have a relationship with this bank. I can say that categorically.

CNN PH: In the event that this paper is legitimate and there was a savings account, then Sir that means that Wirecard at least was in the past a client?

CONSING: I dont think thats what that paper is saying if you read carefully In its current form, all that paper says is Mr. So and So is a client and is a treasurer in trust for XYZ company.

CNN PH: Typically if the account is under a persons name, even if that document explicitly says that she opened the account for a company, how do you treat it? As an account for the individual or as an account for the company?

CONSING: Assuming it were valid, it is an individuals account. And you know the process, right? If the local company gets incorporated, typically that account gets closed and transferred to somewhere else.

CNN PH: Was Wirecard a client of the bank such that it dealt with the bank in terms of foreign exchange transactions or remittance service in that context, Sir?

CONSING: No. No.

CNN PH: Kasi my understanding is if its foreign exchange transactions, the client even without an account can deal with the bank. And then the bank converts into pesos, then the dollars or the foreign currency that the bank holds, it will just sell it to the spot market and then we forget about the client.

CONSING: Yeah. But we dont have any records of Wirecard doing that with us.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29)  The Department of Health is encouraging organ and tissue donation among Filipinos.

Dr. Franciso Sarmiento, program manager of Philippine Organ Donation and Transplantation Program and the Philippine Network for Organ Sharing of the DOH, said during a virtual presser on Monday that about 500,000 Filipinos are in need of organ or tissue donation.

Of these, 200,000 have end-stage organ diseases, including those who have end-stage kidney and liver ailments.

The Health Department has several programs and a network to encourage more Filipinos to commit to organ donation. Sarmiento said if these are achieved, the country will be able to attain national self-sufficiency in organ donation and transplantation.

Organ donation can only be done with the consent of the donor. Organs of a donor can help up to eight people, while a donors healthy tissues and eyes can help up to 50 people.

The Organ Donation Act led the way for the creation of programs to inform the public of the importance and legal way of organ and tissue donation to help Filipinos who have end-stage organ and tissue diseases.

The National Organ and Blood Donation Awareness Week is celebrated every end-week of June, aiming to encourage more Filipinos to donate organs to citizens in need through transplantation.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29)  The Department of Healths (DOH) regional office in Western Visayas said it has put on hold the deployment of doctors to Cebu City, after the first batch of medical team raised concerns regarding the directive.

Until meeting today, June 29, members of the first batch of the medical team personally expressed their concern to the CHD (Center for Health Development) director, read a statement released by the DOH-CHD in Region 6 on Monday.

As such, deployment will be temporarily held in abeyance until issues and concerns are settled with all concerned physicians and other stakeholders, it continued.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier issued a directive to deploy additional physicians, including Doctors to the Barrios (DTTBs), to Cebu City, following the reported understaffing of health workers in the area.

READ: DOH orders deployment of doctors to Cebu City to help in COVID-19 fight

In compliance with the order, the DOH-CHD Region 6 said it has identified a total of 39 doctors, which will be sent in four batches. Their deployment was supposed to commence on Monday, June 29.

The decision to temporarily suspend the move also came after DTTB Batches 36 and 37 opposed the order in a joint statement on Sunday. The concerned doctors said they were not properly informed or briefed through writing. They added that there was no proper consultation prior to the orders rollout.

They likewise called on the DOH to rethink the directive, with the DTTB seeking inclusive dialogue between the government and other concerned stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Health spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual press briefing on Monday that they are currently in dialogue with the DTTBs regarding the matter.

The department acted within the bounds of its authority when it ordered the redeployment of the Doctors to the Barrios, she added. The agency also appealed to healthcare workers to heed the call of duty during these daunting times.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29)  Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa and former writer-researcher Reynaldo Santos on Monday appealed their cyber libel conviction before a Manila court.

Ressa and Santos' lawyers from the Free Legal Assistance Group submitted a 132-page motion to Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46, urging Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa to reconsider her decision to convict the journalists of cyber libel.

We have to acknowledge the real uses of criminal libel if we are to be consistent to protect speech made to make public officers and government accountable. Criminal libel has an in terrorem effect that is inconsistent with the contemporary protection of the primordial and necessary right of expression enshrined in our Constitution," the motion said.

"The review should include a consideration of the nature of cyberspace as layered communities used to evolve ideas. Such review should result in a declaration of unconstitutionality of criminal libel in the Revised Penal Code and in the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012," it added.

The motion cited at least 13 errors committed by Montesa in her verdict, including the consideration of complainant Wilfredo Keng as a private citizen, the court defining updating a story as republication, and the court's characterization of Ressa's title as unwarranted and prejudicial.

"To the mind of the court, Rappler's scheme of not using the term "editor in chief" in its organizational structure is a clever ruse to avoid liability," the motion said.

"There is absolutely no basis for this statement," it added. "The court's role in the trial is to determine malice, not make malicious statements."

The motion also said in Judge Montesa's process of arriving at her decision, "the court has resorted to language that borders on the sarcastic and, at times, crosses over to the partial."

The case stemmed from a 2012 Rappler investigative article, which reported on businessman Wilfredo Kengs alleged connection to illegal activities. However, the article was published two years before the cyber libel law came into effect in the Philippines.

Prosecutors argued that a correction made to the story after the law passed constituted a "republication" and meant it could be considered as cyber libel.

On June 15, the court found both Ressa and Santos guilty of the offense, sentencing both journalists to up to six years in jail for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Opposition groups, human rights advocates and netizens in the country and abroad slammed the decision in the high-profile case, saying it was a blow to press freedom in the Philippines.

CNN Philippines Senior Correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29) - The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said Monday there is nothing illegal with ABS-CBNs airing of multiple programs on one channel through its digital television service, TV Plus.

Insofar as 6 programs in 1 channel is concerned, okay po yun (its okay), said NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba during the continuation of the hearings on the television giants franchise at the House of Representatives.

The NTC explained that in digital television, broadcasting companies are entitled to a frequency of 6 megahertz, allowing them to broadcast up to six programs in one frequency. This counters the claim of a group of cable operators who insists that ABS-CBN should be operating under one franchise per channel.

Ang characteristic ng digital TV, ang kanyang compression ay very efficient. Nakakapag-produce siya ng five to six programs na standard definition (The characteristic of digital TV is that its compression is very efficient. It can produce five to six programs that are of standard definition). Still one channel, but multiple programs, said Cordoba.

READ: Nothing illegal with ABS-CBN's digital television service, says expert

Meanwhile, AKO-Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin asked the NTC if there were any violations under the previous 25-year franchise granted to the network when it comes to airing multiple programs.

The NTC said Congress may have not anticipated the advent of digital television given that the franchise was granted in 1995.

Noong time na in-issue yun, parang wala pang digital TV. So baka hindi yun na-foresee ng Republic Act 7966, said Cordoba.

[Translation: When it was issued, there was no digital TV yet. So, perhaps Republic Act 7966 was not able to foresee it.]

The NTC added that there is nothing wrong as well with the marketing of setup boxes like ABS-CBN TV Plus.

Pay-per-view

Garbin also questioned the legality of the pay-per-view services of TV Plus.

The NTC quickly pointed out that it asked the network to defer from offering such service in the absence of implementing rules and regulations.

Nilagay namin sa provisional authority ng ABS-CBN, doon po sa digital TV, na wala munang encryption or conditional access, ito po yung pay-per-view, said Cordoba.

[Translation: We stated in the provisional authority of ABS-CBN, for the digital TV, that there should be no encryption or conditional access, referring to the pay-per-view service.]

In the meantime po, wala pa po kaming in-issue [rules and regulations], so dapat po sana si ABS-CBN ay naghintay at di nag-offer ng pay-per-view sa public, he added.

[Translation: In the meantime, we have not yet issued anything, so ABS-CBN should have waited first before offering its pay-per-view service to the public.]
Cebu City (CNN Philippines, June 29)  Fourteen people will be facing criminal charges for holding a religious festival parade in Cebu City while it was under the strictest enhanced community quarantine, a top Central Visayas police officer said on Monday.

Region 7 Police Director Albert Ignatius Ferro said barangay officials and organizers of the Sinulog event held in Sitio Alumnos in Barangay Basak San Nicolas  considered a COVID-19 hotspot with at least 90 confirmed cases  will be slapped with criminal charges.

Ferro said the barangay officials will also face administrative charges which is set to be filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

He also said the officials failed to prevent and stop the incident from happening on June 27.

In a Facebook post, the barangay officials denied any involvement in the said gathering, adding that they did not give their approval for the event.

Village chairman Norman Navarro said the council had summoned the organizers of the parade to question them regarding possible quarantine violations.

According to Ferro, it was the recommendation of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to file cases in violation of Republic Act 11332 or the Surveillance and Response to Notifiable Diseases, Epidemics, and Events of Public Health Concerns.

The 14 individuals will also be charged for violating a city ordinance that prohibits mass gatherings, he said.

Apart from the complaints, barangay executives involved in the conduct of the parade will also face show cause orders from DILG, its secretary Eduardo Ano said separately.

We will not tolerate any violation of our quarantine protocols. Those responsible will be made to account, Ano said in a statement, adding that he has also ordered a separate investigation on the case.

National and local government officials on Monday noted that Cebu City is now the epicenter of Philippines' coronavirus cases.

Ano said the concentration of COVID-19 cases in the country has shifted from Metro Manila to Cebu City.

As the nationwide tally reached 35,455 on June 28, a total of 4,562 cases were recorded in the Visayas City.

The national government is paying more attention to Cebu City, with President Rodrigo Duterte appointing Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu as the new COVID-19 response chief for Visayas on June 22.

Cimatu brought in hundreds of security troops to enforce the strict stay-at-home measures in the Queen City of the South.

The Department of Health has also ordered the deployment of doctors  including doctors to the barrios  to Cebu City to help its battle against the contagion. This came after Cebu nurses appealed for hazard pay due to surge in coronavirus cases.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, families and communities have been staying at home to protect their health and the health of others. For many families that are able to work and stay at home, getting the chance to let the kids safely run in the backyard or go for socially distanced walks or bike rides provides much-needed daily relief. However, this breath of fresh air has been compromised by poor outdoor air quality in many areas of the country. Consider the red and orange alerts in Chicago last week.
The Coastal Point is a local newspaper published each Friday and distributed in the Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island, Ocean View, Millville, Dagsboro, Frankford, Selbyville, Millsboro, Long Neck and Georgetown, Delaware areas.
Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday.
Columbia, MO (65201)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 64F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 64F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Microsoft on Friday said it would close its chain of retail store and take a $450 million charge against earnings to account for the permanent shutterings.

The stores  Microsoft had 82 worldwide, all but 10 of them located in the U.S.  have been padlocked since mid-March, when the Redmond, Wash. company closed them because of the coronavirus pandemic. None had reopened before Microsoft slid them into the "really dead" category.

Four outlets  one of the New York City stores, those in London and Sydney, and an on-campus location in Redmond  will be repurposed as "Microsoft Experience Centers" where products will presumably be shown if not sold, highlighted if not hawked.

No layoffs were announced alongside the brick-and-mortar closings. Instead, personnel "will serve consumers, small-business, education, and enterprise customers, while building a pipeline of talent with transferable skills," Microsoft asserted in a June 26 statement.

The charge against earnings will be taken in the June quarter, ending this week, which also ends Microsoft's 2020 financial year, the company said.

Microsoft and retail, 2009-2020

Microsoft's retail strategy stretches back 11 years, to the opening of a few stores almost simultaneously with the launch of Windows 7 in late 2009.

Along with these more-or-less traditional stores, Microsoft also opened a number of mall kiosk-like outlets  called Microsoft Specialty Stores  in 2013 around the U.S. Also that year, Microsoft struck a deal with electronics retailer Best Buy to field 600 stores-within-stores. Both the kiosks and the inside-Best Buy spaces were designed to sell customers on Windows 8 and the then-new Surface hardware, as well as new PCs and devices from other OEMs (original equipment manufacturers).

Comparisons to Apple and its chain of retail stores have shadowed Microsoft since it first broached the idea of building out a physical footprint in the U.S. In some cases, Microsoft leased mall space very near existing Apple stores, exacerbating the inevitable contrasts when the former's outlets could not match the latter's crowds.

No wonder, then, that questions about Microsoft's strategy and the likelihood of success arose as soon as news broke that the company was going to compete at retail. Nor did the predictions stop, even as years went by.

"Eventually Microsoft will come to realize what an utter failure their retail stores are and will close them down," wrote Jim Lynch, a contributor to CIO, which like Computerworld is an IDG publication. "It may take a few more years for this to happen, but sooner or later the company will see the handwriting on the wall."

Lynch wrote that four years ago.

All part of the plan

In lieu of the closed-for-good retail stores, Microsoft will expand its online efforts, the company said, although it characterized the move as a "new approach to retail," which makes little sense since it will have no retail. "As part of our business plan, we announced a strategic change in our retail operations, including closing Microsoft Store physical locations," argued David Porter, corporate vice president of Microsoft Store, in a piece he penned on LinkedIn.

Not surprisingly, the company made lemonade out of the lemons represented by its failed brick-and-mortar strategy. The firm cited successes it has had during the coronavirus shut-down, when all business was conducted online, and pointed to likely future enhancements, including 1:1 video chat support and virtual workshops.

"Microsoft will continue to invest in its digital storefronts on Microsoft.com, and stores in Xbox and Windows," the Redmond, Wash. company said in its statement.

But Microsoft strained credulity when it seemed to make a case that it had planned this all along, that it had not only pushed its online marts  smart, what with retail's general downturn, accelerated over the last 12 months  but had somehow used its physical storefronts to improve its digital sales efforts.

"Our sales have grown online as our product portfolio has evolved to largely digital offerings, and our talented team has proven success serving customers beyond any physical location," said Porter, apparently referring to the since-March shuttering of its retail stores.

"We deliberately built teams with unique backgrounds and skills that could serve customers from anywhere," Porter added of a retail chain whose outlets never expanded beyond the English-speaking markets of the U.S. Canada, Australia and the U.K. "The evolution of our workforce ensured we could continue to serve customers of all sizes when they needed us most, working remotely these last months."
COVID-19, and the desire to avoid getting it, is already impacting mobile payments, especially NFC payments known as contactless. Those payments happen in-store, mere inches away from the same card swipe device used by countless others. But shoppers' desire to avoid going inside stores at all, even briefly, is sparking interest in app payments that happen far away from a POS system.

Case in point: 7-Eleven. Although 7-Eleven is piloting a program to accelerate in-store purchases by scanning barcodes, that's not especially COVID-19-friendly. The more interesting trial from the Slurpee people is aimed at paying for gas and it theoretically eliminates having to talk with a store employee at all. (If I keep the windows closed throughout the interaction, am I supposed to still wear the mask?)

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This trial is not being done in New Jersey, which is ironic because that is the only current state that forbids self-service, which would make this app effort entirely COVID friendly. Everywhere else  including where the app is initially being trialed, namely parts of Florida, Texas and Virginia  you still typically need to exit the vehicle and pump gas, using the same pump everyone else is using. Unless everyone else is using one-time-use plastic gloves (highly unlikely), then the pump is a potential source of infection. Still, if you use a pair of disposable gloves (and then indeed throw them out immediately before you re-enter your vehicle and touch your phone), this app helps minimize exposure.

How will it theoretically work? This is how 7-Eleven describes it.

"To pay via the 7Rewards loyalty program in the 7-Eleven app, simply upgrade the 7-Eleven app to the most current version and set up a credit or debit card under payment in account settings. The app also accepts Google Pay or Apple Pay. Customers select their fuel pump number and choose a preferred fuel amount. To complete the purchase, simply authorize the payment through the app. To set up the Siri experience on iPhones, simply create a Siri shortcut in the most up to date 7-Eleven app. On the payment confirmation screen of the fuel loyalty program, customers will be prompted to set up a customized Siri shortcut that they can use at the pump. Once set up, customers won't have to open their app during future visits to get the fuel rewards or pay. Instead they simply instruct Siri using their new shortcut to select a pump and authorize payment."

The addition of a Siri shortcut  which, obviously, is not an option for Android devices  is a nice touch. But this does raise the question of speed. Let's face it: We Americans are a proudly lazy people. So why not attach RFID tags to each pump and allow the app to query the pump for the pump number and store location? By opting for the customer's default payment, that merely leaves the question of "How much fuel do you want?" which, as the statement noted, is simply "fill it up" or "Give me XX dollars worth of gas."

By the way, to nitpick a little, 7-Eleven described this as "contactless payment." Its not. At least that's not how contactless payment is used in the payments space. It typically refers to NFC (rarely, it can also refer to an RFID payment). They could have called this non-touch or any one of a million other phrases, but contactless already has a meaning and this isn't it.

Forrester retail analyst Sucharita Kodali took exception to this 7-Eleven trial being positioned as a COVID-19 measure. To be fair, 7-Eleven's statement announcing the trial didn't mention COVID and it was various media reports  including, I suppose, this one  that linked it to Corona.

Kodali tweeted about the 7-Eleven trial and said: "Am I the only one confused by what problem they are trying to solve? You still have to handle a communal gas pump to fill your car, which is kind of the main part of the experience." In an interview, Kodali added that the pump interaction  and she doubts most people think to use disposable or any other kind of glove  makes this rather pointless. "That's why this is stupid. Unless you have a robot pumping your gas, you haven't fixed the issue.

"I don't know that finance has done the full analysis. These are solutions looking for problems," Kodali said. "This is the solution that they can build versus the solution that they need. The solution that they need (paying associates to pump the gas for customers everywhere) is far too expensive."

As for time savings, Kodali said the app might make more sense if the purchase could be handled entirely ahead of time. In other words, if shoppers could sit back at home, decide they need to fill up the car and then completely fill out the app then and there. That would shorten the time spent at the gas station. But given that the app needs to know the number of the pump, it blocks doing it ahead of time.

Even though Kodali is a superb analyst whom I have tracked for a ludicrously long time, I'm not fully on board with her skepticism this time. Although it's not perfect, 7-Eleven's effort does materially reduce a customer's COVID exposure  reducing all of the payment interaction risks and it's creating a better situation than existed before. Adhering to the cliche of not rejecting the good in search of the perfect, this seems a distinct improvement.

I, for one, would be quite happy to no longer having to wipe down my payment card with an alcohol wipe every time it is swiped or dipped. (Maybe that's overkill but I've lost relatives and neighbors to COVID and my wife encourages overkill.)
One secondary school student among 6 Singaporean COVID-19 cases reported on June 28

Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported an additional 213 cases of COVID-19 infection as of 12pm on June 28, bringing the national tally to 43,459.

Majority of the cases continue to be among Work Permit holders residing in dormitories, including in factory-converted dormitories.

Photo courtesy: Twitter/@sporeMOH

There are 11 cases in the community, of which 6 are Singaporeans/Permanent Residents.

Among the six Singaporean cases, one was tested as part of proactive screening of school students who are diagnosed with acute respiratory infection (ARI) at first presentation to a doctor. She is a student at East Spring Secondary School, but had not gone to school since onset of symptoms.

Another case had been identified as a contact of a previously confirmed case, and had already been quarantined earlier. He was swabbed during quarantine to verify his status.

Two others were detected due to proactive surveillance of persons working at dormitories or deployed to frontline COVID-19 operations, even though they are asymptomatic. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing for the remaining 2 cases.

Meanwhile, 345 more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities.
I know this will never happen, but the best vice president pick for Democrat Joe Biden would be Republican Sen. Mitt Romney. As a progressive centrist, I  and I believe most of the nation  want to bring Washington back closer to the middle. Compromise by Congress is how things will get done and be to the benefit of most people. Since the Clinton administration, there has been a pingpong game between the right and left, and nothing is getting fixed. Romney is a pragmatic politician who would work well with Biden and Congress. Many of Donald Trumps supporters like my dad dont agree with a lot of things Trump has done, but they are afraid of the radical left. This ticket would bring in probably a third of Trumps supporters.
Still debating whether or not to go through with those vacation plans? We asked these local health experts to weigh in on how  or if  they plan to travel this summer.

Dr. Faiqa Cheema

Director of transplant infectious diseases at Hartford HealthCare and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine

+32 Summer vacations we long to take in CT, the Northeast and around the world Travel has never been more complicated than right now, but here are some of the places we're most looking forward to visiting, if not this summer, then sometime soon.

+5 Take a day trip to one of these just-over-the-border outdoor spots Heres a look at some places to explore right on or just across the Connecticut border.

+8 CT celebs share where they want to vacation this summer We asked local celebrities to tell us what vacations they're taking  or wish they were taking  this summer.

+9 Your complete guide to planning a perfect picnic We tapped local experts for their go-to elements to create the perfect picnic, even if its in your own backyard.

This is a time when we all need to think about how we can re-vision living alongside this virus in a way that is safe and sustainable. Simply staying at home and waiting indefinitely for the pandemic to pass is not realistic. On the other hand, we cannot pretend the virus no longer exists and recklessly return to crowding beaches, bars and pools. I plan to travel with my family this summer, and we will do it in a modified fashion. We wont be attending block parties and barbecues in large numbers. Instead, our activities will be on a smaller scale, and predominantly outdoors.

The beauty of New England is nature and space. It is easy to find drive-able vacation destinations without being in close proximity to people. We normally spend time in Maine with several houses of extended family, however, this year, we are all taking turns  household by household  to minimize risk.

Keith Grant

APRN and director of infection prevention at Hartford HealthCare

At this time I will not be traveling primarily because it is hard to predict the epidemiology of certain areas. It is also very hard for most vacation spots to fully implement infection-prevention programs. The ones that do have the capability, I imagine will be overwhelmed with tourism.

Durland Fish

Professor emeritus of epidemiology and microbial diseases at Yale School of Public Health

I plan to travel this summer, and probably for the next year, with a fully equipped camping trailer that will eliminate the need for hotels, restaurants, grocery stores and restrooms.

We plan to visit remote campsites with the fewest people possible. On longer trips, Nova Scotia, possibly Florida, we will overnight at rest stops, Walmart parking lots and wineries until we reach our destination. We are both retired and at a vulnerable age for coronavirus infection. We plan to stay isolated as much as possible and avoid contact with the public.

I will not fly until airlines can convince me that it is completely safe. Trains are worse. I believe that staying at hotels, B&Bs, etc., and eating in restaurants pose an unnecessary risk of infection.

Summer McGee

Dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of New Haven

I am not planning on traveling outside of Connecticut this summer due to concerns about airplane safety and hotel cleanliness. I have family who will come visit us here from out of state and they will drive.

While I would love a summer vacation right now, travel is a luxury and not worth the risk. From a public health perspective, we still want people to stay home as much as possible to prevent spread of the virus. I am doing my small part to prevent illness by foregoing my travel plans.

If you do decide to venture forth this summer, our experts recommend taking these precautions for traveling in the age of the coronavirus.

Plan, plan, plan: Sure, it can be fun to throw a dart at a map and see where the road takes you, but this is not the time for spontaneity. Plan your stops and meals, minimize use of public restrooms, bring personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks and hand sanitizer, and know where to seek treatment if someone gets ill.

Watch where youre going: If you can avoid it, dont travel to areas where COVID infection rates are high or trending upward. As for lodging, In general, smaller hotels and B&Bs might be safer than large hotels and resorts, McGee says. Ask questions before making a reservation about cleaning protocols and how guests will be kept safe.

Maintain good hygiene: Vacation is no excuse to slack off on those new cleanliness habits youve developed over the last few months. Hand sanitizer and hand washing is most important, Grant says.

Continue social distancing: Safety precautions arent just for you  keep those who are at higher risk in mind. People who are willing to travel as they have done in the past should stay away from vulnerable friends and relatives until they are symptom free for two weeks, Fish says.

Dont overlook the usual summer precautions: COVID-19 isnt the only risk factor out there. In the Northeast, 2020 is also predicted to be a high-risk year for ticks and their associated diseases like Lyme, as well as the deadly mosquito-transmitted Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).Wear sunscreen and mosquito repellent when outdoors, and remember to check for ticks, Dr. Cheema urges.
06/29/2020

Photo (c) Arthit_Longwilai - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 2,557,980 (2,510,323)

Total U.S. deaths: 125,864 (125,539)

Total global cases: 10,189,350 (10,005,970)

Total global deaths: 502,719 (499,306)

Somber warning from HHS Secretary

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar says the window is closing on Americas ability to control the coronavirus (COVID-19). Appearing on CNN, Azar said the surge in new cases in the South and Southwest threatens to overwhelm hospitals, echoing a fear that was expressed in New York in April. Cases have since declined in the Northeast.

"Things are very different from two months ago, Azar said. So it is a very different situation, but this is a very, very serious situation and the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control."

On the positive side, Azar suggested the U.S. is in a better position than it was early in the pandemic thanks to improvements in testing, contact tracing, hospital capacity, supplies of personal protective equipment, and advancement in treatments.

A dangerous turn in Texas

Texas is one state where cases of the virus have skyrocketed during June. Gov. Greg Abbott says the number of cases in the state has more than doubled in a short period of time.

We need to understand that COVID-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past few weeks, he said.

Abbott has backtracked on Texas reopening, ordering bars to close down again and limiting restaurant capacity to 50 percent.

Remdesivirs price tag

Gilead Sciences, the pharmaceutical company making the experimental antiviral drug remdesivir, has priced the COVID-19 treatment prior to receiving final government approval.

A Wall Street Journal analysis shows the typical hospital patient with commercial insurance would be charged $3,120 for an average course of treatment, but what the consumer ends up paying would depend on their health benefits coverage.

Public Citizen has argued for a drastically lower price, maintaining that the drug was developed with the aid of federal funding and expertise.

FDA grants emergency approval for another antibody test

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use clearance for an antibody blood test made by medical device manufacturer Danaher. The test is designed to show whether someone has been infected with the coronavirus.

The FDA has recently tightened rules for the manufacturers of these tests, warning that there are many fraudulent products on the market. Danaher says the test is extremely reliable and has virtually eliminated the chance of a false-negative result.

Reuters reports the company has shipped tests to about 400 hospitals and is poised to turn out 30 million test kits per month.

Three more symptoms

The symptoms of the coronavirus can vary widely, from raging fever to hallucinations. Health officials have now added three more.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports some people who have tested positive for the virus have also exhibited congestion or runny nose, nausea, and diarrhea.

The CDC says symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Around the nation
06/29/2020

Photo (c) AndreyPopov - Getty Images In a 5-4 decision on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court gave the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) the all-clear to continue operating as it has been for more than 10 years, but it said the President of the United States can remove its director anytime and at will.

The CFPB has been the consumers best friend ever since the 2008 financial crisis went down. The bright idea of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Congress established the bureau with one task and one task only: ensure that consumer debt products are safe and transparent.

The big number on Dodd-Frank

To date, the Bureau has done its job well. As of its 2017 audit, it had returned close to $12 billion to consumers through 2017.

But things changed rapidly when President Donald Trump moved into the White House. Less than a month after Trump took office, he promised to do "a big number on Dodd-Frank," the consumer protection legislation that enabled the creation of the Bureau.

The Dodd-Frank legislation says the President can remove the director of the Bureau for "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, so thats what Trump did.

The Bureau can still do its job, but

The Supreme Court decision sided with Seila Law -- a California law firm which was in the crosshairs of the CFPB over promotions of debt relief services. The firm previously said that the CFPBs leadership by a single director who was removable for cause ignored the U.S. Constitutions separation of powers rule.

Not only that, but the Court said that the Bureaus director can be removed by the President of the United States at will.

The agency may ... continue to operate, but its Director, in light of our decision, must be removable by the President at will, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his majority decision, a pro-conservative opinion.

Fighting back, Justice Elena Kagan and her three liberal colleagues said that their conservative counterparts took away what allowed the CFPB to be effective -- its immunity from Washington politics.

Todays decision wipes out a feature of that agency its creators thought fundamental to its mission -- a measure of independence from political pressure, Kagan wrote.

The decision could hurt consumers

Soon after news of the decision went live, consumer watchdog group Allied Progress said that its a sad day when an administrations consumer financial policy can be swayed by the highest bidder and have the power to fire a director on the spot for putting the interests of consumers ahead of the wish lists of donors.

Bottom line: this industry-backed case had nothing to do with what the Bureau is in a legal sense and everything to do with what it does, which is hold bad financial actors responsible while recovering billions of dollars on behalf of cheated consumers, said Jeremy Funk, spokesman for Allied Progress.

Greedy banks, predatory lenders, and other financial scammers wont stop until the agency is fully dismantled.
06/29/2020

Photo source: Keystone RV Keystone RV Company is recalling 428 model year 2020 Alpine, Avalanche, Fuzion, Laredo, Montana, Raptor, Crossroads Redwood and Dutchmen Voltage trailers.

The adhesive bond between the glass and the metal frame of the frameless windows may fail which can allow the glass to detach while the vehicle is moving.

If the window glass detaches while the vehicle is moving it could become a projectile, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.

What to do

Keystone will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the windows for proper adhesive bond strength, replacing the windows -- as necessary -- free of charge.

This recall is expected to begin July 29, 2020.

Owners may contact Keystone customer service at (866) 425-4369. Keystone's number for this recall is 20-375.
David Langham Horace, 44, passed away June 9, 2021 in Lufkin. Viewing will be held on Friday, June 18, 2021 at Emanuel Funeral Home of Crockett from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Funeral will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at Antioch Baptist Church in Pennington at 12 p.m. with burial to follow in A
Set against the background of both COVID-19 and the issues of racial disparities brought to the forefront in the wake of the death of George Floyd, this project represents a critical extension of Sinais legacy of reaching beyond our own hospital walls to provide much-needed resources to our community, Teitelbaum said.




These strategies of China are largely similar to past regimes that have adopted such methods in different measures, though history has shown that such ill-conceived and unethical plans do not always provide the intended end results in the long run, and the initiator of the schemes suffers and falls out in the process.

Chinas One Belt One Road (OBOR) scheme is part of its grand plan to make the economically weak and developing countries to firmly fall under its control. As India has refused to enter the OBOR trap, China considers India as a stumbling block and thinks that India should be weakened in all possible ways.

As part of its scheme to weaken India, and also as part of its global domination plans, China is trying to encircle India by bringing all of Indias neighbours  Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, even Maldives  under its thumb. It is adopting a combination of methods for this purpose. It is clear by now that China has not concealed its aim and determination to dominate the world as a superpower and expand its territories. In fact, China has begun to give the impression that it would combine different types of strategies on the trade front, propaganda campaign and military strategy to achieve its objectives, depending upon circumstances. Indeed, many countries in the world appear to be concerned about Chinas methodologies, practices and goals. After all, any attempt to dominate the world or expand its territory is bound to negatively impact the interests of the affected countries. Yet, China seems confident that it can afford to ignore the concern of other countries, as it moves on with its plans to achieve its objectives.These strategies of China are largely similar to past regimes that have adopted such methods in different measures, though history has shown that such ill-conceived and unethical plans do not always provide the intended end results in the long run, and the initiator of the schemes suffers and falls out in the process.Chinas One Belt One Road (OBOR) scheme is part of its grand plan to make the economically weak and developing countries to firmly fall under its control. As India has refused to enter the OBOR trap, China considers India as a stumbling block and thinks that India should be weakened in all possible ways.As part of its scheme to weaken India, and also as part of its global domination plans, China is trying to encircle India by bringing all of Indias neighbours  Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, even Maldives  under its thumb. It is adopting a combination of methods for this purpose.



Indias neighbours are burdened with debt that they owe to China, which they may not be able to repay in the foreseeable future There are reports that China is bribing political leaders in these countries in a variety of ways while participating in infrastructure projects. It is enabling such projects to be implemented by extending financial assistance, equipment and technicians to these countries, and in the process making these countries debt-ridden and dependent on China.

However, China appears to have ignored the ground realities, that while it can buy the politicians and sectarian groups in its neighbours, including India, making the economy and territory of these countries vulnerable to influence and coercion, it is not easy to overpower their people. Overpowering the territories is different from overpowering the people living in these territories.

Protests have already begun, though not loud enough, in Pakistan and Sri Lanka against handing over of such projects to China. Reports point to how in Pakistan the military is now protecting Chinese technicians working following apprehensions that government has virtually handed over Gwadar port and several important mines to China. Protests have also begun in Sri Lanka, where the government has virtually handed over the Hambantota port to China. There is expectation that these protest would intensify as people realize the extent of dependence on China.

Meanwhile, Indias neighbours are burdened with debt that they owe to China, which they may not be able to repay in the foreseeable future. Several other Asian and African countries are also facing a similar predicament. In the course of time, these countries may fail to repay debt, or may even refuse to honour debt, terming the terms of debt unreasonable or exploitative.

One wonders if China will be able to handle such a situation. Public anger may become more and more visible. If China tries to enforce the terms of debt agreement, it would tense relations with these countries. Beijing can ruthlessly suppress protests by people within China, it cannot do the same in other countries.

Is China biting more than what it can chew?

---

*Trustee, Nandini Voice for the Deprived, Chennai
The way forward to economic recovery

As the economic crisis continues to unfold, the government is already talking about a budget surplus and a return to its neoliberal agenda. Its plans will only deepen and prolong the economic crisis and create even more hardship for working people who are on the receiving end of these policies.

More than one in five workers is either unemployed and looking for work or underemployed. Since February 2020, 838,000 jobs have been lost. Young workers aged fifteen to twenty-four are the hardest hit, with an official unemployment rate of 16.1 per cent as their employment plunged by a whopping 102,900. (ABS 6202.0)

Close to 3.6 million people receive the JobKeeper payment. They have either been stood down or are still working but not necessarily for the same hours or paid as much as before.

These are just a few of the cold, hard statistics released earlier this month. Every single one of those hundreds of thousands of affected workers and their families represents real people, facing an uncertain future.

Prior to the pandemic, almost four decades of neoliberal economic policies and the attacks on the trade union movement had already taken a substantial toll on working arrangements, job security and wages. Australia had the third highest rate of insecure work of any OECD country with three million or more workers employed as casual, contract, labour hire, and gig workers.

These workers are denied basic rights such as sick leave, annual leave and other forms of paid leave. They are less likely to be organised in a trade union or to benefit from collective bargaining or occupational health and safety protections. Their hours and income could fluctuate from zero to fourteen hours or more in a day, with no certainty of enough work to pay the bills.

Excess capacity

Prior to the pandemic, the Australian economy was already heading into a recession. The private sector was experiencing reduced demand for goods and services. There was excess capacity in the economy. Since then the influx of migrants, international students and visa workers has dried up, further restricting growth.

The Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Phillip Lowe had been begging the government to provide a stimulus to the economy, all to no avail. It had even called for higher wages.

With the massive increase in unemployment and underemployment there will be even less demand and a tendency by many workers and their families to only spend on absolute necessities for fear of what the future holds.

Excess capacity does not require measures to increase capacity which is the neoliberal approach. Giving the corporate sector more tax cuts will not result in new investments. The private sector will only make new investments when it believes it will be profitable to do so. At present it sees no point in doing this.

Nor can the crisis be addressed by giving the rich further tax cuts. That money will not flow back into the economy creating demand.

Job creation will not and cannot come from the private sector in the present conditions. It must be a public sector-led recovery with the public sector taking responsibility for job creation and the future direction of the economy.

Role of public sector

The anarchistic nature of capitalism is such that the economy is not planned. It is left to the markets  meaning foreign monopolies. As a result Australias economy is distorted, in particular, lacking in sophisticated manufacturing and a technology sector.

Australia does not have a public pharmaceutical industry as such, it relies heavily on the privatised Commonwealth Serum Laboratories and over-priced imports. Both the pharmaceutical industry and manufacturing were seen wanting from the onset of the pandemic.

The private hospital system was not in a position to handle the health crisis. It was necessary for the state to take over their hospitals.

It quickly became apparent when the crisis hit just how heavily Australia relies on imports for many of lifes essentials. The consequences of the destruction of Australian shipping also became apparent.

The resources sector been able to buy-off successive governments, and build an economy heavily reliant on mining, turning Australia into a large quarry without consideration of the environmental consequences, the loss of fertile farming land, the theft of Aboriginal land, and the destruction of sacred Aboriginal sites.

The Australian government also has failed to adopt measures to address climate change, loss of biodiversity, let alone plan for a just transition to sustainable energy sources.

Government planning for the use of land and allocation of resources is vital to a recovery and Australias long-term future.

The higher education sector has been increasingly starved of funding, and as a consequence the reliance on foreign students left it very vulnerable, by a government that does not value education.

Neoliberalism found the public sector unprepared for such a pandemic. The private sector, on which the government relied, had not found it profitable to take the necessary measures such as stockpiling personal protective equipment. The manufacturing sector was found wanting. It had largely gone offshore, again hampering measures to address the coronavirus.

Corporate tax cuts and expansion of fossil fuel industries, as the government plans, will not work. Apart from increasing Australias carbon footprint and creating relatively few jobs, it robs the budget of finances to do what is necessary.

Keep jobkeeper and jobseeker

If the government shuts down JobKeeper or begins to wind it back at the end of September, it will not only drive hundreds of thousands of workers into poverty, but will reduce their prospects of a return to work in the near future or ever.

JobKeeper and JobSeeker and the cash payments to people on low incomes have and still are playing an important role in reducing the severity of the crisis. They not only are of benefit to their recipients but play a critical role in keeping some businesses afloat and provide people with the means to purchase goods and services.

This was understood at the time the Treasurer introduced them, but has been quickly overlooked as the pressure mounts to remove them from the hard right within the Coalition.

Any reduction in JobSeeker would be catastrophic for the unemployed, as would a return of the Youth Allowance and Austudy to their former levels. Prior to the introduction of an additional coronavirus payment of $550 per fortnight, the unemployed were expected to survive on $40 a day, and students and unemployed youth (aged 18-24 living away from home) on $33 a day.

JobKeeper should be extended until the end of the year as a minimum and the JobSeeker payment remain at $1,100 per fortnight. This is important for the wellbeing of their recipients and for the economy.

Job security and living wage

At the same time, the millions of casual workers who are in ongoing roles should have permanent full-time or part-time work, as they request, and be paid a living wage. Body hire should be restricted to where it is absolutely unavoidable. All workers should receive full leave entitlements and other benefits of union negotiated industry agreements.

All casuals, visa workers and others who were excluded from JobKeeper should be included. This punitive, blame the victim approach, is unjust and based on the lie that it is the fault of the unemployed that they are unemployed. Its not. The capitalist system is the cause of unemployment.

The recent decision to increase the minimum wage by a miserly $13 per week falls far short of what is needed. All workers should be paid a living wage. It is scandalous that in a wealthy country such as Australia, there is a large strata of working poor, many of whom rely on charities to get by.

There is an immediate need to increase household spending, which means putting more money in peoples pockets, increasing the purchasing power of people to boost demand.

Job creation

Governments at all levels must take the lead, provide the wherewithal for job creation and ensure that people have money for every day basics. The superannuation funds can also play an important role in this. Funding should be allocated to the public sector. These projects should include construction and additional staffing for:

affordable housing

aged care centres

schools and early childhood education centres

transport

hospitals

preventative health care

services to regional and rural areas.

If Australia is to have a highly educated and skilled workforce, then there should be free early childhood education and abolition of TAFE and university fees with an increase in Austudy.

Centre Link requires a complete overhaul. It has been deliberately run into the ground, making it almost impossible to get through on the phone due to lack of staffing. Contracting out of job placement and other services should cease. The built-in layer of profits could be redirected to the employment of more staff.

At the same time, job creation programs should be based on a just transition to renewables, with jobs and retraining provided to workers in the fossil fuel sector. No worker should be left behind and no worker should see their income decline.

Trade union rights

Job creation, improvements in living standards, and protection of wages and working conditions will not come from a Coalition government or from the bosses. It will take a struggle in the workplace and the wider community.

One of the priorities in this struggle is the right to strike and the repeal of all anti-union laws. The government has not given up on its Ensuring Integrity legislation. Its contents will reappear, perhaps in a bill by another name with even harsher measures.

At the same time it is essential to rebuild a strong, militant trade union movement prepared to advance the class struggle and political struggle. Without that, it will be a recovery for big business, not a peoples recovery.

The Communist Party of Australia is committed to supporting that struggle. It is also committed to changing the system from capitalism to socialism. Only under socialism can peoples needs become the priority.
Editorial

Arts and humanities suffer under new government plan

Two weeks ago, education minister Dan Tehan announced that the Morrison government would double student fees for courses in the arts and humanities, as well as in commerce and law. The alarming hike in student fees comes as the government intends to lower the costs for STEM degrees.

Tehan also announced that an extra 39,000 university places for Australian students would be funded by 2023.

While this may sound like the government is contributing more to our education system, they are actually contributing less. The Commonwealth currently contributes fifty-eight per cent to the financial cost of degrees which will drop to fifty-two per cent under the new overhaul. Not surprising, students will be forced to pick up the slack as student contributions to university degrees will be raised from forty-two per cent to forty-eight per cent. Additionally, those extra placements come at no cost to the government. According to the ABC, Tehan plans for the cost of the extra places [to] be borne by student fees.

What is the logic behind this move? According to the ABC the government says its priorities have been defined by pre-pandemic modelling showing [sixty-two] per cent of employment growth in the next five years will be in health care, science and technology, education, and construction.

There is no doubt that these sectors will grow in the next five years. However, the question left lingering is this: does our government have priorities in increasing the employment growth in these sectors?

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the 2015 staffing cap on the public service has left the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) unable to keep up with the demands of its own scientific projects.

As a result, CSIRO, our chief scientific agency, has been unable to hire recent graduates directly and instead as had to increase the number of external contracts which [are] costly for taxpayers and fails to offer secure employment.

According to public think tank Percapita in its submission to the Senate, The latest budget was relatively sparse on scientific investment with [...] just over $45 million over the next three years to be spent on the industry, innovation and science portfolio. Most of which ($31 million) was front-loaded for the 2019-20 financial year.

This underinvestment has led many of our recent graduates to find employment overseas in such countries as Germany.

Does this sound like a government concerned with increasing employment? Hardly.

Furthermore, the devaluing of the arts and humanities is nothing new. Right-wing ministers and governments have always taken umbrage with the education delivered at our universities, and one doesnt have to look far to see the phrase Marxist indoctrination when it comes to claims that students are being brainwashed. While their claim that students are trained to be communists is absurd, it reflects a level of understanding of what is taught in these faculties. Many of these fields deal with the study of societys most maligned: women, LGBT+, and people of colour. In a lot of instances, these fields highlight societys historical and on-going oppression of these people, mostly without a Marxist perspective. In fields such as philosophy, critical thinking skills are developed, which allow students to challenge our understanding of the world.

Knowledge is power. Education is the means by which we acquire it. By systemically destroying these areas of study with unacceptable fees, our government is attempting to deny access to knowledge that will ultimately challenge its hegemony.
ACTU President Michele ONeil calls on COVID Senate Inquiry to support paid pandemic leave

ACTU President Michele ONeil will tell the Senate Inquiry into the governments response to COVID-19 that the response has fallen short on wage subsidies, sick leave and OHS while ignoring the impact of the pandemic on women and young people.

The ACTU call for paid pandemic leave will be a key focus of Ms ONeils testimony. The ACTU has been calling for two weeks paid pandemic leave to be made available to all employees, including casuals, but despite both the Queensland and Victorian governments introducing a similar scheme the Morrison government has not acted.

Ms ONeil will tell the Inquiry the Government was slow to act in introducing a wage subsidy and has failed to expand the system to those who are excluded or extend it beyond September despite under-spending by $60 billion.

The Morrison government has failed to address the gaps the pandemic has exposed in our OHS system, and despite evidence  including polling conducted for the ACTU which showed only a tiny proportion of businesses were ready for workers to return  has failed to update the system to ensure that working people are kept safe.

The government has also failed to recognise the disproportionate impact the pandemic is having on young people and women, who have lost the majority of jobs and hours of work since the beginning of the shutdown.

ACTU President Michele ONeil said:

Calls to expand and extend JobKeeper, provide pandemic leave, close loopholes in the OHS system and provide support for women and young people have fallen on deaf ears.

We have seen two of the biggest states introduce a form of paid support for workers without paid leave entitlements to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to encourage testing and isolation yet the Morrison government refuses to help the more than three million Australians at risk of falling ill and potentially spreading the virus without access to sick leave.

Now the Morrison government is already talking about winding up JobKeeper while we set new records for those out of work and needing more hours. We need to be doing more to support working people and the economy, not less.

The ACTU has published an eight-point plan which addresses all of these issues and we stand ready to discuss it with the government.

The fight against the virus isnt over, and the Morrison government must do more to ensure that Australian workers are protected.
The CPRF is for a constitution of justice and rule by the people

1st July has been announced as the date of voting on amendments to the Russian Constitution. Some of them are important and promising. However, on the whole they are not conducive to renunciation of presidential rule by fiat and the power of the oligarchy. The amendments introduced do not make Russia a social state. They do not protect society from the destructive impact of Russophobia and anti-Sovietism.

Gennady Zyuganov, Chairman of the CC Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF).

The position of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) on the all-Russia vote is based on concrete conclusions and firm principles.

We did not vote for the Yeltsin constitution rammed through in 1993. This document is saturated with the blood of the defenders of the House of the Soviets, the smoke of the war in Chechnya and the tears of the humiliated and the robbed. It legitimised the thievish privatisation, opened the floodgates for decimation of the economy and healthcare, science, culture and education. Ever since that time our party has been staunchly fighting for a revision of the constitution on the basis of the key principle: power and property to the people.

When the constitutional reform was launched we immediately joined that work. The CPRF submitted 108 amendments to the Main Law. We called for a broad discussion of these amendments. The authorities have in fact ignored fifteen key provisions aimed at a drastic change of the socio-economic course. The United Russia parliamentary majority rejected all our laws that would have improved the position of the working people.

The amendments put to the vote on 1st July do not change the essence of the Main Law under which Russia has been made to live over the last quarter of a century. The governing party effectively refuses to change the course of the ship Russia in a peaceful and democratic way. The new edition of the constitution strengthens presidential diktat and consolidates oligarchic rule which leads the country towards a catastrophe. Unless the course is changed in the interests of the people today the country will see deepening cleavages, a severe crisis and chaos. We see that global speculative capitalism is in disarray. It is time to stop taking the cue from senile capitalism and head towards a society of justice and all-round progress, towards a socialist society.

Amendments to the Main Law cannot be adopted in haste. We have already called for convening a Constitutional Assembly and submitted a draft law on how to form it. Instead United Russia rushed amendments through the State Duma. They have been promptly endorsed by the Federation Council. The President has announced that they have been approved. Under these conditions the 1st July vote has largely a ritual character. It does not have the status of a referendum and is at odds with the electoral law. All this is added proof of the falsehood of bourgeois democracy.

The Central Electoral Committee organises the all-Russia vote under a dubious procedure. The vote will not be taken on each concrete amendment. One can only vote for or against all amendments at once. The door is wide open for vote-rigging. Voting will last several days. The authorities are urging people to vote electronically or by mail, which puts the process outside public control. It is a testing ground for new methods of falsifying future elections.

What is taking place undermines the legitimacy of the results in advance. The authorities evade a full-fledged dialogue and step-by-step put into question the legal framework on which the Russian state should be based. This gives a free hand to political adventurers who are prepared to undermine civil peace and put their stake on chaos according to the Maidan scenario of the Banderovites. Russia must not repeat the tragedy of the Ukrainian people.

Real politics call for active participation of the masses. A boycott of the all-Russia vote will be of no avail. To be a citizen means to struggle for the countrys destiny. The authorities must know the position of the citizens and reckon with their will. We are sure that everyone should express their opinion as their conscience and concern for the future of their children and grandchildren bid them. Everyone must decide whether to vote for a new edition of the Yeltsin constitution. Our answer is no. We cannot support this document. This was the case in 1993, and this will be the case now.

The CPRF comes out for a thorough overhaul of the Main Law. Cosmetic changes will not do. The key needs of the country and the people cannot be ignored. Therefore we will continue to advocate the calling of a Constitutional Assembly. An honest and legitimate vote. A full-fledged referendum. A constitution of peoples rule and justice.

Our alternative is a programme to mobilise Russia to ensure dynamic forward movement. It envisages the creation of a Popular Trust Government, nationalisation of key sectors of the economy, strategic and tactical planning, making of a development budget, revival of science and culture, education and healthcare, scrapping of plans to raise the retirement age, support of peoples enterprises and a range of other measures.

The coronavirus pandemic and the surge of panic have aggravated crisis phenomena in the world economy. This breeds discontent of millions of people. It has erupted even in the USA which has been swept by street rioting. Global capitalism is unable to deal with the problems it has itself engendered. The systemic crisis poses a mortal threat to the world. Socialist principles alone can ward it off. The CPRF wants to see them included in the Main Law and implemented confidently and steadfastly.

Gennady Zyuganov, Chairman of the CC

Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF)
Australia mourns a great leader

Victory, progress are Curtins memorials

Australia lost her greatest Prime Minister when John Curtin sacrificed his life in the stress and strain of leading his people to victory over fascism.

[The Communist Party of Australia] can pay this tribute to the nations lost Labor leader the more sincerely because, from the time Mr Curtin took over the task of mobilising the nation for war and survival, Communists loyally supported him in all measures needed for victory and progress.

John Curtins greatness was the greatness of the Australian people in their crisis; they found in the dark hours of 1941 and 1942 the leader who reflected their democratic will to triumph over difficulties.

John Curtin graduated to national leadership from the stump of an Australian gum-tree. He addressed shearers at their camps, spoke on the Yarra bank in Melbourne, the Esplanade in Perth, on many a street-corner.

He battled up the hard way. With an invalid father to support, he became a printers devil at 14, was page-boy at a club, copy-boy for the Melbourne Age, pottery apprentice and odd-jobs lad.

Manns pupil

Before the war he became Timber Workers Union Secretary, and wrote in the Unions paper:

All our troubles begin once we forget we are Socialists.

He was in the Victorian Socialist Party; he sat at the feet of the great Tom Mann, who died a Communist Party member, to learn Socialism.

Young John Curtin threw himself into the No Conscription fights, and in 1917 was arrested on a sedition charge. He spent a night in a Melbourne gaol, but popular outcry forced the Hughes Government to release him and drop the charge.

In 1918, intervention against the Russian workers revolution provided a sharp test for all Labor men. To his eternal credit, John Curtin saw the light of Petrograd through the murk of newspaper-made confusion, and on the Esplanade in Perth and at many other meetings, defended the right of the Soviet Union to live. As an AWU editor, he needed moral courage to campaign for Hands Off Russia.

While, in later years, Mr Curtin lost some of that spice and salt that had seasoned the militant Labor lad of No Conscription and Hands Off Russia days, he steadfastly rejected all overtures in 1940 and 1941 to join a National Government with Labors opponents.

War leader

After the USSR had brought the might and force of progressive Labor into a world conflict against fascism, Mr Curtin took over leadership from those who had failed to proclaim an anti fascist mission. Luckily for Australia, he was already in office when the Japanese fascists struck.

With the nations survival at stake and Municheer defeatism rampant, Curtin proved neither stone nor shaken reed, but a firm leader with flexible policy. He honoured Australian Labor traditions when he dropped all imperialist inhibitions and turned to the American Republic for brotherly aid  free of tags as to our traditional links of kinship with the United Kingdom.

This robust, independent diplomacy was Australias salvation. Soon after the Diggers had turned the Japanese near Port Moresby, far beyond the Brisbane Line fixed by Labors predecessors, and carried Australias victorious standards over the Owen Stanleys, powerful American forces joined them in battle. The Coral and Bismarck Sea battles were memorials to Mr Curtins courageous policy.

Recognised Soviet

Mr Curtin dropped the isolationist mantle, and made diplomatic history by exchanging Ambassadors with the Socialist Soviets.

When the Japanese could no longer rock Australia with their bombs and harass our coasts and harbours with submarines, Mr Curtins Government turned more to post-war planning and social progress.

The Curtin Banking Bills, giving the opportunity for Australia to advance to strength, prosperity and freedom, will stand as one of Mr Curtins finest monuments.

He also decided to nationalise airways, in which overseas control was threatened; before he died the Rehabilitation Bill, which planned for work and opportunity for ex-Servicemen, was carried through, and there were hints of a Commonwealth Shipping Line.

The curtin path

It was an Australia free from the shadow of Japanese fascism, an Australia advancing toward Tokyo and total victory, that lowered the lost Labor leader into an honoured grave.

John Curtins was a bold spirit in a democratic breast. He will live in fame because, like the Diggers on the Kokoda Trail, he sacrificed his life in Australian democracys cause.

But newspaper tributes are not adequate to the late John Curtin. We who sincerely mourn his loss will vow to carry Australia along the progressive path of post-war work, happiness, and unity which Mr Curtin had helped to map out for the Australian people.

This article originally appeared in Tribune July, 1945.
Cyber fraud

Was Australia really attacked by China?

On the morning of the 19th June, Prime Minister Scott Morrison made a statement to the press on malicious cyber activity against Australian networks.

Morrison claimed that [b]ased on advice provided to the Government by our cyber experts, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), Australian organisations are currently being targeted by a sophisticated state-based cyber actor.

Morrison pointedly avoided naming which state-based actors are suspected of the attack, saying Australia doesnt engage lightly in public attributions and when and if we choose to do so, it is always done in the context of what we believe to be in our strategic national interests.

The hypocrisy of this claim is laughable, given how readily and on such flimsy grounds the same Liberal government has made public attributions for all sorts of problems, real and fictional, to China. And its hypocrisy is apparent even taking only this one incident into mind  while Morrison avoided explicitly naming them, the implication of blame on China was immediately obvious, and the topic dominated the questions asked to Morrison by reporters after his statement.

A few hours later, the ABC News headline read China behind major cyber attack on Australian governments and businesses. Despite being an article about Morrisons statement, and even acknowledging that Morrison did not make any such claim about China, the ABC faithfully reported the headline that Morrisons statement clearly sought to produce.

It is rather disturbing to live in an Australia where the ABC has sunk to lower standards of evidence, self-consciousness of political spin and basic diplomatic dignity than a Prime Minister from the Liberal Partys right wing.

The only further information the ABC article cited in reference to their claim was unnamed sources from unnamed Federal Government agencies.

So what links these supposed large-scale, sophisticated cyber attacks to China? We will have to follow the argument in reverse.

The ASCS strongest claim is that the attacks are state-based, and it is only other observers which have made the leap from that claim, to blaming China in particular. This is despite there being no evidence whatsoever. The only evidence being pointed to is the supposed precedent of Chinas involvement in prior similar attacks. However, no proof has ever been found for any such past claims either. So the only precedent is the precedent of the Australian government, organisations and media repeatedly pointing the finger at China without evidence, and never finding any evidence!

Instead of the ancient philosophical question of what accumulated number of grains of sand constitutes a heap, here we have the question of what accumulated number of groundless accusations constitutes evidence in politics.

Chinas foreign ministry has denied any Chinese involvement, and pointed out the likely role of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) in spreading the baseless rumour. ASPI is a right-wing think tank which was originally founded by the Howard government, and energetically promotes rabidly anti-Chinese policy and views. It receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence as well as the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, as well as other Australian government agencies, but also, and openly, from the US Department of State and from several US arms manufacturers including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.

So our tax dollars are being given to this organisation that spends much of its time spreading accusations and fear about alleged foreign interference in Australian affairs by China, while itself receiving funding from a foreign government and foreign arms manufacturers, whose main interest in politics is pushing for new wars so they can profiteer further off human misery.

This is real foreign interference and real abuse of democracy, but our government not only ignores it but continues to throw public money at it.

To take a further step back in the argument, what is the evidence that the attacks are state-based at all? In his statement, Morrison said that [w]e know it is a sophisticated state-based cyber actor because of the scale and nature of the targeting and the tradecraft used.

Despite his also claiming his statement was made to promote awareness, there were virtually no details given of what was targeted or what sort of attacks these were.

But the ASCS website has some more details. The document Advisory 2020-008: Copy-paste compromises  tactics, techniques and procedures used to target multiple Australian networks pertains to the matter, and states:

The title Copy-paste compromises is derived from the actors heavy use of proof-of-concept exploit code, web shells and other tools copied almost identically from open source.

So despite a core of the argument being that this attacks supposed sophistication of its tradecraft constitutes part of the evidence for its being state-based, the actual method used by the attacker according to the ASCS itself was mostly to copy and paste from open source. Given that state-based actors are unlikely to release their espionage tools to open source, this means they were instead developed by non-state actors.

So the remaining part of this leap in the argument is that it is the scale of use of these tools that points to a state-based actor. But the idea that only states can carry out a particular large scale of cyber attack is becoming more out of date by the day. Not only are cyber-criminal gangs and even individuals known to have the capability to co-opt huge networks of third-party computers in order to carry out attacks, but the unfettered expansion of the financial, political and legal power of trans-national corporations (TNCs) has meant that the largest TNCs have power and capabilities rivalling or exceeding those of states. The persistent lack of scrutiny of TNCs and their influence is a major ideological blind spot, and is bound to increase in severe consequence as they continue their parasitic expansion.

The argument that the scale of the attack necessarily indicates a state-based actor makes an extremely dangerous assumption that because the ACSC is not aware of any non-state actors having carried out such an attack in the past, it could not happen now  as if the area of cyber-technology is not one where unprecedented leaps forward in unexpected places are the daily norm. Promoting awareness indeed.

Taking one last step back in the argument, we must finally scrutinise the claim that there was indeed an attack of a scale and potential impact large enough to warrant a public statement by the Prime Minister at all. The ASCS web page mentioned above states, the ACSC identified no intent by the actor to carry out any disruptive or destructive activities within victim environments. Furthermore, Morrison responded to a question about the number of targets of the attack by saying there are many that have been targeted, but in terms of their success, that is not as significant. In response to a question about whether the publics personal or financial details have been compromised, Morrison was quick to retort that the advice I have been given is that the investigations conducted so far have not revealed any large-scale personal data breaches.

Morrison responded to another question about whether the scale of the attack was unprecedented, saying I dont know if Id use that word.

So what exactly warranted this public spectacle? Morrison simply stated today is about raising the awareness, and specifically made a point to thank particularly the private sector operators that weve been working closely with. He also mentioned the hundreds of millions of dollars of public money his government has spent on cyber-security, including on the private sector.

What role has the private sector played in establishing the facts and the messaging? How closely exactly are these private firms working with Australian government agencies on matters of national security? We will probably never be informed; Morrison will probably not choose to raise our awareness on this matter. But it is very interesting indeed that the private sector has been somehow involved in the discovery and communication of this supposedly news-worthy cyber-attack. However, we are unlikely to see the headline Private cyber-security firms encourage more spending on cyber-security.
National Security Law preserves HK judiciary

After the draft law to safeguard national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was reviewed by Chinas top legislature and some details were released on Saturday, Western countries, media, Hong Kong opposition politicians and some legal professionals said they fear the law would harm the citys judicial independence. But senior Hong Kong legal experts said the draft law is in accordance with the Basic Law.

The United Front Supporting National Security Legislation holds a press conference on June 8, saying that 2.92 million Hong Kong citizens have signed a petition in support of the proposed national security legislation. (Photo: cnsphoto)

The draft law, which was reviewed at the recent meeting of the 19th Session of the 13th National Peoples Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, states that the commissioners office for national security affairs in Hong Kong and relevant national authorities would exercise jurisdiction over a very small number of crimes concerning national security under special circumstances.

The chief executive of the HKSAR government shall appoint judges to handle crimes that endanger national security, the draft law says.

The West and Hong Kong oppositionists are using these details to accuse Chinas central government of undermining the judicial independence of the city and the one country, two systems principle.

Ronny Tong Ka-wah, a senior barrister in the HKSAR and former chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, told the Global Times that the newly unveiled draft of the national security law for Hong Kong makes him reassured, and that it was strange that the Hong Kong Bar Association said judges appointed by the chief executive to deal with crimes against national security were ruled by man because the appointments are based on the Basic Law.

Tong said he would have concerns if the national security law could damage Hong Kongs judicial independence. But after seeing the main content of the draft law, he felt at ease especially the relevant provisions for the international covenant on civil and political rights, and international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights mentioned in the draft.

Elsie Leung Oi-sie, the deputy director of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee of the NPC Standing Committee and a former Secretary of Justice, told the Global Times that in Western countries, the central governments also get involved once a case involves separatism and national sovereignty. Spains jurisdiction over its autonomous region of Catalonia is a good example. The secessionist leaders from Catalonia were tried in the countrys Supreme Court in Madrid.

When it comes to cases involving Tibet separatism and Xinjiang separatism, central authorities need to step in and handle these situations. Hong Kong law enforcement agencies have no experience in dealing with these types of cases, the former official said.

Of course the meaning of specific circumstances and very few cases depends on the detailed provisions in the law, she said.

Tong dismissed an accusation by Anita Yip Hau-ki, the vice chairman of the Bar Association, who said these appointments would mean the rule of man. Tong said Yips claim is strange, as the Basic Law states that judges in the HKSAR are appointed by the chief executive on the recommendation of an independent commission composed of local judges and eminent persons from the legal profession and other sectors.

Hong Kongs general law and some administrative regulations also give the chief executive the authority to appoint judges for special cases, such as major public investigations, said Tong, noting that whoever is appointed by the chief executive will hear cases independently. Its not the chief executive hearing the cases, so I dont see anything that undermines the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong.

I dont want to be too critical of them [some people of the Bar Association] because I was once the chairman of the association. I just hope professional organizations could speak out professionally, Tong said.

Senior legal figures should understand Hong Kongs legal system, Tong said, while noting that given that they understand it, I wonder why they still made such comments. That made me feel very strange.

Global Times
Uruguayans back the streets over looming Neoliberal Reform Bill

The 502-article bill includes the privatisation of public enterprises and the criminalisation of social demonstrations.

Uruguays Montevideo Secondary Education Teachers Association (ADES) has called for a 24-hour national strike on 2nd July, against the Urgent Consideration Law (LUC) that is currently under debate in the national congress.

On 22nd January, the right-wing National Party of Uruguay, whose candidate Luis Lacalle Pou won the November 2019 presidential election, submitted the LUC. The bill has been opposed by workers and union leaders as it unravels neoliberal measures regarding health, education, housing, and security, among other topics.

Uruguays Constitution allows the President to propose urgent laws that pass automatically if not rejected or substituted after an abbreviated debate of no more than ninety days in the legislature.

Politicians from opposition parties and civil society have stressed that the urgency imposed on such a broad package of legislation curtails democratic debate. As the ninety days gap shortens, representatives from the Broad Front stated that it is an affectation of democratic guarantees to pretend to discuss more than 500 articles covering the most diverse topics in just seventy-five days.

The LUC has already been rejected by Uruguayans who took to the streets on 4th June, to demonstrate against a law that dismantles policies that have been carried out for the benefit of the entire population as remarked by the President of the left-wing Broad Front Javier Miranda.

The project, which includes over 500 articles, includes the privatisation of public enterprises, the criminalisation of social demonstrations, and reinforces the role of representatives of private education. It also lacks specific articles to address gender violence.

The decision to call the national strike came after the Council of Secondary Education banned the use of masks with the phrase, To educate. Not to profit.

The President of ADES Javier Iglesias said that the decision by the Council will be denounced before the National Human Rights institution since the aim of the government moving forward with the law is to suppress freedom of expression and workers rights.

The strike on 2nd July will be the third in recent days. Back on 14th May, opposition groups protested against the Urgent Consideration Law (LUC) in front of the Parliament despite social isolation recommendations in the context of COVID-19.

teleSUR
That happened the evening of May 31 and early morning of June 1 during unrest in downtown Aurora following the death of George Floyd May 25 in Minneapolis when a white police officer was captured on video pushing his knee into Floyds neck. The officer, Derek Chauvin, and three other officers have been charged in Floyds death.
United Nations calls for reparations to confront legacy of slavery and colonialism

Reparations should be paid and countries must confront the legacy of slavery and colonialism to better understand continuing systematic discrimination, according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

She was speaking at the UN session in Geneva on Wednesday in an urgent debate in response to the killing of George Floyd at the hands of US police. It has triggered worldwide protests under the Black Lives Matter banner demanding action over centuries of structural racism.

The special session of the Human Rights Council was called by the African Group, made up of fifty-four African continent member countries. Bachelet said racism has become emblematic of the excessive use of disproportionate force by law enforcement against people of African descent. [] Behind todays racial violence, systemic racism, and discriminatory policing lies the failure to acknowledge and confront the legacy of the slave trade and colonialism.

The former president of Chile said there was a need for countries to make amends for centuries of violence and discrimination, including through formal apologies, truth-telling processes, and reparations in various forms. She said that centuries of racial discrimination and violence required an international response. Time is of the essence. Patience has run out. Black Lives Matter. Indigenous Lives Matter.

George Floyds brother, Philonise Floyd, spoke at the session via videolink and called for an independent investigation into deaths of Black people in police custody in the US along with the violence used against peaceful protesters.

The way you saw my brother tortured and murdered on camera is the way Black people are treated by police in America, he said. You in the United Nations are your brothers and sisters keepers in America, and you have the power to help us get justice for my brother George Floyd.

The treatment his brother received at the hands of Minneapolis police, he said, proved that Black lives dont matter to too many of those in positions of authority. I am asking you to help him. I am asking you to help me. I am asking you to help us Black people in America.

Philonise Floyd also condemned the repression of demonstrators by police and federal forces across the United States over the last few weeks. When people dared to raise their voice and protest for my brother, they were tear-gassed, run over with police vehicles.

It is unclear as to whether the call will receive enough support. President Donald Trump pulled out of the UN Human Rights Council two years ago, and the US government does not attend its sessions.

Peoples World
1 A Self-Described Witch Conned Eric Clapton Into Mystic Treatments And To Come Have Sex With Her

In 1987, Eric Capton's wife Pattie Boyd left him. If the history of rock is any indication, this was a devastating loss. Boyd was the inspiration behind Clapton's "Layla" and "Wonderful Tonight," as well as The Beatles' "Something" and The Rolling Stones' "Mystifies Me" and "Breathe On Me." Clapton fell into a deep funk, the kind that involves Olympic volumes of alcohol. But then he received a call from a stranger. It was a nightclub singer named Alina Morini, and she said she had the secret for how he could win his wife back.

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How? wondered Clapton. Maybe he could try not raping her this time and also not cheating on her with other women? No, said Morini -- the secret was magic, for Morini was a mistress of the mystic arts. Every time midnight came, she'd give him an incantation to recite. He'd also have to take baths using the herbs she prescribed. Then to really get the spells working, he would carve his and Pattie's names onto a crucifix and then cut himself and smear it with his own blood.

Eric listened, and Eric obeyed. Still, Pattie Boyd did not return to him. So Morini brought out deeper magic from before the dawn of time: Clapton would have to sleep with a virgin. Conveniently, Morini herself happened to be a virgin. So Eric Clapton traveled from London to New York, slept with her -- according to Clapton, "she was an extremely strange-looking woman, quite fat with bright red hair" -- then returned home. And from this point, Morini's role as magical advisor slipped away, and she turned into a more conventional stalker. She followed him back to England and tailed him to concerts, in restaurants, and out on the street.

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Then Morini went to the tabloids with an announcement: She was carrying Eric Clapton's baby. She ordered a photoshoot to show off her visible baby bump, and the news couldn't have done much to heal the man's marriage (among their many issues, he and Boyd had been unable to have children). This wasn't a Keanu baby mamma/Mrs. Letterman situation -- Morini and Clapton really had slept together, so maybe he really would have to step up and be a dad. But then one day in public, her baby bump shifted out of place. She wasn't pregnant; she'd just stuffed a pillow under her dress. Because here's the twist absolutely none of you saw coming: Alina Morini, it turns out, was a fraud.

Follow Ryan Menezes on Twitter for other stuff no one should see.

Top Image: Stormrider83/Wiki Commons
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It's impossible to see the mass Facebook advertiser exodus working out any other way. Tucker Carlson attracts millions of viewers a night, while Facebook is the largest social digital platform in the world, with a reach that extends even further through Instagram and Whatsapp. The allure of reaching 2.5 billion people with a single ad buy is way stronger for large companies than that not having your product associated with a bigot, in a bowtie, with the perpetually down-slopped eyebrows of a puppy that has no idea why he's being punished since all he did was suggest that White Supremacy is pretty cool. Facebook is too big to lose advertisers for too long. As Tucker Carlson shows us, they're all going to come crawling back whether Facebook makes any meaningful change or not. The only thing that will truly keep them away is if Facebook's engagement numbers take a steep hit ... which might actually happen sooner than later.

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Facebook's fasting growing user base is people 65 and older, thus explaining the exponential increase of racist Boomer memes with an image resolution so low they make you wonder if you need to update your contact prescription. Teenagers hardly use it any more thanks in large part to its continued catering to old racist shitbags. The future may not be exactly grim since a lot of the young people just migrate over their Instagram, but the core brand that started it all is relying on an audience that will not be alive in a decade. Facebook won't be facing a true reckoning anytime soon, but when it does, it might be apocalyptic. Might.

Luis can be found on Twitter and Facebook. Catch him on the "In Broad Daylight" podcast with Cracked alums Adam Tod Brown and Ian Fortey! Check out his regular contributions to Macaulay Culkin's BunnyEars.com and his "Meditation Minute" segments on the Bunny Ears podcast. Listen to the first episode on YouTube!

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Some people only walk this earth for a short time. Their departure reminds us that angels are watching over us. Last week, Aggie Reed rejoined her heavenly family and gained her wings. Agnes Lee "Aggie" Wilson-Reed passed away unexpectedly in Cookeville on June 11, 2021, at the age of 83. Ag
(RNS)  Kyla Rodriguezs two children had a blast earlier this month at Immanuel Lutheran Churchs Vacation Bible School.

Every morning during the weeklong Rainforest Explorers-themed program, 3-year-old Carson and his little sister Madison, nearly 2, prayed and sang songs. They ate rainforest-themed snacks and made tissue paper rainbows and colorful toilet paper roll parrots.

And they did it all without ever leaving their home in Merrill, Wisconsin.

The virtual Vacation Bible School, or VBS, was hosted by Immanuel, their grandparents Missouri Synod church in Seymour, Indiana. Carson and Madison received backpacks in the mail ahead of time, stuffed with the materials theyd need for crafts and other activities. Then each day, they'd tune in to watch prerecorded videos for stories, songs and instructions.

The kids were especially excited to see their grandpa, a pastor at the church, on TV, according to Rodriguez.

They liked the songs and the crafts and it was something fun to do, especially right now. We don't have things like going to story time at our local library, she said.

So it was fun to have something to do during the day that they liked, that was just a little different from our normal days right now.

Like so many other things, VBS programs look a little different this summer amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A beloved summertime tradition for many churches, VBS usually looks like weeklong day camps with songs, crafts, games, Bible stories and memory verses that reinforce a theme.

Across denominations, it is one of the biggest outreach ministries of the year for many churches and draws a huge number of volunteers from congregations.

While some churches have canceled or postponed their programs due to the pandemic, many have found ways to host programs mixing online videos with hands-on activities that children can do at home with a parents help. Other churches, in states that have loosened stay-at-home orders, have made plans involving face masks and social distancing or smaller gatherings in volunteers backyards.

Families are looking for activity and engagement for their kids, said Jody Brolsma, an executive editor at Group Publishing who leads the development of Group's annual Vacation Bible School curriculum.

Those who are doing this are finding overwhelming support from families and parents saying, We need something in the summer, and VBS doesn't feel like school, she added. Its not compulsory. The pressure to get it right isn't the same, even if it's happening in my home.

As plans quickly shifted this spring, many of the publishers behind popular VBS curricula, like Group, also created resources to help churches adapt their programs to the times.

LifeWay Christian Resources, part of the Southern Baptist Convention, published an e-book detailing four strategies to adapt its Concrete and Cranes curriculum. Those strategies range from VBS as usual to virtual programs, depending on how communities have been impacted by the coronavirus.

In the meantime, ELCA World Hunger, part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, released pre-recorded videos and modified crafts and games that changed its On Earth As in Heaven curriculum to On Earth As in Heaven At Home!

Illustrated Ministry  which creates progressive Christian coloring pages, Sunday School curricula and other resources for churches and families  released its first VBS curriculum this year.

Its something founder Adam Walker Cleaveland said customers have been requesting for a while, noting most popular VBS curricula are produced by more conservative publishers. The digital resources it produces suddenly seemed like a good fit for an at-home program, he said.

In six weeks, Illustrated Ministry created Compassion Camp, which has had more sales than anything else the company has done, according to Cleaveland.

He said they chose the theme of compassion from a read of the world that we live in ... and just feeling like there was a desperate need for compassion to be talked about, to be lived, to be thought about, sung about.

It seemed like a better fit than an elaborate theme based on a destination, Illustrated Ministry Director of Product Development Rebekah Lowe added, when the setting is home and everyone has that understanding of what compassion is or can be.

Compassion Camp includes many of the traditional elements of a VBS: In place of games, theres yoga for movement. For crafts, theres one of the printable coloring posters Illustrated Ministry is best known for, broken up into individual coloring pages like mosaic tiles that a church can then collect from each child, assemble and display.

Theres also a compassion in action activity to reinforce each days theme, like writing letters to medical workers and essential workers to help kids remember that compassion helps them to be brave. Kids are also encouraged to do something they love to remind them to be compassionate to themselves, too.

Group initially took a wait and see approach to the summer, urging churches to come up with plans A, B and C for their VBS programs, according to Brolsma.

When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines limiting the size of gatherings to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Group began hosting online trainings for church leaders and posted options on its website to adapt its 2020 curricula either for online or smaller neighborhood programs.

For example, the publisher encouraged churches to create their own prerecorded or live videos so kids can see familiar faces and hear familiar voices. It also suggested taking frequent pauses to complete hands-on activities so kids stay engaged, Brolsma said.

Its website also includes ideas for adapting the activities to accommodate social distancing, such as having kids hold opposite ends of a pool noodle, instead of holding hands, or playing a game that allows them to stay six feet apart.

The theme of Group's Rocky Railways curriculum especially resonated, she said: Jesus power pulls us through.

Really, our curriculum team paved the way and began to explore what that could look like and still be true to our brand and our mission, which is really keeping things highly relational and highly engaging, Brolsma said.

Group also urged churches to remember why they do VBS.

I think that was really empowering to people, Brolsma said. Instead of letting COVID run the show, that put them back in the driver's seat, saying, God gave you this vision for this outreach. Now how can you make that happen?

Edmond Church of Christ in Edmond, Oklahoma, decided to host a Backyard Bible School program this July in yards across the city, according to Brenda Gordon, its childrens ministry director.

The churchs Vacation Bible School usually welcomes about 300 children to the church and draws more volunteers from its congregation than any other event, Gordon said. Its drama team had been preparing for the summer program since January.

This year, theyll go without the skits and singing, she said, pointing to warnings about how singing can project the virus.

Instead, they plan to host smaller versions of the camp in volunteers backyards.

The church  which recently started holding services in person again with some limitations  is providing all the lessons and materials and encouraging social distancing, Gordon said.

Volunteers can sign up to host a Backyard Bible School any time in July, she said. It might be for one day or three. It might be limited to siblings or families who have been quarantining together. It might be open to the neighborhood.

I said, You do whatever you feel comfortable with. Share God's word. Share the gospel. And so thats our main focus right now, Gordon said.

Meanwhile, Riviera United Methodist Church in Redondo Beach, California, has canceled its plans for Vacation Bible School this summer, which makes the church a rarity even in its area, according to Dena Abramson Babb, its director of family and children's ministries.

Coronavirus cases are spiking in California, Abramson Babb said. And families at Riviera are tired of staring at a screen after the last school year. They don't want to be tied to a computer all summer, too, especially when it seems likely at least some of their classes will be online this fall.

So she sent them some resources, including suggestions for books to read and activities like going outside and talking about where they see God.

That, she said, is why the church does VBS.

Its really about giving kids the experience and the tools to find those ah, I see God moments. Its where I have my most I see God moments. I see it in the kids and in the volunteers, Abramson Babb said.

Im hoping families can experience the same thing.

READ THIS STORY AT RELIGIONNEWS.COM.

Article originally published by Religion News Service. Used with permission.

Photo courtesy: RNS/Kyla Rodriguez
The recent pandemic has not changed and will not change this fact. Providing educational opportunities for the American public is necessary to meet the demands of the labor force, the socioeconomic growth of our communities and the engine that drives the mechanism to promote more equality in our daily lives, she said. Decreasing the numbers of individuals who can obtain degrees, certificates and professional development is not an option in a world of increasing demands for technical, professional and skilled labor.
High-pitched screams. Deep slashes to the head and upper body. A severed hand and fingers. A blood-stained Samurai sword.

Chilling new details in the slaying of one of the men Peter Manfredonia is accused of killing were released Monday when arrest warrants were unsealed for the crimes that occurred in the upstate town of Willington.

Manfredonia  a 2015 Newtown High School graduate  has been charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, first-degree assault, home invasion, first-degree kidnapping with a firearm, first-degree robbery, first-degree larceny, two counts of first-degree stealing a firearm, and third-degree assault of an elderly person.

The charges stem from a killing, assault and home invasion in Willington.

READ MORE: Warrant: Surrendering wasnt an option, Peter Manfredonia told hostage

Manfredonia, 23, has not yet been charged in the killing of a man and kidnapping of a woman in Derby. State officials have not said when those charges will be filed. The Willington case has been continued to July 10 with a probable cause hearing scheduled for July 30.

The arrest warrant also includes new details of a Willington home invasion where Manfredonia spent hours making small talk with the homeowner, according to the court document.

The man told state police that he asked if (Manfredonia) wants to talk about what took place with the murder and he told me that he hadnt slept for five days and he just flipped, according to the arrest warrant.

He said he didnt know why he did it and that he was remorseful for it, the man told police, according to the warrant.

Manfredonia was captured May 27 following a six-day manhunt. The University of Connecticut student was found at a truck stop in Hagerstown, Md.

The massive manhunt involved the FBI, law enforcement from four states and local police departments in Connecticut. Police said they were aided in their pursuit by Manfredonia using Uber for parts of his time on the run.

A killing and assault

The crime spree began around 9 a.m. May 22, when state police were notified of two men suffering severe lacerations to their faces and upper bodies. Police said they also found a hand and fingers nearby.

Theodore DeMers had offered Manfredonia a ride on his 4-wheeler when police say the 62-year-old man was fatally attacked with an edged weapon.

John Franco, 80, was critically injured in the attack when he came to help his neighbor.

Neighbors described hearing screams before seeing a man wearing dark clothing and a motorcycle helmet attack DeMers at the end of the road, according to the arrest warrant.

Sometime during their interaction, the man in the motorcycle helmet attacked Victim 1 (DeMers) with a long object, and during the attack, Victim 2 (Franco) approached the scene and was attacked by the man with the motorcycle helmet using the same long object, the warrant said.

The man in the dark clothing and helmet then fled the scene on a red motorcycle, the warrant stated.

Police found a Samurai sword in a wooded area close to the crime scene, the warrant stated.

The metal blade of the Samurai sword was bent on an angle and had a fresh blood-like substance covering the bent blade, the warrant stated.

Manfredonia becomes the suspect

Around 12:30 p.m., the motorcycle was found abandoned nearby.

State troopers determined the red Kawasaki Ninja sport bike was registered to Manfredonia, the warrant stated. The motorcycle matched the description of the bike given by neighbors.

The investigation confirmed Manfredonia owned a red Kawasaki sport bike and had an obsession with Samurai swords and owns at least two, a female acquaintance of Manfredonia told police, according to the warrant.

Near the motorcycle, troopers found a white bike helmet with a red and green pattern.

It was observed that the helmet had a blood-like substance on the exterior, the warrant stated. Also, a dark-colored shirt with Chinese lettering and world peace, was located nearby with a blood-like substance on the exterior.

The shirt was located in a stream and appeared as though there was an attempt to wash the shirt clean in the water.

Police later found Manfredonias cellphone in the area of the abandoned motorcycle.

University of Connecticut police provided more information on Manfredonia, including the name and address of a known female acquaintance of his who lived near the crime scene, the warrant stated.

The woman told troopers she last saw Manfredonia on May 18 when she discovered he hacked into her social media accounts, the warrant stated. She sent Manfredonia a screenshot that showed hacking a persons social media account is a crime. Manfredonia did not reply, according to the warrant.

The woman said she had considered getting a restraining order against Manfredonia, the warrant stated.

Home invasion with small talk

On May 24, state troopers received a call from Derby police reporting an abandoned Ford F-150 truck found abandoned near Osbornedale State Park. The vehicle was registered to a man who lived about a mile from where the motorcycle was ditched in Willington.

After trying to reach the man by phone and knocking on his door, troopers forced their way into his home where they found the 73-year-old tied to a chair in the basement, according to the warrant.

The man told troopers that around 5:15 a.m. May 23, he woke up abruptly to a male with a gun to the back of my neck and shouting at me not to turn around or he would blow my (expletive) brains out.

Manfredonia held the man hostage at gunpoint for more than 24 hours before stealing guns, ammo, cash, credit cards, food, and leaving in the mans truck early May 24, the warrant stated.

While being held captive, the man said he tried to reason with Manfredonia, the warrant stated.

I suggested that we call the authorities and work something out for him, the homeowner told troopers, according to the warrant. He was calm and apologetic, but couldnt explain why he did that. I asked how old was the guy that he got into the confrontation with and he said he wasnt that old. He said he couldnt believe that he could do that but then his demeanor switched immediately.

Manfredonia told the homeowner he was going to have two good weeks and then he figured it would end in a shootout, the death penalty, or life in prison, the man told police, according to the warrant. The tone of the conversation changed and Peter seemed irritated so I didnt push things any further so he went back to the couch and we continued to watch movies on TV.

Search for Manfredonia

Soon after Manfredonia left the man bound in his basement, police in Derby discovered the stolen pickup truck, setting off an extensive search that led authorities to a Roosevelt Drive home about a mile away.

Inside the home, police said they found the body of Nicholas Eisele, a former Newtown High School classmate of Manfredonia.

Police said Manfredonia kidnapped the 23-year-old mans girlfriend, who was found unharmed at a New Jersey rest stop near the Pennsylvania border.

Manfredonia was seen in nearby East Stroudsburg, Pa., before he was tracked a few days later in northern Maryland. He was apprehended without incident on May 27 at a truck stop in Hagerstown.

Police said they found a gun in the area where Manfredonia was arrested that appeared to be the same weapon used to kill his former Newtown High School classmate in Derby.

Manfredonia has been placed on suicide watch while hes held on $7 million bond at Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown.
SHARON - A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who who attempted to kill a cat inside a backpack and thrown into a pond on Saturday.

She is alive and fine thanks to her rescuers, who pulled the backpack out of the water some 20 yards from the boat launch, Sharon Animal Control posted on its Facebook page.

Officials said the young, black, spayed female cat (with no microchip), was found in Mudge Pond this inside the backpack, secured with a black rubber bungee.

The reward is bering pledged by Desmond's Army Animal Law Advocates, a group of volunteers who work together to better the lives of animals in Connecticut.

Sharon Animal Control said it is sharing the information widely in the Northwest Corner and nearby New York state.

Someone out there needs serious help to have performed this act of animal cruelty. There is no helpful evidence, although the police have been contacted. You are the only ones who can help. Please let Sharon Animal Control know if you recognize the cat or the backpack (it has a handle and wheels). Call (860) 488-6476 if you have information.

Also, please, no more calls about adopting this little girl. Legally, I need to try to find her owner (who isnt necessarily the person who did this), and I already have a list of interested people when and if she is up for adoption. That said, she will be adopted by one of her rescuers if the owner is not found, the animal control officer posted.

State Police are also investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Trooper Christopher Sorrell at Troop B at (860) 626-1820.
Tenants, homeowners and residential landlords will share at least $33 million in state and federal grants to avoid evictions and foreclosures, Gov. Ned Lamont announced on Monday. The program also includes extending the governors executive order on evictions, set to expire July 1, through the month of August.

The moves were meant to address a coronavirus-inflicted crisis as Lamonts stay on evictions expires Tuesday, and also make a dent in longer term housing issues.

But a co-chairman of the General Assemblys Housing Committee, Democratic state Sen. Saud Anwar, questioned whether the funding is enough in Connecticut, which he called the most-segregated in New England.

We know that some renters and homeowners are having a hard time paying the costs of their housing, Lamont said in a written statement Monday morning. Its critical that we provide emergency help so that they can stay housed, and to support residential landlords, many of who are mom-and-pop small businesses themselves.

During his late-afternoon news conference, Lamont said he would announce more funding for rental assistance later in the week. Well be working with landlords so the landlords can work with their tenants, and make sure that over a reasonable period of time people have a chance to get back on their feet and certainly can stay in their home without worry of eviction, Lamont said.

The funding includes $10 million in payments to landlords, with the focus on owners of housing of low-income tenants without unemployment insurance, including populations of undocumented immigrants.

There will also be $5 million to assist renters who were involved in the eviction process prior to the public health emergency was declared in March.

There will be another $10 million for homeowners whose mortgages are not federally insured. Nearly $8 million would help homeless people to start renting units, and people exiting the custody of the state Department of Correction.

During a morning meeting of the Housing Committee, Anwar, a physician from South Windsor, told state Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno that the planned $10 million for landlords appears to be very little, but the extension of the eviction moratorium is going to be good news.

Mosquera-Bruno said lower-income people would be entitled to $4,000 in relief over 12 months, or $333 a month, and would be required to pay 30 percent of their income toward rent. Were going to review incomes, she said.

Listen, I dont have all the answers, Mosquera-Bruno admitted, stressing that rent relief will be a continuing focus of the program. With $10 million were going to see how we can deploy the money as fast as we can with the resources that we have. Were going to see where and who needs the resources. Certainly we have a lot of work ahead of us. I dont believe that we can just move 100,000 from one city to a suburb.

Many of the states, smaller than us from the population perspective, were looking at $50 million, Anwar replied. Other states were putting $100 million. Then $10 million appears very little because there are landlords that are hurting. The last thing we want to do is impact the ability to pay their mortgages.

Rep. Brandon McGee, D-Hartford, co-chairman of the Housing Committee, stressed that tenants must notify the landlord that they have lost a job, lost hours of work, or otherwise lost revenue or faced significant increases in expenses because of COVID-19.

There is a lot of confusion around the current executive order that protects many of our tenants, McGee said.

More Information Elements of the governor's housing assistance plan include:  A $10 million rental assistance program through the state Department of Housing for residents impacted by COVID-19, to pay landlords on behalf of approved tenant applicants, with a priority on low-income households who have been denied unemployment insurance;  $5 million in eviction-prevention funding to help renters who were in eviction proceedings before the coronavirus emergency was declared in March.  $10 million in mortgage relief to homeowners who have suffered impacts from COVID-19, including the loss of jobs, whose mortgages are not federally insured.  $4 million to help homeless people afford initial rent and security deposits.  $2.5 million in rental assistance program for people, including the undocumented foreign-born, who are ineligible for emergency assistance through the federal CARES Act.  $1.8 million in funding for reentry and rehousing assistance for those leaving the state's prison system.  Extending the residential eviction moratorium to August 25; and extending the option for renters to apply a portion of their security deposits toward rent. Source: Gov. Ned Lamont; state Department of Housing See More Collapse

Anwar said he wants major housing issues part of the upcoming July special session of the General Assembly on police accountability in the wake of nationwide protests against racism. Senate Democrats on June 19 rolled out a sweeping set of reforms including housing, criminal justice, economic development, health and education, which they said they would address in a special session this summer.

As a physician, if we just do criminal justice alone in the special session, were just taking care of the symptom of a much more-complex, historical and systemic racism that has been impacting and truly plaguing our brothers and sisters in the African-American and Latino community, Anwar said.

In order to try to have a comprehensive strategy, housing is a central part of it, and whether we agree with it or not, well, most of the people when they look at the data would agree that we are a segregated state, Anwar said. And I think without having a strategy for desegregation and also having legislation around it, were not going to be able to make the impact that is needed. Im hoping and praying that these recent events would have changed the hearts of our colleagues.

He asked Mosquera-Bruno to create a wide-ranging desegregation strategy for Connecticut, which is the most-segregated state in the New England area right now.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
BRIDGEPORT  A former Trumbull police officer, on probation for sexually assaulting a teenaged girl in the Police Departments Explorer program, was issued a court order Monday to stay away from another teenager who claims she too was sexually assaulted by him.

William Ruscoe, 51, of Milford, was charged earlier this month by state police with fourth-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a child and illegal sexual contact with a victim under 16.

State police said in the new charges Ruscoe is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a young girl at his former Trumbull home in 2013 and 2014.

During a brief hearing on Monday, Superior Court Judge Alex Hernandez issued Ruscoe a protective order forbidding him from having any further contact with the teenager.

Standing beside his lawyer, Ruscoes only comment was to acknowledge that he knows the identity of the protected person.

The judge then continued the case to July 15.

Ruscoe is free after posting $10,000 bond.

Contributed photo / Contributed photo

We had no objection to the protective order, Ruscoes lawyer Edward Gavin said as he and Ruscoe left the Fairfield County Courthouse. My client maintains his full innocence and we are looking forward to receiving discovery in the case.

According to state police, in January they were assigned to investigate allegations against Ruscoe which had been reported to the Trumbull Police Department in December 2019.

State police said a now 16-year-old girl told them she had been raped by Ruscoe when she was between 6 and 11 years old.

During a subsequent forensic interview, state police said the victim told them that there had been five or six incidents with the last occurring on Feb. 22, 2014 during a sleepover with Ruscoes children at his former Trumbull home.

State police said the victim told them that following each incident, Ruscoe, a former 20-year veteran of the Trumbull Police Department, told her not to tell anyone what he had done to her.

In a separate case, Ruscoe was convicted in January 2015 of second-degree sexual assault and sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by 10 years of probation. He pleaded guilty after allegations he sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 2013 who he was supervising as head of the Explorer Scouts, a program that offered direct experience in community police work for youth ages 14 through 21 interested in law enforcement.

The victim in that case is currently suing Ruscoe and the Trumbull Police Department.

Ruscoe, who was released from prison in March 2017 and ordered to register as a sex offender, now works as a transportation consultant, according to the police report.
2020 has proven to be a time that we need courage to push through. Some of the definitions of courage in the dictionary are the ability to do something that frightens one. Another one is strength in the face of pain or grief. Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D. listed six attributes of courage in a Psychology Today article as: Feeling fear yet choosing to act, following your heart, persevering in the face of adversity, standing up for what is right, expanding your horizons by letting go of the familiar, and facing suffering with dignity and faith.

I grew up in Fulton, Missouri, the home of a memorial to Winston Churchill, as he gave his famous Iron Curtain Speech in my hometown at Westminster College on March 5, 1946. Many folks in that area hold Churchill in a place of honor and I thought a quote from the British Bulldog would be appropriate here. Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities because it has been said, it is the quality which guarantees all others.

I want to bring some thoughts on courage to you before bringing up the idea that it takes courage, perhaps more now than before, for the lender today. Lets face it, there is a part in each of us as we attempt to preserve the CUs assets, we seek to hunker down and let the problems of the world, whether they be COVID, economic shutdowns, riots, or unrest, pass by and allow things to normalize before getting back into the full swing of lending. Staying in the foxhole could have devastating impacts, like we saw when we shut down large sections of the economy. There are also other devastating impacts that are in a recent meme I saw with a man with his head buried in the sand like an ostrich. The caption read, when you have your head in the sand, you expose the rest of your body.

Borrowers and Portfolio

Courage is needed to understand the current business condition of your borrowers. Today, this is pretty darn near impossible. How do past risk ratings apply when we have a situation that has impacted the entire world? How do you see what impact a shutdown and possible bounce back will have on your members? What if you make a mistake in your assessment on a borrower? Do not worry about that last one; you will miss seeing some of the risks. But do not let that stop you from the need to take as realistic of a view of your borrowers and portfolio as possible. It requires looking at more than just historic financials as the first two quarters of 2020 are probably not very valid markers for future performance.

What help do your borrowers need at this point? As a lender, you are one of their most trusted financial advisors. You may see road signs that they do not see and can help them to preserve their equity and build capital in troubled times. This requires being genuinely interested in their business. A constant study of the economy and the world around them is also necessary as we look for things that may impact their business. Remember, your job is to inform and bring up the issues, but the business owner is the one who has to make the decision of what to do.

Lending Infrastructure

Along with your portfolio, it takes courage to look at your present lending infrastructure  staff, technology, training, tools, etc. Here you need to see what the strengths and weaknesses of your department really are. In times of crisis, weaknesses tend to stick out like a sore thumb. Some questions to consider are:

Do you have an established education or training program for your staff?

Do you have the right analytical tools to help you assess risk?

Is your reporting at an accuracy and timeliness level where you need it?

What experience does your staff have with working through a recession and the problems that come with a paradigm shift in how credit is viewed?

How will you handle complex problem loan workouts that involve more than good skip tracing and calls and emails?

How much time will all this new work take?

What resources can you tap into to help fill in the gaps in your department?Can you get good new volume with participations? Utilize third parties to help with serious problem loan workouts? Find outside professional credit folks to help with underwriting? Have any new classes or training programs for your team?

These are hard questions and it takes courage to find the right answers. Many of them may not be what you really want to hear. It is always easier to enjoy a life of ease, but it is the stresses that help you grow. True leadership requires you face the situation as it is now and chart a course to navigate through the problems. Not answering these questions in these tough times is a form of self-delusion. Many times, the first step of courage is finally being honest with ourselves.

Lending Opportunities

The next area where courage is needed is with your new lending opportunities. Loans are an important source of capital to fund economic growth in your community. If all the faucets are shut off, then pretty soon growth will evaporate like water from a pool that is not constantly filled. As we begin to emerge from the crisis, many of your fellow lenders may elect to stay on the sidelines. There will be tremendous opportunity to expand and establish new relationships that are ignored by the lender who is cowering in fear.

Courage requires action even though you do not have perfect knowledge of the situation. We do this in underwriting every day, but now things are a bit hazier. It takes courage to admit what factors you do not understand that will impact the borrowers chances of financial success. Perhaps this is a time to help mitigate risk by using more government guarantees on your loans. Maybe sharing the risk through a participation is in order. You must continue to find ways to seek out good loan requests and produce new credits in this time. The borrowers and communities that you serve are depending on you.

Courage is needed as you look in the mirror. As a lender and as a person, you need to understand your own strengths and weaknesses, likes and avoidances, as you understand how to lead and manage the most difficult followeryourself. Do you tend to see some clients through rose-colored glasses or always see the worst in a borrower? It is time to look realistically. Are there gaps in your knowledge that you have pushed aside? It is time to begin to set aside time to fill those gaps. Do you avoid the most unpleasant tasks? It is time to tackle them.

Courage is what we need today to begin to master the impacts that the 2020 worldwide tragedies have had on our portfolio, staff, communities, and ourselves. It is time to take the first step in moving forward, charting a course for future success, and acting upon it.
Just as a rising tide raises all boats, a low tide can bring many a ship, even the most sturdy and steadfast, to ground. In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a financial and economic low tide that has affected businesses and individuals alike across the globe. In this low-tide environment, credit unions have taken on the role of captain, helping their members navigate through current conditions to more stable waters while also charting a course for organizational stability and viability.

One of the largest challenges being faced is loss of income during state-mandated stay-at-home orders and voluntary quarantines that have caused some businesses to shuttersome for the short term and others permanently. Although we really cant predict much with certainty yet because so many variables are unknown, experts at Goldman Sachs think the U.S. will experience a peak unemployment rate of 25% before recovery begins. Unemployment rates, of course, have a direct correlation to financial institution performance in the form of loan delinquencies, non-payments, and portfolio charge-offs.

Maintaining an Even Keel

Credit unions have the challenge of balancing their care and compassion for individual member circumstances on one hand with organizational management, business prosperity and the financial well-being of their collective membership on the other. The method to accomplish this is two-fold, requiring in-depth customer analysis and service combined with effective and comprehensive institutional risk mitigation programs.
The state is also making 2.5 million face masks available, enough for every kindergarten through high school student and staffer in public schools. The state also is allotting $569 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to local districts, most for general needs, and $54 million for laptop computers, internet connectivity and related staff training.
Funeral services for Joe Delano Ozbolt, 88, of Eva, will be at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at Hamby's Chapel United Methodist Church with Bill Stone and Charley Brown officiating; burial at Hamby's Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. prior to service. Cullman Heri
STORY LINK Pound to US Dollar (GBP/USD) Exchange Rate Falls Despite Rising American Covid-19 Cases

GBP/USD Exchange Rate Dips Despite Rising Covid-19 Vaccine Hopes

Pound (GBP) Dips as Brexit Woes Return

GBP/USD Forecast: Could Improving Risk Sentiment Buoy the Pound this Week?

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The Pound to US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate dipped today, with the pairing currently trading around $1.23.The US Dollar (USD) edged higher against Sterling today despite growing fears that America could see renewed lockdown measures on ever-increasing Covid-19 cases.As a result, some Greenback investors are feeling concerned that Americas economy could be severely compromised in the second quarter.Nevertheless, as the global economy continues to struggle from the coronavirus pandemic, many investors have flocked to safe-haven currencies like the US Dollar and Swiss Franc.Meanwhile, investors are becoming more hopeful about a possible Covid-19 vaccine.After reports that a company in Beijing had reported some success in candidate trials, risk sentiment has improved seeing some investors seek out riskier assets.In US economic news, today saw the release of the US Pending Homes Sales report for May, which beat forecasts and rose from -21.8% to 44.3%. As a result, some USD investors are becoming more optimistic about Americas economic recovery.The Pound (GBP) struggled today following reports that Number 10 had signalled the end of September as a deadline to UK-EU trade talks with the European Union.David Frost, the UKs Chief Brexit Negotiator, commented:We need to make sure businesses can prepare properly for what will happen at the end of the year, if these negotiations go on too long into the autumn, they wont know what to prepare for.I think we have spoken in the past about not wanting to be continuing having talks in October.Consequently, GBP investors are becoming increasingly concerned that negotiations between the UK and the EU could break down and lead to a possible no-deal exit in December.In UK economic news, today saw the UKs mortgage approvals for May fall from 15,851 to 9,273.According to Reuters, this only further underscored the scale of the hit to the housing market from the coronavirus lockdown.Last week saw Rishi Sunak the Chancellor of the Exchequer, say that UK consumer confidence would be the key to the UKs economic recovery. Furthermore, with lockdown restrictions easing, we could see Britains housing sector improve in the coming months.Sterling traders will be looking ahead to tomorrows release of the final GDP figure for the first quarter. Any signs of improvement in Britains economic growth would prove GBP-positive.Tomorrow will also see the release of the UKs Total Business Investment gauge for the first quarter. We could see an uptick in the GBP/USD exchange rate if this shows positive sighs of recovery for the British economy in the months ahead.The US Dollar (USD) could suffer this week if risk sentiment shows any signs of improvement. As a result, we could see the GBP/USD exchange rate begin to edge higher.

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TAGS: American Dollar Forecasts Pound Dollar Forecasts
STORY LINK Pound to New Zealand Dollar (GBP/NZD) Exchange Rate Falls as NZ Economy Expected to Recover Better Than Most

GBP/NZD Exchange Rate Dips as Kiwi Buoyed on Covid-19 Vaccine Hopes

Pound (GBP) Falls as UK-EU Brexit Talks Could End in September

GBP/NZD Outlook: Could Improving Risk Sentiment Buoy the New Zealand Dollar?

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The Pound to New Zealand Dollar (GBP/NZD) exchange rate fell by -0.3% today, with the pairing currently trading around NZ$1.91.The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) benefited from growing hopes of a Covid-19 vaccine today, with a Chinese company unveiling positive results in its initial candidate trials. As a result, the risk-sensitive Kiwi has gained on hopes for the global economys recovery should the vaccine prove effective.Meanwhile, reports that New Zealands economy is set to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic better than most has boosted sentiment in the New Zealand Dollar.S&P Asia-Pacific chief economist Shaun Roache commented:New Zealand definitely is one of those economies that has exited the most severe periods of the pandemic first, and that clearly was just because what that allows the economy to do is reopen those face-to-face service activities that are so important for the labour market, and that hopefully should get jobs restarted people can go back to work.However, rising cases of coronavirus both in America and beyond have caused concerns of a possible second wave of the virus. Consequently, investors are remaining cautious as this could be bad news for the global economy.The Pound (GBP) fell against many of its peers today after UK Mortgage Approvals fell to record lows of 9,273 today. However, some analysts are positive that these will improve now that the UKs coronavirus lockdown measures and guidelines have been eased.Mark Harris, the chief executive of the mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said:Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on the mortgage and property markets, so it is no surprise that lending was weak in May, with approvals for house purchase falling.With lockdown meaning that lenders were unable to send valuers out to physically view properties, the number of mortgages approved fell considerably.Meanwhile, Brexit concerns have returned after Downing Street hinted that it will be aiming at September to wrap up UK-EU trade negotiations. As a result, investors are becoming increasingly worried about the possibility of a no-deal Brexit in December.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also been dovish about the UK, saying that the coronavirus had been a disaster for the nation. Some investors took this as indication a dire outlook for the British economy, leaving the GBP/NZD exchange rate under pressure throughout todays session.The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) will continue to be driven by risk sentiment this week. Any signs of success with a vaccine for the coronavirus or an improving global economic situation would prove NZD-positive.Tomorrow will also see the release of the ANZ Business Confidence figure for June. However, with this likely to remain in negative territory we could see the New Zealand Dollar suffer.The GBP/NZD exchange rate will likely remain in the doldrums, however. With post-Brexit woes and uncertainty ahead for the British economy, its possible that markets will avoid Sterling throughout the course of this week.

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TAGS: New Zealand Dollar Forecasts Pound New Zealand Dollar Forecasts
China Launches A Wave Of Attacks On India

As tensions increases between China and India increase following a recent deadly border clash, the Chinese governmnet has been accusedof launching cyberattacks on media outlets across India and a powerful Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attack on Indian information websites.

There is significant increase in incidents relating to hacking, injecting malware through spam mails and other forms of exploiting vulnerabilities.

India is among the top 10 countries facing significant cyber-attacks. These incidents have increased manifold during the lockdown period, almost three times increase in cases of phishing, spamming and scanning of ICT systems, particularly of critical information infrastructure and financial institutions.

According to cyber intelligence firms, there's been an increased chatter on dark web forums in Mandarin demanding that "India be taught a lesson". In times of strife, Pakistani hackers too target Indian sites.A recent report claimed that after the face-off between the Indian and the Chinese troops in the Galwan valley along the LAC in Ladakh, India must brace itself for a spell of cyberattacks from Chinese hacker groups.

While the threat may be real, the pattern is not. India is one of the top five most-targeted countries online and most of these cyberattacks originate from six countries mainly namely China, Russia, Pakistan, Ukraine, Vietnam and North Korea.

According to a Indian Governmnet sources phishing and social engineering attacks account for most of these attacks, followed by malware, spear-phishing, DDoS and ransomware.



CCOVID-19-themed phishing emails targeted manufacturing, finance, transportation, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Attacks on banking, defence and manufacturing sectors. PWC India report that Indian organisations have seen attacks almost double between 17 and 20 February, with a 66% increase in detections by endpoint security systems in March 2020 and a 100% increase in brute force attacks in March on exposed network systems.

PWC India have estimated that data breaches have cost organisations in India between $100 million to $200 million per year, while in 2019, the average cost of data breaches in India stood at $119 million.

TimesNow: Times of India: Express: One India: TimesNow:

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Julian Assange Faces New Criminal Charges

The US Department of Justice has filed a new indictment against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The updated indictment explains Assange's alleged crimes and includes more serious accusations that he conspired and tried to recruit both Anonymous and LulzSec hackers to carry out classified data theft.

His supporters and some journalists have criticised the US for prosecuting Assange, claiming he was merely reporting on leaked documents and was entitled to First Amendment protection.

As well as recruiting hackers, the indictment accuses Assange of gaining unauthorised access to a government computer system of a NATO country in 2010. The charges assert that Assange conspired with the leader of notorious hacking group LulzSec to get access to secure databases and steal documents although, ufortunately for Assange, LulzSec were at that time co-operating with the FBI.

Assange is charged with endangering national security by conspiring to obtain and disclose classified documents from databases containing about 90,000 Afghanistan war-related activity reports, 400,000 Iraq war-related reports and 250,000 State Department cables.

He is also accused of conspiring with former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, in what US prosecutors say was one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States.

These broadened charges come to add to previous accusations that Assange conspired with Chelsea Manning to crack a password for an Army computer in order to obtain classified material, which he later published on the WikiLeaks portal. The new indictment says that Assange a WikiLeaks associate sought to recruit hackers who could locate classified information, including material on a "Most Wanted Leaks" list posted on WikiLeaks' website.

His legal team has argued the charges are politically motivated and an abuse of power, as well as asserting that he was doing legitimate journalistic work.

According to the new indictment, Assange told would-be recruits that unless they were a member of the US military, they faced no legal liability for their actions.

An extradition hearing to remove Assange from a British prison and send him tp the US to stand trial in is due to take place on September 7.

US Dept. Of Justice: Yahoo: AlJAzeera: ZDNet: Hindustan Times: World Socialist:



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Weather Alert

The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southern Will County in northeastern Illinois... Kankakee County in northeastern Illinois... Northern Newton County in northwestern Indiana... Porter County in northwestern Indiana... Lake County in northwestern Indiana... Northwestern Jasper County in northwestern Indiana... * Until 100 AM CDT. * At 1141 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Whiting to near Elwood, moving east at 35 mph. These storms have a history of producing wind damage. HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts and penny size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings. * Locations impacted include... Hammond, Gary, Portage, Merrillville, Valparaiso, East Chicago, Schererville, Hobart, Kankakee, Crown Point, Highland, Munster, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Chesterton, Cedar Lake, Lowell, Manteno, Wilmington and Peotone. Including the following interstates... I-55 between mile markers 239 and 242. I-57 between mile markers 310 and 330. Indiana I-80 between mile markers 1 and 16. Indiana I-90 between mile markers 3 and 34. Indiana I-94 between mile markers 16 and 32. Indiana I-65 between mile markers 227 and 261. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && TORNADO...POSSIBLE; HAIL...0.75IN; WIND...70MPH
To Corky of Manhattan, protesters dont want to change the name of the country. The statues that are being pulled down glorify those whose glory came at the expense of the lives and livelihood of those who should have been considered equal. Deeds considered glorious, reverent and worthy of adulation have come as a result of some of the worst cruelty that could have possibly been exacted upon any people.
Elizabeth City, NC (27909)

Today

Locally heavy thunderstorms in the morning will give way to partly cloudy skies late. High 92F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 77F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.
SANDRA LEPLEY

Daily American Correspondent

The Meyersdale American Legion Auxiliary Unit 112 sold 43 military banners as a fundraiser earlier this year. Then, the banners were placed on posts throughout Meyersdale Borough by borough workers in the past few weeks.

According to Katie Billy, historian for the auxiliary, this was the first time the auxiliary held this fundraiser and members were pleased with the outcome.

We had no idea what to expect and wanted to see if there was any interest in the project, said Billy. We started out in January by offering them to legionnaires first and word spread so by February we were sold out.

Melanie Reckner, chaplain for the auxiliary, had seen this type of project on the streets in Boonsboro, Maryland, last year and brought the idea back to Meyersdale. Then, members went online to find designs and hired David Daughton of Wellersburg as the designer and printer. And, while the plan was to have them up in time for Memorial Day, the pandemic closed the printer and delayed the banners until now.

By next year, we hope to sell more banners to put up on more lamp posts when all the fastenings are completed on each post, she said. All in all, it was a very good fundraiser and brings special attention to our honored men of the military in Meyersdale.
MATTHEW TOTH

mtoth@dailyamerican.com

As cases are on the rise, Somerset County residents report diverse opinions about how to handle the coronavirus.

On Sunday the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Somerset County had 14 positive cases since June 21. The county has spent three weeks in the green phase, the least restrictive of Gov. Tom Wolfs three phase system to deal with the pandemic.

For Windber resident Debra Powell, this mean she will be continuing to wear a mask when she leaves her door.

I know a mask is suppose to protect my neighbors more than myself, which is a good enough reason for me, she said.

Powell said she knows two people who tested positive for COVID-19, and her job in retail means that she deals with a lot of people daily. For those reasons, she believes following social distancing guidelines and wearing a mask will help keep the spread low.

I hear people always push that they are just (CDC) guidelines, she said. Why are they just guidelines when its something that could help us even if they are a mild annoyance?

Somerset County added six cases over the weekend, having a total of 61 cases by Sunday morning.

The Department reported 505 new positive cases Sunday, bringing the statewide total to 85,496. There are 6,606 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of three new deaths.

No reported cases were in Somerset County nursing homes.

Each of us has a responsibility to continue to protect ourselves, our loved ones and others by wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and washing our hands frequently, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. Together we can protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our essential workers and our healthcare system.

There was no press conference with the Department of Health over the weekend.

The Center for Disease Control states on its website that cloth face coverings, including masks, can reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Cloth face coverings may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others. The website states. Wearing a cloth face covering will help protect people around you, including those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and workers who frequently come into close contact with other people (e.g., in stores and restaurants).

Yet despite the rise in cases, Jason Knipple said he is not wearing a mask while out in public.{/div}

The shutdown is over, the Meyersdale resident said. I dont have to do what Dictator Wolf tells me to do.

One June 9, the House and Senate passed Resolution 836 to suspend the governors emergency declaration without allowing Wolf the chance to veto it. Lawmakers have cited Title 35 of the state code, which outlines the governors emergency powers.

The case is currently being considered in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, with the Wolf Administration asking the court to uphold the COVID-19 restrictions. Officials said they are hoping for a ruling sometime this week.

Seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases, Allegheny County officials ordered a close to all county bars by 5 p.m. Tuesday. In a press release to the Daily American, Wolf commended the swift action by Allegheny County officials.

Mitigation efforts statewide include the requirement to wear a mask when in businesses, following occupancy limits in all businesses and gatherings, practicing social distancing, hand washing and sanitizing surfaces...make a huge difference, he said. Even if you believe you will not get sick, you can, and you can spread the virus to someone who may not be able to recover as easily.

Somerset resident Karl Sparks said hes not sure what guidelines to follow, but he still wears a mask when he walks into Sheetz.

I mean it says on their door wear a mask, he said. Just going in there without one seems disrespectful.
Staff reports

The Daily American

The Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, directed by James Blachly, and the Johnstown Symphony Chorus, directed by Jeffrey L. Webb, will present online musical celebrations of the nations independence the week of July 4.

Both offerings will be available on social media, linked through johstownsymphony.org.

The community is encouraged to visit the website for more information.

On Wednesday the Johnstown Symphony Chorus will launch its virtual performance of America the Beautiful, arranged by Webb, on Facebook and YouTube. At 4 p.m. on Independence Day, the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra Brass will stream a 25-minute performance of patriotic favorites live from the iconic flag at the Inclined Plane in Johnstown.

People have often told me that it wouldnt be the Fourth of July without the JSO, Blachly said in a press release. And theres nothing like the energy we get performing for 4,000 at Sargents Stadium at the Point. This year, circumstances prevent us from being together at the stadium itself, but weve come together to find a creative way to continue sharing music on this important day. On July 1, youll enjoy the music of our spectacular chorus through a video produced by Ben Easler, and then at 4 p.m. on the 4th of July, well be livestreaming a performance by members of the professional orchestra as well on this special day. This is our first-ever virtual Fourth of July concert and I cant wait to connect with all of you in celebration of this country that we love.

Follow the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra on Facebook, or go to johnstownsymphony.org, for more details on the virtual celebration of freedom.
Dalton, GA (30720)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 85F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. Low 68F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
I am humbled and honored to be given the opportunity to serve as Glenviews next Fire Chief, DeRose said. I look forward to continuing to work with the dedicated members of the Glenview Fire Department, which has a long tradition of pride providing exceptional service to the community.
News / Film & TV Reporter

James is on the news desk where he focuses on protest reporting. Outside of reporting for the Daily Emerald, he is a former reporter and copy editor at LCC's The Torch, has contributed to KISS vinyl guides as a collector and is a vintage vinyl dealer.
KINGSTON, N.Y.  Ulster County and the Mid-Hudson Region are on track to begin Phase 4 of reopening on July 7 in wake of the coronavirus pande
The following items are based on information provided by officials in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
HIGHLAND, N.Y.  State police on Wednesday provided photos of a parachute and pack that they say are similar to the ones worn by a skydiver wh
Tim Rose, executive director of the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency at the time, stands in front of a mountain of recyclables on May 3, 2018, at the RRA facility in the town of Ulster, N.Y.
The Peter Stuyvesant statue at Academy Green in Kingston, N.Y., is shown on June 12, 2020. There also are statues in the park of George Clinton and Henry Hudson.
In my first sermon since reopening I reminded our members that although we reopened the doors of our places of worship, that does not mean that the danger has passed, Imam Hazim Fazlic said. The danger of infection is still there, but we have to learn how to live with it.
Ashland, KY (41101)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High near 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers in the evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 57F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Sunbury, PA (17801)

Today

Partly cloudy early. Scattered thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 91F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening giving way to periods of light rain overnight. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Madison, SD (57042)

Today

Mainly clear skies. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
@ChescoCourtNews on Twitter

Michael P. Rellahan has been a staff reporter and editor at the Daily Local News since 1982. He has covered all kinds of news over the years but is now assigned to report on court and legal news, as well as Chester County government news and politics.
The Rotary Club of Oxford recently presented a check for $1,000 to the Divine Sent Food Cupboard, Oxford. From left are co-executive director Sylvia Justin; executive director Donna Lee Moore and Oxford Rotary President Dr. Ray Fischer.
Josko, now 66, was released on bond at the time but charges were later upgraded to reckless homicide following an investigation of the fatal crash. Yet before he could be taken into custody again, police said Josko flew to Warsaw and could not be brought back to United States due to the extradition laws of that era, Senger said.
First they came for the statues; then they came for the stained glass windows. Yes, the fashion (at least among undergraduates) for trashing commemorative edifices is developing new forms.

And in one particular case, the targeted memorial is barely 30 years old.

This is the Sir Ronald Fisher memorial, a stained glass window in the dining hall of Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge University to honour the work of its former member, described as 'a genius who almost single-handedly created the foundations for modern statistical science'. Sir Ronald, in fact, was knighted by the Queen in 1952.

But last week, the college said that it would remove the Sir Ronald Fisher memorial because it was 'now aware of [his] views and actions  in a way that was not fully appreciated in 1989'.

There is one British eugenicist whose name is widely known outside the academic world. That person's name is advertised in magazines and on hoardings, and it pulls in many millions of pounds of taxpayers' money every year. I refer to Marie Stopes (pictured). The organisation bearing her name, Marie Stopes International, is perhaps the world's biggest abortion provider

Unshaken

The dons were too delicate to mention that the university outpost of Extinction Rebellion, supposedly in sympathy with Black Lives Matter, had spray-painted 'Eugenics is genocide  Fisher must fall' on the college's Gate of Honour.

Sir Ronald had been the founding chairman of the university's eugenics society: he was devoted to stamping out breeding by those he deemed 'feeble-minded high-grade defectives ... comprising a tenth of the total population'.

This was high fashion on the Left of British politics in the early 20th century and advocated enthusiastically in their favourite newspaper and weekly magazine (then, as now, the Guardian and the New Statesman).

Last week, the college said that it would remove the Sir Ronald Fisher (pictured) memorial because it was 'now aware of [his] views and actions  in a way that was not fully appreciated in 1989'

The Sir Ronald Fisher memorial is a stained glass window in the dining hall of Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge University to honour the work of its former member

It was actually Adolf Hitler who put their ideas into practice, though more radically than they had proposed: Hitler enacted a policy of euthanasia for those we would nowadays term learning disabled, pioneering the gassing methods the Nazis later applied to an entire race.

Fisher's belief in eugenic methods was (unlike in the British political class) unshaken by those events. He wrote subsequently that the Nazi party 'sincerely wished to benefit the German racial stock, especially by the elimination of manifest defectives'.

Fisher is not the only dead British eugenicist whose name is being effaced from academia. Earlier this month, University College London retitled two lecture theatres that had hitherto carried the names of Francis Galton and Karl Pearson (Galton invented the term 'eugenics' in 1883, and Pearson was the country's first professor of eugenics, financed by a bequest from Galton).

Earlier this month, University College London retitled two lecture theatres that had hitherto carried the names of Francis Galton and Karl Pearson (Galton invented the term 'eugenics' in 1883, and Pearson was the country's first professor of eugenics, financed by a bequest from Galton). They are pictured together - Pearson (left) and Galton (right)

The Galton lecture theatre has now been renamed lecture theatre 115, and the Pearson lecture theatre is now to be called lecture theatre G22. There's safety in numbers.

Though eugenics was  is  a pernicious and inhumane doctrine, I wonder what any of this is going to achieve other than to ease the nerves of university governing councils worried at being on the wrong side of Extinction Rebellion, or of any other bunch of students threatening to wreak physical damage on a statue or a stained glass window.

Outside their intensely narrow environment  otherwise known as ivory towers  what difference will it make to anyone's lives?

Oddly, though, there is one British eugenicist whose name is widely known outside the academic world. That person's name is advertised in magazines and on hoardings, and it pulls in many millions of pounds of taxpayers' money every year.

I refer to Marie Stopes. The organisation bearing her name, Marie Stopes International, is perhaps the world's biggest abortion provider.

Not only are its operations in this country largely paid for by us as an adjunct to the NHS, its overseas work is given huge sums by the Department for International Development.

And now the Archbishop of Canterbury has joined in the circus: Justin Welby (pictured) said last Friday that there would be a 'review' of statues and monuments, including in Canterbury Cathedral, and that 'some will have to come down'

But what motivated Stopes (1880-1958) was not money: it was an intense eugenic passion  to weed out those she deemed of inferior genetic stock.

Originally a brilliant plant palaeontologist, she became obsessed with human breeding, so fixated on this that she disinherited her son Harry for marrying a short-sighted woman (Mary Barnes Wallis, the daughter of the inventor of the 'bouncing bomb').

Stopes wrote: 'She has an inherited disease of the eyes which not only makes her wear hideous glasses so that it is horrid to look at her . . . I have the horror of our line being so contaminated . . . Mary and Harry are quite callous about the wrong to my family and the eugenic crime.'

As the historian Geoffrey Alderman records: 'This obsession led to her becoming a very proud public supporter of Nazism . . . she even sent Herr Hitler a collection of love poems.

What motivated Stopes (1880-1958) was not money: it was an intense eugenic passion  to weed out those she deemed of inferior genetic stock. She is pictured on a 50p stamp

Honour

'In a poem she wrote in 1942, she declared: 'Catholics and Prussians, the Jews and the Russians, All are a curse, Or something worse.' '

Yet this is the woman who, in 2008, was accorded the signal honour of having her portrait on a postage stamp. And only a few years ago there was a campaign to put up a statue of Stopes in Manchester.

Given that part of her clinic's original slogan was 'A Sure Light in our Racial Darkness', one wonders if it would now have required pulling down, almost as soon as it had been put up.

And now the Archbishop of Canterbury has joined in the circus: Justin Welby said last Friday that there would be a 'review' of statues and monuments, including in Canterbury Cathedral, and that 'some will have to come down'.

Meanwhile, in the real world, the rest of the country is just trying to cope with the biggest health and economic disruption of our lifetimes.

LESS ICE MAKES P-P-PENGUINS PERKIER!

Hot news from the Antarctic: the penguins are prospering. And why is that interesting? Because this is the creature which was supposed to be the principal victim of climate change and the consequent loss of sea ice.

Yet last week, researchers from Japan's National Institute of Polar Research produced a report showing that the Adelie penguin (whose only home is the Antarctic) has been thriving like never before  and it's because of the changing habitat.

Having tagged 175 of these endearing birds, the scientists discovered that the penguins caught more krill because of the loss of ice. 'Counterintuitively for this ice-dependent species, body conditions and breeding success improved in the ice-free environment,' they explained.

Yet last week, researchers from Japan's National Institute of Polar Research produced a report showing that the Adelie penguin (whose only home is the Antarctic) has been thriving like never before  and it's because of the changing habitat

One of the researchers added: 'For penguins, swimming is a whopping four times faster than walking', so they were able to forage in larger areas for shorter periods of time.

And what of that creature even more loved by humans: the polar bear? Three years ago a National Geographic video of a solitary starving polar bear, its rib cage distressingly visible, became an internet sensation, watched by an estimated 2.5 billion people.

'This is what climate change looks like,' said National Geographic.

Well, that particular polar bear was clearly in a bad way. But over the past 15 years, the polar bear population has risen from around 22,500 to as much as 31,000, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Meanwhile, the Adelie penguins are loving the climate. Can we be forgiven for driving cars now?
A doctor has urged women to be aware of symptoms of intimate health issues after missed appointments during lockdown.

Leading Harley Street intimate health specialist Dr Shirin Lakhani, of Elite Aesthetics, Kent, told FEMAIL about how changes in discharge, laxity and public hair can be early indications that there is something wrong.

She also advised checking your own intimate area regularly to detect any anomalous changes.

A doctor has warned of the 'potential time bomb' women face as a result of missed smear tests and other doctor's appointments involving their intimate areas. Stock image

It comes as charities issued warnings over the number of appointments postponed, missed, or cancelled due to lockdown.

According to Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, around 600,000 cervical cancer screening tests would have been carried out in the UK between April and May were services working normally, but many were cancelled or delayed.

The research found around one in eight women said they feel less likely to attend their smear test than before the Covid-19 pandemic, with 13 per cent believing it's best to put off going for cervical screening at the moment.

Women had concerns over not wanting to put 'additional strain' on the NHS, their own and others' safety, and uncertainty over changes to cervical screenings.

Similar issues relating to cancelled and missed appointments across the health spectrum have been reported.

Dr Lakhani explained to FEMAIL while it is vital women continue to check their intimate areas regularly, either in clinic or at home.

She said: 'The vagina, labia minora, the labia majora, the clitoris, perineum, and anus all need to be checked regularly.

'They can be home to conditions such as lichen sclerosus  a relatively unknown condition which an estimated one million UK women suffer from that can destroy sex lives and sometimes turn into cancer.'

'It's important to keep an eye out for changes in feel, texture, appearance and smell of our intimate areas as these can be an early indication of more serious underlying problems.'

Here Dr Shirin reveals the symptoms to look out for in your intimate area that could be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.

Discharge

What's normal: You can get vaginal discharge at any age and the amount varies. It's usually heavier during pregnancy, if you're sexually active or if you're using birth control. It's often slippery and wet when you're ovulating, and a bit like egg white.

When to see a doctor: Keep an eye out for changes in discharge; for example: smell, colour and texture. This may be a sign of an infection.

Pubic hair

What's normal: Pubic hair is there for a reason  it acts as a barrier to protect your intimate areas against harmful bacteria and viruses. Nowadays there is a big trend for shaving and waxing this area, and some people even wrongly think that shaving it makes it more hygienic.

Public hair can become itchy at times, as a result of contact with different fabrics or due to ingrown hairs. It can also be itchy because of pubic lice, also known as crabs.

When to see a doctor: If you experience itching there, especially at night, inflammation and irritation, black powder in your underwear, blue spots or small spots of blood on your skin, these could be an indication of lice, so see your doctor or a sexual health clinic.

Your pharmacisit can give you advice about over-the-counter treatments but your sexual health clinic or GP can test for other STIs too. Public lice are usually easy to diagnose by examining the area.

Laxity

What's normal: Vaginal laxity refers to the looseness that occurs in the vagina. Many women find this happens after vaginal childbirth, but it has also been associated with ageing and menopause.

Women with vaginal laxity often feel less sensation in their vagina during intercourse.

When to see a doctor: You should see a doctor if the vaginal laxity is negatively impacting on your life - for example, resulting in incontinence or impacting your sex life, or if it is causing pain or discomfort.

With lockdown measures easing, Dr Shirin stresses the importance of seeking medical advice if you are at all concerned
Australian shoppers are rushing to Chemist Warehouse for a massive half-price sale on makeup, skincare, vitamins, supplements and personal hygiene products.

The discount pharmacy has slashed the prices of hundreds of items, offering bargains like Garnier face masks from $1.97, Schwarzkopf hair dye from $3.99, Bioglan fish oil for $13.99 and cosmetics from as little as $1.

Bargain hunters can expect huge savings on popular brands such as Blackmore, Swisse, Nature's Way, Bioglan, L'Oreal, Maybelline, Revlon, Nivea, Sukin, A'kin, Palmolive, Nude by Nature, Colgate, Oral B, and more.

The nationwide 'Tick Tock, Time to Shop' sale runs until Thursday, July 9.

Chemist Warehouse has launched a massive half price sale, offering bargains like $4.98 Nivea exfoliating scrub, $2.97 Garnier face mask, $1 concealer palette, $11.47 Maybelline mascara, $16.24 Nature's Own fish oil, $1.89 Nivea deodorant and $19.99 Swisse Collagen Glow

For half prices, shoppers can stock up on lipsticks, eye shadows, foundation, contour kits, bronzer, concealer, highlighters, pencils and beauty brushes.

If you're looking to update your makeup bag, there's a huge range of best-selling items on sale - including $11.97 Maybelline 'Lash Sensational' mascara, $6.47 Maybelline 'Great Lash' mascara and Revlon Photoready concealer for $12.47.

The best deals in the beauty aisle include Rimmel's 60 second nail polish for $3.47, Nude by Nature 7-piece beauty brushes for $19.97 and Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Mattifying Liquid Foundation for just $10.97.

All 'clearance' cosmetics lines including W7 have been further reduced.

For just $1, customers can find a four-pack nail polish set, mascaras, bath bombs, concealers, eyeliners, lipsticks, palettes, and lip scrubs.

Australian shoppers are rushing to Chemist Warehouse for a massive half-price sale on makeup, skincare, vitamins, supplements and personal hygiene (file image)

For items costing less than $2, there's $1.97 Maybelline's lip balm, $1.97 Garnier face masks, $1.12 cotton makeup pads, $1.12 micellar facial wipes, $1.85 cotton tips, $1.99 Palmers body lotion, and $1.99 Sence Beauty 3-in-1 cleansing wipes.

In the health aisle, Swisse, Blackmore and Nature's Way vitamins and supplements including Magnesium, Calcium, Vitamin D, Iron, Zinc, Vitamin C, and Fish Oil have all been slashed by 50 per cent.

For personal hygiene, shoppers can pick up half price Colgate toothpaste from $4.99, or an Oral B electric toothbrush for just $24.99.
An Australian woman has saved hundreds of dollars by making her own one-metre long grazing platter for her partner's birthday by using inexpensive items from Aldi and Bunnings Warehouse.

Lynda, from Victoria, chose to make the platter herself after being quoted hundreds from professional businesses  which often vary in price between $300 to $1200 depending on the size of the platter.

Posting in a popular Aldi Facebook group, she revealed the homemade platter cost a little over $100 to prepare.

'Thought I would give it a go after been quoted hundreds of [dollars] to get it professionally done, so off to Aldi I go and I amazingly found everything (and bit more) for a total of $110,' she wrote online.

She also used a $2 off-cut board from Bunnings and styled the board with a friend.

'I am pleased with myself, it turned out so well,' she wrote.

An Australian woman has saved hundreds of dollars by making her own one-metre long grazing platter by using inexpensive items from Aldi and Bunnings Warehouse (pictured)

Lynda bought a variety of cheeses, fruit sticks, bread sticks, chocolates, olives and sun-dried tomatoes from Aldi to use on the platter.

She said the laminated piece of off-cut wood was in a clearance box at Bunnings for only $2.

The Facebook post quickly sparked an influx of responses from other social media users who were impressed with the creation and inspired to make grazing platters themselves.

Lynda said she bought a variety of cheeses, fruit sticks, bread sticks, chocolates, olives, sun-dried tomatoes from Aldi to use on the platter, which a friend helped her assemble

'Well done! I was quoted $450 for about 20 people, another $50 if I wanted to use their tablecloths...um no thank you!' one woman said.

'My daughter is turning 18 in July and we were quoted $660! Now I know we can do it thanks to Aldi,' another said.

A third added: 'Looks amazing! I always use Aldi for my grazing tables - they have the best things.'

The Facebook post itself received more than 2,600 likes and 340 comments from those part of the social media group.
Meghan Markle can be seen smiling alongside a private chef in a never-before-seen photo taken during the Sussex's 10-day African royal tour in 2019.

The photo was shared by a South Africa-based luxury service company on their Instagram page @conciergecapetown back on October 10, but has only recently surfaced.

It shows the Duchess of Sussex, 38, posing alongside Chef Lee - who was one of the cooks who looked after her, Prince Harry and their son Archie during their time overseas.

Alongside the snap, the caption reads: 'Throw back to last week, our team assisting The Royal Family with their trip in Cape Town. Private Chef and Concierge Services. Chef Lee cooking up some great food for the family.'

A South Africa-based luxury service company has shared a never-before-seen photo of Meghan Markle taken during the Sussex's 10-day African royal tour in 2019. Pictured, alongside chef, Lee

Alongside the photo, Concierge Cape Town penned: 'Throw back to last week, our team assisting The Royal Family with their trip in Cape Town. Private Chef and Concierge Services. Chef Lee cooking up some great food for the family' (pictured)

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation during their royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019 in Cape Town

Under the private chef section, the website states: 'Relax and allow the chef to do all the shopping, cooking and serving of meals.

Tailor-made to suite every client's needs and requirements. Menus are compiled based on the client's request, meal times determined by the client themselves. Interactive cooking, wine and beer tastings highly recommended to.'

In the unseen snap, Meghan can be seen wearing the same black jeans and white linen J.Crew shirt that she donned for a later engagement with Harry on Monwabisi beach.

There, the couple visited Waves for Change, an NGO, which supports local surf mentors to provide mental health services to vulnerable young people living in under resourced communities.

However, the duchess appears to have made a few tweaks to her outfit - by adding a brown belt and ditching the blue denim jacket by Madewell she wore to the beach.

In the unseen snap, the Duchess of Sussex appeared to be wearing the same linen shirt and black jeans she donned to Monwabisi Beach in Cape Town on 24 September 2019

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arriving for a visit to the District Six Museum in Cape Town, South Africa, on the first day of their tour of Africa

The Duke of Sussex walks through a minefield in Dirico, Angola 27 September 2019. His Royal Highness visited to see the work of landmine clearance charity the Halo Trust

During the royal tour, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Archie, then five months, visited Angola and Malawi, and undertook a short working visit to Botswana, between September 23 and October 2.

The tour marked the Sussex's first official as a family - following the birth of their son on 6 May 2019.

In a particularly significant and poignant journey, the Duke of Sussex returned to Angola to see first-hand the legacy of his mother the late Diana, whose visit to Huambo in 1997 helped raise awareness of the threat posed by landmines to communities and livelihoods.

The couple also brought Archie along to meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mrs Tutu at their legacy foundation.
Royal fans have been challenged to identify these nine insignia - and it is tricky enough that even the most confident players will find themselves stumped.

Instagram fan account loopycrown3 shared a selection of the badges, monograms and coats of arms that adorn the thank you letters and Christmas cards she has received from members of the British royal family.

Some are easy enough to guess from the initials or symbolism, but others will require an in-depth knowledge of less well-known members of the monarchy.

Think you have what it takes? Scroll down to see all nine and then check your answers at the bottom. FEMAIL has also given a handy explanation on what each one means to help expand your royal knowledge.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

THE ANSWERS

1. Duke of Kent (Prince Edward)

The Duke of Kent's badge is relatively pared back compared to other members of the royal family. In the centre of the badge is his initial 'E', for Prince Edward, which is encircled by the Garter circlet with the motto, written in French, Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shame on him who thinks evil). The badge is topped by a crown, signalling the user's royal status

2. Prince of Wales (Prince Charles)

The 'Prince of Wales's Feathers' heraldic badge of the heir apparent is derived from the ostrich feathers borne by Edward, the Black Prince (1330-1376), the eldest son of King Edward III. The German motto 'Ich dien' means 'I serve'. This appears on Prince Charles' stationery. A simplified version of the badge featuring three feathers is the logo for the Princes' Trust

3. The reigning monarch (the Queen)

The royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, or the Royal Arms for short, is the official coat of arms of the British monarch, currently the Queen. In the standard variant used outside of Scotland, the shield is quartered, depicting in the lions of England; the rampant lion and double tressure flory-counterflory of Scotland; and a harp for Ireland. In the greenery below, a thistle, Tudor rose and shamrock are depicted, representing Scotland, England and Ireland respectively. This armorial achievement comprises the motto, in French, of English monarchs, Dieu et mon Droit (God and my Right), as well as the Garter circlet which surrounds the shield, inscribed with the Order's motto, in French, Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shame on him who thinks evil)

4. Princess Royal (Princess Anne)

The coat of arms of Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, shares similarities with that of her mother the Queen. The coronet above the escutcheon indicates she is the daughter of the sovereign. The escutcheon itself is in a diamond shape, unlike that of the Queen's. Princess Anne's full coat of arms also includes the Garter circlet which surrounds the shield, inscribed with the Order's motto, in French, Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shame on him who thinks evil)

5. Princess Alexandra of Kent, the Hon Lady Ogilvy

Princess Alexandra of Kent, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, is the second child and only daughter of the late Duke and Duchess of Kent. As the Queen's first cousin, Princess Alexandra has a royal monogram. Hers is quite distinctive and features interlocking 'A's topped by a coronet. The monogram appears on Princess Alexandra's official correspondence

6. Prince Michael of Kent

The coat of arms of the Queen's first cousin, Prince Michael of Kent, the second son of Prince George, Duke of Kent and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. The coat of arms was granted in 1962. The arms appears on stationery sent by the couple from Kensington Palace

7. The Duke of Edinburgh

The office of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, uses this badge on its correspondence. The Duke of Edinburgh also has an official coat of arms and a monogram, which are different to the badge. In the center of the badge (pictured) is Edinburgh Castle, in honour of his title. It is surrounded by the Order of Garter belt and topped with a coronet. The belt is inscribed with the Order's motto, in French, Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shame on him who thinks evil)

8. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's monogram was revealed for the first time in July 2018. The couple's official cypher features their initials H and M intertwined in an elaborate blue typeface, with a crown on top. The couple used the monograph on their Instagram account

9. The Duke of York (Prince Andrew)
Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain put safety first as they visited the Tres Mil Viviendas neighbourhood in Seville today.

The mother-of-two, 47, cut an elegant figure in a dark and light blue halterneck dress, which she coordinated with a pair of stylish beige wedges - and a protective face mask.

The trip is part of a royal tour that will take the couple through several Spanish autonomous communities with the objective of supporting economic, social and cultural activity following the coronavirus outbreak.

Queen Letizia opted to wear her brown hair scraped back into a sleek curly ponytail and kept her eye make up minimal.

Queen Letizia of Spain, 47, put on a stylish display as she visited Tres Mil Viviendas neighbourhood in Seville, Spain, on Monday

The royal, who was joined by husband King Felipe (pictured, together), are embarking on a tour that will take them through several Spanish autonomous communities with the objective of supporting economic, social and cultural activity after the coronavirus outbreak

Meanwhile, her husband Felipe VI, 52, complemented her summery outfit by wearing a light blue shirt, smart trousers and a pair of brown leather shoes.

Queen Letizia and her husband looked relaxed as they took to the streets and walked alongside government spokesperson and Finance Minister Maria Jesus Montero.

They were greeted by crowds of well-wishers who gathered on the streets and waved flags in the hope of catching a glimpse of the royal pair.

Yesterday the couple visited Palma de Mallorca and Letizia cut an equally stylish figure in a recycled flowy green summer dress by Maje, which she first wore on July 25 2019.

Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain walked alongside government spokesperson and Finance Minister Maria Jesus Montero during their visit

The mother-of-two wore her brown hair scraped back in a sleek curly ponytail and opted for minimal eye make up

Felipe VI (pictured), 52, complemented his wife's summery outfit by wearing a light blue shirt, smart trousers and a pair of brown leather shoes

King Felipe VI (R) and Queen Letizia of Spain (L) walk next to the regional President of Andalucia, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla (C), as they visit the Civic Center 'El Esqueleto' at the '3,000 Viviendas' neighbourhood in Seville

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain (pictured) greet wellwishers as they visit the Civic Center 'El Esqueleto' at the '3,000 Viviendas' neighbourhood in Seville

During their visit, the couple took part in a socially distanced round table with union representatives, as well as representatives from the tourism sector on the grounds of the Iberostar Cristina Hotel.

They were particularly interested in seeing how hospitality services had applies sanitary measure to best accommodate tourists at the height of the summer.

After their hotel meeting, Felipe VI and Letizia headed to the promenade of Platja de Sarenal where they had a stroll, closely followed by their security services and fans.

The president of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Francina Armengol walked alongside the couple and highlighted the changes Palma had put in place to make sure tourists could flock the promenade safely.

The trip is part of a royal tour that will take King Felipe (pictured) and Queen Letizia through several Spanish autonomous communities with the objective of supporting economic, social and cultural activity after the coronavirus outbreak

Wellwishers hoping to catch a glimpse of King Felipe and Queen Letizia in the Tres Mil Viviendas neighbourhood

Royal fans lined the streets donning protective masks in a bid to welcome the royal couple to the neighbourhood

Last Monday, the royals debuted their tour of Spain in the Canary Islands and greeted crowds of adoring fans in Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria.

Spain just reopened its borders on June 21, and the Spanish monarchs wanted to see how the different regions of their countries were adapting.

During their outing, the couple visited Perez Galdos' House Museum on the occasion of the 100 year anniversary of the renowned Spanish novelists death.

Their tour of the area coincides with the usual commemoration from June 23 to 24 of the origins of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - with the city celebrating its 1478 founding every summer.
A couple revealed how they have sold their family home to raise enough money to move to the Seychelles and set up an environmental charity.

Karolina and Barry Seath, 47, are leaving Putney, south-west London, for Moyenne Island, a tiny 400m-long island nature reserve off the north coast of Mahe.

The intrepid couple are planning to set up a coral farm to repopulate the reef which has been left barren as a result of climate change and human actions.

They are taking their daughters Georgina, 11, and Josephine, seven, and will live on the larger island of Mahe, where the girls will be able to attend school.

Karolina and Barry Seath, 47, are leaving Putney, south-west London, for Moyenne Island, a tiny 400m-long island nature reserve off the north coast of Mahe. Pictured, the couple on holiday with their daughters Georgina, 11, and Josephine, seven, who are also moving

The intrepid couple are planning to set up a coral farm off the coast of Moyenne, pictured, to repopulate the reef which has been left barren as a result of climate change and human action

Barry, a former recruitment consultant and policeman, said: 'We are just a normal husband, wife, and two kids, living the sort of life that most others do.

'But we both felt the need to make a positive change for ourselves, our children and the world we had largely taken for granted.

'So we have sold our home and parted company with most of our worldly possessions.'

Barry has spent more than 15 years running a London recruitment firm but will now work full time as a volunteer for his family's charity, Coral Reef Conservation UK. Karolina, 37, who is originally from Poland, will manage the charity's social media presence.

The couple, who have saved enough money to support the family for two years, will also divide responsibilities including offering educational tours to tourists and local school children.

Speaking on the move, Josephine said: 'I'll miss my friends, but I'm really looking forward to seeing lots of different animals and doing lots of snorkelling and helping my dad look after the coral.'

Sisters Georgina, 11, and Josephine, seven, who will travel 15 minutes by boat to attend school on another island. Pictured, the schoolgirls jump for joy on a family holiday

Georgina wants to learn to dive to assist the project, and added: 'I'm really excited to have this opportunity to move abroad and learn more about the world. I hope we can make a real difference.'

Barry explained they were spurred into action after witnessing the damage to the coral reef first-hand on family holidays to the Seychelles.

'Every time we visited we noticed the coral was getting worse and worse,' he said.

'All the tourists say the same thing. They love the beaches, but are really disappointed with the coral. They expect these lush coral reefs, but what they actually find is lots of coral rubble.'

Coronavirus has devastated the Seychelles' economy. The tourism sector, which represents around 50 per cent of the country's GDP, has effectively frozen.

The family hopes that replenishing the coral reefs will help boost future visitor numbers to the country. They were due to fly out at the end of August and are hoping flights will return to normal in time for them to depart as planned.

In 2012 Moyenne was designated the world's smallest National Park after its only inhabitant, British expat Brendon Grimshaw, died. Pictured, the sign greeting visitors to the island

The coral farm will be only the second in the world, with the first being on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

How do coral farms work? In order to produce the coral at scale, the team plans to harness the latest techniques in 'micro-fragmentation' - which can dramatically increase growth rates far beyond what is normally achievable naturally. The process involves cutting an individual coral into small pieces which then stimulates their growth rates - much like how skin grows over a cut. The corals will be grown in temperature-controlled tanks for up to nine months, before being replanted in the local reefs. Whilst in the tanks, the corals will also be exposed to warmer temperatures, enabling them to adapt at a young age to the ever-increasing sea temperatures they will face when returned back into their natural habitat. Advertisement

Building the farm is scheduled to take just three months with all the equipment, including tanks, chillers, filters and pipework, costing 25,000.

Once complete it will be the first large-scale, land-based coral farm in the Indian Ocean. They aim to grow around 10,000 corals a year.

A diverse range of corals will be grown and then replanted in the local reefs. This will ensure the biodiversity of the reefs are maintained and begin to replenish the estimated 250,000 individual corals that have already been lost in the seas and reefs in the Seychelles archipelago.

Barry said: 'It's not going to change things overnight and will take a lot of work, but as we scale up operations, we expect to have a major and positive impact on the coral reefs in the area.'

In 2012 Moyenne was designated the world's smallest National Park after its only inhabitant, British expat Brendon Grimshaw, died.

Mr Grimshaw, a former newspaper editor, bought the island for just 8,000 in 1962 and lived there for four decades until his death.

The conservationist transformed the island by planting thousands of trees and introducing giant tortoises that still roam the island to this day.

Barry added: 'The island has an amazing history. There are stories of hotel groups and rich individuals wanting to buy the island from Brendon.

'They told him he could just name his price, but he refused every time. He didn't want it to be developed.

'We hope to honour Brendan's legacy by using the island as the venue of our first coral farm.'
Martin Lewis has warned that millions of European Health Insurance Cards may be out-of-date and encouraged holidaygoers to renew 'as quick as you can' today.

The London-based Money Saving Expert, 48, appeared on This Morning and urged viewers to check their EHIC, which entitles Britons to free healthcare while travelling in the EU, because travel restrictions are suspected to be eased soon.

He said 'millions are out of date' and insisted people 'go online and order one of those as quick as you can' for free - reminding audiences at home that they should never pay for the cards.

However, when finishing his segment, the financial expert warned that viewers should be wary of booking once-in-a-lifetime trips at the moment because some travel insurers may not be offering coronavirus-related coverage.

Martin Lewis, 48, from London, (above) warned that millions of European Health Insurance Cards are out of date and encouraged holiday goers to renew 'as quick as you can' today

Speaking to hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, Martin said: 'Now the first thing I think everyone should be doing right now - because you're probably going to Europe as I doubt it'll be unrestricted anywhere else - is going and looking at your European Health Insurance Card.

'Go get one of those, they give you access to European Union and a few other countries state run hospitals and GPs for the same price as a local.

'So if it's free for them and it's free for you. '

He went on: 'They still work and they're still going to be valid until at least January 1 because we're in that transitional phase of leaving the European Union.

Martin appeared on This Morning and urged viewers to check their EHIC (pictured), which entitles Britons to free healthcare when travelling in the EU, because travel restrictions are suspected to be eased soon

'Now the big thing about those is that millions of them are out of date.'

He continued: 'So go get your card, you think you're covered, look at the end date on it and many of you will be surprised that it isn't in date.

'So I'd go online and order one of those as quick as you can. Very important again, never pay for those cards.'

Martin explained: 'They are always free, there is no such thing as a paid fast track.

Martin (above) said 'millions of EHIC cards are out of date' and insisted people 'go online and order one of those as quick as you can' for free - reminding audiences at home that they shouldn't ever pay for the cards

'There are websites out there that will try and charge you, they are not official websites. Do not pay to get or renew an EHIC. You can do it yourself.'

The financial expert then explained that travel insurance is now available again after sales of policies were largely stopped in March.

WHAT IS THE EHIC? An EHIC gives its owner access to state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the EU's 27 countries. It is also valid in Switzerland and the European Economic Area nations of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Benefits include GP visits and hospital stays, but do not extend to travelling abroad specifically for medical treatment. The EHIC also does not cover emergency airlifts and is therefore not recommended as a replacement to travel insurance. Even with the EHIC, users may have to pay a small amount towards their treatment. This payment may be redeemable once back home. Advertisement

Martin said: 'There are now some policies on the market. Nowhere near as many as before... so it is going to be more expensive.

'Now the first thing to say, I'm afraid, is that there is no mainstream policy available, new policy, for coronavirus cancellations.'

He added that if people catch the condition while on holiday, some insurances will cover that, but many won't if it occurs before a trip - meaning the visit has to be cancelled.

Martin said people should avoid booking once-in-a-lifetime trips this summer, but continued: '[Go on holiday] with caution but if you want to go away, do it.'

It comes after reports that Boris Johnson will give the green light to foreign holidays this week 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.
Customers have slammed supermarkets for switching to plastic egg boxes following a 'national pulp shortage', with some claiming the move is an 'environmental failure'.

Eco-conscious customers took to Twitter to share their disappointment over the switch to plastic by Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco, with one claiming it seemed like a 'backwards move', amid steps taken by supermarkets in recent months to reduce single-use consumption.

Supermarkets have since confirmed that there is a widespread shortage of the pulp needed to make the boxes, in tandem with increased demand for eggs due to the increased popularity of baking.

Chief Executive Officer for the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Sarah Kessell tweeted her theory for the switch, saying: 'It's all been used for bedpans, urinals and kidney bowls for hospitals. I've been told reversion back to cardboard boxes will happen as soon as materials available again.'

Bristol Food Union pictured hundreds of eggs stocked in Tesco in plastic cartons and tweeted: 'Moving all of your eggs into plastic seems like a backward move Tesco'

Jonathan Lewis pictured a six-pack of free range eggs from Morrison's packaged in plastic

Tesco has explained that it is 'temporarily using recyclable plastic' because of an increase in demand and 'shortage of pulp in the UK'.

And in response to a customer, Sainsbury's tweeted how 'the combined factors of Avian Influenza and Covid-19' have put a strain on their 'pulp packaging supplier'.

Professor Edward Kosior, based in London, founder and managing director of sustainability consultants NEXTEK, revealed how Covid-19 has impacted pulp suppliers.

He said: 'The pulp suppliers along with every other manufacturer have been impacted in production, and many plants have stopped or reduced outputs while new strategies and shift patterns were implemented resulting in major reductions in output.

Chief Executive Officer for the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Sarah Kessell tweeted her theory for the spike in plastic cartons

Alongside a picture of 15-pack eggs in Sainsbury's, Richard Benwell tweeted: 'Sainsbury's, you set a good example moving to 100 per cent free range eggs, so why are you now wrapping them in plastic?'

Anthea Harris-Fry asked why the boxes had been switched with the plastic showing no mention of a 1p donation to Woodland Trust (left). Georgia commented on the plastic pollution of the new packaging (right)

Ben Lee described the move as an 'environmental failure' as he pictured his 12-pack of Sainsbury's free range eggs

'The mobility of workers has only improved recently and output levels are starting to come back to previous levels. However, the sales of single-use items to meet Covid-19 requirements are still very high prolonging the shortages.'

Speaking to FEMAIL, a spokeswoman for Tesco said: 'Due to increased demand, there is a shortage of pulp in the UK which is used to make egg boxes.

'We are temporarily using recyclable plastic to pack some of our six pack eggs.'

A spokeswoman for Sainsbury's told FEMAIL: 'We are sourcing millions more eggs for our customers every week as people spend more time cooking and baking at home.

'We are using our standard recyclable packaging as much as we possibly can, but some eggs may be packaged in recyclable plastic temporarily while we work to source more materials and continue our efforts for feeding the nation.'

Tesco responded to a post that there is a 'national shortage of pulp' and have 'temporarily moved to a fully recyclable plastic'

FEMAIL has contacted Morrisons for comment.

However, disgruntled customers have been left angered, such as one who tweeted: 'Sainsbury's, you set a good example moving to 100 per cent free range eggs, so why are you now wrapping them in plastic?

'Your eggs in cardboard are now twice the price per egg than your eggs in plastic. That seems totally topsy-turvy. Is there a good reason please?'

Another posted a picture of a six-pack of medium free range eggs from Tesco, saying: 'Tesco you should be ashamed of your packaging. I shop at my local greengrocers for fruit and veg and local butcher because their packaging has less plastic, now this.'

A third added: 'Hey Sainsbury's why have you swapped your eggs from cardboard to plastic packaging? This is an environmental failure.'

Bristol Food Union pictured hundreds of eggs stocked in Tesco in plastic cartons and tweeted: 'Moving all of your eggs into plastic seems like a backward move Tesco.'

Chris McCrave tweeted Sainsbury's to ask why there was a move from cardboard to plastic
Weve got to vote, vote, vote, Parson said. Weve got to know who the candidates are and who supports the principles we believe in, and weve got to vote for them and vote out the ones that dont. I think thats so, so important.
Kate Middleton has remained the biggest royal influencer throughout lockdown, after overtaking Meghan Markle earlier this year.

When the Duchess of Sussex, 38, first joined The Firm in 2017, the 'Meghan Effect' saw shoppers go wild for anything she wore - but her fashion influence dramatically declined since she has been spotted less following Megxit, according to data compiled by LovetheSales.com.

Along with the rest of the nation, the royals were forced to hunker down at home during the coronavirus crisis, meaning both Kate and Meghan had to adapt their wardrobe and create a new lockdown style.

With this in mind, the site once again analysed every outfit publicly worn by Kate and Meghan over the last three months to see which Duchess came out on top.

It was found once again that the Duchess of Cambridge's outfits - totalling 6,305 - had been a much bigger hit with shoppers, increasing global fashion searches by 86 per cent, while Meghan's 1,105 casual ensembles garnered just 35 per cent.

Kate Middleton has remained the biggest royal influencer throughout lockdown, after overtaking Meghan Markle earlier this year. Kate wears a 180 dress by Faithfull the Brand, teamed with new tan 135 Russell and Bromley wedges for her visit during a visit to The Nook in Framlingham Earl, Norfolk this weeek

The fashion influence of the Duchess of Sussex, pictured in her most popular outfit of lockdown, dramatically declined after Megxit. Pictured, Harry and Meghan delivering food in Los Angeles

The Duchess of Cambridge's outfits were three times more likely to sell out than Meghan's, with 14 out of 16 outfits selling out for Kate and just one of Meghan's six looks going out of stock.

Kate versus Meghan's lockdown look

Stylist Jessie Stein predicted that Meghan's newfound distance from the Royal family, combined with her less glamorous apparel in lockdown, has meant less searches - while Kate's 'more premium' look has been a hit with shoppers.

He said: 'Both royals have been confined to Zoom calls and social distance charity outings during lockdown, however Kate has opted for more flowing dresses, pieces that wouldn't be seen out of place at a formal event.'

Whilst many were repeats, Kate's 16 outfits cost a total of 6,305 while Meghan's six ensembles cost 1,105.

Kate is pictured in her most popular lockdown outfit, a 60 dress by quintessentially British brand Boden for a virtual call with a maternity ward in London

Stylist Jessie Stein predicted that Meghan's new found distance from the Royal family combined with her less glamorous apparel in lockdown has meant less searches. She is pictured wearing a red v-neck Cashair knit by Joseph Garnet during a Zoom interview

On average, Kate's looks cost more than double Meghan's. To recreate one of Kate's lockdown looks, shoppers would be forking out 420 and for Meghan's, 184.

Jessie went on: 'Meghan has clearly embraced lockdown life a little more with comfy fitted tees and joggers. I think Meghan's new found distance from the Royal family combined with her less glamorous apparel in lockdown has contributed to a drop in fan's searches for her clothing.

'Kate has certainly shown a more premium look in lockdown, and is really leading from the front with her continued charity work online. The public has seen a different, more personal side of Kate during lockdown and she has embraced summery styles in her outfit choices.'

Kate's top outfit

In early May, mother-of-three Kate made a virtual visit to the maternity unit in Kingston, donning a baby blue wrap dress from British brand Boden as she took part in the video call.

The dress caused huge buzz online with the 60 dress selling out on Boden within 24 hours and peaking in popularity just days after the Zoom call was released on the Royals' official Instagram.

The Duchess opted for the pretty floral wrap dress for the virtual visit, which is described online as 'boho luxe' in style. The 60 dress quickly sold out on Boden

The royal previously wore the trendy wrap dress for the Cambridge's 2019 family Christmas card

It's not the first time that the royal has worn the pretty gown, having previously opted for the stunning dress in snaps shared in the Cambridges 2019 Christmas card.

Stylist Jessie said of the winning dress: 'Affordable looks always work on the princess, they provide a more relateable feel to her style and allow shoppers around the world to replicate a royal's wardrobe.

'This cute summer dress from Boden is a bargain at 60, with the bow belt detailing and the floral patterns which are everywhere at the moment.'

Meghan's top outfit

In April, Meghan and Harry hit the streets of LA as they continued their volunteering work for charity amid the coronavirus crisis.

The couple were seen linking arms and holding hands as they delivered packages to residents with Meghan dressed casually in khaki cargo pants by James Perse, a black long-sleeve top by Misha Nonoo and white trainers Stan smith trainers by Adidas.

In April, Meghan and Harry hit the streets of LA as they continued their volunteering work for charity amid the coronavirus crisis. The Duchess wore 199 James Perse jersey pants

Meghan was spotted wearing Stan smith trainers by Adidas, costing, 52.47 as she and Harry delivered food in Los Angeles

The green sweatpants had shoppers searching for 'green joggers' 88% more than the week before pictures were released, making this Meghan's most wanted lockdown look.

Jessie Stein commented on Meghan's best look: 'Meghan totally embraced lockdown by slipping into more comfortable styles than she would normally be seen in.

'The couple both looked like super dressed down normal members of the L.A public in this shot. I think that youthful, relatable style is a huge hit with Meghan fans, showing shoppers how to make loungewear fashionable.'
Prince Harry has offered an 'inspiring message of support' to a new campaign which aims to tackle the stigma and misunderstanding around HIV.

Taking to Instagram, @tacklehiv shared a quote from the royal, 35, and captioned the post: 'An inspiring message of support from the Duke of Sussex.'

'Prince Harry is supporting us in our mission to #TackleHIV and we are honoured to have him on this journey.'

Tackle HIV is a new campaign led by former Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas in partnership with ViiV Healthcare and the Terrence Higgins Trust.

Prince Harry, 35, has offered an 'inspiring message of support' to a new campaign which aims to tackle the stigma and misunderstanding around HIV. Pictured, attending a Terrence Higgins Trust event with former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas at the Stoop, Twickenham, ahead of National HIV Testing Week, Friday November 8, 2019

Prince Harry hugs former rugby player Gareth Thomas during his visit at the Twickenham Stoop in London, on November 8, 2019

Taking to Instagram, @tacklehiv penned: 'An inspiring message of support from the Duke of Sussex. Prince Harry is supporting us in our mission to #TackleHIV and we are honoured to have him on this journey.;

Offering words of support, Harry penned: 'It has been amazing to see how much progress has been made in the fight against HIV.

'Since I started campaigning on this issue I have been honoured to spend time with the people who are leading this charge.

'Thanks to them, we have moved from a time of social panic and hatred, to a time when the public come out into the streets to cheer for Gareth, a man living openly with HIV, as he cycled the length of Britain.

But this progress hides how far we still have to go. Stigma, misunderstanding and discrimination remain the greatest barriers to defeating this virus.'

The duke and the sportsman are meeting the club players at the Twickenham Stoop, home of Harlequins, ahead of National HIV Testing Week

I hope everyone is inspired by "Alfie," and will support him and the Tackle HIV campaign to improve understanding of it, and better support people who are living with it.'

Gareth Thomas is hoping his new Tackle HIV campaign will help start up a new conversation and educate those who have abused him and others with the virus.

The sportsman revealed in September he was HIV positive with undetectable status and the following day competed a gruelling 140-mile Ironman triathlon.

Nine months on, the 45-year-old continues to live a 'happy, normal and healthy life' but like many was unaware of what it meant to have the virus when he was first diagnosed.

Thomas said: 'I felt maybe nine months ago when I spoke about my HIV diagnosis that I started a conversation and it becomes relevant for a while, but then the conversation stops.

'What I wanted to do was to keep that conversation going because at the start of this campaign we did a survey and the results kind of shocked and scared me a little bit.'

How Diana's handshake with Aids patient changed world's view of the disease In April 1987, Princess Diana shook hands with a gay man who was dying of AIDS. The People's Princess touched the unnamed man without wearing gloves, challenging the previously believed notion the disease could be passed via skin-to-skin contact. She was quoted as saying: 'HIV does not make people dangerous to know. 'You can shake their hands and give them a hug. Heaven knows they need it'. At the time, Princess Diana was opening the UK's first unit that exclusively cared for HIV/AIDS patients at London Middlesex Hospital. Princess Diana was famously the first member of the Royal Family to touch someone with AIDS. It is unclear if this picture is the first time she made physical contact with an HIV-infected patient. The People's Princess would also regularly visit the Lighthouse, both with the media present and without. According to Dr Rosemary Gillespie, chief executive of the HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust: 'London Lighthouse offered residential and day care for men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS, and provided a refuge and respite to people marginalised and abandoned because of their diagnosis'. Princess Diana was a patron of the National AIDS Trust at the time of her death in 1997. Advertisement

A recent Tackle HIV survey, conducted amongst 4,000 adults in the UK, highlighted the stigma and misunderstanding still attached despite advances in science and medicine.

Of those surveyed, 81 per cent said the main reason why they would or might end a relationship with a potential partner who was HIV positive was being worried about contracting HIV themselves.

Fewer than one in five people know that if a person living with HIV is taking effective treatment, they cannot pass it on while 34 per cent said they would not play contact sport if they knew one of their opponents had HIV.

Thomas added: 'I live a full and happy, normal, healthy life taking one single tablet a day which means I'm undetectable so I can't transfer HIV onto another single person whether it be on a rugby field or any other environment.'

When the ex-British and Irish Lions captain revealed he had been diagnosed in September, the Duke of Sussex was one of many to offer their support.
The damage done to the monarchy by the Prince Andrew scandal could have been avoided if royal courtiers acted sooner, author Nigel Cawthorne has claimed in his new book, Prince Andrew: Epstein and the Palace.

The author describes it as 'well-known' that Prince Andrew, now 60, 'floundered in public' during his years in the spot light, and goes onto say that courtiers had 'let the Queen down for over four decades', failing to ' guard the crown from the kind of turbulence it was in'.

Referring to the scandal that erupted when a picture first surfaced in 2011 showing Andrew with his arm around Jeffrey Epstein's alleged victim Virginia Roberts - just three months after the financier had been released from state custody on underage sex allegations - Cawthorne says the Duke should have stepped down at the time.

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The damage done to the monarchy by the Prince Andrew scandal could have been avoided if royal courtiers acted sooner, author Nigel Cawthorne has claimed in his new book, Prince Andrew: Epstein and the Palace (Andrew seen during his Newsnight interview in November)

Writing in the book, released this month, Cawthorne says: 'The affair had dragged on since the picture with Andrew first appeared in 2011 and seemed to find no conclusion.

'There was growing anger at Andrew among courtiers. In truth, it had been their job to guard the crown from the kind of turbulence it was in.

They let the Queen down for almost four decades, if not longer. It was well-known that the prince floundered in public.

'A sabbatical from royal engagements in 2011 would have taken the prince out of the public eye. Instead, the court let headlines fester for the Queen and only acted after the princes Newsnight debacle.

'If anyones apology to the victims and the Queen was overdue it was theirs.'

The author describes it as 'well-known' that Prince Andrew, now 60, 'floundered in public' during his years in the spot light, and goes onto say that courtiers had 'let the Queen (seen in March) down for over four decades', failing to ' guard the crown from the kind of turbulence it was in'

Andrew has come under increasing fire after US authorities wrote to the Home Office earlier this month to ask formally to interview him about his relationship with Epstein.

Nigel Cawthorne's new book, Prince Andrew: Epstein and the Palace is out this month

In a sensational rebuttal, the Duke accused US prosecutors of breaking confidentiality rules and issuing 'complete lies' and refused to co-operate with them further until they extended an 'olive branch'.

A source close the Duke has since shared Andrew's alleged attempts to co-operate and help the investigation into Epstein.

Earlier this month, Virginia Roberts Giuffre branded Prince Andrew a 'toad' after the disgraced royal finally admitted that his failure to express sympathy on his car crash Newsnight interview was a 'source of regret'.

Sharing her frustration, the alleged victim of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein said: 'Oh the gull of this toad - he regrets the BBC interview but not his 'friendship' with Epstein because it gave him 'great contacts' and much more'.

Referring to the scandal that erupted when a picture first surfaced in 2011 showing Andrew with his arm around Jeffrey Epstein's alleged victim Virginia Roberts (pictured) - just three months after the financier had been released from state custody on underage sex allegations - Cawthorne says the Duke should have stepped down at the time

In the devastating interview aired in November last year the Queen's favourite son failed to express any sympathy for Epstein's victims, who were trafficked from as young as 14 years old.

Roberts is one of several women who have accused billionaire Epstein of sexual abuse when they were underage, and has spoken publicly about being his 'sex slave.'

She has also claimed she had sex with Prince Andrew at the behest of his friend Epstein three times: once at Epstein's New York apartment, once in the Caribbean, and once at the London home of Ghislane Maxwell, the American financier's alleged madam, in March 2001.

Speaking about her first alleged encounter with Prince Andrew in London, Roberts said she was taken to Tramp Nightclub where she recalls dancing with the 'sweating' prince when she was 17.

A photo that shows Giuffre, Prince Andrew and Maxwell in Ghislaine's apartment taken in 2001 has been widely circulated.

Prince Andrew has strenuously denied all of Roberts' allegations and said he doesn't even remember meeting her.
A collector of old yearbooks showed off one of her greatest treasures in a viral TikTok video: A 1908 yearbook from a high school in Kansas that was already integrated, decades before the Supreme Court ended school segregation.

The collector, who posts on TikTok as Can You Sign My Yearbook, shared a peek inside the old volume from Leavenworth High School in Leavenworth, Kansas.

A quick look through the pages shows that all four classes  freshmen through seniors  were integrated, with black and white students in the same classes and sororities.

Wow! A yearbook collector shared her 'extraordinary' find on TikTok, a 1908 yearbook from Leavenworth High School in Leavenworth, Kansas

Looking back: Leavenworth High School had black students in each class in 1908. One senior, Florence Wiginton, sparked the curiosity of viewers

History: Kansas never legally mandated segregated high schools, so some admitted students of different races

Details: Florence was described as 'exceeding[ly] well read' and was a member of the Alpha Omega sorority.

The collector said the yearbook is the 'most extraordinary thing I own,' flipping first to a set of ads at the beginning of the book.

She then moves through several pages, showing off the senior portraits of past students.

She also shows group photos of each class, as well as group photos of two high school sororities

While the students are predominantly white, there are black students mixed in  including Florence Wiginton, a senior, who captures the TikTok user's attention.

Florence was described as 'exceeding[ly] well read' and was a member of the Alpha Omega sorority.

Vintage: The yearbook has sheer overlays with the students' names over their pcitures

According to a Leavenworth Post newspaper clipping at the time, Florence's graduating class was remarkable for another reason: There were significantly more girls than boys

Paid for: The yearbook also included several ads in the front pages

According to another TikTok user, who looked her up on Ancestry.com, Florence was born November 12, 1889.

Her father, Champ, died when she was a child  and as a 'half orphan' she was placed in a protective home for a period of time before rejoining her mother and siblings.

As an adult, she married a man named James E. Pruitt and became a teacher.

She died at age 55 on June 5, 1945 in Manteno Township, Illinois.

According to a Leavenworth Post newspaper clipping at the time, Florence's graduating class was remarkable for another reason: There were significantly more girls than boys, with 23 young women and nine young men graduating in 1908.

At the graduation ceremony, the girls dressed in white dresses, white stockings, and white shoes, while the boys dressed in suits.

The times: At the graduation ceremony, the girls dressed in white dresses, white stockings, and white shoes, while the boys dressed in suits

Integrated: According to the Kansas Historical Society, secondary schools were not officially segregated in the state, except in Wyandotte County

'In 1868 state law allowed but did not require separate schools,' KHS explains. 'Some schools admitted children without discrimination'

However, contrary to what the original TikTok user said, it was not, in fact, illegal for schools to be integrated at the time.

According to the Kansas Historical Society, secondary schools were not officially segregated in the state, except in Wyandotte County.

'In 1868 state law allowed but did not require separate schools,' KHS explains. 'Some schools admitted children without discrimination, and one of the first state superintendents of public instruction, Peter McVicar, vocally opposed segregated schools.

There was, though, some segregation for younger children. In 1879, the Kansas legislature allowed elementary schools in cities with populations of 15,000 or more to segregate by race.

This was challenged by several lawsuits over the years, until the Supreme Court finally ruled that all school segregation was illegal in 1954's Brown v. Board of Education.
Meghan Markle 'embarrassed' Prince Harry after divulging she was pregnant during Princess Eugenie's wedding day 'in a huge social gaffe' which left the bride and her mother Sarah Ferguson 'furious', a new book has claimed.

The Duchess of Sussex, 38, is said to have revealed she was carrying her first child when celebrating Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's nuptials with the rest of the Royal family on 12 October 2018.

But the former American actress' announcement didn't go down well with the Duke of Sussex, 35, according to investigative journalists Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett, in their explosive new book Royals At War.

'Meghan put her foot in it when she decided that it would be the ideal moment to announce that she and Harry were expecting their first child,' the pair wrote.

Meghan Markle 'embarrassed' Prince Harry after divulging she was pregnant during Princess Eugenie's wedding day (pictured at the event together), a new book has claimed

The Duchess of Sussex, 38, is said to have revealed she was carrying little Archie, now one, when celebrating Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's nuptials (pictured above) with the rest of the Royal family on 12 October 2018

'This was a huge social gaffe, even if you were not a royal  stealing the limelight from Eugenie, who was furious, as was her mother, Sarah.'

The authors claim the announcement left Prince Harry, who is currently living in LA with his wife and son, feeling embarrassed.

Meghan and Prince Harry told the public they were expecting their first child on the eve of their royal tour of Australia and New Zealand on October 15, 2018.

At the time, some fans criticised the couple for making the announcement so close to Eugenie's wedding.

The news of Harry and Meghan's pregnancy was revealed at 8.40am on October 15 2018 - and at that exact time, Eugenie's mother Sarah, Duchess of York posted a tweet about her daughter's big day

'If Harry and Meghan did actually tell the royal family about their baby at Eugenies wedding on Friday, thats pretty shady,' one person wrote, while another added: 'Thunder stealer.'

However, a source previously told BAZAAR.com that Prince Harry and Meghan did not break the news to their family at the wedding.

They claimned that the Queen and Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and Eugenie and Jack all knew about Meghan's pregnancy before the nuptials, but the big day was the first time they saw the couple in person to congratulate them.

They added that it was unclear whether the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge knew ahead of time.

A representative for Kensington Palace later said the Royal family were 'delighted for the couple'.

She posted three further messages (above) saying how 'proud' she was of her daughter and new son-in-law Jack - but made no mention of Harry and Meghan

However, rumours of bad feeling went into overdrive when Princess Eugenie's mother tweeted a picture of her royal wedding outfit at the exact moment the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were having a baby.

Kensington Palace officially revealed the pregnancy at 8.40am on October 15, 2018, on what was the 59th birthday of Eugenie's mother Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.

And at the exact time of the announcement, Sarah posted a tweet thanking the designer of her dress for the outfit worn on her daughter's big day just days earlier.

She then posted three further messages saying how 'proud' she was of her daughter and new son-in-law Jack - but made no mention of Harry and Meghan.

Eugenie's father the Duke of York, who wished his ex-wife Sarah a 'very happy day' on her birthday, also retweeted one of Sarah's tweets featuring Eugenie and Jack.

Prince Andrew also made no mention of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's news.
A self-described 'fat Black trans woman' is celebrating a starring spot in Calvin Klein's latest campaign  and her own huge billboard in New York City.

Jari Jones, 29, is one of several models to front the designer's 2020 Pride campaign, an achievement she was told she would 'never' experience after so long of being 'demonized, harassed, [and] made to feel ugly and unworthy.'

But her stunning billboard is now hanging in downtown Manhattan for all to see, and she is calling the meaningful moment healing, affirming, and an honor.

New ads: Jari Jones, 29, is one of several models to front Calvin Klein's 2020 Pride campaign

Big picture: Her billboard is now overlooking Houston Street in downtown Manhattan

So exciting! The Black trans model celebrated the achievement earlier this month

The #ProudinmyCalvins campaign debuted earlier this month, and also includes Chella Man, Mina Gerges, and Pabllo Vittar, among others.

But it's Jari who scored a billboard overlooking Houston Street, in the same spot that has previously hosted billboards of Kendall Jenner, Eva Mendes, and Justin Bieber modeling for Calvin Klein.

On June 19, Jari shared a photo of the billboard on Twitter.

'Today, on #JUNETEENTH2020 a Fat Black Trans Woman Looks over NEW YORK,' she wrote.

Later, on June 22, Jari went to visit the billboard herself, and celebrated with an excited Instagram post.

'There are moments that I heard about, that help you forget when the world told you Never!!!' she wrote.

Yes! Jari said she thought that she'd never work again after she transitioned. But since she has embraced her 'most authentic self,' others have too

Woohoo! She celebrated with friends in front of the NYC billboard this month

'There are these moments I heard about about that help you heal when the society has tried to beat you down, over and over again. There are these very real moments that I heard about that help you feel affirmed even when you dont see yourself.

'Ive been searching my whole life for those moments, I got tired of looking for those moments. So I decided to create them. Not for me but for the next dreamer, outcast, queer, trans, disabled, fat, beautiful black, piece of starlight waiting for their moment to shine.

'It has been such an honor and pleasure to sit in my most authentic self and present imagery of a body that far to often has been demonized, harassed, made to feel ugly and unworthy and even killed.

'I present this image, myself and all that my body stands for to my community and chosen family, in hope that they see themselves more clearly than ever and further realize that they are worthy of celebration, of compassion, of love and gratitude,' she said, adding that she hopes the shoot 'will hopefully be a symbol of hope and love during these moments.'

Jari posted for several other images for the brand, including one that was posted on the official Calvin Klein Instagram account.

For the campaign, she and the other stars photographed opened up about identity.

'It has been such an honor and pleasure to sit in my most authentic self and present imagery of a body that far to often has been demonized, harassed, made to feel ugly and unworthy and even killed,' she said

'Today, on #JUNETEENTH2020 a Fat Black Trans Woman Looks over NEW YORK,' she wrote

'I thought that being in this industry, especially the acting world, that once I transitioned I would never work again,' she admitted.

'There were no real positive or uplifting representations of trans people in magazines, on television and in film. But there was something constantly telling me this is what I had to do to live in my truth, to essentially be happy.

'There was no other choice for me  it was either live my most authentic life or jump out of here.

'With the love and support of community and chosen family, I chose my life. I chose me over the industry that I loved, I chose me despite what society was telling me. There were people waiting for me, once I took the leap into this journey called Transition, standing there with open arms ready to show me love and compassion and respect.

'In those very crucial moments I realized that when you have an unshakeable self-love and a support system, nothing is too big to conquer. What I find now is that that I've done more since transition. I feel like when you're your true self, you create the most beautiful and honest art.

Proud: She hopes the shoot 'will hopefully be a symbol of hope and love during these moments'

Amazing: Jari added that seeing the billboard was 'empowering' and 'like an out-of-body experience'

'I think the industry can recognize that and they have no choice but to celebrate and uplift that art on huge platforms. I'm glad that I chose me and everybody else kind of jumped on board as well,' she said.

Speaking to Yahoo, Jari added that seeing the billboard was 'empowering' and 'like an out-of-body experience.'

'Never have I seen a Black trans woman put on such a public platform to be celebrated, and it was overwhelming,' she said.

Though she'd heard the word 'no' a lot in the fashion industry, she thinks that being in her 'most authentic skin' got the attention of casting agents.

'Once you are so sure and aware and settled in yourself, people can see that' she said.

It's not just fighting against bitgotry against trans people that Jari has overcome: She also noted that she doesn't have the type of body most often seen in the modeling world.

'All those intersections, of being fat, of being trans, of being Black, it needs to be seen and named directly. I didnt want to sugarcoat anything,' she said

'Its taken me a long time to take back that word [fat]  for so long I was a plus-sized kid, a fat kid, and everybody always told me I was fat,' she said.

'If youre fat you wont be able to get jobs, if youre fat you wont be able to find love' she went on. 'It was important for me to put "fat" up there  so people know a fat body is worthy of celebration, its worthy of love, its worthy of respect.

'All those intersections, of being fat, of being trans, of being Black, it needs to be seen and named directly. I didnt want to sugarcoat anything.'

It's taken her a while to feel that way, and she said she has done 'a lot of self-love work' to get a thicker skin.

But she wants to help others feel as she does  and thinks fashion and media are a great place to start in changing society.

'I feel like that humanizes us [Black and trans people], and once youre humanized, people will think twice before killing you or discriminating against you,' she said. 'I think that when people are being killed in the streets, its because they dont see us as human.'
A trio of young women from Gainesville, Florida are complaining they they feel 'so sick' since testing postitive for COVID-19  after going out for a night of drinking.

TikTok user and recent University of Florida graduate Lauren Bouskila, 21, said that she and her two roommates 'decided to go out for a drink,' bucking social distancing recommendations and insisting to themselves that they'd be 'fine' in the midst of the pandemic.

But soon all three had come down with miserable symptoms including fever, sweating, and stomach ailments, and now they have all tested postitive for COVID-19.

Whoops! TikTok user and recent University of Florida graduate Lauren Bouskila (center), 21, shared a video of her coronavirus experience

Foolish: She and her two roommates went to an indoor bar, telling themselves it would be 'fine' and 'Gainesville barely has any cases'

Yikes: Soon all three of them had come down with symptoms

Lauren shared the TikTok video this weekend, and within a day it had been viewed over a million times before she decided to delete it.

In the quick clip, a series of images flashed on the screen to show their progression from careless and carefree co-eds to struck down by the novel coronavirus.

'My roommates and I decided to go out for a drink,' she wrote, showing images of the trio getting dolled up.

Next, they were pictured sipping cocktails at an indoor bar in Florida, huddled close together without any masks.

'Gainesville barely has any cases,' she quoted them as saying. 'We'll be fine,' they told themselves. 'Bars enforce safety regulations.'

But those 'safety regulations' in Florida bars don't appear to be doing much, because soon the young women were sending photos on Snapchat showing how sick they felt.

Sounds rough: All three women, in their early 20s, had fevers and felt 'so sick'

Getting test: Lauren shared video of a coronavirus test being administered

Consequences: She soon learned that she tested positive

'I'm actually so sick,' wrote one, snapping a photo of herself in a hoodie looking miserable in the mirror.

'Just woke up in a puddle of sweat,' she added, showing a thermometer with a temperature of 101.4.

After a swab in her car, she showed off her positive test results.

Another roommate shared her own complaints, writing: 'I wanna die my body aches suck.'

She, too, was photographed laying in bed, and shared a thermometer showing she has a fever of 102.1.

According to Lauren's video, she also tested positive.

The third roommate quipped that she 'just coughed up an organ' and was 's***ting' herself.' She has a fever, too, and, as revealed in Lauren's video, also found out that she had tested positive.

Sick: Her roommates also complained of symptoms like sweating and fever

They were warned: The trio hadn't worn masks or social distanced while in an enclosed space

Oh well: Each woman showed off her thermometer and looked miserable

No fun: One complained of gastrointestinal distress before getting her diagnosis

Results: All three tested positive for the virus that is quickly spreading through Florida

Florida's coronavirus cases have soared in recent weeks, with 8,500 new cases and 29 deaths reported on Sunday alone.

That brought the total number of cases in the state to 141,075.

The increase has come after Florida moved into Phase 2 of its reopening on June 5, with bars, movie theaters, and more indoor venues opening at 50 per cent capacity.

Dr. Marissa Levine, a professor of public health and family medicine at the University of South Florida, told the Tampa Bay Times it is likely to get worse without appropriate measures taken.

'Without doing anything differently, were going to see tens of thousands of new cases every day in short order,' she said.

Governor Ron DeSantis said on Sunday attributed this mostly to Floridians aged 18-44, who are going out to socialize more.

'You cant control...theyre younger people. Theyre going to do what theyre going to do,' DeSantis said.

The Washington Post has named Florida, Texas, and Arizona the new epicenters of the virus.
The manufacturers of the US-made antiviral drug approved to treat the novel coronavirus says it will charge different prices for different patients.

Gilead Sciences Inc said it is pricing remdesivir at $390 per vial for people covered by government healthcare in the US and other developed countries.

This mean the price for a five-day course, the standard treatment, comes out to $2,340 per patient.

For US private insurance companies, the cost will be $520 per vial, or a total of $3,120 per patient.

The amount that patients pay out of pocket depends on insurance, income and other factors, the California-based pharmaceutical company said.

However, the price was swiftly criticized with a consumer group called it 'an outrage' because of the amount taxpayers invested toward the drug's development.

Gilead set the price for its antiviral drug, remdesivir (pictured), at $2,340 per patient for a five-day course for people covered by US-government insurance

For US private insurance companies, the cost will be $520 per vial, or a total of $3,120 per patient, Gilead Sciences Inc (pictured), based in California, said

Critics called the pricing an 'outrage' because the drug received at least $70 million in public funding toward its development. Pictured: Dr Zafia Anklesaria attends to a COVID-19 patient at Dignity Health California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, May 18

'We're in uncharted territory with pricing a new medicine, a novel medicine, in a pandemic,' Gilead's chief executive, Dan O'Day, told The Associated Press.

'We believe that we had to really deviate from the normal circumstances' and price the drug to ensure wide access rather than based solely on value to patients, he said.

The treatment courses that the company has donated to the US and other countries will run out in about a week, and the prices will apply to the drug after that, O'Day said.

In the US, federal health officials have allocated the limited supply to states, but that agreement with Gilead will end after September.

WHAT IS REMDESIVIR AND DOES IT WORK AGAINST CORONAVIRUS? Remdesivir was developed by Gilead Sciences to treat Ebola, the deadly hemorrhagic fever that emerged in West Africa in 2014. Ebola, like COVID-19, is caused by a virus, and scientists are now testing remdesivir to treat coronavirus patients, but it's too soon to know if the drug works or not. Trials produced encouraging results earlier this year when it showed promise for both preventing and treating MERS - another coronavirus - in macaque monkeys. The drug appears to help stop the replication of viruses like coronavirus and Ebola alike. It's not entirely clear how the drug accomplishes this feat, but it seems to stop the genetic material of the virus, RNA, from being able to copy itself. That, in turn, stops the virus from being able to proliferate further inside the patient's body. NIH researchers in charge of the macaque study recommended that it move ahead to human trials with the new coronavirus. Advertisement

They said on Monday that the government has secured more than 500,000 additional courses that Gilead will produce starting in July to supply to hospitals through September.

'We should have sufficient supply...but we have to make sure it's in the right place at the right time,' O'Day said

In 127 poor or middle-income countries, Gilead is allowing generic makers to supply the drug. Two countries are doing that for around $600 per treatment course.

Remdesivir's price has been highly anticipated since it became the first medicine to show benefit in the pandemic, which has killed more 500,000 people globally in six months.

The drug interferes with the virus's ability to copy its genetic material. In a US government-led study, remdesivir shortened recovery time by 31 percent - 11 days on average versus 15 days for those given just usual care.

It had not improved survival according to preliminary results after two weeks of followup. Results after four weeks are expected soon.

The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), a nonprofit group that analyzes drug prices, said remdesivir would be cost-effective in a range of $4,580 to $5,080 if it saved lives.

But recent news that a cheap steroid called dexamethasone - a common $50 steroid - improves survival means remdesivir should be priced between $2,520 and $2,800, the group said.

A recent ICER report found that the drug likely costs about $9.32 - rounded up to $10 - to manufacture one 10-day course of treatment.

'This is a high price for a drug that has not been shown to reduce mortality,' Dr Steven Nissen, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic said.

'Given the serious nature of the pandemic, I would prefer that the government take over production and distribute the drug for free. It was developed using significant taxpayer funding.'

Peter Maybarduk, an attorney at the consumer group Public Citizen, called the price 'an outrage.'

'Remdesivir should be in the public domain' because the drug received at least $70 million in public funding toward its development, he said.

'The price puts to rest any notion that drug companies will "do the right thing" because it is a pandemic,' Dr Peter Bach, a health policy expert at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York said.

'The price might have been fine if the company had demonstrated that the treatment saved lives. It didn't.'

Gilead says it will have spent $1 billion on developing and making the drug by the end of this year.

The drug is has emergency use authorization in the US and Gilead has applied for full approval.
The coronavirus pandemic had led to an additional 15,000 American deaths from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Approximately 100,000 people died from the age-related brain diseases from February 2020 through May 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This means the fatality rate for Alzheimer's and dementia was 18 percent higher than the average over the last few years, The Wall Street Journal reports.

What's more, as several states reached their peak in early to mid-April - including New York - an estimated 250 extra people with dementia were dying every day, both directly and indirectly caused by the virus.

Approximately 100,000 people died from Alzheimer's disease and dementia between February 2020 and May 2020, about 15,000 more than would have normally occurred. Pictured: Medical workers load a patient from Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center into an ambulance in Andover, New Jersey, April 16

Excess deaths due to Alzheimer's and dementia surpassed 1,000 in California, New Jersey, New York and Texas. Pictured: Pictured: Medical workers load a deceased body from Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center into an ambulance in Andover, New Jersey, April 16

An estimated 5.8 million Americans above age 65 are living with Alzheimer's disease in 2020 and it's expected to hit 13.8 million by 2050.

Sufferers experience a decline in cognitive, behavioral and physical abilities and there is no cure.

Those who have the disease have a build-up of two proteins, amyloid beta and tau, in the brain that form clumps, which smother and destroy neurons - leading to loss of memory and confusion.

In 2018, the most recent year for which complete data is available, about 120,000 Americans died of Alzheimer's.

The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics listed the disease as the sixth-leading cause of death.

It is well known that the risk for severe cases of COVID-19 increases with age, and that older adults are at the highest risk.

The CDC says some deaths were likely due to the virus, but were not listed as cause of death on death certificates.

But other deaths were also likely due to causes such as disruptions in daily routines, and lack of care.

'It's one fall, and it sets everything off,' Nicole Fowler, associate director at Indiana University's Center for Aging Research, told The Journal.

'It's one day of no fluids and they become dehydrated and it sets off a chain of events. It's amazing how little it actually takes to upset their environment.'

The Journal reports that excess deaths due to Alzheimer's and dementia surpassed 1,000 in four states: California, New Jersey, New York and Texas.

However, Alzheimer's is not the only underlying health condition that has suffered from excess deaths.

According to the CDC, hypertension has seen 8,000 excess deaths, diabetes has seen 5,000 deaths and strokes have seen 3,700 excess deaths.

Dr Robert Anderson, Chief of the Mortality Statistics Branch at the CDC, said these are a mix of deaths due to COVID-19 and Americans in poor health whose death was sped up due to the pandemic.

'That extra stress on a frail person can cause people to die,' he told The Journal.

In the US, there are more than 2.5 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 125,000 deaths.
When Charlie Coulton regained consciousness after 42 days in intensive care fighting Covid-19  half of that time on a ventilator  he wondered if he had woken up in a science fiction film.

Surrounded by nurses and doctors wearing full protective suits, masks and gloves, and drowsy from sedatives and painkillers, the 65-year-old widower was weak and struggling to breathe.

'There were tubes up my nose, in my throat and bleeping monitors  I didn't know if any of it was real,' says Charlie, a retired bakery worker from Plymouth, who lives alone.

He had called for an ambulance in March after suffering a persistent cough, high temperature and breathing problems. Initially admitted to the Covid-19 ward at Derriford Hospital, Charlie was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) within three days.

When Charlie Coulton regained consciousness after 42 days in intensive care fighting Covid-19  half of that time on a ventilator  he wondered if he had woken up in a science fiction film

'My last memory was of being taken to ICU and told I needed a ventilator as my breathing was so bad and my blood oxygen levels so low.'

He later learned his heart stopped three times while he was on the ventilator, and he'd also had emergency kidney dialysis after developing sepsis.

'They nearly lost me several times, but I have no memory of it,' he says.

After the disease cleared, he was taken off the ventilator but still struggled to breathe and constantly coughed up mucus. Charlie lost 2 st while in hospital and was so weak he couldn't even get out of bed.

Doctors warned him the recovery could take up to 18 months, although with rehabilitation therapy he would soon be back on his feet. 'But it was my lungs I was most concerned about  as they said they were badly damaged and full of mucus.

'I was shocked when I saw the CT scan  there were lots of areas of white, meaning my lungs had been damaged. I had fibrosis [scarring of the lungs] which I've since learned is permanent.'

But treatment from a specialist respiratory physiotherapist has helped set him on the long road to recovery

But treatment from a specialist respiratory physiotherapist has helped set him on the long road to recovery.

Charlie's experience is not unique. It's estimated up to 60 per cent of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 could face lasting lung damage  including breathlessness and fatigue.

Until recently, the work of respiratory physiotherapists has gathered little attention, but they could hold the key to helping Covid patients recover lung function and quality of life.

They start working with patients even when they are in intensive care on ventilators, using manual manipulation techniques to help clear mucus. Further on in a patient's recovery they may teach them breathing techniques and gradually build up their exercise tolerance, lung capacity and muscle strength using, for example, an exercise bike.

But the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is warning there may not be enough of these specialists to cope with the extra workload from the pandemic  which would leave Covid patients unable to get the care they need.

Charlie's experience is not unique. It's estimated up to 60 per cent of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 could face lasting lung damage  including breathlessness and fatigue

The specialists are physiotherapists who have had postgraduate training in helping patients recover lung function after being on ventilators and CPAP masks, which also assist breathing.

There are an estimated 2,000 in the UK, and they normally care for patients with chronic lung diseases and cardiac and neurodegenerative conditions, such as motor neurone disease, which affects muscle function in the lungs.

Even before Covid-19 struck, the CSP estimates the UK was 4,000 physiotherapists short and, now demand is even higher, 'it's hard to know how many more we will need', says a spokesman.

Hospital audit data, based on patients treated up to mid-May, shows that 62 per cent (29,854) of those admitted with Covid-19 may need ongoing rehab for breathlessness, muscle weakness and other lung conditions.

NHS guidance out last week stated that 30 per cent of Covid-19 patients may need long-term care for lung problems. And a CSP survey found one in four rehabilitation physiotherapists thought Covid patients were not getting the rehabilitation needed after intensive care.

VIRUS TIP Mushrooms, like our skin, make vitamins in sunshine. Leave them in the sun for an hour before eating to increase their immune-boosting properties, says GP Nick Summerton. Advertisement

The chief executive of the CSP, Professor Karen Middleton, told Good Health: 'We know patients are much more likely to make a full recovery if rehabilitation begins in hospital and continues seamlessly at home.

'It is tragic to think that thousands of people have fought off Covid-19 only to find themselves struggling with multiple conditions due to a lack of aftercare.

'Rehabilitation services have been under-resourced for decades and now, more than ever, we need quality community rehabilitation to be prioritised.'

Physios are being redeployed to work with Covid patients, supervised by respiratory physiotherapists. But access to community rehabilitation care is patchy, says the CSP, which wants a national strategy to ensure uniform rehabilitation services across the UK to cope with the legacy of Covid-19.

And the problem will only worsen over time. 'Those with very frail lungs don't have much exercise tolerance, so they get breathless on minimal exertion,' says Ema Swingwood, chair of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care.

'Further down the line some of these patients may need oxygen support long-term at home.'

It's not simply about treating patients with obvious damage, she adds. 'In some patients the damage may not be apparent at first, but may become obvious in a few years as fibrosis progresses.

EXERCISES TO TRY IF YOU'RE BREATHLESS These have been specially designed to ease breathlessness by physiotherapists and nurses at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. LEAN FORWARD: When you feel short of breath, one of these positions may help control your breathing. They can be used at the same time as the control exercises (see next bullet points). Sit with your forearms on your knees, relaxed, and lean forward. Or, if standing, you can lean forward or backwards, supported by a wall and with your feet slightly apart. Or lie on your side with your shoulders and head raised on pillows, knees slightly bent. Repeat as often as needed. BREATHE THROUGH YOUR NOSE : This can help reduce the effort of breathing. Sit in a relaxed position with your arms supported and breathe in and out through your nose (if easier, breathe out through your mouth). As you exhale, try to let go of stress and gradually slow your breathing. Repeat once an hour. 'STACK' YOUR BREATH: This helps to keep your lungs flexible and can make you cough more productively. Leave an hour after eating or drinking and stop if you experience chest pain. Breathe out fully. Then take a small breath in and hold. Repeat until you feel you can't take any more air into your lungs, and hold for two to five seconds. Exhale all air out of your mouth. Repeat once an hour. Stop if your breathing pattern alters outside this exercise and contact your GP. Advertisement

'This is because the lungs may never fully recover and any early stage fibrosis may worsen.'

Disorders, such as hyperventilating (over-breathing) and a chronic cough, may worsen, too.

Physiotherapists are also concerned about Covid patients they don't know about because they weren't admitted to hospital.

'People could be isolated at home, struggling with breathlessness,' says Ema Swingwood.

'All these patients need follow-up rehabilitation if they are to regain their previous quality of life and/or get back to work.'

Rachael Moses, a respiratory physiotherapist and associate director of rehabilitation at London's Royal Brompton Hospital, believes at least half of Covid-19 hospital admissions may need ongoing rehabilitation.

'Some post-Covid patients are falling through the net,' she says. 'Many were moved out of hospital, where they were getting a lot of rehab, quickly due to the infection risk. What rehab they get in the community is a postcode lottery.

'Some of these patients won't manage the stairs at home or go back to work if they don't get the follow-up care.'

Charlie Coulton credits his ongoing recovery to respiratory physiotherapists. 'Each day I had to pedal an exercise bike at the end of my bed and learn how to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth,' he says.

'They helped me to shower  it took 50 minutes the first time as I was so weak  and walk upstairs to improve my exercise tolerance. It was so difficult, but they made me believe it was possible.'

Charlie was discharged six weeks ago, after two weeks recovering on a ward. He's since had home visits from respiratory physiotherapists.

'When I was first home I struggled to walk upstairs  I had to stop on each step and was exhausted from coughing all day and night.

'I'm much better, but I am still breathless and fatigued, though I only cough in the morning now.

'It's a long road back to where I was before, when I easily walked 10,000 steps a day.'
He learned a short time later the female returned and was again looking for his sister. He and his friends, police said, swapped their skates for shoes and went to where his sister was and when they found her, the other girl and a large group of others were already in a physical altercation so he and his friends attempted to save his sister from being hurt. He said this resulted in a large physical altercation just inside the business.
The tribute to her husband, chef Jamie Oliver, on their 20th wedding anniversary last week was deeply personal  'We have created five wonderful children,' Jools Oliver wrote on Instagram 'and lost our five little stars in the sky'  revealing the heartbreak of her miscarriages.

The loss of a baby, whether through miscarriage or stillbirth, is something women may carry with them all their lives. Yet it remains a taboo subject, with many women often suffering in silence.

The extent of this hidden heartbreak is revealed in the statistics: in the UK, one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, with 85 per cent occurring in the first 12 weeks; and one in 200 pregnancies is a stillbirth (when the baby dies after 24 weeks' gestation).

A recent study, the largest ever looking at the psychological impact of miscarriage in early pregnancy, found that a third of women suffered post-traumatic stress. A year later, nearly one in five was still affected. Another 35 per cent experienced anxiety or depression.

The loss of a baby, whether through miscarriage or stillbirth, is something women may carry with them all their lives. Yet it remains a taboo subject, with many women often suffering in silence

The researchers at Imperial College London suggested women should be checked for psychological problems after the loss of a baby, to identify those who would benefit from help such as counselling.

Wanting to help others affected by baby loss, the 13 women you see here are sharing their stories. Almost all received no counselling, but since being brought together by photographer India Lane  who herself had two miscarriages  they've found in each other invaluable support.

Here, they talk about their losses  and some also describe the joy of their 'rainbow babies', the term used for a subsequent successful birth after loss.

Their hope is to show other women that they are not alone.

A BIRTH DOESN'T CANCEL OUT THE PAIN

ABBEY POST, 23, a hospital cleaner, lives in Truro, Cornwall, with her partner Tom, 29, a road maintenance worker, and their baby Maisie, 15 months.

I was lying on the scanning table staring at the ceiling in complete shock. I was 28 weeks pregnant with twins  a boy and a girl  and suddenly I was being told that one of them had no heartbeat.

I'd come to the routine scan on my own as I hadn't expected there was going to be anything wrong. The day before they'd been fine  I could feel both of them kicking  and now my son had died.

They kept me in overnight and, by chance, I went into labour that same night. I was crying while pushing. Maisie was born three hours after Oscar. He looked perfect and I just couldn't stop crying.

Oscar was placed in a cot by my bed and I cuddled and kissed him for hours. We read stories and sang to him. It was very precious spending those moments with him.

We were offered counselling but at the time I didn't feel strong enough to do it. And we wanted to focus on Maisie. She was only 2lb 4oz when she was born and spent three months in hospital. She's now 15 months. As she grows up, we will tell her about Oscar. He is still part of our family and we write his name on our Christmas cards.

Losing a child affects everyone. Tom couldn't bear to walk past the twins' bedroom and couldn't bond with Maisie at first as he thought he was going to lose her, too.

And we struggled to talk about it with family and friends, especially as one child survived. People don't realise that a birth doesn't cancel out the heartbreak.

MISCARRIAGE LASTED FIVE MONTHS

ELEANOR JENKINS, 21, lives in Newport, South Wales, with her partner Lee Smith, 23, and their daughter Esme, now 16 months.

Eight weeks after Esme was born I was pregnant again  it was a lovely surprise. But then I got to 11 weeks and started to bleed.

A scan showed the baby's heartbeat had stopped.

I bled for two weeks and then had a very heavy bleed while we were on holiday a few months later.

Part of the pregnancy still hadn't come away and it had caused an infection, so I needed antibiotics. And then I had to have an operation with a suction device to clear out my womb as I was still bleeding.

Having such a long, drawn-out miscarriage  over five months  made it all so much harder.

Some people think it's a quick, sharp pain that's soon over, but it's been a difficult mental struggle to come to terms with what has happened and move on.

Women are expected to have babies, so when you can't, you feel as though you're doing something wrong and that you aren't a proper woman.

It's hard, too, being young, as people say you have plenty of time left to try again, but that doesn't make it any easier. Talking with others really helps, though.

I'm now 25 weeks pregnant but that loss will always be there.

I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL MY OWN FAULT

ALICIA MINNS, 26, a support worker for adults with learning difficulties, lives in Camborne, Cornwall, with her daughter Alyvia Rose, who's one.

I didn't get out of bed for a month after I lost my baby. I locked myself away because I just couldn't face anyone. I thought it was all my fault; that it was something I had done. Maybe I hadn't drunk enough water, or I hadn't rested enough while pregnant.

I'd become pregnant within a week of coming off the Pill in September 2017. My then partner, Dan, and I were really pleased.

But at eight weeks I started spotting blood. A scan showed the baby was OK but small.

Two weeks later, a check-up growth scan showed the heartbeat was weak and I was warned that the baby wasn't going to make it.

After that, I bled for two nights and lost the baby.

Six weeks later, I was pregnant again. Because of my anxiety, the hospital gave me scans at six weeks, then eight, 11 and 12 weeks. Towards the end of my pregnancy, I was rushed to hospital with severe pre-eclampsia [high blood pressure that can be life-threatening to both mother and baby]. The baby's heart rate had dropped, so they needed to get her out, even though she was seven weeks premature.

I was shocked at how tiny she was, but thankfully she made it and after three weeks I was able to bring her home. But my relationship with Dan broke up under the strain of it all. Until you go through a miscarriage, you don't realise how many women experience the same pain. I hope our stories reach other women to support them.

WE SPLIT UP BECAUSE OF THE STRAIN

JODIE CHAPPELL, 22, a beauty adviser at Sainsbury's, lives in Hayle, North Cornwall.

All around me in the unit were pregnant women, some clutching scan photos and crying with happiness  which made my loss even harder to deal with.

This was my first baby. I'd gone into hospital with a sharp pain in my side, and shortly after was given an injection to terminate the pregnancy. And that was it. It was incredibly difficult. I had counselling for a few months after, which helped. Five months later, in late 2017, I had a miscarriage at six weeks. Then my relationship broke down as losing two babies had caused a big strain on us.

I met my new partner last year and became pregnant, but lost the baby at five weeks, in July. Now that I've lost three, doctors are looking into why it is happening.

They think my levels of progesterone [the hormone that makes the womb lining thicken and helps an embryo implant] may be abnormal. Each time, it's harder to deal with the loss. Seeing other mums pushing prams is heartbreaking and I try to avoid them. But it feels like I see more babies and pregnant women than I remember doing before. It's hard telling friends how I feel. I just pray that one day I'll have my rainbow baby.

COULD I HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT?

POLLY DIXON, 20, an assistant manager at Thorntons, lives in Redruth, Cornwall. Her partner, Bailey Edmeads, 22, works for an electrical firm.

Walking away from the hospital empty-handed was the most difficult thing I've ever done. My baby Scarlett was stillborn after going through hours of labour. I felt so lost. As Bailey numbly put away the bouncer and cot we'd bought, I kept looking at my tummy, waiting for it to move.

There had been no warning signs. My pregnancy had gone smoothly and at 20 weeks we learned we were expecting a girl. She was such a wriggler we called her Captain Wriggle Pants.

I went into labour ten days after my due date in February last year, but the hospital sent me home as I was only 1cm dilated.

As the labour pains intensified I went back, only to be told I still wasn't dilated enough and to go home again.

After six hours, I started to pass out with each contraction because it was so painful. Bailey rang the hospital and this time they sent a midwife. To our horror, she said she couldn't find Scarlett's heartbeat.

We went straight to hospital and they confirmed she'd died during those six hours. The post mortem found she'd died due to an amniotic fluid infection, which is linked to prolonged labour. If I'd been induced when I went into hospital, my baby would probably have been born healthy.

Afterwards I asked myself if I could have done anything different, such as demanding to stay in hospital. You do feel very alone, so I'm glad to have found this group.

PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO TALK ABOUT LOSS

JESSICA ANGOVE, 27, a full-time mum, lives in Redruth with her partner Jordan, 27, a maintenance engineer, and daughters Lilly, nine, and Amirah, three.

The doctors discovered there was something wrong with Alfie when I went for my 20-week scan. He had a congenital heart defect and blood couldn't flow around his body properly.

They offered to terminate my pregnancy but I refused. I gave birth at 32 weeks.

Alfie weighed 3lb 6oz at birth, which was too small for the operation he needed to give him a fighting chance. We were hoping he'd grow to 7lb quickly so the surgeon could operate.

But when he was nine weeks old, Alfie developed an infection and was put on life support. We had to decide to switch it off and then he passed away in my arms.

When something like that happens, you must find strength from somewhere to keep going. For us, that was Lilly, who was then five. A week after losing Alfie, I found I was pregnant with Amirah. It felt like a gift from Alfie.

People are afraid to talk about losing children like this, but as someone who has been through it myself, I can't wait to share my experience to help others.

MISCARRIAGE WAS HARDER GIVEN MY AGE

KELLY OLIVE, 41, a full-time mother, lives in Truro with her partner Paul, 44, a plasterer, and children Corey, 17, Lacey, 12, Lola, 11, Derby, ten, and Leyland, four.

My first miscarriage at the age of 19 was terribly traumatic. I caught my baby, still in the amniotic sac, as it miscarried at 11 weeks while I was in the bathroom.

I had another miscarriage at eight weeks soon after. Each one was followed by a real sense of loneliness, and a fear I was never going to be a mum.

When I became pregnant with Corey, I kept going to the bathroom to check I wasn't bleeding.

I had another two miscarriages after Corey was born, and my next pregnancy was 'molar', where an abnormal fertilised egg grows into a fluid-filled mass of cells instead of a baby. It can turn cancerous, so I had surgery to remove it.

With my daughters, each pregnancy was fine, but with Leyland I started bleeding a few weeks into the pregnancy and thought I was going to lose him, too. But he was born safe and well, and we felt so lucky.

We decided to try for one more baby, but when I was eight weeks pregnant, doctors discovered that it was ectopic [where the egg implants outside the womb] and I was given injections to terminate the pregnancy. I mourned so much for that lost baby.

After each miscarriage, I knew I could try again, which made it easier  but this time I knew it was the last because of my age. The support of this amazing group of women helps me through.

I THINK ABOUT MY LOSS EVERY DAY

LUCY DOHERTY, 27, a fitness instructor, lives in Redruth, with daughter Grace, five, and son Coby, one.

I could see my baby moving on the scan and I was so excited but the midwife was scanning me for ages. It was 2012 and this was my first baby, so I didn't know anything was wrong.

Then another midwife came in and told me that my poorly baby probably wasn't going to survive. There was fluid built up near his neck and they needed to do more scans to find the cause  but two days before the scans, at 16 weeks, his heart stopped.

Nothing can prepare you for this sort of pain. I spent time with him after he was born and took handprints and footprints. Then the vicar came and blessed him.

I held a funeral two weeks later. The night before I haemorrhaged badly as I had retained some of my placenta, but I discharged myself for his funeral and had an operation to clear out my womb the next day. It hurt mentally and physically.

A post mortem confirmed that Noah had Edwards' syndrome, caused by a random genetic defect.

When I became pregnant with Grace, I was petrified that the same thing was going to happen and didn't really believe I'd be going home with a baby until I carried her out of hospital. I was nervous again with Coby, too, but he arrived smoothly. I feel so lucky to have them both, but not a day goes by when I don't think about Noah.

NO SYMPATHY IF ALREADY A MUM

Ashleigh Hearley, 23, lives in Helston, Cornwall, with her partner and their daughters Ava-Mae, aged four, and twins Amelia and Alyssa, 19 months.

I'd already given birth to my three daughters when I became pregnant for the fourth time. I never imagined anything could go wrong this time as I'd already had three healthy pregnancies.

I was looking forward to giving my daughters another little brother or sister, but then I started bleeding when I was just five weeks.

The doctors gave me a pregnancy test. The week before it had been positive but this time it came back negative. It made me wonder if I'd done anything wrong this time.

Losing a baby is difficult: it doesn't matter if you already have children, as you grieve for that life that is lost. People are not always as sympathetic as they might be  they say: 'Well, at least you have children.'

SEVEN MISCARRIAGES  NOW BABY JOY

KERRIE RICHARDS, 30, a former nursery manager, lives in Redruth with her partner Richard, 34, a scrapyard recycler, her stepdaughter Brodie, 13, and son Jimmie, one.

I'd lost seven babies over seven years before finally giving birth to Jimmie.

I nearly died after my second miscarriage  I was rushed to the operating theatre at 11 weeks with internal bleeding.

The baby had been growing in the fallopian tube, which had ruptured. Afterwards, the surgeon said I was very lucky to be alive as I'd lost four litres of blood. That frightened me, but I just had to keep trying.

Conceiving didn't seem to be a problem: the difficulty was staying pregnant.

In March 2015, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, which can affect hormone levels and cause fertility problems. I was given medication, but over the next three years I had another five miscarriages. I'd almost lost all hope, but then the doctors changed my medication  up until then I'd been on Clomid and they thought it might have been encouraging me to release eggs a little too early.

Three months later, I was pregnant. When I was still pregnant at 12 weeks and saw the baby on the scan, I was overcome: it was the first time ever I'd seen a heartbeat and its little hands and feet moving.

I'm a mum at last! I don't know if we will try again. For now, we are just cherishing every moment with Jimmie.

LOST TWO OF HER TRIPLETS

ROXIE YOUNG, 31, a full-time mother, lives in Hayle with her husband Dan, 32, a retail manager, and daughters Enya, seven, and Eris, three.

It was a shock to find out I was pregnant with triplets, as I thought I was having another miscarriage. I'd already had two a few years before, which were awful. I was about eight weeks pregnant each time, and it felt as though I couldn't talk about them with anyone, especially friends who had had babies.

Having a triplet pregnancy was risky and doctors suggested a selective termination to reduce the number of foetuses, but I refused: I wanted to give them all a chance.

At 23 weeks, doctors found that one of them, Etta, had died. It was such a shock and I was very anxious about the remaining two babies.

Then, at 32 weeks, I suddenly felt dizzy and sick and a scan showed I'd lost Elda. I started screaming for them to get my last baby, Eris, out before I lost her too. The three babies were delivered 12 hours later.

Dan was a great support, but even so, I felt very alone and scared. Being able to talk to the other women in this group has really helped me.

AN EARLY LOSS IS STILL A LOSS

GEMMA RICHARDS, 26, a carer, lives in Constantine, Cornwall, with her husband Gareth, 32, a mechanic, daughter Lizzie, six, and sons Tyler, four, and Oscar, one.

I was in the shower when I started bleeding at five weeks. Losing the baby caused so much tension that Gareth and I nearly split up. We were too grief-stricken to talk to each other and I cried myself to sleep most nights.

At one point, I drove all the way to Somerset alone and considered taking my own life.

It was only the support of friends and family that got me through it, and then Gareth and I started talking.

It was a while before we were ready to start trying again. We tried for about two years before I became pregnant with Oscar  it was only after I saw the heartbeat on my 12-week scan that I felt I could tell friends.

It doesn't matter whether it's an early miscarriage, or a later one  or if you already have children. It's a loss whenever it happens and mums need support through it all. And dads, too. I hadn't realised at the time how much it had hit Gareth.

I THOUGHT I'D NEVER BE A MUM

INDIA LANE, 25, a photographer, lives in Camborne, Cornwall, with fiance Steven, 22, a stay-at-home father, and daughter Esmae, one.

After going through two losses with my previous partner, I really thought I would never be a mum.

I became pregnant for the first time in 2015 after trying for months. I was so excited, but at six weeks, I had an emergency scan and the sonographer took ages to find the heartbeat and eventually turned to me and said that she couldn't find one. I couldn't take it in at first.

I was pregnant again just a few months later, but the same thing happened. Having two miscarriages took its toll on my relationship and we broke up.

Then I met Steven in August 2017 and we started trying for a baby. When I became pregnant with Esmae, I experienced the same pains and bleeding.

I was terrified it was happening again but when an emergency scan showed a heartbeat and I saw her moving around on the screen, I couldn't stop crying. To this day, I feel so incredibly lucky to be a mum.

I miscarried another baby at nine weeks shortly after. But this time it was worse  more like experiencing labour pains. I had seven hours of contractions, followed by seven weeks of bleeding and passing clots.

I know how devastating it is to lose babies, so after my third loss I decided I needed to do something to help others. That's why I put together this group  and it's been an incredible privilege working with all these brave women and sharing our stories.
Two friends in Texas received two drastically different bills when they were tested for the novel coronavirus.

Pamela LeBlanc and Jimmy Harvey were about to go camping and kayaking along the Texas east coast with three friends and wanted some peace of mind.

Both went to get drive-through tests at Austin Emergency Center in Austin and, luckily, both tested negative.

While Harvey was charged $199, and paid in cash, LeBlanc - who paid with her private insurance - was billed $6,408, reported The New York Times.

Pamela LeBlanc (left) and Jimmy Harvey (right), from Austin, Texas, were tested for the coronavirus at Austin Emergency Room. Harvey paid in cash and was charged $199 while LeBlanc, who paid with insurance, was charged $6,408

UnitedHealthcare claims it used the wrong code, suggesting LeBlanc had had her blood drawn for different test. Pictured: LeBlanc, left, with Chris LeBlanc

Harvey has health insurance, but told The Times he felt like it would be a 'hassle' to use it to cover the cost of a coronavirus test.

After he was given the nasal swab, he paid with two $100 bills and went back home to await his results.

LeBlanc, on the other hand, received the $6,000-plus bill, mostly with charges from a third party called Genesis Laboratory, which ran her actual test.

The provider sent her an explanation-of-benefit statements indicating she need to pay more than $1,000 out of pocket.

'I assumed, like an idiot, it would be cheaper to use my insurance than pay cash right there,' LeBlanc told the newspaper.

'This is 32 times the cost of what my friend paid for the exact same thing.'

The American government does not regulate health care prices, which allows for price discrepancies.

In March, a Kaiser Family Foundation report found that hospitalized coronavirus patients who suffer complications could be looking at a nearly $20,300 tab even when figuring for insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs.

However, someone admitted to the hospital who doesn't suffer complications could have to pay nearly $10,000.

Experts have warned Americans to be aware of surprise billing.

For example, one may go to a hospital for testing or treatment, which is in-network, but they see provider who is out-of-network.

This can lead to balance billing, which occurs when a healthcare provider bills a patient for the difference between the total cost of services and the amount the insurance pays.

And a 2015 paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that large insurers and small insurers can charge different prices for the same procedure depending on how many members they have.

After LeBlanc learned from Harvey that he had paid less than $200, she immediately called her insurance company, UnitedHealthcare.

The provider was able to get the bill down for $1,128, but said she would have to pay $928 of that.

A second call got the charges dropped to $199. She then shared her story with local TV station KXAN.

LeBlanc told them she learned she had been charged for a Legionnaires disease test, a human herpesvirus 6 test, a blood culture for infection,and an ER visit - but she never had any blood drawn.

UnitedHealthcare began investigating and later confirmed that it had used the wrong code, charging LeBlanc for blood draws she didn't undergo.

After the error was corrected, LeBlanc was told she didn't have to pay anything for the test or visit.
The investor that torpedoed Intu's survival hopes is keen to flog the Trafford Centre in a quick sale, according to reports.

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, which was one of Intu's lenders, took control of the shopping centre near Manchester rather than agreeing to give the company more than a year to pay back its debts, the Sunday Times reported.

On the market: The Trafford Centre, near Manchester, is worth around 1.7billion on Intu's books

Intu went into administration on Friday, following weeks of fraught rescue talks. The shopping centre owner, which has 17 sites in total, was struggling under a 4.5billion debt pile when it collapsed.

It employs nearly 2,400 people and more than 100,000 work for its tenants such as Marks & Spencer, H&M and Next.

The Trafford, near Manchester, is worth around 1.7billion on Intu's books.

But a sale now would reveal how much value the coronavirus crisis has wiped off Britain's malls as shops were shuttered during lockdown and tenants struggled to pay rents.
Companies taking taxpayer support have been urged to narrow the gap between bosses' and workers' pay to help the economy recover post-Covid.

In research that shames boardroom excess, chief executives at some of Britain's biggest companies were found to be earning 200 times more than their average employee.

The High Pay Centre analysed pay ratio data at 107 FTSE 350 firms. The 39 companies on taxpayer support were some of the worst culprits for large divides.

Weathering the storm: The High Pay Centre analysed pay ratio data at 107 FTSE 350 firms

Bosses at these firms took home 60 times more than a median worker's salary  higher than the average of 55 times across all of the companies analysed.

The High Pay Centre estimated that across all 107 companies, cutting pay by just 3 per cent in the top 25 per cent of a company's earners could give the lowest-paid staff a 2,000 pay rise. A 5 per cent pay cut would hand them 3,250, and 10 per cent 6,500.

The High Pay Centre argued that tackling company inequality could form a key pillar of the push for businesses to 'build back better'.

The calls come as analysts and politicians are scrambling to work out how to revive the economy. Of the 39 companies taking taxpayer support, Ladbrokes Coral owner GVC had the largest pay gap  229 times  between boss Kenny Alexander and an average worker.

The gambling giant has used Government-funded furlough and business rates relief in the crisis to save 20m a month. Top bosses took a 20 per cent pay cut in basic salary and fees for three months to help save cash, while the board and executive committee will forego their bonuses for 2020.

But topping the table will still be an embarrassment for the company  which last year reduced Alexander's salary from 950,000 to 800,000.

Other firms taking Government support include Next, which has a ratio of 178 to one and has furloughed 33,000 staff, and Cineworld, whose boss was paid 114 times more than ordinary workers.

Luke Hildyard, executive director of High Pay Centre, said: 'Companies accepting public money ought to act in the public interest. When CEOs are making more than 100 times that of their lowest-paid colleagues, there's clearly potential for redistribution.'
Shares in construction firm Kier Group soared this morning after the UK government launched a decade-long plan to rebuild schools.

The Manchester-based company, which calls itself 'the UK's leading provider of school buildings,' saw its shares jump 8.7 per cent to 97.9p by midday as Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to spend 1.8billion rebuilding English schools over ten years.

He said the government will commit to a 'first wave' investment of over 1billion to rebuild 50 schools, another 560million for school repairs and upgrades, and bring forward 200million to upgrade further education colleges.

Boris Johnson is due to make a speech tomorrow where he is expected to announce a task force called 'Project Speed' that will be dedicated to fast-tracking infrastructure projects

The Prime Minister's Office said the North and the Midlands would receive 'substantial investment' and that the funding would be directed towards 'school buildings in the worst condition.

It also said the projects would be more environmentally-friendly and help the government to achieve its net zero target for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

This could provide a significant boost for Kier Group due to the financial struggles that have beset the firm in the last couple of years.

The former FTSE 250 building firm announced a 264million rights issue in November 2018, which it intended to use to pay down debts. However, under 40 per cent of its rights issue was taken up.

Kier has also lost contracts, including a 25million project to restore the Glasgow School of Art's Mackintosh Building, which was wrecked by two devastating fires over four years.

It had to issue writedowns, and saw the departure of its chief executive Haydn Mursell and chairman Philip Cox. It also declared that 1,200 jobs would go as part of its plans to save 55million a year by 2021.

Kier Group announced a 264million rights issue in November 2018, which it intended to use to pay down debts. However, under 40 per cent of its rights issue was taken up

In the 12 months to June 30 2019, it recorded a 245million loss compared to a 106million profit the previous year.

Other construction companies also saw their shares rise, though not as significantly as Kier Group. Galliford Try's share price grew 4.4 per cent to 122.2p while Taylor Wimpey rose 1.3 per cent to 144.4p.

The education funding is part of a broader programme by the government to spend more money on infrastructure schemes to help the economy recover from the damaging effects of the coronavirus.

Mr Johnson is due to make a speech tomorrow in the Midlands where he is expected to announce a task force called 'Project Speed' that will be dedicated to fast-tracking those infrastructure projects.

Boris Johnson told the Mail on Sunday: 'We're going to need a very committed, dynamic plan: not just for infrastructure, not just for investment but making sure that young people have the confidence they need that we are going to help them get into a place of work'

He told the Mail on Sunday that he wanted the UK to 'build our way back to health.' Spending on new hospitals and housing is also expected. Johnson has already promised to give everyone in Britain superfast broadband by 2025.

'We're going to need a very committed, dynamic plan: not just for infrastructure, not just for investment but making sure that young people have the confidence they need that we are going to help them get into a place of work,' he told the paper.

In another interview with the newly-launched Times Radio this morning, Johnson said he thought it was time for a 'Rooseveltian approach to the UK' and that there would be no return to austerity.

When asked about balancing the UK economy's books, he replied:

'I do think that the investment will pay off, because this is a very, very dynamic, productive economy. And the way to get UK business confident and growing is to give the private sector the confidence to invest in capital, in skills, in people,'
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is expected to cut thousands of jobs and reduce its production levels by 40 per cent in the next couple of years, union sources told Reuters.

The company, as well as its rival Boeing, has been severely damaged by the coronavirus outbreak, which has seen the delivery of new Airbus planes delayed and forced airlines to cancel tens of thousands of flights.

At the end of April, the European aerospace giant reported a first-quarter net loss of 481million while consolidated revenues fell by almost a sixth to 10.6billion from the first three months of 2019.

At the end of April, Airbus reported a first-quarter net loss of 481million

Union sources said that the company is expected set out its most extensive ever reorganisation plan on Wednesday, which may result in between 14,000 and 20,000 jobs being slashed.

One person familiar with Airbus told Reuters anything below 25,000 cuts could be seen as conservative in the light of output plans. Unions have warned against over-reaction, however.

Its helicopter and defence divisions, which manufacture some parts on behalf of the jetliner parent, will be among those affected.

Airbus's chief executive Guillaume Faury warned in April that the firm is 'bleeding cash at an unprecedented speed' and that this was putting the company's existence under severe threat.

In a new interview with German newspaper Die Welt, he stated that production deliveries would be 40 per cent lower than it had initially planned, higher than the one-third drop it announced earlier in the year.

Faury did not give specific details on Airbus's restructuring programme, but he insisted that the business would not hold back in its attempt to save money.

He said: 'It's a brutal fact, but we must do it. It is about the necessary adjustment to the massive drop in production. It's about securing our future.'

Airline EasyJet recently agreed with Airbus to postpone the delivery of 24 new aircraft it purchased from them for five to seven years. They also have the option to cancel seven aeroplanes that were initially due for delivery between 2022 and 2026.

Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury warned in April that the firm was 'bleeding cash at an unprecedented speed' and that this was putting the company's existence under severe threat

Airline EasyJet recently agreed with Airbus to postpone the delivery of 24 new aircraft it purchased from them for five to seven years

The Luton-based firm has been home to a major internal conflict between its founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and the management over a 4.5billion procurement for 100 Airbus planes. Sir Stelios claimed the order could bankrupt the airline.

Airbus has not commented on Wednesday's reorganisation plan, but it did declare today that it had successfully finished its Autonomous Taxi, Take-Off and Landing (ATTOL) project.

ATTOL sought to advance the use of autonomous technologies on commercial aircraft and involved 500 test flights conducted over two years, 90 per cent of which were focused on acquiring raw video data.

'Airbus will continue research into the application of autonomous technologies alongside other innovations in areas such as materials, alternative propulsion systems and connectivity,' the company said.

'By leveraging these opportunities, Airbus is opening up possibilities for creating new business models that will transform how aircraft are developed, manufactured, flown, powered and serviced.'
The number of new mortgage approvals for house purchase fell further to a hit a record low in May as the coronavirus crisis continues to grip the housing market.

Although estate agents in England have been allowed to reopen from mid-May and property portals say they have seen a surge in interest since then, the number of would-be home buyers taking out mortgages to buy property continued to fall.

Just some 9,300 mortgages to buy homes were handed out in May, down from around 15,800 in April, some 56,100 in March and 90 per cent below the February level, according to the latest stats by the Bank of England.

Falling further: The number of mortgages and re-mortgages tumbled in May

Mortgage approvals in May were also a third lower than the worst month of the financial crisis in 2008, which 'really puts the pandemic's impact on the economy into perspective', says Paul Stockwell of Gatehouse Bank.

Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, says it is not surprising that lending fell, given the 'devastating impact' of coronavirus on the property market. 'With lockdown meaning that lenders were unable to send valuers out to physically view properties, the number of mortgages approved fell considerably,' he says.

Lenders have been axing mortgages for people with small deposits amid fears of a house price crash, which could plunge buyers into negative equity and limit the money banks can recoup if they need to repossess homes.

Economists are predicting house price falls this year, with forecasts ranging between a more moderate 4 per cent fall - which would still be the largest decline in more than a decade - to a more extreme 16 per cent fall, as predicted by the Bank of England.

Josie Dent, senior economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), says mortgage approvals have fallen not only because lenders are more cautious, but also because potential home buyers prefer to wait as they suspect prices may fall.

She said: 'Transaction numbers are still kept low by tighter credit conditions. Mortgage providers have become far more cautious when lending and require larger deposits, thereby limiting the number of people who can buy a home.'

And added: 'Many people are also likely to be put off from purchasing while house prices are expected to fall, preferring to wait and see if they can get a better deal.'

Mortgage approvals in May were a third lower than the worst month of the financial crisis

Some households may also feel their finances are too precarious to commit to a house move at the moment, according to Laura Suter, personal finance analyst at investment platform AJ Bell.

Yet, net mortgage borrowing picked up to 1.2billion in May, after the closed housing market led to zero borrowing in April. The monthly rise in borrowing was due to more new borrowing by households, rather than lower repayments.

Property websites have claimed to have seen an initial surge in buyer interest and activity since restrictions in England were lifted on 13 of May and would-be buyers were again allowed to view properties after a seven-week hiatus.

On the first day of the housing market reopening, the number of home movers visiting properties returned to pre-lockdown daily levels, and was up 4 per cent on the same Wednesday in 2019, according to property website Rightmove.

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.

Meanwhile, the latest residential market survey by RICS pointed to a slight improvement in the outlook for sales over the coming twelve months, but warned overall sentiment remained 'cautious'.

Howard Archer, chief economic advisor to the EY ITEM Club, says: 'While relief for the housing market in England came from the easing of restrictions in England on 13 May, this evidently occurred too late to help lift mortgage approvals for the month.'

Paul Stockwell of Gatehouse Bank adds: 'June will be the first full month of property transactions since the UK went into lockdown and it will be these figures that will be hotly watched as a measure of how determined buyers and vendors who returned to the market have been.'
The death of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer on May 25 has sparked a nationwide reckoning about police brutality and racial justice.

Four cops have been charged over Floyds death including Derek Chauvin, who is accused of second degree murder for holding his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes during the arrest.

But the reality is that in most cases, police involved in such killings do not face punishment.

Many remain on the force, some receive huge payoffs and others hang on to their jobs for years.

DailyMail.com has looked back at some of the most controversial killings of African-Americans by cops in recent years to see what justice was meted out to the officers - if any at all.

Michael Brown was shot dead aged 18 in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014

Michael Brown

The white cop who shot dead Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014 is now working as an insurance agent who receives rave reviews from his clients.

Darren Wilson switched to selling insurance in Missouri in 2015 - the year after he resigned from the force.

According to public records, Wilson made the career change and undertook the qualifications needed to do the job.

An online review says: Darren Wilson is the best agent, always looking out for your best interest. I would recommend him to anyone. Thank you D, for all you do.

Wilson resigned from the Ferguson police force in November 2014, five days after a grand jury decided not to indict him over the killing of 18-year-old Brown.

Wilson stopped Brown and a friend on the street and a struggle ensued, during which Wilsons lawyers claimed Brown attacked him and tried to grab his gun.

White ex-cop Darren Wilson is now working as an insurance agent who receives rave reviews from his clients. Darren Wilson switched to selling insurance in Missouri in 2015 - the year after he resigned from the force

Browns family claimed he had surrendered and his death was murder.

The killing led to weeks of protests in Ferguson and across America and is seen as a pivotal moment in the struggle for police reform.

A friend of Wilsons told DailyMail.com that he is doing well. The friend said: He is living his life and he doesnt talk about what happened very much, which is probably for the best.

He still sometimes gets recognized so he has to keep things pretty quiet.'

Wilson and his lawyer Neil Bruntrager did not return requests for comment.

Samuel DuBose

Smiling at a NASCAR race while wearing a Trump tank top, this is the former University of Cincinnati police officer involved in one of the most shocking killings of a black man by cops in recent years.

Ray Tensing grins as he hugs his fiancee at the event in 2018, three years after he shot dead Samuel DuBose, 43, an unarmed black motorist.

In another photo, Tensing poses with a gun while on a hike in the mountains.

Smiling at a NASCAR race while wearing a Trump tank top in 2018, this is former University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing (pictured with partner) involved in one of the most shocking killings of a black man by cops in recent years. Tensing was charged with murder and was tried twice but jurors could not reach a verdict either time. Prosecutors decided not to try for a third time

Samuel DuBose, 43, an unarmed black motorist, was shot dead by Tensing in Cincinnati in 2015 during a traffic stop for a missing front license plate. Tensing claimed Dubose started to drive off and his body was being dragged along, but the body camera video appeared to contradict his claim

Earlier this month while much of America was rocked by protests over the killing of George Floyd, Tensing was on another hike with a friend and posted a picture of them on a clifftop.

Tensing killed DuBose in Cincinnati in 2015 during a traffic stop for a missing front license plate.

Tensing claimed Dubose started to drive off and his body was being dragged along, but the body camera video appeared to contradict his claim.

Tensing was charged with murder and was tried twice but jurors could not reach a verdict either time. Prosecutors decided not to try for a third time.

The case was dropped and Tensing got a $344,000 payout from the University of Cincinnati for back pay and legal fees - although he did have to resign from his job.

Eric Garner

Eric Garner was killed aged 43 after being arrested in Staten Island, New York, in 2014 for selling individual cigarettes outside a convenience store.

New York Police Department officer Daniel Pantaleo restrained Garner in a chokehold even though Garner repeatedly said I cant breathe, which became a slogan of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Staten Island district attorney and the Justice Department refused to charge Pantaleo with a crime.

And incredibly, Pantaleo held on to his job for five years working desk duty with no badge and no gun until last summer when he was finally fired following a ruling by a police administrative judge.

During that time, he managed to increase his salary by $20,000 a year to $119,000.

Pantaleo has refused to let it drop even now and is currently suing to get his old job back.

Eric Garner was killed aged 43 after being arrested in Staten Island, New York, in 2014 for selling individual cigarettes outside a convenience store. He repeatedly said I cant breathe, which became a slogan of the Black Lives Matter movement

New York Police Department officer Daniel Pantaleo restrained Garner in a chokehold. The Staten Island district attorney and the Justice Department refused to charge Pantaleo with a crime. And incredibly, Pantaleo held on to his job for five years working desk duty with no badge and no gun until last summer when he was fired following a ruling by a police administrative judge. During that time, he managed to increase his salary by $20k to $119,000

This week after the law was changed to make NYPD officers disciplinary records public, it emerged he had been the subject of seven disciplinary complaints.

They included one in 2012 for a stop and frisk incident.

The last claim prior to Garners death was an unsubstantiated use-of-force allegation in March 2013.

Garners daughter Emerald called Pantaleo a murderer and said he held onto his job for five years too long.

She told DailyMail.com: After my father died we were looking for some type of justice, some type of anything to make sure that this doesnt happen again and then George Floyd happens. Its a slap in the face were still dealing with this chokehold situation five years later.'

Emerald added that with the protests over the death of George Floyd it felt like she was reliving my fathers death all over.

She said: It makes it that much harder to feel like you have closure. Its reopening the same wounds.'

Freddie Gray

All six officers who were charged over the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore in 2015 are still on the Baltimore Police force - and one is on the SWAT team.

Patrol officer Garrett Miller, who handcuffed Gray after he fled from their custody, has become a SWAT officer, a spokesman for the Baltimore Police force confirmed to DailyMail.com.

Another controversial promotion was given to Sgt. Alicia White, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly failing to provide medical assistance to Gray.

Freddie Gray was just 25 years old when he suffered a spinal injury while being transported in a police van after being found with a knife in his pocket. The incident led to riots and arson across Baltimore

All six officers who were charged over the death of Gray are still on the Baltimore Police force. Patrol officer Garrett Miller, who handcuffed Gray after he fled from their custody, has become a SWAT officer (left); Sgt. Alicia White, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly failing to provide medical assistance to Gray (center); and Patrol officer Caesar Goodson (right), the driver of the van, is assigned to the Criminal Intelligenc

Lt. Brian Rice, the first officer to make contact with Gray, is currently assigned to the Forensics Laboratory Section (left); Patrol officer William Porter, who allegedly failed to secure Gray in the van with a seat belt, is assigned the Criminal Intelligence Section (center) and Patrol officer Edward Nero, the other officer who caught Gray when he fled, is assigned to the Aviation Unit (right)

She is now part of the unit assigned to implementing the Department Justice Consent Decree, which was put in place to reform the Baltimore Police Department after Grays death.

Gray was just 25 years old when he suffered a spinal injury while being transported in a police van after being found with a knife in his pocket.

The incident led to riots and arson across Baltimore.

None of the six officers who were charged were convicted after their cases ended in a mistrial or the charges were dropped.

Lt. Brian Rice, the first officer to make contact with Gray, is currently assigned to the Forensics Laboratory Section.

Patrol officer William Porter, who allegedly failed to secure Gray in the van with a seat belt, is assigned the Criminal Intelligence Section.

Patrol officer Edward Nero, the other officer who caught Gray when he fled, is assigned to the Aviation Unit.

Patrol officer Caesar Goodson, the driver of the van, is assigned to the Criminal Intelligence.

Tamir Rice

Tamir Rice was just 12 years old when two police officers approached him after getting a report of somebody with a gun in a park in Cleveland, Ohio in 2014.

Although the caller said the gun was probably fake, less than two seconds after arriving, officer Timothy Loehmann shot Tamir dead.

Loehmann was with veteran officer Frank Garmback and neither cop was charged.

Tamir Rice was just 12 years old when two police officers pulled up to him after getting a report of somebody with a gun in a park in Cleveland, Ohio in 2014

Although the caller said the gun was probably fake, less than two seconds after arriving, officer Timothy Loehmann (left) shot Tamir dead. Frank Garmback (right) was suspended for 10 days, later reduced to five. Garmback has caused more controversy since Rices death and last year the city of Cleveland paid out $100,000 to a resident who claimed he put her in a chokehold and punched her face during a violent arrest that used excessive force in 2010

Loehmann was later fired for discrepancies in his job application. Garmback was suspended for 10 days, later reduced to five.

Six years later, the Cleveland Police Union is currently suing for Loehmann to get his job back. Loehmann tried to get a job with another police force but withdrew when it became public.

Richard Flanagan, the police chief for the Bellaire Police Department in Ohio, said he thought Loehmann deserved a second chance.

He said: The pressures of all of this. He's been through enough the last couple years. He cared about the community here. He didn't want no protests, no violence, nothing of that nature.'

At the time Rices mother Samira said that the idea of Loehmann becoming a cop in another city was a personal attack on our family

She said: Hopefully, he will not be hired as a police officer by any other state. As long as I'm living he won't.'

Garmback has caused more controversy since Rices death and last year the city of Cleveland paid out $100,000 to a resident who claimed he put her in a chokehold and punched her face during a violent arrest that used excessive force in 2010.

Alton Sterling

Sterling, 37, was shot and killed during a disturbing incident in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2016 that was captured on video. Two police officers arrived to question him about selling DVDs outside a convenience store.

Ten seconds into the video, one of the officers shouted; Dont f****** move or Ill shoot your f***** a**. The situation escalated and Sterling was shot dead after one officer shouted: Hes got a gun!

No charges were brought against officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II.

Sterling, 37, was shot and killed during a disturbing incident in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2016 that was captured on video. Two police officers arrived to question him about selling DVDs outside a convenience store

No charges were brought against officers Blane Salamoni (left) and Howie Lake II (right). Salamoni was fired two years later for violating police policies during the shooting and after it emerged he had a history of blow ups. The Baton Rouge Police Department said he should never have been on the force. DailyMail.com can reveal that Lake is still on active duty and is assigned to the Baton Rouge 5th District where officers are responsible for the downtown area of the city

Salamoni was fired two years later for violating police policies during the shooting and after it emerged he had a history of blow ups. The Baton Rouge Police Department said he should never have been on the force.

He is now appealing his firing.

DailyMail.com can reveal that Lake is still on active duty and is assigned to the Baton Rouge 5th District where officers are responsible for the downtown area of the city.

This includes bicycle patrol, misdemeanor investigation, prisoner processing, security of public buildings and the housing authority division, which deals with incidents in housing projects.

Philando Castile

Castile was shot dead in 2016 after being pulled over for a traffic stop by a police officer in Falcon Heights, Minnesota in an incident streamed live on Facebook by Castile's girlfriend.

Officer Jeronimo Yanez claimed he thought Castile, 26, was reaching for his gun but his girlfriend claimed he was going for his ID.

Yanez was cleared of second degree murder and received a $48,000 settlement to voluntarily leave his job.

Castile was shot dead in 2016 after being pulled over for a traffic stop by a police officer in Falcon Heights, Minnesota in an incident streamed live on Facebook by Castile's girlfriend

Officer Jeronimo Yanez (pictured) claimed he thought Castile, 26, was reaching for his gun but his girlfriend claimed he was going for his ID. Yanez was cleared of second degree murder and received a $48,000 settlement to voluntarily leave his job

Stephon Clark

Clark was killed by two Sacramento police officers in his grandmothers backyard while they were responding to a 911 call about someone breaking windows.

Officers Jared Robinet and Terrence Mercadal fired 20 shots at Clark, 22, and hit him seven times.

They later claimed he had a gun - but he was carrying a phone.

Prosecutors declined to file charges.

Clark was killed by two Sacramento police officers in his grandmothers backyard while they were responding to a 911 call about someone breaking windows

Officers Jared Robinet (left) and Terrence Mercadal (right) fired 20 shots at Clark, 22, and hit him seven times. They later claimed he had a gun - but he was carrying a phone. Prosecutors declined to file charges.

THE EXCEPTIONS: COPS WHO WERE JAILED

Michael Slager

Michael Slager, a former cop from North Charleston, South Carolina fatally shot Walter Scott, who was black, as he ran away from him in 2015 following a traffic stop for a broken brake light.

The shocking video of the incident filmed by a passerby went viral.

Slager pleaded guilty to violating Scott's civil rights and a federal judge jailed him for 20 years after ruling that he considered the case equivalent to murder.

In a recent interview Slagers ex-wife revealed the IRS ordered them to pay back $300,000 they had received as a settlement from the federal government due to issues with the Southern States Police Benevolent Association, an advocacy group which worked with him.

Michael Slager, a former cop from North Charleston, South Carolina fatally shot Walter Scott, who was black, as he ran away from him in 2015 following a traffic stop for a broken brake light

The shocking video of the incident filmed by a passerby went viral. Slager pleaded guilty to violating Scott's civil rights and a federal judge jailed him for 20 years after ruling that he considered the case equivalent to murder

Two years after the incident they divorced and the ex-wife moved to Colorado so their children could still see their father while he is in prison.

Slager is serving his sentence at FCI Englewood where he is rubbing shoulders with Jared Fogel, the former spokesman for Subway who was exposed as a pedophile.

Until recently Slagers other prison mates included Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted in 2011 for trying to sell the US Senate seat of president-elect Barack Obama and was freed earlier this year by Donald Trump.

Slagers mother Karen told DailyMail.com: Hes doing fine, Im sorry this all happened, but Im going to refrain from commenting.'

Amber Guyger

Former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was convicted of murdering her neighbor Botham Jean after mistakenly walking into his apartment.

Guyger, 31, had gotten off duty when she opened fire in September 2018 because she thought Jean was a burglar who was going to kill her.

In fact she had entered the wrong apartment - her home was one floor below.

Guyger was sentenced to 10 years in jail and during her sentencing Jeans younger brother Brandt, 18, said he forgave her and hugged her in court.

Former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was convicted of murdering her neighbor Botham Jean after mistakenly walking into his apartment. Guyger was sentenced to 10 years in jail

Guyger, 31, had gotten off duty when she opened fire in September 2018 because she thought Jean was a burglar who was going to kill her. In fact she had entered the wrong apartment - her home was one floor below

THE CASES CURRENTLY IN THE HEADLINES

Ahmaud Arbery

The 25-year-old black man was out jogging in February in Glynn County, Georgia, when he was confronted by two white men, father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael.

They have claimed they suspected Arbery was a burglar and that he attacked them.

Lawyers for Arberys family say he was unarmed and that he was innocent.

The 25-year-old black man was out jogging in February in Glynn County, Georgia, when he was confronted by two white men, father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael. A video of the confrontation shows Arbery struggling with one of the men then three shots ring out - an autopsy showed he was shot twice in the chest

Gregory, 64, and Travis, 34, have been charged with murder and aggravated assault. William Bryan, a neighbor who filmed the incident, claimed in court that Travis said f****** n***** after shooting Arbery. The case took so long to move forward because it is on its fourth prosecutor

A video of the confrontation shows Arbery struggling with one of the men then three shots ring out - an autopsy showed he was shot twice in the chest.

Gregory, 64, and Travis, 34, have been charged with murder and aggravated assault.

William Bryan, a neighbor who filmed the incident, claimed in court that Travis said f****** n***** after shooting Arbery.

The case took so long to move forward because it is on its fourth prosecutor.

Brunswick District Attorney Jackie Johnson was accused of not letting police arrest the McMichaels after the shooting - Gregory previously worked in her office.

Last week, the McMichaels were indicted by a grand jury on murder charges, alongside their neighbor who filmed the killing.

George Floyd

The former doorman, 46, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25 after being arrested for allegedly using a fake $20 bill.

White police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds even though he repeatedly begged I cant breathe and called for his dead mother.

The sickening incident was captured on video and sparked weeks of angry protests and demands for police reform.

The former doorman, 46, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25 after being arrested for allegedly using a fake $20 bill. White police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds even though he repeatedly begged I cant breathe and called for his dead mother. Chauvin was charged with second degree murder and all four officers were fired

Three Minneapolis police officers were indicted on charges of aiding and abetting second degree murder.

Chauvin was charged with second degree murder and all four officers were fired.

Legal experts have said convictions are no sure thing because the standard for second degree murder is so high.

Rayshard Brooks

Brooks was killed on June 12 by an Atlanta police officer after a struggle during a field sobriety test in a Wendy's restaurant parking lot where he had been sleeping in the drive thru line.

Brooks, 27, grabbed one officers taser gun and ran away, turning and apparently firing back as he did so.

Brooks was killed on June 12 by an Atlanta police officer after a struggle during a field sobriety test in a Wendy's restaurant parking lot where he had been sleeping in the drive thru line

Officer Garrett Rolfe, was in pursuit and shot three times, hitting Brooks twice.

According to prosecutors, Rolfe said: I got him and kicked Brooks as he struggled for his life - then failed to give him timely first aid. Rolfe faces 11 charges including felony murder.

Devin Brosnan, the other officer involved in the arrest, is accused of aggravated assault for standing on Brooks after he was shot.

Breonna Taylor

After three months and sustained pressure from Taylors family and the public, one of the officers involved in Breonna Taylor's death has finally been fired

The city of Louisville, Kentucky last week fired Louisville Metro Police Det. Brett Hankison.

The forces chief Robert Schroeder told him in a letter: I find your conduct a shock to the conscience.

Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was shot dead when they broke down her door in an attempted drug sting and shot her eight times. After three months and sustained pressure from Taylors family and the public, Louisville Metro Police Det. Brett Hankison was fired

Chief Schroeder added that Hankisonns actions displayed an extreme indifference to the value of human life when he wantonly and blindly fired ten rounds into Taylor's apartment.

Hankison and two others have been on administrative leave since Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was shot dead when they broke down her door during an attempted drug sting in March.

Taylors family have filed a wrongful death lawsuit but Hankisons lawyer has filed an appeal arguing he was fired prematurely and should not be punished unless the facts show he committed wrongdoing, and the facts are not yet in.
A couple brandished an AR-15 and a handgun at protesters marching past their mansion in an upscale St. Louis neighborhood.

Husband and wife, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, could be seen aiming the guns at demonstrators who walked by their palatial property in the wealthy Forest Park area at around 6pm on Sunday.

At one point, the pair seemed to be unknowingly pointing their weapons at one another other while trying to keep protesters away from their home.

The protesters were en route to Mayor Lyda Krewson's home to demand her resignation after she released the names and addresses of residents who had suggested defunding the police department.

They had broken their way into the gated community where the McCloskeys live.

The pair are both personal injury lawyers and run McCloskey Law Center.

Armed homeowners, Patty and Mark McCloskey, stand in front their house along Portland Place and confront protesters marching to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson's house on Sunday

The married couple came out of their house armed on Sunday to prevent protesters from walking onto their property after they broke their way into a gated community

About 300 protesters had broken down a gate into this closed-off community and were marching in front of the McCloskey home, pictured here center

On Monday morning, President Donald Trump retweeted footage of the couple without comment.

Demonstrators chanted 'Let's Go' as the couple stood their ground at their front door, patrolling back and forth.

One video posted to Twitter of the demonstration shows the woman holding her gun at a protester who is wearing a t-shirt that reads, 'Hands up, don't shoot'.

The individual appeared to be trying to get people to move away from the house at the time.

Patricia McCloskey, 61, is seen moving closer to the protesters speaking to them as some stand and argue back.

Other demonstrators are heard shouting at everyone to 'Go' as the woman continues waving her handgun at them from her front lawn and Mark McCloskey watched from the front door with his rifle.

St. Louis police confirmed they were called to Portland Place at around 7.20pm on Sunday night for an incident involving trespassing and assault 4th intimidation after the McCloskeys issued a 'call for help'.

'The victims stated they were on their property when they heard a loud commotion coming from the street. When the victims went to investigate the commotion, they observed a large group of subjects forcefully break an iron gate marked with No Trespassing and Private Street signs,' police said.

'Once through the gate, the victims advised the group that they were on a private street and trespassing and told them to leave. The group began yelling obscenities and threats of harm to both victims.

'When the victims observed multiple subjects who were armed, they then armed themselves and contacted police. The investigation is ongoing.'

Mark McCloskey could be seen carrying a firearm as protesters entered his neighborhood

The couple are both personal injury lawyers and run McCloskey Law Center from inside their extravagant home, dubbed Niemann Mansion, pictured here

The couple drew their firearms and watched as the protesters entered the gated community

One video showed Patricia McCloskey coming on to her front lawn closer to protesters

Mr McCloskey, 63, has previously represented a victim of police brutality. The man - who was identified by the initials I.F. - was kicked and struck by police officer David Maas in shocking dashcam footage that appeared to show him surrendering.

The initials match a 2019 civil lawsuit made by Isaiah Forman in which the same allegations are put forward.

Police at the time said Forman, then 21, was driving a car that had been taken by another man at gunpoint.

The lawsuit against Maas claimed that Forman had 'surrendered peaceably'.

According to the indictment, Maas kicked and struck Forman in April 2019 while the man was compliant and not posing a physical threat to anyone, causing 'bodily injury' and depriving him of his right to be 'free from unreasonable force'.

A lawyer for Maas argued that Forman had 'aggressively resisted arrest' and 'struck a police vehicle, narrowly missing a police officer in the process'.

Maas was charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law in March 2020.

Mr McCloskey said of the case: 'Im glad that the law enforcement agencies are subject to the same standard as everybody else'.

Forman pleaded guilty to crashing his car into a police vehicle during the chase and is serving a seven year sentence for second-degree assault on a special victim.

Patricia McCloskey drew a firearm on protesters as walked in front of her house on Sunday

The protesters called on each other to quickly move on when the couple emerged

The private road entrance to Portland Place where protesters broke down a gate Sunday

Saint Louis University Lawyer John Amman told KSDK that the actions of the couple Sunday could possibly be classified as assault by putting protesters in fear of their safety.

Amman added that the homeowners would have had a right to act if they felt threatened but if the protesters were walking past their home without threatening the couple specifically, they wouldn't have the right to threaten lethal force.

Lawyer Don Calloway called on the Missouri Bar to revoke their licences.

'A fellow lawyer from Missouri, a guy I know named Mark McCloskey committed an assault tonight in STL by pointing his AR 15 at peaceful protesters,' he wrote.

'He should be arrested and charged with assault immediately. The MO Bar should revoke their licenses.'

The Missouri Bar told DailyMail.com that they were aware of the video but it was a matter for Missouri's Chief Disciplinary Counsel.

DailyMail.com reached out to the Missouri Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel for comment but a representative was not available.

In Missouri, there is no state licensing requirements for the possession of a rifle, shotgun or handgun.

According to the NRA, state law does not prohibit the open carrying of firearms, but does prohibit exhibiting 'any weapon readily capable of lethal use' in an angry or threatening manner in the presence of one or more persons.

The couple confronted the group of about 300 protesters after they broke down a gate in the neighborhood, according to NBC News.

Their home is located in Portland Place, a historic district in St. Louis listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The gated community has just under 100 homes, all built between 1890 and 1960.

'These two premier private streets celebrated their 100th anniversary with 77 of the original 89 houses proudly standing as tributes to the owners and the inspired architects and skilled artisans who created them,' a plaque awarded in 1974 reads at the entrance to the district.

Husband and wife, Mark and Patricia McCloskey are both personal injury lawyers

Mark McCloskey can be seen coming out of the front door to protect his home

In the pictures shared online, it doesn't appear that anyone walking in Sunday's protest calling for the resignation of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson was trespassing on their palatial property

The protesters were en route to Mayor Krewson's home to demand her resignation after she released names and addresses of residents who suggested defunding the police department

Twitter users were not happy at the St. Louis mayor releasing names and addresses of people who wanted to defund the police

An online petition started over the weekend calling for Mayor Krewson to resign has generated more than 40,000 signatures.

On Friday night, Mayor Lyda Krewson issued a statement apologizing for her actions. The full statement read: 'In an effort to be transparent and accessible to the public during the Covid-19 pandemic, for more than three months now I have been doing tri-weekly community updates on Facebook.

'Tonight, I would like to apologize for identifying individuals who presented letters to me at City Hall as I was answering a routine question during one of my updates earlier today.

'While this is public information, I did not intend to cause distress or harm to anyone. The post has been removed.'

A protester holds a flyer calling for the resignation of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson as a couple defend their home during a protest against the mayor

An online petition started over the weekend calling for Mayor Krewson to resign has generated more than 40,000 signatures. Pictured: Police officers standing guard during the protest against Mayor Krewson

Protesters hold signs reading 'wanted' and 'Black trans lives matter' during a protest against Mayor Krewson

The word 'resign' is seen painted on the street in front of Mayor Krewson's house in St. Louis

The ACLU of Missouri issued the following statement Friday evening regarding Mayor Krewson's reading of names and addresses:

'Today adds to the list of things we never thought we would have to say. To be clear, it is shocking and misguided for Mayor Lyda Krewson of St. Louis, to broadcast the addresses of those who dare to express a different viewpoint on an issue of public concern.

'It serves no apparent purpose beyond intimidation. We are stronger when we foster open dialogue. The chilling of debate should bother everyone, no matter whether they agree or disagree with the mayor on this particular issue.'

The McCloskeys, who have one grown-up daughter, bought their palatial home in 1988 when Mark said it 'had quarter-inch-thick carbon on it in some places'.

They renovated it to its original standards in a massive 30-year project which they spoke about at great lengths in a 2018 interview.

The enormous estate features a sweeping entry hall and an enormous dining room. One of its most-prized rooms is the 70-foot long ballroom modelled off a hall in the Palazzo Davanzati in Florence.

Signs left on the door of Mayor Krewson's house are seen during a protest calling for her resignation

A sign reading 'Krewson puts her own citizens in danger' was left on the mayor's doorstep

The home - dubbed a 'Renaissance palazzo' previously belonged to Edward and Anna Busch at the start of the 20th century.

Mrs McCloskey previously said the original owners' goal was 'to build one of the most lavish and grand houses in the Midwest'.

The house has five floors and is modelled off European Renaissance palaces. The original owners brought in a 'village of Italian stonemasons that lived in a tent city in the side yard while they finished the stonework' in the luxurious home, Mr McCloskey said.

Mrs McCloskey added: Theres a Medici house in Florence where you come in the front door and its exactly like this. But we havent found it yet.'

The couple carry out their person injury law practice from the historic home.

'The goal of our practice is to provide those sustaining such devastating injuries, or the survivors of those killed as a result of such devastating injuries, with meaningful compensation,' their website says.

Both attended Southern Methodist University School of Law.

Patricia McCloskey's bio lists her as having held roles as a member of the Missouri Bar Association ethical review panel and a St. Louis city committee woman.
China has put half a million people into a strict Wuhan-style lockdown after Beijing recorded a surge in cases which exploded from a wet market in the city.

After China largely brought the virus under control, hundreds have been infected in Beijing and cases have emerged in neighbouring Hebei province in recent weeks.

Health officials said Sunday that Anxin county - about 90 miles from Beijing - will be 'fully enclosed and controlled', the same strict measures imposed at the height of the pandemic in the city of Wuhan earlier this year.

Only one person from each family will be allowed to go out once a day to purchase necessities such as food and medicine, the county's epidemic prevention task force said in a statement.

Medical workers swab throat of people for nucleic acid testing of COVID-19 at a testing site amid the coronavirus outbreak on June 28, 2020 in Beijing, China

The move comes after another 14 cases of the virus were reported in the past 24 hours in Beijing, taking the total to 311 since mid-June and spurring the testing of millions of residents.

The outbreak was first detected in Beijing's sprawling Xinfadi wholesale food market, which supplies much of the city's fresh produce, sparking concerns over the safety of the food supply chain.

Nearly a third of the cases so far have been linked to one beef and mutton section in the market, where workers are being made to quarantine for a month, city officials said Sunday.

Businesses in Anxin county had supplied freshwater fish to the Xinfadi market, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Medical workers swab throat of people for nucleic acid testing of COVID-19 at a testing site amid the coronavirus outbreak on June 28, 2020 in Beijing, China

Some 12 cases of the novel coronavirus were found in the county -- including 11 linked to Xinfadi, the state-run Global Times reported.

The new cases in Beijing have prompted fears of a resurgence of the virus in China.

The capital has mass-tested wholesale market workers, restaurant workers, residents of medium and high-risk neighbourhoods and delivery couriers over the past two weeks.

At a press conference on Sunday, officials said 8.3 million samples have been collected so far, of which 7.7 million have already been tested.

Testing has now expanded to include all employees of the city's beauty parlours and hair salons, the Global Times said.

A new virus cluster has prompted fears of a resurgence of COVID-19 in China

Beijing city official Xu Hejian told reporters Sunday that 'the epidemic situation in the capital is severe and complicated,' warning that the city needed to continue tracing the spread of the virus.

City officials have urged people not to leave Beijing, closed schools again and locked down dozens of residential compounds to stamp out the virus.

But Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiology expert at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters last week the new outbreak had been 'brought under control', and officials lifted a weeks-long lockdown imposed on seven Beijing communities on Friday.
We had been monitoring COVID-19 spread, not only across the country but across the state of Indiana, and we were also closely monitoring many of the pride organizations that operate in Indiana, and some that operate outside of Indiana, to sort of see what direction they were taking and what they had in store, said Amari Victoria, the executive director at LGBTQ Northwest Indiana Inc., and a member of PFLAG board of directors, talking about the postponement of 2020 NWI Pride.
Forty years after a sadistic suburban rapist terrorized California in what investigators later realized were a series of linked assaults and slayings, a 74-year-old former police officer is expected to plead guilty Monday to being the elusive Golden State Killer.

The deal will spare Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. any chance of the death penalty for 13 murders and 13 kidnapping-related charges spanning six counties. In partial return, survivors of the assaults that spanned the 1970s and 1980s expect him to admit to up to 62 rapes that he could not be criminally charged with because too much time has passed.

Yet nothing is certain until he actually speaks in a Sacramento State University ballroom pressed into use as a courtroom to provide for social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.

In this March 12, 2020, file photo, Joseph James DeAngelo, charged with being the Golden State Killer, appears in court in Sacramento, Calif

DeAngelo is shown in his booking photo after his arrest in 2018

Joseph James DeAngelo worked as a police officer in the Central Valley town of Exeter from 1973 to 1976

'Ive been on pins and needles because I just dont like that our lives are tied to him, again,' said Jennifer Carole, the daughter of Lyman Smith, a lawyer who was slain in 1980 at age 43 in Ventura County. His wife, 33-year-old Charlene Smith, was also raped and killed.

Investigators early on connected certain crimes to an armed and masked rapist who would break into sleeping couples suburban homes at night, binding the man and piling dishes on his back. He would threaten to kill both victims if he heard the plates fall while he raped the woman.

Gay and Bob Hardwick were among the survivors.

They are now looking forward to DeAngelo admitting to that 1978 assault. The death penalty was never realistic anyway, she said, given DeAngelo's age and Gov. Gavin Newsom's moratorium on executions.

'He certainly does deserve to die, in my view, so I am seeing that he is trading the death penalty for death in prison,' she said. 'It will be good to put the thing to rest. I think he will never serve the sentence that we have served - weve served the sentence for 42 years.'

A guilty plea and life sentence avoids a trial or even the planned weeks-long preliminary hearing. The victims expect to confront him at his sentencing in August, where it's expected to take several days to tell DeAngelo and Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman what they have suffered.

Ron Harrington's younger brother, Keith, was married to Patti Harrington for just three months when they were bludgeoned to death in their Orange County home in 1980 by a killer then known as the Original Night Stalker.

All four brothers were successful, but 'Keith, the youngest of all of us, was the smartest,' he said. 'Its just such a loss. And every time this comes up I think of all the lives he would have saved as an emergency room doctor.'

Katie and Brian Maggiore were on a walk in 1978 when they were chased down and killed by the Golden State Killer

Their father found the couple two days later.

'It was so gruesome,' Harrington said. 'My dad was never the same.'

The killer racked up a series of monikers for his crimes over the decades.

Visalia Ransacker.

East Area Rapist.

Original Night Stalker.

Diamond Knot Killer.

But it wasn't until years later that investigators connected a series of assaults in central and Northern California to later slayings in Southern California and settled on the umbrella Golden State Killer nickname for the mysterious assailant whose crimes spanned 11 counties from 1974 through mid-1986.

The mystery sparked worldwide interest, a best-selling book and a six-part HBO documentary, 'Ill Be Gone in the Dark,' that premiered Sunday.

It was only the pioneering use of new DNA techniques that two years ago led investigators to DeAngelo, who was fired from the Auburn Police Department northeast of Sacramento in 1979 after he was caught shoplifting dog repellent and a hammer. He previously had worked as a police officer in the Central Valley town of Exeter from 1973 to 1976, near where the Visalia Ransacker struck more than 100 homes south of Fresno.

'I'll Be Gone in the Dark' is a new six-part documentary series based on the book of the same name which explores writer Michelle McNamara's investigation into the Golden State Killer

Investigators painstakingly built a family tree by linking decades-old crime scene DNA to a distant relative through a popular online DNA database. They eventually narrowed in on DeAngelo with a process that has since been used in other cases nationwide, but said they confirmed the link only after surreptitiously collecting his DNA from his car door and a discarded tissue.

His defense attorneys have publicly lobbied since then for a deal that would spare him the death penalty, though they did not respond to repeated requests for comment before Monday's hearing.

Prosecutors who had sought the death penalty cited the massively complicated case and the advancing age of many of the victims and witnesses in agreeing to consider the plea bargain.

'Death doesnt solve anything. But him having to sit though a trial or preliminary hearing, that would have helped,' said Carole, who said neither she nor her slain father believed in capital punishment.

In this Aug. 23, 2018, file photo Jennifer Carole, the daughter of Lyman Smith, believed to be one of the victims of the Golden State Killer, talks with reporters after Joseph James DeAngelo's court appearance in Sacramento, Calif

She was so committed to seeing the case through that she temporarily moved from Santa Cruz to her adult daughter's Sacramento home, where she has slept on an air mattress in a spare bedroom. She has told the story of her father's death and her own recent experiences through podcasts called The Lawyers Daughter.

But she said it 'absolutely' makes sense for prosecutors to agree to a life sentence without parole, both to spare older victims and witnesses who are most vulnerable to the coronavirus from having to appear in court, and to save taxpayers the $20 million projected cost of a trial.

Harrington supports the death penalty, but also agreed with prosecutors' decision 'just to give some degree of closure.'

'This will be a relief for all of us, to move on with our lives,' said Hardwick. 'Weve dealt with the effects of the attack for 42 years.'
A 23-year-old man was arrested in the fatal shooting of a photographer documenting a Breonna Taylor protest at a park in Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday night, police said.

Steven Lopez is being held in connection with the shooting death of 27-year-old Tyler Gerth, who was fatally wounded after bullets were fired at the Taylor demonstration, according to an arrest citation.

Lopez, who had been seen at other protests and was previously arrested with other demonstrators, was wounded in the leg by gunfire from bystanders at the park who were defending themselves, the arrest citation said.

He has been charged with murder and wanton endangerment.

Steven Lopez, a 23-year-old protester, was arrested in the fatal shooting of a photographer documenting a Breonna Taylor protest at a park in Louisville, Kentucky, Saturday night

Steven Lopez is being held in connection with the shooting death of 27-year-old Tyler Gerth (pictured), who was fatally wounded after bullets were fired at the Taylor demonstration

Video footage (pictured) taken at the peaceful protest just before the mayhem began around 9 p.m. in Jefferson Square Park showed a gunman opening fire on masses of people who were in attendance.

The shooting took place at a park that has become a focal point for the city's protests demanding justice for Taylor, the black EMT who was gunned down by cops in her apartment back in March.

Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said Lopez had been participating in the protests since they began and had been arrested a few times.

The arrest citation said Lopez was born in 1996, but it lists no driver's license number or home address, other than Louisville.

Video footage taken at the peaceful protest just before the mayhem began around 9 p.m. in Jefferson Square Park showed a gunman opening fire on masses of people who were in attendance.

The footage also showed people rushing to help a person lying in a pool of blood.

Gerth had been out shooting pictures since the protests began over Taylor's passing and had posted the images on his Instagram account, the Courier Journal reports. He was a vocal supporter of the movement before his passing, according to relatives.

His godfather was Joe Gerth, a columnist for the Courier Journal. Tyler Gerth in turn was godfather to the writer's daughter.

Protesters at the park Sunday said Lopez was a familiar face around the protests but sometimes caused trouble. Julie Sullivan, who was near the corner where the shooter fired, said Lopez was asked to leave earlier on Saturday.

Sullivan said she heard about eight gunshots that broke up an otherwise calm day of demonstrations. She saw some nearby children and yelled for them to crawl toward her.

'I've never been through anything like that, and I hope I never go through anything like that again,' Sullivan said.

Lopez, who had been seen at other protests and was previously arrested (pictured) with other demonstrators, faces murder and first-degree wanton endangerment charges for the death of Gerth

Gerth's family members released a statement saying they were 'devastated that his life was taken was from us far too soon.'

'Tyler was incredibly kind, tender hearted and generous, holding deep convictions and faith,' they wrote.

'It was this sense of justice that drove Tyler to be part of the peaceful demonstrations advocating for the destruction of the systemic racism within our society's systems,' the family members explained.

'This, combined with his passion of photography led to a strong need within him to be there, documenting the movement, capturing and communicating the messages of peace and justice.'

A vigil was to be held for Gerth at Jefferson Square Park Sunday night.

Louisville Metro Police Department released a statement confirming that there were reports of shots fired in the park at around 9 p.m. and that authorities tried to save one man who died at the scene.

Officers then received a report of another shooting victim at the Hall of Justice.

The second victim was taken to University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Louisville police released a statement confirming that there were reports of shots fired in the park at around 9 p.m. Saturday. Pictured is an image of footage taken of the scene

The park is seen taped off later that night after the shooting that left Gerth dead, police said

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer after the shooting Saturday said he was 'deeply saddened' by the incident.

'I am deeply saddened by the violence that erupted in Jefferson Square Park tonight, where those who have been voicing their concerns have been gathered,' Fischer said in a statement.

'It is a tragedy that this area of peaceful protest is now a crime scene.'

This marks at least the second shooting in the last month during protests in Louisville over Taylor's death.

On May 28, seven people were shot in a shooting near City Hall.

Taylor's mother broke her silence over the violence then urged people to stop 'hurting each other' amid demands for justice over her daughter's slaying.

Taylor, 26, was shot eight times and killed when three plain clothes officers performed a botched no-knock arrest warrant at her apartment in Louisville on March 13.

Breonna Taylor (pictured) was shot eight times and killed when three plain clothes officers performed a no-knock arrest warrant at her apartment in Louisville on March 13

The three officers said they were investigating drugs offenses and that Taylor's boyfriend opened fire on them when they entered.

Her family say neither she - a hardworking EMT - nor her boyfriend used drugs and that he fired his gun because he thought the three plain clothes officers were intruders.

This week Louisville police fired one of the cops involved in her death saying he showed 'extreme indifference to the value of human life' when he 'blindly fired 10 rounds' into her apartment.

Officer Brett Hankison, 44, was fired Tuesday from the department for his part in her killing, where he violated the department's regulations and deadly force standards, Louisville Metro Police announced.

Hankison said he was appealing the decision, as his attorney blasted his firing as 'a cowardly political act'.

Officer Brett Hankison was fired Tuesday from the department for his part in the killing of black EMT Taylor, 26, Louisville Metro Police announced

Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly (left) and Officer Myles Cosgrove (right) are the other two cops involved in the killing of the black woman. Neither of them have been fired

The Kentucky Attorney General is still yet to decide whether to bring charges against any of the three cops three months on from Taylor's slaying and the other two cops involved - Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrave - have not been fired.

Last week, FBI agents searched Taylor's home for evidence as part of their revived investigation.

Louisville PD has repeatedly come under fire for its handling of the case.

Earlier in the month, the force released a heavily redacted incident report which said Taylor had no injuries despite her having been shot eight times and killed in the raid.

The family has accused the city of deliberately ignoring subpoenas for records relating to her death that were requested as part of a lawsuit filed by the victim's mother, Tamika Palmer, back in April.

Taylor's death has sparked outrage across America.

NEW YORK: Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters congregate at the City Hall in New York as part of the 'Defund NYPD' and 'Occupy City Hall' movement

NEW YORK: In New York, hundreds of protesters camped outside City Hall Saturday night demanding lawmakers slash the New York City police budget by $1billion

NEW YORK: The demonstrators are demanding the New York City Council City Council cut at least $1 billion from the police department's current $6 billion budget when it begins considering a new city budget

Anger over her death was ignited further following the death of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day at the hands of a white cop.

Protesters have been taking to the streets of the nation demanding an end to police brutality and systemic racism, and calls are mounting for widespread police reform.

In New York, hundreds of protesters camped outside City Hall Saturday night demanding lawmakers slash the New York City police budget by $1billion.

The 'Occupy City Hall' encampment began forming Tuesday following weeks of street protests over the death of Floyd and other black Americans killed by cops.

The demonstrators are demanding the New York City Council City Council cut at least $1 billion from the police department's current $6 billion budget when it begins considering a new city budget.

According to NY1, protesters have designated the area police free, and say officers have been keeping their distance.

The encampment was told it is allowed to remain a protest zone as long as no structures were set up, the New York Post reported.

PORTLAND: In Portland, Oregon, protesters have been trying to establish an autonomous zone outside the North police precinct

PORTLAND: Saturday marked the 31st night of protests and reports of clashes between protesters and cops continued

Organizers have called it 'Occupy City Hall' - a nod to the 2010 Occupy Wall Street movement a few blocks away in Zuccotti Park.

Meanwhile over in Portland, Oregon, protesters have been trying to establish an autonomous zone outside the North police precinct.

Scenes descended into chaos Friday night on the one-month anniversary of Floyd's death with stores looted and fires set in the area.

Saturday marked the 31st night of protests and reports of clashes between protesters and cops continued.

According to reports on social media, officers deployed shot pepper balls at protesters and tear gas was used to disperse crowds as Portland Police put out a statement that riot control agents were being used at around 1:30 a.m. and told people 'you are ordered to disperse immediately'.

Reports also surfaced that a car had been driven into protesters in the area.
A group of concreters who discovered a business owner had left 10,000 rolls of toilet paper from China in a park next to her home have defended taking some and offering it up for free on a social media post that quickly went viral.

Meanwhile, the owner of the toilet paper also hit back at allegations she was profiting off panic buying, saying she would make little money from selling loo roll at her convenience stores - and claimed her supplies would help the elderly and disadvantaged in the community who couldn't find any in supermarkets.

Elie Abousleiman and two of his colleagues had just finished a job on June 16 when they came across the mountain of 48-packs in a Macquarie Fields park in Sydney's south-west.

What the tradesmen had found was a shipment belonging to Celia Deng, 47, who had imported the rolls from China to supply her two nearby convenience stores.

Ms Deng - who was moving the consignment into her home next to the park land - told Daily Mail Australia she decided to start importing her toilet paper two months ago because of the shortage of supply in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Facebook Live footage that has since divided opinion across Australia, Mr Abousleiman filmed the group mocking the woman while picking up packs of the essential product and taking them to their ute parked on a nearby road.

Concreter Elie Abousleiman (right) and two of his colleagues stumbled across a pile of toilet paper being temporarily stored by shop owner Celia Deng outside a home in Macquarie Fields in Sydney's south-west on June 16

The group of concreters took the toilet paper from Ms Deng's pile after discovering she had stashed thousands of rolls (pictured) outside her home

The bizarre scenes came a week before Coles and Woolworths revived purchase limits on toilet paper as COVID-19 infections surged again in Victoria.

'Too much f***ing toilet paper,' he can be heard saying in the footage before encouraging those watching the stream to come and get free loo roll.

'Boys bring your truck and dogs - this stupid b***h is taking everything off the shelves and hiding it in her garage.'

The group also accused the woman of trying to ship the toilet paper from Australia to China.

Mr Abousleiman told Daily Mail Australia he couldn't believe his eyes when he found the huge mountain of toilet paper.

'I was just so surprised to see it,' he said. 'If its her property then I suppose it's her business but it was on public land for all to see.

'I told her we'd help her to move all of it for $500 but she said that was too much.

Pictured: One of Ms Deng's shop assistants Roanna James with some of the toilet rolls imported from China by her manager. She said her boss had bought the large quantity of loo roll to help her community to get access to the product at a cheap price

'I was going to put what I saw on Facebook Live anyway because everyone is fighting for toilet paper at the moment. I was speechless at such a mountain of toilet paper.'

The concreter said he also took exception to Ms Deng, whose supermarket staff had emptied a container into the park, using public land as a temporary storage space for the thousands of toilet rolls.

'If it's her property then fair enough but if it's council land it's another thing altogether,' he said.

Mr Abousleiman said he was stunned to find the huge mountain of toilet paper lying in public land

Ms Deng was moving the consignment into her home (pictured) next to park land to supply her two convenience stores

Ms Deng, who moved to Australia 12 years ago as a skilled migrant, said she took offence at being accused of trying to profit from the toilet paper shortage.

She said her motivation to import the essential product in such a large quantity was to help her customers - especially those who are elderly - get access to toilet paper.

'The profit margins on toilet paper are small. From a $10,000 container, I make a profit of about $500 - so only five per cent,' she said.

'Normal profit margins can be between 10 to 30 per cent - you can't make money on toilet paper.

'I'm selling a 48 pack for $22 - or $1.99 for a four pack - I just want to help people at the most difficult of times.'

One of Ms Deng's employees at her store in Appin, south-west of Sydney, said she found the earful her manager received for the shipment 'pretty disgusting'.

Pictured: The Appin newsagent Ms Deng operates as a franchisee. She said she is selling the toilet roll at a profit margin of only five per cent

'She's buying the loo roll for the elderly in the community who can't get it,' shop assistant Roanna James, 23, said.

'Everyone here looks after each other.'

Ms Deng has two shops within a 30-minute drive of her home which she owns as a franchisee - the Spar Express in Glenfield and the Australia Post Licensed Post Office in Appin.

In the footage shared to the social media platform earlier this month, both Ms Deng and the tradesmen could be heard threatening to call the police on each other.

'We're going to call the police on you - too much f***ing toilet paper,' one of the tradesmen says when she threatens to notify authorities.

The group appear to try and sell the goods to passers-by for $5, before Mr Abousleiman launched into an angry tirade.

The trio filmed themselves picking up 48-packs from the mountain of toilet paper piled high outside the home in Macquarie Fields in Sydney's south west

'Do you know what you've done to Australia?' he asks Ms Deng.

'You guys have no work to do?' she responds, before the voice behind the camera says 'we've got plenty of work to do looking at you'.

'F**k me dead - what a f**king joke - hey boys take one home,' he said.

'Jason get your truck, it's higher than f**king me. It's higher than the fence.'

When a passer-by asks if the woman had a shop nearby, the voice responds 'no - to send to China'.

New South Wales Police said the force had not received any complaints relating to the video.

Social media users reacting to the video shared online had split opinions on the dispute

The video received mixed responses from viewers - with some saying the shop owner was in the right.

'There is no context to this this video. She could be a shop owner,' one person wrote on Facebook.

'And if she did hoard them then she did so months ago and you can now get toilet paper like normal at the shops again.'

Others though thought the tradesmen were in the right given the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

'People are actually starting to hoard toilet paper again. People like this make it hard for other families - they should be ashamed,' another wrote.

Sydneysiders last week again started to flock to supermarkets to stock up on toilet paper - three months after panic buying first crippled the nation.

NSW supermarkets have started to again experience shortages in their supply of toilet paper amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria. Pictured: Empty shelves at Woolworths in Green Hills

Shoppers complained on social media on Friday that toilet paper was in short supply at Coles supermarkets in Leichhardt, Merrylands and Roselands in Sydney on Thursday.

Woolworths in Roselands and Coles Toronto in Lake Macquarie also experienced high demand for loo roll.

All Coles and Coles Express stores across the country now limit toilet paper and paper towel purchases to just one pack.

In addition, Victorian stores and those along the NSW border have two-item limits on hand sanitiser, flour, sugar, pasta, mince, UHT milk, eggs and rice.
Porn star Ron Jeremy told stories about his porn movies while wearing semen-stained Crocs during a trip to Melbourne, sources have claimed.

The adult film actor was charged with raping three women and sexually assaulting another in West Hollywood between May 2014 and July last year.

Before his allegations, Jeremy, who is known as The Hedgehog, appeared as a guest at Sexpo in Melbourne in 2012.

Sources told The Herald Sun the 67-year-old had organised a group of women for an act he called the 'Hellenic Hedgehog' before being seen wearing the footwear at the Eros Sex Awards.

Ron Jeremy pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles court on Friday after he was charged with multiple sex crimes, including rape and sexual assault

'He was busted for wearing crocs with sperm stains on them,' the source said.

'Then he hosted an after-party and commentated his own porn moves in between naps on the nightclub couch.'

Jeremy was charged 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.

Prosecutors allege Jeremy raped a 25-year-old woman at a West Hollywood home in May 2014, sexually assaulted a 33-year-old woman and a 46-year-old woman in separate incidents at a West Hollywood bar in 2017, and raped a 30-year-old woman at the same bar in July of last year.

Ron Jeremy poses with two models at the Sexpo media launch at the Parkroyal Hotel in Sydney in March 2012

If convicted of all the counts he could face 90 years in prison.

Jeremy pleaded not guilty to all allegations on Friday and remains in custody as bail was set at $6.6million.

His attorney Stuart Goldfarb said on Tuesday he is 'absolutely innocent of the charges. It's not a close call.'

Goldfarb said witnesses who spoke to both detectives and his own investigator have cast doubt on the allegations.

The lawyer said Jeremy often gropes women with their consent during public appearances, and suggested his long life as an adult performer makes him less likely to have committed sexual crimes.

'There is absolutely no reason for him to ever be aggressive with women,' Goldfarb said.

'He's had more women than you can count.'

Ginger Banks, the 30-year-old porn star who first exposed sexual assault allegations against Jeremy, said this week that she has since spoken with at least 50 other alleged victims who claim to have been raped or groped by him.

In a tweet, Jeremy said: 'I am innocent of all charges. I can't wait to prove my innocence in court! Thank you to everyone for all the support.'
A newsreader has shared her heart-wrenching experience of miscarrying live on air and having to finish the segment before seeking medical help.

TVNZ presenter and journalist Miriama Kamo featured in the latest episode of Misconceptions, an online video series about losing a pregnancy.

In part six, which aired on Monday, the award-winning broadcaster described how she lost a baby at work while on camera in front of the nation.

'I lost a pregnancy when I was reading the news,'Ms Kamo said, the NZ Herald reports.

TVNZ presenter and journalist Miriama Kamo (pictured) has opened up about losing a pregnancy live on air while reading the news

'I remember the cameras were all playing up that night - and I was like ''I can't believe this camera has gone, now that's one gone down, I'm losing my baby, I've got one camera left - I've got to get to the end of this bulletin and then deal with this".'

Misconceptions is a ten-part video-based online series made by Digital Alchemist and funded by NZ On Air which aims to 'break down the myths and provide practical help' for those who have experienced the trauma of having a miscarriage.

The series features stories of well-known New Zealand personalities as well as couples who have lost pregnancies.

Episode six, Accessing Support, focuses on where women and their families can go to receive help and advice following a miscarriage.

GP Cathy Stephenson said a lot of couples fall through the cracks and are not advised of where to access support.

'In most parts of New Zealand your pregnancy is managed by a midwife, not by your GP, but a lot of people can't get in to a midwife until they are 12 weeks, so you may feel like - I don't really know where to go,' she said.

Ms Kamo (pictured) said she lost a baby while live on air but had to continue until the end of the segment

Families also spoke about how the terminology around losing a baby, which is determined by the medical stage in which it occurred, can further increase feelings of isolation.

'It was termed an 'incomplete abortion' - something almost less than human,' said grieving mother Kathryn Stothers, who lost her child before 12 weeks.

Unfortunately, loss of a baby is quite common- with one in four pregnancies in Australia and New Zealand ending in miscarriage.

Ms Kamo, 46, has spoken publicly her battle to have children after suffering through six miscarriages and being diagnosed with endometriosis.

In 2011, Ms Kamo, who presents TVNZ current affairs programme Sunday, and Maori current affairs programme Marae, gave birth to a daughter Te Rerehua Kamo Dreaver, now nine, with husband Michael Dreaver.
Young Australians entering the workforce during the coronavirus recession in 2020 stand to lose $32,000 in wages by the end of the decade.

Corporate consultancy EY calculated a 21-year-old university graduate would be a lot worse off even if the Australian economy began to recover this year, and suggested young people make changes now to prepare themselves.

'While it might feel like Australia's economy will bounce back once lockdown is lifted, that won't change the impact the current recessionary job market will have on recent school or tertiary graduates,' economists Jo Masters and Bonnie Barker said.

'That is, the class of 2020 will be adversely affected, whether Australia's economy starts to recover this year, or later.'

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Young Australians entering the workforce during the coronavirus recession in 2020 stand to lose $32,000 in wages by the end of the decade. Pictured is a waitress at the Ambrosia and Co cafe at Bulimba in inner-Brisbane

Corporate consultancy EY calculated a 21-year-old university graduate would be a lot worse off even if the Australian economy began to recover this year

They calculated the $32,000 shortfall in potential wages for a young person today would be the equivalent of four months' work by the end of the 2020s.

This shortfall would also leave them $30,000 less to retire on and $22,000 less to either spend on a mortgage deposit or home loan repayments.

A higher-income law graduate would lose $46,000 over a decade and have $38,000 less to retire on, EY calculated.

A lower-income hospital cleaner would be deprived of $16,000 over ten years and $18,000 in retirement savings.

EY, previously known as Ernst and Young, said Australian workers typically saw 70 to 90 per cent of their income growth during their first decade in full-time work.

A recession would shrink company earnings and government revenue, depriving the young of promotions whether they worked in the private or public sectors.

Australia hasn't suffered from a recession since 1991 which means no one under the age of 47 has experienced being in the local labour force as an adult during a major economic downturn. Pictured is chief Thomas Pagnon packing a French takeaway meal in Melbourne on May 8, 2020

A higher-income law graduate would lose $46,000 over a decade and have $38,000 less to retire on, EY calculated

'Even for those who are already employed, recessions have an impact through lower wage growth and fewer job opportunities manifesting as fewer promotions, new roles or training,' the EY report said.

COVID-19 labour market at a glance Unemployment: it surged from 5.2 per cent in March to 6.2 per cent in April - the highest since September 2015 Number unemployed climbed by 104,500 to 823,300 In April, 489,800 people left the labour force, which meant 594,300 either lost their job or gave up looking for one Underemployment soared by 4.9 percentage points to record 13.7 per cent Tally of underemployed Australians surged by 603,300 to 1.8million Participation rate plunged by an unprecedented 2.4 percentage points to 63.5 per cent Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Advertisement

Australia hasn't suffered from a recession since 1991 which means no one under the age of 47 has experienced being in the local labour force as an adult during a major economic downturn.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg earlier this month confirmed Australia was most likely already in a recession, defined as two consecutive quarters of contraction, after official data showed a 0.3 per cent shrinkage in the March quarter - the first since 2011.

The Reserve Bank is predicting a ten per cent plunge in Australia's economic output in the first half of 2020, as a result of the bushfires and the COVID-19 shutdowns, which is the equivalent of four-and-a-half years of gross domestic product.

In the circumstances, EY said younger workers needed to be more open-minded about boosting their skills to win the fewer opportunities for promotion.

'Proactively making small changes to habits and mindset now, such as increasing savings rates, boosting superannuation contributions and potentially moving jobs if the opportunity presents to upskill, improve the job skills match or boost income can make a material difference (acknowledging these opportunities may be fewer in a recession),' they said.
The reed warbler has a number of attributes, including agility and a distinctive singing voice. Intelligence clearly isnt on the list.

Indeed, this one proved spectacularly birdbrained when she returned with a tasty morsel in her beak.

Confronted, not by little warblers but a very large cuckoo chick, she didnt bat an eyelid and dropped food into its gaping beak, believing it was one of her own offspring.

The warbler returned with a tasty morsel in her beak and was confronted by a very large cuckoo chick

The image was taken by Dr Michael Ebdy, 64, at Martin Mere Wetland Centre in Burscough, Lancashire, who explained the warblers action.

The instinct to feed is provoked by the red mouth of the chick and is so strong that it overrides the obvious fact that this is not a warbler chick! he said.

The bizarre scene is the result of the cuckoos sneaky habit of laying eggs in the nests of other species and leaving the unwitting birds to raise their chicks which then head to Africa in August.

She didn't bat an eyelid and dropped food into its gaping beak, believing it was one of her own offspring

The bizarre scene is the result of the cuckoos sneaky habit of laying eggs in the nests of other species and leaving the unwitting birds to raise their chicks

Dr Ebdy, a GP who recently came out of retirement to help fight coronavirus, said: 'The cuckoo's behaviour is called brood parasitism and is remarkable in several ways.

'Firstly, the cuckoos lay different coloured eggs to mimic those of the various birds acting as hosts.

'Secondly the parent's instinct to feed is provoked by the red mouth of the chick, and is so strong that it overrides the obvious fact that this is not a warbler chick!

'Lastly, the parent cuckoos fly back to Africa in July.

'The chicks do so in August, never having met their parents, yet somehow they know where to go. Amazing.'
China's state media has claimed Australia is ramping up spying efforts against Beijing as diplomatic ties come under heavy pressure.

The Chinese Communist Party-run Global Times tabloid accuses Australia of waging an intensifying espionage offensive through sending spies to China.

It also claims Australia is instigating defections, spying on Chinese students and feeding 'fake news' to the media to hype up theories about Chinese spying.

China's state media has claimed Australia is ramping up spying efforts against Beijing as diplomatic ties come under heavy pressure. Pictured: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (left), Chinese President Xi Jinping (right)

The story, which is based on an anonymous source from a Chinese law-enforcement agency, says Australia tried to install wire taps in the Chinese embassy in Canberra. Pictured: What the publication alleges to be a wire tap in the embassy in Canberra

The Global Times published photos of 'spying materials' including a compass, a USB flash disk, a notebook, a mask, gloves and a map of Shanghai, said to have been seized from arrested Australian agents

The story, which is based on an anonymous source from a Chinese law-enforcement agency, says Australia tried to install wire taps in the Chinese embassy in Canberra.

It comes days after an obscure NSW upper house MP was raided by ASIO and federal police over allegations Chinese agents had infiltrated his office.

Shaoquett Moselmane was last week kicked out of the Labor Party and faces a suspension from parliament.

The Global Times published photos of 'spying materials' including a compass, a USB flash disk, a notebook, a mask, gloves and a map of Shanghai, said to have been seized from arrested Australian agents.

The state-owned newspaper warned Chinese agencies would take a harder line on Australian espionage operations.
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Police in New York City have scuffled with protesters and used pepper spray at a gay rights march organized to call for an end to police brutality - despite the official parade being canceled due to coronavirus.

The Queer Liberation March, taking place for the second year running, drew thousands to the cause after the traditional parade was called off in April.

The peaceful protest descended into chaos when police charged at activists gathered in Washington Square in Manhattan.

As two were being arrested for graffiti, protesters intervened in an attempt to free them, at which point police responded with pepper spray, multiple witnesses told Gothamist.

Police confronted protesters in Washington Square in New York City on Sunday at the end of a pride parade

The Queer Liberation March had begun peacefully but descended into scuffles once police began making arrests

At least two officers were caught in pepper spray that was loosed on the crowd on Sunday

The officers doused their faces with water to get the pepper spray out of their eyes, assisted by their colleagues

A legal observer said at least four people were arrested and 10 others pepper sprayed - including someone running a fruit stand near protesters.

'We were dancing right in front of the arch on Fifth Avenue and out of nowhere, cops started storming into the crowd,' said Mike Perles, a 29-year-old city employee.

He told the site: 'They pushed everyone in front of them out of the way and onto the ground. They pushed a reporter who was taking photos down and started randomly pepper spraying people.

'I couldn't see anyone instigating.

'It seemed like they felt out numbered after entering a huge group and panicked and started beating people up.'

Pippa Bianco, a volunteer with NourishNYC, told Gothamist she was shoved and held down by officers while seeing three others get pepper sprayed.

'I was totally peaceful, we all were - I was picking up food for a volunteer food station when the cops rushed into the crowd in a panic and started the violence.'

Bianco helped four others get water and medical attention after they were pepper sprayed.

She also saw a police medic pouring water into the eyes of two other cops after they accidentally got the pepper spray in their eyes.

'The man who was arrested was crying and saying he was hurting and the cops were dragging him by his hands so his weight was against his shoulders pulling [on] the sockets,' said Bianco.

Organizers said that the killing of George Floyd on May 25 spurred them to rethink their plan to call the march off this year

Thousands took to the streets on Sunday marching both to end police brutality and to protect gay rights

The march began around 1pm in Lower Manhattan then wound its way up towards Washington Square

Mark Apolloa, live-streaming on Facebook, narrated: 'The NYPD is going ballistic.'

At the end of the 30-minute broadcast, he concluded: 'I don't know what kicked it off. But the situation was at a point where this was almost Stonewall Two.'

The Stonewall riots in 1969 saw the birth of the Pride movement.

Last year five million people joined in the festivities in New York marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, and uniting everyone for the annual World Pride event.

'There was an excessive amount of police once the march got here,' Apolloa said.

'If it wasn't for that things wouldn't have escalated to the point they did.'

The protest began around 1pm, and was promoted as an alternative to the traditional Pride parade.

Organizers said the Queer Liberation March was less corporate and focused on defunding NYPD, in addition to defending gay rights.

Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York, is under pressure to shave as much as $1 billion from the City's $6 billion policing budget.

Thousands of people joined in the demonstration, which was an alternative to the traditional Pride Parade

Protesters, activists and their supporters took to the streets of Manhattan on Sunday in a show of force

The demonstrators were calling for an end to police brutality, the defunding of the NYPD, and respect for gay rights

Jay Walker, one of the organizers, said: 'We're just standing here arm-and-arm with black folks, black trans folks, with brown folks, everybody that is under the boot of the police  not just NYPD  all over this country.'

'One of our mottoes was 'We're here for queer liberation, not rainbow capitalism,'' said one of the organizers, Natalie James, at a recent event.

'A lot of longtime activists had just stopped going to Pride,' said another organizer, Jay W. Walker.

'They were kind of sickened by it.'

He brought up the concept of 'pinkwashing', in which 'corporate bad actors' make token gestures but fail to address root causes of discrimination.

'A big part of our issue with the corporations is they're not consistent in their support for us throughout the year,' said Francesca Barjon, the group's social-media organizer.

'It's about being able to profit off of us in June.'

Walker said they intended to call the protest off due to COVID-19 concerns, but reversed their decision following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.

'Stonewall was a riot, we're not rioting,' he told amNewYork Metro, ahead of Sunday's event.

The Stonewall Inn riots of 1969 sparked a worldwide movement to demand respect for gay rights

'We're just standing here arm-and-arm with black folks, black trans folks, with brown folks, everybody that is under the boot of the police  not just NYPD  all over this country.

'We had every intention of doing this again this year until Ms. 'Rona showed up, so we canceled and went virtual.

'Then when we all saw Mr Floyd being murdered before our eyes, we started getting out in the streets.'

The Queer Liberation March had its roots in the 2017 Pride March, which featured the debut of the Resistance Contingent - a consortium of activist groups that formed in response to the Trump Administration.

It included groups such as Gays Against Guns, which staged a die-in, and Hoods4Justice, which formed a blockade to prevent the NYPD marching band from joining the parade, with banners reading 'There are no queer friendly cops' and 'Decolonize pride.'

Streets across Manhattan were crowded with people celebrating Pride and calling for change in policing tactics

A woman on Sunday shows her support for the cause in a colorful hat and Frida Kahlo mask

New York was not the only city to host alternative Pride parades.

In Chicago, where the official parade was canceled due to COVID, a group of LGBTQ activists and community members marched through the North Side to 'reclaim Pride' from corporate sponsors.

Organizers said the Sunday march and rally is about reclaiming the grassroots efforts that launched the LGBTQ movement.

Hundreds of people gathered near the CTA Belmont station in the Lakeview neighborhood at noon, and marchers made their way along the two-mile route north to Uptown.

In Minneapolis, nearly 1,000 people took to the streets to demand respect for gay rights and justice for George Floyd.

The peaceful protesters were demanding justice for Floyd, community control of police and defense of black trans people.

DJ Hooker, who organized the rally, said it was more relevant than ever.

'We are calling this the "Pride take back,"' he told Kare 11. 'We are taking back pride.

'It is really sad times. It has been a month since George Floyd's death and that still impacts a lot of people.'

People dance in front of the Minneapolis First Precinct during a Pride march held on Sunday

Demonstrators in Chicago called for respect for gay rights and black trans lives during Sunday's peaceful protest

Thousands gathered in the streets for the Pride Without Prejudice march in Chicago, held on Sunday
A mysterious man dubbed 'the orgasm whisperer' has emerged in California with a reputation for transforming sex lives, leaving dozens of women raving about his 'life changing' services on social media.

The man, who solely goes by 'M' and worked for 10 years as a personal trainer, runs a website where he calls himself the O-Man and teaches women how to orgasm.

And the results, according to his glowing testimonials, are stunning as women claim they were able to orgasm for the first time in their lives. Others claim the O-Man helped them climax dozens of times within a few hours and they're now able to orgasm easier than ever before.

And his secret isn't some wild technique - he assesses his client's posture and body alignment, fixes it through vibration or massage therapy, and leaves them more relaxed and prepared to orgasm.

He made the connection between body alignment and sex when he used his physical therapy skills during a Tinder date last fall, where he left his partner absolutely stunned.

She told him their wild rendezvous wasn't 'normal' saying, 'You have a gift'.

She advertised his skills on Facebook and through word of mouth his fame spread through Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.

And despite his fame, the 5ft 8, brown-eyed orgasm expert has gone to great lengths to keep his identity a secret.

A mysterious man dubbed 'the orgasm whisperer' has emerged in California's San Fernando Valley with a notorious reputation for transforming sex lives, leaving dozens of women raving about his 'life changing' services

And the reviews on his website are nothing short of praiseworthy.

'Through his workouts and spinal adjustments, Ive been able to not only cut down the amount of time to orgasmingIve started orgasming multiple times in a row. Not to mention the physical changes taking place. Im taller, leaner and overall more fit. This has brought so much joy into my life and changed my whole perception about orgasming, the female body, and my relationships with men. His patience, care and thoroughness shine through his magical work!' one testimonial on his website says.

'It took a week of work with the O-man for me to have the best orgasm of my life, another woman said.

While there are a myriad of orgasmic dysfunction therapies and remedies out there, there isn't much research in the O-Man's musculoskeletal approach to improving sex.

'Heres the thing about orgasms. Everyone says theyre "not a push-button thing." Theyre all "mental." Well, what if there is a button, or a series of buttons, that we can push? What if weve just been pressing the wrong ones all along? What if the knees are a button? Or even the shoulders?' he said in an interview with Mel Magazine, which reported that dozens of women raved about his talents on Facebook.

He says he learned the importance of posture and the alignment of muscles and nerves in the body after he got into a horrific gym accident where a medicine ball impacted his ribs and he needed over three years of physical therapy.

This O-Man client said 'within minutes he understood my body better than I have in years'

This woman said the O-man helped reduce chronic pain she suffers in addition to improving her sex life

This woman said the O-Man's work is 'pleasure medicine'

This client said she was skeptical at first but was stunned with the results of their session

When he couldn't keep paying to rehab his diaphragm he developed his own solutions, experimenting to create tricks to relieve his muscle tension and misalignments.

One of those key discoveries was vibration, which can unclench muscles and relax tension - a tactic he now uses with his clients.

By 2015 when he had healed, he could take 'one look at a persons body and tell them which joits and muscles were out of alignment' and hed fix it through simple stretching, deep-tissue massage and a few targeted exercise to stabilize the spine and improve posture.

'Nobody knows about this. I tried to find other people who are trying to help women orgasm this way, but I found nothing,' sex therapist Jamila Dawson based in Los Angeles said to Mel Magazine.

'I absolutely believe orgasm is related to psychology, relationships and culture. It would be ridiculous to say that its just a purely physical issue of pelvic or spine alignment or that people shouldnt try to address it with a multifaceted approach,' the O-Man said.

He criticized the idea that women can't orgasm due to some mental block.

'When you treat women with orgasmic issues like theres something wrong happening in her brain, it sends a difficult message,' he said.

'Youre telling somebody that theyre thinking wrong. Well, what does that do? Then theyre thinking about how theyre thinking. And suddenly, theyre in their head. Theres a time and a place for that and Im not knocking it, but theres also a time and place for when you just need to come. Why do you think people like vibrators so much?' he added.

He said that his approach  focusing on body alignment, posture and muscle strength  have actual long-term benefits for ones sex life: stronger, more frequent orgasms, mood improvement restful sleep and help in recovery and pain management.

Heather Jeffcoat, a pelvic floor physical therapist in Los Angeles, says the ideas of Ms approach to sex makes perfect sense.

'Alignment is important head to toe,' she said.

She said that the pelvic floor functions optimally when its in a balanced, neutral position. If anything is off in the neck, hips or knees, the lower back overcompensates, which throws the pelvic out of alignment.

The O-Man says hell conceal his identity to the public until hes ready. He says hes entertaining the idea of training other people to teach others how to help people orgasm using his techniques and may design and release sex toys that will stretch and stabilize certain muscle groups

When this happens the muscles that stabilize the pelvis become overly tight and asymmetric, which restricts blood flow and prevents contractions in muscles, like the glutes and abductors, which are needed for strong orgasms.

She said that the alignment or position of one's spine can have a major impact in a person's sex life.

Even just slumping or hunching limits the diaphragm and in turn the pelvis.

'The diaphragm and pelvic floor work in synergy with one another, and can become dysfunctional together, too,' she said. 'A dysfunctional pelvic floor can lead to orgasm issues, but other pelvic floor dysfunctions such as incontinence and painful sex as well.'

'Orgasmic dysfunction should never be looked at through the lens of just the pelvic floor. Its a total body problem,' she said.

While focused on women, the O-Man said he also works with trans and non binary people and started taking on male clients via webcam.

'Women have worse joint health. The way we treat their bodies is sort of like institutionalized insanity. We jam them into tiny shoes that ruin their feet and posture, constrain their diaphragms with bras, give them heavy bags and purses and coif them with haircuts that, while inarguably cute, force them to hold their necks in ways that throw them out of alignment, he said.

Still, the O-Man says hell conceal his identity to the public until hes ready.

He says hes entertaining the idea of training other people to teach others how to help people orgasm using his techniques and may design and release sex toys that will stretch and stabilize certain muscle groups.

Until then his lips are sealed.
SCOTUS Strikes Down Hospital Privilege Requirement for Abortionists, Condemning Women to Hands of Fly-By-Night Abortionists

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Operation Rescue

June 29, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC, June 29, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- In a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law that required abortionists to maintain local hospital privileges. This ruling in June Medical Services v. Russo has left women vulnerable to abortionists who travel from state to state, dumping women on emergency rooms when things go wrong.

Chief Justice John Roberts flipped to join the leftist majority against the Louisiana safety law similar to one he voted to uphold in the 2016 Whole Women's Health v. Hellerstedt case.

"Once again the U.S. Supreme Court has chosen to betray the trust of women, leaving them defenseless against what is tantamount to patient abandonment and potentially fatal breaks in their continuity of care by what we call traveling 'Fly-By-Night' abortionists," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman, whose organization documents medical emergencies at abortion facilities. "Abortionists oppose hospital privilege requirements because they know they cannot meet the high standards hospitals require, and because they understand that their botched abortions pose a liabilities that hospitals are hesitant to assume."

Operation Rescue filed an amicus brief in this case supporting the Louisiana law.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh all dissented, and each wrote their own dissenting opinion.

Justice Thomas wrote, "Today a majority of the Court perpetuates its ill-founded abortion jurisprudence by enjoining a perfectly legitimate state law and doing so without jurisdiction."

Thomas explained that abortionists and abortion facilities, not women who were impaired in their so-called right to take the lives of their unborn babies.

"Their sole claim before this Court is that Louisiana's law violates the purported substantive due process right of a woman to abort her unborn child. But they concede that this right does not belong to them, and they seek to vindicate no private rights of their own. Under a proper understanding of Article III, these plaintiffs lack standing to invoke our jurisdiction," Justice Thomas concluded.

"We expect that today's ruling will only add to abortion dangers for women and may result in an increase of abortions in the U.S.," said Newman. "This is a tragedy that we lay at the doorstep of Justice Roberts, who actually knows better, but has decided to put his alliance with leftist activist justices above protecting the public from harm. His part in this travesty is a disgrace."

Read the opinion in June Medical Services v. Russo

Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Click here to support Operation Rescue.



SOURCE Operation Rescue

CONTACT:

Troy Newman, President, 316-683-6790 ext. 111

Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President, 316-516-3034

both with Operation Rescue, info.operationrescue@gmail.com

Related Links

www.operationrescue.org

https://abortiondocs.org

https://abortion911.com
The release dates for much-anticipated Hollywood blockbuster "Mulan" and spy drama "Tenet" have been pushed back again due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Disney's upcoming epic fantasy war drama "Mulan" based on the legendary Chinese heroine has been postponed until Aug. 21, The Walt Disney Studios announced Friday.

The live-action film set in China was first scheduled to hit U.S. theaters on March 27 but was later rescheduled to July 24 due to the pandemic.

"While the pandemic has changed our release plans for 'Mulan' and we will continue to be flexible as conditions require, it has not changed our belief in the power of this film and its message of hope and perseverance," Alan Horn, co-chairman and chief creative officer, and Alan Bergman, co-chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, said in a statement.

"Director Niki Caro and our cast and crew have created a beautiful, epic, and moving film that is everything the cinematic experience should be, and that's where we believe it belongs  on the world stage and the big screen for audiences around the globe to enjoy together," the statement read.

"Mulan," which cost US$200 million to make, stars Liu Yifei in the title role following a year-long global casting, with Gong Li as a powerful and dangerous witch, Donnie Yen as an army commander, and Jet Li as the emperor of China.

The film is an adaptation of Disney's 1998 animated classic of the same name. According to folk legend, Hua Mulan lived during a tumultuous era in Chinese history more than 1,400 years ago. She disguised herself as a man to serve in the army in place of her aged father and fight for her country.

The announcement came just one day after Warner Bros. decided to delay the theatrical release of Christopher Nolan's "Tenet" for the second time. The film, which also cost US$200 million to make, was pushed back from July 31 to Aug. 12.

"Warner Bros. is committed to bringing 'Tenet' to audiences in theaters, on the big screen, when exhibitors are ready and public health officials say it's time," the company said in a statement.

"In this moment what we need to be is flexible, and we are not treating this as a traditional movie release. We are choosing to open the movie mid-week to allow audiences to discover the film in their own time, and we plan to play longer, over an extended play period far beyond the norm, to develop a very different yet successful release strategy," the statement continued.

The 10th anniversary re-release of Nolan's "Inception" has also been delayed. The film will arrive in theaters on July 31 instead of July 17, Warner Bros. said.

Nolan, who has called the espionage action epic "Tenent" the "biggest film" of his career, is a huge proponent of the big screen experience. The movie stars John David Washington and Robert Pattinson as detectives who can manipulate time to solve cases and carry out top secret missions.

Both "Mulan" and "Tenet" long shouldered the industry's hopes of helping welcome back moviegoers to the theaters this summer after monthslong closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But cases of the coronavirus have not slowed in the U.S., rather, a number of U.S. states saw an uptick in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, while epidemiologists voice more concerns over the safety of movie theaters. The delays of both movies cast a shadow over theaters' reopening plans, and announce a probable death for this year's summer film season. In previous years, the summer has traditionally provided audiences with mega-blockbusters such as "The Lion King," "The Dark Knight" and "Transformers."

Hollywood studios have delayed nearly all their big-budget movies in the United States and other countries as theaters were shut down in an effort to combat the novel coronavirus.

Because it's a Chinese story, "Mulan" is expected to strongly resonate in China. Meanwhile, "Tenet" director Nolan also has a big fanbase in China, which is why Warner Bros. originally planned to re-release several of his past hits such as "Inception" and "Interstellar" to warm up China's struggling market.

However, although Chinese movie theaters have in principle been allowed to reopen since May, no theaters have done so, partially due to lingering concerns about a second wave of the pandemic, and partially because major film producers are hesitant to present their new potential blockbusters in this particular period as a sacrifice. Now, Beijing's new outbreak has pushed back the actual reopening date indefinitely.

As the crisis continues into the foreseeable future, it has already caused survival problems for many in the film industry, especially small and medium-sized theaters and movie companies in China, and of course around the world.
The Taliban was paid bounties to kill British and American soldiers by the Russian intelligence unit that carried out the Salisbury poison attack, intelligence reports claim.

US officials came to the conclusion several months ago that the unit offered payments to militants for killing soldiers in Afghanistan.

Donald Trump has been accused of sitting on the knowledge and failing to take retaliatory action against Russia.

The unit identified by the officials has been linked to the 2018 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Britain.

The Taliban was paid bounties to kill British and American soldiers by the Russian intelligence unit that carried out the Salisbury poison attack, intelligence reports claim

The UK is said to have received the intelligence last week. Downing Street said it could not comment on intelligence matters.

President Trump has denied the claims that he ignored the briefings, tweeting: Nobody briefed or told me... about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians.

Unnamed intelligence sources told the New York Times they had concluded that the 29155 unit of the GRU, an arm of the Russian military intelligence agency, had offered rewards for successful attacks last year.

The newspaper said the President was briefed, and the National Security Council discussed the problem in March.

Sir Andrew Wood, Britains ambassador to Russia from 1995 to 2000, said the allegations  which have been denied by Russia and the Taliban  were perfectly plausible.
A western Sydney mechanic has started the working week $110,000 richer after scooping the biggest Sunrise Cash Cow windfall so far this year.

Harshith Kumar was already at work at a car dealership in Blacktown when he answered a call from Channel Seven's Sunrise team early Monday morning.

He was initially lost for words when excited host Natalie Barr told him he had won $110,000, which is tax-free.

The Sunrise Cash Cow couldn't contain his excitement after the $110,000 jackpot went off

'No way, get out of town!' a shocked Mr Kumar eventually replied.

'That's crazy. I'm speechless to be honest. I don't know what to say.'

Mr Kumar told the hosts he'd been entering the competition for ten years.

He still lives at home with his parents and plans to share his win to help them out and conceded it will be his shout at the pub after work this afternoon.

'It's going to be awesome,' Mr Kumar said.

The Sunrise Cash Cow giveaway skyrocketed to its highest amount offered so far this year after 10 consecutive winners didn't pick up the phone within three rings.

'This hardly ever happens... in the show's history it's only happened a handful of times,' Ms Barr told viewers on Friday.

'At this time particularly with people losing their jobs and going through economic hardship, $110,000 would be extraordinary,' newsreader Edwina Bartholomew added.

The Sunrise Cash Cow returns on Tuesday with $10,000 up for grabs, which will increase to $20,000 on Wednesday if the randomly selected winner doesn't answer within three rings.
Employed New Yorkers risk losing their paid sick leave benefits if they travel to states with high coronavirus infection rates under a new executive order signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

The order applies to anyone who is employed in New York State and voluntarily travels to states with infection rates of 10 per cent or more.

The states impacted, according to COVID-19 infection rate data from Johns Hopkins University as of Sunday, are Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah, and Texas.

Cuomo signed the order Friday saying that he wanted to maintain New York's progress battling the pandemic.

Employed New Yorkers risk losing their paid sick leave benefits if they travel to states with high coronavirus infection rates under a new executive order signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo is pictured on Sunday's Meet The Press news program

The states impacted, according to COVID-19 infection rate data (pictured) from Johns Hopkins University as of Sunday, are Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah, and Texas

'If we are going to maintain the progress we've seen, we need everyone to take personal responsibility, Cuomo said in a statement, Business Insider reports.

'That's why I'm issuing an executive order that says any New York employee who voluntarily travels to a high-risk state will not be eligible for the COVID protections we created under paid sick leave,' he explained.

New York has been touted by Cuomo for its efforts in slowing the spread of the pandemic as the state has begun reopening from its quarantine shutdown. The rate of infections on Saturday were less than 1 per cent statewide.

So far, New York has had more than 392,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, which has been blamed for close to 25,000 deaths.

Across the country, there have been more than 2.4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 125,000 death attributed to the virus.

Cuomo in mid-March announced guaranteed job protection and extended paid-sick leave benefits for all employed New Yorkers who were forced to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic.

New Yorkers also were allowed to claim their benefits if they were home caring for someone infected by COVID-19.

Under the plan, companies with 100 or more employees are required to provide at least 14 days of paid sick leave and guarantee job protection for the duration of the state's quarantine order.

New York has been touted by Cuomo for its efforts in slowing the spread of the pandemic as the state has begun reopening from its quarantine shutdown. Pictured are frontline workers at a COVID-19 mobile testing site in the Bronx earlier this month

New Yorkers are pictured undergoing temperature checks earlier this month. So far, New York has had more than 392,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, which has been blamed for close to 25,000 deaths

Employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income less than $1 million were required to provide job protection for the duration of the state's quarantine order and to ensure workers had access to paid family leave and disability benefits, including wage replacement, for people earning up to $150,000.

The governor's order comes after he said a New York high school student contracted COVID-19 on a recent trip to Florida and infected four other students when they returned for a graduation event on June 20 in Westchester County.

As a result, the state's contact tracing team went into action to locate people who have come into contact with the unidentified student from Horace Greeley High School in Westchester County.

At the time, the student had not yet developed symptoms of the virus and did not know they were infected.

They had also returned to New York before Cuomo ordered a 14-day quarantine for those arriving in the state from eight coronavirus hot spots - including Florida.

'We're prepared to do the aggressive testing and contact tracing required to slow and ultimately control any potential clusters of new cases like the one in Westchester County,' Cuomo stated Friday

The 'drive-in' graduation ceremony was held at the Chappaqua train station - but attendees said that not everyone stayed in their cars, The New York Daily News reports.

There were reportedly complaints circulating on social media that some students were not wearing face masks and did not maintain a safe social distance.

One infected student later went to a second event following the graduation, where they came into contact with students from other schools in the area.

State health officials have since urged anyone who attended the Horace Greeley graduation or the second event to remain quarantined until July 5.

Westchester County was the site of a major coronavirus cluster at the beginning of New York state's outbreak back in March - and officials are desperate to avoid a repeat of that incident.

The governor's order comes after he said a student at Horace Greeley High School in Westchester County contracted COVID-19 on a recent trip to Florida and infected four other students when they returned for a graduation event on June 20

Cuomo also previously issued an order to stop visitors from states where new coronavirus infections are surging.

The new quarantine applies to states where the infection rate has reached a rate of 10 infections per 100,000 people on a seven day rolling average, or 10 percent of the total population testing positive.
Videos found buried in Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner's 'secret lair' could hold vital clues about the three-year-old's disappearance, reports claim.

German police have allegedly discovered more than 8,000 images and videos on USB sticks and hard drives which were buried in a deserted factory belonging to Brueckner.

It has now been claimed this new evidence could hold vital clues to the disappearance of Madeleine, who vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007.

But lead prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told 60 Minutes Australia he could not say whether or not Madeleine was featured in the images.

'At the moment I'm not allowed to comment on that, so I'm not able to say if there are pictures or if there are no pictures of Madeleine,' he said.

New footage captured the inside of Brueckner's 'lair', where police also discovered a camper van containing a series of swimming costumes they believe belonged to young girls.

German police have allegedly discovered more than 8,000 images and videos on USB sticks and hard drives which were buried in a deserted factory (pictured) belonging to Christian Brueckner

Brueckner (pictured), 43, was recently identified as a prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine, who vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz 13 years ago

Images capture the run-down factory, which is in an unclear location, with plastic boxes and parts of computers strewn across the exterior.

Brueckner, 43, was recently identified as a prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine, who vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz 13 years ago.

Mr Wolters has repeatedly claimed authorities have 'concrete evidence' that the three-year-old was killed, and insisted earlier this month he had shared this information with Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann in a letter.

'We have concrete evidence that our suspect has killed Madeleine and this means she is dead,' he said. 'The parents have been told the German police have evidence that she is dead but we have not told them the details.'

He repeated these claims on 60 Minutes Australia, telling reporter Liz Hayes he believes Madeleine is dead but is 'not allowed' to reveal any details of the evidence.

'We dont have the body and no parts of the body, but we have enough evidence to say our suspect killed Madeleine McCann,' he said.

It has been claimed this new evidence could hold vital clues to the disappearance of Madeleine (pictured), who vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007

Images capture the run-down factory, which is in an unclear location, with plastic boxes and parts of computers strewn across the outside

At Brueckner's property, police discovered a camper van containing a series of swimming costumes they believe belonged to young girls

Brueckner is currently serving a 21-month sentence in Kiel, Germany for drugs offences, and it was reported last Monday he could be out of prison on parole this week.

His lawyers have reportedly filed a request for him to be released after serving two-thirds of his sentence, but prosecutors fear he may flee the country after his release.

The case has now been passed to Germany's Federal Court in Karlsruhe and officials are expected to decide this week if he should be released.

In 2011, Brueckner was sentenced to 21 months in jail for his part in a drugs trafficking ring that supplied marijuana to VIP clients.

Lead prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters told 60 Minutes Australia he could not say whether or not Madeleine was featured in the images

Another aerial shot from the program shows a car a black car abandoned outside a building

The serial sex offender is also facing a separate sentence for the rape of a 72-year-old American woman on a waterfront villa less than a mile from where Madeleine went missing in Portugal in 2007.

Although he was convicted in December 2019, he appealed against his seven-year sentence and so it cannot be imposed until his appeal avenues are exhausted.

Brueckner moved from Germany to Praia da Luz in 1995 after serving part of a two-year sentence for molesting a six-year-old girl in Wurzburg. At the time of Madeleine's vanishing he was living in the area about a 10-minute drive away.

Following his identification as a suspect in the case, he has further been linked to the disappearances of six-year-old boy Rene Hasse in the Algarve, 1996, and five-year-old girl Igna Gehnricke in Germany, 2015.
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has come under fire months out from the September election over revelations most people allowed to leave COVID-19 quarantine in June did so without tests.

Only 1,010 of 2,159 returned travellers were tested after they were placed into mandatory quarantine between June 9 to 16, while just four of the 55 Kiwis who were released early on compassionate leave were tested.

There are currently 20 active cases within the country, despite Ms Ardern declaring COVID-19 had been successfully crushed on June 8.

Senior National MP Judith Collins has branded Ms Ardern a 'liar', minor party ACT leader David Seymour has called her government 'bungling idiots' while Labour's overall approval rating has dipped.

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has come under fire months out from the September election over revelations most people allowed to leave COVID-19 quarantine in June did so without tests

Of the recently documented cases of coronavirus were two British women who were allowed to leave hotel quarantine before their mandatory 14 day stay was up (pictured, the women were staying at the Ellerslie Novotel in Auckland New Zealand)

The latest polls showed Labour lost nine points and is now down to 50, while Nationals jumped from 29 to 38.

ACT's Mr Seymour came out swinging and accused Ms Ardern's government of being incapable of running the country.

'These bungling idiots couldn't run a bath let alone a border,' he said.

'We're supposed to have the world's smartest borders. We now have the world's dumbest borders.'

National's Ms Collins went as far as to claim Ms Ardern and her government had not been open to the New Zealand people about its coronavirus testing.

'We have been lied to actually,' she told The AM Show on Friday.

'We have been lied to about the quarantine, about the standard of care.'

Labour MP Willie Jackson stepped in to defend Ms Ardern and her integrity.

'I think we are going a bit over the line if you are going to start accusing the prime minister of lying,' he said.

Of the recently documented cases of coronavirus were two British women who were allowed to leave hotel quarantine before their mandatory 14 day stay was up.

They were granted early leave as part of the compassionate exemption system, which was introduced to allow Kiwis to see terminally-ill loved ones or attend funerals.

They drove 650 kilometres to visit their dying relative in Wellington, though not before they got lost and had to meet up with some friends to ask for directions.

The latest polls showed Labour lost nine points and is now down to 50, while Nationals jumped from 29 to 38

Opposition leader Todd Muller seized on the declaration, calling it a 'national disgrace' and asking besieged health minister David Clark to resign

Both tested positive to coronavirus later on, though had never been initially tested while in hotel quarantine.

The Ministry of Health admitted the failing in an after-hours press release after a week of being unable to answer questions on its testing regime.

Opposition leader Todd Muller seized on the declaration, calling it a 'national disgrace' and asking besieged health minister David Clark to resign.

'The minister of health ultimately has been accountable (and) must step down,' Mr Muller told Radio NZ.

'If the net effect of all of those lapsed protocols is that we avoid community transmission, we are indeed a lucky country.'

Mr Clark previously offered to resign after being caught making multiple lockdown breaches, however Ms Ardern refused it, saying disruption in the portfolio was undesirable during the crisis.

There are currently 20 active cases at the border of the country, despite Ms Ardern declaring COVID-19 had been successfully crushed on June 8 (pictured, Ms Ardern visits Trevelyans Kiwifruit and Avocado Packhouse on June 9)

New Zealand has spent $76 million on the quarantine regime to date - costing around $4,000 per person - with another $279 million budgeted for the rest of the calendar year (pictured, The Ellerslie Novotel quarantine hotel where some returned travellers are placed into 14 day quarantine in Auckland, New Zealand)

Siouxsie Wiles, a University of Auckland microbiologist who has become one of New Zealand's most trusted figures through the crisis, said the chances of COVID-19 returning to the community through an exemption was 'very low'.

'It's not the testing, it's about the isolation ... the isolation is our best defence,' Dr Wiles said.

Since re-booting the testing regime in the past fortnight, health officials have turned up 20 positive tests.

Under the government's coronavirus elimination strategy, all international arrivals have been asked to isolate for a fortnight to minimise the risk of the deadly virus spreading back into the community.

More than 21,000 arrivals - with Australia the most popular country of departure - have gone through a fortnight of isolation, which is managed and paid for by the government.

New Zealand has spent $76 million on the quarantine regime to date - costing around $4,000 per person - with another $279 million budgeted for the rest of the calendar year.
Tenants are being encouraged to renegotiate with landlords to earn a discount on their rent after a tumultuous period on the market due to coronavirus.

Inner city listings across Australia have skyrocketed through the pandemic, with one in six Sydney apartments currently vacant.

In Brisbane CBD, 13.3 per cent of apartments empty, while Melbourne has 9.3 per cent of urban properties unoccupied.

Increased vacancies are the result of job losses, closed borders for travelers and migrants and economic uncertainty for prospective tenants due to COVID-19.

Property advisors say tenants should try to renegotiate their rent with landlords as inner city listings across Australia have skyrocketed in the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured: a sold property in Carlton North in Melbourne in July 2018

Property advisor Anna Porter told Sunrise now is a great time for tenants to push for a reduction in rent.

'You certainly should be able to renegotiate at the moment as a tenant,' she said. 'You might even see the likes of a 10 or 20 per cent decline in rental figures.'

Landlords are desperate to keep tenants in their properties after a tough two-year period from the banking royal commission leading into the coronavirus pendemic.

Analysts fear the rise in listings could lead the apartment market to collapse and lead to a significant drop in property value.

Ms Porter said landlords must think outside the box to differentiate themselves from a market with an oversupply of units and be realistic to the position tenants are in from the pandemic.

'Landlords might need to start getting creative by looking at incentives, like a few weeks rent-free, a free internet connection or local gym membership to differentiate themselves from the rest,' she said.

A real estate agent puts out an open house sign after coronavirus restrictions were relaxed in Hawthorn in Brisbane. In Brisbane CBD, 13.3 per cent of apartments empty

Renters budgets have been significantly reduced in the washout of COVID-19 leaving landlords forced to dramatically reduce their asking prices to keep tenants in properties.

Data from Domain found 46.3 per cent of properties in Woollahra in Sydney's wealthy east were advertised with discounted rent in May - more than double February's 18.5 per cent.

The power is in renters hands to simply ask for a rent reduction in the current climate, as there are an incredible amount of vacant properties available and landlords eager to keep tenants.

Ms Porter said tenants and landlords should be realistic with each other and find a conclusion that works for both parties.

'Tenants might actually be the winners out of this over the next 12 months,' she said.

One in six Sydney apartments are currently vacant, putting tenants in a great position to bargain for rent discounts of up to 20 per cent

Tenant Kiran de Silva managed to cut his monthly rent by $1,710 with one email.

He pays $865 per month for a room he shares with his girlfriend in Camperdown in Sydney's inner west, with the total share house rent amounting to $3,910.

When Mr de Silva lost his job at music ticketing agent Dice and one of his housemates was stood down, he knew he had to ask for a rent reduction.

'To be completely transparent, we just simply won't be able to afford to pay rent at the current rate for the foreseeable future,' he wrote in an email to his real estate agent, ABC reported.

'[The agent] wrote straight back and said 'don't stress, a lot of tenants are in a similar position'.

As a result, rent was reduced by $1,710 to $2,200 for three months - a discount of 44 per cent.

Mr de Silva's advice to others was to be direct and transparent with agents and landlords, without being rude or pushy.
Vulnerable gamblers are being failed by a toothless, weak and behind-the-times industry regulator, a scathing report has warned.

The Gambling Commission was slammed as inflexible, slow to react to issues and constrained by outdated rules in a damning assessment by the Commons public accounts committee.

Penalties for companies not tackling problem gambling were weak and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) had been complacent in ensuring effective regulation, it concluded.

The fallout from gambling addiction can have a widespread and devastating impact, the report warned [File photo]

Public accounts committee chairman Meg Hillier said: What has emerged in evidence is a picture of a torpid, toothless regulator...

The commission needs a radical overhaul.

She added: The issue of gambling harm is not high enough up the Governments agenda.

The report found the commission and the DCMS had an unacceptably weak understanding of the impact gambling has on people and that their work lagged behind developments in the industry, public attitudes and even parliamentary efforts.

Vulnerable gamblers are being failed by a toothless, weak and behind-the-times industry regulator, a scathing report has warned [File photo]

There are an estimated 395,000 problem gamblers in the UK, with a further 1.8million considered at risk.

The fallout from gambling addiction can have a widespread and devastating impact, the report warned.

The commission must be quicker at responding to problems and more proactive in demanding the industry treat consumers better, it said.

The committee added that the commissions ability to protect gamblers was constrained by inflexible funding and an outdated legal and regulatory framework.

The Daily Mails Stop the Gambling Predators campaign continues to call for greater protection for addicts and has repeatedly highlighted failings within the highly profitable industry.
Couples who wanted to go ahead with their weddings when lockdown eases on July 4 could now have to wait until September.

Boris Johnson last week approved for nuptials to take place in religious venues like churches, synagogues and mosques, but with no more than 30 guests and a ban on hymns.

But in a further blow to the affianced, councils are delaying any ceremonies until the autumn to allow for venues to adjust to social distancing requirements.

Couples hoping to finally go ahead with their weddings on July 4 when Boris Johnson relaxes lockdown restrictions may have to wait until at least September (stock image)

County councils that oversee registrar services said that most clients pushed their wedding dates into 2021 at the start of the pandemic (stock image)

County councils that oversee registrar services told the Daily Telegraph that new bookings may be delayed until September or beyond as they wait for clarified Government guidelines.

They also said that most clients pushed their wedding dates into 2021 at the start of the pandemic.

Hannah Redeyoff from Doncaster has been given permission to carry out her wedding this Saturday and speaking to BBC Radio 4 she said: 'As soon as lockdown happened we thought maybe we'd be able to go ahead or our original date on June 27, but we didn't anticipate how big it would be, and about a month ago we realised it wasn't going to happen.'

She also said that their initial wedding allowed for 92 guests but with only ten days to plan her rearranged service, details have had to change - including the loss of hymns.

Oxford county council are carrying out a phased approach to reopening venues but have no plans to allow wedding bookings until at least September 1 (stock image)

Oxford county council are carrying out a phased approach to reopening venues but have no plans to allow wedding bookings until at least September 1.

Somerset county council have asked all wedding venues to conduct a risk assessment before any bookings are taken.

No other council have yet committed to a date when weddings can begin again.

Katherine Daniel, who runs Little Quarme, a wedding venue in Somerset, said: 'All of our weddings for this year we've reorganised, other than two left in October.'

She went on to say that despite having many enquiries from excited couples, her business has been unable to proceed with any bookings as registrars aren't able to confirm weddings.

In a landmark announcement, Prime Minister Boris Johnsonalso gave the greenlight for hairdressers, pubs, hotels and other businesses to reopen their doors on July 4.

However, the lack of guidance offered to registrars have left most county councils unable to commit to a date when wedding bookings can be taken for.
A Nigerian influencer who posted photos of his life of luxury on private jets has been arrested amid claims of a 350million cyberscam.

The FBI seized more than 30million in cash when they stormed the apartment of 38-year-old Raymond Abbas in Dubai when he was sleeping.

Investigators say the Instagram star portrayed a billionaire lifestyle in order to 'lure victims from all over the world'.

Twelve other people were arrested in raids for their alleged involvement in the cyberscam.

The FBI seized more than 30million in cash when they stormed the apartment of 38-year-old Raymond Abbas (pictured) in Dubai when he was sleeping

Abbas is led away by police during the raid

It is believed that investigators found email addresses of two million victims on several phones and computers seized during the operation.

During the raid luxury cars were seized as well as suitcases full of cash.

'The suspects targeted victims overseas by creating fake websites for well known companies and banks in a bid to steal victims' credit card information and then launder the stolen money,' Brigadier Jamal al-Jalaf, of Dubai Police CID, told The Times.

Mr Abbas - who goes by the name Hushpuppi to his fans - is also accused of committing fraud in Europe, America and Nigeria, police said.

Mr Abbas - who goes by the name Hushpuppi to his fans - is also accused of committing fraud in Europe, America and Nigeria, police said

Investigators have said that the Instagram star had portrayed a billionaire lifestyle in order to 'lure victims from all over the world'

The raid happened two months after investigations into the gang began. Detectives used social media to help track their locations.

Mr Abbas started out as a secondhand-clothes trader in Lagos before claiming to be a billionaire property developer in Dubai.

He says he posts about his luxury life to inspire others to make more of their lives.

'I post a few of these things so that someone can see my page someday and decide not to give up,' he once told his 2.4 million followers on Instagram.

Mr Abbas started out as a secondhand-clothes trader in Lagos before becoming a billionaire property developer in Dubai

A video was uploaded by Dubai police of Mr Abbas looking startled and in handcuffs after his arrest on June 10.

Local media reports that the FBI will push to extradite Mr Abbas to America as many of the alleged victims were US citizens.

Mr Abbas has not yet commented on the allegations.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

* Western Australia is going further than any other state in relaxing coronavirus rules, the government says, amid a mixed reaction to the state's economic roadmap.

* Locals are encouraged to return to work and take regional holidays, and the limit is at 20 people, and hospitality businesses will be allowed to serve diners under phase two of WA's recovery plan.

* The government has faced a backlash for not going further in unwinding restrictions as there are barely any cases in WA.

* Like restaurants and cafes, pubs are allowed to reopen but a limit of 20 patrons will apply as well as the one person per four square metres rule, and a requirement for customers to buy a meal if they want to have a drink.

* Weddings and funerals can have up to 20 people attend if it is held indoors while 30 people can attended if it is held outside.

* Community facilities and libraries have reopened but public playgrounds, cinemas, skate parks, zoos, galleries and concert venues will remain closed.

* Students will return to the classroom from May 29.

* Travel to most nearby regions is now allowed.

* Hard border will remain indefinitely despite pressure from the rest of the country and federal medical advice.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

* Parks and reserves have reopened.

* Weddings, funerals can have an unlimited number of guests if social distancing can be maintained.

* Playgrounds, parks and public swimming pools re-opened.

* Gyms, nail salons, and any other businesses have re-opened so long as their activities take less than two hours

* Outdoor sports where people can be physically distant, such as golf and tennis, are allowed.

* Pubs, cafes and restaurants opened on May 15. People are allowed in for two hours.

* From June 5, all business will be allowed to re-open as long as they have a COVID-19 plan in place.

* All NT students are expected to physically attend school as of April 20.

* Internal travel is now allowed including to remote Aboriginal communities, but some remote areas are close to all non-essential travel until June 5.

* Dropping the border quarantine will be 'dead last'.

QUEENSLAND

* Restaurants, pubs and clubs, nail salons and so on can have up to 20 patrons at a time.

* Parks, playgrounds, skateparks are open

* Up to ten people can attended a wedding and funerals can have up to 20 guest inside and 30 if outside.

* Up to five members from a single household can visit another home, and ten people can meet in public

* All students are back at school as of May 25.

* Family picnics and weekend drives allowed, national parks will reopen and people can shop for clothing and shoes, and go for haircuts

* You can let your dog off the leash as 131 dog parks will gradually reopen

* Citizens can take day trips up to 150km of their homes, and social distancing will still be enforced.

* People from the same household can go out together, while those who live alone can spend time with one other person.

* Border quarantine will continue until September but the state is under pressure to drop this much sooner.

VICTORIA

* Up to 20 people indoors at a party or gathering as of June 1.

* Up to ten people can attended a wedding and funerals can have up to 20 guest inside and 30 if outside.

* The premier's beloved game of golf, walking groups, fishing and hiking are among the outdoor activities allowed again.

* Cafes, restaurants and pubs can seat diners until June 1, unlike most other states.

* Libraries, community centres, markets, beauty parlours and tattoo studios open on June 1 as do museums, drive-in cinemas, zoos and theme parks.

* Gyms, indoor sports facilities, movie theatres can reopen from June 22 if all goes to plan allowing ski season to kick off

* Holidays and staying at friend's place overnight are also banned until June 1 when accommodation will re-open.

* There are no restrictions on leaving or entering the state, but people can only go on day trips.

* Professional sport teams including AFL and rugby league are back to training ahead of resuming the season in late May.

* Students from prep, year one, year two, and years 11 and 12 are allowed to attend school.

* The remaining levels will return on June 9.

TASMANIA

* Gatherings of five people inside and ten in public are allowed.

* Residents can visit national parks within 30km of their home.

* The state's ban on aged care visits was eased, but no more than two visitors are allowed once a week.

* Restaurants, cafes, playgrounds, pools and boot camps re-opened for up to ten people at a time.

* Up to 20 people will be allowed at cinemas, museums, theatres and historic sites as of June 15.

* Gyms, sporting venues, health clubs and wellness centres are all prohibited.

* Hairdressers and barbers are open but day spas, saunas and massage parlours are not allowed to operate.

* Beauty therapy, tanning, nail treatment services and piercing and tattoo parlours are still closed.

* Weddings can have up to ten guest and funerals can have up to 20 guests indoors and 30 outdoors.

* Students in kindergarten-year 6 and those in Year 11 and 12 have returned to school.

* Student in years 7 to 10 will return on June 9.

* There are no limits on where someone can go within the state.

* Border restrictions, however, are still expected to be in place when stage three of the plan begins in mid-July.

NEW SOUTH WALES

* Cafes, pubs and restaurants are open but may only seat ten people at a time.

* Gatherings of five people at home and ten outside are allowed

* The state government is encouraging shops to re-open with social distancing in place

* All students went back to school full-time on May 25.

* Most businesses will be allowed to reopen on June 1, with social distancing rules and customer limits.

* Zoos, reptile parks and aquariums open June 1.

* Weddings can have ten guests, funerals 20 inside and 30 outside, and churches ten.

* Gyms, sporting venues, health clubs, wellness centres and indoor pools are all prohibited.

* Entertainment and amusement venues remain closed.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

* Cafes and restaurants re-opened from May 11 and can seat ten people inside and another ten outside at a time. Pubs are shut until June 5.

* Hairdressers and barbers can open as long as the number of people inside does not exceed one person per four square metres.

* Ten people can gather at home or in public.

* Weddings can have up to ten guests and funerals have a 20 guest limit inside, and 30 outside.

* House auctions and inspections and non-contact sport has resumed and libraries, pools, churches and community halls reopened.

* Schools have re-opened for term 2.

* Border is still quarantined indefinitely.

ACT

* Gatherings of ten people are allowed.

* Students in preschool, kindergarten, and years 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 11 and 12 have returned to school.

* From June 2, students in years 5, 6, 8, and 9 will be allowed to return.

* Weddings can have up to ten guests and funerals have a 20 guest limit inside, and 30 outside

* Gyms will remain closed but up to ten people can take part in non-contact personal fitness training.

* Hairdressers and barbers can open but other beauty therapy business will open on May 30.

* Restaurants, cafes and other hospitality venues can open and host up to ten patrons at a time.

* Some public libraries have re-opened but people can not sit or study inside.

* Cinemas and other entertainment venues will remain closed.

* Galleries, museums, outdoor attractions will re-open on May 30 to groups of up to 20 people per designated session.
Chinese lawmakers Sunday started deliberating a new draft amendment to the country's Criminal Law.

The draft amendment to the Criminal Law, which has proposed six major areas of updates, was submitted to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

The updates, some 30 revised or newly added provisions, mainly focus on stepping up the prevention of and penalties for workplace safety crimes, improving stipulations for penalizing food and drug safety crimes and stipulations for financial crimes, strengthening legal protection of corporate property rights and strengthening legal guarantee for public health, according to the draft.

Drawing on the experience of fighting COVID-19, the draft has revised the definition of the crimes of impairing infectious disease prevention and treatment.

Refusing to follow the lawful measures imposed by the government for epidemic prevention and control, and illegally selling or shipping contaminated objects in epidemic-hit regions are considered criminal acts, according to the draft.

In rectifying wrongdoings in the financial sector, the draft toughens the penalties for the crime of "illegally taking in deposits from the general public," a form of illegal fundraising, extending its maximum term of sentence from 10 years to 15 years. The draft also outlaws violence-related debt-collecting activities and jobs.

The draft has added a new crime of "corporate espionage." People who are found guilty of stealing, spying into, buying or unlawfully supplying business secrets for overseas organizations and individuals will bear criminal responsibilities.

To safeguard biosecurity, the draft stipulates penalties for illegally implanting gene-edited or cloned embryos into human bodies or animals.

Dovetailing the Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs, the draft also considers insulting and defaming heroes and martyrs as crimes.
Bob Woodward, the investigative journalist most famous for his original reporting on the Watergate scandal in 1972, was apparently going to publish a story exposing Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh as being an anonymous source in his 1999 book Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate.

Kavanaugh gave Woodward juicy behind the scenes details about Ken Starr's investigation into Bill Clinton in 1998, while serving as a lawyer on Starr's team.

But then Kavanaugh publicly denied ever being a source for Woodward's book in a letter to the Washington Post in 1999.

During Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court in 2018, Watergate reporter Bob Woodward, left, wanted to expose Kavanaugh, who gave an account for his book, right

The fact that Kavanaugh had lied on record enraged Woodward, who was prepared to expose the judge using evidence that he had indeed contributed to the 1999 book. However, just as the story was about to run in 2018, the Washington Post decided not to publish.

Woodward's story would have revealed how Kavanaugh publicly denied his account of the Starr investigation that Kavanaugh himself had provided.

Independent Counsel Ken Starr investigated President Bill Clinton, and the allegations within the Starr Report formed the basis of the president's impeachment.

Part of Woodward's book focused on Clinton's scandals and the Starr investigation.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh had publicly claimed in a 1999 letter to The Washington that he was never a source for Woodward's book - despite the opposite being true

Kavanaugh gave Woodward inside details on Ken Starr's investigation into President Bill Clinton

The Starr Report, a report by Independent Counsel Ken Starr investigated President Bill Clinton. The allegations contained within led to Clinton's impeachment

Independent counsel Kenneth Starr conducted an investigation into Bill Clinton which was released in 1998

Woodward's article was due to come out just as he was to be nominated to the Supreme Court in 2018.

Kavanaugh was fighting to preserve his own credibility after Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor, accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when she was in high school.

Woodward's plan was to expose Kavanaugh and give details about the account he gave about Kenneth Starr's investigation of Bill Clinton that he provided confidentially.

The New York Times described the article by two Post journalists who read it as being 'explosive'.

The revelation would likely have derailed Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court.

Ultimately, the executive editor of the Washington Post, Martin Baron, stepped in and urged Woodward not to breach his 19-year-old confidentiality agreement and to protect Kavanaugh's anonymity. The piece was ultimately spiked.

Woodward has not revealed what information Kavanaugh gave about Starr and his investigation.
Australians facing financial distress during the coronavirus pandemic will soon get another chance to dip their superannuation early.

But experts have warned about the consequences in doing so after 2.2 million cash-strapped Australians accessed their super in recent months.

Aussies will get another opportunity to withdraw an additional $10,000 when the 2020-21 financial year begins on Wednesday.

More than 2.2 million approved applications have withdrawn a combined total of $18.5 billion since the federal government launched its early access to superannuation scheme in April to provide relief for those hit hard by the pandemic.

Australians are urged to consider the long term ramifications before accessing their super before retirement. Pictured is a Sydneysider getting an early morning workout on Monday

But Industry Super Australia chief executive officer Bernie Dean had a dire warning, especially for those who have accessed their super recently.

A 35-year-old who withdraws $10,000 now will see a $19,411 reduction in their super when they retire at 67, according to the MoneySmart calculator.

'It does come with a pretty hefty price tag  but we recognise that young people don't necessarily think about the long-term,' Mr Dean told News Corp.

'We also recognise they may not be in a position to make up the lost ground themselves.

He warned early withdrawals can 'wipe out' your life and income protection cover if your super balance falls low.

More than 2.2 million Australians have dipped into their super since April after falling on hard times during the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured are Centrelink queues in Sydney

Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia's chief executive Dr Martin Fahy agreed and believes early release should be considered as a last resort.

'Drawing down on your super early will have a substantial impact on your long-term retirement savings and the more you take out the greater that impact will be,' he said.

If you decide to withdraw from your super, Dr Fahy advises to make those funds last as long as possible and only spend it on necessities.

Cash-strapped Australians will get an other opportunity to access their super from July 1

Applications for early super access open July 1 and are available until September 24 via the MyGov website.

Australians can only access their super if they're unemployed, are eligible to receive a job seeker payment, have been made redundant since January 1 or had their work hours reduced by at least 20 per cent.

The MoneySmart website advises Australians to seek government assistance and speaking to their bank or lender about possible financial assistance before dipping into your super.
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The Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar has issued a dire warning that the 'window is closing' for the United States to get the coronavirus crisis under control as states see new alarming spikes in cases and the number of infections jumps by more than 40,000 for the third day in a row.

'Things are very different from two months ago... So it is a very different situation, but this is a very, very serious situation and the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control,' Azar said on CNN to Jake Tapper on State of the Union Sunday night.

The pandemic, which gained traction in the US in March, has already infected over 2.5million in the country and killed over 125,000, and despite stringent measures being placed in some states, the virus is far from gone.

For a third consecutive day on Saturday, the number of confirmed US cases rose by more than 40,000 - one of the largest surges in the world.

The American Medical Association still reports a personal protective equipment (PPE) problem and some hospitals, such as in Arizona, are seeing facilities pushed to their limits with intensive care units at 87 percent capacity.

However, Azar stressed that the country is more prepared than it was when the virus first emerged to tackle a rise in cases, pointing to increased testing, contact tracing, increased hospital capacity, a reserve of PPE and advances towards therapeutics and vaccines.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar has issued the dire warning that the 'window is closing' for the United States to get the coronavirus crisis under control as states are reporting a troubling surge of cases and record numbers of hospitalizations after reopening

Azar refused to blame the spike in cases on states reopening and said 'inappropriate individual behavior' was the culprit in spreading the virus.

'That's not so much about what the law says on the reopening as what our behaviors are within that,' he said, urging the public to wear masks and practice social distancing.

'If we act irresponsibly, if we don't socially distance, if we don't use face coverings in settings where we can't social distance, if we don't practice appropriate personal hygiene, we're going to see spread of disease,' he warily cautioned.

His message is a far cry from Donald Trump's message to the public as he refuses to wear a face mask and hosts packed rallies on the campaign trail.

On Friday Pence boasted that the US had 'flattened the curve', discounting the severe threat the virus poses today as 36 states report a rise in COVID-19 cases.

Only two states were reporting a decline in cases compared to last week.

Vice President Mike Pence offers support to spiraling Texas as Gov. Greg Abbott says virus took a 'very swift and very dangerous turn'

On Sunday, Pence met with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and pledged to offer additional resources and testing after Abbot said the virus took a 'very swift and very dangerous turn' in the Lone Star state.

'President Trump wanted us to be here today with the developments over the last two weeks with the rising positivity and the rising number of cases with a very simple message and that is to use people of Texas: Were with you,' Pence said.

While Pence acknowledged that something changed over the past two weeks, he didnt blame the resurgence of cases on the states reopening, and instead pointed to people failing to wear masks and practice social distancing.

On Sunday, Pence met with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and pledged to offer additional resources and testing after Abbot said the virus took a 'very swift and very dangerous turn' in the Lone Star state

Pence pictured putting on a face mask at the end of his press conference with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center West Campus in Dallas

On Friday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott rolled back reopening measures and ordered all bars to be closed, restaurants to return to 50 percent capacity, shut down river-rafting outfits, and gave local officials the authority to limit large gatherings, following a troubling spike in cases. People sitting in a packed restaurant in Austin, Texas on Sunday above

Texas now has 148,723 COVID-19 cases and at least 2,393 deaths from the deadly virus that first emerged from China. This graph shows how the number of daily confirmed cases in Texas has dramatically surged in the month of June alone

Pence urged everyone to wear a mask and he wore one himself as he dismounted Air Force 2.

'Our administration is promoting the practice' of wearing a mask, Pence said. But when asked about whether President Trump should wear one, he avoided the question.

On Friday, officials announced federal funding for testing sites that was to be cut off June 30 would be extended for 14 days. On Sunday, Pence said: 'Well be extending that every bit as long as Texas wants us to.'

On Friday, Abbott rolled back on reopening measures and ordered all bars to be closed, restaurants to return to 50 percent capacity, shut down river-rafting outfits, and gave local officials the authority to limit large gatherings, especially as the country nears Fourth of July festivities.

Texas has seen several days of record increases including over 5,000 new cases each day, with 5,747 new cases on June 27 alone.

Texas now has 148,723 COVID-19 cases and at least 2,393 deaths from the deadly virus that first emerged from China.

Last month Texas' positivity rate  meaning the percentage of coronavirus tests administered that yielded a positive result - sunk to under five per cent. The news was applauded after Texas suffered a high in mid-April of 13.86 percent. But on Thursday the seven-day average positivity rate hit a staggering 11.73 percent.

Also last week Dallas County marked its largest single day increase of COVID-19 cases ever.

Experts worry Florida could be new epicenter of the virus as Gov. Ron DeSantis closes bars and some beaches ahead of Fourth of July

Florida has reported 141,075 statewide cases and 3,419 coronavirus-related deaths, an increase of 29 since Saturday.

Some experts believe Florida will become the next epicenter of the virus, after it reported 9,585 new cases Saturday and 8,500 more Sunday.

Even as Florida sees a troubling spike in new coronavirus cases, unfazed Floridians are still headed to the beach. A view of the crowded Miami Beach on Saturday

The new cases bring the Florida statewide total to 141,075. Florida is now reporting 3,419 coronavirus-related deaths, which is an increase of 29 since Saturday

Saturdays total, a single-day state record since the start of the pandemic in March, rivals that of New Yorks peak of daily cases recorded in early April.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has insisted there is nothing to worry about and 'nothing has changed' in the last week, blaming the states troubling surge as the result of a 'test dump'.

And inhabitants of the sunshine state appear unfazed, with the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases doing little to deter thousands from flocking to beaches all over Florida.

Some beaches in Florida are also closing ahead of next weekends Fourth of July holiday to avoid large crowds from inundating the shoreline.

Bars across the state were ordered to stop serving alcohol on Friday. Under the ban, businesses that rake in more than half of their sales from alcohol can still sell drinks in a to-go capacity.

Floridas daily case count has increased fivefold in two weeks, but the rate of deaths has not increased so far.

State records also show that hospitalization rates have inched up but are not at crisis levels.

DeSantis said more COVID-19-related fatalities in the state had been people over 90 than people under 65.

At a news conference Sunday he said that about 20 percent of people aged 25 to 34 are testing positive and that the risk has only increased as temperatures sore and locals seek fresh air outdoors.

'As it gets warmer in Florida, people want to beat the heat,' he said. 'They are more likely to do that indoors, in closed spaces. That is going to increase the risk of transmission of the coronavirus.'

Governor Newsom immediately closes ALL bars in LA and six other California counties - just two weeks after they reopened

California is another state grappling with a resurgence in cases.

On Sunday, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered seven counties, including Los Angeles, to immediately close any bars and night clubs that are open. He also recommended eight other counties take action on their own to close those businesses.

'COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger. Thats why it is critical we take this step to limit the spread of the virus in the counties that are seeing the biggest increases,' he said in a written statement.

Newsom's decision to roll-back reopening efforts, which began just under a month ago, comes two days after Republican governors in Texas and Florida ordered similar closures in an attempt to stem a surge in COVID-19 cases.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered all bars to close immediately in seven counties across the state - including Los Angeles - citing a rapid spread of coronavirus in the last few days

A view of California's positive cases, with a massive concentration in Los Angeles County above

The decision was announced by the governors state public health director, Dr. Sonia Angell on Sunday afternoon, just two weeks after bars were permitted to reopen in California on June 12.

The seven counties immediately impacted by the bar closure order are Los Angeles, Fresno, Kern, San Joaquin, Tulare, Kings and Imperial.

Governor Newsom immediately closes ALL bars in LA and six other California counties - just two weeks after they reopened - to stop the spread of COVID after Texas and Florida shut their nightspots California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered all bars to close immediately in seven counties across the state - including Los Angeles - on Sunday. The decision came in a statement released by Newsom's state public health director, Dr. Sonia Angell, citing a rapid spread of coronavirus in the last week. 'COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger. Thats why it is critical we take this step to limit the spread of the virus in the counties that are seeing the biggest increases,' he said in a written statement. The seven counties immediately impacted by the state order are: Los Angeles, Fresno, Kern, San Joaquin, Tulare, Kings and Imperial. Six of the listed counties, excluding LA, are located in the Central Valley, which has seen a rapid increase in coronavirus infection rates in the last two weeks. Eight other counties have been advised to implement similar closures, however were not ordered to do so. Among those counties are Santa Clara, Riverside and Sacramento. Newsom's decision to roll-back reopening efforts, which began just under a month ago, comes two days after similar measures in Florida and Texas. Newsom allowed bars to reopen in the state on June 12 but gave county health officials the authority to keep them shut as long as they saw fit. Advertisement

All of the listed counties, except for LA, are located in the Central Valley, which has seen a sharp increase in coronavirus infection rates in the last two weeks.

Eight other counties have been advised to implement similar closures, however were not ordered to do so at this time. Among those counties is Santa Clara, Riverside and Sacramento.

The counties immediately affected by Sunday's order were decided by daily reports about the spread of COVID-19, state officials said.

Counties that have been on the states watch list for between three and 14 days are being asked to close bars. Those who've been on the watch list for more than 14 days are being ordered to do so.

'We are actively monitoring COVID-19 across the state and working closely with counties where there are increased rates and concerning patterns of transmission,' Dr. Angell said in her statement.

'Closing bars in these counties is one of a number of targeted actions counties are implementing across our state to slow the virus spread and reduce risk.'

Governor Newsom's order is the first major rollback of efforts to reopen California's economy.

Newsom allowed bars to reopen in the state on June 12 but gave county health officials the authority to keep them shut as long as they saw fit.

The vast majority of California's 58 counties subsequently allowed bars to reopen, including Los Angeles which moved forward with the plans on June 19.

Earlier this month, Newsom also ordered all Californians to wear face masks in public and during 'high-risk settings'.

However, photographs that have emerged of bars and nightclubs in the weeks since have shown large crowds of people gathered together without masks on and standing in packed lines without social distancing measures in place.

Several bars in Sacramento have even closed of their own volition after learning COVID-19 had been spread within their premises.

Coronavirus cases across the state have now topped 211,000, with nearly 6,000 deaths. Hospitalizations and infections rates continue to surge too, with officials citing a number of causes - among them is business reopenings and private gatherings.

Arizona residents head out tubing as state reports single-day record for new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations

On Sunday, Arizona reported the highest single-day increase in coronavirus cases to date with upwards of 3,850 people testing positive between Saturday and Sunday, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Now there are over 73,908 cases  more than double the number reported just two weeks ago.

Sundays daily increase also surpassed the previous record of 3,530 new infections reported on June 19.

There are currently 1,588 deaths in the state, with nine new fatalities reported Sunday.

Despite the ominous statistics, hundreds of tubers were seen floating in close proximity on the Comal River in New Braunfels

On Sunday Arizona reported the highest single-day increase in coronavirus cases to date with upwards of 3,850 people testing positive between Saturday and Sunday, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services

Even as the threat of another wave of the virus looms, in Arizona locals are still heading outdoors in droves

Sunday also marked the states highest COVID-19 hospitalizations with 2,691 current admissions.

This graph shows how Arizona's coronavirus cases have skyrocketed in June

Nearly half of those were patients admitted to medical centers in the state over the last 14 days, burdening hospitals and leading intensive care units across the state to reach 87 percent capacity on Sunday, with 85 percent of general hospital beds occupied .

The positivity rate in Arizona has steadily risen this month.

On Saturday there was a reported 11.4 percent positivity rate. By Sunday it rose to 11.7 percent. It was 11.1 percent on Friday compared to 6.7 percent on May 31.

Even as the threat of another wave of the virus looms, in Arizona locals are still heading outdoors in droves.
A boycott of advertising on Facebook designed to get the social media platform to remove hate speech will next go global, say its organizers.

The 'Stop Hate for Profit' campaign will now work on getting European companies to join the boycott and urge regulators to take a hard stand on Facebook. More than 160 companies already have agreed to not buy ads on the world's largest social media platform during the month of July, as called for by the campaign.

Starbucks, while not officially participants in the boycott, say they will suspend advertising on all social media. Starbucks says it working with civil rights groups to 'stop the spread of hate speech.'

Coca-cola and Unilever announced a similar pause on Friday, when Facebook saw its shares drop $56 billion in valuation in response to the negative publicity.

A boycott of advertising on Facebook designed to get the social media platform to remove hate speech will next go global, say its organizers. Pictured is Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg, who saw his net worth impacted by bad publicity

Facebook saw its shares drop $56 billion in valuation Friday as companies joined a campaign asking the social media giant to remove hate speech from its platform

Free Press and Common Sense Media, along with US civil rights groups Color of Change and the Anti-Defamation League, launched the campaign following the police-related slaying of George Floyd on Memorial Day in Minneapolis.

Floyd, a 46-year-old black father of five, died after former police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on the man's neck for almost nine minutes during an arrest.

Video footage of the incident taken by a bystander shows the police-related slaying, which triggered Black Lives Matter protests that have followed calling for an end to police brutality and systematic racism.

The outrage in the US over Floyd's passing led to an unprecedented reaction from corporations around the world as its impact has been felt beyond US borders.

Unilever, for example, changed the name of a skin-lightening product popular in India called Fair and Lovely. The company also has agreed to an advertising pause as the Facebook ad-purchasing boycott has gained traction.

Jim Steyer, chief executive of Common Sense Media, said the next step in getting Facebook to take action is by seeking global support.

'The next frontier is global pressure,' Steyer said.

The European Commission this month already announced new guidelines for tech companies including Facebook to submit monthly reports on how they are handling coronavirus misinformation.

Jim Steyer, chief executive of Common Sense Media, said the next step in getting Facebook to take action is by seeking global support. 'The next frontier is global pressure,' Steyer said

The 'Stop Hate for Profit' campaign will now work on getting European companies to join the boycott and urge regulators to take a hard stand on Facebook. More than 160 companies, including Unilever (left) and Verizon (right), have said they will not by advertising

The global campaign will proceed as organizers continue to urge more US companies to participate. Jessica Gonzalez, co-chief executive of Free Press, said she has contacted major US telecommunications and media companies to ask them to join the campaign.

Responding to demands for more action, Facebook on Sunday acknowledged it has more work to do and is teaming up with civil rights groups and experts to develop more tools to fight hate speech.

Facebook said its investments in artificial intelligence have allowed it to find 90 per cent of hate speech before users report it.

Starbucks, not officially a participant in the boycott, says it will still suspend advertising on all social media while working with civil rights groups to 'stop the spread of hate speech'

Coca-cola and Unilever announced a similar pause on Friday, when Facebook saw its shares drop $56 billion in valuation in response to the negative publicity

Expanding the boycott campaign outside the US will take a bigger slice off of Facebook's advertising revenue but is not likely to have a major financial impact on the company.

Unilever, for instance, on Friday committed to pausing its US spending on Facebook for the rest of the year. That, however, only accounts for about 10 per cent of the overall estimated $250 million it spends on Facebook advertising annually, according to Richard Greenfield of LightShed Partners, a media and tech research firm.

Steyer said they will urge global advertisers such as Unilever and Honda, which have only committed to pausing US ads, to pull their Facebook ads globally.

Annually, Facebook generates $70 billion in advertising sales and about a quarter of it comes from big companies such as Unilever with the vast majority of its revenue derived from small businesses.

Annually, Facebook generates $70 billion in advertising sales and about a quarter of it comes from big companies such as Unilever with the vast majority of its revenue derived from small businesses

But the publicity around its hate speech policies have hurt its perception and stock. On Friday, Facebook's 8.3% decline in stock price wiped out $56 billion in market capitalization.

Coca-Cola pulled its advertisements from Facebook the same day, saying it wasn't officially joining the boycott, but that it had paused on paid advertising across all social media platforms globally for at least 30 days.

Companies that have joined Facebook ad boycott Unilever Verizon Eddie Bauer Eileen Fisher Ben & Jerry's Patagonia North Face REI Upwork Rakuten Viber Magnolia Pictures Goodby Silverstein Dove Coca-Cola Dockers Levi's Honda Advertisement

'We will take this time to reassess our advertising policies to determine whether revisions are needed. We also expect greater accountability and transparency from our social media partners,' said James Quincey, Coca-Cola chairman and CEO.

Friday's massive drop in valuation cut deep into Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's personal fortune, pushing him down from third to fourth place on Bloomberg Billionaires Index and leaving him with a new net worth of $82.3 billion.

Zuckerberg responded to the boycott in a Facebook Live video Friday where he announced the company would begin labeling 'harmful' content from politicians that remains 'newsworthy'.

Though he did not name Trump, the policy comes in response to a campaign demanding Facebook impose tighter restrictions on 'misinformation' in the president's campaign ads, and on his inflammatory posts.

Twitter has already slapped warning labels on some of the president's tweets that it deemed abusive or threatening, and unlike Facebook, Twitter banned all political campaign ads.

Zuckerberg slammed the move when Twitter first labeled a Trump tweet, saying it wasn't up to social media companies to be the 'arbiters of truth' - but the Facebook CEO appears to have had a change of heart following the punishing advertiser boycott.

Steyer and Gonzalez said Facebook's efforts on Friday to introduce new measures to ban ads and label hate speech from politicians fell short of the campaign's demands.

'If they think they are done based on Friday, they are sorely mistaken,' Gonzalez said. 'We don't need a one-off policy here and there. We need comprehensive policy.'
Pictured: Filipe Mahe during filming of Our Boys

Resurfaced footage from a 2004 documentary shows the striking similarities between Chris Lilley's Summer Heights High character Jonah Takalua, and a real-life student.

Filipe Mahe, now 33, was filmed as part of an ABC documentary titled Our Boys which followed disadvantaged students at Canterbury Boys High in Western Sydney in 2004.

After the series aired Lilley went to Mr Mahe's school, observed classes and lunchtime in the playground and watched a Tongan dance.

When Summer Heights High debuted on the ABC three years later, Mr Mahe said his heart sank as he instantly knew the character was based on him.

Unearthed clips from the Our Boys documentary show Mr Mahe and Jonah share a number of uncanny personality traits.

Jonah, like Mr Mahe, was from a single-parent family, had a larger than life and cheeky persona, could dance and struggled to read.

One scene showed a history lesson at the school, where Mr Mahe jovially clashed with his female teacher - similar to Jonah's constant taunting of his English teacher Miss Wheatley.

One scene showed a history lesson at the school, where Filipe Mahe jovially clashed with his female teacher - similar to Jonah's constant taunting of his English teacher Miss Wheatley.

The class clown was then placed in time out for repeatedly chatting to his friends

 Slide me  Mr Mahe can be seen in a one-on-one lesson with an English tutor. The interaction appeared to be Lilley's inspiration for Jonah's remedial English classes at the fictional Gumnut Cottage with Miss Palmer (slide right)

Mr Mahe, who was in Year Nine at the time, was filmed talking back to his teacher and giving her attitude during a lesson.

'It's a ruler, bro!' he shouted at his teacher, who tried to move his pencil case to get him to focus on his work.

Moments later, the teacher called on Mr Mahe - who was distracting his fellow students from their work - to ask what he was doing.

The class clown was then placed in time out for repeatedly chatting to his friends.

'What do I have to go to time out for?!' he yelled while laughing and walking away.

'Miss, I can't shut up. What's the use of putting me in time out?' he said while sitting at a desk facing the wall, away from his friends.

'Don't say one more word,' the teacher said, before Mr Mahe quickly responded: 'Alright. There's one word,' while the class laughed.

The real-life situation appeared to be recreated in Summer Heights High - which at the time was a ratings success - when Jonah is moved into timeout by his fed-up teacher.

 Slide me  In another stark comparison between Mr Mahe and Jonah, Mr Mahe and his friends - who are also of Pacific Islander background - hip hop danced in the school's quadrangle

 Slide me  The group of boys were later filmed dancing a traditional Tongan dance in front of their school, donning their cultural clothing. It mirrors a scene in Summer Heights High where Jonah and his friends perform a traditional dance at the school assembly wearing grass skirts

Mr Mahe (pictured at school with a friend) said his heart sank when he saw himself in the character of Jonah when Summer Heights High debuted in 2007

 Slide me  Mr Mahe, who was in Year Nine at the time, was filmed talking back to his teacher and giving her attitude during a lesson

In another resurfaced video, Mr Mahe can be seen in a one-on-one lesson with an English tutor.

Like Jonah, Mr Mahe was filmed sounding out the pronunciation to simple words in a children's book with the help of his doting teacher.

The interaction appeared to be Lilley's inspiration for Jonah's remedial English classes at the fictional Gumnut Cottage with Miss Palmer.

In another stark comparison between Mr Mahe and Jonah, Mr Mahe and his friends - who are also of Pacific Islander background - hip hop danced in the school's quadrangle.

The group of boys were later filmed dancing a traditional Tongan dance in front of their school, donning their cultural clothing.

It directly mirrors a scene in Summer Heights High where Jonah and his three friends perform a traditional dance at the school assembly wearing grass skirts.

Pictured: Chris Lilley (centre) in his role as Jonah Takalua in his program, Jonah from Tonga

Mr Mahe said his heart sank when he saw himself in the character of Jonah when Summer Heights High debuted in 2007.

'I've always thought it was racism to Tongans but never spoke out,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'I would have been labelled a 'sook' or 'can't handle the banter' so I didn't say anything.'

He added that he felt 'absolutely embarrassed, full of hate, angry and exploited' by the program.

Mr Mahe is now a successful father-of-two living in Queensland, but his start to life was much tougher.

His father had been killed in a motor accident, his mother was wheelchair bound after contracting polio as a child and his sister suffered from epilepsy - which later killed her.

Mr Mahe has dyslexia and by grade nine he still couldn't read or write in English or Tongan, and his math capabilities were equivalent to a grade six student.

Mahe (centre) is certain the character of Jonah is based on him and his experiences at school. Pictured with Our Boys producer Kerry Brewster (left)

Chris Lilley visited Canterbury Boys High after Our Boys aired to conduct research for his upcoming show, Summer Heights High

However he'd always managed to get by in class because of his great verbal and observational skills.

The character of Jonah had similar learning difficulties and compensated by being brash and rude to his superiors, a trait that Mr Mahe said didn't come from him.

'I can 100 per cent say that, if any Tongan kid was to speak that way to their parents, they would have got a smack to the mouth,' he said. 'We just don't speak that way.'

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Kerry Brewster, the woman who produced and directed Our Boys also immediately identified the character in Lilley's show as Mr Mahe.

She had worked closely with him during filming and was alarmed at how he was 'exploited' to create 'a brown faced caricature'.

'In its mocking portrayal of Jonah, it was racist and cruel, even if this was not Lilley's intention,' she said in an opinion piece for Sydney Morning Herald.

'It appealed to an audience that still looks condescendingly at Pacific Islanders.'

Ms Brewster said some of the lines used in the show were almost word-for-word repeats of things Mr Mahe had said in the past.

But Ms Brewster also feels guilty for the 'terrible price' Mr Mahe paid for participating in her documentary.

The entire first episode focused largely on his struggles and led Lilley to visit the school when researching his own ABC-funded project.

Mr Mahe moved to Brisbane after he left Canterbury Boys High, where he found a job and met his now wife, Vera.

The couple have two children and are very happy with their lives, though Vera said he still deals with the hurt and embarrassment over the show.

Mr Mahe (pictured) was charismatic and adored by his peers and teachers. He struggled with learning difficulties and had a tough upbringing

Mr Mahe's wife said her husband was 'hurt and embarrassed' by the character Jonah from Tonga

'He is hurt and embarrassed,' she explained.

'Is he embarrassed by the way he was? Absolutely. His dad died in a car accident, his mum is a paralysed from the waist down, his sister died from epilepsy - he didn't have the easiest childhood. Could be the reason why he played up.'

Vera told Daily Mail Australia the couple both 'understand the comedy part' of the show and accept that it has cultivated a cult-like following since it aired.

'But he was a child and was exploited,' she added.

Pictured: Chris Lilley in 2015

Four of Lilley's shows, including Jonah from Tonga, were removed from the Netflix catalogue earlier this month in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The programs had been criticised in the past for their use of brownface and blackface. In Jonah From Tonga, Lilley painted his face brown and wore a curly wig to portray Jonah.

Daily Mail Australia tried to contact Lilley for comment regarding Mr Mahe's claims.

Lilley has previously defended his style of comedy.

Last year he told The Weekend Australian: 'I'm not trying to do the thing that is trendy at the moment.'

The award-winning comedian went on to say he would continue making 'clever, layered' characters.

Defending his controversial characters, he said: 'When you meet them, you think 'I know that type of person', but then there is a twist, something crazy.'

'[In] the end you think 'Actually, I kinda relate to this, she just did that thing that I do everyday'.'
Lawyers have allegedly filed an attempt to oppose the trademark on Melbourne-based company Pineapple on behalf of Apple. Pictured: Pineapple co-founder Kari Marsden

A small Melbourne start-up company has found itself in a bizarre David and Goliath battle with tech giant Apple over the name of their firm.

Kari Marsden and Luke Campbell co-founded Pineapple in 2019, a firm which helps Australians save money by tracking their spending in a bid to add a 'pineapple a week' to their savings.

Now, lawyers acting for Apple have made a move to stop the couple from using their trademark.

Kari, who started the business with Luke when they both left their jobs, told the Herald Sun: 'Apple's a trillion-dollar company picking on a small Australian start-up.

'Apple was young once, they were an innovative company who picked a pretty unconventional name, we would have thought they'd be supportive of a start-up like ours.'

She said a lot of time had been put into researching and choosing the name for their company.

'Obviously it's Aussie slang for the $50 note, but it also stands for fun, sun and holidays,' Ms Marsden said.

'We love the name and people have told us they love the name too.'

Pineapple launched on Saturday.

Kari Marsden and Luke Campbell are the co-founders of the business and both left their jobs in 2019 to make their dream a reality (stock image)

Pineapple launched on Saturday. The company lodged the trademark in September 2019 and IP Australia accepted it in March

The company lodged the trademark in September 2019 and IP Australia accepted it in March.

However on the final day of the notice period Apple revealed they intended to dispute the trademark.

Mr Campbell said the company now faces at least a 12-month legal battle to resolve the issue.

They have also needed to hire a lawyer to help them.

He said as a start-up they don't need a legal battle this long ahead of them.

Trademark laywer Brian Goldberg told Ten News it wasn't clear what Apple's issue with the name was at this stage.

'They have only filed that they oppose it,' he said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Pineapple and Apple for comment.
Mark Zuckerberg has bent Facebook's guiding principles in order to keep Donald Trump's posts on the site, according to documents and interviews obtained by a newspaper.

The Facebook CEO is confronting a company in crisis, as employees publicly protest against his failure to challenge Trump and advertisers boycott the firm in response.

On Sunday Starbucks became the latest to announce it was no longer advertising with the tech giant, following a lead set by Verizon, North Face, Ben & Jerry's and Patagonia.

'We will pause advertising on all social media platforms while we continue discussions internally, with our media partners and with civil rights organizations in the effort to stop the spread of hate speech,' the company said.

The boycott has cost the company $7.2 billion, Bloomberg reported.

Mark Zuckerberg, pictured meeting Donald Trump in September 2019, has been accused of giving too much leeway to the president in a report published in The Washington Post

Zuckerberg's woes increased further with the publication of a damning report by The Washington Post, which detailed how since 2015 he had changed Facebook's policies to accommodate Trump's controversial statements.

As a candidate, Trump posted a video in December 2015 calling for a ban of Muslims entering the United States.

Anger among employees at the video led to a companywide town hall, in which staff members told executives that they viewed the video as 'hate speech' - a violation of the company's policies.

In meetings about the issue, senior leaders and policy experts overwhelmingly said they felt that the video was 'hate speech', three former employees told The Post.

Zuckerberg himself said he was personally disgusted by it and wanted it removed, the people said.

At one of the meetings, Monika Bickert, Facebook's vice president for policy, drafted a document to address the video and shared it with leaders including Zuckerberg's top deputy, COO Sheryl Sandberg, and Joel Kaplan, the vice president of global policy and the company's most prominent Republican.

Joel Kaplan, the vice president of global policy and the company's most prominent Republican, is pictured with Zuckerberg leaving the Elysee Palace in Paris in May 2018

The document, obtained by The Post, weighed four options.

They included removing the post for 'hate speech' violations, making a one-time exception for it, creating a broad exemption for political discourse, and weakening the company's community guidelines for everyone, allowing comments such as 'No blacks allowed' and 'Get the gays out of San Francisco.'

The document also listed possible 'PR Risks' for each.

For example, lowering the standards overall would raise questions such as: 'Would Facebook have provided a platform for Hitler?' Bickert wrote.

She said that giving total free rein, on the other hand, risked opening the floodgates for even more hateful 'copycat' comments.

In the end Zuckerberg was talked out of his desire to remove the post in part by Kaplan, according to the people.

Instead, the executives created an allowance that newsworthy political discourse would be taken into account when making decisions about whether posts violated community guidelines.

Bickert said the company ultimately made a call to maintain Trump's Muslim ban video because executives interpreted Trump's comment to mean that the then-candidate was not speaking about all Muslims, but rather advocating for a policy position on immigration as part of a newsworthy political debate.

A formal newsworthiness policy was announced in October 2016.

Starbucks on Sunday announced a pause in their advertising with Facebook and others

Coca-Cola have ended their advertising with Facebook for the time being

A similar internal debate played out in the spring of 2016, when Trump began campaigning hard on his policy of building a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Zuckerberg wanted to write a blog post condemning it, but was talked out of it by advisers in Washington DC, who said it would look like he was taking sides ahead of the November election.

Critics of Facebook say that their early assessment of Trump, and whether to label his proclamations as hate speech, have had a lasting impact - allowing figures such as Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro and Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines to speak with impunity.

Another way in which Facebook's policies were slanted to help the president regarded news reports.

In the aftermath of the November 2016 election, rooting out fake news promulgated by Russian trolls became a priority for liberals.

Facebook's security engineers in December 2016 presented findings from a broad internal investigation, known as Project P, to senior leadership on how false and misleading news reports spread so virally during the election.

When Facebook's security team highlighted dozens of pages that had peddled false news reports, according to The Post, senior leaders in Washington, including Kaplan, opposed shutting them down immediately, arguing that doing so would disproportionately impact conservatives.

A year later, when Facebook considered changing its news feed algorithm to focus more on posts by friends and family versus publishers, Kaplan asked whether the change would hurt conservative news outlets, the paper reported.

When the data showed it would  conservative leaning outlets were pushing more content that violated its policies, the company had found  Kaplan successfully pushed for changes to make the new algorithm to be what he considered more evenhanded in its impact, the people said.

In September 2019 Nick Clegg, Facebook's new head of global affairs and communications and a former British deputy prime minister, announced that Facebook would allow politicians to express themselves virtually unchecked on social media, unless they urged violence.

Facebook's network of independent fact-checkers, which had been established as a key part of the company's response to disinformation, would not evaluate their claims and the community guidelines would largely not apply to politicians.

He echoed Zuckerberg's long-held view that Facebook should not want to be an arbiter of truth in political debate.

The speech angered some employees, triggering more than 250 of them to sign a petition disagreeing with the decision because they thought it gave politicians a pass.

In May Twitter began to distance itself from Facebook by marking some of Trump's tweets as inciting violence or factually wrong.

Zuckerberg again resisted.

On Friday, however, Zuckerberg told employees in a live-streamed town hall that he was changing the company's policy to be more in line with Twitter's.

Facebook, he said, would label problematic newsworthy content that violated the company's policies as Twitter does.

'There are no exceptions for politicians in any of the policies that I'm announcing today,' Zuckerberg said.
Green reflective dots on the side of Queensland and New South Wales highways should be rolled out around Australia, road safety advocates say.

Road safety group Truck Friendly shared photos of the green dots on sign posts along the Bernard Highway in Bundaberg, Queensland.

Ken Wilson and his wife, Jenny, revealed the dots are to show caravan drivers how they can share the roads safely with other motorists and large trucks.

Three green dots indicate to caravan drivers and other motorists that there is a safe place to pullover in 500m

The dots were suggested by road safety advocate and truck driver Rod Hannifey

'Need a place to pull over to let faster traffic pass?' the post read.

What do the green dots indicate? Three green dots indicates there is a safe place to pullover in 500m

Two green dots means the safe place is now within 250m

One green dot shows you have arrived at the safe spot and can pullover Advertisement

'These green reflectors will help you find a safe place.

'These indicate that there is a safe place to pull off the road coming up soon so you can indicate your intentions and be prepared.'

The post explained when you see three green dots then there is a safe place to pull over in 500m, two green dots means the place is within 250m, and one green dot when you have arrived.

Mr Wilson explained road safety advocate and truck driver Rod Hannifey came up with the idea when he was once looking for a safe spot to pull over but had just missed it.

'He came up with these dots which give you a little bit of a warning that these areas where you can pull over are coming up,' he told Yahoo News.

He recommends that drivers do not stay overnight but to use it as place to 'overtake or stretch your legs and check your rig'.

Ken Wilson advised motorists that the areas are not to stay in overnight but rather for to allow someone 'to overtake, stretch your legs and check your rig'

The Truck Friendly initiative comes with a sticker for drivers to paste on their car or UV after reading the driving guide on their website and install the vehicle with a installing a UHF radio.

This allows other motorists with a sticker and radio to communicate and know what to do when there are larger vehicles involved.

There are now calls to install the green reflective dots around Australia to make it safer for all motorists.

'Should be in every state of Australia and on every road,' one person wrote.

'I tow a van around 90km/h. This is a great idea and would help caravan towers a lot conscious of holding other traffic up,' another wrote.

'Great idea just need more pullover areas particularly on mountain roads following a van or truck up is sooo painful!' someone else wrote.
A vegan activist bombarded with death threats claims she was told by police she brought the abuse on herself with her public protests.

Tash Peterson, 26, gained notoriety by accosting Coles shoppers dressed as a blood-soaked abattoir worker and invading Perth Stadium during an AFL match.

Stalkers have in response sent her messages threatening to 'slit your throat' outside her workplace, and thrown meat on her parents' car.

Ms Peterson said she took screenshots of the threats to a police station in fear of being attacked if the threats were genuine, but was turned away.

'He said: "You are putting yourself out there so you have to expect things like this to happen",' she told Daily Mail Australia.

Vegan activist Tash Peterson claims she was told by police she brought death threats on herself with her public protests like this one at Coles

Stalkers have in response sent her messages threatening to 'slit your throat' outside her workplace

'"I'm not condoning this behaviour, but this is just something you need to deal with... We can't do anything about it".

'Is that not the same as telling a woman she's bringing it on herself if she reports an assault while walking alone at night?'

Ms Peterson said she was worried because the stalkers knew her exact address, where she worked, and her car.

'I can come with a knife and slit your throat at [name of workplace],' a message she received from an anonymous user read.

'I woulda shot you on the spot,' a comment on one of her TikTok videos read.

Another comment encouraged people to follow her car home and 'break into her house and harass her'.

Ms Peterson, 26, gained notoriety by accosting Coles shoppers dressed as a blood-soaked abattoir worker and invading Perth Stadium during an AFL match

'I woulda shot you on the spot,' a comment on one of her TikTok videos read

Another comment encouraged people to follow her car home and 'break into her house and harass her'

Someone claiming to be a farmer also sent a message threatening violence to any protesting vegan activists.

'I will be carrying a splitting axe with me and a rifle I will bring out if I am called an animal abuser,' it read.

'Then I will shoot the vegan that said it and all the other vegans there, I am going to jail for years but I am mental as anything.'

Ms Peterson said in the days after she went to the police, meat and cheese was thrown on her family's car and an animal bone in her driveway.

'The police just did not take it seriously at all, in fact he insinuated that I was bringing it upon myself,' she said.

'This is disgusting, everyone deserves the right to stay safe.

'He was so immature and rude about it, I couldn't believe it. It was extremely degrading and disappointing.'

Ms Peterson on Monday went to a different police station and made her complaint again, including the attack on her home.

'A complaint was taken today by Palmyra Police and the matters will be investigated,' WA Police told Daily Mail Australia.

Someone claiming to be a farmer sent a message threatening violence to any protesting vegan activists

Another stalker writes Ms Peterson's house number to let her known they know where she lives

Ms Peterson said in the days after she went to the police, meat and cheese was thrown on her family's car and an animal bone in her driveway

Ms Peterson said she was worried because the stalkers knew her exact address, where she worked, and her car

Ms Peterson was last month fined $1,800 for running onto the ground during Western Australia's first AFLW derby in February.

The serial protester ran around for about a minute holding a black flag reading 'right to rescue' before she was tackled by Fremantle midfielder Kiara Bowers long enough for security to catch up.

She walked out of court with her mouth taped shut and animal slaughter sounds blaring, standing with a fellow activist on the court steps for several minutes holding signs reading 'it's time to listen to the animals'.

Just two weeks later she dressed as an abattoir worker covered in fake blood, holding a meat tray with a mock-severed human hand for sale, and stormed Coles and nearby butchers.

Peterson, 26, ran onto the oval with a black flag that read 'right to rescue' at Perth's Optus Stadium, late in the first half of the Fremantle and West Coast game on February 15

Ms Peterson earlier this month dressed as an abattoir worker covered in fake blood, holding a meat tray with a mock-severed human hand for sale, and stormed Coles and nearby butchers

She held a sign reading 'Australian free range human meat' to attack to meat industry for 'ethical', 'free range' and 'RSPCA-approved' while still killing animals.

Ms Peterson first grabbed the public's attention for a series of stunts in supermarkets where she dressed as an abattoir worker covered in fake blood holding a lamb.

Animal lovers have become concerned in recent years after allegations have emerged of animal cruelty in Australia's abattoirs.

Secret footage recorded by a university student in August last year at a Sydney abattoir showed a pig being shot at least eight times, and workers appearing to twist cows' tails to force them to walk into a knockbox.

Some of Ms Peterson's fellow activists have received criminal convictions for breaking into farms and 'rescuing' livestock.
Australian wool farmers are leading a push for a revival in local manufacturing to reduce its heavy reliance on China for production.

Skyrocketing energy and labour costs has seen much of Australia's wool production moved offshore in recent years, where the number of processing factories has dwindled from 26 in the mid to late 1990s to just three today.

The majority of Australian wool ends up in China where it's made into clothing and other products.

But the coronavirus pandemic, along with the recent drought and bushfires have left farmers and manufacturers pondering whether more of the production process can be done back home rather than offshore.

Australian wool farmers and lobby groups are calling for a manufacturing revival in domestic production. Pictured are merino sheep in regional NSW

Sixth generation farmer Georgie Kelly, 25, has transformed her family's property in the New South Wales Southern Tablelands since taking over the reigns, which has gone from solely cattle to also breeding sheep for meat and wool.

The family also made a conscious decision to not practice mulesing, which involves removing skin from the sheep's buttocks

Ms Kelly believes the non-mulesed wool they produce now being demanded by clothing manufacturers will give them a competitive edge as the wool market bounces back.

'I think it's to our detriment that we've offshored all of those operations and the fact that we send our wool overseas to be scoured and processed and brought back into Australia seems like a lot of travel miles for something we could very easily be doing here,' Ms Kelly told ABC's Landline program.

Sixth generation farmer Georgie Kelly (pictured) from the NSW Southern Tablelands believes offshore production has been a detriment to Australia

Australia's leading farm lobby group has called on state and federal governments to look at investing in food and fibre processing to boost regional economies.

'It's timely to have a look at it, so if it's viable and we can get governments to commit to it, I think it will have a real beneficial impact in rural and regional Australia,' National Farmers' Federation chief executive Tony Mahar told the program.

He believes the pandemic has provided Australia with the opportunity to press pause and look at the need for strong, reliable and sustainable supply chains.

'We need to have the food and fibre value-adding and processing here in this country,' Mr Mahar said.

'And the other thing is that technology has moved on in the last couple of decades, is that we have seen improvements in technology. So, things are cheaper, things are more efficient to run.'

The majority of Australian wool currently ends up in China to be produced into clothing. Pictured is a Queensland sheep shearer hard at work

David Michell runs one of the last remaining wool production companies left in Australia, which was started by his ancestors 150 years ago.

The Adelaide factory buys, cleans, bales and exports wool but also has a factory in China, which was established in 2004.

Now that it's cheaper to process wool locally than at the offshore plant, Mr Michell plans to invest in boosting capacity at the Adelaide site post-pandemic.

'There's been a trend in the last 10 years to move production back to Western countries to service Western markets, and I think that that will increase,' he said.
The COVID-19 outbreak caught everyone by surprise by striking over 210 countries and regions this year, affecting more than seven billion people and claiming more than 500,000 lives. The spread of the virus respects neither borders nor races. Solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons against the COVID-19 pandemic that spreads worldwide and causes enormous threats to people's lives.

On June 29, 2020, the online photography exhibition "Zooming in on COVID-19: Unforgettable Moments in the Global Fight Against the Pandemic" opened in Beijing. This online exhibition, fueled by new media and modern technologies, provides a multi-lingual and multi-terminal viewing experience to global audiences.

Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Publishing Group (CIPG), and Li Qianguang, member of the Party Leadership Group and vice president of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC), delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Pavel Negoitsa, president of Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Franco Gallo, president of the Istituto dell' Enciclopedia Italiana Treccani in Italy, Yang Kyuhyun, editor-in-chief of Aju News Corporation in South Korea, and Jose Luis Uribe, president of the Club Primera Plana in Mexico, gave speeches over the internet.

"At present, the pandemic is still ravaging the world, causing unprecedented disruptions to the global economy and people's everyday lives," said CIPG President Du Zhanyuan in his address. "However, although people are now practicing social distancing to contain the virus, their hearts are always united and close to each other. The battle against the invisible enemy is a common struggle facing all human beings. Fighting the virus calls for joint efforts from governments of all countries as well as great support and wide participation of media outlets and cultural institutions. From the very beginning, CIPG's proposal to launch an online photo exhibition on the fight against COVID-19 was warmly welcomed by a number of related agencies in many countries. In no time, we began to receive active responses and massive support. This move itself shows people's attitudes, choices, and actions in the face of the pandemic, as both witnesses and keepers of the memories of this special time. It depicts the mutual support, solidarity and cooperation of human society during the pandemic."

"A true portrayal of the battle against the pandemic, the exhibition presents works of more than 100 photographers from 27 countries," he revealed. "These carefully selected works are not merely documentation through images, but also exhibits of high artistry and philosophical profundity. They capture the valuable moments beyond the limits of time and space, and reveal the brilliance of humanity demonstrated by individuals amid the crisis and the concerted action of all governments to protect people's lives and scientifically prevent and control the disease."

"These touching stories about the tenacious fight against the coronavirus show the determination of human beings in the face of difficulties and their common choice of unity, cooperation, perseverance and unconditional love. We firmly believe that unity will bring strength, cooperation will create opportunities, perseverance will build confidence, and unconditional love will spark hope," Du added.

"Photography is a universal language. The exhibition vividly demonstrates the grave situation around the world by capturing touching moments from different countries battling the same virus. This is the first time that I attend a photo exhibition themed on the response to the pandemic. I believe the exhibition will boost our courage to defeat the virus and strengthen our determination to act with unity," said Li Qianguang, vice president of CFLAC.

Chinese and foreign guests jointly unveiled the online exhibition. The opening ceremony of the exhibition was presided over by Gao Anming, vice president and editor-in-chief of CIPG, and attended by guests including Li Ge, president of the China Photographers Association (CPA) and Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the Center of Photographic Art.

The exhibition features more than 200 photographic works from media organizations and photographers from 27 countries that have been severely hit by the coronavirus outbreak, including China, South Korea, Egypt, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and the United States. Through documenting disordered life and extraordinary moments, those images can inspire countries around the world to cooperate in the battle against the pandemic and jointly build a global community of health for all. The exhibition falls into five sections including "Unanticipated COVID-19 Outbreak Worldwide", "Life Matters, Love Prevails", "Standing Together Through Thick and Thin", "Global Shutdown, Sinking Economy", and "Boosting Confidence in Recovery, Moving Forward with Courage."

"I was honored for the chance to capture the stories of different groups during the COVID-19 outbreak," said Mexican photographer Marco Pelaez. "The disease caught the world by surprise, but we are slowly learning how to deal with it. This exhibition is part of our drive to deliver global anti-epidemic action with cameras."

"Photos are fragments of time," said Chinese photographer Liu Yu. "When these fragments are spliced together, they become a relatively complete picture. In another time, people will recall what happened in Wuhan during this special period. What I endeavored to do is to provide a fragment."

These photos shine light on the heavy price paid by humans in the fight against the raging coronavirus. They document heartwarming acts of mutual assistance, monumental courage on the front lines, and the tremendous strength of human society to overcome the pandemic. "When our homes became shelters, looking outside became a gaze into an uncertain future," said Italian photographer Max Intrisano. "Finding appreciation for so many things we took for granted has been true happiness. Through a camera I can feel the silence of the street and the absence of peoplea sort of temporal suspension."

The images also shed light on some of the most striking expressions of joy, anger, sorrow, and support in difficult times, demonstrating that mankind is a community of common health that shares weal and woe.

"I have seen the glorious side of human nature," said China Pictorial photographer Duan Wei, recalling his time in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in China. "In the face of difficulties, people made major sacrifices for the benefit of others. I have seen the courage of humankind. When we encounter danger, we fight together and refuse to yield."

It is the first large-scale online photo exhibition in the world with the theme of fighting against the COVID-19 epidemic. Presented on the internet, the exhibition is available on mobile devices, computers and social media. The mobile platform uses 3D modeling technology to provide a virtual exhibition experience in both Chinese and English; computers offer a visually impressive experience with larger images, which is presented in eight languages including Chinese, English, Korean, Arabic, French, Italian, Russian and Spanish.

The exhibition is jointly sponsored by CIPG, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Aju News Corporation, Egyptian newspaper Al Youm7, Istituto dellEnciclopedia Italiana Treccani, China-Italy Youth Association, Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the Club Primera Plana and La Jornada from Mexico, and Peruvian news agency ANDINA, and jointly organized by China Pictorial Publications, China.org.cn, China Today magazine, and Beijing Bosheng International Cultural Exchange Co., Ltd. The CFLAC Center of Photographic Art provided art direction for the exhibition.

The exhibition, scheduled to last for six months, is part of international online cultural exchange activities held by CIPG amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Access to the online photo exhibition "Zooming in on COVID-19"

http://www.china.com.cn/yijing/en/node_8019064.html
Bali nightclubs are being shut down by armed police as partying tourists continue to ignore social distancing rules.

Officers stormed Le Giant Pool & Bar on Kuta's famous Legian Street on Thursday night after reports there was a crowded party.

Local residents reported the party to authorities who were forced to tell patrons, believed to be mostly foreigners, to vacate the premises.

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Officers stormed Le Giant Pool & Bar on Kuta's famous Legian Street on Thursday night after reports there was a crowded party

Dozens of guests took to the popular bar and flouted social distancing rules as if there were no coronavirus pandemic, local news website Coconuts Bali reported.

Everyone at the club was standing close to each other and most people were without masks.

Kuta customary village chief Wayan Wasista said the party was stopped at 8pm.

'It cannot be like that. We must work based on regulations. There was no mask usage or physical distancing,' he said.

Head of Satpol PP Badung, I Gusti Agung Kerta Suryanegara, said Le Giant Pool & Bar was told to close temporarily from Friday onwards.

The popular bar is now not allowed to operate until it is officially told it can reopen by the government.

'If we find them opening again tonight we have asked the Kuta Police to act according to the National Police's advisory [on social distancing],' he said.

Police in Bali have had to issue multiple restrictions since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic but the Indonesian island is yet to go into full lockdown.

Head of Satpol PP Badung, I Gusti Agung Kerta Suryanegara, said Le Giant Pool & Bar (pictured) was told to close temporarily from Friday onwards

Restaurants and cafes are allowed to open as long as they adhere to health protocols and a curfew of 11pm.

Bars and nightclubs are not permitted to open and live music performances are also banned.

All tourism-related businesses in Bali must report and verify everything to local officials if they wish to remain open.

Earlier this month a similar incident occurred at Old Mans Ba rin Canggu where crowds of people were found partying without masks.

The bar had reopened on June 10 after closing on March 24 due to the coronavirus, and was throwing a party to celebrate reopening.

Promotion on social media said entry was going to be limited but authorities raided the party and dispersed the crowd.
More than 85 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Michigan after an outbreak at a college bar.

The Ingham County Health Department has linked all of the cases to Harper's Restaurant and Brew Pub in Lansing, close to Michigan State University's campus.

Doctors have found that 80 of those infected had been to the bar while the others were from coming into contact with those who had been exposed to customers who had visited with 23 testing as asymptomatic.

Around 80 of those infected had visited Harper's Restaurant and Brewpub when it reopened earlier this month

Video shot from outside the bar shows there were lines out the door and no social distancing

Despite there being seating outdoors, there was still extremely long lines for orders

Patrons who visited the bar any time between June 12 and June 22 has been told to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The bar reopened earlier in June and was completely packed with lines stretching out the door according to the Detroit Free Press.

'I'm just so frustrated,' said one mother, whose 19-year-old daughter has tested positive for COVID-19. 'I'm so sad. We stayed home as ordered and then let our guard down  and now this.

'It's everywhere  and I get that. And perhaps she shouldn't have gone to a bonfire,' the mother said. 'So now we wait for our test results and pray. ... Praying is all we have.'

The bar has now been forced to temporarily close once again as the owners attempt to design a system to eliminate lines

The restaurants and bar have now been forced to close while they work out a safer option

In a Facebook statement the bar acknowledged that it had failed when it came to enforcing social distancing.

'We have attempted to instruct customers waiting in line to wear face coverings and practice social distancing through signage on the public sidewalk and with a banner on our railing,' the bar in an online posting.

'Our oversight of the line on our stairs has been successful, but trying to get customers to follow our recommendations on the public sidewalk has been challenging.'

The owners also say the bar will install air purifiers indoors to help create a safer atmosphere

The bar has now been forced to close while it comes up with a strategy whereby the venue can reopen while eliminating lines completely.

The venue plans to install air purifiers as well.

'When we have finished implementing these two strategies, we will have the most state-of-the-art neighborhood venue for you to visit safely,' the bar said.
President Donald Trump accused his rival Joe Biden in the upcoming 2020 general election of 'running false ads' less than two weeks after the presumptive Democratic candidate unveiled his first commercials for the November contest.

Trump responded to the former vice president's ads in a tweet Sunday night.

'Corrupt Joe Biden's team is running false ads. Almost everything in them is a knowing lie, just the opposite of what they are saying, & very much like their Fake News partners!' wrote the president on Twitter.

Trump offered no other specifics in his tweets to clarify what was false about the ads, or why he considered them to be untruthful.

President Donald Trump (pictured outside the White House) accused his rival Joe Biden in the upcoming 2020 general election of 'running false ads' less than two weeks after the presumptive Democratic candidate unveiled his first commercials for the November contest

Trump responded to the former vice president's ads in a tweet Sunday night

Trump offered no other specifics in his tweets to clarify what was false about Biden's ads, or why he considered them to be untruthful. Biden is pictured at a campaign event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, last week

Biden less than two weeks earlier had debuted his first general election advertising blitz.

The presumptive Democratic candidate spent $15 million to target six states President Trump won in 2016.

Biden's first television ad uses footage from Trump's infamous walk across Lafayette Park, minutes after 'Black Lives Matter' protesters were forcibly removed, so he could hold up a Bible in front of St. John's church on June 1.

The words in the ad came from the speech Biden gave a day later in Philadelphia, where he pledged to 'seek to heal the racial wounds that have long plagued this country.'

'Not use them for political gain,' the Democratic candidate said.

The first new ad, titled 'Unite Us,' also featured visuals from the Charlottesville 'Unite the Right' march - which attracted KKK members, neo-Nazis and other white supremacists to the Virginia town in August 2017.

Biden has often criticized Trump saying that there were 'very fine people on both sides.' Trump has said he was defending those who showed up who were against the removal of the town's Robert E. Lee statue.

The first TV ad shared by the Biden campaign includes footage of President Trump's infamous photo-op in front of St. John's church in Washington. The move was controversial because protesters were forcibly cleared from in front of the church just minutes before

Joe Biden's first ad of the general election campaign includes grainy footage of President Trump's controversial walk across Lafayette park, moments after protesters were cleared out using tear gas and pepper balls, for a photo-op in front of St. John's church

The ad shows recent images of the Black Live Matter protests - and Trump's reaction to them: military police in full gear guarding the Lincoln Memorial.

The new spot also contains footage from Biden's time on the campaign trail, before he was relegated to his basement rec room due to the coronavirus crisis.

A second ad also borrows its voiceover from Biden's Philadelphia speech, but focuses on shoring up the American middle class.

Joe Biden's first ad also showcases imagery of the new wave of 'Black Lives Matter' protests that took place around the country after the Memorial Day death of George Floyd. In the ad he promises to 'seek to heal the racial wounds that have long plagued this country'

The ads also depict presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden on the campaign trail before the coronavirus crisis. Since early March, Biden has had to campaign mainly from his basement rec room

'The moment has come to deal with the denial of a promise of this nation made to so many. Because if it weren't clear before it's clear now, this country wasn't built by Wall Street bankers and CEOs, it was built by the great American middle class,' Biden says.

'Healthcare workers, docs, nurses, delivery truck drivers, grocery store workers, we've come up with a new phrase for them - essential workers,' he continues. 'We need to do more than praise them, we need to pay them.'

Patrick Bonsignore, the director of paid media for the campaign, described Biden's Philadelphia speech as a 'searing address.'

'It was an address that Donald Trump could never give,' he said in a statement.

A third campaign ad is in Spanish and deals with Trump's handling of the coronavirus and the economy.

TV and digital ads were to run in Pennsylvania - the state Biden was born - Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida and Arizona.

The campaign also planned to run them nationally on cable, including Fox News Channel.

Spanish-language advertising was to be targeted to Arizona and Florida, which have higher Latino populations.

Biden's campaign also planned to mark the Juneteenth holiday on June 19 by spending six-figures in advertising in African-American print products and radio programs in those six swing states.
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China authorities have forced Uighur Muslims to eat pork dumplings during a traditional Han festival to eradicate the minority group's own cultural, according to activists.

Beijing's officials served the forbidden food items to residents in Xinjiang, and those who refused to consume them would be sent into re-education camps, the World Uyghur Congress claimed.

The news comes as the Chinese government is accused of carrying out 'demographic genocide' against the Uighur Muslim population by allegedly forcing birth control onto local women.

Beijing's officials served pork-filled dumplings known as zong zi (file photo above) to Uighurs on the Dragon Boat Festival, and those who refused to consume them would be sent into re-education camps, the World Uyghur Congress claimed

In this image from video, Zumret Dawut, a Uighur woman from China's far western Xinjiang region, holds a phone with a picture of her kids at her home in Woodbridge, Va., on Monday, June 15, 2020. She says in China, a doctor tied her fallopian tubes. After waking from the anesthesia, she felt her womb ache, as though it was missing something. 'I was so angry. I wanted another son,' she said. (AP Photo/Nathan Ellgren)

The World Uyghur Congress, a Germany-based rights group for the ethnic minority, alleged that Chinese officials demanded Uighurs celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival by eating pork-filled 'zong zi'.

Zong zi is a type of triangle-shaped snack stuffed with glutinous rice and other ingredients.

The Dragon Boat Festival, or the 'Duan Wu Festival', falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar each year and is one of the most ancient festivals for the Han Chinese.

Pork is forbidden in Islam, and Muslims do not usually celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival.

Uighur children play outdoors in Hotan, in western China's Xinjiang region. The Associated Press has found that the Chinese government is carrying out a birth control program aimed at Uighurs, Kazakhs and other largely Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, even as some of the country's Han majority is encouraged to have more children

Dilxat Raxit, the spokesperson of the World Uyghur Congress, said officials had sent workers to bring pork dumplings to local families, completely ignoring the Islamic culture and dining tradition.

Raxit said in an article on the Congress's website: 'Those Chinese officials who went to Uighurs' homes gave Uighurs zong zi with non-halal fillings. Chinese people have the culture of eating pork, and those officials who visited Uighurs' homes brought (zong zi) with pork or pork fat.'

Citing local account, the Congress claimed that such family visits had been arranged 'across Xinjiang in a planned way'.

'If you refused to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival and did not eat or make zong zi, authorities would brand you as having extreme thoughts against the Chinese culture, and you would be sent to a re-education camp by force,' Raxit added.

Alif Baqytali hugs his mother, Gulnar Omirzakh, at their new home in Shonzhy, Kazakhstan. Omirzakh, a Chinese-born ethnic Kazakh, says she was forced to get an intrauterine contraceptive device, and that authorities in China threatened to detain her if she didn't pay a large fine for giving birth to Alif, her third child. (AP Photo/Mukhit Toktassyn)

On the other hand, the Chinese government is taking draconian measures to slash birth rates among Uighurs and other minorities as part of a sweeping campaign to curb its Muslim population, even as it encourages some of the country's Han majority to have more children.

While individual women have spoken out before about forced birth control, the practice is far more widespread and systematic than previously known, according to an AP investigation based on government statistics, state documents and interviews with 30 ex-detainees, family members and a former detention camp instructor.

The campaign over the past four years in the far west region of Xinjiang is leading to what some experts are calling a form of 'demographic genocide.'

Gulnar Omirzakh prepares a kettle of tea in her home in Shonzhy, Kazakhstan on Saturday, June 13, 2020. 'God bequeaths children on you. To prevent people from having children is wrong,' says Omirzakh of the Chinese government. 'They want to destroy us as a people.' (AP Photo/Mukhit Toktassyn)

The state regularly subjects minority women to pregnancy checks, and forces intrauterine devices, sterilisation and even abortion on hundreds of thousands, the interviews and data show.

Even while the use of IUDs and sterilisation has fallen nationwide, it is rising sharply in Xinjiang.

The population control measures are backed by mass detention both as a threat and as a punishment for failure to comply.

Having too many children is a major reason people are sent to detention camps, the AP found, with the parents of three or more ripped away from their families unless they can pay huge fines.

After Gulnar Omirzakh, a Chinese-born Kazakh, had her third child, the government ordered her to get an IUD inserted.

Two years later, in January 2018, four officials in military camouflage came knocking at her door anyway.

They gave Omirzakh, the penniless wife of a detained vegetable trader, three days to pay a $2,685 fine for having more than two children.

This Saturday, June 13, 2020 photo shows a January 2018 document telling Gulnar Omirzakh, a Chinese-born ethnic Kazakh, that she must pay a fine of 17,405 RMB ($2685) for having a third child, at her new home in Shonzhy, Kazakhstan. She says she was forced to get an intrauterine contraceptive device, and that Chinese authorities threatened to detain her if she didn't pay the fine for having a third child. (Courtesy Gulnar Omirzakh via AP)

If she didnt, they warned, she would join her husband and a million other ethnic minorities locked up in internment camps - often for having too many children.

'God bequeaths children on you.

To prevent people from having children is wrong,' said Omirzakh, who tears up even now thinking back to that day.

'They want to destroy us as a people.'

Alif Baqytali plays on a tricycle at his home in Shonzhy, Kazakhstan on Saturday, June 13, 2020. Baqytali's mother, Gulnar Omirzakh, a Chinese-born ethnic Kazakh, says she was forced to get an intrauterine contraceptive device, and that authorities threatened to detain her if she didn't pay a large fine for giving birth to Alif, her third child. (AP Photo/Mukhit Toktassyn)

Gulnar Omirzakh, second right, and her husband, Baqytali Nur, third right, eat lunch with friends and family at their home in Shonzhy, Kazakhstan on Saturday, June 13, 2020. Omirzakh, an ethnic Kazakh, says she was forced to get an intrauterine contraceptive device when living in China, and that authorities threatened to detain her if she didn't pay a large fine for having a third child. (AP Photo/Mukhit Toktassyn)

Birth rates in the mostly Uighur regions of Hotan and Kashgar plunged by more than 60 per cent from 2015 to 2018, the latest year available in government statistics.

Across the Xinjiang region, birth rates continue to plummet, falling nearly 24 per cent last year alone - compared to just 4.2 per cent nationwide, statistics show.

The hundreds of millions of dollars the government pours into birth control has transformed Xinjiang from one of Chinas fastest-growing regions to among its slowest in just a few years, according to new research obtained by The Associated Press in advance of publication by China scholar Adrian Zenz.

FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2018 photo, a Uighur child plays alone in the courtyard of a home at the Unity New Village in Hotan, in western China's Xinjiang region. The hundreds of millions of dollars the government pours into birth control have transformed Xinjiang from one of China's fastest-growing regions into one of its slowest in just a few years, according to new research obtained by The Associated Press in advance of publication by China scholar Adrian Zenz. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

'This kind of drop is unprecedented....there's a ruthlessness to it,' said Zenz, a leading expert in the policing of China's minority regions.

'This is part of a wider control campaign to subjugate the Uighurs.'

The Chinese Foreign Ministry referred multiple requests for comment to the Xinjiang government, which did not respond.

However, Chinese officials have said in the past that the new measures are merely meant to be fair, allowing both Han Chinese and ethnic minorities the same number of children.

For decades, China had one of the most extensive systems of minority entitlements in the world, with Uighurs and others getting more points on college entrance exams, hiring quotas for government posts and laxer birth control restrictions.

Under Chinas now-abandoned `one child policy, the authorities had long encouraged, often forced, contraceptives, sterilisation and abortion on Han Chinese.

But minorities were allowed two children - three if they came from the countryside.

Under President Xi Jinping, Chinas most authoritarian leader in decades, those benefits are now being rolled back.

In 2014, soon after Xi visited Xinjiang, the regions top official said it was time to implement 'equal family planning policies' for all ethnicities and 'reduce and stabilize birth rates.'

In the following years, the government declared that instead of just one child, Han Chinese could now have two, and three in Xinjiang's rural areas, just like minorities.

But while equal on paper, in practice Han Chinese are largely spared the abortions, sterilisations, IUD insertions and detentions for having too many children that are forced on Xinjiangs other ethnicities, interviews and data show.

Some rural Muslims, like Omirzakh, are punished even for having the three children allowed by the law.

FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, file photo, people line up at the Artux City Vocational Skills Education Training Service Center at the Kunshan Industrial Park in Artux in western China's Xinjiang region. The Associated Press has found that the Chinese government is carrying out a birth control program aimed at Uighurs, Kazakhs and other largely Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, even as some of the country's Han majority is encouraged to have more children. The measures include detention in prisons and camps, such as this facility in Artux, as punishment for having too many children. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, file photo, a guard tower and barbed wire fence surround a detention facility in the Kunshan Industrial Park in Artux in western China's Xinjiang region. The Associated Press has found that the Chinese government is carrying out a birth control program aimed at Uighurs, Kazakhs and other largely Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, even as some of the country's Han majority is encouraged to have more children. The measures include detention in prisons and camps, such as this facility in Artux, as punishment for having too many children. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

State-backed scholars have warned for years that large rural religious families were at the root of bombings, knifings and other attacks the Xinjiang government blamed on Islamic terrorists.

The growing Muslim population was a breeding ground for poverty and extremism, 'heightening political risk,' according to a 2017 paper by the head of the Institute of Sociology at the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences.

Another cited as a key obstacle the religious belief that 'the fetus is a gift from God.'

Outside experts say the birth control campaign is part of a state-orchestrated assault on the Uighurs to purge them of their faith and identity and forcibly assimilate them into the dominant Han Chinese culture.

Theyre subjected to political and religious re-education in camps and forced labor in factories, while their children are indoctrinated in orphanages.

Uighurs, who are often but not always Muslim, are also tracked by a vast digital surveillance apparatus.

'The intention may not be to fully eliminate the Uighur population, but it will sharply diminish their vitality, making them easier to assimilate,' said Darren Byler, an expert on Uighurs at the University of Colorado.

'It's genocide, full stop.

'Its not immediate, shocking, mass-killing on the spot type genocide, but its slow, painful, creeping genocide,' said Joanne Smith Finley, who works at Newcastle University in the U.K.

'These are direct means of genetically reducing the Uighur population.'

For centuries, the majority was Muslim in the arid, landlocked region China now calls 'Xinjiang' - meaning 'New Frontier' in Mandarin.

FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2018 file photo, a mural depicting Uighur and Han Chinese men and women carrying the national flag of China, decorates the wall of a home at the Unity New Village in Hotan, in western China's Xinjiang region. Outside experts say the government's birth control campaign for Muslim minorities is part of a broader effort to forcibly assimilate the Uighur and Kazakh populations and rewire their culture, language and identity. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

After the Peoples Liberation Army swept through in 1949, Chinas new Communist rulers ordered thousands of soldiers to settle in Xinjiang, pushing the Han population from 6.7% that year to more than 40% by 1980.

The move sowed anxiety about Chinese migration that persists to this day.

Drastic efforts to restrict birth rates in the 1990s were relaxed after major pushback, with many parents paying bribes or registering children as the offspring of friends or other family members.

That all changed with an unprecedented crackdown starting in 2017, throwing hundreds of thousands of people into prisons and camps for alleged 'signs of religious extremism' such as traveling abroad, praying or using foreign social media.

Authorities launched what several notices called 'dragnet-style' investigations to root out parents with too many children, even those who gave birth decades ago.

'Leave no blind spots,' said two county and township directives in 2018 and 2019 uncovered by Zenz, who is also an independent contractor with the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, a bipartisan nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. 'Contain illegal births and lower fertility levels,' said a third.

Minority residents were ordered to attend weekly flag-raising ceremonies, where officials threatened detention if they didnt register all their children, according to interviews backed by attendance slips and booklets.

Notices found by the AP show that local governments set up or expanded systems to reward those who report illegal births.

In some areas, women were ordered to take gynaecology exams after the ceremonies, they said.

In others, officials outfitted special rooms with ultrasound scanners for pregnancy tests.

'Test all who need to be tested,' ordered a township directive from 2018.

'Detect and deal with those who violate policies early.'

Abdushukur Umar was among the first to fall victim to the crackdown on children.

A jovial Uighur tractor driver-turned-fruit merchant, the proud father considered his seven children a blessing from God.

But authorities began pursuing him in 2016.

The following year, he was thrown into a camp and later sentenced to seven years in prison - one for each child, authorities told relatives.

'My cousin spent all his time taking care of his family, he never took part in any political movements,' Zuhra Sultan, Umars cousin, said from exile in Turkey.

'How can you get seven years in prison for having too many children? Were living in the 21st century - this is unimaginable.'

Fifteen Uighurs and Kazakhs told the AP they knew people interned or jailed for having too many children. Many received years, even decades in prison.

Leaked data obtained and corroborated by the AP showed that of 484 camp detainees listed in Karakax county in Xinjiang, 149 were there for having too many children - the most common reason for holding them. Time in a camp - what the government calls 'education and training' - for parents with too many children is written policy in at leastthreecounties, notices found by Zenz confirmed.

In 2017, the Xinjiang government also tripled the already hefty fines for violating family planning laws for even the poorest residents - to at least three times the annual disposable income of the county.

While fines also apply to Han Chinese, only minorities are sent to the detention camps if they cannot pay, according to interviews and data.

Government reports show the counties collect millions of dollars from the fines each year.

In other efforts to change the population balance of Xinjiang, China is dangling land, jobs and economic subsidies to lure Han migrants there.

It is also aggressively promoting intermarriage between Han Chinese and Uighurs, with one couple telling the AP they were given money for housing and amenities like a washing machine, refrigerator and TV.

'It links back to Chinas long history of dabbling in eugenics....you dont want people who are poorly educated, marginal minorities breeding quickly,' said James Leibold, a specialist in Chinese ethnic policy at La Trobe in Melbourne.

'What you want is your educated Han to increase their birth rate.'

Sultan describes how the policy looks to Uighurs like her: 'The Chinese government wants to control the Uighur population and make us fewer and fewer, until we disappear.'

Once in the detention camps, women are subjected to forced IUDs and what appear to be pregnancy prevention shots, according to former detainees. They are also made to attend lectures on how many children they should have.

Seven former detainees told the AP that they were force-fed birth control pills or injected with fluids, often with no explanation. Many felt dizzy, tired or ill, and women stopped getting their periods. After being released and leaving China, some went to get medical check-ups and found they were sterile.

Its unclear what former detainees were injected with, but Xinjiang hospital slides obtained by the AP show that pregnancy prevention injections, sometimes with the hormonal medication Depo-Provera, are a common family planning measure. Side effects can include headaches and dizziness.

Dina Nurdybay, a Kazakh woman, was detained in a camp which separated married and unmarried women. The married women were given pregnancy tests, Nurdybay recalled, and forced to have IUDs installed if they had children. She was spared because she was unmarried and childless.

One day in February 2018, one of her cellmates, a Uighur woman, had to give a speech confessing what guards called her 'crimes.' When a visiting official peered through the iron bars of their cell, she recited her lines in halting Mandarin.

'I gave birth to too many children,' she said. 'It shows Im uneducated and know little about the law.'

'Do you think its fair that Han people are only allowed to have one child?' the official asked, according to Nurdybay. 'You ethnic minorities are shameless, wild and uncivilized.'

Nurdybay met at least two others in the camps whom she learned were locked up for having too many children. Later, she was transferred to another facility with an orphanage that housed hundreds of children, including those with parents detained for giving birth too many times. The children counted the days until they could see their parents on rare visits.

'They told me they wanted to hug their parents, but they were not allowed,' she said. 'They always looked very sad.'

Another former detainee, Tursunay Ziyawudun, said she was injected until she stopped having her period, and kicked repeatedly in the lower stomach during interrogations. She now cant have children and often doubles over in pain, bleeding from her womb, she said.

Ziyawudun and the 40 other women in her 'class' were forced to attend family planning lectures most Wednesdays, where films were screened about impoverished women struggling to feed many children. Married women were rewarded for good behavior with conjugal visits from their husbands, along with showers, towels, and two hours in a bedroom. But there was a catch - they had to take birth control pills beforehand.

Some women have even reported forced abortions. Ziyawudun said a 'teacher' at her camp told women they would face abortions if found pregnant during gynecology exams.

A woman in another class turned out to be pregnant and disappeared from the camp, she said. She added that two of her cousins who were pregnant got rid of their children on their own because they were so afraid.

FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2018 file photo, a Uighur woman and children sit on a motor-tricycle after school at the Unity New Village in Hotan, in western China's Xinjiang region. Birth rates in the mostly Uighur regions of Hotan and Kashgar have plunged by more than 60% since 2015, government statistics show. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Another woman, Gulbakhar Jalilova, confirmed that detainees in her camp were forced to abort their children. She also saw a new mother, still leaking breast milk, who did not know what had happened to her infant. And she met doctors and medical students who were detained for helping Uighurs dodge the system and give birth at home.

In December 2017, on a visit from Kazakhstan back to China, Gulzia Mogdin was taken to a hospital after police found WhatsApp on her phone. A urine sample revealed she was two months pregnant with her third child. Officials told Mogdin she needed to get an abortion and threatened to detain her brother if she didn't.

During the procedure, medics inserted an electric vacuum into her womb and sucked her fetus out of her body. She was taken home and told to rest, as they planned to take her to a camp.

Months later, Mogdin made it back to Kazakhstan, where her husband lives.

'That baby was going to be the only baby we had together,' said Mogdin, who had recently remarried. 'I cannot sleep. Its terribly unfair.'

The success of Chinas push to control births among Muslim minorities shows up in the numbers for IUDs and sterilisation.

In 2014, just over 200,000 IUDs were inserted in Xinjiang. By 2018, that jumped more than 60 percent to nearly 330,000 IUDs. At the same time, IUD use tumbled elsewhere in China, as many women began getting the devices removed.

A former teacher drafted to work as an instructor at a detention camp described her experience with IUDs to the AP.

It started with flag-raising assemblies at her housing compound at the beginning of 2017, where residents were forced to chant: 'If we have too many children, were religious extremists....That means we have to go to the training centers.' After every flag-raising ceremony, police rounded up parents with too many children - over 180 - until 'not a single one was left,' she said. Officers with guns and tasers hauled her neighbors away at night, and from time to time pounded on her door and swept her apartment for Qurans, knives, prayer mats and of course children.

'Your heart would leap out of your chest,' she said.

Then, that August, officials in the teacher's compound were told to install IUDs on all women of childbearing age. She protested, saying she was nearly 50 with just one child and no plans to have more. Officials threatened to drag her to a police station and strap her to an iron chair for interrogation.

She was forced into a bus with four armed officers and taken to a hospital where hundreds of Uighur women lined up in silence, waiting for IUDs to be inserted. Some wept quietly, but nobody dared say a word because of the surveillance cameras hanging overhead.

Her IUD was designed to be irremovable without special instruments. The first 15 days, she got headaches and nonstop menstrual bleeding.

'I couldnt eat properly, I couldnt sleep properly. It gave me huge psychological pressure,' she said. 'Only Uighurs had to wear it.'

Chinese health statistics also show a sterilisation boom in Xinjiang.

Budget documents obtained by Zenz show that starting in 2016, the Xinjiang government began pumping tens of millions of dollars into a birth control surgery program and cash incentives for women to get sterilized. While sterilisation rates plunged in the rest of the country, they surged seven-fold in Xinjiang from 2016 to 2018, to more than 60,000 procedures. The Uighur-majority city of Hotan budgeted for 14,872 sterilisations in 2019 - about 34% of all married women of childbearing age.

Even within Xinjiang, policies vary widely, being harsher in the heavily Uighur south than the Han-majority north. In Shihezi, a Han-dominated city where Uighurs make up just 2% of the population, the government subsidizes baby formula and hospital birth services to encourage more children, state media reported.

Zumret Dawut got no such benefits. In 2018, the mother of three was locked in a camp for two months for having an American visa.

In this image from video, Zumret Dawut, a Uighur from China's far western Xinjiang region, holds documents she brought with her, at her new home in Woodbridge, Va., on Monday, June 15, 2020. Dawut says in China, she was forcibly sterilized for having a third child after being released from a Xinjiang detention camp. (AP Photo/Nathan Ellgren)

This Monday, June 15, 2020 photo shows the receipt for a fine levied on Zumret Dawut, a Uighur woman from China's far western Xinjiang region, for having too many children. Dawut, who now lives in Woodbridge, Va., says she was fined 18,400 RMB ($2,600) for having a third child and forcibly sterilized after being released from a Xinjiang detention camp. (Courtesy Zumret Dawut via AP)

When she returned home under house arrest, officials forced her to get gynecology exams every month, along with all other Uighur women in her compound. Han women were exempted. They warned that if she didn't take what they called 'free examinations', she could end up back in the camp.

One day, they turned up with a list of at least 200 Uighur women in her compound with more than two children who had to get sterilized, Dawut recalled.

'My Han Chinese neighbors, they sympathized with us Uighurs,' Dawut said. 'They told me, `oh, youre suffering terribly, the government is going way too far!'

Dawut protested, but police again threatened to send her back to the camp. During the sterilisation procedure, Han Chinese doctors injected her with anesthesia and tied her fallopian tubes - a permanent operation. When Dawut came to, she felt her womb ache.

'I was so angry,' she said. 'I wanted another son.'

Looking back, Omirzakh considers herself lucky.

After that frigid day when officials threatened to lock her up, Omirzakh called relatives around the clock. Hours before the deadline, she scraped together enough money to pay the fine from the sale of her sisters cow and high-interest loans, leaving her deep in debt.

For the next year, Omirzakh attended classes with the wives of others detained for having too many children. She and her children lived with two local party officials sent specially to spy on them. When her husband was finally released, they fled for Kazakhstan with just a few bundles of blankets and clothes.

The IUD still in Omirzakh's womb has now sunk into her flesh, causing inflammation and piercing back pain, 'like being stabbed with a knife.' For Omirzakh, its a bitter reminder of everything shes lost - and the plight of those she left behind.

'People there are now terrified of giving birth,' she said. 'When I think of the word `Xinjiang, I can still feel that fear.'

Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org
Donald Trump has said that black people who want statues of slave owners and Confederate figures removing should 'learn from the history' or risk 'going to go back to it sometime'.

Calls to remove statues of Confederate figures and those connected to slavery have been mounting in recent weeks in the wake of global Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the death of George Floyd.

Protesters have either defaced or caused destruction on dozens of statues

But Donald Trump has urged protesters to think again - particularly black Americans who want of the country's slave-owning founders removed - and claimed 'we should learn from the history'.

Speaking to Fox News on Sunday night, the President said: 'My message is that we have a great country, we have the greatest country on Earth.

Donald Trump on Sunday evening discussed statues of slave holders and Confederate leaders

Trump told Brian Kilmeade that the U.S. has 'a great history' that should not be forgotten

'We have a heritage, we have a history and we should learn from the history, and if you don't understand your history, you will go back to it again. You will go right back to it. You have to learn.

'Think of it, you take away that whole era and you're going to go back to it sometime. People won't know about it. They're going to forget about it. It's okay.'

Trump said that he had been upset about questioning of George Washington's legacy.

He added: 'You have to understand history, and our culture, and so many other aspects. But you can't take down George Washington.'

He said that some people want to take down Lincoln, Jefferson and Ulysses S. Grant.

'Here is the other problem that I have  a lot of these people don't even know what they are taking down,' he said.

Trump's latest interview comes on his return to the White House (pictured) following a golfing trip to Virginia this weekend

President Trump steps out of his vehicle upon his return to the White House after a golfing trip this weekend

Protesters hold signs before President Donald Trump departs Trump National Golf Club in Virginia

Senator Lindsey Graham walks with his golf clubs as President Trump returns from the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia

'I see what's happening on television, and they are ripping down things they have no idea what they are ripping down, but they started off with the Confederates and now go to Ulysses Grant so what is that all about?'

Grant beat the Confederates and ended the Civil War before becoming president, but also married into a family that owned slaves.

Trump said he was open to the idea of erecting new statues 'to great people; people that have done something.'

He added: 'But you don't want to take away our heritage and history and the beauty, in many cases, the beauty, the artistic beauty.

'Some of the sculptures and some of this work is some of the great  you can go to France, you can go anywhere in the world and you will never see more magnificent work.

'And that's a factor. It's not the biggest factor but it's a factor.'

President Trump's golfing trip to Virginia was the 271st of his presidency, according to CNN

On Friday night, the Commander-in-chief tweeted that he would be postponing a visit to his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey amid anti-police protests that have roiled the nation's capital

He instead opted for the Virginia course, which is closer to his White House home, and left Sunday. Pictured: Trump driving a golf cart

Protesters on Monday evening attempted to topple the statue of Andrew Jackson

Confederate States President Jefferson Davis lies on the street after protesters pulled his statue down in Richmond, Virginia, on June 10

A statue of Christopher Columbus is in the water at Byrd Park in Richmond on June 9

Trump has made protecting statues a high-profile policy priority, repeatedly tweeting his anger at attempts to remove the monuments.

On Friday Trump signed an executive order aimed at protecting monuments and statues, making the issue a priority for the Justice Department.

'I just had the privilege of signing a very strong Executive Order protecting American Monuments, Memorials and Statues  and combating recent Criminal Violence,' Trump announced on Twitter.

'Long prison terms for these lawless acts against our Great Country.'

Trump has long derided efforts to bring down monuments, often calling them 'foolish.'

'I think many of the people that are knocking down the statues don't even have any idea what the statue is, what it means, who it is when they knocked down,' he said on Wednesday.

The bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson is severed from its base outside Jefferson High School in Portland, Oregon

The bronze sculpture representing the Goddess of Masonry on the base of the statue of a Confederate general, Albert Pike, is seen with red paint, after protestors toppled Pike statue's and set on fire

View of a defaced and toppled statue of Confederate Albert Pike, toppled by protesters in Washington D.C.

'Now they are looking at Jesus Christ, they are looking at George Washington, they're looking at Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson.

'Not going to happen, not going to happen while I'm here.'

Trump boasted Sunday morning that no more statues or monuments were defaced this weekend because he signed the executive order.

'Since imposing a very powerful 10 year prison sentence on those that Vandalize Monuments, Statues etc., with many people being arrested all over our Country, the Vandalism has completely stopped. Thank you!' he lauded.

Donald Trump tweeted a series of 'wanted' posters seeking information about vandals

The posters asked anyone who knew those pictured to inform the authorities

The president on Friday signed an executive order aimed at protecting statues

On Saturday he tweeted 15 'wanted' posters for those involved in efforts last week to topple Andrew Jackson's bronze likeness outside the White House.

Jackson, the seventh president, was a populist who admirers say reformed Washington DC. He is a hero of Trump's, and Trump chose his portrait to hang in the Oval Office.

Jackson's detractors point out that he was a slave owner who championed the 'Trail of Tears' policy of forcing Native Americans west of the Mississippi.

Trump boasted that his executive order imposing 10-year sentences for vandals to monuments has stopped the crimes 'completely'

Four men have so far been charged with destruction of federal property in connection with their alleged effort to tear down the Jackson statue in Lafayette Square on June 22.

The bronze statue has stood there since 1853.

The four are Lee Michael Cantrell, 47, of Virginia; Connor Matthew Judd, 20, of Washington, D.C.; Ryan Lane, 37, of Maryland; and Graham Lloyd, 37, of Maine.

Judd was arrested on Friday and appeared in Superior Court of the District of Columbia on Saturday.

The complaint, which was unsealed Saturday, states that on June 22, the four men participated in damaging the statue alongside other protesters, while also being captured on video 'attempting to pry the statue off its base with a wooden board and trying to pull the statue down with the aid of a yellow strap.'

It also claims there is video evidence showing 'Lloyd as he breaks off and destroys the wheels of cannons located at the base of the statue.'

The document states: 'Lloyd is then captured on video pulling on ropes in an effort to topple the statue and handing a hammer to an unidentified individual involved in the incident.'

Trump's latest interview comes on his return to the White House following a golfing trip to Virginia this weekend.

The president's motorcade was seen snaking in to the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, just outside of DC late Saturday morning.

According to CNN, the golfing expedition was the 271st of Trump's presidency.

On Friday night, the Commander-in-chief tweeted that he would be postponing a visit to his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey amid anti-police protests that have roiled the nation's capital.

He instead opted for the Virginia course, which is closer to his White House home, and left Sunday.

That same day, Trump was forced to deleted a post where he shared a video of senior citizens clashing over their support and opposition of him where one pro-Trump protester could be heard yelling 'white power.'

The White House claimed the president didn't hear the 'white power' comment and was instead focused on the support he was witnessing from citizens of the Florida senior community.

'He did not hear the one statement made on the video,' White House spokesman Judd Deere told NBC News. 'What he did see was tremendous enthusiasm from his many supporters.'

Donald Trump posted a video Sunday morning  and subsequently deleted the tweet  of senior citizen supporters clashing with senior citizen counter protesters in The Village age-restricted community in Florida

'White Power': One Trump supporter in the golf cart parade yelled 'white power' about eight seconds into the video as he held up a fist at senior-citizen counter protesters by the side of the road

A particularly passionate counter protesters (here in black), stepped in front of some golf carts and called the supporters 'Nazis' and 'terrorists'

The 'white power' comments is shouted just eight seconds into the video.

The golf-carts full of supporters paraded as the country continues in its second month of unrest as confrontations ensue between civil rights protesters and law enforcements.

The video was posted to Twitter by another user on Saturday and shows two-minutes of clashes between citizens of The Villages, a massive age-restricted community in Sumter, Florida, between pro-Trump demonstrators and senior counter protesters denouncing the president.

'Thank you to the great people of The Villages,' Trump posted Sunday alongside the video. 'The Radical Left Do Nothing Democrats will Fall in the Fall. Corrupt Joe is shot. See you soon!!!'

He has now taken the post down.

Toward the beginning of the video, one senior citizen protesting for Trump yells 'White Power,' as he golf-cart passenger chants 'Trump.'

'There you go, white power. Did you hear that?' a counter protester standing by the side of the procession responded in awe.

He deleted the tweet after outcry on social media  including from those within his own party.
Eleven people were shot in New York City in less than a 12-hour span this past weekend.

The shootings took place in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens and Manhattan between 5:30 p.m. Saturday and about 5 a.m. Sunday, sources told the New York Post.

While most of the victims are expected to live, a 30-year-old woman shot in the head on Frost Avenue in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, early Sunday morning remained in critical condition at Bellevue Hospital, says the NYPD.

In another shooting caught on Citizen app video, police were seen in the footage responding to a man shot in the leg in East Harlem by 4 p.m. by two suspects cops are searching for, WABC 7 reports.

And a third shooting around 90 minutes later in Jamaica, Queens left a man wounded near 107th Street.

Officers are pictured on the scene of a shooting in East Williamsburg that left a man and woman shot. The female victim remains in critical condition at Bellevue Hospital

In another shooting caught on Citizen app video, police were seen in the footage responding to a man shot in the leg in East Harlem

And a third shooting around 90 minutes later in Jamaic,a Queens left a man wounded near 107th Street. Officers are pictured investigating at the scene

The gun-related violence has brought the tally of shootings since Monday to 59, with a total of 81 victims, including six who were shot fatally for the year, the Post reports.

By comparison, there were nine murders for all of 2019, but only 26 shootings during the same period last year.

NYPD Chief of Department Terry Monahan says June has seen the highest number of shootings in two decades.

The chief blamed the weekend's shootings on the city's no-bail law, a reform which cops have criticized for suspending bail requirements on non-violent offenders, WABC 7 reports.

Monahan also said the release of inmates from the city's Rikers Island jail over coronavirus concerns has contributed to the increase in gun violence.

He also pointed to 'animosity' towards the police in the wake of the George Floyd police-related slaying in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.

NYPD Chief of Department Terry Monahan says June has seen the highest number of shootings in two decades

Floyd, a 46-year-old black father of five, died after former police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on the man's neck for almost nine minutes during an arrest.

Video footage of the incident taken by a bystander shows the police-related slaying, which triggered Black Lives Matter protests that have followed calling for an end to police brutality and systematic racism across the country.

'If you listen to the City Council, they want less policing. They want to defund the police, said Monahan.

'But as I look out there right now, with the violence going on, it's not a good sign,' he said, calling on the council and community to provide more guidance.
A 21-year-old man has become trapped in a garbage truck after a wheelie bin he was inside was emptied into the back of the vehicle.

The man was inside a large residential bin in the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, at 8am on Monday.

He then became trapped in the garbage truck when the bin was emptied out.

The man was inside a large residential bin in the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, at 8am on Monday. Pictured: Rescue crews

He then became trapped in the garbage truck when the bin was emptied out into the bed of the vehicle (stock image)

The rear of a garbage truck usually compacts the rubbish as it begins to fill up.

A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the man had non-life threatening injuries.

The 21-year-old is no longer trapped in the bin and has two broken legs.

He is awaiting surgery.

A family member of the 21-year-old told Daily Mail Australia it's unclear why he was in the bin at this stage.

'He is awake, but on medication at the moment so not much is making sense, no serious injuring that we are aware of,' the family member said.

Many social media users took the opportunity to make jokes about the situation.

These included comments such as had 'bin' a tough day for the 21-year-old, he was 'wheelie' tired and he was probably feeling like 'trash'.

A family member of the 21-year-old told Daily Mail Australia it's unclear why he was in the bin at this stage

The man's family member expressed disgust at the comments made by people on social media.

'It hurts the family that people jump to conclusions and joke about it. There are several reasons he could of ended up in a bin, but we won't know until he can tell us what happened,' the family member said.

Some were concerned about the sanitation workers.

'I hope someone has checked that the garbo is okay,' one person said.

'Along with hitting an unsupervised child running towards their truck this would be their worst nightmare. I hope they are both okay.'

Many social media users took the opportunity to make jokes about the situation

The Rye Fire Brigade said the incident should serve as a warning to the public.

'It's a reminder that climbing into bins can be extremely dangerous,' a social media post by the organisation said.

'Fortunately this outcome wasn't fatal and this person will hopefully only end up with minor injuries, once being assessment in hospital.'

A spokesman for the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council said: 'A man who took refuge in a domestic recycling bin in Rye overnight has been accidently tipped into a recycling truck during this morning's collection.

'The Shire is seeking information to confirm why the individual was in the bin.'

The spokesman said the man was wrapped in a sleeping bag at the time.

'Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor Sam Hearn said we are grateful the individual is ok and thankful a tragedy was averted in this instance,' the spokesman said.

He revealed the driver of the recycling truck immediately hit the emergency stop button when he realised there was someone in the back and was thanked by the council.
An Australian Labor MP denied that he was ever a suspect in an investigation into Chinese influence on Australian politics days after his home and office were searched by police.

Shaoquett Moselmane, a member of the New South Wales Opposition, claimed he was told the investigation focused on other people suspected of working with China and denied any wrongdoing.

'I have never jeopardised the welfare of our country and our people,' he said during a press conference on Monday.

Police have not explained why they searched Moselmane's Sydney home last Friday, nor why they executed a warrant for his parliamentary offices.

But the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation claims the Chinese Communist Party attempted to infiltrate the New South Wales Parliament through a Labor backbencher's office.

Australia accused China of seeking to interfere in its domestic politics, allegations that strained relations which are already at boiling point amid the coronavirus crisis.

New South Wales state opposition lawmaker Shaoquett Moselmane arrives at his home in Sydney, Australia June 26, 2020. Moselmane said on Monday he was not a suspect in a police investigation into Chinese influence on Australian politics

Federal agents are seen leaving the home of NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane in Rockdale, Sydney, Friday, June 26

In 2018, Australia passed new national security laws to outlaw foreign interference in domestic politics and make industrial espionage for a foreign power a crime.

The raids are the first police investigation to grab public attention since the foreign interference laws came into force.

Moselmane said Monday that he would cooperate with Australian Federal Police in their investigation but also exercise his right to remain silent.

'I am under no illusion that this is a serious investigation,' he said.

Moselmane denied media reports that he had accepted Chinese government-funded trips to China.

In April, he stood down as assistant president of the New South Wales upper house after praising Chinese President Xi Jinping's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

He said Xi had demonstrated 'unswerving leadership' and decisiveness.

Shaoquett Moselmane is pictured with his wife Mika Fukuta

Moselmane said his views on China's handling of the pandemic were consistent with those of the U.S. president, vice president and the World Health Organization.

Police declined to comment on Moselmane's news conference, saying in a statement: 'As this investigation remains ongoing, there will be no further comment.'

Labor Party state leader Jodi McKay said Moselmane's party membership was suspended.

Moselmane agreed to take leave from Parliament until the police investigation was complete.

The Chinese Communist Party-controlled Global Times newspaper on Monday accused Australia of 'waging an intensifying espionage campaign against China.'

The newspaper cited a Chinese law enforcement agency source as saying Australia was sending agents to China to spy, gather intelligence and 'recruit assets.'

Australia was described as 'the thief who is crying stop the thief.'

Federal officers enter the home of NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane in Rockdale, Sydney, on Friday

Australian Federal Police allegedly raided the home in relation to an investigation into Chinese influence on Australian politics

Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined to comment on the report.

'I wouldn't be relying on Chinese state media for your sources for questions,' Morrison told a reporter who asked him about the Global Times allegations.

Morrison described the raids on Moselmane as a 'very serious issue' for police and for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the nation's main domestic secret service.

'We introduced our foreign interference laws because we didn't want Australia's political system or any other part of the country to be interfered with,' Morrison said.

Morrison described Moselmane, a 55-year-old Lebanese immigrant who was mayor of a Sydney municipality before he was elected to Parliament in 2009, as a 'very, very long-standing and relatively senior person' within the Labor Party.

The secret service, best known as ASIO, confirmed in a statement that 'search warrant activity occurred in Sydney on Friday as part of an ongoing investigation,' but would not comment on Moselmane or his involvement.

Less than two weeks ago, Morrison said that a 'sophisticated state-based cyber actor' was targeting Australia in an escalating cyber campaign that was threatening all levels of government, businesses, essential services and critical infrastructure.

Mr Moselmane's home in Sydney's south was raided by Australian Federal Police on Friday morning amid an investigation into Chinese influence over Australian politics

Most analysts said Morrison was referring to China, but the prime minister would not name the country.

Already high tensions between Australia and China have been raised by the pandemic.

China in recent weeks banned beef exports from Australia's largest abattoirs, ended trade in Australian barley with a tariff wall and warned its citizens against visiting Australia.

The measures have been interpreted by many as punishment for Australia's advocacy of an independent probe into the origins and spread of the coronavirus.

Australia's foreign minister in turn accused China of using the anxiety around the pandemic to undermine Western democracies by spreading disinformation online, prompting China to accuse Australia of disinformation.
Macy's has announced that it will launch a nightly firework show this week in New York City, as Mayor Bill de Blasio faces strong criticism for failing to get illegal firework displays under control.

Starting on Monday, five minutes of explosions will be detonated by the store's pyrotechnicians.

The fireworks will be set off at a 'high elevation, unannounced' to prevent people from gathering to watch them.

Macy's fireworks will this year be on display all week, to prevent crowds gathering in one place

The spectacular usually sees large numbers of people congregating, but this year is different

The display, pictured last year, will be five minutes long every night this week ahead of July 4

Macy's and de Blasio's office said the unusual celebration was a tribute to the city, which has endured so much during the coronavirus pandemic.

'In reimagining this year's show, the idea of bringing elements to many parts of our hometown resonated with our team and partners in the City of New York,' said Susan Tercero, executive producer of Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show.

De Blasio added: 'These past few months have been some of the most difficult in our city's history, and New Yorkers are looking for a break.

'This 4th of July Celebration with Macy's will give all New Yorkers a safe and exciting way to enjoy the holiday together, even when we are apart.'

The display week comes as New York battles a surge in illegal firework detonation.

Illegal firework displays have angered New Yorkers for the past few weeks

There has also been a spike in noise complaints of fireworks exploding throughout the night

Authorities are forming a new law enforcement task force to try to curb a surge in their use.

De Blasio said Tuesday that the team - made up of New York Police Department officers, fire department investigators and sheriff's deputies - will use undercover buys and other methods to try to cut off the supply chain of fireworks coming from out of state.

Social media videos have shown a growing number of people setting off fireworks on city streets in recent weeks.

There has also been a spike in noise complaints of fireworks exploding throughout the night.

'We're cracking down on this activity at the source to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers and the ability of our neighbors to get some sleep,' de Blasio said in a statement.

Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president, has told people not to call 911 about fireworks.

He said they should go out themselves to find and confront those who are shooting them off rather than get police involved.
A woman accused of posing as an au pair to take people's children in Victoria has been slapped with another child stealing charge.

Samantha Azzopardi was accused of fraudulently taking the three children between December 2018 and November 2019.

The 31-year-old is now charged with a fourth child stealing offence from July last year, according to documents released by Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.

The 54 charges against Azzopardi include allegations she forged documents to pass herself off as a qualified au pair named Harper Hernandez, dishonestly obtaining $6,500 over six months.

Samantha Azzopardi was accused of fraudulently taking the three children between December 2018 and November 2019

The court was told she had targeted three families using different names and various pretences

The court was told she had targeted three families using different names and various pretences.

At one point, she allegedly pretended to be a talent scout.

Azzopardi is also accused of pretending to be a nurse named Sakah to dishonestly obtain a uniform from Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School at Essendon in October 2019.

Her lawyers asked for permission to question three of her alleged victims - two parents and a child - in court about the accused fraudster's identity.

But magistrate Donna Bakos knocked back the request and queried the grounds on which Azzopardi planned to defend the allegations.

'It's not good enough to say she disagrees with evidence. It's not good enough to say she wants to plead not guilty,' the magistrate said.

Azzopardi's case is due back in court for a further committal mention on July 13.
A surreal scene is playing out in small towns across America that are getting overrun by coronavirus.

In Florida, residents of Palm Beach County appeared at a local government hearing to attack their superiors for mandating that they wear masks. One resident said, "Masks are killing people." Another said, "They want to throw God's wonderful breathing system out the door."

Despite the fact that coronavirus cases in the United States are hitting record highs, many Americans still refuse to wear face masks.

At the beginning of the epidemic, most Americans didn't wear masks because they simply had no experience of wearing masks. Admittedly, I was skeptical at first too, but I got on board quickly when I saw other people wearing them and read the government's suggestions and orders to do so.

The American government exacerbated the problem in March when they recommended against Americans wearing masks  falsely stating that it would "increase the risk of getting the virus." By now, experts are recommending wearing masks, but the president is actively discouraging it.

One of the problems was that experts like the U.S. Surgeon General did not recognize how masks provided benefits to the whole population. Masks are not just about preventing the wearer from catching a virus; most importantly, they prevent the wearer from spreading the virus to others. Therefore, anyone who doesn't wear a mask is violating everyone else's natural rights.

Countries where masks were mandated like China, South Korea, Japan, and even European countries like Austria, had much fewer cases than those countries where mask wearing was not widespread.

Austria became one of the first European countries to mandate masks inside businesses on April 6. Since then, its case load has decreased by over 90%.

Now, American states and towns led by rational leaders are thinking about mandating masks. Sixteen states, including California, Hawaii, Michigan, and the District of Columbia, require people to wear masks in public places, which usually means only inside shops, although the virus can spread outdoors, too, albeit with less frequency.

Many governors, however, have refrained from taking the responsibility to require masks. The issue has become pointlessly controversial in some quarters. There are Trump supporters who oppose mask-wearing because Donald Trump opposes it. There are conspiracy theorists who think that masks attract harmful 5G signals. American politicians are scared of losing reelection and unreasonably deferential to the views of loud, populist minorities. Hence most governors have made mask-wearing optional.

Many reputable businesses, however, have taken the initiative and now require that their customers wear masks. After all, a lot of customers are going to avoid retailers like Whole Foods and Costco if they see too many customers breathing and coughing everywhere.

Airlines have also required that their passengers wear masks. After all, crowding one hundred or so people into a tube and flying across the country is a good way to spread viruses.

People are supposed to wear masks inside the airport, too, but in major airports only about 70% of people are wearing masks inside the terminal. On the airplane, however, the flight attendants are able to enforce mask rules.

One right-wing activist learned that lesson on June 17. On a flight to Tulsa, Oklahoma to see Donald Trump's inaugural campaign rally, Brandon Straka had his mask off. He falsely claimed that he had a "medical condition"  for which he could not produce a certificate  and was eventually made to leave the flight. Fellow passengers applauded as he walked off.

An overreaction? Hardly. As the U.S. has over 30,000 new cases of coronavirus a day, the U.S. has actually underreacted.

This is a life or death proposition for hundreds of thousands of people  not just on the medical side, but also on the economic and mental health side. Forty million Americans are unemployed, and if they cannot afford future medical bills or daily necessities, their health is also at risk.

The government, businesses, and the people must take actions to decrease the severity of the coronavirus crisis and to save lives. If they do not, they will be responsible for killing people. People who refuse to wear masks are responsible for killing people.

They, too, are responsible for the job losses and depression. Their decision to not wear a mask prolongs the crisis and the economic downturn.

This isn't a time to show your partisan support of Trump by refusing to wear a mask. Not a time to joke or "troll" people. When real lives are at stake, people have a duty. And when the people don't uphold their duty, it is the duty of the government to make sure they do.

Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
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The Victorian government is considering fresh lockdown measures as the state is swamped by a second wave of coronavirus.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton today said he would recommend 'anything necessary' to stop the spread after 75 new cases were reported on Monday.

The last time Victoria recorded that many cases was on 31 March when 96 new patients tested positive.

The state's highest new daily case number came on 28 March when 111 cases were reported. That day was the peak of the pandemic in Australia with 460 new cases nationwide.

The Victorian government is considering fresh lockdown measures as the state is swamped by a second wave of coronavirus

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton today said he would recommend 'anything necessary' to stop the spread after 75 new cases were reported on Monday. Pictured: Testing at Melbourne Showgrounds on Monday

Around a third of the new patients are in their 20s and 30s - and Professor Sutton urged young people to observe social distancing. Pictured: Young people enjoy the sun at St Kilda Beach in March

Rules forcing patients to stay in their homes could be enforced more strictly with daily check-ups. Pictured: Community engagement teams are door knocking residents in coronavirus hotspots to provide additional information about the virus

'Outbreaks are occurring across multiple households, across work and other settings,' said Professor Brett Sutton. Pictured: People shop at the Queen Victoria Market in April

Professor Sutton also said the government was considering locking down entire suburbs which have outbreaks, although he admitted this would be a logistical challenge. Pictured: People exercise at Albert Park Lake in Melbourne

Shops, restaurants and bars, which only re-opened this month, would not have to close again because their COVID-safe plans including social distancing mean the risk of transmission is well-managed. Pictured: A Melbourne cafe on June 1

Professor Sutton warned that 'things will get worse before they better' and said the government was planning new rules to limit the spread.

But measures would be different to the sweeping shut downs initially imposed in March when the first wave of the virus hit.

Lockdown 2.0: Which new rules would halt the spread? Surburb shut downs: Chief Health Office Brett Sutton said this was possible but very hard logistically Enforced quarantine: Rules forcing patients to stay in their homes could be enforced more strictly with daily check-ups Reducing limits on gatherings: Under current rules, Victorians are allowed five visitors in their home at once and can meet in public in groups of 10 - but these limits could be revised down Travellers kept in hotels: On Sunday the government extended the quarantine time for returned travellers to 24 days if they refuse to get tested after it was revealed that 30 per cent were being let out without a swab Advertisement

Shops, restaurants and bars, which only re-opened this month, would not have to close again because their COVID-safe plans including social distancing mean the risk of transmission is well-managed, Professor Sutton said.

Instead, any new rules would focus on limiting the number of people that residents can interact with.

This is because most of the recent transmission has been happening at family gatherings.

Under current rules, Victorians are allowed five visitors in their home at once and can meet in public in groups of 10 - but these limits could be revised down.

Professor Sutton also said the government is looking at ways to encourage people to stay at home if they get flu-like symptoms or if they have tested positive for the virus.

He said too many people were failing to self-isolate after police caught 13 people breaking quarantine orders last Monday.

'What we are seeing is transmission across settings because people are still going out with symptoms,' Professor Sutton said.

'Outbreaks are occurring across multiple households, across work and other settings.'

One option would be to copy the system used in Taiwan where a person in self-isolation gets a daily phone call to check they are at home. If they do not answer, they are tracked down and fined.

Professor Sutton also said the government was considering locking down entire suburbs which have outbreaks, although he admitted this would be a logistical challenge.

'We don't want to drive people out of suburban areas, into new, unaffected areas. So there is a balancing act in terms of making the call on a lockdown,' he said.

'But it is absolutely an option and we flagged the possibility of using it and we will use it, if it is required.'

On Sunday the government extended the quarantine time for returned travellers from 14 days to 24 days if they refuse to get tested after it was revealed that 30 per cent were being let out without a swab.

The state's highest new daily case number came on 28 March when 111 cases were reported. That day was the peak of the pandemic in Australia with 460 new cases nationwide. Pictured: Testing at Melbourne Showgrounds on Monday

Under current rules, Victorians are allowed five visitors in their home at once and can meet in public in groups of 10 - but these limits could be revised down. Pictured: ADF personnel supervise testing at Melbourne Showgrounds on Monday

Professor Sutton also said the government is looking at ways to encourage people to stay at home if they get flu-like symptoms or if they have tested positive for the virus. Pictured: Testing at Melbourne Showgrounds on Monday

After Monday's case count, Professor Sutton said this second wave is 'as big as the first'. Predicting further increases in the days ahead, he said: 'Things are going to get worse before they get better.'

Of the new cases recorded on Sunday, only one is a traveller in hotel quarantine, 14 are linked to known outbreaks and 37 were picked up through a testing blitz of ten 'hotspot' Melbourne suburbs launched over the weekend.

Twenty-three cases are still being investigated and six are believed to be from unknown community transmission.

Health minister Jenny Mikakos said most of the new patients had caught the virus at family gatherings.

'Obviously we're concerned by the increase in number,' she said.

Health minister Jenny Mikakos said most of the new patients had caught the virus at family gatherings. Pictured: Covid-19 testing is conducted in Broadmeadows on Sunday

A woman places a Covid-19 testing swab in her mouth as others line up behind her at a pop-up testing site during a COVID-19 testing blitz in the suburb of Broadmeadows

Three of the new cases are security guards who worked at the Stamford Plaza hotel which suffered an outbreak last week.

One is a healthcare worker at Melbourne Clinic in Richmond and another is a cleaner working at the Australian Border Force's Melbourne Airport office.

Six schools have been deep-cleaned after pupils caught the virus. Professor Sutton said the recent cases transmitted in the past five or six days.

Around a third of the new patients are in their 20s and 30s - and Professor Sutton urged young people to observe social distancing.

'No one wants to be in the position where you're killing a family member because you're not looking after yourself in terms of the risk of transmission,' he said.

Victoria has been carrying out a testing blitz in ten suburbs across Melbourne - and warned they could lock neighbourhoods down if COVID-19 infection rates keep rising. Pictured: The ten 'hotspot' suburbs

Worst days in Victoria 1. 111 new cases on 28 March 2. 96 new cases on 31 March 3. 84 new cases on 29 March 4. 75 new cases on 29 June 5. 68 new cases on 2 April Advertisement

Victoria has recorded double-digit increases in new COVID-19 infections for 12 days running.

There were 41 new cases reported on Saturday and 49 on Sunday.

On Monday morning New South Wales reported seven new patients, all in hotel quarantine.

Queensland, the ACT, the NT and Tasmania reported no new cases, with South Australia and Western Australia yet to announce their figures.

Professor Sutton said relaxing restrictions was always going to be a risk when the virus is present in the community.

He said the cold weather in Victoria may be a reason why the virus has resurged more than in NSW.

None of the new cases are linked to Black Lives Matter protests which saw 10,000 gather in Melbourne two weeks ago.

The Victorian government is conducting a testing blitz in an attempt to prevent further spread of the virus, which prioritised the suburbs of Broadmeadows and Keilor Downs at the weekend. About 40,000 people have been tested since Friday.

Medical staff are seen conducting coronavirus testing at the new Mobile Testing Site at CB Smith Reserve Fawkner in Moreland, Victoria (pictured on Saturday)

Paramedics perform COVID19 tests in Broadmeadows after Victoria State Government Health and Human Services workers knock on doors to check if people have any symptoms

People wearing face masks are seen in Melbourne, Thursday, June 25, 2020. The ADF has been called in to help Victoria

Which schools had new outbreaks? Queen of Peace Parish Primary School Aitken Hill Primary in Craigieburn Fitzroy High School Port Phillip Specialist School Al-Taqwa College in Truganina Advertisement

Eight other suburbs in Melbourne's west and southeast are next on the list, also identified as having high levels of community transmission.

The government is also imposing mandatory testing on returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine after it was revealed about 30 per cent were refusing to be tested.

Less-invasive saliva tests are also being rolled out in a world-first.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said authorities are keenly watching to see how they work out.

'The salvia test may be more appropriate for people where swabs are more difficult and that might include young children or very elderly people,' he said.

He also issued a reminder to all Australians that vigilance, particularly among younger people, is needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

'Many of the people who have been infected so far in the outbreaks in Melbourne are, well, young people, often with only mild symptoms,' Professor Kidd said.

'You may not get sick or very sick... but if you pass the infection onto your parents or your grandparents they could become very unwell, they could even die.'
Public health bosses are desperately trying to track down 300 workers after 166 colleagues tested positive for Covid-19 at a food processing company that supplies Sainsbury's and Asda elsewhere in the country.

More than 1,000 people work at Rowan Foods in Wrexham, which has seen an outbreak of coronavirus among staff, more than three months after a walkout over concerns there was a lack of protection for workers.

In a statement today, Public Health Wales said: 'We are working with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to urgently contact just over 300 workers that have not yet presented for testing.

Workers at Rowan Foods in Wrexham protested over a lack of proper protection amid the coronavirus lockdown in April. Now an outbreak has seen 166 workers diagnosed with Covid-19

Military personnel have been sent out to the outbreak at Rowan Foods in Wrexham, North Wales

Nearly a third of Rowan Foods 1,000 staff have not been tested for Covid-19 after an outbreak

'As we would expect with any focused track and trace process, we will identify additional asymptomatic cases. Finding these cases does not mean that the rate of infection in the Wrexham area is increasing as a whole.

'There is no evidence that Rowan Foods is the source of the outbreak.

The multi-agency team managing the outbreak with Public Health Wales will continue to review the situation and work with the employer, their workforce and wider community to bring this outbreak to a swift conclusion.'

The Wrexham site first hit the headlines in relation to coronavirus earlier this year, when workers walked out in April in an apparent protest over what they felt was a lack of protection from the virus.

Covid outbreaks have been reported at five sites across England and Wales so far

The 2 Sisters chicken factory in Anglesey, above, that supplies meat to KFC and M&S, has shut down for two weeks after 58 staff tested positive for coronavirus in a major outbreak

Kober Ltd in Cleckheaton near Bradford where mobile testing tents have been set up after Health secretary Matt Hancock announced an outbreak of Covid 19 in todays Downing Street briefing

Covid-19 clusters at meat factories have been investigated Number 10's chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance said last week: 'The Food Standards Agency has looked carefully at whether meat is a vector for transmitting and the risk there is thought to be very low. 'So the meat itself is not the issue but the environmental in which this takes place is. There are several features, perhaps, about meat-processing factories. 'They're cold and we know the virus prefers it in the cold, often difficult in keeping people separated so there's that whole problem of proximity.' He added: 'They're often loud so people are speaking quite loudly and there are places people huddles to go and have their coffees, and so on, so they infect each other.' Advertisement

Unite claimed the company did not deal with health and safety concerns urgently, after negotiations over sick pay broke down.

Rowan Foods told the BBC: 'We have been proactively introducing new operational changes at the site for some months now, since the issuing of government guidance for the food industry in March 2020, to ensure that we maintain social distancing wherever practically possible, and have also included new mitigations such as screens and visors.'

The firm supplies major supermarkets including Sainsbury's and Asda from other sites around the country.

The Rowan Foods outbreak and the cluster of cases around the Anglesey 2 Sisters abattoir have so far accounted for more than 300 infections.

There have been claims that the island of Anglesey, home to 70,000 people, could be placed under lockdown to contain the outbreak at the 2 Sisters chicken factory.

Another 34 cases were reported at Kepak in Merthyr Tydfil.

Last Wednesday 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.

Number 10's chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance said food safety officials ruled the risk of catching coronavirus from eating meat was slim

Winter could bring conditions for Covid's return Cold air in slaughterhouses and meat-packing factories could be behind coronavirus outbreaks, suggesting winter could bring a second wave of Covid-19. Scientists say cramped and poorly-ventilated working conditions in the factories  the centre of fresh outbreaks in the UK and Germany  could be to blame because they make social distancing difficult. But experts also suggest the cold and sunless refrigerated buildings could allow the virus to spread and infect people faster than it would outside. More than 1,000 workers at a meat-packing factory in north-western Germany were confirmed to have caught Covid-19 last week, and slaughterhouses and similar meat-processing facilities around the world have suffered major outbreaks of the virus. One scientist said: 'The perfect place to keep a virus alive for a long time is a cold place without sunlight.' Advertisement

A company spokesperson said the 14 infected employees would be 'logged as part of track and trace efforts'.

Earlier this month mobile testing tents were set up outside Kober Ltd near Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, today which supplies supermarket giant Asda with bacon rashers and joints, after nearly 100 workers fell ill.

A spokesman for Asda, who own Kober Ltd, said today there shouldn't be any food wastage as the goods 'cannot be contaminated with the virus'.

Number 10's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said food safety officials who looked 'carefully' at whether meat is a vector ruled the risk was slim.

Dismissing fears of contaminated meat in Thursday'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.'
Scott Morrison has claimed unemployed Australians are refusing to work because JobSeeker's $550-a-week benefits are too high.

JobSeeker payments, formerly known as the Newstart allowance, were doubled from $275-a-week amid the coronavirus pandemic.

But the prime minister has warned if the welfare payments are too high, people won't have any incentive to find work.

Mr Morrison on Monday said some bosses complained that if the welfare amount is too generous then employees don't want to take up extra shifts.

'Well, on JobSeeker, we doubled the payment with the supplement because we knew unemployment was going to be rising steadily and it has and that's been devastating,' he told 2GB radio.

Scott Morrison has claimed unemployed Australians are refusing to work because JobSeeker's $550-a-week benefits are too high

'What we have to be worried about now is that we can't allow the JobSeeker payment to become an impediment to people going out and doing work, getting extra shifts.

'And we are getting a lot of anecdotal feedback from small businesses, even large businesses where some of them are finding it hard to get people to come and take the shifts because they're on these higher levels of payment.'

Mr Morrison said the government had to be careful when supporting people who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and have little chance of getting another temporary job.

'And so we've just got to make sure that we continue to provide what is a reasonable level of support in the middle of the worst recession we've had since the Great Depression,' he said.

'But at the same time, we can't let the help get in the way that we're giving to people. And so these aren't easy decisions. They're very complex.'

Mr Morrison is also concerned the government is 'burning through' almost $11 billion a month on JobKeeper wage subsidies.

He is looking to redirect support towards industries hardest hit by coronavirus and withdraw it from companies quicker to recover.

'There's still a lot of work to do there and that's what we're focused on,' Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney.

'There are many moving parts in this, this is not a simple issue.'

The prime minister will receive a Treasury report on the coronavirus payments on Monday evening but will wait another month before making any changes.

Labor has accused the prime minister of sitting on the Treasury report until after the upcoming by-election in Eden-Monaro.

It has called on him to end the 'chaos and confusion' before voters go to the polls on Saturday.

Mr Morrison has promised there will be a next phase of economic support, but says a series of complex decisions need to be made.

There are growing calls to expand access to the pandemic payments and sustain them beyond September.

JobSeeker payments, formerly known as the Newstart allowance, were doubled from $275-a-week amid the coronavirus pandemic

Mr Morrison is also concerned the government is 'burning through' almost $11 billion a month on JobKeeper wage subsidies

The Grattan Institute wants JobSeeker permanently increased by at least $100 a week, provided to more people and tied to wages.

The think-tank also wants JobKeeper extended into next year and expanded to ineligible arts, university and tourism workers.

The institute has warned against withdrawing fiscal support too soon, echoing an early caution from the International Monetary Fund.

Instead, it has recommended the federal government spend between $70 billion and $90 billion on extra economic stimulus measures, including cash cheques sent directly to households.

Grattan also encouraged the government to introduce a higher, simpler, means-tested childcare subsidy that would cover 95 per cent of costs for low-income families.

A separate report by analytics firms illion and AlphaBeta has found low income earners have carried the economy through the crisis.

The data showed people earning less than $65,000 a year kept the economy propped up through discretionary and essential spending.

By contrast, the economic advisory group found high income earners had kept their wallets sealed since the start of March.

A new Australian Bureau of Statistics survey shows Australians are slowly getting back to work as coronavirus lockdowns ease.

Sixty one per cent of Australian adults had a job working paid hours in June, the highest rate since early March.
The coronavirus crisis is so dire three quarters of Australia's small businesses have lost revenue.

The COVID-19 shutdowns, following the devastating summer bushfires, are affecting the mental health of local shop owners, the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia has revealed.

The situation is so bad three in four small businesses have suffered a fall in revenue.

One third of sole traders surveyed had copped an 80 per cent plunge in their turnover.

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The coronavirus crisis is so dire three quarters of Australia's small businesses have lost revenue. The COVID-19 shutdowns, following the devastating summer bushfires , is affecting the mental health of local shop owners, the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia has revealed. Pictured is an table being sanitised at a Newtown restaurant in Sydney

A similar proportion of small businesses had either imposed pay cuts or relied on $1,500 a fortnight wage subsidies from the federal government's $70billion JobKeeper program.

The council's chief executive Peter Strong said small business owners were worried about the economy, as Australia plunged into a recession for the first time in almost three decades.

'They're worried about losing customers and their mental health is suffering,' he said.

'Small business are the heartbeat of their communities but they're doing it really tough.'

Liberal Party-aligned polling company CT Group, previously known as Crosby Textor, surveyed 975 small businesses, employing 25 or fewer people, in the first week of June.

Most of the responses were taken after Josh Frydenberg, the Liberal Party's deputy leader, admitted the economy was most likely already in recession.

Economists are expecting the COVID-19 shutdowns and the border closures to plunge Australia into a recession for the first time since 1991.

The situation is so bad three in four small businesses have suffered a fall in revenue. Pictured are restaurant patrons at Lygon Street in Melbourne in early June

The Reserve Bank fears economic output will plummet by ten per cent in the first half of 2020, a level equivalent to four-and-a-half years of gross domestic product growth.

Despite the bad news, Australians are keen to go on holidays, at least within Australia, with an Australian Bureau of Statistics survey showing 55 per cent of respondents planning to take a break.

Of those planning to holiday locally, 20 per cent were intending to go within the next month while another 68 per cent indicated they would take a break within the next six months.

The Australian Taxation Office defines a small business as a firm with an annual turnover of less than $10million.

In Australia, there are 3.5million small businesses.
Business leaders have backed one last 'epic' applause to thank key workers on the 72nd anniversary of the NHS.

Weekly claps were a staple of the first months of lockdown, with streets of neighbours heading out to their doorsteps to give thanks for the effort of healthcare workers during the Covid-19 crisis.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has published an open letter, signed by more than 50 business leaders including Dragons' Den's Peter Jones, saying it will be taking part in one final clap this Sunday, July 5.

The 10th and final Clap for Carers was held on May 28. For more than two months Brits applauded the hard work and sacrifice of health workers during the worst weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic

Staff at Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool were moved to tears by the final clap for carers

The letter, published in The Telegraph, read: 'As businesses we will be part of that moment because we too have many people to thank. Our colleagues, our suppliers, our customers and our communities. These have been difficult times for us all and we have only survived because of them.

'But saying thanks is only the start. We know that this crisis will have long lasting and widespread ramifications with the potential impact on livelihoods as profound as the crisis itself.'

It later added: 'Businesses have a key role to play and as business leaders we are committing ourselves to doing all that we can to be part of building closer communities to build broader prosperity for all.'

The original Clap for Carers ended last month after 10 weeks of applause for frontline workers.

Boris Johnson took part in the weekly clap outside Number 10 in solidarity with his fellow Brits

Organiser Annemarie Plas told The Telegraph at the time: 'For me personally, on behalf of Clap For Our Carers, it will be the last clap I give.

'We want to maintain the positive impact it has had. Were really proud of our NHS workers and now want to turn it into something that lasts after coronavirus.'

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.

Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, Director General of the CBI said: 'Covid-19 has undoubtedly hit some in society much harder than others.

'As businesses we recognise that we have a responsibility to all the communities in which we operate.

'Which is why we are committed not just to joining this moment of thanks but being part of a vitally important process going forward.'

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.'
Four gunmen have been shot and killed in a terror attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, leaving four security guards, a police officer and a bystander dead.

The attackers arrived at the walled compound in Karachi around 10am local time in a grey car before starting their attack.

The men - from a terror group called the Balochistan Liberation Army - threw grenades at a security post near the entrance before opening fire with AK-47 rifles.

Traders scrambled for cover in their offices and were evacuated out a back entrance as the attackers tried to fight their way inside before heavily armed police arrived.

Four gunmen have been shot dead after launching a gun and grenade attack on the Pakistani Stock Exchange which also left four security guards, a police officer and a bystander dead

Officers said the gunmen began their attack in a car park before attempting to storm through the main entrance while firing at security

The men arrived in this car around 10am - wielding AK-47 rifles while carrying backpacks filled with extra ammunition and grenades

Officers told Geo TV that the attackers were wearing off-duty police uniforms and carrying backpacks that were filled with explosives and extra ammunition.

Rizwan Ahmend, a police official at the scene, said the gunmen were also carrying food - indicating they planned on a long siege.

Abid Ali Habib, director of the exchange, said the attack began in a car park with the men firing indiscriminately into the compound where the exchange is located.

They then made their way to the main entrance, where they exchanged fire with security guards.

Video taken from across the street shows a car parked close to the entrance while two men take cover behind concrete pillars and fire shots using rifles.

What appears to be a dead body can be seen laying in the street.

The attackers then made their way inside the high-walled compound surrounding the stock exchange.

More footage taken some time later then showed Pakistani police and paramilitaries storming through the same entrance, where two bodies - believed to be of two attackers - could be seen.

More gunfire then took place inside the compound, with blood pictured on a stairwell on the outside of one of the buildings.

Police later said the blood was from a security guard, not an attacker.

The body of a suspected gunman is loaded into the back of an ambulance and driven away from the Pakistan Stock Exchange

The attackers exchanged gunfire with security guards at the main gates before moving inside the walled compound where the exchange is located

Heavily armed police and paramilitaries (pictured) arrived on the scene and shot all four of the attackers dead before they could get inside the exchange

Pakistani Rangers (pictured) conduct searches of all buildings inside the compound, which contains the offices of several major banks as well as the stock exchange

All of the attackers were killed before they could enter any of the buildings inside the compound, which includes the headquarters of financial companies.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange did not suspend trading during the attack, managing director Furrukh Khan said.

A terrorist group known as the Balochistan Liberation Army subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group, which is most-active in Pakistan, aims to create an independent and ethnic Balochistan state which would span parts of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.

They have been active since at least 2000 and carried out their last major attack in 2018, on the Chinese consulate - also in Karachi.

That attack left four people - two policemen and two civilians - dead, while the four attackers were also killed.

The group has targeted infrastructure projects along with Chinese workers in Pakistan multiple times in recent years.

In May last year, the BLA attacked a luxury hotel near the Afghan border at Gwadar, where a port development is the flagship project of a multi-billion dollar national infrastructure project funded by China.

Inside the stock exchange, broker Yaqub Memon says he and others were huddled inside their offices, before police entered and evacuated them.

The main building of the Pakistan Stock Exchange is seen inside the walled compound where it is located, in Karachi's main financial district

Security personnel surround the Stock Exchange Building after it was attacked

Bosses said the exchange is usually staffed by up to 8,000 people, though that number is currently lower than usual due to coronavirus social distancing.

They could not give an exact figure of people in the building when the attack took place.

It is located in the heart of the city's financial district, alongside the headquarters of several national and international financial institutions.

The Karachi stock exchange is Pakistans largest and oldest stock exchange, incorporated today with the exchanges in Islamabad and Lahore.

Karachi was once a hotspot for crime and violence, with heavily armed groups tied to politicians frequently gunning down opponents and launching attacks on residential areas.

But the situation has largely stabilised in recent years following operations by security agencies against armed political outfits and Islamist militants.

The operations were coupled with a series of large-scale military offensives targeting homegrown insurgents as well as Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants - often based near the lawless border with Afghanistan.

Militant groups still retain the ability to launch periodic attacks in many rural areas of the country.

Monday's attack comes a week after a grenade was thrown at a line of people waiting outside a government welfare office in the city, killing one and injuring eight others, according to a statement from municipal authorities.
Iconic swimwear brand Seafolly has become the latest fashion brand to go into voluntary administration, and the coronavirus pandemic is to blame.

Scott Langdon and Rahul Goyal from KordaMentha Restructuring were appointed as administrators of the fashion brand on Monday.

'Seafolly made the appointment because of the crippling financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,' a statement from KordamMentha said.

Iconic swimwear brand Seafolly has become the latest fashion brand to go into voluntary administration, saying the coronavirus pandemic is to blame

They cited the 'crippling financial impact of COVID-19 pandemic' as the reason (pictured: Gigi Hadid shooting for Seafolly in 2015)

Mr Langdon said the company will operate as usual while the business is assessed but up to 120 staff are at risk of losing their jobs.

'All Seafolly gift cards and the popular Beach Club Rewards points will continue to be redeemable at all Seafolly stores,' Mr Langdon said.

'We encourage all loyal Seafolly customers to come to the retail stores and redeem their Beach Club Rewards, plus earn more points.'

Mr Langdon said the company will operate as usual while the business is assessed but up to 120 staff are at risk of losing their jobs (pictured: Model Jessica Hart (front) in Seafolly)

KordaMentha has plans to sell the business immediately and is urging anyone interested to contact them.

'Given the quality of the brand and its reputation, there will inevitably be a high level of interest in purchasing the business', Mr Langdon said.

The women's beachwear fashion brand has been operating since 1975 and has 44 stores across the country with 120 staff.

Seafolly also has 12 stores overseas and was once believed to be the most well-known swimwear brand in Australia.

Scott Langdon and Rahul Goyal from KordaMentha Restructuring were appointed as administrators of the fashion brand on Monday

Last week, department store Myer cut 90 head office roles, representing around one per cent of its total workforce following the coronavirus downturn.

Team members across management, business support and administration were made redundant and more than 45 employees were redeployed to new positions.

The retailer was forced to close its doors and send 10,000 staff members home during the coronavirus lockdowns in late March and April.

Before the pandemic hit, stagnant wage growth was already weighing on the retail sector and a number of long-standing traders had already gone bust.

Harris Scarfe was forced to close its doors in December 2019, after 169 years selling homewares, bedding and linen to Australians.

The closure of its 66 stores before Christmas resulted in 1800 job losses nationwide.

In January, Australian clothing giant Jeanswest went into voluntary administration, leaving almost 1,000 workers at 146 stores in limbo.

The iconic jewellery retailer Wallace Bishop also warned auditors it may go under in 2020 due to financial strain, putting the jobs of 500 staff at 50 stores in jeopardy.
A woman has shocked a Queensland police boss by allegedly recording the highest blood-alcohol level he has seen in a decade - more than six times the legal limit.

The 29-year-old woman was driving along Old Bay Road, Deception Bay at 1.45pm on Wednesday, June 24, when she attracted the attention of police with her 'manner of driving'.

Police stopped the woman from Burpengary East north of Brisbane and noticed she appeared intoxicated, police said.

Police were shocked to find a Queensland woman allegedly blew 0.30 percent on a Wednesday afternoon in Deception Bay, north of Brisbane. Pictured: stock image of an RBT

The woman took a breathalyser test and blew a blood-alcohol result of more than 0.30 percent, police said.

That is six times the open license limit of less than 0.05 percent.

The woman was taken to Deception Bay police station where she allegedly recorded a second blood-alcohol reading, this time from a specimen sample, of 0.298 percent, police said.

Deception Bay Road Policing Unit acting officer-in-charge Ken Sands said it was the highest reading he had seen in the last decade.



'The highest one I've seen in my service is mid point-threes, but certainly in the last decade this is the highest reading I've seen,' he told the Courier Mail.

'It's pretty scary.'

The alleged reading of 0.30 percent is six times the legal limit and almost enough to put a person into a coma with alcohol poisoning

The woman was charged with high-range drink driving and is expected to appear in Caboolture Magistrates Court on July 23.

According to the Australian Government's Department of Health, blood alcohol readings of greater than 0.30 percent can lead to alcohol poisoning, coma and death.

Although the Burpengary East woman's blood-alcohol concentration was shockingly high, it is not the highest ever seen across Australia.

Blood-alcohol concentrations What alcohol does to your body Up to 0.05 percent feeling of wellbeing, talkative 0.05 to 0.08 percent impaired judgement and movement reduced inhibitions 0.08 to 0.15 percent slurred speech impaired balance, coordination, vision and reflexes unstable emotions, nausea, vomiting 0.15 to 0.30 percent unable to walk without help sleepy, difficulty breathing memory loss loss of bladder control possible loss of consciousness over 0.30 percent coma, death Source: Australian Health Department Advertisement

In January, 2016, a 52-year-old woman recorded a reading of 0.486 percent after a crash near Coffs Harbour, NSW.

In late 2015, a 42-year-old Queensland woman blew 0.48 percent after being found passed out in her car in front of a Runaway Bay cafe.

Shocked police and alcohol experts said at the time that they thought it to be the highest blood-alcohol reading ever recorded in Australia.

Queensland's Moreton Bay district, which includes Deception Bay, recorded 19 drink-drivers over the past week, police said.

One of those charged was a 28-year-old Caboolture man who allegedly recorded a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.102 percent.

He has been charged and is expected to appear in Caboolture Magistrates Court on July 22.

According to the Queensland Government, 55 people are killed each year on the state's roads due to drink-driving and a further 550 are seriously injured.

Having no alcohol is safer than having just a small amount, as it is easy to exceed the 0.05 percent minimum, according to the Queensland Government's StreetSmarts website.

Blood alcohol concentrations can continue to rise after you stop drinking, and it can be difficult to monitor levels due to different alcohol contents and the size and shape of glasses.

Other variables can also affect your blood-alcohol concentration making it difficult to guess, including your weight, gender, metabolism, how often you drink and how long it has been since you have eaten, the website says.

Coffee, sleep, vomiting or exercise will not reduce your blood-alcohol levels.
The UK has today been accused of playing catch up with the rest of the world when it comes to spotting Covid-19 after the US added three new symptoms to its official coronavirus list.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised its website to include diarrhoea, nausea and a runny or blocked nose, to make it easier for patients and doctors to recognise the illness.

It now warns of 11 primary symptoms, including fatigue, body aches, headache, sore throat and shortness of breath  but admits the virus can cause an array of other side effects.

The NHS, on the other hand, still only recognises three tell-tale signs of the infection  a high temperature, continuous cough and loss of smell or taste.

It suggests only people with these three symptoms may have Covid-19 and therefore should self-isolate and get tested.

This means Britons suffering from the virus' less common symptoms are not getting access to swabs and may be continuing to pass the virus to others.

Professor Tim Spector, an epidemiologist at Kings College London, said Britain was missing 'the majority of cases' because it was 'out of line with the rest of the world'.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recognises 11 Covid-19 symptoms

The UK has been accused of missing 'the majority' of Covid-19 cases because it still only recognises three tell-tale signs of the infection (the NHS website, shown)

Professor Spector told MailOnline: 'The UK's limited list of symptoms is out of line with the rest of the world and an important reason we are failing to detect the majority of new cases and pick them up in the first few days.

'Our Covid symptom study app lists 19 symptoms and we are continuing to add to the list  so the public know what to look for.'

Professor Tim Spector, an epidemiologist at Kings College London, said Britain was 'out of line with the rest of the world' when it came to recognising the disease

PROFESSOR SPECTOR SAYS COVID-19 HAS AT LEAST 19 SYMPTOMS Professor Spector and researchers from King's College London have developed a symptom-tracking app which has seen millions of Britons sign up and report their symptoms. The full list of symptoms, in order of how predictive they are of the disease, include: 1. Loss of smell/taste 2. Persistent cough 3. Fatigue 4. Loss of appetite 5. Skin rash 6. Hives 7. Fever 8. Severe muscle pain 9. Shortness of breath 10. Diarrhoea 11. Delirium 12. Abdominal pain 13. Chest pain 14. Hoarse voice 15. Eye soreness 16. Sore or painful throat 17. Nausea or vomiting 18. Headache 19. Dizziness or light headedness Advertisement

Professor Spector and researchers from KCL have developed a symptom-tracking app, which has seen millions of Britons sign up and report their symptoms since the start of the crisis.

He said data  based on users who test positive for the virus  had shown the infection can cause up to 19 symptoms, and more are emerging every month.

The CDC revised its Covid-19 symptom list on May 13 without making an official announcement, according to Colorado-based online news site Our Community Now.

The website says the 11 symptoms may appear between two and 14 days infection but adds that the list does not include all symptoms.

A footnote on the site says the CDC 'will continue to update this list as we learn more about Covid-19'.

Meanwhile, the NHS website only lists three main symptoms and makes no reference to the fact the disease can cause an array of side effects.

Professor Spector added that only people with those three symptoms get tested and end up being included in the official statistics.

He said: 'All this governmental data on confirmed cases and how many people have recovered, its all nonsense.'

The NHS, like the majority of health bodies around the globe, originally recognised just two Covid-19 symptoms  a dry and persistent cough and a fever.

But a mountain of evidence emerged in the months after the initial outbreak in China showing the virus caused rarer symptoms.

The UK dug its heels in for months before finally adding a loss of smell and taste as official signs of the disease in May. But it only did so after mounting pressure from experts like Professor Spector.

The CDC, by comparison, warned Americans of eight official symptoms on its website by April.

Analysis of NHS hospital records show a cough, fever and shortness of breath are the three most common symptoms, with seven out of 10 patients suffering at least one of the three.

But up to a third of patients also experience respiratory problems, stomach pains and musculoskeletal symptoms  including muscle and joint pain, and fatigue.

A smaller number experience headaches, ear pain, delirium and sore eyes, according to Professor Spector.

An NHS spokesperson said the health service's website was based on the latest Public Health England guidance around Covid symptoms.

Professor Spector's app predicts 2,300 Britons are being struck down with the coronavirus every day.

The COVID Symptom Tracker app estimates that cases in the UK have shrunk by a third in the space of a week. For comparison, daily infections were above 11,000 last month.

The researchers, working alongside health tech company ZOE, have collected data on symptoms and test results from one million UK citizens since the crisis began to unfold.

Last week they used this data to estimate that there were 3,612 people catching the virus every day in Britain  35 per cent more than today's figure of 2,341.

Most of the new cases  1,978  are appearing in England, the team said, along with 241 per day in Wales and 122 in Scotland. No estimates are made for Northern Ireland, however.

The data suggests the virus is spreading most widely in the Midlands, which is experiencing 716 daily cases, above the 330 in the North East and Yorkshire and 319 in the East of England.

King's College London 's COVID Symptom Tracker app estimates that just 2,341 Britons are being struck down with the coronavirus every day. Last week they used this data to estimate that there were 3,612 people catching the virus every day in Britain and roughly 4,942 people the week before that. The figure was higher than 11,000 per day a month ago

The scientists running the project claimed the steady decline showed the crisis was 'tailing off' but warned people need to be 'cautious when heading back to normal life'.

Professor Spector said: 'With lockdown being eased over the last few weeks and more changes soon to come its interesting to see that we are now seeing a tail off in the decline.

'With Covid-19 very much still in the population its really important that the UK continues to be cautious when it comes heading back to normal life.

'If we want to make this lifting of lockdown a success everyone needs to educate themselves on Covid-19 such as knowing all 19 symptoms that are associated with Covid-19.

'Especially important is the first few days when cases are being missed when it is important to self isolate if unwell and getting tested rapidly.

'Also using technology like our app will give us valuable data and help us build a clearer picture of how much Covid-19 is in the population at any one given time, which will help us catch any potential second waves sooner rather than later.'

The team running the mobile app 'Covid-19 Symptom Tracker' have been collecting data from people self-reporting symptoms and test results for months.

Data in this week's update was taken from one million people's self-reports on their own health, and the results of on 14,422 swab tests taken by app users.

People are asked to log on regularly to report whether they have any signs of illness or whether they feel healthy.

They are asked to get tested if they have symptoms that may be linked to Covid-19, and to report the results of the test.

Because of this, the app cannot reliably track the number of people who are catching the virus but not developing symptoms, which may be thousands more.

The estimate does not include Northern Ireland or care homes, where the virus is still thought to be spreading, meaning the true rate could be much higher.
Scotland should consider quarantining travellers from England if the coronavirus crisis continues, one leading scientist has suggested.

Professor Devi Sridhar  who advises First Minister Nicola Sturgeon  claimed that Scotland is on track to be 'Covid-free' by the end of September. Scotland yesterday recorded no new Covid-19 deaths, marking three days in a row and the eighth time this month of zero fatalities.

But the outbreak has yet to fizzle out in England, with thousands of people still thought to be getting struck down with the virus every day. And England is still recording an average of 110 each day, despite Boris Johnson announcing a major relaxation of lockdown from this Saturday.

Professor Sridhar, of Edinburgh University, admitted Scotland will see 'little bumps' moving forward, referring to future spikes in coronavirus cases.

But she told the BBC the major challenge would be to prevent any imported cases of the disease, if the virus is no longer spreading naturally.

Professor Sridhar  part of the Scottish government's Covid-19 advisory panel  said it would be 'really straightforward' to contain if Scotland was an island. She admitted ministers must find the 'next best solution' and pointed to moves made in parts of the US, such as New York, which announced it will make travellers from badly-hit states self-isolate for two weeks.

Professor Devi Sridhar thinks Scotland is on track to be 'Covid-free' by end of the summer

She pointed to New Zealand, which earlier this month declared victory over its Covid-19 outbreak after imposing one of the toughest lockdowns.

And she warned imported cases could set off 'chains of infection', which is exactly how the pandemic began after it spread from China.

She added: 'I think Scotland is on track to eliminate coronavirus by the end of the summer by looking at the rate of the decrease [in new cases].

'But we are going to see little bumps, so it's a question of how small can you keep those bumps.'

Professor Sridhar  who warned that the 'risky' and 'ethically questionable' strategy in England appears to be to let the virus keep spreading  suggested catching those cases 'through screening, through quarantine, through testing'.

She added: 'The next best thing is to look across the world at Australia, Germany and even the US.'

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut last week announced they will make visitors from states with high coronavirus rates self-isolate for two weeks.

STURGEON SUGGESTS SHE COULD TRY TO BLOCK THE UK'S AIR BRIDGES PLAN Nicola Sturgeon hinted she could try to block Boris Johnson's air bridges plan for quarantine-free travel today. The Scottish First Minister lashed out at the Westminster Government over plans due to be released within days to link the UK with countries with low coronavirus rates. Speaking at her daily press conference she said she and other devolved leaders had not been consulted over a plan which could lead to a surge in cases in Scotland if handled badly. Scotland's Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf had a conference call with Michael Gove and the other devolved administrations on the issue only this morning, she added. The country this afternoon unveiled zero coronavirus deaths for the fourth day in a row to keep its death toll at 2,482, with just five new infections reported. Ms Sturgeon told the briefing she was 'still considering our response and our own proposals'. However, with air transport, immigration and foreign policy all matters that are controlled by Westminster rather than the devolved administration, it is not clear what power she has to block the scheme. 'This Is an issue we have tried very hard to work on with the UK Government and the other devolved administration and we do of course see the benefits of adopting a consistent approach across all parts of the UK,' she said. 'However we also know that quarantine measures, albeit on a more targeted basis in future, may become more important in Scotland than less as our infection rates fall, since then the relative impact of cases from outside Scotland potentially becomes greater. 'The prospect of cases coming in from elsewhere poses a risk not just to health but also our economy.' Advertisement

The move  designed to stop another Covid-19 wave  will affect Americans travelling from states such as Florida, Texas and Alabama.

Currently, any overseas traveller entering Scotland  which shares its only land border with England  must self-isolate for 14 days or face a fine of up to 500.

People must also provide the Government with details of who they are, where they've been and where they're going, within 48 hours of arriving in the country.

The measures only apply to people entering the country from outside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

One Scottish government source told The Times that ministers were considering adding England into the list of affected countries.

But they told the newspaper that the restrictions may only apply to parts of England at the centre of growing outbreaks.

Some scientists have branded the quarantine measures as 'completely useless' and have called for it to be scrapped as soon as possible.

Other experts argued the move  which came into force in June and prompted warnings that it could kill off air travel completely  came too late.

A Scottish Government spokesman told The Telegraph: 'To allow us to move out of lockdown it is critical that we keep transmission of the virus as low as possible  and that includes transmission from high to low risk areas.

'We are, in common with countries across the world, having to take unprecedented steps to deal with the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic brings.'

It comes after Ms Sturgeon last week predicted that Scotland was 'not far away' from eliminating the coronavirus.

But she warned the virus  scientifically known as SARS-CoV-2  has 'not yet gone away' despite the 'exceptional progress' made.

Official figures show 450 Covid-19 patients are currently in hospital north of the border, including five who are fighting for their lives in intensive care.

In developments south of the border, it was today revealed that Leicester may be forced to extend the lockdown for a fortnight from Saturday.

The city's mayor said health chiefs have suggested they will ask him to postpone opening pubs, museums and playgrounds on July 4/

Sir Peter Soulsby, who was previously a Labour MP for Leicester South, said: 'What they're suggesting is not a return to lockdown.

'It seems that what they're suggesting is that we continue the present level of restriction for a further two weeks beyond July 4.

'Now that's obviously very different from the dramatic lockdown in Leicester that was being briefed at the weekend.'
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Rwanda will intensify promotion efforts to encourage domestic tourism, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said on Friday.

"RDB has embarked on domestic tourism promotion, encouraging Rwandans to visit the country's main tourist attractions. As a result, 69 tourists have booked to track the endangered mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park this weekend while 215 have visited Akagera National Park," said RDB's Chief Tourism Officer Belise Kariza while addressing an online press conference on the reopening of tourism announced last week.

"We will continue to intensify our marketing and promotion efforts to encourage domestic tourists to explore the different attractions around the country," she said.

The chief tourism officer also encouraged the domestic market to take advantage of the promotional offers being shared.

The central African country last Wednesday announced the reopening of tourism activities, with a sharp cut in the price of permits for tracking endangered mountain gorillas, which allowed international travellers entering the country by charter flights.

More than 8.9 percent of Rwanda's land are protected as national parks, including Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Volcanoes National Park and Gishwati Mukura National Park.

Endangered mountain gorillas living in Volcanoes National Park contribute about 90 percent of tourism revenues from Rwanda national parks, the RDB said in February last year.


Trade chief Antonia Romeo is tipped to become the first female Cabinet Secretary replacing Sir Mark Sedwill who departed in a 'power struggle' with Dominic Cummings.

The top mandarin at the Trade Department, who has a strong US and business background, is amongst the names being widely touted as a potential successor.

Sir Mark, 55, confirmed on Sunday night he will step down as both Cabinet Secretary and national security adviser in September, after more than 30 years in Government service.

In an email to colleagues on Monday morning he urged them to uphold the civil service values of 'honesty, integrity, impartiality, compassion', saying he was 'proud' of what had been achieved.

Boris Johnson praised the 'incredible service' of Sir Mark but dodged questions over whether he was forced out in a power struggle with senior adviser Cummings.

The PM also played down claims he is looking for a Brexiteer for the crucial job, telling reporters during a visit to a construction site that the great thing about the civil service was that politicians never know their personal political views.

Simon Case, who was recently drafted in to be the Downing Street permanent secretary and tasked with leading the two-metre social distancing review, is also tipped to replace the Cabinet Secretary.

However, there is speculation that Mr Johnson and Mr Cummings - who has been a long-standing critic of Whitehall group-think - might want someone from outside the government machine.

Sir Mark Sedwill (pictured in Westminster today) has confirmed he will step down as both Cabinet Secretary and national security adviser in September, after more than 30 years in Government service

Names being widely touted to replace Sir Mark include Simon Case (left), who was recently drafted in to be the Downing Street permanent secretary and tasked with leading the two-metre social distancing review, and Antonia Romeo (right), the top mandarin at the Trade Department

Mr Johnson dodged questions about whether Sir Mark's departure was linked to a power struggle with Dominic Cummings (pictured leaving his London home today)

Mr Johnson (pictured today) and Sir Mark finalised his departure at a private lunch on June 2, and agreed to try to paint the departure as amicable

Who could take over from Sir Mark Sedwill as Cabinet Secretary? Sir Mark Sedwill has announced he is stepping down as head of the civil service and national security adviser in September after claims of a power struggle with Dominic Cummings. The PM's EU negotiator David Frost will take over the national security element of Sir Mark's role. But it is not clear who will be the new Cabinet Secretary - one of the most influential jobs in the country. Here are some of the main names in the frame: Simon Case The recruitment of Simon Case as the permanent secretary to No10 was seen as sealing the fate of Sir Mark. Downing Street had not had its own permanent secretary for eight years - since former Cabinet Secretary Jeremy Heywood gave up the title. Mr Case, 41, previously worked on the Brexit negotiations, and is well-regarded within the PM's close circle. He was drafted back into the civil service from being private secretary to Prince William. It was he, rather than Sir Mark, who was tasked with carrying out the review into the two-metre social distancing rule that resulted in it being downgraded to 'one metre plus'. However, Mr Case's relative youth could weigh against him - he would be the youngest Cabinet Secretary in living memory. Antonia Romeo The permanent secretary at the Trade Department is frequently tipped for promotion. She has a very US and business-friendly track record, having served as UK consul general in New York. As an economist, she could also fit Mr Cummings' profile of having expertise in maths and data. However, the 45-year-old has been tipped to take over from Simon McDonald as the top civil servant at the Foreign Office. Chris Wormald Currently permanent secretary at the Department of Health, Chris Wormald would be seen as the establishment choice for the top job. A Whitehall veteran, he previously served as the most senior civil servant at the Department for Education while Michael Gove was the Secretary of State and forcing through reforms despite resistance from what Mr Cummings branded 'the blob'. He also worked in the office of Nick Clegg while he was Deputy PM. Sir Chris has been permanent secretary at DoH since 2016, but appears to have been damaged by the handling of the coronavirus crisis. Melanie Dawes The chief executive of Ofcom is another experience Whitehall contender who could challenge for the head job from outside the tent. She was permanent secretary at the Communities Department from 2015, and impressed successive Tory PMs. However, she was only appointed to lead Ofcom in February. Suma Chakrabarti The president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development since 2012, Sir Suma's second term is due to come to an end shortly. He has previously worked at the IMF and World Bank, and served as permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice. Born in West Bengal in 1959 before moving to the UK aged five, he was the highest ranking Indian civil servant. Advertisement

Sir Mark's departure comes just days after Mr Cummings is reported to have told Government advisers 'a hard rain is coming' to Whitehall  an apparent reference to the radioactive showers that follow a nuclear blast.

He is said to have advised Mr Johnson to sack the former diplomat at the end of last month following clashes over the scale and timing of the planned overhaul.

But Mr Johnson and Sir Mark finalised his departure at a private lunch on June 2, and agreed to try to paint the departure as amicable.

Amid a backlash from unions and former mandarins, David Frost, the PM's EU negotiator, is being installed as the new national security adviser.

In his interview with Times Radio this morning, Mr Johnson said: 'Sir Mark has given incredible service to this country. He came in at a very difficult time.

'He has seen the Government through all sorts of very tough stuff - changes in the premiership, an election, Brexit, dealing with the worst bits of the Covid crisis. He has got a lot more to offer and I am sure he will.'

He played down suggestions that Sir Mark had been the subject of a series of negative briefings in the media.

'I try not to read too much of the negative briefing. There is an awful lot of stuff that comes out in the papers to which I wouldn't automatically attach the utmost credence,' he said.

'People brief all kinds of things into the newspapers. All I can tell you is Mark is an outstanding servant to this country and will continue to be so.'

Speaking to broadcasters separately on his visit in west London this morning, Mr Johnson rejected the idea that he wants a Brexiteer.

'I think the great thing about the civil service is that nobody should know, least of all me,' he said.

'I think we have a wonderful civil service. They are impartial, they are the best in the world, and who knows what his or her views will be.'

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson insisted it was not unusual for a special adviser such as Mr Frost to be appointed national security adviser.

'That's what you see in the United States, that's what you see in many other countries,' he said.

Boris Johnson insisted the Cabinet Secretary (pictured together last June with Dominic Cummings right) had 'seen the government through all sorts' since taking on the role two years ago - and hinted that he could contribute in future

No10 dismisses criticism over 'US-style' appointment of new national security chief Downing Street has defended the appointment of the UK's chief EU negotiator David Frost as the next national security adviser (NSA). The Prime Minister has faced criticism for appointing a political special adviser to a position previously filled by permanent civil servants. However the PM's official spokesman said that such appointments were not unusual in other countries. 'The appointment of the NSA is always a decision for the Prime Minister,' the spokesman said. 'It is not unusual in other countries for ambassadors to serve as national security advisers and ambassadors can be political appointees. David Frost has the status of an ambassador. 'The First Civil Service Commissioner has agreed the appointment. That is consistent with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act.' Advertisement

'This is a man who has impeccable public service, very much a background that similar people who have held this role in the past before have come from having worked in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for an awful long time, so this isn't an unusual appointment.'

Ex-cabinet secretary Lord O'Donnell said: 'I'm worried about the appointment of David Frost as national security adviser because I'm not quite sure how putting a special adviser in that role works.' He told BBC Radio 4's Today that political appointees were 'more likely to be yes-men' rather than 'speaking truth to power'.

Bob Kerslake, a former head of the Civil Service who went on to advise Labour under Jeremy Corbyn, accused Number 10 'or those around it' of working to 'undermine' the ex-diplomat.

Speaking to the Guardian, Lord Kerslake said: 'I fear from some of the press briefing that had obviously gone on that the Civil Service is being made the fall guy for mistakes made in the handling of the pandemic.'

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA, which represents public officials, said: 'No 10, or those around it, has sought to undermine Sir Mark and the leadership of the civil service, with a series of anonymous briefings against him over many months.' He blasted the tactics as 'corrosive and cowardly' and said the Government would be 'weaker as a result' of the departure.
A newly surfaced diary extract could result in a woman walking free from jail after she was locked up for bashing a pensioner to death with a Virgin Mary statue.

Katia Pyliotis has always denied she was involved in the death of lonely widower Elia Abdelmessih, whose bludgeoned body was found alongside a tin of mangoes and a Virgin Mary statue inside his home in Kew East, Melbourne, in 2005.

A missing police diary which contained crucial information about another woman's confession to the crime was found in police archives this month.

Susan Reddie told police she hit Mr Abdelmissah with a rock inside his home and fled, but a former Victoria Police homicide investigator told prosecutors she recanted the confession during a one-on-one conversation with him.

Katia Pyliotis (pictured) was jailed for 19 years in 2019 for the murder of lonely widower Elia Abdelmessih

Mr Abdelmessih's bludgeoned body was found alongside a tin of mangoes and a Virgin Mary statue

Ms Reddie died in 2012, but extracts from the police diary seen by Herald Sun indicate that she never did recant her statement, and tried to confess to the killing a second time.

In 2016, Katia Pyliotis was required to give DNA for a minor infringement in South Australia.

A statue of the Virgin Mary was used to bash the lonely pensioner's skull in (stock image)

Her data immediately matched with DNA found at the 2005 crime scene, and she was extradited to Victoria where she was convicted.

Pyliotis was jailed for 19 years, but the sentence was quashed on appeal after the defence argued the judge interfered with the jury by labelling the questioning of a witness 'boring'.

She remains behind bars awaiting a fifth trial, but is expected to apply for bail given the latest update in the case.

Pyliotis' defence always argued Ms Reddie was likely the killer, but said Pyliotis did visit Mr Abdelmessihs home the day he was murdered and found his body.

Ms Reddie claimed she would visit Mr Abdelmessih's home occasionally, where he would pay her for sex. She said he was rude to her on the day in question.

There was never a clear motive for Pyliotis to kill Mr Abdelmessih that was made known to the public.

The homicide detective who claimed Ms Reddie recanted her statement to him said notes of the conversation were recorded in a police diary which he had since lost.

At the time of the conversation, he knew DNA evidence found at the crime scene did not belong to Ms Reddie, and she was dismissed as a potential suspect.

The case remained open and unsolved until Pyliotis' DNA was linked to a glove which was found near the victim's body.

Her blood was also found throughout the house, police claimed.

Despite the physical evidence, it took four separate murder trials before she was eventually convicted.

The DNA of Katia Pyliotis was found inside a glove left at the murder scene. Her DNA would be found after a routine stop in South Australia years after the murder

Justice Paul Coghlan called murder accused Katia Pyliotis' defence a 'red herring calculated to mislead' and told lawyers that's what he would tell the jury

When the Court of Appeal quashed that conviction, it paved the way for a potential fifth Supreme Court murder trial.

'It will be a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions whether the applicant faces trial for a fifth time,' the three judges ruled.

Any such trial is likely to be delayed until anywhere up to late next year due to the COVID-19 restrictions and huge backlog of trials moving through Victoria's clogged justice system.

The Court of Appeal ruled the final trial judge, Justice Paul Coghlan, made several fatal blunders - some in the presence of the jury - during the alleged killer's last trial.

Her barrister, Dermot Dann QC, said the judge made a 'negative and scathing assessment' of the defence case, which he shared with jurors.

At one point, the trial judge said the defence case was a 'red herring calculated to mislead' and told the barristers he would later share that view with the jury.

At one point while trial barrister Richard Edney was questioning a witness, Justice Coghlan interjected to tell him 'this is even more boring than the other parts of your cross-examination'.

He made other remarks in front of the jury, including that they'd 'still be here 13 years later' hearing crime scene evidence, and that 'I'll have to start answering these questions myself'.

Pyliotis, a former Kew McDonald's worker, met her alleged victim at the fast-food store shortly after his wife's death.

But the reason why the then 'unsophisticated and unworldly' 23-year-old allegedly killed her customer at his own home in a 'frenzied attack' has never been revealed.

Barrister Dermot Dann QC said the judge made a 'negative and scathing assessment' of the defence case, which he shared with jurors
A one-year-old boy and a ten-year-old girl were among 14 people shot to death in Chicago over the weekend - with 38 more injured.

Sincere Gaston, 20 months old, died and his mother, 22, was injured when a drive by shooter shot the child in his car seat and grazed the mother in the head with a bullet in the Englewood neighbour on Chicago's south-side at around 2pm Saturday. No arrests have been made.

Hours later ten-year-old Lena Nunez lost her life after a stray bullet entered her uncle's home in Logan Square, northeast Chicago, and hit her in the head at 9.40pm on Saturday.

Miss Nunez was rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead. No arrests have been made, reports Abc News.

Ten-year-old Lena Nunez lost her life after a stray bullet entered her uncle's home in Logan Square, northeast Chicago, and hit her in the head at 9.40pm on Saturday

Later that night another girl, eight, was injured by a stray bullet that shot through the window and grazed her head while she sat on a couch in her home in the Englewood neighbourhood. She was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition, say police. No arrests have been made.

Chicago Police Chief of Operations Fred Waller told CBS 2 Chicago: 'It seems like just yesterday, it was actually last Saturday, I was in front of you all talking about a 3-year-old that was killed in the Austin community, and now here in Englewood, a 20-month-old was killed.

'This is happening far too often. Too many times children are killed by senseless violence, and not only just children but grownups also. When is this going to stop? When are we going to say enough is enough?'

An unnamed man, 38, was killed in a shooting in Little Village, southwest Chicago on Sunday.

Miss Nunez' uncle's home where she died after being shot in the head by a stray bullet on Saturday

An 18-year-old also died after being shot in South Chicago on Sunday morning.

A 19-year-old man was killed with a single shot to the back of the head on Sunday morning in the Rogers Park neighborhood, north Chicago.

A man, 21, was shot while out jogging in Gresham, south Chicago, and took himself to hospital for treatment.

A woman, 31, was critically injured on Sunday after being shot in Rogers Park, south Chicago, said police reports.

Sincere Gaston, 20 months old, died and his mother, 22, was injured when a drive by shooter shot the child in his car seat and grazed the mother in the head (family's car pictured)

Police inspect bullet holes in the car where 20-month-old Sincere was killed on Saturday

The incident took place in the Englewood neighbour on Chicago's south-side at around 2pm Saturday. No arrests have been made

People mourn the death of Sincere Gaston, 20 months old, after he was killed on Saturday

A total of 52 people were injured by gun violence over the weekend, with 14 deaths reported by police.

The shocking total comes just a week after more than one hundred people were shot and 14 people died from gun violence on Father's Day weekend in the city.

The death of the one-year-old boy on Saturday comes just a week after a similar scenario saw the death of three-year-old Mekhi James who died after being shot in his 27-year-old stepfather's car in Austin, east Chicago.

Mekhi's aunt, Christal Allen, told Chicago ABC station WLS: 'Everywhere you go, it is violence everywhere. You can't run from it,'

Three-year-old Mekhi James who died after being shot in his 27-year-old stepfather's car in Austin, east Chicago, last Saturday

Police guard an SUV wherein Mekhi James, three, was fatally shot while riding in the vehicle with his father, outside West Suburban Medical Center Saturday, June 20, 2020, in Oak Park, in Chicago

The boy's mother Myesha James said: 'We do want justice, but it ain't gonna bring him back.'

On Friday president Donald Trump wrote a letter to Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot and Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker raising the issue of gun violence in Chicago.

He wrote: 'While I have been heartened to see crime reductions nationally the last few years, I have been horrified by the continued violence in this great American city,' Trump wrote.

'Your lack of leadership on this important issue continues to fail the people you have sworn to protect. I am concerned it is another example of your lack of commitment to the vulnerable citizens who are victims of this violence and a lack of respect for the men and women in law enforcement.'

Ms Lightfoot responded on twitter: 'I don't need leadership lessons from Donald Trump', accusing Trump of 'using the victims of gun violence in our city to score cheap political points, spew racist rhetoric, and ignore the impact of COVID across this country ... It is despicable, disgusting and all too typical.'
'Racism spotters' helping to weed out policing candidates with intolerant views are being paid a higher rate than the beat-treading officers they help to employ.

The civilian assessors, who do not need specific qualifications for the role, are pocketing 150-a-day plus expenses to run the rule over candidates hoping to enter the Met Police.

If the part-time role, which requires a commitment of at least 25 days-a-year, was full-time, the assessors would receive an annual salary of around 39,000-a-year.

That's significantly more than the 30,000 starting salary of a police constable in the Met Police - a daily salary of around 120 when counting the 253 working days in 2020.

Critics say it is 'unreasonable' to pay assessors 'such huge sums' compared to police officers.

But the Met Police has defended the use of assessors, saying it is 'in everyone's best interest that we attract, recruit and retain the very best officers'.

David Spencer, at the Centre for Crime Prevention, told the Sun: 'The Met obviously shouldn't be hiring officers who hold overtly racist views.

Civilian assessors, who do not need specific qualifications for the role, are pocketing 150-a-day plus expenses to run the rule over candidates hoping to enter the Met Police (library image)

'But it is clearly an unreasonable use of public money to pay community assessors such huge sums when the basic salaries for police officers remain so low.'

Bosses at the Met Police hiked pay for assessors in 2018, raising it from 100 to 150-a-day.

The role was created in 2003, but Met Police chiefs promised to pour an extra 1million a year into the scheme two years ago as part of its plan to diversify.

Bosses said they planned to hire 200 more assessors and increase the existing day rate from 100 to 150, the Daily Express reported at the time.

A now closed job advert on the police's recruitment website looking for 50 new assessors for the Met Police said it was looking for people with 'life experience and an appreciation of diversity issues'.

It said: 'When people apply to join the Met as a Police Officer or Special Constable, they undergo rigorous evaluation at assessment days.

'It's essential that our assessments receive specialist input, so that we're seeking individuals with the right knowledge, skills and behaviours.

The Met Police has defended the use of assessors, saying it is 'in everyone's best interest that we attract, recruit and retain the very best officers'.

'As a valued member of the community, you could become a trained 'Community Assessor' to help us carry out this vital work.'

The job advert asked candidates to commit to at least 25 days a year, including some Saturdays, and to be 'flexible' as the job was 'sporadic'.

It added: 'You'll use your sound judgement to objectively assess and evaluate candidate performance against a set of competencies.

'Then it's a case of delivering constructive feedback with confidence and tenacity.'

The advert said candidates would be vetted and given training.

MailOnline has contacted the Met Police for a comment.

A spokesperson for the Met Police told the Sun: 'To compare the day rate of casual workers with a salaried police constable, with the pension and allowances that attracts, is overly simplistic.'
A mother-of-two was forced to flee her home with her toddler after her brand new tumble dryer set alight killing their family pet.

Claire Shipley, 35, had a lucky escape when her Candy tumble dryer, which she bought at Argos earlier that day, burst into flames at 2.30am on June 6 at her three bedroomed home in Peterlee, County Durham.

The devastating fire destroyed Claire's kitchen and killed the family's four year old Jack Russell, Roxy.

A mother-of-two has fled her home after her brand new Candy tumble dryer caught fire at her three-bedroom property in Peterlee, County Durham, on June 6

Now, Claire has been left with 13,000 worth of damage as everything from furniture to clothes need to be replaced due to smoke and soot as well as a 1900 vet bill.

Claire who lives with son's Luke, 13, and Noah three, said: 'I bought a new tumble dryer but I didn't set it up until late at night because I have a three year old who doesn't leave me alone.

'Luckily, my eldest son was staying out.

'I set it up when he'd gone to bed, dried some clothes in it for 10 minutes, took them out and unplugged the dryer.

'I was upstairs in bed for 45 minutes and the smoke alarm started going off so I went to the top of the stairs and saw the smoke so I just ran into Noah's room and darted out of the front door.

Claire Shipley, 35, was awoken at 2.30am by her family after the machine burst into flames, forcing her to escape the home with her two sons, Luke, 13 and Noah, three

'It was absolutely terrifying.

'I had to leave the dog behind, I wouldn't have risked it anyway but the fire was blocking the door way.'

The firefighters rescued Roxy when they'd arrived and resuscitated her before she was rushed to an emergency vet but the Jack Russell couldn't be saved and sadly died 12 hours later.

The event planner said: 'We're devastated. Now we've got a 1,900 vets bill to pay. And I have to replace everything in the house which is working out at about 13,000.

'We're still having quotes done for things like the walls, windows and doors which all need to be replaced. We're lucky no one was hurt.'

Claire and Noah have moved in with partner Mark Robinson, 35, while Luke stays with family and they have no idea when they'll be able to return home.

Ms Shipley (pictured with Noah), has been left with 13,000 of damage and a vet bill of 1900 after their pet dog Roxy, a Jack Russell was unable to be saved from the blaze

Friends have set up a fundraiser page to help the family replace their belongings and rebuild their home (Ms Shipley pictured with her son, Luke)

Claire said: 'I just want to warn people of the importance of having smoke alarms, it had potentially caught fire 45 minutes before I knew about it. It's scary to think how quickly it all happened.

'It's also important to insure your pet because I didn't and now we've got this massive bill that I don't know how I'm going to pay.'

Claire's friends have set up a fundraising page to help her replace her belongings and rebuild her home.

An Argos spokesperson said, 'We have expressed our sympathies to Claire. We have also reassured her we will support Candy's investigation in any way we can.'

A Candy spokesperson said: 'We were alerted to this issue by the retailer on 19th June 2020 and have been working closely with them to organise an investigation.

'We are saddened to hear of this incident and take any reports very seriously, so are undertaking a thorough examination to determine the cause.'

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A woman returned home to a blood-soaked scene after her beloved dog suffered horrific injuries while fighting off an intruder.

Baz the Staffy was alone at his owner Sarah Greenway's home in Wynnum, Brisbane, on June 19 when the would-be thief used a crowbar to break-in through a window.

Police believe the intruder hit Baz in the face with the crowbar when the dog jumped into action to protect the home.

A family dog named Baz (pictured) suffered horrific injuries while fighting off a would-be intruder who had tried to break in to the Queensland home using a crowbar

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was struck with such force it detached the gum from his jaw.

Mrs Greenway returned home to find pools of blood around the house and Baz was nowhere to be found.

The Staffy had become disoriented and wandered away before being discovered by a neighbour who took him to a nearby vet.

Mrs Greenway said the vet told her Baz sustained significant injuries and his first surgery round of surgery cost more than $2,000.

The family dog requires further surgery to repair the damage to his mouth.

A GoFundMe has been set-up to support his recovery.

'Baz has antibiotics and pain relief that I give him every day and is doing okay,' Mrs Greenway said.

'He's still pretty sad and shaken up and appears to be on edge every time theres a noise but otherwise he's doing great and getting lots of love.'

Mrs Greenway said it's a daily struggle seeing her dog in such pain.

'It breaks my heart everyday watching him struggle to eat, or even when he yawns and all his front teeth are gone, small things I notice,' she continued.

'I cannot believe someone did this to him and he has to live with it forever. I just hope the police catch them.'

Mrs Greenway said she hopes Baz's next surgery will be this week.

She'll continue to give updates on his recovery.
MI5 ignored prior warnings of the attempt to kill King Edward VIII, according to the would-be assassin's unearthed memoir and a cache of declassified government files.

George McMahon's account of the 1936 scare claims he informed Britain's security services that he had been ordered by the Italian embassy to kill the King.

Previously confidential documents also reveal him to be a MI5 double agent and confirm he had meetings with security officials ahead of July 16, 1936.

On that summer day, McMahon brandished a revolver as Edward was riding down Constitution Hill by Buckingham Palace.

Before he could fire a shot, he was quickly restrained by members of the public and bundled away by police.

McMahon was painted as a fantasist attention-seeker - but his memoir, which has been discovered by historian Alexander Larman, claims he told MI5 of the assassination order.

Mr Larman said the evidence sheds new light on to the dramatic case and points to a chilling cover-up at the heart of Britain's security services.

And in an extraordinary claim, he even moots that MI5 could have turned a blind eye to McMahon's warnings because it would have been convenient if the Hitler-sympathising monarch had been removed.

Double agent George McMahon's account of the 1936 scare claims he informed Britain's security service that he had been ordered by the Italian embassy to kill the King (led away by police after botching the attempt attempt)

Britain's King Edward VIII, left,nears Wellington Arch as he rides from Buckingham Palace to Hyde Park, in London, on July 16, 1936 just before the assassination attempt

Although McMahon's memoirs reveal he had no intention of killing the King, this was unbeknown to the public who were shocked by what they regarded as an attempt on Edward's life (the procession of the King from Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace, 1936)

Mr Larman told the Guardian: 'It is entirely possible that MI5 were aware of McMahon's planned attempt and were happy to let him assassinate Edward, thereby removing an internationally embarrassing monarch with believed Nazi sympathies from the throne.

'Or, alternatively, simply that they were embarrassed by their arrogance and incompetence.'

Historian Alexander Larman, who has found McMahon's memoir, claim the event was deeply embarrassing to MI5 because they had ignored their own informant's warning

Although McMahon's memoirs reveal he had no intention of killing the King, this was unbeknown to the public who were shocked by what they regarded as an attempt on Edward's life.

It wobbled an already fragile monarchy, which had been plunged into constitutional crisis after Edward asked American divorcee Wallis Simpson to marry him.

According to a witnesses from the 1936 bungled assassination: 'As the King was passing through Wellington Arch a man rushed up from behind the crowd, carrying a revolver in his hand, was gripped by a woman and a policeman, and the weapon fell into the roadway'.

After being dragged away from the scene, McMahon later told his Old Bailey trial he had been carrying out the orders of an enemy state and insisted he had deliberately botched the assassination.

His explanation was rubbished as a wildly confected fiction and McMahon has since been remembered as a deluded attention-seeker.

Painted as a fantasist rather than a cold-blooded killer, he was sentenced for a mere 12 months for the lesser conviction of possession of a firearm.

McMahon was quickly restrained by members of the public and bundled away by police

Edward VIII giving his abdication broadcast to the nation and the Empire, December 11, 1936

Three officers (in centre) are shown in London on July 16, 1936, as they hustled away George McMahon, accused of attempting to assassinate King

King Edward VIII in military uniform riding from Hyde Park in London having presented the colours to the guards in July 1936

Yet McMahon's memoir breathes fresh life into the event because it claims he informed MI5 he had been asked to carry out the assassination by the Italian embassy.

Mr Larman said that the claims in McMahon's memoir are corroborated by newly disclosed government documents which confirm him to be an MI5 informant.

The declassified MI5 memos, released into the National Archives, detail meetings between McMahon and security officials, and one document from the time recorded McMahon's claims as 'undoubtedly accurate'.

The files show the double agent had even tried to warn the then home secretary.

But Mr Larman said that McMahon's warnings were swatted away by spooks who held him in low regard.

Studying the papers, he said: 'When this (assassination attempt) indeed took place on 16 July, it became hugely embarrassing to the country and a cover-up took place.'

The event wobbled an already fragile monarchy, which had been plunged into constitutional crisis after Edward asked American divorcee Wallis Simpson to marry him

McMahon's 40-page explanation of the attempted assassination is called He Was My King and was found by Mr Larman in archives at Balliol College, Oxford.

Mr Larman made the dramatic find while rummaging through the papers of Walter Monckton, an adviser to Edward, during research for his new book about the beleaguered monarch.

During Edward's short-lived reign, he was regarded by much of society as an embarrassment to Britain on the world stage.

This perception was largely fuelled by his sympathies with the Nazis, who were on the march in Germany - he once even referred to Hitler as 'not a bad chap'.

After just 11 months on the throne, he abdicated in December 1936 amid constitutional scandal after proposing to American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
A former councillor has admitted to targeting a museum dedicated to beloved 19th century author Charles Dickens after being inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.

Ian Driver scrawled 'Dickens Racist, Dickens Racist,' on the outside of the The Dickens House Museum in Broadstairs, Kent, and attempted to black-out the lettering on a street sign for nearby Dickens Road.

The carer wore a denim jacket and cream shorts as he took to the streets in the dead of night on Saturday to campaign against what he claims is 'institutionalised racism' in the seaside town.

The museum on the East Kent coast inspired the home of Betsey Trotwood, a character in the novel David Copperfield, which was released in full in 1950.

Mr Driver, who was a Green Party councillor for four years until 2015, said today: 'I have been campaigning for quite a long time about what I regard to be institutional racism in Thanet and Broadstairs in particular.

Ian Driver pictured scrawling graffiti on the Charles Dickens museum in Broadstairs, Kent, on Saturday

Mr Driver (pictured) admitted daubing the graffiti in the seaside town of Broadstairs

Dickens House, a museum in Broadstairs, Kent, dedicated to the Victorian author, was daubed with graffiti by Mr Driver over the weekend

'The Broadstairs Folk Week allow, encourage and fund Morris dancers to black up but won't do anything about it. I think it is quite demeaning towards black people and there is no justification for it.

'But after the Black Lives Matter protests and seeing people learn their local history like the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol, I decided to do some digging into my hometown of 12 years.

'Charles Dickens is celebrated in Broadstairs like a local hero and money maker just because he wrote a few books here. In reality, he was a notorious genocidal racist and should be depicted as such. That's the real Dickens.

'He supported the Morant Bay rebellion in Jamaica in 1865, the suppression of the Indian rebellion in 1857 saying their race should be wiped out and also referred to black and Asian people as savages.

'There is no defending him yet there is a whole museum dedicated to him on my doorstep with no mention of his other life as a racist.

Mr Driver said he has long campaigned against folk week in the seaside town

'The National Portrait Gallery even has a few paragraphs explaining this other side of history. I think it's important to get both sides and a balanced view.'

In his blog today he added that he has no regrets about what he did and 'I will be making no apology.'

The father-of-three said he is expecting to be contacted by the police

Mr Driver was already under investigation by Kent Police for vandalising a box erected over a 'racist' memorial to Uncle Mack, who ran a minstrel group in blackface on the local beach in the early 19th Century, after a Black Lives Matter protest on June 13.

He claims Broadstairs Town Council's vote to keep the plaque on June 24 was 'totally provocative and racist' and forced him to take 'direct action as a last resort'.

But the father-of-three says he has 'no regrets whatsoever' over his latest demonstration and is expecting officers to knock on the door of his Broadstairs home 'any minute.'

He added: 'I will go to court and fight my case. If I had my way, the museum would be shut down

'The council is not listening and has no intention of addressing these issues. I believe that Broadstairs is Racism-on-Sea.

'The Black Lives Matter campaign is uncovering history we shouldn't be celebrating. Some of the things these people said and did would be appalling even in their own times - it's not just outdated views.'

Dickens Road, which is less than 10 minutes walk away from the Broadstairs museum was painted over with black ink

Dickens was said to have visited the home regularly for tea and cake with its owners at the time.

Amid growing calls from the Black Lives Matter movement to remove statues and monuments of racist figures.

A statue of slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and dumped into Bristol Harbour earlier this month, while statues to Oliver Cromwell, Lord Holland and Nancy Astor, the first woman to take a seat in Parliament, have all been defaced in recent weeks.

By the end of the 19th century the museum had come to be known as Dickens House, before it was opened a museum to the writer in 1973.

During his life and more so after his death in 1870, Charles Dickens' writing has been criticised as antisemitic and racist.

Was Charles Dickens racist? Charles Dickens is one of the most beloved authors of the Victorian era. His works, including A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist, are viewed as championing the plight of the working class during the Industrial Revolution. The celebrated writer's works have garnered criticism since his death in 1870 for antisemitic and genocidal views. Charles Dickens In 1857, following an unsuccessful uprising by Indians against the British East India Company, Dickens wrote he wanted to 'exterminate' the race. Dickens, writing as though he were a addressing Indian citizens, said: 'I... have the honor to inform you Hindoo gentry that it is my intention, with all possible avoidance of unnecessary cruelty and with all merciful swiftness of execution, to exterminate the Race from the face of the earth.' In his book The Noble Savage wrote: 'I call a savage as something highly desirable to be civilised off the face of the earth.' His depiction of the character Fagin in Oliver Twist has also been described as antisemitic - both during the time Dickens was alive and today. The first 38 chapters of the book refer to Fagin as 'the Jew' more than 250 times' compared to calling him 'Fagin' or 'the old man' 42 times. Dickens said he made the character Jewish as it: 'Unfortunately was true, of the time to which the story refers, that the class of criminal almost invariably was a Jew.' Advertisement

In a letter penned in 1857 reacting to an uprising in India, the Oliver Twist and Great Expectations author said he wished to 'exterminate the Race from the face of the earth.'

While penning a non-fiction book titled The Noble Savage, he suggested Indians should be 'civilised off the face of the earth'.

Locals spoke of their upset at the graffiti.

Judith Carr said: 'What madness! Aside from the fact that it is illegal to deface private property, Dickens spent his life pointing out the evils of social injustices of all kinds.'

Phil Harradence said: 'Please tell me the uneducated, knuckle dragging moron(s) responsible for this have been caught on CCTV?

'Have we now lost complete control of sense in this country, absolutely disgusting behaviour. What next, the blank cliffs of Dover???'

Gary Angela Mayer said: 'Disgusting. It was a different time, history, your supposed to learn from it and be better, not be worse.'

Kevin Cripps said: 'Dickens is dead ! Deal with real live issues, deal with black on black violence deal with modern slavery deal with the slave markets of Libya, deal with anything that isn't mindless vandalism.'

And Dorothy Welby said: 'Even if he was, the house wasn't. A bit sad.'

Carol Calland added: 'Moronic behaviour. Does their cause, if they have cause, no good whatsoever.'

But Poppy Elizabeth said there was a kernel of truth to the vandalism.

She said: 'Not justifying it, I dislike graffiti.

'I'm just pointing out there is a level of truth. A lot of historical figures actually had views of 'primitive' cultures.

'I'm not saying he was a full blown KKK racist, but instead of jumping on this as mindless, do a bit of research and consider why this was put there.'

Robert Cooper replied: 'Well actually it's not from lack of research that people label this as mindless.

'It's through recognition that morality and cultural views on things like race are fluid.

'Everybody in Dickens' time held racist views. You aren't better than them because you live in a more 'enlightened' age; if you and I were born back then we would hold similar views, I bet.'

Dickens was known to be a champion of the poor, however he often defended colonialism and was disparaging of other races.

It's understood the criminal damage has not been reported to Kent Police, but officers are carrying out enquiries.
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An Australian woman who survived the White Island volcano eruption that killed her sister and father has recalled watching the skin melt from her fingers immediately after the explosion.

Stephanie Browitt, 23, was touring the island with her 21-year-old sister Krystal and father, Paul, on December 9 along with 47 other tourists when the volcano erupted.

She has spent the last six months painstakingly rebuilding her life and recovering in hospital with burns to 70 per cent of her body, and on Monday revealed her fingers needed to be amputated.

'I wasn't that upset,' she said of the experience. 'I was grateful I still had my hands because when the eruption happened I remember seeing my hands and realising how bad they were.

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Stephanie Browitt (pictured left and right before the incident) survived the White Island volcano explosion which killed her father and younger sister

'My nails were hanging off, skin in shreds and also peeling off and they were black and red in colour, (blood/ash)'.

Surgeons at The Alfred in Melbourne worked tirelessly to save her hands, and Ms Browitt said she was eternally grateful for the efforts of staff.

'They put so much care into my hands with my skin grafts... They've healed amazingly,' she said.

Ms Browitt has been supported by her mother, Maria, who chose to stay back on the cruise ship rather than visit the island with her husband and daughters.

When first responders arrived on the scene after the explosion, Mr Browitt urged them to save his girls before coming back for him.

Krystal was tragically killed in the initial blast, while Mr Browitt died later in hospital. Nineteen other people also died.

Stephanie Browitt (pictured in her mask after the accident), 23, took to Instagram on Tuesday to say time has not made the White Island volcano eruption which claimed the lives of her sister and her father any easier

The 23-year-old's fingers were amputated as part of her recovery. She recalled watching the skin fall off them immediately after the explosion

Ms Browitt's fingers were amputated after the explosion. She revealed her left hand is healing faster than her right

But Ms Browitt said it took losing her fingers to realise just how much her body has done for her since she was dragged from the island, off the coast of Whakatane, barely conscious

Ms Browitt (pictured before the incident) credited her father for giving her the strength to hold on during those agonising hours following the blast, revealing he gave her the 'strength to say [her] name in the hospital'

Ms Browitt credited her father for giving her the strength to hold on during those agonising hours following the blast, revealing he gave her the 'strength to say [her] name in the hospital'.

But Ms Browitt said it took losing her fingers to realise just how much her body has done for her since she was dragged from the island, off the coast of Whakatane, barely conscious.

'I didn't realise how much it would impact my function and fine motor skills,' she explained.

Her left hand has more mobility than her right. Her thumb can almost touch her pinky on her left hand, while she can barely move what is left of her right hand at all.

But she's holding off on further surgeries, determined to get the most out of therapy and watch her progress.

'Although it's slow, its such a big deal for me,' Ms Browitt said. 'Seeing the progress with my hands definitely makes my day, month and year'.

She said she keeps wishing she could turn back time and at least have looked for them and sat with them during the aftermath. She is pictured before the explosion

While she's proud of how far she's come since December 9, Ms Browitt said she is still haunted by the events that took place.

'Honestly, every time it's the ninth of each month I can feel my heart racing and my body tense as the memory of it floods back in my mind,' Ms Browitt wrote on Instagram on the six month anniversary of the blast.

'I get anxious. I hate it so much, it does not get easier. It just hurts more and more when I think about how much time has passed since I was last with my dad and sister.'

Ms Browitt said despite the time that has passed, she recalls the eruption like it was 'just yesterday.'

'Time feels weird now. I just hope every other victim and myself 'manage', because that's all we can do,' she said.

'We're just picking up the pieces of our new lives and doing the best that we can do.

Ms Browitt returned home for the first time last month after spending months in hospital for burns treatment.

Wrapped in a pressure suit and a full-face mask to protect her burns, she embraced her mother Marie who spent months waiting for her now only child to come home when she returned on May 23.

Ms Browitt, 23, is seen hugging her mother Marie as she returns home after spending six months recovering in hospital from the White Island volcano eruption

She was surrounded by friends and relatives but due to the fragility of her skin, Ms Browitt could only manage a hug from her mum.

Upon her return home, Ms Browitt's mother felt her husband and late daughter were watching over 'like angels'.

The Browitt family had been on the Ovation of the Seas cruise when the two girls along with their father decided to do the White Island tour - while their mother stayed on board.

Sharing a photo of the volcano on the day it erupted, Ms Browitt detailed how her life had been 'forever changed'.

Stephanie (left with sister Krystal right) tragically lost her sister in the disaster and her father Paul

The 23-year-old returned home for the day last Friday but is now home for good. She is pictured in her face mask after the accident

'We were heading back off the volcano, when at 2.11pm we looked back and saw ash coming out. Not thinking much of it dad said to take a picture,' she wrote on Instagram in March.

'The front tour guide heard us, looked back, and screamed 'RUN'.

'BANG. The WORST moment of my life. It was because of this I lost half of my family.

'It was because of this I still do suffer physically and emotionally.

'Because of this these photos are no longer good memories, they literally torture me.

A photo taken by Ms Browitt's sister shows the volcano just moments before it erupted on December 9

'It's done and I can't change it now, but I can change how I choose to move forward. I know people hear this often, but please... keep your loved ones close and always remind them how loved they are.'

Her father and sister were among 21 people who died and Ms Browitt spent time in a coma recovering from her severe injuries.

The 23-year-old previously told the ABC they only found out the volcano was at a level two alert when they were on the island.

Level two is the highest level a volcano can be before it erupts.

'Once you're on the island, you can't get back off,' she said.

'I was a little concerned but at the same time you sort of have trust that we wouldn't be on here, they wouldn't be running tours if they thought it was dangerous.'

Ms Browitt and her sister and father had gone on the island tour while their mother stayed on the cruise ship

It was an hour before help arrived as Ms Browitt lay on the ground worried she may not make it out alive.

'I remember thinking, 'I need to slow down my breathing or I'm not going to make it'.

When a helicopter crew finally arrived, her father heroically told them to take his daughter back to the mainland first.

A month later he tragically died.

Now six months after the tragedy she is finally home for good.

Friends and family rallied behind the Browitt family, creating a GoFundMe page to pay for medical expenses.

The fundraiser has so far raised an incredible $85,000.
A Queensland woman is fighting for her life after a horror crash that killed her partner and left their two-year-old daughter facing the prospect of being orphaned.

Tamzyn Rodda, 21, was thrown through the front windscreen together with her partner Slayde Collins, 24, after Mr Collins lost control of his Toyota Hilux on Chambers Flat Road in Brisbane's south just before 1.30am on Sunday.

It is believed the pair were dropping two friends home when their vehicle rolled near a notorious blackspot and they were flung through the windshield on to a grassy verge in front of a Chambers Flat property.

Mr Collins, a dedicated father to the couple's two-year-old daughter Grace Marie, died at the scene.

Slayde Collins, 24, holding his beloved two-year-old daughter Grace Marie. Mr Collins was described as an amazing father. He was tragically killed when his Toyota Hilux rolled

Tamzyn Rodda, 21, (left) with her partner Slayde Collins (right). The pair were thrown through the windshield of their Toyota Hilux as it rolled

Local resident Colin Chapman came out of his house to find the terrible scene and said he held Mr Collins in his arms as he died.

Mr Collins' partner Tamzyn had been sitting in the front passenger seat at the time of the crash and was critically injured.

She was rushed to the intensive care unit of Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital.

On Monday she remained in intensive care in a stable condition with injuries to her head and pelvic region.

The couple's two-year-old baby daughter Grace Marie is being cared for by family members as relatives and friends rallied around the young family.

Tributes poured in for the devoted young father from devastated family and friends as news of Mr Collins' death spread.

Tamzyn Rodda (pictured left) was in a stable condition in intensive care on Monday with head injuries. Her beloved partner Slayde Collins (right) was killed in the crash

Tamzyn taking a selfie with baby Grace Marie. The family is now rallying around the pair

'Watching you grow into a young man, an amazing dad to Grace, a hard worker and larrakin was an absolute pleasure,' wrote Carly Downer.

'My heart is broken to see such a wonderful, kind-hearted soul gone too soon - you will be forever missed Slayde Collins.'

Logan resident Aaron Lecomber who shared a circle of friends with the couple said the tight-knit community had been deeply hurt by the tragedy.

'Its a difficult time because everyone knows each other through mutual friends,' he told the Courier Mail.

The community had not yet recovered from the loss of Aaron Young last month, who was killed while loading a trailer in Beenleigh.

Mr Collins' devastated mother Mel Collins, grandmother to Grace, posted a beautiful photo on Facebook of her son cradling his newborn daughter, along with a photograph of Slayde with his motocross bike.

'My baby doing what he loves,' she wrote.

There were two other women in the Toyota Hilux at the time of the crash, one aged 25 from Holmview and one aged 19 from Crestmead.

Slayde Collins taking his tiny baby daughter Grace for a walk along the beach. Family members described Slayde as an amazing father and a kind-hearted, gentle soul

The Toyota Hilux pictured after the horrific accident at Chambers Flat on Sunday

Emergency services at the scene of the fatal crash

Both suffered minor injuries and were treated by paramedics at the scene, police said.

The crash happened on Chambers Flat Rd on a curve near Kenny Rd, a blackspot near where a 27-year-old man died last year when his motorcycle collided with a car turning into Isla St.

Logan City Council has reviewed the speed limit on the street a number of times and residents have been calling for the road to be fixed.

Residents will meet Council officers on Wednesday to discuss the issue, The Courier Mail reported.

The crash brought Queensland's road toll to 117 with five fatalities in just 48 hours.

Police from the Forensic Crash Unit are investigating and have asked anyone with information to please contact Queensland police.
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The White House denied Saturday that President Donald Trump had been briefed on intelligence that Russians offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition troops.

"The CIA Director, National Security Advisor, and the Chief of Staff can all confirm that neither the President nor the Vice President were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence," White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement.

McEnany also noted that the statement "does not speak to the merit of the alleged intelligence but to the inaccuracy of the New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter."

The New York Times reported Friday that Trump had been briefed on the intelligence that Russian intelligence units secretly offered bounties to Taliban-related militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan during U.S.-Taliban peace talks.

The story also said the National Security Council discussed this issue at an interagency meeting in late March, while the White House thus far has not taken any actions to respond.

The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001, and the death toll of U.S. service members has surpassed 2,400 in this longest war in U.S. history.

Trump has long complained about the endlessness of the war and sought a full withdraw from the Central Asian country.

In the agreement signed in late February between the United States and the Taliban, Washington said it will reduce its forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 within 135 days.

The agreement also calls for the full withdrawal of the U.S. military by May 2021 if the Taliban meets the conditions of the deal, including severing ties with terrorist groups.
The Church of Scientology is being sued in an ongoing case for 'attempting to cover up the alleged sexual assaults of four women by Danny Masterson'.

Actor Danny Masterson, 44, who made a name for himself in That 70s Show, was charged with multiple counts of rape against three women on June 17.

But it is not just Masterson's morality that has come into question, the Church of Scientology is also being held accountable, with four women, three of whom have filed the sexual charges against the actor, issuing a law suit against Masterson and the church for allegedly taking part in a cover-up, reports Page Six.

The church, which Masterson has been a member of since he was fifteen, has denied all claims against it alleged by the civil law suit which has been ongoing since 2019.

That '70s Show actor Danny Masterson is being sued by four women who claim he raped or sexually assaulted them

All four of the female accusers are former Scientology members who claim in the suit that they were harassed by the church after coming forward with their accusations of sexual assault.

Attorney for the civil suit, Stewart Ryan, told Page Six: 'It is alleged that our clients reported the sexual assaults to Scientology at the times that they happened.

'It is alleged in the suit that Scientology attempted to cover up the sexual assaults.'

Two of the women named in the suit were Masterson's ex-girlfriends - Chrissie Bixler and Bobette Riales - while the other two are listed as Jane Does.

Chrissie Carnell Bixler, dated Masterson between 1996 and 2001, and left the Church of Scientology in 2016.

Chrissie Bixler dated Masterson for several years and claims he would forcefully have sex with her and became violent when she refused. She says her dog mysteriously died after she reported him (pictured together in 2000)

Bobette Riales and Masterson dated from 2002-2004, in which time Masterson allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted her. She claims she was stalked by the church after she came forward with allegation (pictured together in 2003)

She claims to have been drugged and raped on multiple occasions by Masterson at his Hollywood Hills home.

The amended civil complaint reads: 'On more than one occasion Plaintiff Bixler awoke in bed to find Masterson sexually assaulting her. In one specific instance, Masterson drugged . . . Bixler's wine at dinner and anally assaulted her. The following morning, Masterson admitted that he had anal sex with her while she was unconscious.'

She claims that Masterson would regularly force her to have sex with him and says he 'became violent' when she refused, citing one occasion when he dragged her 'naked across their bedroom floor while berating her appearance.

'He then threw her, still naked, into the hall and locked the bedroom door.'

Bixler claims that after the incident she was required to do an 'ethics program', where she told a church employee about Masterson's abusive behavior.

She says the employee told her it was her job as Masterson's girlfriend 'to give him sex whenever he wants it' and that if she complied, 'these things wouldn't happen.'

After coming forward with her allegations, she says her dog mysteriously died.

An autopsy determined the dog 'died of unexplained traumatic injuries to her trachea and esophagus'.

The women say that after the reported the alleged abuse to authorities the Church of Scientology conspired to silence them. File photo of the church's building in LA above

According to court documents, in June 2019 Bixler was run off the road by a car that had been following her.

In the same month, Bixler claims one of Masterson's friends threatened to release nude photos of her taken when she was underage.

Another woman in the suit, Bobette Riales, claims she experienced similar threats, including being followed, watched and having her trash stolen after going to the police with her allegations against Masterson in 2017.

Riales claims Masterson, who she dated for two years from 2002, drugged and sexually assaulted her.

The other two women, who have not been identified, claim they experienced Masterson and his alleged abuse between 1999 and 2002.

Jane Doe 1 claims she may have been drugged by Masterson after he gave her two drinks and ended up alone in his guestroom where she fell asleep. She claims she woke up to Masterson having sex with her and fought him off.

A few years later, Jane Doe 1 said she again felt disoriented after having a drink given to her by Masterson. She claims she passed out and woke up to the actor raping her.

Jane Doe 1 claims she reported the incident to the LAPD on June 6, 2004, but said the Church of Scientology 'mobilized' against her to ensure no charges were filed.

The other woman, Jane Doe 2, claims she also felt disorientated after having a drink given to her by Masterson. Jane Doe 2, who was a member of the church since childhood, claims Masterson sexually assaulted her in the shower and in his bedroom.

Jane Doe 2 said she knew from Scientology that she would 'not be permitted to report the assault to civil authorities outside of Scientology' so she did not disclose the alleged incident to the LAPD until 2017.

Masterson is best known for his role in That '70s Show alongside Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis

Since reporting it, Jane Doe 2 claimed her phone and computer were hacked, her car was vandalized and she received harassment on social media.

Masterson has repeatedly denied all the accusations against him since they first came to light in 2017.

His lawyer Thomas Mesereau said Masterson is innocent and was 'in complete shock' at the 'nearly 20-year-old allegations', reports The New York Times.

In a statement the lawyer said: 'The people who know Mr. Masterson know his character and know the allegations to be false.'

MailOnline has contacted the Church of Scientology for comment.

Speaking of the allegations ex-Scientologist Geoff Levin told Page Six that in a situation like this the church would have tried to deal with the sexual assault allegations in-house.

Mr Levin said: 'Maybe you'd be directed into finding that, 10 million years ago, you enslaved a whole city and allowed your soldiers to rape all the women. That is the reason why this is happening to you now. It is brainwashing to the Nth degree.'

Lawyer Mr Ryan said the women had experienced intimidation tactics by the Church who he claims used a 'pressure campaign to force them into silence', reports The New York Post.
Hundreds of shoppers queued around the block since 6am to get into Scotlands Primarks today after non-essential stores were allowed to be reopened.

Staff were decked out in full Personal Protective Equipment as the doors were flung wide to allow them back in for the bargains.

Eager families started lining up a full two hours before the 8am opening to get their hands on the cut-price clothing inside Glasgow's main brand.

Shoppers queued from 6am to try and get into the cut-price clothes store as it opened

Staff at Primark were decked out in full Personal Protective Equipment to allow them into the stores

The story was the same in Edinburgh, with two police officers watching on to make sure there was no trouble.

It came ahead of indoor parts of shopping centres being reopened on July 13 as Scotland begins to ease its strict lockdown.

The Scottish Retail Consortium trade body, along with trade union Usdaw and the Scottish Government, urged people to follow five steps for "considerate shopping".

They are to queue considerately, maintain social distancing, follow instructions inside and outside shops, follow hygiene measures and be respectful to staff.

And First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said shopping trips would be "a bit different" from before the lockdown.

She wrote online: If you plan on visiting shops today, please do so responsibly.

Maintain physical distancing, follow hygiene advice, wear a face covering and respect staff who may be asking you to shop differently.

The story was the same in Edinburgh where shoppers had queued watched by police before the doors opened at 8am

Weve made so much progress against the virus - lets not squander it.

SRC director David Lonsdale said it had never been more important for people to support the economy.

He added: Every visit we make helps support jobs in retail and throughout the supply chain.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted people had to be careful not to undo all the good work that had been done by the lockdown

On Sunday the politician donned a facemask in a branch of New Look to see the safety measures that were in place for shoppers

Shopping in Scotland: The rules for in-store ettiquette in lockdown Shoppers have to maintain social distancing of two metres at all times Face coverings are also essential for going into any stores Handwashing and good hygiene should also be followed A maximum of around ten people per shop are being allowed inside Non-essential shops are now open as are outdoor markets Larger shopping centres and malls have to be shut for now Advertisement

"Retailers have been working around the clock to create a safe shopping environment, so their customers can have the confidence to return to their favourite shops.

"Our shopping experience may be changing, but if we all follow the necessary social distancing and hygiene measures and show consideration to those around us, then everyone will be better off."

Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "Being able to reopen our non-essential retail businesses with necessary safety measures in place is a positive step forward in easing the coronavirus lockdown in Scotland.

"We each have an important role in ensuring we shop with care and consideration for others, and that rules are adhered to in a responsible manner."

The Usdaw union, which represents shop workers, said staff had a right to work without fear of abuse.

Stewart Forrest, divisional officer at the union, said: "Unfortunately the early part of the coronavirus crisis saw a rise in instances of abuse towards shop workers, and we are absolutely clear that 'abuse is not part of the job'.

"Along with the SRC and Scottish Government, we have collaborated to produce guidance for shops of all sizes and locations to provide staff and customers with a safe shopping experience.

"Customers need to play their part and be patient, observe social distancing and show respect to shop workers, whilst ensuring high streets and town centres remain vibrant and a great shopping experience for everyone."
Fathers cannot walk their daughter arm-in-arm down the aisle and couples must wash their hands before and after exchanging rings in post-lockdown weddings.

New rules issued by the Government today also ban receptions when the ceremonies are allowed to restart with up to 30 people in England from Saturday.

The plans are intend to maintain social distancing at weddings as the coronavirus pandemic continues but will reduce the big day to little more than a formality.

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week gave permission for weddings to recommence as part of a widespread easing of lockdown restrictions.

More than 250,000 weddings usually take place in the UK each year, but most couples have been affected by restrictions that came into force in March.

Here are some of the new rules which will make for very different weddings:

CEREMONIES - Keep distanced during 'short' ceremonies

The new rules urge people from different households to maintain social distancing between one another, which will be 'one metre plus' from Saturday.

They say this 'may require marriages or civil partnerships to be adapted to remove practices that would otherwise have brought people into contact with one another, unless required for the marriage or civil partnership to be legally binding'.

The guidance adds that 'where this is the case precautions should be put in place to minimise contact and ensure the timeframe is as short as possible'.

This means that fathers will be unable to walk their daughter arm-in-arm down the aisle - and people from different households will be banned from hugging or kissing.

Couples have been told that ceremonies should only be done in a 'Covid-19 secure environment' and be 'kept as short as reasonably possible'.

This means they should be limited to the parts of the ceremonies that are required so that the marriage or civil partnership can be legally binding.

Fathers will not be able to walk their daughter arm-in-arm down the aisle as part of social distancing measures to keep people from different households at least one metre apart

Small reception celebrations can only be held if they are groups of up to two households indoors, or up to six people from different households outdoors

RECEPTIONS - Maximum of only two households indoors

The Government has asked that the number of attendees at the service should 'ideally be kept to a minimum as far as possible', but will allow up to 30 to attend.

At a glance: What are the rules for weddings from this Saturday? Members of different households must maintain social distancing, so fathers cannot walk daughters arm-in-arm down the aisle

Couples must wash their hands before and after exchanging rings

Receptions are limited to two households indoors, or up to six people from different households outdoors

Up to 30 people are allowed at the ceremony, including the couple, witnesses, officiants and guests, and staff not employed by the venue

No food or drink is allowed to be consumed 'unless required for the purposes of solemnisation'

There should be no singing during the service or use of instruments which have to be blown into

Spoken responses should 'not be in a raised voice'

If a small child is involved, they should be held a parent, guardian or member of that child's household

Couples should consider using recordings instead of singing

Organs music is allowed but they must be cleaned before and after

Books, reusable and communal resources such as service sheets, prayer mats, or devotional material should be removed from use Advertisement

This includes the couple, witnesses, officiants and guests, and staff not employed by the venue, which may include photographers, security or caterers. However it does not include staff employed by the venue.

The guidance adds that 'any receptions that typically follow or accompany marriages or civil partnerships are strongly advised not to take place'.

Small celebrations can only be held if they are groups of up to two households indoors, or up to six people from different households outdoors.

DURING THE SERVICE - No singing or shouting allowed

Meanwhile people have been told to avoid 'singing, shouting, raising voices and/or playing music at a volume that makes normal conversation difficult'.

This is because of the potential for encouraging shouting which would raise an increased risk of transmission of Covid-19 from aerosol and droplets.

It means spoken responses 'should also not be in a raised voice'  and singing and playing of instruments that are blown into should be avoided.

If it is required for a ceremony, one person should be allowed to sing or chant, and the 'use of plexi-glass screens should be considered to protect guests'.

The Government has suggested couples consider using recordings instead of singing. Organs are also allowed but must be cleaned before and after.

All guests should follow social distancing guidance - and venues should look at changing seating layouts, improve ventilation and use face coverings.

The guidance also states: 'Visitors should avoid touching property belonging to others, such as shoes which, if removed, should be placed and collected by their owner while adhering to social distancing principles.'

For the exchanging of rings during the ceremony, hands 'should be washed before and after' and the 'rings should be handled by as few people as possible'.

And where a small child is involved, they should be held a parent, guardian or member of that child's household.

People have been told to avoid 'singing, shouting, raising voices and/or playing music at a volume that makes normal conversation difficult' - which means sung hymns will be banned

For the exchanging of rings during the ceremony, hands 'should be washed before and after' - otherwise they would not be permitted

RITUALS - no full immersion or washing others' body parts

Any washing rituals should now be done before arrival at the venue, and people 'should not wash the body parts of others', according to the rules.

Full immersion should also now be avoided, and all others present should stand distant from any splashes and stay socially distanced.

Full immersion can sometimes take place before Jewish wedding ceremonies, when a woman goes into a mikveh pool before the ceremony to achieve purity.

Christians can also be baptised through full immersion, but this would be unlikely to take place at a wedding itself.

Washing of feet can also happen at Christian ceremonies to represent Jesus Christ washing the feet of his disciplines as a symbol of humility.

Concerns raised over possible surge in forced marriages as lockdown is eased Campaigners fear there could be a spike in forced marriages as coronavirus lockdown restrictions continue to relax in the UK and once quarantine rules are lifted. Charities say during the pandemic they have seen a surge in calls from people worried their parents are increasingly intent on marrying them off after living in close quarters amid the crisis. They warn parents could now be planning to take their children abroad for weddings against their will as soon as laws on self-isolating for 14 days on return to the UK are scrapped. The warnings came as data gathered by the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) leading the Government's work on tackling the crime indicated a rise in the number of LGBT victims and revealed more than a quarter of cases for which the unit provided advice last year involved children. Figures indicated the largest number of cases were linked to Pakistan. The FMU dealt with 1,355 suspected cases last year. Between 2008 and 2019, 2,452 Forced Marriage Protection Orders were granted in UK courts in a bid to rescue victims. The Government branded forced marriage a 'hidden crime', admitting that the figures fell short of revealing the true scale of abuse. Advertisement

Venue managers have also been urged to take steps to prevent visitors from touching or kissing any objects which are handled communally.

Books, reusable and communal resources such as service sheets, prayer mats, or devotional material should also be removed from use.

But single use alternatives can be provided as long as they are removed by the attendee, and people can also bring personal prayer mats or religious texts.

Venue managers have also been asked to discourage cash donations and continue to use online giving resources where possible.

Religious communities have been told to adapt traditional aspects which might have seen celebrations take place over many hours or even days.

No food or drink is allowed to be consumed at the ceremony 'unless required for the purposes of solemnisation', according to the rules.

DRESS FITTING - Dresses in quarantine and face masks

Bridal shops reopened on June 14, putting in measures such as plastic Champagne flutes, dresses put in quarantine and face masks for fittings.

Since reopening, the Bristol branch of third-generation family business Allison Jayne Bridalwear has introduced a range of measures to comply with new rules.

Customers must book in for an appointment, which lasts between 90 minutes and two hours - with a 30-minute clean taking place before the next slot.

Brides-to-be choosing their gowns are allowed to bring one person with them, with FaceTime and Skype used to include other friends and family members.

Hand sanitiser, face masks and disposable gloves are available, with face coverings worn by both brides-to-be and staff in the changing rooms.

Once a dress has been tried on, it is sprayed with disinfectant fabric spray and quarantined for 72 hours.

Champagne is poured into glittery plastic disposable glasses, with a poster displaying coronavirus guidelines on view as people enter the shop.

Customers showing symptoms or feeling unwell are instructed to reschedule their appointments.

Face coverings are worn by bride to be Jessica Letheren and bridal consultant Felicity Gray during a dress fitting appointment at Allison Jayne Bridalwear in Clifton, Bristol, last Thursday
A Chinese boy has had a five-foot cable cord removed from his bladder by surgeons after the metal wire was stuck inside his body for about five years.

The 10-year-old, nicknamed Dou Dou, had inserted the metal wire into his penis 'out of boredom', said the child's father.

The incident came to light when the youngster was rushed to hospital after he started peeing blood, Chinese media reported.

A Chinese boy (pictured left) has a five-foot cable cord (pictured right) removed from his bladder by doctors after the metal wire was stuck inside his body for about five years

The boy is said to have recovered after undergoing an emergency operation to remove the power cable at a children's hospital in Nanchang, Jiangxi province of south-eastern China.

Dou Dou's parents recently took their son to seek medical attention after the boy found blood in his urine and had difficulties peeing, according to the local press.

The child underwent an emergency operation after the doctors spotted a foreign object inside Dou Dou's bladder on an X-ray scan.

The surgeons were shocked to find a 1.5-metre (five-foot) black power cable stuck inside the boy's body during the surgery.

Footage shows a medic pulling out the cable cord from the youngster's bladder after surgically opening the youngster's belly.

The picture shows a screenshot of the footage in which a medic pulling out the cable cord from the youngster's bladder after surgically opening the youngster's belly at the Jiangxi hospital

The surgeons were shocked to find a 1.5-metre (five-foot) black power cable stuck inside the boy's body during the surgery. The picture shows the power cable after it has been removed

Dr Rao, a urologist who led the operation, told Jiangxi Television: 'We've removed a lot of foreign objects, but we have never seen a case like this before. We were very, very shocked. Just unimaginable.'

After the operation, the youngster confessed to his parents that he had inserted the metal cord into his urethra, the tube that leads from the penis to the bladder, out of boredom about five years ago.

Dou Dou's father told Pear Video: 'It was around 2015 or 2016 when he put it in. The kid said that he was bored and he put it in by himself.'

The parent added: 'But he never told us about it. We had absolutely no idea.'

Dr Rao said that similar cases were not unheard of: 'We see about 20 to 30 cases like this every year among children aged four to ten.

'My advice is that children need to be educated better. They need to know how these organs function, what they are used for.

'They wouldn't be as curious if parents have told them,' the medic added.
A police car charged into a crowd of screaming protesters in Detroit before speeding off with demonstrators still clinging to the hood.

Witnesses said the car hit ten to 12 protesters as it surged forward causing multiple injuries.

The driver then swerved to fling one demonstrator off the hood, onlookers claimed, in the incident dubbed 'reckless' and a 'clear act of aggression'.

This is the horrifying moment a police car charges into a crowd of screaming protesters in Detroit before speeding off with demonstrators still clinging to the hood

One person is sent falling to the floor but manages to roll out of the way of the car's encroaching wheels

In the clip - believed to be taken yesterday evening - a large crowd of protesters can be seen gathered around the front of a Detroit Police vehicle while chanting 'no justice, no peace'.

One man briefly lies on the hood of the car as its siren loudly blares.

Suddenly, the car surges forward into the group of poster-clutching demonstrators who scream as they get out the way.

Witnesses said the car hit ten to 12 protesters as it surged forward causing multiple injuries

In a clip - believed to be taken yesterday evening - a large crowd of protesters can be seen gathered around the front of a Detroit Police vehicle while chanting 'no justice, no peace'

The protester filming the incident is forced to leap away himself but still manages to film the car is it continues to move.

One person is sent falling to the floor but manages to roll out of the way of the car's encroaching wheels.

Several people can be seen on the hood. One man looses his grip and falls off but others appear to be holding on as the car speeds away.

The clip was shared to Facebook by activist Ethan Ketner with the caption: 'Detroit Police Department just ran straight through a bunch of our protesters.

Suddenly, the car surges forward into the group of poster-clutching demonstrators who scream as they get out the way

'Myself and 10-12 others were struck by this reckless driver who somehow has a badge.

'Someone was trapped on the hood and eventually tossed as the officer swerved to throw him off.

'These officers drove into our protest after we walked past their vehicles. They did not need to drive past us for emergency purposes because they had other officers on the other side ready.

'This was a clear act of aggression.

'Multiple people injured because of this officers actions are headed to hospitals.'

Detroit Police Chief James Craig said in a press conference reported by Fox News that the car started to move as protesters jumped on the hood.

He said the car sped because as police feared they were being shot at when their back window shattered.

He said: 'At this point, they're moving the car to move the protesters but at some point when the speed increases, I think the speed increases to about 25 mph, that was just as the rear window was smashed out,'

'Once they heard the back window, rear window smashed -- it was very loud -- they were not certain they were not being fired upon.

'They accelerated to get out of there in the event they were being fired upon.'
Michael Rosen has revealed the extent of his battle with coronavirus, as the deadly virus left him hours from death when he was rushed to A&E and doctors warned him he 'might not wake up.'

The award-winning poet and author, 74, spent almost seven weeks in an induced coma on a ventilator after falling ill in March.

He told the Today programme: 'I thought I was coping with a flu... or that it was the coronavirus and I was going to be one of those people who experience it as a kind of flu.'

But things started 'moving very, very quickly' when a neighbour, who is a GP, did an 'oxygen saturation test... and suddenly it was, 'You've got to go to A&E now'.

'They handed me a piece of paper and said you've got a 50/50 chance. I said "Well are you telling me that's better than the chance I've got now?"

'And I said "Are you telling me I might not wake up?" and they said 'Yes', then I signed something.'

Michael Rosen's wife, Emma-Louise Williams, shared a picture of the author on Twitter as he returned home for the first time following his battle with the illness

Describing the experience of being 'rushed' to A&E, he added: 'I don't think I sensed, at that moment, that I was probably two or three hours off departing this planet.

'My respiratory system was conking out but so were my liver and kidneys and I didn't know that but found out afterwards.'

Asked how he is now, the former Children's Laureate told the Radio 4 programme: 'The first word I think of to describe myself is feeble. My legs feel very, very feeble.

'I think of them as cardboard tubes full of porridge. When I ask them to do things they don't do it. I've learnt how to walk with a stick and a bit without a stick.

'I can hear that my voice is a bit feeble as well and then I get tired very quickly. I've also lost some sight from my left eye and (hearing) from my left ear. So I feel a bit lopsided. Feeble and lopsided.'

The children's author, whose books include We're Going On A Bear Hunt, Little Rabbit Foo Foo and Chocolate Cake, has now returned from hospital and said being on a 'knife edge' had changed him as a person.

'I was so near to going.... It's a reminder of how life is very impermanent,' he said.

'I get these, not exactly nightmares, but recurring images... and I don't really want them there but I can't get rid of them.'

'I didn't know about the seven weeks being in this induced coma until I came home and (his wife) Emma told me about it... I got quite upset about it.... That's full of emotion for me, that people were just hanging in there.'

Rosen will not be writing about the experience just yet, saying: 'I usually allow these more traumatic things to sit about for a bit.'

His wife, Emma-Louise Williams, shared a picture of Mr Rosen at home, before praising staff at Whittington Hospital, Kanitz Critical Care Unit and St Pancras Hospital, all in London, for their help.

In a post on Twitter Mr Rosen said: 'Now I'm home Emma-Louise has been through the timeline of what happened to me.

Mr Rosen, who served as Children's Laureate between 2007 and 2009, began charting his battle with Covid-19 in March

'I become overwhelmed by how she and the family hung on in hope while I was out of it in a coma for several weeks - survival in doubt. I'm so lucky to have had such hope and support backing me.'

In follow-up Tweet, he added: 'Teams of people in their crews: nurses, doctors, cleaners, caterers, ambulance drivers, physios (and more) made huge efforts to keep me alive - along with many others at the same time.

'They saved my life and have got me from horizontal to hobbling. Forever grateful to you all xxx'

He also thanked all of the well-wishers who had sent him messages of support during his hospital battle.

Mr Rosen, who served as Children's Laureate between 2007 and 2009, began charting his battle with Covid-19 in March.

He wrote about 'freezing cold sweats and deep muscle exhaustion'.

He made jokes about his walking stick, which he named 'Sticky McStickstick', saying: 'Just as I was beginning to love my stick, Sticky McStickstick, I'm told, 'You mustn't become totally stick-reliant.' Oh noooooooo!!!'

Mr Rosen later followed it up by saying his tweet was 'not a dig at physios', who he later described as 'the best'.
The heartbroken fiancee of a young police officer who was killed in a road smash months before their wedding revealed at his funeral that she is expecting a son.

Constable Aaron Vidal was on his way home from work on June 18 when a ute collided with his motorcycle in Rouse Hill in Sydney's north-west.

Police allege the tragedy unfolded when 37-year-old Tommy Balla failed to stop at a red light at the intersection of Windsor and Schofields roads.

Despite desperate attempts by paramedics to revive the 28-year-old, he died at the scene.

His pregnant fiancee Jess joined hundreds of colleagues, family and friends at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney's CBD on Monday to farewell the father-to-be.

Constable Aaron Vidal, 28, with his pregnant fiance Jess before he was killed in a road accident

NSW Ambulance paramedics performed CPR on Const Vidal but attempts to save his life were unsuccessful and he died at the scene

'You were a proud dad to be and busting to find out our baby's gender and you wanted so bad to share that exciting news with everyone. Well darling here is your last wish, we are having a baby boy,' she said, according to The Daily Telegraph.

'I have no doubt he will grow up to be just as stubborn, handsome, witty, loving and wise, just like you to the love of my life, always and forever.'

His teary-eyed father David - who worked alongside Constable Vidal at the Day Street Police Station in Sydney's city centre - delivered a eulogy with lines he expected to say on his son's wedding day.

'Your child will miss out on the best father they could have ever wished for. Your friends, army mates and both blood and blue families will miss you,' he said.

His pregnant fiance Jess joined hundreds of colleagues, family and friends at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney's CBD on Monday to farewell the father-to-be

Police officers are pictured at the funeral service of Aaron Videl who died in a road accident

Police officers lined the street in Sydney's CBD to pay their respects to Constable Aaron Videl

Inspector Vidal vowed to cherish his unborn grandson, as Constable Vidal's younger brother mourned the loss of the man he was going to stand beside during his nuptials to Jess.

The busy road outside the cathedral came to a standstill to allow hundreds of loved ones and police officers to pay their respects, as the hearse made its way down the street.

A friend described the service to Daily Mail Australia as bittersweet.

'It was incredible to see how many peoples lives Aaron touched, but the circumstances were heart-wrenching,' she said.

Hundreds of police officers gathered at Constable Videl's funeral on Monday to mourn the loss of their colleague

The busy road outside the cathedral came to a standstill to allow hundreds of loved ones and police officers to pay their respects, as the hearse made its way down the street

Police stand to attention at the funeral of Constable Aaron Vidal at St Mary's Cathedral on Monday

'Seeing the road outside the cathedral shut down, lined by police officers and friends was an incredible way to commemorate the life of someone who was taken too soon.'

She said the moment it started raining as the church bells rang at the end of the service - while lines of police officers saluted their fallen colleague - was heartbreaking.

Constable Vidal was an organ donor and his death saved two lives, 7 News reported.

Balla - who claims he is a songwriter and rapper who goes by the stage name 'Tom-E-Gun' but has worked as an elevator technician for six years - wasn't injured in the crash.

Constable Vidal worked alongside his father, Chief Inspector David Vidal (right)

The father-of-two appeared in court last Friday charged with dangerous driving and negligent driving - both occasioning death, but insisted the light was green when he turned the corner, according to Nine News.

Appearing at Parramatta Local Court via video link, Balla broke down in tears when his driving record was read out to the court.

It included six speeding offences and two instances of using his mobile phone while driving.

Police prosecutor Kay Ferguson told the court Balla did not understand the 'responsibility involved in having a driving licence.'

Balla - who claims he is a songwriter and rapper who goes by the stage name 'Tom-E-Gun' but has worked as an elevator technician for six years - wasn't injured in the crash

Balla is yet to enter a plea, but was granted bail and is set to appear in Blacktown Local Court on August 14

He is yet to enter a plea, but was granted bail and is set to appear in Blacktown Local Court on August 14.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said during the service on Monday that Constable Vidal - who also served in the Australian Army - was a 'natural leader'.

'Aaron will be remembered for his cheeky smile, boundless energy and the speed and form of his burpees.'
Russian state pollster VCIOM has published an exit poll showing a vast majority of Russians backing proposed constitutional reforms, days before the end of voting.

The poll, published on Monday, showed that some 76 percent of respondents voted for the package of amendments, which range from better pensions and minimum wages to a reset of term limits that would allow President Vladimir Putin to run again in 2024 and potentially stay in power until 2036.

The vote, which the opposition has slammed as illegal and prone to rigging, began last week and is due to end on Wednesday.

Russian state pollster VCIOM has published an exit poll showing a vast majority of Russians backing proposed constitutional reforms, days before the end of voting. Above, a man votes at a polling station in Moscow

VCIOM, which stands for the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Centre, polled more than 163,000 voters in 25 regions, with about 70 percent agreeing to say how they voted.

The co-chairman of election monitoring group Golos, Grigory Melkonyants, told Business FM radio that the publication of figures before the end of voting could unduly 'influence the will of citizens'.

This is why the publication of exit polls is banned before the end of voting, he noted.

VCIOM said it decided to publish the figures because of 'high demand' for the data and dismissed the idea that it could influence the outcome.

'It's not against the law to publish,' the centre's director Valery Fyodorov told AFP in an emailed comment.

Election commission chief Ella Pamfilova said the body had recommended to wait until the end of voting but that the centre did not do anything illegal.

The constitutional vote has to abide by its own special law, rather than Russia's regular election legislation, which forbids publication of data during a 'silent period' immediately before and during voting.

Voting started in Russia on Thursday after a decision to spread the plebiscite over a week to avoid crowds during the coronavirus epidemic. Above, woman votes at a polling station in Moscow

The proposed reforms would allow President Vladimir Putin to run again in 2024 and potentially stay in power until 2036

'The law (on the constitutional vote) does not regulate this,' Pamfilova told Business FM radio.

Voting started in Russia on Thursday after a decision to spread the plebiscite over a week to avoid crowds during the coronavirus epidemic.

Advertisements running frequently on television ask Russians to vote without any mention of the clause that effectively 'zeroes' Putin's time in the Kremlin and opens the possibility of him staying on for two more terms until 2036.

The Kremlin reluctantly postponed the vote, originally scheduled for April 22, as coronavirus cases increased and officials imposed restrictions to slow the spread.

Residents of separatist-controlled regions in eastern Ukraine who have Russian citizenship are travelling to Russia to vote on the constitutional amendments.

Authorities of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics have organized bus services to polling stations in the neighboring Rostov region in Russia, in what is seen by many as part of the widespread effort to boost turnout at the controversial plebiscite.

Residents of separatist-controlled regions in eastern Ukraine who have Russian citizenship are travelling to Russia to vote on the constitutional amendments. Above, people show their Russian passports at a bus stop in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine

Russian authorities this month have gone to great lengths to lure voters to polling stations amid the coronavirus outbreak. Above, a woman holds a Russian national flag sitting on a bus to Russia at a bus stop in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine

On Friday morning, dozens of people gathered at a bus station in Donetsk, a rebel-controlled city in eastern Ukraine, waiting to get on a bus to Russia. Some of the voters told The Associated Press that the constitutional changes would boost the powers of the Russian authorities and bring peace to the separatist region in eastern Ukraine. Others expressed hope that the changes would allow separatist republics to become part of Russia.

Russian authorities this month have gone to great lengths to lure voters to polling stations amid the coronavirus outbreak. Allowing residents of eastern Ukraine to participate is part of this effort, independent foreign affairs analyst Vladimir Frolov said.

'(Russian authorities) are obsessed with the results (of the vote),' and rebel-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine can contribute some 'manageable voting,' he said.

Over 220,000 Ukrainians living in areas held by Russia-backed rebels received Russian passports last year, after Putin signed a decree expediting citizenship applications from residents of the self-proclaimed republics. The move had been widely condemned as an attack on Ukraine's sovereignty that could undermine efforts to end a separatist conflict that has killed more than 14,000 since 2014.

More than 150,000 residents of eastern Ukraine have expressed a desire to cast a ballot in the vote on the constitutional reform, Russian lawmaker Victor Vodolatsky told the state Tass news agency last week.

Over 220,000 Ukrainians living in areas held by Russia-backed rebels received Russian passports last year. Above, people observe social distancing guidelines to protect against coronavirus as they queue to get on a bus to Russia at a bus stop in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine

Russia's borders have been closed since late March because of the coronavirus outbreak but there are procedures to allow Russian citizens to enter, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday, commenting on the fact that voters from eastern Ukraine are able to travel to Russia.

According to separatist officials, there are 12 polling stations in the Rostov region where residents of eastern Ukraine can vote. The regional election commission confirmed to the AP that polling stations for Russian citizens not registered as residents were operating all across the region.

Russian election monitors point out that bringing residents of eastern Ukraine into Russia to vote could make it easier to rig the vote. Non-resident voters are not registered with a specific polling station, and with several stations operating in the Rostov region, it will be difficult to verify that they haven't voted several times at different polls, said Vladimir Yegorov, coordinator of election monitoring with the Golos independent election watchdog.

'The vote lasts seven days, and a person, if they so wish, can vote several times at several polling stations, and there is no way to control it,' Yegorov said.
Byron is trying to secure a takeover amid concerns the upmarket burger chain could face financial collapse during the coronavirus pandemic.

The restaurant group, which employs 1,200 staff, today filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators as it holds talks with three potential buyers.

The move is intend to protect the London-based firm from creditors during these discussions, with the board said to be confident of getting a deal done.

Byron has 51 restaurants in Britain, including this one in Islington, North London (file picture)

The most likely outcome is a pre-pack administration, which means certain assets would be sold to a new owner, reported Sky News.

The chain hopes that a deal can be concluded as soon as possible, because it is hoping for a phased reopening of restaurants from mid-July.

In May, KPMG was instructed to help Byron explore the Government's Covid support initiatives and then to look at securing new investment for the business.

Byron, which was launched in 2007 and has 51 UK restaurants, is known to be a favourite among the likes of Prince Harry and politician George Osborne.

It is the latest restaurant chain to face financial difficulty, with Las Iguanas and Cafe Rouge owner Casual Dining Group having filed a similar notice of intention.

A Byron burger restaurant on Fulham Broadway in South West London

Meanwhile various others from Prezzo to Wasabi and ASK Italian and Zizzi have brought in advisors to look at how they could raise more cash.

Covid hit at a frustrating time for Byron, with the company entering the ninth month of a turnaround plan - and it was forced to halt a refurbishment programme.

The business also placed all hourly employees on minimum-hour payment terms in an attempt to ensure they were protected during the lockdown.

Byron closed all of its sites from March 18, two days before it was forced to by the Government and five days before the full lockdown was brought in.

The chain delivered a gross profit of nearly 32million in the 2019 financial year, having made a loss of more than 42million in the previous year.

Former Chancellor George Osborne tweeted of a picture of him eating a Byron burger in June 2013, on the evening before he launched his spending review

Byron was founded by Tom Byng in 2007 before being purchased by current private equity owners Three Hills Capital Partners in 2017.

But it launched a Company Voluntary Arrangement deal, which saw the closure of ten sites and reduced rents in order to support it after a downturn in trading.

Despite widespread financial restructuring of major restaurant chains over the last couple of years, the overall number of restaurants still rose by 2 per cent last year.

The number of properties classified as restaurants for the purpose of business rates in England and Wales increased by 563 to 27,995 at the end of 2019 and are up a further 183 to 28,178 during the first six months of 2020 despite the lockdown.

Spokesmen for Byron and Three Hills Capital Partners declined to comment to MailOnline today. The identities of the three potential buyers are not yet known.
This is the terrifying moment a man tried to snatch a two-year-old girl from a play park in Berlin, before being confronted by witnesses and forced to return her.

The 44-year-old, who has not been named, led the girl away from the park around 7.30pm on Sunday while her mother was distracted in conversation.

But he was followed by a 27-year-old mother and a shop owner who confronted him on camera, before leading him back to where the girl's distraught mother was searching for her.

The man was subsequently arrested for being drunk, but police later released him saying 'conditions for issuing an arrest warrant were not met'.

This is the terrifying moment a 44-year-old man, who has not been named, was caught snatching a two-year-old girl from a park in Berlin before being confronted by witnesses

Heike S, who spoke to German newspaper Bild on the condition they change her name, said she first noticed the man speaking to the girl near the entrance to the play park, and began watching because 'the girl and the man didn't match'.

Suddenly the man took the girl by the hand and began running away, prompting her to follow despite having her own two-year-old girl with her.

The girl did not resist, but Heike was convinced the man was not her father. When he began getting away she enlisted the help of local kiosk owner Zoran Z, 44.

Zoran managed to catch up with the man and confronted him as another witness filmed on their cellphone.

Zoran said he asked the man whether the girl belonged to him, and that after a brief pause he admitted to taking the child.

Mother Heike S. said she saw the man talking to the girl outside this play park while her own mother was distracted, before he suddenly took her by the hand and led her away

'I love children. I can't understand how mothers and fathers leave their children at home with some caregivers,' Zoran recalls the man saying.

Zoran then forced the man to walk back to the play area - carrying the girl on his shoulders - where the panicked mother was frantically searching for her daughter.

In the video, the kidnapper can be heard calmly telling Zoran: 'I think children are simply the most important thing. Children are our future, aren't they?'

Once back in the park, Zoran asks the girl: 'Is the mom here in the park? All right, that's where we're going, right? We're going to mom, right?

'You sit up there. You have to look where she is. You have the best view. OK?'

Eventually mother and child were reunited, and police arrived to arrest the man - who refused a breath test but was later confirmed to be drunk with a blood sample.

He was known to officers and has mental illnesses, Bild reported, but is not a known paedophile or sex offender.

Kiosk owner Zoran Z, 44 (pictured), also joined the pursuit and confronted the man - who admitted the girl was not his before forcing him to return her

Police said they were forced to release him because the conditions for an arrest warrant were not met.

The case has since been passed to a specialist child crimes unit which is investigating on suspicion of attempted abduction.

A local psychiatric unit has also been notified, and is examining whether the man is eligible to be placed into a secure unit.

Locals have now placed warning signs outside the playground, but Heike is worried about running into the man again.

'I imagined what would have happened if that had been my child,' she said.

'Now I also know that the man is back. That he could appear in front of us again at any time. That he might recognize me and my daughter.

'Why didn't the police put up a notice on the playground? That scares me.'
 Flash

Incumbent Polish President Andrzej Duda will meet his main rival Rafal Trzaskowski, candidate of the main opposition party Civic Platform (PO), in the run-off of Poland's presidential elections, according to an Ipsos exit poll published on Sunday night, Polish Press Agency reported.

According to Ipsos, Duda received 41.8 percent of the vote, while Trzaskowski, who's also mayor of Warsaw, gained 30.4 percent, and Szymon Holownia, an independent running as a moderate conservative, gained 13.3 percent.

Under Polish election rules, as none of the 11 contenders in the race won more than 50 percent of the vote, a run-off will be held on July 12.

Duda, supported by the conservative Law and Justice party, and Trzaskowski, a Christian democrat, will look to draw voters of the nine other candidates to their side in the run-off.

Despite leading in the first round, Duda will be facing a neck-and-neck contest in the run-off due to opposition consolidation. Holownia already endorsed Trzaskowski for the run-off a week earlier. Much will also depend on voters of far-right candidate Krzystof Bosak, who gained 7.4 percent of the vote.

Despite COVID-19 numbers still rising in the country, Sunday's first round saw relatively high turnout. Exit poll indicated 62.9 percent of voters cast their ballots, up from 49 percent five years earlier.

"I thank everyone who voted for me, but I also thank everyone who turned out to vote," Duda said in his speech after the voting.

Trzaskowski, however, criticized Duda and the ruling Law and Justice party. "These will not be a choice between Andrzej Duda and Rafal Trzaskowski, but a choice between an open Poland and a Poland that, sadly, looks for an enemy and prefers to divide people."

The presidential race, originally planned for May 10, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown.

To date, Poland has a total of 33,907 COVID-19 infections, with 1,438 deaths, according to the daily update published by the Health Ministry on Sunday morning.
One of the UK's most high profile tourist spots is shutting down roads in order to assist social distancing as the masses arrive to squeeze in a summer holiday.

St Ives in Cornwall is expected to be bristling with tourists once more in the coming weeks, after the Government gave the green light for the UK's travel industry to get back up and running on July 4.

Bookings are already rising for staycations as people look to make the both of the combination of lockdown easing and good weather. St Ives plans to combat this by making all roads vehicle-free between the hours of 11am-4pm, as report the Telegraph.

St Ives in Cornwall is expected to be bristling with tourists once more in the coming weeks, after the Government gave the green light for the UK's travel industry to re-start

The winding, narrow streets of the picturesque Cornish town are well known for causing large queues and pile-ups, as the thousands of daily tourists battle to squeeze around cars on the cobbled walkways.

Such scenarios in the coming weeks would pose an immediate risk of potential covid-19 transmission, with social distancing measures near impossible to execute.

Decisions have been made therefore to removes all vehicles from the streets in the central area of the town during core day-time hours, aside from emergency and essential vehicles.

'The proposed road closure will start from the Tregenna Place and Gabriel Street junction (or library corner as it is known locally),' St Ives Town Council confirmed in a statement.

'The barrier will run across Tregenna Place, opposite Wetherspoons. This will keep the three-road junction at library corner flowing and maximise the ability of vehicles to leave without entering the zone.

The winding, narrow streets of the picturesque Cornish town are well known for causing large queues and pile-ups as tourists squeeze around car congestion to navigate the shops

'All residents who have a home in the zone, provided they have the vehicle registered at the address will be issued a permit.'

Ron Johns, owner of St Ives Bookseller, told the Telegraph: 'I have no idea if it's going to work or not, well it has to work'.

Despite this however he feels the action taken will 'definitely' make it easier to uphold social distancing 'because the streets are very narrow in Cornwall.'

Many tourist hotspots around the UK are set to follow suit, with several having already made alterations to road systems in order to best facilitate visitors. They include;

Falmouth

St Ives follows in the footsteps of other popular destinations nearby including Falmouth.

Located on the peninsular's opposite coast, a number of streets have been closed in the town centre for several hours a day since June 15 and will continue to run as such throughout the re-opening of the tourism season.

Bath

Pavements are being widened on some 13 streets including Camden Road, Manvers Street, Monmouth Street and Moorland Road, in order to accommodate the return of shoppers.

Thousands of visitors each year flood to the quaint Somerset city, to take in the unique architecture and visit the world famous Roman Baths.

Restrictions will be in place from 10am to 6pm each day.

Thousands of visitors each year flood to the quaint Somerset city, to take in the unique architecture and visit the world famous Roman Baths

Oxford

A one-way pedestrian flow system has been implemented on the city centre's busiest streets, in order to avoid severe congestion.

A cycle-popular city, bicycle lanes are now being widened throughout, to encourage cycle travel further still.

Cambridge

Widened footways and enforced pedestrian areas are now becoming common place as, like Oxford, Cambridge looks to keep tabs on its high tourist population.

One-way access to narrow passageways in the city centre will be implemented, in order to stop bottlenecks and mass convergences.

Systems will also be placed around the University collage buildings, popular with visitors hoping to take photographs.

One-way access to narrow passageways in Cambridge city centre will be implemented, in order to stop bottlenecks and mass convergences

North Tyneside

The local council have outlined a number of proposals to close a number of streets with 'a challenging combination of narrow footpaths, small premises and high demand' from July 1.

Residents of the north Tyneside area received a letter in which they were given prior warning of the plans, to come into place 'in time for the start of the busy summer season'.

Park View in the seaside town of Whitley Bay and North Shields Fish Quay are among those included.
The NHS is considering branding Britain's coronavirus contact tracing app 'PPE in your pocket' when it eventually launches.

The marketing slogan will compare the app - once considered a vital part of the Test and Trace system that is now running without it - to protective equipment such as gloves and masks.

And it could also contain a Geiger counter inspired tool to warn people when they are near areas with a lot of coronavirus-infected Brits.

Barcodes for buildings, which will track where people with Covid-19 have been, and countdown timers for self-isolation periods could also be included in the app, the Financial Times reported.

Officials abandoned the NHS's attempt at making its own app earlier this month when they realised it didn't work on iPhones.

Software being developed by Google and Apple is now expected to be the basis for an eventual app in the UK, but this is still months away.

Officials abandoned the NHS's attempt at making its own app earlier this month when they realised it didn't work on iPhones (Pictured: The app in development stages)

The slogan 'PPE in your pocket' was suggested at a meeting of NHSX, the technology arm of the health service, last week, according to the FT.

It is not clear why it is being considered, but the tagline could be intended to give the public the impression the app can protect them from the coronavirus, as masks - which are real PPE - can.

Officials have also reportedly suggested a radar-like feature in the app which people could use to see which areas have had large numbers of Covid-19 cases.

The app will be linked to the NHS Test and Trace system and automatically log connections between phones, making it easier to track people's contacts if they test positive.

This could be crucial to improving Test and Trace's success - data last week showed fewer than half of people testing positive were actually able to give information about people they had been near while infected.

Of the 20,968 people assigned to England's 25,000 contact tracers, only 10,058 have actually given information that the tracers could follow up (48 per cent).

In its report last week, the Department of Health said the people who were unable to give contact details were ones who had only come into contact with complete strangers, such as on the bus.

An app would overcome this because it could anonymously link people who didn't know each other if one of them had put the other at risk.

Another feature suggested for the app at the meeting was a barcode system in which places like restaurants or office blocks could keep track of visitors.

This could work by the barcode being placed at the entrance of the building so people who go in and out can scan it as they move through.

The system could then be updated when people test positive and visitors and employees would be able to see when an infected person had been in the building.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NHS CONTACT TRACING APP? Officials admitted on June 18 that the NHS app, once praised by the Health Secretary as vital for lifting lockdown and described by Boris Johnson as a central part of the UK's test and trace system, did not work on Apple iPhones. The health service's digital arm, NHSX, has now ditched plans to create its own app and will work with Apple and Google to improve their existing technology. Mr Hancock could not say when a tracking app would be ready amid claims it won't be rolled-out until the winter. The app  which was originally promised for mid-May and the NHS spent months to develop  was unable to spot 25 per cent of nearby Android users and a staggering 96 per cent of iPhones in the Isle of Wight trial. Meanwhile, the Apple and Google technology can spot 99 per cent of close contacts using any type of smartphone  but it cannot currently tell how far away they are, officials claimed today. The leaders of Britain's test and trace system said neither app is fit for purpose and Mr Hancock appeared to point the finger at Apple for the failure, saying: 'Our app won't work because Apple won't change their system'. Apple and Google announced on April 10 that they would join forces to create the technology, by which time the NHS had already started work. All parties put their software into action around a month later, in mid-May. Developers in the NHS will now work alongside the tech giants to try and roll its detection software and the NHS app's distance-measuring ability  which they said was significantly better  together to make a hybrid app that actually works. Here's how the NHS contact tracing app fell apart: When used on iPhones the NHS app went into background mode and stopped recording nearby phones;

As a result it only managed to detect four per cent of possible contacts for Apple phone users. In contrast, it detected 75 per cent for Android phone users;

The technology developed by Apple and Google could detect 99 per cent of nearby phones, officials said, but could not say how close they actually were;

Health bosses said the Apple/Google technology couldn't differentiate someone 3m (9'8') away with their phone in their hand from someone 1m (3'3') away with it in their pocket;

Officials now want to merge the two, to have Apple/Google's detection capability with the NHSX app's ability to calculate distance, which was far better. Advertisement

The add-on features suggested at the meeting, which were revealed by two insiders, come just weeks after it was revealed that the fundamentals of the app still don't work.

NHSX's app, now abandoned, was unable to monitor close contacts between people if one or both of them were using an iPhone because the phone forced it into sleep mode.

And the software made by Apple and Google, according to the UK Government, is currently unable to work out how far apart people are - an essential function of contact tracing.

British officials are now reported to be working with the tech giants to develop a hybrid app using the best features from both.

They said this month that the NHS app didn't work when used on Apple iPhones - it essentially went into sleep mode and was unable to detect 96 per cent of contacts.

Although it worked better on Android, detecting 75 per cent of phones nearby, it did not compare with the 99 per cent detection achieved by Apple and Google's software.

That technology, however, could not tell how far away someone was and produced the same signal for people at three metres as it did for people at one metre.

The amount of time people spend within a certain distance of one another - currently two metres - is 'mission critical' for a contact tracing app, Matt Hancock said.

People living in apartment buildings, for example, are likely regularly within three metres of someone but not actually in the same flat or even on the same floor.

NHS bosses now say they will pool the positives of both apps to try and create one which can be used in Britain in the future, but this is likely to take months.

Baroness Dido Harding and Matthew Gould, CEO of NHSX, the health service's digital department, said in a joint statement: 'We have agreed to share our own innovative work on estimating distance between app users with Google and Apple - work that we hope will benefit others - while using their solution to address some of the specific technical challenges identified through our rigorous testing.'

The Labour Party said the contact tracing app, initially scheduled for mid-May, had been another fiasco characteristic of the Government's mishandling of Covid-19.

Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said at the time: 'This is unsurprising and yet another example of where the government's response has been slow and badly managed.

'It's meant precious time and money wasted.

'For months tech experts warned ministers about the flaws in their app which is why we wrote to Matt Hancock encouraging the government to consider digital alternatives back in May.

'Ministers must now urgently prioritise building a fully effective test, trace and isolate regime lead by local expertise to break the chains of transmission of this deadly virus.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was ridiculed last week for claiming that no country has a functioning contact tracing app, when Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition, pointed out that 12million people had downloaded an app in Germany.

The PM dismissed criticism over the failed NHS software, which was initially billed crucial for controlling the disease before being humiliatingly abandoned.

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.'
The Government officially dropped its blanket coronavirus quarantine for arrivals today - as Greece dashed the hopes of holidaymakers by slapping a new two-week ban on British flights.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps officially ended the much-criticised programme just three weeks after it was introduced for visitors and those returning to homes in the UK.

In a Written Ministerial Statement to MPs he confirmed measures unveiled by Downing Street on Saturday, to come into effect 'shortly'.

But it came as Athens has extended its prohibition on UK flights to the country from July 1 until July 15, despite plans for it to feature on the UK's list of countries eligible for quarantine-free travel.

It cited the UK's high rate of coronavirus cases as one of the factors, with Sweden also being blocked for the same reason.

Greece has previously flip-flopped over allowing UK tourists back in, at one point asking the UK for a deal.

The state-run Amna news agency reported that prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told a tourism industry meeting in Athens today: 'The whole opening procedure is dynamic and the data will be continuously evaluated.'

It came as Portuguese politicians reacted with fury after the country was apparently left off a list of countries that will be able to form quarantine-free air bridges with the UK.

Tourism is the largest sector of the Atlantic nation's economy and many areas including Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve are popular with UK holidaymakers.

But it is understood that the nation will not be on the initial list of green or amber nations allowed to couple-up with the UK under a traffic light system, as it is the only European nation with a higher rate of coronavirus infections than the UK.

Under the traffic light system, drawn up by the Joint Biosecurity Centre and Public Health England and set to be in place by July 6, countries will be rated green, amber or red based on coronavirus infection levels, the reliability of official data and confidence in test and trace systems.

The automatic 14-day quarantine requirement will remain only for 'red-rated' countries such as the US and Brazil. Travel between 'green' and 'amber' countries will be quarantine-free, but passengers will have to fill in a 'locator form' to trace their movements.

'Green' countries are expected to include Austria, Croatia, Greece and Germany while 'Amber' countries include France, Italy, Switzerland and Spain. It is hoped an agreement will be reached with Australia and New Zealand in the coming weeks to add them to the list of 'green' countries.

But until a mutual deal is struck there is nothing stopping countries that the UK rates as 'green' handing the UK an effective 'red' rating of their own.

In further coronavirus developments:

Leicester may be forced to extend the lockdown for a fortnight because of a spike in coronavirus cases since mid-June

New wedding rules prevent fathers walking their daughters down the aisle arm-in-arm and ban large receptions

Public health bosses are desperately trying to track down 300 workers after 166 tested positive for Covid-19 at a food processing company that supplies Sainsbury's and Asda

Labour's Sir Keir Starmer refused to tell teaching unions to step up their efforts to help reopen the nation's schools as Gavin Williamson said parents who refuse to send their children back to the classroom will face fines

Tourism is the largest sector of the nation's economy and many areas including the Algarve (pictured) are popular with UK holidaymakers. But they have so far been forced to stay away

Green countries are those deemed safer than the UK. Amber countries are less safe but the risk of contracting coronavirus is still deemed to be low enough to allow quarantine-free travel. Red countries are those where the transmission of Covid-19 is still too high to allow travel without quarantine.

Eduardo Cabrita, the Portuguese home affairs minister, told the country's Diario de Noticia newspaper: 'There's no reason, according to all the comparative criteria, for the existence of any application of quarantine rules on return to the United Kingdom'

The Home Secretary spoke out after travel companies reported their biggest Saturday sales ever as bargain hunters rushed to book before a 'traffic light system' is introduced this week

Shapps officially lifts UK's blanket 14-day arrivals quarantine Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today officially ended the blanket 14-day quarantine requirement on arrivals to the UK, just three weeks after it was introduced. In a Written Ministerial Statement to MPs he confirmed measures unveiled by Downing Street on Saturday, to come into effect 'shortly'. He said: 'Today I can confirm that the government will shortly begin to ease the health measures at the UK border, allowing passengers to be exempted from self-isolation requirements in certain circumstances on arrival in the UK. This will apply to international rail, maritime, and aviation. 'The Joint Biosecurity Centre, in close consultation with Public Health England and the Chief Medical Officer, has developed a categorisation of countries and territories from which it is considered to present a lower risk from a public health perspective for passengers to enter the UK, without a requirement for 14 days' self-isolation. 'This has been informed by factors including the prevalence of coronavirus within the country and, crucially, the numbers of new cases and potential trajectory in the coming weeks of the disease in the country. 'This categorisation will inform ministerial decisions about the easing of the current border measures.' Advertisement

Green countries are those deemed safer than the UK. Amber countries are less safe but the risk of contracting coronavirus is still deemed to be low enough to allow quarantine-free travel. Red countries are those where the transmission of Covid-19 is still too high to allow travel without quarantine.

Britain today announced 25 more coronavirus deaths as data showed half of NHS trusts in England have gone a week without a death and no fatalities have been recorded in Scotland for four days in a row.

Department of Health chiefs say the lab-confirmed death toll now stands at 43,575 but the real number of victims is thought to be in the region of 55,000 when all suspected deaths are taken into account.

Health chiefs also reported 815 more cases of Covid-19. Government statistics show the official size of the UK's outbreak now stands at 311,965 cases. But the actual size of the outbreak is estimated to be in the millions, based on antibody testing data.

Eduardo Cabrita, the Portuguese home affairs minister, told the country's Diario de Noticia newspaper: 'Portugal has better public health indicators and better pandemic response indicators than the United Kingdom.

'So there's no reason, according to all the comparative criteria, for the existence of any application of quarantine rules on return to the United Kingdom.'

It came as ministers delayed unveiling a list of the first countries approved for air bridges. It was expected today but is now thought to be being released on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Priti Patel dampened hopes of Britons desperate to jet off on holiday as soon as possible, warning that the air bridges will not be up and running 'overnight'.

The Home Secretary spoke out yesterday after travel companies reported their biggest Saturday sales ever as bargain hunters rushed to book before a 'traffic light system' is introduced this week.

The plan to allow Brits go on holiday to the safest destinations without having to quarantine for 14 days is expected to come into force on July 6.

The Foreign Office will also lift its advice against 'all but essential travel' to low or medium-risk destinations, making it possible to obtain travel insurance.

But Speaking to Sky News' Ridge on Sunday today, Ms Patel said that there may be some heavy negotiations ahead before some countries allow UK residents to travel.

She said: 'There will be an announcement in the next few days ahead, the review point is tomorrow, which is what the Government has outlined.

'You will have to, along with members of the public, listen to the advice, see what the government is saying in terms of the countries that we are going to be opening up with, who we are working with, the countries that my colleague the Transport Secretary (Grant Shapps) is in dialogue with right now.

'But of course these measures won't come in overnight, they will take time, because some of this will be down to negotiation, discussions with certain countries.'

Nicola Surgeon suggests she could try to BLOCK UK air bridges plan Nicola Sturgeon hinted she could try to block Boris Johnson's air bridges plan for quarantine-free travel today. The Scottish First Minister lashed out at the Westminster Government over plans due to be released within days to link the UK with countries with low coronavirus rates. Speaking at her daily press conference (below) she said she and other devolved leaders had not been consulted over a plan which could lead to a surge in cases in Scotland if handled badly. Scotland's Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf had a conference call with Michael Gove and the other devolved administrations on the issue only this morning, she added. The country this afternoon unveiled zero coronavirus deaths for the fourth day in a row to keep its death toll at 2,482, with just five new infections reported. Ms Sturgeon told the briefing she was 'still considering our response and our own proposals'. However, with air transport, immigration and foreign policy all matters that are controlled by Westminster rather than the devolved administration, it is not clear what power she has to block the scheme. 'This Is an issue we have tried very hard to work on with the UK Government and the other devolved administration and we do of course see the benefits of adopting a consistent approach across all parts of the UK,' she said. 'However we also know that quarantine measures, albeit on a more targeted basis in future, may become more important in Scotland than less as our infection rates fall, since then the relative impact of cases from outside Scotland potentially becomes greater. 'The prospect of cases coming in from elsewhere poses a risk not just to health but also our economy.' Advertisement

Scotland should consider making travellers from England self-isolate for 14 days as the country is on track to be 'Covid-free' by the end of September, top scientist suggests

Scotland should consider quarantining travellers from England if the coronavirus crisis continues, one leading scientist has suggested.

Professor Devi Sridhar  who advises First Minister Nicola Sturgeon  claimed that Scotland is on track to be 'Covid-free' by the end of September. Scotland yesterday recorded no new Covid-19 deaths, marking three days in a row and the eighth time this month of zero fatalities.

But the outbreak has yet to fizzle out in England, with thousands of people still thought to be getting struck down with the virus every day. And England is still recording an average of 110 each day, despite Boris Johnson announcing a major relaxation of lockdown from this Saturday.

Professor Sridhar, of Edinburgh University, admitted Scotland will see 'little bumps' moving forward, referring to future spikes in coronavirus cases.

But she told the BBC the major challenge would be to prevent any imported cases of the disease, if the virus is no longer spreading naturally.

Professor Sridhar  part of the Scottish government's Covid-19 advisory panel  said it would be 'really straightforward' to contain if Scotland was an island. But admitted ministers must find the 'next best solution' and pointed to moves made in parts of the US to make travellers from badly-hit states self-isolate for two weeks.

She pointed to New Zealand, which earlier this month declared victory over its Covid-19 outbreak after imposing one of the toughest lockdowns.

Professor Devi Sridhar thinks Scotland is on track to be 'Covid-free' by end of the summer

And she warned imported cases could set off 'chains of infection', which is exactly how the pandemic began after it spread from China.

She added: 'I think Scotland is on track to eliminate coronavirus by the end of the summer by looking at the rate of the decrease [in new cases].

'But we are going to see little bumps, so it's a question of how small can you keep those bumps.'

Professor Sridhar  who warned that the 'risky' and 'ethically questionable' strategy in England appears to be to let the virus keep spreading  suggested catching those cases 'through screening, through quarantine, through testing'.

She added: 'The next best thing is to look across the world at Australia, Germany and even the US.'

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut last week announced they will make visitors from states with high coronavirus rates self-isolate for two weeks.

The move  designed to stop another Covid-19 wave  will affect Americans travelling from states such as Florida, Texas and Alabama.

Currently, any overseas traveller entering Scotland  which shares its only land border with England  must self-isolate for 14 days or face a fine of up to 500.

People must also provide the Government with details of who they are, where they've been and where they're going, within 48 hours of arriving in the country.

The measures only apply to people entering the country from outside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

One Scottish government source told The Times that ministers were considering adding England into the list of affected countries.

But they told the newspaper that the restrictions may only apply to parts of England at the centre of growing outbreaks.

Some scientists have branded the quarantine measures as 'completely useless' and have called for it to be scrapped as soon as possible.

Other experts argued the move  which came into force in June and prompted warnings that it could kill off air travel completely  came too late.

A Scottish Government spokesman told The Telegraph: 'To allow us to move out of lockdown it is critical that we keep transmission of the virus as low as possible  and that includes transmission from high to low risk areas.

'We are, in common with countries across the world, having to take unprecedented steps to deal with the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic brings.'

It comes after Ms Sturgeon last week predicted that Scotland was 'not far away' from eliminating the coronavirus.

But she warned the virus  scientifically known as SARS-CoV-2  has 'not yet gone away' despite the 'exceptional progress' made.

Official figures show 450 Covid-19 patients are currently in hospital north of the border, including five who are fighting for their lives in intensive care.

In developments south of the border, it was today revealed that Leicester may be forced to extend the lockdown for a fortnight from Saturday.

The city's mayor said health chiefs have suggested they will ask him to postpone opening pubs, museums and playgrounds on July 4/

Sir Peter Soulsby, who was previously a Labour MP for Leicester South, said: 'What they're suggesting is not a return to lockdown.

'It seems that what they're suggesting is that we continue the present level of restriction for a further two weeks beyond July 4.

'Now that's obviously very different from the dramatic lockdown in Leicester that was being briefed at the weekend.'
Europeans also widely reported their low opinion of experts and scientists

Surprisingly, however, only 48 per cent have a lower opinion about China

It also found that 60 per cent of Europeans thought worse of the US's handling

just under half of Europeans thought the EU had been irrelevant

Many Europeans think the EU has failed at handling the coronavirus crisis and reported they do not see the US as a reliable partner any more, a survey found.

The responses were part of a poll of 11,000 people carried out by the European Council on Foreign Relations in late April and early May, in conjunction with European newspapers including Le Monde and La Vanguardia.

The survey concluded that just under half of Europeans thought the EU had been irrelevant with this number reaching 58 per cent in France.

Just under half of Europeans reported they thought the EU was irrelevant when it came to countries handing the coronavirus crisis, a survey carried out by the European Council on Foreign Relations revealed. Pictured: Someone getting their hair done as hair salons open for the first time since the beginning of the lockdown in Ireland

In France people who felt the EU was irrelevant to their countries' handling of the crisis reached a number 58 per cent. Pictured: A stewardess checking the temperature of a passenger on the day of the re-opening of Paris' Orly airport

It also found that 60 per cent of Europeans thought worse of the US after their handling of the pandemic.

The US has some of the highest coronavirus infection rates, currently 2,549,069, and deaths, currently 125,803, in the world.

Most Europeans no longer see the US as a reliable partner in a major shift from attitudes that date back to World War II.

'Europeans have lost faith in the United States in its power and competence to lead the world,' Jeremy Shapiro, chief investigator at ECFR, told La Vanguardia.

Surprisingly, however, only 48 per cent think more negatively about about China now.

China has been accused by different governments of not being transparent enough about the virus.

They have 84,757 confirmed cases and 4,641 deaths, according to the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

Authors of the study, Ivan Krastev and Mark Leonard, wrote: 'Before the crisis, the continent was increasingly split between pro-European cosmopolitans and Eurosceptic nationalists.

'The virus has scrambled the distinction between the two.'

An overwhelming 63 per cent of Europeans were not happy with the EU's cooperation and wanted more collaboration from the bloc.

They felt no better about scientists or experts with 65 per cent of respondents expressing a low opinion of them.

More than half (58 per cent) of the French people who were surveyed felt the EU was irrelevant and more than half (56 per cent) of German people who were surveyed said they did not trust experts. Pictured: German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron for a meeting before Germany takes over European Union's presidency on June 29, 2020

Even in Germany, whose handling of the pandemic has been viewed largely as a success, 56 per cent said they were wary of experts, the survey showed.

Germany, with 194,898 confirmed coronavirus cases and 8,972 deaths, is largely out of lockdown.

However Nordic countries, including Sweden and Demark, reported being happier than the rest of Europe with how their governments handled the crisis.

The survey authors described 'a new form of pro-European' who accepts that sovereignty will come 'through joint foreign policy, control of external borders, and re-localised production'.
Iran has issued an arrest warrant and asked Interpol for help in detaining President Donald Trump and dozens of others it believes carried out the drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, a local prosecutor reportedly said Monday.

While Trump faces no danger of arrest, the charges underscore the heightened tensions between Iran and the United States since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Trump and more than 30 others whom Iran accuses of involvement in the January 3 strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad face 'murder and terrorism charges,' the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

President Donald Trump waves as he arrives on Air Force One at Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. June 25 2020

Alqasimehr did not identify anyone else sought other than Trump, but stressed that Iran would continue to pursue his prosecution even after his presidency ends.

Interpol, based in Lyon, France, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Alqasimehr also was quoted as saying that Iran requested a 'red notice' be put out for Trump and the others, which represents the highest level arrest request issued by Interpol. Local authorities end up making the arrests on behalf of the country that request it. The notices cannot force countries to arrest or extradite suspects, but can put government leaders on the spot and limit suspects' travel.

After receiving a request, Interpol meets by committee and discusses whether or not to share the information with its member states. Interpol has no requirement for making any of the notices public, though some do get published on its website.

Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, center, attends a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Sept 2016

It is unlikely Interpol would grant Iran's request as its guideline for notices forbids it from 'undertaking any intervention or activities of a political' nature.

The U.S. killed Soleimani, who oversaw the Revolutionary Guard's expeditionary Quds Force, and others in the January strike near Baghdad International Airport.

The president provided the authorization to take out a key figure the military believes is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans back in June 2019, during a tense period after Iran shot down a U.S. drone, NBC News reported.

The administration has provided a series of varying explanations for the strike, stressing both Soleimani's long-term role plotting attacks and backing Iranian proxies, the December death of a U.S. contractor in Iraq, and information on a looming attack.

Trump has said Soleimani was planning to 'blow up' the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

He also told Fox News host Laura Ingraham: 'I can reveal I believe it probably wouldve been four embassies.'

But Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday that he 'didn't see' intelligence that Soleimani was planning attacks on four U.S. embassies in the Middle East.

'The president didn't cite a specific piece of evidence. What he said was he believed,' Esper told CBS 'Face the Nation.'

'I didn't see one, with regard to four embassies. What I'm saying is that I shared the president's view that probably  my expectation was they were going to go after our embassies. The embassy is the most prominent display of American presence in a country.'

He also told CNN's Jake Tapper that there was intelligence that there was intent to target the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, but wouldn't comment on intelligence regarding the other supposed plans.

'There was intelligence that there was an intent to target the U.S. embassy in Baghdad,' the secretary of the Department of Defense said on State of the Union. 'What the president said with regard to the four embassies, is what I believe, as well,' said Esper.
Dame Helen Mirren has called for urgent help for theatres following forced closures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and warned that the 'identity of our nation' is at stake.

Thousands of UK theatres have warned that, with live performances currently banned and after a lengthy period of closure, they are just weeks away from collapse.

The government published a roadmap on June 26 outlining the return of the industry, but theatres want financial investment and clear dates so that they can plan ahead.

Dame Helen Mirren has called for threatres in Britain to receive greater support to survive warning the nation's 'identity is at stake'

The Apollo Theatre in London's West End pictured during lockdown. Some theatres have warned the may be close to collapse amid the crisis caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

Oscar winner Dame Helen, 74, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'What is at stake ... is the loss of a cultural history and an identity of our nation that is embedded in what it means to be British.

'One of the great contributions that our country has made to the world is through theatre, through writing and performing.

Government's five-step roadmap for theatres Stage One - Rehearsal and training (no audiences and adhering to social distancing guidelines) Stage Two - Performances for broadcast and recording purposes (adhering to social distancing guidelines) Stage Three - Performances outdoors with an audience plus pilots for indoor performances with a limited distance audience Stage Four - Performances allowed indoors/outdoors (but with a limited distanced audience indoors) Stage Five - Performances allowed indoors/outdoors (with a fuller audience indoors) Advertisement

'It's one of the reasons that many tourists come to Britain ... It is a multibillion-dollar industry, but to me it's so much more than that...

'It's like what Venice is to Italy - that incredible beauty, history ... and when Venice becomes flooded, Italy really pulls together to save Venice because they understand the importance of Venice culturally to Italy.

'And I feel the same about the theatre in Britain.'

The five-step government plan involves firstly rehearsals and training, then performances for broadcast and recording purposes, followed by outdoor shows with audiences, then indoor performances and finally a return to normal.

However, no dates were confirmed and no financial support was guaranteed, leaving many fearing the worst.

Theatre owner and producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh recently pulled Les Miserables, Mary Poppins, Hamilton and The Phantom Of The Opera from the West End for the rest of the year, blaming 'continued uncertainty' over when the Government will completely withdraw social distancing measures.

The Theatre Royal in Newcastle announced plans to make half of its staff redundant due to the impact of the lockdown, while Theatre Royal Plymouth started redundancy consultations following a plunge in revenues.

The director of the National Theatre, Rufus Norris, warned, in an interview with the PA news agency, that the pandemic is 'likely to be devastating for this industry and consequently for the arts in the UK' without support.

Nottingham Playhouse's artistic director, Adam Penford, has warned many theatres may close because of the crisis

Dame Helen claimed that culturally theatres were to Britain what Venice was to Italy

While Nottingham Playhouse's artistic director, Adam Penford, said that for 'any theatre there's a risk of ... complete collapse and closure and then potentially never reopening.

'It's stark and it's real and it's not far away.'

Dame Helen told the Today programme that theatre has a role in 'the creation of community'.

'If we need community at any time, we need it right now,' she said.

'It's what we need above all, that sense of community to fight against isolation, the feeling that you're on your own.'

The actress, who was planning to appear on the London stage in January in a performance which she says has now been cancelled, added: 'I often watch a movie and I realise halfway through that I've seen it once before.

'I've never forgotten a single theatre thing I've ever been to as an audience (member). I've never forgotten the experience, including the ones that I've absolutely hated, couldn't stand. But it enters into your memory, into your being in a very different way.

'I think art forms in general in Britain have to have guidance ... and huge investment really quickly because they are collapsing.'

Dame Helen, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of the monarch in 2006 film The Queen, said: 'Until there's a vaccine, that kind of (stage) performance is going to be very difficult'.

But she said people 'who create theatre are resourceful, full of imagination and creativity'.
A star primary school teacher suspended after saying some staff were 'sat at home doing nothing' today insisted parents back her for being honest about teachers who 'wouldn't turn up' for work and act like they are furloughed on full pay.

Pauline Wood, from Grange Park in Sunderland, accused her staff of bragging that they were spending 'more time watching Netflix' at home than they were working during the coronavirus pandemic as they were only coming in to school two days a week.

Mrs Wood, a married mother-of-three, was then suspended on full pay on June 12 by the school's new chair of governors Mary Hodgson, but said today the school's parents are behind her '100 per cent'.

Today she turned on her underperforming staff again and told ITV's This Morning: 'They wouldn't turn up. You know, we're not on furlough, we're on full wages and I think it's reasonable to expect people to come in.

Pauline Wood, from Grange Park in Sunderland, accused her staff of bragging that they were spending 'more time watching Netflix' and said some wouldn't turn up for work

Mrs Wood spearheaded her school's rapid ascent up the Ofsted grading system from 'inadequate' to 'outstanding' in 15 years - but she has now been suspended

'So when we said we're moving from a two-day schedule to a three-day schedule I was very surprised and the worst thing was, I didn't know about it until somebody else, without the authority, had actually agreed that the teachers could do two days and not three.

Sir Keir Starmer dodges telling unions to step up efforts to reopen schools Sir Keir Starmer today refused to tell teaching unions to step up their efforts to help reopen the nation's schools as Gavin Williamson said parents who refuse to send their children back to the classroom will face fines. The Labour leader accused ministers of being 'asleep at the wheel' over the delayed return of schools as he claimed there had been a 'total lack of planning'. He said the swift construction of Nightingale emergency hospitals during the coronavirus crisis showed ministers could have established temporary classrooms if they had wanted to and that all children should already have been back. But he risked accusations of hypocrisy as he declined to instruct unions to reduce their opposition to the Government's reopening plans. Asked if he was willing to tell unions it is safe for children to go back to school and that they should 'get on and help' make it happen, he appeared to dodge the question as he said: 'I want as many children back in school as swiftly as possible and let responsibility lie where it should lie here.' His comments came as Mr Williamson, the Education Secretary, said parents could be fined if they do not send their children back to school. He also announced this morning he will publish a plan this week setting out how he intends to get every pupil in England back in the classroom in September. Advertisement

'Therefore, I was undermined in my role as a headteacher, suspended two days later with no notice, no discussion, about bringing the school into disrepute when all I'd done was tell the truth'.

Mrs Wood says she's had messages of support from all over the country.

She said: 'Because of my suspension Im not allowed to mix with or even contact parents, children, staff or anybody else so its very difficult for me to find out, but having read things on Facebook and twitter and in the press, the vibe Im getting is that the parents are one hundred percent behind me because they do appreciate what Ive done for the school, taking a deprived area from one of the worst performing in the local authority to always in the top ten, and weve had five major accolades, and weve had over 100 schools visit us to see how we get the results that we get in an area like ours. And these are people from all over the country.

She added: 'The messages of support that Ive had over the weekend from people in education, head teachers and teachers that do go the extra mile and should be proud to be in the profession, theyre saying, "Its about time somebody let the public know what its really like".'

She claimed chair of governors Mrs Hodgson had told her the action was being taken due to her 'bringing the school into disrepute' by making her comments about teachers in an interview on local radio three days earlier.

Defending herself today thfied a single person in this and I've always said it was a minority of staff. The thing is, because this decision was made and I was told about it afterwards, of course that got my back up a bit. I would have been very happy to discuss it with anyone, but they didn't give me the chance because two days later I get a phone call suspending me. And even now, nearly two-and-a-half weeks later, no one has asked me to discuss this at all.'

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline last week, Mrs Wood, who spearheaded Grange Park Primary School's ascent up the Ofsted grading system, said she had been left 'disappointed' by her suspension and believed proper procedures had not been followed.

She disclosed that she had already handed in her notice at Grange Park School in Sunderland last January so she could leave in August, partly because she felt 'a small minority' of staff were not pulling their weight.

Mrs Wood was working out her notice, ready to leave at the end of August, when she was suspended over her and banned from going back into the 220-pupil school without permission.

She blasted some teachers at Grange Park Primary School (pictured) for not pulling their weight during months of lockdown

Mrs Wood (left) is being investigated for potentially bringing her school into 'disrepute' during an interview on local BBC radio

It came after education unions faced accusations they were sabotaging efforts to get children back to school, with the National Education Union insisting Boris Johnson's 'one metre plus' rule will still make teaching difficult.

School closures are overwhelmingly impacting disadvantaged children, with a recent survey revealing two million children in the UK had done barely any schoolwork at home during the coronavirus lockdown.

Around one in five pupils have carried out no schoolwork, or less than an hour a day, since schools closed partially in March. Meanwhile, only 17 per cent of children put in more than four hours a day.

Other figures revealed that nearly a third (31 per cent) of private schools provided four or more online lessons daily, compared with just six per cent of state schools.

Meanwhile parents who are left in the dark about the future of their children's education have to look after them at home, meaning they cannot get back to work and help kickstart the UK economy.

Mrs Wood had praised some teachers for coming with 'imaginative things' during lockdown.

She read out texts on BBC Radio Newcastle from parents concerned about the level of support schools have been offering children, and remarked: 'Some teachers are coming up with the most imaginative, amazing things and other people do sit at home doing nothing. I won't defend those people.'

When asked to comment further, though, she said: 'Some teachers have been in (schools), but many have not been in at any time. Safety is paramount, but don't make out teachers have all been working flat out.'

She added: 'I think it's time we talked about the elephant in the room.'

She has hit back at criticism, tweeting: 'As Headteachers, our job descriptions say we should hold staff to account'

People took to Twitter to praise Mrs Wood's 'refreshing honesty', with one account posting: 'Pauline Wood head teacher from grange park tells the truth about lazy teachers doing nothing during lockdown and gets suspended'

Gavin Williamson brands National Education Union 'No Education Union' as he vows to end 'softly, softly' approach and ensure all pupils are back by September Gavin Williamson has vowed to end the 'softly, softly' approach for dealing with teaching unions and get all children back in school by September. The Education Secretary said he plans for all children to go back to school at the start of the next school year 'come what may'. It was said Mr Williamson 'got the knuckle dusters out' while addressing backbench Tory MPs at a meeting this week, The Telegraph reported. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has vowed to end the 'softly, softly' approach for dealing with teaching unions 'He called the National Education Union the 'No Education Union' and said that William Wragg [the Conservative MP for Hazel Grove] is their only sane member,' a source said. Mr Williamson has previously come under criticism for his handling of reopening schools amid the coronavirus pandemic. He argued on plans for primary school children to return to school before summer, but later changed his mind, saying this would be encouraged. Robert Halfon, a senior Tory MP and chairman of the education select committee, said: 'The risks to children not learning beyond September are enormous. We can't delay any longer.' This comes soon after education unions set up a fresh clash with politicians and parents over Boris Johnson's plan for full school attendance in September, branding it 'pure fantasy'. The Prime Minister told MPs on Friday afternoon that school education will restart fully at the start of the autumn term under 'one metre plus' rules. The plans allow people to sit less than two metres apart as long as they use some other mitigation measures, such as masks or plastic screens. Advertisement

People took to Twitter to praise Mrs Wood's 'refreshing honesty', with one account posting: 'Pauline Wood head teacher from grange park tells the truth about lazy teachers doing nothing during lockdown and gets suspended'.

Another social media user commented: 'I think Pauline Wood deserves a pat on the back for being honest. I work with teachers everyday and I can guarantee some really are lazy.

'Some have not worked 10 hours a week let alone flat out.'

Mrs Wood has been at Grange Park for 15 years and has been repeatedly praised in Ofsted reports for her 'relentless' pursuit of 'excellence'. She was credited with overseeing an extremely positive impact on pupils' outcomes' and saw the school shortlisted for a prestigious TES award in 2012.

The head teacher said she did not know who had nominated the school for the award, but said she was thrilled.

She said at the time: 'The letter came as a fantastic surprise for us, the staff are absolutely buzzing about it.

'It was enough to be only one of three outstanding primary schools in Sunderland, but to be recognised nationally is even better. When you think of the area we are in, we don't get everything handed to us.

'We have to fight really hard for everything we get so this is wonderful.'

Mrs Wood has also championed breakfast clubs to help low-income working families avoid going on the dole.

She had kept the price of the school's club at just 1 for nine years to 2014 in a big boost for parents.

She told the Sunderland Echo in 2014: 'The cost of childcare can be a big barrier to working, and the lower-paid the job, the less likely it is that parents will feel it is worth it.

'Even breakfast clubs can start to add up if parents have more than one child at school and need to use them every day. The cost can then eat into a salary and make it seem pointless for parents to work.

'But it is vital that parents are given the opportunity to work and set a good example for their children. And that's why we haven't raised the price of our breakfast club in almost a decade.'

Grange Park, which is in one of the most deprived areas in the country and has 226 pupils, now sits in the top two per cent for phonics and maths at key stage two level nationally.

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

Chair of Grange Park school governors Mary Hodgson said that she could not comment on personal circumstances as it would be a 'breach of confidentiality'.

Mrs Wood was working out her notice period and a job advert for her position closed in March. It offered applicants a salary of between 57,986 and 67,183 a year for the permanent role, starting from September 1.

The advert read: 'Grange Park Primary School is looking for a dynamic, ambitious and committed headteacher to join and lead our thriving, friendly and inspirational school in September 2020. Here at Grange Park Primary School honesty, integrity and ambition are qualities which lie at the heart of all we do.

'We believe that every child can achieve their potential. We strive to give the children in our school the lifelong learning skills to empower them to choose the life they want. Our lasting message is, ''never give up''.'

General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Geoff Barton said head teachers can 'give their perspective and insight to the public via the media'.

He added that general advice to workers is for them to have three key messages for the interviews and to be helped by someone when they prepare.

It comes as education unions set up a fresh clash with politicians and parents this week over Boris Johnson's plan for full school attendance in September using reduced social distancing.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) called talk of relaxing the two-metre social distancing rule to one metre to get children back to school 'conjecture' and 'pure fantasy'.

Geoff Barton, of the ASCL, said: 'There has been a lot of conjecture that relaxing the two-metre social distancing rule to one metre will allow all children to return to school in September.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said Mr Johnson's claim was 'pure fantasy', and Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: If social distancing of one metre remains in place, that will still be difficult for schools'

Social distancing measures as a child studies on a marked table at Kempsey Primary School in Worcester, May 18, 2020

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

'This is pure fantasy. It may be possible to accommodate more pupils in classrooms with a one-metre (plus) separation, but not all pupils. There just isn't enough space in many classrooms to do this.

'It isn't a magic bullet, and nor is the Education Secretary's suggestion on Friday of doubling the size of social bubbles to 30, in order to facilitate a full return to schools. We need a proper strategy to bring children back into schools and colleges based in reality and on public health guidance.'

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: 'The NEU is of course in favour of all children being back in school, but even with a one-metre rule that will need more teachers and more spaces. It is not clear whether in less than three months the science will permit classes of 30. If social distancing of one metre remains in place, that will still be difficult for schools.'

78% of education settings that normally have children in nursery, Reception, Year 1 or Year 6 were open to at least one of these year groups on June 18, DfE says This is up from June 11 when over two in three (67 per cent) primary schools opened more widely to pupils. 92 per cent of settings were open in some capacity on June 18 - the same as the previous week, according to the Department for Education (DfE) statistics. Around 1,160,000 children attended an education setting on June 18, representing 12.2 per cent of pupils who normally attend, up from 9.1 per cent on June 11. Attendance continues to be highest among Year 6 pupils, with 34 per cent of all Year 6 children in attendance on June 18, up from 26 per cent on June 11. Attendance was 26 per cent in Year 1, up from a fifth the previous week, and 29 per cent in reception, up from 22 per cent on June 11, the figures show. Advertisement

Proposals being finalised by Gavin Williamson will continue the 'bubble' system that has allowed some primary classes to start up again already.

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.

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 sneeze or cough with a tissue nearby.

Bubble schemes are being planned for secondary schools, where the situation is complex as pupils move around the school for different subjects.

A Whitehall source said the plans, which will be published next week, would allow Mr Johnson to meet his pledge to get all children back full-time for the start of the school year in September.

The move will allow ministers to bypass opposition from teaching unions, who 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 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.'
Britons could be waiting up to two years for NHS treatment due to Covid-19 infection control rules.

Almost half of heart, stomach and other specialists will be working at reduced levels for the next 12 months, according to the Royal College of Physicians.

Non-emergency NHS surgery was paused for three months in mid-March to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak. They have only just resumed.

Medics are now conducting fewer procedures due to the time it takes to scrub down equipment between visits and put on and dispose of protective gear.

Social distancing measures mean fewer patients can sit in waiting rooms or on wards at once, which could halve the number of people seen by a specialist per day.

The Covid-19 outbreak has sparked a huge backlog in people waiting for treatment, including heart disease and arthritis patients.

Hospitals were cleared and appointments and surgeries pushed back to make way for the surge in Covid-19 patients needing care.

Leaders in respiratory medicine and gastroenterology expect it to take two years to clear the backlog, while those in cardiology are expecting it to take about 21 months.

This is a best-case scenario, however, and a second wave of coronavirus could exacerbate the treatment delays, the RCP warns.

Britons could be waiting up to two years for lifesaving treatments on the NHS due to new Covid-19 infection control rules. Doctors are conducting fewer procedures due to the time it takes to scrub down equipment between visits and put on and dispose of protective gear (file)

The average waiting time for NHS treatment has shot up during the coronavirus epidemic because hospitals were forced to cancel non-urgent operations to make room for an expected surge in Covid-19 patients

Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the RCP, said: 'We need to be honest with patients that things will take longer and that we are working as hard as possible to restore services to pre-pandemic levels.

'We cannot underestimate the extent of the work that still lies ahead for the NHS workforce, and the very real possibility of further COVID-19 outbreaks and additional waves, which would of course increase the challenge ahead.

'Medical specialities are doing their utmost to keep up with demand, and will need the ongoing support of NHS England the Department of Health and Social Care to get services back on an even keel.

Cancer time bomb fears as NHS figures show 60% drop in urgent referrals made in April compared to last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic Thousands of cancers could have been missed due to a huge drop in referrals amid the coronavirus crisis, shocking figures today suggested. NHS statistics show 79,573 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in England in April 2020  60 per cent down from 199,217 in April 2019. Cancer charity MacMillan says roughly 210,000 people should have been referred in April this year, suggesting roughly 130,000 people were missed. Around 7 per cent of those would usually require cancer treatment, meaning around 9,000 people might have went undiagnosed. Experts told MailOnline 'it's not that there are less people with cancer, it's that they are not being diagnosed because of a bottleneck in the NHS'. The health service is facing a shocking backlog of cases as it tries to return to normal after shutting down most of its services to cope with the pandemic. Leading charities estimate 2.5million cancer patients have missed out on vital tests and treatment this year because of the crisis. Figures also showed the number of people waiting over a year for NHS treatment trebled in April, magnifying the damaging knock-on effect of Covid on the nation's health. Advertisement

'In the short to medium term it is likely that doctors will need to further prioritise care, as they have always done, to respond to the reduced capacity levels across the NHS.

'We also need to be honest with patients that things will take longer and that we are working as hard as possible to restore services to pre-pandemic levels.

'The public can also play a critical role by following social distancing guidance which will keep COVID-19 infection rates down allowing services to focus on the recovery of normal NHS business.'

At the beginning of the pandemic, specialist doctors were redeployed to ICU and Covid wards to cope with the surge in patients.

But tens of thousands of these clinicians have still not returned to their normal specialty, which is also delaying vital services for non-Covid patients.

In the middle of May, 32 per cent of RCP's 25,500 members in the UK reported working in a clinical area that was different from their normal practice.

By the start of June this had reduced to 22 per cent, meaning one-fifth of the workforce were still working outside their usual area.

When asked how long it will take for the NHS to get back to pre-pandemic levels, 98 per cent of RCP members thought it will take at least six months.

Seven out of 10 believe it will take over a year and four in ten said more than 18 months.

Meanwhile, it emerged last night that patients will have to wait up to a year for hip and knee replacements due to the new Covid infection control measures.

Doctors are concerned that some patients on the waiting list are being prescribed highly addictive opioid painkillers.

Professor Philip Turner, the immediate past president of the British Orthopaedic Association, said hospitals were 're-prioritising' patients awaiting operations, including hip and knee replacements, to identify which cases were the most urgent.

He said: 'It may seem unfair to those who have been on the list the longest and who thought they were just about to come in.

'I've been talking to some who received their admission letters  they've now been told 'no'. But they may not be the ones who require treatment the most urgently.'

Professor Turner said that 'sadly', many would be waiting longer than six months, adding: 'I think it could be up to a year.'

The latest NHS figures show the numbers of patients waiting a year or more for operations or other procedures has increased by ten-fold compared to 2019.

A total of 11,042 people had been waiting at least 52 weeks as of April, up from 1,047 in April last year.

Professor Derek Alderson, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said the increasingly long waits were a 'cause of great concern', adding 'a substantial number of patients in these categories are people waiting for orthopaedic joint replacements'.

Nigel Edwards, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust think-tank said: 'The reality is some people may end up waiting a very long time. All the orthopaedic surgeons in an area will need to look at their waiting lists and say, look, if we can do a thousand cases and we've got 2,000 people, who do we do?'

Under the NHS constitution, patients shouldn't wait longer than 18 weeks for routine procedures.

The situation is being made worse because GPs slashed their referrals during the coronavirus outbreak, meaning many patients aren't even making it on to the waiting list.

Figures from the British Orthopaedic Association show the number of patients referred for orthopaedic procedures in April was down by 80 per cent  33,966 referrals compared to 176,033 in April 2019.

Professor Turner said: 'To get back to anything like the throughput we normally would, we're probably looking at two years.'

He added that he was 'very concerned' that patients were being put on opioid painkillers by their GPs because they were in such agony.

'We have concerns about the sorts of analgesia (painkilling medication) they may be receiving. The other big controversy is about the use of opiates for analgesia.
A dancing studio has been investigated by Chinese authorities after sending a team of pole dancers to give seductive shows outside a school in front of children, according to reports.

Footage shows one performer erotically moving her body as a boy and a girl applauded excitedly on a public square.

The dancers were reportedly trying to recruit students for the studio through the provocative performance.

One clip released by the local TV station shows a performer in a blue dress dancing on the pole in front of children and adults on Thursday in China as a host yelled at the crowd 'let's applaud'

The shocking scenes were filmed on Thursday outside the Beicheng Middle School in the Gangzha District of Nantong, reported Nantong Radio and Television Station.

According to the report, the street pole dancing show began in the evening and lasted until after the nightfall.

One clip released by the TV station shows a performer in a blue dress dancing on the pole in front of children and adults as a host yelled at the crowd 'let's applaud'.

Two security guards told a reporter from Nantong Radio and Television Station that the dancers were there to attract potential clients for their dancing studio outside the school

The shocking scenes were filmed on Thursday outside the Beicheng Middle School (pictured)

Another clip shows a scantily clad woman busting a move to disco music in broad daylight to passersby.

Two security guards at the school told a reporter from Nantong Radio and Television Station that the crew were there to attract potential clients for their dancing studio.

They claimed that the dancers refused to leave when they tried to drive them away.

But the dancing studio told Shanghai-based news website The Paper that the dancers were there to promote the company, not to recruit students.

The studio apologised for the matter, claiming they had picked the wrong venue for the publicity stunt.

The Nantong Education Bureau was investigating the incident, the report said.
Mounds of rubbish were left strewn across beauty spots this weekend as crowds of illegal campers were fined after blazing a path of 'destruction' through the Lake District.

Police and park wardens approached more than 200 people who pitched up at the National Park on Saturday night alone, where they cut down trees, snapped off handrails for firewood and left litter.

Officials were met with confrontation from some of the campers they told to leave, with a few apparently insisting it was the job of someone else to clear up their mess.

Rubbish was also littered across Jesus Green, Christ Piece's park and Midsummer Common in Cambridge, where council workers spent today removing discarded bottles, cans and nitrous oxide canisters.

Police and park wardens approached more than 200 people who pitched up at the Lake District National Park (pictured) on Saturday night alone

Officials were met with confrontation from some of the campers they told to leave, with a few apparently insisting it was the job of someone else to clear up their mess

On Brean Beach in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset (pictured), bins were overflowing with dozens of discarded bottles and plastic bags

In Shrewsbury, two students from Shrewsbury College collected 20 bags of rubbish left by the river after seeing images of the weekend's aftermath online

There were similar scenes in Norris Green Park, Liverpool, where volunteers spent this morning collecting litter and broken bottles which were abandoned on the grass after a weekend of warm weather.

The volunteer group, Friends of Norris Green Park, explained they had left the area spotless on Saturday afternoon, but less than 48 hours later there was devastation across the park.

On Brean Beach in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, bins were overflowing with dozens of discarded bottles and plastic bags.

Day trippers also left behind a trail of litter in the quarry below Ffordd Clegir in Caernarfon, Wales after the weekend, with inflatables left floating in the water.

And in Shrewsbury, two students from Shrewsbury College collected 20 bags of rubbish left by the river after seeing images of the weekend's aftermath online.

There were similar scenes in Norris Green Park, Liverpool, where volunteers spent this morning collecting litter and broken glass which was abandoned on the grass

Rubbish was also littered across the Jesus Green, Christ Piece's park (pictured) and Midsummer Common in Cambridge, where council workers spent today removing discarded bottles, cans and nitrous oxide canisters

A council worker goes about emptying bins and removing rubbish from Christ's Pieces park in Cambridge

Discarded bottles were also found on Midsummer Common in Cambridge following the weekend

A cyclist on Midsummer Common passes discarded litter left behind after the weekend

Wild camping in the Lake District is still forbidden as part of the lockdown rules banning overnight stays.

Park authorities are up in arms over the scale of this weekend's damage, which saw campers snap off handrails to burn as firewood.

More dismaying photos show bark had been stripped back from the trees in vandalism which will take 'years to heal'.

South Lakes Police, part of the wider Cumbria force, branded the damage inflicted by illegal campers as 'senseless' and warned abusers face zero tolerance.

Over the weekend, 11 Britons from areas including Birmingham, London, Liverpool and St Helens received fixed penalty notices for camping in tents at Blea Tarn.

Another 20 people from Carlisle were found having an overnight party on Catbells near Keswick.

The force issued more than 20 fixed penalty notices to offenders at the weekend.

Slamming the 'appalling behaviour,' the force tweeted: 'The destruction of this beautiful place will not be tolerated. If you can't abide by the countryside code then please don't visit.'

Tony Watson, head of communications at the Lake District, tweeted: 'Our teams and those of our partners have spoken to over 200 individuals tonight.

'From 20 people partying on Catbells, to people camping with fires on summit cairns, to people who've driven miles down paths to camp, to drunken camps by tarns and everything in between.

'Its not just the illegal camping. It's the behaviour that goes with the illegal camping.

In Ffordd Clegir, Caernarfon, glass and plastic bottles were left floating in the water today

Litter is seen piled up in the quarry below Ffordd Clegir in Caernarfon, Wales after the weekend, with inflatables left floating in the water

Other images from today show litter strewn across the grass in beauty spots across Britain

Rubbish was also piled up next to fences in outdoor areas, left by weekend day trippers

On beaches, glass and plastic bottles were strewn across the sand by visitors

'A few minutes of senseless fun results in impacts that will take years to heal. Refused to leave after very polite requests. Fined.'

Richard Leafe, chief executive of the Lake District National Park Authority added: 'We welcome every visitor to their national park, especially those here for the first time.

'I'm saddened by the behaviour of some during the past few weeks. Leaving litter, cutting down trees and blocking gates affects real people, including volunteers, who selflessly give their time to help look after this special place.'

Cumbria Police confirmed they had taken part in engagement and enforcement patrols targeting anti-social behaviour and Coronavirus Regulation breaches at the National Park.

Those involved in the multi-agency operation, including the Lake District National Park Authority and the National Trust, spoke to more than 200 people on Saturday night alone.

The force issued more than 20 fixed penalty notices to offenders in the Lake District at the weekend

On Brean Beach, locals were dismayed to find overflowing bins with bottles and plastic bags across the sand

One user said: 'This was the rubbish left on Brean Beach yesterday. Im sure humans were not like this before lockdown, so why now!!'

Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Slattery, chairman of Cumbria's Local Resilience Forum, said: 'Many of the visitors had travelled some distance and whilst some claimed they didn't understand or know about the regulations, others admitted they knew there were restrictions in place and decided to ignore them anyway.

'Camping in most of the locations found over the weekend is normally prohibited by local bylaws.

'Over recent weeks Cumbria has welcomed increasing numbers of people visiting the National Parks and the vast majority are following the rules, enjoying our wonderful county safely and respecting local communities but a number of people are engaging in anti-social and illegal behaviour that we will not tolerate.

'Damage caused through cutting down trees, destroying fences for firewood and leaving rubbish or discarded equipment are all unacceptable in any circumstances, regardless of the pandemic.

'Overnight stays are not permitted until July 4 and all those visiting should be aware of the Countryside Code and understand that it is their own responsibility to ensure that they do not leave any sign of their stay after they have left.

'All the public authorities in Cumbria welcome the opening of local businesses and the safeguarding of local jobs. Our only ask is that we all do our bit to protect and preserve the very environment that attracts so many visitors to this important World Heritage Site.'
 Flash

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov on Sunday, with both sides calling for solidarity and cooperation in global efforts against COVID-19 and stop of politicizing the pandemic.

China has always highly valued the development of friendly relations with Turkmenistan and treated Turkmenistan as a good friend, a good brother and a good partner, Wang said.

Stressing that Chinese President Xi Jinping attaches importance to establishing trust and friendship with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Wang said the two heads of state have kept close contact and provided strategic guidance to the development of the bilateral ties.

Despite the changing international and regional situation, China will not change its policy of developing friendly relations with Turkmenistan, Wang said.

"We are willing to work with the Turkmen side to make our relationship a model of treating each other on an equal footing, mutual respect and mutual benefit," Wang added.

In the conversation, Wang also expressed appreciation over Turkmenistan's support for China in combating the pandemic and commended the Central Asian country's strict prevention and control measures.

The COVID-19 pandemic once again proves that the whole world is a community with shared future and common interests, and solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to defeat the disease, Wang said.

It is a regret, Wang said, that some countries have been politicizing the pandemic, slandering and stigmatizing China and even making lies for their own benefits.

Their words and deeds erode the bottom line of morality and will eventually be rejected by the whole international community, Wang said.

Wang pointed out that the Chinese side would like to continue exchanges with Turkmenistan in flexible and diverse forms to push forward their cooperation, and minimize the impact of the pandemic on such cooperation.

The two sides should sign as soon as possible cooperation documents to align the initiative of jointly building the Belt and Road with Turkmenistan's development strategy to revive the Silk Road, and continue to maintain and develop long-term, stable and strategic cooperation on such traditional fields as natural gas, he said.

The two sides should also tap the potential, expand cooperation in the medical and health field, and constantly enrich the connotation of their relations, Wang said.

China is willing to strengthen communication and collaboration with Turkmenistan on international affairs, firmly support each other, and safeguard the common interests of both sides as developing countries and emerging markets, he said.

For his part, Meredov said that Turkmenistan highly values the high level of the Turkmenistan-China strategic partnership.

The two sides maintain close collaboration in the political and diplomatic domains, and share with each other their firm support in international affairs, he said.

The Turkmen side highly appreciates the tremendous efforts and major achievements made by the Chinese government in fighting the epidemic, and thanks the Chinese side for taking proper care of the Turkmen citizens in China, Meredov said.

The Turkmen side believes that epidemics should under no circumstance be politicized as such an attempt is not conducive to international anti-epidemic cooperation, he said.

Meredov said that Turkmenistan has always been committed to strengthening traditional friendly relations with China, and is willing to maintain contact at the top level and between various departments of the two countries in a flexible manner, and promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

The Turkmen side believes that the Hong Kong and Xinjiang issues are purely China's internal affairs, and according to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, no country has the right to interfere, he added.
The EU and UK negotiation teams met face-to-face for the first time since March today amid intense efforts to break the deadlock over trade terms.

David Frost and Michel Barnier gathered around a large circular table in Brussels this morning, as they tried to thrash out differences on fishing rights and demands to obey the bloc's rules.

The discussions were paused when the coronavirus struck, with both Mr Frost and Mr Barnier coming down with symptoms. When they resumed it was over video conferencing, which were said to be limiting progress.

But Mr Johnson and EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen agreed at a summit earlier this month that the face-to-face meetings would restart in a bid to inject new momentum.

The PM has insisted there is no chance of extending the Brexit transition period beyond the end of December, despite jibes from Brussels that the UK cannot afford another hit after the pandemic.

The main sticking points are over rights to access UK fishing waters, and whether Britain must comply with the bloc's state aid rules and environmental, social and labour standards in return for a free trade deal.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned over the weekend that the UK will have to 'live with the consequences' of Mr Johnson's plan to ditch close economic ties with the EU.

'We need to let go of the idea that it is for us to define what Britain should want. That is for Britain to define  and we, the EU27, will respond appropriately,' the German Chancellor said.

David Frost (pictured left) and Michel Barnier met face-to-face for the first time since March this morning, as they tried to thrash out differences on fishing rights and demands to obey the bloc's rules

The discussions were paused when the coronavirus struck, with both Mr Frost and Mr Barnier (pictured today) coming down with symptoms

Downing Street has announced that Mr Frost is replacing Sir Mark Sedwill as the government's national security adviser in September, effectively setting a hard deadline on the trade talks.

The PM's spokesman underlined the schedule today by saying that no-one else will be appointed to take Mr Frost's current role.

'It (the post) will cease to exist once the talks with the EU have concluded one way or another later this year,' the spokesman said.

'We have been clear on a number of occasions that these talks shouldn't drag and that want and need them to concluded by the autumn.'

Mr Frost, a career diplomat, will move to his new role by the beginning of September. This means that talks with Brussels over a free trade deal will have to be completed by the end of August at the latest.

If no agreement is reached by then, the UK will leave without a deal when the transition period ends on December 31.

The Government hopes the deadline will increase pressure on EU leaders to make concessions which would make it easier to seal a free trade deal.

The Prime Minister's decision to appoint two successors to Sir Mark  a new national security adviser and a new Cabinet Secretary  is designed to ensure Britain can play a major part on the world stage.

In another break from tradition, Mr Frost's is a political appointment rather than a civil service one  meaning he is more akin to a special adviser.

Regarded as a close associate of Dominic Cummings, the 55-year-old has no previous national security experience. However, he will now be the principal adviser to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on national security strategy, policy and planning for emergencies.

The negotiating teams met around a large circular table in Brussels today

It is unclear who will step into the Cabinet Secretary position from September, but Simon Case is hotly tipped to be gearing up for a promotion. Mr Case was appointed permanent secretary in No10 amid the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Frost is currently the Prime Minister's Europe Adviser and the UK's Chief Negotiator, having previously served as Special Adviser to Mr Johnson when he was Foreign Secretary.

Speaking after news of his appointment today, Mr Frost said he will 'of course remain Chief Negotiator for the EU talks and these will remain my top single priority until those negotiations have concluded, one way or another.'

Born in Derby, Mr Frost won a scholarship to Nottingham High School before going on to study French and history at St John's College, Oxford. He joined the Foreign Office in 1987, with his first posting taking him to the British High Commission in Cyprus.
More than 150 protesters gathered outside New York's Museum of Natural History yesterday in an effort to save a statue of President Theodore Roosevelt from being removed.

During the hour-long demonstration speakers made the case for keeping the bronze effigy of Roosevelt firmly in its place at the Museum's entrance, where it has stood since 1940.

The museum had announced its plans to remove the statue of the former president last week after gaining approval from Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York City.

The statue features Roosevelt being flanked by a Native American man and an African man while riding on horse back, suggesting they are 'subjugated and racially inferior', de Blasio said in a statement.

A rally lead by the New York Young Republican Club calls for the Equestrian Statue of Theodore Roosevelt to remain in place on June 28, 2020 in New York City

Ellen V. Futter, the museum's president, told the publication that the removal was more about the statues 'hierarchical composition' than a reflection on Roosevelt.

Gavin Wax, president of the New York Young Republicans Club, responsible for the demonstration told the New York Post: 'This statue is of a proud American. Was he perfect? No. No one was perfect he did a lot for this country.

'We're here today because we've bettered ourselves as a society and we continue to better ourselves as a society. But we'll never be able to do that anymore if we continue to tear down our history and forget our past  and we'll be doomed to repeat it.'

The group say they do not think the statue should be removed as it would leave society 'doomed to repeat history'

Counter protesters arrived shortly after carrying 'Black Lives Matter' signs

The American Museum of Natural History has requested that the City of New York and Mayor Bill de Blasio remove the statue as part of a movement to remove racist monuments

The group held signs that read 'keep Roosevelt, fire De Blasio' and left red and white flowers at the monument.

David Marcus, an organizer of the rally told crowds: 'We are fighting over the last will and testament of the United States.'

Barricades erected around the monument kept protesters to a confined area as speakers told the crowd not to 'erase history'.

Barricades erected around the monument kept protesters to a confined area as speakers told the crowd not to 'erase history'

The group held signs that read 'keep Roosevelt, fire De Blasio' and left red and white flowers at the monument

View of the President Theodore Roosevelt statue outside The American Museum of Natural History on June 23, 2020 in New York City

Theodore Roosevelt and his bronze statue Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909. The Republican, whose face is depicted on Mount Rushmore alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, is credited with laying the groundwork for the modern Democratic party. His progressive policies leveled the playing field between rich and poor, and this mantle would be carried forward in the modern liberalism of his cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency. Teddy Roosevelt called himself a 'new nationalist,' and believed strongly in egalitarianism. The equestrian statue of the 33rd governor of New York outside the American Museum of Natural History was erected in 1939. Roosevelt had developed a 'cowboy' image and that of a brave, masculine warrior during his presidency. He was a great conservationist, setting up America's first National Parks, and also a foreign policy interventionist who proudly built up the US Navy with the Great White Fleet. It is through this context that we can see Roosevelt depicted as the bold colonialist explorer, guided through the wilderness by one figure representing Native America and the other, Africa. Advertisement

A group of counter-protesters arrived soon after, organised by a black Evangelical group from Georgia, to support the removal of the statue which they called 'glorified colonialism'.

Counter protesters carried 'Black Lives Matter' signs and also had speakers make their argument for the removal of the statue.

The statue has long been a contentious point and was vandalized in 2017 when protesters splashed red liquid on the statue's base to represent blood and published a statement calling for its removal as an emblem of 'patriarchy, white supremacy and settler-colonialism.'

Following this the museum even created an exhibition to explain its decision to keep the statue that the public has 'long found disturbing', despite what it called 'Roosevelt's troubling views on race'.

In the exhibition last year, the museum acknowledged its 'imperfect history'.

Futter said the museum objects to the statue but not to Roosevelt, a pioneering conservationist whose father was a founding member of the institution and who served as New York's governor before becoming the 26th president.

Ms Futter, the museum's president, said in a statement: 'Over the last few weeks, our museum community has been profoundly moved by the ever-widening movement for racial justice that has emerged after the killing of George Floyd.

'We have watched as the attention of the world and the country has increasingly turned to statues as powerful and hurtful symbols of systemic racism.

'Simply put, the time has come to move it.'

While de Blasio's statement read: '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.

'The City supports the Museum's request. It is the right decision and the right time to remove this problematic statue.'

Governor Andrew Cuomo has also backed the decision to remove the statue.

Theodore Roosevelt IV, a great-grandson of the president and museum trustee, claims: 'The composition of the Equestrian Statue does not reflect Theodore Roosevelt's legacy. It is time to move the statue and move forward.'
A teenager has today denied violent disorder following a street party in London in which 27 police officers were injured in clashes with revellers.

Wise Gambou, 19, appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court on Monday, while three others have been charged, following an unlicensed music event in Brixton on Wednesday.

Officers were pelted with bottles and chased away by a mob of revellers after police tried to break-up the event in Overton Road.

Two officers were taken to hospital following the clashes, while a number of police cars were damaged.

The Met Police announced earlier today that four people have now been charged and four others have been arrested.

Gambou, of Chalk Road, east London, appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court today after he was charged with violent disorder. He attended his hearing over video link and indicated a not guilty plea.

Police were confronted by a mob and chased out of Brixton, London, during an incident on Wednesday

The incident took place in Overton Road, in Brixton, London on Wednesday when police went to break-up an unlicensed street party

Gambou, of Chalk Road, east London, appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court (pictured) today after he was charged with violent disorder. He attended his hearing over video link and indicated a not guilty plea

District Judge Julie Cooper ruled the case was too serious to be dealt with at the magistrates court.

Gambou will now appear at Inner London Crown Court on July 27.

Donte Knight, 20, of Charles Barry Close, London, and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have also been charged with violent disorder.

They are due to appear at Croydon Magistrates' Court today.

Natasha Agyekum, 24, of Peckford Place, London has been charged with assault on an emergency services worker. She will appear at Croydon Magistrates Court on Thursday.

A further four males have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder as part of the investigation.

One male remains in custody at this time, while three males, aged 18, 22, and 28 have been bailed pending further enquiries.

It comes after police were called to Overton Road on Wednesday night after receiving reports of a large unlicensed music event in the street.

The Met Police say officers encouraged the crowd to leave the area.

But violence broke out between police and revellers when the crowd did not disperse.

Footage shared on social media last week showed police vehicles being smashed and officers pelted with bottles and chased during clashes near the Angell Town estate.

Hundreds of people appeared to be at the late night gathering in Brixton on Wednesday night

Two men set about vandalising a police car after a party in Brixton erupted into violence on Wednesday

There were a number of confrontations with police officers, who were later chased out of Brixton

Dozens of police were videoed at the scene last night (pictured left), in one clip a man could be seen advancing on officers with what appears to be a large piece of wood (pictured right)

The Metropolitan Police were authorised to put a dispersal zone in place to move the crowd on.

Home Secretary Priti Patel later condemned the scenes, which came days after a suspected terrorist was tackled to the ground by an unarmed policeman in Reading, Berkshire, on Saturday.

She said: 'These are utterly vile scenes. Just last weekend, the whole country came together to praise our heroic police officers for putting their own lives on the line to keep us safe.

'I'll be picking up with the Met Commissioner immediately.'
Australia's top scientists have warned that Victoria's surge in coronavirus cases is a 'resurgence of epic proportions' that needs to be stamped out before it puts the nation at risk.

Victoria's case numbers surged by 75 on Sunday, adjusted down to 71 on Monday, marking the biggest increase since the peak in late March that put the state into lockdown.

'I think this is clearly a second wave  the question is whether it is a ripple or the start of a tsunami,' said Professor Hamish McCallum, an infectious diseases expert from Griffith University.

Professor McCallum told science news website Scimex that Victoria had cause to lockdown hotspot suburbs.

A Defence Force member tests a man for coronavirus on Monday. Australia's top scientists have urged people to wear facemasks and say Victoria may need targeted lockdowns

Victoria's sudden surge of cases has been described as 'of epic proportions' and a danger to other states which have shown little evidence of community transmission for weeks

A Defence Force member giving coronavirus tests at Melbourne Showgrounds on Saturday. Victoria called in the army last week to help manage its outbreak, the worst in three months

'Victoria needs to stamp out these emerging spikes as quickly as possible. In addition to the increased testing, I think there is a case to lockdown the hotspot suburbs. This is surely likely to lead to Queensland in particular reassessing whether to open the borders to Victoria and New South Wales,' he said.

Not all scientists agree Victoria is experiencing a second wave, but University of NSW epidemiology professor Mary-Louise McLaws said the extent of the surge was clear when viewing a rolling 14-day average that has sharply doubled.

'This is a resurgence of epic proportion,' she said.

Pictured: health workers collecting swab samples in Broadmeadows, Melbourne, on Saturday

Premier Daniel Andrews will wait for the results of a three-day coronavirus testing blitz in 10 suburban hotspots before deciding on further measures to contain the virus

'Victoria has had three distinct risk categories - community that is mostly family clusters, quarantine hotel staff, and health providers and these could happen in NSW but what is particularly driving this is the interconnection between these three risk groups.'

Professor McLaws, a member of a World Health Organisation (WHO) advisory panel on COVID-19, told Scimex those in ring-fenced lockdown hotspots need to wear face masks to the shops and when exercising.

'All Victorians should wear face masks on public transport, and nobody should go to work sick,' she said.

'New evidence suggests recently developed reusable cloth masks can provide up to 70 per cent protection and the Australian public can be educated about how to care for a reusable mask.'

A swab sample collected at Broadmeadows, Melbourne on Saturday. Victoria is mass testing in outbreak hotspots to try to get control of the outbreak

Demonstrators at a Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne on June 6. ANU Professor Sanjaya Senanayake said it was 'not a good idea' to protest now during the covid-19 surge. People must find ways to express support for a cause other than attending a mass rally

Women in Melbourne on June 25. Several of Australia's top epidemiologists have urged people to wear facemasks as they are cheap and effective. Facemasks greatly cuts transmission and infection rates. It is especially important in enclosed spaces like shops and public transport

Sunday's surge was Victoria's biggest increase since March 31, bringing the state's total to 2099 cases on Monday night, of which 288 were active.

Most of the new spike in infections came from community-based transmissions rather than from overseas travellers.

Australian National University (ANU) Professor Peter Collignon said many new cases came from those going to work or social gatherings when sick.

A medical professional administers a test to a member of the public at a pop-up coronavirus testing facility in Melbourne

'We're going to live with this for the next two years. This virus isn't going away,' Professor Collignon told Nine's A Current Affair.

As Victoria called in the army to help manage the coronavirus outbreak last week, it was revealed at least 30 per cent of people who went through hotel quarantine in the state refused to take a test - but were allowed to leave after 14 days anyway.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

RMIT University associate professor Taghrid Istivan said security guards and cleaners at quarantine hotels had not been trained properly.

This led to a spread of cases from quarantined travellers to the workers and then to their families, with the spread increased by the cold weather when socially connected large families gather in closed spaces for longer, he told Scimex.

Professor Raina MacIntyre, Head of the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute at the University of NSW, said Victoria's surge revealed silent transmission - and the biggest threat was asymptomatic transmission by people who may not even know they are infected.

Face masks were a 'no-brainer', she said.

'We need to use everything available, and stop the confused and negative messaging about masks,' she said.

'Masks work. They are cheap and effective. They do not increase risky behaviour or make people forget to wash their hands, as some people suggest - there is no scientific evidence to support this.

'In fact, the real-world evidence is the opposite - that masks reduce the risk by 85 per cent. So let's start some positive messaging and give people advice on how to make their own mask and how to use masks.'

Professor MacIntyre also said more people need to download the Government's Covid-19 Safe App to help with contact tracing, as it might make the difference between losing control of the breakout or not.

As worldwide cases numbers soared past 10.2 million on Monday, and global deaths passed 505,000, Professor MacIntyre warned that many countries and the WHO were ignoring overwhelming evidence that COVID-19 can be spread by the air.

This would result in preventable outbreaks, she said.

Only four of Victoria's new cases recorded on Sunday were linked to known outbreaks, with 26 detected through routine testing and 19 under investigation.

Victoria's seven-day rolling average for community transmissions shows the outbreak surge is now spreading locally

Victoria's seven-day rolling average for overseas transmissions shows] no spike. The world has passed 10.2 million cases, but the drastic reduction in global travel has slowed inbound cases

Premier Daniel Andrews said authorities are waiting on the full results of a three-day coronavirus testing blitz in 10 suburban hotspots to come through before deciding on any further measures to contain the virus.

He has not ruled out a lockdown for the worst-affected areas.

'That is not our preference but we'll do it if we need to,' he said.

Plans to ease restrictions were put on hold by the state government last week, while the number of visitors allowed at homes was reduced to five.

ANU Professor Sanjaya Senanayake said he hoped Victoria would be able to control the surge.

'I'm hopeful it doesn't spread around Australia,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Monday night.

An elderly man is tested on Saturday in Melbourne. Covid-19 can spread through the air. 'Reusable cloth masks can provide up to 70 percent protection': says epidemiologist

Australians were previously warned to stay away from six council in Melbourne: Hume, Casey and Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia and Darebin, when the clusters first began to surge

'I wouldn't call it a second wave at this stage.'

Professor Senanayake said even though the risk of transmission outdoors was less than indoors, people should find new ways of showing solidarity with a cause they care about instead of attending mass rallies.

'I don't think protests are a good idea at the moment in Melbourne,' he said.

Queensland University of Technology public health expert Professor Gerry Fitzgerald told Scimex it was critical that Victoria get control of its outbreak now.

'Australia's response has been the envy of much of the world and is currently at risk because of what is happening in Victoria,' he said.

Professor Fitzgerald said other states and territories were concerned as they have had little evidence of sustained community transmission for weeks.

'It would be in no one's interest for undetected disease amongst people in Victoria to spread to other states and cause further community-based outbreaks in those states.'
Nearly 100 patients had to be evacuated from a flooded Massachusetts hospital on Sunday as huge storms wreaked havoc across the northeast.

Eight feet of water ripped through the basement of Norwood Hospital, tearing down doors and forcing terrified workers to sprint to safety as a refrigerator and a vending machine started floating.

Around 20 patients from the intensive care unit were evacuated after 7pm and were taken to another hospital. Later in the evening, when the department still had no power due to water damage, between 60 and 70 patients were transported away.

The emergency department was also closed off and is still shut this morning.

Luckily no-one was injured in the sudden flooding and water is still being pumped out of the basement by workers today.

Nearly 100 patients had to be evacuated from flooded Norwood Hospital (the flooded car park, pictured) in Massachusetts on Sunday as huge storms wreaked havoc across the northeast

Eight feet of water ripped through the basement of Norwood Hospital, tearing down doors and forcing terrified workers to sprint to safety as a refrigerator and a vending machine started floating. Pictured: Cars in the hospital's car park were submerged in flood water

Wow! Cars flooded and stuck in mud at this parking lot at Norwood Hospital after severe thunderstorms hit this area. Roads have been flooded all across this town @boston25 pic.twitter.com/1n9wpABhtD  Litsa Pappas (@LitsaPappas) June 28, 2020

A car was almost completely underwater after severe storms stuck Norwood yesterday

At least 26 million Americans are being hit by waves of severe storms which are causing chaos across the eastern states. Pictured: A submerged car in Norwood

Check out this incredible video of flooding at Norwood Hospital!  You can see water rushing through one of the parking lots and vehicles floating in the water. People inside the hospital say the generator is flooded and some of the rooms are flooding. https://t.co/ZPCMzGQ9xC pic.twitter.com/l29VMgAMNK  WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) June 28, 2020

It seems Massachusetts are baring the brunt of the bad weather as a flash flood emergency warning in Norwood (pictured) was issued to last through to 7pm Sunday evening

It marked the first time The National Weather Service issued such a warning for the area since Storm Arthur brought chaos to Norwood (flooding yesterday pictured) in 2014

The chief of the Norwood Police Department dubbed the the flooding an 'extraordinary weather event'

Hospital food services worker Michael Ware told Boston 25 News: 'It was something like a movie, it was like we were running away from water when it burst open all the doors in the basement.

'Kitchen appliances, everything in the basement is currently floating. Even if its heavy, it doesnt matter, its floating.'

Cars in the hospital's car park were entirely submerged in flood water.

Norwood General Manager Tony Mazzucco told NBC: 'Thankfully no one was injured as the result of the power outage, and the most critical patients were moved out of the hospital.

'Crews are working to restore power back to the hospital and remove water in the building.'

Heavy downpours made it near impossible for cars to navigate through severely-flooded roads

Water was seen rushing through the streets in the region yesterday, leaving cars stranded. In one area, the water lifted two manhole covers and sent them careening down the road

A tree blew down into the road as devastating storms struck Massachusetts yesterday

Flash flooding caused damage to roads in Norwood (left) and flooded car parks as the storms moved in

At least 26 million Americans are being hit by waves of severe storms which are causing chaos across the eastern states.

It seems Massachusetts are baring the brunt of the bad weather as a flash flood emergency warning in Norwood was issued to last through to 7pm Sunday evening.

It marked the first time The National Weather Service issued such a warning for the area since Storm Arthur brought chaos to Norwood in 2014.

Water was seen rushing through the streets in the region yesterday, leaving cars stranded.

In one area, the water lifted two manhole covers and sent them careening down the road.

On Sunday, storms moved through eastern Missouri, to Southern Illinois and Indiana.

An additional 2-3 inches of rainfall was expected to hit Kentucky which, alongside the other states, was at risk of flash flooding after already taking a hefty hit on Friday.

Video from Chicago morning radio host Joe Cicero showed heavy rain, strong winds and lightning hitting Illinois on Friday.

BREAKING OVERNIGHT: Nearly 100 patients evacuated after @NorwoodHospital floods & loses power. Clean-up continues this morning.



Live reports from the scene from 5-11 a.m. on @boston25 pic.twitter.com/gLyydk8ACN  Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) June 29, 2020

Severe thunderstorms are set for the North East on Tuesday and Wednesday and outdoor plans will be disrupted

But a fresh warning came as a line of storms moved southeast through Kentucky and Tennessee, making its way into Virginia and the Carolinas.

The southeast has endured some gusty winds this weekend, with a reported tornado in Alabama making up some of 100 reports of severe weather.

Iowa and southern Minnesota were most at risk of seeing tornadoes.

As well as damaging winds across the southern Appalachians, the northern high plains and upper Midwest was at risk of severe storms too.

Ahead of a frontal system affecting the Upper Mississippi Valley and portions of the Lower Ohio Valley, storms were predicted to develop in New England on Sunday afternoon, with Boston, Hartford, New York City, Des Moines and Charlotte named some of the major cities where the weather system could strike.

Forecasts showed large hail.

Large hail and torrential downpours, combined with damaging wind gusts of up to 70mph were expected in Minnesota and Nebraska on Sunday

Heavy storms were set to cause travel disruptions on Sunday night as a line of storms moved southeast through Kentucky and Tennessee, making its way into Virginia and the Carolinas

Monday morning, more of the East Coast was set to see showers and thunderstorms

The stormy pattern was set to continue into the midweek which is also braced for damaging s travel disruptions

Severe thunderstorms are set for the North East going into Tuesday and Wednesday and outdoor plans will be disrupted, an Accuweather forecast shows.

Meanwhile a cold front is expected to bring winds to the west, posing a risk of fire growth and spread from Colorado to California.

Salt Lake City, Utah saw a fire break out overnight on Saturday. On Sunday fire danger was expected for the Central Great Basin and Southwest.

Meanwhile the biggest Saharan dust storm in 50 years was still ongoing and affecting Florida, Texas and other states already struggling with COVID-19 and respiratory problems.

The so-called 'Gorilla Dust Cloud' struck Mississippi's gulf coast Thursday after charting its path across the Caribbean this week where air quality plunged to 'hazardous' levels.

The 3,500-mile-long cloud traveled 5,000 miles from North Africa before reaching the region stretching from Florida west into Texas and north into North Carolina through Arkansas, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.
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The Golden State Killer has pleaded guilty to 26 charges of murder and kidnapping, bringing an end to a sinister, decades-long saga of kidnappings, rapes and murders, as prosecutors celebrated bringing the 'real life version of Hannibal Lecter' to justice.

Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., 74, pleaded guilty Monday to all 13 counts of murder, 13 counts of kidnapping, and confessed to 161 uncharged crimes - many of which were rapes - which go back beyond the statute of limitations.

At the end of the exhaustive hours-long hearing, which wrapped up shortly before 5pm PST, relatives and loved ones in the makeshift ballroom courtroom in Sacramento broke into applause and one woman shouted 'Goodbye! So long!'

His sentencing is expected to last for several days beginning on August 17. During that time victims will share impact statements and the judge will not impose a time limit.

DeAngelo is also accused of committing over 60 rapes in his murderous spree from 1975 to 1986, even while he was working as a police officer, in various California counties. He became known by the malevolent monikers 'Golden State Killer', 'East Area Rapist', 'Original Night Stalker', and 'Diamond Knot Killer'.

DeAngelo, frail and in an orange prison jumpsuit, had to be wheeled onto the stage at the hearing held in the ballroom of Sacramento State University.

He feebly answered 'yes' and 'yes your honor' and 'guilty' and 'I admit' when a judge asked for his plea on the string of charges.

At a press conference following the historic hearing, prosecutors celebrated their victory, finally ending a more than 45-year hunt for the notorious killer.

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Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., 74, pleaded guilty Monday to all 13 counts of murder, 13 counts of kidnapping, and confessed to 161 uncharged crimes - many of which were rapes, bringing an end to the mystery of the Golden State Killer and justice for his dozens of victims. DeAngelo pictured at his hearing in Sacramento County on Monday

DeAngelo, frail and in an orange prison jumpsuit, had to be wheeled onto the stage at the hearing held in the ballroom of Sacramento State University. He feebly answered 'yes' and 'yes your honor' and 'guilty' and 'I admit' when a judge asked for his plea on the string of charges

People at the courtroom held up photos of their loved ones during the hearing on the crimes and cheered when the hours-long hearing wrapped up

Members of the audience, including victims and family members of victims, stand as the charges are read

'Joseph DeAngelo isnt just the Golden State Killer. Having sat here today and sat that night of his interview, he is the real life version of Hannibal Lecter. Hes a cruel, intelligent, sadistic serial killer, he is a pure sociopath, he is a master manipulator,' Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said at a press conference Monday evening

'The victims in this case have lived for far too long with this trauma. Simply put, they deserve to see the defendant die in prison as a convict and not simply the accused,' Ventura County District Attorney Gregory Totten said

DeAngelo pictured huddled with his attorney public defender Diane Howard towards the end of the hearing

'Thank you for being what I call Team Justice. This has been a very long journey for justice. It has been said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. For so many there is little doubt that this journey felt like a thousand miles. This journey of passion and persistence finally led to this day of reckoning,' Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said.

'Joseph DeAngelo isnt just the Golden State Killer. Having sat here today and sat that night of his interview, he is the real life version of Hannibal Lecter. Hes a cruel, intelligent, sadistic serial killer, he is a pure sociopath, he is a master manipulator.

'We have now moved this monster, not simply from just being caught but now standing convicted... Today was a good day for the people,' she added.

She said that a huge step in bringing DeAngelo to justice came with the revolutionary new DNA tool investigative genetic geneology which led authorities to identify and arrest the serial killer.

'Im a supporter of the death penalty. I believe in it. But in the end I and my colleagues concluded that seeking death did not serve the best interests of the victims in this unique decades-old serial rape, killing case,' Ventura County District Attorney Gregory Totten said.

'The probability, given his age, the defendant would likely die before his trial and certainly before any execution could be carried out The victims in this case have lived for far too long with this trauma. Simply put, they deserve to see the defendant die in prison as a convict and not simply the accused. And that is the reason we chose this result, which I think is a just and fair result,' Totten added.

When asked if DeAngelos frail and feeble appearance in court was an act Schubert said: 'The court couldnt take his plea unless hes competent to stand trial.'

She noted that when he was arrested in 2018 he was racing down a freeway on a motorcycle. Days later when he appeared in court he was wheeled in sitting in a wheelchair.

Joseph James DeAngelo, the Golden State Killer, appears in a court hearing in California on Monday to plead guilty

DeAngelo was helped out of his wheelchair by his lawyers

The frail 74-year-old was wheeled in to the university ballroom if front of a socially distanced crowd

Two people, believed to be victims or victims' relatives, stood to listen to some of the charges being described

Journalists and victims were among the 160 people who attended the hearing on Monday

The ballroom on Monday where Joseph James DeAngelo , the Golden State Killer, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of murder and 13 counts of kidnapping to avoid the death penalty

The hearing could not take place in an ordinary courtroom because 150 of his victims and victim's relatives showed up and a larger room was needed to enforce social distancing.

Prosecutors said the time for justice was now because many of the victims had waited decades for it and were now so elderly they might not be able to wait for a jury trial.

Sacramento County prosecutor Thien Ho told the court: 'The scope of Joseph DeAngelo' crime spree is simply staggering. His monikers reflect the sweeping geographical impact of his crimes.

'Each time he escaped, slipping away silently into the night, leaving communities terrified for years.

'For over 40 years the biggest question remained unanswered who was the serial killer and rapist?'

In his guilty plea deal, DeAngelo agreed to plead guilty to all charges and to admit to uncharged attacks to avoid the death penalty. He faces 11 consecutive terms of life without parole and 15 concurrent life sentences and additional time for weapons charges.

DeAngelo as a police officer for Exeter Police Department, in the early 70s

However Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman said that the sentence is only a recommendation.

Now, DeAngelo will likely die in prison.

'Mr. DeAngelo is acknowledging his guilt for the heinous crimes he has committed,' Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton said.

'There is really nothing that could give full justice because he has committed horrendous acts and murder up and down the state of California. But at least we can now begin the process  after decades  to bring some closure to families.'

Prosecutors on Monday described how DeAngelo's semen was found at the scene of some of the crimes and matched to the relative's sample in GEDMatch.com.

Cops watched him for weeks, trailing him in a garbage truck, and stole his trash after he dumped it on the street to gain their samples of his DNA.

Once in custody, they said he 'feigned feeble incoherence in the interview room' but was heard talking to himself, saying: 'I did all that.

'I didn't have the strength to push him out, it was like he's a part of me. I didn't want to do those things.

'I pushed Jerry out and had a happy life. I did all those things. I've destroyed all their lives so now I've got to pay the price.'

Jerry is the inner personality he cryptically referred to that purportedly forced him to commit the wave of crimes that ended in 1986.

Prosecutors read through a timeline of the crimes, giving details of all the killings, before the judge asked DeAngelo how he wanted to plead.

He answered 'guilty' to the charges and answered 'I admit' to the sexual crimes that could not be charged because they are outside of the statute of limitations.

Among the attacks was on a Jane Doe and her husband in 1978. DeAngelo broke into the couple's home, tied them up with shoe strings in their bedroom to ransack the house, then forced the husband to lie face down on their bed with dishes on his back while he raped his wife in another room.

He raped her anally and vaginally and forced her to perform oral sex on him while threatening to cut off her baby son's ear and bring it to her if she resisted, the prosecutor said.

'Jane Doe and her husband went to bed at 11.30pm. John Doe recalled being awoken by a sound and seeing a male standing at the foot of his bed that male was the defendant, Joseph DeAngelo.

Chief Deputy DA at Santa Barbara District Attorney Kelly Duncan speaks during a hearing against former police officer Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. DeAngelo answered 'guilty' or 'I admit' to all of the accusations

Chief Assistant DA at Contra Costa County Venus Johnson (left) and Deputy DA at Sacramento County Thienvu Ho (right) also described some of DeAngelo's crimes

Chief Assistant DA at Ventura County Cheryl Temple (left) and Deputy DA at Sacramento County Amy Holliday (right) described in detail different crimes

'DeAangelo was holding a flashlight in his left and was pointing a revolver at John Doe. The defendant then said: "I just want food and money, that's all I'll kill you if you don't do what I say"'.

'Jane Doe then woke up at this point and the defendant told her husband to turn over and put his hands behind his back.'

He then forced her to orally copulate him, threatening to cut her baby boy's ear off and bring it to her if she resisted Prosecutor Venus Johnson describing 1978 attack

DeAngelo then used shoe strings to tie up the couple and told them to lie on their bed while he ransacked their home for 30 minutes.

He took dishes from the kitchen and placed them on their backs while he rummaged, presumably so that he would hear the dishes crash if they tried to move.

'When he returned to the couple's bedroom, he told the woman, "don't you look at me or I'll cut your f****** head off."

'He then forced her out of the bedroom, told her that if she didn't do what he said, he would kill everyone in the house, including their baby son.

'He then walked her to the family room, blindfolded her, then returned to the bedroom to put more dishes on her husband's body and said: "If these dishes fall, I'll kill everyone'".

'He then said to her: "If you don't give me a good f**k, I'll kill everyone."

Judge Michael Bowman speaks at the Sacramento County courtroom. He asked DeAngelo whether or not he understood the deal and agreed to it, to which he answered 'yes your honor'

DeAngelo pictured during Monday's hearing on his crimes in Sacramento, Calfiornia wearing a proptective face shield

'He then cut her nightgown with a knife in several places and proceeded to rape her... he then forced her to orally copulate him, threatening to cut her baby boy's ear off and bring it to her if she resisted,' prosecutor Venus Johnson said.

On another occasion, he masturbated in front of a victim and tried to rape her but couldn't, and, frustrated asked her: 'Have you ever f****d before?'

He bit that victim's breast four times. She was babysitting at the time.

Victims' family members were anxious about what to expect before the court hearing began.

'I've been on pins and needles because I just don't like that our lives are tied to him, again,' said Jennifer Carole, the daughter of Lyman Smith, a lawyer who was slain in 1980 at age 43 in Ventura County.

His wife, 33-year-old Charlene Smith, was also raped and killed.

Jane Carson-Sandler, a 1976 rape victim of the Golden State Killer flashed a thumbs up to agree with a prosecutor's statement about a part of DeAngelo's anatomy during Monday's court hearing

Golden State Killer victim Jane Carson-Sandler pictured left and right in 2018. She was 30 when she was attacked in October 1976

A guilty plea and life sentence avoids a trial or even the planned weeks-long preliminary hearing. The victims expect to confront him at his sentencing in August, where its expected to take several days to tell DeAngelo and Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman what they have suffered.

Gay and Bob Hardwick were among the survivors looking forward to DeAngelo admitting to their 1978 assault.

The death penalty was never realistic anyway, Gay Hardwick said, given DeAngelo's age and Gov. Gavin Newsom's moratorium on executions.

'He certainly does deserve to die, in my view, so I am seeing that he is trading the death penalty for death in prison.

'It will be good to put the thing to rest. I think he will never serve the sentence that we have served - weve served the sentence for 42 years.'

Over the course of the day California prosecutors took turns laying out the Golden State Killers heinous crimes in their counties. Following a lunch recess Orange County Officials discussed the 1980 killings of Keith and Patrice Harrington.

Keith, 24, and Patrice, 27 were found bludgeoned to death August 21, 1975, at their home in a gated community in Orange County's Laguna Niguel.

The lengthy list of crimes ran from at least 1973 to 1986 and involved attacks on some 106 children, men and women. In his string of heinous attacks 50 women were raped and 13 people were killed.

The crime spree began while DeAngelo was a police officer, authorities said. He served on two small-town departments during the 1970s.

Following an afternoon break DeAngelo started to admit to uncharged offenses, including rape, in seven counties in exchange for those counties not charging him.

Many of DeAngelos attacks described in court followed the same pattern: breaking into homes at night, tying up victims with shoe laces, putting dinner plates on the backs of victims to prevent them from moving and getting help, and raping his victims or forcing them to masturbate him, and searching the home for food and money.

As the egregious attacks were described, family members of victims stood up during the reading of the circumstances of their loved one's death or attacks.

Family members of Janelle Cruz, DeAngelo's last known victim, were some of the relatives to stand up and face the Golden State Killer as the charge was read out.

Relatives of one woman who was raped erupted in applause when the prosecutor read a victim's statement that DeAngelo had a small penis.

Sandy James was one of the relatives in the ballroom to hold up a photo of her late sister Debbie Strauss who was stalked and raped by DeAngelo.

THE GOLDEN STATE KILLER: HOW A VIETNAM VET TURNED COP GOT AWAY WITH RAPE, BURGLARY, KIDNAPPING AND MURDER FOR DECADES BEFORE BEING BROUGHT DOWN BY A GENEALOGY WEBSITE

DeAngelo Jr., a former cop, eluded law enforcement for decades until his DNA was linked to the crimes through GEDMatch.com, a genealogy website that one of his relatives had submitted their DNA to.

DEANGELO'S CRIMES 1974-1975: 120 burglaries in Visalia and surrounding areas June 18, 1976: Sexual assault/rape, Rancho Cordova July 17, 1976: Sexual assault/rape, Carmichael August 29, 1976: Burglary, attempted sexual assault, Rancho Cordova Sept. 4, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael Oct. 5, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Citrus Heights Oct. 9, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Rancho Cordova Oct. 18, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael Oct. 18, 1976: Carjacking, Rancho Cordova Nov. 10, 1976: Kidnapping, Citrus Heights Dec. 18, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael Jan. 18, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento Jan. 24, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Citrus Heights Feb. 7, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael Feb. 16, 1977: Assault, attempted murder, Sacramento March 8, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento March 18, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Rancho Cordova April 2, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Orangevale April 15, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael May 3, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento May 5, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Orangevale May 14, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Citrus Heights May 17, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael May 28, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento Sept. 6, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Stockton Oct. 1, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Rancho Cordova Oct. 21, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento Oct. 29, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento Nov. 10, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento Dec. 2, 1977: Attempted sexual assault, Sacramento Jan. 28, 1978: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael Jan. 29, 1979: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael Feb. 2, 1978: Brian and Katie Maggiore were killed, Rancho Cordova March 18, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Stockton April 14, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Sacramento June 5, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Modesto June 7, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Davis June 23, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Modesto June 24, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Davis July 6, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Davis Oct. 7, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Concord Oct. 13, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Concord Oct. 28, 1978: San Ramon Nov. 4, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, San Jose Dec. 2, 1978: Sexual assault/rape,San Jose Dec. 8, 1978: Sexual assault/rape (DNA link), Danville Dec. 18, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, San Ramon March 20, 1979: Sexual assault/rape, Rancho Cordova April 4, 1979: Sexual assault/rape, Fremont June 2, 1979: Sexual assault/rape, Walnut Creek June 11, 1979: Sexual assault/rape (DNA link), Danville June 25, 1979: Sexual assault/rape, Walnut Creek July 5, 1979: Attempted sexual assault, Danville Oct. 1, 1979: Attempted sexual assault/murder (no DNA) Goleta Dec. 30, 1979: 2 people killed, Goleta March 13, 1980: Sexual assault/rape, Lyman and Charlene Smith were killed (DNA link), Ventura Aug. 19, 1980: Sexual assault/rape, Keith and Patrice Harrington killed, Dana Point Feb. 5, 1981: Sexual assault/rape, Manuela Witthuhn killed (DNA link), Irvine July 27, 1981: 2 people killed (DNA link), Goleta May 4, 1986: Sexual assault/rape, Janelle Cruz killed(DNA link) Irvine Advertisement

While his real identity remained a mystery until then, his crimes earned him a series of ominous names.

First, he was the Visalia Ransacker, a burglar who ravaged people's homes from 1974-1975, stealing personal items and scattering women's underwear around the crime scenes.

Next, he was the East Area Rapist, a shadowy predator who assaulted dozens of women between 1976 and 1979.

Between the burglaries and rapes, he started killing, earning himself the name of the Golden State Killer and the Original Nightstalker.

What triggered his sadistic tendencies remains largely a mystery.

DeAngelo grew up following his US Airman father around with his mother and sister.

Little is known about his upbringing beyond that they were, at one time, stationed in Germany.

His sister's son, Jesse Ryland, has told in the past how DeAngelo would often see his father beat his mother, Kathleen.

He also claimed that he witnessed his sister being raped by two airmen when she was just seven and he was nine.

Ryland speculated that may have been the catalyst for his obsession with rape later in life. DeAngelo has never commented on it.

The family returned to the US and settled on the West Coast by DeAngelo's teenage years.

His father was posted overseas in Korea later but he and his mother and sister stayed. His mother, according to a profile in the Los Angeles Times in 2018, started seeing a married man who had his own family.

It left DeAngelo in charge of caring for his younger siblings.

Former childhood friends told how he would try to fit in to their families as if they were his own.

He graduated from Folsom Senior High School in 1964 and joined the Navy, working as a damage control man aboard the Canberra during the Vietnam War.

No other details of his military career are known.

A 1967 article in The Auburn Journal, the local newspaper where his parents live, describes him as a 21-year-old due home on leave.

After returning to the US from Vietnam, he met Bonnie Colwell, a science student who ultimately broke his heart.

He and Bonnie were at one time engaged but she broke it off in 1971.

When he was arrested in 2018, Bonnie went into hiding.

DeAngelo's next known milestone was not until 1972, when he graduated from California State University with a degree in criminal justice.

From there, he joined The Exeter Police Department where he worked as an officer on the burglary unit.

It's in this job that he learned how to commit seemingly perfect burglaries himself.

It was also while he was working there that he married Sharon Marie Huddle.

The pair had three daughters, who are now all adults.

Between 1974 and 1975, a figure who became known as the Visalia Ransacker carried out more than 120 burglaries in the area. For decades, his identity was unknown.

When DeAngelo was arrested in 2018 for the murders and rapes of dozens of others, he was quickly tied to the Visalia Ransacker crimes and blamed for them.

His signature, when burglarizing, was to leave women's underwear scattered at his crime scenes.

In 1975 was when he graduated from burglarizing to attempted kidnapping and then killing, shooting dead Claude Snelling who was protecting his teenage daughter, Elizabeth, from being kidnapped.

Elizabeth, 16, woke up at 2am on September 11, 1975, to see a man in a ski mask, standing over her bed, telling her to go with him or be killed.

He dragged her from her room and out of the family's backdoor towards their carport but was stopped by Snelling who happened to be in the kitchen at the time.

Elizabeth later recalled: 'I heard a yell and saw my dad charge out the back door.

'The kidnapper] threw me down and shot my dad twice. Then he pointed the gun at me.'

DeAngelo hit her with the gun and kicked her but fled. Snelling died on his way to the hospital.

In 1976, he left the Exeter Police Department and started working for the Auburn Police Department.

That is when his relentless raping began.

Between 1976 and 1979, he raped dozens of women in the area.

It terrorized the neighborhoods where he picked his targets and earned him the name East Area Rapist.

One of the victims recalled how he lay down next to her after the attack and sobbed: 'I hate you, I hate you, I hate you Bonnie.'

DeAngelo was fired by the police department in 1979 after being caught shoplifting a hammer and dog repellent from a drugstore in Citrus Heights, one of the areas where he would attack women.

He then spent 27 years working at a Save Mart Supermarkets distribution center, fixing trucks, before retiring in 2017.

It's unclear when but he and his wife separated some time before his 2018 arrest which came as a shock to his neighbors and relatives.

It was the first time police had tested samples of DNA found at some of the crime scenes against DNA being stored by GEDMatch.

One of DeAngelo's relatives had willingly submitted their sample to find out more about their ancestry.

Since his case, it has been used as a crime-solving technique hundreds of times.

DeAngelo's neighbors described him as 'cantankerous', unlikable and a 'curser'.

While he has been blamed for 88 crimes, he has also been exonerated in others.

Among his rapes is the attack of a 13-year-old girl who recalled in detail being assaulted while he shone a flashlight in her face.

'In a very harsh whisper, he would say, "Do you want to die?

'Do you want me to kill your mother? Do you want me to slit her throat?"' Wardlow said.

'I answered him immediately, "I dont care," and hed say, "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"' Margaret Wardlow, who was raped by him in 1977, recalled to Inside Edition after his arrest last year.

DeAngelo's wife and children have never spoken of his crimes.

His sister was stunned when he was arrested.

'As stunned as I am - because I've never seen him display any kind of madness or anything like that - I just can't believe it.

'I've never seen anything to allow myself to think he could do such things,' Rebecca Thompson, his older sister, told The Sacramento Bee at the time of his arrest.
Donald Trump asserted Monday morning that his internal poll numbers are 'very good' as a report revealed his campaign is pushing for major changes as he continues to trail behind Joe Biden.

'Sorry to inform the Do Nothing Democrats, but I am getting VERY GOOD internal Polling Numbers,' the president posted to Twitter. 'Just like 2016, the @nytimes Polls are Fake! The @FoxNews Polls are a JOKE!'

'Do you think they will apologize to me & their subscribers AGAIN when I WIN?' Trump asked of his former favorite news network. 'People want LAW, ORDER & SAFETY!'

The president's advisers are looking to make major changes to his reelection campaign, including a staff shake-up.

'If the election was today, we are in big trouble,' a person close to Trump told The Washington Post in a report published Monday.

'Thankfully, it is not,' the individual continued.

The campaign has made some serious staff changes recently in hiring and promoting operatives who worked on Trump's campaign four years ago.

This effort included adding Trump's embattled 2016 campaign's senior adviser Jason Miller to the team.

The aide found himself embroiled in controversy in the last election when his wife and lover, who was a senior adviser on the Trump campaign at the time, had babies within six months of each other  he later admitted he also paid prostitutes.

Allies and advisers are also encouraging the president to deploy a more disciplined message and demeanor, including targeting his rhetoric toward distinguishing himself from presumed Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

Donald Trump boasted Monday morning that his internal poll numbers are 'very good'

The tweet came as Trump's aides, advisers and allies are encouraging him to make major campaign changes, including a staff shake-up and honing his messaging against Joe Biden as they fear he may lose to the former vice president

The effort included adding embattled 2016 campaign senior adviser Jason Miller to the team

Advisers want Trump to focus on three main pillars: That he will create more jobs than Biden, will be tougher on China than Biden and keep Americans safer than Biden

Mostly, aides want the president to hone his message on three main targets before November  that he will create more jobs than Biden, will be tougher on China than Biden and will keep Americans safer than Biden.

Recent poll numbers, including Trump campaign internal polling, show the president trailing Biden and losing traction in some key battleground states that he won in 2016.

Brad Parscale, Trump's campaign adviser, rejected public polling as 'fake.'

'We know we are in solid shape in all of our key states, and no amount of fake, narrative-setting media polls can ever change that,' Parscale said in an email to the Post.

Several Trump allies are skeptical of the public polling, and referenced polls in key states he ended up winning that underestimated his support in 2016.

They also claim internal polling the president is seeing is less grim than the public surveys.

'Over the past four months, the president's support among Republican voters has ranged between 90 and 94 percent consistently,' Tony Fabrizio, the campaign's chief pollster, said in referencing the campaign's internal polls.

'As of our most recent polling, it stands at 94 percent,' he continued, asserting that they have seen no erosion in the president's political base.

Trump lauded his party's approval rating on Monday morning, claiming the 5 per cent of Republicans who do not support him are so called 'RINOS,' which stands for Republicans In Name Only, or 'stupid people.'

'95% Approval Rating of President Trump in the Republican Party. I would imagine the 5% are the RINOS' and stupid people who don't want to see great Judges & Supreme Court Justice's, a new & powerful Military, Choice for Vets, 2A Protection, big RegulationCuts, Life, & much more!' Trump tweeted.

The efforts also come as Trump continues to slip in the polls, with even some internal polling showing him losing to Biden

Trump lauded his approval among those in his own party, claiming the 5 per cent of Republicans who do no approve of him are 'stupid'

Longtime Trump confidant and Chief Executive of NewsMax Chris Ruddy said, 'The campaign is hyper-focused on playing to the base  I think it's a mistake.'

'Politics are about addition, not subtraction,' he continued. 'In this environment, the president has to do a lot of plus plus plus addition signs right now with every group that he possibly can.'

The president also asserted Monday morning that his internal poll numbers are actually 'very good.'

'Sorry to inform the Do Nothing Democrats, but I am getting VERY GOOD internal Polling Numbers,' he tweeted. 'Just like 2016, the @nytimes Polls are Fake! The @FoxNews Polls are a JOKE!'

'Do you think they will apologize to me & their subscribers AGAIN when I WIN?' the president asked of his former favorite news network. 'People want LAW, ORDER & SAFETY!'

Several White House and campaign officials told the Post that Trump has surveyed his advisers on whether he should make changes to the campaign  and claims there are ongoing discussions on how to improve the president's political standing.

Advisers claim that Trump and his campaign team have made it his priority to find a new way to negatively define his Democratic competitor.

The president has been floating new nicknames for Biden, rather than the tried and true 'Sleep Joe,' which Trump feels so far is the most damaging and has been urged to stop using.

Trump also has wondered to advisers if he should test out 'Swampy Joe,' in reference to him calling the Washington, D.C. political establishment 'the swamp,' or switch back to 'Creepy Joe.'

On Sunday, Trump referred to the unofficial Democrat candidate as 'Corrupt Joe' in a tweet.

Campaign officials are struggling on how to best focus attacks on Biden, 77, as the president often attacks his mental capacity  a strategy some say could alienate older voters, which are some of his most loyal supporters, even though the president is a senior himself at 74-years-old.

Executive director of the Florida Democratic Party Juan Penalosa told the Post that seniors say they are worried about the economy and angry about the coronavirus response.

'They are angry because they feel as if they are prisoners in their own home and they can't see their grandchildren,' Penalosa said. 'And they blame Trump for this.'

Trump has also been warned not to play the victim card or display self-pity publicly.

Biden took aim at Trump during a Thursday trip to Pennsylvania, claiming he is handling the coronavirus 'like a child who can't believe this has happened to him.'

'All his whining and self-pity,' Biden complained. 'This pandemic didn't happen to him. It happened to all of us. And his job isn't to whine about it. His job is to do something about it, to lead.'
Nicola Sturgeon hinted she could try to block Boris Johnson's air bridges plan for quarantine-free travel today.

The Scottish First Minister lashed out at the Westminster Government over plans due to be released within days to link the UK with countries with low coronavirus rates.

Speaking at her daily press conference she said she and other devolved leaders had not been consulted over a plan which could lead to a surge in cases in Scotland if handled badly.

Scotland's Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf had a conference call with Michael Gove and the other devolved administrations on the issue only this morning, she added.

The country this afternoon unveiled zero coronavirus deaths for the fourth day in a row to keep its death toll at 2,482, with just five new infections reported.

Ms Sturgeon told the briefing she was 'still considering our response and our own proposals'.

However, with air transport, immigration and foreign policy all matters that are controlled by Westminster rather than the devolved administration, it is not clear what power she has to block the scheme.

'This Is an issue we have tried very hard to work on with the UK Government and the other devolved administration and we do of course see the benefits of adopting a consistent approach across all parts of the UK,' she said.

'However we also know that quarantine measures, albeit on a more targeted basis in future, may become more important in Scotland than less as our infection rates fall, since then the relative impact of cases from outside Scotland potentially becomes greater.

'The prospect of cases coming in from elsewhere poses a risk not just to health but also our economy.'

The Scottish First Minister lashed out at the Westminster Government over plans due to be released within days to link the UK with countries with low coronavirus rates.

Eduardo Cabrita, the Portuguese home affairs minister, told the country's Diario de Noticia newspaper: 'There's no reason, according to all the comparative criteria, for the existence of any application of quarantine rules on return to the United Kingdom'

It came as Portugal has reacted with fury after apparently being left off a list of countries that will be able to form quarantine-free air bridges with the UK.

Tourism is the largest sector of the Atlantic nation's economy and many areas including Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve are popular with UK holidaymakers.

But it is understood that the nation will not be on the initial list of 'green' nations allowed to couple-up with the UK under a traffic light system, as it is the only European nation with a higher rate of coronavirus infections than the UK.

It came as ministers delayed unveiling a list of the first countries approved for air bridges. It was expected today but is now thought to be being released on Wednesday.

Eduardo Cabrita, the Portuguese home affairs minister, told the country's Diario de Noticia newspaper: 'Portugal has better public health indicators and better pandemic response indicators than the United Kingdom.

'So there's no reason, according to all the comparative criteria, for the existence of any application of quarantine rules on return to the United Kingdom.'

Tourism is the largest sector of the nation's economy and many areas including the Algarve (pictured) are popular with UK holidaymakers. But they have so far been forced to stay away

The Home Secretary spoke out after travel companies reported their biggest Saturday sales ever as bargain hunters rushed to book before a 'traffic light system' is introduced this week

How will flights look different? Socially-distanced queues at check-in and security.

Passengers must wear masks throughout the flight, including children.

There will be temperature checks on arrival.

Passengers will fill out contact tracing forms and give their holiday address and home address. Advertisement

It came after Priti Patel dampened hopes of Britons desperate to jet off on holiday as soon as possible, warning that the air bridges will not be up and running 'overnight'.

The Home Secretary spoke out yesterday after travel companies reported their biggest Saturday sales ever as bargain hunters rushed to book before a 'traffic light system' is introduced this week.

The plan to allow Brits go on holiday to the safest destinations without having to quarantine for 14 days is expected to come into force on July 6.

The Foreign Office will also lift its advice against 'all but essential travel' to low or medium-risk destinations, making it possible to obtain travel insurance.

But Speaking to Sky News' Ridge on Sunday today, Ms Patel said that there may be some heavy negotiations ahead before some countries allow UK residents to travel.

She said: 'There will be an announcement in the next few days ahead, the review point is tomorrow, which is what the Government has outlined.

'You will have to, along with members of the public, listen to the advice, see what the government is saying in terms of the countries that we are going to be opening up with, who we are working with, the countries that my colleague the Transport Secretary (Grant Shapps) is in dialogue with right now.

'But of course these measures won't come in overnight, they will take time, because some of this will be down to negotiation, discussions with certain countries.'

Scotland should consider making travellers from England self-isolate for 14 days as the country is on track to be 'Covid-free' by the end of September, top scientist suggests

Scotland should consider quarantining travellers from England if the coronavirus crisis continues, one leading scientist has suggested.

Professor Devi Sridhar  who advises First Minister Nicola Sturgeon  claimed that Scotland is on track to be 'Covid-free' by the end of September. Scotland yesterday recorded no new Covid-19 deaths, marking three days in a row and the eighth time this month of zero fatalities.

But the outbreak has yet to fizzle out in England, with thousands of people still thought to be getting struck down with the virus every day. And England is still recording an average of 110 each day, despite Boris Johnson announcing a major relaxation of lockdown from this Saturday.

Professor Sridhar, of Edinburgh University, admitted Scotland will see 'little bumps' moving forward, referring to future spikes in coronavirus cases.

But she told the BBC the major challenge would be to prevent any imported cases of the disease, if the virus is no longer spreading naturally.

Professor Sridhar  part of the Scottish government's Covid-19 advisory panel  said it would be 'really straightforward' to contain if Scotland was an island. But admitted ministers must find the 'next best solution' and pointed to moves made in parts of the US to make travellers from badly-hit states self-isolate for two weeks.

She pointed to New Zealand, which earlier this month declared victory over its Covid-19 outbreak after imposing one of the toughest lockdowns.

Professor Devi Sridhar thinks Scotland is on track to be 'Covid-free' by end of the summer

And she warned imported cases could set off 'chains of infection', which is exactly how the pandemic began after it spread from China.

She added: 'I think Scotland is on track to eliminate coronavirus by the end of the summer by looking at the rate of the decrease [in new cases].

'But we are going to see little bumps, so it's a question of how small can you keep those bumps.'

Professor Sridhar  who warned that the 'risky' and 'ethically questionable' strategy in England appears to be to let the virus keep spreading  suggested catching those cases 'through screening, through quarantine, through testing'.

She added: 'The next best thing is to look across the world at Australia, Germany and even the US.'

New York, New Jersey and Connecticut last week announced they will make visitors from states with high coronavirus rates self-isolate for two weeks.

The move  designed to stop another Covid-19 wave  will affect Americans travelling from states such as Florida, Texas and Alabama.

Currently, any overseas traveller entering Scotland  which shares its only land border with England  must self-isolate for 14 days or face a fine of up to 500.

People must also provide the Government with details of who they are, where they've been and where they're going, within 48 hours of arriving in the country.

The measures only apply to people entering the country from outside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

One Scottish government source told The Times that ministers were considering adding England into the list of affected countries.

But they told the newspaper that the restrictions may only apply to parts of England at the centre of growing outbreaks.

Some scientists have branded the quarantine measures as 'completely useless' and have called for it to be scrapped as soon as possible.

Other experts argued the move  which came into force in June and prompted warnings that it could kill off air travel completely  came too late.

A Scottish Government spokesman told The Telegraph: 'To allow us to move out of lockdown it is critical that we keep transmission of the virus as low as possible  and that includes transmission from high to low risk areas.

'We are, in common with countries across the world, having to take unprecedented steps to deal with the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic brings.'

It comes after Ms Sturgeon last week predicted that Scotland was 'not far away' from eliminating the coronavirus.

But she warned the virus  scientifically known as SARS-CoV-2  has 'not yet gone away' despite the 'exceptional progress' made.

Official figures show 450 Covid-19 patients are currently in hospital north of the border, including five who are fighting for their lives in intensive care.

In developments south of the border, it was today revealed that Leicester may be forced to extend the lockdown for a fortnight from Saturday.

The city's mayor said health chiefs have suggested they will ask him to postpone opening pubs, museums and playgrounds on July 4/

Sir Peter Soulsby, who was previously a Labour MP for Leicester South, said: 'What they're suggesting is not a return to lockdown.

'It seems that what they're suggesting is that we continue the present level of restriction for a further two weeks beyond July 4.

'Now that's obviously very different from the dramatic lockdown in Leicester that was being briefed at the weekend.'
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First lieutenant Kenneth 'Kage' Allen (pictured), 27, was taking part in a four-jet formation just moments before his F15C Eagle crashed in the UK on June 15

Hundreds of people gathered along a procession route in Salt Lake City, Utah, last week to welcome home a newlywed pilot who was killed when his Air Force fighter jet crashed off the UK coast.

First lieutenant Kenneth 'Kage' Allen, 27, was taking part in a four-jet formation just moments before his F15C Eagle smashed into the North Sea off Yorkshire in the UK on June 15.

Allen's body was returned to his home state of Utah on Friday.

Family members, friends and community members lined a route that began at the Salt Lake City International Airport and ended at the Russon Mortuary and Crematory in Farmington.

Most attendees held American flags as they welcomed Allen home. Service members saluted the fallen pilot as the white hearse carrying his body passed by.

The hearse was escorted by Patriot Guard Riders, a group whose members attend the funerals of soldiers and first responders at the invitation of a decedent's family, as well as dozens of police officers from multiple agencies.

Meanwhile, F-35 Lightning II planes flew overhead to honor Allen during the procession.

One image showed the plane was emblazoned with Allen's name.

The pilot, who had been on a routine training exercise, had served with the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, eastern England, since February this year.

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Hundreds of people (soldiers pictured) gathered along a procession route in Salt Lake City, Utah, last week to welcome home Kenneth Allen, a newlywed pilot who was killed when his Air Force fighter jet crashed off the UK coast

Family members, friends and community members lined a route that began at the Salt Lake City International Airport and ended at the Russon Mortuary and Crematory in Farmington

Most attendees (pictured) held American flags as they welcomed Allen home. Service members saluted fallen pilot as the white hearse carrying his body passed by

Attendees are seen holding flags as they wait for Allen's hearse to pass by on Friday

Meanwhile, F-35 Lightning II planes flew overhead to honor Allen during the procession

One image showed the plane (pictured) was emblazoned with Allen's name

He was also assistant chief of weapons and tactics for 493rd Fighter Squadron - better known as the Grim Reapers.

Allen leaves behind his parents and wife Hannah, who in a heartbreaking tribute said she was 'blessed to have loved him in this life and can't wait to love him for eternity'.

In the tribute, Hannah wrote that she had 'no words to express how shaken I am'.

'He is gone. I'm shaking, I got a priesthood blessing and he told me Kage is so sorry - typical Kage to apologize even though he shouldn't.

'No words to express how shaken I am. Kage was perfect, never been treated with more love and respect in my life.

'He was my absolute best friend and man Christ needs hurry up and come back so I can be with Kage again.

He was also assistant chief of weapons and tactics for 493rd Fighter Squadron - better known as the Grim Reapers. Children line the route from the airport

Allen is survived by his parents and wife Hannah, who in a heartbreaking tribute said she was 'blessed to have loved him in this life and can't wait to love him for eternity'

'Thanks for all the messages. I love you all, Kage loves you all. He was so Christ like in how he cared for others.

'I feel beyond blessed to have loved him in this life and can't wait to love him for eternity.'

Colonel Will Marshall, commander of 48th Fighter Wing, said last week: 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of Lt Allen, and mourn with his family and his fellow Reapers in the 493rd Fighter Squadron.

'The tremendous outpouring of love and support from our communities has been a ray of light in this time of darkness.'

Allen did his initial pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma and follow-on training at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base in Oregon, according to Maj Sybil Taunton of the US Air Force.

Allen did his initial pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma and follow-on training at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base in Oregon, according to Maj Sybil Taunton of the US Air Force. Allen is pictured with his wife Hannah

RNLI lifeboat crews from Bridlington and Scarborough took part in the search for Allen's US Air Force F15C Eagle that crashed into the North Sea at around 9.40am on June 15 while on a routine training exercise

HM Coastguard, which coordinated the search efforts, said it received reports that an aircraft went into the sea 85 miles off the coast of Flamborough Head in east Yorkshire.

Wreckage was located before the pilot was found and confirmed to be deceased.

The cause of the crash is not known and an investigation is under way. The F15C is a model of jet that has been used by the US Air Force since 1979.

The US air force said in a statement that next of kin notifications were complete.

Tributes flooded in last week for the pilot, including from Republican congressman Paul Mitchell, who tweeted: 'A true American Hero lost while training to protect us! My thanks to his family for sharing him in our defense.'

Scarborough lifeboat coxswain Lee Marton said: 'The crews and other volunteers of RNLI Bridlington and Scarborough would like to offer their deepest sympathies to the family of the pilot and to all at 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath.

The pilot, who had been on a routine training exercise, had served with the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk since February this year

He was also assistant chief of weapons and tactics for 493rd Fighter Squadron - better known as the Grim Reapers

'Our Shannon lifeboats have a range of some 250 nautical miles and are perfectly suited to this kind of task, but any 12-hour operation takes its toll on the crews, especially when there is such a sad outcome.

'I'd like to thank both volunteer crews and all parties involved in the search for their cooperation and professionalism during this major operation in what were very challenging conditions.'

In October 2014, an F15D fighter jet based at RAF Lakenheath crashed in fields near Spalding in Lincolnshire.

The pilot ejected safely, suffering only minor injuries, and no-one on the ground was hurt.

A US air force investigation found that the crash was caused by the 'angle of attack' of the aircraft and 'imperfections' in the assembly of the jet's nose cap.

In October 2015, US pilot Major Taj Sareen died when his F-18 Hornet jet crashed on farmland near RAF Lakenheath.

A subsequent investigation found the 34-year-old did not report problems with his aircraft before take-off.
A New York socialite who was found dead at the bottom of a trash chute at her luxury Manhattan apartment in 2018 was reportedly 'buried in debt' at the time of her mysterious death.

Lara Prychodko, 48, was found dead on July 18, 2018, at her $6,500-per-month apartment at Zeckendorf Towers in Union Square after falling 27 floors.

Police investigating her death at the time concluded that she drunkenly fell into the chute by accident. However, famed pathologist Michael Baden later ruled in a private autopsy that the mother-of-one may have been strangled to death before being place in the garbage chute.

Nearly two years on, as the mystery surrounding her death continues to persist, her lawyers have filed a lawsuit against her estranged husband David Schlachet that has revealed Prychodko was virtually penniless at the time of her death - and hadnt been employed for five years.

Lara Prychodko (in 2010), 48, was found dead on July 18, 2018, at her $6,500-per-month apartment at Zeckendorf Towers in Union Square after falling 27 floors

Police investigating her death at the time concluded that she drunkenly fell into the chute (above) by accident. However, famed pathologist Michael Baden later ruled the mother-of-one may have been strangled to death before being place in the garbage chute

Seeking $321,629 plus interest from Schlachet, the lawyers, who also represented Prychodko in her divorce against him, claim he pocketed all of the couples assets in July 2018 but hasnt taken any action to write off their clients debts.

The only money Prychodko had to her name at the time of her death was in her individual retirement account (IRA) which would  and should  have gone towards paying off her creditors, the lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court says.

However, Prychodkos attorneys say construction executive Schlachet illegally transferred the money to their sons beneficiary account, of which he administers.

As a result of the IRA transfer, Ms. Prychodkos estate has no meaningful assets to distribute to her creditors, and to date no distribution has been made, according to court documents observed by the NY Post.

The suit further claims that Schlachet moved the money because he knew his wife owed substantial attorneys fees and wanted to hinder, delay or defraud her legal team.

Prychodko was laid off from her job at WebMD in 2013 and had no meaningful income other than $4,375-a-month Schlachet had been ordered to pay her as part of their divorce, the court documents claim.

Just five months before her death, a judge also ordered Schlachet to pay Prychodko $30,000 to help cover her legal fees.

The rulings came as part of a contentious divorce, in which Prychodko had lost custody of her 12-year-old son, Talin. She was said to be having a several years-long affair with former WebMD CEO Wayne Gattinella at the time.

Seeking $321,629 plus interest from Schlachet (right), the lawyers, who also represented Prychodko in her divorce against him, claim he pocketed all of the couples assets in July 2018 but hasnt taken any action to write off their clients debts

The only money Prychodko had to her name at the time of her death was in her individual retirement account (IRA) which would  and should  have gone towards paying off her creditors, the lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court says

Zeckendorf Towers where Prychodko died in July 2018 is pictured above

In the months leading up to her death, Gattinella who is now the president and CEO of tech company, DoubleVerify Inc, reportedly signed the Zeckendorf Towers lease with Prychodko in January 2018.

According to the Post, the pair had been dating since 2009 and Prychodko was putting pressure on Gattinella to leave his wife of 40 years Valerie.

In an email from May 2018 that was obtained by the newspaper, Prychodko wrote to the millionaire: 'I just woke up missing my beautiful amazing son whom Ive lost because of my love of you.'

She also wrote to the father-of-four: 'You said you would take care of private school. But you are not. My child deserves the same privilege yours do.'

Eventually, Gattinella's wife, Valerie, learned of their alleged relationship when she found a charge for a gym membership at Equinox on her husband's credit card statement.

Prychodko's friend, Amanda Armstrong, told the Post that when Valerie found out about the affair 'she hit the roof'.

But Gattinella, who met Prychodko in 2002 while she worked as an online publisher for WedMD, started to be 'very rude' to Prychodko after his wife found the membership.

'Lara was sick of being the mistress. Thats what she had been for many years,' Armstrong said.

Not long after Prychodko died, Gattinella's wife filed for divorce. It's unclear if the alleged affair between Gattinella and Prychodko led to their split.

She was said to be having a several years-long affair with former WebMD CEO Wayne Gattinella (above) at the time

Prychodko was laid off from her job at WebMD in 2013 and had no meaningful income other than $4,375-a-month Schlachet had been ordered to pay her as part of their divorce, the court documents claim

Gattinella owned a $4.5million property in Greenwich, Connecticut, that was purchased in 1999. The millionaire also owned a vacation property in East Hampton that's worth more than $2million. He also owned two condos in Manhattan both worth $2million each.

During their split, Valerie held onto the couple's 2019 Porsche Macan and Gattinella hung onto a 1997 Porsche and their Manhattan properties. Valerie currently has the East Hampton property.

Gattinella was named CEO of WedMD in 2005. He resigned from the company in 2012 and that same year he joined DoubleVerify as their CEO and president.

Gattinella was questioned by police after Prychodko died, but he was never named as a suspect in her death.

He told the Post in an email that Prychodko was a 'former colleague and friend'.

At the time of Prychodko's death, investigators concluded that it came as the result of a drunken accident.

Residents of the building told DailyMail.com at the time that Prychodko had a drinking problem and would often come home drunk.

But in February this year, the famed pathologist who controversially concluded that pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's autopsy showed signs of murder claimed in bombshell new findings that Prychodko's death was not a tragic accident.

New York City's former chief medical examiner Dr Michael Baden claimed that the mother-of-one may not have plunged to her death accidentally, and her body showed signs of strangulation.

In a letter to Prychodko's family, Baden concluded that she 'may have died because of homicidal ligature strangulation and was then placed in the garbage chute'.

Baden was recruited by Lara's family after her father Nicholas Prychodko refused to accept the results from the Manhattan District Attorney's office, who closed the case 'with no resolution' just two months after her death.

Pathologist Michael Baden, who claimed Jeffrey Epstein was murdered, believes that Prychodko may have been strangled before she was put into the trash chute where she was found

Lara Prychodko with her father Nicholas Prychodko who believes that she was murdered

Investigators said that Prychodko was last seen alive on video surveillance around 4.20pm, apparently intoxicated and stumbling around the 27th floor of the Zeckendorf Towers where she lived.

She was found 'crushed from multiple angles' around 30 minutes later by the building's maintenance worker.

The city's Chief Medical Examiner ruled her cause of death as 'undetermined' but said that it did not involve foul play.

Her father has long maintained that his daughter was murdered and for a period moved from his home in Toronto to New York to press for a further probe into her death.

Baden offered to investigate the case pro-bono for the family after being approached by Nicholas.

According to the New York Post, he reviewed autopsy notes, X-rays, lab tests and crime scene photos before sending his findings to the family in a letter on July 15, 2019, just less than a year after the death.

His findings concluded that strangulation may have been the reason why there was little bleeding from Prychodko body when she went down the chute and was crushed.

Baden was also concerned about the woman being topless in the crime scene photo.

'One of the first things he said was that her blouse was off,' Nicholas told the Post.

'He felt that was unusual and a potential indication of a struggle before she died.'

David Schlachet with his son Talin Schlachet in 2017 - David won custody over Talin

Nicholas has doggedly argued that the death was murder because there was a lack of video footage from the hallway outside Prychodko's apartment where the chute was located.

The only video footage shows Lara entering the elevator, apparently drunk, at 4.10pm.

A neighbor on the 27th floor claimed that she returned to her own apartment around 4.20pm but emerged 10 minutes later when she heard a noise in the hallway.

She told police then that she spotted a purse by the trash compactor entrance.

This purse belonged to Prychodko.

'After completing a thorough investigation which included interviewing multiple individuals and viewing video, there is no criminality suspected at this time, and it is believed to be an accident,' NYPD Lt John Grimpel said in 2018 after the investigation concluded.

Prychodko's ex, construction executive Schlachet, was the co-founder of Taocon Inc, a construction company in New York, which owed more than $3.4million to creditors and had assets of only $550,844, according to documents filed in federal court in 2016.

The company filed for bankruptcy in 2016, the same year that he filed for divorce from Prychodko.

Schlachet has never been named a suspect in his wife's death.

The NYPD repeated earlier this year that they had 'determined' no criminal activity was involved in Prychodko's death.
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Ten militants have been killed as warplanes struck a Taliban gathering in Afghanistan's eastern Ghazni province on Sunday, provincial government spokesman Wahidullah Jumazada said.

Acting on tip-off the aircraft struck a gathering of Taliban insurgents in Tawsang village of Dehyak district at 2:30 p.m. local time Sunday, killing 10 militants on the spot and wounding three others, the spokesman added.

A car and four motorbikes of the insurgents were also destroyed during the air raids, he said.

The security forces also captured six more militants from Ghazni city, the provincial capital, and its surrounding areas over the past couple of days.

The Taliban group which has escalated attacks on Ghazni city over the past week has yet to make comment on the airstrikes.
Three people were slashed in the early hours of Monday morning outside of the Stonewall Inn after a gay rights march descended into clashes between protesters and police on the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

The New York Police Department told DailyMail.com the incident happened around 2:30am near Christopher Street and Waverly Place after the Queer Liberation March, taking place for the second year running, drew thousands to the cause after the traditional parade was called off in April.

Authorities dispatched to the scene to find three slashing victims.

The victims included a 20-year-old female slashed in the face; a 24-year-old female slashed in the forehead; and a 25-year-old man who sustained a slash to the neck.

It's unclear what sparked the dangerous slashing, but footage taken by ABC 7 from the scene shows an altercation broke out in front of the historic bar that morning.

Authorities said three people were slashed in the early hours of Monday morning outside of the Stonewall Inn in New York City

It's unclear what caused the slashings, but footage taken from the scene showed at least three people engaged in an altercation (pictured)

One of the slashing victims was reportedly arrested, while all three were taken to local hospitals and are in stable condition

At least three people can be seen hitting each other in an apparent scuffle. A large crowd of remaining revelers watch on as the apparent fight edged into the street.

Authorities said all three victims were taken to local hospitals and are in stable conditions.

Three individuals were taken into police custody at the scene, where the investigation is still active and ongoing.

Charges are currently pending for two of the suspects.

The NYPD arrest Jion Chandler (pictured) during the clash on Monday morning

Jion Chandler, 21, of Queens, was arrested and charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

A relative of Chandler said he is still at the booking center as of Monday afternoon.

The relative claimed that Chandler was a bystander who was neither directly involved in the slashings, nor in any fights that broke out Monday morning.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Chandler's family for further comment.

The peaceful protest descended into chaos when police charged at activists gathered in Washington Square in Manhattan.

As two were being arrested for graffiti, protesters intervened in an attempt to free them, at which point police responded with pepper spray, multiple witnesses told Gothamist.

Footage taken by Eliel Cruz from the event shows at least three NYPD officers in riot gear storm into a massive crowd of peaceful protesters.

The officers begin to forcefully push the first line of protesters back, sparking a frenzied response skyrocketed tensions furthered the conflict between civilians and law enforcement.

Cell phone footage taken during the Queer Liberation March in New York City showed police officers charging into a massive crowd of protesters

One officer was seen brandishing a baton and using it to push people backwards (pictured left) as civilians and law enforcement clash in this latest standoff

One officer was seen brandishing a baton and using it to push people backwards.

The group of officers are soon surrounded by the large crowd, who chants 'Whose streets? Our streets!' all the while.

A second video showed authorities in the midst of a clash with protesters, which Cruz said started after police used excessive force with people.

At lease four officers and a FDNY cruiser can be seen amid dozens of Queer Liberation March attendees around 5pm.

One officer is seen on camera forcibly shoving a woman and several others out of the way.

At lease four officers and a FDNY cruiser can be seen amid dozens of Queer Liberation March attendees, who've alleged the NYPD used excessive force when handling demonstrations

Cruz, 29, described the moment he noticed the jovial tone shifted to one of confusion and tension to Buzzfeed News.

'It was very peaceful, very chill. I didnt see much police presence. Then I saw 20 cops on bikes and a few cop cars speed up right away, so I walked a little quicker,' he said.

Cruz said he was walking towards where police officers were had reportedly pepper-sprayed protesters.

'I walked by five or six people on the ground who were pepper-sprayed and were washing their eyes,' said Cruz.

He added that he saw at least 10 people were recovering from being pepper-sprayed.

Cruz said one person got arrested, leading to a standoff between civilians and protesters.

'We were demanding the police release the protester, and they started to beat people ... There were more cops running toward the crowds and pushing people,' said Cruz.

Officers reportedly began to retreat when a protesters linked arms to create a human barricade.

Hey @NYCMayor @NYPDShea on the anniversary of stonewall your cops are beating and arresting people pic.twitter.com/UqPNXXtm2r  Marti Gould Cummings (@MartiGCummings) June 28, 2020

Protesters, activists and their supporters took to the streets of Manhattan on Sunday in a show of force

Marti Gould Cummings, a District 7 candidate and famed drag artist, shared a similar turn of events.

'I was leaving Washington Square  there was a beautiful rally centering around Black trans women.' said Cummings.

'As we were leaving, we noticed a commotion directly in front of us and realized it was the police.'

'People were chanting 'dont shoot' and many took a knee. The police escalated and used pepper spray and batons.'

Cummings called out Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD commissioner Dermot Francis Shea to demand they explain 'why on the anniversary of Stonewall we are to this day continuing to protest police brutality?'

'Stonewall was an active resistant against police.'

They've also called for de Blasio's resignation.

'If the mayor continues to allow the NYPD to terrorize this city, he must step down.'

Police confronted protesters in Washington Square in New York City on Sunday at the end of a pride parade

The Queer Liberation March had begun peacefully but descended into scuffles once police began making arrests

At least two officers were caught in pepper spray that was loosed on the crowd on Sunday

The officers doused their faces with water to get the pepper spray out of their eyes, assisted by their colleagues

Other witnesses at the Queer Liberation March shared similar stories of a peaceful protest that turn volatile after police stepped in.

A legal observer said at least four people were arrested and 10 others pepper sprayed - including someone running a fruit stand near protesters, reports.

'We were dancing right in front of the arch on Fifth Avenue and out of nowhere, cops started storming into the crowd,' said Mike Perles, a 29-year-old city employee.

He told the site: 'They pushed everyone in front of them out of the way and onto the ground. They pushed a reporter who was taking photos down and started randomly pepper spraying people.

'I couldn't see anyone instigating.

'It seemed like they felt out numbered after entering a huge group and panicked and started beating people up.'

Pippa Bianco, a volunteer with NourishNYC, told Gothamist she was shoved and held down by officers while seeing three others get pepper sprayed.

'I was totally peaceful, we all were - I was picking up food for a volunteer food station when the cops rushed into the crowd in a panic and started the violence.'

Bianco helped four others get water and medical attention after they were pepper sprayed.

She also saw a police medic pouring water into the eyes of two other cops after they accidentally got the pepper spray in their eyes.

'The man who was arrested was crying and saying he was hurting and the cops were dragging him by his hands so his weight was against his shoulders pulling [on] the sockets,' said Bianco.

Organizers said that the killing of George Floyd on May 25 spurred them to rethink their plan to call the march off this year

Thousands took to the streets on Sunday marching both to end police brutality and to protect gay rights

The march began around 1pm in Lower Manhattan then wound its way up towards Washington Square

Mark Apolloa, live-streaming on Facebook, narrated: 'The NYPD is going ballistic.'

At the end of the 30-minute broadcast, he concluded: 'I don't know what kicked it off. But the situation was at a point where this was almost Stonewall Two.'

The Stonewall riots in 1969 saw the birth of the Pride movement.

Last year five million people joined in the festivities in New York marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, and uniting everyone for the annual World Pride event.

'There was an excessive amount of police once the march got here,' Apolloa said.

'If it wasn't for that things wouldn't have escalated to the point they did.'

The protest began around 1pm, and was promoted as an alternative to the traditional Pride parade.

Organizers said the Queer Liberation March was less corporate and focused on defunding NYPD, in addition to defending gay rights.

Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York, is under pressure to shave as much as $1 billion from the City's $6 billion policing budget.

Thousands of people joined in the demonstration, which was an alternative to the traditional Pride Parade

The demonstrators were calling for an end to police brutality, the defunding of the NYPD, and respect for gay rights

Jay Walker, one of the organizers, said: 'We're just standing here arm-and-arm with black folks, black trans folks, with brown folks, everybody that is under the boot of the police  not just NYPD  all over this country.'

'One of our mottoes was 'We're here for queer liberation, not rainbow capitalism,'' said one of the organizers, Natalie James, at a recent event.

'A lot of longtime activists had just stopped going to Pride,' said another organizer, Jay W. Walker.

'They were kind of sickened by it.'

He brought up the concept of 'pinkwashing', in which 'corporate bad actors' make token gestures but fail to address root causes of discrimination.

'A big part of our issue with the corporations is they're not consistent in their support for us throughout the year,' said Francesca Barjon, the group's social-media organizer.

'It's about being able to profit off of us in June.'

Walker said they intended to call the protest off due to COVID-19 concerns, but reversed their decision following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.

'Stonewall was a riot, we're not rioting,' he told amNewYork Metro, ahead of Sunday's event.

The Stonewall Inn riots of 1969 sparked a worldwide movement to demand respect for gay rights

'We're just standing here arm-and-arm with black folks, black trans folks, with brown folks, everybody that is under the boot of the police  not just NYPD  all over this country.

'We had every intention of doing this again this year until Ms. 'Rona showed up, so we canceled and went virtual.

'Then when we all saw Mr Floyd being murdered before our eyes, we started getting out in the streets.'

The Queer Liberation March had its roots in the 2017 Pride March, which featured the debut of the Resistance Contingent - a consortium of activist groups that formed in response to the Trump Administration.

It included groups such as Gays Against Guns, which staged a die-in, and Hoods4Justice, which formed a blockade to prevent the NYPD marching band from joining the parade, with banners reading 'There are no queer friendly cops' and 'Decolonize pride.'

Streets across Manhattan were crowded with people celebrating Pride and calling for change in policing tactics

A woman on Sunday shows her support for the cause in a colorful hat and Frida Kahlo mask

New York was not the only city to host alternative Pride parades.

In Chicago, where the official parade was canceled due to COVID, a group of LGBTQ activists and community members marched through the North Side to 'reclaim Pride' from corporate sponsors.

Organizers said the Sunday march and rally is about reclaiming the grassroots efforts that launched the LGBTQ movement.

Hundreds of people gathered near the CTA Belmont station in the Lakeview neighborhood at noon, and marchers made their way along the two-mile route north to Uptown.

In Minneapolis, nearly 1,000 people took to the streets to demand respect for gay rights and justice for George Floyd.

The peaceful protesters were demanding justice for Floyd, community control of police and defense of black trans people.

DJ Hooker, who organized the rally, said it was more relevant than ever.

'We are calling this the "Pride take back,"' he told Kare 11. 'We are taking back pride.

'It is really sad times. It has been a month since George Floyd's death and that still impacts a lot of people.'

People dance in front of the Minneapolis First Precinct during a Pride march held on Sunday

Demonstrators in Chicago called for respect for gay rights and black trans lives during Sunday's peaceful protest

Thousands gathered in the streets for the Pride Without Prejudice march in Chicago, held on Sunday
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Twenty six percent of counties across the United States are now battling uncontrollable coronavirus outbreaks, a data map shows - as the number of infections increased to nearly 40,000 for the fourth day and forecast models predict at least 150,000 deaths by August.

The data map, compiled by spatial analytics company Esri, shows that counties in the South and parts of the Southwest are currently experiencing an 'epidemic trend', or uncontrollable spread, of COVID-19 cases.

Updated data from Monday shows that of the 3,141 counties across the US, 824 are currently experiencing an epidemic outbreak and 1,251 are seeing spreading trends, which is an outbreak that could still be controlled if preventative measures are taken.

Across the country, 885 counties are currently seeing a controlled trend in new coronavirus cases.

The entire state of Arizona is currently seeing epidemic or spreading trends, according to the data map. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, the Carolinas and California only have a handful of counties that have controlled the spread.

About half the counties in Texas are currently seeing epidemic and spreading trends in new infections. Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia are currently seeing epidemic trends in recent deaths, according to the data map.

The data map, compiled by spatial analytics company Esri , shows that counties in the South and parts of the Southwest are currently experiencing an 'epidemic trend', or uncontrollable spread, of COVID-19 cases

It comes as infections across the US surged to 38,000 on Sunday after surpassing 40,000 for the previous three days, bringing the total number of cases to more than 2.5 million.

While cases continues to spike - especially in states like Texas, California, Arizona and Florida - deaths appear to be declining across the country. More than 125,000 Americans have now died from coronavirus.

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.

Forecast models are currently predicting at least 150,000 COVID-19 deaths across the country by August if current social distancing measures remain in place.

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics model is forecasting 143,000 deaths by August 1. That death toll is forecast to drop by 5,000 if 95 percent of people wear masks.

A model from the Carnegie Mellon University Delphi Research Center is predicting 149,900 deaths by August 1 and the COVID-19 Simulator Consortium is estimating 143,000 deaths by that same date.

The new forecasts come as hotspot states California, Texas and Florida ordered bars to close for the second time - the first major rollback of efforts to reopen their economies - as they battle spikes in COVID-19 cases.

California Governor Gavin Newsom's order for bars to close in Los Angeles and six other counties on Sunday followed moves by Texas and Florida to shut all their bars on Friday.

Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia are currently seeing epidemic trends in recent deaths (above), according to the data map

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics model is forecasting 143,000 deaths by August 1. That death toll is forecast to drop by 5,000 if 95 percent of people wear masks

A model from the Carnegie Mellon University Delphi Research Center is predicting 149,900 deaths by August 1

Public health officials in California and throughout the US have identified bars as the riskiest non-essential businesses currently open.

Even in states where cases have been declining, bars have been a source of outbreaks. One bar in East Lansing, Michigan, has been linked to more than 85 cases and local health officials say that number is likely to rise.

At least 12 states in total have either halted or rolled back their reopening efforts in the hope of stemming the spread.

The surge in cases has been most pronounced in Southern and Western states that did not follow health officials' recommendations to wait for a steady decline in cases before reopening.

In Arizona, cases have risen by 267 percent this month and jumped by a record 3,857 on Sunday - the eighth record-breaking increase this month. Georgia reported a record increase of 2,225 cases on Sunday.

Fifteen states, including California, Florida and Texas, saw record rises in cases last week.

Texas recorded 5,357 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, which was down from the record 5,996 last Thursday. Florida recorded 8,530 cases on Sunday, down from a record 9,564 on Friday. California recorded 4,810 new cases on Saturday.

Only two states, Connecticut and Rhode Island, have reported a drop in infection rates compared to the previous week.

While cases continues to spike - especially in states like Texas, California, Arizona and Florida - deaths appear to be declining across the country. More than 125,000 Americans have now died from coronavirus

As cases continue to spike, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar warned on CNN on Sunday that 'the window is closing' for the country to get the pandemic under control.

'Things are very different from two months ago... So it is a very different situation, but this is a very, very serious situation and the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control,' Azar said.

Azar, however, stressed that the US was more prepared to tackle a rise in cases than it was when the virus first emerged in March, pointing to increased testing, contact tracing, increased hospital capacity, a reserve of PPE and advances towards therapeutics and vaccines.

He refused to blame the spike in cases on states reopening and said 'inappropriate individual behavior' was the culprit in spreading the virus.

'That's not so much about what the law says on the reopening as what our behaviors are within that,' he said, urging the public to wear masks and practice social distancing.

'If we act irresponsibly, if we don't socially distance, if we don't use face coverings in settings where we can't social distance, if we don't practice appropriate personal hygiene, we're going to see spread of disease.'

President Donald Trump has so far refused to wear masks in public and several states do not have mandates requiring residents to wear them.

TEXAS CASES: Texas recorded 5,357 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, which was down from the record 5,996 last Thursday

TEXAS DEATHS: The state record 27 new deaths on Sunday after spiking last Thursday and Saturday

FLORIDA: Florida recorded 8,530 cases on Sunday, down from a record 9,564 on Friday. The state recorded 29 new deaths on Sunday

Vice President Mike Pence traveled to Texas on Sunday where he told a news conference that Americans should wear masks.

'We encourage everyone to wear a mask in the affected areas,' Pence said. 'Where you can't maintain social distancing, wearing a mask is just a good idea, especially young people.'

Former CDC Director Tom Frieden warned on Sunday that the recent spike in COVID-19 cases are not just a reflection of increased testing efforts, but a real spread of the virus of which Americans must be aware of to help combat the pandemic.

'The virus has the upper hand,' Frieden said on Fox News Sunday. 'This virus is not going to go away on its own. We have to stop it.'

He said that though people are tired of staying at home, 'the virus is not tired of making us sick'. Friedan blamed the rise in cases on state reopening too soon, particularly in southern and western states.

'If you open when cases are still increasing, as many states did, it's like leaning into a left hook,' Frieden said. 'You're going to get hit hard. And that's what's happening.'

Frieden also warned that numbers will only get worse for weeks before they get better, because the new measures being implemented will take time to be effective.

CALIFORNIA: The state recorded 4,810 new cases on Saturday, down from the record 7,149 last Tuesday. Deaths in the state were at 33 on Saturday after spiking to 101 last Tuesday

CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL: Hospitalizations in California continue to increase with 4,577 people in hospital. Just over 1,300 of them are currently in intensive care

ARIZONA CASES: In Arizona, cases have risen by 267 percent this month and jumped by a record 3,857 on Sunday - the eighth record-breaking increase this month

ARIZONA DEATHS: Deaths in Arizona have been declining with nine recorded on Sunday

ARIZONA HOSPITAL: Arizona's hospitals are nearing capacity with 2,691 positive or suspected COVID-19 patients admitted. On Saturday, 87 percent of ICU beds in the state were in use




France's former Prime Minister Francois Fillon and his British wife Penelope have both been handed prison sentences after being found guilty of fraud.

Judges sitting at the Paris Correctional Court on Monday ruled that the couple had created fake jobs that paid Mrs Fillon almost 1million in public funds.

Mr Fillon, 65, was given a five-year sentence, with three years suspended, while his 64-year-old wife received a three-year suspended sentence.

The couple were also ordered to repay the 1million and were additionally fined 328,000 each.

Lawyers for Mr Fillon, who saw his presidential bid ended by the scandal, have said the couple will appeal, calling the trial a 'scandal'.

Francois Fillon (right) has been given a five-year jail sentence, three of them suspended, for a scam that saw him invent jobs that paid wife Penelope (left) almost 1million

All relate to a scandal dubbed 'Penelopegate' that ended the hopes of the conservative Mr Fillon becoming President of France.

The court heard that Mrs Fillon had pretended to be her husband's parliamentary assistant for 15 years - despite never having visited the National Assembly.

She also claimed to be 'literary advisor' to a magazine owned by a friend of Mr Fillon's which paid her thousands, despite never visiting its Paris offices.

The reality was that Ms Fillon spent most of her time living on the couple's country estate near Le Mans, where she brought up their five children.

The couple, both devout Catholics, were in the running to become President and First Lady of France in 2017, but Penelopegate effectively ended their campaign.

Emmanuel Macron and his newly-formed En Marche! party eventually won the election in a landslide.

Calling for a five-year sentence for Mr Fillon, and three years suspended for Ms Fillon, prosecutor Aurelien Letocart had told the court: 'Neither Penelope Fillon nor Francois Fillon were able to cite the names of witnesses capable of attesting to the activity of Penelope Fillon.

'What misfortune could have happened to these people? What misfortune? In which country does Francois Fillon live, or in which country does he want to pretend that he that he lives in?'

Penelope (left, with her husband during the 2017 election) claimed to work as her husband's primary assistant, but in reality never visited parliament and did little more than sort his mail

Referring to an article in an English newspaper in 2007, Mr Letocart quoted Mrs Fillon as saying: 'I like watching the world at work, it's quite fun'.

In a later interview, in 2016, she again confirmed she had never worked for her husband before.

Mr Letocart said: 'Who would say such a sentence after having exercised an intense professional activity?'

The prosecutor said: 'The investigation showed that Penelope Fillon had led above all the life of a woman involved in the education of her children and the life of her home,' and that she had 'presented a very distorted version of reality' to the court.

He said that the Fillons' evidence conveyed 'bad faith and is an insult to common sense.'

While Mrs Fillon had sorted out letters at the couple's country home, 160 miles from Paris, this could not be classed as 'parliamentary work', he said.

Mr Letocart said Mrs Fillon had 'no email, no diary, no presence in the National Assembly, no consistency in her employment contracts.'

He added: 'In these conditions, it is difficult to grasp the professional space that Penelope Fillon could have occupied.'

In an earlier hearing, Ms Fillon had been asked about her reluctance to visit parliament, and had replied: 'For this job, I didn't need to go to the National Assembly.'

Asked what she actually did at the family home in Sable-sur-Sarthe, which is south-west of Paris, Mrs Fillon had said: 'It was precise, punctual missions, especially at the beginning.'

She said she 'opened and sorted out' letters, read local newspaper articles for Mr Fillon, and compiled short reports.

Penelope (left) has been handed a three-year suspended sentence while the couple have been ordered to pay a total of 656,000 in fines

But Mr Letocart said there was no evidence of any of these press cuttings, or of these reports, and that it was quite normal for people to sort out letters delivered to their private home without being paid.

Prosecutors called for Mr Fillon to go to prison for five years, with three suspended, and for a fine of 375,000 (328,000) and a 10-year ban from political office.

They called for a three-year suspended sentence for Ms Fillon, and the same fine.

Marc Joulaud, the MP who did Mr Fillon's constituency work when he served as Prime Minister for five years up until 2012, was given a two year suspended prison sentence after being found guilty.

Mr Jouland, 53, was said to have renewed Mrs Fillon's fake contracts and increased her salary for doing nothing.

All three defendants were tried for the embezzlement of public funds, fraud, theft and criminal complicity.

Mrs Fillon is a solicitor's daughter from Llanover, Wales, who went to King Henry VIII School in Abergavenny.

After studying modern Languages in London, and law at Bristol University, she married Mr Fillon, whom she had met while working as a teaching assistant in his home town of Le Mans.
The California woman who was seen in a viral video spewing profanities at Trader Joe's workers after she was asked to wear a mask claims she was given permission to shop without a mask because of an unspecified health problem, and that she is not sorry for her foul-mouthed outburst.

The incident took place on Friday evening at the new Trader Joe's location in North Hollywood, which opened that same day.

Cellphone video recorded by a fellow shopper, actor D Giles, shows the unnamed blonde, wearing a light-blue 'bebe' T-shirt and no face covering, raving about masks and her breathing problem, and calling staff 'f***ing Democrat pigs.'

In an interview with KABC, the woman, who declined to give her name, claimed that she lashed out after being confronted by an aggressive male shopper at the store.

Scroll down for video

The unnamed woman was caught on camera on Friday afternoon ranting about face masks spoke to news outlets this weekend, claiming that she lashed out after being verbally attacked

'Right away he started using obscenities at me, saying "f you," the c-word, "wear your f-ing mask," all of this,' she told the station.

She further claimed that she had called the Trader Joe's store in Toluca Lake and was given permission to shop there without a mask, but then she mistakenly went to the new North Hollywood location instead.

Upon arrival, the woman said a manager at the store told her she could shop there without a face covering on that day only.

But she said when the male shopper confronted her about not wearing a mask, she lashed out in response.

'I did what any normal human being, a woman, would do if she was being harassed by a man, not knowing if he's a crazy man, so I started yelling in self-defense,' she said.

The woman added that she does not regret what she said during the heated dispute.

The incident began when the woman was asked by employees to wear a mask or leave

She screamed at the employees who explained that she needed to get out of the store

'Unlike whatever lies they are putting out there, I had no political agenda. I had nothing,' she insisted. 'They might use whatever else I said later in my anger, it doesn't matter. What happened to me should not be happening to anyone else.'

The woman has declined to shed light on her medical condition that purportedly prevents her from wearing a face covering, telling KCAL only that it's a 'breathing problem, basically, from my nose.'

The woman had stood in line around 5.30pm Friday with other shoppers on the opening day of the new store in North Hollywood.

She was said by another shopper, John Conroy, to be wearing a mask in the line. When she entered the store, however, Conroy said she took it off.

'I watched her take the mask off after she entered the store; I was on line for the register so was looking around, and she was very ostentatious about it,' Conroy told DailyMail.com.

Trader Joe's told all customers that they had to wear a mask to enter the store

Speaking to news outlets after the fact, the unnamed woman seen above in the viral video said she lashed out after being verbally attacked by a male shopper, who she said called her a 'c***'

The woman claimed she had called another Trader Joe's store earlier and got permission to shop without a mask, but then she mistakenly went to the North Hollywood store on Friday

She said a manager allowed her to shop without a face covering just this once, but then the male shopper confronted her, setting off the clash

'I presume she had it on the whole time outside because of all the signs.'

He said she was acting 'unhinged'.

Face masks were made mandatory in California in public spaces on June 18. People with breathing conditions are exempt, however.

The store had a sign outside informing all customers they must wear a mask.

The woman was confronted by another shopper and exploded with rage, drawing the attention of managers who asked her to leave.

'You f****** Democrat pigs,' she yelled at the staff and other customers, calling them 'sheep'.

She continued: 'That man harassed me for not wearing a face mask. I have a breathing problem. My doctor would not let me wear a mask.

'So anyone harassing me to wear a mask, you guys are violating federal law.

'Do you get that?'

The incident was caught on camera by actor D. Giles.

The woman told KABC she does not regret calling staff 'Democrat pigs' in the heat of the moment

The woman is then asked to leave the store, and had to be asked multiple times.

Conroy, a film producer and director, told DailyMail.com he was sure it was a deliberate provocation.

'I was on line to check out in the middle of the store and noticed when she came in because she took her mask off and held her phone up to start recording video of everyone in the store,' he told DailyMail.com.

'Then I saw her grab the basket and start shopping but was really just moving around to get close to people.

'A few minutes later the screaming started in the frozen aisle behind me, at least two employees were already with her and she was yelling this man harassed me and youre telling me to leave?

'She was wildly indicating an older man who was shaking his head.

'The employees were kind of circled around her at that point, remaining calm and asking her to leave and she kept screaming about this man harassed me about masks!

'And then just started shouting profanity, her rights are being violated and so on.'

Trader Joe's has not responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

'I believe 100 per cent that she went there solely to start a confrontation,' he said.

John Conroy (left), an LA-based producer, writer and director, witnessed the whole incident. Actor D. Giles (right) caught the incident on camera and posted it to social media

'Her basket remained empty, she was super obvious about the way she was trying to instigate someone to say something.

'Which didnt take long, especially since Trader Joes is known for being super buttoned on their safety policies - like masks, distancing, limits on customers - they preceded the local government on all that stuff.

'As soon as someone told her to put a mask on she flipped out because she was there for it.'

He added: 'Because she took her camera out and recorded the crowd right after taking off her mask, I got the impression afterward that it was set up and meant to be for the QAnon/conspiracy crowd, as a way of saying: Check this out Ill show you how oppressed we are.'

KCAL reported that police were called to the scene, but no charges were filed and the woman was allowed to leave, vowing not to return to the North Hollywood Trader Joe's.
A former Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan has predicted there WON'T be a race war in America because the power of the Black Lives Matter and Antifa movements is 'nothing'.

Bill Wilkinson, 77, from Denham, Louisiana  once the most powerful white supremacist in the world - told DailyMail.com: 'They don't have a pot to p**s in or a window to throw it out of, they're nothing. There won't be a race war, they've just got nothing better to do.'

The white supremacist's comments come as President Donald Trump slammed the chairman of Black Lives Matter's New York chapter Hawk Newsome for threatening to 'burn down this system' unless the United States changes its ways.

Trump labeled the comments 'treason, sedition, insurrection' in a tweet Thursday.

Bill Wilkinson, 77, from Denham, Louisiana was once the most powerful white supremacist in the world known as the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan

The white supremacist's comments come as President Donald Trump slammed the chairman of Black Lives Matter's New York chapter

Hawk Newsome, Chairman of BLM's Greater New York chapter, says the black rights group is 'mobilizing' its base and aims to develop a highly-trained 'military' arm to challenge police brutality head on

Hawk Newsome spoke to Fox News on Wednesday night, and was asked about his June 3 interview with DailyMail.com.

In the interview with DailyMail.com he said that the black rights group is 'mobilizing' its base and aims to develop a highly-trained 'military' arm to challenge police brutality head on.

Trump tweeted: 'Black Lives Matter leader states, If U.S. doesnt give us what we want, then we will burn down this system and replace it. This is Treason, Sedition, Insurrection!'

The war of words will undoubtedly fuel the fires of division being witnessed across America right now.

Violent protests have erupted nationwide, sparked by incidents of police brutality.

But controversial former Klan leader Wilkinson said the tragic deaths of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks - both killed during routine encounters with police - were 'justified' and that the media had painted them as 'lily white angels'.

Wilkinson was reviled across America when he served as Imperial Wizard of the Invisible Empire of the Knights of the KKK from 1975 to 1984.

He had established a breakaway group of David Duke's Knights of the Ku Klux Klan to rival the original, and grew a reputation with the FBI as the most 'violent' and 'dangerous' KKK movement.

The former Klansman, who fled to Belize in the 80s before returning to Louisiana recently, said most of the alleged 'police brutality' he's seen on the news was 'justified' and the protests were pointless.

Discussing the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks, a black man shot in the back by a white cop outside a Wendy's in Atlanta on June 12 after firing a Taser in the police officer's direction while running away after a struggle, Wilkinson said the death was 'totally justified'.

Wilkinson says the killings of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks by police are 'totally justified'

Officers Derek Chauvin (left) and Garrett Rolfe ( right) have been charged in the deaths of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks

The shooting caught on video happened against the backdrop of nationwide unrest following the death of George Floyd after a white Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into his neck for more than eight minutes.

'In both cases the policeman was exactly right,' said Wilkinson in his southern drawl.

'The fella in Atlanta was passed out drunk in his car, intoxicated and holding up the line in a Wendy's, well he (his death) was totally justified.

'He pulled the cop's Taser. He was running away and then turned around with the Taser and if he had hit him with the Taser it could have put the policeman out of commission, he'd have fell down and the man could have come back to get his gun to shoot him.'

Officer Garrett Rolfe is facing 11 charges, including felony murder, over the death.

Wilkinson said George Floyd's death was also 'right' because he had been trying to buy goods with a 'no good check'.

Officer Derek Chauvin, who held his knee on Floyds neck while detaining him on May 25, faces a charge of second degree murder.

Wilkinson added: 'I hope they get that mess straightened out where they (black people) can't do that to our police.'

In more inflammatory dialogue the former Imperial Wizard said the often violent BLM protests are just a 'blip' compared to the violence he says 'blacks' are perpetrating on the streets on a daily basis.

'That's just a tenth of what they are out there doing already,' he said.

Wilkinson's comments will further add to the fierce debate that little has changed in America when it comes to race.

The silver-haired hotelier was the most powerful white-supremacist in the world during his reign at the top of the Klan.

He organized hundreds of marches across America to stir up racial hatred and recruit more members.

And he encouraged his Klansmen to carry guns, knives and clubs at rallies inevitably leading to a string of violent clashes.

Wilkinson (pictured) organized a Youth Corp within his Invisible Empire to indoctrinate young children into the KKK

'They don't have a pot to p**s in or a window to throw it out of, they're nothing. There won't be a race war, they've just got nothing better to do,' Wilkinson said of the Black Lives Matter protesters

Such was his passion for the cause Wilkinson set up a para-military style training camp to equip Klansmen  he dubbed the 'Klan guard' - with the combat skills needed in the event of a 'race war'.

He even organized a Youth Corp within his Invisible Empire to indoctrinate young children into the KKK.

During one march in Selma, Alabama in August 1979 he told a gathering of Klan members: 'We want a free enterprise, where the best man wins. And we know who that is - the white man.'

Wilkinson's Invisible Empire was the only national Klan movement during those days and he led hundreds of Klaverns consisting of an estimated 10,000 members.

Despite his history of preparing for a race war, however, the pensioner says the black community - spearheaded by the Black Lives Matter movement today - isn't powerful enough to fight.

At the height of the LA riots BLM's Greater New York chapter chairman Newsome, declared war on the police and announced plans for change that involves Black Panther style armed 'patrols' monitoring the behavior of officers on the streets - the kind of language that came second nature to Wilkinson during his time in charge of the KKK.

But Wilkinson laughed off the idea, branding BLM protesters as having 'nothing better to do'.

Newsome on the other hand says he is 'thankful' for white supremacists like Wilkinson.

'He shows black America exactly what's been out there in the past or what is still present,' he told DailyMail.com.

'Any time black people unify or make pushes for social advancement, there will be white supremacists who are, overtly and covertly, trying to disempower the message and the movement.

'These people are easy to identify because they often lack a factual basis for their assertions and when presented with the truth it's hard for them to counter it with anything other than their opinions or personal experience.

'If people were open-minded and they were accepting of the truth, then we would be at a completely different place.'

Newsome said white supremacists like Wilkinson often look at black crime in communities to justify their narrative.

But he said: 'The true challenge is for them to understand why crimes happen in our communities. To understand the poverty, the environment we live in as well as the lack of opportunity.

'They want to tell people to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and educate ourselves, however our schools are not equipped to educate our children properly.

'We're dealing with a place like the Bronx that has a 40% drop out rate. That is not the people, that is the school system failing the people.

'And if that is happening across the country then school systems are systemically failing black people and we have to look at that as a malicious act by the government.'

At rallies in his day Wilkinson surrounded himself with 'nighthawks' - Klan security guards toting sub-machine guns and sawed-off shotguns

He tells DailyMail.com that there won't be a race war in the U.S, because the power of the Black Lives Matter and Antifa movements is 'nothing'

Race expert Professor Robert Hall, a tenured full professor in the School of Social Work at Michigan State University, said people like Wilkinson are a 'dying breed' - old relics of a disturbing era in race relations in America.

'Everything tells me that the KKK ideology is dying out, it's on its last legs,' he said. 'But there's always a possibility, as with the election of Donald Trump, that what we think is impossible is possible.

'But I don't think people like that can compete, they don't value education while the black community does. You have black generals now, we had a black president and the KKK ideology cannot survive in that environment, it's totally irrelevant.

'We always need to be vigilant, of course, but I think that element of the population is on its way out.'

Hall, who in 1990 testified as an expert witness in Americas first skin-color discrimination court case between African Americans, Morrow vs. IRS, said he can understand why Wilkinson would detest equality between the races, however.

'The issue of segregation is the keystone to white supremacy. Without segregation people come to know each other as people,' he said.

But the professor says men like Wilkinson cannot put forward a plausible argument against Black Lives Matter.

'This is a multi-racial movement, BLM is not just a black movement. It's not black vs whites, it's people vs racism,' he explained.

He added that with each generation there's always going to be a struggle to overcome transgressions, but he's 'optimistic' that a future generation will succeed.

At rallies in his day Wilkinson surrounded himself with 'nighthawks' - Klan security guards toting sub-machine guns and sawed-off shotguns.

In a 1980 interview with the Associated Press he was a little more forthright about the Klan's violent intentions: 'If the fact that I say we're going to defend ourselves by any means is violent, then I'm violent.

'If the fact that I say we're facing a race war in this country is violent, then I'm violent.'

'I'm just a Bible-crashing segregationist. I still believe in segregation, that's how it should be,' he explained. 'God has commanded me not to mix with other races'

DailyMail.com tracked Wilkinson down to a hotel resort he owned in San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye in Belize five years ago.

And breaking his 30-year silence he said that while he 'never hated blacks' and is 'not racist', he had not 'changed' since his KKK days.

'I'm just a Bible-crashing segregationist. I still believe in segregation, that's how it should be,' he explained. 'God has commanded me not to mix with other races.

'I have not changed, I'm the same man I always have been. I wouldn't let one [a black person] marry my children or my grandchildren.'

These days Wilkinson says he still owns his hotel resort in Belize, but is now back living in Louisiana enjoying his retirement. He says he is no longer active in the KKK.

He joked that he used to be a 'red neck' but now he's 'PWT,' which stands for Poor White Trash.
Households in Wales will be allowed to pair up and form one 'extended household' from next Monday under plans to allow families to reunite for the first time since March.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford today set out the next steps in his lockdown easing plans.

He said as long as there is not a spike in coronavirus cases between now and next week then people will be able to join with others in a bubble in which social distancing will no longer be required.

However, he warned people will only be allowed to be part of one 'extended household' which means many families will face 'difficult' decisions about who to join up with.

Mr Drakeford also said 'chopping or changing' the people contained within the household will not be allowed but there will not be any restrictions on the size of the grouping.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford today announced plans to allow two households in Wales to pair up and form one 'extended household' from next Monday

Speaking at the daily Welsh Government coronavirus briefing, Mr Drakeford said: 'In the Welsh Government we have been working hard over the last few days on the concept of enabling two households to come together to join and to form one extended household.

'And this can allow families and close friends who have been separated by the coronavirus pandemic over the last few months to reconnect with one another and to enjoy one another's company again indoors.

'Our aim has been to introduce this in a way which is as safe as possible, as fair as possible, and as simple as possible.

'And we've now reached the stage where, provided the situation remains favourable this time next week, we will be able to lift the stay local requirement, and at the same time we'll be able to make changes to the rules to allow people from two separate households to form one exclusive extended household.'

Current 'stay local' lockdown rules in Wales mean that people are not supposed to travel more than five miles from where they live.

Mr Drakeford said Wales had been examining bubble-style schemes used in countries like New Zealand.

He said that while the 'extended household' plan is 'simple, there will still have to be some rules'.

He explained: 'What we are proposing for Wales will make sure that all households are included.

'There will be no difference between the size of the two households which you can be joined with and you will be able to travel from the 6th of July to join your extended household.

'But although it is simple, there still have to be some rules. Any one person will only be able to join one extended household.

'Only people living in the same two households which form it can join that extended household.

'The extended household must contain the same people for the foreseeable future - there can't be any transfers or chopping or changing.

'And if any one in an extended household develops symptoms of coronavirus then that entire extended household will need to self-isolate.'

Mr Drakeford said 'extended households' will be asked to keep a record of members so that if one person develops coronavirus symptoms the nation's contact tracing system can quickly 'swing into action'.

'By creating extended households we will enable many families to be reunited for the first time since March,' he said.

'Grandparents will be able to see and hold their grandchildren again. It will help support many working parents with informal childcare over the weeks ahead.

'And it will also offer important support to those who are caring alone for others.

'But because any one of us will only be able to belong to one extended household this will mean making choices and in some cases, especially in larger families, these choices will be difficult.

'But because the virus is still with us we all have to face making these choices together.'
A swarm of locusts is threatening to invade Brazil as the country also battles one of the world's worst coronavirus outbreaks.

The swarm - thought to contain 40million insects - formed in Paraguay last month and has been eating its way through Argentina since May 21, damaging crops of cane, oats, wheat and corn.

But nine days ago it made a turn to the east, and is now heading towards the border with Brazil and Uruguay.

A swarm of locusts that has been eating its way through Argentina for a month is now threatening to jump across the border to Brazil

The swarm formed in Paraguay in May and crossed into Argentina on the 21st. It has been moving south for the last month, but nine days ago turned east (large arrow) and is now heading for Brazil and Uruguay (potential paths shown by smaller arrows)

It also comes after two other locust swarms - in India and eastern Africa - also devastated crops in those countries.

Two Brazilian states - Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina - have been put on alert for the arrival of the insects, which can move up to 93 miles in a day.

Experts say the arrival of cold weather and rain in recent days has slowed its progress, making the insects lethargic.

That has allowed environmental workers to fumigate, reducing its size.

However, the arrival of warm weather will wake the insects up - while winds could blow the swarm across the border.

The pests have raised concerns in Brazil.

A representative from the Aprosoja growers association in Rio Grande do Sul said they feared the locusts would enter the state where corn is still being harvested and wheat being grown.

The swarm, thought to number 40million insects, formed in Paraguay and has so far damaged crops of cane, corn, wheat and oats

Eugenio Hack of the Copercampos cooperative in Santa Catarina told Reuters that if the locusts were to move to the state, producers would have to be trained to use the appropriate chemicals, which are different from those normally used.

'My grandfather dealt with locusts many years ago. Farmers used to dig ditches in the ground, cover insects with soil, and then set them on fire,' Hack said.

In Argentina, both SENASA and the Buenos Aires grain exchange said they were less worried by the locust swarm than issues of dry weather impacting crops.

'For now (the swarm) is not a problem, we are more concerned about the humidity issue for wheat planting than locusts,' said Esteban Copati, head of agricultural estimates at the exchange.

That is not the case in Kenya, where farmers say they are suffering through the worst infestation for 70 years - with fodder their cattle graze on being devastated.

Growers in Ethiopia, Somalia and Uganda have also warned of food shortages because of the insects.

Meanwhile another swarm hit parts of northern India back in January, before crossing the border into Pakistan and Iran.

Brazil is currently battling one of the world's worst coronavirus infections, with 1.3million confirmed infections and 57,000 deaths (pictured, a graveyard in Sao Paulo)

Locusts are actually solitary grasshoppers that change appearance and body type to become locusts as they form into swarms.

Once the grasshoppers have become locusts they are larger, faster-moving and can breed more rapidly.

It is not known exactly what prompts the insects to swarm, though scientists believe they do it as a reaction to droughts which would otherwise kill off their food supply.

Swarms can then migrate huge distances using a safety-in-numbers approach to ward off potential predators and ensure as many insects as possible survive.

Swarms can number in the billions of insects, and measure the same size as a small city. Researchers estimate that a swarm just one kilometer square can eat the same amount of food each day as 35,000 humans.
The top federal judge in Los Angeles is stepping down after he apologized for saying that the courts top administrative official, who is a black woman, was street-smart.

US District Judge Cormac J. Carney said he will no longer serve as chief district judge just less than a month after he began a four-year term, the Los Angeles Times reported.

He will remain a federal judge for the Central District of California, which is the nations largest federal court jurisdiction. Carney was appointed to the lifetime post in 2003 by then-President George W. Bush.

Carney emailed court staff and fellow judges and publicly apologized to Kiry K. Gray, who in 2015 became the first black woman appointed to the position of executive and clerk of court for the Central District of California.

The judge apologized both for calling Gray 'street-smart' and then, for comparing his comment and the backlash he received for it, to 'a police officer putting his knee on a persons neck.'

US District Judge Cormac J. Carney (left) stepped down from his position as chief judge of the Central District of California after he apologized for referring to Kiry K. Gray (right), the court's executive clerk, as 'street smart'

I have apologized to Ms. Gray, but I have concluded that a simple apology will not put this matter to rest, Carney wrote in the email.

There will be division in the Court, unnecessary, negative and hurtful publicity, and a diversion from the Courts essential mission of administering justice if I were to continue serving as the Chief District Judge.

I cannot allow the Court to become politicized and embroiled in controversy.

Carney said that Judge Philip S. Gutierrez will take over as chief district judge.

On June 9, Carney, a former Orange County Superior Court judge, was invited to speak at a webinar hosted by the Federal Bar Association.

During the webinar, Carney spoke about his plans for the court as chief judge as well as the recent protests and riots that erupted nationwide in the wake of the May 25 police-involved death of George Floyd.

Its been sad, quite frankly, seeing our courthouses vandalized with graffiti, Carney said.

Carney made the remark during a webinar which was hosted by the Federal Bar Association on June 9

He then spoke about adjusting to the role of chief district judge. Thats when Carney mentioned Gray.

Fortunately for me, we have just a fabulous clerk of the court in Kiry Gray, he said.

Shes so street-smart and really knows her job.

The judges, court staff, and lawyers who were either on the webinar or heard the remark afterwards were upset, according to the Times.

The term street-smart was interpreted as having a negative racial connotation.

To me, the term means a person of great common sense, initiative, and ability to work with people and get things done, Carney wrote in the email.

It saddened me greatly to learn that some people view the term to be demeaning to people of color.

I never knew that there was a different definition of the term.

Carney then said he spoke directly to Gray and told her that many had been offended by his street-smart comment. He also revealed that some had demanded that he step down as chief district judge.

During that conversation, he drew comparison between the criticism for his 'street-smart' comment and police brutality against Black people.

In a moment of anger and frustration, I said to Ms. Gray that the people criticizing me were equating my well-intended use of the term street-smart with the reprehensible conduct of a police officer putting his knee on a persons neck, Carney said in the email.

He then apologized, though he didnt specify the exact quote.

Carney will stay on as a federal judge, a lifetime position to which he was appointed by then-President George W. Bush in 2003. He is seen right with an Armenian woman who was sworn in as a naturalized American citizen in August 2019

My statement was wrong, he said.

It was directed at my critics, not Ms. Gray, and I said it with no ill will or disrespect towards people of color.

My statement was an insensitive and graphic overreaction to the criticism that was leveled against me.

I never should have made the comparison.

The nation is in the midst of a reckoning on race that has erupted since the deaths of Floyd and other unarmed blacks who were killed either by police or armed white people, including Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks.

Prominent figures in Hollywood, politics, business, the media, sports, and other segments of society have either resigned or been fired due to comments they made that some view as racist.

Black Lives Matter protesters have torn down statues and monuments honoring Confederate figures and other historical leaders who either espoused racist views or possessed slaves.

Institutions of higher learning have also scrubbed the names of past leaders from buildings and other public places in light of their controversial histories as it relates to race.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has placed the ball firmly in Australia's court for the creation of a trans-Tasman bubble.

Regular travel between the two allies has been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, and there is no shortage of people eager to see it return.

Ms Ardern, who won't risk the return of transmission of the disease in her country, says a reopening of borders will come down to Australian leaders.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) has placed the ball firmly in Australia's court for the creation of a trans-Tasman bubble saying a reopening of borders will come down to Australian leaders

'Ultimately it's up to Australia to decide whether or not they'll go for a whole of country approach, or a state-by-state approach,' she said.

'Obviously where there is community outbreak that is a no-go for New Zealand.

'Where they have border controls in place and where they've had no community transmissions for sustained periods of time that may be a different scenario.'

Victoria has suffered from a major uptick in COVID-19 cases while NZ has not recorded a positive test outside of its border regime in five weeks.

Earlier this month, an expert group endorsed by Scott Morrison and Ms Ardern's governments reported back with a blueprint on how to resume regular travel across the Tasman in the age of COVID-19.

Ms Ardern says her government is now doing that work while waiting for an Australian decision.

The Labour leader has been loath to give a timeframe for a bubble, previously saying September was realistic.

An expert group endorsed by Scott Morrison and Ms Ardern's governments reported back with a blueprint on how to resume regular travel across the Tasman (an Air New Zealand plane pictured at Wellington International Airport)

That may now be off the table, given Wellington's reluctance to risk its COVID-free status and the eagerness of Australian leaders to keep their state borders open.

Should Australian cases surge, New Zealand may pivot to the Pacific, where several leaders have petitioned New Zealand to open up to them.

Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands and other micro-nations haven't registered a single case of the virus through the pandemic.

Fiji hasn't had a case for 72 days, and Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has used his own social media accounts to beg VIPs to visit his country to inject much-needed vitality in their tourism-based economy.

Ms Ardern is maintaining her focus and hopes on Australia, saying recent conversations with Cook Islands PM Henry Puna and Samoan PM Tuila'epa recently suggested leaders were happy to 'move cautiously'.

The government's bottom line is they won't open a border to anyone 'until we have reassurances that New Zealanders will be safe'.

That position has been attacked by new opposition leader Todd Muller, who said it was 'untenable' to wait for a vaccine before allowing regular international travel.

Ms Ardern returned fire, pointing to rising global case numbers.

'Any suggestion of borders opening at this point, frankly, is dangerous and I don't think we should put New Zealand in that position.'
The home help who looked after Boris Johnson's grandfather has recalled how the current prime minister used to relentlessly tease her when he was a boy.

Mary Parkman, 85, said she first knew the PM as a ten-year-old already sporting his trademark 'unruly mop of blond hair'.- and would have never guessed he would achieve his political success.

She helped look after Boris' grandfather Wilfred 'Johnny' Johnson in the 1970s, who lived with his family on a farm near Winsford, Somerset.

Boris Johnson as a young boy was remembered fondly by his grandfather's former home help

Mary Parkman had fond memories of Johnson and how he used to tease her during visits

Johnson used to visit his grandfather Wilfred 'Jonny' Johnson regularly during school holidays

The future politician would then come to visit his family during his holidays from Eton College.

Mrs Parkman, who now lives in Taunton, remembers her time with the Johnsons fondly - Boris included.

Boris is captured in a family photograph with his siblings (left-right) Jo, Rachel and Leo

Parkman described Boris as a 'fun-loving lad' who even then had his trademark blond hair

She said: 'I remember him as a fun-loving lad who used to tease me. He was frequently getting into scuffs and had an unruly mop of blond hair.

'[The house] was about two miles up an old track and Boris's grandfather would leave the keys to an old car on the wheel so I could drive it to their farm rather than damage my own.

'It was usually swimming in water from previous rainfall, but would always start.

'If not, it would take about an hour to walk to the farmhouse up this remote track, rain snow or shine.

'I got to know the family well - even Buster, his grandmother, until she had to have full time care.

'They were a lovely family and devoted to each other.

'I never thought at the time he would have been Mayor of London and then Prime Minister.'

Johnny is said to have had a strong influence on developing Boris' unique sense of humour

Boris has gone on to be elected as prime minister many years after first meeting Parkham

Mrs Parkman has twice written to Mr Johnson since those days, congratulating him first on being elected Mayor of London and more recently on entering Number 10.

She added: 'I have received lovely replies from him and he remembers with fondness his time at Nethercote.

'Of course, if he were to be elected (to stand) again, I would vote for him.'
Johnny Depp's libel trial could be thrown out of court after he was accused of 'breathtaking arrogance' by breaching a court order to release texts about 'happy pills' and 'whitey stuff'.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star, 57, had been told to disclose the messages which apparently show him trying to obtain drugs, but his lawyers did not hand them over.

Today High Court judge Mr Justice Nichol ruled he breached the 'unless order' requiring him to show the documents from separate libel proceedings against his ex-wife Amber Heard, 34.

Actor Johnny Depp, 57, at the High Court at an earlier hearing surrounded by security

Mr Justice Nichol said: 'The Australian drug texts were adverse to the claimant's pleaded case and/or were supportive of the defendants' pleaded case.'

Depp is currently suing The Sun, its publisher News Group Newspapers and its executive editor Dan Wootton over an April 2018 article which referred to him as a 'wife beater'.

It relayed claims against him by Amber that he was violent towards her during their marriage - something he strenuously denies.

On Thursday Adam Wolanski QC, who is acting for NGN, said the judge should strike out the claim.

He said the 'happy pills' and 'whitey stuff' showed Mr Depp was trying to obtain MDMA and cocaine, which he argued was 'profoundly damaging to his case'.

The silk said: 'He has demonstrated contempt for our courts and for your lordship.'

Amber Heard, Depp's ex-wife, is part of the case against The Sun newspaper after it published a headline claiming he was a 'wife-beater'

Mr Wolanski said the absence of any 'contrition' from Mr Depp, or an apology for the breach of the court order, shows a 'breathtaking arrogance'.

Depp's barrister, David Sherborne, said the messages were not relevant as they did not relate to the allegations of domestic violence and said the case should not be struck out.

He said: 'The issue in this case is whether the defendants can prove that the claimant committed serious domestic violence and put Ms Heard in fear.

'It is not about whether Mr Depp asks for drugs.'

The libel claim against NGN and Mr Wootton arises out of publication of an article in The Sun in April 2018, under the headline: 'Gone Potty - How can JK Rowling be 'genuinely happy' casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?'

Mr Wolanski said Depp subjected Ms Heard to a 'three-day hostage-taking situation' in Australia while he was taking MDMA, also known as ecstasy, and drinking heavily.

Depp, 57, in one of his most famous roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series

The barrister said Ms Heard alleges she was subjected to assaults after she challenged Mr Depp for taking a number of pills and washing them down with red wine.

Mr Depp 'expressly denies' that he took the drugs, that Ms Heard found a bag of pills or that the pair had any conversations about drug use during that time, and claims Ms Heard went into 'a prolonged and extreme rage' after a discussion of a post-nuptial agreement.

The pair met on the set of 2011 comedy The Rum Diary and married in Los Angeles in February 2015.

In May 2016, Ms Heard obtained a restraining order against Mr Depp after accusing him of abuse, which he denied.

The couple settled their divorce out of court in 2017, with Ms Heard donating her seven million US dollars (5.5 million) settlement to charity.

A three-week trial at the Royal Courts of Justice in London - which was due to start in March, but was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic - is listed to begin on July 7, with Mr Depp's former partners Vanessa Paradis and Winona Ryder among the witnesses expected to give evidence.

The court has heard that Mr Depp intends to travel from his home in France to London to give evidence, while Ms Heard is believed to have already travelled to the UK from California.
Daniel Lewis Lee

Lee, a 46-year-old member of the white supremacist group Aryan Peoples' Republic, participated in the murder of a family of three, including an eight-year-old girl.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Lee's attorney Morris Moon last year said that his case 'exemplifies many of the serious flaws in the federal death penalty system.'

In 1999, Lee and the ringleader of the Aryan People's Republic, Chevie Kehoe, dressed in police raid clothing and lay in wait for gun dealer William Mueller in his Arkansas home, according to court documents.

When the Muellers returned, Lee and Kehoe overpowered and incapacitated Mueller and his wife Nancy.

They then interrogated the couple's young daughter, Sarah Powell, about where they could find cash, guns, and munitions.

The home invaders found and took roughly $50,000 in cash, guns and ammunition.

After robbing and torturing the victims with a stun gun, prosecutors say Lee covered their heads with plastic bags, sealed the bags with duct tape, weighed down each victim with rocks, and threw the family of three into the Illinois Bayou.

However, Lee's attorney insisted that 'Kehoe was alone responsible for the death of the child in this case.'

'The prosecution witnesses testified that Mr Lee steadfastly refused to harm the child,' the lawyer said.

On May 4, 1999, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas found Lee guilty of numerous offenses, including three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, and he was sentenced to death.

William Mueller, his daughter Sarah Powell, and wife Nancy (together above) were all tortured and killed in their Arkansas home in 1996, before their bodies were dumped in a river

Lee's accomplice Chevie Kehoe (above) received three life sentences - though Lee's attorney says he was the more culpable party, and was responsible for killing the young girl

Kehoe, however, was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences - a disparity that Lee's attorney says illustrates the 'grave injustice' of the federal death penalty.

Lee's attorney says that during the guilt phase of the trial, the government presented a hair they claimed was microscopically similar to Lee's as part of the evidence - though DNA later showed that the hair was not from Lee.

The lawyer also argues that the Psychopathy Checklist - Revised (PCL-R), a psychological assessment that was presented to the jury during the penalty phase, is scientifically flawed.

'Mr. Lee's jury also never learned critical information about his exceptionally traumatic background,' the attorney said.

'Experts have described the physical, psychological, and sexual abuse; neglect; violence; and chronic trauma he suffered throughout his infancy, childhood and adolescence, as 'devastating' and 'simply extraordinary,' he continued.

Wesley Ira Purkey, 67, violently raped and murdered a 16-year-old girl, and then dismembered, burned, and dumped the young girl's body in a septic pond

Wesley Ira Purkey

Purkey, 67, violently raped and murdered a 16-year-old girl, and then dismembered, burned, and dumped the young girl's body in a septic pond.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Purkey's attorney Rebecca Woodman said that his 'life story is marked by a series of adults who not only failed to protect him, but inflicted the worst abuses imaginable.'

'Yet, the jury who was tasked with deciding whether to extend mercy to Mr. Purkey never learned most of these facts,' Woodman said.

On January 22, 1998, Purkey drove from his home in Kansas to Kansas City, Missouri for a job interview with a plumbing company, according to Purkey's confession to the FBI.

After the interview, Purkey smoked half a rock of crack cocaine and began driving down the street when he passed 16-year-old Jennifer Long, who was walking on the sidewalk.

He pulled over to ask Jennifer if she wanted to 'party,' then took her to a liquor store to buy her gin and orange juice.

After he bought her the gin, Jennifer he needed to go back to his home in Kansas. She asked to be let out of his truck.

Instead, Purkey reached into the glove box, grabbed a boning knife, and placed it under his thigh, menacing the girl and making it clear she couldn't leave.

When they arrived at his home in Lansing, about 30 miles away, Purkey took Jennifer into a room in his basement.

Holding a knife, he ordered her to take her clothes off and lie down on the floor, where he raped her.

After Purkey finished the vile sexual assault, Jennifer told him that she had been a virgin.

He confessed that he then grew fearful, and as Jennifer tried to escape his house, he grabbed her leg and forced her to the ground.

The two briefly struggled before Purkey became enraged and repeatedly stabbed Jennifer in the chest, neck, and face with the boning knife, eventually breaking its blade inside her body.

When he confessed, he told FBI Agent Dirk Tarpley, 'it's not like in the movies. They don't die right away. It took her a little time to die.'

Purkey dismembered Jennifer's body with a chain saw and tried to burn the body parts in his fireplace while his wife and stepchildren were away at work and school.

Jennifer Long, 16, was a virgin when Purkey raped, murdered and dismembered her

He was also convicted in state court for using a claw hammer to bludgeon to death an 80-year-old woman who suffered from polio and walked with a cane.

Nine months after raping and murdering Jennifer Long, Purkey was employed by a plumbing company when he met Mary Ruth Bales, 80, on a service call at her home during the evening of October 26, 1998.

Purkey told Bales that his employer charged a great deal for the particular job she needed, and he offered to return later to do the work under the table if she would pay him $70 up front, according to court documents.

She paid, and Purkey left, using Bales's money to hire a prostitute and buy several rocks of crack cocaine the next morning.

Purkey and the prostitute retired to a motel room for several hours, where they had sex and smoked the crack cocaine before driving together to Bales's house.

Telling the prostitute that someone who lived in the home owed him money, Purkey went inside with a toolbox from his truck and bludgeoned Bales to death in her bedroom with a claw hammer.

Investigators determined that Bales died from blunt force trauma resulting from repeated strikes to her skull with the claw side of the hammer.

Purkey was also convicted of killing 80-year-old Mary Bales (above) with a hammer

On November 5, 2003, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri found Purkey guilty of kidnapping a child resulting in the child's death, and he was sentenced to death.

Purkey's attorney argues that a 'litany of legal violations took place in Mr. Purkey's case.'

'Court appointed counsel hired a friend to conduct the case investigation after the friend was fired from his job as an investigator at the local public defender for serious misconduct and failing to carry out his duties,' said Woodman, the lawyer.

'A juror who disclosed in writing her experience of child sexual assault before being selected to sit on Mr. Purkey's jury was not questioned at all about whether she could be impartial given her experience,' she continued.

Dustin Lee Honken

Dustin Lee Honken is scheduled for federal execution on January 15, 2020

Honken, 51, shot and killed five peopletwo men who planned to testify against him and a single, working mother and her ten-year-old and six-year-old daughters.

In 1993, Honken was operating a methamphetamine lab in Arizona when one of the two dealers he used for distribution, Greg Nicholson, was pinched by police and turned informant, according to court documents.

Honken was arrested on state drug charges, but made bond. Once free, he began a desperate hunt for Nicholson, who went into hiding by staying with Lori Duncan, a single mother raising her two girls, 10-year-old Kandi and six-year-old Amber.

On July 25, 1993, Nicholson, Duncan, Kandi, and Amber suddenly disappeared.

Five days later, Honken appeared for his plea hearing, but declined to plead guilty.

Honken told his attorney he heard a rumor Nicholson had skipped town. Honken also provided his attorney with a VHS tape of Nicholson saying Honken was not guilty of the charges against him.

The government turned its attention to the other possible witness against Honken: his other dealer, Terry DeGeus.

Lori Duncan (left), a single, mother raising her two girls, 10-year-old Kandi (center) and six-year-old Amber (right) were all slain by Dustin Lee Honken

Honken was also convicted of murdering his meth distributors, Gregory Nicholson (left) and Terry DeGeus (right), who were scheduled to testify against him

DeGeus disappeared on November 5, 1993.

After another informant wore a wire and caught Honken referencing eliminating the witnesses against him, Honken's bail was revoked.

While incarcerated, Honken admitted to other inmates he killed witnesses to avoid earlier charges. Honken went into great detail about the murders.

Using prison informants, investigators discovered the bodies of Nicholson and the Duncan family, buried in a single hole located in a wooded area outside Mason City.

Kandi and Amber each had a single bullet hole in the back of their heads.

Nicholson and Duncan were bound, gagged, and shot multiple times, including once in the head.

DeGeus's body was found in a field a few miles away, face down in a shallow hole with a severely fragmented skull having been shot one or more times.

On October 14, 2004, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa found Honken guilty of numerous offenses, including five counts of murder during the course of a continuing criminal enterprise, and he was sentenced to death.
Archie (pictured) was shot by a Russian hunter

A husky dog was gunned down in front of its owner after a wild goose chase in an animal cruelty case which has caused outrage in Russia.

Blue-eyed pet Archie was on a walk with his owner when the dog vanished for a few minutes.

Irate hunter Oleg Potapov, 41, then appeared claiming the husky had 'stolen' his wild goose prey from a flooded former quarry in Chelyabinsk.

Dog-owner Ekaterina Mokhrova and her friend Marina Matveicheva froze as the hunter shouted: 'Not a step closer or I shoot you.'

Then Potapov was caught on camera gunning down Archie with three shots as one of the women filmed the macabre scene.

Hunter Oleg Potapov, 41, claimed the husky had 'stolen' his wild goose prey from a flooded former quarry in Chelyabinsk

Potapov was caught on camera gunning down Archie with three shots as one of the women filmed the macabre scene

After Archie was shot three times he died. Potapov, who then fled, was later detained cowering in a toilet

Ekaterina took Archie's body from the water and the women called the police to report the incident

Potapov, who then fled, was later detained cowering in a toilet after the women reported the brutal shooting to police.

He now faces up to three years in jail amid an outcry over the incident and a call to toughen Russia's animal cruelty laws, say reports.

Prominent Russian vet Karen Dallakyan said the man should face action for brandishing a gun close to a residential area as well as the 'very cruel' shooting of Archie.

'Husky dogs never show aggression.this killer should never pick up weapons again,' he said.

Pictured: Oleg Potapov (pictured) and his domestic geese (to the left, behind the fence) who now faces up to three years in jail amid an outcry over the incident

MP Vladimir Burmatov called for other charges to be made against the man over the shooting and threats to the women.

'He tried to hide in the toilet,' he said.

'After he was found by security guards, he tried to escape, but was caught and disarmed

'The killer must be punished.'

Potapov told police that he was attacked by the dog before shooting him, but animal rights campaigners stress the video makes clear the dog showed no aggression to the hunter.'

Shooting geese is illegal at this time of year.
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More than 13,000 people have been forced to evacuate 3,100 homes as a raging fire sparked by 'lightning' in Utah spread across 10,000 acres.

Lightning was initially reported as the cause of the blaze, dubbed the Knolls Fire, on Sunday night, but according to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, the fire is still under investigation.

The fire was sparked Sunday evening and due to extremely high winds burned across 2,000 acres.

By Monday morning, the Knolls Fire had spread over 10,000 acres, according to the Utah Fire Info Twitter account.

Lightning was initially reported as the cause of the blaze, dubbed the Knolls Fire, on Sunday night, but according to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, the fire (pictured) is still under investigation

The fire was sparked Sunday evening and due to extremely high winds burned across 2,000 acres. Thick clouds of smoke were seen hovering over homes in Saratoga Springs

By Monday morning, the Knolls Fire had spread over 10,000 acres, according to the Utah Fire Info Twitter account. Fire trucks are seen responding to a neighborhood in Saratoga Springs

More than 13,000 people were forced to evacuate 3,100 homes as a raging fire sparked by 'lightning' in Utah spread across 10,000 acres

Meanwhile, firefighters were battling another blaze on Sunday that was dubbed the Traverse Fire (pictured Sunday night)

The fire is at 25 per cent containment and evacuation procedures put in place Sunday are still in effect through at least Monday.

According to the city of Saratoga Springs, there is no timeline on when residents can return to their homes.

Crews are currently accessing power lines and other potential hazards.

City officials reported that there have been 12 homes damaged by the Knolls Fire and one home lost, which is out of the Saratoga Springs city limits.

There have been nine reports of property damage, 18 reports of fences lost and one reported loss of an outbuilding.

Terrifying footage that was recorded by a responding firefighter and shared on Twitter by the Utah County Fire Marshal, shows the dramatic moment the Knolls Fire destroyed fencing around a home in Saratoga Springs.

Saratoga Springs mayor Jim Miller and the city council declared a local emergency due to the Knolls Fire.

Meanwhile, firefighters were battling another blaze on Sunday that was dubbed the Traverse Fire.

City officials reported that there have been 12 homes damaged by the Knolls Fire and one home lost, which is out of the Saratoga Springs city limits. Smoke is seen close to homes above

City officials reported that there have been 12 homes damaged by the Knolls Fire and one home lost, which is out of the Saratoga Springs city limits. There have been nine reports of property damage, 18 reports of fences lost and one reported loss of an outbuilding

Saratoga Springs mayor Jim Miller and the city council declared a local emergency due to the Knolls Fire (pictured)

Officials said illegal fireworks sparked the fire that forced out residents of houses and an apartment building early Sunday.

A suspect was cooperating with law enforcement, Utah Fire Info said. Fireworks are prohibited in the area.

Strong wind gusts had been reported in the Lehi area as the Traverse Fire grew to about 450 acres, the agency said. Lehi is about 28 miles south of Salt Lake City.

It died down significantly midday Sunday. Evacuations for the fire were lifted as of Monday morning.

Photos showed the fire erupting in the background of a residential area and behind a large church. Evacuations were ordered in Lehi and Draper.

About 20 homes were in imminent danger when crews first arrived. Rain during the day helped tamp down the flames and no structures were considered threatened by midday, Lehi Fire Chief Jeremy Craft.

As of Monday morning, the fire is 26 per cent contained. The fire-scarred hillside above the community is now at increased danger of mudslides, he added.

That could threaten houses if heavy rain occurs before the vegetation can grow back, Craft said.

Photos showed the fire erupting in the background of a residential area and behind a large church (pictured Sunday night)

About 20 homes were in imminent danger when crews first arrived to the scene. Early morning rain on Sunday helped tamp down the flames and no structures were considered threatened by midday, Lehi Fire Chief Jeremy Craft

The Traverse Fire burns near homes in Lehi, Utah, on Sunday. Officials say fireworks caused the wildfire and forced evacuations early Sunday morning

A high school gym in Lehi and a middle school in Draper were offered as shelters, according to tweets from the cities.

No injuries and only minor structural damage were immediately reported. The Red Cross said the Draper shelter was closed after about 40 people who sought assistance were no longer there.

Dangerous fire conditions were forecast for Sunday afternoon through Monday across parts of Utah.

Projected gusts of up to 50mph and low relative humidity levels mean any fires that start could rapidly spread.

Rocky Mountain Power tweeted that about 7,500 customers lost power.

Craft said the fire started at an 'opportune' time of high fire risk.

'Super dry fuels, all of the sudden we get kind of a dry wind storm that comes in, and this thing was explosive,' the fire chief said.

'It's unfortunate that this incident happened. It caused a lot of people a long, sleepless night.'
The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Louisiana law regulating abortion clinics  with Chief Justice John Roberts once again joining with liberals on a major decision this term.

The court in its ruling reasserted a commitment to abortion rights over fierce opposition from dissenting conservative justices in the first big abortion case of the Trump era  after Trump had already succeeded in installing two conservatives on the court.

Roberts joined with his four more liberal colleagues ruling that the law requiring doctors who perform abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals violates the abortion right the court first announced in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973.

In two previous abortion cases, Roberts had favored restrictions.

The White House blasted the decision as 'gutting' a Louisiana abortion law  but held back from more bombastic comments at other recent rulings, as when President Donald Trump called an immigration ruling a 'shotgun blasts into the face.'

'In an unfortunate ruling today, the Supreme Court devalued both the health of mothers and the lives of unborn children by gutting Louisiana's policy that required all abortion procedures be performed by individuals with admitting privileges at a nearby hospital,' White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement.

'States have legitimate interests in regulating any medical procedureincluding abortionsto protect patient safety. Instead of valuing fundamental democratic principles, unelected Justices have intruded on the sovereign prerogatives of State governments by imposing their own policy preference in favor of abortion to override legitimate abortion safety regulations,' she said.

The 5-4 ruling represented a major victory for Shreveport-based abortion provider Hope Medical Group for Women in its challenge to the 2014 law.

The measure had required doctors who perform abortions to have a sometimes difficult-to-obtain formal affiliation called 'admitting privileges' at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic.

The Louisiana law is virtually identical to one in Texas that the court struck down in 2016.

5-4 ruling: Chief Justice John Roberts flipped position on abortion to back liberals Ruth Bader Gisnburg, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Stephen Breyer in the decision, ruling that the Louisiana restrictions were so identical to the last landmark case that they had to be struck down

Pro-life anger: The decision was protested immediately outside the Supreme Court by anti-abortion demonstrators

'The result in this case is controlled by our decision four years ago invalidating a nearly identical Texas law,' Roberts wrote, although he did not join the opinion written by Justice Stephen Breyer for the other liberals.

In dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote: 'Today a majority of the Court perpetuates its ill-founded abortion jurisprudence by enjoining a perfectly legitimate state law and doing so without jurisdiction.'

'As is often the case with legal challenges to abortion regulations, this suit was brought by abortionists and abortion clinics. Their sole claim before this Court is that Louisiana's law violates the purported substantive due process right of a woman to abort her unborn child.'

Roberts' decision to join the court's liberal wing is the latest during a summer when he also joint a 6-3 majority on gay civil rights and 5-4 ruling against Trump abolishing DACA.

In the DACA case, Roberts and the four liberals rejected administration arguments that the 8-year-old Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program is illegal and that courts have no role to play in reviewing the decision to end DACA.

That ruling, too, rested largely on procedural grounds. Roberts, nominated by President George W. Bush, wrote for the court that the administration did not pursue the end of the program properly, writing that the government failed to provide a 'reasoned explanation for its action.'

The abortion ruling was the first for the Court since the Republican Senate confirmed President Trump's two conservative appointments: Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

On the left, it was Kavanaugh who was coming fire for making his own statements about upholding precedent during his contentious confirmation, with additional heat on Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who is pro-choice and accepted his statements about upholding precent. Collins is up for reelection this year  in one of a number of races including the race for the White House where Monday's ruling could be a factor.

John Roberts siding with liberals on the Supreme Court this term Immigration  Roberts joined four liberals to reject administration arguments that the 8-year-old Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program is illegal and that courts have no role to play in reviewing the decision to end DACA. He wrote an opinion that said the executive did have the right to end the program, but blasted the way the Trump administration carried out the change. The government failed to provide a 'reasoned explanation for its action,' Roberts wrote, in an opinion that noted how it upended lives and plans of immigrants. Chief Justice John Roberts Gay rights  The court decided by a 6-3 vote that a key provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that bars job discrimination because of sex, among other reasons, encompasses bias against gay and lesbian workers. In this case, Roberts joined in the opinion authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, a Trump appointee. 'An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex,' Gorsuch wrote for the majority. The landmark ruling means that LGBT workers in 21 states where such discrimination is now outlawed now have automatic federal protection. Abortion  Roberts joined with liberals to strike down restrictive Louisiana abortion laws in a 5-4 ruling. Roberts authored his own opinion, finding that the restrictions were so identical to a similar law in Texas overturned by the Supreme Court in 2016 that they were illegal. The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore Louisiana's law cannot stand under our precedents,' Roberts wrote. The majority was comprised of Roberts, Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Advertisement

Trump campaigned heavily on using his presidential power to try to shift the court to the right on abortion and other issues, and promised to choose nominees only from a list of conservative nominees he published before the election.

The conservative Heritage Foundation immediately blasted Roberts. 'This is the latest in a series of judicial power grabs from the Chief Justice and the liberal wing of the court,' the group said,' the Atlantic reported. 'Justice Roberts, a so-called 'conservative,' is clearly no longer running things  it's now the Kagan Court,' the group said, referencing Barack Obama nominee Elena Kagan.

Roberts authored his own opinion explaining why he joined the majority, although he did not sign on to the opinion of the four liberal justices.

He sought to explain why he dissented agains the court's ruling in the similar Texas abortion cases but joined the majority in the Louisiana case before the court.

'I joined the dissent in Whole Woman's Health and continue to believe that the case was wrongly decided. The question today however is not whether Whole Woman's Health was right or wrong, but whether to adhere to it in deciding the present case,' he wrote.

He noted the case was 'nearly identical.'

'The legal doctrine of stare decisis requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike. The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore Louisiana's law cannot stand under our precedents,' Roberts wrote.

The writing echoed what he had testified during his confirmation hearings in 2005, when he got grilled by the late Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania about 'stare decisis.'

'I do think that it is a jolt to the legal system when you overrule a precedent. Precedent plays an important role in promoting stability and evenhandedness. It is not enough that you may think the prior decision was wrongly decided,' Roberts testified.

Senators were trying to solicit any scrap of information about how he might rule on whether to uphold the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion ruling.

'Stare decisis ('to stand by things decided') is the legal term for fidelity to precedent,' Roberts wrote.

Trump had already erupted in fury at the DACA ruling earlier this month.

'These horrible & politically charged decisions coming out of the Supreme Court are shotgun blasts into the face of people that are proud to call themselves Republicans or Conservatives. We need more Justices or we will lose our 2nd. Amendment & everything else. Vote Trump 2020!' he wrote immediately after the ruling

'I will be releasing a new list of Conservative Supreme Court Justice nominees, which may include some, or many of those already on the list, by September 1, 2020. If given the opportunity, I will only choose from this list, as in the past, a Conservative Supreme Court Justice... Based on decisions being rendered now, this list is more important than ever before (Second Amendment, Right to Life, Religous Liberty, etc.)  VOTE 2020!' Trump wrote.
This is the shocking moment a black family were forced to flee after being accused of stealing their own car, as bystanders attacked the vehicle with bikes.

Footage taken outside a Walmart in Spokane, Washington, shows how the incident unfolded as the woman approached the car and accused father-of-two Lee Allen of stealing the family vehicle he was driving.

His daughter, who was in the back seat, recorded the footage while sobbing as bystanders gathered and became violent after immediately taking the side of the woman.

The woman, who was riding a push bike and wearing a crucifix, claimed the car was her property as she stood in front of the vehicle blocking its way.

She shouted at Mr Allen: 'This is my car. How did you get this car?

'I don't want violence, I just want to know how did you get this car?'

Mr Allen then attempted to drive past those blocking him, at which point a man stood in front of the car with his hand menacingly in the front his jacket - Mr Allen then asked his son to call 911.

The video has gone viral after Mr Allen shared it to social media in early March. It was filmed on February 28 before the Black Lives Matter protests that followed George Floyd's death begun.

Footage taken outside a Walmart in Spokane, Washington, shows the moment a woman approached the car and accused father-of-two Lee Allen of stealing the car he was driving

Another man named Lawton Miller attempted to 'diffuse the situation' by opening the car door.

The woman claimed the car was her property as she stood in front of the vehicle blocking its way

Mr Miller stated: 'Just to explain something. This is her car.'

At which point Mr Allen slammed the door shut to protect his family. Mr Miller's fingers were caught in the door, which appeared to enrage him further.

The father attempted to maneuver his car away from the crowd as Mr Miller started to shout profanities and Mr Allen's daughter began to wail in fear.

A man jumped onto the hood of the car making it impossible to drive away safely while the crowd continued to bang at the car, one bystander even attacked the vehicle with a bike.

Mr Allen continued to drive with the man on the hood of his car as a motorbike chased behind him.

Mr Allen told KHQ Q6: 'I knew I was going to keep my kids protected no matter what.

'If all else fails, I could just step on that gas pedal and shoot out like a rocket somewhere, but at the same time I didn't want to hurt anybody.'

Mr Allen attempted to drive past at which point a man stood in front of the car with his hand in the front his jacket - Mr Allen then asked his son to call 911

Lawton Miller, pictured approaching Mr Allen's car, said the whole scenario was an unfortunate misunderstanding and he has been threatened since the video went viral

Mr Miller, who was riding the motorbike behind Mr Allen's car, claims he was only trying to get the man to stop so the man on his hood could get off.

He told the broadcaster: 'This kid jumps on the car. What do I do now? I've got to get this kid off the car. I don't know if this guy knows it who's driving this car, [but] if this kid falls off and he runs over and kills that kid, he's going to prison for murder. He's no good to his family anymore.'

After he blared his horn and flashed his lights the occupants of the car believed that Mr Miller wished to do them harm.

After he blared his horn and flashed his lights the occupants of the car believed that Mr Miller (right) wished to do them harm, rather than alert them of the man on their hood (left)

Mr Miller told KHQ Q6: 'I don't harm kids. I raised a daughter. I am a family man. I'm not no big bad biker. I'm grandpa with a bike, and I've got pictures with me and my grandsons on the bike.'

Mr Miller says the whole scenario was an unfortunate misunderstanding and he has been threatened since the video went viral, meaning he has had to stay away from his family for their safety.

Spokane County Sheriff's Office want to speak to the man who threw his bike at the car in the video, asking anyone with information to call 509-456-2233.

However they told KHQ Q6 that they do not believe Mr Miller will be charged in relation to the incident.
A mother accused of mowing down her former flame in a jealous rage after she found another woman in his apartment had dated him for less than a week, his friend claims.

Jackline Musa, 44, allegedly got behind the wheel of her Toyota Kluger at 8.30pm on Saturday night following an argument with 31-year-old painter Payman Thagipur.

She allegedly drove into him, pinning him against the wall of the car park in his apartment complex in the Sydney suburb of Wentworth Point.

Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Mr Thagipur died at the scene.

Police say the alleged attack was fuelled by jealously when Ms Musa realised her former lover may have been involved with someone else.

But close friend Samuel Azizi - who had known Mr Thagipur for nine years - said he never met Ms Musa and claimed the pair barely knew each other.

Payman Thagipur (pictured) was treated at the scene by police until New South Wales ambulance paramedics arrived but he died a short time later

Payman Thagipur was allegedly hit by his ex-partner Jackline Musa (pictured), 44, after the pair got into a fight at a car park of a unit complex

'He told me that he knew that girl for seven days, maybe less days. He wasn't interested and she wasn't his ex-girlfriend,' Mr Azizi told Sydney Morning Herald.

'For four days, five days, it's not really a girlfriend.'

Mr Azizi claimed his friend said 'I don't really care about her' and told him he would delete her number.

The friends had planned to go food shopping together on Sunday morning.

When Mr Thagipur didn't answer his phone, Mr Azizi drove to the apartment block on Hill Road and found a crime scene swarming with police.

A friend claimed that Payman Thagipur, left, barely knew his alleged killer before she mowed him down

Samuel Azizi - who had known Mr Thagipur for nine years - said his friend planned to delete Ms Musa's number

Naaz Ali lived next door to Mr Thagipur and said she witnessed the alleged attack from just metres away.

'The man's body was just so badly mangled and blood and I think I just lost my mind after that,' she told 7 News.

She said she was the one who first raised the alarm with police.

Residents inside the apartment complex said the whole building shook after the collision in the car park.

Naaz Ali lived next door to Mr Thagipur and said she witnessed the alleged incident from just metres away (the car park pictured)

Police tried to calm Mr Thagipur and make him comfortable as he took his final breaths (pictured: police surrounding the victim)

One said: 'He was on his side, in the corner, struggling to breath.'

Confronting footage has since emerged of police officers trying to revive Mr Thagipur while he lay dying of the car park floor.

'Mate, keep breathing, don't stop breathing,' an emergency worker could be heard saying in a video released by the network.

'You're doing well mate, you're doing well. Stay with us.'

Police tried to calm Mr Thagipur and make him comfortable as he took his final breaths.

Friends gathered at the scene to grieve the loss of Mr Thagipur, who was described as a 'gentle man'.

Police allege the pair got into an argument before the woman got in the vehicle and deliberately struck the man in the car park (pictured)

They said he had only recently moved into the unit complex with a dog named Coco.

Musa was arrested and taken to Concord Hospital under police guard for treatment and mandatory testing before she was charged with murder.

She appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday morning where she was refused bail and will remain in prison until another court appearance on Thursday.

Police said the entire incident was captured on CCTV and there had been numerous witnesses at the scene.

Emergency services were called to a car park at a unit complex (pictured) on Hill Road near Half Street, Wentworth Point just after 8.30pm on Saturday night

Police said witnesses have been traumatised by what they saw and described the scene as 'chaotic'.

A man and a woman, believed to be Musa's children, told The Daily Telegraph that they were not aware of incident when approached at her home in Quakers Hill on Sunday.

They said they had not heard from their mother since Saturday night and had assumed she was at work.

The man said he was not aware that his mother had ever had a boyfriend and had never heard of Mr Thagipu.
The future of new skyscrapers in London was today in doubt with many of Britain's workers now told they might not return to the office until next summer.

Companies are giving up or downsizing their offices as they change their working structure following the coronavirus lockdown imposed three months ago.

And there are now fears that huge developments still under construction in the City could be put on hold with developers concerned about opening empty.

Some firms have already left their London offices while others are looking at 'workplace clubs' where they would use a building for a few days each month.

It comes amid fears for the likes of gyms, sandwich shops and bars in city centre areas near offices, whose trade is likely to remain low in the coming months.

Among the major buildings currently under construction in the capital are 1 Undershaft (highlighted red, left) and the Diamond (highlighted red, right)

Deloitte consultants said some big construction schemes could pause. In the City of London, these could include the 984ft 1 Undershaft, also known as 'The Trellis' due to its cross bracing

The 56-storey tower The Diamond (centre) is among the skyscrapers set to change the London skyline in the coming years, and it will be the City of London's third tallest building at 814ft

The Bishopsgate Goodsyard towers development is another that could have to be paused

Consultants at Deloitte said some large construction schemes are likely to pause as people continue to work from home - with many unlikely to return until 2021.

Among the major buildings currently under construction in the capital are 1 Undershaft, the Diamond and the Bishopsgate Goodsyard towers.

Late payment crisis facing smaller firms has worsened in lockdown A late payment crisis affecting smaller firms has worsened during the lockdown, according to a new report. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said its research showed that most small firms have been affected by late payment as a result of Covid-19, seriously stifling cashflow. Firms dealing with the public sector fare no better than those selling to other businesses, said the report. The federation called for a 'long-awaited' review of the Prompt Payment Code to be launched, repeat offenders fined and prompt payment to be made a precondition of state bailouts. The late payment crisis should be brought to an end as the business community looks to emerge from the current recession, said the FSB. Almost two thirds of small businesses have been subject to late or frozen payments in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, according to a survey of more than 4,000 firms. A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said: 'We expect big companies to stand by their smaller partners and pay them on time.' Advertisement

Deloitte's London crane survey estimates construction delays of up to six months, with 22 Bishopsgate in the City among those which could be pushed back.

It said: 'While there will inevitably be delays in construction programmes, permanently stopping construction that is already underway is unlikely.

'There were ten schemes equating to 1.4million sq ft on the verge of commencing in mid-March which will undoubtedly be subject to review with on-site work delayed accordingly, whether that be a near-term postponement or a comprehensive rethink.

'We foresee very few developments being launched in the next six to nine months as decisions will be deferred until there is more stability in the market.'

It is also becoming ever clearer that the return to the office for some companies may never be the same as before.

Bishopsgate Financial Consulting is among the London-based firms downsizing, and has cut its annual cots by a quarter by giving up its head office in the City.

Mike Hampson, of Tonbridge, Kent, who is chief executive of the firm which employs 65 staff, told the Guardian: 'We were planning to move offices.

'We'd given notice just before the lockdown came in. When we started working remotely, we realised we were working very effectively as we were.'

It has bought desks, laptops, screens and printers for staff to create a home office, but kept a 'virtual office' in the City along with access to meeting rooms.

Another company that has given up its City head office is Vantage Point Global, which trains graduates for banks and employs 45 people.

Chief executive James Brincat told the Guardian: 'We are working perfectly well, almost better than before. People are happy they can cut out the commute.'

The company is using a 'workplace club' which means it can have access to meeting rooms and lounges for some days of the month, greatly cutting costs.

An image released by the City of London Corporation shows how the City skyline could look by 2026 when current construction projects such as 1 Undershaft and the Diamond are completed

Cranes next to skyscrapers in the City of London today, as the capital remains eerily quiet

A coffee is given to a customer at Pret a Manger on New Cavendish Street in London on June 1

Customers shop at Pret a Manger on New Cavendish Street in London earlier this month

It comes after Barclays chief executive Jes Staley said in April that the bank will not revert fully to its pre-January working habits when the pandemic is over.

Sandwich industry is left 'devastated' with footfall not recovering until the end of 2020 The sandwich industry has been 'devastated', with the majority of independent shops selling BLTs and salads hardly functioning while people continue to work from home. Jim Winship, director of the British Sandwich and Food to Go Association, told MailOnline today: 'Our industry has been devastated by Covid-19. 'Although some sandwich shops and cafes are starting to reopen, realistically it will be the end of the year before footfall recovers and we can start to get back to some sort of normality.' There have been growing calls for the Prime Minister to get millions more Britons back into the office to prevent thousands of businesses that rely on them going to the wall. Pret has admitted that its sales have collapsed by 85 per cent in lockdown. Advertisement

He added that the 'notion of putting 7,000 people in a building may be a thing of the past' and investment bankers could work instead from branches.

In addition, Lloyd's of London expects just 20 per cent of it staff will return to its building, and Facebook said up to half could be working from home by 2030.

Critics have already called on civil servants to lead by example and save Britain's high streets by getting back to the office.

City centres are facing financial ruin after officer workers were told to continue working from home until next summer, despite the easing of lockdown.

There are fears that such a move could spell disaster for shops, bars and restaurants that are reliant on trade from commuters and office workers.

But the Home Office has already indicated to staff in Whitehall it could be 12 months until they are back in the office, while only 30 staff have returned to the Westminster office of the business department, a tiny fraction of its workforce.

The business department is tasked with kick-starting the economy and critics have called on ministers to lead by example and get civil servants back in the office.
Australia is hiring an army of 500 cyber spies to defend the nation's online infrastructure after last month's cyber attack, believed to be at the hands of China.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will on Tuesday announce a $1.35 billion funding boost to Australia's cyber defences over the next 10 years.

The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), an Australian spy organisation that is responsible for cyber warfare and foreign signals intelligence, is expected to receive 500 new online spies at a cost of about $470 million.

The Australian Signals Directorate based in Canberra is Australia's cyber-warfare spy agency. It is to receive a $1.35 billion funding boost over the next decade in the wake of cyber attacks

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), Australia's lead cybersecurity agency based at ASIO headquarters in Canberra, is part of the ASD and will share the funding bounty.

The announcement comes ahead of Wednesday's major national security statement by the Prime Minister amid continued mass hack attempts.

Mr Morrison warned the nation on June 19 that a foreign country had launched cyber attacks on Australian organisations across government, industry, political organisations, education, health, essential service providers, and operators of critical infrastructure.

Pictured: Chinese Communist Party members swear their allegiance to the party flag in Yunnan Province on Saturday. China is widely believed to be behind the escalating hack attacks on Australia's cyber infrastructure, but Beijing denies the claim

More than $100 million is expected to go to a new Artificial Intelligence system. Australia will also develop offensive cyber capabilities to strike at hackers in their overseas lairs

Mr Morrison said it was the ACSC that advised the government of the attacks, which it said came from a 'sophisticated state-based cyber actor'.

While no country was officially blamed, it has been widely speculated that the attacks came from China.

China has denied it is behind the cyber attacks, calling the claims 'baseless'.

The additional funding comes on top of the $230 million four-year Cyber Security Strategy launched in 2016 and a further $156 million to build cyber resilience and expand the cyber workforce.

Radar domes at Pine Gap near Alice Springs in the centre of Australia play an important role in missile defence. Many crucial defense systems are vulnerable to cyber attack

According to the Australian Signals Directorate Budget Estimates for 2018-19, the ASD was to receive $827.3 million for that financial year, so an extra $1.35 billion over 10 years represents a significant funding boost for the organisation.

The new billion dollar spend is expected to be part of the 2020 Defence White Paper and will include $31 million to build offensive capabilities.

This will enable Australia's cyber-spies to go after overseas cyber attackers and stop them before they strike Australian targets.

Australia's parliamentary flag pole in Canberra seen behind the roof of the Chinese Embassy on Monday. The new $1.35 billion boost will help Australia defend itself against cyber attack

Australia has already declared its use of offensive cyber capabilities in 2016 with its Cyber Enhanced Situational Awareness and Response package.

Money is also expected to have been allocated to a new artificial intelligence program with more than $100 million aimed at neutralising overseas cyber threats.

A further $118 million is expected to be earmarked under the funding to expand the ASD's data science and intelligence capabilities to identify emerging threats.

Another $25 million will go to creating a secure platform for industry and government to share information about malicious cyber threats so they can block attacks as they emerge.

The ASD along with Australia's major telecommunications companies will also be given new capabilities to block known malicious websites and computer viruses quickly.

The Government is to announce a new four-year cyber security strategy over the next few months, and more than $500 million out of the new spending will be detailed as part of that plan.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his priority is to protect Australia's sovereignty, economy

Mr Morrison said the government's priority was to protect the economy, national security and sovereignty.

'Malicious cyber activity undermines that,' Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

'My Government's record investment in our nation's cyber security will help ensure we have the tools and capabilities we need to fight back and keep Australians safe.'

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said the investment would ensure the government has the people it needs to meet future cyber challenges.

'This package will enable ASD and Australia's major telecommunications providers to prevent malicious cyber activity from reaching millions of Australians by blocking known malicious websites and computer viruses at speed,' she said.

The nation needs 17,000 more cyber security experts within the next five years to meet industry and government needs for protection, she said.

A Cyber Security Strategy industry advisory panel was appointed by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton late last year.

The panel is chaired by Telstra chief Andy Penn and includes former US secretary of homeland security Kirstjen Nielsen, Tesla chair Robyn Denholm and NBN chief security officer Darren Kane.
The shattered family of a slain nine-year-old boy may never know why he was brutally murdered by a teenager who was meant to be caring for him.

Daniel Cameron, 15, stabbed Hunter MacIntosh, nine, to death while he was babysitting him in Otautau, New Zealand, on October 30, 2019.

The reason for the senseless killing may never be known as psychiatric and psychological reports have revealed very little, Stuff reported.

The reason behind the brutal stabbing murder of Hunter MacIntosh, nine, (pictured) by his babysitter and family friend Daniel Cameron, 15, may never be known, a court has heard

Cameron offered only one clue about the motive behind his actions, saying Hunter was being 'really annoying' on the night that he died.

The Invercargill High Court heard Hunter had been using an air horn the night he was killed.

Justice Rachel Dunningham said if that were the motive behind the murder, Cameron had 'a very significant issue with anger management'.

On the night of his murder Hunter's mother Amy King, stepfather Hayden Morris, and Cameron's mother were out socialising together.

After returning home at about 10.30pm Mrs King found Hunter dead at the end of his bed with multiple stab wounds.

It's believed the young boy had been killed within 90 minutes of being left alone with Cameron.

Hunter's family called his killing a 'senseless act' for which they were still looking for an explanation.

Prior to the horrific incident family and friends said there was no indication from Cameron that anything was wrong.

He had looked after Hunter at least 10 times before while their parents would meet on a weekly basis.

'[Cameron] chose to strangle and stab my poor defenceless little boy. My reality is I barely function. The feeling of loss is so strong I wonder how I can keep living,' Ms King said.

'He was my life, my world, my reason for living. He was the other half of me.'

Cameron stabbed Hunter (pictured) to death in October, 2019, while babysitting him in Otautau, New Zealand, only saying the boy was 'really annoying' on the night he died

Hunter's grandmother, Sharon King, said her daughter and grandson were inseparable.

'You won't ever get a closer relationship than these two guys. Never have I seen anything like it,' she told the New Zealand Herald.

'They just depended on each other so much. And that's the hardest thing, the night he died, he was alone.'

His heartbroken mother said she had no regrets except leaving her son with Cameron that evening.

During Cameron's sentencing Justice Dunningham said she saw little remorse from the teenager.

She said Cameron had not exhibited any mental health issues and had a relatively untroubled background prior to the killing.

She sentenced the teen to life in prison with a minimum of 11 years.
Huge coronavirus-shaped hailstones have pummelled Beijing as the Chinese capital fights a surge of COVID-19 cases which exploded from a sprawling food market in the city.

Images taken by Beijing residents show the spiked pieces of ice - resembling the spherical virus particles - after they were rained down on the capital city Thursday during a freak summer thunderstorm.

It comes as China has put half a million people into a strict Wuhan-style lockdown following a new wave of COVID-19 infections in Beijing.

Images taken by Beijing residents show the spiked pieces of ice - resembling the spherical virus particle - after they were rained down on the capital city Thursday during a freak storm

Coronavirus particles (pictured) are spherical with large spikes that slot into human cells

A rare thunderstorm with icy hails struck Beijing as the local weather authority issued a yellow warning for the adverse weather on June 25.

Local residents rushed to share pictures of huge lumps of ice on social media while many web users were shocked to spot the high resemblance between the hailstones and coronavirus cells.

One commenter wrote: 'Why do they look so much like the coronavirus? This year is going to be so turbulent'

Another one replied: 'What a strange year it has been, now the hailstones look like the coronavirus!'

Local residents rushed to share pictures of huge lumps of ice on social media while many web users were shocked to spot the high resemblance between the hailstones and COVID-19 cells

A rare thunderstorm with icy hails resembling the coronavirus particles struck Beijing as the local weather authority issued a yellow warning for the adverse weather on June 25

A similar scene was spotted in Mexico last month when Coronavirus-shaped hailstones rained down on the South American country - sparking rumours the phenomenon could be a sign from God.

Terrified bystanders in the municipality of Montemorelos, in the Northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, shared images of the spiked pieces of ice to social media.

One claimed that God could have sent the weather 'to remind us to stay put' as others commented it was 'subliminal messaging from our creator'.

Beijing's freak hailstorm came just three days before China put half a million people into a strict Wuhan-style lockdown after Beijing recorded a surge in cases which exploded from a wet market in the city.

Beijing's freak hailstorm came just three days before China put half a million people into a strict Wuhan-style lockdown after Beijing recorded a surge in cases. Medical workers swab throat of people for nucleic acid testing at a testing site for the coronavirus in Beijing

Despite China appears to have largely brought the virus under control, hundreds have been infected in Beijing and cases have emerged in neighbouring Hebei province in recent weeks. Medical workers swab throat of people for nucleic acid testing of COVID-19 in Beijing Sunday

Despite China appears to have largely brought the virus under control, hundreds have been infected in Beijing and cases have emerged in neighbouring Hebei province in recent weeks.

Health officials said Sunday that Anxin county - about 90 miles from Beijing - will be 'fully enclosed and controlled', the same strict measures imposed at the height of the pandemic in the city of Wuhan earlier this year.

Only one person from each family will be allowed to go out once a day to purchase necessities such as food and medicine, the county's epidemic prevention task force said in a statement.

Health officials said Sunday that Anxin county - about 90 miles from Beijing - will be 'fully enclosed and controlled', the same strict measures imposed at the height of the pandemic in the city of Wuhan earlier this year. A man is seen receiving a nucleic acid test in Beijing

A vendor is seen walking past closed stalls at a food market in Beijing on June 22. Beijing Authorities have clamped down on food production and distribution amid a new coronavirus cluster linked to the Xinfadi wholesale market. A total of 318 native infections have been found

The move comes after another 7 cases of the virus were reported in the past 24 hours in Beijing, taking the total to 318 since mid-June and spurring the testing of millions of residents.

The outbreak was first detected in Beijing's sprawling Xinfadi wholesale food market, which supplies much of the city's fresh produce, sparking concerns over the safety of the food supply chain.

Nearly a third of the cases so far have been linked to one beef and mutton section in the market, where workers are being made to quarantine for a month, city officials said Sunday.

Businesses in Anxin county had supplied freshwater fish to the Xinfadi market, state news agency Xinhua reported.
Lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed under the brand names Kaletra and Aluvia, is an anti-HIV medicine also being trialled

An HIV drug earmarked as a potential coronavirus treatment does not improve the condition of patients with the infection, a major British trial has found.

Oxford University scientists pulled lopinavir/ritonavir from the RECOVERY Trial today after results showed it had no benefit on people hospitalised with the virus.

The anti-HIV drug, marketed as Kaletra and Aluvia, has been trialled in hospitals around the world to treat the disease  despite no evidence it works.

It was earmarked early on in the pandemic because it interferes with the same enzymes involved in the replication of Covid-19 inside the body.

Professor Peter Horby, who is heading RECOVERY, told the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee today that results on lopinavir/ritonavir were 'pretty clear'.

He said: 'We've just looked at the results [on lopinavir/ritonavir] and shown that it's not effective.

'That's another drug that has been recommended in national guidelines in many countries, we've shown pretty clearly now that it doesn't work either.'

WHAT IS LOPINAVIR/ RITONAVIR? The combination of lopinavir and ritonavir is used on HIV patients to prevent the virus developing into AIDS. Lopinavir and ritonavir are in a class of medications called protease inhibitors. Protease inhibitors work by sticking to an enzyme on a virus which is vital to the virus reproducing. By doing this it blocks the process the virus would normally use to clone itself and spread the infection further. When lopinavir and ritonavir are taken together, ritonavir also helps to increase the amount of lopinavir in the body so that the medication will have a greater effect. The combination comes as a tablet or a solution. It is usually taken twice a day. HIV patients were prescribed either Kaltra or ritonavir alone around 1,400 times in 2018. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, gas, headache, and trouble sleeping. Advertisement

Lopinavir/ritonavir was given to three groups of coronavirus patients with varying degrees of illness - those on ventilators, patients needing oxygen and people who had mild symptoms.

The results were then compared against a control group receiving standard care, which included painkillers and, in some cases, antibiotics.

The full results have not been released but Professor Horby said the team were compiling the data to be sent out later today.

It makes lopinavir/ritonavir the second drug to be ditched from the trial, after promising malaria drug hydroxychloroquine was removed on June 5.

The antimalarial was similarly found to have no effect on any of the groups of coronavirus patients.

But the RECOVERY trial has also been responsible for the biggest breakthrough yet in the global coronavirus fight, after proving a cheap steroid reduced death in very ill sufferers.

Dexamethasone was shown to save up to 35 per cent of patients relying on ventilators - the most dangerously ill - and reduce the odds of death by a fifth for all patients needing oxygen at any point.

More than 11,800 Covid patients have been taking part in the Randomised Evaluation of COV-id19 thERapY (RECOVERY) trial at hundreds of hospitals around the UK.

Only three treatments remain in the trial after today's announcement - azithromycin, a commonly used antibiotic; tocilizumab, an anti-inflammatory given by injection; and convalescent plasma therapy, which sees blood of survivors injected into patients struggling to shake the disease.

Professor Horby said the team were looking to add more drugs as the trial moves into the winter.

It comes after dexamethasone, a cheap steroid that has been around for decades, became the first medicine proven to reduce the death rate among hospitalised patients.

Announcing the news on June 16, Professor Horby said that treating eight people with the drug could save one life and cost just 40 in total.

It could save up to 35 per cent of patients relying on ventilators - the most dangerously ill - and reduce the odds of death by a fifth for all patients needing oxygen at any point.

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.

Dexamethasone is now the second drug available in the NHS arsenal to treat Covid-19, after Ebola medicine remdesivir was last month given the green light in another scientific breakthrough.
A Chinese middle school student has reportedly stood trial for attempted murder after allegedly throwing a younger pupil off a four-storey balcony during an argument outside a classroom.

The underage suspect, believed to be 15 years old at the time of the incident, is facing up to 10 years in prison, according to Chinese media.

The victim sustained severe wounds after falling four storeys to the ground and could be left disabled for life by the assault last September, his father told the press.

Both the perpetrator, Huang, and the victim, Wei, studied at the Anyang Middle School in Du'an Yao Autonomous County of southern China's Guangxi Province.

Year-nine student Huang, who was said to be 6ft 3in in height, allegedly picked up 5ft 3in Wei by grabbing Wei's neck and crotch on the morning of September 16 last year.

It is said Huang then threw Wei, who was a year younger, over the railing of a school building in front of other shocked pupils, reported Chinese news site Purple Cow, which is affiliated to state-run Yangtse Evening News.

The pair had been quarrelling and fighting, which caused Wei to fall from the school building onto the running track, according to the Du'an Education Bureau.

The authority said Wei was taken to a local hospital for emergency treatment before being transferred to the People's Hospital of Guangxi the next day for further medical attention.

Students relax during a break at a middle school in southern China before the incident occurs

The suspect grabs the victim and throws him down the school building on September 16, 2019

Wei's father told Purple Cow News that he had spent more than 200,000 yuan (23,000) treating his son and he was worried about his family's mounting debts.

The parent said his son had left the hospital. He claimed the boy could walk, but doctors warned that he might not be able to sit for a long period for the rest of his life.

Wei's father rejected allegations that the incident was caused by the fact that his son was a bully. Mr Wei said he had never got any complaints about his son by his school or other parents.

On the other hand, Huang's father insisted that Huang had a mental illness despite the police having deemed him as mentally healthy.

He claimed that Huang had had altercations with Wei before the incident and been beaten by several people.

A police statement obtained by Purple Cow suggested that Huang had brawled with Wei and Wei's classmates before the incident.

Pupils look in awe after the victim was fell four storeys onto a running track in Guangxi, China

A local court reportedly heard the case on June 17 and will give its ruling in due course

Police said Huang had accused Wei and the others of secretly watching him urinating, which led to the fights.

Police added that Huang lifted Wei and tossed him down the balcony in a fit of rage.

A local court reportedly heard the case on June 17. Huang was charged by public prosecutors with intentional homicide, which includes attempted murder.

Anyone found guilty of the crime is to be sentenced to three to 10 years of imprisonment when the circumstances are relatively minor, according to Chinese criminal law.

These circumstances include causing serious injuries in one person.

Intentional homicide can lead to a death sentence in the most serious cases in the country.

The court is expected to give its ruling in due course.
'I'll Be Gone in the Dark' is a new six-part documentary series based on the book with the same name, which explores writer Michelle McNamara's investigation into the dark world of a violent predator she dubbed the Golden State Killer

Kris Pedretti was supposed to be at a school dance on the night of December 18, 1976. Instead, the 15-year-old wasn't feeling well and chose to stay home while her parents went out for the evening.

She heard a crash in the other room but continued practicing the piano when seconds later, she felt a presence behind her.

'I felt a knife at my throat, and then he told me in my ear, 'If you scream or move, I will put this knife through your throat and I'll be gone in the dark,'' said Pedretti in the first installment of HBO's six-part docu-series, I'll Be Gone in the Dark.

The HBO series directed by Liz Garbus is adapted from crime-writer, Michelle McNamara's 2018 gripping book with the same title. It follows the late author's compulsive pursuit to solve the 40-year unsolved mystery of the most prolific serial murderer and rapist in US history, the Golden State Killer.

'I had a murder habit and it was bad,' McNamara once wrote of her obsession over the case, which had been fueled by an unrelated, unsolved murder in her hometown as a child. 'I knew I would be feeding it for the rest of my life.'

The New HBO docu-series focuses on the Golden State Killer's victims and the compulsive obsession that drove crime-writer Michelle McNamara to solving a case that went cold for over 40 years. Between 1973 - 1986, the Golden State Killer murdered 13 people, violently raped 62 women and burglarized over 100 homes before he mysteriously vanished. Above, a crime scene photo shows ligature marks on victim. 'He would hide ligatures under cushions so that when he was attacking, you would suddenly watch this man take a ligature from under you cushion and you didn't even know he had been to your house,' said McNamara in the documentary

California was terrorized by a balaclava-wearing assailant who would monitor suburban neighborhoods, sneak into homes in the dead of night and blind his prey with a flashlight

McNamara died two years before police arrested Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., after spending 40 years evading authorities. Investigators finally identified the Golden State Killer in 2018 after matching crime scene DNA genetic genealogy websites

Sacramento police began to realize they were dealing with a serial rapist after 15-year-old Kris Pedretti's brutal attack occurred on December 18, 1976. She had been the tenth victim in a string of violent rapes that terrorized the sleepy Sacramento suburb of Rancho Cordova.

But what investigators didn't know then, - is that they were dealing with a ruthless criminal who was only just beginning his demonic reign of terror that plagued California for 15-years. He would become most commonly known as the Golden State Killer, a moniker first coined by McNamara.

He had been given various different by the press over the course of his carious crime sprees. He was also known as the Visalia Ransacker, the East Area Rapist, the Original Night Stalker (or 'EAR- ONS' as an amalgamation of both) - it only became evident they were all committed by the same man, four decades later when he was finally identified by police as Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. in 2018.

Born in 1945, DeAngelo Jr. was a Navy veteran and former police officer who started burglarizing homes throughout Visalia, California in 1973. Over a two year period, he is believed to have committed at least one murder and 120 robberies that saw him vandalize property, scatter women's underwear and steal personal items of low-value across the quiet California farming community.

Eventually DeAngelo graduated to rape, torture and murder until he seemingly vanished without a trace in 1986 and the crimes went unsolved until investigators used forensic genetic genealogy websites to identify distant relatives with DNA evidence he left behind at the scene.

True-crime author Michelle McNamara died of an accidental overdose on April 21, 2016 - but in the five years leading up to her death, McNamara compulsively played amateur sleuth - delving into the history of the Golden State Killer and analyzing his every move in a bid to finally bring him to justice

The GSK mainly targeted women who were alone in their homes or with children. He carefully selected his victims after studying their habits. Many survivors have claimed that DeAngelo would often sob uncontrollably after committing a sexual assault, calling out for his mother. He would then sit quietly in the darkness for hours to trick his blindfolded victims into thinking he'd left, before striking again

'I just obsess over it,' McNamara is heard confessing in an old video diary aired in the HBO documentary. 'What drives me is the need to put a face on an unknown killer. 'After my husband and daughter fall asleep, I hunt for the killer on my laptop.' McNamara amassed 3,500 pages of evidence during her relentless investigation that would bring renewed interest to the cold case

Above, a collection of crime scene photographs shows one of the many attacks. 'Its hard to believe this but when I walked into the house, I had a feeling, the hair on the back of my neck would just feel like it was standing up,' said retired detective Larry Crompton. 'I just had a feeling that this is a madman, it wasn't anything that we had dealt with before'

At the time, DeAngelo's only known run-in with police occurred in 1979, when he was fired as an officer of the Auburn Police Department (seen right in uniform) for shoplifting from a Citrus Heights Drug Store. A composite sketch of the suspect released by the FBO in 2016 draws a remarkable resemblance to DeAngelo at the time

The first known rape occurred blocks away from Kris Pedretti's home in the Rancho Cordova suburb in June of 1976. 'The Golden State Killer hadn't yet graduated to murder,' said McNamara ominously in old footage on the docu-series.

In the following span of six months, ten women had been terrorized by a balaclava-wearing assailant who would study his victim's daily activities, sneak into their homes in the dead of night and blind his prey with a flashlight.

'The EAR crime period was kinda the end of innocence for Sacramento,' said Fiona Williams, who is listed as 'East Area Rapist Survivor #22' in the documentary

Six out of the first ten victims were teenagers, two of them were only 15-years-old.

Kris Pedretti recounts the horrifying night she was attacked by the Golden State Killer in her in the new HBO series. She said: 'It was just a few hours but it changed everything'

Pedretti recounts the terrifying night she was attacked in the first episode of the new HBO series. Holding an old photograph of her teenage self smiling in front of a Christmas tree, she said, 'This was probably taken a week after the attack.'

Her parents had gone out to a Christmas party that evening while her sister was away at work. 'I heard a noise but at 15-years-old, you always hear noises in your house when your parents aren't home so I didn't think much of it.'

Within seconds, DeAngelo was behind Pedretti holding a knife to her throat. He proceeded to move her down the hallway, through the garage and into the backyard where he placed her on a picnic bench to cut off her clothes with a pair of scissors he took from the kitchen.

'He would bring me inside and he would rape me. Take me back outside, then inside, rape me again, back outside and then another time,' she said.

'I was pretty numb but what I do remember is that he had moved the couch very close to our fire place but because I was blindfolded and couldn't see I thought he had caught our couch on fire.' She added: 'That was really scary because I thought I was going to die and then he was gone.'

Pedretti said she stopped playing piano altogether after the attack. 'It was difficult for me to play because I always felt like there was somebody behind me, it was just a few hours but it changed everything.'

She would be one of 62 women that was violently raped by the suspect who often worked under the same modus operandi.

Kris Pedretti was 15-years-old when the Golden State Killer broke into her home while she was alone for the evening and repeatedly raped her at knife point. The HBO series shares its name with McNamara's book, which was published posthumously in February 2018. The title was taken from a quote he told Pedretti: 'You'll be silent forever, and I'll be gone in the dark'

McNamara explained how the Golden State Killer meticulously planned his crimes: 'He always wore a mask, always wore gloves, talked through clenched teeth, set the houses up prior to the victims arriving, unlocked doors, windows, opened gates'

Above is a map that reveals the third crime spree which saw DeAngelo graduate from rape to murder in the late 1970s

The GSK mainly targeted women who were alone in their homes or with children. He carefully selected his victims after conducting due diligence. All of the locations were single-story, middle-class abodes that usually buttressed a creek, trail, park or open space that allowed for a quick escape.

Sometimes, he went as far as entering the homes ahead of time in order prepare his attacks by unlocking windows and doors.

'He would hide ligatures under cushions so that when he was attacking, you would suddenly watch this man take a ligature from under you cushion and you didn't even know he had been to your house,' said McNamara in the docu-series.

'When I'm puzzling over the details of an unsolved crime, I'm like a rat in a maze give a task,' wrote McNamara

Many survivors have claimed that DeAngelo would often sob uncontrollably after committing a sexual assault, calling out for his mother. He would then sit quietly in the darkness for hours to trick his blindfolded victims into thinking he'd left, before striking again.

'If there was a man in the house, he would throw shoelaces on the bed and tell the woman to tie him up,' explained retired Detective Larry Crompton. DeAngelo would then place dishes on the mans back and threaten to kill both victims if he heard the plates fall onto the floor while he was raping the female victim.

'What he was putting into their minds is that they were going to die. And that's what he did, over and over and over,' said Crompton. Later during a particularly unguarded moment in the episode, the former officer told HBO, 'My job was to catch him and I didn't do that, and I cant let it go.'

The Golden State Killer soon graduated to murder with a string of brutal crimes that resulted in the violent deaths of 13 people - usually couples. In 1978, Brian and Katie Maggiore were chased down and shot in the Rancho Cordero neighborhood as they walked their dog. A year later, Dr Robert Offerman and Alexandria Manning were bound with twine and killed at a home in Goleta near Santa Barbara.

Lyman and Charlene Smith were bludgeoned to death with a fireplace log in their Ventura County home in March 1980. The suspect killed six more victims in a similar fashion before he stopped his crime wave all together in 1986; and as mysteriously as the demonic figure appeared, he vanished without a trace.

It wasn't until McNamara began compiling some 3,500 pages of evidence for her book and online crime blog, that would bring renewed interest to the cold case. 'What's fascinating about this case is that it's rich with so many clues and it really seems to me that its just needs the time, energy and curiosity,' said McNamara.

'She had material that other investigators had never seen,' retired detective Paul Holes, who had worked on the unsolved murders at the time, told HBO. 'Even though she never had a badge and a gun, Michelle was always one of us.'

'I just obsess over it,' McNamara is heard confessing in a newly surfaced video diary in on the documentary. 'What drives me is the need to put a face on an unknown killer.'

Before the Golden State Killer graduated to rape and murder, he was known as the 'Visalia Ransacker' for breaking into as many as 120 homes throughout the small California farm community. Most of the Ransacker's activities involved vandalizing personal possessions, scattering women's underwear and stealing coins and other low-value or items, while often ignoring banknotes in plain sight

Beginning in 1976, the Golden State Killer attacked women in their bedrooms as they slept untroubled, only to be violently awoken with a flashlight. Many of survivors have claimed he would often sob uncontrollably after committing a sexual assault, calling out for his mother. He would then sit quietly in the darkness for hours to trick his blindfolded victims into thinking he'd left, before striking again

Jane Carson, the GSK's fifth victim is seen nervously playing with her necklace in old police footage featured in the HBO documentary. 'I thought of kicking him but it would have been useless as my hands were tired, I was blindfolded and my child was with me,' she tells the investigator in 1976

Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., 74, appeared in Sacramento County court to plead guilty to 13 counts of murder and 13 counts of kidnapping as well as admitting 62 rapes that prosecutors were unable to charge because so much time has passed since they occurred

'After my husband and daughter fall asleep, I hunt for the killer on my laptop,' wrote McNamara. 'When I'm puzzling over the details of an unsolved crime, I'm like a rat in a maze give a task.'

Tragically, McNamara never lived long enough to witness the fruits of her labor. Her unrelenting voyage to identify the infamous killer was cut short when she died of an accidental overdose on April 21, 2016. Her husband, the Hollywood comedian Patton Oswalt solicited Paul Haynes and Billy Jensen, two investigative journalists and friends of McNamara to help finish her book which was published posthumously in 2018.

Filming for the documentary happened rather fortuitously. Just one day after Liz Garbus began rolling cameras for a docu-series intended to focus on the killer still at large - 72-year-old Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. was arrested on April 24, 2018. He was initially charged in connection to the 1980 double homicide of suspected GSK victims Lyman and Charlene Smith.

'It's very weird timing, but thats the way things go sometimes. It just happens,' said Oswalt.

After four decades cold, investigators were finally ably to identify DeAngelo by matching DNA evidence found at the crime scene using online genealogical sites.

Police later tied him to 11 additional murders. Because of California's statute of limitations on pre-2017 rape cases, DeAngelo was not charged in relation to any of the instances of sexual assault, but he was charged in August 2018 with a slew of kidnapping and abduction charges.

At the time of arrest, his only known run-in with police occurred in 1979, when he was fired as an officer of the Auburn Police Department for shoplifting from a Citrus Heights Drug Store.

The filmmakers were able to pivot in large part because 'Ill Be Gone in the Dark' is not really about the killer himself but rather the survivors of his terror. It's framed through the life of Michelle McNamara.

Today, Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., 74, appeared in Sacramento County court to plead guilty to 13 counts of murder and 13 counts of kidnapping as well as admitting 62 rapes that prosecutors were unable to charge because so much time has passed since they occurred.

The deal spares him the death penalty and was the result of weeks of negotiations. Now, he will likely die in prison.

In an interview before DeAngelo took the stand, Liz Garbus told the AP: 'If DeAngelo pleads guilty on Monday, that will be I think an important step forward. But, to me, the fact that they have really triumphed over that silence is really the culmination of the story.'
A mutated version of the coronavirus that has gripped Europe and the West is more infectious because it doesn't break as often while inside the body, a study has found.

Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute in Florida say the 'spike protein' that the virus uses to attach to cells in the airways has adapted since January.

It used to break off regularly while trying to bind to receptors in people's airways, which it would use to gain entry to the body, but is now more resilient, they say.

A genetic mutation which scientists around the world have been picking up on for months appears to have caused this spike to be less likely to snap, and also to force the coronaviruses to produce more of them to make itself more infectious.

As a result the virus appears to be approximately 10 times more infectious than it was when it first jumped to humans in China at the end of the year, scientists say.

The mutated version of the virus, dubbed G614 - a change from D614 - is a tiny change in its genetic make-up that scientists weren't sure what to make of when they found it.

But by May research had found it had become the dominant strain being found in Covid-19 patients across the UK, US, Canada and Italy.

The spikes on the outside of the coronavirus (illustrated in red) are what it uses to latch onto cells on the inside of a victim's airways. A mutated version of the virus appears to have developed stronger spikes so it is more likely to infect someone if they breathe it in, scientists say

ACE-2 receptors have a shape which matches the outside of the coronavirus, effectively providing it with a doorway into the bloodstream, scientists say

Lead researcher on the Scripps institute's study, Dr Hyeryun Choe, told the Washington Post the mutation seemed to have happened to 'compensate' for the weakness of the spike protein in the past.

The Post reported it appeared to have become approximately 10 times more infectious as a result of this change.

The way the virus enters the body is by using its spike to latch onto a receptor - called an ACE-2 receptor - inside someone's airways.

ACE-2 receptors are essentially tiny gateways that the virus uses to get into the blood and then multiply rapidly, destroying cells around them in the process and triggering illness.

Dr Choe and her colleagues examined the differences between the spike proteins, dubbed S, on the outside of both versions of the coronavirus.

They found: 'These results show SG614 is more stable than SD614, consistent with epidemiological data suggesting that viruses with SG614 transmit more efficiently.'

The spike was stronger, they said, and as a result the virus was better able to bash through the gateway of the ACE-2 receptors.

Dr Choe told the Washington Post: 'The epidemiological study and our data together really explain why the [G variant's] spread in Europe and the US was really fast... This is not just accidental.'

However, this improved spike strength did not seem to be making people any sicker - or any less sick.

This, they suggested, could be because the spike had nothing to do with the virus's ability to reproduce - to replicate - once it was inside the body.

HOW AND WHY CAN VIRUSES CHANGE OVER TIME? Viruses are known to change over time because they are subject to random genetic mutations in the same way that all living things are. These mutations can have various effects and many will only happen briefly and not become a permanent change as newer generations of viruses replace the mutated ones. However, some of the mutations might turn out to be advantageous to the virus, and get carried forward into future generations. A virus may change its structure by accident but turn out to be more infectious that way, meaning it can infect more hosts, reproduce more, and become more dominant than its less fertile predecessor. Or if a virus becomes less dangerous to its host - that is, it causes fewer symptoms or less death - it may find that it is able to live longer and reproduce more. As a result, more of these less dangerous viruses are produced and they may go on to spread more effectively than the more dangerous versions, which could be stamped out by medication because more people realise they are ill, for example. The mutation may then be taken forward in the stronger generations and become the dominant version of the virus. In an explanation of an scientific study about HIV, the NHS said in 2014: 'The optimal evolutionary strategy for a virus is to be infectious (so it creates more copies of itself) but non-lethal (so its host population doesnt die out). 'The "poster boy" for successful long-living viruses is, arguably, the family of viruses that cause the, which has existed for thousands of years.' Advertisement

The process of reproduction, and using the body's resources to achieve this, is how the coronavirus causes illness.

Dr Choe's study added: 'An interesting question is why viruses carrying the more stable SG614 appear to be more transmissible without resulting in a major observable difference in disease severity.

'It is possible that higher levels of functional S protein observed with SG614 increase the chance of host-to-host transmission, but that other factors limit the rate and efficiency of intra-host replication.'

The paper was published online on bioRxiv without being reviewed by independent scientists.

Researchers in the UK and US had in May noted that the G614 version of the virus had become 'the dominant pandemic form in many countries'.

They said it was first found in Germany in February and had since become the most common form of the virus in patients worldwide - it appears to force out the older version whenever they clash.

Viruses mutate naturally all the time and it is not usually cause for alarm but should be studied in case they change so much they become unrecognisable to the body and immunity from a first infection cannot protect against them, as is the case with flu.

A study done by scientists at the University of Sheffield and Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, found that D614 appeared to have been the virus's original state in humans, and the one found in Wuhan.

It made up the vast majority of all Covid-19 infections in China, and Asia as a whole, and also seemed to be the first version of the virus to appear in the countries they studied.

However, the mutated version - G614 - started to appear soon after in Europe and North America in particular, before going on to take over as the dominant virus.

'A clear and consistent pattern was observed in almost every place where adequate sampling was available,' the researchers said.

'In most countries and states where the COVID-19 epidemic was initiated and where sequences were sampled prior to March 1, the D614 form was the dominant local form early in the epidemic.

'Wherever G614 entered a population, a rapid rise in its frequency followed, and in many cases G614 became the dominant local form in a matter of only a few weeks.'

The newer strain named G614 (blue) appeared later on in the pandemic but, since then, has dominated the older, slower-spreading strain D614 (orange) in most areas of the world. It was the only one recorded in England but all the patients sampled were taken from one city - Sheffield

Although the older D614 strain (orange) managed to remain dominant in Asia for most of the pandemic, it was quickly superseded by the mutated version in Western countries and Africa, which started recording outbreaks later on

Most countries outbreaks began with the older D614 strain (shown in orange). In China and Singapore this remained the dominant strain but in most countries worldwide it was edged out in March by the mutated G614 version

They said the G614 mutation may give the virus a 'selective advantage' which makes it better able to bind to cells in the airways, or to shed viruses which it uses to reproduce and spread.

It could do this because the D614G mutation appeared to affect the shape of the 'spike' protein that the virus uses to attach to a person's cells and infect them.

A sample of 447 hospital patients in Sheffield showed that people had a higher viral load when infected with G614, meaning they had a higher quantity of viruses circulating in their body.

This could make them more likely to spread COVID-19 because they could be more likely to show symptoms and have more viruses on their breath, for example.

The researchers wrote: 'An early April sampling... showed that G614's frequency was increasing at an alarming pace throughout March, and it was clearly showing an ever-broadening geographic spread.'

And they added: 'Through March, G614 became increasingly common throughout Europe, and by April it dominated contemporary sampling.

'In North America, infections were initiated and established across the continent by the original D614 form, but in early March, the G614 was introduced into both Canada and the USA, and by the end of March it had become the dominant form in both nations.'
TikTok is one of 59 apps to have been banned in India following the death of 20 Indian soldiers in a border dispute with China earlier this month.

The Chinese app TikTok, owned by Bytedance, joins Alibaba's UC Browser and Tencent's WeChat, among other apps, to have been banned by the Indian government on Monday who cited security concerns.

The ban on the mostly Chinese apps comes after a deadly border conflict between nuclear-armed neighbours India and China which saw 20 Indian soldiers lose their lives during hand-to-hand combat.

In a statement, India's ministry of information technology said the apps are 'prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.

The Indian government has banned TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company Bytedance, and 58 other apps this week citing security concerns

'The government of India has decided to disallow the usage of certain apps... This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace.'

The Indian ministry did not reference the border conflict or the fact that many of the banned apps were developed by Chinese companies in their statement.

The ministry says that several complaints of data theft and privacy violation led to the decision to ban the 59 apps  though no date for the ban to take effect has been confirmed.

It is estimated that 120million people in India use TikTok which makes the country the biggest international market for the app.

The ban on the mostly Chinese apps comes after a deadly border conflict between nuclear-armed neighbours India and China, in the northern Ladakh region, which saw 20 Indian soldiers lose their lives during hand-to-hand combat. Pictured: Satellite image of the Line of Actual Control - the border between India and China

This is not the first time that TikTok has been banned in India.

It was banned briefly last year after concerns were raised about the app being used to distribute pornography.

The ban was lifted after a few weeks.

The Indian soldiers were killed in a brawl along the disputed border in northern Ladakh region on June 15 in the deadliest faceoff for almost half a century between the two countries.

No firearms were involved in the dispute because the two nations hold an understanding that troops on both side of the border in the region will not use guns.

It is estimated that 120million people in India use TikTok which makes the country the biggest international market for the app

The two countries previously fought a war over their shared border in 1962 and the deaths in the most recent clash are the first on the frontier since 1975.

Street protests took place in India following the deaths of the 20 soldiers and calls have been made to ban Chinese businesses which export almost 49billion to India.

Beijing has denied accusations from New Delhi that Chinese forces entered Indian territory.

Now, both sides have said they are trying to resolve the dispute through dialogue, but thousands of soldiers remain on alert.
Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia state on Monday extended a coronavirus lockdown on a district hit hard by an outbreak at a slaughterhouse, but lifted the restrictions on a neighbouring area.

The districts of Guetersloh and Warendorf last Tuesday became the first in Germany to go back into lockdown since the coronavirus shutdowns began easing in May, affecting over 600,000 people.

It was the country's first big setback in tackling the pandemic.

Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia state on Monday extended a coronavirus lockdown on a district hit hard by an outbreak at a slaughterhouse, but lifted the restrictions on a neighbouring area. Above,people queue to be tested for Covid-19 infection at the Carl Miele vocational school following a Covid-19 outbreak at the nearby Toennies meat packaging center

The districts of Guetersloh and Warendorf last Tuesday became the first in Germany to go back into lockdown since the coronavirus shutdowns began easing in May. Above, a member of the German army adjusts the googles of a health professional outside the houses of employees of the Toennies factory

The headquarters of the meat processing company Toennies in Rheda-Wiedenbrueck, western Germany

The western state's premier Armin Laschet said Guetersloh would remain on lockdown until July 7 'as a precaution', even if testing showed only a limited spread of the virus from the slaughterhouse to the wider population.

The neighbouring district of Warendorf however will be able to exit lockdown as planned on June 30, Laschet told a journalists in Duesseldorf.

For Warendorf, 'from tomorrow the same rules will apply as elsewhere in North Rhine-Westphalia', he said. That means cinemas, swimming pools, bars and gyms will be allowed to reopen just as the summer holidays get going.

Laschet, a leading candidate to succeed Angela Merkel as the conservative CDU party's chancellor candidate in next year's election, added that the COVID-19 outbreak that started at the Toennies meat processing plant in Guetersloh was 'under control'.

The neighbouring district of Warendorf will be able to exit lockdown as planned on June 30, Laschet told a journalists in Duesseldorf. Above, a translator speaks to residents of apartment buildings that house workers and their families from the nearby Toennies meat packing plant who are all under quarantine in the town of Verl

Eastern European workers at the Toennies plant are seen behind a barrier at their accommodation in western Germany

City employees deliver food and water to residents of apartment buildings that house workers from the nearby Toennies meat packing plant

More than 1,500 out of some 7,000 employees at the abattoir have tested positive for the virus so far. Many of them are from Romania and Bulgaria and live in shared housing near the plant.

The cluster pushed the area's infection rate up past a nationwide agreed threshold of 50 new infections per 100,000 residents, forcing the state to pull the "emergency brake".

Guetersloh's rate remained very high on Monday, at 112.6 infections per 100,000 people over the past seven days, according to the Robert Koch Institute for disease control.

Lockdowns were 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. Guetersloh's rate remained very high on Monday, but Warendorf district's infection rate has fallen to 22 per 100,000

But Warendorf district's infection rate has fallen to 22 per 100,000.

If the abattoir employees are taken out of the calculations, both districts are below the agreed threshold.

Laschet said the regional government's swift containment measures had succeeded in keeping the cluster localised and in preventing the virus from jumping over to the general population.

Germany has recorded nearly 194,000 coronavirus cases and 8,961 deaths to date, giving it one of the lowest fatality rates in Europe.

It has however suffered several slaughterhouse outbreaks, raising questions about the industry's health and safety conditions and fuelling calls for reform.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday that indoor dining may not be included in phase 3 of reopening the Big Apple after California, Texas and Florida saw massive spikes in coronavirus cases that stemmed from people gathering inside restaurants and bars.

During a press conference, de Blasio said that a 'number of cities and states have unfortunately been moving in the wrong direction', a reference to multiple southern states that have experienced an uptick in cases over the last week.

The number of US infections have increased to nearly 40,000 for the fourth day in a row, bringing the total number of cases to more than 2.5 million.

De Blasio then went on to address the city's plan for reopening during phase 3.

'We all love indoor dining, but we also see problems related with indoor dining,' he said before pointing to a recent incident in East Lansing, Michigan, where 85 patrons tested positive for the coronavirus. The cluster of infections was linked back to them dining at a single restaurant.

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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (pictured) announced Monday that indoor dining may not be included in phase 3 of reopening the Big Apple after California, Texas and Florida saw massive spikes in coronavirus cases that stemmed from people gathering inside restaurants and bars

De Blasio noted that clusters of cases in Texas and Florida, which are both seeing a record number of COVID-19 cases, have also been traced back to people dining inside restaurants and bars.

'California had made great progress; they're now unfortunately slipping back and they are changing the rules regarding bars and restaurants,' de Blasio said.

'So we're paying attention to this lesson,' he said, adding that due to increasing concern, city officials will 'reexamine the indoor dining rules for Phase 3'.

'The rest of Phase 3 is moving on pace for Monday, July 6, but the indoor dining element is now in question,' de Blasio said.

He said city officials will be working with state officials to determine whether they will decide to 'pause' indoor dining or 'modify' the rules for indoor dining.

The mayor said he hoped to have more information regarding indoor dining policies in the next few days.

'The rest of Phase 3 is moving on pace for Monday, July 6, but the indoor dining element is now in question,' de Blasio said. Customers dine outside two restaurants in Manhattan on June 27

De Blasio noted that clusters of cases in Texas and Florida (patrons pictured June 24 in Miami Beach), which are both seeing a record number of COVID-19 cases, have also been traced back to people dining inside restaurants and bars

People (pictured on Sunday) sit at an outdoor bar and eating area as cases continue to rise in several states

'California had made great progress; they're now unfortunately slipping back and they are changing the rules regarding bars and restaurants,' de Blasio said. Patrons are seen dining outside of a restaurant in San Francisco, California, on June 23

Broadway will remain shut until at least January 2021 due to coronavirus fears Broadway will remain closed until at least early January, with many shows signalling they do not anticipate a return to the stage until late winter or even early spring next year. The Broadway League, which represents producers in the theater industry, said Monday that refunds and exchanges will now be issued for tickets previously purchased for shows through January 3. With no end to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in sight, the league said it was not yet ready to provide a specific date for exactly when shows will reopen in the iconic Manhattan theater district. Although an exact date for performances to resume has yet to be determined, Broadway producers are now offering refunds and exchanges for tickets purchased for shows through January 3 'The Broadway experience can be deeply personal but it is also, crucially, communal,' said Thomas Schumacher, chairman of the board of The Broadway League, which represents producers. 'The alchemy of 1,000 strangers bonding into a single audience fueling each performer on stage and behind the scenes will be possible again when Broadway theatres can safely host full houses,' he added. 'The safety of our cast, crew, orchestra and audience is our highest priority and we look forward to returning to our stages only when it's safe to do so.' Broadway theaters abruptly closed on March 12, amassing losses of a predicted $35 million every week since. At the time, there were 31 shows running, including eight still in previews; another eight were in rehearsals before beginning previews. Producers, citing health and city authorities, previously extended the shutdown to June 7 and then again to September 6. 'Returning productions are currently projected to resume performances over a series of rolling dates in early 2021,' the League said in a statement, adding they're currently in discussion with medical officials regarding a series of logistical issues, including: 'screening and testing, cleaning and sanitizing, wayfinding inside theaters, backstage protocols and much more.' Advertisement

De Blasio then addressed outdoor dining and how it is working 'across the board'.

Governments are stepping up testing and reimposing restrictions as newly confirmed coronavirus infections surge in multiple states.

Beaches are closing and beer is going untapped as Florida, Texas and other states backpedal on their reopenings, ordering mandatory wearing of masks in public and closing down restaurants and bars.

According to a data map compiled by spatial analytics company, Esri, 26 per cent of counties across the US are now battling uncontrollable coronavirus outbreaks

The data map shows that counties in the South and parts of the Southwest are currently experiencing an 'epidemic trend', or uncontrollable spread, of COVID-19 cases.

Of the 3,141 counties across the US, 824 are currently experiencing an epidemic outbreak and 1,251 are seeing spreading trends, which is an outbreak that could still be controlled if preventative measures are taken.

Across the country, 885 counties are currently seeing a controlled trend in new coronavirus cases.

The entire state of Arizona is currently seeing epidemic or spreading trends, according to the data map.

According to a data map (pictured) compiled by spatial analytics company, Esri, 26 per cent of counties across the US are now battling uncontrollable coronavirus outbreaks

The US has recorded more than 2.5 million cases and at least 125, 824 deaths

Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, the Carolinas and California only have a handful of counties that have controlled the spread.

About half the counties in Texas are currently seeing epidemic and spreading trends in new infections.

Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia are currently seeing epidemic trends in recent deaths, according to the data map.

While cases continue to spike, deaths appear to be declining across the country. More than 125,000 Americans have now died from coronavirus.

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.

Forecast models are currently predicting at least 150,000 COVID-19 deaths across the country by August if current social distancing measures remain in place.
A Northern California Walmart distribution center staffer who was shot dead on Saturday by a former co-worker, has been identified as a married father-of-two.

The shooting rampage also injured four other workers before police arrived and killed the suspected gunman, 31-year-old Louis Welsey Lane.

Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston told a news conference on Sunday that Lane was fired from the distribution center near Red Bluff in February 2019 after failing to show up for work.

The violence started on Saturday afternoon when Lane armed with a semi-automatic rifle circled the parking lot four times before crashing into the lobby of the facility. He began shooting randomly into the building and in the parking lot area, fatally injuring Martin Haro-Lozano.

Martin Haro-Lozano, 45 (pictured with his wife), was shot and killed during Saturday's attack onm a Walmart distribution center in California

Suspect Louis Lane, 31, drove this white SUV into the building around the time of the shooting, pictured

According to a GoFundMe campaign description, Haro-Lozano, 45, was waiting for his wife, who also works at the center, when Lane shot him.

He was taken to the hospital by a sheriffs deputy, but later died, Johnston said.

Haro-Lozano was a 12-year employee, according John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart US.

'We are shocked and heartbroken about the horrific event that occurred,' he said in a statement.

Haro-Lozano lived in Orland, California, with his wife and their two children.

Red Bluff police officers who were first to get to the scene exchanged 20 to 30 rounds with Lane before he was shot.

Multiple people were shot at around 3.30pm Saturday at the Walmart distribution center near Red Bluff, California. Lane was reportedly shot by police by 3.45pm

Smashed glass in a car in the parking lot of a Walmart distribution center in Red Bluff, California, where at least two were left dead and four injured in a shooting Saturday afternoon

The shooting victims were taken to St. Elizabeth Community Hospital and their injuries were not life-threatening, Johnston said.

Another victim was struck by the shooters car as he drove into the building and was being treated at the hospital for injuries to his leg, he said.

Investigators have not determined a motive in the shooting, other than his prior employment at the center, Johnston said.

The shooting started about 3.30pm at the Walmart distribution center.

Lane was in a white SUV that had wedged into the building. Witnesses described him as weighing more than 300lbs and standing at about 5 feet 11 inches in height, with a 'man bun' and a long beard, and wearing dark shorts and a dark shirt.

Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Johnston said deputies have determined the shooter circled the parking lot four times before crashing into the building and opening fire with an illegal semiautomatic long gun.

The scene surrounding the crashed car remained closed as dispatchers cleared the building

Emergency services received multiple calls about an active shooter at 3.30pm Saturday

A deputy interviews someone outside the Red Bluff Walmart distribution center after a shooting on Saturday. Two people, including Lane, were left dead four injured

Some of the 200 workers inside the facility locked themselves in a room, employees told KHSL-TV.

Lane encountered Haro-Lozano in the parking lot and shot him, causing the man to collapse to the ground.

Employee Bobby McFarlin told the Appeal-Democrat that he rushed to Haro-Lozano's aid and used the shirt off his own back to try and stop the bleeding before the deputy arrived to transport the victim to the hospital.

Scott Thammakhanty, an employee at the facilitys receiving center, told the Redding Record-Searchlight that he heard the shooter fire.

'It went on and on  I dont even know how many times he fired,' Thammakhanty said. 'I just know it was a lot.'

Thammakhanty and others started running for their lives, and he saw people lying on the ground as he ran, he said.

Fellow employee Franklin Lister told The New York Times he had just started work when a coworker ran down the hallway shouting: 'Active gunfire! Active shooter!'

Vince Krick told the Record-Searchlight that his wife and son work at the facility and he was on his way to pick up his wife when he saw the flames. Neither was hurt, but his wife told him not to come to the front entrance, the newspaper reported.

'It was real crazy, because, you know, you cant do nothing,' Krick said.

Deputies put out signs marking evidence from the shooting at the Red Bluff Walmart distribution center in California on Saturday afternoon in which two were left dead

Dispatchers told the Record-Searchlight that at least one woman had been shot. A man had also reported his leg being run over when the shooter rammed a vehicle into the building, but the man wasnt sure if he had been shot, dispatchers said.

When dispatchers arrived, a fire in the shooter's vehicle had broken out, preventing emergency responders from entering the building. The fire is not believed to have been significant.

Lane had been shot in the chest by about 3.45pm, 15 minutes after the shooting started.
Little Caesars has fired two of its employees for arranging pepperoni slices in the shape of a swastika on a pizza.

The highly-popular chain said it is 'deeply disappointed' by the actions of the staff members - believed to both be under 18 years old - in the Brook Park, Ohio, store.

Jason Laska picked up the only pre-made pepperoni pizza left on Saturday night.

Little Caesars has fired two of its employees for arranging pepperoni slices in the shape of a swastika on a pizza (pictured)

It was one of two pies that were pre-cooked and ready to collect by walk-in customers who did not need to order ahead of time.

When he returned home, his wife Misty opened the box to discover the highly-offensive Nazi symbol arranged backwards.

It is understood that the two workers were playing a prank and did not mean for the pizza to be given to a customer.

Jason Laska (left) picked up the pizza from the chain's Brook Park, Ohio, store on Saturday night. When he returned home, his wife Misty (right) opened the box to discover the highly-offensive Nazi symbol

Mrs Laska shared a picture of the pizza to Twitter and wrote: ' So my husband stopped at Little Caesars for a quick bite, husband brings this home!'

Mrs Laska shared a picture of the pizza to Twitter and wrote: 'So my husband stopped at Little Caesars for a quick bite, husband brings this home!

'I'm truly disappointed. This is truly saddening and disturbing and not funny at all!

'These aren't funny jokes and shouldn't be made period.'

Two Little Caesars workers at the Brook Park branch (pictured) have been fired and the highly-popular chain said it is 'deeply disappointed' by the actions of its employees

Speaking to a local television station, Mrs Laska said: 'Who would do this and why would they think it's a joke to play with signs and symbols like that in a time like today?'

Speaking to News 5, Mr Laska said: 'These are the kinds of things that are continuing to fuel the hate and the confusion that exists in the country and in the world.'

The US has been gripped by racial tension following the death of George Floyd last month.

The pizza was one of two pies that were pre-cooked and ready to collect by walk-in customers who do not need to order ahead of time

White police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds despite his desperate pleas that he 'can't breathe'.

His death is largely seen as a symbol of systemic racism against Black people.

A Little Caesar Enterprises spokesperson said: 'We have zero tolerance for racism and discrimination in any form, and these franchise store employees were immediately terminated.

'We're deeply disappointed that this happened, as this conduct is completely against our values.'

The chain and the Brook Park store owner reached out to Mr Laska.
Two passengers have been banned from using a hovercraft service after a crossing was suspended mid-journey following an argument over wearing a face covering.

Hovertravel said police were called after the 5.30pm service from Southsea to Ryde on the Isle of Wight was halted after the pair became 'verbally abusive'.

A police spokeswoman said the argument was apparently about one of the passengers wearing a mask which has a broken strap, the BBC reported.

Hovertravel said police were called after the 5.30pm service from Southsea to Ryde on the Isle of Wight was halted after the pair became 'verbally abusive' (file photo)

Anyone travelling on public transport in England must wear a face covering after the rule came into force on June 15. Anyone not wearing one can be fined 100.

Hovertravel has cancelled the pair's travel cards for breaching its abusive behaviour policy on Friday.

Officers spoke to the two passengers in Ryde after the crossing resumed. Isle of Wight police said no formal complaint was made.

Hovertravel told the County Press their staff have engaged with these customers on a number of previous occasions where they have explained why and encouraged the use of face coverings.

The firm said: 'The captain stopped the hovercraft during the crossing to re-iterate the regulations but was forced to escalate the process by involving the police to enforce compliance.

Anyone travelling on public transport in England must wear a face covering after the rule came into force on June 15

'The customers became verbally abusive and so Hovertravel followed its zero tolerance policy to any abusive behaviour by cancelling both customers' travel l cards.'

It is believed the widespread use of face masks could keep the reproductive (R) rate below one and stop a second wave of coronavirus.

Modelling by the universities of Cambridge and Greenwich found if half of Brits wore masks it would prevent the crisis from spiralling back out of control.

Researches said everyone wearing masks was twice as effective at reducing R compared to only those with coronavirus symptoms using them.
Countryfile has sparked a race row after claiming people from BAME backgrounds feel unwelcome in the countryside because it is a 'white environment'.

The BBC programme broadcast an episode last night in which TV presenter Dwayne Fields investigated the issue, based on independent research from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The government's report, released last year, said some people from BAME communities, alongside white people, felt the UK's national parks are a 'white environment'.

The BBC programme aired an episode last night in which Dwayne Fields, above, investigated a DEFRA report saying some ethnic groups felt the UK's national parks are a 'white environment'

In the segment, Mr Fields walks through Epping Forest in Essex and says: 'When I talk to people from the black and minority ethnic community, it's clear that they don't view the UK countryside as somewhere that's for them, it's not theirs, they don't belong there, and I want to find out why.

'As it happens, I am not the only one. Last September, an independent review of England's national parks was published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

'They found that the countryside is seen by both Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups, and white people alike, as being very much a 'white' environment.

'The review also concluded that if that is true today, then the divide is only going to widen as society changes.'

He continued: 'Our countryside will end up being irrelevant to the country that actually exists.

'I'm a Scout Ambassador and I work with the National Trust. Both organisations are working to get more diversity into the outdoors.'

BBC Countryfile tweeted: 'While Dwayne Fields found solace in the landscapes of the UK and beyond, many in Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups see the countryside as being a white environment.'

The post triggered a debate amongst Twitter users, with one commenting: 'Oh BBC Countryfile why oh why? I don't usually bother but this is ridiculous. Britain is historically populated by white people.

The episode sparked a race row amongst Twitter users, with Laurence Fox branding the BBC 'corrupt' and using the hashtag #DefundTheBBC

'What on earth is stopping anyone, regardless of the colour of their skin, enjoying nature? No one is stopping anyone. Utter cobblers.'

Outspoken actor Laurence Fox branded the BBC 'corrupt' and used the hashtag #DefundTheBBC - a movement claimed to have been started by University of Glasgow student James Yucel.

He posted: 'Having lived in the countryside for 10 years, I'm fairly confident nature doesn't give a f**k what colour you are.

'Defund this rubbish. Nature isn't racist. Get a grip. #DefundTheBBC.'

In a separate tweet, he added: 'The BBC is a corrupt organisation that sows division between friends. If they want to compete for our appreciation, they should do so within the free market.'

TV presenter Mr Fields addressed the debate while other social media users praised the episode for 'highlighting' the issue, following last night's segment

But others praised the report, with a social media user posting: 'Missed this week's show, but will be sure to catch up on iPlayer. The response on Twitter shows why this is such a huge issue. Thanks for highlighting.'

Another wrote: 'The countryside may be passive, but a lot of the people living around/in it are not.'

Adventurer Mr Fields later addressed the debate, explaining: 'Anyone saying the countryside is open to everyone, is absolutely right!

'The piece looked at a Defra report that highlighted some of the barriers that people from the BAME community 'felt' was preventing them from enjoying the countryside.'

A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Countryfile based the segment on an independent DEFRA report published last September and we felt it was important to examine such issues now more than ever, particularly in light of recent events.'
A Louisiana man desperate for likes on social media was issued a summons for jumping into the fish tank of a sporting goods store as part of a promise to do so if he reached 2,000 likes on a video.

Kevin Wise, 26, said he plunged into the indoor aquarium at a Bass Pro Shop in Bossier City last week to follow through on the promise he made to followers on TikTok, according to KSLA-TV.

'Alright, TikTok, I'm about to do something crazy, alright? Just make this go viral,' he said in a video that he posted to his TikTok page last week which shows him walking inside the Bass Pro Shop.

The clip then shows a ladder which connects to a wooden walkway that leads into the aquarium.

Kevin Wise, 26, was filmed last week swimming in a fish tank in the Bass Pro Shop sporting goods store in Bossier City, Louisiana

'For 2,000 likes, I'll jump in this son b**** and go swimming with the fishes,' he said.

After amassing more than 2,700 likes, Wise did just that.

'I said that if I got 2,000 likes I would jump in the tank,' Wise said.

'I got way more than that and didn't want to be a liar.'

A video captured by shopper Treasure McGraw showed Wise swimming through the tank before climbing out and running from the store with wet clothes.

'We heard a big splash and I thought it was one of the fish,' McGraw told the news outlet.

'My fiance was like 'somebody is in the tank' and we saw the guy swimming.'

Bass Pro Shops filed a complaint with the Bossier City Police Department on Friday, saying it cost them money to empty out the 13,000 gallon aquarium and clean it after Wise's swim, KTAL-TV reported.

Initially, the store declined to file charges, but reversed course only after it assessed the extent of the damage.

The store hired a biologist to inspect the tank. It was then determined that the tank needed to be emptied since damage was done to the species of fish which are indigenous to the region.

Wise was charged with simple criminal damage to property and released with a citation to appear in court, police said.

'Alright, TikTok, I'm about to do something crazy, alright? Just make this go viral,' he said in a video that he posted to his TikTok page last week which shows him walking inside the Bass Pro Shop

The Bass Pro Shop in Bossier City, Louisiana (above), initially declined to press charges, but reversed course after realizing that Wise's swim in the tank caused damage and required the 13,000-gallon aquarium to be emptied and cleaned

He told KSLA-TV he planned on continuing to make videos for his followers, but cautioned others against doing similar 'spur of the moment' pranks.

Wise then posted a video to his nearly 2,000 followers on TikTok asking for donations to help cover his legal expenses. He is asking for at least $1,500 to cover costs.

'As you all know I jumped into the Bass Pro tank and I got a summons to court,' Wise said in a video he posted to TikTok on Sunday.

'I'm gonna have a pretty hefty fine. I don't know the price of it yet, plus whatever damages I caused for the testing of the water and the examination of the fish,' he said.

Wise added: 'They had to hire a biologist. I can't afford that.'

Wise on Sunday posted another video on his TikTok page asking his followers to donate money to a GoFundMe to help cover $1,500 in legal expenses

'If you all would be willing to donate, it would be greatly appreciated,' he said.

'It would really help me out.'

Wise asked those who could not donate to hit the like button or share the video on their social media platforms.

A GoFundMe page has been launched to help him.
The 31-year-old Brooklyn lawyer who faces decades in prison for tossing a Molotov cocktail into an empty New York Police Department van during the George Floyd protests has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Urooj Rahman, a human rights lawyer who has been remanded to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since her arrest on May 30, entered the not guilty plea through her attorney, Paul Shechtman.

Shechtman was representing his client on a teleconference arraignment with Brooklyn federal Magistrate Judge Cheryl Pollack, according to the New York Post.

During the call, several supporters of Rahman were heard flooding the line and loudly cheering her on.

Love you, Rooj - stay strong! one supporter said.

Urooj Rahman (left), 31, was arrested along with another lawyer, Colinford Mattis (right), in the early morning hours of May 30

Court filings charging Mattis and Rahman say NYPD surveillance cameras shot video footage of Rahman allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at a cop vehicle parked outside the 88th Precinct in Brooklyn's Fort Green section. Rahman is pictured in an image from the footage

Keep your head up, Urooj, another supporter was heard saying.

Another commented: Love you, Aunt Roojie.

Rahman responded: Love you guys, too.

As the court proceeding ended, several supporters could be heard saying: Love you guys, too.

Rahman stayed on the line, tell her fans; Thank you for all your support.

I love you, Mom,' she added.

Rahman and another lawyer, Colinford Mattis, were arrested in the early morning hours of May 30.

Samantha Shader, 27, was also arrested that same night after she was caught on camera hurling a Molotov cocktail at an NYPD van with four officers inside in Crown Heights

Court filings charging Mattis and Rahman say NYPD surveillance cameras shot video footage of Rahman allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at a cop vehicle parked outside the 88th Precinct in Brooklyn's Fort Green section.

Mattis was behind the wheel of a minivan and Rahman was in the passenger seat when she allegedly hurled an improvised firebomb into a marked, empty NYPD van during an otherwise peaceful protest.

The firebomb caused damage to the console.

Authorities caught up to Mattis' car and arrested him and Rahman a short time after the incident.

According to court filings, cops searched Mattis' vehicle and found ingredients for making Molotov cocktails, including a bottle filled with what was suspected to be gasoline, toilet paper, several more bottles, a lighter and a gasoline canister.

Rahman's social media shows she graduated from Fordham University in New York.

The super of Rahman's building in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn described her as 'an angel' who recently lost her legal job.

'I can't believe it. I'm stunned. This kid? She's an angel,' George Raleigh said.

Mattis lives in East New York and graduated from Princeton University and New York University law school in 2016, according to his Linkedin page.

He's an associate with Pryor Cashman, a corporate law firm in Times Square where he specializes in start-ups, and is a member of Community Board 5 in East New York.

If convicted on all counts, they face up to 45 years in prison.

Shader is seen in another image taken from footage of her allegedly lighting a Molotov cocktail

The footage later shows her throwing the lit, homemade explosive at a cop vehicle

A magistrate judge had freed the two lawyers on bail, but they were detained again after federal prosecutors in Brooklyn appealed the decision.

The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments last week.

Fifty-six former federal prosecutors urged the court in a written brief to reject the government's efforts to keep the attorneys behind bars as they await trial, calling it 'contrary both to the law and to our collective decades of experience.'

Rahman is a graduate of Fordham Law School

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Brooklyn defended their request to keep the lawyers jailed pending trial, saying they violated their oaths and crossed a sacred line by targeting the police.

'These were lawyers, in particular, who had every reason to know what they were doing was wrong,' Assistant US Attorney David Kessler told a federal appeals court Tuesday.

'Committing these crimes required essentially a fundamental change in mindset.'

The appellate panel did not rule on whether to release the lawyers on bail but expressed horror at the firebombing, with one judge calling 'the whole case unimaginable.'

Several former prosecutors not involved with the case told The Associated Press the prosecution appeared to be based more on politics than public safety.

'The government seems to be trying to do everything it can to punish people charged in these protests as harshly as possible, and theyre going way overboard here,' said Duncan Levin, a former prosecutor who worked for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Brooklyn.

'This case should have been charged in state court,' he added.

Mattis lives in East New York and graduated from Princeton University and New York University law school in 2016, according to his Linkedin page

'This seems more than anything like scare tactics and trumped-up charges by the federal government.'

Lucy Lang, a former assistant district attorney in Manhattan, called the mandatory prison sentences extreme and 'a relic of a bygone era of draconian policies that have hurt families and communities for decades.'

A third suspect, Samantha Shader, was arrested for throwing a lit Molotov cocktail that same night at a parked NYPD van with four police officers sitting inside during a protest in the Crown Heights area of Brooklyn.

Shader, a 27-year-old resident of the Catskills region, was seen on video throwing the device, though it did not ignite.

A police source told the Post that Shader used toilet paper instead of a rag, preventing the gas from catching fire and causing serious damage.

Shader is a ukulele-playing street musician who has run afoul of the law in more than one quarter of the states in the nation.

Prosecutors said Shader had been arrested in 11 states prior to the bombing incident  but that wasn't even the complete list.

DailyMail.com has unearthed arrests in both Oregon and upstate New York to add to the one-woman crime spree tally.

All three face seven counts including the use of explosives, arson, use of explosives to commit a felony, arson conspiracy, use of a destructive device, civil disorder, and making or possessing a destructive device.
An Australian MP who praised China's handling of the coronavirus crisis has been questioned by police who raided his home as part of a probe into whether Chinese agents have infiltrated his office.

Properties linked to NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane were searched on Friday and he is reportedly being questioned at NSW Parliament. Moves are also underway by Labor to expel him from the party.

A dozen federal officers looked for evidence at Mr Moselmane's two-storey Rockdale home, in Sydney's south, at about 6.30am, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Six forensic officers arrived about an hour later to help with the probe and three cars outside Mr Moselmane's home were also searched.

In April, he stood down as assistant president of the New South Wales upper house after praising Chinese President Xi Jinping's response to the coronavirus pandemic. He said Xi had demonstrated 'unswerving leadership' and decisiveness.

Properties linked to NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane (pictured) were searched on Friday and he is reportedly being questioned at NSW Parliament

Mr Moselmane's home in Sydney's south was raided by Australian Federal Police on Friday morning amid an investigation into Chinese influence over Australian politics (Moselmane pictured with his wife Mika)

It is not suggested allegations against the MP and his office are true but that they are subject to a ASIO and AFP investigation.

The Australian Federal Police confirmed on Friday search warrants were executed in Sydney as part of an ongoing investigation and that there was no threat to the community.

However today the state lawmaker has said that he was not a suspect in a police investigation into unnamed people advancing China's goals in Australia, days after his home and office were searched by police.

Moselmane said he was told the investigation was looking into other people suspected of working with China and denied any wrongdoing.

Shaoquett Moselmane is pictured with his wife Mika Fukuta

'I have never jeopardized the welfare of our country and our people,' he told a news conference.

Police have not said why they searched Moselmane's Sydney home on Friday and also executed a warrant for his parliamentary offices.

Australia has accused China of seeking to interfere in its domestic politics, in allegations that have strained relations and led Australia in 2018 to pass new national security laws that outlaw covert foreign interference in domestic politics and make industrial espionage for a foreign power a crime.

The raids are the first police investigation to grab public attention since the foreign interference laws came into force and the government bolstered funding to security agencies late last year to enforce them.

Moselmane said Monday that he would cooperate with Australian Federal Police in their investigation but also exercise his right to remain silent.

'I am under no illusion that this is a serious investigation,' he said.

Moselmane denied media reports that he had accepted Chinese government-funded trips to China.

Moselmane said today that his views on China's handling of the pandemic were consistent with those of the U.S. president, vice president and the World Health Organization.

The home of NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane is seen in Rockdale on Friday

Police declined to comment on Moselmane's news conference, saying in a statement, 'As this investigation remains ongoing, there will be no further comment.'

Labor Party state leader Jodi McKay said Moselmane's party membership was being suspended. Moselmane said he would take leave from Parliament until the police investigation was complete.

The Chinese Communist Party-controlled Global Times newspaper on Monday accused Australia of 'waging an intensifying espionage campaign against China.'

The newspaper cited a Chinese law enforcement agency source as saying Australia was sending agents to China to spy, gather intelligence and 'recruit assets.' Australia was described as 'the thief who is crying stop the thief.'

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined to comment on the report.

'I wouldn't be relying on Chinese state media for your sources for questions,' Morrison told a reporter who asked him about the Global Times allegations.

Morrison described the raids on Moselmane as a 'very serious issue' for police and for the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, the nation's main domestic secret service.

'We introduced our foreign interference laws because we didn't want Australia's political system or any other part of the country to be interfered with,' Morrison said.

Mr Moselmane in April stood down as assistant president of the NSW upper house after praising Chinese President Xi Jinping's response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Morrison described Moselmane, a 55-year-old Lebanese immigrant who was mayor of a Sydney municipality before he was elected to Parliament in 2009, as a 'very, very long-standing and relatively senior person' within the Labor Party.

The secret service, best known as ASIO, confirmed in a statement that 'search warrant activity occurred in Sydney on Friday as part of an ongoing investigation,' but would not comment on Moselmane or its involvement.

Less than two weeks ago, Morrison said that a 'sophisticated state-based cyber actor' was targeting Australia in an escalating cyber campaign that was threatening all levels of government, businesses, essential services and critical infrastructure.

Most analysts said Morrison was referring to China, but the prime minister would not name the country.

Already high tensions between Australia and China have been raised by the pandemic.

Federal officers enter the home of NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane in Rockdale, Sydney, on Friday

China in recent weeks has banned beef exports from Australia's largest abattoirs, ended trade in Australian barley with a tariff wall and warned its citizens against visiting Australia. The measures have been interpreted by many as punishment for Australia's advocacy of an independent probe into the origins and spread of the coronavirus.

Australia's foreign minister has accused China of using the anxiety around the pandemic to undermine Western democracies by spreading disinformation online, prompting China to accuse Australia of disinformation.

A backbench federal Liberal MP Gladys Liu last year confirmed she was affiliated with United Front groups, as honorary president of the United Chinese Commerce Association of Australia and the Australian Jiangmen General Commercial Association.

The member for Chisholm in Melbourne's south-east, who was born in Hong Kong, also had an honorary role with the Guangdong Overseas Exchange Association in 2011.

Shaoquett Moselmane's Labor membership will be suspended amid the investigation

In 2016, the former leader of ACPPRC, Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, Huang Xiangmo promised the ALP a $400,000 donation if it changed its policy on the disputed South China Sea.

Sam Dastyari's career as a New South Wales Labor senator ended in January 2018 after he contradicted the ALP's South China Sea position at a media conference for Chinese-language publications.

Mr Moselmane lashed out at anti-China racism in Australia in an essay for the East China Normal University in February

He was also secretly recorded at Mr Huang's Mosman mansion on Sydney's North Shore advising him his phone might be bugged.

Mr Huang, the head of the Yuhu property group, was last year effectively banned from re-entering Australia, had his citizenship bid blocked and his permanent residency rescinded.

Mr Moselmane lashed out at anti-China racism in Australia in an essay for the East China Normal University in February.

'Today, media xenophobia and full-scale war against China have become the norm,' he wrote in the opinion piece, seen by the Sydney Morning Herald.

'Today, the obsolete scum of 'white Australia' is once again flooding, and the theory of yellow fever has once again surfaced.

'Some mainstream media have bred and spread these racial viruses in our multicultural community with the purpose of inciting hatred.'
The judge presiding over pre-trial hearings of the four ex-cops accused of killing George Floyd has threatened to issue a gag order if attorneys cannot stem the flow of statements and information leaked by family members, friends and others close to the case, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Judge Peter Cahill gave the stern warning today at a series of brief pre-trial hearings that saw Derek Chauvin, 44, Tou Thao, 34, Thomas Lane, 37 and J Alexander Kueng, 26 back before a judge for the second time since all four were charged.

Chauvin is charged on three counts: second degree murder, third degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The three other officers face charges of aiding and abetting second degree murder and manslaughter.

Speaking to each of their attorneys in turn and addressing Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank, Hennepin County District Court Judge Cahill said, 'The court is not going to be happy reading aboutany discussions of the merits of the case or the guilt or innocence of any parties.'

Rookie officers J. Alexander Keung (left) and Thomas Lane (right) were involved in the arrest and made their court appearance on Monday

In this courtroom sketch, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin appears in on closed-circuit television from a maximum security prison

Former Minneapolis policeman Thomas Lane enters the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility after the first court appearance of officer Derek Chauvin

Keung is seen going through security at the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility

Derek Chauvin, 44, was arrested on charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. There was nobody in court to support Chauvin as he appeared, a tiny spec of prison regulation orange, on the monitor before the judge

He urged the attorneys to silence all those over whom they had influence and added, 'From this day forward everyone has had their warning if they don't heed the court instruction it will be a gag order and possibly a change of venue.'

The issue of where to hold the officers' trials has not yet been determined nor has it been decided if they are to be tried separately or jointly.

But Judge Cahill was clear that the publicity, statements and leaks from various camps were all 'pushing the case towards a change of venue.'

Benjamin Crump, attorney for George Floyd's family was singled out for particular criticism by both the judge and Assistant Attorney General Frank who accused Crump of leaking the details of a meeting at which he and Attorney General Keith Ellison had met with Floyd's family in confidence in Houston.

George Floyd, pictured, died on May 25 in police custody after Chauvin knelt on his neck

Earlier the court had decided to ban televisual and audio recording of today and all pre-trial hearings despite strong objections from the defense of all four men who have argued that such a public airing is vital for the officers to receive a fair trial.

Coverage of the actual trial has yet to be decided.

Chauvin was the first to appear and the only of the accused to do so via video link from the maximum security of Minnesota Correctional Facility Oak Park Heights, where he will be held until his trial.

He spoke clearly but was barely visible on the screen that broadcast his brief appearance.

He raised no objections when the court date for his trial was set as March 8, 2021 though the judge informed him that, as he was in custody, he could demand a trial within 60 days.

The State and his defense both asked for more time to wade through discovery that, as of Friday, ran to 8130 documents and 750 audio visual recordings.

Thao was next, he appeared in person, cuffed and standing behind a Perspex barrier. His expression was unreadable behind his mask. Four family members sat in the front row as he was taken through the same formalities as Chauvin had been just moments earlier.

His attorney Robert Paule pushed for the court to intervene to stop prejudicial pre-trial publicity and noted that it was hard to see how the attorneys could hold sway when, he said, 'We've had public comments by Trump, the Governor or Minnesota, the Attorney General, the Chief of Police who's appeared on 60minutes and the Mayor as well as the Head of the Department of Public Safety.'

Paule said that he no longer intended to give the public statement he had planned after today's proceedings and added, 'All of these [officials] have been making public comments and some of the stuff that's been said if inadmissible in evidence.

'Quite frankly I don't understand why they've been saying what they have.'

Kueng was next  dressed in dark suit pants and a vest with a striped shirt and tie he was mask less as he stood next to his attorney Thomas Plunkett.

Lane was last. He strode confidently into courtroom 141, taking his mask off when he reached the podium before the judge. He stood a full head taller than his attorney Earl Gray but said little other than to offer no objections to the judge on any point though his attorney noted his intention to file motions between now and the next court date set for all four which was September 11.

Judge Cahill informed him that, if the trials of all four officers are held individually, the two who remain in custody would be heard first and likely push Lane's trial well beyond the provision date of March 8. Asked if that was okay with him Lane simply replied, 'Yes your honor.'

There was nobody in court to support Chauvin as he appeared, a tiny spec of prison regulation orange, on the monitor before the judge.

Family members for the other officers came and went as each appeared including four members of Thaos family who walked stiffly into the courtroom to witness his second appearance and Kuengs mother, Joni, with her distinctive shock of peroxide blond hair.

She showed no emotion in court but was seen embracing friends outside.

Only Floyds family members were a constant throughout. Floyds uncle Selwyn Jones and aunt Angela Harrelson sat in the front row on the left of the courtroom, while the ex-cops supporters sat just feet away on the right. None made eye-contact.

At one point the judge cautioned Jones not to react to proceedings though it was unclear what Floyds uncle, who was wearing a mask in keeping with the courts social distancing regulations had done or said.

Angela Harrelson, George Floyd's aunt, was seen leaving the court house Monday

Selwyn Jones, George Floyd's uncle, was seen leaving court Monday

George Floyd was seen in a video pleading that he couldn't breathe as white officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee against his neck

The four officers are seen near a police truck while George Floyd is on the ground

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'

Lane's attorney Early Gray was seen with a mask as he entered the courtroom for Monday's hearing

It is just over a month since the officers were arrested and video of Floyd's death ignited outrage that erupted into violence and protest across the world as millions bore witness to the 46-year-old father of three's agonizing final moments; 8minutes and 46 seconds, dying under Chauvin's knee while the other three accused held him down.

In the time since then the city and the lives of all those immediately effected has changed almost beyond recognition.

Last week the City Council voted 12 to 0 to abolish the Minneapolis Police Department and replace it with a 'department of community safety and violence prevention.' The new department, they envisioned, would offer 'a holistic, public health-oriented approach.'

Kueng's co-defendants (left to right), Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane

The move  opposed by Mayor Jacob Frey - must overcome significant bureaucratic obstacles if it is to be ready to go to the ballot in November.

On the same day it emerged that three members of the council had been provided with private security detail costing the taxpayers $63,000 after they received death threats for supporting proposals to defend the beleaguered police department.

Council members Andrea Jenkins, Phillipe Cunningham and Alondra Cano have each received protection for the past three weeks at a rate of $4300 a day.

Two of the three officers who failed to intervene as Floyd died have made bail which was set for all three at $1million unconditional, $750,000 conditional.

Thomas Lane was released Wednesday June 10. J Alexander Kueng was released Friday June 19 and within hours had been accosted by an angry member of the public as he shopped at Cub Foods in Plymouth, Minnesota.

A brief video clip showed Kueng clutching a packet of OREOs as the woman berated him, 'You're literally outside here comfortably as if you didn't kill that man? Did you think that people wouldn't recognize you? You don't have the right to be here. You killed somebody in cold blood  you do not have the right to be here.'

For his part Kueng's attorney, Thomas Plunkett has consistently painted his client as a 'young African American male who grew up with an absentee father and a single mother' who turned to law enforcement to make his community, 'a better place.'

But members of Kueng's own family have spoken out against him. Kueng who has a Nigerian father and white mother was raised in 'a racially diverse family,' according to his mother Joni who adopted four at risk children who she raised along with Kueng.

Speaking in a recent New York Times article his mother described what has happened with her son as a 'gut punch' while his adopted sister, Radiance, dismissed the idea that her brother's inexperience (he was three days on the job) was any excuse for his failure to stop the horror that unfolded that day.

She told the publication, 'I don't care if it was his third day at work or not. He knows right from wrong.' According to Radiance there was no doubt in her mind that her brother should have intervened, and she is now considering changing her last name, so she is no longer associated with him.

Tou Thao's family is pictured arriving to court. The judge has warned he will place a gag order on the officers and their families

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (seen above on May 28) has come out against abolishing the police

Lane has kept a low profile though his attorney Earl Gray has launched a vociferous media campaign to argue his client's innocence and place blame firmly on Chauvin's shoulders. Pointing to Chauvin's seniority Gray argued that Lane, who was also a rookie, raised objections but could not be expected to do anything more than he had done and ultimately had no choice but to fall in line with the senior officer.

'What was he supposed to do?' he asked in a string of media appearances, 'Tell Chauvin to get off?'

He has maintained that his client is a 'good guy,' and has reminded all who will listen that Lane was the only one of the officers involved to have attempted to administer CPR to the already dead man.

Both Thao and Chauvin, whose bail was set at $1.25million, have remained in custody; Tao in Hennepin County Jail and Chauvin, in the maximum-security Minnesota Correctional Facility in Oak Park Heights.

The senior officer was moved there on June 1 amid security concerns. Eight correction officers  half of whom are black, all of whom are people of color - have filed official complaints in the interim stating that they have been prevented from bringing Chauvin to his cell solely on the basis of their race.

They claim that the orders which came from Ramsey County Superintendent Steve Lydon, who is white, amounted to segregation and suggested that he did not believe they could be trusted to do their jobs because they were not white.

No family members have spoken and Chauvin's wife of ten years, former Minneapolis pageant queen Kellie, 45, swiftly off-loaded her disgraced husband, filing for divorce the day before he was charged.

If convicted Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison for second degree murder. The men charged with aiding and abetting him face the same penalty if convicted on the most serious charges, while their second charge  aiding and abetting second degree manslaughter - carries a sentence of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of $20,000.

The actions of all four officers are now all too well-rehearsed and set down in a detailed Statement of Probable Cause pieced together from surveillance footage, interviews with witnesses and their own body cameras.

Officers Lane and Kueng were the first to arrive at the scene at 8.08pm, May 25 when someone made a 911 call reporting a man for buying merchandise from Cup Foods with a counterfeit $20.

Floyd was parked in a car just around the corner when the officers arrived. There were three people in the car, with Floyd in the driver's seat. As Lane began speaking with Floyd through his open window he pulled his gun and asked Floyd to show him his hands.

Floyd placed his hands on the steering wheel and Lane reholstered his gun.

Cup Foods, the store where the cops were called on George Floyd for handing of a 'fake' $20 bill

A protester in front of the Second Precinct Police Station in Minneapolis holds a 'Justice for George Floyd' placard. The Minneapolis city council is set to take the first step toward banning the police department

The footage goes on to show Floyd complying with all the officers' requests  getting out of the car, sitting on the ground, being handcuffed.

The probable cause statement notes that as he sat on the ground, 'Floyd said, 'Thank you man,' and was calm.'

It was only when Lane stood Floyd up and tried to get him into the squad car that the man 'stiffened' and fell to the ground.

The statement said, 'Mr Floyd told the officers that he was not resisting but did not want to get in the back seat and was claustrophobic.'

Chauvin and Thao arrived in separate squad cars at this point and all four officers began trying to push Floyd into the car as he, 'repeatedly said that he could not breathe.'

At 8.19pm Chauvin pulled Floyd from the car and he went to the ground face down. Keung had his back, Lane held his legs, Chauvin placed his knee on Floyd's neck in an act that has reverberated around the world.

Floyd said, 'I'm about to die,' he repeatedly called for his 'mama' and said he could not breathe but they held their positions as Chauvin pressed the life out of the 46-year-old father of two.

After five minutes Floyd stopped moving, after six he fell silent and stopped breathing. Lane said he 'wanted to roll him on his side.' Kueng check his wrist and found no pulse.

Still they held their positions. Two minutes later at 8.27pm Chauvin finally relinquished his pressure. By then he was holding down a dead man.
Britain will have to pay almost 2,000-per-patient for one of the only two approved Covid-19 drugs, it was revealed today.

Gilead Sciences announced it would charge governments of developed countries $390 (320) per vial of remdesivir.

Most hospitalised patients will need six vials of the Ebola drug  equating to $2,340 (1,900) for every patient, the California-based firm said.

Department of Health bosses refused to comment on the price but argued the NHS has a 'strong track record of negotiating good deals'.

Gilead Sciences announced it would charge governments of developed countries $390 (320) per vial of remdesivir

The NHS has two drugs at its disposal to treat critically-ill Covid-19 patients  Ebola medicine remdesivir and anti-inflammatory steroid dexamethasone.

Dexamethasone, a 5 steroid that has existed for decades, was the first drug proven to reduce the death rate among hospitalised patients needing oxygen.

The evidence around remdesivir is mixed but scientific studies have shown it helps the most severely ill people who need ventilation.

Britain currently gets its supplies of remdesivir for free because of a Gilead deal to donate 1.5million vials across the world.

But the scheme is coming to an end. Gilead's chief executive Daniel O'Day revealed the pricing structure in an open letter.

Mr O'Day wrote the firm had set the price for developed countries 'to ensure broad and equitable access at a time of urgent global need'.

It did not announce which countries this would apply to  and said the $390 price would apply to Americans covered by government healthcare.

WHAT IS REMDESIVIR AND DOES IT WORK AGAINST COVID-19? Remdesivir was developed by Gilead Sciences to treat Ebola, the deadly hemorrhagic fever that emerged in West Africa in 2014. Ebola, like Covid-19, is caused by a virus, and scientists have tested remdesivir to treat coronavirus patients. Trials produced encouraging results earlier this year when it showed promise for both preventing and treating MERS - another coronavirus - in macaque monkeys. Studies on humans have produced mixed results. In a US government-led study, remdesivir shortened recovery time by 31 per cent  11 days on average versus 15 days for those given just usual care. But it had not improved survival according to preliminary results after two weeks of followup. Results after four weeks are expected soon. The drug appears to help stop the replication of viruses like coronavirus and Ebola alike. It's not entirely clear how the drug accomplishes this feat, but it seems to stop the genetic material of the virus, RNA, from being able to copy itself. That, in turn, stops the virus from being able to proliferate further inside the patient's body. Advertisement

For US private insurance companies, the cost will be $520 (420) per vial, or a total of $3,120 (2,540) per patient.

But Gilead is allowing pharmaceutical firms to make generic supplies of the drug in 127 poor or middle-income countries.

The price was swiftly criticized with a consumer group called it 'an outrage' because of the amount taxpayers invested toward the drug's development.

But Mr O'Day said: 'We're in uncharted territory with pricing a new medicine, a novel medicine, in a pandemic.'

The treatment courses that the company has donated to the US and other countries will run out in about a week, he added.

In the US, federal health officials have allocated the limited supply to states, but that agreement with Gilead will end after September.

They said today the government has secured more than 500,000 additional courses to supply to hospitals through September.

'We should have sufficient supply... but we have to make sure it's in the right place at the right time,' Mr O'Day told the Associated Press.

Remdesivir's price has been highly controversial since it was found to have a benefit in the pandemic, which has killed more 500,000 people globally.

The drug interferes with the virus's ability to copy its genetic material, stopping the virus from proliferating further inside the body.

In a US government-led study, remdesivir shortened recovery time by 31 per cent  11 days on average versus 15 days for those given just usual care.

But it had not improved survival according to preliminary results after two weeks of followup. Results after four weeks are expected soon.

The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, a nonprofit group that analyzes drug prices, said it likely costs $9.32 (7.60) to make a 10-day course of remdesivir.

'This is a high price for a drug not shown to reduce mortality,'said Dr Steven Nissen, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.

'Given the serious nature of the pandemic, I would prefer that the government take over production and distribute the drug for free.'

Peter Maybarduk, an attorney at the consumer group Public Citizen, called the price 'an outrage.'

'Remdesivir should be in the public domain' because it received at least $70million in US public funding toward its development, he said.

'The price puts to rest any notion that drug companies will "do the right thing" because it is a pandemic,' Dr Peter Bach, a health policy expert at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York said.

'The price might have been fine if the company had demonstrated that the treatment saved lives. It didn't.'

Gilead says it will have spent $1billion on developing and making the drug by the end of this year.

The drug has emergency use authorization in the US and Gilead has applied for full approval.

Britain's approval of remdesivir came more than three weeks after the FDA in the US gave it the green light on May 1.

Covid-19 treatment hopes dashed as trial of promising HIV drug given to infected patients reveals it does NOT work

Lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed under the brand names Kaletra and Aluvia, is an anti-HIV medicine also being trialled

An HIV drug earmarked as a potential coronavirus treatment does not improve the condition of patients with the infection, a major British trial has found.

Oxford University scientists pulled lopinavir/ritonavir from the RECOVERY Trial today after results showed it had no benefit on people hospitalised with the virus.

The anti-HIV drug, marketed as Kaletra and Aluvia, has been trialled in hospitals around the world to treat the disease  despite no evidence it works.

It was earmarked early on in the pandemic because it interferes with the same enzymes involved in the replication of Covid-19 inside the body.

Professor Peter Horby, who is heading RECOVERY, told the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee today that results on lopinavir/ritonavir were 'pretty clear'.

He said: 'We've just looked at the results [on lopinavir/ritonavir] and shown that it's not effective.

'That's another drug that has been recommended in national guidelines in many countries, we've shown pretty clearly now that it doesn't work either.'

WHAT IS LOPINAVIR/ RITONAVIR? The combination of lopinavir and ritonavir is used on HIV patients to prevent the virus developing into AIDS. Lopinavir and ritonavir are in a class of medications called protease inhibitors. Protease inhibitors work by sticking to an enzyme on a virus which is vital to the virus reproducing. By doing this it blocks the process the virus would normally use to clone itself and spread the infection further. When lopinavir and ritonavir are taken together, ritonavir also helps to increase the amount of lopinavir in the body so that the medication will have a greater effect. The combination comes as a tablet or a solution. It is usually taken twice a day. HIV patients were prescribed either Kaltra or ritonavir alone around 1,400 times in 2018. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, gas, headache, and trouble sleeping. Advertisement

Lopinavir/ritonavir was given to three groups of coronavirus patients with varying degrees of illness - those on ventilators, patients needing oxygen and people who had mild symptoms.

The results were then compared against a control group receiving standard care, which included painkillers and, in some cases, antibiotics.

The full results have not been released but Professor Horby said the team were compiling the data to be sent out later today.

It makes lopinavir/ritonavir the second drug to be ditched from the trial, after promising malaria drug hydroxychloroquine was removed on June 5.

The antimalarial was similarly found to have no effect on any of the groups of coronavirus patients.

But the RECOVERY trial has also been responsible for the biggest breakthrough yet in the global coronavirus fight, after proving a cheap steroid reduced death in very ill sufferers.

Dexamethasone was shown to save up to 35 per cent of patients relying on ventilators - the most dangerously ill - and reduce the odds of death by a fifth for all patients needing oxygen at any point.

More than 11,800 Covid patients have been taking part in the Randomised Evaluation of COV-id19 thERapY (RECOVERY) trial at hundreds of hospitals around the UK.

Only three treatments remain in the trial after today's announcement - azithromycin, a commonly used antibiotic; tocilizumab, an anti-inflammatory given by injection; and convalescent plasma therapy, which sees blood of survivors injected into patients struggling to shake the disease.

Professor Horby said the team were looking to add more drugs as the trial moves into the winter.

It comes after dexamethasone, a cheap steroid that has been around for decades, became the first medicine proven to reduce the death rate among hospitalised patients.

Announcing the news on June 16, Professor Horby said that treating eight people with the drug could save one life and cost just 40 in total.

It could save up to 35 per cent of patients relying on ventilators - the most dangerously ill - and reduce the odds of death by a fifth for all patients needing oxygen at any point.

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.

Dexamethasone is now the second drug available in the NHS arsenal to treat Covid-19, after Ebola medicine remdesivir was last month given the green light in another scientific breakthrough.
Laurence Fox has said there is a 'concerted drive' in the acting world to make him 'be quiet' about his controversial views after his rant on Question Time.

The actor told Talkradio the move was motivated by people finding some of his views controversial.

It follows Fox appearing on BBC's Question Time in January and facing a backlash after he claimed the Duchess of Sussex had not been a victim of racism.

Laurence Fox, pictured, has said there is a 'concerted drive' in the acting world to make him 'be quiet' about his controversial views after his rant on Question Time in January

He subsequently hit out at black and working class actors for complaining about the industry once they have 'five million quid in the bank'.

The star of ITV drama Lewis said there has since been 'quite a concerted drive to make me be quiet'.

He told radio host Julia Hartley-Brewer: 'You can't just shut everybody up, there's an emotional and an intellectual fragility to people who won't tolerate dissenting voices.'

Fox added that cancel culture, where people face calls for their careers to be ended over perceived missteps, is 'very dangerous'.

Society needs to 'talk and debate', he said, claiming that 'cancel culture creates an even more myopic monoculture and who wants that'.

He said the 'woke religion lacks a lot of rationality', adding: 'Their approach is to try and destroy lives.'

'I think this very leftist agenda has been marching through our institutions for decades. It is a very divisive tactic and people don't want to be divided, they want to be united.'

Fox accused Rachel Boyle, an academic at Edge Hill University, of racism after she called him 'a white privileged male' on Question Time.

The star of ITV drama Lewis, above, said the move was motivated by people finding some of his views controversial, following his Question Time appearance

He told Talkradio's Julia Hartley-Brewer, pictured, that cancel culture, where people face calls for their careers to be ended over perceived missteps, is 'very dangerous'

The actor courted further controversy this month after a tweet in which he said: 'Every single human life is precious. The end.'

He criticised the ethnicity lecturer's charges of racism amid claims that Meghan Markle was being hounded out of Britain on account of her skin colour.

Fox, who was previously married to Billie Piper, was then embroiled in yet a further controversy after he was forced to apologise for comments he made about the inclusion of a Sikh soldier in Sam Mendes blockbuster 1917.

Later writing in the Spectator, he said: 'I have come to the conclusion that I may never get an acting job again without expressing correct opinions.

'While this probably isnt the end of the world for you, it is a cause of some sadness and anxiety for me.

'Not least because Ive always loved my job and also because I have two children who need dinner and clothes and a holiday once in a while.'

The actor provoked further controversy this month after he tweeted: 'Every single human life is precious. The end', in a clear nod to the Black Lives Matter protests sparked by killing of George Floyd by police officers.

He suffered an immediate backlash online and said in his Spectator column that an actor friend phoned him and challenged him about the post, and they haven't spoken since.

Fox wrote: 'On 25 May the world watched as a policeman kneeled on a mans neck for almost nine minutes, killing him. Our jaws dropped in horror and disgust.

'Something needed to be done. Justice needed to be done and seen to be done. On that, all were agreed. Black lives matter  three such powerful words. Words we all could unite behind. But was it that simple?

'A week later, I got a text from a very well-known young actor with a screenshot of a tweet of mine which read: Every single human life is precious. The end.
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A Missouri lawyer seen with his wife brandishing guns at protesters outside their home Sunday claims they grabbed the weapons after being told they 'would be killed' and were placed 'in fear of our lives'.

Mark McCloskey, 63, and his wife Patricia, 61, were filmed on Sunday evening drawing a AR-15 and handgun on protesters outside their $1.5million mansion in to a well-to-do St. Louis neighborhood.

They are heard shouting at the protesters to leave their neighborhood and have claimed that demonstrators broke down a gate into the private community.

Protesters were en route to Mayor Lyda Krewson's home to demand her resignation after she released the names and addresses of residents who had suggested defunding the police department.

The video of the couple's standoff has been viewed more than 9million times with some supporting the pair's right to protect their private property and others claiming that they broke the law by threatening a peaceful protest.

Mark McCloskey told KMOV-TV that a mob rushed toward the home as the family was having dinner outside, claiming that the protesters smashed through gates on their private street that are marked with 'No Trespassing' and 'Private Street' signs.

In a separate interview he said: 'I really thought it was storming the Bastille, that we would be dead and the house would be burned', referencing a defining moment of the French Revolution when, in 1789, a mob stormed a Paris state prison known as the Bastille, which revolutionaries saw as a symbol of the monarchy's autocratic rule and power over them.

Mark McCloskey, the St. Louis lawyer seen in photos and videos with his wife Patricia armed with an AR-15 and a handgun as protesters marched past their residence on Sunday evening alleged that protesters threatened his life

Mark McCloskey, 63, shared these images of the gates into his private community he claims were damaged by the protesters Sunday evening. Video shows the protesters opening the gates and walking inside. It is not certain when they were damaged

Armed homeowners, Patty and Mark McCloskey, stand in front their house along Portland Place and confront protesters marching to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson's house on Sunday

In the pictures shared online, it doesn't appear that anyone walking in Sunday's protest calling for the resignation of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson was trespassing on their palatial property

'A mob of at least 100 smashed through the historic wrought iron gates of Portland Place, destroying them, rushed towards my home where my family was having dinner outside and put us in fear of our lives,' he told the outlet.

'This is all private property. There are no public sidewalks or public streets. We were told that we would be killed, our home burned and our dog killed. We were all alone facing an angry mob.

'As soon as I said they were on private property, that enraged the crowd. There was then a hoard of people coming through the broken gate and the gate was broken in pieces,' he added.

'And there were, I don't know how many people there were, a tremendous number of people, all angry, all shouting, all coming towards us.'

In another interview with KSDK, Mark said that he announced it was private property before grabbing his rifle. He claims that there were people pulling out pistol magazines.

'It was about as bad as it could get,' he said. 'I really thought it was storming the Bastille, that we would be dead and the house would be burned. There was nothing we could do about it, it was a huge and frightening crowd.'

He added: 'There is nothing public about Portland Place. Being inside that gate is like being in my living room, there is no public anything'.

'I had to turn the phones off,' McCloskey continued, stating that he hadn't slept since and had to board up his office.

'It's interesting to me that the very people that are asking the mayor to resign for doxxing people have now put all my information all over the web, all over the world. Is there some hypocrisy there? Maybe I'm missing something.

'It's been both threatening and encouraging as there's been a number of people who have voiced their support but there have also been people who have made very direct threats of violence.'

He accused the demonstration of being part of a revolution instead of a protest, branding them 'terrorists' and 'Marxists' and claiming he is not 'some kind of extreme anti-Black Lives Matter guy'. He cited a case where he represented a man who was a victim of police violence.

Mark McCloskey just spoke out in an interview:



He says the "protesters" threatened to kill his dog, burn down his house, and burn down his office. Mark says he isn't against the protests and even represents clients who have been the victim of police brutality. pic.twitter.com/N5yuZXbu5A  Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) June 29, 2020

The lawyer also shared pictures of the destroyed gate which he said was all down to the work of the protesters Sunday night.

KMOV-TV shared images of the gateway on Monday. The iron gate had been removed and metal barriers put in its place.

Speaking to NBC, Mark McCloskey dismissed rumors the gate was already broken as 'nonsense'.

Despite Mark's claims, video footage from the protest shows the demonstrators walking through the gate, which was completely intact and open, when they are immediately shouted at by an armed McCloskey to 'get the hell out of my neighborhood'.

'This is private property, get out,' the lawyer is heard saying, as the person recording the video points out his gun.

A man can be heard telling McCloskey to 'calm down' while another is heard shouting 'this is a public street a**hole'.

McCloskey claims they acted when protesters broke down the gates to get inside the private property but a livestream from a protesters should the gate open and them walking inside where they were immediately confronted by McCloskey with a rifle

McCloskey shared this image of the alleged damage done by the protesters

KMOV TV visited the district Monday and these gates had been removed

'Then call the cops,' another person shouts.

McCloskey continuously repeats 'private property, get out'. His wife Patricia is not visible in the video.

Video of the McCloskeys went viral Sunday night after they were seen aiming the guns at demonstrators who walked by their palatial property in the wealthy Forest Park area at around 6pm on Sunday.

At one point, the pair seemed to be unknowingly pointing their weapons at one another other while trying to keep protesters away from their home - dubbed the Niemann Mansion.

The pair are both personal injury lawyers and run McCloskey Law Center from inside their extravagant home. The company's website was taken offline on Monday afternoon.

Police said Monday that people in the crowd yelled threats at the couple and that the McCloskeys would not be charged.

The married couple came out of their house armed on Sunday to prevent protesters from walking onto their property after they claim they broke their way into a gated community. Police said not charges are being brought

About 300 protesters had gone through a gate into this closed-off community and were marching in front of the McCloskey home, which is pictured center. The family said they were having dinner outside when the demonstrators arrived

They added that they are still investigating but labeled it a case of trespassing and assault by intimidation against the couple by protesters in the racially diverse crowd.

Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner issued a statement later Monday: 'I am alarmed at the events that occurred over the weekend, where peaceful protesters were met by guns and a violent assault.

'We must protect the right to peacefully protest, and any attempt to chill it through intimidation or threat of deadly force will not be tolerated.'

While the couple's attorney, Albert Watkins, said on Monday that the couple are long-time civil rights advocates and support the message of the Black Lives Matter movement.

He said they grabbed their guns when two or three protesters - who were white - violently threatened the couple and their property and that of their neighbors.

'The most important thing for them is that their images (holding the guns) don't become the basis for a rallying cry for people who oppose the Black Lives Matter message,' Watkins said. 'They want to make it really clear that they believe the Black Lives Matter message is important.'

On Monday morning, President Donald Trump retweeted footage of the couple without comment.

Demonstrators chanted 'Let's Go' as the couple stood their ground at their front door, patrolling back and forth.

One video posted to Twitter of the demonstration shows the woman holding her gun at a protester who is wearing a t-shirt that reads, 'Hands up, don't shoot'.

The individual appeared to be trying to get people to move away from the house at the time.

Patricia McCloskey is seen moving closer to the protesters speaking to them as some stand and argue back.

Other demonstrators are heard shouting at everyone to 'Go' as the woman continues waving her handgun at them from her front lawn and Mark McCloskey watched from the front door with his rifle.

Mark McCloskey could be seen carrying a firearm as protesters entered his neighborhood

The couple are both personal injury lawyers and run McCloskey Law Center from inside their extravagant home, dubbed Niemann Mansion, pictured here

The couple drew their firearms and watched as the protesters entered the gated community

One video showed Patricia McCloskey coming on to her front lawn closer to protesters

St. Louis police confirmed they were called to Portland Place at around 7.20pm on Sunday night for an incident involving trespassing and assault 4th intimidation after the McCloskeys issued a 'call for help'.

'The victims stated they were on their property when they heard a loud commotion coming from the street. When the victims went to investigate the commotion, they observed a large group of subjects forcefully break an iron gate marked with 'No Trespassing' and 'Private Street' signs,' police said.

'Once through the gate, the victims advised the group that they were on a private street and trespassing and told them to leave. The group began yelling obscenities and threats of harm to both victims.

'When the victims observed multiple subjects who were armed, they then armed themselves and contacted police. The investigation is ongoing.'

A livestream shows protesters walking through the gate to the path in front on the McCloskey home on Portland Place. The video points out Mark McCloskey holding a gun

The lawyer couple's house is see in the video as the protesters walk through the gate

Mr McCloskey has previously represented a victim of police brutality. The man - who was identified by the initials I.F. - was kicked and struck by police officer David Maas in shocking dashcam footage that appeared to show him surrendering.

The initials match a 2019 civil lawsuit made by Isaiah Forman in which the same allegations are put forward.

Police at the time said Forman, then 21, was driving a car that had been taken by another man at gunpoint.

The lawsuit against Maas claimed that Forman had 'surrendered peaceably'.

According to the indictment, Maas kicked and struck Forman in April 2019 while the man was compliant and not posing a physical threat to anyone, causing 'bodily injury' and depriving him of his right to be 'free from unreasonable force'.

A lawyer for Maas argued that Forman had 'aggressively resisted arrest' and 'struck a police vehicle, narrowly missing a police officer in the process'.

Maas was charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law in March 2020.

Mr McCloskey said of the case: 'I'm glad that the law enforcement agencies are subject to the same standard as everybody else'.

Forman pleaded guilty to crashing his car into a police vehicle during the chase and is serving a seven year sentence for second-degree assault on a special victim.

Patricia McCloskey drew a firearm on protesters as walked in front of her house on Sunday

The protesters called on each other to quickly move on when the couple emerged

The private road entrance to Portland Place where protesters broke down a gate Sunday

Saint Louis University Lawyer John Amman told KSDK that the actions of the couple Sunday could possibly be classified as assault by putting protesters in fear of their safety.

Amman added that the homeowners would have had a right to act if they felt threatened but if the protesters were walking past their home without threatening the couple specifically, they wouldn't have the right to threaten lethal force.

Lawyer Don Calloway called on the Missouri Bar to revoke their licences.

'A fellow lawyer from Missouri, a guy I know named Mark McCloskey committed an assault tonight in STL by pointing his AR 15 at peaceful protesters,' he wrote.

'He should be arrested and charged with assault immediately. The MO Bar should revoke their licenses.'

The Missouri Bar told DailyMail.com that they were aware of the video but it was a matter for Missouri's Chief Disciplinary Counsel.

DailyMail.com reached out to the Missouri Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel for comment but a representative was not available.

In Missouri, there is no state licensing requirements for the possession of a rifle, shotgun or handgun.

According to the NRA, state law does not prohibit the open carrying of firearms, but does prohibit exhibiting 'any weapon readily capable of lethal use' in an angry or threatening manner in the presence of one or more persons.

The couple confronted the group of about 300 protesters after they broke down a gate in the neighborhood, according to NBC News.

Their home is located in Portland Place, a historic district in St. Louis listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The gated community has just under 100 homes, all built between 1890 and 1960.

'These two premier private streets celebrated their 100th anniversary with 77 of the original 89 houses proudly standing as tributes to the owners and the inspired architects and skilled artisans who created them,' a plaque awarded in 1974 reads at the entrance to the district.

Husband and wife, Mark and Patricia McCloskey are both personal injury lawyers

Mark McCloskey can be seen coming out of the front door to protect his home

The protesters were en route to Mayor Krewson's home to demand her resignation after she released names and addresses of residents who suggested defunding the police department

Twitter users were not happy at the St. Louis mayor releasing names and addresses of people who wanted to defund the police

An online petition started over the weekend calling for Mayor Krewson to resign has generated more than 40,000 signatures.

On Friday night, Mayor Lyda Krewson issued a statement apologizing for her actions. The full statement read: 'In an effort to be transparent and accessible to the public during the Covid-19 pandemic, for more than three months now I have been doing tri-weekly community updates on Facebook.

'Tonight, I would like to apologize for identifying individuals who presented letters to me at City Hall as I was answering a routine question during one of my updates earlier today.

'While this is public information, I did not intend to cause distress or harm to anyone. The post has been removed.'

A protester holds a flyer calling for the resignation of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson as a couple defend their home during a protest against the mayor

An online petition started over the weekend calling for Mayor Krewson to resign has generated more than 40,000 signatures. Pictured: Police officers standing guard during the protest against Mayor Krewson

Protesters hold signs reading 'wanted' and 'Black trans lives matter' during a protest against Mayor Krewson

The word 'resign' is seen painted on the street in front of Mayor Krewson's house in St. Louis

The ACLU of Missouri issued the following statement Friday evening regarding Mayor Krewson's reading of names and addresses:

'Today adds to the list of things we never thought we would have to say. To be clear, it is shocking and misguided for Mayor Lyda Krewson of St. Louis, to broadcast the addresses of those who dare to express a different viewpoint on an issue of public concern.

'It serves no apparent purpose beyond intimidation. We are stronger when we foster open dialogue. The chilling of debate should bother everyone, no matter whether they agree or disagree with the mayor on this particular issue.'

The McCloskeys, who have one grown-up daughter, bought their palatial home in 1988 when Mark said it 'had quarter-inch-thick carbon on it in some places'.

It has been appraised at $1.15 million, according to NBC.

They renovated it to its original standards in a massive 30-year project which they spoke about at great lengths in a 2018 interview.

The enormous estate features a sweeping entry hall and an enormous dining room. One of its most-prized rooms is the 70-foot long ballroom modelled off a hall in the Palazzo Davanzati in Florence.

Signs left on the door of Mayor Krewson's house are seen during a protest calling for her resignation

A sign reading 'Krewson puts her own citizens in danger' was left on the mayor's doorstep

The home - dubbed a 'Renaissance palazzo' previously belonged to Edward and Anna Busch at the start of the 20th century.

Mrs McCloskey previously said the original owners' goal was 'to build one of the most lavish and grand houses in the Midwest'.

The house has five floors and is modelled off European Renaissance palaces. The original owners brought in a 'village of Italian stonemasons that lived in a tent city in the side yard while they finished the stonework' in the luxurious home, Mr McCloskey said.

Mrs McCloskey added: 'There's a Medici house in Florence where you come in the front door and it's exactly like this. But we haven't found it yet.'

The couple carry out their person injury law practice from the historic home.

'The goal of our practice is to provide those sustaining such devastating injuries, or the survivors of those killed as a result of such devastating injuries, with meaningful compensation,' their website says.

Both attended Southern Methodist University School of Law.

Patricia McCloskey's bio lists her as having held roles as a member of the Missouri Bar Association ethical review panel and a St. Louis city committee woman.
Reddit said Monday that it had shut down a forum for supporters of Donald Trump amid an overhaul of its content policies as Amazon's live-streaming platform, Twitch, also announced that it had temporarily banned the president's channel for 'hateful conduct'.

According to Reddit, it has banned about 2,000 subreddits, the majority of which were inactive.

The list included The_Donald and the left-wing forum ChapoTrapHouse. The_Donald forum housed more than 790,000 users who share content in support of Trump. The ChapoTrapHouse has more than 160,000 users.

'All communities on Reddit must abide by our content policy in good faith. We banned The_Donald because it has not done so, despite every opportunity,' Chief executive Steve Huffman said in a post on the site.

Reddit said Monday that it had shut down a forum for supporters of Donald Trump amid an overhaul of its content policies. Reddit said The_Donald community was banned for violating three of the site's rules

According to Reddit, it has banned about 2,000 subreddits. The list included The_Donald and the left-wing forum ChapoTrapHouse. The_Donald forum houses more than 790,000 users who share content in support of Trump. Trump is pictured above at the White House Friday

The site's new content policy said communities and users that promote hate based on identity or vulnerability would be banned.

And according to Reddit, The_Donald forum has consistently broken the site's rules by allowing people to harass others with hate speech.

'The community has consistently hosted and upvoted more rule-breaking content than average, antagonized us and other communities, and its mods have refused to meet our most basic expectations.

'Until now, weve worked in good faith to help them preserve the community as a space for its usersthrough warnings, mod changes, quarantining, and more.

'To be clear, views across the political spectrum are allowed on Redditbut all communities must work within our policies and do so in good faith, without exception,' the statement reads.

Though most of the accounts that are being banned have been inactive for some time, The_Donald forum is the most active and prominent community that Reddit shut down, according to the New York Times.

The most viral Trump memes that appeared on Facebook and Twitter could be traced back to The_Donald.

According to the Times, The Trump Effect video originated in the The_Donald forum in 2016 before making its way to the president who then tweeted it to his followers.

Also on Monday, Twitch said it had temporarily banned Trump's channel over its hateful conduct policy. The notification above pops up in the search for Trump's channel

Also on Monday, Twitch said it had temporarily banned Trump's channel over its hateful conduct policy.

'Hateful conduct is not allowed on Twitch. In line with our policies, President Trump's channel has been issued a temporary suspension from Twitch for comments made on stream, and the offending content has been removed,' a Twitch spokeswoman said,

One of the streams identified by the spokeswoman was a rebroadcast of a 2016 Trump rally in which the president said Mexico was sending rapists to the US.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Social-media companies have long struggled to deal with hate speech on their platforms.

A growing number of companies have said they are pausing social-media spending after a campaign by a group of civil-rights and other groups called for an ad boycott of Facebook, saying it has failed to curb racist and violent content and misinformation.

Numerous companies are pausing social-media spending for the Stop Hate for Profit campaign The Stop Hate for Profit campaign was launched by civil rights groups after the death of George Floyd in police custody triggered widespread protests against racial discrimination in the US. In addition to Starbucks, Verizon, Unilever and Ben & Jerry's, the following companies will pause advertising on social media platforms: Coca-Cola Co The beverage maker will pause paid advertising on all social media platforms globally for at least 30 days, Chief Executive Officer James Quincey said in a statement. Lululemon Athletica 'We will be pausing paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram,' the company said. Levi Strauss & Co 'We and Dockers are joining the #StopHateForProfit campaign and pausing all ads on Facebook and Instagram,' the apparel company said. Diageo Plc The world's largest spirits maker will pause all paid advertising globally on major social media platforms. The North Face The outdoor brand, a unit of VF Corp, said it would pull out of all Facebook-owned platforms. 'We're in. We're Out @Facebook.' Eddie Bauer "In support of the '#StopHateforProfit' initiative, Eddie Bauer will suspend all paid ads on Facebook and Instagram through the end of July, effective immediately," the clothing store chain said in a tweet. (https://bit.ly/2Yso440) Goodby Silverstein 'We will join #StopHate4Profit and stop posting on Facebook for the month of July,' the advertising agency said. Magnolia Pictures The film distributor and studio became the first Hollywood company to join the movement. The company said in a tweet it would stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram, starting immediately, through at least the end of July. Patagonia 'We will pull all ads on Facebook and Instagram, effective immediately, through at least the end of July, pending meaningful action from the social media giant,' the outdoor apparel brand said. Rakuten Viber 'Viber will remove all Facebook-related contact points from our app including Facebook Connect, Facebook SDK, and GIPHY, as well as cease all ad spending on Facebook,' Djamel Agaoua, chief executive officer of the messaging app company, said in a statement on Twitter. Recreational Equipment 'For 82 years, we have put people over profits. We're pulling all Facebook/Instagram advertising for the month of July,' REI tweeted. Advertisement

The Stop Hate for Profit campaign was launched after the death of George Floyd in police custody triggered widespread protests against racial discrimination in the US.

Starbucks was among the first to pause advertising on all social media platforms. In a statement, the company said it will continue discussions internally, with media partners and civil rights organizations.

Unilever said it will stop advertising on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in the US for the rest of the year, citing 'divisiveness and hate speech during this polarized election period in the US'.

Verizon also jumped on board, saying in a statement: 'Our brand safety standards have not changed. We're pausing our advertising until Facebook can create an acceptable solution that makes us comfortable and is consistent with what we've done with YouTube and other partners.'

Ben & Jerry's said the company will be pausing all paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram in the US as of July 1.
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An angry mob trapped a Fox News correspondent in his vehicle outside of the CHOP zone in Seattle after a Black Lives Matter member claimed she was shoved by the reporter, DailyMail.com can disclose.

The incident occurred just hours and feet from where two black teenagers were shot when they tried to plow through barricades of the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) area on Monday.

The reporter was identified as Dan Springer.

River, a BLM protester at CHOP, claimed to DailyMail.com that Springer had pushed a woman at the event, telling her to get back, prompting the woman to throw her coffee at him.

Springer then retreated into an SUV with private armed security guards protecting the car, as a group of 50 barricaded the vehicle and demanded for him to apologize.

After 20 minutes the angry crowd died down and another vehicle pulled up, with Springer jumping inside and speeding away, according to onlookers.

Fox News Correspondent Dan Springer was trapped in his car in Seattle after he allegedly shoved a protester, DailyMail.com can disclose

At one point, the protesters jumped on the hood of the SUV and placed a barricade in front of it so Springer couldnt leave the area

Springer retreated into an SUV with private armed security guards protecting the car, as a group of 50 barricaded the vehicle and demanded for him to apologize

The protesters even brought over a barricade to trap in Springer

After 20 minutes the angry crowd died down and another vehicle pulled up, with Springer jumping inside and speeding away, according to onlookers. According to his bio on Fox News' website, Springer joined Fox News Channel in 2001 as a Seattle-based correspondent

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Nancy Harmeyer, the Vice President of Domestic Bureaus & LA Bureau Chief, FOX News, said: 'While covering the news just outside of Seattles CHOP zone this morning, a protestor confronted FOX News Channel correspondent Dan Springer and his crew after overhearing him cancel a live report due to ''filthy language'' in the background.

'The protestor started yelling at him and threw a cup of coffee in his face and on his jacket. Attempting to de-escalate the situation, the crew returned to their vehicle, which was then surrounded by protestors. Unable to drive away, the crew turned the car off and walked away from the scene.

'At no point during the situation did the FOX News crew ever physically instigate or retaliate in any way against the protestors.'

River explained the group was protesting Fox News and Springer over the network's alleged fake news stories aired about CHOP when the incident occurred.

Multiple witnesses said Springer shoved the women, sparking the fight.

For more than 20 minutes protesters were taunting Springer to leave the vehicle and apologize to the women, but he never did.

Instead he stayed inside the car, talking on the phone for most of the time, while his hired security stood outside the vehicle attempting to negotiate with protesters.

At one point, the protesters jumped on the hood of the SUV and placed a barricade in front of it so Springer couldnt leave the area.

River explained the group was protesting Fox News and Springer over the network's alleged fake news stories aired about CHOP when the incident occurred

Multiple witnesses said Springer shoved the women, sparking the fight

Instead he stayed inside the car, talking on the phone for most of the time, while his hired security stood outside the vehicle attempting to negotiate with protesters

A BLM protester at CHOP claimed to DailyMail.com that Springer had pushed a woman at the event, telling her to get back, prompting the woman to throw her coffee at him

We just want him to apologize for pushing a black woman for no reason and then well allow the vehicle to leave. We arent going to let the vehicle leave unless he apologizes to her, River explained. Pictured: A protester on the ground in attempt to block Springer's car in

We just want him to apologize for pushing a black woman for no reason and then well allow the vehicle to leave.

'We arent going to let the vehicle leave unless he apologizes to her, River explained.

According to his bio on Fox News' website, Springer joined Fox News Channel in 2001 as a Seattle-based correspondent.

He previously worked for various stations in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The scuffle occurred as Seattle Chief of Police Carmen Best was holding an impromptu news conference one block about the shooting that happened in the CHOP area just hours earlier.

Best said enough is enough we need to be able to get back into the area, she said about the area where there have been two fatal shootings and multiple injuries over the past week and a half. This is dangerous and unacceptable.

He asked people to remove themselves from the area for the safety of others.

This was the fourth shooting in the CHOP in the past nine days.

Police said they are investigating after a man was killed and a 14-year-old boy wounded following a shooting at Seattle's CHOP zone on Monday morning

Witnesses told 911 dispatchers that they saw several unidentified people firing shots into the vehicle, police say. The blood-soaked and bullet-ridden jeep remained at the scene Monday morning

Police were at the scene Monday morning to collect the blood-soaked evidence and the white Jeep involved in the fatal shooting

Another person, who refused to give his name but claimed to have witnesses the incident, said police responded and did a cursory investigation before quickly leaving the scene

In the early hours of Monday morning, two teenagers were shot in a white Jeep near the CHOP zone.

Police say witnesses told 911 dispatchers that they saw several unidentified people firing shots into the vehicle.

Both teenagers, who have not been publicly identified, were taken to the Harborview Medical Center in a private vehicle by people who identified themselves as 'CHOP medics'. They had already been taken to the hospital by the time police arrived at the scene.

The 16-year-old died several hours later and the 14-year-old remains in a critical condition. One of the victims had gunshot wounds to his hip, arm and temple.

Protesters say the shooting unfolded only after the teens started firing and their vehicle plowed into a CHOP zone barrier. Those inside the zone say CHOP security guards, who are self-appointed and heavily armed, returned fire.
New York City has so far lost $9 billion since the coronavirus pandemic began, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday, as he announced plans to cut the NYPDs budget by $1 billion - despite a surge in shootings, murders and burglaries.

The Democratic mayor unveiled the plans to shrink the NYPDs $6 billion budget during a press conference at City Hall on Monday afternoon.

Calling it the toughest budget he's been involved with during his time in office, de Blasios announcement comes amid nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd and demands from activists and City Council members to defund police.

I am excited to say that we have a plan that can achieve real reform, that can achieve real redistribution, and at the same time ensure that we keep our city safe while we make sure that our officers are on patrol around where we need them around this city, the mayor told reporters.

We can do this, we can strike the balance, we can keep this city safe, he later told reporters.

However not all share the mayors optimism, with business owners and other city officials voicing concerns that defunding the NYPD could set the Big Apples crime control efforts back more than 30 years - taking the city back to its infamous crime-ridden days of the 1980s.

The Democratic mayor unveiled the plans to shrink the NYPDs $6 billion budget during a press conference at City Hall on Monday afternoon

Calling the impending budget the toughest hes had to draw up during his time in office, de Blasios announcement comes amid nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd and demands from activists and City Council members to defund police

However not all share the mayors optimism, with business owners and other city officials voicing concerns that defunding the NYPD could set the Big Apples crime control efforts back more than 30 years - taking the city back to its infamous crime-ridden days of the 1980s (pictured: a man is arrested on 42nd Street in New York, 1980)

De Blasios deal involves moving school safety agents - who are unarmed but wear police uniforms- into the Department of Education, canceling a July class of roughly 1,100 police recruits, and shifting certain homeless outreach operations away from police control.

On top of the $1 billion cut in operating expenses, there will be a more than $500 million cut to the NYPDs capital budget, with the money instead used to build youth recreation centers and for public housing developments, de Blasio added.

Were in a whole different situation in fact than New York City has ever faced in our history  a health care crisis, an economic crisis, a disparity crisis, a budget crisis all wrapped into one and on a massive, massive scale, he said. Weve gotta focus on those basics health, safety, food, shelter.

At the same time, de Blasio said we have an unprecedented opportunity to change some things.

The city's total budget is expected to be $87 billion, down from the mayors original proposal of $95.3 billion in January.

The mayor said that $9 billion in revenue has evaporated' in the past three months due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused tourism to stagnate and forced shops and restaurants to shutter their doors for weeks on end.

The economic crisis sparked in the pandemics wake has cost the city more than $7.4 billion in tax revenue alone.

When pressed, de Blasio said the cuts to the police department were partially caused by the citys deficit, but added that the weeks of mass protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis also pushed him to act.

The NYPD is being treated clearly in a specific manner, he said in response to questions.

De Blasio also voiced disappointment that the state Senate has so far refused to give the city permission to borrow up to $5 billion to help stem its economic bleed.

At some point, if Washington doesnt act, if Albany doesnt act, then we end up in a very tough situation, he said, adding that its clear labor savings are going to be needed in the upcoming budget.

This is not the 1970s. I have not gotten a coherent answer as to why its just not the right thing to do, de Blasio said of the borrowing plan. Austerity is never the way to go.

Pending a federal bailout or borrowing authority, de Blasio says the city will have to start laying off as many as 22,000 workers, beginning in October.

The mayor indicated the city is not optimistic about receiving additional stimulus from the federal government before the end of July.

When pressed, de Blasio said the cuts to the police department were partially linked back to the citys deficit, but added that the weeks of mass protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis also pushed him to act

Violent crime - including shootings and murders - are on the rise in New York, with lower level crimes also going repeatedly unchecked (pictured: squatter Matthew Mishefski is removed from Washington Square Park fountain after weeks)

The plan to cut back on the NYPDs budget comes as gun violence and other serious crimes, such as burglaries, have surged across the Big Apple.

Last weekend alone, as many as eleven people were shot in a period of less than 12 hours across Saturday night and into Sunday morning, in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens and Manhattan. Murder is also up 25 percent in the city in comparison to this time last year.

Lower level crimes have also reportedly gone unchecked in recent weeks, with the police department still yet to address thousands of complaints about fireworks illegally being set off in the street, late at night, across all five of the citys boroughs.

The NYPD boasts the largest police force in the country with nearly 36,000 uniformed officers and 19,000 civilian members. While refusing the guarantee the NYPDs headcount would remain the same following the cuts, de Blasio says negotiations remain ongoing.

Bruce Backman, a New York-based research consultant and member of the Re-Open New York coalition, told DailyMail.com the city is balancing on the precipice of disaster - leaving it just two years away from becoming like Detroit

Earlier this week, several officials warned that any drastic cuts to the NYPD would set the city back 30 years in its efforts to control crime, jeopardizing public safety in a negative impact that would be felt in every neighborhood citywide, a law enforcement source told the Daily News.

A $1 billion cut to the NYPDs operating budget would set the city back three decades and severely compromise the significant progress the NYPD has made in keeping crime at historic lows and New Yorkers safe.

That view is one shared by Bruce Backman, a New York-based research consultant and member of the Re-Open New York coalition, who told DailyMail.com the city is balancing on the precipice of disaster - leaving it just two years away from becoming like Detroit.

The city of New York has never been worse than it has been in the last three months and its getting worse by the day, Backman said. Its not just coronavirus, its riots, looting, murders, fireworks and burglaries.

Backman says such a time of unrest calls for more police funding, not less.

Once they know New York is on the run, this will incur more crime, Backman continued. Go into any of the poorer neighborhoods of New York and ask those who live there if they want less law enforcement on the street.

Im pretty sure the answer is not what the mayor thinks it is, he said. This is not the time to decrease funding, this is bad public policy.

Earlier this week, several officials warned that any drastic cuts to the NYPD would set the city back 30 years in its efforts to control crime, jeopardizing public safety in a negative impact that would be felt in every neighborhood citywide, a law enforcement source said

Without a strong NYPD presence on the streets, Backman says that businesses in the city simply cannot prosper (pictured: Victoria Secret remains shuttered on New York's 34th Street on June 23)

Backman also cited the inevitable impact a substantial rise in crime could have on businesses in the city.

Without a strong NYPD presence on the streets, Backman says that businesses in the city simply cannot prosper.

If people are too scared to leave their homes to shop, there will be an upswing in poverty and people  beginning with the richest  will simply leave the city in exodus, Backman said. 'Real estate prices will go down, restaurants will close and businesses will languish.

New York is two years away from being like Detroit, which was also once home to all of the biggest companies and wealthiest people, he continued. Taxes are too high and people will just have enough. I know many people are planning and leaving  many have already.

If all the rich people leave  whos left to pay the bills, he asked. We rely on their tax revenue. You cant chase away the rich. This isnt good for anyone, nobody wins here. Everybody loses. High income to low income and everyone in-between. Its sad.

Backman accused De Blasio of single-handedly destroying New York City in light of Mondays announcement.

Its like watching someone you love becoming emaciated. The legacy of Bill de Blasio is going to be the man that destroyed New York City, Backman said.

Owner of American Home Hardware and More, Felix Atlasman, echoed Backmans sentiments in an interview with DailyMail.com Monday.

If people are too scared to leave their homes to shop, there will be an upswing in poverty and people  beginning with the richest  will simply leave the city in exodus, Backman said. Real estate prices will go down, restaurants will close and businesses will languish'

Owner of American Home Hardware and More, Felix Atlasman, echoed Backmans sentiments in an interview with DailyMail.com. Atlasman detailed how his neighborhood of Hells Kitchen has been plagued by a dangerous crime spree in recent weeks. Amid suggestions New York City could be heading back to its crime ridden days of the 1980s, Atlasman insisted were already back there'

Atlasman detailed how his neighborhood of Hells Kitchen has been plagued by a dangerous crime spree in recent weeks. Amid suggestions New York City could be heading back to its crime ridden days of the 1980s, Atlasman insisted were already back there.

My best selling item used to be light bulbs, now its pepper spray, Atlasman, who opened the hardware store in 1955, told DailyMail.com.

When I call the police they arrive two hours later and then ask me which way [the shoplifter] went.

Amid the purported rise in crime inside his store, Atlasman, whose business is deemed essential, has opted to no longer allow customers inside, instead keeping his shutters down and bringing customers what they need out to the sidewalk.

You have to fund not defund  we need more cops on the streets with whats happening now, he said. This is the most ridiculous thing you can do.

Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association, agreed, accusing Mayor de Blasio and the City Council of surrendering the city to lawlessness.

Shootings more than doubled again last week. Even right now, the NYPD doesnt have enough manpower to shift cops to one neighborhood without making another neighborhood less safe,' Lynch said in an emailed statement to FOX Business.

We will say it again: the Mayor and the City Council have surrendered the city to lawlessness. Things wont improve until New Yorkers hold them responsible.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea acknowledged the need for belt-tightening  but he cautioned against cuts that might compromise public safety.

I think everyone has to cut. I think were going to be forced to do difficult things. We certainly get that, Shea said. What concerns me is a moment in time and some rash judgments stepping in and taking the place of some well thought out conversations about how to cut smartly.

Shea said he is open to giving up some of the ancillary functions the NYPD has taken on over the years, such as school safety and traffic enforcement, however he scoffed at proposals to reduce the headcount of uniformed officers and eliminate new recruiting classes at the police academy.
The chief executive of a zoo in Leicestershire has warned that Britain faces a mass animal cull in its animal parks if the government doesn't step in and help cover running costs.

Dr Sharon Redrobe, the chief executive of Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire, has said that a government intervention may be needed to help cover their 650,000-a-month running costs otherwise her zoo may have to take drastic action.

The lifting of certain lockdown restrictions meant that zoos could re-open this month but Twycross Zoo is still struggling to meet its running costs as social distancing rules have limited the number of visitors.

Speaking to a panel of the all-party parliamentary group for zoos and aquariums, Dr Redrobe warned that zoos face having to carry out mass cullings to cut costs, according to Leicestershire Live.

Dr Sharon Redrobe, the chief executive of Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire, (pictured) has said that the government may needs to re-evaluate the criteria for its zoo and aquarium rescue package to help cover their 650,000-a-month running costs

The chief executive of Twycross Zoo (pictured) in Leicestershire has warned that without government help, zoo animals are facing a mass cull because parks and rescue homes cannot cover running costs despite re-opening after lockdown

The lifting of certain lockdown restrictions meant that zoos could re-open this month but Twycross Zoo is still struggling to meet its running costs as social distancing rules have limited the number of visitors. Pictured: Red ruffled lemurs at Twycross Zoo, May 29, 2020

She said: 'Failing animal welfare and the rundown of facilities, we all know is another road to closure.

'The loss of a large collection of endangered species unique in the UK such as Twycross Zoos' would be devastating and when I say loss, dare I say it, potentially a mass cull as we are all in the same boat.

'No other zoo worldwide has the funds to create new enclosures immediately as they cost millions.

'We are all facing the same ending.'

Dr Redrobe's warning comes after her zoo discovered they were not eligible to apply for a share of the 100million government rescue fund for zoos and aquariums.

Speaking to a panel of the all-party parliamentary group for zoos and aquariums, Dr Redrobe warned that zoos face having to carry out mass cullings to cut costs. Pictured: A baby northern white-cheeked gibbon at Twycross Zoo on November 15, 2019

Twycross Zoo had also been too large a facility to qualify for an earlier rescue fund too.

Dr Redrobe said that the maximum cap for the rescue fund had been set too low to be helpful for the nation's largest animal homes.

She said: 'Whilst 100 million is indeed a large total fund, we were extremely frustrated to discover that we would be legally constrained from meeting the eligibility criteria as it requires us to have too few months' running costs left.

'Moreover the 800-thousand-euro cap is less than one month's running costs and so is woefully inadequate for our needs and places thousands of animals at risk.'

Dr Redrobe also called on the government to review the criteria for its rescue package so that larger animal parks could also benefit.

Twycross Zoo had also been too large a facility to qualify for an earlier rescue fund too. Dr Redrobe said that the maximum cap for the rescue fund had been set too low to be helpful for the nation's largest animal homes. Pictured: A gray kangaroo at Twycross Zoo on May 29, 2020

Earlier this month, Torquay zoo said that animals it could not re-home would have to be euthanised, though the animals were all eventually re-homed as the Wild Planet trust's Living Coasts site in Devon could not afford to re-open.

The Mirror reported that Simon Tonge, Executive Director of Wild Planet Trust said: 'I am pleased, but not surprised, that we have found homes for our animals so quickly.

'The zoo community is very networked and mutually supportive. Thank you to all our members and friends for sharing your concerns and I hope you are reassured that our animals are in the best possible hands.'

But the Devon zoo announced in a statement on their website earlier this week that it will permanently close after nearly 20 years in operation.

A statement on the Living Coasts website said: 'Wild Planet Trust would like to thank the many people who have visited and supported Living Coasts over the years, and the many businesses, and grant giving trusts which have support our vital conservation work.'

Wild Planet Trust announced it could not afford to reopen its Living Coasts site (pictured) in Torquay, Devon due to massive costs incurred during the coronavirus lockdown

The Living Coasts attraction was focused on the conservation and protection of mostly marine animals including penguins, otters and seals for nearly 20 years, since 2003

Following Boris Johnson's easing of lockdown restrictions, other zoos were more fortunate and were able to open their doors to visitors once again.

Kathryn England, chief operating officer for ZSL London Zoo, said that it was 'glorious' to be able to welcome customers back to the park.

'It's been really quiet here so to be able to see (people) coming back with absolutely enormous smiles all over their faces really is a special moment for us all here.

'We've really reconfigured the whole zoo so that people feel and are safethere's lots of signage around to remind them to keep a lion's length apart, a tiger's length apart.'
Schools in England could isolate up to 240 secondary pupils in 'year bubbles' under Government plans to safely reopen classrooms in September.

Primary school class sizes are currently capped at 15 students to reduce the number of interactions between children, but these so-called 'bubbles' are set to double.

In secondary schools, which are set to open full-time in September, entire year groups could be isolated to limit the number of interactions with pupils of other ages, according to draft proposals seen by the Huffington Post.

It has been suggested that all children in a year group would be sent home to self-isolate for two weeks if one child in their 'bubble' tests positive for coronavirus.

Students will be told to sit at desks facing forwards in the same direction, rather than at circular tables, when all children return to school in the autumn, reports suggest.

There will also reportedly be a greater focus on the core subjects of English and maths to help pupils catch up, as well as on tackling disruptive behaviour following lockdown.

Teacher Claire Juniper teaches maths to year six students inside a socially distanced classroom setting in a tent outside on the school playing fields at Llanishen Fach Primary School in Cardiff

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured) is due to announce the finalised plans for reopening schools more widely to children on Thursday

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is due to announce the finalised plans for reopening schools more widely to children on Thursday.

At present, only a small number of children in some year groups have returned to school - with most likely to not return to the classroom until September.

Guidance is likely to advise teachers to remain two metres away from pupils as much as possible, and avoid coming into contact with their colleagues.

Schools will also reportedly be required to engage with the NHS Test and Trace system, and will be advised daily temperature tests are 'not a reliable method' for detecting Covid-19.

It was also reported teachers and students will not be required to wear face coverings inside schools.

Speaking today, Mr Williamson suggested a full return to school in September would not rely on social distancing restrictions in the same way as in pubs and shops.

'It's not about one metre, it's not about two metres,' he told BBC Breakfast, saying that safety would be based on 'reducing the number of transmission points' within schools.

He also confirmed parents in England could be fined if they do not send their children back to school in September, as a return to school will be 'compulsory'.

Boris Johnson speaks with year-ten pupils in a science room under construction at Ealing Fields High School today

At present, only a small number of children in some year groups have returned to school - with most likely to not return to the classroom until September

On the latest plans, Mr Williamson told LBC: 'It is going to be compulsory for children to return back to school unless there's a very good reason, or a local spike where there have had to be local lockdowns

'We do have to get back into compulsory education as part of that, obviously fines sit alongside that.

'Unless there is a good reason for the absence then we will be looking at the fact that we would be imposing fines on families if they are not sending their children back.'

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said a return to schools in the autumn has to be done in a way that does not spark a new wave of coronavirus infections.

He said: 'That is what the Government guidance is aimed at achieving. The processes involved are logistically problematic, so this is going to be the art of the possible, rather than an ideal solution.

'We are urging the Government to have a plan B in place in the event that we arrive at September and the situation with coronavirus is too precarious to allow a full reopening.

'Frankly, it seems to be on a knife-edge at the moment.'

A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'Pupils have been returning to school since June 1 - we've already given primary schools the flexibility to invite more children back if they have the capacity, and 1.5 million children were in school at the end of last week.

The latest Government figures show that around a third (34 per cent) of all Year 6 children attended school on June 18, up from 26 per cent on June 11 (Pictured: Pen-Y-Dre High School today)

'We've said we want to see all children back at school in September - returning to full primary and secondary class sizes in a safe way.

'We continue to engage with school leaders, teaching unions and the wider sector about our plans and will publish full details later this week.'

Some children began returning to school at the beginning of this month  but, ahead of the phased reopening, the Government confirmed that parents who do not feel safe sending their children back to school would not face fines.

The latest Government figures show that around a third (34 per cent) of all Year 6 children attended school on June 18, up from 26 per cent on June 11.

Attendance was around a quarter (26 per cent) in Year 1, up from a fifth the previous week, and 29% in Reception, up from 22 per cent on June 11, the figures show.

Speaking today, Boris Johnson said the fact that more pupils are not back at school yet is a source of 'deep frustration' for him.

The Prime Minister told Times Radio that teaching unions and councils should be saying 'loud and clear' that schools are safe.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), has called for a 'period of grace' before fining parents if they refuse to send their children back to school when they fully reopen.

He said: 'We don't think that it is the right approach to fine parents for the non-attendance of children as soon as schools fully reopen in September, and the Government should not expect schools to take this action.

'There will be many frightened and anxious parents out there, and this is very much a case of building confidence that it is safe to return, rather than forcing the issue through the use of fines.'
AMC Theatres, the nation's largest chain, is pushing back its plans to begin reopening theaters by two weeks as several states become overwhelmed by significant coronavirus spikes.

The company said Monday that it would open approximately 450 US theaters on July 30 and the remaining 150 the following week.

AMC CEO and President Adam Aron said that its general managers across the US started working full time Monday to get their buildings ready to reopen.

'We continue to devote extraordinary resources into our plan to operate our theatres with a hyper commitment to the safety and health of our guests and associates,' Aron said in a statement.

AMC expects its approximately 1,000 worldwide locations to be open by early August.

AMC Theatres announced on Monday that it pushed the mid-July reopening of hundreds of locations until July 30

The company had planned to begin opening theaters July 17, but last week the July theatrical release calendar was effectively wiped clean when Disney and Warner Bros. decided to delay the releases of 'Mulan' and 'Tenet' to August dates.

At that time, Aron warned investors that the road to resuming full operations would be 'choppy.'

'After a period of time where billions of people have endured confinement and limited social interaction, we believe that there will be a significant pent-up demand to get back out in the world,' he said.

'Having said that, we're under no illusions. The waters will be choppy. There may be unforeseen tosses and turns to be navigated through. And full recovery may take quite a while.'

Most indoor U.S. theaters have been closed since mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected 2,564,163 Americans and killed 15,928.

Indoor theaters and several other businesses were forced to shutter in March after the coronavirus pandemic quickly spread

AMC Theatres President and CEO Adam Aron warned investors that reopening the nation's largest chain would be 'choppy' and the company is 'under no illusions'

The month of June has seen states like Texas and Florida hit with waves of new coronavirus cases after pushing ahead with their individual reopening plans.

Some areas have become so inundated with cases that curfews were imposed and recently reopened businesses were quickly shuttered once again.

In fact, the continued coronaivirus pandemic had such a negative effect on AMC Theatres that the 100-year-old company previously said it 'substantial doubts' it could survive.

'We are generating effectively no revenue,' AMC Theatres admitted in early June

'Even if governmental operating restrictions are lifted in certain jurisdictions, distributors may delay the release of new films until such time that operating restrictions are eased more broadly domestically and internationally, which may further limit our operations,' the company said.

'Due to these factors, substantial doubt exists about our ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time.'

The publicly traded company, controlled by Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda, said that it had a cash balance of $718.3 million as of April.

Stock shares Monday afternoon showed AMC Theatres was up 5.47 per cent in an unexpected uptick, but down 41 per cent since January, CNBC reports.

The company is on a downswing after it took a massive hit in February and another smaller one mid-June.

When AMC does officially reopen multiplexes, patrons can expect to follow new safety protocols and guidelines.

AMC Theatre's stocks on Monday afternoon showed them in an unexpected upswing with a nearly six per cent increase

But the company has been through several rocky months with large dips and dives on its market price

AMC Theatres said it hopes to open all of its multiplex locations worldwide by August

According to The New York Times, AMC is looking into high-tech vacuums, 'electrostatic sprayers' and upgraded ventilation systems.

Seats will be sanitized in between screenings, and Clorox may serve as a 'cleanliness adviser'.

As a kind of test case, AMC has already opened 10 theaters in Europe. Three theaters in Norway sold 83% of available tickets, Aron told investors.

The AMC CEO also believes that, with so many working from home due to the pandemic, moviegoing may also not be as focused on Friday and Saturday.

The company will also limit capacity inside theaters, block off seating to maintain social distancing and all patrons must wear masks.

AMC Theatres initially announced that it would not require patrons to wear face masks in an effort to avoid 'political controversy,' but quickly changed course after swift backlash.

Like most movie theater companies, AMC will put a number of new safety and cleaning protocols in place. Pictured: Employees spray disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus at the Paragon Cineplex movie theater in Bangkok, Thailand last week

'We think it is absolutely crucial that we listen to our guests,' Aron said in a statement, adding that customers who refuse to wear face-coverings will be denied entry to their cinemas.

'It is clear from this response that we did not go far enough on the usage of masks.'

However plans could continue to change given the surge of cases in a number of states.

Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New York would delay reopening cinemas while it continued to research the safety of indoor, air-conditioned venues.'

New York, with 392,883 cases and 24,842 deaths, was the epicenter of the virus, but other states have become hot spots in the last several weeks.

California, Florida, New Jersey, Arizona, Texas and Louisiana were among the 10 states with cases spikes.

On Monday, Florida saw a concerning surge of 8,530 new cases and 29 deaths. California recorded 4,712 new cases and Texas came in a close third with 4,258 new cases.

Several towns in Texas, which was the first state to shrug off the lockdown, were forced to impose curfews and reinstate stay-at-home orders because of the surge.

Gov. Abbot said on Friday that Texas bars would close because of rising cases.

TEXAS: Texas Governor Greg Abbott gave bars in the state until midday on Friday to close down as officials scramble to contain outbreaks amid record spikes in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Pictured above is the crowded Handlebar in Houston, Texas last month

TEXAS: Barstools are stacked at South Tyler Speakeasy in Tyler, TX, as word reached the bar of Gov. Greg Abbott's morning announcement that bars must close at noon on Friday

FLORIDA: Miami residents out and about on Ocean Drive on Friday amid a surge in coronavirus cases

In California, more than 1,000 inmates at the San Quentin Prison tested positive for coronavirus after 16 inmates died.

In an alarming revelation, President Trump's HHS Secretary Alez Azar warned that the 'window is closing' for the US to get the pandemic under control.

'Things are very different from two months ago... So it is a very different situation, but this is a very, very serious situation and the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control,' Azar said on CNN to Jake Tapper on State of the Union Sunday night.

Azar refused to blame the spike in cases on states reopening and said 'inappropriate individual behavior' was the culprit in spreading the virus.

'That's not so much about what the law says on the reopening as what our behaviors are within that,' he said, urging the public to wear masks and practice social distancing.

'If we act irresponsibly, if we don't socially distance, if we don't use face coverings in settings where we can't social distance, if we don't practice appropriate personal hygiene, we're going to see spread of disease,' he warily cautioned.
The police officers involved in the shooting of a Sudanese asylum seeker who knifed six people are being investigated after they failed to subdue him with tasers.

Police tasered the attacker, Badreddin Abadlla Adam, a Sudanese asylum seeker, at the Park Inn hotel, Glasgow, on Friday lunchtime.

Moments before they killed him he had seriously injured six people including a police officer at the hotel who was left fighting for his life.

Police involved in the shooting of the attacker durig Glasgow stabbings on Friday lunchtime (pictured) are being investigated after they failed to subdue him with tasers

Officers tasered and killed Badreddin Abadlla Adam (pictured), a Sudanese asylum seeker after he had seriously injured six people including one police officer

Firearms officers are believed to have shot Adam dead in his room when their tasers failed to subdue him.

By then the hotel had already become a bloodbath with hero police officer, constable David Whyte, 42, among the injured.

An investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) was ordered by prosecutors at the Crown Office, which is routine where police firearms are deployed.

It comes as asylum seekers yesterday presented Police Scotland with a Thank You card to show their appreciation for the bravery shown by the officers at the scene.

The card contained signatures from multiple asylum seekers with well wishes for PC Whyte.

The focus of the investigation is to determine whether the use of a firearm by officers was necessary, justified and proportionate.

The incident took place near the Park Inn hotel (pictured) in Glasgow city centre on Friday

A police source said: Its normal for officers to be investigated after a firearm is discharged but the process can be cold and adds additional stress to the officers involved in what has been an exceptionally scary situation.

'They feared for their own lives and if they hadnt taken him out God knows who else he would have attacked. They have to think in a split second.'

Pirc have seized the weapon involved, and will take statements from all of the officers at the scene, as well as other witnesses.

It has also taken possession of footage from officers' body-worn cameras.

Its understood that after the Taser failed to disable Adam, he was then fatally shot by a Specially Trained Officer (STO).

He was the first person to die as a result of a shot fired by a Police Scotland officer since the force was formed in 2013.

Only one other person has been shot by Police Scotland in that time, Jamie Thomson who had been involved in a seven-hour standoff in March 2016, during which he fired a crossbow at officers.

Police Scotland has trained and equipped about 500 STOs.

These officers, who were able to use conventional weapons, have also been routinely armed with Tasers from June 2018 onwards.

Adam was the first person to have been shot and killed by Police Scotland since its inception in 2013, while only one other person has been shot by the force during that time

At the time, Pirc said: Generally, it appears that the use of Tasers by STOs increased their safety and allowed them to resolve incidents quickly without having to call upon the force's limited number of specialist firearms officers.

Adam launched his knife attack at Glasgow's Park Inn after a row with a fellow asylum seeker in a neighbouring room over noise.

He had also complained that he wanted to go back to his homeland.

Its believed the 28-year-old loner was furious at a lack of action from the Home Office over his return home in Sudan.

PC David Whyte who was the first officer on the scene, is recovering in hospital after being stabbed when he heroically tried to tackle the knifeman.

Two male hotel workers were also seriously injured along with three other asylum seekers.

Among the injured asylum seekers are understood to be Mohamed Mansarie, 17, and Sultan Mohammed, 18, both from Sierra Leone in west Africa. Another male asylum seeker was also stabbed.

Adam had fled Sudan and is believed to have been in Germany and Franc e before coming to the UK, where he had been for seven months.

It's also understood he had spent some time in Ireland and has family in Manchester.

Since the coronavirus pandemic, Adam and hundreds of other asylum seekers in Glasgow were moved into empty hotel rooms to stem the spread of the virus.

Sources said he made a request to withdraw his asylum application after spending three weeks isolated in his room after suffering Covid-19 symptoms.

His application had not progressed due to delays caused by the pandemic lockdown.

It's believed Adam snapped on Friday following a row with another Sudanese asylum seeker in another room at the Park Inn hotel.

He had complained to others that noise was stopping him from sleeping and had warned fellow asylum seekers of his plan to attack the day before.

The Park Inn hotel on Glasgow's West George Street, was being used to house asylum seekers due to the pandemic.

The hotel (pictured) located on Glasgow's west street was being used to host asylum seekers during the coronavirus pandemic

They were later moved to the nearby Hallmark Hotel in the citys Washington Street.

One asylum seeker who was caught up in the horror attack told Mailonline how quick-thinking police officers saved his life.

Mohammad Nikar, from Albania, said he had been out shopping at a nearby Lidl store when he returned to the Park Inn hotel.

He had gone up to his room when he was disturbed by the fire alarm following the attacks.

He said: I went back up to my room then heard the fire alarm and thats when I left my room.

The was blood everywhere and armed police officers. That was frightening. I was worried they would think I had something to do with it but the officer said, Don't worry, let's go. Everything will be alright but we have to get you out of here.

The police were so professional and kind. He saved my life.

Mohammad also rejected claims by other asylum seekers that the conditions at the Park Inn hotel had led to the attack.

He said: The hotel was very nice. It's a good standard hotel and lovely inside. You get fed and the staff could not do more for you. One of the receptionists would say, Happy days when he saw you to cheer you up.

The staff were kind and always smiling.

Mohammad added: Scotland is a very nice country. The people are so friendly. You go to have a drink in a bar and you make friends instantly.

I think he had something wrong with him inside.
The UK's Black Lives Matter movement has told Sir Keir Starmer he has no right 'to tell us what our demands should be' after he claimed the campaign's message was getting 'tangled up'.

BLM has been behind a number of high-profile protests which have taken part across the country following the death of George Floyd in police custody in the US last month.

It has also played a key role in the removal of statues which glorify historical figures who profited from slavery.

Black Lives Matter calls to 'defund the police', as demonstrated in a sign at a protest on Sunday, pictured, have been rubbished as 'nonsense' by the Labour leader

Sir Keir Starmer, pictured at a north London school on Monday, was branded 'a cop in an expensive suit' by activists

However, calls to 'defund the police' have been rubbished as 'nonsense' by the Labour leader, who in turn was branded 'a cop in an expensive suit' by activists, referencing his previous job as head of the Crown Prosecution Service.

In listing its aims on a GoFundMe page, which has received more than 1 million in donations, BLM says it is 'guided by a commitment to dismantle imperialism, capitalism, white-supremacy, patriarchy and the state structures that disproportionately harm black people in Britain and around the world'.

Furthermore, it pledges to spend funds on 'developing and delivering training, police monitoring and strategies for the abolition of police'.

However, Sir Keir sparked fury from the movement on Monday when he told BBC Breakfast: 'Nobody should be saying anything about defunding the police. I would have no truck with that.

'I was director of public prosecutions for five years, I worked with police forces across England and Wales, bringing thousands of people to court, so my support for the police is very, very strong and evidenced in the joint actions I've done with the police.

'There's a broader issue here, the Black Lives Matter movement, or moment, internationally is about reflecting something completely different, it's reflecting on what happened dreadfully in America just a few weeks ago and acknowledging that as a moment across the world.

'It's a shame it's getting tangled up with these organisational issues with the organisation Black Lives Matter. I don't have any truck with what the organisation is saying about defunding the police or anything else, that's just nonsense.'

The UK's Black Lives Matter movement responded to Sir Keir's criticism on social media and said he had no right 'to tell us what our demands should be'

Responding on social media, a BLM spokesperson wrote: 'When we say 'Defund the police' we mean 'Invest in programmes that actually keep us safe like youth services, mental health and social care, education, jobs and housing. Key services to support the most vulnerable before they come into contact with the criminal justice system'.

'As a public prosecutor, Sir Keir Starmer was a cop in an expensive suit.

'While black people are now incarcerated at the same rate as African Americans, the prison population in Britain has almost doubled since the 1980s. This has affected all working class people in Britain.

'The expansion of police and prison power has not made our communities safer.

'We can no longer allow governments from any party to police or imprison away social problems.

'Neither can we allow former Prosecutors to tell us what our demands should be.'

The row comes after Sir Keir slapped down his hard Left critics as he defended his decision to sack leading Corbynista Rebecca Long-Bailey for sharing an 'anti-Semitic conspiracy theory'.

The Labour leader said he was right to axe his former challenger from her job as shadow education secretary after she retweeted an interview with the ex-Communist actress Maxine Peake.

Sir Keir's decision to remove Ms Long-Bailey sparked fury among leading left-wing figures who accused him of starting a purge

Speaking to the Independent Ms Peake accused the Israeli security services of teaching US police the 'neck choke' move which was used to kill George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Sir Keir's decision to remove Ms Long-Bailey, who stood as the continuity Corbynite candidate for leader following Labour's election disaster last December, sparked fury among leading left-wing figures who accused him of starting a purge.

But he told Good Morning Britain on Monday that Ms Peake's accusation was 'the same old, same old, which is a problem anywhere in the world, point the finger at Israel'.

He added: 'I took the view that it was anti-Semitism.

'Rebecca had tweeted about it. I wanted her to take her tweet down straight away and that didn't happen. And in the end I asked her to stand down from the shadow cabinet.'

He added: This is not a left right issue in the Labour Party, it's an issue of principle for me. Zero tolerance on antisemitism.

I would have taken the same action in relation to anyone else in the Labour Party.'

Following Ms Long-Bailey's dismissal, Ms Peake acknowledged that her comments in an interview with the Independent had been 'inaccurate'.

Ms Long-Bailey, however, insisted it was not 'racist or anti-Semitic' to draw attention to concerns about police tactics.
A school has been forced to shut after travellers in six caravans set up a camp in a car park outside as pupils are told to stay at home.

The unauthorised camp was set up in a car park yesterday, blocking a road and 'compromising' how students can get to class.

To ensure their safety, the secondary school in Hampshire's New Forest has decided to stay shut with pupils working remotely while staff figure out with police and the council how to reopen.

Ringwood School in Hampshire's New Forest has been forced to shut after travellers in six caravans set up nearby outside (pictured: the travellers' vehicles in a car park)

A police officer seen approaching a vehicle leaving the car park. Head teacher Leanne Symonds said the school is working with the police and council to resolve the issue

The 'large group' of travellers have occupied the car park of Ringwood Health and Leisure Centre as well as an access road to the Parsonage Barn Lane secondary school.

In a letter to parents, head teacher Leanne Symonds said: 'On Sunday 28th June a large unauthorised encampment accessed the car park of Ringwood Health and Leisure Centre and the access road into Ringwood School.

'Upon school staff attendance with Hampshire Constabulary and New Forest District Council, access to the school was compromised.

'It is now possible to access the school however operational difficulties and the potential impact on students and staff arriving at school were considered and the school have made the decision to close on Monday 29th June 2020.

'The school continues to work alongside Hampshire Constabulary and New Forest District Council to resolve this matter as promptly as possible to ensure our students can return to the emergency school provision and planned Face to Face sessions for Year 10 and Year 12 on Tuesday 30th June.

'We understand the impact this will have on our local community and appreciate your understanding.'

The school also published a statement on Facebook, saying: 'To ensure student safety and safeguarding the police have advised that we shut the school on Monday 29th June.

'Therefore if your child was due in school, please stay at home where they can work remotely instead.'

Ringwood secondary school, pictured. Ms Symonds said: 'We understand the impact this will have on our local community and appreciate your understanding'

The entrance to the leisure centre car park, located close to the New Forest national park in Hampshire. The unauthorised camp 'compromised' access to the nearby school

Ringwood Health and Leisure Centre. The 'large group' of travellers have occupied the car park of the health centre as well as an access road to the Parsonage Barn Lane secondary school

Secondary schools have remained largely shut with only some pupils in year 10 and year 12 allowed to meet with teachers before the summer holidays ahead of exam years.

The Government is now targeting a full return of all school pupils in England in September.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told LBC that going back to school will be compulsory and that fines could be issued to parents who keep their children at home because of safety fears.

'It is going to be compulsory for children to return back to school unless there's a very good reason, or a local spike where there have had to be local lockdowns,' he said.

'We do have to get back into compulsory education as part of that, obviously fines sit alongside that.

'Unless there is a good reason for the absence then we will be looking at the fact that we would be imposing fines on families if they are not sending their children back.
A group of 30 volunteers have discovered human remains and items they believe could be linked to missing U.S. Army soldier Vanessa Guillen, close to the site where the body of a man was found.

The discovery comes two months after the 20-year-old woman was last seen at the Fort Hood Army Base in Kileen, Texas, on April 22.

Volunteer group Texas EquuSearch has been participating in efforts to search for Guillen. It canvassed areas in Bell County on Saturday before concluding its search mission for the day in Coryell County.

According to KWTX, the volunteers came across the remains in an undisclosed area in Coryell County, not too far from the site where the remains of missing soldier Gregory Wedel-Morales were found on June 19. He went missing in August 2019.

Tim Miller, the founder of Texas Equusearch, said: 'We know it's a process of elimination so we know where she's not and we keep moving forward so we can hopefully look forward to the day we can say we know where she is.'

Vanessa Guillen, 20, was reported missing from Fort Hood on April 22 shortly after she told her family she was being sexually harassed and felt unsafe. She was last seen in the parking lot of her regimental engineer squadron headquarters at the Killeen, Texas, base around 1pm

Texas Equusearch said it found personal items that could be linked to missing U.S. Army soldier Vanessa Guillen. During a search Saturday, a team of 30 searchers came across human remains, which are being examined

The volunteers came across the remains in an undisclosed area in Coryell County, not too far from the site where the remains of missing soldier Gregory Wedel-Morales were found on June 19

Troopers from Thunder Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, look over a map during search efforts for Guillen

The remains discovered by the volunteers have been secured by homicide investigators and transferred to the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas to be analyzed.

Some of the personal items that were located in a river, according to Miller, who refused to reveal exactly what they found.

Natalie Khawan, a lawyer representing the family, told Univision Noticias that they asked the military to review surveillance cameras at the base in hopes that there could be key information that would lead to Guillen's whereabouts, but they were told that there were no security cameras installed at the site.

Khawan also said that they have appealed to authorities to secure cellphones that may have received messages from Guillen in the moments leading up to her disappearance.

The attorney said that a message that was sent from Guillen's phone include the serial number of a weapon.

Khawan found the content of the message to be highly suspicious, and suggested that perhaps someone else might have sent the text with Guillen's mobile device.

'The serial number of a firearm was sent from Vanessa's cell phone. This text message is very unusual for us because it is not something that is normally sent between the soldiers of the base,' Khawan said.

'So we think that there is a possibility that someone else had sent the message, but the military authorities do not want to tell us the recipient of it.'

The Houston native, who is Latina, was last seen in the parking lot of her regimental engineer squadron headquarters at the Killeen base.

Guillen's car keys, barracks room key, identification card and wallet were later found in the armory room where she was working earlier in the day.

She was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, light purple leggings and black Nike sneakers.

She had accused an unnamed sergeant of sexually harassing her and claimed she felt unsafe before she disappeared, her family says.

Soldiers from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment conduct ongoing searches of the training area at Fort Hood, Texas, for Guillen on June 18

Actress Salma Hayek has pledged to post pictures of missing soldier Private First Class Vanessa Guillen, 20, on her Instagram page until she is found

Giullen's attorney Natalie Khawam told ABC13 said her client once claimed that a superior walked in on her showering and another verbally assaulted her with vulgar remarks in Spanish.

But Guillen didn't report the harassment because she was afraid of retaliation, said Natalie Khawam, the family's attorney.

Two weeks ago, the Fort Hood Army base launched an investigation into Guillens allegations that a sergeant sexually harassed her.

A reward of $55,000 is being offered for information in her disappearance.

Actress Salma Hayek shared a post on Instagram vowing to share a picture of Guillen every day until she is found.

US Rep Sylvia Garcia said last Tuesday that US Army investigators are suspecting foul play in Guillen's disappearance.

'We don't want just attention. We want action. We want answers,' said Garcia, a Democrat representing Texas' 29th congressional district. 'We've got to remember that this is a family that is hurting.'

The US Army Criminal Investigation Command and the League of United Latin American Citizens is each contributing $25,000 to fund the reward.

The body of Pvt. Gregory Scott Morales, 24, of Oklahoma, was found on Friday in a field near the 3200 block of Florence Road near Killeen, Texas after officials at the nearby Fort Hood base received a tip. He had disappeared from the base last August

Morales, who was also known as Gregory Wedel, was last seen on August 19, 2019, driving his personal vehicle outside of Fort Hood. He was to be discharged within days after his disappearance, the Army said

Both Morales and Guillen were stationed at the Fort Hood Army Base in Killeen, Texas

Morales, who was also known as Gregory Wedel, was last seen on August 19, 2019, driving his personal vehicle outside of Fort Hood.

He was to be discharged within days after his disappearance, the Army said.

Morales joined the Army in June 2015 as a motor transport operator and had been assigned to the 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood since November 2016, according to the Army.

A $25,000 reward is being offered for information about his death.

'The First Team is saddened by the news of the passing of PV2 Gregory Morales. His life was taken too soon, and we appreciate his service to our nation,' Maj Gen Jeffery Broadwater, commander, 1st Cavalry Division.
Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is seeking an investigation into the release of a fugitive cartel boss' mother and two other relatives from prison.

The announcement came Monday, one day after Maria Eva Ortiz walked out of a prison in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato almost a week after she and 30 others were arrested for their alleged ties to the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel.

Lopez Obrador went as far as suggesting that judge Paulina Irais Medina colluded with cartel leader Jose Antonio 'El Marro' Yepez and was looking for any loophole that would lead to the release of the family members and henchmen.

'I very much regret this, it has to do with an old problem linked to the components: inefficiencies and corruption,' Lopez Obrador said.

'There is always talk that alleged criminals are released because the investigation was not integrated and it is a way to hide an agreement, a compromise. They are always looking for some judges - I do not generalize - but there are judges who are looking to see if there was any fault at the time of the arrest in the documents that were presented, anything, to release suspected criminals.

Maria Eva Ortiz (center), the mother of Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel leader Jose Antonio 'El Marro' Yepez, was cleared by a court judge in Guanajuato, Mexico, Sunday after it was determined that the prosecution did not have enough evidence to charge her and two other family members of any any wrongdoing after they were arrested June 20

Jose Antonio 'El Marro' Yepez (pictured) commands the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, an organization that focuses on fuel theft

Pictured from left to right are El Marro's mother; Maria Ortiz; his sister, Juana Yepez; and his cousin Rosalba. The three women were among 31 individuals who were arrested June 20 by the military and the police due to their alleged ties to El Marro's Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel

Judge Medina had previously scheduled a two-day hearing that started Saturday morning and ran until Sunday 4pm before she ordered the immediate the release of Ortiz, her daughter Juana Yepez, her niece and two other men because the prosecution did not have enough evidence to take it to trial.

The defense was able to prove that the authorities arrested Ortiz without obtaining a warrant to search one of her daughter's home, which is located a block away from the stash house. The agents then took El Marro's mother to the safe house so that they could claim they had apprehended her there.

Furthermore, lawyers showed that the security forces executed the apprehensions well before the warrant had been approved approximately at 9pm.

A burning car is pictured outside a store after an operation by security forces against the leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel in Celaya, Mexico, on June 20

Attorneys also proved that the Guanajuato Criminal Investigation Agency planted $89,000 at the stash house by removing it from 30 different addresses in the San Isidro de Elguera neighborhood. Authorities initially said Ortiz was in possession of all of the money.

During the hearing, the defense presented an audio in which the law enforcement agents reportedly were heard telling a woman to tell members of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel.

Following their apprehensions, members of the fuel theft criminal organization that is led by 'El Marro' set up road blocks in the municipality of Celaya and 12 other nearby cities and burned trucks and cars.

The woman is heard in the recording saying, 'they will beat us if they keep burning' the cars and trucks.
More than 1,000 inmates at California's San Quentin Prison have tested positive for coronavirus, meaning more than a third of the entire facility's population now have the virus.

The number jumped from 823 on Sunday to 1,015 on Monday, a 22 percent increase. There have been 973 new cases in the prison in the last 14 days.

The prison now has by far the highest number of cases out of all of California's correctional facilities.

Last week, 30 of the cases were prison staff and five infected inmates were released.

More than 1,000 inmates at California's San Quentin Prison have tested positive for coronavirus, meaning more than a third of the entire facility's population now have the virus

This is how cases in the California prison system have spiked since the start of May. The blue line represents the prison system compared to the rest of the state and the country

It's unclear where they were released to and if they were forced to quarantine once they had left custody.

San Francisco Gate reports that the infections spiked a month ago when 121 inmates from the California Institute for Men at Chino were transferred.

Those infected inmates were not separated enough from others when they arrived, and spread the virus quickly.

It also comes amid a surge in testing across the prison system.

The spike in cases is not, however, being reflected in a spike in deaths.

The increase in the prison system mirrors the ongoing increase in cases across the state and the rest of the country that is leading to fears another shutdown may be required.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered nightlife to close amid the escalating numbers.

Florida, Arizona and Texas are also seeing worrying increases in case numbers.

Newsom announced on Monday at a press conference that some of the inmates and guards may be moved to a medical center to be cared for.

Prisons have been a source of concern since the pandemic began, with hundreds of inmates gathered in close quarters with no choice but to live on top of each other.

It prompted many leaders to start releasing what they considered to be non-violent criminals from custody.

There have not been any COVID-19 deaths at the prison whereas 16 inmates at the California Institute for Men died of the virus.
Anshul M. Gandhi, 34, an emergency room physician who once worked at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, has been charged with sexually assaulting four women

A Los Angeles doctor who worked in the emergency room at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has been charged with sexually assaulting four women five months after he was arrested for suspected rape against a co-worker.

Anshul M. Gandhi, 34, an emergency room physician, pleaded not guilty on Monday during a court hearing in Los Angeles.

He was ordered to return to court in September for a preliminary hearing, according to KNBC-TV.

Gandhis attorney, Michael Kraut, said the authorities had no basis to arrest his client.

These other individuals, knowing he was fairly wealthy, came out of the woodwork to accuse him, Kraut said.

Theyre now saying they were victims with no corroboration: theres no forensics, no audio, no video, no texts, nothing to confirm their statements.

The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office said on Monday that it charged Gandhi with a felony count of sexual battery for an alleged attack that took place in December 2019.

He has also been charged with felony sexual battery for three alleged attacks that took place against three other women in October of 2016, December of 2016, and July of 2018.

In late January of this year, Gandhi was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department and booked into jail on suspicion of forced oral copulation.

He was released from jail the next day after posing $100,000 bail.

In January, Gandhi was arrested after a female co-worker alleged he assaulted her in her apartment in downtown Los Angeles. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is seen in this file photo

Gandhi was arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted a female co-worker inside her apartment near downtown Los Angeles.

I think the police acted very inappropriately and [there was] a rush to judgment, Kraut said.

He gave a voluntary statement, gave voluntary DNA to the police department, and gave them clues where they should look to show that the victim is absolutely making this story up.

Cedars-Sinai officials told Patch that Gandhi was no longer affiliated with the hospital. They said he had previously worked there on a contractual basis.

Kraut said Gandhi resigned voluntarily in early January from Cedars-Sinai so as to avoid a hostile environment.

The Medical Board of California issued a statement at the time saying it is aware of the allegations against Dr. Gandhi and is looking into them.

No further comment or information can be provided as the board's investigations and complaints are confidential by law.

Hospital employees told KNBC-TV that they had reported several incidents to hospital management and encouraged women who told friends they were assaulted to file a complaint with police.

We believe that the evidence will show that no crime was committed and all the interactions were consensual, Kraut said.
Pictured: Chris Lilley in 2014

Comedian Chris Lilley has broken his silence after coming under fire for his portrayal of a Tongan schoolboy in Summer Heights High.

Lilley was accused of basing the controversial character Jonah Takalua on the teenager Filipe Mahe, who appeared in a 2004 ABC documentary about disadvantaged students at a school in Sydney's south-west.

The writer and actor has been criticised for 'exploiting' Mr Mahe, who was a Year 9 student at the time the documentary was made.

The controversy comes after four of Lilley's shows, including Jonah from Tonga, were removed from the Netflix catalogue in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement.

After remaining quiet for weeks, Lilley has now shared a deleted scene from the Summer Heights High spin off Jonah From Tonga, showing his character writing the song Don't Be a Bully.

The clip, which Lilley shared on Facebook on Sunday, shows Jonah and his Pacific Islander classmates rapping a song with the lyrics 'I feel sad, I feel pain, when you call me that name. I'm a person just like you.'

Lilley deleted the post and shared another Jonah From Tonga clip to Facebook on Monday in a bid to show a softer side of the character.



In the second deleted scene, Jonah is sitting in his room speaking about how his mum thought he was special.

'She said of all the kids, Jonah is the magical one,' the character says.

Fans have rallied in support since the clips were posted on Monday night, praising Lilley for 'bringing awareness to real issues'.

'People should watch and analyse more. Chris highlighted real issues and created awareness. Watch how appreciative Jonah was in the end. Artists, in particularly comedians target real life issues,' one person wrote.

'You're an incredible talent .... so observant of human nature .. don't change,' wrote another.

'I know that nothing you would do would be malicious. I'm behind you all the way. Keep making people laugh,' another wrote.

Lilley, who has portrayed several racially diverse characters, remained silent following the move to remove his shows.

He is also yet to comment on Mr Mahe's claims.

Lilley was accused of basing the controversial character Jonah Takalua on the teenager Filipe Mahe (pictured), who appeared in a 2004 ABC documentary about disadvantaged students at a school in Sydney's west

Mr Mahe can be seen in a one-on-one lesson with an English tutor. The interaction appeared to be Lilley's inspiration for Jonah's remedial English classes at the fictional Gumnut Cottage with Miss Palmer

Resurfaced footage from the documentary titled Our Boys shows striking similarities between Mr Mahe and the character Jonah.

The documentary followed disadvantaged students at Canterbury Boys High in western Sydney in 2004.

After the series aired Lilley went to Mr Mahe's school, observed classes and lunchtime in the playground and watched a Tongan dance.

When Summer Heights High debuted on the ABC three years later, Mr Mahe said his heart sank as he instantly knew the character was based on him.

Unearthed clips from the Our Boys documentary show Mr Mahe and Jonah share a number of uncanny personality traits.

Jonah, like Mr Mahe, was from a single-parent family, had a larger-than-life, cheeky persona, could dance and struggled to read.

 Slide me  In another stark comparison between Mr Mahe and Jonah, Mr Mahe and his friends - who are also of Pacific Islander background - hip-hop danced in the school's quadrangle

 Slide me  The group of boys were later filmed performing a traditional Tongan dance in front of their school. It mirrors a scene in Summer Heights High that sees Jonah and his friends perform a traditional dance at the school assembly wearing grass skirts

Mr Mahe (pictured left at school with a friend) said his heart sank when he saw himself in the character of Jonah when Summer Heights High debuted in 2007

Mr Mahe said his heart sank when he saw himself in the character of Jonah when Summer Heights High debuted in 2007.

'I've always thought it was racism to Tongans but never spoke out,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'I would have been labelled a "sook" or "can't handle the banter" so I didn't say anything.'

He added that he felt 'absolutely embarrassed, full of hate, angry and exploited' by the program.

Mr Mahe is now a successful father-of-two living in Queensland, but his start to life was a tough one.

 Slide me  Mr Mahe, who was in Year Nine at the time, was filmed talking back to his teacher and giving her attitude during a lesson - things Jonah regularly did in Summer Heights High

Pictured: Chris Lilley (centre) in his role as Jonah Takalua in his program, Jonah From Tonga

His father had been killed in a motor accident, his mother was wheelchair-bound after contracting polio as a child and his sister suffered from epilepsy - which later killed her.

Mr Mahe has dyslexia and by Year nine he still couldn't read or write in English or Tongan, and his math abilities were equivalent to those of a Year six student.

However, he'd always managed to get by in class because of his great verbal and observational skills.

The character of Jonah had similar learning difficulties and compensated by being brash and rude to his superiors, a trait that Mr Mahe said didn't come from him.

'I can 100 per cent say that, if any Tongan kid was to speak that way to their parents, they would have got a smack to the mouth,' he said. 'We just don't speak that way.'

Kerry Brewster, who produced and directed Our Boys, also immediately identified the character in Lilley's show as Mr Mahe.

Mahe (centre) is certain the character of Jonah is based on him and his experiences at school. He is pictured with Our Boys producer Kerry Brewster (left)

Chris Lilley visited Canterbury Boys High after Our Boys aired to conduct research for his upcoming show, Summer Heights High

She had worked closely with him during filming and was alarmed at how he was 'exploited' to create 'a brown-faced caricature'.

'In its mocking portrayal of Jonah, it was racist and cruel, even if this was not Lilley's intention,' she said in an opinion piece for Sydney Morning Herald.

Poll Should culturally insensitive shows be 'cancelled'? Yes No Should culturally insensitive shows be 'cancelled'? Yes 163 votes

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'It appealed to an audience that still looks condescendingly at Pacific Islanders.'

Ms Brewster said some of the lines used in the show were almost word-for-word repeats of things Mr Mahe had said in the past.

But Ms Brewster also feels guilty for the 'terrible price' Mr Mahe paid for participating in her documentary.

The entire first episode focused largely on his struggles and led Lilley to visit the school when researching his own ABC-funded project.

Mr Mahe moved to Brisbane after he left Canterbury Boys High, where he found a job and met his wife, Vera.

The couple have two children and are very happy with their lives, though Vera said Mahe still deals with hurt and embarrassment over the show.

Mr Mahe (pictured) was charismatic and adored by his peers and teachers. He struggled with learning difficulties and had a tough upbringing

Mr Mahe's wife said her husband was 'hurt and embarrassed' by the character Jonah from Tonga

One scene showed a history lesson at the school, where Filipe Mahe jovially clashed with his female teacher - similar to Jonah's constant taunting of his English teacher Miss Wheatley

'He is hurt and embarrassed,' she explained.

'Is he embarrassed by the way he was? Absolutely. His dad died in a car accident, his mum is a paralysed from the waist down, his sister died from epilepsy - he didn't have the easiest childhood. Could be the reason why he played up.'

Vera told Daily Mail Australia the couple both 'understand the comedy part' of the show and accept that it has cultivated a cult-like following since it aired.

'But he was a child and was exploited,' she added.

Four of Lilley's shows, including Jonah from Tonga, were removed from the Netflix catalogue earlier this month in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The programs had been criticised in the past for their use of brownface and blackface. In Jonah From Tonga, Lilley painted his face brown and wore a curly wig to portray Jonah.

Daily Mail Australia tried to contact Lilley for comment regarding Mr Mahe's claims.

Lilley has previously defended his style of comedy.

Last year he told The Weekend Australian: 'I'm not trying to do the thing that is trendy at the moment.'

The award-winning comedian went on to say he would continue making 'clever, layered' characters.

Defending his controversial characters, he said: 'When you meet them, you think "I know that type of person", but then there is a twist, something crazy.'

'[In] the end you think "Actually, I kinda relate to this, she just did that thing that I do everyday".'
Boris Johnson set a three-month deadline for concluding Brexit trade deal talks yesterday, as face-to-face negotiations resumed in Brussels.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister would not allow the talks to run beyond September because it would leave businesses with too little time to prepare for the end of the transition period in December.

No 10 confirmed that the UKs chief Brexit negotiator, David Frost, will start his new job as the PMs national security adviser at the end of August.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured) has set a deadline of three months for Brexit talks with the European Union to conclude

Mr Frost will not be replaced, but indicated that the Brexit negotiations would remain his top priority until those negotiations have concluded.

The PMs official spokesman said this could mean Mr Frost doing both jobs for a time, but stressed this would be for a very limited period at most.

Talks cant go on into the autumn, he said. Asked how long negotiations could continue, the spokesman said the PM was clear about not wanting to be continuing having talks in October.

The move sets a tight timescale for concluding negotiations. The deadline for extending the transition period beyond the end of this year expires today, and the PMs spokesman confirmed the mechanism would not be triggered.

Downing Street also confirmed today that the UK's chief Brexit negotiator, David Frost (pictured), will begin his new role as PM's national security advisor at the end of August

This means that the UK will be fully out of the EU by January 1, with or without a trade deal. No deal would result in both sides levying tariffs on each others goods.

The PM had originally threatened to walk away from the talks at the end of this month unless a deal was in sight.

But officials acknowledge that the original timetable has been affected by the pandemic.

The new deadline emerged as Mr Frost travelled to Brussels for the first face-to-face negotiations with his EU counterpart Michel Barnier since the lockdown began.

Until now, talks have been held via video link  a process Mr Frost believes has hindered progress. He warned that some of the EUs unrealistic positions will have to change.

He added: UK sovereignty, over our laws, courts, or our fishing waters, is not up for discussion.

The talks are stalled over the EUs refusal to recognise the UKs right to control its waters and set its own laws.

Mr Frost (pictured left) travelled to Brussels today to have face-to-face talks with his EU counterpart Michel Barnier (right)

Brussels wants EU trawlers to be guaranteed their current fishing rights in perpetuity, while the Government is insisting we should determine access on an annual basis.

The EU also wants a level playing field, in which the UK would not cut red tape imposed by Brussels.

Mr Frost made clear he was not interested in a compromise plan, which would give Brussels the right to impose tariffs if the UK departed from EU regulations after Brexit.

He added: The Government will not agree to ideas like the one currently circulating.

The UK has tabled a separate compromise which would allow the EU to levy tariffs on a small number of sensitive agricultural products in return for dropping its level playing field demands.

Weekly talks will now take place throughout July, with the venue alternating between Brussels and London.
For the third time in as many days, a homeless man squatting inside Manhattan's drained Washington Square Park fountain was dragged away by police on Monday for sleeping in the nude in public.

Matthew John Mishefski, a 25-year-old originally from Wyoming, Pennsylvania, was photographed being carried away writhing and screaming by officers and city workers from the New York City landmark.

It marked Mishefski's third brush with the law since Saturday, when he was arrested following an altercation with a pair of semi-naked men.

Deja vu: For the third time in as many days, nude squatter Matthew Mishefski, 25, was found sleeping in the middle of the Washington Square Park fountain of Monday

Police, paramedics and Parks officials were called to the scene after Mishefski was found in his birthday suit in the drained fountain

First responders reportedly spent 20 minutes trying to convince Mishefski, who is said to be autistic, to leave the fountain

Paramedics covered the man's exposed genitals with a sheet and went to work trying to pull him out of the fountain, where he has been living since May

It took 18 cops and EMS workers to haul Mishefski away kicking and screaming

On Sunday, Mishefski, who describes himself as autistic and refers to himself as 'Son of God Lord Savior Jesus Christ,' was again removed from Washington Square Park and taken to a hospital after being spotted touching his exposed genitals.

The latest incident involving Mishefski, who has been living in the park since May. took place this afternoon, when he was spotted napping in the middle of the dry fountain with his manhood in his hands, as New York Post first reported.

First responders who were summoned to the scene attempted to cover the nude transient with a towel and some sheets, only to have him kick them off.

A dozen and a half NYPD officers, paramedics and Parks Department workers spent 20 minutes trying to convince Mishefski to peaceably clear the site, but to no avail.

Cops and EMS workers then moved to forcibly remove Mishefski, who put up a fierce fight.

The disturbing scene that played out at the popular Manhattan landmark attracted a crowd of curious onlookers

After a 20-minute struggle, Mishefski was placed on a stretcher and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital

'No! No! No!' he was heard screaming. 'There is no need for help! I will ask my mother if I need help! She is a virgin! They have violated my rights! Assault! Assault!'

It took first responders an additional 20 minutes to restrain Mishefski and carry him into the back of an ambulance, after which he was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital.

The incident comes two days after Mishefski got into a naked fight with two other men and was hauled off to the hospital by a dozen officers.

Following his release, he returned to the park on Sunday and was promptly arrested a second time for walking around in his birthday suit and touching his private parts in full view of passersby.

On that occasion, Mishefski was taken to Beth Israel Hospital and quickly released, setting the stage for Monday's clash with first responders.

City authorities, including NYPD, Parks Department staffers and homeless outreach workers, failed for weeks to get him to voluntarily abdicate his makeshift thrown despite several visits.

Matthew John Mishefski, a 25-year-old originally from Wyoming, Pennsylvania was arrested by officers from the NYPD at 9:30pm yesterday after he became ensnared in a physical altercation with two other scantily dressed men

A total of 12 officers responded to the scene and Mishefski was taken away from the landmark in an ambulance

A man who was seen sparring with Mishefski was also transferred to an ambulance at Washington Square Park on Saturday

Members of the New York Police Department take Matthew John Mishefski into custody, ending his weeks-long occupancy of the famous fountain

Mishefski, who refers to himself as 'Son of God Lord Saviour Jesus Christ', had been living in the drained fountain since May

City authorities, including police, Parks Department staffers and homeless outreach workers, failed for weeks to get him to voluntarily abdicate his makeshift thrown despite several visits

During his residency, Mishefski amassed a collection of tables, six chairs, a pink recliner, a box of clothes and a beach umbrella - all protected by the metal barricades surrounding the fountain

Matthew John Mishefski pictured atop the center of the fountain on Friday, June 26, just a day before his Saturday arrest

His makeshift home now included a table, six chairs, a pink recliner, a box of clothes and a beach umbrella - all protected by the metal barricades surrounding the fountain

New York homeless service visit with the man to see if they can get him assistance

Mishefski is covered with fake blood as he lays on a unicorn plush. Demonstrators from a nearby BLM protest shared that he stole red paint from him

During his residency, Mishefski amassed a collection of tables, six chairs, a pink recliner, a box of clothes and a beach umbrella - all protected by the metal barricades surrounding the fountain.

'It's a representation of the altar to god,' Mishefski, who is autistic, explained of his temporary home to the New York Post.

Mishefski was previously arrested by police on June 13 at around 12.15am after he reportedly refused to leave the park after hours.

The transient - who first moved to NYC in 2017 - was charged with criminal trespass and failure to comply with signs. He was later released on bail and returned to the park. His next court date had been set for September 14.

The park is one of New York's most iconic locations, and popular with tourists. It has featured in a host of movies set in the city, including Ghostbusters and Avengers: Infinity War.

'Obviously the commanding officer [of the local 6th Precinct] is aware with many 311 calls and community members reaching out,' a NYPD spokesperson previously said. 'He has made numerous calls to Parks Department and several attempts to provide services. They are trying to get him help.'

A spokesman from the city Department of Homeless Services said that workers had tried to persuade the man four times to leave on his own volition, but he refused.

Black Lives Matter banners were hanging in the park as a backrop for Mishefski, who has squatting there since May. Demonstrators with the Black Lives Matter protest in the park told DailyMail.com that the transient accosted them as they put up the banner outside the barricade of the fountain.

They also added that the man stole red paint that they had been using, turning it into a 'fake blood' prop for himself.

Black Lives Matter banners were hanging in the park as a backrop for Mishefski, who has squatting there since May. Demonstrators with the Black Lives Matter protest in the park told DailyMail.com that the transient accosted them as they put up the banner outside the barricade of the fountain

Mishefski was arrested by police on June 13 at around 12.15am after he reportedly refused to leave the park after hours. He was charged with criminal trespass and failure to comply with signs

He has since been released on bail and has returned to the park, with his next court date is set for September 14

'It's a representation of the altar to god,' Mishefski, who goes by 'Son of God Lord Saviour Jesus Christ', said of his living arrangments

'We remain undeterred and will keep coming back to build trust, make those breakthroughs, and help them get back on their feet,' said spokesman Isaac McGinn.

Parks Department had a different energy behind the man's presence, with a spokeswoman adding: 'Being homeless in a New York City park is not a crime.'

She continued: 'We are working sensitively to encourage this individual to comply with Parks rules.

The spokeswoman did assert that there are rules prohibiting the erection of tents, shelters or camps at the park.

A spokesman from the city Department of Homeless Services said that workers have tried to persuade the man four times to leave, but he refuses

Parks Department had a different energy behind the man's presence, with a spokeswoman adding: 'Being homeless in a New York City park is not a crime.' She did however say that rules prohibit setting up a tent in parks

'This is a spiritual zone,' declared Mishefski

The Washington Square Park conservancy shared that it was aware of the encampment since early June, with representatives adding that they have been talking with the Parks Department and the NYPD.

Parks has said that it is working to remove the various pieces from the fountain.

Mishefski has only been at the park for a few weeks, according to the Parks Department, who said that the man travels between parks.

Mishefski has only been at the park for a few weeks, according to the Parks Department, who said that the man travels between parks

An American flag sits near a table that Mishefski has inside the fountain

'This is a spiritual zone,' declared Mishefski, who had been living in shelters until November 2017 before deciding to just stay on the streets. Life in the shelters did not seen like safest option, Mishefski shared.

'People bring in knives, weapons, they say they're going to hurt you if you say something they don't like, if you look at them,' he said. 'I had a staff member pull a knife on me.'

Mishefski said he suffers from autism and added that he has been in and out of psych wards. He even had a brief five-week stay at the Woodhull Hospital around September 2019.

Mishefski said he suffers from autism and added that he has been in and out of psych wards
Seven schools and a childcare centre in Melbourne have been shut down this week after being linked to COVID-19 cases.

Parkwood Green Primary School in Hillside, in the city's north west, closed on Tuesday after a young student tested positive. Contract tracing is underway.

The other schools are Queen of Peace Parish Primary in Altona, Aitken Hill Primary School in Craigieburn, Maribyrnong College, Fitzroy High School, Port Phillip Specialist School, and Al-Taqwa College in Truganina.

Guardian Childcare Centre in Abbotsford will also be closed until Wednesday after a child tested positive.

The school closures come as support for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews plummets over his handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Just 40 per cent of Victorians surveyed in the latest Newspoll were satisfied with Mr Andrews' performance, down from 58 per cent in April.

A quarter of respondents said he had handled the coronavirus badly, compared with 11 per cent two months ago.

Parkwood Green Primary School in Hillside, in the city's north west, has closed today after a young student tested positive. Contract tracing is underway

Victoria recorded 75 new cases on Monday, taking its tally to 367 new cases in a fortnight. Pictured: A coronavirus drive-through testing facility in Melbourne

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the new cases are predominantly in the city's hotspots of Keilor Downs, Broadmeadows, Maidstone, Albanvale, Sunshine West, Hallam, Brunswick West, Fawkner, Reservoir and Pakenham

It comes after confirmation a student at Ascot Vale Primary School and another at Essendon Keilor College attended classes last term while infected.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the new cases are predominantly in the city's hotspots of Keilor Downs, Broadmeadows, Maidstone, Albanvale, Sunshine West, Hallam, Brunswick West, Fawkner, Reservoir and Pakenham.

'We've got many cases across the inner northern suburbs and the western suburbs of Melbourne, but not exclusively and it's important to reiterate to the community that you are not immune from catching coronavirus by virtue of the postcode that you live in,' Ms Mikakos said.

However, the school closures come amid the school holidays, making effects minimal.

Victoria recorded 75 new cases on Monday, taking its tally to 367 new cases in a fortnight.

The school closures come as support for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews plummets over his handling of the coronavirus crisis

Last week Keilor Views Primary School closed for three days while contact tracing and deep cleaning was undertaken

Of those, 14 were linked to already known outbreaks, one is from hotel quarantine and 23 are under investigation.

Six new cases are believed to be from community transmission.

Of the new cases, just one was acquired overseas.

The majority of the latest cases have been locally acquired within 10 Melbourne suburbs.

Melbourne's latest school closures Parkwood Green Primary School Queen of Peace Parish Primary Aitken Hill Primary School Maribyrnong College Fitzroy High School Port Phillip Specialist School Al-Taqwa College Advertisement

By contrast, there were seven new cases in NSW and three in South Australia on Monday - all people returning from overseas. Other states recorded no new cases.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the federal government will do everything it can to help contain the growing coronavirus outbreak in Victoria.

Mr Morrison said there will be 'no stone unturned and no resource left unapplied' to stop the spread.

'We have seven states and territories at the moment in Australia, where there is either no or virtually no community transmission,' Mr Morrison told reporters on Monday.

'What that means is resources that are available in other states can also be deployed to assist.'

He said he would speak to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews about the possibility of lockdowns in the worst-affected suburbs but stressed the Labor leader was the 'final arbiter of what steps they take'.

Victorian health authorities, with the help of the Australian Defence Force, are conducting a testing blitz in the 10 suburbs and are waiting on more results before deciding on any further measures to contain the virus.

'It will get worse before it gets better,' Victorian Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said of the state's case numbers.

About 70 more ADF members landed in Melbourne overnight and will be deployed to testing clinics.
Former Whitehall chiefs yesterday rounded on Boris Johnson over the ousting of the Cabinet Secretary.

Sir Mark Sedwill quit his dual role as the country's top civil servant and national security adviser following a power struggle with Dominic Cummings.

In a cordial exchange of letters, the PM and Sir Mark insisted his resignation on Sunday night was by mutual agreement.

Sir Mark Sedwill, pictured arriving at Downing Street yesterday, quit his dual role as the country's top civil servant and national security adviser following a power struggle with Dominic Cummings

Civil service unions accused No 10 of orchestrating a series of 'corrosive and cowardly' briefings against the Cabinet Secretary, who Mr Cummings, pictured jokingly punching the windows of his car yesterday, is said to have seen as a 'roadblock' to a Whitehall shake-up

The PM, pictured at a school in west London yesterday, sought to play down claims that Sir Mark's position had been undermined by a series of hostile press briefings

But civil service unions accused No 10 of orchestrating a series of 'corrosive and cowardly' briefings against the Cabinet Secretary, who Mr Cummings is said to have seen as a 'roadblock' to a Whitehall shake-up.

Former civil service chief Lord Kerslake accused Mr Johnson of trying to make Sir Mark the 'fall guy' for the Government's failures in handling the pandemic.

And former cabinet secretary Lord O'Donnell suggested the Prime Minister wanted to surround himself with 'yes men'.

David Frost, the PM's chief Brexit negotiator, will succeed Sir Mark as national security adviser at the end of August. He will be given a peerage and operate as a political adviser  the first time the role has not gone to a civil servant. Lord O'Donnell warned that political appointees were more likely to be 'yes men'  telling ministers what they wanted to hear rather than 'speaking truth to power'.

'I'm worried about the appointment of David Frost as national security adviser because I'm not quite sure how putting a special adviser in that role works,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Mr Frost is a career diplomat but does not have a security background. Security and intelligence sources expressed concern yesterday at the appointment.

'He is a political adviser and that could be dangerous,' one said. 'Independence and impartiality are crucial in any overview.

'Some are questioning whether a man so clearly close to the Prime Minister and his team  of which he is clearly part  can be truly independent.'

Mr Cummings was reported to have been unimpressed by the response of the Cabinet Office to the coronavirus outbreak, telling aides a 'hard rain is coming' for the civil service. The senior adviser appeared bizarrely upbeat yesterday, smiling broadly as he arrived in Downing Street and jokingly punching the windows of a car.

Mr Cummings, pictured yesterday, was reported to have been unimpressed by the response of the Cabinet Office to the coronavirus outbreak

The PM sought to play down claims that Sir Mark's position had been undermined by a series of hostile press briefings.

He said there was 'an awful lot of stuff that comes out in the papers to which I wouldn't automatically attach the utmost credence'.

At a school in west London, Mr Johnson insisted Sir Mark, who will continue to be involved in the preparations for the UK taking on the presidency of the G7 next year, still had 'a lot to offer'.

Downing Street defended Mr Frost's appointment, pointing out that the United States picked political figures for similar roles. Government sources also pointed out that several former holders of the post have had backgrounds in diplomacy rather than security.

No 10 also stressed that the new cabinet secretary will be drawn from the ranks of current and former permanent secretaries  guaranteeing the top job goes to a mandarin rather than an outsider.

The PM dismissed reports that he planned to install a Brexiteer in the job, saying: 'Who knows what his or her views will be?

'The great thing about the civil service is that nobody should know, least of all me.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was 'obvious' the Prime Minister had been determined to get rid of Sir Mark.

'Why you do so in the middle of a pandemic and a crisis instead of actually focusing on the crisis, is a question the Prime Minister needs to answer,' he said.

Sir Mark is said to have informed fellow permanent secretaries of his decision to quit last week. Prince William's private secretary Simon Case, who is on secondment to No 10, is among the favourites.
Police have executed another search warrant at Chad Daybells Idaho home, three weeks after investigators discovered the remains of Lori Vallows two missing children at the property.

Rexburg Police officers were seen at Daybells home in Salem on Monday afternoon around 1.15pm, where Daybells son-in-law has been living with his family, according to East Idaho News.

Officers were seen entering the home and searching exterior buildings on the property including a shed and barn and entering the backyard with cameras.

The officers left around 2.50pm but did not disclose any details of their search or what they were looking for. Fremont County Sheriffs deputies were assisting Rexburg Police in Monday's search.

Rexburg Police officers executed a third search warrant at Chad Daybell's Salem, Idaho property on Monday afternoon. Investigators entered the home, were reportedly seen in the backyard with cameras and searched a shed and barn in the yard

Investigators arrived to the Salem home around 1.15 and left about an hour later

Mondays investigation marked the third known time Rexburg Police have searched Daybell's property and is likely linked to the discovery of the remains of wife Lori Vallow's missing children Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, eight, and Tylee Ryan, 17, earlier this month

The remains found at Daybell's property were later identified as Lori's missing children Joshua 'JJ' Vallow and Tylee Ryan, who were last seen in September

Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood declined to comment on the warrant.

Mondays investigation marked the third known time Rexburg Police have searched Daybell's property. Monday's search was on a much lower-scale than the warrant served at the same residence on June 9.

At that investigation scene earlier this month, dozens of officers flanked the home and surrounding roads were closed for two days as Daybells property was excavated and police chillingly discovered the remains of Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, eight, and Tylee Ryan, 17.

The return to search the home is likely related to the discovery of the children.

However, the Attorney Generals Office and Fremont County Sheriffs Office are still investigating the death of Chad Daybells wife Tammy Daybell, who mysteriously died at the Salem home in October.

Chad Daybell, 51, was arrested on June 9 and charged with two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. Lori Vallow Daybell, has been in jail for the last four months, charged with desertion of children and three misdemeanors. Both remain in jail on $1million bail

Daybell pictured placed in cuffs and arrested on June 9 following the grisly discover of the children's remains

In this aerial photo, investigators search for human remains at Chad Daybell's residence in the 200 block of 1900 East in Salem, Idaho on June 9

In this aerial photo, investigators search what appears to be a burn pit and dig near a patch of recently disturbed earth

The harrowing discovery ended the desperate search for the missing children after both kids had been missing for nine months, last seen in September 2019.

The last known sighting of 17-year-old Tylee was on September 8, when she visited Yellowstone National Park with her family. JJ, who would have turned eight last month, was last seen two weeks later on September 23.

Lori Vallow married Daybell less than two months after her kids vanished.

During the previous raid of Daybell's home on January 3, authorities removed 43 items from the home and combed over several sections of the yard with metal detectors and rakes.

On June 9 Chad Daybell was arrested and charged with two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence.

The childrens mother, Lori Vallow, has been in jail for the last four months, charged with desertion of children and three misdemeanors. Both remain in jail on $1million bail.

Daybells preliminary hearing is set for July 1 after he entered a not guilty plea on two felony counts of destruction of evidence. His wife also pleaded not guilty and her preliminary hearing is set for July 9.

Chad married Lori less than two months after her children vanished. The couple are seen during their wedding on the beach in Kauai

Tylee was last seen on September 8 when she visited Yellowstone National Park with her family (pictured). JJ was last seen two weeks later on September 23

She and Chad - the prolific Doomsday author, alleged cult leader and former grave digger - had repeatedly refused to say where the children were but insisted that they were safe.

Authorities began searching for the children in late November after performing a welfare check ordered by concerned relatives who said they hadn't spoken to seven-year-old JJ, who was autistic, in months.

When officers first went to Lori's home in Idaho on November 26, she told them that JJ was visiting relatives in Arizona.

Officers returned the following day and found that Lori and the man she married weeks earlier, Chad Daybell, had fled from the home.

Authorities say the couple have repeatedly lied about where JJ and Tylee are and refused to cooperate with the investigation.
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President Donald Trump's private calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin sometimes have the tone of 'two guys in a steam bath,' according a bombshell account that portrays Trump as bending over backward to win the strongman's approval.

Putin 'just outplays' Trump during their one-on-one interactions, according to a CNN report published Monday by legendary Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein. During those calls and others with foreign leaders, Trump regularly tries to tout his own wealth and success in conversations which his own aides regarded as 'delusional', according to the report.

At the same time, with Putin he routinely characterizes his predecessors as 'imbeciles' and weaklings.'

Trump also told Britain's then prime minister Theresa May she was 'weak' and called German leader Angela Merkel 'stupid' to her face in a series of 'demeaning' encounters with female leaders, the report claims.

President Donald Trump characterized his predecessors as 'imbeciles' and weaklings' during private calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a new report by Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein

Donald Trump's encounters with... THERESA MAY: Trump called her a 'fool' and would 'get nasty' on the phone, saying she was weak and lacked courage over Brexit and immigration ANGELA MERKEL: Trump branded her 'stupid' and used 'aggressive' phone calls to attack German policies in 'personally demeaning' fashion EMMANUEL MACRON: Trump delivered verbal 'whippings' as he tired of Macron's constant pleas to change his mind on Iran and climate change VLADIMIR PUTIN: Trump boasted of his wealth and intelligence and berated his predecessors Bush and Obama but was 'outplayed' by the Russian president RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN: Turkish leader would be fast-tracked through to Trump, who would be 'taken to the cleaners' because of his poor Middle East knowledge MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN: Trump would call the Saudi leader 'without anybody being prepared' and brag about his wealth and 'great' achievements as president KIM JONG UN: Another recipient of Trump's rants about his own qualities and the 'idiocy' of his predecessors Advertisement

The revelations about the calls are contained in a deeply sourced  though thinly quoted  account by legendary Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein.

The sources described how former Trump allies including John Bolton, James Mattis, John Kelly and Rex Tillerson became alarmed by Trump's calls and feared that the president was endangering national security.

The conversations with Putin are part of a web of Trump calls to the leaders of Australia, Turkey, Canada, Australia and western European countries during his presidency that officials who see call transcripts describe as 'abominations.'

In the case of Russia, one source voiced fears that Trump was squandering the 'advantage that was hard won in the Cold War' by craving Putin's approval.

Bernstein said that if the notes and transcripts of the calls were made public, even some of Trump's Republican allies in Congress would struggled to defend him.

Daniel Goldman, a House lawyer during the Trump impeachment inquiry, said officials had gone to the media with their concerns rather than through the 'proper channels' after Trump attacked the whistleblower who first drew attention to the Ukraine scandal.

'When you take away the proper route through vindictive retribution, you cannot then complain about leaks,' Goldman said.

Trump won office in 2016 despite media criticism of his repeated praise for Putin, even as Russia was revealed by U.S. intelligence to be orchestrating an election interference and hacking campaign.

In addition to repeatedly building up his own wealth, as he has done repeatedly in public, Trump would revel in his time running the Miss Universe pageant in Moscow, according to the account.

Trump had touted a meeting with Putin at the event, although it evidently never happened.

A source trashed the calls, saying that while Putin destabilizes the West, Trump 'sits there and thinks he can build himself up enough as a businessman and tough guy that Putin will respect him.'

The report came out Monday, days after the New York Times reported that Trump was briefed on intelligence that Moscow had paid a bounty to Taliban elements for killings of American soldiers.

The White House on Monday denied Trump was briefed about the reported program.

Trump was described as solicitous of Putin in the calls. Putin is known as a crafty former KGB operator who often holds back in televised encounters with counterparts.

Donald Trump told former UK prime minister Theresa May (pictured together on a presidential visit to London in 2019) that she was weak and lacked courage, it is claimed

Trump's 'demeaning' attacks on female leaders May and Merkel Donald Trump 'demeaned and denigrated' his female counterparts in 'near-sadistic' fashion, the report says. The president told former UK prime minister Theresa May that she was weak and lacked courage and would 'get nasty with her' on the phone, one of Bernstein's sources said. Trump is also said to have called her a 'fool' and said her approach to Brexit, NATO and immigration was 'spineless'. One source said Trump had deliberately 'intimidated' May who became 'flustered and nervous' in response. By contrast, German chancellor Angela Merkel remained calm in the face of Trump's aggression when they met at the White House in 2018 and 'countered his bluster' on the phone by reciting facts, the report says. Trump allegedly called Merkel 'stupid' to her face and his phone calls were described by German officials as 'very aggressive'. He also took a 'personally demeaning' tone with Merkel in a row over Germany's NATO payments. German sources said the calls were so extraordinary that special steps had been taken in Berlin to keep them secret. Advertisement

On one occasion, Trump's former aide Fiona Hill apparently tried to explain Putin's 'smooth-talking' approach and what the Russian president was trying to achieve.

However, the president preferred to listen to his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who were also listening to the call and offered more unqualified praise.

Trump would also allegedly boast about his own wealth, intelligence and achievements in office to leaders such as North Korea's Kim Jong-un and Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman.

Two sources said Trump seems 'delusional' on his foreign leader calls, which included frequent contact with Turkey's dictator Recep Tayyip Erdogan - who would allegedly be fast-tracked through to Trump when he called the White House.

White House aides even grew alarmed that Turkish security agents in Washington were following Trump's movements so that Erdogan would know when to call, the report says. On one occasion, he apparently reached Trump on the golf course.

In their conversations, Erdogan exploited Trump's lack of knowledge about the Middle East and 'took him to the cleaners', sources say.

But Trump would also rage at Erdogan over trade and the fate of a US pastor who was arrested in Turkey.

Trump would go after his U.S. predecessors in the calls with Erdogan and Putin, who have both used political power to crush dissent.

'They didn't know BS,' Trump said of nemesis Barack Obama and George W. Bush.

Trump's calls included frequent derisive comments directly to prominent female national leaders  including German Chancelor Angela Merkel, who has topped the Forbes list of the world's most powerful women.

'Some of the things he said to Angela Merkel are just unbelievable: he called her 'stupid,' and accused her of being in the pocket of the Russians,' according to a source.

German chancellor Angela Merkel remained calm in the face of Trump's aggression, sources said (they are pictured together at a G7 summit last year)

Erdogan's hotline to Trump Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan was fast-tracked through to Trump when he called the White House, it is claimed. Erdogan bypassed the usual protocols on Trump's orders - and even reached the president on the golf course. White House aides even feared that Turkish security agents in the US were observing Trump's schedule so that Erdogan would know when to call. In their conversations, Erdogan exploited Trump's lack of knowledge about the Middle East and 'took him to the cleaners', sources say. But Trump would also rage at Erdogan over trade and the fate of a US pastor who was arrested in Turkey. Advertisement

The president's aggressive calls with May and Merkel were 'near-sadistic,' according to a source for the story.

The calls with Merkel were deemed so unusual that German officials listening in Berlin kept their contents within a tight group.

'It's just a small circle of people who are involved and the reason, the main reason, is that they are indeed problematic,' a source told Bernstein.

Former chief of staff John Kelly has called the calls damaging to national security in private conversations, according to the report.

However, Merkel is said to have remained unruffled - replying to Trump's 'bluster' with a calm statement of facts.

Trump has repeatedly gone after Merkel publicly over a planned Nord Stream pipeline to pump gas from Russia to Germany.

Trump has also blasted Germany for failing to meet a 2 per cent NATO commitment on defense spending, which Trump calls 'dues.'

Earlier this month Trump announced that he was ordering a major reduction in U.S. troop strength in Germany, cutting the number of soldiers from around 34,000 to only 25,000.

Trump had regular calls with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured together at the White House in November last year)

Trump outmaneuvered by 'chess master' Putin Trump tries to make Vladimir Putin respect him by touting his own wealth and intelligence but is constantly 'outplayed' by the Russian leader, the report says. White House staff were left 'flabbergasted' by Trump's manner in phone calls with Putin in which he would constantly seek his counterpart's approval. One official compared Putin to a chess grandmaster and Trump to an occasional player of checkers. Aides said Trump was 'playing with something he doesn't understand' by giving Russia - seen as a declining power - a 'legitimacy they never had'. Trump's relationship with Putin has long been the subject of criticism, especially in 2018 when he contradicted his own intelligence agencies by accepting Putin's denials of election meddling. Advertisement

Trump's conversations with former British Prime Minister Theresa May were described as 'humiliating and bullying.'

Among other things, the president disparaged the PM over her 'spineless' approach to Brexit - the issue which dominated May's three-year premiership. He also said May was weak and lacked courage.

May's encounters with Trump would leave her flustered and intimidated, in contrast to the calm Merkel, the report says.

May was the first foreign leader to meet Trump after his inauguration in 2017, and the famous image of the two leaders holding hands at the White House appeared to signal a close relationship.

However, Trump became increasingly critical of May and Britain - rebuking her publicly in 2017 after she criticized him for retweeting the far-right group Britain First.

Shortly before May's resignation last year, Trump attacked her again for ignoring his advice on Brexit and going 'her own foolish way'. May had previously revealed that Trump advised her to sue the European Union.

Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was regularly 'bullied' and disparaged in a hostile and aggressive way during calls with Trump, along with Mr Macron and Mr Trudeau, according to the report.

Trump dished out verbal 'whippings' to Emmanuel Macron (pictured together in France last year) after becoming irritated at the French leader's constant calls, the report says

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was regularly 'bullied' and disparaged during calls with Trump, according to the report

Trump's verbal 'whippings' to Macron Trump dished out verbal 'whippings' to Emmanuel Macron after becoming irritated at the French leader's constant calls, the report says. Macron made repeated calls to Washington to try and persuade Trump to change his mind on key issues such as Iran. Sources say that Macron, who became French president four months into Trump's term, was the most prolific caller after Erdogan. But Macron would get 'nowhere' on the policy issues and instead face a lecture from Trump about NATO or immigration, aides said. Advertisement

Sources said calls with the Australian prime minister, as well as those with the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Australia and Canada, typically began with Trump establishing a grievance.

'With almost every problem, all it takes [in his phone calls] is someone asking him to do something as President on behalf of the United States and he doesn't see it that way, he goes to being ripped off,' a US official said.

A spokesman for Morrison denied the claims, saying: 'The Prime Minister has only ever had polite, respectful and positive calls with the President'.

Morrison was recently among the few world leaders to voice sympathy with Trump over his criticisms of the World Health Organization, although he stopped short of pulling funds from the WHO as Trump has done.

Sources said there are records of the calls taken by professional notetakers, along with voice-generated computer texts.

Detailed notes of Trump's call with the president of Ukraine became a prime feature of his impeachment.

Trump said the call was 'perfect,' but Democrats blasted him for trying to pressure a government to investigate his political rival.
David Hockneys vibrant landscape will grace the cover of Augusts themed edition, called Reset, which is all about the return to nature in the post-Covid world

With its rolling hills and golden wheat fields, it is an image more worthy of Country Life than a fashion bible.

But Vogue has opted for a radical new look this season  finding an equally lovely substitute for its typical starry cover girls.

David Hockneys vibrant landscape will grace the cover of Augusts themed edition, called Reset, which is all about the return to nature in the post-Covid world.

The piece, titled Wheat Field Near Fridaythorpe, was released as part of his celebrated collection of East Yorkshire landscapes in 2005.

For the issue, British Vogue editor Edward Enninful commissioned 14 special covers  this one by Hockney, as well as others by artists and photographers including David Bailey, Nadine Ijewere and Tim Walker.

British Vogues August Issue, Reset, is not only beautiful and poignant, but also highlights that at the core of everything is our planet, he said.

I very much hope 2020 signals a reset in our relationship to nature.

The issue is available digitally and on newsstands on July 3.
A new robot developed by MIT in the US is being used to kill coronavirus in a 4,000-square-foot warehouse using ultraviolet light (UV) light.

The autonomous machine uses a specific type of short-wavelength UV, known as UVC, to kill microorganisms and disrupt their DNA in a process known as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.

UVC is emitted from the bots four vertical beams as it nips around warehouse aisles, killing 90 per cent of coronavirus particles in 30 minutes.

Because UVC light is harmful to humans, the robot has to do its work alone and is sent to do its sanitising shift when human workers have clocked off.

The robot can map an entire industrial facility  in this case the Great Boston Food Bank (GBFB), a US non-profit that provides hunger relief.

Food banks face a particular demand due to the stress of Covid-19, which has killed more than half a million people worldwide.

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The wheeled robot uses short-wavelength ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms and disrupt their DNA in a process called 'ultraviolet germicidal irradiation'

The UN predicted the number of people facing severe food insecurity could double to reach 265 million because of coronavirus.

This means it is vital that hunger relief packages distributed in the US are free from the pathogen.

Food banks provide an essential service to our communities, so it is critical to help keep these operations running, said Alyssa Pierson, research scientist at MITs Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US.

Here, there was a unique opportunity to provide additional disinfecting power to their current workflow, and help reduce the risks of Covid-19 exposure.

MIT said surfaces are generous hosts for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, as well as other harmful pathogens.

Chemical cleaning products are effective, but using them to disinfect a wide area can take a lot of time and can put a human worker at risk of being infected.

They therefore turned to UVC, which is already being used to sanitise hospital equipment, and robotics technology so it can be operated without human workers.

The autonomous bot scoots around the warehouse with four vertical bars that emit UV light, which are mounted on a base from Massachusetts firm Ava Robotics.

During tests at the GBFB facility, the robot drove by pallets and storage aisles at a speed of around 0.22 miles per hour.

At this speed, the UV light neutralises at least 90 per cent of microorganisms on the various types of surfaces at the facility.

The system can disinfect GBFBs warehouse floor in half an hour, but it could also be employed in supermarkets, factories, restaurants and schools.

The robot is initially teleoperated by a remote user, who teaches the robots path around the warehouse, but it can subsequently operate autonomously.

It can go to defined waypoints on its map, such as the loading dock and the shipping floor, before returning to base.

These waypoints are defined by the human user in the initial teleoperated mode, who can add new waypoints to the map as needed.

Each day at the GBFB facility, workers pass through the aisles and gather products for up to 50 pick-ups by partners and distribution trucks the next day.

By focusing on the shipping area, it prioritises disinfecting items leaving the warehouse to reduce the virus from spreading out into the community with the relief packages.

While its most effective in the direct line of slight, the UVC rays can get to nooks and crannies as the light bounces off surfaces and onto other surfaces, and can also work against airborne pathogens.

The team at MIT are exploring how to use its on-board sensors to adapt to changes in the environment.

When the robot is deployed, it doesnt know which of the staging aisles will be occupied or how full each isle will be.

A Chinese company has unveiled a $40,000 (32,650) hospital robot, pictured, that uses a combination of UV light and liquid disinfectant spray to kill coronavirus pathogens

The robot will therefore need to be taught between occupied and unoccupied aisles so it can change its path accordingly.

MIT is also investigating the potential for several of these robots to work together in teams.

As we drive the robot around the food bank, we are also researching new control policies that will allow the robot to adapt to changes in the environment and ensure all areas receive the proper estimated dosage, said Pierson.

We are focused on remote operation to minimise human supervision, and, therefore, the additional risk of spreading Covid-19, while running our system.

Typically, the technique of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation is used in hospitals and medical settings to sterilise patient rooms when theyre not in use.

In this setting, its particularly directed at microorganisms such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which can cause serious infections, like blood poisoning and toxic shock syndrome, and Clostridium difficile, a bacteria that can infect the bowel and cause diarrhoea.

The US military is set to use 'corona-killing robots' equip with ultraviolet light (UV) to disinfect enclosed spaces. The four-wheeled autonomous robots would eliminate the need of human workers and complete the task in a matter of hours, instead of days. The technology is capable of radiating nearly 110 watts using a vertical UV mount that disinfects a surface two feet away in just over a minute

The US military is also using UV light against the coronavirus, distributed by four-wheeled autonomous robots.

The bots are capable of radiating nearly 110 watts using a vertical UV mount that disinfects a surface two feet away in just over a minute.

China-based Keenon Robotics Company is also offering a $40,000 (32,650) hospital robot that uses a combination of UV light and liquid disinfectant spray to kill the virus.

The fully-automated robot is armed with four groups of short-wave ultraviolet germ-killing lamps and five atomising disinfectant liquid spraying nozzles on its top.

Standing at 4.4 feet (1.4 metres) tall, the droid can carry 1500 millilitres of disinfectant liquid and takes six hours to fully charge.

A research paper published in Scientific Reports details a specific type of short-wavelength ultraviolet light called far-UVC, which efficiently inactivates bacteria without harm to exposed human skin.

Handheld UV light devices that can kill Covid-19 may soon be as common as mobile phones, scientists claim. Pictured, a UV light sterilisation tool (stock image)

What is the difference between UVC and far-UVC light? Ultraviolet C (UVC) is a subtype of ultraviolet light, separated from UVA and UVB based on its wavelength. It is short-wave, germicidal, meaning it inhibits microorganisms, and is completely absorbed by the ozone layer and atmosphere. Conventional UVC light sources are both carcinogenic and cataractogenic, however. By contrast, far-UVC light (207222 nm) efficiently inactivates bacteria without harm to exposed mammalian skin. Far UVC is simply a short wavelength part of the ultraviolet spectrum. Advertisement

'A direct approach to prevent airborne transmission is inactivation of airborne pathogens, and the airborne antimicrobial potential of UVC ultraviolet light has long been established,' the authors say.

'However, its widespread use in public settings is limited because conventional UVC light sources are both carcinogenic and cataractogenic.

'By contrast, we have previously shown that far-UVC light (207222 nm) efficiently inactivates bacteria without harm to exposed mammalian skin.'

One of the study's authors, Professor David J. Brenner, Director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University, has previously given a TED talk on the potential of far-UVC.

'Far-UVC light has a very limited range and cannot penetrate through the outer dead-cell layer of human skin or the tear layer in the eye, so its not a human health hazard,' he said.

Handheld UV light devices that can kill Covid-19 may soon be as commonplace as mobile phones, researchers at Penn State University in the US claim.

The Penn State team, in collaboration with experts from the University of Minnesota, looked at a newly discovered material called strontium niobate.

After obtaining some samples of strontium niobate from Japan, the research team tested the material as a UV transparent conductor and found it had 'excellent performance', publishing their findings last year in Physics Communications.
Pandemics could become more likely as the destruction of natural ecosystems removes the barriers between humans and wildlife, a study has shown.

More than six out of ten infectious diseases come from animals, including tuberculosis from cows, influenza from pigs and chickens, and HIV from chimpanzees.

And now scientists have argued that deforestation, land use change and agricultural intensification, among other factors, are all raising the risks of more deadly diseases finding their way into humans.

Covid-19, which has caused a near-global lockdown and changed the way of life across the planet, arrived in humans after it was transferred from bats via an intermediary animal.

Previous studies have identified bats as the origin of Ebola, Nipah virus, types of rabies, and various other diseases.

Above is a model showing that as ecosystem services decline due to increased degradation, the risk of a pandemic emerging among humans is dramatically increased

'Ecosystems naturally restrain the transfer of diseases from animals to humans, but this service declines as ecosystems become degraded,' said lead author Dr Mark Everard, from the University of West England.

'At the same time, ecosystem degradation undermines water security, limiting availability of adequate water for good hygiene, sanitation and disease treatment.

'Disease risk cannot be dissociated from ecosystem conservation and natural resource security.'

The study, published in the journal Environmental Science and Policy, also argues that environmental destruction 'undermines' the availability of natural resources, meaning there may not be enough water available for disease-limiting activities such as washing hands.

'Zoonotic disease risks are ultimately interlinked with biodiversity crises and water insecurity,' they write.

Pictured above is a map of the framework the scientists used to identify links between humans and the environments, and analyse the risk of another pandemic

The study established the importance of preserving ecosystems to prevent a pandemic by using a complex framework, favoured by the United Nations and US Environmental Protection Agency, to analyse the risk from 'zoonotic' - or animal origin - diseases.

This took into account human activities that stress the environment, changing conditions of natural habitats, and the effects of environmental degradation on ecosystems and their services.

They used the framework to look at links between humans and the environment, revealing the heightened risk from environmental degradation, and responses that could help humans avoid another pandemic.

The scientists, which included a team from Greenpeace, also predicted that as lockdown measures are lifted destruction of ecosystems will accelerate due to short-term market forces, raising the risks of a new pandemic.

Dr David Santillo, from the Greenpeace research laboratories in Exeter and who also authored the study, called for action to stop ecosystem destruction.

'The speed and scale with which radical actions have been taken in so many countries to limit the health and financial risks from Covid-19 demonstrate that radical systemic change would also be possibly in order to deal with other global existential threats, such as climate emergency and collapse of biodiversity,' he said.

Previous studies have found virus transmission risk if highest from animal species that have increased in abundance and/or expanded in range by adapting to human-dominated landscapes.

Domesticated animals, primates and bats, were identified as those carrying the greatest risk of transferring a new disease into humans, potentially triggering a new pandemic.
Scientists have created a glove that translates sign language into speech in a matter of seconds through a smartphone app.

The hi-tech glove sends electronic signals generated from different movements of the fingers to a circuit board, which are then transmitted wirelessly to the phone.

The app translates letters from movements on one hand, as per the American Sign Language (ASL) standard, into phrases, which are uttered by an automated voice.

The patented technology aims to reduce the language barrier between people with hearing or speech impediments and those who dont understand sign language.

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The device is inexpensive, flexible and highly durable, according to the team of bioengineers at University of California, LA. It is capable of reading the individual letters of the ASL alphabet, as well as single hand signals that relate to specific phrases - such as the hand symbol for I love you'

Components used to make the device are cheap, flexible and highly durable, according to the team of engineers in the US, who plan to commercialise the technology if they can speed up the translation time even further.

The technology relays spoken words at the rate of about a one word per second, but an even faster system could come close to replicating the speed of everyday verbal conversations, and ultimately overcome the language barrier.

Our hope is that this opens up an easy way for people who use sign language to communicate directly with non-signers without needing someone else to translate for them, said Professor Jun Chen at University of California, Los Angeles.

In addition, we hope it can help more people learn sign language themselves.

The system includes a pair of gloves with thin, stretchable sensors that run the length of each of four fingers and thumb.

The sensors, made from electrically-conducting lines of thread, record hand motions and finger placements that stand for individual letters, numbers, words and phrases.

It is capable of reading the individual letters of the ASL alphabet, as well as single hand signals that relate to specific phrases  such as the hand symbol for I love you, consisting of the thumb, forefinger and little finger raised.

The system includes gloves with thin, stretchable sensors that run the length of each of the five fingers to a coin-sized chip

ASL differs from the British Sign Language (BSL) system  most notably the former uses one hand instead of two.

The device then turns the finger movements into electrical signals, which are sent to a coin-sized circuit board on the glove, positioned just above the wrist.

The board transmits those signals wirelessly to a smartphone that translates them into spoken words at a rate of about a one word per second.

The UCLA researchers had worked with four deaf ASL users to effectively train the glove and its accompanying app.

The wearers repeated each hand gesture 15 times and a custom machine-learning algorithm turned these gestures into the letters, numbers and words they represented.

In total the system learned to recognise 660 signs, including each letter of the alphabet and numbers 0 to 9.

A digital rendering of the system that helps convert sign language into speech. UCLA has filed for a patent on the technology

The researchers also stuck adhesive sensors to testers' faces  one in between their eyebrows and another on one side of their mouths  to capture facial expressions, which are a key part of ASL and altering meanings of hand signs.

Previous wearable alternatives were limited by bulky and heavy designs or were uncomfortable to wear, Dr Chen said.

But the new device is made from light but long-lasting, stretchable and inexpensive polymers attached to a glove.

UCLA has filed for a patent on the technology, although a commercial model based would require added vocabulary and an even faster translation time.

The team would also have to adjust the algorithm and the app to be able to work for BSL and be used on both hands.
An online tool that can identify potential future coronavirus 'hotspots' could help to support NHS test and trace efforts, researchers have said.

The system works by highlighting at-risk regions based on their numbers of vulnerable people and available hospital resources to handle outbreaks.

The tool from Oxford Universitys Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science considers data on population age, density, ethnicity and social deprivation.

Experts said the dashboard will allow policymakers to best target resources at a local level while adjusting for changing infection rates and hospital resource levels.

An online tool that can identify potential future coronavirus 'hotspots' (pictured) could help to support NHS test and trace efforts, researchers have said

'Thinking not only regionally but at much smaller scale at the neighbourhood level will be the most effective approach to stifle and contain outbreaks,' said paper author and Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science director Melinda Mills.

This is needed, she added, 'particularly when a lack of track and trace is in place.'

Demonstrating its potential, the researchers used the tool to show that the town of Harrow, London, was one local area with an exceptionally high age-related risk of hospital admissions due to COVID-19.

The Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow was also the first to declare a so-called 'critical incident' after experiencing a surge in coronavirus patients.

'By using our online tool, policymakers would immediately have identified Harrow as a potential hotspot of hospital demand,' said paper author and sociologist Mark Verhagen, also of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science.

'Ensuring that local decision-makers have this type of fine-grained information available was a key goal of this study.'

As countries across the globe exit strict lockdown and enter the 'new normal' of co-existence with COVID-19, monitoring new infection hotspots will be crucial, the researchers explained.

'We identify potential health care pressure points in England and Wales where expected hospitalisation rates are disproportionately high and the per capita availability of hospital beds is relatively low,' the team wrote in their paper.

'We urgently need to consider how emerging socio-demographic risks, such as social deprivation, ethnicity and population density, structure spatial differences in COVID-19 severity and health care demand.'

As part of their study, the researchers produced online maps to help identify the most at-risk areas for coronavirus in both England and Wales.

These suggest that areas such as the Isle of Wight and Lincolnshire have some of the highest risk factors  as they not only have older-skewed populations but also higher levels of social deprivation.

Demonstrating its potential, the researchers used the tool to show that the town of Harrow, London, was one local area with an exceptionally high age-related risk of hospital admissions due to COVID-19. The Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, pictured, was also the first to declare a so-called 'critical incident' after experiencing a surge in coronavirus patients

The researchers have also estimated specific pressure points where demand for health services against COVID-19 is likely to outstrip the baseline local supply.

These areas of concern include both rural areas in Wales as well as the north-east and south-west of England  where expected hospitalisation rates are high, bed capacity is relatively low and alternative hospital services are harder to reach.

Meanwhile, London and other inner-city areas  including in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester  are highlighted as areas with both deprivation and a high population density, so are at potentially higher risk levels for additional outbreaks.

Although population-based hospitalisation risk tends to be lower in urban centres, some localities in cities may have higher levels of social deprivation and population density, which could counterbalance their relatively low age-related risks.

The full findings of the study were published in the journal BMC Medicine.
The South Pole is warming from climate change three times faster than the rest of the world despite being the most remote location on the planet, a study shows.

Record-breaking high temperatures at the southernmost point on Earth are being fuelled by increases in greenhouse gases and natural weather shifts in the tropics.

This 'double whammy' of impacts explains why Antarctica is bearing the brunt of climate change, according to researchers from Victoria University, New Zealand.

Study authors examined weather station data, observations and climate models to better understand why the rate of temperature increase is going up so much.

Corresponding author Dr Kyle Clem said the temperature increases were unlikely the result of natural climate change alone, but that other factors had to be considered.

Record breaking high temperatures at the southernmost point on Earth are being fuelled by increases in greenhouse gases and natural weather shifts in the tropics

'The effects have likely worked in tandem to make this one of the strongest warming trends on Earth,' said Dr Clem, study author and a Victoria University researcher.

In February, temperatures on the southern continent hit 18.3C (64.94F) at an Argentinian research base on the northern most tip of the continent.

This beat out a previous record of 17.5C (63.5F) set in the same place five years ago.

'The South Pole has warmed at over three times the global rate since 1989,' Dr Clem said.

The average rise of 0.61C (1.098F) per decade was mainly driven by natural tropical climate variability - and was likely intensified by the burning of fossil fuels, he said.

This resulted in ocean temperatures increasing in the western tropical Pacific, which in turn lowered the atmospheric pressure over Antarctica's Weddell Sea and increased the delivery of warm air to the continent, according to the study published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

'These changes along the coast are an important mechanism driving extreme multi-decadal climate anomalies in its interior,' Dr Clem said.

'They must be considered to accurately assess and attribute large or abrupt changes over the data-sparse Antarctic interior.'

This includes future climate model simulations and interpreting past change detected in ice cores and other indicators.

The Antarctic exhibits some of the largest ranges in temperature over the course of a year - with strong regional contrasts, the team found.

'Most of West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula experienced warming and ice-sheet thinning during the late twentieth century,' Clem explained.

'By contrast, the South Pole - located in the remote and high-altitude continental interior - cooled until the 1980s, but has since warmed substantially.

'These trends are affected by natural and anthropogenic climate change - but the individual contribution of each factor is not well understood.'

They appear to be caused by increasing tropical western Pacific temperatures - and regional changes in winds induced by a warming planet.

Dr Sharon Stammerjohn and Dr Ted Scambos, environmental scientists at Colorado University who were not involved in the study, said the take-home message is 'no place is immune to climate change.'

'Warming at the South Pole is significant, but its mean temperature is still far below freezing,' the pair said.

Corresponding author Dr Kyle Clem the temperature increases were unlikely the result of natural climate change alone, but that other factors had to be considered. Stock image

'This is not the case for the coastlines of Antarctica, nor for its 'weak underbelly', the marine-grounded West Antarctic Ice Sheet.'

The effects of climate change have long made their mark in Antarctica - with more than 90 per cent of the Peninsula's glaciers in retreat and West Antarctica losing ice at alarming rates, the study authors explained.

'Without a doubt, these are unprecedented times, both for the health of our planet and for its inhabitants,' said Dr Stammerjohn and Dr Scambos.

'Unless we take measures to flatten the curve on global carbon emissions, Antarctica's contribution to a warmer world and sea-level rise could potentially be catastrophic given the strong feedbacks and tipping points in polar systems.

'The collateral damage will not just be accelerated warming and disappearing coastlines, but everything we value that sustains us.'

They said that coronavirus lockdown measures has shown us that it is possible to live more sustainably as a society and as individuals.

'Sheltering in place has given our planet a significant break in carbon emissions. We can make a difference, and we need to make a difference,' the team wrote.

Even a small sea level rise could throw coastal communities into chaos.

Less than three feet of sea level rise could threaten low-lying islands and atolls - and leave Venice completely submerged.

The findings have been published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
The notorious Russian hacking group Evil Corp has breached 31 major American corporations with a new ransomware attack targeting employees working from home.

The cybersecurity firm Symantec first announced the breach and attributed it to a sophisticated new ransomware called WastedLocker.

The company has declined to disclose the identities of the targeted companies, but they include eight Fortune 500 companies and one major news publication.

Russian hacking group Evil Corp has launched a new wave of ransomware attacks that has affected at least 31 major American corporations, including eight Fortune 500 companies

'[T]hese hackers have a decade of experience and they arent wasting time with small, two-bit outfits,' Symantec's Eric Chien told the New York Times.

'They are going after the biggest American firms, and only American firms.'

According to Symantec, the ransomware is first downloaded on a worker's computer after clicking a malicious software update window.

Once installed on the person's computer, the ransomware begins unlocking permissions on the remote corporate network the person is connected to, with the goal of eventually locking the entire company out of its own systems to extract a ransom payment.

According to Symantec, the software update window that initiates the entire process has come from from any one of 150 legitimate websites whose security Evil Corp has breached.

Called WastedLocker, the ransomware attack appears to be targeting only people working from home who are connected to their employer's corporate networks through VPN, and appears as a software update window launched from one of 150 legitimate websites

WHAT IS RANSOMWARE? Cybercriminals use 'blockers' to stop their victim accessing their device. This may include a mesage telling them this is due to 'illegal content' such as porn being identified on their device. Anyone who has accessed porn online is probably less likely to take the matter up with law enforcement. Hackers then ask for money to be paid, often in the form of Bitcoins or other untraceable cryptocurrencies, for the block to be removed. In May 2017, a massive ransomware virus attack called WannaCry spread to the computer systems of hundreds of private companies and public organisations across the globe. Advertisement

While surfing through one of these websites, the software update window will appear and if clicked it will secretly redirect to a separate web host containing the ransomware.

Analysis of the files so far discovered through Symantec's research suggests that Evil Corp is only targeting only users who have connections to a virtual private network, or VPN, a common way for remote workers to access corporate systems.

According to Chien, WastedLocker is part of a major expansion in hacking attempts focused specifically at major American business and government services in recent months.

'Security firms have been accused of crying wolf, but what we have seen in the past few weeks is remarkable,' Chien said.

'Right now this is all about making money, but the infrastructure they are deploying could be used to wipe out a lot of data  and not just at corporations.'

In the past Evil Corp has been connected to a wide range of ransomware attacks, including a 2019 fraud scheme that saw the group collect more than $100million from banks in 40 different countries.

Two of Evil Corps' members have open indictments against them in the US, and the US State Department has a standing offer of $5million for information that could lead to the arrest of Evil Corps' leadership.
Twitter's efforts to crack down on tweets containing 5G conspiracies are having some unintended consequences.

According to the platform, it will tweak how it flags those conspiracies after mistakenly labeling innocent tweets containing 5G buzzwords.

'In the last few weeks, you may have seen Tweets with labels linking to additional info about COVID-19,' said Twitter's

'Not all of those Tweets had potentially misleading content associating COVID-19 and 5G

In the last few weeks, you may have seen Tweets with labels linking to additional info about COVID-19. Not all of those Tweets had potentially misleading content associating COVID-19 and 5G. We apologize for any confusion and we're working to improve our labeling process. (1/4)  Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) June 26, 2020

Twitter will re-examine how it flags tweets falsely claiming that 5G causes COVID-19 after mislabeling posts that contain specific keywords (stock)

As reported by The Week, tweets with words like 'oxygen' and 'frequency' appear to be among the keywords getting some benign tweets banned.

Those words may have potentially been identified as keywords by Twitter since, as The Verge notes, conspiracies allege that a frequency created by 5G 'suck oxygen from atmosphere.'

As a result of the misidentifications, Twitter says that it's, 'building new automated capabilities to apply these labels to Tweets we think could be relevant.'

It has not said when that change will be officially introduced.

Twitter recently began labeling some tweets promoting 5G conspiracy theories by plastering them with a message that reads 'get the facts on COVID-19' which directs users to a fact-checking page titled, 'No 5G isnt causing coronavirus.'

The page debunks the myths, linking to official sources and credible reports in the media.

'Were prioritising the removal of COVID-19 content when it has a call to action that could potentially cause harm,' a spokesperson told CNBC last month.

'As weve said previously, we will not take enforcement action on every Tweet that contains incomplete or disputed information about COVID-19.'

Twitter's decision to label the content is part of a broader push by social platforms to stamp out conspiracy theories and misinformation regarding coronavirus.

Despite the efforts, some hoaxes, including baseless theories that 5G causes coronavirus, have managed to spread, sometimes with real-life consequences.

Pictured: Charred remains of a Vodafone 4G communications mast in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull after conspiracy theorists confused it with a 5G mast

In May, dozens of incidents were reported in Europe, and Australia where vandals damaged cellular antennas and made threats to telecom workers over unfounded fears that the coronavirus was being spread through 5G technology.

Likewise, telecom firms were warned after dozens of arson attacks on 5G towers were reported in the United Kingdom, Holland, and Belgium in April.

While Twitter had previously announced that it would take action against conspiracy theories attempting to link 5G and coronavirus, the appearance of labels is the first evidence of what the platforms exact course of action will be.

In some cases, the platform has opted to remove content entirely as opposed to veiling it behind a fact-checking message.

In late April, the company said it had already removed 2,230 tweets 'containing misleading and potentially harmful content' since updating its policies on March 18.
Construction workers uncovered a gruesome scene while servicing a road in Poland  a large graveyard containing the remains of 115 individuals, some of which had coins in their mouths.

The cemetery was discovered in a forest that was being removed for the country's S19 motorway, which part of a road project that stretches from Greece to Lithuania.

The burial ground dates back to late 16th century and at least 70 percent of the skeletons belonged to children.

The coins are part of a pre-Christian belief and were placed in the mouth of the dead to be used as payment for the ferryman to bring the soul across the river that divided the world of the living and the dead.

Construction workers uncovered a gruesome scene while servicing a road in Poland  a large graveyard containing the remains of 115 individuals, some of which had coins in their mouths

The remains were first unearthed at a site in Jezowe near the town of Nisko in the Podkarpackie province.

Altogether there are 115 skeletons and the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways told The First News: 'Based on archaeological observations to date, we can conclude that about 70-80 percent of all burials are children.'

The discovery lines up with both written accounts and legends of a cemetery dating back to the late 16th century.

However, this was not a mass grave where bodies were tossed into a pit, these skeletons were carefully buried.

The coins are part of a pre-Christian belief and were placed in the mouth of the dead to be used as payment for the ferryman to bring the soul across the river that divided the world of the living and the dead

All had their backs on the ground and hands positioned at their sides  and archaeologists were surprised to see some still had coins in their mouths.

Arkadia archaeologist Katarzyna Oleszek told The First News: 'It's certainly a sign of their beliefs.'

'The coins are called obols of the dead or Charon's obol. It is an old, pre-Christian tradition. But it's been cultivated for a long time, even as late as the 19th century, it was practiced by Pope Pius IX.'

The coins allow archaeologists to estimate a true time of when the bodies were buried, as they have been found during different rulings in Poland  the latest was when John II Casimir Vasa was in power from 1648 to 1668.

The burial ground dates back to late 16th century and at least 70 percent of the skeletons belonged to children

The discovery lines up with both written accounts and legends of a cemetery dating back to the late 16th century

The remains were first unearthed at a site in Jezowe near the town of Nisko in the Podkarpackie province

Another interesting find in the graveyard, was the discovery of four children laid side-by-side.

Their heads were placed in a side position, with their legs and arms meeting together.

'The arrangement of the skeletons, the state of their preservation, shows that the discovery is a Catholic church cemetery, which was certainly taken care of. No grave is damaged by another,' said Oleszek.

The team also believes that since this area holds the remains of children, their parents may be laid to rest in a nearby location

All had their backs on the ground and hands positioned at their sides  and archaeologists were surprised to see some still had coins in their mouths

The inhabitants knew exactly where they had graves and took care of them.'

The coins were the only items found among the skeletons, which makes researchers suggest that the burial site was used by poor individuals in the area.

The team also believes that since this area holds the remains of children, their parents may be laid to rest in a nearby location.
A Japanese technology company has developed a new Bluetooth-powered smart mask that uses a speaker to amplify a person's voice.

Called 'c-mask,' the device can also covert a person's speech into text and then translate it into eight different languages through a smartphone app.

The mask was developed by Donut Robotics, which initially raised seven million yen, or around $260,000, to fund its development through the Japanese crowdfunding site Fundinno.

Donut Robotics has developed a new smart mask to protect against COVID-19 transmission, which also contains a built-in speaker to amplify a person's voice and connects to a smartphone app that can translate speech into eight languages

According to Donut, around 5,000 masks are currently planned to be produced and distributed in Japan this September, where they'll retail for 3,980 yen, or around $37.

The company will also charge an additional monthly subscription fee to access translation services, according to a report in Japan Today - though the exact pricing hasn't been announced.

The supported languages include English, Chinese, Spanish, French, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and Indonesian.

Users will also be able to use the mask's built-in microphone to create recordings of business meetings that will then be stored on the connected smartphone.

The mask was designed as a shell that's meant to slide over any standard commercial mask used to protect against COVID-19 transmission, with the straps running through two small slits on either side.

The mask was based, in part, on one of the company's earlier projects, a desktop helper robot called 'Cinnamon' that's used at reception desks and customer service stands to help answer basic questions.

Called 'c-mask,' the device is a shell that can be slid into any traditional face mask. 5,000 masks will be sent to Japanese buyers in September and will retail for around $37, or 3,980 yen

The mask will convert the wearer's speech into text and then translate it into French, Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Indonesian, Korean, English, or Japanese through a smartphone app

Donut Robotics says it has also received strong interest in the 'c-mask' from buyers in the US, Europe, and China

'We worked hard for years to develop a robot and we have used that technology to create a product that responds to how the coronavirus has reshaped society,' Donut Robotics' Taisuke Ono said.

Donut ultimately hopes it will be able to release the mask outside of Japan, and says it has received strong interest from buyers in the US, Europe, and China.

The c-mask could evolve to support other functions as well, including some augmented reality features, which Donut says will be possible to implement using a built-in Wifi receiver.

However, the company hasn't described just how AR features would be integrated into the mask.
Steve Bruce admitted the chasm between the top and bottom of the Premier League has never been greater after Newcastles elimination from the FA Cup.

Newcastle were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City in last nights quarter-final at St James Park, with Pep Guardiolas side registering 76 per cent possession on a damp occasion.

City go on to face Arsenal in next months semi-final at Wembley and Bruce believes it is becoming increasingly difficult for any team outside the elite to challenge.

Steve Bruce says Newcastle's cup loss to Man City shows the wide gap between the two teams

Goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling (middle) have City a 2-0 win on Sunday

Theres becoming a bigger gap between the top and bottom of the Premier League and that gap is growing, the Newcastle manager said.

If you look at the FA Cup over the last 20 years, most of the big clubs go onto win. We werent quite good enough.

Its bad enough playing Manchester City anyway. But theres no doubt its even harder without 52,000 mad Geordies shouting their heads off to give us some encouragement. Theres no question that we wanted and needed that.

Bruce says the challenge to beat City was made harder by the match being in an empty ground

It wasnt to be, and when youre playing against these teams, you really need your crowd to give you a lift.

'Were unique here, and it would have been a marvellous occasion.

Bruce also called on the Premier League to provide clarity over the prospective takeover of the club.

Im led to believe it is the Premier League that is stalling all of these negotiations, he added.

If that is the case, they need to come and make a decision sooner rather than later. Its not healthy for anybody.

Pep Guardiola (left) wants to use the FA Cup to prepare for City's Champions League quest

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola wants the FA Cup to act as preparation for the Champions Leagues resumption in August.

It will be good to arrive in Madrid in the best physical conditions to play these kind of games, he said.

We have a semi-final against Arsenal and want the final. That will be the best preparation  to win the trophy and to prepare for Real Madrid.
From colourful bars to electrifying stories and personalised books, Neil Simpson reveals how to explore the world from home.

Historian Bettany Hughes finds some unlikely links between Europe and Britains grandest country houses in a series of ten National Trust podcasts.

A favourite from Europe And Us is the story of fairy-tale chateau Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, where Queen Victoria was fascinated by new electric light switches in 1890.

Switched on: Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, which intrigued Queen Victoria

Exactly 100 years later, the buildings French style helped win over Francois Mitterrand during a summit with Margaret Thatcher.

What does the most colourful bar in Athens have in common with the tastiest treat in Vienna? And what do the truffles of France share with the finest olive oils of Croatia?

Theyre among dozens of hidden gems and culinary secrets normally unveiled by tour guides with Viking River Cruises. But while its cruises are on hold, you can now follow its experts from home in a series of bite-sized Local Life documentaries on Viking.tv.

Brettos bar in Athens, famed for its colourful bottles

In Greece they take us to Brettos, the ouzo bar where colourful bottles have shone from high shelves for more than 100 years.

In Vienna its the story of the rich chocolate sachertorte and the creamy pastries of the neo-baroque cafe Demel.

Add mini-travelogues about France, Croatia and more to the mix and its easy to spend hours exploring the world with Viking guides and expert guests.

Parents wanting to keep their childrens love of travel alive can do so with a personalised My Search And Find World Trip book from Librio.com. Your childs name is on the cover and the main character resembles them.

They then have to search for objects hidden among pictures ranging from the Great Barrier Reef and the canals of Venice to the frozen landscapes of Greenland.

Few of us are lucky enough to fly in a first-class cabin, but it is possible to bring some perks home. Take a look at the pillows, duvets and sheets on the website of British brand The White Company  theyre used on new flat beds recently installed by British Airways.

Finally, for a short burst of optimism and fun, search SAS crew 2020 on YouTube for the We Will Fly Again video from the Scandinavian airline. Follow the subtitles as crew dance through their airport  theres no better love song to the joy of travel.
The Holiday Guru is always on hand to fix your travel conundrums.

This week, the topics tackled are - claiming a refund for a cancelled easyJet flight to Dubrovnik, rebooking and cancelling Ryanair flights, flying with Norwegian Air to the U.S and travelling to Canada for Christmas.

Q. I have had a return easyJet flight to Dubrovnik cancelled. The airline has refused to refund my money even though I know friends have had refunds. Can you help?

Susan Nash, via email.

One reader asks if 280 is excessive for changing Ryanair flights

A. European Union Regulation 261/2004 entitles you to a full refund within seven days. It appears there has been a mix-up as you filled out a form that requests compensation for the cancellation rather than merely a refund.

As the troubles were beyond easyJets control, no compensation is due. Go to easyJets Covid-19 Help Hub at easyjet.com and click on the Refund Request Form page. Then complete the form. This should work.

Q. I booked a holiday in Tenerife on July 8, with a Ryanair flight that is now going ahead. I have an underlying heart condition and am worried about travelling. Can I cancel and get my money back?

Raymond, via email.

A. Sadly, no. Airlines regard such health worries as a disinclination to travel. If the flight had been cancelled due to this years troubles, you would have been due a refund in seven days.

Q. My wife and I are both in our 70s. We booked a package holiday to Malta with Mercury Holidays for September 6, paying a 498 deposit. The balance of 917 is due shortly, but we are concerned about travelling due to coronavirus. Mercury has agreed to postpone the travel date until next year, but Ryanair is levying a fee of 280 to change the flights. Isnt this excessive?

David, via email.

A. Ryanair's standard flight change charge is 35 per passenger; as explained in its Help Centre online at ryanair.com. So it is charging 105 extra per passenger for the change, which the airline reserves the right to do when fares increase. Its lowest fares for flights to Malta are from about 50 return but, in September 2021, they are as much as 190 return. Although 280 sounds a lot, it does not sound excessive in this instance.

Q. I read Norwegian Air will not fly again until 2021, but I cant contact it for a refund on my Boston flight on September 29. What can I do?

David Gardner, via email.

One reader asks how to get a refund for a flight to Boston, pictured, with Norwegian Air

A. Reports that Norwegian Air is not flying until April 2021 are incorrect  based on the airlines statement that it aims to be financially robust enough to weather a travel shutdown until then. It intends to resume short-haul flights this summer and long-haul after that. If your flight is cancelled, you will be informed four weeks before departure and reimbursed.

Q. Do you know when flights will resume to Toronto? I would like to spend Christmas with family there, instead of being alone.

Susan Wragg, via email.

A. There is now a 14-day quarantine in Canada and flights are only being offered for essential travel. Restrictions are being reviewed periodically, but there is little sign of imminent change.

WERE HERE TO HELP

If you need advice, the Holiday Guru is here to answer your questions. Please send them to holidayplanner@dailymail.co.uk  and include your contact details.
Myleene Klass has said that she is being 'really respectful' to her friend Kate Garraway after standing in for her on Smooth Radio.

The presenter, 42, has temporarily taken over the GMB star's 10am to 1pm slot, amid her husband Derek Draper's 13-week coronavirus battle.

Kate, 53, has stepped back from all platforms in recent weeks, as her husband Derek, 52, remains critically ill in intensive care with 'extraordinary damage' caused by COVID-19.

Respectful: Myleene Klass has said that she is being 'really respectful' to her friend Kate Garraway after standing in for her on Smooth Radio

Talking about her friend and the radio show, Myleene told MailOnline: 'I go to radio everyday and I'm very aware that I sit in Kate's chair. I have to be really respectful.'

She added: 'It's Kate Garraway. I'm looking after her show and I know how poorly her husband is.'

Myleene added that she is very mindful of other people's situations during lockdown.

She said: 'I just think I feel really fortunate that I have got the opportunity to be able to sit and do that job knowing there's so many other people out there doing far greater or more important jobs than I am.

Heartbreaking: The presenter, 42, has temporarily taken over the GMB star's 10am to 1pm slot, amid her husband Derek Draper's 13-week coronavirus battle (pictured in 2019)

'You feel very fortunate and lucky that you can do your part.'

Myleene revealed that a listener wrote in to tell her that she hasn't seen or spoken to anyone in ten weeks, with her voice the only one she hears.

She said: 'That really choked me. A lot of people think, "What are you doing, what does that job entail?" Really, when you break it down, some people are solely reliant on you giving information. You give people soul food, which is just as important.'

Earlier this month, Myleene shared a sweet throwback video of Kate and Derek dancing together to Elvis Presley's Suspicious Minds.

Stepping back: Kate, 53, has stepped back from all platforms in recent weeks, as her husband Derek, 52, remains critically ill in intensive care with 'extraordinary damage' caused by COVID-19 (pictured together in 2006)

It was posted hours after Kate gave an emotional update on his COVID-19 battle, she said she 'doesn't know' if Derek can recover from the 'extraordinary damage' COVID-19 has inflicted on his body.

Myleene captioned the video: 'Your interview had me in tears. You are being so incredibly brave.

'Till we do this again, you and Derek burning up the dance floor...me and Sim lining up the drinks.'

Myleene also posted a fun selfie of herself with Kate, which she captioned: 'Keeping your seat warm @smoothradio. Love, love and more love to you.'

Friend: Talking about her friend and the radio show, Myleene told MailOnline: 'I go to radio everyday and I'm very aware that I sit in Kate's chair. I have to be really respectful.' (pictured outside the radio studios earlier this month)

During a TV interview earlier this month, Kate broke down in tears as she revealed critically-ill husband Derek thanked her for 'saving his life' before he slipped into a coma during his 10-week battle with coronavirus.

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.'

Throwback: Earlier this month, Myleene shared a sweet throwback video of Kate and Derek dancing together to Elvis Presley's Suspicious Minds

Emotional: During a TV interview earlier this month, Kate broke down in tears as she revealed critically-ill husband Derek thanked her for 'saving his life' before he slipped into a coma during his 10-week battle with coronavirus

During her interview, Myleene also insisted that she has made sure her children are 'mindful' of other people's situations during lockdown.

She said: 'It's time to come together and chat at the table. Say, "Look, let's be really mindful of other people's situations and what other people are going through at the moment." It makes you feel even more fortunate over what you do have together.

'It makes you hold on tight to it. It has slowed down, I'm not racing to meetings, the girls aren't racing to gym, ballet, everything else. It's really nice to reflect and think about actually, this is family time now.'

Myleene is working with McCain, as part of its Nation's Conversations research series, which has found 8 in 10 people want to retain some aspect of their current regime when lockdown ends.

'Mindful': During her interview, Myleene also insisted that she has made sure her children are 'mindful' of other people's situations during lockdown

The star has spoken about the highs and lows of family life in lockdown and shined a light on the opportunity it has given many families to slow down, to spend more time together and enjoy more mealtimes as a family during lockdown.

As such, she recited the poem The Family Pledge, created from those things that families across the UK have pledged to continue doing together once lockdown eases and we start our new normal.

Filmed in her London home by partner Simon and her two daughters - Ava, 12, and Hero, nine, the verse sees lines such as 'sugar-rush laughter, movie nights, empty bowls; mealtimes with loved ones', which Myleene said have been important to her.

She said: 'The poem really does strike such a chord, those movies nights you get, times you feel whole around table. Those elements do strike straight in the heart.

'To be able to sit down and finish a movie with my family, I usually fall asleep as I am so tired or trying to get the baby up to bed so I'm tired. It's just so lovely to slow down and have that time, we don't have to be anywhere.'

Myleene pledged to keep doing her Music Klass with her daughters and sitting down with her family at the kitchen table to talk.

You can make your family pledge using #McCainFamilyPledge on social media.

Campaign: Myleene is working with McCain, as part of its Nation's Conversations research series, which has found 8 in 10 people want to retain some aspect of their current regime when lockdown ends
EastEnders had stood in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement as the show unveiled a mural of a black woman by visual artist Dreph.

The mural, painted on the side wall of the Beales' house opposite The Queen Victoria pub, will become a permanent backdrop to storylines when the show returns to screens later this year.

It was painted directly onto the wall of the Bridge Street house over two or three days before cast and crew returned to work and measures 5x2 metres in size.

New addition: EastEnders has stood in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement as the show unveiled a mural of a black woman by visual artist Dreph

The painting does not depict a character from the show, but an unknown girl called Bella who sat for Dreph. He famously paints people from his local community.

Dreph, real name is Neequaye Dsane, is best known for his large-scale murals and oil paintings, and his subjects range from strangers to friends and family and are often a tribute to living unsung heroes and heroines.

He said on Instagram on Monday: 'I remember watching the very first episode of @bbceastenders 3 decades ago, a time when we would rush home to watch the few Black characters on TV.

'I think it's great that EastEnders has found a way to reflect modern day UK in a time when so many of us are finding ways to voice anti-racism.

Big up to Bella: Dreph took to Instagram on Monday to share some details about his mural

Artist: Dreph, real name is Neequaye Dsane, (pictured) is best known for his large-scale murals and oil paintings, and his subjects range from strangers to friends and family

'Thanks to my team @Thirtypoundgentleman & @mellymellove for all their support, Kate, Deborah, Kirsten, Jon, Toby, Suzette, Tameka and all at EastEnders who made us feel so at home.

'Big up to Bella for sitting for this piece that will be a permanent backdrop in future episodes for years to come. Ian Beales House, Bridge Street, Walford, East London, E20.'

The You Are Enough project in 2017 saw the Nottingham-born artist create a series of portraits of black women that paid tribute to friends who were contributing to their communities and society at large.

Dreph said: 'The opportunity to have my artwork on the set as a permanent feature, having the same impact as my work has on the streets of London, was a really exciting opportunity.

Bombshell: The hit BBC One soap ended with a dramatic Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean) cliffhanger earlier this month, after running out of episodes amid the COVID-19 lockdown

'I remember watching the very first EastEnders episode three decades ago, so I was really surprised to hear from the team!

'I'm so pleased that EastEnders has found a way to reflect modern-day UK in a time when so many of us are finding ways to voice anti-racism and I'm so happy that my work will become the backdrop to future storylines in the show.'

Jon Sen, executive producer of EastEnders, said: 'Dreph's mural is an exciting and timely addition to the show that reflects events taking place in the real world.

'Anti-racism is something that the cast, crew and producers care passionately about at EastEnders and the show is well known for tackling social issues and celebrating diversity and inclusivity through its characters and storylines.'

The revelation comes amid ongoing global protests over racial injustice, triggered last month by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota.

Modern-day UK: Delph said, 'I'm so pleased that EastEnders has found a way to reflect modern-day UK in a time when so many of us are finding ways to voice anti-racism'

Real world: Jon Sen, executive producer of EastEnders, said, 'Dreph's mural is an exciting and timely addition to the show that reflects events taking place in the real world'

Fans are anticipating the show returning several weeks down the line, as the programme aired its final episode earlier this month after running out of episodes due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The hit BBC One soap will keep loyal viewers in suspense as they ended the show with a dramatic Sharon Mitchell cliffhanger.

Production on EastEnders came to a halt in March, when the UK went into lockdown and most people were instructed to stay home, and work from home if possible.

And for the first time in the soap's 35-year history, the show ran out of new material on Tuesday night and was forced to go on a hiatus in a BBC first.

The dramatic final episode before the break ended with Sharon, played by Letitia Dean, being revealed as the new Queen Vic pub landlady.

The End(er)! EastEnders aired its final episode in what is likely to be several weeks, after running out of episodes with the cast locked down and unable to film

Get out of my pub! In a typically dramatic Albert Square scene, Phil's scorned wife chillingly said, 'Hello Phil, what can I get you?' as she revealed herself to be the Queen Vic's landlady

Viewers had been led to believe that Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) would be taking over the reins but Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) managed to trick the Walford hardman.

Just as Mick was about to sign over the Queen Vic, he dropped the explosive bombshell that there was in fact a new different landlord.

Phil was left sceptical over the announcement as he protested: 'We had a deal. You're bluffing, there's no way you could have got a different buyer that quick.'

To which Mick then led Phil and his equally baffled wife Linda (Kellie Bright) to the bar where Phil's estranged wife Sharon was pulling pints.

In a typically dramatic Albert Square scene, Phil's scorned wife chillingly said: 'Hello Phil, what can I get you?'

Naughty: Viewers had been led to believe that Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) would be taking over the reigns but Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) managed to trick the Walford hardman

Smug: The camera then panned on to a smug Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), Mick and Linda while Phil was left seething over the dramatic bombshell

The camera then panned on to a smug Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), Mick and Linda while Phil was left seething over the dramatic bombshell.

Phil and Sharon have been at loggerheads after she decided to raise her illegitimate son Kayden rather than give him to his grandmother Karen while the Walford hardman also blamed her for Dennis' death, resulting in him kicking her out.

The cast have in fact returned to the set this month, and production has restarted on new episodes, but these will not be ready for broadcast just yet.

In place of its Monday and Tuesday episodes, a new series called Secrets From The Square, hosted by Stacey Dooley, has been shown.

BBC One also unearthed iconic past episodes and treat fans to a does of nostalgia for the time being.

Since EastEnders has never been aired in 'seasons' like other shows, this will be a milestone episode to many.

New show: In place of its Monday and Tuesday episodes, a series called Secrets From The Square, hosted by Stacey Dooley, has been shown

It first hit screens in February 1985 and has been a staple of British evening TV ever since.

The soap will return later in the summer, returning to its four days a week broadcasts, which were scrapped to release out the instalments that were in the can.

But the show returns with shortened episodes; rather than the standard half-hour slots, they will be 20 minutes long to begin with.

Executive Producer of the show Jon Sen said: 'Resuming production is incredibly exciting and challenging in equal measure.

'Since we postponed filming we've been working non-stop trialling techniques, filming methods and new ways of working so that we can return to screens four times a week  as EastEnders should be.

'Filming will inevitably be a more complex process now so creating 20 minute episodes will enable us to ensure that when we return, EastEnders will still be the show the audience know and love.'
Kate Winslet has been announced as the star of a new biopic about Vogue cover model-turned-war correspondent Lee Miller.

The film, called Lee, will follow the life and experiences of the photojournalist as she travels to the frontline of World War II and tries to expose the horrific truths of the Nazis.

Throughout her journey she then comes to realise the truths of her own past.

New release: Kate Winslet has been announced as the star of a new biopic about Vogue cover model turned war correspondent Lee Miller

The film will be directed by Ellen Kuras who was the cinematographer of Kates 2004 hit film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which also starred Jim Carrey.

Ms Kuras told Deadline: 'Since our experience together on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Kate and I have talked often about collaborating on something of our own.

'Lee gives us an irresistible opportunity to do that with a script written by Liz Hannah, a brilliant writer whom we admire so much.'

Noble: The film, called Lee, will follow the life and experiences of the photojournalist as she travels to the frontline of World War II and tries to expose the horrific truths of the Nazis

The film, which could be released as early as next year, will be adapted from the book The Lives of Lee Miller, written by Lee's son, Antony Penrose.

Ms Kuras added: 'This is a film which takes us on a journey that encounters loyalty and betrayal, but ultimately reveals the enigma that Lee was  as someone who buried her own hidden truths within.

'Lee Miller was known for the way the world saw her, but now we can show that her greatest contribution came from how she saw the world'

Biopic: The film, which could be released as early as next year, will be adapted from the book The Lives of Lee Miller, written by Lee's son, Antony Penrose

Oscar-winning actress Kate, 44, who is also producing the film, said: 'A woman I admire tremendously and whom I am so thrilled to be playing in this film. An extreme lover, thinker, life liver, cook, Vogue cover girl, war correspondent, icon, mother.'

Ms Kuras is the three-time winner of the Award for Excellence in Dramatic Cinematography at the Sundance Film Festival.

She was nominated for an Oscar in 2009 for the first film she directed - a documentary called The Betrayal.

Reunion: The film will be directed by Ellen Kuras who was the cinematographer of Kates 2004 hit film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which also starred Jim Carrey (above)

Miller was among the most important photographers to record the 20th century.

Her talents were first put on full display in American Vogue during the 1920s when she became one of the country's most sought-after models.

In 1929, after her modelling career hit controversy when her image was used in a menstrual pad advert, Miller traveled to Paris with the intention of apprenticing herself to the surrealist artist and photographer Man Ray.

She honed her skills under the guidance of the great photographers of her day, including Man Ray, her became her lover during the early 1930s.

Powerful: Miller was among the most important photographers to record the 20th century

Living in Hampstead, north London, with her son Antony when the bombing of the city began, Miller decided to embark on a new career in photojournalism as the official war photographer for Vogue, documenting the Blitz.

Her work would later take her across the whole of Europe, working for the Allied forces and teaming up with fellow American photographer David E Scherman, a correspondent for Life magazine.

She also witnessed the liberation of Paris, the Battle of Alsace, and the horrors of the first soldiers arriving at Nazi concentration camps at Buchenwald and Dachau.

New beginnings: Living in Hampstead, north London, when the bombing of the city began, Miller decided to embark on a new career in photojournalism as the official war photographer for Vogue

And while visiting Germany, David Scherman took a photograph of Miller lying in the bathtub of Adolf Hitler's apartment in Munich, with its shower hose looped in the center behind her head, resembling a noose.

The images became one of the most iconic of their partnership, and showed off her infamous modelling skills.

It is believed Miller had kept the address of Hitler's apartment in her pocket 'for years', hoping to be one of the first to arrive during the invasion. After taking the bathtub picture, Miller took a bath in the tub and slept in Hitler's bed.

Ahead of her time: Lee felt photography was 'ideally suited to women as a profession, for it seems to me that women are quicker and more adaptable than men'

After returning to the UK, Miller buried the record of her remarkable life in boxes in the attic of her Sussex home - and they were not found until after her death by her son, who was able to chronicle her achievements, according to the BBC.

When Lee returned to New York from Europe in October 1932, newspaper reporters were waiting to greet her as her ship docked. Disembarking in a smart beret and fur-collared coat, she smiled for the journalist from the New York World-Telegram.

She felt that photography was 'ideally suited to women as a profession, for it seems to me that women are quicker and more adaptable than men. And I think they have an intuition that helps them understand personalities more quickly than men.'

She spent the later years of her life in England and died there in 1977, aged 70.
MasterChef: Back To Win star Laura Sharrad his hit back at online trolls after copping an onslaught of abuse this season.

The 25-year-old slammed those who have tried to bring her down and said she was shocked that much of the negativity came from other women.

Speaking to the Adelaide Advertiser, she said: 'I don't really understand how we're living in this world where everyone wants equality.'

'I feel vilified': Laura Sharrad, 25, (pictured) has hit back at abuse from trolls in an interview with the Adelaide Advertiser, claiming most of the negativity comes from other women

'Whether it's racial or sexual, and the people who are meant to support you still bring you down.'

Laura said she felt vilified from the abuse.

'I feel a little vilified  people who know me know that I have not one bad bone in my body,' she added.

Slammed: ''I don't really understand how we're living in this world where everyone wants equality...people who are meant to support you still bring you down,' Laura said

The comments come after Laura had a much-needed win last week, scoring immunity before Sunday's elimination.

Laura, who was the first contestant in the top six, made a brown-butter-poached Moreton Bay bug with Jerusalem artichokes and a watercress emulsion.

Upset: 'I feel a little vilified  people who know me know that I have not one bad bone in my body,' Laura added. Pictured with her husband, Max Sharrad (R)

Her dish beat Poh's 'inventive' and 'creative' smoked duck breast, coal-charred persimmon and a roasted octopus emulsion with tarragon.

Laura wrote after the challenge: 'IMMUNITY IS MINE B*****Z !!! And I didn't even cook pasta,' referencing previously trolling over her past dishes.

Fans flocked to Twitter to share their thoughts on Poh being 'robbed' of immunity soon after: 'Poh was robbed. Period point blank,' one viewer tweeted.

Winning plate: Laura, who was the first contestant in the top six, made a brown-butter-poached Moreton Bay bug with Jerusalem artichokes and a watercress emulsion

'I really think they gave Laura the win for the story value tonight. Poh's dish was more inventive, creative and accomplished,' another added.

It comes after fan favourite Tessa Boersma was sent home on Sunday night after she prepared an Indian-inspired tacos dish.

The judges felt the fish was overwhelmed by the hot sauce, and the citrus flavours, which left the dish ultimately tasting Mexican.

Robbed! Some viewers pointed out that Poh (pictured) deserved immunity because Laura had been assigned 'easy ingredients' during the challenge last week

Upon leaving, Tessa told the judges: 'I did as best as I could. It was, like... I couldn't beat Reynold.

'You know, his mind is so incredible. But, yeah, like, I'm bummed, but I'm really happy.'

MasterChef: Back to Win continues on Channel Ten, Monday, 7.30pm.
Natasha Oakley was busted parking her Porsche in a bus zone in Sydney's Tamarama on Friday.

But the 29-year-old influencer made no mention of the road rules when she posted about her pit-stop on Instagram the following day.

She shared several videos from the driver's seat, telling fans about her recent trip to Byron Bay with her friend Jacqui Kingswell, who was sitting next to her.

'We have just arrived back in Sydney. I am so sad we had to leave Byron Bay. It really is such a special place in the world,' Natasha said.

'I've always just felt really grounded and peaceful and positive whenever I'm in Byron Bay,' she added.

The glamazon also gave viewers a virtual tour of the vehicle's interior, before climbing out and photographing the car from the sidewalk.

Worth it for a selfie? Natasha Oakley was busted parking her Porsche in a bus zone in Sydney's Tamarama on Friday - but the 29-year-old influencer made no mention of the road rules when she posted about her pit-stop on Instagram the following day (pictured)

Interestingly, Natasha failed to upload any images that showed the bus zone sign next to where she was parked.

Natasha rose to fame in the early days of 'influencing' in 2012, when she founded the popular blog A Bikini A Day with her friend Devin Brugman.

The pair generated millions of followers on social media by sharing photos of themselves in a new swimsuit each day.

Expensive ride: The glamazon also gave viewers a virtual tour of the vehicle's interior, before climbing out and photographing the car from the sidewalk

Two years later, Natasha and Devin founded their own bikini line, Monday Swimwear.

While promoting her collection with Nasty Gal last year, Natasha said it was important to be patient when building a business from the ground up.

'Learn your trade, do your homework and be patient! It's important to focus on the big picture with your business and stay true to your vision and direction,' she said.

Didn't see the sign? Interestingly, Natasha failed to upload any images that showed the bus zone sign next to where she was parked

'Results take time and success takes hard work and diligence day in and day out. There is no such thing as overnight success, hard work pays off!'

Natasha, who is known for showing off her toned figure in scanty swimwear, went on to say that body confidence 'comes from the inside'.

'You can't expect to feel great on the beach if you aren't happy and confident within,' she said.

Cashing in: Natasha rose to fame in the early days of 'influencing' in 2012, when she founded the popular blog A Bikini A Day with her friend Devin Brugman (right). Pictured in July 2019
Anthony Mackie wants to see reform within Marvel.

The 41-year-old actor, who recently took over the role of Captain America for Disney+'s Falcon and the Winter Solider, told Variety in a piece published Sunday that 'every single person has been white' on seven movies he's made for the studio.

'It really bothered me that Ive done seven Marvel movies where every producer, every director, every stunt person, every costume designer, every PA, every single person has been white,' the New Orleans native told Hamilton's Daveed Diggs in a discussion for the outlet's Actors on Actors issue.

The latest: Anthony Mackie, 41, told Variety in a piece published Sunday that 'every single person has been white' on seven movies he's made for the studio

Mackie, who's played Sam Wilson/Falcon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, pointed at the smash hit Black Panther in contrast to other films released by the studio.

'Weve had one Black producer; his name was Nate Moore,' Mackie said. 'He produced Black Panther. But then when you do Black Panther, you have a Black director, Black producer, a Black costume designer, a Black stunt choreographer.

'And Im like, "Thats more racist than anything else." Because if you only can hire the Black people for the Black movie, are you saying theyre not good enough when you have a mostly white cast?'

The Altered Carbon actor said he was pushing for the studio to focus on hiring 'the best person for the job' regardless of race, gender or any other personal factors.

Chat: The New Orleans native spoke with Hamilton's Daveed Diggs in a discussion for the outlet's Actors on Actors issue

Accomplished: Mackie's played Sam Wilson/Falcon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

'Even if it means were going to get the best two women, were going to get the best two men,' he said. 'Fine. Im cool with those numbers for the next 10 years. Because it starts to build a new generation of people who can put something on their resume to get them other jobs.

'If weve got to divvy out as a percentage, divvy it out. And thats something as leading men that we can go in and push for.'

Stalwart: Mackie was seen in 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Out and about: Mackie chat with Pete Davidson and Margaret Qualley at the Venice Film Festival last year

In the chat Diggs, who appears on the TNT series Snowpiercer, asked Mackie about the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement, asking him, 'What are the ways that you find yourself interacting with the moment?'

Diggs added: 'I find a lot of my interactions are just trying to make things better in the gigs I have in front of me - how can I affect different kinds of representation? What is the thing you feel compelled to do? What is your participation in this moment?'

Mackie said they needed to use their professional standing as leading men as they 'have the power and the ability to ask those questions.'
They may be rivals on MasterChef, but it turns out Laura Sharrad and Emelia Jackson have actually known each other most of their lives.

Not only did they appear together as contestants in the 2014 season, they also share a secret bond that goes all the way back to their childhood.

Laura, 24, has known Emelia, 30, since she started school.

They go way back! They may be rivals on MasterChef, but it turns out Laura Sharrad (right) and Emelia Jackson (left) have actually known each other most of their lives

'Emelia's mum taught me at primary school,' Laura told TV Week on Monday,

'I'm five years younger than Mils, but my first memory of her is in the school playground.'

Emelia, who claims to have a 'photographic memory', can apparently still remember seeing Laura in her 'little school uniform' as well.

Friends: Laura, 24, has actually known Emelia, 30, since she started school. 'I'm five years younger than Mils, but my first memory of her is in the school playground,' Laura told TV week

Both Emelia and Laura are still in the running to win MasterChef's twelfth season.

And while they have been called 'rivals', they both agree they are closer than ever these days and won't let the competition ruin their friendship.

'I think it's so important to have a friend like Laura in the competition,' Emelia said.

Laura added: 'This competition will never come between us.'

Did someone spill the beans? Every major bookmaker is tipping Emelia to win MasterChef, which suggest that someone may have leaked the outcome

As reported by Daily Mail Australia last week, every major bookmaker is tipping Emelia to win MasterChef.

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

MasterChef Australia continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel 10
Ana de Armas turned up the heat as she kicked off her weekend in a retro, high-waisted swimsuit on Saturday in Los Angeles.

As the 32-year-old Knives Out star strutted around without shoes, she sported a chic red and white checkered one-piece by Onia with her gym-honed midriff on full display.

The girlfriend of Ben Affleck also showed off some extreme underboob, as she accessorized her look with a white linen button-down and matching shorts.

Busty display: Ana de Armas turned up the heat, as she kicked off her weekend in a retro, high-waisted swimsuit by Onia, which emphasized her ample cleavage on Saturday

As the Cuban born star appeared to enjoy an afternoon of tanning, she left her long locks loose down and wore minimal makeup.

She teamed her barely-there top with some necklaces and flaunted her toned legs, while seemingly grabbing something from her car in Affleck's upscale neighborhood of Brentwood, California.

While Ana was not photographed with the 47-year-old Oscar winner or his three children on Saturday, the Golden Globe nominee and her man have been inseparable.

Stunner: As the 32-year-old Knives Out star paraded around without shoes, she could be seen sporting a chic red and white checkered one-piece with her gym-honed midriff on full display

Earlier this week, she was seen spending time with Affleck and his ex-wife Jennifer Garner's kids Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and eight-year-old Samuel.

A source told E! News last month: 'Ana loves kids and couldn't wait to meet them and spend time with them. She knows how much they mean to Ben and so she was anxious to be a part of that.'

'She is very sweet and kind to the kids. They immediately warmed up to her and like her a lot. They are all comfortable together and she's very nurturing. Everything has worked out very well.'

catching: The girlfriend of Ben Affleck also showed off some extreme underboob, as she accessorized her look with a matching white linen button-down and shirt

Ana was first romantically linked with Ben in March, after they filmed their upcoming movie Deep Water in the fall.

They were later spotted vacationing together in Costa Rica and her home country of Cuba, before returning to Los Angeles to quarantine together.

The lovebirds have been quarantining at Affleck's Pacific Palisades home.
She recently resurfaced on Instagram after keeping a low profile following her split from Blake Garvey in 2016.

And on Sunday, former Bachelor star Louise Pillidge looked almost unrecognisable in a new photo shared just weeks after returning to the social media platform.

The real estate agent, 31, who appeared on the Channel 10 dating show in 2014, showed off her newly-brunette hair and petite figure in a sparkly blue jumpsuit.

Who's that girl? Former Bachelor star Louise Pillidge looked almost unrecognisable as she flaunted her petite waist in a jumpsuit in Broadbeach Waters on the Gold Coast on Sunday

Louise accessorised her ensemble with statement earrings and smiled as she posed in Broadbeach Waters on the Gold Coast.

The former reality star rarely posts on Instagram these days, and in May, she shared a photo of herself for the first time in seven months.

In the picture, Louise wore a black crop top and pulled her brunette hair back into a tight ponytail as she prepared for a workout.

Throwback! Louise recently resurfaced on Instagram after keeping a low profile following her split from Blake Garvey in 2016. Pictured on The Bachelor in 2014

She's back! In May, she shared a photo of herself for the first time in seven months, posing in a black crop top before a workout

In October 2019, she shared a photo of herself in a floral chiffon dress and white pointy-toe stilettos at her brother's wedding in Ireland.

'Such a perfect day! Congratulations to my brother Simon and his beautiful wife Clare,' she captioned the post.

Before her brother's wedding, her last post had been in July. The one before that had been five months earlier, on her birthday.

Remember me? In October 2019, Louise posed in a floral chiffon dress and white pointy-toe stilettos at her brother's wedding in Ireland

Louise appeared on season two of The Bachelor, starring Perth-based auctioneer Blake Garvey.

She placed third in the competition, but resumed her relationship with Blake after he controversially dumped the show's winner, Sam Frost.

The pair went on to date for 18 months before breaking up in April 2016. Blake has also since retreated from the spotlight.
Former MasterChef judge Matt Preston has described some of the 'silly' and 'irresponsible' FM radio stunts he was forced to participate in a decade ago.

The food critic, 58, explained that the stunts ranged from identifying things by smell - such as a dishcloth 'soaked in petrol' - to putting his hand in a box to guess an object - in his case, a snake.

He eventually put his foot down after a dangerous incident involving a seven-foot boa constrictor, which had been hidden under his table to scare him for Halloween.

Not happy: Former MasterChef judge Matt Preston has described some of the 'silly' and 'irresponsible' FM radio stunts he was forced to participate in a decade ago. Pictured in 2018

When asked about his radio experiences from 2010 to 2011, Matt offered context to the Halloween incident, telling News.com.au: 'I was waiting in the studio and under the table was a seven-foot boa constrictor, just lying by the heater.'

'While I was waiting, there was a tune I liked and I was jiggling my feet to the rhythm and apparently as I was tapping my feet the boa constrictor sat up and started swallowing my foot!' he added.

There was also another incident in which his colleague placed a snake in a box, and he had to reach in and guess what he was touching.

'Thats just plain irresponsible. If you poke around at a snake with your fingers, the snake wants to strike at you obviously,' he said.

Sssseriously? Matt said that the stunts ranged from identifying things by smell - such as a dishcloth 'soaked in petrol' - to putting his hand in a box to guess an object - in his case, a snake

Yikes: He eventually put his foot down after a dangerous incident involving a seven-foot boa constrictor, which had been hidden under his table to scare him for Halloween

Matt said he was eventually forced to tell radio executives that he was 'done' with the stunts, and refused to participate in them any more.

The British foodie is currently promoting his new show, Plate of Origin, which is set to air on Channel Seven later in the year.

He told The Daily Edition recently: 'It's a lot of fun, and it's a joyous celebration of the best food in Australia, and I think that's exactly what people want to see.'

The show will pit people from different cultural backgrounds against each other in cook-offs as they demonstrate their national cuisines.

'I'm done!' Matt said he was eventually forced to tell radio show executives that he was 'done' with the stunts, and refused to participate in them any more

Matt will co-judge alongside his friends Gary Mehigan and Manu Feildel, whom he has know for more than a decade.

'We're old mates, and to actually finally be on the same network on the same show together and mess around together and share our combined love of food is brilliant,' he said.

Matt was a judge on Channel 10's MasterChef Australia for 11 years, beginning in 2009.
He's been isolating with his long-term girlfriend Annabelle Wallis over the past few months.

And Chris Pine was spotted on a solo stroll with his dog around Los Angeles on Sunday.

The 39-year-old actor dressed casually while he abided by Califronia regulations by wearing a mask to combat the recent spike in ongoing COVID-19 cases.

Solo outing: Chris Pine rocked a casual ensemble while out on a solo errands run on Sunday. The actor wore a mask and was seen with his dog

Chris opted for a graphic T-shirt and a pair of cropped trousers of a faded green color.

He teamed the look with some mustard colored moccasins that had a bow on the front.

The Star Trek actor accessorized with a protective mask over his face and accessorized with some tinted shades.

Unique: He teamed the look with some mustard colored moccasins that had a bow on the front

Love: Not seen with Chris on Sunday was his girlfriend, Annabelle Wallis, 35 (pictured April 2020)

Not seen with Chris was his girlfriend, Annabelle Wallis, 35.

The English actress has previously been in various high profile relationships, including her on-and-off romance with Chris Martin between 2015 to 2017.

Chris and Annabelle first went public with their relationship on a date night in London in July 2018, after first being romantically linked that April.

Gearing up: The actor (above in April) returns next to the big screen in Wonder Woman 1984, reprising his role as Steve Trevor opposite Gal Gadot's superhero

The actor returns next to the big screen in Wonder Woman 1984, reprising his role as Steve Trevor opposite Gal Gadot's superhero.

The sequel is scheduled to open in August but it's unclear if that will still happen given the situation with the coronavirus pandemic.

It was also reported in April that he is in negotiations to headline Paramount's new version of The Saint to be directed by Dexter Fletcher.
Odell Beckham Jr. and his girlfriend Lauren Wood exchanged kisses as they departed the Los Angeles nightspot 40 Love Saturday.

The Cleveland Browns wide receiver, 27, was dressed casually in a white Gracious MFG T-shirt with a graphic, black pants and red and white Nike sneakers.

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native sported a beard and accessorized with a designer watch and gold necklaces, donning a ball cap on his way out of the West Hollywood, California hot spot.

Out and about: Odell Beckham Jr. and his girlfriend Lauren Wood were snapped as they departed the Los Angeles nightspot 40 Love Saturday

Wood had her hair up on curls as she donned a long-sleeved black coat with a white top exposed a portion of her sleek midriff.The stunning model rounded out her eye-catching ensemble with red and black Saint Laurent print pants and matched her beau in Nike, going with black and white high tops.

The LSU alum, who previously played for the New York Giants, took to Instagram earlier Saturday with a message for his 14 million-plus followers, writing: '[cursing emoji] up the way that we livin is not gettin better... you gotta kno how to survive....'

The three-time Pro Bowler accompanied the message with a shot of himself image practicing while donning a T-shirt with Tupac Shakur's image on it.

The talented receiver, who's been linked to Wood since last fall, had previously been linked to Amber Rose, Khloe Kardashian and Zendaya.

PDA: The couple exchanged kisses outside of the venue, a night before California shut down bars

Connected: The duo, who held hands on the way out, have been linked since last year

Beckham and Wood were out less than a day before California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a shutdown of bars in seven counties - including Los Angeles County, where the couple was out on Saturday.

Newsom, in his decision to close down the bars, said that bars have higher transmission risks, and that there was a fast spread of the virus in the counties, which also included Fresno, San Joaquin, Kings, Kern, Imperial and Tulare.

'Californians must remain vigilant against this virus,' the governor said in a statement. 'COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger. Thats why it is critical we take this step to limit the spread of the virus in the counties that are seeing the biggest increases.'

Past loves: The talented receiver had previously been linked to Amber Rose, Khloe Kardashian and Zendaya
She recently admitted to enjoying the 'enforced maternity leave' brought on by the COVID-19 lockdown.

And Rachel Riley had a nostalgic turn on Sunday evening as she shared an adorable throwback snap of her and husband Pasha Kovalev to celebrate their first anniversary.

The Countdown numbers legend, 34, posted the adorable set of pictures showing her and Pasha, 40, beaming with joy while holding their six-month-old daughter, Maven.

Adorable: Rachel Riley had a nostalgic turn on Sunday evening as she shared an adorable throwback snap of her and husband Pasha Kovalev to celebrate their first anniversary

In the second sweet snap Rachel and Pasha were seen looking joyous on their wedding day in 2019 while holding hands and laughing.

Rachel uploaded the post for her 479,000 followers alongside the caption: 'One year later! Celebrating today with our extra smiler in the family.

'Love these two. What a first year its been!'

Rachel and Pasha, who became first-time parents to Maven in December, have been enjoying extended time off at home amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Throwback! The Countdown numbers legend, 34, posted the adorable set of pictures to Instagram on Sunday night

Speaking on Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Lucy Horobin, Rachel recently admitted the countrywide lockdown has been something of a blessing for the family as they have been given 'enforced maternity and paternity leave'.

Jamie asked Rachel how she's feeling about new parenthood in lockdown, saying: 'Now Rachel I know you had a baby at the end of last year, how are you adjusting to parenthood in lockdown, how's that been for you?'

Rachel responded: 'Well we're quite fortunate in a way, I was supposed to be back at work, Pasha was supposed to be on tour, and it's kind of enforced maternity and paternity leave we didn't have before so we're loving it...

Family: Rachel and Pasha welcomed their beloved baby daughter to the world in December and have been enjoying extended time off at home amid the global COVID-19 pandemic

'She's just over five months, I've left her in bed in kind of the same sleeping position as Pash, if you hear crying it could be either one of them I have no idea.'

Rachel previously revealed that Pasha's mother Galina, who normally lives in Russia, has been staying with them in London after the borders were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Jamie admitted lockdown 'fits' having a young baby, to which Rachel responded: 'Yeah we couldn't go out in the evenings anyway because she refused a bottle...

'So I needed to be with her and I just developed all the bad habits they tell you not to do because I'm here...

'My mother in law, she was over from Russia visiting me and she got here with the Russian borders closing so I've got a live-in babysitter as well so as lockdowns go, we're really lucky and can't complain.

Lucy queried: 'Are you coping well with each other as well? I mean I'll put my hands up and say my boyfriend and I have had a fair few tiffs during lockdown. It can get a little bit much sometimes, how have you faired?'

Rachel said: 'I mean we're just in the new baby glow...

'Thankfully the weather has been lovely and every day I wear my sling which is guaranteed some sleep and I just got to the park and the sun is shining, and all the ducklings are coming out so it's quite lovely.
MasterChef fans have made baseless claims that judge Melissa Leong is 'favouring' contestant Poh Ling Yeow.

Some viewers are claiming the 38-year-old food critic is supporting Poh, the runner-up from MasterChef's first season, more than the other contestants.

'I think the judges are supportive of all the contestants but on the replays it seems Poh is maybe a little protected,' one person wrote on Facebook.

'Why does she always support her?' MasterChef Australia fans have made baseless claims that judge Melissa Leong (right) is 'favouring' contestant Poh Ling Yeow. Pictured with Jock Zonfrillo (left) and Andy Allen (centre)

'Why does judge Melissa seem to support Poh?' another asked, to which a third fan replied: '[It's because] she's a rating winner.'

While some claimed Melissa was too supportive of Poh, 47, others disagreed and said that editing was to blame.

'She doesn't single out Poh at all. She supports everyone,' one viewer wrote.

Criticism: Some viewers are claiming the 38-year-old food critic is supporting Poh, the runner-up from MasterChef's first season, more than the other contestants

Another added: 'It's so funny how people keep writing posts and thinking like this when we all know the show is heavily edited. She supports all of them but we just don't get to see it all!'

'If you pay attention, you'll see Melissa tries to support all the contestants,' read a similar comment.

On Monday night's episode of the cooking show, Poh dazzled all three judges with her colourful seared beef dish.

'She tries to support all the contestants': While some claimed Melissa was too supportive of Poh (pictured), others disagreed and said that editing was to blame

The contestants were put to the test when they were presented with a mystery box with eight ingredients, including prickly pear, rib eye beef, wattle seeds and caulilini - a hybrid mix of broccoli and cauliflower.

In a departure from regular mystery box challenges, which involve the contestants having to use only one ingredient, Melissa shocked them with a twist.

'Today you have to use all the ingredients across two dishes - one savoury, one sweet,' she announced.

Success! On Monday night's episode of the cooking show, Poh dazzled all three judges with her colourful seared beef dish (pictured)

Poh used her 75 minutes to whip up a charred beef with caulilini, parsnip and thyme puree with a prickly pear dressing, and a fried souffle.

The unusual-looking beef dish drew high praise, with judge Jock Zonfrillo saying he was 'surprised' by the sweet and savoury flavour and 'really dug it'.

Melissa added: 'I really loved it.'

MasterChef Australia continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel 10
Adam Sandler brought his weekend to a close by stocking up on groceries with his wife Jackie.

The 53-year-old comedian was spotted picking up groceries from Kristy's market in Malibu, with his 45-year-old wife Jackie on Sunday afternoon.

Jackie was even spotted carrying a unique mug, featuring an old photo of the couple, who were married in 2003 and have two kids together.

Groceries: Adam Sandler brought his weekend to a close by stocking up on groceries with his wife Jackie

Mug: Jackie was even spotted carrying a unique mug, featuring an old photo of the couple, who were married in 2003 and have two kids together

Sandler was spotted wearing a two-tone grey trucker's cap and oversized sunglasses with a trimmed beard as he picked up groceries.

He was also wearing a grey t-shirt that read, 'Dad joke loading' along with dark blue shorts.

The comedian completed his comfortable look with a pair of brown boots as he picked up his groceries.

Grocery run: Sandler was spotted wearing a two-tone grey trucker's cap and oversized sunglasses with a trimmed beard as he picked up groceries

Dad joke: He was also wearing a grey t-shirt that read, 'Dad joke loading' along with dark blue shorts

Jackie was wearing a large brown hat that kept the sun out of her eyes, as she walked with a white bag dangling from her forearm.

She was also wearing a grey top under a white coat with black pants and black New Balance sneakers.

The actress was also carrying a coffee cup along with the photo mug with an image of her and Sandler.

Jackie's look: Jackie was wearing a large brown hat that kept the sun out of her eyes, as she walked with a white bag dangling from her forearm

Sandler is coming off his critically-acclaimed performance as jeweler Howard Ratner in the indie film Uncut Gems

He also starred in the comedy Murder Mystery with Jennifer Aniston, which was named as the most popular movie on the Netflix streaming service in 2019.

Sandler signed a new four-movie deal with Netflix in January, rumored to be worth a whopping $275 million.

Critically-acclaimed: Sandler is coming off his critically-acclaimed performance as jeweler Howard Ratner in the indie film Uncut Gems

Sandler will also return to voice Dracula in the animated sequel Hotel Transylvania 4, which is slated for release on August 6, 2021.

His next Netflix movie is entitled Hubie Halloween, where Sandler plays the title character, a Halloween enthusiast living in Salem, Massachusetts.

The story follows Hubie, who is both mocked and beloved for his devotion to Halloween, who finds himself in the midst of a real murder case on Halloween night.

Back as Drac: Sandler will also return to voice Dracula in the animated sequel Hotel Transylvania 4, which is slated for release on August 6, 2021
Samantha Armytage recently faced backlash from Black Lives Matter activists over comments she made on Sunrise five years ago.

But before the 'racist' segment resurfaced earlier this month, the 43-year-old had applauded the anti-police brutality movement in an interview with Perth Now.

'Like everybody else, I am finding it shocking what is going on across America, and terribly sad,' Samantha told the publication.

Controversial: Sam Armytage 'applauded' the Black Lives Matter movement in an interview that took place before a 'racist' Sunrise segment from 2015 resurfaced on social media

'I think there's discussion, debate and change that needs to happen. I really applaud the leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement,' she added.

The Channel Seven host went on to say it was a 'sad time' but also 'really exciting that we're heading for some change'.

Her interview with Perth Now took place before embarrassing footage resurfaced of Sam appearing to congratulate a white woman on her skin colour.

The controversial Sunrise interview from 2015 featured British mixed-race twins Lucy and Mary Alymer. Sam introduced them separately.

Comments: 'I think there's discussion, debate and change that needs to happen. I really applaud the leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement,' she told Perth Now

'Maria has taken after her half-Jamaican mum with dark skin and brown eyes and curly dark hair, but Lucy got her dad's fair skin - good on her - along with straight red hair and blue eyes,' she said at the time.

Her co-host David 'Kochie' Koch seemed taken aback by the comment, and gave a confused glance in Sam's direction.

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, the segment has widely circulated on Twitter and re-published by international news websites.

Backlash: Sam's interview with Perth Now took place before embarrassing footage resurfaced of her appearing to congratulate a white woman on her skin colour. Pictured with David Koch

Sam had previously apologised for the 'good on her' comment at the time, telling Daily Mail Australia she hadn't meant to offend anyone.

'I would be mortified if anyone thought I would say or think anything racist,' she said in April 2015.

'It's not in my nature. To anyone who I might have offended, I'm sorry.'
Emmy Rossum has been enjoying some quality time with husband Sam Esmail as they quarantine at home.

And the Golden Globe nominee was spotted over the weekend as they ran some errands together.

She put on a leggy display Sunday in a pair of cutoff denim short shorts as they made a coffee run at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Los Angeles during a break from isolation.

Leggy display: Emmy Rossum put on a leggy display Sunday in a pair of cutoff denim short shorts as she and husband Sam Esmail made a coffee run at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Los Angeles

The 33-year-old complemented the top with a black t-shirt and a pair of black and white velcro flip flops.

She finished the ensemble with a printed black face mask, a gold nameplate necklace and a navy blue Patagonia down jacket.

Emmy mixed seasons as she threw on the coat with her Daisy Dukes after checking out some commercial real estate with Sam, 42, in Toluca Lake.

She took to Twitter last week with her experiences of anti-semitism in Hollywood, following Wynona Ryder's account of Mel Gibson calling her an 'oven dodger.'

Summer vibes: The 33-year-old complemented the top with a black t-shirt and a pair of black and white velcro flip flops

Hint of winter: She finished the ensemble with a printed black face mask, a gold nameplate necklace and a navy blue Patagonia down jacket

Out and about: Emmy previously checked out some commercial real estate with Sam, 42, in Toluca Lake

The Shameless star wrote in a thread: 'I cant even tell you the amount of times I received audition feedback solely based on my appearance: too ethnic just want someone more American looking we ideally want a blonde with blue eyes, someone that just looks nicer..... etc.

'And this is my experience as a WHITE woman. I can only imagine the impossible hurdles of getting a job as a person of color in this industry. Have I even felt 1/1000th of the intolerance, bigotry and pain that POC are routinely subjected to? I dont know.'

She continued: 'I know its not helpful to compare. Its only helpful to find deep deep empathy and love and call out intolerance where we see it  both in ourselves, others, systems, the world. Its painful and scary. Its a lifelong commitment and journey. I am and will continue to be an ally.'

Emmy used her platform earlier this month to call out Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and Free People, after employees spoke up about experiences with racism.

The Phantom of the Opera actress wrote: 'Your policy of racial profiling is disgusting. Your employees (US and Canada) tell stories about the codename nick they were directed to use when forced to profile black customers. The time for transparency, apology and CHANGE is NOW.'
Eleven years after it went off air, Tom Gleisner has explained what prompted him to end his improvisational comedy series, Thank God You're Here.

Appearing on Ed Kavalee's podcast EKP last week, the 57-year-old comedian and one of the creators reflected on the popular series.

The beloved comedy featured a rotating roster of comedians, who would have to improvise their way through an often ridiculous scenario.

End of an era: Eleven years after it went off air, Tom Gleisner has explained what prompted him to end his improvisational comedy series, Thank God You're Here. Pictured at the Network Ten Upfronts in Sydney in November 2017

Tom said they 'loved' making the show, but decided to end it because they were worried the comedians would get tired.

'To be honest, the only reason we stopped was... we didn't want to overuse the people we loved,' he explained.

He then rattled off a list of the show's regular performers, including comedians Shaun Micallef, Angus Sampson, Julia Zemiro and Cal Wilson, describing them all as 'fantastic'.

Put on the spot: The beloved comedy series featured a rotating roster of comedians, who would have to improvise their way through an often ridiculous scenario

'We got to the point where we thought, we didn't know if there were too many other people out there who could do it... and we didn't want to get the point where we went, "Oh, God. Not Angus Sampson again,"' he continued.

'So that was probably the main reason why we thought, you know what, I think we're done.'

Ed, 40, also featured on the show, which ran from 2006 until 2009, and said it was where he first met Tom.

Beginning of a beautiful working relationship: Comedian Ed Kavalee (centre) also featured on the show, which ran from 2006 until 2009, and said it was where he first met Tom (right). Pictured with Sam Pang (left) at the Network Ten Upfronts in Melbourne in November 2016

The two still work together today, with both currently appearing on Have You Been Paying Attention?

Despite it being an improvisational show, Tom said they deliberately avoided casting comedians who were experienced in improvisation.

Ed said appearing on the show was one of his 'all-time favourite jobs', and insisted the humour still holds up today.
Beyonce took to Instagram on Sunday to share an open letter urging U.S. senators to pass the Heroes Act bill to 'ensure that our vote is protected this election cycle.'

The Heroes Act (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions) aims to help Americans and in particular, 'disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities'.

Beyonce, 38, wrote, 'I am proud to stand with my mother, @mstinalawson and the Mothers of The Movement to send this open letter to senators calling for the passing of the Heroes Act.

Focused: Beyonce took to Instagram on Sunday to share an open letter her mother Tina Lawson penned urging U.S. senators to pass the Heroes Act bill in an effort she said was to 'ensure that our vote is protected this election cycle.' She was snapped in Scotland in 2018

Speaking her truth: The music superstar shared the letter, which had dozens of cosigners

'This bill would help provide funding to ensure that our vote is protected this election cycle. Read the letter and add your voice with ours.

The Houston native urged her 149 million followers that 'together we can be the change we want to see in the world,' ending with the powerful hashtag #ANDSTILLIVOTE.

The Grammy-winning star included a petition to sign in support of Lawson's letter, which was addressed to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Charles Schumer.

Focused: Tina Lawson addressed the U.S. Senate in the call for election protection this fall

The HEROES Act was proposed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic - and its subsequent impact on all aspects of life.

It's aimed at protecting the voting rights of the 'disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities.'

Lawson had a number of celeb cosigners to her letter, including Beyonce and Solange, Halle Berry, Jada Pinkett Smith, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Regina King and Kerry Washington.

The letter is also cosigned by the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner and the matriarch of George Floyd's family, among others.

What is the HEROES Act? The HEROES (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions) Act, was proposed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic - and its subsequent impact on all aspects of life - is aimed at protecting the voting rights of the 'disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities. Advertisement

Lawson said in the letter, 'We are concerned Black women. Many of us are mothers of Black sons and daughters, some of whom have lost our children -- and we have a vision for a new America.

'This past month has culminated in a moment of reckoning for the country.'

She continued: 'As members of the Black community, we are hurting, we are angry, and we are anguished by the repeated assaults of Black bodies, brought to light once again by the recent murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of what has for too long been incorrectly coined "justice."

'But even in this moment, when we feel despair and deep exhaustion, we remember one essential truth: our voices have power.'

In her letter, Lawson noted that 'unnecessary roadblocks to the ballot' prevent in the effort to 'create a democracy that truly represents us all.'

She added: 'Chaos at polling places in recent primaries has demonstrated that elections officials are unprepared to hold safe and accessible elections this year,' noting disastrous scenes in Milwaukee, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Kentucky, where voters' lives were endangered amid the pandemic, as they to stand in long lines at understaffed election facilities.

'This is modern-day voter suppression plain and simple,' Lawson said. 'Voters in all these states risked their health, and that of their communities, simply to make their voices heard. People should be able to exercise their constitutional right to vote and stay healthy, even during a pandemic. '

'We should not have to choose between public health and a functioning democracy.'
She was the bookies' favourite to be this year's Bachelorette.

But MasterChef Australia star Tessa Boersma couldn't possibly have accepted the offer for one very simple reason: she has a boyfriend.

Speaking to Now to Love on Monday, the 27-year-old confirmed she was happily in a relationship with Eliot Nelson.

Sorry, she's taken! Tessa Boersma was the bookies' favourite to be this year's Bachelorette - but the MasterChef star couldn't possibly have accepted the offer for one very simple reason

'I loved the idea,' Tessa said of the speculation, before confirming she was taken.

'I ran it past my partner but it didn't go down too well. I think he knew I was joking but I was like, "It could be fun! It's just an experience!"' she said.

While Tessa hasn't shared a photo to Instagram of the pair together since 2019, Eliot uses an image of the couple as his Instagram avatar.

'I ran it past my partner but it didn't go down too well!' Speaking to Now to Love on Monday, the 27-year-old confirmed she was happily in a relationship with boyfriend Eliot Nelson (right)

Rumours linking Tessa to the 2020 season of The Bachelorette have been swirling for months. One tabloid magazine even claimed Channel 10 had prepared a contract for her to sign.

The speculation at first seemed plausible as the Bachelor franchise is known for using Channel 10 talent as suitors.

In recent years, the Australian series has either recycled unlucky-in-love stars from previous seasons or chosen high-profile personalities from other network shows.

Speculation: Rumours linking Tessa to the 2020 season of The Bachelorette have been swirling for months. One magazine even claimed Channel 10 had prepared a contract for her to sign

It comes after Tessa was eliminated from the cooking competition on Sunday night, after serving up Indian-style tacos.

The judges felt the fish was overwhelmed by the hot sauce and the citrus flavours, which left the dish ultimately tasting Mexican, not Indian.

After being sent home, Tessa told the judges: 'I did as best as I could. It was, like... I couldn't beat Reynold. You know, his mind is so incredible.'

MasterChef: Back to Win continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel 10
Rooney Mara is reportedly pregnant with her first child with fiance Joaquin Phoenix.

No doubt the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo star will be able to get some helpful motherly advice from her older sister, Kate Mara, who has a 13-month old girl with husband Jamie Bell.

And on Sunday, Kate was seen out while on one of her many walks in the park with her daughter in Los Angeles.

Motherly stroll: Kate Mara, 37, enjoyed a weekend walk in the park with her 13-month-old daughter in Los Angeles on Sunday

The House Of Cards actress, 37, kept it casual-cool in black skinny jeans and a brown zipper-sweater over a white t-shirt.

She also wore white Converse sneakers, dark sunglasses and pulled her light brown tresses back in a ponytails.

With the number of COVID-19 cases surging in recent weeks, the New York state native donned a brown-patterned face mask as she pulled her baby's stroller along the sidewalk.

The House Of Cards actress, 37, kept it casual-cool in black skinny jeans and a brown zipper-sweater over a white t-shirt

Celebrity couple: The House Of Cards star shares her daughter with British-actor Jamie Bell; they are pictured in Hollywood in April 2019, about a month before the arrival of their baby

The Brokeback Mountain star and her British-born husband have not yet publicly revealed their daughter's name and have only shared an adorable snap of her tiny little feet on social media.

The couple met on the set of 2015's Fantastic Four, and eventually they got married in 2017, following Bell's divorce from Rachel Evan Wood.

The former couple share a six-year-old son together.

Sisterly love: Kate's sister Rooney is a two-time Oscar nominated actress ; the sisters are pictured in Hollywood in October 2019

Sister Rooney, 35, has been spotted out and about in recent weeks, at times covering up her obvious baby bump.

Her pregnancy, which was first reported in May, has not been confirmed by herself or Phoenix.

A source told Page Six that she could have been as far as six months along at the time, although it's tough to tell because she often wears baggy clothes and does her best to hide her pending bundle of joy.
James Packer's model ex Jodhi Meares is known for her glamorous appearance.

But the 49-year-old bombshell proved she's just like the rest of us when she struggled to tame her tresses while picking up a coffee in rainy Byron Bay on Sunday.

The makeup free beauty appeared to struggle to cope with the humidity in the semi-tropical holiday mecca while meeting up with stylist, Elliot Garnaut.

Caffeine hit! Former model Jodhi Meares, 49, went makeup free as she picked up a coffee in rainy Byron Bay over the weekend

The bikini model covered up her incredible figure in a pair of graphic tights, a blue crew neck T-shirt and a wool overcoat.

She carried her belongings in a mesh bag slung over her shoulder and had a pair of mirrored sunglasses hanging from her T-shirt.

Jodhi was all business as she spoke with Elliot, who also sipped a coffee. The pair looked to be in an animated conversation at times.

Elliot opted to wear just a pair of track shorts along with a white T-shirt and a black hoodie. He finished his outfit with a Nike hat.

Humid: The 49-year-old bombshell proved she's just like the rest of us as she struggled to tame her tresses in the humidity

Covered up: The bikini model covered up her incredible figure in a pair of graphic tights, a blue crew neck T-shirt and a wool overcoat

On the go! The former bikini model carried her belongings in a mesh bag she wore slung over her shoulder and had a pair of mirrored sunglasses hanging from her T-shirt

Jodhi is founder of the upscale activewear brand, The Upside.

She hit headlines earlier this year following her split from Dominic Purcell.

The pair are thought to have ended their romance in January.

It is believed the couple initially called it quits in September, less than three months after they had debuted their relationship.

They appeared to rekindle their romance in December over the holidays, only to breakup again the following month.

Youthful: Jodhi showcased her youthful visage while going about her day with the celebrity stylist, Elliot Garnaut (L)

Former glamour model Jodhi split from her second husband, Nick Tsindos, in March 2017.

The couple were married for 14 months.

She famously married her first husband, Australian billionaire James Packer, in 1999.

Business: Jodhi is founder of the upscale activewear brand, The Upside
It has been a whirlwind few months for Jasmine Yarbrough after she welcomed her daughter, Harper May, with husband Karl Stefanovic, at the beginning of May.

And it looked like things got even busier for the shoe designer, as she was seen moving into her new $3.6million holiday home in sunny Noosa on Monday.

With Today Show host Karl, 45, remaining in Sydney, the 36-year-old relied on the help of movers as she attempted to settle into the new pad.

On her own: Karl Stefanovic's wife Jasmine Yarbrough, 36, was seen moving into her new holiday house in Noosa on Monday

Wearing khaki leggings and a black Adidas hoodie while her blonde locks were piled high into a bun, the new mother kept things low-key for the move.

Jasmine was seen chatting away to a mover before others walked into her property with new furniture.

With Karl staying put in Sydney for his television work commitments, a solo Jasmine utilised all the help she possibly could.

Helping hand: With Today Show host Karl, 45, remaining in Sydney for work commitments, the show designer relied on the help of movers as she attempted to settle into the new pad

Low-key: Wearing khaki leggings and a black Adidas hoodie while her blonde locks were piled high into a bun, the new mother kept things low-key for the move

The expansive house overlooks Sunshine Beach and has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a three-car garage and a swimming pool.

It features a spacious living room that connects to an outdoor entertaining area with views of the beach.

All four bedrooms have water views while the master bedroom also has a large ensuite with a bath and a double vanity sink.

Room to move: It features a spacious living room that connects to an outdoor entertaining area with views of the beach

Room with a view: The expansive house overlooks Sunshine Beach and has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a three-car garage and a swimming pool

The swimming pool has a waterfall feature and see-through glass, which means that the beach is always in view, even when underwater.

The house is just 200 metres away from the dog-friendly Sunshine Beach, where the couple can walk their pooch, Chance the Yapper.

It is also less than 30 minutes from Sunshine Coast Airport for when Karl needs to jet back to Sydney to film Channel Nine's Today show.

Stunning: All four bedrooms have water views while the master bedroom also has a large ensuite with a bath and a double vanity sink

Luxury: The swimming pool has a waterfall feature and see-through glass, which means that the beach is always in view, even when underwater

Jasmine and Today host Karl welcomed Harper on May 1. She was born at Sydney's North Shore Private Hospital.

In a statement to the Today show at the time, Karl said: 'Harper and Jasmine are doing well and dad had a great night's sleep.'

He added: 'I am in awe. Harper is absolutely perfect.'

The happy news was also announced on Weekend Today on Saturday May 2, by Karl's colleague and close friend, Richard Wilkins.

Cute: Jasmine and Today host Karl welcomed Harper on May 1. She was born at Sydney's North Shore Private Hospital

Richard confirmed that Harper weighed 2.9kg at the time of her birth and was born the day prior, just after midday.

Karl met Jasmine in late 2016, five months after his split from wife of 21 years, Cassandra Thorburn.

The new couple wed in a lavish ceremony at the One&Only Palmilla resort in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, in December 2018.

Karl is already a father to three children shared with Cassandra: son Jackson, 20, daughter Ava, 14, and son River, 12.
Nikki Blonsky came out to the Diana Ross anthem Im Coming Out in a TikTok post Sunday.

'Hi, its Nikki Blonsky from the movie Im Gay! #pride #imcomingout #hairspray' said the 31-year-old actress in a clip in which she danced in a friend's backyard in Hicksville, New York.

In the comment section, Blonsky showed her gratitude to her 27,000-plus followers who had given her feedback amid the personal announcement.

Reveal: Nikki Blonsky, 31, came out to the Diana Ross anthem Im Coming Out in a TikTok post Sunday

'Its incredibly true!!!' she said. 'Thank you so much for the love and support!'

Blonsky portrayed Tracy Turnblad in the 2007 film alongside John Travolta and an ensemble cast that included Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes, Christopher Walken and the late Jerry Stiller.

Speaking with Newsday earlier this month, the Long Island, New York native said she's enjoying doing Nikki Nights, a talk show on her Instagram Live account, as she truly enjoys 'to converse with people.'

She added: 'Every day is more exciting than the last. People are very giving of their time and energy right now.'

Confirmation: The actress added in the comment section, 'Its incredibly true!!! Thank you so much for the love and support!'

Joyous: The actress danced in joy upon making the announcement on the social media format

Thriving: The Long Island, New York native said she's enjoying doing Nikki Nights, a talk show on her Instagram Live account, as she truly enjoys 'to converse with people'

Among the stars she's interviewed on the social media platform include Rose McGowan, Ricki Lake and Carnie Wilson. Blonsky said the celebs 'were all so receptive,' adding, 'Its amazing how the internet can bring people together.'

She's next due to welcome stars including Americas Next Top Model's Laura James and Bizarre Foods' Andrew Zimmern.

She credited her upbringing to her skills as a communicator and broadcaster: 'I grew up in a household where my parents let me be myself, speak my mind and be a strong, independent woman. I feel more at home in front of the camera than alone with two people.'
Kate Langbroek has revealed she's out of quarantine, after recently returning to Australia from Italy with her 16-year-old son, Lewis.

In a post on Instagram on Monday, the 54-year-old radio host excitedly announced they had passed their mandatory coronavirus test.

'We passed our Covid test! Thanks @pullmanmelbourne... you've been so lovely - now you can kick us out!' she wrote.

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Free at last: Kate Langbroek has revealed she's out of quarantine, after recently returning to Australia from Italy with her 16-year-old son, Lewis

She added the hashtags: '#cantwaittoseemydad #andmum #andinlaws #andfriends #andsmelltheair'.

Kate included a photo of herself sipping a celebratory glass of Moet & Chandon Champagne, as Lewis pulled a face for the camera.

On Saturday, Kate shared a short video of herself about to take the compulsory coronavirus test.

In lockdown: She also revealed she was allowed out onto the roof of her Melbourne hotel on Saturday, after being locked indoors for 10 days

Responding to a fan's question about what it was like, she described it as 'not pleasant but quick'.

She also revealed she was allowed out onto the roof of her Melbourne hotel on Saturday, after being locked indoors for 10 days.

'Quarantine update: First fresh air break in 10 days... glorious Melbourne day on the roof of the lovely @pullmanmelbourne,' she wrote.

Cleaning up: In a separate post on Instagram last Tuesday, Kate revealed the hotel had dropped clean sheets and towels off at her door, with instructions on how to change them

In a separate post on Instagram last Tuesday, Kate revealed the hotel had dropped clean sheets and towels off at her door, with instructions on how to change them.

'"You vill change viz you; you vill change viz you..." #quarantine #prettyimpressive #linenchangeday #maybefreshairtoo #day7,' she wrote.

Kate and Lewis recently jetted back into Melbourne from their new home in Bologna, Italy.

Home sweet home: Kate and Lewis recently jetted back into Melbourne from their new home in Bologna, Italy

She has kept her fans updated with their mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine, which is required for all passengers after arriving from overseas to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Kate and her husband of 17 years, Peter Lewis relocated to Bologna with their four children, Lewis, Sunday, 15, Artie, 12, and Jan, nine, in January 2019.

It was was supposed to be a 'family gap year', but they decided to extend the break for an additional 12 months.
She recently landed a modelling job in Italy amid the coronavirus lockdown.

And Bella Hadid showed why she's the best in the business as she posed for a series of sizzling selfies on Sunday after returning to the States.

Taking to Instagram, the 23-year-old model sent her followers wild with a series of sultry snaps taken at her family ranch in Pennsylvania.

Sizzling: Bella Hadid showed why she's the best in the business as she posed for a series of sizzling selfies on Sunday after returning to the States

Bella ensured all eyes would be on her as she slipped into an oversized shirt that skimmed over her lithe frame.

Daring to go braless, the model left little to the imagination in the steamy snaps, also ensuring her tanned and toned pins were on full display.

Bella completed the look by styling her honey hued locks loose and poker straight, with a full fringe.

Earlier in the day, Bella made the most of the sunny weather as she went out to top up her tan whilst posing topless on a lilo.

Turning heads: Taking to Instagram, the 23-year-old model sent her followers wild with a series of sultry snaps taken at her family ranch in Pennsylvania

Bella has spent the majority of lockdown in Pennsylvania on her mum Yolanda's farm alongside her pregnant sister Gigi and her boyfriend, Zayn Malik.

Yolanda bought the ranch back in 2017 with hopes of becoming closer to her children, who live in Manhattan.

'It's where we can all come and feel like ourselves again,' she told Elle recently.

Dressed to impress: Bella ensured all eyes would be on her as she slipped into an oversized shirt that skimmed over her lithe frame

'When I'm here, I just get in my truck and go to the store. Kids get excited at the market, but they don't take their phones out.'

'They want us to feel normal, and that's very appreciated.'

Gigi and Bella have not been joined by their younger brother, Anwar, 21, who has been isolating in London with his girlfriend, Dua Lipa.
He emerged as a villain during last year's season of My Kitchen Rules, and Joshua Bonwick is still courting controversy.

In a post on Instagram on Monday, the 27-year-old former MKR contestant shared a photo of two white Americans wielding guns.

'When decent people are pushed into the corner. We are united,' he captioned the troubling photo.

Raising eyebrows: He emerged as a villain during last year's season of My Kitchen Rules, and Joshua Bonwick is still courting controversy

Josh added the hashtags: '#wethepeople #america #donttreadonme'.

In a series of posts added to his Instagram Stories, Josh explained the photo, revealing the couple wielding the weapons were homeowners in St. Louis.

Videos also posted to Josh's Instagram showed them aiming the guns at Black Lives Matter protestors, who were marching past their mansion.

Controversial: In a post on Instagram on Monday, the 27-year-old former MKR contestant shared a photo of two white Americans wielding guns during a Black Lives Matter protest in St. Louis on Sunday

The man could be heard telling the seemingly peaceful protestors to 'keep moving' as he pointed a machine gun in their direction.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Josh said he would have done the same if he'd been in the homeowners' position.

'As per the law in most states of America, citizens are well within their rights to defend themselves against anyone who trespasses onto their property trying to enter their homes by force,' he said.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Josh said he would have done the same if he'd been in the homeowners' position. Pictured with his brother Austin (left) on My Kitchen Rules

'I would gladly defend myself and home if it were me, and I commend these decent hard working Americans for defending themselves from a vicious horde of violent people clearly trying to illegally enter their home and cause harm, regardless of colour or cause.'

The protestors were walking along the private street en route to St. Louis' mayor's house when the incident occurred, according to a report by CNN on Monday.

It's not the first time the outspoken reality star has taken a controversial stance on current issues.

Life in lockdown: Last week, he complained about having to wear a face mask while in Los Angeles, as the city continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic

Last week, he complained about having to wear a face mask while in Los Angeles, as the city continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.

'This is what I legally am forced to wear if I want to be free to work, buy food, or go out into public, to prevent the spread of a variation of the FLU with a 99.7% survival rate,' he wrote.

'Despite the science proving that this doesn't protect you from "biological weapons" or diseases, and IN FACT is making you choke on carbon dioxide. Is ignoring basic science the new normal now? OK Karen's...'
Pierce Brosnan has marked the seventh anniversary of his daughter Charlotte's death with a touching post on Instagram.

The former James Bond star, 67, shared a snap taken from his Hawaii home by his wife Keely Shaye Smith, 56, on Sunday in remembrance of the late mother-of-two.

The actor looked at peace as he relaxed on his porch in a white linen shirt, sunglasses and shorts.

Charlotte passed away at the age of just 42 on June 28, 2013 after a battle with ovarian cancer, the same disease that claimed the life of her mother Cassandra Harris - Pierce's first wife - in 1991 when she was 43.

Poignant: Pierce Brosnan marked the seventh anniversary of his daughter Charlotte's death with a touching post on Instagram on Sunday

Charlotte was survived by her husband Alex and children Isabella and Lucas.

Pierce also wished happy birthday to his granddaughter Marley May, who turned five this month.

He wrote: 'Here's looking at you kid... in remembrance of Charlotte and with happy birthday wishes for my darling Marley May.'

Pierce became Charlotte's adoptive father when he married first wife Cassandra in 1980.

Cassandra had two children, Charlotte and Christopher, now 46, from a previous marriage to Dermot Harris, who died in 1986.

In remembrance: The former James Bond star, 67, shared a snap taken from his Hawaii home by his wife Keely Shaye Smith, 56, on Sunday in remembrance of the late mother-of-two

Tragic: Charlotte passed away at the age of just 42 on June 28, 2013 after a battle with ovarian cancer (Pierce and Charlotte pictured together in 2006)

Tragedy: The same disease that claimed the life of Charlotte's mother Cassandra Harris - Pierce's first wife - in 1991 when she was 43 (pictured with Pierce in 1983)

Cassandra also died of ovarian cancer in 1991 after 11 years of marriage with Pierce.

They also had a son, Sean, 36, who now has a young daughter, Marley May - whose middle name is Cassandra in tribute to her late grandmother - with his film producer wife Sanja Banic.

In 1992, Pierce said of his first wife: 'She has made me the man I am, the actor I am, the father I am.

'She's forever embedded in every fibre of my being. She's there with me every day. I was so blessed to have met someone like that.'

Speaking of Charlotte and Cassandra's deaths in 2014 at the Stand Up To Cancer telethon, he revealed: 'To watch someone you love have his or her life eaten away bit by bit by this insidious disease, that kind of sorrow becomes an indelible part of your psyche.

Fond memories: The actor pictured in 2006 alongside children Christopher (far left), Charlotte (centre left), and Sean (far right) as well as his mother Mary May (centre right)

'I held the generous, strong, beautiful hand of my first wife Cassie as ovarian cancer took her life much too soon.'

'And just last year (2013), I held the hand of my funny, wonderful daughter Charlotte before she too died from this wretched, inherited disease.'

Pierce went on to meet Keely in 1994; the couple tied the knot at Ballintubber Abbey in County Mayo, Ireland, in 2001 and share two sons, Dylan, 23, and Paris, 19.

The actor has often been vocal about how Keely saved him from depression following his personal tragedies, describing her as a 'strength I wouldnt be able to live without'.

Speaking in an interview with The Independent in 2015, Pierce said: 'I love her vitality, her passion.

'She has this strength that I wouldn't be able to live without. When Keely looks at me, I go weak.'
Stephen Belafonte made a rare appearance with his daughter Madison as they went shopping at Bristol Farms in Beverly Hills on Sunday.

The producer, 45, shares custody of the eight-year-old with Spice Girl ex-wife Mel B  who has now quit Los Angeles and relocated to her childhood home of Leeds.

Stephen and Madison both put safety first as they sported matching face masks on their outing amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Out and about: Stephen Belafonte, 45, made a rare appearance with his daughter Madison, eight, as they went shopping at Bristol Farms in Beverly Hills on Sunday.

Mel's ex donned a light blue denim shirt with a navy T-shirt and matching tracksuit bottoms along with a pair of trainers.

Madison donned a grey T-shirt with an orange striped print with navy leggings and open toe sandals.

Carrying a shopping bag, the eight-year-old's locks were styled into an updo for the outing with her father.

Mel, 44, hasnt seen Madison since December when she came to visit her in the Yorkshire city due to the pandemic.

Father and daughter: Stephen and Madison both put safety first as they sported matching face masks on their outing amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

Taking to Instagram in April, Stephen shared a snap of him cuddling his daughter, captioning the post: 'I know that this coronavirus has brought a lot of unneeded emotional, financial, and physical stress into all of our lives, but I think the thing to do with these trying times is really focus on the things that can be a blessing in disguise like me getting to be able to quarantine with the love of my life, my little Maddie!

'What blessings have come out of this horrible event for you? #quarantine #stayfocused #stayhealthy #timetorecharge #priorities.'

Mel is now living in the UK after being reunited with her mother Andrea following her split from husband Stephen in 2017, ten years after they exchanged vows.

Blessings: Stephen welcomed the coronavirus lockdown because it means that he can enjoy an extended period of quality time with Madison

Opening up: Previously taking to Instagram, Stephen admitted he was loving being at home with his daughter during the coronavirus crisis

In December she wrote about the pain of sending her daughter back to Los Angeles after she visited her new home in Leeds for a week, and shared an image of a handwritten letter from Madison on Instagram.

The message, written in red crayon, said her mum was 'loving', 'funny' and 'beautiful' and she misses her when they are apart.

Alongside the image of the note, Mel reflected on the December week with her daughter and how her 'abusive ex' is keeping them apart.

She wrote: 'This time last week I walked around winter wonderland with my 3 kids having the best Xmas fun ever, my youngest Madison with me for 7 amazing days,she wrote me this on the plane going back to LA,as I read this over and over again the pain I feel is unbearable.

Old times: Mel, who is also a mother to daughters Phoenix, 21, from her first marriage to Jimmy Gulzar, and Angel, 13, from a relationship with Eddie Murphy, divorced Stephen in 2017

'I dont no when me or her sisters are gonna see her again, my abuser STILL manages to abuse me threw the courts and on a daily basis threw a "court appointed" email that allows him access to me for him to say whenever whatever he wants.

'I share this because I no other mothers are going threw exactly the same thing right now, just no your not alone I feel your pain,and I wont stop talking and fighting to get justice for us all and our kids #stopabuse #yournotalone #talktosomeonetoday @womens_aid please be kind to people like me in these situation as you have no idea what me/they are going threw.' [sic]

The upload came after Mel said she's been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder her marriage broke down in 2016.

Heart-wrenching: In December Mel wrote about the pain of sending her daughter back to Los Angeles after she visited her new home in Leeds for a week, and shared an image of a handwritten letter from Madison on Instagram

Devastated: Alongside the image of the note, Mel reflected on the December week with her daughter and how her 'abusive ex' is keeping them apart

Angel  Mel's 13-year old daughter with Hollywood legend Eddie Murphy  also shared a snap of Mel cuddling sister Madison on a train Instagram and wrote: 'No child should be separated from their mother. No child should be separated from their sisters.

'No child should be torn away from family. No child should lie about how they feel. No child should be denied communication to their family consistently.'

Mel and Stephen divorced the following year and spent months battling it out in a nasty court fight before finally reaching a settlement.
She's been enjoying California's lockdown with her partner, Nicolo Oddi and her children Anja, 11 and Noah, eight.

But Alessandra Ambrosio treated herself to some me-time as she cruised the waves on a boat in Malibu on Sunday.

In images shared to Instagram, the supermodel, 39, put on a busty display as she slipped into a yellow bikini by her own swimwear brand GAL Floripa.

Sun-soaked: Alessandra Ambrosio treated herself to some me-time as she cruised the waves on a boat in Malibu on Sunday

The former Victoria's Secret Angel highlighted her sensational figure as she relaxed in her tiny two-piece, which she styled with circular-framed shades by OMEGA.

With her tresses worn in a wavy fashion, the catwalk queen went make-up free to display her naturally radiant complexion.

The mother-of-two captioned the photos: ''like the rays down from the sun when a new day has just begun you look like gold.'' (sic)

Radiant: In images shared to Instagram, the supermodel, 39, put on a busty display as she slipped into a yellow bikini by her own swimwear brand GAL Floripa

Turning heads: The former Victoria's Secret Angel highlighted her sensational figure as she relaxed in her tiny two-piece, which she styled with circular-framed shades by OMEGA

Alessandra has been keeping busy with her children Anja and Noah, who she shares with her former fiance, businessman Jamie Mazur, 39.

The former couple were together for 10 years until they called off their relationship in early 2018.

The bombshell and Alanui founder Nicolo were first linked together in July 2018, when they were seen getting close at the HQ2 Nightclub in Atlantic City, New Jersey, according to Page Six.

'The two were very affectionate with each other, kissing and, when she wasn't dancing, they had their arms around each other,' a source told the site at the time.

Family first: The media personality has been enjoying California's lockdown with her partner, Nicolo Oddi and her children Anja, 11 and Noah, eight (pictured together in May)

The brunette regularly boasts a sensational appearance, both when stepping for low-key outings and attending stylish industry events.

On her approach to beauty, she previously told Vogue magazine: 'I feel like in Brazil we have this whole natural thing because we have so many great natural products - it's something that's very important. Like I'll drink a lot of coconut water which is super hydrating, and we use coconut oil on the skin, and avocado.

'I remember my mum putting avocado on our skin when we were kids, and putting coconut oil in our hair when we went to the beach. I grew up with it.

'I wash my face, then I like applying serums - like maybe a vitamin C serum - on, then a moisturiser with SPF for during the day. I try to avoid make-up if I don't have to work because I have to wear so much on jobs. I like bare skin, protected with SPF of course.'
She made major breakthroughs in her cooking career after she placed second in the 2019 season of MasterChef Australia.

But on Monday, Tessa Boersma revealed what it was really like returning to the reality show for a second chance at winning the title.

Speaking on The Project, the 28-year-old chef said: 'For me to go back, it was a daunting experience.'

The truth: Tessa Boersma (right) revealed what it was REALLY like returning to MasterChef: Back To Win for a shot at winning the competition. Pictured with host Lisa Wilkinson (left)

'I feel incredible. I put myself back in there and managed to get into not only the top 10, but make it to seventh,' she explained.

The Brisbane-based star was sent home on Sunday night after her Indian-inspired tacos failed to impress the judges.

Speaking about her elimination, Tessa said: 'If I'm going to lose out to someone, it better be Reynold. I'm pretty happy in that respect.'

Tough: Speaking on The Project, the 28-year-old chef explained: 'For me to go back, it was a daunting experience'

Tessa was filling a challenge brief, which called for something completely new that the judges had never seen before.

She whipped up chapati, which she said is like a wholemeal Indian roti, with tandoori flathead, asafoetida and mint raita, a pineapple and coriander salsa, and a smoked Kashmiri chilli hot sauce.

However the judges felt the fish was overwhelmed by the hot sauce and the citrus flavours, which left the dish ultimately tasting Mexican.

Oh no! The Brisbane-based star was sent home on Sunday night after her Indian-inspired tacos failed to impress the judges

Upon leaving, Tessa told the judges: 'I did as best as I could. It was, like... I couldn't beat Reynold. You know, his mind is so incredible. But, yeah, like, I'm bummed, but I'm really happy'

Upon leaving, Tessa told the judges: 'I did as best as I could. It was, like... I couldn't beat Reynold. You know, his mind is so incredible. But, yeah, like, I'm bummed, but I'm really happy.'

She then broke down in tears as she wished all her fellow contestants a sad farewell, particularity fellow competitor Reynold Poernomo.

'See ya later. Well done, mate. You're amazing. You gotta win it. Thanks so much. Sorry, I'm a crying mess,' she said.

MasterChef Australia continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel 10
Melissa Leong was moved to tears during Monday's episode of MasterChef.

The 38-year-old judge was tasting contestant Poh Ling Yeow's 'Malaysian feast' when she had an emotional reaction to the meal.

'I think you've done an incredible job honouring your heritage. I think it's really special,' she told Poh, 47, before breaking down in tears.

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Getting emotional: MasterChef judge Melissa Leong (pictured) was moved to tears during Monday's episode

She continued: 'And I'm really proud to eat food like this... I'm actually crying with joy. That doesn't happen very often, but yeah.'

Clearly moved by her intense reaction to the dish, fellow judge Jock Zonfrillo asked Melissa what it was that had caused her to become so emotional.

'I really miss my mum and this is... this is food she cooks. Like, the smell of that in the house on the weekend...' she explained tearfully.

Moved: The 38-year-old judge was tasting contestant Poh Ling Yeow's 'Malaysian feast' when she had an emotional reaction to the meal

'The way she can honour the accuracy of the flavours and the textures is absolutely spot on, and that's what great food can do.

'But regardless of what culture, I think you can feel it in the food in that way and what she put into this cook, that's what we look for here.'

The show's remaining contestants were tasked with creating a dish in line with the colour scheme on a Rubik's Cube, and it quickly became apparent that Poh's dish resonated with Melissa.

'I think you've done an incredible job honouring your heritage. I think it's really special,' she told Poh before breaking down in tears

'I'm gonna make a little Malaysian feast. I'm gonna do a very, very traditional Nyonya chicken curry...' explained Poh.

'I'm feeling really happy about this dish because I'm in my comfort zone and it completely represents me and the way I grew up.

'My journey with my cultural cuisine actually started in MasterChef season one.

Curious: Clearly moved by her intense reaction to the dish, fellow judge Jock Zonfrillo asked Melissa what it was that had caused her to become so emotional

'I realised I had let go of so much of my culture, trying to assimilate as a migrant kid, that I had to find that thing that reconnected me again, and food became that thing.'

As Melissa approached Poh's work bench, she was immediately transported to her family home.

'This smells like my mum's kitchen in here... This is very, very special,' she told Poh.

'I'm really proud to eat food like this... I'm actually crying with joy. That doesn't happen very often, but yeah,' said Melissa

Poh said she was happy she could give the beloved MasterChef judge a memorable food experience.

'Melissa and I have had very similar upbringings, and there's no doubt that food plays such a huge part of growing up in that part of the world,' she said.

'I love that we share this story, so it's nice that I can give her a piece of that today.'

The highest compliment: Later in the episode, an emotional Poh described Melissa's reaction to her meal as being incredibly flattering

Later in the episode, an emotional Poh described Melissa's reaction to her meal as being incredibly flattering.

'There is no higher compliment I could receive than someone reacting like that to my food. Because I don't think people... Mmm,' she said, before breaking down.

'I don't think people can react to food like that if they don't feel it's been made with that love. So that's a really nice feeling.'

MasterChef continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Ten
Gordon Ramsay takes his National Geographic series, Uncharted, to Indonesia in a new clip.

And the TV chef gets well and truly stuck in the mud when he takes part in Pacu jawi - a traditional bull race in which a jockey stands holding on to a pair of loosely-tied bulls by their tails while they race through a muddy rice field.

The 53-year-old is seen watching the natives take on the challenge, amazed at the extremity involved in the sport.

Holy cow! Gordon Ramsay gets well and truly stuck in the mud when he takes part in Pacu jawi - a traditional bull race in which a jockey stands holding on to a pair of loosely-tied bulls by their tails while they race through a muddy rice field

Gordon watches on as the men grasp the bulls' ropes as they dash through the swamp, pulling the men from all angles.

'Are you crazy?' he asks, before agreeing to give it a whirl.

'The things I do for rengdang!' he adds, having been promised a taste of the traditional spicy curry in return for taking part.

Gordon doensn't last very long however, falling flat on his face within seconds.

Yuck! The 53-year-old is seen watching the natives take on the challenge, amazed at the extremity involved in the sport

'Are you crazy?' Gordon agrees to give it a whirl. 'The things I do for rengdang!' he adds, having been promised a taste of the traditional spicy curry in return for taking part

Fail! Gordon doensn't last very long however, falling flat on his face within seconds

He gives it another whirl but is dragged through the mire yet again, left soaking and filthy.

'They sense I'm a chef, it's called payback time!' he jokes about the horned beasts.

The Kitchen Nightmares star has had an eventful series so far - seen tucking into a swamp rat stew in another episodes.

The potty-mouthed chef helped catch and kill a semiaquatic rodent known as a coypu or nutria whilst in the Southern American state of Louisiana.

Yum: Gordon didn't think twice as he tucked into a swamp rat stew whilst filming his National Geographic series, Uncharted

Nutria are native to South America but are considered a nuisance as their presence has disrupted the native ecosystem.

Gordon was joined by Eric, who explained the locals had begun eating the rodents to help keep their population down, before the pair headed off on a hunt.

Gordon mused: 'You can call this thing nutria, water rabbit, but trust me, every bite, you're still eating a rat.'

However, as he spooned in mouthfuls of the stew, he conceded, 'See, now that is delicious.

'That's like a rabbit... there's no fat in there; there's no fat in my mouth.'

Dinner: The potty-mouthed chef, 53, helped catch and kill a semiaquatic rodent known as a coypu or nutria whilst in the Southern American state of Louisiana

Despite Gordon's glowing review, his fans weren't so easily convinced, taking to Twitter to voice their unease.

Discussing whether they would be tempted to try it out, they penned: 'Not unless Id die in the wilderness without it. Still might think twice. Ugh.'

'Lol, this is crazy.'; 'Eeeeeee wat you eating....'; 'Very trusting lol'; 'You are one brave man @GordonRamsay'; 'i felt like throwing up :(, gordon, youre too brave!!! [sic]'.

Kill it, cook it, eat it: Nutria are native to South America but are considered a nuisance as their presence has disrupted the native ecosystem

Unsure: Despite Gordon's glowing review, his fans weren't so easily convinced, taking to Twitter to voice their unease

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted sees the star journey around the world where he meets people from different countries, tries exotic regional cuisines and learns about their food and culture.

A recent episode showed the star leaping from a helicopter into the sea below after the pilot informed him that he's unable to land at a nearby beach.

In showstopping images, Gordon was seen edging towards the open door of the helicopter as he looked down below.

One to watch: Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted sees the star journey around the world where he meets people from different countries and tries exotic regional cuisines

After emerging unscathed, Gordon said: 'Jumping out of a helicopter into a ferocious sea, laced with sharks, to get to the beach.

'Trust me, after that jump, I hope those mussels are worth it, because I'm here to learn.'

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted airs in America on Sundays at at 10/9c on National Geographic. It is not yet known if the series will be shown in the UK.
She has been enjoying some quality time with her family whilst they holiday on her father Bernie's superyacht.

Yet Tamara Ecclestone disembarked the luxury liner as she celebrated her 36th birthday by going to dinner with her sister Petra and their brood on Sunday night.

The Formula 1 heiress looked radiant as she headed out for dinner at Don Dino restaurant on the coast.

Fun with the family: Tamara Ecclestone celebrated her 36th birthday in style on Sunday as she headed for dinner with sister Petra and family in Croatia

Tamara was a vision of beauty on the outing as she headed out in a printed boho dress with a low-cut neckline and hanky hemline.

The philanthropist kept things casual by swapping her typical heels for flip flops, and accessorising with beaded bracelets.

She completed the look by sweeping her glossy chestnut locks in a high ponytail to emphasise her radiant features.

Out and about: The Formula 1 heiress looked radiant as she headed out for dinner at Don Dino restaurant on the coast

The doting mother-of-one kept her daughter Sophia, six, by her side as she strolled into the eatery with husband Jay Rutland, 39.

Proving that glamour runs in the family, 31-year-old Petra also looked sensational in a cream midi dress that boasted a canary yellow floral pattern.

She also opted for sensible footwear so that she could chase after her children Lavinia, seven, and James and Andrew, both five.

Cruising in style: Tamara has been enjoying some quality time with her family whilst they holiday on her father Bernie's superyacht

Terrific trio: The family have been enjoying the sunshine in the home country of the Ecclestone's mother, Slavica

Understandably not out with the brood was Petra's baby girl, who she welcomed in March with her fiance Sam Palmer, 36, but he was in attendance.

On Sunday, Jay made sure Tamara's birthday got off to a good start by sharing a sweet of snap of them with their daughter Sophia.

The doting husband posted a stunning image of his family in front of a sunset in Hvar Town, alongside the caption: 'Happy birthday Tamara, we love you very much.'

Looking good: Tamara was a vision of beauty on the outing as she headed out in a printed boho dress with a low-cut neckline and hanky hemline

Stepping out in style: The philanthropist kept things casual by swapping her typical heels for flip flops, and accessorising with beaded bracelets

Brunette beauty: She completed the look by sweeping her glossy chestnut locks in a high ponytail to emphasise her radiant features

Businessman Jay opted for a laid-back ensemble in the sun-soaked snap, donning a white t-shirt and navy shorts.

While birthday girl Tamara cut a fashionable figure in a blue polkadot dress which plunged at the front and boasted puff-sleeves.

Their little girl Sophia, who is also called Fifi by her family, looked sweet in a pink sundress with orange fruits all over it.

Terrific trio: The doting mother-of-one kept her daughter Sophia, six, by her side as she strolled into the eatery with husband Jay Rutland, 39

For the past month Tamara and her family have been spending time on her father Bernie's yacht.

During their time abroad they have shared several snaps of Sophia enjoying a dip in the sea and them exploring Croatia together.

However it has not all been plain sailing, as earlier this month, the star hit out at her critics after being slammed for taking her family to Croatia amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Taking it easy: For the past month Tamara and her family have been spending time on her father Bernie's yacht

Hitting back: It has not been all plain sailing, and earlier this month, the star hit out at her critics after being slammed for taking her family to Croatia amid the coronavirus pandemic

On the move: The duo were lucky enough to have their father's yacht at their disposal. The 176ft yacht, which boasts six cabins, is named Petara - after Bernie's daughters

Brushing off the criticism: Tamara was recently met with wrongly-placed criticism for taking Sophia out of school, endangering the public

Since the family were seen luxuriating on the sisters' father Bernie's 28m yacht, Tamara's social media has seen a surge of criticism - leading to her staunch defence in a lengthy Instagram post.

The duo were lucky enough to have their father's yacht at their disposal. The 176ft yacht, which boasts six cabins, is named Petara - after Bernie's daughters - with her name being an amalgamation of the Petra and Tamara's name.

It appears Tamara has been met with wrongly-placed criticism for taking Sophia out of school, endangering the public - leading to her clarification.

Tamara penned a lengthy caption reading: 'Clearly this virus hasn't changed some people for the better which is a bit of a shame. For those of you that are confused or just bitter. I didn't leave the house at all during lockdown...

Yum: Tamara shared snaps from her birthday celebrations as she showed off the epic birthday cake she had been gifted on the night

'I didn't even go to the park or exercise. I am half-Croatian so decided it would be best, safest to come here, which is not forbidden and I am now following the rules in Croatia. As for the home school questions, a return to school was option...

'We chose to continue to home school Fifi she is doing better than ever and has gone up two reading bands. If I am not mistaken no on is obliged to follow me so you know what to do.'

Last month, Krunoslav Capak, the director of Croatia's Institute of Public Health, said there would be 'no bans, just precautions' on the country's beaches.
Kim Kardashian's beauty brand, KKW, has been valued at a billion dollars, with the mogul now overtaking the wealth of her younger sister Kylie Jenner.

The mogul, 39, has just inked a deal with Coty Inc. to sell a 20 percent stake in the company, which sells make-up and fragrances, for $200million.

Coty also bought a 51 percent stake in Kylie's company for $600million last year.

Kylie, 22, had been hailed a 'self-made billionaire' by Forbes in 2019 and 2020, but last month they stripped her of the title, accusing her of inflated business figures and 'forging' tax returns and suggesting she is worth around $950million.

Now Kim's a BILLIONAIRE! Coty Inc has splashed out $200m on 20 per cent of Kardashian's beauty empire as she overtakes sister Kylie Jenner in the wealth stakes (stock image)

Kim's deal is for a 'long-term strategic partnership to launch products in new beauty categories and expand across the globe from top to bottom'.

TMZ reports that Coty acts as a licensee for skin, hair, personal and nail products.

The deal means that Kim remains very much at the helm of the business, having only given up a 20 percent stake.

If the company have paid $200million for one fifth of the brand, that means they value the whole company at a billion dollars.

Time to celebrate: Kim, 39, was pictured out on Sunday, the first time she's been seen out in public since the lockdowns began

Power couple: The billionaire duo dined at Nobu, Malibu, before heading off in Kanye's Lamborghini SUV

Coty bought a majority stake in Kylie's beauty company, (51 per cent) in 2019, for $600million, whereas Kim will still be in charge of her company.

TMZ also reported that Kim and her team have been working out the deal with Coty for months.

Kim said: 'This relationship will allow me to focus on the creative elements that I'm so passionate about while benefiting from the incredible resources of Coty, and launching my products around the world.'

Kim's beauty company was recently sued by Seeds Beauty because they were reportedly worried she would spill trade secrets to Coty.

Not happy: The latest news comes after Kylie's wealth was estimated at around $900-950million as Forbes stripped her of her 'self-made billionaire' title last month - she sold 51% of her beauty brand to Coty for $600million in 2019

Something to say: Kylie recently hit back at Forbes after it published a report claiming that the Jenners and their PR team inflated figures for Kylie Cosmetics

Last month, Kylie slammed Forbes after the publication released a bombshell report accusing her of inflating figures and 'forging' tax returns for the makeup mogul's cosmetics company.

It appeared the reality star was taken by surprise at the article, which claims Kylie Cosmetics is not doing as well as the Jenners want people to think - and that the Lip Kit creator is not actually a billionaire.

Forbes named Kylie the world's youngest self-made billionaire in 2019 and again in 2020, and of her surprise over their latest article she wrote on Twitter: 'What am i even waking up to. i thought this was a reputable site.

'All i see are a number of inaccurate statements and unproven assumptions lol. ive never asked for any title or tried to lie my way there EVER. period'

'Inaccurate statements': Kylie appeared shocked by the Forbes article that claimed her family created a 'web of lies' so she could be crowned the youngest billionaire

She followed up with a quote from the Forbes report that accused the Jenners and their accountant of producing false tax returns.

'Even creating tax returns that were likely forged thats your proof? so you just THOUGHT they were forged? like actually what am i reading.' Kylie tweeted incredulously.

She followed up with another post focusing on the positive, 'but okay i am blessed beyond my years, i have a beautiful daughter, and a successful business and im doing perfectly fine.'

The publication accused Kylie of 'lying about company figures and forging tax returns' to be dubbed a billionaire.

Report: Kylie is not a billionaire, Forbes claimed. They accused the 'self-made' makeup mogul, 22, of spinning 'a web of lies' about company figures and 'forging tax returns'

Kim versus Kylie: How do their earnings compare? She's just sold a 20% share of her KKW beauty company, banking an incredible $200million. So how does Kim's latest windfall compare to sister Kylie's and the rest of their hugely successful family Kim Kardashian: Estimated net worth - $900million Sister act: Kim (centre) has potential to be the richest member of the Jenner/Kardashian family The first member of the Kardashian family to find stardom was Kylie's big sister Kim, 39. After a couple of years lurking on the sidelines of fame as Paris Hilton's friend and sometime stylist, she was catapulted into the public eye when an intimate sex tape was leaked in 2007. While Kim was by her own account 'devastated', her mother Kris Jenner saw an opportunity and took over, guiding Kim to win a $5million payout via a lawsuit against the company, and signing up the newly notorious family for their own reality show. Last year Kim's net worth was estimated at $370million by Forbes, which put her at number 26 on the magazine's 2019 list of America's Highest-Paid Celebrities. Yet the publication may have been a little wide of the mark as Coty Inc valued her beauty empire, KKW, at $1billion, buying 20% of the company for a huge $200m. However, Forbes has since claimed the deal will leave majority owner Kim with a 72% stake but as her mother Kris Jenner owns 8% it has prevented her from attaining true billionaire status. While sister Kylie sold a majority stake (51%) of her beauty company, Kylie Cosmetics to Coty in 2019, Kim is still in control of her brand as she owns 80%. Mother-of-four Kim's money previously came from her share of the Keeping Up With The Kardashians show pay check. She had been earning $100million a year from KKW but the latest deal will give her brand further global reach. She has also made millions from her computer game, Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. Kim supplements this income with endorsements, recently confirming she gets offered up to $1million for a single sponsored Instagram post. She said she turned down that particular offer because her husband Kanye West didn't like the 'fast fashion' company because 'they would knock off Yeezy all the time.' Her rapper husband has called himself a billionaire, and according to Forbes Kanye earned $150million over the past year, putting him at number three on the magazine's World's Highest-Paid Entertainers 2019 list. Kylie Jenner; Estimated net worth $900-950million Like all her sisters, Kylie, 22, makes money from the family reality show, modelling gigs, and endorsements. However this is dwarfed by her makeup company, which started out as a single batch of 15,000 $29 lip kits which she self-funded and sold online to her Instagram followers in 2015. She sold a controlling stake of her brand CoverGirl owner Coty for $600million last year, making her officially the richest Kardashian until now. Kylie commands a little more than sister Kim for her Instagram posts and at last count, charged $1.2 million (960,000) for a single ad post. This makes her the highest-paid Instagram Influencer of 2019, according to reports. She's also been involved in lucrative advertising deals which have netted her around $18million, from companies such as Puma and Pac Sun. When she first started out, Kylie's mother Kris brokered her seven figure deals as a model, scoring a huge deal with British retailer Topshop. Self made: Kylie Jenner, seen promoting Kylie Cosmetics, is now said to be worth $900m Kris Jenner; Estimated net worth - $90million When her daughter's sex tape with ex Ray Jay hit the internet, Kris Jenner took control, negotiating so well that the reality star continues to make money from royalties today. Indeed it is all thanks to Kris that fleeting infamy became something more. Shortly after the sex tape leaked she signed up the entire family for their eponymous reality show, which premiered that same year. KUWTK is currently in its 17th season, and she remains the executive producer. She also operates as the family momager - a nickname she likes so much she trademarked it - taking a percentage cut of her children's earnings whenever she negotiates their deals. While at 30million her social media presence is a fraction of her daughters, Kris also occasionally scores endorsement deals of her own, including a Fendi campaign with Kim and her daughter, North West. According to the website CelebrityNetWorth she is worth around $90million, however if she negotiated Kylie's Coty deal, it will mean a huge payday. Khloe Kardashian; Estimated net worth $40million Along with the family reality show, and endorsement deals, Khloe has her own clothing line, Good America, which is sold in department stores and online. Kourtney Kardashian; Estimated net worth $35million The bulk of Kourtney's income comes from the family reality show, and endorsement deals. She is currently promoting her Diamond fragrance line with sisters Kim and Khloe. The mother-of-three's net worth is estimated at $35million, according to Money. Caitlyn Jenner; Estimated net worth $100million Famous first as an Olympian, Caitlyn for years received a pay check for appearing on KUWTK. Since divorcing Kris Jenner, she has left the money-spinning show, and come out as a trans woman. She paid her bills with her own spinoff chronicling her life as a trans woman, and released a tell-all autobiography. She currently stars on the British reality show I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here for which she is being paid $648,000, according to The Sun newspaper. Her net worth is estimated at $100million. TV role: Caitlyn Jenner is currently appearing on British reality show I'm A Celebrity Kendall Jenner; Estimated net worth $30million Like her sisters Kendall cuts a paycheck from Keeping Up With The Kardashians. However she combines this role with life as a high fashion model. Last year she was the world's highest-paid model for the second year in a row, according to Forbes, making $22.5million in 2018 alone. Money estimates her worth at $30million. High fashion: Kendall Jenner walks the runway in Rome last month Rob Kardashian; Estimated net worth $10million It will come as no surprise that Rob is the least wealthy of his siblings. Still, with an estimated net worth of $10million, the single dad is still a wealthy man. Rob made his money by appearing on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and his short lived spinoff show. He stepped back from KUWTK last year, now making only occasional appearances for which he is thought to be paid $50,000 an episode. He also has a sock company, Arthur George.

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Based on filings from beauty giant Coty, which acquired a 51 percent stake of Kylie's makeup company in January at a valuation of $1.2 billion, Kylie Cosmetics generated revenues and profits that were far lower that the figures touted for years by the Jenner-Kardashian clan.

These shock claims come after Forbes put Kylie on the cover and hailed her the youngest self-made billionaire ever two years running.

Forbes explained that it had been shown 2016 tax returns indicating revenue far higher than the numbers revealed by Coty's filing, and that there were only two explanations: Kylie Cosmetics' sales had utterly collapsed in the two years before the acquisition, or the tax returns were fabricated.

Forbes now think that Kylie, even after pocketing an estimated $340 million after tax from the sale, is not a billionaire.

The magazine claimed that filings released by publicly traded Coty over the past six months reveal Kylies business is significantly smaller than people have been led to believe.

Not worried: Kylie reacted to a tweet that questioned why she cared about it with so much going on in the news

Reaction: Another fan asked her to use her platform to speak out about George Floyd, the man who was killed by a police officer in Minnesota

'I can't believe it': Kylie shared a picture of the cover and wrote this post back in 2018

The publication noted: 'Revenues over a 12-month period preceding the deal: $177million according to the Coty presentation, far lower than the published estimates at the time.

'More problematic, Coty said that sales were up 40% from 2018, meaning the business only generated about $125 million that year, nowhere near the $360 million the Jenners had led Forbes to believe.

'Kylies skincare line, which launched in May 2019, did $100 million in revenues in its first month and a half, Kylies reps told us. The filings show the line was actually on track to finish the year with just $25 million in sales.'

They add that there was no way the numbers the Jenners were offering in earlier years could be true.

If Kylie Cosmetics did $125 million in sales in 2018, how could it have done $307 million in 2016 as their supposed tax returns state or $330 million in 2017?

Forbes claimed that their new calculations put Kylie's personal fortune at just under $900million.

Kylie's lawyer Michael Kump told TMZ: 'We have reviewed Forbes' article accusing Kylie of engaging in deceit and a 'web of lies' to inflate her net worth.

'The article is filled with outright lies. Forbes' accusation that Kylie and her accountants 'forged tax returns' is unequivocally false and we are demanding that Forbes immediately and publicly retract that and other statements.'

He added: 'It is sad that, of all things, Forbes has devoted 3 reporters to investigate the effect of the coronavirus crisis on Kylie's net worth. We would not expect that from a supermarket tabloid, much less from Forbes.'

In 2019, the star unseated Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, then 35, as the youngest-ever self-made billionaire - he was 23 when he made his first billion 11 years ago in 2008.

Forbes has addressed the controversy that surrounds the title 'self-made' as last year people were up in arms that Kylie came from an already privileged background.

They penned: ' Yes, self-made (despite a lot of help from her famous family, she didnt inherit her businessshe built it). And yes, billionaire (shes worth $1 billion).'

The site also claimed that money from Kylie's Coty sale meant she was one of just 2,095 people in the world with a fortune of ten digits.

Kylie previously told Forbes: 'I didnt expect anything. I did not foresee the future. But [the recognition] feels really good. Thats a nice pat on the back.'

Incredible: Jenner, the youngest sibling of the Kardashian family, started her make up line with lipstick kits in 2015. Kylie Cosmetics signed a deal with Ulta Beauty Inc to put her products in all of the retailer's 1,163 U.S. stores (above)

Jenner, the youngest member of the entire Kardashian-Jenner family, started her make up line in 2015 by selling $29 lipstick kits.

The kits sold out within minutes of launching - an early sign of the power of her now 270 million-plus social media following.

Jenner's products were only sold online when it was first launched but in 2018, the brand struck a deal to sell its goods in 1,100 Ulta Beauty stores across the U.S.

She expanded her empire earlier this year with Kylie Skin - a line of moisturizers, under eye creams and facial scrubs.

Jenner brought in sales of an estimated $360 million in 2018.

Forbes itself put Kylie on the cover in March 2019, hailing her as the youngest ever self-made billionaire.

The move appeared to anger her brother-in-law Kanye West, whom Forbes did not declare a billionaire until April of this year.

The magazine reported that West 'reacted with hurt and venom' after he was not included in its billionaires list earlier this year.

All change: Coty, which has been struggling with falling sales, saw a share increase of 5 percent following the Jenner announcement last year

Credit due: In April, the publication valued Kylie's brother-in-law Kanye West's assets at around $1.26 billion - the rapper had claimed that the figure was around $3 billion

'You know what you're doing,' he texted a Forbes reporter. 'You're toying with me and I'm not finna lye [sic] down and take it anymore in Jesus name.'

After he was finally added to the list, West disputed Forbes' evaluation of his net worth at $1.26 billion.

'It's not a billion,' West texted the magazine. 'It's $3.3 billion since no one at Forbes knows how to count.'

Forbes relies on a team of researchers as well as public and private financial documents to arrive at its estimates of net worth for the world's richest people, rather than taking their claims at face value.

Per the report, West's team provided statements that showed the rapper has $17 million in cash, $35 million in stocks, $81 million in 'buildings and improvements' and $21 million in land.

Adidas Yeezy, the fashion collaboration between the rapper and the German sportswear brand, has a revenue worth of around $1.3 billion - making West around $140 million from sales just last year.

Iconic: In 2016, Kim appeared on the cover of Forbes and was listed at no. 42 on their '100 highest paid celebrities' after netting $51 million the year before

The article suggests West has been eager to prove his financial status for some time, noting that he had previously claimed to be a billionaire during an appearance at the 2019 Fast Company Innovation Festival.

'When I did Forbes, I showed them a $890 million receipt and they still didn't say 'billionaire,'' dad-of-four Kanye told the audience.

In 2016, Kim, (Kylie's half-sister and Kanye's wife) appeared on the cover of Forbes and was listed at no. 42 on their ' 100 highest paid celebrities after netting $51 million the year before.

Kim couldn't contain her excitement as she shared the Forbes image on Instagram on Monday and wrote: 'Such a tremendous honor to be on the cover of @forbes!

'I never dreamed this would happen and know my Dad would be so proud. #NotBadForAGirlWithNoTalent.'

All episodes of Keeping Up With The Kardashians are available on hayu.com now!
She rose to fame playing Jane 'Plain Jane Superbrain' Harris on Neighbours back in 1986.

And on Monday, veteran actor Annie Jones revealed she will be returning to the fictional town of Erinsborough as a series regular.

'Jane is returning to her old neighbourhood and bringing with her an insight into what her life away from Ramsay Street has been like for the past 30 years,' Annie, 53, said in an official statement.

Blast from the past! Neighbours legend Annie Jones (right), who famously played 'Plain Jane Superbrain', is moving back into Ramsay Street. Pictured with Charlotte Chimes (left)

She added: 'Audiences will learn more about her family life, as fans are introduced to her daughter for the first time.'

Charlotte Chimes is set to play Annie's onscreen daughter Nicolette Stone on the long-running soap, and it turns out it's a dream come true for her.

'I'm not going to lie, I have Margot Robbie on my vision board three times,' Charlotte said in the press release.

'But, little did I know I that I'd also end up on Australia's most iconic series following in her footsteps'.

Icon: 'Jane is returning to her old neighbourhood and bringing with her an insight into what her life away from Ramsay Street has been like for the past 30 years,' Annie, 53, said in a statement

Before landing her dream gig, Charlotte appeared in the Australian TV miniseries, Schapelle and Catching Milat.

It's not the first time, however, Neighbours fans have seen a glimpse of Annie back on Ramsay street.

Earlier this year, she surprised viewers when she appeared in a guest role for the soap's 35th anniversary - and by all accounts she can't wait to get back.

New arrival! Charlotte Chimes (pictured) is set to play Annie's onscreen daughter Nicolette Stone on the long-running soap

'I'm so thrilled to be back playing Jane Harris!' Annie said, before also adding she's also 'grateful to again be working with the dedicated cast, crew and team'.

Annie starred on Neighbours between 1986 and 1989, a period which is often referred to as the glory years of the soap.

Neighbours airs weeknights 6:30pm on 10 Peach.
Kylie Jenner spent a blissful day with her daughter Stormi on Sunday and documented it on Instagram.

The 22-year-old reality star, who shares her two-year-old girl with ex-boyfriend Travis Scott, posted a video of the tot roaming around her garage, which houses her fleet of luxury cars, as well as several miniature versions of the vehicles for Stormi.

The doting mom also shared a photo of Stormi looking trendy as ever in a T-shirt and shorts, stylish denim jacket and Nike high top sneakers.

'My baby': Kylie Jenner spent a fun day at home with daughter Stormi, two, on Sunday

'my babyy' Kylie captioned the image which showed Stormi gazing coyly down at her feet.

A video clip shared to Instagram stories showed Stormi running excitedly over to her mini Mercedes G-Wagon and revving the engine.

'She's too cool for me' Kylie captioned the clip.

In the next clip the toddler hops on her Frozen themed motorcycle wearing her matching helmet but put it on backwards.

'Hold on, you got your helmet on wrong,' Kylie tells Stormi as she eagerly zooms off out of the garage.

Just like mom: A video clip shared to Instagram stories showed Stormi running excitedly over to her mini Mercedes G-Wagon and revving the engine

'She's too cool for me' Kylie captioned the clip of Stormi checking out the green SUV with personalized plate

In the next clip the toddler hops on her Frozen themed motorcycle wearing her matching helmet but put it on backwards

'Hold on, you got your helmet on wrong,' Kylie tells Stormi as she eagerly zooms off out of the garage



Meanwhile, Stormi appeared on her first Vogue cover earlier this month.

Kylie and her little girl star on the cover of Vogue Czechoslovakia, which was shot on an iPhone at home amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The image is a close-up of the pair's faces with the text: 'Bedtime Story with Kylie Jenner & Stormi.'

The picture was shot by photographers Luca and Alessandro Morelli, who hosted a Zoom photo shoot with the pair.

Beauty mogul Kylie took to Instagram to share a behind the scenes shot of her and Stormi sharing a hug and kiss on Instagram, and she admitted in the caption that 'sometimes I just look at her and cry' when she thinks about the tot growing up.

Fleet: Stormi stopped in front of Kylie's Rolls Royce Phantom

Sick ride: Stormi's impressive fleet also includes a pink Lamborghini

She wrote: 'i love this little baby so much i want to burst.. sometimes i just look at her and cry knowing she will never be this small ever again. who knew something so little could take up most of your heart God made no mistakes with you storm baby behind the scenes shooting @vogueczechoslovakia (sic)'

In the accompanying interview with the publication, Kylie opened up about whether she'll be letting Stormi wear makeup.

She admitted: 'The question is when it will be. When I was little, I secretly used my mother's shadows. It left me a lot of freedom and encouraged my creativity.

'From the sixth grade, I went with purple eye shadows.'

Stormi previously featured on the cover of Harper's Bazaar Arabia.

Stylish wheels: It's no surprise the little girl has a love of nice cars
Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson put her three-octave mezzo-soprano pipes to use with a stirring performance during the virtual 20th BET Awards on Sunday night.

The Chicago-born 38-year-old sang To Be Young, Gifted and Black, a 1970 Civil Rights anthem originally written by Nina Simone with lyrics by Weldon Irvine.

The late, great Aretha Franklin also recorded a 1972 cover of Nina's song on her 18th studio album - Young, Gifted and Black.

R&B belter: Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson put her three-octave mezzo-soprano pipes to use with a stirring performance during the virtual 20th BET Awards on Sunday night

The track wasn't only timely, it was directly tied to Jennifer's upcoming role as the Queen of Soul in the fully-authorized biopic, Respect.

'You have to disturb the peace when you can't get no peace,' Hudson said in the new teaser, which debuted during the telecast.

The movie centers on Aretha's career from a child singing in her father's church's choir to international superstardom.

'How many albums have you had?' nine-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige (as Dinah Washington) asks her backstage.

Tickling the ivories: The Chicago-born 38-year-old sang To Be Young, Gifted and Black, a 1970 Civil Rights anthem originally written by Nina Simone with lyrics by Weldon Irvine

Not a coincidence: The late, great Aretha Franklin also recorded a 1972 cover of Nina's song on her 18th studio album - Young, Gifted and Black

Gorgeous green dress: The track wasn't only timely, it was directly tied to Jennifer's upcoming role as the Queen of Soul in the fully-authorized biopic, Respect

The Cats actress quietly replied: 'Four.'

'And no hits,' Blige clapped back.

'Honey, find the songs that move you. Until you do that, you ain't going nowhere.'

Comedian Marc Maron steps in as her champion Jerry Wexler, the music producer who allegedly coined the term 'rhythm and blues.'

Hudson said in the new teaser, which debuted during the telecast: 'You have to disturb the peace when you can't get no peace'

Lit! The movie centers on Aretha's career from a child singing in her father's church's choir to international superstardom

Nine-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige (as Dinah Washington) asks her backstage: 'How many albums have you had?'

The Cats actress as Franklin quietly replied: 'Four'

Blige as Washington clapped back: 'And no hits. Honey, find the songs that move you. Until you do that, you ain't going nowhere'

'Aretha, you do talk don't you? Not just sing?' he asked.

She replied: 'I'd like you to call me Miss Franklin.'

Jennifer was seated beside Marlon Wayans, who portrays Franklin's first husband Ted White, whom she married at age 19.

Hudson - who sang at Aretha's funeral - was handpicked by the 18-time Grammy winner, who died age 76 in 2018 at her Detroit home from a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

'Aretha, you do talk don't you? Not just sing?' Comedian Marc Maron steps in as her champion Jerry Wexler, the music producer who allegedly coined the term 'rhythm and blues'

She replied: 'I'd like you to call me Miss Franklin'

Leading man: Marlon Wayans portrays Aretha's first husband Ted White, whom she married at age 19

'It's a huge job, I'm terrified to be honest. But I'm excited. It's such an honor to do that,' the American Idol 3 alum said on LIVE with Kelly and Ryan back in 2018.

'We've been actually talking about it for 11 years. Like a year after I won my Oscar, she had me meet her here in New York. We talked about it so now it's actually manifesting and happening!'

The MGM movie - hitting US theaters in December - also features Forest Whitaker, Audra McDonald, Tate Donovan, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, and Skye Dakota Turner.

RIP: Jennifer - who sang at Aretha's funeral - was handpicked by the 18-time Grammy winner, who died age 76 in 2018 at her Detroit home from a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor

Hudson said on LIVE with Kelly and Ryan in 2018: 'We've been actually talking about it for 11 years. Like a year after I won my Oscar, she had me meet her here in New York. We talked about it so now it's actually manifesting and happening!'

Hitting US theaters in December! The MGM movie also features Forest Whitaker (R), Audra McDonald, Tate Donovan, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, and Skye Dakota Turner

Excited? Respect marks the feature directorial debut for Liesl Tommy - who's helmed episodes of Dolly Parton's Heartstrings, Jessica Jones, and The Walking Dead

Respect marks the feature directorial debut for Liesl Tommy - who's helmed episodes of Dolly Parton's Heartstrings, Jessica Jones, and The Walking Dead.

Meanwhile, Harriet star Cynthia Erivo's rival production - National Geographic's eight-episode series Genius: Aretha - postponed its May 25 launch in March due to COVID-19.

The British-Nigerian 33-year-old - who's an Oscar away from EGOT status - has built her entire career on playing African-Americans.
Binky Felstead's big sister Anna-Louise took to Instagram on Monday to gush about her reality star sibling's enviable physique.

The sisters spent the weekend at their family pad in Sussex with their children, also joined by Binky's beau Max.

AL, 41, snapped a photo of Binky, 30, as she frolicked through the fields wearing a jaunty straw hat and a flowing summer dress.

Ethereal: Binky Felstead's big sister Anna-Louise took to Instagram on Monday to gush about her reality star sibling's enviable physique

She showed off her tanned limbs and wore her brunette tresses loosely around her shoulders as she pranced around, while Max snapped pictures of her while balancing Binky's three-year-old daughter India on his shoulders.

AL posted the caption: 'Always such fun hanging out with my gorgeous young and skinny betch sister and her wonderfully patient Instagram boyfriend @max_fd.

'Especially enjoyed helping her tan her back and then watching her perfectly toned body walking around the house for a lingerie shoot.

'No matter how many times I tell myself that I too could achieve a six pack and a bottom that you could balance a pint on... somehow I never quite manage it!'

Sultry: 'Especially enjoyed helping her tan her back and then watching her perfectly toned body walking around the house for a lingerie shoot,' AL wrote

Country frolics: The sisters spent the weekend at their family pad in Sussex with their children, also joined by Binky's beau Max. AL, 41, snapped a photo of Binky, 30, as she frolicked through the fields wearing a jaunty straw hat and a flowing summer dress

Splendid in the grass: She showed off her tanned limbs and wore her brunette tresses loosely around her shoulders as she pranced around

She went on: 'After a glorious few days in Sussex its time to head back to London Town. A change of scene really is like a holiday. Hoping we can have many more happy weekends like this!'

Binky replied to this, remarking: 'You silly betch - its just all about the fake tan!'

To which boyfriend Max remarked: 'Instagram bf - FML!'

Close: The Felsteads rose to fame on Made In Chelsea [Binky and AL are pictured with mum Jane and brother Ollie]

Tanning duties: AL helped Binky applying her fake tan at the weekend in Sussex

The referenced lingerie shoot was documented by Binky herself on Saturday as she took to Instagram to show off a burgundy two-piece in a mirror selfie.

The reality star showcased her washboard abs in the swimwear which has an asymmetric top and gold detailing.

The beauty also shared a number of snaps of her outfit on her Instagram stories.

Binky later changed into an orange bralette and black flowing trousers for another sultry snap.

Stunning: The reality star showcased her washboard abs in the swimwear which has an asymmetric top and gold detailing

New look: Binky later changed into an orange bralette and black flowing trousers for another sultry snap

It comes after she thanked her 'amazing' beau as she celebrated her 30th birthday with a low-key celebration alongside her family this month.

The Made In Chelsea star also shared pics from her daughter's third birthday and told fans she is 'the best thing that ever happened to me.'

Binky shared a series of photos from her day to Instagram that showed her lavish breakfast spread with croissants, champagne and homemade bread.

Sweet: Binky thanked her 'amazing' beau as she celebrated her 30th birthday with a low-key celebration alongside her family this month

The star posed with giant rose gold balloons in the shape of '30' and a stunning display of rustic flowers.

She penned: 'Yesterday I turned 30 and it feels great! Im proud and grateful for the last 30 years. I have achieved and done so much more than I have ever dreamt of.... and Im beyond excited for the future!'

The next snap showed her daughter's adorable tea party and Peppa Pig cake.

Delicious: Binky shared a series of photos from her day to Instagram that showed her lavish breakfast spread with croissants, champagne and homemade bread

Binky continued: 'Thank you to my amazing boyfriend for making such a humungous effort for India and I - youre truly incredible and we are so lucky to have you.

'Also a massive shout out to @evaly_events for making Indias fairy themed birthday look so beautiful- amazing attention to detail & even though it wasnt the party we originally planned with all her friends, you made it look SO special and unique for her.'

The party featured plates with butterfly details, a bouncy castle and an extravagant balloon display.

She penned: 'Yesterday I turned 30 and it feels great! Im proud and grateful for the last 30 years. I have achieved and done so much more than I have ever dreamt of.... and Im beyond excited for the future!'

Celebrations: The Made In Chelsea star also shared pics from her daughter's third birthday and told fans she is 'the best thing that ever happened to me'

Fun: The party featured plates with butterfly details, a bouncy castle and an extravagant balloon display

She ended her caption: 'The incredible Peppa Pig cake and cupcakes were just ridiculously good.

'Thanks also to everyone who wished me a happy birthday - means a huge amount.'

Binky also shared a series of photos of India dressed in a pink dress as she wished her a happy birthday.
She's been isolating with beau Robert Pattison in London after filming for The Batman was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And Suki Waterhouse looked fierce as she stepped outside to pose braless in an oversized trouser suit for high-fashion snaps, which she shared to her Instagram account on Monday.

The model, 28, opted to forgo a bra beneath the black and white striped ensemble, cleverly positioning a Fendi cross-body bag to protect her modesty whilst leaving the suit jacket unbuttoned.

Fierce: Suki Waterhouse, 28, looked fierce as she posed braless in an oversized trouser suit for high-fashion snaps, which she shared to her Instagram account on Monday

The model's shoes could not be seen due to the length of the eye-catching trousers, and Suki chose to ditch jewellery in favour of a pair of statement white-rimmed sunglasses.

Her brunette tresses were styled sleek and straight, and she finished off her flawless make-up look with pillar-box red lipstick.

Suki captioned the sizzling shots: 'that California sky in collaboration with @joshuavides @fendi @fisforfendi #Fisforfendi #FendiCalforniaSky #Fendi.'

Striking: The model opted to forgo a bra beneath the black and white striped ensemble, cleverly positioning a Fendi cross-body bag to protect her modesty

Self-isolating: She's been isolating with beau Robert Pattison in London after filming for The Batman was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic

Meanwhile, Suki and boyfriend Robert were first linked in July 2018 when they were spotted leaving a showing of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again at the trendy Electric Cinema in Notting Hill.

They've been known to go on double dates with pals Taylor Swift and actor Joe Alwyn, and keep in touch with each other via FaceTime when their schedules keep them apart.

Late last year the couple sparked engagement rumours, after it was reported that they would be spending the festive season at model Suki's family home in West London.

The Mail On Sunday also reported at the time that Robert had lined up a trip to Iceland as a gift for his girlfriend.

Happy couple: Suki was first linked to Robert in July 2018 when they were spotted leaving a showing of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again at the trendy Electric Cinema in Notting Hill

It was also thought that talk among their friends was that the actor may ask Suki's father Norman and mother Elizabeth for her hand in marriage.

'Suki and Robert are a great influence on each other, which is why he is spending Christmas with the Waterhouses,' a family friend revealed.

'Suki encourages him to be more relaxed and Robert keeps her grounded when she's feeling anxious.

'As they're spending Christmas together, it's the perfect opportunity for him to ask for Suki's hand. Lots of people, including Norman, are hoping that he pops the question.'

These rumours were further fuelled when Suki was spotted wearing a gold wedding band in January.
Scheana Shay enjoyed some quality time with boyfriend Brock Davies over the weekend after revealing her miscarriage heartbreak to fans.

The couple headed to Italian eatery Elephante holding hands as they crossed the street in Santa Monica and wearing matching leopard-print face coverings.

The 35-year-old Vanderpump Rules star wore black bike shorts and a sweater and pulled her long locks up into a high ponytail.

Outing: Scheana Shay is pictured out in Santa Monica on Saturday after revealing her devastating miscarriage news to fans

She carried a book titled 'Zen as f**k' as the couple entered the restaurant after having their temperature taken.

Her Aussie beau wore a tan T-shirt and black knee-length shorts with frayed hem and gave Scheana a run for her money in the flowing locks department.

Scheana tearfully opened up about her loss on the new installment of her Scheananigans with Scheana Shay podcast published on Friday.

'A few weeks ago, we found out that I was pregnant, and for those of you who have followed my fertility journey and freezing my eggs the last year and a half, I didn't think I could get pregnant on my own,'

Support: Scheana, 35, headed to Italian eatery Elephante with boyfriend Brock Davies and the couple were seen holding hands as they crossed the street

Date night: The couple wore matching leopard-print face coverings and abided by social distancing rules as they stood outside the restaurant

'My doctors told me that it would be close to impossible.' she added.

After discovering she was pregnant the excited couple started dreaming about their future family and planned out how they were going to announce the happy news to family.

'We were freaking out, but just so excited because we didn't know or think this was possible,' she said.

However, things took a turn for the worse during a trip to San Diego earlier this month when Scheana said she felt 'off' and started to freak out after bleeding all weekend.

Shock: Scheana revealed on her podcast on Friday that she recently suffered a miscarriage at 6 weeks pregnant. She had been told by doctors she can't get pregnant naturally

The reality star said she tried to stay positive despite going to the doctor again and finding out that her progesterone levels had dropped significantly.

She was given progesterone pills but unfortunately it wasn't enough to save her pregnancy.

'My OB got me in early, they did an ultrasound and there was no heartbeat,' she said, voice cracking with emotion.

'There was just nothing progressing, nothing going on inside. There were parts that he could see were starting to form, and it just didn't. So obviously, [that was] just devastating. We were so excited. Gone so quickly. It's still been a lot to process.

'Now I'm at home and I'm just waiting to naturally miscarry I'm just literally sitting here waiting, feeling normal but still treating my body as if I'm pregnant, which is a complete mindf**k because I know there's still something there, but I haven't passed it yet.'

Loss: During a trip to San Diego earlier this month for Brock's birthday Scheana said she felt 'off' and was freaking out after bleeding all weekend

Scheana tearfully continued, 'Even though I was only six and a half weeks, that doesn't make it any easier. We still got so excited for something that isn't happening anymore. It's been really tough to wrap my head around.'

Scheana has been open about her fertility struggles and revealed in January 2019 that she had frozen some of her eggs after being told her ovarian reserve was very low for her age.

Over the weekend Brock showed his support for his girlfriend of nine months as he shared a photo of the couple embracing on the beach.

'She has my back and I have Hers' the 30-year-old wrote.
She recently revealed she had gained 'a little weight' while in lockdown.

But Sara Sampaio proved her spirits were higher than ever when she took to social media to flaunt her bikini body on Monday morning.

The 28-year-old Victoria's Secret Angel posed makeup free in front of a sunset while at the beach.

Stunner: Sara Sampaio flaunted her enviable bikini body on Monday morning while shooting in front of a sunset

'Saw a very pretty sunset yesterday,' she captioned the series of shots.

Sara flashed her bronzed toned stomach while opting for a cropped T-shirt of a lemon shade.

She teamed the look with a pair of pink string tied bikini bottoms that drew attention to her long legs.

Stylish: Sara flashed her bronzed toned stomach while opting for a cropped T-shirt of a lemon shade

Gorgeous: Sara's brunette tresses were styled back into a high ballerina bun and she sported a sun-kissed makeup free complexion

Sara's brunette tresses were styled back into a high ballerina bun and she sported a sun-kissed makeup free complexion.

The model's post comes after she told her fans earlier in lockdown that she had put on a little weight - but rather looked on the bright side.

'Do you know one thing they don't tell you about gaining weight? It's that your boobs get bigger,' she said on her Stories.

'So I'm just trying to understand - what do I want more abs or boobs?'

Top model! Sara is best known for being a Victoria's Secret Angel

The beauty also shared how she was managing her mental health issues during lockdown.

'I actually deal with anxiety and depression on a regular basis so I gotta be honest, the first few weeks I was the least anxious I've ever been.'

The Portuguese fashionista, who was born in Porto, confessed: 'But these past two weeks I've been a little bit more down and anxious.'

She also got candid about managing her trichotillomania, a disorder characterized by a powerful drive to pull one's own hair out.

Opening up: 'I actually deal with anxiety and depression on a regular basis so I gotta be honest, the first few weeks I was the least anxious I've ever been'

Staying in high spirits: Sara recently revealed she had put on weight during lockdown

'I've been having it since I'm 15 and I still do it. There are times where I pick more than others,' the supermodel revealed.

There was a few couple of weeks during quarantine that i was just ripping them off,' Sara told her more than seven million Instagram followers.

She has learned that 'when my nails are short I don't tend to pick as much and that helps them growing back, so I've been trying to keep them short during the quarantine, but sometimes it's hard to because it feels so good.'

Sara has been in lockdown with her long-term boyfriend, Oliver Ripley. They've been dating since 2015.
The EastEnders cast and crew have returned for their first day of filming since shooting the soap was put on hold amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Stalwarts on the show including Danny Dyer, Adam Woodyatt and Jake Wood were snapped adhering to social distancing guidelines while filming their scenes.

Those on set now have to follow new social distancing guidelines in accordance with government regulation so that they are able to return safely amid the crisis.

They're back! The EastEnders cast and crew have returned for their first day of filming since shooting the soap was put on hold amid the coronavirus pandemic

Danny, who stars as Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter, was seen holding a script as he recited his lines during his first appearance on the Square in months on Monday.

The star could be seen chatting with Luisa Bradshaw-White [Tina Carter] in front of the new mural, which has been added as a sign of support fort he Black Lives Matter movement.

The duo filmed their scene in the Walford market, as they stood between the stalls while shooting their first episode back together.

Social distancing: Elsewhere, Adam [Ian Beale] dressed to impress in a suit and tie as he filmed scenes outside Kathy's cafe with Milly Zero [Dotty Cotton]

Resuming: Danny, who stars as Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter, was seen holding a script as he recited his lines during his first appearance on the Square in months on Monday

Elsewhere, Adam [Ian Beale] dressed to impress in a suit and tie as he filmed scenes outside Kathy's cafe with Milly Zero [Dotty Cotton].

Later the actor was seen filming with Jake Wood [Max Branning] and Clay Milner Russel [Bobby Beale], while crew members looked on.

Members of the crew held out microphones on extended poles in order to pick up the sound from the actors, while remaining at a safe distance.

Safety first! Members of the crew held out microphones on extended poles in order to pick up the sound from the actors, while remaining at a safe distance

Fans are anticipating the show returning several weeks down the line, as the programme aired its final episode earlier this month after running out of episodes due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The hit BBC One soap will keep loyal viewers in suspense as they ended the show with a dramatic Sharon Mitchell cliffhanger.

Production on EastEnders came to a halt in March, when the UK went into lockdown and most people were instructed to stay home, and work from home if possible.

Keeping apart: A bird's-eye view of the Square shows the cast will all be distanced during their scenes

And for the first time in the soap's 35-year history, the show ran out of new material on and was forced to go on a hiatus in a BBC first.

The dramatic final episode before the break ended with Sharon, played by Letitia Dean, being revealed as the new Queen Vic pub landlady.

Viewers had been led to believe that Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) would be taking over the reins but Mick (Danny Dyer) managed to trick the Walford hardman.

Back in action! Later the actor was seen filming with Jake Wood [Max Branning] and Clay Milner Russel [Bobby Beale], while crew members looked on

Just as Mick was about to sign over the Queen Vic, he dropped the explosive bombshell that there was in fact a new different landlord.

Phil was left sceptical over the announcement as he protested: 'We had a deal. You're bluffing, there's no way you could have got a different buyer that quick.'

To which Mick then led Phil and his equally baffled wife Linda (Kellie Bright) to the bar where Phil's estranged wife Sharon was pulling pints.

In a typically dramatic Albert Square scene, Phil's scorned wife chillingly said: 'Hello Phil, what can I get you?'

Distance: The duo filmed their scene in the Walford market, as they stood between the stalls while shooting their first episode back together

On set: The star could be seen chatting with Luisa Bradshaw-White [Tina Carter] in front of the new mural, which has been added as a sign of support fort he Black Lives Matter movement

In place of its Monday and Tuesday episodes, a new series called Secrets From The Square, hosted by Stacey Dooley, has been shown.

BBC One also unearthed iconic past episodes and treat fans to a does of nostalgia for the time being.

Since EastEnders has never been aired in 'seasons' like other shows, this was a milestone episode to many.

Upon it's return, the soap will resume its four days a week broadcasts, which were scrapped to release out the instalments that were in the can.

Plot: The hit BBC One soap will keep loyal viewers in suspense as they ended the show with a dramatic Sharon Mitchell cliffhanger

On pause! Production on EastEnders came to a halt in March, when the UK went into lockdown and most people were instructed to stay home, and work from home if possible

But the show returns with shortened episodes; rather than the standard half-hour slots, they will be 20 minutes long to begin with.

Executive Producer of the show Jon Sen said: 'Resuming production is incredibly exciting and challenging in equal measure.

'Since we postponed filming we've been working non-stop trialling techniques, filming methods and new ways of working so that we can return to screens four times a week  as EastEnders should be.

'Filming will inevitably be a more complex process now so creating 20 minute episodes will enable us to ensure that when we return, EastEnders will still be the show the audience know and love.'
Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen officiated a virtual wedding in honor of LGBT Pride Month during Sunday night's episode of his boozy Bravo talk show.

'Dedicated Bravoholics' Justin and Robert were the lucky couple chosen after their destination wedding plans were scrapped by the coronavirus pandemic.

RHOBH star Erika Jayne and RHOA star Kandi Buruss served as 'Housewives of Honor' and two-time Grammy winner Patti LaBelle sang her 1983 hit Love, Need and Want You.

They do! Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen officiated a virtual wedding in honor of LGBT Pride Month during Sunday night's episode of his boozy Bravo talk show

'Dearly beloved Watch What Happens Live fans,' the 52-year-old Emmy-winning producer began.

'And people at home who haven't worn pants in three months, we are gathered here tonight in front of Patti LaBelle, a gay shark, the woman who wrote Bug a Boo and another who "pats the p***" to join this man Justin and this man Robert in virtual Internet matrimony unless their Wi-Fi craps out first.'

Justin vowed to continue being a 'weird control freak' to his 'best friend' and Robert vowed to 'always be that couple that ruins somebody's brunch.'

'You've made me feel loved even when I thought it was not possible,' Robert gushed.

'Dedicated Bravoholics': Justin (L) and Robert (R) were the lucky couple chosen after their destination wedding plans were scrapped by the coronavirus pandemic

Witnesses: RHOBH star Erika Jayne and RHOA star Kandi Buruss served as 'Housewives of Honor' and two-time Grammy winner Patti LaBelle sang her 1983 hit Love, Need and Want You

The 52-year-old Emmy-winning producer began: 'We are gathered here tonight in front of Patti LaBelle, a gay shark, the woman who wrote Bug a Boo and another who "pats the p***" to join this man Justin and this man Robert in virtual Internet matrimony'

'You will always be my Mariah Carey!' Justin vowed to continue being a 'weird control freak' to his 'best friend' and Robert vowed to 'always be that couple that ruins somebody's brunch'

'Let's be dumb together, let's be stupid, let's make bad choices, eat the wrong things, take wrong turns in life, and let's tell great stories, the same ones forever and ever... you will always be my Mariah Carey.'

As they exchanged wedding bands, Andy asked Justin to tell Robert: 'In the immortal words of Lisa Rinna, "May you always own it."'

The newlyweds received Louis Vuitton luggage for their honeymoon from Bravo/WWHL and a pair of Cartier watches from luxury consignment shop The Real Real.

The glowing grooms also got 'Persian love cakes' decorated with tiny rainbow flags baked by Top Chef: All-Stars LA contestant Stephanie Cmar.

As they exchanged wedding bands, Andy asked Justin to tell Robert: 'In the immortal words of Lisa Rinna, "May you always own it"'

Gifts! The newlyweds received Louis Vuitton luggage for their honeymoon from Bravo/WWHL and a pair of Cartier watches from luxury consignment shop The Real Real

Treats! The glowing grooms also got 'Persian love cakes' decorated with tiny rainbow flags baked by Top Chef: All-Stars LA contestant Stephanie Cmar

Tearing up, the 76-year-old R&B belter said: 'I would say stay together as long as you can - and that should be for life. But every now and then, have a two-week vacation from each other and that will make you love even harder together when you get back'

'I would say stay together as long as you can - and that should be for life,' the 76-year-old R&B belter said tearing up.

'But every now and then, have a two-week vacation from each other and that will make you love even harder together when you get back.'

Cohen previously officiated the WWHL weddings of at least two other couples - Daniel and Ricardo in 2014 as well as Matt and Kristie in 2013.

The Missouri-born presenter never tied the knot himself, but he did welcome his first child - son Benjamin Allen - via surrogate on February 4.

Not the first time! Cohen previously officiated the WWHL weddings of at least two other couples - Daniel and Ricardo in 2014 as well as Matt and Kristie (pictured in 2013)
She has been quarantining in Paris with her mother Vanessa Paradis.

And Lily-Rose Depp was spotted strutting through the streets of France's capital on Monday while showing off her assets in a green crop top with no bra.

The King actress, 21, looked gorgeous as she sauntered through Paris and teamed her crop top with a silky black mini skirt.

Stunning: Lily-Rose Depp was spotted strutting through the streets of France's capital on Monday while showing off her assets in a green crop top with no bra

She finished off her look with a pair of low-heeled black shoes and some dainty black sunglasses.

The Chanel model sported one of the famous french brand's micro bags for her jaunt through sunny Paris.

And she tied her luscious blonde wavy locks back into a low chignon bun while going for a minimal makeup look.

She's not only been spending time with her mother, who was in a relationship with her father, Johnny Depp, 57, from 1998 to 2012.

Beautiful: The King actress, 21, looked gorgeous as she sauntered through Paris and teamed her crop top with a silky black mini skirt

Lily-Rose also spent plenty of time with her brother John, 18, and her step-father Samuel Benchetrit, a French actor, writer and director.

She has been enjoying the single life after splitting from her boyfriend Timothee Chalamet, 24, in April.

Their final public sighting as a couple was during a dinner date in Los Angeles in late October.

Gorgeous: She finished off her look with a pair of low-heeled black shoes and some dainty black sunglasses

The two called it quits after more than a year of dating, and Timothee is in the throes of a new romance with actress Eiza Gonzalez, 30.

The Call Me By Your Name actor met Lily-Rose on the set of his 2019 Netflix film The King, which received largely positive but unenthusiastic reviews.

Lily-Rose has multiple completed performances coming up once Hollywood ends its coronavirus shutdown.

She plays a supporting part in the opioid crisis thriller Dreamland, which has an ensemble cast featuring Armie Hammer, Gary Oldman, Evangeline Lilly and Michelle Rodriguez, among others.

She has also finished filming the science fiction film Voyagers with Colin Farrell and Tye Sheridan and the Christmas comedy Silent Night, which stars Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode.
Piers Morgan has revealed that Kate Garraway is 'living in hope' for husband Derek Draper's recovery after his 13-week coronavirus battle.

The Good Morning Britain host, 55, made the comments during a segment on Monday's show.

He was speaking to a nurse who beat COVID-19 after 93 days in intensive care before praising her resilience.

Candid: Piers Morgan has revealed that Kate Garraway is 'living in hope' for husband Derek Draper's recovery after a 13-week coronavirus battle

Piers told the guest: 'You are a fantastic inspiration to everybody who may have a loved one who is still in intensive care and who may be worried sick about whether they may come out.

'We have obviously one of our own, Kate Garraway, whose husband is in this terrible position.

'We wish them, as always, all the very best, but they're living in hope.'

Worrying time: The TV personality, 53, has stepped back from all platforms in recent weeks, as her husband Derek, 52, remains critically ill after coronavirus caused 'extraordinary damage' (pictured together last year)

It comes after Kate 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 TV personality, 53, has stepped back from all platforms in recent weeks, as her husband Derek, 52, 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.

Support: It comes after Kate 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

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

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.

Heartache: Earlier this month Kate broke down in tears as she revealed Derek thanked her for 'saving his life' before he slipped into a coma

Kate's husband 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.

Earlier this month Kate broke down in tears 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: 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'

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 - Darcey and Billy - 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 - Darcey, 14, and Billy, 10.
Gender arguments of the Seventies are still being thrashed out today, Cate Blanchett has claimed.

The Oscar-winner, 51, who plays a US political activist and anti-feminist in a BBC miniseries, said current talking points such as 'same-sex marriage' and 'same-sex bathrooms' were all discussed 50 years ago.

Blanchett, who has long supported gender equality in the acting world, also said that women have constantly been outnumbered by men there.

Gender arguments of the Seventies are still being thrashed out today, Cate Blanchett, 51, has claimed

She said: 'I always knew in my DNA that women were equal to men. I couldn't quite understand why the industry and work environment that I got spat into didn't reflect that, so I felt out of sync for a long time.

'At one point, I started doing a head count of the ratio of men to women on every set I walked on.

'For my entire career, up until about four years ago, I was the one woman to 35 men. I was the one woman to 27 men. I was the one woman to 16 men. I just thought it was normal.'

Despite the positive changes to address the balance, Cate insisted that the push towards equality is 'not just a fashionable moment in time.'

Same issues: The Oscar-winner, who plays a US political activist and anti-feminist in a BBC series, said 'same-sex marriage' and 'same-sex bathrooms' were all discussed 50 years ago

The actress plays Phyllis Schlafly in the BBC 2 drama series Mrs America, which starts on July 8.

It tells the story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s, and the backlash led by conservative Schlafly.

She feared it would force women out to work rather than staying at home to look after children.

Family life: She is married to playwright and director Andrew Upton (pictured), with whom she shares four children, Dashiell, Roman, Ignatius, and Edith. Pictured in London in October 2019

Masked up! Cate recently demonstrated her skincare routine in lockdown - sporting a PPE mask alongside 111SKIN's Y Theorem Bio Cellulose Facial Mask and their Cryo De-Puffing Eye Mask

Blanchett told Radio Times: 'This show is like Groundhog Day. The discussions that we were having back in 1971 and 1972 are constantly popping up in the media today. Same-sex bathrooms. Same-sex marriage.

Must read: The full interview with Cate can be found in this week's Radio Times, out now

'Will women be drafted into the military? That came up earlier this year with events in Iran. It couldn't be more relevant.'

The mother-of-four said: 'I was inspired by the way the women would speak in the Seventies.

'There was a strong culture of robust public debate... something we've lost. We've got haranguing matches, but we haven't got a sense of public discourse.'

The multi-award winning actress, who was born and raised in Melbourne, lives in a $6.25million manor called Highwell House near Crowborough, about an hour south of London.

Cate is married to playwright and director Andrew Upton, with whom she shares four children, Dashiell 18, Roman, 16, Ignatius, 12 and Edith, five.

The family previously lived in Hunters Hill, Sydney, before relocating to the UK.

Cate recently demonstrated her skincare routine in lockdown - sporting a PPE mask alongside 111SKIN's Y Theorem Bio Cellulose Facial Mask and their Cryo De-Puffing Eye Mask.

A snap was shared by Beauty Doyenne Mary Greenwell, Cates MUA, who lauded the star for her multi-tasking regimen.

The full interview with Cate can be found in this week's Radio Times, out now.
Paul Walker's daughter Meadow Walker reunited with her extended Fast & Furious family in a selfie she posted on Monday.

She posed on a hilltop with Vin Diesel's three children Hania, 12, Vincent, 10, and Pauline, five.

The 21-year-old captioned her Instagram photo: 'family, forever.'

Like family: Paul Walker's daughter Meadow Walker, 21, shared a sweet selfie to Instagram with Vin Diesel's children Hania, 12, Vincent, 10, and Pauline, five, on Monday. 'Family, forever,' she wrote

Meadow showed off a soft smile while wearing a burgundy 'Boston' hoodie.

She wore her raven locks parted down the middle and tied back, which revealed her small silver hoop earrings.

Hania was dressed in a simple black top, while Vincent had on a white T-shirt with a blue dinosaur on the breast pocket and Pauline wore a multicolored shirt.

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, neither Meadow nor Vin's kids wore masks, and didn't practice social distancing.

Special day: Vin previously shared a loving post for Meadow's 21st birthday, along with a photo of her and his youngest daughter Pauline

Grateful: The Hawaii-raised celebrity daughter thanked him in the comments

Get-together: Earlier in August of last year, Meadow posted a snap of herself hugging Hania, who smiled ear-to-ear

Vin previously shared a sweet post for Meadow's 21st birthday, along with a photo of her and his youngest daughter Pauline.

'I could say that I am so proud of the person you are becoming... but the truth is I have always been proud of you. Happy Birthday Meadow! I know its your 21st and you wanted to go big in Japan, but the family has a cake waiting for you when you get home, so hurry. Love you kid,' he wrote, signing it 'Uncle Vin.'

The Hawaii-raised celebrity daughter thanked him in the comments.

'Thank you so much. I can't wait to see you soon. And my little angels,' she wrote.

Earlier in August of last year, Meadow posted a snap of herself hugging Hania, who smiled ear-to-ear.

'with my angel,' she captioned it.

Charity project: Back in December, Meadow raised money for the organization Pencils of Promise to help build schools in underserved areas

Back in December, Meadow raised money for the organization Pencils of Promise to help build schools in underserved areas.

The fundraiser ended up bringing in almost $10,000 more than the initial goal of $50,000.

The organization advertises that 100 percent of all donations goes directly to children, rather than to the organization itself, and its website states that it has built 518 schools throughout Ghana, Guatemala and Laos, which serve nearly 108,000 students.

Remembering him: In September last year, Vin posted a photo illustration of himself and Paul for the late actor's birthday that read, 'Always in our hearts'

Never forget: 'I reflect on how lucky I am to call you my brother,' he wrote. 'The tears never go away, but they change... from that of mourning to that of grace. We only hope to make you proud' he wrote; pictured together in 2009

In September last year, Vin posted a photo illustration of himself and Paul for the late actor's birthday that read, 'Always in our hearts.'

His lengthy caption took the form of a letter updating his friend on the progress of the upcoming ninth Fast & Furious film.

'I reflect on how lucky I am to call you my brother,' he wrote. 'The tears never go away, but they change... from that of mourning to that of grace. We only hope to make you proud.

'Speaking of which, guess what message I woke up to... your daughter. Meadow sending me love on this day. Wow, she knows me so well. She has your heart. Happy birthday... its amazing, but somehow you continue to make the world a better place,' he wrote.

Paul was killed on November 30, 2013, when he crashed his 2005 Porsche Carrera GT after speeding down a road in Santa Clarita California.

His friend Roger Rodas was also killed in the crash.
Hailey Baldwin Bieber wore a chic camel coat to run errands in Studio City on Monday alongside a bodyguard.

The 23-year-old IMG Model repped her husband Justin Bieber's two-year-old clothing company by protecting herself with his black Drew House face mask.

California Governor Gavin Newsom made cloth masks and face-coverings mandatory for all public outings on June 18.

Out and about: Hailey Baldwin Bieber wore a chic camel coat to run errands in Studio City on Monday alongside a bodyguard

As of Monday, there have been nearly 98K confirmed COVID-19 cases in LA County, which has led to 3,305 deaths - according to Johns Hopkins University.

Hailey covered up in a black turtleneck, ripped blue jeans, and gleaming white Nike sneakers.

Bieber later braved her gym, Dogpound, to work out in a blue surgical face mask and Army-green bra-top and leggings.

Plug: The 23-year-old IMG Model repped her husband Justin Bieber's two-year-old clothing company by protecting herself with his black Drew House face mask

Casually clad: Hailey covered up in a black turtleneck, ripped blue jeans, and gleaming white Nike sneakers

The Arizona-born blonde - who boasts 33.6M social media followers - Instastoried a video of herself exercising.

Hailey wasn't alone either as she and her trainer Kevin Mejia were joined at Dogpound by her stylist Maeve Reilly.

Bieber has to maintain her slim 5ft7in frame as she just scored her first Versace campaign alongside fellow IMG Model Bella Hadid.

Working up a sweat: Bieber later braved her gym, Dogpound, to work out in a blue surgical face mask and Army-green bra-top and leggings

Graceful moves: The Arizona-born blonde - who boasts 33.6M social media followers - Instastoried a video of herself exercising

Weighted leg lifts: Hailey wasn't alone either as she and her trainer Kevin Mejia were joined at Dogpound by her stylist Maeve Reilly

The former Drop the Mic co-host and her 23-year-old gal pal just returned from a three-day bikini shoot in Sardinia and Corsica.

The coronavirus-era campaign will 'launch at the end of the year or the beginning of 2021,' according to Page Six Style.

Meanwhile, Justin teamed up with Migos rapper Quavo to perform their song Intentions last Saturday for Global Citizen's Global Goal: Unite for Our Future benefit.

Commodity: Bieber has to maintain her slim 5ft7in frame as she just scored her first Versace campaign alongside fellow IMG Model Bella Hadid (R)

Coronavirus-era campaign: The former Drop the Mic co-host and her 23-year-old gal pal just returned from a three-day bikini shoot in Sardinia and Corsica (pictured in 2018)

The 26-year-old Grammy winner filed a $20M defamation lawsuit Thursday against two women - who go by 'Danielle' and 'Kadi' - for false sexual assault allegations, according to TMZ.

Bieber claimed the so-called assaults in 2014 and 2015 were 'factually impossible' and he has 'indisputable documentary evidence' to prove his innocence.

The Canadian crooner and Hailey - who wed September 30 at South Carolina resort Palmetto Bluff - originally met at Bieber's 2009 concert meet-and-greet.

Charitable: Meanwhile, Justin teamed up with Migos rapper Quavo (R) to perform their song Intentions last Saturday for Global Citizen's Global Goal: Unite for Our Future benefit

It's on: The 26-year-old Grammy winner filed a $20M defamation lawsuit Thursday against two women - who go by 'Danielle' and 'Kadi' - for false sexual assault allegations
She recently revealed she prefers exercising outdoors rather than in a gym.

And Isla Fisher, 44, once again took her bike out for a spin in sunny Los Angeles on Monday.

Dressed in a head-to-toe lilac ensemble, the Australian actress ensured her safety for her daily sweat session with a white helmet and a face mask.

Wheel fun! Fitness enthusiast Isla Fisher, 44, once again took her bike out for a spin in sunny Los Angeles on Monday

Isla was hard to miss in her colourful Girlfriend Collective ensemble, which consisted of the cropped lilac outerwear and matching leggings.

Her auburn locks were styled into a loose plait that fell down her side and she protected herself from the strong Californian sunshine with a pair of shades.

The Confessions of a Shopaholic star looked happy and relaxed as she sped along a quiet biking trail.

In a recent interview, the talented star told Fitness Magazine that she prefers to exercise outdoors, rather than in a gym.

Sports chic: Dressed in a head-to-toe lilac Girlfriend Collective ensemble, the Australian actress ensured her safety for her daily sweat session with a white helmet and face mask

'I'm an outdoor girl,' Isla said. 'I'm always moving. I do yoga, and I love to hike. And I swim every day with my kids.'

Isla - who was born in Oman and then later moved to Perth, Australia - is based in Los Angeles with her husband, British actor Sacha Baron Cohen, and their three children.

Before California went into lockdown in March, Isla was in the middle of shooting the Disney+ comedy Godmothered in Boston.

Love: Isla - who was born in Oman and then later moved to Perth, Australia - is based in Los Angeles with her husband, British actor Sacha Baron Cohen, and their three children [Pictured 2019]

The film follows an unskilled fairy godmother, played by Jillian Bell, who sets out to help a woman, played by Isla, whose wish was ignored as a child.

Isla also wrapped production on a new big screen adaptation of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit with Dan Stevens, Judie Dench and Leslie Mann.

It's scheduled for release in September, but that may change due to the COVID-19 crisis.
He's known for his incredibly dry comedy and his passionate advocacy for animal rights.

And, Ricky Gervais, 59, has shown his support for a ban on puppy imports following the recent death of Molly-Mae Hague, 21, and Tommy Fury's, 21, Pomeranian pooch Mr Chai who died just 6 days after being delivered from Russia.

A Government e-petition, which specifically references Mr Chai's tragic death, was created by Lucy Parkinson, shared on Twitter by vet Marc Abraham and then retweeted by Ricky on Monday.

Animal lover: Ricky Gervais, 59, has shown his support for a ban on puppy imports

Marc's tweet read: 'NEW PETITION: Ban the exploitative import of young puppies for sale in UK' In light of the recent high profile case of 'Mr Chai' puppy passing away just 6 days after arriving in UK, please all sign & share this important petition thanks.

The petition states: 'Plenty of dogs from UK breeders & rescues need homes. Transporting young pups long distances is often stressful, before being sold for ridiculous prices to unsuspecting dog-lovers.

'Government must adjust current laws, ban this unethical activity on welfare grounds & protect these poor animals ASAP.

'The recent tragic case of a puppy dying just 6 days after being delivered from Russia has exposed a completely legal but immoral route to market for pups bred hundreds of miles away & sold away from their mums.

Heartbreaking: Molly-Mae Hague, 21, and Tommy Fury's, 21, dog Mr Chai died just 6 days after being delivered from Russia

'Exploitative': A Government e-petition, referencing Mr Chai's death, was created by Lucy Parkinson, shared on Twitter by vet Marc Abraham and then retweeted by Ricky on Monday

'Who's actually inspecting these breeders & transportation conditions?

'Selling imported pups like this is cruel & appears to contradict the Government's own advice to always physically "see puppies interacting with their mothers in their place of birth" as with Lucy's Law in England.'

The petition has been signed by Ricky Gervais and if it gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

MailOnline has contacted Ricky Gervais and Molly Mae Hague's representatives for comment.

Animal rights advocate: Comedian Ricky is known for his incredibly dry comedy and his passionate advocacy for animal rights

From Russia: Love Island star Molly-Mae's late puppy Mr Chai was gifted to her by boyfriend Tommy Fury as a birthday present

Love Island star Molly-Mae's late puppy Mr Chai was gifted to her by boyfriend Tommy Fury as a birthday present.

The couple were left devastated when their pet pooch passed away just six days after they got him.

An autopsy revealed Mr Chai's skull was not fully developed and had left part of his brain exposed.

Tommy bought the dog through Cheshire-based business Tiffany Chihuahuas & Pomeranians, which is licensed by Cheshire Council but not a Kennel Club assured breeder.

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.

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 Molly-Mae and Tommy confirmed Mr Chai had died of 'a seizure and neurological issues.'

So sad: A representative of Molly-Mae and Tommy confirmed Mr Chai had died of 'a seizure and neurological issues'

The UK currently imports thousands of protected wild animals, including tortoises, pythons and monitor lizards, captured from the wild and legally imported into the UK each year, according to the group.

Just says ago, Ricky Gervais was among the stars who have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to help end the exotic pet trade.

The letter, sent on behalf of World Animal Protection and the Campaign to End Wildlife Trade (CEWT), has also been signed by Sue Perkins, Evanna Lynch, Alesha Dixon, Alison Steadman, Liz Bonnin, Simon Reeve, Leona Lewis, Paul O'Grady and Michaela Strachan
Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor are celebrating one year of marriage, after Taylor reunited with Cartwright in Kentucky.

The 31-year-old Cartwright has been in Kentucky for the past few weeks after her mother Sherri underwent emergency surgery, with Taylor, 30, joining his wife in Kentucky over the weekend.

The couple took to social media to celebrate their one-year anniversary, while sharing some photos on social media.

One year: Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor are celebrating one year of marriage, after Taylor reunited with Cartwright in Kentucky

Taylor took to his Instagram story sharing a photo of flowers sent by his friend Mikey Avalon, along with two adorable dogs.

'Thank you @MikeyAvalon1. Can't believe that year flew by so quick. @Brittany and I miss you guys,' Taylor said.

He also shared another photo of flowers and the card his friend sent, adding, 'Thank you @MikeyAvalon1. @Brittany and I love you so much.'

Flowers: Taylor took to his Instagram story sharing a photo of flowers sent by his friend Mikey Avalon, along with two adorable dogs

Card: He also shared another photo of flowers and the card his friend sent, adding, 'Thank you @MikeyAvalon1. @Brittany and I love you so much'

Cartwright shared a photo of her and Taylor at their wedding venue last year, The Kentucky Castle outside of Lexington, Kentucky, on her Instagram on Monday.

'Happy 1 year anniversary honey!' Cartwright began, adding two heart emojis as well at the start her of message.

'Thank you for making me laugh every single day and for being my best friend. Youre my lobster and I love you to pieces,' Cartwright concluded.

Throwback: Cartwright shared a photo of her and Taylor at their wedding venue last year, The Kentucky Castle outside of Lexington, Kentucky, on her Instagram on Monday

Cartwright's mother Sherri was released from the ICU on June 19, with the family's pastor, Ryan Dotson, offering an update on her condition on Instagram.

'Sheri is out of ICU and in a room and improving daily,' Dotson said, after a friend asked for an update on her condition.

Brittany also took to her Instagram story on June 18 to thank fans for showing her support through this tough time.

Update: Cartwright's mother Sherri was released from the ICU on June 19, with the family's pastor, Ryan Dotson, offering an update on her condition on Instagram

'Thanks so much for all the love and prayers for my mom. Please continue to pray she has a long road ahead but she is so so strong and amazing!' Cartwright said.

While Taylor remained in Los Angeles while Cartwright went to Kentucky, Taylor joined his wife over the weekend.

Taylor and Cartwright first met in Las Vegas in the spring of 2015, with Taylor proposing in December 2018, less than a year after it was revealed Taylor had an affair with Faith Stowers.
The highest American court has conceded a controversial bill for stricter rules on abortions in the state of Louisiana. The law, which would have had a far-reaching consequences for the continued existence of the abortion clinics in Louisiana was unconstitutional, decided five of the nine justices of the Supreme Court on Monday. It was the first ruling in the United States is a highly contentious issue of abortion, the Supreme Court issued its new conservative majority. The chief justice John Roberts joined the decision by the four more liberal judges.

The White house said it was a "unlucky judgment". The Supreme Court had devalued the health of mothers and the lives of unborn children, said spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany.

The law in Louisiana stated that only Doctors pregnancy are allowed to perform abortions, with permission, patients with complications to a nearby hospital ward. Due to the difficulty of getting such an approval From threatened several abortion clinics is the. Only a clinic with a doctor, and would have remained there, where, however, not more than 30 percent of the roughly 10,000 abortions had a year, can be carried out, as is clear from the remarks of the court. The law does not offer significant health Benefits, instead, it was a "significant obstacle" for women seeking an abortion.

in Spite of the conservative majority on the Supreme court

The Supreme Court in 2016, had conceded an almost identical law in Texas, in the episode 20 of the 40 abortion clinics have been closed. For the 5.4 million women of child-bearing age, there were in the whole of Texas is only ten institutions  and the 800 miles between San Antonio and the border of New Mexico, not a single clinic for help-seeking women. The Federal government had justified the law to the women's health protect.

Updated Date: 29 June 2020, 15:20
Linda Caldwell is the former executive director of the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association. She has served on numerous regional, state, and national boards for organizations that focus on history, preservation, community arts, and rural economic development. She can be reached at lindacaldwell1942@gmail.com
RICHMOND  Virginia State Police found an active explosive device in an SUV driven by a Chesapeake man during a traffic stop on Arthur Ashe Boulevard on Sunday morning.

As of 2:30 a.m., police said a 22 year-old-male from Chesapeake was only cited with reckless driving, correcting an earlier statement about charges placed against him.

Earlier Sunday morning, state police said the man was also charged with one felony count of manufacture, possession, use, etc., of fire bombs or explosive materials or devices, but corrected that information nearly two hours later.

The explosives charge has not been placed and this remains an active investigation, a Virginia State Police spokesperson said in a corrected release sent at 2:20 a.m. Sunday. VSPs original release was sent out at 12:47 a.m.

State police said troopers pulled over a Toyota Rav4 that was heading the wrong way on Arthur Ashe Boulevard near The Diamond at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. The driver attempted to flee and struggled with troopers, according to both releases.

Police said an incendiary device was in the mans possession. A state police bomb technician confirmed it was an active explosive device, according to VSPs initial release.
As the legislative lead of the Crozet group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, I'm happy to see Virginia law has finally caught up with the demands of legal, responsible gun ownership as a slew of new laws take effect July 1.

Virginia law has finally caught up with the demands of legal, responsible gun ownership as a slew of new laws take effect July 1. All Virginians should be aware of these new laws, not just gun owners, to protect our families and communities.

For starters, all private gun sales will require a background check. Federal law prohibits dangerous criminals from possessing weapons, and all gun dealers must conduct an instant background check on gun buyers, but non-licensed private sellers are generally exempt. This exemption allows criminals to obtain weapons from the black market, at gun shows and on the internet. But Virginia joins over 20 other states to close this loophole to disarm criminals, deter trafficking, and protect communities.
We hope it's been a good Fourth of July weekend, considering everything from the heat wave to the racial unrest to the ongoing COVID-19 pandem
To the Editor:

Darien did the right thing. They didn't see it coming. They say we are a community that favors the powerful over the vulnerable. During the month since George Floyd's killing sparked our first community gathering to reject it, they have doubted our hearts and mocked our resolve.

But make no mistake. They are still watching and waiting for us to prove them right. All they need is a bit of daylight on the notion that we are divided in our commitment to being a community that rejects racism in any form. We know that it will require the courage and discomfort to look inward and take decisive action despite the threat of reproach. Let that judgment come from those who speak for us rather than of us.

The back and forth litigation of who knew what and when about the firing of Commissioner Joyce is flooding our local press. The vast majority agrees that he could no longer represent our police force without putting into question our community's values. It doesn't matter whether his words were from the heart or an error of judgment. Now we are faced with a new test. If we don't reject the politicization of this action from any and all perspectives, we will offer our critics that daylight to question whether Darien believes in racial equity and inclusiveness at all.

To pick a side in this is to devalue our purpose. I humbly suggest people resist giving power to that which might divide us, in what should be a common battle. Both sides should stand instead with the broader community in rejecting bigotry. We can't lose that as our focus.

I am an Independent with a deep commitment to finding merit in both sides. I have room to also understand those who might disagree with the dismissal. There is no merit however, in questioning the timeline or intentions of this important action. Too many more believe we did the right thing in a moment of moral clarity.

We have committed leadership from both parties. They are capable and I believe willing to come together in an even bolder shared purpose that we can all be proud of. Our children are watching and waiting. Let's come together for them and our most vulnerable. Let's commit to an indivisible Darien, united in purpose.

Roland Clough

Darien
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Sachin Awasthi President, National Media Club has and Founder of Shri Ram Seva Mission has been awarded the Top Publicist honour and he is one of just 100 awardees belonging to 35 different countries and 7 continents. This Award was given through a webinar.

This Prestigious Award Ceremony was conducted In presence of H.E. Fatmir Sejdiu former president, Republic of Kosovo , H.E Madhav kumar Nepal , former prime minister Nepal , HON. Pedro I. Altamirano president of National Assembly, Andalusia- Spain

As part of Honoring The Honorable initiative of the World Humanitarian Drive (WHD), Founder Abdul Basit Syed, said Global Humanitarian Awards 2020 were recently announced to felicitate popular men and women, whove worked selflessly towards the greater good of the society and the world.

Awardee Sachin Awasthi firmly believes in the spirit of humanity. In his words, Beyond any social work, you should first be human. It matters even if you are able to help a single human in need. Whenever I see suffering around, I never miss a chance to do my best to mitigate the suffering.

Awardee of this Award Sachin Awasthi was also appreciated by PM Narendra Modi for organizing a 5-days Clean Ganga Awareness Yatra, Vande Gange Swachhata Jan Jagran Yatra, which was taken out from Haridwar to Varanasi. Which was considered to be one of the biggest initiatives in terms of public awareness about keeping the holy Ganga river pollution-free.

In Past showing his responsibility of Humanity, Sachin also took a bleeding police officer and saved his life, who was lying injured on a roadside after an accident, to hospital in his car and was praised for his timely intervention, which saved the cops life.

However, that is just the tip of an iceberg as far as Sachins social consciousness and activities are concerned. Some of his notable initiatives for the society are as follows -

1. He took forward PM Modis dream project, Swachh Bharat with his campaign, Swachh Bharat  Sunder Bharat Mission, becoming, in this process, the first NGO head also to launch the Swachhata toll free number. Under this mission, Sachin took help from regional volunteers within Uttar Pradesh and inspired a lot of people to join hands with him and contribute to the PMs vision.

2. One of most outstanding events that he has organized, first Swachhata Awards in UP, which saw presence of Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh along with cabinet ministers from the Central and State governments. The awards were conferred upon notable personalities, Institutions & NGOs working on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in different fields of life.

3. His organization, NMC, has also won a place in the Limca Book of Records, for training Swachhata Messenger Swayam Mishra of Gonda District in UP.

It might be imperative to mention here that Gonda was judged as the most unclean city in the country under the Swachhata survey. Swayam traveled for 16+ days, covering 11 states and 3500kms for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, to create public awareness among lakhs of people regarding keeping cleanliness in day-to-day life.

This young man has also been awarded by the former Governor of UP and the Union HRD Minister along with Mr. Sachin Awasthi.

4. He also organized the first regional journalist conference, which saw maximum participation from journalists community across the state where he launched Media Jounalist Directory.

5. He launched a Cleanliness drive in the holy city of Mathura, to creat awareness among the local population with regard to keeping the surroundings clean along the 21-km Parikrama route of the historic Goverdhan Mountain.

6. He also involved students of schools, colleges and universities into the drive for cleanliness through a drawing and painting competition.

7. He also organized the NMC Media Ratan Award 2017, in which journalists from across UP were awarded for their outstanding work in their field. The awards were given away by Dinesh Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Hriday Narayan Dixit, Speaker of UP VidhanSabha.

8. On the occasion of Hindi Patrakarita Diwas 2020, on May 30, he conducted a National Webinar, which was attended by several journalists online. In this webinar, the participants paid tribute to senior journalist, Shri Pankaj Kulshreshtha, who succumbed to Corona virus in Agra, earlier this year. The Webinar was also attended by Hriday Narayan Dikshit, UP Legislative Assembly Speaker. In fact, NMC was the only organization to provide Rs. 1 lakh as financial help to the dead scribes family.

9. During complete national lockdown, his NGO, SRSM, provided food to poor families in different areas of the state, thus, helping the needy sustain themselves in wake of the current pandemic.

World Humanitarian Drive takes pride in honoring such stars who are doing their best for the humanity across the world. The main objective of this felicitation ceremony is to show gratitude and honor to the incredible volunteers who are always contributing their time and effort for the betterment of the humanity, even during the Covid-19 crisis says founder WHD Abdul Basit Syed.

The nomination process for the Awards started on April 27, 2020. Over 1600 nominations from all the seven continents were received for this event reaching global recognition in such a short period.

The online honouring ceremony was held on June 28, 2020 - 2 P.M, London Time (GMT+1). Apart from Sachin Awasthi, other notable recipients this year are - One Million Meals - Croydon (UK) campaign supported by David Beckham, H.R.H. Princess Doaa M. Ezzat - (Saudi Arabia), Dr. Colleen Kraft (USA), and HCL Foundation CSR (India).

Disclaimer: No Deccan Chronicle journalist was involved in creating this content. The group also takes no responsibility for this content.
If enforced, the lockdown is likely to allow a two-hour relaxation to enable people to buy essentials. 9DC Photo)

Hyderabad: The Telangana government on Sunday tentatively decided to impose a far more stringent lockdown in the Greater Hyderabad municipal limits for at least 15 days in view of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases. However, no date has been announced so far.

The Greater Hyderabad Muncipal Corporation area recorded 816 cases on Sunday.

At a meeting with ministers and top officials, chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao said the lockdown would yield better results if there is a daytime curfew as well, with a one- or two-hour relaxation for the people to buy essentials.

Sources said the government has to take steps to ensure that airline and train services have to be cancelled in the state. The lockdown will be more or less similar to the 80-day lockdown imposed in the last week of March.

If we decide to impose the lockdown in GHMC, several issues have to be taken into consideration. If the lockdown is imposed, it should be implemented strictly and totally, the chief minister said.

According to the chief ministers office, Rao will finalise the strategy in three to four days. He will also call a Cabinet meeting to discuss the measure.

The lockdown would likely be limited to the GHMC area, which covers parts of Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts.

There are possibilities of including certain areas of Yadadri-Bhongir, Suryapet and Siddipet districts in its ambit.

Speaking at the review meeting, Rao said that the people should not panic though there is an increase in the number of cases as the government is prepared to provide medical care to all.

Health minister Etala Rajendar, municipal administration minister K.T. Rama Rao, roads and buildings minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and medical department officials were present at the meeting.

Rajendar said, when compared to the national average, the mortality rate in Telangana state is less. There is no need for fear. Necessary treatment is given to the positive patients.

He told the Chief Minister that thousands of beds were ready in government and private hospitals.

Patients who are in a critical condition will be admitted in hospitals and asymptomatic patients and those with mild symptoms will be given home treatment. Mr Rajendar said that health officials and medical experts were advocating another 15-day lockdown in the GHMC limits to contain the spread of the virus.

Special Chief Secretary (medical and health) Shanta Kumari in her report said that the average deaths due to Covid-19 at the national level was 3.04 and 1.52 in the state.

Reacting to the views of the officials, Rao said, Hyderabad is a metropolitan city having more than a crore population. It is but natural that like in other cities the spread of the virus is high. He noted that the movement of people had increased in Hyderabad with the relaxation of the lockdown.

He said Chennai had also locked down again, and other cities will take similar measures.
Hyderabad: State broadcaster Prasar Bharati has threatened to cancel its subscription to the Press Trust of India (PTI) over the news agency's recent interview with China's ambassador to India, who said India was the aggressor in the June 15 skirmish in Galwan Valley, The Print reported.

The state broadcaster, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has written a letter to PTI accusing it of undermining Indias territorial integrity by dispensing news that is detrimental to national interest.

In the interview published on Friday, the Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong was quoted as saying The onus is not on China. The Indian side crossed the LAC (Line of Actual Control) for provocating and attacking the Chinese troops. The Indian forces seriously violated agreements on border issues between the two countries.

However, PTI had emphasised that Suns opinion is similar to Chinas stand on its border clash with India, which India has rejected already.

But when the ambassador shared this interview in the official website of the Chinese Embassy in India, it only had parts of the interview where the ambassador explains why the fault lies on the Indian

'Unwarranted, unjustified and unfair'

The Print's sources in PTI confirmed that a letter was received on Saturday, a day after the Chinese Ambassadors interview was published by PTI and shared by various news platforms.

We have received a letter from Prasar Bharati this afternoon (Saturday). We are examining it and will respond in due course with the facts, the source reportedly said.

The news agency is a non-profit trust managed by a Board consisting of owners/proprietors of newspaper groups. Its subscribers include most of the countrys state-and privately-owned news media, government departments, corporate houses, and universities, as per PTI website.

PTI, as told to The Print, described Prasar Bharatis response as unwarranted, unjustified and unfair. It is clear that the one-sided criticism of the PTI interview has been generated by a truncated version put out by the Chinese Embassy, it added. Prasar Bharati, that runs Doordarshan and All India Radio, is PTIs largest subscriber and pays it around 9.5 crores per annum.

The Prints article also reports that a senior Prasar Bharati official had cited past instances when PTI committed several other editorial lapses, and that Prasar Bharati had flagged the propagation of wrong news that harmed the public interest.

There have been several instances over the years. Some have been highlighted in the meetings, the officer said.

The Wires editor-in-chief Siddharth Varadarajan also points out an earlier tweet by PTI that may or may not have added to the feud.

The tweet quotes Vikram Misri, the Indian ambassador in Beijing, saying Chinese troops needed to move back to their side of the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. This statement from Misri contradicts PM Narendra Modis controversial statement that no outsider was inside the Indian territory.

If true, this reveals an ongoing rift between the state broadcaster and Indias largest and most subscribed news agency. Prasar Bharati, although a government institution, is ideally autonomous and doesn't adhere to the leanings of any political party.
Hyderabad: In breather to the TRS government, the Telangana High Court on Monday dismissed a bunch of PILs challenging the state's decision to construct a new secretariat complex by demolishing the existing one.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Abhishek Reddy delivered the judgment paving way for the K Chandrashekhar Rao-led government to go ahead with the construction of the new secretariat for which the foundation stone was laid on June 27 last year.

The petitioners had contended that the state was reeling under severe financial crisis with huge debts and at this juncture it was not financially viable nor will it reflect the wisdom on the part of the government to involve in such high expenditure.

The petitioners had further contended that the existing secretariat was used by the dispensation of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh also and many buildings in the complex were constructed in the recent years.

The bench observed that the court does not find any arbitrary or unreasonableness in the decision of the state cabinet to construct a new secretariat.

Commenting on the judgment, Additional Advocate GeneralJ Ramachandra Rao said decks are cleared for the construction of the new secretariat.

When contacted, Professor P L VishweshwarRao, one of the petitioners, said he will file a review petition or approach the Supreme Court with facts and figures.

The state government earlier indicated that the new secretariat which would come up in about four lakh sq-ft would cost around Rs 400 crore and it had decided to equip the new Secretariat complex with state-of-the-art connectivity and other features.

Opposition parties had protested against the construction of new secretariat buildings, by demolishing some of the existing structures.
Chennai: The Congress party has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of accepting donations for his PM CARES fund from Chinese companies owning popular brands like HUAWEI, TikTok, PayTm, XIAOMI and Oppo.

In a statement on Sunday, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal asked why the Prime Minister had received the donations despite over Chinese hostilities on the border.

He alleged that UAWEI had given Rs 7 crore, the company owning TikTok had facilitated a donation of Rs 30 crore, Paytm, having a 38% Chinese ownership, had given Rs 100 crore, XIAOMI had committed Rs 15 Crore and OPPO donated Rs 1 crore to the PM CARES fund.

Accusing the Modi government of sidestepping the brazen Chinese transgressions and occupation of Indian territory in Galwan Valley, PangongTso Lake area, Hot Springs and Depsang Plainsupto Y-Junction, Venugopal said: What is most worrying and alarming for national security is the fact of donations received by Prime Minister Modi from the Chinese Companies.

He said no one knew the constitution or the operational framework of the PM CARES Fund. The Fund is not even subjected to audit by any public authority including CAG. PMO has gone to the extent of saying this Fund is not a public authority. PM CARES Fund is not even subjected to RTI, he said.
As the Covid-19 case-loads shift from greater Chennai to the districts, particularly across central and southern Tamil Nadu, the geographic spread of novel coronavirus is taking twists and turns.

Surprisingly,Chennai and its suburbs hotspot, which until recently was accounting for about 71 per cent of the total Covid-19 positive cases in Tamil Nadu, has for the first time on Sunday reduced its quota to the overall state's tally of coronavirus positive cases to about 65 per cent.

The per-day spike saw the State firmly add 3,940 fresh cases of persons testing positive for Covid-19, including another high of 1,992 cases in Chennai, to take the cumulative number of Covid-19 patients in Tamil Nadu to 82,875 till date. But the metro's overall positive cases till date at 53,762 now in percentage terms is about only 65 per cent of the State's total of Covid-19 positive cases, a significant drop of six percentage points.

With the State surpassing 30,000 persons being tested every day now on an average in the last one week - on Sunday 31,505 persons took the Covid-19 test on a day the state got the Centre's nod for its 90th testing lab, Meenakshi Hospital Lab Services, Thanjavur-, the graph for cases by their outcome, show that the number of active cases is rising faster than the number of cured patients discharged from various hospitals.

For example, on Sunday, the number of active coronavirus cases in Tamil Nadu went up 2,443 to touch 35,656 in all, while the number of patients discharged on Sunday was up by only 1,443 to take the total number of discharged patents till date to 45,537. This partly explains why the State government is adding more beds to hospitals, both private and public.

The distribution pattern of those testing positive for the virus in the districts is skewed, with next to Chennai, Madurai district hitting a new high of 284 cases, followed by Chengalpattu-183, Kallakurichi-124, Tiruvannamalai-114, Thiruvallur-99, Kancheepuram-92, Vellore-84, Salem-79, Thiruvarur-78, Theni-62, Virudhunagar-58 and Villupuram-47.

The number of Covid-19 deaths continues to jump, now in an average group of 50 a day. On Sunday, the Health department confirmed another 54 deaths to take the overall death toll due to the virus in the State to 1,079.

Sadly, among the deaths confirmed was that of a one-and-a-half-year-old male baby who tested positive for Covid-19 and admitted to Villupuram medical college hospital, died due to complex set of medical conditions like cerebral palsy, 'aspiration pneumonia' and shock, says the medical report. A 17-year-old youth from Thiruvallur was among the deaths due to comorbidities including Vitamin-D deficiencies and hypo-parathryodism. The oldest patient to die in this list was a 91-year-old diabetic from Chennai.
The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-led coalition government

headed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio is yet to react to Nagaland governor R.N.

Ravis hard-hitting letter on the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, but a major insurgent group - the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) -- responded saying that it doesnt "extort" people but levies "legitimate taxes" on them.

While Mr Ravi, who is also the interlocutor for the ongoing peace talks with the NSCN (I-M) and others, had not named any specific insurgent group in his letter, the NSCN (I-M) asserted that it "levies legitimate taxes, which is an inherent right of any sovereign people or nation".

Mr Ravi had in his letter said unrestrained depredations by over half a dozen "organised armed gangs", brazenly running their so-called "governments" and

challenging the legitimacy of the state government without any resistance from the state law and order machinery, created a crisis of confidence in the system.

The NSCN (I-M) claimed it is "neither a gang nor commits extortions. The practice of collecting taxes was legitimately acknowledged by earlier interlocutors and Indian authorities and it was never an issue.

The NSCN (I-M) is the recognised and legitimate national organisation of the Naga people, and not a gang".

Justifying their extortion and rebutting the Nagaland governors charges, it said: "What is significantly important is the inherent right of any sovereign people and

nation to collect taxes from the people and commercial establishments."

The NSCN (I-M) went on: "This is the universal practice as seen all over the world. Taxes have been the sources of sustenance that has brought the Naga political movement this far."

It also tried to blame other rebel groups for the law and order problem by obliquely stating: "What has complicated the situation as seen today is the madness of extortions that are being carried out by some groups in the guise of freedom fighters. NSCN did not and does not commit extortion at any point but levies legitimate taxes from the people."
The ongoing battle between the Narendra Modi government and the Congress over the border clashes with the Chinese in Ladakh took an interesting turn last week.

Keen to dispel the perception that the India-China standoff had hurt the Prime Ministers image, the Bharatiya Janata Party wanted to make sure that the widest possible publicity was given to a survey conducted by a friendly agency showing that Narendra Modis approval ratings continued to be high and that as many as 73 per cent respondents trusted him to handle national security.

The partys media managers called up select newspapers to request that these findings be published on the front page, adding that the Prime Ministers Office was especially keen on it.

Meanwhile, the Congress was alerted to the surveys findings and the BJPs phone calls. It decided to send out a reaction to the BJPs survey and requested media houses that the Congress response should also be carried on page one.

The Congress tweeted its own version of a survey, showing that the majority felt Modi had lost the ability to safeguard the nations borders. In the end, few newspapers gave the two items front-page treatment.

The Congress Partys younger members, generally perceived as Rahul Gandhis camp followers, are particularly pleased these days for two reasons. One, they are thrilled that the Nehru-Gandhi scion is back to attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his handling of the Chinese intrusions into Indian territory which resulted in the death of 20 Indian Army soldiers.

The younger lot had been feeling demoralised when Rahul Gandhi chose to make himself scarce after he stepped down as Congress chief last year. Second, they are relieved that India has not resumed its international flights.

This means that Rahul Gandhi cannot take off on one of his mysterious trips abroad, as he is often prone to do, and will necessarily have to stay put and focus on his ongoing battle with the Modi government.

The long, overdue reshuffle of the Bharatiya Janata Party office bearers has led to considerable speculation in the party as the changes are imminent any day now.

There are two divergent views on the composition of BJP president J.P. Naddas new team. One section believes that all the present party functionaries will be replaced to strengthen Naddas position and to send out a message that he is now in charge.

Others argue that only cosmetic changes will be made as former BJP chief Amit Shah continues to retain a firm grip on the party organisation and he is unlikely to see his favourties go.

In any case, Nadda is not expected to take an independent decision on the new appointees and it can be safely assumed that the former BJP president will have a major say in the formation of his successors team.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan is a four-time chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and known to be close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

His predecessor Kamal Nath is a senior Congress leader, has won nine Lok Sabha elections from Chhindwara, has held important ministerial portfolios at the Centre and is currently Madhya Pradesh Congress chief.

Despite their seniority and distinguished record, both leaders appear to have lost their original sheen. Though he did manage to come back as chief minister, Chouhans wings have been clipped by the party leadership.

He has to contend with a BJP state chief who is not known to be on his side while home minister Amit Shahs favourite Narottam Mishra, a minister in Mr Chouhans Cabinet, is calling the shots in Madhya Pradesh.

Its the same story in the Congress. Kamal Nath may be heading the state unit but it is former chief minister Digvijaya Singh who is running the party as the bulk of legislators are his loyalists.

The Congress got a chance to dethrone the BJP government in Manipur when its alliance partner, the National Peoples Party, withdrew support and three ruling party legislators put in their papers. However, the Congress managed to squander away this opportunity.

The partys Manipur unit apparently sent several messages to the Congress headquarters requesting that New Delhi rush a team of leaders to the state to help with the heavy lifting.

But, for some odd reason, there was no coherent response from Delhi. Gaurav Gogoi, the Congress in-charge of Manipur, was busy in West Bengal and did not visit the state till it was too late.

Congress insiders insist that this was deliberate and that Gogoi and his father, former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, are unwilling to take on the BJP government because of personal compulsions. While the Congress failed to act in time, the BJP was quick to fight back and save its government.
Villagers stage a protest in solidarity with custodial death victims, at Sathankulam in Tuticorin district, Sunday, June 28, 2020. P Jeyaraj (59) and his son Fennix (31), died at police custody on June 23 with relatives alleging that they were severely thrashed at the Sathankulam police station. PTI Photo

Outrage has been mounting over the deaths in custody of a father and son in what is fast proving to be Indias George Floyd moment. The outcry over police brutality in its vilest form in Tamil Nadus hinterland in the deep south is snowballing into a campaign for justice.

Even days after the deaths occurred in Sathankulam near the harbour town of Thoothukudi, the police officials, thought to be responsible, only remain suspended, that too after they had first been merely transferred. Such suspension is just departmental action and nowhere near equivalent to dealing appropriately with grave incidents.

News erupted on Sunday of the death of an auto-rickshaw driver in neighbouring Tirunelveli district in similar circumstances even as a video-graphed post-mortem and inquiries were being initiated into police action in dealing with what was a minor lockdown disciplinary issue in Jayarajs son Emmanuel Bennix keeping his mobile phone shop open beyond the permitted hours in the time of the pandemic.

The government of Tamil Nadu has failed to grasp the enormity of torture and third degree methods used liberally within the precincts of its police stations.

It is almost routine that no appropriate action is contemplated until word comes from higher judiciary. This is a reflection of callous disregard in the southern state for standard protocols as stated in the guidelines and police manuals with regard to arrests and interrogation of law breakers.

In the absence of prompt executive action like booking cases against policemen and lower judicial officers  who allow the police too much latitude without applying their minds to the need for judicial custody  it is a virtual police state that is in operation.

Tamil Nadu also has the dubious distinction of having topped the southern states with 76 police custody deaths in 2018.

The timber trader Jayaraj and his son Bennix were detained by the police on June 19 and they died on June 22 and all we have had subsequently is vacillation on the party of the state leadership of the same kind as was evident in the shocking police firing incident in Thoothukudi that snuffed out the lives of 13 persons protesting against the Sterlite copper factory on May 22, 2018.

A week after custody deaths, none of the persons responsible has been booked for murder, which is to be considered the minimum action to be expected when the horrors of police brutality are out in the public domain as the social media reverberates with indignation.

Why is justice so slow even in investigative action being initiated in a country notorious for unhurried and slovenly methods of calling out police excesses is a question that has never been answered satisfactorily.

It is clear that police personnel at the lowest level are least educated in matters of human rights and have little understanding of protocols in humanely dealing even with criminal elements.

The rot in the police forces needs to be gouged out if we are to lay any claim to being a civilised society in which the custodians of the laws must act in equitable manner.
Police officers stop motorcyclists from entering a restricted area that is sealed off to control the spread of the coronavirus, in Lahore, Pakistan. (AP)

Cape Town: For months, experts have warned of a potential nightmare scenario: After overwhelming health systems in some of the worlds wealthiest regions, the coronavirus gains a foothold in poor or war-torn countries ill-equipped to contain it and sweeps through the population.

Now some of those fears are being realized.

In southern Yemen, health workers are leaving their posts en masse because of a lack of protective equipment, and some hospitals are turning away patients struggling to breathe. In Sudans war-ravaged Darfur region, where there is little testing capacity, a mysterious illness resembling COVID-19 is spreading through camps for the internally displaced.

Cases are soaring in India and Pakistan, together home to more than 1.5 billion people and where authorities say nationwide lockdowns are no longer an option because of high poverty.

In Latin America, Brazil has a confirmed caseload and death count second only to the United States, and its leader is unwilling to take steps to stem the spread of the virus. Alarming escalations are unfolding in Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Panama, even after they imposed early lockdowns.

The first reports of disarray are also emerging from hospitals in South Africa, which has its continents most developed economy. Sick patients are lying on beds in corridors as one hospital runs out of space. At another, an emergency morgue was needed to hold more than 700 bodies.

We are reaping the whirlwind now, said Francois Venter, a South African health expert at the University of Witswatersrand in Johannesburg.

Worldwide, there are 10 million confirmed cases and over 500,000 reported deaths, according to tally by Johns Hopkins University of government reports. Experts say both those numbers are serious undercounts of the true toll of the pandemic, due to limited testing and missed mild cases.

South Africa has more than a third of Africas confirmed cases of COVID-19. Its ahead of other African countries in the pandemic timeline and approaching its peak. If its facilities break under the strain, it will be a grim forewarning because South Africas health system is reputed to be the continents best.

Most poor countries took action early on. Some, like Uganda, which already had a sophisticated detection system built up during its yearslong battle with viral hemorrhagic fever, have thus far been arguably more successful than the U.S. and other wealthy countries in battling coronavirus.

But since the beginning of the pandemic, poor and conflict-ravaged countries have generally been at a major disadvantage, and they remain so.

The global scramble for protective equipment sent prices soaring. Testing kits have also been hard to come by. Tracking and quarantining patients requires large numbers of health workers.

Its all a domino effect, said Kate White, head of emergencies for Doctors Without Borders. Whenever you have countries that are economically not as well off as others, then they will be adversely affected.

Global health experts say testing is key, but months into the pandemic, few developing countries can keep carrying out the tens of thousands of tests every week that are needed to detect and contain outbreaks.

The majority of the places that we work in are not able to have that level of testing capacity, and thats the level that you need to be able to get things really under control, White said.

South Africa leads Africa in testing, but an initially promising program has now been overrun in Cape Town, which alone has more reported cases than any other African country except Egypt. Critical shortages of kits have forced city officials to abandon testing anyone for under 55 unless they have a serious health condition or are in a hospital.

Venter said a Cape Town-like surge could easily play out next in the big cities of Nigeria, Congo, Kenya, and they do not have the health resources that we do.

Lockdowns are likely the most effective safeguard, but they have exacted a heavy toll even on middle-class families in Europe and North America, and are economically devastating in developing countries.

Indias lockdown, the worlds largest, caused countless migrant workers in major cities to lose their jobs overnight. Fearing hunger, thousands took to the highways by foot to return to their home villages, and many were killed in traffic accidents or died from dehydration.

The government has since set up quarantine facilities and now provides special rail service to get people home safely, but there are concerns the migration has already spread the virus to Indias rural areas, where the health infrastructure is even weaker.

Poverty has also accelerated the pandemic in Latin America, where millions with informal jobs had to go out and keep working, and then returned to crowded homes where they spread the virus to relatives.

Perus strict three-month lockdown failed to contain its outbreak, and it now has the worlds sixth-highest number of cases in a population of 32 million, according to by Johns Hopkins University. Intensive care units are nearly 88% occupied, and the virus shows no sign of slowing.

Hospitals are on the verge of collapse, said epidemiologist Ciro Maguina, a professor of medicine at Cayetano Heredia University in the capital, Lima.

Aid groups have tried to help, but they have faced their own struggles. Doctors Without Borders says the price it pays for masks went up threefold at one point and is still higher than normal.

The group also faces obstacles in transporting medical supplies to remote areas as international and domestic flights have been drastically reduced. And as wealthy donor countries struggle with their own outbreaks, there are concerns they will cut back on humanitarian aid.

Mired in civil war for the past five years, Yemen was already home to the worlds worst humanitarian crisis before the virus hit. Now the Houthi rebels are suppressing all information about an outbreak in the north, and the health system in the government-controlled south is collapsing.

Coronavirus has invaded our homes, our cities, our countryside, said Dr. Abdul Rahman al-Azraqi, an internal medicine specialist and former hospital director in the city of Taiz, which is split between the rival forces. He estimates that 90% of Yemeni patients die at home.

Our hospital doesnt have any doctors, only a few nurses and administrators. There is effectively no medical treatment.
A woman (R) holds pro-democracy posters after a protest against China's planned national security law in Hong Kong on June 28, 2020. (AFP)

Beijing: China warned Monday that it would impose visa restrictions on US citizens who had "behaved egregiously" over Hong Kong, ahead of expected approval from Beijing lawmakers for a controversial national security law in the city.

China is moving forward on a security law that would enforce punishment for subversion and other offences in Hong Kong, which was rocked by massive and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests last year.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump's administration said it was restricting US visas for a number of unspecified Chinese officials for infringing on the autonomy of the financial hub.

Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Monday that the US "scheme... to obstruct the passage of the Hong Kong national security law will never prevail".

"To target the US's above wrongful actions, China has decided to impose visa restrictions against American individuals who have behaved egregiously on matters concerning HK," Zhao said.

The United States, Britain, the European Union and the United Nations rights watchdog all voiced fears the law could be used to stifle criticism of Beijing, which uses similar laws on the authoritarian mainland to crush dissent.
Highlights of this day in history: The U.S. Supreme Court effectively voids state death penalty laws; Jerusalem reunified under Israeli control after the Six-Day War; Singer Rosemary Clooney and actress Katharine Hepburn die. (June 29)
GUEST COLUMN

Discrimination and the lessons of American history
Emma Bond took over as the PSNI commander for the Derry and Strabane area in January of this year. She is the first woman to hold this role. In only a few short months she has had to deal with a number of serious issues including the Coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing fight against dissident republicans in the local area. In this, the first part of an in-depth interview , Chief Superintendent Bond speaks to Derry News reporter Garrett Hargan.

Can you share some information about your background and career in the PSNI to date?

Ive been in policing for 20 years now. Ive been very fortunate in that while the majority of my career has been operationally focused, Ive worked in Belfast, Downpatrick, Antrim and Newtownabbey as a Commander, but Ive also had roles in tactical support groups and spent some time in headquarters. Ive had a real diverse insight into the organisation and how it works.

Would it be right to say that youre the first woman to be appointed to the role of District Commander Chief Superintendent in Derry?

Yes, I believe thats the case and I feel really privileged, and its probably been a long time coming to be fair. But it is great to be here as the female District Commander.

Im very conscious as a senior female in the organisation of the role-modelling I play then, not only for other women within the organisation but potentially for females or people across the community who might have some desire to join the police.

Im happy to wear that badge with pride.

What are your thoughts on the city since moving here to take up that post?

First impressions are how beautiful a city it is, as you can see I have a fabulous view from my office right over the Foyle and I have to say Ive been really impressed by how much the people are invested in the city. Id always been told by colleagues theres something special about working here, and actually, there is.

People within the police service and the community are genuinely invested in making this place better, and that is really unique and not something Ive seen so obviously elsewhere. Theres a lot of history and Ive come at a time pre-Coronavirus but the level of tourists and even during lockdown to see so many people using the quay for their daily exercise is great. People are very passionate about the place and Im happy to come and spend time here and play my part.

Does Derry City & Strabane present any unique challenges in terms of policing?

There are real opportunities in this city and wider district because of how energised the community are, in the community and voluntary sector, weve seen the efforts theyve made in terms of care plans during COVID-19, I think there are real opportunities.

But were operating under a severe threat (of terrorism) since 2010. Very much what Id say is that, whilst its there and could be regarded as a challenge, it is in no way a barrier as to how we deliver policing and community policing as a direct response to the threat.

What are some of the big issues youd like to tackle over the coming years?

Obviously as a district we have a rural and urban blend so we are seeing bigger issues around vulnerability, domestic abuse and violence, but we need to make sure policing plays its role in getting the city back on its feet and the economy running. That its a safe place and we keep levels of crime down. Drugs is a big issue that the community is energised around and our police and community safety partnership (PCSP) take an active interest around that.

And at local community level anti-social behaviour which means we have to work with partners such as the PCSP around provision for young people.

Mental health in particular, whilst in my view there is no policing issues to those issues we see it manifest in people on the bridges and unfortunately feeling so stressed in their life that they have no option. Its how we work with other partners to ensure the right interventions are in place prior to that point of exasperation.

Youre Chair of the PSNIs Women in Policing Association. How has womens role in policing changed since you started and do you feel there is adequate female representation in leadership roles?

No. I have seen a significant change, whenever I joined the organisation women were only at about 10%, we were relatively small in numbers but what youve seen almost was a direct result of 50/50 recruitment at that time.

Were at just under 30% representation, still 20% off being fully representative of society. There has been big improvements. The challenge is not only about females coming in to the organisation but we know that for some females they see barriers to joining. There is still the belief that you have to make a decision around career or family, when actually that is not the case. There are opportunities around flexible working.

It's not just about women coming in, its about how they progress through the organisation. And I genuinely mean it, no I dont think women are adequately reflected in leadership roles, weve got one female in our senior executive team, Im the single chief superintendent whos a woman in the organisation and we have single numbers of women at superintendent level, so no, its not just about retaining females within the organisation but getting them through the ranks. Not just progression upwards but specialist posts, be it armed policing, tactical support groups or other aspects that people havent traditionally considered.

Ive been involved with the Women in Policing Association since it started in 2007 and its something I feel is really important. Im conscious of how many people are looking at my progression and thinking they could be like that. Ive had key role models such as Judith Gillespie who was my mentor as I cam through policing and Barbara Gray. Its that saying, you cant be what you cant see and I think the more women are visible it shows the more opportunities there are.

In terms of 50/50 recruitment, would you be supportive and what is the split in Catholic/Protestant PSNI officers in Derry and Strabane?

Youve caught me there, Id need to double check. From an organisational perspective were about 30% Catholic and 70% Protestant/other. The Chief has very clearly said the debate around wider diversity or representativeness needs to go beyond community background. There is no doubt, the more representative we are the more we can understand communities and the more responsive we can be. The challenge is weve had 50/50 recruitment, weve had the legislation and Im not sure weve seen any significant change. Im not saying that it may not have a place but for it in itself to be relied upon is almost, not abdicating responsibility, but there are other things such as public support for policing.

We have challenges here in the context of the threat with people not being able to live and work within the city and district. Thats not a normal society, I think a lot of what will change and enable people to feel able to join the police service, particularly from a Catholic nationalist community, is very much around widespread community support and endorsement of policing as a viable career. Ultimately, 50/50 legislation for the politicians, but my view is that there are other things beyond that which could be done.

We very much want to get to a place where youre coming to talk to people who have Derry twangs in their accents when you talk to them, were not yet in that place, but that the place we want and should be in.

RACISM

Last year in Derry City and Strabane there were 55 racist incident, 42 crimes. How many of those led to prosecutions?

(Commander Bond has been the service lead for hate crime for the past three years)

When a crime is committed we look at outcomes, where did we make somebody amenable for that offence. That doesnt always necessarily mean it will be a prosecution, sometimes there will be a community resolution notice, a juvenile caution, an adult caution. Its a disposal of some means.

Hate crime is an area across the board, all the categories of hate, not just racism where we see that actually outcome rates are almost half of what they are for all crime. But in respect of those 42 race hate crimes that were committed, it was only in six cases that we achieved an outcome.

What we find across NI is there is somewhere in the region of 16% of incidents are crimes where even when we have an offender identified, the victim doesnt want to pursue the complaint or go through the justice process. Quite often what weve found is that victims of hate crime just want the activity to stop, the justice system can be seen as quite clunky, very prolonged, people can feel retraumatised by having to go through the case. Its about finding an outcome that is focused on what the victim wants but gets a resolution an actually makes somebody feel amenable.

Were glad to have fed into Judge Marrinan and the Department of Justice review of hate crime legislation (expected to be published before the end of the year) because we obviously dont have specific hate crime legislation in NI which again presents limitations for us being able to achieve an outcome.

The types of offences that we see with hate crime tend to be criminal damage offences, maybe graffiti sprayed on a wall, they quite often happen in and around an individuals home. Theyre maybe afraid of the fact that actually they might be the victim of further incidents and have a reluctance to report. They can be carried out under the cover of darkness where there are limited opportunities for CCTV.

I would fully accept the outcome rates that were achieving are far below overall crime and far below where we would want to be but there are a range of factors as to why we think thats the case. Its about how we work to improve that.

And from a district perspective what were seeing across all of our categories of hate crime are increases which is different to the service overall profile.

Are racist incidents under-reported?

Not only as an organisation do we know that its under-reported but if and when it is reported it can be reported a significant time after the fact which limits our opportunities for CCTV, forensics or identifying witnesses. The key message that weve tried to give out and champion is please report but also please report as early and quickly as you can after it has happened. Quite often we talk about the golden hour in terms of gathering evidence. It gives us the greater likelihood of recovering evidence that will improve out outcome rate.

Do police have a role in building trust that prosecutions will be secured?

Absolutely, we have recognised that not just prosecutions but that outcomes will be achieved. As part of building that confidence and trust we ran a series of engagement events. In fact one of the first was in the Guildhall with the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), Probation Board and PCSPs to help have the conversation and find out what the barriers are to reporting. A lot of it is people feeling they wont be taken seriously, around language barriers and its about us providing that reassurance.

Weve got the Crime Advocacy Service that is there once people report an incident to support them through that process of providing a statement, of assisting the investigation. And we realise its a bit of a vicious circle. The more outcomes we achieve the more confidence we build that hopefully it is worth their while reporting. Were working under the constraints of the legislation and hopefully what comes out of Judge Marrinans review might help to show the wider justice systems commitment to dealing with issues of hate crime; racism, homophobia, transphobia and attitudes towards disability, that we can start to achieve outcomes for communities.

At the Black Lives Matter rally in Derry 57 fines were handed out and just 11 in Belfast. Around 500 people were said to have attended both. Were different tactics used?

I can understand why at a first glance thats the view people might have. There is not one specific reason as to why the numbers were different. Officers have exactly the same powers but we seen here is the city was people starting to gather and arrive over a longer period of time than theyd seen in Belfast. That led to much greater opportunity for police in terms of engagement, speaking with individuals, trying to encourage them to stay away. Quite a number of people upon interaction with police here in the city didnt continue on, a number did. So it was more of a gradual evolvement of those 500 over a number of hours in Derry City as opposed to Belfast where it was much quicker and happened from the perspective where actually it was more dynamic requiring police to look at wider issues and take their approach.

The matter is currently under review and being investigated by the Police Ombudsman and we will await the outcome of their investigation and take on board anything they have to say. But I dont think that you can necessarily say there were 500 in each, it must mean that there was a different approach. I think when you look at the circumstances, there are differences that in my view explain what happened. But we need to see what the Police Ombudsman says about whether approaches were proportionate, were right and if theres learning for us as an organisation well take it.

What could be seen on the back of the learning from the Black Lives Matter protests was the learning that followed in terms of the policing approach and style. There is absolutely nobody in policing or otherwise who would stand in anybodys way or not support the reason for the protest activity. It was simply because it was in the context of public health regulations, the risk because of the number of people in attendance. Because we were in a position that no more than six people could be gathered that regulation had primacy over the right to protest. In any other circumstance police wouldve been there supporting and facilitating the right to protest.

What was the criteria for handing out fines, if they were being handed out, would everyone in attendance not be given a fine or was it if you refused to move on?

Its about engaging, explaining and encouraging people to leave. If people didnt it was about the ability to enforce legislation. Its like anything, I drew a degree of analogy around, well, wed love to catch everyone speeding but you can only deal with one individual at a time depending on how many people you have out. While officers were dealing with one individual others maybe walked off or the crowd wasnt singularly static.

And because the numbers started to increase it was about trying to prevent further people joining the protest which meant officers were committed to a different role than maybe they had been from the outset. In any context officers have to be able to justify and explain the rationale behind the application of any of their powers. They have to be satisfied that an offence has been committed. Those officers have been satisfied and hence tickets have been issued. And ACC Todd said if people want to challenge that theyre within their legal right to do so.

Was the police response proportionate in Derry?

Ah, I said previously that it was proportionate but Im very mindful that complaints have been made to the Ombudsman and an investigation has commenced. So I think for me, I can see from a policing perspective, Ive looked at it and weve discussed the steps that were taken. I think its only right and fair that we await the outcome of the review because there is every possibility that they may come out and not agree. What has happened in the response to the Black Lives Matter protest and how it was policed we cant undo.

What we need to identify is see what comes out of the Ombudsman investigation and take the learning from it. Then understanding the black and ethnic minority community and particularly our community of younger persons and young adults in Derry City and Strabane as to how we work and re-establish relationships that may have in any way been hampered by actions we have taken.

In hindsight would you have done anything differently?

I think theres a danger in always looking at things in hindsight, we will never go out with a view to deliberately try and create a community reaction to the extent weve had and for anybody to have the view weve been partial in our approach. We as a policing service found ourselves very much in that position where we wholeheartedly support peoples right to protest, but in the circumstances of the pandemic and public health regulations that were in place we found ourselves with a responsibility to try and proportionately police the regulations.

If we have the same protest again in future days we will use what has come out of it to inform our response. And thats what happened in the protest activity in Belfast the following week and approach that was taken in subsequent weeks.

Learning has been applied but I couldnt necessarily sit here and say that if we were to do it all again we wouldnt do it that way. Because actually based on the information we had, steps wed taken and public health risk that existed, we believed we were taking an appropriate policing approach.

Did it compound matters for Black Lives Matter protestors when no fines were handed out at Protect Our Statues protests?

The community are probably better placed to tell you that. But what Id say is just because fines werent issued doesnt mean that actually there wont be outcomes as a consequence of that. We had evidence gathering teams deployed and theres city centre CCTV footage in Belfast. Theres a clear follow-up investigation that is being pursued in relation to that. Its not the fact that theres been a lack of policing, its the fact that the criminal justice approach to it as opposed to issuing fines on the day has been deemed to be done post-event. But absolutely, where there are offences and it's deemed necessary evidence will be put forward to the PPS for them to make a decision about whether prosecutions will be forthcoming.

North West Migrants Forum (NWMF) said it had a good relationship with the police before, despite being sceptical, but has now lost all confidence and would not waste their time reporting hate crime or racism. How do you rebuild that trust?

I find that really disappointing, and whilst I can understand the frustrations that NWMF may well have around policing, I actually dont believe that their way of supporting communities is by discouraging people from reporting. Ultimately weve a collective responsibility to keep the community safe and if communities dont believe the police is going to keep them safe then who else is going to do it.

We are the people who have responsibility for upholding and applying the law so I would very much appeal, and we have asked to meet with Lilian Seenoi Barr (Director of NWMF) and I know theres wider engagement with the Chief Constable and senior team. Lilian has asked to pursue that engagement, and to be fair, said there is no point in meeting us at the same time. The Chair of the PCSP and myself are very keen to do it.

This is not about police not in any way recognising the sensitivity and wrongdoing that occurred in America on George Floyd that led to the protest activity. We absolutely come out in support of that. The issue for us is we have a responsibility to enforce the regulations.

As I say, very disappointed, and I would hope that the request to have that dialogue will be taken up, as Ive said, trust is hard gained and easy lost. Part of that is through talking, getting things out in the open and maybe agreeing to disagree. But I dont think we should or can allow the Black Lives Matter protest to be a defining moment for this city. I think the city has proven time and time again the resilience it has and determination not to let key moments in its history stand in it way. We want this to be a welcoming, diverse city, for an ever-changing demographic.

Im not sure its anybodys interest for people to be sitting at home, in their places of work, going about their daily duty for people to be in fear and not think or be able to feel that they can come forward. The only way to stop hate crime from happening is to report it and take action to stop it. It would never stop and all wed be doing is perpetuating that sense of people becoming repeatedly victimised. And I get the depth of feeling that I dont believe NWMF would want that in any sense at all.

Northern Ireland isnt known to have a big population of black and ethnic minority communities but is it important for them to also see role models in the police service?

Our black, minority ethnic police officers make up I think less than 2% of our overall numbers, incredibly low. I know maybe the black and ethnic minority communities are just 1% of the wider community. So were not representative at all. I think thats where we were talking about positive discrimination and legislation, we need to look at diversity in its widest sense. Its not just about gender, about community background, it absolutely is about people from minority communities.

NI is becoming more and more diverse and the best way to deliver community policing is to have police officers who can speak their languages. We have interpreter services, so it shouldnt be a barrier, but its far better for us to have people who can go out and engage at first hand. People may come from communities where there is a lack of trust in the police service, where corruption maybe was something and they didnt see the police as upholders of law and order. I believe that police are seen by the majority of people in that light and its important for us to work with minority communities, build that trust to achieve justice outcomes and so they can see themselves playing a role in terms of helping communities.
Church leaders in Derry have urged people to be cautious as public religious services resume today.

Public services will be held in many local churches today for the first time in months.

There will be many restrictions in place to protect worshippers from possible coronavirus infection.

Catholic Bishop of Derry, Doanl McKeown, welcomed the resumption of services but urged people to take care.

I hope that we have learned lessons about life since we were locked down in March, he said.

This is a time to cherish those lessons and not to allow the insights to be lost in a tsunami of going back to the future.

We have seen what has happened in those places where there has been a stampede to forget we escaped from worse consequences through self-discipline.

It will take many people time to overcome the fear of mixing again.

We want our churches to be places where people can share the infectious good news of the Gospel  but avoid being Corona-infected through selfishness and carelessness.

We have to begin cautiously.

In all areas of human life, short term gain can lead to long-term pain.

The Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster, has also appealed to parishioners to be patient and understanding as their churches get ready for the resumption of public worship.

Although in Ireland, at the moment, the virus seems very much under control  which were so thankful for  we know the virus is still there, Bishop Andrew said.

Weve been given the freedom to meet again [from Monday], but we know that with freedom comes responsibility.

At the moment, going back to church places a lot of responsibility on you and on me, on select vestries and on clergy, and on all those who will attend churches because weve got to follow all the public health guidelines and weve got to follow the guidelines that the Church of Ireland has put together for that.

I really welcome the opportunity to be back at church but I want you to know that theres no set date by which this may happen, because select vestries  and clergy in particular  have to make sure that in their parishes its right and its appropriate and its safe to open, and thatll take time.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Brian Tierney is encouraging the people of Derry City and Strabane District Council to show their support for the family of Belfast teenager Noah Donohue by signing an online Book of Condolence that is available for signing via the Council website.

Expressing his sadness at the heart-breaking news that the body of the 14-year-old Belfast schoolboy was found by PSNI on Saturday following a six-day search for the missing teenager, Mayor Tierney said felt it was important the public had an opportunity to show support for the Donohue family.

He said: I was totally devastated when I heard Noahs body had been found.

"I think all of us were really hopeful that he would be found and return home safe to his family. For a young boy to go out on his bike on a Sunday afternoon and never come home is just heartbreaking.

"As a parent I dont even want to contemplate the pain and loss the Donohue family are feeling and my heart goes out to his Mammy and his extended family circle as they try to come to terms with their incredible loss.

"As Mayor, I want to extend sincere condolences on behalf of the people of Derry and Strabane and reassure the family that our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very difficult time. It is truly heartbreaking.

The Mayor added that all support should now be focused on helping the Donohue family in whatever way the community can at this imaginably difficult time.

By signing the online Book of Condolence you can provide some words of comfort and support to Noahs family, he added.

The book is available for signing from today via the following link - https://www.derrystrabane.com/Book-of-Condolences-for-Noah-Donohue
A Derry school has been honoured for the work it is doing to welcome children from different cultures.

St Eugene's Primary School has pupils of different nationalities and has made significant efforts to provide a welcoming environment for those children.

The school has also taken steps to teach all its pupils about the important of embracing diversity and learning about different cultures.

As a result of its ongoing work. St Eugene's has received a 'Schools of Sanctuary' award.

The Schools of Sanctuary programme has developed in the Urban Villages areas of Belfast and Derry with support from the Northern Ireland Executives Urban Villages Initiative, the Belfast City of Sanctuary group, and the Intercultural Education Service of the Education Authority.

A 'School of Sanctuary' is a school committed to being a safe and welcoming place for all, especially those seeking sanctuary.

This could be those whose lives were in danger in their own country, who have troubles at home or are just looking for a safe space of safety.

St Eugene's principal Teresa Duggan said they were delighted and proud to receive the award.

With some of the current St Eugenes pupils coming from Poland, China and Rwanda It was important that the whole school community come together in celebrating such diversity within each class.

The children learned about different cultural backgrounds, languages and shared their experiences regarding traditions and customs and how these would be celebrated across the world.

The programme also ensures better Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures throughout our school plus improved facilities for all children in St Eugenes PS.

The school received the award on Friday from Derry's Mayor Brian Tierney, himself a former pupil of St Eugene's.

I have great memories of this school and believe it plays a central role in the local community, said the Mayor.

The school deserve the recognition for the hard work and dedication put in by the principal, board of governors, teachers, parents and, most importantly, the pupils.

Official recognition of the award will take place in September at a function at Belfast City Hall.
Pregnant Katy Perry Reveals She Contemplated Suicide After Break Up With Orlando Bloom

Pop sensation Katy Perry revealed that she considered taking her own life after her break up with Orlando Bloom and her album "Witness" sold only 162,000 copies which was less than a tenth of the sales of her previous album "Prism".

She said, her career was going up and up before that smallest change which was seismic to her.

Perry further in her interview to radio station SiriusXM CBCstated, that had she not managed to find a sense of gratitude, she would have "wallowed" in her own sadness and "probably just jumped" but it was her faith in God that helped her overcome the mental problems she faced during the tough time.
The Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA) confirmed that 12 firms have made Expressions of Interest (EoIs) on the countrys two new telecoms licences.

Nine of the bids were from companies already involved in the telecommunications sector, with interest from African groups as well as those from further afield. The licences are expected to generate around US$1 billion in revenue.

Kenyas Safaricom had already confirmed its interest in Ethiopia, and has lodged an EoI as part of a consortium with Vodafone and Vodacom, which the companies have branded as Global Partnership for Ethiopia. Frances Orange Group, Madagascars Axian, Saudi Arabias stc, South Africas MTN Group and Telkom SA, the UAEs Etisalat, and pan-African group Liquid Telecom were also named as interested parties, along with Chinese MVNO Snail Mobile.

The ECA also confirmed that two EoIs were received from Electromecha International Projects and Kandu Global Telecommunications, neither of which currently function as telecoms operators. A final bid from an unnamed company was described by the ECA as being incomplete.

The two full-service licences will have an initial validity of 15 years, with options to renew. They will be technology neutral, allowing the use of a range of spectrum across multiple frequency bands. Licensees will be required to commit to reasonable pricing structures as well as meeting agreed coverage quotas for geographies, population, universal access and teledensity.
Saudi Telecom Company (stc) is deploying CommScopes new 30-port antennas as it looks to demonstrate use cases for next generation wireless technologies.

The deployment is one of the first of this technology anywhere in the world. The customised antennas will enable stc to support more technologies with less weight and wind-load on towers, solving the challenge of overburdened infrastructure and giving adequate room to deploy 5G equipment.

Stc has previously used CommScopes antennas, including a customised design for 16-port antennas to support increased densification of its 4G/LTE network. With this new design, stc aims to keep pace with the demands of Saudi Arabia and expand into new markets.

Hisham A. Alabdaly, Infrastructure Design, general manager, stc, said: Diversification in the KSA economy mandates the need for further investment in advanced digital technologies, to pave the way for a future of massive connectivity. Piloting 5G-ready technologies will enable stc to lead the advancement of a modern society while harnessing new and emerging technologies, delivering unlimited network capacities for video services and many other modern high-tech industries.

Femi Oshiga, vice president of Service Providers for the Middle East and Africa, CommScope, said: These antennas will improve the mobile experience of stc customers where they live and work, and it will pave the way towards wide deployment of 5G services.
[Updated with a statement from TikTok India]

TikTok, Shareit, UC Browser, Xiaomi Mi Community, ES File Explorer, Clash of Kings are among the list of 59 mobile apps that have been banned by the Indian government. The Ministry of Information Technology finds these apps engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order.

The Indian government had earlier reportedly received a list of apps that originated or have links with China from intelligence agencies citing security and privacy concerns over the use of these apps. In a press release issued by the Ministry of Electronics and IT, the government cites several complaints, reports and an exhaustive recommendation which forms the basis of this new order to ban 59 apps.

Following this order, TikTok has been delisted on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. In a statement released by Nikhil Gandhi, Head of TikTok India, "TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and has not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese government."

Interestingly, a viral message doing the round of the Internet was recently spotted that prohibited the use of 14 apps with Chinese origin but it was discredited by the government at the time.

The Indian government has accused these 59 mobile apps on Android and iOS platforms of stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users data in an unauthorized manner to servers outside of India. Hence, the government has deemed these apps as a security concern for mining and profiling users data by elements hostile of national security.

Heres the list of 59 mobile apps issued by the Ministry of Electronics and IT that it has disallowed for use in mobile and non-mobile Internet devices.
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Industry analysts think the online retailing giant's ultimate goal is to repurpose the Zoox vehicle for its core business, delivering packages to shoppers.



By JOSEPH PISANI and TOM KRISHER

AP Business Writers

NEW YORK  Amazon said Friday that it is buying self-driving technology company Zoox, which is developing an autonomous vehicle for a ride-hailing service that people would request on their phones.

Seattle-based Amazon did not disclose how much it is paying for Zoox, which was founded six years ago in Foster City, California. Analysts pegged the purchase price at over $1 billion.





. . .
City eyes street use for restaurants

SEATTLE  Two Seattle councilmembers are sponsoring legislation to make free new, temporary street use permits, which allow restaurants, retail stores, vending trucks and carts to operate in the sidewalk or curb space in front of their business.

Councilmembers Dan Strauss and Alex Pedersen are sponsoring the legislation for the Seattle Department of Transportation permits to ease reopening during Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee's COVID-19 Safe Start plan.

In a press release, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said the ability to operate outside  even at a limited capacity  provides many small businesses a much-needed lifeline.

SDOT will immediately begin accepting street use permit applications.

The city is also launching Phase 2 toolkits, at http://tinyurl.com/y9s5e9n8, to help small businesses authorized to reopen under the governor's guidance navigate public health requirements and financial considerations.




When Virgil Abloh was appointed as artistic director of Louis Vuittons menswear line in 2018, it immediately sent shockwaves through the fashion industry.

Already well-known for his postmodern approaches to art and streetwear through his labels Off-White and Pyrex Vision; creative collaborations with IKEA and Kanye West; and immensely popular footwear collection with Nike, Abloh has almost single-handedly changed the popular conception of streetwear, fashion and design.

Ablohs relentlessly innovative drive has led Louis Vuitton to announce one of the most exciting one-off collections the storied grand couturier has ever devised: a three-way collaboration between the French fashion juggernaut, Abloh and Japanese streetwear legend Nigo.

View this post on Instagram   @nigo & i ~ @louisvuitton A post shared by @ virgilabloh on Jun 25, 2020 at 6:26am PDT

You might not have heard of Nigo before, but youve almost certainly heard of his brands. One of the progenitors of modern streetwear, the Japanese native founded the iconic clothing brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE), as well as other pioneering brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream with Pharrell Williams. In 2014, Nigo also became the creative director for Uniqlos high concept UT sub-brand and founded another brand, Human Made, a luxury workwear brand.

Nigo, LV and Ablohs collection, LV2  Louis Vuitton squared  is an eclectic blend of the three fashion giants unique aesthetics and branding. Its a motley melting pot of LVs classic motifs and luxury materials, Ablohs iconoclastic streetwear sensibilities, and Human Mades quaint Americana.

Such a wild collection might seem unprecedented for a luxury stalwart like LV, but its not as unexpected as you might expect. LV in recent years has shown a huge appetite for creative experimentation, notably collaborating with New York skate brand (and catnip for hypebeasts) Supreme under previous menswear director Kim Jones.

Abloh and Nigos relationships with the whos who of modern pop culture  musicians like Kanye and Pharrell, fashion insiders like Anna Wintour, Jun Takahashi and Don C, and artists like Takashi Murakami  mean that they have their fingers on the pulse more than anyone else in the industry. For the two millennial Lagerfelds to join forces under LVs roof seems like a natural step.

That a collection exists speaks volumes about the state of current mens fashion. The lines between haute couture and streetwear have been completely blurred. Fashion brands are shaking off their old conservatism and embracing the modes of the 21st century  multicultural, global, irreverent and above all, unafraid.

Fresh in Australia, the capsule collection includes ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes and accessories. Itll fly off shelves, so get amongst it ASAP.

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JUNE 15

 Larceny/theft fourth degree (less than $500) was filed from State Docks Road. Four perennial flowers ($25.16) were reported stolen.

 Larceny/theft fourth degree (less than $500) was filed from Kent Drive. Two rocking chairs ($200) were reported stolen.

 Aggravated assault third degree and criminal mischief second degree were filed from Eufaula Avenue and Pecan Street. A 2016 Toyota Camry ($500) was reported damaged.

 Leaving the scene of an accident was reported from South Eufaula Avenue.

 Larceny/theft from residence first degree was filed from Inlet Drive. Step bars ($150) were reported stolen.

JUNE 16

 Obstruction of governmental operations was reported from West Union Street at McCrae Street.

Larceny/theft from residence fourth degree (less than $500) was filed from South Livingston Street. Two plants ($20) and two white rocking chairs ($398) were reported stolen.

 Failure to appear in court second degree was reported from South Randolph Street.
MONTGOMERY  More Alabama cities are implementing, or considering, a requirement to wear face masks in public places to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

Montgomery and Birmingham and Jefferson County have orders in place requiring face masks in public places. The mayor of Selma on Friday issued a similar order. The mayors of Decatur and Mobile indicated their city councils will discuss the idea.

No Wiregrass cities have yet issued any mandatory masks orders, but recent comments from elected officials and healthcare leaders emphasized the need to wear masks in public to residents who have opted to bypass the practice.

In the last Dothan-Houston County Joint Information Center meeting, both Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver and Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba warned citizens against complacency amid the ongoing health threat.

Weve got to take the right actions to make sure this spread and this increase does not continue, Culver said. Weve got to wear masks. Weve got to maintain social distancing. This disease is still among us.

Saliba said officials understand the frustrations to get the economy rolling and to feel safe in the community.
GENEVA  Charges against a woman arrested and charged with making a video of a 19-year-old man performing sexual acts on an infant child have been dismissed.

The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation arrested Lisa Williamson, 41, and Steven Anthony Jackson, 19, both of Hartford last month.

Authorities previously told the Dothan Eagle that Williamson filmed Jackson performing sex acts on the child, and may have been using a subscription service online for distribution.

Williamson was originally charged with permitting a child to engage in production of obscene material, sex abuse of a child, production of child pornography, dissemination of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, Geneva County Assistant District Attorney Amanda Smith filed a motion requesting the charges be dismissed. Smith listed in her motion that Jackson admitted he perpetrated an elaborate scheme using Williamsons identification and fraudulent social media accounts to make it appear she was involved in the alleged crimes.

Smith said in her motion, although the matter remains under investigation, the state believes that at this time justice requires the charges pending Williamson be dismissed.
What's on June 29-July 5 (Daily updated)

MUSIC & PERFORMANCES

Hanoi- Literature talk

7pm, July 1

Manzi Art Space, 14 Phan Huy Ich Street

A talk to discuss Vietnamese literary pieces

The talk, named Wounds That Cant Be Bandaged: The Imperfect Translation of Womens Suffering in The Tale of Kieu and The Sorrow of War, will be led by speaker Ha Trang. Trang will share results of her research on two of Vietnams most important literary pieces that were translated into English  Truyen Kieu (The Tale of Kieu) and Noi Buon Chien Tranh (The Sorrow of War).Truyen Kieu was written by Nguyen Du in the early 19th century (translated by Huynh Sanh Thong) and Noi Buon Chien Tranh was penned by Bao Ninh in 1987 (translated by Frank Palmos).

Free entry.

____________________________________________________________________

EXHIBITION

Hanoi-Exhibition: Musical Painting









Until August 31



LEspace, 24 Trang Tien Street



From the organiser:



Some people choose the straight path, others follow the unknown turns. I belong to the second group. At the age of 16, I started working as a shift worker in a factory  and also started painting. At the age of 17, I was adventuring here and there. At the age of 20, I did my first solo exhibition. After a few years, I retired from painting because I was too hungry to explore other art forms such as theater, music and cinema. More or less, all of them have brought me happiness  During that time, I had the opportunity to meet famous artists and learn a lot.



In the end, Im back with painting, in a serious way. And because music is my passion, so Ive always pain with music. And now, Im painting music.



Free entrance

Hanoi- Exhibition: Built Environment  An Alternative Guide to Japan

Until July 5, 8:30  16:45,

Vietnam Fine Art Museum

66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street



The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, in cooperation with Embassy of Japan in Vietnam proudly present a travelling exhibition Built Environment  An Alternative Guide to Japan.



Hanoi-Exhibition: An Unseen World











Until June 30,

First Floor Gallery, Art and Coffee, 168 Ngo Xa Dan 2, Ho Dac Di Street.



From the organizer:



Join us for the opening of a new art space in Hanoi and the showcase of a new series of artwork from artist David Evans!



The show will feature Davids latest project here in Hanoi with a series of portraits on the subject of consciousness. Inspired from the New York School and the German Neo-expressionist.



David Evans is an American artist who has been heavily influenced by the street art in Brooklyn and the Lower East Side of Manhattan along with the Jazz scene in New York. David takes the primitive and primordial aspects of modernity and forms portraits littered with texts, not of the visual world but rather of the unseen.



Ultimately this project depicts the tension between notions of modernity which are in constant conflict with the inherent primitive state of humanity and its need for the unseen world.



The works will be on display for a limited time after the event.



Hanoi-Exhibition shows artworks inspired by music











Until August 31,



French Cultural Centre LEspace, 24 Trang Tien Street



With a smartphone, visitors can scan the QR code on the painting by Jacob Reymond at an exhibition which has opened in Hanoi, then listen to the song that inspired him to create the painting.


A Dale County man has been indicted on 60 counts of child sex crimes, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Monday.

Jason Park, 40, of Newton, was served notice Friday at the Dale County Jail where he is incarcerated after being arrested previously on many of the same charges.

Parks was arrested in November and December 2019 on numerous counts of possession of pornography, sexual assault of a child less than 12, bestiality and production of obscene material.

According to complaints filed against Park, the videos contain multiple victims, the youngest being a toddler and the oldest a 13-year-old boy.

Video titles described in the complaint contain various acts of sexual assault against children, including rape and incest.

The complaints in these cases listed probable cause that Park allegedly possessed these videos between December 2018 and November 2019.

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Marshall presented evidence to the grand jury June 17, resulting in Parks indictment.

According to Marshall, the indictment charges Parks with 43 counts of possession of child pornography, 13 counts of production of child pornography, and four counts of sexual abuse of a child younger than 12 years old.
A Headland man was arrested Friday after police say he burglarized a local business and multiple vehicles located at the business before stealing a vehicle and driving through a fence located on the commercial property.

According Dothan Police Lt. Scott Owens, on May 30 McCullough allegedly broke into three vehicles located at a local business on Glover Lane, intending to steal or damage property inside the vehicles. He left the area and then shortly returned to the scene where he broke a window out of the business property with an intent to steal property from inside the business. McCullough ended his crime spree by stealing a vehicle and driving through the business fence causing damage to multiple pieces of property located at the business.
On May 14, 2019, around 5 p.m., fishermen spotted a burning vehicle underneath the bridge near Hartford. Authorities discovered what appeared to be a body inside the vehicle, but indicated it was burned beyond recognition.

According to court records, Brogdon appears to have a prior felony conviction. He pleaded guilty to second-degree forgery in connection with an alleged falsified $1,400 check in 2010. Court records indicate he wrote a letter to the judge to ask for an appointed attorney in the case because he said he could not afford one. In the letter, Brogdon said his mother and girlfriend were providing for him during his financial struggle.
While city leaders are not sure if mandates are the proper next step, all encourage their citizens to wear masks to help contain the spread of the virus.

Really, we just want all the citizens to consider this is a serious, contagious virus, Saliba said. Even if you may not have a family member thats been affected by it, there are a lot that have been.

We continue to use the guidelines that are there for good common sense to control the virus spread in our community. The goal is to keep our hospitals from getting full of people with COVID-related health issues.

Ozark Mayor Bob Bunting said the rise in cases over the last several weeks should be a major concern to everyone.

I truly believe we all can do better, to include yours truly. We dont want to return to what we lived with for several weeks in March and April or have protective procedures mandated, Bunting said. Wearing a mask when you are around others is one way we can protect ourselves as well as family and friends. I do not like wearing a mask, and often times I fail to put mine on even when its in my pocket. I pledge to do better and I ask all of Ozark to do better.
A five-member team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention arrived in Alabama last week to assist the state with the growing coronavirus pandemic. The visit comes as the state is experiencing some of its highest coronavirus case counts to date.

The team consists of an epidemiologist, a medical epidemiologist, and epidemiologist/data analyst, a risk communicator, and an informatics/visualization specialist.

According to reports, the team came to Alabama at the request of the Alabama Department of Public Health, and are expected to leave around July 3.

The expertise of these public health professionals will further our staffs abilities to assess our processes and will help guide us in our efforts to protect the public during this pandemic, State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said in statement. We are grateful for the partnerships we have with CDC and other authorities at the local, state and federal levels.

The CDC team will work with ADPH on streamlining COVID-19 reporting, developing county-level indicators, recommend any needed interventions and develop and review outreaching and communication messages, ADPH said.

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Back in August 2017, during a period in which activists sought the removal of statues of Confederate leaders, Trump made the classic slippery slope argument. So this week, its Robert E. Lee, he said. I notice that Stonewall Jackson is coming down. I wonder, is it George Washington next week, and is it Thomas Jefferson the week after? You know, you really do have to ask yourself, where does it stop?

A lot of people said that was ridiculous. The slippery slope argument fails because there are obviously relevant distinctions that can be made between Washington and Jefferson on the one hand and Confederate leaders on the other, wrote Ilya Somin in The Washington Post on Aug. 15, 2017.

Todays rope-wielding mobs dont see it that way. Try to tell them there are obviously relevant distinctions to be made, and theyll just head to the next target. In the current atmosphere, such reasoning is going exactly nowhere.

Yes, some of the more moderate-minded who supported the removal of Confederate statues are a bit embarrassed that the fire has spread to Washington, Jefferson and beyond, but they cant do anything to stop it.
The undergrad who lives in the back room keeps trying to get me to rejoin the world.

Lets get coffee, she suggests one day. Lets take a drive to Santa Monica, she suggests the next.

At 21, my daughter is long past ready to restart her life. Shes been living at home since March 13, when her mother and I picked her up at LAX. The three of us went into isolation that afternoon, and she has had enough.

I have not. I am against reopening. Im still hunkered down. Not forever, but for now. The pandemic isnt over, and in fact, the numbers suggest it is getting worse  again.

According to the COVID Tracking Project, cases are rising precipitously in Texas, Arizona and Florida. Reuters analyzed the project data and found a 90% increase in week-to-week new cases in Arizona, and about 80% in Texas and Florida, as of June 21. In California, the number of confirmed cases keeps increasing, with Los Angeles still a hot spot, and statewide, hospitalizations, which were somewhat steady, are also climbing.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, and just about every public health officer, epidemiologist and respiratory specialist in the country, is uneasy. People keep talking about a second wave, he said recently. Were still in a first wave.
And, A spokeswoman said the agency eliminated the portal because complaints had dwindled.

Turns out that was fake news. Staletovich reported that the departments own records show the number of complaints doubled from April to May.

Of course, no news can make you sick. No news can kill you. But its all in keeping with the governors push to get back to normal as quickly as possible, despite medical experts warnings of the imperative for people to wear face masks if a second arrival of the coronavirus is going to be a gentle wave, and not a tsunami.

Fired Florida data scientist launches a coronavirus dashboard of her own

Consider this National Public Radio story No news is good news No. 2. Rebekah Jones, a Geographic Information Systems manager at Floridas Department of Health, produced the COVID-19 Data and Surveillance dashboard, which provides researchers and the public a real-time look at the states coronavirus caseload.
Duncan, OK (73533)

Today

Windy with thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 53F. NNE winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.
Sinn Fein will continue to lead the way to ensure that the change that Louth voters signaled in the general election in February will happen, says Dundalk TD Ruairi O Murchu.

The deputy was one of 37 Sinn Fein TDs who gathered at Dublins Convention Centre on Saturday when Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin was elected Taoiseach.

Mr O Murchu said: People in Louth voted for change, in a massive way, with the election of two Sinn Fein TDs. Imelda Munster topped the poll with 17,203 votes. The party secured 42% of the vote in this constituency.

What has happened in the last few months is that, faced with a seismic change in politics, the old guard of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael circled to wagons and excluded Sinn Fein, using the cover of the Green Party in order to do so.

I accept their right to form a government. I accept we didnt have the numbers, this time, but they didnt even talk to us ahead of government formation, which disrespects our voters and shows Fianna Fail and Fine Gaels willingness to hold onto power at any cost.

Between them, they have produced a programme for government that lacks ambition and big ideas and will not deliver on affordable housing, on building health service capacity, on Irish Unity or on the right to retire at 65.

But the voters of Louth will know that Imelda and I, along with the strong team we have in Leinster House, will hold this government to account like never before. We will continue to work for the people and families that voted for us.

We will always put forward alternatives to the right wing, corporate-orientated politics of this new government and we will deliver the change that people voted for and deserve.
Aaron Brady denied to gardai that he confessed to the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in front of his friend's partner in a New York apartment, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

Gardai arrested Mr Brady in February 2018 on suspicion of Det Gda Donohoe's murder and interviewed him at Dundalk Garda Station.

During one interview the jury heard that a statement by Molly Staunton was played to him in which she alleged that she heard Mr Brady confess to the murder at an apartment in New York that the accused shared with Ms Staunton's then boyfriend.

After hearing Ms Staunton's statement Mr Brady said: "I don't accept that any conversation took place with Molly Staunton that I confessed to the offence that I'm arrested for."

The jury, who began hearing evidence last January, were also told today that the trial is entering its final stages with the prosecution expecting to finish its case this Friday.

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 7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location.

Detective Garda Kieran Reidy today told Dean Kelly BL for the prosecution that he arrested Mr Brady at 7pm on Feb 25, 2018 on Cloverhill Road in Dublin on suspicion of Det Gda Donohoe's murder. He took him to Dundalk Garda Station where Mr Brady was held until March 4 and interviewed a number of times by different gardai.

Detective Garda Jim McGovern of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation told Mr Kelly that during an interview on February 26 gardai asked Mr Brady if he remembered giving a voluntary statement in Dundalk Garda Station in February 2013. Mr Brady replied: "I remember being here and giving a statement and anything other than that is going to be no comment unless there's anything incorrect or shouldn't be so." In another interview on March 3 Det Gda McGovern confirmed that Mr Brady said: "I just want to make absolutely clear that I deny any involvement in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and I have never made a confession of my own free will to the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe." On the same day Det Gda Padraig O'Reilly told Mr Kelly the accused said: "I fully deny any involvement in the matter for which I am detained."

When gardai put it to Mr Brady that he had said on a number of occasions that he was acting on the advice of his solicitor and asked him if he had anything to say about that, he said that his actions were his own and had been his own decision.

Det Gda McGovern further told Mr Kelly that during an interview on March 4 gardai told Mr Brady that they were using a provision under Section 19(a) of the Criminal Justice Act that allows a jury to draw inferences if an accused person fails to answer certain questions. Det Sgt Brian Hanley told Mr Kelly that he explained in simple language to Mr Brady that this meant that if he failed to answer any question or mention a fact that he later relies on in court as part of his defence, then his failure could be used to support other evidence against him. The sergeant also told him that inferences from any failure to answer a question could not be used on its own to convict him.

When asked if he had anything he wished to say Mr Brady replied: "I strongly deny any involvement in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and any other offence put to me." He also again denied making any confession in relation to the murder.

He was asked if he wished to make any changes to his statement and he replied: "I strongly deny any involvement in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. I strongly deny any confession to the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and any other offence put to me here in interview."

Retired former detective inspector Patrick Marry told Brendan Grehan SC for the prosecution that in 2018 he was the senior investigating officer tasked with overseeing the investigation into Det Gda Donohoe's death.

Following the series of interviews Mr Marry said he arrested Mr Brady for the purpose of charging him with the murder of Det Gda Donohoe at 20.05 on March 4, 2018. Following his arrest, charge and caution Mr Brady said: "I strongly deny any involvement in the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe."

Mr Marry will be cross examined by the defence in front of Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of six men and seven women on Thursday.
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More than two thousand demonstrators rally on the plaza and lawn in front of New Hampshire's Statehouse Thursday, March 31, 2011 to protest proposed spending cuts and a provision that would strip public employees of their union protection when their contracts expire, in Concord, N.H.
Landslides and deterioration of Apache Trail prevent motorists from traversing its length between Tortilla Flat eastbound to Roosevelt Lake and prevent East Valley residents from reaching the sprawling Apache Lake Marina.


A Brand's Guide to Digital Shelf Analytics | eBook

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The next generation of Intel mobile processors will include malware protection built into the chip, the company announced Monday.

The protection, provided by Intel's Control-Flow Enforcement Technology (CET), will first be available in the company's "Tiger Lake" mobile processors, Vice President of Intel's Client Computing Group Tom Garrison revealed.

CET is designed to protect against the misuse of legitimate code through control-flow hijacking attacks, which is widely used in large classes of malware, he explained.

Of the 1.097 vulnerabilities Trend Micro discovered through its Zero Day Initiative from 2019 to today, 63.2 percent were related to memory safety.

"As more proactive protections are built into the Windows OS, attackers are shifting their efforts to exploit memory safety vulnerabilities by hijacking the integrity of the control flow," noted David Weston, director of Enterprise and OS Security at Microsoft.

"As an opt-in feature in Windows 10, Microsoft has worked with Intel to offer hardware-enforced stack protection that builds on the extensive exploit protection built into Windows 10," he explained, " to enforce code integrity as well as terminate any malicious code."

Chip-Level Attacks

With control-flow protections built into Intel's hardware, it will be possible to detect memory attacks earlier in the process, noted Ray Vinson, senior product manager at Spirent, a telecommunications testing company in Sunnyvale, California.

"The attacker is making chip-level calls to initiate the memory attack. Software sees those calls, but only after they're made," he told TechNewsWorld.

"By addressing the attack at the chip level, you're preventing the calls from ever taking place and preventing any resources from being taken up by the attack," Vinson explained.

"Memory overflow and software overflow attacks have been around as threats for years. By addressing this at the chip level, it starts to take this out as an option for the hacker," he added.

Among the leading malware attacks currently mounted by hackers are "fileless" attacks, where malicious code is loaded directly into memory, noted James McQuiggan, security awareness advocate for KnowBe4, a security awareness training provider in Clearwater, Florida.

"This style is difficult for antimalware applications to detect, since they look for binary, executable applications running from a hard drive," he told TechNewsWorld.

"Having the hardware join the fight against malicious software can decrease the successful attacks against endpoints in an organization's infrastructure," McQuiggan said. "It adds another layer of protection between the human and the operating system's protective software to secure the endpoint and prevent a malware attack."

Building security into the hardware architecture makes it much harder for an attacker to write successful exploits, said Nilesh Dherange, CTO of Gurucul, a risk intelligence company at El Segundo, California.

"This is a good move, potentially mitigating entire families of malware threats," he told TechNewsWorld.

No Silver Bullet

There can be advantages and disadvantages to baking security into hardware, noted Malek Ben Salem, Americas Security R&D lead for Accenture, a professional services company based in Dublin.

"Software is more flexible. You can deploy it on more architectures, and you can deploy it faster," she told TechNewsWorld.

"In hardware, though, you get less performance degradation, and it's more effective in these kinds of attacks," Ben Salem continued.

Organizations should take care not to embrace the technology too rapidly, cautioned KnowBe4's McQuiggan.

"What impact will the hardware have from falsely stopping instructions because it was considered an attack?" he asked. "While this is a new technology, organizations will want to make sure it's adequately configured for their environments and not just expect it to stop all malware."

CET is no silver bullet against all attacks, warned Chris Clements, vice president of solutions architecture at Cerberus Sentinel, a cybersecurity consulting and penetration testing company in Scottsdale, Arizona.

"Attackers routinely find ways to circumvent security protections, and depending on Intel's implementation, the safeguards may turn out to be trivial to bypass," he told TechNewsWorld.

"Further, many breaches and ransomware attacks come not from cybercriminals exploiting vulnerable software, but rather from configuration errors like open S3 buckets, weak user passwords, and social engineering attacks like phishing," Clements continued. "In these cases, no advanced exploit development is necessary to compromise their victim's systems or data."

Living in a Software-Defined World

Added security in silicon is always a welcome addition, especially when dealing with memory re-use and buffer overflows, but it needs to be put in perspective.

"There is a long history of chipmakers over-reaching on embedding security in the chip and promising security gains that haven't been there. McAfee's acquisition by Intel was such a case," observed Greg Young, vice president of cybersecurity at Trend Micro, a cybersecurity solutions provider headquartered in Tokyo.

"So, hardware-assisted control flow is good, especially for embedded devices, but not a game-changer, as infrastructure and endpoints have never been self-defending and the bulk of attacks don't involve this vector," he told TechNewsWorld.

"It's a software-defined world, and with so much software in the stack, there's a lot of vulnerabilities to go after that don't involve the chip," Young said.

There's another potential snag for CET, Dherange pointed out.

"The implementation, as described, is an opt-in solution, which means that some developers won't expend the effort needed to integrate with CET," he said. "That would leave their applications potentially vulnerable."

Nevertheless, "given the prevalence of 'memory safety' vulnerabilities that CET addresses, this could be of huge benefit. The challenge will be how tightly developers adhere to it," Dherange maintained.

CET isn't the only way to combat memory-based attacks, said Joe Saunders, CEO of RunSafe Security, an embedded systems security company in McLean, Virginia.

"Once developers start deploying on such hardware, they will need to consider the tradeoffs in performance overhead when considering enabling these protections at the hardware level," he told TechNewsWorld.

"There are alternative approaches, such as function-level load time randomization, that eliminate memory-based attacks without overhead performance impact or trade off," Saunders said.

CET won't eliminate software protections and malware and antivirus tools, Accenture's Ben Salem explained.

"This is another layer of defense that's monitoring what's happening in real time," she said, "compared to software tools that are looking at malware files upline or in a sandbox environment."

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.




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The United States Business Association of E-Commerce is poised to open for business on June 9. Its mission is to help small and mid-sized enterprises, as well as minority- and veteran-owned startups, to bridge the e-commerce digital divide.

The B2B marketplace platform will connect small and medium-sized firms to domestic and global buyers.

USBAEC founder Tayde Aburto expects to have at least 70 companies signed on and 17-20 exporters from Mexico on board for the official launch next week.

Based in San Diego, the USBAEC bills itself as a disruptive business ecosystem of buyers, partners and suppliers.

The association is committed to providing access to business resources and services to help businesses thrive in the digital economy and compete more effectively in domestic and global markets, according to Aburto.

"Business associations are currently disconnected, limiting business opportunities and access to resources for their members. We will connect them under one business ecosystem," he told the E-Commerce Times.

Viable Opportunity for Success

Many e-commerce sites and small businesses today struggle to compete, with a poor Internet presence and lack of knowledge about how to apply best practices, noted Osiris Parikh, sales marketing manager at Lilius.

"The nascent effort of USBAEC is very intriguing," he told the E-Commerce Times.

Many established business associations have similar missions, but USBAEC stands apart due to its focus on e-commerce, as well as through its platform to connect different businesses with each other and provide a range of resources that initially will be free, Parikh said.

"I think there is some viability to USBAEC, but they will have to prove to business owners that the effectiveness and user base of the platform are worth their time," he cautioned.

Who's Involved

For its membership campaign, the USBAEC is targeting SMEs -- especially businesses that are Hispanic-, Black-, LGBT-, Asian-, Women- and Veteran-owned. The new group also is appealing to business owners located in rural areas. Membership is open to certified minority suppliers, business associations, and exporters/importers.

That potential membership base represents a large portion of struggling businesses in the U.S., Aburto noted.

There are 11 million minority-owned businesses within U.S. borders:

4.6 million Hispanic-owned businesses employ 4.2 million people;

2.6 million Black-owned businesses employ 920,000 people;

1.9 million Asian-owned businesses employ 3.6 million people;

2.5 million veteran-owned businesses employ 5 million people; and

13 million women-owned businesses employ 9.4 million people.

There are 1.4 million LGBT-owned businesses contributing US$1.5 billion to the U.S. economy. Another 1.1 million small businesses and 2.1 million farms round out the impact of the target membership marketplace.

A large swath of business already exists across the U.S. border into Mexico, which is central to the association's marketing platform. U.S. goods and services trade with Mexico totaled an estimated $671 billion in 2018, Aburto pointed out.

The top export market for 27 states in the U.S. is Mexico. Mexico was the United States' second largest supplier of imported goods in 2018.

What Members Get

USBAEC membership benefits include business networking, access to marketing apps and e-commerce apps, as well as various business apps for payroll, electronic invoicing and accounting.

Members get access to business resources for growth and development, including business training, mentoring, access to capital markets, and lobbying. They also get access to suppliers.

Members can take advantage of API integrations with online tools provided by third-party vendors to help businesses thrive.

Cost of membership:

Small business -- $19.97/month

Mid-sized business -- $24.97/month

Enterprise -- $49.97/month

Key Goals

The hoped-for disruptive business ecosystem of buyers, partners and suppliers will focus on helping SMEs grow and compete more effectively in domestic and global markets.

Goals include the creation of jobs and other economic opportunities; investment in digital skills training for small businesses; and greater visibility for underrepresented entrepreneurs.

The new association will provide outlets for members to invest in trade and export education for small businesses. The training will make it easier for SMEs, regardless of geographic location, to use technology to run their businesses and to leverage economies of scale.

The digital platform will provide business apps to help SMEs promote their products and services. The online tools will be provided by third-party vendors and will be available on any device with access to the Internet. Mobile apps are available on Google Play and the App Store.

Jack M. Germain has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His main areas of focus are enterprise IT, Linux and open source technologies. He has written numerous reviews of Linux distros and other open source software. Email Jack.


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Elkhart, IN (46516)

Today

Rain showers early with overcast skies later in the day. High around 70F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 46F. N winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the 2021 Geneva Motor Show, originally scheduled for March 4th through 14th, 2021, has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns. The decision was made after a majority of exhibitors said they probably wouldnt participate in a 2021 show, according to a statement from the events organizers. The 2020 Geneva Motor Show was also canceled after the Swiss government banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

The Geneva International Motor Show is one of the largest car shows in the world, usually attracting 600,000 people and 10,000 journalists, according to the statement. The shows cancellation dealt a huge blow both to the show itself and to the city of Geneva. GIMS is estimated to have an economic impact of more than 200 million Swiss francs per year, according to the statement.

The city government offered a loan of 16.8 million Swiss francs to the Committee and Council of the Foundation Salon International de lAutomobile, which organizes GIMS. However, the foundation rejected the loan, since its terms would require a 2021 GIMS to be held. Instead, the foundation sold the show to Palexpo SA, the company that owns the convention center where GIMS takes place.

While GIMS 2021 has been canceled, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, which draws more than 175,000 attendees, is still scheduled for January 2021. The fate of other major events in 2021 remains to be seen.
Since the pandemic began, Google has been working to surface relevant, reliable information. Now, with rates of the virus and state policies varying so widely across the country, Google wants to provide users with more local information. Today, it announced that its partnering with local news publishers to highlight their content in the COVID-19 section of the Google News app.

The feature allows users to see things like public health guidance, the status of local healthcare infrastructure and public transportation, events and resources for those in need. Its available in more than 21 regions at the moment, and Google plans to expand the offering across the US and Canada. It may also offer the feature outside of the Google News app in the future.

Google

Google is making a few other useful changes. When people look for coronavirus info in Search, the news carousel will now include tweets from local officials and health authorities. This feature is available in more than 30 countries.

And according to Google, more people are tuning into local radio on Google Assistant, presumably to listen for coronavirus news. While you can ask Google Assistant to play a specific station, in many cities, you can now ask Assistant to play local news about coronavirus. For instance, you might say, Hey Google, play news about coronavirus in Boston. Whatever Assistant-enabled device youre using will then play a mix of stories relevant to your community. That should be useful for all news.

The past few months have reinforced the critical role that local news plays in keeping communities informed. Google is dedicated to supporting and promoting local journalism both within and outside of our products, Google said in a statement.

As part of its Google News Initiative, Google has taken several steps to support local reporting. Recently, it announced plans to pay publishers for high-quality content and to develop sustainable business models for local news publications. Google also invested $6.5 million to fight coronavirus misinformation -- that includes funding for journalists and social media influencers.
India has banned dozens of apps made by Chinese companies, including TikTok, WeChat and several QQ and Baidu apps. The Ministry of Information Technology made the decision in view of information available they are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.

The ban affects 59 apps altogether, also including Xiaomis Mi Community and Mi Video Call. Engadget has contacted ByteDance, Tencent (which owns WeChat and QQ), Xiaomi and Baidu for comment.

As is the case in many other nations, TikTok is a huge deal in India. The short-form video app has more than 200 million users in the country, and parent company ByteDance had expected to cross the 300 million mark there by the end of this year.

All of the apps are still available on Apples App Store and the Google Play store, according to TechCrunch. Its unclear at the moment how India actually plans to enforce the bans. The move will surely deepen tensions between the planets two most populated countries. Earlier this month, at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a border clash with Chinese troops.

The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) has also received many representations from citizens regarding security of data and breach of privacy impacting upon public order issues, the government said. There has been a strong chorus in the public space to take strict action against apps that harm Indias sovereignty as well as the privacy of our citizens.
Enid, OK (73701)

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Windy early with showers becoming less numerous later in the day. Cooler. High near 75F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low 54F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
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 . 1. Why N95 Should Be the Standard for All COVID-19 Inpatient Care

Guidelines differ in their guidance on the use of N95 respirators versus medical masks for frontline health care workers working with patients with COVID-19, particularly when aerosolized procedures are not involved. Authors from Providence-St. Jude Medical Center and Marshall B. Ketchum University College of Pharmacy make the case that the existing data do not show facemasks as equivalent in protection to N95 and are often misinterpreted. Authors suggest a reevaluation of this evidence and make the argument that N95 should be routinely used for inpatient COVID-19 care. Read the full text: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M20-2623 .

Media contacts: A PDF for this article is not yet available. Please click the link to read full text. The lead author, Harry Peled, MD, can be reached directly through Dru Ann Copping at DruAnn.Copping@stjoe.org. 2. Worldwide Effect of COVID-19 on Physical Activity: A Descriptive Study

Physical activity is an important determinant of health and is likely affected by social distancing measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers from the University of California examine worldwide changes in step count before and after the announcement of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. They found that rapid worldwide step count decreases have been seen during COVID-19, with regional variability, and that regional step count trends may reflect adherence to social distancing measures. Read the full text: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M20-2665 .

Media contacts: A PDF for this article is not yet available. Please click the link to read full text. The lead author, Geoffrey H. Tison, MD, MPH, can be reached through Katherine at katherine.ramsey@ucsf.edu.

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Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives are committing to the terms of the embargo not only on their own behalf, but also on behalf of the organization they represent.

1. Metformin-based therapy should be first-line treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes at low cardiovascular risk Abstract: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M20-0864 Editorial: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M20-4266

URL goes live when the embargo lifts

A comparison of glucose-lowering drugs suggests that metformin-based therapy may be a preferred first-line treatment for drug-naive patients with type 2 diabetes at low cardiovascular risk. There is not enough evidence to reach a conclusion about the optimal initial treatment of drug-naive patients at increased cardiovascular risk. Findings from a systematic review and network meta-analysis are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Accumulating evidence shows that antidiabetic drug classes and individual agents differ not only in glycemic efficacy but also in their effect on mortality and vascular end points. This means that clinicians must base their treatment decisions on more than glycemic control. They must also consider individual patient characteristics, such as history of atherosclerotic disease, heart failure, or chronic renal disease. A network meta-analysis that presents the most up-to-date and comprehensive evidence map of the pharmacologic treatment of type 2 diabetes and serves as a bridge between the deluge of clinical research and routine clinical practice.

Researchers from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece reviewed 453 trials assessing 21 antidiabetic interventions from 9 drug classes to compare benefits and harms of glucose-lowering drugs in adults with type 2 diabetes. The design and rationale of the study were informed by patients' input regarding their views and concerns about the management of the type 2 diabetes and its impact on their lives. Interventions included monotherapies, add-on to metformin-based therapies, and monotherapies versus add-on to metformin therapies. Based on the data, the researchers found no differences between treatments in drug-naive patients at low cardiovascular risk. Insulin regimens and specific glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) added to metformin-based background therapy produced the greatest reductions in hemoglobin A1c level. For patients at increased cardiovascular risk receiving metformin-based background therapy, specific GLP-1 RAs and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors had a favorable effect on certain cardiovascular outcomes.

These conclusions corroborate and build on the latest treatment recommendations of international scientific organizations by documenting the cardiovascular effects of all available antidiabetic medications and by highlighting differences, not only between drug classes, but also between drugs of the same class. Editorialists from the National Institutes of Health discuss the findings and suggest ways that future clinical trials can best inform individualized care for persons with type 2 diabetes.

Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To speak with the lead author, Apostolos Tsapas, MD, PhD, MSc(Oxon), can be contacted directly at atsapas@auth.gr.

2. Circumstances around Extreme Risk Protection Orders illustrate importance of such laws for preventing firearm violence

Abstract: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M20-0594

Editorial: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M20-4323

URL goes live when the embargo lifts

The circumstances around which Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPSs) are filed against individuals in Washington State deemed to be at risk for committing firearm violence against themselves or others illustrate the importance of such laws to potentially save lives. Findings from one of the first statewide studies of ERPOs with detailed information on characteristics of the respondents and circumstances of those orders is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

In the United States, 74 percent of homicides and 51 percent of suicides involve firearms. Using ERPO laws, petitioners can request restricting firearm access for individuals (respondents) who pose harm to self or others.

Researchers from the University of Washington studied all ERPO respondents in Washington State from December 2016 to May 2019 to characterize respondents and circumstances of ERPOs. Of 237 ERPOs filed during the timeframe, the petitioner indicated that nearly a quarter of respondents had a history of domestic violence perpetration, 62 percent had a history of suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt, and 47 percent had substance use issues. The authors note that a substantial number of guns (641) were removed from the respondents, ranging from handguns to assault rifles and machine guns. In most cases, only one firearm was removed, but the data showed up to 35 guns for one respondent. This is concerning because it's possible that not all guns were reported and removed. According to the researchers, future studies in other states are needed to understand differences and commonalities among states, and ultimately examine the effect of ERPOs on preventing firearm injury and death.

An editorial by authors from John Hopkins School of Public Health discusses these findings and highlights the need for attention to how ERPOs are applied, perceived, and received. They suggest that ERPOs may be especially important right now as new light has been shed on racism and police. Because police are always armed, ERPOs could be employed to prevent dangerous, illegal, and deadly behaviors.

Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To speak with the lead author, Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, MD, MPH, PhD, please contact Sixtine Gurrey sgurrey@uw.edu.

3. Caution should be used when acting on results of genetic testing

Researchers find variances in interpretations of genetic testing for cancer risk genes

Abstract: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ L20-0192

URL goes live when the embargo lifts

Caution should be used when acting on the results of genetic testing. Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center identified different interpretations for genetic test results for 25 inherited cancer risk genes that would result in actionable recommendations. These findings suggest that a second opinion is warranted when making treatment decisions based on genetic test results. A brief research report is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Different genetic test interpretations are an inevitable consequence of the increased number of testing laboratories, incomplete information about the importance of gene variants, the use of subjective guidelines, and the difficulty of functionally testing rare variants for pathogenicity. These differences affect patient management and also can create confusion and mistrust in genetic testing. In addition, differences in interpretation may complicate reimbursement.

Researchers used publicly available data from the Clin-Var database to extract data about the clinical importance of gene variants for the hereditary cancer genes and measure the prevalence of different interpretations for the same genetic variant. They found 40 percent of variants had 2 or more interpretations. Of these, about 2 percent of variants had clinically significant differences in interpretations (benign or uncertain significance versus likely pathogenic). Some types of differences were differences in confidence (likely benign versus benign or likely pathogenic versus pathogenic), and others were differences with modest clinical importance (benign versus uncertain significance). Based on these findings, the researchers suggest that a formally trained, licensed specialist in genetics review the patient's clinical history, the genetic test results, and the different interpretations and then write a report of the findings with recommendations for management.

Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To speak with the lead author, Theodora S. Ross, MD, PhD, please contact theo.ross@utsouthwestern.edu.

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DALLAS, June 29, 2020 -- Young children with narrow retinal artery diameters were more likely to develop higher blood pressure, and children with higher blood pressure levels were more likely to develop retinal microvascular impairment during early childhood, according to a new study published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal. This is the first study to show this connection in children.

High blood pressure, the main risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), can manifest as early as childhood, and the prevalence of high blood pressure among children continues to rise. In previous studies, analysis of blood vessels in the retina has shown promise as a predictor of CVD risk among adults. In the study titled, "Retinal Vessel Diameters and Blood Pressure Progression in Children," researchers sought to predict the development of high blood pressure in children over four years based on retinal blood vessel measurements.

"Hypertension continues as the main risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases and mortality," says Henner Hanssen, M.D., the study's lead author and a professor in the department of sport, exercise and health at the University of Basel in Switzerland. "Primary prevention strategies are needed to focus on screening retinal microvascular health and blood pressure in young children in order to identify those at increased risk of developing hypertension. The earlier we can provide treatment and implement lifestyle changes to reduce hypertension, the greater the benefit for these children."

Researchers screened 262 children ages six to eight from 26 schools in Basel, Switzerland, in 2014, for baseline blood pressure and retinal arterial measurements. Both measures were taken again in 2018. Blood pressure measurements at both baseline and follow-up were performed in a sitting position after a minimum of five minutes of rest and were categorized based on the American Academy of Pediatrics' blood pressure guidelines. These guidelines utilize the same measurements as the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology 2017 Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults.

Results from the analysis indicate:

children with narrower retinal vessel diameters at baseline developed higher systolic blood pressure at follow-up; retinal vessel diameters could explain 29 -31% of the changes in systolic blood pressure progression between 2014 and 2018; children with higher blood pressure levels at baseline developed significantly narrower arteriolar diameters at follow-up, depending on weight and cardiorespiratory fitness; and initial blood pressure measures explained 66-69% of the change in retinal arteriolar diameter from baseline to follow-up.

"Early childhood assessments of retinal microvascular health and blood pressure monitoring can improve cardiovascular risk classification. Timely primary prevention strategies for children at risk of developing hypertension could potentially counteract its growing burden among both children and adults," said Hanssen.

Researchers noted limitations of their study include that they could not confirm blood pressure measurements over a single 24-hour period, so they would not account for "white coat" hypertension, a condition where patients have high blood pressure readings when measured in a medical setting. Developmental stage including puberty status of each child was not accounted for in the study, as well as genetic factors or birth weight - variables that could impact blood pressure development and microvascular health. In addition, reference values for appropriate retinal vessel diameters in children do not currently exist, so future studies are needed to determine age-related normal values during childhood.

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Co-authors are Giulia Lona, M.Sc.; Katharina Endes, Ph.D.; Sabrina Koechli, Ph.D.; Denis Infanger, Ph.D.; and Lukas Zahner, Ph.D.

The Swiss National Foundation provided funding for this study.

Additional Resources:

Available multimedia is on right column of release link: https:/ / newsroom. heart. org/ news/ blood-pressure-connected-to-eye-health-in-young-children?preview= ed13fe7fc7eac296aeda1ac635dfd346

Statements and conclusions of study authors published in American Heart Association scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations and health insurance providers are available at https:/ / www. heart. org/ en/ about-us/ aha-financial-information .

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public's health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
Batten disease is a family of 13 rare, genetically distinct conditions. Collectively, they are the most prevalent cause of neurodegenerative disease in children, affecting 1 in 12,500 live births in the U.S. One of the Batten disease genes is CLN6. How mutations in this gene lead to the disease has been a mystery, but a study led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation reveals how defective CLN6 can result in Batten disease.

"People with Batten disease have problems with their cells' ability to clear cellular waste, which then accumulates to toxic levels," said first author Dr. Lakshya Bajaj, who was working on this project while a doctorate student in the laboratory of Dr. Marco Sardiello at Baylor. Bajaj is currently a post-doctoral associate at Harvard Medical School.

In cells, lysosomes process cellular waste. They are sacs containing enzymes, a type of proteins that break down waste products into its constituent components that the cell can recycle or discard. In Batten disease caused by mutations in CLN6, the lysosomes do not process waste effectively for unknown reasons. This results in waste accumulation. Batten disease is a type of lysosomal storage disorder. Although all types of cells can be affected by defects in lysosomal waste management, brain cells, neurons, are particularly susceptible.

"Waste accumulation in neurons perturbs many cellular processes and eventually results in cell death. This leads to the progressive degeneration of motor, physical and intellectual abilities observed in Batten disease patients," Bajaj said.

CLN6: another piece of the Batten disease puzzle

The connection of CLN6 with Batten disease was a bit of a mystery. This protein is not found in lysosomes, but in the endoplasmic reticulum, a structure inside cells where proteins, including lysosomal enzymes, are made. The endoplasmic reticulum is separate from the lysosomes. So, how do defects in a protein located outside of the lysosomes interfere with lysosomal function?

The Sardiello lab had previously solved a similar mystery involving CLN8, another protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum and whose mutations also cause a type of Batten disease.

"We showed that CNL8 assists on the exit of lysosomal enzymes from the endoplasmic reticulum en route to the lysosomes. When CLN8 is defective, the transport of enzymes from their place of synthesis to the final destination is deficient and the lysosomes end up having fewer enzymes to work with," said Sardiello, associate professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor and corresponding author of this work.

CLN6 and CLN8 work together

The clinical manifestations of Batten disease caused by CLN8 mutations and those of Batten disease due to defective CLN6 are remarkably similar. This and other evidence led the researchers to suspect that CLN6 and CLN8 might be working together.

Their investigations revealed that CLN6 and CLN8 do interact with each other forming a molecular complex that collects lysosomal enzymes at the endoplasmic reticulum and mediates their trafficking towards the lysosomes.

"We propose that CLN8 and CLN6 together herd the enzymes into a hub, a sort of 'bus stop.' Then, CLN8 escorts the enzymes on the bus en route to the lysosomes, while CLN6 remains at the bus stop. CLN8 returns to the bus stop after delivering the enzymes, and they repeat the process," Bajaj said. "When CLN6 is defective, the enzymes are not effectively herded into the bus stop and fewer are transported to the lysosomes."

The researchers are interested in finding whether other factors are involved in transporting enzymes to the lysosomes. For instance, whether there are other 'bus conductors or herders' of lysosomal enzymes involved that, if defective, may also contribute to Batten disease.

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Other contributors to this work include Jaiprakash Sharma, Alberto di Ronza, Pengcheng Zhang, Aiden Eblimit, Rituraj Pal, Dany Roman, John R. Collette, Clarissa Booth, Kevin T. Chang, Richard N. Sifers, Sung Y. Jung, Jill M. Weimer, Rui Chen and Randy W. Schekman. The authors are affiliated with one or more of the following institutions: Baylor College of Medicine; Texas Children's Hospital; University of California, Berkeley; Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota.

This work was supported by NIH grants NS079618 and GM127492 and grants from the Gwenyth Gray Foundation, Beyond Batten Disease Foundation and NCL-Stiftung. This project was supported in part by IDDRC grant number 1U54 HD083092 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Integrated Microscopy Core and the Proteomics Core at Baylor College of Medicine with funding from NIH (DK56338, and CA125123), CPRIT (RP150578, RP170719), the Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center and the John S. Dunn Gulf Coast Consortium for Chemical Genomics.
New Zealand's monster penguins that lived 62 million years ago had doppelgangers in Japan, the USA and Canada, a study published today in the Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research has found.

Scientists have identified striking similarities between the penguins' fossilised bones and those of a group of much younger Northern Hemisphere birds, the plotopterids.

These similarities suggest plotopterids and ancient penguins looked very similar and might help scientists understand how birds started using their wings to swim instead of fly.

Around 62 million years ago, the earliest known penguins swam in tropical seas that almost submerged the land that is now New Zealand. Palaeontologists have found the fossilised bones of these ancient waddlers at Waipara, North Canterbury. They have identified nine different species, ranging in size from small penguins, the size of today's Yellow-Eyed Penguin, to 1.6 metre-high monsters.

Plotopterids developed in the Northern Hemisphere much later than penguins, with the first species appearing between 37 and 34 million years ago. Their fossils have been found at a number of sites in North America and Japan. Like penguins, they used their flipper-like wings to swim through the sea. Unlike penguins, which have survived into the modern era, the last plotopterid species became extinct around 25 million years ago.

The scientists - Dr Gerald Mayr of the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Frankfurt; James Goedert of the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture and University of Washington, USA; and Canterbury Museum Curators Dr Paul Scofield and Dr Vanesa De Pietri - compared the fossilised bones of plotopterids with fossil specimens of the giant penguin species Waimanu, Muriwaimanu and Sequiwaimanu from Canterbury Museum's collection.

They found plotopterids and the ancient penguins had similar long beaks with slit-like nostrils, similar chest and shoulder bones, and similar wings. These similarities suggest both groups of birds were strong swimmers that used their wings to propel them deep underwater in search of food.

Some species of both groups could grow to huge sizes. The largest known plotopterids were over 2 metres long, while some of the giant penguins were up to 1.6 metres tall.

Despite sharing a number of physical features with penguins both ancient and modern, plotopterids are more closely related to boobies, gannets and cormorants than they are to penguins.

"What's remarkable about all this is that plotopterids and ancient penguins evolved these shared features independently," says Dr De Pietri. "This is an example of what we call convergent evolution, when distantly related organisms develop similar morphological traits under similar environmental conditions."

Dr Scofield says some large plotopterid species would have looked very similar to the ancient penguins. "These birds evolved in different hemispheres, millions of years apart, but from a distance you would be hard pressed to tell them apart," he says. "Plotopterids looked like penguins, they swam like penguins, they probably ate like penguins - but they weren't penguins."

Dr Mayr says the parallels in the evolution of the bird groups hint at an explanation for why birds developed the ability to swim with their wings.

"Wing-propelled diving is quite rare among birds; most swimming birds use their feet. We think both penguins and plotodopterids had flying ancestors that would plunge from the air into the water in search of food. Over time these ancestor species got better at swimming and worse at flying."

Fossils from New Zealand's giant penguins, including Waimanu and Sequiwaimanu are currently on display alongside life-sized models of the birds in Canterbury Museum's exhibition Ancient New Zealand: Squawkzilla and the Giants, extended until 16 August 2020.

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Comparative osteology of the penguin-like mid Cenozoic Plotopteridae and the earliest true fossil penguins, with comment on the origins of wing-propelled diving, by Gerald Mayr, James L Goedert, Vanesa De Pietri and R Paul Scofield is published in the Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. DOI after publication: 10.1111/jzs.12400

This research was partly supported by the Royal Society of New Zealand's Marsden Fund.
Is representation enough to improve gender diversity in science? A new study says there's more to the story

Increasing gender diversity has been a long-sought goal across many of the sciences, and interventions and programs to attract more women into fields like physics and math often happen at the undergraduate level.

But is representation enough to improve gender diversity in science? In a new study, Colorado State University researchers say there's more to the story: They've found that even when undergraduate women outnumber men in science courses, women may still be experiencing gender biases from their peers.

The CSU team, combining expertise in gender psychology, instructional intervention and physical sciences, conducted a survey-based study among both physical and life science undergraduate courses at CSU, asking students how they perceived each other's abilities within those courses. Their results were published online June 25 in the journal PLOS ONE.

"The assumption has been that if you have the numbers, if you just increase the number of women, you won't have bias," said study co-author Meena Balgopal, professor in science education in the CSU Department of Biology. "But we find that's not the case."

For their study, the researchers focused on courses with a peer-to-peer learning component, such as group lab work, partner work or breakout sessions during lectures. They recruited instructors to administer surveys asking students how they perceived each other, with questions including: Are there any students in your class you are more likely to go to if you need help with the class? Thinking about your course, do any students stand out as particularly knowledgeable? Thinking about your course, who would you consider to be the best student(s) in the class? In total, they surveyed about 1,000 students.

Outnumbered and undervalued

Here's what the researchers found: In physical science classes - where women are more traditionally underrepresented - women were indeed outnumbered, and they had higher average GPAs, statistically higher course grades, and were 1.5 times more likely to earn an A or A-plus than men. However, the researchers found that both men and women presumed that the men in the class outperformed the women. In these classes, both women and men were less likely to select a woman as someone they would seek help from, find knowledgeable, or perceive as best in the class.

They saw a similar, albeit lesser effect in life science classes, where, in contrast to physical sciences, women tend to outnumber men, particularly in biology classes. In their study results, women both outnumbered and outperformed men in terms of GPA and statistically higher course grades. In these courses, men were equally likely to identify a woman or a man in all categories such as someone they'd seek help from, or find knowledgeable, or consider best in the class, and women identified women and men equally only in the category of "best in the class."

The researchers acknowledged limitations in their study: Although the surveys allowed participants to self-identify their own genders, when they referred to classmates, the researchers only recorded how students perceived the genders of their classmates. They also found that the surveys were not representative of the overall demographics of the courses; students who chose to answer the surveys were more likely to be STEM majors, white students, physical science students, and students with overall higher class grades and GPAs.

Also, while they wanted to perform intersectional analyses for women of color or gender minorities and how their peers perceived them, they did not have a large enough sample to draw meaningful conclusions from the data.

The researchers were inspired to conduct the study after a 2016 study by University of Washington researchers found a pro-male bias for ratings of students' abilities among male students in undergraduate biology courses. The CSU team wanted to see if the same effect could be found here, and their choice of methodology was intentionally similar.

Learning from the results

Balgopal said from an instructional design point of view, their results could reveal opportunities for more thoughtful attention to things like group work, and how instructors guide active learning.

"It would be really interesting to understand where these biases originate," said Balgopal, who, along with co-author A.M. Aramati Casper, is interested in pedagogical interventions that improve classroom learning outcomes.

For first author and gender psychologist Brittany Bloodhart, the most striking aspect of the study was not that gender bias persists among undergraduate STEM students, but that it's happening at the same time when women are consistently outperforming men in these fields, rather than being negatively affected in performance.

Among the research that shows girls and women are better in STEM, it's often discounted in various ways - girls work harder, are more attentive in class, study more, etc., which leads to better grades, Bloodhart said. When women perform worse than men on standardized tests, some claim that this reflects a difference in natural ability because they consider such tests the "real" measures of STEM ability. However, many studies support the view that standardized tests are also biased, and a poor predictor of actual STEM ability.

There is also a "variability hypothesis," which says that on average, girls and women have better outcomes in STEM than boys and men, but there is less variation in women's natural STEM talent compared to men.

"Our study refutes that variability hypothesis," Bloodhart said. "We didn't find any evidence that men were more variable than women or that they were more likely to get the top scores."

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The study's authors were Bloodhart, a former CSU postdoctoral researcher and now an assistant professor at Cal State San Bernardino; Balgopal, who is a professor of discipline-based education research in the biology department; Casper, a research scientist in engineering education; Laura Sample McMeeking; associate professor and director of the CSU STEM Center, and Emily Fischer, associate professor in the Department of Atmosphere Science.

The research team first came together under the CSU Office of the Vice President for Research Pre-Catalyst for Innovative Partnerships, or PRECIP program, which provides seed funding for interdisciplinary research partnerships across campus.

The study is titled "Outperforming yet undervalued: Undergraduate women in STEM."
Currently, various therapeutic compounds in the market, such as proteins, enzymes, and amino acids, are "chiral compounds"--molecules with two structures that are "mirror" images of each other but cannot be superimposed. Although the two variants of the molecule, also called "enantiomers," are structurally the same, how they are oriented (their "chirality") makes them functionally different from each other. Medicinal drugs can be either a single enantiomer or racemic mixtures (consisting of both enantiomers), often designated as (S) or (R), respectively. They often have distinct biological activities: for example, one enantiomer of a pharmaceutical may be far more effective than its counterpart (such as thalidomide, a racemic mixture that caused various birth defects in children). Thus, synthesizing chiral compounds in an effective manner is crucial to the field of drug design.

In a new study published in Chemical Science, a group of scientists, led by Prof Sukwon Hong of Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and Prof Brian M. Stoltz of California Institute of Technology, designed a novel catalytic method that can generate useful chiral compounds. Prof Hong explains, "Chiral molecules have played a key role in modern chemistry, especially in medicinal chemistry. Their development can provide an effective synthetic way to design pharmaceutical products."

To begin with, the scientists focused on designing novel chiral "ligands," which are molecules that act as catalysts by binding to metals and can, in this case, facilitate the generation of chiral products called chromanones. Previous studies have already reported different types of reactions that can produce chromanones, but they had focused on trisubstituted chromanones (with three functional groups or substituent atoms in the molecule). In this study, the scientists designed chiral ligands called "pyridine-dihydroisoquinoline (PyDHIQ) ligands." They used these ligands in a catalytic reaction called "asymmetric conjugate addition," wherein these ligands act as a catalyst by binding to palladium metal, generating tetrasubstituted chromanones (those with four functional groups). Not only did this reaction using the novel ligands generate useful chiral compounds with numerous bioactivities in a single step, but the products also had a good yield and high enantioselectivity--making the process efficient and cost-effective.

The scientists then tested these ligands in reactions with various different sources, which resulted in the efficient generation of tetrasubstituted chromanones. This was the first method for the synthesis of highly enantioselective chromanone products containing tetrasubstituted stereocenters. Prof Hong says, "Ligand design is the most important concept of this research. We have introduced a new 'moiety' called the dihydroisoquinoline moiety in the ligand structure, which helped to create an optimal steric environment to generate tetrasubstituted chromanones."

The development of novel drugs and useful compounds is an important aspect of advancements in the field of medicine. This study offers a novel one-step strategy to develop bioactive compounds, which have a myriad of applications in drug development. Prof Hong optimistically concludes, "Our newly developed catalytic reaction paves the way for synthesizing novel drugs and natural products."

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About Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST)

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) is a research-oriented university situated in Gwangju, South Korea. One of the most prestigious schools in South Korea, it was founded in 1993. The university aims to create a strong research environment to spur advancements in science and technology and to promote collaboration between foreign and domestic research programs. With its motto, "A Proud Creator of Future Science and Technology," the university has consistently received one of the highest university rankings in Korea.

Website: http://www. gist. ac. kr/

About the authors

Prof Sukwon Hong is a Professor at the Department of Chemistry at GIST. He is the co-corresponding author of this study. His research group focuses on the development of new transition metal catalysts for organic synthesis. In particular, the group is interested in designing new types of transition metal catalysts that can offer highly efficient synthetic routes to functional organic materials.

Prof Brian M. Stoltz, who is the co-corresponding author of this study, is a Professor in the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at California Institute of Technology (Caltech). His research group focuses on the natural product synthesis, reaction development, and fundamental science.
The Human Brain Project (HBP) announces the start of its final phase as an EU-funded FET Flagship. The European Commission has signed a grant agreement to fund the HBP with 150 million Euros from now until 2023. Over the next three years, the project will narrow its focus to advance three core scientific areas - brain networks, their role in consciousness, and artificial neural nets - while expanding its innovative EBRAINS infrastructure. EBRAINS offers the most comprehensive atlas and database on the human brain, directly coupled with powerful computing and simulation tools, to research communities around neuroscience, medicine and technology. Currently transitioning into a sustainable infrastructure, EBRAINS will remain available to the scientific community, as a lasting contribution of the HBP to global scientific progress.

Supercomputers, Big Data Analytics, Simulation, Robots and AI have all become new additions to the "toolbox" of modern neuroscience - a development strongly pushed forward by the HBP and its EBRAINS infrastructure.

Started in 2013 as a FET Flagship project, the HBP is the largest brain science project in Europe. Now entering the final phase of its ten-year lifespan, the project is proud to present its scientific workplan and transformative technological offerings for brain research and brain-inspired research and development.

HBP's scientific activities in the new phase focus on three topics: networks that are studied across different spatial and temporal scales, their significance for consciousness and disorders of consciousness, and the development of artificial neural networks and neurorobotics.

These topics will be developed hand in hand with the EBRAINS research infrastructure. Likewise, a growing community of external users and partnering projects, researchers working on a range of neuroscientific questions increasingly benefit from the diverse methods that are seamlessly integrated in EBRAINS.

"We will make the infrastructure more efficient, attractive and user-friendly", says HBP Scientific Research Director Prof. Katrin Amunts. Researchers and engineers are working closely together on this, 'co-designing' technical solutions that fit the science needs perfectly. This creates a win-win situation for both communities, Amunts says.

Following this approach, research into the functioning of the human brain and its diseases flowed into constructing novel digital tools for a data-driven, interdisciplinary and collaborative approach. "We needed a broad spectrum of neuroscientific fields to do justice to the complexity of the brain, and permanent coordination with the engineers and developers to be able to handle the enormous amounts of data involved, bridging the scales of brain organization from the molecular level to the whole organ." Much has been achieved in this way, reflected in over 1200 scientific publications to date and a rapidly growing number of users and partners.

EBRAINS today already provides researchers with a wide spectrum of unique services, resources and technologies, for example, a multi-level human brain atlas, which is navigable in 3D, linked to a growing neuroscientific data base, as well as access to a federated system of most powerful European supercomputers, and brain-inspired "neuromorphic" computers pushing simulation and deep learning analytics to new horizons.

An increasing number of applications are built one these new technologies. A method for personalized modelling of patient brains is currently undergoing clinical trials, the first of its kind. The EBRAINS "Medical Informatics Platform" has been installed in 30 European clinics, enabling to run analysis of patient data, without the highly sensitive information having to leave the hospital. It is expected that this technology will have an impact for future studies of rare diseases.

To help the HBP achieve its goals on both the scientific and infrastructure side, the consortium will be further opened during the new phase. New talent will be brought in through a series of Calls for Expression of Interest.

Putting EBRAINS on the European map

On the institutional side, decisive steps are being taken to ensure the infrastructure reaches its operational maturity after the end of the HBP. In 2019, the EBRAINS AISBL, an international non-profit association under Belgian law, was founded in Brussels with the objective of promoting and supporting brain research. In the coming months, the EBRAINS AISBL will take over the role of the coordinator of the HBP from the Swiss Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne (EPFL).

An experienced expert on EU research issues from within the European Commission was recruited as founding CEO of EBRAINS and new Director General of the Human Brain Project: Pawel Swieboda joined in May 2020 from his post as Deputy Director and Head of Research at the European Political Strategy Centre, the advisory hub to the Commission President. "EBRAINS is a state-of-the-art digital infrastructure that will be instrumental to secure Europe's place globally in the dynamically growing field of multidisciplinary brain research, with powerful implications for AI, neurorobotics and medicine," Swieboda said.

For the European Research landscape, the HBP has helped to establish a focal point connecting the distributed expertise and resources across the EU: From Germany, for example, world-leading groups come from human brain atlasing, neuromorphic computers, simulation and high-performance computing. France contributes to the project its special expertise in personalized brain models of patients and neuroimaging, Belgium expertise in clinical neuroscience, Norway and Greece in data management, Switzerland in nerve cell simulation, and the Netherlands in linking neurotechnology and cognitive science. "All these groups are working together through the HBP and EBRAINS, creating outcomes together that would have been unthinkable on their own," says Swieboda.

A key objective for the next three years will be to further integrate EBRAINS into the European and global research landscape and to implement new projects with external scientific users. Partnerships with the European Brain Council (EBC) and the project European Research Area for Neurosciences (EBRA), which foster cooperation and convergence between the various activities in Europe, will contribute to this goal. "In this concept, EBRAINS provides the technical platform to facilitate cross-national cooperation and enable faster progress for the benefit of society," says Katrin Amunts.

###

Contact:

k.amunts@fz-juelich.de pawel.swieboda@ebrains.eu

Further information:

https:/ / ebrains. eu
AMES, Iowa - Researchers dipped their new, printed sensors into tuna broth and watched the readings.

It turned out the sensors - printed with high-resolution aerosol jet printers on a flexible polymer film and tuned to test for histamine, an allergen and indicator of spoiled fish and meat - can detect histamine down to 3.41 parts per million.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set histamine guidelines of 50 parts per million in fish, making the sensors more than sensitive enough to track food freshness and safety.

Making the sensor technology possible is graphene, a supermaterial that's a carbon honeycomb just an atom thick and known for its strength, electrical conductivity, flexibility and biocompatibility. Making graphene practical on a disposable food-safety sensor is a low-cost, aerosol-jet-printing technology that's precise enough to create the high-resolution electrodes necessary for electrochemical sensors to detect small molecules such as histamine.

"This fine resolution is important," said Jonathan Claussen, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Iowa State University and one of the leaders of the research project. "The closer we can print these electrode fingers, in general, the higher the sensitivity of these biosensors."

Claussen and the other project leaders - Carmen Gomes, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Iowa State; and Mark Hersam, the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois - have recently reported their sensor discovery in a paper published online by the journal 2D Materials. (See sidebar for a full listing of co-authors.)

The National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the National Institute of Standards and Technology have supported the project.

The paper describes how graphene electrodes were aerosol jet printed on a flexible polymer and then converted to histamine sensors by chemically binding histamine antibodies to the graphene. The antibodies specifically bind histamine molecules.

The histamine blocks electron transfer and increases electrical resistance, Gomes said. That change in resistance can be measured and recorded by the sensor.

"This histamine sensor is not only for fish," Gomes said. "Bacteria in food produce histamine. So it can be a good indicator of the shelf life of food."

The researchers believe the concept will work to detect other kinds of molecules, too.

"Beyond the histamine case study presented here, the (aerosol jet printing) and functionalization process can likely be generalized to a diverse range of sensing applications including environmental toxin detection, foodborne pathogen detection, wearable health monitoring, and health diagnostics," they wrote in their research paper.

For example, by switching the antibodies bonded to the printed sensors, they could detect salmonella bacteria, or cancers or animal diseases such as avian influenza, the researchers wrote.

Claussen, Hersam and other collaborators (see sidebar) have demonstrated broader application of the technology by modifying the aerosol-jet-printed sensors to detect cytokines, or markers of inflammation. The sensors, as reported in a recent paper published by ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, can monitor immune system function in cattle and detect deadly and contagious paratuberculosis at early stages.

Claussen, who has been working with printed graphene for years, said the sensors have another characteristic that makes them very useful: They don't cost a lot of money and can be scaled up for mass production.

"Any food sensor has to be really cheap," Gomes said. "You have to test a lot of food samples and you can't add a lot of cost."

Claussen and Gomes know something about the food industry and how it tests for food safety. Claussen is chief scientific officer and Gomes is chief research officer for NanoSpy Inc., a startup company based in the Iowa State University Research Park that sells biosensors to food processing companies.

They said the company is in the process of licensing this new histamine and cytokine sensor technology.

It, after all, is what they're looking for in a commercial sensor. "This," Claussen said, "is a cheap, scalable, biosensor platform."

###

Read the papers: "Aerosol-jet-printed graphene electrochemical histamine sensors for food safety monitoring," 2D Materials, Volume 7, Number 3.

In addition to Jonathan Claussen, Carmen Gomes and Mark Hersam, paper co-authors are Kshama Parate, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering at Iowa State; Cicero Pola, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering at Iowa State; Sonal Rangnekar, a doctoral student in materials science and engineering at Northwestern; Deyny Mendivelso-Perez, a former doctoral student in chemistry at Iowa State; and Emily Smith, a professor of chemistry and an associate of the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory.

"Aerosol-Jet-Printed Graphene Immunosensor for Label-Free Cytokine Monitoring in Serum," ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Volume 12, Issue 7.

Co-authors are Claussen, Hersam, Parate, Rangnekar, Mendivelso-Perez, Smith; Dapeng Jing, an assistant scientist at Iowa State's Materials Analysis and Research Laboratory; Shaowei Ding, a former doctoral student in mechanical engineering at Iowa State; Ethan Secor, a former doctoral student in materials science and engineering at Northwestern and future assistant professor in mechanical engineering at Iowa State (effective August 2020); and Jesse Hostetter, professor and head of the department of pathology at the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine, formerly at Iowa State.
LA JOLLA--A new study from researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) and Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC) shows that even the sickest COVID-19 patients produce T cells that help fight the virus. The study offers further evidence that a COVID-19 vaccine will need to elicit T cells to work alongside antibodies.

The research, published June 26, 2020 in Science Immunology, also reveals that both Dutch and American patients have similar responses to the virus. "This is key to understanding how the immune response fights the virus," says LJI Professor Alessandro Sette, Dr. Biol. Sci., who co-led the study with Erasmus MC Virologist Rory de Vries, Ph.D. "You want vaccine approaches to be grounded in observations from rather diverse settings to ensure that the results are generally applicable."

For the study, the researchers followed ten COVID-19 patients with the most severe disease symptoms. All ten were admitted to the ICU at Erasmus University Medical Center, in the Netherlands, and put on ventilators as part of their care. Two of the patients eventually died of the disease. An in-depth look at their immune system responses showed that all ten patients produced T cells that targeted the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These T cells worked alongside antibodies to try to clear the virus and stop the infection.

"Activating these cells appears to be at least as important as the production of antibodies," says Erasmus MC Virologist Rory de Vries, Ph.D., who co-led the study with Sette.

These findings are in line with a recent Cell study from Sette, LJI Professor Shane Crotty, Ph.D., and LJI colleagues that showed a robust T cell response in individuals with moderate cases of COVID-19. In both studies, the T cells in these patients prominently targeted the "spike" protein on SARS-CoV-2. The virus uses the spike protein to enter host cells, and many vaccine efforts around the world are aimed at getting the immune system to recognize and attack this protein. The new study offers further evidence that the spike protein is a promising target and confirms that the immune system can also mount strong responses to other targets on the virus.

"This is good news for those making a vaccine using spike, and it also suggests new avenues to potentially increase vaccine potency," says Daniela Weiskopf, Ph.D., research assistant professor at LJI and first author of the new study.

The collaboration between scientists in La Jolla and the Netherlands is also a part of a larger picture, and emphasizes the highly collaborative philosophy adopted by the LJI group. Sette is a world leader in understanding what specific pieces (or epitopes) the immune system recognizes when it encounters a new microbe. The Sette lab's work in defining epitope sets to allow to measure SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses was a key element of the study.

In fact, LJI has become a hub for COVID-19 T cell studies, and Sette has sent out reagents to more than 60 labs around the world. "The study is also highly significant because it illustrates how science has no frontiers," says Sette. "To truly understand a global pandemic, our approach needs to be global, and we need to study effective immune response in people with different genetic backgrounds, living in different environments."

While the Cell paper followed San Diego residents, the new paper follows Dutch patients--and the T cell responses were consistent in both populations. "This study is important because it shows this immune response in patients thousands of miles apart," says Weiskopf. "The same observation has now been strongly reproduced in different continents and different studies."

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The study, titled "Phenotype and kinetics of SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cells in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome," was supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreements No. 874735) by the National Institutes of Health (contract Nr. 75N9301900065.)

Additional study authors include Katharina S. Schmitz, Matthijs P. Raadsen, Alba Grifoni, Nisreen M.A. Okba, Henrik Endeman, Johannes P.C. van den Akker, Richard Molenkamp, Marion P.G. Koopmans, Eric C.M. van Gorp, Bart L. Haagmans and Rik L. de Swart.

DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abd2071

About La Jolla Institute for Immunology

The La Jolla Institute for Immunology is dedicated to understanding the intricacies and power of the immune system so that we may apply that knowledge to promote human health and prevent a wide range of diseases. Since its founding in 1988 as an independent, nonprofit research organization, the Institute has made numerous advances leading toward its goal: life without disease.
WOODS HOLE, Mass. - A picture is worth a thousand words -but only when it's clear what it depicts. And therein lies the rub in making images or videos of microscopic life. While modern microscopes can generate huge amounts of image data from living tissues or cells within a few seconds, extracting meaningful biological information from that data can take hours or even weeks of laborious analysis.

To loosen this major bottleneck, a team led by MBL Fellow Hari Shroff has devised deep-learning and other computational approaches that dramatically reduce image-analysis time by orders of magnitude -- in some cases, matching the speed of data acquisition itself. They report their results this week in Nature Biotechnology.

"It's like drinking from a firehose without being able to digest what you're drinking," says Shroff of the common problem of having too much imaging data and not enough post-processing power. The team's improvements, which stem from an ongoing collaboration at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), speed up image analysis in three major ways.

First, imaging data off the microscope is typically corrupted by blurring. To lessen the blur, an iterative "deconvolution" process is used. The computer goes back and forth between the blurred image and an estimate of the actual object, until it reaches convergence on a best estimate of the real thing.

By tinkering with the classic algorithm for deconvolution, Shroff and co-authors accelerated deconvolution by more than 10-fold. Their improved algorithm is widely applicable "to almost any fluorescence microscope," Shroff says. "It's a strict win, we think. We've released the code and other groups are already using it."

Next, they addressed the problem of 3D registration: aligning and fusing multiple images of an object taken from different angles. "It turns out that it takes much longer to register large datasets, like for light-sheet microscopy, than it does to deconvolve them," Shroff says. They found several ways to accelerate 3D registration, including moving it to the computer's graphics processing unit (GPU). This gave them a 10- to more than 100-fold improvement in processing speed over using the computer's central processing unit (CPU).

"Our improvements in registration and deconvolution mean that for datasets that fit onto a graphics card, image analysis can in principle keep up with the speed of acquisition," Shroff says. "For bigger datasets, we found a way to efficiently carve them up into chunks, pass each chunk to the GPU, do the registration and deconvolution, and then stitch those pieces back together. That's very important if you want to image large pieces of tissue, for example, from a marine animal, or if you are clearing an organ to make it transparent to put on the microscope. Some forms of large microscopy are really enabled and sped up by these two advances."

Lastly, the team used deep learning to accelerate "complex deconvolution" - intractable datasets in which the blur varies significantly in different parts of the image. They trained the computer to recognize the relationship between badly blurred data (the input) and a cleaned, deconvolved image (the output). Then they gave it blurred data it hadn't seen before. "It worked really well; the trained neural network could produce deconvolved results really fast," Shroff says. "That's where we got thousands-fold improvements in deconvolution speed."

While the deep learning algorithms worked surprisingly well, "it's with the caveat that they are brittle," Shroff says. "Meaning, once you've trained the neural network to recognize a type of image, say a cell with mitochondria, it will deconvolve those images very well. But if you give it an image that is a bit different, say the cell's plasma membrane, it produces artifacts. It's easy to fool the neural network." An active area of research is creating neural networks that work in a more generalized way.

"Deep learning augments what is possible," Shroff says. "It's a good tool for analyzing datasets that would be difficult any other way."

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This paper stems from an ongoing collaboration in the MBL Whitman Center between MBL Fellows Hari Shroff, senior investigator at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering; Patrick La Riviere, professor at the University of Chicago; and Daniel Colon-Ramos, professor at Yale Medical School. First author Min Guo is postdoctoral fellow in Shroff's lab and a former teaching assistant for Shroff in the MBL's Optical Microscopy and Imaging in the Biological Sciences course.

The MBL is opening an Image Analysis Laboratory to assist scientists with their analysis of large and complex datasets. More information is here.

The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is dedicated to scientific discovery - exploring fundamental biology, understanding marine biodiversity and the environment, and informing the human condition through research and education. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution and an affiliate of the University of Chicago.
CAMBRIDGE, MA - June 29, 2020--The MIT Press announced today the launch of Rapid Reviews: COVID-19 (RR:C19), an open access, rapid-review overlay journal that will accelerate peer review of COVID-19-related research and deliver real-time, verified scientific information that policymakers and health leaders can use.

Scientists and researchers are working overtime to understand the SARS-CoV-2 virus and are producing an unprecedented amount of preprint scholarship that is publicly available online but has not been vetted yet by peer review for accuracy. Traditional peer review can take four or more weeks to complete, but RR:C19's editorial team, led by editor-in-chief, Stefano M. Bertozzi, Professor of Health Policy and Management and Dean Emeritus of the School of Public Health at University of California Berkeley, will produce expert reviews in a matter of days.

Using artificial intelligence tools, a global team will identify promising scholarship in preprint repositories, commission expert peer reviews, and publish the results on an open access platform in a completely transparent process. The journal will strive for disciplinary and geographic breadth, sourcing manuscripts from all regions and across a wide variety of fields, including medicine; public health; the physical, biological, and chemical sciences; the social sciences; and the humanities. RR:C19 will also provide a new publishing option for revised papers that are positively reviewed.

Made possible by a $350,000 grant from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and hosted on PubPub, an open-source publishing platform from the Knowledge Futures Group for collaboratively editing and publishing journals, monographs, and other open access scholarly content, RR:C19 will limit the spread of misinformation about COVID-19, according to editor-in-chief Bertozzi.

"There is an urgent need to validate--or debunk--the rapidly growing volume of COVID-19-related manuscripts on preprint servers," explains Bertozzi. "I'm excited to be working with the MIT Press, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, and the Knowledge Futures Group to create a novel publishing model that has the potential to more efficiently translate important scientific results into action. We are also working with COVIDScholar, an initiative of UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, to create unique AI/machine learning tools to support the review of hundreds of preprints per week."

"This project signals a breakthrough in academic publishing, bringing together urgency and scientific rigor so the world's researchers can rapidly disseminate new discoveries that we can trust," says Vilas Dhar, trustee of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. "We are confident the RR:C19 journal will quickly become an invaluable resource for researchers, public health officials, and healthcare providers on the frontline of this pandemic. We're also excited about the potential for a long-term transformation in how we evaluate and share research across all scientific disciplines."

On the collaboration around this new journal, Travis Rich, executive director of the Knowledge Futures Group notes, "At a moment when credibility is increasingly crucial to the well-being of society, we're thrilled to be partnering with this innovative journal to expand the idea of reviews as first-class research objects, both on PubPub and as a model for others."

Amy Brand, director of the MIT Press sees the no-cost open access model as a way to increase the impact of global research and disseminate high-quality scholarship. "Offering a peer-reviewed model on top of preprints will bring a level of diligence that clinicians, researchers, and others worldwide rely on to make sound judgments about the current crisis and its amelioration," says Brand. "The project also aims to provide a proof-of-concept for new models of peer-review and rapid publishing for broader applications."

The editorial board for RR:C19 currently includes Paulin Basinga, Gates Foundation; Nancy Birdsall, Center for Global Development; Jeanine Condo, National University of Rwanda; Robert Gallo, University of Maryland; Dean Jamison, University of Washington; Jerome Kim, International Vaccine Institute; Santiago Levy, The Brookings Institution; Fenyong Liu, UC Berkeley; Felix Masiye, University of Zambia, University of Washington; Jonna Mazet, UC Davis; Shankar Sastry, UC Berkeley; and Mauro Schechter, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, University of Pittsburgh, Johns Hopkins University. RR:C19 will publish its first reviews in July 2020 and is actively recruiting potential reviewers and contributors.

To learn more about this project, visit: rapidreviewscovid19.mitpress.mit.edu

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Media Contacts

Jessica Pellien

Associate Director of Publicity

Fortier Public Relations

jessica@fortierpr.com

Emily Paquin Abbas

Communications Coordinator

The MIT Press

epabbas@mit.edu

About the MIT Press

Established in 1962, the MIT Press is one of the largest and most distinguished university presses in the world and a leading publisher of books and journals at the intersection of science, technology, art, social science, and design. MIT Press books and journals are known for their intellectual daring, scholarly standards, interdisciplinary focus, and distinctive design.

mitpress.mit.edu

About the UC Berkeley School of Public Health

For 75 years and counting, the UC Berkeley SPH has been dedicated to making a transformative impact on the health of populations through its values of health as a right, strength through diversity, think forward, and impact first. To eliminate inequity and injustice that affects the health and dignity of all people, SPH is committed to radical public health collaborations that challenge conventional thinking, leverage technology, and build bridges between research, public policy, education, and action.

publichealth.berkeley.edu

About the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation

The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is dedicated to improving lives globally with information technology, neuroscience, and AI. The Foundation is the legacy of IDG founder Patrick J. McGovern, who believed in the potential for technology to democratize information, improve the human condition, and advance social good.

mcgovern.org

About the Knowledge Futures Group

The Knowledge Futures Group, a nonprofit originally founded as a partnership between the MIT Press and MIT Media Lab, builds and sustains technology for the production, curation, and preservation of knowledge in service of the public good.

knowledgefutures.org
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite imagery provided a look at the end of the second named tropical cyclone of the Eastern Pacific Ocean's 2020 Hurricane Season.

Tropical Cyclone Boris formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, June 24 and by early on Sunday, June 29, the storm had become a remnant low-pressure area.

At NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., an animation of satellite imagery was created from NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). The animation used imagery from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite and ran from June 26 to June 29, 2020. The animation showed the progression and weakening of Tropical Cyclone Boris as it crossed from the Eastern Pacific Ocean into the Central Pacific Ocean.

The final advisory issued by NOAA's National Hurricane Center came on Saturday, June 27 at 11 p.m. EDT. At that time, center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Boris was located near latitude 12.1 degrees north and longitude 142.0 degrees west. That was about 1,015 miles (1,635 km) east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. The post-tropical cyclone was moving toward the west-southwest near 8 mph (13 kph). Maximum sustained winds were near 30 mph (45 kph) and weakening.

NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite provided an image of former Tropical Cyclone Boris as it weakened to a remnant low-pressure area on June 29. In the image, the circulation center can be seen surrounded by wispy clouds with the exception of a small area of thunderstorms on the western side of the circulation.

The remnant low is expected to dissipate by June 30.

Tropical cyclones/hurricanes are the most powerful weather events on Earth. NASA's expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.

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Cancers arise when the genetic code of normal cells is altered, causing excessive growth. Researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have discovered a protein that drives the growth of cancers of the esophagus or liver by altering the genetic code in a novel way.

The protein, death associated protein 3 (DAP3), represses a process called adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing that normally corrects the genetic code to ensure that genes are expressed correctly. By inhibiting RNA editing, DAP3 acts as an oncogene -- a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. This discovery offers the potential of developing novel drugs that target DAP3 for cancer treatment.

The study was led by Assistant Professor Polly Chen, a Principal Investigator at CSI Singapore, and the findings were published in the scientific journal Science Advances on 17 June 2020.

Understanding A-to-I RNA editing

RNAs are one of the most important classes of molecules in cells. They not only convert the genetic information stored in DNA to proteins, but also play critical regulatory roles in various biological processes. RNA editing is a process in which RNA is changed after it is made from DNA, resulting in an altered gene product. In humans, the most common type of RNA editing is A-to-I editing, which is mediated by ADAR proteins (ADAR1 and ADAR2). In the past decade, many studies have reported that the accumulation of deleterious changes in A-to-I RNA editing can trigger a cell to develop into cancer. However, the current knowledge of how the A-to-I RNA editing process is regulated in cancer is still limited.

The CSI Singapore research team therefore conducted a research study to understand how DAP3 -- the interacting protein of the A-to-I RNA editing catalytic enzymes (ADAR1 and ADAR2) -- regulates this process in cancer cells.

Promising drug target for cancer treatment

The team demonstrated that DAP3 could destroy the binding of ADAR2 protein to its target RNAs, thereby inhibiting the A-to-I RNA editing in cancer cells. This suppression is likely to be one of the pathways by which DAP3 could promote cancer development.

Their analysis also revealed that the expression of DAP3 is elevated in 17 types of cancer. Further experiments demonstrated that DAP3 acted as an oncogene in esophageal cancer and liver cancer cells. Interestingly, they also identified the gene PDZD7, one of DAP3-inhibited editing targets and discovered that altered editing of PDZD7 generated a new PDZD7 protein product which contributed to the DAP3-driven tumor growth.

Overall, these observations shed light on the complexity of the regulation of the A-to-I RNA editing process in cancer cells, and suggest that DAP3 could be a promising target for future cancer drug development.

"With this new knowledge, we can now look into how we can intervene in the interactions between DAP3 and ADAR proteins in order to interfere with cancer-promoting processes mediated by RNA editing in the cell," said research leader Asst Prof Chen.

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A new fundamental understanding of polymeric relaxor ferroelectric behavior could lead to advances in flexible electronics, actuators and transducers, energy storage, piezoelectric sensors and electrocaloric cooling, according to a team of researchers at Penn State and North Carolina State.

Researchers have debated the theory behind the mechanism of relaxor ferroelectrics for more than 50 years, said Qing Wang, professor of materials science and engineering at Penn State. While relaxor ferroelectrics are well-recognized, fundamentally fascinating and technologically useful materials, a Nature article commented in 2006 that they were heterogeneous, hopeless messes.

Without a fundamental understanding of the mechanism, little progress has been made in designing new relaxor ferroelectric materials. The new understanding, which relies on both experiment and theoretical modeling, shows that relaxor ferroelectricity in polymers comes from chain conformation disorders induced by chirality. Chirality is a feature of many organic materials in which molecules are mirror images of each other, but not exactly the same. The relaxor mechanism in polymers is vastly different from the mechanism proposed for ceramics whose relaxor behavior originates from chemical disorders.

"Different from ferroelectrics, relaxors exhibit no long-range large ferroelectric domains but disordered local polar domains," Wang explained. "The research in relaxor polymeric materials has been challenging owing to the presence of multiple phases such as crystalline, amorphous and crystalline-amorphous interfacial area in polymers."

In energy storage capacitors, relaxors can deliver a much higher energy density than normal ferroelectrics, which have high ferroelectric loss that turns into waste heat. In addition, relaxors can generate larger strain under the applied electric fields and have a much better efficiency of energy conversion than normal ferroelectrics, which makes them preferred materials for actuators and sensors.

Penn State has a long history of discovery in ferroelectric materials. Qiming Zhang, professor of electrical engineering at Penn State, discovered the first relaxor ferroelectric polymer in 1998, when he used an electron beam to irradiate a ferroelectric polymer and found it had become a relaxor. Zhang along with Qing Wang also made seminal discoveries in the electrocaloric effect using relaxor polymers, which allows for solid state cooling without the use of noxious gases and uses much less energy than conventional refrigeration.

"The new understanding of relaxor behavior would open up unprecedented opportunities for us to design relaxor ferroelectric polymers for a range of energy storage and conversion applications," said Wang.

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Their work, "Chirality-induced relaxor properties in ferroelectric polymers," appears today, June 29, in the journal Nature Materials. The lead author is Yang Liu, a postdoctoral scholar in Wang's group. Co-authors Wenhan Xu and Aziguli Haibibu are former graduate students in Wang's group. Zhubing Han is Wang's current graduate student. Bing Zhang is a graduate student in Professor J. Berholc's group at North Carolina State University, and Wenchang Lu is a research associate in Berholc's group.

The U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the U.S. Office of Naval Research funded this research. The National Science Foundation provided supercomputer time at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications.
Clinician scientists at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have begun a clinical trial of a promising therapy for critically ill COVID-19 patients in intensive care.

In a paper published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the team, led by RCSI Professors Gerry McElvaney and Ger Curley, describe changes in the body's normal inflammatory response in patients infected with COVID-19, in particular among those who require admission to intensive care.

The team has begun a randomised double blind placebo controlled clinical trial of alpha-1-antitrypsin to treat critically ill patients mechanically ventilated in ICU with COVID-19 associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Alpha-1-antitrypsin is a naturally occurring human protein produced by the liver and released into the bloodstream which normally acts to protect the lungs from the destructive actions of common illnesses.

RCSI Professor of Medicine Prof. Gerry McElvaney said: "As of late June, more than 9.5 million laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been documented globally, with over 490,000 deaths. These numbers continue to grow substantially. In Beaumont Hospital, we have had over 500 patients admitted to the hospital, and nearly 50 patients requiring admission to intensive care.

"The current management of severe COVID-19 remains supportive, focusing on supplemental oxygen and ventilator support in the event of acute respiratory failure. Despite the implications for global health, the inflammatory characteristics of patients with COVID-19 are not yet fully understood. A greater understanding of how the body's inflammatory mechanisms are impacted upon by COVID-19 could open the door to several potential therapies including antiviral medications and targeted immune-modulators such as alpha-1-antitrypsin."

Prof. Ger Curley, RCSI Professor of Anaesthesia and Critical Care and Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care in Beaumont Hospital explained that "we know from in-hospital studies that many COVID-19 patients in ICU develop severe inflammation throughout the body with a disproportionately high rate of progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, shock and heart arrhythmia."

In a collaboration between the Departments of Medicine and Critical Care and Anaesthesia, a team of clinician scientists led by Prof. McElvaney and Prof. Curley sought to ascertain the type of inflammation affecting the COVID-19 patient in ICU, and to determine whether there was a relationship between this type of inflammation and the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation.

The study showed that a number of highly inflamed proteins were all increased in infected patients compared to healthy controls. There was also a difference in the profiles of patients in ICU and those who were infected but stable.

Prof. Curley explained, however, that the most unanticipated differentiating factor between patients with stable and severe disease was not the degree of increase in inflammatory proteins, but rather the relative decrease in levels of an anti-inflammatory protein which indicates that the patients' anti-inflammatory mechanisms were failing.

"This finding suggests to us that a therapy which augments the body's own inflammation resolving mechanisms might have a positive impact. Alpha-1 protects the airway from damage during acute pulmonary infection. It is also a potent anti-inflammatory and acts to protect the immune system. Of particular relevance to COVID-19, it has been shown to modulate the production and activity of several key pro-inflammatory proteins", explained Prof. Curley.

"We are confident that this clinical trial will demonstrate the potential for Alpha-1 to improve the outcomes for patients with the most severe COVID-19 induced respiratory difficulties."

This is the first Investigational Medicine Product trial to be approved in Ireland to test a therapy to treat COVID19. The trial is being sponsored by RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and is coordinated by the RCSI Clinical Research Centre. Beaumont Hospital is the first site to recruit patients and other sites in Ireland will also participate. This investigator initiated study benefited from generous support from Grifols, a Barcelona-based multinational healthcare company and a leading global producer of plasma-derived medicines, which provided access to the alpha1-proteinase inhibitor study drug.

Ranked number one globally for Good Health and Well-being in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2020, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is an international not-for-profit university, with its headquarters in Dublin.

RCSI is exclusively focused on education and research to drive improvements in human health worldwide. It is among the top 250 universities worldwide in the THE World University Rankings (2020) and its research is ranked first in Ireland for citations. RCSI has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education.

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In water, hydrophobic molecules are surrounded by a two different water populations: the inner shell forms a two-dimensional network of water molecules. The next layer is formed by a second water population that is almost bulk like but forms slightly stronger hydrogen bonds to the bulk water. The assumption to date was that tetrahedral, "ice-like" water dominate in the innermost hydration shell of hydrophobic molecules. The opposite is the case. These new findings were published by the team headed by Professor Martina Havenith, Chair of Physical Chemistry II and Speaker of the Ruhr Explores Solvation Cluster of Excellence at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB) in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters on 18 June 2020.

Insights by THz spectroscopy and simulations

In their study, the researchers investigated the hydrogen bond network around the hydrophobic solvated alcohol tert-butanol, as researchers use alcohols as a prototype models for hydrophobic molecules. The team combined results from terahertz (THz) spectroscopy and simulations.

In THz spectroscopy, researchers measure the absorption of THz radiation in a sample. The absorption spectrum provides a fingerprint of the water network.

A thin layer

In their study they obtained a detailed picture of the water layers surrounding the molecule. "We refer to the innermost layer as 'HB-wrap', where HB stands for water hydrogen bond," explains Martina Havenith. The top layer is called 'HB-hydration2bulk' as it described the interface to the bulk water. Combined, both layers of the coating are sometimes no thicker than a single layer of water molecules. "Occasionally, a single water molecule may be part of both layers," says Havenith.

Inner layer is longer stable

When the temperature is increased, the outer layer melts first, the HP-wrap layer remains longer intact. "The inner layer has also less freedom to form distinct configurations due to the hydrophobicity of the solute," elaborates the researcher. "As individual water molecules must always turn away from the alcohol, they form a two-dimensional, loose network." Water molecules in the outer layer have more freedom to move and therefore also more possibilities to connect with other water molecules; researchers refer to this phenomenon as greater entropy.

This type of interaction is relevant for the folding processes of proteins as well as biomolecular recognition between a drug and its target molecule. Understanding the role of water plays a crucial role in the process.

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Funding

The study was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as part of the Ruhr Explores Solvation Cluster of Excellence, funding code EXC 2033-390677874-Resolv, by the German-French Dynawin-Grant 14-CE35-0011-01 by Agence national de la recherche and DFG, and by Genci-France-Grant 072484 (Cines/Idris/TGCC). Martina Havenith is funded by an Advanced Grant des European Research Council, grant number 695437.

Original publication

Valeria Conti Nibali, Simone Pezzotti, Federico Sebastiani, Daria Ruth Galimberti, Gerhard Schwaab, Matthias Heyden, Marie-Pierre Gaigeot, Martina Havenith: Wrapping up hydrophobic hydration: locality matters, in Physical Chemistry Letters, 2020, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c00846

Press contact

Prof. Dr. Martina Havenith

Physical Chemistry II

Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Ruhr-Universitat Bochum

Germany

Phone: +49 234 32 28249

Email: pc2office@rub.de
HOUSTON -- (June 29, 2020) -- Powdered sugar is the special ingredient in a Rice University recipe for mimicking the body's intricate, branching blood vessels in lab-grown tissues.

In research published today in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, Rice bioengineers showed they could keep densely packed cells alive for two weeks in relatively large constructs by creating complex blood vessel networks from templates of 3D-printed sugar.

"One of the biggest hurdles to engineering clinically relevant tissues is packing a large tissue structure with hundreds of millions of living cells," said study lead author Ian Kinstlinger, a bioengineering graduate student in Rice's Brown School of Engineering. "Delivering enough oxygen and nutrients to all the cells across that large volume of tissue becomes a monumental challenge."

Kinstlinger explains that nature solved this problem through the evolution of complex vascular networks, which weave through our tissues and organs in patterns reminiscent of tree limbs. The vessels simultaneously become smaller in thickness but greater in number as they branch away from a central trunk, allowing oxygen and nutrients to be efficiently delivered to cells throughout the body.

"By developing new technologies and materials to mimic naturally occurring vascular networks, we're getting closer to the point that we can provide oxygen and nutrients to a sufficient number of cells to get meaningful long-term therapeutic function," Kinstlinger said.

The sugar templates were 3D-printed with an open-source, modified laser cutter in the lab of study co-author Jordan Miller, an assistant professor of bioengineering at Rice.

"The 3D-printing process we developed here is like making a very precise creme brulee," said Miller, whose original inspiration for the project was an intricate dessert.

Miller said the complex, detailed structures are made possible by selective laser sintering, a 3D-printing process that fuses minute grains of powder into solid 3D objects. In contrast to more common extrusion 3D printing, where melted strands of material are deposited through a nozzle, laser sintering works by gently melting and fusing small regions in a packed bed of dry powder. Both extrusion and laser sintering build 3D shapes one 2D layer at a time, but the laser method enables the generation of structures which would otherwise be prone to collapse if extruded, he said.

"There are certain architectures -- such as overhanging structures, branched networks and multivascular networks -- which you really can't do well with extrusion printing," said Miller, who demonstrated the concept of sugar templating with a 3D extrusion printer during his postdoctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Miller began work on the laser-sintering approach shortly after joining Rice in 2013.

"Selective laser sintering gives us far more control in all three dimensions, allowing us to easily access complex topologies while still preserving the utility of the sugar material," he said.

Sugar is especially useful in creating blood vessel templates because it's durable when dry, and it rapidly dissolves in water without damaging nearby cells. To make tissues, Kinstlinger uses a special blend of sugars to print templates and then fills the volume around the printed sugar network with a mixture of cells in liquid gel. The gel becomes semisolid within minutes, and the sugar is then dissolved and flushed away to leave an open passageway for nutrients and oxygen.

"A major benefit of this approach is the speed at which we can generate each tissue structure," Kinstlinger said. "We can create some of the largest tissue models yet demonstrated in under five minutes."

Miller said the new study answers two important questions: What sugars can be sintered into coherent structures, and what computational algorithms can derive complex, branching architectures that mimic those found in nature?

The computational algorithm that generated the treelike vascular architectures in the study was created in collaboration with Nervous System, a design studio that uses computer simulation to make unique art, jewelry and housewares that are inspired by patterns found in nature.

"We're using algorithms inspired by nature to create functional networks for tissues," said Jessica Rosenkrantz, co-founder and creative director of Nervous System and a study co-author. "Because our approach is algorithmic, it's possible to create customized networks for different uses."

After creating tissues patterned with these computationally generated vascular architectures, the team demonstrated the seeding of endothelial cells inside the channels and focused on studying the survival and function of cells grown in the surrounding tissue, including rodent liver cells called hepatocytes. The hepatocyte experiments were conducted in collaboration with University of Washington (UW) bioengineer and study co-author Kelly Stevens, whose research group specializes in studying the delicate cells, which are notoriously difficult to maintain outside the body.

"This method could be used with a much wider range of material cocktails than many other bioprinting technologies," Stevens said. "This makes it incredibly versatile."

Miller said, "We showed that perfusion through 3D vascular networks allows us to sustain these large liverlike tissues. While there are still long-standing challenges associated with maintaining hepatocyte function, the ability to both generate large volumes of tissue and sustain the cells in those volumes for sufficient time to assess their function is an exciting step forward."

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Stevens is an assistant professor of bioengineering in the UW College of Engineering, assistant professor of pathology in the UW School of Medicine and an investigator at the UW Medicine Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine.

Additional authors include Gisele Calderon, Karen Vasquez Ruiz, David Yalacki, Palvasha Deme, Kevin Janson, Daniel Sazer and Saarang Panchavati, all of Rice; Sarah Saxton and Fredrik Johansson, both of UW; Jesse Louis-Rosenberg of Nervous System; and Karl-Dimiter Bissig of Baylor College of Medicine.

The work was supported by the Robert J. Kleberg Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (HL134510, DK115461, DP2HL137188, T32EB001650, HL140905) and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas via the Texas Hepatocellular Carcinoma Consortium (CPRIT RP150587).

Links and resources:

The DOI of the Nature Biomedical Engineering paper is: 10.1038/s41551-020-0566-1

A copy of the paper is available at: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1038/ s41551-020-0566-1

The open-access dataset underlying this work is available at: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 5281/ zenodo. 3723373

VIDEO is available at:

https:/ / youtu. be/ C7QDUM4BXY4

High-resolution IMAGES are available for download at:

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2020/ 06/ 0601_SUGAR-bmTM-lg. jpg

CAPTION: A sample of blood vessel templates that Rice University bioengineers 3D-printed using a special blend of powdered sugars. (Photo by B. Martin/Rice University)

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2020/ 06/ 0601_SUGAR-ik62-lg. jpg

CAPTION: Rice University bioengineering graduate student Ian Kinstlinger with a blood vessel template he 3D-printed from powdered sugar. Kinstlinger is lead co-author of a study that showed that lab-grown tissues made from such templates had sufficient blood flow to sustain densely packed cells. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2020/ 06/ 0601_SUGAR-ik13-lg. jpg

CAPTION: Graduate student Ian Kinstlinger prepares the selective laser sintering system in the Miller bioengineering lab at Rice University. Kinstlinger uses the system to 3D-print blood vessel templates from powdered sugar. The templates allow bioengineers to make lab-grown tissues that have sufficient blood flow to sustain densely packed cells. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https:/ / news. rice. edu/ files/ 2019/ 04/ 0502_MILLER-jm186-lg-23hsprg. jpg

CAPTION: Jordan Miller is an assistant professor of bioengineering at Rice University. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

This release can be found online at news.rice.edu.

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.

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.
A church in California is being forced to move out due to a city ordinance that prohibits places of worship from occupying the first floor of downtown buildings.

The city of Salinas claims to aim at "stimulating commercial activity within the city's downtown, which had been in a state of decline, and to establish a pedestrian-friendly, active and vibrant Main Street."

Meanwhile, the San Francisco Bay Area federal court stood by the city of Salinas and ruled that the church does not align with the city's goals of vibrancy by effectuating limited interest and not attracting tourists.

Susan Van Keulen, the Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California, confirmed that the ruling did not violate the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Pearsons Act, which is a law that protects places of worship from discrimination in zoning laws.

The Pacific Justice Institute filed a lawsuit against this ruling on behalf of New Harvest Christian Fellowship, which rented space for their congregation along Main Street in Salinas for more than 25 years.

The lead attorney and Chief Counsel of the Pacific Justice Institute, Kevin Snider argues, "Salinas deems churches as less deserving of equal treatment under the law than the live children's theatre, two cinemas, and event center that share the city's downtown corridor with New Harvest Fellowship."

Brad Dacus, the President of the Pacific Justice Institute pointed out the injustice towards churches in a statement, "This continues to be one of the most striking examples of unequal treatment of a church in the land use context that we have seen in the past 20 years."

"We have appealed this case to the Ninth Circuit, and we are optimistic that a different result will be reached upon review by a higher court," the Pacific Justice Institute expressed their hope.
In their efforts to better understand ongoing wildlife trafficking and the dynamics of unsustainable bear product use by consumers in Cambodia, a team of researchers led by San Diego Zoo Global made an unexpected discovery: the use of bear bile and body parts in traditional remedies consumed by new and pregnant mothers. The use of traditional medicines derived from bear bile and gallbladders by young and expecting mothers for ailments related to pregnancy had not been previously documented. With populations of wildlife--including bears--in decline across Southeast Asia, understanding this large consumer base could inform conservation efforts in the region, the researchers wrote in a study published recently in the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.

"To effectively conserve bear populations, we must reduce poaching of bears through reducing demand pressures such as use of bear bile for maternal health," said Elizabeth Oneita Davis, Ph.D., the study's lead author, a postdoctoral associate in Community Engagement at San Diego Zoo Global. "In Cambodia, we are currently working in a rural community to encourage older women to support expecting mothers by accompanying them to the doctor and advising them to take biomedicine."

For this study, the researchers interviewed 122 women in seven Cambodian provinces, each with its own ethnic makeup and level of development, from 2016 to 2019. They found that pregnant women and new mothers used bear products for pregnancy and post-partum-related ailments, including headaches, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and symptoms that may be described as post-partum depression.

Though Western medicine is widely accepted in Cambodia, it exists alongside traditional medicine practices similar to those found in China and Vietnam, with treatments derived from plants and animals--including rhinoceroses, slow lorises and bears. Currently, researchers do not have a deep understanding of when and why traditional medicine is used instead of Western treatments. The researchers have previously estimated that up to 15% of Cambodians use bear products, but that percentage could rise if women continue or increase their current usage for maternal health reasons.

"Beyond bear bile, there is a lack of data around other illegal wildlife products, which may also be used for uterine issues, with the same possible implications of pressure on wildlife populations," Davis said. "In general, the role of women in wildlife trade is largely neglected in research."

In the case of new and expectant mothers, bear products are often taken at the urging of women in their "kinship networks," who care for one another during and after pregnancy, the researchers found. The authors said the study could help shape how Khmer women can promote their reproductive health while protecting bear populations in Cambodia. Older, influential women should be encouraged to promote Western medicine or non-wildlife-based traditional medicine for their young, pregnant kin, they suggested.

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About San Diego Zoo Global

Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global. As a leader in conservation, the work of San Diego Zoo Global includes on-site wildlife conservation efforts (representing both plants and animals) at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, as well as international field programs on six continents. The work of these entities is made accessible to over 1 billion people annually, reaching 150 countries via social media, our websites and the San Diego Zoo Kids network, in children's hospitals in 12 countries. The work of San Diego Zoo Global is made possible with support from our incredible donors committed to saving species from the brink of extinction. To learn more, visit SanDiegoZooGlobal.org or connect with us on Facebook.
Researchers have invented a way to slide atomically-thin layers of 2D materials over one another to store more data, in less space and using less energy

A Stanford-led team has invented a way to store data by sliding atomically thin layers of metal over one another, an approach that could pack more data into less space than silicon chips, while also using less energy.

The research, led by Aaron Lindenberg, associate professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford and at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, would be a significant upgrade from the type of nonvolatile memory storage that today's computers accomplish with silicon-based technologies like flash chips.

UC Berkeley mechanical engineer Xiang Zhang, Texas A&M materials scientist Xiaofeng Qian, and Stanford/SLAC Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Thomas Devereaux also helped direct the experiments, which are described in the journal Nature Physics. The breakthrough is based on a newly discovered class of metals that form incredibly thin layers, in this case just three atoms thick. The researchers stacked these layers, made from a metal known as tungsten ditelluride, like a nanoscale deck of cards. By injecting a tiny bit of electricity into the stack they caused each odd-numbered layer to shift ever-so slightly relative to the even-numbered layers above and below it. The offset was permanent, or non-volatile, until another jolt of electricity caused the odd and even layers to once again realign.

"The arrangement of the layers becomes a method for encoding information," Lindenberg says, creating the on-off, 1s-and-0s that store binary data.

To read the digital data stored between these shifting layers of atoms, the researchers exploit a quantum property known as Berry curvature, which acts like a magnetic field to manipulate the electrons in the material to read the arrangement of the layers without disturbing the stack.

Jun Xiao, a postdoctoral scholar in Lindenberg's lab and first author of the paper, said it takes very little energy to shift the layers back and forth. This means it should take much less energy to "write" a zero or one to the new device than is required for today's non-volatile memory technologies. Furthermore, based on research the same group published in Nature last year, the sliding of the atomic layers can occur so rapidly that data storage could be accomplished more than a hundred times faster than with current technologies.

The design of the prototype device was based in part on theoretical calculations contributed by co-authors Xiaofeng Qian, an assistant professor at Texas A&M University, and Hua Wang a graduate student in his lab. After the researchers observed experimental results consistent with the theoretical predictions, they made further calculations which lead them to believe that further refinements to their design will greatly improve the storage capacity of this new approach, paving the way for a shift toward a new, and far more powerful class of nonvolatile memory using ultrathin 2D materials.

The team has patented their technology while they further refine their memory prototype and design. They also plan to seek out other 2D materials that could work even better as data storage mediums than tungsten ditelluride.

"The scientific bottom line here," Lindenberg adds, "is that very slight adjustments to these ultrathin layers have a large influence on its functional properties. We can use that knowledge to engineer new and energy-efficient devices towards a sustainable and smart future."

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Aaron Lindenberg is also an associate professor, Photon Science Directorate, an affiliate of the Precourt Institute for Energy, and a principal investigator of the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences. Thomas Devereaux is also a professor, Photon Science Directorate, and director of the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences. Other Stanford co-authors include staff scientists Das Pemmaraju, graduate student Philipp Karl Muscher, and university affiliates Edbert Jarvis Sie and Clara M. Nyby. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and Texas A&M University, also contributed to this work.

Experiments and theory collaborations at Stanford/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory were funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering through the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences (SIMES). The theoretical efforts at TAMU were supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation. Experiments and device fabrication at Berkeley were funded by the US Department of Energy, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division and by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Office of Sponsored Research, respectively.
New evidence upturns long-held medical practice, showing the efficacy of an intervention to prevent premature labor and miscarriage for mothers carrying twins.

(PHILADELPHIA) - Women carrying twins are at higher risk for premature birth and miscarriage - those whose cervix dilates before 24 weeks are at highest risk - and yet one common treatment is not recommended for this population. A new multi-center randomized-controlled trial from Thomas Jefferson University shows that cerclage, an intervention that sutures a dilating cervix closed, can help prevent preterm birth and miscarriage. The findings could overturn existing guidelines.

The clinical trial was stopped early because of positive results in the intervention group. The researchers showed that perinatal mortality was significantly decreased in women receiving cerclage.

"For women with twin pregnancies and early signs of labor and cervix dilation, there was really very little we could offer," says first author, Amanda Roman, MD, Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University. "This study provides powerful evidence that there is an effective treatment we can use."

The results were published online in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AJOG) on June 24th.

Women who showed signs of preterm labor, as confirmed by a cervical exam that indicates dilation, were enrolled in the study and randomized to either receive cerclage plus antibiotics and indomethacin (an anti-pain medication) , or standard of care. Of the 30 women enrolled, 17 women were randomized to the cerclage group and 13 to non-cerclage. The women in both groups were similar in demographics including age, race, body-mass index and other factors for preterm birth.

The trial enrolled 30 patients across 8 medical centers over the course of four years. "The small number of participants reflects how rare this condition is among all pregnancies," says Dr. Roman. "But because women were randomized to treatment and non-treatment groups, the results are strong, as confirmed by the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board."

The analysis showed that in the group that received cerclage, gestation was prolonged by an average of 5.6 weeks (with a range of 2.0 to 9.3 weeks), and reduced infant mortality by 77%.

"Cerclage is a heroic intervention in this group of women," says Dr. Roman. "The possibility of losing a pregnancy is devastating. So we're very encouraged by these results demonstrating a life-saving intervention for women with twins experiencing early asymptomatic cervical dilation."

"We've already incorporated this cerclage into our practice and have been able to offer this to pregnant mothers with twins with great success," says senior author Vincenzo Berghella, MD, Director of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Jefferson. "These results have the potential to change practice, and help many more women have healthy twin babies."

Dr. Roman and her collaborators are also exploring whether cerclage might prove effective for another subset of women carrying twins, specifically women whose cervical length has shortened, which is a precursor to cervical dilation, between 16 and 23 weeks. They have a clinical trial currently open. Women participating in the study will be randomized to receiving cerclage or no cerclage (ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT03340688).

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No external financial support was received for this study. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Article Reference: Amanda Roman, Noelia Zork, Sina Haeri, Corina N. Schoen, Gabriele Saccone, Sarah Colihan, Craig Zelig, Alexis C. Gimovsky, Neil S. Seligman, Fulvio Zullo, Vincenzo Berghella, "Physical Exam Indicated Cerclage in Twin pregnancy: a Randomized Controlled Trial," AJOG, DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.06.047, 2020.

Media Contact: Edyta Zielinska, 215-955-7359, edyta.zielinska@jefferson.edu.
Over the last few decades, as the information era has matured, it has shaped the world of cryptography and made it a varied landscape. Amongst the myriad of encoding methods and cryptosystems currently available for ensuring secure data transfers and user identification, some have become quite popular because of their safety or practicality. For example, if you have ever been given the option to log onto a website using your Facebook or Gmail ID and password, you have encountered a single sign-on (SSO) system at work. The same goes for most smartphones, where signing in with a single username and password combination allows access to many different services and applications.

SSO schemes give users the option to access multiple systems by signing in to just one specific system. This specific system is called the "identity provider" and is regarded as a trusted entity that can verify and store the identity of the user. When the user attempts to access a service via the SSO, the "service provider" asks this identity provider to authenticate the user.

The advantages of SSO systems are many. For one, users need not remember several username and password combinations for each website or application. This translates into fewer people forgetting their passwords and, in turn, fewer telephone calls to IT support centers. Moreover, SSO reduces the hassle of logging in, which can, for example, encourage employees to use their company's security-oriented tools for tasks such as secure file transfer.

But with these advantages come some grave concerns. SSO systems are often run by Big Tech companies, who have, in the past, been reported to gather people's personal information from apps and websites (service providers) without their consent, for targeted advertising and other marketing purposes. Some people are also concerned that their ID and password could be stored locally by third parties when they provide them to the SSO mechanism.

In an effort to address these problems, Associate Professor Satoshi Iriyama from Tokyo University of Science and his colleague Dr Maki Kihara have recently developed a new SSO algorithm that on principle prevents such holistic information exchange. In their paper, published in Cryptography, they describe the new algorithm in great detail after going over their motivations for developing it. Dr Iriyama states: "We aimed to develop an SSO algorithm that does not disclose the user's identity and sensitive personal information to the service provider. In this way, our SSO algorithm uses personal information only for authentication of the user, as originally intended when SSO systems were introduced."

Because of the way this SSO algorithm is designed, it is impossible in essence for user information to be disclosed without authorization. This is achieved, as explained by Dr Iriyama, by applying the principle of "handling information while it is still encrypted." In their SSO algorithm, all parties exchange encrypted messages but never exchange decryption keys, and no one is ever in possession of all the pieces of the puzzle because no one has the keys to all the information. While the service provider (not the identity provider) gets to know whether a user was successfully authenticated, they do not get access to the user's identity and any of their sensitive personal information. This in turn breaks the link that allows identity providers to draw specific user information from service providers.

The proposed scheme offers many other advantages. In terms of security, it is impervious by design to all typical forms of attack by which information or passwords are stolen. For instance, as Dr Iriyama explains, "Our algorithm can be used not only with an ID and a password, but also with any other type of identity information, such as biometrics, credit card data, and unique numbers known by the user." This also means that users can only provide identity information that they wish to disclose, reducing the risk of Big Tech companies or other third parties siphoning off personal information. In addition, the algorithm runs remarkably fast, an essential quality to ensure that the computational burden does not hinder its implementation.

This study will hopefully bring about positive changes in current SSO systems, so that more users are encouraged to use them and reap their many benefits.

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About the Tokyo University of Science

Tokyo University of Science (TUS) is a well-known and respected university, and the largest science-specialized private research university in Japan, with four campuses in central Tokyo and its suburbs and in Hokkaido. Established in 1881, the university has continually contributed to Japan's development in science through inculcating the love for science in researchers, technicians, and educators.

With a mission of "Creating science and technology for the harmonious development of nature, human beings, and society", TUS has undertaken a wide range of research from basic to applied science. TUS has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to research and undertaken intensive study in some of today's most vital fields. TUS is a meritocracy where the best in science is recognized and nurtured. It is the only private university in Japan that has produced a Nobel Prize winner and the only private university in Asia to produce Nobel Prize winners within the natural sciences field.

Website: https:/ / www. tus. ac. jp/ en/ mediarelations/

About Associate Professor Satoshi Iriyama from Tokyo University of Science

Satoshi Iriyama's history with Tokyo University of Science (TUS) dates back to 1999, when he completed his undergrad studies in the Department of Information Sciences. He proceeded to obtain Master's and PhD degrees at TUS over the following years and has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Sciences there since 2007. His research interests are quantum communication, quantum algorithms, and cryptography. He has written over 35 papers on these subjects, along with 16 refereed proceedings.
Staring at a deep red light for three minutes a day can significantly improve declining eyesight, finds a new UCL-led study, the first of its kind in humans.

Scientists believe the discovery, published in the Journals of Gerontology, could signal the dawn of new affordable home-based eye therapies, helping the millions of people globally with naturally declining vision.

In the UK there are currently around 12 million people aged over 65: in 50 years this will increase to around 20 million and all will have some degree of visual decline because of retinal ageing.

Lead author, Professor Glen Jeffery (UCL Institute of Ophthalmology) said: "As you age your visual system declines significantly, particularly once over 40.

"Your retinal sensitivity and your colour vision are both gradually undermined, and with an ageing population, this is an increasingly important issue.

"To try to stem or reverse this decline, we sought to reboot the retina's ageing cells with short bursts of longwave light."

In humans around 40 years-old, cells in the eye's retina begin to age, and the pace of this ageing is caused, in part, when the cell's mitochondria, whose role is to produce energy (known as ATP) and boost cell function, also start to decline.

Mitochondrial density is greatest in the retina's photoreceptor cells, which have high energy demands. As a result, the retina ages faster than other organs, with a 70% ATP reduction over life, causing a significant decline in photoreceptor function as they lack the energy to perform their normal role.

Researchers built on their previous findings in mice, bumblebees and fruit flies, which all found significant improvements in the function of the retina's photoreceptors when their eyes were exposed to 670 nanometre (long wavelength) deep red light.

"Mitochondria have specific light absorbance characteristics influencing their performance: longer wavelengths spanning 650 to 1000nm are absorbed and improve mitochondrial performance to increase energy production," said Professor Jeffery.

The retina's photoreceptor population is formed of cones, which mediate colour vision and rods, which provide peripheral vision and adapt vision in low/dim light.

For the study, 24 people (12 male, 12 female), aged between 28 and 72, who had no ocular disease, were recruited. All participants' eyes were tested for the sensitivity of their rods and cones at the start of the study. Rod sensitivity was measured in dark adapted eyes (with pupils dilated) by asking participants to detect dim light signals in the dark, and cone function was tested by subjects identifying coloured letters that had very low contrast and appeared increasingly blurred, a process called colour contrast.

All participants were then given a small LED torch to take home and were asked to look into* its deep red 670nm light beam for three minutes a day for two weeks. They were then re-tested for their rod and cone sensitivity

Results

Researchers found the 670nm light had no impact in younger individuals, but in those around 40 years and over, significant improvements were obtained.

Cone colour contrast sensitivity (the ability to detect colours) improved by up to 20% in some people aged around 40 and over. Improvements were more significant in the blue part of the colour spectrum that is more vulnerable in ageing.

Rod sensitivity (the ability to see in low light) also improved significantly in those aged around 40 and over, though less than colour contrast.

Professor Jeffery said: "Our study shows that it is possible to significantly improve vision that has declined in aged individuals using simple brief exposures to light wavelengths that recharge the energy system that has declined in the retina cells, rather like re-charging a battery.

"The technology is simple and very safe, using a deep red light of a specific wavelength, that is absorbed by mitochondria in the retina that supply energy for cellular function.

"Our devices cost about 12 to make, so the technology is highly accessible to members of the public."

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This research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
As the political climate in the United States becomes increasingly charged, some businesses are looking to have their voices heard on controversial issues. The impact of corporate sociopolitical activism on a company's bottom line depends on how the activism aligns with the firm's stakeholders, according to new research published in the Journal of Marketing.

Study co-author Nooshin Warren, assistant professor of marketing in the University of Arizona Eller College of Management, says that over the last 10 years, purpose-driven corporate actions have evolved from companies contributing to widely supported causes, such as cancer research, to companies taking stances on more divisive issues, such as gun control and LGBTQ rights. The movement from philanthropic activities to sociopolitical activism has significant effects on firm value and stock market performance, which vary depending on how the activism aligns with the views of a firm's customers, employees and state regulators.

"In the past few years, we have reached the intersection of politics and doing societal good," Warren said. "Companies still have value systems and want to advance society, but the biggest difference in this case is that societal good is debatable, political and partisan."

The researchers examined a dataset of 293 instances of corporate activism between January 2011 and October 2016 by 149 firms throughout the United States. The hot-button sociopolitical issues were selected based on the Pew Research Center's 2014 Political Polarization in the American Public report and Political Polarization and Typology Survey. Some corporate activism examples included Amazon removing Confederate flag merchandise from its website, JCPenney featuring two lesbian moms in a Mother's Day advertisement and the Kroger grocery chain issuing a statement in support of its policy allowing customers to carry firearms in its stores.

Researchers surveyed 1,406 people and asked them to label each corporate activism event on a scale from "very liberal" to "very conservative." A second survey of 375 people helped researchers identify a given company's typical customers as having more liberal or conservative views. The team gauged the political leanings of company employees through political contribution data from the U.S. Federal Election Commission. The researchers then looked at the political composition of the legislature of the state where each firm is headquartered.

Put simply, Warren said, if a company's activism aligns with the values of its customers, employees and state regulators, the impact will be positive. If it misaligns, the impact will be negative.

"The strongest effects come from alignment with consumers' values, and consumers are obviously the most vital source of revenue for a firm," Warren said. "Punishment from a government can have a sudden and significant impact on a company as well. Employees, although very important, have less of an immediate impact."

The researchers measured changes in stock market value in the five-day window surrounding a corporate activism event. The team found if a company's action was misaligned with its key stakeholders, the company's stock market value decreased 2.45% compared to market expectations, as established by the Center for Research in Security Prices. If aligned with their stakeholders values, stock prices increased by .71%

The researchers further investigated the response of consumers to activism and found that as long as the activism is in line with consumers' political values, the company's quarterly and annual sales grow after the activism. When activism is highly deviated from customers and the government, sales growth suffers. This is especially true when activism highly deviates from all three key stakeholders, which resulted in a sales decline of 4%.

Warren says companies have important decisions to make concerning the current unrest over racial justice issues.

"I wish racial equality was not a polarizing issue, but given that it is, firms should carefully identify their consumers, employees and other stakeholders, and resonate with their values," Warren said. "But it is important to stay authentic, as society is watching carefully and will hold firms accountable for their actions as well as for their silence."

What Companies Should Know

If a company wants to engage in corporate activism and alleviate negative results, Warren said, it should consider five factors that the researchers showed can amplify the effects of alignment or misalignment.

The messenger. Warren says a statement means more to customers when it comes from a CEO rather than a public relations representative. She says that's especially true for "celebrity CEOs" like Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg or Amazon's Jeff Bezos.

Action vs. statement. Action provides more impact than statements, both positive and negative, Warren says. For example, she says Target providing transgender-inclusive bathrooms has a stronger impact than a company simply stating support for the LGBTQ community.

Number of firms. Warren says multiple companies taking a stance together can mitigate negative impact from misalignment with lawmakers, since regulators are much more likely to punish one firm than an entire industry.

Internal vs. external benefits. If a company's message or action is specifically for its own benefit or that of its employees, consumers may view that as less of a societal good, and more of a company simply thinking about its bottom line.

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The research team also included Yashoda Bhagwat, assistant professor of marketing at Texas Christian University; Joshua Beck, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Oregon; and George Watson IV, assistant professor of marketing at Portland State University.
The neural computations of human and non-human primates shed new light on the evolution of language

Humans and monkeys may not speak the same lingo, but our ways of thinking are a lot more similar than previously thought, according to new research from UC Berkeley, Harvard University and Carnegie Mellon University.

In experiments on 100 study participants across age groups, cultures and species, researchers found that indigenous Tsimane' people in Bolivia's Amazon rainforest, American adults and preschoolers and macaque monkeys all show, to varying degrees, a knack for "recursion," a cognitive process of arranging words, phrases or symbols in a way that helps convey complex commands, sentiments and ideas.

The findings, published today (Friday, June 26) in the journal Science Advances, shed new light on our understanding of the evolution of language, researchers said.

"For the first time, we have strong empirical evidence about patterns of thinking that come naturally to probably all humans and, to a lesser extent, non-human primates," said study co-author Steven Piantadosi, a UC Berkeley assistant professor of psychology.

Indeed, the monkeys were found to perform far better in the tests than the researchers had predicted.

"Our data suggest that, with sufficient training, monkeys can learn to represent a recursive process, meaning that this ability may not be as unique to humans as is commonly thought," said Sam Cheyette, a Ph.D. student in Piantadosi's lab and co-author of the study.

Known in linguistics as "nested structures," recursive phrases within phrases are crucial to syntax and semantics in human language. A simple example is a British nursery rhyme that talks about "the dog that worried the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built."

Researchers tested the recursive skills of 10 U.S. adults, 50 preschoolers and kindergarteners, 37 members of the Tsimane' and three male macaque monkeys.

First, all participants were trained to memorize different sequences of symbols in a particular order. Specifically, they learned sequences such as { ( ) } or { [ ] }, which are analogous to some linguistic nested structures.

Participants from the U.S. and monkeys used a large touchscreen monitor to memorize the sequences. They heard a ding if they got a symbol in the right place, a buzzer if they got it wrong and a chime if the whole sequence was correct. The monkeys received snacks or juice as positive feedback.

Meanwhile, the Tsimane' participants, who are less accustomed to interacting with computers, were tested with paper index cards and given verbal feedback.

Next, all participants were asked to place, in the right order, four images from different groupings shown in random order on the screen.

To varying degrees, the participants all arranged their new lists in recursive structures, which is remarkable given that "Tsimane' adults, preschool children and monkeys, who lack formal mathematics and reading training, had never been exposed to such stimuli before testing," the study noted.

"These results are convergent with recent findings that monkeys can learn other kinds of structures found in human grammar," Piantadosi said.

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The study's senior author is Jessica Cantlon at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The recent killings of unarmed individuals such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Tony McDade have sparked a national conversation about the treatment of Black people -- and other minorities -- in the United States.

"What we're seeing today is a close examination of the hardships and indignities that people have faced for a very long time because of their race and ethnicity," said Kyle Ratner, an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences at UC Santa Barbara. As a social psychologist, he is interested in how social and biological processes give rise to intergroup bias and feelings of stigmatization.

According to Ratner, "It is clear that people who belong to historically marginalized groups in the United States contend with burdensome stressors on top of the everyday stressors that members of non-disadvantaged groups experience. For instance, there is the trauma of overt racism, stigmatizing portrayals in the media and popular culture, and systemic discrimination that leads to disadvantages in many domains of life, from employment and education to healthcare and housing to the legal system."

Concerned by negative rhetoric directed at Latinx individuals, Ratner and his lab have investigated how negative stereotype exposure experienced by Mexican-American students can influence the way their brains process information.

In a recent paper published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, the research team focuses on how negative stereotype exposure affects responses to monetary incentives. Their finding: The brains of Mexican-American students exposed to negative stereotypes anticipate rewards and punishments differently versus those who were not so exposed. The discovery, he said, is the first step in a series of studies that could help researchers understand neural pathways through which stigma can have detrimental effects on psychological and physical health.

'I'm so tired of this'

Much existing research has focused on how experiencing stigma and discrimination triggers anger, racing thoughts and a state of high arousal. Although Ratner believes this is a reaction that people experience in some contexts, his recent work focuses on the psychological fatigue of hearing your group disparaged. "It's this feeling of 'oh, not again,' or 'I'm so tired of this,'" he said, describing a couple of reactions to the stress of managing self-definition in the face of negative stereotypes.

While noticing several years ago that experiencing stigma can produce this sense of withdrawal and resignation, Ratner was reminded of work he conducted earlier in his career relating stress to depressive symptoms.

"In work I was involved in over a decade ago, we showed that life stress can be associated with anhedonia, which is a blunted sensitivity to positive and rewarding information, such as winning money," he said. "If you're not sensitive to the rewarding things in life, you're basically left being sensitive to all the frustrating things in life, without that positive buffer. And that's one route to depression."

Given that experiencing stigma can be conceptualized as a social stressor, Ratner wanted to investigate whether negative stereotype exposure might also relate to sensitivity to reward.

Reward Processing in the Brain

Ratner and his colleagues focused on the nucleus accumbens, a sub-cortical brain region that plays a central role in anticipating pleasure -- the "wanting" stage of reward processing that motivates behaviors.

Using functional MRI to measure brain activity, the researchers asked Mexican-American UCSB students to view sets of video clips in rapid succession and then gave these students the opportunity to win money or avoiding losing money.

In the control group, the viewers were shown news and documentary clips of social problems in the United States that were relevant to the country in general -- childhood obesity, teen pregnancy, gang violence and low high school graduation numbers.

In the stigmatized group, subjects were shown news and documentary clips covering the same four domains, but that singled out the Latinx community as the group specifically at risk for these problems.

"These videos were not overtly racist," Ratner said of the stigmatizing clips. Rather, he explained, the videos tended to spend a disproportionate amount of attention on the association between specific social issues and their effects in the Latinx community, rather than presenting them as problems of American society as a whole. The clips were mostly from mainstream news agencies -- the newscasters and narrators, he said, appeared to be "presenting facts as they understood them," but the content of these clips reinforced negative stereotypes.

After repeated exposure to negative stereotypes, the research participants were asked to perform a Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task, which required them to push a button whenever they saw a star on the screen. Pressing the button fast enough resulted in either winning money or avoiding losing money.

In those individuals shown the stigmatizing clips, the nucleus accumbens responded differently to waiting for the star to appear, as compared to those who viewed the control clips, a pattern that suggests that negative stereotype exposure was "spilling-over" to affect how participants were anticipating winning and losing money.

"We saw that something about watching these stigmatizing videos was later influencing the pattern of response within this brain region," Ratner said. This suggests that the nucleus accumbens is representing the potential of winning and losing money differently in the brains of those who previously saw the stigmatizing videos than those who didn't, he explained. The researchers also found that the group that saw the stigmatizing videos reported lower levels of arousal right before starting the MID task, consistent with stigmatizing experiences having a demotivating effect.

"The nucleus accumbens is very important for motivated behavior, and sparks of motivation are important for many aspects for everyday life," Ratner said. A loss of motivation, he continued, is often experienced by those who perceive their situation as out of their control.

One reason negative stereotypes in the media and popular culture are so problematic is they make people feel stigmatized even when they are not personally targeted in their daily life by bigoted people, he explained. "It becomes something you can't escape -- similar to other stressors that are out of people's control and have been shown to cause anhedonia."

Ratner is careful to point out that this study merely scratches the surface of brain processes involved in intergroup reactions such as stigma -- how the brain processes social motivations is far more complex and necessitates further study.

"People shouldn't generalize too much from this specific finding," he said, pointing out that his sample of 40 Mexican-American college students, while not small for a brain imaging study, represents only a small segment of a far more diverse community. When his lab is back up and running following the COVID-19 related cessation, he said, he and his collaborators hope to study a larger, non-student sample.

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Other members of Ratner's research team include lead author and former UCSB postdoctoral fellow B. Locke Welborn and current UCSB Ph.D. student Youngki Hong.
Gold mining significantly limits the regrowth of Amazon forests, greatly reducing their ability to accumulate carbon, according to a new study. The researchers warn that the impacts of mining on tropical forests are long-lasting and that active land management and restoration will be necessary to recover tropical forests on previously mined lands.

Gold mining has rapidly increased across the Amazon in recent years, especially along the Guiana Shield, where it is responsible for as much as 90% of total deforestation. The Shield encompasses Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Venezuela and small parts of Colombia and northern Brazil, and its forests hold roughly twenty billion tonnes of aboveground carbon in its trees.

The ability of tropical forests to recover from gold mining activities has remained largely unquantified. Now, an international study led by the University of Leeds is the first to provide detailed field-based information on the regeneration of forests in Guyana after gold mining, and the first ground-based estimate of carbon sink lost as a result of gold mining activities across the Amazon.

The team's findings, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, found that forest recovery rates on abandoned mining pits and tailing ponds are amongst the lowest ever recorded for tropical forests. At some sites there was nearly no tree regeneration even after three to four years since mining had stopped.

They estimate that mining-related deforestation results in the annual loss of over two million tons of forest carbon across the Amazon. The lack of forest regrowth observed following mining suggests that this lost carbon cannot be recovered through natural regeneration.

Lead author Dr Michelle Kalamandeen, began this research as a postgraduate researcher in the School of Geography at Leeds she is now a postdoctoral researcher at Cambridge University. She said: "This study shows that tropical forests are strongly impacted by mining activities, and have very little capacity to re-establish themselves following mining.

"Our results clearly show the extraction process has stripped nitrogen from the soil, a critical component to forest recovery, and in many cases directly contributed to the presence of mercury within neighbouring forests and rivers. Active mining sites had on average 250 times more mercury concentrations than abandoned sites.

"Not only does this have serious consequences for our battle against global warming by limiting Amazonian forests' ability to capture and store carbon, but there is also a larger implication of contaminating food sources especially for indigenous and local communities who rely on rivers.

"A positive finding from this study shows that overburden sites, areas where topsoil is deposited during the mining process, recorded similar recovery rates as other Central and South American secondary tropical forests abandoned after agriculture or pasture.

"Active management and enforcement of laws is clearly needed to ensure recovery and to safeguard communities and there are methods available, such as replacing the soil using the overburdens at abandoned sites. But there is an urgent need for large-scale recovery management to be tested and implemented.

"We could be facing a race against the clock. The current crisis is significantly increasing the demand for gold, given its perceived role as an economic stabiliser. With current gold price more than US$1700 per ounce and estimated to reach US$2000-3000 in the coming months, many artisanal and small-scale miners are already rapidly responding to this increase in pricing, and the weakening of environmental laws and policies as we've seen in Brazil, leading to further deforestation in the Amazon."

The team used forest inventory plots installed on recently abandoned mines in two major mining regions in Guyana, and re-censused the sites 18 months later. The study analysed soil samples and determined individual trees' above-ground biomass - the tree's living plant material - to determine recovery and chemical changes caused by mining.

Their results suggest that forest recovery is more strongly limited by severe mining-induced depletion of soil nutrients, especially nitrogen, rather than by mercury contamination. The high rate of mercury does however have serious implications for negative impacts on food security, water supply and local biodiversity.

Study co-author, Dr David Galbraith, Associate Professor in Earth System Dynamics at Leeds, said: "Currently approximately 1.3 million square kilometres of the Amazon is under prospecting for mining activities.

"This research provides support to local and national governance structures to critically approach policy implementation and development for land management, including how and where mining occurs, and more stringent monitoring and action for forest recovery. It shows that carefully planned active restoration projects will be critical in this regard.

"But responsibility lies beyond remediation efforts to mitigate the damage done. Investors and consumers alike need increased awareness and accountability of the environmental footprints of gold mining."

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) who supported the fieldwork are optimistic that the results from this research will help in making more informed decisions for their reclamation policies and programmes, monitoring and enforcement.

Mr Newell Dennison, Commissioner of the GGMC said: "The research results showed two important aspects: that overburden areas recovered relatively well and there was limited recovery in mining pits and tailing ponds. The latter being areas where we need improved management. The more data we can accumulate for recovery of secondary forests in mined out areas, the better we are all positioned for the implementation of effective programmes and operations that aid in the recovery of our rainforests. We look forward to working with Dr Kalamandeen and her team in the future."

The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) expressed gratitude and appreciation to the research team for the important and impressive empirical work done in [this] paper.

Mr Gavin Agard, Commissioner of the GFC said: "We expect that this scientific work has greatly improved Guyana's baseline and understanding of the forest degradation impacts of mining with respect to biomass recovery and sets a foundation for more dynamic, focused studies to advise planning and policy for improving secondary forest growth and restoring biomass capacity.

"The findings and recommendations from this study will significantly impact policy and management strategies for forest restoration and rehabilitation in mined-out areas, which is a key objective for Guyana under the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC.

"The contribution of deforestation and degradation to climate change cannot be ignored, and thus we welcome the contributions of this research team to build and improve our communal knowledge and understanding of our changing forests as we continue to pursue the highest standards of sustainable forestry in Guyana."

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Further information:

Images along with captions and credits are available: https:/ / drive. google. com/ drive/ folders/ 1r8aoBBt-TJRFnKkkSdpiP84RLjYEKvXU?usp= sharing

The paper Limited biomass recovery from gold mining in Amazonian forests is published in Journal of Applied Ecology 29 June 2020 (DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13669)

For additional information contact University of Leeds press officer Anna Harrison at a.harrison@leeds.ac.uk

University of Leeds

The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 38,000 students from more than 150 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. The University plays a significant role in the Turing, Rosalind Franklin and Royce Institutes.

We are a top ten university for research and impact power in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and are in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2021.
Religious beliefs have shaped societal attitudes toward sexual minorities, with many religious denominations vocally opposing expanded sexual minority rights. Because of this stigmatization, lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals are less likely to affiliate with a religious group -- but research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Old Dominion University suggests they are not abandoning their faith altogether.

In a new study, sociologists Brandi Woodell and Philip Schwadel found that emerging adults -- from adolescence to early adulthood -- with same-sex attraction are twice as likely to disaffiliate from organized religion than their heterosexual peers, but there was little change in prayer.

"I think that is something we expected, that there'd be a difference between affiliation on one hand and prayer on the other," said Schwadel, Happold Professor of Sociology at Nebraska. "In the previous research on adolescent religion, in particular, and in later adolescence or early emerging adulthood, we see a lot of declines in the organized aspects of religion, but we see less of a decline in prayer. Prayer is something people can often do on their own at home or wherever they want."

And, not in an environment that may be stigmatizing toward sexual minorities, the authors wrote in the paper.

The scholars used two longitudinal surveys, the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, and the National Study of Youth and Religion to examine -- for the first time -- these declines in religiosity over time for sexual minorities in emerging adulthood.

"Almost all previous research was cross-sectional, only looking at, 'do people who identify as gay or lesbian -- are their religious activities and beliefs different?'" Schwadel said. "It didn't look at how they change over time, especially during this stage of the life course, when individuals are really figuring out who they are."

The study also showed a significant difference in religiosity declines between gay and bisexual individuals, further demonstrating that sexual minorities are not a monolithic group.

Woodell, a 2018 Nebraska alumna and assistant professor of sociology at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, said this study joins a novel line of research examining the differences between bisexual, gay and lesbian individuals.

"Past research has most often combined sexual minorities into one group, and that was largely due to a lack of data that separated them, but some newer research has suggested there are differences, which led us to separate the groups out," Woodell said. "We found that those who identify as bisexual show a greater decline in their religious attendance than gay and lesbian individuals."

This difference could be explained by some research that has found bisexuals are less likely to be accepted than their gay counterparts, even in affirming denominations, Woodell said.

"There is newer research showing that bisexuals have experienced stigmatization in their congregation because their sexuality is viewed as a choice," Woodell said.

While the study found little change in prayer among the sexual minority groups, there was a small decline among bisexuals. Schwadel and Woodell said they are pursuing this research further, breaking down differences among gender.

"We're currently looking at how these things differ for men and women," Schwadel said. "We know that gender is strongly related to religiosity, and we expect that gender plays a role in terms of how sexuality is related to religious change."

Further research is also needed, they said, to examine how these declines in religiosity among lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals continue to change in later adulthood.

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NJ Supplemental Bill to Give Additional $3.8 Million to Planned Parenthood Abortion Business

NEWS PROVIDED BY

New Jersey Right to Life (NJRTL)

June 29, 2020

PISCATAWAY, NJ., June 29, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- NJRTL is urging lawmakers to vote against A3/20 today unless funds are stripped out to exclude $3.814 Million for Planned Parenthoods abortion business.



Planned Parenthood once again has their hands in the pockets of NJ taxpayers, demanding an additional $3.814 Million in the Supplemental Budget Appropriation Bill (A3/S20) for family planning which is scheduled for a vote Monday, June 29th, by both Houses of the Legislature. Governor Murphy and the Democrat-controlled Legislature previously allocated $20 Million this year to the abortion lobbying group. Now they are demanding another $3.814 Million in taxpayer funds without voter approval. Planned Parenthood is a private, non-profit, political organization that financially supports the Governor and many members of the current party in power at election time. We are asking lawmakers to stand up for the taxpayers of NJ and Vote No to this political pandering and unethical use of our tax dollars.



Our state is facing a $2 Billion deficit, businesses have had to shutter their doors, approximately 1 Million NJ citizens are currently unemployed, and so many worthwhile programs are not being funded, yet the shameful money grab by this legislature and Governor to use our tax dollars to subsidize and boost Planned Parenthoods abortion business continues unabated.



On March 23, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued an Executive Order banning all elective medical procedures in the state, but carved out an explicit exemption for aborting unborn babies. While much of the country was focused on saving lives and protecting our elderly populations in nursing homes and long- term care facilities, Governor Murphy was fixated on making sure that innocent human lives would be destroyed in abortion clinics using up medical resources and PPEs that were alarmingly scarce. As a result of Governor Murphys obsession with abortion, 6,000+ precious lives were lost in these long-term care facilities and countless more in NJ abortion clinics. Added to that number are the many people who died and are now facing worsening health conditions because their medical procedures were cancelled by Governor Murphys Executive Order citing a lack of PPE supplies which were allowed to be drained at NJ abortion clinics.



Upon releasing Bill A3/S20 from Committee, Senator Sarlo announced there were no winners in this bill. Surely that will not be the case if the appropriation remains in the bill for Planned Parenthoods abortion business, but it will be sadly true for the precious lives of women who will be victimized and the children who will suffer and die within their clinics.

SOURCE New Jersey Right to Life (NJRTL)

CONTACT: Marie Tasy, 732-672-4200

Related Links

https://njrtl.org
The unique remains of a prehistoric, giant wombat-like marsupial - Mukupirna nambensis - that was unearthed in central Australia are so different from all other previously known extinct animals that it has been placed in a whole new family of marsupials.

Mukupirna - meaning "big bones" in the Dieri and Malyangapa Aboriginal languages - is described in a paper published today in Scientific Reports by an international team of palaeontologists including researchers from the UNSW Sydney, Salford University in the UK, Griffith University in Brisbane, the Natural History Museum in London, and the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The researchers reveal that the partial skull and most of the skeleton discovered originally in 1973 belonged to an animal more than four times the size of any living wombats today and may have weighed about 150kg.

An analysis of Mukupirna's evolutionary relationships reveals that although it was most closely related to wombats, it is so different from all known wombats as well as other marsupials, that it had to be placed in its own unique family, Mukupirnidae.

LUCKY BREAK

UNSW Science's Professor Mike Archer, a co-author on the paper, was part of the original international team of palaeontologists along with Professor Dick Tedford, another co-author, that found the skeleton in 1973 in the clay floor of Lake Pinpa - a remote, dry salt lake east of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. He says their discovery of Mukupirna was in part due to good luck after an unusual change in local conditions exposed the 25 million-year-old fossil deposit on the floor of the dry salt lake.

"It was an extremely serendipitous discovery because in most years the surface of this dry lake is covered by sands blown or washed in from the surrounding hills," he says.

"But because of rare environmental conditions prior to our arrival that year, the fossil-rich clay deposits were fully exposed to view. And this unexpected view was breathtaking.

"On the surface, and just below we found skulls, teeth, bones and in some cases, articulated skeletons of many new and exotic kinds of mammals. As well, there were the teeth of extinct lungfish, skeletons of bony fish and the bones of many kinds of water birds including flamingos and ducks.

"These animals ranged from tiny carnivorous marsupials about the size of a mouse right up to Mukupirna which was similar in size to a living black bear. It was an amazingly rich fossil deposit full of extinct animals that we'd never seen before."

GENTLE GIANT

Professor Archer says when Mukupirna's skeleton was first discovered just below the surface, nobody had any idea what kind of animal it was because it was solidly encased in clay.

"We found it by probing the dry flat surface of the Lake with a thin metal pole, like acupuncturing the skin of Mother Earth. We only excavated downwards into the clay if the pole contacted something hard below the surface - and in this case it turned out to be the articulated skeleton of a most mysterious new creature."

The researchers' recent study of the partial skull and skeleton reveals that despite its bear-like size, Mukupirna was probably a gentle giant. Its teeth indicate that it subsisted only on plants, while its powerful limbs suggest it was probably a strong digger. However, a close examination of its features revealed the creature was more likely suited to scratch-digging, and unlikely to have been a true burrower like modern wombats, the authors say.

Lead author on the paper Dr Robin Beck from the University of Salford says Mukupirna is one of the best-preserved marsupials to have emerged from late Oligocene Australia (about 25 million years ago).

"Mukupirna clearly was an impressive, powerful beast, at least three times larger than modern wombats," he says. "It probably lived in an open forest environment without grasses, and developed teeth that would have allowed it to feed on sedges, roots, and tubers that it could have dug up with its powerful front legs."

SERIOUSLY STRANGE

Griffith University's Associate Professor Julien Louys, who co-authored the study, said "the description of this new family adds a huge new piece to the puzzle about the diversity of ancient, and often seriously strange marsupials that preceded those that rule the continent today".

The scientists examined how body size has evolved in vombatiform marsupials - the taxonomic group that includes Mukupirna, wombats, koalas and their fossil relatives - and showed that body weights of 100 kg or more evolved at least six times over the last 25 million years. The largest known vombatiform marsupial was the relatively recent Diprotodon, which weighed over 2 tonnes and survived until at least 50,000 years ago.

"Koalas and wombats are amazing animals" says Dr Beck, "but animals like Mukupirna show that their extinct relatives were even more extraordinary, and many of them were giants."

The original party that discovered Mukupirna in 1973 was an international exploration team led by Professor Dick Tedford from the American Museum of Natural History along with palaeontologists from the South Australian Museum (Neville Pledge), Queensland Museum (where Professor Archer was Curator of Fossil & Modern Mammals at the time), Flinders University (Professor Rod Wells) and the Australian Geological Survey Organisation (Mike Plane and Richard Brown).

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It only takes a moment to fall off a ladder, but the psychological impacts are long-lasting, particularly for older males.

In the world's first study of long-term impacts from ladder falls, Queensland researchers have found half of fallers experience a deterioration in their psychological wellbeing for at least six months after the incident.

The University of Queensland's Dr Rob Eley said those who fell experienced sleeping problems, anxiety, depression and pain well after checking out of hospital.

"Ladder falls go far beyond that of the physical injury; they significantly impact a person's mental health and the whole family," Dr Eley said.

"It's frustrating because ladder-related falls are frequently preventable, yet they're a common cause of injuries presented at the emergency department.

"Our study found males over 55 years old are particularly at risk, making up more than half of all our ladder-related fall cases."

The researchers followed 134 Queenslanders who presented to emergency at Princess Alexandra and Nambour General Hospitals between October 2015 and October 2016 as a result of a fall from a ladder.

The team used the Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL) scale to measure the subjects' physical and psychological recovery over time.

The patients spent an average of five days in hospital with the most common injuries including spinal fractures, rib fractures, tibia or fibula fractures, radius or ulna fractures, pelvic fractures, and traumatic pneumothorax.

The study found that most injuries occurred in non-occupational settings during home maintenance.

Of those who were employed at the time, 80 per cent required at least four weeks off work, and 16 per cent were unable to return or perform their normal function after six months.

Dr Eley said the study highlighted the need for improved safety designs and injury prevention strategies.

"Our research reinforces the need for mandated safety instructions for ladders, as well as safety features like rubber feet, hooks, extender arms, fasteners and stabilisers," Dr Eley said.

"We suggest that at the place of purchase, older men are targeted to reinforce safety instructions, and perhaps are provided with mandatory stabilising features.

"The community also needs to do more to educate people that it's OK to request help or employ home service contractors to complete tasks around the home that require a ladder.

"Ladder falls are frequently preventable and our findings demonstrate the need for preventative measures to be taken."

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This study was conducted with Queensland University of Technology and Queensland Health, funded by the Emergency Medicine Foundation, and is published in the journal, PLOS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235092.
It is well-known that victims of bullying can have higher risks of future health and social problems. However, different victims experience a broad range of responses and some may not suffer at all. Researchers felt this implied there might be factors that could protect against some consequences of bullying. In a study of over 6,000 adolescents in Japan, they found a strong candidate in the moderation of what is known as emotional competence.

Online bullying, or cyberbullying, is not a new phenomenon, but as the world becomes more dependent on online communication, it does become a greater threat. Lead author Yuhei Urano, Associate Professor Ryu Takizawa and Professor Haruhiko Shimoyama from the Department of Clinical Psychology at the University of Tokyo and their team investigated protective factors for the adverse effects of cyberbullying victimization. They analyzed data from 6,403 adolescents aged 12 to 18 (1,925 male, 4,478 female) for their study.

"We chose users of a social networking app as participants of the study, because they were likely to experience more online interactions than others," said Urano. "The surveys explored instances of cyberbullying victimization and a cross section of other personal and social information. These allowed us to investigate whether the ability to handle emotions, called emotional competence, correlated with the severity of the repercussions of cyberbullying."

What the researchers found may at first seem counterintuitive, but after careful analysis, their results showed that higher emotional skills were not always associated with better mental health; they may actually make things worse depending on the social context. It depends on the individual's specific emotional competence, defined as the ability to identify, understand, express, regulate and use emotions. There is intrapersonal emotional competence, the ability to handle one's own emotions, and interpersonal emotional competence, the ability to handle others' emotions.

"We thought that intrapersonal emotional competence showed buffering effects against cyberbullying, because the ability to handle one's own emotions is known to have a positive impact on our mental health," said Urano. "On the other hand, we thought interpersonal emotional competence showed the opposite effect. Because the ability to understand emotional states in others may encourage individuals to dwell on the bully's intentions."

The researchers hope this study could pave the way to investigations about the different roles of intrapersonal and interpersonal emotional competence, both the positive and negative effects they may have. However, given the inherent complexity of the topic in question, they suggest that in order to correctly determine the causal relationships behind their results, more longitudinal studies should be conducted in the future.

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Journal article

Yuhei Urano, Ryu Takizawa, Mai Ohka, Hisanori Yamasaki and Haruhiko Shimoyama. Cyber bullying victimization and adolescent mental health: The differential moderating effects of intrapersonal and interpersonal emotional competence. Journal of Adolescence.

DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.02.009

Funding and support

This study was partially supported by the LINE Corp. Yuhei Urano was supported by the GCL program of The University of Tokyo by MEXT. Ryu Takizawa is a Newton International Fellow Alumnus funded by the Royal Society and the British Academy (NIFAL19\190011, 190012, 190013, 190017), and was also supported by JSPS KAKENHI (JP16H05653, 19K03278). The funders played no part in the design or conduct of the study, the analysis or interpretation of data, the writing of the article, or the decision to submit it for publication.

Useful links

Graduate School of Education - http://www. p. u-tokyo. ac. jp/ english/

Research contacts

Dr. Yuhei Urano, Ph.D. & Dr. Ryu Takizawa, M.D, Ph.D.

Department of Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Education,

The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, JAPAN

Email: yyasui08@gmail.com

Email: takizawar-tky@umin.ac.jp

Press Contact

Mr. Rohan Mehra

Division for Strategic Public Relations, The University of Tokyo

7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, JAPAN

Tel: +81-(0)80-9707-8450

Email: press-releases.adm@gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp

About the University of Tokyo
A University of Wyoming researcher and her Ph.D. student have spent the last three years studying the decline of the Western bumblebee. The two have been working with a group of bumblebee experts to fill in gaps of missing information from previous data collected in the western United States. Their goal is to provide information on the Western bumblebee to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service while it considers listing this species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

"The decline of the Western bumblebee is likely not limited to one culprit but, instead, due to several factors that interact such as pesticides, pathogens, climate change and habitat loss," says Lusha Tronstad, lead invertebrate zoologist with the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD). "Western bumblebees were once the most abundant bumblebees on the West Coast of the U.S., but they are much less frequently observed there now. Pathogens (or parasites) are thought to be a major reason for their decline."

Tronstad and Christy Bell, her Ph.D. student in the Department of Zoology and Physiology, from Laramie, are co-authors of a paper, titled "Western Bumble Bee: Declines in the United States and Range-Wide Information Gaps," that was published online June 26 in Ecosphere, a journal that publishes papers from all subdisciplines of ecological science, as well as interdisciplinary studies relating to ecology.

The two are co-authors because they are members of the Western Bumble Bee Working Group and serve as experts of the Western bumblebee in Wyoming, Tronstad says.

Other contributors to the paper are from the U.S. Geological Survey; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Canadian Wildlife Service; Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation in Portland, Ore.; British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy; University of Hawaii-Hilo; U.S. Department of Agriculture; The Institute for Bird Populations; University of Vermont; Utah State University; Ohio State University; Denali National Park and Preserve; and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.

This paper is the result of the Western Bumble Bee Working Group, which is a group of experts on this species who came together to assemble the state of knowledge on this species in the United States and Canada, Tronstad says. The paper shows both what is known and knowledge gaps, specifically in the lack of samples and lack of knowledge about the species. Some prime examples of where spatial gaps in limited sampling exist include most of Alaska, northwestern Canada and the southwestern United States.

"Some areas in the U.S. have less bumblebee sampling in the past and present," Tronstad explains. "This could be for a variety of reasons such as lack of funding for such inventories, lack of bee expertise in that state, etc."

Using occupancy modeling, the probability of detecting the Western bumblebee decreased by 93 percent from 1998-2018, Tronstad says. Occupancy modeling is a complex model that estimates how often the Western bumblebee was detected from sampling events between 1998-2018 in the western United States.

"The data we assembled will be used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to inform its decision on whether or not to protect the Western bumblebee under the U.S. Endangered Species Act," Tronstad says. "At WYNDD, we collect data, and that data is used by managers. Our mission is to provide the most up-to-date data on which management decisions can be based."

Tronstad says there are several things that homeowners or landowners can do to help this species of bumblebee survive and thrive. These include:

Plant flowers that bloom throughout the summer. Make sure these flowers have pollen and produce nectar, and are not strictly ornamental.

Provide a water source for bees. Tronstad says she adds a piece of wood to all of her stock tanks so bees can safely get a drink.

Provide nesting and overwintering habitat. Most bumblebees nest in the ground, so leaving patches of bare ground covered with litter or small mammal holes will benefit these bees. Be sure not to work these areas until after you see large bumblebees (queen bees) buzzing around in the spring, usually in April for much of Wyoming, so you can find out where they are nesting.

Tronstad says Bell's research will continue this summer, as Bell will investigate pathogens in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming that affect Western bumblebees there. Max Packebush, a UW sophomore majoring in microbiology and molecular biology, from Littleton, Colo.; and Matt Green, a 2018 UW graduate from Camdenton, Mo., will assist Bell in her research. NASA and the Wyoming Research Scholars Program will fund Packebush to conduct his work. The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funded the research for this paper.

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A new mathematical model for predicting variations in solar irradiance has been developed at Uppsala University. It may help to promote more efficient use of electricity from solar energy. In tests of various data models, the model proved capable of making highly reliable forecasts, and emerged as the best for this purpose in some respects. The results have now been published in two articles in the journal Solar Energy.

As clouds pass overhead, solar power generation from a photovoltaic system fluctuates from one minute to the next. Local producers of their own solar energy (for a single property, for example) wishing want to adjust their electricity use according to supply may need to know, in detail, how the amount of sunlight is changing. Forecasts of solar irradiance (the amount of solar radiation reaching a given surface, measured in watts per square metre, W/m2) may be a way of achieving greater control of solar power production.

Project leader Joakim Munkhammar of the Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering at Uppsala University explains.

"Our 'MCM model', as it's called, serves to predict what will happen in the next minute, hour or day, based on what usually follows a particular solar irradiance level. This model has a simple design, is easy to train and use, and provides surprisingly accurate solar irradiance forecasts."

The model, presented to the scientific community last year, is based on a "hidden Markov model" - that is, a statistical model for recognition and probabilistic forecasting of processes and patterns. The MCM (Markov chain mixture) distribution model divides solar irradiance into levels and calculates the probabilities of sunlight in the next and subsequent time periods being at the various levels. On this basis, it is possible to forecast when, and between which levels, sunlight will vary, and to compare the forecasts with actual observations to see how well the former match reality.

The model has now been tested by both scientists who have worked on it previously and other researchers. This has included test runs to compare the model with several other models. In one study, in which the model and five established benchmark models (used for comparison, to evaluate the relative performance of new models) were tested, the new MCM model yielded the most reliable forecasts, especially for the near future.

The Uppsala researchers now hope it will be feasible to use their model to control technical systems.

"We look forward to working with other scientists and companies on testing the model with real physical systems, such as those for battery energy storage. We're going to try and boost the cost-effectiveness of storage systems by adjusting the charge, based on forecasts of local solar power generation," Munkhammar says.

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The project, titled Development and Evaluation of Forecasting Models for Solar Power and Electricity use over Space and Time, is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency and will run until year-end 2020. It involves three collaborating partners: Uppsala University, the Foundation for Collaboration between the Universities in Uppsala, Business, and the Public Sector (STUNS in Swedish) and the Uppsala Region.

Doubleday K. et al. (2020) Benchmark probabilistic forecasts: Characteristics and recommendations, Solar Energy 206, 52-67, DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2020.05.051

Yang D et al. (2020) Probabilistic solar forecasting benchmarks on a standardized dataset at Folsom, California, Solar Energy 206, 628-639, DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2020.05.020
The history of our planet has been written, among other things, in the periodic reversal of its magnetic poles. Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science propose a new means of reading this historic record: in ice. Their findings, which were recently reported in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, could lead to a refined probing ice cores and, in the future, might be applied to understanding the magnetic history of other bodies in our solar system, including Mars and Jupiter's moon Europa.

The idea for investigating a possible connection between ice and Earth's magnetic history arose far from the source of the planet's ice - on the sunny isle of Corsica, where Prof. Oded Aharonson of the Institute's Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, was attending a conference on magnetism. More specifically, the researchers there were discussing the field known as paleo-magnetism, which is mostly studied through flakes magnetic minerals that have been trapped either in rocks or cores drilled through ocean sediments. Such particles get aligned with the Earth's magnetic field at the time they are trapped in place, and even millions of years later, researchers can test their magnetic north-south alignment and understand the position of the Earth's magnetic poles at that distant time. The latter is what gave Aharonson the idea: If small amounts of magnetic materials could be sensed in ocean sediments, maybe they could also be found trapped in ice and measured. Some of the ice frozen in the glaciers in places like Greenland or Alaska is many millennia old and is layered like tree rings. Ice cores drilled through these are investigated for signs of such things as planetary warming or ice ages. Why not reversals in the magnetic field as well?

The first question that Aharonson and his student Yuval Grossman who led the project had to ask was whether it was possible that the process in which ice forms in regions near the poles could contain a detectable record of magnetic pole reversals. These randomly-spaced reversals have occurred throughout our planet's history, fueled by the chaotic motion of the liquid iron dynamo deep in the planet's core. In banded rock formations and layered sediments, researchers measure the magnetic moment - the magnetic north-south orientations - of the magnetic materials in these to reveal the magnetic moment of the Earth's magnetic field at that time. The scientists thought such magnetic particles could be found in the dust that gets trapped, along with water ice, in glaciers and ice sheets.

The research team built an experimental setup to simulate ice formation such as that in polar glaciers, where dust particles in the atmosphere may even provide the nuclei around which snowflakes form. The researchers created artificial snowfall by finely grinding ice made from purified water, adding a bit of magnetic dust, and letting it fall though a very cold column that was exposed to a magnetic field, the latter having an orientation controlled by the scientists. By maintaining very cold temperatures - around 30 degrees Celsius below zero, they found they could generate miniature "ice cores" in which the snow and dust froze solidly into hard ice.

"If the dust is not affected by an external magnetic field, it will settle in random directions which will cancel each other out," says Aharonson. "But if a portion of it gets oriented in a particular direction right before the particles freeze in place, the net magnetic moment will be detectible."

To measure the magnetism of the "ice cores" they had created in the lab, the Weizmann scientists took them to Hebrew University in Jerusalem, to the lab of Prof. Ron Shaar, where a sensitive magnetometer installed there is able to measure the very slightest of magnetic moments. The team found a small, but definitely detectible magnetic moment that matched the magnetic fields applied to their ice samples.

"The Earth's paleo-magnetic history has been studied from the rocky record; reading it in ice cores could reveal additional dimensions, or help assign accurate dates to the other findings in those cores," says Aharonson. "And we know that the surfaces of Mars and large icy moons like Europa have been exposed to magnetic fields. It would be exciting to look for magnetic field reversals in ice sampled from other bodies in our solar system."

"We've proved it is possible," he adds. Aharonson has even proposed a research project for a future space mission involving ice core sampling on Mars, and he hopes that this demonstration of the feasibility of measuring such a core will advance the appeal of this proposal.

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Prof. Oded Aharonson is Head of the Helen Kimmel Center for Planetary Science; his research is also supported by the Minerva Center for Life Under Extreme Planetary Conditions; the Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program; and the Adolf and Mary Mil Foundation.

The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, is one of the world's top-ranking multidisciplinary research institutions. Noted for its wide-ranging exploration of the natural and exact sciences, the Institute is home to scientists, students, technicians and supporting staff. Institute research efforts include the search for new ways of fighting disease and hunger, examining leading questions in mathematics and computer science, probing the physics of matter and the universe, creating novel materials and developing new strategies for protecting the environment.
Europe has eased restrictions much more than the US and the UK and the economy is bouncing back faster.

The amount of coronavirus cases continues to trend lower and this gives consumers confidence to resume old habits of spending. This is not the case in many places in the US.

Merkel and Macron are due to talk about the EU Recovery Fund. Progress would add a tailwind for the Euro.

Markets are flat at the start of the new week as continued bad news over the weekend on coronavirus numbers failed to get much of a reaction. Stock markets were sharply lower at the end of last week, but seem to be forming summer trading ranges where both upside and downside is limited by contrasting narratives. Sentiment is still largely positive, and the rise in coronavirus cases so far remains a mild concern. As Nordea illustrated in their weekend note, there are a number of reasons not to worry about a second wave,

First, it is probably politically unpalatable to implement a new complete national lock-down, why a March-like panic is still unlikely. Second, the Fed has taken over liquidity risks and also partly credit risks since March, why even in case of a new round of lockdowns, the dash-for-cash will likely prove less violent. Third, testing capabilities are now up and running, which increases the probability that the virus spread can be contained even with a more open economy. 

While all this makes a repeat of March look unlikely, continued coronavirus outbreaks could keep consumers indoors and subdued whether or not there are official lockdown measures.

... if the Chetty and Friedman paper is right, then re-opening only equals increased consumption in case the virus spread is decently contained.

This could mean that normal activity and consumption in populous states such as Texas, Florida and California could struggle to bounce back. Meanwhile, the situation in Europe is much better and not only are the severity of the restrictions much less than those in the US and the UK, the number of cases seems more under control. This will help populations resume many of their normal daily activities and European economies should recover faster and open up further compared to the US and the UK.

Fatalities per capita suggest that Norway, Finland, Denmark, Germany and the likes are more likely (than others) to increasingly re-open the economy, while countries like Sweden, UK and US are more likely to halt re-opening momentum due to more fatalities per capita, continue Nordea.

This could help the Euro continue its slow grind higher against the US dollar and even the British Pound as a stronger economy could mean less easing by the ECB compared to other central banks.

EU Recovery Fund Talks

Another potential tailwind for the Euro is the development of the EU Recovery Fund. Not only will the fund help the likes of Italy and Spain recover from the coronavirus crisis, but it could help unity in the EU as it would offer grants to nations in need instead of saddling them with ever more debt.

This approach has been a contentious issue for a decade now and progress will be slow. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron are due to meet later on Monday in an attempt to lay the groundwork for a deal to be struck at the July 17-18 EU summit. The main sticking point will be the agreement of funding nations such as the Netherlands, Austria and Belgium who are being asked to contribute to the fund.

A deal would help keep rates in the periphery lower and would be a boost to the Euro, if perhaps only in the short-term for now as the market is still more concerned with economic recovery, liquidity / central banks, and in the case of EURGBP, Brexit.
Despite a surge in global coronavirus fears, the British Pound to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate is still falling today. Sterling remains broadly unappealing due to Britains coronavirus and Brexit outlooks, but as global risk-sentiment lightens the Australian Dollars appeal is limited as well. Coronavirus developments are once again likely to dominate the markets movement in the coming sessions.

Market risk-sentiment has been weakening lately, but GBP/AUD has continued to fall regardless. Last week saw GBP/AUD tumble from the level of 1.8066 to 1.7972 throughout the week, and the pair has only continued to fall.

Earlier today, GBP/AUD tumbled to a low of 1.7897 - the worst level for the pair all year. While GBP/AUD has rebounded slightly and currently trends in the region of 1.7934, the pair is still below the weeks opening levels.

Todays weakness is largely due to the continued weakness of the Pound. The British currency is broadly unappealing due to market concerns over the UK governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the Brexit process.

There are concerns that Britains economy will be hit hard by a second wave of infections. Whats more, concerns are rising over how the UK government could pay for speculated infrastructure plans.

According to Jane Foley, Head of FX Strategy at Rabobank:

The Pound earlier today, certainly in Asian hours, looked as it had a little bit of a boost on the back of the perception that we will have potentially strong growth on the back of that (infrastructure spending), but I think that back in European hours, the market is now a little bit more concerned about funding, And were looking at a country, the UK, with a current account deficit,

These concerns have only piled on top of Brexit concerns. UK-EU negotiations continue this week, and EU negotiators continue to criticise UK negotiators over the lack of a perceived post-Brexit plan for UK-EU relations.

Australian Dollar (AUD) Exchange Rates Supported by Australias Economic Hopes

Despite being a currency correlated to risk and trade, the Australian Dollar continues to see fairly strong demand in recent weeks.

The Australian Dollar is strong despite rising global coronavirus fears, due to market optimism around Australias economic outlook.

Australias government has been perceived as handling the coronavirus pandemic better than some other major economies, like the UK and US.

As a result, continued hopes that Australias economy will weather the pandemic and a potential second wave are keeping the Australian Dollar relatively buoyed.

The Australian Dollar remains fairly buoyant today, even amid reports of more coronavirus vcases in Victoria. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today that the nation would continue to reopen:

Theres no reason [why] we cant go ahead with these openings. They should go ahead  its costing jobs in those states.

GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Forecast: Coronavirus Jitters Could Overshadow Data

Many major forex movements are still being dominated by developments in the coronavirus pandemic.

With markets now increasingly concerned that a second wave of infections will become reality, this is only likely to continue.

In fact, as key UK and Australian data is due for publication in the coming sessions, investors may even overlook these stats with the coronavirus remaining the core focus.

Tomorrow will see the publication of Britains final Q1 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate results. However, as this data comes from before the worst of the pandemic, its impacy on Sterling may be limited.

Comments from Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) officials tomorrow could influence the Aussie slightly if they surprise investors. Overall though, the Australian Dollar is likely to remain influenced by risk-sentiment.

Coronavirus and Brexit developments are likely to keep overshadowing data for the Pound to Australian Dollar exchange rate in the coming sessions.
Innovation by ancient farmers adds to biodiversity of the Amazon, study shows

Innovation by ancient farmers to improve soil fertility continues to have an impact on the biodiversity of the Amazon, a major new study shows.

Early inhabitants fertilized the soil with charcoal from fire remains and food waste. Areas with this dark earth have a different set of species than the surrounding landscape, contributing to a more diverse ecosystem with a richer collection of plant species, researchers from the State University of Mato Grosso in Brazil and the University of Exeter have found.

The legacy of this land management thousands of years ago means there are thousands of these patches of dark earth dotted around the region, most around the size of a small field. This is the first study to measure the difference in vegetation in dark and non-dark earth areas in mature forests across a region spanning a thousand kilometers.

The team of ecologists and archaeologists studied abandoned areas along the main stem of the Amazon River near Tapajos and in the headwaters of the Xingu River Basin in southern Amazonia.

Lead author Dr Edmar Almeida de Oliveira said: This is an area where dark earth lush forests grow, with colossal trees of different species from the surrounding forest, with more edible fruit trees, such as tapereba and jatoba.

The number of indigenous communities living in the Amazon collapsed following European colonization of the region, meaning many dark earth areas were abandoned.

The study, published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography, reveals for the first time the extent to which pre-Columbian Amerindians influenced the current structure and diversity of the Amazon forest of the areas they once farmed.

Researchers sampled around 4,000 trees in southern and eastern Amazonia. Areas with dark earth had a significantly higher pH and more nutrients that improved soil fertility. Pottery shards and other artefacts were also found in the rich dark soils.

Professor Ben Hur Marimon Junior, from the State University of Mato Grosso, said: Pre-Columbian indigenous people, who fertilized the poor soils of the Amazon for at least 5,000 years, have left an impressive legacy, creating the dark earth, or Terras Pretas de Indio

Professor Jose Iriarte, an archaeologist from the University of Exeter, said: By creating dark earth early inhabitants of the Amazon were able to successfully cultivate the soil for thousands of years in an agroforestry system

We think ancient communities used dark earth areas to grow crops to eat, and adjacent forests without dark earth for agroforestry.

Dr Ted Feldpausch, from the University of Exeter, who co-authored the study with Dr Luiz Aragao from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) in Brazil, said: After being abandoned for hundreds of years, we still find a fingerprint of the ancient land-use in the forests today as a legacy of the pre-Colombian Amazonian population estimated in millions of inhabitants.

We are currently expanding this research across the whole Amazon Basin under a project funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to evaluate whether historical fire also affected the forest areas distant from the anthropogenic dark earths.

Many areas with dark earth are currently cultivated by local and indigenous populations, who have had great success with their food crops. But most are still hidden in the native forest, contributing to increased tree size, carbon stock and regional biodiversity. For this reason, the lush forests of the Terra Preta de Indio and their biological and cultural wealth in the Amazon must be preserved as a legacy for future generations, the researchers have said. Areas with dark earth are under threat due to illegal deforestation and fire.

Dark earth increases the richness of species, an important consideration for regional biodiversity conservation. These findings highlight the smallscale longterm legacy of preColumbian inhabitants on the soils and vegetation of Amazonia, said co-author Prof Beatriz Marimon, from the State University of Mato Grosso.
Hi All,



I'm an IT Analyst working in Melbourne for the last 3 years and looking to apply for an Australian PR.



As part of the new ACS Skills Assessment guidelines, I've been asked to share an employment reference evidence on my employer letterhead or get a letter from my employer mentioning why the evidence cannot be provided.



If I do not wish to disclose the information to my employer, are there any alternative solutions to this problem?



Warm Regards,

Srijit
Faith Leaders and Human Rights Activists to Hold Prayer Vigil and Public Witness at the U.S. Capitol Building to Call for Congress to Stand in Solidarity with Hong Kong Rev. Patrick Mahoney praying on the streets of Hong Kong, November 2019.

Christian Defense Coalition

June 29, 2020 NEWS PROVIDED BYChristian Defense CoalitionJune 29, 2020 WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Faith leaders and human rights activists will hold a prayer vigil and public witness at the U.S. Capitol Building on Wednesday, July 1, at 12:00 PM as the group will be gathering on the west public sidewalk in front of the Capitol building on 1st St. NE and East Capitol St.



Clergy and activists will first hold a news conference and then walk to the eastern steps of the Capitol building for prayer and public witness.



Participants will be calling and praying for members of Congress to support Hong Kong after China passes oppressive National Security Law.



The CCP is expected to pass the legislation on June 30 which will severally crush free speech, human rights, justice and democracy in Hong Kong.



It is critical that America and the free nations of the world stand with Hong Kong and speak out against the tyranny of China as they attempt to strip Hong Kong of their basic freedoms and rights.



The vigil is primarily sponsored by three members of the clergy who have worked extensively with the Hong Kong democracy movement after leading prayer vigils and demonstrations there last November.



Dr. William Devlin, CEO of REDEEM!, states; "In November 2019, our team of three American clergy spent 7 days in Hong Kong in the middle of Polytechnic University with hundreds of students who love liberty being tear-gassed, water-cannoned and rubber bulleted. We stood with the freedom-loving students and residents of Hong Kong then; today, we stand again with democracy loving people of Hong Kong saying: Liberate Hong Kong; five demands, not one less." Rev. Kris Keating, President of Bright Mercy, comments;

"The people of Hong Kong should be free to govern themselves. Right now, the people of that nation are vulnerable and oppressed because of China's desire to control and exploit them. We're gathering to stand in solidarity with our neighbors in Hong Kong. Hong Kong will only be free if the world stands with them against China's interference."

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, comments;

"It is critical America and the free nations of the world stand with Hong Kong and speak out against the tyranny of China as they attempt to strip Hong Kong of their basic freedoms and rights. We are praying and calling upon Congress and the Trump Administration never to abandon the people of Hong Kong in their heroic struggle for freedom." Rev. Kris Keating, President of Bright Mercy, comments;Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, comments; SOURCE Christian Defense Coalition CONTACT: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741

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Monday, June 29, 2020

This is the last of a four-part series about Nashville Mayor John Coopers proposed 32% property tax increase. In this episode I interview Michelle Foreman. Michelle is a wife, mother, registered nurse, small business owner, President of the Tennessee Republican Assembly, a law student, and a key organizer of the NoTax4Nash movement. In other words, she is a multi-tasking superhero.

Website: www.notax4nash.com

Email: MichelleForemanNashville@gmail.com
Monday, June 29, 2020

BELLEVUE, WA  The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today advised residents and especially Minneapolis business people to arm themselves after the City Council voted to disband the police department, yet is spending thousands of dollars providing private security for three council members.

Whats happening in Minneapolis is a reprehensible act of hypocrisy, said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. While council members are planning a lengthy process of developing what they call a new public safety model, what are the citizens supposed to do? Theyre not getting private security protection. Thats apparently a perk only for three council members who claim to have received threats since the killing of George Floyd last month.

Even more ironic, he continued, is that the council members, Andrea Jenkins, Alondra Cano and Phillipe Cunningham, have been outspoken about defunding their citys police department. One report said this private security has already cost taxpayers $63,000. The police department is reportedly not providing security services because those resources are needed in the community.

Its time for Minneapolis business people and private citizens to arm themselves, Gottlieb said, because the city certainly wont pay for their private security. Its the common sense response to a city council that appears to have lost perspective, if not their collective minds.

The death of George Floyd was a tragedy, he added, but working to defund and disband the police department and reinvent it with some sort of new public safety model is overkill. In the meantime, the public has a right to be safe in their homes and businesses, and they dont have the luxury of hiring private security.

People should put their personal safety, and the safety of their families, first, Gottlieb said. What they should not do is allow the city council to con them into being guinea pigs for some Utopian social reform effort. Buy a gun, learn to use it safely and competently, seek competent instruction and practice safe storage.

Maybe members of the Minneapolis City Council should do likewise, he concluded. After all, it would be far less a burden on taxpayers than the $4,500 a day the city is reportedly paying for the security details.
Monday, June 29, 2020

I began networking on LinkedIn back in 2009 after deciding that the benefits of social networking were going to outweigh the investment of time. Over the next several years, I accumulated over 30,000 followers on LinkedIn. My followers include family, friends, colleagues, competitors and leaders in my industry, in addition to many interesting people from all over the world (some very famous) with backgrounds very different from mine.

As a result of my networking efforts on LinkedIn, I made a little money from consulting work, benefited from media writeups in major newspapers like the New York Times, and have even been mentioned in a couple of books on social networking. For several years, I was one of the most followed small business experts on Twitter. All of these opportunities literally fell in my lap because of my past social networking efforts.

Looking back, while engaging in social media did require an investment in time on my part, I feel, it has unequivocally boosted my statute as a small business consultant and has been a fascinating, educational, positive addition to my life. I, furthermore, view my 30,000 followers as an important, future marketing resource, as I know of several consulting firms today that are successfully monetizing their LinkedIn followers.

Hopefully, by now I have inspired you to think about how you can expand your professional network on LinkedIn. The good news is that there are some takeaways about how I did it from which you can benefit, and there are also many new tools available today that didn't exist years ago that are powerful ways you can connect with others.

In part, my success was a result of PR exposure I received while managing a consulting division for a national consulting firm in Chicago that helped brand me as an industry expert.

So, your first step is to identify why people should connect with you on LinkedIn and then you need to make sure that your profile is built around those strengths. After putting together a compelling profile, you should next devise a strategy for connecting with the people you'd like to be part of your network, invest time daily interacting on LinkedIn and attracting followers, continually try new ways to grow your connections, and adjust your approach, as needed, to reach your LinkedIn connection goals and objectives. In short, those five-(5) ideas were how I grew such a large network on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is the premier social network for professionals today. LinkedIn presently boasts almost 700,000,000 users. Forty-five (45%) percent of LinkedIn users are in upper management, hence, decision makers. No matter where your LinkedIn Page currently stands there is room to improve your profile and expand your network, which can lead to innumerable career, brand, and business opportunities in any direction you want to take it, a fact to which I can personally attest.

While preparing for my radio segment on Bloomberg Talk Radio about how I accumulated 30,000 LinkedIn followers, I was reminded of the following ideas -- many of which were not available when I was growing my network that can also help you grow your network once you get started.

Idea # 1: Educate Yourself  There is a lot of great information on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Google today about growing your LinkedIn Network. If you are trying to grow your personal network, I would encourage you to double click on those Internet posts you find most interesting. I like "20 Steps to a Better LinkedIn Profile in 2020," and "How to Grow Your LinkedIn Network to 10,000 Contacts in 30 Days." If you own a small business, look up LinkedIn's "Action Plan for Small Business" and "The Ultimate Guide to B2B Content Marketing Strategies" to start with and then search further from there.

Idea # 2: Include Your LinkedIn Address in Your Email Signature, Marketing Materials, Website, Business Cards, etc .  I am surprised how few people fully take advantage of this opportunity.

Idea # 3: Take Advantage of Tips You Pick Up From Industry Leaders And Competitor Pages And Consider Recommending And Promoting "Influencers" By Sharing Their Content With Others -- By @mentioning influencers in your updates, you'll have a better chance of getting in front of their network, since they'll be able to reshare your posts with their followers. If you have a great profile, you should also encourage leaders and influencers to @mention your page. You should, furthermore, consider connecting with LIONS (LinkedIn Open Networkers.) As "open networkers," LIONS are always looking for ways to expand their networks. Last, switch your attention from individuals and groups that don't yield the results you desire to new opportunities. I did this often when growing my network.

Idea # 4: Join Groups And Regularly Post Content, Including Images (Which Get 94% More Shares,) Infographics (Which Get 300% More Shares,) And Videos (As 70% of B2B Decision Makers Watch Videos;) And Consider Creating And Then Giving Away Valuable, Free Content -- How often should you post content ? The experts suggest you post content 20 times per month. The best time to post on LinkedIn according to the experts is at noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Posting content weekly will double your exposure on LinkedIn.

Idea # 5: Add Three- (3) to Five (5) Hashtags to Your Posts to Promote You and Your Content When Joining in Conversations -- When you associate your LinkedIn Page with hashtags in your "Communities Hashtags Panel," you can comment on conversations from your perspective and further expose your content to new audiences.

Idea # 6: Get Your Content Featured on LinkedIn's "Pulse Content Platform " -- Pulse showcases the best content published on LinkedIn. It includes many different categories selected by LinkedIn such as "productivity," "big ideas and innovation," "leadership & management," "technology," and "entrepreneurship." Focus on "trending topics" when thinking about content that would appeal to these large audience. Send the LinkedIn Editorial team (@LinkedInEditors) your best content; If you get featured, your content will be promoted to potentially millions of people who follow the aforementioned categories on LinkedIn.

Idea # 7: Start Your Own LinkedIn Group -- Being a "thought leader" in your industry can have a transformational impact on your career. An advocacy page of some type is one idea suggested by some experts. Again, LinkedIn "Content Suggestions" can also help identify a possible theme for your group.

Idea # 8: Try "LinkedIn Premium" -- LinkedIn Premium provides new features, improved access to data, analytics, and training, along with a 30-day free trial to let you evaluate the benefits of upgrading your membership. There are options for business careers, sales and hiring. I am not a Premium user, but all of the reviews I've read about LinkedIn's Premium upgrade have been positive.

Idea # 9: Make Sure Your Company Has A Robust "Company Page" -- According to LinkedIn, a huge percentage of its members are interested in company news, so you want to be sure to share your company's news on LinkedIn too. You should also encourage your employees to actively network and participate in LinkedIn Groups. "Showcase Page Followers" are an extension of your company page that focus on a particular segment of your business and allow LinkedIn members to follow the part of your business that interests them. Make sure your image on your company page is consistent with all of your social media sites and search for "The LinkedIn Company Pages Playbook" for more information about how to create a quality company page.

Idea # 10: Consider A "Follower Ad Campaign" Using LinkedIn's Follower Ad Format -- Running a Dynamic Ad campaign using the Follower Ad format in LinkedIn is a great way to establish brand awareness, increase web site followers, obtain job applicants and engage with followers in other ways. By tapping into LinkedIn's powerful targeting capabilities, you can use this method to gain highly relevant followers.

Idea # 11: Make Sure You Are Optimizing Your LinkedIn Page for SEO -- There's a lot of information online to assist you in this area. I like Vengreso's "15 LinkedIn Profile SEO Tips for Getting Found."

Tip #12: Adjust Your Content Based On Your Page Analytics  Individual owners of LinkedIn pages are automatically set up as their page administrator. By viewing your analytics, you will have access to demographic information about your followers and visitors, as well as engagement data, which can be useful to realign your content with your visitor's interests in mind.

LinkedIn is the premier social network for professionals. As we entered the new decade, LinkedIn boasts almost 70,000,000 users. Forty-five (45%) percent of LinkedIn users are in upper management, hence, decision makers.

No matter where your LinkedIn Page currently stands there is room to improve your LinkedIn profile and expand your network, which can lead to innumerable career, brand, and business opportunities in any direction you want to take it, a fact to which I can personally attest.
Monday, June 29, 2020

Love Your Data

New offering de-risks migration and enables specialized workloads on Google Cloud

Were excited that Pythian wants to help businesses manage the migration of critical, specialized workloads on Bare Metal Solution  Gurmeet Goindi, Sr Product Manager, Google Cloud

NEW YORK, NY, USA, June 29, 2020 / EINPresswire.com / -- Pythian Services Inc. (Pythian), a leading cloud, data and analytics services company, announced today new professional services for the planning, migration and management of specialized workloads in Google Cloud, including support for Bare Metal Solution, which is now available in five new regions

Today, many organizations seek the benefits, innovation and efficiencies of modern Google Cloud technology. This requires repurposing or re-platforming on-premise database workloads to Google Cloud services such as Google BigQuery, Google CloudSQL (PostgreSQL/MySQL), Google Cloud Spanner, or re-homing these workloads as an interim step on Bare Metal Solution.

Pythians new planning, migration, and management services are designed to help companies leverage the benefits of Google Cloud quickly while providing various migration solution options. Starting with an in-depth assessment, Pythian guides organizations through strategic planning and delivers a detailed migration roadmap which outlines a tailored migration strategy, future state architecture, areas of complexity and risk, and estimated cloud consumption costs. Pythian then performs the migration and provides ongoing services to manage the workloads in the new Google Cloud footprint.

With more than 23 years of experience migrating and managing complex database environments, Pythian deeply understands how to help organizations navigate and de-risk the complexity of such a move. Pythians pool of top-tier talent draws from more than 140 Google Certifications as well as Oracle ACE Directors, Associates and Oracle Certified Masters, and a mix of expertise in data engineering, solutions architecture and open source, required for these types of projects.

The need for scalable and more flexible innovation is driving many organizations to move their on-premise workloads to Google Cloud, but the fear of disrupting critical applications can be a barrier, said Keith Millar, president of Pythian. Our new holistic offering mitigates the risk and accelerates those migrations.

Pythian brings strong expertise in helping customers manage complex projects and enterprise-grade workloads, and were excited that Pythian wants to help businesses manage the migration of critical, specialized workloads on Bare Metal Solution, said Gurmeet Goindi, Senior Product Manager at Google Cloud.

For a limited time, organizations that want to get started on migrating Oracle workloads to Google Cloud can take advantage of Pythians Roadmap Assessment services at no cost. To qualify for this offer, or for more information about Pythians new planning, migration and management services for Oracle to Google Cloud workloads, please visit www.pythian.com/oracle-to-gcp

About Pythian

Founded in 1997, Pythian is a global IT services company that helps organizations transform by leveraging data, analytics and cloud. From cloud automation to machine learning, Pythian designs, implements and supports customized solutions for the toughest data challenges. A Google Cloud Premier Partner with specializations in Cloud Migration, Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Infrastructure, Application Development, and Work Transformation-Enterprise. Pythian has delivered thousands of professional and managed services projects to the cloud. The company acquired Agosto, a leading cloud services and development company, in March 2020. For more information visit www.pythian.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and on our Blog.

####

Media Contacts

Elisabeth Grant

Branch Out Public Relations

egrant@branchoutpr.com

+1 612-599-7797
Sunday, June 28, 2020

An overwhelming portion of students lost their side jobs that were going to help them pay for education. Students seem forgotten in our current pandemic.

UNITED STATES, June 28, 2020 / EINPresswire.com / -- Were doing our part and already gave away 19 prizes, totaling $15,500, awarded to students that faced financial hardship during these difficult times.

The scholarships were launched in March 2020 and had such an overwhelming response that ScholarshipOwl has decided to create the first student-focused fundraising platform, the FutureMindsFund.org

David Tabachnikov, ScholarshipOwls CEO says: The struggle is more than real! We received thousands of heartbreaking stories from students from all corners of America, and frankly, it made me concerned about the future of our students. The future minds!

"I dont have the resources to help all the students in need, but what I do have is the technology. Therefore, I decided to build a nonprofit fund backed website to allow the public to give a helping hand and directly fund students in need.

"I am at the front lines fighting for students who have been left behind, and I wont give up trying to help these students until we have awarded 1,000 students a scholarship!

"I created the FutureMindsFund.org for you! Join me, because together we help thousands of students in need via our scholarship platform. A small amount goes a long way! Don't forget, students are our future, and they will solve today's problems. We need them.

??Student Stories

I went from working 20-25 hours a week to working zero hours a week. Im slowly and painfully losing my mind. ~ Mariama, G. Liberal Arts, Everett, WA

I am in the final two semesters of my Doctoral in Education program. I lost the needed income to be able to pay my tuition and, unfortunately, I don't have any additional financial aid available to me. I'm also a single mom of two going through a divorce. ~ Kimberly K., Doctoral in Education, Woodbridge, VA

Havent heard enough? Read more of hundreds of student stories from real-life students at https://futuremindsfund.org

Articles About How Students Are Affected By COVID-19 ?

The United States has over 1.3 million homeless students with an additional portion reporting insecurity in their food and housing. Source: Unseen Victims of COVID-19: Homeless College Students

Between February and April, the United States lost 21.5 million payroll jobs, says Gary Burtless, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. And so now, people graduating this spring are going to face the worst job market in the entire post-depression history. Source: New college grads are having their job offers rescindednow they're in

About Future Minds Fund

The Future Minds Fund is a remote non-profit born in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Future Minds Fund, Inc. is a Delaware nonprofit corporation operating through a fiscal sponsorship with Players Philanthropy Fund, a Maryland charitable trust with federal tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

About ScholarshipOwl

ScholarshipOwl is a scholarship search and application productivity tool helping students in the U.S. win scholarships and graduate college debt-free. You'll be matched with the scholarship award opportunities that best match your personality, grades, lifestyle, and more.?

Contact information:

Adrian Williams, COO?

?adrianw@scholarshipowl.com

415-857-1047

Meet The Future Minds Fund!
China is getting ready to allow its largest commercial banks to enter into investment banking and bond and stock deal-making as soon as this year, paving the way for them to take on Wall Street rivals as competition heats up in the nation's $21 trillion capital market.

Regulators are discussing plans to grant such licenses initially to some of the nation's biggest lenders, including Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. and China Construction Bank Corp., on a pilot basis, said people familiar with the deliberations who asked not to be identified since the matter is private. Policy makers are also mulling amending the commercial banking law to remove the legal hurdle that has prevented lenders from diversifying into securities and futures for decades, said the people.

The potential entry of Chinese banks, which have $43 trillion in assets, into deal making and trading would increase competition for global firms including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley, which have been expanding their operations in China and can this year petition for full control of local securities firms. It will also pose a significant threat to local rivals such as brokerage Citic Securities Co., which saw its stock tumble on the news.

The move would accelerate supply-side reform in the financial sector by eliminating smaller brokers, Citigroup Inc. analysts led by Hong Kong-based Judy Zhang wrote in a note. It also "helps China banks to migrate into a universal banking model, which can boost banks' non-interest income, thus offset the pressure from falling loan pricing," they wrote, adding that any earnings boost will be limited.

Even after the banking law is amended, only large banks will probably be considered as qualified and capable of managing the risks around providing securities services, said the people. The opening will be phased and banks will start by underwriting exchange-traded bonds, they added.

China Securities Regulatory Commission and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission didn't immediately respond to requests seeking comments. Representatives at China Construction Bank and ICBC declined to immediately comment.

Business publication Caixin reported on Saturday that China may offer brokerage licenses to at least two big commercial banks, without giving further details. The CSRC said on Sunday that while it had no information to provide in response to the article, developing high-quality investment banks is an important way to expand direct financing and multiple methods are under discussion. Whichever direction is picked, it won't have a major impact on the existing industry landscape, according to the statement.

Fragmented Market

China brokerage market is fragmented, with its about 131 brokers having combined assets equivalent to less than a third of ICBC's. The lender is the world's largest by assets.

The securities regulator said late last year that it wanted to create investment banks of an "aircraft carrier size" to compete with Wall Street, as well as to promote the international expansion of its brokerage industry. That partly involves mergers between local players. Citic Securities Co. and CSC Financial Co. -- the nation's biggest brokers -- have started a feasibility study on how to structure a merger deal, people familiar with the matter said in April.

The stakes for banks looking at moving into the brokerage business will at first be comparatively small given their hundreds of billions of dollars of revenue. But a diversification into fee-based services would come at an opportune time as the government urges them to forgo profits from lending to help small businesses reeling from the impact of the virus outbreak.

Shares of brokers declined on Monday. Citic Securities fell 3.1% as of 1:47 p.m. in Shanghai, while Huatai Securities Co. dropped 4.9%.

China's securities regulator has been weighing such a plan since as early as 2015, when the CSRC said it was studying a proposal to let banks apply for brokerage licenses. Bank of China Ltd. is the only Chinese bank that owns a domestic securities firm, through its Hong Kong-based brokerage unit. BOC International (China) Ltd. was established in 2002.

Global banks and asset managers are ramping up investments in the world's second-largest economy even as political tensions between the U.S. and China on the coronavirus outbreak and a crackdown on Hong Kong escalate. JPMorgan Chase & Co. was approved earlier this month to take full ownership of its China futures unit, while Morgan Stanley and Goldman were cleared to take majority control of their onshore securities ventures in March.
To keep our community informed of the most urgent coronavirus news, our critical updates are free to read. Ongoing coverage is available to subscribers. Subscribe now for full access and to support our work.

With COVID-19 cases surging in states where it operates, USAA has postponed workers return to its offices until at least the beginning of next year.

The San Antonio insurance and financial services company has informed employees that the bulk of its 35,000-person workforce will continue to work from home through Dec. 31, instead of Sept. 1 as originally planned.

State and local leaders are hesitant  or unwilling  to issue stay-at-home orders and close nonessential businesses to slow the coronavirus spread, as they did in March and April. However, some companies are taking the initiative, curtailing or slowing plans to bring employees back to the workplace.

The number of coronavirus cases in Bexar County climbed past 10,000 Sunday.

Due to rising cases of COVID-19 in some areas where we have office locations and to help us proactively address potential waves of virus spread expected in the fall, we are extending our work-from-home guidelines through Dec. 31, USAA said in an emailed statement Monday.

On ExpressNews.com: USAA, USAA Foundation increase COVID-19 assistance by $6.3M

USAA has 19,000 employees in San Antonio, making it one of the citys largest private employers. It also has offices in Tampa, Fla., and Phoenix, Ariz., states that  like Texas  are recording huge spikes in coronavirus cases. The company also has a campus in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Last month, USAA said about 1,000 employees would return across its four campuses under a pilot program.

Employees participating in the program will be allowed to continue to come back into the office, USAA said in the statement. It may even expand the program if it becomes safe to do so.

Occupancy at USAAs campuses remains at 6 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

USAA is conducting temperature screening for returning workers. It has created social distanced workstations, closed gathering spots, required face coverings, and installed touchless bathroom faucets and soap dispensers.

Early last week, USAA offered no indication that it was reconsidering its plans to bring back workers despite the rise in cases in San Antonio and elsewhere.

We have made great efforts to help ensure those that are coming into our buildings can do so safely, USAA CEO Wayne Peacock said in an emailed statement last week. However, we are prepared to send employees back home and to stay at home if that becomes the right thing to do.

I am highly confident today that we can run USAA indefinitely from a workforce and technology standpoint, without having to come back to our buildings, he added. Our future will be redefined by greater flexibility in how and where we work.

USAA has based its return-to-the-office strategy on trusted medical guidance that includes criteria for community readiness and federal, state and local decisions, among other considerations.

USAA isnt alone among San Antonio-area companies that have shifted plans.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

Security Service Federal Credit Union had envisioned fully reopening its branches next month. Earlier this year, it limited access to branch lobbies to appointment only and rerouted most customer traffic to its drive-thru facilities.

We were pushing forward to try to reopen that access in July, SSFCU senior vice president Brandy Ralston-Lint said. But, obviously, with the recent surges, weve re-evaluated that and were going to hold off a little bit longer. Were basically going to stay as is.

The San Antonio credit union hasnt set a date for when it may fully reopen.

Ralston-Lint said 760 employees, or about 45 percent of its workforce, were working from home.

Our No. 1 priority is to protect those most at risk of catching this virus, including our employees, members and the community, she said. While this has been a challenge, it also has provided us with an opportunity to be innovative and create services our members are going to want now and in the future. We have implemented additional self-service capabilities and are serving our members both by appointment and remotely.

At San Antonios Frost Bank, employees continue to work remotely and its branch lobbies remain closed except for appointments, spokesman Bill Day said.

He noted that in the span of nearly three months, the bank has processed about 18,000 loans to businesses under the federal Paycheck Protection Program  a volume he said would normally take two years to process.

If we can do that while working remotely, it stands to reason that we are able to wait to bring employees back to our facilities until we can safely do so, Day said.

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
The Witte Museum has temporarily closed and the DoSeum has delayed reopening plans following Mayor Ron Nirenbergs emergency alert Saturday urging San Antonians to stay home in response to the surge of COVID-19 cases in the city.

On ExpressNews.com: Bexar County corona virus cases soar past 10,000

The Witte, which reopened May 29 after being shuttered for more than two months because of the pandemic, will be closed through Tuesday. The DoSeum, which had planned to reopen today, instead shifted its reopening to Wednesday.

Both museums posted announcements to social media stating that they were closely monitoring the situation to determine how to proceed.

dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN

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 Witte Museum has closed temporarily and the DoSeum delayed its reopening plans because of the emergency alert about the surge in COVID-19 cases sent Saturday by the San Antonio Office of Emergency Management.

The DoSeum, the citys childrens museum, had planned to reopen Monday. Instead, it is slated to reopen Wednesday.

The Witte, which reopened May 29 after being shuttered for more than two months because of the pandemic, announced Sunday it would close Monday and Tuesday.

Both museums posted announcements to social media stating they were closely monitoring the situation to determine how to proceed.

Marise McDermott, president and CEO of the Witte, said the team at the museum wanted to pause and reassess the safety measures in place to make sure they are doing everything possible to keep visitors safe.

On ExpressNews.com: SA Symphony Music Director Sebastian Lang-Lessing chats about the future of performances

The community is on a pause, said McDermott, adding there werent many people at the museum Sunday. So if the community is on a pause, it makes no sense for us to be open during the pause.

Safety measures at the museum include requiring visitors over the age of 10 to wear masks and placing interactive displays that rely on the sense of touch off-limits. Every visitor is given a disposable stylus to use on digital touch screens, an addition that has been popular with visitors, McDermott said.

The staff had a long meeting Monday morning to talk about what lessons it could take from the reopening and what it could do better. One thing it is looking at is how to get visitors to spread out on the museum campus. Part of that may simply be a matter of raising awareness, McDermott said, noting she sometimes encounters people at the museum who dont seem to know how much room there is outdoors and along the river.

If were going to be open, lets make sure everyone is using the entire campus, she said.

On ExpressNews.com: Bexar County corona virus cases soar past 10,000

Leaders of the citys other museums that have reopened have decided to keep their doors open while also monitoring the situation. All are maintaining the safety protocols put in place when they reopened, including limiting the number of visitors and requiring that everyone wear masks.

Ruby City remains closed.

The McNay Art Museum and San Antonio Museum of Art have made some changes in response to the spike in cases.

The McNay, which reopened last week, is reducing its hours Thursday evening by three hours, closing at 6 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. Admission to the museum is free after 4 p.m. on Thursdays, and that is the time when the galleries often come close to capacity.

And SAMA is moving its Touch-Free Family Day, which had been planned for Saturday, to August.

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
British pilot to return the UK soon following good recovery

A British pilot, who was the most critical Covid-19 patient in Vietnam, is expected to return to his home in the UK on July 12 following his great recovery.



According to the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control, the 43-year-old pilot, who is staying at Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City, now can breathe unaided, walk, communicate well with others, and have been doing physical therapy before being discharged from hospital. His organs, including kidney, liver and heart, can work stably.





The British pilot is staying at Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City



He is expected to be brought to the UK on a Vietnam Airlines flight on July 12 which is aimed to repatriate stranded Vietnamese citizens due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic to return home.



Vietnam authorities will hold a consultation, the 6th of this kind, on the pilots condition before he is discharged from hospital.



To date, the man has experienced the 103-day treatment process in Vietnam.



The pilot treatment fees at the HCM City Hospital of Tropical Diseases is around VND3.5 billion (USD152,173) which has been paid by an insurance company.



According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, Vietnam has gone 74 days without domestic transmission by June 29. The country has witnessed 355 Covid-19 patients and no fatalities.
America is Engulfed in an Educational Crisis

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Britfield Institute

June 29, 2020



RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif., June 29, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Britfield Institute's mission is to transform education throughout America, inspire literacy, equip children with the tools to succeed, and bring creativity back into classrooms.



According to the American Federation of Children (May 2020), 40% of enrolled students will not return to school in the fall: not only because of Covid but because of the massive failure of our educational systemparents are waking up. While creativity is the #1 most needed skill in the world, it is not being taught or fostered in our schools. The national economy will fail unless creativity is implemented in our entire educational system.



Our nation has been engulfed in a creativity crisis for over twenty years as creativity scores have steadily declined, just like IQ scores, since 1990, specifically in kindergarten through sixth grade. Since the 1990s, the educational system has aided in the stifling of curiosities and passions, lowered children's future expectations, limited deep thoughts and imagination through forced conformity, and solidified hierarchy.



To stay innovative and competitive, America must continue to attract the world's sharpest minds and invest in its creative sector, because where creativity goes, talent flows and innovation and economic growth will follow. Creativity is the most powerful competitive advantage a child can have, which is why companies need to hire people who know how to foster new ideas and inspire fresh thinking.



Why is Creativity Important?

Creativity is polled as the most important skill in the world (LinkedIn)



Creativity is one of three top skills in 2020 (WEFR)



Creativity was the most desired skill on LinkedIn (Adobe)



94% of managers consider creativity when hiring candidates (LinkedIn)



Creativity is the most important leadership quality (IBM)



Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot replace creativity (PMPOV)

Discussion/Article Topics

How this crisis will transform business and education



The Homeschool Revolution



Why creativity is the most important skill in the world



Britfield's impact on literacy, creativity and education

The Britfield Institute is committed to bringing creativity into the classroom, promoting literacy, and fostering a child's imagination. As we aim to make an impact across all demographics, we provide students, teachers, educators, leaders and schools the opportunity to read and write with passion while inspiring critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.



SOURCE Britfield Institute



CONTACT: Chad Stewart, Managing Director, 858-436-5667, media@Britfield.com



Related Links



https://www.britfieldinstitute.org


The Edgewood Independent School District board voted Monday to censure Dina Serrano, a trustee who had posted on Facebook a photo of her husband jokingly posing with their children with a noose around his neck.

After hearing nearly 50 public comments, most seeking her removal, trustees discussed the matter in closed session and emerged to approve a resolution calling for Serrano to resign and noting that a public censure was the only option available to the board.

Trustees also removed her as vice president and appointed trustee Stella Camacho to that post.

Serrano, 36, did not speak during the meeting and said in a text message afterward that she would not resign.

She had apologized on her social media accounts, saying she showed poor judgment and was naive to think that the photo, taken during a family trip to Arizona in 2015, was innocent fun. She also noted that she understood why it was interpreted as malicious, insensitive, and racist.

Happy Fathers Day babe! Look what you helped create, Serrano wrote with a laughing emoji in the June 21 Facebook post with the photo, which showed her husband and two daughters  he in a noose, one child holding the rope and the other looking shocked. She quickly took the photo down, but screenshots of it circulated in the community, drawing a swift rebuke from the board president, Martha Castilla.

Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox

Our voice must support the end of systemic racism. Our voice must end domestic violence, suicide and the stigma of mental health, Castilla said at Mondays meeting. Because Mrs. Serranos post is insensitive to those issues and can even be seen as supporting them, we have lost faith and trust in her to continue serving as an Edgewood Independent School District board member. Please note that Mrs. Serrano is an elected official and the law does not allow us to simply remove her because shes not an employee. 

The districts public information officer, Keyhla Calderon Lugo, read more than 40 public comments emailed to the district, almost all of which sought Serranos removal from the board. Five persons, all of them African American, went to the boardroom in person to ask for Serranos resignation.

You ensure success by making sure every child has a place to thrive. The hangmans noose is a symbol connected to lynching, said Dorothy Collins, a retired educator who worked in the district for 38 years and was the first black principal in Bexar County to be assigned to a school whose enrollment was not majority black.. You cannot model behavior steeped in racism, broadcast it to the world and then say it was a joke.

Dina Young addressed Serrano directly, saying it pained her to ask her to resign because the two had worked together in West Side coalitions and neighborhood associations.

Its appalling. Its disgusting. And you know better, Young said.

The photo was too disturbing to ignore, Leticia Perez wrote. As a public servant (Serrano) has a responsibility to uphold a higher moral standard. Voters entrusted her.

In his statement, Mario Longoria said Serranos Facebook post insulted the integrity of the district and its personnel.

In my opinion, the image projected a racism that reminds one of the hundreds of thousands of Mexicans and Blacks (people) that were innocently hung themselves before, during, and after the Civil War, he wrote.

A few who submitted written comments indicated that they know Serrano personally and asked for leniency on her behalf.

Although, this was a horrible mistake I know she is feeling the shame and consequences of her actions. I ask that you not tear down all that she has worked so hard for, Savannah Pena wrote. I ask as a parent of two students who Mrs. Serrano has gratefully influenced and has always shown love, care, and compassion to not be held to this one mistake, but to show others that she is a good person who cares for her neighbors no matter what ethnicity they are.

What pains me is that one bad judgment of a post on Facebook (which she has acknowledged as a bad choice) could bring her aspirations for a better world to come crashing down, Ruby Nelda Perez wrote. I know Dina and she is a fine outstanding citizen willing to accept her mistake and learn from it.

On ExpressNews.com: Video of Alamo Heights high school students using racist language sparks calls for discipline

Castilla, the board president, said donors and partners that include universities have told the district that they will pull their support or no longer work with Edgewood if Serrano does not resign. Castilla did not specify which donations and partnerships were in jeopardy.

The district has embraced several working relationships with outside organizations, including city-funded Pre-K 4 SA to start an early learning child development center, Texas A&M University-San Antonio to turn existing schools into innovation campuses and a university school, and City Education Partners to train educators.

Castilla said the district also has heard from representatives of Yale and Georgetown universities and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who said Serranos post was not acceptable.

The controversy at Edgewood unfolded amid a national outcry against systemic racism, calls to remove statues of historical figures seen as symbols of racism, and, in Texas, backlash against Republican leaders whose social media posts pushed conspiracy theories about the death of George Floyd, an African American who was suffocated by a Minneapolis police officer while in custody.

Commenters also pointed to black victims of hanging in Texas, California and New York in recent weeks. Law enforcement agencies have said they were suicides, but skeptics have called for additional investigations. In California, the FBI and the Justice Department have said they would join one such probe.

Wed just been through a horrific lynching of a black man that launched three weeks of protests and marching in the streets of every major city in our country, said a comment to the Edgewood board that referenced Floyd, submitted by Patricia Castillo, executive director of the P.E.A.C.E. initiative, a local effort to end domestic abuse.

Serrano was elected to the Edgewood board in 2018. Because the district was under a state-appointed board of managers, she had to wait for the board to transition back to elected members before she could take office. She was sworn in last month as the board completed its transition and was voted by her peers to serve as vice president.

Last year, North East ISD trustees also urged a fellow member to resign, after a series of behaviors that included a social media post that used a racial slur to describe a Dallas Cowboys player. After receiving two censures, trustee Joseph Trevino resigned, though he cited medical reasons.

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
To keep our community informed of the most urgent coronavirus news, our critical updates are free to read. Ongoing coverage is available to subscribers. Subscribe now for full access and to support our work.

Most San Antonio courts are once again halting the majority of eviction hearings as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations spike across the city.

Three out of four of Bexar Countys justice of the peace courts said Monday they are suspending most in-person eviction hearings immediately until further notice, citing concerns that rapidly rising infections could put people at risk when they come to court.

Now Playing: The eviction process begins when a landlord delivers a notice to vacate to the tenant. Video: Mike Fisher

Judge Ciro Rodriguez of Precinct 1 said he will halt hearings after Thursday. Judge Robert Tejeda, who also oversees Precinct 1, could not be reached for comment.

The Bexar County justice of the peace courts process 250,000 cases per year in all the courts  we probably see at least a half-million people a year, said Judge Rogelio Lopez Jr., who oversees Precinct 4s court. That is not what needs to be happening right now.

Are you struggling to pay rent, facing an eviction or needing help with your bills? Visit Sacrd.org to search an online directory of charities and social service agencies that can offer help.

The decision to pause cases came exactly two weeks after courts began holding the first rounds of eviction hearings since mid-March, when judges halted most court proceedings to slow the spread of the virus and prevent families from losing their homes amid stay-at-home orders.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff also imposed his own moratorium on evictions and property tax foreclosures early in the pandemic.

Only evictions related to criminal or safety threats could proceed during the three-month pause. Starting Monday, the same is true again in most local courts.

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I made the call to go ahead and suspend all in-person proceedings based on the rising numbers, said Lopez, of Precinct 4. (In) Harris County, the largest medical complex in the world is at capacity, and were right behind them.

Before the coronavirus began to spread rapidly across Texas, Lopez would hear up to 100 cases during a typical eviction court session. When his court reopened again in mid-June, he heard only a small fraction of that amount.

Everyone who entered the building was required to wear masks. In the courtroom, every other row of benches was blocked with caution tape to ensure everyone was at least six feet apart. Lopez adjudicated the cases from a separate room, appearing only on television screen through Zoom.

If landlords and tenants agree to move forward with cases by phone or video conferencing, cases may proceed in his court, Lopez said.

Otherwise, cases will be stalled until its safe to resume in person  which is how some other judges are handling it. No one knows when that will be.

I can't send a citation and order people to appear virtually, Lopez said. The reason for that is even though it's very easy, not everybody has access to a computer. They can do it by phone, but if people are getting evicted, I don't know if they have a phone. If I do that, I believe Im crossing a line.

Marina Starleaf Riker is an investigative reporter for the San Antonio Express-News with extensive experience covering affordable housing, inequality and disaster recovery. To read more from Marina, become a subscriber. marina.riker@express-news.net | Twitter: @MarinaStarleaf
Early voting will look different when it begins today in Bexar County, with efforts in place to contain an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases.

Besides being prepared to make selections in short ballots for the July 14 party primary runoffs, voters will have their choice of noncontact voting options to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

They can request a pencil to sign in and apply the eraser end on the voter touch screen; ask for disposable food handler gloves and sign in with a pen at the polling site; or opt to use a finger cot for voting, signing with their own pen or pencil.

Were doing the best we can in this situation, Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen said.

On ExpressNews.com: Runoffs will decide some March primary races

Election judges and workers will be outfitted with face masks and shields, hospital-grade wipes and good gloves that they can keep on all day, she said. There will be floor markers for social distancing and big bottles of hand sanitizer.

While voters wont have to wear masks, they are strongly encouraged to use them. The state prohibits local election officials from requiring face coverings, taking temperatures or implementing other measures that could be viewed as impeding a voter from entering a site.

Because the rules conflict with a Texas Supreme Court ruling forcing courthouses to require face masks and screen people for fever, neither the Bexar County Courthouse nor the Justice Center will be used for early voting, breaking a tradition of more than 25 years.

This is a very unusual time, Callanen said. If a voters not going to wear a mask, weve made sure the election officials have everything they need to stay protected.

That includes a transparent barrier at the registration table. Instead of handing over a photo ID, voters will have it scanned through the barrier to minimize contact and risk of infection. Callanen said election officials are very nervous because of these numbers spiking in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations but are committed to their civic duty.

For most voters, the process will go quickly. The countys new ExpressVote system, used for the first time in November for a statewide election on constitutional amendments, employs touch-screen voting and produces a ballot card for each voter to print out and place in a tabulator, generating a paper record to be used in the event of a recount.

To encourage social distancing, voting units will be limited to one per table, instead of the usual two, and typically six or eight units per room.

This is a very short ballot. Itll literally take them a minute to vote at the unit, Callanen said. As we see it, itll be one voter out and one in. It should move very quickly.

The runoffs for the March 3 primary had been set for May 26 but were postponed because of the pandemic. The protective equipment was purchased with part of a $2.1 million allocation from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund set aside by the county to improve safety at polling sites.

One high-profile race on the Democratic ballot pits former Air Force pilot Mary MJ Hegar against state Sen. Royce West of Dallas for an opportunity to challenge longtime Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in November. There also are runoffs in state Senate District 19 and state House District 119 and for Precinct 1 Bexar County commissioner.

On ExpressNews.com: Vote system crashed three times, election chief says

The Republican runoffs include contests for U.S. House Districts 20 and 23 and Precinct 3 county commissioner.

The 31 early voting sites in Bexar County will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, then closed Friday and Saturday for the Fourth of July. Polls will reopen Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m., then operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 6-10.

There will be 226 polling sites throughout the county on election day. With the new system, a Bexar County voter can cast a ballot at any of the sites.

For more information, visit the Elections Department link at bexar.org, or call 210-335-VOTE (8683).

Scott Huddleston covers Bexar County government and the Alamo for the San Antonio Express-News. To read more from Scott, become a subscriber. shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
Under normal circumstances, the historic Jackson Ranch atop a hill on San Antonios North Side would have been teeming Sunday with men in kilts or tights, and women in long dresses, enjoying food and libations, browsing over handmade wares and soaking in the centuries-old music of wandering minstrels.

But the Masked Spring Renaissance Festival, an annual arts and culture event that benefits the San Antonio Food Bank and historic preservation, has been stung like many other social gatherings. The reason: the deadly coronavirus thats as mysterious as the ghost said to sometimes be heard playing Chopin late at night on a baby grand piano in the circa-1850s house on the property.

There are many who are not here, because theyre high-risk for severe illness if infected with the virus, said ranch owner and festival hostess Patrice Villastrigo, explaining the handful of vendors showing their crafts Sunday, down from 50 last year and 30 on Saturday.

And thats understandable, completely, she said.

On ExpressNews.com: COVID-19 besieging local hospitals

Last year, Villastrigos two-day event had a record attendance of 1,200 people on the nearly five-acre ranch site. Now, with COVID-19 likely to impose on the worlds economy for a year or two, shes trying to build a model event.

With two hand-washing stations, vendors appropriately spaced, social-distancing monitors and a separate food court, she believes shes constructed an exemplary safety event that captures the spirit of a renaissance  the French word for rebirth, used to describe a renewed interest in ancient arts and culture that began in Europe around 1400.

It is the birth of the safety festival, Villastrigo said. This will be the first safety festival for people to attend where they can feel totally safe and comfortable.

She added Masked to the title of the event this year, held on her private property near Callaghan and Vance Jackson roads. Masks were mandatory. To comply with local emergency orders, the festival capped attendance at no more than 100. Nonperishable items for the food bank were accepted in lieu of a $5-per-family admission, and vendor fees supported maintenance of Jackson Ranch. The festival already had been postponed twice since early May because of the coronavirus.

About 300 people filed through during eight hours of the event Saturday, with attendance peaking at about 90, including vendors, Villastrigo said. But after the city and county jointly issued a rare emergency alert to all phones in Bexar County late Saturday, following another surge in hospitalizations and record spike of new COVID-19 cases, the only ones there Sunday were die-hard Renaissance festival people, she said.

A psychologist and nutritionist, Villastrigo has tried to craft an event where its almost impossible for someone following smart health practices to be infected.

Im doing this in such a safe way, the only way youre going to get sick is by your own negligence, she said.

Ralph Wilson, 75, displayed his kilts over the weekend along with costumes, masks and other items hed sewn or acquired from other craftsmen. He recalled playing in mud and grime as a boy, and not getting sick in less-guarded times.

We had enough nice, clean dirt when we were kids that this stuff doesnt seem to bother us, Wilson said.

His wife, Lady Arwen Legolas Wilson  her British title, having come from a family that owned land in Scotland  is a retired natural health practitioner and naturalized U.S. citizen since 2004. She wore a mask, but was equally unfazed by the pandemic. She said her mother had worried about her playing outside as she grew up post-World War II Germany.

The doctor said, Dont worry about her. Shell be fine. Shell get a good immune system. Which is true. I have only had the flu once in my whole life, she said.

Another couple, Bob Cline and Heather Drinane, said they felt safe amid the intermittent breezes at the old ranch property, showing wooden walking sticks, wands, handmade jewelry and stone products Cline had made or purchased.

Cline, a retired environmental engineer and property manager whose visage, dark robe and flowing white hair set off a distinct Merlin vibe, said hes hopeful San Antonio can level off the rising hospitalizations. Social distancing and mask-wearing will be a prevalent part of life until a vaccine is developed, approved and made publicly available, he said.

If people would just practice common sense, it would help everybody, said Cline, 68. As long as people are smart about it, I dont have any problems with being here. If I feel like Im in danger, Im not going to do it.

On ExpressNews.com: Emergency status declared after another record spike in cases

Drinane, a pharmaceutical company employee, said crowding and socializing in close quarters indoors, without face masks, is the worst thing people can do in a pandemic.

If more events were outdoors, it would really help, she said.

Until the pandemic is over, Lady Arwen Wilson recommended people turn to exercise, meditation, reading and other forms of stress relief.

People are too uptight. If you have a lot of tension, a lot of stress, it lowers your immune system, she said.

Villastrigo reported fewer than 100 people having attended the event late Sunday. She plans to host her fourth annual Christmas Renaissance Festival, with appropriate health precautions in place, Dec. 5-6.

Scott Huddleston covers Bexar County government and the Alamo for the San Antonio Express-News. To read more from Scott, become a subscriber. shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
Twenty-four H-E-B employees in San Antonio tested positive for COVID-19 last weekend, according to the grocery chain's website.

In June, more than 100 H-E-B employees working at grocery stores in San Antonio have been infected with COVID-19, including the 24 cases this past weekend.

FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox

Since March, the grocery store chain has regularly announced on its website 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 lets 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.

When an employee is confirmed to be positive for COVID-19, H-E-B notifies its staff members at the store via text, H-E-B spokeswoman Dya Campos said.

"Our goal, in the beginning, was within 24 hours, but we are even faster than that," Campos said. "As soon as we get notified and confirmed, a text message goes to all partners in the store, so not just those who are in close contact. It goes to everybody."

The stores with the infected employee are deep cleaned and sanitized multiple times. H-E-B has dedicated teams of employees and COVID-19 action managers in each store who are trained to ensure sanitation and social distancing measures are followed.

If an employee is feeling ill or are is waiting on results, H-E-B requires them to stay home, according to its website.

Here are 24 H-E-B stores with COVID-19 cases that were announced last weekend:

- Deco District H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 2118 Fredericksburg Rd. on Thursday, June 25.

- El Mercado H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 2130 Culebra Rd. on Wednesday, June 24.

- Commerce and Rosillo H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 108 N. Rosillo St. on Thursday, June 18.

- San Pedro and Oblate H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 6839 San Pedro Ave. on Friday, June 19.

- Marketplace H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 5601 Bandera Rd. on Thursday, June 25.

- I-10 and Wurzbach H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 9900 Wurzbach Rd. on Thursday, June 18.

- McCreless Market H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 4100 South New Braunfels Ave. on Monday, June 22.

- Zarzamora and Military H-E-B plus!: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 6818 S. Zarzamora St. on Tuesday, June 23.

- Military and Pleasanton H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 735 SW Military Dr. on Friday, June 26.

- De Zavala H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 12777 I-10 West on Friday, June 19.

- W.W. White H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 1015 S. W.W. White Rd. on Thursday, June 25.

- Bandera and Guilbeau H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 7951 Guilbeau Rd. on Friday, June 26.

- Marbach and 410 H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 8219 Marbach Rd. on Friday, June 26. (June 27)

- Brook Hollow H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 15000 San Pedro Ave. on Friday, June 19.

- Nacogdoches and Thousand Oaks H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 12018 Perrin Beitel Rd. on Friday, June 26.

- Military and Goliad H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 3323 SE Military Dr. on Wednesday, June 24.

- Loop 1604 and Blanco Rd H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 1150 NW Loops 1604 on Tuesday, June 23.

- Foster Rd H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 6580 F.M. on Saturday, June 20.

- Bandera and 1604 H-E-B plus!: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 238 N Loop 1604 W. on Friday, June 26.

- 281 and 1604 H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 18140 San Pedro Ave. on Sunday, June 21.

- Culebra and 1604 H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 10660 West FM 471 on Friday, June 26.

- Alamo Ranch H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 12125 Alamo Ranch Pkwy. on Wednesday, June 24.

- Kitty Hawk H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 910 Kitty Hawk on Thursday, June 25.

- Leon Springs H-E-B: The employee who tested positive for COVID-19 last worked in the store on 24165 I-10 West Suite 300 on Wednesday, June 24.

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
Twitter screengrab

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg discussed the "stark" change in the city's COVID-19 status on "Good Morning America" over the weekend.

In recent months, Nirenberg has frequently spoken to national media outlets about the city's handling of the pandemic. In May, he spoke with CNN about San Antonio's "tremendous success in flattening the curve." Now, the tone is dramatically different as national news hones in on San Antonio's spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. He discussed the surge on Saturday with the ABC morning show.
With the Saharan dust cloud slowly traveling across the Lone Star State, many Texans are experiencing runny noses and watery eyes, symptoms that mimic those of the coronavirus.

On Sunday, a local doctor took to his personal facebook page to explain the differences between COVID-19 and allergies. Dr. Ray Altamirano, from Casa Salud Family Medicine Clinic, said a runny nose, a stuffy head, sneezing and postnasal drip are the most common symptoms of allergic reactions to the Saharan dust. Postnasal drip can also cause congestion and a cough.

READ ALSO: Here is where you can get tested for COVID-19 in San Antonio

Altamirano said dry coughs are common symptoms of both allergies and COVID-19. But fevers, he said, are not associated with allergies. If you are experiencing a fever or the loss of taste and smell, Altamirano recommends getting tested and to practice social distancing.

"Allergies typically never cause a fever," he said. "So, if you know someone that has tested positive, a neighbor or family member, and you're experiencing these symptoms, I recommend getting tested."

Altamirano noted that people should feel reassured if their symptoms improve after taking an antihistamine like Zyrtec or Allegra. If someone has something other than allergies, they are not going to feel better by taking those medications.

Visit the Metropolitan Health District's website to find local COVID-19 testing centers.

National Weather Service meteorologist Keith White said San Antonio will experience hazy and dusty conditions for a "good portion" of the next several days.

"There is still some dust in the atmosphere today," he said. "It was worse over the weekend in San Antonio, but if you go outside you can still see the haze ... It won't be as bad as last weekend but we will be experiencing some haze and dust this week."

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
To keep our community informed of the most urgent coronavirus news, our critical updates are free to read. Ongoing coverage is available to subscribers. Subscribe now for full access and to support our work.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg called on Gov. Greg Abbott Monday to give them the authority to once again enact their own measures to fight the unrelenting spread of the novel coronavirus  including new stay-at-home orders.

With the Fourth of July weekend swiftly approaching, it is critical that we strengthen safety protocols to prevent an even greater surge of COVID-19 in our community, Wolff and Nirenberg wrote in a letter to Abbott.

On ExpressNews.com: Democrats urge Gov. Abbott to let Texas cities, counties issue mandatory stay-at-home orders

The city and countys stay-at-home restrictions expired June 4. Nirenberg and Wolff saw little use in extending them given that Abbott had allowed virtually every kind of business to reopen to some degree.

But the recent exponential surge of new cases and patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has brought new urgency to local officials calls for greater control over the response. Already, Wolff and Nirenberg ordered that businesses must require customers and employees to wear masks while on the premises or risk a $1,000 a fine  a move that Abbott did not oppose.

In their letter, Wolff and Nirenberg pointed to three worrying trends in the virus spread in the San Antonio region.

The time it takes for the total number of cases to double now stands at 13 days, well below the warning threshold of 18 days that we had set up to watch for.

Weeks ago, it took more than a month for total cases to double.

The regions hospitals are under high stress, Wolff and Nirenberg said.

And the positivity rate  or the percentage of those who test positive  is now at 20.1 percent. For most of May, that figure hovered at about 3.5 percent.

Our regions hospital capacity issues and economic circumstances require stronger protocols to contain the spread of this disease, Wolff and Nirenberg wrote. The ability to tailor a response and recovery that fits the San Antonio regions needs is vital as we look forward to a healthier future.

On ExpressNews.com: Bexar County coronavirus cases soar above 10,000

In addition to greater local authority to hand down measures to fight the pandemic, Wolff and Nirenberg also called on Abbott to limit the number of people in retail stores including groceries and big box stores to 50 percent of the maximum allowed occupancy.

Wolff and Nirenberg forbade outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people  a move Abbott allowed. But Abbott made a number of exceptions to the rule including religious gatherings, swimming pools, water and amusement parks, zoos and aquariums.

Wolff and Nirenberg want Abbott to apply that limit to indoor and outdoor gatherings with no exceptions. The two men also want him to adopt clearer language that strictly limits all social gatherings to no more than 10 people.

Abbott should also mandate that Texans wear masks or face coverings in any situation where theyre near someone who isnt part of their household, Wolff and Nirenberg said.

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
A Converse man was charged with murder Monday in connection to the stabbing death of a 53-year-old man in Comal County. The incident took place Sunday, but Davis wasn't arrested until Monday after a police pursuit that ended in New Braunfels.

Authorities accuse 20-year-old Brody Tyler Davis of stabbing and killing Kyle Leonard Foster near the 4000 block of South Cranes Mill Road in Canyon Lake.

The Comal County Sheriff's Office responded to the area around 10 a.m. Sunday after a resident called 911 to report that a man was laying on the side of the road dead with a possible neck injury.

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Detectives later identified the man as Foster and discovered that his gold Toyota Camry was stolen.

On Monday, deputies located the vehicle traveling down FM 2673 in Startzville with Davis at the wheel.

Davis then led deputies on a high-speed pursuit through Sattler and FM 306 into New Braunfels. Units with the New Braunfels Police Department deployed a spike strip near FM 306 and Hunter Road, stopping the pursuit and allowing officers to arrest Davis.

He was taken into custody and admitted to the stabbing, according to the sheriff's office.

Davis was charged with first degree murder and evading arrest.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
Mexico is looking at a difficult year ahead, with COVID-19 infection rates continuing to climb and an economy expected to contract as much as 10 percent in the coming months.

Yet it all depends on how you look at it, argues Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, announcing last month that his administration is looking into a broader way to measure the welfare of his fellow citizens.

Fernando Llano, STF / Associated Press

Im working on an index to measure well-being, an alternative measurement to gross domestic product, Lopez Obrador said in mid-May. It will measure growth, of course, but also well-being, of the level of inequality in society  and it will include another parameter, happiness.

The new measurement is still in planning stages, according to the presidents office, which says that a broad net of experts  think sociologists, economists, psychologists, anthropologists and mathematicians  will contribute their expertise to the new measurement system, which will be developed in consultation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

One of Lopez Obradors goals will be to find an alternative to what he calls progress without justice, in reference to the most common shorthand for a countrys economic performance, the gross domestic product, or GDP. He also seeks to quantify Mexican happiness, which he has described in his September 2019 Report to the Nation, saying the people are happy, happy, happy  theres an atmosphere of happiness.

The idea of measuring well-being, using data beyond GDP statistics is not new: Mexico already participates in the Better Life index developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that measures both current and future well-being for all member countries, as a way of measuring progress.

It looks at areas such as income and wealth, housing, health, education, work-life balance, environment, social connections, civic engagement, safety and subjective well-being.

In these measurements, which are collected by Mexicos National Institute of Statistics and Geography for the OECDs 32-country comparative study, Mexican perceptions of personal well-being matches those of their wealthier neighbors. The country has also received high marks for civic participation, but much lower ones for safety, housing issues and income disparity.

A leading Mexican good government organization, Como Vamos, has participated for the last five years in a worldwide measurement of well-being that is conducted by the Social Progress Index, or SDI, which was established by two prestigious U.S. business professors. This measurement system bypasses a countrys economic performance, focusing instead on variables that contribute to well-being, such as nutrition and literacy rates, as well as broader societal benefits such as liberty and freedom of speech.

In 2019, Mexico came in at 55 of 149 countries in the SDI, performing roughly the same as Ecuador, Peru, Albania and Armenia. It got relatively high points for internet communication access and access to water but low marks for personal safety and personal liberty.

PRESIDENCIA DE MEXICO, MBR / TNS

The SDI has, however, been criticized for not including the subjective measurement of life satisfaction, as well as the extent to which wealth is concentrated in a country.

The World Happiness Report, which is developed by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, has included this subjective well-being in its measurement, and gave Mexico a much higher position: it ranked as the 24th happiest country on earth, nestled in between France and Taiwan in its 2020 report.

Mexicos strong family culture is at the heart of this happiness, according to Mariano Rojas, a professor at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences, who contributed to the 2018 report.

We are used to talking about economic needs, but there are other needs that are very important  this need of feeling that you belong to a group, that someone cares about you, Rojas said. That is something that is very particular in countries like Mexico, and it contributes a lot to happiness. In a recent survey we ran, the percentage of people who said they had experienced some kind of loving interaction the day before was twice as high in Mexico as in the U.S.

Yet while the described aims of a new measurement for Lopez Obrador sound reasonable to many, a lack of information on the details leaves many suspect about how the index will be developed and used.

He wants to make something he can tinker with and can use politically, said Valeria Moy, the director of Como Vamos, noting that Lopez Obrador is looking for a boost in the face of the upcoming 2021 mid-term elections. If we know what we are going to measure and the information is public and available, then I am fine with the idea. But if we are going to create an index that is a magic wand, I dont like it.

And then there is the timing: the proposed index is coming amid reports from economists that Mexicos economy could contract as much as 10 percent by the end of the year, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic but exacerbated by the governments inaction to intervene to help save jobs and companies.

Mexico has reported about 203,000 COVID-19 infections, with 6,104 new cases on Thursday, and almost 26,000 deaths. The Health Ministry has said that there are likely about eight times as many cases as recorded.

Johns Hopkins University has ranked Mexico as 11th in the world for the number of cases.

Our recovery is going to be different from our peers because we did not inject into the economy, said Luis Gonzali, a portfolio manager with Franklin Templeton in Mexico City. We are going to see a sharp decline in GDP and then the recovery will be slow, with a sharp increase in poverty.

On a human level, it is likely to mean 10 million more Mexicans living in extreme poverty, according to CONEVAL, an autonomous public agency that measures poverty in Mexico. About 60 million of Mexicos population of 126 million people live in poverty.

And regardless of the emotional and support that their families and loved ones provide, they should not be expected to be happy about it, according to Tony Payan, the director of the Mexico Center at the Baker Institute at Rice University.

I think it is disingenuous of Lopez Obrador and a fallacy to delink happiness from material prosperity, Payan said. When you are poor, you are miserable.
$25K rewards offered to find killers of slain 1-y-o and 3-y-o killed in Chicago

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A group of Chicago businessmen has announced two $25,000 awards for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of suspects who killed a one-year-old baby last weekend and a 3-year-old child over Father's Day weekend.

Twenty-month-old Sincere Gaston was shot Saturday afternoon while he was with his mother in a car in Chicagos Englewood neighborhood, according to NBC Chicago. Another car pulled up next to their vehicle and a person inside fired at least seven shots.

A bullet hit the boys chest and he was later pronounced dead at St. Bernard Hospital. His mother suffered a graze wound to her head.

Of the dozens of killings that took place on Father's Day weekend was the killing of 3-year-old Mekhi James. James was shot when he was riding in a car with his stepfather while on his way home from getting a haircut.

Earley Walker, owner of W&W Towing, along with a new group of business leaders called Im Telling, Dont Shoot, announced at a press conference Sunday $25,000 awards for people who provide information leading the arrests of the people who killed Gaston and James.

The business leaders were joined at the press conference by 16th Ward Alderman Stephanie Coleman.

[I]ts a group fed up with gun violence in our communities, Walker said, according to NBC Chicago. We are tired and fed up with gun violence, and the innocent bystanders are being killed. Our kids are dying at a fast rate, and its time for change.

Weve got to do something, Walker added. I am absolutely ecstatic that these business owners are standing behind me to support this initiative. We need to find this killer.



At least 65 people were shot across Chicago last weekend. According to The Chicago Sun-Times, 18 victims who were shot last weekend have died, including three children. The newspaper reports that the city has already surpassed 300 homicides so far in 2020, a mark that Chicago didnt reach until early August in 2019.

Over the Fathers Day weekend, more than 100 people were shot and at least 14 were killed, including five children, the Associated Press reports.

Among the victims killed this month in Chicago is Gary Tinder, a 20-year-old DePaul University student and member at Edgewater Baptist Church. ABC 7 Chicago reports that Tinder was shot while walking home from work in the Rogers Park neighborhood.

Tinders friends said they can't imagine what motive anyone would have to shoot him.

As of Monday afternoon, Tinders friends have raised over $24,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to benefit his family.

Rev. Ira Acree of Greater St. John Bible Church in Chicago told The Chicago Tribune that a line was crossed with James killing.

This is a horrific Fathers Day. This 3-year-old baby lost his life, Acree said. I could not pastor this community and not say something.

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, Acree was quoted as saying.

At least 1,508 people in Chicago have been shot from January until June 22, according to a tracker run by The Chicago Tribune.
The European Union has many problems, but the most fundamental may be the rift between northern and southern member states and the even deeper fault line running between west and east. That latter fissure is especially dangerous because, unlike the largely economic one between north and south, it tears at the EU's core values, including democracy, freedom of the press and the rule of law.

For the past decade, Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban, has been flouting these principles in the name of "illiberalism." And for half a decade, Poland has been inching in the same direction, by whittling away at the independence of its judiciary and more. But Poland, more than Hungary, could yet change course. And that may have started on Sunday.

That's when the first round of Poland's presidential election took place. It pitted the incumbent, Andrzej Duda, against a gaggle of challengers. A Polish president isn't allowed to belong to a party. But Duda used to be a member of the ruling Law & Justice Party (PiS), enjoys its unambiguous support, waves through its legislation and evangelizes its nationalist, populist and anti-Brussels message. If Duda had won a majority, Poland would have stayed on its "Hungarian" path.

Instead, Duda got only 42.9%, thus sending the election into a second round on July 12. And at that point, all those voters who want change are likely to converge around the strongest challenger, Rafal Trzaskowski, the popular mayor of Warsaw, who came in second with 30.3% yesterday. Liberal, cosmopolitan and pro-European, he seems like a perfect foil for Duda and the reactionary PiS mentality.

The mere possibility of such a change shows how Poland differs from Hungary. In Budapest, Orban's right-wing party, called Fidesz, has a constitutional supermajority in parliament and rules without regard for any opposition. Orban has in effect neutered the country's judges, universities and newspapers. Freedom House, an American think tank, reckons Hungary can no longer be called a democracy.

Poland's situation is not yet this dire: The power of PiS isn't as monolithic as that of Orban and Fidesz. The eminence grise in Polish politics isn't Duda but Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of PiS, a party he co-founded with his twin brother Lech, who died in 2010 in a plane crash. PiS, moreover, doesn't have controlling majorities in parliament. The opposition has a majority in the senate, and even in the lower house Kaczynski must hold together a fragile and tense alliance with other parties called the "United Right."

In May, when the presidential election was postponed because of the coronavirus, PiS had reason to be confident about Duda strolling into another term. But Poles haven't been enamored with the government's handling of the pandemic and recent allegations of corruption. Tellingly, Duda and PiS have reverted to a classically Orbanesque campaign mode, using an "us against them" stigmatization of minorities to rally the rural, Catholic base.

This Duda-PiS push started with stunningly one-sided portrayals of Trzaskowski - shown on taxpayer-funded and nominally independent public television - that insinuated he isn't a good Catholic and, with barely disguised anti-Semitic overtones, that he does the bidding of "a powerful foreign lobby." Media watchdogs called the coverage pure propaganda.

The Duda campaign then plumbed new lows by singling out gays, lesbians and transgender people as their bogies. The president keeps comparing the West's use of "LGBT ideology" with the old communist yoke and says it is a threat to the Polish way of life.

Duda, and eventually PiS, deserves to be kicked out just for this kind of bigotry. But he also needs to go for the EU to have any chance of moving forward. Under PiS, Poland has - often with Orban's help - played a purely negative role, obstructing the bloc's attempts to reform migrant policy, become carbon neutral and make progress generally. PiS talks about Brussels as a new imperial occupation force, even as Poland is the biggest net recipient of European development aid.

If Trzaskowski wins in the second round, he won't be able to flip Polish policy single-handedly - the presidency is mostly a ceremonial office. But he would have the power of veto, which parliament can override only with a three-fifths majority. In effect, Trzaskowski would become the checks and balances that PiS has been dismantling. In that role, he could moderate the legislature and cabinet. This would strain the United Right alliance, possibly triggering a new parliamentary election.

Poland is hardly the only country where populations of largely urban cosmopolitans are in conflict with generally rural nativists - one author has called this a standoff between "anywheres" and "somewheres." But as Europe is pulled apart by other forces, Poland's return to a constructive and liberal mind-set would be a big step. By choosing Trzaskowski over Duda, Poles could start healing one of Europe's most painful rifts.

- - -

Kluth is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. He was previously editor in chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist. He's the author of "Hannibal and Me."
There are three words no parent wants to hear when discussing their childs upcoming surgery. Risk of death.

Thats where the spinal surgeon lost my wife in that conversation two years ago. She told me later that she zoned out and what followed was a blur. That included the possibility of paralysis.

My breakdown came later, at the childrens hospital on the morning of the surgery. When a team of physicians wheeled my 13-year-old little girl past the red line that cordons off the operating rooms, I started bawling.

Did you know June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month? I recently asked my teenage daughter, Jacqui.

No, thats not a thing, the 15-year-old scoffed.

The young lady is confident, opinionated and argumentative.

I cant imagine who she takes after.

Yes, I assured her, National Scoliosis Awareness Month is really a thing. And an abnormal curvature of the spine is most certainly a thing and something that people  especially parents  should know more about.

There are both juvenile and adolescent scoliosis. The former is slightly more common in boys, the latter much more common in girls. No one seems to know what causes scoliosis. Adolescent scoliosis is usually detectable during a growth spurt. Its a serious condition, but some people can live with it if the curvature isnt too large or increasing too rapidly.

According to experts, only about 0.5 percent of young people who develop scoliosis require treatment. An even smaller percentage will require surgery to straighten the spine. In some cases, bracing may slow the curve.

Jacqui, in fact, required two surgeries, one at 13 and one at 15. The operation consists of inserting rods and screws, and sometimes they break or come loose.

Today, shes fine  and able to help her old man conduct an interview with New Jersey-based orthopedic surgeon Dr. Rahul Shah.

After medical school at Rutgers and a residency at Yale New Haven Hospital, Shah went on to become a nationally renowned specialist in treating scoliosis.

I asked the questions, but Jacqui wrote them. That explains why the interview went better than usual.

In simple terms, what is scoliosis? I asked, reading the index card she handed me.

Its an abnormal curvature, Shah said. The spine has the basic curves it needs, and its typically fairly straight. Most curves are less than 10 degrees, but anything more than 10 degrees is considered scoliosis.

Is it genetic?

It tends to run in families, he said. But sometimes, it skips generations or crosses siblings.

How can it be detected?

If its adolescent scoliosis, during a growth spurt, look at their shoulders, their hips, and see if theyre level, he said. Also, when they bend forward, pay attention to the shape of their spine.

Why is it important to detect as soon as possible?

Now that there is more awareness, were able to catch more cases, he said. And maybe we can avoid surgery because sometimes bracing can work. The goal is to arrest the curve progression and keep it from getting worse.

Shah knows his fellow Americans pretty well.

As we get busier in our lives, and things become more virtual and more remote, as we get more engaged with screens, were not necessarily paying attention to these things, he said. Something like scoliosis can go undetected. And you fall behind the eight ball.

Shah has two children of his own, a 13-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy. So hes familiar with parental guilt.

As a parent, what hurts me is the self-blame you hear from parents about how they should have picked it up sooner, he said. You pick it up when you pick it up. You take care of it the best way you can. There are excellent treatments.

Finally, I was curious about how the doctor found his way to this specialty.

My attraction to scoliosis came from my dad, he said. Im the son of an immigrant. And he had scoliosis. Over time, he compensated. But it affected him in ways that he could not have imagined. He felt deformed, but because he didnt speak English, he couldnt express it.

For Shah, scoliosis is personal.

In my view, it touched my life in so many ways because Ive seen it and Ive lived it, he said. I know what it is. And I know the difficulty that folks have with it. Then its all about asking, How I can optimize life for people who have that? Thats what drives me.

Be glad it does. As my family knows, the battle against scoliosis is real. Fortunately, our children have in their corner a fierce warrior.

ruben@rubennavarrette.com.
STAMFORD  Stamford police officers are trying to determine the identity of a gunman who fired shots at a moving SUV in the city on Monday morning, police said.

At 10:20 a.m., a woman driving a white SUV was fired upon as she was pulling into a condominium complex on Riverside Avenue, Lt. Thomas Scanlon said.

The bullets blew out the right rear passenger window of the SUV and put a hole through the windshield, Scanlon said.

Several bullets struck the car, he said, and several more hit the residential complex that the SUV was entering, but no one was injured in the shooting, Scanlon said.

Scanlan said investigators were trying to determine a motive. Police did not have a description of the gunman.

Its too early to tell, he said as he was leaving the scene, which is just north of Scalzi Park.

It appeared, based on where the officers found multiple shell casings, that the gunman fired the shots from just across the street on Woodmere Road, police said.

The morning incident was the latest of many shootings that have occurred in Stamford this spring and summer.

On March 28 Stamford jewelry story owner Mark Vuono was shot and killed during a robbery at his store, police said. Three New York men have been charged in the crime, and face arraignment in federal court in Bridgeport Thursday.

On the night of April 19 emergency dispatchers received multiple calls of shots fired in the area of Colonial Road near Hope Street. While officers were responding they received a report of a gunshot victim at a home on nearby Pine Hill Avenue.

There, police found a 20-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his pelvic area, police said. He was rushed to Stamford Hospital where he was later pronounced in stable condition.

A month later, on the night of May 24, police received multiple calls reporting shots being fired at Lockwood Avenue and William Street.

Police determined shots were fired from at least one car. Another shooter might have been on foot or in another car, police said. No one was reported injured in the gunfire.

But on the next night, May 25, a man was shot in the leg at an incident on Connecticut Avenue. Police found about 20 shell casings from multiple semiautomatic pistols at the end of Connecticut Avenue near the border with Greenwich.

Also that week, police arrested a Stamford man, who they said shot a semiautomatic pistol at passing cars on Interstate 95. No one was hurt in that incident. The man reportedly was high on PCP at the time.

And on May 31 the shooting spate in the city continued when a Bridgeport man was shot at the Southwood Square Apartments. Police were called to the emergency room at Stamford Hospital on the report of a shooting victim being brought there by a private vehicle. The gunman remained at large.

Also at the end of May, a Stamford man was held in the West Side shooting death of Staci Magazzi, 50, believed to be of Bridgeport.
Anglican head wants churches to remove statues linked to slavery, reconsider image of white Jesus

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As Britain is examining its links with slavery in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in the U.S., the Archbishop of Canterbury wants all statues and memorials in churches and cathedrals that are linked to the slave trade to come down, a call that some clergy believe goes against the Christian teaching that all are sinners.

The statues need to be put in context, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby recently said on BBC Radio 4. Some will have to come down, some names will have to change. The church, goodness me, you just go round Canterbury Cathedral and there are monuments everywhere, or Westminster Abbey. We are looking at all that and some will have to come down.

The Times (of London) reports that many Church of England dioceses are conducting audits to document who is memorialized in the denominations 16,000 churches and 42 cathedrals after leaders showed their willingness to alter or remove some monuments.

But if only the sinless can be remembered, were only going to have memorials to Christ, a London priest, who was not named, told the British daily.

We have bucket-loads of saints, martyrs, heroes and heroines, buildings acquired and built with dubious money, but no one is unblemished, all have sinned, the Rev. Andy Bawtree, a vicar at River parish church near Dover, was quoted as saying.

So where do you stop? Bawtree asked.

Nick Timothy, a columnist at The Telegraph, argued that there was no biblical justification for making the forgiveness of one generation conditional on the actions of another.

Whether you are a Christian or not, this departure from scripture is profoundly worrying. Christianitys promise of redemption, and the idea that we are each accountable for our own sins, has shaped our civilisation, Timothy wrote. We are members of families and communities large and small, but we are more than just featureless components of some greater group identity. This is one reason why we have equal political and civil rights, and stand equal before the law.

The columnist added Britains Christian heritage and its associated history of bloody religious conflict inspired an important Western principle. The realisation that clashes between different values, beliefs and interests are inevitable gave rise to the essential liberal idea of pluralism. We should accept and tolerate difference, while agreeing (that) laws and processes to mediate clashes, guaranteeing rights for minorities, and protecting the norms, traditions and institutions that foster a common, unifying identity to build trust and reciprocity.

On BBC Radio 4, Welby also said the Church should reconsider portraying Jesus as white. You go into churches [around the world] and you dont see a white Jesus. You see a black Jesus, a Chinese Jesus, a Middle Eastern Jesus  which is, of course, the most accurate, he said.

Timothy suggested that Welby could have said that the significance of Jesus is spiritual, not political or racial, that Jesus was God made flesh, and that we are all made in Gods own image. Instead, Timothy continued, he agreed that the depiction of Christ in Western countries should change.

Welby said Jesus was Middle Eastern, not white.

The archbishop studiously avoided the more accurate description that Jesus was a Jew. But then Middle Eastern Jews, or Israelis as we also call them, are these days an unfashionable minority to defend, the columnist wrote.

Michael Brown, host of Line of Fire radio program, argued in an op-ed, A major reason that white artists depicted Jesus as white was because they forgot about his Jewish (and Middle Eastern) roots. Not only so, but since the Jews were viewed as demonic and evil, Jesus had to be different than them, hence a white, non-Jewish Jesus.

The real question for the cultural iconoclasts of our day, Brown suggested, is Would you be at home with a Jewish Jesus? With Yeshua, the son of Miriam, called rabbi rather than reverend? Would you be at home with him? This is also a great question for Christians worldwide. Do you follow the Jesus-Yeshua of the Scriptures or a Jesus whom you have created in your own image?
The Welsh government is set to launch a campaign urging consumers to back Welsh farmers and buy local following the Covid-19 lockdown.

Shoppers will be encouraged to show their support for key workers in Wales food industry by taking part in the campaign #CaruCymruCaruBlas - #LoveWalesLoveTaste.

The campaign aims to encourage people to continue to support farmers and producers by buying Welsh food and drink products.

It will launch on 3 July with a day of Welsh food celebration providing people with an opportunity to thank those who work to feed the nation during the pandemic.

Two further Food & Drink Celebration Days are planned for August and September, the Welsh government confirmed.

Farmers, retailers and the hospitality sectors were hit hard by the pandemic, with many businesses having to close overnight.

But farmers and food businesses adapted, and have kept on producing and providing goods under the exceptional circumstances.

Rural minister Lesley Griffiths said the campaign will send a message of gratitude to the key workers within the food and farming industry.

We have seen and heard many wonderful examples where individuals and businesses have stepped up to the challenges presented by Covid-19.

"They have continued to produce great food and keeping our nation fed throughout this unprecedented time," Ms Griffiths said.

It is more important than ever that we support Welsh food and drink businesses."

Farmers and food producers are being encouraged to download #CaruCymruCaruBlas digital packs in readiness for the campaign launch.
Farmers have responded with dismay to the news that one of Wales' biggest food companies is considering job cuts due to the impacts caused by the Covid-19 crisis.

Castell Howell, which employs around 700 staff, is having to consider job cuts because of the drop in hospitality trade caused by the lockdown.

The Carmarthenshire-based food wholesaler said the business had entered into a period of consultation with its employees over potential job cuts.

"Major events have been cancelled and it is likely that our core customers such as schools, pubs, restaurants, hotels, cafes and workplace catering will not open to full capacity for several months, the company said in a statement.

As the UK governments furlough scheme is due to end in October, we regrettably need to start the consultation process with our staff so that further."

The firm's weekly sales were down by 65%, and it appeared 'unlikely' that trade would recover fully until 'well into 2021'.

The company added that it was unable to confirm how many jobs would be lost.

Responding to the news, the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) said it was 'heartbreaking' to see potential job losses.

FUW Carmarthenshire chairman, Phil Jones said: The wider consequences for the rural economy, suppliers and staff could be drastic if no alternative can be found.

We are hoping that this will be only a small blip in this company's future and that they can return to normality, increase their growth as soon as possible and re-employ not just those that may have lost their jobs but many more."

Mr Jones said the consequences for the food service industry had been 'devastating', and Castell Howell had 'not been exempt'.

"With this in mind we call on the Welsh government to do all they can to assist the sector in recovering from the lockdown downturn as quickly as possible.

Farmer and entrepreneur Brian Jones, who formed Castell Howell in the 1980s, has previously been recognised for his services to agriculture.
An increase in farmers using tracking security devices on tractors and quad bikes has helped the police recover stolen machinery worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Tractors, quad bikes and other farm machinery equipment valued at 893,000 were recovered last year, Police Scotland has said.

The recoveries have continued in 2020 with 130 vehicles worth over 400,000 returned to their owners in the first four months of the year.

More farmers are using CESAR marking and fitting Thatcham-approved tracking systems to farm machinery, according to NFU Mutual.

Inspector Alan Dron, Scotland Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC) co-ordinator, said that increased use of devices farmers' links developed through the partnership have helped police recover more stolen farm vehicles.

He said This year SPARCs focus is crime prevention  helping farmers make it much harder for criminals to steal through improved security measures and more effective use of rural watch schemes.

"As a result, more farmers are now fitting trackers which have resulted in us capturing more of the criminals involved."

Inspector Dron added that while overall rural crime levels had fallen during the lockdown, thieves were still targeting farm machinery.

"After lockdown eases, were in uncharted territory. We may see a slow increase, or a sudden surge as the financial impact of the pandemic cuts in for many people."

Rebecca Davidson, rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, said the figures were 'great results' for farmers, the wider rural community and the police.

"Police can take action to clamp down on rural criminals when they can make use of reports from individuals and farm watch groups on stolen equipment and suspicious sightings of people and vehicles."

Since it was formed in 2015 NFU Mutual has worked with SPARC and provided 250,000 to help finance the initiative.

Ms Davidson added: "Many farm vehicles now have so-called smart keys containing electronic information needed to start the machine, so its vital that keys are removed from machines and stored securely in a remote location.

"Other measures including CESAR marking, immobilisers and tracking devices are proving effective in deterring thieves and aiding police recoveries.

How can I better secure machinery?

NFU Mutual has provided tips for farmers to secure farm vehicles:

 Remove keys from tractors, quads and loaders when they are not in use and keep them locked in a secure building.

 Keep your machine locked up and out of sight. Thieves often stake out a farm before they raid, so where possible store machinery in a locked building or where it cant be seen from the road

 Use the CESAR marking and registration system. Markings make your property less attractive to criminals and can help recover your belongings if they are stolen

 Install immobilisers and trackers on tractors, loaders and quads. Thieves cant take what they cant start and wont want to be found if they make off with your property

 Know what you own. Take pictures of your vehicle and record serial numbers

 Join a local rural watch group linked to SPARC and report any sightings of suspicious activity
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2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning --

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We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come.
Oak Hill, WV (25901)

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Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 83F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Thunderstorms in the evening, overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low 59F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
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China releases Liu Xianbin after 10-year prison sentence, detains his supporters

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Chinese human rights activist Liu Xianbin, who spent 10 years in jail for writing for overseas dissident publications, had to walk for 12 hours to reach his home to be reunited with his wife following his release this past weekend.

Authorities released Liu, who served a 10-year prison term for subverting state power, early on Saturday and he reached his home in Beijing late in the evening to be with his wife, Chen Mingxian, according to the U.S.-based ChinaAid.

Two of Lius supporters had gone to receive him, to welcome him back into society, but officials detained them.

Liu has spent a total of 21 years and 10 months behind bars due to his fight for the human rights of Chinese citizens.

In 1991, Liu was jailed for 2 1/2 years for counter-revolutionary propaganda and incitement due to his involvement in the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests.

In 1995, he was detained for being part of a petition, Drawing Lessons from Blood and Promoting Democracy and Rule of Law, which was also supported by activist Wang Dan and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo.

In 1998, Liu wrote an open letter to the Ninth National Peoples Congress, demanding respect for peoples human rights, and co-founded the China Democracy Partys unit in Sichuan. In early 1999, he was detained for a month in the Beijing Detention Center, followed by a house arrest. He was convicted of subversion of state power in August 1999 and sentenced to 13 years in prison. However, he was released early in 2008 for good behavior.

Liu went back to his democracy activism and was again detained on June 27, 2010, for writing for overseas publications criticizing Chinese authorities, and later sentenced under article 105 of the Chinese penal code, which deals with subversion of state power.

Even going according to the CCPs standards, its a judgment that entirely perverts the law, Guo Guoting, a Chinese civil rights lawyer who later moved to Canada, wrote in an email after Lius conviction in 2010, according to The Epoch Times.

Article 105 of the Chinese penal code, Guo wrote, implies the use of violence. But Liu Xianbin never did anything remotely violent.

Liu was named on ChinaAids China18 list of prisoners of conscience who have faced severe adversity for their promotion of freedom in China.

The list represent thousands of men and women in China who work at their peril to promote and advocate for the rule of law, religious freedom, democracy, and basic human rights, the group says. As a result, these brave Chinese citizens face harassment, incarceration, torture, and often with similar consequences for their family members.

President Trump recently signed into law the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020, authorizing the imposition of sanctions against those Chinese officials who have been responsible for the detention and persecution of more than a million Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang autonomous region.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom soon thereafter urged the Trump administration to immediately enforce sanctions.

The Chinese government has also continued its campaign against Christianity during the countrys coronavirus outbreak by destroying crosses and demolishing a church while people were on lockdown.

More than 60 million Christians live in China, at least half of whom worship in unregistered, or illegal underground churches.

China is ranked as one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians, according to Open Doors USAs World Watch List.


Shahid Kapoor sharing his shirtless selfies and flaunting his hot abs often on Instagram is surely one of the reasons why people love to follow him. The actor also shared candid clicks of himself with his wife Mira Rajput and kids at times.

Today the actor has taken to his Instagram and shared some motivational messages about maturity and happiness and success. Shahid decided to enlighten his followers about maturity as his first story talks about 18 signs of maturity which are surely worth a read and indeed true. Some points mention that maturity is when you do not seek approval from others and maturity is when you stop comparing yourselves to others. These life lessons are surely easier said than done and hence its important for everyone to take a look at it and get inspired in these crazy and uncertain times.

His other story is a deep message where a man reaches a Gods shop and asks for happiness and success. The God replies saying that he sells seeds and not fruits! This message implies that happiness and success cannot be bought but rather achieved with hard work. These Instagram stories are surely a must-read.

Shahid Kapoor was last seen in Kabir Singh and his next is the remake of South film Jersey. The actor will share screen space with Mrunal Thakur and his father Pankaj Kapur. The actor was shooting for the film until the lockdown was implemented in the country due to the pandemic.
Colo. voters to decide on late-term abortion ban in November referendum

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Colorado voters will soon get to decide whether to pass a pro-life measure that would ban most late-term abortions.

Known as Initiative 120, the proposed measure would ban abortions after 22 weeks into a pregnancy, with an exemption for life-threatening medical emergencies.

On Monday, the secretary of states office confirmed that the Due Date Too Late campaign had collected enough valid signatures to get the proposed measure on the November ballot.

In order to qualify for the ballot, pro-life advocates had to get a minimum of 124,632 verified signatures in support of the initiative. The campaign ended up getting over 153,000 confirmed signatures.

Lauren Castillo, spokesperson for the campaign, said in a statement released Monday that the inclusion of the measure on the November ballot was an incredible victory.

 our dedicated volunteers  worked tirelessly to ensure that Coloradans will have the chance to vote to save lives from late-term abortion in November, Castillo said.

The numbers handed in are indicative of the overwhelming support for Initiative 120 and we are prepared and excited for the next step in the campaign.

Morgan Carroll, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, denounced the proposal to end late-term abortion, calling it a cruel, calculated proposed ballot measure.

Carroll said, 120 allows for no exceptions for cases of incest, rape, fetal diagnosis, or domestic violence, and is just another attempt to take away a Coloradans ability to control their own body."

In April 1967, Colorado became the first state to legalize abortion, passing a bill allowing it in certain circumstances and with the approval of a three-doctor panel.

Presently, Colorado does not have any restrictions on late-term abortion, although the state does require parental notification for a minor and that a licensed doctor perform the procedure.

Earlier this year, the Colorado House of Representatives killed two bills that would have banned late-term abortion and required doctors to provide medical care to babies born alive after an abortion.

Both bills died in the Colorado House Veterans and Military Affairs Committee following hours of debate and testimony in which the abortion procedure was graphically described.

In 2008, Colorado voters overwhelmingly defeated a proposal, known as a Personhood Amendment, which would have legally identified a fertilized egg as being a person.
HONG KONG (dpa-AFX) - Japan will on Monday release May figures for retail sales, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Sales are predicted to fall 5.4 percent on month and 11.6 percent on year after sinking 9.6 percent on month and 13.7 percent on year in April. Large retailer sales plummeted an annual 22.1 percent in the previous month. Singapore will provide May numbers for import prices, export prices and producer prices. In April, import prices were down 13.3 percent on year, while export prices sank 9.9 percent on year and producer prices tumbled 7.6 percent on month and 15.5 percent on year. Taiwan will see June results for its consumer confidence index; in May, the index score was 64.87. Hong Kong will release May numbers for imports, exports and trade balance. In April, imports were down 6.7 percent on year and exports were down 3.7 percent on year for a trade deficit of HKD23.3 billion. 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.
Filing of EIA Notification triggers project permitting process

Studies confirm that Project is not expected to cause any significant adverse impacts to the environmental or human health

Project is designed to meet all Czech Republic and European Union environmental, health and safety standards

Project poised to become Europe's only primary producer of high-purity manganese products by reprocessing waste, serving rapidly emerging European EV battery market

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euro Manganese Inc. (TSX-V / ASX: EMN) ("EMN" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will file the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification with the Czech Ministry of Environment on June 30th 2020, for its Chvaletice Manganese Project ("Chvaletice" or "the Project") located in the Czech Republic. The Project entails reprocessing a large anthropogenic deposit of manganese carbonate, contained in waste from an historical mining operation. Chvaletice stands to become Europe's only primary producer of high-purity manganese products, without the adverse impacts of hard-rock mining and the resulting generation of large quantities of new waste.

EMN President & CEO, Marco Romero, stated:

"This is a major milestone for Euro Manganese. The EIA Notification is the culmination of years of work on the ground, including extensive environmental baseline and impact studies, and a multi-million-dollar investment to plan and design a world-class high-purity manganese producer in Europe.

With this filing, we will also present our Project development plan, which benefitted from extensive consultation with local communities and stakeholders, from whom we received invaluable input. The plan features the application of strict and very high environmental, health, safety and social standards. The studies indicate that, on balance, this project is positive for the environment, local residents and the Czech Republic. Environmental protection and stewardship are front and centre in this Project, which is located on a site significantly impacted by historical mining activity.

A key associated benefit of the Chvaletice Manganese Project is that it will result in the rehabilitation, restoration and reclamation of a polluted site through the implementation of the highest environmental standards and engineering practices. Our goal is to competitively produce ultra-high-purity manganese products with best-in-class environmental and social performance. Nothing less than that is expected by manufacturers and buyers of batteries in the rapidly growing electric vehicle market."

EMN and its wholly-owned Czech subsidiary, Mangan Chvaletice s.r.o ("Mangan"), engaged the services of Bilfinger Tebodin Czech Republic, s.r.o. ("Bilfinger Tebodin") to prepare the EIA Notification, following completion of extensive environmental baseline studies and all necessary environmental impact studies prepared by various expert consultants. The proposed project is based on the development plan and process flowsheet presented in the Preliminary Economic Assessment issued in March 2019. Pavel Celunda, Bilfinger Tebodin's Managing Director stated:

"We appreciated the professionalism and high environmental and technical standards that have been applied by the EMN and Mangan teams since we began to work with them in 2016. The Company has implemented a proactive and diligent approach to minimising the environmental and social impacts of the proposed operation and, importantly, incorporated into the project a value-adding environmental restoration of this polluted site."

Numerous detailed expert studies were prepared as part of Chvaletice's development over the past four years. These include a comprehensive site-wide Biological Survey; a detailed Air Dispersion model; an Acoustic/Noise Impact Study; a Road and Rail Transportation Study; a site-wide Hydrogeological Survey; a Health Impact Assessment; an Impact on Landscape Character Study; and a Reclamation and Remediation Study.

Key findings of these studies include:

Water Quality:

The Project's proposed remediation and reclamation plan will have a significant positive impact by drastically reducing the seepage of historical pollutants into surface and groundwater, as well as the adjacent Labe River. The current tailings are permeable and unlined and have been releasing metals and salts into the environment since historic tailings deposition was initiated in 1951. The EMN plan includes implementation of best-practices in tailings management, including dry-stacking of processed tailings on an impermeable liner, as well the capping and progressive revegetation of the site.

Air Quality:

The Project will not exceed limit values set for nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), suspended particulate matter PM 10 and PM 2.5 , or any other controlled airborne pollutants. In addition, the risk associated with sulphuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ), ammonia and manganese were assessed through screening risk characterization relative to reference exposure limits, reference concentrations and exposure limit values set by international scientific institutions and the World Health Organization. The results of this assessment do not indicate any material risk of a negative impact on public health, as these pollutants will remain well below the reference value levels.

Acoustic Impacts:

Acoustic impacts generated by the Project are not expected to have a negative impact on public health. During normal operations, the acoustic impact at the nearest residential buildings are expected to remain below the daytime noise pollution threshold of 50 dB. The net acoustic contributions of the Project are expected to be negligible at night due to mitigation measures designed into the project, including building enclosures, acoustic barriers, vegetation screens and other mitigation measures. With the proposed introduction of a vehicular noise barrier along Highway II/322, adjacent to the town of Chvaletice, along with the proposed operational shift hours, the Project is expected to result in a noise reduction of up to 8 dB in Chvaletice. Additional mitigation will be realized through the proposed daytime only operation of the rail siding and tailings extraction operations.

Socioeconomic Impacts:

The Project will support regional economic development and diversification of the Pardubice Region, and other regions in the Czech Republic. Significant contracting opportunities for local businesses are anticipated during both the construction and operation phases. The Project is anticipated to create approximately 400 direct, full-time jobs for more than 25-years, which will make Mangan an important long-term employer in this region. In addition, the proposed process plant is located within a brownfield area, where there are currently numerous buildings in various states of disrepair that will be removed. The impact on community assets and cultural monuments has been assessed as insignificant. The construction and operation of a modern processing plant and the environmental rehabilitation of this already polluted site is expected to be overwhelmingly beneficial to the area and its residents.

Health Impact Assessment:

The Project is not expected to increase health risks for the nearby population via the introduction of above-limit noise emissions and/or air and water pollutants. As a result, the Project is not expected to adversely affect public health in the area. Certain aspects of the project are, in fact, expected to generate positive health risk reduction and outcomes, such as the elimination of groundwater pollution caused by the unlined tailings and the reduction of existing highway and railway noise levels in the town of Chvaletice.

Remediation and Reclamation:

The proposed remediation and reclamation plan for the tailings follows the highest international principles of sustainable development and seeks to protect and promote biodiversity. The plan was prepared following extensive community consultation and input from local residents. A combination of natural and recreational features is envisaged for the closure design, ensuring a robust and healthy aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem, while providing valuable recreational opportunities for local residents. Conversion of the currently polluted area into a natural biotope that meets all modern Czech and European Union standards and guidelines will be a significant collateral benefit of the Project.

The timeline for the review of the EIA Notification by the Czech Ministry of Environment is expected to last approximately six to eight weeks, after which initial regulatory feedback is expected. Comments, gaps, deficiencies and clarification requests will be addressed by the Company in the subsequent phase of the permitting process, which the Company targets to result in the completion of the Final EIA during 2021.

About Euro Manganese:

Euro Manganese Inc. is a Canadian mineral resource company focused on the development of the Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic. The Project will recycle historic mine tailings that host Europe's largest manganese deposit and result in an environmental remediation of this site. The European Union is emerging as a major electric vehicle manufacturing hub. EMN's goal is to become the preferred supplier of sustainably produced ultra-high-purity manganese products for the lithium-ion battery industry and for producers of specialty steel, high-technology chemicals and aluminum alloys.

This announcement was authorized for release by the CEO of Euro Manganese Inc.

Contact: Euro Manganese Inc. Marco A. Romero Fausto Taddei President & CEO Vice President, Corporate Development (604)-681-1010 ext. 101 & Corporate Secretary (604)-681-1010 ext. 105

E-mail: info@mn25.ca

Website: www.mn25.ca

Company Address:

1500 - 1040 West Georgia Street,

Vancouver, British Columbia,

Canada, V6E 4H8

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or the Project, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

Such forward-looking information or statements relate to future events or future performance about the Company and its business and operations, which include, among other things, statements with respect to the continued development of the Project and its impact on water and air quality, noise levels and health and socioeconomic impacts.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risks Notice" and elsewhere in the Company's MD&A for the year ended September 30, 2019 and its most recent Annual Information Form.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), or the ASX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (SZSE: 002399, HKEx: 9989), a China-based global pharmaceutical company targeting high-mortality diseases with significant unmet medical needs, announced exciting regulatory milestones in both the marketed pharmaceutical business and its pipeline development.

On the marketed product front, Hepalink's Inhixa brand enoxaparin sodium injection has obtained the approval for marketing in Switzerland. This achievement marks that after successfully marketing enoxaparin in the European Union countries, the company has further expanded beyond EU, and is accelerating the full coverage of the European market. Hepalink is the largest China-based and third largest global manufacturer and marketer of enoxaparin sodium injection, which has been approved in 36 and sold in 19 countries, with a global market share of 6.5%, based on 2019 worldwide sales according to Frost Sullivan.

On the innovative pipeline front, Hepalink's strategic partner Resverlogix Corp. ("Resverlogix") (RVX.TO) announced that the U.S. Food Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its BETonMACE2 clinical plan for RVX-208 (apabetalone) as a registration enabling study. Hepalink has the Greater China rights of RVX-208. RVX-208 has been granted the Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA in January 2020. Key written development points from a recent meeting with the FDA include the following:

Filing of a New Drug Application (NDA) with the FDA is possible following unequivocal efficacy at an interim analysis of BETonMACE2

All or most BETonMACE2 patients to receive top standard of care, including maximized use of SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i)

BETonMACE2 to increase enrichment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, potentially including those with lower baseline renal function

Based on BETonMACE results, the FDA encouraged the evaluation of a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) subgroup as well as related exploratory endpoints

The agreement achieved with the FDA on the pivotal clinical trial design is expected to enhance the current and ongoing partnership discussions for RVX-208.

About Hepalink

Founded by a group of seasoned polysaccharide-chemists with scientific insights and profound understanding of immunology, Hepalink is a leading China-based pharmaceutical company with global businesses in pharmaceutical, innovative biotech and CDMO sectors. Hepalink has built up a portfolio of both leading drugs in the anticoagulant and antithrombotic therapeutic areas and innovative drug candidates focusing on diseases with an immune system disorder axis, including oncology, autoimmune, metabolic and other areas.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200628005024/en/

Contacts:

Media

Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical Group Co.,Ltd.

Peiyu Wang

Peiyu.wang@hepalink.com

(86) 755-2698 0200 ext. 2103
- Partnership with Izy Capital on investment round enables firm to move toward 1BN annual revenue goal by 2030

LONDON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, FlyForm Ltd - a UK-based Elite ServiceNow partner - received a growth capital investment from Lloyds Bank, in partnership with Izy Capital as Lead Advisor. With this investment, FlyForm will continue to consolidate its position as the leading ServiceNow consultancy firm, before expanding into complimentary market spaces, ultimately targeting annual revenue of 1 billion over the next 10 years.

Founded in late 2015 and headquartered in Cardiff (Wales), FlyForm is led by co-founders Arron Davies (COO) and Philip Davies (CEO) - one of WalesOnline's "2019's 35-under-35" inductees. Since its early days, the company has quickly expanded to work with clients across the UK and experienced compounded annual growth rate of 261%. The company's current clients span a variety of sectors, including government, financial services and healthcare.

"We are beyond grateful to Lloyds Bank and the Izy Capital team for their help in achieving this massive opportunity," says CEO Philip Davies. "I look forward to working with my co-founder Arron and our growing team toward our vision of building Wales' first global technology consultancy with 1bn in annual revenue. This injection of capital will help us accelerate even faster into the next level, as well as being a huge vote of confidence in our vision to continue supporting the local economy with hundreds of jobs in the near future."

FlyForm works exclusively with ServiceNow - one of the leading global B2B cloud platforms with 2019 revenue of $3.5bn. Earlier this year, FlyForm achieved ServiceNow Elite Partner status, the highest ranking level for a UK-based partner. As ServiceNow targets global revenue of $10bn, FlyForm remains committed to bringing the cloud software platform and its ground-breaking technological innovations to more organisations around the world.

"FlyForm are a fantastic example of the vibrancy and the growth opportunity within the ServiceNow partner ecosystem," says Seb Fitzjohn, Vice President of Alliance & Channel Ecosystem EMEA at ServiceNow. "A big part of ServiceNow's strategy is to create the conditions for our partners to invest and scale, based on delivering customer success, and amazing experiences on the NOW platform."

"We are delighted to support FlyForm with their scale objectives," says Christopher Ryan, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank. "Their growth trajectory over the past several years has been remarkable and we very much look forward to a long-term relationship as digitisation is forced to the top of all enterprise agendas."

David Rees, Managing Partner at Izy Capital (and Lead Advisor for this round), says, "We have been working with FlyForm for several years. They are an awesome bunch of guys as borne out by CAGR since 2016 of 261%. With the widescale migration to enterprise cloud digitisation and the support of the incredible ServiceNow ecosystem, our clear sense is this is just the beginning."

About FlyForm

FlyForm (www.flyform.com) is an Elite ServiceNow partner, providing consultancy, implementation and managed services. Formed in 2016, the group has seen CAGR in excess of 200% driven by a commitment to the four pillars of success:

Culture - Creating a supportive environment where employees feel valued

Creating a supportive environment where employees feel valued Quality - Taking pride in delivering high quality outcomes with products we truly believe in

Taking pride in delivering high quality outcomes with products we truly believe in Integrity - Always acting in alignment with our core values and being willing to have difficult conversations

Always acting in alignment with our core values and being willing to have difficult conversations Results - Relentlessly committed to achieving their client's outcomes

About Izy Capital

Izy Capital is a global early stage venture capital and growth stage advisory practice. With a presence in London, UAE, New York, Vancouver and Mumbai, Izy looks to work with globally aspirational founders who have the ambition, drive, resilience, and vision to deliver against significant market opportunity.

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- CHR strengthen financial governance

CAMBRIDGE, England, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Life sciences and healthcare consultancy Cambridge Healthcare Research (CHR) and its market research division Vox.Bio, recent winners of The Queen's Award for Enterprise 2020, has today announced the appointment of John Arthur as Finance and Operations Director with immediate effect.

CEO Chris Stevenson added: "We are delighted at John's appointment. We are a successful growing company and we need to ensure our internal services support our people and clients effectively. John has great experience at leading teams, developing systems and helping businesses grow well. His role in optimising our management information systems will enable us to make the right decisions at the executive level and at the critical interface between our teams and our clients."

Becoming an ACCA fellow in 2003 (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), John began his career in 1998 at Lloyds Register working a variety of finance roles across the UK and the US, before moving to the commercial property division of Network Rail. In 2011 he joined the leadership team of software development company Cambridge Online Systems, successfully turning the company around from a significant loss-maker to a healthy and profitable organisation, leading to the sale of the business to global IT group Columbus, a Microsoft Global ERP partner, late 2016.

John joins CHR from Clarion Interpreting where he managed and developed the financial, operational and service-delivery teams and activities, as the Finance & Operations Director. He has an inherent desire to improve processes while being equally passionate about employee engagement, believing that both are key to helping organisations optimise their business performance.

Notes for editors

Cambridge Healthcare Research is a management consultancy providing strategic decision support to the pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer healthcare industries. Working closely with clients on asset commercialisation, product strategy and opportunity assessments, CHR enables its partners to navigate difficult commercial decisions, mapping their position in a complex marketplace as well as outlining competitor activities, intent and capabilities.

The team is passionate about healthcare and medical innovation, and its evaluation of market dynamics - combined with a targeted understanding of key trends in the prescriber, regulator and payer environments - equips clients to make the best decisions from an optimally informed position.

In 2020, CHR won The Queen's Award for Enterprise for International Trade.

CHR's team spans the globe, with offices in Cambridge and London as well as consultants located across Europe, Asia and North America.

Related Links

https://www.queensawardsmagazine.com/winner/cambridge-healthcare-research-limited/

http://www.camhcr.com

https://vox.bio/

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For further information please contact:

Edward Cartwright

media@camhcr.com

www.camhcr.com

Twitter, LinkedIn, Queen's Award

+44-(0)1223-900-191
Bangkok, Thailand--(Newsfile Corp. - June 29, 2020) - Tobacco harm reduction advocates across Asia-Pacific called on the Parliament of Australia to abort, not delay, the planned ban on imports of liquid nicotine for vaping to provide smokers with alternatives to combustible cigarettes. Factasia, a non-profit regional tobacco harm reduction consumer advocacy, said e-cigarettes or vapes, along with other smoke-free nicotine products such as heat-not-burn tobacco products and snus, have the ability to significantly reduce the health risks of millions of Australian smokers.





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"This is a technology that needs to be regulated, not restricted and banned. Adult consumers should be able to access a choice of regulated devices and liquids, including those containing nicotine. Underage use should be effectively and comprehensively banned," Factasia founder Heneage Mitchell said in separate letters sent to Australia's members of parliament.

Mitchell made the statement even as Health Minister Greg Hunt decided to postpone the ban on imports of liquid nicotine by six months amid opposition from vapers, consumer groups, tobacco harm reduction experts and even members of Parliament. This means that the ban will now be delayed to 1 January 2021 from the original plan of 1 July 2020.

Mitchell said MPs should instead push for the regulation of e-cigarettes and other smoke-free nicotine products that can substantially reduce the risks suffered by smokers from the tar - the byproduct of smoke.

"Consumers need to be truthfully and fully informed of the life-saving potential of vaping and granted access to a choice of regulated harm-reduced nicotine products which, at the moment, in Australia, they are not," Mitchell said.

"To be clear, there has never been a recorded death from vaping-regulated nicotine products since the introduction of the e-cigarette in 2001. But over the same period of time, more than 130 million smokers worldwide have died from tobacco-related illnesses and disease. They include many hundreds of thousands of our Australian brothers and sisters," he said.

Ines Hage Nebyl from the Office of Tim Wilson MP acknowledged the receipt of the letter from Factasia and assured that Wilson remains a well-established supporter of allowing people to vape .

"In the last Parliament, he was part of an inquiry into the health impacts and regulation of vaping. The committee opposed legalisation and regulation. Tim was part of a dissenting report arguing the law should change as a regulated product. That was his view then. That is his view now. Tim's views have not changed; he wants people off tobacco. Further to this, Tim has expressed his views to the minister on the recent action, and will continue to do so," Nebyl said.

Wilson is among the politicians who opposed the ban on vaping, which they felt would encourage vapers to return to smoking. Sydney Morning Herald reported that 28 Coalition MPs and senators signed a petition opposing the ban on the importation of vaping products containing nicotine.

In a statement on 26 June 2020, Hunt said the delayed implementation of the ban aimed to help the group of people who have been using e-cigarettes with nicotine as a means to ending their cigarette smoking.

"In order to assist this group in continuing to end that addiction, we will therefore provide further time for implementation of the change by establishing a streamlined process for patients obtaining prescriptions through their GP," the minister said.

Tobacco harm reduction advocates said Hunt's statement provided them an opportunity to advocate for legalization and regulation of nicotine vaping in Australia, which has nearly 500,000 vapers, according to some estimates.

Mitchell said Hunt should review scientific evidence showing that vaping is 95 percent safer than smoking, as shown in the evidence review carried out by Public Health England, and is regarded as the most effective method of smoking cessation available to smokers by a vast number of researchers, medical professionals, genuine tobacco control experts and governments who looked at the evidence, including the U.K., the EU, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, the U.S., and recently, Hong Kong.

"The countries listed above continue to see historic declines in the number of citizens smoking as they switch to these far less harmful technologies," he said.

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) said it is time for MPs to reject the ban.

"In Australia, 21,000 citizens die every year from smoking-related disease. We feel that Australians who have made the informed choice to switch to alternative nicotine consumption, such as e-cigarettes, need to be heard by their elected representatives," said CAPHRA Executive Coordinator Nancy Loucas.

Loucas noted that in neighboring New Zealand, the Ministry of Health concluded that the effects that punitive regulation would have on the people who had chosen to move away from combustible cigarettes would be negative.

Other groups have also expressed their opposition to the ban, including the Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association (ATHRA), the Progressive Public Health Alliance (PPHA), Aotearoa Vape Community Advocacy (AVCA) and Legalise Vaping Australia (LVA).

About Factasia

factasia.org is an independent, not-for-profit, consumer-oriented advocate for rational debate about - and sensible regulation of - the rights of adult citizens throughout the Asia-Pacific region to choose to use tobacco or other nicotine-related products.

About CAPHRA

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is an alliance of consumer organizations from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand that aims to educate, advocate and represent the right of adult alternative nicotine consumers to access and use of products that reduce harm from tobacco use.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jena Fetalino, JFPRC jena@jfprc.com, +639178150324

Push for Regulation

MPs should instead push for the regulation of e-cigarettes and other smoke-free nicotine products that can substantially reduce the risks suffered by smokers from the tar - the byproduct of smoke.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58733
HE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED BY IMC TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014, AS AMENDED ("MAR"). ON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ("RIS"), THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

IMC Exploration Group plc ("IMC" or the "Company")

Trinity College Dublin / IMC Exploration Group plc significant developments on Avoca Mine Property

IMC Exploration Group plc is pleased to report significant progress on its collaboration with the Raw Materials Group at Trinity College Dublin. Research has focused on:

(i) resolving the styles and occurrences of gold in the highly prospective Caledonian terranes across Ireland; and

(ii) through detailed petrographic work, characterising the gold-rich Kilmacoo zone at IMC's Avoca Mine property in Co. Wicklow.

At Kilmacoo, this work has shown that:

Gold is associated with chalcopyrite;

Gold is present as discrete recoverable phases of electrum;

Gold - copper mineralisation is focused in late veins, which cut across the Avoca massive sulphide sequence.

Through the ERAMIN2 - Gold Insight Project, researchers at Trinity College Dublin and the Geological Survey of Ireland are tracing this gold - copper association across the region to discover how it relates to copper signatures in East and West Avoca as well as regional copper occurrences at the adjacent Ballard, Moneyteige and Ballycoog deposits. Research work is expanding to include the Connary Zone and West-Avoca. A regional geochemical survey of ironstone occurrences along trend (and within IMC property licences) aims to resolve their relationship with the Avoca mineralisation.

IMC Chairman, Eamon O'Brien, said, 'We are pleased with the progress being made and the update thus far. This is a very positive development and demonstrates the valuable scientific and geological work being carried out by our collaborative partners, Trinity College Dublin. We expect this strategic partnership to be expanded in the coming months as we continue to assess the gold resource at Avoca. With the price of gold at an eight-year high, this is good news for IMC's Avoca Gold project.'

Eamon P. O'Brien,

Chairman,

29thJune 2020 .

This RIS release has been approved by Eur Geol Professor Garth Earls, PGeo, FSEG, who is an independent consulting geologist and a Competent Person as defined in the JORC 2012 reporting code.

The Directors of IMC, after due and careful enquiry, accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

REGULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT ENDS.

Enquiries :

IMC Exploration Group plc

Kathryn Byrne: +353 85 233 6033

Keith, Bayley, Rogers & Co. Limited

Graham Atthill-Beck: +44 20 7464 4091 / +44 7506 43 41 07 / +971 50 856 9408

Graham.Atthill-Beck@kbrl.co.uk / blackpearladvisers@gmail.com

Brinsley Holman: +44 7776 30 22 28 / Brinsley.Holman@kbrl.co.uk
Wolters Kluwer's Finance, Risk Reporting (FRR) business has won a major award from Risk magazine. For the third year running its OneSumX for Regulatory Reporting solution has been named Regulatory Reporting System of the Year in the publication's annual Technology Awards which celebrate excellence and innovation.

The awards, which are widely regarded to be among the most prestigious accolades for financial technology, were decided by an expert panel of judges, including Risk magazine's editorial team.

OneSumX for Regulatory Reporting combines bank data into a single source of data to ensure consistency, reconciliation and accuracy and includes Wolters Kluwer's Regulatory Update Service. This unique service is maintained by Wolters Kluwer experts who actively monitor regulation in 30 countries.

Judges commented how Wolters Kluwer FRR "has maintained its strong competitive positioning, as well as preparing smartly and energetically for the future." The panel also noted how Wolters Kluwer FRR "offers good product and regulatory coverage [with an] impressive, consistent and convincing solution."

The award celebrates and recognizes a number of recent innovations for the solution. Last year Wolters Kluwer FRR launched a software-as-a-service (SaaS) regulatory reporting solution with the same functionality as its on-premise product. The service runs on Microsoft Azure, with full platform management by Wolters Kluwer FRR, including ongoing software upgrades, testing and fixes.

At the same time, Wolters Kluwer FRR introduced a major upgrade to its OneSumX Regulatory Engine. The upgrade provides improved performance and better user experience in terms of speed, automation and scalability. It features an enhanced data management layer to deliver full data lineage, as well as integration with OneSumX finance and risk solutions. Clients can now capture source data in regulatory defined reports and run validation, adjustments and auditing before submitting data to regulators.

"We are honored to be recognized for a third consecutive year with this particularly prestigious award. The past 12 months have seen us launch a software-as-a-service regulatory reporting solution, marking the first time that the company's OneSumX regulatory software has been made available on the cloud, thereby aligning with the cloud technology strategies our customers are adopting," commented Claudio Salinardi, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Wolters Kluwer FRR. "We have also unveiled a major upgrade to our OneSumX Regulatory Engine, characterized by enhanced performance and better user experience in terms of speed, automation and scalability."

Wolters Kluwer FRR, which is part of Wolters Kluwer's Governance, Risk Compliance (GRC) division, is a global market leader in the provision of integrated regulatory compliance and reporting solutions. It supports regulated financial institutions in meeting their obligations to external regulators and their own board of directors.

Wolters Kluwer FRR receives frequent independent recognition of its excellence and innovation, celebrating a record year for award wins in 2019. Wolters Kluwer FRR is, for example, the #1 provider in both Regulatory Reporting and Liquidity Risk according to the RiskTech100, as compiled by Chartis Research.

Wolters Kluwer's GRC division offers a range of expert solutions to help the financial services industry respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its Compliance Solutions business, for example, offers Paycheck Protection Program Supported by TSoftPlus to support stimulus loan applications and loan forgiveness processes under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or U.S. CARES Act. Wolters Kluwer Lien Solutions, meanwhile, has also recently established a technology solution specifically designed to help U.S. lenders navigate Paycheck Protection Program loan applications, and associated compliance and risk mitigation requirements, resulting from the CARES Act. The Business Entity Search for CARES Act solution conducts bulk/batch corporate identity searches to verify the business status of potential borrowers.

About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk Compliance

Governance, Risk Compliance (GRC) is a division of Wolters Kluwer which provides legal and banking professionals with solutions to ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, stay competitive and produce better business outcomes. GRC offers a portfolio of technology-enabled expert services and solutions focused on legal entity compliance, legal operations management, banking product compliance, and banking regulatory compliance.

Wolters Kluwer N.V. (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. Wolters Kluwer reported 2019 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen an den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005034/en/

Contacts:

Paul Lyon

Director of Global Corporate Communications, Banking Regulatory Compliance

Governance, Risk Compliance

Wolters Kluwer

Mobile: +44 77 6539 1824

Paul.Lyon@wolterskluwer.com


For the first time, a futurist will speak at E-Day. The "T-Chat - Futurizing Your Business: Renaissance from the Age of Digitalisation" seminar will address emerging issues in the post-COVID-19 era, with Gerd Leonhard shedding light on future trends in such fields as business, society and governance in the face of exponential technological progress.



The 12th edition of E-Day will bring together more than 30 speakers and 180 exhibitors, highlighting the practical and inspirational aspects of start-ups that can help to ensure the survival, growth, transformation and sustainability of the current business ecosystem in the face of significant changes and challenges.

Please contact Creative Consulting Group or HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department: Creative Consulting Group Wendy Chan Tel: +852 3159 2962 / +852 6758 4869 Email: wendy.chan@creativegp.com June Wong Tel: +852 3159 2909 / +852 6986 5822 Email: june.wong@creativegp.com HKTDC Leslie Ng Tel: +852 2584 4239 Email: leslie.ss.ng@hktdc.org

HONG KONG, June 29, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - The HKTDC Entrepreneur Day (E-Day), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) on 16 and 17 July 2020. Under the theme "Revive, Redefine", the two-day event will bring together more than 30 speakers and 180 exhibitors, highlighting the practical and inspirational aspects of start-ups that can help to ensure the survival, growth, transformation and sustainability of the current business ecosystem in the face of significant changes and challenges.As the anchor start-up initiative run by the HKTDC, E-Day serves as a one-stop platform for start-ups to get inspired, seek funding, source talents and build connections, and for investors to discover innovative new products and services. In light of the current pandemic, E-Day has undergone a transformation in terms of both content and format. Seminars held as part of E-Day will be broadcast live to reach a broader audience across the world, while the HKTDC will also arrange online meetings between start-ups and investors.Insights into the future of entrepreneurshipEntering its 12th edition, this year's E-Day presents a strong line-up of speakers. For the first time, a futurist will address the audience on emerging issues in the post-COVID-19 era in a seminar titled "T-Chat - Futurizing Your Business: Renaissance from the Age of Digitalisation". The talk will feature Gerd Leonhard, CEO of The Futures Agency, who will shed light on future trends in such areas as business, society and governance in the context of exponential technological progress.In a technology-dominated era, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming the main drivers for many businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated digitalisation by putting "remote everything" as the default setting. Addressing the audience from Switzerland, Mr Leonhard will share how the future of jobs, work and commerce is being redefined amid the challenges and transformation brought about by the pandemic; examine the role of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship in creating major breakthroughs in a technology-dominated future; and look at what start-ups and entrepreneurs can do to be future-ready. He will be joined by Karena Belin, CEO & Co-Founder of WHub, Dr Toa Charm, Associate Professor, Business School, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Herbert Chia, Venture Partner at Sequoia Capital China, to discuss how COVID-19 will shape decision-making for start-ups, incubators and venture capitalists in Hong Kong and Asia. They will also answer questions from the floor.Mr Leonhard is one of the world's leading futurists whose work focuses on the future of humanity and technology, digital ethics, AI, future-leadership and communications. He has taken part in some 2,000 engagements in more than 60 countries since 2004, boasting a global audience of more than 2.5 million people.How challenges lead to opportunitiesA seminar titled From Crisis to Chances will examine how entrepreneurs are able to turn challenging situations into opportunities, offering inspiration to the audience. Highlighting Hong Kong's research excellence and the city's experience in containing the COVID-19 outbreak, Professor Yeung King-lun from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will share how his team reacted to the challenges presented by the global pandemic to develop a smart anti-microbial coating, the Multilevel Antimicrobial Polymer (MAP-1) coating, to control infectious diseases. Designed for use on different surfaces including wood, glass, metals, concrete, plastics, fabrics, leathers and textiles, the coasting provides lasting protection and surface disinfection against microbial contamination for a period of up to 90 days. The university, in collaboration with industrial partner Chiaphua Industries Limited, has applied the smart coating in more than 70 day-care centres, homes for the elderly, kindergartens and primary and secondary schools. In addition, Professor HC Man, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, will share on how his team launched the General Use Face Shield, to provide enhanced protection for the public and minimise the risk of virus transmission within the community.Business opportunities are also arising for start-ups in fields such as fintech, smart city and education technology. Katherine Cheung, Chief Marketing Officer of on-demand online tutoring platform Snapask, will share on how recent social distancing measures have unleashed opportunities for the Hong Kong-based start-up in both local and overseas markets.Founded five years ago, Snapask is now serving over 3.2 million students with more than 350,000 tutors across eight Asian locations - Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan and Korea. The start-up has registered an increase of 1.3 million users over the past 12 months, including a big surge due to the suspension of classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In Hong Kong, the platform currently has some 40,000 tutors and 200,000 active users, most of whom are high school students with a high percentage of them preparing for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination. Some parents also seek advice while helping their primary school kids with their homework. Understanding the demand from students studying late at night, Snapask has pushed the boundaries of traditional tutoring to offer a 24-hour service. Apart from its app, Snapask is also developing business-to-business (B2B) solutions using AI technology to provide personalised learning resources through big data analysis.Pioneering ideas help to redefine industriesThe E-Day plenary session, "Revive, Redefine", will feature two start-ups that are helping to redefine their respective industries through pioneering ideas. William Ip, Managing Director of Carousell Hong Kong, will share how the company has promoted the concept of a "sharing" future through its customer-to-customer (C2C) marketplace, which has recently been evolving into a business-to-consumer (B2C) Platform. Crystal Pang, Co-Founder of Pickupp, will introduce how the start-up is redefining the delivery industry and expanding its business in the Asian market. Pickupp also works with genetic testing and digital health company Prenetics to provide a door-to-door saliva specimen collection service for patients who need to undergo COVID-19 testing.The newly launched Enterprise Connect series, featuring Arup, Fung Group and P&G, will showcase how enterprises can join hands with start-ups to create shared value and revive businesses across different industry pillars. The series offers unparalleled opportunities - including speaker sessions, networking sessions and business matching activities - for corporations and start-ups to connect and explore potential collaboration.Entrepreneur Day (E-Day) details:16 July 2020 (Thursday), 10:30am-7pm; 17 July 2020 (Friday), 10:30am-6pmVenue: Hall 5F, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan ChaiWebsite: http://m.hktdc.com/fair/eday-en/HKTDC-Entrepreneur-Day.htmlPhoto download: https://bit.ly/2Afx9UIAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.Source: HKTDCContact:Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 4.30 am ET Monday, the Bank of England is scheduled to release mortgage approvals data for May. The number of mortgage approvals is forecast to rise to 25,000 in May from 15,850 in April. Ahead of the data, the pound retreated from early highs against its major counterparts. The pound was worth 132.35 against the yen, 1.1690 against the franc, 1.2348 against the greenback and 0.9110 against the euro as of 4:25 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
ELCA distributes LGBTQIA+ handbook on sexual orientation, gender identity to churches

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which was recently criticized for addressing God as Mother instead of Father, is distributing a handbook on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to its member churches.

Titled Lutheran Introduction To Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Gender Expression, the handbook, published by the Lutheran ministry ReconcilingWorks that is listed at the top of the ELCA website, details bisexuality, pansexuality and transgederism, and encourages the use of alternative pronouns.

Each of us is a beloved child of God, perfectly and wonderfully made, just as we are. Thanks to @ReconcilingWrks for this Lutheran introduction to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.https://t.co/XkADUPQKTYpic.twitter.com/WopB95wrVN  ELCA Lutherans (@ELCA) June 24, 2020

The handbook defines gender identity as a persons innate, deeply felt psychological identification as a man, woman or another gender, which may or may not correspond to the sex assigned to them at birth. Gender identity is different from the term gender, which is typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones.

Gender expression, it says, is the external characteristics and behaviors that are socially defined as either masculine or feminine, such as dress, grooming, mannerisms, speech patterns and social interactions. These norms vary culturally.

Sexual orientation, it adds, is the term used to describe what gender(s) someone is physically and/or emotionally attracted to. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer, and straight are all examples of sexual orientations. A persons sexual orientation is distinct from a persons gender identity and expression.

Many pastors and members have left the denomination due to their objections to its theology.

I spent many years as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America until I led my congregation out for a more Biblical branch of Lutheranism, Pastor Tom Brock, who co-hosts The Pastors Study radio program, recently wrote in an op-ed for The Christian Post.

Liberal is no longer the word for the ELCA, it has become radical, he wrote, citing an example. Two summers ago, 31,000 ELCA teenagers attended the ELCAs youth gathering. Popular ELCA pastor Nadia Bolz-Webber led the students to say after her I renounce the lie that queerness is anything other than beauty. At the youth gathering an 11-year-old boy who thinks he is a girl was put on stage to promote transgenderism.

In April, ELCA garnered controversy for posting a prayer on their Twitter and Facebook accounts addressing God as Mother.

Mother God, you have fed us with the nourishment of your spiritual food. Raise us up into salvation and rid us of our bitterness, so that we may share the sweetness of your holy word with all the world, the ELCA tweeted on April 29.

Hans Fiene, a conservative pastor who oversees the popular Lutheran Satire YouTube channel, is one of those who took issue with the post. Leave the ELCA, he succinctly replied when retweeting the ELCA post.

Jeff Walton of the theologically conservative Institute on Religion & Democracy told The Christian Post that he was concerned about the prayer as well.

Church mystics including Julian of Norwich  who is commemorated next week in the ELCA and the Episcopal Church  and Bernard of Clairvaux likened divine love to motherly love, Walton said.

My concern with this ELCA prayer is that it does not focus upon an attribute of Gods character and instead simply declares God Mother. It prompts me to ask if there's an agenda in doing so.

Walton also told CP that theologically liberal mainline Protestant denominations in general have all to some degree dabbled in this stuff.

It has ranged from politicized statements against patriarchy all the way to outright goddess worship in events like the infamous reimagining conference of the 1990s in which prayers were offered in the name of Sophia, he said.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global bauxite market size is projected to reach USD 12.88 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 3.3% from 2020 to 2027, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Continuous growth in the production of primary aluminum is expected to remain a key factor in driving the market over the coming years.

Bauxite is the key raw material used for the production of primary aluminum. As per the statistics released by the International Aluminum Institute, in 2018, the primary aluminum production increased from nearly 54,647 kilotons in 2014 to approximately 64,336 kilotons in 2018. This caused a subsequent increase in the demand for the product over the respective period.

Key suggestions from the report:

Asia Pacific captured the largest share of 68.0% in 2019 in terms of volume as the region has the largest primary aluminum production capacity in the globe

By product, metallurgical grade is expected to exhibit the fastest CAGR in terms of revenue from 2020 to 2027 owing to expanding manufacturing activities in Asia Pacific

Based on application, alumina production dominated the market with a volume share of 91.0% in 2019. Alumina production is rising, especially in Asia Pacific , owing to growing demand from downstream industries, such as automotive and construction

The cement application segment is poised to register a CAGR of 3.2%, in terms of revenue, from 2020 to 2027 on account of rising research & development activities to find new applications of product in cementitious materials

In March 2019 , Rio Tinto completed the construction of a new bauxite mine in Queensland, Australia . The total value for developing this project was around USD 1.9 billion . The company aimed to replace its production from depleting mines of Weipa.

Read 104 page research report with ToC on "Bauxite Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Metallurgical Grade, Refractory Grade), By Application (Alumina Production, Refractory), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/bauxite-market

The market is undergoing significant transformational change, driven by strong demand for aluminum. Until 2013, China targeted Malaysia and Indonesia for its bauxite supply, however both countries imposed bans or restrictions owing to poor mining practices in 2014. Since 2014, China has been sourcing its bauxite supply largely from Guinea and to some extent form Australia.

As per statistics from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), in 2019, global bauxite resources are estimated to be around 55 to 75 billion tons. Africa (mainly Guinea) and Oceania (mainly Australia) accounts for more than 50% of the global resources. Major bauxite consuming countries such as China, Russia, and India source their products mainly from Australia and Guinea.

The lockdowns imposed by many countries across the globe owing to COVID-19 pandemic have stalled construction activities and caused a severe decline in terms of downstream demand for aluminum. However, major smelters and bauxite miners were largely unaffected, which has pushed inventory levels to a new high, putting additional pressure on product prices along the entire value chain.

Among the leading players operating in the market, Alcoa Corporation holds the largest market share. The company has a wide portfolio comprising joint ventures, subsidiaries, and affiliated companies in the industry. The company has carried out many strategic investments over the years to capture the largest portfolio of mined bauxite around the globe.

Grand View Research has segmented the global bauxite market on the basis of product, application, and region:

Bauxite Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Metallurgical Grade



Refractory Grade

Bauxite Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Alumina Production



Refractory



Cement



Others

Bauxite Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America



U.S.





Canada



Europe



Russia





Norway





Germany





Turkey



Asia Pacific



China





India





Japan





Australia



Central & South America



Brazil



Middle East & Africa

&

UAE





Bahrain

List of Key Players of Bauxite Market

Alcoa Corporation



Rio Tinto



Norsk Hydro ASA



The Aluminum Corporation of China (CHALCO)

(CHALCO)

Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinee (CBG)



South32



NALCO India



Hindalco Industries Ltd.



Rusal



Ma'aden

Find more research reports on Advanced Interior Materials Industry, by Grand View Research:

GCC Metal Forging Market - GCC metal forging market size was estimated at USD 1.08 billion in 2018 and is anticipated to expand at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.1% from 2019 to 2025.

in 2018 and is anticipated to expand at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.1% from 2019 to 2025. Steel Long Products Market - Global steel long products market size was valued at USD 469.8 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% from 2020 to 2027.

in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% from 2020 to 2027. Geofoams Market - Global geofoams market size was valued at USD 785.8 million in 2019 and is expected to grow a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.7% from 2020 to 2027.

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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.

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BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - German stocks were little changed on Monday amid concerns that rising coronavirus cases could prompt some U.S. states to backtrack on pandemic reopenings. Weeks after most U.S. states began lifting their lockdowns, some states are now reconsidering their reopening plans amid a surge in virus cases. The benchmark DAX was up 9 points at 12,098 after losing 0.7 percent on Friday. Wirecard AG shares jumped as much as 144 percent. After filing for insolvency, the scandal-hit payments company said that its business activities will be continued. TLG Immobilien AG edged down slightly. The company has reached an agreement with an investor focused on retail properties to sell a retail property portfolio located in various locations across Germany for about 190 million euros. TUI AG soared 4.3 percent on reports that the travel company has seen a 50 percent week-on-week increase in bookings over the past week. 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.
SINGAPUR (dpa-AFX) - Singapore's producer prices declined at a softer rate in May, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Monday. The manufacturing producer price index fell 8.4 percent year-on-year in May, following an 8.9 percent decline in April. The oil index declined 55.1 percent annually in May, and non-oil indices fell 0.7 percent. On a monthly basis, producer prices rose 1.2 percent in May, after a 4.7 percent decrease in the preceding month. Another report from the statistical office showed that the import prices fell 12.7 percent annually in May, same as seen in the previous month. On a month-on-month basis, import prices rose 0.2 percent in May, after a 4.4 percent decrease in the prior month. 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.
Oakville, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 29, 2020) - Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: CRDL) (OTCQX: CRTPF) ("Cardiol" or the "Company"), a leader in the production of pharmaceutical cannabidiol (CBD) and the development of innovative cannabidiol products for heart diseases, is pleased to announce that it has appointed Steven Grasso as Business Advisor to the Company.

Steven Grasso began his career on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in 1993. He joined Stuart Frankel & Co. as an institutional sales trader in 1999. As Director of Institutional Sales for Stuart Frankel & Co., Steven has worked closely with some of the largest mutual funds, pension funds, insurance companies, and hedge funds in the world directly from the floor of the Stock Exchange. Over his 27-year career, Steven has actively participated in various Stock Exchange committees ranging from allocating new listings to designated market makers to developing standardized tests that the floor community uses for continuing education. Steven closely follows the Washington D.C./Markets connection, using his extensive Capitol Hill and SEC relationships to better inform his clients on policy changes and regulation.

Steven is perhaps best known for being a CNBC market analyst and is a regular on CNBC's popular "Fast Money" show, which airs daily during the business week and has an average daily viewership that currently exceeds 250,000. Mr. Grasso also speaks at many traders' conferences across the country on a regular basis, as well as business round tables with many influential leaders of industry where he addresses a broad range of market related issues, including the effects of regulation and the political process on equities.

As Business Advisor, Mr. Grasso will assist with raising Cardiol's profile within the U.S. investment community. Steven has the ability to provide important introductions to Investors, Analysts, Investment Banks, and other key investment industry participants. He also has an extensive network of connections with senior management of many of the largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the world, which will be of assistance to the Company in achieving its commercial and business development objectives.

"We are pleased that Steve has agreed to join Cardiol as Business Advisor," stated David Elsley, President and CEO of Cardiol Therapeutics. "We believe Mr. Grasso's impressive background in the financial markets will be of tremendous benefit to our Company as we advance the development of important new therapies for life-threatening heart disease. We also believe Steve's high profile within the financial media will serve to accelerate broad recognition of Cardiol's market potential.

In connection with the appointment of Mr. Grasso and to support the alignment of his interests with the interests of Cardiol's shareholders, David Elsley, Cardiol's President and Chief Executive Officer, has agreed to grant him an option (the "Shareholder Option") to acquire up to 250,000 Class A common shares (each a "Share") owned by Mr. Elsley at a price of $2.58 per Share for a period of two years. Mr. Elsley will not receive any consideration in connection with the grant of the Shareholder Option. The Shareholder Option is in addition to an option grant by the Company under its Equity Compensation Plan.

About Cardiol Therapeutics

Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: CRDL) (OTCQX: CRTPF) is focused on producing pharmaceutical cannabidiol (CBD) products for commercialization and to support the development of innovative therapies for heart diseases, including acute myocarditis and other causes of heart failure. The Company's lead product, CardiolRx, is pharmaceutically produced, manufactured under cGMP, and is THC free (<5 ppm). The Company plans to commercialize CardiolRx in the billion-dollar market for medicinal cannabinoids in Canada.

Cardiol is planning an international clinical study of CardiolRx in acute myocarditis, a condition caused by inflammation in heart tissue, which remains the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in people less than 35 years of age. The Company is also developing proprietary cannabidiol formulations for the treatment of inflammation in the heart that is associated with the development and progression of heart failure. Heart failure is the leading cause of death and hospitalization in North America, with associated annual healthcare costs in the U.S. alone exceeding $30 billion. For further information about Cardiol Therapeutics, please visit cardiolrx.com.

For further information, please contact:



David Elsley, President & CEO +1-289-910-0850

david.elsley@cardiolrx.com

Trevor Burns, Investor Relations +1-289-910-0855

trevor.burns@cardiolrx.com

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information:

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events, or developments that Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. ("Cardiol" or the "Company") believes, expects, or anticipates will, may, could or might occur in the future are "forward- looking information". Forward-looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the acceleration of the broad recognition of Cardiol's true market potential, and the Company's plans to commercialize CardiolRx and for an international clinical study of CardiolRx. Forward-looking information contained herein reflects the current expectations or beliefs of Cardiol based on information currently available to it and is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties and other factors include that the risks and uncertainties associated with product commercialization and clinical studies referred to in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2020 and the risk that Mr. Grasso's profile will not accelerate the broad recognition Cardiol's true market potential. These risks, uncertainties and other factors should be considered carefully, and investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Cardiol disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although Cardiol believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, they do involve certain assumptions, risks, and uncertainties and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. It is important that each person reviewing this news release understands the significant risks attendant to the operations of Cardiol.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58755
The "Europe Surgical Suture Market Forecast to 2027 COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis By Product Type Application and Country" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The European surgical suture market is projected to reach US$ 1,413.74 million by 2027 from US$ 925.29 million in 2019. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2020 to 2027.

The growth of The European surgical suture market is attributed to the increasing number of orthopedic surgeries and cardiovascular surgeries, and government support for the healthcare industry. However, the adoption of robots in surgeries is likely to have a negative impact on market growth.

The main reason for the rise in the orthopedic surgeries is due to the rising number of road accidents. In France, equal number men and women were recorded in road accidents. Therefore, in EU countries (including France), the high levels of ministerial promotion are being conducted. For instance, since 2009, the President of France referred road safety as one of the important national priorities and to establish high level committees to direct developments.

Furthermore, according to the National Interministerial Observatory of Road Safety (ONISR), 6,520 were injured in May 2018. The number of road accidents is rising and eventually leading to increasing number of surgeries and treatments involving orthopedic procedures. Along with orthopedic procedures, cardiovascular surgeries are expected to rise in the coming future, in turn, likely to drive the growth of the market under study.

The European surgical suture market, based on product, is further segmented into absorbable suture and non-absorbable suture. The absorbable suture is further subsegmented into natural sutures, synthetic sutures, and anti-microbial sutures. The non-absorbable suture is further subsegmented into stainless steel sutures, nylon sutures, prolene sutures, and others. In 2019, the absorbable suture segment held a larger share of the market and is expected to register a higher CAGR in the market during the forecast period. The European surgical suture market, based on type, is segmented into monofilament and braided.

In 2019, the monofilament segment held a larger share of the market and is expected to register a higher CAGR during 2020-2027. Further, The European surgical suture market, based on application, is segmented into cardiovascular surgery, general surgery, gynaecology surgery, orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmic surgery, and others. In 2019, the cardiovascular surgery segment held a larger share of the market; however, the market for the general surgery segment is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period.

Reasons to Buy:

Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in The European surgical suture market.

Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.

The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in The European surgical suture market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long-term strategies.

Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.

Scrutinize in-depth market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.

Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin security interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution.



Market Dynamics

Drivers

Government Support For Healthcare Industry

Rise In The Number of Surgeries

Restraints

Developments In The Alternates Of Sutures

Adoption Of Robotics Surgeries

Opportunities

Product Innovations In Surgical Suture Market.

Future Trends

Market Fluctuations



Companies Profiled

Medtronic

Johnson Johnson Services, Inc.

B. Braun Melsungen Ag

Smith Nephew

Teleflex Incorporated

Demetech Corporation

Serag-Wiessner Gmbh Co. Kg Zum Kugelfang

Peters Surgical.

Assut Medical Sarl

W. L. Gore Associates, Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3gcxy6

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005382/en/

Contacts:

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
The "Europe E-Invoicing Market Forecast to 2027 COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis By Type; End-User" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The e-Invoicing market in Europe was valued at US$ 1,241.7 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 4,217.6 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.1% from 2020 to 2027.

In Europe, the adoption of electronic and digital processes/solutions is quite high among businesses, and the e-Invoicing practices in this region are being driven by governments in various countries. The wide market fragmentation and high cross-border trade between European countries is driving the demand for efficient Invoicing solutions. Countries are also increasingly working to formulate a common e-Invoicing standard to boost the digital agenda of the European Union.

Presently, the EU directives 2014/24/EU and 2014/55/EU are encouraging the adoption of e-Invoicing in various European countries. Key industry associations, public administrations, tax authorities, and regulatory bodies in the countries are also complementing the growth of e-Invoicing market by supporting the development of various standards and interoperability between various document formats.

The cloud segment led the e-Invoicing market, based on deployment model, in forecast period from 2020 to 2027. Various service providers are now offering cloud-based e-Invoicing solutions, and customers are increasingly adopting these solutions. These firms develop, maintain, and manage the solutions for their customers, while the customers pay the prescribed fees for their services.

The overall Europe e-Invoicing market size has been derived using both primary and secondary sources. To begin the research process, exhaustive secondary research has been conducted using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the market. The process also serves the purpose of obtaining overview and forecast for the e-Invoicing market with respects to all the segments pertaining to the region.

Also, multiple primary interviews have been conducted with industry participants and commentators to validate the data, as well as to gain more analytical insights into the topic. The participants who typically take part this process include industry expert such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers along with external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders specializing in The European E-Invoicing market. Basware Corporation, Cegedim SA, Coupa Software Inc, IBM Corporation, and SAP SE are among the major players in the market in this region.

Reasons to Buy:

Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in The European E-Invoicing market. Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies. The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in The European E-Invoicing market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long-term strategies. Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets. Scrutinize in-depth Europe market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it. Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution



Market Dynamics

Drivers

Investment in Digital Technologies

Adoption of E-Voicing to Prevent Fraud

Government Initiatives to Boost E-Invoicing Adoption

Restraints

Lack of IT Resources

Opportunities

Adoption of Cloud Based Solutions

Future Trends

Implementation of Advanced Technologies like Blockchain

Company Profiles

Basware Corporation

Cegedim SA

Comarch SA

Coupa Software Inc.

IBM Corporation

SAP SE

The Sage Group plc

Tradeshift

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/p6zx6f

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005384/en/

Contacts:

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
June 29, 2020: Oslo, Norway, - PGS and ION Geophysical Corporation today announced an agreement to collaborate globally on 2D exploration data. Both companies have modern, high-quality MultiClient data libraries that together cover all the significant hydrocarbon provinces around the world. The new joint data library will comprise nearly a million line kilometres of uniquely complementary data, including many areas of genuine broadband seismic that have substantial opportunity for integration and reimaging. Drawing on PGS broadband 2D GeoStreamer offering and ION's latest imaging technology, the companies will produce enhanced deliverables with higher resolution and greater spatial coverage, offering deeper insights and more reliable pre-stack attributes for exploration screening on a global basis. PGS and ION intend to develop an integrated seamless 2D seismic data library over time, creating a comprehensive, data-rich environment to inform exploration business decisions for E&P operators. The combined data library will be jointly marketed.



"The combined 2D data libraries will provide E&P companies with a more efficient way to identify and high-grade attractive frontier investment opportunities," said Berit Osnes, PGS' EVP, New Ventures. "ION's BasinSPAN offering is globally recognized as the benchmark tool for exploration insights at the basin-scale. Referencing and integrating our GeoStreamer enriched 2D data library into that framework will create a valuable opportunity to add resolution to that understanding."

"PGS' global framework of modern data, much of which was acquired with long offsets and GeoStreamer multi-sensor acquisition technology, is exceptionally compatible to integrate with ION's BasinSPAN framework to deepen basin characterization and insights for our customers," said Ken Williamson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ION's E&P Technology and Services group. "The collaboration extends beyond existing data to include new program activity and the integration of third-party data where relevant to further augment the value of the offering."





About the Companies

PGS ASA and its subsidiaries.

ION.

Contacts

PGS

Senior Vice President, IR & Communication

Bard Stenberg, +47 99 24 52 35

Bard.Stenberg@pgs.com

ION (Investor relations)

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Mike Morrison, +1 281.552.3011

mike.morrison@iongeo.com



ION (Media relations)
Extraordinary distribution of CHF 3.00 per share, subject to the closing of the Masterbatches transaction, confirmed

Withholding of regular distribution and carrying forward to available earnings confirmed

Nader I. Alwehibi and Thilo Mannhardt newly elected as members of the Board of Directors

Muttenz, June 29, 2020- At today's Annual General Meeting in Basel, the shareholders of Clariant Ltd, a focused, sustainable and innovative specialty chemical company, approved all agenda items and resolutions proposed by the Board of Directors. Due to the ongoing situation with regard to the spread of the coronavirus, shareholders could not attend this year's Annual General Meeting in person and could exercise their rights exclusively via the independent proxy. Overall, 222 864 693 shares or around 67.14 % of the share capital of Clariant were represented.

Hariolf Kottmann, Executive Chairman ad interim, said: "The results we achieved in the year 2019 in a challenging economic and political environment prove the resilience of our portfolio. They also confirm the success of our long-term strategy with which we want to move further into the leading group of the specialty chemicals industry. Clariant's development over the last 25 years is a story of constant change, and even in an ever-changing environment Clariant will also have a good future."

At the Annual General Meeting, the Integrated Report as well as the Financial Statements and Consolidated Financial Statements of Clariant for the 2019 fiscal year were approved with 99.96 % of the votes. The 2019 Compensation Report was also approved on an advisory basis with 87.93 % of the votes. The members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee were discharged with 95.04 % of the votes. In addition, the Annual General Meeting approved the withholding of a regular distribution and the appropriation of the accumulated profit for 2019 to voluntary retained earnings with 99.56 % of the votes. The proposal for an extraordinary distribution of CHF 3.00 per share, subject to the closing of the Masterbatches transaction, was approved with 97.18 % of the votes.

Nominated by the Board of Directors, Nader I. Alwehibi (*1980), a Saudi Arabian citizen, and Thilo Mannhardt (*1954), a German citizen, were elected as board members by a large majority of the votes. Khaled Homza A. Nahas and Carlo G. Soave resigned from the Board of Directors.

The newly elected members of the Board of Directors were appointed until the Annual General Meeting 2021.

The ten other members of the Board of Directors were also reelected by a large majority until the Annual General Meeting 2021, as was the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hariolf Kottmann. Further, Dr. Balthasar Settelen, attorney, was reelected until the Annual General Meeting 2021 and PricewaterhouseCoopers AG was confirmed as the statutory auditor for 2020.

Eveline Saupper, Independent Lead Director, said: "I want to thank the shareholders for the trust they place in the Board of Directors. This strengthens me to fulfill my duty as Independent Lead Director until a new CEO has been appointed and Clariant again has two individuals for the positions of CEO and Chairman."



The proposal for total compensation of the Board of Directors for the term from the 2020 to the 2021 Annual General Meeting was approved with 87.79 % of the votes, as was the total compensation of the Executive Committee for the 2021 fiscal year, with 89.29 % of the votes.

The speech (German only) of Hariolf Kottmann, Chairman of the Board of Directors ad interim, along with pictures and the recordings of the live broadcast will shortly be available on http://www.clariant.com/Investors/Events/Annual-General-Meetings

Corporate Media Relations Investor Relations



Jochen Dubiel



Phone +41 61 469 63 63

jochen.dubiel@clariant.com Maria Ivek



Phone +41 61 469 63 73

maria.ivek@clariant.com Claudia Kamensky



Phone +41 61 469 63 63

claudia.kamensky@clariant.com Alexander Kamb



Phone +41 61 469 63 73

alexander.kamb@clariant.com Thijs Bouwens



Phone +41 61 469 63 63

Thijs.bouwens@clariant.com



Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn , Instagram . www.clariant.com













Clariant is a focused, sustainable and innovative specialty chemical company based in Muttenz, near Basel/Switzerland. On 31 December 2019, the company employed a total workforce of 17 223. In the financial year 2019, Clariant recorded sales of CHF 4.399 billion for its continuing businesses. The company reports in three business areas: Care Chemicals, Catalysis and Natural Resources. Clariant's corporate strategy is based on five pillars: focus on innovation and R&D, add value with sustainability, reposition portfolio, intensify growth, and increase profitability.

Attachments
This opinion corroborates the previous scientific advice from the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)

GoLiver Therapeutics, a start-up focused on the development of Innovative Therapy Medicines, in particular cell therapy products for life-threatening liver diseases without the need for transplant using differentiated pluripotent stem cells, announces that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has given a positive scientific advice on its clinical development, pharmaco-toxicological and production strategy plans. With this positive scientific advice, GoLiver Therapeutics has reached an important milestone in its clinical roadmap.

The EMA thus confirms the positive scientific advice given in 2018 by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on the manufacturing production, the pharmaco-toxicological assessment and the clinical development plans of GoLiver Therapeutics for its first pipeline product for the treatment of acute liver failure.

Currently, GoLiver Therapeutics is working with the Paul-Brousse Hospital (AP-HP, Villejuif, France) on the design and implementation of a Phase I/IIa clinical trial for acute liver failure.

"We are very pleased to have obtained this positive scientific advice despite the COVID-19 health crisis, and we thus remain in line with our clinical development and production plans towards the clinical trials. The EMA's recommendations will help us to obtain approval for clinical studies from the national health agencies in the European countries where the clinical study will be conducted. Our goal is to initiate as soon as possible the clinical evaluation of our first drug candidate, an injectable solution of frozen liver cells produced from pluripotent stem cells as regenerative treatment of severe liver failures having no live-saving treatment other than liver transplantation" said Tuan Nguyen, CEO of GoLiver Therapeutics.

About GoLiver Therapeutics https://golivertx.com/

GoLiver Therapeutics is a spin-off created in 2017 from Inserm and the University of Nantes (CRTI UMR1064, ITUN, Nantes University Hospital Centre) focused on developing Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) to meet a major medical need in liver transplantation. GoLiver Therapeutics aims to become a world leader in the regenerative medicine field by tackling liver regeneration, by conducting the first clinical studies and bringing the first innovative cell-based drug for treating liver diseases without the need for transplant by using the breakthrough technology of pluripotent stem cells.

Highlighted by Challenges magazine as one of the "100 start-ups to invest in" for 2019, GoLiver Therapeutics has been awarded the France French Transfer Invest 2019, the i-LAB 2016 national Grand Prize for health biotechs and i-LAB 2015 in the emerging start-ups category. Its R&D is supported by BPI France and European Union (ERDF) funding of 400,000 to develop the first stages of bioproduction process industrialization (2018-2020).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005030/en/

Contacts:

GoLiver Therapeutics: Florence Portejoie I Tel: 33 6 07 76 82 83 I fportejoie@fp2com.fr


 Turnover of 131 million in year ended 31 January 2020

 Turnover up 25% from 104.7 million in 2018

 25% year-on-year growth over the last five years

 EBITDA up 40% at 13.6 million

 Net debt/EBITDA ratio steady at 3.0x

 0.92 EPS and 0.88 diluted EPS

Quadpack Industries (Euronext Growth: ALQP), manufacturer and provider of packaging solutions to the global beauty industry, is proud to announce record results for its 2019 financial year, maintaining a year-on-year compound growth of 25 per cent since 2015.

Quadpack closed 2019 with a turnover of 131 million, up 25 per cent over the previous year. Organic growth represented 15 per cent. EBITDA rose by 40 per cent, reaching 13.6 million and a healthy 10.4 per cent EBITDA margin (% of net sales). Net income reached 3.7 million with a net income margin (% of net sales) of 2.8 per cent and earnings per share of 0.92 and diluted earnings per share of 0.88.

The net debt/EBITDA ratio remained at 3.0x. Quadpack's organic net debt was only 1.6 million which followed a health leverage from previous years. Dividends were paid for the fourth consecutive year.

(In 'thousand) 2019 2018 Growth % Turnover 131,024 104,660 26,364 25% EBITDA 13,593 9,723 3,870 40% EBITDA margin (%) 10.40% 9.30% 1.10% EBIT 7,117 6,513 604 9% Financial -1,808 -1,510 -298 20% Tax -1,421 -1,353 -68 5% Net income 3,682 3,670 12 0%

IFRS accounting standards

Quadpack moved from Spanish GAAP to IFRS accounting standards in 2020, in order to align the presentation of the company financials with the standard on the Euronext stock market.

Strategic acquisitions

2019 saw the strongest inorganic growth since Quadpack started its M&A activity in 2013, with a knock-on effect on turnover. In the middle of 2019, Quadpack made two acquisitions in Germany: injection-moulding specialist Louvrette GmbH and the cosmetics business of engineering company Inotech. The 2019 exercise included the half-year results of both. The Inotech agreement also gave Quadpack the exclusive global commercial rights to its ground-breaking bi-injection blow-moulding (BIBM) technology. The operations form part of Quadpack's long-term business plan of increasing production capabilities by manufacturing in the region, for the region - a strategy which has placed it among the Top 10 beauty packaging providers in Europe.

Stock market listing

This strong position coincided with a transfer to the Euronext Growth stock market in Paris on 16 October. Following approval for direct admission by Euronext, the share price was 32.8 on the first day of trading, with a market capitalisation of 138 million. The listing will broaden the company's means to finance its double-digit growth.

Physical growth

In terms of physical expansion, Quadpack's headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, were supplemented by 800m2 of space dedicated to collaborative working areas, a larger test laboratory and a spectacular new showroom. In the Asia-Pacific region - one of Quadpack's three key territories alongside Europe and the Americas - the company inaugurated a bigger office in Seoul, Korea, to house its sourcing and service teams, as it seeks to balance its presence worldwide. The global family of Quadpackers rose by 200, with nearly 600 people now spread across four continents.

Sustainability and innovation

The company made significant advances in the areas of sustainability and innovation. At the close of 2019, Quadpack was appointed 'Preferred Global Cosmetics Packaging Partner' by Sulapac, a Finnish pioneer in biodegradable, microplastics-free materials. Quadpack will now develop new packaging formats using Sulapac material for global beauty brands.

An R&D partnership was forged with the engineering team of Inotech, to leverage its knowledge in sectors including automotive, telecoms and pharma tech to conceive new ideas for beauty packaging. Inotech's expertise will help Quadpack exploit the full potential of BIBM technology, a process which allows the production of packaging using two materials in one pass.

With Sulapac material, Louvrette's expert knowledge of injection moulding, Inotech's engineering know-how and the aesthetic and functional potential of BIBM, Quadpack expects to make great strides in R&D, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in creating sustainable, differentiated beauty packaging solutions.

In an exercise of transparency regarding its commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, the company is publishing for the first time its non-financial information report.

Facing the COVID-19 crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic makes it impossible to make full-year predictions for 2020. Quadpack's first quarter of 2020 was 24 million, 18% lower than budgeted. This is in line with the 20% average downturn experienced by the global beauty packaging industry. Nevertheless, Quadpack is confident that it will reach above 50 million in sales by the end of H1 2020. A gradual increase in business activity is already apparent and expectations for the performance of the second half of the year are prudently positive.

At present, a solid recovery plan is in effect, fully supported by all stakeholders, to help mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the business. The plan focuses on optimising costs and working capital and concentrating capital investment on strategic priorities. In addition, Quadpack has secured 20.5 million in financing, supported by its international bank pool, which will allow the Group to withstand aany downturn in the future, helping its customers and suppliers going forward.

"We entered the COVID-19 crisis with a reinforced balance sheet, solid liquidity position and a strong order book and we have reacted quickly, executing a comprehensive risk-mitigation plan that assures our business strategy in the short and medium term," said Quadpack CFO Bardo Bevelander.

Quadpack CEO Tim Eaves said: "The pandemic has been hard for everyone, but it has also validated our business strategy. The beauty packaging industry is a resilient one and our 'Little Big Company' model has provided a solid structure, along with the agility to adapt to radically-changing circumstances - to the point that we are in a position to help COVID-19 relief efforts through our factories and supply chain. It is clear to us that we need to keep investing in innovation, our facilities and our people, and to collaborate with the industry to create a more sustainable future for all."

In the meantime, a strong global presence, a diverse portfolio, a low organic net debt and a healthy working capital make for a robust financial situation from which to face the current challenges with a positive outlook.

-ENDS-

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GOD TV says Israel gov't wants to shut new Christian channel down, vows to obey regulations

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The head of the international Christian television network GOD TV confirmed that Israeli authorities are looking to shut down its new Hebrew-language Christian channel after concerns were raised about whether the channel will proselytize to Jews.

In a video to supporters posted over the weekend, GOD TV CEO Ward Simpson addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding Shelanu TV, which recently began airing on Israels HOT cable network.

Since we have started to broadcast, it has created quite a stir in Israel, he explained. The governing authorities that manage these things have been receiving numerous complaints about our content and about different things with the channel, especially as it relates to the rules and regulations of what can and cannot be said on TV in Israel.

Let me just tell you whats going on at the moment, Simpson continued. As far as we have been told, the [Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council] would like to shut down the channel. We have a great team of lawyers over there, probably the best in Israel. So they are working with the council now to try and figure out what to do.

As previously reported, GOD TV was given a seven-year license from the Israeli Communications Ministry and began airing last month. It billed itself as one of the first Christian channels in Israel to broadcast in Hebrew.

But reports surfaced with questions about Shelanu TVs intent to preach about Jesus Christ to Jews.

Evangelism and proselytizing in Israel is a touchy subject, Simpson admitted in his update video. In Israel, proselytizing to minors without their parents' consent is against the law. And under the terms of Shelanu TVs license, the network is forbidden from engaging in missionary activities.

Basically, our attorneys and our staff over there have all told me that we are in compliance and that we are following the rules and regulations, that we are legal and that there is no way that they can really pull us off the air because we havent done it, he said.

In case you dont know, proselytizing in Israel is a very touchy subject. For example, you cannot try to convert Jews. You cant try to make them become a Christian, for example, which we arent anyway. You cant do that to children for sure under 18. You cant offer a gift or a bribe or to pay somebody to come across to your beliefs. Those things you cant do and we dont do.

Simpson assured that Shelanu TV will follow all of the guidelines and regulations that govern its license.

We believe that the authorities, once they abide by the rules that they set for themselves and once they abide by the things they put in place, once this is all said and done, Shelanu TV will continue to broadcast in Israel, he said.

We have faith in the Israeli government and we have faith in their judicial system. We thank God that Israel is a nation that practices religion and freedom of worship. The fact that they gave us a license to broadcast Christian content in Hebrew is a testament to that truth. We thank God for them.

The CEO assured that GOD TV knows that preaching Jesus in Israel is an emotional subject and the network is sensitive to that fact. However, he stressed that preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what all Christians are called to do.

But thats what we do, he reiterated. Thats who we are. We are Christians. We are called to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Thats what we are trying to do and thats what we are doing with your help and Gods grace.

Simpson added that there are already some Jews who believe in Jesus as the Messiah.

As far as our Messianic Jewish brothers and sisters go, they havent converted, he explained. They dont convert. They continue to live their lives as Jews and they continue to practice Judaism for the most part. They just believe that Yeshua is the Messiah and they follow Him but they keep all of their traditions. They keep all of their practices.

Simpson also apologized for some language in an earlier video promoting Shelanu TV that some in Israel found offensive. Media reports suggested that Simpsons comments were indicative of Shelanu TVs intent to take Jesus into the homes and lives and hearts of the Jewish people.

I did apologize and I express regret for anything we might have said or done to create the appearance that we are not going to follow the guidelines," he said.

GOD TV is a supporter of the state of Israel and has been involved in providing aid to underprivileged kids and pregnant mothers there, he noted.

If you remember some time ago, the ministry of tourism made GOD TV an honorary ambassador, Simpson said.

According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Shelanu TVs license stipulates that the channel cant carry programs that have undue influence on viewers.

Council Chair Asher Biton told the newspaper that GOD TV originally informed the council that it would earmark its programing toward pro-Israel, Christian audiences.

Other Christian channels such as Daystar and Middle East Television are also given permission to broadcast in Israel.
BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc

(LEI: UK9OG5Q0CYUDFGRX4151)

Results of AGM

BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc announces that, at the Annual General Meeting held today, all 16 resolutions were duly passed on a poll.



The full text of the resolutions can be found in the Notice of Annual General Meeting set out in the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2019, which has previously been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and is available for inspection at:



https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism

The results of the poll were as follows:

Votes

For & Discretionary

% Votes

Against

% Votes Total % of Available voting rights* Votes

Withheld Resolution 1 26,394,069 100.00 0 0.00 26,394,069 67.23% 1,304 Resolution 2 26,339,697 99.86 35,814 0.14 26,375,511 67.18% 19,862 Resolution 3 26,227,629 99.87 34,782 0.13 26,262,411 66.89% 132,962 Resolution 4 26,363,410 99.89 28,814 0.11 26,392,224 67.22% 3,149 Resolution 5 26,391,322 100.00 0 0.00 26,391,322 67.22% 4,051 Resolution 6 26,355,841 99.98 4,726 0.02 26,360,567 67.14% 34,805 Resolution 7 25,485,521 96.64 886,324 3.36 26,371,845 67.17% 23,527 Resolution 8 26,360,209 100.00 359 0.00 26,360,568 67.14% 34,805 Resolution 9 26,390,710 100.00 359 0.00 26,391,069 67.22% 4,304 Resolution 10 26,376,387 99.98 6,404 0.02 26,382,791 67.20% 12,582 Resolution 11 26,377,609 99.99 2,182 0.01 26,379,791 67.19% 15,582 Resolution 12 26,394,223 100.00 0 0.00 26,394,223 67.23% 1,150 Resolution 13 26,390,030 99.99 3,845 0.01 26,393,875 67.23% 1,498 Resolution 14 26,386,652 99.97 8,245 0.03 26,394,897 67.23% 476 Resolution 15 26,362,730 99.89 30,112 0.11 26,392,842 67.23% 2,530 Resolution 16 26,372,054 99.99 1,391 0.01 26,373,445 67.18% 21,928



*Available Voting Rights (exc. Treasury) equals 39,259,620



29 June 2020


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Performing rights organization BMI warned President Donald Trump that there might be legal consequences if he continues to use The Rolling Stones' hit songs at his campaign rallies.



BMI issued a legal notice to Trump campaign after the rock band's 1969 hit 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' was played as Trump's walk-off theme at a sparsely attended rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 20.



'BMI has notified the Trump campaign on behalf of the Stones that the unauthorized use of their songs will constitute a breach of its licensing agreement. If Donald Trump disregards the exclusion and persists, then he would face a lawsuit for breaking the embargo and playing music that has not been licensed,' The Stones said in a statement.



'This could be the last time President Donald Trump uses Stones songs. Despite cease & desist directives to Donald Trump in the past, the Rolling Stones are taking further steps to exclude him using their songs at any of his future political campaigning,' the popular British said, adding that their legal team is working with BMI.



Trump played the Rolling Stones' recording of the song during the 2016 campaign appearances also. Although the campaign had attained a blanket licence from ASCAP, after the convention, the band said publicly that they do not endorse Trump and requested that he cease all use of their songs immediately.



Despite the requests to stop, Trump continued using the song at campaign rallies.



\According to Mick Jagger, who wrote the song, the band considers the use of the song as a play-out at rallies to be 'odd,' given that it is a 'sort of doomy ballad about drugs in Chelsea.'



'You Can't Always Get What You Want', from The Rolling Stones' 1969 album 'Let It Bleed', was named as the 100th greatest song of all time.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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A three-year contract to market the digital audio advertising spots of the two media groups

Regulatory News:

AudioValley (Paris:ALAVY) (Brussels:ALAVY), an international specialist in BtoB digital audio solutions (ISIN Code: BE0974334667/Ticker: ALAVY) is announcing it has won a major tender issued by Radio France and France Medias Monde.

It involves a three-year contract, which comes after an initial three-year contract signed with Radio France.

Following an international tender, Targetspot stood out from the competition thanks to the expertise of its teams assigned to the project and the technological excellence of its audience monetisation platform. Radio France has once again put its trust in Targetspot by awarding it the two lots of its tender for the commercialisation of its podcasts, AOD (Audio On Demand) and France Medias Monde live flows.

A pioneer in digital audio at international level, Targetspot was awarded both lots despite tough competition and participation by all sector players.

The first lot covers direct sales of the digital advertising spots on podcasts and AOD. The second lot covers programmatic sales and high-tech solutions (adserving, service trafficking, targeting).

Targetspot will therefore be responsible for the monetisation, through direct and programmatic sales, of all digital audio content for Radio France and France Medias Monde, both in France and internationally. Media agencies and announcers can thus benefit from Targetspot's unique technological expertise and its range of platform services (promotion, advanced targeting, broadcasting, optimisation of advertising campaigns and reporting).

This contract with Radio France and France Medias Monde will take effect from 1 July 2020 for a period of three years.

Alexandre Saboundjian, CEO and founder of AudioValley, comments: "The pioneering work in digital audio by Targetspot with the teams of Radio France over many years is showing results. We are delighted to have won this tender which is tangible confirmation of the leading edge technical solutions provided by Targetspot, as well as the capacity of our teams to meet the commercial demands, in France and internationally, of France's two media giants."

NEXT EVENT

First-half 2020 revenue

Monday July 27, 2020 (after market close)

About Stingray

Montreal-based Stingray Group Inc. (TSX: RAY.A; RAY.B) is a leading music, media, and technology company with over 1,200 employees worldwide. Stingray is a premium provider of curated direct-to-consumer and B2B services, including audio television channels, more than 100 radio stations, SVOD content, 4K UHD television channels, karaoke products, digital signage, in-store music, and music apps, which have been downloaded over 150 million times. Stingray reaches 400 million subscribers (or users) in 156 countries. For more information: www.stingray.com

About Targetspot

Targetspot, a division of AudioValley (Euronext Growth Paris Brussels: ALAVY; BE0974334667), is the the most advanced digital audio advertising platform. The company's broad and diversified offering allows publishers and advertisers to cast, play and sell their digital audio assets. As a pioneer in audio streaming, ad serving and programmatic advertising, Targetspot connects advertisers, publishers and listeners through proprietary technology and cross-device solutions. For more information: www.targetspot.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005643/en/

Contacts:

AUDIOVALLEY

Sebastien Veldeman

+ 32 (0) 2 466 31 60

investorrelations@audiovalley.com

ACTIFIN, financial communications

Victoire Demeestere

+33 (0)1 56 88 11 11

vdemeestere@actifin.fr

ACTIFIN, financial press relations

Jennifer Jullia

+33 (0)1 56 88 11 19

jjullia@actifin.fr

investorrelations@audiovalley.com

BACKSTAGE COM, Belgium

Gunther De Backer

+32 (0)475 903 909

gunther@backstagecom.be
L'Oreal has finalised the sale of Roger & Gallet to Impala

Clichy, 29 June 2020 - L'Oreal and the French investment holding Impala have today finalised the sale of the Roger & Gallet brand, following the announcement of 4 February 2020.

About L'Oreal

L'Oreal has devoted itself to beauty for over 100 years. With its unique international portfolio of 36 diverse and complementary brands, the Group generated sales amounting to 29.87 billion euros in 2019 and employs 88,000 people worldwide. As the world's leading beauty company, L'Oreal is present across all distribution networks: mass market, department stores, pharmacies and drugstores, hair salons, travel retail, branded retail and e-commerce.

Research and innovation, and a dedicated research team of 4,100 people, are at the core of L'Oreal's strategy, working to meet beauty aspirations all over the world. L'Oreal sets out ambitious sustainable development goals across the Group for 2030 and aims to empower its ecosystem for a more inclusive and sustainable society.

More information: https://mediaroom.loreal.com/





"This press release does not constitute an offer of sale or solicitation of an offer to purchase L'Oreal shares. If you wish to obtain more comprehensive information about L'Oreal, please refer to the public documents registered in France with the Autorite des Marches Financiers, also available in English on our website www.loreal-finance.com.

This press release may contain forecast information. While the Company believes that these statements are based on reasonable assumptions as of the date of publication of this press release, they are by nature subject to risks and uncertainties which may lead to a discrepancy between the actual figures and those indicated or suggested in these statements."

L'OREAL contacts (switchboard: +33 (0)1 47 56 70 00)

Individual Shareholders and Market Regulators

Christian MUNICH - Tel.: +33

Financial Analysts and Institutional Investors

Francoise LAUVIN - Tel.: +33

Media

Polina HUARD - Tel.: +33

For more information, please consult banks, brokerage firms or financial institutionsor the L'Oreal Finance mobile application, or call the freephone number: 0800 66 66 66.

www.loreal.com- Follow us on Twitter @Loreal

Attachment
OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 29, 2020 / Innovative Medicines Canada released the following statement today in response to the Federal Court of Canada's decision on its judicial review application regarding the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board amendments to the Patented Medicines Regulations:

"We have just received the Federal Court's decision and are reviewing it with our members and with counsel to assess its impact.

"We remain deeply concerned about the negative impact the amended Patented Medicines Regulations will have on Canadians' access to affordable, innovative medicines, and on the country's ability to attract investment to our life-sciences sector.

"The innovative medicines industry has demonstrated its vital role in the health and well-being of Canadians through the COVID-19 crisis, and we must foster a regulatory environment that encourages it to grow and thrive.

"We will closely review the decision with our members to assess its impact on patients and on investment, and determine any next steps."

About Innovative Medicines Canada

Learn more about how our member companies are contributing to the fight against COVID-19.

Innovative Medicines Canada is the national voice of Canada's innovative pharmaceutical industry. We advocate for policies that enable the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines and vaccines that improve the lives of all Canadians. We support our members' commitment to being valued partners in the Canadian healthcare system.

- 30 -

For further information:

Sarah Dion-Marquis

Director, Media and Public Relations

Telephone: 613-769-6510

E-mail: sdmarquis@imc-mnc.ca

SOURCE: Innovative Medicines Canada

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/595606/Innovative-Medicines-Canada-Responds-To-Federal-Court-Decision-Regarding-PMPRB-Regulatory-Changes
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 29, 2020 / World-Class Extractions Inc. (CSE:PUMP) (FRA:WCF) (OTCQB:WCEXF) (the "Company" or "World-Class") is pleased to announce the results from its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on Friday, June 26, 2020 (the "AGM") in Burnaby, BC.

Shareholders holding a total of 67,713,844 common shares were represented in person or by proxy at the AGM, representing 10.83% of the votes attached to all outstanding common shares of the Company as at the record date. Shareholders voted in favour of all the matters submitted before the AGM as set out in the Notice of Meeting and Information Circular dated May 19, 2020, including:

Setting the size of the Board to five directors and electing the following as directors until the next annual shareholder meeting of the Company: Rosy Mondin, Chand Jagpal, Anthony Durkacz, Donal Carroll and Michael Galloro; Appointing MNP, LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the Company's auditor for the ensuing year; and To create a new class of an unlimited number of Class "A", Class "B", Class "C", Class "D", and Class "E" preferred shares issuable in one or more series and amend the Articles of the Company to include any necessary rights and restrictions.

Subsequent to the AGM, the Board re-appointed Mr. Anthony Durkacz as Chairman of the Board and Mr. Donal Carroll, Mr. Chand Jagpal and Mr. Michael Galloro as members of the Audit Committee.

About World-Class Extractions

World- Class is an innovation-driven company with a principle focus on the rapidly evolving cannabis and hemp industries. Through its subsidiaries Soma Labs Scientific Inc. and Greenmantle Products Inc., World-Class deploys and manages custom-built extraction centres utilizing its custom systems, technology, and processes to efficiently produce high-quality cannabis and hemp concentrates and end-products. In addition, through its subsidiary Pineapple Express Delivery Inc. the Company offers compliant and secure delivery of government regulated products, including medical and recreational cannabis in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and liquor delivery in certain jurisdictions in Saskatchewan.

Investor Contact

Daniel Mogil

World-Class Investor Relations

1-604-723-7480

ir@worldclassextractions.com

https://worldclassextractions.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management of the Company.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws, the ability of Pineapple Express Delivery to expand its delivery services and to provide discrete shipment of products to Shoppers Drug Mart customers. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

SOURCE: World-Class Extractions Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/595612/World-Class-Extractions-Announces-AGM-Results
TORONTO, ON and NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 29, 2020 / Eyecarrot Innovations Corp., (Eyecarrot) (TSX-V:EYC)(OTCQB:EYCCF)(2EYA:GR) a leader is neuro-vision performance technology, announces that its Board of Directors has approved a name change from Eyecarrot Innovations Corp. to Binovi Technologies Corp. In connection with the name change, the Company's trading symbol on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") will be changed to 'VISN'. It is expected that the name change will be effected on or about June 30, 2020 and the Company's common shares will begin trading under the new name and symbol upon market open on Thursday July 2, 2020, subject to final approval by TSXV. The CUSIP number assigned to the Company's shares following the name change is 09076N109 (ISIN: CA09076N1096). No action is required to be taken by shareholders with respect to the name change. Outstanding share and warrant certificates are not affected by the name change and do not need to be exchanged.

Postponement of Annual Financial Statements

The Company announces the postponement of filing its annual financial statements and management's discussion and analysis (collectively the "Annual Statements") for the year ended February 29, 2020 due to logistics and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Company is relying on exemptive relief granted by Canadian securities regulatory authorities that allows it to delay the filing of its Annual Statements required by sections 4.2 and 5.12(2) of National Instrument 51-102 due to be filed by June 29, 2020. In response to the coronavirus disease pandemic, securities regulatory authorities in Canada have granted a blanket exemption allowing issuers an additional 45 days to complete their regulatory filings.

Eyecarrot anticipates that its Annual Statements will be available for filing at its earliest opportunity, which is expected to occur on or before August 12, 2020. Until such time as the Annual Statements are filed, the Company's management and insiders are subject to a trading blackout that reflects the principals contained in section 9 of National Policy 11-207 - Failure-to-File Cease Trade Orders and Revocations in Multiple Jurisdictions.

Other than as previously disclosed by the Company in news releases, there have been no material business developments since the date of the last interim financial statements filed on January 30, 2020, copies of which are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company will be providing an update news release on the status of filing its February 29, 2020 audited financial statements and its May 30, 2020 first quarter unaudited financial statements by July 29, 2020.

AGORACOM Agreement

The Company announces that further to its news release dated April 28, 2020, it will make its first issuance of shares under its online marketing and awareness program with Agora Internet Relations Corp. ("AGORACOM"). Pursuant to this first tranche, the Company will issue 52,154 common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.26. AGORACOM's program includes a "CEO Verified" Discussion Forum. The forum serves as the Company's primary social media platform to interact with both shareholders and the broader investment community in a fully moderated environment.

The Eyecarrot HUB can be found at https://agoracom.com/ir/EyecarrotInnovations.

For additional information on the Company, please visit https://www.eyecarrot.com/investors/.

About Binovi by Eyecarrot

Eyecarrot Innovations Corp. is a human performance technology company that has developed Binovi, a hardware and software-centered platform. Binovi combines hardware, software, specialized expert knowledge, and unique big data insights in order to deliver customized one-on-one training and treatment. Binovi is designed for vision optimization and the enhancement of cognitive skills related to human performance. We are working together under a common banner to help neuro-optometry, vision rehabilitation, and vision performance professionals gain measurable results in less time, and with less effort.

Terry Booth

Executive Chairman

Adam Cegielski

Founder | CEO

Investor Relations

Email: invest@eyecarrot.com

Toll-free: 1 (844) 866-6162

https://www.eyecarrot.com/investors/

Forward looking information

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations, and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that the Company obtains regulatory approval. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, that occurrences such as those referred to above are realized and result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company's financial condition and development plans change, and delays in regulatory approval, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.

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: Eyecarrot Innovations Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/595608/Eyecarrot-Announces-Change-of-Name-to-Binovi-Technologies-Corp-and-the-Postponement-of-Annual-Financial-Statements
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Switzerland stock market ended marginally higher on Monday after a choppy session. The mood was cautious right through the day with investors digesting news about coronavirus cases, and economic data from across the globe. Activity was somewhat stock specific with corporate news providing some direction. The benchmark SMI ended up 18.55 points or 0.18% at 10,060.46 after scaling a low of 10,004.26 and a high of 10,080.85 intraday. Zurich's health authority announced that it has ordered a 10-day quarantine for about 300 guests and staff of a nightclub after a reveler tested positive for the coronavirus and had been proven to have infected others during his outing. Novartis edged up marginally. The drugmaker said that it has withdrawn an application for European approval of its Xiidra dry eye medicine after regulators concluded its effectiveness had not been demonstrated and that its benefits did not outweigh risks. Roche Holding's chairman has reportedly said that the company is unable to meet demand for molecular tests to identify active COVID-19 infections. Shares of the company declined by about 0.7%. LafargeHolcim, ABB, Credit Suisse and Geberit gained 1.3 to 1.7%. SIka, Swatch Group, Swiss Re and UBS Group gained 0.9 to 1%. In the midcap section, AMS gained more than 5%. OC Oerlikon Corp advanced 4.4%. Helvetia, Dorma Kaba Holding, Clariant, Schindler Holding, Georg Fischer, Logitech, Schindler Ps and Lindt & Spruengli gained 1.5 to 2.5%. Sonova and BB Biotech lost 1.4% and 1.25%, respectively, while Temenos Group, Vifor Pharma and Flughafen Zurich lost 0.7 to 1%. Gilead Sciences' announcement about pricing plans for its coronavirus drug remdesivir contributed a bit to the gains in European markets today. Among the major indices, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 climbed 1.08%, Germany's DAX gained 1.18% and France's CAC 40 advanced 0.73%. The pan European Stoxx 600 ended up 0.44%. 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.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 29, 2020) - Good2Go2 Corp. (TSXV: GOAL.P) ("G2G2" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a conditional letter of intent (the "LOI") effective June 24, 2020, to complete a qualifying transaction (the "Acquisition") pursuant to which the Company will, directly or indirectly, acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of Canadian Teleradiology Services, Inc. ("CTS"), an arm's length Canadian company whose principal business activity is providing teleradiology services (medical imaging procedures using computer-processed combinations and computed tomography via secured remote interface) to client hospitals, using licensed IT platforms and hosted servers.

The Acquisition may be structured as a three-cornered amalgamation, share exchange, plan of arrangement or other similarly structured transaction as may be agreed upon by the parties, and effectively a reverse takeover transaction whereby CTS will ultimately be acquired by the Company in accordance with the rules and policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Company intends that the Acquisition will constitute its Qualifying Transaction (as such term is defined in the policies of the Exchange). For the purposes of the Acquisition, it is intended that the securityholders of CTS will receive 27,275,000 common shares on a post-consolidated basis (as defined below) of the Company (the "G2G2 Shares"), in exchange for 100% of the securities of CTS (the "CTS Shares").

Upon successful completion of the Acquisition, it is anticipated that the Company will be listed on the Exchange as a tier 2 industrial technology issuer. For convenience, the Company, after the completion of the Acquisition, is referred to herein as the "Resulting Issuer".

CTS

CTS was incorporated on October 15, 2004, under the Canada Business Corporations Act

CTS is in the telehealth services business as it provides Teleradiology services to Canadian hospitals. CTS services include, but are not limited to, reading medical imaging procedures using computer-processed combinations computed tomography scan, "CT", Magnetic Resonance Imaging "MRI", Ultra Sound, and X-ray on an around the clock basis providing reporting and workflow solutions via secured server according to client hospital needs. Teleradiology is the process of providing remote off site reading of radiology scans. Hospital staff can scan their emergency room patients, then page the CTS radiologist on call, who can then remotely view, via secured server, the images and diagnose the patient and provide a report back to the hospital.

Teleradiology is the next level of patient care that assists small urban and rural hospitals to be connected with 24/7 care, ensuring even small communities receive the same care that large urban hospitals receive.

The principal shareholders of CTS are Mitchell Geisler, CTS's Chief Executive Officer, Robert Landau, CTS's Chief Financial Officer and Medical Imaging Corp., a Nevada company ("Medical Imaging") controlled by Mitchell Geisler and Robert Landau.

Good2Go2 Corp.

G2G was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on March 19, 2019 and is a capital pool company listed on the Exchange. G2G has no commercial operations and has no assets other than cash.

The Acquisition

Pursuant to the LOI, the Acquisition is subject to the parties successfully entering into a definitive business combination agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") in respect of the Acquisition on or before June 30, 2020 or such other date as G2G2 and CTS may mutually agree. Completion of the proposed Acquisition is also subject to a number of other conditions, including but not limited to: completion of customary due diligence, receipt of all necessary regulatory, corporate and third-party approvals, Exchange approval, compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, and all requisite board and shareholder approvals being obtained, including approval of the shareholders of CTS for the Acquisition, and the approval of shareholders of G2G2 for certain corporate matters related to the Acquisition. No finder's fee is payable in connection with the Acquisition.

If, as or when the Acquisition is completed, it is anticipated that the board of directors of the Resulting Issuer will consist of four (4) directors (the "New Directors") of which one independent director will be nominated by G2G2 and one independent director nominated by CTS and 2 directors being the current CEO and CFO of CTS and to be elected at a meeting of the shareholders of G2G2. The New Directors will appoint the executive officers of the Resulting Issuer.

It is anticipated that the persons identified below will serve as directors, officers and management of the Resulting Issuer, with additional appointments to be confirmed in due course.

Mitchell Geisler, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Mr. Geisler has been the CEO and a director of CTS since 2010 and has overseen its operations and growth. Mitch is a seasoned entrepreneur in multiple sectors including healthcare, mining and hospitality. Mitch has built companies from the ground up and has extensive experience in operations management and oversight. Implementing policies and procedures, directing marketing and growth strategies, and providing initiatives for long term corporate success. Mitch has a Bachelor of Arts degree from York University.

Robert Landau, Chief Financial Officer and Director

Mr. Landau has been working as a consultant to CTS since 2009 and became its CFO in 2019 and a director in 2020. He has advised on its operational growth and accounting matters. Rob has many years of experience with corporate finance and structuring, corporate accounting and auditing as well as working with start-up companies. Rob has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.

It is anticipated that the completion of the Acquisition will involve, among other things, the following steps, however, the parties may agree to include additional or alternative steps based on tax efficiencies and the advice of their respective legal and financial advisors:

the consolidation of the G2G2 Shares, and other securities of G2G2, on the basis of one new share for every two old shares prior to completion of the Acquisition (the "Consolidation");

CTS will complete the Financing (as defined below) or a non-brokered private placement in accordance with Exchange policies;

a name change pursuant to which G2G2 will change its name to Good2Go Health Inc. or such other name as may be reasonably determined by CTS, and subject to shareholder approval;

following the issuance by G2G2 of G2G2 Shares to the holders of CTS Shares (following the Consolidation) in exchange for all of the outstanding CTS Shares, CTS would become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company;

receipt of all director, shareholder and regulatory approvals relating to the Acquisition, including, without limitation, the approval of the Exchange; and

each of the parties shall have executed, delivered and performed all covenants on their respective parts to be performed under the Definitive Agreement, and all representations and warranties of each party contained in the Definitive Agreement shall be true and correct at the time of closing of the Acquisition.

Certain of the G2G2 Shares issuable pursuant to the Acquisition may be subject to the escrow requirements of the Exchange and hold periods as required by applicable securities laws.

The Financing

As a condition of closing of the Acquisition, CTS is expected to raise a minimum of CAD$4,000,000. CTS intends to complete a brokered private placement financing of subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to CAD$5,000,000 (the "Financing"). Mackie Research Capital will act as lead agent and sole bookrunner on behalf of a syndicate of agents in connection with the Financing to offer the Subscription Receipts for sale, on a commercially reasonable efforts agency basis. It is expected that the proceeds of the Financing will be used for business development and advancing patient care in small urban and rural settings and general corporate purposes.

Sponsor

The proposed Acquisition may be subject to the sponsorship requirements of the Exchange, unless a waiver or exemption from the sponsorship requirement is available. If required, a sponsor will be identified at a later date and will be announced in a subsequent press release. An agreement to sponsor should not be construed as an assurance with respect to the merits of the transaction or the likelihood of completion of the proposed Acquisition.

Pro Forma Capitalization

The table below demonstrates the anticipated non-diluted capitalization of the Resulting Issuer post Qualifying Transaction and Financing, assuming completion of the minimum Financing, and lists the number of common shares of the Resulting Issuer anticipated to be held by the CTS Shareholders, G2G2 Shareholders and investors in the Financing.

Number of Resulting Issuer Shares Issued and Outstanding Post-Qualifying Transaction Assuming Minimum Financing and completion of the Consolidations Percentage of Resulting Issuer Shares Post-Qualifying Transaction Assuming Minimum Financing and completion of the Consolidations Resulting Issuer Shares held by G2G2 Shareholders 2,725,000 6.8% Resulting Issuer Shares held by Former CTS Shareholders 27,275,000 68.2% Resulting Issuer Shares held by investors in the Financing 10,000,000 25.0% Total: 40,000,000 100%

Trading in G2G2 Shares

Trading in the Company's shares has been halted in compliance with the policies of the Exchange. Trading in the Company's shares will remain halted pending the review of the proposed Acquisition by the Exchange and satisfaction of the conditions of the Exchange for resumption of trading. It is likely that trading in the shares of the Company will not resume prior to the closing of the Acquisition.

Disclosure and Caution

Further details about the proposed Acquisition and the Resulting Issuer will be provided in a comprehensive press release when the parties enter into a Definitive Agreement and in the disclosure document to be prepared and filed in respect of the Acquisition. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the disclosure document, any information released or received with respect to the Acquisition may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon.

All information provided in this press release relating to CTS has been provided by management of CTS and has not been independently verified by management of the Company. As the date of this press release, the Company has not completed a Definitive Agreement with CTS and readers are cautioned that there can be no assurances that a Definitive Agreement will be executed, or that the Acquisition will be completed.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the disclosure document to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Acquisition may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in securities of Good2Go2 Corp. should be considered highly speculative.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the proposal to complete the Qualifying Transaction and associated transactions that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the parties will not proceed with the Qualifying Transaction and associated transactions, that the ultimate terms of the Qualifying Transaction, and associated transactions will differ from those that currently are contemplated, and that the Qualifying Transaction and associated transactions will not be successfully completed for any reason (including the failure to obtain the required approvals or clearances from regulatory authorities).

Completion of the Qualifying Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including, but not limited to, Exchange acceptance, the availability of funds, the results of Financing efforts, the parties' due diligence reviews, and general market conditions. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Other conditions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time on SEDAR (see www.sedar.com). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Good2Go2 Corp.

James Cassina, President

cassina@bellnet.ca

Canadian Teleradiology Services, Inc.

Mitchell Geisler, Chief Executive Officer

mitch@ctsrad.com

Not for distribution to US newswire services or for release, publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58808
Coquitlam, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 29, 2020) - Captiva Verde Land Corp. (CSE: PWR) (the "Company") is extremely pleased to announce that Solargram Farms Corporation ("Solargram"), a Canadian controlled private corporation, having corporate offices in Moncton, NB has officially received its Standard Cultivation Cannabis License from Health Canada. The license was issued in accordance with the Canadian Cannabis Act and Cannabis Regulations. 100% of the Solargrams shares are held in an escrow account ready to be transferred to Captiva Verde in exchange for 35 Million Captiva shares subject to a tight pooling agreement, subject to Health Canada approving the application by all the Captiva Verde officers and directors to pass a security clearance and CSE approval.

Under this Health Canada License, Solargram is now authorized at its site location to conduct the activities listed below:

From its indoor-area special purpose, state of the art Greenhouse facility: cultivation, propagating, testing, harvesting, and selling cannabis,

From its custom designed, massive outdoor farm grow area: cultivation, propagation, and harvesting cannabis.

It has taken Solargram eighteen (18) months to have achieved this major milestone while recently completing final installation of its New Brunswick 5.6 million square feet grow infrastructure build out located in Renauds Mills, New Brunswick in anticipation of receiving its Standard Cannabis Cultivation License.

The CEO of Captiva Verde Jeff Ciachurski states: "With this exciting news release I declare my intention to purchase 500,000 additional shares of Captive Verde on the open market and as CEO of Greenbriar Capital Corp (which already owns 10.7 million shares of Captiva Verde) declares its intention to seek Toronto Venture Exchange approval to purchase an addition 3 million shares of Captiva Verde on the open market.

Renauds Mills Site Infrastructure Buildout Results

Over the last six months through the best winter and spring conditions in the area in over a decade, the extremely dedicated and focused Solargram team led by Len Wood, Executive Vice President

Captiva Verde and Vice President Solargram Farms, and Marc LeBlanc, President Solargram Farms, have amazingly achieved:

Installation of over 8,000 feet of security perimeter fencing over approximately 50 acres,

Implementation of one of Canada's top robust, lowest-cost outdoor farm grown cannabis cultivation facilities having significant, highly cost efficient, infrastructure assets,

Purchasing and integrating an approximate 130 land acres package together with an onsite six million gallon water holding pond as well as high capacity water wells to self-serve our planned cannabis outdoor grow farm,

Purchasing, renovating, and repurposing three onsite buildings totalling over 36,000 square feet, allowing for vertically integrated seed-to-sale, onsite propagating mothers and clones, de-bucking, milling, drying, and extraction operation capabilities for 2020 and beyond. Outdoor farm cannabis crop planting now underway to produce an expected year one 10,000+ kg's of dried cannabis over 25 acres (1,100,000 square feet) with combination hoop house crop coverage including specific designed additional micro climate grow areas to achieve for increased crop protection and maximization of cannabis grow cultivation yield.

Site infrastructure buildout was fully funded, completed on time, and was completed 65% under original capital budget. We remain completely debt free, and are now funded for our 2020 grow season.

Len Wood states, "Marc and I wish to congratulate all of our team members for their immense effort and dedication in aiding Solargram to achieve this amazing Health Canada licensing milestone. We have truly created an operation that is built for success based on sound business practices including fiscal responsibility as well as planned positive sustainable operating cash-flows, which is a real business. We wish to thank all of our loyal stakeholders that have continued to support our vision while understanding our mission to create a unique Canadian Licenced Producer cannabis market leader that will show and demonstrate the business model required to produce sustainable positive annual cash flow profits, while providing enhanced returns for our shareholders."

Captiva Verde is proud that the company has now positioned Solargram's world class team of experienced operators and growers with a financially debt-free, fully developed set of land assets, growing assets, buildings, proprietary IP and technological expertise to successfully run and operate significantly planned, vertically integrated, cannabis outdoor grow farm land acreages at a planned and budgeted ultra-low sub $0.25 production grow cost per gram. Outdoor grow is a major market disruptor and differentiator and this will allow Solargram to sell its planned high cannabinoid full spectrum cannabis oil products at prices that are significantly below its competitors cost of production as well as below black market pricing. Outdoor is a game changer and will allow our company to become an effective leader in this market.

Solargram has a five year planned outdoor farm grown production capacity in excess of 130 farm acres at the Renaud Mills New Brunswick outdoor grow site alone representing over 65,000 kg's of dried cannabis targeted for end product full spectrum cannabis oil (THC, THCV, CBD, CBG, CBD-THC) concentrate for export as well as for end product, best in class unique cannabis and edible products.

According to The Guardian less than 10% of Canada's current legal cannabis products are derived from outdoor operations. Sun grown outdoor plants have the lowest cost with consistent high yields and potency, providing consumers with an opportunity to choose from a selection of natural and healthier products than what the market currently offers. Publicly released results from three (3) Canadian outdoor licensed grow facilities in 2019 reported cash costs of between eight (8) cents to twenty-four (24) cents per gram. The new successful companies like Solargram, can provide both a superior product and a price point, inclusive of taxes, that is well below the black market rates, which the latter currently outperforms the legal market at a rate of more than three to one.

Solargram embraces the experiences of long time growing veterans, scientist and proven business leaders whose collective experience together, puts cannabis where its intention is most valued, to the trusted consumer. Cannabis is an evolutionary business within a revolutionary change of politics. The torch is being handed back to veteran growers, scientist and proven business leaders who understand the original intent of legalization, which is to have the lowest cost, first in class products available to everyone.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors



"Jeff Ciachurski"

Jeffrey Ciachurski

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Cell: (949) 903-5906

E-mail: westernwind@shaw.ca

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/58815
Historic St. John's Church gets security fencing in response to repeated abuse from protesters

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St. Johns Episcopal Church, the historic Washington, D.C., congregation based near the White House, agreed to have security fencing erected in response to repeated vandalism on its property.

Recently, the church property has been at the center of vandalism and violent encounters between police and protesters following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

St. Johns Church Rector the Rev. Robert W. Fisher sent a message to the parish last week, the letter being cosigned by Senior Warden Paul Barkett and Junior Warden Jeff Hantson. Fisher explained that church leadership was contacted by city officials about building protective fencing around their property, in light of renewed violence.

After a thorough discussion, the church explained, and after discussing matters with Bishop Mariann Budde, head of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, we reluctantly agreed to the fencing.

While we hate both the fencing and the boarded-up windows, one of our main responsibilities as rector and wardens is to protect the buildings. Our hope is to remove both the fencing and plywood as soon as practicable.

The parish letter went on to note that, in the meantime, they have much work to do regarding various matters, including plans to eventually return to holding in-person worship services.

In the coming weeks we must return our attention to regathering and reengaging our congregation, while continuing the conversation on racial healing that we started the past two Sundays, the message continued.

Our Regathering Task Force is hard at work planning for our safe return to in-person worship. A survey on that topic will be released shortly.

Drawing its history back to the early 19th century, St. Johns is known as the church of the presidents as many commanders-in-chief have attended worship there over the generations.

During the recent upheavals regarding police brutality and racism, the property of St. Johns was the victim of an arson attack and, later on, was spray-painted with graffiti.

The church was also the subject of a controversial photo-op by President Donald Trump, who posed outside of the building holding a Bible after police cleared out demonstrators.
Regulatory News:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) ("PSH") today announced that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's Public Shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"):

Trading Venue: London Stock Exchange Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 29 June 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 14,708 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,904 pence 23.36 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,884 pence 23.12 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,899 pence 23.31 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 29 June 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 25,417 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 23.40 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 23.20 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 23.31 USD

PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 34.48 USD 27.55 GBP which was calculated as of 23 June 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 195,750,623 Public Shares outstanding, or 201,680,858 Public Shares calculated on a fully diluted basis (assuming that all Management Shares had been converted into Public Shares at the Relevant NAV). Excluded from the shares outstanding are 15,206,127 Public Shares held in Treasury. The prices per Public Share were calculated by Jefferies.

The number of PSH Management Shares and the one special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) have not been affected.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005758/en/

Contacts:

Camarco

Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
HONG KONG, June 30, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Blockpass today heralded a number of published academic research papers that members of the Blockpass Identity Lab (BIL) at Edinburgh Napier University led or contributed to in recent weeks.Members of the Blockpass Identity Lab team exclusively published articles including "A Distributed Trust Framework for Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning" that will be presented at the 17th International Conference on Trust, Privacy and Security in Digital Business - TrustBus2020 in Bratislava, Slovakia on 14-17 September 2020.Lab Head William J. Buchanan OBE, Will Abramson, Owen Lo, Adam James Hall, Pavlos Papadopoulos and Nikolaos Pitropakis contributed to the paper. The paper details a proof of concept using Hyperledger Aries, Decentralised Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs) to establish a distributed trust architecture during a privacy-preserving machine learning experiment. Specifically, they utilise secure and authenticated DID communication channels in order to facilitate a federated learning workflow related to mental health care data.Blockpass Identity Lab members also played a significant role in the research on "Privacy-Preserving Passive DNS" where they utilized Hyperledger Fabric as a permissioned blockchain for storing and retrieving data to support the use of a passive DNS database for analysis and historical overview of data.Professor Buchanan also recently was an author of "CASCF: Certificateless Aggregated SignCryption Framework for Internet-of-Things Infrastructure", recently accepted for publication in a future issue of IEEE Access, as well as "A Privacy Preserving Distributed Ledger Framework for Global Human Resource Record Management: The Blockchain Aspect", published in volume 8 of IEEE on 18 May 2020."The quality of work and research that continues to come out of the BIL and Edinburgh Napier University is nothing short of outstanding," said Blockpass CEO Adam Vaziri. "These advances will lead to the development of privacy-focussed, user-centric solutions that can solve some of the big problems we face in our society. We at Blockpass look forward to working on products that leverage these advances to provide the most secure and robust identity management for users and businesses alike."Professor Buchanan noted "We have repeatedly seen the danger of inadequate security and privacy measures in the wide range of data breaches and mishandling of data that we read about on a far-too regular basis. New technology and advanced cryptography hold the key to making sure our personal data and identities remain private. Working with Blockpass, we hope to continue working on and releasing more papers to advance this area."Blockpass continues to be committed to decentralized digital identity (DDID), both through ongoing updates to its mobile identity vault in iOS and Android app stores and its support of the groundbreaking research at the Blockpass Identity Lab at Edinburgh Napier University.The Blockpass platform is fully automated and hosted in the cloud, with no integration or setup fee. Within minutes, businesses can sign up to the KYC Connect console, test out the service, and start conducting identity documents verification, KYC and AML checks. Sign up for FREE at console.blockpass.org.About BlockpassBlockpass is a unique, reusable digital identity (DID) solution for any organizations that participate in regulated industries and in the increasingly remote business environment where trust needs to be verified digitally. Blockpass offers an alternative process to cumbersome, repetitive and expensive Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks through a seamless merchant dashboard that is setup immediately with pay-as-you-go and no initial fee. Blockpass' KYC Connect platform enables businesses to select requirements for customer onboarding that can include ID authentication, face-matching, address checking, AML ongoing monitoring and/or screening of sanctions lists, politically exposed persons (PEP), and adverse media. Through Blockpass, end-users easily create a verified portable identity that they can control and re-use to onboard with any service instantly.For more information and updates, please visit and sign up to the following:Promotional video: https://youtu.be/SvO2cw3e-SIWebsite: http://www.blockpass.orgEmail: sales@blockpass.orgSource: Blockpass IDNCopyright 2020 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African media and e-commerce group Naspers reported a 4.5% drop in profit for the year to March 31, mainly on investments to drive growth in its food delivery business. Core headline earnings per share (HEPS) - the main profit measure in South Africa - fell to $6.57 from $6.87 a year earlier, it said on Monday. The company had estimated that HEPS would drop by 10-16%

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African media and e-commerce group Naspers reported a 4.5% drop in profit for the year to March 31, mainly on investments to drive growth in its food delivery business.

Core headline earnings per share (HEPS) - the main profit measure in South Africa - fell to $6.57 from $6.87 a year earlier, it said on Monday. The company had estimated that HEPS would drop by 10-16%.

The results were announced after the stock market closed with the technology giant's shares up 0.3%.

(Reporting by Promit Mukherjee; Editing by David Goodman)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
(Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc will stop advertising on Facebook Inc , FOX Business Network reported https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/pepsi-facebook-ad-boycott on Sunday, citing sources. The halt on advertising will run through July and August, the report said.

(Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc will stop advertising on Facebook Inc , FOX Business Network reported https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/pepsi-facebook-ad-boycott on Sunday, citing sources.

The halt on advertising will run through July and August, the report said. Sources described the move as a "global boycott" on placing Facebook ads, the report said.

PepsiCo did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

The food and beverage company joins a growing number of companies pulling ad dollars from Facebook, including ice-cream maker Ben & Jerry's and Unilever PLC .

(This story has been refiled to fix outlet's title)

(Reporting by Juby Babu in Bengaluru; Editing by Daniel Wallis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Tom Arnold LONDON (Reuters) - Sovereign wealth funds have participated in $17 billion of venture capital deals so far this year, already more than the entirety of 2019, as their appetite for long-term investment appears undimmed by the coronavirus outbreak.

By Tom Arnold

LONDON (Reuters) - Sovereign wealth funds have participated in $17 billion of venture capital deals so far this year, already more than the entirety of 2019, as their appetite for long-term investment appears undimmed by the coronavirus outbreak.

The investments are against a backdrop of a generally subdued deal-making environment across the venture capital industry in the aftermath of the pandemic.

With their deep-pockets and longer investment horizons than many other investors, sovereign funds have increasingly sought out start-ups, particularly in technology in the hope they will yield outsized returns.

Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala has been involved in one of the largest deals so far this year, participating in a $3 billion investment in Waymo, the self-driving technology company owned by Alphabet, parent of Google, according to PitchBook data. The deal, which closed last month, included investment from the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Magna International and Andreessen Horowitz.

"Sovereign funds are very focused on emerging industries and can invest for the future as early stage investors," said Will Jackson-Moore, global private equity, real assets and sovereign funds leader, PwC. "They've been wanting to increase investments (in venture capital) for a long time but often its been access to the funds that has been difficult as everyone wants to be in the best performing funds."

High valuations for mature private companies from ready access to capital and an abundance of cheap debt encouraged sovereign funds to seek out earlier-stage investments, since 2017 particularly in healthcare and technology, where more companies were looking for cash and sovereign funds perceived value, the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF) said in a report last month.

With the economic fallout of the pandemic having dented valuations and pushed up debt funding costs for start-ups, analysts are waiting to see how that will impact sovereign funds' continued participation in venture capital investing.

So far this year, there had been $16.9 billion venture capital deals with sovereign wealth fund involvement, according to PitchBook data. Some of the deals were executed or under process before the outbreak spread widely.

That's up from $15.6 billion across the whole of 2019. But deal flow will have to accelerate if is to match the $42 billion level reached in 2018.

In addition to Mubadala's deal, there were two other large investments so far this year. Singapore's Temasek Holdings participated in a $3 billion investment in Chinese live-video streaming firm Kuaishou alongside Tencent Industry Win-Win Fund and several other investors.

Cool Japan Fund, in which the Japanese government is one of the shareholders, invested in a $3 billion deal in Indonesian ride-hailing and payments firm Gojek alongside others such as Alphabet, Facebook and Tencent Holdings.

SITTING ON THE FENCE

In total, around $130 billion in venture capital has been raised in the year to date, compared to $270.3 billion in all of 2019, PitchBook data shows.

KPMG said it expected the second quarter to be "rough" for venture capital investment, but noted sectors such as health and biotech may be attractive for investors.

"While there continues to be an enormous amount of dry powder in the global VC market, many investors will likely sit on the fence until the ramifications of the pandemic become clearer," it said in a report in April.

In comparison to venture capital, sovereign wealth funds have been less active in private equity deals this year.

Of the $28 billion in deals involving them so far, a large proportion of the amount was accounted for by Singapore's GIC's participation in a $22 billion investment in Ultimate Software Group, a cloud-based human resources applications developer, alongside Hellman & Friedman, JMI Equity, Kronos and Blackstone Group.

(Editing by David Evans)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Anthony Mackie dives deep into Marvel Studios' 'racist' practices when it comes to hiring a crew in their movies while citing 'Black Panther'.

Anthony Mackie, who is best known for the role of Sam Wilson or Falcon in Marvel Cinematic Universe, has criticised the lack of people of colour in the cast and crew of MCU movies.

Mackie, 41, spoke about his Marvel experiences going back to 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier with Daveed Diggs, the star of TNT's Snowpiercer for Variety's Actors on Actors issue.

He said, It really bothered me that Ive done seven Marvel movies where every producer, every director, ever stunt person, every costume designer, every PA, every single person has been white.

He further added that there was one Black producer, Nate Moore, who also produced Black Panther.

MCU's Oscar-winning film Black Panther, which was widely praised for its all-black cast, also had a majority of Black artists working behind the camera. However, this practice did not sit well with Mackie. He said, "And Im like, thats more racist than anything else. Because if you only can hire the Black people for the Black movie, are you saying theyre not good enough when you have a mostly white cast?"

Mackie also added that he is hopeful that there will be changes in the future for Marvel's hiring process. He concludes that may the studio hire the best person for the job. Even if it means were going to get the best two women, were going to get the best two men.

Mackie is set to lead a Marvel film for the first time in the Disney+ TV series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He will be reprising his role as Falcon in upcoming superhero series. Sebastian Stan also joins the actor in the series.

Meanwhile, Mackie was last seen in the second season of Netflix's sci-fi series Altered Carbon
'Stupid doesn't even cut it. I was uneducated. I was unread... I cannot dismiss the actions I bought into years ago,' said Florence Pugh in a letter.

Little Women star Florence Pugh has issued a detailed apology reflecting on her past actions of cultural appropriation, which include braiding hair into "corn rows" and getting henna tattoos.

The 24-year-old actor's three-page statement comes in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, and her comments noted that the last four weeks have been "huge" in terms of understanding and acknowledging white privilege.

Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota last month.

"The world is trying to make change and I''m learning a tidal wave of information that frankly, was always there but I was unaware of. I've tried my best to post, learn, pass what I've learnt on to others and of course, echo the voices of those who don't have a platform to share their wisdom," Pugh began.

The Oscar-nominated actor wrote that her past oversight was first brought to her attention by a fan calling her out for a photograph she posted of herself when she was 17.

Pugh called the picture an example of "Rastafarian cultural appropriation".

According to Oxford Learner's Dictionary, the term ''cultural appropriation'' refers to the act of copying or using the customs and traditions of a particular group or culture, by somebody from a more dominant group in society.

"I braided my hair and painted a beanie with the Jamaican flag colours and went to a friend's house, proud of my Rastafarian creation. I then posted about it the next day with a caption that paraphrased the lyrics to Shaggy's song 'Boombastic'," the actor said.

"I am ashamed of so many things in those few sentences," Pugh admitted.

It was "cruel" of her to forget about the photo, pointing out that for eight years she had "no idea how many were offended," she added.

She said her white privilege allowed her "to get that far and not know", adding she was initially "proud" of her braided hairstyle.

Pugh shared another example from her childhood when she befriended an Indian woman who owned a shop in her native Oxford, England, fitted with fabrics, jewellery, henna and more.

She said the owner was "excited" to share her culture with her and the actor was equally on board to learn.

"There wasn't a summer where I didn't henna my hands, feet, my family's hands and feet - I was obsessed."

But henna soon became a trend, with major makeup brands profiting off of their own versions of henna sets.

No one cared about the origin, a culture was being "abused for profit", she said, adding that she felt embarrassed and sad for somehow being party to it.

"And here's the problem: I actually wasn't being respectful in how I was using it. I wore this culture on my terms only, to parties, at dinner. I too was disrespecting the beauty of the religion that had been taught to me those years ago," she continued.

Pugh said she is "truly sorry" to all those who were offended by her in the past and present.

"Black, Indian, Native American and Asian cultures and religions are constantly used and abused every new shopping season. It's not wrong to appreciate the beauty of a culture but rebranding them for the sake of a fashion trend and a dollar most certainly is...

"Stupid doesn't even cut it. I was uneducated. I was unread... I cannot dismiss the actions I bought into years ago, but I believe that we who were blind to such things must acknowledge them and recognize them as our faults, our ignorance and our white privilege and I apologize profusely that it took this long."
Sandra Oh's comments follow similar remarks by British director Steve McQueen, who recently claimed the UK is 'far behind' the US in representing its black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) population.

Sandra Oh has said the UK is "behind" in terms of diversity on film and TV sets.

The Canadian-American actor, who stars in the hit BBC series Killing Eve, explained how sometimes she is the only Asian person on a set when shooting in the country.

"The UK, I'm not afraid to say, is behind. I'm not only the only Asian person on set - sometimes it changes, (it's) very exciting when that does, someone comes on set.

"But the development of people behind the camera is very slow in the UK. I don't know about the rest of Europe. Sometimes it would be me and 75 white people and I have not come from that," Oh said while in conversation with fellow actor Kerry Washington for Variety's ''Actors on Actors'' series.

The BAFTA-nominated actor said the US fairs slightly better, where she has worked with women and women of colour.

"I have not come from that in my film career, which has been much more independent, mostly working with women and women of colour.

"And my relationship with television - and in the United States - hasn't necessarily been all white," Oh, who shot to international acclaim as Dr Christina Yang in Shonda Rhimes' long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

Her comments follow similar remarks by British director Steve McQueen, who recently claimed the UK is "far behind" the US in representing its black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) population.

Earlier this month, the BBC pledged 100 million pounds of its existing commissioning budget over three years towards "diverse and inclusive content" in an attempt to accelerate the pace of change in increasing diversity both in front and behind the camera.
A 14-year-old girl was admitted to a Mumbai hospital with rashes and high fever, classic symptoms of Kawasaki syndrome.

Editor's Note: This story was originally published on 29 June 2020, after early reports of Kawasaki-like symptoms in children in Mumbai. It has republished on 20 July after several reports from hospitals in Chennai, Delhi and other cities of the COVID-related Kawasaki-like syndrome, which experts are calling MIS-C.

By and large, COVID-19 has not been infecting younger children as they have a stronger immune systems and almost no risk of co-morbidities. However, around April, children in the US started developing inflammatory symptoms that were similar to those of Kawasaki syndrome. There have been several reports of cases among children in France, Italy, Spain and Britain that have shown similar symptoms.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the symptoms included "inflammation of the blood vessels, which in turn could cause heart problems". The syndrome also shares symptoms with toxic shock and Kawasaki disease, which is associated with fever, skin rashes, swelling of the glands, and in severe cases, inflammation of arteries of the heart.

Now, similar concerns have been raised by several hospitals in Delhi, who have reported many children with COVID-19 having symptoms similar to those associated with the rare illness called Kawasaki disease.

A study published in June this year in The Journal of American Medical Association termed this new symptom as Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome Potentially Associated with COVID-19  (PIMS). The WHO called it Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). PIMS, or MIS-C, is a new condition observed in children who have recovered, or are recovering, from COVID-19 .

The CDC had put out new guidelines to help doctors identify these new conditions among children. The guidance defines the condition predominantly in children and adults under 21, and manifests in the form of a fever, inflammation, illness severe enough to require hospitalization and impairment of multiple organs such as the heart, kidneys, blood vessels, gut, skin and nerves. Doctors should rule out other plausible diagnoses, as per the guidance, and the children should test positive for a current infection or for antibodies that show they have had a recent infection.

Also read: What is Kawasaki disease and how is it linked to COVID-19 in children?

Patterns in imaging findings

A recent study conducted by the doctors at the Evelina London Childrens Hospital in London, UK has examined the spectrum of imaging findings in children with these new inflammatory conditions.

It began when the hospital saw a rise in children who were admitted with a variety of symptoms that including fever, headaches, abdominal pain, rash, and conjunctivitis. While laboratory results showed that they shared some similarities to those of Kawasaki syndrome or toxic shock syndrome, the symptoms were atypical and more severe.

"Our hospital saw an unprecedented cluster of children presenting with MIS-C, a new hyperinflammatory syndrome in children related to the current COVID-19 pandemicthe recognition of which led to a national alert, said Shema Hameed the lead author and the consultant pediatric radiologist at the hospital in a statement.

The researchers performed a 'retrospective review' of the 'clinical, laboratory and imaging findings' of the first 35 children, under age 17, who were admitted to the hospital and met the classic definition for MIS-C. The children included 27 boys and eight girls, with an average age of 11 years old.

A retrospective review is a process of determining coverage after treatment has been given. They analyse patient care data to support the coverage determination process.

According to a press statement, the study found that the children that fever was most common in 33 children (94 percent). Gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea were present in 30 (86 percent) of the children, the rash was seen in 13 children (37 percent) and conjunctivitis in 9 children (26 percent). Twenty-one children (60 percent) were in shock.

Clinical status was severe enough to warrant management in the pediatric intensive care unit in 24 of 35 children (69 percent), of which 7 (20 percent) required mechanical ventilation to compensate for lung function and 20 (57 percent) required inotropic support, to artificially force heart contractions. Two children required further intensive care to treat severe hypoxia-related heart dysfunction. Lab tests also revealed that all of the children had abnormal white blood cell counts.

The study also found a pattern in scans of the childrens' lungs. In children that were part of the study, scans revealed airway inflammation, rapidly-progressing pulmonary edema, coronary artery aneurysms, and extensive abdominal inflammatory changes within the right iliac fossa. The iliac fossa is a large, smooth, concave surface on the internal surface of the ilium bone. The ilium is part of the three fused bones that make up the hip bone.

Pulmonary edema is a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs and is usually caused by a heart condition.

The findings of this study have been published in the journal Radiology.

Also Read: What is a multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and how is it linked to COVID-19 ?

MIS-C cases in India

Some Delhi hospitals are treating young patients, mostly children, who have been exhibiting symptoms of Kawasaki-like syndrome and there is presumably a link with COVID-19 , doctors told PTI.

Pediatric experts at a leading hospital here said in nearly fifty percent of these cases, patients become "more serious" than those suffering from regular Kawasaki disease.

Recently, the Indian Express reported that a 14-year-old girl was admitted to a Mumbai hospital with rashes and high fever, classic symptoms of Kawasaki syndrome. She has been transferred to the ICU on Friday, last week as her conditions had worsened. She has been tested positive for COVID-19 after her father also tested positive. She has been put on a high dose of steroids, immunoglobulins, and immunosuppressant drug tocilizumab.

It is not Kawasaki disease, but similar to it, said Dr Tanu Singhal, a paediatric infectious disease expert at the Kokilaben hospital, Mumbai as patients who are infected with Kawasaki patients also exhibiting red tongue and eyes. Children mostly develop the Kawasaki-like symptoms two-three weeks after a COVID-19 infection.

Singhal also said she has seen two other cases in Mumbai - one at SRCC Hospital and another at a private hospital in Jogeshwari. Both the patients had inflammation, fever and rashes but had tested negative for COVID-19 .

An eight-year-old boy from Chennai was the first case, that was reported in India, to be infected with MIS-C. The boy was in a critical condition and was admitted to the ICU in Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Chennai, reported Hindustan Times. He showed symptoms of toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease according to the pre-print paper published in the journal of Indian Paediatrics on 10 May. He was also treated with "intravenous immunoglobulin and tocilizumab and recovered within two weeks.

Delhi's Children's Hospital Kalawati Saran has seen six cases of children who tested positive for coronavirus - experiencing fever, respiratory and gastrointestinal issues, rashes which are associated with Kawasaki disease.
A mammoth whale measuring 36 feet was washed up on the beach of Mandarmani in East Midnapore district of West Bengal.

A mammoth whale measuring 36 feet washed up on the beach of Mandarmani in East Midnapore district of West Bengal.

According to a report by NDTV, the mammal's giant head lay in a pool of blood as locals congregated on the beach to see the first such incident ever reported in the area.

Officials rushed to the spot and were trying to ascertain how the whale got injury marks on its tail.

A report by the Times of India mentions that the whale seemed to be of Sei species and was found floating on the water. The report adds that Sei whales belong to the group of baleen whales, which are the third-largest type of baleen whales after the blue whale and the fin whale.

The whale avoids polar and tropical waters and is mostly found in the North Pacific. The report added that experts are unsure how did this particular species of whale end up in the region.

Whales are endangered schedule-I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India.

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Jairam Ramesh shared a report with a picture of the whale with a news report and wrote, How very sad.

How very sad https://t.co/TwazNI5bHv  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 29, 2020

Last month, a 40-feet-long carcass of a whale washed ashore in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in Odisha's Kendrapara district.

As per a Hindustan Times report, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division DFO Bikash Ranjan Dash said that since the mammal's body bore injury marks, there is a possibility that it might have died after being hit by either a ship or trawler propellers.
How should Christians witness to Jews? Messianic Jewish leader responds

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A leader in the Messianic Jewish movement laid out important steps on how Christians should witness to the Jewish community.

David Brickner, author and executive director of Jews for Jesus, spoke with Mikel Del Rosario on an episode of the Dallas Theological Seminary podcast The Table where he said that an important first step is a personal relationship, noting that you can then begin to explore matters of faith.

Youll find very quickly that most Jewish people dont really know what they believe. And if theyre curious enough to hear your story its not wrong for you to share, even though you may not be Jewish, the story of how God became real to you and how Hes part of your daily life, Brickner said.

Many times one of the first things that will happen with a Jewish person who encounters a lively Christian is theyre going to want to go and start reading their own Bible. And they wont understand it but thats a good step.

Brickner went on to say that he considered the Orthodox Jewish community to be the most unreached people group in the world because they are isolated, dubbing them like a Jewish form of Amish.

They really stick to themselves. Theyre very much caught up in a very kind of strict form, almost syncretistic form of religious Judaism, he continued.

Because they are such an insular group their whole livelihood, their families, theyre all tied together. So for a religious Jew to even contemplate reading the New Testament they could find themselves out penniless, losing their families and nowhere to go.

Brickner also told Del Rosario that it's important for Christians to recognize their Judaic heritage, believing that it further enforced the significance of their beliefs.

Passover and other Jewish festivals are really of interest to Christians. Well, what does this mean? Since Jesus celebrated the Passover when He instituted communion, how do we understand? And how does that enrich our faith? Brickner said.

I think that the more evangelical Christians understand the Jewish roots of their faith, the more welcoming the Christian can be to their Jewish friends and neighbors and the more effective they can be in sharing the love of Jesus with them.

Messianic Jews are a controversial group in the United States, as many non-Christian Jews do not consider them to legitimately Jewish.

In October 2018, Vice President Mike Pence garnered criticism for sharing a stage with Messianic Jewish leader Loren Jacobs who prayed in Jesus name at an event held in memory of 11 people murdered at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Earlier this month, the international Christian television network GOD TV told supporters that Israeli authorities were trying to shut down their new Hebrew-language Christian channel over concerns that they will proselytize Jews.

Since we have started to broadcast, it has created quite a stir in Israel, explained GOD TV CEO Ward Simpson in a video, noting that they were pursuing legal action to defend their right to broadcast in the nation.

We have faith in the Israeli government and we have faith in their judicial system. We thank God that Israel is a nation that practices religion and freedom of worship. The fact that they gave us a license to broadcast Christian content in Hebrew is a testament to that truth.
The court directed the ICAI to issue a fresh notification in this regard and said the next hearing would be on 2 July.

The Supreme Court on Monday told the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to "be flexible" with the opt-out scheme for its exams and consider permitting students to opt-out till the last day due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, according to several media reports.

The bench, comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjeev Khanna, was hearing a PIL filed by Alakh Alok Srivastava on behalf of 'India Wide Parents Association' challenging ICAI's 'opt-out' scheme for CA exams scheduled between 29 July and 16 August.

The plea claimed the ICAI notification on 15 June violated the students' fundamental rights and sought an increase in the number of examination centres so as to ensure at least one centre in every district of India.

Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, appearing for the petitioner, argued that there are students in containment zones and there may be aspirants residing in places where lockdowns have been extended by state governments, Bar and Bench reported. Srivastava said there were three main issues: increasing the number of exam centres, candidates in places under lockdown and how the CBSE model can be implemented, as per the report.

The ICAI, represented by senior advocate Ramji Srinivasan, told the bench the limited opt-out window was kept to have a sense of certainty with regard to the number of students taking the exam, Live Law reported. Counsel further informed the court that 53,000 students had already opted out of taking the exam, as per the report.

The ICAI told the court there are 500 exam centres across the country that have been sanitised and prepared with optimum hygienic conditions for students and that "it's not possible to change" as per Bar and Bench. The court then asked if a student that opted for a centre could change at the last minute if the location became a containment zone. To which Srinivasan said he'd have to seek instructions regarding the deadline for changing exam centre, as per the report.

The court said the ICAI should consider permitting students to opt-out of the exams till the last day as the situation around COVID-19 is dynamic and not static, Live Law reported. "Those who have not opted out and are unable to take the exam due to any exigency, let those have the same benefit as those who opted out," Justice Khanwilar suggested, as per Live Law.

"If someone does not appear for the CA exam, treat them as opted out. As simple as that. Assume it is COVID-related." The court directed the ICAI to issue a fresh notification in this regard and said the next hearing would be on 2 July.

With inputs from PTI
The product was banned for export earlier, but has now been moved to the restricted category, under which an exporter would have to seek a licence from the government for shipments.

Partially relaxing export norms, the government on Monday permitted shipments of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) medical coveralls for COVID-19 with an export quota of 50 lakh units per month.

The product was banned for export earlier, but has now been moved to the restricted category, under which an exporter would have to seek a licence from the government for shipments.

In a notification, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said: "A monthly quota of 50 lakh PPE medical coverall for COVID-19 units has been fixed for issuance of export licence to the eligible applicants to export PPE medical coveralls for COVID-19 as per the criteria to be separately issued in a trade notice".

All other items that are part of PPE kits remain prohibited and the monthly quota shall not be applicable on export of these items, it said.

These items include medical goggles, all masks other than non-medical/non surgical (cotton, silk, wool, polyester, nylon rayon, viscose - knitted, woven or blended); nitrile gloves and face shield.

These products are in huge demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted:

Boosting Make in India exports, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) medical coveralls for COVID-19 have been allowed with a monthly export quota of 50 lakh. pic.twitter.com/qpebJvqXuy  Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) June 29, 2020

DGFT has also laid out a detailed procedure and criteria for export of PPE coveralls. An exporter has to apply online through a DGFT's system for export authorisation and there is no need to send a hard copy of the application.

"Only applications for export of PPE medical coveralls for COVID-19 filed from 1st to 3rd day of each month will be considered for the quota of that month," the directorate said adding that all approvals/allocations will be done by 10th of every month.

Validity of the export licence will be for three months only.

Further, it said that the firm applying should be a manufacturer of PPE coveralls and copy of testing/accreditation of the product shall be issued to the firms from the laboratories notified/recognised by the textiles ministry.

"The firm shall either submit a copy of importing country's PPE medical coveralls standards certificate obtained by it or a copy of Bureau of Indian Standards certificate obtained by it, if the importing country does not insist on a standard certificate," it added.

All the relevant documents have to be submitted along with the online application to fulfill the eligibility criteria and incomplete applications will not be considered for any allocation, it said.

Earlier on 22 June, the government had decided to continue exports ban only on specific PPE such as medical coveralls of all classes and goggles. For the first time, on 31 January, India had banned export of all PPE including clothing and masks.

Hailing the decision, Apparel Export Promotion Council of India (AEPC) Chairman A Sakthivel said the government should also allow export of N95 masks. The decision to permit export of PPE medical coveralls has opened the entire global market for domestic players who were fast enough to seize this opportunity of producing and supplying PPE kits as the world struggles to control coronavirus pandemic, Sakthivel said.

The production of PPE is more than sufficient to cater to the needs of the country and allowing exports of such items will not only help the health workers across the world, but also support the revival of the apparel industry in the country, he added.

The council has been requesting the government to allow these exports as the production of PPE has increased to over 8 lakh units per day.

A single mask manufacturing machine can produce one lakh pieces per day and we have more than 200 such machines currently, he said.

The government should soon extend the export opportunity for N95 masks as well, he said, adding that the size of the global market for PPEs is more than USD 60 billion for the next five years.

The chairman further said that India is in competition with countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan as they have lifted the ban on PPE exports and are receiving huge orders from large buyers in the US and Europe.
The Delhi University has postponed the open book exams which were scheduled from 1 July.

The University of Delhi will be holding mock tests for the online open-book exams from 4 July to 8 July. The mock tests are being conducted to make students familiar with the open-book examination process.

Students of final year belonging to regular colleges, non-collegiate women's education board (NCWEB) and school of open learning (SOL) can take any of the 15 mock tests.

The mock test will be of two hours and one hour will be provided for downloading question papers, and scanning and uploading the answer sheets. However, students belonging to Divyang (PwD) category will be provided a total five hours to complete the whole process.

Students will be allowed to refer to books, notes and other study materials to answer the questions in the exams.

The open-book mode is a one-time measure for academic session 2019-20 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The exams are only being conducted for final year students of both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

The Delhi University has postponed the open book exams which were scheduled from 1 July. It will release new date sheet for all UG and PG programmes on 3 July and the papers will commence from 10 July.

The varsity earlier this month had announced that exams for second and fourth semester of UG courses would not be held. It was applicable for regular, SOL and NCWEB students. Students of these semesters will be provided marks equally on the basis of internal assessment and the scores in the previous semesters.
In a video message to his father hours before his death, a patient alleged that he was not being administered oxygen while being treated at Hyderabad's Government Chest Hospital, where he was admitted after exhibiting COVID-19 symtpoms

A video of a coronavirus patient, undergoing treatment at Hyderabads Government Chest Hospital, in which sends a last message to his father alleging his oxygen supply was removed by the staff went viral.

"Am not able to breathe. Though I pleaded, they did not continue oxygen for the last three hours. I am not able to breathe anymore, it's like my heart has stopped. Bye daddy. Bye to all, daddy," 35-year-old Ravi Kumar is seen saying in the video, also alleging that when he confronted the hospital staff, he was told youve had enough. An hour after recording the video on Friday, the patient succumbed, bringing focus on the abysmal health facilities even as India recorded over 5 lakh cases as of Sunday.

"My son asked for help, but no one helped him. I saw the video only after I returned home after the last rites, and he said 'bye daddy. Why was my son denied oxygen? Did anyone else need it urgently and so they took it away from him?" the father told NDTV.

However, the hospitals superintendent Mahboob Khan said that the patient succumbed due to cardiac complications which caused his death and was not directly linked to the virus. He said that oxygen support was provided to the patient and that he was seen with nasal prongs even in the video he recorded. The patient suffered from a heart attack which was induced by COVID-19 , he told The Hindu.

Khan also claimed that the patient was in such a critical stage that he could not feel the oxygen. Usually, aged people die because of the collapse of the lungs infected by COVID-19 . But we are seeing a new phenomenon of people in the age group of 25-40 years succumbing because of viral infection in the heart. They are provided oxygen but they feel it insufficient, he told Hindustan Times.

The patient was admitted to the government hospital in Erragadda on 24 June after at least 10 private hospitals refused admission, asking for a test first, his father said. He was also refused testing by a diagnostics centre that had reached a limit of testing 150 people per day, from where they went to another lab, according to NewsMinute.

Even though his last rites were performed the same day as his death, his father was informed by a private hospital where his swab samples were submitted that he had died due to COVID-19 . However, his six family members, including the man's parents, wife, brother, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, have not been tested yet.
Rather than banning TikTok, one must have honest conversations around the cultural issues that are being reflected on the social media platform, and develop societal solutions

Editor's Note: The Indian government, on 29 June, banned 59 mobile apps. The Ministry of Information Technology said that these apps are engaged in activities which are "prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order. The list of apps included TikTok, Weibo and others.

***

We need to talk about TikTok, the wildly popular video-sharing app. TikTok is huge. Its owner ByteDance, from China, is the worlds most valued startup with an estimated market cap of $100 billion. In the quarter ending 31 March, TikTok was downloaded 315 million times  the highest number of downloads for any app in a quarter, surpassing even WhatsApp or Facebook.

The social media app is apparently available in 141 countries, in 39 languages, boasts of the highest social media engagement rate and has 800 million active users worldwide. But it is India  TikToks fastest-growing and largest market accounting for over 30 percent of the apps total downloads  where all the action is. Already, the app has been downloaded 611 million times in India. There are close to 200 million monthly active users and the company hopes to increase it by another 100 million by the end of 2020.

According to a data analytics firm, Indians spent over 5.5 billion hours on TikTok in 2019. In December last year, the time spent on TikTok in India was more than the next 11 countries combined.

The reach, scale and level of engagement make TikTok Indias most influential app that seems to have (quite speedily) broken through the access barriers of ethnicity, age, class, gender, geography and even socio-economic status in a way that other social media apps cannot dream of.

The non-anonymous format of the video-creation app  where the user must put oneself out there as the medium to create and share content  makes TikTok a more honest platform where self-consciousness takes a backseat. It is also a platform where the real meets digital lives  a segregation which is possible in other social media apps. Certain platforms such as Twitter and Reddit offer anonymity, and even in those based on real identities  such as Facebook or Instagram  one may curate or create a virtual version of oneself that could be a little different from the reality.

In TikTok, that is not possible. As sociologist and columnist Pratyasha Rath writes, In TikTok, non-anonymity hits you in the face. It is a medium where your body and your face are your ticket to expression. Unlike Twitter, where it is your words and your views. Slightly like Instagram but where the level of your uppityness is what matters. So, there are no anonymous users. And there are very little of manicured expressions. Because, unlike in the Instagram world, TikTok has people who do not have the time and importantly the money to create a better version of themselves at all times.

This popularity, level of engagement and most importantly, equitability, make TikTok a true social media platform for the masses, and that is where the problem begins.

First, it is owned by a firm in China  a country known for surreptitious harvesting of personal data and infamous globally for data espionage through its tech firms. We know about Huawei and the risks it poses to national security, but it is interesting to note that TikTok, too, has been the subject of a class-action lawsuit filed in the US where it has been accused of illegally and secretly harvesting vast amounts of personally identifiable user data and sending it to China.

TikTok has a feature where users may create videos and keep it private in a draft folder if it is unintended for sharing. According to the lawsuit, not only has the app transferred data to Chinese government through a backdoor, it also surreptitiously took user content, such as draft videos never intended for publication, without user knowledge or consent.

These are serious charges that forced TikTok, at least in the US, to open a transparency centre in its Los Angeles office.

Second, TikTok is another tool for Chinas warped sense of censorship. It meticulously removes all reference and opinions that it deems are detrimental to Chinese national interest but has little regulatory or censorship control over pornographic, violent or child-abuse content.

Tiktok censors posts in India that mention China or Tibet, but allows violent content including videos that glorify acid attacks. Its like hidden medicine in a dog's food bowl - Chinese propaganda amid tons of fun videos. #BanTikToklnlndia https://t.co/bnIoZAB6HH  Palki Sharma (@palkisu) May 19, 2020

In fact, TikTok was briefly banned in India last year for encouraging pornography and making underage users vulnerable to sexual predators. Since this app is used mostly by millennials, this is an area of particular concern. Third, despite being once rapped on the knuckles, TikToks enforcement of community guidelines remains suspect. It has courted controversy of late and its app rating has also taken a severe beating after a spate of disturbing videos emerged in public sphere where users were seen creating and distributing content that mocked at, normalised or even glorified rape, sexual assaults and acid attacks on women, violence, animal abuse, sexualised representation of children, terrorism, religious conversion of Hindus and a lot of other disgusting imagery.

TikTok Video of Mujibur Rehman Glorifying Rape Surfaces Online, Rekha Sharma Urges Government of India to Ban Video Sharing App @TajinderBagga @sharmarekha #BanTikToklnlndia #MujiburRehman #TikTok https://t.co/IJkQMlBL06  LatestLY (@latestly) May 19, 2020

This video is enough to justify why #tiktok should be banned.

They're showing that Hindu girl may get converted but muzlim girl won't.

This is what chinese app is spreading in our country.

#bantiktoklnlndia #bantiktok#tiktokexposed #tiktokdown #tiktokban #tiktokrating pic.twitter.com/rwAYwJN8sS  Gal Jammu Di (@GalJammuDi) May 19, 2020

Some of the content floating around is so depraved in nature that it is unfit for reference. The abusive content has led the National Commission of Women to file a complaint against a user and there have been widespread protests and outrage against the platform and sustained call for TikTok to be banned in India. On Twitter, #bantiktokindia was a top trend for several days and still continues to be among top three trends in India. The company has been forced to defend its community guidelines but it is evident that its regulatory mechanism is either broken or non-functional.

TikTok is a platform that celebrates creativity & expression. We aim to create a positive in-app environment that brings people and communities together and request all our users to respect this intent. Read our Community Guidelines for more info: https://t.co/dI8keEdBSF pic.twitter.com/dgD4BzekvY  TikTok India (@TikTok_IN) May 19, 2020

It brings us to the point central of the debate. Given the depraved content being created on the platform, should TikTok be banned in India?

The answer is an emphatic no. Banning TikTok is not only pointless, it could even be counterproductive. There are two problems with this approach. First, banning is an inefficient form of censorship when it comes to cultural problems. As one Twitter user has pointed out, it barks up the wrong tree.

Stop making a value system problem a technology problem. #TikTok #tiktokban  Manasa Manjunath (@ManeeManjunath) May 19, 2020

As has been pointed out earlier, compared to all other social media platforms, TikTok is more inclusive and cuts across social, economic and other social access barriers. It is a more representative mass medium and mirrors perhaps to a greater extent the cultural churning that largely stays outside the elitist bubble of a Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat.

If TikTok reveals the thought process and content-consumption habits of an India where sexual violence is normalised, misrepresentation and abuse of women appears acceptable, then we must step outside our bubble and confront the deeper and corrosive cultural problem.

It's worth noting that much of the content on TikTok that reflects a version of toxic masculinity (slapping a women after getting rejected, for example) also features women as equal and enthusiastic participants. Therefore, the issue resists a straightforward critique and demands better analysis.

It isnt an urban-rural divide. The mindset that causes users to create and share such content is also reflected perhaps to a lesser degree in other platforms. The lewd messages targeting underage girls or gang-rape banter in Instagram or Snapchat group conversations is indicative of the same outlook. TikToks format and user base has made the subterranean issue more mainstream. This is exactly why any ban on the app will be pointless. Unless the root cause is addressed, the content will simply move to another enabling platform.

Not to forget the fact that a bulk of the tools that users in TikTok employ to show their creativity is drawn from Bollywood content that has long legitimised violence and sexual abuse of women. So, logically, Bollywood should also be banned. Banning a tech platform for a value-system issue misses the wood for the trees.

Second, banning comes with its own set of problems. If one tech platform is banned for its content (whatever may be the reason), authorities may use the same logic to ban another platform which they dont like.

The answer, therefore, lies not in banning TikTok but pressing it hard to put in place a better regulatory mechanism, holding it accountable for instances of omission, and taking legal and penal action against every user who violates the law of the land. More importantly, we must have honest conversations around the cultural issues that are being reflected on TikTok, and develop societal solutions. There is no quick fix.
The NSCN-IM issued this statement after RN Ravi, in a 16 June letter to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, claimed that the constitutionally-established state government is being challenged on day-to-day basis by armed gangs that question the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.

Responding to Nagaland governor and Naga Accord interlocutor RN Ravi's scathing letter slamming the state machinery for "failing to address growing concerns" about law and order, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) said it did not extort the public but levied "legitimate taxes on them."

The NSCN-IM issued this statement after Ravi, in a 16 June letter to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, claimed that the constitutionally-established state government is being challenged on day-to-day basis by armed gangs that question the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.

The NSCN-IM, in its press statement, said it is the inherent right of any sovereign people and nation to collect taxes from the people and commercial establishments. This is the universal practice as seen all over the world. Taxes have been the sources of sus tenance that has brought the Naga political movement this far. This was legitimately acknowledged by the earlier Interlocutors and Indian authorities and it was never an issue.

What has complicated the situation as seen today is the madness of extortions that are being carried out by some groups in the guise of freedom fighters. NSCN did not and does not commit extortion at any point of time but levies legitimate taxes from the people, the NSCN-IM said.

The NSCN-IM said it is seemingly convinced that Ravi is not the right person to solve the long-standing Indo-Naga problem if he finds pleasure in handling the Naga issue as a law and order problem.

Taking a dig at other groups associated with Naga political issue, statement further read: NSCN is the recognised and legitimate national organisation of the Naga people and not a gang. The governors letter, however, made no mention of any group though it pointed out to instances of gun point extortions by armed miscreants.

Stating that the governor is simply trying to wake up the state government, retired IAS Officer and president of the Senior Citizens Association of Nagaland (SCAN), Khekiye K Sema said, The governor is within his constitutional rights to remind the government of the law and order breakdown.

The common man is having a very difficult time due to the coronavirus lockdown. Even under these trying conditions, our so-called national workers are extorting mercilessly as usual, and the government is but a bystander. The Government of India is drawing a distinctive line between the ongoing political talks and illegal extortion, said Sema.

Senior NSCN-IM leader Kehoi said, When all the Naga people are waiting for a positive solution, the governor should not have said such things. We do not understand what is in his mind. Before lockdown, he invited us for talks, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 situation. It seemed everything was positive from our end, but his recent statement has left us wondering. Why were we invited at the top level  by the prime minister  to have a ceasefire?

Highlighting how political talks have passed into the hands of six Prime Ministers of India, the group stated that the historic Framework Agreement signed on 3 August, 2015, under the supervision and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognised the sovereign right of the Naga people on the basis of the unique history of the Nagas and stressed on the peaceful co-existence of the two entities sharing sovereign power.

On the other hand, expressing confidence in talks with Ravi, senior NSCN-Unification (NSCN-U) leader C Singson said, I think the interlocutor is fully prepared to conclude the peace talks but facing difficulties. Because of the pandemic, everything has become complicated.

It has been 22 years since talks between NSCN-IM and the government officially began in 1997. In August 2015, the Union government signed a framework agreement to seek a final solution with the insurgent group. The six Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) joined the talks later by signing a Deed of Commitment with the government in 2017.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Working Committee of the NNPGs (WC NNPGs) on Sunday said it will continue to seek contributions from Naga well-wishers and non-Naga business establishments in Naga land and it must continue through mutual respect.

The WC NNPGs further lashed out at state police for killing a discharged security personnel in Kohima on 23 June who was found extorting money from shopkeepers in the name of NSCN-K (Khango).

Irrespective of whether the deceased belonged to any Naga political group, gunning down an unarmed man is cowardice This heinous crime is a blot on the police department, which is not acceptable at all, the statement read.

Alleging that uniformed police personnel in Nagaland have been found involved in extortion activities, the working committee of the groups warned it will not remain mute spectator in future.

The police force is reminded that the Naga national workers inherited a political legacy and responsibility that precedes Indian Independence. From the inception of our struggle, nominal contribution to the cause has been mandatory. The question of extortion, therefore, does not arise. All non-local traders are aware of the Naga history, struggles, and that the sustenance of Naga movement is important and cannot be stopped with or without Anti-Extortion Squad till the political conflict is resolved, the WC NNPGs statement read.
The announcement was made by Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh.

Punjab has postponed the final semester examinations in all the universities and colleges in the state till 15 July due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made by Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh.

Have announced postponement of exams for the exit classes in all universities and colleges till 15th July in view of #Covid19. The final decision on this will however, be subject to the new guidelines expected to be released by the University Grants Commission anytime soon," the CM tweeted.

Have announced postponement of exams for the exit classes in all Universities & Colleges till 15th July in view of #Covid19. The final decision on this will however, be subject to the new guidelines expected to be released by the University Grants Commisssion anytime soon.  Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) June 28, 2020

According to a report by The Indian Express, Amarinder Singh also said that the postponement of the examinations will also give all the stakeholders, especially universities, time to adapt and align to the new guidelines that will be announced by the UGC. The report mentions an official spokesperson saying that the chief minister has said that there was a need to remove confusion from the minds of students, teachers and parents related to the safe conduct of examinations. The new set of guidelines from the UGC are being finalised by a committee headed by Vice-Chancellor of the Central University in Haryana RC Kuhad. Last week, Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank asked the UGC to revisit the guidelines issued by it for intermediate and terminal semester examinations and academic calendar.

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 universities in Punjab had earlier decided to conduct exams of exit classes in July, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the UGC on 29 April.
In his complaint, Baru alleged that after placing an online order to purchase liquor by paying around Rs 24,000, the person on the other end switched his mobile phone off and went incommunicado.

New Delhi: A 31-year-old man was arrested for allegedly duping political commentator and policy analyst Sanjaya Baru of Rs 24,000 on the pretext of online delivery of liquor, police said on Sunday.

Baru was the media advisor to former prime minister Manmohan Singh. The accused -- Akib Javed, a resident Kaman town in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan -- was nabbed from his native place after a raid on Saturday, police said.

Javed used to work as a taxi driver earlier but indulged in cyber crime to make easy money, they said, adding efforts are being made to nab his associates who are absconding. The accused claimed he, along with his associates, have cheated over 100 people during the lockdown period, imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Police said the matter came to light on 2 June when they received a complaint from Baru. In his complaint, Baru alleged that while he was searching for a shop online to purchase liquor, he found "La Cave Wines and Spirits". When he contacted on the given number to place an order, he was asked to pay online first, police said.

After Baru made a payment of approximately Rs 24,000, the person on the other end switched his mobile phone off and went incommunicado, they said.

A case was registered at the Hauz Khas police station under section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code and an investigation was taken up, said Atul Kumar Thakur, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South).

During preliminary investigation, bank statements, flow of cheated money and call details of the mobile numbers were traced. It was found the accused has opened bank accounts by furnishing fake KYC details, he said. After analysing transaction details and mobile numbers used by the accused, the search led towards Kaman in Bharatpur area, Thakur said.

To mislead investigators, the accused had procured SIM cards and opened bank accounts in various like Assam, Maharashtra, Punjab and Rajasthan, the DCP said. The analysis of technical evidence revealed that the cheated amount was transferred to a PNB account in the name of Akib, he said.

During interrogation, the accused disclosed that his associates obtained SIM cards on fictitious names and fake addresses of different states. After receiving the money, within 5-10 minutes, they diverted the cheated amount to three-four bank accounts of different states and later they would divert the money to their respective accounts, Thakur said.
Thirty-four foreigners from 15 countries, who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat meet in March, approached the Supreme Court claiming they were not issued individual orders regarding blacklisting and FIRs

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre if individual orders have been issued for the cancellation of visas of over 2,500 foreign nationals who attended the Tablighi Jamaat meet in Delhi.

A three-judge Bench, headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar, made the remark while adjourning the hearing of a plea challenging the Centres order to blacklist these foreigners for 10 years for violating visa conditions, Live Law reported.

Thirty-four foreigners from 15 countries, who had attended the Nizamuddin Markaz meet in March, had approached the Supreme Court claiming they were not issued individual orders regarding blacklisting and FIRs.

Even as the petitioners counsel Singh contended that the blacklisting of individuals was announced through a press release, the Bench asked the Centre to furnish the order mandating the blacklisting of individuals.

The judges also asked why the foreign national have not been deported yet.

FIRs have been filed against the foreign nationals and their passports have been impounded, Singh told the Bench, further urging them to consider the case on humanitarian grounds.

If there is visa violation, you must send them back to their country. Their home countries are asking for them to be sent back, embassies are also enquiring about this," Singh said, according to Bar and Bench.

The petitioners have sought a reversal of orders blacklisting the foreign nationals. Reinstatement of their visas and facilitating their return to home countries has also been demanded.

"The impugned decision, by its very unilateral nature, infringes the principle of natural justice, particularly audi alteram partem by blacklisting the said foreigners present in India without first granting an opportunity of being heard or notice of any form, and resultantly depriving the aggrieved foreign nationals of their right of locomotion and travelling back to the country of their citizenship, said the plea filed by a Thai woman, who is seven months pregnant.

The woman also claimed in the petition that she was released from quarantine in late May but is still at a facility under restricted movements, without the avenue to go back to her nation and experience the birth of her child with security and dignity, with her loved ones.

The matter was further posted for hearing on 2 July, after the conflicting claims by the Centre and petitioners about serving of the pleas copy. While Singh claimed the petitions copy was provided to the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta denied being served the plea.

On 2 April, the home ministry had blacklisted 960 foreigners of 35 countries for participating in the Tablighi Jamaat meet. Further, 2,500 foreigners in India were blacklisted for the same reason on 4 April. A general direction was issued to states and Union Territories to file FIRs against these individuals.

In the petition, the foreigners also said that the orders were passed without hearing them, which is restrictive of their rights under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

With inputs from PTI
If the official website is down, students can also check their result via SMS by sending this message: KERALA10 to 56263.

SSLC Results 2020 Kerala Declared: The Kerala SSLC board has declared the results of Class 10 exams today (Tuesday, 30 June). Over four lakh students who appeared for Class 10 exams this year can check their result on Kerala board's official website keralapareekshabhavan.in.

If the official website is down, students can also check their result via SMS by sending this message: KERALA10<REGISTRATION NUMBER> to 56263.

Steps to check results via 'Saphalam' App

Other than Kerala board's official website, students can check the result through the Kerala Education Department's official app 'Saphalam', which can be downloaded easily from Google Play store.

Click here to find LIVE Updates on Kerala SSLC Results 2020

How to check Kerala SSLC 2020 result

Step 1: On the official website of Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan opt for the link that reads SSLC result.

Step 2: Enter details such as roll number and date of birth to log in.

Step 3: The Kerala SSLC result 2020 will be displayed on the screen.

Students will also be able to check Kerala SSLC result 2020 at these alternative websites: sslcexam.kerala.gov.in, results.kite.kerala.gov.in, results.kerala.nic.in and prd.kerala.gov.in.

The remaining papers of SSLC, Higher Secondary and Vocational Higher Secondary School were held following the COVID-19 guidelines. Students took the exams wearing masks and following social distancing rules. More than 13 lakh students appeared for these exams. For Kerala Class 10 results, the overall pass percentage in 2019 was 98.11. Bhavana N Sivadas topped the Kerala SSLC 2019 exam by scoring 99.8 percent.
Israel threatens to shut down new evangelical GOD TV channel if it proselytizes

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A new evangelical Christian television channel in Israel has been threatened with being shut down if it engages in any type of missionary activity, according to Israeli media reports.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports that the international television network GOD TVs new Hebrew-language channel Shelanu began airing last week on Israels HOT cable network after receiving a seven-year license from the Israeli Communications Ministry.



GOD TV CEO Ward Simpson announced the launch and declared that the network has been given government permission to broadcast the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Israel, something he said has never been done before.

Proselytizing to people younger than 18 without their parents' consent is against the law in Israel, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. And under the terms of the Shelanu license, the network is forbidden from engaging in missionary activities.

The Chairman of the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council, Asher Biton, told the newspaper that he was unaware when the license was granted to Shelanu that the new channel planned to engage in activities that are prohibited under the terms of the license.

Biton told the newspaper that he has ordered an investigation into the channel. Biton was quoted as saying that if it's determined that the license terms have been violated or there is any intention to violate them, Shelanu would be shut down.

According to our regulations, it is fine to broadcast religious programming, Biton was quoted as saying. [B]ut it is forbidden to broadcast content that has the potential to influence viewers in an undue fashion, and most certainly young and impressionable viewers.

Biton said he doesn't want to rush to judgment because shutting down television networks isn't something the council does often.

A HOT spokesperson told the newspaper that Shelanu is one of a number of religious channels that are broadcast in the country.

It received a permit from the council and is broadcasting according to law, the spokesperson declared, adding that full information was provided to the council and the channel is operating in accordance with the permit it received.

According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Communications Minister David Amsalem said he will not allow any missionary channel to operate in Israel, at no time and under no circumstances.

Amsalem also demanded that if an investigation finds the channel to be engaging in missionary activities that it be removed immediately.

The Christian Post reached out to GOD TV for comment on the reports. A response is pending.

According to a statement from GOD TV, Shelanu translates to the word ours in Hebrew. The channel aims to present new and original programming from local congregations on the ground in Israel.

Additionally, international Messianic voices will share powerful real-life testimonies of Israelis who have come to know Yeshua as Messiah, the statement reads. The channel, which wont carry fundraising, is being financed by Christians across the globe who want to empower Messianic congregations.

The GOD TV statement also states that Shelanu wants every person in Israel to know, not a foreign Messiah, but a Jewish one!

His name is Yeshua and He has not forgotten His people, the statement adds.



Shelanu is operated in partnership with Tikkun International, an Israel-based network of Christian ministries.

We want Jewish viewers to grasp the fact that Jesus is theirs, a statement from Tikkun International on the new channel reads. He is not a foreigner, intruder or imposter. He is their Jewish Messiah, born in Israel, raised as a Jew.

According to the news outlets, other Christian channels such as Daystar and Middle East Television also broadcast in Israel but do not flaunt their missionary activities.
Nadda alleged that the RGF, which is headed by Sonia Gandhi, received donations every year from the Chinese embassy.

New Delhi: Intensifying his attack on the Congress, BJP president JP Nadda on Saturday asked the Opposition party 10 questions, including about alleged links between the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and China, and said that his party will leave no stone unturned in "exposing double-faced politicians".

"I want to tell Sonia Gandhi that under the garb of China and COVID-19 crisis, one should not shy away from answering the questions the nation wants to know... It's a shame. It's a sacrifice of national interest by accepting money from foreign powers in personal trusts," Nadda told reporters while attacking the Congress president.

Amid the standoff with China, he asserted that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is safe and secure, and that its brave armed forces are fully capable of protecting the country. The central government has also handled the COVID-19 crisis in the best possible manner, he added.

Nadda alleged that the RGF, which is headed by Sonia Gandhi, received donations every year from the Chinese embassy between 2005-09 and from the "tax haven" of Luxembourg, which is full of "hawala transactions", between 2006-09.

NGOs and companies with "deep commercial interests" also donated to the foundation, he alleged.

The Congress had earlier dismissed Nadda''s attack on the RGF over alleged donations to it from the Chinese embassy and the Prime Minister National Relief Fund as a "diabolical game of deception" by the ruling party to divert attention from the alleged Chinese occupation of Indian territory.

Hitting out at the Congress, Nadda said, "Congress and corruption are synonymous. Our party will contribute to the nation''s development to change its face, and will also leave no stone unturned in exposing double-faced politicians."

Nadda asked the Congress on Saturday to come clean on its "links" with China, and the details of its MoU with the Communist Party of China.

He said India''s trade deficit with China soared to USD 36.2 billion in 2013-14 from USD 1.1 billion in 2004 and asked if it was "quid pro quo" from the Congress. The Congress-led UPA was in power between 2004-14.

The Congress "weakened" India''s economic position by entering into trade pact, which included China, he said.

The BJP president also took a jibe at former prime minister Manmohan Singh, accusing him of allocating Rs 100 crore to the foundation as the finance minister in 1991 when India was going through its "worst financial crisis".

"Since then it has regularly received donation from ministries. Yet, the RGF refuses to be audited by the CAG or even come under the Right to Information Act. What does Manmohan Singh have to say on this monumental loot and organised plunder," Nadda asked.

Singh had used "monumental loot and organised plunder" barb to criticise the Modi government''s demonetisation decision in 2016.

The Gandhi family, Nadda said, believes in "authority without responsibility" and asked the Congress president to answer the questions raised by him.

He also had a dig at Congress leader P Chidambaram, who had asked earlier if Modi would assure the country that China would vacate Indian territory and restore status quo ante at the border, seeking to know if the RGF returned Rs 20 lakh it had taken as donation earlier.

Chidambaram''s comments, Nadda said, were an "admission of guilt". Chidambaram is also facing corruption charges and was in jail before getting bail, he said.

With the opposition often attacking the Modi government over Mehul Choksi, accused of defrauding banks, fleeing India, Nadda said Choksi had donated money to the RGF.

The "crown prince" of the Congress had used the most "obnoxious" language for Modi after Choksi fled but he was helped by the Congress to get bank loans, Nadda alleged.

Raising another question, he asked, "The RGF worked with the China Association for Internationally Friendly Contact, which is just a vehicle of the Central Military Commission of China to infiltrate and influence top voices in other countries. Sonia Gandhi must answer how much influence and infiltration of this Chinese agency happened in India."

"The RGF not only takes money from scams but also gives dodgy donations to their own organisations. Why did it turn donate money to Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust controlled by the family and Christian Missionary organizations like World Vision?" he asked.

The BJP and the Congress have been engaged in a bitter war of words, with top leaders of the opposition party, including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, attacking the government repeatedly for the alleged Chinese intrusion into Indian territory and asking the prime minister to take the nation into confidence over the border situation.
FP Staff

India on Monday banned 59 apps with Chinese links, including the hugely-popular TikTok and UC Browser, saying they were prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity, and security of the country.

The ban, which comes in the backdrop of the current stand-off with Chinese troops along the Line of Actual control in Ladakh, is also applicable for WeChat and Bigo Live.

The list of apps that have been banned also include Helo, Likee, CamScanner, Vigo Video, Clash of Kings as well as e-commerce platforms Club Factory and Shein.

This marks the most significant move India has made against Chinese technology companies.

Here is the full list of apps which have been banned 

Government bans 59 mobile apps  including #TikTok, likee, UC Browser, etc. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace & to safeguard interests of crores of Indian mobile/internet users Here's the listhttps://t.co/aKgmnAglOs pic.twitter.com/ooTUWj6R5E  PIB India (@PIB_India) June 29, 2020

In a statement, the Information Technology Ministry said it has received many complaints from various sources, including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside India".

"The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures," the statement said.

A formal order asking phone companies to block the applications is being issued.

TikTok (which has over 200 million users in India), Likee, and Vigo Video are popular short video creation platforms, while Club Factory and Shein are e-commerce platforms that were looking at expanding their presence to compete with larger rivals like Myntra.

WeChat is a Chinese multi-purpose messaging and social media app that rivals WhatsApp.

CamScanner is a popular app that allows users to scan images and share them.

The SHAREit app allows users to share files between devices, while Helo -- a social media platform -- is owned by ByteDance, the parent firm of TikTok.

Alibaba's UC Browser is a mobile Internet browser that has been available in India since 2009. It claimed to have registered 1.1 billion user downloads worldwide (excluding China) in September 2019, with half of its global installs from India. It also claimed to have 130 million monthly active users in the country at that time.

The government has also banned a clutch of apps of Chinese handset maker Xiaomi, including Mi Community and Mi Video Call. Xiaomi is India's largest handset brand.

The IT Ministry said it has invoked its power under section 69A of the IT Act and rules, and has decided to block 59 apps in view of information available that they are "engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order".

"The move will "safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace", it added.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union minister for Electronics and Information Technology said 

For safety, security, defence, sovereignty & integrity of India and to protect data & privacy of people of India the Government has banned 59 mobile apps.

Jai Hind!   Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) June 29, 2020

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs, has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these malicious apps, the statement said, adding that there has been a strong chorus in the public space to take strict action against apps that harm India's sovereignty as well as the privacy of citizens.

Likewise, there have been similar bipartisan concerns, flagged by various public representatives, both outside and inside Parliament, according to the Ministry's press release.

"On the basis of these and upon receiving recent credible inputs that such apps pose threat to sovereignty and integrity of India, the Government of India has decided to disallow the usage of certain apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet enabled devices," it added.

"There have been raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians. It has been noted recently that such concerns also pose a threat to sovereignty and security of our country," the statement said.

Comments from the companies affected by the ban could not be immediately obtained.

Over 2015-19, Chinese investors including Alibaba, Tencent, TR Capital, and Hillhouse Capital, have invested over USD 5.5 billion in Indian start-ups, according to Venture Intelligence that tracks private equity, venture capital, M&A transactions and valuations, in India.

Political reactions

Opposition party leaders welcomed the government's move to ban the Chinese apps, but stressed that more needed to be done.

Congress leader Ahmed Patel tweeted 

We welcome the decision to ban Chinese apps. In light of the grave intrusion of our territory & the unprovoked attack on our armed forces by the Chinese army, we expect our government to take more substantial & effective measures  Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) June 29, 2020

In a similar vein, Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said 

To ban 59 apps is understandable as many were engaged in data collection as reported extensively. Next,

- will the govt cap Indian tech start ups over dependence on China funds (approx $4bn)?

- will the govt keep China companies away from power, telecom & infra eg 5G rollout?  Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) June 29, 2020

Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren was quoted as saying by ANI, "I think the Central government is late to take this step. These mobile applications have already spread the 'infection'."

With inputs from PTI
Asian News International

NASA has stepped closer to allowing remote onboard computers to direct the search for life on other planets. Scientists from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) have announced first results from new intelligent systems, to be installed in space probes, capable of identifying geochemical signatures of life from rock samples.

Allowing these intelligent systems to choose both what to analyse and what to tell us back on Earth will overcome severe limits on how information is transmitted over huge distances in the search for life from distant planets. The systems will debut on the 2022/23 ExoMars mission, before fuller implementation on more distant bodies in the solar system.

Presenting the work at the Goldschmidt Geochemistry Conference, lead researcher Victoria Da Poian (GSFC) said, "This is a visionary step in space exploration. It means that over time we'll have moved from the idea that humans are involved with nearly everything in space, to the idea that computers are equipped with intelligent systems, and they are trained to make some decisions and are able to transmit in priority the most interesting or time-critical information."

Eric Lyness, software lead in the Planetary Environments Lab at NASA GSFC, emphasised the need to have smart instruments for planetary exploration: "It costs a lot of time and money to send the data back to Earth which means scientists can't run as many experiments or analyse as many samples as they would like. By using AI to do an initial analysis of the data after it is collected but before it is sent back to Earth, NASA can optimise what we receive, which greatly increases the scientific value of space missions."

Victoria Da Poian and Eric Lyness have trained artificial intelligence systems to analyse hundreds of rock samples and thousands of experimental spectra from the Mars Organic Molecule Analyser (MOMA), an instrument that will land on Mars within the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover in 2023. MOMA is a state-of-the-art mass spectrometer-based instrument, capable of analysing and identifying organic molecules in rocks samples. It will search for past or present life on the Martian surface and subsurface through analysis of rock samples. The system to be sent to Mars will still transmit most data back to Earth, but later systems for the outer solar system will be given autonomy to decide what information to return to Earth.

First results show that when the system's neural network algorithm processes a spectrum from an unknown compound, this can be categorized with up to 94% accuracy and matched to previously seen samples with 87% accuracy. This will be further refined until being incorporated into the 2023 mission.

Victoria Da Poian continued: "What we get from these unmanned missions is data, lots of it; and sending data over hundreds of millions of kilometres can be very challenging in different environments and extremely expensive; in other words, bandwidth is limited. We need to prioritize the volume of data we send back to Earth, but we also need to ensure that in doing that we don't throw out vital information. This has led us to begin to develop smart algorithms which can for now help the scientists with their analysis of the sample and their decision-making process regarding subsequent operations, and as a longer-term objective, algorithms that will analyse the data itself will adjust and tune the instruments to run next operations without the ground-in-the-loop, and will transmit home only the most interesting data."

The team used the raw data from initial laboratory tests with an Earth-based MOMA instrument to train computers to recognize familiar patterns. When new raw data is received, the software tells the scientists what previously encountered samples match this new data.

Eric Lyness said: "The mission will face severe time limits. When we will be operating on Mars, samples will only remain in the rover for at most a few weeks before the rover dumps the sample and moves to a new place to drill. So, if we need to retest a sample, we need to do it quickly, sometimes within 24 hours. In the future, as we move to explore the moons of Jupiter such as Europa, and of Saturn such as Enceladus and Titan, we will need real-time decisions to be made onsite. With these moons, it can take 5 to 7hours for a signal from Earth to reach the instruments, so this will not be like controlling a drone, with an instant response. We need to give the instruments the autonomy to make rapid decisions to reach our science goals on our behalf."
The Pakistan Stock Exchange building in Karachi, situated in a high security zone and housing the head offices of many private banks, was attacked with grenades and guns

Four gunmen who attacked the Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi on Monday were killed by security forces, according to a Reuters report.

The building, situated in a high security zone and housing the Pakistan State Bank is located as well as the headquarters of several national and international financial institutions, was attacked with grenades and guns.

Rizwan Ahmend, a police official at the scene, told The Associated Press gunmen opened fire at the entrance and then entered the stock exchange grounds, but it wasn't immediately clear if were able to enter the building.

Four attackers have been killed, they had come in a silver Corolla car, Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon told Reuters. However, it is yet to be ascertained if there were any more assailants. The bomb disposal squad has been called and is trying to clear the building of explosive devices, police spokesperson Shazia Jehan said.

Meanwhile, broker Yaqub Memon told The Associated Press that he and others were huddled inside their offices even as heavily armed special forces surrounded the building.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Karachi stock exchange is Pakistans largest and oldest stock exchange, incorporated today with the exchanges in Islamabad and Lahore.

With inputs from agencies
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Microsoft is giving up on its retail stores! In a huge development, Redmond giant has announced a strategic change in its retail operations, including closing Microsoft Store physical locations except for four locations.

The company will also reimagine spaces that serve all customers, including operating Microsoft Experience Centers in London, NYC, Sydney, and Redmond campus locations.

According to the company, the retail team members will continue to serve customers from Microsoft corporate facilities and remotely providing sales, training, and support. Meaning there is no layoff as such.

On the other hand, Microsoft will continue to invest in its digital storefronts on Microsoft.com, and stores in Xbox and Windows, reaching more than 1.2 billion people every month in 190 markets.

The closing of Microsoft Store physical locations will result in a pre-tax charge of approximately $450M, or $0.05 per share, to be recorded in the current quarter ending June 30, 2020. The charge includes primarily asset write-offs and impairments.

Since the Microsoft Store locations closed in late March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the retail team has helped small businesses and education customers digitally transform; virtually trained hundreds of thousands of enterprise and education customers on remote work and learning software, and helped customers with support calls. The team supported communities by hosting more than 14,000 online workshops and summer camps and more than 3,000 virtual graduations.

Microsoft Corporate Vice President David Porter, said:
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the United States economy entered a recession in February, and many health experts fear that the coronavirus pandemic could resurge as the economy reopens. Investors can help protect their portfolios by investing in coronavirus-resistant blue-chip companies that have a track record of performing well even in uncertain times.

These two stocks that have shown themselves to be resistant to the harsh effects of a coronavirus-related economic downturn have relied on some similar qualities to maintain their growth. The first is Clorox (NYSE:CLX), a cleaning supplies manufacturer that will benefit from the increasing demand for sanitation during the pandemic. The second is Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL), a consumer staple meat processor with a recession-proof business model.

1. Clorox

Clorox manufactures and markets non-durable consumer products. The company's heavy focus on household cleaning supplies, bleach, and disinfectant makes it an excellent way for investors to protect their portfolios from a resurgence of COVID-19. Clorox wipes are in high demand right now as homes, businesses, and hospitals seek to sanitize surfaces to slow the spread of the pandemic.

Clorox reported fiscal 2020 third-quarter earnings on May 1, and the results show a surge in coronavirus-related demand for its cleaning products. Net sales jumped 15% year over year to $1.78 billion, driven by a 32% surge in cleaning segment sales (which includes Clorox disinfecting wipes). The company is optimistic that demand will hold up for the rest of the year and projects overall fiscal 2020 sales to increase 4%-6%. The resurgence of the coronavirus could make sales exceed guidance, leading to appreciation in the stock.

But the coronavirus isn't the only catalyst for growth in Clorox stock. The global disinfectant market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% through 2025, partially due to increasing healthcare demand and the need to prevent hospital-acquired infections. Clorox is poised to meet growing demand because of its well-established brand and market leadership position in the industry.

Clorox stock has grown by an impressive 40% year-to-date compared to a 6.9% decline in the S&P 500 over the same period. The company also boasts a dividend yield of 2.06% and has increased its annual payout for 42 years running.

2. Hormel Foods

People need to eat, in good economic times and bad. And that's part of what makes Hormel Foods is a top coronavirus-proof stock to watch right now. The food processing company is known for affordable processed meat brands like Jennie-O Turkey and Spam, which could see increased demand from cash-strapped consumers during the recession and pandemic.

While not known for its great taste, Spam has an extremely long shelf life, which makes it ideal for disaster preppers who like to stockpile food during uncertain economic times. According to Hormel's CEO Jim Snee, Spam sales are "through the roof" so far in 2020. And the brand has had record sales for six consecutive years.

Hormel reported 2020 second-quarter earnings on May 21, and the results show resilience in this tough economic environment. Net sales were up 3.4% year over year to $2.42 billion. And the growth was driven by sales volume increases in grocery products like Spam, Skippy peanut butter, and Hormel Chili. The company's Jennie-O Turkey brand also performed exceptionally well, with year-over-year volume up by 19% and net sales up by 12%.

Hormel faces some challenges in its food service business because of reduced restaurant and cafeteria traffic due to coronavirus lockdowns. However, the strong performance of other segments offsets these headwinds and makes the stock a solid, coronavirus-proof investment.

While Hormel stock hasn't performed as well as Clorox during the pandemic, it is still beating the market with a 7% rally year-to-date. The company also boasts an impressive track record of dividend growth with 53 years of consecutive payout increases, earning it Dividend King status. Hormel has a current yield of 1.9%.

Takeaway

Consumer staple stocks are a great way for investors to protect their portfolios during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the ongoing economic recession. Both Clorox and Hormel Foods have strong business models that can outperform in this uncertain economic environment and deliver value to their investors through their strong stock performance and reliable dividend growth.
HCM City first metro line scheduled to near completion by year-end

Up to 85% of HCM Citys first metro line is scheduled for being finished by the end of this year, said head of HCM City Management Board of Urban Railway Bui Xuan Cuong.

A government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh on Monday visited Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro project.









Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh (middle in the first row) leads the government delegation to visit the project on June 29.





According to Cuong, at present, roughly 73.5% of the project has been finished and the rate is expected to rise to 85% by late this year.

Until now, up to work of 10 out of 11 elevated stations have been mostly done.

Initially, trains were planned to be imported from abroad for the trial operation of some sections of the project. But because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the work has not yet been carried out.

Cuong noted that 87 foreign experts have not yet returned to Vietnam due to Covid-19.

The 20-km Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line which had an initial investment capital of VND17.38 trillion was passed in 2009 by the prime minister. At that time, the project did not belong to the list approved by the National Assembly. However, after that, its investment capital was raised to VND47.32 trillion, so it had to seek the National Assemblys consideration. This was among the main reasons for the slow pace.
Key abortion law by pro-life Democrat heard before Supreme Court

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WASHINGTON  A Louisiana law requiring abortion clinics to have admitting privileges adjudicated before the Supreme Court Wednesday has pro-life leaders noting an important moment in the history of abortion jurisprudence.

Under a cloudless blue sky and 60-degree temperatures, the atmosphere was palpably tense on the steps in front of the nation's highest court and demonstrators on both sides of the issue rallied. Abortion clinic escorts who were there to protest attempted to disrupt CP's interviews multiple times as protesters chanted in favor of abortion nearby.

Oral arguments in June Medical Services v. Russo were heard inside the historic building; the law being contested in the matter was the Unsafe Abortion Protection Act, which was authored in 2014 by then-state representative Katrina Jackson, who is now a state senator and was present Wednesday to defend her law at the high court.

The case is of particular importance to longtime pro-life advocates in that this is the first abortion-related matter heard in years, and is especially significant because both of President Trump's appointees to the bench, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, will consider it. Supreme Court justices became a pressing campaign issue during the 2016 election cycle in large part because of the future of abortion jurisprudence as many hope for the eventual overturn of Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling in 1973 that legalized abortion nationwide.

"Everyone is very interested to see how they rule," said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, in an interview with The Christian Post, stressing that the decision should be supported across the board because the issue is not contesting the legality of abortion but whether or not abortion facilities should be held to the same standards as other ambulatory surgical centers.

Jackson's legislation required that abortion clinics in the state have admitting privileges to local hospitals as is required of other medical outfits where surgeries are performed. The law was reportedly created in part because of horror stories that emerged in the state where patients were treated in filthy conditions and basic standards of medical care were not upheld.

"We know that it's all going to come down to the pro-life movement for the 2020 election, that we are very close to achieving our phase 1 goal of reversing Roe, sending the decision back to the states where we will then fight state by state to make abortion illegal as well as unthinkable. And we can't just fight to make it unthinkable. We also have to make it illegal because as far as abortion remains legal some people will think it's OK to do. It's a both/and type of situation," she added, commenting on the current political dynamics.

"Those who advocate for the violence of abortion are terrified that Roe is going to fall, that abortion will be made illegal in many states across the country and that's why they're amped up, why they're acting the way they act," she said.

The erratic antics are evidence that the tension is only going to increase, she maintained.

"Christians especially need to be prepared for this, that this is going to be something that as we get closer and closer to reversing Roe, those who advocate for abortion are going to become more incensed because they've bought into that lie that they need abortion in order to be free, that women need to have abortion to have autonomy in their lives, which we know is patently false. Abortion is always and has always been the opposite of empowerment and the opposite of feminism," Hawkins said.

The tensions were high as the current composition of the court  comprised of five justices appointed by Republican presidents and four by Democrats  was not lost on Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York.

I want to tell you Gorsuch, I want to tell you Kavanaugh: You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You will not know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions, Schumer said before cheering abortion rights supporters at the rally, remarks some interpreted as a threat.



Schumer's words subsequently received a rebuke from Chief Justice Roberts, who called the New York senator's comments "inappropriate" and "dangerous."



One abortion rights supporter held a sign that read: "Thank God for Abortion." Another read: "Hey Kavanaugh, keep your religion out of my health care. And yea, we still believe Dr. Blasey Ford.

Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life, told CP that "it's heartbreaking for those of us who are pro-life because, of course, the bottom line of the pro-life movement is love and respecting the inherent dignity of the human person, and you just see so much pain and anger today and you want to take folks from the other side and meet with them one-on-one and talk to them about truth and freedom and healing and hope and all of these things."

She believes that much of the hostility from the abortion rights supporters present Wednesday was because the pro-life movement has made many strides in recent years.

"We're winning. Abortion clinics are shutting down. Pregnancy care centers are opening. The abortion rate is on a decline, it's lower than it has ever been since Roe v. Wade. Thankfully, we're seeing so many good and positive things happen," she said.

Much work remains in light of hundreds of thousands of abortions still taking place annually but the pro-life movement continues to unify to create a culture of life, she added.

"We have a president that supports life and has leaned into this more than any president ever in history and we are so delighted."

Marilyn Musgrave, vice president for government affairs for the pro-life political action group the Susan B. Anthony List, noted the significance of who was contending for life inside the court. Jackson is an African-American female and a Democrat.

"It just amazes me that in this time when the national party has gone so extreme on abortion that they even embrace infanticide that we have a beautiful woman in Katrina Jackson, a Democrat from Louisiana, right there in that Supreme Court building today where her law is being looked at," Musgrave said in a CP interview.

"I just think it's a gift from God, and I think it's just a beautiful thing to really see the truth of all this," she added, noting the disproportionate rates of abortion among African Americans.

Jackson spoke from the stage at the March for Life both earlier this year and last year.

"I think today is so critical because if you are logical, if you are intellectually honest, you will know that when a woman goes into a facility to have that [abortion] procedure, regardless of how you feel, whether you're pro-life or pro-abortion, you know that she deserves health and safety standards to be met in that facility," Musgrave said.

"And the other side is trying very hard to say they are pro-woman. No, we in the pro-life movement are pro-life and we are pro-woman."

In 2016, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court struck down a Texas law similar to Louisiana's that required abortion clinic doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. A decision on the constitutionality of Louisiana's law is expected by the end of June.
Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) no longer wants to acquire a strong majority in fellow retail real estate investment trust (REIT) Taubman Centers (NYSE:TCO), but the latter continues to push the deal. Taubman said that its shareholders overwhelmingly approved the merger agreement reached in February between the two companies.

Under the agreement, in an all-cash deal, Simon Property Group was to buy 80% of Taubman's common stock. The price was $52.50 per share, which at the time represented a 51% premium to Taubman's share price. All told, the deal was valued at $3.6 billion.

But that was before the crushing economic effect of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly on the retail sector, which has had to cope with prolonged shutdowns in efforts to mitigate the effects of the outbreak.

Earlier this month, Simon announced it was effectively terminating the merger because of this. According to its reasoning, Taubman had suffered a "material adverse event" (i.e., the coronavirus) that breached the covenants in the merger agreement.

The two REITs are now in litigation over the agreement. They have been ordered by a judge in Michigan to enter mediation in July; should they fail to come to terms, a court proceeding will begin in November.

In its press release on the shareholder ratification, Taubman says it "stands ready, willing and able to close the Transactions with Simon on June 30, 2020." That date is in accordance with the timeline stipulated in the agreement, Taubman said.

Investors seem to be guardedly optimistic that the feuding parties will come to some kind of settlement. On Friday, the shares of both rose on the day (Taubman by almost 0.4% and Simon by 1.1%), in contrast to the notable decline of the broader stock market.
Expedition towing

So just some coffee chat here. I fell victim few years back to listening to what the RV dealer said my 09 Yukon XL could tow. (His book said 8k) Purchased a 6700lb ish dry weight camper. Towed it home and didnt get a warm fuzzy feeling. Did some more re search and paid 1200 to have the rear end rebuilt on my Yukon from towing the 4k mini lite camper I had before. Yukon only has 13K combination rating, which isn't much for a 7k loaded truck. Enter my 02 Ford Excursion. Problem is I live in Michigan. But I just can't help but notice how many people tow campers my size with 1/2ton Suburbans, Expedition, or what ever. Newer ones say 15k for a gross combination I see. What am I missing? Is everyone else pushing the limits on there TV? I run with 1/3 tank of fresh water, camping stuff in side, kids in the car, wife, tools, kayak or two on top. I should probably go get weighed just to see what my combo is out of curiosity.

So my question is: The Ex still runs pretty good. But the environment is gonna kill it long before the milage does. I have been looking for something newer to replace it with. Should I even consider a newer Expedition? Or stick with the 3/4 + chassis.

I would rather have a super duty truck, but can't fit everyone in. So need the SUV. If I can't do a Expedition, then I'm looking for a Southern Excursion not as rusted, or 3/4 Suburban which was made later than the Exc. To bad Ford can't run those things for 5 years again.
97 F350 7.3

Hi guys, this was my dad's truck but he passed away so I decided to bring it home. He lived in Colorado and I drove it back to Illinois, but it unfortunately broke down 2 days after I got home. It will start with starting fluid but die right away I really have no idea what the problem could be. I have changed the oil, air filter, fuel filter, ipr, icp, CPS. Any help would be appreciated!
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WALA) - The Alabama Department of Labor announced Monday that the state will begin offering Extended Benefits (EB) for those who qualify and have exhausted previous benefits.

Officials say this is a separate program from the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program that was enacted under the CARES Act.

The EB program is a federal program that is triggered when a states insured unemployment rate exceeds 5.9%.

Alabamas weekly insured unemployment rate* of 6.11% triggered the state onto a 13-week EB period beginning the week of May 31. It is usually available during times of adverse economic conditions. The last time Alabama offered the EB program was during the Great Recession of 2008.

While EB is available for UP TO 13 weeks, not all claimants will be eligible to receive all weeks. Alabamians can begin claiming these benefits on July 5, 2020.

Claimants must first exhaust all regular UC and PEUC benefits before they will be eligible for EB benefits. Claimants must not be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits in another state or Canada, must have no disqualifications, have qualifying wages, and must have at least one week in the benefit year that begins in an EB eligibility period. Specific eligibility criteria can be found at: https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/UIPL/UIPL_24-20.pdf.

Individuals are only entitled to benefits if they are no longer working through no fault of their own and they MUST be able and available for work. The EB program has more stringent work search requirements and requires claimants to engage in a systematic and sustained effort to obtain work during each week and to provide evidence of efforts.

Due to the pandemic, the submission of required work search contacts has been temporarily waived due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, claimants should continue to look for work where possible, and maintain a record of their efforts on a weekly basis. This waiver may end at any time. Once this waiver ends, claimants will be required to provide a minimum of three (3) work search contacts each week during the weekly certification process.

ADOL will notify those eligible for EB benefits via the UI Claims Tracker and by mail. Claimants will not have to apply for these benefits, but should continue to file weekly certifications.
(CNN) -- Senior Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander said Sunday that he thinks it would "help" if President Donald Trump wore a mask because it would eliminate political stigma around doing so as the coronavirus continues to spread across the US.

"If wearing masks is important and all the health experts tell us that it is in containing the disease in 2020, it would help if from time to time the President would wear one to help us get rid of this political debate that says if you're for Trump, you don't wear a mask, if you're against Trump, you do," the Tennessee Republican, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, said on CNN's "Inside Politics."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone "should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public" to reduce transmission and slow the spread of the coronavirus, which is highly contagious.

Despite the advice from public health experts, Trump continues to defy health recommendations and has been reluctant to be seen wearing a mask in public. He recently told The Wall Street Journal that masks are "a double-edged sword" and also suggested that masks are being worn as a political statement, rather than a health precaution, to show disapproval of him.

The White House maintains that everyone who comes in contact with the President is tested for coronavirus regularly.

Vice President Mike Pence repeatedly urged people to wear masks during a news conference Sunday with Texas' Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, as the state struggles from a surge of coronavirus cases.

"We encourage everyone to wear a mask in the affected areas. Where you can't maintain social distancing, wearing a mask is just a good idea," Pence said at the briefing at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Pence wore a mask to the event he attended on Sunday at a Texas megachurch.

Later in the briefing, coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said, "I'm really appealing to every Texan to wear a mask."

CNN's Manu Raju pressed Alexander on whether the American people should look to the President for public health advice, given his past controversial remarks, including his comment about slowing down testing at his Tulsa, Oklahoma rally. The Tennessee Republican said Sunday that the public should listen to medical experts.

"My suggestion to the President all along and for the other political leaders is let the experts do the talking about medicine. People trust them," Alexander said.

Lawmakers split on masks

GOP leadership has split on whether or not Trump should wear a mask, with Trump's Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar saying on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are in a "unique position" and have "very different circumstances than the rest of us."

Azar said the administration's "message has been consistent" when it comes to wearing masks, which he urged people to do if they can't socially distance.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has stressed that people should continue to wear masks in public until there is a vaccine for Covid-19.

"Until we find a vaccine, these are really important," McConnell said Friday while holding up a blue mask, according to CNN affiliate WKYT. "This is not as complicated as a ventilator, and this is a way to indicate that you want to protect others."

In an interview on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who could be seen with a mask on her neck, urged Trump to wear one. "The President should be example, real men wear masks, be an example to the country, and wear the mask," she said.

Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the No. 3 House Republican, posted a photo of former Vice President Dick Cheney sporting a face mask on Friday and took a shot at the manhood of people who refuse to wear face coverings. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, whose state of Florida has seen a recent surge of coronavirus cases, said Wednesday that "everyone should just wear a damn mask."

Some Republican governors, however, such as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have resisted mandating face masks be worn in public in their states despite new coronavirus peaks in their states. Experts say wearing a face mask or other face covering could reduce the transmission of Covid-19 by as much as 50%.

This story has been updated with additional developments Sunday.
Supreme Court strikes down Louisiana law regulating abortion clinics

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The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Louisiana state law requiring abortion providers to be held to similar standards as ambulatory surgical centers.

In a decision released Monday, the high court ruled in the case of June Medical Services v. Russo that abortion providers do not need to be held to stricter standards.

Justice Stephen Breyer announced the judgment of the court and was joined in his opinion by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. Chief Justice John Roberts filed a concurring opinion.

In his opinion, Breyer noted that the Louisiana law was largely identical to a Texas state law that had been declared unconstitutional in an earlier Supreme Court decision, known as Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt.

In this case, we consider the constitutionality of a Louisiana statute, Act 620, that is almost word-for-word identical to Texas admitting-privileges law, wrote Breyer.

Those findings mirror those made in Whole Womans Health in every relevant respect and require the same result. We consequently hold that the Louisiana statute is unconstitutional.

Justices Clarence Thomas authored one of the dissents to the court decision, saying that the majority was enjoining a perfectly legitimate state law and doing so without jurisdiction.

The Constitution does not constrain the States ability to regulate or even prohibit abortion. This Court created the right to abortion based on an amorphous, unwritten right to privacy, which it grounded in the legal fiction of substantive due process, wrote Thomas.

As the origins of this jurisprudence readily demonstrate, the putative right to abortion is a creation that should be undone.

In 2014, Louisiana passed the Unsafe Abortion Protection Act, requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of where they perform the procedure.

The law was blocked from taking effect and a similar law passed in Texas was struck down by the Supreme Court in a 5-3 decision in 2016 known as Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt.

Last October, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal in the case and in March, oral arguments in the case were heard, with both sides holding demonstrations outside the court.

Many considered the case noteworthy since it was the first abortion-related case brought before the Supreme Court since the confirmations of Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

Everyone is very interested to see how they rule, said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, to The Christian Post back in March.

We are very close to achieving our phase one goal of reversing Roe, sending the decision back to the states where we will then fight state by state to make abortion illegal as well as unthinkable.
People gather on the beach in Miami Beach, Florida on June 16, 2020. Florida is reporting record daily totals of new coronavirus cases, but you'd never know it looking at the Sunshine State's increasingly busy beaches and hotels.
GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina)- The Greenville City Police Department says they arrested a suspect after one person was killed during a fatal shooting on Saturday on Jenkins Street.
ANDERSON, SC (FOX CAROLINA) -The Anderson County Sheriff's Office says a man threw about 80 grams of meth out of the window while he was trying to flee from deputies during a traffic stop.
The Supreme Court declined to take up a case on June 29, 2020 over the use of waivers by the Department of Homeland Security to speed up the construction of barriers along the US-Mexico border. In this photo, United State Border Patrol chief Rodney Scott (right) gives President Donald Trump (left) a tour of a section of the border wall on June 23, 2020, in San Luis, Ariz.
Woman suffers life-threatening emergency at Ill. Planned Parenthood abortion clinic

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The pro-life organization Operation Rescue has raised concerns about the health and safety of women seeking abortions at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Flossmoor, Illinois, after two consecutive medical emergencies occurred there.

Operation Rescue, one of the nations leading activist groups opposing abortion, reports that one of the two emergencies occurred when an abortionist tore a woman's uterus during an abortion.

The life-threatening incident that occurred on May 8 resulted in a call to 911 and an ensuing dispatch of an ambulance to the clinic.

Operation Rescue obtained the May 8 911 call recording and a document showing that it took an ambulance about seven minutes to arrive at the scene.

According to the audio recording of the 911 call, a Planned Parenthood employee told a 911 dispatcher that the facility needed a medical transport for a woman with a possible uterine perforation.

We have a patient during a procedure. Possible Perf, the employee told the dispatcher.

Operation Rescue contends that the employees use of the slang term for the injury suggests that it might be a frequent occurrence.

The use of the abbreviated term for perforation seems to imply that this kind of injury has happened often enough that a slang term was developed for it, Operation Rescue President Troy Newman said in a statement. In fact, I have seen this injury mentioned frequently in many 911 records that have crossed my desk.

According to Operation Rescue, a uterine perforation is a life-threatening injury that occurs when the abortionist pushes abortion instruments through the womb and into the abdominal cavity, which causes a hole or tear in the uterus that needs surgical repair at a hospital.

A perforation can result in hemorrhaging and damage to other organs, according to Operation Rescue.

As for the reported emergency that occurred at the Flossmoor facility on May 7, a private ambulance service was called.

Video provided to Operation Rescue by a local pro-life advocate shows a woman being removed from the clinics rear entrance on a gurney before being loaded into an ambulance operated by Buds Ambulance Services.

No 911 records from the May 7 incident are available. Operation Rescue Senior Vice President Cheryl Sullenger believes that the lack of 911 records for the incident is probably because employees for the clinic likely called the private ambulance service directly.

According to Operation Rescue, Buds Ambulance Services is located about 10 miles from Flossmoor.

Normal driving time without lights and sirens, which appeared not to be in use during the emergency, is 22 minutes  a long time to wait for help, Sullenger wrote in a report.

The Flossmoor Planned Parenthood facility opened in January 2018. According to Operation Rescue, at least four emergencies have led to women being hospitalized since the clinic opened.

Operation Rescue previously reported on emergencies that occurred on Nov. 12, 2019, and Dec. 14, 2018, in which two women suffered from hemorrhaging due to alleged botched abortions.

No matter what Planned Parenthood says, abortions are not safe, Newman added in his statement. We have documented hundreds of life-threatening injuries at abortion facilities and dozens of maternal deaths that prove abortion is not safe for women. Planned Parenthood needs to stop lying about the dangers of abortion to the American people.

Among women who have died from botched abortions include 24-year-old Cree Erwin Sheppard, a single mother who died in 2016 a few days after having an abortion in Michigan.

Her family later said doctors failed to recognize or treat her perforated uterus.

According to MLive, Erwin-Sheppard was sent home after her procedure with instructions to follow-up with a doctor or Planned Parenthood after a long weekend. However, she died before she could make it to an appointment.

A study released in 2018 found that about 5,500 women are hospitalized each year or sent to emergency rooms after complications from an abortion. The study was led by Ushma D. Upadhyay, a professor at the University of California-San Francisco's Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Science, who's an advocate for abortion.

The finding comes as hundreds of thousands of abortions are conducted each year in the U.S. despite falling abortion rates.

While pro-life advocates contend that the study shows the dangers of abortions, the pro-choice researchers concluded that safety regulations on abortion are "unlikely to have any impact on women's health outcomes because the "rate of major incidents is very low."

Pro-life advocates have urged some states to pass legislation that would require abortion doctors to have to admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and require abortion facilities meet the same health and safety standards as surgical centers. However, abortion-rights advocates often argue that abortion clinic owners should not be required to make changes to their facilities to meet code requirements, and note that many abortion doctors are not able to qualify for hospital admitting privileges.

In 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against two similar provisions in Texas law.
COVID-19 and social distancing are keeping many apart, but a Stafford County firm has found a way to bring people in different countries together.

RingLeader, an internet phone services provider, provides customers with a local phone number in the United States and one in either Mexico or Canada through its CrowdVoice app, which eliminates international fees for calls. When the pandemic hit, CEO Neil Darling said that he and his staff brainstormed a way to help.

We are a small company and we saw large companies that were offering some things that were very significant, like making PPE or masks doing other things. We cant make PPE, but what can we do? We said we can provide secure access for free, or as much as we can.

RingLeader extended its one-month free trial to three months for those who take a short survey, and pledged a total of 25,000 months of free service on its app. The promotion gives each user free messaging and VoIP services including unlimited inbound international calling and 500 minutes of free outbound calling per month where service is available. New customers also receive a U.S. phone number and an international phone number in Canada or Mexico.

As a result, we feel that were doing good and the employees feel that theyre doing something meaningful, Darling said.
A man who allegedly left a voicemail threatening to kill U.S. Sen. Mark Warner in a Social Security dispute was arrested in Virginia Beach on Thursday, federal authorities said.

According to an affidavit from a special agent with the U.S. Capitol Police, on Sept. 2, Dylan Stephen Jayne, 37, of Virginia Beach, called Warners office in Abingdon and left a voicemail threatening to kill him by someone else if Warner did not do as instructed.

The affidavit said Jayne has a record with the Capitol Police from as far back as 2008 of allegedly calling several congressional offices and leaving concerning and threatening voicemails.

Jayne was charged with one count of transmitting a threat via interstate commerce by leaving a voicemail message and threatening to kill a United States senator.

Authorities said the U.S. Capitol Police and the Burlington, Vt., Police Department are conducting the investigation and that the Virginia Beach Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service assisted in the apprehension of the suspect.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer R. Bockhorst in the Western District of Virginia is prosecuting the case.
They called it a prayer walk.

They had not come here to accuse anybody, Crutchfield and Wood said. They wanted to remember Washington in a good way.

They also want justice. For Washington and for others.

Justice will be served for Leon Washington, Wood said into a bullhorn, and the crowd behind her began a refrain that has echoed around the nation and the world since May.

No justice, they said. No peace.

The walked for a mile, past fields and homes and ditches lined with litter. Neighbors watched. One man waved.

Near the end of the road, corn grew chest high and an old abandoned farmhouse stood in the distance. Rumors once circulated that Washington hid out there. On the other side of the road, hunters had found his body.

"You are my strength," the group sang, "strength like no other."

Alice Wood, Leons aunt, spoke of forgiveness.

Even when we find out who did this, we have to love them. We dont love the crime. We still have to forgive. Whoever did this is still Gods child. Whoever did it, you are already forgiven, Alice Wood said.

Its a new day. Black Lives Matter. Were not saying police officers lives dont matter or that all lives dont matter, said Anthony Coghill, whod served as a pallbearer at Washingtons funeral and still remembered his cousin in tears. Were just asking that our lives be equivalent.
The throaty roar of more than 100 motorcycles arriving at Hurkamp Park in downtown Fredericksburg was greeted with whoops and cheers by the crowd assembling for the start of a Back the Blue rally Sunday afternoon.

Mad Mike Wade, a biker who lives in Stafford County, told the hundreds who gathered in the park to show their support for law enforcement that it was their honor to keep the rallygoers safe as they marched through downtown streets on their way to the Fredericksburg Police headquarters on Cowan Boulevard.

He said that he and the other bikers would line both sides of the march, and warned that there were people who might want to infiltrate the group and cause them harm. If that were to occur, he said, the response would be swift and harsh.

The silent majority is tired of being silent, Wade said.

The rally organized on the weekend of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day proved peaceful. Amy Sudbeck of Fredericksburg said that she organized it because the police have been going through a rough time since protests began locally and across the nation in the wake of the Memorial Day death of George Floyd under the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis.
WASHINGTON  Here is how area members of Congress voted during the legislative week ending June 26.

House

Failing to override veto on student loans. Voting 238 for and 173 against, the House on June 26 failed to reach a two-thirds majority needed to override President Trump's veto of a measure (HJ Res 76) concerning an administration rule on student-loan forgiveness. The effect of the vote was to affirm a rule that critics said would provide forgiveness to only 3 percent of some 200,000 claimants who allege their school fraudulently misrepresented the quality of education they would receive. But Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testified that the rule would correct the "blanket forgiveness" of an Obama administration so-called "borrower defense" rule it replaced.

A yes vote was to override the presidential veto.

Voting yes: Abigail Spanberger, D-7th.

Voting no: Robert Wittman, R-1st.
County Supervisor John Fant said about 57% of the county is unserved by broadband. While some residences will start getting connected in the next several months, he said it will take two to three years to get everyone who wants broadband connected.

I do more calls about broadband than I do about potholes, said Fant, who has to go to his wifes office to work if he needs good internet. Its the number one priority for county citizens.

Geography, demographics and number and types of service providers compound to make closing the last-mile gap a challenge. Having middle-mile networks in place can reduce costs associated with expanding last-mile broadband service to unserved areas.

The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, which focuses on economic development in Southwest and Southside Virginia, has dedicated nearly $30 million for last-mile broadband infrastructure since 2017. It has funded more than 100,000 last-mile connections to homes and businesses.

Georgia-based Point Broadband is working to expand broadband to about 7,000 homes and businesses across far Southwest Virginia. The FCCs Connect America Fund is providing $24 million over 10 years for this project.
They want to keep their workers safe because they need healthy employees to operate, and most employers do care about their workers welfare.

But this new confusing proposal conflicts with much of what has already been done. And as much as proponents claim its the only way to enforce workplace infection control, that simply is not true.

OSHA provided recent guidance confirming that Virginias current laws ensuring a workplace thats safe from disease and injury will legally suffice.

What employers want and deserve from the state is a chance to explain how this impacts their daily operations. But after issuing 230 pages of poorly written draft regulations and supporting documents, the comment period lasted a mere six business days.

Employers also want to be able to answer questions or offer input at the Health Code Board's virtual meetings, but they are barred from doing that.

This process not only lacks transparency, but its also downright foolish for Virginia decision-makers to not want to know more about whether this plan is worthy, feasible, or even workable for those who must carry it out - and if it would truly do more to protect workers.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Variable clouds with thunderstorms, especially in the morning. High 89F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 79F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
A Reason Not To Believe

What is at the heart of our spiritual beliefs?

The term New Atheists was coined back in 2006 by the journalist Gary Wolf, as he was describing the positions promoted by some of the most outspoken and popular atheists of the twenty-first century. They all viewed religion as nothing more than superstition. The four most prominent people in this group were Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens (now deceased), and Daniel Dennett. They have been referred to as The Four Horsemen of atheism.

One of The Four Horsemen, Sam Harris, a best-selling author, penned some words recognizing that atheism and Christianity compete on the same playing field. He remarked:

So let us be honest with ourselves; in the fullness of time, one side is going to really win this argument, and the other side is really going to lose.

Harris is right.

Acclaimed literary critic Adam Kirsch adds another truth I believe we can all agree on:

The best atheists agree with the best defenders of faith [in God] on one crucial point: that the choice to believe or disbelieve is existentially the most important choice of all. It shapes ones whole understanding of human life and purpose, because it is a choice that each must make for him or herself.

So, what is truly at the heart of what I believe? And most importantly, is what I believe true? I cannot think of anything more tragic than to live my life with a false view of reality. A false view of the existence of God.

I would like to share with you below one of the fifty-seven short essays found in my newest book Reflections on the Existence of God.

Back in 2004, I entered an essay into the John Templeton Foundation Power of Purpose essay contest. Since there were several thousand contestants, it was no surprise that my essay did not place or win an award. However, I did have the opportunity to read the winning essay by August Turak. It was a story of how a powerful encounter with a Trappist monk changed his life. One of the stories he tells reveals a great deal about what is at the heart of spiritual belief.

Turak describes a spiritual retreat he attended at an isolated monastery. He spent a great deal of time in solitude, but spent some time talking with someone whom they called a spiritual director. His spiritual director was a man they knew as Father Christian, who was 88 years old, spoke several languages, and had three PhDs.

One afternoon in a one-on-one meeting with Father Christian, they got into a discussion on faith and belief. Father Christian launched into a story about a Presbyterian minister having a crisis of faith and leaving the ministry. The man was a friend of his, and Christian took his crisis so seriously that he actually left the monastery and traveled to his house in order to do what he could. The two men spent countless hours in fruitless theological debate. Finally dropping his voice, Christian looked the man steadily in the face and said, Bob, is everything in your life all right? The minister said everything was fine. But the ministers wife called Christian a few days later. She had overheard Christians question and her husbands answer, and she told Father Christian that the minister was having an affair and was leaving her as well as his ministry.

Christian fairly spat with disgust. He was wasting his time. Bobs problem was that he couldnt take the contradiction between his preaching and his living. So, God gets the boot. Remember this: All philosophical problems are, at the heart, moral problems. It all comes down to how you intend to live your life.

One of the great philosophical thinkers of the 20th century was Mortimer Adler. He taught philosophy at the University of Chicago. He also helped found the Aspen Institute. Adler was co-editor of the 55-volume series entitled The Great Books of the Western World and was the sole author of 52 additional books.

For most of his life, he was a self-described pagan. Then, to the shock of his colleagues, he became a Christian at the age of 82. Adler lived to be 98 years old, and as he reflected back on his life, he acknowledged that at times he had been intrigued by the Christian faith. Even so, he never took the leap. As he examined his heart, Adler realized that he ultimately did not want to change his lifestyle. He did not want to live the Christian life; instead, he wanted to be free to live the way that he wanted. He said, The decision to become a Christian lies in the state of ones heart (will), not in the state of ones mind. It dawned on Adler late in life that his atheism was not intellectually driven; it came down to how he wanted to live his life.

When it gets right down to it, so many people are not on a truth and wisdom quest but rather on a search for pleasure and happiness. It comes very naturally to be guided by our feelings and emotions and not by reason and the yearning to live in harmony with what is true. In other words, our quest for pleasure and happiness takes priority over reason and sound decision-making that leads to our personal well-being.

I remember how shocked I was several years ago when I read where the well-known atheist Aldous Huxley gave his reason for being an atheist. In his book Ends and Means, he says:

I wanted to believe the Darwinian idea. I chose to believe it not because I think there was enormous evidence for it, nor because it had the full authority to give interpretation to my origins, but I chose to believe it because it delivered me from trying to find meaning and freed me to my own erotic passions.

Think about what he is saying. This is a very intelligent man who says he does not believe in evolution because of the evidence. In fact, he is acknowledging there is not that much evidence for believing it. He did not want sexual restrictions, which God imposes upon us. For this reason, Huxley was drawn to atheism, in large part because it provided sexual liberation.

The great St. Augustine even acknowledged that he resisted God for a long period of time because of his desire for sexual pleasure. In his autobiography, he admits that intellectual arguments he made against believing in God was a smokescreen. He states very honestly, The plain fact was, I thought I should be impossibly miserable without the embraces of a mistress.

Modern people resist God because so much is at stake. We come up with all types of reasons not to believe in God, but cannot admit that our real problem is not a matter of the intellect but a matter of the heart and the will.

Dr. Scott Peck shares a true story that powerfully demonstrates the resistance of the heart. It is the story of one of his patients, Charlene. She struggled with depression and experienced a sense of meaninglessness in her life. As Peck asked questions and probed, he learned that she had apparently grown up in the church and had a belief in God. Peck described her as having a well-developed, religious worldview. He asked why her beliefs did not make a difference in her life and help her with her sense of meaninglessness. There was a silence, and then she exploded with this incredible admission:

I cannot do it. There is no room for me in that. That would be my death. I dont want to live for God. I will not. I want to live for me. For my own sake.

What an incredibly honest admission. This womans response is a picture of the human heart resisting God, refusing to surrender to God. And she gives the reason: I want to live my life for me.

This is the heart of the human condition. If God is real, and the Christian worldview is true, then it is only logical for us to live under His authority and adopt the Christian worldview. Yet so many resist the authority of God. They desire to be autonomous and to be a law unto themselves. They do not want to give up control of their lives. I have encountered many people who find it much easier to proclaim that God does not exist than to acknowledge His existence and intentionally choose to reject Him.

In the end, it is important to know whether God exists or whether He does not. There is no third option. This book lays out, in short essays, much of the evidence for the existence of God that is available. We should seek to take the evidence offered and use it to make reasonable conclusions. What you will find is, as the evidence accumulates, it enables us to come to confident conclusions about God. Who He is. And, that He truly is.

Get your copy of Richards newest book Reflections on the Existence of God on Amazon or at existenceofgodbook.com

Richard E. Simmons III is a Christian author, speaker, and the Executive Director of The Center for Executive Leadership, a non-profit, faith-based ministry in Birmingham, Alabama. His best-selling titles include The True Measure of a Man, The Power of a Humble Life, Wisdom: Life's Great Treasure, and his newest book, Reflections on the Existence of God. Follow Richard on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @thecenterbham. Tune in to Richard's Reliable Truth Podcast on your favorite podcast app.
Today Game Developers Conference organizers just want to quickly highlight an exciting GDC talk about improving the way we build communities around games, one that's scheduled to take place during the all-digital GDC Summer!

Kitfox Games' Victoria Tran has agreed to speak at the August event about "Designing Game Communities for Kindness", a talk focused on equipping you with practical, specific community design strategies that encourage kindness among members.

Part of the GDC Summer Advocacy track of talks, this session aims to help game makers learn what to do in order to create communities around their work that are positive, healthy, and engaged.

These are all common ideals in community-building, but Tran plans to take things to the next level by offering answers to specific questions like: How do you get there? Beyond just "having good soft skills", what structures encourage kindness? What makes a good rule set? How is trust created through faceless communication?

Developers interested in learning more about how they can create kinder communities outside of their games are encouraged to attend! While targeted towards independent developers, this talk is relevant to anyone who is curious about what promotes positive interactions among groups of people in online spaces. Register now for GDC Summer and reserve your seat in the audience.

For more details on GDC Summer, scheduled to take place virtually August 4th through the 6th, visit the show's official website, or subscribe to regular updates via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS.



Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent company Informa Tech
While the display will bring a sense of normalcy to Lebanon on the holiday, Kerby stressed that viewers are only meant to enjoy it from their homes, and should not show up in person like they traditionally would.

The walking path at Cheadle Lake will close at 11 a.m. on the 4th, and there will be no gathering or parking around the lake that day. Parking will be enforced, and town residents are being asked to not park along the roadside or highway.

With those guidelines in place, the Star Spangled Celebration does not serve as an event for those who live outside Lebanon to travel.

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That was the challenge from the beginning  other people are going to want to enjoy it, Kerby said. All we can do is make sure the laws are enforced in town and people can watch safely from home.  Were not discouraging anybody from coming, but were not encouraging it.

Western Display Fireworks will be providing the pyrotechnics, as they have done for the Festival in the past. According to Kerby, Western Display typically supplies several hundred shows for the holiday each year, but is only doing about 50 this year.
Local

Searchers continue to come up empty in river search for missing girl

Anthony Wahl Officials search for 9-year-old Madison Billups in the Rock River below the Monterey Bridge in Janesville on Saturday.

JANESVILLE

Authorities came up empty again Sunday in the fourth day searchers scoured the Rock River for missing 9-year-old Janesville girl Madison Billups.

The search so far has been fruitless for dozens of searchers who have canvassed waters for more than 60 hours off and on since Thursday night, when Billups was believed to have been swept into a strong current in the river just west of Monterey Bridge in Janesville.

Capt. Mark Thompson of the Rock County Sheriffs Office said multiple local fire departments and other police and public safety officials Sunday continued a sonar search from boats in a 9-mile stretch of river between Janesville and the town of Beloit.

Over the weekend, boat crews with divers and cadaver-sniffing dogs at first focused a search in the waters near Anglers Park west of the Monterey Bridge, where Madison was last seen Thursday.

The search Saturday and Sunday expanded to deeper waters farther south. Thompson said the sheriffs office, which has been at the helm of the multiday operation, plans to resume searching Monday.

UPDATE: River search for missing girl to continue Sunday Search crews looking for the 9-year-old Janesville girl missing in the Rock River since Thursday say theyre shifting focus to deeper parts of the river between Janesvilles south side and Afton.

Were going to have one of our boats and a fire boat out here. Probably the next day beyond that, too. We will still have boat activity in the area. Sonar, visual searches. But we are having no luck at this point, Thompson said.

At Anglers Park, dozens of Madisons family members have held a vigil since Thursday night.

It appeared the family was beginning to come to grips with a search authorities said since Friday afternoon has been considered a recovery effort rather than a water rescue.

On Sunday, family had set up a memorial on a sapling tree. One message written on a few heart-shaped signs that hung among balloons and stuffed animals tied to the tree read: I love you Maddie Patty. I will never forget your soft voice and vibrant smile.

Another message read: Rest with the Angels. Never be forgotten.

Family and police said Madison was thought to be holding onto her 13-year-old brother as the two waded out into the river and onto a sandbar near one of the train trestle bridges west of the Monterey Bridge.

Janesville police initially responded to reports that two bystanders fishing nearby saw Madison and her brother slip off the sandbar and onto large rocks in a drop-off where a strong current and undertow sweeps out of the rivers main channel.

Anthony Wahl Family and friends of a missing 9-year-old girl lost in the Rock River stand beneath the Highway 11 bridge south of Janesville on Saturday. Its the third day of the search after the girl was swept into a heavy current in the river Thursday night just west of the Monterey Bridge.

One of the bystanders, an unidentified woman, apparently tried to pull both children from the current, but Madison slipped loose and went under in the current, police indicated.

Over the weekend, the Anglers Park area was a hot spot of activity where searchers initially had set up a command post and focused their search on waters there.

Police and local fire departments had cordoned off the riverfront at Anglers Park for much of the weekend, but by Saturday, about 40 relatives of Madisons had gathered under sun shades and a park shelter to hold a vigil at the park.

Family members described Madison as being small and petite for her age but spirited and inseparable from her siblings, including the older brother she apparently went with into the water.

Gail Billups, who said she is Madisons aunt, said family members had been struggling with raw emotions all weekend. Some family traveled from Detroit and Chicago to join a vigil at the park over the weekend.

Residents brought the family food and water during what was a long, harrowing weekend, and the family worked together with residents who volunteered to help the family scour the river banks and overhanging trees as divers searched the open waters.

That was a blessing. I didnt even know this community cared this much, Gail Billups said.

Janesville Police Deputy Chief Terry Sheridan on Friday said the stretch of river near Anglers Park is shallow but with a current thats dangerous. Conditions there are treacherous enough that searchers ordered the dam shut at Indianford to draw down the river so divers could more safely scour the bottom for signs of Madison.

Angela Major A family member of the missing 9-year-old girl speaks to Rock County Sheriff Troy Knudson at the scene Friday in Janesville.

Thompson said searchers measured the undertow near Anglers Park at more than 7 miles per houra speed he said even trained rescue divers find unsafe.

Its a rough area, he said.

Andre Billups, who said he is the girls great uncle, believes the city should put a fence up along the river south of the Monterey Bridge to keep people back from swift waters he said are dangerous and can get you worse than fire can get you.

The city has earmarked the stretch west of the Monterey Bridge as a family recreational area geared toward fishing.

Billups said the river conditions in that stretch have changed after the city last year tore out the Monterey Dam, a spillway that had dammed up the river upstream for decades.

Downriver on the citys south end and into the towns of Rock and Beloit, where the search continued Sunday, the river is deeper and less turbid. But Thompson said conditions for a water search arent much easier than near Monterey Bridge.

This is a different type of river. There is a main channel that runs through it, but it goes from rocky bottom to sandy bottom to trees, big stumps, and back to rocks. Its constantly changing. Theres all different types of bottoms and ever-changing depth, and the channel runs different speeds at different locations. So that obviously adds to the complexity for a search here, he said.

Anthony Wahl Family members of missing 9-year-old girl speak to a boater from the shoreline as officials search the Rock River further upstream in Janesville on Saturday.

On Sunday afternoon, Gail Billups sat with a half-dozen family members at Anglers Park. She said she hoped the sheriffs office would continue the search for her niece until shes found.

She and other family members have been at Anglers Park nearly around the clock since Thursday night. She pointed to her vehicle parked nearby.

Im laid up in that van at night. I sleep there. I stay here, she said. Im not leaving. Ill wait here for them to come up and say they found something.
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When the light of Gods moral Law (the Ten Commandments) exposes a sinners guilt, he will usually try to justify himself. The feeling of guilt isnt pleasant, and so he attempts to shake it off by offering excuses.

Think of a child who is stealing cookies from the cookie jar in the darkness of night. When his dad turns on the light, he sees that the boys mouth is covered with chocolate, the lid is off the jar, and cookies are gone. The child is exposed and has two avenues: he will either admit his guilt, or he will attempt to justify himself.

We are all guilty of violating Gods Law (see Romans 3:23). Weve been caught with our hand in the cookie jar, and therefore have two avenues: we can either try to cover our sins, or we can confess them. But here is the warning:

He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy (Proverbs 28:13)

The light of the Law awakens another light  the sinners dormant conscience:

They show that the essential requirements of the Law are written in their hearts; and their conscience [their sense of right and wrong, their moral choices] bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or perhaps defending them... (Romans 2:15, AMP)

In other words, the conscience bears witness to the Law. It is a witness for the prosecution, and it will fight for the case of his guilt.

After the apostle Paul explains this relationship of the Law and the conscience, he shows how to use the Law to bring the knowledge of sin:

You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, Do not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? (Romans 2:21,22)

Youve just asked a sinner similar questions and hes admitted that hes a liar, a thief, a blasphemer, and an adulterer at heart. The light is on. His hand is clearly in the cookie jar. His conscience therefore begins to do its duty, and as it accuses him, he will predictably try to justify himself.

Here are some simple responses to the top ten excuses guilty sinners use to try to justify themselves:

1. They were just small lies  white lies. Nothing serious.

Sin is so serious to God, it demands the death sentence (we will all eventually die Romans 6:23). The Bible says, Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 12:22).

2. Everyone lies.

We wont be giving an account for everyone on Judgment Day  everyone will give an account of himself to God. If you are stopped for speeding on the freeway by a police officer, it wont do any good to say that everybody speeds. The Law will hold you personally accountable for your crimes. What others do is irrelevant to your case.

3. That was in the past.

Everything is in the past. Even this sentence is in the past. Telling a judge that you robbed the bank but that was in the past, thinking that he will let you go because it was in the past, is ridiculous.

4. I do good things.

A criminal may tell a judge that he does good deeds, but they are irrelevant to his case. Criminal law judges only according to the crime, not your good deeds. God will judge you according to your crimes, and the crimes only.

5. My God is loving and kind.

Its called idolatry when we make up a god to suit ourselves. The God you have to face is loving and kind, but He is also just and holy and will by no means clear the guilty (see Exodus 34:7).

6. I dont believe in God.

That doesnt matter. You still have to face Him on Judgment Day whether you believe in Him or not.

7. God committed genocide when He drowned millions in the flood.

You are a self-admitted lying thief, a blasphemer, and an adulterer at heart. You are in no place to accuse God of being evil.

8. I dont believe in the Ten Commandments.

Ignorance of the Law is no excuse. God wrote the Commandments on your heart via your conscience. On Judgment Day you will be without excuse.

9. I dont care if I go to Hell.

Do you enjoy pain? Two seconds in Hell would be terrifying. You dont want to find yourself there, with no way out.

10. I dont believe in Hell.

If a criminal has been condemned to death and he says that he doesnt believe in the death sentence, his unbelief doesnt change reality. God will have His Day of Justice.

Always keep in mind that youre not out to win an argument. You simply want him to see his terrible danger so that he will find mercy in Christ. What you are doing is dashing his false hope. You are putting him up the river Niagara without a paddle. This is in the hope that he will reach out to the only rope being thrown from the shore.

The Law makes the gospel make sense. It prepares the way for grace. Charles Spurgeon said, You cannot draw the silken thread of the gospel through a mans heart unless you first send the needle of the Law to make way for it.
Mesas relatively new crime lab has been handling a number of cases for Gilbert Police.
Gillette, WY (82718)

Today

Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 45F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 45F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
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.
The AZPOST board accepted without comment the voluntary relinquishment of peace officer certification for Matthew Schneider, a former officer.
Australia wages espionage offensive against China: source

Global Times

By Fan Lingzhi and Yang Sheng Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/28 18:57:57

Australia is waging an intensifying espionage offensive against China - sending agents to China to spy, gather intelligence and recruit assets, instigating defection among Chinese nationals, spying on Chinese students and organizations in Australia, feeding fake news to media to hype up the "China espionage theory" and even in early years attempting to install wiretaps in the Chinese Embassy in Canberra, the Global Times has learned from a source with a Chinese law-enforcement agency.

Multiple Australian espionage cases uncovered by Chinese law-enforcement agencies showed that Australia is a veteran in spying against other countries and precisely "the thief who is crying stop the thief" as it steps up infiltration, spying and technological theft operations against China, the source told the Global Times.

In response to Australia's espionage offensive, Chinese counterespionage agencies will take more vigorous countermeasures to crack down on Australian espionage operations to safeguard China's national security and interests, the source said.

Thieves get caught

In 2018, a Chinese law-enforcement agency uncovered a spying operation launched by Australia and arrested agents who work for Australian security intelligence agencies, and seized materials, including espionage equipment, US dollars and Chinese yuan used for espionage funds, and the intelligence information they were going to exchange.

According to the pictures provided by the source, the Australian spies caught red-handed also had a compass, a USB flash disk, a notebook, a mask, gloves and a map of Shanghai. On the notebook, there was some English handwriting about addresses, which are relevant to their operations.

The Global Times learned from the Chinese law-enforcement agency that Australian security intelligence agencies are not just spying on China within Chinese territory, but also conduct acts against overseas Chinese in Australia and other countries, such as inciting the defection of some overseas Chinese to work for them.

A case cracked by the Chinese law-enforcement agency showed that Australian security intelligence agencies incited the defection of a targeted person and trained him on Swan Island near Canberra with professional espionage skills, and then sent him back to China for intelligence gathering.

The spying activities against China by Australian security intelligence agencies mainly include sending spies to China to incite defection and collect intelligence, according to the source.

The source told the Global Times that Australian security intelligence agencies set up a Beijing intelligence station in the Australian Embassy in China, and this station is the most senior level one in East Asia, which also serves as a junction center to manage Australia's espionage activities in other countries in the region such as Japan, South Korea and Mongolia.

Australian security intelligence agencies have deployed multiple intelligence officers in the station and they have status as Australian diplomats in China (which means they have diplomatic immunity), and their missions in China also include inciting defections, intelligence gathering and cross-linking.

The source said Australian security intelligence agencies conduct espionage activities in China very carefully and cautiously. They tried to escape from China's counterespionage operations by using various sophisticated spying devices, but still, "the approaches that they thought to be reliable and sophisticated also leaked out during China's investigation," the source said.

Wiretaps in the embassy

Australian security intelligence agencies have, in recent years, increased espionage activities and surveillance against Chinese institutions and their employees in Australia, including engaging and interrupting local Chinese to force them to spy on local Chinese communities and the Chinese Embassy, and even instigated local Chinese to become their informants to return to China for intelligence gathering or attempted to infiltrate Chinese Embassy and consulates in Australia.

Feng Chongyi, a Chinese Australian "scholar" at the University of Technology Sydney, was an informant to Australian security intelligence agencies, and he provided much information regarding China to Australian security intelligence agencies, and also played the role of a "China studies expert" to stigmatize and smear China on some anti-China foreign media outlets, the source said.

Australian security intelligence agencies' espionage activities against China can be traced back to the 1980s-1990s. At that time, Australian security intelligence agencies used the construction of a new Chinese Embassy as a chance to deploy different types of covert listening devices, including seismic wiretaps and high and low frequency electromagnetic induction devices all over the embassy, the source noted. China and Australia established formal diplomatic ties in 1972.

After the construction of the building was completed, the relevant Chinese department found covert listening devices inside almost every floor and wall, and even the basement. Given the situation, China had to build a new embassy in Australia. According to the source, Australian intelligence agencies are still conducting espionage against the Chinese Embassy and consulates in the country.

Australian intelligence agencies also launched an investigation against their own politicians who displayed friendly attitudes toward China recently while bilateral ties were worsening.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday, the Australian federal police - as part of a joint investigation with the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) - raided the Sydney home of the New South Wales upper house Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane on Friday morning "searching for evidence to support allegations of a Chinese government plot to influence a serving politician."

The MP held a friendly stance on China publicly and has come under scrutiny for his recent praise of China's successful handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the report said.

The Australian Institute of International Affairs published an article in September 2019 saying that the Pine Gap satellite surveillance base jointly used by Australia and the US is also spying on China. The article says "Pine Gap is fully integrated into the US military's 'kill chain.' It directs drones and missiles onto targets in the Middle East and elsewhere. As a CIA base, it can also eavesdrop on all Australian telephone calls."

The source with the Chinese law-enforcement agency noted that "when Australia continually conducts espionage operations against China, it also accuses China of 'espionage.' That's a typical practice of 'a thief crying stop a thief'."

Producing fake news

Apart from espionage activities, Australian security intelligence agencies have even started to influence public opinion and policymaking in the country by expressing views on major issues and feeding fake news to the media, Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University in Shanghai, told the Global Times.

The alleged "Chinese spy" Wang Liqiang's case in 2019 is a typical example, said Chen.

Wang's own claim that he was a "Chinese spy" and "defected" to Australian authorities was eventually proven to be false.

"If Wang defected to Australia as he claimed, he must be in contact with Australian security intelligence agencies and wouldn't be allowed to talk to the media. But how could he get in touch with the media? The only scenario that makes sense is that Australian security intelligence agencies knew he is a swindler but intended to let him talk to the media to spread anti-China or sinophobic sentiment to the public," Chen said.

"Fake news is not important anymore. As long as Wang could help them create an atmosphere in the country to show that 'Chinese spies are threatening Australia's national security,' the Australian security intelligence agencies will make no comment on the case," Chen noted.

Unprecedented hostility

The source of the Chinese law-enforcement agency noted that Australia has added more weight to its espionage activities targeting China.

"Australian security intelligence agencies have increased their budgets and strengthened the construction of espionage intelligence networks against China," the source said.

Canberra made such moves because China's rise has put pressure on it, and as a member of the Five Eyes Alliance, Australia feels it has the "responsibility" to collect Chinese intelligence and share it with other "Five Eyes" allies, Chinese analysts said.

In fact, Australia is not content with merely being a loyal follower of the US, but wants to make its own decisions, such as announcing a boycott against Chinese 5G telecom giant Huawei, and it even tried to convince other countries to follow, Chen noted.

Chen added that on the one hand, Canberra wants to enjoy the benefits brought by the rise of China; on the other, Australia is a typical "Indo-Pacific nation" and wants to use US President Donald Trump and his administration's Indo-Pacific strategy to make itself more important to the US and the West in a competition with China.

This is why Australia is nervous, panicking and self-contradicting when dealing with China. In recent years, due to the impact of ideological elements and the worsening of China-US relations, the anti-China conservative forces are becoming increasingly influential in misguiding China-Australia relations, Chinese analysts said.
Army facilitates Navy ship-to-shore virtual health capability

By Kirk Frady June 28, 2020

SEMBACH, Germany -- Information technology experts from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center recently joined forces with the U.S. Navy Health System to establish a virtual health connection between the USS Mount Whitney, an amphibious command ship, and the U.S. Naval Hospital in Naples, Italy.

According to Navy medical officials, establishing video teleconference capability on a warship underway isn't a simple task. The connection must be secure, using equipment organic to the ship, and have high bandwidth to connect with medical specialists ashore.

"Formal, video-enhanced virtual health connectivity to Navy ships while underway has been a challenge and is not yet routinely available, particularly not on an unclassified platform," said Lt. Cmdr. (Dr.) Isaac Schwartz, staff otolaryngologist with the U.S. Navy Hospital Naples. "The goal was to ensure a connection between the Mount Whitney and the hospital using the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center system, which would drastically augment access to specialty care for sailors aboard ship."

According to Navy medical officials, virtual health capabilities provide the Navy with much-needed flexibility and assists in ensuring sailor readiness.

"Our active duty service members should not have to sacrifice on the level of care they receive when they are deployed," said Navy Capt. Valerie Riege, Chief Innovation and Integration Officer for the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. "Virtual health is a gamechanger in medicine today and will bring quality health care to the warfighter when and where they need it."

Providing ship-to-shore virtual health connectivity lessens the chance for mishaps and possible injury to patients and crew during medical evacuations from an ocean-going vessel.

"Virtual health connectivity from ship-to-shore allows Navy ships to remain on mission and not always having to divert due to the illness, or suspected illness, of a Sailor unless absolutely necessary," said Col. Andrew Baxter, regional nurse executive for Regional Health Command Europe. "Being able to observe a patient virtually allows providers onshore to better diagnose the situation and provide recommended treatment from afar. In non-life-threatening, or emergent cases, medical treatment can usually be postponed until the ship arrives back in port."

While this particular connection was ultimately successful, providing a virtual health connection from ship to shore requires a great deal of coordination and presents unique challenges.

"The virtual test was highly successful and audiovisual connections at all locations were very clear," said Judson Rackley, a telecommunications systems manager at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. "We worked together with Navy and Defense Information Systems Agency personnel to test different methods of connection in order to identify what would provide them with the most reliable connection. The biggest challenge was the interoperability between networks, resources available on the Navy ship due to security concerns, and coordination between multiple locations around the globe."

According to military medical officials, a formal memorandum of agreement was signed between Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and the U.S. Navy Hospital Naples in 2019. This memorandum delineates the relationship and responsibilities for virtual health services provided through LRMC's Virtual Medical Center-Europe.

"The formal agreement outlines how Navy medical facilities do business with Regional Health Command Europe," said Ron Keen, chief of virtual health for Regional Health Command Europe. "It allows us to have established rules of engagement that both Navy facilities and our facilities follow to ensure patient access to care, patient privacy, appointing guidelines, and patient management. It also allows the parties involved to obtain privileging by proxy which means one physician can practice medicine virtually in another health facility in the Navy Health System. We also have a similar agreement with the Air Force."

"As this is now a Defense Health Agency funded program of record, and will eventually be staffed by DHA personnel, we expect the relationship will continue for years to come," added Keen.
India's wishful thinking an illusion as PLA is prepared on all fronts

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/28 21:44:45

As senior Indian military officers are expecting a prolonged standoff in the China-India border region with the US reportedly voicing support for India, the Chinese military is demonstrating high military readiness on all fronts, as the intensive, simultaneous military exercises in the South China Sea, near Taiwan island and near the China-India border show India's wishful thinking of taking advantage of US support is merely an illusion, Chinese analysts said Sunday.

Indian Army chief M M Naravane has briefed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on the situation in the border region after returning from his visit there on Friday, and the Indian Army is expecting the standoff to be a prolonged affair, Indian media reported Saturday.

Claiming China has deployed Su-30 fighter jets and H-6 bombers near the border region, India on Saturday deployed the Akash air defense system in Ladakh, Indian media reported.

The recent Indian moves came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that the US is reducing troop numbers in Germany and deploying them to other places to "face the Chinese threat to India and Southeast Asian nations," Indian news agency PTI reported on Friday.

The US has long been hoping to play India as a card in its strategy to contain China, and it is now using India's domestic nationalists and hardliners in the China-India border tensions, Chinese analysts said.

However, on their part, it is wishful thinking that the US is coming to their aid and will help pin down the Chinese forces in the South China Sea and Taiwan Straits toprovide chances for India in the border dispute, they said.

This is merely an illusion by the Indian Army that cannot represent the Indian leadership, as the US will only take advantage of India to contain China and is unlikely to march to the frontlines themselves. This "strategic surrounding" on China is very weak, Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times on Sunday.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has very high war preparedness in all fronts, but despite tensions, the risk of a large-scale military conflict remains very low thanks to the PLA's strength and strategic deterrence, Wei said.

The PLA has demonstrated its capability to maintain high combat readiness in these different regions with intensive, simultaneous military operations, analysts noted.

Military exercises will be held in waters off the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea from Wednesday to July 5, according to a notice released by China's Maritime Safety Administration.

A PLA Southern Theater Command naval flotilla featuring destroyers and frigates also executed maritime operations in the South China Sea on June 18, China Military Online reported on Friday.

In the direction of Taiwan, PLA military aircraft reportedly approached the island at least eight times in June, with many missions speculatively aimed at intercepting US warplanes flying near the island.

The PLA 73rd Group Army recently held live-fire amphibious landing exercises featuring heavy weapons and equipment like the ZBD-05 amphibious assault vehicle in East China's Fujian Province, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Friday.

All these exercises did not hinder drills near the China-India border region, as a combined brigade attached to the PLA 74th Group Army recently mobilized from thousands of kilometers away to the desert region of Northwest China for daytime and nighttime artillery strike drills, CCTV reported on Saturday.

Understanding the PLA's capabilities in the Asia-Pacific, the US is not going to have a hot war with China, so what gave India the courage to think about doing so, Chinese military observers asked.
How do you answer a 15-year-old who wants to know why God doesnt help people in a pandemic?

For the answer to that question, Im handing over to a US Salvation Army officer (pastor) and author, Lisa Barnes. Lisa was born in Las Vegas and came to faith through after her mother, who was caught in the grip of addiction, received Salvation Army food assistance.

Lisa and her husband Anthony have been leading a Salvation Army church in Seattle and are currently in the process of shifting to a similar role in Las Vegas.

I met Lisa some years ago at an international writers conference. She is the author of Love to a Whores Daughter: Life and Faith Through the Lens of Grace and Redemption (download for free from www.NewFrontierPress.org). Lisa is also part of the global BRAVE network, an empowerment programme that aims to combat the correlation between girls in foster care and girls trafficked into the domestic sex industry.

Over to Lisa 

At the beginning of the pandemic I was talking to my 15-year-old son about all of it, even before we really knew any of it. This was before US schools let us know they wouldnt reopen for the year, and we had more questions than answers.

He asked, How could God do this to us? God could just snap his fingers and end all of this. Why wouldnt he help us?

My response was first affirming my sons faith, acknowledging that its really big that he knows and believes that we serve a God that could work in miraculous ways. Thats big for all of us  especially teenagers.

Then I told him how often God uses the tough things in our world to teach us the most important lessons.

I think with Covid-19 God is trying to teach us that every person matters. We can say we believe that every person matters, but that is inconsistent with how we treat some.

When this all started most of us thought it was only going to affect the elderly and the disabled or those with compromised immune systems; arguably the demographics often treated as if they are disposable or without value in our world.

Do we really care?

It was as if God was asking us, Do you really care for everyone? Well what about them? You dont seem like you are for them the same as everyone else.

Time went on and we learned that the virus is not just hurting the old and the immune compromised. When we realized it could affect all of us, we seemed to take it more seriously.

Then George Floyds and countless other black peoples unnecessary and brutal deaths were flooding our social media and news outlets.

It was the same lesson, just wearing a different face.

Its like God is still asking, Do you really care for everyone? Well, what about them? You dont seem like you are for them the same as everyone else.

When will we listen?

When will we learn that for our world to change, we must change?

We have more outbreaks (of both the virus and racism) because so many of us refuse to live like we believe that all people have worth and value. And to prove it may have implications for your life. Even implications so small and trite as staying home or wearing a mask when you go out.

We know you dont like it; we know its uncomfortable.

No one likes it.

We are all uncomfortable.

But  just maybe  we can stand to be uncomfortable because we know we are not the centre of the universe and other people matter too. We can say that all we want, but there comes a time when we have to prove it. We will live in a way that shows we believe other people matter, even when its uncomfortable or when we feel inconvenienced?

Do we want to help?

Do we want to help end Covid? Wear a mask.

Do we want to help discrimination and racism? Read and learn and listen.

Behave like we say we think. Do we think every person matters? Then weve got to prove it by affirming those that have been made to feel disposable.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my lambs. Again Jesus said, Simon son of John, do you love me? He answered, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Take care of my sheep. The third time he said to him, Simon son of John, do you love me? Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, Do you love me? He said, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my sheep.  (John 21:15-17)
22 Yemen-bound oil tankers still impounded amid Saudi naval blockade: Report

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 28 June 2020 5:32 PM

A report says 22 Yemen-bound oil tankers, which have been illegally impounded, are still held by the Saudi-led military coalition that continues preventing them from reaching the impoverished war-wracked country's port city of Hudaydah.

An unnamed official at Hudaydah port further told Arabic-language al-Masirah television network on Sunday that the ships impounded by Saudi-led coalition carry over 144,000 tons of diesel, over 263,000 tons of gasoline, over 29,000 tons of gas and more than 100,000 tons of fuel oil.

The official further said that the impounding period of these ships ranged from 50 to 98 days, adding that the longest period belonged to the Dynasty oil tanker, which was impounded by the Saudi-led naval forces on March 25.

The Yemeni Petroleum Company (YPC) has repeatedly condemned the Saudi-led coalition's piracy, stressing that Saudi Arabia has illegally impounded these ships since they all had acquired international permits beforehand and that what Riyadh is doing is in violation of the provisions of the International Convention on Human Rights.

A Saudi-led coalition comprised of a number of allies invaded Yemen in March 2015 to restore power to its former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and crush the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement, whose fighters have been of significant help to the Yemeni army in defending the country against the invaders.

The ongoing war has so far killed tens of thousands of Yemenis and pushed the entire country close to the brink of famine.

Back in December 2018, delegates from the Houthi Ansarullah movement and representatives loyal to Hadi held a round of peace negotiations in Rimbo, north of the Swedish capital city of Stockholm. The talks resulted in the announcement of a breakthrough agreement.

The document included three provisions: a ceasefire along the Hudaydah front and the redeployment of armed forces out of the city and its port; an agreement on prisoner exchange; and a statement of understanding on the southern Yemeni city of Ta'izz.

The YPC says the continued confiscation of the oil tankers contradict earlier remarks by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, before the Security Council on January 16 and October 22 last year, during which he claimed that ships carrying energy derivatives enter the port of Hudaydah without any obstacles.

The company also notes that the Saudi-led coalition continues to besiege the Yemeni nation through maritime piracy, which aims to hinder the arrival of vessels carrying oil derivatives, natural gas, food, medicine and other basic commodities to Hudaydah, despite the fact that the ships had earlier acquired necessary permits in Djibouti under the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen (UNVIM).

The Saudi war and the tight blockade against Yemen, particularly on Hudaydah, which acts as a lifeline for the impoverished nation, have left the impoverished nation highly vulnerable against COVID-19 pandemic, which is raging across the world.

The imposed war has also taken a heavy toll on the country's infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories. The UN says over 24 million Yemenis are in dire need of humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from extreme levels of hunger as the invaders keep obstructing inflow of direly-need supplies.
Americans directly interfering in Lebanon's affairs, President Aoun says

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 28 June 2020 3:14 PM

President Michel Aoun has censured Washington's 'direct' interference in the internal affairs of Lebanon, against the backdrop of comments by US Ambassador to Beirut Dorothy Shea.

"The Americans are directly interfering in the Lebanese domestic affairs; and this is unacceptable," Aoun said in an exclusive interview with the Beirut-based Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network on Sunday.

He cautioned the US envoy over making more caustic remarks against the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, emphasizing that the group represents the Lebanese society and enjoys popularity among people.

Earlier in the day, Lebanon's Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti summoned Shea over her anti-Hezbollah criticism.

Al-Mayadeen reported that Hitti will meet with Dorothy Shea at 3:00 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) on Monday to inform her that, under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, an ambassador must not interfere in the domestic affairs of another country, and that her speech must not seek to pit Lebanese people against each other.

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is an international treaty that defines a framework for diplomatic relations between countries.

On Saturday, Lebanese judge Mohamad Mazeh in the southern city of Tyre banned local and foreign media outlets in the country from interviewing the US Ambassador for a year, after Shea told Saudi-owned al-Hadath television news network that Washington has "great concerns" over Hezbollah's role in the government.

Hezbollah's growing popularity in the Arab and Muslim world after the resistance movement shattered the Israeli military's myth of invincibility during the 33-day military offensive on Lebanon back in the summer of 2006 has been a matter of serious concern for the Tel Aviv regime and its Western allies.

The resistance movement's heroic defense as well as its vehement opposition to any foreign intervention in Lebanon's domestic affairs has turned the group into a major stakeholder in the country's political and military domains.
Yemen's Houthis: Claims of Saudi readiness for peace 'US-UK baseless propaganda'

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 28 June 2020 10:17 AM

Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement says recent reports suggesting Saudi Arabia's willingness to make peace are mere "baseless propaganda" spread by the Riyadh regime's allies, namely Britain and the United States.

In a post on his Twitter account, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam stressed that Saudi Arabia is waging the bloody war on Yemen using American and British weapons.

"Aggression and siege are a negation of peace," he wrote. "Reports on Saudi Arabia's readiness for peace are just US-UK baseless propaganda."

"We are saying to them, you are launching the aggression, the war in Yemen is launched by your weapons. You are not worthy of peace," Abdulsalam said of the US and Britain.

The remarks came two days after General Kenneth McKenzie, head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), claimed that Riyadh wanted "a negotiated solution" to end the Yemen war.

"It's my judgment based on dialogue, mil-to-mil dialogue within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and meetings I've had there, that Saudi Arabia genuinely seeks a negotiated end to the conflict in Yemen," he tweeted.

Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating war on Yemen in March 2015 in order to reinstall a Riyadh-backed former regime and crush the Ansarullah movement.

The US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, estimates that the war has claimed more than 100,000 lives over the past five years.

The Western-backed Saudi military aggression, coupled with a naval blockade, has plunged Yemen into what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

'Saudi, UAE tools in hands of US, UK'

On Saturday, Yemeni Information Minister Dhaifallah al-Shami said the US and Britain are playing a game to control Yemen through Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

"The Americans are the ones who declared war on Yemen, and we know that if the Americans talk about peace, they seek to escalate and impose hegemony under the name of peace," he told the al-Masirah TV channel.

Shami also accused the United Nations of contributing to the siege on Yemen, noting that statements issued by UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths are consistent with those of the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition.

"They are trying to hold us responsible for the blockade while they control the sea and are holding ships and pressuring the people with economic war," he said.

'Alleged Iran interference, a pretext to continue war'

Separately, the Yemeni ambassador to Iran emphasized that the invaders are using the alleged Iranian interference as a pretext to continue their war on his country.

Ibrahim al-Dailami told al-Masirah that the Islamic Republic has put forth several proposals for a ceasefire and left the Yemenis to their own to negotiate without outside intervention.

"Everyone knows that the Yemeni decision is made in Sana'a, and the forces of aggression must realize that the entire Yemeni people are in a battle to defend the sovereignty of Yemen," he added.

The Yemeni envoy further complained that regional organizations are biased towards the forces of aggression and thus no longer fit to be a mediator in any negotiations.

"The United Nations is one of the most important reasons for the continuation of the aggression, and the performance of its envoy to Yemen is suspicious. The body is not suitable for solving any problem in the world, especially in Yemen," he said.
Trump Denies Being Briefed On Reported Intelligence That Russia Offered Bounties

By RFE/RL June 28, 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump denies he has been briefed on a reported finding that Russian military intelligence offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

"Nobody briefed or told me" or Vice President Mike Pence or chief of staff Mark Meadows about "the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians," Trump tweeted on June 28.

"Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us," he wrote, referring to a report on June 26 in The New York Times.

Responding to criticism he may have failed to take action against Moscow, Trump said in a separate tweet that "nobody's been tougher on Russia" than his administration.

The New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence officials concluded months ago that Russian military intelligence offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants.

The newspaper, citing anonymous U.S. officials briefed on the matter, reported that a secret unit of Russia's GRU military intelligence linked to assassination attempts in Europe and other activities offered rewards for successful attacks last year.

A spokesman for the Taliban leadership said on June 27 that the group "strongly reject" the allegation. It insisted the Taliban "is not indebted to the beneficence of any intelligence organ or foreign country and neither is the [Taliban leadership] in need of anyone in specifying objectives."

Denials

The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed the report, saying: "This unsophisticated plant clearly illustrates the low intellectual abilities of the propagandists of American intelligence, who instead of inventing something more plausible have to make up this nonsense."

The White House said neither Trump nor Pence had been briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence.

"This does not speak to the merit of the alleged intelligence but to the inaccuracy of The New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter," White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement.

Trump's director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, said the White House statement was "accurate" and that neither the president nor vice president was "ever briefed" on the allegations that were later also reported by The Washington Post.

The New York Times claimed the intelligence was based partially on interrogations of captured Afghan militants and criminals.

It said Taliban-linked militants, or "armed criminal elements closely associated with them," collected some of the money. But it reported that it was not clear whether any of the 20 American soldiers killed in Afghanistan last year are linked to the alleged payments.

The newspaper, citing unidentified officials familiar with the intelligence, said the findings were presented to Trump and discussed by his National Security Council in late March. Officials developed potential responses, starting with a diplomatic complaint to Russia, but the White House has yet to authorize any step, the report said.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for the November 3 presidential election, reacted to the report by attacking Trump for his reported failure to take action.

Biden said on June 27 the shocking revelation -- if true -- is that Trump "has known about this for months" and had done "worse than nothing."

Biden said not only has Trump failed to impose any kind of consequences on Russia, he "has continued his embarrassing campaign of deference and debasing himself before Vladimir Putin."

He promised that if elected "Putin will be confronted and we'll impose serious costs on Russia."

Members of Congress demanded answers, with House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying: "There is something very wrong here. But this must have an answer."

"You would think, the minute the president heard of it, he would want to know more, instead of denying that he knew anything," Pelosi, a member of the Democratic Party, told ABC.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) said in a tweet it was "imperative" that Congress get to the bottom of the news reports.

Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, said Congress must act "if Trump refuses to hold Putin accountable for funding terrorism against U.S. troops in Afghanistan."

Legislation he proposed calling for sanctions against Russia passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in December 2019 and awaits a vote by the full Senate, he said on Twitter, urging Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to "act this week."

The allegations come as the United States seeks to advance a nascent peace process in Afghanistan after signing a deal with the Taliban in February that could see U.S. troops leave the country next year.

With reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-intelligence -russia-bounties-afghanistan -taliban/30694624.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.
Analysis: Is Kyrgyz Ex-President Atambaev's Prison Sentence The Exception Or The Rule?

By Bruce Pannier June 28, 2020

On June 23, the Birinchi Mai district court in Bishkek found former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev guilty of corruption for aiding in the illegal prison release of a crime boss while Atambaev was serving as president and sentenced the former head of state to 11 years and two months in prison.

Worse is probably on the way for Atambaev. The 63-year-old head of state faces a raft of charges -- including over the alleged murder of a security-force commander -- stemming from his armed standoff with security forces at Atambaev's compound in early August 2019.

But his conviction and sentencing raise questions about the future for presidents of Kyrgyzstan.

Atambaev is not the first president of Kyrgyzstan, and all of Kyrgyzstan's previously elected presidents have faced legal problems.

Askar Akaev, ousted in the 2005 revolution, was investigated for corruption and separate charges for his alleged involvement in a police crackdown on protesters in southern Kyrgyzstan's Aksy district in 2002 that resulted in the deaths of six demonstrators. Members of Akaev's family have been charged with crimes; Akaev has not, although Kyrgyzstan's security service still wants to question him.

Akaev remains in Russia, where he fled after he was chased from power.

Kurmanbek Bakiev, who fled into exile during the 2010 revolution, was convicted in absentia in 2014 of abuse of power and sentenced to 24 years in prison.

Bakiev fled to Belarus and remains there.

Atambaev is therefore the only former Kyrgyz president to stand trial in Kyrgyzstan.

How Atambaev Differs From His Predecessors

But there are some other differences between Atambaev and those two previous Kyrgyz presidents.

Akaev and Bakiev were investigated after they had fled Kyrgyzstan for crimes they committed while in office.

Atambaev was convicted of helping cut short criminal kingpin Aziz Batukaev's prison stay, but that investigation started while Atambaev was still in office.

Batukaev was convicted of several crimes in 2006, including the murders of a Kyrgyz lawmaker and two associates along with an Interior Ministry official, but was ordered released in 2013 on the basis of medical documents declaring that he had leukemia.

The documents testifying to Batukaev's illness were exposed as fakes soon after Batukaev fled Kyrgyzstan to Russia.

Though Atambaev's name came up during the extensive investigation, there was no public indication when Atambaev left office in late 2017 that he would be charged with any crime, although it was clear investigators wanted to question him as a witness.

Atambaev's legal problems effectively started once he appeared to be clinging to power.

Atambaev stepped down as president in November 2017, the first peaceful transfer of power from one elected president to another in Central Asia.

Tricky Succession

Many felt Atambaev had always intended to continue to rule through his anointed successor, Sooronbai Jeenbekov. But after Atambaev started publicly offering advice to Jeenbekov, it quickly became apparent that the new head of state had no intention of being a front man for Atambaev.

Atambaev criticized Jeenbekov, questioned his policies and appointees -- the latter often coming at the expense officials Atambaev had left in office -- accused Jeenbekov of imposing family rule on Kyrgyzstan like that of Akaev and Bakiev, and said Jeenbekov had deceived him when Atambaev selected and promoted him as his successor.

The public rants brought increasing negative attention to Atambaev, who had already made enemies inside Kyrgyzstan by locking up some of his most vocal political opponents during his last years in power.

Atambaev refused to obey subpoenas from the Interior Ministry, where officials wanted to question him about Batukaev's release. He said he would not recognize parliament's decision in June 2019 to strip him of his constitutionally guaranteed immunity from prosecution. Then in July 2019, just two weeks before the raid on his compound, Atambaev flew to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin in what was clearly an attempt to frighten opponents back in Kyrgyzstan.

Putin was seemingly too shrewd to be lured into an internal Kyrgyz political feud and chose to speak alone at a press conference in Moscow after meeting with Atambaev; he called for stability in Kyrgyzstan and support for President Jeenbekov.

The raid on Atambaev's complex on the outskirts of Bishkek came on August 7, with Jeenbekov and others in the Kyrgyz government having seemingly lost patience with Atambaev.

On the face of it, Atambaev's imprisonment is a bad sign for the current and future Kyrgyz presidents.

Only Roza Otunbaeva, who was an unelected interim president, has ever left office without subsequently facing charges.

There are those who question whether Atambaev received a fair trial or will receive a fair trial once he faces charges related to the raid.

And it is essential that Kyrgyz authorities ensure that justice is served.

But Atambaev's case might also be an exception, fueled by his lack of self-restraint and insistence on trying to run the country after his term was over.

So the real lesson here might be about overconfidence in handpicked successors and a refusal to let go of power once a six-year, constitutionally limited, single term expires.

RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, known locally as Azattyk, contributed to this report

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-intelligence -russia-bounties-afghanistan -taliban/30694624.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.
Kosovo's Thaci To Address War Crimes Charges On June 29

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service June 28, 2020

PRISTINA -- Kosovar President Hashim Thaci plans to address the nation on June 29 about the war-crimes charges laid against him.

Thaci initially pledged to make his speech on June 28, but his office said the event was delayed until the next day.

A special prosecutor's office in The Hague on June 24 announced indictments for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity against Thaci and other Kosovars.

The charges date back to alleged activities during or after Kosovo's war of independence in 1998-99, when Thaci commanded guerrilla forces under the banner of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK).

A pretrial judge at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague has until October to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for a trial based on the 10-count indictment, according to the statement from the Special Prosecutor's Office.

It alleges that Thaci and another senior Kosovar politician, Kadri Veseli, are among those "criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders" and other wrongdoing involving "hundreds of known victims of Kosovo Albanian, Serb, Roma, and other ethnicities and include political opponents."

Veseli has proclaimed his innocence, while Thaci posted on social media on June 26 saying that "nobody can rewrite the history of Kosovo."

Kosovo's president has canceled his planned meeting with his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, at the White House on June 27 aimed at kickstarting suspended talks on normalizing relations between the two neighbors.

Serbia's former province declared independence in 2008 and is recognized by more than 110 countries, but not by Belgrade.

On June 27, Kosovo's Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti said his government remains "committed" to the normalization process with Serbia.

Speaking to reporters after his return from Brussels, Hoti said he and U.S. special presidential envoy Richard Grenell had agreed on "another date which will be soon" for the continuation of negotiations.

Meanwhile, France and Germany have indicated their willingness to cohost a summit with the Kosovar and Serbian leaders in Paris.

On June 25, the French Embassy in Pristina tweeted that "France and Germany expect Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia to resume soon. Together with [German] Chancellor [Angela] Merkel, [French] President [Emmanuel] Macron remains ready to host a Summit in Paris."

German Ambassador to Kosovo Christian Heldt the same day tweeted: "We fully support efforts with [EU Special Representative for the Serbia-Kosovo Dialogue] Miroslav Lajcak to achieve substantial progress in tangible time frame for comprehensive settlement."

"Our governments stand ready to be helpful with proposed meeting in July," Heldt added.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-s- thaci-to-address-war-crimes-charges -on-june-29/30695211.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.
At Least 5 Taliban Members Killed in Blast in Southeastern Afghan Paktia Province - Police

Sputnik News

11:43 GMT 28.06.2020

KABUL (Sputnik) - At least five members of the Taliban group have been killed in a blast in Afghanistan's southeastern province of Paktia, the local police said on Sunday.

According to a provincial police chief, the explosion took place while the militants were transferring landmines from the Bar Ghoreza area to the city of Gardez.

A security source said on the condition of anonymity that in a separate incident last night, a checkpoint in the southern city of Tirin Kot, the capital of the Uruzgan province, was attacked by Taliban militants. The attack left a deputy commander of battalion killed and six policemen wounded.

Taliban militants have not yet commented on the incidents.

The movement said in a statement that Majid Khan, a tribal leader from the Zabul province, has cut ties with the government and joined Taliban. However, Gul Islam Sial, the spokesman for the provincial governor, said that Khan did not have a government job, and was just a tribal elder who moved from the city to the village of Khawazo, which was under Taliban's control.

Meanwhile, Farid Dehqan, a spokesman for the Kunar police headquarters, said that a special unit launched a night operation in the Sarkani district of the Kunar Province and detained four members of the Daesh* terrorist group.

*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia

 Sputnik
India Deploys Quick Reaction Air Defence System Amid Raging Chinese Jets, Helicopters Near Ladakh

Sputnik News

06:54 GMT 28.06.2020

New Delhi (Sputnik): India and China are engaged in massive deployments of troops, artillery, and heavy vehicles in the Ladakh region, including the Depsang Plains  very close to the Karakoram Pass. While the Indian Army has claimed that there was a "mutual consensus" on disengagement on 22 June, the military build-up continues by both sides.

The Indian Armed Forces have deployed their short-range quick air missile defence system in the Ladakh region after radars tracked more combat helicopters and fighter jets of China's People's Liberation Army and Air Force near the loosely demarcated Line of Actual Control.

Local media reported that an all-new helipad is being constructed at finger 4 of Pangong Tso in Ladakh, which is very close to an Indian military post and it is India's perceived side of the Line of Actual Control.

"As part of the ongoing build-up in the sector, the air defence systems of both Indian Army and the Indian Air Force have been deployed in the sector to prevent any misadventure by the Chinese Air Force fighter jets or the People's Liberation Army choppers there", government sources told ANI.

Indian government sources told Sputnik that the situation remains tense and the deployment of military assets, including Sukhoi-30 and strategic bombers,

is continuing on the Chinese side as well.

Indian radar system detected China's fighter jet and combat helicopters near Daulat Beg Oldie sector, Galwan valley, Hot Springs area, and Pangong Tso and even they are moving closer to Indian side of the lake.

To understand the topography, different parts of Pangong Tso are marked as fingers 1 to 8. India claims that the Line of Actual Control passes near finger 8, while China claims that its side of the boundary stretches to finger 4. So between fingers 4 and 8, troops from both sides were conducting patrols on a regular basis, but which has stopped since April after the current stand-off erupted.

Meanwhile, satellite images from the Galwan Valley show that at least 16 camps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army are present within 9 kilometres of the Line of Actual control in the region, which is the place of a violent clash in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed on 15 June.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly radio address on Sunday, claimed that troops have given a befitting answer to those who eyed India's territory in Ladakh.

"India knows how to do friendships but it can also look someone in the eye and retaliate to give an apt reply. Our brave soldiers have shown they will not let any harm be done to Mother India's pride", Modi said.

Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a stand-off for more than two months in the Ladakh region along the 4,057 km Line of Actual Control. Both the sides have accused each other of breaching the loosely-demarcated border in the remote, snowy deserts of the valley.

 Sputnik
Pompeo Says South China Sea Disputes Must Be Resolved in Line With International Law

Sputnik News

02:43 GMT 28.06.2020

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that Washington supports the stance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in that China cannot be allowed to treat the South China Sea as its maritime empire.

"The United States welcomes ASEAN Leaders' insistence that South China Sea [SCS] disputes be resolved in line with international law, including UNCLOS [United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea]. China cannot be allowed to treat the SCS as its maritime empire. We will have more to say on this topic soon", Pompeo wrote on Twitter.

After the 36th ASEAN summit on Friday, a joint statement was issued expressing concerns over the complicated situation in the South China Sea.

ASEAN leaders stressed "the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation and over-flight above the South China Sea, as well as upholding international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, in the South China Sea".

The majority of islands in the South China Sea are controlled by Beijing, however, the territory is also claimed by several other countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei and the Philippines, all members of ASEAN.

 Sputnik
Trump Says He Wasn't Briefed on Reported Russian Bounties on US Troops in Afghanistan

By Ken Bredemeier June 28, 2020

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he had never been told about reports that a Russian military intelligence unit was secretly offering bounties to Taliban militants in Afghanistan to kill U.S. soldiers.

Trump scoffed at a New York Times report that U.S. intelligence officials had concluded months ago that the Russian unit, which has been linked to assassination attempts and covert operations in Europe aimed at destabilizing the West, had carried out the mission in Afghanistan last year and that he had been briefed about it in late March.

On Twitter, he said, "Nobody briefed or told me," Vice President Mike Pence or White House chief of staff Mark Meadows "about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an 'anonymous source' by the Fake News @nytimes. Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us."

Twenty American troops were killed in Afghanistan last year, but it was not known which killings might have been linked to the alleged Russian bounties.

Critics have accused Trump of often being deferential to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his 3 -year term in the White House. But Trump tweeted, "Nobody's been tougher on Russia than the Trump Administration," contending that Russia "had a field day" under former President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, Trump's opponent in the national November presidential election.

The U.S. leader challenged the newspaper to "reveal its 'anonymous' source. Bet they can't do it, this 'person' probably does not even exist!"

Both Russia and the Taliban denied the report of the bounties, with Moscow calling them "baseless and anonymous accusations." The Russian embassy in Washington said the New York Times report had "already led to direct threats" on the lives of employees at Russian embassies in Washington and London.

A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, rejected the report that the insurgents have "any such relations with any intelligence agency" and called the newspaper report an attempt to defame them.

"These kinds of deals with the Russian intelligence agency are baseless  our target killings and assassinations were ongoing in years before, and we did it on our own resources," he said. "That changed after our deal with the Americans, and their lives are secure, and we don't attack them."

Earlier this year, the U.S. and the Taliban signed an "agreement for bringing peace" to Afghanistan after more than 18 years of conflict. The U.S. and NATO allies agreed to withdraw all troops by next year if the militants uphold the deal.

Trump said it had been a "long and hard journey" in Afghanistan, but that, "It's time after all these years to bring our people back home."

Despite Trump's denial of the alleged bounties, one of the top-ranking Republican lawmakers in Congress, Congresswoman Liz Cheney, voiced concerns about the report.

"If reporting about Russian bounties on US forces is true, the White House must explain: 1. Why weren't the president or vice president briefed?" she said on Twitter. She asked whether the information was in Trump's daily presidential briefing.

"Who did know and when? What has been done in response to protect our forces & hold Putin accountable?" said Cheney, the daughter of former U.S. Vice President Richard Cheney.

John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser who now contends in a new book that the president is unfit to run the country, told CNN that Trump's tweets about the alleged bounties show that he was not concerned about "the security of our forces," but "whether he was paying attention" to the intelligence report he supposedly was given.
Thirty-one years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, socialism seems to be creeping into the core of so-called capitalist nations. According to a study by Gallup, in America, since 2010, young adults positive ratings of socialism have hovered near 50%. What could be the cause of the sudden rise of socialism across America and Europe?

Ignorance of history

It is said that those who do not know history will repeat the mistakes of the past. It couldnt be truer in this age in which we live. A 2016 survey conducted by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation found that 18% of millennials are completely unfamiliar with Joseph Stalin.

According to a recent study conducted by Conference on Joseph Material Claims Against Germany, two-thirds of American millennials surveyed cannot identify what Auschwitz is. Asked to identify what Auschwitz is, 66% of millennials could not come up with a correct response.

It shouldnt be a surprise that many youths in America are advocating for the implementation of socialist ideas. Most of them do not know history.

Lack of elderly wisdom

We often say here in Africa, what an old man sees sitting down, a young man cannot see standing up. Another reason for the rise of socialism is the lack of elderly wisdom. It seems like the voices of elders have dwindled over the years. Ive noticed during the recent race riots that the black community lacks elderly wisdom. It is young people like Candace Owens that have risen as voices of wisdom in the black community but where are the elders? As the streets burn and looters loot, the fathers have not arisen to calm the youths in their communities. May be this is because we live in generation where there is little or no respect for elders. One thing this generation must understand is that a generation that dishonors the elders cannot receive their inheritance.

Somehow, the youths of this generation seem to have come to the conclusion that they are wiser than their elders. This in itself is a set up for doom. In times like this, we need wisdom from elders.

How the church must react

In a world where men call evil good and good evil, how must the church react? I believe we will not conquer by throwing stones of accusation but by displaying Gods love. This generation needs to know the love of God. When we know the fathers love, we will not see black, white, Chinese etc. We will see all men as they were created to be- in the image of God.

Secondly, we must pray. I believe a basic knowledge for navigating the times is found in Ephesians 6.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians chapter 6 verse 12)

Man is not our enemy. Our enemies are invisible to the human eyes and we must contend against them in prayer. We must pray always for our children, relatives, friends and the world. There is no man so vile that grace cannot find. Even a nation can be saved in a day (Isaiah chapter 66 verse 8).

Lets not forget the wise words of Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings series:

Its like in the great storiesfull of darkness and danger, they were and sometimes you didnt want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, its only a passing thing, this shadow. Even the darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine on the clearertheres some good in the world Mr. Frodo, and its worth fighting for.

Yes! Theres so much good worth fighting for and lets not forget how the book ends- we won!
Malawi's New President Sworn in Amid High Expectations

By Lameck Masina June 28, 2020

Malawi's new President Lazarus Chakwera was sworn in Sunday in the capital Lilongwe, after he defeated two candidates, including former President Peter Mutharika, in the tightly contested presidential election rerun held last week.

There was jubilation from hundreds of people who gathered at the Bingu International Convention Center, in Lilongwe to witness Chakwera and his vice president Saulos Chilima taking the oath of office from Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda.

"I Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera do solemnly swear that I will well and truly perform the functions of high office of president of Malawi, so help me God," the new president said.

The presidential election rerun was held after the Constitution Court in February nullified last year's election, which gave former president Peter Mutharika a second term, because of massive irregularities

In the court-sanctioned polls, Chakwera, leader of the opposition Malawi Congress (MCP), was a candidate for the Tonse Alliance which comprised nine political parties including United Transformation Movement (UTM) led by former vice president, Saulos Chilima.

He ran against former President Mutharika, leader of Democratic Progressive Party, (DPP) who made an alliance with Atupele Muluzi, leaders of the opposition United Democratic Front.

A little known candidate, Peter Kuwani of the opposition Mbakuwaku Movement for Development party had no alliance partner.

Chakwera won with 2.6 million votes, according to results announced Saturday, while Mutharika came second with 1.7 million votes and Kuwani won 32,400 votes.

In his acceptance speech Sunday, Chakwera pledged to develop the country beyond the expectations of Malawians.

"So I pledge to run Malawi well, because that is the surest payoff that has been long in ruins, riddled with potholes of greed and corruption. And in making this pledge, I am accepting this call to serve you with joy and holly fear for I am duty bound to God and By God and all of you," he said.

Chakwera also appealed to those who did not vote for him, to not fear being neglected.

"I know that there are many of you who did not vote for me in this election. And perhaps the prospect of my president fills you with fear and grief, but I want you to remember one thing; so long I am its president, it will be a home in which you too will prosper," he said.

However, many Malawians say there is nothing more they are expecting from the new president other than meeting his campaign promises.

In their campaign messages, the Tonse alliance leaders promised the creation of one million jobs within the first year, reduction of prices of fertilizers by over 400 percent, and curbing corruption, which marred the Mutharika administration.

Political analyst Mustapha Hussein said it's now time for the new president to start honoring those promises.

"What they need to do is fulfills their promises; put the machinery in place that will focus on the implementation on the manifestos, including job creation, reduction of fertilizers among others. I think this time around they know the cost of making empty promises," he said

Patricia Kaliati, the general-secretary of the United Transformation Movement party a key partner in Tonse alliance, told VOA the new government will even do more than what was promised during campaign period.

"Issues of infrastructure, education, health programs, issues of empowerment of women and men, youths and the status of Malawians at large which we will provide to individual person, than when he is or he is in her home, should be saying 'yes I am in new Malawi which I was looking for,'" she said.

President Chakwera is expected to outline more of his government's development plans during his inauguration on July 6.
Xinfadi's beef and lamb market labelled as 'extremely high risk area'

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/28 21:11:13

A total of 102 cases out of all 311 confirmed cases in Beijing were related to Xinfadi's beef and lamb market, thus the area was labelled by health experts as extremely high risk with another 14-day quarantine being imposed on people who are connected to this specially designated area.

This sparked concern from consumers over whether lamb and beef, like salmon, will become the next "inedible meat."

All 25 new cases found on Friday and Saturday are from people under collective quarantine, said Chu Junwei, deputy head of Beijing's Fengtai district, where Xinfadi is located. Dai said that 23 cases found at the MGM International Hotel are related to the beef and lamb section at Xinfadi market.

As of Sunday, a total of 102 people confirmed infected with coronavirus are from this section, propelling health experts to label this area as extremely high risk, and decided to extend the lockdown period for quarantined persons who were connected with the beef and lamb market section, to 28 days, said Dai.

Those persons were previously required to undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Beijing's Fengtai district also vowed to conduct both nucleic acid tests and serum antibody tests on people in collective quarantine.

This decision soon sparked concern among local residents on whether beef and lamb are still edible. "Is the virus from salmon, beef or lamb? More details are needed," a Sina Weibo user urged.

"Like salmon, the beef and lamb section at Xinfadi market has welcomed a large number of people on a daily basis, the possibility of the virus being connected to such meats exists. But they are safe as long as consumers don't eat them raw," Yang Zhanqiu, a deputy director of the pathogen biology department at Wuhan University, told the Global Times.

Since the outbreak began at Xinfadi market, virologists from China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention have visited the now closed market three times - on June 14, 15 and 17 - and announced a groundbreaking discovery.

Zhang Yong, an assistant director at the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention of the CDC, said in a CCDI article that "a large amount of samples found in the Xinfadi wholesale market indicate that the virus has been around for some time. If it had just arrived in the city, there may not have been so many positive samples found."

"Many positive samples show the place is severely contaminated by the virus," said Wu Guizhen, Party secretary of the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention at the CDC.
Beijing reports COVID-19 infection chains at 2 restaurants

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/28 18:13:42

Beijing registered 14 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday, two of which are employees at two diners in the city's Haidian and Fengtai districts and both are related to previous cases detected in the diners, according to an official from the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Beijing CDC).

Pang Xinghuo, a deputy director with the Beijing CDC, revealed the tracking information of the cases during a routine press conference on Sunday.

One is a 53-year-old female employee at a noodle bar in a supermarket near the Xinfadimarket, where the latest outbreak in Beijing emerged. The patient is the fifth related to the same diner that has been confirmed as infected.

The other patient, a 39-year-old female, is a waitress at a diner named Xiexiaochu in Haidian district and related to a previous case in the same diner, a 38-year-old male confirmed on Thursday.

Thursday's patient was the manager of the diner, and a frequent visitor to the Xinfadi market, which has been shut down since June 13.

According to the Beijing Daily, there has been six restaurants in the capital where confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been found.
7.68 million people received nucleic acid testing in Beijing: health authority

Global Times

By Zhao Yusha Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/28 18:03:44

Beijing had taken samples from 8.29 million of its residents as of Sunday, of which 7.68 million completed nucleic acid testing, meaning that 38.4 percent of the capital's total population has been tested for coronavirus.

After confirmed cases in the capital dropped to double-digit numbers within three weeks, health experts announced that Beijing has entered a "control period," where new infections will continue to drop and soon fall to zero as Beijing has already experienced two incubation periods.

The city's massive nucleic testing scale and strict prevention measures have helped round up everyone who needs to be tested.

Zhang Qiang, deputy head of Beijing's special COVID-19 task force, said at a Sunday conference that four key groups should be tested immediately.

First, close contacts - employees and neighbors of Xinfadi market and Yuquandong market. Second, sample collectors at Xinfadi market. Third, employees in the services sectors, such as beauty salons and restaurants, and school returnees. Fourth, people living in key risk areas.

Beijing has entered a "control period" after confirmed cases dropped to double-digit numbers on short notice, Wang Guangfa, a respiratory expert at Peking University First Hospital, told the Global Times.

Unlike Wuhan's city-wide test, which served to answer the question of whether the epidemic area was safe, Beijing's massive testing, which was conducted in an orderly fashion, extended from small groups at Xinfadi market to city-wide key groups. This approach helped curb the spread of the virus and support the effort to trace the origins of the outbreak, said Wang.

More than 100,000 students, faculty and staff at Beijing's universities will have competed nucleic acid testing as of Sunday, after a city-wide COVID-19 testing operation was conducted within 36 hours, involving 20 different medical institutions.

As of Friday, a total of 1.65 million people had taken nucleic acid tests in Beijing's Daxing district. Further, 12,350 out of the city's 26,286 tested beauty salons returned negative test results as of Friday night, media reported.

To satisfy the city's demand for massive COVID-19 sample testing and ensure convenience to residents at the same time, Beijing also plans to deploy mobile equipment to collect samples, such as makeshift COVID-19 testing sites.

Beijing's testing capacity has soared from 40,000 samples on June 11 to maximum of 1.08 million samples per day as of now, said Zhang.

Sample pooling has played a vital role in helping Beijing beef up testing capacity, said officials from the National Health Commission (NHC) on Sunday.

There are two modes of hybrid tests; the first uses pooled samples from three to five people in one tube, whereas the second takes the same volume of samples from three to five people and involves mixing them together.

The first mode has been widely used in Beijing's screening sites, and will not affect the sensitivity of the test, according to the NHC.

But Wang warned that while sample pooling can be used for community scale tests, for close contacts of confirmed cases or even infection cases, single-person testing is necessary as samples are diluted in the pool, and their sensitivity will be affected to some extent.

Currently, if someone tests negative for nucleic acid, it means that they're safe, said Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. To address public concerns over someone who tested negative but was later confirmed to have contracted the virus, Wu dismissed the possibility of contagion of such groups of people.

"If someone was infected but could not be tested via throat swab, the possibility of passing the virus to others through breath is very slim," said Wu, admitting that more testing methods are necessary for key groups of people.

Beijing's Fengtai district, where Xinfadi is located, plans to conduct both nucleic acid tests and serum antibody tests on people under collective quarantine, said Chu Junwei, Deputy Party Secretary of the district.

The city has also lowered the price for nucleic acid tests from 180 yuan ($26.8) to 120 yuan per person. Du Xing, an official from Beijing's health insurance bureau, said at the press conference that the medical expenses of those who require tests should be shouldered by the government.

Those who want to voluntarily complete the test should have to pay themselves.
Chinese company unveils positive results of COVID-19 vaccines

Global Times

By Leng Shumei and Hu Yuwei Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/28 20:08:43

An institute of biological products in Beijing affiliated with the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) announced on Sunday that it had achieved positive results for a COVID-19 vaccine candidate it developed.

The development came as the global number of confirmed patients exceeded 10 million as of 6:30 pm Sunday (Beijing time).

Three of the four inactivated COVID-19 vaccines developed in China evoked positive immune responses in Phase I and II clinical trials, indicating that China has made great progress in the research and development (R&D) of this type of vaccine, experts said.

The Beijing institute, which is under the Sinopharm China National Biotec Group (CNBG), said in a statement sent to the Global Times that all 1,120 volunteers in the first and second phase clinical trials successfully produced high-titer antibodies against COVID-19 after accepting two doses of the vaccine.

The vaccine has proven to be effective and safe, read the statement.

The clinical trials started on April 27 in Shangqiu county, Central China's Henan Province and were designed as randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled studies, according to the statement.

Another institute under CNBG in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, on June 16 announced the results of Phase I and II clinical trials of a vaccine candidate it developed. This provided further vital data for CNBG's research of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines, read the statement.

On June 23, CNBG announced that it had agreed with authorities in the United Arab Emirates to start Phase III clinical trials for inactivated vaccine candidates CNBG developed. The group did not say which vaccines were involved.

Experts said that if human trials go well overseas, the third phase trial will be closed in August, followed by medical observation in September, with data revealed as soon as October. A vaccine could then be approved for marketing after positive results at the end of October.

Sinopharm is expanding manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 vaccines. One plant in Beijing and one in Wuhan can together produce at least 200 million doses annually, according to media reports.

The plant in Beijing is the largest manufacturing center for COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, reports said.

However, mass production of inactivated vaccines is still facing the initial challenge of insufficient capacity, warned experts.

"Each person needs two doses of the inactivated vaccine to evoke an immune response, and 200 million doses would only meet the immunization needs of 100 million people. This is still far from enough for China and the world at a time when vaccines are urgently needed," Tao Lina, a Shanghai-based vaccine expert, told the Global Times on Sunday.

China is developing COVID-19 vaccines in five categories - inactivated vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines, live attenuated influenza vaccines, adenovirus vaccines and nucleic acid-based vaccines, reports said.

Except for live attenuated influenza vaccines, all four types have entered human clinical trials, showing that the progress of R&D for COVID-19 vaccines in China is markedly faster than in the US, analysts noted.

Several other types of vaccines, if developed successfully, are theoretically more productive than inactivated vaccines, said Tao.

"The World Health Organization (WHO) expects 2 billion doses of vaccine to be available worldwide by the end of 2021. Inactivated vaccines alone will certainly not be enough," Tao said.

The WHO released plans on Friday that target delivery of 500 million tests to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by mid-2021, 245 million courses of treatments to LMICs by mid-2021, and 2 billion vaccine doses, of which 1 billion will be purchased for LMICs by the end of 2021.

According to the WHO's website, there are 16 COVID-19 candidate vaccines in clinical trials worldwide, of which seven are being developed by Chinese companies or jointly developed by Chinese and foreign companies.
Beijing issues fresh guidelines on COVID-19 prevention

Global Times

Source:Xinhua Published: 2020/6/28 0:47:24

The Chinese capital has issued fresh guidelines on COVID-19 containment, calling on its residents to continue to wear masks, maintain social distancing and wash hands frequently.

Masks have been made compulsory in hospitals, crowded scenic spots and public transports, according to Beijing's disease control and prevention center.

The guidelines stipulate that residents with respiratory infections should avoid going to public places and if they do under unavoidable circumstances, they must wear masks.

People are advised to wash their hands frequently when processing raw meat, poultry, or aquatic products, and keep unwashed hands away from the mouth, nose, and eyes, according to the guidelines.

Besides, members of the public are asked to cooperate with health monitoring at residential compounds, workplaces and other public facilities.

Since June 11, the Chinese capital has seen a resurgence in locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases, prompting the municipal government to tighten containment measures.
Egypt confirms 1,168 new COVID-19 infections, 88 deaths

Global Times

Source:Xinhua Published: 2020/6/28 9:09:49

Egypt reported 1,168 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total infections to 63,923, according to Egyptian health ministry.

Egypt registered 88 more fatalities from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll in the country to 2,708, the ministry's spokesman Khaled Megahed said in a statement.

The total recoveries in the North African country increased to 17,140 after 403 new recoveries were added Saturday, he said.

Megahed reiterated that all COVID-19 cases in Egypt receive necessary medical care "in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization."

Egypt announced its first confirmed COVID-19 case on Feb. 14 and the first death from the respiratory disease on March 8.

On Saturday, the Egyptian government lifted 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, cafes, theaters and cinemas with 25 percent of their capacity, while public beaches and parks will remain closed.

Mosques and churches will also be reopened for daily prayers but weekly mass prayers will remain suspended.

Egypt is expected to resume international flights from July 1 as the country prepares for the return of foreign tourism, after more than three months of international flight suspension over COVID-19 concerns.

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.

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.
Singaporean PM calls for coordinated global response against COVID-19 pandemic

Global Times

Source:Xinhua Published: 2020/6/28 13:11:23

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday that a global pandemic requires a coordinated global response, especially in scientific research and government actions.

He wrote that Singapore has been doing its part collecting and analyzing data on the COVID-19, in order to better understand this new threat. "But our efforts alone are not enough," he added.

According to his post, Lee emphasized the importance of vaccine multilateralism in the common fight against COVID-19, when he spoke to the virtual "Global Goal: Unite for our Future" Pledging Summit on Saturday.

He said that Singapore looks forward to working with the European Commission and like-minded countries, as well as the World Health Organization, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, to develop vaccines and distribute them fairly and expeditiously to people in all countries.

"The search for vaccines may take some time, but we will maximise our chances of tackling COVID-19 by working together," the prime minister wrote in the post.
Many U.S. states halt reopening amid sudden surge of COVID-19 infections

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:35, June 28, 2020

A forecast from the University of Washington warns that U.S. death toll of COVID-19 would near 180,000 by Oct. 1.

WASHINGTON, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Many states in the United States have moved to halt or backtrack their economic reopening following a sudden surge of new COVID-19 infections this week.

Governor Ron DeSantis of southeastern U.S. state Florida on Friday ordered to close bars immediately as a record of 8,942 new COVID-19 cases were reported in a single day. The previous record of 5,511 was set just two days ago.

With Friday's tally, Florida now has reported nearly 123,000 coronavirus cases, with more than 32,000 of them confirmed just over the last seven days.

In Texas, one of the earliest states to begin reopening, all bars and similar establishments that receive more than 51 percent of their gross receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages are required to close at 12:00 p.m. Friday (1700 GMT), according to an executive order issued by governor Greg Abbott.

The order also banned outdoor gatherings of 100 or more people unless approved by local governments.

The number of daily confirmed COVID-19 new cases in Texas broke records three times this week, bringing the total positive cases in the state to nearly 132,000 on Thursday.

People walk in a street in Chinatown in Manhattan of New York, the United States, June 24, 2020. New York City entered phase two of reopening on June 22, marking a major milestone of the city's fight against COVID-19. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

At least nine other states have announced that they are not moving ahead to the next phase of reopening, CNN reported on Friday. These states are Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Nevada, New Mexico and North Carolina.

More than 30 states are battling rising numbers, said CNN.

The country has set a record for new COVID-19 cases for the third time in three days, passing the 40,000 level for the first time, according to tracking by The Washington Post.

Nationwide, total confirmed cases topped 2.45 million with about 125,000 deaths as of Friday afternoon, showed the data from Johns Hopkins university.

The number of people in the United States who have been infected with the coronavirus is likely to be 10 times as high as the current public count of confirmed cases, hitting a striking level of more than 20 million, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The estimate is based on serology testing and the tally of registered cases, CDC officials told reporters on Thursday, adding that many people, especially young people who do not show symptoms yet but have contacted vulnerable groups should get tested.

Another forecast warns that by Oct. 1, the U.S. death toll of COVID-19 would near 180,000, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) of the University of Washington.

But the number could drop to 146,047 if at least 95 percent of Americans wear masks in public, the institute said in a statement on Wednesday.

"There is no doubt that even as states open up, the United States is still grappling with a large epidemic on a course to increase beginning in late August and intensifying in September," said IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray.

"People need to know that wearing masks can reduce transmission of the virus by as much as 50 percent, and those who refuse are putting their lives, their families, their friends, and their communities at risk," he added.

The increase in numbers in some parts of the United States could be attributed to many factors including states reopening too soon or citizenry not following the appropriate guidelines, said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, at a White House coronavirus task force press briefing on Friday.

Fauci urged individual citizens to follow precautions, saying each person has a "societal responsibility" to help curb the virus.

The states of Washington, North Carolina and California have recently joined a dozen other states, including New York, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, Delaware and Maryland, to issue mask-wearing orders.
Rapid spread of COVID-19 in U.S. Texas continues

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:14, June 28, 2020

HOUSTON, June 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. state of Texas announced on Saturday more than 5,700 new COVID-19 cases, according to the Texas Health and Human Services.

As of Saturday 143,371 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported across the state, 5,747 more cases than the total on Friday. The state added 5,707 and 5,996 new cases on Friday and Thursday, respectively.

In Texas Harris County, where the U.S. fourth largest city of Houston is located, Judge Lina Hidalgo wanted to issue another stay-at-home order after local officials lifted the previous one.

"We need folks to stay home. We need folks to be part of this effort and work together as a community for the sake of our health, our economy, and all our neighbors," local media quoted Hidalgo as saying.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has the final; say on this matter. On Friday, the governor announced the scaling back of the reopening of businesses in the state as Texas saw sharp increase of spread of COVID-19 in the past day.

Following the announcement, League City in Texas said the traditional fireworks celebration on July 4 will be canceled. The festival was supposed to be a drive-in event.

However, Texas Republicans are moving forward with their plans to hold an indoor convention in Houston next month, The Texas Tribune reported.

The Texas GOP convention is expected to draw about 6,000 attendees, said the report.
Posted Monday, June 29, 2020 3:23 pm

Every year growing up Clancy Holt and his family would spend two months camping on the banks of the Sacramento River near Redding, California, to fish salmon for every day.

They would tie salmon on a rope through their gills, stake it to the ground and keep them alive for four or five days until they had enough to can with a pressure cooker.

I got good at it, Holt said. As I got to my early teens, I got very good at it.

One day, in 1955, when Holt was 16 years old, a man walked up on their camp site and asked if any fish were around. Holts father told the man to walk down to the bank and pull on a rope staked to the ground. The man pulled on the rope, which had a 40-pound salmon tied to it, was splashed with water and nearly pulled into the river.

The man asked Holts father if he would take him fishing. He politely declined but offered to have Holt take him if he paid Holt money. The man asked how much.

I said, I dont know. Nobody ever paid me to catch fish, Holt said. My dad said, Give him $5 and hell catch you a salmon.

Holt took the man about a half mile down the river in the familys boat and pulled into an eddy where he knew a bunch of salmon were. Holt threw out his line, hooked a salmon and handed the pole to the man who fought it and landed it. The man was ecstatic.

He says, That was fun. I want another one. How much? Holt said. I said, $5 more.

Holt made $15 that day. It was prior to any guide licenses in California. Soon Holt began taking people on trips from daylight to 11 a.m., then working in a grocery store from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Within a year, in 1956, he had established Clancy Fishing and has been guiding full time ever since.

Holt, now 81 years old, has led thousands of fishing trips in his 61-year career as a guide, and Clancy Fishing has moved from Redding all the way up to state Route 12. Hes guided the entire Pacific Northwest, from the Sacramento River to northern Washington, and has even led trips for salmon in Chile, South America.

Ive been guiding for a lifetime, Holt said.

He stopped guiding trips three years ago at 77 years old, and now has a staff of four guides, including his son, Ron Holt, as well as Steven Hammond, Richard Hassett and Blair Johnson. Now Holt books the trips, arranges the schedules, meeting locations and so forth.

Clancy Fishings website says the business has guided more than 10,000 trips, but that hasnt been updated in years, Holt said. Clancy Fishing keeps three guides busy most of the year and clients come from as far away at Latvia.

I dont know how many thousands and thousands of clients that Clancy Fishing has guided since its been in business, Holt said. I have no idea.

The business has 10 boats, ranging from 26 feet that are used for big rivers, like the Columbia River, down to 18 feet that are used on smaller rivers, such as the Wynoochee River and the Satsop River.

Clancy Fishing guides trips for mainly salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and Kokanee lake trout. The most requested fish by his clients are winter and summer steelhead, fall king and silver salmon and sturgeon.

Holt discovered Lewis County while on a vacation from Redding. He was on his way to Alaska to check out the fishing up there but had to make a pitstop when he reached southwest Washington.

As I got into Washington, I saw all the rivers and opportunities, Holt said. Every 10 miles there was another river you could go fishing on.

He checked maps and noticed all the lakes in southwest Washington, then saw the amount of rainfall the area receives. Fishing at that time was excellent. Plus, there were steelhead in nearly every river and no size limits on sturgeon at the time.

The Cowlitz River was probably the best river in the northwest, Holt said. The Columbia River was full of fish.

He stopped in Lewis County and just fished for a while. It didnt take him long to realize there was no need to go to Alaska. He went back to Redding, packed up all his belongings and set up his headquarters along state Route 12.

For a time, he didnt need to go anywhere other than the Cowlitz River for nearly 365 days a year, barring a storm. Eventually he started hitting the Columbia River, too.

There were fishing opportunities everywhere, Holt said. You could take your clients fishing every day knowing they had a good chance at success. But its not that way anymore.

When Holt first arrived in Lewis County, he looked at the pristine waters and an abundance of fish and figured it would stay that way for as long as he was around.

I thought, Nobody can ever destroy this resource, with all this beautiful country, water and fish, Holt said. I was wrong. Mans doing a good job. Theyre wiping this resource out.

Salmon are still on the decline in the state, even after $1 billion spent over the last 20 years on salmon recovery programs, according to the 2018 State of the Salmon report by the Governors Salmon Recovery Office.

Salmon habitat is being decimated by the construction of roads and housing and commercial development. Coho salmon being caught have dropped from nearly three million fish in 1976 to less than 500,000 in 2017, according to the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

The Cowlitz River, which used to be one of the crown jewels of salmon fishing in the state, now has three hydroelectric dams on it that cover up native spawning beds. Historically low numbers for Chinook salmon have prompted the closure of fishing for them in the Cowlitz River in 2020.

Poor management from the WDFW and very poor goals, Holt said. Theyre slowly wiping out every run of fish that we have in the state. Washington could be the fishing capital of the world, and Lewis County could be the hub of that if we just managed and developed our resources properly.

Holt is still making the most out of the current fishing situation in the state, and there are still nice fish to be caught. His business books clients from all over the world and he has at least one guide on the river nearly 365 days a year.

You do that by treating your people good and keeping them safe, Holt said.

More Information on Clancys Fishing

Owner: Clancy Holt

Location: 910 U.S. Highway 12, rural Chehalis

Phone: 360-880-0409

Website: www.clancysfishing.com



Reporter Eric Trent can be reached at etrent@chronline.com. Visit chronline.com/business for more coverage of local businesses.
Florida's coronavirus crisis deepens as state shatters daily case record

People's Daily Online

(CGTN) 14:15, June 28, 2020

Florida and four other states recorded daily highs for cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, highlighting the worsening spread of the coronavirus in parts of the U.S. South and West, prompting some officials to roll back their reopening plans.

Florida on Saturday morning reported 9,585 new infections in the last 24 hours, a record for a second day, while Arizona recorded 3,591 new cases of COVID-19, matching its prior record on Tuesday.

Nevada disclosed 1,099 cases, double its previous record, while South Carolina and Georgia reported 1,604 and 1,990 new infections, respectively, also marking new daily highs.

The surge in cases has been most pronounced in a handful of Southern and Western states that reopened earlier and more aggressively, serving as a warning to the potentially illusory nature of any perceived progress in controlling the virus.

So far, there are more than 2.5 million confirmed cases in the U.S. and over 125,000 Americans have died of COVID-19, the highest known death toll in the world.

On Friday, as the United States recorded its largest daily increase in cases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said the government's current strategy for finding and isolating infected people was "not working," partly due to significant asymptomatic spread.

The worsening contagion in some parts of the United States has created a split-screen effect, with New York and its neighboring Northeastern states, which were hit hardest initially, reporting declining cases and forging ahead with reopening plans.

Kami Kim, director of the Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine at the University of South Florida, said her state's leaders claimed victory too soon after lockdowns were lifted starting in early May, while giving off conflicting messages on face coverings by not wearing masks themselves.

"It was just complete denial by a huge swath of the politicians," she said, predicting that the state may need to shut down again. "Unfortunately, our community still isn't taking it very seriously. People aren't wearing masks."

In a reversal of his early moves to relax restrictions, Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Friday ordered bars across the state to close and required restaurants to limit indoor seating, acknowledging that in hindsight he had opened bars too soon.

Esmeralda Moya, the mayor of Galena Park, Texas, a community of 10,000 people east of Houston, instituted an overnight curfew starting on Saturday night at 10 p.m. Moya said she was acting after Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Friday raised a health warning system for the county to its highest possible threat level, a sign people should shelter at home.

Florida, another state that reopened its economy relatively quickly, told bar owners on Friday to immediately stop serving alcohol on their premises.

Yet despite skyrocketing case numbers, both Abbott and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have not bowed to pressure to issue statewide mandates on wearing masks, opting to leave that decision to local municipalities. Both Abbott and DeSantis are Republican, the same party as President Donald Trump.

Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College in Houston, said he fears that daily cases in the Houston area could more than triple to 4,000 by mid-July, making it the main global hot spot by then.

"We need to implement more aggressive social distancing measures now," the renowned vaccine scientist said.

At a briefing on Friday, DeSantis blamed the spike in infections on young people interacting more in the last few weeks, adding that they faced a lower risk of dying than older people. Lending support to that view, Florida on Saturday reported 24 additional deaths, well off peaks in April when the elderly made up a larger proportion of cases.

But DeSantis also acknowledged that those young people, even if they don't become hospitalized themselves, could transmit the virus to the elderly or people with conditions like diabetes which make them susceptible to severe outcomes with COVID-19.

Earlier this week, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut imposed a 14-day mandatory quarantine on travelers from states with high infection rates like Florida, where some 13 percent of those tested on Friday came back positive.

In a disclosure meant to highlight that risk, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a news release on Saturday saying he had ordered health officials to investigate an outbreak tied to a drive-in high school graduation ceremony in Chappaqua, New York.

One of the attendees at the ceremony had recently traveled to Florida and subsequently tested positive, Cuomo said in the release. Since then, an additional four individuals also at the ceremony tested positive and are self-isolating, he said.
EU poised to bar U.S. travelers as bloc reopens in July: media

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:52, June 28, 2020

The 27-member bloc plans to reopen on July 1 after months of lockdown. But it plans to bar travelers from the United States and some other countries where the COVID-19 outbreak has not been effectively controlled.

WASHINGTON, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) plans to bar travelers from the United States and some other countries where the COVID-19 outbreak has not been effectively controlled as the bloc will reopen in July, U.S. media reported Friday.

After several rounds of negotiation in recent weeks, EU senior diplomats in Brussels have come up with a final list of the safe countries from which travelers are welcomed to the bloc, U.S. media outlet The New York Times reported.

As the United States has registered the most COVID-19 cases and deaths in the world, it is "highly unlikely" to be included in the final list, the newspaper said.

The exclusion of the United States, an important source of tourism to the EU, "represented a stinging rebuke" to the U.S. administration's management of the pandemic, the report said.

The 27-member bloc plans to reopen on July 1 after months of lockdown, according to the report.

Russia is also among dozens of other countries that are considered by the EU diplomats as too risky.

Countries on the safe list were judged on their infection rates and the credibility of their reporting data, among other criteria, and the list will be updated every two weeks, it said.

The safe list is not final, and still needs to be formalized in the member states' governments, the report said, adding the EU officials "did not expect the list to change."
43% of US coronavirus fatalities linked to nursing homes: Report

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 28 June 2020 2:25 PM

At least 54,000 residents and workers have lost their lives due to the new coronavirus pandemic at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities for the elderly in the United States, according to a report.

The report by the New York Times said the number accounted for 43 percent of the deaths linked to nursing homes populations as they are at a high risk of being infected by and dying from the flu-like pathogen, known to be particularly lethal to adults in their 60s with underlying health conditions.

As of June 26, the virus has infected more than 282,000 people at some 12,000 facilities, according to the Times database.

"While 11 percent of the country's cases have occurred in long-term care facilities, deaths related to Covid-19 in these facilities account for more than 43 percent of the country's pandemic fatalities," the report underlined.

"The share of deaths linked to long-term care facilities for older adults is even starker at the state level. In 24 states, the number of residents and workers who have died accounts for either half or more than half of all deaths from the virus," it added.

The numbers in database were germane to the latest fatalities in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, memory care facilities, retirement and senior communities and rehabilitation facilities.

The United States has reported some 2,510,151 infections  the world's heaviest caseload  and an increase of more than 44,000 cases from its previous count on Saturday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

The US death toll has reached more than 125,539.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, has said the real number could be ten times higher than the reported figure.

According to the latest estimate by CDC officials, at least 20 million people in the US may already have been infected with the COVID-19.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has come under fire from medical experts, Democrats and the public for downplaying the deadly virus and mishandling the epidemiological crisis.

Trump's disapproval rating has soared to 40 percent  an all-time high in a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, the latest sign that Americans' dissatisfaction with his handling of multiple national crises is mounting.
President Rouhani says wearing masks will become mandatory in public places

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 28 June 2020 1:52 PM

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says wearing masks will become mandatory as of July 5 in all places of public gathering that have been declared high-risk by the Health Ministry.

Rouhani made the remarks while addressing a meeting of the National Headquarters for Managing and Fighting the Coronavirus in Tehran on Sunday.

"Since the first week following the outbreak of this virus I have said that we must learn to live with it for a long time to come... People must know that our imperative is to prevent this virus from hitting its peak in a steep curve in every province it has shown up," he said.

Rouhani added that observing social distancing is the main principle for preventing further spread of this virus.

He added, "The second point is that in all places of gathering, we consider using face masks obligatory. Arrangements must be made, so that the use of masks will become obligatory as of July 5" until the end of the current Iranian calendar month (July 21), before making a new decision.

"We have a list of all places of gathering, which have been marked as 'red' by the Health Ministry and ... everybody must observe the relevant instructions."

Iran has been among the countries hit hard by the novel coronavirus, which first showed up in China in late December 2019, before spreading across the globe.

Washington's inhumane sanctions have hampered the virus battle in Iran, which reported its first infection cases in late February.

Iran registers 144 more coronavirus deaths in past 24 hours

Meanwhile, the spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health, Sima Sadat Lari, announced on Sunday that 222,669 individuals have been so far confirmed has being infected with the new coronavirus across the country.

She added that 144 virus deaths have been registered in the past 24 hours, raising the total toll to 10,508.

The official also reported 2,489 COVID-19 cases during the same period, 1,406 of whom have been hospitalized.

Lari said as many as 183,310 individuals have recovered from the coronavirus, adding that 1,610,869 people have been tested for the virus in the country so far.

In two Tweets posted on Friday, Iran's Foreign Ministry censured the White House for its desperate efforts to lead an international campaign to use "economic, medical terrors against Iranian human rights."

"From depriving Iran of its own financial resources for making ends meet, to banning delivery of the COVID19-related supplies for saving Iranians' lives, the US regime is desperately leading the world campaign to use economic, medical terrors against Iranian #HumanRights," one Tweet read.
World updates: 10 million-plus infected with coronavirus, almost 500K dead

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 28 June 2020 9:09 AM

Global coronavirus cases have now passed the 10 million mark, and related fatalities have approached 500,000, according to a Reuters tally.

Seven months since the new virus first emerged, some countries are reporting resurgences in their infections, and have started to partially reinstate lockdowns that had paralyzed their economies.

Experts say life under social restrictive measures could become a pattern in the coming months and into 2021, until a vaccine is made available.

The United States has reported some 2,510,151 infections  the world's heaviest caseload  and an increase of more than 44,000 cases from its previous count on Saturday, according to another tally, by Johns Hopkins University.

The US death toll has reached more than 125,539.

India and Brazil, which report over 10,000 daily cases each, accounted for over a third of all new cases in the past week.

Health experts say fatalities in Latin America could rise to over 380,000 by October, from around 100,000 this week.

The following are updates on the pandemic from around the world:

Brazil cases pass 1.3 million mark

Brazil registered 38,693 new cases of the viral infection in the past 24 hours and 1,109 additional deaths, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.

Brazil, now the second after the US in terms of caseload, has recorded 1,313,667 cases and 57,070 related deaths.

Mexico reports over 600 new deaths

Mexico reported 4,410 new coronavirus infections and 602 additional deaths on Saturday.

The figures took the total in the country to 212,802 cases and 26,381 deaths, according to the Health Ministry.

China reports 17 new cases, 14 of them in Beijing

China on Sunday reported 17 new cases, 14 of which were detected in the capital of Beijing, according to the National Health Commission.

Beijing, which reported its first case in the current outbreak on June 11, now has 311 confirmed cases.

Mainland China has at least 83,500 confirmed cases, with a death toll of 4,634.

South Korea reports spike in infections

South Korea reported a spike in the number of infections on Sunday, after 62 people tested positive for COVID-19.

That pushed the total to 12,715, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

The new tally was higher than the 51 cases reported on Saturday, and was over 60 for the first time since June 20.

The total death toll remained unchanged at 282.

Australia's Victoria State mandates testing for travelers

Australia's second-most populous state of Victoria will implement mandatory COVID-19 tests for returning travelers.

The state's premier Daniel Andrews said that Victoria had 49 new cases on Sunday  the highest in more than two months, also marking the 12th consecutive day of double-digit rises.

Australia's total number of cases is 7,686, with a death toll of 104.

Germany reports 256 additional cases

The number of confirmed cases in Germany increased by 256 to 193,499, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases.

The reported death toll also rose by three to 8,957.

Two top Serbian officials test positive

Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a Defense Ministry statement, which said Vulin had no symptoms of the virus and is feeling fine.

The speaker of Serbia's parliament, Maja Gojkovic, also tested positive for the virus, according to the state Tanjug news agency on Saturday.

Serbia has reported 13,792 cases and 267 deaths as of the end of Saturday.

Wearing face masks, French go to polls for delayed vote

Voters in France donned face masks to cast their ballots on Sunday in a delayed second round of country-wide municipal elections, a mid-term test for President Emmanuel Macron and his ruling party.

The vote had been delayed for three months due to the outbreak.

On Saturday, French health officials reported a previously-unseen increase of the cases since the end of May. Officials reported more than 1,500 new confirmed cases, bringing the total figure to 199,473.

The recorded death toll in France stands at 29,781.
Iran To Require The Wearing Of Masks At Indoor Gatherings

June 28, 2020

Iran has announced that it will make the wearing of masks mandatory at indoor gathering places as the number of coronavirus fatalities recorded in a single day rose by the highest number in nearly three months.

The measure announced by President Hassan Rohani on July 28 was accompanied by news that hard-hit provinces would be allowed to reimpose restrictions aimed at countering the impact of the virus.

Rohani said the new mask requirement would be in force until July 22.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier warned the country's economic problems could worsen if the coronavirus spreads unchecked.

The country shut down nonessential businesses, closed schools and cancelled public events in March, but the government gradually lifted restrictions from April to try to reopen the country's sanctions-hit economy.

Iran reported 144 new fatalities owing to the coronavirus on June 27, its highest death toll for a single day in almost three months. The country is among the top 10 in the world in terms of the number of coronavirus infections, with more than 222,600 infections recorded, and over 10,500 deaths.

The Islamic republic had refrained from enforcing full lockdowns to stop the pandemic's spread, and the use of masks and protective equipment was optional in most areas.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-to- require-the-wearing-of-masks-at-indoor -gatherings/30695090.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.
MoH Conducts over 1.5 Million Coronavirus Lab Tests

Saudi Press Agency

Sunday 1441/11/7 - 2020/06/28

Riyadh, June 28, 2020, SPA -- The Ministry of Health (MoH) has doubled the number of tests for the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19). Since the outbreak of the virus in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the number of daily examinations was approximately 1,000, every day, as it now stands at 45,000 tests.

The Health Ministry indicated that it has conducted more than a million and a half laboratory tests of Coronavirus in Saudi Arabia with advanced testing technologies, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the first countries in the world to provide laboratory testing for the virus, as it has prepared and equipped the national laboratory at the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control for Covid-19 tests. The Ministry has also recently launched a number of specialized laboratories and units throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which contributed in bringing a quantum leap and advanced services, represented in obtaining test results in a record period.

MOH continues to intensify laboratory tests through several effective measures that contributed to early detection of Coronavirus cases. These measures included the implementation of the expanded testing which focused on conducting testing by field teams of the Ministry, which resulted in recording more infections, contributing to better containment of the virus.

The Health Ministry has implemented the second stage of its expanded COVID-19 testing that aims to assess the general spread of the novel Coronavirus in Saudi Arabia. It also launched the initiative of the (Tetamman) clinics which number 237 in various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, serving individuals who show COVID-19 symptoms such as: high fever, which may be accompanied by shortness of breath or coughing, without having appointments.

The Ministry of Health has also launched the third stage of Make Sure (Taakkad) initiative centers across the Kingdom cities, as a part of the expanded screening to evaluate the prevalence of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). This initiative is carried out through different methods, including drive-through Coronavirus testing centers, and at primary healthcare centers. Citizens and residents can book an appointment to take samples via (Sehaty) App.

The ministry will continue to expand conducting COVID-19 tests in addition to inaugurating laboratories to perform these tests with the highest quality.

--SPA

13:52 LOCAL TIME 10:52 GMT

0005
Global COVID-19 Infections Reach 10 Million Mark

By VOA News June 28, 2020

The number of COVID-19 infections around the world has passed the 10 million mark, with nearly 500,000 deaths, Johns Hopkins University reported Sunday.

World Health Organization Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently posted on Twitter as the ten million milestone approached: "This is a sober reminder that even as we continue [research and development] into vaccines & therapeutics, we have an urgent responsibility to do everything we can with the tools we have now to suppress transmission & save lives"

The U.S. continues to lead the world in reported infections, with more than 2.5 million and more than 125,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Five U.S. states reported record-breaking daily numbers of new coronavirus cases Saturday. Florida reported 9,585 new cases, while Georgia had 1,990 new cases. South Carolina had 1,604. Arizona reported 3,591 new infections, while Nevada reported 1,099. The states' record-breaking days of infections highlight the spread of the disease in several Southern and Western states.

Coronavirus cases are also surging in Texas, where more than 5,700 new cases were reported Saturday, and 42 more deaths brought the state's total to nearly 2,400. The state's governor, Greg Abbott, has again scaled back restaurant dining and shut bars.

President Donald Trump received a lot of criticism recently for a campaign rally he held on June 20 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, without any social-distancing requirements in place.

News reports say employees of the BOK Center, where the rally was held, had begun placing "Do Not Sit Here, Please!" stickers on every other seat in the venue when the facility received instructions from the president's campaign staff to remove the stickers from the seats, just hours before the beginning of the rally. The Washington Post reported the BOK Center management had bought 12,000 stickers for the rally in an effort to keep people apart, a standard practice used to avoid the spread of the coronavirus in public places.

The Post placed video on its site of two unidentified men removing the stickers from the arena's seats.

Billboard magazine was the first outlet Friday to report the Trump campaign wanted the labels removed from the seats.

Vice President Mike Pence will go ahead with a campaign event Sunday in Dallas, Texas, where he will attend a "Celebrate Freedom Rally" at First Baptist Church Dallas and then meet with Abbott.

Pence has canceled similar events in Tucson, Arizona, and Florida. At a briefing by the White House's coronavirus task force Friday, the vice president said he would be visiting the three states for a "ground report" on the spiking cases. The coronavirus task force public briefing was the first in nearly two months; the president did not attend.

Across Latin America, the number of cases has passed 2 million, the Pan American Health Organization said. Colombia reported 4,149 new cases Saturday, the third time in a week it has seen a new single-day high of new cases. Colombia now has 88,591 total cases, a number higher than the total reported by China, 84,726. Brazil surged to more than 1.3 million infections, second only to the U.S.

A troubling rise in infections was also reported in India, where the Times of India said the South Asian nation recorded 18,552 new COVID-19 cases Saturday, surpassing Friday's record of 17,296.

In South Korea, new clusters are popping up in Seoul, where hundreds of infections have been traced to churches, night spots and restaurants.

And Indonesia reported its biggest daily increase in coronavirus infections with 1,385 new cases, taking the total to 52,812, a health ministry official said.

But Italy  one of the worst-hit countries early in the pandemic  appears to be moving in the opposite direction. Officials on Saturday reported 175 new infections and just eight deaths, its lowest single-day total since March 1.
Top legislators to vote on national security law for HK

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/28 23:13:43

China's top legislature is expected to be in the final stage of voting to enact the highly expected national security law for Hong Kong, which has already shown its strong deterrent effect, in order to put an end to subversive and riotous acts that have caused an unprecedented recession in Asia's former premier financial hub.

The national security legislation for Hong Kong was reviewed at a session of China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), on Sunday morning, the official Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday after a Hong Kong deputy to the NPC confirmed the meeting with the Global Times.

Stanley Ng Chau-pei, a Hong Kong deputy to the NPC, told the Global Times that the draft law was reviewed by the country's top lawmakers on Sunday morning as the Standing Committee of the 13th NPC began convening its 20th session, which will last until Tuesday, in Beijing.

A group discussion among the lawmakers had finished with a general consensus regarding the bill, Ng noted.

Shen Chunyao, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, made a report on the results of the deliberation on the draft of the national security law for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), according to Xinhua.

After voting to pass a draft decision on establishing such a law on May 28, the NPC Standing Committee has worked with related parties to formulate the relevant laws and bills, which would usually go through three readings in the committee before being enacted, according to the Legislation Law. Given the law's impact and urgency, the draft can also go through one or two readings before being submitted for a vote, according to legal experts.

Ip Kwok-him, a Hong Kong deputy to the NPC and also an executive councilor, told the Global Times on Sunday that the majority of NPC Standing Committee members support finishing the formulation of the law as soon as possible.

There have been six groups to discuss the draft, with more than 10 Hong Kong deputies to the NPC as well as members of the Basic Law Committee taking part in the session, within which each group discussion was joined by one or two Hong Kong deputies to ensure that the public opinion of the HKSAR would be fully elaborated, according to Ip.

"It will be deliberated for a vote at this session, and it's highly likely to be passed, a chance of over 99.9 percent," he said.

Some local media outlets in Hong Kong predicted that top lawmakers are expected to vote for the law at the closing session on Tuesday. Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the NPC Standing Committee from Hong Kong, told the Global Times in an earlier interview that it is likely that top lawmakers will vote on the law during the committee's upcoming session, which means before July 1.

Powerful deterrent

While some opposition and pan-democratic groups are planning new anti-government protests for Sunday and Wednesday - July 1, the day marking the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China - the draft law has already began showing its powerful deterrent effects as the scale of street protests has largely shrunk with some extreme rioters descending into the streets in a deathbed struggle, according to observers and some local residents in Hong Kong.

Some "pro-independence" and secessionist leaders, who are expected to face charges as the upcoming law would specifically target four types of criminal acts, began fleeing to other countries or stepping down from their political sphere in recent days. Those types of criminal acts that would be punished by the law include acts of secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities and collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security, according to the draft.

Wayne Chan Ka-kui, a 29-year-old Hong Kong activist who took part in illegal assemblies in June 2019, reportedly fled to the Netherlands to avoid riot charges, and he has also breached his bail conditions, according to Hong Kong media reports.

Horace Chin Wan-kan, widely deemed the "father of localism" in Hong Kong and who advocates anti-mainland sentiment, also announced he is quitting the social movement in the city as he intends to draw a clear line from the secessionists, according to a Facebook post Chin published on Sunday.

The three-day meeting of the 19th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee, which concluded on June 20, has come up with more details of the draft of the national security law for Hong Kong. Under the new law, the central government would set up a commissioner's office for national security affairs in the HKSAR and the HKSAR should establish a commission for safeguarding national security.

When it comes to law enforcement and jurisdiction power, the draft law clearly states that the HKSAR shall exercise jurisdiction over criminal cases that endanger national security, from the investigation phase to prosecution and trial and punishment, unless there are special circumstances.

Though there is no reference to any retroactive clauses in the draft, some legal experts suggested that the new law could apply retroactively to those cases relevant to anti-extradition bill movement that then triggered unprecedented social turmoil in Hong Kong.

"However, it could be applied retroactively within a certain period, for example one month, since the decision of the draft law was approved on May 28," Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, solicitor of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, told the Global Times on Sunday. If it applies retroactively to some cases a long time ago, how to obtain evidence will become another question, Wong noted.

However, some observers consider that the anti-extradition movement is still ongoing, which involves different types of criminal acts and some could be punished and prosecuted in accordance to local security ordinance and law in Hong Kong.

"When it comes to severe cases of continued collusion with external forces, the national security law for Hong Kong may take effect," Tian Feilong, a Hong Kong affairs expert at Beihang University in Beijing, told the Global Times on Sunday.

If and when the cases are too complex to be handled by Hong Kong authorities, they could fall into the scope of special jurisdiction by agencies set up by central authorities in Hong Kong, he noted.

Reject foreign interference

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Friday visa restrictions on incumbent and former Chinese officials "responsible for eviscerating Hong Kong's freedoms," and their family members may also be affected. His announcement came a day after the US Senate passed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, which calls for mandatory sanctions against any person responsible for "undermining Hong Kong's autonomy."

While Chinese authorities such as the Chinese Embassy in the US and Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in HKSAR voiced oppositions to the blatant interference of the US government in China's internal affairs, lawmakers, observers and some Hong Kong residents said the country's determination to safeguard sovereignty and national security is firm and unshakable.

Once the law is enacted and takes effect in Hong Kong, some extreme activists may not give up challenging the bottom-line of the legislature, as they are likely to continue their anti-government protests overtly or covertly, some observers noted.

"However, don't undermine the powerful deterrent effect of the law. Chanting pro-independence slogans or songs such as 'liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times' or 'glory to Hong Kong' or waving foreign flags to beg for help from other countries during protests would be considered as acts of secessionism, which would be punished if those who do this ignore police warnings," Wong said.

While Tam has earlier suggested that the punishment for violating the law would be three to 10 years in prison, some other deputies to the NPC suggested suspects may face more severe punishments.

"Considering that in countries like the US, the penalty for offences such as subversion, secession, disclosure of information to the enemy may be life imprisonment, there is no reason why China's national security laws need to be loose," Ip told the Global Times.

He also pointed out this is not only his personal thought, as it has been understood by the central government, which would be fully expressed at the final deliberation of the draft.
National security bill for HK reviewed at NPC session Sunday morning: HK deputy

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing Source:Global Times Published: 2020/6/28 12:59:48

The national security bill for Hong Kong was reviewed at a session of China's top legislature on Sunday morning, a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) confirmed with the Global Times.

Stanley Ng Chau-pei, Hong Kong deputy to the NPC, told the Global Times that the draft law was reviewed on Sunday morning, and the group discussion among lawmakers has finished with a general consensus regarding the bill.

The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, began convening its 20th session on Sunday, which will last until Tuesday, in Beijing.

A chairpersons' meeting held on June 20, chaired by Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, set the date for this session.

The national security law for Hong Kong was not on the official agenda when the NPC Standing Committee announced the 20th session; however, Ng told the Global Times on Sunday that it has been put on the agenda, but not publicly announced.

Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the NPC Standing Committee from Hong Kong told the Global Times in an earlier interview that it is likely that top lawmakers will vote on the law during the committee's upcoming session; that is, before July 1.

The Global Times has learned that several Hong Kong deputies to the NPC flew to Beijing on Saturday and Sunday, including Ip Kwok-him, an executive councilor, Ma Fung-kwok, a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Martin Liao Cheung-kong, a barrister from Hong Kong.

The US' growing pressure on China over Hong Kong's internal issues, ahead of China's top legislature's new sessions, proves the US' hegemony and long-arm jurisdiction, and justifies the need for the law, according to some observers.
Posted Monday, June 29, 2020 9:48 am

Before the pandemic shut down much of the economy, Logan Madangure had come to see Seattle as a city of opportunity.

Although the 24-year-old Zimbabwean native arrived in Seattle three years ago with only a high-school education and has struggled with the city's high living costs, he had little trouble finding jobs, often several at a time, in the bustling hospitality sector.

That changed abruptly in March, when Madangure's employer, a local cruise company he declined to name, temporarily closed. Now, Madangure doesn't know if his job as an onboard bartender will return, or where his future lies in a labor market he worries is even more divided between haves and have-nots.

While many white-collar workers in the city have been "able to continue their careers working from home" during the pandemic, Madangure says, his own job prospects are "on hold."

Madangure's observations will be familiar to many workers in Seattle and across the state who have lost jobs during the pandemic.

Where previous recessions killed jobs across many industries and demographic groups, layoffs in the COVID-19 era often have been concentrated among workers who were often behind economically before the pandemic. Among them, working moms, younger workers, and workers who are less educated, lower-paid, and non-white.

In King County, where Black residents account for around 6% of the total population, Black workers make up around 11% of recent layoffs. That's according to a new report by Washington STEM, a Seattle-based nonprofit that has analyzed weekly, or "continuing," claims for jobless benefits filed by unemployed workers during the pandemic.

By contrast, white residents, who make up 63% of the county's population, have accounted for just 48% of pandemic-related unemployment, Washington STEM found.

One factor: Pandemic-related layoffs struck earliest and hardest in sectors where Black workers were already over-represented. That includes food service and lodging, as well as in personal service, such as hair salons, and gig work, says Andrea Caupain, CEO of Byrd Barr Place, a Seattle-based nonprofit that works with low-income families. "Low-wage workers in those industries were the first to go," Caupain says.

The pandemic's economic disparities also show up in other demographic categories. King County residents 34 or younger, who account for roughly 37% of the population, based on statewide figures, make up almost 42% of continuing jobless claims in King County and statewide.

Gender is another dividing line. Where the Great Recession of 2008-09 was nicknamed the "man-cession" because layoffs were heavy in male-dominated sectors, like finance and construction, the COVID-19 recession has been harder on women.

In King County, women have filed 51% of ongoing jobless claims, even though they represent 46% of the county labor force, according to Washington STEM.

One reason is that pandemic-related layoffs were concentrated in sectors where women outnumber men, such as the service industry, says Anneliese Vance-Sherman, a regional labor economist for the Employment Security Department who tracks the Seattle area.

For example, the health care sector, where women hold nearly four of five jobs nationally, saw massive layoffs early in the pandemic. Likewise for the leisure and hospitality sector, which is around 70% female. In downtown Seattle, much of the hotel sector has shut down, with total revenue down 95% through mid-June over the same period last year, according to the Downtown Seattle Association.

Another strike against working women: As the pandemic shuttered many childcare centers and schools, parents -- often mothers -- took over many childcare and education duties. In King County, total licensed daycare capacity is down 28% since February, and one in three providers is at risk of permanent closure, according to Child Care Aware of Washington.

Nationally, women with children were 45% more likely than men with children to move from full-time work to part-time work between February and April, according to a new study by Ben Cowan, an associate professor in the School of Economic Sciences at Washington State University.

These disparities point to another economic signature of the COVID-19 recession -- income inequality.

During the Great Recession, Wall Street was among the first sectors to see job losses, followed by housing and construction. That meant "a lot of upper-income white-collar, college-educated people" lost their jobs," says Debra Glassman, principal lecturer of finance and business economics at the University of Washington Foster School of Business. But "that's not the plot line for the current recession."

Instead, Glassman says, the first waves of pandemic-related layoffs struck heavily among workers in lower-paying jobs that don't require a college education.

In King County, a third of continuous jobless claims have been filed by people with the equivalent of a high school degree or less and a median income of $36,508, according to Washington STEM and 2018 U.S. Census data. Yet that demographic group represents barely a fifth of the county population.

By contrast, workers with a graduate or professional degree, whose median income is $93,213 and who make up a fifth of the county's workforce, filed just 7% of ongoing jobless claims, according to Washington STEM and census data.

In other words, layoffs often struck hardest among those who could least afford to lose their jobs. "I don't have savings," said Katie Brodkin, 37, of Seattle, who lost her job as a pediatric dental assistant in March. Without the governor's eviction moratorium and a timely tax refund, she and her 6-year-old son "would have been out on the streets."

That points to yet another key difference with this recession: job mobility.

Workers whose jobs couldn't be done from home were more than twice as likely to be laid off than their work-from-home peers in King County, according to Washington STEM.

To be sure, these disparities could change with time. Glassman thinks that the longer the recession lasts (Washington is still seeing historically high levels of layoffs), the more we can expect additional layoffs in high-paying sectors.

Even by May, the state was seeing more initial jobless claims by workers in high-salary sectors such as tech and finance -- though at least some of those claims were likely fraudulent.

But because layoffs have declined steadily in recent weeks, the demographics of the job losses are unlikely to significantly change.

In fact, Washington STEM's data shows that in demographic categories such as race, gender, and age, disparities have actually widened over the course of the pandemic.

And those disparities will probably linger in the post-COVID economy.

For example, employment recovery will be much faster for information-related sectors, such as tech, where jobs more easily moved from offices to homes -- and where layoffs were less frequent to begin with. By contrast, sectors that have taken the biggest beatings are also likely to take the longest to return to pre-COVID-19 job levels.

That's clear in the healthcare sector, where many non-essential clinics have been slow to re-open. Brodkin says her clinic can't bring her back full-time until September.

Similarly, bars and restaurants that survived the shutdown will likely be operating for some time at reduced capacity, with smaller staffs, because of health restrictions.

"I have no idea when they're going to open back up," says William Parham, 35, of Seattle, who lost his security job at the University District location of Supreme, a pizza-themed bar. "And I have no idea if I'm even going to be called back to work when they do decide to open back up."

Lower-wage jobs are also likely to be disproportionately affected by automation as employers try to cut labor costs in the recovery, says Vance-Sherman, the state Employment Security Department economist.

Recessions always accelerate automation, but the pandemic may push employers to use technology to lower safety-related costs, adds the UW's Glassman. Restaurants hoping to minimize contact between staff and customers, for example, may simply replace staff with automated ordering. "People are extremely expensive even in the best of times and [COVID-19-related] behavioral changes are making people especially expensive," she says.

Another obstacle to job recovery in the COVID-19 era is that workers themselves may be reluctant to return to workplaces that may not be safe.

Renee Stevens, 65, of Tacoma quit her job as a grocery store merchandiser in April out of fear of catching the coronavirus and infecting her family.

While Stevens wants to get back to work -- "I'm not a person who likes to sit around," she says -- she's still worried about workplace risks. When she visits her former employer, "probably 90% aren't wearing masks," she said. "It just astounds me."

The bleak labor picture has some silver linings. The federal stimulus package enacted in March provided comparatively generous benefits for low-wage workers. Although those benefits are set to expire in late July, some in Congress are pushing to extend them.

Some experts also see new political momentum to address job-market disparities arising from the ongoing protests over police brutality and racial injustice.

Caupain, with Byrd Barr Place, says local business leaders in sectors such as construction and real estate, where Black workers historically have been underrepresented, are now "doing a self-evaluation of the role they've been playing and what needs to change in the industry."

The social justice movement has also brought new political and philanthropic support for programs aimed at improving job prospects for young African Americans through retraining and other strategies, Caupain said.

Growing support for the Black Lives Matter movement in particular has shifted how many white progressives view the long-standing economic challenges in the Black community, Caupain says. "I think we have a critical mass of people who [are] listening in a different way and want to take action," Caupain said. "And that's exciting."

An earlier version of this article used an incorrect name for the street where a University District bar is located.
Commentary: Playing "Hong Kong card" gets the U.S. nowhere

People's Daily Online

By Chang Feng (People's Daily Online) 15:51, June 28, 2020

On June 25, the U.S. Senate passed the "Hong Kong Autonomy Act", attempting to hinder Hong Kong's legislation on safeguarding national security through imposing sanctions.

The passage of the act is a blatant interference in China's internal affairs and a serious violation of international conventions and norms governing international relations, exposing the double standards and hegemonic logic of Washington. The trick will yield no success.

Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs, and no external interference shall be tolerated. The Hong Kong citizens and the central government are in the best position to judge whether the city enjoys a high degree of autonomy, while following the "one country, two systems" principle.

The U.S., signing numerous laws to safeguard its own national security, has been stigmatizing China for plugging its national security loopholes. The sanctions by the U.S. are extremely insolent, unreasonable and shameless, revealing the intentions of some American politicians to hinder China's development through destroying Hong Kong.

Some American politicians have acted as the masterminds behind the scenes, escalating violence in Hong Kong after turbulence ensued over the proposed anti-extradition bill last June.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, an instigator of Hong Kong riots and Joshua Wong Chi-fung, leader of a Hong Kong political group advocating "independence". The National Endowment for Democracy of the U.S. fueled protests in Hong Kong, and the U.S. media distorted their reporting on Hong Kong, creating rumors.

The U.S. claimed in its Country Reports on Terrorism 2019 that no terrorist incidents were reported in Hong Kong that year. However, it called the nationwide racial riots on its own territory terrorism.

From supporting violent protesters in Hong Kong, to shamelessly using its domestic laws to interfere in China's internal affairs, the U.S. organized and planned its moves.

Calling Hong Kong a "bastion of freedom", the U.S. has been attempting to replace the political system of the Chinese mainland with the "Hong Kong model". Their intentions are not based on letting Hong Kong enjoy "self-rule", stability and prosperity, but to obstruct China's development by destabilizing Hong Kong.

These despicable acts are doomed to fail. The people of Hong Kong have already seen the true colors of the U.S. for a long time. A Hong Kong organization, the United Front Supporting National Security Legislation, has recently launched an online petition signed by over 1 million people in protest of external interference.

In front of public opinion, people who try to use the "Hong Kong card" to suppress Chinese development will never succeed.

The United States has 85,000 citizens, over 1,300 companies, nearly 300 regional headquarters and more than 400 regional offices in Hong Kong. Almost all major U.S. financial companies operate in Hong Kong. The U.S. trade surplus with Hong Kong has accumulated to 297 billion U.S. dollars in the past decade, ranking first among U.S. global trading partners.

U.S. trade and finance are the first to suffer once the country imposes sanctions. At a time when COVID-19 is widespread in the U.S., with the economy shrinking in response, it is unwise to impose sanctions on China, a move which only leads to a lose-lose situation.

Hong Kong's unique status is given by the Basic Law, and it will not be changed by the U.S. sanctions. The prosperity and stability of Hong Kong comes from the hard work of generations of Hong Kong citizens, as well as the strong support from the central government. The U.S. sanctions cannot affect these "fundamentals".

Only by plugging the security loopholes with national security legislation, rooting out violence, punishing those clamoring for "Hong Kong independence" and advocating "mutual destruction", improving the business environment and enhancing investor confidence, can Hong Kong withstand any storm and further consolidate its status as an international financial, trade and shipping center.

China is firmly determined to promote the national security legislation for HKSAR, and upholds law and order in Hong Kong. The U.S. should know that its baton of sanctions will not scare Hong Kong and will not bring China down.
China to Canada: Stop megaphone diplomacy over arrests made with solid evidence

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 28 June 2020 6:10 AM

China says evidence against two Canadian citizens arrested for espionage is solid, rejecting public statements by Canadian officials that the two are being held "arbitrarily."

"Stop making irresponsible remarks on cases of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, and exerting pressure on China through megaphone diplomacy!" the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said in a statement on its website on Saturday.

"The facts are clear and evidence solid and sufficient. The accusation of so-called 'arbitrarily' detaining Canadian citizens is totally groundless," it said.

Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Spavor, a businessman, were arrested in China in December 2018. They were charged with suspected espionage this month.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other officials have repeatedly called their arrest and prosecution "arbitrary."

The Chinese statement said, however, that their cases would be handled "strictly in accordance with law," and their lawful rights would be protected.

Their arrest came soon after the financial director of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, was taken into custody in Canada on a United States warrant.

The Chinese mission said Meng's apprehension was the true instance of arbitrary detention and described her case as "a grave political incident concocted by the United States to suppress Chinese high-tech enterprises and Huawei, and Canada is its accomplice."

It reiterated Beijing's call for Meng's release.

Diplomatic relations between Canada and China have been strained over the arrests. Bilateral trade has been affected, too.

China says the arrest of the two Canadians is unrelated to Meng's detention.

The United States wants Meng extradited to face trial on charges related to the Chinese telecom equipment maker's alleged violations of US sanctions against Iran.

Kovrig's wife as well as 20 Canadian officials recently urged Trudeau to intervene to stop the extradition process of the Huawei executive in order to facilitate the release of the two Canadians.
Hong Kong Police Arrest 53 Protesters During Latest Unsanctioned Demonstration

Sputnik News

18:00 GMT 28.06.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Police in Hong Kong have arrested 53 protesters on Sunday during a unsanctioned demonstration in the Mong Kok region of the city, according to a press release.

"At around 5pm [09:00 GMT] today, Police intercepted some protestors near Sai Yeung Choi Street, Mongkok and arrested 53 persons, including 41 males and 12 females, for Unlawful Assembly. Police are conducting enforcement actions in the vicinity to restore public order at the moment", the Hong Kong Police Force said.

Law enforcement officers gave protesters multiple warnings to disperse, and pepper spray was used after demonstrators became aggressive, according to the press release.

Widespread protests continue to take place in Hong Kong against new security legislation that was passed in late May by the National People's Congress in Beijing.

On 20 June, the Chinese authorities revealed the details of the proposed security bill, which threatens jail terms and hefty fines for any secessionist activity and attempts to undermine the state's authority.

According to the bill, the Chinese government also intends to establish a national security agency in Hong Kong, which will make policy recommendations and analyse the security situation in the special autonomous region.

Beijing has consistently stated that the ongoing public unrest in Hong Kong is the result of foreign interference in China's domestic affairs.

A Sputnik
Kurdish Militia Groups Say Turkey Establishing Military Bases in Northern Iraq, Reports Claim

Sputnik News

16:24 GMT 28.06.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Kurdish militia groups have accused Turkey of establishing military bases in northern Iraq as part of Ankara's ongoing offensive against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the Al Arabiya broadcaster reports on Sunday.

According to a militia group spokesman, Turkish troops have already moved up to 25 miles into Iraqi territory as part of Operation Claw-Tiger, the broadcaster reported.

The militia considers the Turkish encroachment to be a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, the broadcaster said, citing the spokesman.

On Friday, the Turkish National Defence Ministry reported that one of the country's soldiers died in clashes with PKK troops in northern Iraq. Additional Turkish special forces soldiers were deployed to the region on 21 June.

Ankara has designated the PKK a terrorist organisation and launched the Anti-Kurdish offensive in mid-June. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry has twice handed a note of protest to the Turkish ambassador over what Baghdad considers to be violations of the country's sovereignty.

A Sputnik
Civilians among over 100 victims of landmines in Libya's capital: UN

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 28 June 2020 3:50 PM

The United Nations mission in Libya (UNSMIL) says over 100 people, including civilians, have been killed or injured due to landmine explosions in south of the capital, Tripoli.

The UNSMIL said in a statement on Sunday that "mines and improvised explosive devices (planted) in or near homes have caused more than 100 victims," including civilians and mine disposal experts.

It further said the toll was for casualties since early June without giving a breakdown.

The UNSMIL statement came after a meeting between acting UN envoy Stephanie Williams and Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in the Italian capital, Rome on Saturday.

It came in the midst of the conflict between Libya's warring sides that continues to intensify as a result of foreign intervention in the North African country.

Since 2014, two rival seats of power have emerged in Libya, namely the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Sarraj, in Tripoli, and another group based in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported militarily by militants under the command of renegade general Khalifa Haftar.

Since April last year, Haftar's forces have been fighting in an all-out offensive to capture Tripoli and unseat the government, but have remained bogged down on the city's outskirts.

The GNA, as well as the United Nations and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have previously accused Haftar's forces of planting landmines in residential southern suburbs of the capital.

Meanwhile, at the Rome meeting, acting UN envoy Williams expressed concern over reports claiming that "mercenaries of various nationalities" had been deployed in Libyan oil installations.

Williams said the presence of mercenaries there "threatens" to transform the country's "oil crescent" region into a "battlefield".

Also on Saturday, GNA head, Sarraj held talks in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte during which he stressed that the conflict in Libya has no military solution.

Libya has been in chaos since 2011, when a popular uprising and a NATO intervention led to the ouster of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Fighting has recently intensified near the Libyan capital as the presence of foreign patrons with competing regional interests has compounded the conflict.

Haftar's forces are backed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Libyan government, the GNA, receives backing from Turkey that has significantly helped the Tripoli government by sending sophisticated drones and air defense systems, as well as dispatching allied militants from Syria.

Recent weeks have seen a turning point in the fighting, with the Libyan government achieving the upper hand against Haftar's forces on several fronts.
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The two new female patients returned to Vietnam from Kuwait on June 18th and were put under quarantine upon arrival in a facility in the northern province of Hung Yen. At present, they are being treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases No. 2 in Dong Anh district, Hanoi.



Vietnam has gone through 72 days in a row without local transmissions.

At present, 7,846 people having close contact with COVID-19 patients or entering from pandemic-hit areas are quarantined at hospitals, concentrated quarantine establishments, and at home.

As many as 330 out of 355 patients or 93 percent have recovered so far, while the remainders are being treated at medical facilities and in stable condition. Five tested negative for the coronavirus once and five others at least twice./.
Posted Sunday, June 28, 2020 4:13 pm

SACRAMENTO, Calif.  Citing the rapid pace of coronavirus spread in some parts of the state, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday ordered seven counties including Los Angeles immediately to close any bars and nightspots that are open and recommended eight other counties take action on their own to close those businesses.

The decision, a sign of growing concern about new COVID-19 cases, was announced in a statement issued by the governor's state public health director, Dr. Sonia Angell. Bars in seven counties are immediately impacted by the state order: Los Angeles, Fresno, Kern, San Joaquin, Tulare, Kings and Imperial.

Eight other counties have been asked by state officials to issue local health order closing bars: Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Stanislaus.

"COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger," Newsom said in a written statement. "That's why it is critical we take this step to limit the spread of the virus in the counties that are seeing the biggest increases."

The list of counties impacted by Sunday's order was based, state officials said, on daily reports on the spread of the virus. Counties that have been on the state's watch list for between three and 14 days are being asked to close bars. Those being ordered to close the local businesses have been on the state's watch list for more than 14 days.

"We are actively monitoring COVID-19 across the state and working closely with counties where there are increased rates and concerning patterns of transmission," Angell said in a written statement. "Closing bars in these counties is one of a number of targeted actions counties are implementing across our state to slow the virus' spread and reduce risk."

The decision by Newsom stands in contrast to recent decisions to leave more of the decision making authority to local officials. The governor has said it is possible additional sectors of the state may need to scale back on openings, but has been hesitant to make those decisions in Sacramento.

Earlier this month, the governor ordered all Californians to wear face masks while in public or high-risk settings.

The alarm over the rising case numbers extends across California, where statewide cases topped 211,000. Hospitalizations and infection rates are also rising, and officials cite several likely factors including reopenings, the recent protest over George Floyd's killing by police and people doing private social gatherings.

Some officials are cracking down on scofflaw businesses while others are preparing to help overwhelmed hospitals.

On Friday Newsom said he was recommending that Imperial County reinstitute stricter stay-at-home orders, after it continued to report the highest per-capita case rate of any county in the state, as well as the highest rate of positive tests.

The county Board of Supervisors took no immediate action to direct businesses to shut down, but local officials were meeting with a state delegation Saturday to decide how to proceed.

In San Bernardino County, officials said that many hospitals are getting closer to reaching "surge capacity" and that they are making plans to open alternate care sites for patients if hospitals fill up.

In San Diego County, the health department on Friday ordered an Escondido restaurant to close immediately, saying its proprietor refused to follow public health directives imposed to prevent coronavirus outbreaks. And Belmont Park, an amusement park in Mission Bay, was closed Friday afternoon by officials who said it was operating rides in violation of state guidelines. The shutdown came on the same day that county officials announced the highest number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases in a single day.

Another day of big increases in Los Angeles County coronavirus cases and hospitalizations prompted health officials Saturday to warn that Los Angeles County is entering a "critical moment" and that some of the easing of stay-at-home orders is in jeopardy unless the trend changes.

Los Angeles County public health officials on Saturday reported 2,169 new coronavirus cases.

"If we can't find it in us to follow these mandates, including wearing face coverings and distancing when around others, we jeopardize our ability to move forward on the recovery journey," Barbara Ferrer, the county health director, said Saturday in a statement. "Our collective responsibility is to take immediate action, as individuals and businesses, to reverse the trends we are experiencing."

"If we can't find it in us to follow these mandates, including wearing face coverings and distancing when around others, we jeopardize our ability to move forward on the recovery journey," Barbara Ferrer, the county health director, said Saturday in a statement. "Our collective responsibility is to take immediate action, as individuals and businesses, to reverse the trends we are experiencing."
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Partly cloudy skies. Low around 45F. N winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.
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Posted Monday, June 29, 2020 9:49 am

OLYMPIA  A dozen years later, the Great Recession still haunts Washington state lawmakers.

Democrats for years have pointed back to the budget cuts made after the 2008 economic downturn as the source of long-term damage to the state's social-safety net, especially the mental health system.

Republicans have pointed to those same cuts as a cautionary tale about drastically increasing state spending too quickly, and then being forced to come back and make cuts later.

The coronavirus pandemic -- which has battered economies across America and the world -- has given new life and real meaning to those debates.

Washington state now faces a projected $8.8 billion state budget shortfall through 2023. About half of that shortfall hits the state's current, 2019-21 $53.3 billion operating budget.

A spending document that reaches all facets and regions of Washington, it funds schools, state parks, public-health programs, prisons and social services, like foster care and mental health.

In the coming months, lawmakers are expected to make adjustments to the budget in a special legislative session.

As lawmakers and Gov. Jay Inslee confront the bleak numbers, they wrestle with hard choices. The state's emergency reserves won't cover even the current budget's shortfall.

Democrats are talking up new taxes as a way to avoid deep cuts while rebalancing Washington's regressive tax system, which depends heavily on the sales tax. Some have urged new taxes on capital gains or on large employers, or the elimination of some business tax breaks.

Republicans fear new taxes, which they argue will burden businesses at the very time employers need relief. And, they say that by making more cuts now, early on, they can reduce damage to programs that help Washington's most vulnerable in the coming months and years.

The debate is playing out while the pandemic surges through America, with cases rising again in Washington and around the nation, with no certain end date to its disruptions.

"We're in a virus recession, and so it's an unprecedented situation, nobody really knows how the economy will bounce back," said Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island and chief Senate Democratic budget writer.

"And then the situation is compounded by the power, the absolute power that the virus has on how the economy is going to respond, and how people are going to respond," she added.

Already, Inslee has vetoed hundreds of millions of dollars in spending approved by lawmakers in March as the pandemic took hold. The governor also froze most state hiring and canceled some public-employee pay raises.

Inslee also reached a deal with a large public labor union to save money through furloughs of state workers -- but those state workers keep their raises.

The governor hasn't ruled out raising taxes to avoid cuts, but hasn't said what type of revenue he would prefer if it were needed.

Republicans have called for more drastic cuts, faster. Specifically, GOP lawmakers have called for a special legislative session this month, in part to slash brand-new spending before it begins on July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.

"Sooner is better, the easiest decisions we have are in front of us right now," said Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia and lead GOP budget writer in the Senate. "We don't need any more information."

Immediate concern

While the pandemic hit hard and suddenly, lawmakers aren't likely to take as drastic a response.

Their immediate concern is to plug the $4.5 billion hole in the current two-year budget. The state's roughly $3 billion in reserves will get them a good distance toward that goal.

The harder decisions will likely come in January, when lawmakers return for their scheduled session to write a new two-year budget. They face a projected $4.3 billion shortfall for that spending blueprint.

Rolfes, Inslee and Democratic legislative leaders say they are waiting to see whether U.S. Congress provides assistance for state and local governments in coronavirus relief legislative currently being crafted.

"We are reasonably hopeful that there could be another package that could help us dramatically," Inslee said last week during a news conference.

In a call Monday with Inslee and other governors on the federal government's pandemic response, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the U.S. Congress could pass that legislation in July, according to notes on the call provided by the Governor's Office.

Democrats say they worry that budget cuts could hit programs serving Washington's most vulnerable populations, some of which have already suffered disproportionately during the virus. Lower-wage service jobs took a hard hit in the economic collapse, and people of color have been hit harder by the virus itself.

For lawmakers like Sen. Manka Dhingra, a Redmond Democrat who has supported a tax on capital gains, that makes a compelling argument for new revenue.

"We cannot have the middle class and the poor taking the biggest brunt of these [budget] cuts, and this is where progressive revenue comes in," said Dhingra.

Rep. Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, recently put forth a plan to raise $2 billion. It includes a tax on capital gains and another tax on large corporations, assessing them for every employee earning than $500,000 per year.

Chopp's proposal would also create a payroll-style tax like the state's family-and-medical-leave law to pay for child-care and early-learning services.

Meanwhile, in April, Republicans put forth a 16-point plan to reopen the state's economy. It included ideas to reduce Business & Occupation (B&O) taxes and give a sales-tax holiday for retail stores.

Because the state budget must be balanced across four years, earlier cuts could help not just through the immediate reduction, but also by reducing the amount of projected spending in later years.

Braun estimated the state could save $1 billion over four years just by stopping brand-new spending -- including the scheduled 3% raise for union state workers -- set to take effect July 1.

That would be a better option than waiting and later making cuts to social-services programs for the state's most vulnerable citizens, he said.

"I'm not interested in deep cuts to mental health or other services," said Braun. "This is why it's important to act now."

Contain the virus

In order to fully resuscitate the economy, legislators must also grapple with how to contain the virus, according to Austan Goolsbee, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

To revive commerce and other daily activities, lawmakers must provide a strong enough public health response where residents feel safe to go out, Goolsbee told lawmakers on a special Senate committee tasked with working on recovery efforts.

"I always say that the number one rule of virus economics is that the best thing you can do for economics is to contain the spread of the virus," he said.

Goolsbee researched metro areas that span the borders of two states, he said, in order to observe the economic differences in states with stay-at-home orders compared to those that didn't have such restrictions.

He cited the communities known as the Quad Cities, found along the border of Iowa and Illinois. Iowa didn't have a stay-at-home order, while Illinois put one in place.

"But you see economic activity collapse by almost identical amounts on both sides of that border," Goolsbee said. "It's not really about the policy, it's about people being afraid."

Rolfes, the Democratic budget writer, and Sen. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville -- both of whom are on the special committee -- said the Legislature must find ways to aid the recovery so that people feel safe.

"We have some things that we really have to address," said Becker.

"And number one is the fear factor."

___
(TNS)  Gov. Gavin Newsom's order June 18 requiring all Californians to wear face masks came as welcome news to those in the state concerned by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. Nevada City Mayor Reinette Senum instead greeted the mandate with a message of defiance."Our governor does NOT have that unilateral power to make such orders," Senum said in a Facebook post, joining sheriffs in Orange, Riverside, Sacramento and Fresno counties who have said they will refuse to enforce Newsom's decree."What he should have done is done the right thing  go through the legislative process," Senum said. "There was no public discussion, no room for public discourse."Since shortly after the outbreak began, Newsom has faced criticism from some over his ample use of executive authority during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been peppered with legal challenges over a range of issues related to the pandemic, including the ban on in-person church services and declaring gun shops as essential businesses, with a number of cases still pending.But the Newsom administration's directive ordering all Californians to wear face coverings while in public  with limited exceptions  appears to be on solid legal ground, according to some state constitutional experts.The governor has widespread power to respond during a state of emergency such as a pandemic, as does state Public Health Officer Sonia Angell, said Stephen M. Duvernay, a senior research fellow at Berkeley Law's California Constitution Center.After consulting with the state's top public health officials and senior advisors in his administration, Newsom approved their recommendations to have the state Department of Public Health implement the mask mandate. Newsom's stay-at-home order, signed March 19, requires "all Californians to heed the state public health directives from the Department of Public Health.""The Emergency Services Act authorizes a governor to assign the Department of Public Health duties concerned with mitigating the effects of an emergency like the current pandemic," Duvernay said. "And DPH has independent statutory authority to take measures necessary to prevent the spread of a disease."To combat a contagious, infectious or communicable disease, Angell can "take measures as are necessary to ascertain the nature of the disease and prevent its spread," according to the state health and safety code."The Department of Public Health would appear to have sufficient authority to direct the public to wear masks in order to prevent the pandemic's spread," said former state appellate court Judge Daniel M. Kolkey, who served as Republican Gov. Pete Wilson's legal affairs secretary and later as an advisor to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.Under California law, the state public health officer's orders are enforceable by county sheriffs and other local police agencies, and people who fail to comply can be charged with a misdemeanor.Newsom has repeatedly said he hopes to use the power of persuasion and education to make Californians heed the order to wear masks and abide by other state-mandated coronavirus-related restrictions, but he vowed to take action if necessary.Newsom did just that on Sunday, when he ordered bars, brewpubs and nightclubs to immediately close in seven California counties because of an alarming increase in the spread of the coronavirus. The Newsom administration also recommended eight other counties take action on their own to close those types of businesses."Our approach at the state level has to be guided by enforcement at the local level first, but we have made it clear ... that we have tools at the state level," Newsom said.Opposition to the mask order continues to stir. Members of the group Freedom Angels, anti-vaccine activists who have protested against the governor's coronavirus actions, have accused Newsom of abusing his power."Welcome to Prison Planet," the group posted on Facebook.San Francisco attorney Harmeet Dhillon expects a judge to ultimately decide whether Newsom's mask order is proper. Dhillon has filed more than a dozen lawsuits on behalf of individual clients and her nonprofit, the Center for American Liberty, challenging the governor's executive actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.She criticized Newsom's mask order, which includes a requirement that Californians wear face coverings outdoors if they cannot socially distance from others. That's government overreach, she argued, since there isn't sufficient evidence to show that the virus is easily spread outdoors. Dhillon said she has asked both the state and counties for the scientific basis for their mask orders and has not received an adequate response."Of course, the governor has powers," said Dhillon, who represents California on the Republican National Committee. "The problem is the orders that are overly broad, that are vague, that pick winners and losers. Which the governor did from Day One."Kolkey agrees that the legality of some of Newsom's executive actions during the pandemic, which he issued under his expanded powers during the state of emergency, remains unclear.That includes Newsom's executive order to expand the rights of workers classified as "essential" to file workers' compensation claims, Kolkey said. Newsom also signed an executive order requiring major food companies to provide two weeks of supplemental paid sick leave for full-time workers who contract COVID-19 or are exposed to it.Kolkey said he believes that those orders amounted to the creation of new laws, which is solely within the purview of the Legislature, and that the California Constitution expressly prohibits persons in one branch of government from exercising the powers of the other two branches.That's the case even though the Legislature has passed laws granting the governor enormous power during times of emergency, including the right to suspend statutes and regulations, the authority to exercise the police power vested in the state and the right to make and rescind orders and regulations to carry out these powers.The Legislature "cannot abdicate its power to legislate during an emergency and transfer it to the governor," Kolkey said.The Newsom administration said that, under California's Emergency Services Act, the governor has substantial authority during a state of emergency, including, the legislation states, "complete authority over all agencies of the state government and the right to exercise within the area designated all police power vested in the state by the Constitution and laws of the state of California.""Multiple courts considering the question, including California state courts, federal courts in California and the United States Supreme Court, considering an executive order Gov. Newsom issued, have confirmed the governor's broad authority to take necessary steps to protect public health during the pandemic," Kate Folmar, spokesperson for the state Health and Human Services Agency, said in an email.The courts have thus far been somewhat deferential to the governor's executive actions during the public health crisis.In late May, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Newsom's ban on in-person church services as part of his stay-at-home order. The Newsom administration has since allowed church services to resume in most counties, as long as they abide by state-imposed safeguards."We're dealing here with a highly contagious and often fatal disease for which there presently is no known cure. In the words of Justice Robert Jackson, if a '[c]ourt does not temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom, it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact,'" the majority wrote.However, a Sutter County Superior Court judge earlier this month blocked Newsom's executive order to impose new election rules on counties wishing to limit in-person voting in November to lessen the spread of the virus.Judge Perry Parker called the order "an impermissible use of legislative powers in violation of the California Constitution and the laws of the state of California."An appeals court subsequently removed Parker's restraining order. Meanwhile, the Legislature is set to take action on a bill changing election rules for this fall.
(TNS)  The recent arrest of Robert Williams, a Black man in Michigan who was misidentified by facial recognition technology as a theft suspect, is the latest example of why Congress needs to ban government use of the biometric surveillance tool, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey said during a virtual news conference Sunday.The Massachusetts Democrat introduced a facial recognition bill this week with Rep. Ayanna Pressley, another Massachusetts Democrat; Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat; and Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat.What happened to Mr. Williams is unacceptable, but not surprising, Markey told reporters Sunday afternoon. The criminal justice system is already rigged against Black and brown Americans. We have to act with urgency to ensure that this technology doesnt become a new tool in the 21st century to subjugate and fill the system with people of color.Markey has criticized the use of facial recognition technology for years. In 2017, he called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to halt expanding its biometric exit program, which requires airport travelers to submit a facial scan, until Congress reviews the practice. He was among a group of lawmakers who raised concerns to Amazon about its own technology, Rekognition, being sold to law enforcement agencies across the country.While Somerville, Northampton and, most recently, Boston, have moved to ban government use of the technology, the technology is used by law enforcement in other U.S. cities. Williams, 47, of Farmington Hills, was arrested in front of his family on suspicion of stealing five expensive watches from a Shinola store in Detroit in 2018, according to the Associated Press. His drivers license photo was erroneously flagged as a likely match with the person on the stores surveillance video.A warrant was approved but dismissed earlier this year because the Shinola employee who identified Williams in a photo lineup wasnt at the store when the theft happened, according to the AP. An investigator previously noted the surveillance footage wasnt clear enough to identify the suspect.Detroit Police Chief James Craig apologized for the arrest. Williams DNA, fingerprints and mugshot are now being removed from police files, the AP reported.They arent just invading our privacy. They arent just being casual in what theyre doing, Markey said. Theyre relying on algorithms that are proven to be faulty. The algorithms have already proven to be racist.Facial recognition technology has raised concerns among civil rights advocates and elected officials who argue the tool invades privacy and also fails to accurately identify women and people of color.In a 2018 experiment, the ACLU tested Amazons Rekognition software on members of Congress, finding the software misidentified 28 congressional members as people who were arrested for a crime. The Congressional Black Caucus expressed its concerns in a May 24, 2018 letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.Markey was also misidentified by the technology in the ACLU test.The ACLU of Massachusetts launched Press Pause on Face Surveillance in the summer of 2019 highlighting civil liberty concerns posed by the technology, especially when used by government agencies.Does anyone in Somerville think that it would be a good idea to pass a new law that would require everyone who lives here, any visitor passing through Somerville to wear a permanent identification badge on their chest anytime they go out into public? Somerville City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen asked last year, after proposing a ban in Somerville.In June 2019, Somerville became the second U.S. city, followed by San Francisco, known to ban government use of facial recognition technology. Several Massachusetts communities have followed suit, including Cambridge, Brookline, Northampton, Springfield and Boston.Dozens of higher education institutions, including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston University, have agreed not to implement the technologies on their campuses.A statewide moratorium on facial recognition technology 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 sessionMarkeys bill bans the federal government from using biometric surveillance technology, including in international airports and other ports of entry in the U.S. Under the bill, a government agency or official who is found violating the facial recognition ban could be sued by victims or a states attorney general. That provision also applies to federal contractors.The legislation also would ban the use of federal dollars for biometric surveillance and bar states and municipalities from getting funds from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program if unless they enact their own temporary bans on the technology.The legislation does not prohibit federal entities from researching facial recognition technology or conducting audits to analyze the accuracy of a biometric surveillance system, accuracy rates by gender, skin color and age, among other standards.Evan Greer, deputy director of the nonprofit Fight for the Future, said the technology misidentifies nonbinary people and other LGBTQ people. More than 40 music festivals agreed not to use the technology after Greer led a campaign with Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello to halt the practice.This is a technology that exacerbates and automates existing forms of discrimination, not just within policing, but within our criminal justice system, within academic institutions and within our society as a whole, said Greer, a nonbinary trans femme activist who lives in Boston.We have not endorsed any other facial recognition legislation that has come out of the Senate. In fact, we have opposed most facial recognition legislation as being full of loopholes or backed by big tech companies, Greer said. So the fact that this legislation has secured our and our coalitions endorsement is what tells you this is the real deal.Asked why he didnt propose an outright ban, instead banning government use based on the commerce clause, Markey said he preferred an outright ban but thought he could garner more support with a bill banning government use and tying federal funds to local moratoria.Our feeling was that this was the best way to gather the support to build a coalition that could work so that we would deny the funding to localities if they did not comply, Markey said. It was a decision towards effecting an end and using federal funding as the best route to do it.
More States Join the Effort

A LARGE-SCALE OPERATION

When state governments began calling for private-sector help in the fight against coronavirus earlier this year, that call was met by a cadre of tech companies from Utah.The affiliates of Silicon Slopes , a nonprofit that represents the state's tech start-up community, launched a new public-private partnership to assist governments as they tackled challenges like test deployment, virus-tracking and data collection.The initiative was led by health-care vendor Nomi Health, marketing analytics firm Domo, and Qualtrics, an online survey software company. Together, the companies had all been in talks to provide what they called a unified "crisis response service" for state governments  a means for officials to augment and extend testing efforts.Josh Walker, co-founder and COO of Nomi, toldthat his company saw an opportunity to fill in the gaps where governments were struggling with the scale of COVID test deployment and virus tracking."A number of organizations in states were trying to determine what their response would be to [the] coming pandemic, and you had fears that hospitals would be overrun," Walker said. "As we raised our hand in Utah initially to help the state respond to the pandemic, it became very apparent that what was missing around the U.S. was a body to bring together all those disparate point solutions that were powerful in and of themselves but that needed to be knitted together to create a comprehensive strategy and solution."The collaboration began in Utah, where the companies struck a deal with Gov. Gary Herbert's administration to help launch TestUtah . The program offered a number of services, including a symptom testing website and physical testing sites. While the services were initially offered for free, the companies eventually expanded their services, signing around $11 million in contracts with the state After this initial burst of success in Utah, the companies saw the opportunity to expand.Advertising their services to other governments, the companies quickly garnered partnerships in Nebraska and Iowa. Beset by the unpredictable virus and facing anxious constituencies, the administrations in both states hurriedly used emergency buying powers to sign no-bid contracts amounting to $27 million and $26 million, respectively.Under those contracts, the vendors promised to deliver an all-in-one solution to augment state and municipal testing efforts: Qualtrics would deliver an accessible symptom checking website; Domo would provide data sharing and analytics solutions to state officials ; Nomi, meanwhile, would act as an overall coordinator for the organizations and processes at play providing materials for pop-up test sites and connecting vendors, state health agencies and public officials.State administrations would staff and run the testing sites themselves. As Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts explained during a press conference , the companies would "deliver the test kits and really kind of make it a turnkey delivery for us with regard to machines, the test kits and all that sort of thing. Though we will be here in the state of Nebraska managing that lab. Itll be Nebraskans that are running it. Itll be Nebraskans who are running the test sites and so forth.""We became essentially what is the general contractor, the connective tissue, amongst a number of solutions coming together to [produce] a comprehensive ... statewide COVID testing response-as-a-service," said Walker, about Nomi's role in the projects.The companies appear to have positioned themselves to develop similar contracts nationwide with Domo apparently registering similar website domains for all fifty states  TestFlorida.com and TestTexas.com, for example.Yet, some say what followed in Utah, Iowa and Nebraska fell short of the ideal public-private partnership, pointing to trouble ramping up to meet testing demand and questions over test accuracy. Lawmakers in all three states asked administrations end the contracts.Now the company contracted to conduct the actual tests, Co-Diagnostics, is being sued by one of its investors, which alleges that the company engaged in a "pump and dump" scheme to up their stock price through exaggerated claims. The lawsuits claims that Co-Diagnostics announced in early May that its test was 100 percent accurate, but that those claims were not accurate. The company has said that it doesn't agree with the allegations in the lawsuit, providing a statement tothat says the company stands behind the quality of our technology platform, and performance of our testing products. We intend to vigorously defend this matter."A represenative for Nomi also defended the testing company, explaining in a statement that "despite political chatter from senators, health experts and the FDA are all confident in Co-Diagnostics tests, and there have now been more than four third-party validations of them. If the FDA were not, the test would not be used."The ambitions of these public-private partnerships were immense: to stand up large-scale testing procedures in numerous communities across multiple states in a tight time frame, with immense public pressure in the background.Adminstrations in Iowa and Nebraska have so far disregarded much of the criticism of the partnerships.Gov. Pete Ricketts' office in Nebraska could not be reached for comment for this article, but has consistently defended its program . The office of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, meanwhile, said in an email tothat the program had significantly improved since its launch.In Utah, where these partnerships began, the longterm future of the program isn't totally clear. Local news reports suggest that the partnership between the state and Nomi Health had been renewed as of mid-June, but a spokesperson for the governor's office said the agreement is under review."The contract is under review to assess the effectiveness before renewing it," said Brooke Scheffler, public information officer for the Utah Governor's Office, in a recent email.In May, suspicions about test accuracy cropped up when it was reported that TestUtah was returning an unusually low rate of positive test results . This spurred various reviews of the program's testing process.Meanwhile, in Iowa, rollout of TestIowa was criticized for being slow to scale to the goal of 3,000 tests per day that was established at the outset of the program.Tricia Kitzmann, Community Health Division manager with Linn County Public Health, said in an email that as of June 9, a total of 1,043 county residents had been tested through TestIowa. The test site in Linn County, Iowa's second most populous county, has been operating since the beginning of May.Kitzmann also revealed that initially, many of the tests they received were inconclusive or showed inconsistencies, though Kitzmann said that in the past few weeks things have improved."The data we are receiving now is much cleaner and [involves] very little duplications and inconclusive tests," she said.Nomi's Walker said that the test materials for the sites were provided by the company, but that the sites were staffed and run by government agencies. The capacity to add 3,000 tests a day was a goal set by state governments themselves, which Nomi's infrastructure was provided to accomodate, he said."TestIowa is just one tool individuals can use to get a COVID-19 test," said Pat Garrett, spokesman for Gov. Reynolds' office, in regards to criticism of its rollout. "That being said, we have significantly ramped up testing and we now have TestIowa clinic sites, in addition to drive up sites."In Nebraska, meanwhile, available testing options have irked disability rights groups for their lack of accessibility, something several local Democrats have swiftly criticized the Republican governor for. That particular criticism, however, also applies to many of the country's pop-up test sites, which require a car and do not appear to be designed with disabled people in mind."We've worked very hard to support the state in making sure that those who need and want access to the program can get access to it," Walker said. "Ultimate decisions around how that's done, how that's accomplished, is left up to the state, who is running and directing the program."Indeed, all three states recently decided to renew contracts to continue the programs, with Utah extending through mid-July. The programs have definitively helped widen the scope of testing efforts; governments are still expanding these efforts, too. In May, Iowa was able to nearly double its testing capacity, going from some 1,400 tests per day to a little over 3,000. It's not totally clear how much of that was because of TestIowa, according to the Des Moines Register "The uniqueness of the solution has really been a convergence of taking technology and applying it in new ways to help states respond to a crisis," Walker said. "Through this process, the programs that we've been able to stand up are now available to 8.3 million people across the state. We've done more than a million assessments. We've tested through these programs more than 150,000 individuals. And our average turn around time is about 40 hours.""From that perspective, it's been wonderful to be a part of the state's response efforts on a big level," he added.
(TNS)  As the coronavirus pandemic shows little signs of slowing down, calls are growing for the Los Angeles Unified School District to improve upon a hastily launched system of online learning for the coming academic year.A report compiled by parent advocacy organization Speak Up found the districts distance-learning program has been inconsistent at best and discriminatory at worst. The report added that live online instruction, mandatory grades and consistent scheduling are critical to online schooling.The state legislature, meanwhile, has made it clear that some form of daily live instruction and regular school communication with parents will be obligatory in order to receive funding for the upcoming school year.An unscientific survey of 430 Speak Up members and other families, using a sample size that over-represented white students and under-represented low-income families in the district, found that nearly 40% of student respondents received live online instruction every day.Black and Latino students, the survey found, were more likely to have received less online instruction or not at all. Otherwise disadvantaged students  including English learners and students with special needs  were also taught with less live online instruction on the whole.Respondents to the survey reflected a mix of students attending traditional public schools, affiliated charters and independent charters.Live online learning is critical, otherwise the entire burden is on parents said Jenny Hontz, communications director of Speak Up. Obviously, there were many teachers that did an incredible job and went above and beyond, but it was just hugely inconsistent.In the state legislature this week, meanwhile, a coalition of civil rights groups and education advocates called on lawmakers to strengthen school reopening provisions to include a baseline of at least three hours of live face-to-face instruction online.In mid-March, LAUSD shuttered its more than 700 schools with the aim of preventing the spread of COVID-19 and sent schools into a mad rush to implement distance learning plans. The first several weeks of remote learning ranged from paper-and-pencil packets to lectures on Zoom as teachers struggled to reach their students.The transition illuminated a dearth in technological resources available to the 600,000 district students who overwhelmingly belong to low-income Latino and Black families. LAUSD spent the next two months making emergency purchases and distributing laptops and internet hotspots , but internet connectivity issues remain.As teachers navigated their new non-classroom realities, they also underwent hours of training  from subject-specific professional development to online learning pedagogy and the operation of such district platforms as Schoology.An agreement reached between teachers union United Teachers Los Angeles and LA Unified in March on the terms of distance learning made teaching classes using live video conferencing platforms optional. It expires at the end of June.Like most districts across California, L.A. Unified has said it may reopen in the fall with a hybrid campus model of learning to restrict the number of students on campus, while warning that fully remote learning could be the reality just as well.By distributing more than 30 million meals at dozens of school sites across the district since schools closed, LAUSD also became one of the nations largest food aid organizations since schools closed. It is now offering online summer school to some 100,000 registered students.Hoping for relief from projected state funding cuts, Superintendent Austin Beutner talked about the need to streamline different learning platforms and make distance learning more straightforward.We are in discussions with the various providers of the tools and technologies now, trying to answer two basic questions  do they have a viable business so we know theyll be around for a while and are they willing to work with our educators to help improve their products to better serve the needs of teachers and students? he said in a weekly coronavirus update, adding that he expected that work to be completed in August.As the economy opens up and parents return to work or work full-time from home, parents have cried out about the difficulties guiding young children through a school day. Worries about significant learning loss and even drop outs for older students abound.Parents active with Speak Up have been attending board meetings and calling on teachers union leaders to establish what they see as baselines for quality online instruction.Speak Up member Sharnell Blevins, whose three children attended Hamilton High School this spring, said she saw a lack of synchronized schedules, unfamiliarity with technology and inconsistency across different classes.For two of my daughters AP classes, they taught their teachers how to use Zoom because the system the district was using couldnt handle the volume of video, said Blevins. My kids had maybe live interaction face-to-face with about a quarter of their teachers.Distance learning has proven to be especially challenging for families with students who have disabilities or other special needs.Another Speak Up member, Elizabeth Gomez, whose son is a student with Down Syndrome at Marina Del Ray middle school, said she felt the pandemic magnified a broken system when she saw his teacher decline to make subsequent efforts at live instruction when a first Zoom meeting with his class went poorly.Martha Infate Thorpe, a teacher at Taft High School in the San Fernando Valley with decades of experience in Southeast LA, said screen time is not necessarily the key to distance learning and one size does not fit all.Its a very common error to think that traditional school can be replicated online in the exact same way, she said, adding that a survey of her own students found that most preferred viewing pre-recorded lessons at their own pace.I think this report spells out the obvious but the problem is not the district, its systemic poverty  youre going to have different results in different households. So you should address that before talking about system-wide synchronous instruction.L.A. Unified board member Nick Melvoin said he plans to take board action that asks for more to ensure distance learning is successful and that more rigor is necessary  but not without striving for equity.Ive heard stories of teachers that are doing amazing work under tough circumstances and Ive heard frustrations from parents and principals as well that its not meeting their standards, said Melvoin of distance-learning feedback.Obviously, there were going to be some kinks to work out  my only caveat with calls for live instruction is to make sure were looking at equity as well. Because we have some students who are working and cant always hop on a zoom at 10 a.m.
(TNS)  The recent arrest of Robert Williams, a Black man in Michigan who was misidentified by facial recognition technology as a theft suspect, is the latest example of why Congress needs to ban government use of the biometric surveillance tool, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey said during a virtual news conference Sunday.The Massachusetts Democrat introduced a facial recognition bill this week with Rep. Ayanna Pressley, another Massachusetts Democrat; Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat; and Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat.What happened to Mr. Williams is unacceptable, but not surprising, Markey told reporters Sunday afternoon. The criminal justice system is already rigged against Black and brown Americans. We have to act with urgency to ensure that this technology doesnt become a new tool in the 21st century to subjugate and fill the system with people of color.Markey has criticized the use of facial recognition technology for years. In 2017, he called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to halt expanding its biometric exit program , which requires airport travelers to submit a facial scan, until Congress reviews the practice. He was among a group of lawmakers who raised concerns to Amazon about its own technology, Rekognition , being sold to law enforcement agencies across the country.While Somerville Northampton and, most recently, Boston , have moved to ban government use of the technology, the technology is used by law enforcement in other U.S. cities. Williams, 47, of Farmington Hills, was arrested in front of his family on suspicion of stealing five expensive watches from a Shinola store in Detroit in 2018, according to the Associated Press. His drivers license photo was erroneously flagged as a likely match with the person on the stores surveillance video.A warrant was approved but dismissed earlier this year because the Shinola employee who identified Williams in a photo lineup wasnt at the store when the theft happened, according to the AP. An investigator previously noted the surveillance footage wasnt clear enough to identify the suspect.Detroit Police Chief James Craig apologized for the arrest. Williams DNA, fingerprints and mugshot are now being removed from police files, the AP reported.They arent just invading our privacy. They arent just being casual in what theyre doing, Markey said. Theyre relying on algorithms that are proven to be faulty. The algorithms have already proven to be racist.Facial recognition technology has raised concerns among civil rights advocates and elected officials who argue the tool invades privacy and also fails to accurately identify women and people of color.In a 2018 experiment, the ACLU tested Amazons Rekognition software on members of Congress, finding the software misidentified 28 congressional members as people who were arrested for a crime. The Congressional Black Caucus expressed its concerns in a May 24, 2018 letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.Markey was also misidentified by the technology in the ACLU test.The ACLU of Massachusetts launched Press Pause on Face Surveillance in the summer of 2019 highlighting civil liberty concerns posed by the technology, especially when used by government agencies.Does anyone in Somerville think that it would be a good idea to pass a new law that would require everyone who lives here, any visitor passing through Somerville to wear a permanent identification badge on their chest anytime they go out into public? Somerville City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen asked last year, after proposing a ban in Somerville.In June 2019, Somerville became the second U.S. city , followed by San Francisco, known to ban government use of facial recognition technology. Several Massachusetts communities have followed suit, including Cambridge Springfield and Boston Dozens of higher education institutions, including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston University, have agreed not to implement the technologies on their campuses. statewide moratorium on facial recognition technology 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 sessionMarkeys bill bans the federal government from using biometric surveillance technology, including in international airports and other ports of entry in the U.S. Under the bill, a government agency or official who is found violating the facial recognition ban could be sued by victims or a states attorney general. That provision also applies to federal contractors.The legislation also would ban the use of federal dollars for biometric surveillance and bar states and municipalities from getting funds from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program if unless they enact their own temporary bans on the technology.The legislation does not prohibit federal entities from researching facial recognition technology or conducting audits to analyze the accuracy of a biometric surveillance system, accuracy rates by gender, skin color and age, among other standards.Evan Greer, deputy director of the nonprofit Fight for the Future, said the technology misidentifies nonbinary people and other LGBTQ people. More than 40 music festivals agreed not to use the technology after Greer led a campaign with Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello to halt the practice.This is a technology that exacerbates and automates existing forms of discrimination, not just within policing, but within our criminal justice system, within academic institutions and within our society as a whole, said Greer, a nonbinary trans femme activist who lives in Boston.We have not endorsed any other facial recognition legislation that has come out of the Senate. In fact, we have opposed most facial recognition legislation as being full of loopholes or backed by big tech companies, Greer said. So the fact that this legislation has secured our and our coalitions endorsement is what tells you this is the real deal.Asked why he didnt propose an outright ban, instead banning government use based on the commerce clause, Markey said he preferred an outright ban but thought he could garner more support with a bill banning government use and tying federal funds to local moratoria.Our feeling was that this was the best way to gather the support to build a coalition that could work so that we would deny the funding to localities if they did not comply, Markey said. It was a decision towards effecting an end and using federal funding as the best route to do it.
A joint initiative between New Yorks statewide power utility and the smart lighting company Signify proposes to replace at least 500,000 streetlights across the state with new LED technology by 2025.Through the initiative, called Smart Street Lighting NY, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) will offer low-rate loans as well as financial, technical and other support for municipalities that want to upgrade, according to a news release . Participating agencies will have the option to buy physical lighting assets from local utilities or Signify, which will also act as an adviser and strategic partner.Signify, formerly known as Philips Lighting until 2018, sells streetlights that can be mounted with various IoT sensors and managed on its proprietary software platform, Interact City. NYPA and Signify are framing the project as a way for cities to not only upgrade aging assets, but lay the groundwork for more smart city infrastructure and data collection in the future. Among other things, the streetlights can accommodate tilt, vibration and noise sensors, which can share data with emergency responders through the Interact City platform, while specific smart poles called BrightSites can hold cellular equipment and Wi-Fi transmitters.In a public statement, the city of Rochesters Street Lighting Program Coordinator Abebe Woldemariam said Signifys platform and streetlights have the potential to save power, money and staff time while adding functionality.The Interact City platform opens up a variety of options for city maintenance and governance, he said in the statement. We can now remotely monitor the system via a central dashboard, identifying required maintenance very quickly. Should any glitch occur, the system proactively prompts managers even before our residents have noticed, and thats a big plus.Martin Stephenson, Signifys head of North America systems and services, said in a statement that the push to get these lights in more cities across New York comes down to urbanization, digitalization and sustainability.Through NYPA and Signifys shared vision, communities can improve light quality, generate significant energy savings, and improve citizen safety and well-being using leading-edge technologies, he said.The news release pointed to a growing number of municipalities collaborating with NYPA as evidence that streetlights are a cornerstone of smart city infrastructure. In any case, this is only the latest of several NYPA initiatives in recent years, which have included a smart buoy system to safeguard underwater power cables, a sensor-driven monitoring system for the states power plants, a $250 million plan to add more electric vehicle charging stations , and a $500,000 grant for a smart streetlight project in Syracuse
It's finally another race week and that means we can get ready for the first Grand Prix of 2020. The Formula 1 season starts with the Austrian Grand Prix and see here what time you have to turn on!

It's race week again

After a long break, Formula 1 finally returns to television. The last race was held on 1 December, because after the winter tests in Barcelona there was no race in 2020. The Australian Grand Prix was cancelled at the last minute, so the fans soon had to wait half a year for the next race after Abu Dhabi.

That race will be held in Austria, at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. Big favourite there is Max Verstappen, who won the last two races on the circuit with Red Bull Racing. In addition, the Red Bull seemed to have come out of the winter break well during the winter tests, with Mercedes perhaps still as a light favourite.

Austrian Grand Prix

In Austria the normal times that we are used to from a European Grand Prix are kept. The first free practice starts at 10:00, with the second free practice at 14:00. On Saturday the third free practice is at 11:00 and we see the qualification at 14:00. The lights for the start of the race go out on Sunday at 14:10, after which the drivers have two hours to complete the 71 laps.

All sessions of Formula 1 can of course be followed again this weekend on GPblog.com with a live report of the session in our live blog and of course the summaries and reactions after the session.

This is the timetable for the Grand Prix of Austria

Friday:

First free practice: 10:00 - 11:30

Second free practice: 14:00 - 15:30

Saturday:

Third free practice: 11:00 - 12:00

Qualification: 14:00 - 15:30

Sunday:

Race: 14:10 - 16:10
For the time being, the Formula 1 calendar still consists of eight races, but F1 wants to make at least fifteen of them. This goes step by step and a new announcement is expected prior to the Austrian Grand Prix.

Another Triple Header

Rumours have been circulating for some time now, but according to RaceFans.net more will be announced about the continuation of the Formula 1 season in the run-up to the first Grand Prix of 2020. We shouldn't expect a full calendar yet, but we should already have a new Triple Header, as can be seen in the first part of the calendar.

Read more This is the timetable for the Grand Prix of Austria at the Red Bull Ring

After the Belgian Grand Prix, there will be another week off and then another Triple Header. The plan is to travel to Russia first, but for the time being the question is whether one can already race in Russia. Formula 1 would still be a bit cautious with races outside Europe and Russia is a case of doubt in that respect.

Hockenheim as stand-in

However, the circuit in Sochi is far outside everything that lives, which means that an F1 race can be organised on the former Olympic Park. However, the effects of the coronavirus are still very noticeable in Russia, so it is questionable whether it is wise to race there.

Hockenheim is the potential replacement for Russia, should it not be possible to race outside Europe. Hockenheim seems to be an alternative for multiple races, but already told GPblog.com that they can't keep a spot on the calendar forever. So F1 will have to make a quick decision about that.

Two new circuits

The other two races seem to be as good as fixed. Mugello and the Autodromo do Algarve in Portugal should complete the Triple Header. Mugello was already used for a test of Ferrari last week and the Portuguese circuit in Portimao already confirmed to GPblog.com that there were talks with Formula 1.

What the calendar looks like after those three races is still unknown. China, according to Helmut Marko, would already be on the calendar with two races and Abu Dhabi and Bahrain also seem to be a certainty. This would bring Formula 1 to fifteen races, with which the target for the calendar has already been achieved.
Grand Haven, MI (49417)

Today

Cloudy and windy in the morning, becoming partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 66F. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph, becoming SE and decreasing to less than 5 mph.
Ferrari has admitted teams may need to miss this weekend's Austrian GP if there is a coronavirus outbreak.

Laurent Mekies, the Maranello team's sporting boss, told Sky Italia that the two sides of the Ferrari garage will be divided into two anti-corona "bubbles".

"In the event that someone has a symptom, they will immediately get a test at the circuit," he said.

"We have this system to isolate the minimum number of people who came into contact with the person, and on that basis we will decide whether to go ahead or not.

"The decision will be made on the basis of the possibility of operating in maximum safety, perhaps with replacements from Maranello. If this is not possible, we will not be able to move forward," Mekies warned.

Italy's La Stampa newspaper reports that in the event that Sebastian Vettel or Charles Leclerc are caught up in any corona scare, Antonio Giovinazzi will step in.

Then, Alfa Romeo reserve Robert Kubica would replace the Italian.

"When I am needed at the track, I will be there," Kubica, who will juggle the F1 role with his DTM race seat this season, told Info Plock TV.

"Combining the programs will be difficult, but we will try to do our best for both programs," he added. "We are in a situation that nobody planned."

Dr Helmut Marko, one of those most directly responsible for getting F1 back up and racing this weekend, told Kurier newspaper: "Everyone is nervous about this first race.

"Nobody wants to take the slightest risk," he added. "Even at Red Bull we have cancelled all planned PR and advertising activities."

(GMM)
The corona crisis could have inched Kimi Raikkonen closer to retirement, according to former F1 driver Mika Salo.

As is clear from the 2007 world champion's social media accounts, Finn Raikkonen has enjoyed the long break from Formula 1.

"It's hard to say how Kimi has reacted to this long vacation," Salo, who is also Finnish, told MTV Uutiset.

"But the message may have been that holidaying is fun and driving is no longer that interesting. Everyone hopes that Kimi will continue but we all know that it's up to him," he added.

Since leaving Ferrari at the end of 2018, 40-year-old Raikkonen has driven for Alfa Romeo - formerly known as Sauber, where he started his career in 2001.

"This is not an easy place for Kimi," Salo continued.

"Even though the name has changed, they still have the same staff and the same problems. Kimi is not even going to be able to go for points in every race."

If Raikkonen does quit at the end of 2020, one favourite to replace him is new team reserve Robert Kubica.

The Pole told Info Plock TV: "I'm not the only driver who would gladly take his place. That's why I can't answer that right now."

(GMM)
Former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has tipped Sebastian Vettel to "behave correctly" during the 2020 season.

Some, like 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, are predicting fireworks between the departing quadruple world champion and new Ferrari number 1 Charles Leclerc.

"The tension won't help anyone - not even Leclerc," Villeneuve told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Leclerc knows he is the team leader now but he is still against a four-time world champion. Charles has the potential to manage it, so we will see how he does."

Domenicali, who stepped down as Ferrari boss in 2014, backs the Maranello team's decision to push Leclerc to the top of the hierarchy.

"Yes, because he has enormous talent," the Italian told Il Resto del Carlino newspaper. "His development also reinforces the idea of the academy that we launched for young drivers."

Domenicali said drivers like Leclerc and Max Verstappen "are the symbols of the new generation".

"As for the contractual dynamics (at Ferrari), I don't judge it but I do know that Seb is a professional. Whatever his future is, he will behave correctly."

Vettel will leave at the end of 2020, to be replaced by Spaniard Carlos Sainz.

Villeneuve said: "Sainz is not Verstappen, but he is a strong driver.

"He will not bother the other driver, instead they want another Schumacher-Barrichello situation, as Sainz has more of a Barrichello name and image."

(GMM)
Daniel Ricciardo will not be locked out of Renault's car development program in 2020, team boss Cyril Abiteboul insists.

Ricciardo will move from the French works team to McLaren for 2021, but Abiteboul said he is not worried the Australian will take secrets with him.

"McLaren has to use both of its development tokens to switch from Renault to Mercedes engines, so we don't have to worry about 2021," Abiteboul told Auto Motor und Sport.

"We have a mission and we continue to tackle it together."

McLaren CEO Zak Brown said he thinks moving to Mercedes "will make up for the loss" of having to use up the very limited scope for 2021 car development.

To cut costs, the token system was introduced so that most of the 2020 cars are 'frozen' for 2021, ahead of the major regulation changes for 2022.

But for now, teams have been developing fervently since the end of the long factory shutdown period.

"We will have the upgrades that we planned for Vietnam, Zandvoort and Barcelona on the car in Austria," confirmed Renault's Esteban Ocon.

"We will have to collect a lot of data in practice," he added.

Abiteboul defends what is a particularly aggressive development program for Renault.

"We had to make difficult decisions, but we stick to our plan," he said.

(GMM)
It is rumoured that the second and final part of Formula 1's 'corona calendar' for 2020 will be released on Monday.

Mugello, a Ferrari-owned circuit, is tipped to secure the sport's 1000th race a week after Monza, with Italian media saying the FIA is expected to approve the schedule on Monday "or in the next few days at the latest".

To date, F1 has only released an 8-race calendar of European grands prix, starting this weekend in Austria.

"I will be in a Paris studio," said 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, a pundit for both French and Italian television.

"Only two representatives from our network will go to Austria - a cameraman and (reporter) Laurent Dupin," he said.

"The situation will then repeat itself for the next seven races and then we'll see. We don't know what happens next," Villeneuve added.

Indeed, when asked about the next part of the calendar, Villeneuve told Le Journal de Montreal: "We hear the same stories as you, but it's just speculation."

Montreal could also be on the completed calendar.

"I'm not convinced that Canada will take place this fall, but I hope to be wrong," French Canadian Villeneuve said.

However, it is clear that Chase Carey and Liberty are determined to expand the schedule beyond its current eight races.

"Europe has done a good job of reducing corona infections," McLaren supremo Zak Brown told Auto Motor und Sport.

"Of course we need a few more races. I guess we will have ten or 11 in Europe. Russia and China could work but the United States will be a big challenge.

"Then I see three races in the Middle East at the end of the year," said Brown. "That would make 15 or 16, as in the good old days, and we would have gotten away with a black eye."

(GMM)
2020 is shaping up as a two-man fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

"I would put my money on Hamilton, but it certainly won't be an Oktoberfest for him," said former F1 driver and president of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, Alex Wurz.

"It will certainly be closer than last year," he told Osterreich. "Verstappen will push Lewis hard, but I doubt it will be enough for the title."

Verstappen's father Jos, however, told Ziggo Sport that he thinks his son's Red Bull will be "there" with the Mercedes from this weekend.

"We think we can compete in Austria," Jos said ahead of the first grand prix in seven months at the Red Bull Ring.

"The car felt good in Barcelona," Verstappen's father continued, "but you can't say exactly where you are. But we think we are there."

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told Kronen Zeitung: "I expect a very tight fight between Red Bull and us."

And Verstappen's boss, Dr Helmut Marko, is not worried the 22-year-old had to miss the recent pre-Austria run test the 2020 Red Bull at Silverstone.

"That's why he is Max - he will get into the car and be up to speed in three laps," he insisted.

(GMM)
From witness waivers to sanitized pens, what voting  and campaigns  are going to look like in Minnesota in 2020
France and Germany have announced plans for major green stimulus packages as the countries emerge from lockdown and seek to get their economies moving again. Other EU countries, including Spain and Holland have also announced revitalization plans with strong green elements.

France has announced an automotive industry bailout package worth 8 billion ($8.8 billion), including substantial support for electrification.

The purchase incentive for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) increased from 6,000 to 7,000, as of June 1. For fleet buyers, (which accounted for over 50% of the French market in 2019), the bonus for buying a plug-in vehicle rose from 3,000 to 5,000. (Subisidies are lower for EVs priced at over 45,000 and zero for those over 60,000.) PHEVs with a range of over 50km also have increased support under the French plans.

Meanwhile, the German Government has also unveiled a stimulus package that supports vehicle electrification. The country is also reported to be planning the introduction of a climate protection surcharge which would double motor vehicle tax for cars emitting more than 195g/km CO 2 .

The overall German package, which is expected to cost 130 billion over the next two years, includes a cut in the countrys VAT rate.

The legislation establishes a 50 billion fund for addressing climate change, innovation and digitization.

The current EV incentive of 3,000 will be doubled to 6,000 for new cars costing less than 40,000. The price limit to receive adjusted tax benefits for EVs will be raised from 40,000 to 60,000, and an existing EV tax exemption will be extended from 2025 to 2030.

The German Government has also announced a national hydrogen strategy, with plans to ramp up production capacity to 5 GW by 2030 and 10 GW by 2040. By 2030, Germany aims to have generators with a total capacity of up to 5 GW, which corresponds to hydrogen generation of about 14TWh.

Hydrogen will be used first where processes cannot be electrifiedfor example, in heavy goods transport, steel production, the chemical industry and aviation. Companies in these sectors will receive financial support if they invest in electrolysis plants to transform their production processes.

Germanys environment minister did not originally envisage the use of hydrogen in the transport sector. However, there are now plans to support the development of infrastructure for hydrogen refuelling.
In connection with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, satellite measurements made headlines showing how much the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) had decreased in China and northern Italy. In Germany, traffic density is the most important factor. However, weather also has an influence on NO 2 concentrations, according to a study by the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), which evaluated the influence of weather conditions on nitrogen dioxide concentrations in Saxony 2015 to 2018 on behalf of the Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG).

The study showed that wind speed and the height of the lowest air layer are the most important factors that determine how much pollutants can accumulate locally.

In order to determine the influence of various weather factors on air quality, the team used a statistical method that allows meteorological fluctuations to be mathematically removed from long-term measurements. The air quality fluctuates, in some cases very strongly, due to different emissions and the influence of the weather. Until now, however, it has been difficult to estimate, what share legal measures such as low emission zones or diesel driving bans have and what share the weather influences have in the actual air quality? With the method used, this will be easier in the future.

Nitrogen dioxide is an irritant gas which attacks the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, causes inflammatory reactions as an oxidant and increases the effect of other air pollutants. As a precursor substance, it can also contribute to the formation of particulate matter.

Limit values have been set in the EU to protect the population: For nitrogen dioxide, an annual average value of 40 micrograms per cubic meter of air applies (g/m). To protect the health of the population, measures must be taken if these limit values are not met. In 2018/2019, for example, various measures were taken in Germany, ranging from a reduction in the number of lanes (e.g. in Leipzig) to driving bans for older diesel vehicles (e.g. in Stuttgart).

To evaluate the effectiveness of such measures, it would be helpful to determine the exact influence of weather conditions. The Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG) therefore commissioned TROPOS to carry out a study on the influence of weather factors on NO 2 concentrations and provided its measurement data from the Saxon air quality measurement network and meteorological data for this purpose.

The researchers were thus able to evaluate data from 29 stations in Saxony over a period of four years, which represent a cross-section of air pollutionfrom stations at traffic centers to urban and rural background stations and stations on the ridge of the Erzgebirge mountains. They also calculated the height of the lowest layer in the atmosphere and incorporated data from traffic counting stations in Leipzig and Dresden into the study. A method from the field of machine learning was used for the statistical modelling, the application of which in the field of air quality was first published by British researchers in 2009.

In this way, the study was able to demonstrate that the traffic density at all traffic stations is most significantly responsible for nitrogen oxide concentrations. However, two weather parameters also have a significant influence on nitrogen dioxide concentrations: wind speed and the height of the mixing layer.

The latter is a meteorological parameter that indicates the height to which the lowest layer of air, where the emissions mix, extends.

It was also shown that high humidity can also reduce the concentration of nitrogen dioxide, which could be due to the fact that the pollutants deposit more strongly on moist surfaces. However, the exact causes are still unclear. Dominik van Pinxteren

The statistical analysis has also enabled the researchers to remove the influence of the weather from the time series of pollutant concentrations. Adjusted for the weather, the concentration of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) decreased by a total of 10 micrograms per cubic meter between 2015 and 2018 on average over all traffic stations in Saxony.

In urban and rural areas and on the ridge of the Erzgebirge, however, NO x concentrations tend to remain at the same level. Even though there have been some improvements in air quality in recent years, there are good scientific arguments for further reducing air pollution.

In a way, this also applies to premature conclusions from the COVID-19 crisis: in order to find out how strong the influence of the initial restrictions on air quality actually was, the influence of the weather would have to be statistically removed in a longer series of measurements.

To this end, investigations for the Leipzig area are currently underway at TROPOS, as is a Europe-wide study of the EU research infrastructure for short-lived atmospheric constituents such as aerosol, clouds and trace gases (ACTRIS), the German contribution to which is coordinated by TROPOS.

This study was commissioned by the State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG).

Resources
UNSW Sydney has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dutch electric bus manufacturer Ebusco to further research and development of sustainable transport in Australia.

This new collaboration with Ebusco will help make significant advances in areas such as renewable energy and manufacturingboth areas of research strength at UNSW. We are committed to taking action on climate change and to working with industry as such partnerships are key to making a positive global impact. UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Jacobs

Under the terms of the agreement, UNSW students and research experts will have the opportunity to work with Ebusco engineers on diverse subject areas, such as transport planning, energy storage and advanced and precision manufacturing.

Students will have access to scholarship programs, industry placements and internships at Ebuscos operations in the Netherlands, China and Australia. Students and staff will also have opportunities to work directly with Ebusco engineers on the next generation of the companys electric bus fleets.

UNSW and Ebusco hope to work with Transport for NSW to improve health and the environment in our cities. The NSW government announced late last year that it would replace Sydneys ageing diesel bus fleet with electric vehicles. It is currently calling for expressions of interest for running trials of environmentally friendly zero emission buses.
His mural shows two young boys, one African American and the other Caucasian, sitting with their arms around each other.

Beka Butts painted murals for Hudsons Hill and Gate City Candy Company on South Elm Street.

She and Winston-Salem artist Kendal Doub then went to 202 W. Market St, where each painted murals for Stumble Stilskins bar and restaurant.

Downtown became a gallery of about 100 pieces of art.

Other cities reached out, asking how Graf and Franco organized it all. Viewers came from as far as Maryland.

Ive seen people weep, Graf said.

Now Graf, Franco and others have turned to finding murals permanent public homes.

This cant be a fleeting moment and then the art goes in the trash, Graf said.

Since each artist owns his or her work, its their call whether to donate, sell or keep it.

Some artists might want to take their artwork home, Graf said. Some might want to donate it to a museum.

For now, several pieces have been stored in developer Andy Zimmermans warehouse on Bain Street.
Corbett said its a privilege and honor to be in this position at the NIH and to be in these spaces where very few people are young, Black or female. And shes grateful for Grahams belief in her to take on this role and stand at the podium among politicians and world-renowned doctors and researchers.

But, she wonders whether her male colleagues are ever asked how they feel to be in a room with her. She said women have to start thinking that its an honor for those men to be working with them.

Society makes you feel like you are here because someone placed you here and now you owe them something, Corbett said. Or youre here so you should just be grateful.

She said thats why women dont ask for raises or negotiate and say theyre just so happy to be hired. And that needs to change.

If that means everyone should drink ego tea, Corbett said, thats what we should sip.

She said shes not yet where she wants to be in her career, and her bosses are still older and white.

Corbett has made her ambition clear since she started at the NIH.

One moment that stands out to Graham is when he asked her what she wanted for her future before she got her PhD.
Cornerstone and Alchemy fit that description under the ABC regulation, Tadych said, pointing to food specials the bars would sometimes offer.

In North Carolina, food must account for at least 30% of a businesss total sales to get a restaurant permit to sell mixed drinks. Otherwise, the business has to operate as a private club, or what most people think of as a bar. But the kind of permit a business has doesnt necessarily mean theyre a bar or a restaurant. Some places with a private bar permit have food sales over 30% and look and operate as a restaurant.

With restaurants, brewery taprooms, wineries and distilleries able to serve drinks, Tadych argued that most of the states bar industry is already open.

The notion that bars arent open is a fallacy, Tadych said. The bars are open, just not the subsection we represent.

On Saturday afternoon, Tadych released a statement on behalf of Glenwood South bars asserting the legality of their reopening as private clubs.

In reopening as Private Clubs under the Phase 2 Order on Friday night, the Glenwood South operators did so after carefully studying the Phase 2 Order and all of the legal and other guidance offered by the Governor and ABC, the statement read, in part.

They went above and beyond the restrictions required in the Phase 2 Order. They encouraged patrons to disburse when waiting for entry and required everyone entering their premises to wear a mask or sign that they had a medical or religious reason for not doing so. To say that they reopened illegally or unlawfully is the furthest thing from the truth.
The register is the governments official list of cultural resources worth preserving. There are no restrictions on what the owner can do with the property, as long as the owner doesnt take state or federal money to restore the property.

A property must also meet certain criteria before it is placed on the register. It usually must be more than 50 years old, is associated with important historical events or personalities or represents an important architectural design.

Heather Slane of HMW Preservation, an architectural history and historic preservation firm, investigated the Benbow Road properties on the list.

The properties are all connected to Benbow Road, which for locals is a catch-all term encompassing many of the neighborhoods off the main road, including Benbow Park, Clinton Hills and Washington Street.

Like many segregated areas at the time, the range of black economic classes were often separated by just blocks.

Many of the homes were designed by black architects  some of whom taught or attended N.C. A&T.
We, the people of the Southeastern United States, have been stereotyped. Thanks to decades of images featuring Confederate flag-waving citizens, water cannons pointed at Black demonstrators and public figures like George Wallace and Bull Connor spouting racial hatred, its no mystery as to why most of the nation and the world look down upon the American South.

They see us as a region filled with White racists and oppressed people of color.

On June 10, that world view once again was validated when a bigoted rant appeared on the Facebook page of Brunswick County Commissioner Mike Forte. The public outcry has been swift and fierce. A petition demanding the commissioners resignation was signed by more than 1,500 people in a matter of days. Letters and editorials from angry citizens appeared on opinion pages in every regional newspaper.

One thing, however, has been missing: Not a single Brunswick County mayor or commissioner has issued a statement publicly condemning Forte. Theres an expression that we hear often in the Trump era: Silence equals consent. Only two possible explanations exist for this silence. The first is that these public officials agree with Fortes Facebook rant and that their failure to speak out represents a tacit endorsement of its content. The second explanation is that they are too frightened to make their opinions public.

North Carolina officials were not elected to represent White citizens. They were elected to represent all citizens. If they are too bigoted or cowardly to stand up and condemn racism, they have no business serving in any public capacity. They have betrayed our Constitution and those they swore an oath to protect.

The writer lives in Southport.
No details surrounding the shooting were explained in court, and Newman declined to answer the Register & Bees questions about the motive or connection between the two men.

Will not comment on specifics of a pending case, he wrote in an email to the Register & Bee.

Police reported after the shooting that the preliminary information is that this was not a random act.

Newman did say in court that his discovery is prepared. Discovery is where the prosecution turns over information relevant to the defense.

Jeffries was arrested the day after the homicide on an outstanding probation violation, but authorities did not release his name in connection with the homicide until April 8. Danville Police Department spokesperson Richard Chivvis said doing that allowed the police department and the commonwealths attorneys office, both of which have been working together closely on this investigation, more time to investigate.

It still gave the investigators additional time to work through evidence and continue to work the case without actually having to make a homicide charge, he said.

The full list of charges includes first-degree murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a felon and shooting from a vehicle.
We can certainly understand your need for specific age but cannot give out that info.

Henry Countys large surge of cases in the past six to seven weeks have revealed infected persons who have ranged in ages from toddler to the 90s.

VDH lists cases  and hospitalizations and deaths  by the area in which the person resides, so this is a Henry County resident who may not have died in the county.

Kelly Fitzgerald, a spokesperson for Sovah Health-Martinsville, confirmed that that a patient who tested positive for COVID-19 recently died at he hospital.

But  as always  due to HIPAA, we cannot provide specifics. VDH may be able to provide more details, including age and gender, she said.

VDH reported Tuesday morning that there have been 228 positive cases in Henry County  all but two of those since May 1  including 22 who were hospitalized and the four deaths.

The most recent cases announced by Bell since Friday were two males in their 40s and 50s and two females in their 30s and 50s.

Martinsville has 61 cases, with seven hospitalized and one death, and Patrick County has 40 cases, with two persons hospitalized.

Martinsville since the weekend has five new cases: four females and a male. They range in age from 1-5, teens (a female) and 40s, 50s and 70.
REIDSVILLE  Local police have charged one man with first degree homicide and are searching for a second in connection with the shooting death of Zacorey Johnson at Pan Mart convenience store here.

Johnson, 36, of Reidsville, who was shot shortly after midnight Wednesday, died at a local hospital on Thursday, according to authorities.

Investigators with the Reidsville Police Department on Wednesday evening arrested and charged Gary Gerrel Pickard, 33, of Greensboro, with assault with intent to kill/inflict serious bodily injury. Police upgraded his charges upon Johnsons death.

Pickard is being held in the Rockingham County Detention Center on a $100,000 secured bond as police seek Jonathan Erwin Galloway, 33, of Ruffin, who they call a person of interest in the crime.

Johnson was found Wednesday by police at a local hospital with a gunshot wound, according to a news release from the RPDs Sarah Hardin, crime analyst and media specialist.

Investigators say additional charges may be forthcoming in the ongoing investigation.

Police ask anyone with information about the crime or the whereabouts of Galloway contact RPD Investigator Haley at 336-347-2341 or leave an anonymous tip through Rockingham County Crime Stoppers at 336-349-9683.

Susie C. Spear is Editor of RockinghamNow. She can be reached at 743-333-4101 and on Twitter @SusieSpear_RCN.
Patrick County, one of the last counties in the state to have a positive test for the novel coronavirus, and the first death was announced on Wednesday.

Nancy Bell, spokesperson for the West Piedmont Health District, confirmed the death but could not provide details about the person other than residence in Patrick County. A spokesperson for Sovah Health-Martinsville did not respond immediately to a query about a death there.

With Patrick County folks, they either come to Martinsville or Mount Airy N.C., for hospital care , so it gets tricky, Bell said in an email. We report by where a person lives, so there is often lag time getting deaths reported.

Under those circumstances, I cannot answer the question of whether the person was hospitalized for a long time or died elsewhere.

VDHs data showed that Patrick County had 40 cases on Tuesday but was down to 39 on Wednesday, a fact that Bell could not explain, and she said she would check with state officials to see if there had been a data entry error.

Patrick County didnt have its first case of COVID-19 until April 22  when only five counties remained without one  and as of May 5 only had two cases.
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Since 2003, Anthony ONeal has helped hundreds of thousands of students make smart decisions with their money, relationships, and education. Hes the national best-selling author of Debt Free Degree and travels the country spreading his encouraging message to help teens and young adults start their lives off right. You can follow Anthony on YouTube and Instagram @AnthonyONeal and online at anthonyoneal.com or facebook.com/aoneal.
Get ready to jump out of your seat as a horror movie classic is making its way to a CT drive-in screen near you.

Grindhouse Releasing, a horror movie distribution company, will bringing the 1981 horror classic "The Evil Dead" on tour to drive-in screens across America. It will make its Connecticut tour stop at the Mansfield Drive-in Theatre & Marketplace this week.
Ive typed these words too many times, for too many years: Fairfield County has one of the widest wealth gaps in the nation.

This is one way to cross that bridge.

Two months ago, I got a call from a reader who wanted to make sure her donation to the new Help-A-Neighbor fund had not been lost. I told her we would confirm, and thanked her for being thoughtful enough to contribute. She earnestly replied that she just wanted to try to help in these days of uncertainty.

I called Bill Brucker from Family Centers and he was able to retrieve the check within 90 minutes so we could put her mind at ease.

It turned out she was the one putting minds at ease.

The check was for $10,000. She asked to remain anonymous, but deserves to know the difference she made in the lives of strangers.

This fund emulates the Giving Fund that has appeared in the Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time for 37 years during the holiday season. We annually collect cases from Family Centers and Person-to-Person about residents in need and readers reliably respond.

The Help-A-Neighbor campaign also draws submissions from Domus and Building One Community. The clients of these four nonprofits are the people on the other side of that financial chasm.

Most of the requests  which come from social workers on behalf of unsuspecting clients  are in the $250-$500 range. Which means that single donation buoyed more than 20 individuals or families.

Just as with our mystery donor, we shield the identities of the recipients. Many of these people were thrust into crisis as the pandemic became a thief robbing them of their livelihoods.

The Velasquez family volunteered to share their story.

We are happy to do this because we are grateful, Monica says.

Monicas work cleaning homes ended as soon as social distancing began in March. Amilcar, a handyman, had to stop working shortly after. They were suddenly isolated in their Cove home with their sixth-grade daughter, Adelaida, with no money coming in. Monica and Amilcar have lived in Stamford for 20 years, and been together for 15. The pandemic put them in peril overnight.

I was afraid of losing the roof, Monica says.

She immediately suffered from anxiety attacks and insomnia. They applied for unemployment, but we are still waiting for that.

We are joined in our conversation by Brucker and Raquel Martinez, a mental health clinician for Family Centers. Martinez translates the couples native Spanish when they cant summon the right words in English, but its easy to understand their most urgent need in those first weeks: La comida.

Martinez applied for Help-A-Neighbor funds to help feed the family. She surprised them one day with a check for $500.

More Information How to help There's still time to donate to the Help-A-Neighbor campaign at helpaneighbor.isecuresites.com See More Collapse

It was like opening an empty refrigerator and saying Oh my God, we have food, Amilcar recalls of the gift.

Monica and Amilcar both shake their hands gravely and repeat the same three-word phrase, with mirror pauses before repeating them. If not for the help, I dont know ... I dont know.

They immediately went to Costco for essentials. Milk, bread, eggs. When readers send in donations, Brucker hustles to get checks out immediately.

A lot of my families dont have (immigration) papers, so they cant even apply for unemployment, Martinez points out, adding that those clients are not eligible for stimulus checks. A couple of families didnt even have money to buy food for newborns.

Amilcar, Monica and Adelaida mostly stayed home watching people through the window. Without cable television, they leaned on a few movies.

Sometimes we would get movies and I would make us watch it over and over and over again, Adelaida says, pointing to the animated The Book of Life as an example.

Martinez also provided emotional counseling to the Velasquez family. Brucker calls Martinez a rock star. He gets no argument.

Without her ... I dont know. I think we would be depressed by now, Monica says.

She addresses Martinez directly: Thank you so much for everything you did. Im not going to get tired of saying how grateful I am.

They have started to work again, as their own clients are tentatively opening doors from the spring hibernation. Like everyone else, Monica is trying to stay positive that things are getting better.

But the pandemic underscored a truth that staff at Family Centers, Person-to-Person, Domus and Building One have always known. Its become a cliche to say the clients at agencies like these are vulnerable to a single financial disaster.

This was that financial disaster, Brucker says.

After our Zoom call late Friday afternoon, Brucker and I compared notes on brief conversations each of us had with the woman who donated $10,000. She crossed the bridge of the wealth gap to help strangers. So did many other readers. The fund has raised more than $56,000, fulfilling 83 of the 120 cases weve published. The campaign is wrapping up, but were still hoping to fulfill the remaining requests.

Brucker recalled our mystery donors modest, but potent words.

I just wanted to make sure people are taken care of.

John Breunig is editorial page editor of the Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time. Jbreunig@scni.com; twitter.com/johnbreunig.
Days after announcing a plan to reopen school full time in the fall, state officials on Monday afternoon released a 50-page set of guidelines.

Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona called the plan a road map  guardrails to operate within  allowing districts some flexibility to create reopen plans that will most effectively serve their individual communities.

I think in terms of implementation, they have an awful lot of discretion, Gov. Ned Lamont said.

Among the specifics:

Before the first day of classes, schools must comply with Department of Public Health cleaning and ventilation guidelines. There must be signage in schools related to stopping the spread of the virus.

Where possible, districts should use no-touch doors, trash cans and restroom fixtures. Where no-touch technologies arent available, the guide recommends propping doors open and removing trash lids. It also recommends the use of paper towels over hand dryers.

On riding school buses, the protection depends on the level of community transmission. If there is a low amount of cases, students can ride with masks. If there is moderate transmission, they must adopt seating and spacing restrictions.

The plan offers minimal guidance about how to pay for the reopening accommodations. It asks that budgets be developed for multiple scenarios. It also tells districts to consider tapping retired teachers or volunteers to help.

Districts will be asked to have a designated person to serve as a COVID-19 Health and Safety Compliance Liaison as well as an isolation room for a student exhibiting symptoms to wait until a parent arrives.

It tells districts to plan for at-home instruction in case some parents and students may temporarily choose not to participate in the return to school.

As for what happens if COVID-19 makes a comeback, the guide requires districts to have written protocols for monitoring individuals with COVID-19 symptoms. Schools are not expected to daily screen students or staff. The state Department of Public Health is developing specific color-coded indicators to help school official make decisions about future school closures due to the virus.

All school districts must submit a plan by July 24, addressing how they will carry out the reopening requirements.

Lamont and Cardona announced last week their intention to make school an in-person, full-time experience in the fall. Cardona promised that once in-person learning returns, things will look different than they did when schools were abruptly closed in March because of COVID-19. Instruction went remote and school buildings remained closed for the rest of the 2019-20 school year.

Last week they offered an outline that called for students and staff to wear masks and stick together with the the same group of students throughout the school day.

The promised guide, which didnt hit the inboxes of school superintendents until after 2 p.m. Monday, includes both requirements and recommendations.

The guide calls for schools, when they open, to maximize social distancing between student workstations, achieving six feet when feasible. Desks should face in the same direction. Masks must be worn. Hands frequently washed. Other spaces such as gyms and cafeterias should be looked at as alternative instructional space.

Student/teacher ratios are left up to school districts.

The plan strongly encourages schools to group students in cohorts so they stick together throughout the school day. By doing that, Lamont said, its hoped an entire school would not have to shut down if an infection is found.

Schools must also plan to meet the needs of students with special needs or who are learning English. They must adapt learning plans for physical education, art, and music.

There also is guidance on hallway traffic and playground use. Districts are required to develop polices to address clubs and before- and after-school programs. They are encouraged to limit nonessential volunteers and visitors.

Cardona used the word fluid to describe the guide and promised it will evolve based on public health data trends as well as any updated understanding of the best way to mitigate the viruss spread.

The start of the 2020-21 school year is still two months off.

As we proceed toward the fall, we will continue to receive input from our educational partners, students and families and will continue to work toward providing the best opportunities for our greatest resource  the students in the State of Connecticut, Cardona said.

Late last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics called for kids to get back to school in the fall, something Lamont said reinforces the assumptions the states plan makes.

Anything we can do to get kids safely back into the classroom ought to be a priority, Lamont said. Last week, Lamont emphasized that full-time school was desired to ensure employers that parents could get back to work.

Cardona said his department engaged repeatedly with state and local educational and public health experts to craft the plan. Many, however, were upset last week when the plan was released with few details. Even U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, a former Waterbury teacher and 2106 National Teacher of the Year, decried the lack of specifics.

Am I missing something? Hayes tweeted a day after the outline was announced. I havent been out the classroom too long to know this is not realistic & doesnt instill any confidence. I hope a more substantive plan is forthcoming b/c I have so many questions and this doesnt provide adequate ans for parents or teachers.

Cardona said Monday there will be a survey taken to find out how many parents want to keep their kids home in the fall for remote learning.

lclambeck@ctpost.com; twitter/lclambeck
A few days after we saw an official render of the 45mm Samsung Galaxy Watch3 in Silver, we have our first look of the 41mm Galaxy Watch3 in Bronze thanks to evleaks.

Though smaller in diameter, the Watch3 in 41mm looks identical in design to its Silver counterpart. The only difference of note is that the rotating bezel is the same shade of Bronze as the rest of the casing, whereas on the Silver Galaxy Watch3 it's a darker grey.

The rumored 45mm Galaxy Watch3 will have a 1.4-inch display and 340mAh battery, while the 41mm model will have a 1.2-inch display and 247mAh battery.

Both will have built-in GPS, 5ATM water resistance, Gorilla Glass DX protection and some form of MIL-STD-810G durability.

We expect Samsung to unveil the Galaxy Watch3 sometime in July or alongside the Galaxy Note20 in August.
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Android makers don't seem to put a lot of effort in tablets these days and the Apple iPad has become the default choice for those looking for anything beyond entry-level devices. There are still somethat are worth a look and this one is one of them - the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.

Priced the same 379 as the 7th gen Apple iPad, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a clear purpose, and in typical Samsung fashion brings more bang than the Apple product. For starters it comes with 64GB of storage, whereas the iPad starts at only 32GB. The Android tablet also supports memory expansion on the cheap through microSD cards. It also comes with an S Pen stylus - Apple's Pencil will set you back an additional 99.

The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a USB-C port for charging (15W) and file transfer and has a speaker on the top and bottom in portrait orientation and on each side, when held in landscape. The iPad also has two speakers, but they're both located on the bottom side, so you'd get a better stereo effect with the Samsung slate. The S Pen attaches magnetically to the side or the back of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite but it can easily fall off so be careful when you're carrying the slate.

The tablet has an all metal back with a smooth finish that feels great to the touch. Ours is the Oxford gray color and it looks stealthy. However it attracts a lot of fingerprints and frequent cleaning is in order if you are to maintain its looks.



Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite ports

Then there's the display. Here the entry-level iPad has the upper hand on the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. Samsung has gone with a 10.4-inch 1200x2000px LCD with a 5:3 ratio. It has thin bezels and delivers adequate sharpness but is a bit bland. Its colors aren't as lively and saturated as we've come to expect from Samsung devices and viewing angles are poor. Tilt the screen 45-degrees from your face and the screen's contrast takes a dive. The iPad's screen is just better to look at.

However when looked at straight on the 10.4-inch screen on the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is perfectly adequate. It offers good brightness in well-lit environments and is great indoors.

Watching videos or listening to music on the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a treat as the stereo speakers have an impressive oomph to them. There's so much bass that the entire tablet vibrates, which accentuates certain types of music. Interestingly the Dolby Atmos enhancement was disabled by default. Enabling it added some clarity to the vocals and instrumentals.



Watching videos is a treat, thanks to the stereo speakers

OneUI 2.1 on a tablet isn't much different from its phone counterpart. Some UI elements have been redone to make better use of the bigger screen, but you get the same experience. By default the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite came flaunting the oh-so-2015 three-button navigation bar. We immediately opted for the gesture navigation, which makes it feel much more up to date instantly.

There are a few notable omissions on the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, compared to OneUI on phones. There are no Galaxy Themes and no Game Launcher, for what those are worth. There's also no desktop-imitating DeX mode, which could be due to the Exynos 9611's limitations.



OneUI 2.1 on the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

That leads us nicely into one major fault with the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite - performance. You can't go too long without a stutter or even the occasional 2-second lag. It's noticeable and a bit frustrating. Using two apps at the same time was really laggy and the YouTube app crashed a few times.

It must be an issue with software as the Exynos 9611 can certainly do better. Hopefully Samsung will address it with an update, because while no deal-breaker it's certainly annoying.



Browsing the web and using two apps at once

The S Pen is fully-featured. It doesn't have a built-in battery nor Bluetooth, so you can't use it as a remote trigger. But it is always on and upon a tap of its button brings up the familiar menu with options to create a note, take a screenshot and write on it, access to the PENUP app and more.

You can scribble notes, color pre-made illustrations with different virtual pens, play around with brush opacity and texture. It's a fun way to spend a few hours and if you're serious about note-taking and drawing on a tablet this is among the best devices to do it.



Typing and drawing with the S Pen

In terms of battery life, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is amazing. It can easily hang on for an entire day of media consumption. We easily got past 10 hours of screen-on time and even more than 11 when just watching YouTube with headphones on.

Charging the 7,040mAh battery back up took a while at 15W, though, but seeing how this tablet will rarely leave you couch we doubt it's a big deal.

Ultimately if you want an affordable tablet, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a great choice. It's well made, it has amazing battery life, an overall good screen, acceptable performance and is the cheapest and best way to get an Android tablet with a stylus.

Thanks to its OS of choice, the Galaxy tab S6 Lite could also be a clear choice over the Apple iPad 10.2 for multimedia consumption - it's just easier to upload a variety of video formats on Android than on the iPad, and the higher storage for the price helps a lot.

Apple's tablet is faster, has a higher-quality display and is the most streamlined tablet on the market. Deciding between the two should be quite easy once you have your priorities figured out.
A key selling point of the Snapdragon 875 will be its support for 100W fast charging, says leakster Digital Chat Station. This will be marketed as a perk for gaming phones with large batteries as it will reduce the downtime between gaming sessions.

Qualcomm is expected to introduce the 875 in December and to have it ready for phones in Q1 next year. The chip is reportedly already being mass produced by TSMC on a 5nm node. It may use the new Cortex-X1 as its prime core, plus three Cortex-A77 for the big cores.

In the meantime, the company is expected to release a Snapdragon 865+ next month. It will increase its prime core to 3.09 GHz, quite a boost compared to the 2.84 GHz clock speed of the current S865 chips.

And some companies may want to use that one instead as rumor has it that the Snapdragon 875 will be significantly more expensive than its already pricey predecessor. The full package (including the hardware needed for wireless connectivity) will cost $250, up from $150-160 for the Snapdragon 865. The chip alone will go for $130 vs $80 for the 865.

Supporting 100W probably adds to the cost as well but Qualcomm is not the only company working on that. Currently, several other companies are working on charging speeds in that range  Xiaomi did a demonstration last year, vivo teased 120 W Super Flash Charge, Samsung announced a 100 W USB-PD chip of its own.

Source 1 (in Chinese) | Via 1 | Source 2 (in Korean) | Via 2




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A mid-level restaurant, like Chilis, Red Robin or Panera.

Light industry to keep jobs in the area.

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Haiti - FLASH : On the eve of the reopening of the airport, surprising figures





The Ministry of Public Health informs that 70 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Haiti (last report: +55), for a total of 5,847 cases throughout the national territory (40.7% women and 59.3% dmen) since the first case (March 19, 2020 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html ).



Deaths : 3 new deaths in the Dept. Northeast and 1 in the Dept. De GrandAnse, bringing the national total to 104.



Healings: 787 people (+78), the day before (+68)



Active cases : (less death and recovery) 4.956 (-12), the day before (-15)



Number of suspected cases investigated since March 19: 11,993 cases (+251 in 24 hours), the day before : (+236)



Based on the figures, we find that the number of Covid-19 cases has dropped sharply since President Moise announced the reopening of the airport on June 21. Simple coincidence or the need to present internationally and to future passengers a positive image of a controlled situation in Haiti ?



In addition, there are statements from committee members that the peak has passed and that the epidemic is heading towards the end....



Note that this June 29, on the eve of the reopening of the airport, the official health authorities (excluding the 68 cases of the West Department) announce that only 2 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in 24 hours in total in the 9 other departments !.



Does this number reflect the health reality or the political reality ? We leave it to you to judge.



All the details by department and commune, plus diaspora : USA, Quebec, Dominican Republic, France, Caribbean and Latin America, in our daily report of 11:00 a.m.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31146-haiti-covid-19-daily-report-june-20-2020.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31139-haiti-flash-the-threshold-of-100-dead-is-reached.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html



COVID-19, new definitions in Haiti : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31110-haiti-covid-19-daily-report-june-24-2020.html



S/ HaitiLibre


















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Haiti - ALERT : Denial of the Primature





The Office of Communication of the Prime Minister brings a formal denial of information that malicious individuals disseminate on the Internet, in which is cited the name of Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe concerning a scholarship affair to go to study at Laval University, in Quebec (Canada).



The Bureau recalls that the population must trust only information coming from official accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) or other official communication channels (such as the Prime Minister's website). "If the message does not appear on one of these pages, be careful, do not share it and do not believe it !"



The Office of the Prime Minister informs that a team of technicians is already mobilized to trace these individuals who use the name of Prime Minister Jouthe to do dishonest acts, so that justice can get their hands on them.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Elections : The Haitian Government requests the support of Spain





The Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Spain has sent a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation asking for the support of the Spanish Government in the electoral process that will conclude next February 7, 2022, in which the political staff will be renewed and it will be ensured that a new Haitian president will take office.



The letter stresses the importance of the upcoming elections for Haiti and the international community. "[...] It is well known [...] that elections are the only legal and legitimate way to come to power. Haiti is a country that faces several challenges, and in particular the crisis of the COVID-19. The political stability of our nation state depends, above all, on the proper functioning of its solid institutions and respect for democratic rules, defined through its constitution and laws. The Government has called on all political actors to coordinate their efforts to ensure the well-being of citizens and to promote the socio-economic development of the country. It is therefore important that the partners and friends of Haiti continue to support the governments efforts to maintain and ensure the socio-political stability of the country [...]"



Given that Spain has become a very important partner, committed to the development of the Caribbean country, the support of the Spanish Government is a sign of great value, given also "[...] the efforts demonstrated by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID) in creating a Spanish brand of good practices in several areas of cooperation: access to education; institutional strengthening and consolidation of democracy; fight against food insecurity by strengthening rural development; preservation of the environment; access to drinking water and sanitation; management of heritage and culture, among others."



The letter ends by emphasizing that "[...] the Constitution of the Republic of Haiti limits the presidential term to two non-consecutive five-year terms. The democratic game demands respect for this basic principle. As the Head of State said, participating in elections remains the only democratic way to come to power. And the Government counts on the firm support of the Spanish authorities to implement the electoral process and the organization of free, democratic and transparent elections."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - USA : Grant program, call for proposals





The U.S. Embassy Haiti Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding.



Purpose of Small Grants: PD Haiti invites proposals for programs that support academic mobility between our two countries; the development of civil society; the empowerment of youth in realizing their potential through education, innovation and entrepreneurship; the democratic ideals of freedom of expression and of the press, and intellectual freedom; teaching of the English language; empowerment and security of women and girls; and strengthening cultural ties between the U.S. and Haiti. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.



Examples of PD Small Grants Program programs include, but are not limited to :



Academic and professional lectures, seminars and speaker programs;



Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances and exhibitions;



Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs;



Professional and academic exchanges and programs;

Priority Program Areas:



Priority Program Areas: Promoting political awareness and participation among the public and/or among youth



Promoting civic education and youth participation in civics, democratic processes, volunteerism, and community service



Combatting corruption



Promoting rule of law / effective administration in justice



Fostering: press freedom, independent media, professionalism in the media



Empowerment of women and youth



Promoting entrepreneurship and business development



Human rights and combatting trafficking in persons



Telling Americas story in Haiti



Celebrating Haitian and American cross cultural encounters in the arts





Participants and Audiences:

In deciding which projects to support, the Embassy will consider the full range and diversity of Haitian and U.S. organizations. The Public Diplomacy Section will also seek to target geographically and demographically diverse audiences throughout the ten Departments in Haiti.

American and Haitian individuals and institutions with a proven track record of executing superior cultural and educational events and programs will receive preference. New grantees will generally be given priority over previous grantees. Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate the long-term sustainability of the project and that include some form of cost-sharing with the partner institution(s) and private-sector engagement that will allow the programs to become sustainable in future iterations. Strong proposals will include impact assessment, in addition to results/evaluation, at the conclusion of the grant period.



Total Amount Available: $300,000

Maximum for Each Award: $ 23,000

Deadline for Applications: July 17, 2020



For more information, conditions, criteria, eligibility ... and application forms visit : https://ht.usembassy.gov/education-culture/grants-programs/u-s-embassy-haiti-pas-annual-program-statement



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : New measures at the airport for passengers





To 24 hours from the reopening of Toussaint Louverture International Airport, everything is ready to welcome passengers on departure and arrival. Work has been carried out in the various areas to adapt the airport to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus and new measures have been adopted for the health of passengers and employees.



The passenger who leaves the country will have to pass a first check point with the temperature measurement. Any passenger whose temperature is above 38 degrees Celsius will be isolated for examination by a team from the Ministry of Public Health according to the protocol in force. This measure also applies to all passengers disembarking in Haiti.



Once pass this check, the passenger will have access to the public hall and wait at the level of the covered space which is at the entrance of the airport it will have to respect the distance marks drawn on the ground.



Plexiglass protective screens were installed on all counters to protect passengers and airline employees during check-in



To gain access to immigration, also protected by Plexiglas screens, the passenger will have to undergo a second check (inspection and search).



In the various rooms, passengers will have to occupy one seat out of 2 to respect social differentiation.



On buses that transport passengers, the transport capacity has been limited to half. Some passengers who will have to walk to the airport will be accompanied by security staff.



Disinfectant gel dispensing points are located throughout the airport for passengers to wash their hands.



Every two hours the materials and equipment used by airport officials will be disinfected.



In the airport the wearing of a mask is compulsory as well as the respect of instruction pictograms and barrier principles.



Subject to change and according to information available, on July 1 it is Jet Blue which will make the first official recovery flight. Sunrise announced the resumption of its flights between Haiti and the Dominican Republic on July 3 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31123-haiti-flash-sunrise-airways-resumes-flights-between-haiti-and-the-dominican-republic.html . American Airlines will resume flights on July 7 and Air Transat on July 29 with a return flight from Montreal / Port-au-Prince.



To be followed...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31133-haiti-covid-19-the-reopening-of-the-airport-is-not-adixit-the-minister-of-transport.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31123-haiti-flash-sunrise-airways-resumes-flights-between-haiti-and-the-dominican-republic.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





5 people arrested in the Delmas 75 massacre

Sunday in Delmas 83, 5 people were arrested for questioning as part of the investigation into the massacre of Saturday in Delmas 75 https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-31142-icihaiti-society-a-political-meeting-goes-wrong-3-dead.html which left 3 dead following a political meeting that went wrong. Among these 5 suspects, 2 participated in the meeting during the tragedy.



The Archbishop of Miami, Wenski writes to Pompeo

In a letter to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski called for a moratorium on the deportation of Haitians during the coronavirus pandemic, warning "[...] the capacity of Haitis health care system responding to Covid-19 cases is already at its limit, making the influx of new cases particularly dangerous. I urge you to stop the deportations of individuals to Haiti in the interest of public health and stability in Haiti."



Reopening of the Haitian Consulate in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin...

The Consulate General of Haiti in Martinique informs the Haitian community that from Thursday July 1st, consular services will resume in Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin (French part) and Dominica.



Father's Day, words from Jovenel Moise

On Sunday, June 28, Father's Day, President Jovenel Moise said "It is by being responsible and resolutely committed to the education and well-being of his children that the Haitian father can help build a better country. It is this sense of duty that I wish to all the dads by saying Happy Feast to them."



Covid-19 : Message from the city of Cap-Haitien

"One of the best ways to protect yourself from Coronavirus is to always wear a mask and distance yourself from others. Remember, the Covid-19 is still there. May we always protect ourselves and everyone who lives in our city."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Romney, WV (26757)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 89F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, then cloudy with rain likely later at night. Low 61F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
By William Schwartz | Published on 2020/06/28

Over the weekend actor Kwak Dong-yeon made a guest appearance in the currently airing drama "It's Okay to Not Be Okay". In it, he played Kwon Ki-do, who is the son of a politician named Kwon Man-soo. The latter character is played by Han Ki-joong. Their relationship is antagonistic, with Ki-do deliberately exposing his private parts on camera in an effort to humiliate his father who is currently running for public office.

Advertisement

Ki-do is not well mentally. Indeed, the character's relevance in the story is that he escapes from the hospital which employs the lead character played by Kim Soo-hyun. In front of reporters convened to cover an event regarding his father, Ki-do demands that they look at him instead, the failed son of a very well-to-do family, albeit through a defect of birth rather than of his own deliberate will.

Kwak Dong-yeon is a fairly young actor at twenty-three years of age, though with quite a few credited appearances to his name. He was part of the ensemble in the weekend drama "Never Twice" as well as the second lead in the high school themed drama "My Strange Hero".

Written by William Schwartz

___________

"It's Okay to Not Be Okay" is directed by Park Shin-woo, written by Jo Yong, and features Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-ji, Oh Jung-se, Kang Ki-doong, Park Gyu-young, Kim Chang-wan. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2020/06/20~Now airing, Sat, Sun on tvN.
This page contains all of Today's News-Herald's coverage of the novel coronavirus outbreak, and the illness it causes, called COVID-19.

Because this outbreak impacts public health, our coverage of the coronavirus is available to all readers. Our journalists are working hard to bring you the verified information below. Please consider supporting important local journalism with a subscription. (Click Here)

Are you a Lake Havasu City resident whos been affected by the illness? Send us an email: news@havasunews.com.
Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Thongphane Savanphet in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency

(Photo: VNA)



He made the comment during an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency following the teleconferenced 36th ASEAN Summit on June 26th.



The official congratulated Vietnam on its successful organisation of the summit and highly valued the countrys leadership and organisation capacity.

At the event, he noted, ASEAN leaders discussed a number of issues, especially the prevention, management and response to the spread of COVID-19, focusing on how the countries can work with one another to deal with the pandemics impacts.

The leaders scrutinised ways to enhance the ASEAN Communitys cohesion in the face of emerging challenges in the region and the world. They agreed to push ahead with realising the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, particularly building the three pillars of politics  security, economy and society  culture, of which under Vietnams chairmanship, the bloc is making mid-term reviews after five years of implementation.

In response to some countries and regions intention to become dialogue and development partners of ASEAN, the leaders also paid attention to how to expand the blocs relations while still sustaining its solidarity and centrality.

During the summit, ASEAN leaders also touched upon regional and international issues of common concern, Thongphane Savanphet said, noting that although the time for these matters was short, the leaders discussed in a straightforward and efficient manner.

For the rest of this year, the Deputy Minister said his country expects Vietnam will continue augmenting the cohesion and strength of ASEAN, especially in implementing different priorities that Vietnam has prepared, including promoting and protecting regional peace and stability, stepping up the ASEAN Community building, and bolstering the blocs relations with partners.

Besides, boosting post-pandemic socio-economic recovery in the region is of critical importance as the spread of COVID-19 in many regional countries has slowed down, he noted, adding that this is an issue that Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair, should keep bringing into play its coordinating role in.

The Lao official expressed his belief that under Vietnams chairmanship, ASEAN will continue to successfully carry out the initiatives and agreements its members have put forth this year.

Covering the 36th ASEAN Summit, the Laophattana newspaper of the Lao Journalists Association reported that Prime Minister of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith spoke highly of the blocs successes in the past year.

He stressed the necessity to continue reinforcing cooperation so as to prevent a second outbreak of COVID-19 via information and experience sharing, medicine and vaccine development, and comprehensive socio-economic recovery, according to the paper./.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 6 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

Rise in demand for faster transportation mode has majorly driven the demand for hyperloop technology. Furthermore, low cost of the transportation technology as compared to other transportation modes and energy-efficient & environment-friendly nature fuel the growth of the market. However, the possibility of technical glitches and shortage of power act as the considerable restraints of the market. Conversely, decongestion of traffic is anticipated to provide potential opportunities for market expansion.

Request For Report Sample @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/6280

Requirement of less land area to construct a Hyperloop network than other transportation modes and resistance to earthquakes and other natural calamities across globe is trending the overall Hyperloop Technology market. However, Safety & security concerns will restrain the market growth. The estimated highest revenue generating region will be Europe in 2022; followed by North America and APAC.

Europe is estimated to grow at one of the highest rate during 20222026. In Europe region Slovakia and Czech Republic have high income economies with exports to the European Union being their major source of income. Hyperloop technology will fulfill the need of improvement in accessibility between the two countries for different reasons such as passenger, cargo transport, business travels, and others. This technology is expected to prove as a strong opportunity to extend their business relations between all European countries. However in Asia-Pacific region China is expected to register the highest growth.

AECOM, Dinclix Ground Works, Hyperloop India, Hyperloop One, Inc., Hyperloop Transportation Technology, Space Exploration Technologies Crop., Tesla, Inc., TransPod Inc., Uwashington Hyperloop, and VicHyper are some of the key players operating in the global hyperloop technology market.

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies

Hyperloop One

Transpod Inc.

Dgwhyperloop

Spacex

Aecom

Ascend popular for speedier transportation mode has significantly determined the interest for hyperloop innovation. Moreover, minimal effort of the transportation innovation when contrasted with other transportation modes and vitality productive and condition amicable nature fuel the development of the market. Be that as it may, the likelihood of specialized glitches and lack of energy go about as the impressive limitations of the market. On the other hand, decongestion of movement is foreseen to give potential chances to advertise development.

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Necessity of less land region to develop a Hyperloop organize than other transportation modes and protection from quakes and other regular catastrophes crosswise over globe is drifting the general Hyperloop Technology advertise. Be that as it may, Safety and security concerns will limit the market development. The assessed most elevated income creating area will be Europe in 2022; trailed by North America and APAC. Europe is evaluated to develop at one of the most noteworthy rate amid 2022 2026. In Europe locale Slovakia and Czech Republic have high wage economies with fares to the European Union being their significant wellspring of salary. Hyperloop innovation will satisfy the need of change in availability between the two nations for various reasons, for example, traveler, payload transport, business ventures, and others. This innovation is relied upon to demonstrate as a solid chance to expand their business relations between every single European nation. However in Asia-Pacific district China is relied upon to enlist the most elevated development.

Ascend popular for speedier transportation mode has significantly determined the interest for hyperloop innovation. Moreover, minimal effort of the transportation innovation when contrasted with other transportation modes and vitality productive and condition amicable nature fuel the development of the market. Be that as it may, the likelihood of specialized glitches and lack of energy go about as the impressive limitations of the market. On the other hand, decongestion of movement is foreseen to give potential chances to advertise development. Hyperloop Technology - Global Market Outlook and Analysis 2015-2023 report includes different applications such as Capsule (Total Cost of the Hyperloop Passenger Transportation System and Total Cost of the Hyperloop Passenger Plus Freight Transportation System), Tube, Propulsion System, Route, and others.

This report aims to estimate the Hyperloop Technology - Global Market Outlook and Analysis for 2016 and to project the expected demand of the same by 2023. This market research study provides a detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of the Hyperloop Technology - Global Market Outlook and Analysis 2016 -2023. It provides a comprehensive review of major drivers and restraints of the market. Major companies such as Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Hyperloop One, Transpod Inc, Dgwhyperloop, Spacex, etc. are profiled in this report. Hyperloop Technology - Global Market Outlook and Analysis 2016-2023 is also segmented into major transport systems and geographies.

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Various secondary sources, such as annual reports, directories, and databases to identify and collect information useful for this extensive commercial study of Hyperloop Technology - Global Market Outlook and Analysis 2016-2023 have been used. The primary sources, experts from related industries and suppliers, have been interviewed to obtain and verify critical information as well as to assess the future prospects of Hyperloop Technology - Global Market Outlook and Analysis 2015-2023.
Editor: The last lyrics of our National Anthem are, the land of the free, and hom
Editor,

In March, coronavirus came to Montana, peaking on April 2 with 24 new cases, many in Bozeman, just as cases in Idaho clustered in the Sun Valley ski area. Gov. Bullock wisely acted aggressively, including requiring people entering Montana to quarantine. During April and May Montanas first wave flattened, and there were zero coronavirus deaths last month. We were and still are the state with the fewest coronavirus cases per 100,000 population, but thats changing fast.

On June 24, we had 23 new cases in Montana, one short of our April peak, now clustered around Glacier and Yellowstone national parks. Were among 11 states where new cases have more than doubled in June. According to the website CovidActNow.org, Montana is at risk of an outbreak.

We should: require, not suggest, masks in indoor public places; test people as they enter our national parks; and quarantine visitors from hot spot states like Arizona and Texas, as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are now doing. The European Union is even about to exclude visitors from the U.S. altogether. Folks, its time to get tough with this virus!

Jerome Walker, M.D.

Missoula

Editors note: After this letter was received, Montana confirmed 37 new cases in one day Thursday.
Sworn law enforcement officers in Montana adhere to a high code of ethics which says, As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality and justice.

Officers we know in Montana would be the first to say that there is no room on their force for those who violate this code. In recent weeks, peaceful Montanans have protested against the use of excessive force. Officers, protesters and all of us alike would agree that those who willfully violate the constitutional rights of another must be held accountable.

But we must not condemn all law enforcement for the misguided actions of a few.

In fact, our officers, deputies, troopers and agents in Montana, and their families, deserve our gratitude and support.

Our tribal, local, state and federal officers are members of our families, and are our friends and neighbors. They live, raise their children, and worship with us in our communities, the same communities where they serve.

And we ask a lot of them:

 to rescue and comfort abused and neglected children;

 to diffuse angry domestic arguments;

 to patrol the streets and highways every day during a pandemic;

 to stand between us and an active shooter;

 and more and more often we ask them to calm mental health issues and confront violent meth users and dealers.

We ask them to do this stressful work for us often with little rest, as many work busy shifts and overtime hours.

We also ask them to make split-second decisions in dark and unfamiliar places, in the presence of weapons and people they cant readily see. In 2017, Broadwater County Deputy Mason Moore had no time to defend himself before he was shot and killed by two men on a dark highway.

Each year in the United States, about 60,000 officers are assaulted. Thats a rate of 10.8 per 100 officers. In Montana, 130 officers have died in the line of duty, including Gallatin County Deputy Jake Allmendinger, who died last year trying to rescue a stranded motorist.

In spite of these challenges and risks, our officers overwhelmingly do an outstanding job. They respond to tens of thousands of crimes each year with professionalism and good faith. Of course, they are human and will make mistakes from time to time like the rest of us, but they make remarkably few given the breadth and difficulty of what we ask them to do.

Criticizing all law enforcement for the misdeeds of a few is both dangerously counterproductive and unfair to the vast majority who do their best every day and, if necessary, risk their lives to protect us. Law enforcement already faces serious recruitment and retention challenges. If people lose respect for the law enforcement profession, even more officers will quit or retire early and even more good candidates will choose another profession.

We must quickly hold accountable those officers who deliberately violate their code of ethics, but we must not confuse them with the honorable men and women who strive daily to meet those high standards. Our officers deserve our thanks for keeping us safe from those who would harm us and for addressing numerous societal problems like mental health and substance abuse that, over time, have been laid in their laps. Law enforcement is a noble profession full of officers whom support us daily, and now  more than ever  we need to support them.



Tim Fox is the Montana attorney general and Kurt Alme is the U.S. attorney for the District of Montana
Roy Neal of Kerr County first owned this 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner as a new 1972 Tivy graduate; sold it in 1986 when it was too small for his family of six; and spent his adult years wishing he had it back. He got it back again in 2016, and takes it to car shows as a prime restored example of a muscle car.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 6 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

This can also include non-medical, skilled care such as assistance with day to day living or medical social services from highly qualified home health caregivers. The caregivers are highly trained to use the various home healthcare devices appropriately, effectively, and safely. Get Free Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2030 Home healthcare services are more convenient, less expensive, and equally effective as that of the care a patient gets in a good nursing facility or a hospital. This form of healthcare helps patients to maintain their current level of function or condition, become self-sufficient, regain their independence, and get better.

The global home healthcare market size is anticipated to touch USD 4, 14, 681.2 million at an 8.1% CAGR between 2017-2023, states the new Market Research Future (MRFR) report. Home healthcare, as the term suggests, is the medical care that is offered in the home of the patient. It can comprise broad care provided by skilled medical experts, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and skilled nursing care.

Competitive Landscape

McKesson Corporation, Apple, Fresenius SE & Co KGaA, GE Healthcare, Medtronic Plc, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Becton Dickinson Company, Kinnser Software, 3M, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Omron Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., A&D Company, Abbott Laboratories, and LG Electronics are key players of the global preimplantation genetic testing market.

Regional Analysis

The global home healthcare market is spread across four regions which are the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa.

The Americas are expected to be the biggest region for the market due to the disbursement of large funds for the healthcare sector by large economies. North America is expected to contribute heavily to the global home healthcare market due to the establishment of public healthcare insurance programs and availability of generic medicines for the common public.

GET FULL REPORT @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/home-healthcare-market-2030

Industry News





TytoHome is a handheld device created by TytoCare which can be used by doctors and clinicians to examine a patients lungs, heart, ears, abdomen, and other vital organs remotely. It has partnered with retailer BestBuy for ensuring the availability of the device at all of its stores.

Related News





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Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 86F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers during the evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 57F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Tom Armstrong had the book of evidence served on him

A Dublin man has been sent for trial accused of harassing a woman.

Tom Armstrong (44) had a book of evidence served on him when he appeared at Dublin District Court.

Mr Armstrong, of Addison Avenue, Glasnevin, is charged with one count of harassment of a named woman.

The offence is alleged to have happened at a location unknown within the State between August 16, 2016, and August 8, 2018, both dates inclusive.

No further details of the alleged offence were disclosed.

A State solicitor asked Judge Bryan Smyth to make amendments to the charge, including the deletion of a location in north Dublin which had been initially included.

He said the DPP was consenting to the accused being sent forward to the present sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Interview

There was no objection to bail being extended on existing terms.

Applying for free legal aid, solicitor Luke Staines submitted a statement of the accused's financial means. He said his client was working but there was no garda objection to legal aid.

Judge Smyth said the legal aid application should be made in the circuit court.

He ordered the prosecution to furnish the defence with copies of Mr Armstrong's garda interview video.

Judge Smyth gave Mr Armstrong the formal notice that he had 14 days to provide any alibi details to the prosecution.

The judge asked if he understood this and the accused nodded.

He then remanded him on bail and sent him forward for trial to the circuit court.

The accused signed the bail bond before leaving court. He has not yet entered a plea.
Detectives are investigating if Dublin associates of slain hitman Robbie Lawlor travelled across the Border to carry out a revenge hit for his murder.

Gardai are liaising with the PSNI after Warren Crossan was shot dead in broad daylight in west Belfast on Saturday afternoon.

The 28-year-old was blasted several times while trying to flee from two masked gunmen on a busy residential street near his family home.

Crossan was previously arrested by police investigating the murder of Robbie Lawlor (36) in Belfast last April and was suspected of double-crossing the Dublin criminal after arranging to meet him for a drug-debt collection.

Two close associates of the Dundon crime gang, including a teenager, were also arrested within hours of the Lawlor murder but all were later released from custody.

Motive

Expand Close Robbie Lawlor (pictured) was a suspect in the gruesome murder of Keane Mulready-Woods / Facebook

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Whatsapp Robbie Lawlor (pictured) was a suspect in the gruesome murder of Keane Mulready-Woods

It is now being investigated if Crossan was shot dead on Saturday in a revenge hit after being blamed for double-crossing Robbie Lawlor.

"There are reports that Lawlor's crew travelled up to Belfast and had an involvement in the murder," a source told the Herald.

"It's being looked at as a primary motive but there are several other lines of enquiry as to why Warren Crossan was shot dead.

"The narrative that Lawlor was a lone ranger is not accurate and even though he was a gun-for-hire he also had a small, loyal crew throughout the years while carrying out robberies and other crimes."

Expand Close Keane Mulready-Woods / Facebook

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Lawlor was a suspect in several gangland killings and shootings, including the murder of teenager Keane Mulready-Woods (17) in January.

He was also involved in a dispute with a north Dublin gang boss known as 'Mr Big', who is suspected of ordering his murder on April 4.

Lawlor had also been centrally involved in the Drogheda feud and had aligned himself with rivals of the so-called Maguire faction.

The victim of Saturday's shooting was suspected by police in Northern Ireland of being heavily involved in the drugs trade.

In a court appearance last year, Crossan was described by investigators as a "kingpin" in a plot to smuggle around 200,000 of cocaine into the North.

The murder victim was the son of well-known dissident republican Tommy Crossan, himself shot dead in Belfast in 2014 after falling out with former associates.

The PSNI said it was carrying out investigations throughout the country and was not ruling anything out.

Detectives from the PSNI's Major Investigation Team is carrying out the probe into Crossan's murder in St Katharine's Road in west Belfast.

Lawlor was gunned down less than 7km away in April in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast.

Investigators believe that two masked men chased Crossan along a stretch of road while firing a number of shots.

Detective Chief Inspector Darren McCartney, of the PSNI, described it as a "callous and reckless killing", while adding that it "simply beggars belief" to bring firearms on to a residential street.

"The gunmen did not give any thought to the risk posed to local people in this community when they ran through the streets firing shots, at least one of which struck a vehicle owned by a resident," he said.

"It is too early to speculate on the motive for this callous murder and, over coming days, I will be working to piece together all the information and evidence.

"I know the community is in shock but I would appeal to anyone who has information about this appalling murder to please bring that forward.

"I would like to hear from anyone who saw the victim being chased by the two gunmen in the Rodney Drive, St James's Road, Rodney Parade and St Katharine's Road areas before the shooting.

Appointment

"We are interested in Warren's movement prior to the shooting. We know he left his home in the Crumlin area shorty before 11am in a dark metallic blue Skoda Octavia.

"He was next observed parking the vehicle at the family home in Rodney Parade at approximately 12.40pm. We are keen to hear from anyone who saw Warren during this time."

It emerged earlier this month that Lawlor was murdered during an appointment arranged while exchanging cash in a supermarket car park.

The details emerged as a man, on bail for the killing, failed in an attempt to have a curfew lifted at Belfast Magistrates' Court.

The suspect (36) has not been charged with any offences connected to the murder, but a detective told the court the man was believed to have met Lawlor in a Tesco car park in Crumlin, Co Antrim, the day before the shooting.

"Robert Lawlor did attend that appointment, and when he arrived he was met by a gunman who exited [the address] and shot him dead in broad daylight," a detective told the court.

"This murder is directly linked to a feud between several organised crime gangs originating out of the Republic.

"It's a comprehensive and complex investigation, with numerous links to organised crime gangs."
FGs Hildegarde Naughton said she was the most senior minister in the west of Ireland

Fianna Fail deputy leader Dara Calleary objected to being appointed as Government Chief Whip during a tense meeting with newly elected Taoiseach Micheal Martin.

However, Mr Calleary was forced to accept the role as he was the last Fianna Fail TD called to Government Buildings and Mr Martin had already allocated all his ministries.

The long-serving Mayo TD told colleagues he was furious about the appointment but was left with no option but to accept the position as Mr Martin had no other ministries to offer by the time Mr Calleary was called to the Taoiseach's Office.

Ministers who were appointed on Saturday afternoon said the Fianna Fail deputy leader was "visibly angry" when they gathered in Government Buildings before returning to the National Convention Centre to be voted into office.

Snub

Mr Martin's decision to appoint Mr Calleary as Chief Whip has been described by his party colleagues as an "appalling snub".

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Whatsapp Vardakar, Martin, Ryan and their new Cabinet

The move also lead to accusations that the new Government is ignoring vast areas of rural Ireland by failing to appoint a senior minister in Connaught or the North West.

Fine Gael were also blindsided by the decision as they expected Mr Calleary to be given a ministry, which would mean the west is represented at Cabinet by a senior minister. Fine Gael did appoint Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton as a super junior minister responsible for roads.

In a statement, Ms Naughton described herself as the Government's "most senior minister in the West of Ireland".

However, she is a Minister of State and does not have full Cabinet responsibility or oversight of a government department.

The newly elected Government has come under sustained criticisms over the lack of representation for people living beyond the Shannon and along the west coast at Cabinet.

Yesterday, ministers were forced to deny rural Ireland was being left behind by the new Government.

Agriculture Minister Barry Cowen insisted the full roster of ministers has still to be decided and said the new Government will ensure "no region in Ireland is left behind".

Climate Minister Eamon Ryan said: "I don't think Government can ignore any part of the country", but admitted it is "difficult to get geographic spread" in a three-party coalition.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are expected to appoint ministers of State from the regions in the coming days to ensure there is a better geographical spread of ministers. However, Mr Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar only have seven position to appoint and are faced with difficult choices after dozens of TDs were left disappointed after the Cabinet was announced.

A senior Fine Gael source last night said there "will be more people disappointed than promoted" when the next round of ministries is revealed.

Mr Martin will have a major battle on his hands dealing with the fallout from his Cabinet appointments.

Yesterday, long-serving TDs were angry over the Taoiseach's appoint of first-time deputy Norma Foley as Education Minister and former Social Democrat leader as Health Minister. However, there was fury across the party over the appointment of Mr Calleary as Chief Whip rather than a full Cabinet Minister.

Disgrace

The Government Chief Whip is paid the same as a minister of State (134,976) which is more than 40,000 less than a Cabinet minister (175,699).

A senior FF TD said it was an "absolute disgrace" that the party's deputy leader was the last to be called to Mr Martin's office on Saturday.

One TD said people from across the west were calling and texting complaining about the decision to "shaft" Mr Calleary. Another TD said Mr Calleary should have told Martin to "f**k off and caused a mutiny".

Mr Calleary has not spoken publicly about the appointment but has told colleagues he objected to the position when it was offered to him by Mr Martin. He did not respond to calls last night.
What sounds like paperwork is in actuality the only closure a family has left after the murder of their loved one. This isnt some menial task deserving a slap on the wrist. This is the murder of people in our community. If this is acceptable, what four families do you chose that dont deserve closure for their slain loved ones, Diaz said. Will I have to wait 12 years, is that now the acceptable standard in the state of Connecticut.
A suspect was arrested and is being held at Ballymun Garda Station

A woman is lucky to be alive after a bullet grazed her head during a shooting in Dublin yesterday afternoon.

The innocent 51-year-old suffered superficial injuries after shots were fired at a house in Ballymun at around 3pm.

Armed gardai flooded the scene and have since arrested a suspect in relation to the incident.

A garda investigation is under way and at this stage the shooting is being linked to a dispute between local criminals.

The injured woman is not linked to the dispute.

She was treated at the scene for the injury to her head by paramedics.

The suspected gunman fled the scene after the shooting and searches were later carried out by armed gardai.

Detectives have since arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of involvement in the attack.

He is currently being held at Ballymun Garda Station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

The suspect is from the Ballymun area and known to gardai.

"This could have been a lot more serious after shots were indiscriminately fired into the house," a source said.

"The suspect fled the scene but gardai quickly established who was involved and a short time later carried out an arrest."

Injury

A garda spokesman said yesterday: "Gardai are currently at the scene of a shooting incident in Shangan Park, Ballymun, which occurred this afternoon, Sunday June 28.

"A woman received a non-life threatening injury as a result of the incident.

"She is being treated at the scene by ambulance services. The suspected offender fled the scene. Investigations are ongoing."
Greenville, TX (75401)

Today

Mostly cloudy early with thunderstorms developing later in the day. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 87F. SSW winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms in the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 61F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
With infection numbers rising again in more than 30 states, the U.S. this past week set another daily record for new coronavirus cases. Here are seven charts that capture the situation as of today.
Witnesses told police the motorcyclist was revving his engine in an east lane of Route 140, or North Road, while he was stopped at a red light. When the light turned green, he took off, traveling between two eastbound cars.
At 7:59 p.m. on Saturday Virginia State Trooper responded to the crash single- vehicle crash on Virginia State Route 609, less than a mile north of U.S. Route 19.

The news release states, Timmy J. Ball, 54, of Pounding Mill was driving on Route 609 when his 2002 Chevrolet S10 pickup truck ran off the right side of the road. It then struck several trees and overturned down an embankment. Ball who was not wearing a seat belt died at the scene the news release states.
That came in 1902. The dominant political figure at that constitutional convention was Carter Glass of Lynchburg. Glass was quite plain what the goal was: to eliminate the darkey as a force in Virginia politics. We apologize for the language but it was the language of the times and is necessary to convey exactly what was going on. Discrimination!, Glass declared. Why, that is precisely what we propose. That, exactly, is what this Convention was elected for  to discriminate to the very extremity of permissible action under the limits of the federal Constitution, with a view to the elimination of every Negro voter who can be gotten rid of legally.

By that standard, the 1902 constitution was a success. It disenfranchised blacks and whites alike, especially those who previously had the temerity to vote for Republicans. Many of those disenfranchised white voters were in Southwest Virginia, then as now a Republican stronghold. Glass and others had promised to put the new constitution to a vote but then reneged. They knew better than to ask voters to disenfranchise themselves. Instead, they simply proclaimed the new constitution, a kind of legal coup that the Virginia Supreme Court upheld and which the U.S. Supreme Court declined to overturn. Heres one way to measure the impact: That constitution cut the number of voters in Virginia in half  264,208 Virginians voted in the 1900 presidential election, but only 130,410 in 1904. In fact, Virginia had a smaller percentage of adults registered to vote than any other state in the country. Virginias textbooks never mentioned that part. Instead, they taught that the constitution of 1902 has pleased the people of Virginia so well today, with certain changes, it remains the supreme law of the state. It certainly pleased the states white conservative establishment, which was able to consolidate power. Through much of the 20th century Virginia was only superficially a democracy. It took the social upheavals of the 1960s to change that. The federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 expanded the electorate, which helped Republican Linwood Holton win the governorship in 1969 and usher in a two-party democracy. He was the one who ordered the propaganda-laden textbooks retired. And Virginia finally replaced that 1902 constitution in 1971.
BRISTOL, Tenn. -- An employee at the Christian Care Center of Bristol, a nursing facility in Bristol Tennessee, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a Monday statement from Jennifer Skaggs, the facilitys executive director.

Skaggs said in the statement, which was emailed to the Bristol Herald Courier, that the employee tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, June 25.

After reviewing the situation with the Sullivan County Health Department officials as well as the facility Medical Director, all facility staff will continue to routinely wear masks and provide protection while delivering services to our residents, Skaggs said.

She said the Christian Care Center of Bristol has temporarily suspended visits to the facility and will allow them again as soon as reasonably possible.

As staff are required to wear masks at the facility and are subject to rigorous screening before entering the facility, we remain confident that this is an isolated occurrence, Skaggs said.

We respectfully continue to serve following Joint Commission and Department of Health requirements under the direction of our Medical Director, Dr. Vivian Clark, and we remain vigilant against this wicked virus afflicting our nation and our local community, Skaggs added.
Julie E. Greene

jgreene@herald-mail.com

Lauren Asbury said she always has loved being involved and doing things for her community.

She plunged into the icy Potomac River to help raise money for the Humane Society of Washington County when she was in elementary school. She joined the Girls Scouts in second grade.

Lauren, 18, said her parents,Jeannie and Will,brought her up in a "socially engaged environment." They met in the Air Force and have a "strong sense of self-engagement," she said.

During her co-valedictorian speech for North Hagerstown High's recent virtual ceremony, Lauren thanked her family for "supporting individuality and the importance of a strong character, providing me with the confidence I need to be successful in my endeavors." She also recognized teachers for showing "the value passion holds when you are a leader to young minds."

One of her more recent endeavors is serving on the Hagerstown mayor and city council's Youth Advisory Council, for which her colleagues voted her chairperson.

The group began meeting in October and was just "getting our wheels running and starting to make some action" when the COVID-19 pandemic started, Lauren said. A Hagerstown Hugs Earth event the youth council planned was put on hold, but she said she hopes something similarcan be done in the future.

The youth council is focusing on three main initiatives  the environment, financial literacy and wellness in both a physical and mental sense.

The youths met with officials fromReach of Washington County and the city's parks and recreation department and others to make sure they are "aware" on those issues, Lauren said. They also have a presence on Facebook and Instagram to share information and get feedback.

Lauren said she has learned from her youth council experience how important it is to be prepared about issues and her stances on them so she can speak properly about them.

Elizabeth Paul, a Frederick County educator who has run for local public office, said that is one of the things about Lauren that impresses her the most.

She is "really sharp" and realizes at times "what she doesn't know and is willing to ask people questions and find different perspectives, which is important in life in general, but certainly in politics, where you need to understand where everyone is coming from," Paul said.

The two met when Paul spoke to Lauren's Girl Scout troop about a year ago during a career night with American Association of University Women members. With another teacher talking about that career, Paul chose to speak about the importance of women running for office and being involved in politics.

It was Paul who told Lauren about the youth advisory council opportunity.

Lauren said she is considering running for public office later in life after she gets more experience, but first, she wants to earn her bachelor's degree.

She starts at Towson University in August and expects to go to graduate school afterward to learn more about forensic anthropology. That could lead to a criminology career or the research route with a place such as the Smithsonian, which also aids federal law enforcement at times, she said.

Laurie Baker, troop leader for Girl Scout Troop 40242 in Williamsport, said it has been "amazing" to watch Lauren grow from being a "little shy" during her younger years to "stepping forward" and becoming a leader.

Lauren, a Girl Scout Ambassador, said she finds herself learning more as a leader because she has to be a better listener and speaker so she can grow and help others learn.

"It's just all about growth for me," Lauren said.

Baker said Lauren trained to be a program aid, helping during troop meetings and events and working with the younger girls. She also tried different things in high school and figured out her path, Baker said.

While Lauren lives south of Hagerstown, she attended North High to participate in its International Baccalaureate program. She was vice president of the school's environmental club, recording secretary for Key Club, cheer captain and a Calculus Club tutor. She participated in Girls Inc.'s Muddy Mamas run and has been involved in Youth United through the United Way. She's working this summer for Keystone Fireworks in Greencastle, Pa.

Last fall, she shared insights about the public education system while participating on a panel organized by Blueprint for Maryland's Future, an organization advocating for long-term funding for education reform.

Hagerstown Councilwoman Shelley McIntire, who proposed creating the youth council, said Lauren is "truly a leader in the making. It's wonderful and encouraging to watch her with her peers."

McIntire said when she first met Lauren she had never been more impressed with a young person. Lauren has poise, class and is empathetic to others' feelings and opinions, she said.

"When I talk about her and describe her to other people, I always start with, 'I want to be her when I grow up,'" McIntire said.

Editors note: Student Standout is a weekly feature appearing each Monday and highlighting local students who are making extraordinary contributions to their school or community. To nominate a student, call 301-791-7591 or send an email to news@herald-mail.com.
Cohen said that $15,000 will pay for the well, and the additional money will support Water for South Sudans efforts to provide hygiene training related to COVID-19 for people in South Sudan. According to Water for South Sudan: Most people in South Sudan have little to no knowledge of the coronavirus pandemic or how to prevent its spread. To mitigate this, UNICEF has asked our team in South Sudan to provide hygiene awareness training to communities and towns in Wau, South Sudan. The goal of this training is to prevent the virus from spreading to communities throughout the country, where access to healthcare is limited or nonexistent.
Dave McMillion

davem@herald-mail.com

Hagerstown firefighters were battling a blaze Sunday night at a commercial structure in the city's North End.

Authorities initially received a call for heavy black smoke along North Burhans Boulevard in the area of Thomas Bennett & Hunter Inc., a concrete business, according to a Washington County 911 supervisor.

But the fire ended up being in an old Fairchild plant building near the Thomas Bennett & Hunter property, the supervisor said.

There were several fires in the complex, and battling them was a challenge due to the layout of the structure, the supervisor said.

The fire was reported at about 5:40 p.m., and the supervisor said firefighters appeared to have it under control at about 7 p.m.

The Hagerstown Fire Department couldn't be reached for more details.

 Dave McMillion
Joyce F. Nowell

jnowell@herald-mail.com

After nearly three years of trying to get back on her own two feet, Kitty Gish found her answer in the unlikeliest of times  the COVID-19 shutdown.

It all just worked, said Gish, who settled into a Williamsport home in mid-May. Everything just fell into place. And I am absolutely loving the place.

It has brought me that one step closer to complete independence and it happened during a pandemic.

The right path

Gish's journey from living in a tent on the streets for a year to finding the security of her own home certainly had its ups and downs. But a new federal housing program that came about early this year for Washington County looked to be right for the 64-year-old, who was in a shared apartment as part of the Hagerstown-based Potomac Case Management Services, Inc. housing program.

When Tyrell Wilson, PCMS housing program manager, found out about the Mainstream voucher program, he believed it was the answer they had been seeking for Gish. While living in PCMS apartment housing, she had already met multiple goals, including studying for a college degree in social work.

A week after the program opened up, COVID-19 hit.

We thought here's another bump in the road, Wilson said. But the Housing Authority of Washington County reached out and said we could continue to turn in our paperwork and we worked on it and it kept flowing.

COVID didn't stop my job. It kind of increased it. It was no time to stop because we needed to continue to work. Those efforts to secure the Mainstream voucher for Gish were successful.

Searching for a home during the pandemic also could've proved difficult as many landlords were not showing potential living spaces. But that too worked out.

When I saw the place it was overwhelming, said Gish. To have a place of my own and so much more  it's beautiful.

The whole process went so fast. Tyrell came to me and said let's give it a try. It wasn't even a week and they called me and said I have a place.

The journey

Potomac Case Management is a mental health agency providing case management and care coordination services to children and adults in Washington, Carroll and Frederick counties.

The PCMS housing program helps homeless individuals and families in Washington County secure permanent supported housing.

Wilson said there are lots of factors in how successful a client becomes.

It's hard for someone with Social Security to say 'I'm going to rent a private place from a landlord', Wilson said. Even if that's possible, which is a big accomplishment for someone who has been homeless, it still puts them behind in being able to live and maintain stability.

Someone like Kitty who's been here for a long time and who has accomplished a lot of different things  she's gained her income, maintained her income, started school and is going into her third semester  she's trying to achieve everything she set out to do. This Mainstream voucher was basically seeing that finish line. This was the next step in her independence. It means the world.

It ended up being the catalyst in Kitty's case, in spite of COVID-19 limitations.

I don't think there are enough words I can say, Gish said. I had achieved the goals I set out to from day one and going to college and getting another degree was one I never thought of until I got into this program.

When I went and saw the place it was overwhelming. It really was.

The program

Jennifer Drake is the program manager for the Housing Choice Voucher Program at the HAWC.

The Mainstream voucher program is new to Washington County. Drake applied with the federal government and in January received approval of Mainstream vouchers for 21 individuals.

We thought it would be a good fit for Washington County, said Drake, who said five individuals are now leasing under the program and 16 others have vouchers and are looking for a place to rent.

It's been slow to start because of the pandemic. There's just not as much housing availability. That's made it a little bit tougher.

Drake said she applied to get the vouchers after seeing a need for something more in the goal of providing decent, safe and affordable housing.

A lot of younger people who are homeless and disabled have a really hard time finding housing, she said.

I wanted to bring the program here to help those individuals get priority in getting into some places.

Drake works with community partners like PCMS to connect the vouchers with those who need them. She feels the Mainstream vouchers are creating more options.

It has been a huge help, said Drake. The community partners have provided the referrals. They've helped even during the pandemic, working with the individuals and emailing me paperwork back and forth. That makes it so much easier to become eligible for housing.

Having an outside agency to help coordinate and contact people has really increased the participation, which is really nice. It's very rewarding.

Drake hopes the Mainstream program will be an ongoing resource.

(The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) wants us to lease up the 21 within the first year, Drake said. I don't know if I'm going to be able to do that because of the pandemic.

As long as they see that we're moving ahead, we'll keep those vouchers forever. If someone leaves and one opens up, then I'll put someone else in there.

The trickle effect

In addition to Gish, Wilson has been able to arrange independent housing for three others during the pandemic. That in turn produces openings in the PCMS permanent supported housing program that had in late 2019 moved into a larger building.

Even during this time of COVID-19, our staff has worked to move some people from our program into this Mainstream voucher program, said PCMS Executive Director Dawn Johns. That has freed up more opportunity in our housing program.

There's not a bottleneck. We have during this entire time housed about 10 new people in about eight weeks. Some people who were homeless, living on the street; our program manager was able to get them in during COVID-19.

PCMS Community Engagement Manager Beth Smith said it's not typical to be able to move that many people in, let alone have that many openings.

COVID-19 created this almost perfect storm for us, Smith said. What better time than during a pandemic to get people off the street?

It was a perfect combination of community relations, working together to get people into the right housing for them. It was a really hard time for the community, but we were able to keep housing people and bring people off the street.

The future

I get up thankful every single morning, said Gish. I'm thankful to be alive and I'm not in the position I used to be in.

I'm thankful that I have a home I can call my own. And I am thankful and grateful to this program every single day. Without them, I have no clue, no idea, where I would be living or what would be happening. Tyrell puts his heart into this program. He works tirelessly. For me, he's always been there.

Wilson contends Gish doesn't give herself enough credit.

In this type of population you don't always see that person who comes and wants to change things and wants to be independent and is willing to work for that, Wilson said. Kitty goes to school. Kitty has a 3.0 GPA. Kitty, while in the midst of being in the homeless program, was attending classes, was dealing with income changes and was trying to focus on housing and dealing with other issues of her own. That says a lot about a person.

Her path wasn't easy and she's overcome a lot of things placed in her way. She's definitely an achiever. I'm definitely super proud of her. Her success story means a lot. We try our best to assist her, but without her wanting to do better or wanting those things, it won't happen. So she's a huge part of her own success.

Gish looks forward to getting back into the classroom in the fall at Hagerstown Community College, where she enjoys learning with younger college students. Switching to online classes midway through the spring semester because of COVID-19 was a challenge, she admitted. But after being homeless, it wasn't one to stop her.

I've come so far  from being where I was to being almost 65, getting ready to go into my third year of college earning a degree in social work.

My plan is to give back. I want to work with people who have been in my position. I can go to them and say I understand. I can be compassionate and caring because I have been where they are.
John Irwin

The Record Herald

WAYNESBORO, Pa.  Mainstreet Waynesboro Inc. has been busy tending to the needs of downtown businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reaction to the pandemic and mandates by Gov. Tom Wolf resulted in many of the businesses closing their doors to walk-in customers and doing curbside pickup and online sales.

Bill Kohler, director of economic development for Mainstreet Waynesboro Inc. shared what he and his team have been doing to keep downtown vibrant for years to come, especially during the time of closure.

Everybody has done a lot of soul-searching during this time, and Mainstreet organizations are the connections with some of our smallest businesses and there are a lot of businesses that just have one person, sometimes two. We serve as their connector with their customers, the state, county and federal government, and the public at large, Kohler said. We listen and we advocate, we encourage, and we administrate. We clean, we carry, we promote, and we inform. We connect and we match. We fill storefronts and upper floors. We illuminate and attempt to beautify. Those are just some of the things that Mainstreet groups do normally but has really been emphasized a lot here the past three months.

According to Kohler, he and a handful of other Mainstreet managers from across the area get together for a weekly video call to discuss the ups and downs and what they can do to address issues. We brainstorm ideas, and when this all started, I got nervous and I wanted to know what I could best do with my time and resources to help people.

The first thing Mainstreet did was to create a relief fund to assist downtown businesses with the financial burden being placed on them. We raised close to $14,000 to be able to distribute mini-grants to 37 businesses downtown and nonprofits. This includes some of our restaurants, St. Andrews, Candy Kitchen, James and Jess House of Goods, Nifty Thrifty, Waynesboro Family Hair Care, James Shoes and the library, Kohler said. We also used more than $250 out of that fund to buy gift cards that could be used at downtown businesses.

According to Kohler, the funds were raised from an anonymous donor, the Rotary Club of Waynesboro, the Waynesboro Lions Club and the Waynesboro Beneficial Fund Association and many donations from the public. Its really been touching how many people have helped out and opened their hearts and their wallets to help, in some cases for people that they dont even know.

Mainstreet also hosted four virtual happy hours in conjunction with the Arts Alliance of Greater Waynesboro. Basically what we did is we toured carry-out restaurants, art galleries and we hosted local musicians from their houses and we used a streaming platform to bring it all together, Kohler said. Its just a new way to be relevant and engage people and support businesses. We raised around $700 and also bought gift cards from those stores and galleries and gave them away as door prizes; it was pretty cool and outside the box.

In keeping with the theme of gift cards, Mainstreet created the I Love the Boro Gift Card for Later program, which allowed people to purchase gift cards for businesses to be used later when businesses reopened. This was a way that the businesses got the money right away, and they could use the gift card whenever they felt comfortable going back out in public, Kohler said. We also sent out daily emails to our downtown businesses as new information was made available to us and we created a private Mainstreet business owner group of Facebook where everyone could share posts and updates with each other.

Mainstreet also created a first-time Downtown Eateries Guide for folks to use to order carryout and delivery. Its an easy-to-follow reference guide, Kohler said.
Joyce F. Nowell

jnowell@herald-mail.com

Pennsylvania State Police have identified the driver killed in a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 just before midnight Friday in Franklin County, Pa.

Marie Hoyer, 42, of Martinsville, Va., was pronounced dead at the scene of the 11:57 p.m. crash in the right lane of the northbound interstate near mile marker 24.

Police said Hoyer was the driver of a 2019 Nissan Sentra that struck the rear of a tractor-trailer that was stopped in traffic.

A passenger in the sedan, a 12-year-old girl identified by police only as being from Martinsville, Va., was transported to Hershey Medical Center by West End Fire and Rescue Company for treatment of injuries of unknown severity, police said.

The police report identified the driver of the 2016 Kenworth rig as Brian Lubic, 40, of Scottdale, Pa. Police said Lubic was unhurt.
LLOYD "PETE" WATERS

The Herald-Mail

Defund the police? And after they are defunded, whom are you going to call when you have an emergency?

It sounds like a Vladimir Putin idea to me.

Is Russia still playing games with our social media?

You dislike oppressive police, you say? What about those thugs in Seattle who take over six blocks of your city?

Im thinking if this unlawful annexation continues unaddressed maybe some states will want to secede again.

Where are you, Abe, when we need you the most? I think your statue is safe, at least for now, but no promises.

Defund the police? Does anyone really believe this is a smart move?

By the way, could someone please tell me the crime statistics for some of those inner cities?

Sure.

In Chicago the other week, the city registered 16 deaths and at least 30 injured in shootings.

Im just a little curious; what is the race of each victim and how about the race of those assailants?

I firmly believe that Black lives matter like all others and those crime rates in the inner cities should be equally concerning to all people.

Citizens of the inner cities could demonstrate in those neighborhoods to protest the senseless killings of innocent Blacks, often the young, at the hands of other Blacks, often the young, too.

Do honest inner-city folks have a desire to really defund the police?

Black lives in those inner cities dont seem to matter to some considering the alarming number of victims there.

Do you want to know why there are so many problems in our country today? Our democracy encourages and condones these situations by electing the wrong people to govern.

Why do I say that? Many of those leaders receive the popular vote but have no plans on how to manage, prevent or address the difficult problems of these communities.

I observed that young, distressed look on the face of the first-term mayor in Minneapolis after George Floyds unnecessary and violent death. The young mayor was in shock. He seemed totally overwhelmed.

Did he ever consider before his swearing in that his police department might have a few problems?

Seattles mayor was equally dumbfounded and confused. She had few answers; and the New York mayors face seems lost somewhere above the clouds. Even his own governor dislikes his behavior and problem-solving methods.

And all these faces tell a story of total bewilderment and confusion.

How does a local government in Seattle permit anyone to take over six blocks of ones city? Does the mayor then assume full responsibility and liability for the lawlessness that follows?

Who are these anarchists, antifa, criminals, saviors, racists, etc.?

Many politicians fail to monitor situations that exist in their jurisdictions, and some police departments hire the wrong people who are neither trained nor supervised properly.

Some cops today should not be carrying firearms, and some politicians should not be mayors, etc.

Both are equally dangerous.

And if the police departments are not adequately funded, then who will respond to assaults, rapes, domestic violence situations, robberies, arsons, and all the other stuff that require a police response; the homeroom schoolteacher?

Even teachers across this nation are fighting their own battles with some of the looters of tomorrow in their very classrooms.

If you think cities have problems now with the cops presence, just wait until the criminals take over without that presence.

Remember the Freddie Gray incident in Baltimore. After those police officers were charged and acquitted, guess what happened next with those citizen emergency calls for help?

The cops werent so anxious to respond. Who suffers most when this happens?

Heres a clue: The arrest numbers in Baltimore took a serious plunge for all crimes, and the citizens were left at the mercy of the criminal.

And as I watch looters and rioters operate in large cities and burn businesses, I wonder whether there are any plans to replace those businesses and lost jobs when they leave the city.

If you are a business owner and looters show up to break your windows, steal your merchandise, and burn down your building, tell me, are you really excited to rebuild?

When those businesses and jobs leave the city, what then?

Will that be the looters just penalty?

Any UPS drivers want to deliver in those areas? Let those rioters and looters then take their chances with Amazon orders?

Maybe those futuristic delivery drones will be the answer, but most likely some of them will be shot down.

So this Dargan Boys simple conclusion when these businesses and jobs leave your city because of that destruction and looting;

Thats what you get for what you got.

Cant we try something a little different next time?

After all, it is your community.

Lloyd Pete Waters is a Sharpsburg resident who writes for The Herald-Mail.
Waynesburg, PA (15370)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 84F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers during the evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 57F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Uniontown, PA (15401)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 84F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers in the evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 58F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
In the statement, Ideanomics denied a handful of the reports claims  particularly that the much-hyped sales center for its electric vehicle division, Mobile Energy Global or MEG, might not actually exist. But Ideanomics statement does not address a number of the reports other claims, namely that the company was photoshopping images of the sales center. The statement also did not address the reports allusions to Ideanomics ever-shifting name, leadership and business interests (the company has had three different names in the past three years and three different CEOs in the past two years).
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi recently stated that 20 jawans were martyred but not before they taught a lesson to those who had dared to raise an eye towards Bharat Mata. PM assured the nation that, today, it has the capability that no one could eye even an inch of its territory. He suggested that the infrastructure in the border areas had improved greatly, leading to heightened patrolling and close monitoring of movements at the border. PM also made it clear that India would respond firmly to any attempts to transgress the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

China has always made a creeping annexation part of its policy towards India. The Congress, when in power, turned a blind eye to the encroachment on Indias territories by the Chinese through continuous transgressions and border violations. Though the country entered into as many as six bilateral agreements in 1988, 1993, 1996, 2005, 2012 and 2013, it did not address the dispute over LAC. When the Chinese intruded and pitched tents deep inside Indias territory at Depsang, in 2013, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh merely spoke in Parliament about the Chinese having a different perception about LAC. Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) were misused by the Chinese to resort to psychological warfare and salami slicing. This is because, after 1962, defence forces were neglected and infrastructure was shoddy.

After Modi assumed power, strengthening infrastructure became a national priority. Today, there has been a great leap in infrastructure development at the Indo-China border on the Indian side which has served as a deterrent to China. Had the infrastructural development started in past regimes, India would have been in a more dominant position today. After 2014, India created a strong road network through the Border Roads Organisation and the Central Public Works Department despite the small window, during the year, for construction, due to the harsh winter. The Border Area Development Programme (BADP) has been allocated ~784 crore in the fiscal year 2020-2021. BADP stipulates that 10% of the total allocated funds will be additionally allocated to the states/Union territories abutting Indo-China Border (Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand) for taking up works in the districts abutting Indo-China border. The creation of infrastructure would help integrate these area with the hinterland, create a positive perception of care by the country and encourage the people to stay or in the border areas leading to safe and secure border as per the ministry of home affairs.

Infrastructure has developed on all borders through the comprehensive Integrated Border Management Systems  be it border out posts, border fencing, mobile towers, the use of technology at the border and lighting. On the Indo-Tibet border, roads, helipads, tunnels and bridges have been built.

At the same time, there has been an increase in patrolling  be it long-range patrols, short-range patrols or joint patrols by the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. India has held its ground in several face-offs. Regular patrols also enable us to assess Chinas activities, identify features of tactical importance, dominate infiltration routes, corroborate inputs and assert our presence. Post-2014, our patrols have been actively engaging, confronting and preventing any incursions. We have not allowed any construction activity in our territory within LAC. In Doklam, India stalled the construction of a road by the Chinese, which would have adversely affected the nations strategic interests. It is only after this that China became more wary of Indias diplomatic and military might.

Work on a link road, part of an infrastructure project of a strategic road in Ladakh, is one of the factors which seems to have pushed China into its misadventure on June 15. They were given a bloody nose by Indian soldiers. Another reason which could have irked China is the fact that India did not support the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which was not advisable from the countrys security point of view. BRI was to establish Chinas dominance in global trade. This included the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is not acceptable to India as it goes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Other factors which angered China could have been the friendly relations between India and the United States and the formation of the two Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as well as the abrogation of Article 370. This reflects Chinas vulnerability and the Galwan Valley aggression seems to be the desperate act of a frustrated country.

PM Modis policy towards China has been a judicious mix of diplomatic, military and economic options. He and President Xi Jinping have had as many as 18 summit meetings over the past six years, including two informal meetings at Mamallapuram and Wuhan. Several meetings have been held at different levels. The 15th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination, was held on June 24, where India stressed on respecting LAC and both sides agreed to expeditiously implement the understanding on disengagement and de-escalation.

While diplomatic parleys should continue, it is imperative to continue the PMs policy to strengthen both the nations infrastructural and military build-up to contain the Dragon if it challenges us again. No one can challenge a determined India. Though India is a peaceful nation, we will negotiate only from a position of strength. And this can happen when strong leadership under PM Modi is guiding Indias security policy based on national interests.

RK Pachnanda is a retired director general, Indo-Tibetan Border Police

The views expressed are personal
Many of Indias laws have become instruments of oppression rather than vehicles to regulate conduct. One such law is the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). It is primarily meant to combat terror and proscribe known terrorist organisations. Parliament, in the latest amendment to UAPA in July 2019, chose to proscribe individuals and their activities by paving the way to name individuals as terrorists even though they may have no affiliation with any of the 36 terrorist organisations referred to in the First Schedule of the Act. The government seeks to justify this amendment consistent with its alleged desire to effectively deal with terrorists and terrorist organisations who threaten security. Unfortunately, the provisions of UAPA have, in the recent past, been used against those known to speak up for the oppressed, those who foster the cause of civil rights, and others who oppose the government and its policies.

The home minister, when moving the amendment, justified naming an individual as a terrorist if he or she is a terrorist worker or takes part in any terrorist act. He also said that those who help to promote or prepare for terrorism should also be designated as a terrorist(s) including individuals who raise(s) money to promote terrorism. It is true that a person who, as a member of a terrorist organisation, carries forward its agenda by participating in a terrorist act, must be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of UAPA.

However, we move into a somewhat grey zone when the State seeks to prosecute people by charging them with preparing for terrorism or promoting terrorism or raising money to promote terrorism. Unless a direct nexus is established between the acts of preparation or promotion of the terrorist act itself and the activity of a terrorist organisation, the Act will be used, and has been used, to silence those who oppose the State for its discriminatory policies and actions. The home minister further said that there are others who attempt to plant terrorist literature and infiltrate young minds with terrorist theory. What kind of literature is terrorist literature, what theories influence young minds, and what kind of propaganda is perceived to be a terrorist act are concepts ill-defined and easily misused.

So far, no individual has been named as a terrorist under UAPA. But many highly-regarded leaders of society, journalists, students who have opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA, and who were perceived by the State to hold views contrary to that of the government, are currently being investigated with intent to prosecute under UAPA.

The data available with the National Crime Records Bureau Report 2018 suggests that the conviction rate of those prosecuted under UAPA was as low as 14.5% in 2015 and as high as 49.3% in 2017. The total number of persons arrested in 2018 was 1,421; other relevant data includes those charge-sheeted (853), convicted (35), discharged (23) and acquitted (117). Clearly, the rate of conviction in 2018 was less than 30%. Of those convicted by the trial court, several may well be acquitted by the appellate court, making the rate of conviction abysmally low.

This is proof of the investigating authorities roping in named accused who are clearly not terrorists, making the law and procedures under it oppressive. Many of them are kept in custody for years before acquittal. An indication of the laws indiscriminate misuse is reflected in the kind of people arrested under UAPA. Some disturbing examples among others are: Akhil Gogoi, a Right to Information Act activist; Safoora Zargar, a research scholar from Jamia Millia Islamia; Anand Teltumbde and Gautam Navlakha, both of whom have done seminal work in protecting Indias most vulnerable communities, namely the Dalits and Adivasis; Masrat Zahra, a 26-year-old internationally-acclaimed photojournalist; Umar Khalid for allegedly instigating the Delhi riots with his speeches at anti-CAA rallies; and Gowhar Geelani, a Kashmiri author and journalist, for his social media posts.

The reason why naming individuals is oppressive and violates citizens fundamental freedoms is because of the onerous provisions relating to bail. First, those being investigated can be kept in custody for 180 days pending filing of the charge-sheet. Bail is refused if the court, on perusal of the case diary or upon filing of a charge-sheet, is of the opinion that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the accusations against the person are prima facie true. It is the settled position in law that the accused cannot have access to the case diary. As far as the charge-sheet is concerned, the act of taking cognisance by the court is based on a prima facie belief that the accusations are true. At that stage, the accused is not heard by the court. This makes the law onerous and offensive, with no hope for the accused to access bail. Trials, too, take long. At the end of 2018, of the 2,008 cases, only 317 were sent to trial. Given the state of the law, an acquittal at the end of the trial means little.

The imbalance between fundamental freedoms and the larger interests of the State is heavily skewed against the citizen. The State uses the law as an instrument of oppression, making democracy its victim.

Kapil Sibal is a former Union Cabinet minister and senior Congress leader

The views expressed are personal
From a provisional store putting up menu in Sanskrit to a local tea stall giving Rs 1 discount for ordering in Sanskrit, Karamana Village here is slowly but surely edging close to become a Sanskrit Village, where one of the oldest languages is making a comeback.

Located in Thiruvananthapuram, there are 18 streets and a whiteboard at the entrance of each one to greet you with a line in Sanskrit and its translation.

After COVID-19, the business was low. Thats when I came up with this idea of giving a discount to those who order in Sanskrit. In Malayalam, if you order Vada you have to give Rs 5. But if you order Masha Vadakam (Sanskrit name) you will get it for Rs 4, said Mani, a tea shop owner in Karamana, who sends his children to learn Sanskrit in a weekly language class.

Mani said that his business in tea stall has doubled after promoting Sanskrit, basic lessons of which he learned from a Sanskrit teacher, who take classes in the Karamana village.

Janani, the Sanskrit teacher whose love for the language started when she was a student, attended classes in Karamana Agraharam in 2001, and later went on to take a professional degree in the said language.

From being a student in Sanskrit, today I am teaching more than 50 people regularly. This includes children as well as adults from the locality, said Janani.

In my mind, this is a unique attempt. And, it is receiving a large number of participants including this tea stall. The language is spreading its wings among those who havent studied Sanskrit. This tea stall owner is helping in doing so, said A. Adikesavan, a resident of Karamana.

This is the kind of spread that this initiative requires, he said adding, For a language which is very old, classical and almost gone is re-acquiring and re-discovering its root.We have started the promotion of Sanskrit language in this village in November 2018. The initiative is a part of an organisation -- Vishwa Samskrita Pratishtanam and Samskritha Padana Pracharana Kendram in Kerala, said Mahadevan, son of an eminent Sanskrit scholar.

Mahadevan said, We started with 20 days program called Shibiram, where one is taught how to speak English. It like a nursery school, they start from teaching your name. Another initiative, Grah Sambarga is an advanced stage where we visit house to house to educate people.

People are used to Sanskrit here especially with a lot of religious activities. For them its not a foreign language it is their culture. There are so many Sanskrit speaking pandits as well, he further said.

Before initiating Shibiram, we were not sure whether people would come or not but on the first day, we ran out of the space. This gave us a lot of confidence. Later, a nearby hotel, Annapurna introduced with Sanskrit menu to encourage people to speak the language, he added.

(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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Celina Jaitly, who recently made a successful comeback to acting with Seasons Greetings, has said that she battled depression after the death of her parents and newborn son. Depression is an illness and it can be triggered into its worst forms by the energies that surround you, she said, Depression is a disease, it doesnt choose people by their level of success or how they look or how rich or how poor they are. It can happen to anyone. It is not just a passing fancy  like people say my exam went bad and I am depressed. Depression can happen at any age to anyone, it is a clinical disease and must be treated. One must get support system and it must not be ignored.

She called the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput a tremendous loss. Sushant died on June 14 by suicide; he was suffering from depression.

Sharing grief on the death of the actor, Celina told Hindustan Times, It is very sad because it is such a loss of such great talent. It is such a loss of somebodys son, somebodys loved one, someones brother and its a great loss to a film industry. A great talent who probably in the future would have won Indias first Oscar (as best actor), you never know. We will never get to know what capabilities someone like Sushant would have brought to the table.

Celina says it was the support of her husband and doctors that helped her get through it. I was surrounded by people who cared about me. My husband took great care of me. I got help from doctors. Im not over it but Im in a much better place, she says.

Also read: Ratan Rajput says meeting Sushant Singh Rajputs father gave her hope: Hes different, his words give you energy

Celina is marred to Austrian entrepreneur and hotelier Peter Haag. The two are parents to eight-year-old twin boys Winston and Viraj and two-year-old son Arthur.

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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Actor Akshay Kumar shared dramatic new posters of his film, Laxmmi Bomb, as it was announced that the film will release directly on Disney+ Hotstar. Official remake of south hit Kanchana, Laxmmi Bomb is a horror comedy that is being helmed by the director of the original, Raghava Lawrence, with Kiara Advani as the leading lady.

Talking about his character of a transgender in Laxmmi Bomb during a virtual press conference to announce the direct-to-digital release, Akshay said during the interaction, In my 30 years career, this is my most mentally tough role. Raghava introduced me to a version of me even I didnt know existed. This character is unlike anything I have portrayed before and I had to be sure that I did this role without offending any community. Despite doing 150 films, I was so excited to be on the sets every day. I have never given as many retakes as I have given in this film. Laxmmi Bomb has made me more sensitive about gender equality.

Talking about wearing a sari for the role, he added, It is a lovely garment that fits all sizes and shapes. We see women in our daily lives who wear a sari and catch buses and trains, go about their daily routine without the pallu even budging an inch. I couldnt even walk in a sari, it was quite an experience for me. Hats off to how women manage it. I would say if you want to appreciate a sari truly, you should try wearing one.

In 2019, Akshay had shared the first look from the film. Standing next to a Durga idol with Mahishasura at her feet, Akshay looked intimidating, Navratri is about bowing to the inner goddess and celebrating your limitless strength.On this auspicious occasion,I am sharing with you my look as Laxmmi.A character I am both excited and nervous about... but then life begins at the end of our comfort zone...isnt it? #LaxmmiBomb.
Television host and actor Shekhar Suman is travelling to Patna to meet late actor Sushant Singh Rajputs family. He will also urge Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to push for an enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the death.

Shekhar wrote on Twitter, Im going to my hometown Patna to meet Sushants father and pay my respect to him and the CM Shri Nitish Kumar and all the admirers and fans of Sushant to press upon #CBIEnquiryForSushant #justiceforSushantforum @NitishKumar.

Im going to my hometown Patna to meet Sushant's father and pay my respect to him and the CM Shri Nitish Kumar and all the admirers and fans of Sushant to press upon #CBIEnquiryForSushant #justiceforSushantforum @NitishKumar  Shekhar Suman (@shekharsuman7) June 28, 2020

In earlier tweets, Shekhar claimed that there was more to Sushants death than meets the eye and urged everyone not to be believe that he died by suicide. He also started a Justice for Sushant forum to amplify the demand for a CBI investigation into the death.

So it has been declared that Sushant Singhs was plain and simple suicide.Dont fall for that.I suspected this wd happen.The narrative was set from before.Thars why the forum has become all the more imp.plz raise your voices for a reinvestigation, Shekhar wrote on Twitter.

Also see: Radhika Madans homemade dance video will drive away those Monday blues. Watch

We all will have to take a more belligerent stand and not be cowered down by the suicide narrative and whitewashed slanted theories.This time we wont listen.This time we wont be convinced.#justiceforSushantforum, another tweet read.

Sushant died on June 14. The post-mortem report declared the cause of death as asphyxia due to hanging and ruled out any foul play. The Mumbai Police are currently investigating the case and have recorded the statements of at least 27 people, including Sushants family members, rumoured girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, managerial staff and Yash Raj Films casting director Shanoo Sharma.

Amid allegations that attempts were made to stall Sushants career, Deputy Commissioner of Police Abhishek Trimukhe said that the police are looking into every angle, including professional rivalry.

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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Actor Sushant Singh Rajputs journey from Delhi Technical University to Hindi films was nothing short of inspiring. A leap of faith, the actor gave up his degree and a scholarship at Stanford to come and struggle in Mumbai.

This self-confessed nerd, in an interview to Hindustan Times Brunch, had recounted his story. Remembering how he would lip sync to Shah Rukh Khans Sooraj Hua Madham I front of the mirror, he said, Honestly, even if I wouldve been offered a role back then, I wouldve refused because I was a complete introvert. The lip-syncing and posing would happen only in front of the mirror, with just me in the audience. I wanted to be the head boy in my school but, when I had to give a speech, I didnt go to school that day. I didnt want any attention.

He refused to call the time spent before his Bollywood debut struggle. Many would call the years before I hit Bollywood the struggling period but not me. I was not struggling. I was already doing what I loved. Then, I felt the need to meet a girl, and that led me to Shiamak Davars group. My life went into a spin from that point on. Instead of heading to Stanford University from where I had a scholarship offer, I dropped out of college and landed in Versova, in a 1RK (room kitchen) that I shared with six others. You can imagine the reaction at home.

He dropped out of engineering college too. It was 2006, my final year in college, when I dropped this bomb at home. They were shocked! So shocked that they couldnt say anything and I took their silence as their approval. It was hard at that time but now its different. My dad loves it when, on his walks, people call out to him, show him some recent clipping of me he is really proud of me. But even today, almost all our conversations end with beta, degree le leta.

(This copy first appeared in HT Brunch in October 2019)
Many common people and celebrities got the shock of their lives (pun intended) in the form of their post lockdown electricity bills in Delhi and Mumbai. Actor Taapsee Pannu, who was charged 36,000 for June  almost 10 times the usual  shared her surprise by tweeting, 3 months of lockdown and I wonder what appliance(s) I have newly used or bought in the apartment only last month to have such an insane rise in my electricity bill.

The 32-year-old tells us, That was a shocking bill I received. When I took up with them they said that due to lockdown they didnt mention the right amount for the first two months. They charged us basis approximate reading and the bill was supposed to be higher for first two months than what it was, thats why they have added the difference in the third month.

And this one is for an apartment where no one stays n its only visited once in a week for cleaning purpose @Adani_Elec_Mum I am now worried if someone is actually using the apartment without our knowledge and you have helped us uncover the reality  pic.twitter.com/GeBQUSJaft  taapsee pannu (@taapsee) June 28, 2020

However, she has doubts on the electricity providers theory. Pannu adds, They dont have any proof of what our actual reading was. How do we know how high was it? No one really recorded the reading and sent it to us until I raised this issue on social media. Now they have produced the higher readings. I am not sure if they are correct.

Actor Amyra Dastur said she wasnt even living in the flat she was charged for, since April 1. Vir Das and Renuka Shahane were also taken aback by their bills.

Shahane tweeted: I got a bill of Rs5510/= on the 9th of May while in June I got a bill of Rs 29,700 combining May & June where youve charged me Rs 18080 for the month of May. How did Rs.5510/= become Rs.18080/=? The actor says that she has had to pay the bill anyway, as not paying was never an option.

Luckily, I am part of the privileged lot who actually can pay even if the bills are inflated, and take it up later. But my contention is limited to my bill, on what basis have they averaged the March and April 2020 bills according to the readings of May. Okay, they have been kind and halved the bill for April and May, but now the June bill has come, they have added the difference of March as well as April in the bill for May, which came in June, says the 55-year-old.

Dear @Adani_Elec_Mum I got a bill of Rs5510/= on the 9th of May while in June I got a bill of Rs 29,700 combining May & June where you've charged me Rs 18080 for the month of May. How did Rs.5510/= become Rs.18080/=? pic.twitter.com/64zlmNe8Qo  Renuka Shahane (@renukash) June 28, 2020

The company, in Mumbai, has since clarified. We have re-started physical meter reading... Bills were generated on the lower side, being an average of preceding three months that is, December, January and February... Actual consumption in...April, May and June is comparatively higher due to seasonal impact (summer) and increased usage (advent of Lockdown/WfH), said a spokesperson of Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited.

Actor Dino Morea also was one among the many who pointed out the high electricity bills. However, he is optimistic. I am sure theres a solution, theres a meter reading and units consumed. Well just have to understand it better from the electricity company as to why so high suddenly. I am sure if theres an excess charged they will credit it back to me, he says.

Delhiites too face similar woes. Aashima Akhtar, a 3rd year student in Delhi University, asks how is she supposed to pay such steep bills. Apparently BSES has this provisional billing rule in effect owing to lockdown. So theyre asking us to pay bills on last years usage. So, during the three months of lockdown, my bill was a total of Rs13000, the most recent one being almost 8000. Note that this is a rented apartment and the tenants last year had 2 ACs, multiple TVs and coolers, while I have none of these. While I understand physical reading is unsafe for employees, charging bills based on last years usage is ridiculous, she says.

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Rs 399; HarperCollins

During the Emergency, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi came down heavily on the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind  both Islamist organizations that paid for taking a stand against the authoritarian politics prevalent at the time.

Unlike the Jamiat which had actively participated in Indias struggle for independence, and had many freedom fighters as part of its distinguished history, who played a crucial role in the Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience and Quit India movements, the Jamaat, founded by Maulana Abul Ala Maududi in 1941, focused on the restoration of the Caliphate in its initial years. By the mid-1950s though, it was part of the Indian economy and polity, opening its bank account, participating in elections and seeking to enter various representative bodies. Both the Jamaat and the Jamiat brought out a newspaper each, Daawat and Al-Jamiat, respectively. The four-page broadsheets in Urdu focused on politics, economy, religion, and so on. In addition, the Jamaat published Radiance, an English magazine that adhered to its principles in letter and spirit. The publications of both organizations spoke of a commitment to Indias Constitution and voiced the interests of Indias largest minority through peaceful means. Indira Gandhi was neither pleased nor convinced, though, seeing in them as in others, a danger to her autocratic ways. They were dealt with swiftly, harshly, vengefully.

Several of the Jamaats functionaries were incarcerated. Journalists working for its newspapers and magazines were also imprisoned; some went underground, their offices were sealed, and their wives reduced to the status of half-widows. There were instances of senior officer-bearers of the Jamiat being picked up by the police in civilian clothes from their rooms in Deoband and sent away to jails in Lucknow, Kanpur and Bareilly. Often there was no confirmation of their incarceration for days.

One Muslim organization, however, was left untouched by the prime ministers muzzling tactics. It remained free to pursue its aim to profess, practise and propagate religion. At a time when members of many Muslim organizations went underground, its volunteers  sporting long beards that touched their chests, and wearing pyjamas that ended a few inches above the ankles  still went door to door, inviting the faithful to join daily prayers in the neighbourhood masjid. Their gashts (local tours) went on uninterrupted. Some men went for a three-day spiritual rehab, others for a forty-day chilla (a self-transformative tour to a mosque in another city). They would be called Allah Mian ki fauj (Allahs army) in jest. In contrast to rest of the country, they seemed to be living in a social and political vacuum: no power could touch them, no force could go near them. They were the members of the Tablighi Jamaat, a non-political body that was neither in favour of, nor against, the Congress or the Emergency.

The Tablighi Jamaat maintained no list of its members. It did not raise its voice for the release of political prisoners, including those of the Jamaat and the Jamiat. Neither did they step out to establish the Caliphate nor attempt to change the economic system governed by riba (interest), considered haraam (taboo) in Islam. Unlike the other two organizations, whose members were often well-heeled scholars of Islam, the Tablighi Jamaats members were poor, often illiterate men, who could barely recite a few verses from the Quran. They were told by their organization to look within to move ahead in life. They had no quarrel with the world. For them, life was all about internal cleansing with regular prayer, paving the path to spiritual upliftment. They memorized the Quran but made no effort to understand it; they sought no answers from the book. Instead they read Fazail-e-Amal (Virtues of Deeds), a compilation of Hadiths, some regarded as authentic by scholars of Islam, and others whose authenticity is questioned by most, besides some anecdotes and hearsay. From the poverty-stricken peasants of Bihar to dairy farmers of Mewat, all attended the Tablighs three-day retreats at local mosques. Some travelled all the way to the bodys Markaz (headquarters) in Nizamuddin, Delhi. They came of their own free will, at their own expense. They bought their own tickets, their own meals.

Author Ziya Us Salam (Courtesy HarperCollins)

When Indira Gandhi asked for more information about the Tablighi Jamaat, her officials assured her that she had nothing to fear from it. She, however, was not convinced and sent members of her coterie to spend time at the Tablighs headquarters at Nizamuddin. For days, they searched for some evidence of propaganda against Mrs Gandhi  a Friday sermon with political intonations or an address from the pulpit after Fajr (dawn) prayers. They were flummoxed. Forget Mrs Gandhi, the Tablighs members never spoke of any worldly affairs at all. There was no talk of increasing the representation of Muslims in government services or in Parliament, no talk of promoting Urdu or seeking more grants for Aligarh Muslim University. It was unlike other Muslim bodies, which sought to maintain balance between the here and the akhirah, the Hereafter, between worldly attainment and good deeds for the afterlife. The Tablighis cared, as the prime minister was informed and as most scholars of Islam would dub their spiritual quest to be, about matters beyond the sky and under the earth. Whatever happened in between did not concern them. The Tablighi Jamaat represents an ideal Muslim body for some  focused on introspection and isolation.

It is this steadfast refusal to take a political stand or even guide the community in matters of religion that has stood the Tablighi Jamaat in good stead. Not just Indira Gandhi, but even the Janta Party, a ragtag combination of Opposition parties which replaced her at the Centre in 1977, and following governments, have had no impact on the Tablighi Jamaat. Nor has the organization ever been inconvenienced because of the countrys changing politics.

When the Muslim community was stirred into action during the Shah Bano debate in 1985, the Tabligh expressed no views either in favour or against the Supreme Court judgement or subsequent changes to the law made by Parliament. When popular Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani led a rath yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya in 1990, which impacted thousands of Muslim lives and livelihoods, the Tabligh remained silent. When a large section of the Muslim community raised their voice in favour of the Babri Masjid and organized rallies across north India, the Tabligh maintained its distance. Neither matters of Muslim personal law nor masjid shook them, not even the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. The large-scale anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002 failed to goad the body into action. Even when Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee reminded Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of his Raj Dharma, the Tabligh did not express any opinion. Nor did it provide relief to those whose houses had been set ablaze, or those who had been orphaned and left destitute, effectively leaving the supplicants to their own means. The 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, which the BBC described as the worst in a decade in India in which tens of thousands fled their homes, passed by without comment from the Tabligh, as did incidents of Muslim men being lynched following allegations of cow slaughter. Between May 2015 and December 2018, at least 44 people  36 of them Muslims  were killed across 12 Indian states. Over that same period, around 280 people were injured in over 100 different incidents across 20 states, Human Rights Watch reported.

The only purpose of an adherent of the Tablighi Jamaat, it seems, was to go on gasht, pray five times a day, and read Fazail-e-Amal. This was reinforced spectacularly when Delhi witnessed anti-Muslim violence in February 2020. More than fifty people were killed in northeast Delhi and hundreds injured. Copies of the Quran were set ablaze. Saffron flags were hoisted atop minarets of half a dozen mosques, and nineteen were either burned down or desecrated. Civil society swung into action. The Jamiat sent a delegation to assess the damage, helped in resuming prayers in many mosques, got the saffron flags removed through well-meaning members of the majority community. The Jamaat-e-Islami provided food packets and helped the displaced return home. The Tabligh members, however, remained occupied with their respective mosques, focusing on internal cleansing to benefit the individual first and the larger Muslim ummah (Muslim community the world over) at a later stage. There was not even condemnation of the action of hate-driven mobs. Their gasht and khurooj (self financed tours for spiritual rejuvenation), continued as before. Then, quite by accident, the Tabligh found itself in hot waters, literally for the first time since its inception.

In January 2020, the world woke up to the spectre of a deadly virus spreading from China. From the US to Europe, West Asia to South East Asia, everyone geared up to limit mortalities. India reported its first case of the novel coronavirus on 30 January. By the second week of February, there was talk of social distancing. Many wondered aloud about the repercussions of the deadly virus for a country as densely populated as India. By early March, many offices gave their employees the option of working from home as a measure to protect life and health. By the second week, many made this compulsory. Attendance at many mosques had started thinning by then with people choosing to offer prayers at home. Many small congregations, where the message of the Quran was discussed during weekends, were cancelled or continued over online sessions through internet-based meeting apps. On 13 March, the Delhi government banned non-religious congregations above the size of fifty people. As gyms, clubs, cinemas began to down their shutters, the masses read the writing on the wall. Though the state government brought religious congregations under the list of banned groups only through subsequent orders, the Jamaat-e-Islami, not always given credit for liberalism, cancelled its Saturday ijtema (religious gathering). The Tablighi Jamaat, however, continued as before.

Neither newspaper warnings nor government rulings dimmed the enthusiasm of the men at the helm or the organizations many foot soldiers, more than 3,000 of whom descended upon the Markaz in mid-March. Hundreds of these volunteers spread far and wide. Some went to Mumbai where the meeting was cancelled after the Maharashtra government withdrew permission. Some went to Jaipur where too permission to hold the congregation was withdrawn by the state government. In Delhi, though, the jod (congregation) continued. There were men from Tamil Nadu and Telangana, the Andamans and Lakshadweep, Gujarat and Bihar. There were worshippers from Malaysia and Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Kuwait. The dates had been decided a year in advance and the emerging danger to humanity failed to dissuade the faithful. Neither the law of the land which now prohibited gatherings, nor the message of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) who instructed people not to move around during an epidemic, managed to deter them. Gather they did.

People who took part in a Tablighi Jamaat function at Nizamuddin in New Delhi in March 2020 aboard buses taking them to a quarantine facility on March 31. (Biplov Bhuyan/Hindustan Times)

This book comes in the wake of the challenges of Covid-19. Its seed, though, was laid in more peaceful times almost a decade ago, when the Tabligh had not quite created any ripples in the Yamuna. Its volunteers came from across the country to Markaz, attended prayers and sermons, and departed without anybody taking notice. Back in 2009, one early winter morning, a man intercepted me after Fajr prayers at a mosque in Noida. I had seen him in the masjid often but had no idea about who he was.

Assalam-u-Alaikum! Hazrat ji Bambai se aaye hain. (Hazrat ji has arrived from Mumbai.) We would like to have a cup of tea with you, he said.

I had no clue who Hazrat ji was. I managed to extend a half-hearted invitation. Half an hour later, the gentleman was at my place with the said Hazrat ji, a man of about seventy, whose paan-stained lips stood out in stark contrast to his lingering white beard and fair complexion. He wore a cream kurta and white pyjamas, and carried a walking stick. He had with him another gentleman whose job I discovered was to smile through the conversation in general and nod enthusiastically whenever Hazrat ji made a point.

Hazrat ji, I was informed, had come from Mumbai and was on his way to Egypt. He wont be back any time soon, our local man said. He is going on tabligh (tour for taking the message forward) for a year. Hazrat ji has put in many four month trips in his life. Now he is going to Egypt on his own expense for a year. He will not even take his phone. It is a trip with brothers in salvation.

I see, I said, not seeing anything at all. All the best for your trip. Lekin aapne aaj aane ki zehmat kaise ki? (Why did you take the trouble of coming over?) I did not realize it, but this was the opening he had been waiting for.

He promptly responded by reciting a verse from the Quran: You are the best nation brought forth for mankind. You enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong, and believe in Allah.*

It is Ayah 110 of Surah Al-Imran, I said. With some friends, I too work for deen (faith), I added enthusiastically. Remember verse 104 of Surah Al-Imran? And from amongst you there must be a party who will call people to all that is good and will enjoin the doing of all that is right and will forbid the doing of all that is wrong. It is they who will attain true success. (*The translations of Quranic verses used in the book, unless otherwise mentioned, are from Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, Towards Understanding the Quran: Abridged Version of Tafhim al-Quran, trans. Zaar Ishaq Ansari (New Delhi: MMI Publishers, 2011)

Yes, that is what Hazrat ji and all of us preach too. We try to be that group, our local contact chipped in, his smile reaching his ears, his eyes glowing. Hazrat jis companion smiled some more.

Phir aap toh jaante hi hain (Then you know it all), he said, assuming I knew everything about the Tablighs underlying principles which are based on these two verses of the Quran. Inke saath Bismillah kar lijiye. Teen din mein thoda dekh lijiye. Phir ye ladke aapko chalees din aur char mahino ke baare mein bata denge. (Please begin in Allahs name by spending three days in retreat. Then these young men shall explain to you about the forty-day and four-month trips). It is important for you to spend your time in the path of Allah. For us, it is important to have educated men amongst us. Just guide these men. Fazail-e-Amal toh padhte honge? (Surely, you read Fazail-e-Amal?)

That did it.

Sorry, I dont. I read the Quran with meaning. Occasionally, I read its commentary.

Lekin Quran ke fazail aur Hadith ... (But what about the virtues of the Quran and Hadith )? Our Noida man was now desperate to save the conversation.

No, I read Sahih Muslim and Bukhari, two books of authentic Hadiths. My father wrote a tafsir (commentary) on the Quran. It is very elaborate. It is in chaste Urdu. I struggle through it as my Urdu is pretty elementary. Anyway, my idea of Islam is probably different from yours. I do not believe that sitting in a mosque and chanting Allahs name is the only path to success. We work to help the widows, we try to help orphans with education, I said.

All that is good but you must take time out for Tabligh. We all make a beginning some day, said Hazrat ji, as he got up to leave.

If you mean going on a chilla and all that, I can say it directly, I wont. I cannot. But yes, if you want me to spend time with your people in Noida, I do not mind. We can begin our conversation by talking about Surah Al-Asr, I said.

Now it was our Noida guys turn to slip away. We will see, he said, not seeing at all.

Come to Banglewali Masjid. I will be there for a couple of days before I leave, Hazrat ji extended one last invitation.

Hazrat ji, as I discovered, intended to travel for a year with just one small suitcase; no phone, no laptop, no suit. Nothing. Just a few articles of clothing and a lota. No check-in luggage at all. This man was heading forth in pursuit of paradise, inviting unknown men, complete strangers actually, who would not speak his language, to come to the mosque for daily prayers. This way he hoped to create a community of brothers in search of salvation, a brotherhood detached from the ways of the world. How was he going to survive for a year in a foreign land with such limited resources, I wondered. Was this where his unflinching faith in Allah  that everything would work out because he was out spreading His message  come in handy? After all, it was the Prophet who advised the faithful to trust in Allah but first tie the camel  to take all precautions, then leave the rest to the Almighty.

Why does he not begin with his own family? I asked Hazrat jis companion when I met him on another visit to the local mosque. Islam gives us a pyramid to work with for amelioration. We start with self, the family, neighbours, relatives  it goes on.

That is true, but a man cannot discover his inner calling without leaving the comfort of family and home, he responded.

So, it was in search of his inner calling that Hazrat ji had left. He, like millions of others, was a traveller in faith who had left the comforts of home and hearth to find inner peace. And that is how the Tabligh, with a vast grassroots outreach programme, works. In some measure, the idea for this book was born in that meeting with Hazrat ji and his companions in the winter of 2009 when the three-member delegation tried to include me for tabligh. For years after that, I often tried to pick the brains of the members of the organization, trying to get my viewpoint across as well. No matter how much I admired the organizations powers of patience and persuasion in bringing people to masjid for prayer, I was never convinced with the idea of a chilla or khurooj. Then the avoidable tragedy of Covid-19 occurred. And the book began to take shape in my mind.

The book is often critical and occasionally empathetic in its assessment of what is arguably the largest Muslim organization in the world. The Tablighi Jamaat neither promotes a deeper understanding of the Quran, nor of the law of the land. It does help the poor and the ignorant get a feel of religion, and thereby frees religion from the hold of the ulema. Yet it fails to take its recruits to a higher level of accomplishment, impart to them intellectual muscle. It neither encourages nor obstructs its members from participating in the task of nation-building. It never takes on the political dispensation, which probably explains why its volunteers are easily given visas to countries like England, Belgium, Canada and Malaysia.

A bundle of ironies, the Tablighi Jamaat has its own mysterious, some would even say mystical, way of approaching life. But then does it even approach life, when it is concerned solely with that which lies beyond the skies and underneath the earth?

Clearly, there are no easy answers in the world of the Tablighi Jamaat. Nevertheless, I have attempted to find them.
Indias plan to levy a customs duty on solar panels will be framed in a way that it does not severely hit domestic companies who operate from special economic zones, or SEZs, said a person familiar the matter.

Such zones are typically considered as foreign territories for import duty purposes. The government, hence, plans to charge a small equalization levy on imports of solar panels from factories based in such SEZs and run by Indian companies to sell to domestic customers, said the person requesting anonymity. This would be in lieu of the basic customs duty that is set to be levied on imports of solar components from other nations, mainly China and Malaysia.

Such a move will allow units based in SEZs to be competitive, compared to imports while selling to local customers, and at the same time, make a level-playing field for companies outside these zones who do not receive similar tax and other benefits.

India had set up these SEZs to boost exports and earn valuable foreign exchange. The plan to impose the tax on solar panel imports has, however, led companies based in these zones to approach the government to exclude them from it when they sell to domestic buyers.

SEZ units say the tax incentives that initially helped them set up shop have dried up.

The government is in the process of quantifying these benefits, said the person cited above and familiar with the discussions between the government and industry.

India is set to impose a basic customs duty, which could be up to 20%, on imports of solar panels and modules as soon as a safeguard duty, currently in place, expires on 29 July, Mint reported on 22 June. Modules make up nearly 60% of a solar power projects total cost.

Chinese companies dominate the growing Indian market for solar components.
Spain may be about to access as much as 140 billion euros ($158 billion) if the European Union can agree on proposals to finance the blocs economic reconstruction next month and the government in Madrid is determined to show it can make the most of the windfall.

The government already has detailed plans to shift toward a greener economic model and ease its reliance on outdated manufacturing sectors like gas- and diesel-powered autos, and the recovery fund is a chance to accelerate that transformation, according Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Ribera, whos responsible for the economic and environmental transition.

Its not just that we have projects, Ribera said in an interview at her office in Madrid last week. The focus of this recovery is green and digital, and that fits well with the economic agenda that the government had been working on for a long time.

Premier Pedro Sanchez will meet his fellow EU leaders in July as they look to nail down details of a giant stimulus package that will help the regions economy recover from the devastating consequences of the coronavirus lockdown.

Jobs, Growth

Spain has been among the worst hit countries in Europe, with its economy expected to shrink by 12.4% this year and unemployment forecast to surpass 18%. The nation wants to spend the European funds in projects that can boost jobs and economic growth while cutting greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the EU target of turning the recovery into a tool to fight climate change.

If Spain is going to have access to such significant resources, then it makes sense that our partners look line by line at how well spend it, Ribera said. Well use our national plan on energy and climate as an investor guide.

Since returning to government when Sanchez took office in 2018, Ribera has been working on plans to upgrade virtually every sector of the economy from energy and manufacturing to tourism and construction to reduce their impact on the environment and their contribution to climate change.

These packages were designed to be applied very slowly, Ribera said. Then this imploded and suddenly, unexpectedly, you have the opportunity to bring it all forward.

The governments climate bill, which went to parliament in May, outlines the path for the country to become carbon neutral by 2050. Spain aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 1990 levels in 2030. To do that, it wants to boost the presence of renewable energy on its grid to 74% in 2030, and to 100% before 2050. Last week, it approved a decree to streamline the approval of new projects.

Youth Unemployment

In a separate bill presented in early June, the government proposed to ban the sale of single-use plastics from mid-2021 and to bar the free distribution of items such as plastic cutlery, straws, cups and cosmetics containing microplastics by 2023.

Next in line will be old industries and water management. The countrys giant tourism industry, which attracted over 83 million tourists last year and is among the hardest hit sectors, will also need a revamp, Ribera said.

Tourism is not just renovating a hotel facade, she said. It is about regenerating the environment and guaranteeing mobility thats low in emissions.

The government wants programs to have a social focus to make sure the green transition leaves no one behind, Ribera said, wary of the Yellow Vest backlash in France that saw older people protesting against President Emmanuel Macron. Refurbishment of old buildings and urban areas to improve energy efficiency and sustainability must happen in poor neighborhoods first, and the recovery needs to deal with Spains youth unemployment, which is one of the euro areas highest at 33%.

When young people see degradation in the oceans, water shortages, struggling industrial and employment models and other global risks that could have been anticipated and havent, that leads to disengagement, Ribera said. I dont want young people to become Yellow Vests.
Continuing with the Vande Bharat Mission to bring home Indians stranded in various countries, evacuation flights from New Zealand and Kuwait with 324 passengers arrived at Chandigarh International Airport on Monday.

An Air India flight with 140 passengers from Auckland (New Zealand) arrived at Chandigarh via Delhi at 7:30 am, an hour after its scheduled arrival at 6.30am.

The GoAir G8-7185 flight from Kuwait had 184 passengers, most of them jobless because of the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This was the second evacuation flight from Auckland (New Zealand), the first arriving on June 17, and the first flight from Kuwait.

Mohali Civil Surgeon Dr Manjit Singh said that all the passengers arriving from the two flights had been asked to undergo strict institutional quarantine at their destinations

The administration had taken possession of their passports.

So far, eight flights under the Vande Bharat evacuation mission phase 2 have arrived at Chandigarh from the US, Ukraine, New Zealand, Kuwait and Dubai.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers staged a protest against prime minister Narendra Modi and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal across 117 state assembly constituencies on Monday to oppose three farm ordinances passed by the Centre.

Leader of opposition (LOP)Harpal Singh Cheema said, AAP will oppose the anti-farmer ordinances and fight for the people the state.

AAP vice-president (Sangrur) Narinder Kaur Bharaj said Sukhbir wanted to protect his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal at the Centre and therefore had lent support to the controversial ordinances but AAP will organise people against such policies.
Calling attention to the plight of the hospitality sector, the Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association on Monday urged the state government to allow restricted entry of tourists.

The association advised the government to allow entry of tourists with confirmed reservations at hotels complying with Covid-19 guidelines.

The associations adviser, Anil Walia, said, The tourism industry has been badly affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the government must take steps to revive it.

We have urged the government to allow hotels that have adopted standard operating procedures to operate, he said.

The Himachal government had allowed businesses, including restaurants and hotels, to open as part of Unlock 1.0 but the states hotel and tourism sector stakeholders were not keen on resuming operations as the inter-state borders were closed to outsiders.

So far, only locals or those travelling for official meetings, business tie-ups and emergencies are allowed to book hotel rooms.There are restrictions on entertaining non-resident tourists from other states and abroad.

Walia said the tourism industry was waiting for the state to open borders to tourists: There are many tourists who want to visit the hill-state, he said.

Association president MK Seth said opening the borders will help bring occupancy to at least 30%.

The government had allowed hotels to open for locals in Unlock 1.0 and tourists from other states should be allowed in the second phase. Only tourists from cities with high viral loads should be banned.
The Congress party staged a protest against hike in fuel prices in Sonepat, Rohtak and Jhajjar on Monday.

The protests were led by Rajya Sabha member of parliament Deepender Hooda. The grand-old party had held nationwide protests against the incessant rise in petrol and diesel prices.

Interacting with the media in Rohtak, Deepender lashed out at the Modi government for increasing fuel prices when the prices of crude oil had plummeted in the international market.

While the country is battling the Covid-19 pandemic, the central and state governments are increasing fuel prices. The government should reduce fuel prices and provide relief to people. The hike in fuel prices at the time of cultivation has increased farmers expenditure, the Rajya Sabha MP said.

He also submitted memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the deputy commissioners of Rohtak, Sonepat and Jhajjar.

Hooda said Covid-19 cases are on the rise but the state government had opened its border with Delhi.

The state government is only focusing on selling liquor that too without the consent of Haryana residents, he added.
Punjab Agricultural University scientists have cautioned the farmers against fall armyworm attack on maize crop over 4 lakh acres in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ropar, Pathankot, Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib districts. The invasive insect-pest was first spotted in Africa in 2016 and first time in India in 2018.

Experts say the pest can destroy the crop completely if not controlled in time. Maize is already sown over at least 4 lakh acres in six districts of state and an addition of 2.5 lakh acres more is expected.

The pest attacks 10 to 40-day-old plant, said PK Chhuneja, head department of entomology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).

It was spotted for the first time in Africa in 2016 and soon spread to 40 countries in the continent within a year. In India, the pest was first sighted in May 2018 in Karnataka, and within a year, it infested almost all the states. In Punjab, it was first spotted in August 2019 and damaged late sown fodder maize in various districts, said Chhuneja.

In an advisory, the PAU has urged farmers to complete sowing of maize by June 30 as rains help in reducing the pest load on the crop at its most susceptible stage. Fodder maize sowing should be done by August 15. Fodder crop sown late, as experienced last year, has higher pest incidence, said Chhuneja.

It caused huge damage to maize crop in Bihar last season. Its attack on maize crop is visible this time, but we are ready to deal with it, said Punjab agriculture secretary KS Pannu. He advised farmers to be vigilant as the crop is currently at the most susceptible stage for the pest attack. He said the pest attacks only maize and there is no danger to any other crop.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief secretary Roop Singh on Monday said the SGPC wants the Kartarpur Sahib corridor to reopen but the final decision will be taken by the central government and the body will abide by it.

Pakistan on Saturday had said that it was prepared to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib corridor for all Sikh pilgrims from June 29.

All the Sikh pilgrims want the Kartarpur Sahib corridor to reopen, even the SGPC is of this opinion but the final decision will be taken by the government of India as the issue pertains to the health of Indian citizens. We will abide by the Centres decision, said Singh.

Taking to Twitter, Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said he had told India about Pakistans readiness to reopen the 4.7-kilometre passage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.

As places of worship open up across the world, Pakistan prepares to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for all Sikh pilgrims, conveying to the Indian side our readiness to reopen the corridor on 29 June 2020, the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh.  Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) June 27, 2020

Kartarpur Sahib corridor is a 4.7 kilometre-long passage that connects Dera Baba Nanak Sahib in Indias Gurdaspur and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistans Kartarpur. It was inaugurated last year.

Pakistans announcement regarding the corridor comes as the country is gradually lifting the restrictions imposed in the wake of the coronavirus in phases.
Ludhiana Punjab health and family welfare minister Balbir Singh Sidhu inaugurated a 30-bed mother child hospital in Khanna on Monday. He said 25 government hospitals have been started in the state in 2020, and 12 more will be established by the end of the year.

Sidhu said that to check the shortage of staff in the department, an agenda to recruit 4,000 personnel will be put up in a cabinet meeting shortly. Besides this, services of contractual staff will also be regularised soon, the minister said.

He assured that the Khanna civil hospital building will be repaired soon and there will be no shortage of ambulances.

He said he will also raise the issue of opening a medical college in the area with the chief minister.

He added that Punjabs performance in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic has been commendable and saving lives is the governments priority.

Fatehgarh Sahib MP Amar Singh said the mother child hospital will prove beneficial for residents of the area. He appreciated the efforts of health department in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday protested against the unprecedented hike in prices of petrol, diesel and other essential commodities across the Union territory, including Jammu city.

Former minister Raman Bhalla said, The BJP government is fleecing people by imposing heavy taxes. When they assumed power in 2014, the excise duty was 9.20 per litre on petrol and 3.46 per litre on diesel. In six years, it has increased to 23.78 per litre on petrol and 28.37 per litre on diesel. A 820% hike on diesel and 258% on petrol is shocking, he said. Later, the leaders submitted a memorandum to the President of India via the Jammu district magistrate.

The Congress leaders submitting a memorandum to President of India through the deputy commissioner in Dharamshala on Monday. (HT Photo)

The Congress also protested against the rising prices of petrol and diesel in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.

Led by Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) general secretary Ajay Mahajan, the party leaders submitted a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind alleging that as the common masses are reeling due to Covid-19 outbreak, the BJP government was turning disaster into opportunity to make quick bucks. They said the government has burdened the people by increasing the excise duty on petrol and diesel.

They said that the increase in fuel prices will result in rise in prices of essential commodities adversely affecting the lives of people. The party asked the Centre to cut fuel prices and extend benefits of low oil prices in international market to public.
Sangrur: A 55-year-old man died of Covid-19 at Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, a health department spokesperson said on Monday.

Rajinder Singh of Malerkotla was admitted to a Sangrur hospital on June 22 but was referred to the hospital in Patiala on June 24 where he was put on ventilator support but he succumbed to coronavirus on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, a former civil surgeon of Pathankot, Vinod Sareen, 59, and a laboratory technician at the civil hospital in Hoshiarpur have tested positive for coronavirus. Dr Sareen has been referred to Government Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar. Dr Sareen was removed from the post of civil surgeon a few days ago and appointed deputy director. He stays in Hoshiarpur.

Senior medical officer Jaswinder Singh said that the former civil surgeon was brought to the civil hospital with complaint of uneasiness and flu symptoms.

His sample was tested by the newly installed TrueNat machine in the hospital and his report came out positive, Dr Jaswinder Singh said.

A 34-year-old laboratory technician in the civil hospital also tested positive for the virus.

More than 10 health workers at the maternity ward of the Ferozepur civil hospital were tested for Covid-19 on Monday after a 28-year-old woman tested positive five days after delivery.

Last week, the pregnant woman from Ferozepur city was admitted in the maternity ward of the civil hospital and she was discharged two days after giving birth on June 24.

Her Covid-19 report was received on Monday and she was found positive.

While the samples of all staff members who attended to the woman were collected, the test report of the newborn is yet to arrive.

Ferozepur sub divisional magistrate Amit Gupta said efforts were on to trace the contacts of the woman.
AMRITSAR A former employee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Kanwaljit Singh has lodged a complaint with Amritsar police commissioner against the officials of the gurdwara body with regard to missing of 267 saroops of Guru Granth Sahib from its publishing house.

Kanwaljit, who retired from service on May 31, in the complaint refuted SGPCs claim that only 14 saroops were damaged in the 2016 fire. He said the number of saroops damaged in the blaze and due to water in fire control operation was 80 and the SGPC officials hid this truth. The record of remaining 187 saroops was taken away from me by the SGPC officials. They did so to hide the 2016 incident, he said.

Apart from forcibly getting an affidavit from me, the SGPC officials continue to harass me to make me keep my mouth shut. I want a case registered against the SGPC officials and a free and fair inquiry. I have evidence and will produce them before the inquiry officer, said the complainant.

On the other hand, the SGPC has termed the accusations as misleading and condemnable.
Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday urged the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre to return the donations received in the PM-CARES Fund from Chinese firms.

Capt Amarinder Singh said that he had got information that Chinese companies or companies having funding from China were contributing to the PM-CARES Fund. There is a confrontation on between India and China. If any money has been received, it should be sent back, he said at a press conference here, naming four Chinese firms.

The Punjab chief ministers statement came a day after the Congress alleged that Chinese firms were contributing to the fund, asking the Modi government why it was accepting such donations at the time of a standoff between the two countries. The PM-CARES Fund was set up by the central government in March this year to deal with any coronavirus-related emergency.

CAPT FOR REOPENING KARTARPUR CORRIDOR

Capt Amarinder Singh said he was in favour of reopening the Kartarpur Corridor which allows visa-free access to Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistans Narowal district.

Pakistan had on Saturday announced its readiness to reopen the corridor to Indian pilgrims.

The chief minister said the Centre will take a decision on this. If they ask me, I will tell them that I am in favour of opening the Kartarpur Corridor with strict social distancing guidelines, he said in response to a query.
PATNA

Induction of former LJP MP Rama Kishore Singh into the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has been put on hold in the wake of former union minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh tendering his resignation from the post of vice-president of the party, though it is yet to be accepted by chief Lalu Yadav.Rama Singh was scheduled to join the RJD on Monday.

I was scheduled to join the RJD on Monday, but the programme has been cancelled due to some reason. Whenever the RJD asks me to join, I will, said the former LJP leader, who was elected to the Bihar Assembly five times before being elected MP from Vaishali in 2014, where he trounced RJD veteran and five-term MP Raghuvansh.

Earlier this month, Rama Singh, who had quit LJP in 2019 after being denied a ticket for the Lok Sabha election, had met RJD leader Tejaswhi Prasad Yadav and before that Lalu Prasad in Ranchi. A few days ago, he even announced his imminent induction into the RJD, following which Raghuvansh Prasad shot off his resignation letter. Both Rama Singh and Raghuvansh Prasad are Rajputs with sizeable influence in the community.

While Tejashwi was not available for comment, RJD spokesman Chitranjan Gagan said Rama Singhs induction was put on hold for the time being. Raghuvansh Babu is our guardian and our entire focus is on his recovery. Today, we have got news that he has tested negative. After five days, there will be another test. Any decision regarding Rama Singh will be taken by the party high command, he said.

Rahuvansh Prasad, who was down with Covid-19, has recovered, though he will remain in hospital for another few days. He was admitted to AIIMS-Patna after testing positive on June 17.Last week, five RJD MLCs had left the party and joined the JD-U the same day Raghuvansh Praasad Singh resigned.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday paid tribute to a senior doctor of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP), who died on Sunday after contracting the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) earlier this month.

Dr Aseem Gupta, 52, died at the Max Hospital in Saket, a private dedicated Covid-19 facility, and had treated patients infected with the virus.

Dr Aseem Gupta, a senior doctor of LNJP Hospital succumbed to Covid yday. He was known for going out of his way to serve his patients. We have lost a very valuable fighter. Delhi salutes his spirit and sacrifice... Kejriwal tweeted.

The chief minister also said that he spoke to the doctors wife and offered his condolences and support.

Dr Aseem Gupta, a senior doctor of LNJP Hospital succumbed to Covid yday. He was known for going out of his way to serve his patients. We have lost a very valuable fighter. Delhi salutes his spirit and sacrifice.



I just spoke to his wife and offered my condolences and support. pic.twitter.com/0aD9nZmBoR  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 29, 2020

The LNJP hospital in a statement said that Dr Gupta, a front line anaesthesia specialist, was infected with Sars-Cov-2, the virus which causes Covid-19, while on duty.

He tested positive on June 6, when he had mild symptoms and was shifted to a quarantine facility. His symptoms aggravated on June 7 and he was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of the LNJP Hospital, the hospital said on Sunday.

Dr Gupta was shifted to Max Hospital on June 8 on his request, it said.

LNJP hospital recently completed 100 days of being declared as a dedicated Covid-19 facility under the Delhi government.

A senior official of the hospital said a condolence meeting will be held at 1pm in the office of LNJPs medical director to pay respects to Dr Gupta.

Delhi recorded nearly 2,900 infections and 65 deaths on Sunday due to Covid-19. The containment zones in the national capital have gone up to 417 with the state government scaling up its testing capacity consistently.

(with inputs from PTI)
The Delhi government on Monday told the Delhi High Court that the city was facing a manpower shortage after four doctors succumbed to Covid-19 and thousands of healthcare professionals were infected. The government said that it was preposterous to move a contempt petition against it over the managing of bodies at such a time.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

Appearing for the Delhi government, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, told a bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan that at a time when four doctors have succumbed to Covid-19 and thousands of healthcare workers have been infected, it was unfortunate and preposterous that a contempt plea had been moved even when the government is doing its best.

The court was hearing a contempt plea moved by advocate Avadh Kaushik seeking action against the Delhi government and the medical director of Lok Nayak Hospital for allegedly not adhering to the undertaking given to the High Court with regard to handling bodies of Covid-19 victims. In his plea, Kaushik has alleged that bodies were lying in the same wards and corridors of the Lok Nayak Hospital where Covid-19 patients were admitted and kept.

Additionally, the court was also hearing a plea which it had initiated itself on the piling of bodies at the hospital mortuaries and crematoriums. The court was hearing another matter by an NGO Mokshda Paryavaran Evam Van Suraksha Samiti through advocate Gaurav Bansal, offering its services of green cremations to the city.

Advocate Akhil Mittal, the standing counsel of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, had, however, opposed the services and said that there would be confusion if this NGO was allowed to operate as there is already another NGO involved in the work.

In a status report, the civic body also said that there is no piling or backlog of bodies and the work is going on smoothly.

On Monday, ASG Jain told the court that the issue of body management is also pending before the Supreme Court, which had taken suo moto cognizance of the matter based on news reports. He said that the matter would be heard on July 20.

Following this, the court posted the matter for July 29 for further hearing and said it would wait for the orders of the apex court in the matter before passing any direction or order.
Having spent more than 30 years with the Department of Correction, I was here when the population ballooned and now I am seeing it shrink like never before. In short, I have learned to expect the unexpected, Quiros said. As we continue to manage and prepare for future obstacles related to the Covid-19 pandemic, one thing that I am certain of is the ability of the agencys amazing staff to adapt to, and overcome any future challenges.
The Delhi high court Monday said it will hear next week the pleas related to the violence during Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in December 2019.

A bench of chief justice DN Patel and justice Prateek Jalan listed the matter for July 6 as arguments were not completed and the rejoinder filed by one of the petitioners was not on record.

Let the matter be adjourned to July 6, said the bench, hearing the case through videoconferencing.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Delhi Police, contended that irresponsible pleadings are filed in the rejoinder of one of the petitioners, Nabila Hasan, who has sought action against the police for allegedly brutally attacking the petitioners, students and residents of JMI.

As her rejoinder to Delhi Polices reply, filed in the petition, was not on courts record, Mehta said he will address the bench on this issue on the next date of hearing.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Hasan, said he has filed an application seeking an addition to the prayer made in the petition
The three-year-old son of Sandeep Rajput, who works as a technician for a leading car-manufacturing company, has not stopped crying from pain. he toddler has a severe ear infection that needs immediate surgery. But, for the last two weeks, his parents have been struggling to get a date for an operation at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, which is one of Delhis largest private hospitals.

You can see the puss oozing out of his infected ear; it stinks and the doctor who saw him two weeks ago had also said that he needed surgery at once. We have been trying for the past two weeks. But are told to come back later. On Friday, we went to the hospital again and they asked us to come back on Monday. Today, the wait was very long, so we were asked to come again on Tuesday. The delay, they said, happened because the Covid areas were being segregated from non-Covid areas, he said.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

It is getting difficult to manage him. Hes been in great pain for the past two weeks, and the symptoms began a month ago. We requested the hospital for an appointment on Friday, and now its Tuesday. I hope it does not get delayed further, added the boys mother Neelam, even as she struggles to pacify him..

Elsewhere, Praveen Kuchhals younger brother, who is 48 years old and did not want be named, said he had to wait for a month before he underwent a surgery to get one of his kidneys removed at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. It was taking long but then we thought it was good the hospital is taking precautions. Not just patients, but even doctors have to be confident about surgery. It was inconvenient, but we had no choice, the man, who is a Delhi-based businessman, said.

The Delhi government last month asked Gangaram hospital to be converted into a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) care centre. Ever since the government order, the hospital has been working to make the necessary arrangements, leading to delays and often inconveniencing patients.

The hospital at present has 204 Covid beds, of which 134 are occupied, as per the Delhi Corona app on Monday.

The hospitals out patient-departments (OPDs) now barely treats 250 patients in a day, as compared to around 2,000 that it used to before the pandemic set in and strict social distancing measures were put in place.

We have been visiting this hospital for years now. It has always been busy. Earlier also, it would take time for consultation, admission, billing. But this time around, things are different and it is taking longer than usual. Even getting an appointment with a doctor takes long. There are fewer patients and even fewer doctors. People were saying it is happening due to Covid-19, said Raj Kumar, Noida-based businessman dealing in dairy products. Kumars uncle is undergoing treatment in the orthopaedic department of the hospital.

The hospital  one of the busiest private health hubs in the city  has been working at nearly 45% of its doctor strength in its OPDs for the past couple of months due to Covid restrictions.

From 45 OPDs running six days a week that treated 40-50 patients each, the hospital has reduced consultations to about 10-12 patients per OPD. There are no more than 15 OPDs running for two-three days in a week now.

There is too much panic. You can see the staff being extra cautious, which is understandable as this disease is highly infectious. We are grateful that at least our patient was admitted and treatment started here. There were other smaller hospitals in our area but we had heard they werent admitting Covid patients, and thats why we came here, said Rakesh Kumar, whose uncle, an unconfirmed Covid-19 case, is undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of Gangaram.

The hospital is planning to start running full strength from July 1. It takes time; we should be ready in a couple of days. I am asking all my staff to report back to work. There are many disciplines, like surgical departments, which cannot work online. You need to examine patients. You cannot stay at home all your life; we have to get back to normalcy as soon as possible as right now it is affecting the medical services we offer, said Dr DS Rana, chairman, board of governors, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Just a stones throw away at BLK Hospital, patients in OPDs are also experiencing long waiting hours as the hospital has also been partially converted into a Covid care centre.

The screening process, before you even reach the OPD, is taking a lot more time. I was at the hospital at 9am on Friday and till 2pm my wife wasnt seen by a doctor. We have been treated in the hospital before; it never took us this long. Why cannot they keep Covid patients at a separate hospital; it is causing huge inconvenience, complained Roop Singh Guleria, a resident of north west Delhis GTB Nagar.

The hospital at present is treating 114 Covid-19 patients, as per the Delhi Corona app on Monday.

While emergency cases are being addressed, it is the non-emergency cases that have to face long queues.

ICU patients are being taken in quickly. But it is the non-emergency cases that you will find complaining as they have to wait longer. Even though the rush is less, it is getting a bit chaotic, said Rohtash Kaushik, who had come from Haryana to get his father treated for neck cancer.

BLK Hospital did not respond to questions on delayed appointments.

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Non-functional air conditioning in wards, an inadequate doffing area and the non-availability of N-95 masks for health care workers are some problems the medical staff at the North Corporation-run Hindu Rao Hospital, which started operating as a Covid-19-dedicated facility on Saturday, are facing.

Doctors and nurses said the emergency block that has been converted to a Covid-19 facility does not have functional ACs. They said wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) coveralls during 12-hour shifts, even with breaks, is suffocating and makes them dizzy.

We had met the hospital authorities on Saturday and they said they would resolve the issues by the first week of July. At present, three or four doctors have been put on rotating duty and are somehow managing, but this cannot be sustained when the number of Covid-19 patients in the ward increases, Dr Abhimanyu Sardana, a senior resident and the president of the hospitals resident doctors association (RDA), said.

On Monday, the hospital had six Covid-19 patients, of which one is admitted to the ICU. The hospital, one of the biggest under the North Corporation, started operations with 50 beds for Covid-19 patients on Saturday, instead of the 200 announced on June 14 when the hospital was declared a Covid-dedicated facility.

North Corporation mayor Jai Prakash, along with other officials, inspected the facility on Monday. At present, we have logistics in place for 50 beds, so we started the process of admitting Covid-19 patients. Beds will be added in phases of 50 each and the number will go up to 200. We have decided to provide at least 50 beds with ventilator support. Right now, the hospital has 17 ventilators. We have roped in agencies under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiativeto provide us with ventilators to take the total number up to at least 50, he said.

The mayor said they were aware of the problems the staff was facing and had ordered 48 new air-conditioners while the old ones were being repaired. We will install the new ACs by the first week of July, he said.

The staff on duty said that besides the doffing area for PPE kits not being adequate, health care workers in green and orange zones of the hospital such as corridors, nursing stations and the resting area have not been provided with N-95 masks, which is a must. This has caused a fear of infection among the staff.

The doffing area must be close to the Covid-19 ward so that the staff exiting the red zone can dump their kits without having to cross over to other areas. At present, we have to walk through the corridor to dump the kits. This could increase the chances of infection spreading to the orange and green zones, a senior resident, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.

On Sunday, a 53-year-old housekeeping staff member of the hospital, Raju Singh Sonwal, died of Covid-19the first Covid-19 death at the hospital after it was declared a Covid-19-only facility.

So far, the hospital has reported two Covid-19 deaths. On June 19, a 56-year-old lab technician posted at the pathology lab here had succumbed to the virus. At least 76 staffers, including doctors, nurses, safai karmcharis and paramedics, have tested positive for Covid-19 at the hospital between April 25 and June 28.

There are issues with the dumping of PPE kits. Even when there were suspected patients in the isolation wards, there were similar issues and several staffers ended up testing positive. There is fear and anxiety of contracting the infection among the workers in such circumstances, a nursing officer, who did not wish to be named, said.

Reacting to this, Prakash said they have tied up with an NGO for providing their staff with around 1,000 N-95 masks. The masks will reach the staff in a day or two, he said, adding, Also, we will be helping the family of Raju, who died fighting Covid-19, by appointing one of his children to the job so that the family is taken care of.

A senior North Corporation official, explaining the challenges in setting up of beds and doffing areas, said, When we talk of a bed, it implies that other services such as specialist doctors, staff nurses, monitors, oxygen supply points, etc. too need to be made available for each of the Covid-only beds. Structural requirements such as separate donning-doffing areas, entry-exit points, dedicated operation theatres, etc. need to be created. To separate the Covid-19 area from the other buildings, we have started operations with 45 beds, five ICU beds and 84 isolation beds. We plan to add more as and when logistics and financial requirements are met.
Nepals Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is back to his old tricks, or, to be more precise, two inter-related tricks of jingoistic anti-Indian nationalism and internal anti-Madhesi chauvinism. The first tool in his playbook is building up resentment against India, ramping up nationalistic fervour, and projecting himself as the saviour of the Nepali nation which India is out to target. The passage of an amendment to ratify a new Nepali map with territory claimed and controlled by India was one recent step in this direction. His claim on Sunday that India is out to topple his government  with no evidence  is another step.

Two, Mr Oli also taps into a mindset which sees the Madhesis  Nepali citizens of the southern plains, the Tarai  who share extensive kinship ties with people across the border in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, as a fifth column, more loyal to India than to Nepal. This is why he ensured that the Constitution did not have equitable power-sharing arrangements. And that is why Nepali ultra-nationalists portray extensive cross-border marriages as somewhat dangerous to Nepal and its current demography  conspiracy theories of Nepals Fiji-isation and eventual Sikkim-isation are conjured up. A current bill in Nepals parliament, which would make it more difficult for those who have married Nepali citizens from obtaining citizenship is a step in this direction and will deal a blow to the close people-to-people ties between the two countries.

These two tricks are essential for Mr Oli to overcome his real political challenges. His government has been an abysmal failure in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. He faces challenges from within his own party. Despite a strong mandate, he has done little to deliver on his promise of economic development. And he presides over one of the most corrupt governments in Nepal in recent years, with crony capitalism at its peak. He also gets away because of the backing of the one external power that is today micro-managing Nepali politics, and saved his government by mediating between internal communist party factions just two months ago: China. If Mr Oli is truly a nationalist, he should worry about the Chinese penetration in every sphere of the Nepali polity. But that wont happen. India needs to keep a careful watch on developments in Nepal, recognise the threat Mr Oli poses, quietly work with its friends and allies in Kathmandu to build a more inclusive polity, let the communist government collapse under the weight of its contradictions, and make it clear that with his actions and statements, PM Oli has left little scope for meaningful engagement
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Friday ended months of uncertainty for the students of classes 10 and 12 after announcing the alternative assessment pattern necessitated by the cancellation of their pending exams due to Covid-19 pandemic. The exam results of classes 10 and 12, which were announced in May last year, will be delayed by two months this year and are likely to be out by July 15.

While the exam results of students who appeared for all their board examinations will be based on their performance in these exams, the marks for the pending exams of those who appeared in more than three examinations will be calculated based on the average of their top three scores. For those who have appeared for only three exams, the average of the best two will be calculated to score their pending papers. While Class 12 students can appear for improvement exams at a later stage if the situation is conducive, the exam results of Class 10 students based on this revised scheme will be final.

While the CBSE notification on Friday eased the minds of students worried about being marked on the basis of school assessments, they raised questions on the disadvantages of receiving moderated marks.

There is no clear consensus about how students feel about the CBSE notification since some students want to appear for their exams. To them, it seems unfair that they are graded in one paper as per the performance in others. This isnt helpful for students who focus on some subjects more while preparing for board exams, said Class 12 student Hazel Bali, who plans to study Communication Management and Design in the US, and has one exam pending.

Besides, some students who might do well in Sociology, for instance, might not be that good in other subjects. Getting graded based on that would seem like a disadvantage, she added.

Not all students are, however, opposed to the move. Rahul Gupta, a Class 12 student in Vikaspuri, said, Keeping the Covid-19 crisis in mind, this looks like the most feasible solution. While it may not work out for some students who need top scores in their principal subjects, it seems like an ideal solution for me since I want to study hotel management and just need a decent average to get through.

Students of classes 10 and 12 who could not appear for their exams due to the pandemic and the Delhi riots were to appear for the 29 pending papers scheduled to take place between July 1 and 15. However, the spike in Covid-19 cases and concerns of parents who moved to the Supreme Court prompted the board to cancel the papers and announce a revised assessment scheme.

Divya Bhatia, the principal of Amity International School in Saket, said the school is trying to help students navigate the situation and counselling them. The students are confused about how this decision will pan out and affect their higher education prospects. This is because students often take up papers like Home Science and Information Practices to improve their aggregate as they tend to score more in these papers. But now these exams are cancelled. This is sad for them as they spent two years studying the subjects and there will be no exams as of now, she said.

Srijani Datta, a Class 12 student from Bloom Public School in Vasant Kunj, said, My Sociology exam is pending and I want to pursue my undergraduate degree in that subject. This is a genuine concern since I risk losing 2.5% while applying to DU if I dont include the subject in my best of four subjects. The past week has been extremely stressful because of lack of clarity.

Her mother Upali Roychowdhury added, The revised assessment plan comes as a relief because, seeing the Covid-19 spike in Delhi, I didnt want her to appear for her exams. This is the best-case scenario and we are hoping she gets a decent score.
Delhi University will conduct a mock test for final semester exams of undergraduate and postgraduate (regular, NCWEB, SOL) students in open book exam mode from July 4 to 8. The university has released a timetable for the mock test on its official website at du.ac.in.

DU will conduct the open book exam for final semester on July 10. Earlier, it was scheduled to begin from July 1 which was then postponed. The university has now decided to let the students take the mock test before appearing for the exam in order to understand the methods of answering the questions online.

According to the official notice, this is based on one time measure for academic session 2019-20 for final year in view of the Covid-19-Pandemic. Question papers as given for Mock Test are indicative for practice and based on procedural steps required for appearing in examinations only. Students can appear in any paper (I to XV) as per schedule for practice with the procedure of Mock test including downloading of question papers, writing of answers on white sheets either on the plain or ruled sheets (A4 size), scanning of answer sheets and uploading of answer sheets on the portal.

The duration for the examination is two hours only while an extra hour will be given for downloading question papers, scanning and uploading of answer sheets. The Total duration shall be three hours. However, the students belonging to Divyang (PWD) category will be given five hours for the exam.

Check official timetable here
The Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday stayed a Haryana government move to hold examination for the students, who are opting science subjects in class 11th in state schools.

The high court bench of justice Manjari Nehru Kaul passed the order on the plea of NISA Education, a society of private schools in the state.

The society had challenged multiple communication from Board of School Education, Haryana, vide which it was directed that the students wanting to opt for the science stream in 10+1 will have to take an examination. The board had also asked the school authorities to upload the consent of such students for the examination on the website by June 17, failing which the report/result of the students would be treated as zero.

The schools had told court that government move is discriminatory in nature, more so, in the current conditions prevailing across the globe due to the outbreak of pandemic COVID-19, as the exam has been made mandatory for students wanting science stream in 10+1.

The court was told that due to Covid-19 outbreak the result was to be declared on average basis but now after elapsing of four months from the start of next academic session and all the students have got the admission in 10+1 classes, the board is planning to conduct the examination. It was also stated that the higher and technical education departments came out with a notification on June 23 by which the universities and colleges are not going to conduct the examinations and students would be promoted by a notified criterion. The schools have demanded that same criterion should be adopted by the students opting science studies.

The schools have also termed the move in violation of guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs under Disaster Management Act, 2005. When the country is going into the community spread of COVID-19 and Coronavirus cases are increasing day by day, the board is going to conduct the examination, the court was told.

The court has sought response from the government and Board, by July 6 further directing that the conduct of the examination will remain stayed till the next date of hearing.
We are living in a world high on social media and social networking. Whether you know it or not, you could already be connected to the person who can and will give you your big break. And Facebook and Twitter have got lots to do with your dream job.

This is not just about candidates looking for jobs or top-notch contacts. It is a give-and-take situation. Social networking has also become more and more essential as a way for companies and recruiters to find the right talent. Leading companies like Accenture will be using social media to make as many as 40% of their hires in the next few years.

Social media can be used to boost ones job search as many businesses now embrace social media as part of their talent attraction strategy. A potential employer can discover a sense of a potential candidates personality before an interview that they dont necessarily get from a CV and cover letter.

At a time when social networking is at its prime, LinkedIn needs a special mention.This noisy and chaotic place has revolutionised the entire professional world with more than 400 million people trying to network constantly. LinkedIn is changing recruitment and it is one of the first places recruiters or employers look for candidates. So, if you aretrying to market yourself as young, fresh, forward-thinking, innovative, you need a LinkedIn profile. It means that you, the candidate is willing to take on new things, to move with the times and embrace technology.

But, just LinkedIn is not enough. It helps if one considersstarting a blog and postsrepeatedly on trends within the relevant fields and personal insights and then shares these on their other social media channels. People need to be quite active on all relevant platforms and be sure to comment on other industry blogs to raise their online visibility.

Social media can be used to follow potential employers (harmlessly!) to find out what job opportunities they might have and as a means to start engaging with them. One should take a look at what channels potential employers are using  LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebookand try to connect with them to start engaging. So, if one views a potential hiring managers LinkedIn profile, they will be notified and one will be on their radar.Similarly, one can follow them on Twitter and message them asking for more information about careers. Candidates should be able to identify touch-points  like commenting and liking their latest LinkedIn postor sharing their latest blog. This makes sure that one looks good and informed in the eyes of employers.

Many employers and recruiters search a candidate online upon receiving a CV and one should make sure the search results make them stand out for the right reasons. So, it is crucial that ones social media profiles are up to date and that one keeps their professional and personal ones separate. While it is good to expandones network through social media by connecting with fellow professionals and possible employers, it is imperative that onemulls over quality over quantity. It is quite easy to spend too much time on social media without gaining much success. It is a much better idea to identify the people and businesses that are really going to help an individual in his/her job quest rather than randomly connecting with just anyone.

One should also keep in mind that no matter how strong a CV is, if an employer finds a candidates online presence inapt or odious in any way, one could be endangering his/her chances of getting a job or even getting an interview. If there are numerous good candidates all competing for the same position, an employer will be keenly seeking ways to filter down their choices.

Last but not least, do not be scaredor inhibited of social media; it is just prudent to be conscious of ones online image.

(The author is Luke Collier- Global Head of Employer Delivery (ACCA). Views expressed are personal)
In a big relief for students pursuing chartered accountancy, the Supreme Court on Monday suggested the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to consider the students who are unable to appear for the exam to be considered an opt-out case even if they dont choose the same.

A bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar and also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna was hearing a petition filed by Anubha Shrivastava Sahai, the president of India Wide Parents Association, seeking a stay on the opt-out scheme.

The ICAI had given its candidates, who had already submitted an online examination application for May 2020 examination cycle, the option to opt-out from May 2020 examinations and carry forward their candidature to the next examination.

The apex court also asked the ICAI to issue fresh necessary guidelines incorporating the suggestions put forward by the bench and posted the matter for further hearing to July 2.

The ICAI counsel may take instructions and file the modified draft notification setting out the changes, the bench said.

Supreme Court lawyer, Alakh Alok Srivastava, had appeared for the petitioner before the court and was arguing through video conferencing in the matter.

The petition sought more examination centres, a stay on the opt-out scheme, and better precautions from coronavirus for about 3.46 lakh CA students, who are scheduled to appear in the May cycle exams, to be conducted between July 29 and August 16.

The situation is continuously changing. Even if a candidate has not chosen opt-out option if they suddenly come under a containment zone what will you do? You should treat candidates who dont appear as opt-out cases, the apex court observed.

Lawyer, Ramji Shrinivasan, for ICAI, said that if a candidate sends us an email saying he is unable to take the paper due to COVID-19 situation, we will not question it.

Its a group of 4-4 exams. They can choose to appear at a later date of they are COVID affected, he further submitted to the court.

Dont be rigid. Be flexible. Show some concern for these students. You are a professional body. You must take care of your candidates, the apex court observed and asked the ICAI.

The ICAI had recently filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court in the matter.
The results of second pre-university and the Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination results will be out by July last week and August first week, Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar said on Monday.

Instead of giving general promotion to the 10th and 12th standard students as the Central Board of Secondary Education and other states have done, the Karnataka government decided to hold the examination defying the coronavirus scare.

We are trying to get the SSLC results out by the first week of August.The PUC results will be out in the last week of July, the minister told reporters in Bengaluru.

Amid reports of schools increasing the school fees ignoring the governments direction, the minister said he has got reports that 1,150 schools have increased their fees of which action has been taken against 450 schools.

We have directed all the schools not to increase the fees in view of the coronavirus scare. It is a peculiar year.Humanity says no one should increase fees.

We have set up a helpline. If we come across such practices, we will initiate action, Kumar said.

He said an officer has been entrusted to look into the complaints against schools.

Speaking about online classes for kindergarten students, the minister said such classes are not allowed.

The schools can hold talks with parents twice a week about grooming their children.

Kumar said a decision on opening kindergarten schools will be taken after July 5.

He, however, conceded that most parents are unwilling to send their children to school.

The government is gathering the opinion of parents based on which a decision would be taken, he added.

Regarding education to students from Class one to Class 10, Kumar said the Centre has given guidelines, which will be followed.

The state has formed an expert committee to recommend guidelines on education to children from Class I to Class six.

Once the committee report comes, we will formulate regulations, Kumar added.PTI GMS BN WELCOME BN WELCOME
Snail mail has taken on fresh resonance in this period of isolation, grief and unrest. Sympathy cards are selling out as the coronaviruss toll continues to rise. Constituents are mailing in primary election ballots and addressing handwritten notes to local officials with compliments and complaints. (In some cities, they may also be sending letters to the police.) Many more are writing postcards to friends and loved ones, and calling for the U.S. Postal Service to be saved from its dire financial straits.
Kerala SSLC Results 2020: Around four lakh students will get their Kerala SSLC or class 10th results today. The state education department of Kerala had informed HT that the Kerala class 10th/ SSLC Result 2020 will be declared on June 30. Students who have taken the examination will be able to check their results online by entering their roll/registration number and date of birth. This year the result announcement has been delayed due Coronavirus pandemic. Last year, the Kerala SSLC Result was declared on May 6 and the pass percent was 97.84. Bhavana N. Sivadas had scored 99.8 percent to become the state topper in the year 2019.

Here are the list of websites to check Kerala SSLC Results 2020:

After it is announced , students will be able to check their Kerala SSLC Result 2020 online at

keralapareeksahabhavan.in,

sslcexam.kerala.gov.in,

results.kite.kerala.gov.in,

results.kerala.nic.in and

prd.kerala.gov.in.

Keral SSLC exam was scheduled to be held from March 10 to 24. However, due to the Covid-19 lockdown some papers were postponed. The remaining exams were conducted from May 26 to 30.

Moreover, the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education, Kerala has announced that the Kerala Board class 12th results will be declared on July 10. Over eight lakh students are registered for Kerala Plus Two exams 2020. The exams were held between March 10 and 19. Some papers were postponed due to Coronavirus lockdown. However, the remaining papers were held from May 27 to 30.

(with inputs from Ramesh Babu in Kerala)
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyarion Sunday said higher education institutions should think of adopting new online tools of teaching and learning.

Mentioning that even IIT Bombay has decided to conduct its classes online, in view of the COVID-19 outbreak, Koshyari called for a holistic view to see if new technology is foolproof, harmonious and practicable.

The governor was speaking at the inauguration of a webinar on New Age Tools for Teaching Online which was organised by Academisthan, a platform for teaching faculty serving in higher education institutions.

Mentioning that students will not be happy if they are passed without writing examinations, the governor expressed the view that new technology can be used for conducting exams.

He said thought can be given to provide computers to those not possessing them for writing examinations.

Founder of Academisthan and Chancellors nominee on the management council of the University of Mumbai, Deepak Kumar Mukadam, informed the meeting that more than 6,000 teachers had registered themselves for the three-day webinar.

Vice Chancellor of University of Mumbai Suhas Pednekar, VC of SNDT Womens University Shashikala Wanjari and VCs of other varsities in Maharashtra also attended the event.
Around 35,017 class 12 students, who have flunked in one subject in their UP Board exams, are this time eligible to appear in the compartment exam introduced for them for the very first time.

The dates of the compartment exam are yet to be fixed. The proposal has already been sent to the state government and the dates would be announced as soon as the government gives the go ahead, board officials share.

In the interest of the students, the Board has introduced compartment exam option for class 12 examinees from this year, said UP Board secretary Neena Srivastava, whose three-month extension by the state government is set to end on June 30.

The state governments decision to approve the boards proposal of introducing the compartment exams for intermediate examinees was personally announced by deputy chief minister and secondary education minister Dinesh Sharma in Lucknow in December last.

Till last year, UP Board offered option of appearing in improvement exam to students on failing in two subjects and in compartment exam on failing in one subject in high school board examinations but compartment examination option did not exist at intermediate level, a board official shared.

A few of these failing students did apply for scrutiny but the count of such students was quite low, the official added.

While Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) already offered compartment exam option to its class 12 examinees, Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) also introduced the option from 2019.

The need for introducing the compartment examination option at class 12 level was felt by UP Board all the more in 2019 when instead of two papers for each subject, one paper per subject was introduced in 39 subjects. The move did reduce the exam stress of students but also made it tougher to clear the exams. As earlier, if a student failed to perform well in one of the examination papers of the subject, they had the chance of doing well in the second paper. But since 2019 that option too ceased to exist, the official explained.

Board officials also shared that parents too had been writing to UP Board in this regard pointing out the importance of clearing class 12 exam in one go for a good career.

This also pushed UP Board to send a proposal in this regard to the state government in August 2019. UP Board has since then also decided to not denote compartment in the mark-sheet-cum-pass certificate of such students.
Over 3.7 million, or around 10% of the 37.7 million cases before high courts, district and taluka courts across India, have remained pending for over a decade, according to National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), which monitors the performance of courts nationally. They include 2.8 million cases in district and taluka courts and 920,000 before high courts. Over 660,000 cases have remained pending for over 20 years and 131,000 for more than three decades.

The Supreme Court on June 15 noted with anguish the pendency of cases, particularly criminal appeals, in high courts as it was hearing a murder convicts bail plea while his appeal against his conviction is pending before the Allahabad high court. It called chronic pendency of criminal appeals a challenge to the judicial system. The Supreme Court noted the right to speedy trial also involves that to speedy disposal of criminal appeals. If such appeals are not taken up for hearing within a reasonable time, the right of appeal itself would be illusory, inasmuch as incarcerated convicts (who are denied bail) would have undergone a major part--if not the whole of the period of their sentence.

The Supreme Court asked Allahabad, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Patna, Orissa, Rajasthan, Bombay high courts to submit a detailed plan of action for deciding the pending criminal appeals.

As many as 8.5% of the total of 32.9 million cases pending in district and taluka courts across India, or 2.8 million, have remained so for over 10 years, according to NJDG, which is updated daily and provides consolidated figures of pending cases.

Over 500,000, or 1.5% of cases pending at the district and taluka level, are over two-decade-old while 85,141 cases have remained undecided for over three decades.

District courts fare better than high courts in terms of pending cases. As many as over 4.7 million cases are pending before 25 high courts across the country. Out of them, over 920,000 cases, or 19.26%, have been pending for over 10 years and 158,000 (3.3%) for more than 20 years and 46,754 for three decades or more.

Uttar Pradesh, Indias most populous state, accounts for 40% of the 2.8 million cases pending for over 10 years at district and taluka courts and for 43% of the 500,000 awaiting completion for over 20 years. As many as 40% or 34,000 out of 85,141 cases pending nationally for over 30 years are in Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradeshs Allahabad high court has the most pendency of cases among high courts. It accounts for 30%, or 276000, of 920,000 cases pending in high courts for over 10 years. Over 55% of cases awaiting completion for 20 years in high courts are pending at the Allahabad high court. The percentage is 86 (40,374 out of 46,754) when it comes to three-decade-old cases.

The data reflects the correlation between judicial vacancies and pendency. Importantly, judicial vacancies is a very region centric factor in that it varies vastly from state to state. UP for instance is one of the states where judicial vacancies have been on the higher side and it affects the pendency, said senior resident fellow at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, Ameen Jauhar
Three unidentified terrorists were gunned down by security forces in Jammu and Kashmirs Anantnag district on Monday, police said.

Following inputs about terrorists in Khulchohar area of the south Kashmir district, the security forces launched a search operation.

The operation turned into an encounter after the terrorists fired upon the search party of the forces, who retaliated. The gunfight is underway, police said.

An AK-47 assault rifle and two pistols were recovered from the site, the Indian Army said.

More details are awaited.

On June 26, three terrorists were killed when troops launched an operation at Chewa Ullar in Tral of the Union Territorys Pulwama district after receiving information about the presence of terrorists in the area.

(with agency inputs)
Two policemen succumbed to the infectious Covid-19 disease in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll in the Maharashtra Police to 59, an official statement from the force said on Monday.

With 77 new coronavirus infections found in the force in the last 24 hours, the number of Covid-19 positive cases in Maharashtra Police has risen to 4,743 and is inching closer to the 5,000-mark.

The total number of active coronavirus cases in Maharashtra Police now stands at 1,030.

On Sunday, 150 new coronavirus infections were detected in the force over the last two days.

Earlier this week, on Thursday, three more Maharashtra Police personnel had died of the infectious disease.

Till date, nearly 3,500 police personnel have been cured and discharged and another 1000-odd more security personnel are undergoing treatment for the pathogen.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh announced on Saturday that bravery awards will be given to policemen working in the frontline of the battle against Covid-19, during a visit to Solapur district.

The minister was reviewing the law and order situation in the district in view of the Ashadhi Ekadashi celebrations next week.

The Maharashtra Police have done a good job working in the frontline. They will be given bravery awards for their work, Deshmukh, who was accompanied by state health minister Rajesh Tope, said.

Deshmukh also indicated that families of police personnel dying of the deadly pathogen will get Rs 65 lakh assistance and they can stay in their official quarters till the deceaseds date of retirement in the normal course.

He said there are dedicated Covid Care hospitals in each district for police personnel.

State health minister Rajesh Tope said the government will also conduct antigen tests, which give results in an hour, giving priority to frontline Covid-19 workers.
The US administrations former pointperson for South Asia on Sunday called on India to step up its investment in the Quad grouping instead of giving preference to engagements with organisations such as Brics and RIC in which China plays a key role.

Alice Wells, a career diplomat who retired as the acting assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia last month, made the remarks on Twitter in response to an article that argued India shouldnt be seen as a pushover in its ongoing border standoff with China.

This is a good time for India to up its investment in the Quad. The appearance of privileging BRIC/RIC meetings over engagement with likeminded partners is discordant, she tweeted, referring the Quadrilateral alliance or Quad that groups together Australia, India, Japan and the US.

India has traditionally been reluctant to play up its participation in the Quad, which was upgraded to the level of foreign ministers only last September.

Amid the tense standoff with China, external affairs minister S Jaisjankar had joined a virtual meeting of foreign ministers of the Russia-India-China (RIC) grouping on June 23. He had also taken a thinly veiled dig at China in his address, saying the worlds leading voices should act in an exemplary manner by respecting international law and recognising the interests of partners.

The foreign ministers of the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (Brics) grouping had held a virtual meeting on April 28, days before the border standoff became public. China has mobilised troops in several stretches of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), especially the Galwan Valley that has been the focus of tensions. A violent face-off on June 15 resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and unspecified Chinese casualties.

Wells remarks came a day after the Indian Navy and Japans Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) conducted an exercise in the Indian Ocean. The Japanese warships JS Kashima and JS Shimayuki of the JMSDF training squadron were joined by the Indian Navys INS Rana and INS Kulish for the exercise that promoted mutual understanding.

The deputy chief of the Japanese mission in New Delhi, Toshihide Ando, said this was the 15th exercise between the two sides in the past three years.

This is a goodwill training to promote mutual understanding and trust with the Indian Navy, he said. The content of this exercise is tactical and communications training with no specific scenario.

This is a good time for India to up its investment in the Quad. The appearance of privileging BRIC/RIC meetings over engagement with likeminded partners is discordant. https://t.co/yN9I9QW22J  Alice G Wells (@AliceGWells) June 28, 2020

Shortly before she retired in May, Wells had strongly backed India amid the border tensions with China, saying such disputes are a reminder of the threat posed by China.

Wells had also said that like-minded nations such as the US, India, Australia and Asean states have rallied together in the face of Chinas provocations and disturbing behaviour.

Answering a question on the India-China tensions, Wells had said: The flare-ups on the border, I think, are a reminder that Chinese aggression is not always just rhetorical. And so whether its in the South China Sea or whether its along the border with India, we continue to see provocations and disturbing behaviour by China that raises questions about how China seeks to use its growing power.

She had added, What we want to see is an international system that provides benefit to everyone and not a system in which there is suzerainty to China. And so I think in this instance, the border disputes are a reminder of the threat posed by China.
Tripura has introduced its first handmade and organic bamboo water bottles, which have been widely appreciated, and gained more popularity after actress Raveena Tandon placed an order for the ethnic product.

The bottles are manually made by placing a copper bottle, or a thermostat flask, inside columns of bamboo that grows in abundance in the border state.

Local artisans from West Tripura and Khowai districts have manufactured these products manually over the past six months.

Herbal products such as turmeric and neem are used to treat these bottles, instead of the usual bleaching powder, which have struck a chord with the consumers because of their organic appeal amid the ecologically-fresh city slickers.

Last year, the Tripura government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the New Delhi-based National Centre for Design and Product Development (NCDPD) for the promotion of bamboo products.

 Tripura is proud to introduce a variety of unique and eco-friendly handcrafted bamboo made bottles. The bottles made by the bamboo artisans of the state are being developed by TRPC (Tripura Rehabilitation Plantation Corporation) in collaboration with BCDI (Bamboo & Cane Development Institute) and FRCLE (Forest Research Centre for Livelihood Extension) in Tripura. The products are being promoted under PMVDY (Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana) and NBM (National Bamboo Mission) schemes. This industry can create huge employment and livelihood opportunity to thousands of artisans of the state, Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb had tweeted three days ago.

 Its a unique product, as water is not directly stored in these bottles. Each bottle costs Rs1,200, Prasada Rao Vaddarapu, chairperson, TRPC, told media persons.

Vaddarapu is the brain behind designing the product.

Tandons was among the first batch of the order that was shipped on Monday, Vaddarapu said.

Soon, other consignments will find their way to Delhi, Mumbai, some European nations and the United States of America (USA), as the ethnic product seeks to put the tiny north-eastern state on the global map.
A cows jaw was badly injured after it ate a ball of explosive material wrapped in edible substance in Andhra Pradeshs Chittoor.

The incident comes close on the heels of the death of a pregnant elephant in Keralas Palakkad district after it ate a pineapple filled with firecrackers.

According to the police, the incident took place at Kogileru village of Peda Panjani block on Saturday evening. A cow belonging to the local goshala (cowshed), which was being grazed in the nearby forest area, ate a ball of explosive material wrapped in some edible substance accidentally. And it exploded in the cows mouth, Peda Panjani police inspector Chitreddy Lokesh Reddy told Hindustan Times.

Due to the impact of the explosion, the lower jaw of the cow got ripped off. On hearing the loud noise, local cattle grazers rushed there and moved the cow to the goshala, where it was given first aid.

On Sunday, we shifted the cow to government veterinary hospital in Tirupati, where a surgery would be performed on Monday evening, the inspector said.

Arjun Reddy, caretaker of Gow-Matha Peetham, said the injured cow was in a very bad condition, as its lower jaw had completely come off. We are not sure whether we can restore the jaw back to its normal position through surgery. As of now, the cow is alive and is surviving on intravenous fluids. We dont know whether it will come back to the position of eating grass again, he said.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the explosive, made of sulphur and other material, covered in an edible substance, was placed by some hunters to trap wild boars. We have identified a few suspected hunters of the nearby villages and are questioning them, Lokesh Reddy said.

The police filed cases under Sections 286 (Negligent conduct in using explosives) and 429 (mischief by killing or maiming cattle) of Indian Penal Code, Section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 and Section 9 (B)(1) of the Explosives Act.

Arjun Reddy said there were in all 17 cows in his shed. They all belong to the popular Punganur breed of Chittoor, known for their rich nutritious milk. We have been protecting these animals with a lot of reverence and care, he said.

He said generally, these cows were taken to the nearby forests for grazing as the area was known for medicinal plants. The explosive was covered with wheat flour or other bakery stuff like ajinomoto that smells nice to attract animals, the goshala caretaker said.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday accused the central government of extorting the common people by raising fuel prices 22 times since the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

In her video message while participating in the Speak Up Against Fuel Hike campaign as part of the partys nationwide agitation against the continuous increase in petrol and diesel prices, she said it directly hurts the countrys farmers, the poor, the working class, the middle class and the small businesses.

Demanding an immediate rollback of the fuel rates, the Congress chief also accused the government of profiteering at the expense of the common people, saying its duty was to help them in times of crisis and not make profit out of their hard-earned money.

Watch l Fuel price hikes: Govt extorting people says Sonia Gandhi, demands rollback

On the one hand, the Covid-19 pandemic was wreaking havoc and on the other, the rise in petrol and diesel prices was making life very difficult for the people, she added.

While Congress leaders such as KC Venugopal and Manicka Tagore were seen riding cycles to Parliament, Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV pulled a bullock cart to protest the fuel hikes. The agitation will continue for a week.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and hundreds of Congress leaders and workers also participated in the campaign on social media, urging the people to join the party in putting pressure on the government to reduce fuel prices.

Youth Congress president Srinivas BV leading a protest against the increase in fuel prices on Monday

I, along with all Congressmen and others together, demand from the Modi government to immediately roll back the increase in prices of petrol and diesel raised during this crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Congress president said.

I also urge them to roll back the rise in excise duty on petrol and diesel since March this year and give this benefit to the countrymen. This will be a big relief in this period of economic crisis, she added.

Sonia Gandhi said the hike on its own was living proof of taking the hard-earned incomes of the people and filling the governments coffers.

The governments duty is to support the countrymen in difficult times and not take advantage of their plight and profiteer. It has set a new example of extortion from people through this unjustified increase in petrol and diesel prices. This is not only unjust but also insensitive, she added.

The Modi government has made provisions for collecting lakhs of crores by raising excise duty on petrol and diesel in the last three months. All this is happening at a time when international crude oil prices are continuously falling.

Since 2014, Sonia Gandhi said instead of giving relief of the falling international crude oil prices to the people, the Modi government has raised the excise duty 12 times, which helped it collect additional revenue of nearly Rs 18 lakh crore.

In his video message, Rahul Gandhi asked the government to stop profiteering from the fuel hikes. The affect of rise in diesel and petrol prices are two-fold. One is that you pay directly and the other indirectly due to rise in prices of consumer products, including essential items, he added.

On one hand the government had written off loans of big people and on the other it was trying to profit from fuel prices, putting extra burden on the poor and the farmer, the former Congress president said.

The country is reeling under an economic tsunami due to the coronavirus pandemic and everyone, including the rich and the poor, had been affected. We had urged the government to implement NYAY (Nyuntam Aay Yojana) to help the poor, but it didnt listen, he said.

Countering the charges, union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the money collected was used for welfare measures and not for personal benefits as had allegedly happened during the Congress rule.

I once again reiterate to Madam Sonia Gandhi ji that Modi ji has transferred more than Rs 65,000 crore to 42 crore people in the last 3 months, he said.

Unlike Congress legacy of transferring money into the accounts of middlemen, National Daamad, The Family and Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Modi jis DBT is about putting money in the hands of the poor, farmers, migrant workforce and women, alleged Pradhan.

He also endorsed BJP president JP Naddas remarks, asking the Congress to explain the hike in fuel taxes in party-ruled states.
South Africa: Gauteng COVID-19 cases expected to soar

Thousands of people have been testing positive for COVID-19 daily since the relaxation of the hard lockdown to make room for economic activity.

On Sunday, 6 334 more people were confirmed COVID-19 positive, bringing the total number of infections to 138 134.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the country recorded its biggest jump in a single day, with 7 210 new cases, while 43 more people have succumbed to the respiratory illness. The death toll now stands at 2 456.

We are seeing a rapid rise in the cumulative number of positive COVID-19 cases, indicating that, as we had expected, we are approaching a surge during the latter winter months of July and August, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said.

The hardest-hit provinces, which also happen to be the countrys economic hubs, are expected to experience an upsurge beginning with Gauteng and the Western Cape, followed by the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Gautengs infection rate expected to rise

We believe that within the coming days, Gauteng will emerge with the highest COVID-19 numbers, said Mkhize.

This is due to inward migration; the large population, especially in metros like Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane; increased congregating, which spurs cluster outbreaks and the level to which people can adapt to new behaviours such as social distancing and the wearing of masks.

The surge that has been witnessed in the past two weeks has developed due to seeding of infections carried in by members of the community as they moved back into the workplace, the Minister explained.

Therefore, cluster outbreaks as infections spilled over from communities into places of congregation such as mines, factories, taxis and buses are inevitable.

Mkhize said well-established screening programmes remain critical.

He said they are engaging the Gauteng MEC for Health and the provincial department to ramp up their capacity expeditiously.

Meanwhile, they are also working on clearing the testing backlog and will be increasing the COVID-19 hospital beds in Gauteng to ensure the province meets the rising demands.

In addition to regular hand washing, social distancing and the correct wearing of masks at all times, early case detection, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation are the key armaments we have in our toolbox to break the cycle of infection, Mkhize said.

The province is being engaged to strengthen its contact tracing and quarantine and/or isolation uptake.

Western Cape still to peak

The Western Cape, which has the highest number of infections, also remains a challenge.

Mkhize said they are receiving reports that most community members remain reluctant to subject themselves to quarantine and isolation, despite government having secured these sites in various parts of the province.

Our concern is that this continues to exacerbate the risk of spread of infections in communities, especially in households where it is practically impossible to self-isolate, given the limited space.

Mkhize said the Western Cape has not yet reached the surge, as expected by modellers, after comparing the real numbers with those depicted in predictive models.

Since we have cleared the testing backlog, the numbers attributable to those backlogged samples no longer play a role and so the increase in new cases is reduced. Having said that, the rise is still significant and the Western Cape remains a key hotspot in the country.

Eastern Cape being watched closely



Interprovincial migration remains a headache for government, as seasonal workers often move back and forth between the Western Cape and Eastern Cape.

As in other provinces, carriers of Coronavirus seed infection into spaces where people congregate, and so we have also seen a number of cluster outbreaks in Eastern Cape, Mkhize said.

He assured the public that complaints on social media regarding treatment in some of the hospitals, as well as overall public health issues described in the media, are receiving attention.

We had initially deployed a team of epidemiologists from the National Department of Health, who intervened on an emergency basis to focus on the bottleneck in personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement and the immediate outbreak response.

On the cluster outbreaks in schools, Mkhize said it was as a result of learners or educators, who had unknowingly acquired COVID-19 in their respective communities before returning to school.

It was for this reason that an intense screening and testing programme was instituted in schools to ensure the early identification of cases before they become super-spreader events.

COVID-19 in schools

The Department of Health is determined to ensure minimal disruption to the school calendar and is working closely with the Department of Education to strengthen protocols so that schools do not close unnecessarily.

Overall, we expect that all provinces will start experiencing an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases  even those with low numbers now.

We are closely monitoring all districts, whether they are high-transmission or low-transmission areas. Indeed, the differentiated approach emphasised the need to increase monitoring and surveillance in low-transmission areas, said the Minister.

Hotpots, he said, need reinforcements and health intervention teams will be deployed for additional capacity so that the outbreak response matches the rise in numbers.

Hospitalisation and co-morbidities

As at 27 June, the majority of hospitalised patients were admitted in the Western Cape, with 1 629 (36%) patients, Gauteng 1 164 (26%) and Eastern Cape 775 (17%).

Nationally, the highest proportion of patients are in general wards at 80.1% of hospitalised patients, 11.3% are in intensive care, 58.6% are on ventilation, while 15% are on oxygen.

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases has also published data studying 10 700 COVID-19 admissions in 269 facilities, 71 public and 198 private, between 5 March and 21 June 2020.

The data does indeed confirm that the elderly and those with co-morbidities  like hypertension, diabetes, cardiac disease, chronic kidney disease, malignancy, HIV and obesity  are the most vulnerable population, said the Minister.

He said they would use the opportunities afforded by the COVID-19 pandemic response to strengthen primary health care.

We believe that investment in primary health care will ultimately have a fiscal benefit because healthy people build economies.

Mkhize urged citizens living with these conditions not to neglect their appointments and medication for fear of going to a facility and contracting COVID-19.

We have ensured that all facilities have a triaging mechanism in place to separate those with flu-like symptoms. Everyone living with these co-morbidities must ensure good control of their chronic conditions.

Mortality rate and adapting to a new norm

While the mortality rate will rise in absolute numbers, it remains stable between 1.8% and 2.1%.

We can still improve this mortality rate by isolating and quarantining appropriately where required. This directly reduces exposure and protects those who are vulnerable, said Mkhize.

He called on every South African to focus on adhering to recommendations on non-pharmaceutical interventions.

We are extremely concerned that fatigue seems to have set in and South Africans are letting down their guard at a time when the spread of infection is surging.

The Minister said they have noted poor or no social distancing in communities.

Masks are being abandoned or not worn properly, and there is laxity setting in around frequent hand-washing. This will directly influence the rise in numbers in the next two weeks.

We do not have a vaccine. We do not have a cure. Our ability to break the cycle of infection depends on our willingness to remain focused and disciplined and take non-pharmaceutical interventions seriously.

Mkhize believes that COVID-19 can be beaten.

We already proved this during the lockdown. It remains in each citizens hands to admonish family members, colleagues and friends, who refuse to adhere to measures that protect lives by limiting the spread of this virus.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-06-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
According to ABC News Australia, New South Wales Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane has returned home after hours of questioning following raids on his home and office by Australian Federal Police (AFP) and ASIO.

The AFP and ASIO described the search as part of an ongoing investigation. There were allegations that Moselmanes office had been infiltrated by Chinese government agents. But when asked about it, NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay has given no clear answer so far.

The ABC pointed out that if Mr. Moselmane is charged, he will be the first person to face legal action under the Federal Governments legislation to counter foreign interference. A briefing will be made by the AFP and ASIO later on.

The AFP and ASIO statements said, despite the raids, there was no current or impending threat to community safety. According to the ABC, it has been told that as this investigation remains ongoing, there will be no further comment.

Shaoquett Moselmane has been a member of the Labor Party for 14 years, and has been in the NSW Upper House since 2009. Mr. Shaoquett Moselmane had joined the Labor Party as a 14-year-old and it was in his heart. Hes got nothing to do with the Communist Party of China, hes got nothing to do with China at all, his brother, Shawki Moselmane, said.

NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay said the party would suspend Moselmanes membership, claiming that it is to be done in the best interest of the people in this state. Shawki Moselmane accused the Labor Party of acting cowardly for not sticking up for his brother. Suspicion also goes that they want to use him as a scapegoat for something.

Find more information about the article at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-26/nsw-labor-mp-shaoquett-moselmane-home-raided-by-police/12395712

[ Editor: WXY ]
The $6.9 billion that was pledged today to support the worlds poorest and most marginalized communities is an incredible next step on our journey out of the COVID-19 era, but there is more still to be done, as no one is safe until everyone is safe, Hugh Evans, CEO of Global Citizen, said after the event Saturday.
Srinagar: The Jammu & Kashmir police on Monday declared the Union territorys Doda district totally militancy free, saying the regions last surviving Hizbul Mujahideen commander was killed in a counter-insurgency operation along with two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in adjoining Kashmir Valleys Anantnag district.

Dilbag Singh, the Jammu & Kashmir police chief, called Masood Ahmad Bhats killing a big success. Masood, a so-called commander of terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen, was killed by security forces in an encounter in south Kashmirs Anantnag district on Monday morning. He was the last surviving terrorist from the Doda district which is [now] totally militancy free, Singh said.

The three were killed after they fired on security forces and triggered a five-hour gunfight during a cordon and search operation in Anantnags Khulchohar area. In a statement, Jammu & Kashmir police said they were tipped about the presence of the three in the area. During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired on the joint search party. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, three terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter, the statement said. It added the other two terrorists could not be immediately identified.

The statement said the bodies of the three have been sent to Handwara, around 100 km away, for their last rites after conducting medico-legal formalities. In case any family claims the killed terrorists to be their kith or kin, they can come forward for their identification and participation in last rites at Handwara.

Slain terrorists have been buried away from their native places in Baramulla, Handwara, and Ganderbal due to Covid-19 restrictions over the last two months, which have coincided with an escalation of violence in the region.

Security forces have stepped up operations and killed over 100 terrorists this year mostly in South Kashmir. As many as 46 terrorists have been killed in June, the highest in a month since 39 were killed in November 2018. The 46 include commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Inspector general of police (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar said Mondays operation was clean and that there was no collateral damage as security forces exercised maximum restraint.
Acting on a special request by the Indian Air Force to speed up the deliveries of Rafale fighter jets, France is reworking the calendar for supplying the planes to India at a faster pace, people familiar with the developments said on Monday.

India is currently in a stand-off with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh sector.

Six Rafale fighter planes are likely to land at their home base in Ambala on July 27 --- instead of four that were originally planned to be delivered in the first batch --- as France steps up efforts to meet the IAFs immediate requirements, said one of the persons cited above, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. An IAF spokesperson refused to confirm or deny the development.

Highlights The twin-engine jet is capable of carrying out a variety of missions  ground and sea attack, air defence and air superiority, reconnaissance and nuclear strike deterrence. It can carry more than nine tonnes of weapons on as many as 14 hard-points. The two Rafale squadrons will be based at Ambala in Haryana and Hasimara in West Bengal, covering the western and eastern fronts. The Indian fighters will be equipped with Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles built by European defence major MBDA Missile Systems. The Meteors no-escape zone is touted to be three times greater than that of current medium range air-to-air missiles. India-specific enhancements on the jets include helmet-mounted sight, radar warning receivers, flight data recorders with enough storage for 10 hours of data, infrared search and track systems, jammers and cold engine start capability to operate from high-altitude bases.

India ordered 36 Rafale jets from France in a deal worth Rs 59,000 crore in September 2016 as an emergency purchase to arrest the worrying slide in the air forces combat capabilities.

We are aware that around 10 Rafale jets are ready at aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviations Merignac facility. Preparations are on to fly six Rafale jets to India in July-end with a stopover at Al Dhafra air base near Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The jets will be flown by Indian pilots, said the second person cited above, also speaking on the condition of anonymity.

All the 10 fighters are not being delivered in the first batch as some jets are needed in France to train IAF crews, he said.

The French air force will refuel the Indian fighters using its Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft on their way to Al Dhafra from where aerial refueling support is expected to be provided by the IAFs Russian IL-78 refuellers, the second person said.

Experts said accelerating the deliveries of Rafale jets was a significant development amid the ongoing border tensions with China.

Its good that the Rafale delivery is being expedited as its operationalisation here would get advanced. Since we are in for the long haul on our northern borders, their availability with the IAF would add to its offensive potential, said Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd), additional director general, Centre for Air Power Studies.

Apart from the first batch, future deliveries of Rafale fighters are also being expedited, said the first person cited above.

According to the original delivery schedule, the first 18 jets (including the four in the first batch) were to be delivered to the IAF by February 2021, with the rest expected in April-May 2022.

France handed over to India its first Rafale fighter during a ceremony attended by defence minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart, Florence Parly, in Merignac on October 8 last year.

The IAF has raised its guard to deal with any military provocation by the Chinese forces and forward bases have been ordered to be on their highest state of alert. Apart from Sukhoi-30s and upgraded MiG-29 fighter jets, the IAF is operating Apache AH-64E attack helicopters and CH-47F (I) Chinook multi-mission helicopters --- both imported from the United States --- in the region.

The IAF and the Indian Army have deployed their air defence systems in eastern Ladakh even as the PLA-Air Force has activated several of its bases in both Xinjiang and the Tibet Autonomous Region with Chinese fighter jets regularly making a show of strength in the Aksai Chin area, as reported by Hindustan Times on Sunday.

Both India and China have significantly reinforced their deployments with fighter jets, helicopters, tanks, heavy artillery and missiles in the region that has garnered extensive global attention in recent weeks, particularly after the bloodshed along the LAC in Galwan Valley on June 15 in which 20 Indian soldiers died in the line of duty. An unconfirmed number of Chinese troops were also killed in the Galwan Valley brawl.

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From a bullock and camel cart rallies to leaders riding bicycles to social media hashtags, the Congress and other opposition parties held protests across India on Monday against the fuel prices hike by almost nine rupees in the past 120 days, saying it was hurting the poor and the middle-class adversely.

The government has claimed that the fuel prices has risen because of increase in international crude prices but the Congress has said that the Centre has artificially kept the prices high by not lowering the special excise duty imposed when the international crude prices fell to US $ 30 dollars in March this year. Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan have, however, justified the increase saying that the money was needed for providing relief to the poor suffering because of Covid pandemic.

The Congress and the opposition has from Monday started decided to have four day protest, starting from Monday, against the fuel hike, which they claimed were hurting the middle-class and the poor, whose incomes have dried up due to Covid 19.

In Bengaluru, former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah along with Congress leaders rode a bicycle from his residence to Minsk Square to protest against the hike. KPCC President DK Shivakumar said: In Delhi, diesel prices have exceeded petrol prices. We must protest against this.

In Rajasthan, a camel cart rally under leadership of state Congress president Sachin Pilot was taken out. Despite having full stock of fuel, the government has burdened the common people by increasing fuel prices continuously for last 20 days. Such a steep hike has not been seen in 70 years, Pilot said.

In Haryana and Uttarakhand, Congress leaders took out bullock-cart rallies.

Modi ji called himself janta ka chowkidar, but the oil companies have been making profits and the PM has failed to provide any relief to the people, said Kumari Selja, chief of Haryana Congress, asking what the Centre has done with Rs 18 lakh crore earned by hiking the excise duty on fuel in the past six years.

Sitting on a bullock-cart, former Uttarakhand chief minister, Harish Rawat, said it was because of the faulty Centre government policies that for the first time in the countrys history prices of diesel was higher than that of petrol.

In West Bengal, the Congress and Left parties on Monday held their first joint agitation against fuel price hike at Red Road in the heart of Kolkata. The ruling Trinamool Congress also held a separate protest rally.

The countrys GDP has hit the bottom. It is the lowest in 11 years and unemployment is on the rise. Still, fuel prices have been increased, said Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra.

In Maharashtra, Congress state chief and revenue minister, Balasaheb Thorat, public works and former chief minister Ashok Chavan, energy minister, Nitin Raut, participated in the protests. The crude oil had mounted to $125 a barrel during the UPA government, but the government under the leadership of the then prime minister Manmohan Singh could keep the diesel-petrol prices under control. Today the crude oil prices have dropped to $50 a barrel, despite of which the prices are scaling new high every day, Thorat said.

In Uttar Pradesh, apart from the Congress, the other opposition parties, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, also demanded roll back in the fuel prices and had held protests. Diesel has become costlier than petrol. What did not happen in 70 years, has now happened, said SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. BSP chief Mawayati tweeted: The (Central) government must control petrol and diesel prices. On one hand people are already distressed with Covid-19 and now this further price rise is staring in peoples face.

In Ranga Reddy district of Telangana, the Congress leaders registered their protest by riding cycle rickshaws and in Warangal, they came in bullock carts. However, the bulls were disturbed apparently on seeing the crowd and ran helter-skelter, injuring some party workers. In a separate protest, Telangana Pradesh Congress chief, N Uttam Kumar Reddy, in a memorandum to Suryapet district collector, requested roll back of fuel price hike.

Several Congress leaders also released videos as part of the partys campaign Speak up against fuel price hike in his social media messages. The hike in price of fuel will affect life and livelihood across India. The Modi government has failed again, said West Bengal Congress chief in Somen Mitra.

In a video, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Pramod Tiwari said the enhanced tax on petrol or diesel is like the taxes that cruel Mughal and British rulers imposed on Indians. The then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had made a policy that diesel prices would always be kept lower to petrol. And all the prime ministers--be it Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Atal Behari Vajpayee or Manhoman Singh--followed it. But, Modi government has overturned that policy, he said.

BJP leaders termed the protest as a this as a drama

Leader of opposition and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the decision to decontrol the prices of the fuel was taken during the UPA government. If the Congress is so concerned about the price hike, the state government in which Congress is a parner should reduced the VAT, he said.

Bansidhar Bhagat, Uttarakhand BJP president, said, The Congress protest on fuel price is nothing but a laughable drama. These are just tactics to deviate the public attention from serious allegations against it like taking funds from China and misusing PM Relief Fund.

Madhya Pradesh BJP vice-preisdent Vijesh Lunawat said the Central government is using the money to give a boost to the economic activities and meet aspirations of people. If Congress is really concerned it should reduce VAT on diesel and petrol in Rajasthan to show the way, he said.

(With inputs from state bureaus and agencies)
Srinagar: Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, 90, has resigned from his faction of the Hurriyat Conference, 17 years after he was chosen as its lifetime head, citing the inability of the leaders of the grouping to raise their voice against the Centres move to divest Jammu & Kashmir of its special status in August last year as one reason. He also blamed internal bickering, financial irregularities within the groupings Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) chapter, and attempts by its leaders to seek positions of power.

In an audio message released on social media on Monday, Geelani said he has apprised leaders of the constituents of his Hurriyat faction about his decision to quit through a detailed letter. Later, the letter also surfaced on social media.

Geelani criticised the Jammu & Kashmir-based constituents of the grouping saying he tried hard to reach those leaders, who were not jailed in August last year, despite his detention so that they could raise their voice against the Centres move. He added the leaders were unavailable then.

Now that today you have felt the heat of being questioned, that the veil is slipping off your financial irregularities, you have started to convene meetings and support an unconstitutional decision thereby setting a strange example of unity, Geelani said in the letter.

It wasnt immediately clear as to who would succeed Geelani who, along with the Hurriyat itself, has increasingly become a fringe player in Kashmir, especially after the Centre abrogated Article 370 and split the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir into two union territories.

Geelani is currently under house arrested and could not be reached for comment.

Geelani, who served as a member of Jammu & Kashmir assembly before joining the separatist movement in the late 1980s, said the constituents were free to make decisions about their parties and the future. He added he will continue to struggle against India until his last breath. The Hurriyat is a grouping of around two-dozen separatist and spiritual organisations.

Geelani, who has been under house arrest since August last year and was instrumental in organising massive street protests since 2008, has been ailing from some time. A cancer survivor, Geelani has also undergone kidney and gallbladder removal surgeries.

Almost all separatist leaders were detained in August 2019 when Article 370 was nullified to divest Jammu & Kashmir of its special, semi-autonomous status. Three former chief ministers, Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti, were also among hundreds of people, who were detained to prevent protests against the Centres move. Mufti still remains under detention although the Abdullahs have been released.

A communications blackout and a lockdown were imposed in Kashmir last year in August when Jammu & Kashmir was also divided into two Union territories.

The separatist leadership has since maintained a low profile even as Geelani has occasionally been releasing statements. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq leads the other Hurriyat faction. Mirwaiz is under house arrest.

In his letter, Geelani cited several complaints about the PoK chapter of the grouping over the last two years. The leaders there were trying to be part of government and ministries. There were internal bickering, fear of losing posts, financial irregularities, and many other issues. Recently after investigations, some people were expelled and as the investigations were going on against other people, the representatives of your parties started calling separate so-called meetings which led to the dissolution of the chapter till further orders, said Geelani.

Ishfaq Ahmad, a political analyst, said it is still unclear why Geelani quit. We came to know about this decision through the audio clip and the letter. So it is premature to say whether it is end of his politics, but yes, this could be a start for a process of new leadership.

The Bharatiya Janata Party lashed out at geelani, with its general secretary Ram Madhav saying he was responsible for ruining the lives of thousands of Kashmiri youth and their families and that the resignation would not absolve him of his past sins.
The Central government on Monday allowed the export of five million personal protective (PPE) equipment coveralls per month after a ban since the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DFGT) in its order stated that PPE coveralls for Covid-19 export are now restricted for export. A monthly quota of five million has been fixed for issuance of export licences to eligible applicants to export medical coveralls.

However, masks, medical goggles; nitrile rubber, or NBR, gloves; and face shields remain prohibited for export in accordance with the DGFT order issued on June 22.

Also read| Delhi to get plasma bank to help Covid-19 patients: CM Arvind Kejriwal

HT had reported that the Centre was considering the export for the medical overalls since the industry had reached surplus production levels.

But, the government officials had also said that there would be a quantitative ban on the export of the PPE items to ensure that the country doesnt suffer from any shortage of it.

India was producing one crore PPE units per month as per the Central governments specifications to fight the viral outbreak.

The Central government had placed an order for 2.2 crore PPE units in March to meet the demand for healthcare workers.

Earlier, the government had also faced severe criticism for not being able to provide enough coveralls for frontline workers battling the pandemic.

Its a very encouraging move by the government, as the country seeks to capture the global market, said Dr. Sundamram, chairman, Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA).

However, not all are convinced that the move is comparable to the losses that the industry has faced due to the pandemic.

Also read: 196 people dying of Covid-19 every hour, one every 18 sec; global toll tops 5 lakh

The quantum of export is low, said a member of one of the textile associations, requesting anonymity.

Existing PPE exporters stand to gain, as the new entrants will struggle for certifications for at least the next five months, he said while comparing the gains made by the quantum of exports like a drop in the ocean.

There has been a drastic fall in garment sales. The export of PPE units wont be able to offset the mounting losses, he added.
In a huge move, the central government on Monday decided to ban 59 mobile applications linked to China on grounds of national security. A formal order, asking phone companies to block the applications, was issued after weeks of discussions that started much before the Ladakh border standoff with China. But government officials told Hindustan Times that the deliberations were fast-tracked after June 15 violent scrap between soldiers at Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had extended his complete support to the move to block the China-linked applications, signed off on Home Secretary Ajay Bhallas recommendation on Saturday. Since the government had decided against just issuing an advisory cautioning people about the risks associated with these applications, the formal orders were issued by the IT ministry.



Also Watch | TikTok, ShareIt among 59 Chinese apps banned by Modi govt: All there is to know

Also Read: Amit Shah powers Indias ban on 59 China-linked mobile apps

A statement by the information technology ministry said a decision had been taken to block 59 applications since in view of the information available, they are engaged in activities prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.

The applications include popular short-video app TikTok, and other utility and content apps such as UC browser, Xender, SHAREit and Clean-master.

Hindustan Times was the first to report about the government move on June 17.

Complete list of 59 mobile apps blocked in India TikTok, Shareit, Kwai UC Browser, Baidu map Shein, Clash of Kings DU battery saver, Helo Likee, YouCam makeup, QQ Newsfeed Mi Community, CM Browsers Virus Cleaner, APUS Browser ROMWE, Club Factory, Newsdog Beauty Plus, WeChat, UC News, QQ Mail, Weibo, Xender, QQ Music Bigo Live, SelfieCity, Mail Master Parallel Space, Mi Video Call  Xiaomi WeSync, ES File Explorer Viva Video  QU Video Inc Meitu, Vigo Video, New Video Status DU Recorder, Vault- Hide Cache Cleaner DU App studio DU Cleaner, DU Browser Hago Play With New Friends Cam Scanner, Clean Master  Cheetah Mobile Wonder Camera, Photo Wonder QQ Player, We Meet, Sweet Selfie Baidu Translate, Vmate, QQ International QQ Security Center, QQ Launcher U Video, V fly Status Video Mobile Legends, DU Privacy

Explaining the decision, the IT ministry pointed to the raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians. It has been noted recently that such concerns also pose a threat to sovereignty and security of our country. The Ministry of Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India.

The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures, said the IT ministry statement.

Indian intelligence agencies had been pushing for restrictions on the mobile applications on grounds that the apps were designed to extract data and park them outside the country where they could be used to intrude into the privacy of citizens.

Chinese companies have long been suspected of building backdoors in their hardware and software, one reason why many governments across the world have been uneasy at the prospect of deploying Chinese-made 5G networking equipment.

Robert OBrien, the National Security Adviser in the Trump administration, had recently detailed how China-linked companies acted as an arm of Beijings communist party and tried to control thoughts to serve the partys interests.

The communist party is collecting your most intimate data  your words, your actions, your purchases, your whereabouts, your health records, your social media posts, your texts, and mapping your network of friends, family, and acquaintances, he said. This information could be used to influence, to coerce and to even blackmail individuals to say and do things that serve the partys interests, OBrien said in a recent lecture on China.

OBrien had also spoken about another facet. Where these companies remove information that doesnt favour China. Like TikTok, he said, accounts criticising the communist partys policies are routinely removed or deleted.

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Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeeds India-born counsel has passed away after a brief ailment in this Pakistani city. He was 86.

Abdullah Khan Dogar, whose family had migrated to Pakistan from Indias Rampur in UP after the Partition, breathed his last at a hospital here on Sunday.

He was the father-in-law of former chief justice of Lahore High Court Mamoon Rashid Sheikh. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Dogar was the counsel of Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Saeed for many years and defended him in Pakistani courts following the 2008 Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people were killed.

He was also the lead counsel of Saeed in the terror financing cases in which he was sentenced to jail for 11 years.

Dogar had challenged the coup by former military dictator General (retired) Pervez Musharraf in 1999 in the Supreme Court and represented Kulsoom Nawaz against the detention of her husband, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Indian and Chinese army delegations, led by corps commanders, will hold a meeting at Chushul in Ladakh on Tuesday in their third attempt to make some headway in implementing a daunting disengagement plan aimed at gradually reducing tensions aggravated by a significant military build-up on both sides of the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC), people familiar with developments said on Monday, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The two delegations, led by an Indian lieutenant general and his Chinese counterpart, last met on June 22 --- exactly a week after the brutal Galwan Valley clash --- and hammered out a consensus on disengaging from friction points along the disputed border.

The mutual consensus to disengage from all friction areas reached a week ago at the meeting between Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang military region, has not resulted in any form of disengagement or thinning of the military build-up by rival forces in the region, said one of persons cited above.

In what was seen as a rare meeting, the two senior officers first met on June 6 to reduce border tensions. The limited military disengagement that began in some friction areas after the first meeting was derailed after the bloodshed in Galwan Valley on June 15.

On Tuesday, the Indian side is expected to reiterate its demand for the pullback of Chinese troops from the friction points and seek the restoration of status quo ante (early April) in key areas including Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley and the strategic Depsang plains, said a second person.

Experts were not optimistic about what the latest meeting could potentially achieve, especially against the backdrop of continuing Chinese military buildup observed on the ground and captured by satellite imagery.

The purpose of these meetings is to initiate disengagement on the ground at the military level before de-escalation can happen at the strategic level through diplomatic channels. The Chinese are playing hardball and one cant exactly predict the outcome of these meetings between senior commanders, said Lieutenant General BS Jaswal (retd), a former Northern Army commander.

The June 30 meeting is expected to begin at 10.30 am at Chushul on the Indian side of the LAC, said the second person. The previous two meetings were held at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC.

China has not halted  and instead ramped up  its military activity in Galwan Valley, Depsang Plains and the Finger Area near Pangong Tso after the senior officers met on June 22, he added.

Both India and China have significantly reinforced their deployments with thousands of soldiers, fighter jets, helicopters, tanks, heavy artillery, missiles and air defence systems in the region that has garnered extensive global attention in recent weeks, particularly after the Galwan skirmish that left 20 Indian and an unconfirmed number of Chinese soldiers dead.

India is especially concerned about the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) holding positions in the Finger Area of Pangong Tso where the PLA has set up permanent bunkers, pillboxes, tented camps and observation posts in areas New Delhi considers its territory, said a third person.

The situation is equally critical from the Indian standpoint in the Depsang sector as the PLA has mobilised troops, weapons and other military equipment in sensitive areas, with its forward presence disrupting the armys patrolling patterns there, he added.

The Depsang plains lie south of Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) in a strategic area near the Karakoram pass that the military calls Sub-Sector North and any military moves here by the Chinese forces could threaten a key stretch of the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi road, experts said.

The Chinese buildup in other areas including Galwan Valley and the Gogra Post-Hot Springs sector hasnt thinned either. Satellite imagery dated June 22, released by US firm Maxar Technologies, shows not only is the PLA holding ground in Galwan Valley but has also shored up its military positions in the area, as reported by Hindustan Times on June 25.

The PLAs armoured vehicles and artillery units remain deployed in Chinese areas facing the Gogra Post-Hot Springs area along the contested border. The Indian military is keeping a strict vigil along the LAC and has raised its guard to respond to any eventuality, the third official cited above said.

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Citing national security, the Centre on Monday banned 59 mobile applications, including Chinas TikTok, SHAREiT and WeChat calling the move as one meant to safeguard the interests of Indian mobile and internet users.

The formal orders banning the 59 apps were issued by the IT ministry after home minister Amit Shah, who had extended his support to the move to block the China-linked applications, signed Home Secretary Ajay Bhallas recommendation on Saturday. The government had earlier decided against just issuing an advisory cautioning people about the risks associated with these apps and had decided to formally ban the applications in the country.

The applications include popular short-video app TikTok, and other utility and content apps such as UC browser, Xender, SHAREit and Clean-master among several others.

Indian intelligence agencies had been trying to restrict the mobile applications on grounds that the apps were designed to extract data and park them outside the country, where at a later stage they could be used to intrude into the privacy of Indian citizens.

Top ten points on the Union governments latest move banning 59 China-linked apps:

1. The government has issued a formal order asking phone companies to block the applications. The order came after weeks of crucial discussions that started much before the border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh earlier this month.

2. The decision was fast-tracked, however, after the June 15 violent skirmish between soldiers of both sides at the Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh, in which 20 Indian soldiers died.

3. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said it had received many complaints from various sources, including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for allegedly stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India.

ALSO READ | India bans 59 China-linked phone apps, orders companies to block them: Complete list

4. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre affiliated to the Ministry of Home Affairs, has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these apps.

5. Chinese companies have for some time now been suspected of building backdoors in their hardware and software, one reason why many governments globally have been cautious at the prospect of deploying Chinese-made 5G networking equipment.

6. In a statement, the Centre said the apps were blocked in view of information available that they are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of the country, security of state and public order.

7. According to the government, this huge decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace.

8. The government statement indicated that there has been a strong chorus in the public domain to take strict action against certain China-linked apps that may harm the countrys sovereignty as well as the privacy of its citizens.

9. Some of the applications that make it to the list of banned ones include DU Cleaner,

DU Browser, Hago Play With New Friends, Cam Scanner, Clean Master - Cheetah Mobile, Wonder Camera, Photo Wonder, QQ Player, We Meet and Sweet Selfie to name a few.

10. On the basis of several recent credible inputs that a number of China-linked apps may pose a threat to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the government has decided to disallow the usage of these apps in both mobile and non-mobile Internet-enabled devices used in the country.

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Indian railways catering and tourism arm IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) has decided to terminate the contract of more than 500 contractual workers. However, its board may reconsider the decision, officials said.

In a letter to all railway zones dated June 25, a copy of which has been reviewed by Hindustan Times, IRCTC informed all its zonal offices that there was no requirement for these contractual workers under the present circumstances and they be given one month notice and their contracts terminated.

The requirement of supervisor (hospitality) engaged on contract basis has been reviewed in the revised catering model and it has been decided that under the present circumstances, services of supervisor (hospitality), engaged on contract basis are no more required, the letter stated. IRCTC hired around 560 supervisors for hospitality in 2018.

The decision to terminate the contracts is currently under reconsideration. The matter is being reconsider and the IRCTC board will be taking the decision, an IRCTC spokesperson said.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

The former contractual employees who were handed the termination letter took to social media to seek intervention from railway minister Piyush Goyal. What about our jobAre we not human or we dont have family to take care them, We all are 500 Hospitality Supervisor of IRCTC on contractual basis which has been hired for the contract of 2 year. But completing our contract, we got termination, Bicky Sahni said in a tweet addressed to the minister.

Another former worker, Rahul Kumar, tweeted Sir, I am working in IRCTC as hospitality supervisor but unfortunately now IRCTC decided to terminate all supervisors in huge quantity from pan India so we will be jobless now, Family depends on us. Please do the needful for us. Shall be thankful sir.

Hospitality supervisors work to monitor the operations of the pantry car on trains and their work includes monitoring the preparation of food, food quality inspection, passenger and handling passenger complaints.

Regular passenger train services have been suspended since March 22 when the first phase of the lockdown was announced. At present, only 230 special passenger trains are operating.
Kee said two men got out of a silver car at about 2 p.m., ran up to the victim and started firing handguns before they drove away. Two bystanders were grazed by bullets but did not require hospitalization, Kee said.
Masood, a so-called commander of terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen, was killed by security forces in an encounter in south Kashmirs Anantnag district on Monday morning. Masood was the last surviving terrorist from the Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbag Singh said.

Masood was wanted in a rape case in Doda and had joined the Hizbul Mujahideen when he was on the run, the Kashmir police said. He had shifted his area of operation to Kashmir.

J&K police chief Dilbag Singh counted Masoods elimination as a huge win for the security forces.

Doda district in Jammu Zone becomes totally militancy free once again as Masood was a last surviving terrorist of the Doda District, Dilbag Singh said.

Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists including a district commander were also killed in Mondays encounter with a joint team of Kashmir police and Rashtriya Rifles in Anantnags Khull Chohar. This is not the first time that terrorists from two groups have been found to be working together in Kashmir in recent months.

With todays operation at Khull Chohar by Anantnag Police along with 19 RR,CRPF in which 2 LET terrorists including one district commander & one HM commander Masood were neutralised, Doda district in Jammu Zone becomes totally militancy free

once again.@Sandeep_IPS_JKP pic.twitter.com/sCvioo2f3X  J&K Police (@JmuKmrPolice) June 29, 2020

Doda, a district in eastern Jammu region that borders south Kashmirs Anantnag, has been a key area of focus for security forces.

Mondays encounter less than a fortnight after Dilbag Singh went on to declare that they were within striking distance of clearing Doda of terrorists.

Security forces have stepped up the offensive in Kashmir and killed more than 100 terrorists in operations this year, prompting sharp protests from Pakistans foreign office who rushed to describe the terrorists killed in encounters as innocents. The government had earlier this year tightened the security grid along Indias border to stop infiltration of terrorists from Pakistans terror factories.

Forty terrorists were killed this month alone, and most of them were killed in south Kashmir, which is considered the hotbed of militancy in the region. The terrorists eliminated this month include so-called commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Malayalam actor Dharmajan, known for his comic roles, has been summoned by the Kerala police to record his statement in the extortion case in which actor Shamna Kasim was targeted, a police official said.

Police summoned Dharmajan after they came to know that one of the accused in the extortion case, hair stylist P Haris was close to him.

So far 18 women have complained about extortion and blackmailing after Shamna Kasims father filed a complaint last week, police said. In her complaint, her father had alleged that the extortionists were threatening to release some video clips if they were not paid.

Shamna is expected to reach Kochi this evening and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) will record her statement through video conferencing.

Police sources said more actors will be summoned for questioning. Eight people have been arrested so far and the SIT has registered nine FIRs.

On Saturday, the SIT arrested the main accused Mohammad Sharief from Palakkad.

Four other models had also filed separate cases against the accused for extortion, blackmail and criminal intimidation.

Police said suspect the accused are members of a thriving gold smuggling and sex racket based in Kochi.
Parts of north Sikkim close to the China border have been cut off by multiple landslides that occurred on Saturday night and left hundreds of people homeless.

Five major landslides took place between Dikchu to Chungthang.

The main highway, connecting Mangan, the north district headquarters, and Chungthang is closed.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is working overtime to repair the strategic road leading to the border.

Chief Minister P S Tamang on Monday visited the worst hit areas in the Dzongu area in North Sikkim.

Many parts of Sikkim had been witnessing incessant rainfall till Sunday. Mangan received 611 mm rainfall in four days beginning June 24, said Gopinath Raha, regional director meteorological department, Sikkim.

An army officer, who did not wish to be named, said, Landslides often damage roads leading to the Indo-China border. All stakeholders work jointly in situations like these.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sikkim state committee has written a letter to Jitendra Singh, Union minister of state for Development of North East Region (DoNER), seeking emergency assistance for relief and rehabilitation work.

Considering the present situation in the India-China border in North Sikkim, restoration of the highway and the border roads should be the top most priority, D B Chauhan, BJP Sikkim state president said in the letter.

The state government has already evacuated all villagers from the worst-affected area that is Passingdong village in Upper Dzongu, about 10 km away Mangan.

Tenzing T Kaleon, district collector of North Sikkim, said, There have been massive damages and all the agencies are working overtime to restore road connectivity.

The chief minister on Monday handed over compensation to 48 affected people.

Pintso Namgyal Lepcha, the legislator from Dzongu, said, There is no road connectivity beyond Sangkhalang. Relief workers have to walk.

Many villages including Tingvong and Sakyong-Pentong and some lying beyond Passingdong are cut-off since the Mantam landslide in 2016.

Praful Rao, president of Save the Hills, an NGO involved in disaster management, said Many parts of North Sikkim have become vulnerable after the 2011 earthquake that caused massive damage to Sikkim. Heavy rainfall and strong current in the rivers in the north have added to the problem.

NH-10, which connects Sikkim to Bengal and rest of India needs repair in at least eight locations between Sevok and Rangpo.
The Madras High Court on Monday cleared the decks for a CBI probe into the custodial death case of a father-son duo in Tuticorin.

The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court said it did not have any objection and will not interfere with the decision of the state government, ANI reported.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had said that the Tamil Nadu government had decided to transfer to CBI the probe into the death of the two men in Tuticorin and that the government was awaiting the High Courts approval.

The death of the two men on June 23 allegedly due to police torture had sparked an outrage.

The two men, Jayaraj and his son Fennix, who were arrested for allegedly violating lockdown norms on business hours of their mobile phone shop, died at a hospital in Kovilpatti on June 23. Relatives alleged that policemen had severely beaten them at the Sathankulam police station.

Meanwhile, another case of death allegedly due to police torture has surfaced following the death of an autorickshaw driver in Tirunelveli Saturday night even before the outrage over the Tuticorin deaths ebbed.

According to media reports, the family of the victim alleged that he died of internal injuries and haemorrhage resulting from being kicked and punched by two policemen weeks earlier.

A sub-inspector and a constable have reportedly been suspended following a complaint by the victims father.
China did not allow several Indians, including families of diplomats, from taking a special Air India flight from New Delhi to Guangzhou city early on Monday because two Indians had tested positive for Covid-19 on a Shanghai-bound special flight that landed on June 21.

After the two Indians were diagnosed with Covid-19, Chinese authorities gave permission only for an empty flight from India to land in the southern city of Guangzhou to repatriate Indians.

The special plane from India took off from Guangzhou this afternoon with 86 Indians under the third phase of the Vande Bharat Mission, the repatriation scheme for the countrys citizens stranded abroad.

The June 21 Shanghai flight was also part of the repatriation mission on which 186 Indians returned.

Chinas decision not to allow Indians even on special airlifts and with diplomatic passports is an indication that commercial flights between the two countries are unlikely to resume any time soon.

Hindustan Times had reached out to the Chinese foreign ministry for a clarification on the decision not to allow families of Indian diplomats to take the flight to China. HT had also asked if the decision was linked to the ongoing border tension.

The foreign ministry responded without referring to the ongoing border problem.

Recently, we have assisted in arranging the return of some Indian diplomats and their families to China, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a written statement in Mandarin today.

In view of the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 on the temporary flight, China and India agreed in advance that the temporary flight arriving in Guangzhou on June 29 would not carry passengers, the ministry statement added.

More than 100 Indians, including diplomats families and officials of a multilateral bank, were on the June 21 flight.

The Shanghai health commission (SHC) confirmed the cases of three foreigners  one from the US and two Indians on that flight.

Cases 2 and 3 are of Indian nationality and live in India. They departed from India on June 20 and arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport that day. After entering the customs, they were intensively isolated and observed. Symptoms occurred during the period. Comprehensive epidemiological history, clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and imaging findings, etc, were diagnosed as confirmed cases, the SHC said in statement.

Three imported confirmed cases have been transferred to designated medical institutions for treatment, and 47 close contacts with the flight have been tracked, and all have been implemented for centralised isolation and observation, the statement added.

While China has seemingly controlled the Covid-19 outbreak  barring the burst of more than 300 domestically transmitted cases in Beijing this month  it has reported nearly 2000 imported cases of the disease.

The Chinese mainland reported five new imported Covid-19 cases Sunday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 1,907, the national health commission (NHC) said Monday.

The confirmed cases have mostly been diagnosed among Chinese nationals returning to the country from abroad.

China suspended the entry of foreign nationals holding normal visas or residence permits from March 28 because of the spreading pandemic.

Entry of persons with diplomatic visas were not affected except for the fact they could only return on special or chartered flights.

In February, India had evacuated hundreds of its citizens from the worst-hit Hubei province in central China, and the first pandemic epicentre, Wuhan city, the provincial capital in two special flights.
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Petrol, diesel prices go up again after a days pause

State-run oil marketing companies raised the prices of petrol and diesel on Monday, a day after there was no hike in rates that were increased continuously for three weeks. Read more

ICMR plans to scale up antigen-based Covid-19 testing

The government is planning to expand the use of rapid antigen-based Covid-19 tests and the countrys top biomedical research body has advised states to use the easy-to-use method to compliment the more rigorous RT-PCR test to detect the coronavirus as infections surge across the country. Read more

They removed ventilator...: Man messages father before he dies of Covid-19

A 26-year-old man from Hyderabad sent a selfie video from the hospital bed to his father minutes before he succumbed to Covid-19, stating that he was feeling breathless as the doctors had allegedly removed the ventilator support. Read more

The art of creative expression: Does adding new painting materials help a childs creativity and emotional health?

Creativity as a form of self-expression is the most cathartic, and free of judgment. There is nothing more satisfying and fulfilling than to be able to express oneself openly. Read more

HT Salutes: Two Mumbai residents who made theplas for migrants amid lockdown

Varsha Shah and Varsha Padia made theplas for migrants and labourers in Mumbai amid the lockdown. The duo from Mumbai coordinated with an NGO called Circle of Love and Care who further distributed theplas. Watch to know more

Sathankulam custodial deaths: Singam director Hari regrets making films glorifying police

Filmmaker Hari is the latest Tamil celebrity to express shock and condemn the deaths of Jeyaraj and his son Fenix due to alleged custodial torture in Sathankulam town in Thoothukudi. In a statement, he deeply regretted making five Tamil films that glorified police. Read more

India captain Virat Kohli vs RCB captain Virat Kohli: Parthiv Patel explains the difference

Parthiv Patel is someone who has made his debut under Sourav Ganguly, played a lot of cricket when MS Dhoni was Indias captain and also plied his trade under current captain Virat Kohli. Read more
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Govt allows export of Covid-19 PPEs; monthly quota fixed at 5 million units

The Central government on Monday allowed the export of five million personal protective (PPE) equipment coveralls per month after a ban since the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. Read more

Maharashtra extends lockdown till July 31 amid spike in Covid-19 cases

The Maharashtra government on Monday extended the coronavirus lockdown in the state till July 31 amid a steady rise in the coronavirus cases. Mall, theatres, multiplexes, schools, colleges, gymnasiums, swimming pools will remain shut across the state. Read more

Sajid Mir, LeTs project manager for Mumbai attacks, plotted terror in 3 continents

Sajid Mir had ties to al Qaeda in Afghanistan and had direct access to Lashkars military chief Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the powerful terrorist who continues to be shielded by Pakistani authorities. Read more

Many Indians, families of diplomats not allowed on special flight to China

After the two Indians were diagnosed with Covid-19, Chinese authorities gave permission only for an empty flight from India to land in the southern city of Guangzhou to repatriate Indians. Read more

If banned from IPL, why shouldnt I play other T20 leagues, asks veteran Indian spinner

Due to his participation in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, Tambe, who was acquired by KKR at last years auction, was barred from playing the IPL this year. Read more

Gmail users on Windows 10 Mail app facing some serious issues

Windows 10s Mail app is causing some Gmail users to lose their sent emails completely or moved to the spam folder. Read more

Updated Audi Q5 revealed with sharper looks and worlds first OLED rear lights

The new Audi Q5 is scheduled for an India launch in 2021 and boasts of significant changes to its visual profile and packs even more comfort and convenience features on the inside. Read more

Mughal-e-Azam to Ram-Leela: Fashion goals that Bollywood has given us through the years

Characters on the big screen have inspired countless generations of fashion, be it through period dramas like Mughal-e-Azam, Devdas, Jodha Akbar or through modern sagas like Jab We Met, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Veere Di Wedding. Read more

This mans Hasan Minhaj impression is extremely on point. Watch him explain the pizza problem

An admirer and skilled impersonator is mimicking Minhaj to tell everyone about his pizza problem. This video was posted on Facebook on June 25 from actor, writer, and filmmaker Saiyam Kumars account. Read more

Watch: Sikh community in US hosts drive-thru food distribution for needy

Guru Nanak Foundation of America has been organising the Langar Seva. A group of 25 volunteers have distributed over 2100 food packages. Watch the full video for more. Watch it here

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Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion at 9 pm. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Plasma therapy saved my life, says Delhi health minister after beating Covid-19

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain on Monday said plasma therapy saved him from Covid-19 and pledged to donate his plasma. With good wishes of everyone I am recovering at home now. Plasma bank announcement by Honble CM @ArvindKejriwal is a revolutionary step. Plasma therapy saved my life from Corona virus and I pledge to donate my plasma as soon as medical protocols will allow, Jain tweeted.

Read more.

India bans 59 China-linked phone apps, orders phone companies to block them

In a huge move, the central government on Monday decided to ban 59 mobile applications linked to China on grounds of national security. A formal order, asking phone companies to block the applications, was issued after weeks of discussions that started much before the Ladakh border standoff with China. But government officials told Hindustan Times that the deliberations were fast-tracked after June 15 violent scrap between soldiers at Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh.

Read more.

India-China to hold Lt General-level talks tomorrow on LAC standoff

Indian and Chinese army delegations, led by corps commanders, will hold a meeting at Chushul in Ladakh on Tuesday with a focus on cooling tensions and thinning military build-up on both sides of the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC), people familiar with developments said on Monday.

Read more.

Another 5,000+ surge takes Maharashtras Covid-19 tally to 1.69 lakh

Maharashtra recorded another huge surge of 5,257 new Covid-19 cases on Monday as the states tally touched 1,69,883, the health department said. There were 181 casualties also, including 92 in Mumbai that took the death toll to 7,610 in the state.

Read more.

Stop trains, domestic flights from 5 worst-hit states: Mamata Banerjee tells Centre

The Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal has written to the Centre to stop sending trains from at least five coronavirus hotspot states, which have registered the highest number of Covid-19 cases in India.

Read more.

Laxmmi Bomb new posters: Akshay Kumars bright bindi and dramatic eyes are striking, film to release on Disney+ Hotstar

Actor Akshay Kumar shared dramatic new posters of his film, Laxmmi Bomb, as it was announced that the film will release directly on Disney+ Hotstar. Official remake of south hit Kanchana, Laxmmi Bomb is a horror comedy that is being helmed by the director of the original, Raghava Lawrence, with Kiara Advani as the leading lady.

Read more.

Govt to launch an e-marketplace for tribal artisans soon

Tribal artisans will be able to sell their products online soon as the government is working on a specialised e-marketplace. This online portal will be launched on Independence Day. Managing director of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), Pravir Krishna said that the Tribes India e-Mart will be launched on August 15 and will be just like e-commerce platforms like Amazon or Flipkart, just that it will be exclusively for tribal artisans.

Read more.

Watch: 24-yr-old woman digs 15-ft well to ease mothers troubles in Bengal

A 24-year-old woman dug a well in her village in West Bengal. Bobita Soren dug the 15-feet-deep well to ease her mothers troubles. Bobitas ailing mother had to walk and stand in queue to fetch water multiple times in a day. Bobita, who is pursuing BEd, had started the digging work in 2019 but couldnt finish it as she had to return to her college hostel. Lockdown, however, came as an opportunity to the 24-year-old. Watch the full video for details.

Watch here.
Odisha health minister Naba Das, who is at the forefront of the governments fight against the coronavirus pandemic, landed in a spot after police on Sunday lodged a case against his daughter for violating social distancing norms while holding an official meeting.

Rahul PR, Jharsugudas superintendent of police, said a case has been registered against Deepali Das and some other people at Jharsuguda Town police station after a complaint by the municipality executive officer.

The complaint said a ceremony was organised by Deepali and others at the conference hall of the District Rural Development Agency to felicitate corona warriors on June 22. More than 50 people were present during the ceremony without maintaining the mandatory social distancing norms.

Minister Das, who has been grooming his daughter as his successor in Jharsuguda district, refused to comment.

However, Deepali said some people are unnecessarily pointing fingers at him. I will respect the law and continue to work for the people of Jharsuguda, she said.

Two days ago, Das was ticked off by the ruling Biju Janata Dals (BJDs) top brass over allowing his daughter to be his political representative in Jharsuguda district and hold official meetings.

The first information report (FIR) against Deepali comes at a time when the number of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in Odisha are galloping towards 7,000-mark amid a spate of violations of social distancing norms and masks.

Niranjan Patnaik, the state unit chief of the Congress party, was fined for not wearing masks at a public demonstration two days ago.
A newly-recruited official of the Odisha government was found dead in his house in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, a day before he was supposed to join his duties, police said on Monday.

Officials said Abhilash Swaroop Mahapatra, a 35-year-old official in Odisha Finance Service cadre, was supposed to join duty at the treasury office on Monday.

They said Mahapatra locked himself up in a room of his house on Sunday following a quarrel. When he did not open the door despite repeated calls, his wife called some of their neighbours.

He was immediately rushed to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Mahapatra, a native of Titlagarh in Bolangir district, earlier worked with a bank and was recruited in the OFS cadre a few months ago.

The OFS officers body was handed over to his family after a post-mortem examination and the last rites were performed in Puris Swargadwar.
New Delhi:

From bullock cart and camel rallies to leaders riding bicycles and promoting social media hastags, the Congress and other opposition parties held protests across India on Monday against the fuel price hikes in the last three months, saying it was hurting the poor and the middle-class adversely.

The government has claimed that the fuel prices have risen because of increase in international crude prices but the Congress has said that the Centre has artificially kept the prices high by not lowering the special excise duty imposed when the international crude prices fell to US $30 in March this year. Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, however, justified the increase saying that the money was needed for providing relief to the poor suffering because of the Covid pandemic.

In Bengaluru, former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah along with Congress leaders rode a bicycle from his residence to Minsk Square to protest against the hike. State Congress chief, DK Shivakumar, said: In Delhi, diesel prices have exceeded petrol prices. We must protest against this.

In Rajasthan, a camel cart rally under leadership of state Congress president Sachin Pilot was taken out. Despite having full stock of fuel, the government has burdened the common people by increasing fuel prices continuously for last 20 days. Such a steep hike has not been seen in 70 years, Pilot said.

In Haryana and Uttarakhand, Congress leaders took out bullock-cart rallies.

Modi ji called himself janta ka chowkidar, but oil companies have been making profits and the PM has failed to provide any relief to the people, said Kumari Selja, chief of Haryana Congress, asking what the Centre has done with 18 lakh crore earned by hiking the excise duty on fuel in the past six years.

In West Bengal, the Congress and Left parties on Monday held their first joint agitation against fuel price hike at Red Road in the heart of Kolkata. The ruling Trinamool Congress also held a separate protest rally.

The countrys GDP has hit the bottom. It is the lowest in 11 years and unemployment is on the rise. Still, fuel prices have been increased, said Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra.

In Maharashtra, Congress state chief and revenue minister, Balasaheb Thorat, public works and former chief minister Ashok Chavan, energy minister, Nitin Raut, participated in the protests.

In Uttar Pradesh, apart from the Congress, the other opposition parties, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, also demanded roll back in the fuel prices and had held protests. Diesel has become costlier than petrol. What did not happen in 70 years, has now happened, said SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. BSP chief Mawayati tweeted: The (Central) government must control petrol and diesel prices. On one hand people are already distressed with Covid-19 and now this further price rise is staring in peoples face.

In Ranga Reddy district of Telangana, the Congress leaders registered their protest by riding cycle rickshaws and in Warangal, they came in bullock carts. However, the bulls were disturbed apparently on seeing the crowd and ran helter-skelter, injuring some party workers.

BJP leaders termed the protest as a this as a drama

Maharashtras leader of opposition and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the decision to decontrol the prices of the fuel was taken during the United Progressive Alliance government. If the Congress is so concerned about the price hike, the state government in which Congress is a parner should reduced the VAT, he said.

Madhya Pradesh BJP vice-preisdent Vijesh Lunawat said the Central government is using the money to give a boost to the economic activities and meet aspirations of people. If Congress is really concerned it should reduce VAT on diesel and petrol in Rajasthan to show the way, he said.

(With inputs from state bureaus and agencies)
In the absence of a workable model that will allow appropriate social distancing for members of Parliament (MPs) and their staff, there is a possibility that the forthcoming monsoon session of Parliament will not be held in July and could even be pushed to September, two people familiar with the decision-making process said on condition of anonymity.

Officials have considered the possibility of holding online sessions, where half the members will be seated in the House and the other half joins online, but this has been found untenable as it requires members to give consent on how they would want to join the session. They have also considered shifting the sessions of both houses to either other locations within the Parliament complex or outside, but this, too, has been ruled out because of the difficulties in implementing social distancing norms.

One of the two people, who has participated in meetings on the issue, said that since there is no pressing matter at hand, for instance, the passage of ordinance that will otherwise lapse, and since there is no immediate constitutional requirement to convene the session, there is a possibility that Parliament will convene once there is solution at hand for ensuring proper social distancing protocols.

As per the Constitution, there is no specification of the number of days or the period during which Parliament should meet. As per Article 85, the only requirement is that gap between two sessions should not be more than six months. The last session was in March, which means we have time till September, added this person.

The ordinances in effect at the moment also have a time-cushion before they lapse.

President Ramnath Kovind, in June, promulgated The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Ordinance 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, and, last week, the ordinance to amend banking regulations. All of these ordinances will not expire before six months from the day of being promulgated, which give us more time to plan, the first person said.

The Opposition has demanded that Parliament be convened to discuss important issues at hand including the stand-off with China and the coronavirus pandemic. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla have also held several rounds of meetings to work out how Parliament can resume work even as the protocols for health and social distancing are not breached.

There were many suggestions mooted such as using the central hall for convening the Lok Sabha and using the Lok Sabha hall for Rajya Sabha. However, all these have been found untenable. There is not enough space to ensure physical distancing required even if this suggestion is followed, said the person quoted above.

Officials of both the houses had pointed out that logistical problems such as rearranging names on the computers. Similarly, unless a member voluntarily opts for joining the session online, the secretariat of either house cannot take a decision on who can be permitted to attend the House in person.

The first person said that with the number of Covid-19 cases continuing to surge, it is imperative that the House functions only with the necessary protocol. There were also suggestions to have the monsoon session in Vigyan Bhavan. That was explored too, but space and security constraints have made that untenable too. The biggest hall in Vigyan Bhavan can be used at best for holding a day long session. Since the annexe of Vigyan Bhavan already houses offices, there will be no space to accommodate the staff or ministers and MPs.

The second person, who is familiar with the proceedings at the meetings also said that several MPs had indicated that since the House has to only reconvene before September 23, the secretariats should be given more time to come up with a sustainable model that will ensure safety of the members, their staff and the security personnel.

There are between 20,000-40,000 people who visit Parliament EVERY DAY when the sessions are on. It is not an easy task to create a safe space for such large numbers, the second person said.

As per convention, Parliament meets for three sessions in a year, the Budget session, the monsoon session and the winter session.

Experts say that the government must do more to find a workable solution.

A session of the Andhra Pradesh legislature was recently held where the Governor gave his address by video conference. Media reports suggest that to ensure physical distancing between legislators, the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Saha might consider holding its next session in a large conference venue opposite the Vidhan Sabha building. The constitution tasks the government with the responsibility of convening the legislature. It is now for the government to ensure that MPs can meet safely either within Parliament or at any other larger venue where norms of distancing can be ensured, said Chakshu Roy, Head of Legislative and Civic Engagement, PRS Legislative Research.
Plasma therapy has helped in stabilising the respiratory rate, improving oxygen saturation and reducing chances of organ failure in ICU patients of the coronavirus disease, showed the results from a small trial conducted at Delhis Lok Nayak Hospital, according to chief minister Arvind Kejriwals office on Monday.

The data reinforces the promise of plasma therapy, a process in which blood rich in antibodies from a Covid-19 recovered patient is transfused into the body of someone still struggling with the virus, in helping avert deaths due to the viral disease. Kejriwal on Monday announced the Capital will soon have a dedicated bank to pool in plasma from recovered patients.

Of the 29 Covid-19 patients enrolled for the trial at Lok Nayak, 14 were given convalescent plasma from other recovered patients and 15 were administered fresh frozen plasma without any therapeutic benefit.

The initial results show that respiratory rate came down, oxygen saturation improved and their sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, a yardstick that predicts ICU mortality, also improved in the patients who were given convalescent plasma.

The average respiratory rate of the patients selected for the trial was just over 35 (normal is 12 to 20 breaths per minute), which reduced to about 27 breaths in 48 hours, and was closer to the normal 20 in seven days. This was much better than those who were given the plasma without therapeutic benefit.

Similarly, the oxygen saturation went up by 6.6 percentage points within 48 hours and 9.9% in seven days in patients given convalescent plasma. The SOFA score came down by 1.8 in patients given convalescent plasma as opposed to 0.6 in those in the control group within 48 hours. This score reduced by 4.5 in patients given convalescent plasma as opposed to 3.7 in the other group. Higher the score the likelier it is that a person will die.

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Duration of ICU stay as well as hospital stay was also less in patients who were given convalescent plasma.

Lok Nayak hospital was the first to receive a nod for plasma therapy trial in India.

The findings of the trial are yet to be published. However, preliminary evidence shows that it improves the oxygen saturation and reduces organ failure scores in patients if administered at the right time. This might improve mortality rates, however, none of the studies globally have proved survival benefits so far. Plasma therapy remains one of the most potentially beneficial treatments for Covid-19 if given at the right time, said Dr SK Sarin, director of Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, which partnered with Lok Nayak hospital for the trial.

Before announcing the setting up of a plasma bank, Kejriwal had last week described plasma therapy as one of the five weapons that Delhi has in its fight against coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The plasma bank  which will operate largely like a blood bank  will be set up in the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) hospital in south Delhi.

When the condition of Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain started deteriorating, he too was administered the therapy. He has now recovered from the infection.

IDENTIFYING RECIPIENTS

Currently, plasma therapy is an experimental treatment that the government has allowed only in moderately ill patients whose oxygen requirement does not go down despite providing oxygen support and steroids.

International studies so far have shown that the therapy is safe, with less than 1% adverse outcomes such as transfusion reactions, in a study of 20,000 patients who received the therapy in the US, according to Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

However, it does not establish the efficacy of the therapy. Another study of 10 patients published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences from China showed that plasma therapy may lower severity of disease, aid recovery of liver and lung function, and reduce inflammation.

If plasma therapy is administered at the replicative stage, it can neutralise some of the virus and prevent the disease from progressing onto critical stages. It should preferably be given before a person reaches a stage where they have to be put on a ventilator. If organ failure has already started or the lungs have been damaged, then the therapy may not be very helpful, Sarin said.

At Max hospital, which was the first to actually administer the therapy, 50 people have received it under the multi-centre clinical trial being spearheaded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

In this, patient parameters  such as the complications, number of days spent on the ventilator, oxygen requirement -- is compared to a control group that did not receive plasma therapy. However, the revised clinical guidelines by the health ministry in mid-June has allowed the use of the therapy to the particular category of patients even without registering for the clinical trials. About 15 or so patients have received the therapy outside of the trial, said Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, group medical director, Max Healthcare.

The therapy is also not effective in people who already have a high level of antibody. When the infection enters a persons system, they start developing the antibodies against it too. I think we are the only hospital to test the antibody level of the recipient along with that of the donor. If a person already has high levels of antibodies (more than 641), then adding more antibodies to it may not be helpful, said Dr Sarin.

DONOR CHALLENGES

Across India, 321,735 people have recovered from the infection, and over 50,000 in Delhi alone, as on Sunday. However, getting a plasma donor is still a challenge for many with social media and WhatsApp becoming their last resort to find a donor.

This has also led to scams such as the one where 23-year-old man who duped Delhi assembly speaker Ram Niwas Goel and a friend who were looking for a plasma donor. A man claiming to be a doctor from citys government hospital agreed to donate plasma but asked for cab fare. The man stopped returning his calls afterwards.

Kejriwal on Monday said the bank will streamline the plasma therapy system in the city. He said the government is working out on the modalities of the plasma bank and they will be finalised in the next two days.

Meanwhile, hospitals are doing their best to motivate patients who have been discharged to come back and donate plasma to help others.

We counsel all Covid-19 patients at the time of discharge to come back in two weeks to donate plasma. We keep a record of these patients and call them when someone is in need of plasma. However, we do not get enough donations at the moment to let us create a bank for convalescent plasma. The patients also reach out on social media, there are various organisations that have stepped in to help as well. But there is a gap in demand and supply. For example, one website that connects donors and recipients received requests for plasma from 700 people and only 150 willing donors in a week. And, only 50 of the 150 were eligible to donate after screening, said Dr Budhiraja.

Finding the patients blood type in stock is also a challenge, said Dr Sushma Bhatnagar, head of the Covid-19 services at AIIMS, Jhajjar. We do have some donor plasma in our blood bank; but we do not always find the patients blood type in stock. What we do then is start calling the patients who have recovered from the hospital and ask them to come and donate the plasma. I think, counselling the patients has an important role to play. If it is done properly at the time of discharge, people are more likely to come back, said Dr Bhatnagar.

The Delhi government created a bank of about 200 samples, but finds it tough to replenish it.

Collecting plasma from those who have recovered remains a challenge, with them not wanting to come back to hospitals. So, it is essential that we take the technology to them. Just like blood donation drives, the government can conduct plasma collection drives in the containment areas where many cases are being reported. A plasmapheresis machine (a device that takes blood out of the body, separates the components, and reinfuses components other than plasma back into the body) can easily be carried in a van or stationed at a dispensary for the collection, said Sr Sarin.
New Delhi: The custodial deaths of a father and son in Tamil Nadus Thoothukudi district -- it has created a nationwide uproar with the family blaming police torture -- is not an isolated incident. Crime records and survey reports show that violence by police has been reported across the nation, that police personnel are not adequately trained in human rights, and that they have the tendency to inflict punishments outside the judicial process.

According to the latest Crime in India report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 70 people died in police custody in 2018. Tamil Nadu recorded 12 of these deaths, the second-highest in the country after Gujarat, where 14 such deaths were reported. Only three of these 70 deaths were categorised by the police as having occurred due to physical assault by police, while illness was registered as a cause of death in 32 of the 70 cases. Seventeen of these deaths were attributed to suicide, seven to injuries sustained prior to police custody, seven while escaping from custody, one to road accidents or journeys connected with investigation while the remaining three to other reasons.

In 2019, at least 117 deaths in police custody were reported to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

But, according to a report released last week by the National Campaign Against Torture, a joint initiative by multiple non-governmental organisations, deaths in police custody occur primarily as a result of torture. Of the 125 deaths in police custody that the group recorded in 2019, 93 persons (or three in every four) died due to alleged torture or foul play; while 24 died in suspicious circumstances, with the police claiming they either committed suicide or died of illness or accident. The report also said that the practice of torturing suspects in police custody to punish them, gather information, extract confessions, or demand bribes, was rampant.

In terms of police personnel being punished for alleged torture and extrajudicial killings, NCRB data for 2018 shows that even as 89 cases were registered against police personnel for human rights violations such as custodial killings and illegal detentions, not a single one was convicted of the crime. Of these 89 cases -- three cases were registered for custodial deaths, three for torture leading to injury, four for encounter killings, 17 for extortion, one for illegal detention and 61 for other kinds of human rights violations.

While nine police personnel were arrested in connection with cases of custodial death, and one was arrested for torture leading to injuries, a charge sheet was filed in just one case till the NCRB report was compiled.

Findings from the Status of Policing in India report, released last year by non-governmental organisations Common Cause and CSDS-Lokniti, showed that the police in India suffers from inadequacies and biases which might lead to such behaviour. The report was based on a survey of close to 12,000 police personnel across 21 states.

The report showed that 12% police personnel never receive human rights training. This varied among states and was as high as 38% in Bihar, 31% in Assam and 19% in Indias most populous state Uttar Pradesh. Even among the personnel who received training in human rights, a majority said it was only at the time of joining the police force. The study said this was also true for those who were in the police force for more than five years.

The survey also found a large number of police personnel justified the use of extrajudicial measures against criminals. Three in every four police personnel surveyed felt it was justified for the police to be violent towards criminals, while one in five felt that killing dangerous criminals was better than a legal trial. More educated police personnel, who are more likely to be officers, were found to be more likely to believe that it was alright for the police to be violent towards criminals.

This has become a very scary situation, said former director general of police, Vikram Singh, regarding the number of custodial deaths being reported each year. The most scary dimension is the fact that nobody has been punished in the 100-odd police custodial deaths in the year 2018 and the year before. The cases arent being pursued rigorously, and if you dont pursue cases rigorously, the witnesses turn hostile, and it gives a sense of impunity to policemen.
Calling it  unconscionable, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday launched a withering Twitter attack on the government over the relentless hike in fuel prices over the past 21 days.

The Congress is holding mass protests across the country today over the unprecedented rise in petrol and diesel prices.

The unconscionable price-gouging of India by an anti-people Government, w/21 days of continuous fuel price rises, has to stop. @INCIndia leads the resistance, tweeted Tharoor.

While the diesel rates have been hiked for the 22nd time since June 7, petrol price has been raised on 21 occasions. There was no change in prices on Sunday.

Petrol price was increased by 5 paise per litre and diesel 13 paise a litre across the country, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies. The cumulative increase since the oil companies started the cycle on June 7 now totals to Rs 9.17 for petrol and Rs 11.14 in diesel.

In Delhi, a litre of petrol now comes for Rs 80.43 per litre as compared to Rs 80.38 earlier. Diesel rates have been increased to Rs 80.53 per litre from Rs 80.40.

Rates vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local sales tax or VAT.

Tharoor listed out a series of steps to bring relief to the common man at a time the nation is also battling a raging coronavirus pandemic.

1) Pass the benefits of low crude oil prices to the people by reducing prices of petrol-diesel-LPG 2) Bring petrol and diesel under GST 3) Immediately withdraw 13 hikes in excise duty since May 2014 on petroleum products, Tharoor added.

The unconscionable price-gouging of India by an anti-people Government, w/21 days of continuous fuel price rises, has to stop. @INCIndia leads the resistance. #SpeakUpAgainstFuelHike pic.twitter.com/oGSTJa7WKz  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 29, 2020

In a little over one-minute video, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi too urged people to join SpeakUpAgainstFuelHike campaign.

In a circular, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal asked cadre to register a strong protest against the BJP-led government at the Centre through demonstrations against the extortionate increase in fuel rates when people face unprecedented economic challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Members of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee were detained by police while protesting near IP College against continuous hike in fuel prices. In Bengaluru, former CM Siddaramaiah, along with other party leaders, cycled from his residence to Congress office in the city to register protest against rising fuel prices.

According to the Indian Oil Companys website, total taxes on petrol and diesel are more than their basic rates. Almost all states have raised the value-added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel since mid-March.
The Gauhati high court (HC) has observed that a Hindu married womans refusal to wear sakha  bangles made of conch-shell  and sindoor (vermillion), as per the marriage rituals and customs, signifies her refusal to accept her marriage to the husband, while granting her husbands plea for divorce.

A two-member of the HC, comprising Chief Justice Ajai Lamba and Justice Soumitra Saikia, said the womans steadfast refusal to wear sakha and sindoor  the trappings of a Hindu bride  denotes her unwillingness to be considered married to her husband.

Under such circumstances, compelling the husband to continue to be in matrimony with the wife may be construed to be harassment, the HC held in its June 19 order.

Earlier, a family court in Assam had rejected the husbands plea for divorce on the grounds that the wife is not found to have inflicted any cruelty against the complainant.

However, the HC observed that the husband had alleged before the lower court that the wife refused to wear sakha and sindoor, a contention that has not been disputed by her.

The marriage between the couple was solemnised in February 2012.

However, a month after the marriage, the wife wanted a separate accommodation for the couple, as she did not wish to live in a joint family.

The husband alleged that their conjugal relationship worsened because of her demand to live like a nuclear family, which led to frequent quarrels and his wife also failed to conceive a child.

She left her husbands home in 2013 and filed a case against him and his family members under Section 498A (husband or his relative subjecting a married woman to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Though the husband and his relatives were acquitted in the case by HC, he filed a separate divorce plea, citing cruelty by his wife.

She contested the plea alleging harassment by her husband and in-laws for dowry. She also alleged that she was denied food and medical treatment and it was left to her brother to take care of her basic necessities.

But, the HC overturned the family courts decision.

The allegation of subjecting the wife to cruelty was not sustained. Such acts of lodging criminal cases on unsubstantiated allegations against the husband and/or the husbands family members amounts to cruelty, the HC order said.

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New Delhi The Supreme Court on Monday assured lakhs of students appearing for the chartered accountancy examinations scheduled from July 29 that due to the Covid-19 situation, if any student fails to take all examinations, they will be given the benefit of appearing in the next cycle of tests in November this year.

To formalize this relief, a three-judge bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar asked the examination conducting body - Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) - to come out with a notification specifying this provision by Thursday. The ICAI agreed to bring the proposed notification to Court following which it will be notified to all students.

Nearly 3.46 lakh students have registered to take the CA examinations scheduled from July 29. In view of the Covid-19 situation, the ICAI came out with an Opt-Out scheme by which students could opt out of the examinations in July and attempt the same in November this year. Students had to indicate their preference for this scheme by June 29 to be eligible for this relief. The ICAI had proposed this scheme realizing the practical difficulties faced by students situated in containment zone, or who are unable to travel due to lockdown restrictions.

This scheme was challenged in Supreme Court by one Anubha Shrivastava Sahai who alleged that those opting for Opt-Out should not be left at a disadvantage due to the situation. The petition argued by advocate Alakh Shrivastava sought more examination centres so that students willing to write the examination are not forced to travel distances.

The bench, also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna asked ICAI whether it was possible to extend the opt-out scheme to even those students who did not register this choice in advance but were later unable to take the examination due to Covid-related reasons.

The present situation is dynamic. You have to be flexible to change according to requirement of each area and concerns of students in that area, said the bench. ICAI represented by senior counsel Ramji Srinivas accepted the suggestion and said that if any student is unable to take the examination, all examinations in that cluster or group will be cancelled and the student will have an option to take the exams in November. ICAI secretary Rakesh Sehgal told the court that increasing examination centres at this stage was not possible. Out of 3.46 lakh candidates, only 57,000 had chosen Opt-Out scheme, ICAI counsel stated.

The court further asked ICAI to ensure that the time to exercise Opt-Out scheme should be extended by one week beyond June 29. The bench further sought the ministry of home affairs guidelines for conducting CBSE examinations to be adopted by ICAI. With these incorporations, ICAI is expected to submit a revised notification to Court on Thursday.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday evening. It will be their first official meeting in three months after Chouhan became the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh for the fourth time.

On March 23, after taking an oath as the chief minister, the Covid-19 induced lockdown was imposed, and Chouhan could not formally meet the Prime Minister.

In todays meeting, the two senior leaders are likely to discuss the current political situation in Madhya Pradesh and the possible expansion of the state cabinet.

Besides this, the chief minister is expected to brief the Prime Minister about the current Covid-19 situation in Madhya Pradesh. The two are also likely to discuss steps taken to ensure self-sufficient India and self-sufficient Madhya Pradesh.

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Apart from that, Chouhan may brief the Prime Minister on the status of farmers in the state and the procurement of wheat.
Amid allegations of corruption in distribution of relief by Trinamool Congress (TMC) office bearers during the Covid-19 lockdown and after cyclone Amphan, the ruling party in West Bengal has issued show cause notice to at least 10 leaders in north and south Bengal.

Among those pulled up for alleged corruption are civic body officer bearers from Asansol and Durgapur towns in West Burdwan district and Dhupguri town in north Bengals Jalpaiguri district.

On Monday, the North 24 Parganas district administration also made 20 villagers of Deganga refund the amount of Rs 20,000 each of them received for repairing houses damaged by the cyclone. Unrest over alleged nepotism had rocked Deganga last week, leading to 15 arrests and vandalism at the office of the community bock development officer.

While the civic body members from the two West Burdwan towns were allegedly involved in anomalies in distribution of ration, those in Dhupguri faced charges of misusing power and anti-party activity. I will not name anyone but six elected members of the civic board have been issued show cause notice, said TMCs Jalpaiguri district unit president Krishna Kumar Kalyani.

Let there be an inquiry against me in seven days and the truth will come out, said Dhupguri municipality vice-chairman Rajesh Singh, one of the accused. Another accused councillor, Gautam Basak, alleged that he had been framed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In Bankura district, former minister Shyamaprasad Mukherjee was also issued a show cause notice. Mukherjee visited the TMC headquarters on Monday to submit his reply. He refused to say why he was pulled up. The party wanted to know something. I have submitted all documents, he said.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh and other party leaders described the disciplinary actions as eyewash.

The police should be drawing up FIRs against these leaders. Why is their party asking them to explain their crime, said BJP vice president Jay Prakash Majumdar.

BJP state vice president and Lok Sabha member Arjun Singh on Monday submitted a memorandum to governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and alleged that BJP workers had been assaulted and deprived of relief materials and compensation in the Sandeshkhali area in North 24 Parganas.
New Delhi:

New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday accused the central government of setting a new example in extorting the common people with its unjustified and insensitive increase in fuel prices. Citing an increase in fuel prices 22 times in the last three months, Gandhi also demanded an immediate rollback of the hike.

In her video message while participating in the partys Speak Up Against Fuel Hike campaign  as a part of the Congress nationwide agitation against the continuous increase in petrol and diesel prices  she said the hike directly hurts farmers, the poor, the working class, the middle class and the small businesses.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for its part, has said that the revenue had been used for welfare schemes for the poor, and alleged that during Congress rule, it was used for personal benefit.

The Congress president said that at a time of a crisis, the governments duty was to help people and not make profits. It has set a new example of extortion from people through this unjustified increase in petrol and diesel prices. This is not only unjust but also insensitive, she added.

Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi government of collecting lakhs of crores by raising excise duty on petrol and diesel in the last three months. All this is happening at a time when the international crude oil prices are continuously falling. She added that since 2014, instead of giving relief of the falling international crude oil prices to the people, the Modi government had raised the excise duty 12 times, which helped it collect additional revenue of nearly 18 lakh crore.

The Congress chief demanded that the Modi government immediately roll back the increase in prices of petrol and diesel.

I also urge them to roll back the rise in excise duty on petrol and diesel since March this year and give this benefit to the countrymen. This will be a big relief in this period of economic crisis, she added.

As a part of the week-long agitation, Congress leaders such as KC Venugopal and Manickam Tagore were seen riding cycles to Parliament, while Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV pulled a bullock cart to protest the fuel rate hikes. Former party chief Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and hundreds of Congress leaders and workers also participated in the campaign on social media, urging the people to join the party in putting pressure on the government to reduce fuel prices.

Countering the charges, union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the money collected was used for welfare measures and not for personal benefits as had allegedly happened during the Congress rule.

I once again reiterate to Madam Sonia Gandhi ji that Modi ji has transferred more than 65,000 crore to 42 crore people in the last 3 months, he said.

Unlike Congress legacy of transferring money into the accounts of middlemen, National Daamad, The Family and Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Modi jis DBT is about putting money in the hands of the poor, farmers, migrant workforce and women, alleged Pradhan. He also endorsed BJP president JP Naddas remarks, asking the Congress to explain the hike in fuel taxes in party-ruled states.

In his video message, Rahul Gandhi asked the government to stop profiteering from the fuel hikes. The affect of rise in diesel and petrol prices are two-fold. One is that you pay directly and the other, indirectly, due to rise in prices of consumer products, including essential items, he added. He also alleged that while on the one hand, the government had written off loans of rich crony capitalists, on the other, it was trying to profit from fuel prices, putting extra burden on the poor and the farmer.
In this case, the State had moved to dismiss the case on behalf of a number of (Department of Correction) officials, asserting that it was barred by various immunity doctrines. Both the district court and today the Second Circuit rejected several of those initial arguments. The decisions thus far have not addressed the merits of the case, and focused solely on the questions of immunity. The courts have also not yet addressed the facts of the case, only those facts as claimed by plaintiffs and not yet tested by discovery or witness testimony. We will continue to press our defenses and to develop the record accordingly.
The Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal has written to the Centre to stop sending trains from at least five coronavirus hotspot states, which have registered the highest number of Covid-19 cases in India.

The Bengal chief minister has also urged the Union government to stop sending domestic flights from these five states. Flights from other states can be allowed once a week, she said.

Uncertainty now looms over the resumption of Kolkata Metro services with metro authorities saying that they would need the nod of three union ministries  rail, health and home  before services could begin again.

ALSO READ | Telangana, TN may follow Maharashtra in extending lockdown to stop Covid-19

The chief secretary has sent a letter requesting to stop trains from five states with immediate effect at least for some time now, Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat without naming the five states.

A senior official said the states are Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. Earlier, migrant labourers who returned from these states were also sent to institutional quarantine.

We would also request to restrict the number of incoming domestic flights from other states to one per week, instead of allowing several flights a day. It would be easier to manage, she added.

ALSO READ | West Bengal extends coronavirus lockdown till July 31

Banerjee had earlier raised objections against international flights too. Even though the union government has suspended commercial international flights till July 15, domestic flights and trains continue to operate.

The chief minister had said on Friday that the state government had requested the Kolkata Metro to resume services from July 1.

Metro and suburban train services have been suspended till August 12. We will need the nod of the rail ministry, home ministry and health ministry to restart metro services, said a spokesperson of the Kolkata Metro.

On Monday, senior officials of the Kolkata Metro held a meeting with the state government.

The Kolkata Metro will resume essential services for now which can be availed by doctors, police and other frontline staff. The chief secretary will speak to the railway board chairman so that normal services could start soon, Banerjee added.

The state government will also launch tele-medicine services from July 1 to enable patients to consult doctors for medical help over telephone instead of visiting hospitals or clinics. Each district will have dedicated telephone lines.

She added that the government will procure 30 million face masks, which would be distributed among school students and frontline health workers among others.
The Supreme Court on Monday sought information from the Centre whether visas of blacklisted foreign members of the Tablighi Jamaat have been cancelled and separate orders issued against each of the 2,500 foreigners by the Union ministry of home affairs (HA) on April 2 and June 4.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar asked the Solicitor General to give a response by July 2.

The top court said if visas are cancelled then why have these persons not been deported yet and allowed to be still here.

Thirty-four foreigners belonging to 15 countries, who had attended a religious congregation organised by the Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhis Nizamuddin in mid-March, had approached the Supreme Court claiming that no individual orders were issued to them and a general direction issued to states directing blacklisting and registration of first information reports (FIRs).

Their senior counsel CU Singh informed the court that FIRs were filed and their passports impounded.

These foreigners had approached the Supreme Court challenging the decision of MHA to blacklist them without hearing them even once.

The petitioners were aggrieved by the April 2 decision of MHA to blacklist 960 foreigners of 35 countries for participating in the Tablighi Jamaat activities. They were not allowed to travel to India for the next 10 years.

Later on June 4, MHA further blacklisted 2,500 foreigners presently in India for their participation in Tablighi Jamaat event and directed director general of police of states and Union territories to register FIRs against them.

The petitioners claimed that the order was passed without hearing them and restricts their rights under Article 21.

They demanded MHA to remove them from the blacklist and reinstate their visas. They also demanded the court to facilitate their return to their respective countries.
The Telangana High Court on Monday cleared the decks for the construction of an ultramodern secretariat complex by the state government by demolishing the existing buildings on the banks of Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad.

The high court, which had heard a batch of public interest litigation (PIL) petitions filed by various groups including opposition parties, NGOs and environmentalists over the last four years, dismissed all of them and gave the green signal for the demolition of the existing secretariat buildings complex.

The government of chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had taken the decision in 2016 when it proposed to build the new secretariat in a defence land in Secunderabad. But the Centre did not give consent. So, after three years in 2019, the cabinet took a fresh decision to construct a new complex in the existing premises itself by demolishing the present buildings.

A division bench of the high court comprising chief justice Raghvender Singh Chauhan and justice Abhishek Reddy refused to interfere in the decision taken by the K Chandrasekhar Rao cabinet on June 18, 2019. We do not find any irregularity in the cabinet decision to demolish the secretariat, the bench observed.

The bench dismissed the petitions filed separately in 2016 by Congress MLA T Jeevan Reddy, advocate T Rajinikanth Reddy and Forum for Good Governance secretary M Padmanabha Reddy, and also those of Congress MP A Revanth Reddy and Prof PL Vishweshwar Rao filed in 2019, challenging the impending demolition of Secretariat buildings.

The court also refused to entertain the plea of one of the petitions for a four-month stay on its order so as to enable him to challenge it in the Supreme Court. It said the petitioner could approach the Supreme Court straightaway as it was hearing urgent cases through video conferencing.

The high court on February 12 this year directed the state government not to go ahead with the demolition of the existing secretariat buildings until further orders of the court. After concluding the arguments on March 6, the high court reserved its judgment in the case.

In its cabinet meeting held on June 18 last year, the chief minister proposed to raze the existing secretariat complex and construct a new spacious official complex at a cost of Rs 300-400 crore.

The cabinet also proposed to construct a modern, state-of-the-art state legislature complex by dismantling the 150-year old heritage structure Errum Manzil near Khairatabad. KCR laid foundation stones for both the assembly as well as Secretariat on June 27 last year.

However, the high court in September 2019, struck down the cabinet decision on demolition of Errum Manzil building. The high court found fault with the KCR government for excluding Errum Manzil from the list of heritage structures under the Telangana Heritage (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Maintenance) Act of 2017, so that it could be demolished for constructing an assembly complex.

The high court observed that protection of the heritage is as equally important as preparing plans for the future.
Almost a month after allowing only locals from nearby the Char Dham shrines to visit the temples, the Uttarakhand government on Monday decided to allow pilgrims from all the districts in the state to visit the shrines from July 1.

Ravinath Raman, chief executive officer of Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board said that people from across the state will be allowed to visit the shrines following certain guidelines. However, anyone staying in a containment zone or buffer zone will not be allowed to enter any of the shrine premises. Anyone with symptoms similar to Covid-19 will not be allowed to undertake the yatra.

The residents of Uttarakhand are being permitted to visit the shrines right now, but again they all have to follow the guidelines and standard operating procedures issued by the state and Central government so far. There might be people who are residents of Uttarakhand but have travelled from outside the state and they are supposed to observe the mandatory quarantine period, said Raman.

He said that those who want to visit the shrines will first have to get themselves enrolled on the website of the Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board, https://badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in.

After enrolment, those who want to visit the shrine will have to give a self-declaration, details like when they would start the yatra, submit an address and photo ID proof. After this an auto-generated e-pass will be given which the pilgrims should carry with themselves along with the address and photo ID proof submitted earlier, only then will police and respective district administration allow them to enter, added Raman. The pass will be valid for two-days.

The guidelines further mention that pilgrims will be allowed an overnight stay of only one night in the area where the shrine is situated, However, in the condition of a disaster, roadblock or health concern the time period can be increased. People who own or work at restaurants, hotels, guest houses near the shrine premises can take special permission from the district administration and stay for longer periods.

Those above 65 years of age and below 10 years of age will not be allowed to undertake yatra. It is mandatory to wear masks, use hand sanitiser and follow social distancing in the shrine premises. Keeping in view the health safety concerns of the priests and others working at the shrines, pilgrims will not be allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the shrines.

Pilgrims will mandatorily have to wash their hands and feet before entering the shrine and any offering brought from outside the shrine will not be allowed. Pilgrims have also been advised to not touch any idol while visiting the temples.

In an order on June 9, the state government had capped the number of pilgrims allowed at the shrines till June 30 to a maximum of 1,200 pilgrims per day for Badrinath, 800 for Kedarnath, 600 for Gangotri and 400 for the Yamunotri shrine.
Indias drug controller has given approval for human clinical trials of the countrys first coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine candidate, which has been developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology (NIV), the vaccine maker said on Monday.

The trials for the vaccine, named Covaxin, are likely to begin next month, the firm said. The strains of Sars-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19 was isolated by ICMR-NIV and transferred to Bharat Biotech in May. Scientists have managed to isolate and culture 11 strains that can be used to develop vaccines and aid research.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

The indigenous and inactivated vaccine candidate was developed and manufactured at Bharat Biotechs BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) High Containment facility located in Genome Valley, Hyderabad.

The Drug Controller General of India granted permission to initiate Phase I & II Human clinical trials after the company submitted results generated from preclinical studies, demonstrating safety and immune response. Human clinical trials are scheduled to start across India in July 2020, the company said.

Krishna Ella, chairman and managing director, Bharat Biotech, said: We are proud to announce COVAXIN, Indias first indigenous vaccine against Covid-19.The collaboration with ICMR and NIV was instrumental in the development of this vaccine. The proactive support and guidance from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has enabled approvals to this project. Our R&D and manufacturing teams worked tirelessly to deploy our proprietary technologies towards this platform.

In the two phases, experts test if a vaccine is safe to be administered in humans and to establish trends of its efficacy.

There are 13 experimental vaccines in clinical trials and another 129 in the pre-clinical evaluation stage on June 22, according to World Health Organizations draft landscape of Covid-19 vaccines on June 22.

The company completed comprehensive pre-clinical studies in two months after receiving regulatory approvals. Results from these studies have been promising and show extensive safety and effective immune responses, the company said.

Our ongoing research and expertise in forecasting epidemics has enabled us to successfully manufacture a vaccine for the H1N1 pandemic. Continuing our focus on creating the only BSL-3 containment facilities for manufacturing and testing in India, Bharat Biotech is committed to advancing vaccine development as a matter of national importance to demonstrate Indias strength in handling future pandemics, said Suchitra Ella, joint managing director, Bharat Biotech.

ICMR-NIV managed to isolate the virus from swab samples in early February from initial Covid-19 patients in Kerala.

It normally takes about two-three months for the vaccine candidate to be ready, and then different studies are undertaken to test the vaccine candidate. The next phase of trials will be equally crucial, said an ICMR official, asking not to be named.
New weapon systems bought from the United States form an integral part of Indias military posture and its preparations to deal with any provocation by the Chinese forces in eastern Ladakh, where both India and China are in a heightened state of readiness and tensions show no signs of easing, people familiar with developments said on Monday.

From the Indian Air Forces C-17 heavy-lifters, Apache attack helicopters and C-130J special operations aircraft, to the Indias Navys P-8I surveillance aircraft and the Indian Armys M-777 ultra-light howitzers -- these weapons and systems are playing a crucial role in strengthening the Indian militarys deployments, said one of the persons cited above who asked not to be named.

IAFs C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft have been used to move soldiers, tanks and infantry combat vehicles to the sector, while C-130J Super Hercules aircraft have undertaken sorties to the advanced landing ground in the strategic Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) sector to support the militarys forward deployments, said the second person on condition of anonymity.

At 16,614 feet, the DBO airstrip in north-eastern Ladakh is the worlds highest runway and is located 8km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has mobilised troops, weapons and equipment to areas across the Depsang plains near DBO, with its forward presence aimed at disrupting the armys patrolling patterns there.

The navys P-8I maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft have been used for surveillance of the Ladakh sector, while their primary role encompasses carrying out anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance of the oceans, said a third person aware of the matter. The P-8Is carried out similar surveillance missions during the 2017 Doklam standoff.

Apart from Sukhoi-30s and upgraded MiG-29 fighter jets, IAF is operating Apache AH-64E attack helicopters and CH-47F (I) Chinook multi-mission helicopters --- both imported from the US --- in the region even as forward air bases have been ordered to be on their highest state of alert to deal with any Chinese provocation.

Experts said Indias deployment in the sector --- in response to the Chinese military buildup --- was adequate to handle any adventurism or aggressive moves by the northern neighbour.

A very balanced and formidable mix of Russian and new Western equipment has been deployed by the Indian military in the Ladakh sector to deal with any eventuality, said former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali H Major (retd).

The army has deployed its new US-origin M777 ultra-light howitzers, which can provide accurate artillery fire support in mountainous terrain, in eastern Ladakh. The 155 mm/39-caliber M777 howitzers, inducted only last year, can be sling-loaded to helicopters and swiftly deployed to high-altitude areas. The howitzers have a range of 24-30 km.

The Russian equipment Air Chief Marshal Major referred to includes Sukhoi-30 fighters, MiG-29 jets, Ilyushin-76 heavy-lift planes, An-32 transport planes, Mi-17 utility helicopters, T-72/T-90 tanks and BMP-2/2K infantry combat vehicles.

India has also ordered more stocks of Excalibur precision guided munitions from the US for its artillery guns, while Russia assured swifter delivery of weapons and ammunition during defence minister Rajnath Singhs visit to Moscow last week, said the fourth person cited above.

India is pushing Russia to speed up the delivery of S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems following the tense stand-off with China. New Delhi is keen to accelerate the purchase of a mix of 33 more MiG-29s and Sukhoi-30s from Russia, and is also looking at sourcing an operational surface-to-air missile system from Israel as a 2017 order worth $2 billion for such advanced systems to take down hostile aircraft and missiles hasnt translated into deliveries yet, he added.

India has deployed its air defence weapon systems, including the indigenous Akash, in the Ladakh region where tensions rose sharply after a brutal brawl in Galwan Valley left 20 Indian and an unconfirmed number of Chinese soldiers dead on June 15, as reported by HT on Sunday.

Both India and China have significantly reinforced their deployments with fighter jets, helicopters, tanks, heavy artillery and missiles in the region. The Indian armed forces have given the government details of critical purchases they need to make keeping in mind that the border stand-off could last weeks or even months.
Close on the heels of the death of a father-son duo in Tuticorin allegedly after being thrashed by police,an autorickshaw driver here died on Sunday, days after being allegedly assaulted by the men in uniform.

The victim, Kumaresan, died at the Tirunelveli Government hospital on Saturday where he was admitted with injuries after being allegedly assaulted on June 12 and two police personnel have been booked in this connection, police said.

They said the relatives of the auto driver, aged about 25 years, staged a road roko, demanding justice.

Police, who were holding talks with the people of Veerakeralamputhur near Alangulam in this district, said cases had been filed against two police personnel, including an Assistant Sub Inspector.

The deceased man had appeared at the local police station in connection with a dispute and soon after he was allegedly thrashed by the cops, the victims father had filed a complaint with the district police chief.

DMK President M K Stalin slammed the incident, asking if Chief Minister K Palaniswami has handed over the state to the police.

..what is the chief minister doing, he said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, in an another incident, a construction worker from Ettayapuram in Tuticorin district committed suicide after being allegedly assaulted by police.

His relatives held a road blockade and refused to accept the body.

Authorities held talks with the family members and after a compensation was provided, the agitation was withdrawn.

Earlier, in Tuticorin, a man and his son died at a government hospital after they were allegedly thrashed by police at the Sathankulam police station, before they were lodged to a sub-jail.

P Jayaraj and his son Fennix, arrested for violating lockdown norms over business hours of their cellphone shop, died at a hospital in Kovilpatti on June 23, with their relatives alleging they were severely thrashed at Sathankulam police station by police personnel earlier.

The incident had triggered a national furore, leading to the suspension of five policemen, including an inspector and two sub-inspectors.

Palaniswami announced on Sunday that the government will hand over the case to the CBI for probe.
Kolkata: As a child, Bobita Soren, 24, would helplessly see her mother, Nina, struggle to fetch water in West Bengals Asansol. Nina often braved extreme weather to walk to the nearest water source to get it, leaving Soren to wonder how could she come up with a permanent solution until she thought of digging a well. The Covid-19 lockdown allowed her to finish digging the well that she began in late 2019 as she returned home after her college and hostel were shut. She had left the work half done during a holiday break.

Soren has dug the 15-feet well inside her house to ensure her 50-year-old ailing mother does not have to walk to get water 200 m away several times daily under the scorching sun and after standing in queue for 30 minutes.

My mother Nina Soren suffers from anemia and is very weak. Since I was a child, I used to see her work very hard to fetch water. I used to become very sad. She had to walk under the scorching sun and stand in a queue to bring water. I was trying to come up with a permanent solution. Suddenly it struck me that I can dig a well, said Soren, who has completed her MA in Political Science and is pursuing BEd from Burdwan district.

Sorens effort has drawn parallels with Dashrath Manjhi, famously known as the Mountain Man, who become famous for digging a road through a hillock in Bihar using only a hammer and chisel in memory of his wife. Manjhis wife died in their remote village for the want of medical care as they could not reach the nearest town with a doctor. He died in 2007.

Soren said her father and brother helped her by tying the ropes tightly with which she would go down and dig whenever she got time from household chores. This continued for the last two to three weeks, until I hit the water table. Sometimes my sister helped me to bring out the soil but she had her job to sustain, she said.

Soren, who usually does all the paperwork for her family, initially thought of contacting the village panchayat but then backed out as her family would have been unable to bear the cost for digging the well. Also because of the lockdown, labourers were unavailable and it would have taken time.

Her father, Hapna, works in a local factory, while her brother is a driver. Her elder sister works in a local garment shop.

Senior officials of the local administration rushed to her house on Sunday when they got to know about her feat.

We were awestruck when we saw the well. We have assured her that the administration will dig the rest and make it a 30-feet deep well so that they can get proper drinking water and make it a concrete one. We will also pay her the money it takes to dig a well. Within this week, she will get a laptop and we are also trying to give her a job, said Tapas Banerjee, the local legislator and chairman of the Asansol Durgapur Development Authority.
As many as 4,596 Shramik special trains have ferried over 6.2 million migrant workers till Saturday and there has since been no demand for them, the railway ministry said on Monday, and added it will operate them if they are requested to.

The trains were started from May 1 to ferry workers left jobless by the Covid-19 lockdown to their home states. The railways on Friday said many of them have begun going back to the places where they worked and added it indicates the economic activity has begun picking up after India began easing the lockdown this month.

Railways ran 4,596 Shramik trains till June 27. There was zero demand from states yesterday [Sunday] and even tomorrow [Tuesday]. Apart from only one train running today [Monday] from Bangalore to Muzaffarpur, there are no trains in the pipeline. We will run them whenever state governments demand within 24 hours, a railway ministry spokesperson said.

The Supreme Court this month directed the railways to provide special trains within 24 hours if demand comes from state governments. The ministry had also written to states asking them whether they needed rains to ferry the remaining migrants.

HT on June 3 reported the special trains may be on their final leg of operation with demand for them reducing from the states. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the countrys most populous states, have received the maximum number of these trains--1,723 and 1,680--followed by Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. The two big states accounted for nearly 75% of trains ferrying migrants back. West Bengal accounted for 282 trains.

Trains returning from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal have been booked 100% from June 26 to June 30, according to railway ministry data. It indicates a return of migrants, who had gone back to their home states.

The railways is running 15 pairs of Rajdhani trains connecting Delhi with different parts of the country and 100 pairs of long-distance trains, which began on June 1.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw his statement, made at an all-party meeting on June 19, in which he said that neither is anyone inside our territory nor is any of our post captured.

At Oppositions meeting, the Prime Minister said that China did not intrude into our land and capture any post. He has done a blunder. He knowingly or unknowingly gave a certificate to China, which it wanted. This was not required. He should withdraw his statement, Gehlot said in a video conference on Sunday while commenting the violent face-off between troops of India and China. At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the clash.

He is the only Prime Minister whose statement is being welcomed by China, the Chief Minister claimed.

In the meeting, the Prime Minister had said: Neither is anyone inside our territory nor is any of our post captured.

The Chief Minister said that the government should tell the nation about the situation on LAC. It is the right of the countrymen. Isnt it a moral responsibility of the Prime Minister to take the people of the country in confidence and clarify the status on the LAC, he said.

Gehlot said that the Prime Minister went to China four times as a Chief Mand five times as a Prime Minister and in general met the Chinese premier 18 times.

In Ahmedabad, they enjoyed swings with Chinese leadership while there was a conflict on the border. The Prime Minister should have understood his intentions, he said. (ANI)
I woke up abruptly around 5:15 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, May 23, to a male holding a gun to the back of my head and shouting at me not to turn around or he would blow my [expletive] brains out, the man told troopers. I turned around anyways and saw a young white man in his early 20s who was dressed in a black t-shirt and black sweat pants that appeared to be soiled like he had been in the woods and he was barefoot. He had a blank look on his face.
Putting smartphones in womens hands could be a powerful tool to support sustainable development goals in the developing world, according to researchers from McGill University, University of Oxford, and Bocconi University.

The study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences covers 209 countries between 1993 and 2017 and shows that access to mobile phones is associated with multiple indicators linked to global social development, such as good health, gender equality, and poverty reduction.

In an effort to better understand how mobile phones empower women, the authors also conducted an individual-level analysis on 100,000 women from Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe between 2015 and 2017.

Though these sub-Saharan countries show fertility decline and infant and maternal mortality rates remain high, the adoption of mobile phones is fast spreading.

Results indicate that other things being equal, women who own mobile phone have a 1% higher probability of being involved in decision-making processes about contraception, 2% higher likelihood of using modern contraceptive methods, and a 3% higher likelihood of knowing where to get tested for HIV with respect to women who do not own a phone.

These effects are sizeable, as they are comparable to, if not bigger than, the effects of living in an urban area compared to living in a rural area. Similar effects are estimated on higher overall decision-making power within the household.

According to the researchers, improved knowledge and enhanced decision-making power are the likely pathways through which the macro-level results emerge. The analysis of individual data also confirms that the effects are stronger in poorer and more isolated areas.

Still, despite the proliferation of mobile networks, the researchers acknowledge that digital divides by gender and socioeconomic strata persist in the developing world.

Women are less likely to own mobile phones on their own, use them less often when they have access, and have poorer information and communications technology skills compared to men, creating second-level (skill-related) digital divides on top of first-level (access-related) ones.

Our results suggest that deploying mobile-phone technology might serve to complement the role of other development processes such as educational expansion and economic growth rather than a replacement for it, said Luca Maria Pesando, a professor in the Department of Sociology and Centre on Population Dynamics at McGill University.

(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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Amid the lockdown and the rising cases of Covid-19, Samaritans across all age groups and economic strata have been going the extra mile to help those in need.

Six-year-old Breach Candy resident Kavir Mody is one of them. The Class 1 student has, through his artwork, has raised 54,000, which he donated to Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care (SRLC), a non-governmental organisation (NGO). The organisation has been raising money to provide supplies and equipment to Covid-19 hospitals, support frontline workers and distribute monthly ration to daily wage workers.

Throughout May, Kavirs mother Urvashi used to make theplas to distribute among the poor as well as the stranded migrants.

One of the days, while helping his mother roll the theplas, Kavir realised that he wanted to do more to help those in need.

Kavir had been painting in his free time since the lockdown was imposed in March and Urvashi suggested that they could try raising money from his artwork to donate for Covid-19 relief work. Kavir was enthusiastic about the idea and started experimenting further with his set of colours, canvas and art papers.

Initially, I was hesitant because I was unsure about who would want to buy a childs paintings. But when we circulated the catalogue with all his paintings, requests soon began to pour in from our friends and relatives staying in Chennai, Bengaluru and even in the United States. Until now, he has sold 24 paintings, with each of them costing around 1,500 to 3,000, said Urvashi.

Some of his artwork include the dot art, the spiders colourful web, the Atlantic Ocean and the deep blue sea. The young artist now aims to raise around 70,000 by July.

He continues to make more paintings everyday, said Urvashi.
The Bombay high court (HC) disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) which sought directions to scrap board exams for Class 10 and Class 12 of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), which were scheduled to be held in July. This comes after the Supreme Court was informed by the council that it was adopting the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) formula of making the exams optional for the students this year and would declare the results by July 15. The HC, however, gave liberty to the petitioner to approach the court in case they were not satisfied with the assessment methodology which the council would adopt while declaring result.

A division bench of chief justice Dipankar Datta and justice SS Shinde, while hearing the PIL filed by a parent and advocate Arvind Tiwari and others through video conferencing on Monday, was informed by the council that it had not prepared the methodology which was sought by the court in the earlier hearing.

The council, however, informed the bench that as it had already submitted to the apex court that the results would be declared by July 15 and students would be given the option of appearing for the exams thereafter, the prayers of the petitioners were addressed. The council also submitted that as the SC while hearing the petition had said that all other litigations regarding CISCE and CBSE exams were deemed to be disposed of, hence these PIL should be disposed of.

The petitioners, however, informed the court that as the council had not clarified the methodology of assessment it would adopt while declaring results, the petition should be kept pending till the CISCE furnished the same to the court.

After hearing the argument, the bench upheld the contention of the council and said as the SC had ordered disposal of all PILs on the matter, the PILs stood disposed. It, however, granted liberty to the petitioners to file a fresh PIL if there were any grievances regarding the methodology.
The Shiv Sena on Monday took a jibe at the Centre over its Smart Cities Mission and said if smart cities like Mumbai and Pune are created in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar the population density of the cities in Maharashtra would come down. An editorial in the partys mouthpiece Saamana said the Narendra Modi-led Central governments Smart Cities Mission has merely remained an announcement after it was launched in 2015.

Referring to Union minister Nitin Gadkaris statement last month that there was a need to decongest Mumbai, the editorial said that Sena founder Bal Thackeray had cautioned about the rising population in Mumbai and Pune first. It said the Sena patriarch had sought permit system in Mumbai, which had kicked up a storm in the Lok Sabha during prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees government, and added that Bal Thackeray withdrew the demand on the request of BJP leaders to save the Vajpayee government.

Because of Gadkari, this issue has come to the fore now Gadkari is of the opinion that smart cities and smart villages like Mumbai should be created in other places. The suggestion is good, but the Modi government has already made an announcement to make 100 smart cities. From those 100, how many have materialised? Smart Cities Mission was announced on June 25, 2015; today in 2020, only 15% of the work has happened. The programme was good, but it only remained an announcement, the editorial read.

It further stated that around 7-8 lakh migrant labourers left Mumbai during lockdown, while 3-3.5 lakh such labourers from Pune went back to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, etc. Now these labourers are coming back to Mumbai. Around 1.50 lakh labourers have returned. This is because there is no development in their states. If you create smart cities like Mumbai and Pune in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the population density of Mumbai and Pune will come down naturally. Jobs should be created in those states first. The Centre should focus on states like UP, Bihar Jharkhand and Delhi, it said.

The editorial added that labourers returning to Mumbai and Pune indicated that hunger prevailed over the threat of Covid-19.
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) on Monday issued directives for utility firms, including providing the option of easy monthly instalments (EMI) and not disconnecting power supply over non-payment of dues until grievances are redressed. According to MERC, only 6.35 lakh consumers across state were billed on actual meter readings during the lockdown, which is approximately 2.32% of the total consumer base.

Following reports of inflated bills, MERC held a meeting with heads of all the four distribution licensees on June 27. In a statement released on Monday, MERC said that if ones bill is more than double of the average for the amount charged during March to May, consumers should be given the option of dividing the payment into three EMIs. It has also asked utility firms to set-up a robust monitoring mechanism, like a dedicated help-desk or a grievance officer at all sub/divisions and divisional offices to address queries from consumers within a day of their receipt. Power supply cannot be disconnected until consumers have been given the option of EMIs and their grievances redressed, MERC stated.

Consumers should also be provided with online software for them to self-check bills and meter readings must be rechecked on a suo motu basis if excessive consumption is noticed, said MERC. If they are not satisfied with their utility providers response, consumers have the option of reaching out to the electricity ombudsman. The commission is keeping vigil on the billing issues and would not like any consumer to be put to any undue inconvenience by the distribution licensees, MERC stated.

Owing to the lockdown, actual meter reading was disconnected in March-end, following which consumers were billed on average consumption based on three months prior to March 2020, which were winter months. The present bills raised on actual meter readings are of summer months where the consumption is normally high and the bills are always of higher amounts, MERC said. However, thousands of consumers have complained theyve been charged two to three times their normal usage.

A senior member of the regulatory body said, The utilities have also been directed to shift to automated meter reading in a years time, which will help accurate meter readings without human intervention and billing grievances will be reduced to a large extent.

According to MERC, only 6,35,746 consumers across Maharashtra were billed on actual meter reading during the lockdown period (see box), which is merely 2.32% of the total consumers. However, MERC has already approved installation of 7 lakh meters for Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML) and 66,000 meters for Tata Power, it stated.

After Pannu, other celebs complain

Following actor Taapsee Pannu who took to Twitter on Sunday to complain about a high electricity bill, more celebrities like actor Huma S Qureshi, producer Tanujj Garg and RJ Malishka tweeted about the issue on Monday. Former news anchor Faye DSouza also complained about getting an inflated bill. Qureshi said that she received a bill of 50,000 when she had paid 6,000 last month.

Consumers billed on meter-reading

Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited: 6,11,537 of total 2.30 crore consumers in the state

Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited: 570 of 27 lakh consumers in Mumbai

Tata Power: 23,446 of over 7 lakh consumers in Mumbai

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking: 193 of 10.5 lakh consumers in the island city
On June 27, Maharashtra reported 6,368 new Covid-19 cases (after reconciliation of 1,050 cases), a record single-day spike not only for the state, but for India as well. This was the fourth consecutive single-day spike record for the western state, Indias worst-affected region that has seen 164,626 cumulative cases. From June 24 to June 28, excluding the record on June 27, Maharashtra recorded 3,890, 4,841, 5,024 and 5,493 new cases.

In the past week, until June 27, the state has recorded more than 4,400 new cases a day on average, compared to 3,400 the week before that. The doubling rate of cases  the number of days it takes for a given number of infections to double  has dropped from 24 days a week ago to 22 days as of Saturday.

The positivity rate, too, has shown no signs of slowing down. Two weeks ago, the state had an average positivity rate of 20.6%. Since then, it has slowly, but steadily been rising despite a big increase in daily tests  on June 27, the positivity rate stood at 22%. This means that the more samples that the state tests, the more the positive cases. Experts say it is an alarming sign.

In the two other states with high caseloads  Tamil Nadu and Delhi  as the testing has been ramped up over the past two weeks, the positivity rate has declined. In Delhi, the average positivity rate has dropped from 30.7% two weeks ago to 18.7% on June 27. The corresponding number has dropped from 12.2% to 9.9% in Tamil Nadu.

All three states have significantly ramped their testing in these two weeks. The number of average daily tests has increased from 14,000 to 20,000 in Maharashtra; 18,700 to 30,000 in Tamil Nadu; and 5,200 to 18,000 tests in Delhi in the past two weeks. Maharashtra tested 26,628 samples on Sunday, the highest since the first case was detected on March 9.

While Maharashtras overall cases have shot up, Mumbais cases have plateaued, albeit with a caveat  the number of tests has not risen significantly. For the 10 days from June 15 to June 24, Mumbai tested only 40,110 samples, giving an average of 4,011 tests a day.

However, even with a similar number of tests in May and June, Mumbais share in the states overall cases has fallen from 59.49% on May 28 to 45.89% on June 28. Simultaneously, districts like Pune, Dhule, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Nashik and Solapur among others have recorded almost 10 times rise in cases, say state-appointed district health officers.

Relaxation in the national and state lockdowns and migration of workers are the main reasons behind the surge, they say.

In May, most cases were reported from Mumbai and Pune. We had eight orange and five green districts. Now, we dont have any green districts due to rising Covid-19 cases, said Dr Pradeep Awate, epidemiologist and state surveillance officer. Districts like Nanded, Osmanabad, Beed and Bhandara have shown a 100% rise in the number of Covid cases in a month.

According to data provided by the Maharashtra health department, between May 28 and June 27, Mumbai has seen a 118% rise in cases, but other hot spots such as Pune, Dhule, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Nashik and Solapur have recorded almost 10 times that.

For example, on May 28, Dhule had only 129 Covid-19 cases. On June 28, this surged to 962 cases. Jalgaon rose from 526 cases on May 28 to 3002 on June 28. Nashik went from 1,043 cases on May 28 to 3902 cases on June 28. On May 28, Pune Municipal Corporation had 6896 cumulative cases. On June 28, this rose to 20,870 cases. Hundreds of people who were stuck in different parts of the country have returned, and this has contributed to the rise in numbers, said Dr Awate.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), excluding Mumbai, has seen a similar alarming rise. Thane Municipal Corporation cases rose from 3226 on May 28 to 9264 on June 28. Palghar rose from 129 to 5,267 in the same period.

A large portion of Mumbais population travels to MMR as they are economically dependent on the area. So, we not only need to control the cases in Mumbai but also in MMR, said Dr Shashank Joshi, a member of the state Covid-19 Task Force.

HT spoke to 10 district health officers (DHOs), and each of them said the cases have surged primarily due to a relaxation in the national and state lockdowns and the human migration from metropolises to smaller cities and villages.

Dr Aniruddha Athalye, (DHO), Satara, said, We have recorded 42 Covid-related deaths, but 40 of them were migrants from Mumbai who died within a few hours of admission in hospitals due to delay in treatment. According to him, Satara has 1004 Covid-afflicted people, but 80% of them are those who came from Mumbai, Pune and Uttar Pradesh.

In Latur, of the 275 total Covid-19 cases, 95% are migrants. With the relaxation in the lockdown, several migrants returned home. Gradually, asymptomatic infected people started spreading the disease to their family members. We had zero cases in the first week of May, said Dr G Garaghe, DHO. Latur had 303 cases on June 28.

In Dhule, people got infected while trying to provide food and water to the migrants on Mumbai-Agra highway. Though it was a noble cause, 45 people contracted the infection, said Dhule DHO Dr Shivendra Shagle. Those cases were just the beginning. Soon, it started spreading among others. Dhule has 962 cumulative cases on June 28, up from 129 a month ago.

According to Dr Taranglushar Ware, DHO of Yavatmal, around 20 people who had visited the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi in April were the first patients from the district.

All DHOs HT spoke to said the general public has not been following physical distancing norms ever since the government announced a relaxation in the lockdown on June 3. The national lockdown relaxation was implemented for economic reasons, but people are behaving irresponsibly. We are therefore unable to break the infection chain. We have asked the state to extend the lockdown, said Dr AR Gita, DHO of Aurangabad where cases have increased to 4,833 (June 28) from 1,370 (May 28).

Apart from a lack of discipline, health activists blamed the states rigid testing policy behind the rise in cases. Dr Athalye said asymptomatic migrants didnt qualify for a swab test for diagnosis. Later, these carriers infected more people. If we had tested them earlier, we could have controlled the spread, he said.

Dr Abhijit More, co-convenor of Jan Aarogya Abhiyan, a pan-Maharashtra health sector NGO, criticised the state government for failing to test all the migrants even when they fell in the vulnerable category.

He also claimed that due to an inadequate number of testing, thousands of cases are going unreported. Though Mumbai has reached its plateau, the positivity rate is 22%. This means the number of infected people is high. Many districts may have reached their pandemic peak; so, if we run more tests then we can identify more cases, said Dr More.
Solapur Police have sent a proposal to their district administration to impose curfew in the Pandharpur temple town from Tuesday ahead of the Ashadhi Ekadashi, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lakhs of devotees throng the temple of Lord Vitthal in Pandharpur town of Solapur in Maharashtra on the occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi, which falls on July 1 this year.

In view of the Covid-19 outbreak, authorities have decided that wari (pilgrimage) will be held this year with the padukas (foot prints) of Saint Dnyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram and others being taken to Pandharpur by air or road, and not on foot as is done traditionally.

Solapur Additional Superintendent of Police Atul Zende told PTI on Monday that they have done nakabandi (road blockades) to ensure people from outside do not gather at the temple town.

There are plans to impose curfew in Pandharpur to restrict the movement of locals. Hence, a proposal has been sent to the Solapur collector to impose curfew in and around Pandharpur from June 30 to July 2, he said.

Barring 10 palkhis (palanquins) and a limited number of persons who have been allowed to accompany them, no one else will be allowed to come to the temple, said Zende.

Only those who have been given passes by the temple administration will be allowed to enter the religious premises, he said.

All essential and emergency services will remain functional in the town, he added.

Traditionally, lakhs of warkaris, devotees of Lord Vitthal, undertake the pilgrimage on foot from all over Maharashtra and reach Pandharpur on Ashadhi Ekadashi.

However, in view of the coronavirus outbreak, authorities have decided to keep the celebrations low-key this year.
A police inspector in the pilot vehicle of the convoy of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar suffered minor injuries after the vehicle turned turtle on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway while on its way to Mumbai on Monday.

The incident happened at 10:30am when a police-issued Toyota vehicle was approaching the area near Amrutanjan bridge, according to the police. It was the first vehicle of the convoy and had two occupants. The 190-year-old bridge near Lonavla was demolished in April through multiple controlled blasts.

Police inspector Babar of the special protection unit of the Pune police was in the vehicle and sustained minor injuries on both his wrists. However, he was put in another vehicle after medical aid.

There is a turn and a slight slope around 100 feet before the Amrutanjan bridge begins. A vehicle was trying to enter the alignment of the police convoy along the turn. There are rumblers installed on the turn and as the private vehicle tried to enter the convoy alignment, the police vehicle tried to avoid it and ended up overturning, said Police sub inspector Kailas Kamble of Highway traffic police.

The tyres on the left side of the vehicle and the windshield of the vehicle were damaged in the incident. The car was removed from the expressway and taken to a group near Borghat. The convoy left for Mumbai immediately after the incident.

The incident is being recorded at the Lonavla city police station under Pune rural police jurisdiction.
Filmmaker Hari is the latest Tamil celebrity to express shock and condemn the deaths of Jeyaraj and his son Fenix due to alleged custodial torture in Sathankulam town in Thoothukudi. In a statement, he deeply regretted making five Tamil films that glorified police.

Best known for helming the popular Tamil cop films Singam and Saamy, Hari has said he regrets celebrating the police force in his films. These kind of incidents should not take place in Tamil Nadu again. Due to a few officers, the whole police department is now tainted. I regret making five films celebrating the police, he said in his statement.

Jeyaraj and Fenix were allegedly beaten to death by the police. The police picked up the father-son duo after they kept their mobile shop open during lockdown. While Fenix died at the Kovilpatti General Hospital on June 22, his father died on June 23.

Director Hari regrets making five films which glorified the police force in his career. He says Tamil Nadu people shouldn't be subjected to another cruel incident like the one that happened in #Sathankulam.#JusticeForJayarajandBennicks #DirectorHari pic.twitter.com/whYYzfxos8  Rajasekar (@sekartweets) June 28, 2020

Also read | Suriya on Sathankulam custodial death: This is organised crime

Since the news of the custodial deaths broke out, several Tamil film celebrities took to Twitter to demand justice for Jeyarajs family. Actor Rajinikanth, according to his publicist, called Jeyarajs wife and conveyed his condolences.

Actor Suriya, who played a cop in the Singam franchise, described the entire incident as a result of an organised crime. In a strongly-worded statement, Suriya pointed out that the cops alone are not at fault in this case. The magistrate and the doctors are equally responsible for the custodial death. He further added that it cant be termed as a negligent act because the custodial deaths have put the credibility of the police department at stake.

Actor-politician Khushbu Sundar tweeted, Will we and can we see law taking its course and punishing the guilty without any further delay in #Jeyaraj and #Fenix case? The culprits cannot and should not get away. A family has lost their most loved ones. Justice delayed is justice denied. #JusticeForJeyarajAndFenix.

Composer D Imman tweeted: Terrified to hear the brutality inflicted upon Jeyaraj & Fenix. Totally inhuman and couldnt digest the torture they mustve gone through. Lets raise our voices for this ruthless act India! Jeyaraj and Fenix is the George Floyd of India.

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The police is not cooperating with the probe into the custodial death and alleged torture of father-and-son duo P Jayaraj and J Bennicks, the Madurai bench of the Madras high court observed on Monday, ordering the Thoothukudi collector to depute revenue officials to take control and preserve evidence in the police station where the alleged crime occurred last week.

In an order, the court also directed forensic experts to assist in the process of evidence collection at Sathankulam police station and said it will not interfere with the Tamil Nadu governments decision to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Late in the evening, the government formally announced the transfer of the case to the federal agency.

The courts order came after it received an email report from the Kovilpatti judicial magistrate conducting the probe.

A reading of [the report] clearly shows that the district police administration are doing everything within their command to prevent the learned magistrate from proceeding with the enquiry, the bench of justices PN Prakash and B Pugalendhi said in the order.

The court initiated a contempt case against three officials -- additional deputy superintendent of police D Kumar, deputy superintendent of police C Prathapan and constable Maharajan. Accused of obstructing investigations and making an abusive remark against the magistrate, they were asked to appear before court at 10.30am on Tuesday. The court was of the view that the investigation will not be free and fair unless they are transferred.

The policemen were not giving the records called for by the learned magistrate and it is seen that one of them, viz, Maharajan, police constable, Sathankulam police station, had made a very disparaging mark in Tamil to the learned magistrate, the court order read.

Last week, the bench took suo-motu cognisance of the case that sparked nationwide outrage.

Bennicks, 31, and Jayaraj, 59, died on June 22 and June 23, respectively, after undergoing hours of alleged torture at the Sathankulam police station on June 19. The First Information Report (FIR) filed by the police booked them under several sections, including Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 353 (use of force to deter public servant from duty). However, eyewitness accounts refute the claims in the FIR, stating that the duo was tortured severely by the policemen while in custody.

The court on Monday directed that a photocopy of the preliminary post-mortem certificate be submitted to its registrar, the original copy should be sent to the chief judicial magistrate of Thoothukudi, who in turn should submit it to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

So far, Thoothukudi police have suspended inspector Sridhar, and two sub-inspectors P Raghuganesh and Balakrishnan in connection to the deaths. Thoothukudi superintendent of police Arun Balagopalan, who was asked by the court to submit an interim report on the alleged custodial deaths last week, did not respond to calls or messages.

Thoothukudi district collector Nanduri said a revenue official appointed by him was stationed at the police station since Monday afternoon, following the courts directive.

The officer will collect and preserve all clue materials related to the case and hand it over to the Kovilpatti Judicial Magistrate, Nanduri said.

On June 28, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had announced the states intention to seek the high courts approval for the central agency probe. The bench said that its permission was not required for the state government to transfer this case to the CBI. The court also laid out procedural formalities for post-mortem report and case diaries on the premise that it is to be handed over to the investigating officer of the CBI.

Since Bennicks and Jayarajs deaths, similar instances of past police torture at the Sathankulam police station have emerged, with protests and demonstrations taking place across the state. Their family has alleged that both suffered brutal beatings and were bleeding from the rectum that led to their eventual death on June 22 late night and 23 early morning, respectively, at the Kovilpatti government hospital.

On June 19, the Sathankulam police arrested the father and son for keeping their shop open beyond Covid-19 related curfew. The FIR stated that during the polices routine rounds to enforce the lockdown, they found the duos shop APJ mobiles open at around 9.15 pm. While they dispersed the crowd, the FIR stated that the father and son fought and intimidated the police, rolled on the floor and sustained hidden injuries in the process. This has been refuted by several eyewitness accounts.

A lawyer A K Venugopal told HT that he was in the Sathankulam police station for another case with six other lawyers from 7pm. Inspector Raghuganesh brought Jayaraj in by his collar around 7.45pm, said Venugopal adding that Bennicks came later and tried to stop the police when he saw his father being hit. CCTV footage released by local television media on Monday which HT could not independently verify also showed that there was no altercation or crowding in the mobile shop.

Venugopal said that he told the police and volunteers (roped into aid with lockdown measures) to stop hitting Jayaraj and Bennicks. The volunteers cleaned the lathis repeatedly saying that it may be infected by coronavirus and handed it over to the police, he said. We were sent outside and they locked the station.

Local residents, family and activists protested at Kamaraj statue near the police station through the night. On June 20, the father and son were taken to the government hospital for a check-up and magistrate to extend their custody before detaining them at the Kovilpatti sub jail 100 km away from Sathankulam. The dereliction of duty of all three arms of the law is being questioned. Activists have been calling for murder charges against the police involved and say that the case being transferred to the CBI may not see time-bound justice.
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Telangana home minister Mohammad Mahmood Ali was on Sunday admitted to a private hospital in Hyderabad after he tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), health department officials said.

Ali is the first cabinet minister in the state to test positive for Covid-19. Earlier, three Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) legislators, gunmen and personal assistants of at least three ministers tested positive and are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.

The minister, who attended a series of programmes including Haritha Haram, under which he had taken up tree plantation in the police parade grounds at Gosha Mahal in the old city area last week, got tested for Covid-19 three days ago after his gunman tested positive last week.

On Sunday, the test result proved that he was positive for the virus. He immediately got admitted to a corporate hospital in Jubilee Hills, an official in the health department said.

At the Telangana State Police Academy (TSPA), a huge number of 180, including 100 trainee sub-inspectors and 80 officials and staff, have tested positive for the respiratory disease. Most of them are asymptomatic.

State health minister Eatala Rajender admitted that the number of cases for Covid-19 had been on the rise in Hyderabad and surroundings, but the death rate was not very alarming  it was just around 1.1% which was very low compared to the national average of 3 per cent.

In the rural areas, the disease had been under control and there were not many cases. We have been taking all steps to contain the virus as per the directions of the Centre, Rajender said.

He said the state cabinet would take a decision soon on the reimposition of lockdown in Hyderabad and its surroundings in the wake of growing cases.

Rajender refuted reports that patients admitted in the government hospitals were not getting proper treatment.

There was a report in the media that one patient died due to lack of ventilator support at the Government Chest Hospital. This was absolutely false. In fact, doctors and paramedical staff were risking their lives in fighting against the coronavirus, he said.

He said as many as 257 doctors and other health care professionals tested positive in the state and of them, only a head nurse succumbed. Similarly, among the police department, 184 cops tested positive and only two of them died of co-morbidities.

There is absolutely nothing to worry or panic about the growing number of cases. The government is capable of handling the situation. There is no dearth of beds and ventilators in the government hospital. Another 10,000 beds would also be added to the government hospital in the state in the next one week, Rajender said.

Meanwhile, a central team led by joint secretary of Union ministry of health Luv Agarwal is extensively touring different hospitals in Hyderabad to inspect the facilities and treatment being given to the Covid-19 patients.

The team will hold a series of meetings with state government officials to assess the ground situation in Hyderabad, which accounts for 88% of the Covid-19 cases in the state.

According to the Union health ministry, there are 14,419 Covid-19 cases in the state and 247 have died so far.
Television actor Kamya Panjabi opened up about her break-up with television actor Karan Patel in 2015 and how it plunged her into depression. She said that it took her two-and-a-half years to get back on her feet.

In an interview with The Times of India, Kamya said, Frankly, after Karan it took me two-and-a-half years to get back to a normal life. It is after two-and-a-half years that I started loving my life. I was eating, sleeping on time, talking to my friends and going to work and coming back.

Kamya, who had earlier accused Karan of having an affair with someone else while they were in a relationship, said that she had to seek therapy to come out of her heartbreak. After the breakup, I had gone under a shell, I was not eating, sleeping. I didnt feel like doing anything. I was into depression. I was undergoing counselling and there were lots of things happening, she said.

Also see: Radhika Madans homemade dance video will drive away those Monday blues. Watch

Now, Kamya is happily married to businessman Shalabh Dang. She said that she does not want to relive that period of her life, which she compared to a prison. And now, when I have started living my life, I am not ready to compromise or sacrifice for anyone or for anything. It felt like I was out of jail and I am not ready to go inside it again, she said.

Soon after his break-up with Kamya, Karan married television actor Ankita Bhargava. The two are happily married with a daughter, Mehr.

Kamya, meanwhile, married Shalabh in February this year. Reacting to the news of her wedding, Karan had said, I would like to wish her all the best. Everyone deserves to be happy. So all the best.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
After Paras Chhabra covered up the tattoo of his ex-girlfriend Akanksha Puris name with the Bigg Boss eye, his close friend Mahira Sharma said that his new tattoo exudes positivity. She also said that the old tattoo didnt suit him.

In an interview with The Times of India, Mahira said that Paras got the idea of his new tattoo from her. Right after Bigg Boss, he got a new show, Mujhse Shaadi Karoge and then due to the lockdown, he couldnt get his tattoo redesigned. In fact, we had planned to get it changed inside Bigg Boss 13 house. Even I had thought of getting a tattoo of a Bigg Boss eye. Hearing the idea, he also got excited. He realised that Bigg Boss played a very important role in our lives, she said.

Also read: Shekhar Suman to meet Sushant Singh Rajputs family in Patna, urges Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to push for CBI probe

Mahira really likes the new tattoo and feels that it suits Paras more than the one of Akankshas name. I really liked the tattoo, Bigg Boss has been an integral and turning point of our careers, so it is justified to give them their due. I also feel that only good things should happen in a persons life, he should be associated with only positive things. Paras new tattoo suits him and is all about positivity, the old one didnt suit him. This is nice, she said.

Paras and Akanksha were in a relationship for three years and broke up after he got close to Mahira in Bigg Boss 13. Akanksha covered up her tattoo of Paras name in February, while he got his tattoo modified earlier this month.

On Bigg Boss 13, Paras had told fellow contestant Arhaan Khan that Akanksha pressurised him into getting a tattoo of her name. I was mindf**ked toh I had to, ki chal tu shaant ho jaa (just to shut her up), he said, adding that she would constantly ask him to prove his love and commitment towards her.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
The national security law that China could impose on Hong Kong as early as this week wont need to be used if the financial hubs residents avoid crossing certain red lines, according to a top adviser to Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

It really is to warn people: Do not cross those red lines, you cannot ask for Hong Kong independence and we do not tolerate terrorist acts like what happened last year during the social unrest, Bernard Chan, a convener of Hong Kongs advisory Executive Council, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Monday.

As long as people abide by the law, I suppose we never have to use this piece of legislation, said Chan, who is also one of Hong Kongs deputies to the National Peoples Congress, which is drafting the law.

Chan, who hasnt seen a draft of the law, said it will not be retrospective and that Hong Kongs foreign judges will still be able to rule on sensitive cases. Any US sanctions issued in response to the new law would be lose-lose, he said.

Chinese lawmakers are meeting in Beijing to discuss the national security legislation, which would bar subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces in the former British colony. A vote could come Tuesday morning, the day before the anniversary of the citys handover to China in 1997, Now TV News reported.
Four gunmen stormed into Pakistans largest and oldest stock exchange in the southern port city of Karachi on Monday morning killing at least two people, according to local media reports. The four attackers have also been eliminated, the Karachi police said.

At least four people have been reported injured in the attack, some of them seen on video being wheeled out of the stock exchange into waiting ambulances.

The attackers drove to the barricaded entrance of the stock exchange in a silver Corolla car a little before 10 am, got off and hurled a grenade at security personnel before opening fire from automatic firearms. Police officer Rizwan Ahmed said the gunmen opened fire at the entrance and entered the stock exchange grounds. The complex was soon surrounded by heavily armed special forces, according to news agency AP.

Press Trust of India said four security guards and a police sub-inspector were killed in the attack apart from the four gunmen.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail condemned the attack that he insisted was aimed at what he described as tarnishing our relentless war on terror. Ismail said he had ordered security agencies to catch the attackers alive and deliver exemplary punishment to their handlers.

Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon told Reuters that four attackers had been killed.

Karachi was once a hotspot for crime and political and ethnic violence, with heavily armed groups tied to politicians frequently gunning down opponents and launching attacks on residential areas. News agency AFP said the situation has largely stabilised in recent years following operations by security agencies against armed political outfits and Islamist militants.

The stock exchange is located in the heart of Karachis financial district, where the Pakistan State Bank is located as well as the headquarters of several national and international financial institutions.

As security personnel tried to stop the attackers, broker Yaqub Memon said he and others stayed huddled inside their offices.

Mondays attack comes more than a week after a grenade was thrown at a line of people waiting outside a government welfare office in the city, killing one and injuring eight others, according to a statement from municipal authorities. In 2018, separatist militants launched a brazen daylight attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi that killed four people, AFP said.

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Iran has issued an arrest warrant and asked Interpol for help in detaining President Donald Trump and dozens of others it believes carried out the drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, a local prosecutor reportedly said Monday.

While Trump faces no danger of arrest, the charges underscore the heightened tensions between Iran and the United States since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Trump and more than 30 others whom Iran accuses of involvement in the Jan. 3 strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad face murder and terrorism charges, the semiofficial ISNA news agency reported.

Watch | Arrest warrant against Donald Trump by Iran over killing of top general

Alqasimehr did not identify anyone else sought other than Trump, but stressed that Iran would continue to pursue his prosecution even after his presidency ends.

Interpol, based in Lyon, France, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Alqasimehr also was quoted as saying that Iran requested a red notice be put out for Trump and the others, which represents the highest level arrest request issued by Interpol. Local authorities end up making the arrests on behalf of the country that request it. The notices cannot force countries to arrest or extradite suspects, but can put government leaders on the spot and limit suspects travel.

After receiving a request, Interpol meets by committee and discusses whether or not to share the information with its member states. Interpol has no requirement for making any of the notices public, though some do get published on its website.

It is unlikely Interpol would grant Irans request as its guideline for notices forbids it from undertaking any intervention or activities of a political nature.

The U.S. killed Soleimani, who oversaw the Revolutionary Guards expeditionary Quds Force, and others in the January strike near Baghdad International Airport. It came after months of incidents raising tensions between the two countries and ultimately saw Iran retaliate with a ballistic missile strike targeting American troops in Iraq.
The Covid-19 pandemic is not even close to being over, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a briefing on Monday.

Tedros noted that, six months after China first alerted the WHO to a novel respiratory infection, the grim milestones of 10 million confirmed infections and 500,000 deaths had been reached.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

We all want this to be over. We all want to get on with our lives. But the hard reality is that this is not even close to being over. Although many countries have made some progress globally, the pandemic is actually speeding up, he said.

New York mayor Bill de Blasio said on Monday that officials are reconsidering a plan to allow indoor dining July 6, as other states experience a surge in Covid-19 cases after reopening restaurants and bars.

De Blasio cited surges of the virus in Texas, Florida and California as reasons to consider a slowdown in reopening restaurants . Florida reported 146,341 Covid-19 cases on Monday, up 3.7% from a day earlier, compared with an average increase of 5.5% in the previous seven days.

Deaths among Florida residents reached 3,447. Floridas new cases reached 46,124, the highest level ever.

Meanwhile in California, residents hoping to celebrate Independence Day in a bar will now have to change their plans.

Bars are required to shut in seven counties - including Los Angeles - and theyre recommended to close in eight others, including Sacramento and Santa Barbara, following a surge in coronavirus cases, according to an order by Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Iran recorded the highest daily number of fatalities since the start of the outbreak, with 162 deaths in the past 24 hours. The death toll reached 10,670 from a total of 225,205 cases.

The level of infections is high or alarming in 11 of 31 Iranian provinces, health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on state television.

In China, 400,000 residents of a northern county were put under lockdown at the weekend after at least a dozen coronavirus cases associated with the Beijing outbreak were reported there.

Hebei provinces Anxin county has been sealed off and each household can assign only one person to go out for necessities daily, state media reported. Vehicles cannot enter the county and only those with special passes can leave.

The containment measures in Anxin, 140 kilometres from Beijing, are more severe than in the capital itself, where the cluster has grown to 311 people since it was first detected June 12.

The WHO is sending a team to China next week to investigate the origins of the novel coronavirus, Ghebreyesus said.

South Koreas health authorities called on Monday for citizens to stagger vacation schedules ahead of the holiday season and avoid gatherings at workplaces and religious facilities, as coronavirus infections from small clusters persist.

As of midnight Sunday, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 42 new coronavirus cases, for a total of 12,757 cases with 282 deaths. On June 20, the daily tally reached 67, its highest since in more than three weeks.
Neighbouring areas of Beijing could be put on high alert for fresh outbreaks of Covid-19 a day after China imposed a strict lockdown on a county with hundreds of thousands of people close to Beijing where a small surge in cases was linked to the new infections in the Capital city.

The set of restrictions were put on Anxin county in the Xiongan New Area in Hebei province, which borders Beijing, and logged 12 cases of Covid-19.

The county of Anxin lies around 150 kilometers south of Beijing and a group of traders from the county did business at the fresh food market in Beijing where the new infections emerged in June.

The new restrictions were being tightened on Monday as a leading respiratory expert made a grim warning.

In the foreseeable future, Covid-19 cannot be eradicated and a regional outbreak is still possible, Wang Guangfa, a respiratory expert at Peking University First Hospital, told state media, adding that the possibility made it important for local governments to prepare for a long and protracted battle.

In Anxin, officials announced that all villages, communities and buildings will be fully closed.

Families will be permitted to send one person per household outside to purchase supplies once a day.

All vehicles from outside the county are banned from entering it.

As per the announcement, only essential workers are allowed to leave their homes,

Following the lockdown rules that were implemented in the first pandemic epicentre, the central Chinese centre of Wuhan, no non-residents will be allowed to enter communities or villages.

Violating the rules will attract police action.

Hanging out with friends, gathering, and visiting others will not be allowed. Those who disobey management and refuse dissuasion will be dealt with by the public security organ according to the law, a state media report said.

The new outbreak in Beijing began when the city reported its first case at Xinfadi market on June 11 and 318 people in the city of over 21 million have tested positive for the virus since then.

The capital has simultaneously ramped up its testing capacity.

As of Sunday noon, Beijing had collected 8.29 million patient samples for testing and completed 7.69 million tests, Zhang Qiang, an official from Beijings municipal committee, told a press conference.

This means we have already tested all the people that need to be tested. We are also rolling out large scale screening to key regions and key populations (of the city) and improve our capability of testing, said Zhang, adding that Beijing was also receiving medical support from other provinces.

The number of new cases in Beijing is small compared to the Covid-19 numbers that are emerging from the US, South America or India.

But its an indication that the coronavirus could reemerge in a locality, which didnt report a single case for days  in Beijings case, the city didnt have a domestically transmitted case for nearly two months.

As of Sunday, the overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 83,512, including 418 patients who were still being treated, with eight in severe conditions, the national health commission (NHC) said in its daily report on Monday.

Altogether 78,460 people had been discharged from hospitals after recovery and 4,634 people had died of the disease, the NHC said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that reports of him looking wraithlike were complete nonsense.

When I came out of hospital I did notice there were occasional pieces in the papers saying I was looking a bit wraithlike, or something someone said, Johnson told Times Radio. Complete nonsense I want you to know.

I am feeling very well, yes thank you, again thanks to our National Health Service, he said.

Asked whether he thought every day about the high level of total deaths and infection rates in Britain from the novel coronavirus, Johnson said: Every day ... What weve got is the curve going in the direction roughly that they thought it would. It is very slowly coming down.

The crucial thing is to make sure that were ready to crack down on local flare ups and thats why we have the wack-a-mole strategy.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar says President Donald Trumps unique circumstances are why he doesnt wear a mask even as the government is urging people to do so.

Addressing spikes in reported coronavirus cases in some states, Azar said people have to take ownership of their own behaviours by social distancing and wearing masks if possible.

He says Trump doesnt have to follow his own administrations guidance because as a leader of the free world hes tested regularly and is in very different circumstances than the rest of us. Azar declined to say whether hes ever asked Trump to wear a mask. He told CNN and NBC that his own message to the people is to take precautions for public health. Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee says Trump should spend more time tweeting about wearing masks instead of monuments.

Inslee tells CBS: We need a president who will care more about living Americans and less about dead Confederates.
Thunderstorms resulted in numerous reports of large hail, wind damage and flooding across Massachusetts on Sunday. Norwood, Massachusetts had 4.37 inches of rain, most of which fell in just one hour. Here in Connecticut, while there were places that received heavy downpours and hail, overall it wasnt nearly as bad. There were just over 2,000 power outages with Hamden leading the pack with close to 870 outages. Torrington had nearly 400 outages. Once the storms departed, portions of Connecticut were treated to rainbows and even double rainbows.
Please be aware that Cache Valley Publishing does not endorse, and is not responsible for alleged employment offers in the comments.

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Lima, OH (45805)

Today

Mostly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms around noon. High 78F. Winds SW becoming NW in the afternoon at 15 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Clouds begin to clear late. A chance of a shower early. Low around 49F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
More information is available at vaready.org. A participant must be out-of-work, enroll in one of the 30 programs the nonprofit has pinpointed and earn the credential at one of the states community colleges through the FastForward program that begins again in August. FastForwards annual funding in the fiscal year beginning July 1 is $13.5 million, Youngkin said.
Appointment

29 June 2020

Christophe Thomas has an important international career, from Europe, to South America, passing through the Caribbean and then the United States.It all started at the Lycee Hotelier de Strasbourg where, then graduated with a Bachelor, he became passionate about the art of hospitality and the excellence he wanted to sublimate and perpetuate around the world.His determination and expertise lead him as Managing Director in prestigious hotel establishments in the United States for 20 years. He notably orchestrated the repositioning strategy of the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, the iconic hotel "The Luxury Collection".More recently, in 2016, Christophe Thomas joined the teams of the SLS Beverly Hills hotel in California, where in 2019, the Somni restaurant obtained 2 MICHELIN stars, positioning the restaurant among the best tables in Southern California.
Press Release

29 June 2020

KKR buys Roompot for approximately $1.1 billion

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Private equity fund KKR has announced that it is acquiring the Dutch vacation park business Roompot Group from French private equity group PAI Partners for a reported $1.1 billion. The second largest vacation park operator in Europe, Roompot owns 33 parks in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, and operates a total of 150 holiday parks across western and northern Europe. Post-acquisition, KKR plans to grow the platform further with a strong existing pipeline, expanding Roompot's owned assets and new corporate partnerships.

Henderson Park and Hines acquire Greek Portfolio

UK-based private equity fund Henderson Park and North American real estate developer Hines have acquired a portfolio of five hotels on the island of Crete in Greece. The 1,094-room portfolio, acquired through two separate distressed sales, is comprised of seafront properties in various locations across the island, in the coastal cities of Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos and Sitia. The deal marks the joint ventures second purchase in the Greek market, following the 2017 acquisition of the former Ledra Hotel, which currently trades as the Grand Hyatt Athens.

Renzo Rosso buys the Hotel Ancora in Cortina, Italy

Italian entrepreneur Renzo Rosso has acquired the 49-room Hotel Ancora in the Italian ski resort of Cortina dAmpezzo from local hotelier Flavia Cusinato. The oldest hotel in the town, having been built in 1826, the property has been acquired by Renzo Rossos investment vehicle Red Circle Investments for approximately 20 million (408,000 per room). The hotel is currently undergoing a renovation, and is expected to re-open by the end of 2020.
Press Release

29 June 2020

London, UK: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has laid out its new guidelines Safe & Seamless Travel including testing and tracing, following medical evidence, to ensure people can enjoy Safe Travels in the 'new normal'.

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The guidelines will ensure that the travel sector is provided with an extensive framework to help governments and private business work in collaboration to create aligned testing and contact tracing programmes.

The initiative is part of the WTTC's Safe and Seamless Traveller Journey (SSTJ) which aims to enable a seamless, safe and secure end-to-end traveller experience including flights and non-air travel.

It includes systematic biometric verified identification during the journey, for long haul and international travel, replacing manual verifications and is contained within a new WTTC report, published today.

Travellers and those who work in the Travel & Tourism sector can be assured of a more secure and safe environment, thanks to a leap in use of contactless technology.

This includes biometrics, faster clearance for inbound and outbound passengers and offsite processing as part of enhanced SSTJ capabilities which helps to reduce transmission.

The detection and isolation of those people with the virus has proved to be an effective mechanism to curb previous outbreaks. This has enabled them to travel again without a vaccine, as in previous outbreaks such as Ebola, SARS and MERS. Since 80 % of COVID-19 carriers are asymptomatic according to medical experts, testing and tracing becomes crucial to control and reduce the transmission.

The new guidelines were produced by extensive consultation with various stakeholders, including WTTC Members, health experts and government officials, and according to WHO and CDC guidance, and ICAO CART Take off guidance. WTTC in partnership with global management consultants, Oliver Wyman, conducted the consultations and produced this report.

The resulting principles and recommendations of the new guideline frameworks will help governments who require testing, tracing, receipt of a traveller test/vaccination certificate and COVID-19 specific traveller health insurance to include them as part of their overall recovery plan.

By encouraging their global adoption, WTTC aims to ensure aligned and consistent messaging through coordinated, collaborative, and transparent partnerships across the Travel & Tourism sector.

They are also supported by medical fact-based evidence, as provided by multiple state governments and public health authorities such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: "The safety and hygiene of travellers is paramount. Which is why our new guidelines for Safe and Seamless Travel including testing and tracing, are designed to assist in the recovery of Travel & Tourism through the identification and/or isolation of infected travellers.

"This is consistent with advice from WHO and other leading health authorities that the best way to control and reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, is through early identification of carriers to ensure they don't travel.

"The new WTTC guidelines mean that we can now replace the confusing mix of different measures including highly-damaging quarantines, which currently exist, to offer confidence to travellers and governments alike while protecting public health.

"Travel 'bubbles' or 'corridors' between low-risk COVID-19 areas/zones or countries will also help limit testing requirements for travellers and support efforts by governments and private businesses working in partnership together to stimulate traveller demand."

Dan Richards, Global Rescue CEO, said: "According to the Global Rescue survey of members, nearly 80% of travelers expect to return to the airways and roadways. Travellers are prepared to be tested, and 91% of people interviewed are willing to share personal medical history, and their travel plans as a pre-condition to returning to travel. They are willing and eager to help keep themselves and those around them safe."

WTTC identified five critical calls to action to governments during the COVID-19 recovery:

1. Support quick and reliable tests as a critical path to ensure public health and a rapid testing and contact tracing strategy to help contain the spread of the virus

2. Multilateral collaboration and adherence to internationally recognised guidelines to enable 'approved travellers' to travel across to multiple destinations using a single process and risk assessment framework

3. Support travel 'bubbles' or 'tourism corridors' between low-risk COVID-19 areas/zones or countries based on recognised criteria on what constitutes low, medium and high risk and where the origin government and the destination government agree. These bubbles and corridors may help to limit testing requirements for travellers and support the recovery

4. Remove blanket travel advisories and recommendations against non-essential international travel as this prevents insurance protection for travellers, as countries re-open

5. Support a global standard of traveller health insurance, or at least minimum requirements, defined with private sector insurance companies

This latest WTTC initiative comes on the back of a series of measures designed to rebuild global consumer confidence and encourage the return of Safe Travels.

Safe Travels Protocols were developed for the global Travel & Tourism sector which focused on measures to drive business to car hire companies, airports, tour operators, attractions, short short-term rentals among many other travel sectors, to enable them to follow strict health and hygiene regimes to re-opening for business.

The welfare of travellers and the millions of people employed throughout the Travel & Tourism sector were at the heart of the protocols and were backed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Evidence from WTTC's Crisis Readiness report, which looked at 90 different types of crises, highlights the importance of public-private cooperation to ensure that smart policies and effective communities are in place to enable a more resilient Travel & Tourism sector.

According to WTTC's 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.

To download the Safe and Seamless report full, please click here.
External Article

29 June 2020

The 2020 coronavirus has dealt a serious blow to the airline industry. Prior to COVID-19, fuel costs were low, and demand was healthy. Today, the industry is struggling to survive. In this article, we'll look at trends in passenger demand, revenue, stock performance, safety protocols, and the road ahead for this industry.

Reduced Demand

Airlines around the world have felt the pain of a drop in demand due to the coronavirus. As the following chart shows, the number of passengers willing to travel on a plane has fallen steeply. As of June 24, 2020, only 494,826 passengers entered through a TSA checkpoint compared to nearly 2.6 million on the same day in 2019. This represents a decline of about 81%.
Press Release

29 June 2020

Member States from across Africa have shared their priorities for tourism against the backdrop of COVID-19. As with every other global region, African destinations have been hit hard by the restrictions on travel introduced in response to the pandemic. The sudden and unexpected drop in tourist arrivals has placed many millions of jobs at risk and threatened to roll back the progress made in sustainable development.

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Now, as UNWTO leads the restart of tourism, African Member States have set out their vision for the sector. This builds on the UNWTO Agenda for Africa - Tourism for Inclusive Growth, the roadmap for African tourism that was adopted at the UNWTO General Assembly in 2019, and is based on the responses to a survey sent out by the Regional Department for Africa.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: "This feedback from our African Member States will help us guide tourism through the challenging months ahead. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on tourism across the continent. However, UNWTO is committed to helping Africa grow back stronger and better and for tourism to emerge from this crisis as an important pillar of economies, jobs and sustainability."

Investment and innovation key priorities at continental level

UNWTO is committed to helping Africa grow back stronger and better and for tourism to emerge from this crisis as an important pillar of economies, jobs and sustainability

At the continental level, the survey revealed that the five key areas of the UNWTO Agenda for Africa that Member States would like to see prioritized in order to better support them as they recover from the impact of COVID-19 are:

Unlocking growth through investment promotion and public-private partnerships

Promoting innovation and technology,

Promoting travel facilitation, including enhanced connectivity and tourism visa policies

Fostering resilience, including through promoting safety and security and crisis communications

Advocating for "Brand Africa"

At the same time, the survey answers showed that Member States would like to see the part of the Agenda for Africa focusing on Fostering Resilience to be realigned to reflect the current situation. This will allow for a more effective response to the impact of COVID-19 on tourism and to accelerate recovery. Alongside this, Member States across Africa also expressed a wish for UNWTO to focus future capacity building and training sessions on the topics of crisis management and communications, marketing, developing domestic tourism and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.

Sub-regional priorities outlined

The survey also revealed the different priorities of Member States from different parts of Africa. In North Africa, the number one priority is expanding capacity building, including through the provision of more training; in both Western and Eastern Africa, Members named promoting better travel facilitation and unlocking tourism growth through investments and public-private partnerships as their priorities.

Meanwhile, advocating for "Brand Africa" emerged as the number one priority for Member States in Southern Africa, and in Central Africa, the focus is on strengthening tourism statistics systems. Furthermore, the survey also found that Member States from across the continent would like to see UNWTO add a new section to the Agenda for Africa focusing on the promotion of regional and domestic tourism.

Last but not least, Member States also suggested UNWTO undertake a range of actions both at the political and technical level, including strengthening collaboration between governments, facilitate the creation of investment funds to support tourism and provide practical support to SMEs. These actions would be particularly beneficial to countries whose GDP heavily depends on the tourism sector including the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

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Opinion Article

29 June 2020

EHL CEO, Michel Rochat, quizzes this year's group of bright sparks from the EHL Talent Academy on their thoughts and previsions on what the future of hospitality might entail in a post-pandemic world. Their insights are an important prism through which we can all gauge these changing times.

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EHL Group launched a new venture last year called 'EHL Talent Academy,' a program designed to support and develop young EHL employees in the professional world of hospitality management education. The EHL Talent Academy was created in order to spot the next generation of managers and leaders within the EHL Group, and involves a high-level training program for each participant.

Upon the successful completion of assessments stretching over two years, participants will be awarded a "Certificate of Completion of the EHL Talent Academy". An overall winner will be selected and receive a management training course at a leading institution of his/her choice, worth approximately CHF 25,000.

This year's participants are: Samrah Alshawi, Marie Charriere, Florence Lafayette Driessens, Joshua Gan, Lorraine Jalef, Camille Le Bars, Marion Monestel and Jens-Henning Peters. Since September 2019, they have been working together in small groups and individually on strategic projects allocated by the EHL Group Management.

From top left to bottom right: Camille Le Bars, Florence Lafayette Driessens, Marion Monestel, Jens-Henning Peters, Lorraine Jalef, Joshua Gan, Marie Charriere, Samrah Alshawi.  Photo: EHL

Questions from the CEO to the EHL Talent Academy

What changes can Hospitality students expect?

Camille

Future students will be trained to work from home - this is a growing trend that looks set to continue.

Hot desking: flexibility will be important for our students' learning process, this should include a variety of teaching methods that are constantly modified to suit the changing contexts. For example, remote learning that we have had to adapt to recently and quickly.

Some students today are struggling with online team work, hence the role for student ambassadors to accompany those in need of guidance.

Preparatory Year students will feel the biggest impact: parts of the teaching program will have to be modified especially for them since they cannot always be onsite as before.

Develop strategic virtual lessons for the intro week which is important for bringing people together and establishing the main 'family' themes of hospitality.

How do you imagine your professional life of tomorrow?

Henning

With the increased role of online meetings, dress code and face-to-face contact will be less effective, therefore our first impressions should be counteracted with a new approach.

Companies should consider investing in guidelines and a specific set of technological tools for everyone (professional webcams, microphones, corporate digital backdrops). This would give everyone the best chance to deliver a professional experience right away and make a strong impression.

The multi job environment is becoming more popular - we can learn from this model which promotes the sharing of knowledge and the switching from one task to another, enhancing brain flexibility and a collective mindset.

In order for efficient work to be produced, we need to consider the work community as a knowledge pool. To enable a self-managed team, use an agile mindset with a scrum methodology.

Goals are set collectively and everyone contributes to the team's output within a given timeframe. Work output is defined together. We share and demo our work to the rest of the team and define next steps together. Everyone contributes, because each has an area of expertise.

The work process is reviewed weekly in a retrospective: We define what we started doing, what we should keep doing and what we should stop doing. Continuous improvement of the work process and team ability to give feedback & input to each other, both on the work itself and the culture of the work process.

Set personal touch point meeting every day to share: What we did yesterday, what we intend to do today and if there are any blockers the team can help with.

Flexible desk options rather than a fixed personal spot. Also Hub centers that can be at home, Lausanne office, Geneva office or others.

Business tomorrow must feature inclusiveness - offering opportunities to people who are interested in learning but who are coming from different environments.

It will be important to define specific roles for the operational staff who cannot work online.

Develop a new mind set based on openness and curiosity to improve and go further. Once the job is done, allow for flexibility with remainder of time.

Nurture links between the other departments and encourage cross fertilization between them.

How do you see the role of sustainability?

Henning

The sustainability factor to be considered: find ways of impacting our clients, reduce unnecessary travel to a minimum, avoid going back to 'old normal'.

Governments are likely to increase requirements for sustainability for future investments, therefore our services have to be ready to comply.

Reduce MICE travel. Online events have proven to be very efficient and effective - these are the solutions for the future.

A food drive could be an interesting initiative for AP workshops or for the future campus.

What are your feelings about the home-office system?

Florence

This allows people to manage their time their own way. The focus is no longer on when you are at work (fixed hours), but rather what output you produce within a freer time-frame. It allows for flexibility in personal life and work time organization.

If there is more work required on a certain job, it may extend into the weekend; if there is less work to do, it means there is time to learn new skills or do something useful. We define our own time. We simply enjoy what we do and do it with passion.

Work relationships can be built at a distance.

The overlapping of work and personal life means a break from 'normal' hours. This makes work more enjoyable in many ways. It also questions the need for headquarters. Maybe office space could be now used more as a 'learning space'?

We have clearly seen that inflexible working hours and conditions do not work for those who have a family at the same time. Flexible timings and locations for doing the work are essential if domestic and professional balance is to be maintained, also for people who have more than one job.

We have the flexibility to set our own schedules in the comfort of creating a homely atmosphere which can increase our efficiency.

Working from home can sometimes tiring when there are no fixed parameters. Although flexibility is important, it's wise to have some rules with fixed meetings and set responsibilities during normal office hours.

Is there a changing attitude towards skills and the hiring process?

Joshua

It's more interesting to think about what skills I need next - not simply what position I want to reach next.

Having skills is becoming more meaningful than having a specific position.

In relation to education and learning: what new skills will pave the way to exciting new roles or projects?

New recruitment criteria for HR: There will be a need for employees to be even more flexible and resilient.
A virtual take on the 2020 BET Awards is airing live, Sunday night, with Amanda Seales serving as host for the event. While the night is being organized in a slightly unorthodox fashion, a handful of musical guests are set to perform. So far, Roddy Ricch has appeared to perform its hit single The Box as well as his popular track High Fashion.

Roger Kisby / Getty Images

"The Box" capped out at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts earlier this year. Ricch released his studio debut Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial in 2019.

The Compton rapper pulled out all the stops, even playing a bit of piano. Check out Ricch's performance below.

Tonight's event celebrates the 20th anniversary of the BET Awards. Seales says the anniversary, in conjunction with the current state of our country, means she will not be taking the honor of hosting lightly: "I need to be thoughtful and I always am, but really making sure that I'm not taking anything for granted in terms of what this stage means at this time. When I say 'at this time' I don't just mean about the uprising [against racial discrimination]," Seales told People. "But about the fact that BET is celebrating 40 years. It's the 20-year anniversary of the BET Awards itself. So all of these things converging really is not something I take lightly and I'm looking forward to stepping into those shoes with grace."

[Via]
Not long ago, a small business owner wrote to explain that he will never hire an African American because he worries about a lawsuit if he fires one.

Another racist excuse is maintaining corporate culture. That black woman just would not fit in where one manager works, so he had to hire someone else. Then there is the hair; why do white people always talk about a black persons hair?

In February, before the new coronavirus infected the economy, African American employment was reaching a new high. Not because hiring managers had lost their implicit biases, but because unemployment was so low, they had no choice but to hire black people.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: Fight for economic justice as important as protesting police brutality

Last month, when white Americans went nuts over the better-than-expected employment numbers, they didnt spot the damning evidence of prejudice in this country. While unemployment went down dramatically for white Americans, it continued to rise for blacks.

Every African American adult knows the routine: last hired, first fired.

Abreeta Bonner does her best to prepare students for this harsh reality as a career counselor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she is also researching bias in hiring for her doctorate. The Houston native has discovered that African Americans, particularly women, suffer from bias the most.

Bonners research reveals that large employers in Texas offer female African American graduates of UTSA fewer and lower-level jobs than whites and Hispanics with the same qualifications and experience. Black women end up drastically underemployed compared to their peers.

Sometimes they're not even making 50 percent of the salary, Bonner told me. A lot of it has to do with the racial bias and implicit bias in a lot of hiring practices at a lot of the large employers that recruit our students.

Her research shows the problem exists across all industries and affects all majors. In interviews, African American graduates share very similar stories about what happens to them when they as they meet hiring managers and more through the process.

Theyre being discriminated against because of how they style their hair, the types of clothing they wear, Bonner said. Employers are being very upfront about how they don't fit the company's culture due to their cultural or religious beliefs that they may have been able to decipher from their resume or something that they may have shared during the interview process.

Much of this is illegal, of course, but enforcement of civil rights laws is spotty at best. Only the most blatant and documented cases ever result in punishment for a racist hiring manager. Bonner is shocked at how students of different ethnicities describe very different experiences while interviewing at the same company.

I've been interviewing those who identify as black women and those who identify as white women, and it literally sounds like two different worlds, Bonner said. Some employers explicitly tell the African American women they do not have the right look for a customer-facing role.

Many people are uncomfortable spending time with people who are not like themselves, but bias is bad for business, destructive to the economy and harmful for society. Raphael Bostic, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, explained in an essay last week the necessity of ending bigotry.

This country has both a moral and economic imperative to end these unjust and destructive practices, Bostic wrote. All of us, especially our white allies, must learn the history of systemic racism and the ways it continues to manifest in our lives today. Furthermore, we all must reflect on what we can do to effect change at every turn.

Countless studies show diversity makes businesses stronger. Diversity in upper management sparks more innovation, generates higher profits and tolerates less malfeasance. Diversity in customer-facing roles attracts more diverse consumers.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: Trump's racism threatens U.S. economy

After centuries of marginalization, the only way to minimize income inequality is to offer greater quality of opportunity. Hiring people from disadvantaged communities not only helps that person but gives them a chance to improve their community.

Broader distribution of wealth fuels a stronger economy and prevents crime and illness. Bigotry tears us apart, ending systemic racism unites us.

The next time you are making a hiring decision and cannot decide between two equal candidates, do yourself a favor and hire the person least like you. Hire the candidate who does not look like you, speak like you or have the same background, no matter your demographic.

Most business owners end up delighted to have someone with new ideas, attracting new customers, and generating more revenues. The big challenge is overcoming that little voice in your head that fears people who are different. Thats what perpetuates our biased system.

Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy.

twitter.com/cltomlinson

chris.tomlinson@chron.com
Many rural counties in states including California, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Texas and Florida have seen their confirmed cases more than double in a week, from June 19 to Friday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Lassen County, California, went from just nine cases to 172, and Hot Spring County, Arkansas, went from 46 cases to 415; both spikes were attributed to outbreaks at prisons. Cases in McDonald County, Missouri, more than tripled after Tyson Foods conducted facility-wide testing at a chicken plant there.
WASHINGTON - Environmental officials in Texas and other western states are moving ahead on plans to allow oil and gas companies to treat drilling wastewater and discharge it into rivers and streams, even as the Trump administration balks at endorsing the practice amid widespread questions about public health effects.

In a report last month, the Environmental Protection Agency not only outlined concerns from scientists and environmentalists about the toxins in the hundreds of billions of gallons of wastewater produced each year by oil and gas drilling, but also from oil companies themselves.

One large company, the report noted, was troubled by proposals to allow treated wastewater to irrigate crops or get dumped into public waterways, citing a lack of science around treatment efficacy and associated liability risks. Companies across the board said that disposal wells that store wastewater underground remain a far cheaper option.

It doesnt indicate theres any pathway forward, Lee Fuller, vice president of government relations at the Independent Petroleum Association of America, said of the EPA report. At this point the only real only opportunities for reuse are within the production operations in the field, displacing the fresh water needed for hydraulic fracturing.

Oil and gas drilling produces up to 10 barrels of contaminated water for every barrel of crude from two main sources: naturally occurring brackish water that comes up the well with oil and gas and the millions of gallons of chemical-laced water that fracking crews pump into each well to release oil and gas from shale. Historically, the wastewater is pumped thousands of feet underground into what are known as injection wells as to not contaminate drinking water.

CAUSE AND EFFECT: Study linking Permian Basin fracking to earthquakes stirs debates

But with injection wells identified as the cause of earthquakes and some heavily drilled areas, such West Texas, reaching geological limits for storing the wastewater, both the industry and regulators have sought other solutions. Two years ago, EPA began studying whether water treatment technology had reached the point that it could make oil and gas wastewater clean enough for discharge into rivers and streams, prompting expectations the industry-friendly Trump administration would endorse a promising but untested technology.

But the EPAs decision last month not to endorse the technology left a vacuum. Stepping in are oil-rich states Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, all of which had already passed legislation aimed at expanding the reuse of wastewater, known in the industry as produced water, beyond the oil fields.

Last year, the Texas Legislature passed a bill ordering the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to apply to EPA for authority to permit the discharge of oil and gas wastewater into state waterways before September 2021. And despite the EPA report, the agency is moving ahead, said Brian McGovern, a TCEQ spokesman.

TCEQs pursuit of (permitting authority) is not contingent upon any EPA initiative and TCEQ will continue to seek (authority) for oil and gas discharges as required by the Texas Legislature, he said in an email.

Oklahoma has already applied to EPA for permitting authority, a spokeswoman at the states Department of Environmental Quality said. Officials at the New Mexico Environment Department are leading a research consortium to better understand the public health and environmental implications of discharging oil and gas wastewater water, said Rebecca Roose, director of the departments water protection division.

Were interested in seeking (permitting) authorization, she said, but we dont currently have a timeline on that.

Driving states interest is series of droughts in the western United States, which at a time of rising population have raised concerns about the regions long-term water supply.

Texas suffered under a years-long drought that began in 2010, forcing many cattle ranchers to sell off or kill their herds and forcing cities to enact water conservation orders. One town outside Austin, Spicewood Beach, even reported in it had run out of water and had to truck in water for its 1,100 residents.

With the planet warming due to climate change, scientists have warned drought could become a more regular occurrence in the future.

The western states are pushing (the treatment of produced water) because theyre looking for any source of water they can get, said Ellen Gilinsky, a former EPA official who now consults for the Environmental Defense Fund.

MEANS OF DISPOSAL: EPA weighs allowing oil companies to pump wastewater into rivers, streams

Under federal law, the discharge of oil and gas wastewater into rivers and streams is prohibited east of the 98th meridian, which runs north to south just west of Austin. But west of that boundary - historically referred to as where the West begins - oil and gas companies can apply to state environmental agencies or the EPA for permits to discharge their wastewater.

So far, few have. Wyoming officials have issued a permit to one local firm, Encore Green Environmental, to take treated oil field wastewater and discharge it onto arid, rocky lands with aims of increasing vegetative growth for the purpose of pulling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

This solves more than just the problem of too much produced water, Encore co-founder Marvin Nash said in a press release earlier this year. With this method, the arid west can have a new source of clean water thats publicly available.

Water treatment technology has improved radically in recent decades, to the point engineers in countries such as Israel can now economically convert sea water into to fresh water. But there is little science showing that the technology can safely treat oil field wastewater, which is not only highly saline - containing up to 10 times more salt than sea water - but also contains a catalogue of chemicals, both naturally occurring and manmade.

Scientists consulted by the EPA warned of knowledge gaps around produced water, pointing out that they dont even have a full catalogue of all the chemicals it contains.

Theres only a limited number of chemicals in produced water we know the toxicity of. There are so many issues that need to be dealt with before we can even talk about using produced water outside the oil field, Gilinsky said Put aside drinking water (for people). What effect does it have on livestock?

The EPA said it would announce next steps for managing oil field wastewater at a future date, but for now the high costs and uncertainty of treating oil field wastewater are unlikely to entice many oil companies to take up the practice.

Still, environmental officials in oil producing states such as Texas appear eager to claim permitting authority under a Trump administration that has steadily dismantled environmental regulations to aid oil and gas and other industries. Environmental officials under Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden might not be so willing.

MORE: Read the latest oil and gas news at Fuel Fix

The belief is a breakthrough in water treatment technology will eventually come, said Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association.

We know that continued investment in pioneering technologies and innovations will largely drive accomplishments in this space, he said.

If and when that happens, energy industry attorneys say, getting permits from state regulators in oil-rich Texas is likely to be far more appealing than going to EPA, with which oil companies have long had an antagonistic relationship.

james.osborne@chron.com

Twitter.com/@osborneja
Betsey Johnson is happy. She cant help herself.

The 77-year-old fashion designer known for her cheery, colorful clothing  and for doing cartwheels at her fashion shows  sees a world filled with rainbows and sunshine, even while social distancing.

Johnson had just moved into a new home in an upscale trailer park in Malibu, Calif., when the pandemic hit. A few weeks later, she debuted the book Betsey: A Memoir (Viking Books) that she co-wrote with Mark Vitulano, her former receptionist and longtime confidante. Her book tour, which included a stop at Brazos Bookstore on Bissonnet, was canceled.

But she didnt let that get her down.

Ive gotten more press without the book tour during this pandemic, Johnson said by phone, with her dog, a Maltese named Johnny Cash, nearby. People are reading more. They are cooking more. I see the real good sides to this pandemic. Im just a born optimist. I cant be down.

That she wanted to be a Radio City Rockette seems fitting, given her physical agility and perky personality, but Johnson found her place in fashion. Her company rocketed in the 1980s and 90s, with celebrities such as Debbie Harry and the B-52s wearing her self-described pretty and punk looks.

More Information 'Betsey: A Memoir' By Betsey Johnson and Mark Vitulano Viking Books 288 pages, $28 See More Collapse

Then the market crashed in 2008, and she lost it all.

Shoe mogul Steve Madden bought the company in 2010, and Johnson stayed on as creative director. With the economic hit to the fashion industry because of the pandemic, Johnson was recently furloughed from the company that bears her name.

She talked about her book, her signature cartwheel and her secret to happiness.

Q: Why a memoir now?

A: After 77 years, I have a lot to say. Being a designer, a single mom, getting breast cancer. People tell me the book is really helpful, and its inspiring, open and honest without going below the belt. Its a light book. Theres nothing heavy about it. But after 77 years, I do have a lot to talk about in a kind of helpful way.

Q: Did you set out to become a fashion designer?

A: No, I wanted to be a Rockette. I studied dancing in New York growing up because my dancing school teacher was a Broadway showgirl. I wanted to make it in New York. I always knew how to sew because my mother sewed. I loved sewing and learned how to make my own patterns. I made amazing dancing costumes, so I grew up in a world of lame, sequins and color.

Q: You won a Mademoiselle magazine contest in college. Did that change your life?

A: They picked 20 girls around the country to go to New York to be a guest editor. I was at Syracuse University. I won it and got a job as Girl Friday in the magazines art department. I loved it. I realized the art category was better than wishing I was 4 inches taller, which I needed to be to even qualify to try out for the Rockettes.

Q: Lets talk about your signature cartwheel.

A: I was so happy after this one fashion show. It was a cowboy show that Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) was in. He was a customer of mine. He could come into my showroom and fit every size small I had. He didnt care which side the fly or buttons were on. I always swore when I was growing up that I would be able to do a cartwheel and a split. So I did a cartwheel at the show. It became a thing I did after every show. Then it became a cartwheel-split. But now if I do an appearance, I just do a split. I stopped doing the cartwheel in the last few years because I could never rely on the surface. Ill do it on the grass or a rug, but I dont risk it on other surfaces. I dont feel like breaking something. There are better ways to get hurt.

Q: Are you a collector?

A: Yes, I have boxes and boxes of funky jewelry that I used as inspiration and (for) shoots. When I built my daughter her house, I built a guest house that I was going to live in, but that didnt work out. It was too close for comfort. Now, I use the entire guest house to store all of the stuff I cannot throw out.

Q: What kind of stuff?

A: I have my first doll. Im a doll freak. Dolls of all kinds. I have four of the most incredible cloth dolls that Lanvin made in India as a charity project. Ive saved so much stuff. I cannot live without my stuff.

Q: Have you always been happy?

A: I was born that way. I think its my double Leo with Taurus rising. I dont believe in wasting the day by being down.

Q: How have you practiced socially distancing?

A: Ive completely isolated myself. Ive seen my two granddaughters and daughter (Lulu)  they live close by. Im just trying to unpack and organize my new house. Its a huge endeavor.

Q: How do you stay in shape?

A: I walk around the block. Ive tried everything under the sun, from the first day Pilates and yoga existed, but I never found anything fun like dancing around my house. I know I should do all of this stuff, but Ive been there and done that. I know Im still very strong, and I feel good.

Q: Favorite color?

A: Yellow at the moment; after that, we go into the full box of crayons. But I hate brown.

Q: Is your house colorful?

A: For the first time, Im living in a white house. Its very colonial New England. So I have to drag out all of my stuff, which is colorful, because I cant live in an all-white house. Everything I have is colorful, so I have to figure out how to break the white vibe. Its fun because Im still playing around with the junk I loved since I was little.

Q: Is that where you get your vintage aesthetic?

A: Unless I go antiquing way in the middle of nowhere, I cant find anything that inspires me in new fashion stores. So I never go into fashion stores. When I wear some of the old stuff, its just so much fun. Since I never learned how to use a computer, I have an assistant who gets online for me. I bought an $89 red puffed-sleeve little T-shirt top with balloon pants that are tight below the knee online. I wore it for a big shoot for the New Yorker. I loved it.

Q: Guilty pleasures?

A: Santa Monica Seafoods smoked salmon and grapes. I watch as little news as I can. Im a huge Turner Classic Movies fan. Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis. I just love that world of black-and-white TV. I cant connect with sitcoms, only Sex and the City.

Q: What brings you joy?

A: Waking up in the morning, my family, my great friends, life in general. As you get older, you really appreciate waking up in the morning.

joy.sewing@chron.com
Face masks arent going anywhere anytime soon.

If you are wearing a fabric mask, its imperative to keep it clean. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends reusable cloth face masks and coverings be routinely washed.

Many masks can be tossed into the washing machine in warm/hot water. Project Runway winner and Houston fashion designer Chloe Dao recommends hand-washing with dishwashing detergent to help them last longer. She recently posted a how-to video on Instagram. She also researched the best techniques for cleaning to prevent damaging the style of the masks.

Noreen Khan-Mayberry, a toxicologist and medical scientist, recommends that masks be cleaned or sanitized after every use.

Every time you wear a mask you introduce a combination of droplets, chemicals and germs onto the fabric. You dont want to keep reusing a mask that has been contaminated with that combination, she said.

When you wash your mask, she said, make sure you scrub both sides to clean your own droplets, along with the contaminated air that you were exposed to.

And if you dont have time to clean the mask, Khan-Mayberrry said you can spray both sides with a disinfectant, like Lysol or alcohol, and let it dry for at least an hour. Hand sanitizer also can be used.

joy.sewing@chron.com
University of Texas at Austin announced new details Monday on the fall semester and class structure during the coronavirus pandemic.

Plans include a shortened academic semester, an instructional continuity plan in the event professors fall ill, a mix of online and in-person classes and a flat tuition no matter the mode of instruction, its board said.

UTs semester will begin Aug. 26, with in-person instruction ending Nov. 25  the day before Thanksgiving.

The class day will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with courses more evenly distributed, and each course will have an instructional continuity plan, which will include a teaching partner, who will take over the class in the case of an emergency or if an instructor becomes ill.

Like many Texas schools, UT-Austin will offer classes online, hybrid and in-person options for students, but all is subject to change, according to UTs Interim President Jay Hartzell.

COVID-19 and its spread in Texas will continue to shape the exact ways we teach, learn, work and conduct research on and off campus, Hartzell said in a letter to the university community Monday.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Whats the plan for this fall? Texas colleges are still working out the logistics.

In-person classes will have no more than 40 percent occupancy. Students will also have the option to take their full fall semester online, and UT has advised that online courses have been designed from the ground up in this format.

Art Markman, a professor of psychology and chair of the academic planning work group at UT, said in a call with media Monday that the largest 400 classes, including big lectures, were placed online, which largely impacts lower division classes for freshmen and sophomores.

Classes offered in the hybrid mode will have in-person and remote learning elements. The frequency of in-person aspects of coursework will depend on the class and will be decided by departments and deans.

Lectures in many in-person and hybrid courses will be streamed and recorded, depending on the instructor, which will allow students who need to self-isolate or have health concerns to stay current in their studies.

Graduate programs will be more flexible about allowing international students, who might face delays when trying to enter the United States, the option to defer admissions or learn remotely, if requested.

Tuition for all classes, no matter the mode, will be the same, officials said, and the college is still discussing how student life activities will be held  whether that be online, in hybrid mode or in outdoor spaces.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas HBCUs continue to provide haven for black students in times of unrest

The university will require members of the community to wear cloth masks when inside university buildings unless alone in a private office, in an assigned dorm room, while eating or drinking while practicing social distancing, or when an alternative has been approved by the Americans with Disabilities Act or as a part of a religious observance.

Wearing cloth masks will also be encouraged outdoors. Those who do not wear masks as mandated could face disciplinary action, all the way up to suspension, said Hartzell and Soncia Reagins-Lilly, UTs dean of students.

Students off-campus activities are largely out of university control. But Hartzell said UT officials are trying to instill in our students a sense of doing the right thing even if theyre not in the classroom our in our dorms or residence hall.

Reagins-Lilly said the school is working those who own and manage facilities, including fraternity and sorority houses, to enforce and maintain guidelines.

Were in this together, and were going to protect Texas together by working closely and reinforcing and supporting each other as we trust our students to do the right thing and make good choices, Reagins-Lilly said.

UT officials are also providing a new mobile app with a private diary function that will allow users to monitor symptoms and body temperature and access information about testing locations and processes.

On-campus COVID-19 testing will be available, and officials expect more than 1,500 tests per day. UT health professionals and Austin Public Health will together perform contact tracing for those who test positive. The college also plans to have hand hygiene products and cleaning stations around campus, but officials are encouraging people to carry their own hand sanitizing products.

Residence halls  most which are slated to be double occupancy  will open Aug. 20 and will require social distancing measures. Unless they are in their own assigned dorm room, students are to wear cloth masks.

brittany.britto@chron.com
WASHINGTON  Texas opens its polls on Monday amid the most vicious spike in COVID-19 cases that the state has seen yet for a runoff election that officials say is a much-needed practice run before Novembers hotly anticipated presidential election.

Texas is one of only four states that declined to loosen laws to allow more people to vote by mail to slow the spread of the coronavirus, so elections officials say theyve spent the last three months crafting safety plans and buying supplies to make sure its safe to vote.

The secretary of state released a lengthy checklist for voters suggesting among other things that they wear masks and bring their own hand sanitizer and pencils.

It also suggests washing hands before and after voting and urges voters with symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, headache or sore throat, to ask to vote curbside. And those who actually get sick can request an application for an emergency early voting ballot due to sickness or physical disability.

LEARNING FROM THE PAST: After chaotic March primary, new Harris County clerk seeks to avoid same mistakes in July runoff

Harris County officials, meanwhile, released a 23-point plan earlier this month that includes allocating polling machines to locations based on turnout, extending voting hours and improving a website showing wait times at polling places. Bexar County poll workers will be equipped with masks, gloves, face shields and gallons of hand sanitizer. Voters will be able to pick among gloves, finger sleeves and pencils to cast their ballots.

More Information Pandemic voting checklist Recommendations from state and local elections officials. Stay six feet away from other voters and poll workers State and county officials request voters wear a cloth face covering, but they are not required Bring your ID and be prepared to move your mask for poll workers to check If you're 65 or older, vote by mail Request curbside voting if you have symptoms including cough, shortness of breath or chills Bring your own pen, pencil or stylus for marking ballots Wash your hands before and after voting Bring your own hand sanitizer If you get sick, contact your county elections office to request an application for an emergency early voting ballot due to sickness or physical disability Source: Texas Secretary of State See More Collapse

Still, nobody knows what to expect in what would ordinarily be a sleepy summer runoff, which typically see turnout in the low single digits. The 2012 Republican Senate runoff between former Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz was the last time that more than 1 million voters cast ballots in a runoff election.

The coronavirus surge comes as officials are urging people to stay home, and fear of getting the virus could well suppress turnout even further. But the election also comes on the heels of mass protests over police violence and systemic racism, and the runoff is the first opening in Texas for voters to channel frustrations over it all to the ballot box, so elections officials are bracing for a larger than usual turnout.

With the political climate where it is and with the numbers skyrocketing now with the virus, we just dont know what to expect, said Jacque Callanen, Bexar County elections administrator. We just dont know what human nature is going to do, how theyre going to handle it.

AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET: Democrats pitch themselves as best to beat Cornyn

Masks preferred, but not required

Texas has resisted calls to expand mail-in voting amid the outbreak, even as Democrats and civil rights groups sued to force it to do so. A Texas Supreme Court ruling essentially leaves it up to voters to decide if they qualify to mail in their ballots.

The law allows those with a sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place to use mail-in ballots, in addition to people over 65, people traveling outside the county during the election and people confined to jail. Applications to vote by mail must be received by county elections officials by July 2.

Elections officials are urging everyone who can to vote during the states lengthened early voting period, which lasts until July 10, to avoid big lines on election day, July 14.

And they have one request for voters: Please wear a mask.

This is a time where we have to leave emotions and politics outside and just do whats right for everybody, Callanen said.

The marquee race is the Democratic runoff to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Both candidates  former Air Force pilot MJ Hegar and longtime state Sen. Royce West  have hammered Cornyn in recent weeks over his response to police shootings and the coronavirus.

A surge in turnout driven by anger over police violence and racism could boost West, who would be the states first African American U.S. senator, but who has trailed behind Hegar in polling and fundraising throughout the campaign.

Both campaigns are planning get out the vote efforts that include calling and texting voters. Hegars campaign is planning a virtual tour. Wests campaign has sent mail-in ballot applications to voters who are eligible to vote by mail.

Practice run for November

Voters in Fort Bend County will pick a Republican candidate for what is expected to be among the most closely watched congressional races in the nation, to replace U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, a Republican who is retiring at the end of the year. Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls and Kathaleen Wall, a longtime GOP donor, are vying for the nomination to face Democrat Sri Preston Kulkarni, who came within 5 points of beating Olson in 2018.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Its one of 15 congressional races across the state voters will settle in the runoff, including picking between Democrats Pritesh Gandhi and Mike Siegel, who are vying to challenge U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican whose district stretches from Austin to Houston.

Voters in San Antonio will pick between Republicans Raul Reyes and Tony Gonzales in the race for retiring U.S. Rep. Will Hurds seat. Theyll face Gina Ortiz Jones, a Democrat who nearly unseated Hurd in 2018.

And there are a slew of state legislative races on the ballots, as well.

Elections officials across the state hope to avoid the long lines that have made national headlines in states that have held primaries during the outbreak, including Kentuckys recent elections. They expect that will be easy, given the expected low turnout in the runoff. But theyre preparing for anything.

Harris County has said it has increased the number of voting machines available and is planning to open more polling sites for the runoff, 57 for early voting and 109 on Election Day.

Were hiring most of our poll workers back because we want the judge and clerks and teams to get a feel for whos going to be at the door, whos going to disinfect, whos going to take a break and have others step in, said Yvonne Ramon, elections administrator in Hidalgo County and president of the Texas Association of Elections Administrators.

We need them to try protocols, she said. For us this is a great opportunity to practice what we know will be in place for November.

ben.wermund@chron.com
AUSTIN  The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement will ask nearly 2,000 Texas law enforcement agencies to resubmit information used to analyze how police were treating minority motorists  but was worthless because the commission did not ask departments to include the race of the drivers in some of the data.

The change comes days after Hearst Newspapers published a story detailing how the information, required by the 2017 Sandra Bland Act, was impossible to use.

Im trying to jump on it pretty fast, said state Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, a sponsor of the bill, who said he spoke Monday morning with TCOLE and they had agreed to correct the problem.

Coleman said he also has asked the agency to work with academic experts to ensure the information it is asking of Texas law enforcement agencies can be used to actually conduct racial bias analyses. Alex del Carmen, a criminal justice professor at Tarleton State University who helps train police executives, said he worked Sunday to create a survey that would produce the necessary information.

Coleman said the new list of questions will be used to gather the information for 2020. But he added the agency said it would also contact police departments to ask them to redo their 2019 surveys, originally submitted in March.

A TCOLE spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.

IN-DEPTH: Texas was supposed to collect racial-profiling data. It left out most of the racial part.

Texas policing reformers have been trying for nearly 20 years to get the states police departments to submit information sufficiently detailed to permit researchers, advocates and the public to identify which police departments treat motorists in a way that could indicate racial bias. But demonstrating a pattern of racial bias in police departments is deceptively complicated, researchers say.

Many agencies may stop black drivers at a greater rate than their local population numbers, for example. Yet typically half of all traffic stops made by police are of out-of-town motorists, meaning a simple comparison against local demographics is meaningless. Police also say they seldom know the race of a driver before approaching the stopped car on the shoulder of the road, though some studies suggest this isnt entirely true.

So racial profiling experts say the best test to gauge if a local department is treating black, Hispanic and white drivers differently is to compare how they are treated after a stop, when the drivers race is clear. The most common way is to compare how often drivers with different skin colors are searched.

Frank Baumgartner, a political science professor at the University of North Carolina, has performed the analysis on hundreds of police departments across the country. His studies found that most searched black drivers at much higher rates than white drivers.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Yet thats only half the equation, he said. Its also crucial to then note what police find during the searches. If they search black drivers at higher rates but consistently find less contraband, for example, thats an indication officers may be letting a racial bias lead them to treat black drivers as more likely to be criminals.

Texas laws passed in 2001 and 2009 provided basic information to conduct a disparity test. Some departments did the analyses on their own, but many did not. The Sandra Bland Act, named for the 28-year-old African American woman who died in jail after being arrested during a minor traffic stop, was supposed to fill in the gaps by requiring all departments to send detailed data to TCOLE.

But it didnt work out that way.

As intended by the new law, TCOLE asked every Texas police department that made traffic stops to submit information about the stops, searches and contraband but then didnt require them to break it down by the drivers race  a crime against public records requests, Baumgartner said.

After speaking with the agency Monday, Coleman said he didnt believe the agency intentionally omitted the race information, but rather was confused by the statutes wording.

The Sandra Bland Act also requires police departments to each analyze its own data for bias patterns, but Coleman said he may also try to require the agency to hire an academic expert to produce an independent analysis instead. Ive just got to figure out how to pay for it, he said.

eric.dexheimer@chron.com
The $50 million is a quarter of what the Department of Housing and Urban Development asked for to run the program, according to a housing department spokeswoman. And its hard to know just how far that money will go, but the spokeswoman, Amanda Love, said in an email the funding will assist thousands of households most in need and in jeopardy of losing their home in the coming weeks.
Isaac Fanuiel IV says his ancestors benefited from the cries of freedom that Juneteenth offered 155 years ago.

And yet the Galveston native wonders why a monument honoring the Confederacy stands prominently in the same county where slaves learned in 1865 that the Civil War was over and they were free.

Theres no way that these statues should be erected here, anywhere, especially not a few blocks away from this idea of freedom, said Fanuiel, 44 and a descendant of slaves.

The Dignified Resignation monument, which includes a statue of a returning soldier, has stood in front of the Galveston County courthouse since 1911. A plaque from the Galveston Veuve Jefferson Davis chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy praises the purity of motives, intensity of courage and heroism of Confederate soldiers and sailors.

Fanuiel, who is pursuing his doctorate in psychology at Grand Canyon University, has pushed for taking down the statue for five years. The push by him and the Galveston Monument Project is gaining support amid a national discussion about the appropriateness of Confederate monuments and statues  and streets and schools named after its leaders  following the police killing of longtime Houston resident George Floyd.

Those statues are on the wrong side of history, Fanuiel said. We know and understand that now in 2020.

Fanuiel expects the matter to come up soon at a Galveston County Commissioners Court meeting, with one commissioner already backing the idea.

The statue in Galveston sits right in the middle of the courthouse square, Commissioner Stephen Holmes said. To me, it should be a place of honor. Its a place where, if youre going to have something, have something erected that all people can be proud of, not that causes controversy or favors one group or another.

Galveston County Judge Mark Henry and other commissioners did not respond to requests for comment.

Statues come down

Since Floyds death, Confederate monuments have been taken down in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia and South Carolina. Mississippi lawmakers voted in recent days to remove the Confederate battle emblem from its state flag.

The city of Beaumont began the process of removing its 108-year-old Confederate soldier statue from Wiess Park on Monday. It will be placed at an undisclosed location, City Manager Kyle Hayes said.

In Houston, two Confederate statues and one of Christopher Columbus have been removed in the last month. Harris County commissioners will decide soon whether to hold a public hearing to consider changing the name of Robert E. Lee Road. East of the city, a petition has circulated to remove the Confederate generals name from a Baytown high school.

In Galveston, protesters took to the streets on the recent Juneteenth holiday and covered the Confederate soldier statue with a white sheet. In Fort Bend County, three separate petitions calling for the removal of a monument with Confederate ties in downtown Richmond have garnered a total of more than 4,000 signatures.

As a lifelong resident of diverse Fort Bend who went to elementary, middle and high school here, I was surprised to see a statue honoring a group of leaders that violently removed African American elected officials honored in the heart of our community, said Taral Patel, who launched a petition drive independent of his job as chief of staff to County Judge KP George.

There is not universal support for removing Confederate statues and monuments.

President Donald Trump has expressed admiration for Confederate monuments and recently told an Oklahoma rally that left-wing protesters were trying to vandalize our history, desecrate our monuments, our beautiful monuments. After an effort to topple Andrew Jacksons statue in Lafayette Square near the White House was thwarted, Trump signed an order threatening long prison terms for anyone convicted of tearing down or vandalizing federal statues or monuments.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican running for re-election, initially was cool to the idea of renaming Fort Hood, which is named after a Confederate military leader. You cant learn from our history if you try to erase it, because its hard to see where this leads, Cornyn told reporters.

Cornyn then backed a Senate measure to study the issue of renaming military installations named for Confederate leaders.

Mysterious monument

In Fort Bend County, one mysterious monument has drawn renewed scrutiny.

The monument near Richmond City Hall honors H. H. Frost, L. E. Gibson and J. M. Shamblin  three members of a white political group from the late 19th century known as the Jaybirds. Many members fathers and grandfathers had fought for the Confederacy, and they permitted only white men to hold local political office. The Jaybirds clashed with a group known as the Woodpeckers, which allowed former slaves to run in elections and at one point swept elections in the then-predominantly black county.

Shooting between the Jaybirds and Woodpeckers erupted on Aug. 16, 1889, where the monument is located on Morton Street. Frost was among those who died, but reportedly asked on his death bed for the monument to be erected. The statue went up on March 18, 1896, according to local author and researcher Pauline Yelderman. It rises from a pedestal, topped with a stone bird figurine.

About a month ago, Fort Bend resident Samantha Rodgers took time to read the inscription on the Jaybird Woodpecker monument. It made Rodgers, who is white and in an interracial marriage, think about her three African American children.

I just want them to not feel like we celebrate people that wouldve oppressed them back then, said Rodgers, who started a petition to have it taken down.

Turns out two other groups were circulating similar petitions. They have since joined forces and collected more than 4,000 signatures.

Patel, a Katy resident, favors moving the monument to a museum and replacing it with one that honors a figure such as Walter Moses Burton, the countys first elected black sheriff; a Woodpecker community leader; or the three plaintiffs in a Supreme Court case that ended white-only primaries in Fort Bend.

Richmond Mayor Evalyn Moore has said the city is working with partners and private citizens on the request to remove the statue.

We want to be swift and responsible as we move forward, Moore said in a statement. Our goal is to continue to preserve our history as an educational gateway, while being sensitive to all members of our community of today and tomorrow.

Rodgers believes removing the monument would send an important message.

Fort Bend is so diverse and its something that needs to be celebrated, and  having a monument like the one thats right next to our City Hall in Richmond can be so divisive, Rodgers said. Its not representative of who we are and what we believe in here.

In Galveston, Fanuiel is noticing that the push to take down the Confederate monument there is now drawing support from people of all backgrounds.

Thats a difference than what weve seen before, he said.

Fanuiel and others marched on Juneteenth from the 1859 Ashton Villa  where Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger of the Union Army on June 19, 1865, first read the order declaring that slaves were freed  to the statue.

It starts with the monument coming down, but the real work is effective change, and that happens after the thing comes down, he said.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misidentified the race of Samantha Rodgers, who is white.

Emily Foxhall contributed to this report.

brooke.lewis@chron.com
Early voting begins 7 a.m. Monday in Harris County to decide primary runoff races, including closely watched contests for chances to seek congressional and local seats.

It will be a first test of voters comfort with new safety precautions as coronavirus cases steeply rise  and a first run for a new county clerk after long wait times plagued the primary March 3.

Races include a face-off between Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls and GOP donor Kathaleen Wall for the Republican nomination to seek a congressional seat.

Democrats will choose between former Air Force pilot MJ Hegar and state Sen. Royce West to challenge Sen. John Cornyn in November.

Those who prefer to apply to vote by mail must get their application in by July 2; those who are 65 or older qualify, as do those who are disabled.

The Texas Supreme Court has said its up to voters to decide whether  during the pandemic  their chance of being infected means they fit under the disability provision.

Voters who wish to cast ballots early can go to any of 57 polling places, where layouts have been reworked to allow for social distancing.

There will be hand sanitizing stations, masks and gloves for poll workers and finger covers for voters.

Christopher Hollins has overseen the preparations in recent weeks. County commissioners appointed him county clerk after Diane Trautman resigned May 31, citing concerns for her health amid the pandemic.

Trautman, in a break from the past, allowed residents to visit any Election Day polling place. But the March 3 primary left voters enduring long waits.

Voter Hervis Rogers famously waited 6 hours to cast his ballot at Texas Southern University around 1 a.m.

While Trautman placed an equal number of Republican and Democrat voting machines at each center, Hollins has said he would re-allocate them for the runoff based on turnout.

He also said he would improve a faulty website meant to show wait times at each site.

Harris County voters will help decide 19 runoff races. The five Republican contests include candidates who want to run for Sheriff. Fourteen democratic ones include candidates seeking to be constables, judges and county commissioner.

Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 29 through July 2 and July 6 through July 9.

They will also open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 5 and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 10.

A list of polling sites and sample ballots can be found at harrisvotes.org.

Election day is July 14.

emily.foxhall@chron.com
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo will self-quarantine after a staff member in her office tested positive for COVID-19, she said Sunday.

The announcement came as Vice President Mike Pence and other White House officials met with Gov. Greg Abbott in Dallas to talk about the surging infection rates across the state.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Texas have doubled in the last 10 days, and the rate of positive tests rose over the last week from about 9 percent to 13 percent, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis. Houston-area residents also have reported long wait times at testing sites, with some people arriving in the wee hours of the morning to claim their spot in line.

Hidalgos staff member, who was not identified in a news release, tested positive over the weekend. Hidalgo was potentially exposed to the virus June 22. She and other staff members plan to get tested and self-quarantine until July 6, two weeks from the date of the possible exposure.

Hidalgo has not shown any symptoms, and she plans to continue her duties virtually, the news release said.

Given what we have learned, I will be quarantining at home. The reality of it is, there are thousands of residents across Harris County that are increasingly finding themselves in the same position I am in today, Hidalgo said in the release.

There are rising numbers of residents testing positive for this virus, and more and more requiring hospitalization. We are at Threat Level 1 - Red - and I continue to call on everyone to stay home except for essential activities, Hidalgo said. That is the only way we avoid a crisis in our hospital system and put our community in a position to reopen in a smarter and more sustainable way. We will beat this threat together as a community and I will continue to ensure we are pursuing every option we have to bring this back under control.

Normal county operations will continue uninterrupted, the release said. Most county judge staff members have already been working from home, and those who work from the office have been wearing masks and social distancing, according to a county spokesperson.

Harris County reported 113 new COVID-19 cases Sunday for a total of 29,272. The Houston regions case tally jumped by 359 cases, bringing the total to 40,720. An additional two deaths in the region brought that figure to 526 overall.

The statewide COVID-19 total increased by 4,133 cases  from 147,374 to 151,507  with 12 new deaths.

The surge in cases has been met with a renewed fervor to find tests.

In Houston, the line outside the Mexican consulate testing site started around 1 a.m. Sunday, said Alicia Kerber-Palma, the consul general. She arrived at the Caroline Street facility at 7 a.m. and saw several dozen more people standing outside the gate and others in cars.

Some, she said, were undocumented and hesitant to seek out testing at other facilities.

When youre undocumented, youre afraid of everything, Kerber-Palma said.

Kerber-Palma stressed that government documents for those seeking a test would not be necessary. She hoped to have anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 people swabbed for the virus. The privately-run United Memorial Medical Center in Acres Home was operating the testing site.

By noon, cars snaked throughout the Museum District, the Medical Center and the neighboring highway in Midtown with motorists hoping to snag a free test. A convoy of cars with Mexican flags fluttering outside the windows passed the brunt of the line and honked their cars.

Many like Rolando Navear, 80, arrived early. He picked up two neighbors in Gulfgate and was in line at 2 a.m. Others were there before him, he said.

I knew it was going to be a lot of people, Navear said.

Waiting in the shade was Yoselin Galvan, 14, a future Eisenhower High School freshman, and her parents, Cecilia and John.

Galvan said her family walked to the consulate at 7 a.m. and by noon, the three of them were still waiting in line on tree-lined Caroline Street.

My mom needed (the test) for work, Galvan said.

A co-worker of her mothers at a northwest Houston taqueria tested positive on Thursday, the teen said.

Martha Velenzuela tried for a week to find a test from an array of facilities, including the federally-funded municipal sites. She arrived at the site at 5 a.m. Sunday with her husband and five children. She was feeling OK but wanted to make sure she was not asymptomatic.

But they had run out of tests so thats why we came here, Velenzuela said. Its a pain in the butt.

julian.gill@chron.com

nicole.hensely@chron.com
The head prosecutor for Harris County District Attorney Kim Oggs trial division resigned Monday after posting a meme on Facebook last week that equated protesters who remove Confederate statues with Nazis.

The meme posted by Assistant District Attorney Kaylynn Williford last week shows a black-and-white photograph of hands holding a massive bin of rings.

It says, Wedding bands that were removed from Holocaust victims prior to being executed, 1945. Each ring represents a destroyed family. Never forget, Nazis tore down statues. Banned free speech. Blamed economic hardships on one group of people. Instituted gun control. Sound Familiar?

Williford said in a statement that she took down the post after a friends daughter and later a Jewish lawyer told her they found it offensive to compare the two groups. Williford, a 28-year-veteran of the office who has tried major capital cases, said this was never her intent.

She posted it, she said, because she thought it was thought provoking and promoted tolerance. She interpreted it to promote working towards solutions instead of tearing each other down.

Willifords departure came after a vociferous outcry about the post from lawyers and the broader public and follows other resignations over social media posts. Keith Nielsen announced he would not take over as the county leader of the GOP in Houston after he came under fire for posting a Martin Luther King Jr. quote next to a banana following George Floyds death. And Houston Police Sgt. Robert Clasen abruptly retired when he faced a disciplinary hearing for a post blaming blacks for problems they face.

Oggs first assistant, David Mitcham, announced in an office-wide email Monday at 9:23 a.m. that Williford has tendered her resignation to the Office and it has been accepted. He said a new trial bureau chief will be named to replace her soon.

In an email that landed a few minutes earlier, Ogg wrote, When speech made in the privacy of ones home or on social media contradicts our core values, we take action. While not our intent to involve ourselves in employees personal lives, when their social media or private actions publicly contradict and violate this Offices policies, the law allows us as an employer to investigate and implement graduated sanctions ranging from education and counseling up to termination.

Oggs email did not mention the long-time veteran of her office by name. But she said the office had a duty not to ignore racism, was dedicated to operating a fair workplace and would implement implicit bias training.

Through her attorney, Williford clarified that Ogg did not ask for her resignation because of the post but said she would be demoted a level down, take a pay cut and spend one week off work without pay.

That demotion was a no-win, given the damage already done to her reputation and the office, Williford said. But she stated that she did not and would not equate racial justice protesters and Nazis.

I have been judged and condemned on a shared post, she said.

If you truly knew me, you would know I never meant anything malicious in sharing a Facebook post, she said. I see now how it could be interpreted as hurtful, but again, that was never my intent.

She referenced cases she had dismissed involving wrongful convictions after carefully reviewing evidence. She said, I have honored my oath of office no matter who the defendant was.

BRETT COOMER, STAFF / HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Williford has worked for the DAs office since 1992, handling more than 100 jury trials, according to a bio on the DAs site. She previously oversaw the asset forfeiture and financial crimes divisions.

Audia Jones, a former prosecutor who ran against Ogg in the Democratic primary, said she knew and admired Williford during her time in the office. That made her shocked to see the post.

History has shown us, where the head goes the body will follow, she said. When you have that leadership and that type of belief, you can only help but think that the prosecutors that are going to be under her guide will feel compelled to act on it as well.

Ashton Woods, co-founder and lead organizer for Black Lives Matter Houston, similarly questioned how Williford would have been able to fairly prosecute cases against black people, had she stayed at the office.

This is indicative that we must examine all parts of our current criminal justice system, he said. How can one call activists Nazis when we are the ones calling out fascism?

Tom Berg, a former top assistant to Ogg, said on Monday that Williford and others in Oggs office could have benefited by using the incident as a learning experience.

Kaylynn would have been an excellent candidate for implicit bias training, Berg said. She was one of the most experienced lawyers in the HCDAO. It could have been a powerful teaching moment if people could have unwrapped their egos and their pride.

The district attorneys offices social media policy mostly prohibits employees from speaking about their workplace, or linking their title or the DAs office to any posting, according to the employee handbook.

Your online conduct should mirror your conduct in the office, it reads. Remember - nothing online is truly anonymous. Information that you post online is often permanent or, at the least, may remain present for a long period of time.

In her email to staff Monday, Ogg said, For anyone with a doubt, the Harris County District Attorneys Office stands for equal justice.

gabrielle.banks@chron.com
Leonard Scarcella would never forget the date  September 4, 1969  when, at age 29, he took office as the city of Staffords mayor.

Scarcella held the post for 50 years, becoming one of the states longest tenured mayors, until, on Sunday, he passed at the age of 79.

Under his watch, Stafford went through explosive growth and change  and Scarcellas name became synonymous with the hometown he dedicated decades to serving.

That was his family; that was the mayors whole life, said Bonny Krahn, who served alongside Scarcella for 42 years as Staffords police chief. It was his everything.

Scarcella, who never married and had no children, lived across the street from City Hall. A city news release said he died after a brief illness  it was not COVID-19.

As Scarcella grew up, Stafford was a small community, home to many of Italian heritage and surrounded by fields. It felt far then from Houstons downtown, 20 miles to the northeast.

Scarcella attended Texas A&M and got a law degree at the University of Houston. His mom, a school teacher, helped on congressional campaigns  and he caught the political bug.

When he became the citys third ever mayor, Stafford only had a handful of employees, Scarcella recalled in a 2015 interview.

I just felt like Stafford had a lot of potential, he said then. They used to call me the kid. Now Im 75 and I must be the old man.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Four decades-long partnership in Stafford ends with chief's retirement

A lawyer by trade, Scarcella didnt shy away from a fight. He pushed to create the Stafford Municipal School District  the only municipal school district in the state. He advocated to eliminate the citys property tax.

He supported efforts to expand METRORail system from Houston along the U.S. 90A corridor  which he and former Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen joked they might one day ride in their wheelchairs.

He rarely missed a monthly meeting for the Gulf Coast Rail District, which looks at commuter and freight rail issues, said executive director Katherine Parker.

She recalled the thorough mayor always arriving with his binder of notes and a first-hand understanding of how bad the traffic had gotten.

Scarcella saw the city through formative years of development  and his commitment never wavered, Fort Bend County Commissioner Grady Prestage said.

He just was a fixture, Prestage said, You wouldnt find a more knowledgeable person about the affairs of the city.

Residents knew Scarcella throughout Stafford, a city now swallowed in Houstons sprawl. Towering red structures along the Southwest Freeway mark its boundary.

People knew Scarcella especially at Pappadeauxs, one of his favorite places to eat.

Friends and colleagues found Scarcella a great debater and orator, an intellectual man who kept things close to his chest but who also had his quirks.

For the parade every July 4, Owen recalled, Scarcella wore the same red, white and blue checkered pants. His convertibles license plate was SMSD1  a nod to the school district of which he was so proud.

He always sent Christmas cards with his expected giant signature.

Leonard was one of a kind, Owen said. There will never be another Leonard Scarcella. He loved his work. He loved the city and he was an advocate for the people.

As Scarcella won election after election  most recently campaigning with a bullhorn from the back of that convertible  he joined the ranks of mayors with storied tenures.

Most notably, in the city of Richmond not far to the west, Hilmar Moore served as mayor for 63 years.

The Texas Municipal League, in a statement Sunday, called Scarcella a legend for serving his citizens and advocating for local control.

Congressman Al Green on Twitter mourned him as a timeless leader. And Congressman Pete Olson in a statement called him inspirational.

As the headline of a city press release summed up of the loss: STAFFORD LOSES AN ICON.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

emily.foxhall@chron.com
Performing healing protection spells and regularly lighting sacred candles to promote peace, Houston witch Jessica Anderson says she is using her craft to keep vigil over those impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

We are living in strange and stressful times, she said. Everyone needs the strength of their higher power right now, whatever that may be.

Now that the future is uncertain to many, the spiritually inclined are finding comfort in the mystical. Crystals and gems, believed by some to hold magical properties that can heal and enrich life, are selling out at local shops.

Dried herbs like sage, used in cleansing rituals, are in high demand. Natural remedies for ailments are increasing in popularity, as are books on herbology and tarot. Symbols of deities and sacred items for home altars are becoming highly sought-after.

People come to Robert Garza, a practitioner of brujeria, when they need answers, healing and hope. Since COVID-19, he said he is more in demand than ever before. At Garzas store in west Houston, the masses are flocking to buy his herbal remedies and to seek his guidance in spiritual card readings.

Its been crazy, said Garza, owner of Yerberia La Santa Fe.

People dont just want to know about their health, Garza said. They are experiencing so many stressful situations right now.

Houston is a melting pot of magic and the occult. The city is home to communities practicing Brujeria, a Latin witchcraft practice influenced by indiginous religions and Catholicism, and Santeria, a polytheistic Afro-American religion with Cuban roots. There are also people practicing Paganism,Wicca, new age spiritualism and more. Scores of psychics and astrological guides have set up shop in the region.

When anybody feels like they are in a fragile situation, they call on the spirit for help and guidance, said Clyde Wood, a self-described student of the mysteries and occultist.

Wood, who owns The Witchery in Galveston, said he and his wife, Kimberley, are utilizing their knowledge of Hermetic and ceremonial magic on a daily basis to promote health and well-being during the pandemic. In addition to regular sage burning to eliminate negative energy, Wood said the pair use essential oils for spiritual aromatherapy baths, among other rituals.

On HoustonChronicle.com: 15 ways to get rid of negative energy in your home

Were seeing more people looking for something thats just not available elsewhere, said Paul Premazon, owner of Magick Cauldron in Montrose. Were comforting a lot of people and thats the most important thing. Were giving them hope.

Business at Magick Cauldron, which has sold metaphysical supplies for 35 years, has doubled since the pandemic, Premazon said.

Ive ordered more herbs in the past three months than I did in the previous eight months, the store owner said. The hardest thing is getting the stuff in here fast enough. Im ordering cleansing sage smudges hundreds at a time every week. 

Many whove come into his shop in recent weeks were first-time customers, said Premazon.

Gov. Greg Abbotts first stay-at-home order  that temporarily shuttered businesses the state deemed non-essential  closed shops like Premazons. But when the store reopened May 1, customers were especially eager to scoop up items they hadnt had access to in weeks.

Wood, owner of The Witchery in Galveston, said he worried business would slow due to the downturn of the economy.

It was actually the opposite, said Wood. We had the best May weve ever had, and June is on track to be the same.

Weekly tarot card readings are in high-demand at The Witchery, Wood said. The shop has adapted to meet the needs of customers while also protecting them from the virus, he added. Plexiglass shields in between the reader and the client, along with mandatory masks, have made readings safer, said Wood.

Garza said many of his customers need natural remedies because they dont have access to healthcare.

A lot of people cant go to hospitals, he said. They dont have insurance and cant afford to go to a clinic.

The fear of contracting COVID-19 while at a hospital is another factor, Garza said. Some are beholden to natural medicines because it has been tradition for their families for many generations. And others dont trust western medicine, he said.

No longer able to meet in person, Andersons Houston coven has found a way to stay connected. Theyve hosted live streams of rituals. They also continue to celebrate Sabbats, or seasonal festivals observed in Paganism  like Beltane, a celebration of fertility and abundance, and Litha, the Summer Solstice.

I think its important that the magickal community can still take part in something special during isolation, said Anderson, who sells tools for witchcraft through an online market called Thorn & Moon Magickal Market. It gives people an escape and a sense of community, even amidst quarantine.

Countless belief systems fall into the metaphysical. People within those groups tend to practice privately and may never interact with one another, the store owners say. Shops that offer the supplies they need is a commonality that has fostered a sense of community one that has strengthened during precarious times.

I hope were harboring a sense of community, said Premazon. A lot of what I do is just listen to people because they have no one else to talk to. I try to let them know that there is hope, that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

hannah.dellinger@chron.com
Three Houston bars remained open over the weekend in defiance of a statewide order mandating the closure of any establishment that generates 51 percent of its revenue from alcohol sales, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Monday.

Officials from the Houston Fire Department referred the three bars  Pour Behavior, Prospect Park and Spire Night Club  to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which regulates alcohol permits around the state.

The TABC suspended Prospect Parks alcohol permit for 30 days, the agency said, making the Galleria-area bar one of 24 across Texas to receive a permit suspension. Officials from TABC also inspected Spire and did not find a violation, spokesman Chris Porter said. A video that circulated on social media over the weekend appeared to show a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd dancing inside the club. That business could remain open because it does not meet the agencys definition of a bar, Porter said.

It was not immediately clear Monday whether the agency had inspected Pour Behavior, Porter said. Owners or representatives for all three businesses could not be reached for comment.

The bars also were added to the citys so-called wall of shame on the citys website for businesses found to have violated restrictions aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19, which has spiked in Houston recently.

Roveen Abante, listed on Facebook as Pour Behavior owner, publicly took issue with the wall of shame designation.

Weve been one of only a few venues following rules and regulations, he said Monday in a Facebook post. In fact, your Fire Marshalls and other officials have come by over 20 times and each time, APPROVED! You should be included in your own Wall of Shame!

Gov. Greg Abbott last Friday ordered bars to close to curtail the spiking COVID-19 infection rates around the state, but Texas bar owners have pushed back. A lawsuit filed Monday in Travis county on behalf of 30 Texas bar owners claims the order is unconstitutional and unfairly targets their businesses.

He picks and chooses winners and losers, and if you are a bar ownerthen you and your family are the losers and are sentenced to bankruptcy, said Houston attorney Jared Woodfill, who is representing the plaintiffs.

Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena said officials responded to more than 300 complaints over the weekend and referred bars to the TABC only if they refused to close.

A spokesperson for the Harris County Fire Marshal said that office was responding to complaints about possible violations, but had not cited or referred any establishment to the TABC.

Turner also announced Monday that all July events permitted or sponsored by the city have been canceled. A list of the canceled events was not immediately available.

Julian Gill contributed to this report.

jasper.scherer@chron.com
Houstons outside temperature will feel like 100 degrees this week as the weather heats up across Texas.

A few showers could pop up around Greater Houston on Monday morning, mostly east of the city. But by midday, the air will be dry and actual temperatures will reach the low 90s in much of Southeast Texas.

CORONAVIRUS: COVID-19 expert urges Houstonians to heed red alert threat level

As clouds dissipate throughout the day, sunlight will raise Houstons heat index value (or feels like temperature) to at least 100 degrees by 2 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists suggest for anyone who must be outside in the heat to drink plenty of water and to wear lightweight clothing. They also say to not exercise or perform any strenuous activity between noon and 5 p.m., when the heat is at its greatest.

Mondays heat is coupled with a resurgence of the Saharan dust cloud, which has been pushing dust particulates in and out of the air over the past few days.

The dust should push into Houston from the Gulf of Mexico on Monday evening, and again Tuesday evening, meteorologists said. This could decrease air quality in Houston.

Theres no rain in the forecast until Thursday night, which has a small 10 percent chance of showers.

In the tropics, separate disturbances each have a small chance of developing into named storms over the next five days.

Disturbance 1, which sits off the coast of Brazil, has a 10 percent chance of development. The second disturbance, Disturbance 2, is a wide area of low pressure off the East Coast and has a 20 percent chance of development by the weekend.

Neither poses any immediate risk to Houston.

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com
Ivana Todorovic, an international student from Bosnia and Herzegovina, delivering a graduation speech at the online graduation ceremony of Tsinghua University (Source: Tsinghua University)

Bosnian postgraduate student Ivana Todorovic delivered a graduation speech on June 22, 2020, as she received a masters degree in public health from Tsinghua University, in which she expressed her gratitude to Tsinghua and spoke highly of the measures adopted by both the university and China during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Last September, with a letter of recommendation from the president of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivana became the first Bosnian international student ever to study in Tsinghua University. She had a tough time in her early stage of life because of the war, but was raised with strong hope for a better life, which led her to China. My mother, who is and will ever be my heroine, was the only figure who guided me, provided for me and kept me on the right track, in the hope of a better life. I will always remember her teachings, to complain less and always find solutions at the price of whatever it takes, which brought me to China, an ancient land of new hopes, Ivana said in her graduation speech.

As she was pursuing her masters degree in public health in China, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out at the beginning of this year. Ivana chose to stay in China, since what she experienced here assured her that the country was on the right track towards victory in the battle against COVID-19. During the COVID-19 outbreak, I got the best opportunity to understand China. I saw millions of people united with one goal - to win the battle against this epidemic. I have never seen such a collective dedication from a nation. Ivana was amazed by the timely efforts from the government and the incredible unity of the people. She also expressed great faith in Chinas health care system. Chinas governance and health care system proves to be one of the most efficient in the world. The rules and initiatives set by the Chinese government had everyones health and safety as first priority. This made me feel safe and confident that China was on the right track towards victory.

Amid the pandemic, many people in China were committed to supporting the deployment of medical materials, helping their own country and the rest of the world out. With a population of 1.4 billion, China not only has successfully controlled the transmission of the coronavirus, but also assisted many other countries across the globe, she acknowledged in the speech. Ivana, together with her department in Tsinghua University, contributed great passion as well. Everyone has a role to play in the battle against the virus. In Tsinghua, I played a tiny but necessary role. I was actively engaged in searching international connections in the healthcare industry, firstly for China, then later on for my own country. Thanks to the network I built through my department in particular and Tsinghua in general, I was able to organize donation of personal protective equipment for my country. Ivana expressed her thanks to Tsinghua and love for China.

In the end, Ivana wished all the best for her fellow students and for the whole world, hoping everyone can embrace the brighter days soon. Lets accept new challenges, think beyond our limits, and keep in mind the ethics of life. Lets undertake everything we can for the sake of unity of humanity and the international community. Lets work together for a more promising future and prosperous world.

[ Editor: WXY ]
The request was grounded in concern that problematic officers were moving from one department to another without the record of their wrong doing following them. It means that an officer with numerous citizen complaints could leave one community for another, without the new constituency knowing they received a hand grenade with the pin pulled.
In-person voting for the Democratic and Republican primary runoff elections is today, July 14. The Editorial Board has made recommendations in 15 of the runoffs. Below is a summary of those endorsements.

Republicans

Wendell Champion in primary for U.S. House District 18. The West Point graduate and Army veteran brings a broad life-experience and a thoughtful approach to politics.

Troy Nehls in primary for U.S. House District 22. The two-term Fort Bend County sheriff has the edge in public service, elected office experience.

Paul Day in primary for Harris County Sheriff. He touts nearly a half century of law enforcement experience at the Houston Police Department and the sheriffs office as a patrol deputy. He impressed the Editorial Board with his fair-mindedness and passion. And unlike his opponent, he has not been fired for falsifying records.

Terry Adams in primary for 1st Court of Appeals, Place 5. He has 30 years of meaningful appellate experience and a solid reputation in the community for being an even-handed, accomplished attorney. He has been a primary lawyer on more than 200 appellate cases, including cases at every level including the U. S. Supreme Court. Adams was a briefing attorney for the Texas Supreme Court and is a member of the State Bar Court Rules Committee.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Print these recommendations by clicking here.

Democrats

Royce West in primary for U.S. Senate. The 26-year veteran of the Texas Senate brings experience, a record of achievement and a moderates passion for results. He is also a trailblazing advocate for racial equity at a time when such voices should be lifted up.

Mike Siegel in primary for U.S. House District 10. The lawyer and activist is a dedicated public servant whose 4-point loss against the incumbent in 2018 put the race on the map for Democrats. He should be allowed to finish what he started.

Akilah Bacy in primary for Texas House District 138. Bacy has strong on-the-ground experience that speaks to her passion and smarts. Bacy grew up in northwest Houston and has an insiders knowledge of its challenges, which she stressed include education, health care, flooding, climate, employment rights, restorative justice  all issues voters in her district care deeply about.

Harold Dutton Jr. in primary for Texas House District 142. His role in 2015 legislation enabling state takeover of HISD is not a good reason to ignore years of accomplishment, nor the advantages that his seniority in the Legislature confers.

Anna Eastman in primary for Texas House District 148. Her record as an eight-year member of the HISD school board, plus the work shes done since voters chose to send her to Austin in the January special election, shows she has a firm handle on how to get results for constituents. She has promised to make education one of her top priorities.

Michael Moore in primary for Harris County Commissioners Court, Precinct 3. The former chief of staff for Houston Mayor Bill White shows attention to detail and focus that helps him navigate the intricacies of issues and policies of county government. That drive will equip him to grapple with flood mitigation, infrastructure, traffic, an underfunded hospital district and other challenges in our growing region.

Chrysta Castaneda in primary for Railroad Commission of Texas. The engineer and attorney with decades of experience in the oil and gas industry knows how to balance the economic concerns of the oil and gas industry with the need to protect the environment for all Texans. Thats especially important during this time of economic uncertainty.

Michelle Palmer in primary for SBOE District 6. Her years as a social studies teacher make her instantly familiar with curriculum and will provide a much-needed voice on the State Board of Education. She also shows a zeal for change and for expanding history lessons to include a broader array of perspectives.

Cheri Thomas in primary for 14th Court of Appeals, Place 7. She has served as a staff attorney for this court of appeals, and has earned endorsements from three of her primary opponents. An honors graduate of University of Texas School of Law and a former clerk for U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis, she had a civil litigation practice at Baker Botts, the international law firm founded in Houston, before joining the staff of the court of appeals in 2017.

Teiva Bell in primary for 339th District Court. Bell has served in the felony courts from three perspectives  as a prosecutor, a criminal defense attorney and a public defender. Her reputation in trial is superb after 15 years of practice. She says justice should not depend on wealth, judges should not control the appointment process and bond conditions should be about community safety.

Cheryl Elliott Thornton in primary for 164th District Court. Thornton knows the legal landscape in Harris County well, as she has been senior assistant county attorney since 2011. She has also served Texas as an assistant attorney general and an administrative law judge. Her opponent has been suspended from her bench and is under federal indictment.
Four years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court took up challenges to two Texas laws that had been written, under the guise of protecting womens health, to greatly narrow womens access to abortion. The court, seeing through the subterfuge, declared the Legislatures work in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

It found that the Texas restrictions did nothing to advance womens health and had led to the prompt closure of half of the states abortion providers. The ruling relied on a decision in the 1992 case, Planned Parenthood v Casey, which held that a womans right to abortion is a liberty that cannot be taken away lightly. Laws restricting abortion must be evaluated by weighing their benefits against how much they restricted abortion access. In 2016, the court relied on that same reasoning to find Texas laws, which were found to have no health benefit and to have triggered the closure of half the states abortion clinics, unconstitutional as well.

That should have sent a message to all state legislators: Abortion is legal and efforts to impose barriers on women to access these services are illegal.

But something else happened in 2016: President Donald Trump was elected amid promises to appoint justices who oppose abortion. As a result, many Republican-led states wishfully continued to pass laws following in Texas footsteps, hoping this time the high court would allow the laws to stand.

In Louisiana, in fact, lawmakers passed and the governor signed a law almost identical to Texas law, which required any abortion provider to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. This change, unneeded since abortion is a safe procedure rarely requiring hospitalization, had the effect of cutting off access in rural areas.

On Monday, the Supreme Court struck down the Louisiana statute, siding with the U.S. district court in Louisiana that had determined there was no measurable health benefit and it would impose an undue burden on women seeking an abortion.

We have examined the extensive record carefully and conclude that it supports the District Courts findings of fact.Those findings mirror those made in Whole Womans Health in every relevant respect and require the same result, Justice Stephen Breyer wrote for the court, referencing the Texas plaintiff. We consequently hold that the Louisiana statute is unconstitutional.

That should be the end of the story. But when it comes to abortion, the story seems never-ending.

Only three justices joined Breyers opinion: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. The only reason their decision became the binding majority opinion is because Chief Justice John Roberts, who dissented in 2016 and would have permitted Texas laws to stand, concurred in Mondays result - that is, he agreed Louisianas statute must be struck down. He did so even as he wrote separately to say he still believes the court was wrong four years ago.

"The legal doctrine of stare decisis requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike, he wrote. The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore Louisianas law cannot stand under our precedents."

Abortion rights supporters should take a deep breath. This one was close.

But for the remarkable willingness of the chief justice to hold true to the courts ruling from four years ago  a ruling he did not agree with  the legal landscape for womens reproductive rights would have changed significantly today.

For different reasons, the Court and Roberts got it right on Monday. And we can only hope that state legislators will end their futile efforts to restrict rights that have been upheld time and again in the nearly 50 years since Roe v. Wade.

Are we optimistic? Thats another story.
Vice President Mike Pence wore a mask before he spoke this week at First Baptist Dallas in the middle of an alarming coronavirus upswing, urging the people of the Lone Star state to put health first  all before an indoor, closely seated audience of more than 2,000 people, few of them wearing masks.

Did we mention the 100-person choir?

This dangerous muddle was more fit for Mixed Message Monday than the churchs Celebrate Freedom Sunday event that brought Pence to town.

It was in keeping, though, with the mismatch between words and actions by state and federal officials, who continue to endanger lives and force retrenchment on the very economic recovery theyve ceaselessly pushed.

Last week, President Trump, who refuses to wear a mask in public, gathered about 3,000 people in Phoenix, in violation of the federal governments own safety guidelines. The same day, Texas GOP officials announced the party was going ahead with its in-person convention in downtown Houston. About 6,000 people are expected and no masks would be required.

Arizona and Texas are two of the states that are breaking records in the number of new infections and hospitalizations for COVID-19, a situation that will not improve until the current failure of leadership ends.

The number of daily new cases in Texas hit a high of almost 6,000 infections last week and hospitalizations have steadily increased since June 12. As of Sunday, Texas has almost 150,000 cases and 2,400 deaths reported.

Gov. Greg Abbott has recognized the perilous position the state finds itself in, and last week reversed part of the economic reopening that began May 1, shutting down bars and limiting restaurant dining to 50 percent capacity. He has also allowed counties to order that businesses require customers to wear face masks.

These are important measures that should be recognized, but this see-sawing between open and close, between giving the false impression that we are doing fine and calling for people to not leave their homes, will only further hobble the economy and put Texans at risk.

To be truly effective, Abbott needs to find the political courage to buck irresponsible elements within his own party, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who went on Fox News Thursday to minimize and obfuscate the states alarming numbers.

The outbreak has worsened to the point where suggestions and recommendations will not be enough to keep the situation from deteriorating. Well say it again: Abbott must order statewide mask use for all Texans when they are outside their homes and near others or free up local leaders to determine what restrictions make sense in their communities.

He must lead or get out of the way.

Successfully navigating the pandemic demands more from our leaders than politics as usual. When dealing with COVID-19, the gap between words and actions is not only hypocritical, it is deadly.
Global solutions for global outbreaks

Regarding 'Coming back and biting us': US sees virus resurgence, (June 24): As COVID-19 continues to rise in the US, in Texas especially, it is important for us to not become complacent. We are still facing a very real problem both here in the U.S. and around the world. That is why I think it is especially important for the U.S. to pass the Global Health Security Act, a bipartisan bill which invests in pandemic responses, both for COVID-19 and the future, so we will be prepared and not suffer the loss of life we did this time. It will create a permanent position to oversee this initiative, whereas many global health initiatives previously relied on an executive order . As a country with ample resources and power, the U.S. is in a position to help in this way instead of taking a backseat and withdrawing, which hasnt even helped the U.S. If COVID-19 ever goes down in the U.S., we cannot assume that it will not return if the rest of the world is still struggling with it. This is not a time to retreat from the global community, to pass blame and continue in petty partisan struggles; rather it is time to collaborate and support each other. We need to be prepared, informed and connected against this pandemic and any in the future.

Zoe Padelopoulos, Katy

Many people see the damage that COVID-19 is doing in the United States and believe that the disease is destroying our country; However, in countries such as South Sudan, which has a population of roughly 11 million people and only four ventilators total, the situation is more dire than any American could ever imagine.

That is why, as a global superpower, we need to do our part to encourage our Congress to provide at least $12 billion in the next emergency supplemental for the International Affairs Budget to fight COVID-19 internationally. Supporting this supplemental will not only help impoverished nations keep their citizens from dying but it will also encourage health and prosperity of all Americans.

That is why I am urging Ted Cruz and John Cornyn to support this emergency COVID-19 relief funding during the next emergency supplemental. It is our duty to our fellow humans to help them if we can and have the power to do so. When the world prospers, so does our country.

Paige Musgrave, Spring

Voting by mail

Regarding US Supreme Court should clear way for expanding vote by mail in Texas, (June 26): The coronavirus is not going away anytime soon, especially if we continue to have responses from people like President Donald Trump, who has decided to ignore it because he's in campaign mode, and Gov. Greg Abbott, who wants credit from the business community but undercuts local authorities who are trying to contain it. Because the virus is a clear and present danger, all Texas registered voters should be allowed to vote by mail in the general election, regardless of their age or health status. Mail ballots are safe and have a paper trail. Not allowing it on a state-wide basis is just another form of voter suppression.

Barbara Quattro, Houston

Correction: An op-ed published June 26 stated that Crystal Mason is serving five years in prison for a 2016 voting mistake. She was convicted, but is on bond while on appeal.
WASHINGTON  City and county leaders, including in Houston and San Antonio, want Gov. Greg Abbott to let them issue mandatory stay-at-home orders again as the coronavirus outbreak continues.

Officials in the states largest cities and counties, including Harris and Bexar, have urged the governor in recent days to give them the power to again mandate people quarantine as COVID-19 cases surge.

Give us back our tools," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said on Monday. I think people can see what we had and how we utilized them worked. Give them back to us. Because the situation is more critical now than then and we had more tools at our disposal then than now.

Eight Democrats in Congress, meanwhile, issued a joint statement on Monday, warning that the Fourth of July weekend is approaching and there are no mandates that Texans wear face coverings in public, while many beaches remain open and gatherings up to 100 people are still permitted under the governors current orders.

ALL HANDS ON DECK: Vice President Mike Pence visits Texas during virus outbreak

Municipalities and their local law enforcement agencies must be allowed to listen to their health care experts and institute whatever measures are needed to bring the coronavirus under control, they said. Governor Abbott took important steps to mitigate the virus impact, but its not enough. The status quo is unacceptable and counties must be allowed to decide for themselves what is best for their citizens. 

Among those in Congress pushing Abbott to allow local leaders to issue the orders are U.S. Reps. Sylvia Garcia, Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green of Houston and Lloyd Doggett of San Antonio. U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen led the call and Reps. Filemon Vela of Brownsville, Marc Veasey of Fort Worth and Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas joined, as well.

Bexar and Harris counties have warned people to stay home unless they must go out, which Abbott has also done, but the counties cant enforce the stay-at-home orders as they did earlier this year.

I will tell you it is frustrating, because when people are reporting locally and nationally, they are talking about the city of Houston, as well as other cities, Turner said. I would like to have the ability to do what is in the best interest to the city of Houston to get on top of this virus.

While Abbott has moved in recent days to scale back the states reopening  including closing bars again  the governors reopening orders, beginning in May, overrode existing stay-at-home orders in places such as Harris County. He has since said counties and cities can force businesses to require face coverings for staff and customers.

ben.wermund@chron.com
Houston, MO (65483)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, overcast during the afternoon with occasional rain likely. Cooler. High 73F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Cloudy. High 71F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 53F. NNE winds shifting to WSW at 10 to 15 mph.
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It's always a good thing when more opportunities are made available, especially to underserved communities like Grove, and I think it will be appreciated by residents, McGlennon said. Something like dental clinics will help residents get the care they otherwise might not be able to, give dental students practice in the community, and provides opportunity to both.
Hudson, NY (12534)

Today

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 63F. S winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Pittsfield Schools Looking to Fund Internet For Families

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  In preparation for the possibility of further remote learning, the school administration is exploring the use of CARES Act funding to provide all students with internet access.

Superintendent Jason McCandless told the School Committee last week that the plan is to tap the district's $1.5 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act allocation to purchase mobile hotspots for families without an internet connection.

"We do continue to examine the means of getting much closer to 100 percent of our families connected to the internet," he said. "With a high-quality internet that works for our academic purposes."

With remote learning becoming the standard in 2020, the school district supplied essentially all students with a laptop. However, McCandless said 10 percent of the student body either does not have internet or unsatisfactory internet.

This represents between 500 and 550 households.

"We want to be ready for that and we rather be overprepared than underprepared," he said.

He said the best option looks to be purchasing around 550 Verizon Jetpack hotspots. These units would provide internet and cost $99 apiece.

The monthly service fee is $39.99 per month per unit with another $1.50 fee a month to allow the district to manage the devices.

This would run the district $192,522 over six months.

"We would see that as very appropriate use of CARES Act funding because that money was really given to district to help facilitate this," he said.

This per-month service fee could decrease if the state were to enter into a statewide contract with Verizon to make it a state-approved vendor

"The city of Pittsfield and probably 200 other districts are trying to solve this," McCandless said.

He said they will wait for further state guidance before making the initial purchase.

In other business, Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance Kristen Behnke said there is an expectation that the entire district will be eligible for the Community Eligibility provision districtwide next year, meaning every student will get a free lunch and breakfast.

"That is certainly good news given the pandemic and the uncertainty of where students will be eating lunch and not having to handle cash would be really helpful," she said.

She said an application will be submitted to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE but that she fully expected to be approved.

Before the meeting started in earnest, Chairwoman Katherine Yon read the staffing report and noted that Herberg Middle School Principal Martin McEvoy has left the district.

According to an article published in April by the Daily Hampshire Gazette, McEvoy was selected as the new superintendent of the Hatfield Public Schools.

"I would just like to congratulate Mr. McEvoy on his leaving Herberg to become a superintendent of schools," School Committee member William Cameron said. "I have to observe that he picked a most interesting time to move into another administrative role."

McEvoy had applied last year for the Hoosac Valley Regional School District superintendent position but pulled his name before the final interviews. He had been assistant principal at Hoosac before becoming principal at Lanesborough Elementary. He had been at Herberg for two years.
Billion-dollar worry for Indian seafood exporters to China

by Rajesh Abraham

June 29,2020 | Source: ENS

Calls to boycott Chinese products have left the Indian seafood exporters fearing retaliation even as the military standoff between the two neighbours threatens to derail economic ties. With China being the second biggest market for seafood exports from India, the stakes are high for exporters who are battling the economic fallout of Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown.



There is a sense of panic among seafood exporters. We have been getting calls from our members on whether there will be retaliation from the Chinese side, said Alex K Ninan, president of the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) - Kerala region. We hope that things do not escalate further.



Indian seafood exports to the Middle Kingdom have been growing at a healthy clip from $227.39 million in 2017-18 to $811.14 million in 2018-19, an increase of 256 per cent. For the year ended March 31, 2020, Indian seafood exports to China are expected to cross $1 billion by a big margin, an official with the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) said. The authority has not released the official numbers for 2019-20 yet.



There are around 500 Indian exporters shipping seafood to China. For the April-December period 2019, the total seafood exports to China stood at 2,42,218 tonnes, valued at $ 1.032 billion as against 1,65,950 tonnes valued at $ 589 million during the same period the previous year.



Amid calls to shun Chinese products, there are also reports that import consignments from China are facing hurdles at some ports, including Chennai and Mumbai. It is learnt that the Customs authorities have indicated to importers that there will be delays in clearing Chinese shipments.



"China is a quantity buyer. It's very difficult to find an alternative market to replace China with our exports. We hope there won't be any retaliation," said an MPEDA official, who requested anonymity. The USA, which bought seafood worth $2.344 billion last year, is the biggest market for India. The South-East Asian region constituted for $1.53 billion.



"There is no substitute for China. Seafood consignments to that country are waiting to be shipped in the coming weeks. We hope there won't be any hurdle," said Alex, who is also a national committee member of SEAI. Shrimps, ribbon fish and live crabs are some of the most sought-after items among Chinese buyers. Indian authorities don't pose any problem for exports, Alex added.

 newindianexpress.com 2020

Theme(s): Post Harvest Technology and Trade.
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UN agencies warn millions may slide into extreme poverty in the Caribbean due to COVID-19

June 29,2020 | Source: Jamaica Observer

Two United Nations agencies have warned that millions of people may slide into extreme poverty and hunger in 2020 in Latin America and the Caribbean due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) impact.



In a joint report, Preventing the COVID-19 crisis from becoming a food crisis: Urgent measures against hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), said that as a result of the crisis prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the population living in extreme poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean could reach 83.4 million people in 2020, which would entail a significant rise in hunger levels due to the difficulties these people will face in accessing food.



According to the report, after seven years of slow growth, Latin America and the Caribbean could experience the biggest drop in regional gross domestic product (GDP) in a century (-5.3 per cent), which will push 16 million more people into conditions of extreme poverty in 2020 versus the previous year, to total 83.4 million people in all.



The impact on hunger will also be very significant, taking into account that, in 2016-2018, there were already 53.7 million people experiencing severe food insecurity in Latin America, the report said.



It said the effects of the crisis can already be seen in food systems: workers' vulnerability has grown and domestic food prices are rising more than the price of other products in the basic basket, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).



Due to increased unemployment and declining income, millions of people are not able to buy enough food, and many others are being forced to opt for cheaper food that has less nutritional value, the report said.



Alicia Barcena, ECLAC's Executive Secretary, said: The major task we have ahead of us is to keep the health crisis from turning into a food crisis.



That is why we are proposing complementing the Emergency Basic Income (EBI) with the provision of an Anti-Hunger Grant (AHG), she said.



FAO's Regional Representative, Julio Berdegue, said that, in the region, we may have a historic setback in the fight against hunger.



In a matter of months, we may lose what we have achieved in 15 years, he warned. Millions of people may end up going hungry. That is the gravity of the current problem.



According to the report, the Anti-Hunger Grant could take the form of cash transfers, food baskets or vouchers to the entire population living in extreme poverty for a six-month period, equivalent to 70 per cent of the regional extreme poverty line (US$47 dollars based on the 2010 dollar).



The report said the grant would amount to 0.06 per cent of regional GDP if it were provided exclusively to the population aged 65 and older that lives in extreme poverty, or to 0.45 per cent of GDP if coverage were given to the entire population facing extreme poverty.



ECLAC and FAO recommended the latter option, which would have an estimated cost of US$23.5 billion.



For producers in the food system, the UN agencies proposed an increase of at least 20 per cent in the average credit portfolio from the last three years, which would add up to around US$5.5 billion dollars for loans under favourable conditions that would be financed by a special line from multilateral and development banks.



In addition, ECLAC and FAO said for the family farm units that lag the furthest behind, a basic investment kit (US$250 dollars) could be provided on a regional scale at a cost of US$1.7 billion dollars.



The joint report calls for international cooperation to support countries in greater situations of vulnerability.



The agencies proposed the anti-hunger grant as part of a set of measures aimed at ensuring that all households can access sufficient, nutritious food; food system companies and stakeholders can carry out their work; and countries can have enough food to guarantee supply at reasonable prices.



The other measures forming part of this ten-point list are: reinforce school-based food programs to ensure that children and adolescents get fed; support civil society organisations' food assistance initiatives; provide financial support (credit and production subsidies) for agricultural companies, oriented mainly towards family agriculture; and adjust sanitary and health protocols for food production and transportation and in wholesale and retail markets.



The other measures are: expand and ensure the functioning of programs to support production for one's own consumption; ensure funding, technical assistance, and access to inputs and labour for artisanal farmers and fishermen and women; establish streamlined mechanisms for consultation and public-private coordination among all the stakeholders in the food system; prevent wholesale and retail markets and agro-industries from closing or reducing their operations; and maintain the policies that have kept global food trade open, in particular avoiding protectionist measures that would increase food prices.

 2013 Jamaica Observer

Theme(s): Others.
Japan welcomes Thai workers, including in fisheries and aquaculture

June 29,2020 | Source: Bangkok Post

Driven by a shortage of skilled workers, Japan is offering job opportunities in 14 work categories to foreign workers including Thai workers who have undergone occupational training in Japan previously, the Labour Ministry says.



The ministry has signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) with four Japanese agencies -- the Justice Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Public Health, Labour and Welfare ministry, and the National Police Office -- on cooperation in supplying skilled workers to Japan, said permanent secretary for labour Suthi Sukosol.



Priority will be given to Thai workers who have completed an occupational training programme of between three and five years in Japan under a previous Thai-Japanese cooperation agreement, he said.



In the first phase of the agreement, Japan will welcome skilled workers from Thailand to work in Japan for up to five years in four out of all 14 work categories: nursing, construction industry, building cleaning, and agriculture, he said. Other areas of work in which Japan needs to import skilled workers from overseas include machinery parts and industrial equipment production, the machine industry, electronics, information technology, ship building, car repair and maintenance, aviation, hotels, fisheries and aquaculture, food and beverage production, and hospitality.



Japan wants Thailand to supply it with skilled workers in these categories as soon as the Covid-19 pandemic situation subsides, Department of Employment director-general Suchart Pornchaiwisetkul said.



The demand for foreign skilled workers in Japan is driven mainly by Japan's need to boost economic growth, he said.



Saichon Akanitvong, Minister Counsellor, Office of Labour Affairs, at the Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo, said about 60,000 to 70,000 skilled workers in these jobs will be exported to Japan each year over the next five years.



While Japan is facing a shortage of skilled workers, foreign workers undergoing job training in Japan are normally required to leave the country at the end of their training, despite the fact many Japanese employers want trained foreign workers who can stay on and work for them, Mr Saichon said.



Previously, many Thai workers completed training and were given a payment of 600,000 Japanese yen each for starting new jobs when they returned home, a source said.



Japan has also offered similar job training opportunities to workers in other countries including the Philippines, Cambodia, Nepal, Myanmar, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan and Pakistan, the source said.



Office of Overseas Employment Administration director Kattiya Pandech said this was a good opportunity for skilled Thais, especially for more than 5,000 workers who have completed training in Japan before as they will be exempt from mandatory Japanese language and work skill tests if they want to go back to Japan to pursue a job in the same work area they had been trained in. Workers who have not passed such training will still be required to pass a Japanese language and work skill test first, he said.

 2020 Bangkok Post Public Company Limited

Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
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POCATELLO  The Pocatello Police Department has released dash and body camera footage of the February fatal officer-involved shooting in south Pocatello that left a 23-year-old Fort Hall man dead.

The police car dash camera footage, obtained by the Idaho State Journal on Friday, depicts Neal Stuart Nevada charging toward Pocatello police while wielding two large kitchen knives.

Nevada quickly leaves the view of the dash camera at which point gunshots can be heard from the two Pocatello police officers who fatally shot him.



Story continues below video

Additionally, the Journal recently obtained a May 27 report by Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs who along with Idaho State Police reviewed the shooting to determine if the lethal use of force by Pocatello police was justified.

Loebs said in his report that there was insufficient evidence to support a criminal charge against any law enforcement officers for the shooting of Neal Nevada.

0:35 Pocatello police dash camera footage of the fatal officer-involved shooting of Neal Nevada Dash camera footage from a Pocatello police car of the officer-involved shooting of 23-year-old Neal Stuart Nevada on Feb. 25. The video conta

The Pocatello police camera footage provided to the Journal on Friday includes video from the dash camera of a police car that shows the seconds leading up to the fatal shooting and audio of Nevada being shot off-camera, as well as body camera footage worn by an officer who made contact with the woman who initially contacted police about a disturbance involving Nevada. The officers body camera footage also shows her responding to the shooting scene where she and other officers performed life-saving efforts on Nevada until paramedics arrived.

The Journal edited the officers body camera video that it posted on its website, idahostatejournal.com, to remove graphic scenes showing Nevadas body following the shooting.

The incident leading up to the fatal Feb. 25 police shooting of Nevada began to unfold around 11:13 p.m. when Pocatello police received a 911 call about a disturbance from a woman who said her daughter and her daughters boyfriend, Nevada, were at an apartment on the 400 block of East Dunn Street in south Pocatello, according to Loebs report.

The woman, who was also at the apartment, informed Pocatello police during the 911 call that Nevada was destroying items in a bedroom of the apartment, according to Loebs report. The woman said that Nevada, armed with a kitchen knife, tried to grab her daughter and take her into a bedroom of the apartment before holding the knife up to his own throat and this behavior was causing the woman to feel unsafe, Loebs stated in his report.

Nevada armed himself with two kitchen knives and then fled the apartment with his girlfriend, the womans daughter, before police arrived, Loebs said in his report. The knives had blades of 7 inches and 6 inches, Loebs said.

Pocatello police responded to the East Dunn Street apartment and made contact with the woman who called 911.

3:52 Pocatello police body camera footage of the fatal officer-involved shooting of Neal Nevada Body camera footage from a Pocatello police officer of the events surrounding the fatal officer-involved shooting of 23-year-old Neal Stuart N

The female police officers body camera shows the woman who called 911 telling officers that her daughter owned a silver Pontiac Grand Prix.

Loebs said in his report that Pocatello police recalled seeing the car traveling southbound on South Third Avenue just before they arrived at the East Dunn Street apartment.

A Pocatello police officer then located the Pontiac on Stansbury Street near the intersection of South Second Avenue, a few blocks from the apartment, and initiated a traffic stop, according to Loebs report.

The officer observed the female driver, later identified as the daughter of the woman who called 911, and a male passenger, who the officer recognized as Nevada from a previous incident, exiting the Pontiac, Loebs said, adding that the officer noticed Nevada was armed with two knives.

Loebs report says the officer, who was not wearing a body camera and did not activate his patrol cars dash camera, got out of his patrol car and observed Nevada walk to the middle of the roadway in front of the Pontiac and begin jumping up and down and pacing back and forth.

The officer ordered Nevada to drop the knives, to which Nevada replied, No, Loebs report says. The womans daughter then approached the officer, asking him not to hurt Nevada and the officer commanded her to move out of the way so as not to obstruct his view of Nevada, Loebs report says.

The dash camera video provided to the Journal depicts another Pocatello police officer turning right onto Stansbury Street from South Fourth Avenue at 11:21 p.m. on Feb. 25. After passing Bremmer Park on Stansbury Street, the officer activates his emergency lights before arriving at the scene involving the other officer, Nevada and Nevadas girlfriend, the dash camera video shows.

At this point the girlfriends voice can be heard on the dash cameras audio saying Neal, stop.

The dash camera video then shows Nevada running in the opposite direction of the responding officers on Stansbury Street. Its at this juncture that the police officer who had activated his dash camera can be seen beginning to exit his police car just as Nevada turns around and begins running toward the officers while wielding the two large knives, according to the dash camera footage. The video appears to show Nevada pivoting and losing a shoe, but he continues running toward the officers and quickly leaves the view of the dash camera.

Loebs refers to the policeman who had activated his dash camera as the second officer in his report.

Nevada began to move further away and the second officer believed that Nevada was attempting to flee. Loebs wrote in his report. Suddenly, Nevada turned and ran towards the second officer. He saw Nevada holding two large butcher style knives, one in each hand.

Over the span of four seconds captured on the officers dash camera, Nevada is seen in the video charging toward both officers in an aggressive manner while welding the knives and the officers can be heard addressing Nevada by his first name and shouting for him to stop right there.

As soon as Nevada leaves the view of the dash camera the officers can be heard on the videos audio firing their pistols a total of eight times at him.

At approximately 11:22 p.m., the second officer quickly began backing up as Nevada ran towards him, Loebs says in his report. He ordered Nevada to stop right there. Nevada did not stop. Both officers fired their weapons as Nevada continued to ignore orders to stop and continued to approach the second officer.

Loebs report then says that a mortally wounded Nevada fell to the ground.

Pocatello police said the officers hit Nevada with five of their eight shots.

The body-camera footage from the female officer who had made contact with the woman who called 911 shows police providing medical attention to Nevada until Pocatello Fire Department paramedics arrived on the scene to continue resuscitation efforts.

Nevada was pronounced dead at the scene, Loebs said.

In his report, Loebs describes the clothing worn by the two police officers who shot Nevada as being such that clearly indicated they were members of law enforcement, as did the markings on their Pocatello police vehicles.

Further, Loebs describes Nevada as someone who was known to the Pocatello Police Department for involvement in criminal activities.

Pocatello police had previously charged Nevada with assault against an officer, battery, resisting and obstructing, and assault and battery. Nevada had failed to appear in court to answer the charges against him on multiple occasions, prompting warrants to be issued for his arrest, Loebs said. There was such a warrant for Nevadas arrest at the time of the shooting.

Loebs cleared the officers of any wrongdoing due to the fact the officers were lawfully engaged in attempting to contact Neal Nevada for questioning regarding the disturbance at Dunn Street, adding that officers are authorized to use all reasonable and necessary means and are justified in using deadly force to overcome resistance when having probable cause to believe the resistance poses a threat of death or serious physical injury to the officers or other persons.

Loebs stated, When Nevada was confronted by Pocatello police officers, Nevada aggressively approached them armed with two large kitchen knives. Both officers involved were readily identifiable as police officers and gave lawful verbal commands for Nevada to stop and drop his weapons. Nevada refused to comply with their commands. The officers had a justifiable fear for their safety and the safety of the public.

The names of the two Pocatello police officers who fatally shot Nevada have not been released.

Loebs and Idaho State Police investigated the use of force by the officers as part of the East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force, a multi-law enforcement agency organization that investigates incidents in which local police fire their weapons to determine if officers acted properly. Loebs based his report on the findings by state police in their investigation of the officers use of deadly force against Nevada.

Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei declined to comment on the shooting of Nevada because of pending litigation surrounding the incident.
Palestine: IFJ calls on authorities to take action on threats against a woman journalist

UPDATED 3.07.2020 A news anchorwoman has been the target of a smear campaign on Facebook since 21 June. The IFJ joins its affiliate the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) in condemning the violent online attacks against the journalist.

The IFJ was shocked to learn of the targeting of Maan news anchorwoman Nahid Abu Tuaima, in a Facebook smear campaign that included rape threats. The violence followed a programme she hosted on 20 June, which discussed a draft legislation to strengthen womens rights and protection against domestic violence.

As well as a high-profile journalist, Abu Tuaima is a well-known activist. She has directed the Gender Equality Unit at Birzeit University and has championed womens rights for decades.

The journalist filed a legal complaint on 21 June, the morning following the offensive posts.

In its statement, the PJS warned against attacks on journalists and called on the authorities, the Public Prosecutor in particular, to preserve freedoms, enforce the law, and hold those seeking to create division accountable.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: The IFJ condemns these offensive threats made publicly by identifiable individuals. Our colleague filed a complaint eight days ago; it is a shame that she wasnt yet called to testify, and we are not aware of any action taken on her complaint. The Palestinian government must take these attacks seriously and act swiftly.

The violent campaign on social media, which targeted Abu Tuaima and other human rights activists and groups, was led by individuals and Hizb-ut Tahrir, a conservative Islamist party. In addition to Abu Tuaima, the Women Media and Development, a Palestinian grass-root organisation that advocates for womens rights and free speech, denounced the threats and filed a legal complaint under this case too.

PJS and organisations promoting civil rights and human rights have announced they will start legal proceedings against those behind the smear campaign.

The IFJ has run a long-term gender equality campaign to urge world governments to ratify the International Labor Organisation (ILO) Convention 190 against harassment and violence in the world of work. The Federation reminds that the convention includes specific provisions against online harassment and urges Palestine to ratify the instrument without delay.
Aktuakity.sk journalist Peter Sabo found a bullet in his mailbox on 25 June, according announced today the news website editor-in-chief Peter Bardy. The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ/IFJ) strongly condemn the death threat and urge the authorities to swiftly identify those responsible and to protect Peter Sabo.

I would very much like to believe that it was a joke of a child, but after the experience of more than two years ago, I know that if it is not a joke, it can kill,Bardy wrote in an editorial. If they think they will intimidate us, they are wrong.

The case comes more than two years after the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak - and his fiance - who was gunned down at the age of 27 as he was about to expose high-level graft in an article for aktuality.sk. His murder trial is set to continue in July. The killing exposed high-level political corruption and ousted the governing party from power.

The International Press Institute (IPI) reported that Peter Sabo, 31, joined the newspaper months after Kuciaks murder in 2018 with the aim of continuing the young journalists investigations. He first worked as a data analyst and soon began writing about issues such as international tax fraud and local crime rings. He has lately covered drug crime stories, the completion of a power plant, and cases involving the former Justice Minister Gabor Gal.

Slovakia's national police chief Milan Lucansky said in a statement that an investigation was underway and that "necessary measures" had been put in place.

"We send our solidarity to Peter Sabo and colleagues at Aktuakity and urge Slovakian authorities to take an uncompromising stand against intimidation of journalists," added IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger.

"We welcome the swift reaction from the authorities and urge to find those behind such an abject act. Two years after the tragic death of Jan Kuciak, a clear signal must be sent to all Slovak journalists, showing that they can feel safe to do their job," said EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutierrez.
Experienced reporter and Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) board member Nabil Al Osaidi has repeatedly received phone call threats over the past few days in a bid to intimidate him. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the threats and urged the Yemeni authorities to investigate who is behind them.

Nabi Al Osaidi received the repeated phone threats over the past week from a blocked ID number. Only government officials or individuals with influence in Yemen can have access to this service in Yemen.

The YJS has called on the government to immediately investigate these threats, identify and prosecute those who stand behind them.

Al Osaidi fled the country in 2016 when the civil war began and is now living in Switzerland, where he has been documenting corruption cases involving Yemeni officials, nepotism in the government, and diplomatic job employment. He has been publishing reports under the popular hashtag #_, which means "No envy!".

In a recent publication, Nabil Al Osaidi exposed business relations between an official of President Hadi's government and a businessman closely linked to the Houthi group who overthrew Hadi's government and control the capital Sana and most of the northern part of the country for the last five years.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: "The Yemeni government must investigate the threats and identify those who are behind them. These practices are designed not just to intimidate Al Osaidi but to intimidate all journalists who attempt to report on Yemeni public officials corruption".
The Founding of the American Republic is on trial. Critics say it was a poison pill with a time-release formula; we are its victims. Its principles are responsible for the country's moral and social disintegration because they were based on the Enlightenment falsehood of radical individual autonomy.

In this well-researched book, Robert Reilly declares: not guilty. To prove his case, he traces the lineage of the ideas that made the United States, and its ordered liberty, possible. These concepts were extraordinary when they first burst upon the ancient world: the Judaic oneness of God, who creates ex nihilo and imprints his image on man; the Greek rational order of the world based upon the Reason behind it; and the Christian arrival of that Reason (Logos) incarnate in Christ. These may seem a long way from the American Founding, but Reilly argues that they are, in fact, its bedrock. Combined, they mandated the exercise of both freedom and reason.

These concepts were further developed by thinkers in the Middle Ages, who formulated the basic principles of constitutional rule. Why were they later rejected by those claiming the right to absolute rule, then reclaimed by the American Founders, only to be rejected again today? Reilly reveals the underlying drama: the conflict of might makes right versus right makes might. America's decline, he claims, is not to be discovered in the Founding principles, but in their disavowal.

BONUS Chapter Download: Is Slavery the Foundings Fault? Robert Reilly examines the claim of the 1619 Project and others that racism runs in the very DNA of this country. To download this special chapter, not in the print book, Click here.
Imperial Valley News Center

Russian National Sentenced to Prison for Operating Websites Devoted to Fraud and Malicious Cyber Activities

Arlington, Virginia - A Russian national was sentenced Friday to nine years in prison for his operation of two websites devoted to the facilitation of payment card fraud, computer hacking, and other crimes before Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew S. Miller of the U.S. Secret Services Washington Field Office made the announcement.

According to court documents, Aleksei Burkov, 30, ran a website called Cardplanet that sold payment card numbers (e.g., debit and credit card numbers) that had been stolen primarily through computer intrusions, victimizing hundreds of thousands. Many of the card numbers offered for sale belonged to U.S. citizens. The stolen credit card data sold on Burkovs site has resulted in over $20 million in fraudulent purchases made using U.S. credit card accounts.

Burkov also ran another website that served as an invite-only club where elite cybercriminals could advertise stolen goods, such as personal identifying information and malicious software, and criminal services, such as money laundering and hacking services. To obtain membership in Burkovs cybercrime forum, prospective members needed three existing members to vouch for their good reputation among cybercriminals and to provide a sum of money, normally $5,000, as insurance. These measures were designed to keep law enforcement from accessing Burkovs cybercrime forum and to ensure that members of the forum honored any deals made while conducting business on the forum.

Burkov was arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel in December 2015. An Israeli district court approved his extradition in 2017. He was extradited to the United States from Israel on Nov. 11, 2019, after appeals to the Israeli Supreme Court and the Israeli High Court of Justice were denied. On Jan. 23, 2020, he pleaded guilty to one count of access device fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, identity theft, computer intrusions, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Senior Trial Attorney Laura Fong of the Criminal Divisions Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kellen S. Dwyer and Alexander P. Berrang of the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case. The Criminal Divisions Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendants extradition from Israel.
Imperial Valley News Center

Russian National Pleads Guilty for Role in Transnational Cybercrime Organization Responsible for more than $568 Million in Losses

Las Vegas, Nevada - One of the leaders of the Infraud Organization pleaded guilty Friday to RICO conspiracy. Infraud was an Internet-based cybercriminal enterprise engaged in the large-scale acquisition, sale, and dissemination of stolen identities, compromised debit and credit cards, personally identifiable information, financial and banking information, computer malware, and other contraband. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division made the announcement.

Sergey Medvedev, aka Stells, segmed, serjbear, 33, of the Russian Federation, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge James C. Mahan in the District of Nevada. According to the indictment, the Infraud Organization was created in October 2010 by Svyatoslav Bondarenko aka Obnon, Rector, and Helkern, 34, of Ukraine, to promote and grow interest in the Infraud Organization as the premier destination for cardingpurchasing retail items with counterfeit or stolen credit card informationon the Internet. Under the slogan, In Fraud We Trust, the organization directed traffic and potential purchasers to the automated vending sites of its members, which served as online conduits to traffic in stolen means of identification, stolen financial and banking information, malware, and other illicit goods. It also provided an escrow service to facilitate illicit digital currency transactions among its members and employed screening protocols that purported to ensure only high quality vendors of stolen cards, personally identifiable information, and other contraband were permitted to advertise to members. In March 2017, there were 10,901 registered members of the Infraud Organization.

During the course of its seven-year history, the Infraud Organization inflicted approximately $2.2 billion in intended losses, and more than $568 million in actual losses, on a wide swath of financial institutions, merchants, and private individuals, and would have continued to do so for the foreseeable future if left unchecked.

The investigation was conducted by the Las Vegas Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations and the Henderson, Nevada Police Department. The Criminal Divisions Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendants extradition from Thailand. Deputy Chief Kelly Pearson and Trial Attorneys Chad W. McHenry and Alexander Gottfried of the Criminal Divisions Organized Crime and Gang Section are prosecuting the case.
Imperial Valley News Center

Mexican Mafia Associate Sentenced to Federal Prison for Ordering Murders and Assaults in Orange County Jail System

Los Angeles, California - A Mexican Mafia associate who ordered murders and assaults in Orange Countys jail system on the prison gangs behalf was sentenced today to 210 months in federal prison for his racketeering conspiracy conviction.

Ramon Alvarez, 45, of Santa Ana, was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner. Alvarez pleaded guilty in June 2017 to one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

Alvarez admitted in his plea agreement that, from October 2008 until September 2013, he agreed to assist the Mexican Mafia while he was a jail inmate. Alvarez was given the power to place fellow inmates on hard candy or green light lists, which marked other inmates for murder or assault within the Orange County jail system.

In December 2011, Alvarez authorized a co-conspirator to stab and kill a jail inmate, according to court documents. In October 2012, Alvarez identified a jail inmate victim who was cooperating with law enforcement in another inmates murder trial, and other Mexican Mafia associates later assaulted that inmate at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange.

The prison gangs Orange County faction was headed by Peter Ojeda, a longtime Mexican Mafia member who controlled Latino street gangs in Orange County for at least three decades. Ojeda was found guilty in 2016 of racketeering offenses and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, where he died in 2018 at the age of 76.

Ojeda was involved in the operation and management of the Mexican Mafias activities in Orange County, which included orchestrating murder schemes, extortion and narcotics trafficking. Ojeda ordered Latino street gangs in Orange County to pay taxes that consisted of a portion of the proceeds the gangs earned from various criminal activities, including drug trafficking. In return, gang members were permitted to exert influence over their neighborhoods and territories and seek protection or assistance from the Mexican Mafia.

Alvarez was one of 25 defendants named in a RICO indictment brought as part of Operation Smokin Aces, which was a multi-agency operation that targeted the Orange County wing of the Mexican Mafia and led to charges against more than 80 defendants in federal court. In total, prosecutors have secured 76 convictions in these cases.

The investigation was jointly conducted by special agents of the Santa Ana Gang Task Force, which consisted of agents and officers with the FBI; IRS Criminal Investigation; the Santa Ana Police Department; the Orange County Sheriffs Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation-Special Service Unit.

These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel H. Ahn of the Santa Ana Branch Office.
HONG KONG: Firms in China brought in half of equity capital raised globally this year so far, setting a record that highlights the economys earlier revival from the COVID-19 pandemic, plus the degree to which soured U.S. relations are turning Chinese firms homeward.

China-based companies sold shares worth $32.1 billion in January-June including multi-billion-dollar secondary listings in Hong Kong, equivalent to 49.8% of worldwide offerings, showed data from Refinitiv. The total for U.S. firms was $15.8 billion.

With massive liquidity injections by various governments (supporting virus-hit economies), Im not surprised by the size of Chinese capital raised this year - and the trend may continue, Li He, capital markets partner at Davis Polk, said of China firms taking advantage of their early lockdown emergence.

China was hit by the novel coronavirus in December and was the first country to impose virus-prevention lockdown measures on individual movement and business activity in late January. Markets began their return to normality in April.

Chinese fundraising has been helped by the popularity of Shanghais year-old growth-focused STAR Market, as well as well-received initial public offerings (IPOs) in Hong Kong and the massive secondary listings - including the $3.9 billion raised by e-tailer JD.com Inc 9618.HK this month and $3.1 billion by games developer NetEase Inc 9999.HK.

For Chinese companies, both the Hong Kong and U.S. markets are getting back to normal, said Houston Huang, head of global investment banking for China at JPMorgan. Market activity (deal volume) is much better than anybody expected at the beginning of the year.

Escalating Sino-U.S. geopolitical tension over issues such as trade is widely expected to prompt more U.S.-listed Chinese firms to conduct secondary listings closer to home where they can raise funds in markets absent of anti-Chinese sentiment.

Companies considering a secondary Hong Kong listing include Yum China Holdings Inc and ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc, said two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Neither Yum nor ZTO responded to requests for comment outside of regular business hours.

Secondary deals are also increasing investor interest in Hong Kong, a market with a reputation for hosting stodgy financial and property groups rather than growth-focused tech companies.

Li Hang, CLSA head of Greater China equity capital markets, said the JD.com sale, on which his bank worked, was able to win orders not just locally but also from Southeast Asia and Europe.

If a company is looking at a secondary listing in Hong Kong, they need to be looking at gathering investors interest from not only from Asia, but also Europe and the U.S., Li said.
Imperial Valley News Center

Woman Indicted After Flying from Hawaii and Attempting to Smuggle Heroin into High Desert State Prison

Sacramento, California - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment Thursday against a Honolulu woman, charging her with conspiracy to distribute heroin, and two counts of possessing heroin with intent to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, between October 24, 2019, and November 16, 2019, ArleneAlena Keko Olani, 29, conspired with an inmate at High Desert State Prison to fly from Honolulu to Sacramento, rent a car, obtain heroin, and then try to surreptitiously pass the drugs to the inmate during a contact visit at the prison.

Investigators learned of the plot by listening to recorded prison calls and decoding the calls between Keko Olani and the inmate. When Keko Olani flew from Honolulu and landed in Sacramento on Nov. 15, investigators spotted her in the airport and identified the silver Toyota Camry she rented to carry out the smuggling operation. On Nov. 16, 2019, Keko Olani arrived at High Desert State Prison in Susanville. Investigators seized heroin she had hidden on her person. They also discovered additional heroin in her rental car parked in the prison parking lot.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Lassen County Sheriffs Office, Susanville Police Department, Lassen County District Attorneys Office, and Sacramento County Sheriffs Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt is prosecuting the case.

Keko Olani made her initial appearance on March 11, and was ordered released on bond.

If convicted, Keko Olani faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nations drug supply.
Contractor And Permit Expediter Charged With Corrupting San Francisco City Officials

San Francisco, California - Charges were unsealed Wednesday alleging that Walter Wing Lok Wong conspired for over 15 years to defraud the public of their right to the honest services of San Francisco city officials, including Mohammed Nuru, the former head of the San Francisco Department of Public Works, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson, John F. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Kareem Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge.

According to the information, Wong, 70, of San Francisco, is alleged to have conspired with NURU and other unnamed City officials since as early as 2004 to defraud the public through a scheme involving bribery, kickbacks, and the concealment of material information. A second count in the information alleges that Wong also conspired with Nuru and others to engage in money laundering, to disguise and conceal the proceeds of fraud.

A document filed in court along with the information indicates that Wong intends to change his plea to guilty on both counts as early as July 6. As part of that guilty plea, according to the terms of a plea agreement filed on the docket, Wong will provide information, documents, and testimony to the ongoing federal investigation into corruption in San Francisco city government, in exchange for the possibility of reducing his sentence. The conduct underlying the crimes to which Wong was charged were submitted to the court in a separate Exhibit A to the plea agreement that was filed under seal and thus is not available to the public. However, government officials have confirmed that Wong is the person previously described as Contractor 2 in the 75-page complaint affidavit filed earlier this year against Nuru.

Wong is the sixth defendant to be charged as part of the graft probe, and the second to plead guilty. Charges were previously filed against Nuru and local restaurateur Nick Bovis on January 28, 2020. Earlier this month, additional charges were filed against Sandra Zuniga, the Mayors Fix-It Director, and contractors Balmore Hernandez and Florence Kong. Bovis has since pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the government.

The charged conspiracy that we announce today is breathtaking in its duration and scope, alleging more than a decade of fraud and money laundering involving one of San Franciscos highest ranking public employees, one of its most well-known permit expediters, and other city officials, said U.S. Attorney Anderson. He added, As this investigation continues, the breadth and depth of the identified misconduct is widening. 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. 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.

Todays announcement is part of a complex, ongoing FBI investigation into public corruption in San Francisco city government, said FBIs Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. This type of unscrupulous behavior erodes trust in our municipal departments and will not be tolerated. The FBI is committed to investigating any individual or company involved and hold them accountable.

Pay-to-play schemes destroy the publics confidence in government, said Kareem Carter, Special Agent in Charge IRS Criminal Investigation. And as we follow the money we are discovering all the players in this scheme, and how this game was played. IRS CI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that any individual or company involved in this scheme shall be held accountable for their actions and not go unpunished.

Wong faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison on each count, as well as fines that could go as high as $500,000 or twice the amount of funds involved in the money laundering conspiracy. In addition, the court may order additional terms of supervised release and restitution. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C.  3553

The prosecution is being handled by the Office of the U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Californias new Corporate Fraud Strike Force and is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Kyleena Falzone's restaurants in the mountain resort town of Crested Butte, Colorado, the Secret Stash and Bonez, together made nearly $6 million in revenue last year. But when Gunnison County issued an order March 16 for all visitors to leave as soon as possible, what looked like the start of another busy spring season came to an abrupt end. She had to lay off 132 of her 140 employees. But while her restaurants likely would have survived the lockdown in hibernation mode, she says, "I couldn't just sit around."

Instead, Falzone spent the next three months feeding thousands of out-of-work locals through 11 weeks of farmers' markets handouts, 83 nights of free dinner kits, and three weeks of free groceries. Using social media, she crowdfunded most of the $100,000-plus effort from people who own second homes in the town. Here's how she pulled off the initiative, which even inspired a similar project thousands of miles away.

Engage donors on social media

Soon after the pandemic shut down tourism, Falzone planned to go shopping in the nearby town of Gunnison, and decided to offer to buy groceries for her Facebook friends. Intending to make a regular post, she accidentally pressed the "live" button, which allows Facebook users to broadcast real-time video to their friends and watch comments. People started giving her their grocery orders, and Falzone found she took to the platform. "I could not believe the power of Facebook Live," she says. "It just blew up."

Inspired by the response to the grocery run and to sales of her restaurants' pizza kits--local businesses bought hundreds and then donated them--Falzone then kicked off the free food drive in earnest. She began handing out the kits each night, funding them in part through donations solicited through Facebook Live broadcasts.

As a vegan, she also wanted to find a way to give people fresh fruits and vegetables. So she created weekly farmers' markets to distribute free product to locals. "Kyleena has been a customer for 20 years and we consider her part of our family, so when she called we knew we had to help," says Ann Ocana, CMO of Shamrock Foods, one of the businesses that donated food for the market. "Everyone was inspired to get behind her idea and help make it a reality."

Again, Falzone broadcast the goings-on at the farmers' markets to raise funds to cover the costs. That played a big role in rallying donors since "they can actually see where their money is going." Eighty percent of the donors, Falzone estimates, are second homeowners. People even came up to her on the street and handed cash or checks for the effort, especially as the county began to reopen to tourists.

Extend your philosophy of hospitality

Falzone attributes the initiative's success in part to a focus on her employees and her town that long predates the pandemic. She opened the Secret Stash in 2002 and Bonez in 2012, and has been in the hospitality industry since she was a teenager. In a manifesto she recently wrote on the subject, she writes that employees are a "community" and that "investing in our community also creates wealth for our community, which in turn often leads to good luck for our business."

Affordable housing for locals has long been an issue in Crested Butte and other ski areas, and Falzone has attempted to help in her own way. Last year she broke ground on an apartment complex for her employees with two-bedroom apartments that cost $1,500 a month, far below the market rate for rentals in Crested Butte. Three of them are scheduled to move in within the next two weeks.

Her restaurants' menus encourage patrons to tip to assist the staff with housing--suggestions are $5 for a campground or $1,000 for "living the dream with kids and a mortgage." Falzone says customers have tipped $1,000 eight times since they added the section to the menu three years ago. When they do, the Secret Stash matches it.

Falzone also offers a 401(k), free yoga classes, complimentary ski passes, and first-time homebuyer's classes for her employees. And now more of them will be able to take advantage: With business picking back up after tourists returned to Crested Butte in late May, Falzone has been able to rehire 50 people.

Expand your impact

More business also means the charity efforts are transitioning. Last Friday, Falzone ended an 83-night run of free dinner kits for 50 people, which she had supplemented with her own funds. But that doesn't mean she's done raising money. She says she thinks she might have a talent for it, so she's starting a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing suicide, domestic violence, and cancer. The plan is to focus on the nearby area for the first three years and then expand.

Falzone says she works hard to teach her son that there's a world beyond the small town of Crested Butte by bringing him all over the world, especially to her favorite place to visit, India. One of her friends in New Delhi started raising money to feed children there after seeing her project on Facebook, she says. Falzone reposted his initiative and raised $2,000 overnight, she says--it's now at $4,100.
A new mural by London-based visual artist Dreph has been painted onto the set of EastEnders.

The BBC1 soap unveiled its new addition to Albert Square as filming resumes for new episodes.

The mural, which is painted on the side wall of the Beales' house opposite The Queen Victoria pub, will become a permanent backdrop to storylines when the show returns to screens around the UK.

It took several days to complete, and was painted directly onto the wall of the Bridge Street house before cast and crew returned to work.

Dreph, born Neequaye Dreph Dsane, is best known for his large-scale murals and oil paintings. His subjects range from strangers to friends and family, and are often a tribute to living unsung heroes and heroines.

In 2017, he created a series of portraits of black women contributing to their communities, under the title You Are Enough. The paintings can be seen around public spots in London.

The opportunity to have my artwork on the set as a permanent feature, having the same impact as my work has on the streets of London, was a really exciting opportunity, Dreph said.

I remember watching the very first EastEnders episode three decades ago, so I was really surprised to hear from the team!

I'm so pleased that EastEnders has found a way to reflect modern-day UK in a time when so many of us are finding ways to voice anti-racism and I'm so happy that my work will become the backdrop to future storylines in the show.

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Jon Sen, executive producer of EastEnders, said: Dreph's mural is an exciting and timely addition to the show that reflects events taking place in the real world.

Anti-racism is something that the cast, crew and producers care passionately about at EastEnders and the show is well known for tackling social issues and celebrating diversity and inclusivity through its characters and storylines.

Additional reporting by Press Association
Does anyone notice how little the Radical Left takeover of Seattle is being discussed in the Fake News Media? That is very much on purpose because they know how badly this weakness & ineptitude play politically. The Mayor & Governor should be ashamed of themselves. Easily fixed! So tweeted Donald Trump a few weeks ago, after he became aware of a Seattle neighbourhood called Capitol Hill being run by protesters and seemingly abandoned by police.

A group of domestic terrorists and rapper-turned-warlord types had taken over, added Fox News. Summer of love, wrote one tweeter sarcastically, sharing a video of two armed, black-clad protesters standing beside a chipboard spray-painted with the slogan, ANTIFA 4 BLM. Trumps followers agreed: Democrat mob, wrote one. Liberals kneel to anarchy yet again. The political analyst Michael Scott Doran added that his friend in Seattle had told him businesses are being intimidated by CHAZ/CHOP, which is basically a protection racket yet the crimes are being hushed up. Some businesses here have already left, he added. Trader Joes pulled out of Capitol Hill. Others will follow Socialist paradise will result.

If you go by these reports alone  which many Americans will  youd be forgiven for thinking that the small area of Seattle currently run by Black Lives Matter protesters and devoid of police was a terrifying anarchist hellhole. The truth, of course, is so much more mundane. During several particularly vociferous protests, officers within the Seattle Police Departments East Precinct building decided not to stick around and potentially end up in a standoff with activists. Instead, to the surprise of the people marching the streets and demanding structural change, they shredded confidential documents, boarded over the glass entrance hall of the building and left.
Top Trump official John Ratcliffe is facing his first major test since the former Republican congressman's party-line confirmation last month as director of national intelligence.

With the president suggesting the alleged Russian intelligence scheme to pay bounties to Taliban fighters who kill US soldiers is a fabricated Russia Hoax intended to make Republicans look bad, he has thrust Mr Ratcliffe into a position that has gotten many Trump aides before him fired.

Mr Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman whose history of partisanship had previously given pause to Senate Republicans and Democrats alike, can either prove his loyalty to Mr Trump by obfuscating the truth about the intel reports outlining the scheme, or he can directly refute the presidents delusions that Russia, under the direction of Vladimir Putin, would never perpetrate such a plot.
Chrissy Teigen has reminded her followers to keep up with important preventative health appointments, such as pap smears and mammograms, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On Sunday, the cookbook author shared a photo from her own visit to the gynaecologist, where she can be seen wearing a paper sheet and a mask.

Dont forget to keep up with your paps and have your boobs touched even though the world is ending!! Teigen captioned the photo.

In the comments, the 34-year-old added: Doctors cant find an irregular or odd pap unless you get them regularly enough to show them a difference in paps!!

Please get it done if you have the luxury to (this f***ing country).

A pap smear, also known as a pap test, screens for cervical cancer. According to Planned Parenthood, most women should begin getting pap smears at the age of 21, with experts recommending women aged 21 to 29 get a pap smear every three years unless otherwise instructed.

In response to Teigens post, many of her more than 30m followers applauded her for the reminder to visit doctors for check-ups.

Thanks for spreading such an important public health message! The impact of this pandemic on cancer diagnosis and treatment is truly terrifying. Dont forget to see your doctors if you need to! Dr Brooke Vandermolen (@theobgynmum), an NHS doctor training as a Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in London, commented.

Another person said: As a womens health nurse practitioner - thanks for using your platform to remind women to prioritise their wellness.

Teigens reminder comes after she underwent surgery to remove her breast implants last month.

According to Teigen, she decided to have the implants removed because of the risks associated with surgery.

I want them out now. If I could do one thing, it would be to have a lift. I think youre supposed to replace [implants] every ten years. But when you have kids you think about [the risks] of surgery and I think: This is not the way I want to die, in boob surgery, she previously told Glamour.
A number of AI researchers, data scientists, sociologists, and historians have written an open letter to end the publishing of research that claims artificial intelligence or facial recognition can predict whether a person is likely to be a criminal.

The letter, signed by over 1000 experts, argues that data generated by the criminal justice system cannot be used to identify criminals or predict behaviour.

Historical court and arrest data reflect the policies and practises of the criminal justice system and are therefore biased, the experts say.

These data reflect who police choose to arrest, how judges choose to rule, and which people are granted longer or more lenient sentences, the letter reads.

Moreover, by continuing these studies, criminality operates as a proxy for race due to racially discriminatory practices in law enforcement and criminal justice, research of this nature creates dangerous feedback loops the letter says.

If the justice system is biased against black people then those biases will be present in the algorithms when they are trained, the experts argue.

Those algorithms will then feed back into the justice system, perpetuating a loop whereby the existential foundations of the algorithms are never questioned.

Having a face that looks a certain way does not cause an individual to commit a crime  there simply is no 'physical features to criminality' function in nature, it continues.

It also points out that this data can never be fair. The incentives to drive machine learning research and development are greater than those that interrogate the cultural logics and implicit assumptions underlying their models.

At a time when the legitimacy of the carceral state, and policing in particular, is being challenged on fundamental grounds in the United States, there is high demand in law enforcement for research of this nature, research which erases historical violence and manufactures fear through the so-called prediction of criminality," the researchers say.

Nevertheless, the researchers say that the publishing of such work would represent a significant step towards the legitimation and application of repeatedly debunked, socially harmful research in the real world.

The letter specifically references a publication called A Deep Neural Network Model to Predict Criminality Using Image Processing. Researchers claimed in a press release that the system was capable of predicting whether someone is likely going to be a criminal ... with 80 percent accuracy and no racial bias.

The release has now been deleted.

Springer, which would have published the paper, said that it was submitted to a forthcoming conference for which Springer had planned to publish the proceedings. After a thorough peer review process the paper was rejected".

Facial recognition software has often been criticised for its inaccuracy and biases. Recently, Amazon's facial recognition technology incorrectly matched more than 100 photos of politicians in the UK and US to police mugshots.

The company has since placed a moratorium on its Rekognition software, while protests continue as a part of the Black Lives Matter movement.

IBM has also ended research into general facial recognition products.

It is not only facial recognition technology that has come under fire. Workers at both Microsoft and Google have asked their respective companies to end contracts with the police as part of a greater movement examining the relationship between large technology companies and law enforcement.

"Were disappointed to know that Google is still selling to police forces, and advertises its connection with police forces as somehow progressive, and seeks more expansive sales rather than severing ties with police and joining the millions who want to defang and defund these institutions, over 1600 Google employees wrote.
TikTok has been banned in India, along with 58 other mostly Chinese apps, as tensions between the two countries continue.

TikTok, which is developed by Chinese company Bytedance, allows users to share short videos which are generally set to music. It has regularly denied allegations about its relationship with the Chinese government, publishing a blog post late last year in which it said its data centres are kept outside of China and that it is not subject to Chinese data law.

The Indian government has now said that it would block the app  along with 58 others, including Alibaba's UC Browser and Tencent's WeChat, as well as games such as Clash of Kings.

The 59 blocked apps are "prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order", the Ministry of Information Technology said.

It said that some of the apps had been found to be "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India", though it did not explicitly reference any particular apps or specific data practices that had led to the ban.

It described such data use as "a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures", in an official statement that said such a ban was made possible under India's Information Technology Act.

Members of the public had also voiced concern about the way certain apps use the data they collect, the ministry claimed.

The ministry also noted that India was looking to become "a leading innovator when it comes to technological advancements and a primary market in the digital space.".

The ban comes after a deadly border conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations earlier this month in which 20 Indian soldiers have died.

The government announcement made no reference to those tensions or to the fact that most of the apps had been developed in China.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. 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The statement gave no indication of how such a block would be put in place. Recent attempts by governments to completely ban certain apps  such as Russia's sanctions on Telegram  have seen users largely able to get around the bans, while at the same time causing disruption to the underlying infrastructure of the internet.

The full list of 59 apps can be found on the official government website.

Last year, TikTok was briefly banned in India over concerns that it was being used to distribute pornography. The ban was lifted weeks later and TikTok has since been publicly available until now.

When the ban was lifted, TikTok celebrated by launching a campaign called #ReturnofTikTok and posted a blog post claiming that in India it had "over 200 million users and counting".

Earlier this month, Google banned an app called "Remove China Apps" from its online store. The tool  which scanned the phone for any apps developed in China, including TikTok, and deleted them  has been reported to have been downloaded more than five million times in the short period it was available.

The movement to delete Chinese apps amid the ongoing tensions between the two countries had been supported by citizens on social media, as well as a spokesperson for Prime Minister Narendra Modis ruling party.
The City watchdog has confirmed it does not yet know whether thousands of UK customers' money is safe after the spectacular collapse of German payments company Wirecard.

Customers of a host of UK fintech firms, including card providers Curve and Pockit, use Wirecard's technology to process payments.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), ordered Wirecard's UK arm to stop making payments on Friday to prevent it potentially disposing of any funds after it emerged that 1.9bn was missing from the company's accounts.

The move effectively froze the accounts of hundreds of thousands of UK consumers leaving them unable to access their cash.

On Monday, the regulator issued an update saying: We are maintaining pressure on the firm to resolve these issues which would allow it to operate under certain conditions.

However, we cannot lift the restrictions without reassuring ourselves that the firm has been able to satisfy all our concerns for example that all clients' money is safe. We hope to be able to issue an update soon.

The FCA said it had been working with Wirecard, and other international and UK authorities.

We have seen good progress by the firm in meeting the conditions we set, the watchdog said.

Martin Lewis, founder of consumer website moneysavingexpert.com, said there is a reasonable expectation that the hundreds of thousands of consumers affected will get access to their money again by Wednesday or Thursday.

Curve issued a statement on Sunday night saying its customers would be able to make payments again from Monday.

Wirecard's rapid collapse into administration amid allegations of fraud has shocked markets and put the spotlight on auditor EY.

The Financial Times revealed on Friday that EY had failed to verify Wirecard's bank statements for three years, a task considered to be a basic requirement for any audit.

Wirecard's former chief executive Markus Braun was arrested on suspicion of falsifying company revenue to make the company appear healthier than it was.

It came after the company said that 1.9bn (1.7bn) stated in its accounts likely never existed.
As Corona positive cases and deaths cimbed in Bengaluru, BBMP has started to hunt for places for cremation of bodies of the deceased. While the number of Corona positive cases, when compared to other Indian cities, is still lower, the recent spike in deaths have forced officials to find a graveyard to bury the COVID victims. Along with steps to increase the bed capacity to handle the COVID situation, officials are also not taking any chances and trying to find a place to bury the dead.

It should be noted that Karnataka till date has reported 207 deaths of which Bengaluru alone has seen 88 deaths. This includes four deaths on Sunday and the numbers are on the rise every passing day. On an average in the recent few days, Bengaluru has reported anywhere between 3-5 deaths every day.

Sources from the civic body maintai that officials have already started hunting for gomala land (pasture land for community use). They also revealed that they are looking at places on the outskirts of the city, which do not invite any opposition from the locals.

The issue was raised in the high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Saturday, who in turn, directed the Bengaluru Urban DC and BBMP officials to find a suitable place to bury the dead.

Highest single day spike

The number of fresh Corona positive cases broke all its previous records and reported 1,267 cases on Sunday. Bengaluru recorded a whopping 783 cases while the other districts recorded less than 100 cases. While Bengaluru has 3,314 positive cases, Karnataka tally crossed 13,000 mark and stood at 13,190.

As cases swell, the health department which used to divulge information on the source of infection of the fresh positive cases, chose to remove the column and keep it under wraps. The number of patients in the ICU was 197 on Saturday evening and jumped to 243 across the state by Sunday. State has 5,472 active cases.
Police have released an image of the man who was shot dead after stabbing six people at a hotel housing asylum-seekers in Glasgow last week.

The picture was issued as it emerged politicians had been warned about the worsening mental health of asylum-seekers in the city during the coronavirus lockdown.

Police shot and killed Badreddin Abadlla Adam, 28, from Sudan, following the knife attack at the hotel in West George Street, Glasgow city centre, on Friday.

Three asylum-seekers, two members of hotel staff and a police officer were stabbed. All six victims, aged between 17 and 53, remain in hospital, with one of them in a critical condition.

Police confirmed the identity of Adam on Saturday, based on information he gave to the Home Office earlier this year.

A friend of Adam told ITV he had warned him about the attack the night before it happened.

Adam is reported to have said "'I will attack" and "they hate me, I hate them, they are against me".

The friend is said to have urged Adam not to attack anyone and reported him to the hotel reception and a housing manager the following day.

"And in the afternoon, it [the attack] happened," he added.

Police Scotland, which is not treating the incident as terrorism-related, has asked any witnesses to come forward.

The attack took place at the Park Inn hotel, where asylum-seekers were being housed during the lockdown.

Glasgow stabbings: Man shot by armed police as city centre shut down Show all 11 1 /11 Glasgow stabbings: Man shot by armed police as city centre shut down Glasgow stabbings: Man shot by armed police as city centre shut down Emergency services in West George Street, Glasgow, as a serious incident closed roads in the city centre Milroy1717/PA Glasgow stabbings: Man shot by armed police as city centre shut down Police confirmed the male suspect who was shot by armed officers has died James_J_Marlow/Twitter Glasgow stabbings: Man shot by armed police as city centre shut down Four people were taken away from the scene in ambulances, according to one eyewitness Milroy1717/Reuters Glasgow stabbings: Man shot by armed police as city centre shut down Police officers walk in through the main entrance of the Park Inn Hotel Getty Images Glasgow stabbings: Man shot by armed police as city centre shut down The Scottish Police Federation have said an officer was stabbed during the major incident Getty Glasgow stabbings: Man shot by armed police as city centre shut down Police and forensic officers at the scene PA Glasgow stabbings: Man shot by armed police as city centre shut down Emergency services at the scene in West George Street. Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has described the incident as "truly dreadful". She added in a post on Twitter: "My thoughts are with everyone involved. I am being updated as the situation becomes clearer. "Please help the emergency services do their jobs by staying away from the area - and please dont share unconfirmed information." PA Glasgow stabbings: Man shot by armed police as city centre shut down PA Glasgow stabbings: Man shot by armed police as city centre shut down Police officers stand by a screen erected at the scene PA Glasgow stabbings: Man shot by armed police as city centre shut down Police block off the road Jamie O'Neill/AP Glasgow stabbings: Man shot by armed police as city centre shut down Getty

Campaign groups had previously voiced concerns over the policy of moving people seeking refuge in the UK into hotels during the Covid-19 pandemic.

JustRight Scotland, a group of human rights lawyers, wrote a submission to Westminster's home affairs select committee in early June warning about the potential "psychological distress" caused by the policy.

The charity also told home secretary Priti Patel and Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon of its concerns in May, days after a 30-year-old Syrian man was found dead in his hotel room in Glasgow after being moved there from his flat.

Aileen Campbell, Scotland's communities secretary, said she was "seeking an urgent call with the Home Office about asylum accommodation".

Over the weekend, police constable David Whyte, 42, who was injured in the attack, thanked his colleagues for their response to the incident.

The officer said: "Despite suffering serious injuries myself, I know that the swift actions of colleagues saved lives and prevented a far more serious incident."

"I would like to thank the medical staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for their outstanding care in the hours following this incident."

Additional reporting from PA
Florida authorities will shut-down beaches on the Fourth of July weekend over Covid-19 concerns in the state.

At least three counties including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach plan on closing-down beaches and parks from Friday 3 July to prevent overcrowding as coronavirus cases continue to spike.

In a statement, Miami-Dade County mayor Carols Gimenez condemned those who were not adhering to measures on social-distancing and mask-wearing and appealed to common sense.

The mayor also warned that Miamis beaches and parks could continue to be closed-down.

As we continue to see more Covid-19 positive test results among young adults and rising hospitalisations, I have decided that the only prudent thing to do to tamp down this recent uptick is to crack down on recreational activities that put our overall community at higher risk, said Mr Gimenez.

He added that this new order will be targeting those who are being most irresponsible and endangering our communitys health and our economic recovery.

All beaches and parks in Miami-Dade County will close between Friday 3 July and Tuesday 7 July, whilst gatherings and parades with more than 50 persons are prohibited.

At the same time, beaches in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County will be closed between Friday 3 July and Sunday 5 July, said mayor Dean Trantalis on Sunday.

The reason why were doing this is because we feel that we will not be able to provide the necessary safe environment that everyone is entitled to enjoy when they come to our beaches, said Mr Trantalis.

Our businesses will remain open -- all the restaurants, all the T-shirt shops, all the retail shops -- everything will be open, he continued. But, unfortunately, because we normally anticipate large crowds, perhaps even coming from other counties, that we made this decision to move forward.

Still, crowds lambasted Broward County authorities who made that announcement, with some shouting slogans such as Freedom and This is America, said CNN.

Palm Beach County mayor Dave Kerner told the news outlet on Sunday that he would also announce plans to shut-down beaches this weekend.

It is an unfortunate result, but public health remains the focus of the elected leaders of Palm Beach County, said Mr Kerner. Unfortunately, this Fourth of July will not be spent at the beach.

Those announcements came as more than 9,500 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Florida on Saturday, surpassing the previous 24-hour high seen on Friday, which had 9,000 new cases.

Florida has now seen almost new-24 hour highs each day since mid-June, and some 132,000 cases 3,300 deaths overall.
Fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who stands accused of the murder of George Floyd, faces a pretrial hearing today, along with the three other officers involved in Mr Floyds killing.

Mr Chauvin was first fired and then arrested after he was filmed kneeling on Mr Floyds neck for nearly eight minutes to the point where he lost consciousness and ultimately died. He now faces charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter.

The other three officers, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, will appear person; they all face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

The upcoming hearing is an omnibus hearing, at which prosecutors present their evidence and defence teams can file any pretrial motions they wish to submit.

Among the details of the case that have emerged since the killing is the fact that Mr Floyd and Mr Chauvin both provided security at the same Minneapolis nightclub. While it is unclear to what extent the two men knew each other, one fellow security employee reported that the two had bumped heads, while the club owner has said Mr Chauvin was afraid and intimidated by black people.

Recommended Minneapolis police officers condemn former colleague Derek Chauvin

It is as yet unknown whether claims such as these will be introduced by the prosecution. There is also the matter of the two conflicting autopsies of Mr Floyds body, one conducted by the county medical examiner and the other commissioned privately by the family. Both concluded that his death was a homicide, but they differed on the precise causes.

The Minneapolis police departments slowness to take action against the four officers helped fuel what became a nationwide uprising of anti-racist protests, many of which were met with police violence. For now, Mr Chauvin and Mr Thao remain in custody, while Mr Lane and Mr Keung have been released on bond.
Russian bounties offered to Taliban-linked militants to kill coalition forces in Afghanistan are believed to have resulted in the deaths of several US service members, according to intelligence gleaned from US military interrogations of captured militants in recent months.

Several people familiar with the matter said it was unclear exactly how many Americans or coalition troops from other countries may have been killed or targeted under the programme. US forces in Afghanistan suffered a total of 10 deaths from hostile gunfire or improvised bombs in 2018, and 16 in 2019. Two have been killed this year. In each of those years, several service members were also killed by what are known as green on blue hostile incidents by Afghan security forces who are sometimes believed to have been infiltrated by the Taliban.

The intelligence was passed up from the US Special Operations forces based in Afghanistan and led to a restricted high-level White House meeting in late March, the people said.

The meeting led to broader discussions about possible responses to the Russian action, ranging from diplomatic expressions of disapproval and warnings to sanctions, according to two of the people. These people and others who discussed the matter spoke on the condition of anonymity because of its sensitivity.

The intelligence  which the CIA was tasked with reviewing, and later confirmed  generated disagreement about the appropriate path forward, a senior US official said. The administrations special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, preferred confronting the Russians directly about the matter, while some National Security Council officials in charge of Russia were more dismissive of taking immediate action, the official said.

It remained unclear where those discussions have led. Verifying such intelligence is a process that can take weeks, typically involving the CIA and the National Security Agency, which captures foreign cellphone and radio communications. Final drafting of any policy options in response would be the responsibility of national security adviser Robert OBrien.

The CIA assessment took time and coincided with the scaling back and slowing down of a number of government functions as the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold, two people said.

A National Security Council spokesman said the veracity of the underlying allegations continue to be evaluated. The CIA and the Defence and State departments declined to comment.

Russia and the Taliban have denied the existence of the programme.

Among the coalition of Nato forces in Afghanistan, the British were briefed late last week on the intelligence assessment, though other alliance governments were not formally informed. The New York Times first reported the existence of the bounty programme on Friday evening.

As more details have unfolded, the primary controversy in Washington over the weekend revolved around denials by Donald Trump and his aides that the president was briefed on the intelligence.

Mr Trump on Sunday confirmed statements by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and the White House press secretary that he received no briefing on the subject, and he referred in tweets to what are known as reports by Fake News.

Nobody briefed or told me, [Mike] Pence or chief of staff [Mark Meadows] about the what are known as attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an anonymous source by the Fake News. Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us, Mr Trump said on Twitter, insisting that nobodys been tougher on Russia than the Trump administration.

But his Twitter remarks did little to clarify whether the administration was denying that the assessment existed, or simply denying that Mr Trump knew anything about it. Richard Grenell, who served as acting director of national intelligence until last month, tweeted: I never heard this. And its disgusting how you continue to politicise intelligence.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Sunday joined other lawmakers  including leading Republicans  in expressing concern and calling for the administration to provide Congress with an explanation.

This is as bad as it gets, and yet the president will not confront the Russians on this score, denies being briefed, Ms Pelosi said on ABC Newss This Week.

But he wants to ignore, she said, he wants to bring them back to the G-8 despite the annexation of Crimea and invasion of Ukraine, despite what they yielded to [Putin] in Syria, despite [Vladimir Putins] intervention into our election, which is well-documented by our intelligence community and despite now possibly this allegation, which we should have been briefed on.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump ally who golfed with the president on Sunday, tweeted earlier in the day: I expect the Trump Administration to take such allegations seriously and inform Congress immediately as to the reliability of these news reports.

In a second tweet, Mr Graham said it was Imperative Congress get to the bottom of the Russian offer to pay the Taliban to kill American soldiers with the goal of pushing America out of the region.

Representative Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., the third-highest-ranking member of the House GOP leadership, also took to Twitter on Sunday to say that if the report of Russian bounties is true, the White House must explain why the president wasnt briefed, who did know and when, and what has been done in response to protect our forces & hold Putin responsible.

A third person familiar with the issue said: I dont think that anybody withheld anything and screwed up by not getting to the president on time. By the end of the process, the person said, the intelligence community was confident in its assessment.

The issue is not when the president was briefed, the person said, because the process worked as it should have, given the coronavirus delay and the need to draw up policy options.

The issue now that you are aware of it, what are you going to do about it? Thats where the focus should be, the person said.

In years past, there were persistent reports that Russia was supplying small arms to the Taliban. Carter Malkasian, who served as a senior adviser to the previous chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, general Joseph Dunford, said Russia had cultivated a relationship with Taliban elements, largely in northern Afghanistan, beginning about 2015. The outreach was partly as a response to Moscows concerns about the threat posed by Islamic State militants in the region, and also a desire to see US troops leave the region.

But more recently, US officials said that Russia  which tried and failed to start its own Afghan peace process  has been cooperative and helpful since the Taliban signed a peace deal, including a plan for US withdrawal, with the administration early this year.

Mr Malkasian, now a scholar at the Centre for Naval Analysis, said the bounty operation, if true, could be a random initiative, rather than one that reflected a well-coordinated programme ordered by the highest levels of the government.

He said a primary Russian goal in Afghanistan continues to be the exit of American forces, but not at any cost.

They may want us out, and they may be happy to see a few Americans die, he said, but I dont think they want to see the Taliban take over.

The Washington Post
As Texas battles against a surge in coronavirus infections, governor Greg Abbott has acknowledged the scale of the very swift and very dangerous outbreak now resurging among the population.

At a press conference with vice president Mike Pence on Sunday, Mr Abbott laid out the data on what has happened recently, and explained that the state was taking new measures to curb the outbreak  even as he has declined to fully reverse the reopening that some say has contributed to the new spike.

We need to understand that Covid-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past few weeks, said Mr Abbott. Over just the past few weeks the daily number of cases have gone from an average of about 2,000 to more than 5,000 per day.

At the same time, hospitalisations have increased from about 2,000 per day to more than 5,000 per day. And the positivity rate that just one month ago was at 4.27 per cent is now well over 13 per cent.

The number of cases alone is cause for concern, but as with similar spikes across the US, some have attributed it to an expansion of testing, saying that the numbers simply mean that more asymptomatic cases are being picked up.

However, Texas is surging on the other two measures as well  indicating, as Mr Abbott acknowledged, that the data in fact shows the disease to be spreading in the state as never before.

One thing I said from the very beginning, and that is that Texas will follow data in making decisions about how we move forward... And with a positivity rate of over 10 per cent, I declared early on it would be an alarm bell for Texas to take action to rein in the spread of Covid-19. And thats exactly what we began to announce this past week.

Mr Abbott did indeed announce last week that the states reopening will be paused until the numbers come down again. However, he has so far declined to put any reopened parts of the state economy back under lockdown, meaning businesses including restaurants, bars and gyms remain open.

Despite the new numbers, Mr Abbott celebrated Texass performance on one measure: the number of dead per head of population.

One thing remarkable about Texas, that is that despite the increase in the spread of the coronavirus, Texas still has the second-lowest death rate of the top 27 most affected states in the country. We cherish the lives of our fellow Texans.

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However, it has been repeatedly pointed out that around the world, there is a time lag between reported hospitalisations and reported deaths, as Covid-19 patients can be in hospital for days or weeks before they succumb to the effects of the disease.

So with thousands of Texans now in hospital, a spike in deaths may be yet to come  whether in days, weeks or more.

Meanwhile, sitting next to Mr Abbott, Mr Pence reiterated his exhortation that Americans wear masks where social distancing is hard  and came tantalisingly close to acknowledging that the surge may have something to do with Texass decision to reopen its economy when it did.

Reopening this economy, which began in early May, is a tribute to your leadership and the steady progress in putting Texas back to work, he told Mr Abbott. Its something every Texan can be proud of.

But with the development of these new cases  as you said, going from 2,000 a day to 5,000 a day; positivity rate going from roughly 4 per cent to 13 per cent  were grateful, governor, that youve taken the steps that youve taken to limit the kind of gatherings and meeting in certain places in communities that may well be contributing to the community spread that were seeing in Texas and in states like Arizona and Florida and California as well.
The US health and human services secretary, Alex Azar, has warned that the window is closing for the country to control the coronavirus pandemic, amid rising cases across the US.

Speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday, Mr Azar said that with cases rising across the US, following an easing of lockdown measures, the pandemic still needs to be treated seriously.

Things are very different from two months ago...so it is a very different situation, but this is a very, very serious situation, he said.

And the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control, Mr Azar told the host.

At least 36 states across the US have seen a rise in Covid-19 cases over the past few weeks, after two months of steady decline, as states have eased lockdown measures and businesses have reopened.

States including Florida, California and Texas have recorded their highest daily case totals in recent weeks and the US as a whole announced its highest total last Friday.

Despite the rise in cases, vice president Mike Pence said during a Coronavirus Task Force press conference on Friday, that the US has flattened the curve.

He added: As we see new cases rising  and were tracking them very carefully, there may be a tendency among the American people to think that we are back to that place that we were two months ago.

That were in a time of great losses and great hardship on the American people. The reality is were in a much better place.

In contradiction to the vice presidents optimistic comments, Mr Azar said that the US public needs to continue to take precautions, to prevent further spread.

Recommended Nevada governor makes face masks mandatory as coronavirus cases rise

We have to act, and people as individuals have to act responsibly. We need to social-distance, he said.

Mr Azar, who was appointed to his position by president Donald Trump, also called for people to wear face coverings, despite the president refusing to wear one.

He added: We need to wear our face coverings if were in settings where we cant social-distance, particularly in these hot zones.

Mr Trump made it clear in early April that he will not wear a face mask in public, and has only been pictured wearing one once.

I just dont want to wear one, he said in April, and his attitude has been adopted by some supporters of the president, who feel that by not wearing a mask, they are showing their support for Mr Trump.

Speaking to CNN, Republican senator Lamar Alexander said that the US would be in a better position to deal with the crisis, if the president led by example and regularly wore a mask.

I wish the president would wear a mask, because millions of Americans admire him and would follow his lead, Mr Alexander said.

It also would help get rid of this political debate that if youre for President Trump you dont wear a mask and if youre against President Trump you do wear a mask.

The stakes are much too high for that.
Top White House officials briefed senior Republicans on Monday on the ongoing controversy surrounding an alleged Russian bounty scheme for Afghan militants to kill US soldiers.

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, director of national intelligence John Ratcliffe, and national security adviser Robert O'Brien met with seven GOP lawmakers in the White House situation room to discuss reports that Russia offered money to Taliban-linked fighters to kill US forces in Afghanistan.

The New York Times reported days ago that Donald Trump was briefed by US intelligence on the reports, but decided not to take action. The White House has denied that Mr Trump was briefed on the matter.

Attending Monday's meeting were House Republican conference chairwoman Liz Cheney, foreign affairs committee ranking member Michael McCaul, armed services ranking member Mac Thornberry, and four others in prominent national security and leadership positions.

Mr Thornberry subsequently told Fox News that heads could roll at US intelligence agencies if it is discovered aides neglected their duty to move reports about the alleged Russian bounty scheme up the chain of command to the president.

It may be appropriate for people who should have briefed the President to be removed if they did not follow their responsibilities, Mr Thornberry told the network.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and senate minority leader Chuck Schumer have both demanded briefings for their respective chambers on what Mr Trump and his intelligence community knew about the alleged Russian bounty programme and why it wasn't reported all the way up the chain of command to the president and his top advisers such as Vice President Mike Pence, if that is indeed the case.

"We need to know whether or not President Trump was told this information, and if so, when, Mr Schumer said in a statement on Monday.

Politico reported on Monday that White House officials are working with House Democrats to hold a briefing on the situation soon.

While the president has suggested the alleged Russian intelligence scheme to pay bounties to Taliban fighters who kill US soldiers is a fabricated Russia Hoax intended to make Republicans look bad, most congressional Republicans have not yet adopted that stance.

Ms Cheney, the third-in-command among House Republicans, tweeted on Sunday that the White House must explain "why the president and vice president were not briefed about the reports of a Russian bounty programme; whether the information was provided at any point in the President's Daily Brief, the daily summary of high-level information and analysis from all agencies on national security issues that is supposed to land on the desks of the president, cabinet officials, and top advisers; who did know about the intel reports and when; and what the administration has done in response to protect US forces and hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable."

Also at the House GOP White House briefing on Monday were Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs; Congressman Jim Banks, a Navy Reserve officer who has been deployed to Afghanistan; and Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a veteran of US Air Force operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters on Monday there was "no consensus" among the 16 US intelligence agencies about the veracity of reports about a Russian bounty programme in Afghanistan.

"There are some dissenting opinions within the intelligence community," Ms McEnany said.

"This was not briefed up to the president because, in fact, it was not verified," she said, declining to say what, if anything, Mr Trump might do in retaliation, if the intelligence is eventually verified.

Despite Ms McEnany's explanation, reports of threats from foreign adversaries do not require consensus to be included in the president's daily intelligence briefing materials.

In the past, briefs have often included reports that conflict on the details and scope of various foreign nations' actions, intelligence analysts have pointed out.
Donald Trump has "no problem" with people wearing masks in an attempt to protect themselves and others from coronavirus, his top White House spokeswoman said Monday.

"It's the personal choice of any individual as to whether to wear a mask," White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said when describing the president's personal view of mask-wearing as cases spike anew in many states.

She assured reporters that Mr Trump has "no problem with masks."

But press aides who accompanied Ms McEnany into the White House briefing room on Monday were not masked. They previously had been wearing face-coverings in the room during briefings.

During a 20 June campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, however, Trump-Pence campaign aides were videoed removing signs asking attendees to not sit in certain seats at the BOK Center.

The seats had been marked with signs asking them to be left vacant so people could social distance amid an increase in Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations there. The campaign did distribute masks and hand sanitiser at the event.

Ms McEnany, during a briefing the day before that rally, said she had no plans to don a face covering at the Oklahoma event.

"It's a personal choice, I won't be wearing a mask," she said then.

At least eight Trump-Pence campaign staffers contracted the disease before Mr Trump arrived - but reportedly attended the event in the half-empty arena anyway.

Mr Trump continues to, without citing scientific and medical data, claim the pandemic soon will "go away" even as cases climb and hospital beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients.
St Mary's Basilica in Secunderabad has decided to shut down in view of the spread of coronavirus. (DC Photo: Deepak Deshpande)

Hyderabad: With Covid-19 cases soaring in Hyderabad, citizens are voluntarily deciding to barricade themselves in. Some churches and Jain temples too have decided to close their portals to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Residents of the Vasavinagar Colony on Sunday joined several other localities across the city in closing entry to outsiders. On Sunday, residents were told that two of the five roads that lead into the colony are being sealed.

Vasavinagar Colony president Telukunta Sathish Gupta said: We have made a representation to the police department. The latter told us that we can close the roads at our own expense. We are already facing a torrid time due to two positive cases and do not want the numbers to go up.

Some churches and Jain temples have decided to shut down in view of the coronavirus situation. Many others, including the Chilkur Balaji temple, have not opened though they were allowed to do so on June 8.

Shri Parswanath Jain temple at Charkaman, Charminar, will be closed from Monday, said committee member Praveen Kumar Jain. The Shri Mahaveer Swamy Jain Shwetamber Mandir at Feelkhana will also be closed, though poojas will continue, said Mukesh Jain Chouhan.

St Marys Basilica, started with six masses on June 8 but vicar-general Swarna Bernard said it would be closed. St Theresa Church, Erragadda, will shut its doors from Monday, Fr P. Jaya Paul Reddy said.

The Jamiat Ahle Hadees of the twin cities has already urged mosques under its jurisdiction to stop congregational prayers for 21 days.
 Close Trump attacked by Pelosi for ignoring briefing on Russia placing bounties on US soldiers

Donald Trump has been made the subject of an arrest warrant by Iran over the US killing of the countrys top general Qassem Soleimani on 3 January, with Tehran appealing to Interpol for help in enforcing it.

The president has meanwhile insisted he was not briefed by intelligence officials over an alleged Russian plot to pay out bounties to Taliban-linked militia in exchange for targeting American and British soldiers in Afghanistan to sow unrest, after the president was accused of sitting on the report by his domestic political rivals.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany refused to say whether the president would respond, telling reporters that "there are some dissenting opinions within the intelligence community" about the veracity of the claims in the reports.

"This was not briefed up to the president because, in fact, it was not verified," she said,

But after GOP allies in the House met with the president's Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Congressman Jim Banks  in a Twitter thread shared by the president  suggested that bounty plot was being actively investigated, and that The New York Times report about the intelligence was "the real scandal"  not the president's refusal to act on it. He suggested that "it's impossible to finish the investigation" because of media reports.

"The blood is on their hands," he said.

After an exodus of the president's supporters from the platform, Reddit has banned the popular r/The_Donald forum and Twitch temporarily suspended the president's account over crackdowns on hate speech on the platforms.

YouTube also closed the accounts of several prominent far-right personalities, as conservatives  migrating to platforms like Parler  accuse social media of censoring conservative voices, a conspiracy supported by the president.

As coronavirus cases continue to surge across the US, several states are racing to impose new lockdown restrictions after too-soon reopening efforts and a lack in comprehensive federal efforts to support Americans have caused dangerous spikes.

California joined Texas and Florida in closing bars in seven counties and the latter shut its beaches. Caution was thrown to the wind and so we are where we are, Republican governor Ron DeSantis commented.

Arizona also announced that all bars, clubs, movie theatres and gyms would close for at least 30 days after the state saw its largest case spike since the onset of the pandemic.

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As Russia begins a week-long nationwide vote on constitutional changes that could keep Vladimir Putin in power until 2036, the official line is that the coronavirus pandemic has retreated, Russias health system coped just fine  and it is now safe to vote, go to the gym, restaurants, shops and hair salons.

But sometimes information slips out telling a more dire story for Russians grappling with mixed messages: the Kremlins upbeat assessments and statistics showing Russias confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus still climbing.

When infectious-diseases doctor Victoria Adonyeva predicted in a newspaper interview that the nationwide vote would see a spike in new cases, many readers applauded her honesty.

Ms Adonyeva, chief infectious-diseases specialist of the Orlovskaya region, about 220 miles south of Moscow, also called into question the accuracy of Russias statistics on coronavirus deaths  now at 9,166  in the interview with the Orlovsky Novosti newspaper.

The numbers are going up. Theres no plateau, she said. What kind of stabilisation, what kind of lifting of restrictions can we talk about? she said. Her hospital and others in the city of Oryol had no free beds, she added.

But prosecutors swiftly called her in for questioning. No reason for the summons has been given, however other people who contradicted the official line have been called under a law against fake news on coronavirus information, which carries a penalty of up to six years. Local officials fell over themselves to contradict her.

Regional governor Andrei Klychkov blamed a journalist at the newspaper for misinterpreting the specialists words, although the interview was published as a question-and-answer transcript.

Under pressure, Ms Adonyeva herself was soon trying to backtrack.

A similar boomerang effect came after the startling admission earlier this month from Alla Samoilova, an official from Russias Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare, that 489 Russian medical staff had died of the disease caused by the coronavirus, Covid-19  some 6 per cent of the countrys official death toll. The agency swiftly backtracked, saying the figure was unofficial, even though the number was broadly in line with a memorial list of health worker deaths maintained by doctors, which had 496 names on it by Wednesday.

Mr Putin is not alone among leaders trying to portray the pandemic as a fading threat. But, as in other countries, the crisis has laid bare some hard truths.

In Russia  where more than 641,156 confirmed cases represent the third-largest after the United States and Brazil  the pandemic also has dented Mr Putins image just when he wanted it in top shape with voting ending on 1 July on the constitutional changes, which include allowing Mr Putin to seek two more terms after his current one ends in 2024.

Questions have been raised about possible manipulation of statistics on Covid-19 deaths, fiercely denied by officials. The uneven medical care has exposed the entrenched inequality between wealthy cities and remote poorly serviced regions where health services have been cut.

In some places, ventilators were broken, lacked parts, malfunctioned or even caught fire. Medical staff have walked off the job at some hospitals over lack of protective equipment.

Although Russia has succeeded in decreasing the daily percentage increase in cases, new infections keep rising stubbornly, adding more than 7,000 cases a day.

Putin is not alone among leaders trying to portray the pandemic as a fading threat (Getty)

In an address to the nation Tuesday, Mr Putin said the health system had coped well thanks to the governments work to improve and better equip hospitals. While the danger was not fully over, he said Russians have forced the epidemic to recede.

We are overcoming it, Mr Putin said. But the virus is still dangerous: thousands of people still encounter this disease daily. I am asking you to remain careful, vigilant and cautious.

But Ms Adonyeva told the Orlovsky Novosti newspaper that the Russian health statistics were in a state of disorder, with many regions omitting deaths of patients with Covid-19 from the count unless there was severe respiratory tract damage.

She said the nationwide vote on the constitutional changes would inevitably cause an increase in cases. But we have nowhere to put them, she said referring to her hospital and others in Oryol.

If growth continues there will be no one to treat people, she said in the interview published on 18 June. Doctors treat people but they themselves become ill and are unable to treat people. Doctors are already working to the limit.

Authorities brought in tough new penalties for those who post information about the pandemic deemed to be fake news. Dozens of doctors, journalists, medical union officials and activists have been targeted.

But health authorities have struggled with a credibility gap amid images of hospital beds in corridors and queues of ambulances that have surfaced during the pandemic.

Since 2012, Mr Putins centralisation of the health-care system closed many small, rural hospitals. Countrywide, medical staff declined by 9.3 per cent to 1.3 million from 2013 to 2019, according to the Federal State Statistics Service.

Deputy prime minister Tatyana Golikova said in November that healthcare reforms had failed in many regions. Anton Siluanov, now finance minister, said at that time that district hospitals and clinics were in poor, if not terrible, condition.

Activists, opposition figures and an independent health union have filled the information vacuum on the coronavirus.

Alexei Minyaylo, who spent seven weeks in custody last year for participating in anti-government protests last summer, set up a civil society think tank, Razoom, and organised Zoom meetings with 67 experts from 16 Russian regions. Razoom also analysed Russian and foreign scientific evidence to produce a report on what went wrong in Russia, and what could go wrong in future.

In European countries we see a plateau, but in Russia we dont see any plateau. So we started to think of what the society can do to cope with the situation because we really cant rely on the government, Mr Minyaylo said. They say that there is really not a lot of deaths, but when we dig into the statistics we find that a lot of deaths from coronavirus are hidden as deaths from pneumonia, he said.

The report identified more than 200 cases of official pressure on journalists and activists exposing information about the pandemic.

Dmitry Kolezev, editor of independent online news site Znak based in Yekaterinburg, Russias fourth-largest city, said the region had one of the highest rates of Covid-19, but that many pneumonia patients had told him they were unable to get tested for the coronavirus. This suggested that statistics on Covid-19 cases and deaths were unreliable, he said.

They wanted to be tested but either they had to wait for a long time, or tests are just not done, he said. Unofficially, according to our sources in the administration and also from patients, we know that there are not enough vacant jbeds in hospitals. Some patients were being discharged before they recovered, he added.

The mortality figures, he said, have led many people to let down their guard. At the same time, Mr Putins government is appealing for a high turnout in the constitutional vote.

People are very relaxed. They get together in the streets, theyre outside today, or in gyms that started working. They meet in groups, and it seems to me this is because the statistics they are given about infections are low.

The Washington Post
An Instagram influencer who attracted millions of followers with pictures of a glamorous jet-setting lifestyle has been arrested by Dubai police amid claims of a 350m cyberscam.

Raymond Abbas  a Nigerian known to his 2.4 million Instagram followers as Hushpuppi  was detained on Thursday night as part of an investigation into money-laundering, cyber fraud, hacking and scamming.

Eleven other suspects were detained during coordinated early morning raids in an operation comprised of officers from the FBI, Interpol and Dubai police. Detectives seized more than 150 million dirham (30 million) when they swooped on the 38-year-old's apartment as he slept.

Investigators allege Abbas, a former second-hand clothes trader in Nigerias capital Lagos, used his Instagram account to project a billionaires luxurious lifestyle to attract followers and lure in potential victims.

Officers say they found the email addresses of nearly two million victims on dozens of phones, computers and hard drives. More than a dozen luxury cars were seized in the raid along with suitcases full of cash.

After verifying available information, the team [tracked] the gang including Hushpuppi, who celebrated his wealth via social media...under a businessman facade, in an attempt to lure victims from all over the world, Jamal Salem Al Jallaf, director of the criminal investigation department of Dubai Police, said in a statement.

The suspects also targeted victims overseas by creating fake websites for well-known companies and banks in a bid to steal victims credit card information and then launder the stolen money.

Investigators say they recovered documents evidencing fraud on a global scale worth 1.6 billion dirham (352 million).

The operation, codenamed Fox Hunt 2, came after months of investigation into the groups activities. Mr Al Jallaf said that detectives in the anti-cybercrime task force were able to track down gang members through false accounts they had created on social media.

Mr Abbas, whose arrest reportedly came after he added a white Rolls Royce to his fleet of luxury cars, once posted a video of himself throwing $100 bills as confetti at a wedding.

It is understood that a large proportion of the alleged victims reside in the US, but Mr Abbas is also accused of committing fraud in Europe, America and Nigeria, according to police. He claims to be a property developer but many in Nigeria have become sceptical of his meteoric rise from clothes trader to billionaire real-estate tycoon, according to local media.

Mr Abbas previously said he posted photos of his lavish lifestyle to Instagram to help inspire others.

I post a few of these things so that someone can see my page someday and decide not to give up, he wrote in one post.

Dubai media reports that Mr Abbas will be extradited to Nigeria to face charges and his arrest is being used as a warning to deter other would-be scammers. Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari vowed to crack down on scammers after assuming office in 2015, citing the countrys growing problem with the issues

His spokesperson told The Times: The action of a single Nigerian is not the action of all Nigerians . . . who are hardworking and honest people. We should not be tagged fraudulent people for the misdeeds of a few.

The Independent has contacted Mr Abbas for comment.
An Iranian prosecutor said the country had issued an Interpol arrest warrant for United States president Donald Trump for his role in the assassination of a leading military commander earlier this year.

The Tehran prosecutor Ali Alghasimehr said the international red alert warrant included Mr Trump and 35 others allegedly involved in the 3 January drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani, commander of Irans clandestine overseas paramilitary force, the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported on Monday.

Thirty-six people who were involved in the assassination of Hajj Qassem were identified, including political and military officials from the United States and other governments, have been ordered by the judiciary to be given a red alert to Interpol, he was quoted as saying by IRNA.



US Iran envoy Brian Hook, in Saudi Arabia to drum up diplomatic support for the extension of United Nations arms ban on weapons sales to and purchases from Iran, dismisssed the warrant as "propaganda" that should not be taken seriously.

"Interpol does not intervene and issue red notices that are based on a political nature," he told assembled press. "This is a political nature. This has nothing to do with national security, international peace or promoting stability."

There is little chance Interpol or any other law enforcement agency would act on the warrant, which stems from a decision by Mr Trump and hardline ideologues shaping his Iran policy to kill Soleimani outside the international airport in Baghdad.

But the stunt by Iranian authorities serves to distract attention away from the governments failings at a crucial crossroads.

The countrys economy is in tatters because of severe US sanctions strictly constraining Irans ability to do business with other nations and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which has drastically slowed the domestic economy. Faced with the economic meltdown, the administration of president Hassan Rouhani defied health experts and began allowing businesses to reopen, sparking a resurgence of the coronavirus.

After falling to as few as 34 reported Covid-19 deaths in a day in May, fatalities have climbed back up, with at least 144 deaths reported on Sunday, the highest since the pandemics early April peak.

The charges against Mr Trump and his entourage also resurrect memories of an assassination that briefly galvanised and unified large segments of Irans population.

The warrant comes at a time when Mr Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic, racial tensions in the US, and antics on the world stage have made him especially unpopular at home and abroad. A survey published on Monday by the European Council of Foreign Affairs showed perceptions of the US across EU countries had worsened considerably over Mr Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Demonstration against the killing of General Soleimani in front of the British Embassy in Tehran (AP)

Mr Alghasimehr did not specify the 35 other officials that he said had been reported to Interpol. The organisation has yet to comment, and a search of its database of thousands of wanted individuals yielded no results for the name of Donald Trump.

Neither Mr Trump nor top US officials make frequent trips outside the borders of staunch longtime Western allies or authoritarian dictatorships and monarchies ruled by men the administration in Washington considers friends. Few if any law enforcement officials in those countries would act on arrest warrants that could enrage the US, which has the worlds biggest economy and its most powerful military.

But Mr Alghasimehr said Iran would pursue the warrants even after Mr Trump and his deputies leave office, potentially limiting their movements for years to come, or at least making them think twice before travelling abroad.
Chelsea are willing to agree a persuasive deal with Angel Gomes as he leaves Manchester United, although the 19-year-old has a series of offers from abroad.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed the club failed to agree a new deal with Gomes, allowing him to secure his future elsewhere now his current contract is up.

The Independent has been told the talented midfielder turned down an offer of 25,000 with bonuses, as he had far better offers elsewhere.

One of those is from Chelsea, with super-agent Pini Zahavi involved in discussions, but Gomes also has interest from all the major leagues.

The player has been contacted by clubs from Germany, Spain, Italy and Portugal with Hamburg, Valencia and Benfica understood to be among those leading the chase.

When asked whether Gomes would be leaving United at his press conference on Monday, Solskjaer said: I've got no news, nothing.

"Ive not heard from them last night or this morning, it seems like they havent managed to agree. The answer is probably short and yes [he's leaving], then.
It is becoming a truth universally acknowledged that nothing a woman says rings true, unless it is also said by a man.

Just look at whats happening right now with Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. In case you havent followed that particular chapter of our news cycle  and I dont blame you, because well, have you seen the news cycle these days?  allow me to catch you up. On Sunday, Ben Smith, formerly founding editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed News and now a media columnist for The New York Times, published a piece examining the legacy of Martin Barton, who has been the editor of The Washington Post since 2012.

Smith begins with the following scoop. Back in 2018, amid Kavanaughs controversial nomination for a spot on the Supreme Court, Bob Woodward (one half of the journalistic duo behind the Watergate scandal investigation, portrayed by Robert Redford in All the Presidents Men) was reportedly going to name a source who had so far been kept anonymous. Specifically, according to Smith, Woodward was about to identify Kavanaugh as one of the elusive sources in Woodwards 1999 book Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate.

Why does this matter, you ask? Well, according to The New York Times, the revelation would have contradicted past statements made by Kavanaugh. According to Smith, Mr Woodward was planning to expose Mr Kavanaugh because the judge had publicly denied  in a huffy letter in 1999 to The Post  an account about Kenneth Starrs investigation of President Bill Clinton that he had himself, confidentially, provided to Mr Woodward for his book. But Baron reportedly urged Woodward not to name a confidential source, and the piece didnt run.

A significant part of the discourse surrounding Smiths piece has revolved around that part of the story. Some are outraged that a newspaper wouldnt disclose what they view as a key piece of information about a Supreme Court nominee in the lead-up to his confirmation. Others agree with the age-old journalistic principle that when you agree to keep a source anonymous, you do so forever. You do so knowing that circumstances might change  that the source, for example, might end up in the running for a lifetime position at the highest court in the land  and the threshold for breaking that secrecy is extremely high.

But this isnt the part of the story I care about the most. Sure, its an interesting journalistic debate, but if you fall on one side, youre unlikely to hear the other sides arguments, and youll just have to agree to disagree. What has struck me, instead, is the number of people on social media who have reacted to Smiths report by suggesting it indicts Kavanaughs character to the point that Kavanaugh should be impeached (which, yes, is a thing that can be done to Supreme Court justices, just like presidents).

You mean to tell me there is now a publicly available news article that casts serious doubt as to Brett Kavanaughs suitability as a Supreme Court justice? How unbelievable! In the words of Phoebe Buffay from Friends, that is brand-new information! Its not like a woman has already given us plenty of material to go around, putting her whole life on the line and publicly reliving her trauma in the process.

Oh, but wait  a woman has done just that. Her name is Dr Christine Blasey Ford and she testified for four hours in September 2018 about the night she alleges Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her. Brett groped me and tried to take off my clothes, she said during a hearing watched by roughly 20 million people. ... I believed he was going to rape me. I tried to yell for help. When I did, Brett put his hand over my mouth to stop me from screaming. This was what terrified me the most, and has had the most lasting impact on my life. It was hard for me to breathe, and I thought that Brett was accidentally going to kill me.

Im not quoting Fords testimony for shock value. Im quoting it to highlight the lengths to which she went in her efforts to share what she considered to be capital information about the fifty-something man about to be handed a lifetime appointment to rule on matters of policy affecting all Americans. (Kavanaugh, by the way, was confirmed by the Senate a month later.)

Whatever you think of the substance of Fords testimony, its hard to deny that it at least raised questions as to whether he was the best person the president could put forward to fill a vacant seat on the Supreme Court. Yet, people are reacting to the news that Kavanaugh allegedly acted as an anonymous source for Woodward then publicly denied it as though it is the first and most damning thing they have ever heard about him. There is a sense of, Accusations of sexual assault? I mean, who among us  but being an anonymous source and then DENYING it? Thats beyond the pale.

But of course, Ford was one woman accusing a powerful man of sexual assault. Woodward is a serious journalist in a story that involves several other serious journalists  and, crucially, men. Fords allegations against Kavanaugh devolved into questioning in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee and, really, the world. The Smith/Woodward/Barton story, by comparison, is being afforded a heft that Ford could only have dreamt of. This isnt a criticism of this particular story, by the way. Rather, its peoples reactions to the story that tell us a disheartening little something about how different men's and womens voices are treated in our public discourse.

If the latest Brett Kavanaugh story strikes more of a chord with you than Christine Blasey Fords testimony, you have work to do. Listen to women. Dont wait for men to give credence to what they just said. I promise you: their voice is enough by itself.
Iranian judiciary has issued an arrest warrant for Donald Trump over the assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and has asked Interpol for help, Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said today. He added that the warrants were issued on charges of murder and terrorism.

The International Criminal Police Organisation, or Interpol, later rejected the charge, saying that it does not undertake activities of political, military, religious or racial character.

Irans arrest warrant against Donald Trump is seen more as a bold political move but is unlikely to have any legal consequences for the US President. However, this does highlight and raises questions about the role of international bodies. Iran is using the international system in the same way the US does. The US clearly ignores international obligations and law when it sees fit, but uses these global systems for legitimacy when it wants to make a case against its perceived enemies, Assal Rad, Senior Research Fellow at the National Iranian American Council, told me.

In that sense Irans move seems more intent on provoking reactions and forcing reflections on US hypocrisy, even if it puts its own hypocrisy in question, Rad added.

President Trump ordered the killing of General Soleimani and others near Baghdad International Airport in January. It was seen as a major escalation which brought Iran and the US to the brink of war.

The Trump administration later argued that the assassination was ordered to prevent imminent attacks by Soleimani but did not back up that claim, despite multiple requests by many Democratic lawmakers in Congress who criticised the killing as an unnecessary step towards military conflict.

From a legal standpoint, countries can in fact engage in targeted killings if the threat is imminent and there is no other choice but to act, Sina Azodi, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington, told me.

However, the Trump administration has so far failed to provide any credible evidence that Soleimani was in fact preparing for an imminent threat and that removing him was the only choice, Azodi added.

Iran vowed to take revenge after the killing of Soleimani and retaliated by firing missiles at a military base in Iraq that hosts US forces. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also said in March that America assassinated our great general and we will not let go of this. The arrest warrant for Trump delivered today, although political, underscores that unwillingness to forget.

In the past, Iranian officials have had to contend with extradition warrants while on foreign travel. Argentina issued warrants for former Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati over his role in the AMIA bombing in 1994 while he was travelling, and former Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi had to interrupt a trip to Bolivia after another Argentine warrant. Iran is clearly now attempting to use those kinds of tactics against the United States, Jason Brodsky, Policy Director at United Against Nuclear Iran, told me.

As with most aspects of the four-decade animosity between Iran and the United States, this arrest warrant also has a domestic political dimension. Irans judiciary, which is in control of the hardliners, has taken the lead on these arrest warrants while the Foreign Ministry, under the moderate President Hassan Rouhani, has remained quiet on the issue. How it plays out between these two governmental factions has yet to be seen.
The Covid-19 pandemic shows that the two governing parties of the United States are presiding over a failed state. With 4 per cent of the worlds population, the US has 25 percent of coronavirus deaths. The US is on pace to have a quarter of a million Covid-19 deaths by the end of this year.

Trump is a loser. Hes given up. Coronavirus won. Now, like a modern Typhoid Mary, he is infecting his own supporters at his super-spreader rallies. Even his supporters now see this emperor has no clothes. Hes down double digits in the polls.

But where is Joe Biden? As the Democrats presumptive nominee, he has the national stage. When you think of Biden, what issue is he the champion of? Biden should be mobilising the public behind a federal test, trace, and isolate programme to suppress the virus like most other organised countries are doing  and he should be the driving force behind universal mail-in balloting so everyone can vote in this pandemic.

The month-long uprising against police brutality has also revealed how the centuries-old pandemic of racism means the US is a failed state for people of colour. Trumps call for the military to suppress the demonstrations was rebuked by the generals. But Biden rebuked the protesters demands to shift funding from over-policing communities of colour to the public resources and services these communities need.

Bidens long record as a crusader against busing for school desegregation, as well as his involvement in the legislative architect of mass incarceration, and his long-held position as a fiscal hawk and a war hawk leaves progressives in the US with a miserable choice. They are supposed to choose, apparently, between the incompetence and mean-spirited racism of Donald Trump and the conservative policies of Joe Biden that would fit comfortably into the centre-right parties of Europe.

Americans deserve another option. We need real solutions to the life-or-death problems we face: Covid-19, racism, economic inequality, climate change and the new nuclear arms race.

For Covid-19, our campaign demands a federal test, trace, and isolate programme and emergency protection of peoples incomes, employment, homes, and healthcare during the crisis.

To address systemic racism, we call for community control of the police, ending the war on drugs, and reparations for African Americans. As a downpayment on reparations, we call for a Marshall Plan for the cities  sustained federal investment in jobs, schools, homes and healthcare to rebuild the racially oppressed communities who suffer from generations of discrimination and exploitation.

Trump calls climate change a hoax, but Biden acts as if it is a hoax with his pro-fossil fuels energy policy. Our eco-socialist Green New Deal will employ public enterprise and planning in an emergency program to rebuild the economy for zero-to-negative carbon emissions and 100 per cent clean energy by 2030.

Working-class life expectancy is declining in the US after 50 years of growing economic inequality. We call for an Economic Bill of Rights to end poverty and economic despair, including a job guarantee, a guaranteed income above poverty, affordable housing, Medicare for All, lifelong tuition-free public education, and doubling social security benefits for a secure retirement.

The new nuclear arms race has compelled the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to move its Doomsday Clock the closest it has ever been to midnight. We call for peace initiatives: a 75 per cent cut in military spending; US troops home from the endless wars; pledging no first use of nuclear weapons; and disarming to a minimum credible nuclear deterrent. On the basis of these tension-reducing initiatives, well approach the eight other nuclear powers to negotiate complete and mutual nuclear disarmament with the support of the 122 nations who agreed to the text of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017. None of the major party leaders or candidates have addressed this crisis. It should be a top campaign issue.

While this programme is drawing Bernie Sanders supporters to us, our main target is the 100 million voters who sat out the 2016 election. They are disproportionately working class, people of colour, and young. They are the future of independent left politics in the US.

The Democrats call us spoilers, but we say its the Democrats who are the spoilers. They refuse to embrace the solution to the spoiler problem we have advanced since the Ralph Naders Green Party campaign in 2000: replace the Electoral College with a ranked-choice national popular vote for president.

I am ready to debate Trump and Biden on these issues, but are they ready to debate me? Their Commission on Presidential Debates  which sounds like a government agency but is in fact a private corporation controlled jointly by the two major parties  is designed to keep their competition out.

We will take our case to the voters. We are running out of time on the life-or-death issues of the pandemic, racism, economic inequality, climate, and nuclear arms. Real solutions cant wait.

Howie Hawkins is the presidential nominee of the Socialist Party USA and presumptive nominee of the Green Party of the United States, which holds its nominating convention on 11 July
Donald Trumps top diplomat does not really want diplomacy with Iran. Case in point: When the Obama administration was negotiating the nuclear deal with Iran, Michael Pompeo wanted the US and its allies to bomb the country instead. In an unclassified setting, it is under 2,000 sorties to destroy the Iranian nuclear capacity. This is not an insurmountable task for the coalition forces, then Congressman Pompeo said in December 2014.

John Boltons new book confirmed what we already knew: Pompeo doesnt want to negotiate with Tehran, and he wouldnt let Trump do it either. Bolton reveals that when Trump wanted to meet with Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif, he and Pompeo sabotaged that meeting, together with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mike Pompeo is an extreme ideologue with close ties to evangelical Christians, right-wing Zionists, western Islamophobes and US arm manufacturers. These relationships inform his worldview. Among this constellation of political forces, Iran is viewed in apocalyptic terms, Nader Hashemi, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at University of Denver, recently told me. All evidence weve learnt so far from Boltons tell-all book, The Room Where it Happened, suggests that to be true.

Last summer in southern France, world leaders gathered for the G7 summit in the town of Biarritz. French President Emmanuel Macron tried very hard to open diplomatic channels between Trump and Tehran during that summit, and he very nearly succeeded. Now Bolton has told us the backstory of how he and Pompeo worked very hard to stop it, a lot of Trumps actions have become explicable.

Bolton reveals what any honest observer already has noted: The maximum pressure strategy was never intended by Bolton and Pompeo to be a negotiation strategy. When there was a chance of a diplomatic breakthrough, both Bolton and Pompeo conspired to sabotage it and planned to resign in protest if it were to happen, said Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute in Washington.

Pompeo and Bolton are warmongers and the question Trump must ask himself is why he has surrounded himself with warmongers if he truly desires talks with Iran, Parsi added.

Bolton is gone now. But Pompeo is still Secretary of State and he still wants war and regime change, not diplomacy and negotiation. Pompeo pushed Trump to approve the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, which brought the two countries to the brink of war. And if Trump wants to negotiate with Iran, he needs a top diplomat who is onboard.

Pompeo is a major obstacle. He doesnt want talks, doesnt want a new agreement, and was a main force behind the assassination of Soleimani, but hes not the only obstacle to talks  just a big one, said Pouya Alimagham, a historian of the modern Middle East at MIT.

Unlike Bolton and Pompeo, who have been fixated on starting a war with Iran for years, Trump has a different view. He seems to want to make a new deal with the country to prove his image as a world-class negotiator and boost his foreign policy record as a global leader. But none of that could happen if the person in charge of his diplomatic apparatus is opposed to it.

Diplomacy, after all, is the art of letting someone else have your way. And Pompeo seems to have mastered that art with Trump. He may not have been able to start a war with Iran yet, but he sure has stopped diplomacy between the two sides. If Trump really wants to talk to Tehran, he needs to fire Mike Pompeo first.
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Taoiseach Micheal Martin at the post-Cabinet press briefing in Dublin Castle (Julien Behal/PA)

Jobs retention initiatives and improving businesses access to credit will be key focuses of a post-lockdown stimulus package, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheal Martin expressed hope of having the fresh economic measures ready for implementation by the middle of July.

Mr Martin and fellow Cabinet ministers met at Dublin Castle on Monday to discuss how best to continue to support workers and businesses as they deal with the economic shock caused by the pandemic.

The Fianna Fail leader said the package would also concentrate on fine-tuning ongoing state support, such as the temporary wage subsidy scheme.

Expand Close Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Taoiseach Micheal Martin attended a Cabinet meeting in Dublin Castle on Monday (Julien Behal/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Taoiseach Micheal Martin attended a Cabinet meeting in Dublin Castle on Monday (Julien Behal/PA)

The important thing about the July stimulus is what will work quickly, he said.

Mr Martin said it was important to take comprehensive action prior to the next budget in October.

There will be a budget in October, there will be a more comprehensive economic plan of recovery developed, but this has to deal with the immediate situation, he said.

During a post-Cabinet media conference, Mr Martin also said Ireland would be led by scientific advice when it came to the potential easing of foreign travel restrictions.

On calls for proactive enforcement of new regulations to wear face masks on public transport, the Taoiseach insisted compliance takes time and expressed confidence more people would start to wear coverings.

Tanaiste and business minister Leo Varadkar said the economic package had to be of sufficient scale to deal with Irelands economic problems.

The Cabinet is working effectively, we have to make a quick and collective start on leading the country out of a very difficult situation Eamon Ryan, Green Party leader

We are facing a very serious mass unemployment crisis in Ireland, mass unemployment and potential mass insolvencies of businesses, said the Fine Gael leader.

So it has to be at scale, it has to meet the scale of the challenge. Secondly, it does need to be done quickly.

Green Party leader and minister for climate action Eamon Ryan said the Cabinet had hit the ground running.

I think there is a very good working relationship already between the three parties, he said.

The Cabinet is working effectively, we have to make a quick and collective start on leading the country out of a very difficult situation.
Members of the Dalit party Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) protest in Tiruchy on Sunday, demanding the arrest of policemen responsible forthe custodial deaths of two traders Jayaraj and his son J Bennix, at Sathankulam in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district. (DC Photo)

CHENNAI: An Armed Reserve constable suspended for his alleged social media post on the alleged custodial deaths of a father and son- Jayaraj and Bennix- in Sathankulam, Thoothukudi district.

Sathish Muthu, an armed reserve constable in Chennai district, had posted some remarks on his social media account on the Sathankulam incident.

According to the police, his remarks had discredited the entire police force.

During the preliminary inquiry, he claimed that his friends had posted the remarks without his knowledge, as he had shared his account login and password with them. Has been placed under suspension as he had behaved irresponsibly, police said.

In a video message, Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP) (Crime against Women and Children) M. Ravi has asked the police to keep decorum and not hit the public.

According to SDGP the third degree is not a tool to make an accused confess to a crime. So policemen need to speak politely to lockdown violators and make them understand about its importance instead of shouting at them. The uniform is to serve people and not something that authorises arrogance, he noted. The ADGP has also asked members of the public to report police harassment to senior officers, the police control room or on the Kavalan app.

Meanwhile, City Police Commissioner, A.K Viswanathan, speaking to reporters here on Sunday, said there police should strictly follow guidelines and Supreme Court directions on custodial treatment of an accused.

An accused should not be assaulted. The cops should not even use language that could hurt someone. Beating up is wrong, unlawful. We have been insisting this to all officials, personnel and police stations," he added.
As Irish businesses adapt to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, clarity over the path of Brexit could further help reboot the Irish economy. In recent weeks the focus for currency markets in relation to Brexit has centred on two questions; firstly are we seeing progress on the key issues, and secondly, will the UK formally request an extension to the transition period?

We have an answer to the second question as the UK moved its official position on an extension from "we won't request one" to "we won't accept an extension even if the EU offers it". This led to the EU formally acknowledging that the UK won't be seeking to prolong the transition period beyond December. But is there any progress being made on the key sticking points in Brexit negotiations?

Based on the commentary following the last round of negotiations, the answer appears to be 'No'.

The UK chief Brexit negotiator David Frost indicated that "we very much need a change in EU approach" following the fourth round of talks while from the EU side, Michel Barnier was even more blunt, saying "the UK did not engage in a real discussion" on some of the key issues. However, despite this there have been signals of positive progress recently following a video conference call between UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission. Mr Johnson said "new momentum was required" and the plan now is to intensify talks in July in an effort to come to an agreement on the key issues.

A big focus remains on the 'level playing field'.

The EU maintains its position that regulatory protection is needed for EU firms to prevent UK firms from gaining a competitive advantage, particularly given how close the UK is to the EU market and the high levels of trade.

For its part, the UK argues that it should not have to agree to these rules since it is only seeking a limited trade agreement similar to the one the EU signed with Canada, which did not include such commitments.

A resolution to this deadlock could see both sides agree that the regulatory alignment for the UK must not regress - and rules remain at least as they are at the moment - with opportunities for both sides to negotiate more trade deals in the future.

As with all negotiations, there'll likely need to be compromise from both sides but there are economic and political incentives to make progress on this issue.

Last year in the UK the Conservatives pledged that 80pc of UK trade would be covered by free trade deals within three years, which would not be possible without a deal with the EU.

Other areas including governance, fisheries and financial services equivalence will all still need to be worked out but a resolution to the 'level playing field' question would be a major step forward.

From an EU perspective, the steadfast rhetoric of "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed" may need to change to allow further progress in the weeks and months ahead.

Will Covid-19 affect the Brexit process? This has been a regular question from Irish customers in recent weeks, and there are essentially two schools of thought on the issue.

Firstly, the idea that with so many challenges for economies across the globe, the extra damage from a no-deal Brexit should be avoided and therefore a deal should be agreed. Boris Johnson and the UK government would be able to say that given the exceptional circumstances, giving some concessions or extending a period for implementation purposes is justifiable, while similarly the EU could justify a softening of its stance on certain issues.

The second argument is that a no-deal scenario actually pales in comparison to the impact of Covid-19, which therefore makes it an easier path to take. Over a 10- to 15-year period, no deal was estimated to knock about 10pc off UK GDP, slightly less for Ireland, and this view would be that these figures seem quite minor compared with some of the recent numbers related to the pandemic.

But Brexit goes beyond just the economic forecasts and a no-deal scenario would have a direct impact on Irish businesses. Despite no extension being agreed before the end of June deadline, the plans to inject fresh momentum into talks - with intensified negotiations set to restart in July - are a positive development.

There is motivation for both sides to iron out a deal in the months ahead to allow time for businesses to adapt and for any required legislation to be passed.

While the chances of resolving all the outstanding issues related to Brexit before the end of the year seem unlikely, progress on the 'level playing field' would be a significant step forward. With lockdown rules here beginning to ease for the summer months, the Brexit process is likely to accelerate. As the clouds begin to part, clarity on the path of Brexit could emerge by the end of the summer.

Lee Evans is head of FX trading & strategy at Bank of Ireland Markets & Treasury
The Governor of the Central Bank has called for a move to regulate funds and so-called shadow banking in line with the regime created to control banks after the 2008 financial crisis.

And he questioned whether some global financial institutions actually benefit the real economy on an online conference call organised by Bruegel, a Brussels based think tank.

Central Bank Governor Gabriel Makhlouf also said that he believes Europe has too many banks, although without mentioning the Irish market or any bank here.

The (European) bank sector needs some consolidation, he said, citing the challenge for lenders of keeping up with the costs of technology in particular, he said.

That idea has significant support among European central bankers despite the risk that fewer banks would ultimately mean less competition which could hurt consumers.

Banks have weathered the Covid 19 pandemic in part thanks to tougher regulation after the global financial crisis including so called macro-prudential rules, he said. Those rules are aimed at preventing systemic problems across banks, while before the crisis regulation historically looked at institutions in isolation.

Governor Makhlouf said a similar macro-prudential framework should now be devised for the growing non-bank financial sector.

In Ireland spans everything from funds that lend to developers to the Irish arms of global money managers at the IFSC.

Officials here have begun talks with European institutions, he said.

We dont need to wait for something to go wrong, he said.

The assets of non-bank or market based financial firms grew from 1.8 trillion in Ireland in 2009 to 4.5bn by the start of 2020, he said.

The scale of the sector, which grew in part as banks were brought under more strict post crash regulations, means regulators no need to look really hard at what risks we may see, he said.

And he questioned whether some of financial institutions produce benefits that outweigh the risks potentially posed.

Do globally systemic institution add value add welfare benefits to the whole economy or do they cause us downsides; and do they exceed the positive benefits? he said.
There is no appreciable change in factory prices, as the table above shows.

With 36,383 cattle slaughtered at exporting plants in the week ending June 21, you could argue that the industry has done well, given what it has been through during the Covid-19 outbreak.

At one level this is true but demand in Britain and Northern Ireland has reached such a pitch that weve seen a remarkable upswing in stock being shipped across the border for processing. Bord Bia figures show that 2,026 went North for the week ending June 21, as opposed to just 464 for the same week in 2019.

However, with restrictions easing and with wholesalers in the Republic reported to have been very busy moving product last week ahead of yesterdays limited reopening of the hospitality sector, demand remains strong.





Strongly

Multiply up that increased demand all over the continent and you can see why over the last month, prices across the UK and Europe have recovered so strongly.

The German market, along with ourselves, saw the biggest hit, with prices there for R3 bulls, excluding VAT, bottoming out around the end of April at 3.37/kg; today they are back up to 3.55/kg.

Maurice Brosnan of Gortatlea mart summed up the situation neatly: Factories appear half anxious for cattle. A case of the glass being half empty, as opposed to half full?

Recent reports raised the issue of worker safety in Irish meat plants re Covid-19. Two workers were interviewed for a radio show back in mid-May, talking about how the industry was adapting to requirements in relation to social distancing, PPE availability, screening etc.

They were interviewed a second time last week. One claimed that still not enough had been done to ease her worries about the virus, while the second lady said measures adopted by her plant had eased her worries.

Cormac Healy of Meat Industry Ireland, on the same programme, stressed that the absolute and singular priority throughout this is the health and safety of staff.

He said there are no active cases in meat plants and at all times MII members have implemented health and safety advice as offered by the HSA and the HSE.

The issue of low worker pay at meat plants then took centre stage, with suggestions that staff felt they had no choice but to come to work  despite any reservations about Covid-19  because they could not afford not to. Mr Healy did not accept this point.

The meat industry has always claimed it is a low-margins business. Mr Healy ably represented the interests of his members, although I felt the issue of workers pay did unsettle him. I wonder was he remembering how unsettling last autumns farmers protests on effectively the same issue became?

My colleague John Heney recently suggested in these pages that farmer representation might be better served by employing professionals. I wonder what it would take to pry Mr Healy away from his current employers?
Fonterra is introducing a new sustainable payment scheme for its members

From June 1 next year, Fonterra is introducing a Co-operative Difference Payment of up to NZ10c/kg of milk solids (kgMS) if the farm meets the co-ops on-farm sustainability and value targets.

Its part of the co-ops response to increasing demand from customers for sustainably produced dairy. The payment will be funded out of the Farmgate Milk Price.

The total Farmgate Milk Price will remain the same across the co-operative, but the amount that each individual farm is paid will vary depending on their contribution under The Co-operative Difference, in addition to the other variables, like fat and protein, which affect the amount thats paid, says Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell.

The reality is that the drivers of value are changing, and we need to reflect that. Our customers want to know that the products they are buying are not only safe but also produced sustainably.

This payment helps us meet the changing needs of our customers, so they continue to choose our milk and enjoy dairy as a sustainable and nutritious choice.

Last year Fonterra launched The Co-operative Difference framework to help farmers produce sustainable milk and prepare for any changes needed in the future.

The payment will replace an existing system and will work on a tiered system. The more a farmer achieves in The Co-operative Difference programme, the higher the payment will be. The precise payment structure will be confirmed over the next few months following discussions with farmers but will be no more than NZ10c/kgMS.

The targets which are to be met will be set annually by the Fonterra Board.

The payment will work on a tiered achievement system. The more a farmer completes in The Co-operative Difference, the higher the payment theyll receive.
Guinness maker Diageo has pulled all advertising globally from social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The maker of huge brands, including Baileys, Gordons gin, Smirnoff vodka and Johnnie Walker whisky, joins a growing revolt of big brand advertisers against the failure of social media platforms to control the publication of hateful and misleading content.

On Friday, Coca-Cola, Levi Jeans and Unilever all pulled advertising from some or all social media platforms.

The issue has pushed up corporate agendas ahead of whats set to be a bitter US general election in November between the incumbent Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

Mr Trumps aggressive use of social media was in focus yesterday when he shared a video on Twitter that included a supporter chanting white power, a racist slogan. The presidents tweet was later deleted.

Diageo said it will pause all paid advertising globally on major social media platforms from Wednesday, but the company left the door open to returning if the social media platforms respond.

Diageo strives to promote inclusion and diversity, including through our marketing campaigns. From July 1 we will pause all paid advertising globally on major social media platforms. We will continue to discuss with media partners how they will deal with unacceptable content, the company said.

The backlash from some of the worlds biggest advertisers and brands that like Coca-Cola, Levis and Guinness, that have defined the advertising landscape, is a major challenge to Facebook in particular.

Its shares plunged 8.3pc on Friday as the advertising boycott gathered pace, wiping out a staggering $56bn (50bn) in the paper value of shares.

It wiped $7.2bn (6.4bn) off Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerbergs stake. He addressed the issues raised by advertisers in a question-and-answer session with employees where he announced some changes to the companys policies.

Facebook will start labelling newsworthy content that violates the social media companys policies, and label all posts and ads about voting with links to authoritative information, including those from politicians.

The company has weathered previous pressures over content and its use of user data. The boycott by advertisers is likely to intensify in the short term as companies that have not pulled ads now fear being see to endorse content.

In 2017 Googles video sharing platform YouTube suffered a high-profile boycott after advertisements were found to have been placed alongside user-generated content including videos advocating extremism.

The 2017 YouTube boycott cost the company an estimated $750m in lost revenue.

Irelands largest advertising agency Core Media was among companies that pulled ads at the time. Core, whose clients included Heineken, AIB and the National Lottery suspended campaigns over fears that ads might appear alongside extremist content.

However, the company returned to the platform after assurances from Google over the brand safety of companies.
Rising confidence: The better mood was felt across the main broad sectors of the economy with industry, services, retail and construction all rising this month

Business sentiment bounced further in June, the second month in a row, boding well for investment if it means more companies believe investing in reopening is warranted.

Bank of Ireland's regular 'Economic Pulse' combines business and consumer elements to track sentiment in the economy month to month.

The latest Pulse published today shows almost half of businesses in Ireland (47pc) believe activity will increase in the next three months. After months of job losses and temporary lay-offs, one in five businesses now plans to hire, led by the services sector.
The social networking giant TikTok will now base all of its European privacy operations in Ireland.

The company notified users of the change today.

From July 29th, TikTok Technology Limited (TikTok Ireland) and TikTok Information Technologies Limited (TikTok UK) will become data controllers for users in the EEA, Switzerland and the UK. The service provider for EEA/Swiss users will change to TikTok Ireland, and the service provider for UK users will change to TikTok UK.

The move means even more work for Irelands Data Protection Commissioner, Helen Dixon, who is already knee-deep in investigations and audits of major tech multinationals.

Ireland is increasingly by tech giants seen as the European country to base privacy governance operations in due to the presence of other tech behemoths here, primarily Google, Facebook, Twitter and Apple.

The Irish privacy regulator is expected to announce rulings on a handful of major investigations in coming months, with the possibility of major fines.

Earlier this month, EU data protection authorities announced an intention to take a closer look at TikToks privacy practices following a Dutch regulatory decision to open an investigation into the companys policies around protecting childrens data.

US authorities have expressed concern over TikToks relationship with the Chinese government, as it is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance. TikTok has always rejected any accusation of interference by Chinese government authorities.

We now have over 1,000 employees in Europe, with 800 of our people based in the UK and Ireland, said a TikTok blogpost written by the companys director of legal affairs, Madeline Moncrieff, and its head of trust and safety, Cormac Keenan.

As we have expanded across the region, TikTok Ireland has become responsible for maintaining users' privacy and safety in Europe. Our Trust and Safety Hub in Dublin allows us to focus on strengthening policies, technologies, and moderation strategies to keep our community safe, while our new data privacy team will focus on upholding the highest standards of data protection. This work is overseen by the Office of the Data Protection Officer to drive accountability and encourage a culture of privacy awareness and compliance.




Pilots and test crew members from the US Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing are expected to begin a three-day certification test campaign for the 737 Max today, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The test is a pivotal moment in Boeing's worst-ever corporate crisis, long since compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic that has slashed air travel and jet demand.

The grounding of the fast-selling 737 Max in March 2019 after crashes killed 346 people in Ethiopia and Indonesia triggered lawsuits, investigations by the US Congress and Department of Justice and cut off a key source of Boeing's cash.

After a pre-flight briefing over several hours, the crew will board a 737 Max 7 outfitted with test equipment at Boeing Field near Seattle, one of the people said.

The crew will run methodically scripted mid-air scenarios such as steep-banking turns, progressing to more extreme manoeuvres on a route primarily over Washington state. The three-day plan could include touch-and-go landings at the eastern Washington airport in Moses Lake, and a path over the Pacific Ocean coastline, adjusting the flight plan and timing as needed for weather and other factors.

Pilots will also intentionally trigger the reprogrammed stall-prevention software known as MCAS faulted in both crashes, and aerodynamic stall conditions, the people said. Boeing and the FAA declined to comment.

The rigours of the test campaign go beyond previous Boeing test flights, completed in a matter of hours on a single day, industry sources say.

The tests are meant to ensure new protections Boeing added to MCAS are robust enough to prevent the scenario pilots encountered before both crashes, when they were unable to counteract MCAS and grappled with "stick shaker" column vibrations and other warnings, one person said.

Boeing's preparation has included hundreds of hours inside a 737 Max flight simulator at its Longacres facility in Renton, Washington, and hundreds of hours in the air on the same 737 Max 7 test plane without FAA officials on board.

At least one practice flights included the same testing parameters is expected today, one of the people said.

After the data is analysed and training protocols are firmed up in the next few weeks, FAA administrator Steve Dickson, a former F-15 fighter pilot who has promised the 737 Max will not be approved until he has personally signed off on it, will board the same plane to make his assessments,.

If all goes well, the FAA would then need to approve new pilot training procedures and would not likely approve the plane's return to service until September. The jet is on a path to resume US service before the year's end..

"[The FAA will] make sure they find enough stuff wrong to demonstrate they are putting this jet through its paces," said another person with knowledge of the flight plans.

"The last thing the FAA or Boeing wants is for the administrator to do his own flight and say 'it's not ready.' Boeing wants Dickson's flight to be a coronation."

Reuters
Passengers from various countries arrive via relief flight at the Cochin international airport in Kochi, Kerala. PTI photo

Malappuram district has been put on alert after two doctors and three nursing staff members working in two private hospitals tested positive for COVID-19. Their swab samples tested positive for virus infection during the RT-PCR test as part of sentinel surveillance being conducted among health workers.

As their source of infection is yet to be identified, district administration and health officials have taken strict measures to trace the source of virus and prevent community spread. District collector K Gopalakrishnan has announced total lockdown in 47 out of the 51 wards in Ponnani municipality and four panchayats in the district.

Since the doctors and nursing staff attended to several patients including aged and children, the health department has started collecting details of patients who consulted the doctors in two hospitals. They have been asked to go into self-isolation.

The source of infection of five other cases reported from Vattamkulam panchayat in the district also remains unknown. The health department will conduct RT-PCR tests on 1500 persons in the containment zones where high number of cases were reported to check for community spread.

Samples will be collected from persons in the primary and secondary contact list of patients and from vulnerable groups like health workers, police personnel, traders, peoples representatives and other high-risk sections with high social exposure.

Meanwhile, the number of infections through local transmission is going up in the state. On Sunday, 118 new cases were reported out of which, 14 infections are through local transmission. The total number of active cases in Kerala crossed the 2000 mark on Sunday. A total of 2015 patients are currently under treatment.
Paris Jacksons older brother Prince praises the budding musician for overcoming her struggles in a clip from her upcoming Facebook series.

The 22-year-old, one of the late Michael Jacksons three children, stars in a new Facebook Watch show about The Soundflowers, the folk-rock duo she formed with her boyfriend Gabriel Glenn.

Unfiltered: Paris Jackson And Gabriel Glenn launches on Tuesday June 30 and follows Jackson as she struggles to make music as she comes to terms with her fathers legacy.

Unfiltered: Paris Jackson & Gabriel Glenn | Episode 1 Sneak Peek Prince Jackson discusses how music plays a vital role in Paris' life. Unfiltered: Paris Jackson and Gabriel Glenn premieres tomorrow, only on Facebook Watch. Posted by Unfiltered: Paris Jackson & Gabriel Glenn on Friday, June 26, 2020

In a teaser clip, Prince says of his sister: I feel that she has come a long way and she has learned a lot on how to carry herself.

When I get to see my sister sing I feel very proud, in a way, because I have seen where she came from and everything she had to deal with when she was growing up, and how singing has been an outlet for her.

The series will see Jackson and Glenn discuss spirituality, sexuality, music, family and more.

It comes after The Soundflowers released their debut self-titled EP, featuring some songs Jackson wrote when she was a teenager.

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She said of the project: It feels good to know that people will hear our music and see me as I am.

This is the first opportunity Ive been able to share my journey in my own way.

I started writing around 13 when I bought myself a guitar; I didnt really start sharing or recording it until I met Gabriel.

We showed each other songs and even wrote a few on the spot.

Everything fit together so naturally, from our voices to our songwriting style. I had never met someone who fit so perfectly with my sound.

Episodes will become available in the UK at 11am every Tuesday on Facebook Watch.
Detectives are investigating whether associates of slain hitman Robbie Lawlor travelled across the Border to carry out a revenge hit for his murder.

Gardai are liaising with the PSNI after Warren Crossan was shot dead in west Belfast on Saturday afternoon.

The 28-year-old was shot several times while trying to flee from two masked gunmen on a street near his family home.

Crossan was previously arrested by police investigating the murder of Lawlor (36) in Belfast in April and was suspected of double-crossing the Dublin criminal after arranging to meet him for a drug-debt collection.

Two close associates of the Dundon crime gang, including a teenager, were also arrested within hours of the Lawlor murder but were all later released from custody.

It is now being investigated whether Crossan was shot dead on Saturday in revenge.

A source told the Irish Independent: "There are reports that Lawlor's crew travelled up to Belfast and had an involvement in the murder.

"It's being looked at as a primary motive but there are several other lines of inquiry as to why Warren Crossan was shot dead.

"The narrative that Lawlor was a lone ranger is not accurate and even though he was a gun-for-hire, he also had a small loyal crew throughout the years while carrying out robberies and other crimes," the source added.

Lawlor was a suspect in several gangland killings, including the murder of teenager Keane Mulready Woods (17).

He was also involved in a dispute with a north Dublin gang leader known as 'Mr Big', who is suspected of ordering his murder on April 4.

Lawlor had also been centrally involved in the Drogheda feud and had aligned himself with rivals of the so-called Maguire faction.

Crossan was suspected by police in Northern Ireland of being heavily involved in the drugs trade.

In a court appearance last year he was described by investigators as a "kingpin" in a plot to smuggle around 200,000 worth of cocaine into Northern Ireland.

He was also the son of dissident republican Tommy Crossan, himself shot dead in Belfast in 2014 after falling out with former associates.
Aaron Brady has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe

THE man accused of the murder of detective garda Adrian Donohoe denied in garda interviews that he made a confession to his flatmates girlfriend, the Central Criminal Court hears.

The jury in the trial of Aaron Brady (29), who denies capital murder, has been hearing evidence of garda interviews carried out with the accused after he was arrested in Dublin in relation to the murder of Det Gda Donohoe.

Gardai gave evidence that he was detained by members of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) in 2018 before being arrested on suspicion of murder.

The court heard that in a later garda interview a statement from Molly Staunton, the girlfriend of his flatmate while he lived in New York, was put to him.

The jury were told he replied: I don't accept any conversation took place with Molly Staunton that I confessed to the offence I am arrested for."

Aaron 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 accused, of New Road in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, also denies robbery of approximately 7,000 in cash and assorted cheques from Pat Bellew at the same location on the same date.

This afternoon the jury heard evidence of the arrest of Mr Brady and subsequent garda interviews carried out in 2018.

Det Sgt Kieran Reidy, of Dundalk Garda Station, said he was on duty on 25 February, 2018, when he travelled to Dublin with the intention of arresting Aaron Brady.

He agreed with prosecution counsel Dean Kelly BL that he met with members of the Emergency Response Unit based at Harcourt Square prior to this.

The court heard that Mr Brady was detained by members of the ERU at around 7pm at a location on the Cloverhill Road, Cherry Orchard in Dublin.

He was then arrested by Det Sgt Reidy on suspicion of the murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe before being conveyed to Dundalk Garda Station and arriving at 8.09pm.

A number of gardai were called to give evidence in relation to interviews carried out with the accused while he was in custody.

Det Gda Jim McGovern, of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), agreed that he read out a number of statements to the accused previously taken from him in 2013.

The court heard that Aaron Brady told gardai: "I remember being here ya and giving a statement and anything other than that is going to be no comment unless there's anything incorrect or shouldn't be so."

Det Sgt Paul Gill gave evidence that on March 2, 2018 he carried out an interview with the accused.

The court heard that a statement from Molly Staunton was put to Aaron Brady and he was asked who she is.

The jury were told that the accused responded: "I don't accept any conversation took place with Molly Staunton that I confessed to the offence I am arrested for."

Ms Staunton has given evidence in the trial that she heard the accused say he had shot a cop.

Det Gda McGovern was recalled to give evidence in relation to an interview he conducted along with Det Sgt Mark Phillips of the NBCI, now a Garda Inspector, on March 3, 2018.

The court heard it was put to the Aaron Brady if he wished to say anything in relation to the incident, and that he replied: "I just want to state I deny any involvement in relation to the offence for which I'm being detained."

He was asked if he wished to make any changes to his statement and he replied: "I strongly deny any involvement in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. I strongly deny any confession to the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and any other offence put to me here in interview."

Mr Justice Michael White also told the jury that it is "likely" the prosecution case will finish by Friday of this week and said that there is a possibility of one more US witness giving evidence in the trial which would require an afternoon sitting.

The jury were told that they are "certainly coming into the closing stages of the trial."

The court also heard that a reward had been offered by Crimestoppers in relation to this investigation but that it has not been paid out.

Det Gda Robin Faughnan gave evidence that he was attached to the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) with responsibility for the Crimestoppers confidential line.

The witness explained that it is a charity that collaborates with An Garda Siochana primarily through its confidential phone line in receiving information from the public.

He said that on occasion rewards are offered to people who assist in solving serious crime, but said that a reward was never asked for or passed out by Crimestoppers in relation to this investigation.

The jury were also told of a search that took place at the home of Suspect B, a man who the prosecution say was involved in the robbery at Lordship credit union in 2013 but cannot be named for legal reasons.

Constable Ryan Landy, of the PSNI, said the property was searched on April 8, 2013 as part of a number of searches carried out on the same date.

PC Landy said that Suspect B was not home during the search but that his partner was.
Gardai have today declared they are determined to crush the Kinahan crime gang who they say have wrecked the lives of so many people in the community from where they came from themselves.

The vow came from the top ranking head of Special Crime Operations - assistant commissioner John ODriscoll, following the conviction of three Kinahan associates today for their part in a plot to murder a member of the Hutch family in Dublins north inner city.

Michael Burns (43) was jailed for nine years whilst Stephen Curtis (32) and Ciaran O'Driscoll (25) were both sentenced to five years each in prison for their role in the plot to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch.

Sentencing the defendants today, presiding judge Mr Justice Hunt said the court was satisfied that the three men were working for the Kinahan organised crime gang, which is involved in money laundering and drug trafficking.

He said the gang operated in cells or subcells based on a hierarchical structure and was prepared to use violence up to and including murder to achieve its aims.

An Garda Siochana today said it was determined to continue its quest to go right to the top of the Kinahan crime gang pyramid.

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Daniel Kinahan has been identified in the High Court as a senior figure in organised crime here who controlled and managed the family organised crime group he is seen to have inherited from his father Christy Kinahan.

The Kinahan crime group has also been found by the Special Criminal Court to carry out "execution type murders to protect its core activities" as well as drugs trafficking and gun offences.

There are other people clearly who are members of that crime group who are not yet charged with criminal convictions associated with being a member of that group, but ultimately it is our aim to ensure charges are brought against all persons who are members of that particular crime group and indeed a number of other crime groups that are trading drugs in Ireland and further afield, said Asst Commissioner ODriscoll.

The people in the hierarchy of the crime group will be targeted, and while I may not mention any name in particular until such time as criminal charges, if we gather sufficient evidence, clearly the hierarchy of these organised crime groups are being targeted by us, he added.

It is ultimately our aim to dismantle the entire crime group. We have achieved some considerable success to date, he explained.

Based on our experience we are confident that the evidence we have gained in investigations we are undertaking will result in the charging of other people, he said.

It is obviously a desire that we achieve success in relation to those who are at the top of the pyramid in a crime group, but taking out the pillars of a crime group along the way ultimately causes damage to that crime group and bring about the downfall of those who are at the top of the pyramid, he told reporters as he outlined the updates success of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

Figures compiled from March 2015 to June 2020 show that the bureau has seized 182m of illicit drugs, 122 firearms, 5,000 rounds of ammunition and 14.5m in cash.

It also says it has thwarted 75 threats to life.

We are not going to finish our business until such time as everyone involved is brought before the courts, particularly those at the top tier.

I believe the progress thats being made in the ultimate aim of dismantling the Kinahan organised crime group is considerable, said Asst Commissioner O'Driscoll.

The cooperation we are receiving at an international level is of great importance. That continues and I can assure people that our aim continues to be total dismantling of the group, he added.

What is clear is that the Kinahan organised crime group have wreaked havoc on communities. They are involved in drug selling. It is that drug selling that had wrecked the lives of so many people in the community from where they came from themselves, he stated.

Asst Commissioner O'Driscoll spoke as gardai continue to count a massive cash seizure found in raids in a house in Co Cavan and four other properties yesterday and today in a targeted separate operation against organised crime.

Yesterday we entered one premises in Co Cavan and commenced a search of that premises, and later in the day we entered another four premises and the searches continued late into last night and into the morning. Following initial small sums of cash other bundles of cash were found and the counting continues but is now at 800,000 and one male is in custody in Co Meath, he said.
How confident can we be that schools can get back to normal? (stock photo)

Operators of English as a foreign language (EFL) schools and services say the industry is worth 1.2bn to the Irish economy, but faces a massive decline because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The large influx of students into Ireland to learn English is a significant source of revenue for the Irish economy, according to Progressive College Network (PCN), a representative body for English language schools nationwide.

They say revenue is expected to fall by as much as 80pc as a result of travel restrictions, social distancing constraints and the nervousness around travel.

This will place thousands of jobs at risk in the sector that employs 5,000 full-time, with another 9,000 in part-time or seasonal employment.

Ireland is the number one per capita destination in the world for learners of English as a foreign language, according to PCN, with thousands of students arriving each year from countries including Italy, Spain, France, South Korea, Mexico and Japan.

With many of those visitors not coming in 2020 and potentially beyond, knock-on impacts will hit accommodation providers, private bus companies and host families, the PCN said.

The group says measures including a Government-backed loan scheme, the waiving of commercial rates for 2020, and the continuation of the wage subsidy scheme for as long as social distancing requirements are in effect could help the sector recover.

"Both quarantine and social distancing requirements are going to make life very difficult for those working in the sector," said the chair of PCN, David Russell.

"People coming here for 25-week courses will be okay, they will have to pay for an additional two weeks' accommodation, but the summer schools [programme], that's not going to happen this year, which will impact schools, as well as lots of host families and local businesses."
FIANNA Fail senator Mark Daly, who was sacked as the party's deputy Seanad leader less than two years ago, is set to become the new Cathaoirleach of the upper house.

Mr Daly will land the prestigious role of Seanad chair - which comes with a salary of 114,000 - under the coalition deal when the chamber meets and votes on the position for the first time later on Monday.

Mr Daly won an internal vote among Fianna Fail senators, beating the outgoing cathaoirleach Denis O'Donovan and senator Diarmuid Wilson who were also in contention for the post.

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Mr Daly will be elected as chair with the votes of Fianna Fail's 20 senators, Fine Gael's 16 and the Green Party's four when the upper house meets in the Convention Centre later on Monday.

The outcome of the internal Fianna Fail vote was not revealed to senators but is said to have been very tight. Some senators expressed surprise that Mr Daly won the vote. But one senator said the view was that there was a need for Fianna Fail "to assert a new identity" in the Seanad.

Mr Daly was sacked as the party's deputy Seanad leader and spokesperson for foreign affairs after participating in an unsanctioned election launch for Fianna Fail election candidate in Northern Ireland in 2018.

He has taken a keen interest in the issue of a united Ireland in recent years, producing several reports on the matter and calling for the Government to make more preparations for a border poll.

Separately, former Mayo TD and newly-elected senator Lisa Chambers has been appointed by Micheal Martin to lead the Fianna Fail group in the Seanad.
Fianna Fail deputy leader. Dara Calleary said that he was angered by Taoiseach Micheal Martin's appointment of him as Chief Whip, but that "there weren't any other jobs on the table".

Mr Calleary was widely expected to be offered a ministerial role when his party leader Micheal Martin informed TDs of his Cabinet delegations on Saturday.

The Mayo TD said that he was surprised and disappointed, but, being the last TD to be offered a role, after relaying that to Mr Martin, no other jobs were offered.

"It wasn't the weekend I expected," Mr Calleary told MidWest Radio.

"I am not going to go into what was a very private, and incredibly difficult conversation. I understand that I was the last person (to be offered a Cabinet role).

"What he said to me was that the Chief Whip's role is going to be incredibly difficult in a three-party government and he had identified me with the skills and abilities to work with the three parties to ensure we implement the programme for government and that he was particularly confident that I would be able to do that.

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"There weren't any other jobs on the table offered to me. We had a very difficult conversation and I told him I was disappointed."

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Mr Calleary said that despite an ambition to take up the role of a senior minister, he accepted his position as Chief Whip in an effort to "deliver for the west".

"I had hoped to lead a department. That has always been my ambition and it is still my ambition today and it will happen. It will absolutely happen," he said.

"I'm going to take on the job I was given. The Chief Whip is often called the gatekeeper of Cabinet and I will be that gatekeeper. I will be a voice for the west at that Cabinet table and I will be a voice that will not be quiet.

"I'm disappointed and I know there is anger, I am getting those calls, but I will work 24/7 to reassure and return the support I have gotten from people over the last two days and I will work 24/7 within Cabinet to deliver for Mayo and to deliver for the West and I will be judged at the end of the term of this government with how I do that."

Party leaders and rotating Taoisigh to be, Eamon Ryan Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin have been criticised for abandoning parts of the country. There were no senior minster positions given to the West of Ireland, from Donegal all the way to Limerick. Minister for Education, Norma Foley in Kerry the only exception.

Of the 15 members of the cabinet, seven come from just three constituencies - Micheal Martin, Simon Coveney and Michael McGrath from Cork South Central, Leo Varadkar and Roderic O'Gorman in Dublin West and Stephen Donnelly and Simon Harris in Wicklow. Helen McEntee in Meath East as well as six Dublin ministers and the two in Wicklow mean that nine of 15 ministers hail from within a short drive of the M50.

Mr Calleary said that he has received hundreds of angry phone calls, many from his native Connacht where there is not one department leader. While himself and Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughten will be present at the cabinet table as super junior Ministers, he said that he too was angry, but that he will use this anger to motivate him in Cabinet.

"Hundreds of people have been in contact since Saturday. I'm genuinely blown away by it," he said.

"I get where the anger is coming from but I'm going to be on that table and I am going to be strong, loud and constructive, and working with the other ministers around that table, they're not going to forget that the west exists and they're not going to forget the challenges in place.

"As Chief Whip I will be in their ear on a daily basis about government business but I'll also be in their ear about business in the west of Ireland and ensuring that they deliver on the promises that are in the Programme for Government.

"I hear the anger, I understand the anger, I was that angry person yesterday. I'm going to take it on and turn it into action and let it drive me on around the Cabinet table. "
Fianna Fail deputy leader Dara Calleary objected to being appointed Government Chief Whip during a tense meeting with newly elected Taoiseach Micheal Martin.

However, Mr Calleary was forced to accept the role as he was the last Fianna Fail TD called to Government Buildings and Mr Martin had already allocated all his ministries.

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The long-serving Mayo TD told colleagues he was furious about the appointment but was left with no option but to accept the position as Mr Martin had no other ministries to offer by the time he was called to the Taoiseach's Office.

Ministers who were appointed on Saturday afternoon said the Fianna Fail deputy leader was "visibly angry" when they gathered in Government Buildings before returning to the National Convention Centre to be voted into office.

Mr Martin's decision to appoint Mr Calleary as Chief Whip has been described by his party colleagues as an "appalling snub".

The move also led to accusations that the new Government is ignoring vast areas of rural Ireland by failing to appoint a senior minister in Connacht or the north-west.

Fine Gael was also blindsided by the decision as it expected Mr Calleary to be given a ministry, which would mean the west is represented at Cabinet by a senior minister. Fine Gael did appoint Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton as a super-junior minister responsible for roads.

In a statement, Ms Naughton described herself as the Government's "most senior minister in the west of Ireland".

However, she is a Minister of State and does not have full Cabinet responsibility or oversight of a government department.

The newly elected Government has come under sustained criticisms over the lack of representation at Cabinet for people living beyond the Shannon and along the west coast.

Yesterday, ministers were forced to deny rural Ireland was being left behind by the new Government.

Agriculture Minister Barry Cowen insisted the full roster of ministers has still to be decided and said the new Government will ensure "no region in Ireland is left behind".

Climate Minister Eamon Ryan said: "I don't think Government can ignore any part of the country", but admitted it is "difficult to get geographic spread" in a three-party coalition.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are expected to appoint ministers of state from the regions in the coming days to ensure there is a better geographical spread of ministers.

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However, Mr Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar only have seven positions to appoint and are faced with difficult choices after dozens of TDs were left disappointed when the Cabinet was announced.

A senior Fine Gael source last night said there "will be more people disappointed than promoted" when the next round of ministries is revealed.

Mr Martin will have a major battle on his hands dealing with the fallout from his Cabinet appointments.

Yesterday, long-serving TDs were angry over the Taoiseach's appoint of first-time deputy Norma Foley as Education Minister and former Social Democrat leader Stephen Donnelly as Health Minister.

However, there was fury across the party over the appointment of Mr Calleary as Chief Whip rather than a full Cabinet minister.

The Government Chief Whip is paid the same as a minister of State (134,976), which is more than 40,000 less than a Cabinet minister (175,699).

A senior FF TD said it was an "absolute disgrace" that the party's deputy leader was the last to be called to Mr Martin's office on Saturday.

"There was a poisonous atmosphere in the Convention Centre after the Cabinet was voted in," another TD said.

"No one could understand why Micheal would do that to Dara," the TD added.

Another TD said it was an "appalling public humiliation" of TD who "worked his b******s off" to get Mr Martin into the Taoiseach's Office.

"People in the west are furious over what he did to Dara, and it makes a mockery of their supposed commitment to regional development," the TD added.

The TD said people from across the west were calling and texting complaining about the decision to "shaft" Mr Calleary.

Another TD said Calleary should have told Martin to "f**k off and caused a mutiny".

Mr Calleary has not spoken publicly about the appointment, but has told colleagues he objected to the position when it was offered to him by Mr Martin. He did not respond to calls last night.

A Fianna Fail source said Mr Martin tried to appoint ministers who were suited to their roles. "He tried to appoint the best to the portfolios we have," a source said.

"The Chief Whip is a super junior and Dara has great experience for a complex job involving the three parties."

A newly-appointed Fianna Fail minister said he could understand why Mr Calleary is "rightly annoyed", but said he will "eventually make his peace" with the appointment and "do an excellent job".

Meanwhile, the Government is facing criticism over its plan to spend 3m a year on 20 ministers of state, their advisers and drivers.

Labour Party leader Alan Kelly said here is "no evidence" that increasing the number of ministers of state leads to "better governance".

"The new Government is returning to the same number of junior ministers as Brian Cowen and Bertie Ahern had. In the last global recession those numbers were cut by a quarter to 15," Mr Kelly said.

"As we face a global recession post-Covid, I would question the need to have 20 junior ministers and no explanation has been put forward by the trio of leaders why they are creating new ministries," he added.

He said there will be 40 drivers on around 35,000 and up to 20 special advisers on 80,000.
Amid border tensions, India likely to get six 'fully-loaded' Rafales by July-end. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing dispute with China over its aggression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India is likely to get around six fully-loaded Rafale fighter aircraft by July-end fitted with the long-range Meteor air to air missiles.

The Rafales along with the Meteor missiles which can hit targets at more than 150 km strike range will give an edge to the Indian Air Force over the Chinese Air Force.

"Depending upon the situation and the ongoing training of IAF pilots in France, we may get six Rafales by July-end. The aircraft will be arriving with their full package and will be made operational within few days itself," government sources told ANI.

The original plan was to get four Rafales including three twin-seater trainer versions for training the pilots here at Ambala Air Force station, which will be the first base of the Rafale fighter jets in India. The second base would be in Hashimara, West Bengal, sources said.

The number of aircraft set to arrive in India may be higher according to requirement and a decision will be taken keeping in mind the training requirements of the pilots already stationed in France, the sources said.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the Indian Air Force has worked hard to ensure that the ground infrastructure gets ready by the time the planes land.

The IAF officials said the date of arrival of the planes would be decided by mid-July after taking multiple factors into account.

The first aircraft to be flown in is planned to be piloted by the Commanding Officer of the 17 Golden Arrows' squadron along with a French pilot, they said.

The aircraft on their way from France to India would be refuelled by a French Air Force tanker aircraft in the air before they make a stopover in the Middle East.

"From Middle East to India, there would be one mid-air refuelling done by the Indian IL-78 tanker before they land in India," sources said.

Sources said that the Rafales could have come directly from France to India but a 10-hour flight would be stressful for pilots sitting inside a small cockpit.

The first batch of seven Indian pilots has also finished their training at a French airbase while the second batch would be going to France as soon as the lockdown measures are relaxed in both the countries.

Post lockdown, India received the first consignment of equipment from France when a cargo plane landed in Delhi few weeks ago and more equipment would arrive in the near future.

India had signed a deal worth over Rs 60,000 crore with France in September 2016 for 36 Rafales to meet the emergency requirements of the Indian Air Force.

Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria was the Deputy Chief of Air Staff at that time and headed the Indian negotiation team for the deal which is the biggest ever in monetary terms in India.

Armed with the long-range Meteor air to air missiles and SCALP, the Rafales would give India an edge over both Pakistan and China in terms of air strike capability.

Sources said the air to air and the air to ground strike capabilities of the Rafale cannot be matched by both China and Pakistan and the aircraft would give India an edge over both the rivals.
Nine Green Party TDs were overlooked when Senator Pippa Hackett was appointed to her role as a super-junior Cabinet member

The surprise promotion of Green Party Senator Pippa Hackett to a "super-junior" Cabinet post has enraged some of the party's other nine TDs who did not make the Government first team.

There are also questions about the appointment of Cllr Vincent P Martin, brother of the party deputy leader Catherine Martin, and Eamon Ryan loyalist Cllr Roisin Garvey, to the Seanad as the party's choices among the Taoiseach's 11 nominees.

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Senator Hackett, who joins government via a device used only twice in the last 80 years, has been named as Junior Agriculture Minister to the senior minister Barry Cowen of Fianna Fail, who is her constituency rival.

The Offaly organic farmer was first elected to the Seanad in a by-election last November without opposition from Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. She was off the pace for a Dail seat in Laois-Offaly, with 3,494 first preferences in February's election, but won a Seanad seat on the agricultural panel in elections in April.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin, on the prompting of Green Party leader Mr Ryan, named her on Saturday as one of three super-junior ministers entitled to attend Cabinet meetings.

He invoked a little used device in the 1937 Constitution allowing a maximum of two senators join Cabinet, which was last used in 1981, and only once before that in 1957.

Ms Hackett was a "Ryan loyalist" in the incipient election contest involving deputy leader Catherine Martin, and some anti-coalition party members in particular have railed against her appointment.

Just three of the party's 12 TDs have so far made it to the Cabinet table while nine who got a Dail seat - some with a longer track record of party service - were overlooked and feel they were "leap-frogged".

But party sources dismissed suggestions that the appointment had anything to do with the leadership contest or the debate over coalition.

"Pippa Hackett is a farmer who understands issues like the farm-incomes crisis. She is best placed to ensure farm families' needs are addressed on issues like tackling climate change," one party source told the Irish Independent.

Others in the party also brushed aside suggestions that the choice of Cllr Garvey, from Clare, a staunch defender of the party leader, and Cllr Vincent P Martin, of Kildare North, a brother of the deputy leader, had anything to do with party machinations.

"These appointments were based on electoral performance in the Dail votes. Both nominees polled over 5,000 votes each and were unlucky on the day not to make the Dail," another party source said.

Vincent P Martin is also a senior counsel who will be available to advise the party on legal issues and legislation in particular.

Both he and Ms Garvey polled more first preferences than some of the party's 12 TDs who were successful in their Dail bids.

The Seanad was only twice used to appoint ministers. In 1981 Garret FitzGerald appointed Professor Jim Dooge as foreign affairs minister due to tight Dail numbers.

Before that in 1957 Eamon de Valera nominated War of Independence icon Sean Moylan to the Seanad and appointed him to cabinet after he lost his Dail seat.
Family moment: New Taoiseach Micheal Martin with daughter Aoibhe, wife Mary and sons Micheal and Cillian in Cork. Photo: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

Newly elected Taoiseach Micheal Martin paid a flying visit back to his Cork home to celebrate with his family after they were unable to attend his election or Aras an Uachtarain ceremony.

Mr Martin was greeted by his wife Mary and three children as he made the first inaugural visit back to Leeside by a Cork-born Taoiseach since his boyhood hero Jack Lynch in 1966.

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The former secondary school teacher savoured a hero's welcome back to his quiet Ballinlough estate, with neighbours and friends erecting bunting to celebrate his election as Taoiseach - and offering him a special, socially-distanced guard of honour.

Neighbours sang that Cork anthem 'The Banks of my own Lovely Lee' as the Taoiseach insisted on walking into his own home estate.

It proved the perfect early birthday present for the Turner's Cross-born politician - a Cork TD since 1989 - as he celebrates his 60th birthday on August 1.

He immediately signalled an end to old Civil War political divisions.

Mr Martin revealed one of his first acts will be to hang portraits of Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins side-by-side in the Taoiseach's office.

The Fianna Fail leader said he was inspired when he saw the social media footage of former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar taking down the Michael Collins portrait as he handed over his office. "Leo Varadkar said to me during the week that he has taken the portrait of Michael Collins down - and I said: 'Do you know, I might put it back up?'

"I will put [Eamon] de Valera up next to him just to symbolise what has happened in terms of the formation of this Government.

"I have a wonderful portrait of De Valera up in my Opposition office - I will bring that over. Sean Lemass is there already. We will also find a place for a bust of Jack Lynch too."

Mr Martin admitted he was overwhelmed by his welcome home. "I thought it was a low-key homecoming I was returning to," he laughed.

"I want to thank my neighbours because we have had a lovely friendship since we first moved here 30 years ago. We have the best of neighbours - it has been a great oasis for me and to be in the middle of such wonderful people.

"This is very, very special - it is very emotional."

As for his family, he said it was great to see them again after the dramatic events of the past few days.

"I think they are more relieved than anything," he said.

He added he was particularly proud because Jack Lynch was a great friend of his late father, Paddy 'Champ' Martin, and his son was now the first Cork-born Taoiseach since the great Cork GAA star.

"My father lost four county finals with Jack Lynch - so, yes, today is very special to be a Cork TD and to have been elected Taoiseach.

"I think he [his father] would be quietly proud - but we were brought up not to use the word proud. My mother didn't like it. I think he would be a happy man - he was a proud Irishman and he loved his country.

"Right throughout my career he was always there for me."

His wife, Mary, said they were "over the moon" with the events of the past 48 hours.

"Of course, we are all thrilled but it is a little bit daunting. On a human level, one side of me was glad to be able to [cry with emotion] in the privacy of my own home. It was quite emotional.

"We are just thrilled - we wish Micheal well and we will do what we can to help him."

Every Ballinlough estate resident gathered outside the Martin home to cheer their neighbour and new Taoiseach as he arrived by car at 2pm.

Neighbour Liam Byrne had a double reason to be pleased as he not only moved into the newly-built estate in 1990 along with the Martin family but also taught Micheal and his brother, Padraig, at Colaiste Christ Ri in the 1970s.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has said Ireland should be "cautious" and should not be "turning on the taps of huge amounts of additional travel" such as foreign holidays.

Mr Ryan also confirmed that it's a Green minister who will have responsibility for ending the Direct Provision system for asylum seekers and that the contest between him and Catherine Martin for the party leadership will proceed in the coming weeks.

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The easing of non-essential travel restrictions is one of the first issues on Mr Ryan's desk on the back of the caretaker government's plans to draw up a 'green list' of countries with similar levels of Covid-19 cases.

People travelling from countries on the list - due to be drawn up by July 9 - will not have to quarantine for 14 days on arrival.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said in recent days that he is "beyond worried" that coronavirus cases could increase once more foreign travel is allowed.

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Mr Ryan was asked about the issue on RTE's 'The Week in Politics'. He said Ireland has been successful in reducing Covid-19 cases and scientific advice should be heeded. He said people should be holidaying in Ireland and limiting foreign travel for the moment.

He said "most people have made that choice themselves" adding that there hasn't been a complete ban on flights but that people understand the "risks".

"We should still be cautious. It's not no travel, it's not complete restrictions, but it's not turning on the tap. That would not be the safe and secure thing to do at the moment."

He confirmed that responsibility for the Direct Provision system for housing asylum seekers has been moved from the Department of Justice.

It is now under the remit of the new Green Party Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration Roderic O'Gorman.

Mr Ryan insisted the pledge to end the much-criticised system will be achieved and it will be replaced with a better alternative, but it may take a full term in government for this to happen.

He said that the current system affects people's mental health, restricts their rights and their ability to integrate if they are given leave to stay in Ireland.

Mr Ryan said speeding up applications makes sense as well.

He said ending Direct Provision will be a "challenging job" and it will take time "but that's what we've committed to doing".

On the looming leadership contest, Mr Ryan said both he and Ms Martin's first priority is doing their jobs in government and "getting into our departments to get to grips with the brief".

Ms Martin has been appointed as Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.

He said that he doesn't believe the contest - which will be conducted online - will be divisive.

He added that it will be an opportunity for "each of us to articulate our vision of where we're going next, not just as a party but as a country and within government".
Irish EU Commissioner Phil Hogan has withdrawn from the contest to head the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Mr Hogan, who has been an EU Commissioner since 2015 and responsible for trade since late last year, had been endorsed for the job by the Irish Government and had some backing in EU circles.

But now the EU Trade Commissioner has said it looked like there would be a long and contested appointments process for the prestige WTO post. He said that staying in the race would disrupt his EU duties which had urgent issues like trade tensions with the USA and China.

Accordingly, I have decided that I will not be putting my name forward for the position of director general of the World Trade Organisation, Mr Hogan said.

The Commissioner was under pressure in Brussels to state his intentions amid fears his departure from the Brussels executive would leave a huge gap in ongoing efforts to craft free trade deals. He had been stood down from sensitive EU trade negotiations until the issue was resolved.

Announcing his withdrawal Mr Hogan thanked his boss, Commission President Ursual von der Leyen, for her advice and support on the issue. He also thanked the Irish Government for endorsing his candidature for the WTO.

Earlier this month he said he was exploring the idea and there was speculation that the post, which falls vacant in September, would go to an EU candidate. Brussels officials had said if that happened, Mr Hogan, who is also a former agriculture commissioner would be well placed.

But later reports from Brussels signalled that officials in several EU capitals - including Paris and Berlin - warned that saving the WTO from its current turmoil must take precedence over making sure its next chief is European. Several EU governments member states, are understood to be seeking a unifying figure for the troubled global trade organisation.

The EU, including Commissioner Hogan, have argued that the WTO can be saved if its membership rallies behind big reforms, but also conceded the system risks collapse. The job is currently held by Brazilian Roberto Azevedo and it was felt he would be succeeded by someone from a developed country.

But it is also noted that an African nominee has not held the post and other names mentioned include Egypts Hamid Mamdouh, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria as well as Jesus Seade Kuri from Mexico.

Hopes that Mr Hogan would get support from US trade representative Robert Lighthizer also remained unclear.

Ambassador Lighthizer does not support any candidate at this time, nor does he feel that a candidate must necessarily be from a developed country, United States Trade Representative spokesman Jeff Emerson told the journal Politico two weeks ago.
Q I have had moles since I was a child and I often notice new ones after the summer. They generally all look the same - reddish, as I have pale skin. However, I notice a new one on my neck that is flesh coloured. I don't want to bother my GP given the circumstances but I would like to get it checked out. Is it okay to wait until the restrictions are lifted? Would it be possible to go straight to a dermatologist and bypass the GP?

A Sometimes new-pigmented lesions appear on the skin in patients over 30 years old, particularly in Celtic fair-skinned people and it does not necessarily mean they are cancerous. In fact, it is normal to develop a new naevus (mole) up until 40 years old. Thereafter, you need to be more suspicious of a possible skin cancer. Of course, it is important to keep an eye on all moles, old or new, looking for changes over time. People who have over 50 moles, are best advised to attend a dermatologist for regular professional skin reviews. If you are over 30 years old, this new 'flesh coloured' skin lesion on your neck could very well be a seborrhoeic keratosis (SK), particularly if your parents or older siblings have also a history of these benign skin lesions. SK is a very common sign of skin ageing and occur in approximately 90pc of people over 60 years old.

If you had episodes of severe sun burn/sun stroke or used tanning beds then you have a higher risk of melanoma. Likewise, if you have a family history or personal history of any type of skin cancer, then you are also at higher risk.

Anybody who has concerns about a change in an existing mole or new pigmented lesion should get it checked out by a GP, as soon as possible. GPs can assess your overall risk of melanoma as well as other skin cancers. Melanoma is rare, with about 1,000 cases diagnosed per year in Ireland. It is more common in the older population but can occur at any age. It's extremely rare in children. Most cases arise from a new mole. A significant minority of melanoma have little or no pigment (colour) and may appear pale or flesh coloured, making diagnosis even more difficult. The main reason why consultant dermatologists require a referral letter from a GP is because they will typically know what is benign and what is suspicious (ie they will know when there is a need to refer a patient). If a GP feels a skin lesion is possibly a melanoma they will also be able to advocate on your behalf to get you seen, ideally within 1-2 weeks, by a consultant dermatologist. Lastly, I mentioned above, the need to watch out for changes in a mole. An increase in size above 7mm, a change in the border, or symmetry, or new variation in pigment within the mole are all potential major signs of melanoma. Minor signs include new onset pain in the mole, or itch, bleeding or crusting over the mole. The 'ugly duckling sign' has been added and means that if one of your moles stands out from the others, then you should get it assessed. Let's face it, if there is a good reason to have the skin lesion biopsied or excised, the best form of reassurance is a pathology report confirming the benign diagnosis. Dr Jennifer Grant is a GP with Beacon HealthCheck
So anyone for a merger? Maybe Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, as they sit in Cabinet together today for their first serious working session, should now go the whole hog.

On Saturday then-Taoiseach-soon-to-be Tanaiste Leo Varadkar noted the ending of the Civil War inside the Dail - decades after it had ended in Irish life more generally. Mr Varadkar had already packed his portrait of Michael Collins as he vacated the Taoiseach's office in Government Buildings.

Today we learn that his successor, Micheal Martin, will find space on his new office wall for portraits of both Anglo Irish Treaty conflict emblematic characters, Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins. Coronavirus trauma, and Green Party show-stealing in painfully slow coalition-making moves, blunted many people's appreciation of the history associated with the sharing of cabinet seats between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

Many younger voters may well have been oblivious to these historic implications until they were finally acknowledged more broadly at the weekend. More than most of the rest of us, the young generation struggles to tell these two great political beasts apart.

So, we ask again: Can Fianna Fail, the Republican Party, merge with Fine Gael, the United Ireland Party?

Quick answer is - given all we have seen in Irish politics in recent decades - of course they can.

Will it happen? And, more importantly, will it happen any time soon?

Well, other less predicted political developments, such as the huge electoral performance of Sinn Fein last February, the resurrection of the Green Party and Fianna Fail's debunking of obituary writers in 2011, tell us one clear thing: there is no future in prediction making.

But that note of caution will not stop those among us who love our politics from making predictions.

Let us, however, try to come at this argument from the other end. Let's note that many people who know more about politics than this writer believe an "FF-FG merger" is far from inevitable.

We must first acknowledge that just insisting there is no room in national politics for two big centre-right blocs, will not make them into one. Remember a man called Brendan Corish, who led the Irish Labour Party with distinction from 1960 until 1977?

He opened his 1967 party conference at Liberty Hall with the assertion, which soon became part of Irish political folklore, that "the seventies will be socialist". A version of that happened alright, some decades later, but it took the form that "the seventies are socialist", as pensioners blocked the streets in 2009 to demonstrate against medical card cuts.

Part of Mr Corish's assertion was that there was no room for two big conservative parties - and no country in Europe was without its socialist party. Dragging this up is not an attempt to treat the memory of a great politician harshly.

It is just making the point that for 50 years we were being told that either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael had to go - or they had to merge. Irish politics, we were told, had to move away from the Civil War-inspired party structure and move to a "modern" right-left model. But by now that right-left model is under deep pressure of change elsewhere.

At the same time, what discernible differences there were between the two parties were largely down to questions of emphasis and cultural particularisms. The argument went that Fine Gael was right wing and conservative while Fianna Fail was radical and left leaning.

That had some resonance in the early years of the State when the forerunner of what is now Fine Gael accepted the 1922 Treaty settlement and went about establishing a new administration working with the old structures. That involved the painful business of extinguishing opposition to the Treaty in a bitter Civil War against a group from which Fianna Fail quickly grew.

Eamon de Valera's brilliant mass movement swiftly swept the country and often dubbed the re-grouped Fine Gael as the party of the "rich man and the rancher". De Valera's Fianna Fail did implement some radical social policies on housing and health.

Fine Gael sometimes had grounds for dubbing its rival as "communists and IRA fellow travellers". But over the years these stereotypes blurred and sometimes flipped.

By the 1960s Fianna Fail had decades of rigorous suppression of the IRA behind it and an increasing level of support from big business, especially the building industry. Fianna Fail billed itself as the "natural party of government" - hardly a radical leftist stance.

But by then also Fine Gael's young turks had discovered social action with a "Just Society" policy. By the late 1970s and through the 1980s, Garret FitzGerald's Fine Gael was seen as more left-leaning than Charlie Haughey's Fianna Fail.

Fianna Fail was more usually the stronger one and in power. Occasionally Fine Gael roused itself, put together and led an "ABFF" coalition government. But up until the 1980s their combined strength accounted for eight out of 10 voters.

However, for the last 40 years this has been going down and down. In the most recent election their combined poll share accounted for just four out of 10 voters.

The balkanisation of Dail numbers and their shared antipathy towards Sinn Fein impelled them to coalesce with a surprisingly high level of grassroots support in both organisations.

Both parties have been working together for many years at local council level. At Leinster House they collaborated on a confidence supply arrangement for minority government for the past four years. This coalition was a logical extension of that. A merger is not inevitable - but it is likely.
As acronyms go, DMTACSG, isn't a very good one and it's unlikely to catch on when people are describing the government's new Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.

But the 'Frankenstein Department' is a vivid illustration of the compromises that had to be struck in balancing the demands of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party as they enter coalition.

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Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin's new department with its six areas of responsibility is a pick-and-mix selection of roles from three briefs in the last government - Communications, Climate Action and Environment; Transport, Tourism and Sport; and Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Party leader Eamon Ryan will oversee the tidier Climate Action, Communications Networks and Transport.

Ms Martin seems to have what's left over - with a bit of Arts and Culture thrown in for good measure.

And it's not the only brief where somewhat odd decisions were made.

Fine Gael minister Heather Humphreys now oversees the Department of Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands.

You'd have thought mapping out the futures of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and the State pension would have been enough for one minister without worrying about funding initiatives for rural Ireland on the side. Ms Humphreys confirmed yesterday the Department of Rural and Community Development will remain as a stand-alone entity under her responsibility.

That suggests a junior minister will be appointed for that role, but it doesn't take away from the unusual arrangement - lumping welfare payments and the islands into one brief.

The Green Party's Roderic O'Gorman is the minister who must bring about a radical overhaul of Ireland's childcare system while at the same time ending Direct Provision for asylum seekers - another bizarre combination at the Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration.

Not all the new arrangements are as strange. Defence being added to the Department of Foreign Affairs is a decent fit as is Jobs and Trade being included in the Enterprise portfolio.

Much of the re-jigging can be put down to Fianna Fail's demand that a new Department of Higher Education, Innovation and Science be created, although ironically it's gone to a Fine Gael minister, Simon Harris.

And, while it is a worthy objective, creating the department - in a situation where the constitution only allows for 15 senior ministers - is part of the reason for the weird set-ups elsewhere.

Ministers with the strange new portfolios will face a particular challenge in ensuring the reconfiguration of government doesn't end up being a complete dog's dinner.
As the new Government takes over, the consequences arising from the Covid-19 pandemic continue to unfold.

The latest unemployment figures put into sharp focus the seriousness of the socioeconomic implications of the crisis.

The data from the CSO shows a small reduction in the Covid-19 adjusted unemployment rate in May, but a record-breaking 26pc of the Irish labour force are now out of work.

It is hoped this spike in unemployment will be short lived, but there are grave concerns that many people will not have a job to return to once the economy is reopened. The concentration of job losses in the tourism, hospitality, food, and retail sectors means that the impact has disproportionately fallen on groups that are least able to endure a financial hit, namely minimum wage workers, younger workers, renters, and migrants.

While the swift State response has cushioned the blow for many in the short term, questions now need to turn to how we make sure those hardest hit and living in poverty are not pushed deeper into hardship.

The main political parties have assured us that a return to austerity is not on the horizon, but as the Government turns to fiscal adjustments and budget deficits, there is a growing narrative that "hard choices" lie ahead. It is not yet clear who will bear the brunt of these "hard choices" but the lack of emphasis placed on the persistent issue of poverty in the run-up to Government negotiation is extremely concerning.

On the very same day as the record-breaking unemployment figures were published, the Central Bank released data showing that before the Covid-19 crisis struck Irish households were wealthier than at any other time in the history of the State and debt levels were significantly lower than in 2008. This suggests that on average Irish households may be more resilient to an economic shock, particularly if it is short term, than at the outset of the last recession. But is this true for everyone?

The Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC) shows that while things have improved for many households in recent years, the situation of those on the lowest incomes is significantly worse than it was before the last crash.

In 2018, 40pc of those living below the poverty line were experiencing enforced deprivation, which means going without basics such as nutritious food or adequate heat. This is compared to 29pc in 2008. While the situation might have improved since this data was collected, it is likely that many low-income households are more exposed to an economic shock now than they were a decade before.

The data also shows that the groups most at risk of poverty, including children, lone parents and people with disabilities are still carrying the scars of austerity. Over 230,000 children are living below the poverty line and are being silently impacted by this pandemic. Without a strategic approach and a prioritisation of child poverty in the next Programme for Government, many more risk being left behind.

For children growing up in one-parent families this risk is even more apparent. The austerity cuts to income supports for lone parents, the majority of which are women, means that many are struggling to make ends meet and their rates of poverty are amongst the highest in Europe. Supporting lone parents into decent family friendly employment through the provision of free childcare must be a key objective of Government as we emerge from this crisis.

The fear and anxiety everyone is experiencing in the past few weeks is amplified for those who have both money and health worries. Poverty rates are highest among people unable to work due to illness or disability and rates have almost doubled in the past 10 years. The inadequacy of social welfare supports and their failure to account for the additional costs of disability must be addressed as presently too many people are forced to go without basics. The European Union's jobs commissioner, Nicolas Schmit, recently highlighted how adequate minimum-income schemes will play a vital role in protecting people from poverty as countries emerge from the public health crisis.

In Ireland we need to see social welfare rates benchmarked against the cost of a Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) in recognition of the real costs being faced by households. The provision of adequate supports and safeguards for renters will also be critical.

Before the Covid-19 crisis, the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) was already supporting many people who were at a tipping point with the threat of homelessness hanging over their heads. They are juggling energy, education and childcare costs, and constantly worrying about unexpected expenses.

When the pandemic is over many people will be trapped in poverty and we need to make sure they are not overlooked - or their situation made worse - as the economy recovers.

Now is the time to get things right by prioritising investment in our social infrastructure and supports, creating a minimum social floor for all citizens that no one is expected to fall below.

Introducing legislation that makes poverty reduction targets legally binding, and places poverty proofing and equality budgeting on a statutory footing would ensure that any "hard choices" are guided by values of compassion, equality, justice, and the need to uphold everyone's human right to a life with dignity.

Dr Tricia Keilthy is head of social justice at the Society of St Vincent de Paul
BP boss Bernard Looney has promised to take the oil giant in a more sustainable direction. (Andrew Milligan/PA)

One of the UKs largest private companies has struck a five billion dollar (4 billion) deal to buy a wing of BP that had fallen out of favour at the oil giant.

Ineos will pay BP in six installments until June next year for its petrochemicals business which makes a key component in polyester.

The business employs around 1,700 staff, spread mainly across the Asia, the US, Belgium and a plant in Hull.

It means that a changing BP has met its promise to sell off 15 billion dollars (12 billion) of assets a year earlier than initially promised.

It is another step in a revamp led by the FTSE 100 listed oil giants new boss Bernard Looney.

Strategically, the overlap with the rest of BP is limited and it would take considerable capital for us to grow these businesses. Bernard Looney, BP chief executive

Mr Looney has promised to set a new course for BP, which includes tackling emissions  a potential existential crisis for the oil industry.

This is another significant step as we steadily work to reinvent BP, the new boss said on Monday, about five months after taking charge.

The business fell out of favour with bosses who thought it would be too costly to grow on its own.

Strategically, the overlap with the rest of BP is limited and it would take considerable capital for us to grow these businesses, Mr Looney said.

As we work to build a more focused, more integrated BP, we have other opportunities that are more aligned with our future direction. Todays agreement is another deliberate step in building a BP that can compete and succeed through the energy transition.

Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who was once named the UKs richest person by the Sunday Times Rich List, said: We are delighted to acquire these top-class businesses from BP, extending the Ineos position in global petrochemicals and providing great scope for expansion and integration with our existing business.

This acquisition is a logical development of our existing petrochemicals business extending our interest in acetyls and adding a world leading aromatics business supporting the global polyester industry.

The 1,700 jobs at BP petrochemicals are expected to transfer over to Ineos, BP said.
29/06/2020 Tara Murphy & Louise Cantwell from Donnycarney at Ultimate Hair & Beauty which has reopened as part of an easing of Covid 19 restrictions in GPO Arcade, Dublin. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins

29/06/2020 Tanya Murray & Michelle English at Ultimate Hair & Beauty which has reopened as part of an easing of Covid 19 restrictions in GPO Arcade, Dublin. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins

29/06/2020 Tanya Murray & Michelle English at Ultimate Hair & Beauty which has reopened as part of an easing of Covid 19 restrictions in GPO Arcade, Dublin. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins

29/06/2020 Micheal Duncliffe & Helen Barry from Marino at Ultimate Hair & Beauty which has reopened as part of an easing of Covid 19 restrictions in GPO Arcade, Dublin. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins

The women of Dublin were out in numbers getting pampered from head-to-toe now that the latest lifting of Covid restrictions means hair and beauty salons can finally open their doors once more.

There were sighs of relief as dye brushes were lathered lovingly onto greying or dull locks of hair, and cuticles were buffed, polished and painted to glamour catwalk standard.

And despite the fact that cups of coffee and glossy magazines have been replaced with facemasks, perspex screens, and hand sanitiser bottles, salons were booked out in advance.

At Peter Mark on Grafton Street Hilary Marren from Clontarf was sitting comfortably in front of a mirror getting a cut and colour in her favourite salon for the first time in more than three months.

Ive been waiting since March so its a long time. Its been most challenging but we got there in the end, she said as her stylist Lorraine worked her magic.

Before lockdown Lorraine was kind enough to loan me her hair drier and give me some salon products so that kept me going and tided me over, but it's great to be back, I missed the whole therapeutic experience and the chat with the girls, she added from behind her facemask.

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I had an idea it would be like this. I guess this is the price we have to pay in order to resume activities like going to the hairdressers, so in the scheme of things its a small price to pay if it keeps people sane and the virus contained, she explained.

The staff were glad to be back too.

Im super excited to be back. Its time to get our heads down and look after our clients again, said stylist Megan Butler.

Im a colour specialist so Ive a lot of colour clients, so Ill focus on colour for the first few weeks, she explained.

Expand Close 29/06/2020 Tara Murphy & Louise Cantwell from Donnycarney at Ultimate Hair & Beauty which has reopened as part of an easing of Covid 19 restrictions in GPO Arcade, Dublin. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins / Facebook

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Whatsapp 29/06/2020 Tara Murphy & Louise Cantwell from Donnycarney at Ultimate Hair & Beauty which has reopened as part of an easing of Covid 19 restrictions in GPO Arcade, Dublin. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins

Asked about the difference between working pre-Covid and with-Covid, Megan said its a little bit more formal now.

Youre not just going into your hairdresser to chat and have a cup of tea, but thats the new way for everything, she said.

Last week we did lots of health and safety training and a barbicide course, so were well equipped. It will be different but well take it as it comes, she added.

The Peter Mark chain announced last week that it would charge extra for clients who had coloured their own hair, as correcting it would mean more work for the stylists.

But how did this go down with client Hilary.

I was fine with the extra charge. They only said there would be an extra charge if you had coloured your hair yourself, so they would have to spend more time correcting your colour mistakes and condition of your hair. I didnt colour it, but in the scheme of things if you did do it it would be a small price to pay, she said.

Ive been coming to Lorriane for many years now. The girls here are excellent and great fun, so Ive really missed them. Its like being reunited with friends, she added.

After coming out of the salon more than two hours later, Hilary said she felt like a new woman.

I feel great, like a new woman. She did a super job. It would be impossible to be able to get the shine and the smoothness they are able to do. It was great to see the girls, to connect with them, said Hilary.

Its more than a cut and colour. Its an experience. Im a regular customer - I go three times a week. They are like friends and family to me at this stage and I will be back on Friday, she added.

Expand Close 29/06/2020 Tanya Murray & Michelle English at Ultimate Hair & Beauty which has reopened as part of an easing of Covid 19 restrictions in GPO Arcade, Dublin. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins / Facebook

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Whatsapp 29/06/2020 Tanya Murray & Michelle English at Ultimate Hair & Beauty which has reopened as part of an easing of Covid 19 restrictions in GPO Arcade, Dublin. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins

At 5th Avenue Beauty Emporium on Clarendon Street Geidre Vasiliauske said she was nervous as she opened her chain of salons this morning.

I am excited and scared to be open again. I probably didnt sleep for the last three nights. It was more scary to be reopening than actually opening the business in the first place thirteen years ago, she said.

I was a bit afraid the clients on the first day back would feel a bit jumpy and scared but everyone was so lovely and supporting and happy to be back, she added.

We had tonnes of supportive messages while we were closed, especially on social media. Just before the opening we got nearly 3,000 emails for bookings, Geidre explained.

You can do many things at home but the professional job is meant to be perfect.

One happy 5th Avenue customer was Sinead Turley from Rathgar.

Its great to be back. I let my nails go au-natural for the last three months so it was great to be back today, she said as she left the salon with little pieces of tissues still separating her newly painted toes.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar also got a long-awaited haircut today.

Bearradh gruaige am lAin. Faoi dheireadh! TacaAgA le gnAthaA beaga chun daoine a chur ar ais ag obair arAs. An chAad rud eile, an chomh-aireacht chun Covid agus spreagadh post i mA IAil a phlA. Agus cuimhnAgA #FanSlAn pic.twitter.com/dX8mPo0g9A  Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) June 29, 2020

"Lunchbreak haircut. At last," he wrote on Twitter.

"Please support small businesses to help people get back to work. Now at Cabinet to discuss Covid and July jobs stimulus."

Green Party Chairperson Hazel Chu also took a trip to the hairdressers.

Thank you so so much to Lisa at @info_zinc for fitting me in today and @paulallenpr for the intro.



Starbars the both of ye! And can I just say the folks in Zinc are so lovely. They're in Kilmainham x pic.twitter.com/IfYUOMUgIX  Hazel Chu (@hazechu) June 29, 2020

"Starbars the both of ye," she wrote on social media, referring to her hairdressers.


--Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the freight trains have been playing a crucial role in supporting Europe's anti-epidemic fight by opening "green passages" for the transport of important supplies and raw materials.

--Beyond the contributions to underpinning anti-pandemic actions, the rail connection between China and Europe, since the restoration of its regular operation, has also brought an impetus to economic resumption in the Eurasian continent amid the pandemic by stabilizing trade and supply chains.

--Amid efforts to expand common interests in China-EU cooperation, the China-Europe rail transport service, which was initiated in 2011, is widely expected to play an increasingly important role in the post-pandemic era.

FRANKFURT, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Departing from Nanchang, the capital of China's Jiangxi Province, a cargo train loaded with medical materials against COVID-19 arrived in Paris Tuesday morning, vividly reflecting the sustained pragmatic anti-pandemic cooperation between China and Europe.

Among many China-Europe express operations for transport of much-needed medical supplies since the COVID-19 outbreak, this train had run over 11,920 km through seven countries before delivering some 20 million surgical masks and gloves, water-soluble bags, contactless gel dispensers and other resources, which marked the first dedicated rail transport of protective materials directly from China to France amid the pandemic.

In the meantime, two additional China-Europe freight trains carrying anti-coronavirus supplies are on their way to Duisburg, Germany, and Madrid, Spain respectively, expected to arrive on Saturday and Monday.

Aerial photo taken on April 11, 2020 shows a logistic station of the Erenhot Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The port has handled 379 China-Europe freight trains in the first quarter of this year. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

ANTI-PANDEMIC "GREEN PASSAGE"

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the freight trains have been playing a crucial role in supporting Europe's anti-epidemic fight by opening "green passages" for the transport of important supplies and raw materials.

From January to May, a total of 12,524 tonnes of anti-epidemic materials were sent from China to European countries by train.

Lyazid Benhami, vice-president of the Paris Association of French-Chinese Friendship, was delighted to witness the arrival of the "medical train" from China.

"In this period of health crisis, we are pleased to note that this important volume of materials transported (to France), including 20 million surgical masks and protective equipment, is up to meet the demand and needs of consumers and the market," he said.

The smooth operation of this anti-virus supply train has proven the feasibility, punctuality and safety of this land corridor with lower delivery costs than air freight, but less time consumption and more flexibility than sea freight, said Yao Hongzhi, general manager of COSCO Shipping (France) Agency.

"Against the backdrop of current international anti-pandemic cooperation, China-Europe freight trains have fully demonstrated their advantages in transporting medical materials," Yao added.

Carrying 35 containers of COVID-19 control and prevention materials, all of which were manufactured in central China's Hubei Province, a freight train from Wuhan, the provincial capital, is expected to arrive in the western German city of Duisburg, a logistics hub in central Europe on Saturday, before running further towards Hamburg.

A China-Europe freight train bound for Duisburg of Germany pulls out of the Wuhan terminal of China Railway Intermodal in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

"The original mode of transportation was container shipping to Europe, but now the products need to be delivered as soon as possible," said Gao Zandong, deputy general manager of COSCO Shipping Lines (Wuhan).

Gao noted that only a little bit more than 10 days were needed to transport much-needed medical materials from Hubei to Germany.

On June 29, Madrid will also greet a freight train from the city of Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, carrying 86 TEUs with about 257 tonnes of cargo, including 25.05 million face masks and 400,000 protective suits.

Carlos Santana, who is responsible for the company which operates the Yiwu-Madrid line in Spain, told Xinhua that railway transport has been proven to be a reliable means of importing health materials from China in the midst of the pandemic.

Chinese Ambassador to Spain Wu Haitao said the Yiwu-Madrid express with medical materials is a living proof of international anti-coronavirus cooperation.

A China-Europe freight train carrying medical supplies bound for Madrid of Spain departs the city of Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 5, 2020. (Photo by Lyu Bin/Xinhua)

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Beyond the contributions to underpinning anti-pandemic actions, the rail connection between China and Europe, since the restoration of its regular operation, has also brought an impetus to economic resumption in the Eurasian continent amid the pandemic by stabilizing trade and supply chains.

From January to May, the number and shipments of China-Europe freight trains surged by 28 percent and 32 percent year-on-year respectively, according to the China State Railway Group.

Aerial photo taken on April 3, 2020 shows a China-Europe freight train, also the "China Post" CR Express 1st block train, running under a bridge in Chongqing Municipality, southwest China. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

Notably, freight trains made a new high of 1,033 trips in May, up 43 percent year-on-year, transporting a record of 93,000 TEUs.

China-Europe freight trains open an opportunity for boosting trade between France and China, Benhami noted, adding that "the 'win-win' approach is very real for everyone, including the environment, businesses and consumers."

Xulio Rios, director of the Observatory of Chinese Politics in Spain, said the railway connection between Yiwu and Madrid offers an important route for goods traffic, from medical materials to items for everyday use during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

From Santana's perspective, rail transport from Asia continues to upgrade from moving small-sized, low-cost goods towards delivering goods with added value, as China is exporting goods with added value in greater quantities, such as watches, Bluetooth devices, automobile parts, electrical goods, and so on.

From Spain, he added, top-end consumer goods like extra virgin olive oil, wine and cured ham are brought to China by rail as well, with clear advantages of being speedy, ecological and cost-effective.

Laszlo Mosoczi, secretary of state for transport policy at Hungarian Ministry of Innovation and Technology, said that "as a transit country, Hungary benefits from freight traffic from Asia to Europe, and Hungary can become the logistics center of the region."

PROMISING IN POST-PANDEMIC ERA

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 bilateral ties to a new height, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday when meeting via video link with 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.

Amid efforts to expand common interests in China-EU cooperation, the China-Europe rail transport service, which was initiated in 2011, is widely expected to play an increasingly important role in the post-pandemic era.

Chinese-made Volvo XC60 vehicles exported to Europe via China Railway Express (Chang'an) are seen at the Port of Ghent in Belgium on July 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

The freight trains that link China and Europe have become a symbol of mutual benefits, said Rios.

"If we refer to the ongoing Belt and Road Initiative, we notice that the land route brings hope for both French and Chinese companies," Benhami said, noting that the initiative brings new opportunities of economic development.

The Yiwu-Madrid line can play an important role in cross-border e-commerce between China and Spain, Wu said.

He stressed that local governments and companies in Spain have shown a positive attitude toward strengthening cooperation on Yixin'ou cargo line (Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe) by expanding exports to China in a more convenient manner.

"We wish to offer French and Chinese companies occasional train solutions," said Xavier Wanderpepen, who is responsible for China-Europe rail freight activities at Forwardis, a subsidiary of France's national railway company SNCF Logistics.

"And we wish to work with China on the development of freight wagons with variable gauge capable of adapting to the situation in Western Europe, Russia and China. In a few years, we will be able to connect China and Europe in 10 days," Wanderpepen added.
New Delhi: Disagreeing with Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodias earlier statement that the national capital will have 5.5 lakh COVID-19 patients by July 31, Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday also rejected claims that Delhi is witnessing community transmission of the global pandemic.

Mr Shah also said that one crore 20 lakh guest workers have reached their native places till now, who were rendered jobless due to the nation-wide lockdown and many states are now working to create employment opportunities for these guest workers within the respective state.

In an interview to a news agency, Mr Shah said the coordination team of the Union government, Delhi government and MCD are keeping a tab on the COVID-19 daily situation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also updated by him on the issue on a daily basis. Mr Shah said by June 30 every house in containment zones will be inspected by health officials for COVID-19 systems and by July 31, house to house inspection of the entire city will be completed. Mr Shah also said that by June 30, there will be 30,000 COVID-19 beds available and till June 25, daily testing reached at around 16,000 per day which is going to further increase to check the virus spread.

 In second week of this month, Manish Sisodia had made a remark that by July 31, Delhi will have 5.5 lakh coronavirus cases and that it will be bad situation in DelhiI dont want to get into it but after this remark and a suggestion by the PM to take an initiative, we decided to hold a coordination meeting on June 14 of the Union government, Delhi government and the MCDthe Centre is not interfering but coordination with others in this matterthe decision of inspection of all houses in containment zones and house to house inspection were taken after suggestions given to us during the coordination meetings, including by experts, said Mr Shah.

He also said that rates of isolation beds, ICU treatment have been brought down and a committee to doctors have been set up after many complaints were received regarding arbitrary charges by private hospitals for treatment.

When asked about the plight faced by guest workers, Mr Shah said both him and the PM spoke to all chief ministers to ask them to provide food and other facilities for guest workers and around 2.5 crore guest workers were provided food by state governments and through NDRF, 11,000 crore were transferred to the states after the PMs direction for guest workers.

Around 63 lakh guest workers have travelled long distance through Sharmik trains and 42 lakhs have reached their homes in nearby states through busesmany states like UP, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, made facilities like quarantine centres for these guest workersprovided them with food kit and some amountthis is a temporary situation and when condition improves, many will want to return to states where they were working, some might want to stay at home and work and many states are making arrangements in this regard, said Mr Shah.
The appointment of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin's successor has been delayed by the Covid-19 crisis and won't be made until later in the year, priests in the diocese of Dublin have been told.

In a confidential memorandum sent to priests, deacons and pastoral workers in Dublin, and seen by the Irish Independent, Archbishop Martin told them: "It now appears likely that the appointment of my successor will not take place until later this year."

The delay in the appointment is linked to the Covid-19 crisis, which has also stalled the annual appointment process of priests to new parishes.

In his memorandum, Dr Martin explained the process of making new appointments was already under way when the coronavirus outbreak began. The uncertainties caused by the lockdown had resulted in this process being suspended.

The archbishop said he was concerned that he "might be making appointments just at the moment in which my successor could be appointed. I felt that this would be unfair to him and to those who would have been changed".

As it now appears likely the appointment of his successor will not take place until later this year, the Archbishop has decided that parish changes will be kept to a minimum and those who are due to retire or who are at the end of their period of appointment will be asked to remain in their position for a year or at most two years.

"This would allow my successor sufficient time to come to grips with the emerging situation," he said.

The leader of the largest Catholic diocese in the country told his priests, deacons and pastoral workers: "We are witnessing an extraordinary moment in the life of our parishes and our diocese. The renewal of normal parish life is only beginning."

He said preparations for the delayed celebration of Confirmation, First Holy Communion and the reopening of schools will continue well into the autumn.

Dr Martin turned 75, the age when bishops are required to submit their resignation to Pope Francis, in April and told the Irish Independent then that he had submitted his resignation a number of months previously.

Asked about the next archbishop of Dublin, he said in April that it needed to be someone who is a competent administrator, a man who can provide spiritual guidance to people in a very secularised world, and somebody who has a great sensitivity to the realities of the poor because parts of Dublin "are by far the poorest in our society".

The Archdiocese of Dublin has 199 parishes and over 300 diocesan clergy serving a population of over a million Catholics.

The Covid-19 pandemic has devastated the diocese's finances with priests having to take a 25pc pay cut while a third of its lay staff are being invited to take voluntary redundancy.
Caring: Staff in the Mater during the filming of the documentary

Nurses have told how they are now taking over the harrowing task from undertakers of ringing loved ones of patients who are near death from Covid-19 to ask what special possessions they would like to be buried with.

The struggle for survival and sad goodbyes that were part of the daily toll of the pandemic are revealed in 'RTE Investigates: Inside Ireland's Covid Battle', which captures how the deadly virus is fought by patients and staff in St James's Hospital in Dublin.

Patients who die must be placed in a double bodybag and placed in a sealed coffin.

One nurse speaks of how they contact relatives before a patient passes away to ask whether there is some item they would like them to be buried with "in order to make a bad situation better".

The programme highlights the case of one elderly woman, 'Mary', who in the final days of her life is comforted only by the kindness and care of hospital staff because her frail sister was unable to visit her.

The hospital, which has seen 79 patients die from the virus, has the largest intensive care centre in the country.

It achieved a survival rate of 80pc for Covid-19 patients who were seriously ill in intensive care, compared to the 50pc recorded in UK hospitals.

During the months of May and June, as cases of the virus were falling during lockdown, the 'RTE Investigates' team spent almost 30 days filming in St James's where the three wards were given over to Covid-19 patients.

The staff describe how cruel the virus is for patients whose relatives cannot visit them.

It is left to frontline nurses and doctors to step in to provide the daily updates to anxious loved ones as well as break good and bad news over the phone.

There are warm gestures arranging FaceTime greetings for patients fighting for their lives, and family photos by their bedside.

Among those featured is Patrick, a 97-year-old who was living an independent life in supported accommodation in Granby Row in Dublin until he caught the virus. His devoted support worker, Lisa, visits him every day in hospital and plays him one of his favourite tunes 'An Irish Lullaby'.

There are insights into how patients who have suffered the worst ordeal in intensive care, hooked up to ventilators and sedated, survive as staff bring them back from the darkest of days.

Patients Betty and John spend weeks in t he care of St James's, severely ill with the complications of the virus but survive to be reunited with their families.
Legal threat: The Rolling Stones perform on stage during The Rolling Stones No Filter concert at Croke Park. Photo: Steve Humphreys

The Rolling Stones are threatening US President Donald Trump with legal action for using their songs at his rallies despite cease-and-desist directives.

The Stones said in a statement yesterday that their legal team is working with music rights organisation BMI to stop use of their material in Mr Trump's re-election campaign.

"The BMI have notified the Trump campaign on behalf of the Stones that the unauthorised use of their songs will constitute a breach of its licensing agreement,'' the Stones said.

"If Donald Trump disregards the exclusion and persists, then he would face a lawsuit for breaking the embargo and playing music that has not been licensed.''

The Trump campaign team didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The Stones had complained during Mr Trump's 2016 campaign about the use of their music to fire up his conservative base at rallies.

The Rolling Stones' 1969 classic 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' was a popular song for his events. It was played again at the close of Mr Trump's recent rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma - an indoor event criticised for its potential to spread the coronavirus.

The BMI provides licences for venues to play a broad array of music and has a catalogue of more than 15 million songs that can be played at political events.

Artists can opt out of having their music played at political events, and a BMI statement says the Stones have done that.

BMI has informed the Trump campaign that if it plays Stones music again at an event, it will be in breach of its licensing agreement, the statement said.

Other artists have also complained about having their music associated with Mr Trump's events.

The family of the late rock musician Tom Petty said they had issued a cease-and-desist order after Mr Trump used the song 'I Won't Back Down' in Tulsa.

"Trump was in no way authorised to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind,'' the statement said.

"Both the late Tom Petty and his family firmly stand against racism and discrimination of any kind.

"Tom Petty would never want a song of his to be used in a campaign of hate. He liked to bring people together.''

Grammy Award-winning musician Neil Young lashed out at Mr Trump in 2018 after hearing one of his songs played against his wishes during Mr Trump's pre-midterm campaign rallies.

The Canadian-born musician admonished Mr Trump for using his 1990 single, 'Rockin' in the Free World', in spite of earlier warnings.
Moved: JK Rowling says she has received more than 3,000 supportive emails over the trans-rights issue. Photo: Getty Images

JK Rowling said she has received more than 3,000 emails thanking her for voicing her concerns about transgender issues after detailing her experience with domestic abuse.

The Harry Potter author has been at the centre of a row about trans rights and has been accused of being transphobic, an allegation Rowling strongly denies.

She has previously said in an essay that she was partly motivated to speak out about the issue because of her experience of abuse and sexual assault.

"I've received over 3,000 emails thanking me for speaking up.

"I've been brought to tears many times while reading, sometimes out of gratitude for their kindness, but also because many women have shared their own experiences of violence & sexual assault," she wrote on Twitter.

"Some emails came from professionals working in women's refuges, the prison service, the social work system, the criminal justice system and the police. All expressed concerns about the aims and methods of current trans activism.

"As I stated in my essay, my primary worry is the risks to vulnerable women. As everyone knows, I'm no longer reliant on communal facilities, nor am I likely to be imprisoned or need a women's refuge any time soon. I'm not arguing for the privileged, but the powerless."

Responding to criticism from shadow environment minister Lloyd Russell-Moyle, for which he has apologised, she said: "When so-called leftists like @lloyd_rm demand that we give up our hard won sex-based rights, they align themselves squarely with men's rights activists.

"To both groups, female trauma is white noise, an irrelevance, or else exaggerated or invented."

Daniel Radcliffe, the star of the Harry Potter film series, and Eddie Redmayne, who leads the cast of 'Fantastic Beasts', have both criticised Rowling for her comments about transgender issues.
Britain's government is considering a lockdown for the central English city of Leicester amid a spike of Covid-19 cases - the first time that a single UK area would face such an extreme measure during the pandemic.

'The Sunday Times' first reported that a lockdown could come within days after 658 new cases were recorded in the Leicester area in the two weeks up to June 16. Home Secretary Priti Patel acknowledged in a BBC interview yesterday that ministers were considering the move.

"There will be support going into Leicester and in fact the health secretary was in touch with many of us over the weekend explaining some of the measures, the support on testing, resources that will go into the local authority as well,'' Ms Patel said. "With local flare-ups it is right we have a localised solution.''

But Ms Patel gave no indication of the number of people who could be affected by the local lockdown being discussed or whether the surrounding area would be affected. Leicester has a city population of 330,000.

The spike comes amid fears that the disease has been spreading through the city's large Asian community, who often live in multi-generational households.

The local outbreak underscores the disproportionate hit that the pandemic has had on Britain's minority communities.

Britain has Europe's worst confirmed coronavirus death toll, with some 43,600 dead and Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government has been strongly criticised for what has been seen as a slow, chaotic response to the pandemic.

Britain is now slowly emerging from a total national lockdown imposed on March 23, with plans to ease things further by early next month.

That reopening plan has rested on the notion that local outbreaks could be tamped down through aggressive programmes to track, test and trace those infected, but such a plan may not prove so simple.

Keith Neal, emeritus professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, said defining the lockdown area would be "one of the biggest problems", as local authority boundaries can run down the middle of a street.

People will be confused as to who is in the lockdown and who is out, he said.

"Locking down at the regional level would be seen as unfair or worse, as Leicester City has really very little to do with rural Lincolnshire,'' he said.
Lithuanian politicians voted to remove an artificial beach in central Vilnius with some hailing the sandy spot as a way to chill out while others were outraged by its location.

The beach sits on a historic square in front of the former KGB headquarters where Lithuanians were detained, tortured and executed for decades.

The 141-seat Seimas, or assembly, passed the law 78-11, saying the Lukiskes square must be reserved for ""representative purposes".

The remaining politicians either abstained or were absent.

The move overturned a decision by the municipality administration in Vilnius, the Baltic country's capital, which created the temporary recreation spot, dubbed Open Beach.

Last week, Vilnius used approximately 300 cubic metres (10,600 cubic feet) of sand to create the artificial beach nearly 185 miles from the Baltic Sea.

The place was fitted with sunbeds, parasols and Beware Of Sharks warning signs.

Formally, the adopted law makes the central Lukiskes Square the main historic square in Vilnius and said it should reflect the fights for independence and the memory of freedom fighters who lost their lives.

The square is also where Lithuanian insurgents were executed in 1863-1864 during Tsarist Russia's occupation of the country.

The artificial beach was an instant hit with families sitting on beach chairs and children building sandcastles, while others enjoyed the sunny summer weather next to public fountains.

After the vote, the city's mayor said that the beach would stay despite the new law.

"Everybody will be able to enjoy it until the end of summer," Remigijus Simasius posted on Facebook.

The plan was to keep it in place until September.

However, it was unclear what would happen to it now.

The beach was criticised by politicians, including President Gitanas Nauseda who condemned the choice of the square for the beach.

Opponents said the initiative was disrespectful to the memory of freedom fighters.

The ruling bloc of Peasant and Green Union, with the support of smaller parties, rushed through the bill, which gave special status to the central square in response to Vilnius' beach initiative.

Even the opposition conservatives supported the vote too.

The secret police's former headquarters now houses a court of law and museum on the Soviet occupation that ended in 1991.

On its walls, the building features the names of those who died there.
The day after Britain voted to leave the European Union, Joe Biden approached a microphone in Dublin and spoke in a sombre voice.

"I must say, we had looked for a different outcome," the then US vice-president said, not hiding his disappointment. "We'd have preferred a different outcome."

That afternoon he criticised "reactionary politicians and demagogues peddling xenophobia, nationalism and isolationism" being seen in the world, including Europe.

The tone, one of regret and concern, was a stark contrast to that of Boris Johnson, who a few hundred kilometres away hailed the "wonderful opportunity" he had helped bring about. The two men's opposing views of Brexit have been of little significance in the years since June 2016, with Mr Biden leaving the political frontline shortly after the referendum.

But no longer. Mr Biden, now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, has a double-digit lead in nationwide polls over Donald Trump ahead of the US election.

Many of Mr Biden's foreign policy stances are closer to those of the prime minister than the ones adopted by Mr Trump, carrying on from his time as Barack Obama's deputy. He supports Nato, talks tough on Russia, believes in the Paris climate change agreement and was a firm believer in the Iran nuclear deal.

But on Brexit, the opposite is true. Mr Trump supported Britain leaving the EU before the vote and wants a major trade deal. Mr Biden did not and his views on a deal are unclear.

The picture emerging is one of a seasoned foreign policy hand whose opposition to Brexit and deeply-felt Irish heritage could shape thinking while pursuing the twin ambitions of maintaining close ties with Britain and rebuilding links to the EU.

Speaking in London in October 2018, Mr Biden again made clear his disapproval of Brexit.

"Had I been an MP, had I been a British citizen, I would've voted against leaving," Mr Biden said at an event with the think-tank Chatham House.

Mr Biden stressed the depth and strength of UK-US ties, but also suggested America was left damaged by the move.

The extent of past interactions between Mr Biden and Mr Johnson are unclear, but the little said on the record by the former about his potential counterpart is not complimentary. It is just four months before US voters decide whether to make President Biden a reality. If they do, Mr Trump will be replaced by something very different. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
The US Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law regulating abortion clinics, reasserting a commitment to abortion rights over fierce opposition from dissenting conservative justices in the first big abortion case of Donald Trumps presidency.

Chief Justice John Roberts joined with his four more liberal colleagues in ruling that the law requiring doctors who perform abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals violates the abortion right the court first announced in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973.

In two previous abortion cases, Mr Roberts had favoured restrictions.

The Louisiana law is virtually identical to one in Texas that the court struck down in 2016.

Were relieved that the Louisiana law has been blocked today but were concerned about tomorrow Nancy Northup

The result in this case is controlled by our decision four years ago invalidating a nearly identical Texas law, Mr Roberts wrote, although he did not join the opinion written by Justice Stephen Breyer for the other liberals.

In dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote: Today a majority of the Court perpetuates its ill-founded abortion jurisprudence by enjoining a perfectly legitimate state law and doing so without jurisdiction.

President Donald Trumps two appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, were in dissent, along with Justice Samuel Alito.

The presence of the new justices is what fuelled hopes among abortion opponents, and fears on the other side, that the Supreme Court would be more likely to uphold restrictions.

Nancy Northup, president and chief executive of the Centre for Reproductive Rights, said Mondays decision by no means ends the struggle over abortion rights in legislatures and the courts.

Were relieved that the Louisiana law has been blocked today but were concerned about tomorrow.

With this win, the clinics in Louisiana can stay open to serve the one million women of reproductive age in the state.

But the Courts decision could embolden states to pass even more restrictive laws when clarity is needed if abortion rights are to be protected, Ms Northup said.

OPINION: June Medical Services L. L. C. v. Russo (18-1323) https://t.co/2c6A8G2IUb



aThe court concluded that the law imposes an undue burden and is thus unconstitutional.a  U.S. Supreme Court (@USSupremeCourt) June 29, 2020

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List, said: Todays ruling is a bitter disappointment.

It demonstrates once again the failure of the Supreme Court to allow the American people to protect the well-being of women from the tentacles of a brutal and profit-seeking abortion industry.

A trial judge had said the law would not provide health benefits to women and would leave only one clinic open in Louisiana, in New Orleans.

That would make it too hard for women to get an abortion, in violation of the Constitution, the judge ruled.

But the appeals court in New Orleans rejected the judges findings and upheld the law in 2018, doubting that any clinics would have to close and saying the doctors had not tried hard enough to establish relationships with local hospitals.

The clinics filed an emergency appeal at the Supreme Court, asking that the law be blocked while the justices evaluated the case.

Today a majority of the Court perpetuates its ill-founded abortion jurisprudence by enjoining a perfectly legitimate state law and doing so without jurisdiction Dissenting judge Clarence Thomas

Early last year, Mr Roberts joined with the four liberal members of the court to grant that request and keep the law on hold.

Mr Roberts vote was a bit of a surprise because he voted in the Texas case to uphold the clinic restrictions.

It may have reflected his new role since Justice Anthony Kennedys retirement as the courts swing justice, his concern about the court being perceived as a partisan institution and respect for a prior decision of the court, even one he disagreed with.

Mr Roberts did not write anything explaining his position at the time, but he had never before cast a vote on the side of abortion rights.

The regulations at issue in Louisiana are distinct from other state laws making their way through court challenges that would ban abortions early in a pregnancy.

Those include bans on abortion once a foetal heartbeat is detected, as early as six weeks, and the almost total ban passed in Alabama.
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Tik Tok has been the most popular app in India in the last few years.

New Delhi: The Indian government has banned 59 mostly Chinese mobile apps, including TikTok. The decision comes in the wake of the killing of 20 Indian soldiers in a skirmish in Galwan Valley in Ladakh.

India banned the apps, terming them prejudicial to sovereignty, integrity, defence of India.

PTI reported that the other banned apps included Shareit, WeChat, Mi Video Call, Xiaomi.

The move follows several trade-related decisions taken by India to hit back at Chinese interests in the country.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
An order by India's MeitY has banned the use of 59 Chinese apps within the country, citing the Chinese apps "are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.

This finally comes as the latest move in escalating tensions between India and China, after violence erupted on the LAC in Ladakh's Galwan Valley where 20 Indian soldiers were martyred earlier this month.

Reuters

The Indian government order that called for the 59 Chinese apps ban included popular apps like TikTok, SHAREIt, UC Browser, Helo, Baidu Map and more.

59 Chinese apps ban: Full list of Chinese apps

If you are wondering which Chinese apps have been banned by the Indian government, here is the full list of Chinese apps banned for your perusal:

1. TikTok 2. Shareit 3. Kwai 4. UC Browser 5. Baidu map 6. Shein 7. Clash of Kings 8. DU battery saver 9. Helo

10. Likee 11. YouCam makeup 12. Mi Community 13. CM Browers 14. Virus Cleaner 15. APUS Browser 16. ROMWE 17. Club Factory 18. Newsdog 19. Beutry Plus 20. WeChat

21. UC News 22. QQ Mail 23. Weibo 24. Xender 25. QQ Music 26. QQ Newsfeed 27. Bigo Live 28. SelfieCity 29. Mail Master 30. Parallel Space

31. Mi Video Call  Xiaomi 32. WeSync 33. ES File Explorer 34. Viva Video  QU Video Inc 35. Meitu 36. Vigo Video 37. New Video Status 38. DU Recorder 39. Vault- Hide 40. Cache Cleaner DU App studio

41. DU Cleaner 42. DU Browser 43. Hago Play With New Friends 44. Cam Scanner 45. Clean Master - Cheetah Mobile 46. Wonder Camera 47. Photo Wonder 48. QQ Player 49. We Meet 50. Sweet Selfie

51. Baidu Translate 52. Vmate 53. QQ International 54. QQ Security Center 55. QQ Launcher 56. U Video 57. V fly Status Video 58. Mobile Legends 59. DU Privacy

Reuters

India Ban Apps: The reason

According to a Times Now report, the anti-Chinese apps order issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) stated that the 59 apps that have been banned by the Government of India "are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.

That's not all, the order further continued with the following: "This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace."

Just earlier this month, early hints indicated that as many as 52 Chinese apps were being considered to be banned by Indian government.

Reuters

Even an app called 'Remove China Apps' had become insanely popular in a very short time, clocking over 10 lakh downloads on Google's Android Play Store, indicating the strong anti-China sentiment among Indian app users.

The order blocking the 59 Chinese apps in India also stated the following: "The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these malicious apps. This Ministry has also received many representations raising concerns from citizens regarding security of data and risk to privacy relating to operation of certain apps. The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) has also received many representations from citizens regarding security of data and breach of privacy impacting upon public order issues."
Sunsets on Earth can be breathtakingly beautiful to watch but considering we see them almost everyday, the charm is lost unless it is for a new, scenic location.

What if this location was not to be on Earth at all? What if we watch the sunset, say, from Venus?

NASA

If you have pondered upon this question too, US space agency NASA has come up with an animation that can reveal the answers. NASA sunset simulator, as it is called, has been created by Geronimo Villanueva, a planetary scientist from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Villanueva came up with the animation while building a computer modeling tool for a possible future mission to Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun in our solar system.

The resulting animation is a lovely palette of colors that would actually be visible to anyone standing on these planets at the time of sunset.

The breathtaking video

Through the video, NASA shows us a glimpse of what a sunset would look like from the surface of Earth, Venus, Mars, Uranus, and even Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. As these cosmic bodies rotate away from the light of the Sun during a sunset, photons get scattered in different directions depending on their energy as well as the types of molecules in the atmosphere.

The result is a spectacular aurora of colours, each one different than the one before. While we are well versed with sunsets on Earth, the ones on other planets are poised to catch our attention more.

A sunset on Mars, for instance, turns from a brownish to blueish colour because of the Martian dust particles which scatter the blue colour more effectively. One on Uranus is a rich azure that fades into royal blue with hints of turquoise.

The Uranian sunset gets its colours from the interaction of sunlight with the planets atmosphere that is rich in hydrogen, helium and methane. These elements absorb the longer-wavelength red portion of the light and scatter the shorter-wavelength blue and green portions.

Sunset on other planets

This artist's concept shows an astronaut on Mars, as viewed through the window of a spacecraft. (Image: NASA/ JPL-Caltech)

The sunset simulation, essentially a sky simulation, has now found its way to a widely used online tool called the Planetary Spectrum Generator, developed by Villanueva and his colleagues at NASA Goddard.



With this generator, scientists replicate the transmission of light through the atmospheres of planets, exoplanets, moons, and comets. They then try to understand what their atmospheres and surfaces are made of.
OPPO launched the swanky new flagship OPPO Find X2 series In India through a virtual event. The OPPO flagship is unlike any other; both the OPPO Find X2 and Find X2 Pro have made its mark in the premium segment, with the launch of 5G, an ultra vision screen, and a fast user interface. But these are just the highlights. What really caught our eye is the 65 W SuperVOOC 2.0 Charging technology which is the worlds first commercialized and fastest charging technology and will make you question your old phones, and switch to this flagship killer.

OPPO

Fast Charging & Safer Battery

The SuperVOOC flash charging technology has freed us from worrying about charging and as the internal space of mobile phones is limited, flash charging has become the most effective way to guarantee a long battery life.

OPPO Find X2 is powered by 65W SuperVOOC 2.O charging technology, the worlds fastest flash charging technology, that can fully charge the Find X2 in just 38minutes! With five-level safety protection, OPPO has ensured that fast-charging also takes into account the safe use of the 4200 mAh battery. This powerful combination of superlative charging capabilities and battery makes these phones last super long, which is a must-have for any premium flagship worth its salt. Users can charge their mobile phones in small bursts and are free from worrying about battery life so they can focus on what matters to them.

In terms of security,65W SuperVOOC 2.0 inherits OPPO's comprehensive technology, offering five-fold protection from the adapter to the interface, and then to the inside of the mobile phone. So you not only get blazing fast charging but one that is super safe too.

OPPO

Power-Packed and Performance Driven

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, and 12 GB of RAM, the OPPO Find X2 series can handle almost any task you throw at it, with ease. Moreover, the series support for SA/NSA dual-mode networks for 5G and global roaming makes it the most future-ready smartphone series among its peers. The 5G optimized technology and top-of-the-line processor means that users are guaranteed a strong-performing device that delivers value for every single penny spent on it. The Find X2 supports 256 GB storage whereas the Find X2 Pro supports 512 GB storage, ample for flagship-level device experience.

120Hz QHD+ Ultra Vision Screen

With a smooth and clear display, the 120Hz QHD + Ultra Vision Screen is the most advanced and colour accurate display the smartphone giant has produced so far. Equipped with a 6.7-inch QHD OLED display screen, the Find X2 series offers users the clearest, brightest and most comfortable viewing experience, anytime and anywhere. With a120 Hz ultra-high refresh rate that promises a smooth and seamless motion that is easy on the eyes, and a touch sampling rate of up to 240 Hz for instant and accurate response, the series is simply world-class. It also boasts of accurate colour reproduction that mirrors professional displays, HDR Video Enhancement, Video Compensation and HDR 10+ certification. Plus, this advance display performance is already setting records, starting with earning DisplayMates highest A+ grade.

OPPO

Premium Design

In line with its legacy of offering sophisticated and elegant smartphone designs, the Find X2 series also offers users a slick and premium experience. The Find X2 series combines OPPOs narrowest bottom bezel to date, with beautiful curved surface design, to bring an immersive experience to users when watching films or playing games. In fact, the screen curvature also offers a comfortable grip, in addition to solving problems of mistouch or discolouration. Moreover, the Ceramic-edition also features a new grating texture design that gives the handset its comfortable hold and makes it anti-slip as well. The Black Ceramic and Ocean Glass colours give the Find X2 a touch of premium-ness, thus maintaining OPPOs commitment to its refined design philosophy.

Ultra Vision Camera + Flagship Sensor

Just like its display, the OPPO Find X2 Series has also upped its camera game with the Triple Versatile Camera System. The Find X2 adopts a 48MP (main camera) + 12MP (ultra-wide-angle camera) +13MP (telephoto camera) combination. All three lenses operate in tandem, achieving 5x hybrid zoom, that makes every photo or video you take, an effortless masterpiece. The Find X2 is also equipped with a Sony IMX586 48MP wide-angle camera, with ultimate low-light shooting capabilities. This means that users can capture every detail across varied lighting conditions while ensuring crisp and clear details no matter the setting.

Verdict

The OPPO Find X2 series has all the features it needs to go head-to-head with its other peers in the premium category. It pioneers some industry-leading features and offers users an unmatched experience of using a true flagship smartphone. With ultimate charging, best in class display and an enviable line-up of features to bolster performance, the series definitely ranks as one of the best and stands out in a crowd of premium smartphones.

The OPPO Find X2 is priced at Rs 64990 and is available at select offline stores and Amazon.












Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stated that there is no COVID-19 community transmission in Delhi, in an interview with ANI Editor Smita Prakash.

Shah said, I dont want to hide anything. I have spoken about this (community transmission) with the three most senior officers, right now this situation is not in Delhi. "

He added, "Such situation was seen because 30% of the tests done used to come positive. The reason was, tests were conducted late."

He further went on, "Now when we are doing 20,000 tests, this is not the situation. No such situation in Delhi, no need to worry, said Home Minister on community transmission in Delhi. "

Also read: ICMR Study Points To Community Transmission In India And It's Not Good News

ANI

Other than this, he said that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, India is going to win this war against COVID-19. He said that our country has fought well against the highly contagious disease and that our figures are much better as compared to the rest of the world.

He also said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is always kept in the loop when it comes to any decisions made for the national capital.

Also read: India Records 10,965 New COVID Cases, Surpasses UK As Govt Maintains No Community Transmission

Reuters (Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal)

Delhi has a total of 80,188 confirmed cases with the death toll standing at 2,558 right now. The total number of cases around the world has crossed 10 million and people are placed in a wave of panic once again.

While some states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu refuse to lift the lockdown, others are fully-functional already.

The statement by Shah did not sit well with people who are taking in account the significant rise in cases.

Also read: Anurag Kashyap Feels Half Our Problems Would Be Solved If Home Minister Amit Shah Says 'Sorry'

Coronavirus live updates: No community transmission in Delhi, home minister Amit Shah says.



Seriously . You deserve a slow clap.



Flights shut 3 months se community nahi tho kaha se ho raha hai . Kabhi galat hoto ho tho maan bhi liya karo .#BJPFailsIndia#bjp#CoronaUpdates pic.twitter.com/ANZKY0s0Ae  Vishal.V (@vishalvir20) June 28, 2020

India's Home Minister, 2nd biggest made-in-india virus, amit shah still lies there is no community transmission in Delhi.



Dear Delhiites, you only have your fellow citizens to depend on. Some of those fellow citizens were targeted unjustly few months back. Build bridges now.  monochr (@monochr_om) June 28, 2020

I think first one need to understand what's "community transmission " in any epidemic from specialist.



It's matter of healthcare......not a election speech.  Prakash Kumar (@thakurprakashk) June 28, 2020

No community transmission of Covid in Delhi: Amit Shah



Who could be more qualified to talk about viruses?  NissimMannathukkaren (@nmannathukkaren) June 28, 2020

The home minister of India, Amit Shah is clearly lying on the face of evidences.



Definitely, there is community transmission in Delhi, Ahmadabad, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Bangalore.



Don't lie. https://t.co/KBuU01QhuI  Rakshit Kumar (@rckstr_rakshit) June 28, 2020

What the hell is community transmission and why not having it is a badge of honor despite getting 4K cases a day!! What is this foolish insurance of minimizing a problem.  Abhay Baijal (@abhay_baijal) June 28, 2020

Let us know what you think about this in the comments section.
Police collect evidence next to the bodies of alleged gunmen outside the Pakistan Stock Exchange building in Karachi on June 29, 2020.(AFP)

Karachi: Gunmen attacked the Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi Monday, with six killed, police said.

Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said the attackers pulled up in a car outside the trading floor and hurled a grenade at the building before opening fire.

"Four attackers have been killed," he added.

Karachi was once a hotspot for crime and political and ethnic violence, with heavily armed groups tied to politicians frequently gunning down opponents and launching attacks on residential areas.

However, the situation has largely stabilised in recent years following operations by security agencies against armed political outfits and Islamist militants.

The operations were coupled with a series of large-scale military offensives targeting homegrown insurgents as well as Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants -- often based near the lawless border with Afghanistan.

Militant groups however still retain the ability to launch periodic attacks in many rurals areas of the country.

Monday's attack comes more than a week after a grenade was thrown at a line of people waiting outside a government welfare office in the city, killing one and injuring eight others, according to a statement from municipal authorities.

In 2018, separatist militants launched a brazen daylight attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi that killed four people.
In this photo taken on March 25, 2020, AgVa Healthcare employee Vaibhav Gupta demonstrates using a ventilator at the research and development center in Noida in Uttar Pradesh state. (Prakash Singh/AFP via Getty Images)
There are so many different ways that you can hug a person. Obviously, each type of hug is going to have a little different meaning to it,...
The Federal Government of Nigeria will on Tuesday, June 30, address Nigerians on the next phase of COVID-19 eased lockdown in the country.

Read Also: Gov Okowa Self-Isolates After Daughter Tests Positive For COVID-19

The Personal Assistant on New Media to President Buhari, Bashir Ahmad made this known shortly after Boss Mustapha, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, briefed the president on the latest updates.

He tweeted, Today is the last day of Nigerias phase II of the eased lockdown, members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefed and submitted their recommendations to the President for approval, the next lines of action will be announced tomorrow, SGF Boss Mustapha discloses.
Bishop David Oyedepo has again lashed out at the governments of Lagos and Ogun states over the continuous closure of churches.

The founder of the Living Faith Church International aka Winners Chapel in his sermon on Sunday, June 28, alleged that Lagos and Ogun have been inflicted with the anti-church virus rather than the coronavirus pandemic.

Oyedepo wondered why marketplaces where people no longer observe social distancing or hygiene will remain open while churches have not been allowed to reopen.

He said: No hand-washing, no nothing. Everyone is in the market running over each other every day of the week and there is no outbreak from the market but perceived outbreak from the church. Prophets are Gods voices to the nations. Caution! Now, freedom of worship is no longer a constitutional right but now determined to buy some individuals. It is a hard thing to kick against the priest. This is no longer coronavirus in Lagos and Ogun. It is now the anti-church virus clean and clear.

READ ALSO  Oyedepo Reacts As Churches, Mosques Set To Reopen

He also claimed that 10 members of his church testified to being healed from the disease in the last week. Oyedepo insisted that there would have been more testimonies if churches have been allowed to reopen.

He added: Can anybody silence the church? Never! I have never heard of anybody that God healed in the market but people get healed in every church day and night, real tangible healing. We have recorded 114 coronavirus healing testimonies. We got 10 this week. And that is the place that is vulnerable, not the market.
In what was, so far, the best baseball game of the week, the Jaguars pulled their 33rd win out of the fire and salvaged a gem of a start from their star pitcher.
The federal government of Nigeria has revealed that no fewer than one million applicants have applied for the N-power scheme since the program opened its portal on Friday night.

This was made known by Rhoda Iliya, the the deputy director information, ministry of humanitarian affairs disaster management and social development, on Sunday.

In her comment, she further debunked news that the application portal has been hijacked.

She said,The ministry wishes to reiterate that all young Nigerians between the ages of 18-35 with or without formal education can apply for a slot in the new program which would be very focused on agriculture, the statement read.

Read Also: Why We Will Not Increase N-Power Stipend: FG

The number of applications so far received is an indication of the number of our youths who need jobs and the confidence in the program.

The ministry will continue to collaborate with its technical partners to provide timely support to all applicants.

The selection process would be fair and transparent and the public would also be carried along at every stage.

The portal is open for all Nigerians who meet the application criteria.

N-Power is one of the national social investment programmes of the federal government targeted at ending poverty in the country.
Adamu Mohammed, Inspector General of Police, has ordered Bolaji Salami, Ondo Commissioner of Police, to restore the security details of Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, with immediate effect.

Adamus order is contained in a memo addressed to the police commissioner through the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja on Monday.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, men of the Nigeria Police attached to the deputy governor were withdrawn after he had defected to the Peoples Democratic Party from the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The memo with Ref. No CB: 2002/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL/77/168 was signed on behalf of the IGP by Austine Agbonlahor, Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

Last Wednesday, Ajayi had raised the alarm that his life was in danger when policemen attached to his office were withdrawn on the orders of the Commissioner of Police in the state.

The deputy governor had alleged that the Commissioner of Police worked on the instructions of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to withdraw the officers, with whom hes had a running battle with him.

Read Also: Akeredolu Fires Aides Attached To Ondo Deputy Governor

Ajayi had engaged in a confrontation with the police at the Government House following the alleged refusal of the latter to allow him to leave the premises allegedly on the orders of the governor.

Meanwhile, the deputy governor had in a statement released by his Media Aide, Mr Babatope Okeowo, lauded the integrity and courage displayed by the majority of the lawmakers for shunning all entreaties, inducement, and intimidation to impeach him.

The statement also urged lawmakers to also shun another latest plan to move the next meeting of the impeachment plot to a private hotel in Akure.

(NAN)
Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, says the state government didnt adhere to the established land use rule in Oyo state when it gave approval for the burial of former governor of the state, Abiola Ajimobi at his Oluyole Estate residence.

Ajimobi died of multiple organ failure following complications from COVID-19 at First Cardiologist Consultant, Hospital in Lagos, last Thursday at the age of 70. The former governors burial was initially scheduled for Friday, but was postponed according to Bolaji Tunji, special assistant on media to the former governor, due to consultations with the governments of Lagos and Oyo.

The Edo state governorship flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress(APC), osagie Ize Iyamu says the former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole never meant all the bad things he said about him during the build-up to the 2016 gubernatorial poll in the state.

He clarified that the former national chairman of APC was only trying to demarket him when he contested under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2016.

Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike has stated that he is happy with the crisis currently rocking the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, he added that he is happy with the circumstance that led the defection of Edo state governor Godwin Obaseki to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).He said, I am happy that APC is in crisis. It is not my business to help APC to be united, the governor said.

A chieftain of Afenifere, a Yoruba social-cultural group says he knows that the duo of president Muhammadu Buhari and former Lagos state governor, Bola Tinubu were both deceiving each other.

The elder statesman made the comment in reaction to the rumoured rift between President Buhari and Tinubu. Adebanjos statement was not surprising because the Presidency said there was no rift between the leaders but many commentators described Thursdays decision of the National

Former national chairman of the All Progressive Congress(APC), Adams Oshiomhole says he has no regret over the various decision he took while at the helms of affairs of the ruling Party.

Speaking via a press conference on Saturday, he further restated that he does not have what he thinks he would have done differently if given another chance. Also, he said his greatest moment of happiness in office was when the party took over Kwara state and effectively displaced the Saraki political dynasty.

The national leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress(APC), Bola Tinubu has opened up on the crisis rocking the party for the first time on Saturday.

Speaking via a new statement, he said the Party became a fighting club under its former national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole because of some many avoidable problems which the latter must own up to. In the statement, he also spoke about speculations that he ended up a loser in the aftermath of the crisis regarding his reported presidential ambition.

Bishop David Oyedepo has again lashed out at the governments of Lagos and Ogun states over the continuous closure of churches.

The founder of the Living Faith Church International aka Winners Chapel in his sermon on Sunday, June 28, alleged that Lagos and Ogun have been inflicted with the anti-church virus rather than the coronavirus pandemic. Oyedepo wondered why marketplaces where people no longer observe social distancing or hygiene will remain open while churches have not been allowed to reopen.

The Presidency has reacted to speculation of President Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), having a strained relationship following the dissolution of the partys national working committee.

Presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu in a statement released on Saturday June 27, described report of Buhari and Tinubu having a frosty relationship as political vulturism. He also accused the opposition party of spearheading the rumour.
Police in Lagos has arrested a 61-year-old man accused of having unlawful sexual intercourse with his 19-year-old daughter.

In a statement on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos noted that Eke Kanu was apprehended following a complaint from a female lawyer at the Ikorodu Police Station.

According to him, the victim said her father has been engaging in the immoral act since she was small and threatened to deal with her if she tells anyone.

She added that when Kanu discovered that she was pregnant; he took her to a chemist where she was administered some drugs and injection to abort the pregnancy.

READ ALSO  Man Rapes His 3-Year-Old Daughter While His Wife Was In Labor Room

Elkana said the victim has been taken to a medical center for treatment and forensic examination and the suspect has been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution.

Similarly, he disclosed that the Bariga Police Station received a report on Friday that one Chibuike Kalu had defiled his 14-year-old daughter.

The commands spokesman stated that the 33-year-old suspect confessed that he committed the crime and the victim has also been taken to a medical center for treatment and forensic examination.
Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, says the state government didnt adhere to the established land use rule in Oyo state when it gave approval for the burial of former governor of the state, Abiola Ajimobi at his Oluyole Estate residence.

Ajimobi died of multiple organ failure following complications from COVID-19 at First Cardiologist Consultant, Hospital in Lagos, last Thursday at the age of 70.

The former governors burial was initially scheduled for Friday, but was postponed according to Bolaji Tunji, special assistant on media to the former governor, due to consultations with the governments of Lagos and Oyo.

Taiwo Adisa, the Makindes spokesperson, in a statement on Saturday, said the state government was not responsible for the delay of Ajimobis burial.

According to him, the late ex-governors family members wanted him buried on a plot of land at Agodi GRA, but government turned down the request because the land was under litigation.

Adisa stated that Makinde, however, approved that Ajimobi be buried at his residence against the state rules on land.

In view of the intense enquiries from news media organisations regarding the perceived delay in burying the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the Oyo State Government wishes to place on record that there is no truth in the rumour making the rounds that the burial is being delayed by the state government, he said.

The rumour, which is being deliberately spread to give the state government a bad name and to play undue politics with the dead, initially came by the way of social media gossip, which gained traction to attract the attention of traditional media outfits.

Several media outfits reached out to the Media Office of the Governor of Oyo State to make enquiries on this barefaced lie on Saturday.

Let it be stated clearly that the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has played no role at all in causing any delay whatsoever regarding the burial of his immediate predecessor, Senator Ajimobi.

The truth of the matter is that the family, through a proxy, approached the state government and sought approval to bury the late governor on a plot of land at Agodi GRA, which is currently under litigation. Incidentally, it was the same former Governor Ajimobi who instituted the legal action.

Governor Seyi Makinde had no choice than to state the facts as they are to the emissaries and turn down the request.

Read Also: Ajimobi Didnt Want Any Appointment After Tenure As Governor: Spokesman

Governor Makinde, however, against the established land use rule in Oyo State, gave approval that the family can bury the late governor in his Oluyole Estate residence.

It is to be noted that the rules guiding land use in Government Reservation Areas (GRA) forbid the burial of bodies in such locations as Oluyole Estate and Agodi GRA.

Let us also put on record that whereas the family did not follow the laid down protocols in passing information on the sickness and eventual demise of Senator Ajimobi, Governor Makinde overlooked all that and directed the full cooperation of the government with the family on this matter.

It can only amount to a wicked lie to insinuate that the incumbent government in Oyo State attempted to obstruct the burial of the immediate past governor.
Philadelphias Commerce Court is setting up a small business aid program, similar to mortgage relief, that would allow struggling business owners to negotiate with creditors for more time, reopen, and ultimately pay back their debts.

The program is expected to be similar to Phillys Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion court set up after the 2008 financial crisis.

Judge Gary Glazer last week issued the court order creating the small business-and-creditors program, and while it remains short on details, the idea is modeled on one created in Rhode Island earlier this year, he said.

Glazer, who is administrative judge of the commerce court program, wants local mom-and-pop businesses and nonprofits to take advantage of this program.

A business owner would file a petition for an injunction. That injunction would stay any debt collections, or rent and mortgage payments while we sort out the issues, he said. Were still dealing with set-up questions. Will we involve law schools? Will the parties be represented? It involves the appointment of a monitor, to contact the creditors and then mediate between business owners and collectors.

Glazer said the program would create financial monitoring for small businesses who either had to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic or saw business substantially reduced.

Theyll have to submit financial records, filed confidentially, and well assess their eligibility, he said.

Phillys mortgage diversion court program worked this way: Homeowners, housing counselors, representatives for lenders, and other advisers came together to achieve a work out, or an agreement to keep residents in the home rather than moving forward with foreclosure.

The Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program was started by Judge C. Darnell Jones in 2008 in response to the national foreclosure crisis that grew out of the financial crash. The mortgage diversion program was viewed as a success, according to a Wharton student analyst.

The program will focus on local businesses and nonprofit institutions that

were impaired for lengthy periods of time because of the pandemic and have been otherwise unable to generate sufficient income to pay debts or retain staff, said a spokesperson for Glazer.

 READ MORE: Pa. to give $225 million in grants to small businesses hurt by coronavirus

One criterion might be if a small business, due to the pandemic, has debts exceeding income. Otherwise, there are not yet specific parameters beyond what is the order establishing the program, Glazer said.

Were talking to law schools to arrange for possible pro bono representation, and the court may waive filing fees, although that hasnt been decided, Glazer said.

For more information, you can call the commerce courts law program: 215-686-4916 or email susan.packer@courts.phila.gov.

Commerce Court judges who will hear these matters include Glazer, Nina Wright Padilla, and Ramy I. Djerassi.

For the courts manual on civil filings, business owners can visit the courts website: https://www.courts.phila.gov/pdf/manuals/civil-trial/FJD_Civil_E-Filing_User_Manual.pdf .

To file an injunction heres the link: https://fjdefile.phila.gov/efsfjd/zk_fjd_prvt_efile_00.secured_logon.

Unless working with an attorney who already has an account, business owners need to create a username and password in the courts e-filing system (https://fjdefile.phila.gov/) to file a petition. Only electronic filings are currently available. City Hall offices remain closed.

Court orders are like skeletons, theyre bare bones, said Michael Snyder, a retired judge and head of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Thats basically how these programs happen and get started. This is compassionate and forward-thinking. What can we as a court do to help [small business owners] rather than they file for bankruptcy?

Small business grants

Separately, state Senators Vincent Hughes (D., Philadelphia) and John Blake (D., Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe) will join the secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, Dennis Davin, on Monday at 11 a.m. to announce the opening of applications for the Pennsylvania Small Business Grant Loan Program for those affected by COVID-19.

Also joining will be community development experts Mark Masterson of Northside Community Development Fund, Leslie Benoliel of Entrepreneur Works, Jim Burnett of West Philadelphia Financial Services, and Dan Betancourt from the Community First Fund.

Topics will include the first-round application window opening June 30, as well as eligibility requirements for small businesses and the disbursement of grants through Community Development Financial Institutions, also known as CFDIs. These nonprofits have some federal money coming their way in the form of grants for struggling businesses.

To join the Monday call, which is open to the public, dial in using one of the following numbers, then enter the meeting ID and password:

1-646-558-8656 / 301-715-8592

Meeting ID: 867 4859 9176

Password: 436564

To join online through Zoom, click on this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86748599176

Meeting ID: 867 4859 9176

Password: 7P=DFU8Fj

For more information about the Pennsylvania Small Business Grant program, visit the website pabusinessgrants.com.
The first stop Thursday morning for Charlie Flowe and his friend, Julian Jordan, was a Chick-fil-A in Bensalem, where they collected bags of donated chicken breasts that they would distribute to three group homes for intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals.

For Flowe, 29, and Jordan, 28, who also have disabilities but live at home with their families, the activity represents an early step back toward their normal lives of engagement with the community after weeks of staying at home, just like almost everybody else, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Its a step that many intellectually disabled individuals and their families have been reluctant to make.

Flowe and Jordan are enrolled in a state-funded program called Community Participation Supports through JEVS Human Services, a Philadelphia nonprofit. JEVS has 27 individuals in the program, but only six wanted to start getting out again after the city entered the yellow phase on June 5.

Adrien Flowe, Charlies mother, said her only concern was to make sure they had masks for him and disinfectant for his hands and stuff like that, and that he wasnt going to too many places.

He was a little bored, she said. When I told him he was going back, he was really happy about it.

Flowe and Jordan are among 56,000 Pennsylvanians with intellectual or development disabilities who participate in programs overseen by the Office of Developmental Programs within the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Like Flowe and Jordan, most live with their families, and many participate in community programs during the day.

Regulators have told agencies like JEVS to prepare for reopening by surveying their clients first to see if they want to get back out in the community, but then also to determine who is capable of keeping a mask on and to decide which individuals have health problems that make it too risky for them to resume normal activities.

A recent survey of a couple of hundred families across Pennsylvania with intellectually disabled members found great reluctance to resume activities, said Audrey Coccia, a cofounder of Vision for Equality, a Philadelphia nonprofit that advocates for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. People are very scared about going back out.

Coccia, who has an intellectually disabled daughter, sees how hard it is to stay put. My daughter looks out the window for hours. I feel so bad for her, but she wont wear a mask. She wont wear gloves, Coccia said, adding that her daughter is at greater risk because she has medical problems including diabetes and respiratory illness.

 READ MORE: COVID-19 is more likely to hospitalize and even kill people with these preexisting conditions

For agencies, which in the best of times operate on thin margins, the closure of day programs has significant financial consequences, even though Pennsylvania has directed $80 million of its CARES Act money to provide partial payments. Although the services arent being provided now, they have to be retained for post-coronavirus life.

The payments in the green phase are 25% of the normal rate, one operator said. Obviously, thats not a lot, said Kathleen McHale, president and chief executive of SPIN, a large nonprofit human services agency in Philadelphia. She said SPIN probably wont resume community activities until late July or early August.

There is going to be some incentive to start to reopen, but were not going to be able to reopen anywhere near capacity. Were thinking 20% to 25% and then maybe well get up to 50% by October or so, McHale said. Its got to be slow. We have to prioritize peoples health and safety. That has to be the No. 1 concern, not revenue, not staying afloat.

Community Participation Supports is a very small part of what JEVS does, so the small start theyve made has been driven by the participants.

Cynthia Jordan, Julians mother, said she was not worried about her son resuming community activities with JEVS. I know how responsible they are, she said.

Charlie and Julian, who attended Roxborough High School together, had an easy rapport as they collected donations Thursday, wearing masks the whole time. The second stop was at a Wawa three miles up Street Road from the Chick-fil-A. Then they dropped off both sets of donations at JEVS group homes in Fern Rock and East Oak Lane.

Supporting the two young men was JEVS staffer Chalonda Day, 38. She ferried them around in a gray Dodge Caravan and helped them stay organized.

The final stop came at Burholme Park, where Flowe and Jordan played catch with a Velcro paddle ball set before eating sandwiches  cheese and bologna for Flowe, peanut butter and jelly for Jordan.

Day, who has worked with intellectually disabled individuals for a decade, the last two in community supports with JEVS, said Flowe and Jordan are in sync. Its like theyre brothers, she said.
Free stock-trading smartphone apps like Robinhood are attracting a wave of new investors, and are helping to prop up U.S. stock markets despite the headwinds of the coronavirus.

Alongside such familiar software-based stocks as Amazon, Facebook, and Google, their investments have boosted shares of some obscure and money-losing companies, trading records show.

Its educational, its affordable  you can buy fractions of shares for just a few dollars - and its a good time, said Karen Hartley-Nagle, president of New Castle County Council in Delaware, who says she has recommended Robinhood and Stockpile to her four young-adult children as a way to learn about investments.

But investment professionals like Matt Topley, president of Lansing Street Investment Advisers in Ambler, warn that neophyte app investors are riding an artificial high. Theyre jumping into markets that are stimulated by record government spending on subsidized loans to businesses, extra unemployment checks, and Federal Reserve purchases of trillions of dollars in investor debt.

He compared the rush of new investors through free apps like Robinhood to the day traders who fed the dot.com boom of the late 1990s, before the markets 2001 collapse. This will not last long, he predicted.

Of course, free trading apps are a threat to pros. Buying investments used to mean hiring advisers  like Topleys local practice, or Wall Street giants such as Goldman Sachs, or big discounters like Vanguard Group. How can apps trade for free?

Robinhood says it gets paid by referring customers to a bank so they borrow to buy more. It also collects interest on clients uninvested cash even at todays very low rates, and it sells their trade orders to big wholesale trading firms like Virtu Financial and Citadel Securities, which make money on the spread between what buyers and sellers pay. (Corrected: Thats Citadel Securities, not Citadel Investments)

During the coronavirus shutdowns, with a vast preponderance of folks are working from home or are at home, theres more opportunity to trade during the day, and orders have increased substantially, said Douglas Cifu, chief executive of Virtu, in an investor conference call after posting record sales and profits last month. When you can do something for free, I guess people do it more often.

Robinhood, started by a pair of Stanford grads in 2013 and backed by more than $700 million from Silicon Valley venture capital giant New Enterprise Associates and other investors, has become a special focus of market watchers. It claims over 13 million users, and its data are tracked and posted by another start-up, Robintrack, whose popular tracking page was founded by an undergraduate at Valparaiso University in Indiana in 2018.

In December, Robinhood agreed to pay $1.25 million to settle accusations by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority that it had violated industry rules in 2016 and 2017 by failing to help customers trade stocks for better prices than offered by the trading firms paying Robinhood for business. The company denied wrongdoing but agreed to pay the fine to end the dispute.

On Monday, Robinhood agreed to beef up the information it provides options investors after a 20-year-old customer received an options accounting statement he thought showed a loss and ended his life.

A list of the top trades by Robinhood users for the week ending June 18 includes market-leading stocks such as Apple and Amazon  but also less-known and money-losing firms such as Urban One, which operates radio stations targeting African Americans, and Ideanomics, which sells electric vehicle systems in China and has invested in the Delaware Board of Trade in Wilmington.

While Apples and Amazons popularity with Robinhood users mirrors their long popularity with investors generally, Robinhood users have logged more than 10,000 trades each in early June in Urban One and Ideanomics, which have not shown the stronger profits associated with higher stock values.

It is a sign of full FOMO -- showing a fear of missing out that might not be related to intrinsic company value, wrote Matthew Fox in Business Insider in a review of recent Robintrack data.

Urban One traded at between $1 and $2 a share earlier this year until this month, when the spread of the Black Lives Matter protests following the death in police custody of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked a rush of investor interest in African American-focused companies, according to Barrons magazine.

The stock, first traded in 1999, hit an all-time high above $48 on June 19  the Juneteenth holiday marking the end of slavery in 1865 in Texas  at trading volume far above its usual level. The high was brief: It had lost half its value by June 24 though it remained far above earlier 2020 levels.

Urban One, which owns 100.3 WRNB, 107.9 WPPZ (classic R&B and gospel), and Hip-Hop 103.9 WPHI in Philadelphia among its other stations, was for several days worth more than the nations second-largest radio company, Philadelphia-based Entercom, owner of KYW news radio, WIP talk radio, and others. This was so even though Entercom had more than three times Urban Ones total sales last year, in an industry suffering a collapse in advertising revenues.

Ideanomics had been what traders call a penny stock, because its value has been less than $1 for most of this year. But after the New York company made a flurry of announcements that it had arranged to sell electric car systems in China and was making other asset purchases and sales, its stock was picked up by Robinhood users, and a surge of buy orders drove its shares above $3 for the first time since 2018.

That surprised Hartley-Nagle, the council president. Having reviewed the companys financial reports since the previous county government lent $3 million to the Delaware Board of Trade in 2015 (which Ideanomics later acquired), she knew Ideanomics has not been profitable despite previous flurries of new-business announcements.

Last fall, county executive Matt Meyer rejected an Ideanomics request to accept the companys low-valued shares in lieu of cash. He had no comment on the sudden improvement in the companys stock price since it became a Robinhood darling. Ideanomics officials also declined to comment beyond the companys public filings.
A Camden man has been charged in connection with the death of a Pine Hill man whose body was found in an alleyway after he was reported missing over the weekend, officials said Monday.

Michael Branon, 32, was charged with first-degree felony murder in the death of Pedro Fernandez, 30. Detectives discovered Fernandezs body in an alley near the 400 block of Marlton Avenue in Camden on Sunday afternoon, the Camden County Prosecutors Office said.

Just after 11 p.m. Saturday, witnesses said, they saw Fernandez being forced into a black pickup truck on the 1500 block of Pershing Street in Camden before a man drove it away. Around 1 a.m. Sunday, officers pulled over a truck matching the description of that vehicle and identified Branon as the driver, according to the Prosecutors Office.

Around 2 p.m. Sunday, detectives found Fernandezs body. An investigation showed he had been shot multiple times, authorities said.

Anyone with information on the case is being asked to call Detective Andy McNeil at 856-225-8407, Camden County Police Detective Ed Gonzalez at 856-757-7400, or email tips to ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org.
A 33-year-old man was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for leading a drug-trafficking organization in North Philadelphia, prosecutors said Monday.

George Felts of Philadelphia pleaded guilty in November to multiple drug-trafficking offenses involving hundreds of pounds of narcotics, including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.

From early 2016 until November 2017, Felt and other members of the drug gang flew from Philadelphia to California with large amounts of cash hidden in carry-on luggage to purchase the narcotics. The drug gang then shipped the narcotics using the U.S. mail to businesses in the Feltonville section of Philadelphia for later distribution, prosecutors said.

Felt also was sentenced by U.S. District Judge C. Darnell Jones to five years of supervised release.
AJ Moore marveled at the crowds at the King of Prussia Mall on Sunday.

She owns and operates AJ Moore Exclusives, an artisanal jewelry shop in the Bloomingdales wing that reopened Saturday.

I thought it would be like a ghost town, said Moore, but people seem to be more excited to come out. Ive seen more walk by today than in the days before we closed in mid-March.

Shopping malls began to reopen this weekend, marking a tentative return to normalcy for the Philadelphia region after months of pandemic restrictions.

In Pennsylvania, the King of Prussia Mall welcomed shoppers on Friday as Southeastern Pennsylvania moved into its green phase, which eases restrictions to allow the economy to strategically reopen.

Moore didnt see much evidence of pent-up demand for shopping. No one was laden with bags as they would be before Christmas. Yet customers were enthusiastic. One bought a novelty T-shirt directly off a mannequin on which it was displayed.

You can tell people want to roam and see people again, she said. I dont think the money is there, but the need to get out is prevalent.

In New Jersey, where the state is gradually reopening under Stage 2, merchants at the Cherry Hill Mall eagerly readied their businesses on Sunday in anticipation of long-missed customers. Malls open Monday for the first time since March 17.

Sara Purdy, who owns the Kona Ice Hawaiian-style shaved ice at the malls food court, plans to arrive early.

Ill be there at 10 a.m. for the 11 oclock opening, she said. Im excited.

Purdy isnt sure how much business to expect but is bringing back all of her employees.

The mall will allow only 50% capacity and customers must enter through two designated entryways. Employees have to use a separate entrance. Employees and shoppers must wear masks.

The food court is only open for takeaway, so theres no inside seating, Purdy said. Once you purchase some food, does that mean you have to leave the mall to eat it? We dont know yet. Its near impossible to eat a Kona Ice through a mask.

Purdy said shes comfortable going back.

If I had reservations, I wouldnt be there, she said, noting all the protocols in place.

Cheryl Squadrito operates the Media Friendly public relations agency out of a 1776 start-up incubator at the Cherry Hill Mall.

I cant wait to get in there, Squadrito said. Where the incubator is, its not very crowded, but I anticipate theyll let in as many people as they can. Theyve been very good at keeping on top of all the protocols.

Squadrito has worked from her Haddonfield home since March 12 with her two teenage children and her all-American mutt, Brindy.

I only wish I could take my dog back with me Squadrito said. She been snoring under my feet every day for months now. Shes going to have a hard time. Shes likely going to have separation anxiety worse than I am!
Pennsylvanias Departments of Health and Human Services released more detailed guidance over the weekend about how nursing and personal care homes could again allow visitors.

Under previous rules, long-term-care facilities needed to wait 28 days after their county entered the green phase. Under the new rules, they can allow visitors if they have gone 14 days without a new coronavirus case among staff or residents whether their county is in the green or yellow reopening phase, but they have to meet a list of prerequisites.

Before they can consider reopening, they have to develop a plan for visitation and post it on their website, if they have one. That plan should include scheduling and safety measures. Facilities must have met a baseline requirement to test all residents and staff for the coronavirus and be prepared to test any resident with new symptoms within 24 hours. They must have protocols for daily screening of staff, residents, and any visitors. They need adequate staffing and protective equipment.

 HELP US REPORT: Are you a health care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker or other expert? We want to hear from you.

If facilities have had no new cases for 14 days, they can allow visitors, prioritizing residents who have progressive cognitive decline or have talked about feeling lonely. Visits must be scheduled and held outside or in areas typically not occupied by residents. Universal masking is required and staff should monitor visits.

The new rules also allow for limited communal dining and activities among people who have not been exposed to the coronavirus after prerequisites are met. In dining areas, residents must be spaced six feet apart. Staff should wear gowns and eye protection, and use hand sanitizer between residents if helping more than one person eat.

Activities can be allowed, starting with five or fewer residents. Universal masking is required.

On June 19, New Jersey announced that it would allow limited visits to people in assisted living facilities, nursing homes and other long-term-care settings. Visits there can be outside, by appointment. Residents, accompanied by a facility employee, can have no more than two visitors at a time. Everyone must wear masks and stay at least six feet apart. Informed consent about the possibility of exposure to the virus will be required from the resident and visitors. Building restrooms will not be available to visitors. Visitors must agree to inform the facility if they test positive for the coronavirus within two weeks of their visit.
The day of tax reckoning is coming. Maybe.

If you run a small business, its likely that you file either an S-corporation or partnership tax return. Those returns are normally due March 15 and because any income passes through to your individual return  due April 15  many accountants have long chosen to extend those business returns so that their clients can file everything together.

Extending tax returns is a very common practice, particularly for strategic reasons. For partnership and S-corporation tax returns, the due date of March 15 comes fast, especially for new business owners to complete their accounting for the year, said Mitch Gerstein, a senior tax adviser at Isdaner & Co. LLC, a regional accounting firm in Bala Cynwyd.

Oftentimes, it makes sense to extend because gathering the necessary year-end tax documentation and making smart decisions as to the handling of certain tax and accounting methods impacts the reporting of taxable income or loss.

Chris Kourmadas, a partner at Philadelphia-based Frankford Tax, says that extending, whether for business or individual filings, often gets a bad rap. Theres no penalty for applying for an extension, and it doesnt inherently increase audit risk, he says.

But the pandemic-assistance CARES Act added another twist. Thanks to the legislation, the due date for individual, calendar year c-corporations and nonprofit tax returns  and any final tax payments from 2019  was extended to July 15.

In addition, the first two quarterly estimated tax payments for 2020, typically due April 15 and June 15, were also delayed to July 15. The deadline for S-Corporation and partnership tax return remained March 15.

Its confusing but meaningful. These changes helped both individuals and small-business owners  many who are freelancers and independent contractors  temporarily avoid paying their estimated quarterly taxes and instead conserve that cash for other uses. But be aware: The key word mentioned above is temporarily. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin recently hinted that the July 15 deadline may be extended further, but no action has been taken yet. So if you owe taxes from 2019 or estimated payments for this year, the due date is looming.

Among my clients, theres a common misperception that extending a tax return also means extending the payment of any taxes due. Thats not the case. Assuming the Treasury Department keeps the July 15 due date the same, and even if you decide to extend your return beyond that new deadline, you still must ensure that your tax payments  both from 2019 and the first two quarters of 2020  are paid.

Delaying isnt difficult. All the taxpayer has to do in order to extend a personal income tax return, Kourmadas noted, is file, or get their accountant to file, Form 4868 by the original tax due date. If the taxpayer is set to receive a refund, no more action is needed.

The one bright side  if you can call it that  of the economic downturn this year is that for some small-business owners, it has wiped out profits, which means that any estimated taxes due may not be very much. Its important to talk to your accountant about that now and make these estimates based on your year-to-date numbers. Also, be aware that if you participated in the Paycheck Protection Program, the amounts that are forgiven under the program are not taxable but any expenses used for forgiveness, such as your payroll, rent, utilities, are also not considered deductible.

Another potential bright spot  again, if you can call it that  is that if your business lost money in 2019 and youre eligible for a refund for the taxes you previously paid, its important to file as quickly as possible. It takes up to six weeks for the government to process those checks. In this scenario, extending wouldnt make sense for you.

Even if you find delay attractive, it may make more sense to file sooner rather than later  if only to lessen the burden on your accountant and thereby reduce the chance of any mistakes.

Our firm, like many others in the city and across the country, has had our tax seasons completely thrown for a loop, Kourmadas says. Its been a juggling act, having to familiarize ourselves with the provisions of the CARES Act, assisting clients in applying for programs they might qualify for, all while handling the same immense load tax season brings every year.

Unfortunately, we have been seeing an uptick in taxpayers who are waiting until very close to the deadline to get us documents, which is fairly common, though unadvisable.

Also, its important to note that even if Mnuchin does extend the filing dates again for federal returns, theres no guarantee that Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware  who all previously pushed back their filing deadlines to July 15  will follow suit. Although Philadelphia residents saw their business taxes such as the net profit tax and the business income receipts tax extended to July 15, other local taxes such as the school income tax and the earnings tax maintained their April 15 deadline.

Please dont wait until the last minute. Talk to your accountant now.
A few hours after the twin towers fell, Jan Ramirez recalled, a colleagues ash-covered husband walked into her workplace at the New York Historical Society, stripped off his dust mask, and set it on her desk.

Consider this your first artifact donation, he said.

It would not be the last. In the weeks and months after the 9-11 terrorist attacks, Ramirez and other archivists and curators worked to locate and identify objects and documents  from bent steel beams to missing posters  that would help tell the story to future generations.

The first order was triage, get the material to safe, secure locations, and start to figure out the questions you needed to ask, said Ramirez, now chief curator of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York.

Today, archives and museums in the Philadelphia region and across the country have undertaken a new, in-the-moment search, seeking to preserve materials that document the coronavirus crisis even as the pandemic rages on.

Business-closure signs. Thank-you cards to doctors and nurses. Toilet paper. Test kits. Grocery lists. Handicrafts woven or carved to pass the time indoors. Home-school lesson plans. All can help tell the story.

Because personal contact can be dangerous, some institutions have asked people to hold onto potentially interesting physical goods for the time being, and are focusing on mementos that can be safely shared, like photographs and paper documents.

Institutions have been making their desires known through website announcements, press releases, news stories, and other public appeals.

The Smithsonians National Museum of American History has formed what it calls a Rapid Response Collecting Task Force to document scientific and medical events, as well as impacts in business, politics, and culture. The Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles has begun collecting images; the Dunn Museum in suburban Chicago is gathering stories and pictures; the Sloan Museum in Flint, Mich., is asking for journals, art, and videos.

What makes it challenging is were still in the middle of it, said Melissa Marinaro of the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, which like other museums is closed to the public for now. Were getting a lot of submissions of journals and diaries, and artists have sent sketches, paintings, and drawings.

Marinaro wants to acquire an example of the plastic safety shields that have sprung up at store check-out counters, a piece that gives you a better sense of the physical experience, of the sentiment were all getting, that fear of what could be traveling in the air.

One big challenge: There arent many distinct physical artifacts  one N95 mask is generally the same as another  compared to the numbers generated by other disasters or conflicts.

World War II produced millions of different pieces, including uniforms, guns, insignia, helmets, shells, maps, and medals, across more than 30 countries. So many relics have been retrieved from the sea-bed grave of the Titanic that anyone with a few dollars can buy a small piece of the ship on eBay.

Another complication is that no central physical site defines the pandemic. People can walk the fields of Gettysburg or the beaches of Normandy to sense how history unfolded, but theres no specific location for the COVID-19 disaster.

If history holds, there might not even be a monument.

None was erected a century ago when Philadelphia was devastated by the 1918 flu pandemic, suffering 14,000 fatalities in six weeks. Today, the only memorials are the gravestones of the dead.

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, home to both the Mutter Museum and the Historical Medical Library, is working to document and save digital material on how its members and fellows are responding to the outbreak. Ultimately, the project will show how an institution dedicated to high medical ideals reacted to the crisis.

The college has joined with the 40-member Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections to coordinate and eventually share material gathered by organizations, from the American Philosophical Society to the William Way LGBT Community Center to the Free Library.

Were gathering, but were not interpreting, said college librarian Beth Lander. Right now we are still in the event.

The constant challenge to curators is to predict what will be meaningful in a hundred years.

Some items are instantly recognized as historically important. The American flags that flew at Iwo Jima  the Marines raised two on Feb. 23, 1945, though only the second was captured in the famous photograph  were in the possession of the Marine Corps Museum even before the war ended.

Other, ordinary pieces can be made significant by events that follow.

Some years ago, a customer at a Liverpool yard sale found an old letter from a local musician tucked inside a book. The note happened to have been written in 1960 by an 18-year-old Paul McCartney, inviting a mystery drummer to audition for a job in the still-forming Beatles.

It sold for $55,412 at auction in 2011.

A big reason that institutions are moving even amid the pandemic is that time is merciless, said Philip Mead, chief historian of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.

Its passage means physical items must survive more years, more moves, more fires, more keep-or-throw-out decisions, more changing notions of worth.

Every generation sort of curates the surviving items from the past, selects out things that can be discarded and what needs to be preserved, he said. Those choices differ as we change our ideas about what we believe, who should be commemorated, what we want to inspire future generations.

Its a mistake to think that whats abundant today  like protective masks  will be plentiful tomorrow. Tens of thousands of enlisted mens coats were made and worn during the Revolution., Mead said. Today, none is known to survive.

Philadelphia has endured at least two previous plagues: Yellow Fever in the summer of 1793, which killed 10% of the 50,000 residents in what was then the nations capital and largest city, and the flu that sickened a quarter of the 2 million Philadelphians and killed 17,500 from September 1918 through February 1919.

The 1918 flu hit so quickly and viciously that it didnt leave many artifacts behind, said historian Jane E. Boyd, who helped create the Mutters prescient exhibit on the topic, Spit Spreads Death, which opened last year for a multi-year run.

Perhaps its most moving artifact, found in Drexel Universitys costume collection, was an embroidered purse tied to a powerful personal story.

In fall 1918, a New Jersey woman named Naomi Ford came to Philadelphia for some early Christmas shopping, buying her gifts and writing out tags for each family member. But Ford, who was pregnant, caught the flu and died on Oct. 21.

Her grief-stricken mother put away the never-delivered gifts. The purse emerged for the Mutter exhibit, still in its gift box and tagged, For Cousin Helen.

Today, Boyd said, she would save the pieces that seem common. Masks. Ventilators. Quarantine signs. Diaries. The hand-drawn rainbow pictures that people put in their windows for children. Even unemployment documents, say, a handwritten list of the hundred times someone tried to call the government office for aid.

The millions of digital photos, audios and videos offer rich, in-the-moment documentation of the pandemic. But they would take lifetimes to review. And the machines that store them will become obsolete, meaning the material will need to be transferred again and again.

All the social media  its going to be hard to know what to save and what to keep, Boyd said. I dont envy the future historians, a hundred years from now, wholl have to sort through all of this.

If you have something to donate: People who have objects, documents or physical artifacts they wish to share with museums should contact the institutions directly, through the information on their websites.
As a youngster, Fabiana Pierre-Louis often spoke up for her three older siblings, skillfully pleading their cases like a defense lawyer when they got into trouble. Her parents jokingly predicted she would become a lawyer.

She exceeded their wildest dreams.

This month, Gov. Phil Murphy announced plans to nominate Pierre-Louis to the New Jersey Supreme Court. If approved, she would serve as the first Black female justice in the states 244-year history.

Pierre-Louis, 39, of Mount Laurel, has had a fast-paced legal career. She has a reputation as a groundbreaking lawyer and a former federal prosecutor who broke the color barrier to lead offices in Camden and Trenton.

New Jersey and Pennsylvania are among 23 states that have all-white state Supreme Court benches. Delawares first black Supreme Court jurist was seated in January.

Pierre-Louis embraces the history-making significance of her selection and wants to be a role model for minority children. She would be the third Black judge on the court, and the youngest.

Its important for young people and future generations to see people who look like them, Pierre-Louis said in an interview. For me, I just hope that this nomination is an inspiration to others.

Her selection comes amid protests nationwide against systemic racism and calls for diversity. Murphy has said that the selection process began months before the protests but that there was no better meeting of an individual and the times.

The daughter of Haitian immigrants, Pierre-Louis credits her humble roots for her success and work ethic. The family of seven lived in a cramped, two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn when she was a child. Her grandmother lived with them and prepared Haitian meals daily.

Her father, Joseph, a taxi driver who owned his cab, worked extra hours to pay tuition for the children to attend parochial school. Her mother, Claire, worked as a hospital patient transport aide. They stressed the importance of education and all their children earned advanced degrees.

I know how hard my parents worked, Pierre-Louis said. They made sacrifices in the hopes of forging a path for our futures.

The family later moved to Irvington, in Essex County, where several family members lived amid a large Haitian population. Creole was her first language, which she is teaching to her sons, Robbie and Marc.

Pierre-Louis earned a bachelors degree at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. She wasnt sure about a legal career until she participated in a pre-law fellowship and then was completely sold.

She graduated with high honors from Rutgers-Camden Law School, where she was known as a bright student who was passionate about the law, said her classmate and longtime friend Lloyd A. Freeman. He recruited her to serve as vice president of the Black Law Students Association, where he was president.

I knew that she was brilliant. I wanted to work with her badly, said Freeman, a partner at Archer & Greiner in Haddonfield.

If confirmed, Pierre-Louis would take a seat once held by her mentor, former Justice John E. Wallace Jr., who became embroiled in controversy when then-Gov. Chris Christie refused to renominate him for a tenured term in 2010. She clerked for Wallace in 2006 when he was the high courts sole black jurist.

Wallace recalled his former clerk as a brilliant young attorney. The two maintain a close friendship and he joined her family at the announcement of her nomination.

You knew that she would go far, Wallace said.

Pierre-Louis began her career in 2007 as an associate at the Cherry Hill law firm Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads. She returned as a partner in 2019, handling white-collar crime, commercial litigation, and government investigations.

She previously spent nine years as an assistant U.S. attorney in New Jersey, working and overseeing cases including those involving public corruption, drug, and fraud crimes.

She will be a fantastic judge, said Stanley King, a Woodbury civil rights attorney.

If confirmed, Pierre-Louis could help shape the court for 30 years. She would replace Associate Justice Walter Timpone, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 in November.

 READ MORE: N.J. lawmakers confirm high court nominee, ending standoff

A number of senators have publicly expressed support for Pierre-Louis. Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester) has not set a date for a confirmation hearing.

I couldnt have imagined in my wildest dreams that this could have happened, she said. I am certainly blessed.

.
A man was stabbed at a homeless encampment Sunday evening on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, leading police to an area organizers want sanctioned by the city as a no police zone.

The victim, described as a 26-year-old Black man, was stabbed multiple times during a fight and police were called about 5:15 p.m. It was not immediately clear if the victim was a member of the encampment.

The victim was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. His condition was unknown and no arrests had been made.

No further details were available.

More than 100 people are living at the encampment, which sprang up during protests after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and is similar to a larger encampment in Seattle. Members are protesting for low-income housing and have presented a list of demands to the city on housing expectations.

The organizers have also demanded that the Philadelphia Police Department disarm its officers; that the city transfer ownership of the Philadelphia Housing Authority to a permanent community land trust for low-income housing set up by one of the groups; that the city repeal all ordinances against camping on streets; and that the city support putting up tiny houses for the homeless.

Recently, a leading advocate for the homeless declared the encampment a pandemic waiting to happen, and condemned it last week as an irresponsible and stupid act in the time of COVID-19. She later apologized for her statements.
Chief Inspector Anthony Boyle, one of the highest-ranking officials in the Philadelphia Police Department, was suspended Monday for 30 days with intent to dismiss after an Internal Affairs investigation found neglect of duty, failure to supervise, and conduct unbecoming an officer.

The action comes almost two years after Boyle allegedly attacked Capt. Laverne Vann while she was handcuffing someone during a narcotics arrest, twisting her hands behind her back and attempting to push her to the ground. That incident followed Vanns and two other Black female officers filing a federal lawsuit alleging retaliation and racial discrimination after they raised concerns about what they said were illegal tactics promoted by Boyle while he oversaw the Narcotics Bureau.

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw made the administrative decision, a police spokesperson said in a statement, noting that the Internal Affairs Division has been conducting an ongoing investigation regarding the actions and conduct of Chief Inspector Anthony Boyle.

Boyle, 67, a 44-year veteran of the department, did not immediately return a phone call Monday.

As The Inquirer has reported, Internal Affairs previously sustained charges against Boyle for failure to supervise in connection with the narcotics scandal. That meant the charges were held for a final determination by the Police Board of Inquiry, though any final action by the disciplinary board has not been made public. At the time, Boyle said he had adhered to legitimate and longstanding law-enforcement procedures.

At a staff meeting in 2017, Boyle and Inspector Ray Evers announced a protocol for flipping people caught committing low-level offenses into off-the-books informants by falsifying paperwork to cover up their arrests, according to the lawsuit. Vann and Debra Frazier raised concerns that the tactics were against protocol.

Boyle allegedly instructed staff to clear street corners of toads and scum, inviting officers to run over the feet of those who did not move quickly enough.

Subsequently, defense lawyers identified dozens of cases where narcotics officers falsified evidence, or made or threatened false arrests, in attempts to turn people into informants. They have argued that hundreds of additional cases should be thrown out.
The Philadelphia police officer captured on video this month pulling down masks and pepper spraying protesters as they knelt on the Vine Street Expressway is Richard P. Nicoletti, a SWAT officer and a 12-year veteran of the force, officials said Monday.

Nicoletti, 35, has been suspended for 30 days with intent to dismiss, said Sgt. Eric Gripp, a police spokesperson. Commissioner Danielle Outlaw announced the impending firing last week but declined to identify the officer until his suspension began.

Outlaw and Mayor Jim Kenney described Nicolettis actions on the highway as unacceptable, and District Attorney Larry Krasner has said his office is exploring possible criminal charges.

I was disgusted, Outlaw said of Nicolettis actions while addressing reporters last week.

John McNesby, president of the officers union, said Monday that protesters had created a dangerous situation by entering the highway, and that he wasnt sure if the video of Nicoletti captured the entirety of what might have prompted him to use pepper spray.

It doesnt look pretty, but Id like to see the whole video, McNesby said. And when did we think kneeling on 676 was kind of normal?

McNesby said the union would defend Nicoletti as his disciplinary process played out. Meanwhile, an online fund-raising effort had attracted nearly $5,000 in donations for Nicoletti as of Monday afternoon.

Nicoletti joined the Police Department in 2008, according to payroll records. As of last year, his salary was $76,187.

A website for the fund-raising effort said Nicoletti was an expectant father and Army veteran who had deployed three times to Iraq and Afghanistan. It said that during the citys recent unrest, Nicoletti was struck in a leg with a brick but continued working.

Rich was unjustly fired for the performance of his duties, the site said. His actions have been condemned for political gain and in turn they are throwing their sheepdog to the wolves.

 READ MORE: West Philly calls for investigation of police use of tear gas after officials apologize for using it on I-676

In 2011, Nicoletti was involved in another incident that attracted attention. While responding to a report of a suicidal man inside a North Philadelphia home, police said, Nicoletti was grazed by a bullet as he scuffled with the man over his gun. Nicolettis partner, Officer Matthew McCarthy, fired two shots that killed the man, Carmelo Winans.

Police said at the time that Nicoletti had tried to subdue Winans because he was holding a knife. Police said Winans then grabbed hold of Nicolettis gun, prompting McCarthy to fire, with the bullets striking Winans in the chest.

Winans family filed a lawsuit disputing that version of events and accusing Nicoletti of using excessive force. They contended that Nicoletti attacked Winans after Winans complied with police orders and dropped the knife. They also said he never tried to grab hold of the officers gun.

In 2014, the city agreed to pay $405,000 to Winans family and their attorneys.

Nicolettis father, also named Richard, is also a longtime city police officer. He made headlines in 2018 when, police said, he fatally shot 36-year-old Jeffrey Dennis during a narcotics investigation in Tacony. Video of the incident showed Dennis bumping his car into unmarked police cars as a group of plainclothes officers surrounded his vehicle, guns drawn, and smashed one of its windows with a long-handled hammer.

As Dennis tried to drive away, the elder Nicoletti fired his gun through the drivers side window at point-blank range, killing Dennis.

Nicoletti was cleared of criminal wrongdoing in that incident by state Attorney General Josh Shapiro and remained on the force.

According to Internal Affairs records, the elder Nicoletti also shot someone during a drug investigation in 2012. The records said he had four previous firearm discharge incidents before that shooting. Then-Commissioner Richard Ross said those other incidents involved dogs, not people.
Confirmed global COVID-19 cases have surged past 10 million, indicating that coronavirus infections are continuing to multiply. Locally, there continues to be a push and pull between loosening coronavirus-related restrictions and health officials concerns about new cases.

 Josh Rosenblat (@joshrosenblat, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

Masks are now mandatory in Philadelphia in all indoor public places. Youre also required to wear them when youre outside with people who are not members of your household, Health Commissioner Thomas Farley announced Friday. The announcement came as the region moved into the green phase of the states coronavirus plans, with Philly keeping more restrictions in place than its suburbs. Farley mentioned new spikes in cases among young people. Data indicate that COVID-19 has largely not surged in cities with big protests but has in states that reopened early.

Also, as businesses start to resume operations, the city is pleading with business owners to follow coronavirus safety rules. But its stopping short of issuing fines.

When Nov. 3 comes along, theres a likely scenario in Pennsylvania, election officials and voting rights advocates say, where chaos wins on Election Day. For what that looks like, read my colleague Jonathan Lais reporting on the challenges the battleground state faces come November and the ways a disaster scenario could be prevented.

As for the eventual outcome of 2020s presidential election, a lot remains to be seen. But, according to analysis from my colleague and Washington correspondent Jonathan Tamari, Americas twin crises are highlighting Trumps biggest weaknesses.

Archives and museums in the Philadelphia region and across the country are trying to preserve materials that illustrate what has happened during the coronavirus crisis, even as the pandemic continues.

Theyre collecting everything, including business-closure signs, cards thanking health-care workers, grocery lists, at-home hobbies, home-school lesson plans, and other items that can help tell this story, reports my colleague Jeff Gammage.

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Opinions

It took me all night, but I figured out why Mayor Jim Kenney and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw waited until Thursday to express shock and remorse over Philadelphia police teargassing peaceful protesters who marched onto I-676 way back when on June 1: They must have hit their monthly limit of free stories on Inquirer.com.  writes columnist Helen Ubinas about Philly leaderships delayed response to police tear-gassing citizens.

Columnist Jenice Armstrong writes about Amen Brown, who upset the incumbent Democrat in the primary race earlier this month in the scandal-plagued 190th District, anchored in West Philly. If things go as expected, hed be the third state rep from the district in four years.

Americas warped idea of freedom is killing people, writes columnist Will Bunch.

What were reading

Your Daily Dose of | Phillys clarion call for justice'

On the steps of the Art Museum on Saturday, hundreds of horn players gathered for a demonstration of musicianship and solidarity. Watch Tyger Williams video of the demonstration and read Brandon T. Hardens story about Phillys clarion call for justice.
As the world now knows, protesters agitating for major police reform swarmed a Philadelphia interstate stopping drivers in both directions. The tear-gas, pepper-spray response from police vividly proved why the protesters were protesting. Suddenly Philadelphia looked more like Hong Kong than the City of Brotherly Love.

Mayor Jim Kenney and his new top cop Danielle Outlaw might have continued their mealy-mouth denials in the face of local criticism (including extensive Inquirer coverage). But after humiliation in the form of a New York Times video to get an abject apology from Kenney and Outlaw, who stood by to let a deputy commissioner, Dennis Wilson, take the fall for the entire fiasco. Leadership starts at the top.

Editorial cartoons from this week include:
It is, finally, illegal to fire or refuse to hire someone because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, or transgender, thanks to a June 15 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The high court affirmed what the ACLU has said for years. Discriminating against people because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity is a form of sex discrimination, based on unfair and antiquated gender stereotypes. We mourn the fact that Don Zarda and Aimee Stephens, two of the people who challenged the unfair treatment they received from their employers, did not live to see this day. And we honor the courage and strength they exhibited while dealing with great personal adversity.

But the work of ending discrimination against LGBTQ people is far from over, including here in Pennsylvania. Perhaps most significantly, federal law has no prohibition on discrimination based on sex in public accommodations. If a LGBTQ person is denied a seat at a restaurant or a hotel room or goods from a retailer, they cannot bring a claim under federal law.

Pennsylvania law, however, does prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in public accommodations. In 2018, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which enforces the states nondiscrimination law, announced that it would accept complaints about discrimination against LGBTQ people as a form of sex discrimination. That guidance has yet to be tested in court, and it could be years before such a case reaches the state Supreme Court.

The state legislature could end the debate immediately, though, by passing legislation to include sexual orientation and gender identity in the commonwealths nondiscrimination law, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. That bill has languished for years, held up by committee chairs and legislative leaders who have been woefully behind the times and their own constituents. Polls consistently show that at least 70% of Pennsylvanians support a ban on discrimination against LGBTQ people.

More than 50 municipalities in Pennsylvania have already taken this step, from big cities like Philadelphia to small boroughs like Camp Hill in Cumberland County. These municipalities have said through law that their towns are no place for discrimination against LGBTQ people. The General Assembly can fix this historic wrong by passing the statewide legislation now.

At the heart of the case before the Supreme Court was the basic human need to support ones self and loved ones. When a person faces discrimination at work, the consequences are far-reaching. In this moment, with the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are worried about maintaining their livelihoods. This is especially true for transgender people, who have a higher unemployment rate than the national average.

The Supreme Court did not break new ground here but instead followed the lead of many states and municipalities that have banned discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation for decades. LGBTQ people have led a movement that has built the political will to enshrine those protections into law. That effort has been good for business, good for LGBTQ people, and good for all of us.

The ripple effects of this ruling will be significant. While this case was limited to employment discrimination, the conclusion the court reached can be expected to be applied to other federal laws that prohibit discrimination based on sex, including in housing, healthcare, and education.

Ever since Black and brown transgender people fought back against police brutality and discrimination at Stonewall 50 years ago, this was the kind of day we have hoped for. There is more work to be done, and LGBTQ people will still have struggles ahead. But the Supreme Courts ruling takes us another big step toward where we want to go, to full equality where we work, where we live, and where we go.

Naiymah Sanchez is the transgender justice coordinator for the ACLU of Pennsylvania. Mary Catherine Roper is the deputy legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania.
The share of lower-priced homes bought with mortgages has dropped significantly over the last decade at the same time that sale prices have doubled in Philadelphia, according to an analysis of deed transactions released by the Pew Charitable Trusts this month.

Combined, obviously, they reflect greater challenges for low- and moderate-income households who want to be homeowners, said Larry Eichel, a senior adviser to the Philadelphia research and policy initiative at the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Scholars and advocates predict the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic could keep lower-income households, the ones likely to take out lower-priced mortgages, from being able to buy homes. That would extend the downward trend Pew researchers saw between 2008 and 2018.

Historically, Philadelphia has prided itself on being a place where residents with low and moderate incomes can afford to buy homes. About 30% of home-owning households in Philadelphia earned less than $35,000 in 2018, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts.

This data raises the question of how thats going to be able to continue, Eichel said.

From 2008 to 2018, the share of mortgage-backed home sales in the lower-priced half of Philadelphias residential market dropped from 46% to 35%, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. (Researchers disregarded government and sheriffs sales, sales of $10 or less, government sales, and sales of bundles of properties.)

Nationally, a lack of financing for homes under $70,000 is an obstacle for aspiring homeowners with lower incomes. A bill that passed the U.S. House and is before a Senate committee would require a review of the Federal Housing Administrations mortgage insurance policies to study their effects on small-dollar mortgage lending. Small-dollar mortgages have significantly higher denial rates, even when accounting for credit scores, the Urban Institute found in a 2018 study.

A combination of factors helps explain the drop in lower-priced mortgage sales in Philadelphia.

Were becoming a city where home ownership is increasingly out of reach for lower-income families, said Michael Froehlich, managing attorney in the home ownership and consumer rights unit at Community Legal Services.

 READ MORE: How City Councils budget vote will help keep Philadelphians housed

After the Great Recession, standards to qualify for mortgages became more strict. Minimum credit scores increased and acceptable levels of debt decreased.

So it became more difficult for working-class and middle-class people to qualify for a mortgage, Froehlich said.

Philadelphias mortgage approval rate is below national averages for both conventional and Federal Housing Administration mortgages. Mortgage approval rates tend to be lower in areas that are majority people of color than in areas with mostly white residents, even when controlling for income. Neighborhoods with more moderately priced homes are generally ones with larger numbers of people of color. Obtaining a small-dollar mortgage generally is more difficult than a larger-dollar one.

 READ MORE: Struggling to save for a down payment? Your county government might be able to help

Adding to the challenges lower-income households face, home prices in Philadelphia have been increasing. From 2008 to 2018, the median sales price in the city doubled from almost $80,000 to $160,000. The number of homes that sold for less than $100,000 dropped by 43%. Meanwhile, the city had five times as many homes that sold for $500,000 or more in 2018 than it did 10 years earlier.

Last year, the city expanded its first-time home buyer program to try to make home ownership more affordable for residents. The Philly First Home program gives Philadelphians up to $10,000 for down payments, closing costs, and mortgages. The city considered cutting assistance for first-time home buyers and funds for other housing programs in light of a $749 million revenue shortfall created by the pandemic, but City Council restored millions of dollars in housing funding to the revised budget.

 READ MORE: Philly expands down-payment assistance program that will give $10,000 to first-time home buyers

That funding includes money for the production of low-income housing. Housing inventory is low across the market, including lower-priced homes. The significant amount of new construction in the city has meant the razing of older, lower-priced homes that often are replaced with more expensive ones that are out of reach for low-income residents.

Steve Gardner, president and executive director of Philadelphia-based Clarifi, which teaches financial literacy and helps people prepare for home ownership in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, said he doesnt see the downward trend in the number of lower-priced mortgages reversing in the foreseeable future, especially given the pandemic. He expects wealth gaps to continue to increase, which means larger gaps in home ownership.

This pandemic has really highlighted some of the racial wealth inequities and racial income gaps, Gardner said.

 READ MORE: Philly metro market is moderately difficult for first-time home buyers, report finds

Lack of access to mortgages has contributed to declines in Black and Hispanic home ownership, according to a March report by the Reinvestment Fund. Decades of redlining  the practice of subjecting Black people to discriminatory mortgage lending and keeping them out of certain neighborhoods  and city disinvestment, along with increasing home prices reflect the neighborhoods where cash buyers tend to operate.

Investors have been buying lower-priced homes with cash at lower than market value and flipping or renting them.

Especially in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods, we have a large percentage of homes being sold to all-cash buyers, which will only hasten the gentrification of those neighborhoods and make it more difficult for first-time home buyers and home buyers of color to purchase in those neighborhoods, said Froehlich of Community Legal Services.

He said that when mortgage lenders deny loans to aspiring homeowners, the dream of home ownership dies really hard. The denial drives some people to enter into predatory rent-to-own agreements, in which they make payments but never end up owning the home, Froehlich said.

It turns out theyre set up to fail, he said.
Pennsylvanians who have lost income because of the coronavirus pandemic and are struggling to pay rents and mortgages can apply for $175 million in federal funds to stay in their homes. The state made applications available Monday.

The statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures because of nonpayment is scheduled to end July 10. Philadelphia City Council extended the eviction moratorium until Aug. 31 for residential renters and small businesses. The Federal Housing Administration has also extended its foreclosure moratorium through Aug. 31 for homeowners with federally backed mortgages.

Starting next Monday, July 6, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency will accept completed mortgage relief applications at phfa.org, and county organizations will accept rent relief applications. Both programs are first-come, first-served, and applications close Sept. 30. Officials expect more people to apply than funds will cover.

Philadelphias pandemic rental assistance program ran out of $10 million in federal funds after pledging support for 4,000 households. Nearly 13,000 applied.

Through the state program, Philadelphia will receive $28.45 million in federal funds, which city officials estimate will help about 6,300 renters. Those who applied for the citys program and did not receive help must apply separately to the state program, which has different requirements. For example, tenants with higher incomes are eligible for funds through the state. The Philadelphia Housing Development Corp.(PHDC) will accept applications at phlrentassist.org, by fax, and by mail. On Monday, PHDC will post information on how to apply by fax or mail.

Officials said they will process applications and distribute funds as soon as possible starting July 6, but they didnt know when the first payments would go out. The state must get the funds to residents by Nov. 30.

At least $150 million will go to renters and $25 million to homeowners, according to legislation lawmakers passed last month.

 READ MORE: Tenants and landlords in Pa. and N.J. are seeking rental assistance to fend off evictions

Many people, through no fault of their own, are finding themselves and their families in jeopardy of losing their housing, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman said in a statement. In addition to the immeasurable stress this instability places on people at a time when so much is uncertain, we cannot rebuild a strong economy while people are in danger of being homeless.

Eligible renters can receive up to $750 per month for a maximum of six months for rent due between March 1 and Nov. 30. Eligible homeowners can receive up to $1,000 per month for a maximum of six months for payments owed in March through December. Landlords, who also must fill out an application, and mortgage lenders will receive the funds directly.

To qualify, applicants must have become unemployed after March 1 or must have had at least a 30% drop in their annual income because of the pandemic. Their income cannot exceed the area median income of their county, which is $96,600 for a family of four in Philadelphia and its collar counties.

 READ MORE: 13,000 Philadelphians applied for pandemic rental assistance. Funds ran out after 4,000.

Applicants for mortgage relief must live in their home, the mortgage must be at least 30 days past due, and the home must consist of one or two dwelling units.

Those with questions about the rental or mortgage assistance programs can call the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency during the week at 1-855-U-Are-Home (1-855-827-3466).

In the collar counties, the following organizations will distribute rental assistance through the state: Bucks County Opportunity Council (bcoc.org), Housing Authority of the County of Chester (haccnet.org), Delaware County Department of Human Services (delcohsa.org), and Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (montcopa.org/2783/Health-and-Human-Services).
Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. To add your business to the stream, email cfields@insidenova.com or click on the green button below.
If a resident sees an Asian longhorned beetle, they should try to capture it in a jar or a plastic bag and store it in the freezer. (Fairfax County government)
Since May of this year, the SPLC has filed litigation in Alabama and Louisiana to challenge election laws that force voters to choose between participating in democracy and protecting their health.
Until recently, oxygen was not on the World Health Organizations list of essential medicines. The situation looks dire in countries like Congo, where only 2% of healthcare facilities have oxygen and in Tanzania, reporting a low 8% of its facilities having oxygen.
The prior complaint relates to the damage to individual units following Opal Towers cracked wall incident in late 2018. It can be recalled that residents had to be evacuated  on Christmas Eve, of all days  due to a damaged internal wall; now they are pointing to a report that outlines an additional 500 or so defects within the tower.

We have suffered incomprehensible loss and disruption to our lives since the incident on Christmas Eve 2018, Shady Eskander was quoted as stating on Monday (June 29). Unfortunately, we have discovered our losses are much greater.

As for the resident-paid insurance on the building, Eskander said premiums had skyrocketed to $1.1 million from $100,000 previously.
Our goal at WTPhelan is to find clients the best coverage at a competitive price to meet their insurance needs, said Robert Ramsey. Joining AssuredPartners will allow us to continue to serve our clients in a collaborative environment with our new partner, AssuredPartners.

For over 100 years, WTPhelan has been an industry leader in delivering technical expertise and superior customer service, said David Ramsey, vice president of WTPhelan. We are committed to providing key resources to our staff to help them succeed. Joining AssuredPartners will allow us to continue providing our expertise along with the ability to grow our agency.

The team at WTPhelan conveys true customer service and dedication to their community, said Tom Kozera, AssuredPartners regional president. We are pleased to have new members of WTPhelan join our growing team in the Northeast marketplace.
In addition to supporting the scholars, Northwestern Mutual has announced a commitment of $1.6 million to All-In Milwaukee. This donation was made possible with help from the companys own Foundation and its Diversity and Inclusion team. The donation will be used to fund All-In Milwaukees new Talent of the Future program over the next four years.

The Talent of the Future program will offer scholarships to over 80 Milwaukee-area students over the course of four years. The first 10 have already been awarded for the upcoming school year. Aside from receiving scholarship funding, the students will be made eligible for early career leadership development, mentorship and internship opportunities at Northwestern Mutual.

We strengthen our community when we come together to support the resources that address disparities in education and careers for students, said Northwestern Mutual diversity & inclusion vice-president Amy Hanneman. Creating a path for these talented future leaders will boost Milwaukees diverse talent population, helping us build a more inclusive environment for everyone.

It is our hope that our new partnership will significantly impact the success of Milwaukee students in their academic and professional careers, added Northwestern Mutual Foundation president Eric Christophersen.

Read more: Northwestern Mutual donates $1.5 million to combat COVID-19

Northwestern Mutual previously donated more than $1.5 million to its non-profit partners to financially support them during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the company expedited its annual $250,000 grant to the American Red Cross disaster recovery program this year.
Maine Superintendent of Insurance Eric Cioppa has reminded business owners of the importance of complying with the terms of their insurance policies as they begin the reopening process.

As businesses reopen, Cioppa said they should consider Governor Janet Mills COVID-19 orders and the terms of their commercial insurance coverage.

Like policies in other lines of coverage, commercial property and casualty insurance policies generally limit the type and amount of coverage they provide and exclude certain risks completely. Typical exclusions include intentional misconduct or illegal activity, according to a Maine Bureau of Insurance press release.

Businesses that reopen without reading their policies or contacting their agents to talk about their coverages might put the insurance protections that they have paid for at risk, according to the release.

For example, failing to adopt reasonable safety procedures, such as frequent cleaning or limiting the number of customers in a store, could give the insurer grounds to reconsider whether to pay a claim or renew the policy, and in some circumstances, might even be grounds for cancellation, the release added.

The Bureau is strongly encouraging business policyholders and residents who have questions or concerns about insurance coverage during Maines reopening to contact their insurer or agent to discuss their concerns.

Source: Maine Bureau of Insurance

Topics Maine
A Maryland man faces multiple arson-related charges after police say he confessed to setting fires at a church where investigators found a Molotov cocktail in a vestibule.

David Francis Creager, 47, was detained Friday and admitted to setting fire to the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, police told The Daily Times of Salisbury. Members of the Taneytown Volunteer Fire Company responded earlier in the day.

Creager, who lives in Carroll County, faces charges including second-degree arson, possession of incendiary materials with intent to create a destructive device, defacing religious property, and malicious destruction of property, according to police.

Damage to the structure and contents was estimated at $10,000.

He was being held at the Carroll County Detention Center without bond, police said.

Court records show he has a hearing Monday. They do not list an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Abuse Molestation Law Enforcement Maryland Church Arson
RKH Specialty, the London-headquartered wholesale insurance and reinsurance broker, announced the appointment of 14 new senior Aviation experts in London and Colombia, as part of RKHs wider plan of building the largest independent logistics team incorporating its resources across aviation, cargo and marine.

New hires in London are:

Alex Robinson  divisional director

Chris Vince  divisional director (joining on Oct. 2, 2020)

Marcio Rosset  divisional director

David Clewley  associate director

Karen Korkmaz  associate director

Michael Dumenil  associate director

David Bowers  senior account executive

Ross Millar  account executive (joining on July 6, 2020)

Simon Smith  divisional director, (joining in December 2020)

In Colombia, Alejandro Ramirez Gomez and Maria Claudia Forero Mendoza join as joint LatAm head of Aviation, along with account executives, Nayibe Galvis and Alexandra Bernal. Based in Bogota, the Colombia team will work closely with RKHs London team as well as RKHs network of international hub offices.

Led by recently appointed global head of Aviation, Jason Humphreys, who joined RKH in February 2020, the newly expanded team will focus on developing bespoke products for the companys growing portfolio of general aviation, aerospace and airline clients.

The aviation market has seen seismic shifts over the last 24 months but with our newly expanded team, we are now positioned perfectly to take advantage of global opportunities in the aviation sector, commented Humphreys.

Seeking out and attracting the very best talent to join our already strong team is a key strategy for us and these hires represent a great leap forward for RKH. By October 2020, we will have gone from a seven-person team in London to a team of 21, with dedicated aviation hubs in two continents, he continued.

Tough market conditions stimulate innovation and we intend to be at the forefront of those changes, maximizing our expertise and service levels across our international hub offices, said Darren Norris, managing director of RKH Specialtys Logistics division.

By accessing all of the worlds markets through one united team of experts, we can provide the best service and marketing expertise for our clients, he added.

About RKH Specialty

London-based RKH Specialty has offices in Bermuda, Dubai, Singapore, and Miami. RKH employs over 950 specialists worldwide and in the last year placed premium in excess of $4 billion into international markets. RKH Specialty is part of the Hyperion Insurance Group. From Oct. 1, 2020, RKH Specialty will merge with Howden, Hyperions retail insurance broker.

Topics Excess Surplus London Aviation
Chiles environmental regulator on Thursday said it had filed charges against state mining company Codelco over a 2016 tailings spill and river and estuary contamination at its Andina mine in a mountainous region near the capital Santiago.

The Environmental Superintendent (SMA) said it had received various public complaints over a tailings or mining waste spill caused by a storm in April 2016, and the alleged contamination of estuary and river water by waste discharged by the company. It said the events indicated breaches of its waste management plan.

Tailings spills can sometimes be disastrous. Last year, the collapse of a mining waste dam operated by Brazilian mining firm Vale SA, the worlds largest iron ore producer, released a torrent of sludge that killed about 270 people.

Four of the 11 charges brought by the regulator against Codelco are serious, potentially leading to fines of up to $15 million. The others are considered minor infractions and carry lesser penalties or written warnings. Codelco, the worlds largest copper producer, has 10 days to submit a compliance plan to the regulator or 15 days to make further representations, according to the regulators statement.

The company told Reuters it would not comment on the matter as the process is ongoing.

(Reporting by Aislinn Laing; editing by Tom Brown)

Related:

Topics Abuse Molestation Pollution Mining
A Dutch safety watchdog said Thursday [June 25] that it is undesirable for large container ships to use a shipping route through an environmentally sensitive, shallow sea off the coast of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark in heavy northwesterly storms because of the heightened risk of them losing their cargo.

The conclusion came in a report by the Dutch Safety Board into the loss of hundreds of containers from a ship, the MSC Zoe, on New Years Day 2019, that led to tons of cargo washing up on nearby beaches.

Ocean Marine Insurers Face New Risks, Challenges in Changing Segment Dutch Authorities Raise Number of MSCs Containers Lost in North Sea Storm Swiss Shipping Firm MSC Pledges to Recover Containers Lost in North Sea

The lessons to be learned from this accident must result in a better risk management of container transport on the shipping routes, the report said.

The ship, carrying more than 8,000 containers, was sailing north of a chain of islands in the Wadden Sea on a route from the Portuguese port of Sines to Bremerhaven, Germany, when it was battered by waves kicked up by a northwesterly storm. It lost 342 containers and 3,000 tons of cargo overboard, the Safety Board report said.

There are two shipping routes north of the Wadden Islands  a southern passage, which is shallower and closer to the islands, and a northern route. The Zoe was using the southern route.

The Dutch Safety Board concludes that due to the value of the Wadden area, it is undesirable that these container ships choose the southern shipping route past the Wadden coast during a northwestern storm, the board said.

In the days and weeks after the incident, debris including shoes, televisions, lightbulbs and packaging material washed up on normally pristine beaches. The Dutch government sent the armed forces to the region to help in the cleanup operation and a salvage ship fished sunken containers from the seabed.

When slammed from the side by waves kicked up by northwesterly storms in the Wadden Sea, large, wide container ships make extreme rolling movements, the board said in a statement. It added that on the shallow southern shipping route there is a risk of ships grounding and waves forced upward putting extreme stress on lashing systems used to hold containers on board.

The safety board made a series of recommendations, including that the governments of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark work together to make a proposal to the International Maritime Organization to safeguard the environmentally sensitive Wadden area.

The aim of this proposal should be to minimize the loss of containers north of the Wadden Islands and to protect the Wadden area, the Dutch report said. This may include measures for (a specific category of) container ships, and if necessary alteration of the two shipping routes north of the Wadden Islands.

Bernd-Carsten Hiebing, a lawmaker for German Chancellor Angela Merkels center-right party in the state of Lower Saxony, said the report highlighted the continued dangers of shipping. But he pushed back against calls by the opposition Green party for a ban on `mega container ships, saying it wouldnt help improve security for people and the environment.

Instead, he said it would be better to consider more closely which routes are navigable by which types and classes of ships. He also backed stricter rules for securing freight and the use of location transmitters for hazardous cargo containers.

____

AP writer Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.

Photograph: The Geosund salvaging ship lifts a container from the seabed off the northwestern coast of the Netherlands on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. Dutch authorities say a freight ship lost dozens more containers than previously thought when it was caught in a heavy storm on Jan. 2 when at least 345 containers fell off the MSC Zoe. Photo credit: AP Photo/Peter Dejong.

Related:

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Europe Risk Management Germany
UBS Group AG settled a lawsuit brought by a former trainee in London who said she was raped by a senior employee, according to her attorney.

The Swiss lender agreed to settle the claim after the trainee, who was identified in court documents as Ms. A, alleged that UBS failed to protect her and that its investigation of her complaint was flawed. The female graduate, who worked on the trading floor, had also told former UBS investment-banking head Andrea Orcel of the sexualized atmosphere on the desk.

UBS and Ms. A have reached a mutual resolution in relation to this matter as a result of which Ms. A has withdrawn her claim, her lawyer, Suzanne McKie, said in a statement.

A representative for the bank declined to immediately comment. UBS said in a statement when the trainee brought her claim last year that it had conducted an independent investigation into sexual misconduct allegations and concluded that it had made no fundamental errors, but had recommended some changes.

Terms of the settlement werent disclosed.

The agreement comes as sexual harassment and discrimination comes under greater scrutiny in the wake of the MeToo movement and U.K. regulators step up efforts to hold financial firms and managers accountable.

The trainee says she was compelled to sit near the employee whom she had accused of rape. The trainee had to take the fire escapes to avoid coming across the senior banker and raised this with the lenders human-resources department, McKie said in a statement when she first brought her claim at the employment tribunal in March last year.

The alleged rape was said to have taken place in September 2017 and is still being investigated by police.

The alleged perpetrator resigned from the investment bank in March 2018, five months after he was suspended, two people familiar with the matter have previously said. UBS hadnt started a formal disciplinary procedure by the time he departed the Swiss lender, the people said. The trainee, who cant be identified for legal reasons, left the bank in June 2018.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits
An Indianapolis woman has been sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to stealing more than a half million dollars from a small business and using the money to buy jewelry and pay for trips to Aruba.

Kenya Dake, 51, was sentenced to a 37-month prison term by a federal judge in Indianapolis. Court records show that she had pleaded guilty on June24 to wire fraud and money laundering, The Indianapolis Star reported.

Dake must also serve three years of supervised release, forfeit property seized by authorities and repay the money that she had stolen.

Government investigators found that Dake funneled nearly $540,000 in company funds to herself over more than four years while working as the controller and office manager for a small local consulting firm. Prosecutors said she connected her personal bank accounts to fake vendors that she had created in the companys bookkeeping system.

By the time the scheme was discovered last year, Dake had used much of the money for multiple trips to Aruba, to buy a sport-utility vehicle and diamond and platinum jewelry, and pay for various personal expenses.

Through her embezzlement, Ms. Dake took advantage of her position and her employers trust for her own personal criminal gain. Theft such as this is unacceptable and todays sentence clearly shows that cooking the books never pays off in the long run, Robert Alex Middleton, the acting special agent in charge of the FBIs Indianapolis office, said in a news release.

Federal agents seized the SUV, much of the jewelry and over $50,000 from two different bank accounts.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Fraud Commercial Lines Business Insurance Indiana
Assicurazioni Generali SpA has approached Brightsphere Investment Group Inc about a possible acquisition of the U.S. asset management firm, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

A deal would expand the U.S. footprint of Italys top insurer while enabling Brightspheres largest shareholder, hedge fund Paulson & Co, to cash out.

There is no certainty that Generali will be able to meet Paulsons valuation expectations for Brightsphere, the sources said. However, if the companies can negotiate a deal, the acquisition would not face any significant antitrust hurdles, one of the sources added.

The sources requested anonymity because the matter is confidential. Generali declined to comment, while Brightsphere and Paulson did not respond to requests for comment.

Brightsphere shares rose as much as 25% on the news, giving the company a market capitalization of more than $1 billion. Brightsphere also had total borrowings as of the end of March of $635.6 million.

Generali on Thursday announced it was buying 24.4% of smaller rival Cattolica Assicurazioni, a move which made Generali its largest shareholder.

Under a three-year strategic plan presented in late 2018 Generali earmarked up to 4 billion euros ($4.5 billion) for acquisitions. Last month, Chief Executive Philippe Donnet told Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore that Generali was looking at the United States and Asia for asset management deals.

Generali has been present in the United States since 1935 and has focused on insurance and reinsurance products. Italian insurers have been buffeted by the market rout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has undermined the value of their assets, including large holdings of domestic government bonds.

Brightsphere is a Boston-based holding company for seven boutique asset management brands, and has around $160 billion of assets under management, according to its website.

Paulson & Co bought a 25% stake in Brightsphere in 2018 from embattled Chinese conglomerate HNA Group. The head of the hedge fund, John Paulson, was elevated to chairman of Brightsphere in April.

(Reporting by David French in New York, Pamela Barbaglia in London and Stephen Jewkes in Milan; additional reporting by Gianluca Semeraro in Milan and Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston; Editing by Richard Chang, Diane Craft and Jonathan Oatis)

Topics Mergers USA Generali Life Assurance (Thailand) Plc.
Tesla Inc. was sued over a Maryland highway crash last year in which a Model 3s airbags failed to deploy, leaving a college professor with brain damage.

Elon Musk, the companys co-founder, has touted the Model 3 as the safest car ever built with the lowest risk of injury of any vehicle tested by government regulators. The lawyers who filed the suit said they believe its the first case targeting the electric-car makers airbags.

Despite Tesla advertising the Model 3 as the safest car ever made, our lawsuit alleges there are fundamental problems with the safety features of the car, said attorney Ted Leopold of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, who represents the family that sued. We look forward to reviewing Teslas design, development and testing of this car.

Tesla didnt respond to multiple emails seeking comment.

Alleged defects in Teslas Autopilot system have been blamed in several lawsuits for deaths and injuries and the company has faced scrutiny of the technology by federal safety regulators. Separately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating premature failures of the large central touchscreen and the computer that powers it in Teslas Model S sedans.

The Model 3 belonging to the family of Kristian and Jason Edwards was struck by another vehicle in July, causing it slam into a guardrail on the I-95 interstate highway, according to the 27-page complaint. The case couldnt immediately be verified in electronic records for California Superior Court in Oakland.

None of the cars airbags deployed and Edwards, a public-health professor at George Washington University in Washington who was wearing her seat belt, suffered major head trauma and other injuries. Her son in the back also was hurt, according to the suit.

The family is seeking compensation for medical bills, Edwards lost earning capacity and her pain and suffering tied to the accident, according to the suit.

The case is Edwards v. Tesla Inc., California Superior Court, Alameda County (Oakland).

Photograph: The steering wheel of a Tesla Inc. Model 3 electric vehicle in the Tesla store in Barcelona, Spain, on Thursday, July 11, 2019. Photo credit: Angel Garcia/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Auto Tesla
Data and analytics firm CoreLogic disclosed it has received an unsolicited acquisition bid from an investment firm and hedge fund.

Cannae Holdings and Senator Investment Group offered to acquire all outstanding common shares of the company for $65 per share in cash, CoreLogic said.

For now, the company is advising its shareholders to take no action, pending a review. CoreLogic said its board of directors would carefully review the proposals along with financial and legal advisors to determine any future action.

CoreLogic focuses on data and analytics targeted to the housing and insurance industries.

The company on June 25 said its 2020 second-quarter financial results would exceed previously issued revenue and guidance, due to continued market share gains and operating leverage attributable to higher U.S. mortgage market volumes.

Irvine, Calif.-headquartered CoreLogic previously predicted revenue between $420 million and $445 million for the quarter, but that guidance has been raised to between $455 million and $465 million.

Source: CoreLogic

This article first was published in Insurance Journals sister publication, Carrier Management.

Topics Mergers
Brit Global Specialty USA will transfer the renewal rights for its cargo business to Falvey Cargo Underwriting, effective July 2.

As part of the deal, Will Frohne and Yasu Saegusa will move from Brit to Falvey Cargo as underwriters.

Brit said it believes Falvey is a better strategic fit for its cargo business, as it continues to focus its growth around core products that present the strongest opportunities to build scale and generate sustainable returns.

Falvey is committed to making the transition seamless for brokers formerly working with Brit said Mike Falvey, president and CEO of Falvey Cargo Underwriting. More importantly, we are very excited to welcome Will and Yasu to the team as they are a great fit for our organization. They provide outstanding service to brokers and are some of the best marine cargo underwriters in the market today.

Frohne has almost 22 years of experience in marine insurance and reinsurance, with a background in cargo. He has held various senior positions on both the underwriting and broking side with RSA, Marsh, Willis Re, Allianz, and most recently with Brit where he was senior vice president  Marine, charged with building out Brits presence in the U.S. cargo market. He is an active member of the American Institute of Marine Underwriters and holds a Certificate in Ocean Marine Insurance. Frohne graduated from SUNY Maritime College, Ft. Schuyler, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology & Oceanography. He holds an unlimited tonnage any ocean U.S. Coast Guard 3rd Officers license in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Frohne will be based in Long Island, N.Y.

Yasu Saegusa has over 16 years of experience in cargo underwriting, holding multiple senior underwriting and management positions with AIGs Tokyo, New York, and Los Angeles offices, and most recently with Brit as VP marine, focusing on developing Brits cargo book on the West Coast and supporting growth of the national cargo portfolio. Saegusa graduated from Keio University in Tokyo, Japan with a bachelors degree in Economics and is fluent in both English and Japanese. Saegusa will be based in Los Angeles, Calif.

These new additions will bring Falvey Cargos underwriting headcount to 13, as the company approaches its 25th year in operation.

About Brit

London-based Brit underwrites a broad class of commercial specialty insurance with a strong focus on property, casualty and energy business. Brit is a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.

About Falvey Cargo Underwriting

Headquartered in North Kingstown, R.I., Falvey Cargo underwrites marine cargo coverage in three cargo industry segments: general cargo, life sciences, and technology. Founded in 1995, Falvey Cargo Underwriting describes itself as the largest cargo covernote holder at Lloyds of London. It has offices in Rhode Island, California, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Washington, Toronto and London, with dedicated loss prevention, claims adjusting, and recovery services in-house. Falvey Cargo Underwriting is a subsidiary of Falvey Insurance Group.

Source: Brit and Falvey Cargo

Topics USA Excess Surplus Underwriting London Trucking
A Houston pharmacist has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in a $21 million workers compensation fraud case.

George Philip Tompkins, 75, the self-proclaimed Compound King and former owner of Piney Point Pharmacy, and his wife, Marene Kathryn Tompkins, were both sentenced for their roles in an approximately $21.8 million Department of Labor (DOL)  Office of Workers Compensation Programs and Federal Employees Compensation Act fraud scheme, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Marene Kathryn Tompkins, the former vice president of Piney Point Pharmacy, was sentenced to 30 days of home confinement and three years of supervised release

At sentencing, George Tompkins was ordered to pay $12,300,381.36 in restitution (and forfeiture) and Marene Tompkins was ordered to pay $950,745.10 in restitution (and forfeiture).

The U.S. Attorneys Office said after a six-day trial, George Tompkins was convicted by a jury on March 10 of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, 11 counts of health care fraud, and three counts of wire fraud. Kathryn Tompkins pleaded guilty on Jan. 3, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to pay kickbacks.

According to the evidence at trial, George Tompkins and others billed the DOL approximately $21.8 million for medically unnecessary compound gels and creams that were predicated on illegal kickback payments.

George Tompkins and Anoop Chaturvedi, 48, a legal permanent resident from India who remains a fugitive on related charges, created the scheme to generate compounded pain cream prescriptions and bill health care programs for injured state and federal employees. George Tompkins and Chaturvedi used separate entities  including George Tompkinss company, Wellington Advisors  to receive and launder the proceeds of their crimes.

Further evidence presented at trial showed that George Tompkins sought to disguise illicit kickback payments as legitimate marketing expenses and continued to ship patients compound gels and creams even after patients repeatedly complained they did not want them.

Marene Tompkins pleaded guilty before trial. As part of her guilty plea, she admitted that she conspired with her husband and others to pay illegal kickbacks as part of the scheme.

George and Marene Tompkins were charged in a superseding indictment in November 2018 along with Chaturvedi.

Chaturvedi is considered a fugitive and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest in connection with the charges. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the U.S. Postal Service  Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) at 1-888-877-7644.

A federal criminal indictment is merely an accusation. Chaturvedi is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

USPS-OIG, DOL-OIG, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security-OIG, and Department of Veterans Affairs-OIG, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Redlinger charged the case and, with Trial Attorneys Leslie Garthwaite and Devon Helfmeyer of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section, provided substantial assistance in its prosecution. Trial Attorneys Drew Pennebaker and Sara Clingan of the Fraud Section tried the case and continue to prosecute it.

Source: U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas

Topics USA Workers' Compensation Fraud Abuse Molestation
Federal officials are investigating an Oklahoma zoo made famous in Netflixs Tiger King series after an animal rights group accused it of neglect.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent requests to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park after a whistle blower provided them with photos and video of animals suffering from flystrike, according to the nonprofits release.

Flystrike is a condition in which flies, usually drawn to uncleared animal waste, bite animals and lay eggs on them. The maggots eat away at their skin, HOKH-TV reported.

An investigation is underway with U.S. Game & Fish, State Wildlife, the USDA and Garvin County Sheriffs Department.

Jeff Lowe, who operates the zoo, has not returned the TV stations request for comment. Garvin County Sheriff Jim Mullet said that Lowe is cooperating with authorities.

Lowe took over the zoo in 2016 to assist Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, who is currently serving a 22-year federal prison term for killing five tigers and plotting to have his rival Carole Baskin killed. Earlier this month, a federal judge awarded ownership of the zoo to Baskin.

Injured animals are receiving veterinarian care and the USDA is monitoring them, according to the Garvin County Sheriffs Departments release.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Oklahoma
The state of Florida set on Saturday another record in daily confirmed coronavirus cases.

Florida health officials reported more than 9,500 new COVID-19 cases, surpassing the previous days total by more than 600 confirmed cases. The figures come as officials move to reclose beaches and discourage bar gatherings.

Experts say the true figure is undoubtedly higher. This is both because of incomplete testing and because it is becoming clearer to scientists that a significant number of people become infected with the virus but do not feel sick or show symptoms.

The states Department of Health said 24 more people have died with COVID-19, raising the death toll to 3,390.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 also are ticking upward statewide. Although they are not rising as dramatically as the reported number of cases, they are approaching the levels of new admissions seen in April and May. New hospitalizations this week have been between about 160 and 170 per day, according to figures compiled by covidtracking.com.

Miami-Dade County announced late Friday it would reclose beaches from July 3 to July 7 to prevent large gatherings and the spread of the new virus during Fourth of July celebrations in the states hardest hit area.

Earlier Friday, state officials said they would ban alcohol consumptions at bars as health officials attribute the new outbreak to young adults flocking to establishments after reopening three weeks ago, with many of them ignoring social distancing restrictions aimed at lowering the viruss spread.

Bars, like restaurants, were supposed to limit patrons to 50% of their normal capacity, under the states emergency orders. Patrons had to sit at tables, with groups 6 feet (2 meters) apart. No congregating at the bar or on the dance floor was permitted.

The new order prohibits any establishment that makes more than 50% of its revenue from alcohol sales from serving alcohol for consumption on site. Bars are still permitted to sell alcohol in sealed containers for consumption offsite. Restaurants that primarily sell food can still serve alcohol to customers seated at tables.

Business and Professional Regulations Secretary Halsey Beshears said he issued the order because too many bars and patrons were breaking the rules, overwhelming his departments inspectors.

This was more than we could keep up with, Beshears said.

He said people got tired of being cooped up and maybe thought the threat of coronavirus had lessened because news coverage shifted to the protests caused by the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.

People in general just wanted to get out and experience a normalcy, he said. He said there is no timetable for rescinding the order.

Sadly, 90% are getting it right. Its the other 10% that are ruining it for everybody, he said.

The state had suspended the license of a popular Orlando bar near the University of Central Florida earlier this week after at least 13 employees and 28 patrons tested positive. The bar may have been linked to 150 cases, state health officials said at the time.

More than 24,000 new cases have been reported statewide since Saturday, more than a fifth of the 111,724 cases confirmed since March 1. The death toll climbed Friday to 3,366, a one-day increase of 39.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that he still doesnt plan to issue a statewide order requiring masks. He said that is best handled at the county and city level. Miami, other cities and several counties including Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Orange are requiring masks in public places.

DeSantis said the median age for people testing positive has dropped from in the 60s early in the outbreak to 33 now. He said that has helped decrease the fatality rate  the disease hits older people harder  but may be increasing the spread as younger adults are more likely to be asymptomatic and to congregate. He urged younger people to wear masks to avoid spreading the disease to their older family members and others who have underlying medical conditions.

While this may not be affecting you negatively, you can pass it along to other folks, he said.

State officials have said the youth of the newly infected may be why the rising infection total hasnt been accompanied by an increase in deaths, which have averaged about 35 per day for a month. Dr. Rajiv Bahl, who works in an Orlando emergency room, said treatment methods are also improving.

The patients who are being admitted are younger than what we were seeing before, less ill than in the first weeks, but still sick enough to be hospitalized, said Kathleen Sposato, senior director of infection prevention at Jackson Health System, which oversees one of Floridas largest hospitals in Miami.

Sposato said they are also seeing people arriving at the hospital for non-COVID-19 care but who end up testing positive, including pregnant women in labor. Some hospitals in Miami-Dade have had to transfer patients to other facilities in the network as their bed availability diminishes.

I think we are seeing an increase in the use of our health care system, she said. COVID-19 is almost becoming endemic in the community.

Tampa bartender Colleen Corbett said she is worried about being unemployed again, but thinks the states action is the right move since no one could follow the guidelines and everyone was getting sick. Most of her bartender friends have been infected and she is awaiting test results.

Corbett, 30, said the two bars where she works have been packed. She said staff werent required to wear masks and almost no customers did.

It was like they forgot there was a pandemic or just stopped caring, Corbett said.

Bruce Owens, 66, wearing a mask as he walked Friday in St. Petersburg, said he isnt surprised by the states skyrocketing case numbers. He blamed it on state officials.

Theyve handled it extremely poorly, he said. They havent really listened to the experts.

___

Farrington reported from Tallahassee. AP reporters Tamara Lush in St. Petersburg and Cody Jackson in Palm Beach Gardens contributed to this report.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics COVID-19 Florida Restaurant
Atlanta officials say they continue to advise residents in much of Atlanta and people who live in some suburbs to continue boiling their water after a weekend water main break.

The city said on Sunday that that its boil water alert will continue for people in part of Atlanta and for residents of Chattahoochee Hills, Fairburn, Union City and the city of South Fulton.

Officials say water service has been restored in all of the areas, but some customers might have lower water pressure than normal.

City officials say theyre still awaiting lab tests  expected as early as Sunday night  to determine whether the water is safe.

The water main break happened on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus in the Midtown area.

Areas affected by the boil water alert are shown on a city website.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Meridian, Idaho-based Cunnington & Associates Inc.

Greg and Nick Cunnington and their associates will continue to operate from their current location under the direction of Jim Buckley, head of Gallaghers Northwest region retail property/casualty brokerage operations.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cunnington & Associates is an insurance agency that offers risk management, group captives, loss control, safety programs and risk financing services to clients primarily across Idaho and the Intermountain West, with a focus on the agriculture, construction, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate and transportation industries.

Arthur J. Gallagher is a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Ill.

Topics Mergers A.J. Gallagher
The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers has named Sanjay Mehta senior vice president.

Mehta works out of the Irvine, Calif., office.

He has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and was most recently at McGriff Insurance Services, and Marsh prior to that.

The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers is an independently owned broker with offices throughout the country.

Topics California Agencies
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Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020
Burma Around 800 Myanmar Migrants Stranded in Jordan Without Work Amid COVID-19 Lockdown

Migrants from Myanmar at the Camel Textile factory in Jordan. / Supplied

Yangon  Several hundred stranded migrants from Myanmar in Jordan say they are facing hardships after months without work, while flight suspensions mean they cannot return home.

They told The Irrawaddy on Monday that about 1,700 migrants worked at a Camel Textile International Cooperation garment factory in Karak to the east of the Dead Sea.

More than 800 of them are still stranded in the West Asian state.

The migrants have been told they do not need to compensate their employers for failing to finish their employment contracts because of COVID-19.

The factory has also provided the stranded migrants with accommodation and meals while they wait to return home, they said.

Ma Mar Mar Hlaing, 27, from Ayeyarwady Region said she and 17 other factory workers have been stranded for four months after their contracts finished. They were due to leave in March.

I feel depressed since we have to spend our days in our rooms, said Ma Mar Mar Hlaing.

Others say they have to pay for food because the meals provided are inedible.

About half of the 800 workers were forced to resign because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they said.

Ma Myat Myat Moe, 23, of Bago Region said she and many other women faced hardships after four months without work.

I cant send money back to my family. We have no money for medicine if we get sick so we do want to go back home quickly, said Ma Myat Myat Moe.

They lacked cash to buy soap and other goods to ensure hygiene levels, she added.

Myanmars embassy in neighboring Israel has assisted migrants as there is no diplomatic mission in Jordon.

The embassy declined to comment to The Irrawaddy when contacted on June 29.

Myanmars ambassador to Israel, U Maung Maung Lin, told the media on Friday that there are four factories in Jordon that had employed more than 3,000 migrants from Myanmar.

He said labor issues for stranded migrants at the Camel Textile factory and other factories had been resolved despite COVID-19.

The ambassador said Myanmar is considering flying home its nationals in Jordon when it allows international flights to resume.

Elsewhere, approximately 250,000 nationals have been stranded in Malaysia because of COVID-19 lockdowns and crackdowns against illegal foreign workers, according to Myanmars labor attache in Kuala Lumpur, U Aung Zaw Min.

Between May and June, eight undocumented migrants from Myanmar in Malaysia committed suicide amid intense hardship.

In response to the suicides, Myanmar says it is planning to fly home all undocumented workers from Malaysia.

As of Sunday, Myanmar has brought 5,827 nationals home from more than 10 countries including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry was unavailable for comment on Monday.

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Election 2020 Myanmar Election Commission Rebuffs Military-Backed Party, Upholds Use of National Heros Image

A National League for Democracy campaign pamphlet. / National League for Democracy

YANGONMyanmars Union Election Commission (UEC) said Saturday that there is no law prohibiting the use of pictures of late national hero General Aung Santhe father of State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyiin electoral campaigns and thus all parties can use his image.

The use of pictures of national leaders, alive and deceased, in political campaigns has sparked controversy with less than three months to go before the start of this years election campaign period.

The main opposition party, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and 29 allied political parties are calling to restrict the use of Gen. Aung Sans image in campaigns for the upcoming general election. They have demanded that a ban on the use of his image be included in the election Code of Conduct (CoC), a voluntary set of rules for political parties and candidates in the upcoming nationwide poll.

The CoC was approved and signed on Friday by 64 parties, including the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD). The USDP and around 20 allied parties didnt sign the guidelines in protest over the exclusion of their demand.

USDP spokesperson Dr. Nanda Hla Myint said on Saturday that the election commission failed to listen to their voices.

We requested to restrict all parties [from using Gen. Aung Sans picture] and to allow only campaigning with the parties leaders But our demand was totally neglected, he said.

Shwe Minn, chairman of the Lisu National Development Party, also said his party didnt sign the CoC. He said that it is unfair that the NLD is using the image of Gen. Aung San solely to promote their campaigns despite the fact that he is a national hero, and not the partys leader.

We agreed to all the rules written in the CoC, but we didnt sign as our demand is not included, he said.

The NLD, chaired by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, won a landslide victory in the last general election in 2015 and formed the first democratically elected government in more than five decades. The former ruling USDP secured around 7 percent of the seats in the Union Parliament in the 2015 election.

Following the signing ceremony for the CoC on Friday, the election commission met on Saturday with chairs and senior leaders of political parties in Yangon to resolve the disputes and objections.

During the meeting, the USDP and its allied parties objected to both the exclusion of their ban on the use of Gen. Aung Sans image as well as the NLDs use of the term town elders in their candidacy selection process. The USDP and its allies claimed the NLD is using the term for the benefit of a single political party when the term concerns the general public. The USDP also suggested to revise the vote counting system, the number of voters allowed per polling station and other election procedures.

Election Commissioner U Myint Naing told reporters during a press conference Saturday that the commission will only carry out procedures as per existing laws and by-laws, responding to the complaints of the USDP and its allies.

He added that existing laws do not prohibit the use of pictures of national leaders in electoral campaigning.

Regarding the objection to the NLDs use of the term town elders, the commissioner said there is no prohibition against the use of the term and all parties can use it.

The NLD has formed candidate selection committees for each township with town elders and the partys township executive committee members in an attempt to include local communities preferences.

USDP spokesperson Dr. Nanda Hla Myint said the election commission is required to listen to the voices of parties in order to earn their trust and needs to collaborate with parties to hold the election successfully.

Some parties are saying that they dont trust us. I hereby vow to oversee the election fairly and also urge the parties to try to earn the publics trust to win the seats, UEC Chairman U Hla Thein told political parties in his opening remarks at Saturdays meeting.

Of the 91 parties in the 2015 general election, 22 parties won seats while all the other parties lost in every constituency they contested, according to the UEC. In the upcoming general election, a total of 94 parties will run campaigns for parliamentary seats nationwide.

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Burma Myanmar Extends COVID-19 Visa and Flight Bans Until July 31

A closed airline counter at Yangon International Airport in March. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

Mandalay  Myanmar has extended visa restrictions and bans on international flights until the end of July as COVID-19 cases continue to be reported among returnees from overseas.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said applications for urgent diplomatic and United Nations visas should be made at Myanmars embassies.

A 21-day quarantine will be imposed on everyone entering the country, the ministry said on Sunday.

The Department of Civil Aviation said special, relief and cargo flights would continue to operate.

Myanmar banned visas and international flights in March when it reported its first COVID-19 cases. There have now been 299 confirmed cases, with six new cases over the weekend, all of which were imported from India and Thailand. Six deaths have been recorded.

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has warned of the danger of a second coronavirus wave and called for the public to continue to take precautions.

The governments Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 has banned mass gatherings and imposed a curfew from midnight to 4 am until July 15.

Some restrictions were eased in May, such as the need to stay at home, gatherings of more than five people at government offices, businesses, factories, schools and for training.

Residents in four Yangon townships  Bahan, South Okkalapa, Pabedan and Tamwe  were also allowed to leave their homes after May 29.

Restaurants and teashops are now allowed to reopen. Highway buses and domestic flights restarted with limited passenger numbers.

However, schools, universities and training schools remain closed. Pagodas, monasteries, mosques and churches are still closed to the public.

The government planned to reopen high schools in July but it is unclear if this will happen.

Of the six cases reported over the weekend, three involved military personnel who returned from training in India, according to the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services.

Last Monday, a military delegation led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing left Naypyitaw to attend the 75th anniversary of Russias Victory Day, which commemorates the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945, upon the invitation of Russias defense ministry.

Military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said around 10 presidents and many defense ministers and military chiefs were due to attend the event. The delegation returned to Myanmar on Thursday.

Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun said the delegation received health screening before leaving Russia.

The test results have not been made public.
Election 2020 Myanmar Govt Vows Legal Action Against Fake News Sites

Screenshot of a fake news post from Forward Media Groups Facebook page. / U Myint Kyaw

The government will take legal action against those who run fake news pages after disinformation about the ruling National League for Democracy and a senior Presidents Office official spread on social media last week.

On Tuesday, the Forward Media Group pagewhich has been removed from Facebookposted a short news item quoting the spokesperson of the NLDs central information committee, Monywa Aung Shin, as accusing U Zaw Htay, the director general of the Presidents Office, of stabbing the NLD government in the back. However, the spokesperson was never interviewed for the story; Monywa Aung Shin later officially denied talking to Forward Media and filed a complaint with the Myanmar Press Council.

U Zaw Htay told reporters in Naypyitaw on Friday that the page published a post containing disinformation regarding both the content and the source. He added the government is investigating fake news and related pages.

As the elections are near, especially, these posts aim to complicate the political situation, said U Zaw Htay.

U Myint Kyaw, a joint secretary of the Myanmar Press Council, said the MPC received the complaint. The MPC will put it in the list of fake news pages as the FMG is not an official registered online media outlet, U Myint Kyaw said. But as the Councils mandate is limited, it cannot launch an investigation about who is behind the pages. Only the government can do such an investigation as they have the resources, he said.

U Myint Kyaw last Tuesday started raising the alarm about FMGs fake news post and the FMG page, and urged respective departments to respond to the fake news to stop it from spreading widely.

Since its creation in August last year, 80 to 90 percent of FMGs posts have been copied from other media, and some of the posts are 100 percent fake and twist the facts, he explained to The Irrawaddy. According to the pages transparency status, it had two admins, both located inside Myanmar.

According to Myanmar Now news, the page has posted over 60 fake news items, primarily targeting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, her NLD party and government officials.

U Zaw Htay added that based on their tracking and analysis, They [fake pages] intentionally distribute such misinformation to create misunderstanding between the government and the people, between the government and political parties, and between civil servants, the public and the government.

He said the group behind this page (FMG) is based in Naypyitaw and had spent millions of kyats to disseminate misinformation, using Facebooks boosting service to attract more users.

We will take action against them in accordance with the law. We warn you. We are investigating, he said. Politically, he urged such attackers to fairly contest elections and to highlight weaknesses in the central government that way, instead of disseminating fake news.

The Myanmar Press Councils spokesman also welcomed the governments move in tackling the fake news.

He urged the Ministry of Transport and Communications, which oversees social media monitoring, to do regular checks and take action against fake news which is poisonous to the general public, in addition to tackling defamation posts against government officials.

The Union government in early 2018 allocated 6.4 billion kyats (US$4.73 million) to the Ministry of Transport and Communications from its emergency fund to monitor social media in the fight against fake news and misinformation.

The ministry formed the Social Media Monitoring Team to investigate individuals threatening the countrys stability via social media. But it has been criticized for targeting actual news sites and outspoken individuals rather than individuals spreading fake news, disinformation and misinformation.

In March, the government ordered mobile network operators to block more than 200 websites and online pages, including some registered online media such as the Rakhine-based Narinjara News and Development Media Group (DMG), Mandalay-based Mandalay In-Depth News and Voice of Myanmar (VOM), and Tachileik-based Mekong News.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications should be proactive in public affairs and should carefully scrutinize and analyze whether a certain news site or social media page should be shut down or not, said U Myint Kyaw.

From the governments actions so far, they have missed the real targets [who are posting fake news and disinformation], he added.

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Burma Rakhine Govt Backtracks After Warning of Myanmar Military Clearance Operations Prompts Thousands to Flee

An IDP camp in Rathedaung Township, Rakhine State. / Khin Saw Wai / Facebook

NAYPYITAWA Rakhine State government official said the state has withdrawn a warning it issued to local residents about planned military operations in Rathedaung Township, following a misunderstanding by local residents and the international community, as well as an evacuation order by the local administration that prompted thousands to flee their homes.

Rakhine State Border and Security Minister Colonel Min Than said the state government withdrew its warning that the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, would carry out clearance operations in Rathedaung Township on Friday because locals misunderstood the nature of the operations.

The militarys Northwestern Command informed the state government on June 21 that it would soon carry out clearance operations in response to intelligence that around 200 Arakan Army (AA) troops had arrived near Kyauktan Village in the north of Rathedaung Township.

Col. Min Than then asked the Rathedaung Township administrator on June 23 to make sure local residents are not harmed in the possible clashes around Kyauktan Village.

It appeared that the township administrator misunderstood this. He issued an order to around 40 villages [asking local residents to leave]. In fact, it was not necessary, said Col. Min Than. There are only four or five villages around Kyauktan. We gave the warning out of concern their safety. We only knew about the administrators order later, so people were concerned.

Gripped by fear, thousands of local residents fled from their villages. Around a thousand people have fled to urban Rathedaung town alone, according to the townships lawmaker in the Lower House, Daw Khin Saw Wai.

Everyone had to run. Such an order should not be issued because it only deepens hatred. Displaced people are in desperate trouble there. They cant go to their farms. Issuing such an order imposes a heavier burden on villagers who are already in a state of panic, said the lawmaker who is helping those who have recently fled.

There are 43 villages in the neighborhood of Kyauktan, according to Daw Khin Saw Wai, and residents have frequently reported clashes in or near four or five of the villages.

The government must assume responsibility if it is to issue such a warning. It must take responsibility to evacuate the local residents. It should work in cooperation with us to evacuate the local residents. Issuing such an order is not acceptable, said Daw Khin Saw Wai.

The Tatmadaw asked local residents in Kyauktan to leave because it said AA troops were recently deployed near Tatmadaw troops in the area and Kyauktan Village sits between the two sides.

Military spokesperson Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said clashes are still ongoing in the area because the AA has deployed its troops across Rathedaung and Buthidaung townships.

What the Tatmadaw said is that because it would attack the AA in Kyauktan, it asked any remaining villagers to leave because they could be harmed, said Col. Min Than.

Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun also said the international community has a misunderstanding about the Tatmadaws so-called clearance operations.

He said that, to the Tatmadaw, the term means a counter-insurgency operation, but the international community defines it as the removal of villages and targeting of civilians.

Government spokesman U Zaw Htay said the government has asked both the Myanmar military and police not to use the term clearance operations as it can cause misunderstanding.

He said he has again asked the state border and security minister and the militarys Northwestern Command not to use the term.

Last weeks reports of military clearance operations in Kyauktan prompted the diplomatic missions in Myanmar from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdoms and the United States to issue a statement on Saturday highlighting their concerns about such operations and the worsening humanitarian and security situation in Rakhine and southern Chin State.

We are aware of the historic impacts of such operations disproportionately affecting civilians, the statement read. Access for humanitarian organizations must be allowed to provide appropriate response, particularly as communities respond to COVID-19 and the monsoon season.

Clashes erupted in 2019 between the AA and the military when the ethnic armed group returned to its homeland of Rakhine State. Despite the governments peace process programs, the two sides have not signed a bilateral ceasefire agreement.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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Monday, June 29th, 2020 (12:01 am) - Score 2,366

A new cross-party report from the House of Lords Digital Technologies Committee has called on the UK Gov to ensure that their future Online Harms Bill can tackle the rising pandemic of misinformation on the internet, which they warn is a threat to democracy. More censorship and blocking by broadband ISPs is proposed.

Striking the right balance between freedom of expression and outright censorship is never an easy task. Sadly some of the major content providers (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc.) have struggled to tackle recent challenges via the existing self-regulation approach, which has enabled election interference by foreign states (e.g. fake news propaganda) and terrorist or criminal material online to surge.

NOTE: The Bill will also include the endlessly delayed internet porn block via age verification ( The Bill will also include the endlessly delayed internet porn block via age verification ( here ), which many view as a privacy nightmare.

Not to mention the plague of internet trolling (i.e. people who post generally abusive or harmful content), fake news and, most recently, the dangerous spread of some truly absurd COVID-19 related 5G mobile conspiracy theories (i.e. encouraging criminal attacks against infrastructure and key telecoms workers). The Government agrees that too much harmful content is thus being allowed to slip through a fairly weak net.

Last years Online Harms White Paper (here) proposed to tackle some of these tricky areas, although it seemed to shy away from conspiracy theories. Broadly speaking the associated Bill, which has yet to be published, aims to introduce new laws for websites that would be enforced by Ofcom through a new Code of Practice (CoP).

The Lords Select Committee Report

The new report  Digital Technology and the Resurrection of Trust  warns that the Government must take action without delay (i.e. by immediately publishing the new Online Harms Bill) to ensure tech giants are held responsible for the harm done to individuals, wider society and our democratic processes through misinformation widely spread on their platforms.

Summary of Key Recommendations * The ASA, the Electoral Commission, Ofcom and the UK Statistics Authority should co-operate through a regulatory committee on political advertising. Political parties should work with these regulators to develop a code of practice for political advertising, along with appropriate sanctions, that restricts fundamentally inaccurate advertising during a parliamentary or mayoral election, or referendum. * The Online Harms Bill should make clear that misinformation and disinformation are within its scope. * Ofcom should produce a code of practice on misinformation. This code should include a requirement that if a piece or pattern of content is identified as misinformation by an accredited fact checker then it should be flagged as misinformation on all platforms. * The Competition and Markets Authority should conduct a full market investigation into online platforms control over digital advertising. * The Online Harms work should make clear that platforms duty of care extends to actions which undermine democracy. * For harmful but legal content, Ofcoms codes of practice should focus on the principle that platforms should be liable for the content they rank, recommend or target to users. Platforms should also be held responsible for content that they recommend once it has reached a specific level of virality or is produced by users with large audiences. * The Government should empower Ofcom to sanction platforms that fail to comply with their duty of care in the Online Harms Bill. These sanctions should include fines of up to four per cent of global turnover and powers to enforce ISP blocking of serially non-compliant platforms. * The Government should establish an independent ombudsman for content moderation decisions to whom the public can appeal should they feel they have been let down by a platforms decisions. * Parliament should set up a joint committee of both Houses to oversee Ofcoms Online Harms work and that of the proposed ombudsman. This committee should be constituted so that there can be no Government majority amongst its Members. * Ofcom should be given the power to compel companies to facilitate research on topics that are in the public interest. * Ofcom should issue a code of practice on algorithmic recommending. This should require platforms to conduct audits on all substantial changes to their algorithmic recommending facilities for their effects on users with characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010. * Ofcom should issue a code of practice on content moderation. This should require companies to clearly state what they do not allow on their platforms and give useful examples of how this applies in practice. The code of practice on content moderation should also include the requirement that all technology platforms publish an anonymised database of archetypes of content moderation decisions on impersonation, misinformation, hate speech and abuse. NOTE: The full report also covers various other areas, such as with respect to electoral law, but that falls outside of ISPreviews focus.

The Committee points out that many content providers are in effect in business relationships with platforms that host their content and the platforms have a duty of care to ensure the content is not harmful, either to individuals or our shared democratic principles. This should be backed up by the power for Ofcom to fine digital companies up to 4% of their global turnover or force ISP blocking of serial offenders.

On top of that it recommends that political advertising be brought into line with other advertising in the requirement for truth and accuracy, which could be a fun thing to implement given how flaky political parties can be with their commitments and context. Not to mention the inherent difficulty of judging a promise that has not yet been delivered and the time taken to rule on it (i.e. the ads would be finished by the time a decision is made).

Lord Puttnam, Chair of the Committee, said: We are living through a time in which trust is collapsing. People no longer have faith that they can rely on the information they receive or believe what they are told. That is absolutely corrosive for democracy. Part of the reason for the decline in trust is the unchecked power of digital platforms. These international behemoths exercise great power without any matching accountability, often denying responsibility for the harm some of the content they host can cause, while continuing to profit from it. Weve seen clear evidence of this in recent months through a dangerous rise of misinformation about Covid-19. We have become aware of the ways in which misinformation can damage an individuals health along with a growing number of instances where it is our collective democratic health thats under threat. That must stop  it is time for the Government to get a grip of this issue. They should start by taking steps to immediately bring forward a Draft Online Harms Bill. We heard that on the current schedule the legislation may not be in place until 2024. That is clearly unacceptable. We have set out a programme for change that, taken as a whole, can allow our democratic institutions to wrestle power back from unaccountable corporations and begin the slow process of restoring trust. Technology is not a force of nature and can be harnessed for the public good. The time to do so is now.

As ever there are lots of potential caveats with attempting to effectively police the reality of human thought. One such issue is the age old problem of how you define something like hate speech (outside of more obvious areas like racism etc.), as well as who decides what is and is not fake news online in the first place and then separates that from related content, which may include criticism of the same subject, as well as satire, the right to cause offence, political free speech and so forth.

At this point big commercial content and social media providers, like those mentioned earlier, are highly likely to try and reduce their liability for bad content by introducing automated filtering systems, which are notorious for being overzealous and unable to understand context (e.g. people joking about blowing up a city vs actual terrorist discussions). The end result is usually significant over-blocking of lawful content (mass censorship).

Meanwhile theres still a big question mark over the accuracy and effectiveness of online Age Verification systems. Not to mention that the huge scale of recent hacks and personal data thefts has resulted in people becoming less likely to trust online services with their personal data, which doesnt bode well for anybody thinking of asking their users for more personal data or even financial details.

On top of that it remains unclear whether the Online Harms Bill will focus on big companies or target every single website. Lest we forget that the economic models for internet content are radically different from the offline world. Many blogs, for example, can be written by just one person and yet be read by millions, despite running off a shoestring budget (this is how the internet works and remains one of its core appeals). Forcing such sites to implement unaffordable measures, which will also need to work across lots of different software, seems unworkable.

As for forcing broadband ISPs and mobile operators to block content, while this is possible, its ultimately a bit of a dumb measure  the equivalent of leaving the door open while hanging a do not enter sigh on the outside. The reason for this is because ISPs cannot control content that exists remotely on other online servers, they can only impose a skin deep restriction that even a young child could circumvent.

Blocking also works best against an entire domain or IP address (or both), but its less effective when deployed against specific pages on a website. The proposal above appears to be suggesting that mass blocking of an entire online platform, such as Twitter or Facebook, could be implemented and that seems fundamentally unconscionable for a democracy.

The lords may thus risk supporting a draconian censorship regime and harming free speech, even though that might not be their direct intention. Clear definitions of what does and does not constitute harmful content are also required. Meanwhile theres the question of how people can trust such regulation from politicians, which in recent times havent exactly earned a good reputation for being the standard bearers of truthfulness.

Finally, the lords have called on the Government to introduce their Online Harms legislation within a year of this reports publication.
Monday, June 29th, 2020 (2:05 pm) - Score 2,236

Vodafone has published a new report from WPI Economics, which perhaps predictably forecasts that the cumulative gains of UK businesses moving from 4G to 5G (mobile broadband) could produce an economic boost of more than 38bn by 2025, plus 120bn between 2025 to 2030 (total productivity-based boost of 158bn).

This report outlines examples of where the benefits of 5G are already being realised and sets out some of its potential future uses. For example, it predicts that 5G will help hospital surgeons work with more precision than ever, while people in remote communities will have access to the kind of care that would once have required hours of travel.

Likewise it claims that teachers in schools will be able to share rich virtual experiences with their classes and children will be able to explore the solar system, the human body and the ocean floor like never before. On top of that there are mentions of how 5G could revolutionise traffic and congestion management, such as by reducing delays and allowing quicker access for emergency services.

However, the report warns that these benefits are not guaranteed and, if the UK is to become a global leader in 5G, it states that more still needs to be done. The key to unlocking the UKs potential to become a global digital leader is investment in 5G supported by full fibre, says the report, albeit without highlighting how much of a role that full fibre aspect plays in their economic prediction.

Equally, reading between the lines, the report may also be hinting at the potentially negative impact (as perceived by Vodafone) from the Governments expected decision to ban Huawei from future 5G networks in the UK.

Report Summary To unleash the full economic potential of 5G, Government needs to help create the policy, procurement and investment environment that will support these ambitions. This includes Government leading the way by committing to a smart by default procurement strategy and removing barriers to 5G rollout in order to create the right investment climate. The Government has previously committed to rolling out full fibre and gigabit capable broadband to every home and business across the UK by 2025 and for the majority of the population to be covered by a 5G signal by 2027, and the recently-signed Shared Rural Network deal has an important part to play in filling coverage gaps in the more remote rural areas. But the Government should go further and adapt its current 5G strategy to create the conditions and support that could enable the rollout of 5G to the majority of the population by 2025.

Youll have to forgive this author for opting not to delve too much further into Vodafones full report, since a mobile operator singing the praises of a new mobile network technology  one that they are already in the process of deploying  is a bit like a dentist telling you that teeth are good. Predictable and thus, dare I say it, just a little bit boring. Weve had enough 5G hype over the past few years to last a lifetime.

All of this is before we even get into that endlessly tedious debate about the inherently difficult task of accurately attaching a positive economic impact to faster broadband speeds (mobile or otherwise), lower latency and greater reliability (example), particularly given that existing 4G networks can already do a lot of what 5G is often hyped up to deliver. Likewise a lot of the benefits highlighted could also just as easily come from fixed broadband lines.

None of this is to say that 5G wont deliver various big improvements, it absolutely will, but its still more of an evolutionary than revolutionary technology and much will still depend upon how much spectrum Ofcom releases. Meanwhile reports predicting an economic boost are, as the Americans would say, a dime a dozen, while reports examining what kind of actual improvement was ultimately delivered are somewhat less common for mobile technologies. Take with a pinch of salt.
Huntsville, TX (77320)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 92F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 72F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
China received about 48.81 million domestic tourists during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday which concluded on June 27, reaping 12.28 billion yuan in revenue, said the countrys Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The country's tourism market remained generally stable and well-organized during the past holiday, the ministry added.

During the holiday, the ministry capped visitors to tourist spots at 30% of capacity, and guided and supported tourist spots to implement reservation mechanism and enable more detailed flow management, so as to avoid over capacity and mass gatherings. Reservation has become mandatory for visits, and is universally accepted by tourists.

While instructing local authorities to maintain regular epidemic prevention and control, the ministry held diverse promotional activities and launched themed tour routes centering on the Yellow River, the red tourism which features visits to the sites with significance of revolutionary history, and camping.

Measures were also rolled out by the ministry to meet diversified travel demand of the tourists during the holiday.

The three-day vacation was highlighted by red tourism, rural tourism, ecotourism, cultural heritage tourism, and B&B. Besides, road trips, parent-child trips, family trips, and nighttime tourism activities became new growth points.

The ministry also stepped up efforts to promote tourism etiquette. It instructed tourist spots to introduce relevant sign boards at visitor centers, ticket offices, entrances, and main roads, as well as guides and volunteer stations to promote tourism etiquette. Besides, tourism etiquette tips and announcements were also provided along tour routes and at major sightseeing spots.

Guiding visitors to use serving chopsticks and spoons and say no to game meat, the ministry fostered a new vision of healthy and green dining.

By advocating safe and civilized travel, the ministry also raised public awareness of epidemic prevention and reservation-based tourism. As a result, civilized, healthy and green tourism is gradually becoming a new trend in China.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
Jacksonville, TX (75766)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 89F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. Low 67F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
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Jennifer Dorsey is chief copy editor and Business section coordinator. She worked in Washington, D.C., and Chicago before moving to the Tetons.
Joplin, MO (64801)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Cooler. High near 70F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low 53F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Everything has been in favor of Johnny Depp in her legal battle against Amber Heard. However, new court documents are dragging him down again with a rather controversial claim.

On Thursday, The Associated Press reported that The Sun's lawyers once again asked a U.K. judge to dismiss Depp's libel case after the actor allegedly failed to present evidence concerning his drug use.

During the preliminary hearing, the publication's lawyer Adam Wolanski explained that the critical "drug texts" contain proof that Depp tried to purchase "MDMA and other narcotics" while he was in Australia with Heard in 2015.

He added that the actor referred to the MDMA and cocaine as "happy pills" and "whitey stuff." Days before Depp allegedly attacked Heard, he reportedly begged his assistant to provide him those drugs.

Furthermore, Wolanski said that failing to reveal the text messages is a breach of the previous court order that required Depp to submit all libel proceedings against his ex-wife.

"There is a real risk that the claimant has failed to provide proper disclosure to the defendants, and that the defendants cannot have a fair trial," the lawyer said, explaining how highly relevant those texts are. "It is the defendants' case that drugs and alcohol had an influence on the claimant's behaviour towards Ms. Heard."

After he explained their side, Wolanski read the passages from the court claims where Heard said she was subjected to a "three-day ordeal of physical assaults" by her husband.

Heard then accused Depp of "pushing, slapping her and shoving her to the ground" before she "retreated to a locked bedroom."

The actress also penned that it happened after Depp took MDMA and drank heavily. Her evidence pointed out that the actor took "ten or so" pills and "drunk Jack Daniel's from the bottle."

In addition, Heard's lawyer read one of the alleged texts to the judge, saying, "F**king give me the goddamn numbers, I will take care of this s**t, don't bother."

What Depp's Team Said

Soon after the court claims have been publicized, Depp's camp responded and defended the actor from the allegations that he deliberately hid the evidence.

The actor's representative David Sherborne strongly said that Depp did not withhold documents related to his defamation case against The Sun, its publisher News Group Newspapers (NGN), and its executive editor, Dan Wootton.

In his statement to Evening Express, Sherborne emphasized that "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor is not hiding something that can be "profoundly damaging to his case" and debunked all Wolanski's claims.

He also disclosed that the document presented to the court was already submitted in the separate libel suit, which Depp filed against Heard over her claims that he was abusive. The article that the actor is suing The Sun for is related to the accusations divulged by Heard.

"The issue in this case is whether the defendants can prove that the claimant committed serious domestic violence and put Ms. Heard in fear," Wolanski stated. "It is not about whether Mr. Depp asks for drugs."

The three-week trial to address the case is set to begin on July 7 at the Royal Courts of Justice in London after it has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

READ MORE: Amber Heard A Liar? Johnny Depp Didn't Do THIS, Says Witness

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
It has been two months since Prince Harry turned his back on the royal family to live a private life in Los Angeles. While Harry and wife Meghan Markle have stepped down from their royal duties, they continuously do volunteer work to help those affected by the coronavirus global pandemic.

Although the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made it clear that they wanted to be financially independent and Prince Harry said that it was a decision that they did not take lightly, a new revelation showed that these are not the only reason why the Sussexes are out of the monarchy.

A royal expert believes that there was a plot and connivance that happened behind Harry's back, which has been the ultimate reason behind the so-called "Megxit."

Plot Against Harry

A new book about the royal family claims that there have been scheming and secret palace dealings that lead Prince Harry and Meghan to leave the United Kingdom. This conspiracy plot was made by none other than Harry's father and brother, Prince Charles and Prince William.

As per Nigel Cawthrone's book "Prince Andrew, Epstein and the Palace," Prince Andrew's scandalous connection with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein led the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge to launch a "silent coup" against Harry.

It can be recalled that for the past years, the 71-year-old heir to the throne has been vocal with his eagerness to trim down the monarchy. Prince Charles' idea to have a slimmer royal family was in full display in 2012 when it was only him, his wife, two sons, and daughter-in-law joined Queen Elizabeth II at the palace balcony to end Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

So when his 60-year-old brother sat daw with Emily Maitlis for a BBC Newsnight interview in November 2019, Prince Charles allegedly saw a chance to use it to manifest his plans.

During the interview, the Duke of York denied the sexual assault allegations by Epstein's former victims. But instead of sympathizing with the victims, Andrew said that he never regretted his friendship with the millionaire sex offender.

The messy BBC interview backfired on Prince Andrew, leading him to step back on his royal duties.

During the same month, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle showed hints about their exit, especially after their controversial documentary interview where they opened about their struggles within the royal family.

"The Charles-William faction at the palace is in seemingly unstoppable ascendant," Cawthorne told the Daily Mail.

"The two heirs found a common cause that the unwieldy monarchy has to be pruned, starting with their independently-minded brothers Andrew and Harr."

Cawthorne also claimed that the "silent coup" against Harry started after Andrew's BBC interview.

"The starting shot was Andrew's BBC Newsnight interview. The Charles faction at the palace clearly saw that it created the opportunity of removing not only Andrew but also Harry from royal engagements," Cawthorne explained.

Not Blindsided

After announcing "Megxit" in January, reports suggested that the Sussexes "blindsided" the royal family with their decision. Cawthorne, however, claims otherwise.

"The palace had known for months, as well, about the Sussexes' desire to step back from their roles as senior royals and were secretly negotiating the implications of such a move with the couple," Cawthorne wrote on his book.

"In the modern history of Buckingham Palace, it was probably one of the most stunning silent coups," he added.

READ MORE: Royal Shock: Meghan Markle Only Accepted In Royal Family Because She's Black?

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
There have been policy questions about whether governors have been two slow or too quick to reopen, or whether they were sufficiently focused on addressing problems in long-term care facilities at an early enough stage. But sometimes, the debate is focusing on process questions concerning whether governors have taken sufficient account of the views of other state officials, such as legislators and council members.

The Council of State consulting debate is unlikely to have a significant electoral impact, said Mitch Kokai, senior policy analyst with Libertarian think tank John Locke Foundation.

Its a fight with great importance for our system of checks and balances and limited, constitutional government. But that doesnt drive voters to the polls. Most never have heard of the Council of State.

Kokai said Cooper is in good shape politically as long as people support him on his COVID-19 response.

Theres a substantial chunk of the population that thinks hes done a terrible job, but its unclear how many of those people would have voted for him before the pandemic.
They point to one of the cases that Tuckers attorneys cite as a pattern of alleged racial discrimination  Robbie Lyons, who was executed in 2003 for killing a store clerk. Lyons trial took place, Elder and Babb argue, before prosecutors went to a training where the document entitled Batson Justifications: Articulating Juror Negatives was first presented. The documents name comes partially from the 1986 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Batson V. Kentucky, which prohibited the use of race in jury selection.

Hambourger and Pickett said Spence and Lang pulled language from the document to justify removing black people from juries.

The document used language based on racist stereotypes and that the prosecutors accepted white people with traits similar to those used to reject black jurors. For example, in the Lyons case, Lang rejected a black woman because she was a nurse but accepted three white nurses and one white doctor.

The N.C. Court of Appeals found that Spence discriminated against potential black jurors in the case of Henry Jerome White, who is serving a life sentence for killing a Winston-Salem man during a robbery. That wasnt enough to overturn Whites conviction because at the time, criminal defendants had to prove that prosecutors excluded black people from juries solely on the basis of race. Since then, the law has changed.
A Duke Energy subsidiary is joining forces with Bank of America to support the construction of a 180-acre solar farm in the Piedmont Triads western reaches.

The project will include 70,000 solar panels that generate enough power to offset about 45% of the banks North Carolina electricity needs, the partners announced Monday.

Final details remain to be worked out, but the new solar farm will be located in the western Triad and is expected to come on line in about two years, Duke Energy spokesman Randy Wheeless said.

The Charlotte Business Journal reported Monday that the project would be located in the Yadkin County community of East Bend.

The project is part of Duke Energys Green Source Advantage program that enables large utility customers to link their power usage to sources of renewable energy.

Customers want more flexibility and options for renewable energy, said Stephen DeMay, Duke Energys North Carolina president.
The total number of COVID-19 cases reported in Forsyth County is poised to exceed 3,000, and one additional death was recorded over the weekend.

The Forsyth health department reported that, as of 12:35 p.m. Monday, there were 2,978 cases in the county, up 190 cases from Friday  the last day numbers were released.

That represents 83 new cases and one death reported Saturday, 64 new cases Sunday and 43 new cases Monday.

Forsyth's highest daily case increase was 162, reported on June 1.

Forsyth reports 1,850 individuals who have recovered for an active case count of 1,094.

Seven cases in Forsyth are linked to staff members at the county jail, up from five when the outbreak was reported initially.

County health officials did not disclose information about the latest COVID-19 death, which makes for 34 in Forsyth since mid-March.

Among the Forsyth COVID-19 patients who have died, 19 were 65 or older.

Ten were 55 to 64.

Three were 45 to 54.

Two were 25 to 34.
That version retains that visitor rights may not be terminated, suspended or waived by the hospital, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services or the governor during a declared disaster or emergency. Hospitals would not be allowed to ask a patient to waive those rights.

However, the language has been amended to say health-care facilities shall ensure the opportunity for at least one visitor  with the visitation subject to the guidelines, conditions and limitations of the normal visitation policy.

Sen. Jim Perry, R-Lenoir and a co-sponsor, said the bill would help set a statewide standard for hospital visitor restrictions during an emergency, rather than some hospitals being more flexible than others.

Supporters of no-visitor restrictions say they help limit health-care providers exposure to disease, particularly nurses and support staff who care for multiple patients during a shift and would have to deal with multiple visitors.

The bill requires visitors to undergo a health screening for infectious diseases, and allows the hospital to turn away a visitor who tests positive for an infectious disease. Visitors would be required to adhere to hospital infection-control procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment, such as a face mask.
Salem Academy and College has announced its preliminary plan that enables its nearly 1,100 students to return to campus this fall during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plan announced Friday outlines measures for the students health and safety along with the schools faculty members and staff, the academy and college said in a statement.

We realize the importance of personal interactions in the educational experience, interim President Susan Henking said in the statement. Our team has been working extremely hard to create this plan, which is based on local, state, and federal public health guidance. We are consulting with medical experts as we finalize the details

The plan is called Salem Ready, Salem Strong.

Classes for both the all-female high school and college will start as scheduled on Aug. 26. All students will be required to complete COVID-19 health and safety protocols, which include having their temperatures checked and participating in daily health screenings.

Students and employees at the academy and college will be required to practice hand-washing and social distancing, and wear masks or cloth face coverings when they are around other people and where safe physical distancing is difficult to maintain, the institutions said.
June 30, 2020 marks the 10th anniversary "Twilight Saga: Eclipse," the third instalment of one of the most-loved vampire movie series of this generation. Ten years ago, we all fell in love with Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen's (Robert Pattinson) "against all odds" love affair and made us believe that true love exists (yup, even with vampires).

The series of five romance fantasy film became a huge blockbuster not just in the United States, but all over the world. People got hooked with the unique stories about vampires, a crossover love affair with a mortal, and, of course, Jacob's (Taylor Lautner) pack of hunky wolves.

As we "Twilighters" or "Fanpires" all over the world celebrate Twilight's decade-long success, wouldn't it be fun to remember this epic movie not only by rewatching the entire series but also relieving each memory with tangible collectibles?

Below are some of the best Twilight collectibles you can find in Amazon that are surely worth it.

Bella's Moonstone Ring

Aside from her charisma, who would forget Bella Swan's laidback but edgy fashion? She may be wearing jeans, shirts, and hoodies most of the time, but her accessories always did the talking.

Unleash your inner Bella Swan with this moonstone ring that she would often wear in Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. Wear it on your index finger just like our favorite lead star.

What we love about this moonstone replica ring is that it is a versatile piece that you can wear in all occasions -- be it a casual day in the school or office, a simple family dinner, or a formal event. This will surely make you stand out.

New Moon Board Game

Done rewatching the entire series? Then why not proceed with a fun board game that will not just let you enter the world of Bella, Edward, and Jacob, but will also allow you to discover new things about the story.

Have your friends come over for a New Moon party and challenge each other to see who is the ultimate Twilight fan among your group, because the more specific details you know, the more chances of winning. This game includes boards, scene cards, dice and playing pieces that will surely enjoy by every Twilight addict.

Jacob Funko Pop

Missing Jacob's unlimited undressing and shirtless moments in the movie? Freeze those moments with his shirtless Funko Pop action figure that you can display in the room, office, or even the living room.

It perfectly matches Jacob's "always shirtless" style, complete with jeans and boots tucked inside. And don't forget our hot wolf's signature pack tattoo, which makes him 10 times hotter.

Alice Cullen Choker Crest Necklace

Alice Cullen is one of the most loved characters in the entire series. Recreate her vibe with this choker crest necklace that Alice does not only wear as a fashion statement, but also as a sign of loyalty to her family.

Twilight Saga DVD Collection

Rewatch the epic Twilight Saga over and over again with this 10th anniversary DVD collection that features not only the five movies, but also some behind-the-scenes, cast interviews, and red carpet moments of the entire cast.

READ MORE: The Holy Grail Of Skincare -- REVEALED!

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Cawthorn says he wants to be someone who can reach out to young voters and explain why the Republican Party and conservative ideas are best. Thats an appealing message for many conservatives, who want to believe that young people are attracted to the left mainly because, in the words of one endorser, theyre simply repeating what theyre being told by the media, their teachers and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. But Cawthorn will have to do more than simply cite Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan, as he did in his campaign video. He will have to address the underlying reasons the Democratic Party attracts young people.

Polls show that millennials hold a wide range of generally liberal views. One poll taken by a Democratic firm found that millennials favor greater government involvement on a range of issues and value equality and fairness much more than faith or patriotism. The Pew Research Center has found that 36 percent of younger millennials have no particular religion and that fewer than half are both white and Christian. Even evangelical Protestants between 18 and 29 favor same-sex marriage and stronger environmental laws, and they favor a smaller government by only a 5-4 margin. Young Catholic, mainline Protestant and non-religious 18-to-29-year-olds all hold views well to the left of young evangelicals.
Today

Sunny along with a few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 92F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early with thunderstorms developing late. Low 69F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Tomorrow

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm in the morning, then some lingering showers still possible in the afternoon. High 76F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Nine bodies have been found in another mass grave in the Libyan town of Tarhuna after fighters loyal to eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar withdrew, pro-government forces said Monday.

Tarhuna, southeast of Tripoli, served as the main staging point for Haftars abortive offensive aimed at seizing the capital from the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).

Nine bodies were discovered and exhumed on Sunday at a site suspected of containing mass graves, in the town of Tarhuna, said a statement posted on Facebook by pro-GNA forces.

Government forces earlier this month said they had discovered eight other suspected mass graves, most of them in and around Tarhuna, with the United Nations voicing horror at the reports.

Mondays statement said authorities were still searching for other potential mass graves left by the Al-Kani criminal gangs, a pro-Haftar militia.

Forces loyal to the GNA seized back Tarhuna, Haftars last western stronghold, on June 5.

The 14 months of fighting for the capital left hundreds dead and forced some 200,000 people to flee their homes.

On June 22 the UNs top rights body ordered a fact-finding mission to Libya to document violations committed since 2016, while an International Criminal Court prosecutor said mass graves discovered there may constitute evidence of war crimes.

Oil-rich Libya has been torn by conflict since the 2011 toppling and killing of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising.
Albanias prime minister came to the defence of Kosovos President Hashim Thaci on Monday, slamming war crimes charges filed against him last week as a stain on the worlds history of justice.

Edi Rama tweeted the message of support after arriving in Pristina to meet Thaci and other officials in neighbouring Kosovo, a former Serbian province whose population is majority ethnic Albanian.

The visit comes hours before Thaci is expected to hold his first national address on the indictment filed against him last Wednesday by prosecutors from the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.

The charges are linked to the 52-year-old presidents role as political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), the Albanian guerrilla group that waged a separatist rebellion against Serbia in the late 1990s.

In Pristina to listen and learn more, Rama wrote on Twitter, accusing prosecutors of leaving a disgraceful stain on the worlds history of justice because they published the indictment before it was approved by a pre-trial judge.

The prosecutors said they rushed the announcement because Thaci and other suspects had been trying to obstruct the work of the court, which operates under Kosovo law but has international judges.

They accuse Thaci, his political ally Kadri Veseli and others of being criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders, as well as enforced disappearances, persecution and torture of Serb, Roma and Kosovo Albanian victims.

The 1998-99 war ended after a NATO bombing forced Serb troops to withdraw from Kosovo, which was then a southern province of Serbia.

Top Serbian military and police officials were later convicted by international justice of war crimes during the conflict that left 13,000 people dead, mainly ethnic Albanians.

But KLA members have also been accused of coordinating a campaign of revenge attacks on Serbs, Roma and ethnic Albania rivals during and after the war.

Many rebel commanders have gone on to dominate the young democracy politically during its first decade of independence.

Thaci has remained at the centre of it all, serving as prime minister and now president since 2016.

Critics accuse him of corruption and wielding a strongmans influence over state institutions.

But the war crimes charges have upset even his detractors, who are steadfast in their support of Kosovos just independence struggle.

Twenty years later, Belgrade still denies Kosovos statehood, a constant source of tension in the region.

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Chinese authorities are carrying out forced sterilisations of women in an apparent campaign to curb the growth of ethnic minority populations in the western Xinjiang region, according to research published Monday.

The report, based on a combination of official regional data, policy documents and interviews with ethnic minority women, has prompted an international group of lawmakers to call for a United Nations investigation into Chinas policies in the region.

The move is likely to enrage Beijing, which has denied trampling on the rights of ethnic groups in Xinjiang, and which on Monday called the allegations baseless.

The country is accused of locking more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities in re-education camps. Beijing describes the facilities as job training centres aimed at steering people away from terrorism following a spate of violence blamed on separatists.

Now a report by Adrian Zenz, a German researcher who has exposed Chinas policies in Xinjiang, says Uighur women other ethnic minorities are being threatened with internment in the camps for refusing to abort pregnancies that exceed birth quotas.

Zenzs data-driven work  which uses public documents found by scouring Chinas internet  on the camps has previously been cited by experts on a UN panel investigating the facilities.

Women who had fewer than the legally permitted limit of two children were involuntarily fitted with IUDs, says the report.

It also reports that some of the women said they were being coerced into receiving sterilization surgeries.

Former camp detainees said they were given injections that stopped their periods, or caused unusual bleeding consistent with the effects of birth control drugs.

Government documents studied by Zenz also showed that women in some rural minority communities in the region received frequent mandatory gynaecological exams and bi-monthly pregnancy tests from local health officials.

Zenz found that population growth in Xinjiang counties predominantly home to ethnic minorities fell below the average growth in primarily Han majority counties between 2017 and 2018, a year after the officially recorded rate of sterilizations in the region sharply overtook the national rate in 2016.

Uighur activists say China is using the internment camps to conduct a massive brainwashing campaign aimed at eradicating their distinct culture and Islamic identity.

 Ethno-racial domination 

China appears to be using coercive birth control in Xinjiang as part of a wider game plan of ethno-racial domination, Zenz wrote in the report.

These findings raise serious concerns as to whether Beijings policies in Xinjiang represent, in fundamental respects, what might be characterized as a demographic campaign of genocide under UN definitions, Zenz said in the report.

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group of North American, European and Australian members of parliament from a range of political parties, said in a statement Monday it would push for a legal investigation on whether or not crimes against humanity or genocide have taken place in Xinjiang.

IPAC was formed in June with a stated mission of standing up against challenges posed by the present conduct and future ambitions of the Peoples Republic of China.

Chinas foreign ministry said the allegations were baseless and showed ulterior motives.

Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian blasted media outlets for cooking up false information on Xinjiang-related issues, saying at a regular press briefing that Xinjiang is harmonious and stable.

The rights group World Uyghur Congress said the report showed a genocidal element of the CCPs (Chinese Communist Party) policies and called in a statement for international action to confront China.
Military contracts to couple and family therapy researchers focus on intimate partner violence, prevention

Monday, June 29, 2020



MANHATTAN  Two Kansas State University professors have received new U.S. military contracts totaling nearly $1.74 million for intimate partner violence prevention and intervention projects.

The first contract to Sandra Stith, university distinguished professor of couple and family therapy, and her co-principal investigator, Chelsea Spencer, research assistant professor of couple and family therapy, is for just over $1,169,000 from the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy Installation Command for a project to test the effectiveness of a domestic abuse risk assessment tool used by Department of Defense domestic abuse victim advocates.



The Intimate Partner Physical Injury Risk Assessment Tool was developed by Stith and researchers in a previously funded K-State project. The 15-item tool, tested by Department of Defense treatment providers, collects information from victims, offenders, police reports, etc., to determine the level of risk for future intimate partner violence with injury. The tool's use is now mandated in all four service branches.



In the newly funded project, Stith and Spencer are seeking to determine the effectiveness of the tool when used by military domestic abuse victim advocates who only interview the victim.



The second contract, for just under $569,000, is a subcontract issued by Knowesis for the U.S. Air Force Mental Health Resilience Program Evaluation and Enhancement project. The goal of the project is to prevent and respond to domestic abuse in the Air Force. Some specific projects include training outreach managers at various bases to use online prevention programs, testing the effectiveness of these programs, and examining data to determine the effectiveness of the treatment programs used by treatment providers.



Stith and Spencer also will provide training to Air Force staff on a variety of programs, including a four-hour program designed to increase participants' readiness to change.






Kansas City police are asking for tips in the murder of a 4-year-old boy that happened around 2:30 Monday morning. The child was asleep in his bed when he was shot in the face.
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During ongoing protests and unrest in Kansas City over the last four days, police were firing tear gas canisters and other less-lethal projectiles. KCTV5 News spoke to people in the crowd who were injured during protests on the Plaza.
A new book about the British royal family, "Royals at War," claimed that Queen Elizabeth II was the greatest ally of Meghan Markle before she and Prince Harry quit the royal family.

Produced by investigative journalists Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett, their book claims that the 38-year-old Duchess of Sussex was taken under Her Majesty's wing when she joined The Firm.

The authors said that Meghan Markle was even showered with gifts and guidance to ease her new royal role.

An insider told the Howard and Tillett, "Her Majesty has seen it all and could offer the Duchess some helpful advice."

Meghan Markle is the only person who is reportedly allowed to see the Queen, without any invitation.

"Meghan would do well to nurture that relationship and pop over for an occasional cup of tea with the Queen."

As the former "Suits" star has started to take on her royal duties, the 94-year-old monarch even loaned one of her trusted aides to her.

The authors also claimed that Queen Elizabeth II made sure that her aide escorted Meghan Markle when she went on her first engagement after her royal wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018.

Another insider told the book that Her Majesty had been very supportive of Meghan Markle, and understands every person who marries into the royal family that things are difficult at first.

"The HRH is a reasonable woman and accepts that marrying into the Royal Family isn't easy, and mistakes are going to be made."

Meghan Markle and Queen Elizabeth II: The First Meeting

In an excerpt from "Meghan: A Hollywood Princess," royal expert Andrew Morton said that Meghan's first encounter with the monarch was the "most important audition of her life."

"No rehearsal, no script, no second takes. This was live and improvised," he wrote.

Though there was an air of tension, it may have gone well because a month later, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were engaged.

It was reported that when Meghan Markle met the Queen of England for the first time, she showed a significant appreciation to the head of the royal family.

During her engagement interview in November 2017, the mother of one said, "To be able to meet her through Harry's lens, not just with his honor and respect for her as the monarch, but the love that he has for his grandmother."

Calling Queen Elizabeth II as "an incredible woman," the Duchess of Sussex further said, "All of those layers have been so important for me so that when I met her, I had such a deep understanding and of course incredible respect for being able to have that time with her."

Megxit: The Tables Have Turned

However, in January 2020, when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced that they would give up their royal titles to live a financially independent life away from the UK, Howard and Tillett claimed that Queen Elizabeth II was furious when she learned the news.

Another source told the Howard and Tillett, "They want to become the world's biggest lifestyle brand."

Further, they continued, "If they are allowed to do so, the monarchy as we know it will cease to exist, and a new 'celebrated Royal Family' is about to take over. They want to take their cake and eat it too."

READ MORE: Prince Harry Shame: Meghan Markle Pregnancy Caused Embarassment to The Royal Family?

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Demonstrators for police reform have sparked a protest movement unlike anything the country has seen since the 1960s. But it all may have been for nothing. Partisan politics appears to have derailed any meaningful near-term reform.
As the helicopter swoops over the landing site, the clouds part to reveal a bluebird day. From the distance, it's all jagged peaks, crackling ice and snow-covered glacial fields as far as the eye can see.

But then after the 30-minute flight over dense forests and canyons draped with waterfalls, the showstopper appears: a brilliantly blue crescent-shaped lake.

This remote section of British Columbia's backcountry would be the group's playground for the next four hours. A dreamy scene, indeed, and exactly what Virginia-based Ryan George and his five buddies, from Virginia and California, had been anticipating for the past 14 months.

That's how far ahead they planned the dream excursion with Compass Heli Tours, an adventure outfitter based in Abbotsford, near Vancouver.

Now that it's finally a reality, George feels a bit like James Bond arriving at a secret base camp to prep for a clandestine mission.

"You can't help but swagger when you get out of a helicopter in a place so epic," he says.

This area is so remote, in fact, that most of the lakes don't have names.

Nick Drader, CEO of Compass Heli Tours, simply calls it paradise. And it's easy to see why. There's astounding beauty in all directions and not a soul in sight. The nearest road is miles away.

Soon after arriving (George and three friends in one chopper and two more friends in another chopper), Drader unloads the gear and gives a quick safety briefing. With that, the kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding begins. The six friends immediately set out to explore the lake, captivated by the floating ice.

For a while they delight in batting practice, using their paddles to hit snowballs onto the riverbank.

"The texture of the submerged ice reminded me of submerged portions of Antarctic icebergs, only with clearer, brighter water," George says. "The bottom of the lake looms midnight blue in cracks, and the gradients of blue in between make irreproducible art."

The water is about seven feet deep in most sections, but where the ice presses up from the deeper part of the glacier it is about 40 feet deep. So as their glacier kayaking wraps up, several of them strip down to their undies and plunge into the frigid water.

Because, why not?

Transformed into five-year-olds, the 40-somethings are soaking up every facet surrounding them.

"One of my buddies said this was more epic than any of the days his kids were born," George recalls.

Post-kayaking, they chopper over to another lake at a lower elevation. Here, they lunch at a sandbar, guarded on three sides by vertical mountains, and swap adventure stories.

Dream job

It's all thanks to Drader, the brains behind Compass Heli Tours. Besides being the CEO, he also serves as the pilot, chief photographer and lead guide.

"Most of my career has been spent in the mountains, and it's where I feel most at home flying," he says.

Prior to launching this company, Drader worked solely on supporting sustainable forest practices and wildfire suppression for nine years. When the reforestation budget was cut, though, he was forced to leave the industry. In 2017, he launched Compass Heli Tours so he could show people the grand sights he'd been treated to for so many years.

His work days are now spent kayaking on pristine lakes straight out of a tourism brochure, photographing people having the time of their lives and flying by waterfalls, which appear to flow directly from the clouds thanks to the dramatic weather conditions.

Drader even arranges elopements where the bride chooses the destination on a map, ensuring no two ceremony locations are the same. Add to that the chance of spotting mountain goats, bears and wolverines, and you have a pretty epic work life on your hands.

"It's quite possible I have the greatest job in the world," he says. "These remote locations have only been visited by a handful of adventure enthusiasts."

The exclusivity is a huge part of the appeal.

"It's so quiet up there," says George. "You can feel stress melt off you. Your heart returns to a primal quietness."

Untouched wilderness

For Brisbane-based Lisa Michele Burns, who took the tour in late May 2018, the main draw was being able to capture the beauty on camera. As photographer and editor of "The Wandering Lens" blog, it was a long-time dream to document meltwater lakes, which are created when temperatures start to rise and the ice thaws.

"The colors up there are so stare-worthy, it's really hard to take your eyes away from the brilliant blue streams that wind their way around the lake," she says. "Nick also took our group on a short snowy hike, allowing us to see it from up higher while also having spectacular views across to surrounding peaks."

With no man-made noises around, the sound of crackling ice was music to her ears. Paddling at her own pace, peering down into the frozen depths below, she floated slowly over bubbles and pockets. Much of her time was spent leaning over the kayak with her underwater camera snapping split shots with blue skies above, as well as the otherworldly shapes below.

"It's definitely an expensive day trip, but it is, without a doubt, one of the best days I've ever spent in the outdoors," she says.

Best time to go

Planning ahead for this trip is key. Each year, as the snow starts to melt from late May to early July, is when the lake turns a lovely shade of aquamarine. The ice begins to break up around that time. And come August, icebergs fill the river-like crescent. By September, the lake is mostly ice-free, and it freezes over again at the end of the month.

"August is my favorite time at this lake because you can actually see the glacier," Drader says. "In June there's still three meters of snow covering the glacier, so guests have no idea it's there. August is also wildflower season, and there's plenty of those hiding in the harsh rocky environment exposed by the receding ice."

"I couldn't inhale the wonder and beauty and good fortune enough," George says. "It's not necessarily what you're doing as much as where you're doing it and how you got there. Throughout the millennia of human existence and the billions of people on the planet, we represented a pinprick of humanity to stand and walk and float where we were."

Check it out yourself

Best part is, anyone of most abilities can do this: No previous kayaking or paddleboarding experience is necessary. You set your own pace and kayak as much or as little as you'd like.

A 4-person heli-kayaking excursion costs $5,250 CAD ($3,821) and lasts four hours. Tours run from June to September.

Canada's border is still closed through at least July 21, so right now these tours are only available to Canadians. International travelers may make reservations for future trips, however.

Compass Heli Tours, 1255 Townline Rd, Unit 102, Abbotsford, BC, V2T6E1; +1 (778) 242-1145
Work on the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from a Pakistan International Airlines flight that crashed in Karachi will begin on June 2, French air safety investigators said Saturday on Twitter.

The recorders -- commonly known as "black boxes" -- were recovered after the flight, PIA 8303, crashed in a dense residential area adjacent to Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on May 22, killing all but two of the 99 people on board.

The French air safety investigation authority for civil aviation, BEA, is the accredited representative for the Airbus 320 aircraft involved in the crash.

A French team arrived in Karachi on May 26, according to BEA. The French authority said Thursday it had received a request from Pakistan to handle repair and data download operations for the recorders at a later date.

"The mission on site is about to be completed," Saturday's tweet read, adding that "Pakistan's AAIB team will then fly to France."

On Friday, Pakistan's Minister for Aviation, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, said the initial report of the crash would be made public on June 22.

Khan said the Ministry had briefed Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has directed that all reports be made public.

The pilot on board told air traffic control in Karachi that he had lost engines before the plane crashed.

"We are proceeding direct, we have lost engines," the pilot can be heard saying about the plane's approach, in an audio recording of aircraft communications obtained by CNN from a Pakistani government source.

A few seconds later the pilot can be heard giving several mayday calls, followed by a response from air traffic control saying both runways are clear to land. The audio then cuts off.

The flight from Lahore was a special service to help passengers get home for the Eid holidays after the coronavirus lockdown was eased.
Months ago, as the coronavirus was first spreading across the country, public health officials warned of the heightened risk it posed to older populations and those with underlying health conditions.

But officials are now warning of the growing impact Covid-19 is having on young people, like 29-year-old Jerry Ward, who told CNN he had to be hospitalized after going to a house party for a cousin's birthday.

"Three days later, everyone started texting," to say they weren't feeling well, Ward told CNN from his hospital room at Westside Regional Medical Center in Plantation, Florida.

According to him, ten people in their late 20s and early 30s from that party in South Florida have since been diagnosed with Covid-19.

"They should take it serious," Ward said of young people. "Only go to places that are needed, such as doctor's appointments, work, stuff of that nature."

According to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the median age of positive Covid-19 cases in March was 65 years old. But within the last week, it has dropped to 35 years old.

As of Thursday, Florida had more than 114,000 cases of Covid-19, with more than 3,300 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Approximately 20% of cases are patients between the ages of 25 and 34, per data released by the state Department of Health on Thursday.

"What we've seen, particularly over the last week, is a real explosion in new cases amongst our younger demographics," DeSantis said in a news conference in Orlando earlier this week.

"Half of these positive tests are in that 34 and under age group, and the bulk of the tests that we are seeing are really the 25- to 34-year-olds," the governor said. "They represent the largest share of all positive tests by a pretty decent margin for anyone throughout the course of the pandemic."

The situation in Florida grew grimmer Thursday, after reports of two deaths of Covid-19 patients under the age of 18. In the past, DeSantis, a Republican, had pointed to the lack of deaths among minors to support his effort to reopen Florida schools this fall.

Rising cases among young people is a 'smoldering fire,' expert says

Some young people who become infected will need to be hospitalized if they have underlying medical conditions, like Ward. But while many will recover at home, that doesn't mean the impacts are any less severe.

Taisia Graham, 23, who is recovering from Covid-19, warned her peers to take the disease seriously in a video posted on YouTube, saying, "This is like the worst feeling I've ever felt in my entire life."

Asked about seeing other young people in Florida who aren't taking social distancing seriously or wearing masks, Graham, a mother of a 2-year-old girl, conceded that she acted the same way when Florida first started to reopen.

"Now that I have Covid, I think it's really important that people really take this serious," she told CNN.

On top of the struggle of dealing with the disease on an individual level, health officials also warn that young patients can still spread the coronavirus and are worried about the potential impacts to more vulnerable patients, like the elderly.

On Thursday, CNN contributor and University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Biology Professor Erin Bromage called the growing rate of Covid-19 cases amongst younger people a "smoldering fire" that will hit vulnerable populations.

"We're now seeing what is really happening, which is those 18- to 44-year-olds are being affected at a really high rate," Bromage said. "Their social networks, their employment, is allowing them to mix at a higher rate, and we're seeing the infection rate -- especially in Texas, Florida and Arizona -- just skyrocketing in that demographic."

"It's just that smoldering fire -- but as more of them get infected, the chance of them interacting with the vulnerable population increases and hits that vulnerable population, and then the inferno just begins," Bromage told CNN's John Berman. "That's when we end up with lots of sickness and lots of disease."
Patricia and Mark McCloskey, the St. Louis homeowners who pointed guns at protesters, have been indicted on weapons and tampering with evidence charges, their attorney said.

Attorney Joel Schwartz told CNN that his clients' indictments are suppressed and won't be unsealed until next Wednesday. A spokeswoman for Kim Gardner, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney, did not respond to CNN's requests for comment.

St. Louis Circuit Clerk Thomas Kloeppinger told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he didn't know why a judge ordered the indictments to be sealed.

The Missouri couple was initially charged in July with unlawful use of a weapon, a class E felony.

The McCloskeys drew national attention in late June after they were seen in a viral video brandishing guns outside their mansion at protesters walking on a private street en route to demonstrate outside the St. Louis mayor's residence.

In videos obtained by CNN, Mark McCloskey holds a long rifle and Patricia McCloskey holds a handgun as demonstrators -- who were protesting Mayor Lyda Krewson's decision to publish the names and addresses of people in favor of police reform -- walked outside the home.

Portland Place, the private street where the McCloskeys live, is near Krewson's home.

Mark McCloskey told CNN's Chris Cuomo in July that he was "in imminent fear they (protesters) would run me over, kill me."

The White House and Missouri Gov. Mike Parson have previously defended the couple.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters that President Donald Trump "said it is absolutely absurd, what is happening to the McCloskeys."

Parson has said he doesn't think the couple should face charges and would pardon them if they were convicted.

"They had every right to protect themselves," the governor said at a news conference in July.

In August, the couple spoke at the Republican National Convention, where they said that Democrats want to "abolish" suburbs.
Beaches in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach, popular with residents and tourists, will be closed Fourth of July weekend as officials keep a cautious eye on the rapidly rising number of new coronavirus cases in Florida.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez says all beaches and parks in the county will close from Friday, July 3, through Tuesday, July 7. He warned the closure could be extended if conditions don't improve and people don't follow rules designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

"As we continue to see more COVID-19 positive test results among young adults and rising hospitalizations, I have decided that the only prudent thing to do to tamp down this recent uptick is to crack down on recreational activities that put our overall community at higher risk," Gimenez said in a news release Friday.

Other counties follow

Broward County cities will follow Miami-Dade County's example to close beaches ahead of July 4, the city of Fort Lauderdale said in a tweet.

Beaches in Broward County will be closed from July 3 through July 5, according to the tweet.

Several mayors from Broward's coastal cities held a news conference Sunday to discuss the measure.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis confirmed beaches would be closed from July 3 through July 5.

"The reason why we're doing this is because we feel that we will not be able to provide the necessary safe environment that everyone is entitled to enjoy when they come to our beaches," he said.

Trantalis said all mayors of the county's beach communities as well as the Broward County mayor had collaborated on the plan to keep the environment safe.

"Our businesses will remain open -- all the restaurants, all the T-shirt shops, all the retail shops -- everything will be open," he said. "But, unfortunately, because we normally anticipate large crowds, perhaps even coming from other counties, that we made this decision to move forward."

Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner told CNN on Sunday he will also be issuing an order to close beaches under his jurisdiction.

"In consultation with our county administrator, we will be issuing an order tomorrow, tomorrow morning, that will close the Palm Beach County beaches throughout the entirety of the county for the holiday weekend.

"It is an unfortunate result, but public health remains the focus of the elected leaders of Palm Beach County," Kerner said. "Unfortunately, this Fourth of July will not be spent at the beach."

Kerner said more details of the closure would be announced Monday.

Mayors heckled

Some people who were against the measure heckled the officials at the news conference. Beachgoers could be heard yelling at the mayors: "Freedom," "Socialism," "This is America," and "Don't shoot!"

"Obviously this decision is not unanimous, right, you can hear it. All right. OK. Not everyone's going to be happy about that decision and we always understand that sometimes decisions have to be made so that we can protect the majority of people. So we just ask that you understand and try to respect what we're trying to do for the general public," Trantalis responded.

Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper spoke briefly, at times yelling over the heckles. "We would like them to understand that we are doing this to protect the public," she said.

"All we're trying to do here today is just to assure everybody we're doing this for the right reasons," Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Mayor Christopher Vincent said. Vincent said the officials want to avoid "the influx of about 10 times as many people" next weekend.

The Broward County Commission said on Twitter that Broward County Mayor Dale Holness "says Broward beaches will close on July 4th weekend in agreement with Mayors of coastal cities in Broward."

Florida spike

The Florida Department of Health reported 8,530 new coronavirus cases Sunday. On Saturday, the state reported 9,585 new coronavirus cases, a single-day record high since the start of the pandemic. The number rivals that of New York's peak in daily cases in early April.

South Florida -- especially the Miami area -- has the most new cases in the state, and it is mostly due to socializing, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news briefing Sunday.

DeSantis said there had been a big increase in positive tests among young people, particularly those 18 to 44, over the past three weeks. Graduation parties and socializing without social distancing was responsible for several Covid-29 cases, he said.

The governor said that a backlog of testing accounted for the current spike.

In Miami, Gimenez is also making efforts to curb large gatherings over the holiday weekend, limiting get-togethers and parades to no more than 50 people. Masks and social distancing are required.

Fireworks will have to be viewed from home or a parked vehicle, according to the mayor's order.

"I have been seeing too many businesses and people ignoring these lifesaving rules," Gimenez said. "If people are not going to be responsible and protect themselves and others from this pandemic, then the government is forced to step in and restore common sense to save lives."
About 170 Atlanta police officers called out sick in the days after a pair of city cops were charged in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, according to police roll call worksheets.

Garrett Rolfe, who was fired after he shot Rayshard Brooks twice in the back on June 12, was charged five days later with 11 counts, including felony murder and aggravated assault.

Devin Brosnan, the other officer at the shooting, faces an aggravated assault charge for allegedly standing on Brooks after the shooting in a parking lot.

The roll call sheets show the 170 officers were out sick from June 17, when Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard announced the charges, through June 20. The department has about 2,000 officers.

The killing of the 27-year-old man came amid nationwide protests calling for an end to racism and police violence against Black people. Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields stepped down from her position in the wake of the death.

"The public should know that's a significant amount of police officers who did not come to work during that time period," retired Atlanta Police Det. Vince Velasquez told CNN affiliate WSB-TV.

The police department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On the day the officers were charged, multiple Atlanta Police Department sources told CNN officers were not responding to calls in three of the department's six zones.

The department denied the claim but a police union official confirmed that, in some instances, officers were refusing to leave their precincts unless a fellow police officer required backup.

On June 19, a majority of Atlanta police officers scheduled to work in two police zones did not report for work, according to law enforcement sources.

As a result of the low staffing, the department put officers normally assigned to major crime units on the street, in uniform, to answer 911 calls, the sources said.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms acknowledged that morale was down among officers but said the city had enough officers to keep the streets safe.

Vince Champion, the southeast regional director of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers union, said last week he received calls from officers saying they were calling out and walking off their shifts.

"Some were just refusing to leave the precincts unless an officer needed help, so it was different things," Champion said. "They're just fed up."

Rolfe was a member of a special traffic enforcement unit, which Brosnan requested come to the scene when he suspected Brooks might be intoxicated.

Attorneys for both officers have said they are not guilty.

Both officers had gone to a fast-food restaurant for a complaint that Brooks was parked and asleep in the drive-through lane. He failed a sobriety test, and when they tried to arrest him, he scuffled with them and grabbed Brosnan's Taser, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.

A video of the incident shows Brooks running as he appears to point the Taser in the direction of Rolfe, who shoots him twice in the back.
MERLIN, Ore.  In July of 1933, an Oregon State Police trooper was killed on Sexton Mountain during a struggle with two suspected car thieves. Though trooper Burrell Baucom has been memorialized since, the precise site of his death has been lost to time.

Enter OSP Lt. Stephanie Bigman, who has made it her mission to find the spot where Baucom died and honor him accordingly. She's recruited the Oregon Department of Transportation to help in her quest.

According to ODOT, Baucom was on the trail of car reported stolen from southern California on July 1, almost exactly 89 years ago. He pulled over two suspects on the old highway that cut across the side of Sexton Mountain, about 10 miles north of Grants Pass.

During a search of the two young men, Baucom reportedly missed a hidden handgun.

The 17-year-old panicked and shot Trooper Baucom once in the abdomen. Trooper Baucom, the fighter that he was, tackled the 20-year-old, was fighting him through the gunshot wound and was winning, said Lt. Bigman.

The younger man saw his compatriot losing the struggle, and returned to shoot trooper Baucom three more times  leaving the officer's body on the side of the road.

Both of the suspects were later captured by a local posse after ditching the car on Sexton Mountain. A funeral procession in Baucom's hometown of Medford included law enforcement officers from around the region, his family, and his fellow National Guard members.

A monument to trooper Baucom now sits at the northbound Manzanita Rest Area, but the location where he was killed has changed over the years, eventually obscuring the site.

Lt. Bigman and other troopers from the Grants Pass field office have since led the charge on finding the spot where Baucom died and placing a "fallen officer" highway sign on I-5 near the location.

"Lt. Bigman asked ODOT if the agency had any information on the location," the agency said in a statement. "Right-of-way maps from the time and other information from 1933 placed a possible site of the incident 10 miles north of Grants Pass on then U.S. 99. The old highway is todays Monument Drive  named after the Baucom Monument  and current Oxyoke Road before it disappears at about the 10 mile mark into the embankment of I-5."

ODOT helped Lt. Bigman search the old highway, eventually leading them to a forgotten section near I-5. Now the agency is working with OSP to erect a sign on the southern slope of Sexton Summit, which requires legislative approval and a sponsoring lawmaker.

For us, Trooper Baucoms story could be any of us. And we know that  when things go sideways out here and fighting alone on a side of a mountain could be our story," Lt. Bigman said. "We always say well never forget, well always remember and this quest to get the fallen officer memorial sign for him and to find the site of the actual homicide scene is something we should do for this man who served in the armed forces. He took an oath to protect and serve the citizens of Oregon and he lived and died on the side of this mountain.
JOHNSON LAKE  A 38-year-old Cozad man died Saturday after driving his vehicle into Johnson Lake.

According to Gosper County Sheriff Dennis Ocken, the Gosper County Sheriffs Office was dispatched to Johnson Lake State Recreation Area at 9:21 p.m. Saturday. A 2006 Jeep driven by Juan Gonzalez of Cozad was traveling northbound on Johnson Lake Drive when his vehicle drove through a bridge guardrail on the outlet bridge of Johnson Lake.

The Jeep entered the water and was submerged. The Lexington Rescue Dive Team responded and located the Jeep in about 20 feet of water. Gonzalez, the only occupant of the vehicle, was recovered and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Alcohol appears to be a factor in the accident, according to Ocken.

The Gosper County Sheriffs Office investigated the accident. They were assisted by the Dawson County Sheriffs Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, the Johnson Lake EMS, Elwood Fire and Rescue and the Lexington Dive and Rescue Team.
KEARNEY  Elm Creek residents are credited for helping a Buffalo County Sheriff deputy apprehend a wanted man last week in Elm Creek.

Randall Streeter, 47, of Sumner was charged Friday in Buffalo County Court with assaulting the deputy as he tried to arrest him on an outstanding arrest warrant. Streeter is charged with third-degree assault on an officer, possession of methamphetamine, distribution of meth and flight to avoid arrest, all felonies, and obstructing a peace officer, false reporting and driving under suspension, both misdemeanors.

At the time of Wednesdays incident Streeter was wanted for an Iowa parole violation.

Later Friday, Buffalo County Attorney Shawn Eatherton filed a motion asking Judge John Rademacher to dismiss the charges to allow the state of Iowa to proceed with their cases against Streeter. Rademacher dismissed the charges without prejudice, which means they can be refiled.

Today, Eatherton said he will refile the charges once Iowas cases are settled.
The former Wales Brothers, Prince Harry and Prince William were put on the spotlight following the tragic death of their mom, Princess Diana.

Each move the brothers made was being watched by the public and the British media.

When Prince William met Kate Middleton and proposed to her a few years later, royal fans were delighted that he was able to find someone special.

When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were married, they were joined by Prince Harry in royal duties, and then the couple and Prince Harry became a happy trio.

In 2016, Prince Harry finally found the love of his life, Meghan Markle, an actress. They eventually married in 2018.

People wanted to know more of who the former actress is, as Meghan Markle coming into the royal family had her level of intrigue and personality, something that the royal family had never seen before.

It also didn't help that the Duchess of Sussex is so charismatic that she was often able to outshine Prince Harry, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and other royal family members.

Because of that, Meghan Markle became the subject of backlash and fake news, and the royal family members had little to none to help fight the misinformation.

The Duchess of Sussex faced racism backlash, according to reports, because the 38-year-old was the first-ever Black person to become a member of the royal family. Many people weren't happy about that.

According to a report by SheKnows, "While Kate's support of her husband over the years has been admirable, it's immediately clear how this model wouldn't work for Meghan and Prince Harry."

"For one, Meghan came into the relationship with a celebrity of her own, and a global fan base," they said. "Whether or not her intention had to 'outshine' Harry, the public was inevitably more interested in her actions than Harry's at various turns - a reaction that was likely ill-received by the royal family."

Despite the fact that Prince Harry is far from the line of succession because of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's kids, Meghan Markle continues to shine brighter than Prince Harry, unlike Kate Middleton and Prince Philip, who are "quiet supporters" of their future King, and Queen, respectively.

Though Kate Middleton and Prince William have different roles, they come together as a team; an insider told People Magazine.

"They look after each other but in different ways. Some people might say it's a traditional marriage, but it seems to work."

Even though Meghan Markle had given up her Hollywood career because of a royal protocol, she continued to keep herself busy and become more involved in charitable interests.

According to Sami Wunder, who spoke to Express UK, "She is not going to be the woman that looks up to Prince Harry to fulfill each and every one of her needs, as many first-time married women would do."

For the Duke of Sussex's part, he is genuinely in love with his wife. After the death of his mom, Prince Harry was determined that history will not repeat itself.

Royal expert Angela Levin told Newsweek that the 35-year-old dad's priority is to make Meghan Markle happy and is said to be doing everything he can because the Prince wasn't able to do something to protect Princess Diana.

"It stayed with him, so he's determined to make Meghan happy. I think he adores Meghan. He thinks she's absolutely wonderful."

READ MORE: Meghan Markle Regret: Queen Elizabeth II Was Her Greatest Ally Before Megxit

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
But they held off on getting legally married until they could do so in Nebraska, the state where they had made a life together and raised a daughter. If they had married in another state before the Supreme Court ruling, Nebraska would have treated them as unmarried.

Ive lived in Nebraska a little more than 30 years, Swatsworth said. Its where we met, and it felt important to us.

When they finally wed in 2016, it felt validating to renew their vows and have their relationship recognized by the state, she said.

For the most part, Nebraska complied with the Supreme Court decision, even though Gov. Pete Ricketts made clear then and now that he disagrees with the ruling.

Similar to recent rulings by the Supreme Court, the governor believes this matter should have remained in the hands of the states and the people of Nebraska, Taylor Gage, the governors spokesman, said last week.

State tax officials quickly came out with guidance for same-sex married couples. The Department of Motor Vehicles started processing name changes for drivers licenses based on marriage certificates for same-sex couples. Courts started accepting divorce filings from same-sex couples, who previously had been left in legal limbo.
OGALLALA  A 24-year-old Kansas man was sentenced to four years probation on Friday morning in connection with a 2017 vehicle-motorcycle crash that killed four people.

Jeser I. Cisneros-Hernandez was also ordered to serve 400 hours of community service as part of the sentence handed down by Judge Michael Piccolo in Keith County District Court.

Cisnernos-Hernandez had been scheduled to be sentenced on April 3, but the case was continued to Friday. Cisneros-Hernandez was out on bail at the time and living in Kansas. Travel restrictions due to the coronavirus were noted in the motion to continue the case at the time.

Cisneros-Hernandez pleaded no contest on Feb. 4 to one amended felony charge of motor vehicle homicide that covers all four victims.

The plea agreement came the day his trial was to have begun. He initially was charged with four counts of motor vehicle homicide, and three counts were dropped in the plea agreement.

Cisneros-Hernandez could have been sentenced to up to three years in prison under the felony guidelines with a post-release supervision term of 18 months. A fine of up to $10,000 could have been imposed as well.
A Macy, Nebraska, couple were sentenced to six years in prison Friday for multiple counts of intentional child abuse against their foster child, including keeping the 9-year-old locked in their basement.

In September 2018, officers responded to the home of Charles Neil Parker, 39, and Krista Parker, 36, after receiving a report from a party guest of the couple that a child was locked in the basement, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney Joe Kelly.

Officers found the couples foster child locked in a utility room in the basement, the door secured with an eyehook latch on the outside and a contact alarm that sounded when the door was opened.

The room had a concrete floor, no windows and no ventilation. The child had two urine-soaked blankets on the floor to sleep on, and the floor and walls were soiled with urine and feces. Two toys, an empty chip bag and an empty soda bottle were also inside the room. A wall had stick figure drawings and tally marks, and the door had scratch marks on the inside.
Bringing fun to Taiwan

Pizza Hut Taiwan tells CNN Travel that these creative pizzas are a way to bring fun to their customers.

"Taiwanese consumers live a high-pressure life with long working hours and high cost of living. The creative food scene has become an exciting and creative escape. Taiwanese are looking for quick moments of joy to relieve daily pressures," says Lily Chou, the marketing director of Pizza Hut.

Chou says that the new series is a nod to Taiwan's love for Japanese culture.

They have rolled out a sweet matcha pizza earlier in March 2020 with matcha, red bean and mochi as toppings.

"We called it 'WOW Product Series' which means you never expect to have these toppings served on pizza but taste so great. It adds fun to your pizza moment," says Chou.

Menya Musashi Taiwan issued an "apology" on its Facebook that said, jokingly, (in Chinese): "First, Japan introduced bubble tea ramen, offending the Taiwanese people and worsening the Japanese-Taiwanese relationship. This time, Menya Musashi has decided to join hands with Pizza Hut Taiwan to cross both the Japanese and the Italians."
Judge Mary K. Wagner asked Huffhines if he understood the offer.

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Yes, maam. I reject it, Huffhines answered.

Defense attorney Mark Richards told the judge he believed that the charges against Huffhines are not legally sound, citing a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision in a different drug case. In that case, a man named Dennis Brantner was charged with separate counts of possession of a controlled substance, with each of the counts involving the same type of pill, but in different-sized doses. The court found that just the difference in the dosage was not enough for separate charges.

Richards argues that in the Huffhines case, based on the Brantner ruling, his client should not be facing three separate possession of THC charges. Richards said Huffhines is charged with separate counts for the different forms of THC found in the case, all of it found in the same condominium on the same day.

Ethically, I cant ask my client to plea to something I dont believe exists in law, Richards said.

Boese told the judge that she believes that the difference in the types of THC and the fact that they were marketed differently is sufficient for the separate charges.
Hopkinsville, KY (42240)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers late. Low 56F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
On the 153rd anniversary of Canadian Confederation (Part One) By Mark Wegierski

This series is based on my paper, An Ineluctable Direction of Progressive Development?: The Ongoing Failure of the Right in Canada (read by Dr. Tomasz Soroka) 8th Congress of Polish Canadianists (Polish Association for Canadian Studies) Canadian (Re)Visions: Futures, Changes, Revolutions (Lodz, Poland: University of Lodz, Faculty of Philology) PACS, September 25-27, 2019. July 1, 2020 is the 153rd anniversary of Canadian Confederation. That was the date on which the British North America Act (Canadas original constitution) was passed in 1867. It was an Act of the British Parliament. Four provinces (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia) formed Confederation. It was also a union of two, long pre-existent nations, English Canada, and French Canada (the latter mostly centered in the province of Quebec). The Aboriginal peoples were included insofar as they were traditionally considered to be under the special protection of the Crown. The Canadian Constitution of 1867 was anti-revolutionary. What was called the Dominion of Canada was characterized by peace, order, and good government (in contrast to the American credo of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.) Until 1896, the Conservatives under John A. Macdonald dominated the Canadian polity. Macdonald was a real nation-builder, extending the railways across the continent, thus bringing British Columbia into Confederation in 1871. He also suppressed the two Riel Rebellions which stood in the way of a coast-to-coast Canada. However, the execution of Louis Riel for treason was a baneful act. Indeed, in the 1896 federal election, French Quebec turned away from the Conservatives, voting en masse for the Liberal Party of Wilfrid Laurier. Throughout most of the Twentieth Century, Quebec would overwhelmingly support the Liberal Party in federal elections, thus virtually guaranteeing a Liberal majority in the federal Parliament. However, until the 1963 federal election, this did not have socially radical implications for Canada, as the country was dominated by a traditionalist-centrist social consensus. Indeed, even the social democratic third party, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) was mostly socially conservative. However, in 1961, the party changed its name to New Democratic Party (NDP), which suggested a more futurist orientation. Before the 1960s, Canada was often considered to be a more conservative society than America (in the better sense of conservatism). Canadas 1867 Constitution (the British North America Act) characterized Canada as defined by peace, order, and good government (in contrast to the U.S. founding credo of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.) Also, Canadas niceness and politeness meant that it largely avoided such harsh and ugly aspects of America as racism and excessive commercialism. Nevertheless, since the 1960s, Canada has been swept up in a surge of progressive development that in retrospect appears ineluctable. The author examines various turning points that failed to turn  virtually all of which have turned out to the disfavour of the Canadian Right. The first and probably most important turning point was the federal election of 1963, where the staunch Tory John Diefenbaker was defeated by Liberal Lester B. Pearson. As Canadian traditionalist philosopher George Parkin Grant tells the tale, Diefenbaker was swept from office with the assistance of all of the managerialist and pollster expertise of the capitalist North American classes, who resented Diefenbakers refusal to accept U.S. nuclear weapons in Canada. Pearson introduced a major series of transformative reforms  the most crucially symbolic of which was the replacement of the Canadian flag in February 1965. The traditional Red Ensign (with the coat of arms of Canada and with the Union Jack in the upper left corner) was replaced by an abstract looking red maple leaf, with a red-and-white flag suggestive of a Liberal Party logo. In political science, the replacement of a countrys flag is often seen as symbolic of regime change. The message of the flag change was cemented by the celebration of the Centennial of Confederation at Expo 67 in Montreal, a celebration suffused with progressive imagery, suggesting a re-Confederation. Also, the immigration policy was changed by Pearson to the points system, which suggested an opening to Third World immigration. Before the 1960s, Toronto was considered as so conservative and British-focussed, it was nicknamed Tory Toronto. That was quickly changed by mass, dissimilar immigration, to the point that Toronto now is the most diverse city on the planet. 1968, a year of revolutions around the globe, was marked in Canada by Trudeaumania. The charismatic Liberal Pierre Elliott Trudeau (later dubbed the Northern Magus or the philosopher-king) won a huge majority. In 1969, Trudeau legalized abortion and homosexuality. In 1971, he proclaimed Canada a multicultural society (at a time when 96 percent of the population was of European descent). Indeed, the initial definition of multiculturalism was mostly a recognition of non-English, non-French European groups  a definition that was quickly eclipsed in subsequent years by the valorization of so-called visible minorities. Trudeau promoted high immigration from the Third World. He also enacted extensive bilingualism policies, which amounted to a promotion of French. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home
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1. Thou shalt first become comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations with thyself, before ever trying to have them with any other person.

At this point in our earthly lives, we must  as a matter of urgency  get into that space of vulnerability and face our fears and insecurities. Dig deep to figure out why we are uncomfortable and get past that point with intention and focus.

2. Thou shalt educate thyself properly and gather all the facts that thou might need before embarking on any such discussions with thy children.

Children are smart; they will see through your charade. They are already learning about it or hearing about it, so you might as well be their guide. I know that talking about race can be sensitive, and even a bit messy, but the other option is not an option. So just buckle up and do it.

3. Thou shalt ensure that thy abode is racist-free. Remember, information can be conveyed by thoughts, words, or deeds, and thy kids will absorb them all from thee.

Yes, you might be racist, your words might be racist, or your actions might be racist. You might not even be aware of it  but your kids will, and then it might be too late for them to unlearn the bad lessons.

4. Thou shalt first find out from thy kids what they already know about racism (if age appropriate) before proceeding with the teaching.

A simple question and answer session will suffice. There is no point in building a house upon a faulty foundation. First, dig up the old one, find out what the kids know, reteach them the correct information, and then proceed with teaching them new things.

5. Thou shalt expose thy kids to other cultures, by visiting their museums, their churches, or attending civic events organized by them.

There is no better way to get immersed in African American, Jewish, Native American, or Hispanic history than by visiting their museums, civic centers, places of worship, or one of the many events these cultural communities often hold in a city near you. The time is now! Summer is here, so, put on your masks and get going!

6. Thou shalt endeavor to cook, order in, or learn about foods of other ethnicities.

This is a must! Humans are social beings. We love to eat during celebrations. So, when you go to visit your Nigerian friend perhaps (wink, wink), ask about fufu ati efo riro, jollof rice with shikin, fried plantains (dodo), isiewu (goat head delicacy), ofensala (fish pepper soup) or nkwobi (cow foot delicacy) to name a few. These are seriously tasty mouth-watering meals that you can only learn about by having an open mind. Take it from me; they are all delish!

7. Thou shalt listen to music and learn dance moves from other cultures  yes, thou must!

I told you to have an open mind. While I wouldnt necessarily ask you to learn the acrobatic nkpokiti, or breakdancing, it is certainly time to expand from your line dancing days to something else that is fun and exposes a whole new world to you. Your kids will love the moves, the melody, and the novelty, plus they can brag about their new skills to their friends. This could also be a bonding exercise for yall.

8. Thou shalt encourage thy kids to make friends with, and visit homes of kids of other races, and have them visit your home in return.

Get to know their parents and learn a thing or two about their history and upbringing. Extend a hand of friendship. Offer to take their kids to a game, pick them up from school, or even buy them dinner. Get out of your comfort zone a bit. Live just a little bit more; you might even like it.

9. Thou must become acutely aware of the microaggression some things you do or say can cause to people of other races.

Like calling me the nurse or miss, when my name tag clearly says MD or asking me where I went to medical school, or wondering how my English is so good, or not trying at all to pronounce my name after I have told you how to say it  more than once! And do try to let your guard down when I am in the room. I dont bite.

10. Thou shalt police thyself, thy relatives and thy kids with purpose, intention, and mindfulness.

Yes, you must ensure that you are not perpetuating intolerance, hate, or prejudice in any way. You know your family members who are racist. Everyone does. You must be bold, take action, and police them. Speak up. We are tired of being tired of being tired. You must have the talk with your family and friends. And if they choose to be silent, I suggest you re-evaluate your relationship with them.

11. Thou shalt endeavor to learn a foreign language, preferably a language in Africa. Thou shalt also teach said language to thy kids.

Yes, spread your wings, fly far away to the land of communication and understanding. To the land of open-mindedness and love. Because learning a new language will help you understand. And when you understand, there will be no fear. When there is no fear, there is no racism.

12. Thou shalt visit the predominantly Black part of the city or town thou liveth in  with thy kids in tow.

Get to see what life is like over there. You might begin to gain a bit of empathy, compassion, understanding, and maybe even respect. Your daughters want to date our sons, and thats a fact. You might as well get to know where she will be hanging out all summer, and get ready to have soul food at the wedding.

13. Thou shalt teach thy child to recognize bullying behavior and speak up when other kids are being bullied, especially on account of their race.

Bullying is a catalyst for suicide, and it is a serious problem in our schools. Teach them to find the kids who are ostracized and sit with them on the school bus, at the cafeteria, or play with them at recess.

That will go a long way towards ending the current epidemic of youth suicide, especially among Black kids.

14. Thou shalt not make a mockery or joke about any person who is different from thee on account of their race, and neither should thy kids.

Yes, dont discuss their skin tone, their kinky hair, their body type, or any other physical attribute that pertains to their race, except in a good light, or if they let you. I dont really care much for people touching my hair to know what it feels like, thats an intrusion.

15. Thou shalt ensure that all the above are adhered to, and from time to time, check in with thy kids to assess for progress.

Yes, you must also continue to work on yourself and on your family members. There is much work to be done. Policing the police is not enough; we must also police ourselves, our thought processes and mindsets lest we remain imprisoned by them.

The only way to really talk about race and racism is by activating a growth mindset.

 Amber Colemen-Mortely

I say: The only way to talk about it is to freakin talk about it.

Uchenna Umeh is a pediatrician and can be reached at Teen Alive and on Facebook and YouTube.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
EUGENE, Ore. -- Gov. Kate Brown's eviction freeze order was extended through September 30th during this week's special session. The bill also included a six-month grace period allowing tenants to wait until March 31, 2021 at the latest to pay landlords.

"Having that option is great for people who are struggling right now," Eugene resident Megan Hunt said.

Some landlords feel tenants are taking advantage of the situation.

"They look at the next door guy who is not paying, not because he can't afford it, but because he chooses not to," Property Manager of Shooting Stars Investments Michelle Gardner says. "Even good tenants who have been with me a long time are starting to wonder why they should have to pay."

Out of Gardner's 60 tenants she says one-third of them aren't paying rent or even offered a solution. Gardner says the bill doesn't take landlords livelihoods into consideration.

"It's our retirement," Gardner said. "We can't turn around and sell. We don't have 401k's or any of that. We are self-employed."

Gardner says tenants should be forced to pay or work something out with landlords.

"There are certain companies like UCAN and other businesses like that to give them a chance to get their rents paid," Gardner said. "There's no way for a landlord to go in and say 'look we didn't get rents paid for this month, they're still living there, pay us for it.'"

Gardner also says taking legal action is time and money she shouldn't be forced to spend.

"The problem is the longer it goes, the more cases are backed up and so the courts will take even longer," Gardner says.
EUGENE, Ore.-- Protesters gathered outside of Market of Choice on Willamette Street and 29th Avenue for a pro Black Lives Matter protest on Monday.

Employees at various locations across Oregon have walked out of the stores after being told to take off masks that had Black Lives Matter on them.

RELATED: MARKET OF CHOICE EMPLOYEES WALK OFF THE JOB OVER BLM MASK CONTROVERSY

The protest is set to take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Morning Glory Ritchie, cashier at Market of Choice, said that she demands to have the opportunity to support the Black Lives Matter movement even while working.

I have spoken to management many times, Ritchie said. They said that people are not allowed to wear these Black Lives Matter masks because they disrupt a comfortable customer experience. They also said that it would endanger employees. With that logic, I would say that is confusing."

Ritchie said that the time is now for getting uncomfortable and standing up for what's right.

If we are not being uncomfortable right now, then we are sitting in our white privilege," Ritchie said. "I refuse to sit on my white privilege, and I demand to support Black Lives Matter and I demand to be an ally.

One frequent shopper even said this will change the way she shops.

I wont shop here as long as the policy of not allowing employees to wear masks with Black Lives Matter on it continues, Eugene resident Nina Sobotka said.

Market of Choice did release a statement to KEZI saying: At Market of Choice, we support our Black Community, Vendors and Employees. Not allowing employees to wear a Black Lives Matter mask is simply a dress code issue, similar to most other retailers. No one has been terminated for wearing a Black Lives Matter mask, despite reports to the contrary.

They went on to say that several changes have been made within the corporation, such as meeting with almost all 1,300 team members to discuss how the company can best support communities of color.

Market of Choice is also increasing representation on their Equity and Inclusion Committee and expanding their outreach of BIPOC team members.

A petition is circulating online in support of wearing the masks, and at last check, it has over 3,800 signatures.
Forget about it! By Dr. Robert Owens

President Trump, who was presented with numerous awards from Black organizations as a supporter of equality for all before the Democrats establishment and the Democrats who identify as journalists decided to accuse him of racism, works tirelessly to empower Americas forgotten communities. According to President Trump on September 10, 2019, Were lifting up forgotten communities, creating exciting new opportunities, and helping every American find their path to the American Dream. A statement from the Trump White House staked out a basic tenant of President Trumps stance regarding the importance of education in building for success in the African American community. For over 180 years, Americas Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have made extraordinary contributions to our country, helping bring the American Dream to millions of African-American students and many others. Addressing the 2019 National HBCU Week Conference, President Donald J. Trump said Together, we will ensure that HBCUs continue to thrive and prosper and flourish for the countless generations to come, as he pledged to keep building on his Administrations work in support of these important institutions. He pointed out the long and illustrious history of HBCUs in America saying, For more than 180 years, HBCUs have strengthened our country and called our country to greatness. Your institutions have been pillars of excellence in higher education and the engines of advancement for African American citizens. Its been incredible the job theyve done. And President Trump has put legs to this vocal support. In his budgets he has spent more than any other president on HBCUs. In 2018, Trump appropriated more than three hundred and sixty million dollars--thirty-two million more than Obama. And while it is easy to say that you are supportive of a cause actions speak louder than words. Here are some of the actions President Trump has taken to help build a better future for Americans: Prioritizing education: President Donald J. Trump has made supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) a priority of his Administration. Barely a month after taking office, President Trump signed an Executive Order to move the Federal HBCU initiative back to the White House  making sure it is a key priority. President Trump directed agencies across his Administration to develop plans to enhance their support for HBCUs.

President Trump has signed legislation increasing Federal funding for HBCUs.

The President signed legislation that added more than $100 million for scholarships, research, and centers of excellence at HBCU land grant institutions.

The Administration relaunched the HBCU Capital Finance Board to make millions of dollars available to support HBCUs long-term growth and improvement. The Administration has announced that any restrictions on those funds going to institutions with a religious mission is unconstitutional. The Administration is rethinking college by reducing regulatory burdens, promoting innovation, strengthening accountability, and respecting the unique mission of each school. Lifting up communities: President Trump is ensuring that no citizen is forgotten, and no community is ignored. President Trumps America First agenda is spurring investment and revitalization in our countrys most underserved communities.

President Trump signed legislation creating Opportunity Zones, a game-changing vehicle to spur new capital investment in Americas economically distressed communities. Nearly 9,000 communities in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and 5 Territories have been designated as Opportunity Zones. Opportunity Zones are projected to attract $100 billion in private investments to the American communities that need these investments most. President Trump created a White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council to help ensure we are lifting these communities. Since its creation, the Council has taken action to deliver additional Federal support to Opportunity Zones. Median income for African American-headed households rose by 2.6 percent between 2017 and 2018.

The poverty rates for African Americans and Hispanic Americans each reached new series lows in 2018. Nearly 2.5 million have been lifted out of poverty in the first two years of the Administration. Investing in our workforce: President Trump is promoting workforce development to ensure all Americans share in our historic economic revival. President Trump is supporting American workers to ensure all Americans can benefit from todays thriving economy.

More than 350 companies have signed President Trumps Pledge to Americas Workers, offering more than 13 million employment, education, and training opportunities.

President Trumps National Council for the American Worker is developing strategies for training and retraining workers for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Last year, the President signed legislation reauthorizing nearly $1.3 billion in funding for career and technical education, benefitting millions of Americans.

The Presidents pro-growth policies are generating millions of new jobs  creating more and more opportunities for American workers. More than 6.3 million new jobs have been created since President Trumps election and job openings continue to far exceed the number of job seekers. Creating a fairer justice system: President Trumps criminal justice reforms are keeping our communities safe and giving Americans a second chance to succeed. President Trump is ensuring that former prisoners can find jobs and build meaningful lives after rejoining their communities. The President signed the groundbreaking First Step Act, enacting historic reforms to make our criminal justice system fairer for all and to help prepare prisoners to successfully rejoin society. These reforms helped to remedy unfair sentencing provisions that disproportionately hurt African Americans.

This historic legislation promotes prisoner participation in vocational training, educational coursework, or faith-based programs.

These reforms help keep all Americans safe by giving former prisoners the chance to find purpose and contribute to our economy, rather than returning to crime. President Trump is promoting second chance hiring to offer prisoners an opportunity to achieve the American dream. Departments and agencies across the Government are enacting initiatives to promote second chance hiring opportunities. Evangelist Alveda King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is not helping Democrats with their accusations that President Donald Trump is a racist. In fact, she has quite the opposite to say. She tweeted, I am the Niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Listen to my words, President Trump is not a racist!! He is one of the best presidents America has ever seen! I fully support him! Speaking to Fox News about the president King said, Ive had the experience of going head-to-head with genuine racists. Back in the 20th century, I was a youth organizer  and a racist is a person who really does believe that their race, their category of humanity is superior or different. She went on to call out Joe Biden and other Democrats for not being honest about Trump denouncing white supremacy, which King acknowledged the president has done several times. She also said, One thing really is getting to me and Id like for you to look into this, the race-baiters who want to stir up fear and hate make us think were different when were one blood and one human race. President Trump says, we all bleed the same, hes really clear on that, he has done so much for all Americans, including African Americans. And there you have it. Some people for partisan reasons want to say that President Trump is a racist. However, if we look at what was said about him before he decided to run for president and had the audacity to win, if we listen to Black leaders such as Alveda King, or if we take time to actually look at his actions we learn that the opposite is true. So is President Trump a racist? Forget about it! Dr. Robert Owens teaches History, Political Science, Global Studies, and Religion. He is the Historian of the Future @ http://drrobertowens.com  2020 Contact Dr. Owens drrobertowens@hotmail.com Follow Dr. Robert Owens on Facebook or Twitter @ Drrobertowens or visit Dr. Owens Amazon Page / Edited by Dr. Rosalie Owens Home
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In Sushant Singh Rajput`s memory, Bhumi Pednekar pledges to feed 550 families



Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide on June 14 at his Bandra, Mumbai home. The final post-mortem report revealed asphyxiation due to hanging as the cause of death. The police hasn't found any evidence of foul play in the death of the actor. However, an investigation is on. Statements of a total of 27 people have been recorded so far, and more are to be questioned.



A couple of days after the untimely death of Sushant Singh Rajput, Abhishek Kapoor and wife Pragya Kapoor pledged to feed 3,400 impoverished families, affected by the novel coronavirus crisis, through Pragyas organisation, Ek Saath, in memory of the late actor. Today, Bhumi Pednekar has joined the cause and has pledged to feed 550 more such families.



Sharing the news, the official Instagram handle of Ek Saath wrote, "Getting an opportunity to reach out to 550 more families sets a positive momentum for our drive. We're grateful to find such generous support for our cause from someone whose virtues & values go well beyond the screen. Thank you @bhumipednekar for remembering Sushant in such a beautiful way (sic)." Bhumi too reposted the same on her handle. Read More...


Note - This Associated Press story has been updated to include information from KHQ & its partners at the Spokesman-Review about Danny Lee's Spokane City Hall bombing implication.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Gorsuch the Pharisee and textualist tomfoolery By Selwyn Duke

The Supreme Courts recent opinion that the 1964 Civil Rights Acts prohibition against sex discrimination offers protections for the LGBT groups has raised eyebrows and ire. But its not surprising: The decisions author, Justice Neil Gorsuch, long ago made clear that he operates from false premises. One of these is whats called textualism, which is not at all the same as originalism. Conservatives also err, in my view, in claiming that Gorsuch has redefined sex. In reality, his ruling is instead based on a certain rationalization. Harvard law professor Noah Feldman, while essentially applauding Gorsuchs lawyer-craft, explained it well. As applied to Title VII, the classic 1964 anti-discrimination law, the textualist idea is very simple, he wrote June 15. The law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. To discriminate against somebody because of sexual orientation necessarily entails discriminating on the basis of sex. After all, if you're discriminating against a man because he is attracted to men, you would not be discriminating against him if he were a woman who is attracted to men. The same is true for transgender status, he continued. if [sic] you are discriminating against somebody for identifying with a gender that differs from their biological sex at birth, you are necessarily discriminating on the basis of sex  because you would not be discriminating against the person if they had the opposite biological sex. (Note: By this logic, bisexuals wouldnt be protected because the behavior a person could be fired for  being attracted to both sexes  would be the same for both sexes. Although, some future judge will no doubt spin this, too.) Now, realize that the above isnt even necessarily dictated by textualism, the legal theory holding that a laws application should be based on a plain reading of its text, as opposed to its framers original intent or some other guide. After all, theres a difference between discriminating on the basis of sex and on the basis of sexual attraction or gender identification. Consider: If an employer wont hire anyone with same-sex sexual attraction, there is no sex discrimination because he will reject lesbians along with homosexuals (he only might be engaging in sex discrimination if he applied the no same-sex sexual attraction prohibition to only one sex). Not only is the same true of so-called transgenderism  an employer could reject all people identifying as the sex theyre not  but theres another factor: The business owner could simply be rejecting anyone who misrepresents himself. Some may now respond that a man claiming womanhood really is a woman. But this propositions validity is irrelevant. The fact remains that the hypothetical employer is discriminating based on perceived misrepresentation, not sex. This is just as how an employer rejecting someone with species dysphoria, who claims to be a ferret, isnt discriminating based on species, but possibly misrepresentation or concerns about the prospective hires mental stability. (Though Gorsuch would no doubt say that such discrimination is okay because the employer wouldnt hire an actual ferret, either.) Of course, some will still prefer Gorsuchs argument. Yet this conflict and confusion merely illustrate how textualism doesnt live up to its billing. Late Justice Antonin Scalia is known for pushing the theory (one of his great mistakes), which he did because in his mind, textualism discouraged judges from using interpretation to make the law say something different from what the law actually said, explained Feldman. Yet while Scalia would no doubt disapprove of Gorsuchs textual interpretation, this is yet another example of how there just is no simple formula for preventing judicial activism; a judge lacking intellectual honesty and philosophical soundness can always tendentiously spin a ruling. This said, Gorsuchs opinion might not have been rendered if he adhered to the only legitimate legal philosophy: originalism. As Justice Samuel Alito pointed out in his dissent, no one in 1964 even imagined that banning sex discrimination would include prohibitions against homophobic or transphobic discrimination; in fact, neither of these terms even existed, and transgender status hadnt been conjured up yet. By the way, Gorsuch essentially admitted as much, writing in his opinion that when the express terms of a statute give us one answer and extratextual considerations suggest another, its no contest. Only the written word is the law, and all persons are entitled to its benefit. Moreover, he also rather haughtily insisted that the limits of the drafters imagination supply no reason to ignore the laws demands. Now, the contrast between textual tomfoolery and sound judicial theory can be illustrated with a simple analogy: 10-year-old twins Timmy and Oliver and five-year-old Malcolm are siblings. One day mom hears Malcolm crying wretchedly, investigates, and learns that the two older boys had been punching him. After scolding the twins, the mother warns, Now, stop hitting Malcolm! If you hit him again and I come in here and find him bawling, youre gonna be in big trouble! Yet an hour later Malcolm is crying his eyes out, again. The mother learns that Oliver understood not to hurt his kid brother and that Timmy is the culprit. Instead of being contrite, however, Timmy says, Mommy, you said not to hit Malcolm; you didnt say anything about not choking him and twisting his armand thats all I did! Then too-clever-by-half Timmy adds, The limits of your imagination, mommy, are no reason to ignore your rules demands. Only what you said matters  and Im entitled to the rules benefits! In the above analogy, Oliver is the originalist, understanding and accepting his mothers commands spirit. Timmy is the textualist, doing things not expressly forbidden by her rules language even while knowing it contravenes her intent. The problem with this philosophy is that insofar as you dont consider what was intended, you increase the chances of experiencing the unintended. Gorsuchs approach is every bit as maddening as Timmys (because its the same), as it places an unrealistic burden on legislators. If their laws are to meet Gorsuchs textualist standard for being applied as intended, the legislators must have godlike capabilities: They must see into the future so they can craft language covering every social innovation, bizarre fashion or collective insanity that may eventually, one day, manifest itself. So its bad enough we have the law of unintended consequences. Now we have textualists turning the law of unintended consequences into a legal philosophy and legislating it from the bench. I dont know Gorsuch personally, but he wouldnt be a very pleasant person to associate with if he were a Timmy the Textualist in everyday life. Would you thus conduct yourself, parsing every friends words to seek a loophole and essentially punishing him for not being a seer who speaks like Mr. Spock? Youd have few friends and deserve none. Interestingly, Gorsuch and his fellow travelers arent the first textualists. Two-thousand years ago they were called Pharisees, a group of pseudo-intellectuals whom Jesus excoriated for following the letter of the law, but ignoring its spirit. Its tragic that were back to that, but convenient for todays Pharisees. It is ironic, though, that in order to avoid abiding by the intent of laws from a half century ago, some today are resorting to a mistake from two millennia ago. Contact Selwyn Duke, follow him on Gab (preferably) or Twitter, or log on to SelwynDuke.com. Home
Kilkenny's Phil Hogan has announced that he will not be contesting the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.

The EU Commissioner, a native of Tullaroan, issued a statement this morning saying the recent decision by the Director General, Roberto Azevedo, to retire early should be seen as an opportunity for political leaders globally to seize the chance to make changes to the rules, the functions and structure of WTO in order to meet the demands of 21st Century trade.

He said the current global trade challenges should require all members to work together, but regrettably, this was not happening. Commissioner Hogan said the EU Trade Agenda requires the full and careful involvement of the European Union and in particular, the Trade Commissioner.

"Accordingly, I have decided that I will not be putting my name forward for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation," he said.

"I have informed the President of the Commission today. In consultation and approval of President Von Der Leyen, I will return to my duties of Trade Commissioner with immediate effect. We will work together to implement our important work programme on behalf of our EU Citizens as well as implementing our Trade Agenda with renewed vigour.

"Can I express my gratitude to President Von Der Leyen for her generous advice and support throughout the evaluation of my potential candidacy for the WTO Director-General. I am grateful to the Irish Government and in particular, former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar for agreeing to nominate me. I have also considered carefully the views of Heads of Government and Trade Ministers in reaching this decision.

"Finally, can I thank the many Trade Ministers and ambassadors of the 164 Members of the WTO for their encouragement and offer of support."

He added that the EU will work constructively with the new Director-General of the WTO to achieve their mutual objectives, and wished the candidates well.
Local TD John Paul Phelan was confirmed that the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has approved funding for Kilkenny County Councils Turnkey Housing Project in Lower Kilmacow.

Kilkenny County Council will be working in partnership with DFL Construction, who are ready to start the project. The Kilmacow Turnkey Housing Project will provide high quality, new homes to 16 families on the housing list.

"I look forward to seeing the houses being built and these families moving into their new homes as soon as possible," he said.

"The collaborative approach to the provision of social housing is at the heart of this outgoing Governments Rebuilding Ireland programme. Rebuilding Ireland has been one of the most ambitious programmes in recent years in terms of developing a strong pipeline of social housing projects across the country and it is vital in tackling what is undoubtedly the greatest challenge facing the state.

"The significant investment provided by my Department through Rebuilding Ireland to date has facilitated new and innovative social housing projects across Ireland and has laid the groundwork for future Governments to curb this crisis while delivering high quality homes for tenants."
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The resumption of jury trials for serious offences such as murder will see several high profile prosecutions being moved from Dublin to venues outside of the capital later this year, with Kilkenny earmarked for a number of trials.

At the Central Criminal Courts list to fix dates on Monday, Mr Justice Paul McDermott earmarked up to half-a-dozen rape and murder trials for Kilkenny courthouse, noting that the venue may be available as the year progresses.

As there is no date yet for when Kilkenny courthouse will be available, the cases will be listed again for mention in Dublin in July and October.

The judge earmarked at least one case for Waterford courthouse while several others were earmarked for Cork and Limerick.

The courthouse on Anglesea Street in Cork has been the central venue for several serious Munster-based trials in recent years and the long-held desire to use more venues outside of Dublin is being accelerated now due to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
The sensitivities around agricultural data sharing are the focus of new research being undertaken by smart-agri specialists, coordinated by a Kilkenny woman, at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) and Teagasc.

The AgriDISCRETE research project funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) kicked off recently and will run for two years up until January 2022. Its primary aim is to explore opportunities and solutions for data use and data sharing, with a specific focus on the dairy and forestry sectors.

Two research centres from WIT are involved. On the data analytics side is the Telecommunications Systems and Software Group (TSSG), which is growing its reputation as the experts in applying ICT in the agricultural industry. Business modelling will be informed by RIKONs innovation hub, while Teagasc will provide expertise on social science and rural development.

Kilkenny native Hazel Williams, who now lives in Laois, is project coordinator and Strategic Business Partner for Agriculture in TSSG. She says it will ensure data sharing models in the dairy and forestry sectors are beneficial to all.

Data is generated at all stages along the agri-food and forestry supply chains," says Ms Williams.

"From the primary producer to the processor, and onto the final consumer, as well as every step in between, different people add value and create data. Such information is the oil that keeps the supply chain moving, and digitalisation will enable a new level of efficiency for all parties.

Using the newly published Code of Conduct on agricultural data sharing from Copa-Cogeca, the united voice of farmers and agri-cooperatives in the EU, representing 22 million farmers, AgriDISCRETE researchers will consider sensitivities related to privacy, intellectual property, data protection, ownership, and data security, as well as the more complex issues of trust and control.

Ms Williams says that the lack of stakeholder engagement and demonstration of benefits to different people in the supply chain have hampered digital development up to now.

This innovation will ultimately make the Irish agri-food and forestry industries more resilient in the long-term, she says.

AgriDISCRETEs first task is to map out various stakeholders and their roles within the supply chain. This includes farmers, foresters, processors, transporters, and retailers. Those who support these various roles will also be involved, including policymakers, the ag-tech industry and agricultural advisors.

A series of six workshops with clusters of these stakeholders will allow their ideas, concerns and potential solutions to be teased out and recorded. This will allow the project to anticipate and respond to broader socio-economic and ethical issues arising from the increased exchange of data in dairy and forestry. Using this information, AgriDISCRETE will sketch out and trial various data models. These will be validated via trials in dairy and forestry enterprises, ensuring that emerging solutions are road-tested from the outset.

Williams explains the importance of this project to the agriculture industry: Data governance and data management is vital. AgriDISCRETE will identify and promote best practice in agricultural data governance and it will enable everyone along the supply chain to experience the benefits of the data they create.
ROCHESTER, Minn- Saturday a group known as "Brown Berets Minnesota" teamed up with "Rochester United" to host a protest on immigration laws and the facilities. About two dozen people protested down the streets of Rochester with signs in hand. This event is to raise awareness of the treatment, conditions, and abuse that kids in ICE detention centers suffer from. For Eric Diaz the topic of immigration is personal. From an early age, he crossed the border so he could be reunited with his parents. He tried six times each time he was caught he was taken to an ICE facility. He describes the experience as inhumane.

"When I first got there we saw wire fences, Diaz said. There was no toilet paper. Men and women were mixed.

He says he was living in a cage and was denied food and water for days.

"So that has change treat us like humans," Diaz said.

He understands he broke the law but says sometimes the law doesn't make sense.

"Slavery was lawful," Diaz said.

He says America is the land of the free but people being held in cages is not freedom. On his 11th birthday, he was finally reunited with his family after years of torture. Ricardo Reyes's family migrated from Mexico when he was four years old. He says this country was built by immigrants with the idea that everyone is entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Despite that immigration is a topic that is constantly debated.

"We are here to make a better life, Reyes said. We arent criminals. We go to work and we try to contribute to society.'

Both men say legislators need to create laws that are humane and inclusive.
ALBERT LEA, Minn.  A car dealer is pleading guilty to offering customers assistance in exchange for sexual favors.

Timothy Brian Mann, 44, of Mann Motors in Albert Lea entered guilty pleas Monday to two misdemeanor counts of prostitution.

Authorities say Mann asked two female customers for sex. One case involved a woman who was late on her car payments and the other was a woman trying to get license plates for her vehicle. Albert Lea police say both victims recorded their conversations with Mann.

His sentencing is scheduled for August 19.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, presides over a symposium on stabilizing foreign trade and investment in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2020. Vice Premier Han Zheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also attended the meeting. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday urged continuous efforts to expand opening-up and stabilize the overall performance of foreign trade and investment.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that stabilizing the overall performance of foreign trade and investment is of great importance to stabilizing economy and employment, at a symposium of government officials and enterprise executives.

Li said the country's foreign trade environment will remain grave and complex as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread worldwide and plunges the global economy into recession, while the Chinese economy is deeply integrated into the world economy.

The premier stressed efforts to ensure stability on the six fronts and security in the six areas, while promoting higher-level opening-up.

The six fronts refer to employment, the financial sector, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment, and expectations. The six areas refer to job security, basic living needs, operations of market entities, food and energy security, stable industrial and supply chains, and the normal functioning of primary-level governments.

Li stressed the need to roll out new measures to keep foreign trade and investment stable, especially increasing support to secure small-, medium- and micro-sized firms and labor-intensive companies, while helping major foreign trade enterprises solve problems to better keep employment stable.

At the symposium, Li called for improving the implementation of export-tax rebates, guiding financial institutions to strengthen funding support to ease the liquidity difficulties of foreign trade enterprises, tapping the potential of customs clearance facilitation reform and optimizing services for enterprises.

The premier called for efforts to strengthen communication and coordination with relevant countries, unblock international freight transport channels, and open up more "fast tracks" to provide convenience for business personnel.

Li encouraged foreign trade companies to speed up transformation and upgrading and improve the quality and added-value of export products, while accelerating the development of cross-border e-commerce, online trading and other new models.

International cooperation in multiple areas and levels should be strengthened and the opening-up of the service sector, especially the high-end service industry, should be further expanded to establish a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, he said.

The premier also called for optimized preferential policies to attract more foreign investors, as well as more solid efforts to keep industrial and supply chains stable.
Assessor wrongly convicted of human trafficking forced into taking guilty plea By Rachel Alexander

When powerful authorities want to get you, they have a good chance of getting you. The average person doesnt have the finances to defend against the unlimited, taxpayer-funded pockets of the government. If prosecutors think they may not have a good chance of convicting you at trial, they can threaten to stack felony charges, so if you are found guilty at trial you could end up with what amounts to a life sentence. This terrifies people, not knowing for sure how the trial could turn out especially if they cant afford a powerful legal team, so they accept a guilty plea that will result in a relatively short sentence. But everyone then thinks they must have been guilty. Prosecutors particularly like to target conservative politicians. This is what happened to former Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen. He had an impeccable history, active in his faith community and a family man specializing in adoptions since 2005. People who worked with him in county government told me he is an upstanding citizen. But in 2019, federal prosecutors and prosecutors in three states came after him for his adoptions, with some claiming he had engaged in human trafficking since the adoptions involved bringing pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to the U.S. I covered this in a previous article, explaining how it wasnt human trafficking. What likely started all this is the Marshall Islands government filed complaints with U.S. prosecutors since they didnt like competition arranging these types of adoptions. Facing prosecutions in four different jurisdictions where the mothers gave birth, Petersen was threatened with stacked felonies in Arizona if he went to trial. Prosecutors threatened to reindict him on what were essentially multiple paperwork violations, making it look like he was a prior offender. If he was found guilty at trial on just three counts, he would be sentenced to 15 years in prison, which the judge has no discretion to change. Prosecutors had seized his property and money under civil forfeiture laws, so he had no money to defend himself. They made it impossible to defend himself in four different criminal trials. He has several young children who he didnt want to grow up without him and his ability to support them, so he took the guilty pleas. In Arizona, he admitted to three counts of fraud and one count of forgery for illegally accessing Arizona's Medicaid system to pay for the medical care of Marshallese birth mothers. Prosecutors said he engaged in $1 million dollars of Medicaid fraud. In reality, the mothers became residents after they moved to Arizona. They are legally allowed to use Medicaid to give birth. Illegal immigrants get their births paid for, so why shouldnt poor women who legally come over the border? Petersen paid $10,000 for one mothers medical bills and living expenses up until the actual birth. But prosecutors claimed that Petersen engaged in Medicare fraud since Medicare paid for complications after the baby was born (the baby ended up dying). But in Petersens contracts with the adoptive parents, they are supposed to assume costs after the birth. Another count was due to a paperwork error. Instead of saying one of the pregnant women had been in the country for one month, Petersen put down four to five months. The adoptive parents said the $11,000 from Medicaid that went to her due to this was Petersen unjustly enriching himself. Prosecutors wanted a personal victim to showcase. But the adoptive parents werent victims. In Utah, he pled guilty to three counts of human smuggling and one count of communications fraud for not telling adoptive parents that he was breaking the law when he charged them for his services. But he didnt think he was breaking the law. Similarly, in Arkansas, he pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to smuggle illegal aliens for private financial gain. In reality, they werent illegal, Marshallese are allowed to come into the U.S. and dont need visas. One of the FBI agents on the case, who had been involved with human smuggling cases for years, said it wasnt human smuggling. But Petersen could not bring up any defense against these counts, or he would not be allowed to take the plea. He had to say he knew what he was doing was wrong. No state bars have initiated a complaint against him. This is telling because state bars are notorious for going after attorneys for things unrelated to law, especially criminal prosecutions, and they arent concerned about holding off their investigation until after the prosecution has ended. Not to mention state bars are controlled by the left and have a history of targeting conservative attorneys. Petersen will be sentenced to prison later this year. He is likely looking at a minimum of four to five years in prison, with multiple sentences running concurrently. This is unfortunate because many other people in his situation would have been dealt with civilly through the law, perhaps a fine and correcting paperwork. An adoption attorney from Hawaii in the business for 30 years using the same adoption practices with Marshallese pregnant mothers was not charged with anything. If his actions were so terrible, why was he allowed to conduct these types of adoptions from the Marshallese Islands going back to 2005? Usually we think of powerful politicians being above the law  no matter what Hillary Clinton does, no one will prosecute her. But sometimes prosecutors set their sights on someone in elected office who they know they can easily take out, and then hold them up as an example of, See, we go after elected officials too.



Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications.mericano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa - If you have fifteen minutes to spare, you might want to consider giving a pint of blood.

Today is the Battle of The Badges blood drive, held through LifeServe Blood Centers across Iowa. When you donate, you can choose which first responders you support, whether it's law enforcement, EMTs or fire departments.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced LifeServe to make some changes to the way they are doing their blood drives.

Katie Gayther with LifeServe explains what they're doing.

"We're really discouraging walk-ins right now. We want people to make an appointment. We're also making sure that all the donors that come in to us are wearing a mask. If they don't have one we'll provide them one," she said."

She also said there tends to be blood shortages this time of year because more people are out on the highways traveling and getting into accidents.

If you are interested in donating blood at the drive, you can book an appointment here.
DECORAH, Iowa - Five people have been jailed for 17 crimes in northeast Iowa.

The Winneshiek County Sheriffs Office says after a lengthy investigation, it executed a search warrant Friday in the 1700 block of Old State Road. Arrested were:

Thomas Thompson, 45 of Decorah, is charged with Serious Misdemeanor Possession of a controlled substance 1st-methamphetamine, Serious Misdemeanor Possession of a controlled substance 1st-marijuana, Simple Misdemeanor Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jamie Bockman, 39 of Decorah, is charged with Aggravated Misdemeanor Possession of a controlled substance 2nd-methamphetamine, Serious Misdemeanor Possession of a controlled substance 2nd-marijuana, Simple Misdemeanor Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kari Teepe, 42 of Fort Atkinson, is charged with 2 counts - Serious Misdemeanor Possession of a controlled substance 1st-methamphetamine, 2 counts - Serious Misdemeanor Possession of a controlled substance 1st-marijuana, Simple Misdemeanor Possession of drug paraphernalia (house).

Harold Jacobson Jr., 44 of Decorah, is charged with 2 counts - Felony Possession of a controlled substance 3rd/sub-methamphetamine, 2 counts - Felony Possession of a controlled substance 3rd/sub-marijuana, Simple Misdemeanor Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jacob Erickson, 28 of Decorah, was arrested and jailed on an outstanding violation of probation arrest warrant.

This case remains under investigation. The Winneshiek County Attorneys Office and Decorah Police Department assisted the Sheriffs Office with the search warrant.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - The City of Rochester has officially passed an amendment that requires anyone entering a government building a mask.

Mayo Kim Norton added an amendment to the existing Emergency Declaration. It requires anyone entering a government building to wear a mask.

Councilman Michael Wojcik says he's in full support of the amendment. He'd like to see what he believes are best practices put in place to prevent exposing COVID-19 to the vulnerable population.

He explained, "This shouldn't be a particularly hard position. I've had at least four people that I represent die from COVID-19 so it's not enough to be quiet on this. This is something that yeah, we get it, and we're going to support this and that needs to be coming from all elected officials."

Wojcik says this issue shouldn't be a political one and he'd like to see it go even further.

"As people go indoors, whether it's a city building or a private business, they need to take the steps to have masking done universally." he added. "We can't expose low wage employees to disease just because some people just don't want to take basic steps to protect them."

Wojcik says it should be the responsibility of the individual to provide their own face mask.

During a press conference this afternoon Governor Tim Walz was asked whether he would mandate masks statewide however he did not answer directly.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court on Monday refused to block the execution of four federal prison inmates who are scheduled to be put to death in July and August, including Dustin Honken.

Honken was involved in one of North Iowas most well-publicized murder cases and was found guilty of five counts of murder in 2004.

The executions would mark the first use of the death penalty on the federal level since 2003.

The justices rejected an appeal from four inmates who were convicted of killing children. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor noted that they would have blocked the executions from going forward.

The court's action leaves no obstacles standing in the way of the executions, the first of which is scheduled for July 13.

The inmates are separately asking a federal judge in Washington to impose a new delay on their executions over other legal issues that have yet to be resolved.

The activity at the high court came after Attorney General William Barr directed the federal Bureau of Prisons to schedule the executions. Three of the men had been scheduled to be put to death when Barr first announced the federal government would resume executions last year, ending an informal moratorium on federal capital punishment as the issue receded from the public domain.

The American people, acting through Congress and Presidents of both political parties, have long instructed that defendants convicted of the most heinous crimes should be subject to a sentence of death, Barr said in a statement last month. The four murderers whose executions are scheduled today have received full and fair proceedings under our Constitution and laws. We owe it to the victims of these horrific crimes, and to the families left behind, to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system.

The federal governments initial effort was put on hold by a trial judge after the inmates challenged the new execution procedures, and the federal appeals court in Washington and the Supreme Court both declined to step in late last year. But in April, the appeals court threw out the judges order.

The federal prison in Indiana where the executions would take place, USP Terre Haute, has struggled to combat the coronavirus pandemic behind bars. One inmate there has died from COVID-19.

The inmates scheduled for execution are: Danny Lee, who was convicted in Arkansas of killing a family of three, including an 8-year-old; Wesley Ira Purkey, of Kansas, who raped and murdered a 16-year-old girl and killed an 80-year-old woman; Dustin Lee Honken, who killed five people in Iowa, including two children; and Keith Dwayne Nelson, who kidnapped a 10-year-old girl who was rollerblading in front of her Kansas home and raped her in a forest behind a church before strangling the young girl with a wire.

Three of the executions  for Lee, Purkley and Honken  are scheduled days apart beginning July 13. Nelsons execution is scheduled for Aug. 28. The Justice Department said additional executions will be set at a later date.

Executions on the federal level have been rare and the government has put to death only three defendants since restoring the federal death penalty in 1988  most recently in 2003, when Louis Jones was executed for the 1995 kidnapping, rape and murder of a young female soldier.
Will Coloradans ditch the car tax? Itll be up to the voters on Nov. 2, along with half a dozen other key pocketbook issues. And not just in Colorado. Across the nation, 145 questions will be put to the public, many with far-reaching implications for businesses and individuals. Ballot questions typically dont attract as much attention as hot political races, but they can have a striking impact at the state and local levels. Whats more, ballot questions that pass in one state will be studied closely by other states and may be considered by legislatures or voters in future election cycles. See Ballot Initiatives as a Slide Show. Taxes and Fees In addition to deciding the fate of most state and local vehicle taxes and fees, Colorado voters must take sides on a plan to reduce the individual income tax rate from 4.63% to 3.5%. Colorado will decide on a proposal to cut property taxes in half by 2020 and require that the state use general funds to fill any gaps that develop. Look for Washington voters to impose a new income tax on individuals who earn more than $200,000 a year and couples who earn more than $400,000 annually. Washington is one of nine states with no state income tax now. The $1 billion in revenue raised each year would be dedicated to state health and education projects. Voters in Washington state will also decide whether to repeal recent targeted taxes on candy and soda sales and whether to require the state to privatize state owned and managed liquor stores.

California will consider rolling back recently enacted corporate tax breaks that would raise $1.2 billion through 2012. Another California proposal would institute an annual $18 vehicle fee to fund operations and preservation programs at 278 state parks. About $500 million would be raised each year for park operations, relieving the general state budget of a large annual commitment. Massachusetts voters will reject a plan to reduce the state sales tax from 6.25% to 3%. Theyll also nix a ballot proposal to repeal state taxes on alcohol. The voter initiative was sponsored by discount merchants and distributors of spirits. While they obtained the necessary signatures to present the question on the ballot, it will lose by a margin of 4-to-1. Balancing Budgets California votes on whether to end its requirement that state budgets be approved by two-thirds, rather than a majority, of the legislature. The two-thirds hurdle is often blamed for perennial state budget stalemates. There is no corresponding move to end the two-thirds requirement for tax increases, and in fact, voters will be asked to extend it to other fees. A proposal to legalize and tax marijuana will have far-reaching implications if it passes, bringing in millions in new revenue. Californians will also vote on whether the state should be barred from raiding hundreds of millions of dollars in transportation funding for other purposes, i.e., balancing the budget. Colorado will vote on whether to require that state and local governments receive voter approval before taking on debt to balance government budgets.Oregon is likely to lift a requirement that a portion of state lottery revenue go to parks, beaches and wildlife preserves. If approved, lottery revenue would be available instead for other budget priorities.
In this increasingly global economy, learning a new language can boost your chances at landing a lucrative job. In 2014 alone, nearly half a million job postings in the U.S. demanded specific foreign-language proficiency. To build our ranking of the best foreign languages for your career, we used data provided by job-tracking firm Burning Glass Technologies on number of job postings, median salaries, and types of jobs for each language. Here are the three best languages to learn for your career:

Portuguese

Portuguese comes in third place in our rankings. It has 203 million speakers worldwide, and one of the highest median annual salaries on our list, Portuguese easily outshines almost all other languages. Most Americans study Spanish, not Portuguese, giving Portuguese speakers a competitive edge in the job market. Even better, jobs requiring Portuguese pay a median salary of $42,500$6,000 a year more than jobs requiring Spanish.

German

German takes second place. The language had the fourth-highest number of job postings in the markets we surveyed. And U.S. jobs demanding German proficiency pay more than those for any other languagea median of $52,000 a year. And while German has a reputation of being among the hardest European languages, it is still easier than the language in our number one spot.

Mandarin

The very best language you can learn to bolster your career? Its Mandarin, the most popular of all Chinese languages, with more than a billion speakers worldwide. In 2014, there were more than 21,000 job openings for Chinese speakers in the U.S. alone. Demand for Chinese speakers is even greater abroad, especially in booming Asian economies, including China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan. If you do decide to learn Chinese, prepare to study hard; this tonal language is consistently ranked as one of the most difficult ones for English speakers.

If these languages aren't speaking to you, see seven other languages that can help you get ahead in your career.
Then:

Nina Vaca had already built a successful business when she appeared on the cover of Kiplinger's in May 2006. Vaca, who immigrated to Los Angeles from Quito, Ecuador, at age 2, inherited a talent for entrepreneurship from her father. After college she and a partner started Pinnacle Technical Resources in Dallas to recruit tech personnel to run companies' computer systems. She bought out her partner after the tech downturn in 2001, and expanded to provide IT consultants to businesses that had been laying off staff. Revenues were on track to reach $60 million in 2006. Her husband, Jim, and several siblings worked for the company, and her children (then ages 6, 4 and 1, with one on the way) spent plenty of time at the office.

Now:

Vaca's business really took off soon after our article was published. "My life has been transformed in so many ways," says Vaca, now 45. In 2007, Pinnacle Group landed a massive contract that was four times the size of the business. The company now has 155 employees at its Dallas headquarters and about 5,000 consultants throughout the U.S. and Canada, and it exceeded $1 billion in revenues last year.

The charismatic Vaca uses her personality to inspire entrepreneurs around the world, especially women in tech fields. She was only the second woman to chair the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and in 2014 the Obama administration appointed her as a presidential ambassador for global entrepreneurship. She's particularly proud of mentoring a woman from Vietnam and one from Jordan, both of whom spent time at Pinnacle and are now CEOs of successful companies back home. She recently launched Ninavaca.com to give other entrepreneurs resources for expanding their businesses.

Vaca's husband and siblings are still involved in the company, as are several nieces and nephews, and her children -- now ages 17, 15, 12 and 11 -- are starting to help out, just as she did in the chain of travel agencies owned by her father.

Vaca also applies her nonstop work ethic to her training as a triathlete. After last year's devastating earthquake in Ecuador, her mother called her and asked, "What are you going to do about Ecuador?" So this year, she competed in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon to raise money to build houses for displaced families in her native country. "My parents were entrepreneurs and civic leaders, and I've done both my entire life," she says. "I've always been passionate about my family and business, and this success has allowed me to give back."
Everything may be bigger in Texas, but Austins genius is nurturing the power of small. Just ask Rob Neville, who wants to develop his biotech firm, Savara Pharmaceuticals, into a major player in the field of inhaled-drug therapy. The firm started in Kansas, but Neville transplanted it to Austin because the city is arguably the countrys best crucible for small business.

Neville, a native of South Africa, has rooted his company in a city with, he says, a huge angel-financing network, billionaires who will freely offer you advice, plus a culture that attracts the best and brightest, who will work for less just to be in Austin. Savara is based in the citys renowned Austin Technology Incubator. Austin Technology is a joint project of the University of Texas, which is a research powerhouse, the city of Austin and the business community -- just one example of the collaboration that characterizes the city.

Neville isnt himself a scientist. Many people could have done a life-sciences company better than me, he admits. But he has faith in Austin. His first company, software firm Evity, blossomed in Austin; Neville sold it to BMC Software for $100 million in 2000.

And the Austin magic isnt limited to high-tech businesses. Blair Smith is co-owner of Dirty Dog, a dog-grooming business (you can wash your own pet or let the pros do the job). When Smith needed capital, she found it through Meet the Lender, a community program that allows business owners to participate free of charge. Were such a weird business that traditional banks dont get us, says Smith.
Believe it or not, theres a growing disconnect in the American labor force: On the one hand, the average length of unemployment stands at a record 40 weeks, with more than 4 million Americans out of work for a year or longer. On the other hand, many employers are desperate to hire more workersprovided they have the necessary skills. Take Mobile, Ala., as an example. The metropolitan area has an 11% unemployment rate, yet a whopping 7,000 skilled welding jobs and 1,200 industrial maintenance positions remain unfilled. Among other hard-to-fill jobs: Computer engineers. Medical lab technicians. Radiologic technologists. Pharmacists. Automotive service technicians. Accountants. Auditors. Pharmacists. And insurance sales agents. Adding to the disconnect: People arent as mobile as they once were. The sluggish housing market makes it hard to sell and move to an area with stronger job prospects. For example, Nevada has a surplus of nurses, while New York City and Philadelphia both have shortages. So with people less able and willing to move to fill needed jobs, retraining workers for skilled positions in their current hometowns is gaining greater urgency. To meet the needs, the public and private sectors are teaming up in a variety of innovative ways.

Here are some leading examples. State Programs New Hampshires Return to Work program gives unemployed workers the opportunity to take a job to learn new skills while still receiving unemployment benefits. Georgia Works offers a similar option to residents of that state. Participating companies have no obligation to hire the trainees, but they must have unfilled positions to participate in the program. Both programs offer jobless workers the chance to gain skills, and employers the opportunity to test out potential employees. Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Pennsylvania, meanwhile, provide assistance to unemployed workers who want to start their own businesses. To qualify for such assistance, people must first be eligible for unemployment insurance under their states' laws. Uncle Sam Congress just renewed the Trade Adjustment Assistance program to the tune of $575 million to provide aid to workers who have been displaced because of foreign competition. In addition to helping such workers retrain for new jobs, the renewal will cover 90% of job search or relocation costs, up to $1,250. The Department of Labor has joined forces with Facebook to create the Social Jobs Partnership, a service that will use the social networking site to aggregate a variety of job search options offered through the government and the private sector. Nearly 90% of companies have used social networking as a recruiting tool this year, up from 83% last year, according to a study conducted by Jobvite. Look for the partnership to extend to other social networking sites such as LinkedIn. Although the program doesnt assist with training, it does offer a centralized location for job seekers to begin their search online.

Moreover, the Department of Labors One-Stop Careers Centers, available at 3,000 locations nationwide, are designed as drop-in centers with employment counselors to assist those seeking employment. Counselors can also direct unemployed workers to job training programs. Employers can work with the centers for help in targeting ideal candidates. Public-Private Initiatives Boeing has teamed up with Trident Technical College and readySC in South Carolina to create a curriculum specifically to funnel local residents into jobs at the new plant in Charleston designed to build the jet company's 787 Dreamliner. Lockheed Martin is working with a group of community colleges in Texas to help train workers for aerospace jobs. And Vanguard Integrity Professionals, the Nevada-based security software firm, is running a series of programs throughout the country and online to train people on changes in technology. The company also provides unemployed cybersecurity professionals with scholarships to attend training conferences. On a related note, look for more community colleges, long a bastion of retraining, to join with public universities to leverage funds reduced by state budget cuts. One such example: Ohios Lorain County Community College and Ohio State University offer a joint program in welding. Nonprofit Involvement Experience Works places low-income unemployed workers over 55 years old with community service organizations, where they can work part time and gain new skills. Wages are paid through grants from Experience Works. Assignments range from working as a cashier at a Salvation Army store to serving as an organizer at a local food bank. Skills gained in such positions are transferable to full-time jobs.
It's easy these days to imagine a scenario in which your income isn't what you thought it would be, the people you're responsible for are needier than ever and prices just keep going up. Now you know what your state's governor feels like. After years of operating comfortably in the black, state governments are grappling with deficits.

Some 27 states and the District of Columbia have dealt with or still face a combined shortfall of nearly $50 billion going into the fiscal year that starts in July (when many state budgets must be balanced). States are experiencing the classic "nutcracker effect," says Robert Ward, deputy director of the Rockefeller Institute of Government. Tax revenues are growing more slowly than last year -- or, in the case of sales taxes, declining. At the same time, the costs of state and local governments are rising faster than those in the broad economy: 6%, versus 3.9% for the official overall rate of inflation.

Even if the U.S. economy improves before the end of 2008 (as we expect), states may struggle far longer. After the 2001 downturn, states ran budget gaps for three years, even though the recession lasted just eight months. And that was with property taxes still going strong. Now, as assessed real estate values catch up with dismal market realities, cities, counties and school systems are getting squeezed. "Localities will have a hard time for a good two to three years," says Scott Pattison, executive director of the Association of State Budget Officers.
The past, present, and future of Quebec  updated to 2020 (Part Four) By Mark Wegierski

With the Bloc Quebecois supporting the Conservative federal budget in 2007, it appeared that Quebec had become at least somewhat friendly towards the federal Conservative Party. The emergence of the ADQ (Action democratique du Quebec) in the provincial election of 2007, could have been seen as the rise of a centre-right Quebec party that could hopefully negotiate with the federal Conservative government a more autonomous status for Quebec, without having to go on the far more potentially disruptive statehood/sovereignty route. The ADQ at that time could have been seen as a party that consisted largely of non-separatist nationalists and that resented the increasingly anti-nationalist nationalism of the 2007 Parti Quebecois (especially such as that expressed by PQ leader Andre Boisclair in his constant weepy speeches about inclusiveness). Insofar as ever greater degrees of leftism and political correctness had overtaken the Parti Quebecois, to that extent it had become less and less attractive to its nationalist core base, especially in rural and suburban areas. Boisclair chose to hew to the most extreme forms of political correctness. In earlier years, the Quebecois nationalists had declared that the social question is the national question. Insofar as the bureaucratic structures of the Quebec provincial administration, Hydro-Quebec, and the Caisses depot (Quebec credit unions) manifestly served so-called old stock Quebecois, and attacked the status of the long-time anglais exploiters, Quebecois nationalism could clearly be seen as having discernible traditionalist elements. Now, however, when Montreal has been almost as demographically changed as Toronto, it is perceived that an extensive welfare-state is increasingly operating on behalf of the newcomers  very few of whom have any interest in Quebecois nationalism. That may be one reason for an increasing interest in the free market in Quebec. While, in earlier decades, Quebecois nationalism was one of only a few nationalisms in the Western world that were highly valorized by the Left  there has been a considerable shift from the 1990s onward. Overwrought accusations were made in the 1990s that Quebecois nationalism represented something like Catholic tribal racism. As successive waves of political correctness rolled over the Western world, the Parti Quebecois ever more intensively embraced extreme anticlericalism and multifarious minorities  until it had by 2007 become  it is possible to argue  something which embodied what could be called an almost entirely anti-nationalist nationalism. This gave an opportunity to the ADQ to portray itself as at least somewhat less nationally self-hating than the PQ  something which would naturally appeal to the more authentic Quebecois nationalists. While rejecting the drive for full statehood/sovereignty  which it probably perceived as too chimerical -- it could be argued that the ADQ was working towards policies that would ensure the persistence of a far more socially and culturally substantive Quebec  a Quebec that would retain at least some relation to the historic Quebec nation that has existed for four previous centuries. And such national preservation and thriving through time and space would appear to be one of the main goals of any more authentic nationalism. In 2007, it could have been argued that the ADQ, although non-separatist, was more substantively Quebec-nationalist than the Parti Quebecois. Clearly, the Parti Quebecois drew some lessons from its third-place finish in 2007, and re-fashioned itself in a direction that could appeal far more to its core nationalist base. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home
1. Expect moderate growth for the U.S. economy. Consumers and businesses will spend more, and the unemployment rate will fall to about 6.5%. For the year, look for GDP growth of 2.6%, following a tepid 1.8% increase for the U.S. in 2013. Europe will grow as well, but only barely. Look for growth of less than 1% for the euro zonenot great but welcome news for a budding recovery. Germany and the United Kingdom will see stronger expansion. 2. Youll pay a higher rate for a mortgageas much as 5.5% by next December, from around 4.5% for a 30-year loan nowas the Federal Reserve tapers the bond-buying binge that has kept rates low. And mortgages will be harder to obtain because of tighter lending restrictions from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. As a result, slower growth for housing. For sales of existing homes, a 4% increase in 2014, following a 9.3% hike last year. Slimmer growth, too, for starts and sales of new homes, but both will still see double-digit increases as builders grow increasingly confident and inventories of new homes remain tight. 3. By this time next year, Obamacare will find itself on sounder footing, even as critics continue to dig in their heels. The number of insured will steadily grow, the bureaucratic messes will be cleaned up, and the number of uninsured will decline. Obamacare will never be universally embraced, but approval of it will climb. First, however, more headaches as people get used to their new coverage. Headlines will focus on the failures: Folks who enrolled in the wrong plans, cant get prescriptions filled because pharmacies dont have their information and so on. Enrollment will fall somewhat short of the 7-million goal on March 31. And young, healthy people will shy away, perhaps even in large numbers at first. But success stories will emerge by the next enrollment period this fall.

4. Republicans will keep control of the House but wont take over the Senate. Theyll come close, though, perhaps ending up just one or two seats short in Novembers elections. The results guarantee a divided and deeply partisan government for the rest of Barack Obamas presidency and set up a bitter 2016 presidential race. The key seats Democrats need to keep are in Louisiana, Montana and Georgia. The GOP needs all three to have a shot. The Louisiana job is held by Democrat Mary Landrieu. Montana will be represented by an as-yet unknown Democratic appointee if Max Baucus, a retiring Democrat, is confirmed as ambassador to China. Plus the GOP has to win an open seat it holds in Georgia, where Democrat Michelle Nunn, the daughter of former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn, is making waves. 5. Congress will soften the Patriot Act this fall by putting more limits on the governments powers to collect private information about citizens. The broad national security law will be renewed, but more transparency will be added. President Obama will take his own steps, offering rules for using the phone records of Americans in the National Security Agency investigations. Hell push for more openness on a secret court that oversees surveillance activities by U.S. intelligence agencies, too. Courts will weigh in as well. But in the end, some data will still be collected. 6. Tea party backers may pick up a seat or two in congressional elections. Still, their influence, in Congress and in politics in general, is in decline. One reason: Growing public disenchantment with the tea party after budget fights and the government shutdown, leaving mainstream GOPers less likely to cave to them. Tea partyers are steamed at House Speaker John Boehner but cant oust him unless they increase their numbers or attract mainstream GOPers to their cause. Theyll battle him on budget and spending matters, for sure. Theres not much to do beyond that if Boehner is willing to count on Democratic votes to move House bills. After a rough start, Boehner can remain speaker for as long as he wants to. But dont be shocked if he gives up the job and his seat after the electionsespecially once those results show his party coming up short of a Senate majority.
The economic recovery may be slow and uncertain. Immigration remains a hot button political issue. But there's one positive trend that will keep benefiting smaller cities in the years ahead: Their growing appeal to immigrant populations. Though New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and other large U.S. cities remain hubs for immigrants, newcomers from abroad are increasingly settling in smaller communities across the U.S., lured by a lower cost of living, more job opportunities, and a support structure of fellow immigrants. In return, these communities get a rejuvenated work force and a consumer base. Here are eight rapidly emerging gateway communities for immigrants. View these cities as a slide show. Benton/Washington Counties, Ark. Map it Home to large employers such as Wal-Mart in Bentonville and Tyson Foods in nearby Springdale, these northwest Arkansas counties have seen enormous growth in their immigrant populations over the past decade. Foreign born residents now make up more than 20% of Springdale's population. The area's chicken farms, construction industry, corporate headquarters, and low cost of housing remain a strong magnet. With Hispanics accounting for most of the increase, the region is seeing more ethnic bakeries, restaurants, media outlets, and other businesses. The once nearly homogeneous local school districts have added English as a second language to their curricula in addition to special programs to help involve parents in their childrens education. Portland and Salem, Ore. (Marion/Multnomah counties) Map it

The growth of the areas technology industry draws highly skilled immigrant workers to northwest Oregon, where theyre joining earlier arrivals -- refugees from Southeast Asia, Africa, eastern Europe and Russia. Theres also a strong immigrant presence among service workers, especially in health care, restaurants, and cleaning services. Nearly 40% of the regions immigrant population arrived within the past decade. Many own their own businesses. And they are encouraging more family members and friends from the old country to join them. Raleigh-Durham-Cary, N.C. (Wake/Durham/Chatham Cos.) Map it North Carolina's 394% immigrant growth rate in the 1990s was the fastest among Southern states, and the trend has continued in the 21st century. The Raleigh-Durham area has been hub to much of this growth. The draw? Affordable housing and jobs at Research Triangle Park -- one of the countrys largest technology development centers -- as well as in the construction and service sectors. The recession and stricter enforcement of immigration laws in the Tar Heel State are slowing immigration growth -- at least for now. But many experts think migration could pick up again as the economy recovers. Gwinnett County, Georgia Map it The foreign born population in Gwinnett County has more than doubled since 2000, and now represents about 25% of the county's total population. Drawn to the area by an abundance of jobs in the service sector and the low cost of housing, the immigrants are mostly Hispanic. They are carving out a livelihood in a region where blacks have traditionally been the most visible minority. Gwinnett also has one of the highest rates of illegal immigration in the U.S. -- authorities estimate that half of all foreign born residents of the county are unauthorized. Fairfax County, Va. Map it
A temporary jump in the price of gasoline -- between 25 and 50 a gallon. Total closure of ports to prevent harbor fires would end Gulf refiners access to oil arriving by ship -- about 20% of the refiners supplies. The spike would likely last just a week or two while refiners scramble for other sources, including the governments Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

In the worst case scenario -- if oil slicks close the ports of New Orleans and Houston, which is not considered likely:

Will the disaster derail economic recovery? No. That would take a sustained hike in world oil prices, and thats not in the cards. In and of itself, the loss of the BP Deepwater Horizon platform isnt significant. Although its causing an environmental catastrophe, the amount of oil being lost is a drop in the economic bucket.

Its still too soon to say exactly how grave the environmental damage from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will turn out to be. Certainly there is potential for a disaster that would take a decade to recover from. The economic impact isnt much clearer, and a lot depends on how long the flow continues and how well the resulting slick is contained.

A hit for agriculture. Closures of Gulf ports would bottle up exports of grain and soybeans, pushing down prices. That would slam the crop producers but provide a short-term boon for livestock and poultry feeders as well as ethanol makers.

And problems for steel users. New Orleans is a major hub for the importing of girders, rods and tubes plus slabs used by steel manufacturers to make finished products.

Plus, if oil were to wash ashore on the Florida Panhandle, tourism would take a dive, hurting the Sunshine State. Plenty of other small communities in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana would feel the pain as well.

And devastation for the fishing, shrimping, oystering and allied industries if their grounds are fouled. According to Paul Bingham, a managing director of IHS Global Insights Global Commerce & Transport Group in Lexington, Mass., a long closure of the Gulfs fishing areas would hit the seafood industry very hard. Its a $700-million annual business for the region, he says.

Is this the end of deepwater offshore drilling? Not by a long shot. About 30% of U.S. oil production comes from offshore wells, with those in waters deeper than 1,000 feet accounting for about 60% of total offshore oil output. Moreover, the best bets for large new reserves are in deep water -- and not just off the U.S. coast, but in waters near Brazil, Mexico, Angola, Ghana and several other nations. Oil companies must replace their dwindling reserves, and the opportunities to do so are greatest in offshore, deepwater fields, notes Alan Heburg, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

But it will delay the awarding of new leases until 2013 or 2014, a year or two after they were expected under the plan outlined earlier this year by President Obama.

Will new safety regulations significantly cut output or raise costs on current wells? Not likely. You can bet new safeguards will be implemented -- for example, requiring the installation of backup systems like those already mandated by Brazil and Norway to prevent blowouts. The (Deepwater Horizon) accident will be investigated and, if necessary, new requirements will be put in place, just as they were after oil tanker spills, says Heburg. Todays double-hulled tankers are far less likely to leak any oil if they encounter problems.

But new safeguards wont necessitate a halt in pumping, and the costs will be manageable -- in the neighborhood of $500,000. Not too onerous, considering the typical $500-million price tag for the oil platform itself.
Only a few nations -- Norway, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and some other Mideast oil producers -- operate in the black.

Worse, for most developed countries, the holes continue to deepen with each year of deficit spending. The amount of debt relative to GDP will climb sharply by 2013.

Most developed countries overborrowed in recent decades . In the U.S., federal debt soared from an amount equal to 45% of GDP in 1989 to 69% this year. Japan went from 14% to 106%. The U.K., from 30% to 75%. The U.S. figures dont include state and local debt or future liabilities, such as money borrowed from the Social Security Trust Fund, funds needed for other safety net programs or money for civil service pensions. With those obligations added in, the U.S. debt reaches 95% of GDP.

Excessive debt is a global phenomenon. The crisis in Greece and the huge bailout fund put together to reassure investors in Europe may be dominating the news today, but the problem is much wider. The sovereign debt of the developed countries has to be watched very carefully -- how its managed, how its serviced -- over the next year, says Joseph Quinlan, chief market strategist for the Bank of Americas U.S. Trust.

And some emerging markets arent in as deep. South Korea, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Indonesia, for example, have instituted tough fiscal restraints. Canada, too, has successfully curbed its spending. Chinas debt pales compared to its reserves.

For the more profligate developed countries, the time to pay the piper is nearing. Its fast becoming untenable to service the mountain of debt they have incurred.

Economic growth will inevitably slow, as spending drops on infrastructure, social welfare programs and more. For those countries such as the U.K. that rely more heavily on government programs as an engine of growth, withdrawal will be especially painful.

Also, taxes will rise. Itll be impossible for most governments to save their way back to fiscal health. Increasing government revenues will be part of the mix.

Look for a scramble for exports, heightening trade tensions, as countries crave more growth from sales abroad to offset a dampening of domestic demand.

Currency devaluations are likely, as the U.K., Japan and others seek an edge for their products. The euro, already slipping in value, will likely continue to weaken.

Foreign creditors will wind up taking haircuts as loans are restructured, Even if outright defaults are mostly avoided, write-downs will hit the big global banks.

Greece probably cant avoid default. Its bailout package is conditioned on the country shrinking its budget deficit from 14% of GDP to just 3% by 2014 -- a herculean task. Spain and Ireland are in perilous shape. Portugal is only a bit better. Italy and Japan have the advantage of their debt largely being held domestically. Not the U.K. Its the most vulnerable of the larger economies. For now, the U.S. is still a safe haven, but thats little cause for celebration.

Thats like saying youre not well off, just less bad off. To the extent that demand for U.S. dollar-denominated assets is driven by turmoil in Europe, not our own fundamentals, we should be very leery about how (sustainable) that is, says Carmen M. Reinhart, professor of economics and director of the Center for International Economics at the University of Maryland.

If the U.S. deficit keeps rising at an unsustainable pace, adds Olivier Garret, CEO of investment research and advisory firm Casey Research, at some point the market is going to say we dont want U.S. debt.

Eventually, all the big debtors will pay a price of one kind or another.
The violence exacts a more immediate toll by slowing Mexicos economic growth, particularly along the border with the U.S. Retail sales are plummeting -- the prospect of catching a stray bullet is a powerful deterrent to would-be shoppers. Likewise, real estate values in such communities as Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and Nuevo Laredo are crashing as residents seek safer places to live.

Monterrey provides one of the starkest examples. The hub of Mexican heavy industry for more than a century, Monterrey hosts dozens of U.S. companies. As recently as a few years ago, Fortune magazine ranked it the best city in Latin America in which to do business. Today, it is ground zero of a turf war between Los Zetas and three rival cartels aligned against them. We just closed our exchange program with Monterrey Tech because a couple of our students were killed in a crossfire, says John Doggett , a senior lecturer at the University of Texas at Austins McCombs School of Business.

Look for the drug war to limit foreign investment in Mexico over the next few years. As battles between cartels and government forces escalate, fights among the cartels themselves grow deadlier. Cities with little history of organized crime are now caught in the crossfire. The result is that foreign firms that dont yet have a presence in Mexico will postpone investment, probably until after President Felipe Calderon leaves office in 2012. That delay will crimp productivity for years to come.

Potentially worse is the impact on tourism, one of Mexicos leading sources of foreign revenue. The cartels have carried out assassinations in such major resort cities as Acapulco and Cancun, hundreds of miles from the border. Efforts by the Mexican government to beef up security in such communities have yielded mixed results. If you go down there and see [soldiers and police officers] with flak jackets and AK-47s, it makes you feel safer, but it doesnt make you feel like youre on vacation, says Doggett.

While much of the violence is retaliatory, the cartels are also playing a shrewd political game. Theyre sending the message that would-be presidential candidates have a choice: Cut a deal with the cartels or put Mexico through another six years of chaos. Mexicos constitution limits the president to a single six-year term. Less than two years remain until voters go to the polls to choose Calderons successor.

But the violence wont scare off the U.S. corporations already in Mexico. If anything, such companies are likely to add to their stake in Mexicos economy. Chinese wages are nearing parity with Mexican pay. Lengthy ocean shipping times from China plus persistently high fuel costs make transport by truck and rail from Mexico look cheap. The result is that Mexico is increasingly competitive with China for manufacturing investment. Chrysler is plowing $550 million into its plant in Toluca, outside Mexico City. Even in Ciudad Juarez, firms such as Delphi, Johnson Controls and Emerson Electric are thriving.

Thats not to say that such firms dont have big concerns about the risk to their employees. A recent study by the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico says that its members now invest 3% of their operating costs on security. That may well increase. Several of the cartels are now expanding their range of criminal activities, branching out from drug trafficking to such fields as credit card fraud, cargo and merchandise theft, extortion and kidnapping.

Youre much more cautious when you make decisions about investing, says Albert Zapanta, president and CEO of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce. You do your due diligence. Zapanta expects that the result will be that firms operating in Mexico will hunt for safer locales within the country, rather than abandoning it altogether. Queretaro in central Mexico, for example, is already drawing massive investment as a hub of air frame manufacturing. Other central Mexican cities such as San Luis Potosi and Leon are also likely to benefit.
The following article is reprinted from our Kiplinger Alerts premium service. Try it free for 30 days. You dont have to be in the oil and gas business to know that the last two years have been brutal. The sell-off in oil markets that began in 2014 saw the price of crude fall from about $100 per barrel to a low of $26 last winter, before a modest rebound to $44 now. At the same time, natural gas prices fell to their lowest level since 1999 during the unusually warm winter of 2015-2016. As a result, dozens of companies have filed for bankruptcy, tens of thousands of workers have lost energy-related jobs, and manufacturers that make drilling equipment and related gear have seen their sales slump. INTELLIGENCE FOR YOUR BUSINESS SUCCESS: For More Information About Kiplinger Alerts or to Try It Free for 30 Days, Click Here But there are finally signs of better days ahead. No, the energy industry isnt going to suddenly return to the boom times it enjoyed up until 2014. But the worst appears to be over. Prices: Bottoming Out Barring a global economic recession that crimps energy consumption, crude oil and natural gas prices have probably hit their lows already. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude has clawed its way back to $44 per barrel, and we expect WTI to keep grinding higher through next year, averaging $50 to $55 per barrel. Thats still low relative to a few years ago, but beleaguered oil producers wont knock it.

Meanwhile, natural gas futures prices have risen from less than $2 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) last winter to about $3 now. If expectations for colder weather this winter pan out, strong heating demand should push gas prices closer to $3.50 per MMBtu early in 2017. Again, that wont spell a bonanza for producers. But it helps. Still, even as energy prices trend higher, expect plenty of short-term volatility and some sharp price pullbacks along the way. Crude oil prices fell from $50 to $44 this week on signs that OPEC is struggling to hammer out a deal to curb its members oil output, which we warned about recently. Natural gas saw a similar dip because of unseasonably warm autumn weather in the East. No doubt such price turbulence will continue. Green Shoots in the Oil Patch Drilling activity is already perking up because of the modest recovery in energy prices. After hitting bottom in May, oil field services company Baker Hughes weekly tally of active rigs has increased by almost 40%. Granted, the number of rigs drilling new wells is still well below its level of a year ago, but the past few months have shown a palpable upturn. We look for the rig count to keep climbing in coming months, though it will probably do so in fits and starts, rather than increasing at a steady rate. One Houston-based energy consultant who sometimes chats with us off the record says he is seeing early signs of investment capital returning to oil and gas after fleeing in recent years. Theres a lot of dry powder out there, he says. Psychologically, there has been a shift. Banks are starting to lend again and contractors are cautiously hiring as drilling starts to rebound. The industry even saw its first successful IPO in two years: Denver-based Extraction Oil and Gas (XOG), which went public last month. Surveying the state of the industry in general, our man in Houston says: Were not dancing yet, but were walking.

Indeed, that optimism is borne out in the Department of Energys latest reports on U.S. oil production. Crude output peaked in April 2015 at 9.6 million barrels per day and then slipped to 8.5 million barrels per day now. But that slide seems to have leveled off. Whereas DOEs weekly production reports had been showing a steady downward trend for many months, the latest figures indicate that output has stabilized. With more rigs drilling new wells, and more oil coming from those new wells than from predecessors drilled earlier (thanks to improved drilling techniques), nationwide output could soon start creeping higher again. However, production wont come back everywhere. Only the fields with the best resources and the most favorable production costs will lure investment capital. The hottest play right now: The Permian Basin in West Texas, which has seen a big increase in drilling since oil prices started to recover. Its a sprawling oil-producing region with huge reserves to tap. But just as importantly, the Permian is home to ample pipeline capacity and other infrastructure that allows operators to get newfound oil to market. Boasting some of the lowest production costs of any shale oil field in the United States, the Permian figures to hold up when oil prices are down and to positively thrive when prices are rising. Another region to watch: Colorados Wattenberg Field. Our Houston energy consultant (who prefers to remain anonymous) calls it the biggest oil field youve never heard of. Colorado is a drilling-friendly state, and the Wattenberg is a promising play that is getting a lot of energy firms attention. Extraction Oil and Gas is a major player there.

Conversely, some prominent oil and gas fields will continue to struggle. North Dakotas massive Bakken Shale, for instance, lacks adequate pipeline capacity and is forced to rely on pricier freight rail to bring some of its barrels to refineries. Lynn Helms, the director of the North Dakota Industrial Commissions Department of Mineral Resources, notes that operators in the Bakken dont plan to significantly ramp up drilling until WTI rises to $60 per barrel, a price we dont expect to see for a while yet. The gas-rich Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania faces similar headwinds. Gas prices probably need to rise 20% to 30% more before drilling there becomes economically attractive again. Cutting Costs The companies that survive this downturn in energy prices will be the ones that found ways to slash their costs while pumping more oil or gas from each well. Plunging prices made such efficiency essential. That has meant operating rigs with fewer crew members, moving them to new well sites faster to minimize downtime, and renegotiating prices with suppliers and contractors. Its been a painful learning process, but the good news is that many energy firms are far leaner now. And even as oil and gas prices gradually trend higher, those operators wont discard the methods theyve discovered for doing more with less. The hunt for efficiency extends across the entire industry. Take sand, a crucial ingredient in hydraulic fracturing. Sand holds open the tiny fractures created when water is injected into wells at high pressure, allowing oil and gas to flow to the surface. The best sand for fracking comes from mines in Wisconsin and other Midwestern states that are far from the oil fields of Colorado or West Texas, making shipping expensive. Thats why oil field services giant Halliburton recently worked with sand miner U.S. Silica to ship a record-breaking 19,000 tons of frack sand from Illinois to a storage site in Texas by a dedicated freight train. Its really about efficiency, says Tim Wesbey, Halliburton supply chain director for the Western Hemisphere. Moving larger volumes of sand at one time lowers the per-ton cost, which ultimately makes it a bit cheaper to get oil out of the ground.
It was with all this in mind that I digested the news that the Pakistani Army, with CIA help, had captured Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Yes, Baradar is the top lieutenant of Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar. But Taliban field commanders have never been short of initiative in staging their own attacks. How much difference is the capture of one man, however senior, likely to make?

Or how about Mullah Dadullah, once the Afghan Talibans senior military commander? He was killed in a NATO/Afghan raid in May 2007, but the fighting in Afghanistan only grew bloodier, with U.S. casualties there overtaking those in Iraq last year. In the past six months, U.S. drone strikes have killed two successive chiefs of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah and Hakimullah Mehsud. But the organization survives and still threatens NATO traffic on the Khyber Pass, the indispensable ground supply route into Afghanistan.

Several times in the past decade, the U.S. has trumpeted the death or capture of a top insurgent, only to find it didnt make all that much difference. Remember Abu Musab al-Zarqawi? Al Qaeda in Iraq not only survived his demise in June 2006, but it shows every intention of trying to spark a fresh sectarian civil war as U.S. forces prepare to leave.

When the man is Baradar, the answer is a lot. His capture certainly wont end the war, but it could well prove a turning point. Newsweek ran a profile of Baradar last July, as U.S. forces in Afghanistan were taking their heaviest losses since 2001. It noted that, among his other functions, Baradar was the man responsible for appointing or firing the Talibans shadow governors and field commanders. He controlled and disbursed hundreds of millions of dollars from drug trafficking, extortion and kidnapping, as well as from foreign donations. And by all accounts, he was a formidable military leader in his own right.

Finding someone who can do all the jobs Baradar did as effectively as he did them will be a tall order. But theres also the small matter of the combined NATO/Afghan assault on the Taliban stronghold of Marjah in Helmand province. Baradars capture throws a monkey wrench into the Talibans command structure at what, for the insurgents, is the worst possible moment.

But more significant, in the long run, is what the event is likely to mean for U.S.-Pakistani cooperation against the Afghan Taliban. The average Pakistani still regards the Afghan war as Americas fight and wants nothing to do with it. Pakistans army, and particularly its Inter-Services Intelligence agency, helped create the Afghan Taliban in the 1990s and have long regarded it as a potential ally against India. That India has been cultivating closer ties with Kabul since 2001 has done little for their peace of mind. Islamabad has assisted the U.S. against its erstwhile client only grudgingly.

The Washington Post says Baradars arrest was the result of months of U.S. pressure on Islamabad. The New York Times says a lot of luck was involved. The Afghan Taliban isnt likely to care how it happened. Theyll interpret it as a betrayal and are likely to respond with attacks against Pakistani targets. The more the Afghans sheltering in Pakistans borderlands attack their host, the harder the Pakistani Army will hit back and the more help itll provide the U.S.

Meanwhile, Islamabad will milk its hold over Baradar for all its worth. Washington and Kabul have been making noises for months about trying to sound out more-moderate Taliban members about laying down their arms or switching sides. Pakistan has largely been sidelined in this process, leaving it worried that, once again, the U.S. is about to leave it in the lurch. Much of the speculation about such talks suggested that Baradar would be the ideal candidate to negotiate such a deal for the Taliban. Simply by having him in custody, Pakistan becomes the indispensable middleman.
Does this sound familiar? "Level with the American people." If it sounds like John McCain demanding that Barack Obama come clean about his supposed close ties to Weather Underground leader and bomber turned education professor Bill Ayers, you're right. It does sound like that.

But actually, it was President George H.W. Bush in an October campaign 16 years ago against Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton insinuating that there was something sinister about a trip Clinton took to Moscow as a student in 1969.

"I don't want to tell you what I really think, because I don't have the facts. But to go to Moscow one year after Russia crushed Czechoslovakia [in 1968], not remember who you saw?" Bush said on Larry King Live Oct. 7, 1992.

Right down to introductory disavowal, Bush circa '92 sounds exactly like McCain '08: "I don't care about an old, washed-up, unrepentant terrorist, but I think the American people ... need to know the facts about their relationship. And obviously, that's not forthcoming."

Just as there is and never was any evidence that Clinton's trip to Moscow was more than a college kid taking a tour of Europe as part of his stint at Oxford, there is no evidence that Obama was any more deeply involved with Ayers than many other Chicago politicians and policymakers of both parties. But that didn't stop Bush from raising the question -- or some of his supporters and operatives spreading even wilder unsubstantiated rumors about Clinton, like how he considered renouncing his citizenship while abroad. Not terribly far off from the rumors that have raced around the Internet for months about Obama's religion, his citizenship, even his patriotism.

The Bush campaign also tried to portray Clinton, who had fashioned himself as a political moderate, and his wife as much further to the left than they acknowledged -- to the point of being anti-American. Bush repeatedly pointed to Clinton's participation in anti-Vietnam War rallies in London in the late 1960s as evidence of a lack of patriotism. That should sound familiar, too. McCain and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin have repeatedly, in public and in mass telephone calls, tried to raise questions about Obama's love of country. In stretching the Ayers-Obama ties further than they had been stretched before, Palin said, "Our opponent though, is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country.''

There are parallels here that go beyond the nature of the attacks that are worth noting as well. First, these attacks both intensified in October -- and the attackers were behind.

Second, specifics of the attack -- or truth and accuracy -- don't really matter. The point of Bush wondering aloud -- before a national television audience -- about what Clinton was doing in Moscow in 1969 wasn't about Clinton's travels. It was a kind of guilt by association that didn't even involve associates, just a country that in 1969, but not in 1992, was a communist foe of the United States. In the same way, McCain is right -- he doesn't really care about a washed up terrorist. Ayers is just an excuse to use the words "Obama" and "terrorist" just a few syllables apart.

Third, the flashpoints for these attacks are rooted in one of the most tortured periods of American history -- the late 1960s. Bush was trying to win by hanging the Vietnam War and the youth rebellion of the '60s -- and all the still festering resentments held by many Americans. Clinton, benefitting from a weak economy in the same way Obama is now, fought back by saying Bush was seeking to distract voters. That should sound familiar, too.

And I guess this is a dynamic we are stuck with, at least as long as there are people alive who can bristle at shock phrases of 40 years ago -- Vietnam, domestic terrorist, Black Panthers -- and there is some artifice for using them. Bush didn't catch up to Clinton by using those touch points -- but that didn't deter McCain from using similar October tactics. What makes us think that, should McCain lose to Obama in just over a week, that the failure of those same tactics again would prevent anyone from trying again four or eight or 12 years from now?
Most people associate George McGovern with his crushing defeat in the 1972 presidential contest against Richard Nixon and for being the face of anti-war liberalism and the peace movement during the Vietnam War more than four decades ago. But at 86, he's still very active and still floating controversial ideas about war and defense spending.

In an op-ed Monday in the Wall Street Journal, McGovern calls for a 50% reduction in the U.S. defense budget and for all military troops to be brought back from Iraq and Afghanistan by Thanksgiving.

Neither will happen, but that doesn't mean the argument the former South Dakota senator makes should be easily dismissed. He makes some worthwhile points.

McGovern would redirect much of the savings from slashing the defense budget to other sources of national security. It's worth the debate it won't get. An awful lot of Pentagon spending is inefficient and wasteful, often going to programs and weapon systems championed by individual members of Congress but not by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Many are for programs that stopped being appropriate when the Cold War ended, like the B-2 bomber.

The defense lobby has to be the biggest in Washington, and defense-related committee members are among the most influential in Congress. The budget would never be cut in any such drastic way. Still, a couple hundred billion more a year for other types of national security work, such as border control and greater human intelligence at spy agencies, would be quite a boost to our security.
Few people really look for things they dont expect to find, and its with that in mind that I always doubted the story of Diogenes the Cynic, who was said to wander around ancient Greece carrying a lantern and searching for an honest man, believing all the while that hed never find one because there was no such person.

The legend comes to mind often these days, where the tenets of ethical behavior, if not the laws that can land you in jail, seem to have little standing with far too many people. Whats truly is amazing is that so many of them persist in thinking its always the other guy wholl get caught. Im not suggesting its OK to break rules if you can get away with it, but its doubly foolish to commit the sin and then think no one will ever find out.

No, Im not talking about Tiger Woods, although he obviously fits. Im thinking of our elected representatives in Congress. Last week alone brought a major New York Times investigation showing that rules prohibiting lobbyists from treating members to free trips were easily skirted by corporations, trade groups and the beneficiaries of the largess. According to the Times, for example, a big donor flew Rep. Danny Davis, an Illinois Democrat, to Inner Mongolia to lobby for a new medical supply lab in China. A group of European companies flew Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin Republican, to tour a princes castle in Liechtenstein and to go skiing in the Alps. And Florida GOP Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen got a free trip to attend a gala in Israel that lobbyists and executives paid $18,000 to attend.
Estherville man dies in motorcycle accident

An Estherville man died as the result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in rural Emmet County over ...
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is finished. Its a question of when, not if. Even if he can outlast the strident protests for political rights and economic stability -- a seemingly unlikely scenario at this stage -- hell be gone by next fall. No matter what, there are big questions ahead for the United States and for the Obama administration, which has been walking a tightrope between pushing for democracy and backing an old friend who has been an ally in the fight against terrorism. For the U.S., the worst possible outcome is for the unrest to play out for an extended period, with Mubarak hanging tough and with no end in sight. Extremists could take a larger role in the protests. Ship traffic through the Suez Canal could grind to a halt. Anti-American sentiment could turn from a simmer to a boil. And the protests could expand to other parts of the Arab world. One certain result of that path: Higher oil prices. Egypt is not a major producer, but it is a major player in the oil business because of the Suez Canal. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, more than a million gallons of oil -- crude and refined -- pass through the canal each day. A similar amount travels through a trans-Egyptian pipeline from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.

That oil wouldnt be lost, but it would be delayed and would be more costly to ship, which would bump up prices. But with it accounting for 2% of the daily supply, we shouldnt see soaring prices that would undercut the world economy. Oil would become even more of a problem if the protests spread elsewhere in the region, especially to Saudi Arabia. At first glance, that seems a remote threat. The Saudi government has generally treated its subjects better than many other governments have treated theirs. But the potential exists, and you can bet folks at the State Department and elsewhere in official Washington are watching closely. A second scenario with a big potential downside would play out if Mubarak left or was driven from office and quick elections were called. Egypt has had a farce of a political system in place for so long that opposition parties are nearly nonexistent. To wage an organized, credible campaign takes time. Rushing an election would boost the chances of winding up with a radicalized government that pays less attention to the U.S., writes off Israel and undercuts world security. The third path, and the one that seems most likely at the moment, is for Mubarak to announce that he will step down and to call elections for September or later in the fall. This is the outcome that the White House and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are pushing. In the language of diplomacy, you cant come right out and directly say something like, Mubarak is out of touch and hes no longer useful to us, so he should quit. But even the indirect statements that Clinton and the White House have been issuing since the weekend have made clear that American officials are no longer willing to stand by their man in Cairo.
Democrats are bracing for possibly large election losses in November that could threaten their majority and derail their agenda. Its too early to suggest a Republican rout is in store, but its no longer out of the question. The retirement announcements of two veteran Democratic senators, Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Appropriations Committee member Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, are the latest warning flags in a year that may not bode well for majority party incumbents. Democrats should be able to hold Connecticut  in fact they may have a much stronger candidate in state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal -- but Republicans have a huge opportunity to pick up a seat in North Dakota. Jobs, the economy, the big federal budget deficit and possibly concerns about terrorism will dominate the election atmosphere, and may provide the momentum for a larger turnout than usual in midterm elections. That would help Republicans, especially if independents and moderates start leaning against incumbents.. The jobless economic recovery may last for several months or longer into President Obamas second year, and the midterms will be in part a referendum on his stewardship of the economy, the effectiveness of industry bailouts, the long housing foreclosure crisis, tight bank credit, small business anxieties, health care and more. Progress in Afghanistan will be hard to deliver in short order, and the troop surge will take months, all the while dividing parts of the Democratic base. Being in the minority party will prove an asset. Republicans wont be held accountable for the still fragile economic state of the country or for the foreign policy challenges and setbacks of the president. That responsibility now falls completely to Democrats.

Dodds decision to not run in what would have been a very hard reelection effort will have one immediate effect on Democrats agenda. It makes compromise with more business friendly Republicans on financial reform a greater possibility. Without an election looming, Dodd may drop the more populist stance he has been taking in an effort to win voter support back home. Republicans will be able to gain more support from business by claiming they forced the Democrats hand. Republicans are sure to pick up seats in the House, probably 20 to 30. The GOP needs a net gain of 41 seats to win back the majority. Thats not out entirely out of reach, but it would require most everything turning in their favor. The GOP would need to create a couple of dozen more truly competitive races than seem to be in the works now. If Democrats can limit the number of highly competitive races to about three dozen and hold the line on additional retirements, they should be able to keep their majority, even if it ends up being slim. Democrats should also have a decent funding advantage over Republicans in general. But even if Republicans come up short in their bid to win back the majority, theyre bound to make solid headway. Theyll have more leverage in a House that Democrats now largely run at their own will. Theyll be better able to apply the brakes on a Democratic agenda, especially with the help of conservative Blue Dog Democrats breaking ranks and voting with the GOP on major bills and amendments.
In just a few days, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will have to make a fateful decision -- whether to abandon his fight for the GOP Senate nomination and seek election as an independent. A lifelong Republican considered for the vice presidential nomination and once seen as GOP presidential prospect, Crist has fallen far behind conservative challenger Marco Rubio in the primary. Though Crists GOP credentials were once unchallenged, his embrace of President Obamas stimulus money (and of Obama himself in a now fateful photo) has made him the target of Tea Party activists. In Arizona, meanwhile, former presidential candidate John McCain is fighting for his political life against a more conservative primary challenger, ex-Rep. J.D. Hayworth. In an effort to move to the right, McCain now denies the maverick label he once championed, says he made a mistake in voting for the 2008 financial bailout, and no longer supports a comprehensive immigration bill. Just last week he went so far as to accuse illegal immigrants of intentionally crashing cars on the freeway in an interview on Fox. (I guess he thinks theyre eager to be arrested by Arizona police, who will soon be newly empowered to put illegal immigrants in jail.)

In Utah, GOP Sen. Bob Bennett, whose conservative credentials go back decades, is under attack for voting for the financial bailout and for cosponsoring a bipartisan alternative to President Obamas health care bill. He may well lose his states primary. Republicans are feeling the heat more than Democrats because of the rise of the Tea Party, most of whose members are registered Republicans, and because of long established conservative groups like the Club for Growth. But Democrats are hardly immune. Theyre under attack for divergences from a strict party line. Ark. Sen. Blanche Lincoln faces a tough primary because of her lack of enthusiasm for the health care law and other Obama initiatives. And in North Carolina, no fewer than three Democratic incumbents are being challenged by labor unions unhappy with their refusal to vote with the Democratic majority. Whats odd is that the two parties are being pushed further left and right, despite the fact that a big majority of Americans put themselves in the middle. In fact, Obama won the election in 2008 by appealing to the middle and promising to govern from the center. Liberal Democrats complain that hes lived up to that promise, making too many compromises they dont like. Conservative Republicans insist hes so radical that hes pushing the U.S. into socialism. I tend to believe Obama is seeking the center, with the stimulus and health care bills being prime examples. The stimulus was half the size he originally sought (many economists still think bigger would have been better), and he dropped the public option and made scores of other compromises on the health care bill. Im sure the comments to this post will say Im crazy -- that Obama is so far left hes un-American -- but that will just prove my point.
Next year will be tailor-made for fans of gridlock. Therell be an even larger wrench in the machinery of Washington as Republicans gain leverage in next months midterm, probably taking control of the House and coming close in the Senate. Compromise will be hard to find as incumbents on both sides shun the center. Theyll work to keep their respective bases happy, fearing another round of primary knockouts in the 2012 presidential election cycle. Republicans aim to stop President Obama in his tracks. Big administration initiatives are doomed to fail. But Democrats will stop the GOP as well. Both sides will have enough power to block a big bill, but neither will have enough to push one through. A GOP House will appear like a busy legislative construction crew for months, drafting and passing one big bill after another, but knowing major bills will have difficulty in the Senate or face a presidential veto that wont be overridden. Theyll have to know many of their largest efforts may end up being symbolic until another election or two when the GOP may have a better shot of actually enacting large conservative reforms. Thatll be just fine politically for Republicans. Theyll have little choice but to take a very ambitious, hard-hitting course in any event next year -- delivering an assault on Democratic power, big government as they see it, deficit spending and a center-left ideology that guides much of Obamas White House. Theyll need to show the Republican Party base, Tea Party supporters, business backers and independents who have grown weary or cautious of Obama that the GOP is determined to change direction.

What will the gridlock mean for business issues? Climate control legislation is dead. Ditto, a comprehensive immigration law. Labors priorities wont have a chance, including its biggest goal, union card check elections that may make it easier for labor organizers to score wins. Figure on no movement to overhaul entitlements, namely Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans benefits. Reform will be central in the report later this year from the bipartisan debt and deficit reduction commission, but getting Congress to hold hands on painful fixes to popular automatic benefit programs will prove too much. And no chance for significantly reforming the tax code, a bear of a project, even in less partisan times. The lame-duck session must deal with the Bush tax cuts that are set to expire Jan. 1, but the likely outcome -- a temporary extension -- will only delay an unpredictable fight. A compromise on estate taxes will finally win approval, either in December or early 2011. The GOP will try but fail to repeal the health care law. That cant succeed as long as Obama is president. Republicans will then try to chip away by withholding funds for implementing various provisions, but that wont work, either. The health industry backs several big parts of the law and believes reopening it now would create many more problems than it would solve. Still, some tinkering is likely. Theres bipartisan agreement, for example, on rolling back some reporting regulations that threaten to burden small businesses and that was included to help finance health care changes.
Whatever your views of the GOPs new Senate candidate in Kentucky, theres something to be said for a constructive discussion about the proper size and role of government -- something beyond the slogans and the name calling that has characterized the political discourse thus far.

As everyone now knows, Paul got into political hot water last week when he suggested (as he has since 2002) that a key portion of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a problem. Its a mistake, he argued, for government to be telling private property owners what they can or cant do on that property. He was quick to add that he abhors discrimination and he wouldnt patronize an establishment that practices it, but hes uncomfortable banning it.

The story attracted so much attention because Paul is the Tea Party candidate, and his primary win over the GOP establishment-backed candidate represented the first major electoral victory for the Tea Party. Most people know what the Tea Party is against, but few know what it is for, so Pauls comments were seized as an important indication.

But Paul, like his father, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), is a libertarian who happens to have Tea Party backing, not a Tea Party candidate with libertarian backing. He is truly for minimalist government, and his comments on the Civil Rights Act are entirely consistent with that. And theyre not as indefensible as some liberals would like to think. In an ideal world, any health club that posted a No Blacks Welcome sign would be shunned by patrons and quickly go out of business. But this is not an ideal world, and the reality is that discrimination is far from dead. And even if it were true for blacks, would most people also shun a health club that said No Gays Welcome?
Barack Obama's place in history was cemented the moment he finished the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2009. Somewhere in the first line of every obituary, no matter how many years from now it's written, he'll be called the country's first black president.

Whatever else will be said about him by obituary writers and, further down the road, historians, is still playing out in his second term. Health care will play a role, for sure, along with the killing of Osama bin Laden.

But the chance of Obama using his second term to build on his legacy is, suddenly, in doubt.

It wasn't supposed to be this way, of course. After romping to victory over his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, last fall, Obama was expected to have an easier time working with a divided Congress. Chastened Republicans talked openly about the need to cooperate with the president to try to get important work done.

But then, administration officials did a remarkable thing: In a stunning series of circular firing squad moments, they gave Republicans a handful of new reasons to criticize and investigate the administration and to reconnect with the American people.

It started with this month's hearings into the administration's handling of the September 2012 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. There are serious questions that need to be addressed and changes in procedure that should be made to lessen the chances of U.S. diplomats and their private guards dying in future attacks. There's also room for an airing of the CIA's role, as much as anything involving the CIA can be aired. But all that is taking a backseat to the politics of what then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton knew and when she knew it, accompanied by various conspiracy theories based on the fact that she wasn't questioned during an internal investigation.
This much is crystal clear after the first presidential debate Thursday night: The 2016 presidential election will look a lot like the 2008 and 2012 races, especially during the primary season, but maybe in November as well. Republicans will keep fighting each other, waging a fierce battle over the direction of the party, even if it dooms their chances of winning the White House next year. On one side: the GOPs pro-business wing. It wants to win badly, even if that outcome requires an easing of views on immigration, federal spending and other issues near and dear to the hearts of Republican voters, but less vital to independents. The need to reach independents cant be overstated, since Democrats hold a big registration advantage over Republicans. On the other side: conservative tea partyers. Theyre much more interested in shaping the future makeup of the party than in winning in 2016. Its early, and theres a lot of ground to cover before the 45th president is chosen. But the tea partyers have a chance to prevail this time, much to the dismay of mainstream Republican leaders and key backers such as the Chamber of Commerce. And much to the delight of the Democratic Party, which has an eye on winning three straight presidential elections for the first time since Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman.

Theres no favorite for the nomination. Donald Trump tops early polls but he will fade. He seems unsuited for the long haul of the campaign, a view that his shoot-from-the-lip style in the first debate underscored. But he has bonded with disgruntled voters who are fed up with anything connected to Washington. When Trump falters, expect his backers to transfer allegiance to a tea party darling. One option is Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Another is former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, an evangelical with a strong base in Iowa and other states that will vote early in the primary process. Dont be surprised if pro-business-wing favorite Jeb Bush struggles for support. There is a lot of Bush fatigue in the wake of the presidencies of his father and his brother. On top of that, his softer views on illegal immigration and education are at odds with the positions taken by many others in the GOP. Poised to benefit: Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Both laid out moderate views during the debate and seem certain to gain ground in upcoming polls. And maybe former tech executive Carly Fiorina. Shell move into the top tier of contenders in the huge field after a strong performance in the undercard debate. Despite the early, high-profile start to the campaign, including one of the most insightful debates in memory, the fight for the nomination wont wrap up fast. The main reason is money. The ability of outside groups to raise campaign cash in virtually unlimited amounts gives nearly every candidate the kind of staying power previously reserved for Bush and others with access to the business wings deep pockets.
People dont always know, at the time, that they are participating in a historic event. My brother and I, teenagers in the summer of 1963, certainly didnt, as we strode toward the Mall with thousands of fellow Americans on a hot August morning. We didnt know we were part of the largest public gathering ever held in Washington up to that time. And we didnt know that this mass of 200,000-some people would play a key role in the passage a year later of the most important civil rights protections since the end of the Civil War: the right of racial minorities to patronize any public accommodation in the nation, be it a restaurant, hotel, rental housing, theater, park, restroom, amusement park or any other place open to the general public. A Family at the March A few days before, our father  journalist and publisher Austin Kiplinger, then 44 years old and today a robust 94  told us he would be participating in a demonstration for civil rights taking place in downtown D.C. (The Kiplinger family had long been supportive  as private citizens, employers and journalists  of equal rights for all.) Dad said he would be marching with members of an anti-poverty group in Montgomery County, Md., our home suburb, and with a committee urging adoption of local and national fair-housing laws that would guarantee that people of any race could rent and buy homes in any neighborhood or apartment building. Montgomery County, like many other places in both the northern and southern states at the time, tolerated a range of discriminatory practices in public facilities.

My brother, Todd, who was then 17, and I, a 15-year-old rising high school junior, had already heard about the march on the evening TV news shows, and we wanted to come along. Disorder or Peaceful Protest? The organizers of the rally had made public assurances that their thousands of supporters, both black and white, would be coming in respectful support of a proposed open-accommodations law that was stalled in Congress. Many in Washington were skeptical, fearing the worst. Some stores and offices were closed for the day, local people were urged to stay home, and the police were on high alert. But in our family, who lived in a rural area 20 miles from D.C. but who always felt comfortable in the city, there was no discussion of whether this mass rally would be peaceful and safe, just an assumption that it would be. My father drove us into the city early on the morning of the rally and parked at the Kiplinger publishing offices, just a few blocks north of the Mall. He set off on foot to meet his fellow fair-housing marchers at the appointed place, Todd and I began walking toward the Lincoln Memorial, and we all agreed to meet back at the office in the afternoon. First Impressions Our first impressions of this event: It was huge (far bigger than we had expected), it was diverse, and it was a veritable love-fest. Chartered buses from all over America, organized by civil rights groups, labor unions, churches, colleges and others, had apparently brought tens of thousands of people to the national capital.

Not only were these people  black and white, young and old  gathering peacefully, but the rally overflowed with a spirit of courtesy, brotherhood and confident hope for a better future. By the time we got to the Mall, both sides of the Reflecting Pool  the shallow, rectangular lake running from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument  was packed with people. The early arrivals had staked their claims with blankets and folding chairs, spreading out their picnic lunches. Later arrivals like us were standing shoulder to shoulder, milling around and carefully threading their way between the picnics to get as close as possible to the east steps of the Memorial, where the speeches would take place. We didnt get far, bogging down a long way from the edge of the Reflecting Pool and even farther from the Lincoln Memorial. Missing the Speeches So Todd and I, like many thousands that day, didnt hear the eloquent orations that have resonated in the half-century since then. It was only that evening, watching the news on TV back at home, that we first heard the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. describe his passionate dream for a different American future. The words I heard on the broadcast that evening tingled in my spine, and, 50 years later, they still do. But that afternoon, Todd and I had simply wandered among the crowd, chatting with other marchers, reading their homemade and professionally crafted signs, and taking note of interesting details. We passed by one extremely tall man whom we  and everyone else, it seemed  recognized as Wilt The Stilt Chamberlain, star center of the NBAs San Francisco Warriors. He was greeting well-wishers amiably, just another guy in the crowd.
When Amelia Mary Earhart set out in 1937 to become the first woman to fly around the world, she famously vanished somewhere over the South Pacific. But her pioneering spirit lives on in a young woman who, though not related, shares the same first and last name. During the summer of 2014, Amelia Rose Earhart and co-pilot Shane Jordan spent 18 days flying around the world in a Pilatus PC-12 NG plane. Successfully completing the journey at the age of 31, Earhart became the youngest woman to circumnavigate the globe in a single-engine aircraft. The flight also highlighted the changes in aviation technology between 1937 and 2014. Earhart spent a year and a half planning and gathering funding for the trip. She shared with us the financial journey she took to make it happenand her best advice for other young people who want to finance their own dreams. KIPLINGER: When did you start training to become a pilot? EARHART: My first flight lesson was in 2004, at the age of 21. I worked as many jobs as I could during college to pay for lessons. I would save and save and save, then spend all of that money on lessons. It cost me about $10,000 to get my private pilot's license over the course of about four years.

How did you begin planning the trip?I wrote out all the possible difficulties: What would my route be? What countries are going through political issues with the U.S.? What airspace restrictions were in place? The list took up the entire kitchen table, and I had to conquer all of the issues before the flight could take place. At the time, I was a journalist at a television affiliate in Denver. I was getting up at 2:30 in the morning to go to work and do the morning and midday shows. Then I would head to the airport for flight training or to work on other components of the plan. How did you afford your trip around the world?It would have been tough to raise enough money by trying to save or asking people to donate. So I asked sponsors to take part, and the sponsorships were my sole source of funding for the trip. I considered every manufacturer that had put something on the plane I flewthe wheels, the engine, the avionics inside the cockpit, the propeller, the brake system. I asked myself, What value would these companies get out of being associated with this story? What major expenses did the trip entail?We had to find an airplane to use, as well as pay for training, fuel, permits to fly through the airspace of other countries, landing fees and visas. Plus, there were travel expenses leading up to the trip, including open-water survival training in Connecticut. My public relations team was the biggest investment. I wanted to give my sponsors an awesome return on an inspiring aviation story, so I needed to get immense amounts of media coverage. How did you approach the sponsors?I made sure that I had done all my homework on the companies, learning how they got started and what their founders were passionate about. I also had a mission statement. I think everybody has a calling for a hero's journey, and a lot of aviation companies stand for adventure. That's what I played up in the face-to-face meetingsan aviator's journey to chase horizons and cross boundaries that haven't been crossed before. I got financial support from 21 of the 22 companies I approached.
The beleaguered travel industry is showing signs of life: Foreign visitors are returning to the U.S. This year will see an upswing of 5% over 2009 as 58.2 million visit the U.S. The rebound almost offsets the 5% falloff in arrivals last year -- the first decline since 2003. Foreign visits are expected to increase another 5% in each of the next three years. Because international visitors outspend American tourists by about 4 to 1, the rebound is especially welcome to hotels, restaurants and other travel related sectors.

Leading the tourist brigades are South Americans and Asians. Trips by South Americans will be up 11% this year versus last. Brazilians and Argentines, in particular, seem keen on visiting the States. Asian visitors will increase by 9%, with China, South Korea and India leading the way. The number of Japanese visitors was down 10% last year from 2008, but will climb by 5% this year and another 5% in 2011.

Figure on a more modest flow from Europe. The euro is taking a pounding, and so its much more expensive for Europeans to come here, says Ron Erdman of the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries at the U.S. Department of Commerce. The United Kingdom, the top U.S. overseas market, saw a decrease of 15% last year, but will see a gain of 2% this year and next. Germany and France will also post slight gains -- 1% to 2% -- this year and next.

New York City remains the top destination for foreign visitors, but Miami has replaced Los Angeles as the No. 2 spot. Other cities popular with overseas travelers include Philadelphia, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Visitors are staying put once they reach the U.S. and not traveling around the country as much as they used to. Theres less domestic travel by air, fewer car rentals, and more use of city subways, buses and taxis, says Erdman. Cultural and historical attractions in the cities are growing in popularity.
Written by ACM





*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Frustrated to Wait even Longer for Shady Genetic and/or Political Manipulations for an UnCertain Vaccine against the Deadly Virus, Strasbourg's Citizens Voted Today, More than Expected : 42%, for an Armenian Green New Mayor, with Natural Immunity versus the Virus, (that she already Faced and Defeated), who Focuses on "Dialogue" (as "Eurofora"s Project, that she Backed : See Infra), and Dreams for a "Democratic ReNewal, may be Also Elsewhere in Europe", as well as to Fight "Against Social InEqualities", Protect "Climate", etc.

Jeanne Barseghian, (who got Elected an Overwhelming 47 Municipal Counselors' Team, Leaving Only 11 and 7 to her Competitors), is an Atypical "Green", who doesN't Owe Nothing to "Socialists" !

On the Contrary, she Succeeded, Today, to Win Against 2 Political Attacks led by former Socialist "Heavyweights" : One who had Remained at the SP (23%), and anOther one, who had been Transformed into a Macronist Liberal, making an Alliance with the Republicans of the Center-Right (34%)... Except Strasboug, its Only at Poitiers that anOther "Green" Succeeded to Win Against a Socialist Adversary, while at Lille anOther one just Missed his "Socialist" Target by Only a Few Votes.

Moreover, she will Certainly Never Forget the Long and Bitter Struggle that People like her had Recently to give Against also the Out-Going "Socialist" Municipality, in Popular Attempts to Stop a Big Car-Lorry Highway Project ("GCO") from Destroying a lot of Natural and/or Agricultural Lands, including a Superb and Unique Landscape at Wonderful "Gardens" scupltured at several Levels aside a Castle kept Open by an Historic Franco-German Family from nearby Frankfurt, and Visited by many Philosophers, Artists, and Other Intellectuals, (including from Russia, as f.ex. the Famous Painter Shaghal, etc), for the Inspiration that gave its Spectacular Natural Views, to the point that it had become part of a European Cultural Heritage, (Kolbsheim Castle).

But, most of all, Barseghian is well an Armenian, and Proud of it : Contrary to an important former French Prime Minister, Eduard Balladur, whose Family had Changed their Original Name (Balladurian), Jeanne's Family Kept preciously theirs. Her Grand-Father was among the First to be Arrested in Istanbul/Constantinople back on 1915, and Killed by the Turks at the Beginning of what became a Genocide... Later she Decided to Learn the Armenian Language, (steming from a State which was the 1st in the History of the World to Become Christian -Together with Cyprus- since the 4rth Century AC), and even Participated in an Original Film created by "ARTE" Franco-German TV of Strasbourg on the OverMillenary History of Armenians at Anatolia Plateau.

So that, apparently Conscious of the Fact that Only a Strong Europe, Based on a Franco-German Core, could Become Able to effectively Protect People from such a Militarist Regime as that of Turkey, Notoriously Violating Human Rights, after being Born Near Paris, she Studied Franco-German Law, went to Berlin with EU's "ERASMUS" Program, and came to Strasbourg to specialize in Environmental Law, (including with a Training at the CoE), where she reportedly Met her Partner, a German from Nearby Freiburg. "Eurofora" witnessed the Fact that Barseghian speaks Fluently "Deutsch", so that she gives easily Press Interviews also to German Medias, in their own Language...

The New Strasbourg's Mayor, (a Jurist herself, as also her Father and Mother), seems particularly Keen to matters such as "Dialogue" and "Citizens' Participation" in Public Decision-Making, so that she's naturally Friendly to "Eurofora" Project's main thrust (See, f.ex., her relevant Replies to our Questions, published earlier, at: http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/greencandidatemayorokseuroforaproject.html , etc.). It's in such a Context that she also reminded us her additional Proposal to even regularly Involve the City's Municipal Council in Public Debates related to Main Topical Issues due to be Debated and Voted by EU Parliament's Plenary each Month here.

What she might Not Know, is the Fact that, by a Coincidence, her Local Alliance with Iranian-Born Medical Urgentist Syamak Agha Babaei, a Graduate of the International "Pontoniers" Lyceum, (a Former "Socialist" Local Counselor, and Now "Number 2" in her List), Fits Well a Geo-Political Plan, Earlier supported by various European Countries, to use Iran's Strategic Links with Armenia, in order to Transport, by Pipeline and/or Sea and River Ships, Climate-Friendly (Non CO2 producing) Gas Energy, through Georgia-Black Sea-Romania, etc. Directly towards Europe's Industrial Core, (eventually also through Danube and Rhine Rivers, etc, i.e. via Strasbourg).

But, as far as Today's Vote by Strasbourg's Citizens is concerned, it's Not a Secret : Notoriously, a Large Majority of the People (among 60% to 70%, according to Earlier Polls !) Wanted a Change, and Not at all to Continue, for a 3rd Time in a Row, with Any more "Socialists" here, (Neither Traditional, Nor "Recycled" under anOther Political Label).

The "Left" side of the Political Spectrum Concentrated its Forces, ("Communists", "Greens", Leftist Dissidents in Disagreement with the "Socialists", etc). But the "Right" side did Not, (No "Unity of the Right", the "Rightists" abandoned Alone, while the "Center-Right" "Republicans" formed an Alliance with Former "Socialists", Now presented as "Liberals" close to President Macron). => Therefore, the "Left" Won...

Indeed, more or less Similar Political Configurations to Strasbourg's case, appeared also at Bordeaux (Endorsed by National Parties), and Lyon (Rejected by National Parties). But, in the Absence of Any "Unity of the Right", the "Center-Right" Alone, Extended to Former "Socialists", Always Failed, even there...

=> Thus, the Otherwise UnSolved "Enigma" of an Even Bigger Abstention at this 2nd and Final Round of the 2020 Local Elections in France on June, than what it had been, already, at the 1st Round on March, can be Easily Explained, Simply, by the Refusal of the People to Accept to Systematically Drop Any "Unity of the Right" whatever, and Focus, instead, Only into Extending the "Center-Right" to Former "Socialists" : Many among the Voters at the Right Side of the Political Spectrum, simply ...Stayed Home, or went for a Walk at the Countryside !

Only in this way can be Explained why Barseghian, who had Just 28% from the 1st Round, Surprizingly found herself Propulsed Up to 42%..., while a Coalition (Fontanel + Vetter) which Totaled More than 38% of the Votes from the 1st Round (19,86% + 18,26%), Suddenly Fell Down to Less than 35% in the 2nd Round...



On the Contrary, f.ex., mutatis-mutandis, the Combative former Mayor of Aix-en-Provence, ("Republican" Right), who had been Fiercely Fought by the "Socialists", (even with Harsh Personal Attacks), Fought Resolutely Back and Won with a Big Score of More than 43%... And the "Rightists" Won Perpignan, (etc)...

(../..)

("Draft-News")
Although the deal hardly seemed irresistible, it still turned Amy DuBois's head. DuBois, a 27-year-old saleswoman in State College, Pa., opened an online savings account in January 2005 at ING Direct when ING was paying 2.33%, or about a percentage point more than she could get at her local bank. At first, she used her ING account as a rainy-day fund. Then she saved at ING for her wedding last August. She still has the account, which now yields 4.5%. More important in the competitive world of banking, DuBois has no qualms about stashing cash in cyberspace indefinitely. More and more of us appear to feel the same way. About 10 million U.S. households save online, according to Celent, a market-research firm, which predicts 23 million by 2010. To lure customers, e-banks pay much higher rates on savings accounts, money-market accounts and certificates of deposit than traditional banks do. That may be true even within the same institution. If you open a traditional savings account at a Citibank office, you'll get about 0.7%. Sign up with Citibank eSavings at Citibank.com and you can score 5%. Savings is just one aspect of e-banking, however. Are online banks' checking accounts and loans competitive with those of traditional banks? They're not bad, but not thrilling enough to keep you from considering all your options. The Best Cyberbanks Best Savings Account Rates Best Checking Deals Behind the high rates Chalk it up to technology and creativity. ING Direct, the granddaddy of high-yield savings, first offered high-yield savings accounts in Canada by phone and mail in 1997. Arkadi Kuhlmann, who was then with ING in Canada and is now chief executive officer of ING Direct USA, remembers that some early customers drove a couple of hours from their home in London, Ont., to ING's offices in Toronto just to make sure the operation was legitimate. "They wanted to know that we weren't some second-story boiler room," he says.

Soon, technology let ING open accounts on the Internet. In 2000, ING introduced the first U.S. online high-yield savings account with no minimum balance and no monthly fees. Today, ING Direct USA, part of Dutch financial conglomerate ING Groep, has more than $62 billion in assets and is the fourth-largest savings bank in the nation -- and it doesn't have a single walk-in office, just a handful of orange cybercafes. ING and other virtual banks can pay high yields with few strings because it is six times cheaper to offer savings online than at a fully staffed branch, Celent estimates. That leaves plenty of room for new-age banks to pay out more and still gush profits. Rivals here and abroad have noticed ING Direct's success. For example, London-based HSBC has opened HSBC Direct. Small U.S. banks, such as Cleveland's Ohio Savings Bank (through AmTrust Direct), and gigantic ones, such as Citibank and Washington Mutual, introduced high-rate online accounts to guard their flanks. Mortgage lenders, credit-card companies, insurers and brokerages have joined in to sell online banking services to existing customers. If you receive a solicitation from an Internet bank, it may be worth reading. One-third of consumers who hold more than $10,000 in liquid assets in the bank never check rates on savings accounts, according to Forrester Research. "They have no idea about the amount of money they are leaving on the table by not moving their savings balances to a higher-yielding account," says Forrester analyst Catherine Graeber. Nuts and bolts When Amy DuBois opened her account, there wasn't as much competition. Now, the sheer number of choices can paralyze you. Bankrate.com, which lists more than 20 online banks that pay above-average yields, is a good place to compare accounts.

Cyberbanking is still banking, so some things don't change. With a certificate of deposit, you tie up your money but typically earn more interest than in a savings or money-market account. Money-market accounts have check-writing privileges, but you're often limited to just three a month. HSBC Direct, Citibank Direct and others issue widely accepted ATM cards, but some banks -- most notably ING Direct -- do not link to ATMs, so you cannot get cash easily. That means you may need to transfer money out of savings to a standard bank account. Another annoyance is the time it can take a transaction to post to an online account. An initial deposit might take up to 15 business days to show up. However, subsequent deposits and transfers should post much faster. DuBois is used to the two-day lag for most deposits to ING Direct, but, she says, "it's still a pain." Around the industry, it takes an average of three to five days before you can access new deposits. That should give you pause if youure eager to quit dealing with regular banks altogether. More than CDs Still, that radical step could be in your future. Software engineer Ing-Jye Hwang, 39, is thinking about going completely online and closing his local bank account. "I hardly use it," he says. Hwang, of Campbell, Cal., used to save at ING Direct before switching to Countrywide Bank for a higher yield. He pays bills from an online account at Ameriprise Financial, so he doesn't write many checks. If you use a lot of paper checks, find an e-bank that won't charge you extra to do so. Online banks' checking accounts often pay 3% interest, an excellent deal compared with interest-bearing checking at traditional institutions.

If you prefer to carry cash, be sure your account includes an ATM card and note the fees. EverBank provides a Visa check card with its checking account and doesn't charge you to tap any of the thousands of ATMs in the worldwide Visa/PLUS network, although the bank that owns the ATM will take a fee. EverBank will reimburse you up to $6 a month for ATM fees charged by other banks, however, so it pays to make fewer and larger withdrawals. Note that, as with any bank account, you may run into nuisance fees. Some will ding you for a low balance. Imperial Capital Bank, for example, charges $15 for the month if your balance drops below $1,000 on any day. Understandably, security concerns scare some customers away from cyberbanking. In 2002, regulators shut down NextBank -- the first Internet-only bank to be seized by the government -- because of its unsound lending practices. The online bank offered only credit cards and certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more. Customers lost $29.4 million in accounts that exceeded the insured limit set by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Nevertheless, regulators say online banking is safe. Fraud is more likely to occur through traditional banking than online banking, says Michael Jackson, an associate director of the FDIC's Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection. Federal guidelines that take effect this year will require you to enter more than a user name and password to access your online account. Many banks already go beyond the minimum security measures. ING Direct and Citibank Direct ask you to pick an image from a menu of pictures to unlock your account. If a thief were to steal your PIN, he or she would still have to know which image you had selected. E*Trade Financial guarantees that it will reimburse any money lost to fraud, but the bank declined to say how often customers invoke the promise. Most banks presumably would do the same. About borrowing To sustain eye-grabbing savings yields, e-banks need to turn around and lend money profitably. So don't expect them to ply you with the cheapest credit. There's more overhead in lending than in gathering deposits because lending depends on finding customers with good credit scores who borrow a lot, then repay steadily but leisurely. Borrowers demand more personal attention than savers do, says Madhavi Mantha, a Celent bank analyst. That means more staff. And banking examiners pay more attention to lending practices than to what banks pay for deposits.
Health-insurance companies have been slow to accept the idea of medical tourism, but several now allow their members to travel outside the U.S. to receive care.

For example, two providers based in Southern California, Health Net of California and Blue Shield of California, offer cross-border coverage that saves roughly 40% in insurance premiums for policyholders who agree to seek routine treatment in Mexico. "There's always been a pattern of travel to Tijuana for medical care," says Ana Andrade, vice-president of Latino programs for Health Net. "Many Latinos are more comfortable with doctors who speak Spanish and understand their culture, and with this program we're able to fill a need that has existed for some time."

Two insurers have plans that include access to care at Bumrungrad International Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand. Bumrungrad is accredited by the Joint Commission International and has more than 150 doctors who are U.S. board-certified. Insurance group OptiMed Health/United Group Programs offers Bumrungrad in its PPO network and estimates that the savings for some procedures can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. For example, a kidney transplant in the U.S. could cost as much as $65,000. With the overseas option, a patient might pay less than $20,000. Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina also offers care at Bumrungrad.

More insurers may cover overseas care in the future, says Greg Scandlen, president of Consumers for Health Care Choices. But Jonathan Edelheit, of OptiMed Health, doesn't see the trend growing among most major insurance carriers.

One exception is Aetna, which is receptive to the idea. Under Aetna-sponsored plans that offer out-of-network benefits, elective surgery performed overseas is eligible for coverage unless the procedure is not a covered benefit or is specifically excluded. "Our position is one of cautious exploration," says Aetna's Roni Grossman.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was the first governor to propose sweeping health-care reforms in his state this year. But he won't be the last, predicts Mark McClellan. McClellan is former head of the Food and Drug Administration and of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), where he successfully introduced Medicare's new prescription-drug program. Now a senior fellow with the Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute, two top think tanks representing both ends of the political spectrum, the respected doctor and economist will be giving his prescriptions for fixing the U.S. health-care system. McClellan outlined his expectations for 2007 in a conversation with Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Despite lots of talk on Capitol Hill, McClellan thinks much of the action will be in the states this year. "Most states have pretty good budget outlooks," he says, "so more of them are thinking about improving their health-care coverage." But at least one part of the California proposal could be problematic. The plan would bar insurers from rejecting people for coverage for any reason, and it would allow health plans to set premiums based only on how old an individual is and where he or she lives. In states that have tried similar approaches -- notably New Jersey -- individual policies are so expensive that most people can't afford them. "You can't get an individual insurance plan for less than $600 or $700 per month in New Jersey, and the market is essentially gone," says McClellan.

Help for consumers. No matter what kind of insurance you have, expect to become more involved in your health-care decisions. Tiered pricing of prescription drugs is just one example, says McClellan. "A generic drug will be free, but you'll have to pay a large part of the cost difference for a brand-name version. Is the additional cost worth it to you?" To help you make a decision like that, you'll be getting a lot more information. McClellan successfully introduced the MyMedicare.gov Web site, which provides Part D beneficiaries with personalized information about coverage options and drug prices. Medicare has also begun reporting on the quality of care, and this year will start sharing measures of patient satisfaction. That will make it easier for consumers to select a doctor and a hospital, and it will also enable doctors to receive bonuses based on the care they provide. "For two years I've been talking about paying for better care rather than more services," says McClellan. "Doctors want to practice good medicine, but they need incentive." You'll also get more help in using the new resources. "Historically, Medicare staff had to spend a lot of time talking to doctors instead of patients," says McClellan. But when Part D, with its wide array of choices, was introduced, "we redirected a lot of attention to helping consumers directly." He predicts that you'll see "more consumer-focused resources" in other parts of the health-care system. And more people will hire advisers to help them navigate their health-care choices and finances, much like a financial planner handles other money issues. "These decisions are important and have as much financial impact as your investment decisions," says McClellan.

Employer innovations. Increases in the cost of employer-provided health insurance tend to get a lot of media attention. But McClellan is more interested in the innovative ways companies are controlling their costs. For example, Pitney Bowes found it was possible to predict which employees were going to incur high health-care costs -- such as those who were pre-diabetic or neglected to take medications. "So the company invested in clinics and preventive services," says McClellan. "As a result, says the company, the increase in their health-care costs has been substantially reduced." Pitney Bowes also introduced consumer-directed health care with a twist. "If you want a costly medication and there are less-expensive alternatives available, you pay more for it," says McClellan. "But for some conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, the company basically gives away whatever employees need, regardless of cost. That pays for itself by helping to improve the chances that people will actually take their medicine." Preventive care was one of McClellan's priorities at CMS, because it "has the potential to lower costs." As a result, Medicare now covers a slew of new preventive measures. State struggles. Last year Massachusetts passed a law requiring all state residents to have health insurance or face a penalty. The hope was that healthier people would buy coverage, thereby improving the risk pool and lowering the cost for everyone. The downside, says McClellan, is that "you have to make sure that an affordable policy is available so that healthy people don't get annoyed because they have to pay hundreds of dollars a month for coverage." But coverage in Massachusetts is expensive because insurers aren't permitted to reject individuals because of their health. The state also has a long list of services that must be covered, including expensive procedures such as in vitro fertilization. As a result, "there are lots of questions about whether the cost of the program will be manageable," says McClellan.
To qualify for an ABLE account, you must meet Social Security s definition of having severe functional limitations with an onset before age 26. IRS regulations dont require account owners to submit documentation to the plan showing that they are eligible based on the severity and onset of their disability, although some plans have stricter requirements. Even if your plan doesnt require the documentation, its a good idea to keep the records yourself. We recommend that account owners keep documents that prove theyre qualified in their own personal files in case the IRS or Social Security Administration asks for them, says Kaellen Hessel of the Oregon ABLE Savings Plan .

Answer: People of any age who developed a qualifying disability before age 26 can open an ABLE account and contribute up to $14,000 per year. The money can be used tax-free for any expenses that benefit the person with the disability, and up to $100,000 in the account doesnt count toward the $2,000 asset limit for Supplemental Security Income benefits.

Question: Is there an age limit for opening an ABLE account for a person with a disability? What documentation do you need to provide to show that the person is eligible?

Those who are already receiving benefits under Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance (and who started receiving those benefits before age 26) are automatically eligible to open an ABLE account and dont need other documentation, says Hessel. People may also qualify if they have a written diagnosis from a doctor certifying that they are blind or disabled and the age of onset was before age 26.

Certifying when the disability began can be a bit tricky. Oftentimes, a disability may start before the age of 26, but doctors and the patient dont know whats causing the symptoms until later, says Hessel. When we launched Oregon ABLE, a man with a traumatic brain injury asked us if he qualified. He was in a serious car crash before he was 26, but it wasnt until after 26 that doctors were finally able to diagnose him. Since he had a disability that whole time and it was clearly tied to the crash, he qualified.

When in doubt, we recommend getting a doctors note. It can be a surprisingly simple process, she says.

Similar to 529 college-savings plans, ABLE accounts are administered by the states, but they are generally open to residents of any state (Floridas plan is limited to its own residents). Twenty-four states now offer ABLE accounts, and several more are expected to introduce plans soon. Several states provide a state income tax deduction to residents contributing to their states plan. When choosing a plan, look at possible tax breaks as well as fees, investing options and other details.

For more information about ABLE accounts, updates on states offering the accounts and a tool that compares programs, see the ABLE National Resource Center. Also see How to Open an ABLE Account for a Special-Needs Child for more information about picking a plan.
Moving from a rowhouse in Philadelphia to hilly northwest Arkansas requires a change in attitude as well as latitude. But George Fowler, 33, couldn't say no when he was offered his dream job as head of information systems for the University of Arkansas Libraries. His wife, Sophia, 38, landed a position at the school as an administrator, and the pair bought a large home for $199,000 -- a steal by Northeast standards. "This is a really nice place," says Sophia, a New Jersey native.

The couple see their fresh start as a cue to reassess their investments. That makes sense because a new job means new retirement plans that can complement -- or duplicate -- existing investments.

The Fowlers have invested their IRAs in stocks and T. Rowe Price funds; they also hold some Price funds in a joint taxable account. In addition, they have a variable annuity and participate in Arkansas's TIAA-CREF retirement plan, to which the school makes a generous contribution.

Good move

All told, their holdings total $450,000, and the money seems to be well distributed, with 80% in stocks and stock funds. But the Fowlers need to determine how well their TIAA-CREF accounts mesh with their holdings at T. Rowe Price. The answer is, quite well.

The Fowlers can pursue aggressive stuff outside their retirement accounts. They have about 25% of their assets in higher-risk funds, including T. Rowe Price's Real Estate and Media & Telecommunications funds and several overseas funds. By combining the Price funds with the TIAA-CREF and annuity accounts into one omnibus portfolio for planning purposes, and making certain that they rebalance their funds every year, George and Sophia can maintain an appropriate level of higher-risk, potentially higher-reward holdings.

But one tweak is in order. The Fowlers have $87,000 in T. Rowe Price Value, and although it's a fine fund, switching half to Price's Growth Stock seems prudent, given improved prospects for big-company growth stocks.
For ten years, all you had to do to make money in emerging markets was throw money at them. From 2001 through 2010, the MSCI Emerging Markets index returned an eye-popping 16.2% annualized. Don't expect a repeat of that kind of performance anytime soon. Indeed, since the start of 2011, the index has lost 4.2% annualized. And that includes a 7.8% loss so far this year (all returns are through July 30). What should emerging-markets investors do now? Ruchir Sharma, head of the emerging-markets stock team at Morgan Stanley, says the secret is to choose the best markets. "In the developed world, the key is to pick the right industry sectors," he says. "In emerging markets, it's picking the best countries." Sharma wrote "Breakout Nations: In Pursuit of the Next Economic Miracles", a provocative book on emerging markets. Here are eight questions, derived from Sharma's book and an interview, to ask in sizing up which countries will likely earn you top returns. Note that none of the "BRICS" countries  the nifty acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which led last decade's boom and, in aggregate, still dominate the emerging-markets index  score well. Does the government own a lot of businesses? Capitalism works. State-owned businesses, whether partially or fully state-controlled, tend to perform much more poorly than private enterprises. Some developing nations, particularly Russia and China, are loaded with state-owned or state-affiliated businesses. That is a negative for those countries.

Does the country have a big middle class? Cheap labor is a chief ingredient in the emerging-markets success story. Once a country has a large middle class, its fastest growth spurt is behind it. Exhibit A is China, now the globe's second-largest economy. Per capita income is about $7,000. That's the same level first attained by Japan in the 1970s, South Korea in the 1980s and Taiwan in the 1990s. What followed for those three countries was slower growth of about 5% or 6% annually. Sharma expects China's growth to slow to that range from its current 7% to 7.5%. Does the economy rely on commodities? Russia, Brazil and South Africa are all major commodity producers. That's bad news, primarily because of slowing demand from China. Russia's economy depends on oil and gas. Brazil is a big oil producer (it also suffers from an expensive currency, low spending on infrastructure and too much spending on social-welfare programs). South Africa has 25% unemployment and labor turmoil in its mines. When you pay a bribe, do you get what you paid for? The less corruption a country has, the healthier its economy is likely to be. Transparency International ranks countries by their level of corruption. Sharma looks for countries with declining corruption. Because corruption is endemic in emerging markets, he also wants to know "how efficient the corruption is" in each country. In Indonesia, he says, businessmen tell him, "You pay for something and it gets done." In India, where Sharma was born, you bribe someone, "and things still don't get done."

Does the country have new leadership with progressive ideas Sharma particularly favors countries emerging from long periods of crisis or neglect with fresh leaders who focus on economic progress. Mexico tops his list among such countries, along with the Philippines. He also likes Nigerian President Jonathan Goodluck. "It has been a long time since Nigeria hasn't had a leader who's looting the country," he says. Conversely, Sharma doesn't like countries whose leaders have been in power too long. Current leaders in Brazil, Turkey and even Russia brought fresh ideas when they came to office. "But after awhile, they grew mostly interested in staying in power," says Sharma. Where are domestic investors and businessmen putting their money? In the 1980s, before the Latin America debt crisis hit, and in the late 1990s before the Asian currency crisis erupted, local investors turned bearish on stocks long before foreign investors. Sharma closely follows the actions of local investors and businessmen. Again, Sharma singles out India, which has a huge consumer market. Then why are Indian businessmen investing in more projects abroad than at home? "They're finding it tough to do business at home," he says. Is manufacturing booming  or not? Look for a vibrant manufacturing sector in a country that's getting ready to shine. Thailand is Sharma's poster child here. As a percentage of gross domestic product, manufacturing in Thailand is second only to China. Thais produce a lot of cars. It's also the economic hub of Southeast Asia, a region that's making economic and political progress.
During the past decade, emerging markets truly emerged. If at the start of 2000 you had put $10,000 into Vanguard 500 Index (symbol VFINX), a mutual fund that tracks the stocks of large U.S. companies, you would have had $9,016 at the end of 2009. But if youd invested $10,000 in Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index (VEIEX), your investment would have grown to $25,516. Emerging-markets stocks are doing well because the economies of the countries where those companies are based are flourishing. The recession ended last year for most of the world, but the economies of developed nations still appear anemic. The Economist magazine projects that gross domestic product in Germany will grow just 1.6% in 2010; in Britain, the Netherlands and France, 1.3%; and in Japan, 1.5%. GDP in the U.S. is expected to grow 2.7%, but that is no great shakes coming out of a terrible recession. By contrast, The Economist forecasts that about two-thirds of the 21 Asian, Middle Eastern and Latin American economies it tracks will produce growth of at least 3%. It sees economic growth this year at 8.6% for China, 6.3% for India and 4.5% for Indonesia. In fact, I think its time to stop using terms such as emerging and developing to describe the dichotomy of the worlds economies. Instead, I propose to start calling fast-growing, developing nations aspiring (as in doing their best to excel) and call Europe, Japan and the U.S. mature (as in topping out).

Capital-rich. Economic growth in aspiring nations is likely to remain robust for the next decade and beyond. Why am I so confident? For starters, these economies now have the capital -- both homegrown and attracted from abroad -- to start new businesses and build existing ones. In the first nine months of 2009, Chinese banks made $1.3 trillion worth of new loans around the world. Beneficiaries of this largess include mature-economy companies, such as Southwest Airlines and the Woolworths supermarket chain in Australia. Plus, governments in aspiring nations are promoting growth-oriented policies. India, for instance, is simplifying its tax system for businesses in what could be the single most important initiative in the fiscal history of the country, according to a paper by Satya Poddar, of Ernst & Young, and Ehtisham Ahmad, of the London School of Economics. Finally, the ratio of young workers to retirees is more favorable in aspiring countries. For example, only 6% of Indonesians are over 65, compared with 16% in France and 22% in Japan. Aspiring economies are attractive on both the supply side and the demand side of the economic equation. On the supply side, natural resources are plentiful, labor is cheaper than in mature markets, and workers are becoming more efficient as education levels rise and more capital is invested. But change on the demand side is even more dramatic. With incomes growing, the citizens of aspiring economies are moving beyond the necessities. Theyre eating better food, buying their own homes and purchasing cars, among other things.

In the past, supply-side companies -- most of them global exporters -- dominated the attention of investors. But a better way to cash in on aspiring economies is by investing in companies that benefit from rising demand in their own domestic markets. As I pointed out in my February column, the three top performers among U.S.-listed stocks over the past ten years are all based in Brazil and cater to the local market. For instance, the number-one stock, Banco Bradesco (BBD), serves the nations low- and moderate-income families and small businesses. Another domestic Brazilian play is BRFBrasil Foods (BRFS), a 110-year-old company that sells meat, pizzas, desserts and other food products. Business is booming; in the third quarter of 2009, revenues rose 74% from the same period a year earlier. The downside: The stock has nearly doubled in the past year, and its not inexpensive. Also consider Cosan Ltd. (CZZ), a producer of sugar as well as of ethanol for transportation. Shares of Cosan nearly tripled last year, but they remain well below their 2008 highs and, at a bit less than $9 a share, sell for just seven times earnings, based on estimated profits for the year that ends April 2011. Like Banco Bradesco, both stocks trade on the New York Stock Exchange. If you want to go further afield, look at Indonesia, the worlds fourth most-populous country (after China, India and the U.S.). Intriguing choices include PT Ace Hardware Indonesia, a home-improvement retailer with 36 outlets, and Mandom Indonesia, which makes cosmetics and perfumes -- the sort of products whose sales accelerate as incomes rise. Both stocks trade only on the Jakarta exchange, but you can purchase pieces of them by investing in the Indonesia Fund (IF), a closed-end fund that owns about two dozen Indonesian companies. (The fund charges a hefty expense ratio of 1.62%; in mid January, it traded at a 4% discount to the value of its underlying assets.)

Similarly, you can purchase shares of the closed-end China Fund (CHN), which has a strong domestic tilt in its 52-stock portfolio. Among the holdings are Wumart Stores (thats no misprint), with 500 retail outlets, mostly convenience stores, and Ports Design, which sells mens and womens fashion garments, mainly in China. China Fund recently traded at a 4% discount to the value of its assets. Or consider Matthews India (MINDX), a conventional open-end fund that returned 97% in 2009. It owns shares in such companies as Dabur India, which makes natural health-care products that appeal to Indians, and Sun TV Network, which broadcasts in the regional languages of South India. The most straightforward demand-side sectors in aspiring economies are telecommunications and commercial banking, which serve almost as toll takers on general consumer activity. MTN Group (MTNOY.PK), based in South Africa, offers cellular service to 108 million subscribers in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East, including Syria and Iran. MTNs American depositary receipts trade on the pink sheets. MTN is the top holding of Emerging Markets Telecommunications (ETF), a closed-end fund that owns three dozen telecom stocks and gives investors a way to gain exposure to such aspiring economies as Egypt, China and the Philippines. It traded at an 11% discount recently. Although its local telephone business is faltering, the number of Internet accounts with Telefonos de Mexico (TMX) jumped 45% in the past 12 months. America Movil (AMX), also based in Mexico, is the largest provider of wireless communications in Latin America, with 194 million subscribers in 17 countries. And then theres China Mobile (CHL), Chinas largest wireless provider, with more than 500 million customers and a market value larger than that of AT&T or Verizon.
Getting a big year-end bonus? You wish. Becoming a stock-option millionaire? So last century. But even in hard times, you could come into a chunk of cash that's independent of the economy and the stock market -- an inheritance, say, or a pension distribution. Or even that most dubious of windfalls: severance pay. Whatever the source of your extra money, you have a lot more at stake these days in figuring out what to do with it. You want to improve your financial situation -- and preserve your assets -- but which goal should you tackle first? How should you invest in this volatile stock market? Should you even invest at all? We offer both guidance and reassurance. Set Your Priorities Jason Hartman works for an employer that's still giving out bonuses. He is a technician who disposes of explosive ordnance for the U.S. Army -- in other words, he's on the bomb squad -- and he just received a $29,000 bonus for reenlisting. Hartman also has extra cash from the combat pay and tax-free income he earned while he was deployed to Iraq for four months in 2008. Sergeant First Class Hartman initially contacted Kiplinger's while he was still in Iraq, looking for "a good place for the money until the economy straightens out." He and his wife, Tara, are both 29, and they have two sons, 4-year-old Logan and 2-year-old Reese. They'd like to use some of the money to pay down credit-card debt, boost their retirement kitty and save for a down payment on a house in Fayetteville, N.C.

With so many goals, the Hartmans' first priority should be to do nothing. Brooke Salvini, a CPA and financial adviser in San Luis Obispo, Cal., recommends that you put an influx of cash into a savings account with an online bank, such as HSBC or ING Direct, so that you can earn interest while plotting your next move. And having the money on hand will be convenient if you owe more in taxes than has been withheld -- a common occurrence. Hartman is following through on the Army's equivalent of Salvini's advice by investing about one-third of his bonus in the military's savings-deposit program, which lets deployed service personnel contribute up to $10,000 to an account that earns 10% per year. Interest stops accruing 90 days after you leave the combat zone, and interest is taxable when the money is withdrawn. If you don't need your extra cash for everyday expenses -- as you might if you receive a pension payout or severance pay -- you could first use some of the money to pay down high-interest debt. The Hartmans are paying 7.9% interest on a $9,000 credit-card balance. Patrick Beagle, a former Marine helicopter pilot and now a financial planner who specializes in counseling military families, recommends that they pay off the entire balance because the savings on interest payments will make it easier to reach their other goals. Financial advisers used to recommend that families maintain an emergency fund large enough to cover three to six months' worth of living expenses. But given the current state of the economy, many have bumped up that amount. Salvini suggests stashing enough for six to 12 months' worth of expenses, and double that if you or your spouse works in a field that's vulnerable to layoffs. And if you own rental property, you may need to set aside even more if you anticipate you'll have trouble collecting rent from cash-strapped tenants.

In addition to your emergency fund, stow some money in a safe place, such as a one-year certificate of deposit, for expenses you anticipate in the near future. These might include home repairs, a renovation or a big trip. "Investing in the stock market is just for money that you won't need for at least three to five years," says Salvini. That's advice that investors are finally starting to appreciate. After the money in the Hartmans' military savings program stops earning interest, Beagle recommends that they put some of it toward a down payment on a house -- assuming they'll be able to stay put for at least five years (Hartman figures they'll be in Fayetteville for at least ten years). Beagle also recommends that the Hartmans hold their housing costs to no more than 30% of their take-home pay so that they won't struggle with monthly expenses after their extra cash is gone. While you're making all of these serious financial decisions, here's something that might not have occurred to you (or if it did, might have made you feel guilty): It's okay to have fun with some of your money. That's especially true if you've just been through a stressful experience -- such as being on the Army bomb squad in Iraq. Beagle says you could spend as much as 5% of any windfall -- $1,400 in the Hartmans' case -- on a weekend retreat, a family trip to a theme park or some other splurge. That goes for money you inherit, too. "The person from whom you inherited the money would probably like to see you do something other than 'the right thing' with at least a small part of it, or even more," says Tim Maurer, a certified financial planner in Hunt Valley, Md.

[page break] Retirement Versus College Notice that we haven't yet said a word about those two 800-pound gorillas, retirement and college. There's a reason for that, even if it sounds like heresy: People sometimes shovel too much into their retirement accounts. Then, faced with an emergency -- and no readily accessible cash -- they resort to piling up credit-card debt or paying a penalty to get early access to their retirement savings. Once you've set up a cash cushion, you can turn to your retirement nest egg. In the Hartmans' case, Beagle recommends that they earmark the remainder of Jason's bonus for retirement contributions. Because part of Jason's income for 2008 was tax-free combat pay, he's better off contributing to a Roth IRA before the federal Thrift Savings Plan, for which he's also eligible. Even though the TSP offers a tax deduction, it's not as beneficial given Jason's tax bracket. But if the Hartmans happen to have money left over, the TSP is a great deal. With expenses of less than one-tenth of 1%, "it's hard to beat," says Beagle. If you have a 401(k) plan with an employer match, investing at least enough to capture the full match should be your priority. Then contribute to a Roth IRA, rather than a deductible IRA, if you qualify. If you have any self-employment income -- even if it's just from a freelance job on the side -- you can use some of your windfall to start a self-employed retirement plan, such as a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan or a solo 401(k). That would lower your taxable income, and the money would grow tax-deferred until you retire.

Once you've established your retirement savings, you can focus on college for the kids, perhaps earmarking 10% to 15% of your windfall for a state-sponsored 529 savings program. As a bonus, you're likely to qualify for a state income-tax deduction for your contribution, and you can use the money tax-free for qualified education expenses. Back in the Market Now that you have a blueprint for what to do with your money, the big question is when to get back into a volatile stock market. You could invest your lump sum all at once, and if you have a very long time horizon, "that's not necessarily a bad thing," says Karen Goodfriend, a CPA and financial adviser in Los Altos, Cal. But can you stomach wild swings of 400 to 500 points per day? "I find that a lot of people feel more comfortable regularly investing a little at a time," says Goodfriend. But with a chunk of cash, it doesn't make sense to shift a small amount from savings to investment accounts every month. One solution, says Dan Joss, a certified financial planner in Fairfax, Va., is to divvy up your investments into several larger pieces -- what Joss calls "diversifying by time." For example, you might invest one-third of your money immediately, one-third six months later, and the final third six months after that. Joss's reasoning: You won't know whether stock prices have bottomed until some time after the fact, so hedge your bets. If you get money through an inheritance, it may already be invested. But assets that were appropriate for the original owner might not be right for you. "Sometimes people feel an emotional connection to those investments," says Goodfriend, as in the case of shares of stock in a parent's former employer. In that situation, you could hold a small position in the original investment but invest the rest in assets that are more suited to your own time frame and risk tolerance. Managing a Pension Assets you inherit can be like found money; you may not need them right away, and you may have some discretion over how you use them. But money you receive as a lump-sum distribution from a pension plan or as severance pay is another story.
Emerging-markets stocks havent been much fun lately. Over the past three years through January 20, the MSCI Emerging Markets index lost an annualized 2.6%. True, the MSCI index gained a 16.5% annualized over the past five years, but that was because the category nearly doubled over 2009 and 2010. Investors in Matthews Asian Growth & Income (symbol MACSX) have achieved better results with a great deal less tumult. Over the past three years through January 17, the fund returned an annualized 4.9% -- and it also put up better numbers than the emerging-markets index over the past ten years. During the past three years, the fund (a member of the Kiplinger 25) has been 38% less volatile than been 28% less wobbly than the MSCI EAFE index, which tracks foreign stocks in developed nations. Ill admit that these comparisons may not be entirely fair. For starters, at last report the Matthews fund had 12% of its assets in convertible securities and 6% in preferred stocks, both of which are less risky than common stocks (it also had 2% in cash). Plus, 8% of the funds stock money is in Japan and 7% is in Australia, which are less volatile than emerging markets. In addition, the funds focus on dividend-paying stocks helps reduce volatility.

I wouldnt suggest that you invest all of your foreign-stock money (or even all your emerging-markets money) in Asia. About one-third of the worlds emerging-markets stocks are outside the region. That said, Asian Growth & Income holds a lot of appeal, both because of its record and its shock absorbers. The fund also has an impressive pedigree: Since 1991, Matthews International Capital Management has focused on investing in Asia, and, by and large, has done it well. If you ignore Matthews, youre making a big mistake, says William Rocco, the Morningstar analyst who covers the shops funds. Growth & Income has consistently been a good down-market performer and has a good long-term record. Its a propitious time to consider Growth & Income. On average, emerging-markets stocks trade at about 11 times analysts estimated earnings for the next 12 months. Thats a steal compared with the U.S. market, which trades at about 16 times earnings. But theres a reason that emerging markets are cheap. Developing nations in Asia and elsewhere face enormous challenges. Most important are those facing China, the worlds second-largest economy (after the U.S.) and a key driver of economic growth for emerging economies everywhere and especially for those of Asian nations. Chinas growth has slowed from an annual rate of more than 10% to about 7% as the country struggles to convert from an export powerhouse to one that also seeks to satisfy rising demand from Chinese consumers. In addition, Chinese banks are struggling with a large and growing number of bad loans, and the country is facing real estate bubbles in a number of areas. And China badly needs to modernize its legal and financial systems -- not to mention its political system.
We decided to add Arbitrage Fund (symbol ARBFX) to the Kiplinger 25 in May 2010 (see Our 25 Favorite Funds) because we thought many investors might benefit from adding merger arbitrage to their portfolios. Merger arbitrage has historically been a good way to earn modest, bondlike returns with little volatility, and the strategy tends to hold up remarkably well in falling markets. But after receiving an influx of new cash, Arbitrage Fund has closed its doors. The fund will continue to accept new money from existing customers. And new investors can still invest in the fund with certain discount brokers, including Vanguard, Scottrade and E*Trade. We have found a worthy successor in Merger Fund (MERFX), which is open to new investors through discount brokers and directly through the fund company itself. Like its predecessor, Merger Fund invests in takeover subjects after an acquisition or merger has been announced. An acquiring firm usually pays a premium to a target companys share price in a takeover. When a deal is announced, the takeover subjects stock normally jumps, but not all the way to the purchase price. This gap, between the target companys post-announcement share price and the deal price, represents the risk that the deal wont be completed. Assuming there are no kinks in the deal, the spread will narrow gradually until it reaches the acquisition price upon consummation.

Merger Fund aims to capture the final few dollars -- or cents -- between the announcement and the deals completion. When investing in a transaction in which the buyer is using its shares for all or part of the cost, the fund will also sell short the acquirers shares to hedge against a slide in the acquirers share price. Co-managers Mike Shannon and Roy Behren also occasionally buy or sell options in order to hedge out any additional risks they feel might impact the takeover subjects share price. The result is fairly smooth performance that shows little connection to the overall markets moves. Over the past five years through November 11, Merger Fund returned 4.8% annualized, compared with a 1.8% annualized gain for Standard & Poors 500-stock index, and it did so with less volatility than many bond funds. During the brutal 20072009 bear market, Merger Fund shed only 5.0%. Why does the fund hold up so well in a rout? Say you buy a target companys stock at $19 per share, and it is the subject of a cash offer of $20 per share, says Behren. Youll make that dollar whether the market goes up or down, as long as the terms of the deal are met. Our goal is to provide completely uncorrelated returns, he says. The greatest risk in running such a strategy is that a deal will fall through. About 90% of all announced mergers will in fact reach completion. But by investing selectively, Shannon and Behren achieve a success rate of about 98%.
Sterling, VA (20165)

Today

A few passing clouds. Low around 70F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low around 70F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
In the steamy days of summer, two of the hottest members of the Kiplinger 25 closed to new investors: Harding Loevner Emerging Markets (HLEMX), which, like most of its peers, went through a rough patch in 2014 and 2015, soared 14.8% in this years first seven months. That clocked the average diversified developing-markets stock fund by 4.0 percentage points. Vanguard Dividend Growth (VDIGX), which has a superb long-term record, returned 7.5% year-to-date, beating the typical large-company stock fund by 1.6 percentage points.

In keeping with our custom of removing funds from the Kip 25 if they shut to new investors, we must bid farewell to these two funds. Their replacements: Baron Emerging Markets (BEXFX) and T. Rowe Price Dividend Growth (PRDGX).

The Baron funds manager, Michael Kass, has a solid record. From the time he launched the fund in January 2011 through July 31, it returned 3.0% annualized. That isnt a lot, but it trounced the typical diversified emerging-markets stock fund by an average of 5.3 percentage points per year. The fund charges 1.45% annually for expenses, about average for the category.

Kass focuses on midsize to large companies with above-average growth and competitive advantages over their peers. Take Indonesias PT Matahari Department Store. It lets space in its stores to other merchants, who pay rent or share a percentage of their sales. The firm should benefit as more Indonesians join the middle class, says Kass.
The pharmaceutical industry has looked wan and sickly in recent years. Gone are the halcyon days of the late 1990s, when the industry effortlessly expanded revenues by 10% to 15% a year and earnings at an even brisker clip. Loss of patent protection on many important prescription drugs, coupled with a dearth of new drugs coming out of research labs, has caused drug stocks to trail badly behind the overall market for years. But now the sector appears to be returning to life. In the second quarter of 2006, all eight of the largest U.S.-based pharmaceutical companies beat Wall Street's earnings estimates. Four of the eight companies boosted profit forecasts for the rest of the year. Over the past six months (through mid August), the Amex Pharmaceutical Index outpaced Standard Poor's 500-stock index by about four percentage points. No, this is not a return to the go-go '90s. But then, expectations for drug stocks are modest -- they trade, on average, at 16 times this year's expected earnings. Business prospects for many of these companies are improving. Moreover, as classic defensive plays, pharma shares generally hold up well in a weakening economy because sick people take their medicine in good times and bad. Most drug makers enjoy rising profit margins, bulletproof balance sheets and strong cash flows, which should allow them to raise dividends even in a sluggish economy.

Several factors are working in Big Pharma's favor. Tens of millions of Americans have signed up for the Medicare Part D plan, which began to stimulate drug purchases in the second quarter of this year, analysts say. Unlike companies in most industries these days, makers of branded drugs possess pricing power and are boosting pill prices by 5% or more. And don't forget demographic destiny: The ranks of seniors, by far the most prolific pill-poppers, are rising rapidly in the U.S., Europe and Japan (most major drug makers generate about half of their sales overseas). The drug manufacturers also seem to be running their affairs with a greater sense of urgency. They're cutting operating costs, investing heavily in research and development, and scouring the world for promising new drug technologies. Pipelines of exciting new treatments for chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cervical cancer and heart disease, are improving. The Food and Drug Administration will approve more drugs in 2006 than in 2005, marking the first yearly increase this decade, says Trevor Polischuk, co-manager of Eaton Vance Worldwide Health Science fund. When analyzing a drug company, Kris Jenner, manager of T. Rowe Price Health Sciences, says to focus on three things: First is the growth potential of its currently marketed products. Second is the promise of new products in the pipeline. Third is a company's exposure to patent expirations; sales of branded drugs can plummet 80% to 90% within months after generic copycats hit the market. Polischuk thinks Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly has the best growth prospects in the U.S. drug business today. Lilly spends an industry-leading 20% of sales on research and development. It has a $4-billion blockbuster in Zyprexa, the leading antipsychotic medication, and solid growth potential in recently unveiled drugs, including Cymbalta, a new antidepressant, and Cialis, a drug for erectile dysfunction. Patent protection Lilly is a major player in diabetes treatments, demand for which is growing strongly worldwide. Lilly co-launched Byetta last year with a biotech company, has an inhaled insulin medication in late-stage clinical trials and has filed with the FDA for approval of Arxxant, the first treatment for diabetes-induced blindness. Incredibly, Lilly has no drugs going off patent the rest of this decade.
Investors have been following earnings reports skittishly lately -- looking for any weaknesses deserving of punishment. Take Google (GOOG), which dropped 8.6% on February 1, to $515.90, after missing the average earnings estimate by just one penny when it reported the night before. But consumer staples companies, such as Clorox (CLX), which earns its revenue from such humble items as plastic wrap and laundry detergent, are a different story. The company reports earnings February 4. Sure, a big miss could be taken by Wall Street to mean the worst is yet to come. But ultimately, regardless of whether it meets its mark exactly, Clorox has a time-tested product line and innovative new additions that make it a long-term keeper. The nearly 100-year-old consumer staples giant, while synonymous with bleach, has fingers in everything from trash bags to salad dressing to kitty litter and charcoal. And, of course, people don't stop doing laundry, cleaning up after the cat or taking out the garbage just because the economy hits a rough patch. "Every business has a degree of economic sensitivity, but [Clorox] certainly has a lot less than most," says Don Yacktman, manager of the Yacktman fund, which has 4% of assets in Clorox.

The company, which has a market capitalization of $9 billion, has been a boring but reliable grower. Clorox increased sales in fiscal 2007, which ended June 30, by 4% to $4.8 billion-in line with the company's revenue growth target of 3% to 5%, which it has met in each of the last six years. Foreign markets account for a modest 17% of sales-predominantly in the cleaning-products lines. The company also has cut costs by more than $100 million in each of the last six years. But there's lasting quality under Clorox's stodginess. Sixty-two of the company's brands hold the first or second position for market share in their category. "If Clorox catches a cold, then anybody who competes with them is going to catch pneumonia," Yacktman says. Clorox faces two strong economic forces. One is the drop in consumer spending. The Commerce Department reported, on January 31, that purchases rose only 0.2% in December, compared with 1% the month before. Although "people aren't going to stop buying toilet paper and detergents," as Morningstar analyst Lauren DeSanto says, they may start trading down to lower cost private labels. Rising commodity costs are a bigger concern. Resin, an ingredient of just about anything made of plastic, has risen sharply in price for the past few years, partly after hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed a substantial portion of the country's related chemical manufacturing capacity. Rising costs of soybean oil, for salad dressings, and cornstarch, for charcoal briquettes, have also squeezed the company. In the past, Clorox has largely been able to pass these rising costs on to consumers. But it may not want to flex its pricing muscles on an already crunched buyer.

P&G said in its recent earnings report that although it is seeing a "modest slowdown" in the U.S. market growth rate, it hasn't yet seen evidence that consumers are switching to cheaper private labels. But unlike Clorox, P&G derives substantial revenue from its personal care products -- 53% come from the company's beauty, health care and Gillette razor product lines. As DeSanto says, consumers may be reluctant to change brands for their makeup or toothpaste, "but if you're looking at a toilet bowl cleaning product, maybe less so." P&G, which is also grappling with commodity costs, plans to raise prices on some products by 4% to 8% over the next few months. But should the economy's troubles linger and deepen, Clorox may benefit from some longer-term insulating factors. In particular, says Bob Goldsborough of Ariel Capital Management, the global resin supply could jump 30% because Saudi Arabia is expected to boost production capacity in the next year or two. "Resin matters so much more than anything else for Clorox," he says. In January the company also unrolled its first new product line in two decades -- Green Works cleaners. The plant-based line of cleaning products, sold in recycled packaging, will carry a Sierra Club endorsement. The line, of course, will face the same obstacles in a recession as the company's staples because consumers may not be willing to pay a premium for a brand-name or eco-friendly cleaning product. Nevertheless, Green Works "may be one of the biggest new product launches in Clorox's history," says Connie Maneaty, an analyst with BMO Capital Markets.
When the economy gets tough, penny-pinching consumers choose Spam instead of ham. They also tend to buy in bulk to save on grocery costs. Both trends benefit Costco Wholesale, the warehouse-club giant. "Costco is better equipped to weather a recession than other retailers since food is 60% of its sales mix," says Stephanie Hoff, an analyst at Edward Jones. If you invested in Costco a year ago, you're getting an even better deal that its 52 million shoppers. The stock (symbol COST), which closed at $66.62 on March 26, has climbed 21% over the past 12 months, handily beating Standard & Poor's 500-stock index, which lost 7% over the same period. Costco is the biggest wholesale club operator in the country by sales, with about 530 stores in 40 states and a handful of countries. The stores carry about 4,000 items -- a fraction of the variety offered by rival discounters, such as Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) and Target (TGT). Costco caps mark-ups at about 14% above the cost of merchandise, well below that of other big retailers, which typically set prices at 25% to 50% above costs. Costco also provides financial services and sells gasoline. The slumping economy is allowing Costco to upgrade its merchandise. Many companies that previously turned up their noses at the company's cavernous, non-descript warehouses are selling to Costco now that shoppers are spending less time and money at upscale malls. Among previously unavailable clothing lines that Costco started carrying recently, at prices well below those charged by other retailers, are Janzen, Hurley, Lucky and OshKosh.

Analyst John Gabriel of Morningstar notes that Costco also benefits from the decision of many retailers to freeze expansion plans. That gives Costco more choices and more bargaining power as it picks locations for new sites. The Issaquah, Wash., company plans to open 16 to 18 new stores before the conclusion of its fiscal year, which ends on August 31. Longer term, chief executive Jim Sinegal says he's wants to double the size of the business over the next ten years. Costco posted strong results during its second fiscal quarter, which ended on February 17. It said that customers visited its stores slightly more often and made larger transactions than in the same quarter a year earlier. Helped by rising gasoline prices, revenues rose 12% from the year-ago quarter, to $17 billion, while sales from stores open a year or more rose 7% ((without the jump in fuel prices, the increase in U.S. same-store sales would have been 3%). Profits increased 31% from the same period a year earlier, and operating margins (profits from operations divided by revenues) expanded slightly, to 3% from 2.4%, as store productivity improved. The number of new households signing up for membership jumped 11% during the quarter. That's an important figure because annual membership charges of $50 or so are vital to Costco's bottom line. Costco's 87% membership renewal rate reflects the loyalty of its shoppers. Membership fees totaled $343 million in the second quarter. The company is taking other steps to boost profits. It has tightened its return policy for electronics and is looking to gain a bigger foothold overseas (it currently operates in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Taiwan).
For cruise lines, size matters. About one in four cruisers travel with Royal Caribbean. It is second only to Carnival, which has about 60% of the market. Big cruise companies can spread the costs of labor, supplies, docking and fuel over their large fleets. This helps Carnival and Royal Caribbean defend their business against smaller outfits.

Analysts see smoother sailing for the cruise industry over the horizon. "Favorable demographics, notably an aging population, provide a nice tailwind," says Morningstar analyst Sumit Desai. Lower fuel consumption, bigger ships and expansion in Europe will boost revenues and profits at cruise lines for years to comes, says Michael Savner, a Banc of America Securities analyst, who rates the stocks of both Carnival (symbol CCL ) and Royal Caribbean ( RCL ) as buys.

That investors have been pessimistic toward cruise-line stocks should come as no surprise. After all, two of the biggest enemies of cruise operators -- rising fuel prices and hurricanes -- have been weighing on investors' minds for some time. Year to date as of December 21, shares of Carnival and Royal Caribbean, the two largest cruise lines, were down 8% and 7%, respectively. Yet, oil prices are well-below their summer highs, the recently concluded hurricane season turned out to be unusually benign, and both Carnival and Royal Caribbean beat earnings estimates in their most recently reported quarters.

The bigger-is-better rule applies to ship size as well. Royal Caribbean operates 34 cruise ships, including Freedom of the Seas, which carries 3,634 guests and is the largest cruise ship in the world. The Liberia-based company will launch two other ships as large as Freedom of the Seas, one in May 2007 and another in 2008. Royal Caribbean has four other ships under construction. By 2009, it expects to introduce a massive cruise ship that will hold 5,400 passengers.

Carnival's latest quarterly earnings report, issued December 21, blew past estimates. The company announced quarterly earnings of 51 cents per share, beating the average of analyst estimates by 4 cents. Carnival shares rose 2%, to $49.06, on December 21. Royal Caribbean shares did even better, gaining 3% to close at $41.07. Strong performance in Europe and the addition of three new ships buoyed Carnival's earnings. In November, Royal Caribbean reported a third-quarter profit of $1.63 per share. That also beat analyst estimates by 4 cents a share. The company credited a calm hurricane season and lower fuel prices for the improvement.

Between the two stocks, Royal Caribbean is more attractively priced, Savner says. Royal Caribbean shares trade at 13 times the $3.12 per share that analysts expect the company to earn in 2007, while Carnival stock trades at 16 times expected earnings of $3.05 per share for the year ending November 2007.

Investors in cruise lines have to contend with unusual risks. Royal Caribbean had to dock Freedom of the Seas on December 10 for a two-day mandatory scrubbing recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after an onboard virus outbreak. The company paid passengers for the delayed boarding and damages caused the outbreak. Royal Caribbean estimates that the delay and refunds will hurt fourth-quarter earnings by 3 cents per share.

Cruise-line stocks seldom give investors a steady ride. A spike in fuel prices or severe weather or a weird viral outbreak can hit shares hard in the short-term. But analysts forecast long-term earnings growth of 12% a year for Royal Caribbean. Not a bad voyage if your stomach is strong enough to withstand occasionally choppy waters.
Investors might have much of their wealth in various stocks and assorted mutual funds, but this doesnt mean theyre really diversified. Plenty of investors think theyve diversified their holdings when, in reality, they havent. These investors are often only diversified in a single asset class, such as domestic or international equity. As we saw in 2008, having too much wealth in a single asset class can lead to major losses during a market downturn since all of the investors proverbial eggs are in one basket. Too many investors find out too late that their holdings simply arent as diversified as they thought. Avoiding Stock Volatility Can Pay Dividends To avoid this, investors should consider tweaking their retirement plans to incorporate different diversification strategies as they look to fund their retirements. Investors who are looking to avoid the more volatile sectors, which is certainly not a bad strategy as they approach retirement or have already retired, may want to consider asset sectors that are not correlated with the stock market. There are plenty of investment opportunities off the beaten path, and some of them produce dividends. If investors choose to go this route, they could find a generally reliable source of dividend-producing investments with privately held companies. Contrary to some commonly held beliefs, there are plenty of investment opportunities in private offerings that provide dividends while helping cautious investors avoid the volatility of the stock market. One Choice: Multifamily Real Estate Companies Take investing in multifamily real estate companies, for example. This sector continues to see solid growth across the country, which may be because Baby Boomers and Millennials increasingly are choosing apartments and resort-style options for their living needs. There are plenty of reasons for the continued growth in this sector. As they start their careers with a flurry of job hopping, including changing locations if needed, Millennials want the freedom to go where they want, when they want. They certainly dont want to be tied down with a mortgage, and so they avoid buying homes. All of this makes Millennials good customers for multifamily housing.

On the other end of the spectrum, with their mortgages paid off and retirement either a reality or just around the corner, many Baby Boomers now prefer the conveniences of pools, dog parks, fitness centers and the other perks that are increasingly common in multifamily complexes. Plenty of older Americans are finding that to be a better option than homeownership. With more Americans preferring living in apartment communities, multifamily real estate continues to be resilient for investors. Many privately held companies operating in this sector continue to offer dividends. Investors looking for opportunities that can provide security and dividends may want to take advantage of this sectors continued growth. Another Option: Storage Companies Storage companies also remain a good opportunity for many investors who prefer less volatile options while still wanting dividends. Even in the worst of economic downturns, privately held storage companies have proved resilient. As we saw in the 2008 downturn, people are far more likely to pay their storage bills than their mortgages. Its a far less costly expense and one thats more likely to be paid. Simply put, people always want their belongings to be secure. With a constant base of customers and generally little in the way of overhead, storage companies, many of which are privately held, continue to grow and show no signs of going away no matter how the stock market is doing. Many storage companies provide investors dividends on a consistent basis. Like multifamily housing, privately held storage companies are a generally safe but often profitable investment.

Private offerings also offer investment opportunities in other sectors: health care, data and even energy, for example. Several companies in these areas have established track records in recent years in providing dividends to investors. While they often provide stability, these kind of investments provide a good chance for growth  many of them offering distributions or dividends of 5% to 8%  which investors can use to accumulate funds for years to come. For the most part, these privately offered dividend-focused investments are in sectors that are more conservatively managed. There isnt as much volatility in some of these areas as there is in stocks and other investments tied to the global economy. When theres a Brexit or another overseas issue, many domestic, privately held investments, such as storage, simply arent affected as much. For investors who want to find a consistent source of dividends without encountering high volatility, these kinds of privately held investments often provide an excellent option. Investors planning to diversify their holdings should, at the very least, consider them. Kevin Derby contributed to this article. The article and opinions in this publication are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you consult your accountant, tax or legal advisor with regard to your individual situation. Kalos Capital, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. The opinions and views expressed here are for informational purposes only. Please consult with your tax and/or legal advisor for such guidance. The opinions in the preceding commentary are as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Information has been obtained from third-party sources we consider reliable, but we do not guarantee the facts cited are accurate or complete. This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast or investment advice regarding a particular investment or the markets in general, nor is it intended to predict or depict performance of any investment. We may execute transactions in securities that may not be consistent with the reports conclusions. Investors should consult their financial advisor on the strategy best for them. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Cornerstone Wealth Management offers securities through Kalos Capital, Inc., and investment advisory services through Kalos Management, Inc., both at 11525 Park Woods Circle, Alpharetta, GA 30005, 678-356-1100. Cornerstone Wealth Management is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Kalos Capital, Inc. or Kalos Management, Inc. Real Estate Investment Trusts are a longer-term illiquid investment and may not be suitable for all investors. Vacancies can negatively impact income and capital gains potential. Investments in real estate may be affected by adverse economic conditions and regulatory changes. Distributions are not guaranteed. Due to the risks involved in the ownership of real estate, there is no guarantee of any return on your investment, and you may lose all or a portion of your investment. This is neither an offer nor a solicitation to purchase any products, which may be done only with a current prospectus. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks, along with the products charges and expenses before investing. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
A pair of multimillion-dollar lawsuits involving Johnny Depps assets and their protection, or lack thereof, has brought to light the importance of having a strong estate plan with asset protection built in. With 15 million lawsuits filed annually in the U.S., protecting your familys legacy and assets has become increasingly important if you have high net worth. This is what happened to Depp: In 1999, the star of Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands and other iconic Hollywood films hired The Management Group (TMG) to handle his expenses as his business manager. By then Depp had become an established, very wealthy actor who led a lifestyle that included 14 homes, a $75 million yacht and $30,000 a month for wine. Depps lifestyle cost him in excess of $2 million per month, which was exceeding his cash flow, his business managers later alleged in court documents. In January 2017, Depp hired a new business manager and conducted a financial analysis of his assets. He claimed to have discovered serious investment losses made by his former manager, and filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court, seeking damages of about $25 million. TMG then hit back with a countersuit alleging that earlier in his career, Depp borrowed $5 million from TMG to cover the expenses of his lifestyle and had allegedly defaulted on this loan. The countersuit sought to recover his loan by foreclosing on some of Depps assets.

As an attorney looking at these law suits, it is unclear to me as to the validity underlying the basis of the original lawsuit, given Depps joie de vivre. There is sometimes speculation about why these types of lawsuits are initiated. Some lawsuits are filed to curtail the collection and foreclosure proceedings on an outstanding debt as a tactical or strategic move to settle the case for less. Was there a legal basis for the claim? The courts will have to sort that out. Regardless, there are lessons to be learned from Depps experiences  and its not that the rich are different from you and me. If Depp were $5 million in debt when he first filed the lawsuit against his former manager, the countersuit brought against him could endanger further the ownership over his personal assets. If Depp had established an asset-protection plan, he could have ensured that his personal wealth was protected from any potential lawsuits. In effect, it would have placed Depps assets under the ownership of a trust. Depp would not legally own the assets, as they would be owned by the trust itself  protected from any lawsuits brought against him. Since we know just how litigious our country can be if you have significant assets, it is prudent to create effective asset protection for them. Consider placing them into a protective trust. There are many to choose from. A Dynasty Trust: a trust established to remain in effect over multiple generations.

a trust established to remain in effect over multiple generations. A Directed Trust: a trust where the trustee may delegate the investment activities to investment professionals.

a trust where the trustee may delegate the investment activities to investment professionals. A Foreign Asset Protection Trust: a self-settled trust established in a non-U.S. jurisdiction under laws that are more protective than domestic trusts from lawsuits and other third-party claims.

Make certain that the trustee has hired a reputable investment manager for its assets. It is always best to separate your financial dealings with your investment professionals from a personal manager to avoid any conflicts of interest. After all, a manager may not be an investment expert. When establishing an integrated estate and asset-protection plan, be mindful that the professionals and fiduciaries selected by the client have the requisite checks and balances. The trustee should not also be doing the asset management for the trust.

Selecting a state that allows for Directed Trusts (e.g., Nevada, South Dakota and Alaska, to name a few) will ensure that the fiduciary (trustee) will be providing oversight of the asset managers and vice versa.

Avoid the trustee/asset managers entering into personal loans and other dealings with conflicts of interest so that if the personal relationship goes sour, the assets being managed and administered do not get tied up in the fracas. Theres a lesson in the Johnny Depp saga: Protecting your assets and familys legacy should always be an important part of any comprehensive estate plan.
Since Sternberg started the program eight years ago, more than 100 students have traveled to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong with help from the Chou Kuo-ping Awards. He now gives $20,000 annually. The best part is the letters he receives from the students. "I have gotten such wonderful responses," he says. "Some of the students never had a passport, and this changed their lives." He receives a tax deduction for the cash or appreciated stock he contributes.

As principal at a large insurance agency in White Plains, N.Y., Sternberg decided he had the money to help current students embark on a similar transformative journey. He met with the university's dean of international studies to discuss setting up a scholarship program to help students study in Chinese-speaking countries. The dean suggested dividing Sternberg's $10,000 contribution into 10 to 20 awards of $500 to $1,000 that students could combine with other scholarships and savings.

Thomas Sternberg was among a small group of students in the late 1960s to major in Chinese language and literature at the University of WisconsinMadison. One of the professors, Chou Kuo-ping, organized an eight-week study program for six juniors to live with host families in Taiwan. "That experience was life-changing for me," says Sternberg, now 64.

Perhaps you had a wonderful college adventure that you want students today to experience. Or you would like to help local low-income students with their college costs. If you're charitably inclined, consider setting up a scholarship fund, either directly with a university or through a community foundation.

Besides working directly with a university, a person who wants to set up a scholarship can work with a community foundation, a nonprofit group that addresses local issues. Patricia and Michael Welborn of Phoenix had been involved in Arizona Community Foundation programs to support public education and charter schools. Earlier this year, they decided to use $25,000 in their donor-advised fund to endow a scholarship of about $1,000 for a low-income student to attend college in the Phoenix area.

With an endowment, annual income from an investment is used to fund a scholarship in perpetuity. "That didn't seem like a lot of money given the cost of higher education, but it really is powerful for people who have low income," says Patricia, a management consultant for nonprofits. The foundation places the $25,000 in an investment pool.

The Arizona Community Foundation told the Welborns to expect about 100 applicants. Under foundation rules, the couple cannot be the sole decision-maker but can sit on a committee that selects the student. The committee was expected to review the applications this spring. (To find a community foundation in your area, go to the Web site of the Council on Foundations at www.cof.org/locator.)

You can work with the college or community foundation to set the criteria for applicants. The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta manages about 30 scholarships. Some focus on grade-point average, while others are based on the high school or college a student attends. "It runs the gamut," says Christy Eckoff, director of gift planning.

Before choosing a foundation, says Diana Hunter, membership manager of the National Scholarship Providers Association, a trade group of scholarship sponsors, ask how it spreads the word about scholarships, chooses the selection committee and invests the money. Also ask about the number of scholarships it manages and fees it may charge.

Many colleges and community foundations set minimum contribution requirements of $20,000 to $25,000 to endow a $1,000 scholarship. San Diego State University, for example, requires $50,000 to endow a $2,000 scholarship, or you can commit to finance a $5,000 annual scholarship for three years.

Also, ask how much contact you'll have with the scholarship recipients. Michelle Jacobson, director of development for UCLA health sciences scholarships, sets up one-on-one lunches for donors and recipients each year. "The students love to meet the donors and thank them in person," she says.
High taxes can be a killer for people living on fixed incomes. Thats why retirees should carefully weigh a states tax picture before committing to live there.

We analyzed the tax policies of all 50 states and the District of Columbia to identify the worst states for retirement when it comes to taxes. We looked at state sales taxes and income taxes, including taxes on Social Security, as well as property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Our conclusion: The Green Mountain State will leave many retirees seeing red.

Sure, its pretty, but Vermont levies a 6% sales tax, property taxes skew high, and most forms of retirement income are taxed. The top income tax rate is a steep 8.95%. Vermont even started taxing soft drinks in 2015. And when you die, your estate can face a tax bite of as much as 16%.

Consider yourself warned.

See 14 more of the worst states for taxes on retirees.
Kembell Huyke, 74, of Flushing, N.Y., retired as a banker 11 years agoand now hes seeing the world. He loves to travel, sometimes with his partner, and sometimes on his own. In the past decade, he has booked a single passage on ten journeys with ElderTreks, a group adventure-travel company for people 50 and older. Among his destinations: Ethiopia, India, Iran, Myanmar, Thailand and Tunisia. Every trip is a life-enhancing, learning experience, Huyke says. Best of all, by the end of every solo trip, Ive made at least one new friend. Huyke is a part of a growing demographic in the travel industry: tourists 55 and older who travel without a spouse or friend, often on group tours or cruises. And many older travelers are truly going it solodesigning itineraries that take them where they want to go without the restrictions of a tour group. Those choosing to travel unaccompanied are best served by using a travel agent to arrange their trip. If you need advice on how to get from Point A to Point B, you can call us for help anytime, says Nathan Warner, a travel agent at Liberty Travel in Dulles, Va. Beth Jenkins, an agent with McCabe World Travel, in McLean, Va., says that a knowledgeable agent will customize a trip with safety in mind and has contacts for guides and drivers all over the world. The agent also can arrange for a solo traveler to join a group excursion, or even a cooking class, for a day.

However you design your single travel, when you travel alone, you meet new people, says Cynthia Schoeppel, 64, of Alexandria, Va., who is divorced. She prefers the security and convenience of group tours, and she has taken ten solo trips in the past decade, including three with educational travel company Road Scholar. Often she selects trips with a home base in a major foreign citysuch as Madrid, Rome and Florencewhere she is comfortable as part of the group or walking on her own. Typically, Schoeppel has found there are about six singles out of 25 to 35 people on each Road Scholar trip. People are friendly, she says. All day, youre busy. She often goes out in small groups of both singles and couples. In Tuscany, for example, she joined a few people after dinner to sit in a cafe in a city square. Tour operator Abercrombie & Kent reports a 19% increase in solo travel in 2013, with most travelers 55 and older. Forty percent of the tour operators solo passengers are married, but their partners may not share their interest or they have a scheduling conflict. Many in the married group are pursuing a personal passion such as wildlife photography or history. African safaris are the companys most popular destination for singles. Small-group travel is a natural fit for solo travelers, says Jean Fawcett, media relations manager for Abercrombie and Kent, giving guests the experience of exploring a destination with other like-minded travelers. Women far outnumber men as solo travelers: about 70% versus 30%, say tour operators, who theorize that women over 55 are more adventurous and active than their male peers, and often outlive their partners. JoAnn Bell, vice-president of programs for Road Scholar, says many of the organizations single travelers are recent widows and widowers, embarking for the first time alone.

Ward Luthi, founder of Walking the World, an adventure-travel company for older explorers, says his tours, typically 10 to 16 people and two guides, lend themselves to solo travel because the group stays together all day. Singles dont have to fear a later-in-life version of being shunned in the high school cafeteria, he says. Most meals are eaten as a group, or the guides invite the groups members to eat with them. The major drawback to traveling alone is not loneliness, but cost, otherwise known as the single supplement. Pricing on most group tours and cruises is based on per person, double occupancy. Thus, singles are charged moresometimes by up to 100%for bunking alone. But you can avoid or reduce the single surcharge. Choose a tour operator that welcomes singles. Smithsonian Journeys, for example, will occasionally discount or waive the single supplement. Abercrombie & Kent lists savings on its Solo Travel page, including trips that waive the single supplement or reduce it by up to 75%. Many tour operators, such as Smithsonian Journeys, ElderTreks and Road Scholar, will match singles with a roommate so they can pay the regular rate, and Road Scholar will waive the single supplement if it cant find you a match. Road Scholars Web site has a page for special offers, which includes deals for singles. If youre looking for a cruise that caters to the older crowd, look for the higher-end cruise lines that offer smaller ships, such as Oceania, Azamara and Silversea. Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, which provides information and reviews, says Oceania and Azamara dont cater specifically to the family market. Also, she says, Silversea often eliminates or reduces the single supplement. And river cruises are great because the small ship size encourages group camaraderie, she says.

[page break] Meeting Like-Minded Travelers Some larger companies, such as Norwegian Cruise Lines, are going after the singles market by offering solo cabins grouped around a lounge area, which makes it easier for singles of all ages to meet each other. Brown recently went on a Norwegian cruise, and she says there were a fair number of passengers over age 50 in the singles cabins. If youre traveling with a group, book early because the demand for single accommodations, especially on cruises, often outstrips the supply. And before you sign up, ask the tour operator how many other singles are going, says Gary Murtagh, president of ElderTreks. We have a mix of couples and singles, and everyone gets to know each other, he says. Between the daily activities and group meals, 90% of the time you wont be alone, he says. In some cases, you may be able to get in touch with other solo travelers on your tour before you depart. Cruise Critic offers an online forum called Roll Call where you can chat in advance with other passengers. Youre likely to find common ground with other group members if you choose a destination based on your interest and preferred activity level. If youre an avid walker, for example, youll probably bond with others on a Walking the World trip in September on the Pilgrimage Walk to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Daily activities include walking four to six hours a day, for 5 to 15 miles over varied terrain, including steep and rocky sections.
Rio Tinto, Turquoise Hill and the Government of Mongolia have reached an agreement on the preferred domestic power solution for Oyu Tolgoi that paves the way for the Government to fund and construct a State Owned Power Plant at Tavan Tolgoi.The agreement, which is a revision of the Power Source Framework Agreement (PSFA) signed in 2018, states that the parties will work towards finalising a Power Purchase Agreement by the end of March next year.Arnaud Soirat, Copper & Diamonds Chief Executive, said, This agreement provides a potential pathway to securing a domestic power supply for the Oyu Tolgoi mine and underground project for the benefit of all shareholders and the wider community. We look forward to working with the Government of Mongolia to progress the solution.Shares in Rio Tintoare trading 1.7 per cent lower at $97.27.
The picks below are part of Kiplingers Personal Finances annual Best List, a roundup of the best values in all the areas we cover  from funds, stocks and ETFs to credit cards and bank accounts to cars, college, kid stuff, phone plans, travel and health. Discover all our Best List picks here.

Luxury Travel

Abercrombie & Kent pampers guests at destinations as close as Costa Rica or as far-flung as Easter Island with individual airport transfers and lavish hotels. Small group tours max out at 18 travelers.

Family Travel

The Tauck Bridges program makes U.S. national parks, Central American jungles, European capitals and much more accessible to families of all ages. The company designs activities that kids, parents and grandparents can enjoy together.

Solo Travel

Overseas Adventure Travel doesnt charge a single supplement, meaning solo travelers pay the same rates as couples on trips to the Moroccan Sahara, Patagonia and more.

Adventure Travel

The staff of Intrepid Travel dream up exotic getaways each year and put them into action. In 2017, that includes reindeer herding in the far north of Russia and snorkeling with whale sharks in Djibouti.

Educational Travel

Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel) focuses on experiential learning, so knowledgeable experts join each trip. Trips usually attract travelers 50 and older, but special intergenerational tours, which run the gamut from surfing to safaris, are tailored to grandparentsand grandkids.
It seems like everyone is on vacation now. But if you dont like the crowds and high prices associated with summer travel, youre better off booking a fall getaway. You can find great deals on hotels and flights to many U.S. cities and overseas destinations in September, October and November because its a slow period for the travel industry.

Here are several places where the prices drop during the fall:

Beach destinations

At many beach destinations in the U.S., the water still is warm in early fall but accommodations can be up to 50% cheaper than in the summer, says Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com.

Nantucket. Banas says you can get a great deal on rooms at high-end properties on this island off the coast of Massachusetts once the peak summer tourism season is over. In particular, Nantucket Island Resorts starts discounting rooms at its luxury properties in September, but the deals are especially good in October. For example, rates at the White Elephant drop to $225 in October -- down from $595 in August. You can get a room at the Jared Coffin in October for $155 versus $295 in August.

Outer Banks. Banas says that prices drop in the fall on vacation homes on this string of barrier islands along the North Carolina coast. For example, many of the four-bedroom oceanfront properties listed with Twiddy Outer Bank rentals drop in price from $6,000 a week in the summer to $1,000 in October. Property owners also tend to be more flexible -- allowing renters to stay a few days rather than a full week, Banas says.
Editor's Note: Our 2009 retirement tax story can be read here. Some states are more tax-friendly for retirees than others. And how much you pay in taxes -- particularly if you are living on a fixed income -- can have a big impact on how much you have left over to spend. If you're thinking about relocating permanently or buying a second home to live in for part of the year (and where you may be taxed on part of your income), don't make a move until you've scrutinized the whole financial picture in your potential new home. Retiree Tax Map 2009 Retiring in Volatile Times Secret Ways to Boost Your Social Security Retirement Timeline Your federal taxes will be the same no matter where you live, but you may be surprised at how much your state and local tax burden can vary from one location to another. "You can save thousands of dollars a year by moving from a tax hell to a tax haven," says Mary Lu Abbott, editor of Where to Retire magazine. Don't assume that a state with no income tax qualifies as a tax haven. High sales and property taxes can more than offset the absence of an income tax, says Abbott. (Seven states -- including Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming -- have no state income tax. New Hampshire and Tennessee tax only dividend and interest income that exceeds certain limits.)

In addition, the tax bite can vary greatly within a single state. For example, a retired couple with an annual income of $90,000 and a home worth $525,000 would pay about $13,000 in total state taxes if they lived in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. -- but only $9,000 if they lived across the state in Siesta Key. The contrast is due mainly to differences in property taxes, says Abbott. By comparison, if the same couple lived on Hilton Head Island, they would pay less than $6,600 in total taxes because although South Carolina has an income tax, it has relatively low property taxes. Abbott drew her examples from her company's sister publication, America's Best Low-Tax Retirement Towns ($18.95, Vacation Publications). The book rates the total tax burden for more than 200 cities, broken down by different income levels and home values -- a good starting point if you're trying to determine the financial implications of moving or staying put. But there's no substitute for calculating the taxes you would actually pay in a potential new home, says Paul Erickson, a professor of taxation at Baylor University, in Waco, Tex. "There are too many differences in tax rates, brackets, exclusions and deductions," says Erickson. (You can download state income-tax forms from www.taxsites.com or prepare a sample state-tax form with software such as TurboTax.) Most people choose a retirement destination based on a combination of factors, including climate, access to quality health care and the general cost of living. "Obviously, a decision should not be based on taxes alone," says Erickson. "But if other factors are relatively equal, a substantial difference in tax burden may dictate the best retirement location." Pensions All 50 states and the district of Columbia determine their own tax treatment of retirement income. Only three states -- Illinois, Mississippi and Pennsylvania -- exempt virtually all retirement income (including public and private pension benefits, 401(k) and other retirement-plan distributions, and IRA withdrawals) from state income taxes. Seven states -- Alabama, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan and New York -- FULLY exempt government and military pensions from state income taxes. Those same seven states treat private pensions differently, ranging from no exemption in Massachusetts to a tax exemption up to certain dollar limits in Michigan and New York. Alabama and Hawaii exempt income from traditional pensions funded by employers but tax some or all of retirement income from employee-funded plans. Seven other states -- Delaware, Georgia, Minnesota, New Mexico, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia -- provide a partial exemption for retirement income, regardless of the source.

[page break] Five states are particularly tough on retirees. Not only do they fully tax most pensions and other retirement income, but most of them also have fairly high top tax brackets, says Tom Wetzel, president of the Retirement Living Information Center. Those states, with their top tax brackets for 2008, are California (9.3%), Connecticut (5%), Nebraska (6.8%), Rhode Island (9.9%) and Vermont (9.5%). For a free state-by-state tax guide, including exemptions for seniors and a rundown on how various types of retirement income are taxed, go to www.retirementliving.com. Retiring in Volatile Times Secret Ways to Boost Your Social Security Retirement Timeline Social Security Benefits Most states are moving away from taxing Social Security benefits. In addition to the nine states that do not have a broad-based individual income tax, 27 states and the District of Columbia don't tax Social Security. Wisconsin was the latest to join those ranks in 2008. The remaining 14 states -- Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia -- tax Social Security benefits to some extent. Iowa will gradually phase out its Social Security tax by 2014, starting in 2008. Missouri will increase the amount of Social Security benefits that may be deducted from taxable state income, rising from 35% in 2008 to 100% in 2012 and beyond. Kansas residents can now exclude Social Security income from their taxes if their adjusted gross income is less than $75,000, up from $50,000 in 2007. There's no guarantee that this trend of exempting Social Security benefits from taxes will continue, says Kathleen Thies, state-tax analyst for CCH, a major provider of tax information. "But many states seem to be heading in that direction as their populations age and tax treatment of Social Security income becomes a bigger priority for voters." Sales Taxes If you're considering a move to another state, don't forget to take into account sales taxes that can nick your wallet every time you open it. Some states exempt food and medicine; others tax every dime you spend. Five states -- Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon -- have no state sales taxes. At the other extreme, five states -- Indiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Tennessee -- each have a state sales tax of 7%, the highest in the nation. Last year, South Carolina raised its statewide sales-tax rate from 5% to 6%. In 2008, Maryland went from 5% to 6%, and Indiana from 6% to 7%.
If you have a college student in the family, no one needs to tell you about the high price of higher education. But you may be able to cash in on some tax breaks when you file your 2008 return that could ease the pain.

Generally, the lower your income, the bigger the tax break. Plus, there are additional tax benefits for students who attend eligible colleges and universities in the Midwestern disaster area during 2008 and 2009.

Hope Credit. You can claim a tax credit of up to $1,800 per student for tuition and qualified fees during the first two years of college. To be eligible for the full credit, youre income cant exceed $48,000 if you are single and $96,000 if you are married filing jointly. A partial credit is available for individuals with income of up to $58,000 and married couples with incomes up to $116,000.

Lifetime Learning Credit. Or, you can claim a tax credit of up to $2,000 per return for post-secondary education or courses to improve job skills. The income eligibility limits are the same as the Hope Credit.

Midwestern disaster area. For students attending college in the designated disaster areas of 10 Midwestern states -- Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin -- the amount of the qualified tuition expenses eligible for either the Hope or Lifetime Learning credit is doubled. That means they may claim a Hope Credit of up to $3,600 during their first and second year of college or a Lifetime Learning Credit of up to $4,000 for 2008. (The doubled tax credits apply to 2009 as well.)
Fierce indeed and nearly with success, which we think ought swiftly be in the balance as Gold this past week traded to as high as 1796, leaving just four final points to finally taking The Northern Front (1750-1800), price settling out the week yesterday (Friday) at 1785. Swiftly to be sure, given Gold's expected daily trading range is at present 28 points, let alone the weekly being 83 points.

As you regular readers know, in 2020 this is Gold's sixth foray to cross up The Northern Front, the prior five failures dating back to 09 April, the resistance forces within having fought price back down every time. But not this time, so 'twould seem. In the 55 trading days from 09 April through this week's close, Gold has spent 23 (42%) of them engaged in fighting for The Northern Front: and therein, never for more than five days per stint until having just achieved a sixth day in this sixth foray: Hooray! Now upon the ensuing week's open, (barring a gap down sub-1750), 'twill be a seventh day, and come 1800, The Final Frontier (1800-1900) entree.

Thus let's go straight away to Gold's weekly bars from one year ago-to-date. And yes, we've at long last blown open the top of the graphic to reveal those defined strata (normally reserved for our month-end missives) along price's long-sought route to 2000:

"But don't you think that now you're jinxing it from getting there, mmb?"

Not a superstitious wit, Squire. 'Tis merely (as usual) all about "The When". Moreover, considering by StateSide currency debasement alone that Gold right now (as portrayed in the opening Scoreboard) is valued as 3590, 'twill in the future make the 2000 level (other than being a Big Round Number) having appeared as mere noise.

But in part to Squire's point: assuming Gold shall get to 1800 doesn't mean we're then done with The Northern Front: the resistance forces therein quelled, 1750-1800 merely morphs technically into support (i.e. flip it 'round to 1800-1750). Further, fundamentally Gold has more allies than for which it could ever wish, considerably comprised of the 3Ds: Debasement, Debt and Derivatives. Throw all three of those into yer Osterizer, add in a generous serving of fortified COVID powder, press "puree", et voila: Gold!

As for The Final Frontier -- and yes Gold has not quite yet breached the 1800 threshold, but clearly can quickly well do -- the resistance from 1800-1900 is far less onerous than we (and our sense is that only we) rightly envisioned made up The Northern Front. To be sure, the latter's range is just 50 points -- indeed 50 very hard-fought points -- whereas that for The Final Frontier is a full 100 points, (1900 being Gold's All-Time Closing High on 22 August, 2011). But after having then achieved its All-Time Intra-Day High (of 1923) on 06 September, 2011, so frenetic was Gold's cascade that it spent just four of five days completely contained within the 1900-1800 range, after which the careening and revisiting 'round what would be later dubbed The Northern Front mathematically created seven times as much resistance as we see for The Final Frontier. Thus a less turbulent flight without as much fight awaits us. Still at this writing, The Northern Front has not quite yet been fully won.

But continuing its own winning ways these days is the Economic Barometer, with another large gain in Payrolls expected for June in the new week's big batch of 16 incoming metrics. On balance, the data look to be celebratory for the Independence Day holiday, our markets StateSide being closed next Friday. Here's the Baro:

As for the notion of "Who's Leading Whom?", now in its 23rd calendar year, the Econ Baro has comprehensively led the stock market as measured by the S&P 500. However: in the above view from just one a year ago-to-date, the two entities have swapped roles, the S&P clearly charting its major trend changes ahead of those by the Baro. 'Tis a curious thing, albeit the same can be said that neither do earnings justify the current level of the S&P, our "live" price/earnings ratio for the Index at 37.6x. That compiled by Bob Shiller (with whose we're oft near) is not so at 28.2x; Laszlo Birinyi's is at 27.2x; all-knowing Google finds it at 23.2x by one source and at 21.6x by another. Regardless, all measures are "high" by B-school standards. And if you're scoring at home by our method, the simple calculation remains:

Meanwhile, in economically furthering the cause for still a higher Gold price, be it by the BOE or the ECB, the BOJ or the PBoC, the central banks' cash pumps remain on, baby! As well, July may see another round of Congressionally-passed stimulus. And why not, as Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans sees a good two years to go before the U.S. economy regains its robust pre-COVID stance. Aptly-named St. Louis FedHead James Bullard is thinking sooner whereas his Cleveland counterpart "Jump Back" Loretta Mester thinks the economic drag shall further pester. Still never shy in taking a more accelerative view, David Solomon (CEO, Goldman Sachs) sees a "V" right into 2021, (always fishing for fees in the economic seas). Then from the " Last to Figure It All Out Dept ." we've the International Monetary Fund's looking for further Q2 U.S. economic contraction, even as the balance of the Econ Baro's monthly metrics for April, May and June reports have bettered consensus and/or prior period readings. Either way, our humble suggestion to one and all: mind the Baro .

Mind, too, what is going on with the "Baby Blues" as we turn to the two-panel display of the precious metals' daily bars from three months ago-to-date. Clearly, Gold on the left vis-a-vis its rising blue dots of trend consistency shows as more positive than does that for Silver on the right as her blue dots continue their tumble, albeit her price -- which actually appears quite buoyant -- has (yet) to follow. But Sister Silver has been sporting her industrial metal jacket of late, her recent month's track more in sync with the S&P than with Gold, (should you peek the website's Market Trends page):

That noted, upon viewing their respective 10-day Market Profiles, both Gold ( at left ) and Silver ( at right ) look well-supported per those apices as denoted:

So to wrap it with Gold nearing its taking of The Northern Front toward the threshold of The Final Frontier, it all at present stacks up here:

The Gold Stack

Gold's Value per Dollar Debasement, (from our opening "Scoreboard"): 3590

Golds All-Time Intra-Day High: 1923 (06 September 2011)

The Gateway to 2000: 1900+

Golds All-Time Closing High: 1900 (22 August 2011)

The Final Frontier: 1800-1900

2020's High: 1796 (24 June)

10-Session directional range: up to 1796 (from 1706) = +90 points or +5.3%

Trading Resistance: (none per the Profile)

Gold Currently: 1785, (expected daily trading range ["EDTR"]: 28 points)

Trading Support: 1781 / 1775 / 1770 / 1758 / 1735 / 1712

10-Session volume-weighted average price magnet: 1755

The Northern Front: 1750-1800

The Weekly Parabolic Price to flip Short: 1630

On Maneuvers: 1579-1750

The 300-Day Moving Average: 1526 and rising

The Floor: 1466-1579

Le Sous-sol: Sub-1466

The Support Shelf : 1454-1434

2020's Low: 1451 (16 March)

Base Camp: 1377

The 1360s Double-Top: 1369 in Apr '18 preceded by 1362 in Sep '17

Neverland: The Whiny 1290s

The Box: 1280-1240

Zooming in on the aforementioned Payrolls report due this coming Thursday (02 Jul), on top of the 2.5 million net gain for May is expected an additional 3.5 million for June. As well, ADP's Employment Change is expected to swing from a May loss of 2.8 million to a June gain of 3.8 million. All in the midst of which nonetheless is a weekly first time Jobless Claims consensus for another 1.4 million filings. Quite the state of musical job chairs, 'twould appear! Nevertheless, having fiercely fought, let's look forward to Gold standing upon the 1800 threshold of The Final Frontier !

Cheers!
* Gold on track for third straight monthly gain and biggest quarterly rise in over four years

* Specs raise gold bullish positions in week ended June 23 - CFTC

* SPDR Gold Trust holdings rise 0.3% on Friday

* Spot gold set to break resistance at $1,778/oz - technicals

(Recasts, adds comments, updates price)

By Nakul Iyer J

une 29 (Reuters) - Gold prices steadied on Monday, within striking distance of a near eight-year peak scaled last week and heading for their biggest quarterly gains in over four years, as a sharp rise in global coronavirus cases unnerved investors.

Spot gold was little changed at $1,769.54 per ounce by 949 GMT, but were only about $10 shy of its highest since Oct 2012, at $1,779.06, hit on Wednesday. U.S. gold futures rose 0.1% to $1,781.60. Cases of the coronavirus have soared in the United States as California ordered bars to be shut on Sunday and Washington state paused plans for re-opening the economy, while infection rates remain on the rise in countries such as Brazil and India.

"The catalyst (for gold to reach $1,800 an ounce) is already here. Rising cases in the U.S. and concerns about a second wave in Europe and Asia are likely to slow down any potential rebound in the economy and that's going to make gold an asset class that is very much in demand," said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK.

He attributed the slight decline in gold to profit-taking going into the end of the month and quarter. The relentless spread of the coronavirus curbed optimism for a swift recovery the global economy, sending world shares to a two-week low. Gold is used as a safe investment during times of political and financial uncertainty.

Indicative of sentiment, SPDR Gold Trust , holdings rose 0.3% to 1,178.90 tonnes on Friday, while speculators increased their bullish positions in COMEX gold and silver contracts in the week to June 23. On the technical side, spot gold is poised to break a resistance at $1,778 per ounce and rise to $1,789, said Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao.

Palladium rose 0.9% to $1,876.75 per ounce, while platinum gained 1.9% to $805.98 per ounce and silver climbed 0.6% to $17.86 per ounce.

(Reporting by Nakul Iyer in Bengaluru; editing by David Evans)
(Updates prices)

By Mai Nguyen SINGAPORE, June 29 (Reuters) - Shanghai copper prices on Monday hit a more than five-month high on supply risks in top producer Chile, while a weaker U.S. dollar boosted prices of the red metal in London.

The most-traded August copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange jumped as much as 1.7% to 48,590 yuan ($6,866.39) a tonne, its highest level since Jan. 22, before closing at 48,380 yuan a tonne. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.3% to $5,972.50 a tonne by 0707 GMT.

"The metal is still keeping an eye on currencies as the main driver. There are supply issues looming in Chile with unions getting more vocal about their working conditions," said Anna Stablum, a commodities broker at Marex Spectron. Chile's copper output could decline 200,000 tonnes due to the new coronavirus, or 3.5% of 2019 production, its mines minister said, as state-run miner Codelco reported its fourth death. A weaker U.S. dollar makes greenback-denominated metals cheaper for buyers using other currencies.

FUNDAMENTALS

* COPPER: The spread between the three-month LME and ShFE copper contracts surged to 1,798 yuan a tonne, its highest since April 13.

* SCRAP: China's copper scrap imports in May dropped 60.2% year-on-year to 69,496 tonnes, customs data showed.

* OTHER PRICES: LME aluminium rose 0.3% to $1,607 a tonne and nickel rose 0.6% to $12,765 a tonne. In Shanghai, aluminium climbed 1.1% to 13,775 yuan a tonne, while zinc fell 0.7% to 16,625 yuan a tonne.

* For the top stories in metals and other news, click or ($1 = 7.0765 yuan) (Reporting by Mai Nguyen; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Rashmi Aich)

Messaging: mai.nguyen.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
(Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Friday said U.S. President Donald Trump was wrong to divert $2.5 billion meant for the Pentagon to build part of his long-sought wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

In a pair of 2-1 decisions, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the White House lacked constitutional authority for the transfer, noting that Congress had denied the funding and finding no unforeseen military requirement to justify it.

The court also said California and New Mexico, which share a border with Mexico and were among 20 states suing the government, had legal standing to pursue their claims.

Trump had declared a national emergency at the border in February 2019 to access the funds.

Writing for the majority, however, Chief Judge Sidney Thomas said the Executive Branchs failure to show, in concrete terms, that the public interest favors a border wall is particularly significant given that Congress determined fencing to be a lower budgetary priority and the Department of Justices own data points to a contrary conclusion.

The Justice Department had no immediate comment.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra praised the San Francisco-based appeals court for halting Trumps unlawful money grab, and said taxpayers deserve to know their money goes where Congress intends.

The appeals court also ruled that the Sierra Club and Southern Border Communities Coalition could sue over the diversion and deserved an injunction.

That ruling may be symbolic, after the U.S. Supreme Court said last July the nonprofits likely had no legal right to sue.

The Supreme Court also let the $2.5 billion be spent while litigation continued.

That blunts the likely impact of Fridays decisions, which totaled 184 pages and upheld lower court rulings.

Both judges in Fridays majority were appointed by President Bill Clinton, while the dissenting judge is a Trump appointee.

The cases are California et al v Trump et al, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 19-16299 and 19-16336; and Sierra Club et al v Trump et al in the same court, Nos. 19-16102 and 19-16300.
Cynet, a NYC- and Rishon LeZion, Israel-based autonomous breach protection company, raised $18m in Series B+ funding.

The Telekom Innovation Pool (TIP), Deutsche Telekoms strategic investment fund advised by DTCP, led the round, with participation from new investors BlueRed Partners and Merlin International and existing investors Norwest Venture Partners and Ibex Investors.

The company, which now has raised a total of $38 million, intends to use the funds to expand in the U.S. and international markets and to further develop its CyOps team.

Founded in 2015 by security experts Eyal Gruner and Netanel Amar, Cynet provides an autonomous breach protection platform that consolidates and automates monitoring and control, attack prevention and detection, and response orchestration across the entire environment. It delivers these capabilities by continuously collecting and analyzing all endpoint, user, file and network activities across the protected environment.

FinSMEs

29/06/2020
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Sun and a few passing clouds. Cooler. High near 75F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low 56F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath performing at Ozzfest 2016. The rock band is selling Black Lives Matter T-shirts themed after Black Sabbath's iconic Master Of Reality album cover.
ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) -- A husband and wife made national news when photos captured them pointing guns at protesters Sunday night outside of their Central West End home.

Experts examine whether it was legal for St. Louis couple to point guns at protesters Video and pictures show the McCloskeys armed outside their home as protesters march by. News 4 reached out to multiple legal experts to find out if they were within their rights.

During the protest, images and videos showed Mark McCloskey, 63, holding a rifle and his wife Patricia McCloskey, 61, pointing a handgun at the crowd of about 300 protesters around 7:30 p.m.

The protesters were marching to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson's home to demand her resignation.

The McCloskeys said they were in fear for our lives and thats why they pulled the guns out.

It was like the storming of the Bastille, the gate came down and a large crowd of angry, aggressive people poured through, Mark McCloskey said. I was terrified that wed be murdered within seconds. Our house would be burned down, our pets would be killed.

Mark said they called 911 and grabbed their guns as they heard the crowd approaching their private, gated community on Portland Place.

"A mob of at least 100 smashed through the historic wrought iron gates of Portland Place, destroying them, rushed towards my home where my family was having dinner outside and put us in fear for our lives," Mark McCloskey said, and shared photos of the destroyed gate.

Despite his claims, video circulating on social media shows protesters opening and walking through the unbroken gate. It is unclear when it was actually damaged or who destroyed it.

The couple also claims to have received death threats from the crowd.

One fellow standing right in front of me pulled out two pistol magazines, clicked them together and said 'youre next.' That was the first death threat we got that night, Mark McCloskey said.

The McCloskeys hired attorney Al Watkins to represent them, and Watkins said the couple grabbed their weapons after the threats were made.

However in an interview with News 4 Monday, McCloskey said he and his wife grabbed their weapons as the crowd was walking toward their home, not after being threatened.

"Uh, the threats happened probably after we got the guns," he said.

In a separate statement from their attorney, the McCloskeys said they support the Black Lives Matter movement and that peaceful protesters were not the subject of scorn or disdain by the McCloskeys. To the contrary, they were expecting and supportive of the message of the protesters, the statement reads.

Additionally the statement says:

Both Mr. and Mrs. McCloskey acted lawfully on their property which sits on a private gated lane in the City of St. Louis. Their actions were borne solely of fear and apprehension, the genesis of which was not race related. In fact, the agitators responsible for the trepidation were white. The Black Lives Matters movement is here to stay, it is the right message, and it is about time, said Albert S. Watkins, legal counsel for Mr. and Mrs. McCloskey. The McCloskeys want to make sure no one thinks less of BLM, its message and the means it is employing to get its message out because of the actions of a few white individuals who tarnished a peaceful protest.

Rasheen Aldridge helped lead the protest organized by a group called Expect Us. He said protesters were peaceful and no threats were ever made.

When asked why the group marched on private property, Aldridge said, Just like in many disobedient protests, even in the 60s, you break laws, make people feel uncomfortable. Were not doing anything where were hurting anyone or putting anyone in danger.

Could the McCloskeys be criminally charged?

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner said her office is investigating the incident, adding that protesters should not be met with violence.

"I am alarmed at the events that occurred over the weekend, where peaceful protesters were met by guns and a violent assault. We must protect the right to peacefully protest, and any attempt to chill it through intimidation or threat of deadly force will not be tolerated," Gardner tweeted.

Gardner was also referring to an investigation into protest that happened Saturday on Art Hill in front of the King Louis IX statue.

Who are the McCloskeys?

Mark and Patricia McCloskey are personal-injury lawyers who work together in the McCloskey Law Center in St. Louis.

According to their attorney, the McCloskeys are lawyers whose professional careers have [sic] punctuated by their long standing commitment to protecting the civil rights of clients victimized at the hands of law enforcement. This commitment of time and resources to this cause continues today in the Isaiah Forman case.

The couple is receiving both praise and criticism online: some people are supporting them for protecting their property.

A petition is calling for the McClockseys to be disbarred for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The Change.org petition also claims Patricia is part of the Board of Election Commissioners and asks people to contact the organization, but late Monday night the Board of Election Commissioners said the couple is not connected to the organization.

What was the protest about?

The roughly 300 protesters were marching down Portland Place to Mayor Lyda Krewsons house and calling for her resignation. Although Krewson does not live on Portland Place but a few blocks away.

Krewson read the names and addresses of demonstrators calling for police reform during a Friday afternoon Facebook Live video.

Krewson grabbed submitted letters and read them, including the names and both partial and full addresses of those calling to defund the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

The video has since been deleted and Krewson issued an apology later that day. A spokesperson for the mayor said she will not resign.

"Tonight, I would like to apologize for identifying individuals who presented letters to me at City Hall as I was answering a routine question during one of my updates earlier today. While this is public information, I did not intend to cause distress or harm to anyone," Krewson said in a statement. "The post has been removed and again, I sincerely apologize."

Later in the night, protesters painted "RESIGN" on the street in front of the mayor's house.

The names and addresses submitted are public record. For example, comments submitted to the St. Louis County Council must include names and addresses and all the information is read aloud.

An online petition demanding Krewsons resignation has gained more than 40,000 signatures. Those calling for her to step down say she doxed people by reading those letters, meaning she made private or identifying information public on the internet with malicious intent.

Elected officials, organizations react to Krewsons Facebook Live

St. Louis Alderwoman Megan Ellyia Green, who is also running for a seat in the Missouri Senate, said in a tweet "So not cool to doxx my constituents who support #DefundThePolice on your FB live. It's a move designed to silence dissent, and it's dangerous"

The ACLU of Missouri released a statement saying what Krewson did was "shocking and misguided," saying reading the information aloud "serves no apparent purpose beyond intimidation."

St. Louis City Treasurer Tishaura Jones also tweeted saying "The Mayor's actions not only endanger her citizens, it is also reckless," echoing calls for Krewson's resignation.

Alderwoman Cara Spencer, who is challenging Krewson in the Democratic primary in the 2021 mayoral election, stopped short of calling for Krewsons resignation.

"It's a tough time to be a mayor but it's our job as elected officials to rise to the challenge," Spencer said.

Congressman Lacy Clay released the following statement:

The rights of non-violent protestors are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and should never be subject to the threat of deadly force, whether by individuals or by the police. The incident which occurred last night on Portland Place was shameful, irresponsible, and could have easily ended in another tragedy. The young Americans who are on the streets in St. Louis and across the nation deserve constitutional policing and a government that is as good as they are. I stand with them.

News 4 reached out to the mayor for further comments, but a spokesperson said the mayor is not interested in talking, saying "shes apologized, acknowledges she made a mistake and has absolutely no intention of resigning."

If Krewson resigns Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed would assume the role.
DefinedCrowd, a Seattle, WA-based data provider for artificial intelligence, raised (in May 2020) an additional US $50.5M in a Series B funding round.

Backers included Semapa Next and Hermes GPE, and existing investors Evolution Equity Partners, Kibo Ventures, Portugal Ventures, Bynd Venture Capital, EDP Ventures and IronFire Ventures. They joined long-term investors including Amazon Alexa Fund, Sony Innovation Fund and Mastercard.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand its existing solutions to create interaction between people and machines, launch new innovative subscription-based offerings, grow their global reach, and double the number of its employees and open more research and development offices around the world by the end of 2020.

Led by founder and CEO Daniela Braga, DefinedCrowd offers efficient data workflows that enable data scientists to collect, synthesize, enrich and structure training data. They do this by combining human-in-the-loop, automatic tools, and machine learning capabilities to accelerate enterprise machine learning and Artificial Intelligence initiatives training and modeling. The company is based in Seattle, WA, USA, with offices in Lisbon and Porto, Portugal, and Tokyo, Japan.

FinSMEs

29/06/2020
Terrence Page, the man who threw the punches, admits it all to News 4's Lauren Trager, saying he has no regrets.
The reason behind being out here today is to stand against the statue of King Louis IX, who was anti-Semitic, Islamophobic and an anti- black crusader," Umar Lee, the event's organizer, said. "He does not need to be on public property overlooking our city.
Carson Gerber can be reached at 765-854-6739, carson.gerber@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter @carsongerber1.

Carson Gerber can be reached at 765-854-6739, carson.gerber@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter @carsongerber1.

Carson Gerber can be reached at 765-854-6739, carson.gerber@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter @carsongerber1.

Carson Gerber can be reached at 765-854-6739, carson.gerber@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter @carsongerber1.
Classical pianist and organist Cho Jae-hyuck, right, speaks during a press conference at Ode Port in southern Seoul, last Wednesday, for his upcoming piano and organ recital to be held at Lotte Concert Hall on July 13. / Courtesy of Classic &



By Park Ji-won



Classical pianist and organist Cho Jae-hyuck will hold a recital where he will play both piano and organ.



"To me, the piano is a good friend, whereas the organ is a mysterious one because the former can only sound like piano but the latter has sounds like a variety of woodwind and reed instruments," Cho said during a recent news conference in Seoul.



He said he was excited for the upcoming recital because he can play both musical instruments for Korean audiences, who have only seen him playing piano before.



Cho, who was educated in the U.S. since he was high school and continued an international career as a pianist and organist, will play pieces by Beethoven on piano, and pieces by Bach and "Pahdo," or wave in English, an original piece composed by Kim Texu, with organ at the Lotte Concert Hall on July 13.



The recital is to commemorate the release of his recent organ album which was recorded in La Madeleine Catholic church in Paris with a pipe organ dating back to 1845.



He said it was a privilege for him to play the organ there. "European musicians, particularly organists and those who are involved in the musical instrument, are exclusive. I mean they are not open-minded and usually don't allow just anybody to play the centuries-old organ there because it could hurt the musical instrument," he said. "So I was surprised when I heard I was allowed to play the organ there."



Cho is one of the most active performers in the scene who gives easy commentaries during his concerts and broadcasts. He started practicing the organ at age 16 at the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College out of curiosity to know more about the complex instrument.



"I love complex machines. When I was little, I disassembled most machines like the refrigerator in my home. I was also curious about how the organ works and fascinated with the complexity of the instrument. The more I understood its mechanism, the more I thought that I could get better at it," Cho said.



But he said it was still difficult for him to learn both piano and organ because they are fundamentally different instruments in terms of technique.



"I knew how to use my fingers because I practiced piano. But fingering is not the same with organ. The most difficult part was pedaling. At that time I thought it was almost impossible to do so And it was also difficult to hit the keys. But as time goes by I learned how to separate the two as if we learn different languages."



Thanks to those efforts, he stressed that playing two instruments became part of his unique career as a performer.

He said he introduced "Pahdo" in the album and will play it during the recital to give audiences a rare chance to hear the Korean melody and techniques, which are rooted in Korean wind instruments like daegeum.



"The organ and daegeum have a lot in common in terms of using wind to create sound. In some parts, I intentionally played the organ to sound like the Korean instrument which would never be realized with piano. I also tried to express Korean instruments such as taepyeongso, a wind instrument, as well to show the music's characteristics that highlight the variations of wave shapes including calm and stormy sounds."



He is poised to present more music in the near future. He will be releasing albums in the second half of this year, playing Chopin's music on one and covering Rachmaninoff's piano concerto played with the Russia National Orchestra on another. Visit ticketlink.co.kr or ticket.interpark.com or call 070-7576-0612 for more details about the recital or to make reservations.


Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov



Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has indicated creating a "zone of stability, steady development and good neighborliness" in Central Asia as a priority in his foreign policy. This, according to the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Korea, played a significant role for the bilateral negotiations between the United States and the Taliban in February. The following is the third and last in a series of written Q&As with Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov about Uzbekistan's vision of the major aspects of political settlement in Afghanistan and its contribution to ensuring regional security.  ED.



Q: If everything which you are speaking about will become a reality, then for the first time in 40 years we will see long-awaited peace in Afghanistan. What is the future of this country in your opinion?



A: You have already said it  first, it will be peaceful. This must become a common idea for consolidating the entire Afghan society, all ethnic groups and political movements. Second, it must be formed as a solid all-nation government capable of effectively addressing the tasks in the sphere of security and economy.



Afghanistan must transform into a platform for effective regional cooperation.



I have already said that today's Afghanistan, unfortunately, still remains a venue for geopolitical standoff and competition of the world and regional powers. In Uzbekistan we believe that this approach must be changed.



Afghanistan gives all of us a chance to learn to find a common language, conjugate national interests, seek compromises and achieve mutual understanding.



Then it will be possible to make Afghanistan an equal partner for all neighboring countries in ensuring sustainable development, security and stability of our common region.



It won't be possible to achieve peace in Afghanistan without recovering the economy and addressing social problems of the population. It is important to continue investing in the economic future of Afghanistan. One must not allow for reduction of financing humanitarian programs and projects.



On its part, Uzbekistan has already embarked upon implementing the large-scale infrastructure and socially significant projects in Afghanistan such as construction of the electricity power line "Surkhan  Pulee-Khumri" and others.



This power line will switch Kabul into one energy system of Central Asia. Moreover, the electricity power line "Surkhan  Pulee-Khumri" may become an integral part of the CASA-1000 project and promote supplies of electric power to Pakistan and further onwards to the countries of South Asia.



Uzbekistan is interested in implementing the transport-logistical projects which will allow drawing Afghanistan into regional integration.



Our country also stands ready along with the government of Afghanistan and other international partners to participate in implementation of the railroad transport projects "Mazari-Sharif  Herat" and "Mazari-Sharif  Peshawar" which will connect Central and South Asia.



The railroad project, which connects Mazari-Sharif with seaports of Pakistan, may become a part of the Eurasian concept of interconnectedness which is now being endorsed by the European Union.



Moreover, launching of this route will ensure the shortest access of the states of Central Asia to Pakistani seaports of Gwadar and Karachi, and will promote stirring up transit of goods further to India and Bangladesh.



In this regard, I also deem it necessary to note the words of the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani at the solemn event on the occasion of launching the first cargo train from Afghanistan to China through the territory of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan: "I want to express sincere gratitude to my big friend President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for the support to the people and government of Afghanistan along the path of recovery and development of the country."



I believe this is the highest appreciation on behalf of the Afghan people of Uzbekistan's efforts in terms of rendering practical assistance to the recovery of Afghanistan's economic infrastructure.



It is important to remember that full-scale peaceful life in the country is impossible without ensuring access to education.



It is an open secret that during the war an entire generation who saw little but violence, grew up in Afghanistan.

One should give young Afghans the opportunity of another destiny, shape prestige of education in the society, which will be able to confront the ideas of hatred and extremism. Uzbekistan is also actively working in this direction. On the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev the Educational center for Afghan nationals was established in the city of Termez.



The next enrollment in line is now underway. Nearly 200 people will be studying at the Center on preferential terms in 2020. In the future we are planning to increase the number of students up to 300 and expand the curriculum.



Besides, the leader of Uzbekistan has proposed to institute a special International Fund to Support Education in Afghanistan. The main goal of the Fund is to educate the youth for the specialties needed in Afghanistan, allocate scholarships and educational grants for the talented students and young scholars.



As a sign of friendly gesture Tashkent actively allocates full-scale humanitarian aid to Kabul. We comprehend our huge responsibility before the brotherly Afghan people and will further act in this direction.



Q: Speaking about long-term development of Afghanistan after a peace agreement  during the so-called "post-peace period," what will be the priorities of Uzbekistan's Afghan policy?



A: Uzbekistan is absolutely sincere in conducting its Afghan policy. We don't have political goals or hidden motives in relation with this country. We are guided by a very simple and pragmatic principle: if there is peace in a neighbor's house, then there is a peace in yours. Moreover, we are convinced that our common home is Central Asia, an inseparable part of which is Afghanistan, as well. Only by concerted efforts will we be able to develop successfully.



This is our main and ultimate goal. We didn't have other goals. We have always kept to a neutral position. We didn't interfere in domestic affairs of Afghanistan.



As a result, Uzbekistan is enjoying deserved authority and trust among all Afghan political forces, including the Taliban movement. All of them recognize and support Uzbekistan's sincere wish to promote peace in Afghanistan.



At the moment, the issue to draw Taliban to the future governance of the country is one of the most acute issues. Uzbekistan was one of the first, back in 1999, to establish and maintain contact with the Taliban Movement. Not everyone shared such a position.



The Taliban, while being a part of Afghan society and citizens of Afghanistan, must take part in defining the future of their country.



In the context of the newest history we perceive the current dialogue with the Taliban Movement as a resumption and strengthening of the multilateral peace process, which Uzbekistan attempted to maintain in the 1990s in the framework of the 6+2 format. Back then our representatives met with leaders of the Taliban in Kandahar.



In this regard, I want to draw attention to the following.



We believe that major mistake of the 2001 Bohn conference on Afghanistan was that Taliban wasn't involved in the negotiations on peaceful recovery of the country. As a result, the war has never stopped for 18 years.



At present, as much as then, there is still a common task, i.e. to put in place inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue to gradually and patiently seek consensus everywhere where it is possible.



In this context, the dialogue with Taliban is not only an expedient one, but simply necessary.



However, starting any peace process supposes denial by Taliban movement of any forms of terrorist activity and violence, mandatory observance of ceasefire regime, which in its essence is envisaged by the agreement signed with the United States.



Q: What other resources does Uzbekistan have in the Afghan issue?



A: Uzbekistan has a unique experience of statehood, which includes deep traditions of diplomacy. As it is well-known, the diplomacy, the art of negotiations and peacemaking have a centuries-old historical continuity in our part of Eurasia, and especially, on the territory of modern Uzbekistan. This historically rich experience of the Uzbek diplomacy helps in tackling such international conflicts as the Afghan one.



Unfortunately, the modern world order poses many threats and challenges. We are observing the heightened level of global instability which dictates domination of security issues in the international agenda.



However, in such crises as the Afghan one it is very important to have a post-conflict settlement, resolution of the problems of international migration, etc. It is in this very occasion that the experience of Uzbekistan's diplomacy must be in broad demand by the international community.



In the applied context all of this may turn out to be also useful in training by our specialists in international affairs of professional experts in the sphere of modern conflict studies.



Q: The signing of the agreement between the United States and the Taliban not only raises a broad interest, but also instills hope for an early peace. What practical steps must be undertaken now to further advance the peace process?



A: I agree with you that signing of the agreement between the United States and the Taliban after 18 years of ongoing hostilities between them is indeed a landmark and important political event for the entire region. It is hard to overestimate its significance for peace in Afghanistan.



However, a difficult task lays ahead. One should truly assess the situation. There are remaining many difficult and delicate problems.



In essence, the agreement between the U.S. and Taliban is not an end, but the start of the path towards peace. Now it is important to launch the peace negotiation process itself, the direct intra-Afghan dialogue. Everything will now depend on firm will, unity and decisiveness of the people of Afghanistan themselves.



In this regard, it is very important to form as soon as possible the certain delegations of the government and the opposition, to start a constructive dialogue on the entire spectrum of issues of peaceful recovery of Afghanistan. In sum, the destiny of Afghanistan lays in the hands of Afghans themselves.



In conclusion, I would like to cite the words of the President of Uzbekistan at the Tashkent Conference that the future of Afghanistan must not become an example of incapability of the international community to counteract threats and challenges common to all of us.



Today it is important as never before to all of us to unite and offer a hand of peace, cooperation and support to the much-suffering people of Afghanistan. These words didn't leave careless anyone of the partakers of such a large-scale international forum. It is important today despite any hardships to help the people of Afghanistan to solidly step on the path of peace and prosperity.



In this Afghanistan can always count on its friendly neighbor  Uzbekistan.


Korea Foundation (KF) President Lee Geun speaks to The Korea Times during a joint interview with KF Special Representative for Health Diplomacy Jee Young-mee at the KF Seoul office, June 17. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



This is the first in a five-part series on Korea's response to COVID-19, produced in collaboration with the Korea Foundation.  ED.



By Yi Whan-woo



Since taking office in September 2019, Korea Foundation (KF) President Lee Geun has underlined that Korea is more advanced in the world than Korean people think and its public diplomacy should emphasize this.



Lee says Korea's response to the COVID-19 crisis has dramatically opened up an opportunity to drive this point home, as Korea has been more successful than most countries in keeping the virus under control.





The KF's latest moves to realize Lee's vision include organizing or sponsoring a series of international webinars on Korea's coronavirus response and creating a special representative post for health diplomacy on April 24.



Jee Young-mee, a visiting professor at Seoul National University's Graduate School of Public Administration, who is a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Emergency Committee and the WHO Research and Development (R&D) Blueprint Scientific Advisory Group, has been appointed to the post.







Jee Young-mee, a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Emergency Committee and the KF special representative for health diplomacy, speaks during a joint interview with KF President Lee Geun at the KF Seoul office, June 17. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



"The COVID-19 pandemic has turned from disaster to opportunity for Korean public diplomacy," Lee recently told The Korea Times during a joint interview with Jee in Seoul.



The foundation, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is tasked with promoting Korea by communicating directly with the people of other countries through lectures, conferences, exhibitions and outdoor events, among others.



Lee is a former international relations professor at Seoul National University and the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security. He said Korean public diplomacy for a long time has categorized the country as developing.



"I've been stressing a need to shift our public diplomacy to being on par with that of advanced countries even before joining the KF and, in that regard, the coronavirus is becoming a turning point to do so," Lee said.



He views that a few years down the road, public health and quarantine measures are likely to account for "a significant portion" of public diplomacy, adding to the list of Korea's future-oriented public diplomacy.



Among those areas are information technology, including smartphone applications, quick-delivery services, virtual K-pop concerts and a mature civic society.



"While public health and pandemic had little existence in public diplomacy before the virus, this will change and they will help expand our diplomatic horizon," Lee said.



He believes Korea's emergence as a model in combating the pandemic will appeal, with other countries seeing it as a more secure investment and business destination, along with three other factors  economic development, democratization and the Korean wave or hallyu.



"Pandemics will become a key factor to consider in daily life," Lee said. "And our pandemic model can be seen as favorable in addition to the three other models that secure Korea's image as a free economy, a safe society and a creativity power."



The KF was one of the first among the ministries and government-affiliated organizations to designate a special representative to promote the country's health policies abroad.



Professor Jee was appointed based on her 15-year experience at the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare and seven years at the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office.



"It (the appointment) will bring the country a better chance to address our expertise on pandemic more actively and accurately on the international stage," Jee said.



She also mentioned that a large number of confirmed cases detected by extensive testing adopted from an early stage of the outbreak in Korea was misinterpreted to the world as if Korea was not efficiently handling this crisis. Rather, Korea' strategy of extensive testing should be considered positively.
President Moon Jae-in speaks during a weekly meeting with his senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap



President Moon Jae-in called Monday for an "aggressive" approach to surmount the global supply chain crisis, saying it poses a more serious threat to South Korea than Japan's yearlong retaliatory export control.



He urged the government to map out a detailed strategy and plan for South Korea to turn the trouble into an opportunity, speaking during a weekly meeting with his senior Cheong Wa Dae aides.



"In the midst of the COVID-19 situation, protectionism and national egoism are gaining force in the entire world," Moon noted. "The international division of labor is cracking and the global supply chain is rapidly being reorganized."



He described it as a "very serious threat" that is not comparable to Tokyo's existing export curbs against Seoul.



Moon stressed that South Korea should handle the supply chain problem in an aggressive mode, shifting away from a "defensive" stance, and turn the crisis into a chance.



The president cited his administration's bold scheme to transform the nation into a "materials and parts" power and "world factory of state-of-the-art industries."






Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning. Cloudy skies late. High near 70F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy early, becoming mostly clear after midnight. Low 44F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Thunderstorms in the morning will give way to cloudy skies late. High near 70F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Higher wind gusts possible..

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A few clouds. Low 44F. NNW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Rain showers early with overcast skies later in the day. High 72F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Evening clouds will give way to clearing. Low 44F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
According to a proposed city ordinance, Kansas City will allocate $1 million of Clay County CARES Act funds to Northland Neighborhoods, Inc. to provide emergency rental, rapid rehousing, utility or nutrition assistance to low-income households. Another $1.5 million will go to the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City to provide grants of up to $50,000 to businesses in the Kansas City portion of Clay County that had operations significantly impacted by COVID-19.
"We are going to be running at just about full capacity again this year after the pandemic last year," said Director of Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation PJ Holm. Read more
People wade through water after heavy rainfall at a street in Hefei, Anhui province, on June 27, 2020. [Photo by Huang Yangyang/For China Daily]

Top priority should be given to people's lives, safety, he says in instruction

President Xi Jinping has underlined the importance of putting people and life first in an instruction given on the country's flood control and disaster relief work.

The National Meteorological Center issued an alert for rainstorms for the 27th straight day on Sunday as floods caused by continuous downpours have left at least 81 people missing or dead.

With downpours increasing in southern and southwestern China, many areas have been hit by flooding and geological disasters, Xi said. He required local governments at all levels and all related departments to make all-out efforts to prevent disasters and carry out emergency rescue work.

Noting that some areas hit severely by floods will enter the typhoon season, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, asked departments including the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters to strengthen coordination and guide the flood and typhoon prevention and relief work in relevant regions.

In the instruction released on Sunday, Xi said that governments and departments should make overall arrangements concerning the current COVID-19 pandemic prevention measures as well as flood control, clearly identify responsibilities and combine prevention work with emergency responses.

He also required efforts to strengthen monitoring over the flood situation, to identify potential risks in a timely manner, and to well organize rescue and relief work.

Xi noted that people affected by the disasters should receive appropriate resettlement and that top priority should be given to guaranteeing people's lives and safety.

The National Meteorological Center issued on Sunday a yellow alert, the second-lowest in the country's four-tier color-coded weather warning system, for rainstorms for the 24 hours starting from 2 pm on Sunday.

During that time, some areas in nine provincial regions, mostly located in southern parts of the country, will be engulfed by torrential rains. Among them, central and southern parts of Jiangsu province and northern parts of Shanghai will be the worst hit and receive precipitation of 10 to 20 centimeters, according to the center.

The center also issued a blue alert, the lowest in the warning system, for severe convective weather, which is characterized by strong winds, hail, thunderstorms and brief but heavy rainfall, for the same period. The greatest hourly precipitation in the affected areas will generally be between 3 and 5 centimeters but may exceed 7 centimeters in the most extreme circumstances, it said.

Some areas in Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces will be hit by thunderstorms and gales, it added.

Continuous rainfall has wreaked havoc in many regions across the country, especially southern parts of the country.

According to the Ministry of Emergency Management, 13.74 million people in 26 provincial regions had suffered from floods caused by continuous downpours and over 744,000 people had been evacuated as of Friday.

The direct economic losses from the floods have reached 27.8 billion yuan ($3.93 billion), it added.

A rainstorm that lashed Mianning county in Sichuan province, for example, caused the deaths of three people, and another 12 are reported missing.

The rainstorm started at 6 pm on Friday and ended at 1 am on Saturday, causing two deaths after part of an expressway collapsed and one car and one minivan fell into a river. The third death was reported in the town of Yihai, according to the county's information office.

Sheltered in one of the four resettlement areas accommodating more than 2,100 people affected by the rainstorm, Ah Limo, 13, from the village of Caogu, said that it was "terrifying".

Two hours after the rainstorm struck the county together with hail, the power supply was cut. At 11 pm, a village official asked his family to go to a resettlement area to escape the flood.

He Jianmei, deputy Party secretary of Mianning, said each resident in the four resettlement areas received two loaves of bread, a bag of milk and mineral water for supper on Saturday and lunch boxes on Sunday.

The Ministry of Water Resources warned of the risk of major floods of small and medium-sized rivers in areas affected by the coming rainfall.

Due to downpours from 8 am on Friday to 8 am on Saturday, 13 rivers in southern parts of the country rose above their warning levels. As the rainfall continues, watercourses in the basins of the Yangtze, Huaihe and Pearl rivers and Taihu Lake are expected to see a marked increase in their water levels, it said.

The ministry has demanded intensified monitoring and patrolling to cope with the situation.

Hydrologic monitoring should especially be ramped up in the areas of the Huaihe River and Taihu Lake. Local emergency management authorities should be notified of the results in a timely manner so they can prepare flood and disaster relief work, the ministry said.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, right, and state Secretary of Health Dr. Nate Smith discuss the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic on June 29, 2020 (Photo: KATV)
Now that things have loosened up with regard to the pandemic, are there precautions you are still practicing? Which have you relaxed?
Description

GIS  29 June 2020: Cleanliness is not a privilege but is above all a human value that needs to be preserved and instilled to the youth so as to keep their neighbourhood green and clean, stated the Minister of the Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr Kavydass Ramano, yesterday, at Residence Pere Laval, in Quatre Bornes.

He was participating in a cleaning campaign, organised by the Ministry of the Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, in collaboration with the Municipality of Quatre Bornes and the private sector, in the context of World Environment Day, celebrated on 05 June each year. This cleaning campaign spans over three days, from 28 to 30 June 2020.

Minister Ramano highlighted that it is important that everyone considers cleanliness to be a value that must be perpetuated. This campaign, he said, must not be a one-off event for the inhabitants as it is important for them to keep their neighbourhood clean and lively by regularly carrying out cleaning activities. Furthermore, he underscored that his ministry has embarked on several projects to replant several types of trees across the island. Priority is being given to decorative, fruit and endemic trees.

As for the Parliamentary Private Secretary, Mrs Tania Diolle, she underlined that the inhabitants of Residence Pere Laval are involved in the campaign as they previously made complaints to the authorities about unmaintained land and polluting waste. Cleanliness of the neighbourhood, she emphasised, is a collective effort and not the sole responsibility of government and municipal authorities. Mrs Diolle thus made an appeal for the youth to be more involved in keeping their neighbourhood tidy.

It is recalled that cleaning campaigns have already been carried out at Bain des Dames, Cassis, Sainte Croix, and Cite La Cure, among others, and several other regions have also been earmarked in the coming days.
WILLIAMS BAY  The Music By The Lake summer concert season at George Williams College has been cancelled for 2020 in what would have been the events 20th season.

Rebecca Sherrick, president of Aurora University, which owns George Williams College, said that while the summer music series is enjoyed by many people, the safety of its attendees is valued above all else during the coronavirus pandemic.

We dont ever want to undercut the health and welfare of the lake community, Sherrick said in a statement announcing cancellation of the lakefront concert series.

In her announcement, Sherrick said after seeing newscasts of dense crowds at the Riviera Beach in Lake Geneva over the Memorial Day weekend, she knew the university had made the right decision to cancel its concerts.

The Williams Bay college had been eagerly anticipating the 2020 concert season as the 20-year anniversary for the event.

Jim DAlessandro of the Williams Bay Business Association said the loss of the George Williams College concert series is cause for concern among local businesses.

Many local concerts and festivals traditionally draw big crowds to the area in July and August, DAlessandro said.
Phil Gruber is the news editor at Lancaster Farming. He can be reached at 717-721-4427 or pgruber@lancasterfarming.com. Follow him @PhilLancFarming on Twitter.
Mississippi lawmakers on Sunday have voted to get rid of the Confederate symbol from the state flag and to form a commission to select a new state banner. Thus, making it the last state in the union to let flap the "Southern Cross" over the its Statehouse.

This monumental vote gained 91 - 23 in the House, while it was 37 - 14 in the Senate, according to CBS News. Consequently, before a decision was reached there were several days of the dispute on the state flag emblem as there was a rallying cry from government officials, business persons, church leaders, colleges, and athletes to take down the 126-year old Confederate symbol.

Back in 2001 the majority of Mississippi voters, however, wanted to keep this piece of history. They were all in favor to keep to the stars and bars in the upper left corner.

Gov. Reeves Says He'll Sign the Bill If It Passes

Governor Tate Reeves via a Facebook post on Saturday announced that if the state legislature passes to abolish the Confederate symbol from the state flag, then he approves the ongoing change.

"To heal our wounds, to forgive, to resolve that the page has been turned, to trust each other. With God's help, we can," the Governor explained his position on social media.

Protesters and Their Quest to Erase the Confederate Symbol

Protesters continue to push the removal of antiquated symbols of slavery and inequality as a result of George Floyd's death which fanned the flame to reexamine racism. In Richmond, Virginia, according to The New York Times, the statue of Confederate President Jefferson was toppled down after which paint was splattered all over the stone sculpture.

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The surge in coronavirus cases in Florida was attributed to residents in their 20s and 30s, Governor Ron DeSantis said in a news conference on Saturday. He said the condition of coronavirus cases in the state was not as bad as the recorded statistics show.

In the news conference, DeSantis, who was seated with medical professionals, pointed out a "significant" increase in coronavirus cases as reported by the radio station, WUSF, in Florida.

In a report from Miami Herald, the governor cited numbers that showe the state's recent spike in cases as primarily caused by Floridians aged 18 to 44.

"They're younger people. They're going to do what they're going to do," DeSantis pointed out.

The said age group is socializing at a greater rate as the state saw more cases coming in, said DeSantis, who did not mandate the use of face masks in indoor public places.

Cell phone data from Tampa Bay Times supports DeSantis's statements

The data showed state resident began going out much more frequently in May than they had during the months of March and April.

That movement could only be partly correlated to the government's actions. Records show that Floridians had more outside-home movement even before the reopening of establishments in the state on May 4.

The median age of reported coronavirus positive patients dropped since testing began in March, from a median of 65 cases to 55.

As he had consistently said in the past weeks, DeSantis noted that younger people are less at risk when it comes to contracting the virus and its other health implications.

Jason Foland, one of the doctors at the news conference and pediatric unit medical director at Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart in Pensacola, said the younger population may be experiencing signs of a "less severe" strand of the virus. He stressed this theory needs to be studied further.

Foland said getting sick from an aggressive strain of the virus prevents people from going out in the community, not spreading it, but suffering from symptoms such as the common cold makes people more likely to "[spread] it all over the place."

Both Foland and DeSantis said younger people, despite the lower risks, are not immune to the worst outcomes and possible infection of more vulnerable populations.

"No huge clinical consequences, but in terms of spread and some of the other vulnerable populations, it's certainly a cause for concern," DeSantis said.

With this, DeSantis reiterated the importance of practicing social distancing to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

DeSantis asked everyone to be "on board" in limiting movement outside the house, focusing on places that are frequentlz visited by the younger Florida residents.

The greater number of young people contracting the virus poses a threat to older populations in the state.

On Sunday, DeSantis urged the younger population to follow the older population in terms of social distancing rules.

"The seniors have been very, very diligent," DeSantis said, asking them to maintain their diligence.

Florida set a new record of positive cases of 4,049 new cases in 24 hours, bringing the total to 93,797, with the spike of coronavirus cases this week.

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On Sunday, the global total of COVID-19 deaths hit 500,000 as the number of confirmed cases reached 10 million. The grim milestones come despite warnings that the pandemic has yet to reach its peak.

In the early days of the pandemic, China and Europe suffered from the brunt of the virus. Now, the novel coronavirus rages across the United States and Latin America.

U.S. COVID-19

In the first few months of the pandemic, hot spots emerged in the Northeastern States, particularly in New York. However, recent surges occurred in the South and the West after restrictions were lifted. The new hot spots forced some states to postpone their plans to reopen.

Also read: Texas Governor Mulls Another Lockdown as Daily COVID-19 Cases Hit 5,489

Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday suggested the number of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. is likely ten times higher than what is reported.

The study found that in South Florida, less than 2 percent of the population was exposed to the virus as of early April. But the recent surges may have raised the proportion in the state. Dr. Fiona Havers, who led the study, said many people might have mild or asymptomatic infections.

In Missouri, the study recorded a vast difference between record infections and the actual prevalence of data. As of April 26, only 2.65 percent of the population contracted the novel coronavirus. However, the number is about 24 times the 6,800 total reported cases, the New York Times reported.

Latin America COVID-19

Several countries in the Latin American region, particularly Mexico and Brazil, have quickly become a focal point of the coronavirus pandemic. Before the first cases were recorded, health experts warned the region's densely packed cities, legions of informal settlers, and starving health care systems may undermine any attempt to slow or stop the spread of the virus.

While parts of Asia and Europe begin to recover months after the pandemic first struck, the disease has only worsened across Latin America, with deaths doubling in a month.

In recent weeks, Brazil, led by President Jair Bolsonaro, often recorded the world's highest number of daily coronavirus cases and deaths. On Monday, Brazilian health officials recorded 30,476 new cases and 552 additional deaths. On Sunday, authorities reported 38,693 new cases and 1,109 virus-related fatalities, as reported by Reuters.

Health officials in Mexico reported 4,410 additional coronavirus infections and 602 new deaths on Saturday. The numbers bring the country's total tally to 212, 802 cases, and 26,381 deaths.

However, not every country in the region is facing a dire situation. According to a report by the Guardian, Uruguay, one of the region's most progressive enclave, has only recorded 25 coronavirus-related deaths. Experts attribute the country's success to its extensive public health coverage and access to safe, running water.

In Paraguay, only 1,392 cases and 13 deaths were recorded despite being the home to 7 million people. Dr. Antonio Arbo, an epidemiologist, claimed Paraguay's success is linked to its prompt and strict implementation of coronavirus measures and the good behavior of most of its population.



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The White House clarified and claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump did not hear the phrase "White Power" from a video Trump retweeted from his supporters in Florida.

A retirement community in Florida called The Villages organized a parade to support the re-election bid of Trump. They called their group as Villagers for Trump, a community organized coalition. Meanwhile, as the Villagers for Trump hold their parade, another group countered the supporters of Trump.

The president immediately posted the video of the parade through his Tweeter account and gave thanks to the great people of The Villages. However, his tweet lasted only for roughly three hours and it was deleted later on because Trump was not aware of a person in the video chanting "White Power!"

Why was the Tweet Deleted?

According to a published report in CNN News, US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said that he had not seen the video, but Trump and his administration would not do anything that supports discrimination of any kind.

This could be the possible reason why the tweet was immediately deleted after roughly three hours because the video showed white supremacy support. In can be remembered that Trump's administration has established different coalitions to support his Presidential bid.

Some of these coalitions are Latinos for Trump, Blacks for Trump, Women for Trump, and more. In fact, Trump and his administration tried to do everything to pacify the country amid the systemic racism by signing an executive order that focuses on police reforms following the deaths of African-Americans like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, and others.

Not Aware of the "White Power!" Chant

Former national security adviser John Bolton also said that Trump might retweet the video from his supporters in Florida because he saw the sign "Trump 2020" but was not able to hear the man saying "White Power!"

Additionally, White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said in a statement that Trump is a big fan of The Villages and that he did not hear the phrase "White Power!" He also reiterated that what the president saw was the immense support and enthusiasm of The Villages for his re-election bid.

The founder of the Villagers for Trump also clarified on Sunday that the man who shouted "White Power!" is not a member of the group and he has no idea who the man is. Gee also added that the organization will not condone somebody within the group to talk about white supremacy.

John Calandro, who coordinates media for the group, supported Gee's statement and asserted that no one among the group knows who that person is and added that it is not an indicator of the people who live in The Villages.

Why Florida is Important to Donald Trump?

Florida will play a very important part of Trump's re-election bid this 2020 Presidential Election because this is where the Republican Party will hold their convention to nominate Trump and Pence, for president and vice president subsequently.

Hispanics and Latinos in the state are comprised of nearly five million making Florida the third state in the country with the largest number of Latino population, according to obtained data from Pew Research Centre.

Latino community is the largest minority group in the country with over 32 million eligible voters. If Trump would be successful in getting the attention of nearly five million Latinos in the state, then it would be an indication that the "Latinos for Trump" coalition is working and effective.

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U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar on Sunday warned that the "window is closing" to stop the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly in states where Latinos are highly affected.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the country has already reached more than 2.6 million with a death toll of more than 128,000, according to worldometers.

The top leading states with the highest number of COVID-19 cases are New York, California, New Jersey, Texas, Illinois, and Florida. Five of these six states are identified as having a large number of Latinos and Hispanics.

New York has the highest number of COVID-19 cases that have already reached more than 416,000 while Latinos living in the state are estimated to be around 3.7 million. In New York City alone, 34 percent of COVID-19 deaths are coming from the Latino and Hispanic communities according to a report in Politico.

California which has recorded more than 216,000 COVID-19 infections has more than 15.3 million Latinos and Hispanics living in the state. According to a report published in ABC News, 49 percent of COVID-19 patients in the state is coming from the Latino and Hispanic communities.

In Texas, where there are more than 153,000 cases of COVID-19 is also the home of 10.9 million Latino and Hispanic people. Moreover, 34.8 percent of COVID-19 deaths in the state is coming from the Latino and Hispanic communities according to data obtained from Salud America.

It is very evident that Latinos and Hispanics are highly affected by COVID-19 in the country. They are the largest minority group yet the most vulnerable of the virus because of the nature of their jobs as farmers, helpers, and blue-collar roles.

The U.S. now becomes the battleground of life and death for the Latinos and Hispanics. A battleground of life as they continue to work to sustain their daily needs and at the same time of death as they sacrifice their health and be exposed to the public.

Recommendation of the U.S. Health Secretary

The surge of COVID-19 cases in the country as it has already reached more than 2.6 million as of this time is very serious according to the U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar.

He said that the window to stop the spread of the infectious and deadly virus is closing. He also asserted that everyone must now act responsibly by observing proper social distancing and wearing face masks all the time.

Azar also expected that there would be more COVID-19 related hospitalizations in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci already warned that if these COVID-19 measures would not be observed, the country would experience an "uncontrollable" outbreak.

Moreover, despite the attack of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Pres. Donald Trump for not wearing face masks publicly, Azar defended Trump and said that the President is regularly tested for COVID-19.

However, Pelosi said that the reason why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended the use of face masks and not to demand or require it because the agency does not want to offend Pres. Donald Trump.

Pelosi emphasized that Donald Trump should be the leading example in the country of wearing face masks because for the House Speaker it is not about protecting himself, but about protecting the people around him.

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New Jersey will not reopen indoor dining this week as planned in the first major reversal of the states Phase 2 coronavirus reopening plan, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday.

Indoor dining was scheduled to resume Thursday along with several other big reopening steps including Atlantic City casinos, amusement parks, boardwalk rides and arcades ahead of the busy July 4th weekend.

Murphy cited recent scenes from expanded outdoor bar and restaurants showing packed crowds not wearing masks and ignoring social distancing as a reason from pausing indoor dining indefinitely.

Murphy had provided the detailed restrictions for indoor dining at restaurants on Saturday, but changed his mind just two days later. The restrictions had included 25% capacity limits, tables spaced 6 feet apart, face coverings for staff and other rules.

Given the current situation in numerous other states we do not believe it is prudent at this time to push forward with what is, in effect, a sedentary indoor activity  especially when we know that this virus moves differently indoors than out, making it even more deadly, Murphy said Monday at his regular COVID-19 briefing.

We have seen spikes in other states driven, in part, by the return of patrons to indoor dining establishments, where they are seated, and without face coverings, for significant periods of time, he said. We are also moved to take this step because of what we have seen in some establishments across the state of late.

Murphy added: Overcrowding. A complete disregard for social distancing. Very few, if any, face coverings.

New Jersey reopened outdoor dining on June 15 after about three months of only allowing restaurants to provide takeout or delivery.

But opening doors to allow diners to eat inside a restaurant has been scrapped indefinitely.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

The shift comes after some restaurants and bars have made headlines and videos of packed outdoor bars and restaurants, including last weekend at the Jersey Shore.

Heres security tamely trying to move crowds apart pic.twitter.com/RhrWhhtPBv  Josh Axelrod (@j0shaxelrod) June 28, 2020

Now, certainly, I recognize that there are many establishments whose owners, managers, and customers have been responsible, and who have lived up not just to the letter of the guidance we have released, but to the spirit of community in helping to protect patrons and residents, Murphy said.

But, others scenes cannot continue, and we cannot move forward unless there is complete compliance, he said. So, unfortunately, the national situation, compounded by instances of knucklehead behavior here at home, are requiring us to hit pause on the restart of indoor dining for the foreseeable future.

Murphy warned people last week the administration would crack down on those violating safety guidelines after the first round of viral videos surfaced from the Jersey Shore and other bar-heavy locations showing large unmasked crowds jammed into newly opened outdoor dining areas.

I get it. By the way, we all get it. There is pent up emotion to get back outside. We all want to be out, Murphy said a COVID-19 briefing last week. But there is no reason to be a knucklehead. Keep your distances. Wear your masks. Be smart and courteous  the world just isnt about you. Its about all 9 million of us.

DJais Bar and Grill in Belmar received a warning after footage from the weekend showed patrons standing or dancing close together without masks. And Tashmoo Bar and Restaurant in Morristown had its outdoor dining license revoked for overcrowding the patio.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Description

GIS  29 June 2020: Some 30 Permanent Secretaries (PS), Deputy PS, Assistant PS of the Public Service received certificates for the completion of a five-day training programme focusing on Women Empowerment on Boards .

The award ceremony was held on 26 June 2020, in presence of the Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance, Mr. Mahen Kumar Seeruttun, at the Financial Services Institute (FSI), in Ebene.

The training programme aim ed at upskilling and motivating the participants to bring more meaningful debate and decision-making to those Boards on which they serve.

In his address, the Minister underlined that it is crucial to have the equal role of women in the social and economic development of the country and this, he said, cannot be achieved only with token numbers. As regards the public sector, much effort is invested to ensure that there is diversity at the helm of ministries, he added.

According to him, more women should be conferred leadership positions, as they are competent to take on these responsibilities and can bring meaningful contribution in the workplace. He dwelt on the benefits of having women on Boards, namely to strengthen financial performance, for better decision - making, enhanced consumer insights and improved corporate governance.

Mr. Mahen Kumar Seeruttun recalled that Government has elaborated an arsenal of measures designed to improve diversity in the recruitment, development and retention of talent particularly in the Boardroom.

He observed that under - representation of women on Boards is still a sore reality, hence the need to put in more effort to bridge this gap. This mission, he added, needs constant nourishing and multi-stakeholder engagement.

Moreover, t he Minister encouraged the participants to feel empowered and to champion the changes that they would like to see for the upcoming generation. Women, he said, are leaders of the society, wherein they play the key role of bringing together the community.
Wind Creek Bethlehem is reopening Monday, more than 100 days after it closed amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March.

Heres what to expect if you want to visit the South Bethlehem gaming hall.

Doors open at 6 a.m. The casino closes at 3 a.m. nightly for a deep cleaning.

How to get in

Reservations arent needed, but theyre recommended if you dont want to stand in line. The casino is limiting capacity per Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board guidelines.

Masks or face coverings are required. You cannot wear a hat and hoods must stay down.

You will get your temperature checked before you can enter the casino.

Guests are asked to bring their own masks. If you dont have one, masks can be purchased by making a donation to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley & Northeast PA.

You must stay 6 feet from other guests. To accommodate social distancing, machine layouts have been redesigned as have dining spaces and lines.

There will be plexiglass dividers between slot machines to promote social distancing, but not all machines will be on.

Smoking is no longer allowed inside the building. You can only smoke in an outdoor area in the north parking lot.

Restaurants are only open to hotel guests and guests with a gaming reservation or standby reservation. Walk-ins are welcome when capacity allows it.

Whats closed?

The poker room and VIP slot lounge

Wind Creek Event Center

Molten Lounge and Vision Bar

Steelworks Buffet and Grill

Buddy Vs Ristorante

Croissanterie

GreenLeafs

Far East & South Philly Steaks & Fries

Wind Creek, one of the Lehigh Valleys largest employers, furloughed 2,100 employees at the start of June. The company expects to recall employees in phases as business ramps up.

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One person with COVID-19 who takes no precautions can trigger a chain of infection that leaves 406 people sick within a month.

Thats why health experts and governors are focused on anything that can break that chain.

The effort began with lockdown measures that caused vast economic damage.

Now, Pennsylvania is turning to robust contact tracing -- paired with more testing and social distancing -- to slow the viruss spread as we reopen the economy and, hopefully, avert another shutdown. Contact tracing involves locating the infected, identifying and alerting their close contacts and then asking them to quarantine.

Heres the power of contact tracing and mitigation: If those who are exposed self-quarantine once alerted, that one sick person would on average infect only two-and-a-half people over 30 days, instead of hundreds.

Thats the math and thats why we invested so heavily (in contact tracing), said Dr. Bob Murphy, Lehigh Valley Health Networks chief medical officer for populytics and chief integration officer.

Gov. Tom Wolf and state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine say contact tracing is crucial to allowing communities to safely reopen with the ability to quickly spot and quell outbreaks.

Public health experts estimate the state needs 2,000 to 4,000 contact tracers. But thats a tall order because the state is trying to rebuild its system amidst a global pandemic as Pennsylvanians gingerly return to normal life.

We are all recognizing the limitations of a defunded, understaffed public health infrastructure, said Vicky Kistler, Allentown Health Bureau director. ...This is a call to action to build a lasting public health infrastructure so we are never caught in this place again. The state is working tirelessly to this goal, but we arent positioned the same way as states where there is a health department in every county.

A public health patchwork

Just 130 state public health nurses oversee about 60% of Pennsylvanias population. Locally they are asked to cover places ranging from the city of Easton to tiny New Tripoli.

The Lehigh Valleys lucky to have two health networks and two city health bureaus to fill in the gaps.

Pennsylvanias patchwork approach to public health means that - while much of the state enters a phase of reopening where we can get haircuts, hit the gym and dine indoors - the strength of the states contact tracing depends very much on where you live.

To augment its community health nurses, the states laid out a contact tracing coalition plan of four municipal and six county health departments and volunteer contact tracers working with nonprofits and health networks to track Pennsylvanias COVID-19 cases. It divides the state into six regional consortiums to scale up tracing.

But that all is still taking shape as the state goes green.

We are building a public health workforce in the middle of a pandemic, Kistler said.

Lehigh Valley Health Networks listed as a key partner for the states northeast region tracing plan, but has yet to be contacted about its role.

The state has talked about an initiative to do that, but hasnt defined how that happens, Murphy said. At this point, were certainly proud of what we do and think we can help the state in whatever way their consortium decided to move forward.

Lindsey Mauldin, the head of Pennsylvanias contact tracing push, admits the challenges involved in trying, amid pandemic, to ramp up a coordinated system that shares information efficiently. She says she needs more staff to do it. New hires in the coming weeks should help.

Within the next few weeks we should start to see some of those conversations start to form, Mauldin said, adding the southeast and northeast will be focus areas. We just need the hands on deck to make it happen.

With Pennsylvanias current low case counts, the state requires about 600 tracers and it has about 500, Mauldin, who is special assistant to the health secretary on contact tracing, said.

We could see the need for hundreds and potentially thousands of contact tracers (depending on cases), she said.

The National Association of County and City Health Officials estimates that the U.S. needs 15 health workers per 100,000 for contact tracing during normal times and double that during a pandemic. That equates to 100,000 people nationally, according a position paper.

Contact tracing is integral as we move into reopening. It allows us to identify where cases might be originating, Mauldin said. We can really find out if there was a big party or a big gathering. We are able to identify folks if they came in contact with someone who was positive so they can stop the spread.

The state determines the number of contact tracers needed via a formula that looks at a countys seven-day average of new cases, multiplied by the number of contacts and the 30 minutes it takes to do an interview.

We always take into account the regional staff as well, Mauldin said.

More than 800 people have volunteered to be contract tracers through the ServPA platform .

We do have volunteers mobilized in certain areas of the state, she said. Theres been no rhyme or reason. We have just been trying to fill gaps where we needed them the most.

Contact tracing isnt new. Its been a staple of public health work in the United States for decades.

But COVID-19 contact tracing carries an extra layer of complexity that requires skill and lots of tracers at a time when public health is underfunded and local governments are dealing with pandemic-related budget holes.

Kistler is nervous about the reliance on volunteers when dealing with such a complex disease. It was hard for her staff to stay on top of ever-changing recommendations, let alone a sporadic volunteer, she said.

This contact tracing is different, she said. People are communicable with this disease before they have a sign or a symptom and some people are communicable without even any signs or symptoms.

State health officials expect case counts to grow as the state reopens.

COVID-19 test results must be electronically reported by health care providers and labs to Pennsylvanias National Electronic Disease Surveillance System.

When the department of health is notified of a positive case, community health nurses contact the person to perform a full investigation to identify their close contacts and provide instructions on isolation for the positive person. Investigations are confidential.

A close contact is anyone who was closer than six feet for more than 15 minutes, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Contact tracing aims to identify all of those people and get them to quarantine for two weeks.

The health department recently announced that contact tracing has identified 4,000 people who were exposed to COVID-19 and are being monitored.

There were at least 93 people working to trace the contacts of the Lehigh Valleys more than 7,600 cases at the peak of the pandemic.

Lehigh Valley Health Network traces every contact of the primary patients -- both those in hospitals, offices and its affiliated testing labs -- as well as tracing the contacts contacts.

It has a real domino effect, Murphy said of this secondary tracing. ...Thats why Lehigh and Northampton counties and the area have done so well despite being hit so hard in the earliest phases.

LVHN did no contact tracing before the pandemic. Now its completed more than 7,500 tracing interviews with a staff of 20 to 30 people.

Weve stayed pretty nimble to flex people on and off and adapt for the demand, said Brooke Griffiths, LVHN director of integrated care coordination. ...If theres a surge, we would have to asses.

Contact tracing relies on the cooperation of participants and some have been reticent to do so. LVHNs been able to trace 42% of secondary contacts, spokesman Brian Downs said.

It is important people participate with it so they can continue to help that curve drop, he said. There are always a few who dont want to give information. This is something that is critical for everybody.

St. Lukes University Health Network did not respond to an inquiry about its involvement in contact tracing.

The Bethlehem Health Departments gone from four community nurses performing contact tracing for the city of more than 75,000 to 13 trained employees. The city is in constant contact with its Medical Reserve Corps -- a group of volunteer health workers -- and local health networks about demand.

If the cases go up we would need to add capacity, health director Kristen Wenrich said.

The virus has hit Allentown hard. The citys reported almost 2,400 of the Valleys total cases. The health bureau was using all of its staff, plus workers from other city departments at the peak. Previously the Allentown Health Bureau had six employees working part-time on tracing.

We got to the point in this pandemic where we could not contact trace efficiently, Kistler said. We relied on our hospital partners and our patients to (help us inform close contacts).

Contact tracing allowed LVHN to pinpoint that the Lehigh Valley was rapidly becoming a virus hotspot due to its free flow of people between New Jersey and New York City. The tracing helped local bus companies decide to halt operations, Murphy said.

We were able to have a huge impact on mitigating that overwhelming response New York City saw at the height of the pandemic, Murphy said of the tracing. We never went beyond our capacity of respirators despite having huge numbers of people in our acute care facilities.

Now, the network is relying on its list of COVID-positive people to seek out convalescent plasma donors, one of the few proven treatments for the novel virus.

The next wave

Health officials are bracing for a fall surge while shifting employees back to routine public health work, organizing vaccination clinics and other education campaigns. Theyre urging folks to still seek out preventative medical care and go to the emergency room if they need help.

Overall, they remain optimistic the Lehigh Valley is ready for what may come.

We are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst in the fall, Wenrich said.

The Allentown Health Bureau is hiring five new part-time contact tracers, who are fluent in Spanish. Its eight Spanish-speaking employees were not enough during the pandemics peak, Kistler said. This will give the city about 20 tracers.

We are hoping help truly will be coming if our case counts starts to rise again, Kistler said. It rose very, very quickly last time, from a trickle to well over 100 cases a day. It was daunting.

Bethlehem is streamlining its data collection process, hoping to work out any kinks before activity picks up and getting creative about ways to bring on new tracers.

The irony of COVID-19 is that it is hitting hospitals bottom lines hard. Emergency room visits are down. Money-making elective surgeries were canceled for months. Many hospitals are furloughing workers and cutting spending.

All of that means no one has extra money to hire a lot of new contact tracers.

The state plans to supplement its tracing teams with volunteers and a staffing agency.

AmeriCorps is providing 50 volunteers for contact tracing this summer, and may add 100 more people in the fall. Temple University plans to add 200 students to help too.

Mauldin hopes new hires will be displaced workers and folks who would be the best messenger in a community, like a Spanish speaker in Allentown. The department is seeking a displaced worker grant to hire 110 more tracers in the northeast region.

Community health nurses will always make the primary contact with a patient to launch the investigation, Mauldin said. But volunteers and technology can help ease the caseload of daily check-ins.

Local health departments and the state are using an online contact monitoring system that integrates into the states disease surveillance system. It can send daily texts, email or phone calls to patients and close contacts during their quarantine periods to see how they are doing. If theres no response, then a person will reach out.

The state is also considering using anonymous Bluetooth tracking, which you would have to opt-into, to notify a person who tested positive recall where theyd been and who theyd be in close contact with. The state would not collect personal information, Mauldin said.

Automation really could show us where hot spots are and where folks are coming into contact, she said. But it does require people to use it.

Patients are going to have an increasing number of contacts as folks return to work and resume daily activities.

During lockdown, some people only came in contact with those they lived with, making tracing relatively simple. Now, someone could have 50 or more contacts to trace.

Health experts urged caution from Lehigh Valley residents as we transition into the green phase.

Their message: Contact tracing, mask wearing, hand washing and social distancing can help us regain a semblance of normalcy. But it requires all of our cooperation.

Green does not mean go, green means go slow, Griffiths said. ...A lot of people have quarantine fatigue, if you will. We are all excited to reopen, but reopening doesnt come without risk for reinfection and transmission.

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.
Families soon will be hiking trails, picnicking, kayaking and fishing alongside a newly stocked lake as state, county and Upper Mount Bethel Township officials Monday marked the reopening of Minsi Lake.

The 117-acre lake along Blue Mountain Drive had to be drained in 2017 and its fish relocated after its 50-year-old dam was deemed structurally deficient by the state Department of Environmental Protection. It was built in 1970 for public recreation by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. The state-owned lake and 194 acres of surrounding parkland has been leased to the county since 1975.

Repair work on the dam and spillway began in early 2018 and work was completed on the nearly $5 million project this past December. That portion of the project was headed up by the Pennsylvania Department of General Services. Funding for recreational improvements was allocated by a $500,000 Northampton County Council grant in 2018. An additional $275,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is funding a greenway stewardship plan for Minsi Lake, Bear Swamp Park and the Totts Gap Corridor, as well as construction of a fishing pier, kayak launch, hiking trails, picnic areas and restrooms.

While todays rededication highlights preservation, perseverance and pandemic progress, its also an example of partnership, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure told the public during a ceremony Monday morning at the lake. Guests wore masks and took part in social distancing while touring the dam improvements and wildlife habitats.

McClure credited the countys partnerships with state Sen. Mario Scavello and state Rep. Joe Emrick, both Republicans whose districts represents portions of Northampton County; Pennsylvania Fish and Boat; the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources, and the nonprofit organization, Friends of Minsi Lake, in bringing the project to fruition.

As we prepare to continue to fight for a green future for Northampton County, lets stop, take a moment and appreciate whats happening here, he added. And understand that this is why we fight to persevere and to preserve.

Emrick recalled growing up three miles away from Minsi Lake and riding his bike to the area to fish.

Its going to be an amazing place in a year or two, he said. Its a cherished ground for me ...

Youre looking at a lake that five and a half years ago, you didnt know if you were going to get it, Scavello said about the effort. And I have to tell you, Im going to brag for the area, the people in this area, because of the commitment here from the local people investing their time and their knowledge ... it put us a year in front (of other lake projects) and look at where we are today.

Timothy Schaeffer, executive director of Pennsylvania Fish & Boat, said the project was necessary because if the former dam was not raised, it literally would have eroded away. The project then allowed for a labyrinth spillway method, which now allows the maximum possible floods to pass.

We all know the sorts of storms we get these days so these were necessary infrastructure projects that we needed to do, he said.

Friends of Minsi Lake raised $140,000 for project materials to construct 640 large-scale fish structures and 200 small-scale fish habitat structures on the empty lakebed when the water was drained. Pennsylvania Fish & Boat this past March restocked the lake with rainbow trout, golden rainbow trout, large-mouth bass fingerlings and forage fish, such as minnows and golden shiners. Fishing will be managed under catch-and-release regulations.

The lake remains the same level it was prior to being drained in 2017. Some of its trees that grew up in the past three years are providing additional habitat areas for the fish, Schaeffer pointed out.

Picture yourself being a little bluegill or a large-mouth bass trying to survive, he said. It provides great cover and forage areas for them. So those trees will eventually die as the water levels keep them inundated ... but its terrific habitat right now.

There are plans on July 14 and July 15 to install another 100 porcupine cribs -- structures used to additionally benefit fish habitat. Turtle basking platforms also plan to be constructed by the Northampton County Junior Conservation League on the same days.

Minsi Lake additionally gained some national attention this year. The lake was named one of the Top 10 Waters to Watch nationwide by the National Fish Habitat Partnership.

The reason for that is because of the partnership thats here, the habitat work, the access work, Schaeffer said. This really has it all.

The near $5 million dam and spillway project at Minsi Lake in Upper Mount Bethel Township. State, county and local officials on Monday, June 29, 2020 officially marked the lake's reopening.

Claire Sadler, co-lead for Lehigh Valley Greenways, echoed about the recognition, I think thats a huge, huge thing for here. She noted Minsi Lake was one of two bodies of water named east of the Mississippi River, before adding, It just says so much more about this special opportunity we have here.

Andrew Curtis, chairman of the Northampton County Junior Conservation School, said his organization since 1980 has helped a thousand youth with an outdoor learning experience focusing on youth leadership, service and conservation. The group was thrilled to pitch in with the project, he said.

Minsi is a special place for the conservation school, Curtis said. Lake Minsi affords the opportunity that those thousand youth ... have learned better water safety sanctioned by Fish & Boat Commission here on this lake. Minsi Lake has provided the opportunity where a lot of those students who come through -- especially those from suburban and urban -- might be the first time theyve see a natural ecosystem; may have been the first place they have ever caught a fish.

Sadler added the four goals of the Lehigh Valley Greenways are: outdoor recreation; land conservation and restoration; community revitalization through green infrastructure; and environmental education.

I dont think I need to explain how this project has obviously touched on all of those really, she said. Being able to provide so much benefit for the local communities but also for those who come from outside the region to visit.

At the end of the ceremony, Upper Mount Bethel Township Supervisor David F. Due presented Schaeffer with a plaque that included a piece of slate from a local vendor on behalf of the township.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
The upcoming Salute to America military flyover will pass over both New York City and Philadelphia on a journey from Boston to Washington D.C. to celebrate Independence Day.

An exact date for the flyover was not provided by the Department of Defense in a statement, but it noted that it is proud to celebrate the nations 244th birthday so the flyover is likely to be on or around July 4.

The aerial salute will include cities that played roles in the American Revolution. It will begin in Boston before proceeding to New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore and then concluding in Washington D.C. In addition, there will be a flyover of Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.

The DOD said it will provide aerial, musical and ceremonial support to the celebration in Washington, D.C. The aircraft conducting the flyovers were not revealed. There were military flyovers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in April and May, including one by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds to show appreciation for health care workers on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus.

About 1,700 service members will take part in Salute to America at no additional expense to American taxpayers, the DOD said.

Flying hours are a sunk cost for the Department of Defense, and these aircraft and crews would be using these hours for proficiency and training at other locations if they were not conducting these flyovers, according to the DOD.
Minneapolis City Council voted 12 to 0 to disband and defund the citys police department.

On Saturday I looked on Realtor.com and saw that in the previous 36 hours, 1,400 homes and properties had been placed up for sale in Minneapolis.

Property values will plummet for those who will be fortunate enough to find a buyer. Many of those homes will never sell and the property owners will be stuck living in a city where crime will run rampant.

Im sure all those people who put their homes up for sale did not vote for the brainless twits who chose to eliminate the Minneapolis Police Department. I feel sorry for those people who did not vote for those council members. For those who did vote for them, you reap what you sow  in this case negative equity.

Tom Discafani

Lopatcong Township
By Sally C. Pipes

The Trump administration just made it a bit easier for foreign doctors to join the fight against the coronavirus.

This month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services authorized foreign doctors in the Conrad 30 program to conduct telehealth visits across state lines. Previously, these doctors  up to 30 per state  could only practice in the rural, underserved communities to which their visas assigned them. The move could reduce pressure on hospitals in COVID-19 hotspots by allowing patients who need care for other reasons to seek it without leaving their homes.

Its a small step in the right direction. Foreign-trained physicians have long been key members of Americas healthcare workforce. Our leaders must attract more of them to this country  and permit them to practice to the fullest of their abilities, both now and after the pandemic passes.

The United States is in dire need of doctors. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the country could be up to 122,000 physicians short over the next decade. Some regions are already facing shortages. The South needs some 31,000 doctors to meet present demand; the Midwest, about 13,000.

COVID-19 has exacerbated this state of affairs. Hospitals in coronavirus hotspots have had to deal with a surge in patients, often without a corresponding increase in providers. Those doctors who are on the frontlines can be knocked out of commission for weeks if they contract the virus.

Policymakers have tried all sorts of things to increase the supply of doctors, from graduating medical students early to coaxing doctors out of retirement. But they've been surprisingly reticent to open our doors to more foreign doctors.

USCIS recently suspended "premium" visas, which the government has to process within 15 days. Eliminating the premium option forces foreign physicians into the regular applicant pool, which was already plagued by a years-long backlog. Currently, 10,000 doctors are waiting for a visa.

Foreign-trained doctors also face absurd bureaucratic barriers. The government requires foreign physicians to submit a paper copy of their application for an H-1B visa, which allows someone to work in a highly-skilled profession and can run hundreds of pages. Even when granted, H-1Bs prevent doctors from switching employers, working in other states, or practicing outside their approved specialty. These restrictions have prevented experienced doctors with low caseloads from relocating to states that have been hit hard by COVID-19.

As Dr. Shantanu Singh, a critical care physician in West Virginia, puts it, the existing visa policy "takes thousands of physicians out of the pool that can buttress the loss of doctors from exposure, infection and illness while fighting the pandemic."

Among those thousands of physicians are an internal medicine hospitalist based in rural Delaware, who recently told The New York Times hed been bombarded with calls from recruiters hoping to shuttle him to hospitals struggling with COVID-19. Visa restrictions prevented him from moving. An Illinois-based internist who has been working in the United States for 13 years told NPR his visa bound him to his employer and prevented him from helping out in New York.

The United States is even less accommodating to foreign medical students doing their residencies here. If they're on a J-1 visa, as most are, then they must return to their home countries for at least two years before they're allowed to apply to return to the United States, with limited exceptions. About one-third of these foreign doctors training in the United States are from India.

In other words, the United States routinely turns away foreign doctors as soon as they've finished their training here. That makes little sense.

COVID-19 has revealed the depths of America's doctor shortage. Foreign-born and foreign-educated physicians want to help fill that shortage. We must allow those who are qualified and can meet our nation's examination requirements to do so.

Sally C. Pipes is President, CEO, and Thomas W. Smith Fellow in Health Care Policy at the Pacific Research Institute. Her latest book is False Premise, False Promise: The Disastrous Reality of Medicare for All (Encounter 2020). Follow her on Twitter @sallypipes.
The Do it for Dan fundraising committee yesterday confirmed the heartbreaking news that little Dan Donoher will not be travelling to America for his planned infusion as he does not qualify for the treatment.

The committee made the announcement via the campaigns Facebook page on Sunday night, June 28, following the second set of tests taken as part of the standard process when preparing for treatment. The results showed that Dan had contracted a virus (which only 5% of the population are susceptible to) sometime in the last few months which has caused him to develop antibodies that will prevent the infusion from being successful.

Today, Monday, SMA Ireland has issued the following statement in response to the announcement from the Donoher family regarding the Do It For Dan campaign funds:

"SMA Ireland was saddened to learn that baby Dan Donoher does not qualify for the newest Spinal Muscular Atrophy drug, Zolgensma. It was a cruel twist of fate following the astonishingly successful #DoItForDan campaign," the statement began.

"Despite this setback., the #DoItForDan campaign has had many positives. Not only has raised much-needed funds for Dans longer-term care, but also the Donoher family intend for some of the money to go towards the wider SMA community and SMA Ireland in particular. The entire Spinal Muscular Atrophy family in Ireland commends Aisling and Niall for this generous gesture.

"SMA Ireland represents the 25 children and 30 adults in Ireland with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Our organisation was established following a successful campaign for access to the life changing SMA drug, Spinraza, in Ireland. Another SMA drug, Zolgensma, is now approved in Europe and is currently being reviewed for reimbursement in Ireland by the HSE. SMA Ireland looks forward to a favourable outcome of this process.

"Advances in SMA therapies continue, but treatment in Ireland remains restricted to under 18s. SMA Ireland envisages an Ireland where SMA sufferers of all ages will have access to the best treatments available, and this kind donation provides much-needed funds for this effort."
Today the Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Father Martin Hayes, a priest of the Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly, as the new Bishop of Kilmore.

Bishop-elect Martin Hayes was born in Borris (Newhill), Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, Co Tipperary on October 24, 1959. His late parents were Daniel and Mary Agnes and Martin is the eldest of five sons and three daughters, one of whom died in infancy.

Martin received his primary school education in Saint Kevins National School, Littleton and secondary school education in CBS, Thurles.

In September 1977, he began his studies in Production Engineering at NIHE Limerick, now the University of Limerick. During his studies in Limerick, Martin became involved in Muintearas Iosa, a youth faith initiative which continues to keep the three flames of Failte (welcome), Foghlaim (learning) and Gui (prayer) alive in the diocese. He was instrumental in organising Muintearas Iosa events in Dublin and in his native Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly in the early 1980s.

In September 1983, Father Martin entered Saint Patricks College, Thurles, to study for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly. Having completed a Certificate in Philosophical Studies and a Diploma in Theology he was ordained deacon on 4 April 1988, and to priesthood on 10 June 1989, by the Archbishop Dermot Clifford.

Father Martin undertook further studies to the Gregorian University, Rome, and completed a Licentiate in Philosophy (Anthropology) in 1991 while staying at the Pontifical Irish College.

He was then appointed to the teaching staff at Saint Patricks College, Thurles, and taught philosophy until 2001. During this period of his ministry, Father Martin worked as a marriage preparation course facilitator with Accord, served as its Diocesan Director with the personnel of the Thurles and Tipperary centres, and established an administrative office to coordinate Accords activities.

In 1997, he was appointed Bursar at Saint Patricks College, Thurles. As part of diocesan millennium initiatives and in cooperation with the then Mid-Western Health Board, Father Martin was instrumental is setting up SUAS (Suicide: Understanding and Support) - a listening service for those bereaved by suicide. Throughout his time at Saint Patricks College he worked in parishes in the Diocese of Sacramento, California, during the summer months.

In August 2001, Father Martin undertook a sabbatical year studying at the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, California, and separately at Tabgha Farm - Centre for Ecology & Spirituality, located in Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia.

In September 2002, Father Martin was appointed as curate to Thurles Parish with responsibility for Saints Joseph & Brigid Church, Bothar na Naomh. He resumed his facilitation of marriage preparation courses with Accord Thurles, served on the Accord National Executive Council and provided supervisory support for Accord personnel in the South-East Region. He became an active member of the Cashel & Emly Ongoing Formation and Education of Priests Committee from its inception in 2003.

Father Martin worked as a part-time lecturer in Introduction to Philosophy on the newly established Bachelor of Arts in Education, Business Studies & Religious Studies course for secondary school student teachers which was delivered in Saints Patricks College, Thurles. He also engaged with the two-year Ecology & Theology programme provided by the Columban Fathers, in Dalgan Park, Navan, Co Meath, on an audit basis.

In July 2007, Father Martin was appointed Administrator of the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles. Working in collaboration with a group of lay people, he encouraged the celebration of relationships with the established voluntary organisations in Thurles, promoting the ongoing development of pastoral outreach and faith development groups which culminated in the formation of a Parish Pastoral Council in 2017.

During Father Martins term as Administrator, Saints Joseph & Brigids Church, Bothar na Naomh was renovated, a Pastoral Centre (Lamh Chunta) was constructed and the cathedral presbytery was refurbished. During this period, Father Martin was elected a member of the Cashel & Emly Council of Priests, having previously served as its recording secretary. Father Martin was also appointed as a member of the diocesan committee for safeguarding children.

In 2014, with the appointment of Archbishop Kieran OReilly SMA as Archbishop of Cashel & Emly, Father Martin co-ordinated the efforts of all involved in the preparations for his Episcopal installation at the Cathedral of the Assumption on 8 February 2015.

Elected chairman of the new Council of Priests, and subsequently re-elected in 2020, Father Martin became involved as a member of the newly established Diocesan Pastoral Council. He was also a member of the Seinn Diocesan Committee which promotes and organises liturgical singing and music events involving the secondary school students at the cathedral.

In August 2017 Father Martin was appointed to the full time position of Director of Pastoral Planning & Development in the Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly and he took up residence at the Parochial House, Knockanrawley, Tipperary Town.

The Diocese of Kilmore includes almost all of County Cavan and a portion of Counties Leitrim, Fermanagh, Meath and Sligo. The diocese has a Catholic population of about 69,000 people, served by 51 priests, who minister in 35 parishes comprising 95 churches. The patrons of the diocese are Saint Patrick, who is celebrated on 17 March, and Saint Felim on 9 August.
Hastings, NE (68901)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
The death has occurred of Mary Cahill

Of Milford, Cork and Shanagolden

On June 26, 2020.

Deeply regretted by her brother Chris, sister in law, nephews, nieces, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

Rest In Peace.

Requiem Mass on Wednesday, July 1 at 2pm in Shanagolden Church and burial afterwards in Kilbradren Cemetery.

As per HSE Guidelines due to Covid-19 funeral mass is limited to 50 people.

The death has occurred of Michael (Mick) Connery

Of Fairyfield, Kilmallock

On June 29, 2020. Very peacefully, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Very deeply regretted by his loving wife Eileen, son Michael, daughters Louise and Jacqueline, daughter-in-law Linda, sons-in-law Ian and Damien, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, grandchildren, especially Jason and Adam and his adored great-grand-daughters Ivy and Mabel, brothers Con, Johnny, Billy, Tony, Denis, Neddy, sister Nancy, nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives, very kind neighbours and his many, many friends

May he rest in peace

In line with the directives and good practice, Mick will be reposing at his home until Wednesday, his funeral cortege will then leave his home at Fairyfield on Wednesday at 11:30am (approx.) to arrive for 12 noon Requiem mass at SS Peter and Pauls Church in Kilmallock, followed by burial afterwards in the local cemetery, which will be confined to family and close friends. You may, if you wish, submit your condolence by phone to Daffy's 063-98000 or you can e-mail it through to daffyscondolences@gmail.com at any time. Thank you for your co-operation and consideration at this difficult time.

The death has occurred of Bridie Flynn (nee Storan)

Of Kilnadeema, Loughrea, Galway and Fedamore

On June 28, 2020, Peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family.

Bridie will be sadly missed by her loving husband Michael, heart-broken children Caroline, Michael, Ann and Susan, sons-in-law Des, John and Richard, daughter-in-Deirdre.

Devoted grandmother will be fondly remembered by her cherished grandchildren Emily, Davin, Tyler, Erin, Alex, Rian, Sophie and Eli.

Deeply regretted by her loving sister Margaret, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, extended family and friends.

Due to government restrictions and HSE guidelines Bridies funeral will take place in private for family only.

Requiem Mass for Bridie will take place on Wednesday July 1 at 12 oclock in St. Dympnas Church, Kilnadeema.

Followed by private cremation.

Condolences to the family can be sent in the traditional manner.

The family deeply appreciate your kindness and support at this difficult time.

A Memorial Mass for Bridie will be held at a later date.

The death has occurred of Kathrina O'Dwyer

Of Abbey Lane, Sandmall, formerly of Rosbrien

Peacefully in Milford Care Centre. Beloved wife of Alan. Dearly loved daughter of George and the late Phyllis. Regretted by her sisters Bella, Agnes, Anne and Noreen, brothers George and Jude, extended family and friends.

Reposing at Thompsons Funeral Home for family and close friends this Wednesday, July 1, 2020 from 3pm to 5pm. Funeral Service in Old Mungret Cemetery on Thursday, July 2 2020 at 12 noon.

In line with best practice taken from government advice regarding public gatherings, a private funeral will take place. Mass Cards and letters of sympathy can be posted to Thompson Funeral Directors.

The death has occurred of Brid Reddy (nee Cusack)

Of Parteen, Clare and Farranshone

Formerly of Glenview Ave, Farranshone, Limerick

Brid died peacefully at University Hospital Limerick. Dearly beloved wife of Eamon and daughter of the late Hannah and Michael Cusack. She leaves behind her children, grand-children, nieces, nephews, cousins, relations and neighbours, all of whom have been touched by her strong faith.

A special thank you to palliative care nurse, Catherine, who was at her side when Covid-19 meant that we could not be.

Hazel, Saffron and Tiernan put these words together to remember their granny.

You loved to hear us count in Irish

You emptied salt on every meal

Your eyes lit up every time we visited

Your leaving us now doesnt feel real

In compliance with current guidelines and with the support of Brids family, her funeral will be for those closest to Brid.

Requiem Mass will take place on Friday, July 3 at 12 noon at St. Patricks Church, Parteen.

Personal messages of sympathy may be expressed below or through the condolence section of www.griffinfunerals.com or by post to Griffins Funeral Home.

The death has occurred of Michael Collins

Late of Rosemount, Rathkeale

Peacefully in the care of the nurses and staff of Adare and District Nursing Home. Survived by his wiife Nuala, son John, daughters Michelle, Caroline and Susan, grandchildren, brothers Jimmy and Batty, sisters Maureen, Kathleen and Josie, nephews, nieces,brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, relatives and friends. R.I.P. Funeral arriving at St. Mary's Church Rathkeale for Requiem Mass at 12 noon on Tuesday. Cremation afterwards at Shannon Crematorium. As per HSE guidelines Mass and cremation for family only.

The death has occurred of Catherine (Kathleen) Judge (nee Purcell)

Of Upper Main Street., Hospital,

Formerly of Ballinlough, Kilteely,

On June 28, 2020

Catherine passed away peacefully in the care of the staff of Beech Lodge Care Facility Bruree, Co. Limerick. Predeceased by her husband Tom, Brothers Bro. Michael, Tommy, Billy, Bro. Charles, Sisters Sr. Rita, Sr. Josephine. Deeply regretted by her brother Philip, sisters Isobel (Horton), Nora (Donovan), Nancy (Ivory), Sr. Juliana (Sally), Breda (McManus), brother in law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, great-grandnephews, cousins, family, relatives and friends.

Catherine will be reposing at Davern's Funeral Home, Hospital, Co. Limerick (V35 XV96) this Monday, June 29, from 11am until 9pm for anyone who wishes to pay their resepcts.

The family will not be in attendance

Catherine will arrive at St. John the Baptist Church, Hospital, on Tuesday, June 30 at 11.20am, for Requiem Mass at 11.30am, burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

May Her gentle soul rest in peace

Due to the present climate under Covid-19 restrictions; anyone who would have liked to have attended Catherine's funeral and express their sympathy and support to the family at this sad time can leave a message of support and condolences on the link below. Mass cards can be posted to Davern's Funeral Home, Hospital
GLENROE Community National School took another big step on its journey to reopening this week as a new head teacher has been announced.

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Julie OConnor as head teacher of the school which is scheduled to open this September. It has been closed since 2015.

The appointment follows confirmation in April by the Minister for Education Joe McHugh, of the intention to establish a community national school in Glenroe as a result of an extensive period of engagement between the local working group from Glenroe/Ballyorgan Community Council, Diocese of Limerick, department officials and Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board.

Commenting on Ms OConnors appointment, George OCallaghan, chief executive of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board said: I would like to congratulate Julie on her appointment as head teacher and wish her every success in this new role. I look forward to Julie joining the ETB and to working with her and the Glenroe/Ballyorgan community in the establishment of Glenroe Community National School.

Ms OConnor is a graduate of St Patricks College and holds a Masters Degree in Education. She has experience of teaching a wide range of class groups, having previously taught in Ashbourne, and most recently in Mallow Convent Primary School. She brings considerable experience to the role as a co-ordinator of the Teaching Councils Droichead programme, the integrated professional induction framework for newly qualified teachers, and as a member of the board of management of Mallow Convent Primary School. Ms OConnor is very excited to be taking up the position of head teacher in Glenroe.

I am looking forward to establishing the school and to welcoming the children on their first day in Glenroe Community National School. It is an historic development and I am delighted to play a part in this. It will be a fantastic opportunity to work with the local community, the parents/guardians of the school children and the ETB to enable the children of Glenroe and Ballyorgan to be educated locally once more. Ms OConnor is looking forward to meeting parents/guardians at the schools registration evening this Wednesday, June 24 at 8pm in Glenroe Community Hall.
A VILLAGE that has had a boil water notice for six months may not be able to drink the water from the tap for another year.

Deputy Richard ODonoghue says that Irish Water have told him it could be a year.

I am not accepting it. They need a new borehole and they need a big investment. The government needs to step up and make a decision on what is to be done with Irish Water  investments need to be made. The people that are suffering are the ones in towns and villages that have inadequate water like Fedamore, said Deputy ODonoghue. He said that he is going to keep the pressure on the national water utility and the government that they produce the funding for Fedamore and for County Limerick.

In a Leader article two weeks ago about the boil water notice being in place for six months, local resident, Hugh McDermott, said Fedamore is the forgotten village Deputy ODonoghue agrees with him and said there is a lot of anger in the parish.

I dont blame them. I saw it on the doors at the local elections and at the general election. I met a young couple after buying a house in Fedamore. If they had known there was a water situation they wouldnt have bought there and now they are looking into another 12 months of a boil water notice. It disgusts me that people dont have fresh water that they can drink in their taps, he said.

Deputy ODonoghue describes Irish Water as a failed entity.

All their funding went into metres. Everything they have done has failed because the infrastructure  which they took over  is an absolute nightmare. It should never have left the local authorities. Irish Waters long terms plans havent worked. If they may think smaller and give services to people. Everything being done at the moment is putting a plaster on something that needs to be replaced.

Everything is a temporary fix. But the temporary fix is costing more than the proper solution. It is like sending somebody out to fix a pothole that has a spring underneath it. You fill it for 10 years and then you realise you must fix the real problem, said Deputy ODonoghue.

An Irish Water spokesperson said they have carried out significant investments across Limerick to address the issues associated with the aging water infrastructure.

The size and scale of this challenge is significant. However much progress has been made to date to improve water supplies across the county. For example, disinfection systems at 17 plants have been upgraded. We have also finished operational upgrades to public water supplies and pumping stations. Upgraded plants include Ballingarry Spring, Bruree, Rockhill, Anglesboro, Athlacca, Caherconlish, Hospital.
A FURTHER 10,000 personal protective masks have been donated to the people of Limerick.

This time, theyve come from the local Chinese community on behalf of the Irish Chinese Information Centre.

In one of his final engagements as Limericks first citizen, Mayor Michael Sheahan received the consignment from Limerick-resident and the president of the Irish Chinese Information Centre, Candy Cheung.

Its the third time that a Chinese community donated PPE directly to Limerick.

In April, the City of Hangzhou donated a similar amount of PPE in a gesture of solidarity and friendship with Limerick, highlighting the close links established between the two regions. And last month, care homes across Limerick received a dispatch from Nanjing in east China.

Mayor Sheahan said: Im delighted to accept this donation from Candy and the entire organisation. The use of face masks is becoming increasing prevalent as we continue to work our way through this Covid-19 maze.

This donation highlights the important links that we have built up between communities in China. We thank those in the Irish Chinese Information Centre for thinking of us and helping us during this time of crisis.

Ms Cheung added: As someone from Limerick, Im very happy to be able to donate these PPE masks to the mayor for use by our healthcare workers. The Irish Chinese Information Centre works very hard to develop links between our two communities, and this donation is a token of our friendship. Limerick and Dublin are the two locations that we decided to donate PPE gear.

Dr Katherine Chan Mullen who is the founding president of the Irish Chinese Information Centre added the donation of PPE to Limerick is a gesture of solidarity between the Chinese community in Ireland and the people of Limerick.

The Information Centre was set up to promote and foster a mutual understanding between the Irish and Chinese peoples. The links between Limerick and the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in China have resulted in strong relationships and a sense of friendship between our two peoples. We must all do what we can for our fellow citizens at this time to defeat this most devastating virus, she explained.

The latest consignment has been donated to the HSE Mid-West and UL Hospitals Group for use by frontline healthcare staff.
Troy, Mo. - For families with kids who need extra support, summer break can be daunting. Finding fun activities and opportunities to socialize can be even more difficult. Luckily, Sam Brooks family found a place he can do just that at Camp Barnabas. This camp is located in Purdy, and offers
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Soon NASA will be sending its Ingenuity Mars Helicopter aboard the Perseverance Rover to Mars. The first-ever helicopter in another planet will traverse about 505 million kilometers of interplanetary space.

Scheduled for take-off to Mars is the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter that will hitch a ride with the Perseverance Rover. According to Scitech Daily, this is called the Mars Helicopter Delivery System.

MiMi Aung, project manager of the Mars Helicopter, mentioned in Phys Org that designing the whole system was challenging from the ground up.

Ingenuity's instruments are packed into a square body that has all hardware and software to make it work. Other instrumental parts are located outside, especially the 4-foot rotor that have caused the biggest problems because of its massive weight of 4 pounds.

Chris Salvo, the helicopter interface lead, said that the Mars helicopter was the most unique and specific vehicle for any planetary mission. The weight issue is so critical that even just the size of a washer was a big deal.

He added that the helicopter was attached to Perseverance's belly area and if the flight unit will be placed horizontally, there would be enough space.

Launching the Rover

The Ingenuity will not separate from the Perseverance until two months after its entry into Mars on Feb. 18, 2021. Scientists are still searching for a suitable place for an airfield, according to NASA.

On the 2nd month of operation, the rover will release Ingenuity from its protective bay. When the system finally gives the go-signal, the rover will finally be released to wander on its own.

The deployment will involve releasing the locking mechanisms to bring the helicopter into launch. The important part is deploying the legs so it lands the right away on the ground when released.

To accomplish a successful launch, all the system and connection must be connected when it is ready to be released for flight, said David Buecher, deployment system manager at Lockheed Martin Space in Denver.

Also read: Alleged Lizard Captured by Curiosity Rover, Theorist Claims Its a Sign of Life on Mars

When the separation is a success, the rover drives away so the copter can charge up its power cells. Soon after, the 30-day sol clock will test the unit.

It will the be first use of drone technology to explore the planet Mars. It will allow access to places never seen before on Mars, but the Ingenuity must prove itself first according to Pasadena Now.

Aerial access to geographic formations is far more accessible compared to a wheeled rover. Aung said the two vehicles are important for this vital task.

Several components like the drone helicopter needed an electronic base station with an antenna to relay real-time or signals from the AI. It took a diverse group of scientists to develop it from the ground up, and if it works well, it will be first of its kind.

Perseverance Mars Rover

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will be the command center for the Ingenuity Helicopter, with Lockheed Martin Space included in the project delivery system. NASA at the Kennedy Space Center will be the one launching the unit.

Perseverance is a robotic rover; whose mission is to find evidence of life on Mars. The unit will collect samples to be studied on Earth. The rover will be leaving Earth from July 20- Aug.11, and reach the Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021.

Related article: Mars Rover Perseverance Preps for Maiden Launch to Mars on July 17

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Eight months after his bond reduction request was denied, former Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Juan David Ortiz, indicted for allegedly fatally shooting four women and kidnapping another, is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

According to online court records, Ortizs attorney, Joel Perez, filed two ex parte motions in December and March, respectively, on behalf of his client. An ex parte motion is a sealed record filed with no advanced notice. The motion is only discussed between the court and the party that filed it.

In April, 406th District Court Judge Oscar J. Hale Jr. signed three orders setting hearings on motions to determine admissibility of written or oral statements made by Ortiz, a motion for a hearing on voluntariness of any admission or confession whether written or oral and a motion to suppress.

Ortiz was indicted on December 2019 on one count of capital murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful restraint and evading arrest. The assault and unlawful restraint charges stem from Ortiz allegedly pointing a gun at a woman in his pickup truck. The woman, Erika Pena, escaped from the vehicle and notified a nearby Texas trooper, law enforcement said.

Pena was the main witness for prosecutors during Ortizs bond reduction hearing in October. She testified that Ortiz said she was his favorite. She described their relationship as a friendship. Her escape is what eventually led authorities to Ortiz.

She testified that they met five months before the homicides and the night before he got arrested, Ortiz took Pena to three different locations in the city to buy drugs and he then took her to his house.

In her testimony, Pena also said that she was friends with Melissa Ramirez and Claudine Anne Luera, the first and second victims, respectively. She said she asked him about the murders and he said he had seen it on the news. She added that she was feeling nervous because he was acting weird.

Case timeline

Following his arrest Sept. 15, 2018, Ortiz confessed to killing Ramirez, 29; Luera, 42; Guiselda Alicia Hernandez, 35; and Nikki Enriquez, 28; over a 12-day period, according to an affidavit filed by law enforcement.

Authorities said the four victims were sex workers. Ortiz would pick them up on San Bernardo Avenue, drive them outside city limits and shoot them in the head, according to court records.

All four were killed in roughly the same area near North U.S. 83 and Interstate 35 in the northwest part of Webb County. According to the indictment, Ramirez, Luera and Enriquez, a transgender woman, were each shot in the head. Hernandez was shot twice in the neck but died of blunt force trauma after being struck in the head with an unknown object.

According to arrest affidavits, Ortiz would pick them up on San Bernardo Avenue, drive them outside city limits and shoot them. Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz has said. Ortiz told investigators he was "doing a service" by killing the women and believed police were not doing enough to curb prostitution in the Gateway City.

The first victim, Ramirez, was taken to Jefferies Road and shot in the head, according to court documents. Luera was taken to U.S. 83 and Spur Road 255 on Sept. 13, 2018 and fatally shot, records state. She was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to a hospital.

Initially, it was thought that the third victim, Hernandez, also died of gunshot wounds, Alaniz said. She was shot but died of blunt force trauma on Sept. 15, 2018, according to an autopsy report, Alaniz said.

The fourth victim, Enriquez, was shot in the head on Sept. 15, 2018, according to court records.

Ortiz was off-duty when he killed the women, authorities said, but he may have used his service weapon in the homicides.

Ortiz remains behind bars since his arrest, held on a $2.5 million bond.

Ortizs next hearing is scheduled for June 29 in the 406th District Court.
City of Laredo officials on Monday confirmed 46 cases of the novel coronavirus in the Gateway City. The added cases bring the city's total of recognized positives to 1,503.

READ MORE: City of Laredo to adopt curfew, limit social gatherings amid surge in COVID-19 cases

Laredo saw a rise of hospitalizations on Monday, with 69 people now currently hospitalized in Laredo according to data from the health department. Of those, 29 people are under intensive care.

Laredo hospitals continue to near capacity. At Laredo Medical Center, 17 of 20 ICU beds reserved for COVID patients are currently occupied. Additionally 25 of the 30 non-ICU COVID beds are currently filled.

At Doctors Hosptial, 12 of the 13 COVID ICU beds are currently filled, with five patients currently on ventilators. 15 of the 21 non-ICU beds reserved for are also occupied. though Laredo health authority Dr. Victor Trevino said the hospital is able to expand capacity up to 30 beds, if necessary.

808 cases of the novel coronavirus are currently active in the city, with 670 people having recovered from a previous infection.

As of noon Monday, 8,675 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Laredo. Of those, 6,222 tests have returned negative.

950 tests are still pending results, though 418 tests are presumed negative due to being over 30 days old.

Free coronavirus testing will be held in Webb County from Thursday, July 2, to Sunday, July 5. Testing will be provided free of charge and will not require a prescription or previous appointment. The full schedule follows:

July 2: Bruni Community Center, 303 12th Street. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

July 3: Santa Teresita Community Center, 15014 U.S. Hwy 59. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

July 4: Larga Vista Community Center, 5401 Cisneros. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

July 5: El Cenizo Community Center, 3519 Cecilia Ln, El Cenizo, Texas. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

City officials ask that those who might be experiencing COVID-related symptoms contact their doctor for testing, rather than risk exposing others to a possible infection at the community testing clinics.

For more information, the City of Laredo coronavirus hotline can be reached Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 956-795-4954.

READ MORE: H-E-B limiting toilet paper, paper towel purchases again as coronavirus cases in Texas rise

The number of coronavirus-related deaths remains at 25.
Nuevo Laredo had a weekend to forget as it pertains to the novel coronavirus.

On Saturday, the city revealed only 10 new cases but reported the deaths of four individuals due to COVID-19. And on Sunday, the city followed that up with its largest single-day tally of new positives with 43.

The two-day total brings Nuevo Laredo to 638 positives overall.

Nuevo Laredos 43 positives just edged the citys former single-day high of 39 from June 22. The city has also seen a recent uptick in cases averaging over 19.9 cases per day the past 14 days compared to 9.8 cases the previous 13 days. All three of the citys days reporting more than 30 cases have come within the past eight days.

The Ministry of Health in Tamaulipas confirmed 43 more cases of COVID-19 adding a total of 638 positives in Nuevo Laredo, Nuevo Laredo Mayor Enrique Rivas Cuellar said in a statement Sunday. I ask to follow all the recommendations issued by the Government of Tamaulipas as they aim to protect the health of the whole population, as they are frequent hand washing, sneezing by covering the nose and mouth with a disposable handkerchief or with the forearm, do not greet kiss, hand or hug, and keep a healthy distance.

Meanwhile, Nuevo Laredos four deaths from Saturday were the most either of the Sister Cities have seen in one day during the pandemic. Previously, neither had reported more than two in a single day. While Nuevo Laredo has less than 44% of the amount of cases of its companion from north of the border, it has 44 deaths compared to Laredos 25.

Nuevo Laredo has had 1,786 total tests with 1,148 returning negative. An additional 222 are under investigation.

There are 315 active cases of coronavirus in the city while a total of 279 persons have recovered from the virus. If Nuevo Laredo used Laredos color-coded advisory system, its active cases would classify it as the highest warning level of Red given to over 250 active cases in the city.
A former Fairfax County (Va.) police officer, who resigned last month after three years on the force, is under criminal and internal investigation by the Fairfax department on suspicion of lying about the reasons he stopped drivers, and there may have been a "racial component" to his actions, the Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney's Office said in a court filing. One of his stops led to the arrest, and ongoing imprisonment, of a black D.C. firefighter on gun and drug charges.

The Fairfax investigations also revealed "issues beyond and in addition to the unlawful stops," according to the court filing by Fairfax prosecutors, leading to the FBI opening a "parallel criminal investigation." The Fairfax police, the Fairfax prosecutors and the FBI all declined to describe the focus of the federal investigation.

When Fairfax police began an internal review of the officer, they randomly selected 40 of his traffic stops out of nearly 1,400 conducted during his three years on the street, according to the May filing in Fairfax Circuit Court. "In each one of the 40 randomly selected cases," Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Kyle Manikas wrote, "the basis used by the officer to justify the stop, as memorialized in the police report, was untruthful."

"Moreover," Manikas added, "there appears to have been a racial component with respect to the drivers that the officer unlawfully stopped." Police and prosecutors declined to say why they thought the traffic stops had a racial component. But prosecutors said they have been dismissing the officer's pending cases.

The officer, Jonathan Freitag, 24, has not been charged with any crimes and was not formally disciplined by the department, though he was suspended without pay during its investigation, a police spokesman said. The investigation and Freitag's suspension began in September, spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said, and the investigation is continuing.

In an interview, Freitag said he had done nothing wrong and resigned simply out of frustration with the Fairfax police.

"I was cleared of everything," he said. "I resigned on my own terms. I didn't want to work with the police department anymore."

The former officer said he was being investigated internally for "things that never happened. Internal Affairs did an audit of my traffic stops, and I was cleared of any wrongdoing." He said he had not heard of the allegations in the prosecutors' filing until contacted by The Washington Post and did not know he was under FBI investigation.

"This is all news to me," Freitag said. "I was cleared of any criminal misconduct."

Freitag was interviewed by the internal investigators and resigned after he was presented with findings of alleged violations involving how he identified himself during traffic stops, his attorney, Brandon Shapiro, said. He and Freitag said the filing by Manikas was the first time they had heard the allegations of racial profiling.

It is not clear why police began investigating, and then suspended, Freitag in the fall. The investigation was made public in the case of former D.C. firefighter Elon Wilson, who is questioning the validity of the traffic stop that led to his arrest.

Wilson, then 23, was stopped around 2:15 a.m. on April 6, 2018, as he drove away from a recording studio on Telegraph Road in the Rose Hill area of Fairfax. The studio, Midieast Studios, was frequented late at night by both aspiring and high-profile rappers, and in 2019 was the scene of two shootings. Freitag wrote in his arrest report that Wilson's car crossed the solid yellow line once and had illegally tinted windows.

When Freitag pulled the car over, he "observed an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle," according to Fairfax prosecutors. The officer removed Wilson and a passenger from the car, then searched it because of the marijuana smell. Court records show he found two handguns and numerous plastic bags containing more than 460 pills, most of them oxycodone. Wilson's attorney argued in a court filing that the pills and guns belonged to a family member of Wilson's who was also in the car.

Wilson was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possessing a gun while intending to distribute a controlled substance. The Fairfax police placed Wilson's photograph and details of the arrest in their daily crime report, and some local news media reported the arrest. The D.C. Fire and EMS Service issued a statement saying they were aware of the arrest, that Wilson had been suspended and that he'd been with the department for four years.

Marvin Miller, Wilson's attorney, contends that Wilson's windows were not illegally tinted and that the traffic stop and search were illegal. Freitag initially said that he had been surveilling the recording studio, Miller said, but then claimed he stopped Wilson for a routine traffic violation. Miller said that "the odor of marijuana" was a preferred legal basis for police in Northern Virginia to conduct a search without a warrant.

But Miller said that he was unable to get a suppression motion heard before a preliminary hearing last year and that Wilson ultimately decided to enter a plea.

"Everything I did was found to be good," Freitag said. "He pleaded guilty." Records show Wilson entered an Alford plea, in which a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to convict. A judge then enters a finding of guilty.

In July 2019, Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Grace Carroll sentenced Wilson to three years and one month in prison. The gun charge alone carried a two-year mandatory minimum. Wilson had no criminal history.

But then Miller started to hear rumors that Freitag was under investigation. In February, Miller filed a motion saying that Freitag was being investigated "for providing false information to justify traffic stops." In April, he filed another motion seeking post-trial discovery on Freitag, because "his veracity on that issue affected the reliability of the outcome in this case."

Fairfax prosecutors contacted the Fairfax police, according to Manikas's response to Miller's motions, and found that Freitag had been under internal investigation since last year and placed on leave. "The information relayed to the Commonwealth," Manikas wrote, "renders the officer unreliable as a witness."

Manikas said in the motion that prosecutors reviewed video of Freitag's stop of Wilson and were "unable to determine from the video whether the purported basis for the stop was valid, and therefore, whether the Officer was truthful and made a lawful stop."

Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano declined to comment on the case beyond the allegations made in the prosecution's motion.

Apprised of Freitag's situation, the Fairfax prosecutors sought to obtain Freitag's internal affairs files. But because officers' statements to internal affairs are mandatory as a condition of employment, they cannot be used against them in criminal cases - that would be a violation of a person's Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, as enshrined in the Supreme Court ruling in Garrity v. New Jersey.

The statements can, however, be used when the officer is merely a witness, thus not violating his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

So the prosecutors, in a motion to Carroll last month, proposed establishing a separate review team that would not be involved in any criminal cases, would review Freitag's files and produce any unprotected information to Miller, the firefighter's attorney.

"The primary purpose of exercising such caution," Manikas wrote, "is not for the protection of the officer, but rather for the protection of a possible criminal prosecution of the officer."

Carroll granted the prosecutors' request for a special review team of Freitag's files in an order entered June 2. Fairfax Police Chief Edwin Roessler Jr. said his officers would cooperate with the team.

In 2013, when Fairfax prosecutors sought the internal affairs files of the officer involved in the fatal shooting of John Geer, Roessler refused to turn over the files on the advice of the county attorney's office. That created a year-long delay that was ended only when a Fairfax judge ordered the police to turn all of their investigative files over to the Geer family.

In Wilson's case, Miller said that if Freitag "has a pattern and practice, after this review, about not being truthful about the bases of traffic stops, that's exculpatory evidence and I'm entitled to it."

But it was not clear whether Fairfax, or the FBI, are examining Freitag's other cases and what criminal activity might be alleged. The FBI investigates civil rights violations, and improper use of authority under "color of law," and could seek federal charges if Freitag were accused of abusing his police powers.
Kiribati found in the Central Pacific, just opened a new Chinese embassy and is now among three other countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Cuba.

The opening of a Chinese embassy in May at a far-flung island nation is prompted by geopolitical competition. China has been actively stealing countries or states that are close to Taipei, and this is the seventh, reported in CNN.

Newly elected Kiribati leader, President Taneti Maamau, won by choosing Beijing. He won over a candidate preferring Taiwan.

The island of Kiribati is only part of China's plan to hole in Pacific nations that are major passages from Asia to America.

A US military presence has been traditional. Australia is one of its donors and security partner. But Beijing has been actively subverting politicians with the promise of loans, which makes the US and its allies distrust China's undermining, mention in CNN Philippines.

Both Canberra and Beijing giving aid to the region, and it creates a travel bubble with Australia and a new dimension.

China and Australia are both engaged in a geopolitical struggle to be the most dominant influence.

During the pandemic, China sent medical teams and support to help out the Pacific islands, but Beijing is only the second in terms of money poured.

Also read: US Fears That China's Coronavirus Vaccine Will Be Used as Extortion on All Nations

Loans were given to these countries that are in need of assistance, which is an obvious indicator of what China needs to spread influence.

The gross domestic product (GDP) of the Pacific Islands is $33.77 billion, this is a speck compared to China's, cited ABC 17.

During the pandemic, the Chinese gave aid to the coronavirus efforts of the Pacific Islands to control coronavirus.

Taking advantage of the situation, the US and its allies were hard up trying to control the virus. China swooped in distributed medicines, PPE's and test kits to them, related by Chinese embassies.

For example, in Samoa and Fiji Beijing took the initiative and gained political mileage and recognition in the areas.

These islands have not been hit by the coronavirus as hard as other places. The assistance given by China made a difference.

According to Jonathan Pryke, the actions of China is motivated by opportunism, gaining influence at the same time. He is the director of the Pacific island program at the Lowy Institute, as well, confirmed 7News.

An allegation about their help with the intent to stranglehold the area was countered by stating it was all well-meant and no political coercion was involved.

When China was attacked by many nations over shenanigans during the pandemic, the Pacific Islands supported China. In a meeting with China over the coronavirus in a video conference, they gave affirmation for Chinese help.

According to Denghua Zhang, he remarked that Beijing needed the backup.

Australia give the most support with $69 million given to about 10 nations in the pacific. The amount is given to aid and programs for their development.

But Australia is moving in to lessen the vacuum which China is rushing in to fill up. If nothing is done, there would be consequence to worry about.

Related article: Wuhan Coronavirus Outbreak Continues, China Government Under Fire

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The government has decided to provide financial support for domestic manufacturers to develop technologies for the post-fifth-generation mobile communication network standard.

The aim is to better compete with China, which is ahead regarding the current 5G large capacity, ultrahigh-speed standard, and prevent information leaks and other dangers by developing key technologies in Japan to reduce security threats.

Of the 110 billion yen fund set up in the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization in the supplementary budget for fiscal 2019, about 67 billion will be earmarked for it.

5G and later standards are expected to be used in a wide range of fields, including autonomous driving, factory automation and telemedicine.

Launched in Japan this spring, 5G is 100 times as fast as 4G, making the ultra-high speed mobile communication a key component in the so-called Internet of Things.

The government plans to support the development of key technologies, such as communications infrastructure and fiber-optic networks. To provide support, it will let domestic technology companies that excel in these fields compete among one another, and will judge in about 18 months the technologies and competitiveness of those companies. The government plans to continue supporting only those that are outstanding.

According to government sources, Fujitsu Ltd. and NEC Corp. are expected to participate in mobile telecommunication infrastructure, while Fujitsu, NEC and NTT Electronics Corp. are seen participating in fiber-optic networks.

The 5G-related market is expected to expand significantly in the future, and the global market for infrastructure alone was estimated in one survey to exceed 4 trillion yen. Huawei Technologies Co. and other Chinese companies accounted for more than 40% in the global market for mobile infrastructure up to 4G in 2018. Japan, in contrast, is remarkably behind - Fujitsu and NEC each accounted for less than 1%.

From the viewpoint of national security, it is urgent to establish a reliable information and communications system.

The United States has already demanded that Huawei Technologies products be removed because of high security risks, such as leaks of confidential information and cyber-attacks. If Japan's allies are victimized by cyber-attacks with the large capacity, ultra-high speed 5G, "it would cause huge damage and jeopardize a country's governing ability," a government official said.

The government plans to promote technological development in cooperation with the United States and other countries.
While traffic may have seen a decrease amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a young and raw local talent has captivated the attention of many Laredoans by performing with his guitar on a busy street corner.

READ MORE: Meet the Mexican Abuelita captivating YouTube with her authentic recipes

William Gene Mayville III, who prefers to go by his stage name El Mero Guero, is a 15 year old who has captivated the attention of many Laredo residents and politicians and has even gone viral. He has done so ever since he went out a few days ago to sing and perform on a busy street as he made money and even scheduled performances for private parties.

The truth is that one day I felt the need to go out with my guitar and just sing, El Mero Guero said. I recall being in downtown Laredo and seeing boots I really wanted, but as always I did not have the means to buy them as my family also does not have the means, and I said enough is enough and went out to the streets and showed the people my talent.

Since then, I have been well received by the people, and all kinds of people have asked me to sing to them at birthday parties or other celebrations, which has allowed me to get money for my own expenses and help out my family as well.

Although he was born in Laredo and is living here with his grandparents, he lives with his mother and attends school in San Antonio most of the year. Nevertheless, he said his love for Laredo is immense and he feels he owes a debt to the city he truly calls home.

I have always felt something very strong for Laredo, El Mero Guero said. Especially when I am out at night and see the highways, I always have this feeling that I belong in Laredo. However, I never understood it fully until I learned how to play the guitar and write lyrics. It was then that I gained the insight to my love of the city. I now know that I have a purpose in life, and it has to be with my community of Laredo.

Although the young musician and vocalist focuses on the corrido genre - a style of music famous regionally in northern Mexico and southern United States - he also sings and plays love ballads and other cover songs if requested. El Mero Guero said the artists that inspired him to get involved in the genre were Los Tucanes, Chalino Sanchez, Gerardo Ortiz and Regulo Caro.

My greatest dream is to become a part of Del Records, which is the same label that has artists like Regulo Caro, and I hope to make a music career with them, El Mero Guero said.

His mother Selene Fructuoso described how humble he is even beyond just his attitude. He has also been humble with the money he earns helping her out with bills and other expenses since she lost her job due to the pandemic.

He is such a humble boy. He sings for the local choir at church, is very mature and also has a great love for the city of Laredo as he prefers to be in Laredo than in San Antonio, which we currently reside in, Fructuoso said.

According to Fructuoso, El Mero Guero has not had a happy life altogether as he has suffered through several family problems and continuing financial dilemmas. She believes he is being driven to finally overcome them through his passion for music.

She said her son recently made about $300 for a singing gig, and instead of buying new equipment for his studio at home, he gave all the money to his mother so she could have her merchandise to sell at a flea market and gas to travel from Laredo to San Antonio. She said she tried returning the money, but he refused.

El Mero Gueros humbleness extends to his school life. Despite almost everybody knowing he sings and wants to become famous, he is mostly shy and quiet at school. He said he is reserved to the extent that he has only a few friends he can fully trust.

I am truly blessed with William, and I am sure always going to support him as at first I was reluctant to let him go out and sing by himself in the streets, Fructoso said. I know that people can be dangerous, and right now it is not a safe time because of the pandemic, so I always tell him to not get to close to people, just to be careful.

However, she said he continues to sing in the streets, make connections and even have people record him which he uses to get more views and insight into his talent. She hopes one day he will expand on it by joining musical contests and other talent shows to put his talent on display.

As for El Mero Guero, he has a more humble approach to fame even at school.

My true, real friends, I just have about three or four, and I prefer to be in the shadows and listen to people rather than being the center of attention, he said.

While he diverts attention socially, he is drawing it in with his music and garnering the attention of the city.

People who have seen videos of El Mero Guero have reacted positively to his music. One of the first to react to such videos was the local councilmember for the area he lives while in Laredo.

This kid is amazing, living his dream, City of Laredo District I Councilmember Rudy Gonzalez, Jr. said in a Facebook posts sharing one of El Mero Gueros posts. I'm glad people from this community show support for our local talent. God bless him and his family. Keep doing what your (sic) doing kid.

As for his future, he plans to finish school and continue with his music career which started as a hobby but now seems to be kicking off. In fact, he said he already has several songs in the works.

I have a few compositions already done, and I have a few already completed, but am waiting for the right time to release them fully, El Mero Guero said.

Along with pursuing his music career, El Mero Guero also said he wants to go to college to become a pilot. He wants to have a career as a pilot or in real estate to go along with pursuing music since being a musician can be a volatile profession.

The truth is that I do want to focus on music specifically, especially if it goes well for me, but I always wanted another source of income on the side as well that is not just music such as real estate or some other type of career, he said.

All of El Mero Gueros talent can be observed by visiting his ElMeroGuero profile on YouTube to listen to songs such as Hermosa Princesa and Las Caravanas de Aztekiando. El Mero Guero can also be found via Spotify, Facebook and other platforms.

READ MORE: City of Laredo to distribute $2 million in CARES funding for small business loans

Anybody interested in contracting El Mero Guero for a private party or other occasion can call him at (956) 307-7992.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has pitched an enormous revision to the state's spending plan that would put government workers on furlough, sell aircraft to raise cash and eliminate 92 vacant jobs to help address the funding shortfall caused by the coronavirus shutdown.

State forecasters say as much as $1.2 billion of state revenue could evaporate amid the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic. To mitigate that, Hogan outlined $1.45 billion worth of cuts to Maryland's $19.5 billion general fund, part of the $47.9 billion budget that takes effect Wednesday.

He left it up to the Democratic-majority General Assembly to implement most of the cuts when it reconvenes next year. But Hogan, a Republican, asked the Board of Public Works to implement $672 million of his plan immediately. The board, which Hogan chairs, oversees all state contracts and budget cuts when the legislature is not in session.

Among other actions, the cuts would erase pay raises and extra pension contributions for state employees, trim rebates for child care, reduce grants for state universities and community colleges by $186.8 million and pare back spending on the state's opioid-crisis response.

A vote by the three-member panel is scheduled for Wednesday. The office of Comptroller Peter Franchot, a Democrat who sits on the board along with Treasurer Nancy Kopp, also a Democrat, said the $672 million proposal is the largest single-day set of cuts the board has been asked to make during Franchot's 13-year tenure.

"These are tough times, and tough decisions need to be made," said Hogan spokesman Michael Ricci, adding that the state government could be forced to lay off 25% of its workforce to close the budget gap.

Maryland union and advocacy group leaders described Hogan's overall $1.45 billion plan as draconian.

"This is going to be devastating to people's pocketbooks and the communities that they live in and contribute to," said Patrick Moran, president of AFSCME Maryland Council 3, the largest union representing Maryland public employees.

Moran noted that many union members have continued to work during the pandemic, making the budget cuts akin to "cutting the fire department in the midst of a wildfire."

State and local governments across the country have seen revenue drop from shutdowns designed to slow the spread of the virus, while racking up huge bills responding to the pandemic. Many have implemented furloughs of public workers and suspended infrastructure projects. Some are now seeking tax increases to avoid deeper cuts.

In Virginia, Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam has said he will call a special session, likely in August, to adjust the state budget to reflect the coronavirus crisis. This week, the District of Columbia Council is poring through a proposal by Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, to cut $1.5 billion in city spending over two fiscal years.

In Maryland, employee and issue-advocacy group leaders said Hogan's plan would decrease funding to some agencies that need the most financial help as a result of the pandemic. The cuts that will be voted on Wednesday include $110 million to education, mostly to teacher pensions. But it also includes $12.4 million to poorer school districts and $25 million that covers some child-care subsidies and part of the state's Healthy Schools Facilities Fund, which repairs public school buildings that have problems such as mold and faulty plumbing or heating.

Cheryl Bost, the president of the Maryland State Education Association, said the proposed reductions were "unconscionable" and could endanger the health of teachers and students.

"Crisis distance learning this spring has deepened inequities and achievement gaps among our students - and the governor's cuts would only make them far worse," she said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Hogan announced Monday that he would spend $210 million of the state's federal Cares Act distribution to help local school systems provide tutoring for at-risk students, plus laptops and other devices to accommodate students during distance learning. Ricci said the Cares Act money can only be used for pandemic-related expenses, not for the expenses the governor suggested cutting.

Hogan, in his role as chair of the National Governor's Association, has lobbied Congress and the White House to include a $500 billion rescue package for states in the next round of federal coronavirus funding. Governors have asked for much of that cash to be unrestricted, enabling them to stave off cuts such as those Maryland is weighing.

As of Monday afternoon, 21 advocacy groups representing education, environment and workers' rights signed a joint statement arguing that Hogan's proposed cuts "would hurt public schools, colleges, programs serving people with disabilities, efforts to mitigate the climate crisis, and behavioral health programs."

"We can't afford to further hurt people during a public health crisis and inhibit our economic recovery," the statement said.

The groups encouraged Hogan to keep lobbying for federal help, as well as "consider additional revenue options" such as taxes.

Hogan's plans include selling a Maryland State Police helicopter and eliminating the entire aviation program within the Natural Resources Police, which Hogan revived in 2016.

The program had been eliminated in 2009, during the administration of then-Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, amid cost-cutting to grapple with the Great Recession. During that fiscal year, the Board of Public Works cut $956 million in state spending in three tranches spread out over four months, according to data from Franchot's office.

- - -

The Washington Post's Laura Vozzella and Julie Zauzmer contributed to this report.
ALBANY  New York GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy on Monday called on state legislators to rein in Governor Andrew M. Cuomos executive powers that were granted in April as the state declared a state of emergency to deal with response to the coronavirus pandemic.

During the pandemic, Cuomo has issued dozens of executive orders to change hundreds of laws, with some critics noting the emergency response to the pandemic has subsided in New York and the Legislature should take a greater role in managing the crisis going forward.

They have abandoned their constitutional duty as a co-equal branch of government, Langworthy said at a news conference outside the Capitol. We already knew Andrew Cuomo was a power-obsessed dictator, and now, thanks to Senate Majority Leader (Andrea) Stewart-Cousins and (Assembly) Speaker (Carl) Heastie, weve seen the depths in which he will try to control fully and dictate orders to the people of the state of New York.

Hours later, Cuomo dismissed Langworthys criticism of his expanded power during a WAMC radio interview.

The Legislature has met and has passed dozens of bills since Ive had the emergency power, and Ive signed many of those bills. So I dont know what he was talking about, the governor said, also suggesting Langworthy is downplaying the pandemic's continuing threat. Hes a mouthpiece for (President Donald) Trump. What they are saying is: 'Stop emergency powers that the governor has because there is no emergency.'

The criticism of Cuomo's expanded powers has come from both sides of the aisle, and in May lawmakers were eager to return to their legislative session to pass a variety of bills intended to provide relief to New Yorkers amid the pandemic. In early June, legislators also convened  many virtually  to pass a sweeping police reforms.

Republican state legislators have also called for scaling back Cuomos authority, however, none attended Langworthys news conference Monday.

Senate Majority Leader spokesman Mike Murphy also dismissed Langworthys calls.

We aren't going to take advice on how to fight the covid pandemic from the party that voted against providing funding to fight the pandemic, actively encourages people to not wear masks, promotes wild conspiracy theories, and blindly follows the extremist views of Trump, Murphy said. Nick and his crew of extremists would be funny if they weren't so dangerous.

Heasties office did not respond to a request for comment.

Other lawmakers have seen the necessity of the executive authority  which allows Cuomo to act quickly in response to the public health crisis and expires next year  due to the more labored process of passing bills in the Legislature.

Langworthy said during the height of the virus, Cuomos executive power was appropriate, but now there needs to be diversity in thought by including state representatives who know their communities best.

Weve now gotten into a different period. This should not exist for a calendar year, Ill tell you that, he said. That is not democracy.
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday made it easier for the president to remove the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's director, but allowed the watchdog agency created after the global financial crisis to stand.

In a divided decision, the court said the agency's structure violates the Constitution's separation-of-powers design.

Its single-director configuration concentrates "significant governmental power in the hands of a single individual accountable to no one," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts, who was joined in part by the court's other conservative justices. "With no colleagues to persuade, and no boss or electorate looking over her shoulder, the Director may dictate and enforce policy for a vital segment of the economy affecting millions of Americans."

The independent regulatory agency was the brainchild of now-Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., when she was a Harvard University law professor. It was part of 2010's financial overhaul bill, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, passed in response to the financial crisis. The agency has been a target of conservatives who have criticized it for acting too aggressively.

The Trump administration backed the challenge, arguing that the president should be free to fire the bureau's director.

In its 5-4 ruling Monday, the court majority said the structure of the investigative and enforcement agency violates the Constitution by "concentrating power in a unilateral actor insulated from Presidential control," wrote Roberts, who was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

Roberts, Alito and Kavanaugh agreed that provisions in the law restricting the director's removal could be struck while allowing the agency to continue to operate.

"We think it clear that Congress would prefer that we use a scalpel rather than a bulldozer in curing the constitutional defect we identify today," Roberts wrote.

Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the court's liberals, said Congress should have the flexibility to impose limits on the president's power to get rid of agency heads. She faulted the majority for second-guessing Congress, which created the agency to "address financial practices that had brought on a devastating recession, and could do so again."

"Today's decision wipes out a feature of that agency its creators thought fundamental to its mission - a measure of independence from political pressure," Kagan wrote in her dissent.

The agency's director, Kathy Kraninger, said the decision "brings certainty to the operations of the Bureau."

"We will continue with our important mission of protecting consumers with no question that we are fully accountable to the President," Kraninger tweeted.

After the bureau's original director stepped down in 2017, President Donald Trump appointed Mick Mulvaney, who as a South Carolina lawmaker called the CFPB a "joke" and co-sponsored legislation to get rid of it. Mulvaney, who later served Trump as the White House chief of staff, began to transform the watchdog, levying fewer and smaller fines, dropping lawsuits against payday lenders, and softening proposed regulations for debt collectors while he was acting director.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany hailed the ruling as a victory and said in a statement that the president "believes that no official should hold such immense powers without, at least, being directly accountable to a democratically-elected President regardless of party affiliation."

In response to the ruling, Warren tweeted that the decision hands "more power to Wall Street's army of lawyers and lobbyists to push out a director who fights for the American people."

The decision was also criticized by the banking industry, which has called for the CFPB's single director to be replaced by a bipartisan commission.

Leaving the CFPB with an at-will director will further exacerbate the "political influence that has already plagued" it, Richard Hunt, president of the Consumer Bankers Association, said in a statement. "This outcome subjects consumers and the financial services industry to potentially radical regulatory shifts with each administration."

Congress gave the agency broad powers to implement and enforce consumer protection laws. The bureau has been headed by a single director, nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate for a five-year term. The director could only be removed by the president for "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office," unlike, say, Cabinet officers who serve at the president's pleasure.

But the challengers said the Constitution gives the president the power to remove top executive branch officials for any reason or no reason at all.

Although the removal-for-cause protection applies to other agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Reserve Board, they have multiple-member boards, rather than a single director.

The case was brought in 2017 by a California law firm that objected to the CFPB's demand for information regarding an investigation of its practices in resolving consumer debt.

The case is Seila Law v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Amid a night shift change in a Walmart distribution center in Northern California last Saturday, an SUV crashed into the store with a gunman aboard. The man then started to fire his assault riffles upon the workers in an attack that took two lives and wounded four.

According to reports, two police officers from Red Bluff responded to the scene and opened fire on the perpetrator. The authorities also noted that the suspect also fired shots at them.

Several hours past the incident, it was announced by the sheriff's office of Tehama County that the shooter died in the hospital.

According to The Sacramento Bee, Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston stated during a news conference just outside the crime scene that the suspect's motive for the attack is still undetermined. Moreso, he stated that the 31-year-old shooter has a history with the distributions center located about 120 miles north of Sacramento and lies just around Red Bluff's outskirts.

In addition, Johnston also said that they are still trying to determine the nature of the attack despite the fact that the suspect has a prior history to the store as a previous employee. He also noted that they still cannot piece the real motive together as the history of the man to the store is not recent.

Meanwhile, the man who was killed during the attack has been identified by the authorities as 45-year-old Martin Haro-Lozano of Orlando. However, authorities are still unable to find out if he has any prior relationship with the gunman.

On the other hand, the four workers who have been injured during the attack are currently admitted to St. Elizabeth Community Hospital. According to several witnesses, one of those who were wounded was a woman who tried to leave the building and was shot.

Read also: One Dead and Six Hospitalized in Glasgow, Scotland After Deadly Stabbing

In addition, New York Times reported that at least six people were taken to the hospital for care after the incident. One of them was a man who was hit by the suspect's vehicle as he rammed it into the store. Meanwhile, despite only four having been wounded, others who were brought to the hospital only sought treatment for being traumatized by the event.

According to reports, two officers and one sergeant of Red Bluff police responded to the scene and exchanged fires with the suspect.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Walmart stated to the media that the whole company is grieving and deeply saddened by the attack which led to the death of two people.

In the statement, Walmart said that their main focus after an incident like this is on giving support to their associates, co-workers, and the families of victims. It also noted that the company will continue to work with Tehama County Sheriff's Office in the investigation and are willing to assist the department in any possible way.

Investigators on the other hand noted that the attack is not in any way related to a shooting that happened just a few hours before the incident where three people died, just 30 miles away from the attack.



Related article: One Dead and Six Hospitalized in Glasgow, Scotland After Deadly Stabbing

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The operation began without warning: Aid groups were barred from the Syrian displacement camp, Internet connectivity disappeared, and soldiers fanned out along the chain-link fences as a scorching sun rose high in the sky.

Inside, the women grew distressed. Some cried, some shouted abuse, and all were wary. They had once lived inside the Islamic State's self-proclaimed caliphate. Now they were guarded by the force that defeated it, and tensions between the two were running high.

The operation this month to count and register the inhabitants of the al-Hol camp annex was described by aid workers, officials, researchers, and families in touch with the women affected.

On June 10, the U.S.-backed Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria said it had begun registering the foreign inhabitants of what it called "the most dangerous camp in the world," almost a year and a half after they first arrived.

The Islamic State's once-vast territory in Iraq and Syria is no more. But the question of what will happen to tens of thousands of foreigners who left for the caliphate and never returned home still lingers, with no clear answers.

Abandoned by their governments and under the care of a Kurdish-led force that does not want them, the women and children inside the annex are among nearly 14,000 foreigners from more than 60 countries being held in northeastern Syria due to suspected Islamic State links. About 30,000 Iraqis live in a separate, larger, section of the camp. Inside the annex, some women still fly the Islamic State flag and impose its disciplinary measures.

Their futures were initially seen as a test of how their home nations would balance human rights responsibilities with security concerns. But as the months have worn on, their cases have slipped from the global political agenda. This month's registration attempt, analysts say, appeared to be in part an attempt to streamline the camp's administration by creating a comprehensive accounting of who actually lives there.

It could also be used to increase pressure on home governments to act.

The Kurdish-led authority in northern Syria says it cannot manage the task alone, and it repeatedly has appealed for action from foreign governments, citing a rising tide of attacks from Islamic State sleeper cells across the region.

Some countries, including the United States, have begun the repatriation process. But much of Western Europe has delayed, as officials cite security concerns or domestic politics as obstacles.

Inside al-Hol, one of six displacement and refugee camps in northeastern Syria for families from Islamic State-controlled areas, the women's tents are pitched on cracked earth that turns to mud when the rain comes. Latrines overflow, sewage leaks into tents, and wild dogs prowl the perimeter for food.

Dozens of women have disappeared from the camp, according to residents. Some leave with smugglers who charge as much as tens of thousands of dollars to take them away. Some, residents say, have ended up in makeshift detention facilities already holding thousands of foreign men in legal limbo.

Vera Mironova, a Research Fellow at Harvard University, maintains contact with scores of women inside the camp.

"A lot of people escape, and when they escape we don't see any trace of them," she said. "As long as governments don't take their citizens back, or actually track them, these women can disappear into thin air."

On the morning of June 10, aid groups operating in the annex were informed that they would not be able to enter for a two-week period during the registrations. The groups said they were also told the families would receive only bread and water during that time.

Women inside the camp have repeatedly accused the facility's Kurdish-led authorities of withholding aid as a form of punishment. Humanitarian workers say they sometimes struggle to operate inside the annex, and that some workers have been attacked by the women.

In a video filmed this month, shared by Mironova and reviewed by The Washington Post, a woman in a full black face and body covering addresses the camera as a water truck trundles away in the background.

"Drove by," she says in Russian. "Didn't stop. Didn't pour water. Still waiting."

As the camp was sealed off for the registration drive, guards led the women off in groups, according to family members of the women, humanitarian organizations and researchers. Australian and Canadian nationals were registered using biometric systems provided by the U.S.-led coalition. Some Russian-speakers were recorded, too.

"Some of these women are still active ISIS members who need to be identified and removed from the civilian setting," said U.S. Army Col. Myles Caggins, a spokesman for the coalition. He said the information was to be added to an electronic database used by international law enforcement and intelligence officials.

The Kurdish-led administration did not respond to requests for comment. The coalition said 2,900 biometric tests and 8,000 DNA samples were collected. Their immediate usage was not clear.

Family members and human rights groups say questions over the women's role with the Islamic State should be determined in court, not presumed. They also say thousands of children across the camps have been traumatized from years of war, with scant access to education.

In al-Hol, children are everywhere. Many have lost fathers to the war or prison. Some sit alone in what shade they can find. Laughter is rare. Small boys play with homemade toy guys, appearing to replicate the body language of fighters they saw defending the Islamic State.

"Countries need to accept responsibility for their own nationals present in these detention facilities in Syria," said Dareen Khalifa, an analyst at the International Crisis Group. "They should urgently repatriate vulnerable children and investigate the possibility of returning whole family units."

In interviews with Post reporters visiting al-Hol last year, dozens of women described a hard-line contingent who were seeking to replicate the caliphate's brutal rule.

They argued that their own stories were complex. Some said they had traveled to the caliphate in the belief that it would be a perfect Islamic government, but grew disillusioned by its brutality and were unable to escape. Some said they had arrived as teenagers and were not able to understand the gravity of their decision. Others said they had been coerced to join by abusive partners.

It was not possible to independently verify their accounts.

The women worried about their children's futures. "There's no life here, you know," said a Dutch woman who identified herself as Bint Fatma, a nickname. She said she had told her 5-year-old son that they probably would be separated by authorities upon return to Holland. "I need to prepare him," she said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross on Friday urged countries to prioritize their child nationals. France last week announced the return of 10 children; officials said they were handed over to judicial authorities and were in the care of social services.

"No matter the crimes their parents may have committed," Khalifa said, "children who are in makeshift camps in northeastern Syria are innocent victims of the conflict."
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is facing an exodus of at least a half-dozen senior economic officials even as the economy remains trapped in one of the most turbulent periods in decades.

Bimal Patel, a top deputy to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, is departing the administration, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters. Patel, who will leave at the end of this week, has played a key role in overseeing the administration's $500 billion small-business rescue program and helps lead Treasury's efforts related to the banking system.

He is the third senior economic adviser in the past week to signal plans to leave the Trump administration, and others have left their roles in the past month. Patel was sworn in to the Treasury post in June 2019.

Patel's planned exit comes as the financial system faces threats from growing signs that many homeowners may not pay their mortgages and some companies may declare bankruptcy or tap out their credit lines. The changes also come at a precarious moment for the U.S. economy, with a spike in coronavirus cases threatening to stall activity and large amounts of federal stimulus aid set to expire. The departures come roughly five months before the 2020 presidential election, and senior officials typically face pressure to stay on through Election Day.

Over the past month, the White House has also announced the departures of Andrew Olmem, who was deputy director of the White House National Economic Counsel; Eric Ueland, who served as the White House director of legislative affairs and played a key role in negotiations with Congress over the stimulus; Kevin Hassett, who was a senior White House economic official; and Tomas Philipson, who served as acting chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

"Patel's departure is concerning because there is still risk to the financial system, although it's diminished over the last several months," said Ernie Tedeschi, a former Obama administration economist, who noted the financial system is in better shape now because of the actions taken by the Federal Reserve and Treasury. "It's not 'Mission Accomplished' yet."

The departures add an additional set of challenges to the administration's daunting task of stabilizing the economy ahead of the 2020 presidential election. President Donald Trump and senior officials have promised a swift rebound as public health restrictions are relaxed, but a spike in coronavirus cases and persistently high unemployment claims threaten the lives of tens of millions of Americans.

Larry Kudlow, the president's top economic adviser, expressed confidence on Monday in a rapid economic recovery and said "the overwhelming evidence is that we're in V-shaped recovery."

Kudlow also said news of the administration's economic departures amounted to "gossip" and that The Washington Post's reporting about the departures were "inaccurate." A White House spokesman did not return requests for clarification about Kudlow's comments.

"Not only do we have a solid staff, Steve Mnuchin is still at Treasury; I'm still at the NEC; we can call Kevin Hassett whenever we want," Kudlow told reporters. "CEA staff is doing a great job under Tyler Goodbody," Kudlow added, an apparent reference to CEA economic official Tyler Goodspeed.

White House officials have also disputed that the departures reflected dissatisfaction with working for the administration or a pessimistic outlook about the 2020 election. Hassett has said he was always planning on returning to the White House for a short time to help with the worst part of the pandemic. Olmem started at the beginning of the administration and has already been replaced by longtime White House policy adviser Francis Brooke.

Philipson clashed with administration officials during his tenure and did not have a strong working relationship with the president or a major role in crafting economic policy. The White House Council of Economic Advisers will probably have a greater role in forming administration policy now that Philipson has departed, according to one person familiar with internal administration matters who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly. Philipson did not return requests for comment.

Bill Hoagland, senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center and former Republican staff director for the Senate Budget Committee, said he has talked to multiple White House economic officials who have expressed frustration about a lack of direction and guidance on economic policy matters, particularly about the administration's strategy for reopening the country.

"It reflects a great deal of confusion about the path going forward by the Republican economists there and the terrible situation we find ourselves in," Hoagland said of the departures. "It's a high level of frustration, especially at the career staff level."

It is unclear whether the absences will weaken the administration's capacity to craft further response measures to the economic crisis. The most important official in creating economic policy, Mnuchin, has said he will stay on through the election. Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, is also viewed as unlikely to depart the administration before the election.

Philipson's departure is viewed by administration officials as likely to empower Goodspeed, the remaining member of the Council of Economic Advisers and a former economics professor at the University of Oxford. Goodspeed is seen by some as a possible successor to the top economic post and is viewed as well-liked across much of the administration.

The White House economic team has not been unified in recent weeks as they have debated what to do next about the economy. Sharp White House divisions have emerged over the next round of stimulus spending, with conservative advisers wanting to spend less money and other administration officials pushing for enough to offset the downturn.

The White House has not taken official positions on a range of key economic policy matters still being debated and has confused lawmakers with conflicting signals. White House officials have, for instance, signaled that they are deferring to Congress on small-business relief in the next stimulus package, according to one person in communication with lawmakers who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Some White House officials have privately described being frustrated by the departures but driven by a sense of civic obligation to continue during the perilous economic moment, according to interviews with multiple people in communication with administration officials.

Conservative groups are beginning to draw up lists of potential candidates to fill Philipson's position, one person familiar with the matter said. Two people familiar with the matter said he had been forced out of the administration. Philipson told the Wall Street Journal that he had grown "frustrated with the process of advising the president" and was excluded by "weak advisers."

In the statement announcing his departure, Philipson said he was leaving after three years "in time to retain my tenured position at the University of Chicago." A University of Chicago spokesman said Philipson is returning from leave this fall.
President Donald Trump's tweet landed at 7:39 a.m. Sunday morning, and senior White House advisers say they immediately realized they had a problem.

The president had shared a video on Twitter that included a Trump supporter shouting "white power" at counterprotesters during a demonstration at The Villages, a retirement community in central Florida, and had called his supporters there "great people."

Senior staff quickly conferred over the phone, and then began trying to reach the president to convey their concerns about the tweet. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, son-in-law Jared Kushner and other senior advisers spoke with president, said several people familiar with the discussions, who requested anonymity to share details of private conversations.

Roughly three hours later, the president gave the go-ahead to delete his incendiary tweet - moved, in large part, by the public calls from Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the Senate's only black Republican, to do just that, aides said.

White House spokespeople claimed that Trump didn't hear his supporter twice shout "white power." But neither the president nor his team publicly condemned the racist phrase, setting off another controversial news cycle for a president already struggling to unite the country amid accusations that he traffics in racist and racially inflammatory language.

Amanda Carpenter, a former aide to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and a Trump critic who wrote a book titled "Gaslighting America: Why We Love It When Trump Lies To Us," said the president's unwillingness to disavow the "white power" comment was damning and more important than the belated deletion of the tweet that initially amplified the video.

"What President Trump and every member of his campaign and the White House need to do is come out and say, 'We do not want votes from people who shout "white power" or hold up white-supremacist ideology, in any way, shape, or form,' '' Carpenter said. "Until they do that, they're stoking this."

As protests over police brutality and racial injustice have erupted across the country in recent weeks, Trump has dialed up his inflammatory rhetoric, repeatedly turning to racist tropes.

Trump has also defended statues of Confederate generals as "beautiful" and pledged to block bipartisan efforts to rename military bases named after military leaders who fought in defense of slavery during the Civil War. Despite multiple opportunities to condemn the Confederacy or make broader appeals to racial unity, the president has declined, often taking the opposite approach.

He has decried the protesters taking to the streets as "THUGS" and "terrorists" and threatened to unleash massive force against them, including with "vicious dogs" that recall the brutality employed against black civil rights activists in the 1960s.

Trump has tweeted out several videos of black men attacking white people in recent weeks as he has attempted to discredit the broader Black Lives Matter movement.

The president's recent inflammatory remarks build upon a long history that includes promoting the racist conspiracy theory that former president Barack Obama was not born in the United States, deriding Mexican immigrants as criminals and pushing for a ban on Muslim immigration into the United States.

The steady stream of racist and offensive language from Trump has convinced many Americans that the president is a racist, according to recent polling.

And the president has even injected his derisive rhetoric into his handling of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, twice referring to the respiratory disease that originated in China as the "kung flu."

Lily Adams, a senior adviser to a super PAC supporting former vice president Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, said "the fact that Donald Trump and the White House won't even clear the bar of condemning white supremacy just shows how devoid of any morals things really have become."

Speaking on "Fox & Friends" Monday morning, McEnany said Trump hadn't heard the "white power" shout, but never condemned the language, saying, "His point in tweeting out that video was to stand with his supporters, who are oftentimes demonized."

She was more explicit during a news conference later in the day, claiming that while Trump did listen to the video before sharing it on Twitter, "he did not hear that particular phrase."

As McEnany left the White House briefing room, reporters shouted after her, asking why the president and his advisers had declined to condemn the phrase "white power" - but the question was never posed during the news conference, nor did McEnany proactively bring it up. A senior White House official said that had McEnany been asked, she was prepared to say that of course the president condemns white power, white nationalism and racism in any form.

McEnany also entered the briefing room with a set of bullet points alleging problematic statements and stances of Democrats on the issue of race, including Biden and Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee.

Trump's tweet was just the latest racial controversy that prompted Republicans to try to defend or explain away the president's behavior.

Paris Dennard, the senior communications adviser for black media affairs at the Republican National Committee, argued that people should focus not on Trump's original tweet, but on the fact that he eventually took it down.

"Deleting the tweet was a clear sign that President Trump did not agree with the comment, deleting the tweet was the condemnation and it was the correct and responsible action," Dennard said. "President Trump has always denounced and condemned racism, bigotry and violence as a private citizen, candidate and President of the United States. I am more concerned at the fact that the media is not asking Team Joe Biden to condemn his long history of very bigoted, offensive and racist comments all over social media."

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, when asked about Trump's decision to share the video, said he believed the White House explanation that the president didn't realize what he was promoting.

"I think that - how I have observed and sometimes do things without listening to every word - that that's not impossible, and I think he showed his sincerity by withdrawing," Grassley said.

The Villages Republican Club said in a tweet that it was "appalled" by the turn of events.

"In the video a man was yelling 'White Power,' " the group wrote. "This is NOT what we stand for and is NOT a reflection of Village residents. We must unite as a Country!"

A spokesman for the club, John Calandro, said in an interview that there was "no justification" for the comment and that it was "disappointing" that it had been amplified to Trump's 82 million followers.

"When you have a community like ours you don't like to have anybody cast it in a light that's not favorable," he said, adding that Trump continues to enjoy strong support among residents.

The Villages, where 97% of the population is white and less than 1% is black, is the kind of place where Trump's "Make America Great Again" pitch has a specific racial appeal, said Andrew Blechman, who wrote "Leisureville: Adventures in a World Without Children," a book about the sprawling retirement community.

"The entire place is a pantomime of a make-believe sepia-toned fantasy of 'the way America used to be and should be' - where white people dominate, blacks are either nonexistent or nonthreatening domestics / low-wagers, and teens go to sock hops and jerk soda," he said in an email, adding that he was not surprised by the views expressed in the video.

- - -

The Washington Post's Paul Kane contributed to this report.
MOSCOW - U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that several American service members have been killed in Afghanistan as a result of Russian bounties paid to Taliban-linked militias. Russian officials have vehemently denied the allegations. But Moscow has been open about building ties with the Taliban to forestall the growth of the Islamic State in Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Here's what Russian officials and others say about their interest in Afghanistan and their links to militants there.

- - -

How is Moscow reacting to reports that it paid the Taliban to kill U.S. soldiers?

Zamir Kabulov, President Vladimir Putin's envoy to Afghanistan, on Monday called the intelligence "an outright fake, that even Trump and his administration has denied."

Kabulov, a former KGB agent who has played a role in Afghanistan since the Soviet war of the 1980s, said the aim of the intelligence reporting was to torpedo the planned 2021 withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan under the February agreement between Washington and the Taliban.

"It is clear that there are forces in the United States who do not want to leave Afghanistan, who want to justify their own failure," he said. "That's what this is all about."

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the intelligence was concocted by U.S. agents who "do not like that our and their diplomats have teamed up to facilitate the start of peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban."

- - -

What are Russia's goals in Afghanistan?

Putin's worldview is all about reviving Russia as a global power with clout in strategic regions such as the Middle East and North Africa.

Moscow wants to see Afghanistan stabilized so the Islamic State cannot establish a foothold close to its southern flank.

Memories in Russia of the grinding 1980s war, when the fight between the U.S.-backed mujahideen and the Soviet invaders cost the lives of at least 15,000 Russians, remain powerful.

Russia took a back seat during the U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. But Moscow was surprised when the Taliban seized the northern city of Kunduz from government forces in 2015. Alarm bells rang when some Afghan militias pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

London-based security analyst Mark Galeotti says Russia sees Afghanistan as key to its security.

"What happens in Afghanistan matters to" Russia, he said. "Obviously, everything from the massive flow of heroin - remember, Russia has the highest per capita consumption rate of heroin. They're also worried about the spread of radical Islam into Central Asian states."

- - -

What's the relationship between Russia and the Taliban?

U.S. officials have accused Russia in recent years of funneling small arms and financial support to the Taliban.

"We know that Russia is attempting to undercut our military gains and years of military progress in Afghanistan and make partners question Afghanistan's stability," Gen. John Nicholson said in 2018 after stepping down as commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Russia believes the Taliban will control large parts of Afghanistan going forward and has on occasions invited its representatives and other senior Afghan figures to Moscow for talks to try to kindle a peace dialogue.

Kabulov said in 2015 that Russia had opened communication channels with the Taliban.

"The Taliban's interests objectively coincide with ours," he said, noting that the Taliban did not recognize the Islamic State. "There is no doubt that the Islamic State is training militants from Russia in Afghanistan as part of its efforts to expand into Central Asia."

In 2018, Kabulov said the Taliban was an indispensable player in Afghanistan, controlling more than half the country and building its own power structures. Putin said any peace process had to take the Taliban's interests into account.

"Russia wants to be a player in Afghanistan, and that means dealing with the Taliban," wrote Arkady Dubnov, analyst with the Carnegie Moscow Center. "Practically all the territory of Afghanistan, except for its large cities, is now controlled by the Taliban."

Still, it's a leap from fostering ties with the Taliban to paying bounties to kill U.S. soldiers. A National Security Council spokesman has said the veracity of the intelligence is being checked.

"It's hard to see quite why the Russians would have done this," Galeotti said. "I mean, obviously people can be stupid, but you would have to be an incredibly dim intelligence officer or higher-level executive within an intelligence agency to think that this was not going to become publicly known."

- - -

What do we know about the unit reported to have offered bounties?

According to The New York Times, which first reported the revelations, Russian military intelligence (GRU) Unit 29155, which has been accused in assassinations on foreign territory, sabotage and at least one coup attempt, was behind the bounties.

Bellingcat, an online investigative team that has exposed Russian GRU operations, linked Unit 29155 with the 2018 assassination attempt of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia using the nerve agent Novichok. It reported that Unit 29155 was behind two assassination attempts on Bulgarian arms dealer Emilian Gebrev and two other Bulgarians in 2015 and a thwarted coup in Montenegro in 2016.

In February, Bulgarian prosecutors charged three Russians in absentia in the poisoning of Gebrev.

Bellingcat reported that one of the unit's operatives spent time in Switzerland shortly before the computer of a senior FIFA anti-doping official based in Zurich was compromised by GRU hackers.

Some have called Unit 29155 sloppy and reckless. But its commander, Maj. Gen. Andrei Averyanov, was awarded the Hero of Russia medal, the country's highest military honor, in 2015. Two officers accused of traveling to Britain to carry out the Skripal attack are also Heroes of Russia.

Putin spoke about the GRU at a 2018 ceremony to mark its centenary. He compared its operatives to the Red Army spies of World War II and called them highly professional, courageous and decisive.
A Texas mayor urged teenagers who attended a large party on June 20 to self-isolate after several attendees tested positive for the virus.

The 300-person party took place on June 20 in Lakeway, a city in the Lake Travis area outside Austin.

"Some attendees reported they were waiting for their COVID-19 test results at the time of the party and have now received positive results," said the Austin Public Health Department.

Lakeway Mayor Sandy Cox noted Thursday that the city's caseload would probably increase because of the party, known as "Pongfest," which drew area high school students.

READ MORE: 20 San Antonio ZIP codes with the highest number of COVID-19 cases

"Unfortunately, they went to that party  and some of them didn't realize they were positive until after the party  but therein lies an exposure," Cox said. "It was a very, very large party."

Austin Public Health warned that "the virus often hides in the healthy and is given to those who are at grave risk of being hospitalized or dying." The agency also reminded residents that younger people are not immune to severe illness or death from COVID-19.

Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, a hospital in Lakeway, offered a pop-up test site for students and parents on Saturday.

"We need anyone who went to that party to isolate for 14 days," Cox said. "And if you have been in contact with anyone else since that party, they need to isolate for 14 days. If you are symptomatic, go get tested."
These are interesting times. The draft Rodney Local Board Plan, which sets the direction of the Board for the next three years, is open for consultation on July 13. If you have an interest in what is to happen in Rodney this should be on your reading list. The Board has jurisdiction on elements of local government that make a difference to the environment we live in and the plan is a great place to gain an insight into this. Please look it up and feedback will be welcome, visit akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/rodneyplan

We have some major challenges facing our communities and our country at present. Covid-19 has changed us. Mostly for the better, I think. We are becoming more aware  aware of ourselves and of the greater good. The efforts of the country to eliminate Covid-19 were outstanding, but it made us aware that our personal choices have an impact on others that are sometimes disproportionate. A week of the flu for one person is life and death for another. It doesnt get much more real.

We need economic activity  but how much of what we do makes a difference? Spending money in our local economies on things that are produced in our local areas is possibly the best we can do as individuals. However, I believe central government should also assist Auckland Council. For example, we are told that as a result of the economic slowdown due to Covid-19, Auckland Transports budget needs to be slashed, by maybe as much as $300 million. As a result, there are significant projects that will be deferred or deleted from the workstream. All these projects add long term value to the country, as improvements to the road network enable other economic activity and, most importantly, they mean employment and income for those who deliver the work on the ground. Although $300 million sounds a lot, as a proportion of what the Government spent (tens of billions) to keep the country going through lockdown, it is almost negligible. The effect of not completing these projects is immense.

Meanwhile, there are some major local issues. None more so than the development of the landfill in the Dome Valley. A landfill anywhere is not desirable. Any rational person living anywhere near where a landfill is proposed is going to be resistant, and if you live anywhere in Rodney this is near. I am very resistant to having another large-scale landfill in Rodney and will do whatever I am able to ensure that the processes are appropriate. It is a difficult decision though, and requires sensitivity, intelligent rational deliberation and high-level vision.

We use the phrase one team often in my corporate role, and its so appropriate on so many levels. We are one city, one country, one world. Lift your sights, look to the big picture, contribute wherever you can, spend your money and time wisely, and look out for one another.

Steve Garner, Rodney Local Board

steven.garner@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
One positive but unplanned outcome from Covid-19 was the brief glimpse it provided into a future scenario where gases and particles from the combustion of fossil fuels are significantly reduced. Two British universities (Warwick and York), in collaboration with the EU Environmental Authority, conducted a major study into the health impacts of automotive emissions. The reduced transportation activity associated with Covid-19 lockdowns interrupted the pattern of year-by-year pollution data. The images of empty highways and cities around the world appeared on TV news screens and the absence of traffic gave us a direct measure of automotive exhaust pollution.

What are the gases that are emitted by internal combustion of fossil fuels? The two most dangerous are carbon particulates and nitrogen oxides. The carbon particulates are described by leading health authorities  including the US National Library of Medicine  as potentially carcinogenic. They are produced mainly by combustion of diesel fuel. Diesel emissions are the cause of 75 per cent of the health harm from traffic, according to the EU Public Health Alliance. Meanwhile, nitrogen oxides formed from automotive and industrial combustion are damaging to the respiratory system, the eyes and the skin. At high levels, they can be lethal. The annual health impact from air pollution in the UK is monitored by Public Health UK. The number of deaths from air pollution has been estimated at about 30,000 per annum from a variety of conditions, including heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, lung cancer and asthma.

A third gas exhibiting reduced levels during the Covid-19 pandemic was the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2). Elevated levels of CO2 are a key climate change predictor of atmospheric warming, catastrophic droughts, exceptional storms, floods and sea-level change.

The advent of electric cars (next 10 years) and planes (next 20 years), together with the global withdrawal (excluding China and India) from utilising coal as an energy source, will all help reduce these major climate and health impacts. Recent decisions by 14 countries and 20 cities to phase out fossil fuels by 2030 or 2040 will be a major step in the direction of improved human health and reduced climate change impacts. New Zealand is a world leader, with 85 per cent of its energy being renewable. This is a strong platform for future climate action. There are critical roles for governments, companies, cities and individuals in achieving this more sustainable, cleaner and healthier planet for our children and grandchildren.

The message is clear: a pandemic has given the global community a brief glimpse of a future where we have controlled the levels of greenhouse and toxic gases and cancer-inducing carbon particles. If urgent human response to a pandemic could achieve these positive atmospheric adjustments in the space of only a few months, surely, with sustained commitment over years, we can stop or delay the climate change catastrophes that are anticipated during the coming decades.

Emeritus Professor Ralph Cooney

r.cooney@auckland.ac.nz


Greg Sayers

Rodney Councillor Greg Sayers was last week seeking meetings with Minister of Transport Phil Twyford and Minister of Regional Economic Development Shane Jones in a desperate bit to save Rodneys road sealing programme.

Figures released in Auckland Councils proposed emergency budget for 2020/21 look set to stymie plans to seal Rodneys extensive network of unsealed roads. The blow to the road sealing comes in the wake of optimism last month that unsealed roads would get a funding boost over the next three years, following the Rodney Local Boards endorsement of an AT plan for extra sealing and maintenance improvements for Rodney roads.

But the plan was subject to final approval by Councils governing body, currently wrestling with an estimated financial shortfall of $525 million due to the Covid-19 crisis.

According to the proposed emergency budget, to cope with the loss, Council proposes to cut 1100 jobs, sell assets and defer projects, including road sealing projects. If ratepayers endorse a 3.5 per cent rates increase proposed by Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, then the budget for seal extensions will drop to $1 million. If there is a rate increase of 2.5 per cent or lower, the seal extension budget will drop to zero.

Cr Sayers says road sealing projects already underway will be completed but road sealing for next year is at significant risk. He says that prior to Covid-19, he had engaged in a hard-fought battle to increase its current budget from $5.9 million to $7.35 million next year and $14 million per year after that.

Just when it was all in our grasp, it has all been taken away, he says.

I am worried that it may take a number of years to recover from the looming recession and to get back to decent funding levels for seal extensions.

He says as far as he can see, the only way forward is if the central government coughs up substantial amounts of money for shovel-ready projects in Auckland and seal extensions are classified as one of these.
The 127th China Import and Export Fair, also known as Canton Fair, which was moved online for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, came to a successful close on June 24.

The online platform of the event maintained smooth operation, during which nearly 26,000 domestic and foreign enterprises promoted their products online using graphics, videos and 3D images, according to Xu Bing, spokesperson for the fair and deputy director general of China Foreign Trade Center.

This years Canton Fair has seen more new products, intelligent products, and high-tech products with independent intellectual property rights, under self-owned brands, and with self-marketing strategies, Xu said, adding that the massive products exhibited online during the event drew the attention of global purchasers.

The five major parts of the Internet-based fair, namely exhibitors and exhibits, news and events, global trade matchmaking, services and support, and cross-border e-commerce complemented and reinforced each other, offering a commerce feast to global buyers and exhibitors.

A wide variety of activities were held during the ten-day online trade fair, including 24 promotion events for purchasers, five online signing ceremonies of trade contracts, and 64 new product launch events of 58 leading enterprises from 20 trading delegations.

Chinese e-commerce platforms JD.com, Yeation and Suning.com were invited to hold an online sourcing briefing event during the fair, which provided a channel for domestic trade.

The fair also joined hands with customs authorities to stage a policy information sharing event to provide professional insights for participants.

The Canton Fair Product Design and Trade Promotion Center (PDC) organized 13 theme events via virtual lectures and live streaming shows, and arranged 20 virtual shows for 33 fashion brands.

In addition, the Canton Fair also launched an online exhibition hall for the first time to display products that won the Canton Fair Design Awards (CF Awards).

The results of the fair met expectations, noted Xu, adding that amid the ongoing pandemic, rising risks of global economic recession and severely battered global trade, the 127th Canton Fair gathered buyers from 217 countries and regions, with the number of sources of buyers reaching a record high in the history of the fair.

The global oriented trade event continued to offer diversified choices for traders all over the world, and help optimize the layout of international markets, Xu said.

Many foreign trade enterprises showed their products, plants and prototype rooms comprehensively via live-streaming during the fair, which allowed them to reach worldwide clients, receive inquiries and sourcing requests and gain fruitful results, Xu disclosed.

Calling the Canton Fair rain on thirsty land for enterprises in urgent need of orders, many exhibitors said the event helped them consolidate ties with old customers and make acquaintances with new ones, and that they would hold in-depth negotiations with buyers to strive for more outcomes, according to Xu.

The next Canton Fair is scheduled for late October this year. How the event will be held will depend on the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide and Chinas prevention and control measures then.
Despite the economic crisis that people are facing, scammers are still everywhere. They are taking advantage of the desperation of citizens to get financial help as many cannot go to their jobs or open businesses due to the pandemic.

The majority of the stimulus checks from the CARES Act were already distributed. This serves as an aid to Americans that are badly affected by the economic crisis of the coronavirus pandemic. CPA Practice Advisor previously reported that about 159 million stimulus check was already paid.

Scammers Schemes

Although millions already received their payments, there are still others who have not received any cash assistance yet. Some US citizens are waiting for the release of a second stimulus payment.

As many struggles, scammers are looking for ways to take advantage of the situation. Over 180,000 websites were already created with the goal of stealing details from people. Hence, the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS released a warning to those who are anxiously waiting to ensure that they will not fall on the trap of these scammers.

These scammers will tell people that they need to pay for a certain fee in order to claim their financial assistance. This is apparently wrong because the stimulus payments' aim is to help the recipients who are having problems with their finances. It is ironic to ask for money from those who actually need money.

The citizens are warned to avoid giving their social security card numbers, bank account numbers, or government benefits debit card account numbers. The IRS won't contact people via call or e-mail but only through US mail. Hence, it is advised not to believe calls and e-mails about the stimulus check.

"The FTC also warns about scammers trying to convince people to give them their social security card number, bank account or government benefits debit card account number," warns FTC.

Apart from that, the IRS said that there's a huge increase of phishing schemes for keywords that target "Corona Virus," "Covid-19," and "Stimulus." This scheme aims to identify and acquire personal information, including account numbers and passwords.

How to Avoid Stimulus Check Scams

Everyone should avoid sharing personal information via phone or e-mail. Calls claiming they are from FTC or IRS or anything related to stimulus checks are scams.

The only way to send information to IRS is through their official website. People can also call the dedicated stimulus check helpline at 800-919-9835.

Related Article: Second Stimulus Check: Is It Coming to Americans With an Increase to $2,000?

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Ngati Manuhiri chairman Mook Hohneck. Richard Nahi lead the hui. Kaumatua Mikeara Miru.

After keeping his cards close to his chest for months, Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust chairman Mook Hohneck told a gathering in Wellsford last week that his iwi will oppose the proposed landfill in the Dome Valley.

I want to make it clear that Ngati Manuhiri completely oppose the tip. Theres no mitigation  its just in the wrong location.

He explained that Ngati Manuhiri had not disclosed its position on the landfill until now in order to keep its powder dry, while it quietly collected ecology and hydrology reports.

We can all have this hui, but the fight has to be taken to the boardroom. Our role is to lead with lawyers and cut the snakes head off at the source, he said.

We are not going to stand for it because you shouldnt compromise on what you cant get back. Dont think that we are running off on a tangent.

Mr Hohneck made his remarks during a hui held in the Wellsford Community Centre on June 23. The hui brought together representatives from tribes who had previously disagreed on their respective responses to the landfill.

In July last year, representatives of Ngati Rongo and Ngati Whatua placed an aukati rahui (ritual prohibition) on the Hoteo River, which was not sanctioned by Ngati Manuhiri.

Kaumatua Richard Nahi, of Ngati Whatua, said the rahui was placed under extenuating circumstances.

We knew it may jeopardise the relationship [with Ngati Manuhiri], but it was to send a strong message to those who would hurt papatuanuku (the earth), he said.

We have had internal differences  ka pai. But, we come together when something really matters.

Kaipara kaumatua Mikaera Miru, who led the rahui in July last year, said it was legitimate.

I have been on the marae and worked in resource management for the last 30 years. Thats where my mana comes from.

He criticised the government for not enforcing the Resource Management Act, which he believed made the rahui legally binding.

I call them the clowns at the Crown. They are still using legislation as a foot on the throats of Maori after 180 years.

Mikaera also called on Northland Regional Councils resource management team to be sacked for not making a submission on the landfill.

They have failed in their responsibility to manage water resources, despite receiving millions of dollars in funding.

Nobody told the fish they are on the wrong side of the Auckland-Northland line.

He said he did not trust the Auckland Councils hearing process and had no faith it would produce a positive outcome.

This is why we placed a rahui. We have to fight the might of the state.

Michelle Carmichael, of Fight the Tip, Save the Dome, told the packed meeting that the group would hold a hikoi march to the steps of Auckland Council in the CBD with a tentative date set for July 17.

We are going down to Auckland to stand up and express that enough is enough, she said.
Lockport, NY (14094)

Today

Windy with thunderstorms, especially in the morning. A few storms may be severe. High around 80F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low near 50F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.
Things are finally moving forward as Phase 3 of the government's plans to reopen the country kicks in today.

And perhaps one of the busiest industries this week - and for a number of weeks into the future - will be hairdressers and barbers.

Already there have been queues outside local barber shops, while hairdressers' phones have been ringing off the hook as they prepare to open their doors to clients again.

One salon that has everything in place for a busy few weeks is Zara Hair Salon in Longford town.

Proprietor Margaret Mulvihill explained that her staff are working split shifts from 7am to 10.30pm to meet the needs of clients, with PPE, screens, social distancing and sanitary measures being met.

"We have split our ten staff into two teams of five operating from 7am until late in the evening, six days a week," Margaret explained.

"We are also opening the salon from 8am to 5pm on the next two Sundays. We allow time between shifts so that our teams are kept separate. We have an automatic hand sanitiser station and glass dividing screens which have come all the way from Spain.

"We have full PPE as per industry guidelines and a cleaning regime that would make Kim and Aggie or Mrs Hinch jealous!"

Staff have also removed every second chair to give them considerable space as they are fortunate to have a large salon.

"We even have a private room for vulnerable clients if they are feeling in any way nervous," Margaret explained.

"We have actually picked up some new clients because people like the fact we have good space. Its a bit strange that the whole team are not together and we will miss that camaraderie but we are conscious of our responsibilities and have spent a lot of time and effort in getting things right for both our staff and clients."
The area was saddened by news of the death of Mr John Joe Sheridan, Walkinstown, Dublin which occurred peacefully at his residence on Wednesday, June 10.



John Joe was a native of Cordownan, Arva. He was born on October 14, 1920 and was looking forward to reaching his 100th birthday later this year  but that was not to be.

He spent his early life in Cavan and left when he and his late wife, Rose Ellen Sheridan - who was also a native of Cordownan - were married.

They set up home in Walkinstown, Dublin, where they lived for over seventy years.

John Joe was a daily mass-goer and an active member of his community being involved in Neighbourhood Watch and Meals on Wheels. He was a Peace Commissioner and had a great interest in politics.

He spent his working life in Hughes Dairies, retiring thirty five years ago. During his retirement he spent long holidays with Rose Ellen in her family home in Cordownan. He had a great interest in the history of the area and was very knowledgeable about the ancestry of its people.

John Joe loved meeting the local people for a chat and reminiscing about old times. He was always a gentleman to meet and talk to and took great pride in his appearance  he was always dressed immaculately.

The death of his beloved wife Rose Ellen in 2018 was a hard blow for John Joe but his deep faith kept him going. He was also predeceased by his brothers Willie, Main Street; Vinnie, Cordownan and sister Mrs Mamie McManus, Beaghamore, Carrigallen.

He is survived by his daughters Carmel, Annette, Rosaleen, Eileen, and Rita, sons-in-law, 9 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, his sister in law Christina Sheridan, nieces, nephews, neighbours and many friends to all of whom we extend sincere sympathy.

John Joes Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Agnes Parish Church, Crumlin, Dublin followed by burial.
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(Alliance News) - Advanced Oncotherapy PLC said its pretax loss was flat in 2019 as higher finance costs offset a lower operating loss.

Shares in Advanced Oncotherapy were up 6.2% at 26.45 pence in London in afternoon trading.

The company, which is developing proton therapy systems for cancer treatment, posted a GBP21.9 million pretax loss for 2019, the same as the year before.

Operating loss narrowed to GBP20.7 million from GBP21.8 million, due to GBP1.9 million cost of sales incurred in 2018 that did not repeat. However, a jump in finance costs to GBP1.2 million from GBP80,187 resulted in a maintained annual loss.

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the company has focused primarily on finalising documentation and software development for its LIGHT proton therapy system.

Chief Executive Nicolas Serandour said: "During 2019 we have continued the technical development of our LIGHT system as well as bolstering our financial position. We have signed strategic partnerships with UHB, the Mediterranean Hospital of Limassol and The London Clinic and established a research project with Cleveland Clinic. Following the financing agreements announced separately today, the company is now in a good position to assemble its first commercial system and treat patients in 2021.

"We have made tremendous progress with the LIGHT system over the past 12 months as we remain focused on our vision of democratising access to proton therapy for patients across the world by lowering the cost of providing this treatment modality and so improving cancer patient outcomes. Following the impact of Covid-19, we are now in the progress of restarting work with social distancing implemented at our Daresbury facility, and will update the market in due course on progress made."

Separately on Monday, Advanced Oncotherapy said it had entered two financing agreements giving access to up to around GBP42 million of further funding for LIGHT system development and to advance the manufacture of as many as 30 LIGHT systems.

A EUR20.0 million unsecured debt facility agreement has been signed with existing supplier VDL ETG Precision BV, a subsidiary of VDL Groep BV, while Advanced Oncotherapy also has entered into an interest-bearing secured convertible facility with Nerano Pharma Ltd - a financing vehicles owned by Seamus Mulligan - for up to USD30 million.

CEO Serandour said: "We are pleased to announce these debt facilities from VDL Groep and Nerano Pharma, which will allow the Company to further the assembly and certification of our LIGHT system and to advance our pipeline of construction opportunities. We have a long-standing relationship with VDL ETG Precision as a current supplier to our business and we look forward to strengthening this partnership as they help build our business for future orders. In addition, we are delighted with the continued financial support provided by Seamus Mulligan, a significant shareholder in the company."

By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Monday.







FTSE 100 - WINNERS







BP, up 1.5%. The oil major said it has agreed to sell its petrochemicals business to privately owned UK chemicals company Ineos for USD5 billion as part of a plan to "reinvent BP". Under the agreement, Ineos will pay BP a deposit of USD400 million and will pay a further USD3.6 billion on completion. An additional USD1 billion will be deferred and paid in three separate instalments of USD100 million in March, April and May 2021 with the remaining USD700 million payable by the end of June 2021. The sale, which is slated to complete by the end of 2020, is expected to strengthen BP's balance sheet and delivers its USD15 billion divestment target a year early than originally scheduled, it noted. Proceeds from the sale will be used by BP for general corporate purposes.







FTSE 100 - LOSERS







Unilever, down 2.5%. UBS downgraded the consumer goods firm to Sell from Neutral.







FTSE 250 - WINNERS







Energean, up 12%. The oil and gas explorer amended the terms for its acquisition of Italian utility Edison's exploration & production portfolio. The Mediterranean-focused explorer said the deal now will exclude Edison's Norwegian subsidiary. The latest change follows the exclusion of Edison's Algerian asset. The purchase is now valued at USD284 million, as opposed to the original sum of USD750 million. It still includes Edison's UK portfolio, with a stake in Glengorm, the largest gas-condensate discovery in the Central North Sea. The USD466 million reduction in sale price includes a USD155 million from the Algerian exclusion and USD200 million from the Norwegian exclusion. The remaining USD111 million is due to "additional reductions relating to the macro environment".







TUI, up 3.5%. The Anglo-German travel operator said it is now ready for holidaymakers from all markets, with Cyprus, Portugal, Greece, the Balearic Islands, and Croatia to be the first holiday destinations to be on offer. With the summer season underway, the package holiday company said all of its airlines and tour operators are prepared to restart with the first leisure flights having already occurred. TUI noted the ongoing European Commission talks about re-opening travel to non-EU countries soon. Budget airline easyJet was up 4.5% and Irish carrier Ryanair Holdings was up 1.9% in a positive read-across.







FTSE 250 - LOSERS







Balfour Beatty, down 4.0%. Jefferies downgraded the construction firm to Hold from Buy.







Calisen, down 1.5%. The smart energy meter firm said it is planning to start meter reading and non-essential smart meter installations again in July as the UK lockdown eases. The company announced the temporary suspension of all non-essential smart meter installations and field services back on March 25. However, as some of its energy retail customers have resumed smart meter installations, Calisen has decided to do the same and resume non-essential smart meter installations as well, along with other non-essential field services. Calisen noted that it had still been responding to emergency call-outs during the lockdown with engineers using personal protective equipment. The use of PPE will continue for non-essential work. The company's return to normal activity is likely to be "gradual" over the course of "several months", and so Calisen feels it is too soon to reinstate 2020 smart meter installation guidance.







By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - Greece has extended its ban on flights from the UK until July 15, it has been reported.

Flights will remain restricted even after Greece reopens its borders to international visitors on Wednesday, sources told the Athens News Agency.

The policy was agreed at a meeting of government officials chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

He reportedly said: "The whole opening procedure is dynamic and the data will be continuously evaluated."

Flights from Sweden are also included in the extended ban.

TUI AG, the UK's biggest tour operator, was due to serve four Greek islands when it resumes its operations for UK customers on July 11.

TUI shares were 7.9% higher at 390.37 pence each in London on Monday afternoon.

source: PA

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - British & American Investment Trust PLC on Monday posted an annual fall in net asset value and decided against paying a final dividend.

Net asset value per share at December 31 was 17% lower at 19 pence each, from 23p a year before. British & American noted the FTSE 100 and All-Share indices grew 12% and 14%, respectively in 2019.

Shares in the company were untraded in London on Monday afternoon, last quoted at 22.95p each.

On a total return basis, adding back dividends, British & American's net assets climbed 1%, compared to jumps of 17% in the FTSE 100 index and 18% in the FTSE All-Share.

The investment trust chopped its payout by 69% to 2.7p per share from 8.7p. It did not recommend a final dividend.

"This decision is made in the context of the economic and investment realities arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic," the trust said.

By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
A woman from South Dakota was arrested due to the untimely death of a boy under her care. According to Fox News, the 5-year-old unidentified victim was allegedly stomped to death in a violent rampage.

The 21-year-old suspect, Julia Lee Carter, allegedly confessed to the police of kicking the boy to death, though the motive remains unclear. On Monday morning, cops received a frantic call from Carter, who was currently on the way to the Peace Hospital in Mitchell.

During the phone call to the police, the suspect claimed that the boy was no longer breathing. She rushed to the emergency room but it was already too late. After life-saving measures did not yield results, hospital staff pronounced the boy dead-on-arrival.

Read also: Secretive Government Agency Has Been Planting 'Cyanide Bombs' Across the US, Has Injured a Child

Autopsy reveals horrific abuse

Initially, doctors were not suspicious of Carter. But a thorough examination of the victim's body showed shocking signs of abuse. All fingers pointed towards Carter, who was the sole guardian of the boy during his death.

The victim may not be alive to speak out, but the bruises and marks left on his body served as evidence of the horrific abuse he went through. The autopsy results revealed a harrowing story of abuse and torture that the young boy experienced at the hands of Carter.

In her confession to the police, Carter revealed that she kicked the boy 5 times on his stomach. New York Post reported that she also admitted to stomping on his abdomen until he lost consciousness, which explained the blunt force trauma in his abdominal region later discovered during the autopsy. His death was ruled a homicide.

Carter's relationship with the victim is yet to be determined. Meanwhile, she will be facing charges for this horrific crime. Carter was charged with first-degree manslaughter and abuse or cruelty to minor and is currently awaiting trial.

On the other hand, a Facebook user commented on Mitchell Police Department's post, claiming that Carter may have been in a relationship with the boy's father. However, this claim remains unverified.

Related Article: Woman Deliberately Coughed on a Baby After Arguing with Mother

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of London-listed company director and manager changes announced on Monday and not separately reported by Alliance News:







Emmerson PLC - developing Khemisset potash mine in northern Morocco - Appoints Graham Clarke as chief executive officer from Wednesday, replacing Hayden Locke. Clarke has been a senior executive at former FTSE 250 constituent Sirius Minerals PLC since 2011, overseeing technical aspects of the development of the Woodsmith potash mine project. Sirius Minerals was purchased by miner Anglo American PLC earlier this year after running into funding trouble. Prior to that, Clarke spent 26 years at Cleveland Potash, which owned the Boulby potash mine in Yorkshire. "This is an extremely important moment in our corporate progression, from junior explorer into a mine developer, and we are truly fortunate to have someone of Graham's experience to join and build out the team that will eventually deliver the Khemisset potash mine," Emmerson Chair Mark Connelly comments.







Jupiter US Smaller Companies PLC - investment trust - Starts search for new non-executive director to take over as chair from Gordon Grender at the end of the next financial on June 30, 2021. Back in November, as the company's annual general meeting, 40% of shareholders voted against Grender's re-election as chair, because he had served for more than nine years. Grender has been chair since the investment trusts inception in 1993, meaning he will have been in post for 28 years come 2021.







Bezant Resources PLC - Kalengwa copper-gold project in Zambia and Hope copper-gold project in Namibia - CEO Laurence Read resigns from board immediately "to pursue his other interests" but will remain available to consult. "The last couple of years have not been an easy period for junior exploration companies, and as chief executive officer, Laurence has helped Bezant re-align its strategy and develop a clear copper-gold focus," comments Executive Chair Colin Bird.







OTAQ PLC - Lancaster, England-registered marine technology for aquaculture and offshore oil industries - Hires Matt Enright as chief financial officer, replacing interim CFO Simon Walters. Enright was finance director of cardboard box maker TRM Packaging before its sale to DS Smith PLC. Cash shell Hertsford Capital PLC changed its name to OTAQ PLC last week after buying OTAQ Group Ltd.







FRP Advisory Group PLC - London-based professional services - Hires Gavin Jones as CFO, joining the FRP board on Monday. Jones was CFO of Bowring Marsh, part of MMC Group.







Harworth Group PLC - Rotherham-based property developer - Hires Lisa Scenna as non-executive director from September 1. Scenna replaces Lisa Clement, who retires as senior independent director on September 30. Scenna was managing director of MS Investments at construction and regeneration firm Morgan Sindall Group PLC, prior to which she was an executive at Laing O'Rourke. Scenna is a non-executive director of Polypipe Group PLC.







Purplebricks Group PLC - Solihull, England-based estate agency - Says Andreas Wiele has stepped down as non-executive director after leaving major shareholder Axel Springer. Purplebricks says it will announce a replacement Axel Springer director in due course.







By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Gulf Marine Services PLC - Abu Dhabi-based self-elevating support vessels- Says year-to-date performance ahead of business plan with May results recorded. Fleet utilisation at 82% for the year as a whole, 85% for the second half. Order book has multi-year visibility, with 53% of fleet contracted for 2021 and 37% for 2022. Confirms 2020 guidance of USD57 million to USD62 million in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. Says recent agreement with lenders positions it for intended equity raise.

Current stock price: 12.79 pence

Year-to-date change: up 74%

By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - Coronavirus testing data will be discussed at a Monday morning meeting between Leicester's mayor and UK Government officials amid suggestions a local lockdown could be imposed on the city.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby and the council's Director of Public Health Ivan Browne will be present to examine the data behind a local surge in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks.

Soulsby said the council was only provided with detailed testing information for the first time on Thursday a a week after Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that there was a local outbreak in the city.

It comes as restrictions are being eased elsewhere in the UK, with parks and shops with outdoor entrances able to reopen in Scotland, and schools in Wales welcoming more pupils.

The Welsh Government said schools will operate with staggered starts and breaks for "check in, catch up and prepare" sessions starting on Monday.

According to Public Health England data, almost 3,000 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in Leicester since the start of the coronavirus epidemic.

Of these, 866 cases were reported in the last two weeks.

The rise in cases was linked to reports that Leicester could be made subject to Britain's first local lockdown, a potential move Home Secretary Priti Patel appeared to confirm over the weekend.

Asked if the Leicester reports were accurate on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Patel said: "Well, that is correct."

She added: "There will be support going into Leicester and in fact the Health Secretary was in touch with many of us over the weekend explaining some of the measures, the support on testing, resources that will go into the local authority as well."

Soulsby later insisted more testing data was needed before deciding whether to implement a local lockdown in Leicester.

He argued the information was "key to determining what intervention is needed" to respond to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases.

"If it is decided that a local lockdown is needed the city council currently has no powers to implement this, and there would need to be extensive discussion around the area to be locked down, including whether this extends beyond the city boundaries," he added.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) acknowledged the city was an area of concern as it urged residents to be vigilant against the virus.

The focus on Leicester's future came as a leading scientist warned the country remains "on a knife edge" ahead of lockdown measures being further relaxed next month.

Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, said he was worried about a possible spike in infections ahead of the reopening of pubs, restaurants and hairdressers from July 4.

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, he warned of the possibility of a "very nasty rebound" of coronavirus in the winter if the UK does not use the next few months "sensibly".

Asked if that meant more people losing their lives, he said: "It could do."

DHSC said 43,550 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Saturday, up by 36 from the day before.

The government figures do not include all deaths involving Covid-19 across the UK, which are thought to have passed 54,000.

Meanwhile, police in London spent the weekend dispersing hundreds of people from unlicensed music events.

Scotland Yard said such gatherings were "illegal, dangerous and often linked to anti-social behaviour and violence".

Officers were sent to break up gatherings in the areas of Clapham Common, Tooting Bec Common, Burgess Park and Wembley, largely without confrontation.

Patel said the rise in mass gatherings and protests was "unacceptable" and warned it risked a second deadly spike of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the Home Secretary said the UK's borders could be reopened in the coming days now international and domestic coronavirus transmission rates were continuing to fall.

Ministers are expected to confirm which countries will no longer have a 14 day quarantine requirement imposed on travellers returning from them to the UK.

A traffic light system will see the blanket quarantine rule lifted, with nations instead sorted into green, amber and red categories according to their prevalence of coronavirus.

The list of quarantine-free countries is due to be published on Wednesday, with restrictions lifted as soon as July 6.

By Tom Pilgrim, PA

source: PA

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters

stocks reporters. You can share your thoughts Joice Alves (joice.alves@thomsonreuters.com) and

Julien Ponthus (julien.ponthus@thomsonreuters.com) in London and Stefano Rebaudo

(stefano.rebaudo@thomsonreuters.com) in Milan.

CREDIT DYNAMICS STILL STRONG, BUT WITH EUROPE DIVIDE (0954 GMT)

Credit dynamics are more important than usual with the Covid-19 impact in place as they tell

us if the economy is on the right track to a recovery and if there is a risk of a credit crunch.

Banks have huge amounts of liquidity at hands due to ECB and government measures, which are

supposed to go to corporations and families.

We have good and bad signs from data collected by UBS.

Credit to non-financial corporations grew 7.3% year on year from 6.6% in April, "reflecting

strong demand for emergency bridge loans supported by the government", while credit to

households stayed unchanged at 3% in May, a UBS research note says.

The Europe divide is in place also in this matter. Credit growth was strong in France, up

8%, and in line with the Eurozone average of 5.3% in Austria, Finland, Germany and Ireland.

While it underperformed in Spain, up 3.7% and Italy up 1.8%.

"We would regard a sharp widening in divergences between country-specific credit trends as a

warning sign," UBS says.

(Stefano Rebaudo)

*****

OPENING SNAPSHOT: A SWIFT TURNAROUND! (0803 GMT)

Everything seemed to be pointing to stocks losing ground at the open this mornings but the

trend swiftly became positive soon after the bell.

The STOXX 600 regained 0.2%, which was much better than what the futures were suggesting

earlier this morning, falling up to 0.8%.

At the time of writing, the bounce-back faded and the pan-European index is back just very

slightly in the red.

While there's no clear trigger for the switch in mood, there is a clear feeling that

European stocks have the upper hand in the global stock market arena and that's helping at the

open.

"The key is that Europe keeps reopenings safely in light of the low levels of

virus transmission resurgence and far more manageable new cases", Stephen Innes, chief

global market strategist at AxiCorp just told us.

"Investors sill have the reopening fever and money to spend, so they may now view EU stocks

a more attractive investment in that regard", he added.

We also asked Michael Hewson at CMC Markets what was his take on the turnaround at the open

and he argued that "some of the concerns about a second wave are premature".

Among individual stocks there's a lot of action around Wirecard which is up...160%! Traders

reporting the shares are rising on a Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung report that private equity

and Worldline may be interested in buying parts of the company.

Another big mover is AMS up close to 7% with the reported EU go-ahead for the Osram deal

boostng the shares.

Speaking of European shares having the upper hand, check out this story:

Investors warm to Europe as Biden lead, virus fears rattle Wall St

Anyhow, here's your opening snapshot:

(Julien Ponthus and Stefano Rebaudo)

*****

ON THE RADAR: AIRBUS, WIRECARD AND BUSINESS SENTIMENT (0645 GMT)

While there's not that much corporate news this morning, traders looking for market action

can turn to Wirecard, which is up 30% in pre-market after the German company said on Saturday it

would proceed with business activities after filing for insolvency.

That, of course, ain't much of a bounce back as the stock has lost about 99% of its value in

less than two months!

Another stock under focus this morning is Airbus, losing some ground after its Chief

Executive said he assumed a 40% drop in production over the next two years.

Traders also see AMS rising as much as 10% at the open after a Reuters exclusive on the

European Union giving its go-ahead to its acquisition of German lighting group Osram.

Talking about M&A, Spain's Iberdrola raised its bid for Australian wind and solar firm

Infigen Energy after Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corp hiked its offer.

Also, International Consolidated Airlines Group is reviewing its planned 1 billion euro

acquisition of Air Europa because of the harsh economic climate caused by COVID-19, the CEO of

IAG-owned Iberia was quoted on Sunday as saying.

In the beaten down euro zone banking sector, a German newspaper reported on Saturday that

the board of Commerzbank's board would likely approve more branch closures and job cuts at an

extraordinary meeting next week.

In Italy, the board of Monte dei Paschi di Siena is expected to meet on Monday to approve a

plan to reduce its burden of bad loans.

Some macro could also spice things up a tad with notably the Euro Zone Economic Sentiment

for June at 0900 GMT:

(Julien Ponthus and Stefano Rebaudo)

*****

MORNING CALL: GRIM VIRUS MILESTONES DENT SENTIMENT (0535 GMT)

There's clearly a risk-off feeling across markets as the week begins with two gloomy

milestones: the death toll from COVID-19 surpassed half a million people and reported cases went

through the 10 million mark.

Asian stocks took losses of about 1% to 2% on average with ongoing fears that the global

pandemic could take a deeper toll on economic growth than expected.

European futures are down between 0.3% to 0.6% and their Wall Street peers are also trading

slightly in the red.

The downbeat sentiment is also showing through oil prices which have slid for a second

straight session.

(Julien Ponthus)

*****
(Repeats with no change to text. The opinions expressed here

are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters.)

* Tin is LME Star Performer: https://tmsnrt.rs/2VBX4gT

By Andy Home

LONDON, June 26 (Reuters) - COVID-19 has generated the most

severe demand shock for industrial metals since the financial

crisis a decade ago.

The first-round impact came from the lockdown of key demand

sectors such as automotive. The second-round hit, which is still

playing out, comes from slumping corporate and household

confidence as the economic fall-out from the fatal coronavirus

travels around the globe.

But COVID-19 has also affected metals supply in the form of

mine and smelter closures due to national quarantine measures.

The impact is not uniform but rather reflects each metal's

unique supply profile.

Aluminium production, for example, has been left largely

unscathed, with most governments, except Argentina, designating

smelters as critical industries that could continue operating.

Tin and zinc, by contrast, have seen significant disruption,

partly because of a particularly hard lockdown in Peru, a major

producer of both metals.

This game of lockdown lottery isn't over either.

The focus right now is turning to copper and Chile, the

world's largest producer of the red metal, where the coronavirus

appears to be still spreading through the production sector.

TIN - METAL HIT

COVID-19 lockdowns at one stage knocked out three of the

world's five largest tin producers outside of China.

Peru's Minsur, Bolivia's EM Vinto and Malaysia Smelting

Corp. accounted for a cumulative 55,400 tonnes of production

last year, representing 17% of global output.

All three are vertically integrated producers, meaning both

mines and smelters were curtailed, directly affecting the

availability of refined tin.

This has translated into tin being the out-performer of the

base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange. (LME)

Currently trading at $16,800 per tonne, LME three-month tin

is now down only 2% since the start of the year.

It helps that tin supply was already stressed.

China, the world's largest producer, has been struggling

with a shortage of domestic raw material and disruption to the

flow of concentrate from Myanmar, the country's largest

supplier.

China flipped to being a net importer of refined tin in

September last year and it has remained so ever since.

Cumulative net imports totalled 2,600 tonnes in the first four

months of 2020. Last year, by contrast, it was a net exporter of

3,600 tonnes over the same period.

With Indonesia's PT Timah also slashing its 2020 sales

target to 55,000 tonnes, it's evident that COVID-19

has significantly exacerbated existing supply pressures.

ZINC - MINE HIT

Measured by mine production, zinc has been hardest hit by

lockdowns, particularly that in Peru, a major supplier of

concentrates to the world's smelters.

Analysts at Macquarie Bank estimate over 500,000 tonnes of

lost production, representing more than 4% of global supply.

("COVID-19 base metal supply cuts - June Update", June 24, 2020)

JP Morgan analysts have a higher assessment of 790,000

tonnes after factoring in price-related closures. ("Metals

Weekly - supply disruption round-up", June 22, 2020).

The latter is a reminder that the zinc supply chain was in a

very different place to tin before the world first heard of the

new coronavirus.

After a raw materials squeeze in 2017 and 2018, the zinc

market was swinging to surplus with Chinese smelters ramping up

production and the price sinking.

This bear narrative has been challenged but remains largely

intact, which is why the zinc price reaction to the loss of so

much concentrate has been muted.

Rather, the real turnaround has taken place in the zinc

concentrates market segment.

This year's benchmark treatment charges, which are charged

by a smelter for converting concentrates into refined metal,

came in at a 12-year high of $299.97, reflecting an abundance of

raw material.

Spot charges in China, the world's largest smelting hub,

have since fallen to $155 per tonne, according to state metals

research house Antaike.

There are now signs that the cut in concentrates supply is

feeding through to refined production, with China's national

output falling by 6% in May relative to April.

But with mines in Peru now starting to reopen, the impact on

full-year refined metal output looks containable.

For now.

FOCUS ON COPPER AND CHILE

Any assessment of how much metal production has been lost

due to COVID-19 comes with an important caveat, namely that the

virus has been successfully contained in producing countries.

Which is why copper and Chile are now in focus.

Although some major Peruvian copper mines were curtailed

during lockdown, those in Chile largely carried on operating

with the government taking a relatively light touch to a core

export earner.

Chile's national production of copper actually grew by 3.6%

in January-April compared with last year, Macquarie notes.

Relative to size of market, the bank estimates copper mine

supply has been less impacted than either zinc or nickel, while

in terms of refined metal supply, copper has experienced the

lowest losses among the base metals.

JP Morgan pegs copper mine losses at around 440,000 tonnes,

citing figures from research house CRU, and notes that is still

only around 40% of the bank's allowance for "normal" supply

disruption this year.

But Chile's light copper quarantine measures may be

back-firing as coronavirus cases within the sector increase.

Unions have been pressuring companies to do more for the

safety of their members, particularly those working for state

operator Codelco, which has recorded three COVID-19 fatalities.

The company has just announced it is suspending smelting

operations at its Chuquicamata division to focus reduced

manpower and resources on maintaining basic mining operations.

Chuquicamata is Codelco's second-largest volume operation

after El Teniente with production last year of 385,000 tonnes.

The suspension of smelter operations is "transitory", the

company said, implying a relative quick return to business as

usual.

But the coronavirus, not Codelco, will determine just how

long the closure will last and whether the company might have to

curtail more operations.

As JP Morgan notes, "it's still a bit early to have strong

confidence in a view that there will not potentially be a second

wave of closures, particularly given the comparatively high rate

of infection in Chile and Latin America in general".

The key take-away is that COVID-19 is still far from

defeated and until it is, the hit to metal supply remains a

moving target.

(Editing by Louise Heavens)
(Alliance News) - Oil major BP PLC on Monday said it has agreed to sell its petrochemicals business to privately owned UK chemicals company Ineos for USD5 billion as part of a plan to "reinvent BP".

Shares in FTSE 100-listed BP were up 1.5% at 309.02 pence each in London. Year-to-date the stock is down 36%, however, due to weak oil prices and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the agreement, Ineos will pay BP a deposit of USD400 million and will pay a further USD3.6 billion on completion. An additional USD1 billion will be deferred and paid in three separate instalments of USD100 million in March, April and May 2021 with the remaining USD700 million payable by the end of June 2021.

The sale, which is slated to complete by the end of 2020, is expected to strengthen BP's balance sheet and delivers its USD15 billion divestment target a year early than originally scheduled, it noted. Proceeds from the sale will be used by BP for general corporate purposes.

BP's Chief Executive Bernard Looney said: "This is another significant step as we steadily work to reinvent BP. I recognise this decision will come as a surprise and we will do our best to minimise uncertainty.

"Strategically, the overlap with the rest of BP is limited and it would take considerable capital for us to grow these businesses. As we work to build a more focused, more integrated BP, we have other opportunities that are more aligned with our future direction. Today's agreement is another deliberate step in building a BP that can compete and succeed through the energy transition."

BP's petrochemicals business is focused on two main businesses, aromatics and acetyls. In total, the businesses have interests in 14 manufacturing plants in Asia, Europe and the US and in 2019 produced 9.7 million tonnes of petrochemicals.

The aromatics business produces purified terephthalic acid, a key feedstock for the manufacture of polyester plastics and its precursor paraxylene. The acetyls business makes acetic acid and derivatives such as acetic anhydride, which have uses in a wide range of sectors.

The gross assets being sold amounted to USD3.50 billion as December 31, 2019. The businesses recorded a replacement cost profit before interest and tax of USD396 million in 2019.

Ineos previously has acquired a number of businesses from BP, most notably the 2005 USD9 billion purchase of Innovene, the BP subsidiary that comprised the majority of BP's then chemicals assets and two refineries.

BP is scheduled to release its second quarter 2020 results on August 4.

By Tapan Panchal; tapanpanchal@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - The following is a summary of top news stories Monday.







COMPANIES







BP said it has agreed to sell its petrochemicals business to privately owned UK chemicals company Ineos for USD5 billion as part of a plan to "reinvent BP". Under the agreement, Ineos will pay BP a deposit of USD400 million and will pay a further USD3.6 billion on completion. An additional USD1 billion will be deferred and paid in three separate instalments of USD100 million in March, April and May 2021 with the remaining USD700 million payable by the end of June 2021. The sale, which is slated to complete by the end of 2020, is expected to strengthen BP's balance sheet and delivers its USD15 billion divestment target a year early than originally scheduled, it noted. Proceeds from the sale will be used by BP for general corporate purposes.







Rio Tinto said it has reached an agreement with the government of Mongolia on a new source of domestic power for its Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine.The Anglo-Australian miner said the agreement paves the way for the government to fund and construct a state-owned power plant at Tavan Tolgoi. The miner also said the two sides would work towards finalising a power purchase agreement by the end of March 2021. Construction of the coal-fired power plant will begin no later than July 2021, with commissioning within four years thereafter. The government of Mongolia has a 34% stake in the mine, which Rio Tinto has managed since 2010.







GlaxoSmithKline said its drug Duvroq had been given its first approval in Japan to treat anaemia caused by chronic kidney disease. Glaxo said the Japan Ministry of Health, Labour & Welfare approved Duvroq, the brand name for daprodustat, to treat anaemia from chronic kidney disease. Japanese approval was mostly based on a phase 3 programme, which was conducted in Japan and evaluated Duvroq in patients across the chronic kidney disease spectrum, including those not on dialysis. The drug has not been approved anywhere outside of Japan but Glaxo said its ongoing phase 3 global programme, including the Ascend-D and Ascend-ND studies, will support further submissions worldwide.







Energean said it has entered into amended terms for its Edison E&P acquisition and will pay out USD466 million less than originally planned. Edison is part of France's EDF Group. The Mediterranean-focused gas producer said it has inked further amended terms for the deal, originally announced in July 2019, that now exclude Edison E&P's Norwegian subsidiary. This, along with the previous exclusion of Edison E&P's Algerian asset, means that the gross price tag has fallen to USD284 million from USD750 million. The USD466 million reduction in sale price includes a USD155 million from the Algerian exclusion and USD200 million from the Norwegian exclusion. The remaining USD111 million is due to "additional reductions relating to the macro environment".







MARKETS







London shares were mixed amid persisting coronavirus concerns after the global death toll reached 500,000. BP was up 2.2%, the second best performer in the FTSE 100 after Berkeley Group. Energean was the best performer in the FTSE 250, up 12%. US stock market futures were pointed to a mixed open.







FTSE 100: up 0.1% at 6,168.40

FTSE 250: down 0.3% at 17,070.41

AIM ALL-SHARE: flat at 883.50

GBP: flat at USD1.2329 (USD1.2326)

EUR: up at USD1.1263 (USD1.1210)

GOLD: up at USD1,769.30 per ounce (USD1,760.70)

OIL (Brent): flat at USD40.75 a barrel (USD40.70)

(changes since previous London equities close)







ECONOMICS AND GENERAL







More than half a million people have died in the coronavirus pandemic globally, an AFP tally showed Sunday, as bars in Los Angeles were ordered to close again due to surging cases in the US. The worldwide number of recorded infections is now just over 10 million from the virus that first emerged in China late last year, with fears growing of a full-blown second wave. The rate of contagion has doubled since May 21. One million new infections were recorded in just six days, according to the AFP count based on official sources, even as some countries loosen punishing lockdowns that have devastated their economies and thrown millions out of work. The US, the hardest-hit country, has more than 2.5 million cases alone, and efforts to reopen the world's biggest economy have been set back by a jump in new infections in big states such as Florida and California.







Chancellor Angela Merkel hosts French President Emmanuel Macron for talks, days before Germany takes on the rotating presidency of the EU with the economy in the throes of the most severe storm since World War II. Berlin's chairing of the 26-member bloc will be its last with Merkel in charge, and could be the one that defines the legacy of the leader dubbed the "eternal chancellor". With the future of the bloc's relationship with Britain to be determined, a crucial shift to a lower carbon world in the balance and crises from Libya to Syria all jostling for attention, there is no shortage of burning issues to tackle. But the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic devastation it has wrought have become a bull in the painstakingly arranged EU china shop. "This crisis that we're currently experiencing is different compared to any other we have experienced since the founding of Europe," Merkel, in power since 2005, told parliament in an address laying out priorities for the EU presidency.







The EU and Britain launch an intense five weeks of negotiations on a deal to define their post-Brexit relations on Monday, with London keen to wrap things up quickly. The new round of talks in Brussels will be the first to be held face-to-face since the coronavirus shutdown combined with the two sides' entrenched positions to stall progress. The meetings will alternate weekly between Brussels and London throughout July and at the end of August, as the teams learned on Sunday, the British negotiator David Frost will be promoted to become Prime Minister Boris Johnson's national security adviser. Some commentators immediately suggested this could break the British side's focus, but a UK spokesman insisted Frost's new title does not mean he will be distracted from the ongoing discussions with his EU counterpart, Michel Barnier.







China moved a step closer to passing a controversial law targeting dissent in Hong Kong after a top law-making committee discussed the bill on Sunday, state media reported. The Communist Party leadership says the national security law is needed to end political unrest after the city was rocked by months of pro-democracy protests last year, but critics fear the law would smother the financial hub's treasured freedoms. Delegates at a meeting of the National People's Congress Standing Committee reviewed the draft of the law at the committee's second meeting of the month on Sunday, the official Xinhua news agency said without giving details of the bill's latest contents. Sunday's discussion means the committee is expected to vote on and adopt the law a which is being fast-tracked a in the next few days. China's parliament endorsed the planned legislation last month, sending the draft to the Standing Committee for discussion and revision.







Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
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April 23, 5:01 p.m.

The University is reporting 708 coronavirus cases 549 of which are students and 159 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 544 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 455,541. There are 12 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,336.

There are 330 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 47 of them are on ventilators.

April 21, 5:00 p.m.

The University is reporting 703 coronavirus cases 548 of which are students and 155 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 661 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 454,377. There are 10 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,316.

There are 336 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 42 of them are on ventilators.

April 20, 2:22 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 359 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 453,711. There are 13 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,306.

There are 344 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 41 of them are on ventilators.

April 19, 4:18 p.m.

The University is reporting 693 coronavirus cases 541 of which are students and 152 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,413 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 453,351. There are 11 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,293.

There are 337 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 39 of them are on ventilators.

April 18, 3:00 p.m.

The University is reporting 686 coronavirus cases 535 of which are students and 151 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 523 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 451,955. There are 9 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,282.

There are 317 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 42 of them are on ventilators.

April 15, 5:00 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 791 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 451,476. There are 9 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,273.

There are 338 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 45 of them are on ventilators.

April 14, 5:00 p.m.

The University is reporting 677 coronavirus cases 526 of which are students and 151 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 386 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 450,673. There are 9 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,264.

There are 325 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 49 of them are on ventilators.

April 13, 3:07 p.m.

The University is reporting 673 coronavirus cases 522 of which are students and 151 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 442 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 450,279. There are 14 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,255.

There are 330 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 49 of them are on ventilators.

April 10, 9:00 p.m.

The University is reporting 661 coronavirus cases 511 of which are students and 150 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 739 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 448,838. There are 16 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,216.

There are 297 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 43 of them are on ventilators.

April 8, 7:08 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 442 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 448,104. There are 15 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,200.

There are 301 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 44 of them are on ventilators.

April 7, 5:56 p.m.

The University is reporting 649 coronavirus cases 500 of which are students and 149 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 719 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 447,655. There are 11 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,185.

There are 301 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 46 of them are on ventilators.

April 6, 4:14 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 198 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 446,955. There are 9 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,174.

There are 299 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 47 of them are on ventilators.

April 5, 6:58 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,259 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 446,737. There are 4 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,165.

There are 262 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 49 of them are on ventilators.

April 4, 4:15 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 549 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 445,469. There are 20 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,161.

There are 347 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 56 of them are on ventilators.

March 31, 4:05 p.m.

The University is reporting 632 coronavirus cases 485 of which are students and 147 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 508 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 444,933. There are 9 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,141.

There are 354 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 60 of them are on ventilators.

March 24, 3:15 p.m.

The University is reporting 619 coronavirus cases 474 of which are students and 145 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 524 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 442,221. There are 19 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,056.

There are 413 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 75 of them are on ventilators.

March 23, 4:16 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 709 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 441,771. There are 7 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,037.

There are 404 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 74 of them are on ventilators.

March 22, 6:13 p.m.

The University is reporting 611 coronavirus cases 468 of which are students and 143 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,334 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 441,066. There are 42 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 10,030.

There are 403 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 71 of them are on ventilators.

March 21, 1:42 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 203 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 439,737. There are 14 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,988.

There are 399 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 68 of them are on ventilators.

March 19, 6:10 p.m.

The University is reporting 607 coronavirus cases 465 of which are students and 142 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 203 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 439,737. There are 14 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,988.

There are 399 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 68 of them are on ventilators.

March 17, 4:06 p.m.

The University is reporting 600 coronavirus cases 460 of which are students and 140 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 447 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 439,002. There are 30 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,955.

There are 446 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 66 of them are on ventilators.

March 16, 4:20 p.m.

The University is reporting 600 coronavirus cases 460 of which are students and 140 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 974 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 438,557. There are 22 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,925.

There are 453 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 62 of them are on ventilators.

March 14, 3:43 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 945 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 437,393. There are 23 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,884.

There are 457 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 68 of them are on ventilators.

March 13, 5:05 p.m.

The University is reporting 591 coronavirus cases 453 of which are students and 138 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 528 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 436,482. There are 33 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,861.

There are 478 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 63 of them are on ventilators.

March 11, 12:43 p.m.

The University is reporting 585 coronavirus cases 447 of which are students and 138 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 441 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 435,935. There are 16 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,828.

There are 514 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 64 of them are on ventilators.

March 10, 4:56 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 577 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 435,514. There are 43 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,812.

There are 530 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 69 of them are on ventilators.

March 9, 6:08 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 631 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 434,926. There are 11 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,769.

There are 543 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 75 of them are on ventilators.

March 8, 5:04 p.m.

The University is reporting 579 coronavirus cases 444 of which are students and 135 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 515 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 434,289. There are 10 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,758.

There are 534 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 78 of them are on ventilators.

March 5, 6:59 p.m.

The University is reporting 579 coronavirus cases 444 of which are students and 135 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 504 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 433,045. There are 30 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,716.

There are 538 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 77 of them are on ventilators.

March 3, 6:32 p.m.

The University is reporting 569 coronavirus cases 435 of which are students and 134 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 582 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 431,771. There are 21 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,668.

There are 588 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 78 of them are on ventilators.

March 2, 7:16 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 770 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 431,271. There are 19 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,647.

There are 629 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 89 of them are on ventilators.

March 1, 6:10 p.m.

The University is reporting 564 coronavirus cases 431 of which are students and 133 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 408 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 430,504. There are 20 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,628.

There are 629 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 91 of them are on ventilators.

February 28, 6:31 p.m.

The University is reporting 556 coronavirus cases 424 of which are students and 132 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,502 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 430,100. There are 21 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,608.

There are 630 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 91 of them are on ventilators.

February 25, 8:16 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 779 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 427,689. There are 33 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,561.

There are 679 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 100 of them are on ventilators.

February 24, 4:00 p.m.

The University is reporting 547 coronavirus cases 416 of which are students and 131 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 879 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 426,925. There are 25 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,528.

There are 687 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 102 of them are on ventilators.

February 23, 5:36 p.m.

The University is reporting 543 coronavirus cases 413 of which are students and 130 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,393 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 426,048. There are 26 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,503.

There are 715 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 111 of them are on ventilators.

February 21, 3:00 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,909 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 424,176. There are 26 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,466.

There are 756 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 120 of them are on ventilators.

February 20, 6:22 p.m.

The University is reporting 540 coronavirus cases 410 of which are students and 130 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 430 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 422,287. There are 34 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,440.

There are 806 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 129 of them are on ventilators.

February 13, 11:21 p.m.

The University is reporting 518 coronavirus cases 391 of which are students and 127 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,156 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 418,585. There are 37 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,276.

There are 1,001 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 151 of them are on ventilators.

February 11, 4:21 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,739 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 417,415. There are 27 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,239.

There are 1,052 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 151 of them are on ventilators.

February 10, 5:13 p.m.

The University is reporting 514 coronavirus cases 387 of which are students and 127 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 337 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 414,687. There are 50 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,212.

There are 1,076 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 151 of them are on ventilators.

February 9, 1:32 p.m.

The University is reporting 509 coronavirus cases 382 of which are students and 127 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,321 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 414,354. There are 20 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,162.

There are 1,122 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 151 of them are on ventilators.

February 7, 3:19 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,003 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 411,812. There are 43 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,119.

There are 1,166 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 143 of them are on ventilators.

February 5, 4:34 p.m.

The University is reporting 494 coronavirus cases 367 of which are students and 127 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 863 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 409,861. There are 32 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,076.

There are 1,275 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 167 of them are on ventilators.

February 4, 5:00 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,758 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 408,995. There are 38 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,044.

There are 1,295 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 162 of them are on ventilators.

February 3, 3:30 p.m.

The University is reporting 474 coronavirus cases 347 of which are students and 127 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,046 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 406,235. There are 53 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 9,006.

There are 1,386 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 180 of them are on ventilators.

February 2, 4:00 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,580 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 404,194. There are 41 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,953.

There are 1,440 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 189 of them are on ventilators.

February 1, 4:13 p.m.

The University is reporting 458 coronavirus cases 335 of which are students and 123 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 899 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 401,591. There are 53 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,912.

There are 1,403 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 187 of them are on ventilators.

January 31, 3:37 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 3,355 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 400,626. There are 58 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,859.

There are 1,416 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 199 of them are on ventilators.

January 30, 8:05 p.m.

The University is reporting 423 coronavirus cases 304 of which are students and 119 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,369 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 397,276. There are 58 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,801.

There are 1,546 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 198 of them are on ventilators.

January 28, 4:41 p.m.

The University is reporting 384 coronavirus cases 271 of which are students and 113 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,517 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 394,909. There are 55 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,743.

There are no updates on the current number of patients in hospitals due to COVID-19, and 206 of them are on ventilators.

January 27, 2:05 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 3,868 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 392,416. There are 67 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,688.

There are 1,625 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 203 of them are on ventilators.

January 26, 8:20 p.m.

The University is reporting 353 coronavirus cases 250 of which are students and 103 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,654 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 388,562. There are 31 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,621.

There are 1,646 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 217 of them are on ventilators.

January 25, 12:04 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,075 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 385,942. There are 25 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,590.

There are 1,638 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 219 of them are on ventilators.

January 24, 2:06 p.m.

The University is reporting 316 coronavirus cases 219 of which are students and 97 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 3,604 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 383,862. There are 82 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,565.

There are 1,641 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 215 of them are on ventilators.

January 22, 2:31 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,937 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 380,255. There are 41 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,483.

There are 1,747 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 216 of them are on ventilators.

January 21, 6:33 p.m.

The University is reporting 277 coronavirus cases 186 of which are students and 91 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 3,856 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 378,318. There are 59 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,442.

There are 1,800 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 233 of them are on ventilators.

January 20, 1:20 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,536 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 374,582. There are 59 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,383.

There are 1,858 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 243 of them are on ventilators.

January 19, 12:05 p.m.

The University is reporting 240 coronavirus cases 156 of which are students and 84 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,126 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 372,089. There are 71 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,324.

There are 1,905 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 249 of them are on ventilators.

January 18, 4:08 p.m.

The University is reporting 215 coronavirus cases 138 of which are students and 77 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 961 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 369,951. There are 50 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,253.

There are 1,894 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 239 of them are on ventilators.

January 15, 12:55 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 3,712 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 364,853. COVID-19 related deaths were not recorded for Jan. 15.

There are 2,001 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 242 of them are on ventilators.

January 14, 12:40 p.m.

The University is reporting 159 coronavirus cases 105 of which are students and 54 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 5,318 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 361,148. There are 58 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,080.

There are 1,975 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 245 of them are on ventilators.

January 13, 12:12 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,902 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 355,835. There are 51 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 8,022.

There are 2,029 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 235 of them are on ventilators.

January 12, 12:12 p.m.

The University is reporting 143 coronavirus cases 84 of which are students and 59 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 4,673 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 352,939. There are 53 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 7,971.

There are 2,035 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 244 of them are on ventilators.

January 11, 12:00 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,402 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 348,234. There are 45 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 7,918.

There are 1,982 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 232 of them are on ventilators.

December 9, 8:04 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,562 coronavirus cases 1,403 of which are students and 159 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 4,339 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 258,914. There are 32 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,684.

There are 1,537 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 177 of them are on ventilators.

December 8, 9:00 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,439 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 254,575. There are 45 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,652.

December 7, 4:55 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,545 coronavirus cases 1,394 of which are students and 151 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,016 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 252,136. There are 23 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,607.

There are 1,423 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 161 of them are on ventilators.

December 4, 8:45 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,530 coronavirus cases 1,382 of which are students and 148 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 3,102 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 247,177. There are 24 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,548.

There are 1,357 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 154 of them are on ventilators.

December 2, 10:22 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,509 coronavirus cases 1,369 of which are students and 140 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 3,604 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 241,335. There are 46 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,501.

There are 1,288 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 134 of them are on ventilators.

December 1, 11:57 a.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 5,326 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 237,740. There are 35 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,455.

There are 1,280 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 128 of them are on ventilators.

November 30, 9:02 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,439 coronavirus cases 1,321 of which are students and 118 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 112 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 232,414. There are 11 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,420.

There are 1,241 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 125 of them are on ventilators.

November 26, 8:26 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,234 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 225,638. There are 27 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,350.

There are 1,077 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 116 of them are on ventilators.

November 24, 4:31 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 3,266 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 224,403. There are 39 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,323.

There are 1,052 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 113 of them are on ventilators.

November 23, 8:27 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,411 coronavirus cases 1,300 of which are students and 111 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 971 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 221,160. There are 24 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,284.

There are 1,012 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 114 of them are on ventilators.

November 19, 8:06 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,073 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 211,966. There are 15 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,199.

There are 929 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 88 of them are on ventilators.

November 18, 3:50 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,367 coronavirus cases 1,267 of which are students and 100 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,239 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 209,914. There are 28 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,184.

There are 886 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 93 of them are on ventilators.

November 17, 8:00 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 2,592 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 207,685. There are 17 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,156.

There are 874 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 92 of them are on ventilators.

November 16, 5:18 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,354 coronavirus cases 1,259 of which are students and 95 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 547 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 205,059. There are 7 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,139.

There are 818 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 81 of them are on ventilators.

November 13, 8:27 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,329 coronavirus cases 1,239 of which are students and 90 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 3,492 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 201,981. There are 24 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 6,121.

There are 692 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 62 of them are on ventilators.

November 10, 8:34 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,307 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 189,682. There are 10 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,829.

There are 684 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 66 of them are on ventilators.

November 9, 7:01 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,291 coronavirus cases 1,210 of which are students and 81 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 380 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 188,352. There are 12 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,819.

There are 652 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 71 of them are on ventilators.

November 6, 4:29 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,271 coronavirus cases 1,196 of which are students and 75 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 855 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 186,695. There are 21 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,787.

There are 644 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 81 of them are on ventilators.

November 5, 4:27 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 740 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 185,825. There are 20 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,766.

There are 636 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 82 of them are on ventilators.

November 4, 12:38 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,254 coronavirus cases 1,184 of which are students and 70 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 371 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 185,144. There are 9 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,746.

There are 623 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 77 of them are on ventilators.

November 3, 5:00 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,157 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 184,773. There are 17 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,737.

November 2, 7:21 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,248 coronavirus cases 1,179 of which are students and 69 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 270 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 183,616. There are 8 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,720.

There are 596 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 70 of them are on ventilators.

October 30, 5:10 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,223 coronavirus cases 1,157 of which are students and 66 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 434 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 182,270. There are 11 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,705.

October 29, 6:03 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 392 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 181,837. There are 18 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,694.

There are 612 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 79 of them are on ventilators.

October 28, 4:14 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,211 coronavirus cases 1,145 of which are students and 66 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 503 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 181,443. There are 10 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,676.

There are 613 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 80 of them are on ventilators.

October 27, 3:30 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 885 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 180,991. There are 18 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,666.

There are 600 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 91 of them are on ventilators.

October 26, 7:28 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,179 coronavirus cases 1,118 of which are students and 61 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 222 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 180,069. There are 17 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,648.

There are 609 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 71 of them are on ventilators.

October 23, 6:19 p.m.

Louisiana State University did not update their COVID-19 cases as scheduled today.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 696 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 178,870. There are 21 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,614.

There are 620 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 65 of them are on ventilators.

October 22, 8:24 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 775 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 178,171. There are 9 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,593.

There are 598 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 64 of them are on ventilators.

October 21, 3:46 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,164 coronavirus cases 1,103 of which are students and 61 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 744 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 177,399. There are 12 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,584.

There are 608 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 68 of them are on ventilators.

October 20, 8:32 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 685 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 176,681. There are 6 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,572.

There are 586 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 62 of them are on ventilators.

October 19, 5:26 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,146 coronavirus cases 1,088 of which are students and 58 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 202 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 175,982. There are 16 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,566.

There are 553 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 64 of them are on ventilators.

October 18, 4:22 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,125 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 175,781. There are 23 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,550.

There are 550 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 60 of them are on ventilators.

October 16, 5:57 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,129 coronavirus cases 1,074 of which are students and 54 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 863 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 174,638. There are 20 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,527.

There are 557 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 60 of them are on ventilators.

October 15, 4:28 p.m.

The University is reporting 1,125 coronavirus cases 1,071 of which are students and 54 are for employees for the LSU Community.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 823 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 173,864. There are 12 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,507.

There are 566 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 61 of them are on ventilators.

October 14, 4:52 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 331 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 173,121. There are 9 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,495.

There are 574 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 64 of them are on ventilators.

October 13, 4:52 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 653 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 172,801. There are 10 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,486.

There are 573 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 68 of them are on ventilators.

The University is reporting 1,124 coronavirus cases 1,071 of which are students and 53 are for employees for the LSU Community.

October 12, 5:39 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 63 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 172,119. There are 14 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,476.

There are 577 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 70 of them are on ventilators.

The University is reporting 1,124 coronavirus cases 1,071 of which are students and 53 are for employees for the LSU Community.

October 9, 3:02 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 265 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 170,878. There are 26 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,442.

There are 582 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 78 of them are on ventilators.

The University is reporting 1,113 coronavirus cases 1,060 of which are students and 53 are for employees for the LSU Community.

October 8, 8:15 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 526 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 170,621. There are 5 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,416.

There are 564 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 79 of them are on ventilators.

The University is reporting 1,082 coronavirus cases 1,032 of which are students and 50 are for employees for the LSU Community.

October 7, 4:08 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,052 new coronavirus cases for the state following a backlog of tests, bringing the total case count to 170,097. There are 9 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,411.

There are 552 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 78 of them are on ventilators.

The University is reporting 1,082 coronavirus cases 1,032 of which are students and 50 are for employees for the LSU Community.

October 6, 2:06 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 506 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 169,044. There are 6 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,402.

There are 567 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 71 of them are on ventilators.

The University is reporting 1,058 coronavirus cases 1,012 of which are students and 46 are for employees for the LSU Community.

October 5, 8:45 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 230 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 168,512. There are 9 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,396.

There are 547 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 71 of them are on ventilators.

The University is reporting 1,058 coronavirus cases 1,012 of which are students and 46 are for employees for the LSU Community.

October 2, 5:23 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 889 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 167,401. There are 26 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,355.

There are 536 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 74 of them are on ventilators.

The University is reporting 1,032 coronavirus cases 987 of which are students and 45 are for employees for the LSU Community.

October 1, 4:31 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 608 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 166,584. There are 8 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,329.

There are 534 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 75 of them are on ventilators.

The University is reporting 1,015 coronavirus cases 970 of which are students and 45 are for employees for the LSU Community.

4:50 p.m.

The University has 1,015 total coronavirus cases 970 students and 45 employees for the campus community.

September 30, 2:05 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 452 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 166,033. There are 13 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,321.

There are 553 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 79 of them are on ventilators.

LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard said Wednesday that the previously reported total number of COVID-19 cases, 1,033, was made in error. The correct number of COVID-19 cases in the LSU community is 990.

Of those cases, 947 of them are students and 43 are employees. Twenty-five students are currently self-isolating, while 38 are in quarantine.

September 29, 12:28 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 553 new, overnight coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 165,624. There are 10 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,308.

There are 578 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 80 of them are on ventilators.

The University is reporting 1,033 coronavirus cases--990 of which are students and 43 are for employees--for the LSU Community.

September 28, 8:03 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 236 new, overnight coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 165,091. There are 15 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,298.

There are 563 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, and 83 of them are on ventilators.

The University is reporting 1,033 coronavirus cases--990 of which are students and 43 are for employees--for the LSU Community.

September 25, 4:11 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 698 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 163,928. There are 21 additional deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,262.

There are 117 new COVID-19 cases reported at LSU, totaling 970 cases for the LSU community.

There are 570 coronavirus patients in hospitals, and 86 of them are on ventilators.

September 24, 1:46 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 581 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 163,222. There are 16 additional deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,241.

There are 853 total coronavirus cases for the LSU community.

There are 575 coronavirus patients in hospitals, and 92 of them are on ventilators.

September 23, 12:50 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 440 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 162,645. There are 7 additional deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,225.

The University is reporting 24 new coronavirus cases on campus between Sept.18-20. There are 853 total coronavirus cases for the campus community.

There are 592 coronavirus patients in hospitals, and 94 of them are on ventilators.

September 21, 4:36 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 249 new Coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 161,462. There are 9 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,207.

The University is reporting 41 new coronavirus cases on campus between Sept.18-20. There are 829 total coronavirus cases for the campus community.

Hospitalizations decrease to 587, and 93 of those patients are on ventilators.

September 20, 2020 12:23 p.m.

There are 928 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, according to the Louisiana Department of Health, bringing the total case count to 161, 219. There are an additional 26 deaths for the state, reaching a total death count of 5,198.

Hospitalizations decrease to 596, and there are one hundred patients on ventilators.

September 18, 12:41 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 976 new Coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 160,283. There are 29 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,172.

The University is reporting 20 new coronavirus cases on campus between Sept.16-17. There are 788 total coronavirus cases for the campus community.

Hospitalizations decrease to 647, and 104 of those patients are on ventilators.

September 17, 6:00 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 500 new Coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 159,304. There are 17 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,143.

There are 768 total coronavirus cases for the LSU community.

Hospitalizations decrease to 663, and 106 of patients are on ventilators.

September 16, 5:18 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 508 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 158,826. There are 18 additional, COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,126.

The University is reporting 14 new coronavirus cases on campus between Sept.14-15. There are 768 total coronavirus cases for the campus community.

Hospitalizations increase to 678, and 107 of patients are on ventilators.

September 14, 4:10 p.m.

There are 497 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 157,947. There are 17 additional, overnight deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,082.

The University has 50 additional coronavirus cases between Sept.11-13. There are now 754 coronavirus cases for the campus community.

Hospitalizations decrease 664, and 105 of the patients are on ventilators.

September 13, 4:30 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,353 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 157,455. There are 33 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 5,065.

Hospitalizations decrease to 680, and 107 of patients are on ventilators.

September 11, 4:24 p.m.

There are 844 more coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 156,174. There are 41 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total case count of 5,032.

The University has 31 additional coronavirus cases on campus between Sept. 9-10. There are now a total of 704 coronavirus cases for the LSU community.

Hospitalizations decrease 723, and 117 of the patients are on ventilators.

September 10, 12:10 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 499 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 155,419. There are 21 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 4,991.

Hospitalizations decrease to 762, and there are 125 patients on ventilators.

September 9, 4:05 p.m.

Louisiana has 1,511 new coronavirus cases, with 690 of them being backlog. There is now a total of 154,955 coronavirus cases for the state. There are 15 additional deaths for the state, bringing the total death count to 4,970.

The University is reporting 82 more coronavirus cases in the LSU Community over the past two days. There are now 673 total cases.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals decrease to 782, and 123 of them are on ventilators.

September 8, 11:00 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 250 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 153,433. There are 13 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 4,955.

Hospitalizations increase to 799, and 131 of the patients are on ventilators.

September 7, 6:40 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 305 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 153,177. There are 12 additional COVID-19 related deaths for the state, reaching a total death count of 4,942.

The University has 102 new coronavirus cases between Sept. 4 and Sept. 9. The total coronavirus case count has reached 591.

Hospitalizations decrease to 787, and 124 of the patients are on ventilators.

September 6, 12:15 p.m.

There are 1,387 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 152,868. There are an additional 58 COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death of 4,930.

Hospitalizations decrease to 790, and 119 of them are on ventilators.

September 4, 4:34 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 828 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total case count of 151,473. There are an additional 14 COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the total death count to 4,872.

The total number of coronavirus cases at the University have reached 489.

Hospitalizations decrease to 808, and 96 of the patients are on ventilators.

September 3, 2:16 p.m.

There are 884 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 150,651. There are also 17 additional, overnight deaths for the state, reaching a total death count to 4,858.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals have decreased to 851, and 128 of them are on ventilators.

September 2, 3:15 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health reported 972 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 149,838. There are an additional 20 overnight deaths, reaching a total death count of 4,841.

The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals decreased to 873, 132 of them being on ventilators.

At the University, the total number of cases has increased to 366.

September 1, 2:17 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 667 new coronavirus cases for the state, bringing the total case count to 148,882. There are an additional 34 overnight deaths, reaching a total death count of 4,821.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals increase to 910, and 128 of them are on ventilators.

August 31, 4:57 p.m.

There are 324 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, reaching a total case count of 148,193. There are 19 additional deaths, bringing the total death count to 4,787.

The University is reporting 182 positive cases of coronavirus within the past five days. There are now 229 total coronavirus cases on campus.

Hospitalizations decrease to 881, with 132 of them on ventilators.

August 30, 12:15 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,645 new cases, including a backlog of 532 cases which are from as far back as July. There are 147,867 total cases for the state. Deaths increase by 27, reaching a total death count of 4,768.

University numbers have not changed, still remaining at 47 total aggregated cases.

Hospitalizations increase by two to 902, with 143 of them on ventilators.

August 28, 12:00 p.m.

There are 627 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, reaching a total of 146,243 cases for the state. There are 30 additional, overnight COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the total death count to 4,741.

Coronavirus cases for the University have not changed, with numbers remaining at 47 total aggregated cases.

Hospitalizations increase to 900, and ventilator usage has decreased to 141.

August 27, 1:17 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 723 new coronavirus cases, bringing Louisiana's total case count to 145, 637. There are 23 additional deaths for the state, reaching a total of 4,711 COVID-19 related deaths.

Coronavirus cases for the University has not changed, with numbers remaining at 47 total aggregated cases.

Hospitalizations continue to decrease to 876, with 145 of patients on ventilators.

August 26, 12:41 p.m.

There are 844 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, reaching a total of 144,960 reported cases for the state. There are 32 overnight COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the total death count to 4,688.

Coronavirus cases for the University has not changed, with numbers remaining at 47 total aggregated cases.

Hospitalizations continue to decrease to 914, with 148 of them on ventilators.

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Wednesday afternoon, Louisiana will remain in Phase 2 for two more weeks, with restrictions in place until Sept. 11.

August 25, 12:22 p.m.

There are 47 total aggregated coronavirus cases reported to the University since August 15.

Louisiana has 550 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 144,116. There are 33 additional COVID-19 related deaths for the state to 4,656.

Hospitalizations continue to decrease to 930, and 141 of them are on ventilators.

August 24, 12:09 p.m.

LSU has 33 reported positive coronavirus cases within the last 6 days.

Louisiana has 623 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 143,566. There are 18 additional COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the total death count to 4,623.

Hospitalizations remain at 941, with ventilator usage remaining at 152.

August 23, 12:06 p.m.

There are 1,223 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 142,943. There are 59 additional COVID-19 related deaths, reaching a total death count of 4,605.

Hospitalizations decrease to 941, and 152 of them are on ventilators.

August 21, 12:04 p.m.

Louisiana has 899 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total case count of 141,720. There are 50 additional, overnight deaths, bringing the total death count to 4,546.

COVID-19 hospitalizations decrease to 1,051, and 172 of them are on ventilators.

August 20, 2:13 p.m.

There are 918 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 140,821. The state also sees 28 new COVID-19 deaths, reaching a total death count of 4,496.

Hospitalizations decrease to 1,087, and 178 of them are on ventilators.

August 19, 12:19 p.m.

Louisiana has 778 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total case count of 139,903. The state also has 37 more COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the total death count to 4,468.

Hospitalizations decrease to 1,160, and 175 of them are on ventilators.

August 18, 12:05 p.m.

There are 640 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 139,125. There are 28 more reported deaths for the state, reaching a total death count of 4,431.

Hospitalizations decrease to 1,204, and 187 of them are on ventilators.

August 17, 12:11 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Heath reports 735 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count for Louisiana to 138,485. There are 19 additional, overnight deaths, reaching a total death count of 4,403.

Hospitalizations increase to 1,226, and 184 of them are on ventilators.

August 16, 12:30 p.m.

Louisiana has 1,181 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 137,918. Deaths increase by 77, reaching a total death count of 4,384.

Hospitalizations decrease to 1,196, with 189 of them on ventilators.

August 14, 12:04 p.m.

There are 1,298 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total case count of 136,737 for Louisiana. Deaths increase by 28, bringing the total death count to 4,307.

Hospitalizations decrease to 1,243, and 197 of them are on ventilators.

August 13, 4:46 p.m.

Louisiana has 1,135 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 135,439. Deaths increase by 41, reaching a total of 4,279 deaths.

Hospitalizations continue to decrease to 1,281, and 196 of them on ventilators.

August 12, 1:37 p.m.

There are 1,179 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, reaching a total case count of 134,304. Deaths increase by 43, bringing the total death count to 4,238.

Hospitalizations decrease to 1,320, with 211 of them on ventilators.

August 11, 1:15 p.m.

Louisiana has 1,726 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 133,125. The state has 26 additional, overnight deaths reaching a total death count of 4,195.

Hospitalizations decrease to 1,335, with 214 of them on ventilators.

August 10, 12:34 p.m.

There are 562 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, reaching a total of 131,961 coronavirus cases, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. However, the updated numbers seem "incomplete." LDH is investigating.

LDH reports 24 additional deaths for the state, bringing the total death count to 4,169.

There are 1,382 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout Louisiana, one less than yesterday. 215 of them are on ventilators.

August 9, 12:40 p.m.

Louisiana has 2,653 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 131,399. There are 56 additional deaths for the state, bringing the total death count to 4,145.

Hospitalizations continue to decrease to 1,383, and 210 of them are on ventilators.

August 6, 12:10 p.m.

There are 1,303 new coronavirus cases today in Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 127,246. There are 50 additional coronavirus related deaths, bringing the total to 4,028.

Hospitalizations have decreased to 1,457 and ventilator usage has decreased to 215.

August 5, 12:35 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health reported 1,490 new coronavirus cases today, bringing the total case count to 125,943. There are 41 additional coronavirus related deaths for the state, bringing the total to 3,978.

Hospitalizations have decreased to 1,471 and ventilator usage has decreased to 223.

August 4, 12:38 p.m.

There are 3,615 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 124,461. The case count increase includes a backlog of 1,741 cases. Deaths have increased by 27 for the state, reaching a total of 3,937 deaths.

Hospitalizations decrease to 1,487, with ventilator usage increasing to 240.

August 3, 12:01 p.m.

Louisiana has 1,099 new, overnight coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 120,846 total cases. There are 17 additional deaths for the state, bringing the total death count to 3,910.

Hospitalizations decrease to 1,496, with 230 of them on ventilators.

August 2, 12:01 p.m.

There are 3,467 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 119,747. There are an additional 58 deaths for the state, reaching a total of 3,893 deaths.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals decrease to 1, 534, with 221 of them on ventilators.

July 31, 12:08 p.m.

Louisiana sees 1,799 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 116,280. There are 24 additional coronavirus related deaths for the state, bringing the total to 3,835.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals increase to 1,546, with 222 of them on ventilators.

July 30, 12:00 p.m.

There are 1,708 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, reaching a total of 114,481 cases. There are 42 additional deaths, bringing the total death count to 3,811.

Hospitalizations decrease to 1,524, with 205 of them on ventilators.

July 29, 1:52 p.m.

Louisiana has 1,735 coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 112,773. There are 69 additional deaths, reaching a total of 3,769 for the state.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals decrease to 1,544, with 221 of them on ventilators.

July 28, 12:00 p.m.

There are 1,121 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, reaching a total of 111,038 for the state. The COVID-19 death count increased by 26, bringing the total deaths count to 3,700.

Hospitalizations decrease to 1,583, with 214 of them on ventilators.

July 27, 12:14 p.m.

Louisiana has 2,343 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 109,917. There are 23 additional deaths for the state, bringing the total death count to 3,674.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals continue to increase to 1,600, with 208 of them on ventilators.

July 26, 12:00 p.m.

There are 3,840 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, reaching a total of 107,574 reported cases. There are 48 more deaths for the state, bringing the total deaths to 3,651.

Hospitalizations decrease to 1,557, with 184 of them on ventilators.

July 24, 12:35 p.m.

Louisiana has 2,084 new coronavirus cases. Total case count for the state is at 103,754. Deaths have increased by 29 overnight, bringing the total deaths to 3,603.

There are 15 more COVID-19 patients in hospitals, reaching a total of 1,600, and 197 of them are on ventilators.

July 23, 1:15 p.m.

There are 101,650 reported coronavirus cases for Louisiana, with 3,574 deaths.

There are 1,585 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state, with 197 of them on ventilators.

July 21, 1:00 p.m.

Louisiana has 1,691 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 96,583. The state has 36 additional deaths, bringing the total deaths to 3,498.

There are 1,527 reported COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 186 of them on ventilators.

July 20, 1:00 p.m.

Louisiana has 6,302 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 94,892. The state has 63 additional deaths, bringing the total deaths to 3,462.

There are 1,508 reported COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 192 of them on ventilators.

July 17, 5:00 p.m.

Louisiana has 2,179 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 88,590. The state has 24 additional deaths, bringing the total deaths to 3,399.

There are 1,413 reported COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 161 of them on ventilators.

July 16, 1:00 p.m.

Louisiana has 2,280 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 86,411. The state has 24 additional deaths, bringing the total deaths to 3,375.

There are 1,401 reported COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 162 of them on ventilators.

July 15, 3:00 p.m.

Louisiana has 2,089 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 84,131. The state has 14 additional deaths, bringing the total deaths to 3,351.

There are 1,369 reported COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 147 of them on ventilators.

July 14, 1:00 p.m.

Louisiana has 2,215 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 82,042. The state has 22 additional deaths, bringing the total deaths to 3,337.

There are 1,308 reported COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 142 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish sees 121 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 7,421. Orleans Parish's case count increases by 101, reaching a total of 8,846.

July 13, 5:00 p.m.

Louisiana has 1,705 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 79,827. The state has seven additional deaths, bringing the total deaths to 3,315.

There are 1,308 reported COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 142 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish sees 200 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 7,300. Orleans Parish's case count increases by 80, reaching a total of 8,745.

July 12, 12:00 p.m.

Louisiana has 1,319 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 78,122. The state has 13 additional deaths, bringing the total deaths to 3,308.

There are 1,243 reported COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 134 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish sees 111 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 7,100. Orleans Parish's case count increases by 67, reaching a total of 8,665.

July 11, 12:17 p.m.

Louisiana has 2,167 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 76,803. The state has 23 additional deaths, bringing the total deaths to 3,295.

There are 65 more COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 121 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish sees 242 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 6,989. Orleans Parish's case count increases by 122, reaching a total of 8,598.

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July 10, 12:39 p.m.

Louisiana has 2,642 new overnight coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 74,636. There are 25 additional deaths for the state, reaching a total of 3,272.

COVID-19 patients continue to increase to 1,117, with 122 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish's coronavirus case count increase by 279, reaching a total of 6,747. Orleans Parish sees 132 new cases, bringing the total case count to 8,476.

July 9, 12:39 p.m.

There are 1,843 new overnight coronavirus cases for Louisiana. The total case count is at 71,994, and there are 16 additional deaths, bringing the total to 3,247.

There are 20 more coronavirus patients in hospitals throughout Louisiana, reaching a total of 1,042, with 110 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish cases grow by 132, bringing the total count to 6,468. Orleans Parish sees 57 new cases, reaching a total of 8,344 cases.

July 8, 12:07 p.m.

As of July 7, there are 46,334 presumed recovered from the coronavirus.

Louisiana coronavirus cases climb by 1,888, reaching a total of 70,151. There are 20 additional deaths, bringing the total to 3,231.

There are three less COVID-19 patients in hospitals. There are 1,022 COVID-19 patients, with 105 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish sees 105 more coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 6,336. Orleans Parish has 81 more coronavirus cases, reaching a total case count of 8,287.

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July 7, 1:20 p.m.

Coronavirus cases in Louisiana are up by 1,936, bringing the total case count to 68,263. There are 23 additional, overnight deaths, reaching a total of 3,211.

There are 61 more COVID-19 patients in hospitals, bringing the total to 1,025, with 109 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 253 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total case count to 6,231. Orleans Parish sees 63 more coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 8,206.

July 6, 12:04 p.m.

Louisiana has 66,327 reported cases, up 1,101 since yesterday. There are eight additional deaths for the state, bringing the total to 3,188.

There are 38 additional COVID-19 patients in hospitals, reaching a total of 964, with 109 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish sees 5,978 cumulative cases, up 104 since yesterday. Orleans Parish has 36 additional cases, bringing the total to 8,143.

July 5, 12:17 p.m.

Louisiana has 1,937 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 65,226, and there are ten additional deaths. Total deaths are at 3,180 reported deaths.

COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise to 926. 105 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 190 new coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 5,874. Orleans Parish sees 76 additional coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 8,107.

More News:

July 4

Louisiana Department of Health has not updated their coronavirus numbers because of Fourth of July holiday.

July 3, 12:05 p.m.

There are 1,728 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total to 63,289. There are 23 additional deaths, reaching a total of 3,170 deaths.

COVID-19 hospitalizations increase by 12. There are now 852 patients, with 93 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish sees 153 more cases, bringing a total of 5,684. Orleans Parish has 71 additional cases, reaching a total of 8,031.

More News:

July 2, 12:05 p.m.

Louisiana sees 1,383 new, overnight coronavirus cases, reaching a total of 61,561 cases. There are 17 more deaths for the state, bringing the total to 3,147.

There are 41 more COVID-19 patients in hospitals. There are a total of 840 patients, with 91 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 181 additional cases, bringing the total to 5,531. Orleans Parish sees 41 additional cases, reaching a total of 7,960 cases.

More News:

July 1, 12:39 p.m.

There are 2,083 new coronavirus cases in Louisiana, bringing the total case count to 60,178. The state now has 17 additional deaths, reaching a total of 3,130.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals continue to increase to 799, with 84 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 227 additional cases, bringing the total case count to 5,350. Orleans Parish sees 68 additional cases, reaching a total of 7,919 coronavirus cases.

More News:

June 30, 12:52 p.m.

Louisiana has 1,014 new cases, bringing the total case count to 58,095. There are 22 additional deaths, having a total of 3,113 deaths.

COVID-19 patients for the state increase to 781, with 83 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish sees 89 new cases, reaching a total of 5,123. Orleans Parish sees 55 new cases, having 7,851 total cases.

June 29, 12:10 p.m.

As of June 28, there are 42,225 presumed recovered COVID-19 patients in Louisiana.

There are 844 new coronavirus cases for Louisiana, bringing the total to 57,081. There are 3,091 deaths, up five since yesterday.

There are 22 additional COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 737, with 79 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish sees 71 new cases, bringing the total case count to 5,034. Orleans Parish has 36 new cases, bringing the total cases to 7,796.

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June 28

Louisiana had 1,467 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 56,237. There are 3,086 reported deaths.

There are 715 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, which is 15 more than on June 26.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 4,963 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,760 cumulative cases.

June 27, 12:23 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health will not update its dashboard due to a planned power outage. Reports will resume tomorrow, June 28.

More News:

June 26, 12:11 p.m.

There are 1,354 new coronavirus cases in Louisiana, bringing the total cases to 54,769. There are 26 additional deaths, reaching a total of 3,077.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state continue to rise by 47. There are now 700 patients, with 73 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 109 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 4,833. Orleans Parish has 43 new cases, bringing the total to 7,681.

More News:

June 25, 1:00 p.m.

Louisiana has 938 new overnight cases, bringing the total cases to 53,415. There have been 12 additional deaths reaching a total of 3,051.

There are 22 new COVID-19 patients in hospitals. The total is now 653, and 77 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish is up by 87 with 4,724 cases. Orleans Parish cases have increased by 28 with 7,638 cases.

More News:

June 24, 12:09 p.m.

With 882 new coronavirus cases statewide, Louisiana has 52,477 reported cases. The state also saw 18 additional deaths, bringing the total deaths to 3,039.

There are 15 less COVID-19 patients in hospitals since yesterday, June 23, bringing the total to 631. 77 of the patients are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 123 additional coronavirus cases, with the total now 4,637. Orleans Parish has 39 additional coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 7,610.

More News:

June 23

Louisiana has 51, 595 reported cases of coronavirus with 3,021 deaths.

There are 646 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 83 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 4,514 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,571 cumulative cases.

June 21, 12:44 p.m.

Louisiana has 49,778 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,993 deaths.

There are 589 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 69 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 4,374 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,518 cumulative cases.

More News:

June 17, 11:45 a.m.

Louisiana has 48,634 reported cases of coronavirus, with 2,950 deaths.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals decrease to 585, with 83 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 4,357 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,459 cumulative cases.

June 16, 1:57 p.m.

Louisiana has 47,706 reported cases of coronavirus, with 2,930 deaths.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals increase to 588, with 77 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 4,301 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,428 cumulative cases.

More News:

June 15, 12:31 p.m.

There are 37,017 presumed recoveries throughout the state. Louisiana has 47,172 reported cases of coronavirus and 2,906 deaths.

There are 12 more COVID-19 patients in hospitals, bringing the total to 568, with 76 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 4,284 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,411 cumulative cases.

More News:

June 14, 11:48 a.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 336 new cases bringing the total to 46,619 reported cases with 2,901 deaths.

There are 12 more COVID-19 patients in hospitals, bringing the total to 556, with 76 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 4,226 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,393 cumulative cases.

June 13, 1:55 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 1,288 new cases due to a backlog from labs. There are 46,283 reported cases with 2,891 deaths.

COVID-19 patients continue to decrease to 542, with 76 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 4,197 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,343 cumulative cases.

More News:

June 12, 2:28 p.m.

With over 500 new coronavirus cases, Louisiana has 44,995 total cases with 2,883 deaths.

There are five less COVID-19 patients in hospitals, bringing the total to 549, with 74 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 4,150 cumulative cases of coronavirus, and Orleans Parish has 7,319 cumulative cases.

June 11, 1:38 p.m.

With over 400 new coronavirus cases, Louisiana has 44,472 total cases with 2,874 deaths.

There are four new COVID-19 patients, bringing the total to 553, with 77 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 4,088 cumulative cases of coronavirus, and Orleans Parish has 7,294 cumulative cases.

More News:

June 10, 2:05 p.m.

Louisiana has 418 new coronavirus cases, bringing total cases to 44,030 reported cases and 2,855 deaths.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals continue to drop to 549 with 72 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 4,054 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,279 cumulative cases.

More News:

June 9, 11:04 a.m.

Louisiana has 43,612 reported coronavirus cases with 2,844 deaths.

The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals has dropped from 582 to 568 with 67 of those on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 60 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 4,023, and Orleans Parish has 10 new cases, bringing the total to 7,247.

June 8, 11:55 a.m.

Louisiana has 43,050 reported coronavirus cases with 2,831 deaths.

582 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals, with 71 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 14 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 3,963, and Orleans Parish has seven new cases, bringing the total to 7,237.

June 7, 11:55 a.m.

Louisiana has 42,816 reported coronavirus cases with 2,825 deaths.

COVID-19 patients in Louisiana continue to decrease to 575, with 74 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 38 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 3,949, and Orleans Parish has eight new cases, bringing the total to 7,230.

June 6, 12:14 p.m.

Coronavirus cases in Louisiana increase by 497, bringing total cases to 42,486 with 2,814 deaths.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals continue to decrease to 582, with 77 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,911 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,222 cumulative cases.

June 5, 11:58 a.m.

Louisiana coronavirus cases increase by 427, reaching a total of 41,989 reported cases with 2,801 deaths.

604 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals, with 75 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,874 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,026 cumulative cases.

June 4, 11:58 a.m.

Coronavirus cases in Louisiana continue to climb by over 400, with 41,562 reported cases and 2,772 deaths.

Four less COVID-19 patients are in hospitals, having 613 patients with 82 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,820 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,192 cumulative cases.

June 3, 12:05 p.m.

With 387 new cases, Louisiana has 41,133 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,759 deaths.

There are 617 COVID-19 patients in hospitals with 86 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,773 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,174 cumulative cases.

June 2, 12:00 p.m.

With an overnight increase of over 400, Louisiana has 40,746 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,724 deaths.

The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals continue to decrease to 639, with only 83 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,730 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,156 cumulative cases.

June 1, 12:09 p.m.

Louisiana has a total of 40,341 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,690 deaths.

There are 661 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 86 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,666 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,141 cumulative cases.

May 30, 11:59 a.m.

With 775 new cases of coronavirus in Louisiana, reported numbers come to 39,577 and 2,680 deaths.

Patients in hospitals throughout the state continue to decrease to 674 with only 84 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,591 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,108 cases.

May 28, 11:58 a.m.

Louisiana has 305 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 38,802 reported cases and 2,635 deaths.

COVID-19 patients continue to decrease to 761, with only 100 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,526 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,067 cases.

May 27, 11:57 a.m.

With over 400 new cases overnight, Louisiana has 38,497 reported cases, and 2,617 deaths.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals continue to decrease to 798, and 100 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,491 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,045 cumulative cases.

May 26. 12:00 p.m.

With 245 new coronavirus cases, Louisiana has 38,054 total cases with 2,596 deaths.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals decrease to 831, and 103 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,462 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,021 cumulative cases.

May 25, 12:05 p.m.

Louisiana has 28,700 presumed recovered coronavirus patients, with 37,890 positive cases and 2,585 deaths.

There are 847 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 102 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,438 cases, and Orleans Parish has 7,005 cases.

May 24, 11:49 a.m.

With an increase of 129, Louisiana's coronavirus cases have reached 37,169 with 2,567 deaths.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals continue to decrease to 813, and 102 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,386 cases, and Orleans Parish has 6,953 cumulative cases.

May 23, 11:50 a.m.

Louisiana coronavirus cases have increased by 115, bringing the total to 37,040. There are 2,560 reported deaths.

The number of coronavirus patients in hospitals continue to decrease to 836, with only 112 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish cases have increased to 3,382, and Orleans Parish cases have increased to 6,949.

May 22, 12:00 p.m.

Coronavirus cases have increased by more than 400, bringing the total to 36,925, and there are 2,545 related deaths.

COVID-19 patients in hospitals continue to decrease to 867, and 104 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,370 cumulative cases, and Orleans Parish has 6,944 cumulative cases.

May 21, 12:02 p.m.

Although there are 1188 new reported coronavirus cases in Louisiana, 682 of the cases are from labs reporting numbers for the first time, bringing the total to 36,504. There are 2,506 COVID-19 related deaths.

The number of patients in hospitals continue to decrease to 884, with 107 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,319 cases with 225 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,904 cases with no overnight deaths, remaining at 500.

May 20, 12:01 p.m.

Coronavirus cases in Louisiana have increased by 300 overnight, bringing the total to 35,316. There are 2,485 COVID-19 related deaths.

Of the 931 patients in hospitals, 110 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,213 cases with 221 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,884 cases with 500 deaths.

May 19, 12:39 p.m.

Louisiana's coronavirus cases have increased by over 300 overnight, bringing the total to 35,038.

There are 2,458 reported COVID-19 related deaths.

Of the 1,004 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 112 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,145 cases with 219, and Orleans Parish has 6,869 cases with 494 deaths.

May 18, 11:49 a.m.

There are 34,709 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,440 deaths in Louisiana.

With 1,031 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 118 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,056 cases with 216 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,822 cases with 495 deaths.

May 17, 12:05 p.m.

Louisiana has 34,432 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,425 deaths.

There are 1,019 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 111 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,034 cases with 212 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,809 cases with 495 deaths.

May 16, 1:16 p.m.

With Louisiana's stay-at-home order lifted, there are 34,117 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,413 deaths.

Of the 1,028 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 123 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 3,009 cases with 208 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,781 cases with 495 deaths.

May 15, 11:57 a.m.

Louisiana has 33,837 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,382 deaths.

1,091 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals throughout the state, and 132 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 2,953 cases with 205 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,787 cases with 489 deaths.

May 14, 12:05 p.m.

There are 33,489 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,351 deaths in Louisiana.

1,193 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals throughout the state, and 140 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 2,898 cases with 201 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,768 cases with 482 deaths.

May 13, 12:34 p.m.

Louisiana has 32,662 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,315 deaths.

Of the 1,194 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state, 147 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 2,487 cases with 199 deaths, and Orleans Parish 6,753 cases with 481 deaths.

May 12, 11:58 a.m.

There are 32,050 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,281 deaths in Louisiana.

With 1,320 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 146 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 2,445 cases with 190 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,718 cases with 477 deaths.

May 11, 11:53 a.m.

Louisiana has 31,815 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,242 deaths.

Of the 1,310 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 157 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 2,398 cases with 188 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,693 cases with 470 deaths.

May 10, 12:00 p.m.

There are 31,600 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,213 deaths in Louisiana.

With 1,324 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 161 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 2,374 cases with 182 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,682 cases with 468 deaths.

May 9, 12:18 p.m.

Louisiana has 31,417 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,194 deaths.

With 1,359 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state, 185 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 2,348 cases with 179 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,674 cases with 468 deaths.

May 8, 12:10 p.m.

There are 30,855 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,154 deaths in Louisiana.

Of the 1,359 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 185 are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge has 2,284 cases with 171 deaths.

May 7, 12:03 p.m.

There are 30,652 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,135 deaths in Louisiana.

Of the 1,432 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state, 189 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 2,256 cases with 170 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,626 cases with 463 deaths.

May 6, 4:04 p.m.

Louisiana has 30,399 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,094 deaths.

1,465 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals throughout the state, with 187 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 2,224 cases with 165 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,608 cases with 464 deaths.

May 5, 12:00 p.m.

There are 29,996 reported cases of coronavirus with 2,042 deaths in Louisiana.

Of the 1,512 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 194 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 2,175 cases with 163 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,575 cases with 453 deaths.

May 4, 12:11 p.m.

Louisiana has 29,673 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,991 deaths.

With 1,502 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 220 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 2,131 cases with 156 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,557 cases with 447 deaths.

May 3, 11:46 a.m.

There are 29,340 reported cases of coronavirus in Louisiana with 1,969 deaths.

Of the 1,530 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state, 213 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 2,086 cases with 153 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,538 cases with 441 deaths.

May 2, 11:44 a.m.

Louisiana has 29,140 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,950 deaths.

With 1,545 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state, 208 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 2,054 cases with 148 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,524 cases with 439 deaths.

May 1, 11:59 a.m.

There are 28,711 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,927 deaths in Louisiana.

Of the 1,607 COVID-19 patients throughout the state, 230 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,989 cases with 146 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,495 deaths.

Apr. 30, 12:00 p.m.

Louisiana has 28,001 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,862 deaths.

With 1,601 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state, 231 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,874 cases with 137 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,452 cases with 434 deaths.

Apr. 29, 12:08 p.m.

There are 27,660 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,802 deaths in Louisiana.

Of the 1,629 COVID-19 patients throughout the state, 244 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,830 cases with 129 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,420 with 416 deaths.

Apr. 28, 12:04 p.m.

Louisiana has 27,286 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,758 deaths.

With 1,666 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state, 244 of them are on ventilators.

East Bat Rouge Parish has 1,787 cases with 125 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,380 cases with 410 deaths.

Apr. 27, 11:53 a.m.

There are 27,068 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,697 deaths and 17,303 presumed recovered in Louisiana.

Of the 1,683 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state, 262 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,771 cases with 124 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,365 cases with 406 deaths.

Apr. 26, 12:24 p.m.

Louisiana has 26,773 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,670 deaths.

With 1,701 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state, 265 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,739 cases with 120 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,342 cases with 406 deaths.

Apr. 25, 12:20 p.m.

There are 26,512 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,644 deaths in Louisiana.

1,700 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals with 268 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,720 cases with 114 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,297 cases with 399 deaths.

Apr. 24, 12:06 p.m.

Louisiana has 26,140 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,601 deaths. 14, 927 people have recovered from the virus as of Apr. 22.

With 1,697 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 286 of them are on ventilators.

There are 1,697 cases in East Baton Rouge Parish with 109 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,286 cases with 392 deaths.

Apr. 23, 12:00 p.m.

There are 25,739 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,540 deaths in Louisiana.

Of the 1,727 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state, 274 of them are on ventilator.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,636 cases with 100 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,263 cases with 387 deaths.

Apr. 22, 12:02 p.m.

Louisiana has 25, 258 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,473 deaths.

With 1,747 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state, 287 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,603 cases with 95 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,209 cases with 367 deaths.

Apr. 21, 12:01 p.m.

There are 24,854 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,405 deaths in Louisiana.

Of the 1,798 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state, 297 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,560 cases with 90 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,169 cases with 344 deaths.

Apr. 20, 11:53 a.m.

Louisiana has 24,523 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,328 deaths.

1,794 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals throughout the state, with 332 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,534 cases with 74 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,148 cases with 339 deaths.

Apr. 19, 12:00 p.m.

There are 23,928 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,296 deaths in Louisiana.

With 1,748 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 349 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,512 cases with 72 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 6,000 cases with 329 deaths.

Apr. 18, 12:00 p.m.

Louisiana has 23,580 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,267 deaths.

Throughout the state, there are 1,761 COVID-19 patients in hospitals with 347 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,476 cases with 72 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 5,953 cases with 324 deaths.

Apr. 17, 12:14 p.m.

There are 23,118 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,213 deaths in Louisiana.

There are 1,868 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 363 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,424 cases with 66 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 5,906 cases with 317 deaths.

Apr. 16, 12:03 p.m.

Louisiana has 22,532 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,156 deaths.

With 1,914 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout Louisiana, 396 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,389 cases with 66 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 5,847 cases with 302 deaths.

Apr. 15, 12:00 p.m.

There are 21, 951 reported cases of coronavirus in Louisiana, with 1,103 deaths.

1,943 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals throughout the state with 425 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,325 cases with 62 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 5,769 cases with 287 deaths.

Apr. 14, 11:56 a.m.

Louisiana has 21,518 reported cases of coronavirus with 1,013 deaths.

There are 1,977 COVID-19 patients throughout the state with 436 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,295 cases with 58 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 5,718 cases with 276 deaths.

Apr. 13, 11:56 a.m.

There are 21,016 reported cases of coronavirus with 884 deaths in Louisiana.

With 2,134 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout Louisiana, 461 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,273 reported cases with 52 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 5,651 cases with 244 deaths.

Apr. 12, 11:58 a.m.

Louisiana has 20,595 reported cases of coronavirus with 840 deaths.

2,084 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals with 458 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,223 cases with 49 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 5,600 cases with 235 deaths.

Apr. 11, 12:05 p.m.

There are 20,014 reported cases of coronavirus with 806 deaths in Louisiana.

Throughout the state, 2,067 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals with 470 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,158 cases with 45 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 5,535 cases with 232 deaths.

Apr. 10, 12:06 p.m.

Louisiana has 19,253 reported cases of the coronavirus with 755 deaths.

Throughout the state, there are 2,054 COVID-19 patients in hospitals with 479 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,088 cases with 39 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 5,416 cases with 225 deaths.

Apr. 9, 12:01 p.m.

There are 18,283 reported cases of the coronavirus with 702 deaths in Louisiana.

2,014 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals with 473 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 1,000 cases with 36 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 5,242 cases with 224 deaths.

Apr. 8, 11:58 a.m.

Louisiana has 17,030 reported cases of coronavirus with 652 deaths.

Throughout the state, there are 1,983 COVID-19 patients in hospitals with 490 of them on ventilators.

There are 935 cases in East Baton Rouge Parish with 33 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 5,070 cases with 208 deaths.

Apr. 7, 12:10 p.m.

There are 16,284 reported cases of coronavirus in Louisiana with 582 deaths.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 892 cases with 31 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 4,942 cases with 185 deaths.

Apr. 6, 12:01 p.m.

Louisiana has 14,867 reported cases of coronavirus with 512 deaths.

There are 1,809 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, with 563 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 816 cases with 25 deaths, and Orleans Parish has 4,565 cases with 171 deaths.

Apr. 5, 11:59 a.m.

There are 13,010 reported cases of coronavirus in Louisiana with 477 deaths.

Of the 1,803 coronavirus patients in hospitals, 561 are on ventilators.

61 of Louisiana's 64 parishes have a reported case.

Apr. 4, 12:07 p.m.

There are 12,496 reported cases of coronavirus with 409 deaths in Louisiana.

With 1,707 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 535 of them are on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 621 cases, and Orleans Parish has 3,966 cases of coronavirus.

Apr. 3, 12:06 p.m.

Louisiana has 10,297 reported cases of coronavirus with 370 total deaths.

There are 1,707 COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout the state with 535 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 389 cases. 20 Baton Rouge residents have died from the virus.

Orleans Parish has 3,476 cases with 148 deaths.

Apr. 2, 12:05 p.m.

Louisiana has 9,150 reported cases of coronavirus with 310 total deaths.

1,639 COVID-19 patients are in hospitals with 507 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 325 cases with 11 deaths, according to the Louisiana Department of Health, and Orleans Parish has 3,148 cases with 125 deaths.

Apr. 1, 12:20 p.m.

There are 6,424 known cases of the coronavirus in Louisiana with 273 deaths. As of Wednesday afternoon, 1,498 people are in hospitals throughout the state with 490 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 244 cases of coronavirus with 10 deaths.

Orleans Parish has 2,270 cases of coronavirus with 115 deaths.

Mar. 31, 12:07 p.m.

Louisiana has 5,237 known cases of coronavirus, an increase of over a thousand in 24 hours. There are 239 COVID-19 related deaths.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 228 cases with nine deaths.

Orleans Parish has 1,834 cases with 101 deaths.

Mar. 30, 12:02 p.m.

There are 4,025 reported cases of coronavirus in Louisiana with 185 total deaths reported. There are 1,158 COVID-19 patients in hospitals with 385 of them on ventilators.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 188 cases with nine total deaths. Orleans Parish has 1,480 cases with 86 total deaths.

Mar. 29, 12:20 p.m.

Louisiana has 3,540 reported cases of coronavirus with 151 total deaths.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 164 cases of coronavirus with seven total deaths.

Orleans Parish has 1,350 cases of coronavirus with 73 total deaths.

Mar. 28, 1:07 p.m.

There are now 3,315 reported cases of coronavirus in Louisiana with 137 reported deaths.

The jump from Friday's confirmed cases to Saturday's is the largest yet.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 153 cases, up from 124 on Friday.

Mar. 27, 12:09 p.m.

There are 2,746 reported cases and 119 reported deaths of the coronavirus in Louisiana.

124 cases are in East Baton Rouge Parish with six deaths of parish residents, with a seventh from a man from Mississippi who received treatment from a hospital in Baton Rouge.

Orleans Parish has 1,170 cases with 57 deaths.

Mar. 26, 12:05 p.m.

Louisiana has 2,305 reported cases of coronavirus with 83 deaths. 676 COVID-19 patients are in the hospital with 239 of them on ventilators. There are 105 cases in the East Baton Rouge Parish with four deaths. 997 cases are in Orleans Parish with 46 deaths.

Mar. 25, 12:07 p.m.


Rumors have been spreading around stating the North Korean Supreme Leader earns millions of dollars from illegal activities with Office 39, which operates by smuggling drugs, firearms, and traffic humans around the world to avoid sanctions.

Money making office

According to Mirror UK, the rumors claim that Kim Kong-Un is leading the secretive organization that conducts illegal activities to earn millions going around sanctions. Experts believe the supreme leader had been using Office 39 as a handy way of avoiding penalties that limit the good the country can import and export.

Without the establishment, which was set up in 1974 by Kim's father, Kim Jong-Il, the supreme leader would not be able to keep up his luxurious lifestyle while the rest of the country faces famine and poverty.

Former US Army Special Forces Colonel David Maxwell, who is also an expert on North Korea, said that the supreme leader gets all the money he needs to buy his expensive accessories with the funds that Office 39 earns.

Asia specialist at Park strategies in New York, Sean King, also said the Kim family are pretending to be the leaders of North Korea while being an organized crime family under the guise.

King noted that the embassies of North Korea placed around the world are designed to be similar to a multinational criminal enterprise.

The claims state that some of the establishment's illegal activities include slave labor, smuggling gold, dealing drugs, and selling of firearms.

Also Read: North Korea Prepares to Drown South Korea with 'Leaflets of Punishment'

The secretive office's location

Office 39 is rumored to have its base of operations in the country's capital, Pyongyang, and that government officials travel around the world to conduct and expand the illegal activities.

Reportedly, Office 39 is located inside a faceless government building inside Pyongyang, and some rumors have spread claiming the supreme leader's sister, Kim Yo-Jong, whose husband is a top official in the illegal facility, is rising in power as well, as reported by The New York Post.

Jason Lee, 35 years old, a defector from North Korea, said the office is like a bank for the Kim family. Lee and his father both worked as executives in the secretive office where they ran shipping companies before fleeing to South Korea and later on the United States.

Lee noted that Kim had been more cautious with Office 39 and its illegal activities as it had been gaining too much international attention and putting their Party at risk.

King said that before 2000, diplomats from North Korea acted as bag men for Office 39, and nowadays often still are.

Experts claim that several North Korean diplomats travelled around the world carrying liquor, cigarettes, and self-manufactured drugs or contraband to other embassies around the globe. Personnel from Office 39 allegedly also made money for the Kim regime by becoming freelance drug mules.

Having about 40 embassies scattered across the world, North Korea makes more money by exploiting slave labor. In Chinese and Russian territory, for example, North Korean citizens could be seen being worked to log and are forced to give almost the entirety of their wages to the government.

In 2000, the drug smuggling conducted by North Korea reached its peak. In 2003, police officers from Australia discovered $160 million worth of heroin being unloaded onto a beach from the North Korean cargo ship Pong Su.

Related Article: North Korea Kept Their Leaders Alive By Feeding Them Bizzare Animal Body Parts, Other Crazy Ways

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Demonstrators pass a gay pride flag as they walk during a protest billed as Justice for Tony McDade, Sunday, June 7, 2020, in Atlanta. McDade, a black transgender man, was shot and killed by police in late May in Tallahassee, Fla., two days after George Floyd's death in Minneapolis. (John Amis/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
More kids are graduating from high school on time and less children are living in poverty in Macomb County today. Most test scores are at or above state averages. But families investigated for child abuse has jumped about 37%, an increase that is unfortunately very common across the state of Michigan.

And Michigan ranks well below average in overall child well-being.

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Those are just four of the many pieces of data released recently from the Anne E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Center at a pivotal point for Michigan students who lag behind other states in key categories.

Michigan ranks 32nd nationally in child well-being according to the national 2020 KIDS COUNT Data Book. The state's overall ranking remains the same as last year in the annually published Data Book that tracks child well-being nationally and state by state.

The report is based on data from 16 key indicators in four categories  economic well-being, education, health, and family and community  and ranks the states by how well they are doing by their children. Michigans best national rank in the four categories was 22nd in health, and its lowest national rank is 40th in education. The state ranks 30th in both economic well-being and family and community. All of Michigans rankings were the same or worse than the 2019 Data Book rankings, although because of one health indicator in the index changed, direct year-to-year comparisons of the health or overall rankings are discouraged.

Kelsey Perdue, project director for Kids Count in Michigan, said its time for policymakers to address the disparities that left Michigan low on the list.

But beyond the data in this report, Michigan leaders need to also heed whats happening in our state and around the country right now. Our state budget is facing a significant deficit and drastic cuts, she said. Kids are nervous about going back to school while the danger of COVID looms. And black children and their families continue to feel real pain and fear about the threats of racism, intimidation and violence.

While Michigans rankings didnt improve, the data in many indicators still did. The 2020 Data Book shows Michigan improved on 11 indicators in the KIDS COUNT Index; two indicators stayed the same and three worsened. These changes primarily followed the national trends. This explains the ranking plateaus or declines despite many data improvements, so Michigan has made some noteworthy progress  the state just hasnt caught up with its peers.

Massachusetts ranked first for overall child well being, followed by New Hampshire and Minnesota. Louisiana, Mississippi and New Mexico ranked 48th, 49th and 50th respectively.

Less dropouts, more graduates

Only 651 students dropped out of school in Macomb County in 2019, a rate of 6.3%, which is nearly a 50% drop since 2010, when 1,274 students, or 10.5% dropped out of school. The 2019 figures came in below the state average, which stood at about 8.4%.

But on average, more are graduating on time across Michigan with a 19% improvement since 2010. In 2019, 85.5% of its students graduated on time, slightly lower than Oakland County, which stood at 87.6%. The percentage of students not graduating on time in Michigan continues to fall, which the 2019 number at 18.6%, down from 20.2% in 2015. Macomb County's numbers stood at 14.5% in 2019, down from 18.2% in 2015.

M-STEP scores showed Macomb County with mixed proficiency levels. In grade 3 English and Language Arts, more students were not proficient from 2015 to 2019. For fourth graders, more students were proficient. Macomb's numbers improved in M-STEP 8th grade math, with those not proficient dropping from 2015-2019. PSAT scores in math for Macomb County students showed a 41.5% proficiency level, just above the state level, with Oakland County sitting at 52.8% and Wayne County at 32.6% in 2019.

Fourth-grade reading levels in Michigan were similar to 2002 numbers, while fourth grade math levels were generally better during the same time period. Eighth-grade math levels were slightly better since 2002 and eighth-grade reading levels were better.

Alesia Flye, the assistant superintendent for instruction and chief academic officer for the Macomb Intermediate School District, said the Kids Count numbers reflect improvements in certain areas, but also areas where there remain some challenges. She said there is a collective focus on engagement and following up with students. She said districts are working hard to address those areas that need improvement.

"It gives us some good trend info about work going on throughout the county," Flye said. "It's important to triangulate all data (national, state and local) and focus on areas of improvement."

MISD Superintendent Mike DeVault said overall he was pleased with what he thought were positive numbers for the county, with most test scores at or above the state level. He said many families move to Macomb County thanks to a strong school system, and it's not uncommon for those that need help, especially in the area of special needs kids, to come to Macomb.

"We have a legacy and sensitivity for special needs kids and people caring for these families," DeVault said. "It's part of the reputation of this county."

Other data DeVault pointed to was that the number of single-parent homes in Macomb is well below the state average and there are fewer single parent families under poverty rate. He said Macomb also has a higher rate of English not spoken at home, indicating a higher level of diversity in the home than most counties. He said there are 100 different languages spoken in Macomb County. But he said communities can always do more in terms of student achievement.

"The business community has got to get healthy again. That has a direct connection to family income," he said. "And the more we improve cooperation between government leadership, religious and school leaders, the better probability we have to positively impact these numbers."

"Literacy has been and continues to be a focus in Macomb County, with literacy training ongoing for staff (both at the MISD and at local districts) to strengthen their tool belt" Flye added. "We have Macomb Reads with countywide partners developing literacy and reading. As students enter school, they are provided literacy kits as students enter kindergarten. We work with districts for students who may need summer support with literacy camps. Most are virtual right now (due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Some have on-site opportunities for students. There are also summer camps for math and STEM hosted in local districts."

Poverty increasing, abuse remains concern

In 2010, more than 17% of the countys children (0-17) were living in poverty. Today that number stands at 16%, while Michigan as a whole has a 19% child poverty rate. The median household income in Macomb County is $62,191. Throughout the state, its $56,640.

Child neglect and abuse trends throughout the county have worsening over time. The number of children in investigated families in 2010 was 9,814. In 2018, that jumped 37% to 13,071. But the number of confirmed victims was down slightly, by 1.5%.

Working to keep kids healthy and safe has never been more essential, Lisa Hamilton, president and CEO of the Casey Foundation, which releases the national data book, said. Having consistent, reliable data to guide our decisions will be critical as we continue seeking to ensure the well-being of children, families and communities throughout this challenging time and beyond.

Background sources:

datacenter.kidscount.org/data#MI/2/0/char/0

mlpp.org/kids-count/2020profiles/

https://mlpp.org/2020kidscount/Macomb.pdf

+3 Should Alexander Macomb statue be removed? A descendant of Macomb Countys name sake suggests removal of General Alexander Macomb's statue in downtown Detroit because of the fact his fa
The New York Times has had something of a contentious relationship with Apple News, declining to support Apple News+ when it launched last year and publicly warning publications to steer clear of the service. At the time, CEO Mark Thompson told Reuters he was leery of our journalism being scrambled in a kind of Magimix (blender) with everyone elses journalism.

And now its pulling its free content as well. The Times website offers a variety of paid tiers for its content and at last count had more than five million subscribers. In a memo to employees, COO Meredith Kopit Levien said Apple News sandboxed model, which doesnt offer a direct path back to the New York Times website, does not fit within (the papers) parameters.

The New York Times regularly appears in Google News, but that service merely collects links and sends readers to the original site where the Times can offer subscriptions. Apple News presents full articles and videos within the iPhone, iPad, or Mac app, and doesnt offer a link to the referring website.

During Apples quarterly earnings call in April, Tim Cook announced that Apple News had crossed the 125 million user mark, though Apple has declined to release figures regarding subscriptions to News+, which has undergone criticism for its design and usability. Digiday reported that nine months after its launch, News+ has struggled.
Our boy Jordan has been putting in the mahi with his good mate Lance Savali over the last few months with their web-series "Don't Make It AUX."

The premise is simple, the boys battle song for song while sticking to a range of themes and categories, and the audience decides who wins in the comment section!

But the boys have taken to another level this week, bringing some literal heavy-hitters into the mix to battle it out as teams.

UFC Middleweight Champ Israel Adesanya and fellow UFC bantamweight beast Kai Kara France team up to take the title off Jordan and Lance in an unreal cross-over special...

Catch it up top!
ABINGTON  Two Philadelphia men must answer to charges in Montgomery County Court that they allegedly took part in multiple overnight burglaries at churches in Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia counties.
Exton, PA (19341)

Today

Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. High 88F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 68F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is to make his first international trip since the coronavirus crisis to west Africa on Tuesday for a summit on Sahel region issues with other heads of state including France's President Emmanuel Macron.

The European leaders will be joined in Mauritania by heads of the so-called G5 Sahel states - also including Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and Niger - and U.N. boss Antonio Guterres, Sanchez's office said in a statement.The region is plagued by jihadi violence.

In another sign of travel slowly resuming after months of coronavirus lockdowns, Spain's Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said the European Union would have a list of COVID-19-safe countries outside the bloc ready by Tuesday at the latest.

Officials are preparing a list of 15 non-EU countries considered safe for travel based on epidemiological criteria, she told local radio Cadena SER.

Sanchez's office said he would deliver some COVID-19 aid to Mauritania when he arrives for the meeting. Migration issues were also on the agenda, the statement said.

Former colonial power France has deployed thousands of soldiers in the arid Sahel region south of the Sahara desert since 2013. But violence by groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State has been on the rise.

Mauritania has long been a launchpad for African migrants trying to reach Spain's Canary Islands.
MANISTEE COUNTY  In the Aug. 4 primary election, voters will decide which Republican candidate will represent the party in the general election on Nov. 3 for Manistee County Commissioner in the 4th District.

On the Republican ticket, Scott Fredericks, of Manistee, and Eric Gustad, of Manistee, will vie for the spot, and Democrat Rolf Wucherer will run unopposed in August.

The Manistee News Advocate sent questionnaires to all candidates in the contested race. Responses are only edited if they exceed the word limit.

MANISTEE NEWS ADVOCATE: Please introduce yourself and describe your background, professionally, politically or personally.

FREDERICKS: My name is Scott Fredericks. I am a retired Michigan Army National Guardsman with just over twenty years of service before retirement. I had two combat deployments, one to Iraq in 2005/06 and one to Afghanistan in 2012. I also performed airport security shortly after 9/11 and deployed to Fort Hood, TX in support of another deployment to Kuwait. I spent half of my career in leadership roles while in the National Guard. I also have experience running a trucking company as a General Manager. I am currently employed at PCA. I am married with four children and three grandchildren. I am a strong supporter of the constitutions of the US and Michigan.

GUSTAD: Hello my name is Eric Gustad and I am running for County Commissioner in the 4th District. I have been a part of this community since the early 70s. I have seen it go through its ups and downs and over the years it has become a part of who I am. I have served in public capacity by serving over 6 years on the city planning commission and 3  years on city council. I also served several years as board member for the Alliance for Economic Success which was the economic development organization for the county for many years. Currently I am an active board member for the Chamber of Commerce, Vogue Theater, and Tight Lines for Troops. I feel strongly about being an active and involved member of the community in which I live. I volunteer and serve to make this a better place to live, work, visit, and play.

MNA: Why are you running for office? What qualities would you bring this office?

FREDERICKS: I am running for the office of County Commissioner in the 4th District because I feel that serving in the community is the only way to effectively change the situation. It is an honor to be able to represent the people of a district and be their voice in the decision-making process. I feel that I bring leadership and the ability to make quality decisions that are best for the overall good of the community. Having spent all the years in the military gives me the ability to think on my feet and be able to lead as needed.

GUSTAD: I am running for office because I want to continue to serve this community. I want to contribute to a future that has growth opportunity for new and existing businesses, support the residents, and protects its beautiful natural resources. I know I can make a difference through meaningful and engaging discussions while in meetings and when I meet with constituents one on one. I feel like I am a good listener and ask constructive questions to determine best course of action to take. I am thorough and am not shy about doing additional research when I need to know more about a specific area or topic. I am respectful, fair, and honest. I am also not afraid to hold staff and my fellow commissioners accountable when they are not living up to their commitments.

MNA: What are your top three legislative priorities and how would you address them?

FREDERICKS: My first priority is to bring transparency to the seat that I am running for. Without this, it is hard to build trust within your constituents. Second, I would like to bring good-paying jobs into the community and give people a chance to support themselves without working two or three jobs. We can do this by making a push to bring new businesses into the community. Finally, I would like to see Manistee be a part of improvements throughout our community as far as infrastructure goes. We can do this by petitioning the state for funding and obtaining grants from both the state and federal governments.

GUSTAD: One issue the county will be facing is getting back to full staff and full operations during the COVID pandemic. As the country, state, and county get back to the new state of normal we must establish a new set of protocols of safety for staff as well as the public while still offering all the services that we need to. Providing the services that our community has come to expect is a priority and we need to work with staff and health and safety professionals to build the right ways to get back to work.

Another significant issue facing the county will be the inevitable decrease in the budget moving forward due to the COVID. The state and federal budgets will be impacted and that will certainly impact the county, city, and townships in Manistee. I feel like we will have to lobby to our legislators in areas where we can to help offset some of those losses in revenue. We will also have to work closely with staff to find ways to cut expenses where we can to make up the difference in the potential shortage.

Lastly, I feel like board and staffing synergy will be another thing we have to work on moving forward. We will be working with a new County Administrator and potentially 2 or 3 new County Commissioners. This will present a learning and adjustment period for the board as well as staff.

MNA: The COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to avoid the spread of the virus shut down many Michigan businesses and put people out of work. How would you help businesses stay open, and recover, and workers deal with the loss of earning and jobs?

FREDERICKS: Without a doubt, COVID-19 impacted local businesses as well as individuals in the community. I would love to have the opportunity to get into the community and get some state and federal grants to help small business owners get back on their feet as quickly and painlessly as possible. I also want to make sure that everyone is being taken care of locally and that nobody falls through the cracks. I also want to make sure that any funding that the county was promised before the outbreak is received and not taken away easily.

GUSTAD: COVID will have a significant impact on all budgets from Federal to State to County. I have had conversations with both our State Representative and State Senator about budgets and the impact from COVID. Both have said there are going to be impacts but they are not sure exactly where those hits are going to be the worst. In the initial discussion it would look like Education, Roads, and Infrastructure are going to be the most likely impacted. These areas will be difficult to address. But I would again work with our legislators both at the State and Federal level to look for funding in areas to offset revenue shortfalls. I would also like to see a task force created for each area impacted to address budget gaps. That task force should include stakeholders from all relevant groups whether that be educators, road commissioners, local businesses, staff,etc. This would help look for ways to address the shortages and cutbacks that will need to be made and involve the people who will be impacted by those cutbacks.
Mankato, MN (56001)

Today

Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 69F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low near 50F. NW winds shifting to SSW at 10 to 20 mph.
This year the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) was out for 161 days on operations in the Middle East, and the naval creates a bubble that minimizes the infection of crews when visiting chosen ports.

The last time any naval crew spent so much time at sea was during Sept. 11, 2001 in the terror attacks. During this time, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was very active and was on guard in this tense moment, reported in USNI.

Along with the carrier, another ship, the guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG-56), departed the Naval Station at Norfolk Virginia last January 17 to do graduation exercises that led to sea deployment.

According to a navy spokesman, the Naval History and Heritage Command do not track the number of days that ships spend at sea. Two ships have logged more days at sea records during peacetime. These records are now broken, reported the navy in a statement.

Other examples of US Naval assets extending their operations due to unusual times is the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). Like the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, it went on for a straight 160 days on operations supporting the American 9/11 reaction. Interestingly, the USS Eisenhower was in operation theatre for 152 days, when the Iran Hostage crisis happened in 1980, cited in Marine Link.

US Naval operations in the Persian Gulf

The saber-rattling in the Persian Gulf by Iran has prompted the 5th fleet that includes the USS Eisenhower and USS San Jacinto to be there from March 9. All these activities were in support of US presence operations to box out Iran in the region. All the counter Iran activities began in 2019 in May, mentioned Navy Mil.

Also read: Japan's New Missile Defense Destroyer Starts Sea Trials Amidst Chinese Tension, Aegis Ashore Saga

Their locations during this time are in the Gulf of Oman and the North Arabian Sea, within striking distance of the Persian Gulf.

One of the most obvious reasons for the extended operations, it is port facilities that are needed for the crew. Another is a concern for the COVID-19 pandemic situation which sidelined the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt and other US Navy ships.

Limiting contact before and during operations

5th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Jim Malloy had all port visits disallowed in early March with the fast spread of COVID-19.

Eisenhower CO Capt. Kyle Higgins, in a statement, said that the pandemic with all the difficulties it brings will be overcome, making the Navy stronger. This adds the effort of the crew to do their jobs every day.

Before the pandemic, many liberty port facilities meant for carriers weren't many in the Middle East not in the Persian Gulf. Several carriers that visited later went to Duqm in Oman that provides liberty facilities for carrier personnel.

The US Navy is creating these liberty ports to lessen exposure to COVID-19. Creating this bubble will protect the crew and keep servicemen COVID-free.

Some of these COVID-free ports are in Spain, Guam, and Japan. The USS Nimitz is docked in Guam, and all measures to limited infection are in place.

The Spain, Rota liberty port facilities were tested by the crew of the USS Indiana (attack submarine) on its first deployment. Commander of Task Force 69, Capt. Ted O'Harrah said the sub's presence means the US Navy means business.

Carriers like the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and its crews need a break. These ports give their crews time to unwind.

Related article: China Thinks US Navy's Three Aircraft Carriers Are Merely for Show, Although It Threatens Them

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A traffic stop for a defective headlight in Boston resulted in Massachusetts State Police seizing two guns and arresting three men who attempted to flee the scene, police said.

Amani Perkins, 21, of Mattapan, was arrested for driving without a license while passengers, Kamiya Santos, 24, of Boston, and Malik Achabe Rise, 19 of Roxbury, were each arrested for illegal possession of a firearm and other charges related to the recovered weapons, police said.

Shortly prior to 2 a.m., Massachusetts State Police Trooper Daniel Santa stopped a vehicle on Massachusetts Avenue at Newmarket Square, near the South Bay Shopping Center, for a defective headlight, police said. Perkins didnt have a license, police said.

When the vehicle was about to be towed, police said the two passengers in the car sprinted away, with one dropping a handgun. Troopers Miguel McGovern, Darius McPherson and Santa chased the men.

One of the men, police said, was holding something close to his right hip as he ran, but quickly fell to the ground and gave up. Police said they found a gun after searching the man.

Massachusetts State Police seized two guns after a traffic stop in Boston.

Two guns, a .38 caliber revolver and a 9MM Taurus semi-automatic pistol, were seized. Both firearms were fully loaded with destroyed serial numbers, police said.

The three men were expected to be arraigned today through the Roxbury District Court.
Massachusetts residents should expect to be able to vote by mail in a general election for the first time in state history, lawmakers say as they move closer toward getting voting legislation to the governors desk.

The $8 million voting reform would send applications to residents statewide to enable them to vote by mail in the Sept. 1 primary and Nov. 3 general election  a first in Massachusetts. It would also allow early voting ahead of the primary.

Lawmakers said Monday they reconciled differences between the House and Senate bills teed up the bill, H. 4829, for final votes Tuesday and Thursday for the House and Senate, respectively. If approved, the bill lands on Gov. Charlie Bakers desk.

The goal was to provide options, make it easier for people to vote this fall despite COVID-19, and give clerks the tools they need to process the ballots expeditiously, Sen. Barry Finegold, an Andover Democrat and chair of the Senate Election Laws Committee. Weve accomplished that in this bill.

Massachusetts voters have mailed in ballots in recent local elections to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but this bill would make state history in making the option widely available to residents for a primary and general election. It also requires safety standards for polling places to let voters cast their ballots in person.

The legislation labels COVID-19 a physical disability for which one could qualify for an absentee ballot, at least until Dec. 31.

It would also implement social distancing parameters in polling places where people would vote in person, should they choose to do so, and require proper notification of polling location changes.

The coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 8,000 people statewide, prompted voting rights advocates to push for more remote voting options and protections for those voting in person.

A recent Suffolk University poll for WGBH News, MassLive, The Boston Globe and the State House News Service found that 24.8% of voters expect to vote by mail this fall, 61.4% said they would vote in person and nearly 12% said they were undecided.

The House and Senate voted on their versions of a vote-by-mail bill earlier this month. They formed a conference committee to negotiate the differences in their bills, including deadlines for vote-by-mail applications.

The latest version of the bill requires the Secretary of Stares office to mail early voting applications to all residents by July 15 for the primary and by Sept. 14 for the general election, as well as directs the office with creating an online portal with electronic applications for mail-in ballots. The secretarys office would have to conduct a public awareness campaign on the new voting option and parameters.

The office also would need to create the portal no later than Oct. 1.

Applications for early voting and absentee voting would need to be received four business days before the election, which is similar to the House versions provision that put the deadline at the Friday before each election.

Under the bill, mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 to count. Those ballots will be counted until 5 p.m. Nov. 6.

Those who vote in person would also need to be properly notified of changing polling places at least 20 days in advance of the change, under a provision that originated from the Senate version of the legislation. Communities would also need to issue a report three days before the polling location change on the potential impact on voters based on race, national origin, disability, income or age.

The Election Modernization Coalition, which includes Common Cause Massachusetts, MassVOTE and other groups pushing for the bill, issued a statement urging lawmakers to quickly pass the legislation and Baker to sign it once it lands on his desk.

The first ballot application mailing is slated to go out July 15, in just 16 days. If Governor Baker does not sign the bill quickly, this deadline will be difficult to meet, the statement reads. The coalition urges the Governor to sign the H. 4820 immediately so that election administrators and local election officials can implement the legislation as soon as possible and advocates and others can begin educating voters about these important changes.

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Baystate Healths Dr. Armando Paez to discuss fears, questions about coronavirus pandemic Dr. Armando Paez, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine at Baystate Health in Springfield, will address some of the fears and questions Massachusetts residents have expressed about the coronavirus pandemic and talk about how other states are seeing spikes in COVID-19 cases while Massachusetts may be on track to handle the outbreak. Posted by MassLive on Tuesday, June 30, 2020

As Massachusetts reports a low coronavirus transmission rate even as various sectors of the economy have started up again per Gov. Charlie Bakers four-phase reopening plan, questions and fears still remain.

Results of a Suffolk University poll from WGBH News, MassLive, The Boston Globe and the State House News Service published last week found that majorities of Massachusetts residents are still wary of engaging in certain pre-pandemic activities, including traveling on planes and using public transportation.

Dr. Armando Paez, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine at Baystate Health in Springfield, recently told MassLive that residents should feel safe engaging in some of the activities outlined in the survey as long as they conform to state-issued guidelines.

The new normal is doing social distancing, being aware of your surroundings and using face coverings for the foreseeable future, he said.

Paez will speak with MassLive during an interview livestreamed on the news outlets Facebook page at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

He will address some of the fears Massachusetts residents have expressed and talk about how other states are seeing spikes in COVID-19 cases while Massachusetts, modeling suggests, may be on track to handle the outbreak.

Any pandemic-related questions for Paez can be emailed to MassLive reporter Jackson Cote at jcote@masslive.com.

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SPRINGFIELD  The attorney for ousted Holyoke Soldiers Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh is disputing Walshs firing by the governor and state secretary of Health and Human Services, saying the decision should be left to the homes Board of Trustees.

Meanwhile, a Hampden Superior Court judge has denied a motion to move ahead with a hearing on Walshs bid to postpone a Board of Trustees meeting about his employment status.

On June 24, the day a devastating independent report was released on the COVID-19 response at the Soldiers Home, Walsh received a termination letter from Gov. Charlie Baker and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders.

In a June 26 letter to Sudders, William Bennett  Walshs attorney and uncle, and former Hampden County district attorney  argues the firing was improper.

You have no authority to take this action, Bennett wrote, arguing that only the Board of Trustees can fire the Soldiers Home superintendent. The letter continued: Therefore, I consider [your] letter invalid and your attempt to terminate Mr. Walsh unlawful.

Bennett declined to comment further.

Walsh has been on paid administrative leave since late March, when he was ordered to clear out of the building, have no communication with staff and lost his email access. Filing a motion in Hampden Superior Court, he successfully stayed an April meeting of the Board of Trustees to discuss his continued employment, arguing it was patently unfair to hold the meeting before the report on the investigation was released.

A court hearing was scheduled for April 30, then rescheduled to July 30.

On June 25, the day after Walsh was fired, lawyers for the state and the Board of Trustees filed an emergency motion to scrap the old deadline and set an earlier hearing.

Judge John S. Ferrara denied the motion on the same day.

There was no emergency detailed in this filing that was not discernible on 4/30/20, Ferrara wrote, referring to the previously scheduled hearing date. Or that warranted this motion being treated as an emergency motion.

Complicating matters is the dispute over whether Walsh can be formally fired by Baker and Sudders under an ambiguous set of competing state laws that govern both the Holyoke and Chelsea soldiers homes.

Ferrara invited the parties to reschedule a hearing jointly. There had been no new filings with the court as of Monday afternoon.

The Board of Trustees has an executive session, that will not take place in the public realm, scheduled for Wednesday.

Walsh was placed on leave as the virus spread like wildfire through the long-term care facility, ultimately claiming the lives of 76 veterans and sickening many more over 11 weeks.

Baker ordered an independent investigation by Boston attorney Mark W. Pearlstein, a former federal prosecutor.

Pearlsteins 174-page report concluded that while it was unrealistic to think the virus would have had no impact at the facility, Walsh and his top staff made baffling and catastrophic decisions that drove up the death toll. Bennett has called many of the assertions in the Pearlstein report baseless and hinted that he planned to address them more publicly in the future.

According to witnesses interviewed by Pearlstein and a team of investigators, Sudders sought to fire Walsh as far back as late March, as a state clinical response team tried to stabilize the situation at the home.

Just fire him. Ill deal with any fallout, she said in an email on March 30.

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Americans are abysmally ignorant of their own history, a failure reflected in the current discord over the proposed removal of certain historical statues, monuments, and symbols. A statue of Washington is pulled down because he was a slaveholder. In contrast, displaying the Confederate flag is justified by those who argue that it represents heritage, not hate. In Boston, the Shaw Memorial was damaged by protesters dissatisfied with how black soldiers were portrayed. On the other side, some assert that taking down statues of Robert E. Lee represents attempts to erase history and claim that the Confederacy was battling for states rights, not slavery.

What all of these activities and assertions have in common is that they are rooted in historical ignorance. This is not just a matter of different interpretations of the facts. It is a matter of having little or no knowledge of the facts and often being unwilling to learn them, preferring instead to act solely on the basis of political biases or misinformation spawned by social media.

A national survey conducted by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation in 2018 found that only one in three Americans could actually pass a multiple choice test consisting of items taken from the U.S. Citizenship Test. Only 13% of those surveyed knew when the U.S. Constitution was ratified. More than half of respondents didnt know which countries the United States fought in World War II. Seventy-two percent could not name the 13 original states. Thirty-seven percent credited Benjamin Franklin with inventing the lightbulb. Only 24% knew why the colonists fought the British. Those 65 years and older did much better than those under 45. It is somewhat ironic to note that Wilsons name is being removed from Princetons public policy school due to his strong racist inclinations.

Several years ago, I had the privilege of tutoring immigrants to help them pass that citizenship test. I used to tell them that if they passed, they were better informed about their new home than most Americans born here. Unfortunately, I was right.

To judge by the survey numbers, ignorance is evidently pervasive on all sides of the political spectrum, and especially among the young. On the right there is that apostle of historical illiteracy in the White House, who did not know why he was touring the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, and who stated that airports were attacked during the American Revolution, which he also confused with the War of 1812. His imbecilities legitimize that ignorance among his base supporters. On the left, many possess a one-dimensional perspective on American history that sees it as an uninterrupted story of imperialism, oppression, and genocide, rather than what is really a continuing narrative of political and economic conflict and struggle. Many anti-racists use the absurd euphemism white fragility to explain resistance to learning about racism. I prefer white willful ignorance.

This lack of knowledge even extends to the conflicts over wearing masks. Those who refuse claim their rights as Americans in their defense. But most Americans are clueless about what those rights really are. A 2017 survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that 37% of respondents could not name a single right protected by the First Amendment. Most of the others could at best name one or two.

I believe blame for all of this can be pinned on the American public school system, which for the most part does an atrocious job of teaching history, a subject mostly presented as a bland and boring collection of names and dates, probably out of fear of undue controversy. Perhaps for the same reason, the schools also have long since abandoned any coherent attempt at civic education. So young people are rarely taught to think critically about the history of their country or what their responsibilities as citizens ought to be in what is supposed to be a democracy. Only last year did the Massachusetts legislature finally enact a civic education requirement for public high schools and school districts serving eighth-grade students.

Transforming the curriculum may not lead to less intense political conflict, in fact, it might exacerbate it. But at least it would hopefully be expressed based on a foundation of solid information subject to competing perspectives and interpretations, rather than conspiracy theories, twitter feeds, half-truths, empty rhetoric, sound-bite sloganeering, and historical ignorance.

Michael Engel is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Westfield State University.
The amount of money you'd expect to see in the stimulus checks would depend on which payment plan or package is approved by Congress.

Second stimulus check coming?

According to Heavy, United States President Donald Trump confirmed the government is working on a second coronavirus stimulus package in an interview with Scripps' Joe St. George on June 22.

The conversation had George ask Trump whether or not they had any plans of sending a second stimulus check to the citizens of the United States. The US president answered that they have a second stimulus package in the works, noting it would be very generous and beneficial.

However, the amount of the second payment was still not revealed by Trump amid his public interest in the stimulus check.

However, Trump revealed more details regarding the next stimulus package that they are working on, including that it would be bipartisan and that the coming weeks will lead to its announcement.

The HEROES Act will give each family a maximum of $6,000 in stimulus payments if they have three dependents.

Those who earn up to $75,000 a year would receive $1,200 each. Couples who file jointly will receive $2,400 if they earn up to $150,000 a year. Each household would receive $1,200 for every dependent to a maximum of three.

The questions about the second stimulus check come at a time when the $600 in enhanced unemployment benefit is to end in a little over a month, as reported by CNET.

Other financial aids amid the coronavirus pandemic are also set to expire, such as the eviction stays while rent for the month of July is due in a matter of days.

Also Read: Second Stimulus Check: Is It Coming to Americans With an Increase to $1,200?

How possible would it be?

The possibility of a second stimulus check being passed by Congress depends on two major factors; the status of the economy if lawmakers determine that direct payments would be the best way to mitigate the effect of the global pandemic.

The term "second stimulus check" has been actively avoided by Congress and the White House whenever they mentioned a second stimulus package. However, what officials focused on were payroll tax cuts, tax holidays, and travel tax credits.

The conversations have shifted towards something else entirely as Trump and several cabinet members have mentioned specifically putting more money into further rescue bills for individuals.

President Trump and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin have previously expressed their support for a second stimulus check. They noted that they were taking a serious look into giving Americans more direct payments amid the coronavirus pandemic, as reported by English AS.

However, Trump seems to be concentrating on a stimulus package and not a stimulus check to help the economy jump back. The president also seemed to be looking at supporting job growth instead of direct payments in recent weeks.

In a Republican lunch event held on Tuesday, Mnuchin repeated the president's focus on job employment and stating that they will be focusing on jobs and bringing back jobs to Americans to help revive the economy.

Related Article: Second Stimulus Check Could Be 25% Higher Than the First One

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
We speak as rabbis in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts who oppose any unilateral annexation of the West Bank.

We share our pride in a vision of Israel that aspires to uphold Jewish and democratic values. It is with these ideals in mind that we must speak out against annexation.

We write as rabbis from across Jewish denominations. We write as lovers of Zion and as dedicated champions of the people and State of Israel. All of us have spent time studying in Israel, living there, or leading congregational and community trips to further the connection between Jews in New England and the people of Israel. Many of us have relatives and all of us have friends residing in the Promised Land. We write this letter from a place of deep love.

We have worked to help our communities understand that our love of Israel is consistent with our support for human dignity. We have never wavered in the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in the sovereign state of Israel, the land of our origins. Any unilateral actions that extend Israeli sovereignty or annex additional lands in the West Bank without either providing for citizenship of the Palestinian residents or doing so in a framework of ongoing direct negotiations with the Palestinian Authority will cause direct harm to the Palestinian population and undermine Israels moral position. We have been able to say for decades that Israeli governments have supported a two-state solution. Unilateral decisions only make any peaceful solution more difficult. In addition, making this decision at a time of great civil unrest in America will only further weaken the important bipartisan support we work hard to secure for Israel inside our congressional delegation and our state as a whole.

Our silence on annexation would only imply acquiescence. Therefore we are speaking out as rabbis and Jewish leaders to oppose annexation. Now is the time for the Israeli government to show restraint, and we pray it will be evident in the weeks ahead.

Rabbi Yafa Chase

Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Keiner

Rabbi Justin David

Rabbi Edward Feld

Rabbi Aaron Fine

Rabbi Jacob Fine

Rabbi Nancy Flam

Rabbi Andrew Hahn

Rabbi Amy Wallk Katz

Rabbi Riqi Kosovske

Rabbi Devorah Jacobson

Rabbi Jeremy Master

Rabbi Jonathan Schechter

Rabbi David Seidenberg

Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer

Rabbi Rhonda Shapiro-Reiser

Rabbi Benjamin Weiner
Where there should have been outrage, there was silence.

According to multiple credible news reports, Russia paid bounties to Taliban fighters to target and kill American soldiers in Afghanistan. And the White House did nothing in response. Well, not nothing, exactly. President Donald Trump has been agitating to get Russia readmitted to the Group of Seven, the largest advanced economies in the world. And Trump has also reduced the number of U.S. forces stationed in Germany, a move that surely pleases the Kremlin.

All of this, of course, is unconscionable, anti-American behavior from our nation's chief executive. One might rationally think that this, finally, would be the last straw, the act that would pushed even today's lapdog Republicans in Congress to begin to bark up a storm.

If only.

The story, as first reported by The New York Times, with later confirmation by The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and reports of intelligence assessments, is nothing short of horrifying. Bounties on the heads of coalition and American service members, paid by Russia, with the administration deciding to do nothing in response.

Remember how congressional Republicans used to react when President Barack Obama was anything less than a full-throated hawk on foreign affairs? They went crazy again and again. And now, a president supposedly of their own party, which has long claimed to stand for a strong defense, is reported to have looked away as Russian President Vladimir Putin pays Taliban fighters to kill Americans in uniform.

Where is GOP Sen. Tom Cotton, of Arkansas? Or Republican Sen. Susan Collins, of Maine? How about Sen. Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas? Every member of the Senate, and the House, from both political parties, should be outraged. So too should every citizen. This White House, which has been proffering one nightmare after another, day after day, week after week, year after year, has finally hit a new low.

A president is the de facto head of his political party. But his power in that arena isn't supposed to be absolute. When will members of the once-Grand Old Party stand up and say enough is enough, and that this is far too much?

Trump, after all, isnt even a real Republican. He seldom is even able to pretend to be a real president. And now, with this latest, hes betrayed every real American.
An LGBTQ+ Pride flag that had been flying over Woburns city common was torn down over the weekend, and replacement paraphernalia were later stolen, news outlets reported.

The Woburn police are investigating both incidents as possible vandalism, authorities told WBZ.

The incidents occurred during Pride month, when people throughout the world celebrate and recognize the influence of the LGBTQ+ community.

On Saturday, WBZ reported, Gretchen Pollard-Ramos was driving near the Woburn Common when she saw the Pride flag laying in the grass.

Pollard-Ramos initially thought the rope attached to the flag was frayed but noticed it was actually cut, at which point she realized the flag was purposefully taken down, she told WBZ.

Around a dozen people returned to the common later that day to put up rainbow streamers, uplifting signs and smaller flags, the news outlet reported.

Woburn resident Rina Mazor told WBZ the paraphernalia was later taken down, though.

I think its a clear message of hate, Mazor said, according to the news outlet.

She told WBZ, I am a queer woman who is engaged to a trans woman. My 8-year-old son is also trans and these issues are so important.

Residents plan to fly the rainbow flag again soon, the news outlet reported.

Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364.
A rollover crash on Interstate 495 in Haverhill killed one person and left several more individuals injured early Monday morning, police said.

A van with multiple people inside rolled over in the northbound lanes of I-495 on the Exit 51 A on-ramp to Route 125 shortly before 5:45 a.m., a Massachusetts States Police spokesperson told MassLive.

One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and several others were injured, according to the spokesperson.

Authorities did not release any information about the events leading up to the crash. Police also did not immediately disclose how many people were injured.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Massachusetts State Police on Monday identified a 33-year-old man killed in a fatal rollover crash on Interstate 495 that may have been caused by another vehicle.

Authorities responded around 5:33 a.m. to a report of a rollover crash in the northbound lanes of I-495 in Haverhill near Exit 51 B, according to a statement from state police.

Responding troopers found a 2005 Ford Freestar van that had rolled over into an embankment, causing fatal injuries to the driver and non-fatal injuries to four passengers, the statement said.

The vans driver, who has been identified as Chelmsford resident Alexander R. Nunez, was found dead at the scene, according to state police.

The four injured passengers were taken to Lawrence General Hospital. Two women and one man from Lawrence all suffered serious injuries. Another woman from Lawrence suffered minor injuries, state police said.

The right lane and breakdown lane at the site of the crash were closed for roughly three hours as police investigated, according to law enforcement.

State police said another vehicle may have cut into the vans travel lane, causing Nunez to swerve across I-495, crash into a guardrail and roll over, authorities said.

The possible make and model of the other vehicle is not known at this time and remains part of the ongoing investigation, state police said.

Anyone who was on I-495 at the time of the collision and who may have seen the crash or the events leading up to it have been urged to call state police at (978) 462-7478.

Related Content: One person killed, several others injured in rollover crash on Interstate 495 in Haverhill
Amid the Thin Blue Line American flags and pro-police signs demonstrators at the Massachusetts State House brought Saturday was a banner bearing a Nazi symbol, drawing scrutiny from counter-protesters and onlookers.

The Boston Herald reported that a half-dozen people wearing Nationalist Social Club shirts hung the sonnenrad black sun banner, an ancient Indo-European symbol appropriated by Nazis, at the Restore Sanity rally organized by Super Happy Fun America. One of them had a swastika tattoo.

Super Happy Fun America, a group with ties to Rexist Marxism, also organized the Straight Pride Parade in August 2019 that sparked outrage from the LGBTQ community, as well as celebrities and elected officials across the nation.

John Hugo, president of Super Happy Fun America, said the group with the sonnenrad banner was placed there to make it look like they were part of the organizations side.

Yesterday we had black, white, Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese speakers, Hugo said in a statement to MassLive. Why the hell would we want anything to do with these low life Nazi scum? They were there to derail our efforts and the press was more than happy to tie them to our group. Honest media is dead in our country.

Freelance journalist Hilary Sargent, who observed the rally, questioned the appearance of the symbol at the pro-police rally.

A god damn SONNENRAD hanging in front of the Massachusetts State House. pic.twitter.com/uoJvkS7yoy    (@lilsarg) June 27, 2020

Sargent called on the Boston Police Department and Massachusetts State Police to disavow the Nazis at the rally. She also noted that #BackTheBlue and the white nationalist movement are not one and the same.

I want to be clear on something  the #BackTheBlue movements support of police is not unilateral. In many cases its both disingenuous and highly strategic.    (@lilsarg) June 28, 2020

A few dozen attended the pro-police rally in front of the State House, while a larger counter-protest formed across the street with each side separated by police barriers, according to footage from NBC Boston.

The Boston Globe estimates 50 people attended the Restore Sanity rally and several hundred attended the All Out Against White Supremacy protest.

There was 127 businesses that were vandalized and looted in Boston, and thats what were against, Rinaldo Delgallo told NBC Boston.

Many of the protests across Massachusetts have been peaceful, but some have resulted in looting and violent clashes with police.

Black Lives Matter protests have continued in the wake of George Floyds officer-involved death in Minneapolis. Some parts of the country started holding protests before his death to speak out against the police raid that killed Breonna Taylor, a former EMT, in Louisville.

A Suffolk University poll from WGBH News, MassLive, The Boston Globe and the State House News Service shows 85% of respondents either support or strongly support the Black Lives Matter movement. The survey of 500 residents mirrors a national trend of growing support for the movement.

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Severe weather Sunday caused massive flooding at Norwood Hospital, shutting down the medical centers emergency room and forcing dozens of patients to evacuate.

Firefighters responded around 4:46 p.m. to a call about extensive flooding in the hospitals basements, requiring the medical centers utilities to be shut down, according to a Facebook post from the Norwood Fire Department.

Shortly thereafter, water also began leaking from the roof and upper floors, the statement said. Due to the patient rooms and safety being compromised, the decision was made to evacuate patients from the hospital.

Around 20 patients were evacuated after power was lost around 6:30 p.m., Norwoods general manager, Tony Mazzucco, told The Boston Globe. Another 60 to 70 patients were evacuated around 10 p.m.

Some patients remained in the Draper Building, a part of the hospital that did not lose electricity, according to the Globes report.

One person who tested positive for the coronavirus was being treated at the Norwood facility, Massachusetts Department of Public Health data shows.

Nobody at the hospital was injured during the severe storm, the newspaper reported

While the emergency room at Norwood Hospital remains closed, people seeking medical attention can go to Beth Israel Deaconess in Needham or Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro.

Greater Boston was hit hard with flash flooding, damaging winds and large hail Sunday, the National Weather Service tweeted.

Flooding was reported throughout the town of Norwood on Sunday. At least 75 calls were made to the Norwood Fire Department about building fires, lightning strikes, flooded basements and other emergencies, according to authorities.

Norwood firefighters responded to a garage fire on Pleasant Street around 3:15 p.m. after lightning struck the building, officials said.

On arrival, companies found a well-involved detached garage, the Norwood Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post. Engine 3 deployed an attack line and quickly knocked the fire down.

Ladder 1 overhauled and provided ventilation, while Engine 1 laid 300 feet of supply line for Engine 3 from a near by hydrant. Crews operated for just under an hour before returning to service.

WCVB reported that Norwood Hospitals parking lot was flooded, and as many as five cars were submerged under water. A water main break near the medical center flooded several Norwood restaurants as well.
Officials announced Monday that Norwood Hospital would temporarily shut its doors after a severe storm system swept through the state Sunday, causing massive flooding and widespread power outages.

The majority of the Eastern Massachusetts hospitals patients were evacuated from the medical center Sunday. Another 30 to 40 clients that remained were being transported to other facilities Monday, the hospitals president, Salvatore Perla, said.

Perla noted at a press conference late Monday morning that the remaining patients were being safely taken to a new destination without incident. Nobody at the hospital was injured during the storm.

We continue to work on the safe evacuation of all of our patients. We have three of the 11 units remaining. Everythings going as planned. Everyone has their assignments, he said at the briefing, which was broadcast by WBZ.

The temporary closure of the hospital was the safest thing for the medical centers clients, Perla said. He noted that residents in the town would be getting text messages alerting them the hospital would be shutting its doors and that if they need medical attention, they can go to another medical center.

People seeking medical care can go to Beth Israel Deaconess in Needham or Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro.

Some areas of Norwood Hospital are being provided electricity through emergency generators, Perla said. There are no issues with the facilitys utilities, he added.

Were communicating with all the staff and letting people know, if youre not called in to come into work today, please dont come in, Perla said.

The hospital president added, This is definitely a significant event for us.

Firefighters responded around 4:46 p.m. on Sunday to reports of extensive flooding in the hospitals basements, and the medical centers utilities needed to be shut down, according to a Facebook post from the Norwood Fire Department.

Shortly after flooding was discovered in the medical centers basements, water started leaking from Norwood Hospitals roof and upper floors.

Due to the patient rooms and safety being compromised, the decision was made to evacuate patients from the hospital, fire officials said.

Roughly 20 patients were evacuated after the electricity went out around 6:30 p.m., and another 60 to 70 clients were evacuated around 10 p.m., Norwood Hospital General Manager Tony Mazzucco told The Boston Globe.

Several patients remained in the Draper Building, a part of the hospital that did not lose power, according to the Globes report.

One person who tested positive for the coronavirus was being treated at the Norwood facility, Massachusetts Department of Public Health data showed Sunday.

Flooding was reported throughout the town of Norwood on Sunday as well as across Massachusetts.

At least 75 calls were made to the Norwood Fire Department about building fires, lightning strikes, flooded basements and other emergencies, officials said.

Norwood Hospitals parking lot was flooded as well, WCVB reported. As many as five cars were submerged under water.

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The daughter of Hamad Jaber, who was killed in a crash in Worcester Friday, said another car struck them causing her father to swerve and drive their Jeep off the overpass to fall onto the highway below.

Eighteen-year-old Serena Jaber, who was in the vehicle when the incident happened, spoke to WCVB about the crash on Interstate 290 at 7:45 p.m. on Friday.

He honked the horn and tried to swerve to save us, Jaber said of her father in an interview with WCVB. I just remember putting my hands on my head and closing my eyes. The next thing I knew we were off of the ramp, off of the bridge, down on the other highway.

While on the ramp, the Jeep traveled over the sidewall of the left lane side of the overpass and came to rest on the travel lanes of I-290 eastbound, Massachusetts State Police said.

Jaber said that people rushed over to the vehicle to help her out. She was upside down and the passers-by had to rip the seatbelt off her.

Massachusetts State police said that a second vehicle may have been involved in the crash. Police are asking anyone with information or video recording of the crash to contact them at 508-829-8410.

Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook orTwitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364.
Worcester received a grant to hire staff to provide surge support for the citys coronavirus response.

The CDC Foundation provided the Worcester Division of Public Health with a $295,000. The grant will allow the CDC Foundation to hire contractors including a nurse, community outreach/education specialist, a contract tracing coordinator, as well as environmental health and administrative support.

We are extremely grateful to the CDC Foundation and the donor, Medtronics, for selecting the Worcester Division of Public Health for this generous award, Director of Public Health for Worcester Karyn Clark said in a statement. These funds will build additional capacity for staff to respond to the COVID-19 recovery efforts and connecting those impacted, especially communities of color, to needed services.

The new positions add to the Division of Public Healths 25 employees, which provides public health services to six member towns as part of the Central MA Regional Public Health Alliance, including Grafton, Holden, Leicester, Millbury, Shrewsbury and West Boylston.

The Division of Public Health has been both meticulous and tireless in its work during the COVID-19 crisis, Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. said in a statement. Their efforts in tracking COVID-positive individuals and their close contacts are crucial to mitigating the viruss continued impact on public health and safety. This generous grant from the CDC Foundation is much-needed and greatly appreciated as it will only enhance those efforts.

Worcester has seen a total of 5,172 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, Augustus said last Thursday.

Because of you, because of your actions, the actions of your neighbors, we have flattened the curve, Mayor Joseph Petty said. Right now UMass has the lowest number of COVID inpatients since April 1. Were not done yet, but weve done a lot of great work together to keep this community healthy.

City officials continue to ask residents to continue wearing masks and to wash their hands frequently in the hopes of keeping the rate of spread of coronavirus low.

The mayor thanked people who canceled important events like weddings and holidays, business owners who followed the states regulations and parents who became educators for children after schools shut their doors.

Augustus cautioned that the coronavirus is not done yet.

Weve had to make a lot of tough decisions, Augustus said. We did the best we could, always trying to figure out how to err on the side of keeping the people of this community safe. That was our north star. Thats what we were always striving to do.

When the state offered coronavirus testing for two days two weeks ago, urging residents who recently attended demonstrations protesting police brutality to take advantage of the free service, 1,600 people got tested at UMass Memorial Medical Center, Augustus said.

The positive rate of those 1,600 tests was 2.7%, said Augustus. State officials reported that across Massachusetts, 17,000 people took advantage of the testing and 2.5% were positive.

Dr. Michael Hirsh, the director of public health, said that in the last four weeks, the citys rate of positive coronavirus tests has been below the 10% mark, an indicator the CDC recommends for safe reopening.

I think that overall we can be pretty confident that the virus has really been at least suppressed, Hirsh said. It looks like there could be a reappearance sometime in the fall and we cant let our guard down.

Related Content:
An unidentified group of armed men have infiltrated the Pakistan Stock Exchange building in the southern part of the city of Karachi as police officers respond to the scene.

A sudden bombardment

According to AP News, a police official, Rizwan Ahmend, who is at the scene of the attack stated that the perpetrators opened fire at law enforcement personnel and have invaded the inside of the stock exchange building.

No information was gathered on how many of the terrorists there were and if they got inside the building's grounds.

One of the people trapped inside, Yaqub Memon, a broker, revealed that he, along with several others, are gathered together inside their offices.

Heavily-armed special forces have responded to the scene and have circled the building found within the heart of the city's financial district. The area is also where the Pakistan State Bank is located along with the headquarters of multiple local and international financial establishments.

The terrorists came in armed with grenades and firearms and have had exchanges with police officers leading to the death of at least four assailants, as reported by Aljazeera.

The chief of Pakistan's leading rescue ambulance service, Faisal Edhi, has revealed that two terrorists were killed while they were at the gate. At the same time, the other two were injured during the exchange and took refuge inside the building but lost their lives shortly after.

The Sun reports that the gunmen killed at least four security guards and one police officer during the shootings.

Police officers claim that the terrorists were carrying sophisticated weaponry along with the bag of explosives that they used to attack the building.

Also Read: Russian Spy Unit Allegedly Paid Bounties to Taliban to Lethally Attack US Soldiers in Afghanistan

Witnesses report that the gunmen were seen to be wearing what seemed to be police uniforms as they began their assault on the stock exchange.

Imran Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan, has shared his condolences for the families of the officers and security guards that lost their lives in the attack.

Sharjeel Kharal, the Karachi deputy inspector general, was confident that the incident a terrorist attack and that there was no other explanation for it.

Local authorities recovered AK-47 rifles, hand grenades, ammunition, and other explosive materials from the bodies and equipment of the terrorists. The amount of equipment found suggests that the attackers were prepared for a drawn-out siege inside the building, police officers said.

Law enforcement has also revealed that all of the attackers involved with the group have been killed.

The director of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Abid Ali Habib, said that the assailants rushed into the front door where they threw explosives and started firing with their weapons.

Later on, the Balochistan Liberation Army announced they were responsible for the attack at the stock exchange. For years, the group had been calling out the need for independence across the southwestern Balochistan province which is rich in gas.

The governor of the province of Sindh, Imran Ismail, posted a message on Twitter saying they strongly opposed the attack and what it stood for. Ismail has called for the capture of the perpetrators and their handlers to ensure the safety of their home.

Related Article: India Clashes With China at Border, 20 Indian Soldier Killed, Beaten to Death

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
McAlester, OK (74501)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 79F. W winds shifting to NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 54F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
On Thursday, an announcement from the United States' National Security Agency has openly accused the Russian government of having hackers infiltrate email servers all around the world.

The statement suggests the increasing aggression that the US government has taken against the Kremlin as the presidential elections come closer.

Russian cyberattacks

According to The New York Times, Trump and his administration have previously tied Russia to cyberattacks including the 2016 election hack and in 2017, disabling Ukraine, causing severe damage to Maersk and FedEx operations.

The recent allegations have been unusually explicit with their accusations of Russia, singling the country's military intelligence unit, the GRU. The focus on the agency reveals the concern of intelligence agencies of Russia's alleged plans in interfering with the upcoming elections.

The claims also come at a time when Trump has remade his accusations that the investigation looking into the Kremlin's activities was a ruse by Democrats that planned to sabotage him.

The US president had openly criticized Russia's accountability in the hacking of the elections and suggested that he agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim that his country had advanced technology in cyber operations it would have avoided detection.

The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, said that the caution in calling out Russia for its actions had been mostly due to echoes of investigations. Dempsey added that for the NSA to accuse Russia, the agency must have concrete evidence.

Also Read: Coronavirus Goodwill: Russia Thanks PH for Saving Captain's Life

Russian military threat actors called the "Sandworm Team", the NSA says, had been exploiting a crucial weakness in the Exim mail transfer agent (MTA) starting from August 2019, as reported by Data Breaches.

The hole in the software allowed the hackers to utilize commands and produce their own code on compromised networks, said one NSA official. The agency considered the incident any hacker's dream access.

The Russian embassy located in Washington, however, did not reply to a request for comments on the incident.

Threats of counterattacks

The NSA, along with its sister agency, the United States Cyber Command, have ramped up efforts to identify and prevent interference from Russia since before the 2018 midterm elections.

The agencies have previously removed internet networks that were used to spread messages meant to divide. They have also cautioned of the increasing number of troll farms that aim to spread misinformation and several other operations that have not been revealed to the public.

The agencies also attempted to place malware in the electrical grid of the Russian nation to warn the country of the countermeasures that the United States is willing to take if Moscow continued its assault on the American grid.

America's retaliation against Russia seemed to have modest effects as the GRU continued its malicious attacks, even after the NSA pressured the Kremlin of its potential counterattacks.

On Thursday at a Cato Institute event, a lecturer at the US Naval Postgraduate School, Scott Jasper, the author of a new publication titled "Russian Cyber Operations," said that the actions Russia had taken implied that America's pressure on the Kremlin have not made their mark.

Related Article: Declassified Susan Rice Email Revealing Secrets Information About US, Russia Leaked

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Marietta, GA (30060)

Today

Partly cloudy in the morning followed by scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 83F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. Low 69F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
In June 2020, a meme was shared on Facebook suggesting that members and supports of the Black Lives Matter movement are tampering with white people's fast-food orders.

Is there truth behind the story?

The post is asking white people to be alert because a certain source told the white patron of a fast-food chain not to eat the food since there is a nationwide conspiracy that Black Lives Matter protesters and supporters who are working in the food industry tamper with the food of white customers.

However, it turns out that the post is not true. The site Snopes did a thorough investigation and they found out that the meme was an example of "copypasta" according to Dictionary.com. It is a block of text which is copied and pasted repeatedly by people over various online forums and social media sites.

The assumptions that the post makes are very problematic. The idea that there is a nationwide conspiracy to poison the food of white patrons is made up because if it is real it would have made national news and there should be multiple sources written about the said conspiracy.

The alleged conspiracy should have led to a public health crisis. But since no action has been done and there is no trusted source that confirms this, the meme is nothing but a baseless rumor with no concrete evidence offered.

Black Lives Matter is a movement for social justice and it is not a membership-based organization that aims to take revenge. The activists who support the Black Lives Matter movement seek social equality, institutional reforms, and the end of police brutality towards the Black community, they have no intention of harming white people.

Also Read: 3 NYPD Officers Fell Ill After Drinking Milkshake from Shake Shack, Cries Intentional Poisoning

Baseless rumors

This was not the first time that a false rumor about poisoned food circulated in the height of the Black Lives Matter movement. In early June, three New York police officers complained about tasting bleach on the milkshakes that they ordered from Shake Shack.

However, a police investigation found no criminal activity. According to CBS New York, the cleaning solution may not have been properly rinsed out of the milkshake machine, but the incident was certainly not intentional. The meme about Black Lives Matter supporters and protesters tampering with the food of white patrons may have come from this incident.

Days later, female police from Georgia was dubbed by the internet as "Officer Karen" after she posted a video of her crying because her Mcdonald's order was minutes late and expressed her fear that it may have been tampered with. It turns out that her order was late because there were a lot of orders that morning and only a few employees showed up due to the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing protest, according to The Daily News.

Police officers have a history of alleging food tampering. Last year, a police officer from Indianapolis accused an employee of McDonald's of tampering with his food by biting into his sandwich. This turned out false because the police officer just forgot that he was the one who ate the sandwich, stating that he got distracted while eating because he placed an anonymous phone call to a radio station, according to the Rolling Stones.

Also last year, a police officer from Kansas, claimed that an employee from McDonald's wrote the words "f*king pig" on his beverage cup, but only for it to be later revealed that he had written it himself.

Related Article: LAPD Horrified After Finding Tampon on His Starbucks Drink, Claims It's a 'Disgusting Assault'

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Analysis from the University of Surrey warns that the economies of countries such as the United Kingdom, America, and Germany should prepare for a long slow recovery with prolonged periods of instability in the wake on coronavirus pandemic.



The team from the University of Surrey's Centre for Understanding Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP) found that even before the Covid-19 crisis, many of the world's leading economies were experiencing larger slower growth cycles (recession cycles), suggesting precisely such a period of critical slowing down in the economic system.

The added weight of the coronavirus crisis may result in one of the weakest and most unstable recoveries in documented history for many economies.





Rates of growth across member states of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have been in decline since the 1970s, a phenomenon known as 'secular stagnation.'



The average growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita fell from over 4 percent in the mid-1960s to little more than 1 percent in the pre-pandemic years.



The International Monetary Fund expects global GDP to decline by 5 percent this year alone with a contraction of 3 percent likely even in the emerging and developing market economies.



"It's time to rethink and remake the economic models that have been failing us for decades. The challenge is enormous. But so is the prize. CSD theory suggests that a resilient, sustainable economic system that protects the health of people and planet is now within our grasp," Jackson noted.



The overall number of global COVID-19 cases crossed the 10 million mark on Sunday, with deaths nearing 500,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University.



The US accounted for the world's highest number of infections and fatalities, with 2,510,323 and 125,539, respectively, according to the CSSE.



Brazil came in second place with 1,313,667 infections and 57,070 deaths.



Source: IANS "Placing the economy on hold to prevent unfathomable human tragedy from the Covid-19 pandemic was the right decision. Trying to force our way back to economic growth now would be the wrong one. A post-growth world is the new normal," said Professor Tim Jackson, Director of CUSP at the University of Surrey in a paper published by Nature.Rates of growth across member states of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have been in decline since the 1970s, a phenomenon known as 'secular stagnation.'The average growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita fell from over 4 percent in the mid-1960s to little more than 1 percent in the pre-pandemic years.The International Monetary Fund expects global GDP to decline by 5 percent this year alone with a contraction of 3 percent likely even in the emerging and developing market economies."It's time to rethink and remake the economic models that have been failing us for decades. The challenge is enormous. But so is the prize. CSD theory suggests that a resilient, sustainable economic system that protects the health of people and planet is now within our grasp," Jackson noted.The overall number of global COVID-19 cases crossed the 10 million mark on Sunday, with deaths nearing 500,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University.The US accounted for the world's highest number of infections and fatalities, with 2,510,323 and 125,539, respectively, according to the CSSE.Brazil came in second place with 1,313,667 infections and 57,070 deaths.Source: IANS

The global economy is facing one of the largest downturns since the Great Depression in the 1930s.
In particular, they were able to identify subgroups of schizophrenia patients using the functional MRI data that they analysed.Previously, there was not a clear way to group schizophrenia in patients based on brain imaging alone, but the methods developed by UMBC researchers showed that there is a significant connection between a patient's brain activity and their diagnoses."The most exciting part is that we found out the identified subgroups possess clinical significance by looking at their diagnostic symptoms," explained Qunfang Long, a Ph.D. candidate at UMBC."This finding encouraged us to put more effort into the study of subtypes of patients with schizophrenia using neuroimaging data."Their work can assist in diagnosis and treatment of patients with mental illnesses that can be difficult to identify.It can also show medical practitioners whether the current treatments have or have not been working based on image groupings."Now that data-driven methods have gained popularity, a big challenge has been capturing the variability for each subject while simultaneously performing analysis on fMRI datasets from a large number of subjects," said Tulay Adali, Professor at UMBC."Now we can perform this analysis effectively, and can identify meaningful groupings of subjects," Adali said.Source: IANS
Sushant Singh Rajput is no more and its still not easy to wrap our heads around this tragedy. His journey from a middle class to becoming a star inspired many actors who are trying to make their space. When he died by suicide, his family and fans were left devastated. His family gave him the final farewell on Saturday which was the 13th day of his demise. After that, Nana Patekar visited his house to offer condolences.

 MensXP

Patekar, who was in Bihar to take part in a cultural function of CRPF at Mokamah, met the late actors father KK Singh at Sushants Rajiv Nagar home in Patna. Nana paid tribute to Sushant by laying flowers next to his framed photograph and the pictures and videos of Nana Patekar visiting the late actors family are doing the rounds on the internet.



After meeting the CRPF jawans. ACTOR Nana Patekar visit the Sushant Singh Rajput Home Rajeev Nagar In Patna...

Thanks Nana Patekar #CBIEnquiryForSSR #NanaPatekar sir #sunny sir#JusticeForSushantSinghRajput pic.twitter.com/12RSXjJAzr  Kangana Ranaut team (@Kangana_teams) June 29, 2020

People are appreciating Nana Patekar for his noble gesture and are calling him a genuine soul for paying tributes to Sushant.

Respect for some humans like #NanaPatekar only rises multifold. He visits #SushantSingRajput residence in Patna ,meets his father and pays homage. pic.twitter.com/yTv6Lyryx7  Sahil Rathi (@sahilrathi1196) June 29, 2020

#NanaPatekar visited #SSR house in Patna to pay homage.

Om Shanti

The first man frm the industry made his visit to Sushant's house..

The real actor indeed always raise his hands in favour of the army too..

@BajpayeeManoj pic.twitter.com/cgDbvSdxH0    (@saurabh_8000) June 28, 2020

This is what makes people great.#NanaPatekar visited #SushantSingRajput's family in patna.A great actor came to give his condolence to his family...Now my respect for #NanaPatekar has tremendously increased.He didn't fake like other people of bollywood by just tweeting #RIP pic.twitter.com/2Vn8XW7Fe9  Aman Raj (@me_amanraj) June 29, 2020

Many people were shocked to hear about Untimely death of Sushant Singh Rajput & many celebs tweeted grief and showed regret but Only #NanaPatekar Sir visited his Home and gave condolences to his family ...

We need people like #NanaPatekar #humanitarianism #JusticeForSushant pic.twitter.com/L4UEPEWTsC  Rayan Rego (@RegoRayan) June 29, 2020

A big clapp for #NanaPatekar for going to #ssr home he is a true human A big shame to #tanushreedutta jisne un par #metoo ka ellegation lagaya tha  Komal (@KomalPorwal7) June 29, 2020

On Saturday, Sushants family released an emotional statement which read as, The world's Sushant Singh Rajput was simply Gulshan to us...He was free-spirited, talkative and incredibly bright. He was curious about just everything. He dreamed without restraints and chased those dreams with the heart of a lion. He smiled generously. He was the pride and inspiration of the family. His telescope was his most prized possession, through which he fondly gazed at the stars...We can't bring ourselves to accept that we wouldn't get to hear his easy laughs anymore. That we wouldn't see his sparkling eyes again. That we wouldn't hear his endless rants about science again. His loss has created a permanent, glaring void in the family that will never be filled.

 Sushant Singh Rajputs Family

His Patna house will be turned into a memorial and his family will put all his personal belongings, which include his books, telescope, flight-simulator, for his fans and followers. The family also intends to manage his Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook pages to keep his memories alive. Its sad to say that we have lost a gem. While the police are investigating the case, people on social media are asking for a CBI inquiry for the actor. Well, the mystery around his death will solve with time and till then, lets pray for the departed soul



RIP, Sushant Singh Rajput!
Imagine waking up one morning and visiting the doctor, and being told that your life, as you knew it, wasnt exactly what you knew it to be. Imagine being born and raised as a woman only for a couple of doctors to tell you that actually, your parents and all your doctors that you had visited before in your life, who told you you were a woman, got everything about you wrong, and that in fact, you were a man.



 Pexels

Caption: Representational Image



A 30-year-old woman in Kolkata went through something similar when one day, she visited the doctors for terrible abdominal pain. The doctors carried out some routine tests and actually discovered that the woman in question who, was married for the last 9 years, has a blind vagina, and was actually a man, who was suffering from testicular cancer.

The woman, a resident of Birbhum in Kolkata, is diagnosed to be suffering from Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, a rare disease which affects 22,000 people. However, the extent to which the woman in question is suffering is a very rare incident, and something most medical professionals dont get to see often.

 iStock

Caption: Representational Image



Blind Vaginas or dead-end vaginas, are referred to the female reproductive parts which do no connect to the internal reproductive system inside the body, namely, the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. This is a birth defect that many women have, and no, suffering from this, does not mean that they have male genitalia on the inside. Vaginas can be blocked for a number of natural reasons.

"From her appearance, she is a woman - starting from her voice, developed breasts, normal external genitalia. However, the uterus and ovaries have been absent since birth. She has also never experienced menstruation," Dr Anupam Dutta, told PTI.

The doctors had this bizarre finding after most of their routine tests were inconclusive. Finally, they discovered that instead of a pair of ovaries and uterus, the woman had a pair of testicles. Further tests and inspection revealed that the woman was suffering from testicular cancer, or seminoma, the actual medical term. The woman is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

 iStock

Caption: Representational Image



Because the testicles were inside the body, they couldnt develop the way they were supposed to. As a result, they did not produce testosterone. In its absence, the estrogen in her body gave her the appearance of a woman.

 iStock

Caption: Representational Image



Diagnoses of such gravitas often cause a lot of upheavals. The doctors are now counselling, both, the woman, and her husband so that they are able to lead on with their normal lives.

 iStock

Caption: Representational Image



The most probable reason for this anomaly is genetics, her doctors believe. While going through the familys medical history, they also discovered that two of the patients maternal aunts had also been diagnosed with Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome in the past.
I've said this a million times before and I'm saying it again - Sikh people always come through, and this time with a drive-thru. Whenever there's any group of people who need help, be it a natural disaster, or a protest with people fighting for their rights, the Sikh community always contributes in an impactful way and we can't help but applaud the efforts.

 ANI/Twitter

Recently, a group of about 25 Sikh volunteers has distributed more than 2,100 food packages in just seven weeks. And that too by coming up with an innovative upgrade to the traditional langar sewa. Turning the parking lot into a drive-thru distribution zone, they have helped feed over 300 families through the Guru Nanak Foundation of America Gurudwara in Silver Spring, in Washington DC.

During the pandemic, a lot of people line up in their cars every Sunday morning to receive donated food items like fresh produce and packaged food. Talking about the positive and optimistic atmosphere of the entire thing, volunteers explained how people collect a week's worth of food items they need to survive.

 ANI/Twitter

Showing gratitude to the amazing work done by the Sikh community, a lady who had lined up to collect the food said, "I am just so grateful that you are helping the community. When you come here to get something, it is not like anything below your dignity, but it is looking forward to something that you can appreciate."

Ginny Ahluwalia, Representative of the Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee of the Guru Nanak Foundation of America, said, "That smile on the face I think that says it all and I think, more than them, it is us that are grateful that we have been able to carry out this food drive."

 ANI/Twitter

Thanking the people who have volunteered to package and distribute food and all the people who've donated, Ginny added, "By God's grace, we have been successfully doing this for the seventh week. We have not had any shortage."

This is how you create a positive impact in the world, and we don't even know how appreciative these families must be to this incredible food drive who probably helped them more than we can realize during such tough times.

 ANI/Twitter

It's a lesson for all of us and one day we can only hope to be as giving as these people.
The reported Russian bounty on US troops was denied by President Trump, and he dared the newspaper to reveal its source.

An attempt at framing President Donald Trump in another fiasco has taken place. Allegedly, it was briefed to him that Russian were paying bounty for all American troop killed by Taliban fighters, reported in Al Jazeera.

The New York Times claim that bounties were given for any US soldier killed by the Taliban.

On Twitter, Trump was furious and claimed he had no firsthand knowledge about it. Mentioning VP Mike Pence of Mark Meadows of the Trump Administration.

He wrote that there has been no attack on US troop, and denying anything like it is happening there. The Washington Post on Sunday said that bounties caused casualties amongst US troops.

"Everybody is denying it there have not been many attacks on us," he wrote, despite a Washington Post follow up report on Sunday saying that the bounties resulted in the deaths of American troops.

On Sunday, President Trump wrote:"Intel checked the source and deemed the info not credible, so it was passed over and not reported to me or the @VP."

Last Friday, the New York Times made a report that US intel revealed a Russian military intelligence unit was active. Its activities include assassination of American troops or their coalition cohorts, and giving rewards per head. Armed fighter were thought to have been paid for their kills already.

After the initial report, The Washington Post had another report published that verified the bounty on US troops. Officials in the intelligence community and several other sources were also verified in the Associated Press.

Also read: Republicans to Prohibit Police from Using Chokeholds in a Proposed Bill

The Kremlin said that the media bounty reports are all lies, vehemently denying that Russians are willing to pay the Taliban to kill US troops in Afghanistan.

When the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked about these reports in press brief, he strongly stressed that newspapers should stop rumor mongering, and listen that President Trump is telling the media the facts. He further stress that Trump and Vladimir Putin never bothered to consider such outlandish stories fed to media.

The report is spurious, Used against Trump

Both the White House and the Director of National Intelligence were unanimous in saying the report last Saturday was unreliable and unverified. The Russians denied it and ignored the report.

Last Sunday, the New York Times published another report which claims that US Intel and special ops in Afghanistan are aware of Russian bounties noting that officers are informed of the plot.

The issues has been used by Biden to make some statement directed at Trump, despite the reports as officially unverified.

Nancy Pelosi, the House of Representatives Speaker, one of the eight who get the intel briefings oftenly. She was not aware of it and asked for a briefing.

Immediately, Pelosi cited the report and accused Trump of ignoring the evidence. She added that it is more proof of accommodating Putin.

Pelosi mentioned the support for Putin with reduced US presence in NATO, a reduction of US forces in Germany, and lastly, getting Russia into the G8.

Both Pelosi and House Intelligence chairman Adam Schiff asked why was he not told of the bounty offered.

For President Donald Trump, the bounty for US troops is another issue to diminish his administration.

Related article: President Trump Touts a 17-Times More Powerful 'Super Duper Missile'

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Baba Ramdev and four others. This is a development after Baba Ramdev announced a line of medicines that claim to be the cure for Coronavirus. The FIR has been filed for allegedly conspiring to sell fake Ayurveda medicine with misleading claims following clinical trials on a few patients.

 Reuters

Other than Baba Ramdev, two associates along with 2 officials of the National Institute of Medical Sciences, where his Patanjali Research Institute conducted a clinical trial on Covid-19 patients are also listed in the FIR. The FIR also goes on to suggest that the claim had been made without getting the Union AYUSH Ministry's approval.



 Reuters

The FIR, filed by advocate Balbir Jakhar on Friday, has named Baba Ramdev, Patanjali CEO Acharya Balkrishna, Patanjali scientist Anurag Varshney, NIMS chairman Balbir Singh Tomar, and NIMS director Anurag Tomar. The complainant has alleged that they have misled people by claiming that they have found a cure for Covid-19 in their formulation Coronil, added Sudhir Kumar Upadhyay, station officer of Jyoti Nagar police station.



 Reuters

The five people were booked under Section 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code and Sections 4 and 7 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. No arrests have been made in the case so far.



NIMS had previously claimed that a study was, in fact, done on behalf of Patanjali Research Institute, Haridwar. The study focused on the impact of Ayurvedic treatment on the COVID-19 virus. Post the completion of the study, Patanjali had made claims that they found an ayurvedic cure called Coronil for treating coronavirus symptoms. NIMS claimed that the medicine cured 100% of the patients who were at the receiving end of the Ayurvedic cure.

 Reuters

However, post the clinical trial of Coronil was announced, the Rajasthan health department had questioned NIMS on why they hadn't informed the authority about the trial since it was a government facility to begin with. NIMS did not reply to the query.



Now, a lawyer has filed a PIL seeking a blanket ban on Patanjali's Coronil until it gets formal approvals. The Union AYUSH Ministry has also sought details on 'Coronil' and asked Patanjali Ayurveda to stop advertising for now.
There's been a lot of tech controversies over the years that made people burst out with anger and straight-up boycott the products. We've seen it a lot of times in the past and we're witnessing something similar right now.

In case you don't know, here's a quick list of the biggest tech boycotts we've seen over the years:

1. Boycott Facebook

 Facebook

Back in 2018, Facebook was in a lot of trouble for the scandal involving Cambridge Analytica. It was one of the biggest data breaches we had ever seen, affecting millions of users across the globe.



It sparked the conversation about privacy and data breach, but it came at a huge cost. People across the globe started boycotting Facebook by deleting their accounts and uninstalling the app.

A lot of people still don't use Facebook, but the dust seems to have settled since then. That being said, it'll go as one of the biggest tech boycotts we've seen.

2. Boycott Chinese Products

 Xiaomi

A lot of Indians are currently protesting against the use of Chinese products due to the on-going border tensions between the two countries.



When it comes to boycotting Chinese products, there are a lot of devices here like smartphones, TVs, appliances, and other peripherals. It's not as easy as it sounds, but the movement is going strong none the less.

3. Boycott Snapchat

 Reuters

There was a time when Snapchat was in the middle of an unavoidable controversy back in 2017 when CEO Evan Spiegel mentioned 'poor India' in one of his comments. It was definitely not a good look for the company.



But a lot of people misunderstood the company name and started uninstalling 'Snapdeal' instead of Snapchat.

4. Boycott Microsoft Excel

Similarly, an outrage over anti-Hindu detergent ad found a new target in Microsft Excel. Instead of raging against Surf Excel, people weirdly started uninstalling Microsoft Excel app from their phones. The same trended on Twitter too.
It's no secret that there are on-going border tensions between India and China. This has led to a lot of chaos in the country and a lot of people have come forward to show their support by boycotting Chinese products. Amidst all this, the Indian government has decided to take an unprecedented step to ban 59 Chinese apps.

Yes, you read that right. A total of 59 Chinese apps have been banned in India, including TikTok. This list of apps with their origin in China includes some other popular apps like SHAREit, Helo, Mi Community, Xender, Clean Master, and more.

#WATCH India wants peace but when instigated, India is capable of giving a befitting reply, be it any kind of situation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/rJc0STCwBM  ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2020

The order has been issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and it states that these apps that have been banned by the Government of India "are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.

Here's the complete list -

 Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

You can also read the official government statement right here -



BREAKING: Full statement from the Indian Govts Ministry of Electronics & IT. Statement says the apps are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order. pic.twitter.com/AJLdfZ9ipP  Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) June 29, 2020

We're closely following the updates regarding this and will be updating here with more info as and when it is made available. But for now, it looks like we can't use these apps and it's time to find some alternatives.
Meridian, MS (39302)

Today

Showers early then scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. High around 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 69F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
NASA is looking for someone who can help them design a toilet that can be used on the moon. The agency is offering up to $35,000 to whoever can come up with an idea.

Special toilet

NASA has announced that they want to send humans to the moon again, and their goal will be met by 2024. Since astronauts will have to use the toilet during their moon mission, NASA is looking for a special toilet that will work in space.

NASA will need a toilet that will work both in space and once they land on the moon. There is zero gravity in space and the gravity on the moon is sixth of Earth's gravity, so the toilet must be good enough to adjust on both.

The design guidelines were posted by HeroX and NASA, and the space agency is encouraging anyone to develop the much-needed space toilet that meets the criteria. The first female astronaut to travel to the moon will be included in the mission. so the toilets should be able to accommodate both men and women, according to CNN.

Bonus points will be given to anyone who can design a toilet that can capture vomit without the crew members having to put their heads in.

According to the guidelines, the toilets should be able to support the crew members for 14 days and it should also be able to transfer the waste to storage and dispose of it properly outside the vehicle.

The toilet design should help conserve water and it should also prevent odors and other contaminants from spreading.

Also Read: New Simulations Suggest We Are Not Alone, Earth-Like Planets May Hold Life

The space toilets should be easy to maintain and easy to clean. There should also be a turnaround time of five minutes or less before another crew member can use it. The power used should be 70 watts or less and it should make less noise.

The space toilets should weigh less than 33 pounds and it should be less than 12 cubic meters in volume. It will be weighed and measured on Earth to see if it is suitable for space because the area in the vehicle will be limited for it.

The grand prize is $20,000, the second-place winner will get $10,000 and the third-place winner will get $5,000. The deadline for submitting the designs is August 17 and the winners will be announced in October 2020.

Moon mission on 2024

Back in May 2019, NASA announced that they would go back to the moon and the program is named Artemis.

The first mission of NASA, Artemis 1, will be a flight test of the Space Launch System or SLS megarocket and the Orion crew capsule. If the Artemis 1 mission goes well, Artemis will carry humans to the moon. Artemis 1 will launch this November 2020, as reported by SpaceNews.

On March 26, 2019, Vice President Mike Pence announced that NASA's goal of returning humans to the moon by 2028 was not good enough and it should be done by 2024. He made the remarks at the meeting of the National Space Council in Huntsville, Alabama.

Related Article: NASA Launches First-Ever Interplanetary Helicopter to Help Explore the Red Planet

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
M-30 flooding repairs in Midland and Gladwin counties begin June 29

M-30 flooding repairs in Midland and Gladwin counties begin June 29

Jocelyn Hall, MDOT Office of Communications, 989-245-7117 Transportation

Fast facts:

- MDOT will administer an emergency debris removal contract to address the locations of two M-30 trunkline bridges damaged during the May flooding event.

- Fisher Contracting has been awarded the emergency bid at $1.2 million and will begin work Monday, June 29.

- Following debris removal, MDOT will move on to additional emergency contracts to address repairs to the M-30 structures over the Tittabawassee River and the Tobacco River.

June 26, 2020 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has awarded an emergency contract to begin debris removal at two bridge locations on M-30 in Midland and Gladwin counties, following a historic flooding event in May.

M-30 structures over the Tittabawassee River in northern Midland County and over the Tobacco River in Gladwin County were both impacted by flooding. Midland-based Fisher Contracting was awarded the bid at $1.2 million and is expected to begin work Monday, June 29. Debris removal is expected to finish by July 22.

M-30 over the Tittabawassee River

The contractor will use a barge to remove existing debris and trees blocking the bridge piers.

Following debris removal, inspection of the existing piers will be completed and a maintenance plan established.

MDOT plans to administer an emergency contract to address required maintenance for the bridge and bridge approach, following complete review of the existing structure and determining repair options.

M-30 over the Tobacco River

The contractor will remove existing debris, including remaining pieces of the original causeway bridge washed away during the flood.

Following debris removal, inspection of the existing channel will begin and soil borings collected.

MDOT is currently working with temporary bridging solution vendors to determine an appropriate temporary bridge structure that will remain in place for several years while permanent bridge plans are established.

Following debris removal, MDOT will administer an emergency contract to begin construction of a temporary bridge at M-30 over the Tobacco River.

Photo 1: Debris removal at M-30 over the Tittabawassee River is expected to begin Monday, June 29, and will allow crews to begin necessary repairs of the existing bridge piers currently blocked by trees and other debris.

Photo 2: M-30 at the Tittabawassee River will also require inspection of the existing bridge approach, which will be rebuilt following inspections.
HURON COUNTY  It was a big night for women at the Thumb Sportsmans Club in Bad Axe last week, when approximately 80 women got together for Ladys Night on the Range, an annual event.

The Diva Den owner Jami Chiotti helped organize this years event, with help from the team at Randys Hunting Center. According to Chiotti, this was the third year ladys night has taken place.

It was busy, Chiotti said. I only put eight rounds in my gun. I usually go through 15 to 20. I was busy helping the other ladies.

Randys owner Randy Brown was very pleased with the turn out. He said they typically only get about 20 women out there. This rise aligns with increasing gun sales throughout the state.

We have sold about 1,000 guns every week since this has started, Brown said. We are averaging about 100 internet sales this year.

Brown said his store is in a great position. He feels lucky to have the inventory to sell, because others are running low during these times.

On March 23, 2020 Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-21, ordering all people in Michigan to Stay Home and Stay Safe. It required workers who were not necessary to sustain or protect life to stay home.

Brown believes his business sustains and protects life, calling firearms essential.

There are lots of products going out right now for people who are scared, he said.

Brown talked about inner-city residents, who have never even seen a gun before, who are now buying them for protection.

They always had the option of calling 911, Brown said, referencing riots occurring throughout the country against police brutality. Now, the police arent coming.

Brown believes this was the reason the annual ladies night saw such a great turnout. People want to protect themselves and their families.

"We had ladies from as far out as Port Huron," Brown said. "It was amazing."

He said his team and members of the club were prepared to make ladies night more successful than ever.

Kevin (Brown) applied with the NRA, Chiotti said. They supplied the guns and ammunition. I thank the NRA for the grant. They are phenomenal. Without them, we would have never done it.

While Chiotti was rounding up any ladies interested in learning firearm familiarization and safety, Kevin rounded up the guns, safety gear, ammunition and instructors.

The instructors were Thumb Sportsman Club members, Chiotti said. They donate their time to help once a month.

On the last Wednesday of every month, from 6 to 8 p.m., ladies are invited out to the range to shoot, learn about guns, or just get comfortable. There is no need to bring a handgun, rounds, or safety equipment. These will be provided.

It is open to any woman who wants to feel more comfortable, Chiotti said. It is a right that every woman has. It is empowering to know how to use a gun. More women are looking for that option. We are lucky to have the opportunity.

Thumb Sportsmans Club is located at 1121 Minnick Road in Bad Axe. Its phone number is 989-269-9026.
More than 46,000 Connecticut properties are greater risk of flooding than current federal estimates suggest, according to a new study, with Bridgeport having the largest number of exposed properties statewide at more than 5,800 in all, and Old Greenwich and Cos Cob having the highest proportion of any neighborhood at more than 30 percent of homes combined.

The nonprofit First Street Foundation analyzed properties nationally, calculating new risks of flooding using revised models for rising sea levels and hurricane activitiy developed in conjunction with researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University and Rutgers University among other think tanks.

First Street estimates that 10.3 percent of U.S. properties are at risk of a major flood once a century, with 2.6 percent at risk of flooding once every five years. The report flags Florida and Louisiana as coming under intensified risk in the coming years, due to ongoing coastal development in Florida and levees protecting Louisiana neighborhoods that are not designed to withstand floodwaters at current projected levels.

The most recent flood zone maps published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency place about 60,400 Connecticut properties within areas at risk of a catastrophic flooding event, with First Street indicating the model used by its own researchers puts the number above 107,000 properties.

I think the issues raised about the inadequacy of the FEMA maps is accurate, stated Jim ODonnell, a University of Connecticut professor and executive director of the Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation research center, in an email response to a query about Connecticuts risks. The main point, that we should be more careful in assessing flood risk, is good.

Over the past two decades, just over 45,000 Connecticut property owners have filed claims for flood damage through the National Flood Insurance Program or the Individual Assistance Program, about a third of them in the wake of 2012s Hurricane Sandy. And more than 8,150 homeowners sought remuneration on the heels of Irene the year before.

Homeowners in Milford appear to have the longest memories from the two events, with the city leading Connecticut for National Flood Insurance Program policies in force as of February, approaching 2,800 insurance policies. Fairfield and Stamford had the next highest numbers with more than 2,100 policies each, with Norwalk at close to 2,000 and Stratford at about 1,700.

Last year, Gov. Ned Lamont reinvigorated a Governors Council on Climate Change created five years ago by his predecessor Dannel P. Malloy. The councils working groups having continued their planning via Zoom web conferences during the coronavirus pandemic, including one that is analyzing varying finance mechanisms that can support greater community resiliency after flooding, particularly flood insurance for communities where fewer property owners are purchasing it.

More and more people are under-insured and uninsured  its billions of dollars that are at risk every year, said George Bradner, director of the property and casualty division of the Connecticut Insurance Department, speaking in mid-June on a web conference for the finance working group.

Old Greenwich and neighboring Cos Cob are at the greatest risk of flooding calculated as a percentage of all properties in the Greenwich districts, combining for about 30 percent of all properties or more than 1,350 properties in all.

Other communities with flood risks ranging between 20 percent and 30 percent of all properties include Branford center, East Haven, Westport, Darien, Norwalk and Bridgeport. Hartford has the greatest exposure of municipalities located inland from Long Island Sound, at 19 percent of properties within the citys borders.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
MIDDLETOWN  Tom Byrne, president of Connecticut Rental Centers, was elected Chairman of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce.

Byrne will serve a one-year term, which began June 18. He takes over for Don DeVivo, president and CEO of DATTCO. Byrne was selected to serve as chairman by the Board of Directors, according to a press release.

Our greatest strength is our membership and together we will continue to overcome todays challenges to become stronger in the future, Byrne said in a prepared statement.

Byrne was born and raised in the Middletown area. He started working at his fathers rental business (then Taylor Rental Center in Portland), sweeping floors and washing equipment on the weekends, the release said. He m graduated from Xavier High School in 1980 and went on to get his degree in economics from Stonehill College in 1985.

Throughout high school and college, Byrne worked summers for his father servicing equipment, washing dishes and installing tents. After graduating from college, he learned the ropes of how to run a business from his father. That same year, Taylor Rental of Middletown became Connecticut Rental Center.

In 1986, Byrne married Dawn Mancarella of Middletown and they had three children, Meaghan, Garrett and Riley, according to the chamber. They have one grandchild, Deveny. In 2011, his father retired, and Byrne became president and owner of Connecticut Rental Center.

His wife came into the business as vice president, his son Garrett as general manager, and his son Riley as assistant manager.

His father Bob Byrne, a past chairman and Distinguished Award Winner, always told him how important it was to support and to be a part of the community to have a successful business, the release added.

In 1985 and 1986, Tom Byrne chaired the Middlesex Expo for the chamber and was chairman of the Central Business Bureau between 2015 and 2019. He served on the Board of Directors for many years and the Executive Board for several years.

In 2013, Byrne received the St. Francis Xavier Award from Xavier High School. That same year, he and Connecticut Rental Center were honored at the Middletown Mayors Ball with the Corporate Citizenship Award.

In 2014, Connecticut Rental Center was awarded the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year (1-30 Employees) award. In 2017, the store received the American Rental Associations Image Award for a commitment to improve the rental industry through a remodeling, rebuilding, or renovation project.

On April 25, 2019, Connecticut Rental Center celebrated 50 years in business and former mayor Dan Drew proclaimed it Connecticut Rental Center day in Middletown.

Byrne also received the Al Award for Volunteerism from the chamber, and his company received the Distinguished Business Award from St. Vincent DePaul of Middletown in 2019.




--The new grim milestone reached faster than expected has proved that the global epidemic situation remains grave and that the international community should keep vigilant and join hands to fight harder.

-- The Americas are a cause for concern. The United States has by far ranked first on the CSSE global tally, with more than 2.5 million confirmed cases and over 125,000 deaths nationwide.

-- Many European and Asian countries have witnessed reassuring signs of the pandemic fight at home and gradually started easing restrictions and reopening their economies with precautions.

A medical worker takes a swab sample at a COVID-19 drive-thru testing site in Washington D.C., the United States, May 19, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Global confirmed COVID-19 cases topped 10 million on Sunday, with nearly 500,000 deaths worldwide, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

The new grim milestone, reached faster than expected, has proved that the global epidemic is grave and that the international community should remain vigilant.

Furthermore, as the sweeping pandemic is causing a deep economic contraction, world leaders and experts have stressed the urgency of strengthened coordination to jumpstart a global economic recovery.

GRAVE EPIDEMIC

The momentum of infections worldwide has been accelerating over the past month -- while it took eight days for the global tally to increase from 6 million to 7 million in early June, it only took six days this time for the number to reach 10 million from 9 million.

The Americas are a cause for concern. The United States has by far ranked first on the CSSE global tally, with more than 2.5 million confirmed cases and over 125,000 deaths nationwide.

Medical workers transport a patient at George Washington University Hospital in Washington D.C., the United States, on April 27, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

Robert Redfield, chief of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Thursday the number of people in the United States who have been infected is likely to be 10 times higher than reported.

"We are facing a serious problem in certain areas," Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Friday.

Due to rising cases and growing concern about the virus's spread across the country, 12 U.S. states have rolled back or paused reopening plans, according to a tally by CNN on Saturday.

Although a few states are meeting the benchmarks that experts recommend to lift restrictions, "most never fully controlled their outbreaks, instead forging ahead with reopening," Correspondent German Lopez wrote in a story posted by news website Vox on Saturday. "A mix of carelessness and partisanship is to blame."

Meanwhile, the situation is not at all ebbing in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean. Brazil, the second hardest-hit in the world, has registered 1,313,667 confirmed cases and 57,070 deaths by Saturday.

Peru, with the second largest caseload in Latin America, hosts the sixth-highest number of infections in the world. Its caseload has reached 275,989 with 9,135 deaths by Saturday.

Chile and Mexico are also among the countries with high infections in the region.

Paramedics take part in a parade to commemorate medical personnel who lost their lives in the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico City, Mexico, May 30, 2020. (Photo by Sunny Quintero/Xinhua)

"I would characterize the situation in the Americas in general, and in Central and Latin America as still evolving and not having reached its peak yet, and likely to result in a sustained number of cases and continued deaths in the coming weeks," said Michael Ryan, executive director of World Health Organization Health Emergencies Program on Wednesday.

SILVER LININGS

Still, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Many European and Asian countries have witnessed reassuring signs of the pandemic fight at home and gradually started easing restrictions and reopening their economies with precautions.

Italy, once the epicenter of COVID-19 in Europe, recorded 175 fresh confirmed cases and eight new deaths on Saturday, down from 259 and 30, respectively, on Friday.

The Italian central government and the Conference of Regions, which comprises governors of all the 20 regions and autonomous provinces, agreed on Friday that schools across the country will reopen for remedial classes on Sept. 1.

In France, cafes, restaurants and bars throughout the country are reopening, along with swimming pools, museums, libraries, schools and cinemas. The Eiffel Tower, France's landmark monument, also reopened on Thursday with strict virus restrictions.

People queue to visit the Eiffel Tower on its reopening day in Paris, France, June 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

The country is launching a "large scale" testing campaign to identify any "dormant clusters" and to get ready for a potential resurgence of the epidemic, Health Minister Olivier Veran said Thursday.

Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said Thursday he saw a light of hope in the messages he received from health ministers in Europe that more and more people were being socially responsible and "adhering to physical distancing and wearing facial masks."

Furthermore, Asian countries with a flattened curve of infected cases, such as Sri Lanka and the Philippines, are also gradually loosening the grip to give their severely affected businesses and people a chance to relax and revive.

With the spread of the virus at home basically under control, China is now steadily reviving its economy while continuing adopting strict anti-epidemic measures.

Currently, over 10,000 A-level tourist attractions in the country have reopened to the public, said the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, adding the number of tourists is limited to 30 percent of the maximum visitor capacities during holidays.

China has also been actively contributing to the global anti-epidemic fight and the building of a community of health for all in a bid to bolster global health. Apart from donating much-needed medical supplies, dispatching teams of medical experts and sharing epidemic information via video conferences, it has also been racing against time to find an effective COVID-19 vaccine, which it announced will be made a public good for all when available.

WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan said Friday at least four Chinese companies are moving from phase two to phase three trails for vaccine candidates, and the WHO is in the process of signing confidentiality agreements with them.

STRENGTHENED COOPERATION

"Vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics are vital tools -- but to be truly effective they must be administered with another essential ingredient, which is solidarity," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Friday.

Calling the COVID-19 pandemic the latest wake-up call "heard by everybody," David A. Chikvaidze, chef de cabinet to the director-general of the United Nations Office at Geneva, told Xinhua that a common reaction from many countries would be that they need to work together.

During the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 held on June 17 via video link, Chinese President Xi Jinping called solidarity and cooperation "the most powerful weapon" against COVID-19.

And such calls have extended to the realm of world economy, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday revised down its forecast for the global economy amid mounting COVID-19 fallout, warning of record debt levels in both advanced and emerging markets and developing economies.

Global output is projected to decline by 4.9 percent in 2020, 1.9 percentage points below the IMF's April forecast, followed by a growth at 5.4 percent in 2021.

Stressing that this is a crisis like no other, the IMF said in a report "strong multilateral cooperation remains essential on multiple fronts," adding "policymakers must cooperate to resolve trade and technology tensions that endanger an eventual recovery from the COVID-19 crisis."

In a statement of the 36th ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit released Saturday, ASEAN leaders announced the establishment of the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, and noted that free trade agreements and comprehensive economic partnership agreements are important in contributing to the post-pandemic recovery and in creating resilient supply chains.

"We are calling for countries to address the economic grievances that are behind the tension that we see, to address the gaps in the multilateral rules-based trading system, to adapt it to the changing global economy," Malhar Nabar, division chief of the World Economic Studies Division in the IMF's Research Department, told Xinhua.
Woman says local ice cream parlor discriminated against her kids over make-shift facemasks, creamery says its the law
PORTLAND  A local mothers support group said it has disbanded due to lack of support from the international organization, which declined to post a photo of members pledging to stop racial intolerance.

Members of the MOMS Club of Portland and Middletown said they are standing in support of the Rancho Santa Margarita branch, which posted an image of families holding up signs on its Facebook page, with a message that said: We. Stand. With. All. Moms. And. Pledge. That. Racial. Discrimination. Will. Stop. With. Our. Kids.

The International organization, run by President Mary B. James, declined to post the image, saying the group is a nonprofit organization and does not share things of a political nature.

Former local MOMS secretaries Cristina Hayden, of Middletown, and Melissa Kelly, also last years president; and former co-president Amy Crafa, both of Portland, all stepped down last week.

Similar actions are being taken across the country, Kelley said. Theyre losing a lot of members.

Its like people are aware now of whats going on, and the systemic racism thats profound throughout our society. I feel that International should have been able to share that post (of the image), said Hayden, who said she joined the group because she was looking for a support system when she had her first child in 2017.

We check ourselves to know the different biases that we have, and how we want to make sure our kids dont share those or it doesnt continue on, she said.

Crafa said standing up for equality is very important to her family. I dont have any desire to be affiliated with a company thats not for that, or is not willing to say they support all moms and equality, she said.

An unnamed representative of MOMS Club International, based in California, said by email that its nonprofit status prohibits them from engaging in sharing anything that could be deemed political. If theyre disbanding their chapter because the MOMS Club declined to put a specific poster on our media, thats their decision, but we could not post it for several reasons.

The poster sends mixed messages, MOMS Club International said in the email. There were members that complained the poster was actually saying that the mothers in it were racists. Obviously, thats not something we would ever want to spread, and does not conform with our inclusivity.

Unfortunately, situations with the police and racism in general have been politicized by others outside the MOMS Club. Any statement we make could be considered political because of that, the emailed statement said.

A change.org petition, calling for James to resign, has been signed by 3,073 people across the country.

Local club

Molly Salafia of Middletown said she joined the group to meet people of all backgrounds. The international club wont take a stand on racism, and it speaks volumes. What will happen if a same-sex couple, male or female wants to join? A grandparent raising a child? How do you define a mom? she said.

Salafia said she wants to be a part of an inclusive club. I hope we can regroup in the future under a better umbrella organization thats true to who we really have been all along.

Kelley said the incident began when she noticed the June 16 post about the image and alerted the Portland group. She emailed the parent group that day to get all sides of it.

Within the week, the majority of local MOMS club members voted to disband. A few abstained, and one other said she was interested in continuing the local chapter.

If the one member who vote to stay does not take over, then our chapter ceases to exist, Kelley said.

Crafa said she first joined MOMS after moving to Portland in hopes of connecting with local families for play dates and meeting new people. She was also enthused because the branch did a lot of charity work.

Having never been a mom before, I didnt know what I was doing. I didnt know what to expect, and I was in that newborn haze, so finding this community of women who support each other was really important, Hayden said.

Laurel Steinhauser of Portland said any group unwilling to call itself anti-racist is not one shes willing to be a member of.

She said she is disappointed, disgusted, really to hear about the International MOMS Club refusal to share another chapters beautiful image taking a stand against racism.

The organizations unwillingness to support members in taking a stand against racism is a statement of your unwillingness to lift up and support [Black/Indigenous/People of Color] moms and children, she said.

One advantage of MOMS is its nonprofit status allowed members to raise money for various projects, such as a car care clinic that taught them how to repair various things, Hayden said.

They took each and every woman we had that night. We went through cars start to finish. There were women with flat tires, who had no oil  who knew nothing about cars. We were able to do things like that, because we can raise money, and we know where its going, she added.

They also spent a night learning womens self-defense techniques.

The chapter also frequently held moms night out, book clubs and other gatherings throughout the week  with or without their kids, Hayden said. It was really great being able to connect with other women who are moms, but are also strong, amazing women doing their best.

Hayden said she is also dismayed by the reaction of the nternational club. I find it ironic our local chapter is amazing and so supportive of each other, and it does not have that support from International. Its a shame.

Kelley said shes optimistic local moms will continue meeting in some fashion under another guise. This is a great place for moms, and I dont think this is the end for us. Its the end of International for us.
When I went off to college, colored people was considered a disrespectful term. Two generations later, it took me by surprise the first time I heard people of color spoken by a person of color as a term of respect.

The language of race keeps changing because the issue of race remains unsettled. But the changes also reflect that while we all speak the same language, the words dont always mean the same to you as they do to me.

The first time I heard Black Lives Matter, a question occurred to me that may have occurred to you. Why not All Lives Matter, especially if the movements premise is equality?

If tomorrows editorial headline announced that Japanese-Americans rights matter, most of us would reasonably question why that specific group required particular attention. In 1942, however, when Japanese-Americans were being imprisoned in internment camps, the headline would make perfect sense. Japanese-Americans rights required special mention and protection because their rights were being especially violated.

Black lives particularly matter, not because theyre more important, but because Black lives in particular still suffer even death under what Lyndon Johnson lamented as our nations crippling legacy of bigotry.

Not everyone has arrived at the same conclusion. One Vermont high school principal posted her opinion on her personal Facebook page. She stated definitively, I firmly believe that Black Lives Matter, but expressed reservations about coercive measures taken to get this point across.

She affirmed she understand[s] the urgency to feel compelled to advocate for Black lives, but questioned what she deems pressure to choose Black race over human race. She extended support to law enforcement officers and all others who advocate for and demand equity for all, before concluding that just because I dont walk around with a BLM sign should not mean I am a racist.

Her school board declared themselves uniformly appalled by the ignorance, prejudice, and lack of judgment displayed in her statement, especially after she failed to issue a satisfactory retraction and apology.

While her second post acknowledged that shed unintentionally offended people, that she understands the struggles of the Black lives community and stand[s] with them in their fight against racism, the board held that shed failed to admit her culpability or demonstrate specific contrition, empathy or humility.

The board asserted the necessity of acknowledging ehite advantage, teaching all our students that bias exists, and working to remove it. Citing the principals Facebook public statements as evidence of her glaring miscomprehension of the situation, board members voted unanimously to remove her from her position.

What if shed posted she was voting for President Trump? Would that be evidence of glaring miscomprehension? Hed clearly do more harm to Black lives than Joe Biden would.

Again, I havent drawn all the same conclusions she has. Neither am I unsympathetic to the school boards sense of moral obligation to confront the broad racial inequity and specific acts of racism still plaguing us.

Im more alarmed, though, by the boards actions than I am by hers.

Ive always taught my students that the freedom of speech doesnt mean you can say whatever you want whenever you want to. It also doesnt mean your mother cant tell you to be quiet. The First Amendment means that Congress, and by extension government at any level, cant limit your right to speak on matters of public concern.

While employers can restrict employees speech, public schools are agencies of the government. In 1968, the Supreme Court ruled that a teachers interest as a citizen in making public comment must be balanced against the states interest in promoting the efficiency of its employees public services.

In that case, a teacher named Pickering had been fired because hed written a letter to the editor condemning his school boards budgeting priorities. The court found that a teachers exercise of his right to speak on issues of public importance may not furnish the basis for his dismissal from public employment. Mr. Pickering got his job back.

Vermonts governor described the principals dismissal as constitutionally problematic. That said, the boards possible legal liability is of secondary importance to me.

Im more concerned with why the founders protected free speech. They recognized that the free exchange of ideas and reflection on those ideas is essential for the survival of a free society. Its also the hallmark of a free society.

Its indefensible to contend that Black Lives Matter doctrine and tactics, however peaceful, are immune from questioning. Nor do I find the principals comments an expression of ignorance and hate or insensitive to current issues.

Even if I did, restricting public debate just to ideas and perspectives I consider sufficiently sensitive mutes free speech and renders any debate all but meaningless. That I may disagree with her is beyond irrelevant. My disagreement is the very point of protecting her speech. Through our exchange of ideas, she may change her mind. Or I might.

I have a final caution for Black Lives Matter advocates whove called for her removal. It applies to members of any movement. Beware of doctrinal purity tests.

She may have reservations about your rhetoric, but there are worse banners than All Lives Matter. There are people for whom all lives, specifically Black lives, dont matter. Its senseless and self-defeating to reject supporters who endorse your central principles just because they dont use your words.

Peter Berger has taught English and history for 30 years. Poor Elijah would be pleased to answer letters addressed to him in care of the editor at editor@middletownpress.com.
TORRINGTON  A Torrington High School graduate and longtime city resident died with the coronavirus at age 86, according to her obituary.

Lucretia Lamphier Huxley was born on a farm in New Hartford on Jan. 7, 1934, the child of Charles and Nina Twining Harrison, family members said in her obituary. She graduated from Bakerville School and Torrington High School before settling in the city with Walter Huxley, her loving husband and soulmate, and raising a family.

She died May 2.

In her professional life, Huxley worked at the A&P, Blake Motor Lines, Dileos Restaurant, as a cook at Southwest School, and as a special needs aide for Dufour Bus Company, family members said. In her personal time, she enjoyed cooking, baking, and canning fruits and vegetables, and was proud of blue ribbons awarded to her from the Bethlehem Fair.

She loved rides with Dad through the country to nowhere, vacations with her kids, and Kelly bus trips. A selfless soul, she was very giving, and always thought of others before herself.

Whenever asked how she was doing, her answer was always Im okay. She made nightly phone calls to her children, and if she got the answering machine, the message that was always left was just Mom, family members said. Much more than just mom, she was stubborn, kind, loving, and caring, and a wonderful mom, grandmother, great grandmother, and great great grandmother. There was never a phone, a piece of bread, or a piece of chocolate cake that she didnt like. Vegetables did not have the same appeal. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Huxley is survived by her sister, children, grandchildren and great-grandchild, family members said.

Huxleys family offered their thanks to the emergency room staff at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and Hartford Hospital for their professionalism and caring during these very trying times.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks well-wishers to please leave a fond remembrance of our Mom, and tell us how you knew her, and what you remember most about her, which can be done on the website of the Phalen Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Hartford Health Care Covid 19 Fund, Autism Speaks, or to a charity of your choice, or do a random act of kindness to anyone in her name, family members said.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Male hairdresser in a protective mask and gloves, dressed in casual clothes. Client without a mask. Hairdressing after quarantine. Health precautions. Small business. Coronavirus pandemic aftermath.
US. Transportation Command has upheld a decision to award a $7.2 billion military household goods shipping contract to Parsippany, N.J.-based American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group, Inc., and its partners.

TRANSCOM officials said Monday that allegations made in a bid protest filed after the contract was awarded April 30 were not substantiated. The award to the company, also known as ARC, was confirmed Monday.

Read Next: Pentagon Lifts Travel Ban in All States Except Florida, California

"Protests are a common part of the acquisition process and serve as an important check and balance," TRANSCOM officials said in a statement.

The contract was pulled back for review on June 9 after at least one of the companies that was not selected alleged that ARC had not been forthcoming in its bid. Specifically, the protest stated ARC has not been transparent about its ownership or the executives that run its parent company, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Group.

TRANSCOM agreed to review the allegations in a process known as "corrective action."

ARC is the U.S. subsidiary of a Norwegian company Wallenius Wilhelmsen, which also owns two other shipping companies -- one in Norway and one in South Korea -- that have been fined for price-fixing and rigging international cargo bids.

But ARC, which has held U.S. government contracts for more than 30 years and shipped thousands of pounds of military cargo, service members' household goods and privately owned vehicles, has "never been accused of any anti-competitive or criminal activities," a company spokesman told Military.com earlier this month.

After investigating the allegations, a government contracting officer concluded that they had no basis, according to TRANSCOM.

"Over the course of the following week, the contracting officer and legal counsel reviewed the response and other relevant information. After a thorough review of all relevant information, the contracting officer made an independent determination that the allegations were unsubstantiated," said U.S. Transportation Command officials in a statement.

The contract will shift management of all of the military's worldwide household goods shipments to ARC by 2022, beginning with a nine-month transfer of information technology systems and other administrative processes.

The contract had already been delayed at least 100 days as the GAO worked to review contract protests filed late last month by two companies that had lost the award, Home Safe Alliance LLC and Connected Global Solutions LLC.

When the TRANSCOM pulled the contract award, ARC remained confident that they would prevail.

"With large government contracts, it is not unexpected that unsuccessful bidders protest the award. We have no reason to believe that the protest process will change the ultimate outcome of the award," wrote ARC spokesman Charles Diorio on the company's website May 28.

On Monday, ARC executives said the company is ready to work.

Team ARC remains committed to our proposal to provide exceptional customer service to TRANSCOM and the service members, ARC Chief Executive Officer Eric Ebeling said. We look forward to getting started on [the Global Household Goods Contract].

The contract award is the first time the Pentagon has outsourced household goods and delivery system management.

The Department of Defense moved to contract out the services following a tumultuous 2018 summer moving season, which resulted in 10% of military families reporting loss, breakage or other issues with their moves.

While TRANSCOM instituted a number of initiatives to improve the military moving process, ultimately DoD decided to privatize the effort.

TRANSCOM officials said the contract will "improve access to -- and management of -- quality capacity to meet peak demand and enable the Department to affix the accountability and responsibility lacking in today's program."

The company that made the allegations did not respond to a request for comment.

The Government Accountability Office on June 16, 2020, approved TRANSCOMs request to review the allegations, which resulted in the dismissal of protests filed against the original contract award.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: The Pentagon Weighs Privatizing Military PCS Moves
U.S. Army paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division will be the first unit to receive the service's new Infantry Assault Vehicle under a deal with GM Defense LLC aimed at equipping foot soldiers with increased mobility on the battlefield.

The Army on June 26 awarded GM Defense, and its partner Ricardo Defense, a contract worth up to $214.3 million to build 649 ISVs that can be airdropped or carried by helicopter into the fight, according to an Army news release. The contract, according to information published by the Defense Department, includes "installation kits, ancillary hardware and logistical support."

Read Next: Cluster of COVID-19 Cases in US Troops Emerges at Kuwaiti Air Base

The GM Defense ISV is based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, an architecture made up of about 90 percent commercial-off-the-shelf parts, according to the release.

It can carry a payload of 3,200 pounds and is designed to be sling-loaded by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and internally carried by CH-47 Chinook helicopter, the release states. The Army can also deliver the ISV into battle by low-velocity airdrop using C-130 Hercules or C-17 Globemaster aircraft.

The ISV concept emerged in 2015 when Army officials at the Maneuver Conference at Fort Benning, Georgia stressed that light infantry units needed an ultra-light combat vehicle for forced-entry operations.

GM Defense and Ricardo competed against teams from Flyer Defense LLC and Oskosh Defense LLC, as well as SAIC and Polaris Inc., in the initial rapid prototyping phase of the effort in 2019 to design a highly mobile vehicle capable of carrying a nine-man infantry squad.

The ISV is the latest Army effort to equip troops with modernized battlefield transport. In 2015, the service selected Oshkosh to build the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, a joint Army-Marine Corps program to replace the Cold War-era Humvee. But the Army began to slow its fielding plan for JLTV as part of an effort to shave billions of dollars off of existing programs to fund future modernization efforts.

"The Infantry Squad Vehicle meets the challenges we've faced to give our IBCT soldiers greater mobility and increased survivability," Chris Stone, deputy capability manager of the Maneuver Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate at Fort Benning, Georgia, said in the Army's release.

"As the Army's newest light tactical vehicle, ISV will allow IBCTs more flexibility and a greater advantage getting to the objective."

The Army plans to deliver the ISV to the 82nd's 1st Brigade Combat Team at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in early 2021 and field the 649 vehicles by 2024. The contract states that all work will be complete by 2028.

The next steps in the effort include GM Defense delivering eight ISVs to Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland within four months for testing, Steve Herrick, the Army's product lead for Ground Mobility Vehicles, Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service Support, said in the release.

The Army is also scheduled to hold an initial operational test and evaluation of ISV next summer and fall, according to the release.

"The program office is marching toward delivering ISVs to the first unit ... at Fort Bragg, approximately eight months after the contract award," Herrick said. "We are excited about the commercial nature this product brings to the soldier, and in the future, we could possibly see greater leaps in technology."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: Here's Why the Army Is Buying Fewer JLTVs Next Year
Members of Congress from both parties demanded answers Monday on what the White House knew about allegations that Russia schemed to pay the Taliban or other militants to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

"We need answers," Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, a retired Navy SEAL lieutenant commander who lost an eye in Afghanistan, said in retweeting a post by Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, on the alleged bounties.

Read Next: Senate Proposal May Delay Launch of ACFT

Cheney posted that "if reporting about Russian bounties on US forces is true," then the White House needed to explain "who did know and when."

The New York Times first reported June 26 that Russian GRU military intelligence had a program to offer bounties to militants to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan. A following Times report Sunday said initial intelligence on the Russian bounty program came from U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department has been silent on the topic, referring questions to the White House.

Whether any U.S. troops were killed as a result, or any bounties were paid out, remains unclear, but the U.S. intelligence -- denied by the Russian embassy in Washington as "ridiculous" -- allegedly reached the White House in March.

In a series of Tweets Saturday and Sunday, President Donald Trump said that neither he nor Vice President Mike Pence were briefed on the intelligence, and again called the New York Times "fake news."

"Nobody briefed or told me, @VP Pence, or Chief of Staff @MarkMeadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an "anonymous source" by the Fake News @nytimes. Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us," Trump said.

At a White House briefing Monday, Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany appeared to confirm that U.S. intelligence on a Russian bounty program existed, but said it was unverified and, therefore, was not briefed to Trump or Pence.

She said that neither CIA Director Gina Haspel, National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien nor White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows had briefed Trump and Pence "on alleged Russian bounty intelligence."

McEnany also said the intelligence had not been verified and there was dissent in the intelligence community on its credibility.

The White House statements only seemed to fuel more demands for answers from both sides of the aisle in Congress.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a close Trump ally, said it was "imperative Congress get to the bottom of" the bounty allegations.

"I expect the Trump administration to take such allegations seriously and inform Congress immediately as to the reliability of these news reports," Graham said.

For House and Senate Democrats, Trump's statement that he was not informed about the alleged Russian bounty program was more evidence of failure to carry out the duties of the office.

"Trump has failed as commander-in-chief," Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colorado, a former Army Ranger who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, said on Twitter. "He remains a danger to our troops, national security, and nation."

"Once again it appears that President Trump has failed to stand up to [Russian President] Vladimir Putin," Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., a former Army Ranger and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement Sunday.

"The American people deserve answers," Reed said. "What did President Trump and his cabinet know about this Russian-backed operation, when did they know it, and what, if anything, has been done in response? And if the President wasn't briefed in person or in writing, why not?"

In a letter Monday to Haspel and John Ratcliffe, director of National Intelligence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, requested an immediate briefing for all members of Congress on the alleged bounty program.

"Congress needs to know what the intelligence community knows about this significant threat to American troops and allies and what options are available to hold Russia accountable," Pelosi said.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, demanded that the Committee hold hearings on what she called "Bounty Gate."

Duckworth, a former Army lieutenant colonel who lost both legs in Iraq, charged in a June 27 statement that "Russia is secretly paying militants to kill U.S. troops. Trump has known for months but apparently done nothing to stop them."

The White House arranged a briefing for several Republican lawmakers following McEnany's news conference, but two later emerged to state they needed more information and assurances that the administration was devoting full attention to the issue.

After the briefing, "we remain concerned about Russian activity in Afghanistan, including reports that they have targeted U.S. forces," Cheney and Rep. Mac Thornberry, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a joint statement.

"It has been clear for some time that Russia does not wish us well in Afghanistan," they said, and "We believe it is important to vigorously pursue any information related to Russia or any other country targeting our forces."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Related: Trump Denies Briefing on Reported Bounties Against US Troops
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  An Okinawa-based Marine who apparently broke coronavirus restrictions was arrested by Japanese police Sunday after reportedly punching a local college student at a Naha nightclub.

Cpl. John William Thomas III, 24, of the 3rd Marine Logistics Group at Camp Hansen, was taken into custody outside the establishment in Naha's Kumoji neighborhood, shortly after police were called at 4:50 a.m., a Naha Police spokesman said Monday.

Thomas reportedly first pushed the 21-year-old unnamed man on the dance floor, telling him not to come closer, the spokesman said. The student responded by saying he would call the police if Thomas did not leave him alone, and Thomas struck the man in the lower jaw.

The student called police and exited the building, the spokesman said. Police arrested Thomas on suspicion of assault.

Thomas denies the charges, the spokesman said. No injuries were reported.

It's customary in Japan for some government spokespeople not to give their names to the media.

Police expected to refer the assault charge against Thomas to the Naha District Public Prosecutor's Office on Monday afternoon, the police spokesman said. He was being held Monday at Naha Police Station.

An assault conviction may result in up to two years in prison or up to $3,000 in fines, according to Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

A spokesman for the 3rd Marine Logistics Group, 1st Lt. Jonathan Coronel, confirmed Thomas' arrest in an email Monday and said the unit is "fully committed to working with local authorities to assist with their investigation."

Bars and nightclubs remain off limits for Marines in Japan because of anti-coronavirus measures. The commander of U.S. Forces Japan, Air Force Lt. Gen. Kevin Schneider, has declared a public health emergency for all U.S. troops in the country until July 14.
Editor's Note: This story and headline has been corrected to include Michigan as an excepted state.

Troops and their families based in most states across the country have been given the OK to resume regular travel, except for some states that continue to see troubling rises in coronavirus cases.

Ten more states have met the criteria to lift the travel restrictions the Pentagon set in place in March, defense officials announced on Monday. That allows more service members and their families to resume not only recreational travel, but also permanent change-of-station moves.

Troops based in Guam, Puerto Rico and South Korea are also allowed to travel, with approval from their local commanders.

Read Next: These Major Military Bases Have Been Greenlit for Travel

Locations must meet a series of criteria to see earlier travel bans lifted. Those criteria include no shelter-in-place orders; a two-week downward trend in COVID-19 symptoms; and a 14-day decline in new cases.

Two states where travel remains limited for service members -- Florida and California -- have recently reported increases in coronavirus cases. As of this weekend, Florida's cases were up fivefold in two weeks, and California has seen a record number of cases in recent days. Plans for reopening both states are now in flux.

Michigan has also seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases over the last week. Other states that have seen bigger spikes in cases though -- such as Texas and Arizona -- remain greenlighted by the Defense Department.

Waivers will still be considered for mission-essential travel, emergencies and some PCS moves. Deployments could also resume for some units in locations that are still seeing travel restrictions, though they're being considered on a case-by-case basis.

Defense Department travel restrictions were relaxed across much of the U.S. earlier this month. Travel was also allowed to resume for troops based overseas in Bahrain, Belgium, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Local commanders can still limit travel at the base level, according to the Defense Department.

Pentagon officials in March announced strict travel restrictions at the start of the global pandemic. That halted many deployments, temporary assignments and PCS moves.

The ban was expected to be lifted on May 11, but was later extended to June 30.

Nearly 12,000 U.S. troops have tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. About half of those troops have recovered. Three service members have died of COVID-19 and nearly 300 have required hospitalization.

The U.S. is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases this month. The illness has infected more than 2.6 million Americans, killing 128,000.

-- Patricia Kime and Hope Hodge Seck contributed to this report.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: Here Are the States and Countries Where Military Travel Restrictions Have Been Lifted
How to use the mindat.org media viewer

Click/touch this help panel to close it.

Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image)

Controls - all media types

Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device.

Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen.

< and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys.

< and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys.

> in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys.

? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key.

Other keyboard shortcuts:

1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons

Scalebar

If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular.

Controls - Video

Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key.

Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation)

Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys.

The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types.

The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control.

Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images

If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways:

- without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method

- with stereoscope

- with anaglyph glasses.

- on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system)

For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D

To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them.

Controls - photo comparison mode

If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu.

Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder.

Summary of all keyboard shortcuts
NORTHVILLE, MI - Boozy milkshakes, new ice cream flavors, buttermilk fried chicken and Nashville hot chicken are just a few of the changes and additions to Guernsey Farms Dairy and restaurant. To celebrate 80 years, the Michigan family-owned business, located at 21300 Novi Road in Northville, has reopened after undergoing a $1 million renovation.

The huge transformation had already been planned before the coronavirus pandemic and started in January. What wasnt planned was the reopening happening in June. April was the target date so the restaurant and ice cream parlor could prepare for the summer crowds.

We wanted to work out all of the kinks in April before the super busy ice cream season, said Joe Kinville, a third-generation owner of Guernsey. But we just werent able to. So we had to open in June and theres a line out the door and were still trying to figure out the process. We just had to adapt and here we are.

NEW LOOK ICE CREAM PARLOR

One of the most noticeable changes is with the ice cream parlor. It now has a 1950s soda shop look. Kinville pointed to an old photo on the wall of the shop, saying this is the look they wanted to bring back.

We kind of brought the photo back to life. Its funny how things change over time. That was the vibe with the kind of bar setting with the stools and now we have that same kind of setting again.

Another change is the ordering process. Instead of paying first, getting a ticket and handing that ticket to an employee, customers first order what they want and watch it get made right in front of them.

We wanted to make it a soda bar-type feel where you could watch your banana split and milkshake get made. We will eventually have our cake decorator out there as well.

NEW ICE CREAM FLAVORS

At any given time, Guernsey has 48 ice cream flavors available. Thats up from 40 it used to offer in scoops or cones. Overall, Guernsey has 65 flavors in its rotating portfolio. Some of the new flavors youll see are Cotton Candy, Wolverine Tracks (chocolate ice cream and marshmallow swirl fudge cup and a sandwich cookie), cinnamon roll and raspberry lemonade.

RESTAURANT AND MENU CHANGES

The newly renovated restaurant has more of a diner feel. Theres also a new bar serving boozy shakes and craft beer. One big change is to the menu, which has been greatly condensed.

We took the 65 menu items and reduced it to about 30 items now, Chef Jim Choranziak, executive chef of Guernsey told MLive. We wanted to really be good at this much, instead of just being OK at this much, added Kinville. We wanted to have an awesome dairy-focused menu.

FRIED CHICKEN CHANGE

One of the staples of the restaurant is the fried chicken. Not only did Guernsey add Nashville hot chicken to the menu, but theres a small change to the way the fried chicken is now made.

One thing we never did before was take our awesome buttermilk and introduce it to the brine for the chicken. We wanted to tie the two together, said Choranziak. Thats the only thing we did different to it and now we have buttermilk fried chicken. Its still broasted and we use a pressure fryer. Now we treat our chicken like filet mignon.

HOURS

Open Wed. - Sun. from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Closed Mondays and Tuesdays *restaurant not open for dine-in. Expected to be in a couple weeks.

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MUNISING, MI -- Are you headed to Da Yoop, Michigans Upper Peninsula this summer?

Is it on your bucket list?

I hope so.

Upper Michigan is such a beautiful place to explore.

I have been up there on family vacations, and my Michigans Best colleague, Amy Sherman, and I go there on every search. We even spent a week there in 2016, traveling from St. Ignace to the Keweenaw Peninsula.

One of our favorite stops when were in the U.P. is Munising, home of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

They have waterfalls, natural beauty, boat cruises, kayaking, beaches, breweries, pasties, and the list goes on and on.

As Michigan begins to reopen day-by-day, week-by-week from the COVID-19 pandemic, which required stay-home restrictions and other guidelines, the summer tourism season is starting to come alive.

Someone who is experiencing this firsthand is Cori-Ann Cearley, president of the Munising Visitors Bureau.

Its been a little slow, Cearley said in a recent MLive podcast and video. I think there is some hesitancy with travel, and thats understandable. But were starting to see more people in town. The hotel occupancy is picking up, and there has been more people on the cruise ships, so thats good.

Summers in Munising over the last several years has created a boon in the local economy as more travelers discover that natural beauty, as well as attractions.

Were a tourism town, and we love to have everyone come here, and we want everyone to come here, and want people to know we are doing things to keep them safe.

Listen to the podcast or watch the video as Cearley runs down the many things you can do this summer in the Munising area.

Here are some of the things she covers:

1. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Located about one mile from downtown Munising, and Munising Bay, its the areas biggest attraction. There used to be a perception that Pictured Rocks was a rock that was painted, Cearley said. And I try to tell people, No its 20-plus miles of beautiful sandstone cliffs. We have sand dunes, waterfalls flowing into Lake Superior.' Its like the Grand Canyon of the Great Lakes. You have the Grand Canyon over beautiful Lake Superior. She added: Pictures dont do it justice ... . When you get out on the water and see the sheer size of the cliffs, and the enormity and amount, it is hours of sightseeing you can do from the water, much less when you start doing the hiking and other things.

According to munising.org:

The Pictured Rocks tower 50 to 200 feet directly from Lake Superior and stretch ... along its 42-mile length. In addition to the Pictured Rocks, the lakeshore also offers 12 miles of beautiful beaches, nearly five miles of enormous sand dunes, several waterfalls, and lighthouses. Within the park, over 100 miles of trail lead to remote lakes, streams, and forest to explore.

Learn more at https://www.munising.org/pictured-rocks/.

The Munising Falls are a popular destination because they are easily accessible for families, and located near the Munising Falls Visitor Center and Pictured Rocks National Lakgeshore in Munisin, Michigan. John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman of Michigan's Best traveled to Munising in the 2016 as part of a U.P. series.John Gonzalez

2. Waterfalls. A close second to the popularity of Pictured Rocks are the 17 waterfalls in Alger County between Munising and Grand Marais, with the majority being in Munising, Cearley said. We have some that are very easy to get to, wheelchair accessible, easy to bring little kids to, and others that are longer hikes, more rugged and harder to reach.

Munising Falls is a 500-foot walk, easy and paved.

Miners Falls is 1.5-mile hike in the park

AuTrain Falls (located on the Au Train River just south of the Cleveland Cliffs basin on M-94), are less visited, but are Cearleys favorite. They drop about 40 feet in The Upper Falls, and 10 feet in the Lower Falls.

Alger Falls is on the right hand side of M-94 (as it become M-28) as you enter Munising from the southeast. You almost get whiplash its that close to you, Cearley said. Its right there.

Wagner Falls is also easy to get to, great for kids, and not far from Alger Falls on M-94, Cearley said.

Its not limited by mobility for most of these, she said.

She added that several falls come out of the cliffs and are only viewable by boat.

Learn more about the waterfalls at https://www.munising.org/attractions/waterfalls/ Also, look for the Waterfall Lighthouse Guide when youre in the area.

Learn about the lighthouses at https://www.munising.org/attractions/lighthouses/.

From MLive:

Marquette to Munising: This waterfall road trip explores the beauty of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Munising to Grand Marais: See more of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore as you make your way from one end of the 40-mile-long shoreside park to the other.

Pro Tip: Download the Munising app and you can plan your trip in advance. It makes the visit much easier, Cearley said. Learn more about the Interactive Map app at https://www.munising.org/interactive-map-app/.

3. Camping. Have you ever camped right on the beach? You can do that in Munising. You can get as rustic as you want or stay at one of the many hotels or RV campgrounds with full hook-ups. We have a variety of options, Cearley said. My personal favorite place is Petes Lake Campground in the National Forest with no cell phones ... . It is gorgeous and peaceful.

Learn more about Petes Lake Campground at https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/hiawatha/recarea/?recid=13286.

Learn about Munising area accommodations at https://www.munising.org/places-to-stay-2/all-accommodations.

Here is a map of the Munising area, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. John Gonzalez

4. Hiking Trails. Like camping, there is a great variety of trails, many for the novice. Cearley said the North Country Trail picks up at Munising Falls, and you hike a variety of distances. The trails are well marked and well curated. Sand Point Marsh Trail is a 3/4-mile fully-accessible trail that begins across from the Sand Point Beach, just four miles northeast of Munising. (Follow H-58 to the Washington Street Junction and travel two miles past the hospital.) A more intense trail is the Chapel Rock Trail, which is about 5 miles. Cearley describes it as rustic and harder to find. White sand, gorgeous beach, waterfall flowing down into it, hitting Lake Superior, and when youre going down there, and you think, Did I find paradise?' because there are no people there ... just stunning.

Learn more at https://www.munising.org/recreation/hiking/.

5. Beaches. Cearley said Sand Point Beach near the Sand Point Marsh Trail is the top beach. It is located at the end of Sand Point Road, just four miles northeast of Munising. The Weather Channel named Sand Point Beach one of the Top Five Summer Beaches in America. And its a great place to watch the sunsets. The other popular beach is AuTrain Beach, which is a series of sand dunes. It has a river that runs through it, and people around here jump right off the bridge into the river. Its a fun experience. You can also take a dip in nearby Lake Superior. But its always a bit chilly. She also recommends Miners Beach, which launches many kayaks and is gorgeous; Chapel Beach, and others. We have so many beaches, and they are gorgeous, sandstone, beautiful beaches.

I had to tease Cearley for using the word gorgeous so often. But it is a perfect word.

Learn more at https://www.munising.org/recreation/beaches/

6. Kayaking. With miles of colorful sandstone cliffs 50-200 feet high, kayakers love to explore Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore., including the many coves and visible shipwrecks in the crystal clear waters of Lake Superior. According to munising.org, there are a number of put-in points along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore including Sand Point, Twelvemile Beach, Hurricane River, Miners Beach, Grand Island Landing, Anna River and the Munising boat launch.

More info under Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore at https://www.munising.org/pictured-rocks/

Learn more about tours at https://www.munising.org/attractions/tours/

7. Breweries. The area now has two breweries. ByGeorge Brewing Co. opened in the spring and has really delicious ales, Cearley said, as well as sangria and pear cider when on tap. East Channel Brewery has been open for about three years and is super popular with the locals, she added.

8. Restaurants. The local scene has really exploded in the last few years, Cearley said. Dogpatch is probably the best known for its cartoons and American menu, but others have come on board, such as Taco Primo, a Mexican restaurant known for its exceptional fare, and the popular Eh! Burger. She recommends Foggys (grill your own steaks and great whitefish) in nearby Christmas. Local coffee roaster Gallery Coffee Company, which was creating a great local music scene pre-Covid 19, expects to continue that trend this summer. And a deli place is supposed to open soon in the former Johnny Dogs, which had grown into a nationally-recognized gourmet hog dog joint. She also recommends Miners Pasties, known for pushing the boundaries of traditional pasties. Its my new favorite, she said. Also, if you want upscale, she said farm-to-table Traceys at Roam Inn is a must.

Learn more about dining at https://www.munising.org/area-info/dining/.

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman of Michigan's Best meet up with a park ranger at Kitch-iti-kipi, Michigans largest freshwater spring, located at Palms Book State Park in Manistique in the Upper Peninsula.John Gonzalez

Follow our Michigans Best adventures on social media:

@mlivemibest on Twitter

@mlivemibest on Instagram

Facebook at MLiveMIBest.

Join in by using the hashtag #mibest

In addition:

Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.

Email: asherma2@mlive.com

John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.

Email: gonzo@mlive.com
BARAGA COUNTY, MI  A Michigan man was shot when his friend accidently fired a gun through a garage door and hit him in the shoulder.

Troopers from the Michigan State Police Calumet Post responded to the residence on M-38 in Baraga Countys Baraga Township at 12:50 a.m. on June 27.

Upon arriving at the scene, troopers found a 31-year-old male from Baraga with a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Troopers also found a 28-year-old man from Ashland, Wisconsin who was providing first aid to the victim.

Troopers determined that the victim had stepped outside of the garage while the Wisconsin man was handling the fireman inside the garage. The gun discharged sending a bullet through the garage door toward the victim.

The two men involved are close friends and were drinking alcohol in the garage prior to the incident, which appears to be an accidental discharge of a firearm, police said.

The victim was transported from the scene to Baraga County Memorial Hospital and later transferred to UP Health Marquette for further treatment.

Troopers were assisted on scene by Baraga County Sheriffs Department, Keweenaw Bay Tribal Police, Pelkie First Responders and Bay Ambulance.
LANSING, MICH. -- Southwest Michigan is proving to be a hot spot for vacation rentals this holiday weekend.

Airbnb announced today that Michigans southwest corner is among its top trending destinations this Fourth of July, with searches for listings up by more than 30 percent compared to the same time last year.

Southwest Michigan falls within Airbnbs South Shore Lake Michigan regional designation, which also includes parts of Indiana and Illinois.

Airbnb reports that more than 20 percent of bookings for the holiday weekend are listings in rural areas, an indicator that travelers are looking for vacation rentals that will allow them to continue practicing social distancing by being near things to do outdoors in uncrowded spots.

The company identified other trends that point toward the unique travel climate of 2020: Pools and pets allowed are among the most-searched amenities, in addition to listings with WiFi, kitchens and AC, suggesting that travelers are seeking private spaces to make their own meals and enjoy time with their friends or family.

RELATED: These are all the dog-friendly beaches in Sleeping Bear Dunes

With the holiday weekend just around the corner, many individuals and families are looking to stay safe while getting outside and responsibly discovering new destinations right in their own backyard -- and for this, southwest Michigan is top of mind, as one of our top trending destinations for Fourth of July Weekend, said Alexandra Dagg, senior policy director for Airbnb in the Northeast United States and Canada.

As guests search for cottages or pet-friendly retreats with plenty of outdoor activities nearby, Airbnb listings in southwest Michigan are specifically popular among families, as listings meet their new, emerging needs for increased cleanliness, privacy and control over their travel experience and environment.

Benton Harbor cabin in main image is listed here.
ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigans budget is up for discussion again during a special Board of Regents meeting on Monday.

The virtual meeting at 7 p.m., June 29 comes after a proposed budget that included a tuition increase failed by a 4-4 vote at the regents June 25 meeting.

University of Michigan tuition increase proposal fails with 4-4 Board of Regents vote

The proposed budget included a 1.9% increase of tuition and room and board, which sparked discussion between regents for several minutes.

The universitys current fiscal year ends June 30, meaning a new budget should be in place by July 1.

People can view the meeting by clicking on a link from the main UM website at the meetings scheduled time.
ANN ARBOR, MI  With family visits to hospice patients so important, Michigan hospice providers realized they had to create a work-around to visitation limits.

A project using tablets, so the two sides can talk to each other while not putting each other at risk of the novel coronavirus, was accelerated by Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice.

The pandemic forced many changes in practices due to health concerns, said Elizabeth Rocha, clinical director for pediatrics statewide and the the northeast region of Hospice of Michigan.

Many nursing homes and medical facilities that house hospice patients put in visitor restrictions for their in-patient units, said Rachel Derry, director of education for both Arbor Hospice and Hospice of Michigan. Due to the restrictions, some families are potentially not able to say goodbye to loved ones in-person, she said.

(Family visits) are just as, if not, more important than our visits, Derry said. You really see the strain that it puts on not just the patient, on their family (as well) to not be able to say goodbye or be at the bedside when they pass away.

While they could never fully replace in-person visits, the iPads allow for easy communication between patients and their loved ones, Rocha said. They also help families of patients connect with social workers and grief support when the patient dies.

Video calls are made with Zoom, Derry said. The tablets themselves are preloaded with the function, as well as settings to connect to wifi and educational videos to help families care for patients.

The providers purchased 70 iPads, which are given to patients and loved ones, Rocha said.

The hospice providers received grants from the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation in Traverse City, the Jennie V. Kerr Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan in Alpena and The Jones Family Foundation in Ann Arbor.

Part of hospice care is helping a patients loved ones cope with the patients death. If anyone still grieving after the patient has died, Rocha said the patient is still able to hold on to the iPad to help with the grieving process. The providers will reach out 13 months after the patient dies to see if family member wants to continue using the device, she said.

This is a project the providers hope to carry on after the pandemic moves on, Rocha said.

Weve learned (that) were not limited by geographic area once we have these iPads, Rocha said. Services that may have only been offered in certain areas can now be offered all over the state and possibly even further.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Jerry Claytons initial goal was just three terms when he first ran for Washtenaw County sheriff in 2008. Twelve years later, he wants another.

The three-time incumbent is seeking re-election in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary election against Ken Magee of Chelsea, whom Clayton beat by nearly 67,000 votes in 2016. There are no Republican candidates on the ballot.

Rebuilding public trust in police key to Washtenaw sheriff candidates campaign

Claytons desire for another term, he said, is in part to oversee the implementation of mental health services funded by a county public safety millage in 2017. This motivation stems from his belief that the sheriffs offices role extends beyond just arresting people.

How do we work better? How do we solve this, Clayton said, describing conversations he has with the countys mental health experts, including Trish Cortes, executive director of Washtenaw County Community Mental Health. The same people our staff come into contact with in crisis are similar to the people (these experts) are dealing with. So how do we work together?

The millage raised more than $15 million in property tax revenue in 2018 with roughly three quarters split between Washtenaw County Community Mental Health and the sheriffs office. The millage, which funds programs such as CARES, or Crisis, Access, Resources, Engagement and Support, had a goal of diverting individuals away from seeking treatment in jails during incarceration.

Washtenaw County to expand mental health, substance use services May 1

The goal in the next four years and beyond his tenure is to create a system where people with mental health and substance abuse problems are deflected out of the criminal justice system, Clayton said.

Wed still fill out a police report and send to the prosecutor, but if that person agrees to go into treatment, that report gets held and they never get charged into the system, he said.

Deflection means that we do things to make sure people never get into the (jail or prison) system. Diversion means that even in times where people get arrested, our focus should be on how do we get them out of the system as quickly as possible and support them by making sure they have what they need to address root causes of their issues.

This strategy of more diversion and less incarceration, as Clayton puts it, falls in line with the national discussion on police reform and divestment in the wake of George Floyds murder at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer in May. Clayton proposed three initiatives:

A police compliance commission in the model of President Barack Obamas Task Force on 21st Century Policing from 2015

Involving community members in vetting sheriffs office candidates during the interview process

Hiring a director for diversity, inclusion and equity

The hope is that these measures are more proactive than a police oversight commission, which Clayton called a reactive approach.

Its about mitigating bad things from happening before they happen, he said. We want people that are going to shake the culture of the organization and evolve around a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.

In response to nationwide calls for defunding police, Clayton broke down his offices $52-million budget and justified it by saying calls for divestment ignore his offices constitutional responsibilities that force his budget to be higher.

The sheriff is constitutionally responsible for the jail, he said. Our jail costs are about half of our overall budget...We are also constitutionally responsible for civil process, marine safety, all drowned bodies and court security. When you strip all of that away, theres little discretionary spending in our budget. What we do have goes towards community engagement.

The sheriffs office budget is nearly $31 million for general expenditures and $22 million for corrections operations, according to the 2019-22 prelimary budget summary by the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. Clayton also pointed to the contract his office has providing dispatch services for police agencies across the county, which he said generates $18 million in revenue for the county.

Connected to his vision for police reform and deflection is discretion in which crimes to enforce with an arrest. Crimes such as driving without a license to violations of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers coronavirus executive orders dont necessarily require jail time, he said.

Lets talk (Whitmers coronavirus) executive orders, he said. I believe she is legally authorized to issue those executive orders, and well enforce those executive orders. However, well decide how to enforce them. Well educate people instead of arresting them. Its no different than the discretion that police officers show every day.

He also used the example of how his office doesnt enforce immigration laws, partly because he sees it as a federal issue, but also to maintain public trust with communities of color. That trust, he admitted, took a hit in May when a white deputy was shown on video punching ShaTeina Grady El during an investigation into a shooting in the Appleridge neighborhood of Ypsilanti Township.

The shooting, punching & arrests: 45 minutes of bodycam footage of altercation between deputy, Ypsilanti woman released

He declined to provide an update to the internal investigation of that incident, which is now being reviewed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. The backlash, which included escalating public protests, reinforced in him the necessity for collaboration with the community to blow up a system that discriminates against Black people, he said.

I have enough experience to know the current system needs to be blown up, he said. It needs to be blown up the right way. I can blow it up and have a mess on my hands, or I can put things in place to better this community.
ANN ARBOR, MI  It may have been what City Administrator Howard Lazarus wrote in a job application last year that sealed his fate, offending several Ann Arbor council members.

After months of friction following a change in the makeup of City Council in the November 2018 election, Lazarus applied for a city manager job in Gainesville, Florida.

The new members seek to chart new directions, often leading to conflict and terse public deliberations, Lazarus wrote in his application. The new majority also has expressed a different definition of the role of the city administrator. The current climate has placed me in a difficult and vulnerable position.

Lazarus didnt get the Gainesville job and eventually was fired by council in a 7-4 vote Feb. 18.

Four months later, Ann Arbor council members maintain they still cant say much about their reasons for firing Lazarus, due to a non-disparagement agreement. The city also wont release Lazarus last performance evaluation.

But nearly 1,500 pages of city emails obtained by The Ann Arbor News/MLive under the Freedom of Information Act shed some light on the matter, pointing back to the remarks Lazarus made.

As acknowledged by the city administrator in his application for the Gainesville position, he takes a different view on the policy direction that the 2018 election set, and while that is his personal prerogative, we all are here to serve our constituents . Council Member Jane Lumm, I-2nd Ward, wrote in a Feb. 18 email to a resident, arguing it was in the citys best interest to part ways with Lazarus.

Lumm wrote in another email it was time to chart a new path forward with a change in leadership.

Council Member Jack Eaton, D-4th Ward, also said it was the culmination of lengthy discussions that began shortly after Lazarus didnt get the Gainesville job.

Council members were inundated with emails from community members who expressed shock, disappointment and outrage over Lazarus firing.

Related: Emails show blowback against Ann Arbor council after firing administrator

Many interpreted it as a political move.

Mayor Christopher Taylor and his allies were against the firing, while the new council majority wanted Lazarus gone. The only exception was Jeff Hayner, D-1st Ward, who said he voted to fire Lazarus only as a procedural move to be able to call for reconsideration as a member of the prevailing side.

Taylor and his allies saw their 7-4 majority on council flip in the 2018 election in favor of a back-to-basics coalition calling for a shift in spending priorities to, for instance, do more to fix roads and other infrastructure. Taylor has since used his veto power multiple times to block the new councils attempts to undo a 2017 council policy that earmarks funds for affordable housing, climate action and pedestrian/bicycle safety.

Lazarus approach to the city budget, amid debates over funding priorities, was a concern Lumm cited in an email about firing the administrator. Responding to a resident who argued Lazarus balanced community concerns to the satisfaction of all parties, Lumm replied, I believe it is imprudent and fiscally irresponsible to continue to present budgets that spend every available dollar to satisfy all parties when the city faces a looming deficit.

Lazarus was terminated without cause, meaning no misconduct was cited, and he was given over $223,000 in severance pay, plus roughly $50,000 for unused leave time.

In sometimes tense email exchanges with residents who demanded explanations, council members brought up that Lazarus sought the Gainesville job last year and previously another job in Austin, Texas.

As an employer myself, I lose a lot of faith in the quality of work my employees do when they are unhappy and looking for work elsewhere, Council Member Ali Ramlawi, D-5th Ward, wrote to one resident after voting to fire Lazarus.

His applications to the cities of Austin and Gainesville demonstrate his desire to leave Ann Arbor, Eaton wrote.

In another email, Ramlawi cited both Lazarus last performance evaluation and the disparaging character assessment of council in his Gainesville application as factors.

Reading Mr. Lazaruss application to Gainesville and my evaluation of his performance as an elected official should mean something, but I guess its easier to pull the Trump card, he told a resident who called councils action very Trump-like.

Ramlawi said it took a lot of small steps to reach this position of impasse and he spent 15 months trying to avoid it.

Council Member Elizabeth Nelson, D-4th Ward, told residents it wasnt a situation of high drama or intrigue and it took her over a year to reach the decision.

I am very comfortable with my decision, I did not take it lightly, but I cannot explain, she wrote.

Council Member Anne Bannister, D-1st Ward, has said the new council had a sometimes difficult relationship with the administrator and there were unnecessary obstacles to council doing its job and serving constituents.

This change has been given serious thought and conversation for years and we are moving in a positive direction, Bannister wrote to a resident regarding firing Lazarus.

Talks of potentially parting ways with Lazarus surfaced publicly in spring 2019 after some council members, including Eaton and Lumm, had concerns about Lazarus handling of problems with the citys human resources director, who was accused of sending inappropriate text messages and creating a hostile work environment. An independent investigator later found Lazarus was in the dark about the full extent of the problems.

Eaton and Lumm led the effort to terminate Lazarus. They announced to the full council in a Feb. 17 email the resolution to approve a separation agreement would appear on councils Feb. 18 meeting agenda.

It was made public with short notice, to the dismay of many residents, in deference to Mr. Lazarus preference and to give the city, Lazarus and his attorney time to look over the agreement, Lumm said in an email.

While Lazarus was let go without cause, that doesnt mean there was no reason, Eaton said.

Instead, it means the parties have decided that it is of mutual benefit to reach a conclusion without acrimony and without the potential for protracted litigation, he wrote in emails, arguing the separation was in no way unusual.

Eaton has argued council didnt actually fire Lazarus, that it was instead a negotiated exit. Lazarus has said it was councils choice, there was no way to fight it, and there was no give-and-take, though he did have his attorney look over the agreement.

After council voted to fire Lazarus, Hayner sent his colleagues an email calling for reconsideration. He argued the process was lacking in clarity and council owed residents and staff more chance to comment.

Lumm responded, saying it wouldnt serve anyones interest to reconsider.

Mr. Lazarus made it abundantly clear that he does not agree with the new direction of council the electorate delivered to him  he stated as much in his Gainesville application. The administrator should be politically agnostic, Lumm wrote.

Council Member Chip Smith, D-5th Ward, opposed the firing of Lazarus and didnt mince words in his email responses to residents, calling it some seriously fd up shit, completely corrupt and nothing short of a coup. He said the Violin Monster, a street musician who spoke out at council, put it best when he said, What the actual f.

Related: Violin Monster unmasked: A changing city through the eyes of Ann Arbors most famous street performer

Some of the most strongly worded criticisms from residents were directed at Ramlawi.

Dear ahole, one resident wrote to him. Can a person actually be as stupid as you have demonstrated in your vote to flush $275,000 of taxpayer money, some of that mine, down the toilet to fire the solidly performing city manager, especially when we need a trained engineer to take on the Gelman case? You are an embarrassment to your office and repeatedly fail to represent the citizens of the Fifth Ward.

Calling Ramlawi Mr. Trump Jr., the resident vowed to have Ramlawi recalled.

You have a legal right to recall me from office, just as I did in my vote last night to terminate the employment of a city administrator who repeatedly looked for jobs elsewhere and failed his annual performance review, Ramlawi responded.

Lazarus failed his annual evaluation by myself and the majority of council, Ramlawi said in another email.

Taylor disputed the claim that Lazarus failed his review. Council gave him a score of 3.2 out of 5, while city staff gave him 4.7 out of 5 and community stakeholders gave him 4.2 out of 5.

Related: Ann Arbor officials wont release fired city administrators performance evaluation

Its obvious that senior staff held Mr. Lazarus in high esteem, Taylor said, adding Lazarus just refused to give in to backroom demands from council members.

City staff voiced support for Lazarus in emails.

Eric Ronewicz, president of the Ann Arbor Police Officers Association, wrote to Taylor and Council Members Zachary Ackerman, Julie Grand and Smith the morning after the vote to thank them for opposing the firing.

I do concur with the joint statement that was issued by Mr. Smith, Mr. Ackerman and Ms. Grand, the police union leader wrote, referring to an open letter to the community in which the mayors allies said firing Lazarus confirmed a pattern of inept leadership and dysfunction on council.

Even though Mr. Lazarus and I have our difference of opinion, I still respect him and the work he has done, Ronewicz wrote. He is the first administrator, in my 22 years of service to the city, that has reached out to the police union to gain knowledge of the department from a different perspective.

Assistant City Administrator John Fournier reacted to the news of his boss upcoming firing in a Feb. 13 email after Lazarus alerted him.

Wow, this is happening quickly. I am sorry that I wont be there to provide support to you and our colleagues. The team is going to be shocked and I am sure saddened, Fournier wrote.

Sharie Sell, the citys diversity officer, also wrote to Lazarus to say she was deeply sorry.

I need you to know how much I have admired and appreciated the work you have done as our city administrator and I know many, many employees feel the same way, she wrote, adding Lazarus job was unnecessarily challenging  but you have borne it with grace, dignity and a positive resolve.

Various community leaders also offered positive reviews of Lazarus in emails to council.

Lori Roddy, executive director of the Neutral Zone teen center, recalled how Lazarus reached out to her three years ago to understand how to support Black youth and how together they created a workforce development program.

I have worked with his entire city administration team and experienced city staff demonstrating high-quality work and commitment under Howards administration, Roddy wrote.

Shortly before the firing, Taylor wrote to ask Lazarus for a list of projects that required his engagement.

Lazarus responded with a long list of initiatives underway, ranging from pursuing affordable housing on city properties to the citys carbon-neutrality efforts. He said there was a lot happening and there would be some lost momentum with a change in leadership.

Tom Crawford, the citys longtime chief financial officer, is now interim administrator. Council hasnt yet launched a search for a replacement, but its being discussed.

We are working with an outside consultant to seek council input with respect to their thoughts on the desired qualities of a new permanent city administrator, Taylor said.

Multiple council members have praised Crawford, saying the city is in good hands given his budget experience.

He has a lot of the characteristics that we need right now, Ramlawi said. Hes got the respect of everybody on council.

Ramlawi said he hasnt made any friends over firing Lazarus and acknowledges it was an unpopular move, but he thinks thats only because of lack of transparency.

Thats what made it very unpopular was the fact that we couldnt explain ourselves, he said.

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FLINT, MI -- Bond has been set for one of the four remaining suspects in the October 2017 rock-throwing death of Kenneth A. White.

Genesee Circuit Judge Joseph J. Farah set a $25,000 bond along with a GPS tether for 18-year-old Alexzander S. Miller, 18, at a motion hearing on Monday, June 29 in Flint.

Bond has been denied to the other defendants in the case. Sekelsky, Gray and Payne remain in custody with no bond.

Attorneys in the case previously filed a motion with the Court of Appeals after the last ruling by Farah, who turned down a request to have manslaughter charges dropped against Miller, Mark A. Sekelsky, 19, Trevor A. Gray, 17, and Mikadyn M. Payne, 18, that would allow the case to move down to juvenile court.

White, 32, of Mt. Morris died Oct. 18, 2017 after a rock came through the windshield of the vehicle he was riding in on southbound Interstate 75 in Vienna Township.

Additional stipulations for Millers bond include being confined to his mothers home, may not leave other than to meet with legal counsel, no social media use, no drugs or alcohol, and no contact with the co-defendants or victims family.

How we got here: A look at the Clio rock-throwing case

Farah expressed a big concern in making the bond decision.

It derives from the repeated nature of the activities of these kids, he said, referencing previously discussed Snapchat messages between the group.

Farah noted it appeared Miller did remove himself at what appears to be one of the earliest possible times (from the conversations) while the others continued to blabber about their decision.

Does that exonerate him? Sure doesnt, he said. Does that make him innocent? Sure doesnt, but Im not talking about deciding whether he is innocent or not.

Suspect in I-75 rock-throwing case sentenced 3-20 years in prison

Farah previously rejected sentencing Miller, Sekelsky, Gray and Payne as juveniles on the manslaughter charge.

Miller only spoke up once in court, to ask if he would lose credit for the months hes already served in custody if released on bond.

Farah told him he would receive no further credit for time served once he was released, no credit for time served if he is sent to a juvenile facility and as the case stands Miller would face a trial for manslaughter as an adult.

Kyle J. Anger, 19, was sentenced in October 2019 to 39 months to 20 years in prison, with credit for 740 days served. He was the only one charged as an adult in the case.

I know its not in the adult system (right now), said Farah. You need my approval to keep him past the age of 19 and you know how the people need to demonstrate that, by showing he is a danger to the community or he hasnt been rehabilitated which of course just paints this whole thing as mere charade that he is going to be kept in the juvenile system.

Michael and Frank Manley, attorneys for Sekelsky and Payne, said they have no intention of asking for bond in the case.

Prosecutors want to move rock-throwing cases to juvenile court

Part of our plea bargain that is currently before the Court of Appeals included that the boys would remain in jail until they were transferred to the juvenile programming center, said Michael Manley, adding Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton had expressed concerns about the suspects being released prior to going through extensive juvenile programming.

Frank Manley noted they would not want to trade a short-term victory if making such a move would jeopardize another facet of the case.

Barry Wolf, who took over as Millers defense attorney in mid-May, could not immediately be reached for comment.

He said the Court of Appeals move will determine if Farah violated the separation of powers which allow the prosecutor to decide on what charges are brought, not the judge.

The case has been expedited by the Court of Appeals, but it could still be months before a decision is made.

Potential ethical violations raised in Clio rock-throwing case
This story was updated to clarify the link below lists the Charles Stewart Mott Foundations water crisis-related work.

FLINT, MIFive years ago, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation promised to help the city of Flint recover from the water crisis.

Today, the foundation announced it has awarded $106 million to help the city bounce back. It announced it would award Flint $100 million for five years on May 11, 2016.

Ridgeway White, the foundations CEO, said the foundations commitment to its hometown is as strong as ever in a June 29 press release.

We know many residents still feel like things havent improved for them since the water crisis, and now were grappling with the coronavirus, White said.

The foundation intends on working with the city of Flint to address challenges it faces today and in the future, according to White.

Access to safe drinking water, health needs, education, strengthening nonprofit and public sectors, community engagement and local economy were all priorities the foundation focused on during its grantmaking.

A little more than $67 million is supporting educational opportunities in Flint, $22.2 million was invested into revitalizing the local economy and $7.6 million was used to support families health needs.

While the foundation intended on awarding $100 million, it awarded three additional grants, totaling $6 million, to improve educational opportunities.

The foundation gave $3.7 million to the Genesee Area Focus Fund to provide high-quality, research-based afterschool programming in Flint public schools.

It also awarded $3.3 million to the Crim Fitness Foundation to support community education in the Flint Community Schools District and $500,000 to the Cranbrook Educational Community to provide Flint K-12 students with supplemental educational opportunities in STEM.

A full list of grants and updates on the foundations water crisis-related work in Flint can be found here.
PULASKI TWP., MI  Police have identified the motorcyclist who died after being thrown from his bike while trying to avoid a deer in the roadway Friday morning in Jackson Countys Pulaski Township.

Mitchel Robert Weidner died Friday, June 26, of injuries suffered in the crash on Hanover Road near Pulaski Road, according to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office.

Weidner, 64, of Jerome, and another motorcyclist were riding east on Hanover Road about 11 a.m. when a deer entered the roadway and both men swerved to avoid it, police said.

Motorcyclist dies in Jackson County crash after deer enters roadway

While dodging the deer, they lost control of their bikes and were both thrown from their vehicles, police said.

Weidner suffered a head injury and was taken to Henry Ford Allegiance Health, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, police said.

The other motorcyclist, a 66-year-old Hanover Township man, suffered serious injuries and was taken Henry Ford Allegiance Health for treatment. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, police said.

Drugs and alcohol did not appear to be factors in the crash, which remained under investigation, police said.

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KALAMAZOO, MI  The Kalamazoo County Treasurers office has been on the receiving end of fraudulent currency and wishes to alert residents that counterfeit $100 bills are circulating through the community.

The office was in receipt of a fraudulent bill Friday, June 26, that was presented as part of a property tax payment, according to a news release from the office.

Thieves washed $10 bills and printed $100 bills over them, Kalamazoo County Treasurer Mary Balkema said in the release. We were able to spot the fake by noticing the watermarked president didnt match, and the security thread woven into the bill stated USA TEN and not USA 100 as it should.

In the fraudulent bill received by the county, the president in the watermark on the right is an image of Alexander Hamilton, not Benjamin Franklin. The watermark can be seen when holding the bill up to the light.

If you or your employees handle cash, its important to be aware this is happening in the community, and to check bills you handle over $10, Balkema said.

Balkema suggests looking at the Secret Services Know Your Money downloadable PDF which points out important characteristics in authenticating currency.

In September 2019, Balkemas office hosted the Secret Service at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center for an educational seminar for county employees who handle cash, as well as the general public. More than 300 people attended and learned how to better protect their organizations from financial crimes and fraudulent currency, according to the release.

Chief Deputy Treasurer Megan Buwalda told MLive Monday, June 29, that the county had more education events planned for 2020, but canceled them due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Members of the public can learn about future events at kalcounty.com/treasurer or by signing up for an email list at treasurer@kalcounty.com, she said.

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MUSKEGON, MI - Groundbreaking on a mixed-use development planned for downtown Muskegon has been delayed again, due to financing problems, but could take place later this summer in the best case scenario, according to city officials.

Thats about two years later than originally anticipated, but Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson expressed optimism that the six-story Leonard building, slated for Western Avenue and Second Street, is still moving forward.

Developer Corey Leonard, of Sweetwater Development Partners, for whom the project is named, was to give an update before city commissioners at a work session earlier this month. But there was not much update to give, Peterson said at that meeting.

No news isnt necessarily good news, Peterson told the commissioners.

When contacted by MLive, Leonard declined to comment about the groundbreaking delay.

Instead of a March groundbreaking, as was publicly anticipated, the developer hopes to break ground later this summer, Peterson said at the meeting.

The project has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and the development team is figuring out their financing as a result, Peterson said. The project was approved to receive $1.5 million in state funding in December, and Peterson said those dollars could be affected by the delay.

Its not going to kill the project, Peterson added.

A construction trailer arrived at the future site of the 51,565-square-foot building in May. The project has been projected to cost $8.9 million and include offices, apartments, underground parking, and 7,348 square feet of retail.

Construction was initially due to begin in fall 2018, and was postponed to May 2019, with an anticipated opening in June 2020.

In December, Leonard said on social media that prospective residents should instead look to a move-in date of March 2021, citing parking issues and the earlier onset of winter weather in Muskegon as reasons for the additional delay.

That announcement came as the project received a significant loan from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), administered through Chemical Bank, from the Michigan Strategic Fund as part of the Michigan Community Revitalization Program, an MEDC project that targets projects on blighted, obsolete or historic properties.

Leonard has also said he plans to add a second, similar building in the area, with condos instead of apartments. He has the option to develop the rest of the block, between First and Second streets.

Leonard is a Muskegon native, who graduated from Reeths-Puffer High School and operates an events graphics company, BigSigns.com, out of Grand Haven. He previously developed 605 W. Western Ave., which is now the site of Muskegon Radiology.

The site of the future Leonard building was once part of the Muskegon Mall, before it was demolished in 2003. It has been vacant ever since.

The site is also within an Opportunity Zone and has been approved by the Muskegon City Commission for a 15-year Neighborhood Enterprise Zone tax exemption.

COVID-19 slowed down construction on some downtown development projects, but that has recently picked back up somewhat, with progress being made at the future Lakeshore Convention Center on Fourth Street between West Western Avenue and Shoreline Drive, the Hartshorn Village condominium project, between Hartshorn Marina on Muskegon Lake and Fricano Place, and construction expected to begin soon on a new hotel that will anchor the future Foundry Square development, on Morris Avenue between First and Third streets.

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State funding boost approved for delayed downtown Muskegon mixed-use building

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MUSKEGON, MI - A monumental sculpture, honoring Muskegons history within the lumber industry, will be unveiled to the public at Heritage Landing Tuesday evening.

Named A City Built on Timber, the 20-foot-tall sculpture comprises a cube with blue glass, sitting atop interlocked steel beams. Workers installed the public artwork at the entrance to Heritage Landing on Monday, June 29.

The public is invited to a public dedication at Heritage Landing on Muskegon Lake at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, at which the artists, a Detroit-based sibling duo, will be present.

It is the second of what will be 10 large public artworks that will be placed throughout the city of Muskegon through the MuskegonCity Public Art Initiative, according to that groups program manager, Judy Hayner.

The structure celebrates the role that natural elements - especially water and trees - played in Muskegons history, from the birch bark canoes used by Indigenous people, to the lumber trade through which Muskegons benefactor, Charles Hackley, built his wealth, according to a press release describing the project.

The fortunes of West Michigan and Muskegon have been tied to our surrounding lakes and rivers, our land and natural resources, and the people attracted to these waters since the beginning of its history, reads the release.

The sculpture was designed and built by brothers Erik and Israel Nordin, a Detroit-based duo that has created large public artworks for cities around the Midwest, including Detroit, Dearborn, and Sterling Heights, as well as at Interlochen, an arts camp in northern Michigan, and Belle Isle, a state park in the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor, Canada, among other places.

"A City Built on Timber," a new public art commission from the MuskegonCity Public Art Initiative, was installed at the entrance to Heritage Landing, off Muskegon Lake, on Monday, June 29. The 20-foot-tall steel-and-glass sculpture was designed by Detroit-based Erik and Israel Nordin of the Detroit Design Center.

This sculpture is the second commission by the MuskegonCity Public Art Initiative, following Moxie the Mastadon, which was installed outside the Lakeshore Museum Center, 430 W Clay Ave., last summer. The initiative plans to eventually place 10 large-scale artworks around the city, including murals on railway bridges over Seaway Drive, and a steel-and-glass sculpture for the entrance to Pere Marquette Park.

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.

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MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  After 35 homes suffered severe flooding in Muskegon County last month, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is appealing for financial assistance from the federal government.

Whitmer has requested that the Small Business Administration make an administrative declaration that will make long-term low-interest loans available to homeowners impacted by heavy rains on May 17-19.

As part of a damage assessment survey between June 16-23, the Small Business Administration determined that 35 homes incurred major damage because of the flooding, Whitmer wrote to the director of the SBA on June 26. That damage involved uninsured losses of at least 40 percent of the homes prior fair market values, she wrote.

She also requested the declaration be extended to Kent, Ottawa, Newaygo and Oceana counties under the contiguous county provision.

Muskegon received 3.35 inches of rainfall Sunday, May 17, alone, making it the second heaviest 24-hour rainfall total in May since 1904, according to the National Weather Service.

The heavy rainfall on top of already high-water levels resulted in major flooding that shut down roadways, filled basements and led to State of Emergency declarations in Muskegon and Ottawa counites.

Heavy rainfall in Kent County shut down over two dozen sections of roads countywide.

Michelle Priest, a resident of Fruitport in Muskegon County, told MLive at the time that flooding had trapped her in her home due to flooding that left the road to her house impassable.

The damage in our area is catastrophic, Priest said.

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MIDLAND, MI  All lanes of the US-10 bridge over the Tittabawassee River at Sanford are open to traffic following flood damage repairs that restricted lanes since May.

Now, the Michigan Department of Transportation is moving work to fix M-30 bridges in Midland and Gladwin counties washed out when the Edenville Dam burst, sending a torrent of water down the river.

Debris removal for the M-30 structures over the Tittabawassee River in northern Midland County and over the Tobacco River in Gladwin County is scheduled to begin Monday, June 29 and be completed by July 22.

Bridges were impacted by flooding from the failed Edenville and Sanford dams, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

MDOT has awarded an $1.2 million emergency contract to Midland-based Fisher Contracting to do the debris removal.

The following details the work planned for both bridges:

M-30 over the Tittabawassee River

The contractor will use a barge to remove existing debris and trees blocking the bridge piers.

Following debris removal, inspection of the existing piers will be completed and a maintenance plan established.

MDOT plans to administer an emergency contract to address required maintenance for the bridge and bridge approach, following complete review of the existing structure and determining repair options.

M-30 over the Tobacco River

The contractor will remove existing debris, including remaining pieces of the original causeway bridge washed away during the flood.

Following debris removal, inspection of the existing channel will begin and soil borings collected.

MDOT is currently working with temporary bridging solution vendors to determine an appropriate temporary bridge structure that will remain in place for several years while permanent bridge plans are established.

Following debris removal, MDOT will administer an emergency contract to begin construction of a temporary bridge at M-30 over the Tobacco River.

The US-10 bridge over Sanford Lake fully reopened around 4 p.m. Saturday, June 27, according to Jocelyn Hall, MDOT Bay Region spokeswoman. Both sides of the bridge suffered damage from the floodwaters and debris carried with it, with the westbound, upstream side of the bridge suffering the most damage.

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MIDLAND COUNTY, MI  A 21-year-old man is dead after he rear-ended a piece of farm equipment being pulled by a tractor in Midland County.

Deputies with the Midland County Sheriffs Office were sent out shortly after 11:30 p.m. Sunday, June 28 to West Redstone Road, east of South Lewis Road in Jasper Township for a personal injury crash.

An investigation by the sheriffs office indicates Noah Jennell, of Breckenridge, was headed west on West Redstone Road in a green 2006 Saturn Ion when he struck a hay merger being hauled by a tractor.

Jennell was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The driver of the tractor, a 29-year-old Breckenridge man, was not injured, police said.

Neither driver had on a seat belt at the time of the crash. Airbags in the Saturn deployed due to the impact.

The incident remains under investigation including police awaiting toxicology reports to determine if alcohol or drugs may have been factors in the fatal crash.

Once the investigation is complete, a report will be sent to the Midland County Prosecutor for review.

St. Louis Fire Rescue, Mid-Michigan EMS, and Dennis Wagner, the Midland County Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, assisted deputies at the scene.
MIDLAND, MI - After hearing a proposal to buy their condo units, residents of Village West in Midland took the first step toward deciding what will become of their flood-damaged homes.

The condominiums located at at 3314 Pine Grove Drive in Midland were some of the many homes hit hard by record-high flooding in May in mid-Michigan. Many residents found that their condos were condemned or would be too costly to fix.

During the week of June 15, the Village West Condominium Association voted not to rebuild the development.

However, Midland-born investor Doug Loose met with residents on Thursday, June 26, to discuss an alternative solution. He wants to buy Village Wests 46 condos, repair them and rent them back to residents at 75 percent market value.

Loose, who has spent much of the last 10 years repairing hurricane-damaged houses in Texas, found out about Village Wests plight because his parents live there. While Loose said that fact did motivate him to act, he also believes renting out the condos is financially beneficial in the long-term.

These are beautiful houses in a beautiful neighborhood, Loose said. Renting will be a viable business because its a rental property of 46 high-end units.

Loose said he has spent the last three weeks researching Midland and FEMA flooding and restoration guidelines, as well as talking to Village West residents about his plan. Residents told Loose they believed they would have to make their homes 6 feet higher, such as by filling in basements, to comply with rebuilding codes. While that may be true for some condos, Loose said he believes thats not true for many of them.

After I flew up from Texas and saw the houses, I saw they werent as bad as people thought, Loose said. When I saw these places, in my opinion, theyre not as bad as some houses Ive worked on in Texas.

Loose spent time combing through Village Wests master deeds, the condo associations bylaws and local codes. Soon afterward, he made the determination that he could offer an alternative to demolishing the condos for good.

In his proposal, Loose told residents that he would buy all 46 condos from each individual homeowner, restore them using FEMA guidelines and create a rental community that targets mature adults. Renting the homes will take much of the financial responsibility off the residents if another flood occurs, Loose said. Any current resident would be able to stay if they chose to at a rate of 75 percent of the condos market value.

Additionally, Loose said he is willing to work with any returning resident to design their home. They can pick colors, flooring options and add features, such as larger windows. After a few years of owning the condos, Loose said he would also want to build a community center with shared spaces for residents and a place for an in-house physician. He said the rental price would be cheaper than the current rate residents pay once they factor in taxes, association fees and other costs.

Loose added that he believes another plus will be an increase in revenue to the City of Midland. After renovations and adding other features, such as wheelchair lifts, the value of the homes will increase. To him, the plan is a win for the residents, the city and himself.

While many residents expressed support during Thursdays meeting, Village West Realtor and board spokesman Logan Richetti said residents are not ready to make a decision. During the meeting, he said many residents expressed concern that Loose would not offer one bulk price for all the units.

Im not buying the association. Im buying the individual units, Loose explained. So offers will vary by unit. I was asked to reconsider and have a bulk offer for all units, but Im not inclined to do that right now.

There was also confusion over contingencies related to unanimous consent in accepting Looses proposal. In the draft presented to the board Thursday night, Loose said that it was highly preferred that all Village West residents consent to the proposal.

It doesnt mandate it, but its preferred, Loose said. If it comes down to it, depending on the conditions and the situation, we could work with the residents on a case-by-case basis.

While he wouldnt confirm how much he is offering in total for Village West, Loose admitted the offer was pretty low. Thats largely because of how much it will cost him to fix the condos, he said. Loose isnt sharing how much those costs are since he has not seen each unit yet and therefore has not assessed the full extent of damage that will need to be repaired. The property is valued at $8.3 million, and he said, its not that and its not zero.

Loose said he understood the condo owners have a long road ahead of them, but cautioned that time is of the essence. If the Village West residents wait too long to make a decision, condos that still have drywall, carpeting and other flood-soaked items will start to increase repair costs exponentially.

If the board waits too long and we cant even go into the houses anymore because of the damage, I probably will back down and let chips fall where they may, Loose said. Timing is an issue, but we have some time.

The condo association board will meet again to discuss Looses proposal, Richetti said. The boards next step will be to determine whether or not to list the property and look for additional proposals.

One solution the board does not see as viable anymore is asking for a city or FEMA buyout of the condos. Richetti said such buyouts are highly uncommon, and the board believes they will be better off selling the condos to a contractor.

While he said it was too early to tell how many Village West residents seem open to Looses deal, Richetti said the board is very open to Looses proposal. The board will now have to decide if they want to see other offers, Richetti said.

I believe everybody in the situation is working in good faith, he said. Theyre working to come to good resolution thats in best interest of all in the association. I think well get there.

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Cadillac will be the latest city to host no-cost coronavirus testing with help from the Michigan National Guard.

The drive-thru testing site will be open Tuesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 1 at Baker College, 9600 E. 13th St. Tests will be at no cost to the public from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The Cadillac testing site is the 28th of its kind over the last six weeks, according to the states emergency operations center. Its part of a partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan State Police, Michigan National Guard and local health departments.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said state workers are excelling at making widespread testing safe, easy and accessible.

This type of testing remains one of the best ways to ensure the safety of our neighbors and communities as we safely reengage our economy and Michiganders get back to work, Whitmer said in a prepared statement.

Members of the Michigan National Guard have helped throughout the pandemic, including through testing and screening, distributing personal protection equipment, and assistance at food banks across the state.

The guard has more than 45 trained, three-member testing teams made up of a certified medic and two members to assist with paperwork, logistics and non-medical tasks. All members have tested negative for COVID-19 and have been following strict medical protocols, according to Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Stepping up during times of crisis to aid our communities as neighbors and public servants is what the Michigan National Guard is all about, Rogers said in a prepared statement. Even as more than 1,100 guard members have been supporting the states response to COVID-19, not a single member of the Michigan National Guard has tested positive themselves as a result of their involvement with these missions  proof that the guidance for risk mitigation from public health officials has been effective.

As of Sunday, June 28, Michigan has reported 63,261 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5,911 deaths linked to the infectious respiratory illness.

The state has conducted more than 1.2 million coronavirus tests, including more than 1 million diagnostic tests and 158,486 serology (antibody) tests.

No-cost testing is available at dozens of sites statewide and health officials recommend getting tested if you or someone close to you is sick or has symptoms, or if you work outside your home.

To find a testing site near you, check out the states online test finder, here, send an email to COVID19@michigan.gov, or call 888-535-6136 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her support for banning the use of chokeholds by law enforcement, limit the use of no-knock warrants and a number of other reforms to address police brutality in Michigan.

Whitmers administration backed a series of policy proposals Monday that would require additional training and oversight regarding use of force for members of law enforcement, as well as consequences for agencies and officers if they fail to comply.

The Whitmer administration recommended legislation requiring an independent investigation for all shootings and use of force cases that result in the death of unarmed civilians, as well as a proposal to require agencies to adopt duty to intervene policies.

The recommendations also include classifying false, racially-motivated 911 calls as a hate crime.

Related: Gov. Whitmer announces plans for police reform as protests continue

In a statement, Whitmer said the plan was developed in partnership with community leaders and law enforcement organizations and said the measures will help us ensure that law enforcement officials treat all Michiganders with humanity and respect.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist added in the statement that the recommendations, if enacted, would help ensure the safety of Black Michiganders across the state.

As part of the plan, the Whitmer administration is also recommending incentive programs for law enforcement agencies to hire and retain officers who live where they work, as well as retention of disciplinary records for officers involved in violations of law or improper use of force.

Michigan Legislative Black Caucus Chair Marshall Bullock, D-Detroit, endorsed the proposal, calling it a next step in addressing the issues of police brutality and accountability.

As members of the Senate and House we continue to work on bicameral legislation to place these and other reforms into statute and look forward to continued collaboration with (Whitmer), the community and the departments, he said.

The proposals come as protests against police brutality and racial disparities in policing continue throughout Michigan and the nation. On Monday, supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement rallied at the Michigan Capitol building.

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Ghanaian Comedian Ajeezay has called out his fellow comedians, Warris and Foster Romanus, for what he describes as fake behavior on their part.

In an interview on Joy Primes Morning show, outspoken comedian Ajeezay told hosts Jay Foley and Emefa Adeti that he is distancing himself from some individuals in the comedy industry and named Comedian Warris and Romanus as two such individuals.

"Comedian Warris! That guy is so fake said Ajeezay. In fact, Warris is so fake. I was there when Warris was auditioned to be a Stand-up Comedian. When the wave started, he went to social media to say good things about me [at the time].

According to Ajeezay, Warriss support and respect for him was short-lived. Foster Romanus, likewise, has sidelined him and refused to support him.

"The hate is internal; there's this hatred amongst my own colleagues, so the fraternity is not really celebrated because of that he said.

I dropped a video a couple of months ago and I called my brother Foster Romanus who has a show on UTV, the Late Nite show, and I told him that I want to come promote the video on the show because I see you putting my colleagues on. Foster told me that he will talk to his producers and I said okay. Till now Foster hasn't finished talking to his producers, just to put my video on his show. And Foster is my brother, somebody I play free shows for.

Nicknamed The non-fa King, Ajeezay has been doing comedy for several years and played a role in the growth of other upcoming comedic acts.

Prime Morning airs on Joy Prime from Mondays to Fridays at 6 am.
Malawi's newly elected President Lazarus Chakwera vowed Sunday to maintain unity in the southern African country after quashing the incumbent's bid for a second term in the re-run of a hotly contested election.

It was a dramatic twist of fortune for outgoing president Peter Mutharika, whose victory in a May 2019 ballot was overturned by the Constitutional Court over fraud allegations.

Chakwera, a former evangelist preacher, was declared the winner of the election replay with almost 59 percent of the vote, according to results announced late Saturday.

Malawi is only the second sub-Saharan African country to have presidential poll results overturned in court, after Kenya in 2017.

It is also the first time in the region that a vote re-run has led to the defeat of an incumbent leader, and the election was hailed by a number of African politicians.

Chakwera said it was "an honour" to be president after taking his oath of office in the capital Lilongwe.

"It is an honour forged in the furnace of your desire and your demand for change."

Addressing thousands of supporters in Lilongwe's Freedom Square, 65-year-old Chakwera vowed to restore "faith in the possibility of having a government that serves" and "fights for you".

He appealed to those who did not vote for him, saying: "Malawi is home to you too... so long as I am its president, you too will prosper."

'We have waited too long'

Chakwera leads Malawi's oldest party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which previously ruled from 1964 to 1994 under Hastings Banda's one-party rule.

Map of Malawi. By Jean Michel CORNU (AFP/File)

Some 6.8 million Malawians returned to the polls on Tuesday after the country's top court found the first election had been marred by "grave" and "widespread irregularities" -- including the use of correction fluid to tamper with result sheets.

Chakwera was pronounced the winner with 2.6 million votes, while Mutharika took 1.75 million and underdog Peter Dominico Kuwani over 32,400.

Voter turnout was just under 65 percent.

In power since 2014, Mutharika won 38 percent of the discredited vote last year, ahead of Chakwera's 35 percent.

Saulos Chilima of the opposition United Transformation Movement (UTM) was sworn in as vice-president on Sunday.

"Today is unbelievable because this feat seemed impossible just a month ago," said UTM supporter Christina Nkosi.

"We have waited too long for this dawn," echoed 70-year-old Mary Kaponda, a retired nurse sporting MCP garb.

IT expert Daud Suleman, a key witness in the election court case, told AFP: "We have made history and demonstrated how much we can achieve as a people.

"Now the challenge will be to challenge this energy into moving the country forward."

Around half of landlocked Malawi's 18 million people live below the poverty line. Many rely on subsistence farming.

The country is also grappling with a coronavirus outbreak that has infected over 1,000 people and killed at least 13 -- although numbers are widely thought to be underestimated due to lack of testing.

All complaints 'resolved'

Mutharika, 79, has not yet commented on his defeat.

On Saturday, he had argued the re-run was flawed -- citing violence and intimidation against monitors allegedly "beaten, hacked and abducted", and describingg the vote as the "worst in Malawi's history".

The Malawi Electoral Commission dismissed the accusations and said all complaints had been "resolved".

But Mutharika's Democratic Progressive Party has reiterated calls for the commission to annul the results of the second vote and declare a third poll, something political analysts doubted would happen.

Mutharika supporter Tay Grin was accepting of the outcome.

"Our political choices might be different but we remain united knowing that friendship means much more."

'Very clear' lesson

Several African politicians congratulated Chakwera.

"The mandate our Malawi brothers and sisters have given you... is a confirmation of their desire for progressive leadership," Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta said.

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa hailed Malawians for "turning up in large numbers" to exercise their democratic right in the midst of a coronavirus outbreak.

Kenya's former prime minister Raila Odinga -- who lost to the incumbent in the 2017 re-run -- commended Mutharika for facilitating a "peaceful and orderly transfer of power".

"The election was followed keenly beyond Malawi and is a symbol of hope for those who support democracy in Africa and around the world," he tweeted.

Tanzania's opposition Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT Wazalendo) said Malawi had given a "very clear" lesson ahead of the east African country's own elections in October.

"Authoritarian and repressive governments can be beaten when the opposition unites," its leader Zitto Kabwe said.

"President-elect Chakwera's election victory is an important moment for democracy in the African continent."

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A private legal practitioner, Yaw Oppong has expressed worry over comments seeking to trivialize the consolidated suit that challenged the Electoral Commissions (EC) decision to compile a new register for the 2020 general elections.

He said the suits brought against the electoral management body rather represented a bold step towards the countrys jurisprudence.

I have alternative perspectives to views expressed about whether or not this whole case was necessary or needless. In my respectful view, it was not needless at all. It was not only the NDC that went to court, but another citizen of Ghana also went to court. If there is a dispute in the community or within the populace and it is only resolvable by law, let us encourage people to go to court for the matter to be determined. It is not about a disagreement about what anybody has said, he said on the Big Issue.

In affirming the already existing plans of the EC, the Supreme Court, on Thursday, June 25, 2020, ruled that the existing voter ID card and birth certificates cannot be used as proof of identity to register in the upcoming voter registration exercise after clearing the EC to go ahead and compile a new voters' register for the 2020 general elections.

It followed a suit filed by Ghana's largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Court asking for a declaration on the existing voter ID card as a valid proof of identity for the purposes of voter registration.

Aside from the NDC, a private citizen, Mark Takyi-Banson, also challenged the EC's decision to compile an entirely new register and exclude the existing voter ID.

But the apex court stressed that the EC was exercising its discretion in the discharge of its constitutional mandate in cleaning the voters register and should be deemed as authorized to be acting within the law and the regulations therein, and cannot be faulted even if it is considered that there is a more efficient mode or method available.

Mr. Oppong said: I have, as a matter of concern, commended both the NDC and the private citizen for being bold. Going to court is not an easy thing to do, so for a person to go to the Supreme Court to redress their grievances or seek an understanding or a definite interpretation of a matter, I think we should rather encourage people.

---citinewsroom
President Nana Akufo-Addo

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Fellow Ghanaians, good evening, and thank you for having me in your homes, once again. Two weeks ago, we begun the reopening of our schools, as part of the phased approach to bring our nation back to normalcy, following the outbreak of the novel COVID-19 disease in our country. Since that time, final year University students, SHS 3 and SHS 2 Gold Track students have all returned to school.

From, tomorrow, Monday, 29th June, 2020, final year Junior High School students, in seventeen thousand, four hundred and thirty-nine (17,439) schools across the country, will return to school to prepare and sit for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). They will be the final, and, indeed, the largest batch of students to return to school.

In all, we are expecting some seven hundred and fifty thousand (750,000) persons, comprising five hundred and thirty-two thousand (532,000) JHS 3 students, and two hundred and eighteen thousand (218,000) teaching and non-teaching staff, and invigilators, to be involved in tomorrow's exercise.

To protect the lives of these students, and all other personnel, Government has put in place the relevant measures, in consultation with the Conference of Heads of Basic Schools and Regional and District Directors of Education and Health.

Like Senior High Schools, Universities and other tertiary institutions, all Junior High Schools across the country have been fumigated and disinfected.

Additionally, we have procured and distributed forty-five thousand (45,000) Veronica Buckets; ninety thousand (90,000) gallons of liquid soap; ninety thousand (90,000) rolls of tissue paper; forty thousand (40,000) thermometer guns; seven hundred and fifty thousand (750,000) pieces of 200mils sanitizers; and 2.2 million reusable facemasks, i.e. three per person, all with the intent of guaranteeing the safety of the students, teaching and non-teaching staff. Two (2) masks each will be delivered tomorrow, and the third within the next two (2) weeks.

I have been very impressed by the adherence to the enhanced hygiene and social distancing protocols by authorities and students in our universities and other tertiary institutions, and senior high schools. Yes, there have been a few hitches surrounding the re-opening, but, largely, they have been smooth and seamless.

In these institutions, the washing of hands under running water, the maintenance of social distancing, the refrain from shaking hands and hugging, and the wearing of masks, have become a part of the routine of school life.

We are determined to ensure the same level of conformity in our Junior High Schools. So, through the District Directors of Education and the District Directors of Health, a COVID-19 sensitisation programme will be organized for all headteachers and their teaching staff, from Monday, the first day of school. This will ensure that the dos and donts of the protocols are clearly spelt out for the teachers for onward transmission to the students.

JHS 3 students will be in school for eleven (11) weeks of preparation and revision, before spending the following week to take the BECE. There will be no more than thirty (30) students in a class, and there will be a reduced school day, with students reporting to school at 9am, and closing at 1pm.

No breaks outside the classroom will be permitted; assemblies and sporting events are banned; and the use by outsiders of school premises for religious and other activities will not be allowed. As is the case for the other educational institutions, each basic school has been mapped to a health facility, and care will be provided to the sick in these health facilities by nurses assigned to these schools.

I assure all parents and guardians that Government will not put the lives of seven hundred and fifty thousand (750,000) students, teachers and non- teaching staff, who will be returning to school from tomorrow, at risk. We have made all the required provisions to protect them whilst in school. It bears repeating, however, that they must all adhere strictly to enhanced personal hygiene and social distancing protocols, regularly wash their hands with soap under running water, refrain from shaking hands and hugging, and wear masks to protect themselves and others. Our survival, I repeat, is in our own hands, and, together, we can defeat this virus.

We all know that these are truly historic times. The world is reeling from the effects of this pandemic, and the things we took for granted, some six (6) months ago, are now under question. The definite and undeniable have been replaced with uncertainty.

However, as with any other form of hardship, there are always lessons to be learned, as there are opportunities for growth. What we have witnessed, recently, is that, despite us living in an interconnected and globalised world, each nation, ultimately, stands alone in its challenge to protect its people.

Nonetheless, it is obvious that international co-operation, where feasible and practical, can serve to complement the resolution of national challenges.

In Ghana, from the very onset, Government has acted to limit and stop the importation of the virus; contain its spread; provide adequate care for the sick; limit the impact of the virus on social and economic life; and inspire the expansion of our domestic capability and deepen our self-reliance.

As at Saturday, 27th June, 2020, our country has recorded seventeen thousand, three hundred and fifty-one (17,351) confirmed cases, with twelve thousand, nine hundred and ninety-four (12,994) recoveries, representing some seventy five percent (75%) of positives. This means that, currently, we have four thousand, two hundred and forty-five (4,245) active cases, having conducted two hundred and ninety-four thousand, eight hundred and sixty-seven (294,867) tests, one of the highest on the continent. Thirty (30) persons are severely and critically ill, and we have a total of one hundred and twelve (112) sad deaths, constituting 0.6% of positives, as we maintain one of the lowest death rates in the world.

Fellow Ghanaians, as I have stated before, one of the key objects of our fight against COVID-19 has been to save lives, and reduce the number of deaths. The Ghana Health Service has observed that most of the patients that have been lost to the virus died either on arrival at the hospital, or within forty-eight (48) hours after arrival. Unfortunately, we still have some persons in the country who are not taking the dangers associated with this disease seriously, and, therefore, do not seek medical help as soon as they have symptoms that suggest an infection of the virus.

There should be no fear of stigmatisation or embarrassment with being diagnosed with COVID-19. So, please, when you begin to experience symptoms such as fever, persistent cough, bodily pains, loss of taste and smell, and difficulty in breathing, seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility.

Most patients, who are critically ill and need intensive care, do, indeed, survive the virus, if they seek medical help promptly. For example, out of fifty-three (53) patients admitted into intensive care units (ICU) at the Ga East Municipal Hospital and the University of Ghana Medical Centre, since the pandemic struck, forty-four (44), i.e. eighty three percent (83%), have fully recovered, and have been discharged.

This is, in part, due to the immense dedication and hard work being exhibited by our healthcare workers, who continue to care for those affected by the virus, and for the sick in general. In recognition of these efforts, I announced, during my fifth (5th) address to the nation, on Sunday, 5th April, 2020, an incentive package to motivate and express appreciation to all health workers for the months of April, May and June.

I am happy to announce that I have decided to extend the incentive package for health workers by another three (3) months. This means that all health workers will pay no income taxes for the next three months, i.e. July, August and September. Again, all frontline health workers, as defined by the Ministry of Health, will continue to receive the additional allowance of fifty percent (50%) of their basic salary per month, i.e. for July, August and September.

I know the implementation of this directive for the months of April, May and June has been fraught with some challenges, caused, mainly, by the protracted discussions over the definition of who qualifies as frontline health workers in this context. I have, however, been assured that they have now been resolved, and payments will be effected from the end of June. I should reiterate that the insurance package for health workers is still in place.

Whilst we appreciate the efforts of our health workers, I continue to urge them to remain professional and compassionate. Every avoidable death, be it corona-related or not, is a tragedy.

Let us all be reminded, in our daily routines, that adhering to the enhanced social distancing and hygiene protocols will not only save our lives, but also prevent our healthcare infrastructure from being over-burdened.

Let us wash our hands with soap under running water, use alcohol-based sanitizers, maintain the protocols on social distancing, avoid person to person contact, eat our local foods that boost our immune systems, and, yes, wear masks at all times when we leave our homes. These are the weapons of our battle.

We must keep our guard up at all times, and see to it that sooner, rather than later, COVID-19 becomes nothing but a blip on our forward march to sustained development, progress and prosperity.

I have been very encouraged by how our religious leaders have supported and embraced the fight against COVID-19, despite their concerns with some elements of the prescribed safety protocols and guidelines. I will continue to engage with them and other stakeholders, in our efforts to defeat the virus.

Fellow Ghanaians, as we cross the halfway point of 2020, arguably one of the most difficult years in recent memory, I continue to feel a sense of gratitude, determination and faith. Gratitude towards you, the Ghanaian people, who have shown such extraordinary grace and selflessness throughout this difficult period. Determination in my work for all of you, bringing Ghana through this crisis and beyond, and making sure we come out of this stronger than ever before; and Faith in the One true God who orders our every step.

This too shall pass! For the Battle is the Lord's, and, with Him by our side, we fear nothing but His judgment, and need nothing but His Grace.

May God bless us all, and our homeland Ghana, and make her great and strong.

I thank you for your attention.
Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama Joyce Bawa Mogtari has accused President Akufo-Addo of beating the war drums regarding the massive deployment of security personnel to the opposition NDC strongholds head of the voter registration on June 30.

She said the presence of the military in the Volta, Oti, Upper East and Upper West Regions are part of a larger strategy to intimidate them into abstaining from the registration exercise starting next Tuesday.

"To send troops into regions in times of peace for the sole purpose of preventing them from registration amounts to declaring war on them. Any President sanctioning this sort of activity stands in breach of his oath to the people of Ghana. Any President doing this, commits a grave sin against the very people he swore to protect," she said in a statement.

She is urging Ghanaians to take interest in this matter and not sit aloof, adding that, they must not be lulled into a false sense of security in the thinking that this is happening far away from you.

Read full statement below:

STATEMENT IN SOLIDARITY WITH REGIONS UNDER MILITARY SIEGE

Reports have filtered in of a massive deployment of Military and other security personnel in the Volta, Oti, Upper East and Upper West Regions. The unexplained security deployments to these border regions have clearly been timed to coincide with the commencement of the Voter Registration exercise across the country.

These deployments have begun to create panic and anxiety among residents of the various regions who have been left in no doubt that it has been done as part of a larger strategy to intimidate them into abstaining from the registration exercise starting next Tuesday.

I have sufficient reason to believe that there is merit in the concerns raised by the residents of these Regions. This represents another unprecedented low in the shameless abuse of state power to attack the very citizens whose safety and security the Akufo-Addo government should be protecting.

It is becoming evident by the day, that the Akufo-Addo government perceives political power as an end in itself hence the resort to such crude and high-handed measures to usurp the mandate of the people.

To send troops into regions in times of peace for the sole purpose of preventing them from registration amounts to declaring war on them. Any President sanctioning this sort of activity stands in breach of his oath to the people of Ghana. Any President doing this, commits a grave sin against the very people he swore to protect.

No one would have imagined that a Ghanaian government would be so obsessed with hanging on to power as to subject its own citizens to such mistreatment and execute an ethno-tribal agenda of this magnitude against them.

The singling out of the Volta, Oti and other regions for this kind of attack must be condemned by all. We cannot remain silent while a part of our country is marginalized on account of political calculation. The people of those regions reserve the right to support any political party of their choice and should not be punished unjustly for doing so.

Mr. President put an immediate end to this needless siege and live up to your oath of office which binds you to treat all Ghanaians equally and ensure their safety and security.

To the men and women of the Ghana Armed Forces who have been deployed for this exercise, remember that your fidelity is to the state of Ghana and not a political party. The people you encounter are the very people under whose authority you wear your respected uniforms.

The politicians who send you to intimidate fellow citizens will not be there always but your commitment to the sanctity of the state of Ghana is eternal. I urge you therefore not to become the tool by which the rights of innocent Ghanaians are abused. Bear in mind that there is always a day of accountability and that any abuse you subject your fellow citizens to, will be subject to scrutiny in the near future.

To all Ghanaians, I implore you to take interest in this matter and not sit aloof. The time has come to call out this government that continues to over-reach and abuse the mandate you bestowed on them. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security in the thinking that this is happening far away from you.

A government that can put fear in some of its citizens just to rig elections, is a clear and present danger to all citizens and it is only a matter of time before the tyranny and oppression reaches your own doorstep. Let us rally to the defense of our brethren in the affected regions and stop this power-drunk government in its tracks before they plunge our beautiful country into irredeemable anarchy.

To our compatriots in the Volta, Oti, Upper East and Upper West Regions, do not be crestfallen over these acts of intimidation. Let this motivate you to turn up to register when the exercise begins. That is the only way through which you can retain the power to vote out this government that has put you under siege because of your legitimate political choices.

This is a government that through its behavior has proven to be the most undemocratic and oppressive under the fourth republic. In the process, they have proven themselves totally undeserving of the mandate of the people.

Register in your numbers so you can vote them out and bring in a government that will respect the rights of all Ghanaians irrespective of their political choices or voting patterns.

A government that will not accept only regions that vote for them as populated by Ghanaians. That is the government I will lead to transform our country into a prosperous one in which all will be treated equally and with respect.

When our forebears founded Ghana, they did so in the singular belief that we would live in unity and harmony, each contributing their quota to our nations development.

They did not envisage that in a later generation, some leader would arrogate unto himself the authority to unilaterally declare other of our citizens non-Ghanaian simply because of historical voting patterns.

The Fourth Republican Constitution of Ghana guarantees the rights of all Ghanaians to make free choices, those choices cannot become a basis for being targeted and subjected to intimidation and ill-treatment.

The siege of the Volta, Oti, Upper East and Upper West Regions must end now.

SIGNED

Joyce Bawah MOGTARI

Special Aide
More than half a million people have died in the coronavirus pandemic, an AFP tally showed Sunday, as bars in Los Angeles were ordered to close again due to surging cases in the United States.

The worldwide number of recorded infections is now just over 10 million from the virus that first emerged in China late last year, with fears growing of a full-blown second wave. The rate of contagion has doubled since May 21.

Number of official deaths, as of June 28. By Simon MALFATTO (AFP)

One million new infections were recorded in just six days, according to the AFP count based on official sources, even as some countries loosen punishing lockdowns that have devastated their economies and thrown millions out of work.

The United States, the hardest-hit country, has more than 2.5 million cases alone, and efforts to reopen the world's biggest economy have been set back by a jump in new infections in big states such as Florida and California.

Medical staff carry a patient infected with Covid-19 into an Airbus A400M at an air-base in Matoury, Guiana. By jody amiet (AFP)

President Donald Trump was under growing pressure to set an example by wearing a face mask as his health secretary warned the "window is closing" for the country to gain control of the situation.

The disease is also rampaging through Latin America, where Brazil alone has over 1.3 million cases.

Infections are up too in some other parts of the world that have reopened, with Europe registering a caseload of over 2.6 million, although daily rates have stabilised.

'Severe and complicated'

The US state of California was the latest authority to reimpose restrictions, ordering bars in Los Angeles and six other counties -- an area with 13.5 million residents -- to close because of the rising number of cases.

A market in Leh, India, is closed amid concerns over the spread of COVID-19. By Tauseef MUSTAFA (AFP)

The hardest-hit parts of the US are in the south and west, where many state leaders had pushed for early economic reopenings.

But Los Angeles, the second-largest US city, only re-opened its bars on June 19.

California had already ordered some areas to reinstate stay-at-home orders, while San Francisco announced a "pause" in its reopening.

In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis conceded there had been an "explosion" in new cases as the state notched a record 9,585 cases in 24 hours.

A man holds a sign in front of Disneyland Resort calling for higher safety standards before its reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic in Anaheim, California. By Apu GOMES (AFP)

Young people frustrated by months of confinement have poured back to the state's beaches, boardwalks and bars, often without masks and seemingly unconcerned about social distancing.

Miami announced beaches would close over the July 4 holiday weekend and bars are also shutting their doors.

New coronavirus cases have been surging in more than half of US states, reaching record highs.

Several other countries have also imposed new restrictions to counter fresh outbreaks.

People wear masks as they wait in line to undergo COVID-19 swab tests at a testing station in Beijing. By GREG BAKER (AFP)

China imposed a strict lockdown on nearly half a million people in a province surrounding Beijing to contain a fresh cluster.

Beijing official Xu Hejian described the situation as "severe and complicated".

And while the British government warned it might have to shut down the city of Leicester because of a spike in cases, it still plans a July 4 reopening of pubs, restaurants and hairdressers across England.

In Paris, police used tear gas to disperse crowds of young people who had gathered for an impromptu party on Saturday evening.

'Very serious situation'

A woman stands next to protective suits designed for 'cholitas' (indigenous women who wear typical skirts) outside a store in La Paz, Bolivia. By AIZAR RALDES (AFP)

The tension between reopening battered economies -- efforts pushed in the US by Trump -- and public health concerns is a source of debate in nearly every country.

US deaths now exceed 125,000, about a quarter of the world total.

"This is a very, very serious situation and the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control," Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on CNN.

The EU has pushed back a decision on a list of "safe countries" from which travellers can visit Europe -- a list which could exclude the US.

People visit Old Spitalfields Market in London as Britian's Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledges to spend billions on infrastructure to revive the economy. By DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS (AFP)

With Trump struggling to get his re-election bid off the ground ahead of the November vote, the campaign confirmed that planned events featuring Vice President Mike Pence in Arizona and Florida next week had been postponed "out of an abundance of caution".

Infections are also running higher in India, with densely populated cities particularly hard hit.

Although a nationwide lockdown is gradually being eased, the country set a daily record Saturday with 18,500 new cases and 385 deaths. Total infections are at 509,000, with more than 15,600 deaths.

Iran, which has struggled to curb its outbreak even as it gradually lifted restrictions from April, said it would make mask-wearing mandatory in certain areas from next week.

Many global events have had to be curtailed because of the pandemic, with the 50th anniversary of the first Gay Pride march marked mostly online.

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When the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrates 60 years of independence from Belgium on Tuesday, it will also remember Patrice Lumumba, one of its enduring national heroes and icon of those who demand that former colonial powers face up to their history.

Lumumba, a leading member of the independence movement, entered the history books on June 30, 1960, the day that the Republic of Congo, as it then was, formally broke away from Belgian colonial rule.

In the presence of Belgium's King Baudouin, Lumumba -- the 34-year-old prime minister of then president Joseph Kasavubu -- launched into a coruscating speech, accusing the former colonial masters of racist maltreatment and forcing "humiliating slavery" on the Congolese people.

"We experienced the slurs, the insults, the beatings that we had to undergo morning, noon and evening, because we were negroes," he proclaimed.

It was a withering response to King Baudouin whose speech shortly before had saluted the work of his royal ancestor Leopold II, insisting that he was not a "conqueror" but had come on a "civilising mission".

Modern Belgians are taking a different line.

On Tuesday, the city of Ghent will mark the 60th anniversary of Congolese independence by removing a statue of Leopold II, who ruled from 1865 to his death in 1909.

Statues of Leopold and, indeed, Baudouin have been vandalised. A Belgian collective "Let's fix history" accuses Leopold of having killed "more than 10 million Congolese".

Seen here in 1960, Patrice Lumumba had two and half months as prime minister before being ousted and executed in January 1961. By - (AFP/File)

Conversely, a small Patrice Lumumba square was inaugurated in the centre of Brussels in 2018, near the district of Matonge, which has a large Congolese population.

"This is extremely important for the reconciliation of memories in Belgium, for Belgium to assume its colonial past and for the pride of Afro-descendants", explains Kalvin Soiresse, 38, a member of the Brussels parliament of Togolese origin.

Rise and fall

The speech in June 1960 marked the brief high point of Lumumba's meteoric journey, which ended just six months later on January 17, 1961.

Toppled from power, humiliated and tortured, Lumumba was executed by firing squad in a savannah 50 kilometres from Elisabethville (the current Lubumbashi) by Katangan separatists and Belgian mercenaries. He was just 35.

Six months after independence day, the Congo was in crisis. Mutinies and uprisings, the military return of the Belgians and UN interference had stoked a furnace of chaos.

Patrice Lumumba (right) and Joseph Okito (L), vice-president of the Senate, pictured together in November 1960, were executed together in 1961. By - (AFP/File)

Overthrown by army colonel Joseph Mobutu's "peaceful revolution" in September 1960, but still working to put a government together, Lumumba had become a walking target.

His nationalism and his appeals to the Soviet Union in the middle of the cold war had turned the Belgians and the United States, who feared losing control of the Congolese cobalt, against him.

"In no time Lumumba became a martyr of decolonisation, a hero for all the oppressed of the Earth, a saint of godless communism", says David Van Reybrouck in his book "Congo, a history".

"He owed this status more to the horrible end of his life than to his political successes. He was in power for barely two and a half months."

Belgium recognised its "moral responsibility" in the assassination of Lumumba, following a parliamentary commission of inquiry in 2001.

The Belgian Parliament is planning a new commission on all aspects of the colonisation of the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.

Claiming Lumumba

Tuesday will be a quiet day of commemoration for Lumumba. The coronavirus means that no ceremony is planned and the authorities have instead announced a day of "meditations".

In Kinshasa, a statue of Lumumba, right hand raised to the sky, dominates the traffic from its pedestal in the middle of the huge boulevard which also bears his name for 10 kilometres between the airport and the city centre.

In December 18, 1960, there was still much support for Lumumba in Stanleyville (now Kisangani). By - (AFP/File)

In the political landscape, there remains a small unified Lumumbist Party (Palu) whose patriarch, Antoine Gizenga, born just three months after Lumumba in 1925, died just last year in 2019.

Beyond Palu, political figures like Lambert Mende, the former spokesperson for Joseph Kabila, claim the nationalist heritage of Lumumba.

"To be lumumbist today is to lead the fight so that the Congo is free to choose its economic partners," he says. "This is not always the case."

How he is remembered across the nation is problematical.

At high school, the figure of Lumumba is taught in a "lapidary way", says high school teacher Egide Mawaso.

He was betrayed by other fathers of independence, including the future dictator-marshal Mobutu, then his modest chief of staff.

And as minister of defence, a post he held simultaneously with prime minister, Lumumba ruthlessly quelled an uprising in Kasai, the province of origin of the current head of state Felix Tshisekedi.

"We do not know what his real ideology was," Malawaso said.

The notion that he was a communist, encouraged by the Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow during the Cold War, may also be suspect.

Patrice Lumumba, warmly greeted here in Brussels in January, 1960, remains an icon for Congo and for all former colonised countries. By - (AFP/File)

"Communist, he was not," declares historian Jean Omasombo, author of a book on Lumumba.

"He repeated several times that he was a nationalist and not a communist.

"To say that Lumumba was caught in an ideological game is totally false. It was colonial propaganda," insists the historian.

The debate continues.

mbb-mad-bmb-st/bsp/pvh
China has reinstated a strict lockdown near Beijing, affecting around 400,000 people, after a surge in cases.

The restrictions have come into force in the Anxin country in Hebei province.

Only essential workers are allowed to leave their homes, while one member of a household is allowed to go out once a day to shop for necessities.

After the pandemic emerged in China at the end of last year, the country has managed to get new infections to a consistently low level.

To avoid a second wave, even small surges are taken very seriously by the countrys health authorities.

---BBC
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Former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings has expressed worry over the deployment of security personnel to four border regions ahead of the compilation of the new voters' register.

A statement released from the office of the fmr. President described the presence of the security agencies in these regions as 'animosity' that has created so much 'suspicion'.

Security agencies have been deployed to the Volta, Oti, Upper East and West regions by the NPP government.

The statement said, "The deployment along the borders at peacetime especially at this particular point in time has created so much suspicion and will call for a lot of intelligent flexibility and diligence," the statement said.

It further stated that "Ahead of the voter registration exercise and the December elections. It is important that we demonstrate a sense of fairness and justice to all individuals and groups of people whilst maintaining integrity and security."

According to the statement, Covid-19 has already created enough difficulties for most citizens and that "not make it worse with overbearing and intimidating behaviour towards our border dwellers."

Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama has condemned the move, and described it as politically motivated to create panic and anxiety among residents of the various regions to abstain from participating in the registration of the new voters.

Below is full statement:
New Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye has unveiled a slimmed-down cabinet of only 15 ministers, dominated by regime hardliners such as the head of the feared intelligence service.

Ndayishimiye took office earlier this month after the sudden death of veteran leader Pierre Nkurunziza, and many had hoped for a new era after years of rights abuses, repression and violence.

However Ndayishimiye, an army general handpicked by the ruling party to succeed Nkurunziza, has placed some of the regime's most controversial characters in his government, in the cabinet announced on Sunday.

Last week Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni, former police chief and security minister, who is under US sanctions for his alleged role in political repression, was announced as prime minister.

He is accused of playing a key role during the 2015 political crisis when Nkurunziza's third term bid sparked violence that left at least 1,200 dead and saw 400,000 flee the country.

According to an announcement on national television on Sunday evening, Gervais Ndirakobuca, head of the feared national intelligence services, was named interior minister.

Ndirakobuca, whose nickname "Ndakugarika" directly translates to "I will hang you dead and stiff" in the Kirundi language, was sanctioned in 2015 by the US for "silencing those opposed" to Nkurunziza's third term bid.

He is also under sanctions from France and the European Union (EU).

Burundi's ambassador to the United Nations, Albert Shingiro, was appointed foreign minister.
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Prolific Writer and Media Practitioner, Kwabena Danso-Dapaah, has admonished politicians to refrain from raining insulting on opponents as Ghanaians go to the polls come December 7 to elect a president and Members of Parliament (MP) to steer affairs of the country for a four-year term.

"Discerning voter will not vote for your candidate because you are good at using unpredictable words on your opponent", the Kumasi-based journalist pointed out in a write-up.

According to the young Journalist, using unprintable words too by party Communicators on Nana Akufo-Addo and Mr. John Dramani Mahama, presidential candidates for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) respectfully is now the order of the day.

"Electorates are going to vote on issues, what your party can do and if possible track records of that political party", Kwabena Danso-Dapaah observed calling the youth in the country to critically observe manifesto promises and shun insulting politicians

"Don't go to the booth and vote for NPP or NDC because these two are the traditional parties of your parents. Think for yourself and seek which party is capable of providing your needs as a youth", the Writer advised.

The December 7 polls, likely to be a keen contest will see John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress contend against Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the current President of the Republic and the flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party.

Earlier, a poll which was conducted on June 16, 2020, by Ghanaweb has so far revealed that 1,375 votes representing 90.64% tipped John Mahama as president against, 127 votes representing 8.37% for Nana Akufo-Addo.

However, results from the poll also revealed 15 votes (0.99%) indicated neither of the two candidates stood a chance of winning the elections.

Source: Kwabena Danso-Dapaah
The High Court in Accra has dismissed Ashaiman MP, Ernest Norgbeys case challenging the compilation of a new voters register.

The dismissal is based on the landmark decision of the Supreme Court last Thursday.

Lawyer for Mr. Norgbey, Dr. Abdul Aziz Bamba, with much difficulty got audience from a hesitant judge who was of the opinion that the Supreme Courts decision was clear and binding on all the Courts below and she had a duty to abide by it.

But Dr. Aziz Bamba prevailed upon Her Ladyship, Enyonam Adenyira saying it would be procedurally unfair and an aberration of his right to audience if she dismissed him and his client without an audience.

When the lawyer eventually granted audience, the Ashaiman lawmaker through his lawyer, argued that the Supreme Courts decision last Thursday did not affect his case since the case that went before the Supreme Court sought an interpretation of the Constitution while Ernest Norgbeys case was seeking an interpretation of statutory law.

He also argued that the High Court could not apply the Supreme Court decision since the High Court still does not know the reasoning behind the Supreme Courts Judgement and what legal principles were applied.

But the Court insisted that the case was moot and subsequently dismissed it.

---
The UN marks the 75th anniversary of its creation on 26th June, the date on which the UN Charter was signed by the representatives of 50 countries in San Francisco, the United States of America. Since its inception, the UN has had a rather mixed record when it comes to fulfilling the purposes for which it was created. On balance, the UN as an inter-governmental organisation has stood the test of time despite the myriad challenges arising from its built-in structural imbalances and the continued attacks on the multilateral system that it represents. An area that stands out among the achievements of the UN is decolonisation. Although the colonial powers at the time strongly opposed any reference in the UN Charter to self-determination or independence for colonised peoples and countries (Non-Self-Governing Territories in line with UN terminology), the process of liberation of colonised peoples was irresistible and irreversible. The adoption of UN General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) on the Declaration on the Grating of Independence to Colonial countries and Peoples, on 14 December 1960, was a historic milestone that contributed significantly to accelerating the decolonisation process, which led to the increase of UN membership as more colonies acceded to independence.

Today peoples of many erstwhile colonies enjoy their freedom and independence, yet unfortunately colonialism is far from over. At present, there are 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories whose peoples have not yet exercised their right to self-determination and independence including Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa, on the UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories since 1963. The decolonisation of Western Sahara however was thwarted when Morocco militarily invaded the Territory on 31 October 1975 in violation of UN resolutions and the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 16 October 1975, which held that no tie of territorial sovereignty had ever existed between Morocco and Western Sahara.

Moroccos military occupation of Western Sahara stroke at the heart of two fundamental principles of the existing international order, namely peoples right to self-determination and the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force. However, the Security Council, which has primary responsibility, under the UN Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security, did not take any decisive action against Morocco for reasons related mainly to realpolitik. This is obviously not the place to engage critically with realpolitik and its dogmatic acceptance of power as the fundamental determinant of international politics, among other things. There is no denying the fact, however, that its doctrinaire power-centred approach in policymaking has caused (and continues to cause) so much instability and insecurity in many parts of the world.

Even after approving the UN-OAU Settlement Plan for Western Sahara, which was solemnly accepted by both parties, the Frente POLISARIO and Morocco, in August 1988, the Security Council has frequently failed to exercise its authority to ensure the implementation of the plan. As a result, after 29 years since the establishment of the UN Mission in Western Sahara, MINURSO, the self-determination referendum for the Sahrawi people, which was scheduled to be held in 1992, has not yet taken place due to several reasons. First, Morocco sought to determine the result of the referendum in advance by transferring thousands from Morocco proper into occupied Western Sahara and insisting that they should be included in the voting lists. Second, the passivity and ambivalence with which the Security Council confronted Moroccos defying attitude, especially when Morocco expressed unwillingness to go forward with the Settlement Plan in 2002. Third, the attempts by some quarters to accommodate in some way the Moroccan position by searching for supposedly political solutions based on compromise as if the UN-OAU Settlement Plan had not been the mutually acceptable political and compromise-based solution par excellence. The fact that Morocco has reneged on its commitments under the UN-OAU Settlement Plan for fear of the free and democratic expression of the Sahrawi people (a fact that attests to the undemocratic nature of the ruling regime in Morocco) cannot be an argument to invalidate the mutually accepted peace plan or the referendum as a democratic process for conflict resolution.

The passive and the ambivalent approach with which the Security Council, under the influence of some of its members, has managed the UN peace process in Western Sahara over the past decades has only exacerbated the conflict situation and hampered the quest for a peaceful and enduring solution. In this context, the root cause of the continued irresolution of the conflict of Western Sahara, in my view, still lies in the tension between some approaches based on the doctrine of realpolitik on the one hand, and the right of colonised peoples to self-determination and independence on the other. Even the recent attempts to reconcile these contrasting positions could not resist the influence of realpolitik, resulting in self-contradictory and confusing approaches. A prime example of these is reflected in the Security Council recent calls on the two parties, the Frente POLISARIO and Morocco, to achieve a realistic, practicable and enduring political solution based on compromise on the one hand, and to enter into negotiations without preconditions in good faith with a view to achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara on the other. This type of destructive ambiguity that is manifest in Security Council recent resolutions has only created more confusion even for Council members and has given Morocco more room of manoeuvre to persist in its policy of procrastination and obstruction.

Without a doubt, direct negotiations between the two parties are essential for reaching a peaceful and sustainable solution to the conflict. In fact, the UN-OAU Settlement Plan came as a result of a series of negotiations between the two parties and the United Nations. However, as I have pointed out on several occasions, calling upon the two parties to engage in negotiations to achieve a realistic, practicable and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara is incompatible with the principles and rules governing the right of colonial peoples to self-determination. All UN relevant resolutions and legal doctrine, including the ICJ advisory opinion on Western Sahara of 1975, affirm that the essence of the right of colonial peoples to self-determination is a democratic process by which the will of the people concerned is expressed in an informed, free and genuine manner. This means that the will of the people of Western Sahara, the sole holder of the right to self-determination, must be expressed without any foreign interference of any kind. The expression must also be genuine and direct through the internationally established democratic processes of which the referendum is a widely used process as, for instance, was shown by the case of East Timor that had many similarities with the Western Sahara situation. The self-contradictory approach to self-determination remains the underlying cause of the impasse currently facing the UN peace process in Western Sahara. This situation is compounded by Moroccos categorical refusal to engage in any UN-supervised direct negotiations to achieve a peaceful solution, despite its rhetoric and PR stunts. As I have pointed out on several occasions, Moroccos strategic objective is to maintain the status quo and, therefore, its preferable option is the continued irresolution of the conflict.

Nevertheless, if some have accepted this status of affairs under the influence of realpolitik or other considerations, the Frente POLISARIO and the people of Western Sahara will never accept it. The Moroccan military invasion and illegal occupation of Western Sahara in 1975, regardless of its political and economic motives, also implied a denial of the existence of the Sahrawi people and their right to self-determination and independence. The practical expression of this denial was the bombardment of Sahrawi civilians with napalm and white phosphorus and the scorched-earth policy pursued by Moroccan forces in Western Sahara. It is also reflected in the various forms of violence practiced nowadays against civilians in the occupied territories and the deliberate destruction of Sahrawi cultural heritage. The struggle waged by the Sahrawi people under the leadership of the Frente POLISARIO is therefore a struggle for defending their national identity and their legitimate right to exist as a free and sovereign people in their homeland.

The international community should know, from past and present experience, that undemocratic regimes, despite their apparent stability, are inherently unstable, particularly in the age of democracy, the rule of law and human and peoples rights. Those who are genuinely concerned about stability and security in North Africa should rethink their policies towards the region in general and Western Sahara issue in particular. In doing so, they should desist from viewing and addressing the issue exclusively from the vantage point of realpolitik or the balance of power politics in the name of which despotic regimes have oppressed many people and caused violent conflicts and insecurity in many parts of the world. The time has come for some quarters to realise that supporting the autocratic regime in Morocco is no guarantee of regional peace and stability in North Africa. The Security Council in particular should shoulder its responsibility and should not wait for the conflict situation in Western Sahara to deteriorate and become a serious source of instability in the region and beyond.

In conclusion, the legal and political nature of the issue of Western Sahara as a decolonisation case is unquestionably clear. Therefore, the question before the United Nations as it marks the 75th anniversary of its creation comes down to this: do we allow realpolitik and the rule of might makes right to prevail in the case of Western Sahara, and thus allow the Moroccan illegal occupation of parts of the Territory to continue with impunity, or do we defend the fundamental principles underpinning the existing international order and thus defend unreservedly the free and democratic exercise by the people of Western Sahara of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in accordance with UN doctrine related to decolonisation? Without doubt, the might makes right rule cannot be an option, otherwise many peoples and countries, including UN Member States, would have remained under the yoke of colonialism and foreign occupation. The only practicable option, therefore, is to allow the people of Western Sahara a democratic process by which to exercise freely and democratically their right to self-determination and independence. Basic democratic principles and rules of international law all support this legitimate aspiration, and it is now time the international community support it too not only in words but also in deeds.

Dr Sidi M. Omar

Frente POLISARIO Representative at the United Nations

Dr Sidi M. Omar (https://uji.academia.edu/SidiOmar) holds a European Doctorate in Peace and Conflict Studies from Universitat Jaume I of Castellon in Spain. He has taught, as a visiting professor and lecturer, postgraduate courses on conflict resolution, mediation and negotiation at several universities in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and USA.
Concerned Assembly Members Ghana has called on the Police, other investigative security agencies and the courts to expedite action to prosecute perpetrators in the murder of the Assemblymember of Sogakope South, Mr. Mawutor Adzahli.

Five suspects were arrested in connection to the murder of the assemblyman.

The concerned assembly members are however, calling for the quick prosecution of the perpetrators of the act.

Mr. Mawutor Adzahli, Assemblyman of Sogakope South, was murdered on the 1st of March, 2020 by some assailants.

In a statement signed by Hon. Daniel Dotse, Assemblyman for Kasoa CP electoral area, in the Awutu Senya East Municipality said, government should consider increasing security patrols for assembly areas countrywide.

According to the statement, assembly members are the most vulnerable in the local government structure considering their direct contact with community members to ensure development.

"We want to use this opportunity to petition the government, parliament and the ministry of local government to consider the provision of security details for Assembly members countrywide as we are the most vulnerable in the local government structure considering the nature of our work which directly impact development in the community."

The statement further welcomed a policy by the Flagbearer of the NDC to introduce monthly stipends for assembly members and that implore other presidential aspirants to emulate similar or better remuneration packages for assembly members.

Below is full statement:

Statement from concerned Assembly members Ghana, on the killing of the assembly member of Sogakope South, Mr Mawutor Adzahli.

We woke up to the shocking news of the horrific attack on the family of our honorable colleague assembly member of Sogakope South, Mr. Mawutor Adzahli in the wee hours of Sunday, 1st March 2020.

We wish to express our deepest condolences to the family and close friends of the honorable, through these trying moments and pledge our unflinching support to the immediate family where needed.

We call on the Police, security agencies and the courts to expedite action on putting the perpetrators behind bars according to the laws.

We want to use this opportunity to petition the government, parliament and the ministry of local government to consider the provision of security details for Assembly members countrywide as we are the most vulnerable in the local government structure considering the nature of our work which directly impact development in the community.

We greatly also appreciate and welcome the policy of presidential candidate for the NDC, John Dramani Mahama on Introducing salaries for assemblymembers and implore all other presidential aspirants to consider similar or better remuneration packages for us in this regard considering our arduos contributions at the local government level.

Signed

Hon. Daniel DOTSE assemblymember for Kasoa CP, electoral area, Awutu Senya East, 0244264236

Hon. David Abalo, assemblymember, Buashie, Accra Metropolitan assembly 0244103275

Cc. Assembly members of various MMDAs Ghana
Kathmandu: Nepal might be engaged in a conflict with India over its new map, but the Himalayan nation is itself facing land dispute as China has encroached at least 28 hectares of Nepali land spread across four districts of Humla, Rasuwa, Sankhuwasabha and Sindhupalchok, media reports said.

The issue of encroachment became clear via the report published by Nepali agencies.

Since 1962, China has also taken over an entire village that falls in the world famous Gorkha district, but this fact has come to light only now after a local publication carried a story recently, The Sunday Guardian reported.

According to official sources in Nepal, in many places, the encroachment has been done simply by shifting border pillars, reported the magazine.

Shiva Upreti, the Gorkha district correspondent of Nepalese newspaper Annapurna Post in a story done on 7 July, had revealed that China has occupied the entire Rui village that comes under Gorkha district.

Speaking to The Sunday Guardian, a local journalist who is based in Gorkha district, said that the Chinese had occupied the Rui village in 1962 itself.

According to him, the Chinese had taken over the entire village by simply shifting the pillars that demarcate one side from the other.

Border marker numbers 34,35,36,37,38hadbeen shifted at the border (that denoted Nepals claim over the territory), which has led to Northern Gorkhas Rui Village falling into Chinas Tibet region. 170 households of Rui village of Gorkha district and 18 houses of Darchula are in Chinese territory despite being a part of Nepal, he told the magazine.

Other local Kathmandu-based journalists with whomThe Sunday Guardian spoke to said that the residents of Rui village have lost monasteries and grazing land to the Chinese now.

The local government officer went to this village in 2019 and this was the first time that a government officer had visited this village since 1962. And this was when the locals told him about the Chinese encroachment, a journalist told the magazine.

The Sunday Guardian also reached out to other journalists based in Nepal, seeking to know whether any action has been taken by the K.P. Sharma Oli government to recover the Chinese occupied territory following the publication of the news in Annapurna Post.

Three lawmakers of the main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) have appealed for the Parliaments commitment to reclaim the land China has encroached upon by shifting the border pillars towards the Nepali side, reports Khabarhub.

NC lawmakers Devendra Raj Kandel, Satya Narayan Sharma Khanal and Sanjaya Kumar Gautam drew the attention of the parliamentarians and the government towards the land encroached by the northern neighbor, reports the news portal.

Land dispute with India:

The Nepali Parliament voted recently on a constitutional amendment bill in a special session to revise the country's map which includes some parts India claims as its own.

Out of the 275 members of Nepal's House of Representatives, 258 votes went in favour of the amendment bill, which was passed by a two-thirds majority.

Recently, Nepal's ruling party had cleared the map paving the way for friction between the two countries.

Now that the bill has been passed, it will be sent to the National Assembly where it will undergo a similar process.

The new map of Nepal includes a portion of land on the east of river Kali, which extends out from the northwestern tip of Nepal.

The area includes the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and also Limpiyadhura and Kalapani, which are strategically significant areas for India and the country has been guarding since the 1962 war with China.
As the Worlds largest country, about 70% of Russias land area is estimated to be a high risk territory for agriculture with productive agricultural lands accounting for only 13% of the countrys total land size yet the agriculture sector continues to flourish, positioning Russia as an agriculture powerhouse in the World  in 2016, Russia became the Worlds largest exporter of wheat. This was the first time such a feat was recorded in the country after the Russian revolution. In 2017, Russia earned a revenue of $20 billion from agriculture export, becoming the Worlds leading exporter of wheat, the second-largest producer of sunflower seeds, third-largest producer of potatoes and milk and also the fifth-largest producer of eggs and chicken. Russia recorded an upswing of 9% in the production of grain in the 2019 agricultural Marketing Year (MY), representing 123mn tonnes and an export of 45.5mn tonnes - recent projections show, Russia could have another good grain harvest in 2020. Between 2016 and 2020 Russia recorded its highest wheat production in MY 2018 with 86mn tonnes  the production of corn, barley and other grains is forecasted to increase in the next two years.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture. Russia

Although agriculture accounts for 3.7% of Russias GDP, the sector contributes close to 6% of total exports and serves as a source of employment for 9.2% of the countrys aggregate workforce. The sector is an integral component of the Russian economy,

Source: Deloitte CIS Research Center

playing an essential role between 2012 and 2017, when the countrys economic growth was declining  in 2016 and 2017, Russias wheat export exceeded that of the United States and the European Union, respectively. Russia currently holds 22% share of the global wheat market with the EU and the US accounting for 14% and 13, respectively. This is a remarkable achievement for a country that was close to becoming a net food importer a few years ago. Russia has implemented germane policies that have augmented agricultural productivity - banning importation of certain agricultural commodities from the US, Europe and other western countries was a counter-sanction Russia effectuated after sanctions were imposed on Russia in 2014. This episode encouraged Russia to invest adequately in the countrys agriculture sector  with a $70 billion investment package to boost productivity in the agriculture sector via improved infrastructure and logistics, the Agriculture Ministry reported in the third quarter of 2019 that it is targeting grain production of 150.3 million tonnes by 2023, a conspicuous attempt that could prove to be instrumental in achieving the countrys target of $45 billion agricultural export by 2024.

Unlike Russia, where agriculture accounts for less than 4% of the countrys GDP and employs 5.7% of the entire labour force, agriculture accounts for 18% of GDP in South Asia and 15% of GDP in Africa  with a population of about 1.8 billion, thus almost 25% of the worlds total, agriculture employs 60% of South Asias population, the worlds most densely populated region. However, the impact of agriculture in South Asia varies from one country to the other  the region is home to Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. Despite the tremendous impact agriculture has in these countries, South Asia, hosts 22% of the worlds undernourished with a Global Hunger Index score of 30.5 - making South Asia the Worlds hungriest region.

Also in Africa, the second most populous continent in the World after Asia, with a population of 1.2 billion from 54 countries, agriculture serves as a source of livelihood for about 65% to 70% of the total workforce, as highlighted by the World Bank. A report published in 2019 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations indicates that 20% of Africas population is undernourished  out of the total 257 million hungry people on the African continent, 20 million can be found in North Africa with the remaining 237 million located in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). With 282 million people in South Asia living below the poverty line and more than 413 million living in extreme poverty in SSA, South Asia and Africa host 80% of the Worlds extreme poor despite, about 57% of South Asias land area being agricultural land and SSA having more than 200m hectares of arable land that is not used for agriculture  the uncultivated land in SSA is larger than the agricultural land of the United States and almost 50% of the Worlds total.

However, Africa is a net importer of food as the region had a food import bill of $35 billion in 2015  this value is estimated to increase to $110 billion by 2025. Out of the 15 foods that account for the most food imports, 5 are staple commodities: soybeans, rice, wheat, sugar and beef. Concurrently, the post postharvest loss for all grains in SSA is $4 billion a year  this amount exceeds the value of food aid SSA has received in the last decade. The situation is not different in South Asia, where food and agricultural imports increased from $5 billion in 1990 to $24 billion in 2010.

Conversely, Russias import ban on food and agricultural products from the European Union, United States, Australia, Canada and the Kingdom of Norway which began in 2014 and its operational in 2020, has compelled the transformation of the countrys agriculture sector  between 2013 and 2018, Russias food imports dwindled by 31.2%, thus, from $43.3 billion in 2013 to $29.8 billion in 2018. Within the same period, Russias food exports increased from $16.8 billion in 2013 to $25.8 billion in 2018. Russias continuous adequate investment in agriculture has increased productivity  between 2005 and 2013, an increase in agricultural inputs (land, labour, materials and capital) and growth in productivity accounted for 25% and 75%, respectively, of the countrys total agricultural output.

Whiles the challenges associated with the agriculture sector of Africa and South Asia are similar; the latter is making headway to improve agriculture productivity  although three-fifths of South Asias agricultural lands are rain-fed, the region has some of the oldest and largest irrigation facilities in the world, with an estimated 40% of the entire agricultural lands being irrigated. In SSA, rain-fed agriculture is predominant with irrigated lands constituting only 6% of the total croplands, representing 13 million hectares. Whiles a new study suggests, adequate irrigation systems can enhance agricultural productivity by 50%, it will cost $65 billion to extend irrigation to 15% of the total cultivated land in SSA. Apart from improving agricultural inputs and mechanizing the food value chain, massive investments should be channelled into developing the food processing industries in Africa  for instance, Ghana and Ivory Coast produce two-thirds of the Worlds cocoa output but account for only $6 billion of the chocolate market that is worth over $100 billion worldwide. This is because for many decades these two West-African countries have been exporting cocoa beans without processing the commodity into finished goods.

About the Authors

Sumeera Asghar Roy is a PhD candidate in Plant Biotechnology of Fruits at the National Key Laboratory of China and a researcher at the China Agricultural University, Beijing. She holds a masters degree in Horticulture from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan with a Roll of Honour. Her research works on agriculture and plant biotechnology have been published by many reputable outlets in Pakistan and on the international scene.

Alexander Ayertey Odonkor is a chartered financial analyst and a chartered economist with a stellar expertise in the financial services industry in developing economies. He has carried out the International Monetary Funds (IMF) program on Financial Programming and Policies  with a masters degree in finance and a bachelors degree in economics and finance, Alexander also holds postgraduate certificates in entrepreneurship in emerging economies and electronic trading on financial markets from Harvard University and New York Institute of Finance, respectively.
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Rage can be that most trendy of things, and social media rage has become modish. If you dislike something, scream it in a certain number of characters and post it on every network you subscribe to. You might even feel good about it. When the pot is taken off the boil, the matter goes away. Things cool till other ingredients are added. The moralist can keep silent till the next rage breaks.

Few realise that social media campaigns do not necessarily work against the platforms that facilitate them. To wage such a battle against, say, Facebook, is comical in the extreme: such a body is, after all, in the business of mass publicity, algorithmically tailored for its cause. And in this scheme, the only cause (or causes) that ever matter are those of Mark Zuckerberg and his cyber galactic family, digital inbreds par excellence.

We know that anything Zuckerberg says when it comes to the broader ideas of society  freedom, liberty, expression  are all to be taken in the context of the world he has confected. Dark as it is, his idea of digital interaction has, at its core, a leery, hostile understanding of humanity, one that insists on creepy suspicion rather than consolidated understanding. What is important here is facilitation, an effective platform that breathes life into voyeurism at the expense of solidarity, the experience that consumers are supposedly meant to have when using it. As he explained to students at Georgetown University in October 2019, Ive focused on building services to do two things: give people voice, and bring people together. These two simple ideas  voice and inclusion  go hand in hand.

Except that they do not. The voice, in such cases, is fundamentally antisocial, combative and provocative. Nothing about this misanthropic surveillance fantasy called Facebook is ever conversational. It is battle, division and, for that reason, perfect for the resentful. As a platform, it is ideal for hate.

With that in mind, another rage-filled campaign has bloomed, and it comes in the form of combating hate speech and misinformation. It also comes with its own dreary, suffixed hashtag, #StopHateForProfit, which begins as an angel in heaven and ends up as a confused, unlettered fundamentalist on earth. In looking at these suddenly transfixed moral warriors who have attached their names to the effort, it is worth bearing what sort of entities we are talking about. (So far, the list seems to include 160 or so companies, but this number warrants closer analysis.) Wolves are turning vegetarian; and vegetarians are shuffling over into the dining room of carnivores. Companies with the moral inclination of Iago are becoming pure in their attack on Facebook, shedding doubts and gunning for their customers as they scratch and paw an entity that made them wads of cash.

An argument about good intentions, which is only ever half good keeping consequences in mind, might be made about the origins of this campaign. It began in the furious, justified rage engendered by George Floyds death in Minneapolis under the knee of a police officer. Organisations such as Free Press, Common Sense, Color of Change, the NAACP and the Anti-Defamation League pooled resources and launched the initiative to lobby Facebook to wean itself off revenue gained from hateful content. The leading words on the campaign site state the challenge clearly: We are asking all businesses to stand in solidarity with our most deeply held American values of freedom, equality and justice and not advertise on Facebooks services in July.

The group cites the following examples of egregious conduct on the part of Facebook. They named Breitbart News as a trusted news source and made The Daily Caller a fact checker despite both publications having records of working with known white nationalists. (The underlying presumption here is that white nationalists cannot peddle accurate news, but non-white nationalists and patriots might.). Voter suppression was ignored. Incitements 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 was permitted. It takes issue with the scale of revenue Facebook makes: 99 percent of $70 billion. Will advertisers stand with us?

When a company as infuriatingly smug and standardising as Starbucks intends to withdraw its name from your client list, celebrations might be in order, and not just for authentic coffee makers. It is not so much standing with you as fleeing the scene and awaiting a change of heart. Last year, the company found itself in the nether ranks of the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark, a London-based non-profit intent on scolding it. In 2018, it scored like a dunce. The commitment to respecting human rights fell well short of meeting standards stipulated by the OECD and UN Global Compact. Transparency on human rights in terms of supply chains was found wanting.

But in the league of abuses, even Starbucks must find itself enviously short of an entity that prides itself on its totalitarian drinks image. Be it Colombia, Turkey, Guatemala and Russia, Coca-Cola, which has turned cold on Facebook for the brief period of 30 days, has run roughshod over workers rights and drained environments the world over. Its cravings for water have done their share in destroying local agriculture and adding their substantial contribution to global dehydration. Moralising about hate speech in a brief spell of triggered conscience compares poorly as an ethical act relative to the furthering of environmental sustainability.

Other companies who find themselves chorusing in this campaign are also suspect. Verizon, not exactly good on privacy and the incursions of the national security state, is thrilled to keep company with dealing with hate. There are recruitment companies such as Upwork, consumer-giant Unilever, jeans maker Levi Strauss.

These entities are playing the waiting game, as is Zuckerberg. An amoral standoff is taking place. As a creature of eternal, unprincipled patience, the Facebook CEO knows that such companies are playing a short term game here, merely pausing advertisements, and returning to the fold when publicity is less hot. When the social media warriors are asleep, the company executives will plot.

Such campaigns must face the cold realities of the beast they are confronting. Expecting Facebook to monitor hate speech and disinformation is not only expecting much, but expecting something dangerous. To target Facebook on matters of hate, in of itself dangerously vague, is to deal with the transmission of a condition, rather than the condition itself. Teams are already at work monitoring and policing what can or cannot make an appearance on the platform. Those doing so risk becoming the creatures of ruin. To then enlist platoons of information enforcers is tantamount to vesting vast powers of control. What Facebook decides as hateful, goes; what the company deems suitable ill-informed or misinformed, can be scrapped. Pity that world.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: [email protected]
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Lawyer Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, an aspirant in the recently-held NPP primary in Sunyani East constituency has rounded-off his Thank you tour of all the 34 Electoral Areas in the constituency.

The tour was meant to express his appreciation to the delegates for their support during the exercise.

He said at separate meetings with the delegates that he whole-heartedly accepts and respects the outcome of the results since that represents the collective view of the majority of the delegates.

If you are a true believer of democracy, you must know that you either win or lose elections so after the elections, I sent a congratulatory message to Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh for his re-election as the Sunyani East Parliamentary candidate of the NPP.

I am solidly behind him and I would do whatever within my power to assist him during the campaign ahead of the elections and I urge all of you for do same, Lawyer Tuah-Yeboah told the delegates.

Lawyer Tuah-Yeboah asked all delegates to bury their differences and join forces to ensure a resounding victory for the party during the December 7 general elections.

He also used the opportunity to educate the delegates about the need to be at the forefront at encouraging qualified Ghanaians to get registered in the up-coming Voters registrations exercise

Lawyer Alfred Tuah-Yeboah also announced the dissolution of his Campaign Team, saying; all members of the team are supposed to go back into their various Electoral Areas and Polling Stations to help in the partys preparations towards the December elections.

Most of the delegates who spoke during the tour commended Lawyer Tuah-Yeboah for his show of maturity in the conduct of his campaign before, during and after the primaries; and encouraged others to emulate him.
Henry Ametefe

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The autonomy of the University of Health & Allied Sciences (UHAS) is being threatened by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region, led by the Regional Chairman, Henry Ametefe.

The chairman, in what many have described as a distasteful rant, warned the Vice-Chancellor of UHAS, Prof. John Owusu Gyapong, to be careful of his conduct at the university because he is on the land of Voltarians.

Mr. Ametefe, who was addressing journalists, made some serious allegations against Prof. Gyapong, whose reforms and initiatives have made the nine-year-old university the preferred place for health-related research in the West African sub-region.

Currently, the Institute of Health Research at UHAS is leading the Ghanaian consortium to conduct a quantitative study on the introduction of the new malaria vaccine (RTS) in Ghana.

And instead of commending the strides of the university, Mr. Ametefe rather accused Prof. Gyapong of nepotism.

Tribal Bigotry

But what are we seeing? We have put an Abomoso citizen as our vice-chancellor. I know he is doing so many dirty things there and removing Voltarians; Ewe people. But all our people are quiet. Togbe Afede and all of them; why? he queried.

He further incited the Ewes against the Akyems, saying, And Volta Region, we have allowed Prof. Gyapong as vice-chancellor because we are very civilised people. If the Akyems do not know that Volta Region believes in civility then Prof. Gyapong must be careful that he is sitting on our land as a vice-chancellor in a university that we built without making noise.

Checks show that although the staff of UHAS cut across persons from all parts of the country, it is dominated by people from the Volta Region, and the assertions of the NDC chairman could not be true.

Under Prof. Gyapong, UHAS has been able to build a 640-bed capacity hostel from its internally generated funds to increase its admission by 40 per cent.

Mr. Ametefe, a former Deputy Regional Minister under John Mahama, extended his hate-filled speech to the whole country, saying that Ewes were being discriminated against.

Why what have we (Ewes) done? As I speak now, most of our prominent citizens who are in various positions in government have all been removed, he claimed.

Dr. Kwaku Awoonor, who is a very experienced medical practitioner, has no position now in the Ghana Health Service. He has been replaced by ineffective and incompetent doctor to take over from him, even though he groomed that person to position. Why? Prof. Mawutor Avorke was removed from University of Education, Winneba because he is not a son of the Fante soil, he claimed further.

---Daily Guide
A green wave has swept France as the environmentalist party and its left-wing allies won control of major cities including Lyon, Strasbourg and Bordeaux in local elections, allowing the Greens to up pressure on President Emmanuel Macron for his meeting with members of the Citizen's Convention on Climate on Monday.

Europe Ecology, The Greens party (EELV) took control of key cities including Lyon, Bordeaux and Strasbourg.

They also won the smaller cities of Besancon, Tours, Poitiers and Annecy, hung on to Grenoble and became a power-broker in Marseille.

Having endorsed the Paris socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo, the Greens also played an important role in ensuring her re-election with 48.7 percent of the vote.

EELV described the results as "historic".

"Today, ecology is taking a big step. A giant step," the party's secretary Julien Bayou said in a statement, adding that "it is THE mandate to act on climate and social justice," echoing a tweet by Green MEPs.

"The French are ready for change. Great, so are we," he said.

The election was marked by record-high abstention rate of 59 percent.

President Macron expressed his concern and acknowledged that the elections were marked by a green wave, the presidency said.

Upping the pressure

Green MEP Yannick Jadot said the results proved that Macron had been in denial over growing public demand for ambitious measures to fight climate change.

He told Europe 1 radio EELV would not join Macron's government as part of a widely-expected cabinet shake-up, saying instead the president should enact as he promised 149 measures proposed this month by his Citizen's Convention on Climate.

Macron is to meet the council's members on Monday where he plans a "first response" to their proposals, including reducing motorway speed limits and making "ecocide" a crime.

The Covid effect

Jadot described EELV's strong results as a political turning point for our country, with a landscape recomposed around ecology.

In an interview with Le Monde he attributed the party's good performance both to the government's powerlessness and lack of options [proposed] on ecological and social issues, and the vertical nature of its governance".

The run-off local poll had been delayed by three months due to the two-month lockdown imposed in France.

While the record high abstention rate was in part due to fears over transmission of the coronavirus, the lockdown itself may also explain the Greens' good score.

Ecology is central to any reading of the epidemic," political scientist Jerome Fourquet told Le Monde.

For him, a lot of discussion centred around "questions of lifestyle and consumer habits which are putting our ecosystems under strain".

"Lockdown acted as an accelerator," he said "with people asking for more localism and a slowdown in the frenzy of consumerism. The lockdown period reinforced EELV themes.
The Volta caucus on the Minority side in Parliament has given the Akufo-Addo government a 24-hour ultimatum to withdraw the security personnel from Ghanas borders in the Volta Region.

The Chairman of the Volta Caucus, Emmanuel Bedzrah, who spoke at the NDCs bi-weekly press briefing said: The fire has been laid, and we the Voltarians are ready. We are not cowards and I want to repeat that, we are not cowards.

We dont fear people, we only respect people and therefore, whoever deployed the military personnel to our borders should call them back immediately. We are giving them up to the end of tomorrow, Tuesday, the military personnel must be called back, he said.

According to the Caucus, the deployment is an attempt to intimidate residents of the Volta Region in the upcoming voters registration exercise.

He made the call on the backdrop of the deployment of military personnel to some parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the government has explained that the deployment is to secure Ghana's borders because of COVID-19 and the illegal entry of foreigners into the country.

---citinewsroom
The Headmistress of Gwiraman Senior High School in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region, Agatha Mensah, caused a stir at the school last Thursday when she told the students that she was above the standard of stealing Veronica buckets.

It was rumoured in the community that two Veronica buckets out of items donated to the school by the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Catherine Abelema Afeku, had gone missing, with some people pointing fingers at her.

Ms. Afeku last Thursday, while making a similar donation, remarked, We have heard that two Veronica buckets which were donated to the school earlier are missing. We will ask the headmistress where those buckets are, because if this school doesn't want the items we can send them to other schools that want them.

The MP explained that the items were being distributed to the various schools in the municipality to help prevent the spread of the virus and used the occasion to educate the students on the need to observe the preventive measures.

However, the insinuation did not go down well with the headmistress, who retorted that she was above petty stealing of Veronica buckets.

I have heard that some people are saying the MP brought two Veronica buckets and the headmistress is hiding them. I want to make it clear to the students and staff that the buckets are there and Madam MP can go and inspect them, angry-looking Agatha Mensah fumed.

These ones that are being donated will be given to the students to use as expected, she added.

The Municipal Director of Education, Justina Djaba, who rebuked the headmistress for her utterances, asked the students to study hard to pass well their examination so they could enjoy government's scholarship at the tertiary level.

The Nzema East Municipal Chief Executive, Frank Okpeyen, said the fight against the global pandemic required the collective efforts of every Ghanaian, including the students and teachers.

---Daily Guide
Representatives of the Grand Lodge during the presentation

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The District Grand Lodge of Ghana has donated medical equipment comprising two specialized ultra-low freezers and 1,000 PCR test kits to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

The equipment valued at about GH280,000 was presented by representatives of the District Grand Lodge of Ghana led by the District Grand Master, Isaac Owulaku Hood.

In a short address, Right Worshipful Isaac Owulaku Hood explained that the District Grand Lodge is part of a worldwide body of Freemasons who operate under the United Grand Lodge of England, the Premier Grand Lodge.

The Ghana District was inaugurated 89 years ago and is made up of members from a cross-section of the Ghanaian society. The district, he explained, boasts of the oldest lodge in the country  Gold Coast Lodge  formed in 1863.

The District Grand Master said, Seeing the threat that Covid-19 poses to our dear nation Ghana, Freemasons of the Ghana District set up a charity fund, since one of the principal tenets of Freemasonry is charity, specifically aimed at supporting the institute which is at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19.

The Director of the institute, Prof. Abraham Kwabena Annan, expressed their gratitude to the District Grand lodge of Ghana, explaining that the PCR test kits would go a long way to boost testing for Covid-19 and critically needed ultra-low freezers would be used to store biological samples.

He further stated that the equipment would also help in the storage of specimen which could be used for current and future research and aid in the development of vaccines.

He also stated that given the generosity of Freemasons, the NMIMR would be happy to share the donation with their sister research organizations, the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), as arrangements are underway to deliver one ultra-low freezer to KCCR.

In his closing remarks, the District Grand Master, Mr. Hood, wished the institute well and expressed the hope that there would be another opportunity for the District Grand Lodge to be of assistance.

---Daily Guide
The Forestry Commission taskforce, 'Operation Halt', which is currently working in the Ahafo Region to stop illegal chainsaw operators from degrading the forest, reportedly came under severe attack last week at Dominase, near Bediako, as they carried out their operation.

Those who attacked the taskforce were allegedly led by the Ahafo Regional Minister, Evans Opoku Bobie, who doubles as MP for the area.

There were reports of a number of people wielding offensive weapons such as matches, guns, sticks and stones who attacked the taskforce and prevented them from closing down an unlicensed sawmill and evacuating illegal lumbers being worked on.

But for the professionalism exhibited by the soldiers who were part of the taskforce, it would have resulted in bloodshed, George Osei, the national coordinator of the taskforce, told DAILY GUIDE.

Mr. Bobie, who heads the Ahafo Regional Security Council, was alleged to have accused the taskforce of trying to deprive his people of their daily bread and make him (Bobie) lose the 2020 parliamentary election as the MP for the area because of the actions of the taskforce.

The incident prevented the taskforce from carrying out its operations for three continuous days as the regional minister called and instructed the 3BN commander in Sunyani to withdraw the soldiers and not release them for the operation since as the head of the REGSEC he was not aware of their operations.

It took an order from the military headquarters in Accra for the soldiers to be released to the taskforce for the operation to continue at others areas like Ayomso in the region.

The minister reportedly further prevented the taskforce from evacuating illegal lumber to the Forestry Commission premises in Sunyani for legal actions to be taken against owners of sawmills.

The situation is alarming because just in a space of two days after we returned, we were able to seize 12 trucks of illegal lumber. We have reported the incident to national headquarters and hope actions would soon be taken. We have the backing of the ministry and commission to arrest all illegal operators, he indicated.

When contacted via telephone, the minister denied the allegation and rather explained that he was on his way to a place called Kasapin when he heard there was a misunderstanding between a sawmill owner and the taskforce, so he only stopped and intervened to cool tempers.

He, however, said as the head of REGSEC, he should have been informed about the operation of the taskforce.

--Daily Guide
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has attributed the mass deployment of military personnel to the Ketu South and other border towns of the Volta region to NPP's perennial discrimination against the people of the Volta Region.

This follows the massive military presence in the Oti Region, Northern Region, Upper East Region, and Upper West Region.

At a Press Conference in Accra today, the NDC says it is no coincidence that all these places, known as strongholds of the party are being filled up with mass military presence.

In the Ketu South Municipality and other parts of the Volta Region, the NDC has stressed that it has been timed by the ruling government to coincide with the commencement of the Voter Registration exercise across the country.

.. to understand the real reason behind this massing up of military and other security personnel in the Ketu South and other towns of the Volta region, it is important that we try to help the nation to see the big picture. This big picture is NPP's perennial discrimination against the people of the Volta region, Hon. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey who addressed the NDCs Press Conference told journalists.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu South added, The bottom line is that as far as the NPP is concerned, the people of the Volta region are foreigners; The Ewes are not Ghanaians.

Hon. Fiifi Kwetey further stresses that the massive deployment of the security forces along the border towns is just one of the several desperate means the NPP government is employing to achieve its political ends.

Meanwhile, the government has rubbished all the claims by the main opposition party while explaining that the deployment of the military is to ensure the safety of the citizenry in the advent of the Coronavirus crisis.

Military presence in border towns is to keep security at the borders tightened to prevent the importation of the deadly disease.

Read full statement below:

5TH EDITION OF NDC WEEKLY PRESS BRIEFING ON THE MILITARY SEIGE IN THE VOLTA REGION  HON. FIIFI KWETEY

Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen of the media for responding to our invitation. Through your esteemed media, we wish to convey to our fellow countrymen the grave danger we see looming over our beloved nation. This danger comes clothed in the garment of democracy but in reality, is naked despotism and tyranny.

1. The Military Siege In Eastern border towns and other border towns

The immediate reason for this press conference is the recent shocking mass deployment of military personnel along the border towns of the Volta region. Similar deployment has been done in the Oti Region, the Northern Region, the Upper East Region and the Upper West Region. It is no coincidence that all these places happen to be strongholds of the opposition NDC. We will this morning touch particularly on the situation in the Ketu South Municipality and other parts of the Volta region.

We are in no doubt that this massive deployment of Military and other security personnel in the Ketu South Municipality and other border towns of the region has been timed to coincide with the commencement of the Voter Registration exercise across the country.

These deployments are creating panic and anxiety among residents of Ketu south and other affected towns and districts. Interviews done by some of your colleagues in the media reveal that residents along the Ghana-Togo border are living in a state of fear due to the presence of the military.

The MCE of Ketu South, who represents President Akufo Addo here, has explained that the reason for the deployment of the military personnel is so they can help check unapproved routes to prevent foreigners with Covid 19 from coming from neighbouring Togo and increase cases of Covid 19 in the Ghana. This position has been supported by the Volta regional Minister, Dr Letsa as well. So, this is the official government explanation for the turning of Aflao and other border towns in the region into virtual war zones.

How laughable! How utterly ridiculous! Total Covid 19 case count in Togo stands at about 615. This is less than Greater Accra, less than Ashanti region, less than Western region, less than Central region and just about 75 cases more than the case count in Eastern region. If there is any fear of Covid, it should rather be the people of Togo who should be afraid of Ghanaians crossing the border to spread Covid 19 in Togo and not the other way round. The epicentre of Covid 19 in West Africa is not Togo. Ghana is in far worse trouble than Togo. One of the first persons who came into the country with the virus was in the president's entourage in Oslo. So, this official reason being provided is hollow. It is laughable and actually represents an insult to the intelligence of our people.

Just a few days ago, the NPP parliamentary primaries across different constituencies became virtual Covid 19 dissemination zones. If the NPP government is looking for the real threat of covid 19, they do not have to look far. So, they should spare us the cock and bull story about the need to patrol the borders to stop foreigners with the virus from coming across. They should have the courage to tell the truth for once.

NPP MP, KT Hammond, in a recent interview, at least showed some honesty when he unwittingly disclosed what is obviously the real reason behind the deployment. He revealed that the deployment of troops to Ketu South and other eastern border towns is to prevent Togolese from coming across the border to come register.

Voila! We need no rocket scientist to understand that the grand agenda is to intimidate our teeming supporters and make it difficult for them to come out in their numbers to register when the registration exercise begins tomorrow, Tuesday, 30th of June.

2. NPP's Perennial Animosity Towards the People of The Volta Region.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, to understand the real reason behind this massing up of military and other security personnel in the Ketu South and other towns of the Volta region, it is important that we try to help the nation to see the big picture. This big picture is NPP's perennial discrimination against the people of the Volta region.

The bottom line is that as far as the NPP is concerned, the people of the Volta region are foreigners; The Ewes are not Ghanaians. People who do not know this might be surprised about this statement; so, let us do a systematic elaboration to establish this beyond any doubt. To begin, let us remind everyone especially the young people of Ghana that the NPP family has been on record, accusing the founder of our country, Kwame Nkrumah of being a foreigner. Specifically, they said he was from Liberia.

A member of the same group also took President Rawlings to court over claims that he was not a Ghanaian. The mother of President Rawlings is from Keta in the Volta region. He was born in the Gold Coast in 1947. He served this country as an air force officer; became the head of state of this beloved country. Despite all these, the NPP deemed him not good enough to be a Ghanaian- after all in the view of NPP, who have always believed they are the owners of Ghana, Keta is not part of Ghana.

If President Rawlings, despite hailing from Keta in the Volta region, was deemed not to be a Ghanaian, why is anyone in shock when we state that the NPP has an ingrained belief that the people of Volta region are aliens and therefore should not be allowed to determine the political destiny of Ghana?

Keta by the way, where Rawlings comes from, has always been a part of the Gold Coast. In fact, both Keta and Ketu districts have always been an integral part of the Gold Coast. They have never been part of Togo at any point. But not in the view of the owners of Ghana.

So many other sons and daughters of the Volta region have faced similar discrimination in the hands of the NPP. Some of you may recall how in 2009, at my parliamentary vetting to become a deputy minister of finance in the government of President Mills, NPP MPs following the same agenda, boldly claimed that I was not a Ghanaian and therefore should not be allowed to become a member of Ghanas government. My father Joseph Kofi Kwetey hails from Nogokpo in the Ketu South Constituency and from Anyako in the Keta constituency. But in the opinion of the owners of Ghana, I am not a Ghanaian. My mother Benonia Hlomador Ayivor, hails from Denu and Klikor both in the Ketu south constituency; but in the opinion of the owners of Ghana, myself and the people of Ketu South that I have the privilege of representing in parliament, are not worthy to be called Ghanaians.

It is against this background that we need to view what the NPP is doing in Ketu South and Other border towns of the Volta region. This siege of the Volta region dates back to NPPs perennial hatred towards any group of people that they perceive as standing between them and their insatiable desire for absolute political power.

The unfounded and rather incoherent rantings of my friend K.T Hammond will ordinarily be treated as just that. But they reveal the same deep-seated belief that somehow the defeat of the NPP in elections in this country is on account of foreigners who come from Togo. He actually claimed that the NPP was coasting to victory in the first round of the 2008 elections and Togolese were allowed to come from across the border to overturn the results in the second round.

Somehow KT Hammond and the NPP have forgotten that even back in 2008, the NPP left all other borders open but closed the eastern border of the country before and during the first and second round elections. So, the defeat of the NPP in 2008 had absolutely nothing to do with foreigners coming from Togo.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, this show of tribal hatred did not start today. The Nana Addo government is only taking it to a whole new level. This deep-seated animosity comes from a sense of entitlement- the belief that because they are superior Ghanaians, all others who do not share their political perspective must be deemed ineligible so that the political destiny of Ghana would remain exclusively in their hands.

The people of Cote D'Ivoire have suffered largely from that same sense of superiority. The concept known as Ivoiriete- i.e the proper Ivorian- led to the unfortunate and bloody civil war that almost destroyed the hitherto very peaceful country of la Cote D' Ivoire. During Konan Bedie's presidency, ethnic tensions rose sharply, with a widening rift between the country's pre-dominantly Muslim north and mainly Christian south. Before the 1995 and the 2000 elections, a law drafted by President Henri Konan Bedie and upheld by the Supreme Court required both parents of a presidential candidate to be born within Cote d'Ivoire. This led to the disqualification of the northern presidential candidate Alassane Ouattara, who represented the predominantly Muslim north and poor settler workers who worked on coffee and cocoa plantations in the south.

We, in Ghana must be grateful to God that despite the perennial attempt by the NPP family to define who a proper Ghanaian is, we have, as a country largely avoided the path of national disintegration and bloody ethnic conflict.

Just as Ivoiriete is dangerous, so also is Ghanaete, iniquitous and dangerous.

It is high time the NPP family were told once and for all, that the fact that they never once won any election against Kwame Nkrumah had nothing to do with foreigners. Nkrumah was beloved by most of the people of Ghana and won elections freely and fairly. The founder of the NPP family, JB Danquah could not even win one election in his lifetime.

Instead of addressing why their political group has for the most part lost most elections, the NPP chooses rather to direct their venom and hatred towards innocent groups and accuse them of being aliens. It will be recalled that this was the main reason that the NPP family introduced the Aliens Compliance Order in 1969- a wicked legislation introduced by them when they finally won through manipulation the 1969 elections after orchestrating to have the CPP banned. What cowards and manipulators they have always been!

It is high time the NPP family were informed that their humiliating electoral loss to President Rawlings in both the 1992 and 1996 elections, had nothing to do with foreigners from Togo. The Volta region together with 8 other regions voted for President Rawlings and the NDC in both 1992 and 1996. This was an overwhelming support in all the regions of Ghana except one. Infact, there is no previous election the NDC has won in Ghana that the party did not win at least 8 of the 10 regions.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, where from all this hatred and animosity towards one region and all the spurious and unfounded claims that the painful defeats suffered by the NPP were on account of foreigners from Togo? Was it Togolese who have been winning the Central and Western regions for the NDC in all the elections the party won? Was it them who won the Eastern region for the NDC in both 1992 and 1996? Was it them who win the Greater Accra and Brong Ahafo regions anytime NDC wins the general elections? Was it the Togolese who always win the three northern regions for the NDC in all the partys electoral triumphs?

This heightened sense of delusion- this refusal on the part of the NPP to face the naked truth must come to an end. Both Nkrumah's CPP and Rawlings' NDC did not humiliate the NPP family at the polls because of Togolese or Liberians or aliens from Jupiter. They did so because they won the hearts and minds of the people of Ghana through their patriotism and dedication to the wellbeing of Ghanaians.

NPP's chronic problem is that they do not have it in their DNA to accept an electoral defeat. They just cannot come to terms with the fact that they cannot win every election. Maybe the delusion that Ghana is their property makes it too difficult for them to accept this reality. When they lost in 1992, it was a stolen verdict. In 1996, it was a bought verdict. In 2008, Nana Addo used all shenanigans including the most dastardly attempt to change figures in the strong room of the EC; but for the vigilance and the courage of the NDC in the strong room in that second round, Nana Addo and his NPP will have succeeded to subvert the will of the people. We have not mentioned their failed efforts, as was captured on tape, to even place dead bodies in water bodies in the Volta region as a way of subverting the will of the people. After all these evil machinations failed, Nana Addo, true to character, refused to concede and congratulate the winner JEA Mills.

After the 2012 defeat, the NPP went on a violent spree, beating and assaulting innocent citizens at Obra Spot and destroying property. Then to cover their shame, they went on a face-saving journey to the Supreme Court in a bid to overturn the Supreme Will of the people of Ghana. They just do not have it in their genes to accept defeat. After all, how can the owners of Ghana ever lose to parties of aliens and foreigners? The only time they accept electoral results is when they win. It is either their way or the highway. What kind of people are these!

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, the anger of the NPP anytime they lose elections should rather be directed at their own internal campaign inadequacies. It is only chronic losers who blame others for their losses. Winners elect to do deep introspection and self-correction, when they lose, rather than direct their venom towards others. So, instead of being angry against Ewes for daring to deny you, your God given right to rule Ghana, it would be better to do a deep self-examination. As the great Socrates said, "An unexamined life is not worth living."

Why does the NPP family believe that they are superior Ghanaians and that they have a God given right over the political and economic destiny of Ghana?

Kwame Nkrumah's CPP that fought for the independence of Ghana at the time the NPP family kept begging Britain not to grant independence to our nation, did not even behave as though they were superior Ghanaians. Where were these tribal bigots who think they own Ghana, when Dr Kwame Nkrumah ably aided by Volta Region's Dr Agbeli Gbedemah and other nationalists declared the motion of independence on the eve of our independence?

Where were they?

Where were these tribal bigots who think Ghana is their property when Kwame Nkrumah, Agbeli Gbedemah and others fought to keep Ghana as one unitary nation- one Nation, one People- One Destiny, at the time the NPP family was busy fighting for Ghana to be a federal nation with each region keeping its own resources? To keep this beloved country united, Kwame Nkrumah had to pass the Avoidance of Discrimination Act, in 1957 to outlaw political parties based on regional, ethnic or religious differences.

Where were these tribal bigots?

Kwame Nkrumah, Agbeli Gbedemah and those who won independence for Ghana never once contemplated betraying this beloved nation. They never once stooped so low as to become paid agents of any foreign power to work against the interest of their own country. Declassified files of the CIA show that same cannot be said about the main founder of the NPP family- J.B Danquah, the beloved uncle of President Akufo Addo. Yet Kwame Nkrumah and Agbeli Gbedemah never once believed that they were more Ghanaian than others. What gives the NPP family the moral right to think that they are superior Ghanaians?

President Rawlings and the many patriots who toiled with him from 1982 to 1992 to lift this beloved nation from the brink of collapse- a time when things had sunk so low and the self-belief and confidence of our people was so shattered that some of our brothers were moving in droves to Togo to work as shoe shine boys and some of our sisters left to Nigeria and Cote D'Ivoire and had to prostitute themselves just to survive- Rawlings and the many patriots who through sweat and dedication rallied the great people of Ghana back to the place where once again we became a nation that was respected and admired among our peers, have never claimed they are superior Ghanaians. Where were these tribal bigots when this massive reconstruction of our nation was being done?

Where were they when this group of patriots worked tirelessly to bequeath to Ghana the 1992 Constitution that has today become the foundation of political stability upon which all sons and daughters of Ghana, north, south, east and west, are working hard to construct a Ghana that will become a great and strong nation under God? Where were these tribal bigots?

The earlier the NPP family snapped out of this pathological delusion that some other Ghanaians are foreigners and only they are proper Ghanaians, the better it would be for all of Ghana. This respect for all Ghanaians, north, south, east or west, is crucial in the endeavor for all of us to hold hands in the true spirit of brotherhood, as envisaged by Dr Kwame Nkrumah at the time of our nation's independence.

3. Desperation to subvert the will of the people through every imaginable machination is the name of NPPs game.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, the massive deployment of the security forces along the border towns is just one of the several desperate means the NPP government is employing to achieve its political ends. We, in Ketu South and the Volta region, are not completely shocked though. Have we not seen the brutal violence unleashed on innocent Ghanaians in broad daylight during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by election? The whole world witnessed in shock how this despotic regime turned a simple by election into a war front; and resorted to the criminal abuse of power. We were witnesses to the egregious blood-letting by a gang of NPP brigands and bandits, masquerading as national security personnel, with the tacit approval of the President of the republic, who also is the Chairman of the national security council.

To confirm that the hoodlums operated with the tacit blessing of the regime, the president who often touts his democratic credentials, blatantly refused to implement critical recommendations of the Commission that he had set up himself. How tragic! How shameful!

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, this is the same game plan the NPP are following- a plan which today has reduced an electoral commission that has since 1992 gained international recognition for neutrality, professionalism and credibility, into a pliant instrument to subvert the will of the people of Ghana. The saddest part is that while all this is going on, they actually delude themselves that the people of Ghana and the rest of the world cannot see the systematic efforts they are employing to bastardize the electoral system and virtually turn this beloved nation into a banana republic.

Same things the NPP is doing with institutions like the NIA and the NCA. The NCA is the state institution that is being used under the guise of enforcement of regulations, to close down some media houses that are perceived to be too critical of the regime. Freedomhouse.org, an international media freedom watchdog recently described the modus operandi of regimes like that of Nana Akufo Addo- regimes that pretend to respect the rule of law but in reality are living no stone unturned to subvert media freedoms.

"Governments are using the more subtle tools of media regulations to restrict press freedom maintaining a veneer of legality and pluralism that is less likely to draw attention or criticism from abroad. Manipulation of the regulatory framework allows them to either tolerate or rein in influential news outlets depending on the political situation and permit even democratically elected governments to fortify themselves against future electoral competition."

The above accurately describes the shameful methods being used by the Akufo Addo government. When concerns are raised, the president points to regulations and laws. He has so soon forgotten that even apartheid was backed by law; even the trade and ownership of black slaves was legal in the US until 1865. Kwame Nkrumah's Aliens Compliance Order was also backed by law, yet the NPP family to date denounces same with vehemence. The undemocratic ways of this regime are bad enough. The high handedness is terrible enough. But what adds insult to injury is when they actually pretend to be the custodians of the rule of law, of civil liberties and of democracy.

What hypocrites they are! Christ refers to these people as whitewashed graves. In Matthew 23:28, Christ describes this type of pretenders in the following words: "Woe to you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed graves, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." God is not mocked. Whatsoever we sow, we shall surely reap. So, the NPP should not forget that the day of reckoning will surely come sooner rather than later.

5. Voices Of Conscience Must Speak Up Against What Is Happening In The Volta Region and other strongholds of the NDC

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, all those watching these developments and not raising their voices are through their silence, encouraging the entrenchment of an oppressive and tyrannical regime. Those watching this looming danger but failing to speak up and condemn it, should remember that their silence makes them accomplices and posterity will judge them if their own consciences fail to do so. We urge them to speak up and let the NPP government and others who think alike to appreciate that Citizenship is a question of law. Neither the government of Akufo Addo nor the military contingent stationed all over our border towns can decide who is or who is not a citizen of Ghana.

There are very many Ghanaian families that live on both sides of the Ghana Togo border. Lome, the capital of Togo, is also a major economic centre. It is a commercial and educational hub that attracts Ghanaians from as far as the Western region, the Ashanti region, the Eastern region and so many other regions. The government of Ghana, some months back, sent NADMO across the border to make available relief items to Ghanaians resident in Togo. This is ample evidence that there are many Ghanaians who live and work in Togo. Ghanaians do not cease to be Ghanaians just because they live across the border, just as they do not stop being Ghanaians simply because they live and work in England or the USA.

Many of us have heard the famous case of Bonito Olympio, who proved in court, that he was Ghanaian by descent, even though his father Sylvanus Olympio was the first President of Togo. The Olympios descend from the Amegashie family- a family that to date continues to live in both Ghana and Togo.

For the information of the tribal bigots who continue to insinuate that they are more Ghanaian than the rest of us, we wish to inform them that the Amegashies who live in Togo are not foreigners. They continue to be Ghanaians by descent, even if some of them opt for dual nationality.

Let me now seize the opportunity to mention a few other families who hail from Ghana and have relatives living and working across the border. The Fitis, the Adamahs, the Acorlatses, the Adjavors, the Tettehs, the Malors, the Akakpos, the Atikpos, the Amuzus, the Folis, the Quashigahs, The Grunitzkys, the Senoos, the Quarshies are not aliens just because they live in Togo- they are Ghanaians.

The Gbedemahs, the Gadzekpos, the Agbemabiases, the Amegashitis, the Ganyos, the Antonios, the Adedzes, the Quists, the Blagogees, the Kukubors, the Tamakloes, the Dusseys (one of whom is the current foreign minister of Togo), the Apaloos, the Baetas, and my own maternal families, the Ayivors, the Hlomadors, the Badohus, the Kudawoos, the Armattoes, have not morphed into aliens from Pluto or Jupiter just because some of them live and work in Togo. They remain as much Ghanaians as the Akufo Addos, the Osafo Maafos, and all the other tribal bigots in the NPP.

As for the few of our own Ewe brethren who have allowed their NPP affiliation to blind them to the point of taking part in fake documentary purporting that those who come from across the border to register and vote are not Ghanaians but Togolese, may our ancestors have mercy upon them.

6. Rallying Call To All Sons And Daughters Of The Volta Region To Massively Defy The NPP Intimidation And Come Out To Register

We want to remind the good people of Ketu South and the Volta region and the sons of Volta region in all the other 15 regions of Ghana that this massive intimidation they are seeing and hearing of today, will by December 7th, be no more. The Egyptians you are seeing today, you shall soon see no more. Therefore, this is not the time for fear. This is the moment for courage. This is the moment for bravery.

Remember that in the same way in 2008, the NPP orchestrated to close the eastern borders but the great people of Ketu South and the Volta still defied all odds and came out in massive numbers to support the NDC to snatch the parliamentary victory from the NPP in the first round and defeat them in the presidential elections in the second round, is the same inspiration we need to rise to the challenge this year.

The same spirit of boldness and defiance that inspired us in 2008 should animate us even more now because if we thought the government of President Kufuor was bad, then this current one can only be described as the most desperate, the most dangerous, the most intolerant and the most abysmal in the history of our country.

Ketu South and the Volta region have proven before that they are capable of rising to the challenge when it is critical to reject the misrule of the NPP. Let us once come out in our multitudes, defy the intimidation and register massively in order to let this oppressive, desperate government of tribal bigots get out of power. We call on the supporters of the NDC all over to rise up and refuse to be intimidated during this registration exercise.

As our Flagbearer and leader has said, Where there is the will, there is always the way.

Victory beckons us. Destiny is on our side. The Court of the People of Ghana, under the influence of the only Supreme Court of Heaven, will speak on December 7. The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory shall be.

So, May God help us to resist oppressors rule with all our will and might forever more. Amen.
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London: United Kingdom MP Stewart McDonald has asked the UK government to act against the Chinese government's intention to destroy Hong Kongs autonomy.

In his opinion piece published in Hong Kong Free Press, he said: "It is time for the UK government to act. China has continuously demonstrated its intention to destroy Hong Kongs autonomy and disregard both international law and its obligations under the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration that guarantees its freedoms."

"We cannot let this pass us idly by. We must share the courage of the protesters by standing up to Chinas disregard for liberty and freedom," he said.

"To name but a few, China has recently decided to impose a national security law on Hong Kong, bypassing its legislature, which will criminalise any act of secession, subversion, terrorism and its broad scope could see people punished for criticising Beijing  as they are in mainland China," he said.

He further said: "Beijings heavy hand will continue to create a climate of fear and a visceral sense of hopelessness unless we stand up. Hong Kong, the only enclave of freedom in China, is being eclipsed by tear gas, rubber bullets, live rounds, police brutality and torture; but still Hongkongers march on."

Hong Kong, a former British colony, was handed over to China in 1997, and the Basic Law preserves its autonomy as a Special Administrative Region under the principle of one country, two systems.

The new security law will also be overriding any local laws that come in conflict with it, reports said.

The planned law has sparked protests against the Chinese government and also drawn international condemnation.
Authorities in DR Congo's capital Kinshasa Monday opened up the posh business district of Gombe which had been sealed off in April to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Access to Gombe, which houses the country's main institutions, banks and foreign embassies as well as upscale homes, was barricaded to everyone except local residents and key workers on April 6.

Kinshasa Governor Gentiny Ngobila had then justified the move saying the district was considered to be "the epicentre" of coronavirus spread in the city.

There have been 6,827 registered cases of COVID-19 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, of which more than 6,000 occurred in Kinshasa. The death toll nationwide stands at 158.

Gombe, home to 100,000 to 200,000 of Kinshasa's 10 million people, has been dubbed "the Republic of Gombe" for its perceived status as an island of prosperity in a city rife with poverty and dysfunction.

An AFP journalist said barricades that had been erected to keep non-residents and key workers had been lifted on Monday.

Kinshasa governor Ngobila on Sunday however urged the city's residents to limit their movements and wear masks all the time in public.

Shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and government offices have reopened in Gombe but the central market there remains closed.

Shopkeepers on Monday staged a protest outside the town hall, calling for its reopening.

DR Congo's borders remained sealed while Kinshasa has been isolated from the rest of the country. Schools, universities and places of worship are also closed.
Libya lies behind and Europe ahead though the mist -- rescued migrants can dream a little onboard the Ocean Viking as it drifts somewhere between Italy and Malta.

Rescued from two wooden boats, 118 migrants, including a pregnant woman, are finally on one of the last stages in their quest for a better life, crossing the Mediterranean.

At the mention of Libya, Hafiz, a 30-year-old Eritrean, holds his head as if to ward off blows.

"All I want is to save my skin. If I had stayed in Libya, they would have ended up killing me," he told AFP onboard the rescue ship.

"I could also die out here at sea, but at least I have a slim chance of making it."

Hafiz says he survived four years of torture, kidnapping, beatings and seeing a friend killed for his cell phone.

The worst was three years in prison "for nothing, without seeing the light of day", he says.

"After three years, a guard asked me what I was doing there. I replied that it was up to them to tell me. When no-one could come up with an answer, they let me go. And then I could tell my family I was alive."

Hafiz, who fled his homeland via Sudan, does not care where he goes in Europe, "just someplace safe, where I cannot be killed".

A UN report in late 2018 used the testimony of 1,300 migrants to allege "unimaginable horrors" in Libya including "unlawful killings, arbitrary detention and torture, gang rape, slavery, and human trafficking".

Mohammad Tareeq Saleem, 40, says he survived seven years in Libya, where he worked in a food shop. The Pakistani native suffered confinement and assaults, including a knife wound just before setting out to sea.

He put up with the violence to earn money for his wife and six children in Lahore, but the fighting in Libya has destroyed jobs and after losing his, Mohammad borrowed money from friends to try and reach Europe.

"My mission is to work and earn money to feed my family," he says.

'Let us in'

Cameroonian Mervis, 24, is the only woman migrant on board -- she is five months pregnant.

She and her Ghanaian husband are "just looking for a place where the child will not suffer".

For Mervis, Libya meant rapes, kidnappings, prison and beatings.

She pulls up a leg of her sweatpants, which was covered by thick socks, to show where Libyan jailers broke her tibia "just to torture me".

Mervis speaks French and her husband English. They hope their child will be born in Germany and have a fresh start.

The Ocean Viking rescue ship is waiting for permission from either Italy or Malta to dock. By Alessandro SERRANO (AFP/File)

Aymane is headed back to Europe, having already lived in France for three years.

Sporting a pony tail and gold-trimmed sunglasses, he will not say how he reached Europe previously, just that he sold clothes in the Clignancourt flea market in Paris.

Aymane returned to Morocco after his father died to find that prospects for young people were dire.

"You work a lot and earn almost nothing," he says, so one night he "crossed the desert" to reach Libya and find passage back across the Mediterranean.

The Ocean Viking, a Norwegian-flagged ocean supply vessel chartered by charities, is waiting for permission from either Italy or Malta to dock.

"Let us in," Mervis pleads. "We just want to live in peace!"
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The Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul has lambasted the Minority side in Parliament for asking government to withdraw military personnel deployed to the countrys border towns.

The Volta Caucus on the Minority side earlier in a press briefing gave the government a 24-hour ultimatum to withdraw the security personnel.

According to the Caucus, the deployment is an attempt to intimidate residents of the border towns especially, those in the Volta Region in the upcoming voters' registration exercise.

But in response, Mr. Nitiwul at a counter press conference organised by Information Ministry insisted that the Minority were only spewing propaganda.

According to him, the deployment was done to beef up protection of the countrys borders in the wake of the increasing COVID-19 figures.

I believe that if they are watching this press conference, they will revise their notes and they should be bowing their heads in shame because they lied to the people of Ghana. As we have all been told now, the numbers in the Volta Region are some of the lowest of the deployment. So when you are giving the ultimatum, are you giving the ultimatum for those in the North-East Region to also withdraw, those in the Northern Region to withdraw.

Are you speaking for those people as well. What about Upper West, they should also withdraw as well when Tumu people are happy that the Soldiers are there and they have been there for a year and a half? Its not like yesterday that security personnel have been deployed. Other people have been with them for a year and a half.

The Minister clarified that the current deployment of security personnel across the country is not meant to intimidate potential registrants in the upcoming voter registration exercise.

According to him, the deployment is aimed at strengthening security at Ghanas borders as part of the measure towards the COVID-19 fight.

He further disclosed that about a thousand security personnel drawn from the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and the Ghana Revenue Authority have been deployed across all of Ghanas entry points.

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The Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul has described as pure mischief and propaganda claims by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the government has deployed military officers whyspecifically to the Volta Region to intimidate them from registering to vote in the 2020 general elections.

The Minister, at a press conference on Monday, said the deployment of soldiers is part a nationwide exercise to stop the immigration of people into the country through unapproved routes in a bid to stop the importation of COVID-19 cases.

He said similar deployments had been done in the Savannah, Northern and Upper East regions as well.

I want the people of the Volta Region to know that the information the NDC, Minority and former president John Mahama are feeding them is pure propaganda. It should be ignored. It is pure mischief. We have deployed [soldiers] across the entire country and the purpose is to aid and support the Ghana Immigration Service to stop people from crossing [in] because we have too many unapproved routes and the COVID-19 numbers are getting higher and higher and we will not sit aloof and allow our people to die because people are crossing into our country, the Minister said.

The Minister said there is no agenda against any tribe in the country as is being suggested by persons who are accusing the government of targeting Ewes in the Volta Region for intimidation in the run-up to the 2020 elections.

He said the ultimate purpose of the deployment is to check crime and illegal immigration, which puts the country at a health risks amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the people of Ghana, they are concerned about their health. It is my duty to make sure that the people of Ghana are safe and at this particular time we are all in danger so you will have seen the deployment we have done across the whole country and for anybody to suggest that we just deployed only to Aflao or the Volta Region is misplaced, it is misinformation and the person is only seeking mischief, he added.

Withdraw military officers

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) had earlier on Monday has slammed the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for deploying military personnel to border towns in the country.

At a press conference addressed by the Member of Parliament for Ketu South, Fifi Kwetey, the deployment was undoubtedly timed to coincide with the commencement of the Voter Registration exercise across the country from tomorrow, Tuesday.

The party subsequently gave a 48-hour ultimatum for the government to withdraw the personnel.

The voter registration exercise is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 30.

 citinewsroom
CanSino Biologics, a Chinese laboratory based in Shanghai, has been granted permission for its coronavirus vaccine to be used by the country's military after clinical trials proved hopeful. If successful, this would be the first vaccine to be available in the global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

China's military has approved a coronavirus vaccine for use within its ranks. The formula was developed by a combined military research unit and the biotech firm, the company said Monday.

Organisations around the world are racing to find ways to treat and prevent the deadly pathogen, which first emerged late last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan and has since killed over half a million people worldwide.

More than half of the 17 candidate vaccines identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being at the clinical evaluation stage involve Chinese companies or institutes.

Hong Kong-listed CanSino Biologics said in a filing to the stock exchange that data from clinical trials showed the Chinese military vaccine had a "good safety profile" and potential to prevent disease caused by the coronavirus.

Military medical sciences

CanSino said on Monday that China's Central Military Commission had approved the use of the vaccine on 25 June, for one year.

The vaccine was jointly developed by CanSino and the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, part of the Academy of Military Medical Sciences. Trials started on 17 March.

The company says that the formula; known as Ad5-nCoV, is currently limited to use by military personnel, and cannot be offered to a broader population without the approval of the Logistics Support Department, the division of the Central Military Commission which approved the military use of the vaccine.

The vaccine uses an adenovirus, which normally causes the common cold, as a vector. To stop it replicating, the virus is made inactive by removing certain genes. In their place, a piece of DNA that codes for the coronavirus spike protein is inserted. Once injected, these viral antigens are expressed in human cells that trigger the body's immune response.

Other companies, such as Jansen Pharmaceuticals, will start clinical trials based on adenovirus-based vaccines, but said they expect the first results only next year.

Available to the world?

It was not clear how widely the potential vaccine will be used within China's enormous military establishment. During a meeting of the WHO on in May, Chinese President Xi Jinping had suggested that if China produced a dependable anti Covid-19 vaccine, Beijing would make it "available to the world".

But CanSino said that it cannot guarantee that the vaccine, which has undergone both phase one and two clinical trials in China, will ultimately be commercialised.

Another 131 candidate vaccines listed by the WHO are at the pre-clinical phase.

None has yet been approved for commercial use.

According to medical journal The Lancet there have already been more than 1,000 clinical trials on dozens of pharmaceutical treatments for the virus but no effective medical intervention has yet been found.
The supplementary budget tabled last week by South Africa's finance minister, Tito Mboweni, whose primary objective was to make more money available for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, sheds no light on the relative prioritisation of prevention over treatment for COVID-19.

The required health system response to COVID 19 broadly falls into these two areas: prevention and treatment. The two are closely interlinked. And there are severe shortcomings in both.

On the prevention side, interventions include social distancing as well as rapid testing, contact tracing and quarantining. These require massive upscaling to have a preventive effect.

Prevention also involves public health interventions separating infected from uninfected people.

For its part, treatment requires that health services address the needs of COVID-19 patients while at the same time protecting health service workers and non-COVID-19 patients from undiagnosed patients presenting for non-COVID conditions.

But for this to happen there has to be rapid turnaround of test results. In the absence of this, all patients awaiting results need to be treated as potentially COVID positive. This, in turn, requires staff to have full personal protective equipment when treating all patients. But public sector facilities aren't able to reliably provide personal protective equipment.

COVID-19 patients also need expensive hospital-based care together with oxygen, ventilators (when oxygen proves insufficient on its own) as well as a variety of medications. Using private sector inpatient data from the Hospital Association of South Africa , the distribution is: general ward (64.2%), high care (15.7%) and intensive care units (20%).

The supplementary budget announced by the minister of finance makes provision for an additional R21.5 billion for health to be split between the provinces, which will get most, and the national department of health. The problem is that, though money has been made available, there's no associated strategy that sets out how it will be spent. This is a major omission that suggests the funds will not have any meaningful impact.

Missing strategies

The number of cases has been rising steadily in South Africa since around 22 April 2020. The lockdown was implemented on 27 March 2020 to stop the epidemic until such time as alternative prevention strategies could be put in place and to ready health services. Neither objective was achieved. Not only did the lockdown not stop new infections, as has been achieved elsewhere, but testing and tracing at scale was not implemented by the end of April as promised, and health services are in no position to cope with an uncontained outbreak.

During April, May and early June 2020 the Western Cape experienced increasing new cases relative to all the other provinces. During the course of June the outbreak appears to have peaked due to interventions targeted at hotspots (Figure 1).

Over the same period the Eastern Cape and Gauteng provinces have seen a spike in new infections (Figure 1). Inpatient numbers and expected deaths have not yet caught up with these steep increases. But the impact on services is likely to rise steeply.

Gauteng is fairly well-resourced in critical care beds (2,690 with only 819 in the public sector), when both the public and private sectors are aggregated. But the Eastern Cape is far behind (400, with only 241 in the public sector) (Table 1). Source: Daily data provided by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD)

Given what lies ahead, how will the supplementary budget help?

Of the additional R21.5 billion made available for health, R16 billion will be transferred to provinces as an adjustment to the provincial equitable share allocation (formula-based and allocated at the discretion of the province). The remaining R5.544 billion is allocated to the National Department of Health.

The biggest problem is that these allocations are not connected to any strategy. The budget documents state broadly that the funds are meant to support testing, community health workers, expanding hospital capacity for critical care and field hospitals, PPE, oxygen, ventilators and new staff.

A number of immediate concerns therefore arise.

First, the R16 billion is a general augmentation of provincial health budgets. It gives no consideration to differences in the provincial COVID-19 disease trajectory or likely impacts on services.

Second, it is unclear how testing and tracing infrastructure is to be expanded. For example, does it include funding university and private sector laboratories?

Third, no clarity is provided on how the R5.544 billion is to be spent by national government.

What this means is that funding is likely to be allocated inefficiently. Some provinces won't get what they need while others will waste allocations on less important functions. Because the funds aren't earmarked, provinces can also choose not to allocate them for COVID-19 health interventions.

Another major gap is that the budget doesn't offer any strategy or strategic targets when it comes to testing. Provincial governments will have to fund testing out of their existing budgets for the remainder of the year. This could, based on my own estimates, range from R3 billion (15,000 tests per day) to R8 billion (40,000 tests per day).

Provinces also need to fund quarantine sites and additional hospital beds. No strategy on either is outlined.

Overflow requirements for beds in the private sector are priced at R16,000 per day for critical care. Given that an overflow requirement introduces a demand-driven element into the budget process, significant contingent fiscal risks arise.

Again, however, no strategy is outlined.

South Africa only has critical care bed capacity for the remainder of the financial year of around 468,433 bed days (account has been taken of existing occupancy), of which 90,400 bed days (16.3%) are in the public sector. However, if the epidemic trajectory continues as at present, COVID-specific critical care bed need may be as high as 2.9 million bed days over the period July to December 2020.

As this would exceed both the financial and human resources of both the public and private systems, prevention strategies would need to be substantially more effective than at present.

It would therefore have made more sense to clarify the strategy. This would logically require flexibility in the budget process to enable prioritisation between prevention strategies and differential provincial treatment needs.

The increase in the equitable share allocation by R16 billion has, however, removed any flexibility for national government to shift funds to the highest strategic priorities by province. The remaining national allocations appear insufficient to fine tune prevention strategies or to augment provinces in greater relative need for hospital beds. Source: Compiled by the author from various sources including the Department of Health and the Hospital Association of South Africa.

Now what?

The relative prioritisation of prevention over treatment for COVID-19 is neither explicit in government's COVID-19 strategy documents, nor determinable from resource allocations in the supplementary budget. While this distinction may appear unimportant, disease prevention can only succeed if resourced at sufficient scale to avoid the catastrophic demand for critical care services for which no preparation will be sufficient.

Consistent with the handling of the pandemic to date, however, there is no evidence of a strategy. The supplementary budget for health is merely further evidence of this.

Alex van den Heever does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Alex van den Heever, Chair of Social Security Systems Administration and Management Studies, Adjunct Professor in the School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand
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What has that got to do with his death? Absolutely nothing! If your brother had asthma, and someone intentionally introduced smoke into his room, and he died, you would be very upset if the system said well he had asthma, so nothing to see here. Look up 'Proximate Cause of Death' and you'd find that even if Mr Floyd was carrying the plague, someone's knee pressing on his neck for almost 9 minutes cancels out all other probable causes.

Lots to discuss. This is an opinion piece. Do NOT shoot the messenger.

It is tempting to say we have tribalism back home to pay attention torather than systemic racism far away in the United States of America.But too many a time does a powerful movement start and then nothing happens afterwards, be it at home in Ghana or elsewhere. I hope this is not one of those. That is why we're all adding our voice. The best way we can effect change as part of a greater community is if we all add our voice.A lot of the leaders of America today can far too easily drown the voices of those currently advocating. If you can lend your voice to make your brothers' and sisters' issue be heard, do it!

While John Agyekum Kufuor was President of Ghana, I personally heard many people brag about how they were related to him. Oh, Kufuor? Yeah I know him he's my mother's cousin's brother's wife's nephew on the father side that kind of thing. Why? Well maybe it's because everybody wants to be associated with something major and memorable. Maybe it's because everybody wants justification to overdramatise their role in relevant history, even if it means shamelessly professing to prove some kind of lineage to a powerful man only by word of mouth.

Well, something major and memorable is happening in America, the world's biggest economy with a GDP of over 20 trillion US dollars just last year. This goes deeper than your average everyday protest or some hashtag culture. You might have heard about it. Here is your chance to be part of some history. Since the days of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960's, never has there ever been protests against racial injustice as large, as prolonged and as widespread as what is currently happening in the USA. The killing of George Floyd in broad daylight hit a collective nerve across the world.

My President is Black, and even he, amidst the complexities of international diplomatic relations, found it best to express his support for what's happening in America. On behalf of the people of the Republic of Ghana, President William Nana Addo DankwaAkufo-Addo expressed his condolences to the family and loved ones of the late George Floyd. He further stated that Ghana stands with our kith and kin in America in these difficult and trying times, and we hope that the unfortunate, tragic death of George Floyd will inspire a lasting change in how America confronts head on the problems of hate and racism.

We have all seen the footage of police officer Derek Chauvin smirk while he literally asphyxiates a handcuffed black man by placing his knee on George Floyd's neck in broad daylight while Floyd repeatedly said I can't breathe, Mama, and please while onlookers were recording everything in plain sight while onlookers were screaming at him to stop.

Question: Where does one get the audacity and the misplaced vim to commit such a gruesome crime when he ironically yet legally is law-enforcement?

Answer: The system.

Law enforcement had a big part to play in America's complicated history with African Americans. Before they were African Americans, they were legally Slaves, Cargo. It is only logical to boldly infer that, back then, back a couple centuries ago, US law enforcement were trained to be racist, because that was the law, back then because law enforcement to them would literally mean enforcing laws that are now racist, but back then were legal and widely accepted. It makes sense, the inference makes sense.

Nonetheless, when slavery is abolished, but the systems and institutions that are put in place aren't fully purged ofthe very protocols and processes that make racism work, then what's the point. A system works only when IT WORKS. Now, the African American community together with overwhelming support from all over the world is saying the system isn't working that well for the race of former slaves. That's what all this commotion is about.

That's what all the marching and protesting is about. It's not for an infinity gauntlet to snap racists and racism out of existence. It's an open admission that there will always be racism in the hearts and minds of some part of society but when systemic enablers are legally in place to facilitate and/or exonerate the illegal, how is that even remotely fair to the victims that are suspiciously predominantly the black community?

The marching and the protests is their roaring cry out just like George Floyd did that the system is and has been suffocating them too. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be having nightmares by now because this is so not his dream. In his own words,

It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

Understand that George Floyd wasn't an armed robber or some dangerous criminal to warrant such harsh approach by the police officers. Harsh is an understatement if you'd want to catalogue all the unfortunate incidents that culminated to these protests. I had a healthy debate with a gentleman last week who argued that US Police has a zero tolerance for crime and therefore should be more understood.

I understand.

I understand that the logical basis for the Zero-Tolerance Policing is that if you stomp out minor crimes early, they wouldn't grow to be full on felonies. To carry this plan out, the US government flooded low-income neighbourhoods with hundreds of thousands of police officers. This zero tolerance policing culture is what gave way to the famous stop-and-frisk that allowed police officers in the US to stop you by the road arbitrarily and search you, without needing to give you a reason before for doing so.

Deterrence is what I think should have been on the agenda. In some way I think that was the initial idea behind Zero-Tolerance Policing policies. But in some other twisted way, minor crimes within these communities started getting punished as if they were major crimes, and the laws allowed this. Black Americans were getting thrown in jail for minor offences as a way to crack down on crime, which makes no sense to me.

Look at it this way.

When a teacher wants to deter a class from making excessive noise during a lesson, yes he puts one or two students in detention. When that doesn't work, for whatever reason, he doesn't put the whole class in detention forever, as this will defeat the purpose of the deterrent. You don't double down on a failed tactic; you have to cook up fresh ones.

The residents of low income neighbourhoods usually pick up bad habits growing up. It is good social work that continues to save many kids like that from a bad path. So what about Social Services? Maybe fund that aggressively. Aggressive funding for social services and awareness is what you do if you want to reform and not punish a whole community already suffering from the aftereffects of many centuries of oppression.

One sure way many people invalidate an opposing view is to slam it as not having all the answers. You don't need to have all the answers in the world to be right. No movement is 100% perfect. But if you tell me nothing seems off to you when a man is killed by the road in a painful, sadistic manner as George Floyd was and you don't feel the urge to say  hey, that's totally wrong and I want to add my voice to the millions saying 'this shouldn't be allowed to happen again' because it's only human to do so, then you might need a psychological evaluation.

On 25th May, George Floyd popped into a store to buy some cigarettes in Minnesota, USA. He paid with a $20 bill. The person at the store suspected the note was counterfeit. So, stepped out and asked Floyd to return the cigarettes. Floyd refused. There was no violenceat this point around or between Floyd or the storekeeper, only a verbal altercation. The storekeeper called 911. Fast forward a little later and the 46-year old black father of 5, nicknamed Gentle Giant, was handcuffed face down in the street, begging for his life while a police officer pressed his knee to Mr Floyd's neck for almost 9 minutes.

His murder was not a fluke. There exists a real distortion in the numbers when we talk about racial injustice in America. The numbers verify this. Don't let the hashtags fools you. All lives do matter. All races do matter. But if you asked me for water to put out the fire in your house and I said hey my house matters too, that won't stop your house from burning. This would be a completely tone-deaf approach to your harsh reality, especially when there's enough water to go around, especially when it is your legal right to have this water. So Black Lives Do Matter, and I hope no race has the urgent need to scream I Matter as much as African Americans are today in the United States of America.

Additionally, what a time for a revolution! There's a pandemic out there and Americans in all 50 States have taken to the streets to fight police brutality and systemic racism. Definitely this will affect the number of infected people. Businesses will come to a halt, even more so than they were because of the pandemic. It doesn't take an economic connoisseur so see that if one sneeze can wipe off 30% of the US stock markets, it would be safe to say that Floyd's murder and these widespread protests in all 50 States would have tipped the markets' scales materially had it not already been in a tumble that's getting back up.

A lot of people are concerned more with activism than work at the moment in the United States of America. That will form part of a new normal moving forward to some degree.All this will affect you in your home country one way or another, whether you see it happening or not. The world is very much interconnected now. So best to pay attention and happen to something rather than let something happen to you. Don't slander a just cause by fixating on the few mind wanderers that maybe ask that we literally get rid of the police. Don't throw out the baby with the bath water. Many causes have asked for equality and gotten close to it or more. I think Black America asking to just matter shouldn't be that big an ask, should it?

It shouldn't.

Hit me up on social media and let's keep the conversation going! I read all the feedback you send me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Go to bit.ly/maxwritesto read all my previous articles.

Also, feel free to send me your articles on relevant topics for publication on the Macroeconomic Bulletin. I'd give you full credit, an intro, and an outro. Kindly make it about 1000 words.

Have a lovely week!

Maxwell Ampong is the CEO of Maxwell Investments Group, a Trading and Business Solutions provider. He is also the Business Advisor for the General Agricultural Workers' Union of TUC (Gh). He writes about trending and relevant economic topics, and general perspective pieces.

LinkedIn:/in/thisisthemax Instagram:@thisisthemax Twitter:@thisisthemax Facebook:@thisisthemax Website: www.maxwellinvestmentsgroup.com Email: [email protected] Mobile: 0249993319
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The Northern Regional Youth Network (NRYN), a youth-led organization started a campaign in 2018 to ensure there is public finance for regional annual educational sector review meetings in the Northern Region.

Following this campaign, the youth network petitioned the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) through the Regional Minister to direct all MMDAs to make an annual budget allocation of GH 7,000 for the purpose of the Regional Annual Education Sector Review Meetings.

Subsequently, the NRYN and NORSAAC with support from YEfL and funding from Oxfam - Ghana made several follow-ups to further engage the NRCC on the issue.

Upon several follow-ups, the Chief Director of the NRCC, Alhaji Alhassan Issahaku wrote a letter to the Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly and Karaga District Assembly and copied the Youth Network; the letter was for the purpose of establishing a virtual platform to discuss Annual Education Sector Review Meeting in the wake of COVID-19.

The meeting which came through included the NRYN and NORSAAC actively participating in the two meetings and contributed to key decisions that were taken at the two separate meetings.

A team from the NRYN once again met with the Chief Director at the NRCC to brief him on the outcomes of the two meetings and the way forward.

Finally on the 25th June 2020 NRYN, and its partners were invited to be part of a highly powered NRCC second quarter review meeting chaired by the Northern Regional Minister Hon. Salifu Saeed.

At the end of deliberations, the NRCC made the following commitments:

All assemblies agreed to hold their education review by end of July so that regional review can take place.

Review meetings will be inclusive and transformative with binding action plans that will form part of the NRCC monitoring interest.

All MMDAs must have clear budgets on annual education, health and education performance review moving forward.

The NRYN regional convenor, Inusah Mohammed Jackson in an exclusive interview disclosed that together with NRYN partners, they intend to engage the Ghana Education Service (GES) director next week to discuss the need for guidelines on the education review.

He added that to ensure inclusive progressive review meeting, GES should be guided to influence the processes.

Moving forward, he noted that the NRYN has made arrangements to get its district branches to follow up on the MMDAs pledgee.
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The governments payment of water bills for all Ghanaians due to COVID-19 pandemic is set to end tomorrow [June 30], after the planned three-month period.

The government took care of the water bills for all Ghanaians for April, May and June 2020 to cushion Ghanaians when restrictions on public gatherings were instituted and the subsequent partial lockdown of Accra, Kasoa, Kumasi and Tema.

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) send out a reminder of the end of the intervention in a statement on Monday, June 29, 2020.

The month of June marks the end of the Governments directive to the Ghana Water Company Limited to serve Ghanaians with water for free as part of measures to curb the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers of GWCL must please note, that from hence, the payment of water bills will be the responsibility of the customer.

The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, and the Management of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) therefore wishes to inform consumers and the general public that the last day of June 2020, officially ends the free water delivery, the statement noted.

The company further assured Ghanaians that its staff will adhere to the COVID-19 protocols as they resume visiting premises to read meters.

GWCL assures customers that, meter readers, and all frontline staff, will continue to adhere and practice in full, all the protocols to protect themselves and our cherished customers, including cladding themselves in full GWCL apparel, identity cards, personal sanitizers and face masks, before accessing their premises to read the meters.

It also asked landlords and landladies to revert to the arrangement with tenants prior to the free water delivery.

The GWCL said water vendors could resume their normal business after the final meter readings in June 2020.

Below is the press release from GWCL

 citinewsroom
Ahead of the Electoral Commissions (EC) voter registration exercise, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Northern Region has said it will not indulge reports of faulty machines and insufficient registration materials.

The party issued the warning over the weekend Tamale today, June 28, 2020, to launch what they called Operation Guarantee 10 in the elections.

The EC will on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, start the registration of eligible persons to compile a new voter register ahead of the 2020 general elections.

At a press conference in Tamale, the Northern Regional chairman of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Mobila. said the party was ready to mobilise people to come out in their numbers to register and would not accept any excuses on the part of EC.

We the Northern Regional executives, we are ready and prepared to mobilise the people to come out for the registration. We want to advise the EC that we dont want you to bring us empty machines and say there are no forms or machines are spoilt, he warned.

The also chairman revealed that the party views two of its 18 eighteen seats in the region as weak links.

He therefore called on all sitting legislators and Constituency chairmen to monitor and supervise the registration process.

He also urged the NDC supporters to remain calm and do not cause trouble during the process but only make sure they guarantee those without the approved identification cards.

Our seats, the 18 constituencies, we are praying, we can not take all but we suspecting to lose one or two. I want to urge all constituency chairmen including PCs and all sitting MPs to come out to monitor and supervise the registration.

The regional secretary of the party, Mohammed Abdul Salam called on the people to express the anger they have on the Akuffo Addo government by turning out to register to be able to vote out the NPP come December.

Ghanaians are already angry by the decision of the NPP and the electoral commission. We do not intend to express that anger with violence, but we intend to express it by turning out in our numbers to prevent the electoral commission and the NPP government from actual suppression our votes, which is the intention and we will do everything possible to take the opportunity within the law to get ourselves registered

Meanwhile, the electoral commission says the NDC has no case as they well prepared for the exercise.
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Hong Kong: Organizers have said Hong Kong police on Saturday banned a major demonstration against China's planned national security law for the city on the ground of following social distancing and previous unrest measures.

The Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) said the force had rejected its applications for rallies on July 1, the 23rd anniversary of the former British colony's handover to China, Hong Kong Free Press reported as quoted by ANI.

The official Letter of Objection, shared by the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), cited a cap on group gatherings to no more than 50 people as well as previous cases of unrest during protests last year. Another letter sent by police on Friday to District Councilor Andy Chui Chi-kin also denied permission for a protest on July 1, reports ANI.

The group said they would appeal the decision.
Lesotho's former first lady, who has been charged over the murder of her husband's estranged wife, was granted bail on Monday after spending three weeks in prison.

Maesaiah Thabane, 43, was charged in February after police quizzed her over the 2017 slaying of former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane's wife two days before his inauguration.

She was controversially freed on bail of 1,000 maloti ($57 / 50 euros), but that decision was revoked and she returned to jail on June 3.

On Monday High Court judge Thamsanqa approved bail.

She "is trapped in jail, she asked me to release her on bail, and nothing has really been said against the petitioners' words," Nomngcongo said.

"Therefore I grant (the) petitioner bail on conditions as prayed," he said, ordering her to pay a bond of 10,000 maloti.

Maesaiah Thabane has been charged with orchestrating the shooting of Lipolelo Thabane, who was brutally gunned down outside her home in Maseru.

Police have also charged her for the attempted murder of Lipolelo Thabane's friend Thato Sibolla, who was wounded during the attack.

Lipolelo and Thomas Thabane, now 81, had been embroiled in bitter divorce proceedings when the 58-year-old was killed.

The murder created a political crisis in the mountain kingdom.

Police have questioned Thabane over the murder and accused him paying assassins a down payment of $24,000 to kill his wife.

Thabane, who has not been charged, came under increasing pressure to step down over the murder, and eventually quit last month.

Both the former premier and his current wife -- whom he married two months after Lipolelo was killed -- have denied any involvement in the murder.

Maesaiah will go home on Tuesday as she could not post her bail money on Monday. The office of the clerk of court had already closed by the time judgement was handed down.

The judge cautioned her against interfering with witnesses and instructed her to report to her local police station fortnightly.
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The leadership and the entire membership of the Nana-Bawumia Movement (NABA), by this communique, extends warm congratulations to His Excellency, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo and the Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on their acclamation as flag bearer and running mate of the New Patriotic Party respectively.

It is very obvious and understandable, as to why this acclamation had to be conferred on you, considering the tremendous inputs, productivity and competence your administration has delivered and demonstrated to the Ghanaian populace over the last 3 years. Ghana under your watch has been tilted towards the path of development and it is only expedient to once again hand over the nod to you.

We equally express our profound gratitude to the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the auspices of the National Chairman, Hon. Freddie W. Blay and the Executive Council for their decisions thus far. We believe they have done that which is right and deserve our commendation.

To the teeming patriots out there, the reception has been superb but there is work to do. The NABA Movement promises to discharge within its full capacity every assignment required to consolidate the gains of the New Patriotic Party and to equally strive to secure the power we handed over to us.

For this course, we call on all the loyal and astute patriots, including other voluntary groups, well-meaning Ghanaians, and all and sundry to marshal themselves for the ultimate course of winning the 2020 General elections come December 7. Let us unite for the development of mother Ghana through the leadership of H. E. the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

...Signed...

Mr. Paul Amaning

(National President)
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has charged the people of the Volta Region to defy what they say is intimidation tactics by the ruling New Patriotic (NPP) government and ensure they go out in their numbers to register when the Electoral Commission (EC) begins its voter registration exercise tomorrow.

According to the main opposition party, the massive deployment of Military as well as other security personnel in the Ketu South Municipality and other border towns of the region has been timed to coincide with the commencement of the Voter Registration exercise across the country as a way of putting the residents into a state of fear.

At a press conference in Accra today, the NDC has argued that it is a tactic the government has deployed to intimidate people from getting registered in a region which is their stronghold.

The Minority has therefore called on all residents of the Volta Region to massively defy the NPP's intimidation and go out to register when the EC commences its exercise.

We want to remind the good people of Ketu South and the Volta region and the sons of Volta region in all the other 15 regions of Ghana that this massive intimidation they are seeing and hearing of today, will by December 7th, be no more.

The Egyptians you are seeing today, you shall soon see no more. Therefore, this is not the time for fear. This is the moment for courage. This is the moment for bravery, Hon. Fiifi Kwetey said while addressing journalists at the NDC press conference today.

He added, Remember that in the same way in 2008, the NPP orchestrated to close the eastern borders but the great people of Ketu South and the Volta still defied all odds and came out in massive numbers to support the NDC to snatch the parliamentary victory from the NPP in the first round and defeat them in the presidential elections in the second round, is the same inspiration we need to rise to the challenge this year.

Read the full statement below:

5TH EDITION OF NDC WEEKLY PRESS BRIEFING ON THE MILITARY SEIGE IN THE VOLTA REGION  HON. FIIFI KWETEY

Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen of the media for responding to our invitation. Through your esteemed media, we wish to convey to our fellow countrymen the grave danger we see looming over our beloved nation. This danger comes clothed in the garment of democracy but in reality, is naked despotism and tyranny.

1. The Military Siege In Eastern border towns and other border towns

The immediate reason for this press conference is the recent shocking mass deployment of military personnel along the border towns of the Volta region. Similar deployment has been done in the Oti Region, the Northern Region, the Upper East Region and the Upper West Region. It is no coincidence that all these places happen to be strongholds of the opposition NDC. We will this morning touch particularly on the situation in the Ketu South Municipality and other parts of the Volta region.

We are in no doubt that this massive deployment of Military and other security personnel in the Ketu South Municipality and other border towns of the region has been timed to coincide with the commencement of the Voter Registration exercise across the country.

These deployments are creating panic and anxiety among residents of Ketu south and other affected towns and districts. Interviews done by some of your colleagues in the media reveal that residents along the Ghana-Togo border are living in a state of fear due to the presence of the military.

The MCE of Ketu South, who represents President Akufo Addo here, has explained that the reason for the deployment of the military personnel is so they can help check unapproved routes to prevent foreigners with Covid 19 from coming from neighbouring Togo and increase cases of Covid 19 in the Ghana. This position has been supported by the Volta regional Minister, Dr Letsa as well. So, this is the official government explanation for the turning of Aflao and other border towns in the region into virtual war zones.

How laughable! How utterly ridiculous! Total Covid 19 case count in Togo stands at about 615. This is less than Greater Accra, less than Ashanti region, less than Western region, less than Central region and just about 75 cases more than the case count in Eastern region. If there is any fear of Covid, it should rather be the people of Togo who should be afraid of Ghanaians crossing the border to spread Covid 19 in Togo and not the other way round. The epicentre of Covid 19 in West Africa is not Togo. Ghana is in far worse trouble than Togo. One of the first persons who came into the country with the virus was in the president's entourage in Oslo. So, this official reason being provided is hollow. It is laughable and actually represents an insult to the intelligence of our people.

Just a few days ago, the NPP parliamentary primaries across different constituencies became virtual Covid 19 dissemination zones. If the NPP government is looking for the real threat of covid 19, they do not have to look far. So, they should spare us the cock and bull story about the need to patrol the borders to stop foreigners with the virus from coming across. They should have the courage to tell the truth for once.

NPP MP, KT Hammond, in a recent interview, at least showed some honesty when he unwittingly disclosed what is obviously the real reason behind the deployment. He revealed that the deployment of troops to Ketu South and other eastern border towns is to prevent Togolese from coming across the border to come register.

Voila! We need no rocket scientist to understand that the grand agenda is to intimidate our teeming supporters and make it difficult for them to come out in their numbers to register when the registration exercise begins tomorrow, Tuesday, 30th of June.

2. NPP's Perennial Animosity Towards the People of The Volta Region.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, to understand the real reason behind this massing up of military and other security personnel in the Ketu South and other towns of the Volta region, it is important that we try to help the nation to see the big picture. This big picture is NPP's perennial discrimination against the people of the Volta region.

The bottom line is that as far as the NPP is concerned, the people of the Volta region are foreigners; The Ewes are not Ghanaians. People who do not know this might be surprised about this statement; so, let us do a systematic elaboration to establish this beyond any doubt. To begin, let us remind everyone especially the young people of Ghana that the NPP family has been on record, accusing the founder of our country, Kwame Nkrumah of being a foreigner. Specifically, they said he was from Liberia.

A member of the same group also took President Rawlings to court over claims that he was not a Ghanaian. The mother of President Rawlings is from Keta in the Volta region. He was born in the Gold Coast in 1947. He served this country as an air force officer; became the head of state of this beloved country. Despite all these, the NPP deemed him not good enough to be a Ghanaian- after all in the view of NPP, who have always believed they are the owners of Ghana, Keta is not part of Ghana.

If President Rawlings, despite hailing from Keta in the Volta region, was deemed not to be a Ghanaian, why is anyone in shock when we state that the NPP has an ingrained belief that the people of Volta region are aliens and therefore should not be allowed to determine the political destiny of Ghana?

Keta by the way, where Rawlings comes from, has always been a part of the Gold Coast. In fact, both Keta and Ketu districts have always been an integral part of the Gold Coast. They have never been part of Togo at any point. But not in the view of the owners of Ghana.

So many other sons and daughters of the Volta region have faced similar discrimination in the hands of the NPP. Some of you may recall how in 2009, at my parliamentary vetting to become a deputy minister of finance in the government of President Mills, NPP MPs following the same agenda, boldly claimed that I was not a Ghanaian and therefore should not be allowed to become a member of Ghanas government. My father Joseph Kofi Kwetey hails from Nogokpo in the Ketu South Constituency and from Anyako in the Keta constituency. But in the opinion of the owners of Ghana, I am not a Ghanaian. My mother Benonia Hlomador Ayivor, hails from Denu and Klikor both in the Ketu south constituency; but in the opinion of the owners of Ghana, myself and the people of Ketu South that I have the privilege of representing in parliament, are not worthy to be called Ghanaians.

It is against this background that we need to view what the NPP is doing in Ketu South and Other border towns of the Volta region. This siege of the Volta region dates back to NPPs perennial hatred towards any group of people that they perceive as standing between them and their insatiable desire for absolute political power.

The unfounded and rather incoherent rantings of my friend K.T Hammond will ordinarily be treated as just that. But they reveal the same deep-seated belief that somehow the defeat of the NPP in elections in this country is on account of foreigners who come from Togo. He actually claimed that the NPP was coasting to victory in the first round of the 2008 elections and Togolese were allowed to come from across the border to overturn the results in the second round.

Somehow KT Hammond and the NPP have forgotten that even back in 2008, the NPP left all other borders open but closed the eastern border of the country before and during the first and second round elections. So, the defeat of the NPP in 2008 had absolutely nothing to do with foreigners coming from Togo.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, this show of tribal hatred did not start today. The Nana Addo government is only taking it to a whole new level. This deep-seated animosity comes from a sense of entitlement- the belief that because they are superior Ghanaians, all others who do not share their political perspective must be deemed ineligible so that the political destiny of Ghana would remain exclusively in their hands.

The people of Cote D'Ivoire have suffered largely from that same sense of superiority. The concept known as Ivoiriete- i.e the proper Ivorian- led to the unfortunate and bloody civil war that almost destroyed the hitherto very peaceful country of la Cote D' Ivoire. During Konan Bedie's presidency, ethnic tensions rose sharply, with a widening rift between the country's pre-dominantly Muslim north and mainly Christian south. Before the 1995 and the 2000 elections, a law drafted by President Henri Konan Bedie and upheld by the Supreme Court required both parents of a presidential candidate to be born within Cote d'Ivoire. This led to the disqualification of the northern presidential candidate Alassane Ouattara, who represented the predominantly Muslim north and poor settler workers who worked on coffee and cocoa plantations in the south.

We, in Ghana must be grateful to God that despite the perennial attempt by the NPP family to define who a proper Ghanaian is, we have, as a country largely avoided the path of national disintegration and bloody ethnic conflict.

Just as Ivoiriete is dangerous, so also is Ghanaete, iniquitous and dangerous.

It is high time the NPP family were told once and for all, that the fact that they never once won any election against Kwame Nkrumah had nothing to do with foreigners. Nkrumah was beloved by most of the people of Ghana and won elections freely and fairly. The founder of the NPP family, JB Danquah could not even win one election in his lifetime.

Instead of addressing why their political group has for the most part lost most elections, the NPP chooses rather to direct their venom and hatred towards innocent groups and accuse them of being aliens. It will be recalled that this was the main reason that the NPP family introduced the Aliens Compliance Order in 1969- a wicked legislation introduced by them when they finally won through manipulation the 1969 elections after orchestrating to have the CPP banned. What cowards and manipulators they have always been!

It is high time the NPP family were informed that their humiliating electoral loss to President Rawlings in both the 1992 and 1996 elections, had nothing to do with foreigners from Togo. The Volta region together with 8 other regions voted for President Rawlings and the NDC in both 1992 and 1996. This was an overwhelming support in all the regions of Ghana except one. Infact, there is no previous election the NDC has won in Ghana that the party did not win at least 8 of the 10 regions.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, where from all this hatred and animosity towards one region and all the spurious and unfounded claims that the painful defeats suffered by the NPP were on account of foreigners from Togo? Was it Togolese who have been winning the Central and Western regions for the NDC in all the elections the party won? Was it them who won the Eastern region for the NDC in both 1992 and 1996? Was it them who win the Greater Accra and Brong Ahafo regions anytime NDC wins the general elections? Was it the Togolese who always win the three northern regions for the NDC in all the partys electoral triumphs?

This heightened sense of delusion- this refusal on the part of the NPP to face the naked truth must come to an end. Both Nkrumah's CPP and Rawlings' NDC did not humiliate the NPP family at the polls because of Togolese or Liberians or aliens from Jupiter. They did so because they won the hearts and minds of the people of Ghana through their patriotism and dedication to the wellbeing of Ghanaians.

NPP's chronic problem is that they do not have it in their DNA to accept an electoral defeat. They just cannot come to terms with the fact that they cannot win every election. Maybe the delusion that Ghana is their property makes it too difficult for them to accept this reality. When they lost in 1992, it was a stolen verdict. In 1996, it was a bought verdict. In 2008, Nana Addo used all shenanigans including the most dastardly attempt to change figures in the strong room of the EC; but for the vigilance and the courage of the NDC in the strong room in that second round, Nana Addo and his NPP will have succeeded to subvert the will of the people. We have not mentioned their failed efforts, as was captured on tape, to even place dead bodies in water bodies in the Volta region as a way of subverting the will of the people. After all these evil machinations failed, Nana Addo, true to character, refused to concede and congratulate the winner JEA Mills.

After the 2012 defeat, the NPP went on a violent spree, beating and assaulting innocent citizens at Obra Spot and destroying property. Then to cover their shame, they went on a face-saving journey to the Supreme Court in a bid to overturn the Supreme Will of the people of Ghana. They just do not have it in their genes to accept defeat. After all, how can the owners of Ghana ever lose to parties of aliens and foreigners? The only time they accept electoral results is when they win. It is either their way or the highway. What kind of people are these!

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, the anger of the NPP anytime they lose elections should rather be directed at their own internal campaign inadequacies. It is only chronic losers who blame others for their losses. Winners elect to do deep introspection and self-correction, when they lose, rather than direct their venom towards others. So, instead of being angry against Ewes for daring to deny you, your God given right to rule Ghana, it would be better to do a deep self-examination. As the great Socrates said, "An unexamined life is not worth living."

Why does the NPP family believe that they are superior Ghanaians and that they have a God given right over the political and economic destiny of Ghana?

Kwame Nkrumah's CPP that fought for the independence of Ghana at the time the NPP family kept begging Britain not to grant independence to our nation, did not even behave as though they were superior Ghanaians. Where were these tribal bigots who think they own Ghana, when Dr Kwame Nkrumah ably aided by Volta Region's Dr Agbeli Gbedemah and other nationalists declared the motion of independence on the eve of our independence?

Where were they?

Where were these tribal bigots who think Ghana is their property when Kwame Nkrumah, Agbeli Gbedemah and others fought to keep Ghana as one unitary nation- one Nation, one People- One Destiny, at the time the NPP family was busy fighting for Ghana to be a federal nation with each region keeping its own resources? To keep this beloved country united, Kwame Nkrumah had to pass the Avoidance of Discrimination Act, in 1957 to outlaw political parties based on regional, ethnic or religious differences.

Where were these tribal bigots?

Kwame Nkrumah, Agbeli Gbedemah and those who won independence for Ghana never once contemplated betraying this beloved nation. They never once stooped so low as to become paid agents of any foreign power to work against the interest of their own country. Declassified files of the CIA show that same cannot be said about the main founder of the NPP family- J.B Danquah, the beloved uncle of President Akufo Addo. Yet Kwame Nkrumah and Agbeli Gbedemah never once believed that they were more Ghanaian than others. What gives the NPP family the moral right to think that they are superior Ghanaians?

President Rawlings and the many patriots who toiled with him from 1982 to 1992 to lift this beloved nation from the brink of collapse- a time when things had sunk so low and the self-belief and confidence of our people was so shattered that some of our brothers were moving in droves to Togo to work as shoe shine boys and some of our sisters left to Nigeria and Cote D'Ivoire and had to prostitute themselves just to survive- Rawlings and the many patriots who through sweat and dedication rallied the great people of Ghana back to the place where once again we became a nation that was respected and admired among our peers, have never claimed they are superior Ghanaians. Where were these tribal bigots when this massive reconstruction of our nation was being done?

Where were they when this group of patriots worked tirelessly to bequeath to Ghana the 1992 Constitution that has today become the foundation of political stability upon which all sons and daughters of Ghana, north, south, east and west, are working hard to construct a Ghana that will become a great and strong nation under God? Where were these tribal bigots?

The earlier the NPP family snapped out of this pathological delusion that some other Ghanaians are foreigners and only they are proper Ghanaians, the better it would be for all of Ghana. This respect for all Ghanaians, north, south, east or west, is crucial in the endeavor for all of us to hold hands in the true spirit of brotherhood, as envisaged by Dr Kwame Nkrumah at the time of our nation's independence.

3. Desperation to subvert the will of the people through every imaginable machination is the name of NPPs game.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, the massive deployment of the security forces along the border towns is just one of the several desperate means the NPP government is employing to achieve its political ends. We, in Ketu South and the Volta region, are not completely shocked though. Have we not seen the brutal violence unleashed on innocent Ghanaians in broad daylight during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by election? The whole world witnessed in shock how this despotic regime turned a simple by election into a war front; and resorted to the criminal abuse of power. We were witnesses to the egregious blood-letting by a gang of NPP brigands and bandits, masquerading as national security personnel, with the tacit approval of the President of the republic, who also is the Chairman of the national security council.

To confirm that the hoodlums operated with the tacit blessing of the regime, the president who often touts his democratic credentials, blatantly refused to implement critical recommendations of the Commission that he had set up himself. How tragic! How shameful!

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, this is the same game plan the NPP are following- a plan which today has reduced an electoral commission that has since 1992 gained international recognition for neutrality, professionalism and credibility, into a pliant instrument to subvert the will of the people of Ghana. The saddest part is that while all this is going on, they actually delude themselves that the people of Ghana and the rest of the world cannot see the systematic efforts they are employing to bastardize the electoral system and virtually turn this beloved nation into a banana republic.

Same things the NPP is doing with institutions like the NIA and the NCA. The NCA is the state institution that is being used under the guise of enforcement of regulations, to close down some media houses that are perceived to be too critical of the regime. Freedomhouse.org, an international media freedom watchdog recently described the modus operandi of regimes like that of Nana Akufo Addo- regimes that pretend to respect the rule of law but in reality are living no stone unturned to subvert media freedoms.

"Governments are using the more subtle tools of media regulations to restrict press freedom maintaining a veneer of legality and pluralism that is less likely to draw attention or criticism from abroad. Manipulation of the regulatory framework allows them to either tolerate or rein in influential news outlets depending on the political situation and permit even democratically elected governments to fortify themselves against future electoral competition."

The above accurately describes the shameful methods being used by the Akufo Addo government. When concerns are raised, the president points to regulations and laws. He has so soon forgotten that even apartheid was backed by law; even the trade and ownership of black slaves was legal in the US until 1865. Kwame Nkrumah's Aliens Compliance Order was also backed by law, yet the NPP family to date denounces same with vehemence. The undemocratic ways of this regime are bad enough. The high handedness is terrible enough. But what adds insult to injury is when they actually pretend to be the custodians of the rule of law, of civil liberties and of democracy.

What hypocrites they are! Christ refers to these people as whitewashed graves. In Matthew 23:28, Christ describes this type of pretenders in the following words: "Woe to you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed graves, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." God is not mocked. Whatsoever we sow, we shall surely reap. So, the NPP should not forget that the day of reckoning will surely come sooner rather than later.

5. Voices Of Conscience Must Speak Up Against What Is Happening In The Volta Region and other strongholds of the NDC

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, all those watching these developments and not raising their voices are through their silence, encouraging the entrenchment of an oppressive and tyrannical regime. Those watching this looming danger but failing to speak up and condemn it, should remember that their silence makes them accomplices and posterity will judge them if their own consciences fail to do so. We urge them to speak up and let the NPP government and others who think alike to appreciate that Citizenship is a question of law. Neither the government of Akufo Addo nor the military contingent stationed all over our border towns can decide who is or who is not a citizen of Ghana.

There are very many Ghanaian families that live on both sides of the Ghana Togo border. Lome, the capital of Togo, is also a major economic centre. It is a commercial and educational hub that attracts Ghanaians from as far as the Western region, the Ashanti region, the Eastern region and so many other regions. The government of Ghana, some months back, sent NADMO across the border to make available relief items to Ghanaians resident in Togo. This is ample evidence that there are many Ghanaians who live and work in Togo. Ghanaians do not cease to be Ghanaians just because they live across the border, just as they do not stop being Ghanaians simply because they live and work in England or the USA.

Many of us have heard the famous case of Bonito Olympio, who proved in court, that he was Ghanaian by descent, even though his father Sylvanus Olympio was the first President of Togo. The Olympios descend from the Amegashie family- a family that to date continues to live in both Ghana and Togo.

For the information of the tribal bigots who continue to insinuate that they are more Ghanaian than the rest of us, we wish to inform them that the Amegashies who live in Togo are not foreigners. They continue to be Ghanaians by descent, even if some of them opt for dual nationality.

Let me now seize the opportunity to mention a few other families who hail from Ghana and have relatives living and working across the border. The Fitis, the Adamahs, the Acorlatses, the Adjavors, the Tettehs, the Malors, the Akakpos, the Atikpos, the Amuzus, the Folis, the Quashigahs, The Grunitzkys, the Senoos, the Quarshies are not aliens just because they live in Togo- they are Ghanaians.

The Gbedemahs, the Gadzekpos, the Agbemabiases, the Amegashitis, the Ganyos, the Antonios, the Adedzes, the Quists, the Blagogees, the Kukubors, the Tamakloes, the Dusseys (one of whom is the current foreign minister of Togo), the Apaloos, the Baetas, and my own maternal families, the Ayivors, the Hlomadors, the Badohus, the Kudawoos, the Armattoes, have not morphed into aliens from Pluto or Jupiter just because some of them live and work in Togo. They remain as much Ghanaians as the Akufo Addos, the Osafo Maafos, and all the other tribal bigots in the NPP.

As for the few of our own Ewe brethren who have allowed their NPP affiliation to blind them to the point of taking part in fake documentary purporting that those who come from across the border to register and vote are not Ghanaians but Togolese, may our ancestors have mercy upon them.

6. Rallying Call To All Sons And Daughters Of The Volta Region To Massively Defy The NPP Intimidation And Come Out To Register

We want to remind the good people of Ketu South and the Volta region and the sons of Volta region in all the other 15 regions of Ghana that this massive intimidation they are seeing and hearing of today, will by December 7th, be no more. The Egyptians you are seeing today, you shall soon see no more. Therefore, this is not the time for fear. This is the moment for courage. This is the moment for bravery.

Remember that in the same way in 2008, the NPP orchestrated to close the eastern borders but the great people of Ketu South and the Volta still defied all odds and came out in massive numbers to support the NDC to snatch the parliamentary victory from the NPP in the first round and defeat them in the presidential elections in the second round, is the same inspiration we need to rise to the challenge this year.

The same spirit of boldness and defiance that inspired us in 2008 should animate us even more now because if we thought the government of President Kufuor was bad, then this current one can only be described as the most desperate, the most dangerous, the most intolerant and the most abysmal in the history of our country.

Ketu South and the Volta region have proven before that they are capable of rising to the challenge when it is critical to reject the misrule of the NPP. Let us once come out in our multitudes, defy the intimidation and register massively in order to let this oppressive, desperate government of tribal bigots get out of power. We call on the supporters of the NDC all over to rise up and refuse to be intimidated during this registration exercise.

As our Flagbearer and leader has said, Where there is the will, there is always the way.

Victory beckons us. Destiny is on our side. The Court of the People of Ghana, under the influence of the only Supreme Court of Heaven, will speak on December 7. The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory shall be.

So, May God help us to resist oppressors rule with all our will and might forever more. Amen.
US Supreme Court has ruled that a law restricting abortions in Louisiana is unconstitutional in a landmark decision.

The law required that doctors providing abortions have admitting privileges to nearby hospitals, which the justices said led to an undue burden on women.

Chief Justice John Roberts joined liberal justices in the 5-4 decision in a blow to anti-abortion groups.

The court struck down a similar policy in Texas in 2016, the opinion noted.

This is the first major abortion case ruling from the Supreme Court during the Trump presidency.

The 2014 Louisiana law said that doctors must hold privileges at hospitals within 30 miles (48km) of their practice  which the state argued was to protect womens health.

But critics said the controversial law would limit the number of providers in the state, violating a womans right to an abortion.

The law required doctors to have admitting privileges to a hospital not further than 30 miles from the location at which the abortion is performed or induced in order to perform abortions.

While the state said the requirement was to protect womens health, pro-choice advocates said that its incredibly rare for women to face complications from an abortion. They also pointed out that many hospitals in the region are religiously-affiliated or conservative and dont allow abortions to take place in their facilities, which severely limits the number of doctors who can carry out the procedure.

This then, in turn, constitutes an undue burden on a womans constitutional right to seek an abortion, they said.

A district court agreed that the law was unconstitutional, however, the 5th Circuit appeals court determined no clinics would likely be forced to close because of the law, and allowed it to stand.

The petitioners asked the Supreme Court to rule on whether that decision violated past precedents and should be struck down.

BBC
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has welcomed the decision by the President Akufo-Addo to extend the incentive packages for health workers in the country by three months.

In his 13th address to the nation last night [Sunday, June 28], the President announced the extension of the tax rebate for the months of July, August and September for all health workers at the forefront of the COVID-19 fight.

Speaking to Citi News, President of the GMA, Dr. Frank Ankobeah said the Association also wants the government to make provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) readily available for its members as many continue to contract the virus.

Its good news since the President has seen how the healthcare workers are fighting the COVID-19 with all our strength and might and he wants to encourage us. Its very encouraging when youre doing something and the President has acknowledged you. Its good news, he said happily.

He continued, Some of our doctors have been infected. We are not happy with it and we think it is gradually increasing and we need more PPE. PPE is like a consumable. As we work, we use it. That is why we are asking government to send more of the PPE. Again, as the numbers keep increasing, we are going to care for more people and well definitely be needing more PPE. So we are appealing to government to let more PPE come as the number of patients increases so that well be able to care for them.

Background

Akufo-Addo first announced the three-month tax holiday for the health workers at the beginning of April 2020.

The frontline health workers were to enjoy income-tax-free salaries and will receive 50 percent of their basic salary as allowances for the months of April, May and June.

Additionally, the government had set aside an insurance package of GHS350,000 to cushion the health workers.

Although the free tax package has been implemented, that of the 50 percent allowance is yet to be carried out given the seeming controversy over the definition and qualification of a frontline health worker.

The Controller and Accountant-General's Department had even found difficulty in effecting the payment of the additional allowance and had to engage the Ministry of Health on the modalities for effecting payment.

However, President Akufo-Addo in the latest address said the issues with the packages have been resolved with the rollout of the payment plan to begin soon.

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The government of Nigeria says the demolition of the building within its High Commission premises in Accra can be blamed on its failure to acquire the legal title for the parcel of land the structure has been built on.

Foreign Affairs Minister in Nigeria, Geoffrey Onyeama has therefore described the circumstances leading to the destruction of the property as an error on our side.

According to the Minister, their officials in Ghana erred in ensuring that, the required documents were obtained before going ahead with the construction, Nigerias news portal,  The Nation  has reported.

It was clearly a mistake on our side. What the Ghanaians said is that owing to the fact that our High Commission did not obtain a lease, following the allocation letter they got after paying for the plot of land, nor did we proceed to obtain a land title certificate and we didn't even get a building permit for the new property. When other people came claiming ownership of the land, the commission did not see anything in the register because the lease title had not been obtained. It is clearly an error on the side of our High Commission, the Minister, according to The Nation website said while briefing reporters over the issue.

Parts of the one-story structure belonging to the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana, located at Osu Ringway in Accra were destroyed on Friday, June 19, 2020.

This was after armed men reportedly invaded the premises and destroyed buildings under construction.

Later on, the Osu Traditional Council took responsibility for the demolition and accused the Nigeria High Commission of trespassing on its land without a legal title.

The parcel of land said to be owned by the Osu Stool and leased to the Nigerian High Commission in 2000 is allegedly being forcibly taken over by a private individual with the knowledge of the Lands Commission.

But this the Nigeria Foreign Affairs Minister has admitted the error and has assured that the necessary processes are being taken to remedy the impasse.

We would learn from that. But clearly, our documenting and record-keeping and processes would need to be sharpened. In terms of how we deal with our officers, this is something that happened in 2000. That was 20 years ago. The officials are no longer in service. We rather just learn from our mistake and ensure we have more rigour whenever we are engaging in legal issues in all our missions.

The Ghanaian government has directed the necessary administrative procedures that were not followed should be done now, meaning that title deeds be formerly given to the High Commission of Nigeria since the documentary proof acknowledged by the Ghanaian land registry of receipt of payment on the property has been done many years ago, he added.

What the demolition caused

The incident incensed Nigerians in Ghana who later held a demonstration to express their outrage.

President Akufo-Addo has apologised to his Nigerian counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari, following the demolition.

So far, two persons have been arrested over the incident and charged with unlawful entry and causing unlawful damage.

Earlier, Ghanas Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said the government of Ghana will ensure that the demolished structure on the compound of the Nigeria High Commission 's residency is rebuilt as soon as possible.

According to her, the High Commission duly paid for the parcel of land, hence any encroachment on the property constituted a breach .
The Ghana Bar Association's largest wing, the Greater Accra Regional Bar has declared this week as its 'COVID-19 Awareness Week' beginning today Monday 29th June 2020 to Friday, 3rd July 2020.

This gesture is a special initiative by the regional Bar, to complement the efforts of the government in fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic.

According to the President of the Greater Accra Bar Association, Mrs. Efua Ghartey, the initiative is also meant to intensify awareness on the disease and the need for their fellow law colleagues, clients, the judiciary, and the general public to adhere to the laid down protocols for safety and protection.

Against this background, the Greater Accra Bar has made some COVID-19 relief donations to three institutions. The delegation was led by Mrs. Efua Ghartey and the entire leadership of the Greater Accra Bar Association.

The beneficiaries of the donations included the High Court Complex in Accra which comprises 43 High Courts, The Tema High Court which comprises 4 High Courts and the Tema General Hospital.

At the Tema High Court, the items presented were disposable gloves, liquid soap, nose mask, tissue paper, water dispenser, and wall-mounted dispenser. The items for the courts were received on behalf of the Chief Justice by Justice Elizabeth Ankumah, Supervising High Court Judge, Tema.

The Tema General Hospital also received disposable gloves, water dispenser wall-mounted dispenser, face shields, disposable coveralls, hair covers, and N95.

The items were received on behalf of the hospital by Medical Director, Dr. Richard Anthony.

"We are thus, making our humble donations worth over fifty thousand Ghana cedis (GH50,000.00) to these three institutions this week. We believe that it is in our collective effort, that is, being each others keeper, and ensuring strict observance of these protocols as individuals, that we can curb this menace," Mrs. Efua Ghartey stated.

The gesture also coincides with the commemoration of the 38th Anniversary of the Martyrs Day June 30th, a day when three High Court Judges were killed by the JJ Rawlings-led PNDC regime.

"In keeping with our treasured traditions at the Bar, this week is also, a time of serious reflection for us, as we commemorate the 38th Anniversary of our Martyrs Day tomorrow, a day when three High Court Judges, namely, Justice Fred Poku Sarkodie, Justice Cecilia Koranteng-Addow and Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong, and a Military Officer, Major Acquah lost their lives in the line of duty, on June 30, 1982," Mrs. Efua Ghartey emphasised.

She further stated that in the history of the nation, the Bar has always risen to the challenge of showing leadership and at a time like this, and they cannot stand by while a Pandemic ravages our country and indeed, the world at large.

"For it is in the midst of strife that our humanity becomes evident. We want to thank the individual Lawyers and Law Firms who contributed to making this effort possible, members of the Welfare Committee, the judiciary, and the media," she said.

She continued that challenges carry loads of opportunities, depending on how one faces them.

"That said, we trust that these items shall be put to good use and we shall emerge stronger, safe, and more united in our quest to combat this pandemic," Mrs. Efua Ghartey pointed out.
An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced Solomon Azure aka Baba Sulley aka 2PAC to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour after pleading guilty to robbery.

Azure and Brian Ibrahim Adam aka Red, robbed a taxi driver of his Toyota Vitz vehicle after slashing his left arm with a broken bottle.

Azure and Adam pulled out the driver from the vehicle and bolted with it.

The two were facing charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery.

Adam, however, denied the offences and was remanded to reappear in two weeks' time.

The trial judge, Mrs. Evelyn Asamoah convicted Azure on his own plea and sentenced him accordingly.

According to Azure he did not commit the offence with Adam but rather one Dida.

Azure said after committing the crime, he drove the vehicle to Circle and met Adam who had also come to Circle to buy food.

He said Dida, however, left him after he received a call from his wife.

Chief Inspector Emmanuel Haligah prosecuting sad the complainant Emmanuel Asare is a taxi driver resides at Teshie in Accra.

Prosecution said Solomon resides at the Yam Market in Agbogbloshie in Accra whiles Adam unemployed resides at Kumasi Airport roundabout in the Ashanti region.

Chief Inspector Haligah said in March this year, Azure met Adam at Avenor Park in Accra and became friends and both have since been communicating on phone although Adam later left for Kumasi.

Prosecution said Azure informed Adam about a car snatching business, saying he knew one Nana who receive the vehicles and was ready to pay huge sums of money for any taxi brought to him for purchase.

The prosecution said on May 24, this year, Adam travelled to Accra and stayed with Azure at the Yam market in Agbogbloshie.

The prosecution said on May 28, this year, Azure and Adam hatched a plan to rob taxi drivers of their cars so they went to Nungua-Brigade and engaged the services of the complainant who was then in charge of a Toyota Vitz with registration number GW 4985-19.

Prosecution said the accused asked the taxi driver to transport them to Emef Estate in Lashibi and Azure sat behind the driver while Adam sat in the front seat.

Prosecution said on reaching a spot at Emef Estate road, Azure alerted the driver that they would want to alight so the driver stopped the vehicle.

The prosecution said Azure alighted and walked to the driver's door as if he was going to pay the fare whilst Adam remained seated at the front seat.

Prosecution said Azure opened the driver's door and began pulling him from his seat but the driver was stuck to his seat as a result of the seat belt he was wearing.

He said Azure then broke a bottle he was holding, slashed the complainant's left arm and pulled him out of the car.

Prosecution said Adam quickly jumped onto the driver's seat behind the steering wheel and Azure joined him and both sped off with the vehicle.

He said the complainant reported the incident to the police at Sakumono where he was issued with a medical report form to seek medical attention.

The prosecution said on June 3, this year, the complainant went to the Sakumono Police Station's Criminal Investigation Department and saw Azure and Adam.

He said the complainant identified them to the Police as those who robbed him of his vehicle.

The Prosecution said Azure and Adam in their cautioned statement admitted the offence where the two indicated that they have given the vehicle to one Nana and Dida.

GNA
A Circuit Court in Accra has ordered the arrest of a 14 year old pupil for allegedly stealing various currencies totaling GH99,000.00 (cedi equivalent) from her adopted mother at Mantey Tsuru in Accra.

The Minor (name withheld) was absent in court when the matter was called hence a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. He is said to have absconded to his village after he was granted Police enquiry bail.

Police said the juvenile offender stated that he gave the monies to Michael Agroh, a 25 year old cleaner to open a mobile money shop and also gave some of the money to his 11 year old class mate.

His accomplice, Agroh, who was charged with dishonestly receiving has pleaded not guilty.

The court presided over by Mrs. Afia Owusuwaa Appiah has admitted Agroh to bail in the sum of GHC20, 000 with two sureties one to be justified.

Agroh is expected to reappear on July 30.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector William K. Boateng said the complainant Margaret Ampah, is a civil servant residing at Martey Tsuru in Accra with the Juvenile offender.

Chief Inspector Boateng said Agroh reside opposite the complainant's house and works as a cleaner for the complainant's husband.

Prosecution said the complainant kept various sum of monies in her travelling bag in a closet.

He said on April 2, 2019, the complainant detected her travelling bag containing $7,500, 2,000 Euros, 1,500 Pounds sterling, 300,000 CFA, 10,000 Naira all totaling GH99,000.00 was missing from her travelling bag kept in the closet.

Prosecution said after confronting the juvenile offender, he admitted taking the monies from the travelling bag and stated that he had given the monies to Agroh to open mobile phone shop and part to his 11 year-old class mate who is a witness in the case.

He said when Agroh was arrested he admitted in his cautioned statement receiving various foreign currency from the juvenile offender to wit: $ 412, 200 Euros, 250 pound sterling (GH9, 025).

Chief Inspector Boateng said the Police retrieved GH4,000.00 from Agr0h.

The Police further retrieved from the juvenile offender a wrist watch, mobile phone and small denomination of some foreign currencies.

GNA
An Accra Circuit Court has caged a 21-year-old Nigerian, Emmanuel Chukwe into police custody for allegedly robbing a herbalist.

Emeka, unemployed, has denied conspiring with one Victor Chuku Emeka, who is currently at large, to commit the offence.

He will make his next appearance on July 17.

Police Inspector Maxwell Ayim told the Court presided over by Madam Ellen Offei Ayeh that on June 19, this year, at about 2030 hours, Mr Maxwell Kulapenu, the complainant was walking from Osu to Tema Station to board a bus when the accused intercepted him at the Independence Square.

He said Kulapenu was attacked from behind and fell down.

Inspector Ayim said the attackers forcibly took way his Infinix Hot 8 cellular phone valued at GH650.00, an Itel phone valued GH60.00 and a cash of GH55.00.

He said the suspects took to their heels towards the Arts Centre with the booty when the complainant met two Military officers whom he asked for help.

The Prosecution said with the assistance of the soldiers, the accused were traced and when they saw the military men approaching, they took to their heels.

Prosecution said the officers managed to arrest Chukwe whilst Emeka escaped with the stolen items.

Inspector Ayim said Chukwe was handed over to the police and after investigation he was arraigned.

Chukwe informed the Court he had no fixed place of abode, thus, he was remanded.

GNA
London: Muttahidda Qaumi Movement's (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain has urged world leaders to take serious note of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's declaration of slain ex-Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden as a martyr.

"Pakistan's PM has held Laden in high esteem after declaring him a hero whom the US Marines had martyred in an ambush. The international community should be serious on what Pakistan's PM has asserted," Altaf was quoted as saying by ANI.

Imran Khan apparently shocked many as he referred to dreaded terrorist and former Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden as a 'martyr' on Thursday. He made the comment on the floor of the country's Parliament.

Attacking the US, Khan said American security forces entered Pakistan and killed Osama Bin Laden without informing Islamabad.

He said following the incident everyone in the world started abusing Pakistan which caused embarrassment to the country.

Khan said: "We helped America in the War on Terror. For doing this, Pakistan faced grave humiliation."

"America came and killed Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad... martyred him," Khan said.

"What happened after that? The entire world hurled abuses at us. Our own ally (US) entered our country and killed someone without even telling us about it. It was a big humiliation," he said.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has expressed confidence in the guarantor system which is expected to be used by persons who do not have the Ghana Card or the Ghana Passport during the voter registration exercise starting tomorrow.

At a press conference on Monday evening, the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, reminded that it had been a trusted part of the registration process over the years despite being burdensome.

We understand that it may seem like a burden having to find two registered persons to vouch for ones identity as a Ghanaian and yet it seems to be the lesser of two evils.

Although it may take a little more of your time and that of your guarantors, it will ensure that only persons who are guarantors and are 18 years old are enlisted on the voters register, she said.

The Public Election (Amendment) regulation, 2020 (C.I. 126) amended C.I 91 changed the current identification requirements for registering to vote.

Aside from the National Identification Card (Ghana Card) or the Ghana passport being acceptable documents for registering onto the voters register, two persons who have already been captured on the new register can vouch for others to register.

Critics have noted that exclusion of the existing voter ID and birth certificates could lead to some citizens being disenfranchised.

Despite these concerns, the popularity of the guarantor system should mitigate these fears, Mrs. Mensa noted.

This system has been with us since the beginning of our democracy as the framers of the law anticipated situations in which Ghanaian citizens, for legitimate and unavoidable reasons be unable to prove or provide documentation to prove their citizenship.

Giving examples, she noted that in 2014, 928,540 persons were registered by the commission of which 82.2 percent used the guarantor system.

In 2016, 1,046,067 were registered of which 92.5 percent used guarantors.

In continuous registration in 2016, 37,929 persons were registered and of this number 93.1 percent used guarantors.

For the referendum in 2018, 47,852 persons were registered by the commission of which 99.5 percent used guarantors.

During the limited registration in 2019, 1,211,395 persons were captured by the EC of which 95.2 percent of used guarantors.

My predecessors have applied this system in the past as they have sought to ensure that no one is disenfranchised for valid reasons beyond their control, Mrs. Mensa assured.

In spite of how essential the guarantor system has been, the EC Boss hopes this system becomes a thing of the past.

She expects the Ghana Card registration to become routine at the national, regional and district levels.

I hope and pray that the 2020 election should be the last time that we as a country would need the guarantor system. Come 2020, all citizens should be issued with the National Identification Card.

 citinewsroom
Following the directive of the Auditor-General, Mr. Daniel Yaw Domelevo to go on accumulated leave announced by President Akufo-Addo, the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) says it is an euphemistic way to sack him.

He describes the move as another attack on Voltarians.

In a statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Jubilee House, the President asked the Auditor-General, to take his accumulated leave of 132 days starting from Wednesday, July 1.

ASEPA's Executive Chairman Mensah Thompson has noted that the order to go on leave is an elaborate ploy by the Government to sack the Auditor-General.

We believe this is yet another attack on Voltarians and is part of a grand scheme to get all Voltarians out of public office because the Government sees them as non-Ghanaians except those who are willing and ready to kowtow to the whims and caprices of this Government, a portion of the statement said.

ASEPA says it condemn the decision to force the Auditor General to proceed on leave at no uncertain terms.

Already, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is accusing the ruling government of discriminating against the people of the Volta Region due to the heavy military presence in Ketu South and other border towns.

Read the full statement from ASEPA below:

PRESS RELEASE

SACK OF AUDITOR GENERAL ANOTHER ATTACK ON VOLTARIANS-ASEPA

We have read with disappointment an elaborate ploy by this Government to sack the Auditor General by the asking him to proceed on mandatory leave.

Just when the people of Volta are yet to come to terms with the heavy deployment of military and immigration officers to their region, the Government of Ghana has yet again launched another attack on the people of Volta by forcing one of their illustrious sons occupying the position of Auditor General to proceed on leave.

We believe this is yet another attack on Voltarians and is part of a grand scheme to get all Voltarians out of public office because the Government sees them as non-Ghanaians except those who are willing and ready to kowtow to the whims and caprices of this Government.

We condemn this decision to force the Auditor General to proceed on leave at no uncertain terms.

We want to draw the attention of the Diplomatic Community, Our Donor Patners, and the International Monetary Agencies to quickly take key interest in current happenings in the Country as the entire Public Accountability Machinery of the State is under siege.

It is our hope that in the comings days all these agencies will come out strongly on this irresponsible action by Government of Ghana.

Thank you

Signed

Mensah Thompson

Executive Director, ASEPA

0542120628

Cc.

The IMF

The World Bank

The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps

All Media Houses
COVID-19 and its attendant lockdown has negatively affected the global education sector with over 1.3 billion children missing months of schooling. In Africa, COVID-19 has threatened the sector by virtually cutting short the 2019/2020 academic year in the middle of March instead of July.

While students have lost over 14 weeks of instruction, countries are strategizing to salvage the academic year by ensuring that at least, all finalists complete and graduate. Ivory Coast, Namibia, South Africa, Senegal, Benin and Ghana are among countries that have partially reopened schools for up to one month, focusing on final year students at the various levels of the educational system.

This is to ensure finalists graduate and pave way for admissions at pre-basic to tertiary by the commencement of the 2020/21 academic year. The agenda to reopen schools becomes even more pressing having cognizance of the inequalities and exclusion associated with the largely undeveloped eLearning systems deployed by many countries as a stop-gap intervention during the COVID-19 lockdown. In the coming weeks, countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria have school reopening plans whereas others like Uganda is still debating whether to reopen schools this year or not.

As countries plan and approach re-opening, the lessons from other African counties that have reopened schools in the past weeks remains valuable, practical information that would help enrich the Continents preparation for universal school reopening by all countries. The notable strategies including testing of teachers, distancing in school, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities provision, teacher capacity building on COVID-19 school management among others.

Testing of the school population: Countries like Benin, with a teacher population of about 100,000 embarked on the testing of teachers ahead of school reopening over a month ago. This was to give authorities an idea of the incidence of the disease in the school environment. This strategy may be expensive for countries with high teacher population as testing doesnt come cheap. However, countries can consider a randomized-sample test of at least 1% of both teacher and student population in schools, both ahead of reopening and monthly to inform education and COVID-19 policy.

Psychosocial and pedagogical training of teachers: In the midst of the stigma and fear surrounding COVID-19, training teachers to provide adequate psychosocial support to students is necessary. Also, pedagogical capacity enhancement in accelerated learning may be required bearing in mind the reducing impact of COVID-19 on time on task.

Health and Safety Orientation for teachers and students: COVID-19 -Complaint Health and Safety training for teachers must happen prior to reopening, to ensure teachers and school workers are adequately equipped with the know-how to guide students through observance of COVID-19 safety protocols. Teachers may in turn conduct orientation for students when they arrive in school. In Ivory Coast, teachers were trained in COVID-19 safety before re-opening of schools.

Providing and enforcing mandatory wearing of facemasks: Ghana reopened schools with each student being given three re-usable face masks and a bottle of hand sanitizer which must be used throughout the 12 weeks or so to be spent. Similar to Benin which was one of the first African countries to make wearing of masks obligatory in public when it introduced the measures in main cities and towns on April 8, the enforcement of the wearing of facemasks in Ghanaian schools is backed by an Executive Instrument which makes it an offence NOT to wear facemasks in public, with liabilities of up to three years imprisonment.

Health screening and data management: In Namibia, schools have set up a screening station where each learner is screened and sanitized before entering the classroom daily. The details of the learners are recorded, including the overall wellbeing done based on a health questionnaire which is submitted to health authorities periodically. This includes temperature checking using a laser thermometer. We encourage governments through their respective Public Health Directorates to train teachers to undertake his function as there may not be enough public health nurses to man every school.

Distribution of COVID-19 items: The distribution of buckets, sanitizers, face masks etc. is a major cause of concern, as there were delays ahead of school reopening. In Ghana for instance, many Senior High Schools in rural areas received their consignment on day two (2) and three (3) of reopening, amidst head teachers improvising the use of local resources to manage the gap. This was due to the centralized procurement and distribution of COVID-19 items which were managed by the Office of the Senior Minister from the Capital, Accra, and not the Ghana Education Service which is decentralised administratively in every district. Key lessons include the need to either decentralize the procurement of COVID-19 items, or ensure every school receive their COVID-19 supplies BEFORE the day of reopening.

Observing social distancing in school: Social distancing protocols being observed include maximum class sizes of 30, no large gatherings of more than 100 people and no external break time. In countries like Ghana, break time is observed in the classroom with teacher supervision, while dinning sessions for boarding schools are phased into three batches to allow a maximum of four (4) students on a table compared to the usual eighteen (18) during the pre COVID-19 era. To restrict the potential of any imported infection in boarding schools, Ghana has a mandatory policy to admit all day students into boarding houses and prevent the any form of student visitation while on campus.

Developing eLearning policies, infrastructure: Across the continent, countries without active eLearning policies are developing, operationalizing or reinforcing them. These include pre and in-service teacher training in eLearning Instruction and assessments, curriculum digitization, provision of eLearning infrastructure and equipment for teachers, schools and students, setting up of digital Knowledge Banks, and the delivery of teaching and learning on these platforms. As we approach this relatively new enterprise, eLearning policies must be inclusive, especially, to encompass the needs of rural children without electricity and those with disabilities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has really presented a threat to our survival as individuals, families, communities, and nations. It has brought disruptions to many, if not all, of our socio-economic lives and activities; education inclusive. However, our ability to evolve, adopt and adapt creative/innovative practices to steer society through this storm, without compromising on quality, will indicate whether we are experiencing a threat of catastrophe or opportunity to prove ourselves as problem solvers. As we prepare to enter the post-COVID-19 era, we will need quality learners to be enrolled in schools with quality learning environments, where they will access quality content through quality processes to ensure quality outcomes.

Published on 28th June, 2020.
President Akufo-Addo has justified military deployments along the countrys borders amidst the compilation of the new voters register and the rising cases of COVID-19 infections.

In an address to the nation on Monday, June 29, 2020, the President said the move is in the best interest of the country.

He said the deployment is to save the country against the intrusion of foreign nationals who have the potential of jeopardizing Ghanas democracy and health efforts in these crucial moments.

The longstanding deployment of security personnel, especially the military, along our borders is another dimension of this process of guaranteeing the peace of the nation. To shore up our borders against such attacks, and to defend our nation's territorial integrity, the Armed Forces, at least since I came into office, have been very proactive in engaging in operations to secure our borders and foil any potential terror attacks on our soil. Deployments of soldiers in areas along our borders have been regular, and residents living in border towns will bear testimony to this, he said.

The military personnel have been sighted in the Volta Region, Oti Region, Northern Region, Upper East Region and Upper West Region, which are known to be friendly to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

As a result, the party and its flagbearer, John Mahama, have complained the deployment of military personnel was meant to intimidate residents from coming out to register to vote .

But Nana Addo who made reference to how the use of the milliary has led to the arrest of some illegal immigrants into the country in the past, he stated that such intimidation concerns are misplaced.

Let me state, without any form of equivocation, that these deployments are not in any way intended to intimidate or prevent eligible Ghanaians from registering to vote in December. They are there for their express purpose, which is to guard our borders. That is the limit of their remit, and they will not be permitted to stray beyond that remit, he said.

I am not interested in disenfranchising voters

Commenting on suggestions that, the move is also to deliberately disenfranchise eligible voters so the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) wins the 2020 polls, Nana Addo who is also the NPP presidential candidate maintained that nothing will compel him to rig an election as being claimed by his opponents.

I have no interest in disenfranchising any eligible Ghanaian from registering in tomorrow's exercise, nor am I interested in any improper machinations to win any election. I have spent my life fighting for free, democratic institutions in our country, and I will continue in that fight for the rest of my life. The idea of being a President, who emerges from a rigged election, is abhorrent to every fibre of my being. I want to continue to be the President of a Ghanaian people who have given me their free consent, with the blessing of the Almighty.

In total, 207 soldiers have been deployed along the borders of the Upper East Region; 110 in the Northern Region; 102 in the North East Region; 98 in the Volta Region; 72 in the Oti Region; 69 in Upper West; 64 in Bono Region; 21 in Savannah Region; and 14 in the Western Region.

According to the state, Ghana has 52 legal crossing points, over 250 illegal entry points and over 500 places without immigration officers.

Ultimatum from Volta Caucus

Meanwhile, he Volta Caucus on the Minority side in Parliament has given the government a 24-hour ultimatum to withdraw the security personnel from Ghana's borders in the Volta Region.

The Chairman of the Volta Caucus, Emmanuel Bedzrah, stressed that The fire has been laid, and we the Voltarians are ready. We are not cowards and I want to repeat that, we are not cowards.

We don't fear people, we only respect people and therefore, whoever deployed the military personnel to our borders should call them back immediately. We are giving them up to the end of tomorrow, Tuesday, the military personnel must be called back, Mr. Bedzrah said.

 citinewsroom
President Akufo-Addo has asked the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo to take his aggregated leave, an announcement from the administration has said.

Executive of Communications at the Jubilee House in the announcement said Mr. Domelevo is relied upon to start the leave on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.

In a statement signed by Director of Communications at the presidency, Eugene Arhin, it was noted that the Presidents decision to ask Mr.Domelevo to take his accumulated leave is based on sections 20 (1) and 31 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), which applies to workers including public office holders such as the Auditor-General.

According to the Act, a worker is entitled to annual leave with full pay, in a calendar year of continuous service which cannot be relinquished or forgone by the worker or the employer, the statement said.

See the full statement below;

The president's directive has sparked debate among the people of Ghana all over social media with some people siding with the government that public officials taking leave a mandatory so he needs to go while others believe that the Auditor General was preparing to audit how the government spent the COVID-19 Fund.

Some are also asking why the need for the forced leave when the worker is patriotic enough to continue doing his duty to mother Ghana?

Well, we may never have the answers but what we have are some other reactions from other Ghanaians. Kindly check them below;

What do you also think?

Kindly share your opinion below.
BP has agreed to sell its global petrochemicals business to billionaire Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos for $5 billion, pulling out of a sector widely seen as a key driver of oil demand growth in the coming decades.

The surprise move means BP has hit its $15 billion asset sales target a year ahead of schedule as CEO Bernard Looney prepares the company for a shift to low-carbon energy.

The company's London-listed shares moved higher after the news, rising about 2.3% by 1045 GMT.

Looney acknowledged that the sale of the business, which employs 1,700 people and produced 9.7 million tonnes of petrochemicals last year, "will come as a surprise".

"Strategically, the overlap with the rest of BP is limited and it would take considerable capital for us to grow these (petrochemical) businesses," Looney said in a statement.

"Today's agreement is another deliberate step in building a BP that can compete and succeed through the energy transition."

The business includes stakes in manufacturing plants in the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Britain, Belgium, China, Malaysia and Indonesia. The petrochemical plant attached to BP's oil refineries in Gelsenkirchen and Mulheim in Germany are not included.

Plastics and other petrochemical products will drive global oil demand to 2050, offsetting slower consumption of motor fuel, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a 2018 report.

BP sold the bulk of its petrochemicals business in 2005 to Ineos, which has a network of more than 180 sites in 26 countries and about 22,000 employees.

That left BP's petrochemicals business focused on aromatics, which are used in polymers for plastic bottles and packaging, and acetyles, which are used in paints, solvents and pharmaceuticals.

'POSITIVE CHANGE'

Santander analyst Jason Kenney said the decision to offload those now is a "positive change" for BP because of the limited overlap with its other operations. It also strengthens expectations that BP will not cut its dividend, he added.

Looney took office in February and quickly set out a plan to reinvent BP by shifting its focus from oil and gas to low-carbon energy and renewables. He has since announced plans for a sharp reduction in the company's carbon emissions by 2050 and a major restructuring of the 112-year-old company.

BP also announced plans to cut 2020 spending by 25% and axe 10,000 jobs as the coronavirus-related collapse in energy consumption accelerates the company's transition plans.

Ineos will pay a deposit of $400 million and a further $3.6 billion on completion of the deal, which is expected by the end of the year. The remaining $1 billion will be paid in instalments in 2021.

"This acquisition is a logical development of our existing petrochemicals business, extending our interest in acetyls and adding a world leading aromatics business supporting the global polyester industry," Ineos Chairman Ratcliffe said in a statement.
The government on June 29 banned 59 Chinese mobile apps, stating that they are engaged in activities which are "prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.

The Ministry of Information Technology (MeitY) said the move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace.

A look at what the experts have to say about the government's move:

Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Aarin Capital

We are seeing the impact of the threat China is showing to India and we should support whatever India does at this time. There is going to be a pain; which we should be ready to take pain for the country.

Considering the situation at the border, we should support the government's move. I dont think we should target companies based in India which are investing in China. We have to make sure data doesn't go to China. Don't think this is a matter of life and death for India, but it is so for troops at the border.

Jayant Dasgupta, Former Ambassador to WTO

If these apps could be used to collect information and used against us, it is within our rights to ban them. Nothing in WTO that prevents us from banning these apps.

Berges Malu, Sharechat

Concurring with Dasgupta, Malu said don't think this is a knee-jerk reaction, was a long time coming. There has been multiple representations made by companies, NGOs, individuals for this step. Indian startups will benefit tremendously from banning these apps.

Also Read | These are the best alternatives to the popular Chinese apps banned in India

Welcoming the governments move, Malu added Chinese can't profit from us while killing our soldiers. There will be innovators who will come up with better apps and with govt-funded Chinese apps taken out of the ecosystem, more investors will be interested in Indian startups.

Mayank Bhangadia, Founder  Roposo

The decision will be a big boost for entrepreneurs building in India and great in the interest of the country. Over the last ten days, Roposo has seen the highest number of installs across app stores.
The public showdown between AirAsia India and its pilot Gaurav Taneja witnessed a major development on June 29 as the pilot was sacked by the airline.

He was handed the termination notice hours after DGCA issued a showcause notice to Manish Uppal, AirAsia India's Head of Operations, over Tanejas allegations of safety norm violations.

A popular vlogger, Taneja had claimed the airline suspended him for "standing up for safe operations of an aircraft and its passengers".

Taneja had alleged the airline was violating safety protocols, introduced to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, which could endanger the lives of hundreds of AirAsia India passengers.

In his post on June 15, he had alleged that he was made to work on his off days. He also alleged that protocols, that were in place in March when coronavirus was spreading, were not followed properly by the airline (although he does not outline which), and stated that from March 24 onwards, he refused to fly.

Another allegation that he made was that the airline asks its pilots to do 98% of landings in "Flap 3" mode, which allows it to save fuel. Failing to do this is considered a violation by the airline, he alleged. Flaps are part of wings of an aircraft and they are engaged to create a drag during a landing or a take-off.

Following his post, DGCA said it has taken cognisance of concerns raised against a 'particular airline'.

Meanwhile, according to sources, the airline said the termination was based on 'several violations'.

"The violations pertain to not appearing for an investigation started by the airline, going public on social media without following the due company process of redressal, breach of non-disclosure agreement and photography in the cockpit in breach of company and DGCA norms," a senior executive from the industry said.

Besides being a pilot, Taneja is also known for his YouTube channels. He has two channels on the video-sharing platforms: Flying Beast and Fit Muscle TV, having 2.92 million and 1.47 million subscribers, respectively.

While the first one is a travel vlogging channel where he shares his travel-related vlogs and other things related to his personal life, the second one is a fitness channel, where he provides tips and guidance for people who like bodybuilding and gym.
AirAsia India has fired Gaurav Taneja, its pilot who publicly alleged violations of safety regulations at the airline.

Also Read: Who is Gaurav Taneja, the whistleblower pilot suspended by AirAsia India?

The move comes to light a day after aviation regulator DGCA sent a show-cause notice to the airline's senior executive, Manish Uppal, AirAsia India's Head of Operations. But sources close to the development tell Moneycontrol that the pilot was fired on June 26.

Earlier, DGCA said it had taken cognisance of concerns raised against a 'particular airline' in connection to the controversy around AirAsia India pilot Gaurav Taneja, the aviation industry regulator sent a show-cause notice to the carrier's senior executive.

In a June 15 statement on Twitter, DGCA said it had "taken note of the concerns raised by some stakeholders against a particular Airline and its approach to safety.

A popular vlogger with a sizeable following across social media platforms, Taneja had claimed that the airline has suspended him for "standing up for safe operations of an aircraft and its passengers".

Taneja alleged earlier that the airline was violating safety protocols, introduced to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, which could endanger the lives of hundreds of AirAsia India passengers.

Explained | Why Gaurav Taneja's allegations against AirAsia India may set a precedent

"Some of the concerns raised by Taneja are relevant. Some may not be," a senior pilot had said.

AirAsia India spokesperson declined to comment.

Moneycontrol tried reaching Taneja, but his phone was switched off.

The termination notice

Sources said that AirAsia India based the termination notice on several 'violations'.

"The violations pertain to not appearing for an investigation started by the airline, going public on social media without following the due company process of redressal, breach of non-disclosure agreement and photography in the cockpit in breach of company and DGCA norms," a senior executive from the industry said.

Another executive added that the airline had been investigating the pilot for over a year, and had later suspended him. After that, Taneja took to social media to air his grievances. "There were also allegations that he reported sick, but instead went for social commitments," the executive added.

What could have hurt Taneja's case most would be his public comments, which led to a debate, often toxic, on social media. "A few industry veterans on Twitter had advise Gaurav him to follow the company redressal process and not make this a public debate. But he didn't relent," said the senior executive cited above.
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Indian glass vials producers said they are gearing up to meet any potential demand arising from pharmaceutical companies to fill their COVID-19 vaccines and drugs.

Health experts globally are concerned whether there would enough glass-vials available, to pack billion of COVID-19 vaccine doses.

A vial is small glass bottle which is used for storing liquid medicines like vaccines and other drugs.

"We are geared up and are investing proactively. We have requested all our customers to give us a forecast to enable us to make sure that we have sufficient stock of the glass and vial conversion capacities," Rishad Dadachanji, Director of SCHOTT KAISHA, told Moneycontrol.

SCHOTT KAISHA is the 50:50 joint venture between SCHOTT, the German specialty glass maker and Indian firm KAISHA Manufacturers, that converts tubular glass into vials, ampoules and syringes, with a total capacity of 3 billion units.

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

Dadachanji said SCHOTT KAISHA is already working with Serum Institute of India to supply tubular glass vials and aluminum seals for the Oxford vaccine.

Serum entered into a licensing deal earlier this month with British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca to provide 1 billion doses of the vaccine to low- and middle-income countries, with the goal of 400 million produced by year's end. Serum has already plans to supply 2-3 million oxford vaccine from July onwards, which will largely go for clinical trials.

Demand vs Supply

Dadachanji sais it is still early days to anticipate the exact demand.

"It all depends on the success of vaccine candidates of respective vaccine companies, and their manufacturing capabilities," said Dadachanji.

Also Read | Exclusive: Poonawalla family's Serum Institute looks to raise $1 billion for big-ticket COVID-19 vaccine project

But the demand is expected to spike as companies race to develop COVID-19 vaccine. For instance India would alone need to 1.3 billion doses, for a single dose. If booster dose is needed it would require double that capacity. People have to be vaccinated quickly to build herd immunity to arrest the infection spread. There are many LMICs that rely on India for their vaccines, futher increasing the demand for vials.

It isn't Oxford vaccine alone, Serum has entered collaborations with US and European biotech to make COVID-19 vaccines. There are other companies in India that include Bharat Biotech, Panacea Biotec, Zydus Cadila, Biological E, Indian Immunologicals, Sanofi, have plans to manufacture hundreds of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Also Read | Cipla-BDR Pharmaceuticals eyeing early approval of Favipiravir

For instance Panacea Biotec said the aim is to manufacture over 500 million doses of COVID-19 candidate vaccine, with over 40 million doses expected to be available for delivery early next year.

SCHOTT, one of the world's largest producer of borosilicate glass used for making tubular vials and ampoules, estimates at least one billion units will be required for an initial global vaccination campaign, equaling roughly 2 percent of the current annual demand for borosilicate glass containers for injectable drugs. Along with SCHOTT, US-based Corning and Japan's Nipro Corporation dominate the global production of tubular glass.

Track this blog for latest updates on the coronavirus crisis

"Yet, further vials will probably be required for COVID-19 treatments, as well as other unrelated therapies that have been postponed because of the crisis," the company said in an email statement.

Apart from JV, SCHOTT is independently investing in India. The company is increasing its manufacturing of borosilicate glass tubing by 40,000 tons providing enough raw material to produce an extra 6.8 billion standard vials, a major part of that capacity comes from its India plants.

SCHOTT said the short-term demand for pharmaceutical packaging can be met if industry focuses on ramp-up and prioritization.

Molded vials no shortage

Even among glass vials there are two types - tubular vials and molded vials. The molded vials are obtained by pouring molten glass into molds. On the other hand, tubular vials are obtained by using glass tube by hot edges. The vials manufactured by SCHOTT-KAISHA are tubular vials.

Piramal Glass, one of the world's largest producers molded glass vials said it has enough capacities.

"There could be some shortage for tubular vials globally, but when it comes to molded glass there is sufficient capacity. There is a possibility to increase production, we can double our capacity at short notice," said Vijay Shah, Vice-Chairman, Piramal Glass.

Shah says molded vials are affordable than tubular vial and can be made for different dosages.

Piramal said it has received enquiries from 3-4 companies, including Zydus Cadila, Bharat Biotech and Sanofi.

Tubular vials are now more widely been used over molded vials for their aesthetics, consistency of dimmensions and ease of quality inspections given the transparency of the glass material.

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Dhaka/UNI: At least 25 people drowned and several were missing after a ferry carrying around 100 passengers capsized in Buriganga river adjacent to Dhakas Shyambazar on Monday morning.

According to officials, the ferry capsized after it collided with another vessel.

Bodies of 15 males, seven females and three children have been recovered so far, said Shahadat Hossain, a duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence.

The launch was en route to Dhaka from Munshiganj district when it capsized in the river after being hit by another launch-Moyur-2 near Sadarghat launch terminal around 0930hrs, said Shahadat Hossain, a duty officer of the fire service headquarters.

Divers from Sadarghat fire station rushed to the spot and started rescue operations, soon coastguards and river police also joined the rescue operations. A rescue vessel of BIWTA from Narayanganj reached the spot to take part in rescue operations.

Masud Mollah, a passenger of the launch, told reporters over phone that he, along with some other passengers, managed to swim to Farashganj ghat.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has constituted a four-member committee to investigate the accident and asked it to submit a report as soon as possible, said the Authority's Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq.
Bengaluru-based contract research and innovation services provider Anthem Biosciences Private Limited will dilute a minority stake in a fund-raising exercise aimed at a valuation of $1 billion, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Moneycontrol.

These plans come at a time when several global investors are warming up to the Indian CRAMS/CDMO (contract research & manufacturing services/contract development and manufacturing organisation) segment. Their growing appetite is reflected in the recently announced $490-million deal struck between Piramal Enterprises and private equity major Carlyle.

Anthem Biosciences is looking to tap investors, primarily private equity funds & sell a 10 percent stake in the firm and raise around $100 million. If plans fructify, this would value the firm at a billion dollars," said the first person cited above.

The second person said investment bank o3 Capital has been mandated for the transaction. "This is a high interest segment which is attractive for private equity players.

The fresh capital can be used by the firm for expansion in terms of new product lines or new facilities. Margins are healthy, client profile is good and the firm is backed by strong, experienced promoters," said the third person cited above.

All the three persons spoke to Moneycontrol on the condition of anonymity.

In response to an email query from Moneycontrol, Anthem Biosciences said, As you are aware we are a private limited company and it is our policy to not comment on any speculative news. In the case there is broadcast worthy news we will inform you via the appropriate channel.

Moneycontrol is awaiting an email response from o3 Capital and will update this article as soon as we hear from them.

WHY IS THE INDIAN CRAMS SEGMENT RIPE FOR M&A?

Due to a diversified product mix, high-end research services and significant cost benefits, pharma MNCs and global funds are taking an active interest in the fast growing domestic CRAMS/CDMO segment where Indian players have emerged as the preferred partners in drug discovery and manufacturing. A contract research organization (CRO) mainly provides drug discovery, preclinical research, clinical trial and other new drug development contract research services for pharmaceutical companies.

If discussions conclude, the Anthem Biosciences stake sale could be the third potential transaction in the niche and active segment.

In the Piramal-Carlyle deal, the pharma business included a contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) business, a complex hospital generics business selling specialized products across over 100 countries and a consumer healthcare business selling over-the-counter products in India. According to a research report by ICICI Securities, the Piramal deal was struck at 15.2x FY 20 EV/EBIDTA .

Additionally, on February 12, 2020, Moneycontrol reported that Hyderabad-based Suven Life Sciences was exploring a sale of its demerged CRAMS arm, Suven Pharmaceuticals.

The shares of some of the listed peers of Anthem Biosciences  Biocon arm Syngene, Suven Pharmaceuticals & Dishman Carbogen have surged sharply in the last three months during the extended nationwide lockdown.

ANTHEM BIOSCIENCES: GEARING UP TO RAISE CAPITAL?

Anthem Biosciences, incorporated in 2006, is helmed by CEO Ajay Bharadwaj, an ex-Biocon executive, chief operating Officer KC Ravindra and chief scientific officer Ganesh Sambasivam.

A June 2019 report by rating agency ICRA said the firms revenues grew 35.3 percent YoY to Rs 624.8 crore in FY2019 on the back of healthy capacity utilisation at the newly set-up Harohalli plant and revival witnessed in its contract research segment. Further, established relationships with renowned international pharma majors across the globe has supported the strong revenue growth momentum of the company. ABPLs liquidity position has remained healthy , supported by comfortable collection terms and low working capital intensity, the ICRA report said. It added that Anthem Biosciences had high customer concentration as well as high geographic concentration, with more than half of its revenues in FY 2019 attributed to its top five customers and the US market.

Anthem Biosciences offers early-stage drug discovery services with services encompassing medicinal chemistry, process chemistry, custom synthesis, discovery research and analytical research & development. Over the years the company has forward integrated into contract manufacturing with a view to benefit from synergies arising out of its involvement in development of the product.

The company commenced its operations in July 2007 as an Export Oriented Unit (EOU) and has research facilities including chemistry labs, kilo lab, pilot plant, analytical and discovery research facilities in its manufacturing plant at Bommasandra in Bangalore. According to its website, the firm is located in an industrial park in Bangalore with a built-up capacity to house over 500 researchers.

According to a report by Research & Markets, the global contract research organization (CRO) Services market accounted for $39.03 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $89.06 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 9.6 percent during the forecast period.
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Sajeev Krishnan, part-time Chairman and independent director of Dhanlaxmi Bank, resigned on June 29 citing personal reasons, the bank said in a communique to exchanges. His resignation will be with effect from June 29.

According to people familiar with the development, Krishnan resigned from the bank ahead of his term on account of differences with the management. He had joined the Kerala-headquartered bank as part-time Chairman in February 2018 for a period of three years.

It appears that he didnt want to continue on account of some differences with the management, said an industry official on condition of anonymity.

Krishnan has been with the State Bank group since 1977. He handled large credits and projects and internal audit at State Bank of India (SBI) in the Republic of Maldives from 1998 to 1999. In 2004, he was promoted as a Deputy General Manager and deputed to State Bank of Indore to head the integrated treasury and risk management departments.

Last week, Dhanlaxmi Bank reported a 90.5 percent decline in net profit at Rs 2.6 crore for the January-March quarter, hit by higher provisions for bad loans and contingencies. In the year ago quarter, the bank posted a profit of Rs 27.61 crore.

Last year, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) took the lender out of prompt corrective action (PCA), subject to certain conditions and continuous monitoring, after the regulator noted improvement in the banks financials.

Dhanlaxmi Banks shares ended the day at Rs 14.85, down 4.19 percent on the BSE.
Its been a month since Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the Rs 3 lakh crore emergency credit line guarantee scheme (ECLGS). This was arguably the biggest among the measures announced by the minister as part of COVID-19 economic package.

How has the scheme performed so far?

A closer look at the numbers show, even though banks have been aggressive in ramping up loan sanctions, the actual disbursements are yet to pick up in a meaningful way.

On Sunday, state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) issued a press release saying that it has sanctioned Rs 6,757 crores of loans under ECLGS to 2.96 lakh eligible MSME borrowers. As on June 25, the bank has disbursed only a little over Rs 2,030 crore to 59,204 borrowers so far or an average loan of Rs 3.4 lakh per borrower. As for the industry, the latest data available is till June 22 when banking sector sanctioned Rs 75,426 crore worth loans to 17 lakh borrowers while disbursing Rs 32,896 crores to 7.1 lakh borrowers. This is about 9 percent of the scheme size.

In other words, an average loan amount of Rs 4,62,659 is disbursed to 7 lakh borrowers.

Two clear trends emerge here:

One, banks have so far managed to disburse only less than half of the amount sanctioned to MSME borrowers. Second, even to those the actual amount disbursed per borrower is too low. A Rs 4.6 lakh average loan amount will hardly suffice to help MSMEs to get back on feet after a total collapse of business activities for nearly three months.

The idea behind the scheme, which was launched as part of the Rs 20 lakh crore economic package by the government in response to the COVID-19 crisis, was to help MSMEs to meet their immediate fund requirements such as paying salaries and rentals besides meeting other immediate operating expenditures. The government promised full guarantee cover to banks on such loans.

Banks could give up to 20 percent of the outstanding loan amount to MSMEs as on February 29, 2020. According to the details issued by the finance ministry, public sector banks disbursed Rs 22,197 crore loans so far while private sector banks disbursed Rs 10,697 crore. The sanction figures in these two segments are Rs 42739 crore and Rs 32687 crore, respectively.

Why disbursement are low?

Banks, mainly public sector banks, are under pressure to show that the scheme has received a good response. Hence in many cases, banks are giving automatic sanctions to all eligible borrowers, according to banking industry officials. In many cases these are sanctions are done even without the consent of the MSME borrower, said a senior banking industry official to Moneycontrol on condition of anonymity. There is pressure on banks. So sanctions are given but availment is less, said the banker. PSBs have asked their staff to contact all eligible borrowers to canvass loans under the scheme.

There is a difference between sanctioned loan amount and loan disbursed. Loan sanctions are given based on eligibility and disbursements are based on actual requirement of the borrower. In the initial stage, banks step up sanctioning process with or without the consent of the borrower. All MSMEs who have drawn up to Rs 25 crore loan outstanding and Rs 100 crore turnover are eligible to borrow money under this scheme.



) The crisis has impacted all MSMEs. But, the loan scheme is open for only those borrowers who already have a loan with banks, up to 20 percent of their loan limit. This means, a fresh borrower doesnt stand a chance to benefit from the scheme.

) The existing borrower can avail only up to 20 percent of the outstanding loan amount. For an MSME which has already paid back most of the loans and has very little amount remaining as outstanding loan amount, the fresh additional amount that can be borrowed will be small. This perhaps explains the low average loan size of the disbursed amount so far.

) MSMEs ability to borrow more is constrained with the present business environment. The poor demand scenario has impacted the cash inflows and the ability of MSMEs to pay back even existing loans. MSMEs are not confident to borrow more, which explains lower disbursals.

) Banks are unable to reach out to many MSME clients on account of lockdown restrictions. Since the business activities have slowed significantly, MSMEs are also not proactive in reaching out to their bankers.



Step 2 is critical. After sanctioning the loan amount, the bank awaits the borrowers response to issue the cheque. There are a few reasons why the actual disbursements are low so far.

Political intervention

The involvement of political parties in the ECLGS raises another critical question. On June 19, Moneycontrol broke the story that Tamil Nadu BJP has launched a dedicated website to arrange loans for people under various government schemes. According to the website www.tnbjp.in, the state unit of the ruling party has so far arranged Rs 42 lakhs worth loans and processed 57 applications. A total of 23524 applications have been received so far under the scheme. Political interventions in government loan schemes are not new though. There have been complaints about political meddling in Mudra scheme where politicians pressurise banks to issue loan to unworthy borrowers.

What lies ahead for ECLGS scheme?

Industry experts expect some pick up in the scheme as lockdown rules ease further and activities resume and demand scenario improves. However, the rule that limits 20 percent extra borrowing needs to go. Similarly, new borrowers need to be allowed to expand the scope of the scheme, bankers say. Sanjay Agarwal, Head, BFSI and NBFC at CARE Ratings said the disbursals are likely to pick up soon as more companies like to come forward to draw the money. Also, private sector banks participation will help to improve the overall performance, Agarwal said. Banks will take time to process the sanctioned loans after finishing the modalities. I think the scheme will pick up soon, said Agarwal.
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A concession agreement for the 600 MW Kholongchhu Indo-Bhutan joint venture hydroelectric project was signed on Monday, paving the way for the commencement of its construction and other related works.

The concession agreement for the project between the Bhutanese government and the Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Limited was signed in the virtual presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Bhutanese counterpart Tandi Dorji, a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement said.

"The signing of the concession agreement will lead to commencement of construction and other works of this first Joint Venture Hydroelectric Project between India and Bhutan. The project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025," it said.

The 600 MW run-of-the-river project is located on the lower course of the Kholongchhu River in Trashiyangtse district in eastern Bhutan.

The project envisages an underground powerhouse of four 150 MW turbines with water impounded by a concrete gravity dam of 95 metres height, the MEA said.

It will be implemented by Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Limited, a joint venture company formed between Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) of Bhutan and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) of India, the statement said.

Both Jaishankar and his Bhutanese counterpart emphasised the importance of hydropower development as an important pillar of mutually beneficial bilateral economic cooperation.

They also recalled the trust, cooperation and mutual respect that have long characterised the unique and special friendship, anchored in mutual understanding and reinforced by a shared cultural heritage and strong people to people links between India and Bhutan, the statement said.

Bhutan Economic Affairs Minister Loknath Sharma, and senior government officials including foreign secretaries of India and Bhutan, secretary (power), Government of India, ambassador of India to Bhutan and ambassador of Bhutan to India were also present at the signing ceremony held through videoconferencing, the MEA said.

The hydropower sector is the flagship area of India-Bhutan bilateral cooperation, it said.

The 720 MW Mangdechhu hydroelectric project was jointly inaugurated earlier in August 2019 by the prime ministers of India and Bhutan.

With this, four hydroelectric projects of bilateral cooperation (336 MW Chukha HEP, 60 MW Kurichhu HEP, 1,020 MW Tala HEP and 720 MW Mangdechhu HEP), totalling over 2,100 MW, are already operational in Bhutan, according to the MEA.
Edtech firm BYJUS has launched an online tutoring programme called 'BYJUS Classes'. This will be a programme where students would have access to scheduled online classes from teachers across India, instant doubt resolution and one-on-one guidance from dedicated mentors.

Till now, BYJUS was offering online learning modules explaining different concepts across subjects from Class 4-12 as well as for competitive examinations like JEE and NEET. Now, the BYJUs Classes concept will work like tuition classes.

Divya Gokulnath, Co-founder, BYJUS said, As the world gears up to embrace the new normal, we believe that a students education must be a priority in every sense. We strongly believe that a personalised and tech-enabled learning offering like BYJUS Classes can truly stand out in an otherwise fragmented after-school tutoring market.

Here, students can choose from weekday and weekend batches and attend scheduled online Math and Science classes as per their school curriculum.

With BYJUS Classes, students will be assigned a dedicated mentor who will offer one-on-one attention, progress reports and also suggest personalised classes to work on topics that they need to focus on. This mentor will interact with students regularly to understand their progress and requirements and counsel them on their learning approach and other concerns

Regular home assignments and monthly tests will be conducted to help students with conceptual understanding and help build their foundation in Maths and Science.

These classes will be available for students from classes 4 - 12 as well as for those preparing for competitive exams like JEE (engineering) and NEET (medical).

BYJU'S is among the largest edtech company in the country. On June 26, BYJU'S had announced that it raised funds from Mary Meeker's tech investment firm BOND.

The company, however, did not disclose the amount raised or the valuation. The latest investment is likely to take the valuation to USD 10.5 billion.

In February 2020, the company had raised about USD 200 million in funding from General Atlantic. At that time, sources had said the company was valued at about USD 8.2 billion.
Students and parents from across the country are demanding postponement of the JEE-NEET exams due to COVID-19 pandemic

The Maharashtra government on Monday decided to cancel the final-year examinations of professional and non-professional courses. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said that the decision was taken by the State Disaster Management Authority in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

However, industry experts and regulatory officials told Moneycontrol that there will be legal hurdles as the state government cannot take such a decision without the Centres nod.

Maharashtra is the only state to cancel these exams. Here is a look at why the power to cancel higher education examinations for final-year students does not lie with the Maharashtra government alone.

Professional and non-professional courses

Since education is on the Concurrent List of the Constitution of India, the central as well as state governments have the right to pass regulations. However, there is a distinction between professional and non-professional courses.

Higher educational courses in a state, like Maharashtra, include general education courses like undergraduate/post-graduate programmes in science, commerce and humanities.

Individual universities offering these courses fall under the purview of the state government as well as the University Grants Commission (UGC). The UGC regulates all universities in the country, be it public or private.

When it comes to professional courses, statutory bodies like the All India Council for Technical Education, Council of Architecture, Medical Council of India, Pharmacy Council of India, Bar Council of India, National Council for Teachers Education as well as National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology come into the picture.

Also read: Maharashtra governor disagrees with CM Thackeray on exam cancellation

Only when all these bodies endorse the decision will there be a wider acceptance of the Thackeray-led governments decision. Thackeray has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting his intervention in the matter.

Awarding degrees

Even though the final-year examinations will be cancelled in Maharashtra, Thackeray said on Monday that the state government has decided to award degrees based on the formula decided by the universities. Such a formula hasnt been decided yet.

Regulatory officials, however, said that for both professional and non-professional courses, approval by the UGC and the respective bodies (like AICTE, Bar Council, Medical Council) would be required.

So, even if a state government decides to cancel examinations and award degrees, it would be acceptable only if the central government endorses the decision. The UGC Act 1956 gives it the sole right to decide on conducting examinations across universities in India and awarding degrees after assessments. As per law, the decision of the central government on awarding degrees would be final and binding on all parties.

Uniform formula for evaluation of students

Considering the COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra, with 1,64,626 positive cases, it would be tough to conduct physical examinations at colleges/universities. Online examinations would not be feasible since not all students have access to laptops, computers and a stable internet connection.

UGC guidelines had called for final-year examinations in July 2020 and Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had said on multiple occasions in May and June that examinations for final-year students cannot be cancelled.

Against this backdrop, if Maharashtra decides to go ahead and award degrees, these qualifications may not be recognised by other states and the central government. Thackeray had, in a June 16 video conference with PM Modi, requested him to direct the officials to issue uniform guidelines for college/university examination cancellations. But no such direction yet been issued by the MHRD and the Centre.

Whats next?

Even though the state government has announced the cancellation of examinations citing the disaster management protocol, uncertainty for higher education students in Maharashtra continues.

Giving an option to students to appear for examinations at a later date only increases confusion since there is no idea about when COVID-19 will abate and universities will be able to conduct multiple assessments and examinations.

Unless the central government cancels all these examinations and detailed guidelines on assessment of students are issued, the decision to cancel exams by just one state will hamper the academic future and career prospects of the students.
Nearly 36 lakh tonne sugar has been exported from Maharashtra between January and June this year as against the target of 60 lakh tonne during the period, an official said on Monday.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown has slowed down the export process, Maharashtra State Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation Chairman Jayprakash Dandegaonkar said.

Nearly 570 lakh tonne sugarcane was crushed by 144 sugar mills in the state from November 2019 to June this year and 63 lakh tonne sugar was produced so far, he said.

"The export of 36 lakh tonne is completed. Various deals have been signed for another six lakh tonne and sugar is being moved out of the godowns for export, Dandegaonkar said.

So far, most of the sugar has been exported to Indonesia and Iran, he informed.

From January to June last year, 952 lakh tonne of sugarcane was crushed to produce 107 lakh tonne sugar, he added.

The sugarcane crushing generally begins from November and goes on till March.
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Fitch Ratings on Monday said it has assigned 'BBB-' rating with a negative outlook to state-owned gas utility GAIL India. The rating is capped at the same level as India's sovereign 'BBB-' rating, Fitch said in a statement.

GAIL's dominant market position in the regulated utility gas-transmission business, complemented by its diversification into other business segments, and healthy credit metrics were factors governing the rating.

"Fitch rates GAIL as an integrated utility, considering its presence in both gas transportation and marketing along with petrochemical and liquid-hydrocarbon businesses," the statement said.

Fitch said it expects the pandemic, which would affect natural-gas consumption in India, and market volatility including lower crude oil prices to reduce GAIL's pre-tax profit in financial year 2020-21 by around 25 per cent.

"Lower EBITDA and our assumptions of an increase in capex and dividend payouts would cause GAIL's net leverage to rise to 1.7x in FY21 from 0.8x in FY20," it said.

The rating agency said it assessed GAIL's status, ownership, and control by the state as 'strong' due to its strategic importance in the Indian gas-transmission sector.

The state also appoints its board. However, the company operates as a commercial entity.

"We expect all key segments of GAIL to be affected by the coronavirus in FY21, although operating performance should improve in FY22 to closer to pre-COVID-19 levels. We expect GAIL's gas-transmission segment to be affected by lower natural gas demand in the country, which we expect to dip by 6 per cent in FY21," it said.

Also, liquid hydrocarbon and petrochemical segments would face volume and margin headwinds due to weakening demand in 2020, with gradual recovery through 2021.

"GAIL's gas-marketing segment faces price and volume risks under its long-term Henry Hub (HH) linked contracts from the US, especially in the low crude price environment when spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) is cheaper than HH-linked US LNG. We expect GAIL to be able to mitigate volume risks by selling excess supply in the international market although current prices may lead to losses on unhedged volumes, which we estimate at 25 per cent of the US LNG supply in FY21," it said.

On government considering a proposal to transfer GAIL's transmission pipeline assets to a wholly-owned subsidiary, Fitch said a majority stake sale in the proposed subsidiary is likely to be credit negative.

"The stake sale is unlikely to happen before 2022 as the gas market will not be mature before that and state support would be needed for GAIL to build a pipeline grid. However, Fitch continues to treat this as an event risk as the timing and details of the sale are uncertain," the statement added.
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The coronavirus outbreak has pushed up the demand for cloud experts as businesses look to ensure continuity amid restrictions on the movement of people and travel.

With work from home a necessity, businesses are investing in digital platforms to ensure a smooth transition from office space to remote working.

It translates into a huge demand for cloud service providers and, in turn, of people skilled in cloud platforms.

C Sunil, specialised staffing, Teamlease Services, said the demand for talents in the cloud space has increased 25 percent in the last three months.

The demand would continue to rise as migration to cloud will only accelerate, he added.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

There are three popular major cloud platforms -- Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure.

The best way to start with is the fundamentals and associate level certifications each of the major cloud platform offers. These require either zero or minimal experience after which one can opt for expert and specialised certifications.

Those with 0-5 years of experience, can get roles such as cloud administrator, developer, operational engineer and security implementation across platforms, said Nirmallya Mukherjee, who is Academic DirectorCloud Computing at Great Learning, an online learning platform.

With 5-12 years of experience, one can be a cloud architect, consultant or a strategist, he said.

These professionals are typically expert and specialised certified professionals and are required to implement cloud architecture, ensure security and privacy of data stored in cloud.

It can cost anywhere between Rs 7,500 and Rs 25,000 to get a cloud certificate, depending on the level of expertise being sought.

What are jobs and how much do they pay?

The role that are in demand right now are cloud architects, as enterprises migrate to cloud and are looking for engineers who can help them make the shift.

Job search portals list more than 20,000 jobs for profiles such as cloud engineer, cloud architect, architect and security implementation professional across different companies.

Salary surveys suggest that cloud professionals can earn anywhere from Rs 4 lakh per annum to Rs 35 lakh per annum, as they gain experience and skills.

Certifications and costs

AWS leads the cloud space with a revenue of about $7.6 billion in FY19 and a market share of over 50 percent, according to reports.

Cloud providers account for about 60 percent of the cloud-computing jobs, Simplilearn blog quotes job portal Indeed as saying. Hence, the demand for AWS certified professionals is significant.

The platform offers two different sets of certifications, role and solutions based.

Role-based include four levels --cloud practitioner, architect, operations and developer while solution-based course includes machine learning, storage and AWS media services.

Exam cost of these certifications range from $100 to $300, from beginner to the specialisation.

Azure is the second-largest cloud player with a market share of 29 percent and revenue of $3.4 billion in FY19, according to reports.

Azure offers 12 certifications from basics to experts covering four key roles such as developer, administrator, architect and functional consultant.

After fundamentals, one can move on to associate roles such as cloud administrator, developer, security engineer, AI engineer, data scientist, data engineer and data-base administrator. These require typically couple of years of work experience.

Two expert certifications Azure DevOps Engineer and Solutions Architect may require more than three years of experience, as expertise in computer, storage and security is a must along with the ability to combine processes with technologies.

Certifications costs range from $99 for fundamentals to $165 for expertise.

Google Cloud, which is fast catching up with AWS and Azure, has 18 percent market share with $2.3 billion in revenue for FY19, according to reports.

Similar to other service providers, Google Cloud offers different career paths. There are seven certifications offered by the platform. This includes associate cloud engineer, professional cloud engineer, data engineer, cloud DevOps engineer, cloud network engineer, cloud security engineer and professional collaboration engineer.

The associate cloud engineer certification requires six months of experience working on Google Cloud. Professionals requires more than three years of experience.

It costs about $200 to get a professional Google Cloud certification.
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Ashish Khanna, Managing Director & CEO, Tata Power Solar and President, Tata Power Renewables, has said India is directionally right in achieving the ambitious 175GW renewable target by 2022. He has, however, issued a note of caution in regard to the need for the establishment of the right renewable eco-system in India.

In an interview with Moneycontrol, Khanna said, At the micro level, I think we should focus on the quality we will be adding to the growth in the renewable sector.

Drawing the laundry list for the growth imperative, President, Tata Power Renewables, said, We should scan whether we are able to achieve the overall objective, like the well-being of the community, the importance of the power, the climate that it is serving for, employment generation, and the cost-effectiveness of that particular market.

Asked to comment on whether the latest Aatma Nirbhar pitch by the Prime Minister would give a momentum to the renewable pitch, Khanna welcomed the initiative. Asserting the need to draw a long term vision policy framework, he averred, It is just that you need the right policy framework for us to use it as an enabler on a long-term horizon. And whatever I am hearing makes for good news. But, as they say, the test of the pudding is actually in the eating.

The Tata Power CEO prayed for long-term policy horizon on how issues would pan out. This, he said, was important to reassure the industry and enable it to enhance capacity and capability over a period of time. In this regard, he listed the policy initiative of making renewables and including solar as a must run, from a policy standpoint has come out well too.

Outlining his perspective on the Make in India campaign, he said growth imperative was welcome. However, he cautioned against tariff being a predominant factor. We have been clamouring for the cost of a lower tariff. We have been celebrating the lowering of the tariff. Optically, it has been the biggest thing which catches the eye rather than whether our solar projects are being made from Made in India program.

On the ever-growing boycott China sentiment in India and its sector impact, Tata Power Solar CEO said, Chinese investments in India are of two parts. One is about getting Chinese to invest in India in this sector and that hasn't happened in a large way. Otherwise, it is all about imports which are relevant.

In reply to another question on growing competition in the sector with the entry of big-ticket corporate, Khanna welcomed the idea of more players coming into the fray. However, his advice to new players is to stay invested in the India renewable story for the long run and not jump to exit at the prospect of some quick returns.

It depends upon your horizon. Are you looking for a 25-year horizon or you're looking for a 5- year horizon and you intend to flip on accordingly. We have seen in the solar industry particularly that there are instances where there are good players but their intention is to flip it on after some years. As consolidation gathers pace, more and more players are looking for a long term horizon. They are committed to the cause which is good for this industry, he observed.

What would be his advice to investors, especially PE funds, keen to have a piece of the cake in the renewable business? If you're a big fund you come into this sector in India. Stay longer here because this is one market where there is stability and endurance and you will get good returns. Don't come here for five years.

Asked to specify whether his own company was on the path to achieving the stipulated targets, Tata Solar Power MD said, Our targets are not about the number game. Our targets are more to do whether the predictable returns are coming and whether we are in a position to make the quality of the projects. We are committed to the sector and here to stay for long.
BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- China announced on Sunday that it will temporarily adjust the implementation of five administrative regulations in the pilot free trade zone (FTZ) of the southernmost province of Hainan to support its all-round reform and opening up.

The adjustments, effective from June 28, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2024, cover regulations on customs guarantees, tariffs, international maritime transport, inspection of ships and offshore facilities, as well as domestic waterway transport, according to a circular issued by the State Council.

Self-driving entry of overseas yachts will enjoy a guarantee-free policy in the Hainan FTZ, while the approval power concerning the operation of international passenger ships and international bulk shipping of hazardous liquid shall be delegated to the provincial transport department, the circular said.

After the adjustments, foreign ship inspection agencies will be allowed to provide classification services for Chinese ships that are registered in the Hainan FTZ and engaged in international voyages.

China announced plans in April 2018 to build a pilot FTZ covering the whole island and explore the establishment of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics.
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London: Certains section of the British media have claimed that half of Britain's most-recent imported coronavirus cases are believed to have come from Pakistan.

Since June 4, Public Health England data shows 30 people with the virus have entered Britain on flights from Pakistan, which is believed to represent about half the total number of imported cases in that time, reports Daily Mail.

Since March 1, at least 190 flights have arrived from Pakistan, which is reporting 4,000 coronavirus cases a day and has had a new spike since easing lockdown, the newspaper reported.

The reports, however, was rejected by Pakistani officials.

Prime Minister Imran Khans advisor on overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari tweeted: "How did start exporting covid with no cases when already had more? What kind of data evidence supports it since 1 Mar while UK only started passenger screening in Jun? Pathetic irresponsible reporting by Telegraph/Dailymail/Sun.Shameless racism& tabloid sensationalism on display!"

How did YYstart exporting covid with no cases whenYYalready had more?What kind of data evidence supports it since 1Mar while UK only started passenger screening in Jun?Pathetic irresponsible reporting by Telegraph/Dailymail/Sun.Shameless racism& tabloid sensationalism on display! pic.twitter.com/PtWuWvCOD3  Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) June 27, 2020

Pakistan has been badly hit by the highly infectious virus which is believed to have originated from China.

So far, the south Asian country has reported 208021 COVID-19 cases and 4241 deaths.
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Signalling the continuous risk of COVID-19 despite following stringent measures to keep it at bay, 264 workers at JSW Steel's Karnataka plant have tested positive for the virus.

"Of the 264 who were infected, 154 have been discharged," Vinod Nowal, JSW Steel's Deputy Managing Director told Moneycontrol. "The rate has gone down. Initially, up to 13 percent of those tested were turning positive. Now it is down to 4 percent," he added.

The cases, first of which was reported in early June, have led to the country's leading steelmaker putting restrictions on the movement of workers in what is among the largest single-location steel manufacturing facilities in the world. The plant, spread across 10,000 acres, has a capacity to make 12 million tons of steel a year.

JSW Steel is not the only major manufacturer up against the challenge. Earlier this month, some employees at two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto's Auarangabad tested positive, and two died.

"We have more than 8,100 employees and contractors employed in our Waluj plant. Our current incidence of 140 cases of COVID is less than 2 percent of our strength. Two of our infected employees with underlying conditions of hypertension and diabetes have unfortunately succumbed to the infection," said Ravi Kyran Ramasamy, CHRO, Bajaj Auto in a statement.

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 incidents have highlighted the risk of getting infected as companies across sectors open up and employees get back to offices and factories. At the same time, industry executives point out it is unviable for businesses to remain shut after nearly two-months of lockdown in April and May.

In fact, Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj questioned the extension of lockdown in some states such as Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

COVID-19 cases in India are nearing the 5.5 lakh mark, and more than 16,000 have lost their lives.

Worker movement

JSW Steel's Karanataka facility is located in the Bellari-Hosptel iron ore belt, which has seen 725 positive COVID-19 cases till now. It added 80 new cases on June 28, the highest single-day surge.

The increase had led to many locally calling for a complete shutdown of the plant. But local industry bodies have voiced against it, saying more two lakh people depend on the steel plant.

To limit the further spread, JSW Steel has asked about 11,000 workers to stay back at home. "We have asked these workers to not to come to the plant. These are workers who come from villages up t0 40km away," said Nowal. About 17,000 workers live in the steel township and colonies nearby and the attempt is to limit workers living beyond these areas, to come into the facility.

"We are taking additional steps to test and isolate any employee that shows symptoms," said Nowal. The company has converted the hospital inside the steel plant township into a COVID-19 centre, with 140 beds. Another training facility has become a 'parallel hospital' with 250 beds. About 200 beds have been separately arranged for those who have been quarantined.

The restrictions on workers movement mean that the company now runs two shifts in the plant, instead of the usual three. "Our production is at 85 to 90 percent of the capacity. It was 85 percent in May," said Nowal.
The second tranche of Bharat Bond ETF, through which the government is looking to raise up to Rs 14,000 crore, will open for subscription on July 14. The subscription will be closed on July 17, Edelweiss AMC said.

This comes after the successful launch of the initial series of the ETF in December 2019.

Edelweiss Asset Management in May said it will launch the second tranche of Bharat Bond ETF in July, with two new series, to raise up to Rs 14,000 crore.

Through the launch of the two new ETF series, Edelweiss Mutual Fund proposed to raise an initial amount of Rs 3,000 crore with a green shoe option of Rs 11,000 crore based on market demand.

The two new series will have maturities of April 2025 and April 2031.

The Bharat Bond ETF programme is a government initiative and Edelweiss AMC has been given the mandate to design and manage the product.

The ETF will invest in constituents of the Nifty Bharat Bond Indices, consisting of AAA-rated public sector companies.

Bharat Bond Funds of Funds (FOF) with similar maturities would also be launched for investors, who do not have demat accounts.

The first tranche of Bharat Bond ETF raised over Rs 12,400 crore, from a diverse set of investors. Further, after the new fund offer (NFO), the Bharat Bond ETF program continued to see healthy investor participation and good liquidity on the exchanges.
Representative image

India Gold August Futures rose on June 29 following positive trend in the international spot prices which were trading higher as worries over a surge in fresh COVID-19 infections globally dented investor optimism and drove investors towards the safe-haven metal.

The relentless spread of the coronavirus intensified investor fears about a delay in global economic recovery and weighed on risk appetite, driving inflows into safe-haven assets, said a Reuters report.

On the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX), August gold contracts were trading higher by 0.25 percent at Rs 48,425 per 10 gram at 09:20 hours. July futures for silver were trading 0.46 percent higher at Rs 48,589 per kg.

Gold and silver gained last week in international as well as domestic markets. In the international market, Gold prices tested $1,796 per troy ounce for the first time since October 2012 at Comex division and settled at $1,780.30 per troy ounce with 1.54 percent weekly gains.

At MCX, Gold prices settled at Rs 48,305 with weekly gains of 0.77 percent. Silver September futures contract settled at Rs 49,219 with weekly gains of 1.77 percent.

Gold & Silver Rates Jun 18, 2021 Gold Rate in Mumbai Jun 18, 2021 10g of 24K gold in Mumbai  48,340 48,340

10g of 22K gold in Mumbai 47,340 47,340 View more Silver Rate in Mumbai Jun 18, 2021 10g silver in Mumbai  740 740

1kg silver in Mumbai 74,000 74,000 View more Show

Both the precious metals gained after a record number of coronavirus patients detected in the US in last week. Around 40,000 patients are detected in the last five days, investors turned cautious and some profit-taking is also seen in global equities, Manoj Jain, Director (Head - Commodity & Currency Research) at Prithvi Finmart Pvt Ltd told Moneycontrol.

Despite the rise in Dollar index safe-haven demand is seen in both the precious metals. We expect both the precious metals remain firm this week and buy on dip strategy will work for both the precious metals, he said.

Jain further added that if gold prices sustain above Rs 48,480 then the rally could extend towards Rs 48,850-49,100 levels. Strong support is seen at Rs Rs 47,650 on a closing basis for the gold.

Track live gold price here

Trading Strategy

Expert: Sriram Iyer, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities

International bullion prices have started higher this Monday morning in Asian trade extending gains from Friday amid safe-haven appeal for the metals due to rise in COVID-19 cases.

Domestic bullion could trade higher this Monday morning, tracking a positive start in the international markets.

Technically, MCX Gold August contract traded on a positive note where it closes above Rs 48,300 levels indicating bullish momentum up to Rs 48,550-48,760 levels. Support is placed on Rs 48,000-47,700 levels.

MCX Silver July traded in Rs 47,418-48,639 levels range where it has bounced from Rs 47,400 levels and closed on some positive note. Still, downside momentum to continue and prices can trade in a range of Rs 46,800-48,900 levels.

Expert: Ravindra Rao, VP- Head Commodity Research at Kotak Securities

COMEX gold trades moderately higher near $1,785/oz after a 0.5 percent gain in the previous session. Gold tested the highest level since 2011 last week but has turned choppy in the last few sessions amid its struggle to break past the key $1,800/oz level.

Increased risk aversion has also increased safe-haven appeal for the US dollar and this has kept a check on the upside in the gold price.

Gold may continue to witness choppy trade with a key focus on the key $1,800/oz level however the general bias may be on the upside unless we see a significant improvement in risk sentiment.

: 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.
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Vaibhav Global, a company with a market-cap of little over Rs 4,000 crore rose to fresh 52-week high almost on a daily basis in the last 3 months. The stock price rallied nearly 100 percent from March 24 when the Nifty50 made a swing low of 7,511.

Vaibhav Global Limited is a multi-national electronic retailer, wholesaler, and manufacturer of fashion jewellery and lifestyle accessories. It reaches almost 100 million households through its TV Shopping channels  ShopLC in the US and The Jewellery Channel (TJC) in the UK.

The stock which hit a low of Rs 490 on March 24 rallied to Rs 1,259 on June 25 which translates into an upside of more than 150 percent. The momentum has certainly doubled the stock in a short period of time but high valuations and poor revenue growth make analysts cautious and advise investors to book profits.

Net profit of Vaibhav Global rose by 22 percent on a YoY basis to Rs 39.74 crore for the quarter ended March 2020. Sales rose by nearly 8 percent on a YoY basis to Rs 498.05 crore in the same period.

The stock is trading at a premium valuation at this point. Its operating profit also decreased QoQ, where other income increased in the financial year of March 2020. The company possesses a stable growth history and manageable debt, Gaurav Garg, Head of Research at CapitalVia Global Research Limited- Investment Advisor told Moneycontrol.

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

Garg is of the view that the company seems highly inefficient in case of asset management with high liquidity current ratio 2.37%. Our recommendation will be to book the profit at current levels and makes a new position at a lower price, he said.

Rahul Sharma, Research Head- Equity99 also advises investors to avoid fresh buying in Vaibhav Global. Public who are holding stock from lower levels should opt for trail stop loss to keep the pockets happy, he said.

Technical Take:

The stock has run up a lot in the short term, and traders will be better off taking some profits off the table, and hold in case they invested in the last three months, and for new investors, fresh positions should be avoided.

This counter is in a steady uptrend since the panic low of 551 registered in March 2020. Interestingly, for the last 3 months, this counter is steadily moving inside a narrow ascending channel with multiple touch points, suggest experts.

As long as it sustains above the said channel one can remain optimistic and look for a continuation of the uptrend while a close below the said channel, whose support seems to be around 1200 levels can signal a trend reversal in favour of bears, Mazhar Mohammad, Chief Strategist  Technical Research & Trading Advisory,

Chartviewindia.in told Moneycontrol.

Contrary to this a close above 1300 can extend the upswing towards 1450 levels. However, considering the 200% percent return it delivered in a short span of 4 months positional, he said.

Mohammad further added that traders who are fortunate enough to have bought at lower levels shall consider booking profits and re-enter again on a close above 1300 whereas long term investors who want to ride the rally may put a stop below 1185 on closing basis.

Nitin Shahi- Executive Director, Findoc is of the view that the stock crossed levels of Rs 1,200 in June, breaking its previous high of 1199. The stock has continued to hold above the levels of 1200.

RSI on the daily chart, trading above levels of 70-75, shows overbought conditions in stock. But still, an investor can hold on to positions in Vaibhav Global with a strict stop loss of Rs 1150. Fresh positions are to be avoided, he said.

: 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.
After two days of consolidation, the Indian equity market witnessed a correction on June 29 with the Nifty50 breaking crucial 10,300 mark.

The broader market was below benchmark indices as Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices were down 1.8 percent each. These indices had been outperforming benchmark indices in the recent rally.

Here are five key factors that are weighing on the market:

Global cues

Asian equity markets remained under pressure as investors worried about the re-opening of economies following a rise in COVID-19 cases. Japan's Nikkei fell more than 2 percent after a 12.3 percent YoY drop in retail sales in May 2020.

South Korea's Kospi also slipped more than 2 percent each, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng declined 1.4 percent and Australia's ASX 200 dropped 1.8 percent.

China's Shanghai Composite was down 0.77 percent at the time of writing this copy.

COVID-19 cases rising

Globally, investors remained concerned about the sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in the last couple of weeks. Death count worldwide crossed 5 lakh with more than 1 crore reported cases.

The US reported more than 40,000 cases per day in the last three 3 days, which is a big concern when countries are considering re-opening the economies. Brazil has also reported 30,000-40,000 cases per day for a week now.

India reported more than 19,000 cases a day for the first time on June 28, taking total infections count to over 5.4 lakh with more than 16,000 deaths.

Lockdown continues, doubts over Unlock 2.0

In states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, containment zones increased sharply as the number of COVID-19 cases continued to rise. This has put a big question mark as to when these key states would lift the lockdown.

Few states like Jharkhand and West Bengal already said the lockdown will continue till July 31, while Delhi said schools will remain shut till July 31. Maharashtra government also said the lockdown would not be lifted after June 30 given the rising cases, though there could be further relaxations.

Experts feel there could be further relaxations in all non-containment zones in Unlock 2.0 which is expected to start from July 1, but people seem reluctant to travel given the rising cases.

Sectoral Weakness

All sectoral indices, barring FMCG and Pharma, traded in the red. Nifty Bank, Auto and Financial Services indices were down over a percent each, while Metal and Realty plunged 3 percent each.

Technical View

The Nifty50 witnessed volatility with a positive bias and has been forming a small-bodied bearish candle on daily charts so far in Monday's trading session.

Experts expect the volatility to continue and if the index breaks 10,200, there could be further selling pressure.

"Unless we do not cross or break on one side, we will be sideways for the week. While the underlying tone still seems bullish, we would need to concentrate on the 10,200 level which if broken can drop to levels closer to 10,000. On the upside, we need to go past 10,450 on closing and then the target could be 10,700," Manish Hathiramani, Proprietary Index Trader and Technical Analyst at Deen Dayal Investments said.

: 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.
Oil prices fell for a second straight session on Monday as coronavirus cases rose in the United States and other places, leading countries to resume partial lockdowns that could hurt fuel demand.

Brent crude dropped 66 cents, or 1.6%, to $40.36 a barrel by 1150 GMT while U.S. crude was at $37.86, down 63 cents, or 1.6%.

Brent crude is set to end June with three consecutive monthly gains as OPEC+ supply cuts and as oil demand improved after countries across the globe eased lockdown measures.

However, global coronavirus cases exceeded 10 million on Sunday as India and Brazil battled outbreaks of over 10,000 cases daily. New outbreaks are reported in countries including China, New Zealand and Australia, prompting governments to impose restrictions again.

"The market continues to fret about the recovery in demand as authorities reviewed reopening strategies," ANZ analysts said, referring to the three most populous U.S. states - Texas, Florida and California.

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

Despite efforts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies including Russia to reduce supplies, crude inventories in the United States, the world's largest oil producer and consumer, have hit all-time highs.

"There is also a risk that gains in prices recently could see some U.S. shale producers restart wells," ANZ said.

Even as higher oil prices prompt some producers to resume drilling, the number of operating oil and natural gas rigs dropped to a record low last week.

U.S. shale oil pioneer Chesapeake Energy Corp filed for bankruptcy protection on Sunday as it bowed to heavy debts and the impact of coronavirus outbreak on energy markets.
Homegrown regional language social network ShareChat stands to gain as Indian government on Monday banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, Helo, Shareit, The Club Factory and UC Browser.

ShareChat, a startup valued at $600 million, faces stiff competition from Helo, a Chinese clone owned by ByteDance which launched in 2018.

ByteDance is the parent company of TikTok, the viral short video app- which is also among the 58 Chinese apps to be banned.

ShareChat has been one of Indias first homegrown social media successes, but has faced slowing growth and challenging fundraises after Helo, Vigo and TikTok have all become viral apps in the last two years in India.

The ban will aid ShareChat and put an end to Chinese apps which were copying from Indian apps and using their deep pockets and marketing dollars to win users, said a person close to the company, who did not want to be named.

ShareChat last raised $100 million in a funding round last year led by US-based Twitter Inc. According to people close to the company, it was a challenging round- taking more time than expected, and at a flat valuation- same as its previous round- generally seen as a sign of caution in the ecosystem.

Helo has claimed to have more users than ShareChat, although some say they were neck and neck, with the much newer Helo gaining on ShareChat. However the ban will help ShareChat grow faster and reduce its pressure significantly.

"This is a welcome move from the government against platforms that have had serious privacy, cybersecurity and national security risks. We expect the government to continue their support for the Indian startup ecosystem" said Berges Malu, Director, Public Policy, ShareChat.

The Ministry of Information Technology, on June 29, banned 59 mobile apps , saying they are engaged in activities which are "prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.
Geojit's report on Agri Picks

Farmers have sown kharif crops across 31.56 mln ha so far, more than double of 15.45 mln ha in the corresponding period last year, according to data released by the farm ministry. The area was up over 104% on year.  The Finance Commission and the farm ministry today formed a panel to devise a mechanism to incentivise states for implementing reforms in the field of agriculture, according to an official release.  Owing to hope of a rebound in bulk demand, the prices of edible oil are expected to recover to pre-COVID-19 levels in the first half of 2021, said Dorab Mistry, the director of Godrej International.  The agriculture sector needs reforms to modernize its equipment and tackle other issues that have risen due to the coronavirus outbreak, Shivendra Bajaj, executive director of Federation of Seed Industry of India, said in a note. Good quality seeds, robust connectivity to markets, government assistance, among others, should be provided to farmers to deal with the impact of the pandemic, he added.  The government has warned farmers of fall armyworm posing threat on the standing maize crop, sown in 2020-21 (Jul-Jun) kharif season, across some northeast states, a farm ministry official said.  Sales of coffee at an auction in Bengaluru on Thursday jumped to 28 tn from 13 tn at the previous auction on Jun 18, auctioneer J. Thomas and Co said in a report.  The southwest monsoon has covered the entire country on 26 of June, the India Meteorological Department said. The normal date for the monsoon current to cover entire country is Jul 8. During Jun 1-25, the country has received 155.2 mm rainfall, 21% higher than the normal of 128.2 mm for the period.  Tea producers in Assam are worried about flood and inundation in major growing regions in the state, after losing the first and a portion of the second flush of the year due to the nationwide lockdown. Bushes that are ready to be plucked are known as flushes.

For all commodities report, click here

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies 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.



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Sun Pharma on Monday said one of its subsidiaries has got approval from the Japanese government for its specialty product Ilumya, indicated for treatment of plaque psoriasis in adult patients.

The wholly-owned subsidiary has received approval from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for Ilumya (tildrakizumab) for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in adult patients who have an inadequate response to conventional therapies, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries said in filing to BSE.

Ilumya, a humanized monoclonal antibody, is one of the key specialty products of Sun Pharma and was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) in March 2018, and by the European Commission in September 2018, it added.

"Ilumya is the first innovative drug that Sun Pharma plans to launch in Japan. It was extensively tested in Japanese patients as part of Ilumya's global clinical development program," Sun Pharma Japan Country Head Junichi Nakamichi said.

The drug offers a new treatment option with only one injection every 12 weeks for Japanese patients who struggle everyday with the chronic nature of plaque psoriasis, he added.

"This approval adds a biologic product to our existing strong dermatology portfolio in Japan," Nakamichi said.

Psoriasis is a chronic immune disease that appears on the skin.

Shares of Sun Pharma were trading at Rs 480.45 per scrip on BSE, up 0.10 percent from the previous close.
Could basic math be behind the Hinduja family feud that has been scorching the newswires over the last one week?

Time was when nothing could stop the Hindujas. Not wild rumours of being gun runners for Iranian despots, not allegations of being middlemen in Indias most controversial defence deal, not a horrific family tragedy, not even an involvement with a political farce in the UK which led to the resignation of key ministers.

This was a family that ate together and so stayed together.

Then came the Hindujas. Or more precisely. their third generation. And promptly, the bonhomie of decades is gone. Instead, a messy court battle has erupted revolving around the validity and effect of a letter dated July 2, 2014, as per which the brothers had agreed that any asset that belongs to one of them, belongs to them all.

In immediate contention is the control of the privately-held Hinduja Bank in Switzerland which the family patriarch S.P. Hinduja, the man in whose name the battle of the brothers is being waged, kept to himself in defiance of the so-called accord to share and share alike. But at stake is the larger family fortune spanning multiple businesses across several countries.

Such feuds normally break out when the business begins to look shaky. On the surface, the Hindujas appear to face no such challenges. Just this month they were listed as the second richest Asian family in Britain in the Sunday Times Rich List for 2020.

The problem lies with the word family. In March 2015, their net worth as per Forbes was $14.5 billion. It rose to $16.9 billion in March 2019. But after recent reverses in its banking and trucks manufacturing business in India, as well as the global economic slowdown, it is down to $12.9 billion as of April 2020. Enough, perhaps for a family of four brothers amicably disposed towards each other. But maybe not when another 11 children and a few grandchildren are thrown into the fray.

Straight math, and admittedly the clumsiest way of doing it, would suggest that a division of assets would leave everyone poorer with some members of the large family even forced to shed the coveted billionaire tag. This would be an unkind cut in a family which for years has taken as much pride in earning its money as it has in spending it.

With many parts of the vast conglomerate, all controlled by the family through trusts in particular the Luxembourg-based Acorn Trust, showing signs of strain, a realignment of assets was on the cards for a while, as is evident from the court proceedings.

In her June 23 judgment, Justice Sarah Falk of the High Court of Justice and Property Courts of England and Wales has appointed Vinoo, daughter of SP Hinduja as her fathers litigation friend, thus allowing her to act on his behalf in the larger case related to the July 2014 letter. In the process the judge struck down the contention of the three brothers that Vinoo is so financially invested in the proceedings that she is incapable of exercising objective and impartial judgment. In her extensive note on the case, Sarah Falk also lays bare the fears of one section of the family: They also note that if the claim succeeds then all assets in SP's name would pass to Vinoo and her immediate family on SP's death, including the entire shareholding in Hinduja Bank.

Adding fuel to the ongoing intrigue, the case proceedings also mention that the three defending brothers claim that they have been prevented from seeing their elder brother for some time. The family patriarch has been suffering from Lewy Body disease, a form of dementia, but before lapsing into this condition, he had chosen Vinoo as one of his attorneys under lasting powers of attorney for both his property and financial affairs, and health and welfare, under powers of attorney made in June 2015.

There is also evidence to suggest that he had sought to disavow the July letter almost immediately after it was signed and got his representatives to meet his other brothers on May 2, 2015 on the assumption that they would agree to his proposal. But shortly after the meeting Gopichand and Ashok referred to the July letter and sought to rely on it. As a result Clifford Chance (Srichands solicitors) sent an email on May 25 stating that SP (and at that stage PP) did not consider themselves legally or morally bound by the July letter. (PP here refers to Prakash) A further letter from the firm dated 24 July 2015 reiterated that Srichand was not bound by it, and he made the same point in a letter he sent dated 16 July 2015. There is also a witness statement by him in July 2016, which states, among other things, that the July letter does not reflect his wishes and that the family's assets should be separated.

While the legal proceedings have come to a head only recently, the family business has been facing serious headwinds for a while now. The Reserve Bank of India hasnt yet given its approval to Srichand and Gopichand Hinduja, who had written to the central bank to allow them to raise their stake in IndusInd Bank to 26 percent from less than 15 percent.

And just last month, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, the financial services regulator for the island nation, revoked the banking licence of the local subsidiary of the Hinduja Bank on the grounds that it was likely to become insolvent, had contravened anti-money laundering rules, and not been managed in a fit and proper manner.

The Hinduja group, of course, is no stranger to banking controversies. In the 1990s, their name came up in investigations into the scam-ridden Bank of Credit and Commerce International (nicknamed the Bank of Crooks and Criminals). While nothing was ever proved against the Hindujas, in a December 1992 Report to the Committee on Foreign Relations titled The BCCI Affair Senator John Kerry and Senator Hank Brown noted as one of the unanswered questions BCCI's activities in India, including its relationship with the business empire of the Hinduja family.

Again, in May 2010, the Hinduja group paid $1.69 billion to buy the private banking arm of KBC, Belgiums biggest bank by market cap. Despite going ahead and announcing the acquisition, the deal came a cropper after Luxembourgs financial market regulator CSSF refused to clear it. No explanation was offered and that really sums up the Hinduja way of doing business.

Intensely private, the brothers have always done business with a skilful combination of spotting opportunities worldwide and then using their legendary networking skills at the highest level to take advantage of those opportunities. It was for this that they loosely divided the business by geography with each of them taking charge of one or more important locations, an approach that won them the sobriquet of being the Rothschilds of India.

But what distinguished them in the past was the secrecy that surrounded them and the incredible efforts they made to preserve it. In the book, The New Maharajahs: The Commercial Princes of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, author Claudia Cragg writes, They discuss business only in encrypted missives by fax or e-mail, and take long walks in parks to stop anyone from overhearing the content of their conversations.

Now, as one of their own, but younger in age and more rebellious in spirit challenges that carefully nurtured confidentiality and threatens to blow open the family core, the Hinduja brothers face the twin threats of embarrassing exposures as well as a fragmentation of the family fortune.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2020

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.  InnoPower, LLC, and Recorder Media Group have announced the 2020 InnoPower Minority Business Conference. The virtual summit will take place on August 28-29, 2020. Registration opened June 18.

As we examine the impact of 2020, collaboration, support, and innovation are imperative more than ever before. Recovery from the current downturn could take even longer than the recovery from the last crisis, especially for our minority business community. The Recorder Media Group, InnoPower, LLC, and The Indy Chamber have teamed up to host the inaugural InnoPower Minority Business Conference on August 28th  29th. The business conference is for Black, Latinx, and other minority business groups whose members face distinct challenges while recovering from a year of disease and uncertainty.

InnoPower, LLC launched InnoPower Indy in 2019 to drive innovation through diversity and inclusion. The two-day conference highlights innovations in our minority communities create opportunities for capacity building and leverage external financing and networks to support entrepreneurs and professionals. The opportunity to partner with Recorder Media Group and Indiana Minority Business Magazine to rebrand and enhance the event is one we couldnt turn down, said InnoPower founders. As we examine the impact of 2020, collaboration, support, and change are imperative more than ever before.

The theme of this years InnoPower Minority Business Conference is Beyond 2020, recognizing that recovery from the current downturn could take even longer than the recovery from the last crisis, especially for the minority business community.

From the health of our workforce and families to the health of our economy and communities, 2020 has been a year of mass disruption and devastation, said Robert Shegog, President and COO of Recorder Media Group. For our minority business community, decades of systemic racism and many structural challenges underscore the underlying economic fragility of underrepresented groups.

Event details, media kit, and registration can be found online at IMBconference.com or by reaching out to InnoPower at info@innopowerindy.com.

InnoPower

InnoPower is a client-focused community development organization that works with partners to navigate the challenges of realizing their vision for communal change. InnoPower has a unique focus on innovations in and for minority communities, creating capacity-building opportunities for underrepresented businesses and leveraging external financing and networks to support venture growth and take-off.

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Recorder Media Group

The Recorder Media Group is Indianas leading media organization of its kind. The Indianapolis Recorder newspaper is in tune with the pulse of the Black community, and since 1895 has been a significant voice for our local community, the state of Indiana, our nation, and now internationally. Indiana Minority Business Magazine is the states leading publication that focuses on business, lifestyle, and diversity. For more information, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.

The rallying cry for the state of Indiana has been Were All #INthistogether. The InnoPower Minority Business Conference will bring together partners, investors, future advocates, allies, entrepreneurs, business and community leaders for two days of virtual keynote sessions, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and pitch competitions.

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A bloody clash with Chinese troops in Ladakhs Galwan Valley on June 15 that left 20 Indian soldiers dead has triggered the worst crisis between the two countries since they went to war in 1962.

The deadly faceoff led to protests and Chinese goods were burnt in some parts of the country. As calls for boycott of Made-in-China goods got louder, Gurugram-based Micromax said it will soon launch three new phones, giving Indian consumers a choice.

Imposing economic costs on China, one of Indias biggest trading partners, will not be easy and is perhaps best illustrated by Indias smartphone market.

Chinese firms like Xiaomi, Vivo, OPPO, and Realme, with their tech and cost advantages, have reduced home-grown companies like Micromax, Intex and Karbonn to bit players.

According to Counterpoint Research, the four Chinese companies control more than 70 percent of India's smartphone market, which is the second-largest in the world.

China is the worlds top smartphone maker. India is second but largely depends on the neighbouring country for components such as chips, batteries, display panels and printed circuit boards.

It remains to be seen then how Indian will Micormaxs phones be. Not just Indian phone makers, companies around the world rely heavily on China or Taiwan for components.

So, why doesnt India, which exported 36 million smartphones in FY20, have its own Apple or Samsung?

ALSO READ: The absolute dominance of China in Indias smartphone market

Chipping away

A processor, or the chip, is the most vital component of a smartphone or any other computing device. It's an incredibly complex piece of technology that performs billions of mathematical calculations within a second to execute a command.

These semiconductor chips are the brains of computing devices. The process of making them is time-intensive, requires precision and cutting-edge industrial capabilities.

Taiwan and China lead the world in making these processors, which are packed with billions of electronic components, through a procedure called semiconductor wafer fabrication.

It is a multi-step process that involves making circuits on a wafer made of silicon. The measure of a manufacturers skill is how small the transistors can be. Transistors are like switches that turn a signal on or off.

A smaller transistor means more efficiency since it can do more calculations without getting too hot. It also allows for smaller dye sizes that reduce costs and translates into more cores per chip.

A microchip can have multiple processing units that can work simultaneously. Each processing unit is called a core. Most phones these days have an octa-core or an eight-core chip.

For instance, a 10 nanometer chip -- a human hair is about 60,000-100,000 nm wide -- is twice as dense as the earlier 14nm one.

The smaller we go, the more expensive and sophisticated it gets.

ALSO READ: India China border dispute | Xiaomi puts 'Made in India' banners to cover branding at stores

A plant where these chips are made is called a fab. The business is highly competitive and cyclical. It has been around for over five decades and is dominated by established players.

The iPhone 11 series is built on a 7 nanometer chip.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is Apple's primary contractor which produces these chips in China. It's the world's most valuable semiconductor company. Qualcomm leads the chipset segment in the Android world and uses TSMC's facilities to make its processors.

While India has emerged as a leading space for companies to design these chipsets, manufacturing is outsourced or contracted to companies like TSMC.

Texas Instruments, a leading global semiconductor design and manufacturer, was the first company to set up a design bureau in the country in 1985 in Bengaluru, then known as Bangalore. The Indian Space Research Organisation has a semiconductor facility in Punjabs Mohali but it is for internal use and relies on imports for components and spares. Moreover, the lab makes 180nm wafers and the world has moved on to 7nm.

It is a pricey business

The primary reason India doesn't have a commercial fab is that it is very expensive.

TSMC spent almost $10 billion in 2010 on a manufacturing facility that can produce 28nm chips. The facility in Taiwan can produce 100,000 wafers a month. In the fast-changing technology industry 28nm is already ancient--companies are now eyeing 3nm.

A fab has to be retooled every couple of years, at enormous costs, to stay competitive.

South Korean giant Samsung spent $14.3 billion in 2014 to set up a new fab. The 3nm process is expected to cost TSMC more than $20 billion. These huge sums are the reason why even a trillion-dollar company like Apple relies on TSMC.

TSMC has led the market for decades but China is catching up. The Chinese government set up SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation) in 2000. It's China's largest chip-maker and can produce up to 14nm process.

ALSO READ: Boycotting Chinese goods: A bridge too far

There is more

Whether it's an iPhone or OnePlus, TSMC has made processors for both Apple and Qualcomm.

If it's an AMOLED or OLED display screen, Samsung leads the market followed by LG. Camera lenses for phones are usually designed by Samsung or the Japanese Sony.

Batteries make or break a phone. There are several players in the market, most of them based in China, which has huge lithium reserves.

Lithium-ion batteries charge faster and last long as they store lots of energy but still stay light, making them idle for electronics and even electric vehicles.

ALSO READ: From Paytm, Flipkart to Swiggy, big Indian startups are stuffed with Chinese money

Bridging the software gap

Most smartphones run on Google's Android operating system. The package released every year is known as stock Android or vanilla Android in tech circles.

But most phones sold in India run on a custom skin that sits on top of stock Android. Smartphone makers change user interface (UI) to alter the way the home screen looks, the way apps are arranged and introduce other features to stamp their brand.

Xiaomi calls it MIUI, Realme has Realme UI, OPPO ships with colorOS, while Vivo's got FuntouchOS. Even OnePlus relies on OxygenOS.

Phone makers have spent years developing these skins to allow customisation and it has worked. The current market share proves stock Android phones are a tiny minority.

The software has to be well optimised with the hardware. Xiaomi reuses a particular chipset--Snapdragon 625-- in several of its phones.

It buys them in bulk and software optimisation is easier as the core remains the same across phones and updates are faster to push. And this is where phone makers like Micromax, Intex, and Karbonn lost out.

They relied on units assembled in China that were often stamped Indian. Software-hardware integration was terrible, with no software updates and a poor lifespan.

When companies like Xiaomi and Samsung started assembling phones in India, they didnt have to pay an import duty which allowed them to price their offerings aggressively.

What next?

Indian tech giants have shied away from hardware for a long time. HCL had a brief stint with ME lineup of laptops but it couldn't take on Lenovo, Compaq, Dell or HP.

India has a thriving software ecosystem that has delivered cutting-edge product but we're yet to see physical product-based companies or business models take-off.

The government did take a shot at manufacturing semiconductors. It brought together private players and foreign investors but it didnt work.

A consortium led by Hindustan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (HSMC), which had ST Microelectronics and Silterra Malaysia, was asked to set up a Rs 30,000-crore fab in Gujarat. The permit to set up the countrys first chip unit was cancelled in 2019 as the consortium couldnt submit the required documents.

In a globalised economy, 100 percent indigenisation is impossible, at least in the foreseeable future. We depend not just on China, but also the US, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and many other countries for components.

For India to be "Atma Nirbhar" (self-reliant), investments, increased spending on R&D and attention to skilling labour will be a good start.

(The author writes on technology, aviation, and mobility.)
A man dries incense in preparation for Tet, the traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year festival, in Hong Chau village, outside Hanoi, Vietnam February 8, 2018. (Reuters)

The increase in import duty on bamboo for agarbatti (incense stick) to 25 percent is expected to boost employment prospects in the sector, according to the Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Custom (CBIC) had earlier announced that Customs duty on bamboo imports by agarbatti manufacturers hiked from 10 per cent to 25 percent with immediate effect to encourage use of domestic bamboo for Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The 25 percent customs duty rate would uniformly apply to any import of bamboo, including those by traders. Uniform rate will help in avoiding misuse and rates related disputes, the board said.

Track this blog for latest updates on the coronavirus crisis

"This measure will benefit farmers immensely. MSME agarbatti manufacturers also to gain, as earlier only the large agarbatti manufacturers were able to import bamboo at lower rate," it said.

India annually imports about 1.10 lakh tonnes of finished raw agarbatti and round bamboo sticks of about 40,000 tonnes. The customs duty on raw agarbatti was 20 percent and 30 percent on round bamboo sticks.

However, the Centre brought duty on raw agarbatti to zero and a concessional duty of 10 percent is applied to round bamboo sticks imported from China, which affected local industries. Size of domestic agarbatti industry is over Rs 6,000 crore.

"The decision assumes great significance as heavy import of bamboo sticks from China and Vietnam caused huge employment loss in India. This decision will pave the way for setting up of new agarbatti stick manufacturing units to meet the ever-growing demand of Agarbatti in India," KVIC said.

In monetary terms, the import of raw agarbatti in India increased exponentially from Rs 31 crore in 2009 to Rs 546 crore in 2019 due to reduction of import duty in 2011 from 30 percent to 10 percent, it added.

"This hit the Indian agarbatti manufacturers hard and resulted in closure of nearly 25 percent of the total units," KVIC said.

On request of KVIC, the Ministry of Commerce on August 31, 2019, placed the import of raw agarbatti under "Restricted" category.

Follow our coverage of the coronavirus crisis
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is being treated for the novel coronavirus disease at home, pledged to donate plasma once he recovers.

While counting his blessings for having only a mild infection that should not require plasma therapy for treatment, he pledged to make the donation, given its efficacy in treating COVID-19.



By Gods grace, I dont need #plasma 4covid. But foolish to put artificial restrictions of #plasmatherapy, most efficacious remedy avilable. #HealthMin Delhi owes his life to plasma. I have already suo motu pledged my plasma, post recovery, if medically suitable.

 Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) June 29, 2020

The Congress spokesperson, who had tested positive for COVID-19 last week, took to Twitter on June 29 and recounted how Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain survived a severe COVID-19 infection because of plasma therapy.

The news comes on a day the Maharashtra government launched project PLATINA  the world's largest plasma therapy trial-cum-project, and the Delhi government promised to set up a plasma bank to help severe COVID-19 patients recover.

For live updates on coronavirus, click here

Meanwhile, Haryana has also decided to start convalescent plasma therapy to treat COVID-19 patients in all its medical colleges.

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

Notably, convalescent plasma therapy has proved highly effective in treating serious novel coronavirus cases, and has previously shown results in treating SARS and MERS diseases too.

Follow our coverage of the coronavirus crisis here
The Ministry of Information Technology, on June 29, banned 59 mobile apps, saying they are engaged in activities which are "prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.

The list of apps included TikTok, Weibo and others (full list below).

The IT Ministry said that it has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India.

"The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures," the ministry further said in a statement.

The Confederation of All India Traders ( CAIT) welcomed the move saying, "This huge unprecedented step will go a long way in strengthening the 'Boycott China' campaign of CAIT."

Among the apps, TikTok, Club Factory, Xiaomi, Cam Scanner, UC Browser are expected to be the worst-hit because of high user volume.

Read Also | Chinese apps, including TikTok, banned: These are the most popular on Google Play Store

Sreedhar Prasad, independent e-commerce analyst, told Moneycontrol, "Most of these apps have huge adoption and usage across India. This is a massive move considering the globalised nature of today's digital world."

"However, we need to note that China was ahead of every country in setting their internal ground rules by banning many international social media apps, thereby ring fencing their digital ecosystem. India could be having the largest user base outside China for many of these apps and, if some of the other countries follow suit, this could lead to a very strong move of rejection across the world. This is a great opportunity for local alternatives across the world to grab these customers as the usage habit has been created by these Chinese apps  TikTok and ShareIt being classic examples," Prasad added.

Here is a list of apps that have been banned by the Centre:

1. TikTok2. Shareit3. Kwai4. UC Browser5. Baidu map6. Shein7.Clash of Kings8. DU battery saver9. Helo10. Likee11. YouCam makeup12. Mi Community13. CM Browser14. Virus Cleaner15. APUS Browser16. ROMWE17. Club Factory18. Newsdog19. Beauty Plus20. WeChat21. UC News22. QQ Mail23. Weibo24. Xender25. QQ Music26. QQ Newsfeed27. Bigo Live28. SelfieCity29. Mail Master30. Parallel Space31. Mi Video Call  Xiaomi32. WeSync33. ES File Explorer34. Viva Video  QU Video Inc35. Meitu36. Vigo Video37. New Video Status38. DU Recorder39. Vault- Hide40. Cache Cleaner DU App studio41. DU Cleaner42. DU Browser43. Hago Play With New Friends44. Cam Scanner45. Clean Master  Cheetah Mobile46. Wonder Camera47. Photo Wonder48. QQ Player49. We Meet50. Sweet Selfie51. Baidu Translate52. Vmate53. QQ International54. QQ Security Center55. QQ Launcher56. U Video57. V fly Status Video58. Mobile Legends59. DU Privacy
The United States has over 5.8 lakh H-1B visa holders as of September 30, 2019, according to the official data released amid the suspension of non-immigrant visas and Green Cards.

The Data released by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) states that the country had 5,83,420 H-1B authorised work permit holders as of September 30, 2019.

The estimate does not include individuals who held a valid H-1B visa/status but have abandoned their visa/status, the report said.

As of September 30, 2019, total Authorized Unique Beneficiaries (AUBs) were 6,19,327, the report said. The tally then excludes the number of consular denials (2,100), change of status (1,475), and adjustment of status (32,332).
File image

While talks with China over the stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) will continue, there is growing consensus within the Indian government that the country should be prepared for a military response if needed.

According to a report in The Indian Express, specific words such as takrav (clash) and ladhai (fight) have come up in discussions of the top leadership.

We do not want an escalation but we will not compromise by yielding to China, a unnamed top official involved in these discussions, told the newspaper. We are not going to step back, we will take them on.

Also read: India accelerates infrastructure projects along India-China border

The view in the government is that if you start thinking of consequences, you will not be able to move forward, the official was quoted as saying when asked if the Centre had worked out on the implications of such a military conflict.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

Tensions along the LAC had been rising since early May amid a stand-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers. However, the tensions escalated to another level after 20 Indian Army soldiers, including an officer, were killed in a violent face-off in Ladakhs Galwan Valley on June 15-16. There were casualties on the Chinese side too. However, that number is not clear.

Also read: India deploys air defence systems in Ladakh; Lt General-level talks on with China

The Indian Army has already sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border in the last two weeks.

The Indian Air Force (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.
Kerala SSLC Result 2020 will be announced on June 30 at 2 pm on the board's official websites keralaresults.nic.in and keralapareekshabhavan.in. The Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan will also release the Kerala 10th result 2020 on a mobile app 'Saphalam', which is available on Google Play Store.

Apart from the two official websites, keralaresults.nic.in and keralapareekshabhavan.in students can also check their results on results.kite.kerala.gov.in, sslcexam.kerala.gov.in, results.kerala.nic.in, and prd.kerala.gov.in.

The General Education Director and Exam Commissioner of Kerala as saying: "The SSLC/THALC/SSLC (HI) /THSLC (SI)/AHSLC results will be declared on June 30. Higher Secondary/Vocational Higher Secondary results will be declared before July 10."

Students can check their results on the Saphalam app by feeding their respective roll numbers.

As per an NDTV report, more than 4.20 lakh students had registered for the Kerala board Class 10 examinations this year. The SSLC exams were to conclude in March, but some papers got postponed due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic in India and the subsequent lockdown.

The postponed state board exams were held from May 26 to 30, which were conducted while maintaining strict health and hygiene protocol to ensure the students are not exposed to the deadly virus inside the exam hall.

Step 1: Visit the official Kerala board website @keralaresults.nic.in

Step 2: Click on the Kerala SSLC Result 2020 link

Step 3: Enter the required details that will be mentioned on your hall ticket

Step 4: Click on the Submit button, and your Kerala Class 10 board result will appear on the screen.

Also Read: KTU exam 2020 postponed, no new dates yet
To fight locust swarms in India, the agriculture ministry is seeking aid from drones that can fly during the night and stay airborne for an extended duration, The Economics Times reported.

India's civil aviation regulator gave conditional permission to use drones for anti locust operations. India became the first country to do so. Locust swarms come just before the monsoon season in Rajasthan and surrounding regions, where desert locusts migrate to over the next few weeks to breed and lay eggs.

Also read: Locust menace in several districts of Uttar Pradesh

Parts of Delhi were put on high alert as locust swarms descended upon Gurugram during the weekend.

Atish Chandra, Joint Secretary - Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture, said, Locusts are most inactive after sunset, so it makes sense to spray at night. We are also in talks with manufacturers who have drones that are powered by fuel, so they can stay airborne for a longer duration,.

The ministry of agriculture will seek permissions from the civil aviation ministry soon for the expanded list of requirements.

Also read: Swarms of locust clouds over Gurugram, likely to spare Delhi

With just a dozen drones in operation which are fairly less deployed and another dozen soon to be deployed, the agriculture department has found them to be invaluable in spraying the tops of tall trees and for their ability to reach inaccessible areas. Drones will, however, not replace traditional methods of locust control, which are still cheaper.
Representative image

Maharashtra on June 29 extended the coronavirus-led lockdown in the state till July 31, a day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that curbs will continue to remain after June 30, but with certain relaxations.

In its notification, the state government has also restricted inter-district movement of persons within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) unless it is for essential services or office purposes.

"For shopping purposes, people are expected to use only nearby/neighborhood markets only," the government said, adding that long-distance travel for non-essential activities will be restricted.

Earlier, Mumbai Police had said that the visit to markets, salons, barber shops, etc shall be restricted to those within a radius of 2 km from one's residence.

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

"As the city reopens in phases under the guidelines of the state government, it has been observed that many are violating the norms. We appeal to Mumbaikars to act responsibly and follow these guidelines at all times so that we can defeat COVID-19," Mumbai Police had tweeted.

The state government has said that movement of taxis, rickshaws, four wheelers and two-wheelers will only be permitted for essential activities.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said his government decided to extend the ongoing lockdown for another 15 days from July 1 to 15 in the state, which has so far reported a total of 1,092 cases.

The lockdown was supposed to be lifted on June 30.

Singh also announced that inter-district bus service will be operational between July 1 and 15 maintaining all COVID-19 safety measures and no other public transport will ply during this period.

The decision about continuing with the bus service beyond July 15 will be taken later, officials said.

About the coronavirus situation, the chief minister said the state now has 660 active cases while 432 patients have been recovered and released from hospitals.

The testing capacity in Manipur has increased to nearly 2,600 tests per day, he said adding that there is no case of community transmission of the disease in the state.

All positive cases are returnees except seven frontline workers who were in direct contact with patients, Singh said.
Iran Issues Arrest Warrant Against Trump Over Soleimanis Killing, Asks Interpol for Assistance By Sputnik News June 29, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guards elite Quds Force and one of the most respected figures in Iran, was killed in a US drone strike in January during a goodwill visit to Iraq. Authorities in Iran have approved a measure to ask Interpol to put US President Donald Trump on its international Red Notice of wanted persons over the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani, Iranian media including Mehr News and the Fars News Agency have reported, citing judicial officials. It was possible to identify 36 persons who participated in preparations for and were involved in the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, among them political and military figures from the United States and other countries, Ali Alqasi-Mehr, Tehrans prosecutor-general, said in a statement on Monday. At the top of the list is US president Donald Trump, he added. According to the official, judicial authorities adopted a resolution to bring these persons to justice and to appeal to Interpol to issue red notices against them. If approved, Interpol would require law enforcement agencies in other countries to facilitate the search for and arrest of the requested suspects. Irans charges against Trump and others include murder and terrorist acts, charges which carry a maximum penalty of death under Irans criminal code. According to Alqasi-Mehr, Iran would pursue Trumps prosecution even after the expiry of his term as president. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter US Assassination of Senior Foreign Leader Soleimani was assassinated in a US drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq on January 3 during a goodwill trip to try to normalize Irans relations with regional adversary Saudi Arabia. His death prompted Iran to launch missile strikes on two US bases in Iraq, although Tehran warned its Iraqi allies of the strikes ahead of time. Nevertheless, despite causing no fatalities, the strikes resulted in over 100 US servicemen and women reporting traumatic brain injuries. In late January, a Business Insider Poll found that one in four Americans believed Trump should be tried for war crimes by the International Criminal Court over Soleimanis killing. Meanwhile, as many as 55 percent of Americans said they believed Soleimanis assassination made their country less safe. - " Source " - The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Post your comment below See also Interpol says no red notice for Donald Trump after Iran request
Nepals Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, on June 28, said meetings were being organised in India to topple his government, reports suggest.

As per Oli, his government enjoys a parliamentary majority and plans of its ouster will fail. He made the remarks while addressing a gathering at his official residence to mark the 69th birth anniversary of the late communist leader Madan Bhandari.

There is news coming from Delhi about this. Look at the meetings being organised in India against Nepals decision to amend the Constitution to place the revised map of the country in the national emblem, The Hindu quoted Oli as saying.

You must have heard that the prime minister will be changed in 15 days. If I am removed at this time, no one will dare to speak in favour of Nepal because that person will be dismissed immediately. I am not speaking for myself. I speak for the country. Our party, our parliamentary party will not fall into such traps. Those who are trying, let them try, Oli added.

He added that India was upset over Nepals territorial assertion. The recent strain in relations between New Delhi and Kathmandu is being attributed to Nepal giving constitutional status to a new map of the country which includes the disputed Limpiadora-Kalapani-Lipulekh region that is in Indias state of Uttarakhand.

Nepals Lower House of Parliament unanimously passed the Second Constitution Amendment on June 13. The bill was signed by Nepals President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on June 18.

Nepals nationalism is not so weak. We have changed our map and, if the prime minister of the country is deposed, then that will be unthinkable to Nepal, Oli said.

Oli said some people considered the new map of Nepal a crime.

The prime minister also suggested that there was an external plot against his government in 2016. He recollected that his government fell at that time as he had reached out to China and signed transit agreements which reduced dependence on land connectivity through India.

"I clearly remember that I was toppled when I signed the transit agreement with China," he added.

However, the new map issue has not just created tensions with India, but has also led to internal criticism. According to the report by The Hindu, Oli has been criticised by colleagues from the faction of former Nepal prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda in the ongoing meeting of the powerful Standing Committee of the ruling Nepal Communist Party.
The Maharashtra government is set to launch Project Platina, a plasma therapy trial on COVID-19 patients, as infections continue to rise in the western state, reported News18.

The trial, reportedly the world's largest, is set to start at 12.30 pm on June 29.

In the absence of a cure for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, the convalescent plasma therapy, an experimental treatment, is the next best bet for severe cases, the report said.

Twenty-one centres have been picked for the trial, including 17 medical colleges under the department of medical education and drugs, the government of Maharashtra and four BMC medical colleges in Mumbai. Initially, the project will launched in 13 centres, 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

Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic

Critical patients will receive two doses of 200 ml of plasma recovered from COVID-19 patients. Plasma, which is the liquid part of the blood, will have antibodies to the coronavirus, thereby fight the infection, the report said.

The treatment will be free of cost and there are enough donors for the trial.

Also read | 2 km rule: Mumbai Police to take strict action against violators of COVID-19 lockdown guidelines

Project Platina will be the worlds largest trial and hence will give robust data regarding the role of convalescent plasma in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, the government said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has approved Rs 16.65 crore from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund for the project.

Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here
Representative Image

A judicial inquiry into the deaths of a father and son, P Jeyaraj and J Fennix, after they were allegedly tortured by Sathankulam police in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district, has found that about a dozen people had reported being beaten up by the same police officers, at the same police station.

According to an Indian Express report, of these, one had died later and two had to be hospitalised after judicial officers had intervened.

The Thoothukudi District Judge, who submitted his report, described the finding as "disturbing information of custodial torture".

A source in the Madras High Court told the newspaper that the report found that about a fortnight ago, eight people, including a minor, were tortured "continuously for three days" by police officers. They were also helped by a volunteer group called the 'Friends of Police', according to the report.

The report states that the deceased, Mahendran, was taken into custody soon after his brother, Durai, was arrested. However, it is unclear from the report why Mahendran had been taken into custody.

"Durais own younger brother (Mahendran) was beaten to death by the same officers at Sathankulam station, the body was handed over to his mother without post-mortem. The family was threatened that Durai also will be killed in the same manner if they speak out," the source at the High Court told the newspaper.

The 16-year-old minor, according to the report, was kept illegally in the police station for two days and beaten up, according to the judicial report. The report further adds that the accused were "continuously beaten up on various parts of the body, particularly the buttocks, with lathis".

Moreover, according to the source, the Judicial Magistrate, P Saravanan, "saw the accused from a distance and remanded them". The men were threatened by the police not to tell anything to the magistrate when presented before him for remand.

Moreover, according to the judicial report, there are no CCTV cameras at the Kovilpatti sub-jail, where one of the dozen men was sent later even though he had deep wounds in his private parts. Prisoners lodged at the jail told the team that went there for the report about being subjected to torture at various police stations in Thoothukudi district.

P Jayaraj and his son Fennix, arrested for 'violating' lockdown norms over business hours of their cellphone shop, died at a hospital in Kovilpatti on June 23, with their relatives alleging they were severely tortured at Sathankulam police station by police personnel earlier.

The incident had triggered a national furore, leading to the suspension of five policemen, including an inspector and two sub-inspectors.
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The Tamil Nadu government has decided to trasfer the probe into the death of a father-son duo, alleged victims of police torture in Tuticorin district, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Chief Minister K Palaniswami said on Sunday.

The government's decision will be informed to the Madras High Court, which is seized of the matter, and secure its approval before transferring the case to the central agency, he told reporters here. "The government has decided that the CBI will probe the case," Palaniswami said.

P Jayaraj and his son Fennix, arrested for 'violating' lockdown norms over business hours of their cellphone shop, died at a hospital in Kovilpatti on June 23, with their relatives alleging they were severely thrashed at the Sathankulam police station by police personnel earlier.

The incident has triggered a national furore, leading to the suspension of four policemen, including two sub- inspectors.
Once again India and China are engaged in border skirmishes, something that has assumed a predictable regularity. Its not yet three years since both neighbours were standing eyeball to eyeball over the Doklam issue.

This time around the confrontation in eastern Ladakh has been characterised with a certain brutality. While the authorities concerned are sorting out the intricacies, once again calls for boycotting China economically are reverberating throughout India. Boycott Chinese goods was trending on social media, and messages and videos describing how much the Chinese skim Indians, and why we should boycott Chinese goods, were flying thick and fast throughout social media channels.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), a powerful union of 70 million local traders, has decided to step up its nationwide movement against Chinese goods. Also, currently imports of more than 100 goods are under various stages of anti-dumping action.

This is not the first time that such calls for protest and economic boycott of China are taking place. During every confrontation there are loud calls for an economic boycott, but as soon as a breakthrough is announced all such calls are forgotten, slogans are withdrawn and its business as usual.

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

Weaponising trade is probably one of the best non-violent ways to deal with a hegemon such as the Peoples Republic of China. Otherwise too, the adverse balance of payment has long been an issue, though many believed that benefits would accrue in bilateral ties by incentivising China to seek peace with India. That has not happened, and there are too many irritants in the relationship. Even if China is more attracted by the markets of the European Union and the United States, the Indian market does matter to it. So, what happens now?

Boycotting China is easier said than done. China is Indias second-largest trading partner after the US, and bilateral trade stood at almost $93 billion, skewed in favour of China with Indias trade deficit at $53.56 billion. The Trade Promotion Council of India has warned that an immediate boycott of Chinese goods and import substitution is unrealistic, given that many industries are dependent on Chinese imports. A sudden boycott would further disrupt supply chains already disrupted by COVID-19, the final brunt of which will be borne by ordinary consumers. On the other hand there are projections of plummeting Indian exports to China, which will further widen Indias trade deficit with China.

Yet, there have long been the awareness and the acknowledgement of the need to wean Indian market away from its dependence on China. COVID-19 has also focussed our attention on the here and now, teaching us lessons in self-sufficiency, as the migrant crisis has demonstrated. To that end the government passed legislation to curb foreign direct investment (FDI) flows from China.

Moreover, drawing in large part from the Chinese experience, has been the initiative to make India a manufacturing hub. It was in that spirit that initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India and others were launched. The GST was introduced in order to incentivise FDI. However, countries wanting to invest and move businesses to India from China still face hurdles, in spite of Indias advantages over the latter  knowledge of English, long coastline with good ports, strategic location, and a younger population. Taiwan, which partially fuelled Chinas growth, is one such country.

With companies in China and ASEAN countries reaching the saturation point, Taiwan has been looking to move its businesses and invest majorly in the Indian economy. In fact, Chung-kwan Tien, the Head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India, in a private conversation to a group of journalists of which this author was also a part, said that India was perhaps the most important country in Taiwans New Southbound Policy launched in 2016.

For instance, Taiwans investments in India amounted to $360 million in 2018  almost equalling Chinas. Bilateral trade between India and Taiwan stood at $7.5 billion in 2018. One of Taiwans fortes is smart cities, a hundred of which the Government of India is committed to building.

According to a World Economic Forum report, Taiwan is in the midst of an innovation-driven economy. Currently 103 Taiwanese companies are present in India, and land has already been acquired in Bengaluru to set up the first Taiwan Technology International Park, which is to house 100 IT companies by 2022. Yet, Taiwanese businesses lament that they do not have the same level playing field in India as countries such as Japan and South Korea do. Thus, Taiwan has to pay 10 percent higher taxes than them. It is thus seeking to speed up a Free Trade Agreement with India.

Much of the manufacturing that Taiwan wants to move into India are of items that India depends on China for, such as electronic machinery. Besides, it would generate much needed employment. Thus, boosting trade and investment opportunities with countries such as Taiwan could be steps to pragmatically but resolutely wean the country away from its economic dependency on China.
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Every once in a long while there is a small shift in the tectonic plates that underlie society in terms of social and cultural systems and relations, and the shared beliefs, values, and laws that influence and organise human behaviour.

It appears that George Floyds death in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States, on May 25, and the resulting resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, have triggered such a shift, with protests swiftly spreading across the US and to other parts of the world. In the US, the geographic dispersal was accompanied by an encouraging racial diffusion. Images of the burgeoning, enduring demonstrations across the country clearly revealed that a wide range of United Statesians  not only African Americans  decided that enough was enough, and that racist violence, especially in the form of targeted police brutality, had to stop.

Business corporations obviously saw which way the wind was blowing. Many were quick to respond with expressions of solidarity and support, as well as commitment of funds, to the fight against racism. However, multinational companies in the skincare business, which earn huge profits from selling skin whitening products, especially in Asia and Africa, soon faced a backlash.

The multi-billion-dollar skin lightening market is dominated by a few multinational conglomerates, including Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and LOreal. Highlighting the racial overtones of several of their products, protestors called them out for hypocrisy and performative wokeness.

It is against this backdrop that J&J announced on June 19 that it would no longer produce or sell two of its creams with fairness in their names. That did not create as much of a ripple in India as the announcement, nearly a week later, by Unilever and its Indian subsidiary, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), that it would rebrand similar products, removing the words fair/fairness, white/whitening, and light/lightening from packaging and communication.

The greater response to HULs limited concession is obviously due to the fact that its Fair & Lovely is India's oldest and largest selling skin lightening cream, and has been the undisputed market leader, with a nearly 70 percent share and a loyal consumer base, despite periodic criticism of its promotion of skin colour hierarchies. Estimates of the annual revenue from the product in the domestic market range from Rs 2,000 crore to nearly double that amount.

It is significant that India is the largest market in the world for fairness products, with fairness creams alone fetching nearly Rs 5,000 crore in revenue. It is also worth noting that HUL has merely committed to rebranding, not pulling the plug on its controversial face cream. It is unclear if the actual product and its active ingredients will change.

Activism around fairness products in India, most recently seen in the Dark is Beautiful, #unfairandlovely and Indias Got Colour campaigns, had already managed to push some brands to tweak their messaging. Words like glow, radiance, even tone and skin clarity were already replacing fairness, whitening and skin-lightening, and the products anti-pollution, oil-control and dark spot removal properties were increasingly highlighted more than their actual Unique Selling Point (USP).

The draft Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) (Amendment) Bill, 2020  revealed in February  had also reportedly prompted further changes in the marketing campaigns for Fair & Lovely. The proposed changes in the law first enacted in 1954 include fines and imprisonment for those responsible for advertising products that claim to make a person fairer, appear younger, gain height, improve memory, prevent hair loss and greying, and so on.

It is interesting that a marketing strategy consultant quoted in a recent report has suggested that the problem is really bad communication rather than the products and what they promise and promote. If, as a dark-skinned south Indian woman, I want to lighten my skin tone, how is it anybodys business?" she asked.

That, however, is really the point: why do women (and evidently men too) with darker complexions seek to lighten their skin tones? Surely it is due to their unhappy experiences with colourism, defined as prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.

Kavitha Emmanuel, whose organisation, Women of Worth, launched the Dark is Beautiful campaign in 2009, recently pointed out that discrimination on the basis of skin colour is inextricably linked to other toxic beliefs and practices that represent systemic social injustice, including caste-based bias and oppression.

While the rebranding of Fair & Lovely and the withdrawal of similar products from the market represent a tiny step in the right direction, what is urgently needed is a much more widespread and broad-based peoples movement against racism and colourism in India, which would necessarily be against casteism as well.
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Delhi Congress leaders on Monday staged a protest across the city against hike in fuel prices, raising slogans against the BJP-led central government and the AAP dispensation in the national capital. Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar and party workers, however, were detained later by police at a petrol pump near Parmanand hospital.

Kumar said police detained him and party workers as they tried to go to Raj Niwas, which is Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's official residence, to lodge their protest against the rising prices of petrol and diesel.

Police said they were detained around 10 am and would be released soon.

Protesting against the fuel price hike, the Delhi Congress chief, said, "People are already suffering from coronavirus and consequences of lockdown. At such a time, the rise in prices of petrol and diesel by the Modi government and Kejriwal government in Delhi is adding to their woes."

Diesel price on Monday scaled a new high after prices were hiked for the 22nd time in just over three weeks, taking the cumulative increase to Rs 11.14 per litre.

Petrol & Diesel Rates Jun 18, 2021 Petrol Rate in Mumbai Jun 18, 2021 Current Petrol Price Per Litre 103 103 View more Diesel Rate in Mumbai Jun 18, 2021 Current Petrol Price Per Litre 95 95 View more Show

Petrol price was increased by 5 paise per litre and diesel 13 paise a litre across the country, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies.

In Delhi, a litre of petrol now comes for Rs 80.43 per litre as compared to Rs 80.38 earlier. Diesel rates have been increased to Rs 80.53 per litre from Rs Rs 80.40.

The Delhi Congress leaders, along with party workers, held protests at petrol pumps in all the districts of the city.

Party leader Parvez Ahmed was also detained at Maurice Nagar police station.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on June 29 attacked the BJP government at the Centre for raising fuel prices 22 times since the lockdown, accusing it of extorting people, and sought an immediate rollback of the hikes.

She charged the government with profiteering at the expense of the people, saying its duty was to help them in times of crisis and not make profits out of their hard-earned money.

Participating in the Congress' "Speak Up Against Fuel Hike" campaign across the country, she said on the one hand, the COVID-19 pandemic was wreaking havoc and on the other, the rise in petrol and diesel prices was making life very difficult for the people.

The Congress launched the countrywide campaign on Monday to press the central government to roll back fuel prices as they were hurting the common people.

Party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined the campaign on social media, and urged people to join them in pressing the government to reduce fuel prices.

Petrol & Diesel Rates Jun 18, 2021 Petrol Rate in Mumbai Jun 18, 2021 Current Petrol Price Per Litre 103 103 View more Diesel Rate in Mumbai Jun 18, 2021 Current Petrol Price Per Litre 95 95 View more Show

"I, along with all Congressmen and others together, demand from the Modi government to immediately roll back the increase in prices of petrol and diesel raised during this crisis due to the corona pandemic," Sonia Gandhi said in a video message.

"I also urge them to roll back the rise in excise duty on petrol and diesel since March this year and give this benefit to the countrymen. This will be a big relief in this period of economic crisis," she said.

The Congress chief said this in its own was the living proof of taking the hard-earned incomes of the people and filling the government's coffers.

"The government's duty is to support the countrymen in difficult times and not take advantage of their plight and profiteer.

"The government has set a new example of extortion from people through this unjustified increase in petrol and diesel prices. This is not only unjust but also insensitive," Gandhi said, noting that it directly hurts the country's farmers, the poor, the working class, the middle class and the small businesses.

She said the price of petrol in national capital Delhi and other big cities has crossed Rs 80 per litre.

"After the March 25 lockdown, the Modi government, in the last three months, has raised the prices of petrol and diesel 22 times," the Congress chief said, adding that the price of diesel has gone up by Rs 11 per litre and that of petrol by Rs 9.12 per litre.

"The Modi government has made provision for collecting lakhs of crores by raising excise duty on petrol and diesel in the last three months. All this is happening at a time when the international crude oil prices are continuously falling," she said.

The Congress president said that since 2014, instead of giving relief of the falling international crude oil prices to the people, the Modi government has raised the excise duty 12 times, which helped it collect additional revenue of nearly Rs 18 lakh crore.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also put out a video as part of the campaign, alleging that the government has collected Rs 1.3 lakh crore through the fuel price hikes since the lockdown.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released a 10-year timelapse of the Sun. It has been prepared from the images gathered by its Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) between June 2, 2010 and June 1, 2020.

Over the past 10 years, NASAs SDO has gathered 425 million high-resolution images of the Sun, amassing 20 million gigabytes of data from its orbit in space around Earth. With a triad of instruments, SDO captures an image of the Sun every 0.75 seconds, which are used to prepare the time lapse.

This 10-year time lapse showcases photos taken at a wavelength of 17.1 nanometers, which is an extreme ultraviolet wavelength that shows the Suns outermost atmospheric layer  the corona, said NASA.

The video captures the Sun over a period of 10 years into 61 minutes, compiling one photo per hour. It shows the rise and fall in the activity that occurs as part of the Suns 11-year solar cycle and notable events, like transiting planets and eruptions.

The custom music used in the video, titled Solar Observer, was composed by musician Lars Leonhard.

Even though the SDO kept an "unblinking eye" on the Sun, some moments was missed.

The dark frames in the video are caused by Earth or the Moon eclipsing SDO as they pass between the spacecraft and the Sun. A longer blackout in 2016 was caused by a temporary issue with the AIA instrument that was successfully resolved after a week. The images where the Sun is off-center were observed when SDO was calibrating its instruments, NASA explained.

According to NASA, the information collected by SDO has enabled countless new discoveries about the workings of Earths closest star and how it influences the solar system.

In the upcoming years, SDO and other NASA missions will continue to watch the Sun, providing further insights about our place in space and information to keep astronauts and assets safe, added NASA.
One of many new features introduced by Apple in iOS 14 has exposed short video-making app TikTok snooping into the iPhones clipboard without the users knowledge. The Chinese app has reportedly told Apple that it will stop accessing the clipboard henceforth.



Okay so TikTok is grabbing the contents of my clipboard every 1-3 keystrokes. iOS 14 is snitching on it with the new paste notification pic.twitter.com/OSXP43t5SZ

 Jeremy Burge (@jeremyburge) June 24, 2020



Hey @tiktok_us, why do you paste from my clipboard every time I type a LETTER in your comment box? Shout out to iOS 14 for shining a light on this HUGE invasion of privacy. inb4 they say it was a "bug" pic.twitter.com/MHv10PmzZS

 Maxel (@MaxelAmador) June 25, 2020

In iOS 14, Apple has ramped up its privacy measures by introducing a banner-like notification that alerts a user when an app appears to be pasting from the clipboard. Early developer users have been appreciating Apple for highlighting TikToks snapping practices without taking any user consent.

TikTok, in its defence, told The Telegraph that the issue is due to a feature designed to identify repetitive, spammy behaviour, and it has already submitted an updated version of the app to the App Store removing the anti-spam feature to eliminate any potential confusion. It is worth noting that TikTok was previously caught performing a similar act. It had then stated that it would fix the issue within weeks.

Also Read: Best iOS 14 features

The report also states that many other apps have been snooping into the user clipboard. These include popular apps like AccuWeather, Starbucks app, Call of Duty Mobile, Google News, etc.

To tackle this issue, Apple has now implemented a new privacy feature in iOS 14 wherein apps will require the users permission before tracking. It will also show what the data was used for by the developer in a summarised format in the App Store.
By Caitlin Johnstone

June 29, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - All western mass media outlets are now shrieking about the story The New York Times first reported, citing zero evidence and naming zero sources, claiming intelligence says Russia paid out bounties to Taliban-linked fighters in Afghanistan for attacking the occupying forces of the US and its allies in Afghanistan. As of this writing, and probably forevermore, there have still been zero intelligence sources named and zero evidence provided for this claim.

As we discussed yesterday, the only correct response to unsubstantiated claims by anonymous spooks in a post-Iraq invasion world is to assume that they are lying until youve been provided with a mountain of hard, independently verifiable evidence to the contrary. The fact that The New York Times instead chose to uncritically parrot these evidence-free claims made by operatives within intelligence agencies with a known track record of lying about exactly these things is nothing short of journalistic malpractice. The fact that western media outlets are now unanimously regurgitating these still 100 percent baseless assertions is nothing short of state propaganda.

The consensus-manufacturing, Overton window-shrinking western propaganda apparatus has been in full swing with mass media outlets claiming on literally no basis whatsoever that they have confirmed one anothers great reporting on this completely unsubstantiated story.

We have confirmed the @nytimes scoop: A Russian military spy unit offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to attack coalition forces in Afghanistan. From @nakashimae @missy_ryan me and @shaneharris https://t.co/R9tQf89L7G  John Hudson (@John_Hudson) June 27, 2020

The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post have confirmed our reporting, the NYT storys co-author Charlie Savage tweeted hours ago.

We have confirmed the New York Times scoop: A Russian military spy unit offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to attack coalition forces in Afghanistan, tweeted The Washington Posts John Hudson.

We matched The New York Times great reporting on how US intel has assessed that Russians paid Taliban to target US, coalition forces in Afg which is a pretty stunning development, tweeted Wall Street Journals Gordon Lubold.

All three of these men are lying.

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John Hudsons claim that the Washington Post article he co-authored confirmed the New York Times scoop twice uses the words if confirmed with regard to his central claim, saying Russian involvement in operations targeting Americans, if confirmed, and The attempt to stoke violence against Americans, if confirmed. This is of course an acknowledgement that these things have not, in fact, been confirmed.

The Wall Street Journal article co-authored by Gordon Lubold cites only anonymous people, who we have no reason to believe are different people than NYTs sources, repeating the same unsubstantiated assertions about an intelligence report. The article cites no evidence that Lubolds stunning development actually occurred beyond people familiar with the report said and a person familiar with it said.

The fact that both Hudson and Lubold were lying about having confirmed the New York Times reporting means that Savage was also lying when he said they did. When they say the report has been confirmed, what they really mean is that it has been agreed upon. All the three of them actually did was use their profoundly influential outlets to uncritically parrot something nameless spooks want the public to believe, which is the same as just publishing a CIA press release free of charge. It is unprincipled stenography for opaque and unaccountable intelligence agencies, and it is disgusting.

"The Washington Post and the WSJ were called up by the same unnamed 'officials' as we were.

They were told the same evidence free fairytale.

Their stenographers, like ours, wrote it dutifully down.

All of us proudly published it!"#confirmation https://t.co/bEZ2OYgsxb  Moon of Alabama (@MoonofA) June 27, 2020

None of this should be happening. The New York Times has admitted itself that it was wrong for uncritically parroting the unsubstantiated spook claims which led to the Iraq invasion, as has The Washington Post. There is no reason to believe Taliban fighters would require any bounty to attack an illegitimate occupying force. The Russian government has denied these allegations. The Taliban has denied these allegations. The Trump administration has denied that the president or the vice president had any knowledge of the spook report in question, denouncing the central allegation that liberals who are promoting this story have been fixated on.

Yet this story is being magically transmuted into an established fact, despite its being based on literally zero factual evidence.

Outlets like CNN are running the story with the headline Russia offered bounties to Afghan militants to kill US troops, deceitfully presenting this as a verified fact. Such dishonest headlines are joined by UK outlets like The Guardian who informs headline-skimmers that Russia offered bounty to kill UK soldiers, and the Murdoch-owned Sky News which went with Russia paid Taliban fighters to attack British troops in Afghanistan after confirming the story with anonymous British spooks.

Western propagandists are turning this completely empty story into the mainstream consensus, not with facts, not with evidence, and certainly not with journalism, but with sheer brute force of narrative control. And now youve got Joe Biden once again attacking Trump for being insufficiently warlike, this time because he failed to sanction or impose any kind of consequences on Russia for this egregious violation of international law.

Youve also got former George W Bush lackey Richard Haas promoting a proportionate response to these baseless allegations.

Russia is carrying out covert wars vs US troops in Afghanistan and our democracy here at home. A proportionate response would increase the costs to Russia of its military presence in Ukraine & Syria and, using sanctions & cyber, to challenge Putin at home. https://t.co/c0Mc7sLriO  Richard N. Haass (@RichardHaass) June 27, 2020

Russia is carrying out covert wars vs US troops in Afghanistan and our democracy here at home, Haas tweeted with a link to the New York Times story. A proportionate response would increase the costs to Russia of its military presence in Ukraine and Syria and, using sanctions and cyber, to challenge Putin at home.

Haas is the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, a wildly influential think tank with its fingers in most major US news outlets.

And indeed, the unified campaign to shove this story down peoples throats in stark defiance of everything one learns in journalism school does appear to be geared toward advancing pre-existing foreign policy agendas which have nothing to do with any concern for the safety of US troops. Analysts have pointed out that this new development arises just in time to sabotage the last of the nuclear treaties between the US and Russia, the scaling down of US military presence in Afghanistan, and, as Haas already openly admitted, any possibility of peace in Syria.

This story is published just in time to sabotage US-Russia arms control talks, Antiwars Dave DeCamp noted on Twitter. As the US is preparing for a new arms race  and possibly even live nuclear tests  the New York Times provides a great excuse to let the New START lapse, making the world a much more dangerous place. Russiagate has provided the cover for Trump to pull out of arms control agreements. First the INF, then the Open Skies, and now possibly the New START. Any talks or negotiations with Russia are discouraged in this atmosphere, and this Times story will make things even worse.

US intelligence agencies (ie, organized crime networks run by the state) want to sabotage the (admittedly very inadequate) peace talks in Afghanistan, tweeted journalist Ben Norton. So they get best of both worlds: blame the Russian bogeyman, fueling the new cold war, while prolonging the military occupation. Its not a coincidence these dubious Western intelligence agency claims about Russia came just days after a breakthrough in peace talks. Afghanistans geostrategic location (and trillions worth of minerals) is too important to them.

We're seeing in real time how Western intelligence agencies are derailing peace talks aimed at ending the nearly 20-year war in Afghanistan.



First anonymous US spies spread this rumor. Now anonymous European spies are doing the same. And the corporate media eats it up like candy https://t.co/l6Rze37MZx  Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) June 27, 2020

All parties involved in spreading this malignant psyop are absolutely vile, but a special disdain should be reserved for the media class who have been entrusted by the public with the essential task of creating an informed populace and holding power to account. How much of an unprincipled whore do you have to be to call yourself a journalist and uncritically parrot the completely unsubstantiated assertions of spooks while protecting their anonymity? How much work did these empire fluffers put into killing off every last shred of their dignity? It boggles the mind.

It really is funny how the most influential news outlets in the western world will uncritically parrot whatever theyre told to say by the most powerful and depraved intelligence agencies on the planet, and then turn around and tell you without a hint of self-awareness that Russia and China are bad because they have state media.

Sometimes all you can do is laugh.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.

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Imports of auto components from China are being subjected to one-hundred percent manual inspection resulting in inordinate delays in clearance, a lobby body of the parts and vehicle associations said.

Several auto component and vehicle manufacturing companies have complained of very high congestion at the Mumbai port after their shipments that sailed from China got stuck.

Sources said the Automotive Components Manufacturers Association (ACMA) has received multiple concerns from its members regarding the blockade.

Explaining the complexity of the automotive value chain and the need for permitting clearance of imports, Deepak Jain, President ACMA, said: Some of the items imported from China are critical components such as parts of engines and electronics items for which we are yet to develop domestic competence. The automotive value chain is a highly complex, integrated and interdependent one; non availability of even a single component can, in fact, lead to stoppage of the vehicle manufacturing lines."

Also Read | Mylans imports containing raw material for Remdesivir stuck at Mumbai Air Cargo: Report

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said that import consignments being subject to manual inspection is resulting in inordinate delays in clearance at the ports.

Inordinate delays in clearance due to congestions at port could eventually impact manufacturing of vehicles in India. The industry is piecing itself together as growth is limping back; any further disruption at this juncture is best avoided" said Rajan Wadhera, president, SIAM.

While majority of the vehicle manufacturing companies do not directly import components (given their high degree of localisation) their parts manufacturing partners are engaged in importing components. These parts sometimes have to be modified to suit requirements of the vehicle makers.

"Post-lockdown, production in the component industry is gradually picking up in tandem with growth in vehicles sales, it is therefore in the best interest of the industry and the economy that any further disruptions are best avoided," Jain added.

India is a large importer of components from China. In 2018-19 imports from China made up 27 percent or $4.75 billion out of the total $17.6 billion imports done by India, according to the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), the apex body of auto parts manufacturers.

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What message is the government sending with this ban?

Under which law did the government announce this ban?

Is it only TikTok being banned?

The communist Chinese regime has been known to use consumer and enterprise technology companies for espionage. As a friend, China and their tech firms got the benefit of doubt so far. Now that China has shown its hand openly by attempting to seize Indian territory, the government is clear that it wants a Chinese-tech-mukt-Bharat.That India will safeguard its digital security and hit China where it hurtsin the pocketbook. Chinese apps, which are worth hundreds of billions of dollars, have been counting on India as a lucrative market. No longer. Money talks.The Ministry of Information Technology has invoked its power under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009.

This ban is not limited to TikTok. There are 59 Chinese apps in total that have been banned. Other popular apps in the list include: Shareit, UC Browser, Helo, Club Factory, CamScanner and others.

How will the ban be implemented?

If the apps have been banned, can I continue using them on a web browser?

How popular were the banned apps in India?

But are there any good replacements for these banned apps?

As the apps have been officially banned by the Indian government, Google and Apple will have to remove the apps from their India app stores. The government is expected to ask all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to restrict internet traffic to and from the servers associated with these apps. As these apps need internet connectivity for their core functions, they might become unusable.Unlikely. The government order extends to "both mobile and non-mobile Internet enabled devices." This means that the websites associated with the apps are also likely to be inaccessible to Indian users.Very popular. Many of these apps feature in very high in the most popular apps in India. TikTok being the most popular of them.

Plenty. There are a good number of very credible alternatives. Many are from well-respected global companies such as Google, Microsoft, Adobe etc and there are a number of Indian apps as well.

Is the ban likely to be lifted soon?

Wasn't TikTok banned previously too?

What happens to my data on the banned apps?

Are there only 59 Chinese apps out there?

Are more Chinese apps likely to be banned?

What about Chinese phones and devices?

Why this the banned apps list doesn't include PUBG and Zoom?

What else?

The allegations against the banned apps are serious and the ban has been put in place keeping in mind the data security of Indians. In such a scenario, it is unlikely that this ban will be lifted anytime soon.Yes. But that was because of a court order. The Madras High Court had ordered the government to ban TikTok app downloads back in April 2019 over allegations that it was "dangerous to children." The ban was lifted in less than a month.Many of these banned apps do not allow easy downloading of your personal data unlike other popular services from the likes of Google, Facebook, Twitter etc. You might have to download files (if the option is available) individually, which could be a cumbersome process. Deleting your files and information does not necessarily mean the data has been erased from all their records.No. There are many, many more. Thease are the 59 most popular apps which were under the Computer Emergency Response Team's (CERT-IN) scanner.The possibility cannot be ruled out. There are many other Chinese apps that are very popular with Indian users and whose data security practices have appeared to be suspect.There is no information yet about what the government actions is likely to be in this regard.Maybe because PUBG has its origins in South Korea and that Zoom is American. Zoom's founder and CEO Eric Yuan was born in China but he is now a US citizen.This ban fits a pattern, and ups the ante. Chinese goods are stuck at Indian ports and Chinese contracts with a number of government entities are not worth the pieces of paper they are written on. India is furiousand chastenedand is detoxifying itself of China. Itll be tough, but Modi is signalling that we had better sober up now.
The Indian government has decided to ban 59 Chinese apps. Most of these apps are utility apps which helps smartphone users with multiple activities like cleaning the phone, scanning documents and even clicking perfect selfies.

So, what are the alternatives now available for Indian consumers?

Here we take a look at few of the most popular ones and their alternatives:

TikTok: Perhaps the most famous of all these Chinese apps, TikTok has become a rage among Indians sharing short videos, dance steps and sharing them in their community of followers.

Alternative: ShareChat.

Xender and ShareIT: Both the apps are used to share heavy files like games and movies.

Alternatives: Dropbox or even Google Drive while few sharing apps will be paid ones.

Kwai, Helo, Likee, Bigo Live: All are video sharing apps, like TikTok and are extremely popular among Indians.

Alternatives: ShareChat or Roposo.

CamScanner: CamScanner, which is on the list of banned apps in India, is frequently used by many Indian users to create digital copies of of physical documents.

The app also acts as an archive of the scanned documents. This ban means that users can lose access to all the documents that have scanned and stored over the years. While users can still go to their CamScanner accounts and download copies of the stored files, CamScanner doesn't have a feature for bulk downloads. This means that users will have to download each file individually, which is a tedious task.

Alternatives: Adobe Scan, Microsoft Office Lens and Google Drive.

UCBrowser and Apus Browser: These browsers are mostly pre-downloaded with Chinese smartphones.

Alternatives: Google Chrome, Brave and many others.

UCNews: Part of the UC stable, UC News offers news articles for quick reference.

Alternatives: Inshorts and DailyHunt.

Baidu Maps: Details about its user base are sketchy.

Alternatives: Google Maps, MapMyIndia.

Club Factory and Shein: Shein and Club Factory were competing with Indian fashion brands like Myntra and Flipkart. These Chinese e-commerce apps are famous for their massive discounts and cheap designer clothes.

Alternatives: Flipkart,Myntra, Amazon, etc.

Virus Cleaner: It is an anti-virus app for smartphones.

Alternatives: There are many popular anti virus apps in the Play Store. For example, Avast Antivirus.
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Days after a fierce clash between Indian Army personnel and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, China has said it is moving 20 martial art trainers to the Tibetan plateau to train its forces, BBC has reported.

According to the report, the neighbouring country has given no official reason for the decision.

The report further stated that as per the Hong Kong media, the news of the army's new martial arts trainers has come from official Chinese news outlets on June 20.

State broadcaster CCTV said 20 fighters from the Enbo Fight Club would be based in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, said the report, adding that no confirmation has come from the Chinese media that they would be training troops on the border with India.

India lost 20 of its army personnel, including a colonel, in the violent face-off on the night of June 15-16 in Ladakh's Galwan Valley, the biggest confrontation between the militaries of India and China after their 1967 clashes in Nathu La when India lost around 80 soldiers while the death toll on the Chinese side was over 300.

China has not released any information about its casualties.
China's military reserve forces will be formally placed under the centralised and unified command of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Central Military Commission (CPC), both headed by President Xi Jinping, from July 1 to ensure the ruling party's "absolute leadership" over it and build a world-class army.

Currently, the reserve forces are under the dual leadership of military organs and local Communist Party committees and they would be brought under the control of the ruling party and the CMC from July 1, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 2017 announced plans to reduce the strength of the reserve forces and bring them under the control of the central leadership as part of the reforms of the military.

The reforms included cutting down the size of the military by three lakh troops reducing the size of the PLA, the world's largest military force, to two million personnel.

An official announcement on Sunday said the reserve forces are "an important part of the PLA and the adjustment in the leadership structure is aimed at upholding the CPC's absolute leadership over the army and building a strong military in the new era."

It calls on relevant military and civilian units to take active and coordinated measures to implement the changes to the leadership structure.

Since he took over power in 2013, Xi, 67, has ordered all PLA ranks to strictly under the CPC leadership. Xi is also the General Secretary of the CPC.

China watchers have called Xi the most powerful Chinese leader since Chairman Mao Zedong, especially since he managed to amend the Constitution to end the two-term presidential limit in 2018.

According to the reforms process announced in 2017, the CMC will take charge of the overall administration of the PLA, the Chinese People's Armed Police and the militia and reserve forces. This meant that all forces would work directly under central leadership headed by Xi.

The thrust of the reforms included a reduction of the ground forces and an increase in the role and scope of the Navy and the Air Force as part of China's push to expand its global influence.

The structure of the reserve forces will adapt to information warfare from traditional combat-oriented and mechanised ones, the PLA announced in 2017.
Iran has issued an arrest warrant for US President Donald Trump and 35 others over the killing of top general Qassem Soleimani and has asked Interpol for help, Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said on Monday, according to the Fars news agency.

The United States killed Soleimani, leader of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, with a drone strike in Iraq on January 3. Washington accused Soleimani of masterminding attacks by Iranian-aligned militias on US forces in the region.

Alqasimehr said the warrants had been issued on charges of murder and terrorist action. He said Iran had asked Interpol to issue a "red notice" for Trump and the other individuals the Islamic Republic accuses of taking part in the killing of Soleimani.

Alqasimehr said the group included other US military and civilian officials but did not provide further details.

He said Iran would continue to pursue the matter after Trump's time in office ends.

The killing of Soleimani brought the United States and Iran to the brink of armed conflict after Iran retaliated by firing missiles at American targets in Iraq several days later.
Finnish telecoms equipment maker Nokia Oyj said on Monday it has won a 5G contract worth about 400 million euros ($449.48 million) from Taiwan Mobile to build out the telecom operator's next-generation network as the sole supplier.

A supplier to Taiwan Mobile's earlier networks, Nokia will prepare for the deployment this month and complete the migration to 5G standalone within a three-year period.

Nokia, along with Nordic rival Ericsson, has picked up most of the 5G contracts in Taiwan.

While Nokia also won 5G contracts from Taiwan Star and Chunghwa Telecom, Ericsson picked up the deal with Far Eas Tone and a part of the contract from Chunghwa.

To offset hurdles faced last year, the Finnish telecom operator has been scripting a turnaround by diversifying its chipset supply and grabbing 5G deals. Earlier this month, Nokia picked up 5G contracts from Canada's Bell Canada and Telus Corp, along with an order from a Singapore telecom operator.

However, Nokia did not win any 5G radio contracts from Chinese telecom companies - China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom - in recent bidding rounds, excluding a part of China Unicom's 5G core network contract.

Huawei, ZTE and Ericsson got all the 5G radio contracts from the three top vendors in China.
PepsiCo Inc will stop advertising on Facebook Inc , FOX Business Network reported on Sunday, citing sources.

The halt on advertising will run through July and August, the report said. Sources described the move as a "global boycott" on placing Facebook ads, the report said.

PepsiCo did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

The food and beverage company joins a growing number of companies pulling ad dollars from Facebook, including ice-cream maker Ben & Jerry's and Unilever PLC .
In what raised eyebrows in the subcontinent, Nepals Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, on June 28, claimed that meetings were being organised in India to unseat him and to topple his government.

Plots are being hatched to topple me for releasing the countrys new map and getting it adopted through Parliament, Oli said while addressing a gathering at his official residence, to mark the 69th birth anniversary of the late communist leader Madan Bhandari.

Given the ongoing intellectual discussions, media reports from New Delhi, [Indian] embassys activities, and meetings at different hotels in Kathmandu, it is not very difficult to understand how people are actively trying to unseat me. But they wont succeed, Oli added.

He added that India was upset over Nepals territorial assertion.

The recent strain in relations between New Delhi and Kathmandu is being attributed to Nepal giving constitutional status to a new map of the country which includes the Limpiadora-Kalapani-Lipulekh region that is in Indias state of Uttarakhand.

Why now?

The 68-year-olds comments come at a time when he is being widely criticised in Nepal for failures on multiple fronts, especially his handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Political observers suggest that Oli resorted to altering the countrys map, to invoke a sense of nationalism among people and deflect criticism away from his government.

But, Olis comments were not just aimed at the Indian government, but also at his political rivals at home.

Oli was also criticised by colleagues from the ruling Nepal Communist Partys faction led by former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda in the ongoing Standing Committee meeting.

Even though Dahal supported the new map saying that the land lost during the period of monarchy is being returned under the republican system, his supporters have been protesting what they call Olis unilateral manner of decision-making in the party and in the government.

Under pressure

At the Standing Committee meeting on June 25, Dahal had reportedly charged Oli with continuing to run the party unilaterally, despite having agreed to give him more room within the party as the executive chair.

Either we have to part ways or we need to mend ways, a party leader quoted Dahal as saying, according to The Kathmandu Post. Since parting is not possible, we need to mend our ways, for which we must be ready to sacrifice.

Political observers suggest that by sacrifice, Dahal would ask Oli to step down as either the prime minister or the party chief.

Dahal also openly expressed regret at having allowed Oli to run the government for full five years by accepting the executive chairs post, reports suggest.

The country is no stranger to political instability. Since 2008, when Nepal became a Federal Democratic Republic, it has seen 11 different Cabinets led by nine prime ministers.

Those close to Oli maintain that some greedy leaders in Nepal are trying to cash in on any attempts at toppling the Nepali government.

Satya Narayan Mandal, a Standing Committee member who is close to Oli, told The Kathmandu Post: Everyone knows that India wants to oust Oli, not within a minute but in seconds. And some of our greedy leaders are trying to cash in on this and are opposing the governments activities.

Yet, the move to introduce the new map did help Oli briefly secure support within his party and among the masses as it was seen as a matter national security and territorial integrity.

Stung by his own party's opponents, PM Oli has started pointing fingers at foreign elements for making bid to topple his government. It is the strategy of a bewildered ruler, Lok Raj Baral, a professor of political science wrote on Twitter.

Not the first time

Invoking nationalism in times of political crisis is Olis tried and tested tactic.

In 2015, Oli became the prime minister of Nepal for this first time largely riding on the wave of nationalism he created by opposing the border blockade that year and signing a trade and transit treaty with China. The treaty was seen as reducing landlocked Nepals dependency on India for connectivity.

On June 28, Oli did bring up the agreement with China and highlighted how his then government had been toppled. He was referring to Dahals then Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) allying with rival Nepali Congress to topple Olis government in August 2016.

It was only in late 2017 that Oli and Dahal forged an electoral alliance in the lead-up to the election. They secured a majority and formed the government headed by Oli in February 2018. Months later, Dahals CPN (Maoist Centre) and Olis Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) announced a formal merger to form the Nepal Communist Party (NCP). With the unification process still incomplete, the two factions remain at odd.
The US Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge by four environmental groups to the authority of President Donald Trump's administration to build his promised wall along the border with Mexico.

The justices turned away an appeal by the groups of a federal judge's ruling that rejected their claims that the administration had unlawfully undertaken border wall projects in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas harmful to plant and animal life. The groups had argued that the 1996 law under which the administration is building the wall gave too much power to the executive branch in violation of the US Constitution.

The groups that sued are the Center for Biological Diversity, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Defenders of Wildlife and the Southwest Environmental Center. They said the wall construction efforts would harm plants, wildlife habitats and endangered species including the jaguar, Mexican gray wolf and bighorn sheep.

The border wall is one of Trump's signature 2016 campaign promises, part of his hardline policies toward illegal and legal immigration. The Republican president has vowed to build a wall along the entire 2,000-mile (3,200-km) US-Mexico border. He promised that Mexico would pay for it. Mexico has refused.

The 1996 law, aimed at combating illegal immigration, gave the US government authority to build border barriers and preempt legal requirements such as environmental rules. It also limited the kinds of legal challenges that could be brought.

The environmental groups argued that the law was unconstitutional because it gave too much power to the executive branch - in this case the Department of Homeland Security - to get around laws like the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act without congressional input.

Progress toward building the wall has been limited because Congress has not provided the funds Trump has sought, leading him to divert money - with the blessing of the Supreme Court - from the US military and other parts of the federal government.

Trump on June 23 visited a newly built section of the wall along the frontier with Mexico in San Luis, Arizona, autographing a plaque commemorating the 200th mile (320 km) of the project.
By Nat Parry

June 29, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The liberal rehabilitation of George W. Bush is now virtually complete, with his successor Barack Obama declaring this week that the 43rd president was committed to the rule of law, despite all evidence to the contrary. In an online fundraiser for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden Tuesday night, Obama stated that Bush had a basic regard for the rule of law and the importance of our institutions of democracy.

Obama, who ran for president in 2008 with promises to restore habeas corpus and uphold the rule of law, went on to claim that when Bush was president, we cared about human rights and were committed to core principles around the rule of law and the universal dignity of people.

Obamas comments surely came as a shock to anyone who still has a functioning memory of the Bush years and hasnt succumbed entirely to the effects of Trump Derangement Syndrome. Rather than being a champion of democratic principles, when Bush left office, he left behind a shameful legacy of upended human rights norms including due process and the legal prohibition against torture.

If 2008 Obama could speak today with 2020 Obama, he might remind himself that Bush had started a dumb war in Iraq in violation of the UN Charter, launched a warrantless surveillance program of Americans and that he had established a penal colony in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

As Obama himself said in said in 2013, during the Bush years, we compromised our basic values  by using torture to interrogate our enemies, and detaining individuals in a way that ran counter to the rule of law.

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At the heart of Bushs approach to the rule of law was the rejection of any independent court evaluation of its detentions. Without judicial review, the U.S. government didnt need to present any evidence to show that a person actually had ties to al-Qaeda or was otherwise guilty of a crime. The Bush position also held that once designated as al-Qaeda members, individuals have no legal protections against torture.

He dismissed provisions of the Geneva Conventions as quaint and offered legal rationales that justify torture in cases of military necessity.

Bushs approach to the war on terror was in fact a steady descent into the dark side, as Vice President Dick Cheney had called it. A subsequent Senate investigation found that the torture program instituted by the Bush administration following 9/11 employed gruesome techniques such as near drowning, forcing detainees to stand on broken legs, threatening to kill or rape detainees family members, forced rectal feeding and rectal hydration. It also offered disturbing details on a medieval black site prison in Afghanistan known as the Salt Pit, where at least one detainee froze to death.

The brutal interrogation sessions lasted in many cases non-stop for days or weeks at a time, leading to effects such as hallucinations, paranoia, insomnia, and attempts at self-harm and self-mutilation, and produced little to no useful information. CIA agents had illegally detained 26 of the 119 individuals in CIA custody, and the interrogation techniques used on detainees went beyond the methods that had been approved by the Bush Justice Department or CIAs headquarters (guidelines that were likely overly permissive in the first place).

When the Senate torture report was released in late 2014, it was met with calls for accountability from around the world. The United Nations, the European Union, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, as well as numerous governments, all demanded that those responsible for the illegal torture program face justice. The U.S. was reminded that as a matter of international law, it was legally obligated to prosecute the perpetrators of the torture program.

Some of the strongest words came from the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counterterrorism Ben Emmerson, who stated unequivocally that senior officials from the Bush administration who sanctioned crimes, as well as the CIA and U.S. government officials who carried them out, must be brought to justice. It is now time to take action, the UN rapporteur said.

Needless to say, no one was ever prosecuted by the Obama administrations Justice Department. And now, Obama not only excuses these abuses, but he actually claims that Bush was committed to the rule of law and the universal dignity of people. A charitable explanation for Obamas comments is that he was trying to draw a distinction between the Trump administration and every other president, and to draw this distinction, he made a clumsy attempt to draw an exaggerated contrast.

But considering that six in 10 Americans now have a favorable view of Bush, almost twice as much as the 33% who gave him a favorable mark when he left office in 2009, it should be appreciated how impressionable Americans are and how damaging comments such as Obamas can be. Much of Bushs ascent to popularity has come from Democrats, 54% of whom now approve of the Bush presidency. Democrats change of heart appears to be primarily motivated by Bushs opposition to Trump, which apparently has absolved him of his many failings while president.

This historic shift in attitudes was abetted by many liberals who have helped refurbish Bushs image, including daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

To hear Barack Obama now making the claim that Bush was committed to the rule of law and human rights is just the latest betrayal of a Democratic Party that has systematically prevented a reckoning for the crimes of the 43rd president, a party that is clearly uninterested in truth or accountability, and is more than willing to rewrite history to advance its political goals.

Only time will tell how America is affected in the long term by this rewriting of history.

- " Source " -

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.

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Until a few days ago, Jemin, a strong supporter of the government, was a happy and worry-free person. One fine day, his sense of well being was shattered when the Aarogya Setu app on his mobile began to show him positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) and he started receiving calls. Jemin says he has no symptoms for COVID-19, nor has he undergone any test for the virus. Yet, he is now labelled as COVID-19 +ve on the app and all the people near him are receiving alerts. On trying to find out what when wrong, he discovered that someone called Shibu had wrongly used his mobile number while undergoing COVID-19 test in a lab (which came positive), which subsequently got linked to the app installed on his mobile. He then started an effort to set things right, but nothing has worked so far.

What is more stunning is when Jemin wanted to rectify the error, he found there was no easy option. When he contacted Aarogya Setu on Twitter, he was told to find out their email ID and send a mail. He did that but till the writing of this story, his status on Aarogya Setu remains positive for COVID-19.

He was informed by the app that his mobile number was entered from a lab run by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and hence the rectification had to be done either by the lab or ICMR only.

@CovidIndiaSeva @ICMRDELHI It has been reported here that some test lab has wrongly entered the phone number due to which App status has turned red. Since AAROGYASETU gets data from ICMR thru APIs its essential that necessary correction is done at the backend after verification  Aarogya Setu (@SetuAarogya) June 28, 2020

When he first installed the app and filled in his details, he received a one-time passcode (OTP) to confirm his mobile number. However, when the Shibu used Jemins mobile number for the lab test, Jemin had no control over it or he did not receive any alert. This resulted in Jemins mobile number attached with the app marking him in Red meaning he is 100% COVID-19 positive. Exactly!! Also since I already had downloaded the app!! Upon rmthis updation no OTP was send, like it's send while registration  JeM!N Panchal (@jemin_p) June 29, 2020

In second case, Sanvi (name changed to protect identity) one of my former colleagues, at an organisation where I worked previously, faces a similar issue. She has entered her mobile number while filling the hospital admission form for her father, who tested +ve for COVID-19. The form had a provision for either self or family member's number and she had provided her number as the family contact number. But instead of showing her as exposed to COVID-19 with orange colour badge, at best, the app was treating her as that of a COVID-19 patient (red badge) based on the data was submitted to the authorities. So, her status on the Aarogya Setu app turned red leading to her nearby contacts finding orange or yellow badges for alerts on their Aarogya Setu app after she visited the office around a week ago. Naturally, they were worried and after some probing discovered how a listing on a hospital form had created entry on the app leading to panic alerts.

At present both, Sanvi and her mother are home quarantined. Neither she nor her mother have any symptoms of corona and her family doctor as well as doctors at the hospital have told that at present there is no need for them to undergo any tests, she told me. However, she says she is meeting the doctor again to get a prescription for the tests for herself and her mother so that she can be real sure about her status.

So far so good. While in Jemin's case it was apparently false alert since Shibu had used his mobile number for COVID-19 test, in the second case, those receiving the alert came to know that it was a probably a false alert and that they have nothing to worry about.

. @SetuAarogya app asked, m I covid positive or m I touch with covid positive, answer is No



message is as per ICMR I m positive, n till ICMR or State Official doesn't change my status... I will b considered covid positive, n I should b isolated, is this JOKE, I m not tested ???? https://t.co/yf8i4OqgWi pic.twitter.com/k9LAPDKZFn  JeM!N Panchal (@jemin_p) June 28, 2020

Aarogya Setu Colour Codes  Red Colour on Aarogya Setu app signifies that the person is COVID-19 positive. "This status is updated only after testing based on data entered by the testing labs," the app says.  Orange Colour on your Aarogya Setu app signifies that high risk of infection based on self- assessment or high risk of infection due to recent Bluetooth contact with COVID-19 positive person at near distance.  While yellow Colour on the app means, there is moderate risk of infection based on self- assessment or moderate risk of infection due to recent Bluetooth contact with COVID-19 positive person.  Green colour on your the app means the user is safe, there is low risk of infection based on self-assessment and low risk of infection and recent contact with a COVID-19 positive person but at a distance or for a short duration.

The basic question is, how can only a mobile number, either right or wrong, be used by the Aarogya Setu app to decide the COVID-19 status, mainly red badge for the person. Also, why cant the hospital segregate mobile numbers of the patient and his/her family members while sharing the data? Why is only the mobile number is used as the sole criteria for determining the COVID-19 status of a person when other details like names and addresses are easily available with hospitals and testing labs? No easy answers.

As several technology experts have been pointing out, contact tracing based on a mobile app can never be a solution or a replacement for human contact tracing and thus cannot control any infectious disease outbreaks. ( Read: Aarogya Setu & Contact Tracing Truth: Here is What Experts Say

Fundamentally, contact tracing works by tracking down all the contacts of an infected person and then taking appropriate action to break the chain of transmission.

In the current COVID-19 pandemic, when a patient gets a coronavirus test done, the lab should send the +ve results back to the patients doctor, who had prescribed the test as well as to the health department from the local civic body. Then a contact tracer should be assigned to the case, who would call the person to ask about symptoms, take down information about people the patient has been in close contact with recently, and to help draw up a plan for isolation, either at home or at designated places.

Remember, the spike in COVID-19 cases at Dharavi in Mumbai came under control through screening efforts of general practitioners (GPs) in that area.

Here there was either no role or minimum role played by contract tracing through the Aarogya Setu app. A report from Mumbai Mirror says , "An army of 350 general practitioners helped Dharavi, one of Mumbais biggest hotspots, stave off the coronavirus by screening thousands of people at their clinics. The area has reported a steep decline in the daily number of cases over the past month, with the doubling rate falling to once every 140 days from once every 18 days in April. Dharavi reported only 16 new Covid-19 cases on Friday. A total of 2,232 people have tested positive there until now."

"Of these 1,118 have recovered and been discharged. Another 11,986 identified as close contacts have been placed under quarantine. A total of 79 deaths have been reported. Earlier this week, the ministry of health and family welfare applauded the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corp (BMC) for its efforts in containing the virus in the slum, which is spread across 2.5 square km and has a population of 6.5 lakh," the report says.

This laudable effort from Dharavi also highlights the importance of screening and testing of everyone, and not to focus on contact tracing alone through an app.

Coming back to Aarogya Setu, while many have raised concerns about privacy violations due to this app, several experts from across the world are questioning the viability and practical use of what is seen as a golden app pill for dealing with COVID-19.

Such apps are capable of providing several false negatives as well as false positives, making its use very questionable in the fight against the pandemic.

According to Jason Bay, the product lead for TraceTogether, the worlds first nationwide Bluetooth contact tracing system, false positives and false negatives have real-life (and death) consequences as there are lives at stake.

"If you ask me whether any Bluetooth contact tracing system deployed or under development, anywhere in the world, is ready to replace manual contact tracing, I will say without qualification that the answer is, No. Not now and, even with the benefit of artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) and  God forbid  the much touted blockchain not for the foreseeable future," he says in a blog post

Bruce Schneier, a privacy expert and fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University is more forthright on contact tracing apps. In a blogpost he says, "The idea that contact tracing can be done with an app, and not human health professionals, is just plain dumb."

"Assume you take the app out grocery shopping with you and it subsequently alerts you of a contact. What should you do? It is not accurate enough for you to quarantine yourself for two weeks? And without ubiquitous, cheap, fast, and accurate testing, you cannot confirm the app's diagnosis. So, the alert is useless. Similarly, assume you take the app out grocery shopping and it does not alert you of any contact. Are you in the clear? No, you are not. You actually have no idea if you have been infected. The end result is an app that does not work. People will post their bad experiences on social media, and people will read those posts and realize that the app is not to be trusted. That loss of trust is even worse than having no app at all," says Mr Schneier, a public-interest technologist.

According to the description provided by Aarogya Setu on Google play store, "the app tracks, through a Bluetooth and GPS generated social graph, your interaction with someone who could have tested COVID-19 positive."

However, Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, has raised questions over whether Bluetooth-based contact tracing technology can be adopted on a broad and meaningful scale worldwide. In an interaction with MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory director Daniela Rus, Mr Smith expressed scepticism about this technology being adopted on a meaningful scale.

"Not everyone is going to walk around with an app on their phone. I think we should recognise that it is a tool, and not a panacea," Mr Smith was quoted as saying in the virtual discussion.

As I mentioned above, a mobile number added wrongly or by mistake can also lead to panic through the Aarogya Setu app. And there is no easy way out from this to remove your mobile number wrongly entered into the app data.

So, while some users are appreciating the phone calls from the app checking their wellbeing, there are others who are struggling to remove their wrongly fed mobile number from the app.

The final word is, you do not need an app to tell you who will be infected with corona virus. In a country with a huge population and little space for physical distancing, chances are that everyone may be infected. If not combined with testing, and testing and more testing, these contact tracing apps like Aarogya Setu are bound to remain elusive at best.

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The Supreme Court on Monday told the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to be flexible and consider allowing students to opt out of the exams amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari, and Sanjiv Khanna took up the matter through videoconference and told ICAI during the hearing: "Don't be rigid, be flexible. Show some concern for the students." The ICAI counsel sought time to issue fresh guidelines in connection with the current cycle of the CA exams slated this year.

The bench noted that the option to change examination centres should be made available to students/candidates to help avoid travelling, and that things cannot be rigid as the coronavirus situation in India is still evolving.

The ICAI counsel contended that it has 567 test centres that are properly sanitised, and that it cannot change the exam centres now.

In response, the bench said that the option to change the test centre should be available in case a particular area becomes a containment zone. "This option should be kept open till the last week as the situation is not static. It is dynamic," noted the bench.

The ICAI counsel argued that a standard operating procedure is in place, and the authorities will shift the exam centre in case there is a containment zone.

The bench asked ICAI that if a candidate in a containment zone is forced to appear in an exam only in November, could it be counted as appearance in July.

The ICAI counsel said that the concerns of the petitioner are "unfounded" in connection with the opt-out option and the ICAI was bound by the Chartered Accountants Act.

The ICAI counsel also submitted that if a candidate sends an email saying he/she is unable to sit in the exam due to Covid-19, it will not be questioned. "It is a group of 4-4. They can choose to appear at a later date if they are Covid-19 affected," the ICAI counsel maintained.

ICAI general secretary Rakesh Sehgal submitted before the top court that they will permit an "opt-out" to all candidates wherever the situation has deteriorated, and the only difficulty is in the change of exam centres.

The bench said that whatever notification ICAI issues must clarify about the opt-out option. "You are a professional body. Must take care of your candidates. There could be a case where one candidate is appearing in two sets of papers," said the bench.

The bench then asked ICAI to issue fresh guidelines by incorporating the suggestions made and posted the matter for further hearing on July 2.

"The ICAI counsel may take instructions and file the modified draft notification setting out the changes," said the top court.

The India Wide Parents Association had filed a PIL in the Supreme Court to seek quashing of a ICAI notification in order to allow CA aspirants to opt out of the exams to be held this year.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
With the Centre taking a tough stand on imports from China amid the border tensions, several industries that depended on inputs from that country are facing delay in getting their supplies as the goods are held up at ports and airports and are being subjected to stricter Customs scrutiny.

Several industry bodies, from apparel to electronics, have written to the government urging faster Customs clearance as delays might affect the manufacturing process.

Citing the gravity of situation, in a letter to Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Chairman M. Ajit Kumar, the Apparel Exporters Promotion Councils said the delay in clearances of goods was adding to the crisis for the industry that was gearing up to get back to the normal after easing of lockdown in India and other countries.

The delay was impacting operations and might cause further financial losses, it said.

"Lately, Customs authorities at several ports are doing 100 per cent examination of goods originating from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. It has created undue delay in clearance of imported inputs meant for production of garments for exports," AEPC Chairman A. Sakthivel wrote.

In a letter dated June 23, the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) said the 'adverse' action by the Customs would impact over 200 mobile and electronic manufacturing units, set up following the 'Make in India', 'Digital India' and 'Phased Manufacturing Programme' initiatives.

"There was refusal to clear, followed by delays. And now, about 100 per cent examination. The logistics of seamless movement is in total disarray," ICEA Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo wrote to the Finance Minister.

Mohindroo said companies had received word from Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi airports about the new examination procedure for all China-origin consignment. The 100 per cent examination of only China-origin goods be stopped to help supply chain move without hurdles, he urged the Finance Minister.

MAIT, industry body representing the information and communications technology sector, feels importers with 'authorized economic operator' (AEO) status should be excluded from such rigorous scrutiny.

"We understand the step of thorough inspection of containers was being taken to safeguard India's interests. In such a case, as an industry we suggest importers with AEO status, also called Green Chanel Importers, be excluded from it as they are GOI-validated entities. As citizens of India, we will stand by decisions the government may deem fit to take," said George Paul, CEO, MAIT.

As the call grows for lowering dependence on Chinese imports and becoming self-reliant, experts and industry players have cautioned against knee-jerk reaction and sought building of adequate infrastructure and supply chain in the country.

The impact of such action at the moment might be severe as industries were reeling under financial crisis post-lockdown, experts said.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
The University of Montana's Family Medicine Residency Program had 10 new graduates on Sunday who will work in medically underserved areas in Montana, Alaska, Idaho.

In Montana, 52 out of 56 counties are considered underserved, and 11 counties typically having no physicians of any kind. Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana was formed in 2013 to combat that problem.

When it was created Montana ranked 50th in the nation for graduate medical education positions per capita, now the state is ranked 46th.

We are proud to congratulate our graduates and welcome them as new family physician colleagues, FMRWM program director Dr. Robert Stenger said, As in prior years, about three-quarters of FMRWM graduates remain in practice in Montana. This years graduates will enter practice in Browning, Ronan, Kalispell and Missoula, as well as rural communities in Alaska and Idaho.

FMRWM works with an extensive rural training network of 16 sites in Dillon, Browning, Lewistown, Plains, Anaconda, Deer Lodge, Eureka, Ennis, Hamilton, Libby, Polson, Sheridan, Ronan, Butte, Stevensville, and St. Ignatius.
BILLINGS, Mont. - As a part of Governor Steve Bullock's plan to reopen Montana, free surveillance testing for COVID-19 has been taking place across the state.

On Saturday, June 20th, Billings residents got their chance to be tested.

Many Magic City residents got up bright and early looking for some peace of mind during these tough times.

RiverStone Health plans to test 2,000 people who are showing no signs or symptoms of the virus.

Residents who have traveled out of state or were involved in recent public rallies are encouraged to participate in the free testing to prevent any future spikes in cases.

"And if we do find positives, we are definitely following up with those individuals to do the contact investigation and contact tracing to see if we can determine if they traveled, if they have been involved in large groups in our community, to try and find out where there may be other spread that we don't know about.", said Shawn Hinz, Vice President of Public Health Services at RiverStone Health.

Participants will receive a phone call or letter with in two weeks, letting them know if they are positive or not.

Health officials say if you find out you don't have Coronavirus, to continue following those recommended guidelines, "Practice good hand washing, social distancing, making sure you're wearing masks when you're in public, maintaining that vigilance around, who you're around and the environment that you are in.", said Hinz.

Click on the link to find out more about the community COVID-19 testing event, https://riverstonehealth.org/public-health-preventing-disease/2019-novel-coronavirus/free-drive-thru-covid-19-testing/.

You can also call RiverStone Health public health information line at 406-651-6415 for more information.
Oak Hill, WV (25901)

Today

Partly cloudy early. Scattered thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 84F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms in the evening, overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low 58F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
EAST ROCKHILL  The announcement at the beginning of the June 16 Pennridge School Board meeting that the district planned to make mask wearing optional when classes start again in the fall brought applause from some in the audience who had come to argue against mask requirements.
By Philip Giraldi

June 29, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Sometimes listening to the morning news on television is a bit like entering into an alternate universe. Last Wednesday, the day after primary elections in New York State, CBS News reported that New York Congressman Eliot Engel was facing a challenge from Democratic Party challenger Jamaal Bowman. NBC News reported that Engel was trailing. The reality, according to the New York Times tally of the results that morning was that Bowman had beaten Engel by a margin to 60.9% versus 35.6% with more than 82% of votes counted. Even though it posted the numbers, the Times felt compelled to describe the apparently impending lopsided loss as if it were something less than that, as a stiff challenge for Engel.

The media deference to Engel derives from the fact that he is a protected species, possibly the leading Israel-firster in Congress. In 2003, Engel supported the invasion of Iraq and in the following year he organized a group of fellow congressmen to demand cuts in the U.S. contribution to the United Nations office that assists Palestinian refugees. He attended the infamous Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu address to Congress in 2015 that many other Democratic lawmakers boycotted due to the insult to President Obama and afterwards called Netanyahus speech compelling.

Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, Andrew Cuomo and Nancy Pelosi all had endorsed Engel, who has been in Congress for going on 32 years and currently heads the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Clinton explained that Engel is deeply committed to working with our allies to maintain American leadership on the global stage. She was, of course, referring to Israel.

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Engel was also endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus even though Bowman is black, a demonstration of how politics in Washington works. Engel will in any event likely be replaced to chair the Foreign Affairs committee by a similar Jewish Israel-firster Brad Sherman of California, but his imminent defeat has already sent a shockwave through the centers of pro-Israel power in the United States.

Bowman, a progressive so-called Justice Democrat, is on record as favoring cuts in aid for Israel based on its human rights record. He has attacked Engel for being on the dole financially from defense contractors and also for being an active promoter of a military attack on Iran, even though the Iranians pose no threat to the United States. He has, in fact, made Israel something of an issue in his campaign, pointing out that Engel had been one of the few Democratic members of the House of Representatives to vote against President Barack Obamas Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015. The JCPOA was the major foreign policy achievement of the Obama Administration and it set up a framework to prevent Iran from taking steps to produce a nuclear weapon. It was strongly opposed by Israel and its American lobby even though the agreement enhanced U.S. national security.

In 2016, after the Obama administration abstained on a United Nations resolution condemning Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, Engel responded with a House resolution condemning the U.N. Engel often in his career has boasted about his close relationship with Israel. Speaking at the 2018 national convention of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the U.S.s principal Israeli lobby, he boasted how 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. Some might suggest that serving in one countrys legislature and working for the interests of another country amounts to treason.

The other good news coming out of New York was that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won her district with 72.6% of the vote. AOC, controversial to be sure but no friend of the Israel Lobby, was running against Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, a CNBC reporter. As is often the case, there is considerable back story to the two races and that back story is Jewish money, lots of it, intended to re-elect Engel and get rid of Ocasio-Cortez. Engel received more that $1.5 million from one group alone, the so-called Democratic Majority for Israel and also obtained large sums bundled by the AIPAC-tied group Pro-Israel America as well as from other Jewish groups. AOC was opposed by the not surprisingly well-funded Caruso-Cabrera, whose money largely came from pro-Israel and Jewish affiliated organizations

And more bad news appears to be coming from the Hudson Valley district currently held by yet another Israel-first congresswoman Representative Nita Lowey, who is retiring. Mondaire Jones, a gay Harvard-educated lawyer, has the lead based on early returns. Jones calls himself a progressive and he is unlikely to emerge as a cheerleader for Israel if he is elected.

Representing parts of Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York City, Carolyn Maloney, who chairs the Oversight and Reform Committee, is meanwhile maintaining a small lead over Democratic challenger Suraj Patel. Maloney describes herself on her website as a strong supporter of Israel and Jewish issues. In fact, she goes far beyond that, actively sponsoring and otherwise promoting legislation favorable to Israel and the Jewish community, most recently being the sponsor of the waste of taxpayer money in promoting the holocaust myth through H.R.943, the Never Again Education Act. Maloney is hanging on to a slim lead against Patel, though numerous postal and absentee votes have not yet been counted and the outcome could go either way. Nevertheless, it is undoubtedly a shock to the Israel Lobby that a completely reliable Maloney might be in danger of losing her seat.

To be sure, Congress continues to be Israeli occupied territory, as Pat Buchanan once put it. Last week 116 out of 198 Republican congressmen signed a letter to President Donald Trump asserting their support for Israels annexation of much of the West Bank, due to start shortly. The letter stated that the annexation was justified based on the critical premise that Israel should never be forced to compromise its security, indicating very clearly that actual U.S. national interests had nothing to do with it.

What is surprising about the Republican letter is that it was not unanimous, and the loss of Engel, replacement of Lowey and possible defeat of Maloney could be indications of a real shift among voters regarding what has been an assiduously cultivated overwhelmingly positive view of the Jewish State. Recent opinion polls suggest that a majority of Americans do not support either Israeli expansion or its form of apartheid.

Israel is feeling somewhat vulnerable. Its Lobby stalwarts in the media and in politics are working hard to disengage the current anti-racism turmoil in the U.S. from any mention of Israel, which trained American police in their anti-terror tactics. The Jewish state also practices a far more virulent and brutal racism than anything prevailing in America, something that is becoming increasingly clear to the public. It is early days to be hopeful, but the New York primary election results, coming as they do from a state where Jewish groups wield enormous power, just might be an indication that some things are about to change.

Philip M. Giraldi is a former CIA counter-terrorism specialist and military intelligence officer who served nineteen years overseas in Turkey, Italy, Germany, and Spain. He was the CIA Chief of Base for the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 and was one of the first Americans to enter Afghanistan in December 2001. Phil is Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest, a Washington-based advocacy group that seeks to encourage and promote a U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East that is consistent with American values and interests. - " Source " -

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.

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Federal financial aid  which was intended to get households and businesses back on their feet amid the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic  is being taken advantage of by a significant number of cheaters, the Canada Revenue Agency has reported.

CRA told CBC that it is looking into more than 3,300 tips of benefit abuse as of June 21. This swelled from the 600 leads on May 31, and the 1,300 tips just over a week after.

CBC reported that around 361,000 repayments for CERB have already been made by Canadians who werent eligible for the program  up from the 190,000 repayments as of June 3.

CRA provided assurances that it conducts thorough pre-payment verifications and post-payment reviews on every applicant. The agency said that all repayments so far have been voluntary.

The agency did not release exact numbers, however. It also said that it will not provide monetary rewards for legitimate leads on suspected cheating.

The Canada Revenue Agency does track the number of fraudulent CERB claims, but to protect the integrity of our processes, these specific statistics are not available at this time, CRA said.

Conservative MP Dan Albas said that the confusion stems from the unclear eligibility rules.

For months, Justin Trudeau has failed to take the issue of CERB fraud seriously. Instead of listening and fixing the gaps in existing programs, the Trudeau Liberals are giving hundreds of millions of dollars to fraudsters, Albas said. This is wrong. Conservatives will continue to make sure taxpayers are respected while ensuring support gets to Canadians who need it.
Newton Connectivity Systems has partnered with TransUnion to offer free credit reports to Canadian brokers on their Velocity platform for the balance of 2020.

Geoff Willis, president & CEO of Newton, expects this offer will save brokers collectively around $2 million. He says the firm is offering the promotion to drive competition in the credit bureau space, creating a more robust service offering and innovative market for the benefit of brokers and lenders. In addition to the promotion, Willis and his team are pushing those lenders that still dont leverage TransUnion data to accommodate the firms reporting.

In the mortgage brokerage channel theres always been one player and that's Equifax, Willis says. We want to change the dynamic. We want to see more competition. I don't think it's really ever a good idea to have one choice. I think also because we've seen some failures on the part of outages by both Equifax and Filogix. You feel very vulnerable when you have a single point of failure in an industry. We want to get people to know that they have more than one choice.

Willis says that TransUnion was chosen for this promotion as the industry up and comer, one that brokers wouldnt know as well. He says the promotion is an effort to change behaviour on the part of brokers, who often pick the report before they pick a lender. A free report from TransUnion, Willis says, will get them to flip that order, especially as Equifax now undergoes significant rule changes.

Willis says that some lenders still dont accept TransUnion reports, the largest being TD bank, but both Newton and TransUnion have been hard at work changing that. Willis says that as of now three quarters of lenders will accept the TransUnion reports, and his team is hard at work whittling down that final quarter.

Prior to launching the promotion, Willis says his team focused heavily on lender advocacy. In that work theyve already been able to turn some lenders towards accepting TransUnion, including MCAP, Home Trust, and RMG. He says that the process will take time as each lender puts this work through their own internal processes, but the end result will be a credit bureau market with genuine competition.

Fostering competition is a core piece of Newtons business philosophy. Theyve been working with brokers to transition from Expert to their Velocity platform, which Willis says is a modern, more comprehensive solution for brokers. He says the promotion, subsidized by both Newton and TransUnion, is designed to drive more brokers to take up Veolicy and begin using TransUnion.

There is no real catch for brokers, Willis says. We're taking a flyer on the idea that we can actually change how the industry operates as it relates to credit bureaus.

Willis accepts that adopting a new tech platform comes with challenges and while hes confident the promotion will fit seamlessly into Velocitys automated integration with both Equifax and TransUnion, he and his team are ready for uptake from brokers, offering support, training, and regular webinars on how to optimally use their platform.

He says that now is the time to take advantage of the promotion. As brokers start getting back to business, having weathered the brutal storm of the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, he says theyll go back encountering the regular cost of the credit bureau. His promotion is a chance, Willis says, for brokers to save on one expense for the rest of the year and turn that money back into building up their pipeline. By years end, he hopes to have injected a new level of competition into the credit bureau space.

I think it's going to mean a chance to have more choice, Willis says. I think [brokers] already believe the idea that the one choice is no choice whether it be Equifax or Filogix. We need to be diversified. We need to have choices.
CMLS Financial has launched AMI, an automated online tool that streamlines the mortgage approval process with power, speed and accuracy the only software of its kind in the Canadian lender market, and the future of mortgage innovation
Dave Butler was a hustler right from the start. Long before founding Butler Mortgage and reaching number one on CMPs Top 75 Broker list three years running, Butler and his current business partner, Daniel Patton, were already dipping their toes into the risk/reward game by running a bookie operation at their high school.

We were kind of already in business, Butler laughs. We were always searching for the next opportunity to work together.

The lifelong friends kept it up at the University of Toronto, where the pots kept getting larger. It was obvious, even before mortgages came into the picture, that the two had a thirst for doing the things others deemed too risky. That same urge drives Butler today.

Its doing something that others may not, he says. When people fear things, thats what lures me to them. We were all in on risk because it felt like others werent. But it felt like a calculated risk.

When Butler graduated with a commerce degree in 2002, his exposure to the mortgage space was considerable: His father, Ron, had spent decades establishing a presence in the business, but following in his fathers footsteps wasnt exactly Butlers first choice.

I remember saying, Id never want to do what you do, Dad. It seems like its really painful sometimes, Butler says.

A few months later, they were coworkers.

The rise

Butler took to mortgages like a bear to a honey pot. After working alongside his father for eight months, he felt confident enough to head out on his own. But he knew he would have to do it a different way.

His dad is what Butler calls a hyper marketer, a firm believer in direct mail who worked himself to the bone attracting new clients. While the strategy had been highly successful, Butler sensed a more direct path to steady business that wouldnt require him to spend money on marketing materials he couldnt afford: targeting real estate agents and their investor clients.

It was a numbers thing for me, he says. My dad always said that you deal with a customer once every three years. It made sense that if an investor is possibly buying five properties in a year, thats five mortgages.

After eight months of father-son brokering, Ron Butler convinced Peter Doherty at Mortgage Intelligence that his son was ready for his own team. Six months later, Butler and Patton got the band back together. I said, Dan, lets go. Im ready. Lets build this thing up, Butler recalls. And we were off to the races.

But the two were young and still relatively unproven. To make a name for themselves, they would need to find an edge, and they did so by accessing the same mentality that had made them such successful bookies: Do what others are afraid to do. In Butlers case, that meant taking on a punishing workload.

I remember thinking, These guys all have families. Theyre not going to work 16-hour days. Theyre past that. Thats my opening, he says. That was one thing I was able to draw on from my dad. If everyones putting in eight [hours] but youre putting in 12 or 13, over time, its going to show.

Butler worked himself ragged, but every increase in production was a sign to keep going, to do a little more tomorrow. He maintained the same Red-Bull-for-breakfast (and lunch and dinner) pace for an astonishing 12 years, capturing his first CMP Top Broker title along the way, but his body and his business were at opposite ends of the health spectrum.

After polishing off Easter dinner in 2018, Butler went down to his office, cracked a Red Bull and settled in to do some work. After 90 minutes of wondering why his chest was hurting, a Google search told him he was having a heart attack.

The reset

Butler and his wife drove to the hospital, where he discovered his blood pressure was a shocking 210/110. Two arteries on the right side of his heart had blockages of at least 90%, prompting emergency surgery. Butler eventually returned home with a shiny new stent as a souvenir.

He remembers lying in the recovery room, surrounded by far older, far sicker people; one of them had been dead on the floor before being resuscitated only hours ago, another was moaning in agony. Butler was 39. I just felt like that was not the right spot for me at that time in my life, he says.

The changes came fast. Staying alive become a priority for Butler for the first time in his life, forcing a serious rethink of his work habits and the areas of the business that could be further automated and streamlined.

I had no balance, he says. And as much as that got me where it got me in my career, it also got me on an operating table getting a piece of metal put in my heart. I have some balance now.

The Butler Mortgage team, formed in 2011 and consisting of Butler, his brother, his father and Patton, also had to adjust to account for the absence of their recovering leader. Butler believes the brokerages continued success since his heart attack can be directly linked to the rest of the team stepping in and stepping up back in 2018.

Now, 70 pounds lighter and brimming with the energy that comes from running an increasingly profitable, increasingly innovative business, Butler can focus on more than just mortgages. Without the confidence he has in his team, which allows him the luxury of stepping away from the office and tending to his long-neglected health, Butler might not even be alive today.

Its little surprise that the man he credits most for his teams success is the same one who was there right at the beginning. Dans like my second captain, he says. He gets none of the recognition because hes not the broker of record, but having someone like him in my corner to rally the troops and get them to change their mindset  Im super lucky.
Kyle Green loves people and numbers, so it made perfect sense when he found his way into the mortgage world and very quickly figured out how to differentiate himself from others in the business. Early on in his career, Green started working with investors in Vancouver while also growing his own real estate portfolio. He soon realized that creating a niche is a critical step for any broker looking to grow their mortgage book. Pairing his personal interest in real estate wealth with his affinity for financing solutions became Greens ticket to success.

I just click with investors, he says. They are more analytical in nature compared to the average homebuyer. Investment deals are a lot more challenging, and I love putting that puzzle together and solving a clients problem.

Starting in the industry at age 19, Green needed to find a way to stand out among the crowd. Building his knowledge and experience within the narrow pillar of investment financing gave him a leg up on the competition and took his age out of the equation. While being young in the mortgage industry can often translate to being inexperienced, Green found a way to turn it into a competitive advantage.

As soon as I started seeing success, I leveraged that, and my age became less important, he says. Plus, now that Im leading a team and building my company, being a young, charismatic guy helps promote a great working culture.

Green opened his own shop in 2009, focusing his business almost entirely on property investors and building a team of young, energetic professionals with a similar mindset. Today, he leads a team of eight: two documents people who work hand-in-hand with two underwriters, plus a commercial and private lending underwriter, two account managers who act as the primary point of contact for clients and a general manager who holds the team together. This strong team has become a stable foundation for the company to grow into the future.

It took a couple of years for me to become a good mortgage broker, but it took a lot longer to learn how to be a good businessperson, Green says. As my business evolved, I began to understand the importance of systems and processes, which has been a big focus of mine for the last couple years.

Developing a positive team culture has been paramount, he says, as it allows him to better attract talent and retain good employees.

This business is stressful and can be really tough on people, he says. We embrace the fact that mistakes will happen, learn from them and try our best not to make the same mistake twice.

Greens growing team has also proved to be a competitive advantage. Working with investors is often more challenging than a typical transaction, he explains, and having a larger team allows Green to accommodate big fluctuations in business and volume while still giving each deal the extra time and attention it requires. It also allows him to take on more of an advisory role and leave much of the operations in the very capable hands of his team members.

When doing more complicated deals, advice becomes more valuable compared to pricing, he says. When your niche is complicated, it creates really sticky clients. They know they arent likely to get the same level of expertise and service elsewhere.

In recent months, Green has doubled down on his digital marketing strategies to stay top of mind with existing and prospective clients. From email campaigns to social media marketing, the team has been working hard to reconnect and re-engage with people online.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we cut expenses almost everywhere, except for our social media presence, Green says. People are spending more time online, so we actually ramped up our digital marketing.

His mission in the coming months is to continue building the Green Mortgage Teams digital presence by updating the brokerages database and producing more focused, relevant content. The most successful businesses, Green says, are the ones who can best adapt to change, and in the current environment, that rings truer than ever.

If youve been a mortgage broker for the last 10 to 15 years, theres been a hell of a lot of change in our industry, he says, and the ones who can continually adapt and manoeuvre are the ones that will come out ahead.

Reflecting on the start of his journey in the mortgage industry, Green says that while the heyday of easy deals might be over, the complex nature of the industry will only drive business to the more skilled brokers. The nice thing about working with investors is when times get tough, we get busy, he says.
MOULTRIE [mdash] Gary Ray Riggins, age 67 of Colquitt County died Monday June 14, 2021 at his home surrounded by family Celebrations of Life Services are being planned and will be announced later Gary was born September 17, 1953 in Moultrie Ga. to the late Curtis R. and Martha Latrail Holmes
Home Search ICH EU Should 'Reflect' on Possible US Withdrawal From 'Role of World Leader: Merkel Says By Oleg Burunov June 29, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Last week, US President Donald Trump confirmed media reports that he wants to pull 9,500 soldiers from Germany to bring down the count to 25,000, after accusing Berlin of being "delinquent" in its defence spending. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged European countries to think about a new reality when it comes to America's global clout. "We grew up in the certain knowledge that the United States wanted to be a world power. Should the US now wish to withdraw from that role of its own free will, we would have to reflect on that very deeply", Merkel said in an interview with a group of six European newspapers, including The Guardian, on Friday. Touching upon the American troop presence in Germany, she said that it helps to protect "not only Germany and the European part of NATO but also the interests of the United States of America". The chancellor also singled out Berlins military spending, saying that "we have to spend more on defence" and that "we have achieved considerable increases in recent years, and we will continue on that path to enhance our military capabilities". On NATO, Merkel cited "compelling reasons to remain committed to a transatlantic defence community and our shared nuclear umbrella", adding that "of course Europe needs to carry more of the burden than during the Cold War". Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Merkels Stance on Brexit Additionally, she mentioned Brexit and argued that Britain will have to "live with the consequences" of Prime Minister Boris Johnson scrapping his predecessor Theresa Mays blueprint to bolster a close economic relationship with the EU after the UKs withdrawal from the bloc. "We need to let go of the idea that it is for us to define what Britain should want. That is for Britain to define  and we, the EU27, will respond appropriately", Merkel said. She warned that "if Britain does not want to have rules on the environment and the labour market or social standards that compare with those of the EU, our relations will be less close". According to the chancellor, "that will mean it [the UK] does not want standards to go on developing along parallel lines". Merkel Calls for 'Constructive Dialogue With Russia' Separately, she underscored the need "to keep engaging in constructive dialogue with Russia", saying that there are "good reasons for it". "In countries like Syria and Libya, countries in Europes immediate neighbourhood, Russias strategic influence is great. I will therefore continue to strive for cooperation", Merkel pointed out. US Troop Cut in Germany The interview came after US President Donald Trump last week confirmed media reports about American troop reductions in Germany, also accusing the country of being "delinquent in their payments to NATO" and claiming that Berlin owes the alliance billions of dollars. In early June, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had directed the Defence Department to move 9,500 US troops, or nearly a third of the contingent in Germany, out of the country. At present, 34,500 US troops are stationed in Germany, along with 17,000 US civilians and 12,000 German citizens who work at local military bases. The WSJ added that discussions about the US troop reduction started in September 2019 and the move isn't linked to German Chancellor Angela Merkels decision not to take part in the G7 summit originally scheduled for June. - " Source " The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. 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.
ODESSA -- The Odessa City Council voted 5-1 Monday against a mayoral order regarding a health and safety policy and face-covering guideline within the city limits.

The overwhelming vote against the order followed significant criticism from the public about the mandate, including one person who threatened to take up arms against the city if a mandate were put into place. Most people told the council they believed wearing a mask should be a choice, that a mask mandate took away their freedoms and/or that they promised to vote out of office council members who supported the mandate.
Midland Mayor Patrick Payton reacted to Gov. Greg Abbotts executive orders on Friday by saying that the city will continue to discuss application and strategy among council and city staff and be ready to address in more detail at the beginning of the week.

The city of Midland has announced that the mayor will hold an online press conference Monday.

Abbott took action on Friday to close bars, reduce the number of people in restaurants and restrict to 100 the total number of people who could gather outside (with exceptions). His order was a response to the spike in coronavirus cases across the state. As of Friday, that number topped 137,000 Texans, according to the Department of State Health Services website.

The Midland Health Department reported Friday that the number of confirmed cases rose to 563. At the beginning of the month, the total was 129.

It appears to me the governors orders are indicative of the fact we are still trying to figure out how to get to a safe place with COVID-19, Payton told the Reporter-Telegram in an email. At the local level, it is once again very difficult to abide by statewide mandates that apply broadly to the state but with confusion on what is necessary and actionable at the local level. I believe we as a city are on the right course.

When it comes down to details and application, we have to do what is right for the state but with Midland as our highest priority and front and center of our decisions.

The mayor said during a call Thursday that he expected that council meetings will return to an online format. The city reported Friday that all employees and visitors shall wear face coverings/masks when entering and moving about in the common areas (corridors, hallways, lobbies and elevators) of (Midland) City Hall.

Payton also said the residents will have to aggressively practice the personal application of masks and proper hygiene to make progress in combating the virus. He stopped short of a mandate requiring residents wear a mask, which he said would be difficult to enforce.
George Floyds Autopsy and the Structural Gaslighting of America



The weaponization of medical language emboldened white supremacy with the authority of the white coat. How will we stop it from happening again?



By Ann Crawford-Roberts

June 29, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The world was gaslit by misreporting about George Floyds initial autopsy report. As concerned physicians, we write to deconstruct the misinformation and condemn the ways this weaponization of medical language reinforced white supremacy at the torment of Black Americans.

Gaslighting is a method of psychological manipulation employed to make a victim question their own sanity, particularly in scenarios where they are mistreated. The term comes from a 1938 play and, later, a popular film, wherein a predatory husband abuses his wife in a plot to have her committed to a mental institution. He dims the gas lights in their home; then, when she comments on the darkness, knowingly rejects her observation and uses it as evidence that shes gone insane. Its a torturous tactic employed to destroy a persons trust in their own perception of reality. Its a devastating distraction from oppression. Its insidious. And it happened recently when millions of people who had seen nine agonizing minutes of murder were told by an autopsy report that they hadnt.

In America, widespread anti-Black violence is often paired with structural gaslighting. Racism, after all, thrives when blame for its outcomes are misattributed. When Black families are refused loans in criminally discriminatory housing schemes, their credit is blamed. When youth of color are disproportionately stopped and frisked, they are told the process is random, and for their safety.

And when Black people are killed by police, their character and even their anatomy is turned into justification for their killers exoneration. Its a well-honed tactic. One analysis of the national database of state-level death certificate data found that fewer than half of law enforcementrelated deaths were reported. In addition to this undercounting, police actions were further minimized by the use of diagnostic codes that incorrectly labeled the cause of death as accidental or undetermined rather than police-related. For centuries, our systems have relied on this psychological torturea host of mental gymnasticsto deny the truth of what Black people have always known. The cause of death is racism.

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On May 29, the country was told that the autopsy of George Floyd revealed no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxiation, and that potential intoxicants and preexisting cardiovascular disease likely contributed to his death. This requires clarification. Importantly, these commonly quoted phrases did not come from a physician, but were taken from a charging document that utilized politicized interpretations of medical information. As doctors, we wish to highlight for the public that this framing of the circumstances surrounding Floyds death was at best, a misinterpretation, and at worst, a deliberate obfuscation.

A timeline of events illustrates how a series of omissions and commissions regarding Mr. Floyds initial autopsy results deceptively fractured the truth. On May 28, a statement released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiners office reported ongoing investigations and acknowledgement from the forensic pathologist that an autopsy  must be interpreted in the context of the pertinent investigative information. As per standardized medical examination, Floyds underlying health conditions and toxicology screen were documented. These are ordinary findings that do not suggest causation of death, yet headlines and the May 29 charging document falsely overstated the role of Floyds coronary artery disease and hypertension, which increase the risk of stroke and heart attack over years, not minutes. Asphyxiasuffocationdoes not always demonstrate physical signs, as other physician groups have noted.

Without this important medical context, however, the public was left to reconcile manipulated medical language with the evidence they had personally witnessed. Ultimately, the initial report overstated and misrepresented the role of chronic medical conditions, inappropriately alluded to intoxicants, and failed to acknowledge the stark reality that but for the defendants knee on George Floyds neck, he would not be dead today.

By Monday, June 1, in the context of widespread political pressure, the public received two reports: the preliminary autopsy report commissioned by Floyds family by private doctors, andshortly thereaftera summary of the preliminary autopsy from the Hennepin County Medical Examiners Office. Both reports stated that the cause of Floyds death was homicide: death at the hands of another.

By inaccurately portraying the medical findings from the autopsy of George Floyd, the legal system and media emboldened white supremacy, all under the cloak of authoritative scientific rhetoric. They took standard components of a preliminary autopsy report to cast doubt, to sow uncertainty; to gaslight America into thinking we didnt see what we know we saw. In doing so, they perpetuated stereotypes about disease, risky behavior and intoxication in Black bodies to discredit a victim of murder. This state of affairs is not an outlierit is part of a patterned and tactical distortion of facts wherein autopsy reports are manipulated to bury police violence and uphold white supremacy. As Ida B. Wells said, Those who commit the murders write the reports. A similar conflict of interest between police departments and medical examiners offices continues today.

As physicians, we will not be complicit in the ongoing manipulation of medical expertise to erase government-sanctioned violence. Though we are relieved that two independent examinations invalidated the preliminary findings in the charging document and the headlines that deceitfully undermined Chauvins culpability in Floyds murder, our initial incense is not replaced by celebration.

For three days, Black Americans satand still sitwith the all-too-familiar pangs of being told that the truth is not true. Of fearing that the law would believe a physicians report over the reality they saw with their own eyes, and have lived with their own lives. It's a miscarriage of justice that deepens the cut; not only can Black people be killed with impunity; a physicians autopsy report can be twisted to replace the truth.

Medical science has long been used for the consolidation of power rather than for solidarity with the oppressed. We see how Black mothers are blamed for their own mortality in childbirth and how starkly high rates of COVID death in Black communities are preposterously misattributed to differences in hormone receptors or clotting factors; all the while letting racism off the hook.

We wish to remind fellow physicians that medical science has never been objective. It has never existed in a vacuum; there have and will always be social, political and legal ramifications of our work. Our assessments may be employed in criminal justice cases; our toxicology screens may have profound effects on the livelihood of patients; our diagnoses may perpetuate sexist and racist stereotypes. Our lack of ill intent cannot be our alibiwe must be accountable for not just our work but also how it is used, lest our medicine becomes the very weapon that harms. Medicine requires inclusion of the social context of disease in order to uphold its sacred oath of doing no harm. If we focus only on molecular pathways and neglect to articulate the role of structural inequitiesof racismin our country, our reports on the causes of death and injury in our patients will erase the roles of their oppressors.

We also write to remind our physician colleagues that the medical field is a place ripe for gaslighting. Bolstered by the perceived strength and legitimacy of a white coat and a stethoscope, our diagnoses and conclusionsabout physical or psychological abnormalities, about causes of illness and deathhave the power to eclipse reality, as weve seen in the case of George Floyd. Often, we stand by while other agents co-opt our frameworks, obscure our research and weaponize our language in the service of oppression.

The declarations, the truths, the realities of Black people in America are too often disregarded. Across the nation, Black people are suffocating under the weight of anti-Black hatred. They cannot breathe. And even as they gasp for air, structural gaslighting operates to deny the truths of the causes of their suffocation.

We write as physicians to denounce this psychological manipulation. We write to apologize for the discrimination our patients of color have received in the hospital under our watch, we write in gratitude for the tireless labor of Black activists, and we write to condemn how medicine has been weaponized in the service of white supremacy. We write to validate what Black people already knowhave always knownthat racism is a most pressing public health crisis. We pledge to fight this crisis as if our own breath depended on it.

Ann Crawford-Roberts, M.D., M.P.H., is a psychiatrist in Los Angeles. - - " Source " -

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.

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Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

Midland County Hospital District Proposition A and runoff for district judge are the two items on the ballot for the July 14 election in Midland County. Early voting begins today and continues through July 10.

Proposition A is for a quarter-cent increase to the sales tax collected in the city and the county. The sales tax on eligible items inside the city currently is 8 percent; the cap inside the state of Texas is 8.25 percent. The revenue from a county-wide sales tax increase could raise up to $30 million a year -- money that proponents believe will help make up for cuts in federal funding.
Muskogee, OK (74401)

Today

Thunderstorms in the morning, then cloudy with rain likely in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 53F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
Home Search ICH Americas Revolutionary Founders Would Be Anti-Government Extremists Today By John W. Whitehead It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government.Thomas Paine When the government violates the peoples rights, insurrection is, for the people and for each portion of the people, the most sacred of the rights and the most indispensable of duties.Marquis De Lafayette June 29, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Had the Declaration of Independence been written today, it would have rendered its signers extremists or terrorists, resulting in them being placed on a government watch list, targeted for surveillance of their activities and correspondence, and potentially arrested, held indefinitely, stripped of their rights and labeled enemy combatants. This is no longer the stuff of speculation and warning. In fact, Attorney General William Barr recently announced plans to target, track and surveil anti-government extremists and preemptively nip in the bud any threats to public safety and the rule of law. It doesnt matter that the stated purpose of Barrs anti-government extremist task force is to investigate dissidents on the far right (the boogaloo movement) and far left (antifa, a loosely organized anti-fascist group) who have been accused of instigating violence and disrupting peaceful protests. Boogaloo and Antifa have given the government the perfect excuse for declaring war (with all that entails: surveillance, threat assessments, pre-crime, etc.) against so-called anti-government extremists. Without a doubt, Americas revolutionary founders would have been at the top of Barrs list. After all, the people who fomented the American Revolution spoke out at rallies, distributed critical pamphlets, wrote scathing editorials and took to the streets in protest. They were rebelling against a government they saw as being excessive in its taxation and spending. For their efforts, they were demonized and painted as an angry mob, extremists akin to terrorists, by the ruler of the day, King George III. Of course, it doesnt take much to be considered an anti-government extremist (a.k.a. domestic terrorist) today. If you believe in and exercise your rights under the Constitution (namely, your right to speak freely, worship freely, associate with like-minded individuals who share your political views, criticize the government, own a weapon, demand a warrant before being questioned or searched by the police, or any other activity viewed as potentially anti-government, racist, bigoted, anarchic or sovereign), youre at the top of the governments terrorism watch list. Indeed, under Barrs new task force, I and every other individual today who dares to speak truth to power could also be targeted for surveillance, because what were really dealing with is a government that wants to suppress dangerous wordswords about its warring empire, words about its land grabs, words about its militarized police, words about its killing, its poisoning and its corruptionin order to keep its lies going. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter This is how the government plans to snuff out any attempts by we the people to stand up to its tyranny: under the pretext of rooting out violent extremists, the governments anti-extremism program will, in many cases, be utilized to render otherwise lawful, nonviolent activities as potentially extremist. The danger is real. Keep in mind that the government agencies involved in ferreting out American extremists will carry out their objectivesto identify and deter potential extremistsin concert with fusion centers, data collection agencies, behavioral scientists, corporations, social media, and community organizers and by relying on cutting-edge technology for surveillance, facial recognition, predictive policing, biometrics, and behavioral epigenetics (in which life experiences alter ones genetic makeup). This is pre-crime on an ideological scale and its been a long time coming. For example, in 2009, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released two reports, one on Rightwing Extremism, which broadly defines rightwing extremists as individuals and groups that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely, and one on Leftwing Extremism, which labeled environmental and animal rights activist groups as extremists Incredibly, both reports use the words terrorist and extremist interchangeably That same year, the DHS launched Operation Vigilant Eagle, which calls for surveillance of military veterans returning from Iraq, Afghanistan and other far-flung places, characterizing them as extremists and potential domestic terrorist threats because they may be disgruntled, disillusioned or suffering from the psychological effects of war. These reports indicate that for the government, anyone seen as opposing the governmentwhether theyre Left, Right or somewhere in betweencan be labeled an extremist. Fast forward a few years, and you have the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which Congress has continually re-upped, that allows the military to take you out of your home, lock you up with no access to friends, family or the courts if youre seen as an extremist. Now connect the dots, from the 2009 Extremism reports to the NDAA, the National Security Agencys far-reaching surveillance networks, and fusion centers that collect and share surveillance data between local, state and federal police agencies Add in tens of thousands of armed, surveillance drones that are beginning to blanket American skies, facial recognition technology that will identify and track you wherever you go and whatever you do. And then to complete the circle, toss in the real-time crime centers being deployed in cities across the country, which will be attempting to predict crimes and identify criminals before they happen based on widespread surveillance, complex mathematical algorithms and prognostication programs. Hopefully youre getting the picture, which is how easy it is for the government to identify, label and target individuals as extremist. And just like that, weve come full circle. Imagine living in a country where armed soldiers crash through doors to arrest and imprison citizens merely for criticizing government officials. Imagine that in this very same country, youre watched all the time, and if you look even a little bit suspicious, the police stop and frisk you or pull you over to search you on the off chance youre doing something illegal. Keep in mind that if you have a firearm of any kind (or anything that resembled a firearm) while in this country, it may get you arrested and, in some circumstances, shot by police. If youre thinking this sounds like America today, you wouldnt be far wrong. However, the scenario described above took place more than 200 years ago, when American colonists suffered under Great Britains version of an early police state. It was only when the colonists finally got fed up with being silenced, censored, searched, frisked, threatened, and arrested that they finally revolted against the tyrants fetters No document better states their grievances than the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson. A document seething with outrage over a government which had betrayed its citizens, the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, by 56 men who laid everything on the line, pledged it allour Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honorbecause they believed in a radical idea: that all people are created to be free. Labeled traitors, these men were charged with treason, a crime punishable by death. For some, their acts of rebellion would cost them their homes and their fortunes. For others, it would be the ultimate pricetheir lives. Yet even knowing the heavy price they might have to pay, these men dared to speak up when silence could not be tolerated. Read the Declaration of Independence again, and ask yourself if the list of complaints tallied by Jefferson dont bear a startling resemblance to the abuses we the people are suffering at the hands of the American police state. If you find the purple prose used by the Founders hard to decipher, heres my translation of what the Declaration of Independence would look and sound like if it were written in the modern vernacular: There comes a time when a populace must stand united and say enough is enough to the governments abuses, even if it means getting rid of the political parties in power. Believing that we the people have a natural and divine right to direct our own lives, here are truths about the power of the people and how we arrived at the decision to sever our ties to the government: All people are created equal. All people possess certain innate rights that no government or agency or individual can take away from them. Among these are the right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The governments job is to protect the peoples innate rights to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The governments power comes from the will of the people. Whenever any government abuses its power, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish that government and replace it with a new government that will respect and protect the rights of the people. It is not wise to get rid of a government for minor transgressions. In fact, as history has shown, people resist change and are inclined to suffer all manner of abuses to which they have become accustomed. However, when the people have been subjected to repeated abuses and power grabs, carried out with the purpose of establishing a tyrannical government, people have a right and duty to do away with that tyrannical Government and to replace it with a new government that will protect and preserve their innate rights for their future wellbeing. This is exactly the state of affairs we are suffering under right now, which is why it is necessary that we change this imperial system of government. The history of the present Imperial Government is a history of repeated abuses and power grabs, carried out with the intention of establishing absolute Tyranny over the country. To prove this, consider the following: The government has, through its own negligence and arrogance, refused to adopt urgent and necessary laws for the good of the people. The government has threatened to hold up critical laws unless the people agree to relinquish their right to be fully represented in the Legislature. In order to expand its power and bring about compliance with its dictates, the government has made it nearly impossible for the people to make their views and needs heard by their representatives. The government has repeatedly suppressed protests arising in response to its actions. The government has obstructed justice by refusing to appoint judges who respect the Constitution and has instead made the Courts march in lockstep with the governments dictates. The government has allowed its agents to harass the people, steal from them, jail them and even execute them. The government has directed militarized government agentsa.k.a., a standing armyto police domestic affairs in peacetime. The government has turned the country into a militarized police state. The government has conspired to undermine the rule of law and the Constitution in order to expand its own powers. The government has allowed its militarized police to invade our homes and inflict violence on homeowners. The government has failed to hold its agents accountable for wrongdoing and murder under the guise of qualified immunity. The government has jeopardized our international trade agreements. The government has overtaxed us without our permission. The government has denied us due process and the right to a fair trial. The government has engaged in extraordinary rendition. The government has continued to expand its military empire in collusion with its corporate partners-in-crime and occupy foreign nations. The government has eroded fundamental legal protections and destabilized the structure of government. The government has not only declared its federal powers superior to those of the states but has also asserted its sovereign power over the rights of we the people. The government has ceased to protect the people and instead waged domestic war against the people. The government has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, and destroyed the lives of the people. The government has employed private contractors and mercenaries to carry out acts of death, desolation and tyranny against other nations, totally unworthy of a civilized nation. The government through its political propaganda has pitted its citizens against each other. The government has stirred up civil unrest and laid the groundwork for martial law. Repeatedly, we have asked the government to cease its abuses. Each time, the government has responded with more abuse. An Imperial Ruler who acts like a tyrant is not fit to govern a free people. We have repeatedly sounded the alarm to our fellow citizens about the governments abuses. We have warned them about the governments power grabs. We have appealed to their sense of justice. We have reminded them of our common bonds. They have rejected our plea for justice and brotherhood. Thus, our fellow citizens are equally at fault for the injustices being carried out by the government. Thus, for the reasons mentioned above, we the people of the united States of America declare ourselves free from the chains of an abusive government. Relying on the Creators protection, we pledge to stand by this Declaration of Independence with our lives, our fortunes and our honor. See what I mean? The abuses meted out by an imperial government and endured by the American people have not ended. They have merely evolved. Two hundred and forty-four years after a group of anti-government extremists declared their independence from tyranny, the American people have once again managed to work their way back under the tyrants thumb. We the people are still being robbed blind by a government of thieves. We are still being taken advantage of by a government of scoundrels, idiots and monsters. We are still being locked up by a government of greedy jailers. We are still being spied on by a government of Peeping Toms. We are still being ravaged by a government of ruffians, rapists and killers. We are still being forced to surrender our freedomsand those of our childrento a government of extortionists, money launderers and corporate pirates. And we are still being held at gunpoint by a government of soldiers: a standing army in the form of a militarized police. The bipartisan coup that laid siege to our nation did not happen overnight. It snuck in under our radar, hiding behind the guise of national security, the war on drugs, the war on terror, the war on immigration, political correctness, hate crimes and a host of other official-sounding programs aimed at expanding the governments power at the expense of individual freedoms. As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People, the building blocks for the bleak future were just now getting a foretaste ofpolice shootings of unarmed citizens, profit-driven prisons, weapons of compliance, a wall-to-wall surveillance state, pre-crime programs, a suspect society, school-to-prison pipelines, militarized police, overcriminalization, SWAT team raids, endless wars, etc.were put in place by government officials we trusted to look out for our best interests and by American citizens who failed to heed James Madisons warning to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties. For too long now, we have suffered the injustices of a government that has no regard for our rights or our humanity. Weve suffered in silence for too long. Frankly, what this country desperately needs is more anti-government extremists willing to take the government to task for its excesses, abuses and power grabs that fly in the face of every principle for which Americas founders risked their lives. Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute . His new book Battlefield America: The War on the American People is available at www.amazon.com . Whitehead can be contacted at johnw@rutherford.org. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. 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.
CHAMPAIGN (AP)  Meg Moynihan knows what its like to struggle.

In 2016, she and her husband, who own an organic dairy farm in Minnesota, found themselves without a processor, which turns farm milk into a consumer product. Their farm was too far a drive for too little milk, they were told. They didnt find another processor for eight months.

Without a processor, Moynihan said they had to dump their milk. She took a leave of absence from her job with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture so she could work full-time on the farm. Her husband picked up truck driving to keep them afloat.

She said her experience is what made her decide to start the departments Farm & Rural Helpline. Although her farm isnt currently struggling, she said her personal experience makes her empathetic to farmers experiencing stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The feeling of opening a tank of fresh cold, pure Grade A milk and just watching it run out the door, now it almost makes me choke up. And thats just dumping milk, she said. Thats not going out and looking at a barn full of animals that Ive raised and realizing that they have to be destroyed because they cant go to a processor.

Farmers faced high levels of stress before the pandemic. A January Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found farmers were among the most likely to die by suicide.

But the viruss impact on agriculture has only deepened some farmers stress, experts said. Whats different this time is that every phase of farming is struggling now  money is tighter and more food is wasted, said Ted Matthews, a Minnesota psychologist who has focused on farmer stress since 1993.

Its the worst Ive ever seen, he said. In the past, dairy would be really down, but beef might be up and hogs might be up and corn and soybeans fluctuate back and forth. Every phase of farming is really down (now).

The virus has disrupted how farmers get their products to consumers. A survey by the Ohio Farm Bureau in April showed that 45% of its respondents had their distribution process disrupted, and about 65% said the pandemic had negatively or very negatively affected them.

Some data suggests more farmers are trying to find resources to manage their stress.

Farm Aid received two to three times as many calls and emails in April  as the pandemic in the United States geared up  than in an average month, according to the organization.

Matthews said that stress for farmers during the pandemic extends beyond the economy. He expects a lot of farmers to experience PTSD from having to kill off so many of their animals.

People dont realize what its like for these companies to kill healthy pigs just because theres no place to send them because COVID-19 closed those plants, he said. The high stress of that is just scary.

The pandemic is also creating family strain, Matthews said, adding that, anecdotally, hes starting to see an increase in domestic abuse and divorce.

Greg St. Aubin, owner of St. Aubin Family Farms in Manteno, said he can understand how the pandemic may be a breaking point for many farmers struggling with mental health. He knows that because hes been there.

In the early 2000s, St. Aubin took over his fathers farm. Even though he grew up on a farm, he didnt understand what it took to manage one.

He said he went through about six months of extreme anxiety, depression and even thoughts of suicide until he eventually decided he needed professional help.

Hed struggled with mental health all his life but just figured thats who he was. But he didnt have to live that way, his psychiatrist helped him realize.

The grain farmer has since learned how to handle his anxiety. He said that while he certainly had some fears when the pandemic hit, he was still able to get through planting season. But he knows that may not be the case for every farmer.

I would venture a guess theres more than one farmer that this was their fall-off-a-cliff moment, St. Aubin said.

Because he grew up near Manteno State Hospital, St. Aubin said he always thought there was a stigma associated with mental health. Even after he received help for his own depression, he was reluctant to talk about his experience.

But after realizing how many farmers are going through the same problems, he has since become an advocate for breaking the stigma. Hes even shared his own experience on social media.

I realized going to (a therapist) was no different than going to a doctor because I had diabetes or I had heart disease, he said. This should not be looked at as being something that is impossible and that you have to live with the rest of your life. Theres help out there.

Matthews said its important for farmers to focus on things they can do, rather than stress about the things out of their control.

The thing that people always need to understand is, I can handle X amount, but I dont know how much that is until I get to the breaking point, he said. With a lot of farmers, this is putting them to that breaking point.
The New York Times has announced that it has ended the partnership with Apple News+. The New York Times said that news organizations struggle to compete with large tech companies for readers attention and dollars. Starting today, The New York times will no longer appear on the Apple News app and all the previous articles will no longer show up.

The New York Times blames Apple for giving little control over the business and coming in the way of direct relationships with readers. The New York Times wants to draw readers directly to its own website and mobile app. This way it will be able to fund quality journalism.

Core to a healthy model between The Times and the platforms is a direct path for sending those readers back into our environments, where we control the presentation of our report, the relationships with our readers, and the nature of our business rules.- The New York Times

Apple spokesperson released a statement that said The New York times only offered Apple News a few stories a day, and Apple will continue to serve readers with articles from other publishers. Apple added, We are also committed to supporting quality journalism through the proven business models of advertising, subscriptions, and commerce.

The New York Times was part of Apple News+, a paid premium service. Other publishers who are a part of Apple News+ declined to comment. Major publications like The Los Angeles Times, Conde Nast, Vanity Fair, and Wired are still part of Apple News+ offering. Apparently, the publications were not happy with the sales.

Our Take

The disagreement between publishers and Apple is not something new. Last year, New York Times CEO warned publishers that they would lose control over their own product by partnering with Apple News+. It is also worth noting that The New York Times has garnered 6-million online subscribers and perhaps this is one of the reasons why it finds Apple News+ to be less alluring. It would be interesting to see how other publishers will react and whether or not they will severe ties with Apple.

[via The New York Times
ultrastructural morphology exhibited by corona viruses View Photo

Sonora, CA  Tuolumne County has now tripled the number of identified COVID-19 cases in less than 10 days and is also asking the public for help in its contact tracing from non-residents exposure.

Six staff members at Avalon Care Center in Sonora have contracted the coronavirus. The Tuolumne County Public Health Department reports they were informed Sunday that all tested positive and are currently isolating at home. Public Health officials relay that they are coordinating with Avalon representatives and the California Department of Public Health on the trace contact investigations. Residents and staff at the facility have been tested and results are pending. This brings the total number of cases involving county residents to 28.

The health department is also asking for the publics help in identifying individuals that may have been exposed to coronavirus from yesterdays (Saturday, June 27) case involving a non-resident testing positive in Tuolumne County, as reported here. The person attended a large group gathering for several days in the county and is now quarantined in their residing county. No further information regarding them is being released.

While health officials relay they were able to identify many of the participants that were residents of other counties, they have not been able to confirm the identities of all who participated in the event. For that reason, public health spokesperson Michelle Jachetta ask,  If you attended a group event/campout at River Ranch Campground between June 22nd and today, June 28th, you should self-quarantine for 14 days from the last date of exposure and get tested no sooner than 3-5 days after exposure. The campground is northeast of Tuolumne along Fish Hatchery Road, off FR 1N04.

More information will be available on Monday for those who may have attended the gathering by calling Tuolumne County Public Healths COVID-19 Call Center at (209) 533-7440.

Health officials employ residents to avoid mass gatherings, stating, We have had recent multiple incidences of positive cases participating in various private gatherings, impacting our first responders and healthcare workers. Those essential critical infrastructure workers are necessary to maintain our ability to respond and care for our most vulnerable residents.

Additionally, late Friday night due to a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, the board of supervisors issued a statement asking residents to avoid mass gatherings, as reported here.
Update at 4:25 p.m.: Sheriffs officials are reporting another sad twist to the second drowning in two weeks at Lake Camanche.

Calaveras County Sheriffs spokesperson Sgt. Greg Stark shares with Clarke Broadcasting that his office learned through witnesses and an interpreter involved in the investigation that the 17-year-old male who drowned Sunday afternoon entered the water to assist a 12-year-old male who had gotten in near the Eucalyptus Day use area and within minutes began having trouble due to the uneven lake bottom and not knowing how to swim.

The 17-year-old entered the water to assist his younger friend. Witness accounts indicate that he was able to grab the youth and hand him to another nearby swimmer but was unable to get himself to safety. As posted below, the victim became tired and indicated he had a lower leg cramp before he disappeared under the water. While friends called 911, the victim was later found about 30 feet from shore in 14 feet of water.

Original Post at 1:34 p.m.: San Andreas, CA  Calaveras sheriffs officials are sharing details of the second drowning in two weeks at a popular Mother Lode lake.

Sheriffs spokesperson Sgt. Greg Stark says Sunday in the noon hour dispatch was notified of the incident, which involved a 17-year-old male who had been swimming at Lake Camanche in Burson with two friends near the low water boat ramp.

Stark recounts that the victim reportedly became tired and complained of a cramp in his lower leg before going underwater. The two friends swam back to shore to call 911 and a Calaveras County Marine Safety deputy and Amador Marine Safety unit that were both nearby immediately began searching the area.

The Calaveras County Sheriffs Dive Team was called in to assist and subsequently found the victim about 30 feet from shore in 14 feet of water. Stark adds that the victim was a visitor to the area on vacation from Mexico.

In light of the incident being the second drowning fatality in as many weeks, Stark says the Sheriffs Office is reminding folks to always swim within their ability and stay out of deep or fast-moving water if you are not a strong swimmer. If you become tired while trying to swim back to shore, try to calm yourself from fear to conserve energy and float on your back.

Remember every water attraction has its own hazards. Several have topography with sharp drop offs. Enter the water feet first and never dive head-first into the water if you do not know the depth in that area. Use a life vest when swimming in water with low visibility. Carefully watch out for children and those who do not swim well. Learn CPR.

He adds, where pools and spas are concerned, for safetys sake make sure they fenced on all sides, and have a lock on the entrance gate.
BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- China's reserve military forces will be brought under the centralized and unified command of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Central Military Commission starting from July 1, according to a decision issued by the CPC Central Committee.

Currently, the reserve forces are under the dual leadership of military organs and local Party committees.

Noting that reserve forces are an important part of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, the decision, which was made public on Sunday, said the adjustment in the leadership structure is aimed at upholding the CPC's absolute leadership over the army and building a strong military in the new era.

It calls on relevant military and civilian units to take active and coordinated measures to implement the changes to the leadership structure.
A former electric company executive was sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to improper sexual activity with four girls between the ages of 3 and 8.

Robert Ray Collier, 44, a former vice president of Leland Collier Electric Co., pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated sexual assault, one count of indecency with a child by contact and three counts of indecency with a child by exposure.

He will serve at least 20 years in prison before he is eligible for parole and must register as a sex offender.

During the victim impact statements after Collier was sentenced Monday, one girl's aunt called him a "sick, disgusting pedophile" and said his actions caused the child to have seizures and "be engulfed by a black cloud."

Another woman read a statement from the father of two of Collier's victims. The man said he was putting Christmas lights on Collier's house in 2005 while he thought his daughters were playing with Collier's children.

Instead, Collier blindfolded the 7-year-old girl and assaulted her, according to police. Authorities have said that Collier also made the girl and her sister watch a pornographic video with him.

One of the indecency charges involved a 3-year-old girl in a closet during a birthday party at a church last year.

___

Information from: Waco Tribune-Herald, http://www.wacotrib.com
A fresh swarm of desert locusts has entered Uttar Pradesh, India's biggest sugarcane grower, via capital city Delhi and the northern state of Haryana, according to the federal farm ministry.

Operations to control the grasshoppers are in full swing in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab and Maharashtra, the ministry said in a statement late Saturday. Tractors, fire engines and drones are engaged in spraying pesticides to kill them, it said.

A massive locust attack adds another challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration, which is trying to contain the spread of the coronavirus and limit its impact on the economy. It cannot risk food crops getting destroyed as millions of people have been pushed into poverty after losing their livelihoods due to the world's most stringent stay-at-home rules. While movement restrictions are being relaxed, India has become the fourth country with more than 500,000 infections.

The hoppers, which normally settle on trees during the night and fly during the day, have been controlled in about 127,225 hectares (314,379 acres) of area across the country between April 11 and June 26, the ministry said. Farmers grow mainly rice, pulses, cotton, sugarcane and soybeans on about 106 million hectares during the monsoon season between June and September.

In January, the biggest locust swarm to hit India's western state of Gujarat in over a quarter of a century resulted in more than 25,000 hectares of wheat, rapeseed, cumin and potatoes being attacked, with at least a third of the crops damaged in 75% of the affected areas. About 403,488 hectares had to be treated with pesticides across the country after another invasion in 2019-20, according to the farm ministry.

Desert locusts often attack North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, usually when heavy rains follow droughts. They generally enter the desert areas of India via Pakistan for breeding during the four-month rainy season that starts in June. But, this year, pink adult swarms were reported as early as April in Rajasthan and Punjab, according to the farm ministry.
A Starbucks barista in San Diego has more than $65,000 to fuel his dream of teaching dance after an online fundraiser was created in response to a customer who was not wearing a mask complained on Facebook about the companys policies and her interaction with him.

The barista, Lenin Gutierrez, said in a Facebook video he posted Wednesday that it had all started when he was working at the front register and asked the customer, Amber Lynn Gilles, if she had a face mask.

No, I dont need one, Gilles told him, according to the video. She replied before he could show her a paper explaining the companys mask policy during the coronavirus pandemic.

He said she started cursing up a storm and called people sheep before walking out. A few minutes later, she came back, he said, and asked for his name, took a photo of him and said she would call the corporate offices.

I thought that was going to be the end of it, said Gutierrez, who has worked at Starbucks since 2017. I didnt think it was going to come to this.

The photo Gilles took was posted on her Facebook page with the comment: Meet lenen from Starbucks who refused to serve me cause Im not wearing a mask. Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption. She expressed doubt about masks, saying they were stupid and so are the people wearing them.

The post got more than 110,000 likes and reactions, 133,000 comments and 49,000 shares, but it also ignited a firestorm that led to thousands of dollars for Gutierrez from more than 5,000 donors through a GoFundMe campaign.

As of Saturday afternoon, the site reported more than $65,000 in donations. It was headlined Tips for Lenin Standing Up To A San Diego Karen, a term used to describe a white woman who is angry or feels entitled.

Gilles said that she was denied and discriminated against and that she had received thousands of death threats, according to a video on NBC7 in San Diego. I didnt harass anyone, she said. I called them out because Im frustrated.

Gutierrez and Gilles could not immediately be reached Saturday.

Widely shared videos of customers arguing about not wearing masks at stores show how resistance is not uncommon and how businesses are trying to encourage compliance.

Starbucks said it had taken measures to keep employees and customers safe, including asking customers to wear facial coverings at its shops. A Starbucks representative said Saturday that the company was abiding by guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local mandates. Since May 1, San Diego County has required face coverings in many public areas.

Gutierrez said in his Facebook video that before the pandemic, he had taught dance to children. His Starbucks job has been a way to support his passions to pursue dance and teach it, he said, adding that the thousands of dollars raised could make his ambition a reality.

Thats all I really want to do  to just be able to show dance to others and show them how much I love it and how much it affected me, he said. And if I can show that to someone else, that would be amazing and change their life like it changed mine.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Monday, the Iran government issued an arrest warrant for Donald Trump over drone strike that killed top general Qassem Soleimani.

Iran has asked Interpol for help carrying out the arrest.

According to an article in the Daily Mail, Trump faces no danger of arrest.

According to the article, the charges underscore the heightened tensions between Iran and the United States since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.

Interpol, based in France, receives requests and then meets by committee and discusses whether to share the information with its member states.

The U.S. killed Soleimani, who oversaw the Revolutionary Guard's expeditionary Quds Force, and others in the January strike near Baghdad International Airport.
Before a camping and kayaking trip along the Texas coast, Pam LeBlanc and Jimmy Harvey decided to get coronavirus tests. They wanted a bit more peace of mind before spending 13 days in close quarters along with three friends.

The two got drive-thru tests at Austin Emergency Center in Austin. The center advertises a minimally invasive testing experience in a state now battling one of the countrys worst coronavirus outbreaks. Texas recorded 5,799 new cases Sunday and recently reversed some if its reopening policies.

They both recalled how uncomfortable it was to have the long nasal swab pushed up their noses. LeBlancs eyes started to tear up; Harvey felt as if the swab was in my brain.

Their tests came back with the same result  negative, allowing the trip to go ahead  but the accompanying bills were quite different.

The emergency room charged Harvey $199 in cash. LeBlanc, who paid with insurance, was charged $6,408.

I assumed, like an idiot, it would be cheaper to use my insurance than pay cash right there, LeBlanc said. This is 32 times the cost of what my friend paid for the exact same thing.

LeBlancs health insurer negotiated the total bill down to $1,128. The plan said she was responsible for $928 of that.

During the pandemic, there has been wide variation between what providers bill for the same basic diagnostic test, with some charging $27, others $2,315. It turns out there is also significant variation in how much a test can cost two patients at the same location.

Harvey and LeBlanc were among four New York Times readers who shared bills they received from the same chain of emergency rooms in Austin. Their experiences offer a rare window into the unpredictable way health prices vary for patients who receive seemingly identical care.

Three paid with insurance and one with cash. Even after negotiations between insurers and the emergency room, the total that patients and their insurers ended up paying varied by 2,700%.

Such discrepancies arise from a fundamental fact about the U.S. health care system: The government does not regulate health care prices.

Some academic research confirms that prices can vary within the same hospital. One 2015 paper found substantial within-hospital price differences for basic procedures, such as MRI scans, depending on the health insurer.

The researchers say these differences arent about quality. In all likelihood, the expensive MRIs and the cheap MRIs are done on the same machine. Instead, they reflect different insurers market clout. A large insurer with many members can demand lower prices, while small insurers have less negotiating leverage.

Because health prices in the United States are so opaque, some researchers have turned to their own medical bills to understand this type of price variation. Two health researchers who gave birth at the same hospital with the same insurance compared notes afterward. They found that one received a surprise $1,600 bill while the other one didnt.

The difference? One woman happened to give birth while an out-of-network anesthesiologist was staffing the maternity ward; the other received her epidural from an in-network provider.

The additional out-of-pocket charge on top of the other labor and delivery expenses was left entirely up to chance, co-authors Erin Taylor and Layla Parast wrote in a blog post summarizing the experience. Parast, who received the surprise bill, ultimately got it reversed but not until her baby was nearly 1 year old.

The Trump administration has taken steps to limit patients out-of-pocket costs for coronavirus testing and treatment, using relief funds to reimburse providers for uninsured patients bills. Insurers are required to cover patients coronavirus tests with no cost-sharing or copayments. Alex Azar, the health and human services secretary, reiterated that commitment in a Sunday interview on CNN, saying, If you are uninsured, it will be covered by us.

The testing experience of the Texas group suggests that it doesnt always work out that way. Some emergency rooms charge cash prices and tack on testing fees that insurers are not required to cover.

In this case, the patient who paid cash actually got the best deal. Harvey has health insurance but felt it would be a hassle to use it for the coronavirus test. So he paid for his test with two $100 bills after receiving the nasal swab and was on his way.

LeBlanc let the emergency room take a photograph of her insurance card. She ended up with $6,408 in charges, mostly from an outside lab called Genesis Laboratory that handled her testing. She received explanation-of-benefit statements suggesting she would owe more than $1,000.

Jay Lenner, who also got a drive-thru test from the same provider, used his insurance and received a similarly long list of charges. He recalls a provider saying he would be tested only for coronavirus, but bill records show he was also screened for Legionnaires disease, herpes and enterovirus, among other things.

The emergency room also charged him $1,684 for using its facility and $634 to see one of its doctors. All told, he ended up with $5,649 in bills, of which his insurance plan paid $4,914. Lenner didnt end up on the hook for any of it, but he is still frustrated. Ultimately, we pay for this in higher premiums, he said.

Michelle Tribble, a spokesperson for Austin Emergency Center, said it needed to charge high prices because insurers often pay only a small share of their fees.

For emergency room visits, the reimbursement to us by insurance companies is typically a fifth or a third of total charges, she said. If an insurance company were to bill a patient for an out-of-network visit to our emergency room, our billing company would go to bat for that patient and would appeal on their behalf.

Austin Emergency Center and Genesis Laboratory had differing explanations for why patients like Lenner were screened for so many conditions. Tribble said the lab makes the determination of what to test for. Edward Cienki, a spokesperson for the laboratory, said, Genesis does not order clinical laboratory tests.

LeBlanc learned of the discrepancy only because her husband happened to be on the phone with Harvey when a price estimate from her insurer arrived in the mail. Harvey said, I hear Pam in the background saying, What the heck is this? 

She used the information about what her friend had paid to negotiate her charges down to $199 as well. And after she reached out to a local television station, which devoted a segment to her charges, her health plan began investigating the bill.

On Thursday, after returning from another camping trip, LeBlanc learned the bill would be dropped entirely.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
When the first coronavirus cases in Chicago appeared in January, they bore the same genetic signatures as a germ that emerged in China weeks before.

But as Egon Ozer, an infectious-disease specialist at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, examined the genetic structure of virus samples from local patients, he noticed something different.

A change in the virus was appearing again and again. This mutation, associated with outbreaks in Europe and New York, eventually took over the city. By May, it was found in 95% of all the genomes Ozer sequenced.

At a glance, the mutation seemed trivial. About 1,300 amino acids serve as building blocks for a protein on the surface of the virus. In the mutant virus, the genetic instructions for just one of those amino acids - number 614 - switched in the new variant from a "D" (shorthand for aspartic acid) to a "G" (short for glycine).

But the location was significant, because the switch occurred in the part of the genome that codes for the all-important "spike protein" - the protruding structure that gives the coronavirus its crownlike profile and allows it to enter human cells the way a burglar picks a lock.

And its ubiquity is undeniable. Of the approximately 50,000 genomes of the new virus that researchers worldwide have uploaded to a shared database, about 70% carry the mutation, officially designated D614G but known more familiarly to scientists as "G."

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"G" hasn't just dominated the outbreak in Chicago - it has taken over the world. Now scientists are racing to figure out what it means.

At least four laboratory experiments suggest that the mutation makes the virus more infectious, although none of that work has been peer-reviewed. Another unpublished study led by scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory asserts that patients with the G variant actually have more virus in their bodies, making them more likely to spread it to others.

The mutation doesn't appear to make people sicker, but a growing number of scientists worry that it has made the virus more contagious.

"The epidemiological study and our data together really explain why the [G variant's] spread in Europe and the U.S. was really fast," said Hyeryun Choe, a virologist at Scripps Research and a lead author of an unpublished study on the G variant's enhanced infectiousness in laboratory cell cultures. "This is not just accidental."

But there may be other explanations for the G variant's dominance: biases in where genetic data are being collected, quirks of timing that gave the mutated virus an early foothold in susceptible populations.

"The bottom line is, we haven't seen anything definitive yet," said Jeremy Luban, a virologist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

The scramble to unravel this mutation mystery embodies the challenges of science during the coronavirus pandemic. With millions of people infected and thousands dying every day around the world, researchers must strike a high-stakes balance between getting information out quickly and making sure that it's right.

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SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes the disease covid-19, can be thought of as an extremely destructive burglar. Unable to live or reproduce on its own, it breaks into human cells and co-opts their biological machinery to make thousands of copies of itself. That leaves a trail of damaged tissue and triggers an immune system response that for some people can be disastrous.

This replication process is messy. Even though it has a "proofreading" mechanism for copying its genome, the coronavirus frequently makes mistakes, or mutations. The vast majority of mutations have no effect on the behavior of the virus.

But since the virus's genome was first sequenced in January, scientists have been on the lookout for changes that are meaningful. And few genetic mutations could be more significant than ones that affect the spike protein - the virus's most powerful tool.

This protein attaches to a receptor on respiratory cells called ACE2, which opens the cell and lets the virus slip inside. The more effective the spike protein, the more easily the virus can break into the bodies of its hosts. Even when the original variant of the virus emerged in Wuhan, China, it was obvious that the spike protein on SARS-CoV-2 was already quite effective.

But it could have been even better, said Choe, who has studied spike proteins and the way they bind to the ACE2 receptor since the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003.

The spike protein for SARS-CoV-2 has two parts that don't always hold together well. In the version of the virus that arose in China, Choe said, the outer part - which the virus needs to attach to a human receptor - frequently broke off. Equipped with this faulty lock pick, the virus had a harder time invading host cells.

"I think this mutation happened to compensate," Choe said.

Studying both versions of the gene using a proxy virus in a petri dish of human cells, Choe and her colleagues found that viruses with the G variant had more spike proteins, and the outer parts of those proteins were less likely to break off. This made the virus approximately 10 times more infectious in the lab experiment.

The mutation does not seem to lead to worse outcomes in patients. Nor did it alter the virus's response to antibodies from patients who had the D variant, Choe said, suggesting that vaccines being developed based on the original version of the virus will be effective against the new strain.

Choe has uploaded a manuscript describing this study to the website BioRxiv, where scientists can post "preprint" research that has not yet been peer reviewed. She has also submitted the paper to an academic journal, which has not yet published it.

The distinctive infectiousness of the G strain is so strong that scientists have been drawn to the mutation even when they weren't looking for it.

Neville Sanjana, a geneticist at the New York Genome Center and New York University, was trying to figure out which genes enable SARS-CoV-2 to infiltrate human cells. But in experiments based on a gene sequence taken from an early case of the virus in Wuhan, he struggled to get that form of the virus to infect cells. Then the team switched to a model virus based on the G variant.

"We were shocked," Sanjana said. "Voila! It was just this huge increase in viral transduction." They repeated the experiment in many types of cells, and every time the variant was many times more infectious.

Their findings, published as a preprint on BioRxiv, generally matched what Choe and other laboratory scientists were seeing.

But the New York team offers a different explanation as to why the variant is so infectious. Whereas Choe's study proposes that the mutation made the spike protein more stable, Sanjana said experiments in the past two weeks, not yet made public, suggest that the improvement is actually in the infection process. He hypothesized that the G variant is more efficient at beginning the process of invading the human cell and taking over its reproductive machinery.

Luban, who has also been experimenting with the D614G mutation, has been drawn to a third possibility: His experiments suggest that the mutation allows the spike protein to change shape as it attaches to the ACE2 receptor, improving its ability to fuse to the host cell.

Different approaches to making their model virus might explain these discrepancies, Luban said. "But it's quite clear that something is going on."

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Although these experiments are compelling, they're not conclusive, said Kristian Andersen, a Scripps virologist not involved in any of the studies. The scientists need to figure out why they've identified different mechanisms for the same effect. All the studies still have to pass peer review, and they have to be reproduced using the real version of the virus.

Even then, Andersen said, it will be too soon to say that the G variant transmits faster among people.

Cell culture experiments have been wrong before, noted Anderson Brito, a computational biologist at Yale University. Early experiments with hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug, hinted that it was effective at fighting the coronavirus in a petri dish. The drug was touted by President Trump, and the Food and Drug Administration authorized it for emergency use in hospitalized covid-19 patients. But that authorization was withdrawn this month after evidence showed that the drug was "unlikely to be effective" against the virus and posed potential safety risks.

So far, the biggest study of transmission has come from Bette Korber, a computational biologist at Los Alamos National Laboratory who helped build one of the world's biggest viral genome databases for tracking HIV. In late April, she and colleagues at Duke University and the University of Sheffield in Britain released a draft of their work arguing that the mutation boosts transmission of the virus.

Analyzing sequences from more than two dozen regions across the world, they found that most places where the original virus was dominant before March were eventually taken over by the mutated version. This switch was especially apparent in the United States: Ninety-six percent of early sequences here belonged to the D variant, but by the end of March, almost 70% of sequences carried the G amino acid instead.

The British researchers also found evidence that people with the G variant had more viral particles in their bodies. Although this higher viral load didn't seem to make people sicker, it might explain the G variant's rapid spread, the scientists wrote. People with more virus to shed are more likely to infect others.

The Los Alamos draft drew intense scrutiny when it was released in the spring, and many researchers remain skeptical of its conclusions.

"There are so many biases in the data set here that you can't control for and you might not know exist," Andersen said. In a time when as many as 90% percent of U.S. infections are still undetected and countries with limited public health infrastructure are struggling to keep up with surging cases, a shortage of data means "we can't answer all the questions we want to answer."

Pardis Sabeti, a computational biologist at Harvard University and the Broad Institute, noted that the vast majority of sequenced genomes come from Europe, where the G variant first emerged, and the United States, where infections thought to have been introduced by travelers from Europe spread undetected for weeks before the country shut down. This could at least partly explain why it appears so dominant.

The mutation's success might also be a "founder effect," she said. Arriving in a place like Northern Italy - where the vast majority of sequenced infections are caused by the G variant - it found easy purchase in an older and largely unprepared population, which then unwittingly spread it far and wide.

Scientists may be able to rule out these alternative explanations with more rigorous statistical analyses or a controlled experiment in an animal population. And as studies on the D614G mutation accumulate, researchers are starting to be convinced of its significance.

"I think that slowly we're beginning to come to a consensus," said Judd Hultquist, a virologist at Northwestern University.

Solving the mystery of the D614G mutation won't make much of a difference in the short term, Andersen said. "We were unable to deal with D," he said. "If G transmits even better, we're going to be unable to deal with that one."

But it's still essential to understand how the genome influences the behavior of the virus, scientists say. Identifying emerging mutations allows researchers to track their spread. Knowing what genes affect how the virus transmits enables public health officials to tailor their efforts to contain it. Once therapeutics and vaccines are distributed on a large scale, having a baseline understanding of the genome will help pinpoint when drug resistance starts to evolve.

"Understanding how transmissions are happening won't be a magic bullet, but it will help us respond better," Sabeti said. "This is a race against time."
HOUSTON  Melissa Estrada had tried to be so careful about the coronavirus. For months she kept her three children at home, and she always wore a mask at the grocery store. She and her daughter even stitched face coverings for relatives and friends.

But over the weekend Estrada, 37, was fighting the virus at Houston Methodist Hospital after a week of treatments that included an experimental drug, steroids, intensive care and high doses of oxygen. She probably contracted the virus while attending a dinner with relatives who had also been cautious, she said. Within days, all four adults and several children who had been at the gathering tested positive for the coronavirus.

It was really, really scary, Estrada said of her illness. She worried constantly about leaving her children motherless. You hear about it and you think its the older people or the people with underlying issues, she said. And Im healthy. I dont understand how I got this bad.

Coronavirus cases are rising quickly in Houston, as they are in other hot spots across the South and the West. Harris County, which includes most of Houston and is one of the largest counties in the nation, has been averaging more than 1,100 new cases each day, among the most of any U.S. county. Just two weeks ago, Harris County was averaging about 313 new cases daily.

Measures to cope with the surge and to plan for its peak were evident over the weekend at Methodist, which called nurses to work extra shifts, brought new laboratory instruments on line to test thousands more samples a day and placed extra hospital beds in an empty unit about to be reopened as patients filled new coronavirus wards.

Gov. Greg Abbott, speaking in Dallas on Sunday, said the virus had taken a very swift and a very dangerous turn in Texas and the increase in the rate of positive coronavirus tests, to over 13% in the past month from less than 4%, was an alarm bell. He made the grim assessment after meeting with Vice President Mike Pence and Dr. Deborah L. Birx, the coordinator of the White Houses coronavirus task force, who joined the governor in urging all Texans to wear masks and avoid close contact in crowds.

Pence, appearing at a Dallas rally celebrating religious freedoms, threw his support behind Abbott and his efforts to reopen the states economy  even as the governor made an about-face on Friday in his phased plan by ordering bars closed and capacity at restaurants cut. Many young people had socialized in them, standing close together, not wearing masks, some expressing skepticism that they could become infected.

During the virus first peak in April, the majority of patients testing positive in the Methodist hospital system were older than 50. Now the majority are, like Estrada, relatively young. Nearly one-third of intensive care patients are now under 50, much higher than in the initial coronavirus surge.

The stress on medical institutions burst into public view last week, when Texas Medical Center  a downtown cluster of Houstons major public and private hospitals, including Methodist  announced that the baseline intensive care unit capacity across its hospitals was full, with 28% of beds occupied by virus patients. That was nearly twice a threshold established by the state, which called for ICUs to have a maximum 15% of virus patients for hospitals to resume elective services.

The hospitals typically operate with nearly full ICUs, and had planned to increase the number of critically ill patients they could treat. But the next morning, the governor issued an executive order that again restricted elective surgeries in Harris County. The order, however, allows hospitals to continue performing surgeries and procedures that will not deplete their capacity to care for coronavirus patients; some hospital executives and doctors, including ones at Methodist, said they were able to continue providing those services, which they viewed as particularly needed after being halted during the initial shutdown. The Texas Medical Center hospitals are collectively treating about 1,500 coronavirus patients, according to figures released Saturday.

During the previous surge in mid-April, Methodists system had at most just over 200 coronavirus patients. On Sunday, it had nearly 400 inpatients with the virus, and about 150 more were being tested for it. Some models predict a peak in two to three weeks.

Roberta L. Schwartz, an executive vice president and chief innovation officer at Methodist, who is serving as the coronavirus incident commander, walked from unit to unit on Saturday trolling for beds, as she described it. She spoke with nurses and doctors, troubleshooting to solve problems that could delay sending patients home or transferring them to lower levels of care when they were ready. She informed nurses in an intermediate care unit that it would soon transition into an ICU for coronavirus patients.

She visited a huge laboratory with more than $3 million of new instrumentation that she referred to as the Taj Mahal, a former academic lab that was repurposed to process virus tests, and took her first look at two recently purchased new machines that can run 1,000 tests a day. In some parts of the country, laboratories, including Methodists, have experienced recent testing backlogs as demand and new cases increased.

The hospital is hiring traveling nurses to bolster its staff and offering bonuses as incentives to some employees to take extra shifts. In recent days, hospital beds and mobile computers were rolled into an empty, 34-bed unit that had been shuttered and will now be used for coronavirus patients. This is why I dont have to put trailers out front and mobile hospitals out front, Schwartz said. The changes were also part of the hospitals efforts to maintain capacity to safely treat its many nonvirus patients.

The Methodist hospital system, with nearly 2,400 beds in service, includes six community hospitals across greater Houston and the flagship academic medical center downtown.

It sits near other renowned medical institutions including Baylor College of Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Childrens Hospital, which is opening a unit to treat adult coronavirus patients. Methodist and several other private hospitals have also agreed to accept virus patients from Harris Countys inundated public hospitals, part of the Harris Health System.

Tritico Saranathan, a charge nurse on one of Methodists virus wards, said she had noticed that patients were younger than those first hit by the coronavirus several months ago. Were seeing a lot of people in their 30s  theyre out there partying and not wearing their masks, she said. As soon as the city opened up, they were very eager to go to the bars, to the clubs, to the restaurants, just to hang out in groups. And no one was social distancing or wearing a mask.

What Im seeing is that theyre pretty sick  the younger ones are pretty sick, she said. Theyre struggling a lot with respiratory issues. Theyre having a hard time breathing, she added, just feeling like death.

One of the newest coronavirus patients, Jessica Rios, 36, a mother of four with pneumonia, was transferred to Houston Methodist by ambulance from an urgent care center on Saturday. She said her husband was being treated in the hospital, too. She worried about her children and was frequently using FaceTime to call them. Her 18-year-old was looking after her 12-year-old, who has severe asthma and has also tested positive for the virus, and 5-year-old twins, one of whom has cerebral palsy and has tested positive, too. Its kind of hard to be here when I have them at home struggling, she said.

Rios had not been out partying. She said she thought she had contracted the coronavirus while working as a clerk in a dialysis unit for children. She said that she has allergies that make it difficult to wear a mask, and that she would sometimes take her mask off at the unit, where one child later tested positive for the virus. I couldnt tell you if every time I talked to her I had a mask on, she said.

In another room nearby was Curtis Ezell, 37. He had come to the hospital to be treated for heart failure, but tested positive for the virus when he had a routine test upon admission. He sometimes does deliveries for DoorDash, a food delivery service, and recently moved to Houston, staying at hotels.

He said that he had no idea how he had contracted the virus, and that he was not experiencing common symptoms of the infection. If you know someone with COVID, everyone should get tested, he said.

An even younger pneumonia patient, Alexander Nelson-Fryar, 25, was in a new ward for 15 coronavirus patients that just opened last week. He said that he worked training employees at a medical clinic nearby that sometimes saw virus patients. Nelson-Fryar said that he had worn the same mask at work every day, which he would keep in his car, and that he did not know how he had become infected. I go there and I go home, he said. I think I got a little unlucky.

He said he feared that people his age were not taking the illness seriously enough, as he himself had not. I thought younger folks are not going to get symptoms; if I do get it, its not going to be a big deal, he said.

That was not true in his case. It hit me like a truck, he said. Even if you are young and not at risk, its pretty scary.

At Methodist, the majority of the coronavirus patients are in designated medical wards, not in the ICUs.

That might be because of the increasing proportion of younger, healthier patients. Hospital leaders say they are also getting better at treating patients, avoiding the need to transfer them to ICUs. The length of hospital stays for virus patients at Methodist is about a day and a half shorter this month than it was in April and May.

It remains possible that the proportion of patients in the ICUs could rise, because of the time lag between when a patient first gets sick and develops critical illness.

On Saturday evening, after making rounds, Dr. Faisal Masud, the medical director for critical care across all of Houston Methodists hospitals, described the younger virus patients in the ICUs. Typically there are definitely 30-year-olds, 35-year-olds, he said, adding that the most severely ill young people often are obese or have medical problems such as diabetes, kidney disease and high blood pressure. One young patient was on an external heart-lung machine known as ECMO.

During the first surge, Masud said, some young virus patients came to the hospital extremely sick and died soon after they arrived. Now, he said, they are coming earlier, but more often.

I think that there was a sense of being invincible or this is not their problem, even if they caught it, no big deal, he said. That attitude has changed in the past few days, he said, including among his own three daughters, who are all in their 20s. Theyre now paying attention, he said.

Estrada, the mother of three who was being treated for the coronavirus, said she worried that there would be more patients like her.

They opened up our city way too quick  our governor didnt want to let the bars be closed and the restaurants and functions, and they just wanted us to get back to normal, she said, adding, I knew it was a bad idea.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
The recent Islander News cartoon of President Trump wearing a partial swastika on his lapel was wrong in so many ways. The underlying insinuation that Trump is an anti-Semite, or an evil dictator, is outrageous. Trump has a Jewish son-in-law and Jewish grandchildren. More importantly he is the first U.S. president to honor the promise broken by previous presidents to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel, the only representative democracy in the Middle East. Hardly the act of an anti-Semitic dictator.

Just as important, Nazi is short for Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP), or in English, The National Socialist German Workers Party. Trump is, of course, openly anti-socialist. In fact, he has declared that America will never become a socialist country. Hitlers opponents used Nazi as a derogatory slur, but Hitler referred to his movement as national socialism. Trump is an American nationalist or patriot, but not an expansionist who conquers other countries like Hitler. Instead, he has pulled back from foreign wars.

After WWII, the left rewrote history claiming that the Nazis were conservative right wingers. Stalin accused all his enemies of being fascists, referring to Mussolinis movement. This fit the new narrative of the Soviet Union, especially after the shock of the Stalin-Hitler Pact during which time Stalin turned over Russian Jews to the Gestapo in a show of good faith to Hitler. Today, the left continues the false accusation that conservatives are fascists.

Mussolini was the VP of the Italian Socialist Party. He broke with them because he disagreed that general strikes would bring about the downfall of capitalism. He called instead for small groups of violent protesters (the Fascista Black Shirts) to bring about social collapse by force. Like the Italian fascists, Hitlers NSDAP platform called for the nationalization of all businesses. His party was as leftwing as the German Communist Party (KPD), but uniquely anti-Semitic.

In 1932, the Soviets and the KPD created Antifa Action to fight the Social Democrats and the National Socialists for control of Germany. While todays Antifa has its ideological roots in Germany, its actions are more akin to Mussolinis Black Shirts, using violence to promote social change. Accusing Trump of opposing peaceful protests is false and disingenuous. He was referring only to violent Antifa activists and others who broke store windows, encouraged looting and torched police cars and businesses, reminiscent more of the Nazi Kristallnacht than of peaceful protests. Trump recently declared Antifa a domestic terrorist organization.

People on the left also use the term fascist or Nazi referring to Trumps harsh language against his political opponents. Of course, they also toss their own epithets. But personality is not a political ideology. Fascism and Nazism are, and Trump is diametrically opposed to their ideas and tactics. In addition, such accusations should not be tossed about lightly. Rabbi Caroline is correct that the casual use of Nazi or swastikas as political weapons, diminishes the profound evil of the Holocaust.
Mike Sutter /Staff

Starting today, dine-in and walk-up services at Bill Miller Bar-B-Q have temporarily been suspended due to the coronavirus.

The restaurant chain, which operates 76 locations throughout Texas, announced the update Sunday.
Twenty-four H-E-B employees in San Antonio tested positive for COVID-19 last weekend, according to the grocery chain's website.

In June, more than 100 H-E-B employees working at grocery stores in San Antonio have been infected with COVID-19, including the 24 cases this past weekend.

Since March, the grocery store chain has regularly announced on its website when one of its employees test positive and has done so because it believes "transparency is important," according to an email response. H-E-B does not reveal the employee's identity and only lets 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.

Visit our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com, for a list of stores affected by recent employee cases.

When an employee is confirmed to be positive for COVID-19, H-E-B notifies its staff members at the store via text, H-E-B spokeswoman Dya Campos said.

"Our goal, in the beginning, was within 24 hours, but we are even faster than that," Campos said. "As soon as we get notified and confirmed, a text message goes to all partners in the store, so not just those who are in close contact. It goes to everybody."

The stores with the infected employee are deep cleaned and sanitized multiple times. H-E-B has dedicated teams of employees and COVID-19 action managers in each store who are trained to ensure sanitation and social distancing measures are followed.

If an employee is feeling ill or are is waiting on results, H-E-B requires them to stay home, according to its website.

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
A 28-year-old man was arrested Thursday after allegedly kidnapping a 16-year-old girl and taking her to Wyoming, an arrest affidavit said.

San Antonio police responded to a missing persons call on May 25 on the North Side, after the teenager didn't return home from work and officials believed she had run away with Andres Hernandez.

The two worked together at a local fast food restaurant and were in a relationship, the girl's sister told police. Witnesses told police that Hernandez was sent out on a delivery around the time the girl was leaving work, but never completed the delivery or returned.

FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox

Surveillance footage showed the girl walking to a nearby gas station after her shift ended around 3 p.m. She is last seen going behind a large Dumpster, where minutes later, Hernandez's Toyota is seen driving to the same Dumpster, the affidavit said. After, the Toyota leaves the girl wasn't seen on surveillance again.

Investigators attempted to track the pairs' phones, but discovered they were disconnected.

San Antonio police received information that the two were located in Evanston, Wyoming after being caught on surveillance cameras at a retail store. The affidavit did not specify when they were seen in Wyoming or if that is where Hernandez was arrested.

Hernandez was charged with kidnapping because he had taken the teenager more than 120 miles from her residence where "she was not likely to be found, without the consent of her parents," the affidavit said.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
San Antonio police are asking the public for help in identifying three men who allegedly robbed a South Side H-E-B at gunpoint.

On Wednesday, just after 7:30 a.m., the three suspects walked into the H-E-B on Zarzamora Street. One of the men pointed a gun at an employee as two others took several packs of beer without paying.
(Natural News) In their effort to create an autonomous zone in Portland, Antifa rioters have instead turned the city into a war zone, as demonstrators clashed with police on the evening of June 25 and well into the early morning of June 26.

The morning and afternoon demonstrations were regarded as generally peaceful, and were conducted to commemorate the one month anniversary of the death of George Floyd. As evening rolled around, however, the peaceful protesters were replaced with violent Antifa rioters.

Portland police: Rioters most aggressive and violent they have been since riots began

By 10:30 p.m., at least two hundred rioters started gathering outside the Portland Police Bureaus (PPB) North Precinct in the Northeast Portland neighborhood, where some called for an all-night occupation of the area. The demonstrations blocked traffic from coming into or out of the area, and it even forced PPB officers to barricade themselves inside the precinct, where several of them in riot gear went up to the roof and looked onto the crowd.

As this was happening, the rioters attempted to set up an autonomous zone in the area by blockading streets with barricades and stolen property. They also vandalized the precincts walls and spray-painted nearby security cameras, blocking the cameras ability to record the evenings events and identify the criminals. Some of the barricades were properly set up by 12:30 a.m. on Friday, June 26.

Elsewhere in the area, the rioters started even more fires, vandalized and looted buildings and one group even broke into a bank. (Related: Rioters in Portland TEAR DOWN statue of Founding Father George Washington.)

At around 1 a.m., the PPB called the riot an unlawful assembly. The crowd outside the precinct responded with shouts, chants and strobe lights. Twenty minutes later, the police began attempting to disperse the rioters using crowd control munitions. These weapons include impact munitions and a type of tear gas known as CS gas. However, the rioters fought back. Several of the militants had paintball guns, which they then shot at the riot cops to obscure their vision. Other rioters hurled projectiles, such as glass bottles and fireworks.

At around 1:40 a.m., the PPB said that a mortar was launched onto the precincts roof. At 2:15 a.m., the rioters began trying to set fire to the precinct by setting a nearby dumpster on fire. Police said that fires were also lit in nearby buildings.

Portland Fire is putting out hot spots of trash fires at NE Killingsworth & MLK outside the PPB North Precinct where protests broke out overnight. pic.twitter.com/L9FT8GfbEl  Elise Haas (@EliseKOIN) June 26, 2020

By 3:30 a.m., a majority of the rioters had finally dispersed, with their second attempt to set up an autonomous zone ending up in another failure.

Several police officers were lightly injured, and one required hospitalization, but the PPB said is expected to recover. The police said in a statement that this was the most aggressive and violent riot they have seen, at least four people have been arrested and that they have secured businesses in the area that were vandalized and looted.

Riots economically devastating to Portland

The Portland Business Alliance (PBA) believes that the Downtown Portland neighborhood alone has lost more than $23 million since the beginning of the riots, around $4 million from property damage and $19 million in lost revenue. This number comes from a survey they conducted with several business owners in Portlands downtown area.

According to Amy Lewin, the PBAs Vice President of Strategic Communications, their survey provides the city with a snapshot and narrative of the economic damage.

Watchworks Incorporated, one of the downtown businesses affected by the rioting, had their windows broken and their inventory looted. Company president Alex Hofberg said people made off with watches and jewelry, and the company is still attempting to assess how much it will cost them to rebuild and replace everything. He believes the riot has cost their business around $300,000 in property damage alone.

Nearby, the Persian House Restaurant, owned by Iranian immigrant Sara Houranpay and her family, said that several pieces of expensive Persian art were either stolen or damaged, and it will take them very long to rebuild.

Oftentimes people say, is the insurance going to cover this? said Houranpay. Insurance companies dont come to you the day after and hand you a check.

It has been a month since Antifa began their engineered rioting over the death of George Floyd, and the chaos isnt going to end anytime soon. Keep an eye on their latest movements at AntifaWatch.news.

Sources include:

FoxNews.com

AmGreatness.com

OregonLive.com

KOIN.com

KGW.com
(Natural News) As steep as the death toll from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is, its still underreported in some countries, including the U.K., Russia and even the United States. According to global death statistics, the figures do not accurately capture all deaths from COVID-19.

In New York and New Jersey alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 44,000 deaths that are above normal from mid-March to May. Public health experts say that these additional deaths can potentially be linked to COVID-19.

Belgium, however, took a broader approach in reporting its death tolls  adding confirmed deaths, as well as suspected cases. This also earned the small European kingdom the title of being the worlds deadliest country for COVID-19.

Based on data from official tallies, Belgium has 819 deaths per million, despite only having over 58,000 cases. In comparison, the U.S., which leads the global caseload for COVID-19, only has 323 deaths per million. (Related: Belgium looking to lift coronavirus restrictions despite the highest death rate in the world.)

An unpopular approach

Belgiums approach, which has also sparked furor among locals, only tells half the story. According to Steven Van Gucht, head of virology at Sciensano, the national health institute of Belgium, and spokesperson for its COVID-19 task force, the countrys deaths per capita should be divided by two to get a more accurate comparison with other nations.

This statement was echoed by Lauren Gardner, an engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University and the lead developer for the schools widely cited tracker. She noted that Belgium is among the rare places that COVID-19 related fatalities track this years surge in excess deaths.

Challenges to accurate reporting

Tracking deaths during a pandemic is challenging enough, but COVID-19 makes it especially so, given that people with chronic illnesses are more likely to die from the contagion. Most health authorities worldwide, including the CDC, suggest tagging any death that has coronavirus as a contributing factor  based on testing or medical judgment  as a COVID-19 related death. But in practice, limited testing capabilities hamper efforts in identifying which deaths are COVID-19 related, leaving many countries to report based on actual tests conducted.

Still, the increase in the total number of deaths in many areas suggests a link. For Colin Mathers, a retired coordinator for the mortality analysis unit of the World Health Organization, the spikes in deaths are most certainly caused by COVID-19.

Total deaths certainly give you a readout of whether things are getting better or worse, he added.

Limitations to testing also mean that its up to doctors to determine whether a person died from COVID-19. While the WHO and CDC have provided guidance on the matter, many policymakers have expressed concerns that tagging deaths as COVID-19 related without a diagnostic test can cause an overreporting of deaths  something the public health experts dont mind.

According to Robert Anderson, chief of the CDCs mortality statistics department, hes almost sure that theres undercounting, not overcounting of deaths in the United States.

For instance, the CDC reported around 21,000 deaths on the week of April 11, with 18,000 of those COVID-19 related. Anderson believes that while some of the excess deaths are directly linked to COVID-19, some deaths could be indirectly related, such as the death of someone without COVID-19 but was unable to get access to emergency medical services because of the surge in cases.

Recently, the U.S. has started tagging some excess deaths  like those in elderly homes  as COVID-19 related. As for Belgium, health authorities admit that the pandemic has hit the kingdom hard.

We are among the countries with the highest mortality, added Sciencsano scientist Francoise Renard. But I wouldnt say we are first.

Learn more about the ongoing coronavirus outbreak at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

NYTimes.com

SMH.com.au

Worldometers.info

WSJ.com
(Natural News) The symptoms of COVID-19 may very well be eldritch horrors. In most cases, it can appear as cough, fever, chills and headache. But in severe cases, it can cause acute kidney failure and multiple organ damage  strange symptoms for whats known as mainly a respiratory infection.

How COVID-19 causes the latter, in particular, was the focus of a recent paper by a team from University Hospital Zurich. In their report, senior author Frank Ruschitzka examined COVID-19 patients who exhibited severe symptoms. After the first body was autopsied, it showed tiny clots and dead cells within the capillaries of the lungs, as well as distended blood vessels in every organ in the body  a sign of severe inflammation.

This also showed why patients with severe COVID-19 are more likely to have strokes, blood clots and even heart attacks: The virus had targeted their blood vessels.

[COVID-19] is a vascular problem, added Ruschitzka, who published his teams findings in the Lancet. The lung is the main battlefield, but its a disease of the blood vessels.

A blood vessel disease?

Months into the pandemic and with over 8 million cases and counting, medical experts are now looking into the possibility that COVID-19 is a vascular disease.

According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, patients who died from COVID-19 had nine times as many clots in their lungs as those who died of the H1N1 flu. Other studies have similar results, from inflammatory symptoms in children to strokes in adults with no history of the condition.

A study from Belgium looked at the findings of this study, as well as the Zurich study, and found that damage in the endothelial cells that line blood vessels in the lungs can predict if a COVID-19 patient will slip into the fatal second phase of the disease. In the report, senior author Peter Carmeliet explained that an infection can cause blood vessels to leak and clot in some patients. This, in turn, triggers inflammation in the body, as well as gives rise to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)  the complication responsible for most COVID-19 deaths.

Its a vicious cycle, explained Nilam Mangalmurti, a lung expert at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, who wasnt involved in the new study.

Blood vessels link chronic disease and COVID-19

The Belgian study, published in Nature Reviews Immunology, can shine a light on why COVID-19 is life-threatening for people with chronic illnesses like diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease, as the cells lining their blood vessels are already compromised.

Endothelial cells do more than line blood vessels and tissues. They also control the flow of substances and fluid into and out of a tissue, regulate blood pressure, prevent inflammation and inhibit clots. When these are injured, the cells signal immune cells and clotting factors to help repair the site of injury, as well as warn other cells of potential invaders.

Based on autopsy reports detailed in the Zurich study, researchers of the Belgian study believe that SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen behind COVID-19, can cause this response to go out of control. (Related: Coronavirus hijacks immune cells to create cytokine storms, says new study.)

Aside from exploring the possibility of COVID-19 being a vascular disease, researchers are also looking into the idea of using existing anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting treatments for the disease. In the U.S. and Europe, clinical trials that use drugs are already in progress. In China, the government has taken a more natural route, promoting the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine in treating COVID-19.

Pandemic.news has more on the ongoing Wuhan coronavirus.

Sources include:

ScienceMag.org

Coronavirus.JHU.edu

NEJM.org

News.CGTN.com
(Natural News) [TOP NEWS] BlackLivesMatter.com appears to be an international money laundering scheme used by the Democrats to raise money from an international audience.

(Article republished from WokeHub.com)

Black Lives Matter describes itself on its BlackLivesMatter.com website as a global organization:

The Wikipedia website describes Black Lives Matter as:

Black Lives Matter (BLM) is an international human rights movement, originating from within the African-American community, which campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people. BLM regularly holds protests speaking out against police brutality and police killings of black people, and broader issues such as racial profiling, and racial inequality in the United States criminal justice system.

So we know for sure that BLM is a global / international network because they admit this.

When you click on the Donate button on blacklivesmatter.com you are sent to an ActBlue donations page:

You can even read that the donations are being made to ActBlue in the fine print.

ActBlue claims to be tax exempt organization and all donations to it are tax-deductible. The terms and conditions also link to ActBlue and mention Campaign Finance Laws:

https://secure.actblue.com/content/fineprint

When you research the expenditures of ActBlue, all of their contributions are directly going to top DNC campaigns:

https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expenditures.php?cmte=C00401224&cycle=2020

Act Blue is not a charity. It appears more accurately to be an illegal funding arm of the DNC.

(Do all the individuals around the world know that when they donate to Black Lives Matter, they are really donating to the Democrat Party?)

It is against the law to funnel international money into US elections.

It is a violation of campaign contribution laws and is not legal. This is just another corrupt wing of the Democrat Party.

Read more at: WokeHub.com
(Natural News) By now, no doubt, dear reader, youve heard or read about a number of wacky COVID-19-related rules, regulations, and situations involving disputes between freedom, social distancing requirements, liberty and the pursuit of sanity.

Well, youre about to see another.

It seems as though North Carolina Gov. Roy Trump Cant Have His GOP Convention in my State Cooper has a mandate whereby anyone in public, inside or outside, has to where a mask to help stop the spread of coronavirus if they cant socially distance.

Okay. So, what about when North Carolinians are engaging in their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, via concealed carry? That shouldnt be a problem, should it? After all, people can defend themselves while defending against coronavirusright?

Not so fast. It turns out that its also against the law in North Carolina to be armed and wear a mask.

Yeah, there is confusion, said Tricia Sisson, president of The Range, an indoor shooting range in Ballantyne, N.C., according to local CBS affiliate WBTV.

Her husband, Brian Sisson, is perfectly clear on the law and the mask mandate, the latter of which was imposed by Cooper on Wednesday.

Current law states that if youre carrying a firearm youre not allowed to wear a mask, he told the local media outlet.

But wait.

Union County Sheriffs Office spokesman Tony Underwood told WBTV that the law says youre not allowed to wear a mask anyway, unless its for a holiday or celebration like Halloween.

That said, the law does come with some public health caveats. (Related: FACT CHECK: Natural News remains the most outspoken pro-mask independent news publisher, even as InfoWars and others have become strongly anti-mask.)

A person who has a valid concealed carry permit is allowed to lawfully carry that firearm concealed in public, he told the station.

But  while wearing a coronavirus protection mask?

It is lawful to do that, said Underwood, noting further that when the coronavirus crisis finally passes away, so does the exemption.

Maybe thats just his interpretation, though. What if another police agency has a different view of the law? Or a county prosecutor? Or a state enforcement agency?

Who would want to be the test case?

While its more likely that anyone who is caught carrying concealed while wearing a mask under direction of the governor will not be jammed up by the law, it does seem silly  again  to have to worry about something like this.

There shouldnt be any special carve-outs, dispensations, exemptions, or considerations: The two provisions can and should co-exist at all times (taking appropriate public health precautions while still enjoying our basic civil and constitutional rights).

Unfortunately, however, there is always someone, somewhere who is willing to go all the way up to the line and eventually cross it, which then, of course, leads to more silly carve-outs, special exemptions, and legal mystery.

Coronavirus is not going to last forever or, at most, the national emergency surrounding the pandemic wont. But the Constitution must. Thats why this issue has to be resolved.

It cant be either/or, it has to be both. Turns out, it is.



There is no law that specifically prohibits wearing a mask while carrying pursuant to a concealed handgun permit, a spokesperson for NC State Senator Philip E. Berger, President Pro Tempore of the NC Senate, told Reuters via email.

But what if Berger is mistaken or has an interpretation of the law that isnt shared by district attorneys or state prosecutors?

Sources include:

Reuters.com

WBTV.com

NaturalNews.com
For those of you who don't know, Elon Musk is not perfect and has run into a few failures within his life. It's easy to focus on the CEO's success but if you take a long look at his failures, you'll realize that the reason he is successful is that he has survived all of those failures!

69 days after 4/20 again haha  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 28, 2020

Here are the top 10 failures of Elon Musk:

1. Elon Musk applied for Netscape but was denied. Can you imagine the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX applying for a job? What's worse is can you imagine the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX being rejected when applying for a job?

Musk got rejected from Netscape in 1995

2. Musk got ousted as the CEO of the company that he started, Zip2. Elon Musk has had a fair share of losing his CEO status and the first instance this happened was in his first company, Zip2.

Musk was ousted as the CEO of Zip2 back in 1996

3. The very first PayPal product was actually voted one of the 10 worst business ideas ever! Could you imagine the convenience and consistent use of PayPal once being voted as the worst business idea ever?

This happened back in 1999

4. Musk crashed his new McLaren F1 that was worth $1 million. Yup! It's hard to believe that the founder of Tesla actually crashed his dream car, the McLaren F1 shortly after buying it.

The crash happened back in 1999

5. Elon Musk almost died from malaria while traveling to both Brazil and his own homeland South Africa.

This happened back in 2000

6. Musk was kicked out of PayPal during his very own honeymoon! Shortly after his marriage and during the honeymoon, Elon Musk was brutally kicked out of his position as CEO.

Musk lost his CEO position at PayPal back in 2000

Read Also: Elon Musk Confirms Plans to Make a 7 Seater Tesla Model Y: How Much Longer Do We Have to Wait?

7. SpaceX's first-ever rocket launch exploded. It took Musk time, effort, and a lot of capital to get the very first SpaceX rocket to launch but it exploded! This happened back in 2006

What's worse is that the second launch which was supposed to rectify the mistakes of the first launch exploded as well! This happened back in 2007 just a year after the first rocket failure.

It doesn't even stop there, in 2008, the third rocket launch failed again! This time, the rocket had NASA satellites onboard.

8. The Tesla Model S came with several problems like spontaneous battery combustion making it dangerous to drive. This happened back in 2014 when Tesla was still trying to get a share of the automobile market.

9. The Tesla Model X deliveries were delayed for more than 18 months due to manufacturing problems. Imagine 18 months! That's a whole year and a half worth of delays!

10. The last but not the least was the 5th rocket explosion that happened with Facebook's satellites for Africa on the rocket worth $300 million!

Needless to say, Elon Musk has had his fair share of failures but the Tesla and SpaceX CEO is now stronger than ever.

Read Also: 'Elon Musk' GoFundMe Account Asking Support to Colonize Mars Spotted: How Much Did It Make So Far?
(Natural News) Norway is halting the use of an app designed to help trace the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus after the countrys data protection agency warned that the app did not effectively protect users privacy.

According to the Norwegian Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet), the app, known as Smittenstop  Norwegian for Infection stop  was shown to collect large amounts of personal information about its users. This included their location data as well as information about their contact with others.

In response, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) stated that they would comply with Datatilsynets assessment even though they disagreed with it.

We do not agree with [Datatilsynets] assessment, but now we have to delete all data and pause work as a result of the notification, Camilla Stoltenberg, NIPH director, said in a statement.

Contact tracing apps use could no longer be justified

Officially launched in April, Smittestopp was being tested in three municipalities before it got halted and the collected data deleted.

According to Stoltenberg, the decision to cut the apps testing not only weakens an important part of Norways preparedness for an increased spread of COVID-19, but also reduces their ability to fight off the current ongoing infections.

The pandemic is not over. We have no immunity in the population, no vaccine, and no effective treatment, Stoltenberg said. Without the Smittestopp app, we will be less equipped to prevent new outbreaks that may occur locally or nationally.

Datatilsynet disagreed, noting that the restricted spread of coronavirus in Norway, as well as the apps limited effectiveness due to its small userbase, meant that its use could no longer be justified in the face of rising privacy concerns.

According to data obtained by TechCrunch from the NIPH, the app had been downloaded 1.6 million times and had around 600,000 active users  roughly 10 percent of Norways population  as of early June.

The countrys caseload is also on the lower end of the scale. As of press time, Norway has a total of 8,751 confirmed infections and 248 deaths according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

We believe that [NIPH] has not demonstrated that it is strictly necessary to use location data for infection detection, Bjorn Erik Thon, director of Datatilsynet, said in a statement posted on their website this week.

Smittenstopp was more invasive than other contact-tracing apps

Unlike most other national coronavirus tracking apps currently in use in Europe that use Bluetooth signals to estimate user proximity, Smittestopp tracks its users real-time GPS location data. (Related: The US government thinks that fighting coronavirus requires spying on your phones data.)

Furthermore, Datatilsynet noted that the apps developers opted to use a centralized app architecture. This means that user data is uploaded to a central server controlled by the health department, instead of being stored locally on the users device.

Another potential problem with the app is its intrusiveness.

According to the digital privacy watchdog, the apps users currently do not have the ability to limit the use of data it harvests to coronavirus contact tracing only. Instead, users have no choice but to agree to have their personal information used for research purposes  a violation of Article 5 of the E.U.s General Data Protection Regulation law.

UK-based rights group Amnesty International has since hailed the cancellation of Norways Smittestopp as a major win for privacy.

The Norwegian app is deeply intrusive and puts peoples privacy at risk. It is the right decision to press pause and go back to the drawing board to design an app that puts privacy front and center, Claudio Guarnieri, head of Amnesty Internationals Security Lab, said in a statement published on the groups website.

While the Norweigian government has decided to put Smittestopp on hold, other European countries, such as Germany, France, Switzerland, Latvia and Italy have pushed through with the release of their own contact tracing apps.

The latest on how different nations are handling the pandemic is available at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

WakingTimes.com

EuroNews.com

TheGuardian.com

Coronavirus.JHU.edu

TechCrunch.com

GDPR-Info.eu

Amnesty.org

APNews.com
(Natural News) Thanks to George Floyd, the left has gone virtue signaling crazy. Everything is racist, they say, including milk simply because it is white rather than black.

We first reported on the milk is racist phenomenon several years back when People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) put out an article claiming that non-whites are more lactose intolerant than whites, which makes milk inherently racist.

Ignoring the fact that milk only triggers lactose intolerance when it is pasteurized, as pasteurization kills off the lactase enzyme necessary to digest lactose, PETA instead tried to make the case that 90 percent of blacks are unable to digest milk of any kind, which makes the beverage racist.

Milk may as well be stringing black people up from nooses and muzzling them with face gags on cotton plantations, according to PETA and the left, which are on a crusade to eliminate all systemic racism from society.

Since only white people as a whole can consume cow dairy, the very presence of milk in grocery store refrigerators and school lunch trays must be based in racial superiority, reports Law Enforcement Today, pointing out the insanity of such a claim.

Even though upwards of 70 percent of people in general cannot tolerate pasteurized milk, PETA and the left want to make it all about race because hating on whites is all the rage currently.

The reaction to cow dairy is different with each individual, but the science remains  milk isnt a drink that is harmful to one or two races, while only white people can benefit from its nutritional value, Law Enforcement Today adds.

Jesus is also racist because he may have had lighter skin

Another target of the left is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is apparently also racist because of the lighter skin he is often portrayed as having. Even though the appearance of Jesus in artistic renderings tends to change depending on the country or region, fake black man Shaun King is focusing specifically on the white version.

Yes, I think the statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down, tweeted King, who is basically the male version of Rachel Dolezal if she held highly inflammatory political viewpoints and never shut up about them.

They are a form of white supremacy, this anti-white racist added. Always have been. In the Bible, when the family of Jesus wanted to hide, and blend in, guess where they went? EGYPT! Not Denmark. Tear them down.

This scorched-earth mentality that seeks to destroy, abolish and violently eliminate any and all expressions of whiteness has become something of a leftist trend. It is also being coupled with trying to eliminate both conservative and Christian forms of whiteness, which is a direct assault on Christianity itself.

If your religion requires Jesus to be a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jesus, then your religion is not Christianity, but white supremacy, King added, emphasizing his position that anything white automatically equates to white supremacy.

Christian whiteness, not white Christianity, has been the primary religion of this country for hundreds of years, he went on to lament, his anti-white racism and leftist fragility spewing without shame.

Whether Jesus is white or any other color has never been an issue until now, with the George Floyd incident igniting a fresh wave of leftist hatred towards all things white, including white people. Having white skin is unacceptable to the left, as leftists would love for nothing more than to genocide all whites from existence.

This type of politically correct virtue signaling against the very existence of white people is destroying American society. To learn more, be sure to check out PoliticalCorrectness.news.

Sources for this article include:

LawEnforcementToday.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) As statues of alleged racists come crashing down all across America, there is one unlikely historical figure who is also being targeted for removal: Abraham Lincoln.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, a Democrat, says he would love to see the image of Lincoln that has stood tall in the citys Park Square for nearly 150 years be torn down because it is an offensive reminder of the slave trade.

Even though Lincoln freed the slaves, he lived at a time when people, both white and black, owned slaves. Thus, his stone and metal replica must be demolished because it causes some people to feel pain every time they see it, according to Walsh.

The statues depiction of an emancipated slave is also offensive, according to Walsh and other left-wingers who are trying to abolish history. Again, even though the slave in the statue was freed, Democrats hate seeing it which means it has to go.

The statue has stood there since 1879 and is a replica of an original statue built with funds contributed by freed slaves, notes Breitbart News, emphasizing that freed black slaves paid for the original sculpture to be crafted in celebration of their emancipation.

So, while historical blacks wanted this statue to exist as a reminder of their freedom, white liberals like Walsh want to see it torn down because, in Walshs own words, he recognizes equality.

The same thing is happening to the legacy of George Washington, by the way, Americas first president whom leftist claim was an oppressive racist.

The whole thing makes no rational sense, and merely feeds into what Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, describes as a Black Lives Bullies phenomenon. Listen to the following episode of The Health Ranger Report to learn more:

Walsh opposes renaming Faneuil Hall, though, even though it was named after a slave owner who sold slaves there

Meanwhile, the nearby Faneuil Hall, which was named after a slave owner and was the site of a famous slave market, should not be renamed because Walsh does not find its name to be offensive.

When asked why Walsh would want to tear down the Lincoln statue while keeping Faneuil Hall as is, his office responded with: The Mayor is always open to having a conversation, but he remains opposed to changing the name of Faneuil Hall.

As NPR reported back in 2018, Faneuil Hall was a meeting place for revolutionaries and abolitionists all throughout history. Frederick Douglass, as one prominent example, actually spoke there.

But its also a relic of the slave trade in Boston, NPR further noted. Peter Faneuil was a merchant who made money off slavery and owned slaves himself. Slaves were bought and sold right next to what is now Faneuil Hall.

Around the time when NPR reported this about Faneuil Hall, Walsh indicated that he was in support of building a memorial to slavery on the property. An artist by the name of Steve Locke had initially proposed it, but later withdrew this proposal after being accused of representing the house negro pawn of a white mayor.'

Breitbart News reportedly tried to reach out to Walsh for comment about this other controversy, but did not receive a response by the time its story was submitted for publication.

I find left-wing activists very offensive. Can we have them removed please? joked one commenter.

The Lincoln statue is just an inanimate piece of carved stone mainly, wrote another.

But those thousands of blacks in Boston are the PRINCIPALS who are keeping alive with respect the names of Slave holders that the Boston Mayor wants to get rid of.

More related news about the liberal obsession with ripping down historical monuments, including those that celebrate black emancipation, is available at PoliticalCorrectness.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A citizen journalist who traveled to Wuhan to report on the coronavirus outbreak was recently arrested by Chinese police. Zhang Zhan has become the fourth known independent journalist to be silenced by authorities for attempting to document the effects of the pandemic.

Chinese human rights blog Weiquanwang broke the news about Zhangs arrest on June 20. According to the site, local authorities arrested Zhang on June 19, after the prosecutors office in Shanghais Pudong district, approved her arrest on the charge of picking quarrels and provoking trouble.

Zhang is currently being held at the Pudong New District detention center.

Zhang silenced after speaking up against the government

Zhangs arrest isnt the first time shes gotten in trouble with the Chinese government. In 2017, she had her license to practice law revoked after participating in a petition for amendments to a local administrative law on lawyers.

Zhang arrived in Wuhan in February, acting as a video journalist and posting reports on her WeChat account, as well as on YouTube and Twitter.

On May 13, Zhang posted a video on her YouTube channel of her speaking in front of the Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan. Here, she criticized local health authorities plan to roll out virus testing at about 180 yuan ($15) per person as being too high a price. She noted that locals had been under lockdown for months and unable to work.

In her video, she added that while human rights had been trampled during the outbreak, people would still be likely to foot the bill to prove that they were virus-free. In Wuhan, citizens must present a mobile-app-generated code showing that they are virus-free to pass security checkpoints.

In addition, she also called out the intimidation tactics that city officials used to try to control the spread of the virus. She specifically called them a sorrow of the country.

A day after she posted the video, she went missing.

A couple of days after she disappeared, the Pudong police bureau released a notice stating that Zhang was being detained, according to the U.S. based rights group Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD).

Meanwhile, the Paris-based nonprofit Reporters Without Borders said that Zhang was still being detained in Shanghai as of May 26.

Whether her most recent arrest is related to her past detention is currently unknown as of reporting time.

Others silenced by Beijing

Zhang is the fourth journalist to have been silenced by Chinese authorities in regard to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.

The first of these was another human rights lawyer named Chen Qiushi. Similar to Zhang, Chen had also traveled to Wuhan early this year to document the situation in the city. Chen disappeared sometime in early February with friends and family suddenly losing contact with him. They have since claimed that Chen, who has yet to resurface, had been forcibly quarantined by Wuhan police after he published video reports about the outbreak.

Another person who has yet to surface is Fang Bin. Fang had been accusing the government of covering up the true scale of the outbreak in Wuhan up until. Fang was arrested by Wuhan police on February 10, a day after he uploaded his final video, and has not been seen since.

Li Zenhua, on the other hand, was able to live-stream his encounter with Wuhan police when they went to arrest him. He then went silent for two months after the incident, only to emerge in late April. He has since claimed that he spent two weeks quarantined in both Wuhan and his hometown.

Chinese censorship has also gone beyond these four citizen journalists. Reports show that even grieving relatives have been silenced by the Chinese government for asking questions about how their loved ones died.

With the Chinese government continuing to cover up the truth about the ongoing outbreak, its likely that these will not be the last to be silenced.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

CPJ.org

BusinessInsider.com

NYTimes.com
(Natural News) Coronaviruses are pervasive throughout the human population and their symptoms typically manifest as the common cold. The four most popular coronaviruses identified include 229E (alpha coronavirus), NL63 (alpha coronavirus), OC43 (beta coronavirus), and HKU1 (beta coronavirus).

More potent coronaviruses have emerged in recent years. MERS-CoV I is a beta coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS. SARS-CoV is a beta coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. Today, the world is dealing with SARS-CoV-2 (the novel coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19. Now researchers are finding out that the newest strain has a disturbing parallel to HIV allowing for abnormal depletion of important immune cells.

The HIV component of the Wuhan virus is coming out

To better understand covid-19, virologists have analyzed its RNA sequence and its properties. Coronaviruses are characterized by the spike protein they produce in order to infect human immune cells. A team of researchers found four insertions in the spike glycoprotein (S) which are unique to the 2019-nCoV and are not present in other coronaviruses. In conjunction, the researchers identified amino acid residues in all four of the inserts that resembled amino acids from HIV-1 gp120 or HIV-1 Gag. When the researchers produced a 3D model of the 2019-nCoV, the inserts converged with these HIV properties to constitute a receptor binding site. In other words, this new virus had to be manipulated in a lab with HIV properties so it could bind more readily to human immune cells. Because initial outbreaks originated in Wuhan, China, there were immediate suspicions that coronavirus research and HIV research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology went afoul, and these biological experiments could have leaked (intentionally or unintentionally) from the lab.

In April, Professor Luc Montagnier, a 2008 Nobel Prize winner for Medicine, came right out and explained that SARS-CoV-2 was a manipulated virus that escaped containment from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The lab, which worked extensively on coronaviruses, had previously used coronaviruses as a vector for HIV as they sought ways to develop an AIDS vaccine. The mere process of vaccine development was most likely the driving force that brought about this new virus, which (as we now know) caused great pain and suffering throughout the world.

There are now multiple international investigations into the CCP lab. The mainstream news outlets are now playing catch-up as they bring the issue back up for debate. Even the New York Times is reporting on this issue now. The NYT published a piece called, How the Coronavirus Short-Circuits the Immune System. The studies they referenced found, In a disturbing parallel to H.I.V., the coronavirus can cause a depletion of important immune cells.

Now researchers have discovered yet another unpleasant surprise. In many patients hospitalized with the coronavirus, the immune system is threatened by a depletion of certain essential cells, suggesting eerie parallels with H.I.V., the article says.

Wuhan virus HIV component causes aberrant T cell reaction

The current research points to the Wuhan virus as having unique and complex gain-of-function properties. These properties include an enhanced attack on T cells, which are severely depleted in critically ill patients. The immune system, trying to compensate, may overreact, causing a cytokine storm or a sepsis-like response.

In covid-19 patients, there is a marked increase in IP10, a molecule which sends T cells to the necessary site of infection. This influx is reportedly causing chaotic signaling in patients bodies. The T-cells can become confused and may act aberrant. The thymus gland, responsible for T cell creation, is more shriveled in people of older age. This is why vitamin C has shown great promise for patient recovery because it activates the thymus gland and T cell production. This is also why younger people recover faster; they have a more active thymus gland. Immunologists at Kings College London concur that the core goal should be to resurrect the innate immune system instead of suppressing it. Because the virus has properties of HIV, it could be around for a long time, warn the researchers. Whether covid-19 becomes endemic or not, why arent health officials doing everything they can to educate the public on ways to mount a healthy immune response to overcome it?

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

CDC.gov

BioRXIV.org

ConnexionFrance.org

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov
(Natural News) In accordance with President Donald Trumps executive order concerning Big Tech censorship, the Department of Justice has put forth new guidelines urging tech companies to more fairly police the content that passes through their digital platforms.

Because several of Trumps tweets have been fact-checked or removed in recent weeks, Attorney General William Barr has finally decided to take action in addressing a problem that has plagued the Big Three  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram  for years.

Conservatives especially have been repeatedly targeted for sharing misinformation online, resulting in many of their pages being shadow-banned or removed. This is what happened to Natural News and the Health Ranger, as you are probably aware.

Since this type of selective censorship is showing no signs of relenting any time soon, AG Barr is ready to modify the qualifications for immunity that many tech companies currently hold under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Several online platforms have transformed into some of the nations largest and most valuable companies, and todays online services bear little resemblance to the rudimentary offerings in 1996, the department stated in a recent announcement.

With the realities of the modern internet, it went on to state, the time is ripe to adjust tech company immunity and better protect online free speech and the First Amendment.

Listen below to The Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how Big Tech is currently at war with humanity:

Will a divided Congress adopt something like this, especially during an election year?

While efforts to reign in Big Techs abuses of the CDAs Section 230 immunity protections have had bipartisan support in the past, some Democrats are reluctant to support this current effort because they believe that it is motivated primarily by Trumps own personal upset over being censored.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, for instance, a Democrat from Connecticut, recently spoke out and said that while he remains one of Congress loudest critics of Section 230, he now has no interest in being an agent of Bill Barrs speech police.

It is also an election year with Trump facing possible reelection, which makes the issue even more controversial at a time when both sides of the aisle are trying to garner online support from voters amid a growing national divide.

One thing the department has made clear is that tech companies, regardless of their current status under Section 230, do not have immunity from civil enforcement actions brought by the federal government. They also cannot use immunity as a defense against antitrust claims.

Facebook has, of course, come out in opposition to the changes, claiming that they would expose companies to potential liability for everything that billions of people around the world say.

At the time when they were first established, these immunity protections were not intended to give platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Wikipedia, none of which existed, the freedom to censor content as they please while also being shielded from liability. This is the impetus behind the proposed changes.

Coming to the defense of its member companies, the Internet Association, a digital company trade group, publicly announced that it opposes any alterations to Section 230 immunity because Silicon Valley corporations like Facebook and Twitter will supposedly lose their ability to operate.

The threat of litigation for every content moderation decision would hamper IA member companies ability to set and enforce community guidelines and quickly respond to new challenges in order to make their services safe, enjoyable places for Americans, the group stated.

To keep up with the latest news about Big Tech censorship, be sure to check out Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

WSJ.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) When it comes to COVID-19, timing is everything  even for testing. A team from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine announced in a recent study that testing an at-risk individual too early can lead to a false negative diagnosis, as they may test positive for the virus later on. The study, which was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, reported that the ideal time to test a person for COVID-19 is three days after the onset of symptoms.

The researchers arrived at this conclusion by studying data for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing (RT-PCR), the most commonly used test to diagnose COVID-19. Samples for RT-PCR are obtained by taking a swab from the back of a persons nose or throat and isolating genetic material from it. If RNA specific to SARS-COV-2  the virus responsible for COVID-19  is present in the swab, the RT-PCR machine will first convert that RNA into DNA then make multiple copies of it. This allows scientists to confirm whether a person is infected by the coronavirus or not.

False negatives occur in stages of infection

For their study, the team reviewed seven studies that used RT-PCR tests. In total, the researchers analyzed over 1,300 swab samples, including those from patients admitted to hospitals.

A negative test, whether or not a person has symptoms, doesnt guarantee that they arent infected by the virus, explained lead author Lauren Kucirka. How we respond to, and interpret, a negative test is very important because we place others at risk when we assume the test is perfect. However, those infected with the virus are still able to potentially spread the virus.

Kucirka and her team also noted that certain patients  those with known exposures or those who belong to high-risk populations  should be treated as if they were infected, especially if they start showing COVID-19 symptoms.

In addition, they believe that patients should know about the limitations of the RT-PCR tests. Despite being referred to as the gold standard in virus detection, the tests may not always yield accurate results. This makes the timing of the test an important factor in improving its predictive value.

According to the researchers, RT-PCR tests can lead to a false negative diagnosis if the swab misses collecting infected cells. This can also happen if a person is tested very early during the infection  that is, when virus levels are still very low. (Related: Low sensitivity of coronavirus tests means patients may be getting INCORRECT results, warn experts.)

In particular, the team warned against interpreting RT-PCR test results hastily, especially for high-exposure groups like health workers, nursing home residents and hospitalized patients, as earlier studies have found false negatives in these populations.

Accuracy is time-dependent

The team revealed that the likelihood of a person getting a false negative result depends on the stage of his infection when he was tested. Patients tested on the first day of infection are very likely to receive a false negative. The probability of this drops to 67 percent on day four, and goes further down to 20 percent on day eight.

The researchers observed a similar trend when testing was done post-infection. On the third week after infection, they noted an increase in the likelihood of a person getting a false positive result. This finding, according to the authors, suggests that RT-PCR accuracy may be limited during this period.

Based on the results of their analysis, the team recommends testing eight days after the infection, or around three days after symptoms start to appear. However, testing during this period can still lead to false negatives in 20 percent of tests, or one in five people.

We are using these tests to rule out COVID-19, and basing decisions about what steps we take to prevent onward transmission, such as selection of personal protective equipment for health care workers, Kucirka said.

As we develop strategies to reopen services, businesses and other venues that rely on testing and contact tracing, it is important to understand the limitations of these tests.

Pandemic.news has more about the ongoing Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.

Sources include:

LiveMint.com

MedicalNewsToday.com
(Natural News) With the move to defund and disband police, we can now see the fulfillment of the long legged Mac daddy, along with George Soros plan to cause race riots and the rise of a Brown Shirt Brigade! See video below!

(Article by Jon Watkins republished from GovernmentPropaganda.net)

On July 2, 2008 in Colorado Springs Colorado, then Presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama said in a speech, We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that weve set. Weve got to have a civilian national security force thats just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded. People of all ages, stations, and skills will be asked to serve.

Obamas Civilian National Security Force

Lee Cary | American Thinker  July 20, 2008  Barack Obamas recent words to promote his image as Community Organizer in Chief were not about forming a paramilitary force of volunteer brown shirts. They were about turning America into one, giant, community organizers sandbox at enormous cost to taxpayers.

Senator Obama was nearly 17 minutes into his July 2 speech (yet another one where naming Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was required) in Colorado Springs, Colorado when he deviated from his pre-released script and performed without the teleprompter net saying,

We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that weve set. Weve got to have a civilian national security force thats just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded. (emphasis added)

The immediate context for that amazing statement was a preview of parts of his plan to vastly expand community service opportunities for Americans of nearly all ages. He said,

People of all ages, stations, and skills will be asked to serve.

The range of his community service initiatives was outlined in an earlier American Thinker article. In his campaign document entitled The Blueprint for Change: Barack Obamas Plan For America, Obamas Service section runs a close second to Education in complexity. But, with his Colorado Springs statement, it grabbed first place in its projected costs to taxpayers. Obama did the cost projection himself.

He plans to double the Peace Corps budget by 2011, and expand AmeriCorps, USA Freedom Corps, VISTA, YouthBuild Program, and the Senior Corps. Plus, he proposes to form a Classroom Corps, Health Corps, Clean Energy Corps, Veterans Corps, Homeland Security Corps, Global Energy Corps, and a Green Jobs Corps. Here a corps  there a corps  everywhere a corps corps.

So it made sense in Colorado Springs when he said his call to community service will be a central cause of my presidency. He couldnt be clearer in signaling his intentions, including a Social Investment Fund Network to link local non-profits with the federal government.

The entire plan is breathtaking in its scope. But it does not, as at least one internet writer has suggested, portend a giant police force. It would be easier to rebut if it did. As it is, its silly stuff born of naively fanciful dreams. Read more here

Read more at: GovernmentPropaganda.net
(Natural News) Popular Mechanics has had its fair share of notable articles. The storied magazine has featured writing from astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who relived his famous moonwalk, to even President Ronald Reagan, who outlined his dream of building America. It boasted quite a varied and popular following.

That is, until it jumped on the leftist bandwagon.

The magazine has recently sparked backlash online after publishing a step-by-step guide on toppling monuments without getting hurt in the process.

The piece, headlined, How to Topple a Statue Using Science, provided its readers with a detailed guide to raze monuments and historical figures. Moreover, it was published on June 15, as statues are being taken down in several cities amid the George Floyd riots. Just this month, rioters have either defaced or damaged historic monuments like the Lincoln Memorial and World War II Memorial.

A science-backed approach to vandalism

In his first article for Popular Mechanics, author James Stout  who describes himself as a historian of anti-fascism in sport  promises his readers that they can bring that sucker [a dig at the statue] down without anyone getting hurt.

He then goes on to imply that not liking the statue is reason enough to take down the now-problematic monument  with the help of science, of course.

Should you happen to find yourself near a statue that you decide you no longer like, we asked scientists for the best, safest ways to bring it to the ground without anyone getting hurt  except, of course, for the inanimate racist whos been dead for a century anyway, it says.

Its worth noting that the riots that have plunged major cities into violence have also attacked statues of great historical significance. In London, Black Lives Matter rioters climbed on the Cenotaph, the U.K.s national war memorial, and tried to burn the Union Jack as a sign of protest. In the U.S., the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution in Philadelphia was defaced after vandals scribbled committed GENOCIDE on the monument.

Stout taps mechanical engineer Scott Holand to provide details of how to safely pull down a statue. Holland adds that with 70 strong friends, protesters can take down the statue using recovery straps around the head or neck of the statue.

Holland also suggests heating up the statue, saying, Youll be there for 15 to 20 minutes, but its a lot easier.

If the reader doesnt like manual labor, Stout offers another approach  heating the statue and using thermite. He writes that the chemical reaction would create a fun bonus of producing a high-pitched squeal.

One could imagine it sounding something like the sound a confederate general would make if their feet were on fire, explains Chris Harrison, a chemistry professor at San Diego State University, in the article.

Critics accuse magazine of politicizing science

The article quickly drew flak online, with people scolding the Popular Mechanics for politicizing science.

I knew it was no longer about science. Science has become politicized, buyer beware! Hope Marxism works out for Popular Mechanics, but its doubtful.  Stephanie (@luvwaltdisney) June 17, 2020

One user, who reportedly grew up with the magazine, called the article disappointing, while others were baffled that the magazine even allowed the article to be published.

Does Popular Mechanics have a physical office? [It] seems strange to encourage destruction if they do, user @Skyl3r26 tweeted.

An army veteran named Dillion decried how the Left has taken over the magazine, saying that they destroyed it with way too much popular and way too little mechanics. (Related: Patriots are starting to defend statues against lunatic left-wing MOBS.)

An op-ed by Rob Williams at MediaPost offers a blistering insight on the article, even comparing it to the The Anarchist Cookbook  the infamous civil disobedience book that contained recipes for bombs, weapons and drugs.

Thats fine if people want those statues removed, Williams writes, but it should be done through referendums or other legal measures that dont sacrifice civility.

Other users panned the article  and Popular Mechanics  saying that theyre done reading the magazine.

Ben Shapiro, editor-in-chief for the Daily Wire, poked fun at the article, saying that hes looking forward to a Popular Mechanics article on making a Molotov cocktail.

I look forward to Popular Mechanics putting together a primer on how to make a Molotov cocktail https://t.co/Re2VkHeJSN  Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 17, 2020

Popular Mechanics, for its part, stressed that the article is presented to describe the physics and mechanics of removing statues and does not condone removing or destroying statues. It also goes to warn that trying to do the detailed instructions presented in the article can lead to injury.

Learn more about the lunacy of the Left at LeftCult.com.

Sources include:

PopularMechanics.com 1

FoxNews.com

PopularMechanics.com 2

TheHill.com

RT.com

Twitter.com 1

MediaPost.com

NYPost.com
(Natural News) Polish President Andrzej Duda has called homosexuality and transgenderism an ideology that is is even more destructive to the human being than communism. Poland had been a communist dictatorship after World War II until 1989.

(Article by Martin Burger republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

During a campaign speech, Duda compared the indoctrination that took place during communism with the indoctrination of homosexuality and gender ideology.

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, he explained.

Following numerous negative articles by international media outlets, Duda sent out several tweets in English to Reuters, The New York Times, the Associated Press, The Guardian, and the Financial Times, clarifying his position.

Yet again, as part of dirty political fight, my words are put out of context. I truly believe in diversity and equality, Duda said. At the same time, beliefs of any minority cannot be imposed on a majority under the false pretense of tolerance. In our times, truth has become a scared little creature that hides from much stronger correctness.

I believe in the world where truths, such as MeToo, can have a safe platform. Where we can speak our mind, where words are not twisted. I believe in tolerance to any views, so please stop distributing fake news, he added.

As part of his campaign to be elected president for a second term, Duda has pledged to protect children from the agenda of homosexuality and gender ideology.

His campaign platform includes a Family Card listing his many pro-family policies. It includes a section titled Protection of children from LGBT ideology.

That section promises an end to ideological LGBT propaganda in public institutions and the right of parents to decide in what spirit to shape their children. It includes a belief that parents above all are responsible for the sexual education of their children and expresses support for the parents decisive influence on the form and substance of optional classes in schools.

The Family Card also offers help for families who want to homeschool.

In other sections, the Family Card pledges financial support for families, help for senior citizens, and help for single parents.

According to the president, the family is crucial to Poland, and the traditional definition of marriage will prevail.

The family deserves special support from the state, he pointed out. The family protects and builds society.

Our identity has helped us to weather the toughest times in childhood, Duda added. The Polish family has preserved our values. The family is a special value, which demands special protection from the state  Marriage is a relationship between women and men, and so it will remain.

Duda, a practicing Catholic, began his presidency in 2015 by making a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Cz?stochowa, who is venerated as Queen and Protectress of Poland.

For the feast of Corpus Christi in 2015, he was seen rescuing a consecrated host that had dropped to the ground during an outdoor Mass.

Catholics believe that after the words of consecration are prayed during Mass, the bread is changed substantially into the whole Christ  body, blood, soul, and divinity. This conviction explains the utmost care given by the Church to the Eucharist.

Duda is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House next Wednesday, just a few days before the presidential election in Poland.

Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com




Donate Now As a public service during this pandemic, the Jewish News is providing free, unlimited access to all articles. Jewish News is a nonprofit publication that is owned by the community and relies on community support.
(Natural News) Black Lives Matter (BLM) is backing down after a group of British patriots have vowed to protect historical monuments from being desecrated by the anti-civilizational terror group.

(Article by Shane Trejo republished from BigLeaguePolitics.com)

BLM reportedly called off a rally on Saturday because they were scared that opposition would show up and stop them from committing their violent rampage.

We want the protests to be a safe space for people to attend, a post from the BLM LDN organisers said. However, we dont think it will be possible with people like them present.

Patriotic groups, including heroic anti-Sharia demonstrator Tommy Robinson, have scheduled a defend our memorials event near Winston Churchills statue on Parliament Square. Churchill has been one of the cultural icons set for destruction by BLM as they emulate the tactics of ISIS in their war against Western Civilization.

Police claim they are ready to deal with any skirmishes that may result from a confrontation between the two groups.

We are going into the summer period, which is always a challenging period in relation to to incidents and disorder, said Martin Hewitt, who is the chair of the National Police Chiefs Council.

And of course now we do have the additional factor of the extraordinary movement of Black Lives Matter, and peoples feelings about inequality. So of course, when you put all of that together, that has the potential  to cause concern, Hewitt added.

Police stood down while a Churchill monument was defaced by vandals, doing nothing to protect and serve while BLM terrorists waged war against Britain. Cops defend their inaction and weakness as being necessary to protect the public safety.

Somerset police chief constable Andy Marsh said: There would have been a risk of violent confrontation and other criminal damage and a risk of significant disorder in Bristol and beyond [had his officers taken action].

I do believe that disorder would have been significant in Bristol and [would have] made it an epicenter for violent protest, he added.

Marsh also paid lip service to the underlying agenda of the rioters, showing that he and his forces have essentially surrendered to the conquering enemy.

I am pleased that events in Bristol have prompted a broader public debate on the appropriateness and legitimacy of statues and place names and the way our history is portrayed, he said.

Because British police are so weak and unwilling to act, the people must take defending their historical monuments into their own hands.

Read more at: BigLeaguePolitics.com
(Natural News) Speaking ones truth can be quite an inconvenience  it can make one a target for harassment, doxing, censorship and even death threats.

This was what happened to Conservative media personality Laura Loomer.

Describing herself as a guerilla journalist, Loomer, during an interview with Mike Adams, noted that she had a relatively early head start in the media industry.

According to Loomer, she started working as an undercover investigative journalist for Project Veritas during her senior year at Barry University  a move that Loomer said, eventually led to her dismissal from the school.

In her interview, Loomer said that despite being an honor student and an active member of the local College Republicans chapter at her university, she ended up getting dismissed by school administrators just one month before she was supposed to graduate because of an investigative project she produced.

One month prior to graduation, my university expelled me, accusing me of creating a hostile environment for making a video where I exposed the fact that they would have allowed for an ISIS club to exist on campus while they discriminated against College Republicans, Loomer said.

This did not faze her, however. Instead, it just pushed her to do more.

After that, I began working full time with Project Veritas and I was undercover in the Hillary Clinton campaign throughout 2015 and 2016, exposing voter fraud and corruption, Loomer said in her interview, adding that she stayed with Project Veritas for three years.

During her stay at Project Veritas, Loomer conducted investigations on several issues like voter fraud for the media firm. These investigations, Loomer said, soon impacted the 2016 presidential race.

Loomer, however, soon left the media and activist group to start her own media firm, Luminate Media.

I left Project Veritas because I wanted to start my own media company and I wanted to be my own personality and do investigative journalism that wasnt undercover, Loomer said.

According to Loomer, who also operates the site Loomered.com, she quickly generated a massive online following  an achievement that she attributes to the popularity of her viral videos, which form the backbone of her investigative journalism projects.

These videos usually involve her showing up to events where she would interview high-profile Democratic politicians and figures such as Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Nancy Pelosi and Maxine Waters.

I would confront them on live stream for everybody to watch. And so you never knew what was gonna go down because it was all on live stream and so it was very exciting for people to watch, Loomer said, adding that her videos were very successful when it comes to exposing the aforementioned personalities and calling them out for their hypocrisies and double standards.

This has become a sort of a double-edged sword for Loomer, however, with the journalist noting that while her incisive videos and investigative reports have become popular among conservatives, they have also caused her to earn the ire of several big names from the Liberals.

As a result of my effectiveness in my investigative journalism  particularly my investigative report into Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, prior to them becoming actual members of congress  the Democrats decided to partner with Big Tech and I was de-platformed and banned everywhere, Loomer said.

According to Loomer, this led to her becoming the Most Censored Person in the United States.

I would say I was the Female Patient Zero  Alex Jones was the Male Patient Zero  in Big Techs grand experiment to see how far they could take their censorship and violation of civil rights of conservative content creators, Loomer said, referring to the radio host and InfoWars founder who was also de-platformed and banned because of his often controversial conservative views. (Related: Laura Loomer: I am now the most banned woman in the world.)

I am now the most censored person in this country, literally banned on every social media site, Ive been de-banked, Ive been de-platformed and its just because I speak the truth, Loomer added.

This censorship from Big Tech is far-reaching; Loomer noted that even mere mentions of her name or linking to her website can cause people to get barred from accessing their own social media accounts.

Right now Im running for congress, and if you post Laura Loomer or if you post articles from my site, oftentimes they suspend you, Loomer, who is seeking the GOP nomination in Floridas 21st congressional district, revealed.

According to Loomer, this is an effect of Big Techs decision to brand her and a host of other high-profile Conservative figures as dangerous individuals.

Loomer insists she is not.

They labeled us as dangerous individuals and under their classification of a dangerous individual was a serial killer, a human trafficker or a terrorist and obviously Im neither of those things, Loomer explained in her interview, decrying the fact that actual dangerous individuals and organizations such the KKK and Antifa, as well as pedophile groups still have access to Big Techs online platforms.

Its clear that the bias is against the conservatives, Loomer said.

According to Loomer, while her concerns regarding Big Techs censorship of conservative voices may be seen as trivial by many, its actually not.

People say oftentimes oh its not that big of a deal, its just social media, get over it, but they dont understand how far theyre taking this, these Big Tech social media companies, or these Tech Tyrants or these Techno-Fascists as Id like to call them, Loomer said, noting that technology giants such as Facebook, Twitter and the like, are now establishing what looks to be their version of a social credit scoring system in the United States.

This is in reference to a system recently put in place in China, wherein the government ranks the population based on their social credit which, in turn, is based on their behavior and how they act according to standards set by the government.

Loomer also noted that, in addition to pushing for potentially dangerous measures against conservative voices, Big Tech also allowed  albeit unofficially  the use of violence against those like her who dare speak up against the companies glaring bias and prejudice, adding that Facebook basically said it was alright if people posted threats and incited high-severity violence against her.

The latter happened the day after Loomer lodged a defamation suit against the California-based tech giant.

When we say that these Radical Leftists in Big Tech want you dead, its not a conspiracy theory, Loomer explained, adding that while such a situation may seem to be too improbable and farfetched for other people, its a grim reality for most conservative voices and personalities.

It might sound a little out there for people, but when a company  one of the largest tech companies in the world, a multi-billion dollar company  targets a private citizen who doesnt have any major financial backing per se, with incitements of violence against their lives simply for challenging them, thats a problem and that should not be happening here in America, Loomer stressed.

As reported by TechCrunch, however, the U.S. appeals court in Washington, D.C. has since dismissed Loomers lawsuit.

Loomer stressed that while she herself is not, in any way, dangerous, she is willing to admit that in many ways her truth is  at least to the Lefts agenda.

Im not dangerous  maybe my truth is dangerous to their Leftist agenda  but thats what they do, they try to brand you and defame you and then most people dont question it because most people  average people who maybe arent really politically involved, or people who dont watch the news, or those who dont live and breathe in the world of social media  theyre like if Facebook is saying shes dangerous, and if the companys taking that hardline position, then maybe its true, Loomer lamented.

Despite the dog pile launched by Big Tech and Democrats against her, Loomer shows no sign of stopping. In fact, according to a report by Breitbart, Loomer  who has built her platform on the idea of protecting free speech  raked in a 9-point lead during the Florida congressional race.

Earlier this year, Florida GOP chairman and state senator Joe Gruters, sponsored a bill inspired by Loomer that seeks to eliminate what he considers a liberal political bias held by the leaders of Twitter, Facebook and other large social media companies.

According to Gruters, his bill is not partisan and is intended to allow people to speak freely in the digital public square no matter what their opinions are.

The bill would make social media companies with more than 75 million subscribers liable for damages if they delete or censor a users religious speech or political speech or if they use certain algorithms to target certain religious or political views.

Watch the full interview:

Sources include:

BrightEon.com

NBCMiami.com

TheGatewayPundit.com

BusinessInsider.com

TechCrunch.com

Breitbart.com

Sun-Sentinel.com
(Natural News) The U.S. government is not going to continue business as usual with China following Beijings culpability in creating, spreading, and covering up the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), and instead will be treating the rising Communist power as the threat it has become.

Robert OBrien, national security adviser to President Donald Trump, along with FBI Director Christopher Wray, both emphasized the threats posed by China in recent days, The Epoch Times reported, noting that under the current White House, passivity will not be the order of the times.

The news site noted:

OBrien, in a speech delivered to a group of Arizona business leaders, said the United States will no longer be passive in dealing with China, adding that his remarks would be the first of many such speeches challenging China in the coming weeks.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Attorney General William Barr, as well as other senior administration officials, are also expected to deliver speeches on this front, he said.

The days of American passivity and naivety regarding the Peoples Republic of China are over, OBrien said 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.

He noted that in 2001, the U.S. welcomed Beijing into the World Trade Organization after making vast concessions and trade privileges and ignoring the communist dictatorships long history of gross human rights abuses and turning a blind eye to Chinas widespread technology theft that eviscerated entire sectors of the American economy.

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.

Emphasizing that he was not attacking ordinary Chinese but rather the Communist Party government, OBrien ticked off a list of activities Beijing has engaged in to suppress its own citizens while trying to influence Americans to view China favorably.

For his part, Wray accused China of attempting to meddle in U.S. politics and elections and of spying on Fortune 100 firms, the top corporations in the country as ranked by employees.

Theres no country that presents a broader, more comprehensive threat to Americas innovation, to our economic security, and to our democratic ideas than China does, he said.

Under President Trump, the U.S. has taken an increasingly aggressive stance, both in the Pacific and in the realm of trade. (Related: Goodbye, Obama, you sleeper cell traitor and enemy of America (you wont be missed.)

The Pentagon has not only shifted more offensive assets into the South Pacific, but the administration and the Defense Department both have been working to shore up and expand relations and cooperation with regional allies, most of whom see Chinas rise as a threat as well.

Trade-wise, President Trump  with tariffs and economic policy  has managed to force the Chinese at least to the negotiating table, which has led to some concessions  not nearly enough but far more than any past president since Richard Nixon dramatically expanded relations with China in the early 1970s.

Trump has also imposed restrictions on U.S. companies doing business with Chinese firms over concerns about espionage.

For his part, Wray said his bureau is opening a new counterintelligence investigation that ties back to China every 10 hours.

China expert Gordon Chang said that under Trump, the U.S. is finally becoming more realistic about China.

They are starting to understand the fundamental challenge that Beijing poses to American society, he told the Times.

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

TheEpochTimes.com
(Natural News) Using George Floyd as an excuse, a cohort of black students enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) recently demanded that one of their professors postpone their examinations as a show of solidarity with people of color. When they were told no, however, they proceeded to politically lynch said professor by calling for his immediate firing.

While unsuccessful, this angry mob of entitled malcontents did succeed in getting Professor Gordon Klein placed on temporary leave as a form of punishment for his refusal to give black students special treatment. More than 20,000 people are said to have signed a petition calling for Kleins firing, even though he did nothing wrong.

In response to his black students demands, Klein quoted civil rights champion Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in stating:

Remember that MLK famously said that people should not be evaluated based on the color of their skin. Do you think that your request would run afoul of MLKs admonition?

This response was meant to get Kleins black students to rethink their request in light of the colorblind position of Dr. King, who if he were alive today would be utterly ashamed of racist movements like Black Lives Matter. Instead, these black students lashed out in anger against Klein and called for him to be canceled from UCLA for the crime of upsetting them.

Keep in mind that Klein has been teaching at UCLA for 39 years, and has no record of inappropriate behavior. His only scarlet letter, so to speak, is refusing to put black people on a pedestal at the expense of white and other non-black people. In other words, he embraces equality  and for this, he has to go, according to the left.

Thanks for your suggestion in your email below that I give black students special treatment, given the tragedy in Minnesota, Klein wrote in an email to his students, bravely challenging their request that he promote more racism.

Do you know the names of the classmates that are black? How can I identify them since weve been having online classes only? Are there any students that may be of mixed parentage, such as half black-half Asian? What do you suggest I do with respect to them? A full concession or just half?

Why are leftists so incapable of recognizing their own hypocritical racism?

Once again, Kleins sardonic words were meant not to mock but to get these supposedly intellectual students to think about their demands, which also included pushing for all black students to be given automatic passing grades. Does it really make sense in terms of equality to give one group of people special treatment simply because they have darker skin than another group?

Ironically, Kleins attempt to teach his students that the world is not as simple as black and white went right over their heads. Instead of pondering his wisdom and considering its merits, they immediately formed a lynch mob and sought to destroy his career and life.

According to them, Kleins position that all students should be treated equally was met with false accusations that he is somehow violating UCLAs holistic and inclusive values.

In their petition, these deranged students made the claim that Klein is engaged in unethical behavior, adding that black students at UCLA should be placed on a pedestal in order to create equality.

We ask for your support now in holding Professor Klein to the same ethical standards he claims to be essential to a holistic and inclusive educational experience, which is what he owes to his students as an educational leader, they wrote.

We, the students, refuse to support Gordon Klein any further and demand to see his employment terminated as soon as possible.

For more related news about the anti-white agenda of the racist left, check out Libtards.news.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

Breitbart.com
Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM PDT MONDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures between 98 to 102. * WHERE...In Washington, Lower Columbia Basin of Washington and Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Washington. In Oregon, Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon and Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon. * WHEN...From noon to 9 PM PDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Temperatures will cool slightly Tuesday but still remain hot. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
Grace United Methodist Ministry services On Wednesday, Grace United Methodist Ministry -- formed from the merger of First, Croton, Ki

Jolene Beess tenure as a member of Kings Chapel United Methodist Church wasnt a long one.

The 12-year-old Hermitage resident was confirmed shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday. An hour later, the congregation no longer existed.

The church, which traces its roots back to 1802, is part of a merger of four New Castle area United Methodist churches that officially will become Grace United Methodist Ministry on Wednesday. Worship sites now known as First and Croton United Methodist churches will remain open. Kings Chapel and Epworth will be closed and put up for sale.

Epworth will have its decommissioning service Wednesday. Kings Chapel deconsecrated its building Sunday, during which time Jolene received her confirmation. Even though Kings Chapel no longer exists, she will be a member of the United Methodist Church.

She was prepared to be welcomed into Kings Chapel and to say goodbye to it on the same day.

We all knew this would happen, said Jolene, who turns 13 in August. We all understood that this church was not going to be here forever. I wish we could stay here longer, but thats just Gods calling for me to go somewhere else.

She recalled all the friends she has made at Kings Chapel, as well as the many church dinners at which she worked.

We had so many people, she said. I remember hearing the stories of how when there was Christmas Eve service they had to bring in chairs and put them back behind the pews. These days, we dont even have enough to fill the pews.

Nonetheless, she took the closing philosophically.

Im sad to leave the church that I was basically raised in, she said, but its also the start of a new beginning of my life through God and just life in general.

For longtime member Suzanne Munson, Sunday wasnt the first time she had to bid farewell to a Kings Chapel church building.

She recalled Palm Sunday, 1962, when the congregation walked to the present structure from the older one it was leaving behind just down the road, at the still-existing Kings Chapel Cemetery.

But we were happy then, she said. Wed been in that building a long time, too, but wed outgrown it. If it rained real hard, there was water in the basement where we had our Sunday school class.

We walked from that church to the new church. I remember, not everybody, but all the kids, we were waving our palms. It was exciting.

By comparison, Sunday was a time to recall all the family weddings and her childrens baptisms, and to know she wouldnt be coming back again.

Im fine with it, she said, but Im sad.

Story continues below video

Shirley Webers family ties to Kings Chapel go back almost has far as the church itself. Seven generations have worshipped there, including her great-grandparents and her great-granddaughter, Chloe, who was in attendance Sunday.

We really had close friends throughout our time there, she said in a letter to The News. Youth groups were fun and we had dinners to build a new church. We had strawberry socials. The church was booming then.

You cant forget all the people who influenced our lives and children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It will be a very sad day for us to see the church decommissioned.

Judy Barron, who was married in the church in 1963, recalled the many people who once attended KIngs Chapel. That included her daughter, the Rev. Jodie Barron Smith, now superintendent of the Franklin District of the United Methodist Church of Western Pennsylvania who returned to give the sermon at Sundays decommissioning.

Its so emotional, to say the least, said Smith, who left the church in 1999 to answer the call to ministry. But I really wouldnt want it any other way. Its just been unfortunate with the COVID-19 that they really havent had a good ending. This is the first time theyve been in the building since March.

Its just too bad they havent been able to spend the last few months celebrating and reminiscing. We have to cram all of that into one hour today, and thats hard, very hard.

Smith took her sermon from Jesuss parable about two men, one who built his house on the sand the other who built his on a foundation of solid rock. The second mans home withstood a storm and floodwaters, but the first mans domicile was washed away. Jesus encouraged his listeners to embrace and follow his teachings to ensure a solid foundation of faith.

Smith endorsed that teaching, but said the importance of the building that was being left behind should not be discounted.

It has been a building where the foundation of faith for countless people, myself included, was established, she said from the pulpit. We might philosophically say that its just a building; the church is the people. And I confess that I have said that more times than I can count.

I believe that those words are true, but I also have to admit that they ring kind of hollow this morning. This building is full of memories.

She urged the congregation to reflect on all the sermons, baptisms, hymns, marriages, funerals, prayers and communion observances that had taken place during the churchs 58 years of existence.

I like to think that we carry those sermons, that we carry those life events, that we carry those people with us, even when we no longer worship in this place, she said.

Smith spoke of children making sandcastles at the beach, and how the lifespan of such structures is fleeting; they are swept away by the next high tide.

Our lives are filled with times when our dreams, our visions and our hopes are swept away by the next tide or the next storm, she said. But our faith doesnt have to be. We can afford to lose a dream, but we cant afford to lose our faith.

We are mourning the loss of a dream. We never thought wed live to see this building be anything but Kings Chapel United Methodist Church  This has been home. This will always be home. We are leaving the home of our faith. We grieve, we mourn, but we are not without faith, we are not without hope and we are not without a future.

d_irwin@ncnewsonline.com
New Castle, PA (16103)

Today

Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 81F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional showers late at night. Low 52F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: City roads wore a deserted look owing to the intense lockdown on Sunday. Vehicles, except those belonging to frontline warriors and ambulance services, kept off the roads. The government had earlier announced that on June 21 and 28, barring milk vendors, pharmacies, hospitals and ambulance services, no other service or shop would be permitted.

In the last 10 days, the Chennai city police seized as many as 52,234 vehicles and booked cases against 60,131 people for roaming on the streets violating Section 144. Cases have been booked against another 24,704 people for not wearing masks and not maintaining social distance. In places like Tondiarpet, Royapuram and Vyasarpadi, where the number of COVID cases is high, the police have booked at least 20,000 cases during the past 10 days.

Police seized 58 vehicles of people who had used fake passes and duplicate identity cards to roam on the streets. Talking to the media, Chennai City Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan said, Some people had fake ID cards or used stickers claiming to be journalists, corporation staff and doctors on their vehicles. We have booked cases against all of them and seized their vehicles.

We have successfully crossed 10 days of the lockdown and have only two more days to go. We request the public to understand that the lockdown was announced only for their good and cooperate with us.

Vehicle checking, which was intense during the morning hours on Sunday, slowly reduced around noon owing to showers in several parts of the city. The areas that fall under the jurisdiction of Chennai police in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts were completely barricaded and entry was restricted.
By Express News Service

Since the pandemic struck, more and more companies are becoming virtual and want technology to help them to carry on business as usual. Our Cloud PBX with remote extensions has proven a blessing for many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). It means, this new tech is vastly more acceptable in the Post-Covid era, says Raman Singh, Co-Founder and CRO, CloudConnect Communications, Indias first end-to-end cloud and mobile app-based PBX and digital unified communication service. As the countrys only regulatory compliant mobile-first virtual network operator, CloudConnect is focused on digitalising SMEs, very small businesses (VSBs) and small office home office (SOHO) setups.

Raman Singh

As COVID-19 continues to rage around the world, businesses everywhere are scrambling to find their footing as people have switched from going out to doing everything indoors. In this new environment, tech start-ups are finding themselves chased for solutions rather than having to pitch them to previously sceptical business owners.

Gurugram-based Artificial Intelligence start-up, Staqu, utilises technology in solving real-world problems. It was handpicked by the British High Commission as the Best AI Start-up in the country. Its most recent tie-up has been with DineOut. Staqus proprietary video analytics platform JARVIS (Joint AI Research for Video Instances and Streams) is being integrated with cameras installed at the partner kitchens of Dineout. This will help exercise the necessary supervision over the safety regulations undertaken, and ensure that all precautionary measures are being implemented by the staff.

Atul Rai, Founder of Staqu, says, As per data from the John Hopkins University, having a face mask on can reduce the spread of infection by 60 per cent. Just with precautions, one can slow down the spread, which is more effective than measuring the body temperature, which can identify only 20 per cent of cases. But having a mask on the face itself is a new habit, and the problem with the human brain is it doesnt want to give up on old habits easily. Now there comes a need for creating a mechanism by which people are trained at workspaces for working in new normals by learning new habits.

Ankit Chaudhari

At the same time, a task force should be made inside an organisation, which makes sure that these precautions are followed. Organisations are now creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which must be followed to prevent the spread of Covid-19. But how do we ensure people follow them? This limitation brings us to JARVIS  an automated solution to monitor the adherence of SOPs in premises without having any biases or lags, says Rai.

Aiisma is Indias first data marketplace, founded in 2018 by Ankit Chaudhari (India) and Nicholas Bohnlein (Switzerland) with its corporate HQ in the United States of America and operations HQ in India.



Chaudhari believes that while this change has been a long time coming, its finally here to stay.



We believe the tailwinds of COVID-19 are yet to start appearing. The initial impact was largely knee jerk as the users were constrained inside by law. Now that users are gradually starting to adhere to personal hygiene and safety for self, is when the real adoption is starting to appear and numbers will stabilise, concludes Chaudhari.

Companies are starting to go virtual



As COVID-19 continues to rage around the world, businesses everywhere are scrambling to find their footing as people have switched from going out to doing everything indoors. In this new environment, tech start-ups are finding themselves chased for solutions rather than having to pitch them to previously sceptical business owners. On such example is CloudConnect, which is focusing on digitalising SMEs, very small businesses (VSBs) and small office home office (SOHO) setups.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: A doctor of the Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital who was in the frontline in the war against COVID-19 died of the disease in the ICU of a private facility on Sunday, officials said.

The 52-year-old was a consultant anaesthesiologist at the LNJP, which is a dedicated COVID-19 facility.

He died in the morning at the Max hospital in Saket, where he was admitted for the last two weeks.

"He was a frontline anesthesia specialist who contracted COVID-19 infection while on duty. He tested positive on June 6, when he had mild symptoms and was shifted to a quarantine facility. His symptoms aggravated on June 7 and he was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of the LNJP Hospital," the LNJP Hospital said in a statement.

The doctor was shifted to the Max Hospital in south Delhi on June 8 on his request, the statement said.

"He lost the battle today after a valiant fight," a senior official of the LNJP Hospital said.

He was Specialist, Grade I, in the Department of Anesthesia at the LNJP Hospital, the statement said.

Sources at the Max Hospital said the doctor died in the ICU of Max Smart, a dedicated COVID-19 facility in Saket.

Several hundreds of healthcare workers have been infected with COVID-19 till date in Delhi.

A doctor from the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in Okhla in south Delhi had recently died of the novel coronavirus infection.

A 39-year-old doctor from Odisha died of COVID-19 in the ICU of the Delhi government-run Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital on June 20.

A 53-year-old man, who was employed as a ward boy in the NDMC-run Hindu Rao Hospital, died of COVID-19 on Sunday, officials said.

He tested positive for the disease on Saturday, they said.

The Hindu Rao Hospital, run by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), was on June 14 declared a dedicated COVID-19 hospital.

It is the largest civic facility in the national capital.

"He (ward boy) was put on staggered duty and did not come after June 19. He had diabetes and hypertension. He was admitted on June 26 and on Saturday was shifted to emergency block COVID ward," a senior official said.

He had developed kidney failure and died on Sunday afternoon, the official said.

Recently, a staffer of the Hindu Rao Hospital died of COVID-19.

He was 56-year-old and also suffered from diabetes.

On June 18, a senior official said that 78 employees of the hospital had tested positive for COVID-19 and 33 of them rejoined their duties after recovery.
Disney will release the full stage production of the hit musical "Hamilton" on its streaming platform Disney+ on Friday, July 3.
Ritwika Mitra By

Express News Service

In the first phase of lockdown amid the COVID-19 outbreak, Rinky, 30 relied on food being distributed by the Delhi government in a school near her accommodation in the capitals Bhanwar Singh Camp. Despite the need to take care of her three-year-old daughter who is suffering from malnourishment, she could do little. The condition has not improved much since.

Earlier, we would purchase three to four packets of milk per day. We cannot afford eggs, banana or Bournvita for the kids anymore. How will we take special care of our children at this point? said Rinky, who is a homemaker and whose husband worked as a daily wage labourer before the lockdown. One of her four children Ankita* suffers from malnourishment, NGO Save the Children (STC) documented in a survey conducted prior to COVID-19 outbreak.

Antaryami Dash, head of nutrition at STC, said the survey found 44.5 per cent of children were already stunted, 14.6 per cent wasted and 30.7 per cent underweight before the pandemic. The survey sample size was of 343 children.

COVID-19 and its indirect effects will worsen their health and nutrition through disrupted health and nutrition services, income losses and fragile food supply chains. Similar crisis in past had increased the prevalence of acute malnutrition by 50 per cent among poor children in other low and middle income countries, said Dash.

Rinky has been struggling to feed herchildren amid the lockdown.

(Photo | EPS)

According to the Global Nutrition Report 2020, 37.9 per cent of children under 5 years are stunted and 20.8 per cent are wasted in India. Besides, stunting prevalence is 10.1 per cent higher in rural areas as compared to the urban areas, according to the report.

Social activist Dr Abhay Bang, founder-director of Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health, said, The COVID-19 pandemic will worsen malnutrition because of several mechanisms. So far, the focus is on how the infection is spreading and the mortality rate. We now need to include what will be the effect on children in terms of malnutrition in terms of stunting and wasting.

A World Bank spokesperson said that like the rest of the world, India is also vulnerable to shocks and impacts from a pandemic of the current scale and potency. At a time of such an unprecedented crisis, the key is to ensure continuity of services, said the spokesperson.

Multiple surveys pointed out that people struggled with less or no rations amid the pandemic. A recent Centre for Equity Studies report showed communities struggled with hunger with loss of livelihood. Surveys by Stranded Workers Action Network also documented workers who were in distress in the absence of access to rations throughout the lockdown period.

This gets progressively worse. In the beginning, you can survive on savings and borrowings. As the situation persists, people run out of their savings, others are less willing to give and the employment opportunities do not pick up to the same extent. It will be difficult to lead the lives they led earlier, which includes their number of meals and the quality of those meals, said economist Jayati Ghosh.

Niru whose daughter Naina* of one and a half years suffers from malnutrition said the family cannot afford health drinks any longer. She has become weaker during the lockdown. It is not possible to take special measures when we are barely struggling with roti and chutney and black tea, said Niru who worked as a domestic worker. Sources of livelihood have stalled amid the pandemic. Her husband who worked in the valet parking in a fitness centre in Hauz Khas has not been paid beyond March.

At this hour, ensuring food security of the vulnerable sections is the immediate need, said Arvind Singh, advisor, health and nutrition, NGO Matri Sudha.

Two-and-a-half-years old Neha* in Bhanwar Singh camp who suffers from malnutrition, also suffered from bouts of diarrhoea.

Reduced access to healthcare services and repeated bouts of infection can further aggravate cases of malnutrition, said Dr Bang. If other forms of care suffer, the children will not only get less food from the family but also less care from the healthcare system. As a result, illnesses would increase resulting in increased malnutrition, he said.

The Global Nutrition report 2020 had emphasised on the link between malnutrition and different forms of inequity, such as those based on geographic location, age, gender, ethnicity, education and wealth. Inequities in food and health systems increase inequalities in nutrition outcomes that in turn can lead to more inequity, it said.

*These names have been changed on request.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The grieving wife of a senior doctor at the LNJP Hospital, who died battling COVID-19, on Monday said her husband was a man with a fighting spirit and that is how she "will remember him".

Dr Aseem Gupta, 52, served in the frontline of the war against the pandemic at the COVID-only government facility, and died of the novel coronavirus infection in an ICU of a private hospital on Sunday.

But it wasn't just him who had tested positive for COVID-19, his wife, also a doctor, suffered the same fate.

"We both tested positive on June 2, and initially had mild symptoms so were quarantined at home. But, then the moment we realised our condition was not good, we shifted to hospitals. So my husband was initially at LNJP Hospital and then he was moved to Max Hospital, Saket," Dr Nirupama Attreya said.

She said both of them had fever, her's came down but not his, and his condition worsened so much, "we lost him".

"But he was a fighter and a COVID-19 hero. He died fighting COVID-19, and I will remember him for his fighting spirit," Attreya told PTI.

Gupta was a Specialist, Grade I, in the Department of Anesthesia at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, a dedicated COVID-19 facility under the Delhi government which recently completed 100 days of being declared a COVID-only hospital.

He died in the ICU of Max Hospital, Saket after battling COVID-19 for weeks.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore to Gupta's family, and said the society has "lost a very valuable fighter".

The chief minister said that Gupta's wife had contracted COVID-19 too, but has now recovered.

"This morning Health Minister Satyendar Jain called and then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal did, and both were asking me how it happened," she said.

Jain himself recently recovered from COVID-19 after being administered plasma therapy at the Max Hospital recently.

Besides his wife, who works as a radiologist at a hospital in Noida, Gupta is survived by two sons, one working in Australia and other pursuing MBBS in India.

"My elder son Akshat lives in Sydney, he is as a software engineer. He couldn't even come for his father's funeral, such is the COVID-era life now. My younger son Aryan, 20, is in second year of the MBBS at a medical college in Dehradun. But he's in Delhi since the lockdown happened," Attreya said.

My son will complete his education and become a doctor like his father was, she said.

She said Gupta belonged to Moradabad and she was from Bhopal, and they "got married in 1990".

Asked about his hobbies, Attreya said "he was very social, he liked to go to parties and mingle with people".
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Gripped by fear over the increasing COVID-19 cases in the Secunderabad Cantonment area, its residents, on Sunday, began sealing areas and streets near cantonment zones, in an attempt to impose a voluntary lockdown.

Residents allege that the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) is not doing enough to protect its residents from the pandemic, a charge that the Board denies. Speaking to Express, residents claimed they were forced to barricade their localities as the officials were not doing it.

"In just the past one week, we have had four new COVID-19 cases in four different locations. Until last week, officials were at least disinfecting the houses of COVID-19 patients and barricading the area. Unfortunately, now they are not even doing that much. On Saturday, when another person tested positive in our area, officials only sanitised the patients house and did not even barricade the area," said president of Secunderabad Cantonment Welfare Association, T Satish Kumar.

Currently, in Secunderabad Cantonment, around 50 Covid-19 cases have been reported. "As cases are increasing, officials are becoming more ignorant. Most residents in the area were in a state of panic. Hence, we decided to seal our colony for our safety, and imposed a lockdown on ourselves," said another resident from Old Vasavi Nagar in ward 5.

Kumar said the association members themselves had now initiated the barricading and sanitising process in the area. He said on Saturday, three areas in ward 5 were sealed. "If the number of cases further increases, and the SCB does not take up their responsibility, then we will seal more areas," he added.

SCB vice-president J Rama Krishnan has denied these claims. He said, "We are doing our work properly. However, some elements want to politicise these issues, which is why they are raising them."
Anu Kuruvilla By

Express News Service

KOCHI: Disposal of septic waste is one big problem faced by all cities. However, when unscrupulous people try to make use of this very problem to make money, it sets the stage for a serious issue that affects the health of thousands.

The road leading to the Seaport-Airport Road from HMT at Kalamassery has become the dumping ground of septic waste now. The area which spans nearly two acres is a cesspool of septic waste from the city, said Yasser Arafat, a trader nearby.

At first sight, one might not be able to see the filth due to the grass and other plants that grow profusely on the land, he added. According to him, the problem is not something that has happened very recently.

Tankers come and go in the dead of the night and once they leave, the entire area stinks. The stink lasts for days and weeks, he said. The residents had filed complaints and also contacted the police asking them to look into the night time activities. However, nobody bothered, he said.

According to him, the only septage treatment plant thats functional is the one at Brahmapuram. But it cant treat the huge amount of septage waste generated by the city, he said.

The large number of advertisements that appear in the newspapers show how much business is being generated in this sector, said Yasser. Another worrying factor about the issue is that the plot is located close to the water pumping station of KWA.

Can anyone guarantee that the water is not contaminated? What about the well water? What are the authorities waiting for? Do they want to have another health problem along with Covid in their hands? asked Yasser.

Rehaman A S, another resident, said, Fed up with the illegal activities, the residents had tried many times to block the tankers carrying septic waste. But the crew of these tankers are not civil. They turn aggressive. The people then decided to install flood-lights in the area. We thought at least once the place is well-lit, they wont dare to dump the waste. We even fixed CCTV cameras, he said.

We then collected the CCTV footages of the tankers that are dumping the waste here. These footages, along with the complaints were filed with the Kalamassery Municipality as well as the district collector. However, nothing has been done, said Yasser. According to him, tankers are also dumping waste in the drains inside the city. Have you wondered why does the drain covers in many places are found displaced slightly? he said.

Meanwhile, Bindu Maniharan, chairperson, Health Standing Committee of Kalamassery Municipality said,The issue has come to the notice of the civic body and plans are afoot to solve the issue. I have called a meeting, which will be held in the coming days. We will be charting the course of action, which involves increasing the fine from `5,000 to a much higher sum. Also, we will be making the area a no-parking zone, besides confiscating the tankers found violating the norms, she said.
Gopika IS By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On June 4, a 41- year- old VSSC staff member hailing from Thrikannapuram in Thiruvananthapuram attended his neighbours house warming where 25 people were in attendance. On June 6, he visited the Kazhakoottam branch of SBI and the next day went to meet an astrologer in Thonnakkal. On June 8, he visited the Thumba branch of SBI and then went to his workplace at VSSC, Thumba. In the days that followed, the man visited a petrol pump, various residences, a school, some offices, Indian Bank (Chalai Branch), provisional stores and sweet store in the Chalai locality and even visited a private hospital here to consult a doctor for minor fatigue, cough, and a few other Covid symptoms. He also visited KSEB office, another private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram and a few people visited his home too till June 23. He was then admitted at a private hospital with severe symptoms and his swab was collected on June 24 which later tested positive on Friday.

He also attended work till June 15 and made frequent visits to his ancestral home in Manacaud and spousess family home in Killippalam.

The rather large and complex travel history of the patient was published on Sunday, once again triggering questions of community spread. While the source of his infection is unknown like in close to 20 cases in Thiruvananthapuram in the recent past, his travel history also reveals the possibility of a community spread. Despite asking the public to be on vigil and repeating time and again that we are close to community spread, the state government is yet to confirm a community spread occurring anywhere in the state.

In Thiruvananthapuram, the health department has identified possible sources of infection in almost all cases. The confirmation is not easy as there are no proof or concurring evidence. They might have travelled some places and did not reveal it to the contact tracing team. While they are not made known, we still have the information. Evidently, we cannot call this community spread then. While the increasing number of asymptomatic cases and random people testing positive are indeed cause of worry, the health department and concerned district administrations are working hard to tackle them and identify the possible routes of spread., said a top health official.

The police who aids the health department in the investigative works is also silent about it. We hand over all our findings to the district official in charge and it is their discretion to reveal details. We have been assisting them with the tracing and tracking since the beginning, said a top police official in the district.

However, it should be noted that not long ago state expert committee had asked the government to take precautions and steps under the assumption that the third stage of the disease outbreak- through community transmission has begun. However, back then the government maintained that community transmission can be identified only with more tests and continues to maintain the same even now, almost a month later.

In the report presented to the Chief Minister, the committee said that It cannot be said conclusively that community transmission did not happen.

Another health official said that the fact that only the immediate relatives of the patients tested positive for Covid is a clear signal that no active community transmission is happening. When we test more than 50 people who come in contact with a positive patient, sometimes no one or in some cases a small percentage tests positive. That too people who came in very close contact, the official said.

While the question looms large and state government reiterating that there is no community transmission, in the last week alone, more than five case with no known source of infection has been identified in the district.
By Express News Service

British novelist Lawrence Osbourne will be penning the script for the film adaptation of Jon Swains memoir River of Time.



The rights for the book have been optioned by Indochina Productions for Osborne to script and executive produce.

Described as the quintessential memoir of the Vietnam War era, River of Time was published in 1997 and centres mostly on events in Cambodia and Saigon between 1970 and 1975.

Swain, an award-winning correspondent for the Sunday Times of London and AFP, famously arrived in Pnomh Penh on the last flight out of Bangkok before the Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia.



He witnessed the Cambodian genocide and became a key figure among the war correspondents based in the city.



The film will be produced by Indochina Productions with Nicholas Simon serving as the executive producer.
By IANS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll across the globe across sectors and has equally been ruthless for the Malayalam film industry, which now slowly gathers steam to start chugging again for otherwise its stakeholders will be left in the wilderness.

The restarting of shoots is the dawn of the new normal in this industry which has now become the most discussed topic, more than any film script. To get a rough idea there were 192 films made in 2019 that did a business of Rs 800 crore.

In its initial phase to kick back to life there were a few blips, when the time tested "ego factor", raised its head time and again and also the links with the mafia.

The first step for revival came from the Kerala government which relaxed the norms for resumption of shooting and post production. With maximum strength of 50 people in a location, work was first resumed when the father and son pair of actor producer and director Lal hit the shooting location, earlier this month.

ALSO READ| No crew, no budget, selfie styled films: The monotony of lockdown cinema

The first shot was recorded when Kerala film producers claimed that the Malayalam film industry was facing its 'worst ever crisis' and the only way forward was to cut by half the production cost of films. Kerala Film Producers Association, led by Renjith has shared this concern with other film bodies and is waiting to hear officially from them.

Ace filmmaker Priyadarshan whose latest magnum opus "Marakkar: Arabikadalainte Simham", billed as the costliest Malayalam film ever made was all set to be released when the lockdown came into effect. But keeping up a brave face, Priyan, as he is popularly known, said that this is a world phenomenon and nowhere has a new film been released, so all have to wait for things to clear up.

He went on to say that even when things clear up, it remains to be seen whether people return to movieplexes in the new normal. Priyadarshan says the best option to view blockbusters is to watch them in movie theatres and is hopeful that his film when released would bring in the much-needed revenue to the industry.

Filmmaker B Unnikrishnan of FEFKA (which represents all sections of industry from light boys to directors), however, lamented that this worst-ever crisis has brought numerous producers to the verge of suicide.

He pointed out that there has been a huge increase in people going strong with OTT platforms and one cannot discount the factor of unemployment in the wake of more and more technology invasion.

All eyes are now on the demand put forward by the Producers Association seeking a cut in remuneration and AMMA (actors body) though has taken note of it, has decided to put on hold a reaction. They will take a call after the office bearers sit down to discuss the issue.

Hugely popular yesteryear scriptwriter, director and now a busy actor Renji Panicker opined that the situation is such that there is no readymade solution to the present crisis. He pointed out Cinema is for all and hence there is no harm in going forward on the lines of having a cut in remuneration.

Young upcoming Malayalam actor Neeraj Madhav earlier said there is a prevalence in the industry here to cull the fortunes of an upcoming actor His comment ruffled feathers and Unnikrishnan shot a letter to AMMA expressing their displeasure and demanding him to reveal names. But Madhav mellowed down and wrote to AMMA that he was stating a general opinion.

With no respite in sight and the number of COVID-19 positive cases climbing in Kerala, only time will tell, if the Malayalam film industry, presently trying to put its acts together, will have a smooth sailing, even though the first steps have been taken in the new normal.
Subhash Chandra N S By

Express News Service

KARWAR: This is a story of three sons, who were infected by Covid-19, and their mother, who is in her 90s and ailing. When the three children tested positive and the authorities wanted to shift them to a Covid-designated hospital in Karwar, they refused to move, saying they could not keep their mother alone at home as she needed constant care.

Moved by the sons concern, officials heeded to their request and shifted their mother too to the hospital, but to a separate ward. The risk paid off, as the three were cured and discharged after seven days, while the mother too returned home without any hassles.

The 96-year-old woman was staying at Sadashivghad near Karwar, while the sons worked in Mumbai. After they returned to their hometown recently, all the three tested positive. But they refused to be shifted to the hospital, and when the officials inquired, they came to know that the sons did not want to leave their enfeebled mother at home, all by herself, as there was no one to take care of her.

Gajanan Naik, Dean, Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences, told TNIE, We were initially clueless and informed the deputy commissioner of Uttara Kannada and assistant commissioner Karwar, who too tried to convince the infected sons. As is the procedure, we took the swab sample of the woman and fortunately, she tested negative.

We tried to convince the sons saying that because of their mothers advanced age, she could be at a higher risk of contracting the virus. But they refused to listen. We decided to take an undertaking from the sons and shifted the woman to a room adjacent to the ward where her sons were being treated. He said, We ensured that she never came in contact with any Covid patients at the hospital.

Whenever it was felt necessary, she was wheeled around. Her sons were in the hospital for seven days and were discharged. Just before the woman left the hospital, her swab samples were taken again and tested. It returned negative.
By Express News Service

IIT Madras incubated clean tech startup, Air Ok Technologies, as part of its corporate social responsibility, has joined hands with two NGOs, Earth Saviours Foundation and One Good Deed, to distribute essentials among those deprived of basic necessities in these trying times.

The startup is donating biscuits, dry grains, rice, wheat and spices among the underprivileged, along with sanitary pads to women impacted due to the lockdown. The aim is to reach those who lost their jobs in the lockdown and have no means to afford even the basic amenities.

Our intention is to help as many of them as possible, and ensure that they do not sleep empty stomach, said Vishesh Kaul, Head Sales and Operations, Air Ok Technologies. One of the NGOs onboard is the Earth Saviours Foundation  an internationally recognised NGO, headquartered in Gurugram.



Founded in 2008, the NGO serves the underprivileged, and runs an old age home and a rescue centre for mentally challenged persons. It also works towards protecting the environment.

The other NGO, One Good Deed, based in south Delhi, is helping Air Ok donate the essentials to orphanages, old age homes and slum areas at Nehru Place, Lotus Temple, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and Rain Basera Lodhi areas. Stranded migrant labourers along border areas of the national capital are also being helped.

At the onset of the novel virus outbreak, Air Ok had donated around 25,000 masks to doctors and other medical professionals working at NCRs two biggest healthcare centres  Indraprastha Apollo Hospital at Jasola in New Delhi and Medanta  The Medicity in Gurugram. While 10,000 masks were donated to Apollo Hospital, as many as 15,000 were given to Medanta.

Lending a helping hand



At the onset of the novel virus outbreak, Air Ok had donated around 25,000 masks to doctors and other medical professionals working at NCRs two biggest healthcare centres  Indraprastha Apollo Hospital at Jasola in New Delhi and Medanta  The Medicity in Gurugram. While 10,000 masks were donated to Apollo Hospital, as many as 15,000 were given to Medanta.
By IANS

SAN FRANCISCO: American coffee giant Starbucks has announced to pull ads from Facebook and other social media platforms, joining giants like Coca-Cola, Honda, Unilever, Verizon, Hersheys and others who have decided to boycott advertising on Facebook for its inaction over spread of hate speech and disinformation.

Starbucks said that it believes in bringing communities together, both in person and online, and stand against hate speech.

"We believe more must be done to create welcoming and inclusive online communities, and we believe both business leaders and policy makers need to come together to affect real change," the company said in a statement on Sunday.

"We will pause advertising on all social media platforms while we continue discussions internally, with our media partners and with civil rights organizations in the effort to stop the spread of hate speech," it added.

Shares of Facebook plunged more than 8 per cent on last reported trading day on Friday. The social network makes about 98 per cent of its $70 billion annual revenue from advertising.

Alarmed at the rate at which advertisers are pull out of its platform, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday announced the social network will put warning labels on all posts that break its rules but are deemed newsworthy.

Zucekrberg said they will soon start labeling some of the content we leave up because it is deemed newsworthy, so people can know when this is the case.

"Even if a politician or government official says it, if we determine that content may lead to violence or deprive people of their right to vote, we will take that content down," Zuckerberg said adding that there are no exceptions for "politicians in any of the policies I'm announcing here today".

Facebook's decision now opens the door to label controversial posts by US President Donald Trump.

Twitter has already flagged couple of his controversial tweets while Facebook is facing widespread criticism for its inaction over Trump posts that glorified violence in the aftermath of the death of African-American George Floyd.
Douglas County will require masks to be worn in all indoor public spaces beginning Wednesday, according to a release from Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health.
Vineet Upadhyay By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand state government to start Char Dham Yatra from July 1, however, only pilgrims from the state would be allowed to visit the shrines, officials said.

Ravinath Raman, chief executive of Char Dham Devsthanam Board said, "The yatra will start on July 1 with all precautions. We are committed to provide safety to all pilgrims."

Those who want to visit any of the four shrines will have to register themselves and then local administration will grant them permission.

No one from containment zones or out of the state will be allowed to visit the shrines located in Rudraprayag (Kedarnath), Uttarkashi (Gangotri, Yamunotri) and Chamoli (Badrinath) district.

The number of pilgrims was fixed to 800 for Kedarnath, 1200 for Badrinath, 600 for Gangotri and 400 for Yamunotri shrine.

The state government had banned any pilgrims except home districts of the revered shrines and capped the number of devotees to contain the contagion.

Priest's body from Char Dham had protested against state government's move to allow even local pilgrims till June 30 citing threat of spreading the contagion further.

Last year, a record number of more than 38 lakh pilgrims travelled to the four revered shrines of the hill state.

Last month, the state government officials had already written to the center to grant permission to open religious tourism and other tourism sectors such as national parks, rafting and others.
By PTI

MANDLA: Police have arrested three more persons for their alleged involvement in the killing of local National Students Union of India (NSUI) leader Sonu Parochia here in Madhya Pradesh, an officer said on Sunday.

With this, all the five accused are now in the custody of police.

Parochia (28), the district general secretary of the students' wing of the Congress, was shot dead in Mandla on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

While the prime accused Mayur Yadav (32) and Piyush Maravi were arrested from Raipur by Chhattisgarh police, hours after the incident, three others--Ayush Yadav, Ravi Yadav and Vipin Markam--were arrested later, the police officer said here.

Mandla superintendent of police Dipak Shukla said the killing of Parochia was the fallout of a fight between himself and Mayur Yadav at a dhaba.

All the five accused have been booked on the charge of murder.

Police have recovered a country-made pistol and impounded an SUV used in committing the crime, Shukla said.
By PTI

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police has arrested the mother of a slain terrorist and the sister of an active militant in Kulgam district for their alleged involvement in terrorist recruitment, officials said on Sunday.

"The sister of active terrorist Abbas Sheikh and the mother of killed terrorist Tausif, Naseema Banoo, were arrested on June 20 in connection with FIR 30/2018 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act," one of the officials said.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said the woman (Banoo) was involved in recruiting youths into militant ranks.

"A photo of the arrested woman in which she is toting an automatic weapon and posing next to her son when he was an active terrorist speaks it all," another official said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police has rejected the criticism that it was targeting family members of militants without evidence.

They said the arrests were done in compliance with provisions of law.

"JKP do not target family of #terrorists without evidence. #Sister of active terrorist Abbas Sheikh & #mother of killed terrorist Tausif, Naseema Banoo was arrested on 20 June 2020 in FIR 30/2018.

"Besides, recent involvement in #recruiting youth into #terrorist ranks: IGP Kashmir (sic)," the Kashmir Zone Police posted on its official Twitter handle.
By ANI

INDORE: Jitu Soni, owner of a newspaper, who was absconding in 45 cases, was arrested on Sunday and sent to five days of police remand by a court here.

In a press conference, IGP Indore, Vivek Sharma said, "So that crime does not increase during the unlock 1, a drive was launched to nab the criminals. In the zone, in four incidents, a total of 125 illegal arms were seized. Some days ago, Mahendra Soni was arrested in Gujarat. After that the main focus was on arresting Jitu Soni who was absconding in 45 cases and carrrying a reward of Rs 1.5 lakh."

"During the raid in which Mahendra was caught, Jitu Soni managed to escape. The police did not lose hope. Teams were formed and sent to different places and on Sunday morning, we were able to arrest Jitu Soni from Amreli in Gujarat," the IGP said.

He said, "We will form a team that will supervise the investigation proceedings. The crime branch did an incredible job in the operation. Cyberteam and local police personnel also worked hard. In the coming days, we will arrest more absconding mafias."

"Earlier we have arrested Jitu's brother Mahendra Soni. There are 45 cases against them," Sharma said.

"There are human trafficking cases, case of rape and loot, besides forgery and cheating cases," he added.

He further said that Lucky, Vicky, Jignesh and Hukumchand Soni are absconding. Investigations are underway and names of more more people could come up in the cases during the investigation.

"Police will form a case file and it will be produced before the court.These cases begin from 2019 to January 2020. We have 45 cases under investigation," he added.

Later, Additional Public Prosecutor, Amita Jaiswal said that Jitu Soni was produced before the court and he has been sent to five days of police remand though seven days of remand was asked for.

Jitu Soni is the owner of Sanjha Lokswami newspaper in which he published news reports about the honey trap racket in the state. Soni is also accused of publishing audio and videos related to the incident on a YouTube channel of his newspaper.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday said there was "ambiguity" in the Centre's decision extending time till June 30 for giving objections and suggestions to its draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification of 2020, terming it as "unfair" to the public.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan said there was ambiguity in the Environment Ministry's May 8 notification, extending the time for giving objections and suggestions to the draft EIA 2020, as it mentions a further period of 60 days and also that the window closes on June 30.

The ministry, represented by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Acharya and central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia, told the bench that intent was to extend the period only till June 30.

The ASG said the draft EIA 2020 was published on April 11 and 60 days from then was to expire on June 11, but in view of the COVID-19 pandemic it was decided to extend the period till June 30.

She also said that till date over 1,000 suggestions have come in.

The bench, thereafter, suggested that the ministry can continue processing the suggestions, while keeping the window open for some further time to receive more.

The ASG said she will take instructions from the ministry with regard to the court's suggestion.

The court, thereafter, listed the matter for hearing on Tuesday, June 30.

The court was hearing a plea seeking extension of the period for receiving objections with regard to the draft EIA 2020, which proposes post facto approval for projects and doing away with public consultation in some instances, till the COVID-19 lockdown subsists.

The petition by environmental conservationist Vikrant Tongad claimed the May 8 notification states that the period for inviting objections has been extended by another 60 days, but it is not clear as to when the initial period of 60 days commenced.

"If the sixty-day period commences on the date of the draft notification, i.e., March 23, 2020, the extended date of expiry will be July 18, 2020. If the date of notification in the Gazette (i.e. April 11, 2020) is taken as the start of the sixty-day period, the extended date of expiry will be August 9, 2020," the petition has said.

It also stated that at the same time a contradiction arises in the extension notification as an end date of June 30, 2020 is specified, which is less than sixty days from the date of issuance of the extension notification May 8.

"Thus, the extension notification is unclear and contradictory," it claimed.

The bench on June 26 had asked the Centre to clarify on the next date as to what would be the last date for giving objections/suggestions.

The petition has sought that the period for receiving public opinion regarding the draft notification be extended till September 30 or till such time the lockdown remains.

The draft EIA 2020, according to the petition, completely supersedes and replaces the existing environmental norms.

"This draft notification proposes significant changes to the existing regime, including removing public consultation entirely in certain instances, reducing the time for public consultation from 45 days to 40 days, and allowing post facto approvals for projects," it has said.

Tongad, in his plea, filed through advocates Srishti Agnihotri and Abishek Jebaraj, has said that the draft EIA was issued on March 23 and first published by the Environment Ministry on its website on April 11 and a 60 day period was given for receiving objections and suggestions from all stakeholders, including the general public.

However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak and resultant lockdown, the ministry on May 8 issued a notification extending the period for inviting objections/suggestions till June 30, the plea has said.

It has also sought that the translated copies of the draft EIA "be available across the country in the official vernacular languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, and be uploaded on all websites including those of the Environment Ministries of all States as well as those of the State Pollution Control Boards."

The ASG said the draft EIA 2020 has been published in Hindi.
Ejaz Kaiser By

Express News Service

RAIPUR: A war of words ensued between the leaders of the ruling Congress party and the opposition BJP in Chhattisgarh over cow-dung, following the state governments recent decision to procure it to accomplish the proposed anticipated profitable venture.

Taking a jibe at the state governments move, the former BJP minister Ajay Chandrakar tweeted suggesting the government to make cow-dung as the state emblem.

The Congress leaders strongly reacted asking the BJP president Vishnu Deo Sai to take action against such unacceptable" remarks.

The emblem remains a distinct identity of any state and for us it symbolises our cultural ethos, pride and confidence. The comments of former BJP minister is shocking and reflects his mental status when he compared cow-dung with the state emblem, said R P Singh, the Congress spokesperson.

The state unit of NSUICongress students wing has lodged a police complaint against Chandrakar in Raipur.

It appears such disparaging remarks from the senior BJP leader comes from a culture nurtured at the school of thoughts indoctrinated in Nagpur, said Ruchir Garg, the media advisor of Chhattisgarh CM.

Senior BJP MLA Brijmohan Agrawal however compared an year and a half performance of the Congress government with cow-dung.

The state government has miserably failed during this period. The farmers are distressed, people anguished and the youth unemployed. This government doesnt have a direction and policy. Its tenure so far has been nothing more than a cow-dung, Agrawal averred.

The Congress retorted stating that the BJP which often talks on cow and Hindutva is coming up with a note of mockery on cow-dung.

The state government will launch a new scheme Gaudhan Nyay Yojana on July 11 with a focus on the procurement of cow-dung.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A Delhi Court Monday sought response from Tihar jail authority on a plea of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah, arrested in two separate cases of alleged terror financing, seeking a separate cell in Tihar central jail in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

Special Judge Dharmendra Rana issued notice to the jail superintendent with a direction to file the reply by July 1.In an application, Shahs advocate Qausar Khan submitted that the accused was suffering from various ailments and that his immunity was very low that makes him prone to COVID-19.



She said the leader has sought direction that he be provided separate cell in the jail.

Looking at the recent occurrences of COVID-19 in the central jail and the health condition of the accused, his life would be in danger if he comes in contact with the virus. Therefore, direct the jail authorities to put him in a separate cell, the advocate said.She told the court that the jail manual has a provision to provide temporary accommodation in case of an epidemic.

Foreign inmates injure 25



Several foreign inmates turned violent in Tihar Jail injuring 25 people, including 10 staff who tried to control them, prison authorities told the Delhi High Court.

(With PTI inputs)
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The BJP said on Monday that Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who has announced his dissociation from the separatist outfit Hurriyat Conference, was singularly responsible for pushing Kashmir into terror and violence and ruining lives of thousands of Kashmiri youths and families.

Coming down heavily on the separatist leader, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav asked if Geelani's action can absolve him of the "past sins".

"This man was singularly responsible for ruining the lives of thousands of Kashmiri youths and families; for pushing Valley into terror and violence.

"Now resigns from Hurriyat without giving a reason. Does it absolve him of all d past sins?" he tweeted.

Madhav is BJP's pointsman for Jammu and Kashmir.

Geelani had floated his own pro-Pakistan faction of the Hurriyat Conference in 2003 by enforcing a vertical split in the amalgam.

In a four-line letter and an audio message to the media, a spokesperson for the 90-year-old leader said, "Geelani has announced complete dissociation from Hurriyat Conference forum."

Geelani has accused Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir based separatists leaders of being opportunist and using the platform of Kashmir for their personal gains.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday said the Doda district in the Union Territory has become militancy-free as the last of the surviving militant in the area was killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district.

Hizbul Mujahideen commander from Doda Masood Ahmad Bhat and two other militants were killed in a joint operation by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K Police, Armys 19 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF at Khul Chohar village in Anantnag district in the early hours of Monday, a police official said.

The police had received inputs about the presence of militants Khul Chohar. During the search operation, the militants fired on the troops. Soon, the encounter broke out in which the militants were killed, he added. An AK-assault rifle, two pistols and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. The other two militants belonged to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the police official said.

A police spokesman said Masood was the last surviving and active militant of Doda.With the killing of Masood, the Doda district has become militancy-free, he said.The bodies of all the three militants were buried by the police in a graveyard in Handwara. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, the police have not been handing over the bodies of local militants to their families and burying them in graveyards.About 20 encounters have taken place in J&K this month in which 50 militants have been neutralised.

Masood Ahmad Bhat gunned down

A police spokesman said Masood was involved in a rape case in the Doda district and had been absconding since then. He later joined the Hizbul Mujahideen and shifted his area of operation to Kashmir, he said
Sudhir Suryawanshi By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawars statement supporting PM Narendra Modi on India-China border standoff issue has put the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in a fix.

NCP is a part of the MVA government in Maharashtra with the Congress and the Shiv Sena.

However, the NCP chiefs comment is not in line with the Congress stand on this issue. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been continuously attacking the Modi government demanding clarity over the Galwan issue.

Pawar has said it was not the time to play politics.

We have to stand with the military. During the 1962 war also, China had grabbed 42,000 sq km of our land, Pawar said indirectly, taking a shot at the Congress leadership.

He, however, also clarified that the Uddhav Thackeray government will complete its term.

Maharashtra Congress president Balasaheb Thorat also said that there was no threat to the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition.

We have got a three-party government. Each party may have a different stand on issues but we all are together for Maharashtras development, Thorat said.

However, another senior Congress leader said Pawars statement was inappropriate.

Sharad Pawar was with the Congress in 1962 and his political guru Yashwantrao Chavan was defence minister. The situation was different then. India had just got freedom. It is inappropriate to compare todays condition with 62, he said.

He said Pawar made the statement as he wants to keep his friend Modi happy.

We cannot fully trust Pawar given his history but there is no immediate threat to the government, he said. An NCP leader said that Pawar is a senior leader and did not wish to politicise the issue like Rahul Gandhi.

Pawar has served as defence minister. He knows what and when to speak? His statement does not mean that the Thackeray government is in trouble. But, if the Congress and the Shiv Sena dont work amicably, then things may be different, he warned.
Fans and viewers went wild online when the third episode of "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" aired. Why so? Kim Soo Hyun went shirtless and showed off his chiseled abs!

In this episode, Moon Kang Tae (Kim Soo Hyun) ended his shift and changed from his uniform. He thought he was talking to his colleague when a female voice echoed in the room. She asked him if they could go out for a meal. And when Moon Young's (Seo Ye Ji) eyes landed on Kang Tae's amazing body and toned abs, she exclaimed, "Wow!" and tried to reach Kang Tae's chest. He was fast enough, though, as he immediately shoved her hands away and pushed her towards the door.

In his struggle to move her out, she intently teased him by touching parts of the chest. They then ran into Joo Ri in the hallway.

The scene captivated Moon Young and lost her focus on what she wanted more to say. Their meeting urged her even more to capture Kang Tae's attention. The problem is that he detests being with her, thinking that she makes all things so trivial and that she's someone who just plays around in her liking.

In her quest to see more of Kang Tae, Moon Young accepted to manage the literature class in the hospital's new therapy program. She gives the students her own meaning of fairytale stories that makes Kang Tae puzzled about her imagination.

A heartwarming scene unfolded as Kwak Dong Yeon made a guest appearance in the third and fourth episodes. He is the son of a wealthy politician who neglected and deprived him of the attention he needs from his family. He suffers from manic depression. His parents locked him up in a psychiatric hospital to avoid any disturbance on their part.

Kang Tae and Moon Young helped Kwak Dong Yeon find a way to express his true feelings, though it ended with Kang Tae receiving a slap from his father for assuming that they abandoned their duties.

The latest episode revealed the saddest part of Kang Tae and Moon Young's lives. They cried in their battle of overcoming their pains of the past. Their tearfulness showed their need for comfort and love to be happy and healed.

To be shaken and moved are what each of the episodes want to elicit to viewers. Every week, a piece of each of the characters' stories breaks the internet with all their clips and pictures. Since the premiere, "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" has shown high ratings in all cable TV.

Meanwhile, the OST augments the emotionally-intricate narrative of the drama. With its two parts, the songs pierce through and poke at the viewers' heartstrings with its sentimental and profound storyline.

Stream Heize and Sam Kim's songs while imagining Kim Soo Hyun and Seo Ye Ji's journey in "It's Okay to Not be Okay."
By PTI

NEW DELHI: India and France on Monday exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, discussed the COVID-19 pandemic and reviewed the progress of their multi-faceted cooperation, the External Affairs Ministry said here.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Secretary General of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Francois Delattre, held the consultation via a video link, the ministry said in a statement.

India welcomed France's joining of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and France welcomed India's participation in the UN Security Council in 2021-22, it added.

India and France are strategic partners.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: In a major jolt to separatist politics in Jammu and Kashmir, veteran separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani on Monday announced his surprise resignation from the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference that he had founded in 2003.

In a two-page letter sent to all Hurriyat constituents, Geelani accused some unnamed constituents of indiscipline, non-cooperation, financial irregularities and creating parallel structure.

In view of the current state of affairs of Hurriyat Conference, I am announcing my complete dissociation from the forum. In this context, I have already sent a detailed letter to all constituents of the forum informing about the decision, the 90-year-old said in a brief audio message.

Geelanis decision comes at a time when the separatist camp is facing strong criticisms from within the Valley and in Pakistan for maintaining a total silence over the Narendra Modi-led NDA governments dilution of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution.

Geelani had caused a split in the Hurriyat Conference in 2003 and heads the hardline faction while cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq heads the moderate faction.In the letter, Geelani said activities of Hurriyat members in PoK were being investigated for various allegations including financial irregularities and indiscipline.

Their activities were limited now to seeking access to assemblies and ministries for joining the government in PoK. Some members were expelled while others started holding their own meetings. These activities were endorsed by Hurriyat constituents here in a meeting, he said. On the silence of Hurriyat leaders after scrapping Article 370 last year, Geelani said: I sent messages to those leaders who were not in jail to chalk out the course of action. But none turned up and all my efforts went in vain. Now that sword of accountability is hanging over their heads for financial and other irregularities, they thought of calling the advisory committee meeting.

The separatists have come under strong criticism in the Valley and in Pakistan for maintaining total silence on Article 370 revocation and not doing pro-active politics to challenge scrapping of J&Ks special status.

The separatists have restricted their activities and even did not issue statements after August 5.

Geelani, who is a three-time former MLA from Sopore and joined the separatist politics after eruption of militancy in 1989, is the backbone of separatist politics in J&K, especially in the Valley. He had been within and outside the jails in the last three decades and has been under house arrest since 2010.

He was the only Kashmiri leader to oppose Musharrafs 4-point formula and is critical of any bilateral dialogue with New Delhi.

Geelani had spearheaded 2010 and 2016 agitations in Kashmir. It now remains to be seen whether he also quits the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat party that he floated in 2004 after differences with his parent organisation, Jamaat-e-Islami.Political observers say Geelanis quitting Hurriyat is a big jolt to separatist camp and separatist politics in Valley.
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The third Corp Commander-level meeting between India and China over the ongoing standoff in Ladakh is likely to be held on Tuesday, sources said.

The sources informed, As a good sign, the two sides have agreed to let the Corps Commanders meet on Tuesday and this time it will be in Chushsul on the Indian side. There have been two Corps Commander-level meetings till now and they were held in Moldo, which is on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

This is important as there has been no further progress on the standoff in Eastern Ladakh at the Line of Actual Control. As reported by this paper the Chinese did not respond on Depsang standoff where they have moved in a large body of troops and heavy vehicles up to the point called the Y-Junction.

The Chinese had not conceded anything also on the de-escalation issue as far as the Finger-4 on the northern bank of the Pangong Tso is concerned.

The Indian delegation will be led by 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh and Chinas South Xinjiang Military Division Corps Commander Major General Lin Liu will lead his side.

The Chinese have breached the agreements of maintaining the status quo at the Line of Actual Control and they have moved in into the areas starting from the Northern Bank of the Pangong Tso to Depsang with Hot Spring Area and the Galwan Valley in between. The Chinese troops are at Finger 4, Gogra Post (Patrolling Point 17A), Patrolling Points 14 and 15, and at the Y-Junction in Depsang.

The latest addition to the points where Chinese have entered is the Y-Junction which is an outlet opening for the Indian patrolling parties and covers the Patrolling Points 10, 11, 11A, and 12 with a total area of about 80 square kilometers getting affected due to the Chinese ingress.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and briefed him on the state government's efforts and strategies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting assumes significance as Chouhan is likely to expand his cabinet soon.

Around 20 to 25 new members, including some former Congress MLAs who had joined the BJP in March, are likely to be inducted into the cabinet, according to sources in the ruling party.

Chouhan came to Delhi on Sunday to hold consultations with the central BJP leadership over the much-talked about expansion, they said.

Chouhan had last week said the expansion of the state cabinet will take place soon.

The initial 'mini' expansion of the cabinet took place on April 21 with the induction of five ministers, nearly a month after Chouhan took oath as the chief minister for a record fourth term.

The BJP came to power in March after Congress's Kamal Nath resigned as the chief minister, following rebellion by nearly two dozen MLAs of the party.

Most of the rebels were considered close to former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the Congress and joined the BJP more than three months ago.

During the meeting, the chief minister briefed the prime minister about issues like employment of migrant labours and boosting the state's economy during the lockdown, a statement issued by the state government said.

He informed the prime minister about his government's efforts and strategies regarding global pandemic COVID-19, it said.

"This was his first meeting with the prime minister after assuming office of the chief minister in March, 2020," the statement said.

During the half an hour long meeting, Chouhan presented two booklets to the PM published by the state government -- Ummeed, and Madhya Pradesh - Vikas Ke Liye Pratibadh Prayas , the statement said.

The booklet 'Ummeed' is a detailed account of organised initiatives taken by the government for migrant labours.

The second booklet has details of various initiatives of the state during the first 100 days of Singh as the chief minister.

Prime Minister Modi appreciated Chouhan's efforts and assured him of all possible assistance from the central government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the statement added.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Indian Womens Press Corps and the Press Association expressed concern over public broadcaster Prasar Bharatis threat to Press Trust of India over its anti-national reportage.

Prasar Bharati had written to PTI that its coverage was anti-national after the news agency released interviews of the Indian Ambassador to China and the Chinese Ambassador to India.

By describing PTIs recent news coverage as being detrimental to national interest, the press bodies said, authorities have failed to appreciate the meaning of a free, objective and unbiased media which is essential to democracy.

The fact is PTI was only doing its professional duty. At a time when the Chinese have intruded into Indian territory, it is the job of the journalist to ask the other side, in this case a representative of the Chinese government, why this is happening.

The interview made all the news  in fact, the Chinese ambassador even conceded, for the first time, that there had been some casualties on the LAC, the press bodies said.

By describing PTIs recent news coverage as being detrimental to national interest and undermining Indias territorial integrity, it seems authorities have failed to appreciate the meaning of a free, objective, unbiased media which is the touchstone of democracy.

The IWPC and the Press Association stand with PTI.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of engaging in shallow politics at the time of crisis We are fully capable of handling anti-India propaganda but it does pain when a former president of such a big political party does ochhi rajiniti (shallow politics) at a time of problems, said Shah in an interview with a news agency.

He however dodged all the questions related to China, instead said would like to answer questions on Covid-19 situation in the capital. Following the India-China face-off in Galwan valley, Gandhi had accused Modi of surrendering Indian Territory to the Chinese and his words Surender Modi soon was trending on Twitter. Narendra Modi is actually Surender Modi, Gandhi had tweeted.

Shah said it should be a matter of introspection for Gandhi and the Congress party that the hashtag was liked by Pakistan and China. It is a matter of self-introspection for him and the Congress that his hashtag is being taken forward by Pakistan and China. It is not for me You say what China and Pakistan like. And at this time of crisis, said Shah.

He said he would be ready to debate on issues starting from 1962 till now when the Parliament convenes. Lets have a discussion from 62 till now. But at a time when jawans are fighting at the border and the government is taking concrete steps, we should not be giving statements that make Pakistan and China happy, said Shah. He said the BJP did not appoint members of the family as party presidents. After Advaniji, Rajnathji, Nitinji, Rajnathji again, I became (party president) and now Naddaji After Indiraji, tell me one person who is from outside the Gandhi family. What democracy are we talking about?

Rahul questions PM again on China

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday asked when will there be talk about the nations defence and security. His comment came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Mann ki Baat programme aired on the All India Radio. Gandhi has been posing tough questions to the Centre and seeking answers from the PM on the stand-off with China.
Kanu Sarda By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: From the day nationwide lockdown was announced, judiciary which was already reeling under lot of pressure because of pendency of cases, resumed work by overcoming all the technological challenges and began virtual hearings.

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit all the countries hard but as far as legal system is concerned, it has shown us a way forward as to how things would be a new normal in future. Though open hearings are missed badly by lawyers and judges and many of them have expressed the sentiments on more than one occasion but the little lighter off case talks during the virtual hearings are too becoming a routine of sorts.

The virtual hearings have also shown as to how distance becomes immaterial when one has to appear before the court to argue the case. Senior advocate Harish Salve, who was in London when the lockdown was announced, started appearing in all his cases from his London home as usual.

Similarly, some judges prefer to attend online hearings either from their residents office or from the court back office. Last week, CJI SA Bobde was sitting in his home and was attending the virtual hearing, as the two-week vacation of the Supreme Court has began.

As soon as the hearing began, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta praised the background of CJIs home and said, We get to see your house today, to which CJI responded, Its a very old house, but very peaceful. At several occasions background of lawyers, judges houses were discussed before hearings.

During one of the hearings, senior advocate Mukul Rohtagis farm house and living room was discussed which had lots of artifacts and judges praised his collection. Last week, during a hearing, CJIs dog came running near him as soon as the hearing started and the pet had to be managed by the household staff.
By Express News Service

KOLKATA: Teenage daughter of a mason, stricken by poverty due to Covid-inducted lockdown, sought help from the local police in East Midnapore district and derailed her fathers plan to get her married off at the age of 15. The Class-X board examinee wrote a letter to the cops disclosing her parents intention and her aim to study further.

The police intervened and got her parents to sign a written declaration that the teenager would not be married off before she turned 18.

The silent but courageous move by the girl was witnessed by the residents of Egra, a semi-urban sub-division, two days ago. They came to know the teenagers willpower to pursue studies when policemen turned up at her house. "The girls marriage was organised clandestinely. None of us who are living in the same area was invited. We came to know when the policemen visited the girls house two days before her marriage date was fixed, on June 30," said one of the girls neighbours.

The teenagers parents confessed before the cops that they wanted to shield her from their poverty. "We have food to eat because of supplies from the ration shop. But I have no source of income to afford her education. The boy who agreed to marry her is a private firm employee in Kolkata and his family did not ask for dowry. We agreed because we thought it would at least ensure her a secured future," the father of the girl said.

ALSO READ: Over 500 cases of child marriages reported since mid-March in West Bengal

As soon as her marriage was fixed, the girl was looking for an opportunity to seek help from the police. She, somehow, managed to leave home for half-an-hour and visited the local police station.

"She wrote a letter describing how she was under pressure from her parents to get married and how their parents did not care about her education. She dropped the letter in the complaint box. We acted promptly as soon as we accessed the letter," said an officer of Egra police station.

Recently, several NGOs, in a petition, submitted reports to the Kolkata High Court mentioning nearly a 30 per cent increase in child marriages across the state. The court asked the state juvenile justice committee to come up with the exact number of child marriages during the lockdown period in the state.

Officials in the East Midnapore district child welfare office said 19 cases of child marriage were reported to them during the lockdown and the count was in sharp contrast to three child marriages reported during the first three months this year.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Four more people died in the first wave of the flood in Assam which affected over 13.16 lakh people.

The deaths on Monday occurred in Barpeta, Dibrugarh and Goalpara districts. With these, the death toll rose to 24. Twenty-three others were killed in landslides in Guwahati and Barak Valley.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), people in 2,404 villages and localities across 25 of the states 33 districts were affected.

All major rivers such as Brahmaputra, Burhi Dihing, Dhansiri, Jia Bharali, Kopili, Puthimari, Beki and Kushiyara were in a spate, flowing above danger level, the ASDMA said.

The floodwater breached river embankments and damaged bridges and roads. Cropland affected was in areas of 83,168 hectares.

The Upper Assam town of Dibrugarh has been under floodwater for the past four days. A number of villages in the district were also affected. At Guijan in neighbouring Tinsukia district, hundreds of families were shifted to safer locations as the swelling Dangori flooded the area.

The authorities set up 273 relief camps where 27,452 people were taking shelter. Over 10,200 of the marooned were rescued by the personnel of the State Disaster Response Force and locals.

The Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary were partially inundated. Of the 223 forest camps in Kaziranga, 146 were inundated by the flooded Brahmaputra which flows through the park. The situation forced animals such as rhinos, elephants, deer etc to move towards highland within the park as well as the hills in neighbouring Karbi Anglong.

So far, the park recorded the death of one rhino and three hog deer. The rhino died by drowning. The deer got killed in vehicle hits. A national highway passes beside the park. The flood last year had submerged the entire park.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah called up Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday and took stock of the situation. He assured all possible help from the Centre.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: With series of meetings between Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and the central party leadership not leading to finalization of the list of names, suspense continues over whether the much awaited second cabinet expansion of the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh happens on Tuesday or not.

The MP CM who is in Delhi since Sunday has been holding meetings with top leadership of the party, including national president JP Nadda, union home minister Amit Shah. He also met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

Chouhan also met with Jyotiraditya Scindia and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar over the second cabinet expansion. With both Scindia and Tomar, being major leaders from Gwalior-Chambal region and 16 of the 24 future bulk assembly polls happening in the same region, the two meetings assumed major significance.

Besides, Chouhan, the MP BJP president VD Sharma and states general secretary (organization) Suhas Bhagat also were present in meetings with the national party president.

In a dramatic development, meanwhile, on Monday, the MP home and Health Minister Narottam Mishra (second in command in the present council of ministers) also reached Delhi, cancelling his visit from Gwalior to Bhopal  adding another dimension to the ongoing MP-centric political activities in Delhi.

While the official sources in Bhopal continued to maintain that there was still possibility of 22-25 ministers (including eight to nine from Scindia camp) being sworn in later on Tuesday evening. But informed sources within the saffron party said the lack of consensus between state leaders and those in Delhi over some names in the list of possible ministers will result in the expansion being deferred till Wednesday.

Sources said that some central leaders are particularly concerned over many faces getting repeated in every council of ministers headed by Chouhan, while the leaders from Gwalior and Chambal too are yet to come to a consensus on names from that region.

Meanwhile, the UP Governor Anandiben Patel, who has been rendered additional charge of MP (owing to hospitalization of present MP Governor Lalji Tandon) was slated to arrive in Bhopal on Monday, but the visit was cancelled.

The last expansion of the Chouhan government happened on April 21, when five ministers (three core BJP leaders and two from Scindia camp were inducted in the cabinet.
The number of pedestrians and cyclists in downtown Kelowna dropped 33-45 per cent this weekend after Interior Health warned of a possible widespread COVID-19 transmission in the area.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Indian and Chinese militaries will hold another round of Lt General-level talks on Tuesday in an attempt to finalise modalities for disengagement of troops from the friction points in eastern Ladakh and de-escalate tension, government sources said.

The talks are scheduled to start at 10:30 AM in Chushul sector on the Indian side of Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, they said.

In the previous two rounds of talks, the Indian side pitched for the restoration of status quo ante and immediate withdrawal of thousands of Chinese troops from Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso and a number of other areas.

The Indian and Chinese armies are locked in a bitter standoff in multiple locations in eastern Ladakh for the last seven weeks, and the tension escalated manifold after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash in Galwan Valley on June 15.

In the talks on June 22, the two sides arrived at a "mutual consensus" to "disengage" from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh.

The previous two rounds of dialogue took place at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC.

On Tuesday, the two sides are expected to deliberate on moving forward in implementing the decision to disengage of the forces, the sources said, adding any significant breakthrough is unlikely to emerge from the talks.

The Indian delegation at the meeting will be headed by 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh while the Chinese side is likely to be led by the Commander of the Tibet Military District Major General Liu Lin.

Following the Galwan Valley incident, the government has given the armed forces "full freedom" to give a "befitting" response to any Chinese misadventure along the LAC, the 3,500-km de-facto border.

The Army has sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border in the last two weeks.

The IAF has also moved air defence systems as well as a sizeable number of its frontline combat jets and attack helicopters to several key air bases.

In a strongly-worded statement, the external affairs ministry last week held China responsible for the standoff saying it has has been amassing a large contingent of troops and armaments along the LAC since early May and that conduct of the Chinese forces is in complete disregard of all mutually agreed norms.

The first round of the Lt General talks were held on June 6 during which both sides finalised an agreement to disengage gradually from all the standoff points beginning with Galwan Valley.

However, the situation deteriorated following the Galwan Valley clashes as the two sides significantly bolstered their deployments in most areas along the LAC.

Tensions had escalated in eastern Ladakh 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.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Figuring at the fifth position among the states in the country by contributing 4 per cent to the national tally of COVID-19 patients, the recovery rate in Uttar Pradesh has notched up to nearly 70 per cent on Monday.

However, 14 districts of the Uttar Pradesh including Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad in NCR, account for 59 per cent of the total active cases -- 6650-- in the state.

As per the official data, the districts including Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Etawah, Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Aligarh, Bulandhshar, Hapur, Mathura, Agra and Firozabad account for total 3,918 active cases which make 59 per cent of the total 6650 active cases in the state.

Moreover, of the 672 fatalities across the state, 442 have been reported from those 14 districts accounting for around 66 per cent of the total deaths in the state so far.

However, the rate of infection in the state has been low -- 3.2 per cent  as compared to the national rate of infliction which was around 8 per cent at present, said the health authorities. On the other, the fatality rate of the state and the national figure seem to be in sync.

It is 2.9 per cent in Uttar Pradesh and 3 per cent for the country. Similarly, the doubling rate of the active cases in UP is 19 days which is equal to the national rate.

Meanwhile, the state tally recorded 685 fresh cases in the last 24 hours taking the state tally to 22,156.Total 12 persons succumbed to the deadly virus on Monday.

Of the fresh cases, Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad accounted for 53 and 70 cases respectively, the highest in the tally.
Vineet Upadhyay By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand state government on Monday evening issued 'Standard Operating Procedure' for Char Dham Yatra which resume for state pilgrims from July 1. No pilgrim from outside Uttarakhand state will be allowed.

Ravinath Raman, chief executive of Char Dham Devsthanam Board said, "The SOP includes the details of procedure for digital registration of the yatra, norms and other rules to be followed."

The number of pilgrims has also been fixed at 800 for Kedarnath, 1200 for Badrinath, 600 for Gangotri and 400 for Yamunotri shrine. The SOP also mentioned that every pilgrim must carry identification and address proof.

The SOP announced by the state government for pilgrimage to the four revered shrines - Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri includes permission for only Uttarakhand residents who need to register themselves and get an e-pass which will be valid for only two days.

However, the duration can be increased in case of any natural calamity which forces pilgrims movement such as landslides, excessive rainfall and others.

Anyone from containment zone or buffer zone will not be allowed to travel to any of the four shrines.

The SOP also include prohibition on entering the sanctom sanctorum of the shrines, wearing of masks compulsory and hordes of other precautionary measures such as applying sanitizers and maintaining social distance. Touching of any idol of any deity and bringing any offering such as flowers or sweets has been prohibited in the SOP.

Last year, a record number of more than 38 lakh pilgrims travelled to the revered four shrines of the hill state.

Earlier, after priests body had protested against opening of the yatra, the state government had allows only local pilgrims from those districts till June 30 where the shrines are located- Rudraprayag (Kedarnath), Uttarkashi (Gangotri, Yamunotri) and Chamoli (Badrinath).
By PTI

KOLKATA: In a unique initiative, the West Bengal government has set up a 'COVID warrior club' in Murshidabad district, comprising people who have recovered from the disease and willing to aid the administration and health workers in containing the pandemic.

At present, 60 people who had recovered from the disease, have been enrolled as members of the club, set up at Behrampore in Murshidabad district, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday.

"We held counselling sessions for those who had defeated COVID-19, and are now leading a normal life. Some of them have come forward to serve others suffering from the disease. They can work as helpers at different hospitals, serve food, or talk to other COVID-19 patients...They should not feel scared," the chief minister said.

Of the 60 members, 10 each have agreed to work in Murshidabad Medical College and Malda Medical College, while 40 others will serve at the Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, Banerjee stated.

The government will pay the members an honorarium, and bear expenses of their food and accommodation, she said.

The CM insisted that her government will set up similar clubs in every district of Bengal.

"We request all those who have defeated the disease to come forward and serve others," the CM said, and asked chief secretary and home secretary to issue instructions for constituting such clubs in other parts of the state.

Expressing concern over the growing number of coronavirus cases in the state, Banerjee requested the Centre to immediately stop long distance and special trains as well as flights to West Bengal from five states with high incidence of COVID-19 cases.

She, however, did not mention the names of the states.

"This (number of infections) went up once people from outside started returning, and the curve continued to move upward. The chief secretary has made a request to temporarily stop trains (to Bengal) from places having high incidence of COVID-19 cases so that the spread of the virus can be arrested," she said.

The TMC supremo also urged the Union government to limit domestic flights to the state to just one day a week.

"We have no problem if flights come to Bengal from other states, barring from those places which have registered the maximum number of COVID-19 cases. We, however, request the Centre to limit the number of flights from other states, and allow these to land in Bengal just once every week.

"We will try and manage the number of people coming to the state on that day. Managing them throughout the week is impossible for us...Neither the civil aviation ministry nor the railways have come up with any mechanism (for handling these returnees)," Banerjee added.

Hailing the doctors and other health workers who have been working day in and day out to combat the pandemic, the chief minister declared July 1 as Doctors' Day and announced statewide holiday as a mark of respect to them.

She also urged the Centre to declare the day as a national holiday, and requested other states to follow suit.

Banerjee, who holds the health portfolio, said a telemedicine service to help patients who are unable to visit doctors amid the current pandemic, will soon be made functional.

"We are planning to start a telemedicine service on COVID-19 and other diseases. Hopefully, from July 1, we will be able to start the initiative. Several people are finding it difficult to visit doctors amid the lockdown. This initiative will give them a chance to consult doctors over phone. There will be separate phone numbers allotted for every district," she added.
Amar Patnaik And Bipul Chatterjee By

Over the last couple of years, data localisation has become a hotly debated issue right from the time the Reserve Bank of India came out with its notification mandating storage of payment system data within India. Subsequently, the proposed Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill, 2019, also envisages a graded localisation regime for different categories of data.

While these regulative measures can be seen as push options, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamans 2020-21 Budget announcements incentivising the private sector to set up data centres/parks across the country is an effort at pulling entrepreneurs to develop an Indian market on data storage and processing, much in the same way as in the West. The issue is likely to gain fresh thrust in light of PM Narendra Modis recent call for Atma Nirbharta (self-reliance) as a measure to revive the economy in a post Covid-19 world. Together, these developments have the potential to propel the growth of Indias data storage and processing industry significantly, by unlocking new opportunities for domestic businesses.

On the flipside, studies have pointed out some possible adverse impacts of mandating data localisation by law (hard regulation) and/or disconnecting from global value chains and the impact on multiple stakeholders including MSMEs. Hence, a cautious approach needs to be followed. Problem areas: While data localisation may facilitate growth of data centres in India, along with its positive impact on national security, economic development, etc., a study by Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS), a think tank, on consumer impact assessment of data localisation found that it may have an adverse impact on freedom of speech, privacy violations, data breaches and cyber-attacks, and most importantly on innovation.

This is largely due to an inadequate data security regime and data breach laws, weak compensation regime for data breaches and high compliance costs, particularly for MSMEs, start-ups, etc. Another CUTS study found that data localisation may have an adverse impact on Indias digital services export. One of the major factors behind India becoming a world leader in digital services export is uninterrupted flow of data across borders and favourable policies. Data localisation may add a regulatory compliance cost to the companies, particularly the MSMEs, and hinder the participation of domestic start-ups in global value chains, thereby affecting foreign investment and innovation in the country. In the PDP Bill, data has been categorised into personal, sensitive and critical data.

While there is no restriction on processing or storage of personal data, sensitive data must be mirrored in India and can be processed outside India. Critical personal data cannot, however, be processed or stored outside India though what is critical personal data has not been defined in the Bill and has been left to the Centre to notify later. This has brought the spectre of surveillance on citizens not just by government but even by foreign agencies and social intermediary data fiduciaries. Though the country is generating enormous amounts of data, it does not have the capacity to store them within its territory under the data localisation mandate and has a long way to go with regard to the availability of data centres in comparison to developed countries as well as its peers in the Asia-Pacific region.

Need a balanced approach: We have to understand that the data economy is a sunrise sector in India. Our data consumption has been rapidly increasing over the last few years. For example, within a month of the imposition of a countrywide lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, data consumption in rural India witnessed an almost 100% jump. With an evident growth in data generation from increased business transactions through electronic means and supplemented by data localisation policies and laws, this is an appropriate time to incentivise local private players to establish data centres in India rather than creating a hard regulations regime. We should adopt a regulatory sandbox approach including regulatory impact assessment.

By 2024, the data centre market in India is expected to generate revenue worth $4 billion. In order to handle this increasing data volume from data localisation, India would need to ramp up its data centres capacity by at least 15 times over the next seven to eight years. Though investments are coming in, there is still a need to remove regulatory hindrances. As much as 60 different permits are needed to establish data centres in India, which span 15 government departments. Similarly, issues such as uninterrupted power supply, quality and availability of brick and mortar infrastructure in land banks, expensive real estate and networking components also act as roadblocks.

The recent announcement by the PM of bringing in an ecosystem of plug and play is the way forward.

It is important to understand that along with ensuring data access to law enforcement agencies for providing security as a public good and securing data of Indian citizens from foreign surveillance, the governments move towards data localisation may be seen as a decisive and robust step towards making India the data services capital of the world by providing cheaper and more efficient options to corporates, banks and multinationals. It would help generate employment opportunities, and spur domestic innovation.

Amar Patnaik

Rajya Sabha MP and former CAG bureaucrat with a PhD in management

Bipul Chatterjee

Executive Director, CUTS International

(Kapil Gupta, Assistant Policy Analyst at CUTS International, has contributed to this article)

(amar_patnaik@yahoo.com)
Anand Sankar And DR Anant Bhan By

After a brief period of some kind of an unlock, the dreaded lockdown is making a comeback in the Indian Covid-19 response vocabulary. The city of Chennai and the state of West Bengal, among other locations, are implementing lockdowns, and its likely other areas might follow suit. Its time to reflect on the experiences of communities under the initial phases of the lockdown and look at lessons that we can draw from this on how to structure public health responses to a spread of infection.

The urge for enforcement during the lockdown and the fact that decisions were taken often arbitrarily without public health advice being integral to them meant that the response was often a law-and-order one, enabled by the exercise of state might, rather than a supportive, evidence-based public health one. Only the latter would enhance the possibility of communities following public health norms like physical distancing, avoiding social interactions, etc.

Lets take the story of a small and remote region in Uttarakhand, Mori Tehsil, where one author works. It is a geographically hard-to-access part of India, which at the time of writing this article, has not reported a single case of Covid-19. The people of the region should rightly be relieved, looking forward to whatever normal life is possible. But as the author found out during the last trip up, the region and its people have been scarred even before the dreaded virus reached them.

The populace is fearful of not the virus, but the containment measures that come with it. For almost 45 days of the lockdown, before things eased up a bit, there were multiple accounts of people being randomly caned by police and authorities or vehicles being impounded when people were just going about their normal essential lives. People tending to their fields, going to check on their orchards, walking their cows, attending to emergent community issues, or just sitting outside their own house in one case, you name it, all have been roughed up at some point or anotherbecause the area had to be locked down, those were the orders. We have seen stories of excessive use of force from across the country, but we want to just pause and reflect on the case of this one region.

Why was there a need or justification for any form of force in a sparsely populated area, which had not seen a single case of Covid-19? How would this in any way help in building community support for public health measures, rather than creating fear about the disease and the state response to it? The region faced heart-rending scenes. Like many other parts of Uttarakhand, hundreds of youth and men returned to their villages due to economic collapse across the country. Many of them struggled for days to find transport to get them to their home state and then onwards to their respective villages. After enduring untold hardship, a kick in the gut awaited them at their doorsteps.

Many villages didnt want anyone to enter them anymore. They were and still are fearful of the virus reaching themand worse, the containment measures that come with it. The returnees were told to head back, as far away from the villages as possible. A couple of families one of the authors spoke to revealed that it is community pressure that is forcing them to turn back their loved ones, while this is glossed over as voluntary in public. Thankfully, due to the government stepping up with clear quarantine protocols and most of the migrants having returned, the situation has stabilised for now. But it is now unclear how villagers will learn to live with the virus, as normal economic activity, i.e. people visiting from outside, will have to resume sooner than any solution is found for Covid-19.

If you thought rumours and fake news spread only on WhatsApp, the bush telegraph appears to be equally good. Many villages have forbidden villagers from going to the nearby market to buy any vegetables as rumours have spread that vegetables spread the virus. Thus, pregnant women and children who desperately need the nutrients are denied access to them. Many villages have decided that any packaged products have to be quarantined for 14 days. None of this is of course scientific, but there is no active government outreach to counter this misinformation.

The situation of the local community health workers (CHWs) is the direst. They had to manage quarantined individuals in village centres and monitor the community. There is evidence of open hostility to routine door-to-door questioning for ILI (influenza like illness) symptoms, which is being perceived as hostile by the local community (why repeatedly question people who have not come in contact with the virus?). The time is not far, when if there is a Covid-19 case within the CHWs, they themselves will be ostracised. Imagine the ripple effect this would have on our public health programs like pregnancy care, immunisation or monitoring tuberculosis.

As Covid-19 spreads through the country, it will reach remote parts eventually. We can help communities and local governance systems prepare for this, so that when cases do occur, the response is sensitive and evidence-based. But rather, the experience of Mori Tehsil and many more such regions in the country show that our missteps during the lockdown might have alienated the local populace and contributed to a loss of trust in the government.

This could mean that when cases pop up, or individuals have symptoms, they would hesitate to report to government facilities, scarred as they were by the heavy-handed policing-led response during the early lockdown. We must introspect about how we can fundamentally amend our response to situations like pandemics to not be adversarial towards communities, but rather be focused on partnerships. Only then, perhaps, we will be successful in our Covid-19 strategies in most parts of this country, especially the rural and remote ones.

Anand Sankar

Founder of Kalap Trust, an NGO working on public health in Uttarakhand

DR Anant Bhan

Researcher, global health, bioethics and health policy

(Tweets @kalapian, @AnantBhan)
Vinay Sahasrabuddhe By

Although very tragic, it is least surprising that the Congress has chosen to settle scores with the BJP, the Central government led by the BJP and more particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, using the recent happenings on the India-China border. Why is the Congress leadership behaving in this manner?

Given the history of Communist parties in India, it is not surprising that they have taken a soft stand towards China and its misadventure. But from the Congress party, as Indias GOP, expectations were certainly very different.

During the immediate post-Independence era, the then RSS chief Guruji Golwalkar had at multiple occasions strongly advocated a united approach in the face of external threats rising above petty partisan considerations. Vayam Panchadhikam Shatam, meaning we are all together and hence 105 (100 Kauravas and 5 Pandavas) was his sane advice.

In fact, when the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru was to be greeted with black flags at Fort Pratap Gadh in Maharashtra, right in the thick of Samyukta Maharashtra Movement in the late fifties, the RSS had opposed this demonstration saying that we must not insult our guest who is here to unveil the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Most non-Congress parties in India had taken a similar approach and extended all possible cooperation to the governments of the day on all occasions when some neighbouring country threatened Indias sovereignty.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee had famously appreciated the leadership provided by Smt Indira Gandhi during the Bangladesh war. Similar was the approach of opposition parties during earlier occasions when aggressors had tried to occupy our territories. This was of course not just a coincidence, much less a tactical move by the then opposition parties.

Although we have a huge number of political parties and the political-ideological differences are perennially sharpexcept for those who draw ideological inspiration from abroadall speak in one voice when the threat is from external actors.

But alas, this time, unlike the many other non-Communist political parties, the Congress has chosen to adopt a crass partisan line giving an impression that not China but the BJP is Congresss enemy number one. This is sordid, to say the least.

This approach of the Congress merits attention as there is clear method in the madness that Indias GOP is indulging in. There are at least three clear indicators of this. Firstly, the vexed issue of PM Modis remarks at the end of the all-party virtual meeting is in fact a classic case of much-ado-about-nothing. The clarification issued by the PMO later is powerful enough to have the subject settled.

Prime Ministers observations that there was no Chinese presence on our side of the LAC pertained to the situation as a consequence of the bravery of our armed forces. The sacrifices of the soldiers of the 16 Bihar Regiment foiled the attempt of the Chinese side to erect structures and also cleared the attempted transgression at this point of the LAC on that day.

This was a statement making the situation as clear as one can. Today, if somebody is talking about surrendering Indian territory simply to satisfy ones ego, it can best be described as a manufactured controversy.

A recalcitrant party leadership, disregarding the wrong signals that emanate causing serious damage, churlishly unleashed a social media campaign titled Speak Up India campaign. This kind of an approach would unnecessarily create an atmosphere of confusion, complicating the larger issue.

When every sane citizen is expected to rally behind the national leadership, these tactics may help the Congress earn some brownie points, but only at the cost of the nations collective resolve to fight against the enemy. Let it also be mentioned here that the Congress is missing the point seriously, as people in India reject any such attempt to speak in multiple voices when our enemies create trouble.

Secondly, the extraordinary belligerence with which the Congress is trying to fish in these troubled waters makes one suspect whether its main objective is to make people forget the sins committed by previous Congress governments. Not just one or two, but the Congress had committed at least four big blunders during its regimes. Defence experts have rightly described all these as Himalayan blunders.

These are: the mess in Jammu and Kashmir right at the dawn of Independence, continuously ignoring Chinese threats and neglecting our northern borders in the sixties, our agreeing under the Shimla Agreement to return 96,000 PoWs of Pakistan and in return getting only 617 Indian PoWs released with at least 54 languishing in Pakistani jails for decades together, and lastly our turning a Nelsons eye to the issue of illegal migrants coming from Bangladesh and the subsequent endangering of the demographic character of regions on our borders, thanks to vote-bank politics.

Thirdly, the sheer partisan approach of the Congress is evident from the shrill campaign on an issue concerning our national spirit and nationalism. Not any economic issue or issues concerning the management of the pandemic, but it is on an emotive issue that evokes our patriotic spirit that the Congress wants to create an impression that the government is cornered.

This is a textbook example of crafty politics played with cunningness. In the late 1950s, the then Congress leadership had hijacked the socialist agenda at the Avadi session of the INC.

Thereafter, various groups labelling themselves as socialist parties felt that their independent status had become redundant and that was almost the end of the PSP and SSP. But hijacking an amorphous Socialism was easy. With Nationalism, the Congress has long before lost the constituency.

The GOP must appreciate this fact that its old brand of politics is no more relevant. Similar attempts by its leadership had ended with burnt fingers, for instance when it tried to play with fire immediately after the 1999 Kargil War.

The Congress must remember that Nationalism is not an ornament that you can conveniently wear on your sleeves. The Congress must remember that when a neighbouring country tries to challenge our sovereignty, our fight is with the challenger, not the BJP.

Vinay Sahasrabuddhe

National Vice President of the BJP, President, ICCR, and Rajya Sabha MP

(Vinays57@gmail.com)
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan last week let the cat out of the bag, calling slain global terrorist Osama Bin Laden a martyr, leading to widespread outrage. Osama was taken out in a pre-dawn swoop in 2011 by US special forces in Abbottabad without keeping Pakistan in the loop, embarrassing its military establishment big time as his house was adjacent to an army garrison.

Imrans martyr remark brought back memories of his justifying the Taliban movement in the past, which earned him the Taliban Khan moniker. He later moderated his articulation, particularly after he became PM, but the liberal mask slipped off last week. However, it tallied with the latest US State Departments indictment of Pakistan continuing to serve as a safe haven for terror outfits targeting India and Afghanistan.

The report faulted Islamabads rulers for making no effort to prosecute Jaish-e-Mohammad founder Masood Azhar and Sajid Mir, who masterminded the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Both are widely believed to reside in Pakistan under the protection of the state, despite government denials, it asserted. Another player in the 26/11 plot, Tahawwur Rana, has been arrested in the US following Indias extradition request. A former Pakistani army officer, Rana conspired with his buddy David Coleman Headley to help execute the Mumbai terror attacks. His extradition would strengthen Indias case on Pakistan being the epicentre of global terror.

Support to terror was the principal reason why New Delhi threw a curve ball to downgrade bilateral ties. It directed the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi to cut its staff by 50% within a week, adding India would do so reciprocally. Pakistan is already on the grey list of the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for lax policing of terror financing. The arrogant neighbour is keenly aware that it has few friends globally. For instance, even its principal allies chose not to take its side against Indias punitive airstrikes on a Jaish terror camp deep within Pakistan in Balakot. As for its economy, it was already a basket case before Covid struck. Instead of theatrics like the sudden offer to open the Kartarpur corridor for Sikh pilgrims, it ought to clean up its terror slate. But that could be wishful thinking till Imran is in the saddle.
By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh recorded another 793 COVID-19 cases, taking the total tally in the state to 13,891. A high number of 30,216 samples were tested in the past 24 hours in which the 793 cases emerged.

According to the media bulletin released by the State Command Control Room on Monday, 11 more deaths were reported in the past 24 hours (Sunday 9 am to Monday 9 am) taking the total number of deaths from COVID-19 to 180.

Kurnool recorded the highest number of deaths with five casualties taking the district toll to 63, the highest among the 13 districts of the state. Krishna district recorded two more deaths taking its tally to 60. Two more deaths were reported from Nellore and one each from Vizianagaram and West Godavari districts.

The highest number of positive cases (113) was reported from West Godavari district followed by Guntur (98) and Anantapur (96).

Among the people from other states who tested positive for the virus, 40 are from Maharasthra, 21 from Telangana and 15 from Tamil Nadu. Six foreign returnees also tested positive and of them four returned from Kuwait and one each from Qatar and the UAE.
By Express News Service

VISAKHAPATNAM: The first COVID-19 case was reported at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) with one of its employees testing positive for the virus on Monday. The employee returned from his hometown in Rajasthan via Delhi on June 4 by a flight and was under institutional quarantine at GITAM Hospital from June 4 to 12.

Samples for COVID-19 testing were taken on June 4 and 12 and the results came out negative. He was discharged on June 13 and advised to undergo another seven days of home quarantine.

According to an official release by the VSP on Monday, on June 20, the employee reported for duty and on June 22, he had some intermittent cough and consulted Visakha Steel General Hospital where he was advised to take another test.

He went on leave from June 23 and on June 25 got himself tested at KGH. On June 28, the test result came out positive and he was immediately shifted to the COVID-19 hospital for further treatment.

As per protocol, the workplace and his residence in Sector-9 in Ukkunagaram were sanitized extensively. "Contact tracing is being done and a few identified primary contacts at workplace have been advised home quarantine. Further advice from the local administration is awaited," according to the release.
Hong Kong: 23rd anniversary events set

Chief Executive Carrie Lam and senior government officials will attend a flag-raising ceremony and reception on July 1 to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The flag-raising ceremony will be held at Golden Bauhinia Square.

Because of the current public health risk, no public viewing area will be set up for the ceremony.

The reception will be held at the Convention & Exhibition Centre after the ceremony.

This story has been published on: 2020-06-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.


NANCHANG, June 28 (Xinhua) -- China began a 10-year fishing moratorium from the beginning of this year in 332 conservation areas in the Yangtze River basin, which will be expanded to all the natural waterways of the country's longest river and its major tributaries from no later than Jan. 1, 2021.

The full-scale ban is likely to affect more than 113,000 fishing boats and nearly 280,000 fishermen in 10 provincial-level regions along the river, according to earlier estimation.

Members of a Yangtze finless porpoise protection team take part in a patrol mission on the Poyang Lake in Hukou County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 8, 2020. Eight of the 11 team members are fishermen-turned finless porpoise protectors who patrol the Poyang Lake on a daily basis. Their missions include dismantling illegal fishing facilities and preventing unlawful activities that damage the Poyang Lake's fisheries resources. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

This comes after decades of human activities such as water pollution, overfishing, sand excavation and quarrying have caused serious ecological destruction in the Yangtze River basin.

The Yangtze, which stretches over 6,300 km, boasts rich and complex terrain and climate along its basin and has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world.

Wu Houchun, an ex-fisherman who works at a Yangtze finless porpoise protection team, takes part in a patrol mission on Poyang Lake in Hukou County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

Official data shows that the average annual fishing output in the Yangtze River is less than 100,000 tonnes, accounting for only 0.15 percent of the national total, which has set alarm bells ringing for the need to take immediate action to restore its ecology.

In areas around the Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake in the eastern province of Jiangxi, there are more than 300 traditional fishing villages housing over 100,000 residents. Due to the ban, those fishermen will have to bid farewell to their traditional roles and embrace new identities ashore.

Aerial photo shows Wu Huashan harvesting crayfish at his fish pond in Xiangshan Township of Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 5, 2020. Having learned fishing at an early age with his parents, Wu was a skilled fisherman and was head of a local fishery association. In late 2019, he bade farewell to his boats and started a crayfish business. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

FINLESS PORPOISE PROTECTOR

Shu Yin'an, 53, born of a fishing family of three generations, is currently working as a patroller in a Yangtze finless porpoise protection team in Hukou County, Jiangxi Province.

The finless porpoise, an endemic species in China, is an important indicator of the ecology of the Yangtze.

Known for its mischievous smile, the finless porpoise has a level of intelligence comparable to that of a gorilla. However, they rely on abundant food supply for survival. In recent years, overfishing in the Yangtze River has contributed to the decrease in their number.

"I grew up on the Poyang Lake and finless porpoises used to be common here, but they've been seldomly spotted in recent years," said Shu, who decided to wave goodbye to his fishing boat and nets and began a new life ashore in 2017. In June that year, he went aboard again with a new career as a finless porpoise protector.

Members of a Yangtze finless porpoise protection team attend a mission briefing ahead of a daily patrol on the Poyang Lake in Hukou County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 8, 2020. Eight of the 11 team members are fishermen-turned finless porpoise protectors who patrol the Poyang Lake on a daily basis. Their missions include dismantling illegal fishing facilities and preventing unlawful activities that damage the Poyang Lake's fisheries resources. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

Zhang Chuanguo, Shu's colleague, intended to have his two sons inherit his fishing boats after his retirement. But the 65-year-old was frustrated to find that catches of the once fish-rich lake have been dramatically dwindling.

"We shouldn't leave a devastated river for future generations," said Zhang.

"I'm proud to be a finless porpoise protector," he said. "We are fighting to secure a better life for the people living around the Poyang Lake and in the Yangtze River basin."

RAISING CRAYFISH

Wu Huashan, 42, never regretted stepping ashore. The former fisherman now farms over 26 hectares of paddy fields to raise crayfish. In just a few months this year, Wu has earned more than 300,000 yuan (about 42,400 U.S. dollars) from selling crayfish alone -- an income he could only dream of during his decades as a fisherman.

Having learned fishing at an early age with his parents, Wu was a skilled fisherman and was head of a local fishery association.

Wu Huashan wears an outfit to harvest crayfish in Xiangshan Township of Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

"The catch started getting smaller and smaller," said Wu. "In the past when I went fishing with my father, we would catch more than 500 kg of fish every day. The number has fallen to just dozens of kilograms in recent years."

Last year, he bade farewell to his boats and received more than 70,000 yuan in subsidies, 12,000 yuan of living expenses and social insurance paid by the government.

Wu Huashan displays photos of the fishing boats he once owned in Xiangshan Township, Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

"I was lost and had no idea what I should do next," recalled Wu. With the help of the local government, he finally chose to invest in crayfish, a delicacy popular with many Chinese foodies.

Now he has turned into a crayfish expert. "The key to raising crayfish is to keep the water clean. I've had a good harvest this year and plan to try growing rice in the paddy fields this year," said Wu.

TOURISM SERVICES PROVIDER

Zhu Yicai, a 67-year-old ex-fisherman in Yugan County, is the living embodiment of an old Chinese adage -- those living on a mountain live off the mountain, those living by water live off the water.

He used to make a living by selling aquatic products captured in the Poyang Lake. He is now taking advantage of the beautiful scenery around the lake.

Zhu Yicai conducts guestroom check at his farmhouse in the Poyang Lake scenic area in Yugan County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 16, 2020. Zhu Yicai gave up his fishing business in 2012 due to the worsening aquatic environment in the Poyang Lake. In 2018, Zhu was running a family farm when he noticed that lots of tourists came to the lake to watch migratory birds. Zhu then captured the business opportunity and opened a 1,800-square-meter farmhouse. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

Decades of environmental protection have made the Poyang Lake an important hub for migratory birds, hosting up to 700,000 wintering birds every year. Local government has been taking advantage of the tourism resources by organizing a range of activities such as a bird-watching festival to lure tourists.

It has also been encouraging fishermen to step ashore and take part in tourism-related industry by offering training on restaurant management and other skills to make them more competitive.

Zhu opened a fish farm in 2012 and saw many tourists come to watch birds. Believing that birdwatching would be a good business opportunity, Zhu built a 1,800-square-meter farmhouse, which can accommodate more than 200 people dining at the same time, in February 2018.

Zhu Yicai (3rd L) serves guests at his farmhouse in the Poyang Lake scenic area in Yugan County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Peng Zhaozhi)

"We closed earlier this year due to the COVID-19 epidemic, but we've already made over 300,000 yuan since we reopened in March," Zhu said.

"Many tourists come here to relax and unwind. We can host nearly 200 people at the weekend in high seasons," Zhu said.

Tourism brought the family a gross income of 1 million yuan last year and Zhu intends to convert the second floor of his home into a B&B to host more tourists.
Kent, OH (44242)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early followed by scattered thunderstorms overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 72F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early followed by scattered thunderstorms overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 72F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Ashwini M Sripad By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: This shepherd from a remote village in Mandya district has been going about his job of digging ponds quietly on the barren hill near his village to help man and wildlife for four decades now.

Known fondly as Pond Man and Lake Man, 84-year-old Kaamegowda became the talk of the town when he was praised for his Aatmanirbhar efforts by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann ki Baat on Sunday.

And coincidentally, a little before that, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat spoke to him over a video call, amazed by his efforts to harvest jal shakti. Two years back, The New Indian Express wrote about Kaamegowda, who hails from Daasanadoddi village of Malavalli taluk in Mandya district. When TNIE visited his haven then  a half-complete house  the hill presented itself in lush green attire, thanks to the 14 ponds, linked by a waterway that ensures when the upper ponds on the hill are filled, the surplus water flows into the ponds below.

And Kaamegowda received high praise from the highest office of the country for his selfless efforts. Modi, in his Mann ki Baat, mentioned Kaamegowda and said that at his age, Gowda was doing a wonderful job. He might have not done bigger lakes, but constructed 16 ponds for which he has invested his energy and time, said the PM. The man, who least expects awards or rewards, told TNIE that he was very happy about this. Someone in Delhi recognised the work of a person from Daasanadoddi. It looks like Modi too is fond of ponds just like me, he said.

Kaamegowda seeks funds to interlink lakes

When he got Shekhawats call, the unassuming Kaamegowda greeted him with a Namaskara. As part of the initiative to recognise, appreciate and join hands with all water warriors across the country, Shekhawat had a detailed conversation with Kaamegowda.

The minister, who came to know of Kaamegowdas efforts through this reporters tweet recently about two more ponds being built by Gowda, had an hour-long video conversation with the octogenarian about his efforts and achievements. After a virtual tour of all the lakes he has built over the last few decades, Kaamegowda requested the Union Minister to fund and facilitate the interlinking of his lakes.

The minister asked the officials to obtain details of Gowdas request and submit it at the earliest. He assured Kaamegowda of discussing it with Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa and facilitating possible action in this regard.

It was about 40 years ago when Kaamegowda realised that the almost barren Kundinibetta hill next to his village had sparse shrubs with almost no greenery. While taking his flock of sheep grazing on the hillside, he saw animals and birds stressed from the lack of watering holes on the hill. He decided to dig smaller ponds for animals and birds and humans.

When #TNIE spoke to him two years ago, the then 82-year-old #Kaamegowda had spent Rs 10-15 lakh over a period of four decades to build 14 ponds.@XpressBengaluru



Express Video. pic.twitter.com/3PoOS26KRr  The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) June 28, 2020

All these years, almost every day between 5 am and 9 am, he has dug ponds, and grazed sheep from 9 am to 7 pm. Sometimes, I used to go to the hillock to dig a pond during night armed with a lamp or on a full moon day, he told TNIE then.

He sold his sheep and purchased a shovel, spade, pickaxe, and other tools to dig a pond. Later, he spent all his savings. By 2018 he had constructed 14 ponds. The same year Karnataka Government recognised him and awarded the prestigious Kannada Rajyotsava award. He is also the recipient of Basavashri Award. He spent the award money on his lake mission.


Express News Service

BENGALURU: The state government has come out with a new set of temporary guidelines on imparting online education to students. These guidelines are applicable to every school  those following SSLC syllabus, CBSE and ICSE. For students of Classes 1 to 5, teachers can hold two sessions of 30-45 minutes per day on alternative days only.

The government clarified that these sessions can be held only three days a week and the teacher and students will be present online at the same time, also known as synchronous teaching. For Classes 6 to 8, synchronous teaching can be held for two sessions a day, each session not exceeding 45 minutes, for five days a week.

Teachers can conduct four synchronous sessions a day for five days a week, each session ranging 30-45 minutes, for Class 9 and 10. As per these guidelines, kindergarten school teachers can hold only one online session per week, not exceeding 30 minutes, with parents to guide them.

The government said these guidelines will be applicable only until the expert committee appointed by it comes up with a comprehensive online teaching policy. The decision comes days after the Karnataka High Court asked the state to come up with an interim solution till the expert committee submits its report. The state was told to consider limited number of e-classes, after a petition by parents and educational institutions, who questioned the ban on online classes. Schools had said they were affected by the ban as they had invested in online classes.
Anusha Ravi By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: As part of its national protest against the fuel price hike, the Karnataka unit of the Congress took out a bicycle rally on Monday. Senior leaders of the party hopped on to bicycles and led hundreds of party workers in Bengaluru as they pedalled towards the party headquarters.

In the process, the Congress ended up violating all social distancing norms as hundreds of party workers cycled together and crowded outside the party office before moving towards the income tax office without masks, shouting slogans and waving flags. The gathering was also a violation of the Union Home Ministry's guidelines prohibiting any social, religious or political gatherings.

The Congress' mass gathering drew severe flak from netizens for throwing social distancing to the wind barely a day after Karnataka reported more than 1000 cases in a single day with Bengaluru alone reporting more than 700 cases on Sunday.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress committee president D K Shivakumar led the cycle rally till the party office as hundreds of workers followed closely. Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too cycled from his residence toward the party office with dozens of his supporters. Former Home Minister KJ George cycled to the party office by himself without violating norms.

Senior Congress leaders like Rajya Sabha member and AICC General Secretary Mallikarjun Kharge, KPCC Working President Salim Ahmed and a host of Congress legislators, members of various wings of the party including NSUI were present at the protest. As part of their protest Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah even carried a hearse of a scooter to register their anger against the fuel price hike.

"During the UPA regime, cess on petrol was Rs 9.30 and on diesel Rs 3.45 but now it is Rs 32.98 and Rs 31.98 respectively. That is a 258% and 820% hike respectively. Is this a hike or robbery?" asked Siddaramaiah while addressing his party workers during the protest.

"Congress demands an answer to unfair hikes on petrol and diesel price by the BJP government on a daily basis," said Shivakumar. The party is said to have obtained permission to hold a protest and gather 200 people with adequate social distancing and precautionary measures but the cycle rally, gathering and address saw party workers gather by the hundreds risking the spread of COVID-19.

"The Congress is behaving irresponsibly at a time when the state is dealing with a huge crisis like COVID-19. They are playing politics at such a difficult time. Criticism is welcome but not at a time when the state is reeling under the COVID-19 threat," Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol told the media following the Congress protest.
Anusha Ravi By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Frontline workers in Karnataka have been asked to mentally prepare themselves to handle the COVID-19 crisis for the next six months.

Revenue minister R Ashoka, who has temporarily been handed change of COVID-19 management for Bengaluru, on Monday said that the state and city will see a further steep spike in cases in July-August according to the experts' committee report. While spelling out the contingency plan for Bengaluru, Ashoka admitted that not just increased testing but increased spread of infection too is causing the spike.

"Beds in all private and government hospitals set aside for COVID-19 treatment will be numbered. We will link bed numbers to patient numbers to keep real time track of beds as and when they get vacant and patients are discharged. All staff who attend to patients wearing PPE kits have been asked to sport a name and designation badge for easy identification. Staff including doctors will henceforth log their duty time. Videos of doctors treating patients will be reviewed by hospital superintendents to keep a check on attention and care given to patients," Ashoka said.

To incentivise their services, the government is also mulling hiking the salaries of frontline healthcare professionals.

Setting up a 20-bed ICU facility at Shantinagar government hospital, scaling up beds in isolation and COVID care centres, allowing Victoria hospital to hire six ambulances for the next six months, hiring 85 AYUSH and dental doctors as assistants on contract basis for BBMP, deputing newly appointed Tehsildars of the revenue department to oversee setting up of new hospitals and COVID-19 facilities across the state as observers, alloting two hearse vehicles for each zone, identifying and authorising 10 NGO workers in each ward to help shift people with COVID-19 to designated centres, sanitisation of localities and awareness programmes against stigmatisation of COVID patients are some of the key contingency plans announced by Ashoka.

"The 85 AYUSH and dental doctors will be supervised by MBBS doctors and will assist them in handling cases at the local level," he said. Senior IAS officer Tushar Girinath will be in charge of bed allotment while Rajendra Kumar Kataria will be placed in charge of the COVID-19 bed centre.

A meeting of Bengaluru corporators will also be called in three sessions to ensure social distancing at the BBMP headquarters. "The corporators will be made responsible for supply for food, essentials etc to residences or roads sealed off in each ward," Ashoka said.

The revenue minister said that Rs 380 crore has been spent on COVID-19 management from the State Disaster Relief Fund. Of the Rs 742 crores available under SDRF following the Union government's release of funds, District Commissioners have been given Rs 232 crore, health department has received Rs 70 crore, BBMP has been given Rs 50 crore, the home department has been given Rs 12 crore, Railways has been given Rs 13 crore and BMTC has been given Rs 2.89 crore.

"A total of Rs 380 crore has been spent by the revenue department so far. We have another Rs 362 crore available. We will use that too for COVID-19 management," Ashoka said.
CYNTHIA CHANDRAN By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Muslim League national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty, who is also the Malappuram MP, is said to be keen to shift to Kerala politics. But a sizeable majority within the party and the Muslim Youth League is against the move citing that a leader of his repute cannot do so as and when he desires.

The Malappuram Lok Sabha by-election was necessitated following the demise of former union minister and Muslim League leader E Ahmed. Kunhalikutty vacated the Vengara assembly seat to contest in the Lok Sabha election in April 2017. The Vengara assembly and Malappuram Lok Sabha seats were later retained by the Muslim League.

Former UDF MLAs like Kunhalikutty, K Muraleedharan and Adoor Prakash who had contested the Lok Sabha elections were hopeful of seeing the UPA government coming to power at the centre in May 2019.

But the BJP thrashed their hopes and Kunhalikutty has now expressed his desire to shift back to Kerala politics, said a senior Congress MP.

It was Kunhalikutty who took the initiative in ending the tussle between P J Joseph and Jose K Mani factions of Kerala Congress (M) along with Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala and UDF convener Benny Behanan.

A senior Muslim League MLA told TNIE, It is not only Youth League leaders, but almost 80 per cent of party leaders are against Kunhalikutty coming back to the state politics. So far, no discussion has taken place in the party on this, but a whispering campaign is on.

Youth League leaders said the focus is on the imminent local body elections now.Senior Muslim League leaders will naturally lead the party in the run-up to the elections. It is too early to talk about assembly elections, one of them told TNIE.

K P A Majeed, Muslim League state general secretary, said if Kunhalikutty has such a desire, it will be first discussed in the party and not with Congress leaders. He told TNIE that the immediate focus is on the local body elections as the assembly elections will take place only next year. Kunhalikutty said he too has been hearing the news.People have been talking about it ever since I became active in the programmes in the state. Let's see how it goes, he said.

Brokered peace between warring KC(M) factions

It was P K Kunhalikutty who took the initiative in ending the ongoing tussle between P J Joseph and Jose K Mani factions of Kerala Congress (M) along with Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and UDF convener Benny Behanan.
By Express News Service

KOTTAYAM: Ending a months-long impasse in the United Democratic Front (UDF) over the dispute between the P J Joseph and Jose K Mani factions of the Kerala Congress (M), the UDF leadership has decided to bar the Jose faction from coalition meetings.

Announcing the decision in Thiruvananthapuram, UDF convener Benny Behanan said Jose faction leaders wont be invited for the UDF meeting slated to be held on Wednesday. The Jose faction failed to implement the UDF leadership decision with regard to the change of guard in the Kottayam district panchayat, even after repeated reminders and discussions. Hence, they don't deserve to continue in the coalition, Benny told reporters.

The decision came after the Jose faction refused to carry out the UDF decision to hand over the district panchayat president post to the P J Joseph faction as per an understanding made under the aegis of senior UDF leaders including Oommen Chandy, P K Kunhalikkutty and Ramesh Chennithala.

The UDF leadership on Monday arrived at the conclusion that there is no point in continuing any talks. The UDF doesnt need anyone who refuses to accept the leaderships decision. We dont mind the profit or loss here, Benny said.

Jose K Mani is expected to respond to the decision soon. Meanwhile, MLA Roshy Augustine, a prominent leader of the Jose faction, said the decision was unfortunate as well as unexpected.

We have implemented all the decisions of the UDF leadership and voted for UDF candidates (in all local bodies). What was the fault we committed? We dont understand the reason for such a decision, Roshy told reporters in Kottayam.
By PTI

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday denied the allegations by Opposition Congress Leader Ramesh Chennithala that the ruling LDF government had decided to award consultancy of e-mobility project to a private firm by allegedly violating norms.

The chief minister said the company was empanelled under the National Informatics Centre Services Inc (NICSI).

"The companyagainst whichthe Opposition Leader has raised allegation was empanelled under the NICSI and the company has been engaged in consulting services for the defence ministry and ICMR, among others," he said.

Vijayan said the Transport Department's order on February 20, 2020 mentioned that three companies were appointed as consultants for bus ports while PriceWaterhouseCoopers was consultants for the logistics ports of the electric vehicle production ecosystem.

"An amount of Rs 2.15 crore (excluding tax) for each bus port, Rs 2.09 crore (excluding tax) for logistic port and Rs 82 lakhs for e-mobility was allocated," he said.

Importantly, he said, the procedures were followed while allocating the funds and the final decision on the file came after a review by the Department of Transportation, Planning and Finance.

Also, the Chief Minister refuted the charge that the contract was given to a company under investigation of theSecurities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

"This is a baseless allegation. The PricewaterhouseCoopers Pvt Ltd is not banned by SEBI. The ban is on Pricewaterhouse Company, an auditing firm, which is entirely a different legal entity," he said.

Vijayan made it clear that the samePricewaterhouse Company was entrusted with the auditing of the AgustaWestland Helicopter deal during the former Prime Minister's regime.

The Opposition Leader has levelled the allegation but was silent that both the companies are two different legal entities, he said.

The e-mobility is a policy framed by the Left government and we are committed to implement that, Vijayan said.

The Chief Minister said the state government aims to introduce at least 10 lakh electric vehicles by 2022 and the policy was formulated as per the opinion ofMadras-IIT professor Ashok Junjunwal.

The Congress leader had launched an attack on decision to award the consultancy of e-mobility project to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) saying no tenders had been issued by the government before hiring the London headquartered company for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project.

"This was a gross violation of existing norms and therefore illegal," he had said.
Hemant Kumar Rout By

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is faced with a peculiar workforce shortage. It now has an additional manpower of 5.82 lakh which returned from different states, yet infrastructure developers are struggling to resume operations.

The State Government has allowed movement of workers since last week of April so that ongoing projects are not stuck and labourers do not lose livelihood but shortage of workers at construction sites continue to be a major problem during unlock 1.0 leading to delay and cost escalations.

The supply chain of construction materials though has normalised, insufficient construction workers, painters, plumbers and fabrication workers has severely impacted construction operations across the State.

The reverse migration may have presented an opportunity to infrastructure developers to use the new workforce but many are unwilling to come to workplaces in urban areas in fear of getting infected. Those who are ready to pick up their lives and lilvelihood lack required expertise.

Nearly 70 per cent of construction workers employed in Odisha are from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. Many left for their states prior to the lockdown and the rest went after respective state governments facilitated the process following the Supreme Court directive.

Now, the infrastructure firms are faced with a dual problem. Bhubaneswar has over 500 ongoing projects which have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Managing Director of Z Estates Tapan Mohanty says of 1,000 workers engaged in his Z-1 site prior to lockdown, he is left with less than 100. "Though we brought back around 100 workers, they are in 14-day quarantine as mandated by the administration," he said.

The construction industry is considered as second largest employer after agriculture. Many believed that the migrant returnees could play a big role in supporting the sector. But attempts to employ returnees has not yielded desired result as most lack the expertise.

Despite the influx of migrants, firms like Z Estate are unable to get local workers. "After discussions with the skill development officials, our staff visited several quarantine centres in Banki, Mahanga and Narasinghapur areas. But the outcome is not encouraging as those came forward for work lacked expertise," he added.

President of Association for Odisha Real Estate Developers (Aford) Nishit Ranjan Nanda said several projects are running at least six months behind schedule. "Local workers are not available and many are not willing to remain in quarantine both at the work site and at villages after return. The developers are also apprehensive of action for bringing workers as some apartment projects have already been sealed. We are in a catch-22 situation," Nanda said.

Many developers are willing to match the wage previously earned by the returnees but still do not get adequate number of hands. Testing workers prior to moving them to the sites, fear of infection and subsequent sealing of facilities are other challenges.

Chairman of CREDAI (Odisha chapter) DS Tripathi said the association has approached the Government to allow at least one year extension of projects instead of six month as approved by the Real Estate Regulatory Authority across the country.
By Express News Service

BERHAMPUR: Fear of an unknown disease has gripped the remote villages in Patrapur block after death of two persons in the last 24 hours. As many as 20 others have also been afflicted.

Four days ago, a five-year-old boy of Aliara village in Ankuli got fever. When his condition did not improve, he was taken to Patrapur hospital on Saturday but succumbed.

Similarly, one Banita Patra (44) of Hukuma village in Mandarada fell sick on Saturday but by the time the ambulance arrived, she breathed her last. Two other persons including a kid of Kuruguda village under Buratala panchayat have been showing similar flu-like symptoms.

As residents of villages like Ankuli and Mandarada depend on Patrapur hospital, which is about 10 km away, most of them depend on quacks.

After getting the information, health workers have collected blood samples of 10 persons on Sunday and provided medicines. A medical team will visit the villages soon, said Patrapur hospital sources.
C Shivakumar By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Sixty-three fishermen, including 44 from Tamil Nadu, are still stranded in Iran after they could not board the Indian Navy vessel INS Jalashwa at Bandar Abbas in Iran due to lack of space.

Initially, of the 63 fishermen, 30 were allowed to board the vessel but then the remaining 33 protested by not allowing the vehicle to proceed towards the vessel, said A Selvaraj, a fisherman from Nagercoil district.

Ruing his missed chance, Selvaraj told The New Indian Express from Iran that by the time the issue was defused, they were told the ship was full. "Now we are on our own and have nowhere to go," says Selvaraj urging the state government to intervene and help them to get back home.

The embassy officials have cancelled our visas and we would be termed illegals in the next four to five days as we don't have any valid papers now, says Selvaraj fearing action from the Iranian police.

He said 39 of the fishermen are staying under the custody of their boat owners in Iran as they have no other alternative while the remaining are staying in rooms near the harbour by paying rent.

Stating that embassy officials are deaf to their pleas to make arrangements for them to return home, the stranded fishermen pleaded that the state should intervene through the ministry of external affairs to ensure their return. Embassy officials could not be reached.

These fishermen were part of the 700 fishermen, who had gone to Iran on a contract basis for fishing, and were stranded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They got visas for the United Arab Emirates from their agents. Since the UAE has an agreement over selling fish caught in Iran in Dubai, these fishermen are hired from there on visit visas by Iranian boat owners. They were left in the lurch as the coronavirus spread in Iran.
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By Express News Service

CHENNAI: National general secretary of BJP, Muralidhar Rao, on Sunday praised DMK president MK Stalin for supporting the Union government over the India-China border face-off.

Addressing the BJP cadre during a virtual rally, held to highlight the one-year achievements the Modi government, Muralidhar Rao said: India, along with the world, is passing through one of the most difficult phases we have ever witnessed. However, India under the leadership of Narendra Modi has transcended all differences and is effectively fighting the COVID pandemic.

Appreciating Stalin for supporting the Centre on the border issue, the BJP leader asked why DMK was maintaining friendship with the Congress which always support the enemy country Praising the Tamil Nadu government for its containment measures, the BJP leader said the State administration was effectively containing the spread and providing adequate treatment facilities. The testing in Tamil Nadu is comparatively high in the country and the mortality rate one of the lowest.

Praise for govt

Praising the Tamil Nadu government for its Covid-19 containment measures, Muralidhar Rao said the State administration was effectively containing the spread and providing adequate treatment facilities. The testing in high.
T Muruganandham By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Health Experts Committee which held a two-hour-long discussion with Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami at the Secretariat on Monday did not recommend an extension of lockdown but urged the government to increase the restrictions in areas where the health indicators are not satisfactory.

This is the seventh meeting the committee had with the Chief Minister since March. Dr Sowmya Swaminathan joined the meeting via video conferencing from Geneva.

We did not recommend an extension of the lockdown. Lockdown is a blunt instrument - it is not a solution at all times; it should be enforced when there is a need," said Dr Prabhdeep Kaur, ICMR Scientist-E and Deputy Director, National Institute of Epidemiology.

Dr Kaur further said, "We cannot be under lockdown always. We have to assess the situation of a district or taluk based on the indicators given by the World Health Organisation or the health experts committee. Enforcing lockdown in all areas is not necessary.

She said in the past meetings, the committee had suggested that the number of tests should be increased and the government implemented that. In Chennai, around 10,000 tests per day are being done. That is a good initiative. Similarly, across Tamil Nadu, the number of tests has improved. Nearly 32,000 tests are being done per day, she added.

Although so far the focus was on Chennai, during the last two weeks, there has been an upward trend in the infection in districts like Trichy, Madurai, Vellore and Tiruvannamalai and the doubling time had come down, she said. So, the initiatives enforced in Chennai should be replicated in these districts too.

Pointing out that fever camps had been a successful initiative, she said due to this the trend in Chennai became favourable. This should be replicated in the above districts. In Chennai, due to the lockdown, the doubling time of the infection has increased while transmission has come down. This trend should be sustained. Reducing death and early deduction is our motto, she said.

Asked whether the health experts committee had recommended Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), Dr Kaur said, "There is no need for RAT because RT-PCR is efficient. It is the best. Even if RAT test is negative, we have to conduct RT-PCR test again."
B Satyanarayana Reddy By

Express News Service

KHAMMAM: A 33-year-old tribal man who had been working as an assistant professor in a private engineering college in Hyderabad lost his job on account of the lockdown and has been working as a bike mechanic in Madhira town of Khammam since then.

Vamkudoth Ravinder, a resident of Banjara Colony, completed his BTech in Palvoncha and MTech (Mechanical) from Swarna Bharathi Engineering College in Khammam. After working for one year at a private college in Madhira, he shifted to Hyderabad three-and-a-half years ago and joined as an assistant professor for Rs 24,000 per month. His wife, Bulli, is also a MTech graducate. They have two daughters aged seven and four.

During lockdown, the college management allegedly asked him to leave as they were unable to pay salaries to their employees. Unable to survive in Hyderabad, Ravinder shifted his family to his native place in Madhira in March. His parents, Veeru and Chavali, are daily wage labourers. They have no property or land, except a two-room house in the town.

After returning to his hometown, Ravinder had tried to find a job for many days, but could not succeed. As he had a Mechanical Engineering background, he was eventually able to find a job in a small bike repair workshop and is now earning Rs 200 per day to support his family.

However, his wife is still unable to find a job. Speaking to Express, Ravinder said, "I had dreamed of being a professor for a long time, but the lockdown turned my life upside down." He also said that there was no respect for the teaching profession nowadays as managements had no regard for their concern. He appealed to the government to provide a suitable job for him and his wife.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Days after senior IPS officer and Director of Telangana State Police Academy (TSPA) VK Singh sent his resignation to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Telangana government on Sunday issued orders transferring him from the post and asked him to report to the Director General of Polices office. VV Srinivasa Rao, Chairman of TS Police Recruitment Board, will now take charge as in-charge director of TSPA.

However, Singh refused to receive the copy of the order and returned it to the government. Singh had recently submitted his resignation seeking permission from the government for premature retirement in October. The State is reportedly unhappy as he sent his resignation letter to the MHA without discussing it with the government.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: A private chartered flight carrying 250 people from the United States landed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) during the early hours of June 26. It had picked up passengers belonging to multiple cities from USA.

The flight was a unique one because it was sanctioned not by the government, but by Washington-based entrepreneur Ravi Puli, a Telugu NRI. After Puli became aware that many NRIs in USA were at risk of becoming illegal immigrants by overstaying their Visa due to the lockdown, he took it upon himself to bring them back.

Puli formed a not for profit organisation, US India Solidarity Mission (USISM). Over the next three weeks, he procured clearances from the Indian government, Qatar government and the airport authorities in Hyderabad and Doha and the respective consulates and embassies.

Raj and Surekha, a couple from Hyderabad, both advocates in High Court, said they had come to the US for a visit, and had planned to return to India in March. As the lockdown was announced, they were stranded in USA and all their attempts to return to Hyderabad had failed. In this situation, Ravi Puli and USISM helped them return to India.

It is learnt from the passengers that pregnant women and senior citizens were given free upgrades to business class in the flight. Neharika, a student from New York who was a passenger on the flight, said social distancing norms were followed during the flight.

Another family which were stuck in Mexico said they had had a death in the family, and hence wanted to return to India. They were supposed to take a flight to Chicago to catch the chartered flight, but missed the flight. Then the USISM team sent them to Dallas to take the Qatar Airways flight to India.

Puli thanked the Indian embassy in Washington and Qatar, and the Ministry of External Affairs, Civil Aviation and the governments of India and Telangana for their cooperation in arranging the flight.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea to stay a high court verdict that overturned the conviction of al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh in the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl in 2002.

Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the alleged links between the country's powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda.

On April 2, a two-judge Sindh High Court bench overturned the death sentence of British-born 46-year-old al-Qaeda leader, who was convicted in the abduction and murder of Pearl in 2002.

The court also acquitted his three aides serving life sentences in the case.

The Sindh government and parents of Pearl challenged the high court verdict in the Supreme Court, where a three-member bench led by Justice Mushir Alam heard the case on Monday.

The Sindh government lawyer, Farooq Naek, urged the top court to issue a stay order but the judges refused to grant the stay in the case.

They also observed that the court cannot accept the plea unless some glaring discrepancy was cited in the decision of the high court.

Justice Alam asked as to how the apex court could suspend the SHC's judgment pertaining to the acquittal of three accused persons without solid reasons.

Naek told the court that unless the stay was given, the government would be forced to release the accused who were held for three months under the Maintenance of Public Order regulation.

Two days after the Sindh High Court overturned Sheikh's conviction on April 2, the Sindh government invoked the Maintenance of Public Order to keep the convicts in jail.

Their imprisonment would end on July 2. He told the court the men acquitted by the high court were dangerous terrorists and would cause problems.

The court observed that the provincial government was empowered to extend their detention or even change laws regarding keeping them in custody.

Later, the court adjourned the case and announced that the next hearing would be held in September.

Early this month, the apex court refused to suspend the Sindh High Court judgment.

The US had criticised the Pakistani court for overturning the death sentence of the al-Qaeda leader, terming the verdict an "affront" to the victims of terrorism everywhere.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has mounted pressure on Pakistan by demanding justice for Pearl.

"The United States will not forget Daniel Pearl, Pompeo said in a tweet in early April.

"We continue to honour his legacy as a courageous journalist and demand justice for his brutal murder," he said.

Last month, the US prodded Pakistan by seeking justice for Pearl.

"On the eve of World Press Freedom Day, we honour the legacy of journalist Daniel Pearl.

We appreciate the Govt of Pakistan's 4/22 appeal to reinstate guilty verdicts against Daniel's murderers, now buttressed by the filing of the Pearl family's appeal before the Supreme Court," State for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells tweeted on May 3.

Pearl's murder took place three years after Sheikh, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, was released by India in 1999 and given safe passage to Afghanistan in exchange for the nearly 150 passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814.

He was serving prison term in India for kidnappings of Western tourists in the country.
By PTI

KARACHI: Four heavily armed militants attacked the busy Pakistan Stock Exchange building here with guns and grenades on Monday morning, killing four security guards and a police officer before being shot dead in an exchange of fire, authorities said.

The militants, who arrived in a car, opened indiscriminate fire and lobbed hand grenades at the main gate of the multi-storey building situated in the city's high-security commercial hub as they tried to storm it.

Armed with automatic machine guns, hand grenades and other explosives, they tried to enter into the compound leading to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) building through a parking lot but security forces foiled their attack within the compound itself, Deputy superintendent of police (South), Jamil Ahmed said.

"They lobbed hand grenades and opened fire initially at the compound entrance to force themselves into the compound but one of them was killed immediately and that pushed them back," he said.

The police and Rangers' officials arrived at the scene and killed all the four terrorists near the entrance gates, Sindh Rangers said.

Four security guards and a police sub-inspector were killed in the heavy exchange of fire at the PSX compound on Karachi's I.I.Chundrigar Road, also known as Pakistan's Wall Street, the police said.

Two civilians were also killed in the attack.

Security personnel examine confiscated ammunition from attackers | AP

"Explosives, hand grenades and even food supplies were recovered from the bodies of the gunmen, indicating that they had come with a plan for a long siege at the building," the officer said.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) linked Majeed Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack. It was also behind the Pearl Continental hotel attack in Gwadar last year in which eight people were killed.

A senior official of the Counter-Terrorism Department said that one of the militants was identified as Salman, who hails from the restive Baluchistan province.

DSP Jamil said that none of the terrorists managed to enter the main trading hall or building and that trading did not stop even during the attack.

PSX Managing Director Farrukh Khan said that the number of people in the compound was lower than normal today as many people are still staying home due to the COVID-19.

Sindh's Inspector-General of Police Mushtaq Mahar said that the bodies of the attackers have been taken into custody for investigation and forensics.

"None of them managed to even get close to the main building. All four were killed at the entrance of the compound which leads to the PSX," he said.

Sindh Police surgeon Dr Qarar Ahmed Abbasi confirmed that seven bodies and seven injured, including policemen, have been brought to Karachi's Civil Hospital.

The firing by militants caused panic among the people in the building.

Some of the traders told television news channels that soon after the firing started, they huddled together in their offices and cabins as they were told to remain indoors.

"We were scared about what would happen if these terrorists managed to enter the building", a trader said.

Senior Police official Sharjeel Kharal said that the attackers were armed with automatic weapons and came with a mission to create a hostage situation.

Additional Inspector-General (IG) Sindh Ghulam Nabbi Memon said that the attackers exchanged fire with security guards and two of them were killed.

The other two succeeded in entering the gate but were engaged in the compound of the building and were killed. The building and surrounding areas have been sealed and people were evacuated from the back door.

Strongly condemn the attack on PSX aimed at tarnishing our relentless war on terror. Have instructed the IG & security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are caught alive & their handlers are accorded exemplary punishments. We shall protect Sindh at all costs.  Imran Ismail (@ImranIsmailPTI) June 29, 2020

According to some media reports, the attackers were reportedly wearing clothes usually worn by police officials while they are off-duty.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah condemned the attack and said that it was "akin to an attack on national security and economy".

"Anti-state elements want to take advantage of the virus situation," he said.

Sindh province Governor Imran Ismail condemned the incident.

"Strongly condemn the attack on PSX aimed at tarnishing our relentless war on terror.

Have instructed the IG & security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are caught alive & their handlers are accorded exemplary punishments.

We shall protect Sindh at all costs," he said on Twitter.

The attack happened days after three low-intensity terror attacks were carried out in Karachi, Ghotki and Larkana in Sindh, leaving four people including two Rangers soldiers dead and a dozen injured.

In the last major terror attack in Karachi in November 2018, security forces had foiled an attempt by terrorists to storm the Chinese Consulate building in the nearby Clifton area.
By IANS

Sri Lankan authorities announced that a night curfew which was imposed in the island nation on June 13, would be lifted completely due to the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A nationwide 24-hour curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the virus since March 20 but it was later imposed from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. effective from June 13, reports Xinhua news agency.

Sri Lanka has to date detected over 2,000 positive COVID-19 patients, out of which over 1,600 have recovered.

The government last week said that no public transmission of the virus had been reported since April 30 and the virus was now contained within the quarantine centres only.

Over recent days, Sri Lanka has detected a large number of positive patients among those being repatriated from overseas.

However, these nationals have had no contact with society as they are transported from the airport directly to hospitals or quarantine centres.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: People on six continents already are getting jabs in the arm as the race for a COVID-19 vaccine enters a defining summer, with even bigger studies poised to prove if any shot really works -- and maybe offer a reality check.

Already British and Chinese researchers are chasing the coronavirus beyond their borders, testing potential vaccines in Brazil and the United Arab Emirates because there are too few new infections at home to get clear answers.

The U.S. is set to open the largest trials -- 30,000 people to test a government-created shot starting in July, followed about a month later with another 30,000 expected to test a British one.

Those likely will be divided among Americans and volunteers in other countries such as Brazil or South Africa, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health told The Associated Press.

While he's optimistic, "we've been burned before," Fauci cautioned.

Multiple successes, in multiple parts of the world, are vital.

"This isn't a race of who gets there first. This is, get as many approved, safe and effective vaccines as you possibly can," Fauci said.

Vaccine experts say it's time to set public expectations.

"Many scientists don't expect a coronavirus vaccine to be nearly as protective as the measles shot. If the best COVID-19 vaccine is only 50% effective, "that's still to me a great vaccine," said Dr. Drew Weissman of the University of Pennsylvania.

"We need to start having this conversation now," so people won't be surprised, he added.

And for all the government promises of stockpiling doses in hopes of starting vaccinations by year's end, here's the catch: Even if a shot pans out -- and it's one that your country stockpiled -- only some high-risk people, such as essential workers, go to the front of a very long line.

"Will you and I get vaccinated this year? No way," said Duke University health economist David Ridley.

Vaccines train the body to rapidly recognize and fend off an invading germ.

About 15 experimental COVID-19 vaccines are in various stages of human studies worldwide.

And while there's no guarantee any will pan out, moving three different kinds into final testing offers better odds -- especially since scientists don't yet know just how strong an immune reaction the shots must spark to protect.

Measuring that with the first proven vaccine will "really help us understand for all the other vaccines in development, do they also have a chance?" said Oxford University lead researcher Sarah Gilbert.

Only China is pushing out "inactivated" vaccines, made by growing the new coronavirus and killing it.

Vaccines by Sinovac Biotech and SinoPharm use that old-fashioned technology, which requires high-security labs to produce but is dependable, the way polio shots and some flu vaccines are made.

Most other vaccines in the pipeline target not the whole germ but a key piece -- the spike protein that studs the surface of the coronavirus and helps it invade human cells.

Leading candidates use new technologies that make shots faster to produce but haven't yet been proven in people.

Oxford's method: Genetically engineer a chimpanzee cold virus so it won't spread but can carry the gene for that spike protein into just enough cells to trick the immune system that an infection's brewing.

Another vaccine made by the NIH and Moderna Inc. simply injects a piece of the coronavirus genetic code that instructs the body to produce harmless spike copies that the immune system learns to recognize.

Researchers must test thousands of people not where COVID-19 is surging -- because then it's too late -- but where it's smoldering, Fauci said.

Only if the virus starts spreading through a community several weeks after volunteers receive either a vaccine or a dummy shot -- time enough for the immune system to rev up -- do scientists have the best chance at comparing which group had more illness.

Lacking a crystal ball, the NIH has vaccine testing networks in the U.S., South America and South Africa on standby while finalizing decisions on the summer tests.

"We're going to be doing it in multiple sites with a degree of flexibility" so researchers can rapidly shift as the virus moves, Fauci said.

"Nothing is going to be easy."

"The Oxford shot, with a 10,000-person study underway in England, already encountered that hurdle."

Gilbert told a Parliament committee last week that there's "little chance, frankly" of proving the vaccine's effectiveness in Britain after infections plummeted with the lockdown.

So her team looked abroad.

In addition to the planned U.S.-run study, Brazil last week began a last-stage test of the Oxford shot in 5,000 health workers, the first experimental COVID-19 vaccinations in South America.

In another first, South Africa opened a smaller safety study of the Oxford shot.

With few new infections in China, Sinovac next month will begin final tests in 9,000 Brazilian volunteers.

And SinoPharm just signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates; that study's size isn't clear.
By Associated Press

KABUL: A car bombing and mortar shells fired at a busy market in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province on Monday killed 23 people, including children, a statement from a provincial governors office said.

Both the Taliban and the Afghan military blame each other for the attack in Sangin district. Details of the reported attack could not be independently confirmed as the area, which is under Taliban control, is remote and inaccessible to reporters.

The statement from the office of the governor, Gen. Mohammad Yasin, did not provide further details and there was no claim of responsibility for the attack.

A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yusouf Ahmadi, denied the insurgents were involved in the bombing. The Taliban claimed the military fired mortars into the market while the military said a car bomb and mortar shells fired by the insurgents targeted the civilians.

The army also said there was no military activity in the area on Monday and that two Taliban fighters were also killed when the car bomb detonated at the marketplace. Livestock that the locals were selling on the market, sheep and goats, were also killed.

A statement from the presidential palace said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani strongly condemned the brutal and inhumane act," and stressed that targeting civilians, especially children and adults, is against Islamic and human values.

The government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan once again calls on the Taliban to refrain from war and violence and to accept the will of the Afghan people, which is the end of the war and the start of negotiations," Ghani's statement said.

The United Nations in recent reports and statements has asked both sides in the conflict to be more careful of civilian casualties, saying they are on the increase.

Still, violence has continued unabated in Afghanistan, even though talks between the Taliban and Kabul representatives could start as early next month in July in Doha, Qatar, where the Taliban maintain a political office.

One of the obstacles to the start of the negotiations has been the exchange of prisoners, envisaged under a deal the Taliban signed with the United States at the end of February. That accord  and the Afghan-Taliban talks that were meant to follow  are seen as Afghanistans best chance for peace and an opportunity for U.S. and NATO troops to leave the war-torn country after nearly two decades of fighting.

The Taliban say the Afghan government has so far released 3,500 Taliban prisoners. The US-Taliban deal calls for 5,000 Taliban prisoners to be freed by Kabul. It also said the Taliban should free 1,000 government personnel, including military men, they hold captive.






Members of Minimum Wage Commission attend a meeting at Sejong Government Complex, June 25. Yonhap
By Associated Press

AL-HANABIYA (Yemen): When Issa Nasser was born late last year in a village in northern Yemen, his weight was about 3 kilograms or 6.6 pounds. Now, the 7-month-old infant weighs nearly the same  less than half the average weight for his age  and has wafer-thin skin and emaciated limbs.

Issas condition mirrors what the UN childrens agency warned about last week, that millions of children in war-torn Yemen could be pushed to the brink of starvation as the coronavirus sweeps across the Arab worlds poorest country and as humanitarian agencies suffer from a huge drop in funding.

The baby's father, Ibrahim Nasser, a 51-year-old displaced fisherman now living in the village of al-Hanabiya in the district of Abs in Hajjah province, said the family has spent most of Issa's months-long life so far in a health care centre, some 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from the village. The ill-equipped medical centre services more than 50,000 displaced people in the district.

Four years ago, when fighting between Yemen's Houthi rebels and government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, escalated, Nasser left his home village near the coastal city of Midi, also in Hajjah province, on the border with Saudi Arabia.

Since then, he has been unemployed and depends on aid to feed his family, which became part of more than 3 million people displaced by the war, many pushed to the brink of famine amid stalemated fighting and a coronavirus pandemic that is ripping through the country.

I am a poor person, and my son is in this state," said Nasser. And they tell me he is malnourished, you can see how his condition is."

The health care centre found out about the infant recently through a local charity which provides aid to displaced in the area, said Dr. Ali Hajar, who oversees the malnutrition clinic at the center.

His condition is very, very tragic. He suffers from acute malnutrition. His skin is stretching tightly over his bones, the physician said.

The war, which wrecked the devastated countrys already fragile ability to feed its population, began late in 2014, when Houthi rebels swept down from the mountains and occupied northern Yemen and the capital, Sanaa. The Iran-backed rebels pushed the internationally recognized government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to the south and eventually into exile.

As the rebels pushed farther south, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states, backed by the United States, formed a coalition to take on the Houthis, and intervened in Yemen in 2015, describing their involvement as an effort to stop Iran from gaining sway over the country.

The conflict has killed more than 100,000 people and created the worlds worst humanitarian disaster, with more than 3 million people internally displaced and two-thirds of the population reliant on food assistance for survival.

The situation in Yemen is only expected to get worse as donor countries recently cut back on aid amid the coronavirus pandemic and also due to concerns that the aid might not be reaching its intended recipients in territories controlled by the Houthis.

Some 24 million Yemeni people, which is 80% of the countrys entire population, require some form of assistance or protection, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA. And 75% of UN programs for the country, covering essentially every sector, from food to health care and nutrition, have already shut their doors or reduced operations.

The World Food Program had to cut rations in half and UN -funded health services have been reduced in nearly 200 hospitals nationwide.

Nutrition programs will also be cut, affecting 260,000 severely malnourished children. More than 1 million women and 2 million children need treatment for acute malnutrition, OCHA said earlier this month.

Last week, UNICEF warned that unless $54.5 million are disbursed for health and nutrition aid by the end of August, more than 23,000 children will be at increased risk of dying because of acute malnutrition. It also said that 5 million others under the age of 5 will not have access to vaccines against deadly diseases.

We cannot overstate the scale of this emergency as children, said Sara Beysolow Nyanti, UNICEF representative to Yemen. If we do not receive urgent funding, children will be pushed to the brink of starvation and many will die.

Yemen has officially recorded more than 1,120 cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, including 303 deaths. However, the actual tally is believed to be much higher as testing capabilities are severely limited, and the Houthi rebels have not revealed the number of infections in areas under their control.

I dont have anything to give him," said Nasser, the fisherman, looking in despair at his boy, little Issa, and the child's large, wide-open eyes.
EDITOR: As our local businesses are permitted to open, there has been nothing as devastating as these establishments being forced to close for
Whippany, NJ (07981)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy. High 91F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening. Partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 67F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
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BRIDGEPORT  After a week that saw three homicides and a number of other shootings in the city, the State Police is increasing its presence in the city, a spokesperson told Fox 61 News on Sunday.

Brian Foley, assistant to Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner James Rovella, said Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez had asked Rovella to send troopers into the city. Foley said the goals of troopers were limited to quelling violence.

Were not coming in there as some sort of occupying military force, Foley told Fox 61. Its two troopers on a foot beat, and theyre not there to make arrests.

Foley said the troopers were there for visibilty, saving lives and making the city a safer place. He said the troopers working in the city would not even be there for a full shift.

Troop G is in Bridgeport, Foley told Fox 61. Its literally on the streets of Bridgeport and thats where these troopers are going to come out of.

The patrols started on Sunday. In a clip posted to Twitter by Fox 61 reporter Angelo Bavaro, Foley did not indicate when they would end.

Early last week, police responded to multiple shootings spanning from Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning that resulted in two deaths and a handful of injuries.

The citys seventh homicide took place in the area of Fairfield Avenue and Albion Street shortly after 6 p.m. Monday. Police identified the victim as 18-year-old Eugene Stinson.

The eighth homicide in Bridgeport this year killed 52-year-old Wayne Wollcock on William Street around 10:45 p.m. Monday, police said.

Thursday night saw a quadruple shooting that resulted in the death of 21-year-old Tyler Ballew, who was released from prison just two weeks prior.
WASHINGTON  A woman was rescued from the Steep Rock Preserve after breaking her ankle while hiking Saturday morning.

Fire and EMS were called to help the injured 55-year-old hiker shortly before 11:20 a.m.
By Kang Seung-woo



The government is seeking stronger measures against activist and North Korean defectors groups that have been sending anti-North Korea leaflets across the inter-Korean border, stating that their campaigns are not helping to create peace on the Korean Peninsula.





Park Jung-oh, head of the North Korean defectors' group Keunsaem, speaks to reporters after attending a unification ministry hearing on whether its license will be revoked, at the Inter-Korean Dialogue Office in Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap
DANBURY  A city man was arrested on a warrant Saturday, following a 16-month-long investigation into a child molestation complaint.

Walter Franco-Orellana, 43, has been charged with fourth-degree sexual assault, illegal sexual contact with a child under 13, and risk of injury/impairing the morals of a child.

After receiving a complaint about sexual abuse of a female juvenile in February 2019, Danbury police launched an investigation and identified Franco-Orellana as the suspect.

Franco-Orellana was an acquaintance of the victim, according to police.

Special Victims Unit detectives obtained a warrant for Franco-Orellanas arrest and took him into custody June 27.

Franco-Orellana was released after posting a $10,000 bond and arraigned Monday morning at state Superior Court in Danbury.

Based on the illegal sexual contact charge, the victim was under the age of 13 at the time of the alleged abuse.
The following are arrests the Danbury Police Department reported to have made last week:

A 23-year-old Meadow Street man was charged with evading responsibility, driving under the influence and failure to drive in the proper lane.

A 49-year-old Wilson Place man was charged with evading responsibility and failure to grant right of way.

A 27-year-old homeless woman from Danbury was charged with breach of peace.

A 35-year-old Hoyt Street man was charged with second-degree failure to appear.

A 50-year-old Spring Street woman was charged with assault on a public safety officer and disorderly conduct.

June 22

A 40-year-old Lawncrest Drive man was charged with third-degree criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

A 40-year-old Padanaram Road woman was charged with risk of injury to child, third-degree assault and disorderly conduct.

A 52-year-old George Street woman was charged with second-degree failure to appear.

A 24-year-old Beaver Brook Road man was charged with criminal impersonation.

A 31-year-old Kenosia Avenue man was charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct.

A 32-year-old Westville Avenue man was charged with driving under the influence, failure to drive upon right and operating a motor vehicle in violation of license classification.

June 23

A 20-year-old Dana Road woman was charged with operating an unregistered motor vehicle, improper use of marker, license or registration and failure to drive in the proper lane.

June 24

A 72-year-old Lawrence Avenue woman was charged with third-degree criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

A 24-year-old Mallory Street man was charged with third-degree robbery and sixth-degree larceny.

A 55-year-old homeless man from Danbury was charged with breach of peace.

A 56-year-old Belmont Circle man was charged with driving with a suspended license and making a restricted turn.

A 40-year-old man from New Fairfield was charged with third-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, fourth- and sixth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny, second-degree criminal mischief and conspiracy to commit criminal mischief.

June 25

A 49-year-old Morris Avenue man was charged with failure to obey control signal and driving with a refused, suspended or revoked license or registration.

A 50-year-old Spring Street woman was charged with sixth-degree larceny.

June 26

A 26-year-old Balmforth Avenue man was charged with third-degree burglary, first-degree criminal trespass, third-degree criminal mischief, threatening, disorderly conduct, possession of a controlled substance, interfering with an officer, violation of a criminal protective order and first-degree failure to appear.

A 59-year-old Virginia Avenue man was charged with violation of a protective order.

A 43-year-old man from Newtown was charged with first-degree criminal trespass, violation of a protective order and violation of probation.

June 27

A 43-year-old Irving Place man was charged with fourth-degree sexual assault, illegal sexual contact and risk of injury to a child.

A 29-year-old South Avenue man was charged with third-degree assault, third-degree criminal mischief, interfering with an officer, disorderly conduct and violation of probation.

A 25-year-old man from the New Preston section of Washington was charged with driving under the influence, failure to drive in the proper lane and operating a motor vehicle in violation of license classification.

As of January 2019, Hearst Connecticut Media does not include n ames in online police blotters.
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Columnist

Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich).
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Lawsuit filed on behalf of nine Ohio dance studios is the fourth suit filed in Lake County over the state's COVID-19 orders.




The Army was to make a decision Monday on whether to reinstate a former noncommissioned officer forced to leave the military following sex reassignment surgery, officials said.







Byun Hee-soo, 22, filed the petition with the Army Headquarters, in February, after a military committee ruled the previous month, based on a medical examination, that the staff sergeant is unable to continue to serve.







Byun underwent the transition surgery late last year in Thailand and has expressed a desire to keep serving in the military as a female soldier.







"The petition review session will take place later in the day, and a seven-member panel is expected to make a judgment today," an Army officer said.







Byun earlier said if the petition is rejected, she will bring her case to court, according to the Military Human Rights Center.







Byun was the first South Korean active-duty officer to have sex reassignment surgery while in service. Currently, no specific regulations exist on how to handle cases of soldiers who have sex reassignment operations while in service.







Under South Korea's conscription system, all able-bodied men must carry out compulsory service for about two years in a country that faces North Korea across a heavily fortified border. Those who change their gender are automatically exempted from this service.







Noncommissioned officers are volunteers, and the country has no rules prohibiting transgender people from entering the military. But chances are high such individuals would be eliminated through a physical exam, according to officers.







South Korea has no transgender soldiers, and the decision on the unprecedented case is expected to have an effect on the overall rights of transgender South Koreans. (Yonhap)


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Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare multisystem inflammatory condition that affects children & adolescents. It is associated with exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and illness with COVID-19. It is similar to Kawasaki disease.

Image Credit: Bernard Chantal/Shutterstock.com

What is MIS-C?

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare systemic inflammatory disease that affects children & adolescents and is linked to COVID-19.

In the UK and Europe, the condition is referred to as pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS), whereas in the US it is referred to as MIS-C.

MIS-C/PIMS-TS is very similar to Kawasaki disease. Kawasaki disease is a rare disease that affects children under the age of 5 primarily and is characterized by a fever that can last around 5 days alongside a bodily rash, swollen glands, red fingers & toes, and red eyes. It is not transmissible between individuals.

MIS-C/PIMS-TS also shares clinical and pathological features with other pediatric inflammatory syndromes that are non-Kawasaki.

MIS-C/PIMS-TS tends to affect a very small population of children and adolescents between the ages of 0 and 21 years of age, whereas Kawasaki disease affects children around the age of 4-5 years. A recent study in the US suggested MIS-C was most likely to occur in children aged 6 to 12.

What are the symptoms and features of MIS-C?

The symptoms of MIS-C/PIMS-TS match many features of Kawasaki disease, but also symptoms of other pediatric inflammatory conditions including toxic shock syndrome, septic shock, and macrophage activation syndrome.

A healthcare professional should be contacted if a child shows symptoms of MIS-C. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these include:

Abdominal pain

Fever

Diarrhea

Vomiting

Rash

Neck pain

Feeling extra tired

Bloodshot eyes

Different symptoms will be shown by different children.

The CDC advises that if symptoms any of the following severe symptoms are shown, emergency care should be sought straight away:

New confusion

Trouble breathing

Pain in the chest that does not go away

Severe abdominal pain

Gray, pale or blue lips, face or nails, depending on skin

Symptoms may present alongside COVID-19 or may develop a few weeks after an initial COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, hence the name temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (TS). For a diagnosis to be made, evidence of COVID-19 by PCR/antigen test is made. In some cases, there may not be any positive tests for SARS-CoV-2, but it may be associated with close contact with COVID-19 patients.

The clinical & pathological features of MIS-C/PIMS-TS can include:

Elevates serum markers of inflammation e.g. CRP, ESR

High levels of fibrinogen, D-dimers (coagulopathy), troponin and ferritin

No underlying microbial cause of inflammation e.g. bacterial sepsis

Cytokine storm with high serum IL-6 levels

Multisystem involvement (>2 organs) e.g. cardiac, renal, respiratory, hematological, gastrointestinal, dermatological or neurological

Cardiac involvement with features of macrophage activation syndrome  abnormal ECG and CT scans (coronary artery dilatation)

Leukopenia  reduced number of leukocytes (white blood cells)

A study published in February 2021, aimed at defining the differences between COVID-19 and MIS-C, found distinct patterns of clinical presentation and organ involvement including extreme inflammation and cardiovascular problems in MIS-C patients.

In some affected children, recovery is spontaneous if the condition is not too severe. However, if the condition is moderate-severe and includes features of toxic shock syndrome, severe hypotension, and coronary arterial aneurysm development, then emergency admission to a pediatric intensive care unit is urgently required.

Furthermore, the highest prevalence of MIS-C/PIMS-TS seems to be in those with Afro-Caribbean descent, as well as those with African American, Caribbean, and Hispanic ancestry. Data on a wider population is needed to contextualize these trends. Limited cases have been reported in many Asian countries which have experienced a COVID-19 epidemic.

However, Kawasaki disease is more prevalent in Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea. Socioeconomic and environmental factors and the way countries have dealt with COVID-19 also need to be considered to evaluate prevalence amongst certain demographics.

What causes MIS-C?

MIS-C/PIMS-TS was first reported in the UK, Italy, and France, and cases were reported during a high prevalence of the COVID-19 epidemic. Thus, scientists and clinicians initially thought it was associated with the presence of SARS-CoV-2. MIS-C/PIMS-TS is associated with a recent or current positive SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection.

Much like Kawasaki disease, the exact cause of the disease is still unknown  though it is thought to be an autoimmune/autoinflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Most affected children will have IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (~90% in one study) or have had a positive PCR test. The risk to children overall is very low, even with a positive COVID-19 result.

Some scientists have suggested that a cytokine storm may be critical in the development of MIS-C/PIMS-TS. Coronaviruses are known to inhibit type I and III interferons  thus suggesting why MIS-C/PIMS-TS develops in a delayed manner post-SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Those with an abnormally high initial viral load may be more susceptible to developing a cytokine storm. Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 also infects gastrointestinal epithelia, and the condition may be due to mesenteric lymph node inflammation.

In most cases, MIS-C/PIMS-TS occurs weeks after a SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) and is thought to be a delayed post-viral immunological reaction in those with a potential genetic predisposition to such.

A diagnosis will usually be made by taking blood tests to look at serum levels of inflammatory markers, as well as cardiac ultrasounds (ECHO), chest X-rays, and testing for a positive SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Although most cases have a recent or current positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG test or positive PCR test associated, there may be some rare cases not associated with any positive SARS-CoV-2 result. In such cases where clinical symptoms appear, all other forms of microbial infection must be excluded.

It is important to note that we are still learning about MIS-C/PIMS-TS and how COVID-19 leads to the condition, and the exact cause of the condition is still unknown. Over time with more cases and research, the exact biological mechanisms may become more apparent and pave way for more robust therapeutic options.

Image Credit: Kjpargeter/Shutterstock.com

How is MIS-C Treated?

Treatment strategies currently depend on the clinical presentation and severity of the disease; however, many will undergo intravenous immunoglobulin therapy and/or the administration of corticosteroids. Doing so resulted in a clinically favorable outcome in all patients in one French study (published in the British Medical Journal).

Many children will need to be admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit to undergo stronger therapy; however, discharge rates are very high. Those that also develop shock syndrome may need fluid resuscitation and vasoactive agents due to sustained hypotensive shock.

For those with cardiac dysfunction (myocarditis), inotropic agents may be given. Individuals with the most severe respiratory symptoms may need mechanical ventilation or oxygen therapy and tend to have higher systemic inflammation markers than those not needing ventilation.

Summary

In summary, MIS-C (PIMS-TS) is a rare multisystem inflammatory condition that affects children and adolescents aged 0 to 21 years who have tested positive for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 infection).

Clinical features are similar to Kawasaki disease, but children also exhibit other symptoms related to other pediatric inflammatory syndromes. In some cases, spontaneous recovery can be made, but in others with more severe symptoms, hospital admission is required to combat the inflammation and cardiac complications that may occur.

Much about MIS-C is still unknown, and many organizations and government bodies are undertaking research into the disease to improve information and communication about dealing with it.

"PICU COVID-19 International Collaborative - Epidemiology and Treatment of MIS-C" Play

References

CDC.gov, 2020. MIS-C. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/children/mis-c.html

Cheung et al, 2020. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Related to COVID-19 in Previously Healthy Children and Adolescents in New York City. JAMA: e2010374. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32511676/

Feldstein et al, 2021. Characteristics and Outcomes of US Children and Adolescents With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) Compared With Severe Acute COVID-19. JAMA. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2777026

Lee et al, 2020. Race/Ethnicity Among Children With COVID-19Associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome. JAMA Netw Open. 3(11):e2030280. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2773289

Toubiana et al, 2020. Kawasaki-like Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Paris, France: Prospective Observational Study. BMJ. 369:m2094 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32493739/

Whittaker et al, 2020. Clinical Characteristics of 58 Children With a Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Temporally Associated With SARS-CoV-2. JAMA. e2010369 (epub ahead of print) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32511692/

WHO.int, 2020. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and Adolescents with COVID-19. https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/multisystem-inflammatory-syndrome-in-children-and-adolescents-with-covid-19

Further Reading
A new study published in June 2020 on the preprint server bioRxiv* discusses the use of phylogenetic analysis to trace the origin of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and its spread into and then within Canada. The study findings may help optimize public health policies in the case of future outbreaks.

The Coronaviruses

Over the last two decades, there have been three novel coronaviruses that have caused human outbreaks  the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2002, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) in 2012, and SARS-CoV-2 in 2019. These are zoonotic infections, probably having originated from bats and spread to humans, perhaps after passaging through another vertebrate host.

SARS-CoV-2 is a spherical particle with a single-stranded RNA genome, which has several regions  the genes encoding the replicase ORF1ab, spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins, respectively, from the 5 end. The S protein facilitates viral entry by binding to the host receptor, the angiotensin binding enzyme 2 (ACE2), and has the highest variability among the genetic sequence, and is common to both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV. Still, the former has a much higher affinity for binding to the receptor, about 10-20 times greater.

SARS-CoV-2 viruses binding to ACE-2 receptors on a human cell, the initial stage of COVID-19 infection. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock

Abundance of Genomic Data on SARS-CoV-2

Currently, there are many published genome sequences in various published databases - almost 54,000 in GISAID, about 24,000 in NCBI, and almost 8,000 in ViPR. Three major virus clades are observed that show non-uniform distribution over different geographical regions, probably because of founder mutations. Most Asian isolates are from superclade I, while US isolates are mostly in superclade II. Most European and US East Coast isolates are in superclade III.

Among the isolates of superclade III are many with a characteristic A23403G mutation, which is considered to confer increased viral fitness, perhaps since it is rapidly becoming predominant over other strains all around the world. It is also part of an antigenic epitope that induced antibody production to the earlier SARS-CoV virus. This may cause antibody escape and thus allow reinfection in those who have recovered from COVID-19.

The Study: Phylogenetic Analysis of the Virus in Eastern Ontario

The current study used 25 sequenced viral genomes from the earliest cases in Ontario, Canada, to recreate the phylogenetic descent of SARS-CoV-2. All the samples were from the earliest cases in this region, and therefore the source of infection was thought to be from travel-related contacts, directly or indirectly.

The genomes were all from viruses isolated from nasopharyngeal swabs, and the genome analysis was performed based on two main assumptions. First, they assumed that identical sequences were from the same ancestral strain, rather than evolving independently. Secondly, new mutations were assumed to arise at a rate of about 1 base pair every 7-21 days, as observed with the mean rate of about 24 bp substitutions per year in the GISAIDs Nexstrain analysis.

The individual genomes were queried against a local reference set of approximately 25,000 genomes retrieved from the GISAID database. They retained those genomes, which were remarkably similar, with two or fewer mismatches, thus narrowing down the number to about 1,200. When identical genomes from different subjects were matched, the final number came down to 72 unique sequences.

The root sequence was added, using a Wuhan sequence. The analysis showed that 59/72 sequences had the same common ancestry, with not more than a couple of substituted amino acids or other residues. Removing these different groups allowed the researchers to see only the genomes from the patients and valuable ancestral sequences.

Three Major Clades, Different Origins

The study showed that 25/45 variants found in all the genomes were in the form of substitutions of cysteine to thymine, and then guanine to thymine in 7 variants. All the shared variants were present on both alleles. The researchers found that there were two large clades, two with four mutations in the S clade (C8782T and T28144C) and 23 (C241T, C3037T, C14408T, and A23403G) with four mutations in the G clade. The latter has smaller clusters.

Phylogenetic analysis of the local genomes was then matched with the reference sequences, which showed the 13 ancestral genomes that underlie the origins and the spread of these Canadian genomes. This includes the ancestral genome seen with reference 1, and now seen almost only in North America, mostly in the USA.

Another set of samples belongs to cluster 1 of the G-clade, mostly in Europe, and particularly in the UK and Spain. Patients with these strains have a history of European travel, which confirms this trail.

Several other samples from G-clade cluster 2 are from a few ancestral sequences found mostly in North America, and here too, the travel history supports the American origin of the infection in these cases. There were four clusters of samples, within G-clade cluster 2, which have the same genome, and were probably infected from the same source.

Nextstrain phylogenetic tree of local cases of SARS-CoV-2 and the most similar ancestral sequences in the GISAID database. Sample 23 in the S-clade appears derived from ancestral sequences 1 which predominately includes sequences from North America (USA). Samples 1,10, and 12 in the G-clade 1 is derived from ancestral sequence 68 and others which predominately appear European (UK, Spain, Portugal) in origin. The other 19 samples in the G-clade 2 is derived from ancestral sequence 72 and others which appear predominantly North American (USA) in origin.

The S protein of SARS-CoV-2 is considered to limit the host range and is also the immunodominant antigen. The current analysis succeeded in finding three unique and new mutations in the S region, all of which are synonymous and will, therefore, conserve both virulence and epitopes. They also found another site with a missense variant, C25217T, with glycine to cysteine substitution, but its effect is still to be understood.

There were five heterozygous variants, four found only in one sample, and one shared between two samples.

Overall, the researchers noted, These correlations between phylogenetic origin and reported travel history indicates how viral genome sequencing can successfully trace the origin of SARS-CoV-2 infections into Canada. The samples that showed identical sequences might have been either from a common source of infection or because of community transfer. The latter is likely because these patients have no recorded history of travel outside Canada but had contact with each other.

Puzzling Facts from Phylogenetic Analysis

There are other samples with the same sequence but where there is no known connection between the individuals. It is important to find the trace among all these patients so as to identify the major routes of transmission.

Other puzzles are also present, such as identical samples from two patients of which one was positive five days earlier. Still, the other sample had a history of US travel, and they have no known connection! This may mean that the later sample was not due to US travel after all.

Implications

Despite the limitations of the study, such as the lack of data on asymptomatic carriers, and the discrepancies in data collection which lead to incomplete travel and contact histories, it remains the earliest discussion of viral genomes related to COVID-19 from this part of Canada, including many of the earliest cases there.

The study raises questions as to the adequacy of the traditional explanations of infection, such as contact with travelers from foreign places with a higher burden of infection, or self-travel. While this may be true, the study suggests that community transfer may have already been occurring early in the reported course of the outbreak.

The study concludes, These results demonstrate how molecular epidemiology and evolutionary phylogenetics can help local health units to track origins and vectors of spread for emerging diseases like SARS-CoV-2. Earlier detection and screening and alternative modes for contact tracing may improve the effectiveness of regional public health interventions to prevent future pandemics.

*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.
A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in June 2020 shows that the proportion of A/T pairing in viral genomes may increase the tendency to infect humans because of the matching molecular features in some host genes, that increases the susceptibility of the host to the virus.

The COVID-19 outbreak that began in Wuhan, China, has now spread all over the world, infecting over 10 million people and causing over 500,000 deaths. The biology and spread of the virus have been under intensive scientific scrutiny since then, given the urgent need to arrest the propagation of the virus with an effective vaccine or antiviral.

Human-Virus Matching

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the coronavirus (CoV) family that is found in many host species. The earlier severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus was studied to understand the route of spread and the potential animal reservoirs for such pathogens.

By the start of 2007, scientists had come to the view that bats harbored many novel viruses capable of crossing species barriers to infect human beings as well, but also many viruses closely related to the SARS-CoV. These viruses were known to be highly variable, which accounted for the greater risk they pose to humans and other domestic animals when compared to other viruses

The risk for zoonotic transmission increases the risk for such disease to emerge when there is frequent trade in wildlife globally. The underlying assumption is that if a virus is capable of replicating in multiple hosts, it adapts in a trade-off between precise and functional matching so that it can fit the wide range of tRNA molecules in different hosts. On the other hand, a single host will require specialized viral genes.

Venn diagram representing the number of human genes that clustered together with viral genes for SARS-CoV-2 (NC_045512), SARS (NC_004718) and MERS (NC_038294) based on the molecular features.B). Diseases frequencies associated to human genes grouped with viral genes of SARS-CoV-2, SARS and MERS in the clustering analysis.

The Study: Identifying SARS-CoV-2-Human Molecular Matching

The current study by two researchers at the University of Buenos Aires aims to identify those viral molecular patterns and preferred codons, which reflect the host cell machinery and are, therefore, the preferred viral gene structure for optimal virus viability and human susceptibility. Scientists have suggested that codon pair bias and dinucleotide preferences are the primary factors that reflect the hosts codon usage, as has been proved with virus attenuation studies by codon pair deoptimization.

The scientists had the twin objectives of uncovering the molecular and adaptive nature of the three major human CoVs as well as to find out the host cell factors that selected for viral codons. Secondly, they tried to identify those viral genes that are essential for replication and the human genes required for the same process. This will help decide if population variability in genetic content models the gene features and helps develop host susceptibility.

The researchers looked at about 500 genome sequences downloaded from NCBI, including SARS, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2, classified by the host. Using only reference genomes, the quality was assessed, and the representative viruses were selected for further analysis.

The researchers then selected 463 highly expressed genes in the lung tissue of human hosts, with at least one-fold difference between their expression level here and in the tissue with the next highly-expressed level.

Codon Usage Bias Analysis

They performed codon usage bias (CUB) analysis using the total GC content of the CDS as well as that of the first, second, and third codon positions, denoted by P1, P2, and P3 respectively. They also calculated the codon indices such as relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU), the effective number of codons (ENc), codon adaptation index (CAI), codon bias index (CBI), the optimal frequency of codons (Fop), General Average Hydropathicity (GRAVY), aromaticity (Aromo), and GC-content at the first, second and third codon positions (GC1, GC2, and GC3), frequency of either a G or C at the third codon position of synonymous codons (GC3s), the average of GC1 and GC2 (GC12) and Translational selection (TrS2).

Using these, they were able to evaluate the degree to which specific codons were present (codon bias) for individual genes and for highly expressed genes, the frequency with which particular codons were expressed in a gene, the codon bias for different species, and the efficiency of codon-anticodon interaction. This allowed the determination of codon pair score (CPS) in coding sequences  the natural logarithm of the ratio of the observed over the expected number of occurrences of a particular codon pair in all protein-coding sequences of a species.

Meanwhile, the codon pair bias was used to find the CPS among the virus and host genes. In other words, the number of times a codon pair is expected to occur is a measure of the number of times it would occur without any association between the codons in the pair. A positive and negative CPS value shows that a particular codon pair is over- and underrepresented in the sequence of interest.

Thus, the CPS was calculated for each of the over 3,720 possible pairs of codons (61 x 61 codons). The Enc values were plotted against the GC3 values to show how G + C mutations affected the relationship between them, in contrast to the effect of selection pressure. Clustering methods were used to identify the groups of genes from the similarities in codon usage among human and virus genes.

The principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to find the most prominent factors that cause variation among the genes. Finally, they carried out a phylogenetic analysis on the DNA genome sequences of all the viruses to draw a phylogenetic tree.

Based on the fact that the human CoVs have CUB closely fitting the highly expressed proteins in the infected host tissue, the researchers examined gene molecules from SARS-CoV-2 and MERS as well as human genes. They found that in total, the mean Enc was similar among all the genes, viral and human, with only one unit of difference between the original non-human host and the virus.

Human SARS-CoV-2 Matches The analysis also showed that the human SARS-CoV-2 was different from that of bats and pangolins in the distribution of certain specific genes, depending mostly on the A/T content in P3.

The distribution of viral genes that are important to viral fitness, such as the M protein and the E protein, shared the tendency towards an A/T bias and showed a different distribution from that of non-human viruses. The CUB was higher for these genes compared to human MERS and SARS, though this contradicts the trade-off theory. An alternative explanation would be the effect of selection pressure that favors virus replication in a novel host, or by the recent jumping of the virus across species boundaries.

Implications of Matching Human-Viral Genes

The study thus suggests that virus replication in humans is easier with the clustering of the E protein with human genes that show molecular matching, which makes virion assembly and immunomodulation easier. This is supported by the positive CPB and a higher CPS correlation for the E protein-human gene clustering.

Similar patterns are seen with other genes like ORF6 and ORF8. A high CPB is seen with the N protein, ORF1ab, and the S protein. Changes in the GC3 position lead to synonymous substitutions and, in turn, optimization of codons in human cells, using the host cell machinery to translate only those genes that match the viral requirement at the molecular level.

Moreover, this could lead to a downregulation of human genes in the lung tissue, as has been reported to result from the imbalanced or wrongly modified tRNA expression. This, in turn, causes uncontrolled or abnormal protein synthesis, producing disease. This could also explain some effects of viral infection that are not because of direct viral injury.

The study concludes: In our studies, we provided a list of human genes that could be particularly affected as a consequence of their molecular similarities with viral genes, not only belonging to SARS-CoV-2 but also SARS and MERS. The malfunction of these genes has been associated with different human pathologies and is in continuous increase.

This could help to develop new preventives as well as to understand how human genes affect the probability of and the effects of COVID-19.

*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.
From Corcoran and Avenal state prisons in the arid Central Valley to historical San Quentin on the San Francisco Bay, California prisons have emerged as raging COVID-19 hot spots, even as the state annually spends more on inmate health care than other big states spend on their entire prison systems.

The new state budget taking effect July 1 authorizes $13.1 billion for California's 34 prisons, housing 114,000 inmates, more than three times what any other state spends. That sum includes $3.6 billion for medical and dental services and mental health care  roughly what Texas spends to run its entire 140,000-inmate prison system.

And, yet, despite the extraordinary dedication of resources, California prison officials are struggling to contain the COVID outbreaks, let alone prevent them. On March 25, there was just one confirmed COVID-19 case among California's inmates. Three months later, more than 4,600 inmates have contracted the disease, an infection rate of about 40 per 1,000 inmates and rising  more than seven times higher than the infection rate for the state's population as a whole. Twenty-one inmates have died. More than 730 staffers have tested positive, and two have died.

Prison systems in several other states are seeing worse outbreaks. In Ohio, at least 84 inmates have died. In Michigan prisons, 68 inmates have died. In Texas, at least 79. But given what it spends on prison health care, and its history, California might have seen the scourge coming.

Prisoner rights attorneys in California for years have waged high-profile court challenges alleging inadequate health care delivery behind bars. As a result of their efforts, federal judges in San Francisco and Sacramento oversee the state's prison health care system. A special office, known as the California Correctional Health Care Services, has a staff of 57 to monitor the delivery of care.

"Every year, there is a major outbreak," said San Francisco attorney Michael Bien, who for 30 years has wrangled with the state over conditions for inmates diagnosed with varying levels of mental illness. Hepatitis, HIV and other communicable diseases are common in prisons. "Prisons are like nursing homes," Bien said. "They're very dangerous for infectious diseases."

In 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded that California's prisons were so crowded and the physical and mental health care so deficient that conditions amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. In response, California cut its prison population and now houses 114,000 inmates, down from a peak of 173,000 in 2006. Many health experts believe the prison system is still too crowded to keep the novel coronavirus from spreading.

The California Institution for Men in Chino, in the suburbs east of Los Angeles, was the first California lockup struck. It reports more than 890 cases involving inmates and 16 deaths. In an effort to contain the virus at the Chino prison, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) on May 30 transferred 121 inmates considered especially vulnerable to infection 444 miles north to California's oldest prison, San Quentin, just north of San Francisco.

Assembly member Marc Levine, a Democrat whose Marin County district includes San Quentin, said some Chino prisoners initially were housed on the upper tier of a San Quentin cellblock, called the Badger Unit. That allowed their droplets to descend on inmates below.

"Everything was preventable. Everything," Levine said.

In a statement, CDCR spokesperson Dana Simas said inmates from Chino who had tested positive upon arrival at San Quentin "were not exposed to the general population" of the prison.

However the virus arrived, more than 830 San Quentin inmates since have tested positive. Chino inmates also were transferred to Corcoran State Prison, south of Fresno. Now, 155 Corcoran prisoners have the virus. In Lassen County, officials are blaming the transfer of prisoners from San Quentin to the California Correctional Center in Susanville for an outbreak that has infected 211 inmates in the past two weeks.

Corrections officials say they now routinely distribute cloth masks to inmates and workers throughout the prison system, providing hand sanitizer in common areas, and have increased attention to disinfecting surfaces. Prisons are screening and taking the temperatures of staffers who enter the prisons.

"We have taken unprecedented steps to address the COVID-19 pandemic in all state prisons, including the cessation of visiting, volunteers, and group programs; developing comprehensive prevention and treatment protocols," Simas said in a statement.

California's prisons were built to contain felons, not the coronavirus. Each of the state's 34 prisons house 2,000 to 5,000 inmates. Many live in dorms, sleeping in double bunks and sharing showers and dining halls. Others live two to a 60- to 80-square-foot cell.

Earlier this year, to create more space, the state sped the release of 3,500 inmates who had less than six months to serve on their sentences. Starting July 1, the state once more will start speeding the release of prisoners who have six months or less left on their sentences, with caveats: They cannot have been convicted of violent or serious felonies, domestic violence or sex crimes.

They also must have plans for housing. That's important for officials grappling with California's other epidemic: homelessness.

It's not clear whether COVID-related releases from state prisons have amplified the state's homeless crisis. But El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson, vice president of the California District Attorneys Association, predicts it's a matter of time.

"Were going to exacerbate an already bad situation," Pierson said. "The numbers that will become homeless will be high. The supervision will be less and less. The likelihood of reoffending will likely go up."

In Sacramento, Mayor Darrell Steinberg, co-chair of Newsom's homelessness task force, said that since the start of the pandemic the capital city has moved 800 people from the streets into hotels, a hopeful sign.

But that gain has been more than offset because fewer people are in county jails. To limit the spread of the coronavirus in county lockups, jailers statewide have reduced the number of total inmates from 72,000 to 51,000, the California Board of State and Community Corrections reports.

In part because of those releases, homeless encampments along the Sacramento River have "grown and grown in a very significant way," Steinberg said. Similar spikes in homelessness are occurring across the state.

Releasing people, "if they do not present a real risk," is not the problem, Steinberg said. "The problem is releasing them without any connection with housing and the support necessary for them to be successful."

CDCR's response to the pandemic will come under scrutiny in a July 1 oversight hearing to be convened by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, a Berkeley Democrat who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Safety.

"What are the biggest congregate facilities in the state? Prisons," Skinner said. "They are exactly the type of facility no one wants to be in a pandemic."

California's efforts to stem the outbreaks matter beyond the prison gates, several experts noted. Prison workers go home at the end of their shifts. Inmates too sick to be cared for in prison infirmaries are sent to community hospitals. Ultimately, prison health and public health are inextricably intertwined.
The Human Brain Project (HBP) announces the start of its final phase as an EU-funded FET Flagship. The European Commission has signed a grant agreement to fund the HBP with 150 million Euros from now until 2023. Over the next three years, the project will narrow its focus to advance three core scientific areas - brain networks, their role in consciousness, and artificial neural nets - while expanding its innovative EBRAINS infrastructure. EBRAINS offers the most comprehensive atlas and database on the human brain, directly coupled with powerful computing and simulation tools, to research communities around neuroscience, medicine and technology. Currently transitioning into a sustainable infrastructure, EBRAINS will remain available to the scientific community, as a lasting contribution of the HBP to global scientific progress.

Supercomputers, Big Data Analytics, Simulation, Robots and AI have all become new additions to the "toolbox" of modern neuroscience - a development strongly pushed forward by the HBP and its EBRAINS infrastructure.

Started in 2013 as a FET Flagship project, the HBP is the largest brain science project in Europe. Now entering the final phase of its ten-year lifespan, the project is proud to present its scientific workplan and transformative technological offerings for brain research and brain-inspired research and development.

HBP's scientific activities in the new phase focus on three topics: networks that are studied across different spatial and temporal scales, their significance for consciousness and disorders of consciousness, and the development of artificial neural networks and neurorobotics.

These topics will be developed hand in hand with the EBRAINS research infrastructure. Likewise, a growing community of external users and partnering projects, researchers working on a range of neuroscientific questions increasingly benefit from the diverse methods that are seamlessly integrated in EBRAINS.

"We will make the infrastructure more efficient, attractive and user-friendly", says HBP Scientific Research Director Prof. Katrin Amunts. Researchers and engineers are working closely together on this, 'co-designing' technical solutions that fit the science needs perfectly. This creates a win-win situation for both communities, Amunts says.

Following this approach, research into the functioning of the human brain and its diseases flowed into constructing novel digital tools for a data-driven, interdisciplinary and collaborative approach. "We needed a broad spectrum of neuroscientific fields to do justice to the complexity of the brain, and permanent coordination with the engineers and developers to be able to handle the enormous amounts of data involved, bridging the scales of brain organization from the molecular level to the whole organ." Much has been achieved in this way, reflected in over 1200 scientific publications to date and a rapidly growing number of users and partners.

EBRAINS today already provides researchers with a wide spectrum of unique services, resources and technologies, for example, a multi-level human brain atlas, which is navigable in 3D, linked to a growing neuroscientific data base, as well as access to a federated system of most powerful European supercomputers, and brain-inspired "neuromorphic" computers pushing simulation and deep learning analytics to new horizons.

An increasing number of applications are built one these new technologies. A method for personalized modelling of patient brains is currently undergoing clinical trials, the first of its kind. The EBRAINS "Medical Informatics Platform" has been installed in 30 European clinics, enabling to run analysis of patient data, without the highly sensitive information having to leave the hospital. It is expected that this technology will have an impact for future studies of rare diseases.

To help the HBP achieve its goals on both the scientific and infrastructure side, the consortium will be further opened during the new phase. New talent will be brought in through a series of Calls for Expression of Interest.

Putting EBRAINS on the European map

On the institutional side, decisive steps are being taken to ensure the infrastructure reaches its operational maturity after the end of the HBP. In 2019, the EBRAINS AISBL, an international non-profit association under Belgian law, was founded in Brussels with the objective of promoting and supporting brain research. In the coming months, the EBRAINS AISBL will take over the role of the coordinator of the HBP from the Swiss Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne (EPFL).

An experienced expert on EU research issues from within the European Commission was recruited as founding CEO of EBRAINS and new Director General of the Human Brain Project: Pawel Swieboda joined in May 2020 from his post as Deputy Director and Head of Research at the European Political Strategy Centre, the advisory hub to the Commission President.

EBRAINS is a state-of-the-art digital infrastructure that will be instrumental to secure Europe's place globally in the dynamically growing field of multidisciplinary brain research, with powerful implications for AI, neurorobotics and medicine." Pawel Swieboda

For the European Research landscape, the HBP has helped to establish a focal point connecting the distributed expertise and resources across the EU: From Germany, for example, world-leading groups come from human brain atlasing, neuromorphic computers, simulation and high-performance computing. France contributes to the project its special expertise in personalized brain models of patients and neuroimaging, Belgium expertise in clinical neuroscience, Norway and Greece in data management, Switzerland in nerve cell simulation, and the Netherlands in linking neurotechnology and cognitive science.

"All these groups are working together through the HBP and EBRAINS, creating outcomes together that would have been unthinkable on their own," says Swieboda.

A key objective for the next three years will be to further integrate EBRAINS into the European and global research landscape and to implement new projects with external scientific users. Partnerships with the European Brain Council (EBC) and the project European Research Area for Neurosciences (EBRA), which foster cooperation and convergence between the various activities in Europe, will contribute to this goal. "In this concept, EBRAINS provides the technical platform to facilitate cross-national cooperation and enable faster progress for the benefit of society," says Katrin Amunts.
Trailing Democratic challenger Mark Kelly in one of the country's most hotly contested Senate races, Arizona Sen. Martha McSally is seeking to tie herself to an issue with across-the-aisle appeal: insurance protections for people with preexisting health conditions.

"Of course I will always protect those with preexisting conditions. Always," the Republican said in a TV ad released June 22.

The ad comes in response to criticisms by Kelly, who has highlighted McSally's votes to undo the Affordable Care Act. That, he argued, would leave Americans with medical conditions vulnerable to higher-priced insurance.

The Arizona Senate race has attracted national attention and is considered a toss-up, though Kelly is leading in many polls. McSally's attempt to present herself as a supporter of protecting people with preexisting conditions  a major component of the 2010 health law  is part of a larger pattern in which vulnerable Republican incumbents stake out positions advocating for this protection while also maintaining the GOP's strong stance against the ACA.

McSally, who was appointed by the governor to take over John McCain's Senate seat in 2019, used similar messaging in her failed 2018 bid for the state's other Senate position. And President Donald Trump echoed the declaration at a June 23 rally in Phoenix, saying McSally  along with the rest of the Republican Party  "will always protect people with preexisting conditions."

With that in mind, we decided to take a closer look. We contacted McSally's campaign, which cited her support of a different piece of legislation, the Protect Act. But independent experts told us that legislation doesn't satisfy the standard she sets out.

Past and present

Only one national law makes sure people with preexisting medical conditions don't face discrimination or higher prices from insurers. It's the Affordable Care Act.

Both as a member of the House of Representatives and as a senator, McSally has supported efforts to undo the health law  voting in 2015 to repeal it and in 2017 to replace it with the Republican-backed American Health Care Act, which would have permitted insurers to charge higher premiums for people with complicated medical histories.

"Anyone who voted for that bill was voting to take away the ACA's preexisting condition protections," said Jonathan Oberlander, a health policy professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. "Sen. McSally is trying to erase history for electoral purposes."

Especially as COVID-19 cases climb, health care  and, in particular, the ACA  has emerged as a flashpoint in the Arizona election, said Dr. Daniel Derksen, a professor of public health, medicine and nursing at the University of Arizona.

"Martha McSally has in her actions, in her votes, been pretty consistent about cutting back benefits and trying to repeal the ACA without any clear plan in mind that would protect people who gained insurance through the ACA," Derksen added. "Her words on preexisting condition protections don't align with any votes I've seen."

McSally's campaign argued that the ACA is just one strategy, and a flawed one at that. Dylan Lefler, her campaign manager, instead pointed to her support of the Republican-backed Protect Act as evidence to back up her promise. Specifically, it ostensibly bans insurance plans from "impos[ing] any preexisting condition exclusion with respect to  coverage," per the bill text.

The problem, though, is that simply banning that exclusion isn't enough, because the law also has to make sure the health insurance plans that cover preexisting conditions remain affordable. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), does nothing to provide subsidies or cost-sharing mechanisms  meaning people both with and without preexisting conditions wouldn't necessarily be able to afford those plans. Without that framework, the act remains a "meaningless promise," argued Linda Blumberg, a fellow at the Urban Institute, a social policy think tank.

And it has other holes: for instance, permitting insurers to charge women more than men.

"No six-page bill is ever the way of achieving something," said Thomas Miller, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. "This is a check-the-box effort to try to say, 'We're [moving] in that direction.'"

It's not just legislation. There's also Texas v. Azar, a pending case in which a group of Republican attorneys general are arguing the Supreme Court should strike the entire health law, including its preexisting condition protections. The Trump administration has sided with the Republican states.

McSally has consistently declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying she doesn't want to weigh in on "a judicial proceeding." In reporting this fact check, we asked where she stood on the case. The campaign didn't specifically answer but pointed to her general disapproval of the ACA. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have called on the administration to reverse its stance.

That context makes McSally's silence especially relevant, said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at Georgetown University.

"When given the opportunity, she has declined to oppose this lawsuit, which would essentially eliminate the protections that exist," Corlette said.

So  big picture? McSally's record in Washington hasn't been one of preserving or building on preexisting condition protections.

Our ruling

In her new TV ad, McSally claims she will "always protect those with preexisting conditions."

But nothing in her voting record, which tracks closely with the Republican repeal-and-replace philosophy, supports this claim. And she has continually declined opportunities to oppose a pending legal threat to the ACA, including its provisions related to preexisting conditions, by a group of GOP governors and supported by the Trump administration.

Meanwhile, the legislation her campaign cited to justify her stance falls short in terms of meaningfully protecting Americans with preexisting medical conditions.

McSally has not in the past or present taken actions that back up her statement. We rate it False.
A new polymeric heart valve with a life span potentially longer than current artificial valves that would also prevent the need for the millions of patients with diseased heart valves to require life-long blood thinning tablets has been developed by scientists at the universities of Bristol and Cambridge. The team's latest in-vitro results, published in Biomaterials Science, suggest that the PoliValve could last for up to 25 years.

More than 1.3 million patients with diseased heart valves need valve replacement therapy globally each year. There are two artificial valves currently available for this; both have limitations either in durability or in biocompatibility. Biological valves are made from fixed pig or cow tissue and have good biocompatibility, meaning patients do not need life-long blood-thinning tablets. However, they only last ten to 15 years before failing. While mechanical valves have very good durability, they have poor biocompatibility and patients must take daily blood-thinning drugs to prevent life-threatening complications due to blood clots.

Professor Geoff Moggridge, Head of the Structured Materials Group at Cambridge's Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology and Professor Raimondo Ascione, NHS Adult Cardiac Surgeon and Head of the Translational Biomedical Research Centre (TBRC) at the University of Bristol have spent three years conducting developmental work and extra-vivo and in-vivo testing on the new PoliValve.

The PoliValve, created by Professor Moggridge, Dr Marta Serrani and Dr Joanna Stasiak at Cambridge and Professor Ascione in Bristol, and building on earlier work with Professor Costantino's group, is made from a special co-polymer and is designed to resemble the flexibility, biocompatibility and durability of a natural heart valve.

The device combines excellent durability with biocompatibility, addressing the limitations of current biological and mechanical artificial valves. It is made through a simple molding process; hence it also reduces markedly manufacture and quality control costs.

These impressive results show the PoliValve is a promising alternative for valve replacement surgery. While further testing is needed, we think it could make a major difference to the hundreds of thousands of patients who get valve replacement surgery every year." Professor Geoff Moggridge, Head of the Structured Materials Group, Cambridge's Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology

Initial testing in animal has been undertaken at Bristol's TBRC facility as a first mandatory in-vivo testing step to ensure safety. Long-term in-vivo testing is already planned and funded as a necessary additional step before bringing this new treatment to patients.

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Patients requiring an artificial heart valve are often faced with the dilemma of choosing between a metallic or tissue valve replacement.

"A metallic valve is long lasting but requires the patient to take lifelong blood thinning drugs. Although this medication prevents clots forming on the valve, it also increases the risk of serious bleeding.

"Patients who have a tissue valve replacement usually don't need to take this medication. However, the valve is less durable and means the patient may face further surgery.

"The polymer valve combines the benefits of both - it is durable and would not require the need for blood-thinning drugs. While further testing is needed before this valve can be used in patients, this is a promising development, and the BHF is pleased to have supported this research."

According to the ISO standards a new artificial heart valve must withstand a minimum of 200 million repetitions of opening and closing during bench testing (equivalent to five-year of life span) to be tested in humans. The new Cambridge-Bristol polymeric valve has comfortably surpassed this.

The PoliValve has also exceeded the requirements of ISO standards for hydrodynamic testing, showing a functional performance in-vitro comparable to the best-in-class biological valve currently available on the market. The small feasibility pilot study in-vivo in three sheep at one to 24 hours after surgery has demonstrated the valve is easy to stitch in, no mechanical failure, no trans-valvular regurgitation, low trans-valvular gradients, and good biocompatibility at histopathology.

Professor Ascione added: "The transformational PoliValve results from an advanced Bristol/Cambridge-based biomedical cross-fertilization between experts in biomaterials, computational modeling, advanced preclinical development/testing and clinical academics understanding the patient needs. The new valve could help millions of people worldwide and we aim to test in patients within the next five years."

The British Heart Foundation-funded study includes a team of co-authors comprising Dr James Taylor from the Whittle Laboratory, a team at Newcastle University headed by Professor Zaman, Professor Saadeh Sulaiman at the University of Bristol and Professor Costantino's group at Politecnico di Milano.
Clinician scientists at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have begun a clinical trial of a promising therapy for critically ill COVID-19 patients in intensive care.

In a paper published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the team, led by RCSI Professors Gerry McElvaney and Ger Curley, describe changes in the body's normal inflammatory response in patients infected with COVID-19, in particular among those who require admission to intensive care.

The team has begun a randomised double blind placebo controlled clinical trial of alpha-1-antitrypsin to treat critically ill patients mechanically ventilated in ICU with COVID-19 associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Alpha-1-antitrypsin is a naturally occurring human protein produced by the liver and released into the bloodstream which normally acts to protect the lungs from the destructive actions of common illnesses.

As of late June, more than 9.5 million laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been documented globally, with over 490,000 deaths. These numbers continue to grow substantially. In Beaumont Hospital, we have had over 500 patients admitted to the hospital, and nearly 50 patients requiring admission to intensive care. The current management of severe COVID-19 remains supportive, focusing on supplemental oxygen and ventilator support in the event of acute respiratory failure. Despite the implications for global health, the inflammatory characteristics of patients with COVID-19 are not yet fully understood. A greater understanding of how the body's inflammatory mechanisms are impacted upon by COVID-19 could open the door to several potential therapies including antiviral medications and targeted immune-modulators such as alpha-1-antitrypsin." Prof. Gerry McElvaney, Professor of Medicine, RCSI

Prof. Ger Curley, RCSI Professor of Anaesthesia and Critical Care and Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care in Beaumont Hospital explained that "we know from in-hospital studies that many COVID-19 patients in ICU develop severe inflammation throughout the body with a disproportionately high rate of progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, shock and heart arrhythmia."

In a collaboration between the Departments of Medicine and Critical Care and Anaesthesia, a team of clinician scientists led by Prof. McElvaney and Prof. Curley sought to ascertain the type of inflammation affecting the COVID-19 patient in ICU, and to determine whether there was a relationship between this type of inflammation and the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation.

The study showed that a number of highly inflamed proteins were all increased in infected patients compared to healthy controls. There was also a difference in the profiles of patients in ICU and those who were infected but stable.

Prof. Curley explained, however, that the most unanticipated differentiating factor between patients with stable and severe disease was not the degree of increase in inflammatory proteins, but rather the relative decrease in levels of an anti-inflammatory protein which indicates that the patients' anti-inflammatory mechanisms were failing.

"This finding suggests to us that a therapy which augments the body's own inflammation resolving mechanisms might have a positive impact. Alpha-1 protects the airway from damage during acute pulmonary infection. It is also a potent anti-inflammatory and acts to protect the immune system. Of particular relevance to COVID-19, it has been shown to modulate the production and activity of several key pro-inflammatory proteins", explained Prof. Curley.

"We are confident that this clinical trial will demonstrate the potential for Alpha-1 to improve the outcomes for patients with the most severe COVID-19 induced respiratory difficulties."

This is the first Investigational Medicine Product trial to be approved in Ireland to test a therapy to treat COVID19. The trial is being sponsored by RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and is coordinated by the RCSI Clinical Research Centre. Beaumont Hospital is the first site to recruit patients and other sites in Ireland will also participate. This investigator initiated study benefited from generous support from Grifols, a Barcelona-based multinational healthcare company and a leading global producer of plasma-derived medicines, which provided access to the alpha1-proteinase inhibitor study drug.
Retired Sgt. Maj. Gilberto Diaz Velasco of Colombia joins  online  the opening ceremony of his photo exhibition at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, June 26. / Korea Times photo by Yi Whan-woo



Photos taken by then-S. American teen soldier being showcased at War Memorial of Korea website



By Yi Whan-woo



An online photo exhibition showcasing life during the Korean War through a Colombian soldier's perspective is running until the end of December to mark the 70th anniversary of outbreak of the war.



Hosted by the Colombian Embassy in Seoul, "The Korean War through the eyes of a Colombian veteran" can be seen on the War Memorial of Korea website.



The exhibition features 152 photos, mostly color, taken by retired Sgt. Maj. Gilberto Diaz Velasco during his 14-month service in Korea from June 1952. He was 18 years old when he arrived.



Fifty other photos provided by several other Colombian vets are also being showcased.



The exhibition is divided into six themes  "Heading for Korea," "Straight to the line," "Everyday on the frontline," "In front," "Back to Colombia" and "Colombia veterans' present"  that mainly show everyday life in camps and bunkers.



The images offer a glimpse into how more than 5,100 Colombian soldiers from an infantry battalion and a navy frigate served under a demanding environment.





Colombian infantry pose in front of their barracks.





Two Colombian soldiers deployed to the Korean War stand outside in winter 1952.





Three Colombian soldiers in Korea sit among the flowers in spring 1953. / Courtesy of Embassy of Colombia



"It was the first time I had experienced four seasons in my life," Diaz, 86, recalled when he joined the opening ceremony, June 26, at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, online from back home.



"It was especially tough and challenging to endure the winter, because we don't have those kinds of temperatures in Colombia."



The only South American country to send combat forces, Colombia was one of 63 nations that participated in the U.N. coalition.



The war left 140 Colombians killed, 71 missing and 609 wounded.



The Colombian battalion was assigned to the U.S. Army's 24th Infantry Division. Its key engagements were Battle in Advancing to Geumseong (October 1951), Battle of Kimhwa Hill 400 (June 1952), Battle of Hill 180 (March 1953) and Battle of Old Baldy (March 1953).



A survivor of the fierce Battle of Old Baldy at the height of the conflict in the border area of Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, Diaz recalled losing one of his closest friends then.





Colombian Ambassador Juan Carlos Caiza, fourth from right, pays tribute to Colombian soldiers who fought in the Korean War, during a ceremony at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, June 26, to mark the 70th anniversary of the war. The participating dignitaries are, from right, War Memorial of Korea Director General Lee Sang-chul, Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Park Sam-duck, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, Carlos, and U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris. / Korea Times photo by Yi Whan-woo
Staring at a deep red light for three minutes a day can significantly improve declining eyesight, finds a new UCL-led study, the first of its kind in humans.

Scientists believe the discovery, published in the Journals of Gerontology, could signal the dawn of new affordable home-based eye therapies, helping the millions of people globally with naturally declining vision.

Image Credit: Miroslava Hlavacova / Shutterstock

In the UK there are currently around 12 million people aged over 65: in 50 years this will increase to around 20 million and all will have some degree of visual decline because of retinal ageing.

Lead author, Professor Glen Jeffery (UCL Institute of Ophthalmology) said: "As you age your visual system declines significantly, particularly once over 40.

"Your retinal sensitivity and your colour vision are both gradually undermined, and with an ageing population, this is an increasingly important issue. "To try to stem or reverse this decline, we sought to reboot the retina's ageing cells with short bursts of longwave light."

In humans, around 40 years-old, cells in the eye's retina begin to age, and the pace of this ageing is caused, in part, when the cell's mitochondria, whose role is to produce energy (known as ATP) and boost cell function, also start to decline.

Mitochondrial density is greatest in the retina's photoreceptor cells, which have high energy demands. As a result, the retina ages faster than other organs, with a 70% ATP reduction over life, causing a significant decline in photoreceptor function as they lack the energy to perform their normal role.

Researchers built on their previous findings in mice, bumblebees and fruit flies, which all found significant improvements in the function of the retina's photoreceptors when their eyes were exposed to 670 nanometres (long wavelength) deep red light.

Mitochondria have specific light absorbance characteristics influencing their performance: longer wavelengths spanning 650 to 1000nm are absorbed and improve mitochondrial performance to increase energy production." Glen Jeffery, Study Lead Author and Professor, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London

The retina's photoreceptor population is formed of cones, which mediate colour vision and rods, which provide peripheral vision and adapt vision in low/dim light.

For the study, 24 people (12 male, 12 female), aged between 28 and 72, who had no ocular disease, were recruited. All participants' eyes were tested for the sensitivity of their rods and cones at the start of the study.

Rod sensitivity was measured in dark-adapted eyes (with pupils dilated) by asking participants to detect dim light signals in the dark, and cone function was tested by subjects identifying coloured letters that had very low contrast and appeared increasingly blurred, a process called colour contrast.

All participants were then given a small LED torch to take home and were asked to look into* its deep red 670nm light beam for three minutes a day for two weeks. They were then re-tested for their rod and cone sensitivity

Results

Researchers found the 670nm light had no impact in younger individuals, but in those around 40 years and over, significant improvements were obtained.

Cone colour contrast sensitivity (the ability to detect colours) improved by up to 20% in some people aged around 40 and over. Improvements were more significant in the blue part of the colour spectrum that is more vulnerable in ageing.

Rod sensitivity (the ability to see in low light) also improved significantly in those aged around 40 and over, though less than colour contrast.

Professor Jeffery said: "Our study shows that it is possible to significantly improve vision that has declined in aged individuals using simple brief exposures to light wavelengths that recharge the energy system that has declined in the retina cells, rather like re-charging a battery.

"The technology is simple and very safe, using a deep red light of a specific wavelength, that is absorbed by mitochondria in the retina that supply energy for cellular function. "Our devices cost about 12 to make, so the technology is highly accessible to members of the public."
In a decision certain to roil the fall elections, a Supreme Court with a majority of anti-abortion justices Monday refused to use its first opportunity to roll back abortion rights. In a 5-4 ruling, the justices said a Louisiana law requiring doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital is an unconstitutional burden on a woman's right.

The decision in June Medical Services v. Russo effectively upholds a case from just four years ago. In 2016, in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, a 5-3 majority struck down portions of a controversial Texas law, including not only the admitting privileges requirement, but also a requirement for abortion clinics to meet the same standards as surgical centers that perform more advanced procedures.

The deciding vote was cast by Chief Justice John Roberts, who voted in the past case to uphold the Texas law. In a concurring opinion, he said his vote here was based on the court's unwritten rules about precedent.

"The legal doctrine of stare decisis requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike," Roberts wrote. "The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore Louisiana's law cannot stand under our precedents."

Had the law been upheld, it would likely have resulted in the closure of two of the three remaining abortion clinics in the state, the plaintiffs argued before the court in March. Justices had numerous questions about how doctors at each of the clinics tried and failed to obtain the required privileges. That was not because the doctors were not qualified, but because most hospitals do not extend privileges to doctors who do not admit patients, and outpatient abortions rarely result in hospital admissions.

The decision is likely to touch off a major backlash by conservatives who had hoped to see progress rolling back abortion rights since Anthony Kennedy  who often sided with the court's liberals to uphold abortion rights  retired and was replaced by Brett Kavanaugh.

As usual, abortion is likely to be a galvanizing issue in the fall presidential and congressional campaigns.

Conservative and anti-abortion groups wasted no time venting their fury, particularly at Roberts. "Today, the Supreme Court betrayed the rule of law and the dignity of the bench," said a statement from Heritage Action for America. "This is the latest in a series of judicial power grabs from the Chief Justice and the liberal wing of the court."

Supporters of abortion rights worried that if the Louisiana law were upheld, the case would open the door to other states that want to restrict abortion without outright banning it. According to the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks reproductive health legislation, 15 states either already have admitting privileges laws on the books, or would have been likely to enact them because they have anti-abortion governors and legislative majorities.

Still, abortion rights at the high court are far from secured. As of June 1, 11 states have passed laws that would ban abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy, according to Guttmacher. Tennessee joined that group just days ago. Several of those laws are in the pipeline heading for the high court.

"Unfortunately, the Court's ruling today will not stop those hell-bent on banning abortion," said a statement from Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which argued the case before the court. "We will be back in court tomorrow and will continue to fight state by state, law by law to protect our constitutional right to abortion."

The court also declined to rule on a technicality that could have had far-reaching implications. Louisiana had asked the court to rule that abortion providers lacked standing to sue on behalf of women seeking abortions. Doctors and clinics have been filing suits on behalf of their patients since at least the 1980s and the Supreme Court has always allowed it. And those doctors, of course, are in some ways more directly affected by the law because the penalties for violation accrue to them, not their patients.

The court, however, did not accept that argument either.

Wrote Justice Stephen Breyer in the majority opinion, "We have long permitted abortion providers to invoke the rights of their actual or potential patients in challenges to abortion-related regulations."
The number 001/500 model of the Ducati Superleggera V4 has been officially delivered to its new owner, the Belgian Ducatista Filip Van Schil, who already possesses nine other Ducati bikes.

"When I received the call and the official invitation to come to Borgo Panigale to collect my Superleggera V4, the number 001 of 500, although I have always been a Ducatista, my legs trembled with emotion," said Filip Van Schil. "A welcome like this, even though I was the first to call and order the bike, is something unimaginable. Receiving it directly in the company and touching the passion of the people who work in Borgo Panigale is an experience that I will always remember. Days like this are what make Ducati unique and different from all the other motorcycle manufacturers."

It was Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, who unveiled the Superleggera V4 001, and then handed it over to its new owner. The ceremony took place inside the Centro Stile Ducati.

The Superleggera V4 is the only motorcycle in the world, approved for road use, with the entire load-bearing structure of the chassis (frame, subframe, swingarm and rims), made of composite material, obtaining, for these components only, a weight saving of 6.7 kg compared to those of the Panigale V4 MY20. To ensure the highest quality and safety standards, these components are 100% controlled by the most sophisticated techniques borrowed from the aerospace industry, such as thermography, ultrasound checks, and tomography.

The specific set-up of the chassis gives an unparalleled deceleration capacity, an extraordinary speed of descent when cornering and a marked tendency of the bike to close the trajectories when exiting corners.

Many components are made of carbon fibre, modelled in advanced aerodynamic shapes. Thanks to the aerodynamic biplane appendages inspired by Ducatis 2016 MotoGP bike, the most highly-performing in this field, it is able to guarantee a vertical load of 50 kg of "downforce" at 270 km/h, 20 kg more than that produced by the wings of the Panigale V4 MY20 and V4R.

The carbon fairings are embellished with a livery inspired by the Desmosedici GP19, with an alternation of lines and depths between the red colour of the GP19 and the visible carbon that highlight the shapes, the materials and the technical details. The red continues on the coloured sides of the OEM Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tyres, specifically developed in the construction for the Superleggera V4.

Also Watch:

The most powerful and lightest Desmosedici Stradale R engine is hidden under the carbon skin. The 998 cc 90 V4 unit of the Superleggera V4 weighs 2.8 kg less than the 1,103 cc V4 and, thanks to the Akrapovic approved exhaust, produces 224 hp of power in road configuration (EU homologation value), which becomes 234 hp by mounting the titanium Akrapovic exhaust for track use, which is included in the Racing Kit supplied with the bike.

The racing connotation of the engine is emphasized by the use of a dry clutch and by the timing of the Desmodromic system made manually by a specialist who, after checking, confirms the positive result by affixing his signature on the metal plate that embellishes the carbon cover of the rear cylinder bank.
Huawei, together with Thailand National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Communication (NBTC) and Siriraj Hospital, initiated on Thursday Unmanned Vehicle Pilot Project Driving Thai Healthcare to 5G Era to pioneer the use of an unmanned vehicle for the first time in smart hospital in this ASEAN country.

The self-driving delivery vehicle takes advantage of 5G technology from Huawei to bring about a contactless delivery solution of medical supplies.

Such technology can replace manpower in logistics services as it can operate in complex environments. The 5G technology integration will then be progressively applied in the national health system for Smart Hospital transformation in the near future.

The NBTC has been utilizing 5G technology with remote medical services by connecting with Community Health Promotion Hospital and large local hospitals in piloting remote treatment of four diseases  such as eye diseases, skin diseases, blood pressure abnormalities and diabetes. Moreover, the remote medical care has also expanded to local prisons, namely Khao Bin Central Prison and Ratchaburi Central Prison in Ratchaburi province, to give easier medical access to people and prisoners in remote areas. The ongoing projects by the NBTC aim to drive greater benefits of 5G innovation into different aspects of life across the country, said Takorn Tantasith, Secretary-General of the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.

Thailand has the advantages of the successful 5G auction and of being one of the 5G leaders in ASEAN. The NBTC recognizes the competitive advantages and promotes the integration of 5G technology in different sectors to close the digital divide in the country. This is to get Thailand ready for digital transformation in driving our daily life, work and manufacturing forward, added the Secretary-General of the NBTC.

After the first test trial in Siriraj Hospital, the oldest and largest hospital in Thailand at the frontline of the fight against COVID-19, the NBTC will evaluate the benefits and efficiency of the 5G-enable unmanned vehicle before maximizing results from this pilot project to leverage the unmanned vehicle in different uses, as well as in other hospitals.

Also Watch:

Prof. Prasit Watanapa, Dean of Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, said, As a result of COVID-19 situation, the safety of patients and medical workers must be prioritized, including effective use of resources. Siriraj Hospital places importance on taking full advantage of digital technology in order to holistically increase the efficiency of medical services and operations. The pilot project of 5G unmanned vehicle will enhance the central logistics system within the hospital. At the initial stage, it will be used to transport and distribute medicines for contactless delivery which will help reduce workload and infection risks of frontline workers. This is another important step to improve the quality of healthcare services for long-term development and sustainability.
Workers at six Amazon sites in Germany will go on strike on Monday in protest over safety after some staff at logistics centres tested positive for coronavirus, labour union Verdi said.

Verdi said on Sunday that the strike would last at least 48 hours, under the motto 'Good and healthy work', to denounce what it called a lack of transparency by the U.S. retail giant after workers tested positive for COVID-19.

"We have information that at least 30 to 40 colleagues were infected," said Verdi representative Orhan Akman.

Amazon has faced a long-running battle with unions in Germany over better pay and conditions for logistics workers, who have staged frequent strikes since 2013.

Verdi said the strikes will hit Amazon sites in Leipzig, Bad Hersfeld, Rheinberg, Werne and Koblenz. It said Amazon was putting profit ahead of the safety of its workers.

Amazon rejected the accusations in a statement and said that as of June it had invested $4 billion on measures to protect its global workforce and clients from the risk of COVID-19 infections.

In Germany, its biggest market after the United States, Amazon has since February ordered 470 million hand disinfection bottles, 21 million pairs of gloves, 19 million masks and other face protection gear and 39 million boxes of disinfectant wipes, a spokesman for Amazon in Germany said.
The surge in equity markets is not linked to economic recovery and may be a sign of irrational exuberance, economists at SBI said on Monday, pitching for a second round of fiscal support to help the impacted sectors.

They also warned that banks will start reporting higher non-performing assets (NPAs) after September, once the six-month moratorium on loan repayment ends.

The markets shed over a fifth of their value in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and have recouped some of the losses in the last few weeks. Interestingly, the gains happened even as the chorus of a contraction in GDP started among the analysts, wherein some expect a negative growth of up to 5 per cent in 2020-21.

"There is a weak linkage between buoyant markets and economic recovery and the phenomenon largely reflects irrational exuberance," the economists wrote in a note, attributing the same to easy liquidity made available by RBI.

"Beautiful markets do not signify a beautiful economy," they said.

They also seemed to suggest that India cannot rely a lot on agriculture to boost the overall GDP growth, pointing out that even if the farm sector's historically best performance of 15.6 per cent growth in 1951-52 were to be considered, a similar performance can only help the GDP growth by 2 percentage points.

"We must think of a second round of fiscal support at least for the beleaguered sectors," the note said.

It can be noted that the government has already announced a Rs 20 lakh crore package, but the actual fiscal expenditure will be just a tenth of the package.

The note said deposits in bank accounts are fast outpacing borrowings at present, and added that a large part of Indian population depends on interest from deposits because of the lack of a social security base in the country.

There is an interesting shift in possible consumer behaviour during lockdown that could have wider positive ramifications for the India banking system, it said, adding that transactions per credit or debit cards have declined and it is also possible that the purchases have shifted to daily essentials from luxury items.

Per card transactions have declined from as high as Rs 12,000 to Rs 3,600 in the case of credit cards and Rs 1,000 to Rs 350 in the case of debit cards, it said.

"Now the question is how much of this consumer deleveraging in April is because of lockdown/lack of business and how much is because of consumers actually maintaining a discipline in consumer behaviour," it said, adding that this will influence the volumes of NPAs for banks going forward.

It also noted that households have started to use the gold for borrowings lately, and the percentage of secured loans for banks may go up as a result of this trend.
The Indian government has banned a total of 59 Chinese apps including popular apps TikTok, Shein, Camscanner, UC Browser etc.

The ban comes in the backdrop of India's stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh with Chinese troops.

The IT Ministry said it has invoked its power under section 69A of the IT Act and rules and has decided to block 59 apps in view of the information available that they are "engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order".

While the ban on 59 apps came as a shocker to the Indian users, it was the ban on TikTok that seemed to have shattered millions of the app users in the country.

TikTok is a Chinese video-sharing social networking service, which is owned by ByteDance, a Beijing-based internet technology company that founded in 2012 by Zhang Yiming.

According to Global Web Index, as of June 2019, it was estimated that there were 120 million monthly TikTok users in India.

As soon as the announcement was made, netizens wasted no time to take to Twitter to express their opinions in this regard through a strong meme game.

And if you're sad about the ban of any of these apps, we would suggest, roll back and enjoy the meme fest!

Right now in Bharat#TikTok stars vs non TikTok users pic.twitter.com/GIT25do5sK  Vertigo_Warrior (@VertigoWarrior) June 29, 2020

Our Soldiers Sacrifices Cant be measured in any terms..  These Apps Ban are nothing but a Good and Well deserve move to Protect Us From Data Security Related Threats.. Thats it !! #TikTok#DigitalAirStrike   Aanvinder Singh  (@aanvindersingh) June 29, 2020

After the ban of 59 Chinese app by Government of India chinese be like-#DigitalStrike #TikTok pic.twitter.com/Fq0etDTfru   (@S1rajput4) June 29, 2020

#TikTok Aftet listening government ban 59 Chinese App including tik tok Le me to government pic.twitter.com/0ZhQBTXc83   (@o_sahil2) June 29, 2020

1. Saddest person of the day 2. Happiest person of the day#TikTokban #TikTok pic.twitter.com/KA1kin1vvq  Rahul Mohanty (@RahulMo81925673) June 29, 2020

Government bans #TikTok Pic 1 : CarryMinati and others. Pic 2: Tiktok users and fans. pic.twitter.com/Du9cqdU5cy           (@theesmaarkhan) June 29, 2020

People complaining #TikTok is still available on Appstore and Playstore Me to Them: pic.twitter.com/DLtexMt8dk  Upasana Yadav (@Upasanayadav84) June 29, 2020

*#TikTok banned in India* Meanwhile, Tiktok to Popular Creators: pic.twitter.com/rkZfDq8yVu  Ankit Singh Rajput (@AnkitRajput9725) June 29, 2020

Indian Govt Banned 59 Chinese Apps Right Now #TikTok Addicts  pic.twitter.com/UiAEXb0Nkg  Roopesh Raveendra (@RoopeshKadakkal) June 29, 2020

The list of apps that have been banned included prominent names like TikTok (which has over 200 million users in India), SHAREit, WeChat, UC Browser, Helo, Likee and Cam Scanner, among others.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs, has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these malicious apps, the statement said, adding that there has been a strong chorus in the public space to take strict action against apps that harm India's sovereignty as well as the privacy of citizens. Likewise, there have been similar bipartisan concerns, flagged by various public representatives, both outside and inside Parliament.

"On the basis of these and upon receiving recent credible inputs that such apps pose threat to sovereignty and integrity of India, the Government of India has decided to disallow the usage of certain apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet enabled devices," it added.

The full list of banned apps is as follows:

TikTok, Shareit, Kwai, UC Browser, Baidu map, Shein, Clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browser, Virus Cleaner, APUS Browser, ROMWE, Club Factory, Newsdog, Beauty Plus, WeChat, UC News, QQ Mail, Weibo, Xender, QQ Music, QQ Newsfeed, Bigo Live, SelfieCity, Mail Master, Parallel Space, Mi Video Call  Xiaomi, WeSync, ES File Explorer, Viva Video  QU Video Inc, Meitu, Vigo Video, New Video Status, DU Recorder, Vault- Hide, Cache Cleaner DU App studio, DU Cleaner, DU Browser, Hago Play With New Friends, Cam Scanner, Clean Master  Cheetah Mobile, Wonder Camera, Photo Wonder, QQ Player, We Meet, Sweet Selfie, Baidu Translate, Vmate, QQ International, QQ Security Center, QQ Launcher, U Video, V fly Status Video, Mobile Legends, DU Privacy.
Electricity bills in Maharashtra have shocked everyone as people allege that they have been charged exorbitantly for the month of June. Actress Taapsee Pannu also said that she has received bill of Rs 36,000, while she had received bill of Rs 3-4,000 for the first two months of lockdown. Other celebrities like Neha Dhupia, Vir Das and Renuka Shahane too complained about the inflated bills.

Three months of lockdown and I wonder what appliance(s) I have newly used or bought in the apartment only last month to have such an insane rise in my electricity bill. @Adani_Elec_Mum what kind of power are you charging us for? Taapsee wrote in a tweet.

3 months of lockdown and I wonder what appliance(s) I have newly used or bought in the apartment only last month to have such an insane rise in my electricity bill. @Adani_Elec_Mum what kind of POWER r u charging us for? pic.twitter.com/jZMMoxDMgj  taapsee pannu (@taapsee) June 28, 2020

Several people took to social media to complain about the inflated electricity bills.

How can pay middle class man this month #electricitybill ??? This type ?? pic.twitter.com/m9ewqReZwF  Technical Satyam JBN (@Satyam__Roy) June 29, 2020

However, the fun Twitter channeled its humour and started a meme fest out of the unbelievable electricity bills. Take a look:

When i see my #electricitybill pic.twitter.com/xPALDBwANO  Khane me kya hai (@kshitiz_ajmera) June 29, 2020

#electricitybill in Punjab, especially in summer goes above 15K And govt be like... #electricitybill pic.twitter.com/MnmiLGCM2f  Astha  (@ashuasthaak) June 29, 2020

When your parents are blaming you for the spike of 8000Rs in #electricitybill for charging your phone throughout the day pic.twitter.com/baDJG23dEH  byehoe_baeno (@byehoe_baeno) June 29, 2020

Reaction of common people after switching off all the lights & fans due to high rate of #electricitybill pic.twitter.com/Vs35lvpGnN  BPS (@im_bps7) June 29, 2020
With several shooting projects being shelved due amid rising coronavirus cases and subsequent social distancing norms in place, many small-time actors are facing the brunt. In the absence of work, many of them have been compelled to sell fruits, do odd jobs or seek help via social media.

One such actor is Solanki Diwakar, who started selling fruits to meet the needs of his family. Diwakar has shared screen with Ayushmann Khurrana and Anuu Kapoor in the film Dream Girl. The actor would have continued to act in small roles in Mumbai, which included a movie with late star Rishi Kapoor that got scrapped, had the lockdown not been imposed.

Speaking to ANI, Diwakar said, If the lockdown and coronavirus would not have not happened, I would have been in Mumbai doing some small roles in movies.

Daily soap Sasural Simar Ka actor Ashiesh Roy is also in a very bad shape due to the daily dialysis he needs. The lockdown has made it difficult for help to reach him. The actor even sought help on social media. Now, he has his hopes on Salman Khan, who is known for his philanthropic works.

Actress Dolly Bindra tweeted the plight of another actor Javed Hydar. He has acted in films like Baabarr (2009), Aamir Khan and Rani Mukherji starrer Ghulam (1998) and Life Ki Aisi Ki Taisi (2017).

Dolly shared a TikTok video of Javed selling vegetables and wrote, "He is an actor aaj woh sabzi bech raha hain javed hyder".

However, it was later learnt in an interview that Hydar was not selling vegetables on the cart to make a living but was simply making videos to motivate people and make them understand that 'no job is small'.

About the videos that went viral on social media and showed him selling vegetables, Javed told a website, "I am not selling vegetables. I am an actor by profession and currently because of lockdown, I am not doing anything. As an actor to keep myself busy and occupied I started making musical videos on an App. My daughter was using that App and she encouraged me to make some videos."
Recent research on a large penguin colony revealed that penguin's poop may stand to be a cause for the growing global warming around Antarctica.

To investigate effects of glacier retreat and impact of penguin activities on greenhouse gas emission, scientists from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark made a visit to South Georgia, which is world's largest colony of King Penguins.

As per a report by the Financial Express, penguins generally kill their time by eating, feeding and pooping. Their basic food comes from krill, fish squid and the aquatic birds tend to excrete a lot. Penguins crowd together when they poop and the amount can accumulate so much in quantity, that it can help spot potential penguin colonies even from satellites.

However, as penguins feed a lot on nitrogen-rich meals like fish and krill, their guano (poop) produces large quantities of nitrous oxide, which is popularly known as the laughing gas. This means, an influx of penguin poop ups the level of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. Scientists claim this contributes heavily to global warming.

Also Read: Antarctica's King Penguins' Poop Produce Laughing Gas that Makes Researchers Go Crazy

Once penguins have filled their bellies, nitrogen is released from their faeces into the ground. Soil bacteria then convert the substance into nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas, states the study.

The maximum emissions are about 100 times higher than in a fertilised Danish field. It is truly intensenot least because nitrous oxide is 300 times more polluting than carbon dioxide, explains Professor Bo Elberling of the University of Copenhagens Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management.

Elberling goes on to explain that it's imperative to understand the effects of penguin guano in the fight against global warming, which is also increasingly becoming a threat around the poles, endangering the lives of its habitats.

"While nitrous oxide emissions in this case are not enough to impact Earth's overall energy budget, our findings contribute to new knowledge about how penguin colonies affect the environment around them, which is interesting because colonies are generally becoming more and more widespread," says the study.
K-water CEO Park Jae-hyeon speaks during a Water Management Green New Deal Policy Symposium at Glad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



By Bahk Eun-ji



Four of Korea's major water-related associations held the "Water Management Green New Deal Policy Symposium," Monday, to discuss the government's policy direction and implementation for the new goal.



The four associations  the Korean Society of Water and Wastewater, the Korea Water Society, the Korean Society on Water Environment and the Korea Water Resources Association  suggested specific action plans to achieve the goal of the project, after President Moon Jae-in vowed to include "green" industries in the Korean New Deal project, during the event at Glad Hotel on Yeouido, Seoul.



The project is aimed at lowering carbon emissions so that the country can combat global climate change threatening the survival of humankind. The government recently gained momentum for the new policy due to the prolonged coronavirus pandemic.



It said the Green New Deal policy will turn the looming economic crisis, and the deepening uncertainty in the coming post-COVID-19 era, into new opportunities for innovation, building a leading economy by creating sustainable job opportunities. The government's Green New Deal refers to the transition to a low-carbon, eco-friendly economy through green transformation of urban and living infrastructure, establishment of an ecosystem for innovation in green industries, and diffusion of low-carbon and distributed energy. Through this, the goal is to respond to climate change, create jobs and revitalize the economy.



During the symposium, Yoo Jong-il, dean of the Graduate School of International Policy at the Korea Development Institute (KDI), explained the circumstances both here and abroad during the virus pandemic, and introduced strategies for promoting the Green New Deal.



Under the theme of "Water Management and Green New Deal," Jeon Kyung-soo, president of Korea Water Resources Association, also explained how to actively respond to water disasters caused by climate change and establish and ecosystem for innovation in the water industry by strengthening links between water management facilities with smart technologies that incorporate digital innovation.


Amid rising cases of Coronavirus, the Maharashtra government on Monday announced the extension of the state-wide lockdown till July 31 to control the spread. Maharashtra, with over 1.64 lakh novel cases, is the worst hit state in the country.

The government said movement of people for non-essential activities like shopping and outdoor exercise will be restricted in neighbourhood areas.

An order issued by Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta on said wearing face covers or masks, maintaining social distancing, restricted gatherings, and other measures will continue to prevail.

Also Read: Twitter Floods with #MumbaiTraffic Videos as '2 km Rule' to Fight Covid-19 Brings City to a Halt

This yet another extension in the lockdown triggered a meme fest on Twitter as the country has been in a lockdown since March. As the cases continue to spike, lifting of the lockdown looks distant.

Here is how Mumbaikars reacted to yet another extension in the lockdown:

Lockdown extended till 31st july.My friend in US asking me - kab se ho lockdown me..?#lockdownextension pic.twitter.com/yffWkvZGR6 Shikhar Tripathi (@shikharwho) June 29, 2020

#lockdownextensionMaharashtra People :- Will I ever pe able to come out of my house in 2020 Maharashtra Govt :- pic.twitter.com/bTxqTkKRIT Priyanka Gupta (@Priyanka218__) June 29, 2020

I was surfing, Then I saw #lockdownextension is trending. Now me - pic.twitter.com/bz2O2GXMvy  Yavisth Makkar (@Yavisth_Makkar) June 29, 2020

#lockdownextension in Maharashta till 31st July. People who are used to it: pic.twitter.com/OlxnXY2Vpp  Amandeep Singh (@memesbyaman) June 29, 2020

To fight with #COVID19India Its necessary to lockdown the Maharashtra till 31 July#lockdownextension pic.twitter.com/8STUuCNDXy  Ashish Kaintura (@beatkingashish) June 29, 2020
Periods dont stop for pandemic but access to period products do.

While this may sound cliched, this is a reality for millions of girls and women in India. Unfortunately, the worst hit are the ones living in underserved last mile rural communities. A report from a rapid survey by Menstrual Health Alliance India which was shared on May 21 highlighted that 84% of the NGOs indicated that there is either no or very poor access to period products in communities that they work in, especially sanitary pads.

The concerns regarding the availability of period products were raised in the first phase of lockdown when they were not in the list of essential items. Within a week, period products were included to be essential, but for the factories that make them limited stock of raw materials, migration of workers from cities to their villages and not being able to work at full capacity created a huge imbalance between demand and supply. This shortage of supply became acute in remote rural communities because of interruption of regular transportation services combined with restrained mobility.

Government, organizations and corporates have swung into action to distribute sanitary pads and as India has entered into lockdown 5.0 (or Unlock 1.0) with careful relaxations, it might have been predicted that the supply will improve. However, the situation is grim in many rural communities. Raman*, a grassroots health worker, said, I am tired of saying this again and again - girls and women in these hard to reach villages still dont have access to sanitary pads. We need more supplies immediately.

The need of the hour is concrete steps that account for the lived realities of those in marginalized communities. To that end, the following ideas should be adopted to ensure quick availability of period products that can help the most girls and women in need as well as their communities.

READ: Experiencing Irregular Periods and More Intense Cramps? It's the Coronavirus Lockdown

READ: Bengaluru Startup Includes Men in Paid Menstrual Leave to Support their Partners

Free supply of period products

In the pre-covid era, girls attending schools were given a monthly supply of pads for free. This has been stopped due to closure of schools. With meagre income and at a time livelihood had almost halted, buying sanitary pads is an added expense when feeding the family becomes a priority. As such, the government should supply period products with the help of community health workers for free not only to school going girls but to all girls and women who dont have access and are forced to resort to unhygienic ways to manage their period.

Offer a range of products along with a complete hygiene kit

While it is heartening to see individuals, civil societies and corporations coming forward to donate sanitary pads in some of these underserved communities, we need to understand that all girls and women dont use a single kind of product. For example, many in rural areas dont wear underwear, so for them sticking on sanitary pads or cloth pads which get attached to underwear will not work. Either we need to provide the ones with belts or underwear along with the products. Ideally, some of the relief kits should have cloth pads and some disposable sanitary pads and the distributing teams can offer these choices to the girls and women. In addition, the kit should also include soap, underwear as well as newspapers for disposals, especially for the women migrant workers who are travelling long distances to return home or are at the quarantine centres.

Decentralized production- Local production to meet local demand

Governments should procure locally made pads instead of buying the pads from factories. Self Help Groups and local Civil society organizations should be deployed for this task which will meet local demands as well as create employment in these times of limited livelihood opportunities. A good example to follow is the Women and Child Development Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh, who have contracted Self Help Groups in all districts to produce sanitary pads for quick availability in the communities. It should also be expected from the government authorities to provide necessary support to these Self Help Groups in accessing capital and raw materials.

Fair Incentives for distribution

The next step is to activate the already existing networks of community health workers (ASHA and Anganwdi workers) for distribution but this time with fair incentives. They receive a meagre Rs 1 per packet of sanitary pad sold. In this time of Covid-19, when the community health workers are putting their lives at risk and reaching out to every household in rural communities, State Governments must offer a decent incentive for each packet distributed. This will not only be a right step to recognize her efforts but will ensure distribution even in remote hamlets and villages.

Along with timely distribution of pads, efforts on provision of clean water, clean toilets and awareness on menstrual health should be actively pursued. Covid 19 has changed realities and approaches- Television and community radio programs, message through phone calls and small videos (for people who have access to smartphones) should be effectively used to highlight the discomfort and stigmas girls and women are facing in using, disposing and washing period products. Constant and positive messaging might pave the way in de-stigmatizing period and promote healthy conversation and support from families and community members.

The menstrual health of millions of girls and women from marginalized communities are disastrously impacted from this global pandemic. This will have severe health consequences. It should be a wake-up call for the government, foundations and other stakeholders to make menstrual health a priority, make this an integral part of disaster relief policies and recognize this a matter of human right to push for efficient actions.

The author is a medical researcher and the head of Women Wellness Initiative and Enriche health at the Barefoot College working with women and girls in rural India.
Chakka, meetha, hijra.

In India, homophobic and transphobic terms are often thrown around loosely under the guise of 'humour' or 'friendly bullying.'

For a country which finally abolished a law criminalizing gay intercourse only two years ago, India still remains massively backwards at giving members of the LGBTQ+ community basic respect.

Name-calling and using such terms to describe someone's actions or intentions under the garb of 'gay' is homophobic. There is no other explanation for it. Period.

Yet, in India, it's normalized - mostly by popular 'influential' creators on YouTube.

YouTube star, Carry Minati, who recently had a video called "TikTok vs YouTube : The End" taken down for content, used slurs like Meetha, Pari, Meethai ki Dukan, and Beti-- all to mock a man.

In fact, Carry Minati has an entire video to mock a man who, according to someone who wrote society rules, has 'effeminate' characteristics. And while the video doesn't directly use slurs, the entire video mocks him for it.

Minati isn't the only one. Triggered Insaan, a popular creator uses the popular warning ad sound of cigarettes containing nicotine, to describe a proposal between two guys in a video called 'Try not to Laugh/Dare challenge.' The video also has other instances of mocking gay people on TikTok.

Another video, by 'Elvish Yadav,' also has obvious slurs and demeaning content and homophobia in the garb of a video.

Gaylaxy Magazine, one of India's only publication focussed on covering LGBTQ+ community, is trying to change the normalization of these terms in YouTube videos.

On a petition on Change.org, the magazine wants YouTube India to hold gender sensitisation workshops for all its top content creators to educate and sensitise them about SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) issues. LGBTQ+ people do not deserve to be merely a subject of mockery and deserve to lead a dignified and respectable life. The workshop is just a small step towards equality.

Sukhdeep Singh, editor-in-chief of Gaylaxy magazine, tells News18 that these YouTube videos in the name of roast and fun, directly or indirectly, pokes fun at gender non-conforming people.

"This creates an environment which makes it difficult for LGBTQ people to be themselves. It also encourages others to make similar comments on people around them. and creates a very toxic environment," he said.

Singh said that since the decriminalisation, LGBTQIA+ people have become more open about their sexual and gender identity, and a lot of young people, those in their teens or early 20s, are coming out. "At a time like this, it makes it harder for them," he added.

While YouTube doesn't downvote or remove content for being homophobic or transphobic, YouTube community standards actually do mention that hate speech on the basis of gender/sex is a violation of their norms.

YouTube mentions that it doesn't allow content that promotes violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on a number of attributes, including, but not limited to: age, race, gender, or religion. It further clarifies what exactly those attributes cover, including sexual orientation, sex/gender and gender orientation, and encourage users to report it.

But surprisingly, YouTube also has a record for not taking down homophobic content. In 2019, YouTube refused to take down content by YouTuber Steven Crowder saying that Crowder did not violate any of its policies and that Crowders YouTube channel will stay up, despite their being repeated homophobic slurs in the videos.

Other LGBTQ+ YouTubers had also spoken up about YouTube's refusal to acknowledge this problem, saying how "It feels like a slap in the face when they use queer content in their promotional videos," they said in an interview to The Guardian. "It feels like exploitation  if you want to use us, you actually have to care about us."

Minati's video on TikTok was recently taken down. Perhaps, more are. But for Indians to actually see change, it requires YouTubers to take the onus to not use slurs and homophobia in their videos, especially ones which influence masses just to shell out 'popular content.'
Prince Harry is apparently feeling "tortured" and suffering from cabin fever after quitting Britain and moving to LA with wife Meghan Markle and one-year-old son, Archie, according to authors Andy Tillett and Dylan Howard.

In their book, Royals At War: The Inside Story of Harry and Meghans Shocking Split With the House of Windsor, the authors claim that this feeling of being stranded far away from home first struck Harry when he received a phone call informing him that his father, Prince Charles, had tested positive for coronavirus in March.

The book, quoting sources, have claimed that, for Harry, "It was far from an ideal situation. (He) has gone from feeling excited about the move to feeling secretly tortured."

For the first time, it dawned on Harry that his father and grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, aren't going to be around forever and that he was stuck miles away from home during the deadly pandemic.

The struggles faced by Prince Harry, as he tries to adjust to a new life in LA, have been revealed in the book by Tillett and Howard, and like every time, Meghan Markle and her "determination to get what she desires" has been blamed.

In January, Meghan and Harry announced their decision to renounce royal duties and move to LA, shunning the rigid rules of the royal household and the constant media spotlight. However, their decision was not received well - either by the royal family or the whole of England.

READ: Royals Reviewing Meghan Markle's Post 'Megxit' Title as it Makes Her Sound Like a Divorcee

READ: Avenging Diana's Death, Feud with Kate, Conspiracy Theories as Harry-Meghan 'Step Back' as Royals

Back then, Meghan was blamed for "Megxit". A Hollywood actor who married into the royal family and within twenty months, the royal couple decided to break away. Of course, Meghan had to be at fault, right? She just had to be the manipulator who convinced innocent Harry to give up his family and duties. At least, that's how the newspaper headlines portrayed it.

And that's what the book claims too.

According to NY Post, a friend of Meghan's told the authors of the book that the latter had always been obsessed about creating a brand for herself and that must have been one of the factors on her mind when she married Harry. Another source claimed that Meghan always knew how to "shape people and situations" to her advantage and that fame had changed her. According to these sources, and the prince they once knew was lost.

But that's always been the case. Every time a man breaks away from what is considered conventional, their wives are blamed. Remember Yoko Ono, whose affair with John Lennon was seen as one of the factors that caused The Beatles to break up? Meghan Markle has been compared to Ono on multiple occasions.

But if you look at older interviews of Prince Harry, you'll recollect how the Prince, who seemingly has everything one could dream of, frequently expressed his unhappiness with fame and royal life. According to the Insider, Prince Harry had been planning "Megxit" long before he met his wife!

According to the new book, however, Meghan has been going all out to support Prince Harry during this transition phase. He allegedly has cabin fever, from staying holed up in a mansion in LA. And Meghan has apparently been trying to cheer him up and assure him that once things go back to normal, he will love it in LA.

It was Meghan and Harry's mutual decision to leave the royal family behind. Yet, ironically, their exit only had Meghan's name in it. And now, interestingly, it is up to Meghan to "support her husband" and "cheer him up" as they begin a new life in a foreign country.
Hundreds of people thronged a central square in Taiwan's capital Taipei for a Pride event on Sunday, unfurling a giant rainbow flag in front of the main memorial hall for late autocratic leader Chiang Kai-shek before being ushered away by police.

Proudly democratic Taiwan is a bastion of liberal values in a part of the world wherein many countries homosexuality remains illegal or taboo. Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage last year, the first in Asia.

The "Taiwan Pride Parade for the World" billed itself as a show of solidarity with countries unable to hold LGBTQ celebrations due to restrictions on public events to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. The pandemic is under control in Taiwan.

An international crowd of more than 200 people waving rainbow flags and masks, some singing and dancing, marched up to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, where a small group briefly displayed the flag in front of the building, which houses a giant statue of Taiwan's late leader.

After scattered shouts of "F**k you, Chiang Kai-shek", the crowd marched back down the steps, accompanied by a handful of police, blowing whistles to stop people lingering.

Chiang, who died in 1975, was lauded in life as an anti-communist hero, especially in the United States, but many Taiwanese revile him as a despot who imprisoned and killed opponents during a reign of terror.

Darien Chen, who represented Taiwan at Mr. Gay World 2013 and organised Sunday's event, said they were holding high the banner for the rest of the world, with hundreds of events cancelled in the traditional Pride month.

"With the rest of the world under the peak of the epidemic, only Taiwan can do this," Chen told Reuters. "Of course we won't give in, and we must continue with this flame of hope and stand up for the world, to hold the only parade in the world in this Pride month."

Soon photos and videos from the event were shared across social media.

"Taipei is hosting the world's only Pride parade today. Today's gathering is small, but spirited," wrote one user.

Taipei is hosting the world's only Pride parade today. Today's gathering is small, but spirited. pic.twitter.com/7KUWy54h3c Chris Horton  (@heguisen) June 28, 2020

A little more than two hundred people have arrived at the event, on a surprisingly windy afternoon in #Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/IIjxncscwX William Yang (@WilliamYang120) June 28, 2020

Taipei held an extra pride rally today, both to celebrate over a year of marriage equality, and to highlight how it's one of the only countries in the world that can publicly celebrate pride without fear of COVID-19. Reason #371947 I'm very grateful to be here. pic.twitter.com/3EhDEASv2n Lev Nachman (@lnachman32) June 28, 2020

Taipei Pride, which is not affiliated with today's event, is held on the last Saturday of October because June (Pride month) is typically rainy here. Today's parade is being held for the millions of people worldwide who are unable to march due to the coronavirus pandemic. pic.twitter.com/hZg8jD3HbW Chris Horton  (@heguisen) June 28, 2020

In order to follow the social-distancing orders in place in #Taiwan, the organizers gave out rainbow mask covers as the appropriate attire for the parade. pic.twitter.com/jFVOHLLILI William Yang (@WilliamYang120) June 28, 2020

small #Pride event in #Taipei in recognition of the hundreds of cities forced to cancel this year's parades because of #COVID19 (NB: #Taiwan's Pride is held in October) pic.twitter.com/eeQcpJLfuS mattia (@mattilondon) June 28, 2020

Taipei holds its main Pride parade in late October when the weather is cooler.

(With Reuters inputs)
A 103-year-old man was on Monday discharged from a hospital in Maharashtra after recovering from COVID-19 disease, the doctor who treated him said.

According to Dr Sameet Sohoni, the 85-year-old brother of the 103-year-old is also on the path of recovery from the viral infection and will be discharged soon.

He said the 103-year-old was born in 1917, just one year before the Spanish flu pandemic, which is said to be the most severe in recent history.

The centenarian, a resident of Siddheshwar Talao locality, was admitted in the hospital for COVID-Pneumonia a month ago, Dr Sohoni said.

"He remained admitted in the ICU for 20 days. He has recovered completely from the infection and discharged on Monday," Dr Sohoni said, adding that a grandson of the 103-year-old was also treated at the same hospital for coronavirus and has been discharged after recovery.

Meanwhile, authorities are mulling imposition of a total lockdown in Thane for ten days beginning July 2 in view of the surge in coronavirus cases.

The Thane city police have put out a notice on its Twitter handle asking people to stock essential items.

Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation Commissioner Pankaj Ashiya has told reporters that an additional 2,000 to 2,500 beds will be made available for COVID-19 patients in the powerloom town in the next one week.
Four medical students who returned to Indore in Madhya Pradesh from Kyrgyzstan on a special Air India flight on June 21 tested positive for novel coronavirus, an official said on Monday.

Indore COVID-19 prevention nodal officer Amit Malakar said 125 students were on the flight which took off from Bishkek, the capital of the Central Asian country.

"Four medical students have tested positive. Two are from Indore and two from Mandsaur and Jhabua. None of the 125 students who were screened at arrival showed coronavirus symptoms at the time," he said.

He said authorities have been informed about the four students testing positive so that rest of the students on the flight can be tested afresh in their home districts.
The border issue between India and Nepal should not impact other dynamics of their bilateral ties, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Monday as he hoped that the dispute would be resolved through diplomatic efforts.

Nepal this month completed the process of redrawing the country's political map through a Constitutional amendment, incorporating three strategically important Indian areas.

India has termed as "untenable" the "artificial enlargement" of the territorial claims by Nepal after its Parliament unanimously approved the new political map of the country featuring Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas which India maintains belong to it.

"We are confident that the dispute would be resolved through diplomatic efforts. No move capable of causing implication on Nepal-India multi-dimensional relations will be taken. The border issue should not undermine the overall status of Nepal's ties with India," Gyawali told a meeting at the National Assembly.

He said the government was in constant touch with India to resolve the disputes.

"We are in touch with India," Gyawali was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post.

"We are committed to resolving this issue through talks and I am hopeful that we will be able to resolve it," he added. "We will resolve the dispute but not by means of provocations and emotions."

The India-Nepal bilateral ties came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8.

Nepal reacted sharply to the inauguration of the road claiming that it passed through Nepalese territory. India rejected the claim asserting that the road lies completely within its territory.

Responding to questions, Gyawali also said that there was no border dispute between Nepal and China, days after Kathmandu refuted media reports regarding "encroachment" of the country's territory by its northern neighbour.

He said that some media disseminated 'fake news' mentioning China's encroachment on Nepal's territory citing a fictitious report published by the Agricultural Ministry.

"Nepal and China have no border disputes," Gyawali said.

"Misinformation will mislead us, so let's not entertain such stuffs," he said and asked the media to be careful while covering sensitive issues and not to give space to stuffs that could jeopardize the cordial bilateral relations.

"Both countries have signed a peace and friendship border treaty and both parties are agreed to inspect the bilateral border points in every ten years," he said.

"During the third border inspection, it was decided to place border pillars for the clarity of border demarcation. Preparations are on to resolve the issue on tri-juncture towards the west," he added.

In response to a question, Gyawali said that China did not encroach Nepal's villages.

He said the people of Sana and Rui villages that lied in Gorkha district were asked to chose where to stay along the border before Nepal-China border was officially demarcated.

During the time of Nepal-China border demarcation, there were two villages along the border with 110 households. Sixty per cent villagers chose to live in Rui village towards China and 40 per cent chose to live in Sana village in the Nepalese side, the minister said.
In a heart-wrenching incident caught on tape, parents were seen grieving over the death of their one-year-old child at a government hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj.

An emotional father was seen clinging to the body of his son Anuj who died of fever after he was brought to the district hospital there for treatment on Sunday night.

Premchand, a resident of Mishripur village in Kannauj district, is heard alleging in the video that no doctor saw his child.

"No doctor attended to him though we stayed there for around 45 minutes. We were told to go to Kanpur. I am a poor man; I have no money. What can I do," he is heard saying in the video that has gone viral on social media.

Kannauj Chief Medical Officer Dr Krishna Swaroop has denied the charge.

"A resident of Mishripur, Premchand, admitted his son Anuj to the hospital. A child specialist treated the child. But the child died after half an hour of treatment. It is wrong to say that the child was not admitted and that doctors did not attend to him," he said.
The Centre and the Tamil Nadu government made contrasting submissions in the Madras High Court on Monday over the issue of operation of Vande Bharat Mission flights to bring back Indians stranded overseas due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Centre said people from Tamil Nadu returning from foreign countries were compelled to land in neighbouring states due to restrictions imposed by the government on flight operations and then travel to their respective destinations.

The state government said VBM flights were being allowed in all four international airports and besides through the sea route in two ports.

The submissions were made before a bench of Justice R Subbiah and Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy, hearing a plea by DMK alleging that the state was not permitting landing of international flights and seeking a direction to bring back those stranded.

The state government has requested that the number of flights to Chennai may be restricted to two per day and to

Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore and Madurai not more than one to facilitate smooth reception and observance of COVID-19 protocol, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a memo filed in the court.

However, a counter affidavit filed by the state Public Department Principal Secretary said "The return of Tamil Nadu people stranded in various countries continues in all four international airports in the state and through the sea ports of Tuticorin and Chennai.

As on June 15, a total of 61 flights from 17 different countries have brought 9,625 Indian nationals from abroad

through the Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore and Tiruchirappalli.

This apart, as many as 1,369 people have been brought back to the state by two ships from Colombo and Maldives, it

said.

Besides this, 33 more flights from various countries are scheduled to arrive in the state in the next two weeks alone, the state government said.

Senior counsel P Wilson for the petitioner pointed out to the Centre's submission that it was the state which had not been permitting such flights.

To this, state Additional Advocate General S R Rajagopal submitted he would get further instructions from the government, following which the court adjourned the matter to Tuesday.


Controversy deepens over Incheon Airport's employment plan



By Jun Ji-hye



A controversy surrounding Incheon International Airport Corp.'s (IIAC) plan to directly hire subcontracted security workers is showing no signs of subsiding, amplifying hate, division and conflict in society here.



This is the latest in a series of developments that mirror an increasingly divided Korean society haunted by deepening conflicts between the rich and poor, progressives and conservatives, male and female, and the elderly and the young



The state-run airport operator has been at the center of the controversy since June 21 when it announced it was changing the status of 1,902 contract security workers to regular workers, in accordance with President Moon Jae-in's "zero irregular jobs" initiative that he vowed during his election campaign.



Those who fiercely criticize the plan, including young jobseekers and existing full-time workers, have raised questions of fairness in the hiring process at state-run companies, while those in favor said it was necessary to improve the working conditions and treatment of irregular workers.



Despite this, the IIAC is planning to begin the relevant process to directly hire the security workers in July.



Cheong Wa Dae officials have defended the airport operator's hiring plan.



Hwang Deok-soon, senior secretary to the President for employment, stressed that the plan will not affect jobseekers, mostly university graduates, who are applying for jobs at the IIAC.



Another official from the presidential office attributed the latest controversy to "fake news and misinformation," Sunday.



"For example, some media outlets have reported rumors spread through social networking services that the contract security workers would jump to a 50-million-won ($42,000) annual salary, without fact-checking," the official told reporters.





He noted that the annual salary level of the contract security workers who will be granted regular employment status would not differ from the current level of around 33 million won.



"The essence of this issue is changing the status of non-regulars to regular workers," the official said. "The zero irregular jobs initiative is aimed at reducing socioeconomic polarization, creating more quality jobs and improving inequality."



But the explanation from the presidential office seems to have failed to resolve the issue.



A petition posted June 23 by one jobseeker on the presidential office's website calling on the IIAC to stop the move has been signed by more than 262,000 people as of 2 p.m. Monday.



The petitioner said existing regular workers had spent much time and money, and put a lot of efforts into passing difficult exams at the IIAC and getting a job there. And jobseekers are doing the same now.



"Taking away opportunities from those who are making enormous efforts is not equality," the petitioner said.



In a Realmeter survey, also unveiled Monday, 45 percent of those polled said the hiring plan should be put on hold in consideration of the potential side effects.



In particular, 56 percent of those in their 20s said they were opposed to the plan. The pollster said many objections came from those in their 20s as jobseekers are mostly in that generation.



Those who called for pushing ahead with the plan for change in the labor market for the long term accounted for 40 percent.



Kim Sung-hee, a professor at the Graduate School of Labor Studies at Korea University, said the ongoing controversy is fundamentally based on an unemployment crisis facing young people.



"Young jobseekers are protesting as they believe that inappropriate preferential treatment is being given to the contract security workers," he said. "But the fact is that the security workers have had a long career in the area and suffered discrimination in the labor market. This is an issue that should be resolved."



The professor said the government and the IIAC need to make greater efforts to clarify the relevant issues to the public, such as how the hiring plan will affect the airport operator's future employment plans, and what kind of treatment will be given to the contract security officers who will be granted regular employment status.



Korea has experienced conflicts between progressives and conservatives, between the younger and older generations, and between regular and irregular workers, whenever major social issues have emerged.



Most recently, the controversy surrounding the alleged embezzlement of citizens' donations by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan has turned into a conflict between political camps.




The national capital had reported the highest single-day spike of 3,947 cases on June 23. Recently, Delhi had eclipsed Mumbai as the city worst-hit by the pandemic in the country.

Fifty-seven fatalities have been recorded in the last 24 hours, the Delhi health department bulletin said.

It said the death toll due to coronavirus has risen to 2,680 and the total number of cases mounted to 85,161. The number of active cases stands at 26,246, while 56,235 patients have migrated/recovered or have been discharged.

The Delhi government will set up a first-of-its-kind 'plasma bank' in the country for treatment of COVID-19 patients, as convalescent plasma therapy has shown "encouraging" results in city hospitals, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

Addressing an online media briefing, he said the bank will be operational in the next two days. It will be set up at the Delhi government-run Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences and doctors or hospitals will have to approach it for plasma if a COVID-19 patient needs the same.

The chief minister said that the AAP government will encourage those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma. A helpline will also be set up for queries related to donation of plasma.

He said that his government will make transportation arrangements for those willing to donate their plasma. Kejriwal said relatives of a COVID-19 patient are free to give plasma to the patient and it is not necessary to

only donate to the bank.

"The plasma bank will be the first-of-its-kind for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Perhaps, it will be the first plasma bank in the country," he said.

The need for setting up such a bank was felt when people were running from pillar to post to get plasma, he said, adding that both government and private hospitals will be able to get plasma from the facility.

Kejriwal, however, said that plasma therapy is not a "sanjeevani booti" (divine her).

"Usually, it is difficult to save lives of those patients who are in the last stage or with comorbidities and are on ventilator support. Those patients who are in a moderate stage...this therapy is very helpful for them," he said.

In the plasma therapy, antibodies from blood of patients, who have recovered from coronavirus, are used to treat infected patients. It is aimed at assessing the efficacy of convalescent plasma to limit complications in COVID patients.

Kejriwal said that his government has so far conducted clinical trials of plasma therapy on 29 COVID-19 patients and the result was "encouraging".

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who had tested positive for COVID-19, was administered plasma therapy. He has now recovered.

The chief minister said in the Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital, plasma therapy was conducted on 35 COVID-19 patients and of them, 34 were saved and one patient died. Similarly, 49 patients were administered therapy in private hospitals and 46 people recovered from the deadly virus.

Requesting people to come forward and donate their plasma, he said, "In the entire life, there is a very little chance to save someone's life and you (those recovered from COVID-19) have got this chance," he said.Delhi recorded 2,084 fresh coronavirus cases on Monday taking the infection tally in the city to over 85,000, while the death toll from the disease mounted to 2,680, authorities said.

The number of containment zones in the city also jumped to 435 on Monday, according to a Delhi health department bulletin.
India on Monday hit out at Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi for his "absurd comments" linking India to the terror attack on the Pakistan stock exchange building in Karachi.

In a strongly worded response, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said unlike Pakistan, India has no hesitation in condemning terrorism anywhere in the world, including in Karachi.

He also reminded Qureshi how the Pakistan prime minister described a global terrorist as a "martyr".

Hours after gunmen attacked the Pakistani stock exchange in Karachi, Qureshi alleged that the clues of strike are leading towards sleeper cells activated by India.

"India rejects the absurd comments of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan on the terrorist attack in Karachi. Pakistan cannot shift the blame on India for its domestic problems. Unlike Pakistan, India has no hesitation in condemning terrorism anywhere in the world, including in Karachi," Srivastava said.

"Foreign Minister Qureshi may wish to reflect on this, as also his own government's position, including his prime minister's description of the global terrorist as a "martyr"." the Spokesperson said.

Four heavily armed militants attacked the busy Pakistan Stock Exchange building here with guns and grenades on Monday morning, killing four security guards and a police officer before being shot dead in an exchange of fire, Pakistani authorities said.

The militants, who arrived in a car, opened indiscriminate fire and lobbed hand grenades at the main gate of the multi-storey building situated in the city's high security commercial hub as they tried to storm it.
The political leader of Tibetans in exile on Monday urged India to take a more prominent role in resolving the Tibetan issue with China, an appeal that could further inflame tensions between the two Asian giants.

India and China are locked in their most serious political crisis in years after a deadly clash between soldiers on their disputed Himalayan border reignited long-standing differences between the world's two most populous countries.

China has long reviled the Tibetans' spiritual leader the Dalai Lama - who lives in India in exile - as a dangerous separatist and his activities in India have been a source of friction.

But Lobsang Sangay, president of the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamsala, said China's expansionist policy had resulted in renewed focus on the Tibetans' struggle for autonomy and India had a unique role to play.

"India has the largest Tibetan population in exile, the Dalai Lama calls himself proud son of India, and historically geopolitically, culturally, and for all these reasons, India can raise the issue of Tibet," Sangay told the Foreign Correspondents Club of India, South Asia.

The Indian government has in recent years discouraged large-scale Tibetan protests and even banned a rally to mark the 60th anniversary of the uprising in 2018 in order not to upset China.

But following the clash this month in the Ladakh region in western Himalayas in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed, former Indian diplomats and military generals have suggested the government ends its reluctance to promote the Tibetans' cause.

Sangay said Tibet, which historically served as a buffer between India and China, is just as important for India as it is for China's security. "India for various reasons has a lot at stake, it should intervene and take up the leadership in solving the issue of Tibet," he said.
The expert committee set up to advise the Tamil Nadu government on tackling COVID-19 has favoured restrictions based on the scenario in specific regions and has not recommended extension of the lockdown in force in the state till Tuesday, one of its members said.

It also wanted the "successful initiative" of holding fever camps in the city to be extended to other parts of the state as well, Dr Prabhdeep Kaur of the National Institute of Epidemiology-ICMR said after taking part in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister K Palaniswami here.

The camps helped in early detection and consequent increase in doubling time of coronavirus cases with the trend becoming favourable in the city, she said.

Rather than extending lockdown, restrictions may be considered after an assessment of the scenario in specific

regions, she told reporters after the meeting in which World Health Organisation (WHO) chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan among other experts participated through a virtual link.

"Our committee did not recommend lockdown. It is called a blunt instrument. Though not the best solution, it is needed sometimes. In Chennai, the lockdown has helped to increase doubling time (of cases) and slowing down transmission. But lockdown alone is not the solution for COVID-19 and we cannot be under lockdown forever," she said.

As of Sunday, the state has 82,275 COVID-19 cases while the toll stood at 1,079.

After announcing relaxations, including partial resumption of public transport services, as part of Unlock-1 across the state from June 1, the government re-imposed intense lockdown in Chennai and parts of neighbouring Chengelpet, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram till tomorrow from June 19.

Madurai and nearby areas are also under similar curbs from June 24 to 30 in view of high number of fresh cases.

Besides, the government has withdrawn from Thursday inter-district public transport bus services, earlier allowed

in most parts of the state, under the 'unlock-1' while other relaxations such as functioning of businesses and shops are continuing.

Kaur, an epidemiologist, said instead of lockdown everywhere, tightening restrictions may be considered and

fever camps could be held after considering factors including case growth, number of deaths, doubling time, positivity rate and bed occupancy.

"We feel that transmission has increased in several districts due to public transport and hence this should be kept under control and gatherings should not be allowed," she said.

No other tests like the rapid antigen test was needed in view of adequate RT-PCR testing capacity, she said answering a question.

An important suggestion of the panel to increase tests has been accepted and about 10,000 tests were being done now in Chennai, she said.

Similarly, testing has improved overall in Tamil Nadu and approximately, 32,000 tests (confirmatory, RT-PCR tests) were being done each day, the expert said.

"Testing is important for early diagnosis and treatment and to save lives."

In the last two weeks, in cities like Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Vellore and Tiruvannamalai there was an "upward

trend," she said apparently referring to rising cases and underscored that doubling time in such areas has come down too.

Hence Chennai's successful initiative of holding fever camps should be extended to such regions as well, she said.

The camps have helped detect more cases and the "trend is becoming favourable in Chennai as the doubling time has increased due to more detection of cases," Kaur said.

The rise in doubling time was good there had been a slowdown in transmission and this trend needed to be sustained and people should cooperate and the present initiatives like fever camps should go on, she said.

More cases were likely with more tests and the rise in numbers should not be a cause for concern and the focus must continue to be on preventing deaths through early detection, she said.

The state government had on May 31 announced further extension of the COVID-19 lockdown till June 30 but with more relaxations including partially opening up public transport and allowing more employees at workplace.

Public transport bus services had not been allowed in Chennai and three neighbouring districts.

The curbs on religious places, inter-state bus transport, and Metro and suburban rails, however, remained as it were from March 24.
New Delhi: A 72-year-old man, who landed in Delhi from Kazakhstan on Saturday, managed to give authorities at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport a skip and escaped the mandatory screening institutional quarantine.

The incident came to light when his name was called out for a mandatory screening in view of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to a report in Hindustan Times, the man was tracked down to his daughters house in Ghaziabads Indirapuram on Sunday with the help of CCTV cameras. He was subsequently booked and sent to quarantine for 14 days. The police said he will be arrested once his quarantine period is over.

The cops added that the man had deliberately skipped the screening so as to avoid institutional quarantine.

As per Union Home Ministrys Covid-19 guidelines, all passengers returning to India from abroad have to undergo screening at the airport, then spend seven days in institutional quarantine and another seven in home quarantine.

Team members sent to bring him back were dressed in PPE suits. We brought him back to the airport on Sunday evening, and he was screened. He also produced some documents to prove that he is medically not fit and was therefore allowed 14 days home quarantine by health department officials, Deputy commissioner of police (IGI airport) Rajeev Ranjan told Hindustan Times.

The man has been booked for violating government order and negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who travelled to Manipur and Delhi last week, tested

negative for coronavirus infection, officials said on Sunday.

The chief minister has been under home quarantine for the past four days after his return from Delhi where he took disgruntled National People's Party (NPP) MLAs of Manipur from Imphal to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The first test was conducted on Sangma, who is also the NPP president, on June 22 and the second one on Sunday, an official at the CMO said.

He had made a trip to Manipur capital Imphal on June 21 to meet the four party MLAs, who switched allegiance from the BJP-led ruling coalition to the Congress. He again went there on June 23, and travelled subsequently to Delhi along with them and returned on June 25.

As a precautionary measure, the chief minister will be under home quarantine for four more days before he resumes office, the official added.

The CMO official said the team of officials and police, who accompanied the Chief Minister to Guwahati were also tested negative and they are also under home quarantine.

Meanwhile, two BSF personnel tested positive for coronavirus infection on Sunday, taking the states COVID count to 50.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Alexander Laloo Hek said one of them returned from Haryana on June 26 and another is a driver engaged in transporting troopers from Assam to the BSFs Meghalaya Frontier Headquarters here.

"Both the troopers are asymptomatic and are now admitted at the isolation ward of the composite BSF hospital," he said.

With these new two fresh positive cases, Meghalaya now has seven active cases with one casualty while 42 patients have recovered.
The Nagaland government on Monday extended the lockdown in the state till July 15 to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a government spokesperson said.

The decision to extend the lockdown was taken during the state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Planning and Coordination and Parliamentary Affairs minister Neiba Kronu, who is also the government spokesperson on COVID-19, said.

The state cabinet after thorough deliberation and recommendations of the respective district taskforce on COVID-19, decided to maintain status quo on the current lockdown measures, he said.

The state government through different notifications earlier had relaxed agricultural activities, movement of essential commodities, opening of religious places, or public and plying of local taxis and also rickshaws.

Kronu said that the inter-state borders connecting Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh will continue to remain sealed and the number of police personnel on duty in the inter-state check gates will be increased.

Meanwhile, 19 people, including 18 Army personnel tested positive for COVID-19 in Nagaland, taking the state's tally to 434 on Monday, state Health Minister S Pangnyu Phom said. Of the total 434 COVID-19 cases, 266 are active while 168 have recovered.

A total of 19 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported out of 322 suspected samples tested on Monday, he said. Eighteen are from Jakhama Army Camp Quarantine Centre under Kohima district and one from Peren district, the minister said, adding that four patients - three from Dimapur and one from Kohima - recovered on Monday.

The districts with COVID-19 cases are Dimapur 183, Kohima 112, Peren 89, Mon 38, Tuensang 8, Zunheboto 3, and one in Phek district, a Health department release said. The other four districts of the state - Mokokchung, Longleng, Kiphire and Wokha - have not reported any COVID-19 case till date.
Senior Police Officer P S Harsha assumed charge as Commissioner for the Department of Information and Public Relations here on Monday.

Harsha was earlier the Mangaluru Commissioner of Police. He had served as the Commissioner of Information and Public Relations earlier too.

He took charge from outgoing Commissioner S N Siddaramappa, an official release said.

Siddaramappa has been transferred as Deputy Inspector General of Police, CID ( Economic Offences Wing ) here.

Harsha, who served as City Police Commissioner since August 2019 in Mangaluru, expressed his gratitude to Mangalorians through social media in local Tulu language for their cooperation and support.

He was under fire from some political leaders and organisations over alleged police excesses during the violence that took place in December in which two persons were killed during anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests.
The Rajasthan government on Sunday allowed religious places in rural areas, where a limited number of devotees visit, to reopen from July 1.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said all precautionary measures, including physical distancing, will be mandatory at these places.

The state government had on May 31 said that it will not open religious places till June 30 despite the Centre's new guidelines which allowed places of worship to reopen under 'Unlock 1'.

As part of unlocking, a committee was constituted under the chairmanship of district collectors. Based on the situation, large religious sites in urban and rural areas will remain closed, the chief minister was quoted as saying in an official statement.

He said protection of life is paramount for the state government.

The chief minister said only those religious sites in rural areas have been given permission to reopen where 50 or less people visit per day on normal days. During this, social distancing, sanitisation and wearing masks etc and other standard operating procedures need to be ensured, he said.

Gehlot also directed officials to do away with the mandatory 14-day home quarantine for people coming from outside the state.

"If they have any symptoms, they should get medical attention without delay," he said.

As of Sunday, the state's COVID-19 tally reached 17,271 and the death toll mounted to 399, according to an official report.
Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, leaves after holding a press briefing at the National Assembly, Monday, on the breakup of the final round of negotiations with the main opposition United Future Party over how to form the standing committees of the 21st National Assembly. Yonhap









By Jung Da-min







The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) failed to reach an agreement Monday on how to form the 21st National Assembly's 18 standing committees.







Following the breakdown of negotiations, the DPK, which holds 176 seats in the 300-strong Assembly, held a plenary session and took the head positions for 17 out of the 18 committees, with the position for the remaining one to be taken later, also by a DPK member.







It is the first time since 1985 that a ruling party has taken the chief positions in all standing committees.







DPK floor leader Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon and UFP floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young held their last round of negotiations Monday morning through mediation by Assembly Speaker Rep. Park Byeong-seug, following a tentative agreement the previous night.







But they failed to reach a final agreement due to differences over how to elect the head of the powerful Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The position has been customarily given to a member of the main opposition party to hold the ruling party in check.







Earlier in the month, however, the DPK unilaterally held a plenary session and elected its members as chiefs of six committees, including the legislation committee, drawing backlash from the UFP. The DPK responded by saying it would give the chief positions of seven other key committees to the UFP, an offer the opposition party refused.







In recent negotiations, Joo suggested the UFP hold the chief position of the legislation committee in the second half of the four-year 21st Assembly. But the DPK opposed it saying the position should be given to the party that wins the next presidential election in 2022.







In protest, the UFP refused to lead any of the 18 committees.







The DPK and UFP have blamed each other for the breakdown of negotiations.







"The UFP notified us it would not take any committee chief post. It was inevitable for us to take all of them to operate the Assembly normally and pass the third extra budget bill," Kim said.







Rep. Joo Ho-young, front, floor leader of the main opposition United Future Party, leaves the office of National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, Monday, after the breakdown of the final negotiations with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea over how to form the standing committees of the 21st National Assembly. Yonhap





But Joo said the DPK should have accepted the UFP's suggestion as the DPK had already made a unilateral decision, taking the legislation committee chief position despite the Assembly custom and strong resistance from the opposition bloc.







"We also see the DPK's suggestion, that the legislation committee's chief position should be given to the party that wins the next presidential election, as going against the principle of the National Assembly's independence and autonomy," Joo said.







At the plenary meeting, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun delivered an administrative speech to urge the swift passage of the bill on the 35.3 trillion won ($29.4 billion) third extra budget designed to respond to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling party is aiming to pass the bill within this week.


The mortal remains of Lance Naik Saleem Khan, who lost his life in the line of duty in Ladakh, were laid to rest at his native village of Mardaheri in Punjab's Patiala district with full military honours on Saturday. He was 24.

Deployed with the Bengal Engineer Group, Khan became a battle casualty on June 25 while patrolling at a river close to the LAC (Line of Actual Control) in Ladakh sector, said a government release here.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday announced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 50 lakh, along with a government job to a family member of Khan.

"Saddened to hear about the demise of Lance Naik Saleem Khan in Ladakh. He belonged to Mardaheri village in Patiala district. My sincere condolences to his family. The nation salutes the brave soldier. Jai Hind!," Singh said in his tweet.

Scores of people bid a tearful adieu to the soldier. Slogans of 'Saleem Khan Amar Rahe', 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' rent the air when his body, wrapped in the Tricolour, reached his native village.

Villagers showered flower petals on the military vehicle when the mortal remains of Khan were being brought to his native place.

Khan's family members were inconsolable when the body arrived. They also saluted him for the last time.

Khan had joined the Army in February 2014.

He is survived by his mother, brother and a sister.

His father Mangal Deen had also served in the Army and passed away 18 years ago.

Punjab Cabinet Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot along with senior officials from the Army, police and civil administration and other political leaders paid their last respects to the soldier.
As a fallout after tensions increased between India and China, India's imports from Beijing have been affected. It is all the more worrisome given the world is in the middle of a pandemic. Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) or raw material for drugs as well as medical devices -- both used for COVID 19 treatment -- are held up at ports.

In an interview with CNN-News18, Dinesh Dua, Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), who flagged the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) saying the finance ministry must explain and also why we need to be 'atmanirbhar'.

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) or raw material for drugs that India imports from China are held up at ports. Even critical devices specifically aimed at Covid-19 diagnosis are held up.

This is rather unfortunate. We were given to understand there is a slight delay in terms of clearances from ports, both Delhi and Mumbai international airports. We took it in our stride. We thought this was usual. We were patient. On June 22, we were told they have been told by the lower level of officials at customs that anything from China will not be cleared. This was a bolt from the blue.

The industry is growing at about 20%. Domestic pharmaceutical industry is dependent up to 90% on imported APIs. You have at stake $51 billion. If you want to stop consignments coming in from China where we are so dependent, you are disrupting the supply chain. This will lead to severe and acute shortages of the drug in the domestic market and then in 206 markets of the world as well. This has never happened. We are a pharmacy to the world. We gave HCQ to the USA during a pandemic, free of cost.

Why are we seeing delays in clearance of Chinese imports? Who is behind this?

I have official communication from my ministry, which is the Commerce ministry, saying they are taking this up directly with the Finance Ministry. CDSCO, which is a part of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, have written to us that the regulator has not stopped it. So the buck stops at customs. I have proof of my people, people in the industry being told to keep quiet or else queries will be raised, they can do what they like, nothing will happen. The industry is absolutely unaware of where the instructions are coming from.

What are the possible ramifications of the same during a pandemic?

I have said, costs will go up. This will lead to huge shortages. Increase in prices and there are two things in the world no one takes a chance with -- food and medicine. I don't know what is going to happen if this continues for a week or so. There will be very serious repercussions.

So this disruption is man-made? What do you expect the government to do in terms of resolving this matter?

The Ministry of Commerce as well as the Ministry of Health are solidly behind us. The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers are behind us. It is now up to the Finance Ministry to come back to us and tell us what is up. You can control footwear, oil, all non-essential commodities but not this. Why pharmaceuticals where you are not self-sufficient and cannot be self-sufficient in the next 3-4 years?
Contrary to claims made in the first information report (FIR) in the custodial deaths of a man and his son in Thoothukudi, CCTV footage from a nearby shop revealed their no resistance from the duo towards policemen and the scene outside the familys mobile shop on the fateful night was not chaotic at all.

Police had stated in the FIR that there was hectic activity outside the mobile shop owned by P Jayaraj (62) and his son J Bennix (32) on June 19 before they were arrested for keeping their store open beyond permitted hours during the lockdown.

The duo died three days later within a gap of few hours after suffering grievous assault allegedly in the hands of some officers of Sathankulam police station in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.

The FIR against Jayaraj-Bennix claimed that the duo resisted arrest and even rolled on the floor while crowds gathered and witnessed this, leading to internal injuries.

However, the footage shows clearly that Jayaraj was standing outside his shop around 7:40pm on Friday before he was taken to the police station in a jeep. His son, Bennix, 32, is alerted by some staff at the shop after Jayaraj walks on his own towards a police vehicle stationed outside the shop.

Soon after Jayaraj is taken away by police, Bennix can be seen frantically making calls. Accompanied by some acquaintance, he gets on a two-wheeler and rides to the police station. The footage clearly shows that the duo had no confrontation with police.

Further information is expected to come out in the case this week as the post-mortem report has been submitted to the Madurai Bench of the court in a sealed cover.

The duos death in Kovilpatti sub-jail has triggered a national outrage over the brutal treatment by police and political blame-game.

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court asked Thoothukudi district collector Sandeep Nanduri to instruct revenue officials to take control of the police station for collecting the relevant documents.

The court took suo moto cognizance of the case. The court also asked the forensic team to collect all the materials to protect evidence after the principal district and sessions judge, Thoothukudi, who was monitoring the case, submitted that the Sathankulam police were not cooperating with the probe being conducted by the Kovilpatti judicial magistrate.

When the government counsel asked for permission to transfer the probe to the CBI, the court said it was a policy decision and its permission was not needed.

On Sunday, Chief Minister K Palaniswami announced transfer of the investigation to the CBI and said the high court's permission would be sought for it.
The details of a blatant display of insubordination in the P Jayaraj-J Bennix killings have come to light in a court order directing the registration of contempt proceedings against police officers who, in a standoffish manner, told a judicial magistrate inquiring into the deaths that he was absolutely powerless in the case.

Jayaraj, 60, and Bennix, 31, were arrested by Thoothukudi police on June 19 for keeping their shop open after permitted hours. Relatives claim Jayaraj who was in the mobile store was picked up by the police and verbally abused and assaulted. His son, Bennix, had later gone to the police station to plead with the police to release his father. The duo was allegedly thrashed and a case was registered against them under IPC Sections 188, 383 and 506(II).

They were later taken to the Kovilpatti sub-jail. Three days later, the two died within a gap of 10 hours.

The derogatory use of words and the hostile posturing of three officers in the Thoothukudi police hierarchy has forced the Madurai Bench of the Madras High court to register a contempt case. The court has asked Additional Superintendent D Kumar, Deputy Superintendent C Parthipan and Police Constable Maharajan to appear before it at 10:30 am on Tuesday.

We are of the view that unless the state government intervenes immediately to transfer the additional Superintendent of Police, Tuticorin, Mr C Prathapan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tuticorin and other policemen in Sathankulam Police Station, it will be difficult for a free and fair investigation and enquiry, said the order.

The judicial magistrate in an email to the Registrar submitted a report saying the district police administration was preventing him from proceeding with the inquiry in the case.

In another order, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court came down on the Santankulam police and directed the Thoothukudi Collector to instruct revenue officials to take control of the police station for collecting relevant documents with regard to the case.
The Tamil Nadu government on Monday issued an order transferring the case of custodial deaths of a man and his son in Thoothukudi district to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The case was initially registered at Kovilpatti East Police Station.

The government order sequenced the events right from the arrest of the duo, P Jayaraj (62) and his son J Bennix (32) till their death at a hospital.

The two men were arrested on June 19 for violation of prohibitory orders and produced before the duty doctor of a government hospital at Sathankulam in Thoothukudi district for mandatory medical-examination, the GO said. The next day, a magistrate remanded them in judicial custody and they were lodged at the Kovilpatti sub-jail.

Bennix was admitted at the government hospital in Kovilpatti by jail authorities on June 22 at 7.45pm and he died at 9pm while undergoing treatment. Jayaraj was also admitted to the same facility at 10.30 pm the same day and he died at 5.40am on June 23, the order said.

In the wake of nationwide outrage against their deaths due to alleged police brutality, Chief Minister K Palaniswami had on Sunday said the case would be probed by the CBI and the Madras High Court's Madurai bench would be apprised of the decision.

The director general of police has requested the government to transfer the case to the CBI to "facilitate a free and fair" investigation and it was accepted after careful consideration, the government said in its order, transferring the case to the premier probe agency.

On Monday, the high court observed that it was a policy decision of the state government to transfer the case to the CBI, while appreciating the Palaniswami dispensation for the decision.

The court further directed deputing revenue officers to the Sathankulam Police station to preserve "clue materials" seized following the death of the two, after the principal district judge submitted that policemen there were not cooperating with the judicial magistrate on conducting the inquiry.

(With inputs from PTI)
Hollywood actor Anthony Mackie, who has been an integral part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has called out the studio for lack of diversity in hiring its production crew while interacting on Variety's Actors on Actors series. As US gets rocked by the Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of George Floyd's death, many celebrities are also speaking up for inclusive policies in arts.

Anthony said about lack of diversity in Marvel movies, "It really bothered me that I have done seven Marvel movies where every producer, every director, every stunt person, every costume designer, every PA, every single person has been white. We've had one Black producer; his name was Nate Moore."

The Falcon actor added, "Nate produced Black Panther. But when you do Black Panther, you have a Black director, Black producer, a Black costume designer, a Black stunt choreographer. And I'm like, that's more racist than anything else. Because if you can only hire the Black people for the Black movie, are you saying they're not good enough when you have a mostly white cast?"

Anthony is hopeful that there will be changes in the future in Marvel's hiring process.

Anthony will be reprising his role as Falcon and Captain America in Disney+'s upcoming superhero series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Sebastian Stan joins Anthony in the series.

Follow @News18Movies for more
Days after recording her statement in connection with the suicide of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Rhea Chakraborty was spotted outside Farhan Akhtar's residence on Sunday. Rhea was accompanied by Farhan's girlfriend, actress-VJ Shibani Dandekar.

Rhea was dressed in an all-white traditional outfit and was seen donning a blue face mask.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Varinder Chawla (@varindertchawla) on Jun 28, 2020 at 3:14am PDT

There were multiple reports that Rhea and Sushant were dating each other. They had even gone for a vacation together to Europe last year.

Rhea was also supposed to star opposite Sushant in director Rumi Jafferys next. The filmmaker recently revealed that the film was supposed to be a romantic-comedy and Sushant had agreed to start filming, post lockdown.

I spoke to him a while back. He had been coming home and meeting my family; I had gone to his terrace flat as well and had a few meetings with him overlooking the sea and he was very positive about starting work. My wife and children have been crying ever since they heard the news. We were scheduled to shoot soon after getting the permissions and this happened, Rumi told the agencies.

On June 14, Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai apartment. Mumbai police confirmed the actor died by suicide. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Mumbai Police issued a statement, clarifying the status of the case. Deputy Commissioner of Police Abhishek Trimukhe, who is in charge of Zone 9, issued the statement.

"Bandra police has recorded statements of 27 people so far in the #SushantSinghRajput's death case. We've got his detailed post-mortem report & doctors have clearly mentioned asphyxia due to hanging as cause of his death," the statement read.

"We are investigating the reason behind his suicide from every angle: Abhishek Trimukhe, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)."

This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata).
Shekhar Suman has taken to Twitter to inform fans that he is flying from Mumbai to Patna, Bihar to meet late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's family, and CM Nitish Kumar to press for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the suicide of the Kai Po Che star.

"I'm going to my hometown Patna to meet Sushant's father and pay my respect to him and the CM Shri Nitish Kumar and all the admirers and fans of Sushant to press upon #CBIEnquiryForSushant #justiceforSushantforum @NitishKumar," Shekhar Suman posted on his unverified Twitter account.

Im going to my hometown Patna to meet Sushant's father and pay my respect to him and the CM Shri Nitish Kumar and all the admirers and fans of Sushant to press upon #CBIEnquiryForSushant #justiceforSushantforum @NitishKumar  Shekhar Suman (@shekharsuman7) June 28, 2020

Sushant passed away on June 14. He died by suicide, Mumbai police confirmed. However, Shekhar Suman, who also belongs to Bihar, has been claiming that the late actor didn't die by suicide, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of Sushant, even though the death is being investigated by Mumbai Police.

In fact, Shekhar has also started a forum called 'Justice For Sushant' to pressurise 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.

On Wednesday, Mumbai Police received the final postmortem report of Sushant Singh Rajput which reportedly mentioned the actor's death as a "clear case of suicide with no other foul play."

This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata).
The current violent confrontation between India and China in east Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control should come as a surprise to none. This was inevitable. An inexorable chain of events was set in motion in 2017 when New Delhi rejected Beijings imperial invitation to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) event presided over by President Xi Jinping. A second rude rebuff followed later in the summer of that year when India stood up to Chinas efforts to reorganise Himalayan political geography on the Doklam plateau. India must be prepared to strongly repel the backlash from Beijing on our mountains, in our waters and through our digital platforms.

The Indian commentariat is needlessly agonising over the drivers of the latest Chinese actions. Let us stop theorising and be bold enough to accept that China is just being itself. India has made decisions like independent nations do as an exercise of their sovereignty. To argue otherwise would be tantamount to ignoring the sum total of Beijings behaviour during the Made in China pandemic: The acceleration of territorial revisionism in the South China Sea; the subjugation of Hong Kong through the stoutly contested national security law; repeated violations of Taiwanese airspace; heightened naval aggression around Japans Senkaku Islands; and its most recent encroachment in Nepal.

There is a pattern to this madness; a reason for this seemingly inexplicable restlessness.

In Jiang Zemins 2002 report to the 16th Party Congress, the Communist Party of China (CPC) presciently foresaw a 20-year period of strategic opportunity for China  linked to its entry into the WTO and Americas misguided interventions in the Middle East that enabled Beijing to play a deft game of Chinese Checkers  and build national power. Emperor Xi, anointed to office for life with a heavenly mandate, is now exercising that power as a counterpoise to the diminishing clout of American influence, and the weakening resolve of a wavering EU and unsure Europe. This is the moment for the Xi Dynasty (like the Mao Gang in another era) to take charge of the wheel and steer China to its centennial objective of world domination by 2049.

The new version of Chinese exceptionalism shaped and directed under Xis tutelage is linked to Chinas past identity, largely a product of myth-making. It has willed itself into believing that it does not need to work within the matrix of international laws, rules and norms. It has decided that the time when China would hide and bide its motivations and capabilities is past.

The new version of Chinese exceptionalism shaped and directed under Xis tutelage is linked to Chinas past identity, largely a product of myth-making. It has willed itself into believing that it does not need to work within the matrix of international laws, rules and norms

The CPC is now externalising the authoritarian idiosyncrasies it wields at home. Medievalism is the hallmark of Chinese external assessments. This is evident from its insatiable urge to redraw boundaries as an adventure sport and from its estimation of its population (as well as others) as mere fodder. This behaviour is exemplified in Chinas hostage diplomacy with Canada. Chen Weihua, the European Union bureau chief of the China Daily, offered an unsympathetic glimpse into how China views the issue: People often fail to note that Meng is worth 10 Kovrig and Spavor, if not more.

Supplementing this behaviour are two critical tools: an expansionist military and modern methods of engagement. Xi has overseen what is arguably the most wide-ranging modernisation of the Peoples Liberation Army: purging it of corrupt or disloyal officials, ensuring its transition to a capable and expeditionary naval force; undertaking crucial administrative and organisational reforms; and reaffirming its absolute loyalty to the CPC and its ideology. In parallel, Xi has presided over Chinas long-term efforts to securitise and weaponise global supply chains, flows of technology, finance and data, and institutions of global governance. The all-pervasive Chinese state is but an instrument for the benefit of the CPC.

Time and again India has confronted these realities at 14,000 feet above sea level and soon it may have to defend its blue waters against the rising crimson tides. At one level, Beijing is merely attempting to remind India of Asias geopolitical hierarchythat failure to kow-tow to the Middle Kingdom carries consequences. More worryingly, Beijing may have concluded from Indias history that heightened aggression along the LAC will invariably bring India to the negotiating tablethat India will grant China greater political concessions, market access or economic bargains as the price for peace and tranquillity. The Indian state will have to dispel and disprove this Chinese assumption.

China is also using this moment to send a message to its other neighbours in the East and South China Sea. While a similar escalation in those waters by China carries the risk of drawing in American military response, the attempt to reorganise boundaries on the Himalayas conveys the same intent. China is demonstrating to the world the limitations of decaying American power without having to actually confront it. In its neo-Confucian assessment an Indian capitulation may signal the final rites of Pax Americana. Beijing may be in for a surprise on both counts, provided countries are able to correctly assess the deeper import of recent Chinese actions.

China is also using this moment to send a message to its other neighbours in the East and South China Sea. While a similar escalation in those waters by China carries the risk of drawing in American military response, the attempt to reorganise boundaries on the Himalayas conveys the same intent

India must begin with the daunting acknowledgement that the worlds second largest economy is its primary long-term geopolitical and geoeconomic rival. It must also internalise that it will not be able to negotiate its way into any favourable outcomes with China. While nations must talk and unofficial summits like Wuhan and Mamallapuram are important, India must have the singular purpose of investing in and developing robust political, economic, digital and military tools that should, for the short to medium-term, be able to protect territory and rebuff the northern marauders.

For too long, Delhi has been hesitant to impose costs for Chinas military adventurism, preferring instead to settle matters diplomatically. In doing so, India has failed to realise that while Xis China is irrational, it is not an entirely unpredictable actor. It sees capitulation and a preference for negotiation as a sign of weakness. Delhi must be creative about how it imposes costs for this behaviourcreating unconventional and asymmetric options that help in area denial operations in the Himalayas. Accelerating roads and infrastructure is one part, building emplacements is the second. The politics of sharp presence (physical) is the only vocabulary understood in those terrains.

For too long, Delhi has been hesitant to impose costs for Chinas military adventurism, preferring instead to settle matters diplomatically. In doing so, India has failed to realise that while Xis China is irrational, it is not an entirely unpredictable actor

The adage it is the economy stupid has never been more relevant. Obsession with building Indias economic heft must override all other considerations. Chinas rise was underwritten by its strategic co-option of globalisation. In an era where global flows of data are outstripping trade in goods, and where technology supply chains are being jealously guarded, Indias goal should be to emerge as one of the centres of the topography of digital globalisation. India did well to reject the BRI; it must now ensure that it rejects BRIs digital avatar as well.`

The banning of Chinese goods may be important signalling but will have little impact on the northern neighbour due to the asymmetry in trade. Zealous protection of Indias digital backbone and networks (5G) and billion people plus digital platforms from Chinese encroachment and intrusion, either openly or by stealth, must be the clear-eyed strategic objective. But India cannot do this alone. And here is where its own period of strategic opportunity begins. In a powerful dissent against the Xi regime, Tsinghua University professor Xu Zhangrun laments the consequences of Beijings global assertiveness: Instead of embracing a [global] community, he writes, China is increasingly isolating itself from it. The challenge for India is to capture this moment  to shed (self) righteous theories of foreign policy in favour of pragmatic, even cynical, partnerships that bolster its economy, provide it with technology, arm its military and support its global ambitions.

That India is still debating Non-Alignment as a choice is a sad reflection of its inability to grasp the reality that stares it in the face, its failure to read the writing on the wall, its myopic disregard for what the future holds. When Non-Alignment was conceived it was an attempt by the leadership of the day to carve out a space for India in a world dominated by two superpowers. Does its propagation allow similar space to India now? Or does a string of strategic partnerships (not of the variety that exists in the dozens) serve Indias interests better?

That India is still debating Non-Alignment as a choice is a sad reflection of its inability to grasp the reality that stares it in the face, its failure to read the writing on the wall, its myopic disregard for what the future holds

Indeed, the time for hiding behind strategic ambiguity is over. This stands true for New Delhis involvement with international institutions as well. How will India take advantage of its seat in the UN Security Council, its upcoming presidency of the G-20, its chairmanship of the WHO, its position in the Global AI Alliance, or its leadership of the International Solar Alliance? India now increasingly finds a place on the high table of global governance. Question is, can it make the most of these arenas? Can Delhi marshal its diplomatic resources to convince the international community that events in the Himalayas carry global consequences, and that silence now, only emboldens Chinas perverse great power ambitions in other geographies and domains? Will New Delhi develop the appetite to call out China on Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong in international forums? And can it incubate a discursive space that will challenge wolf warrior propaganda?
AIADMK leader and former member of Parliament and Tamil Nadu Assembly K. Arjunan has courted controversy over assault on a police official on duty at a toll plaza in Salem even as a DMK lawmaker cried foul as he was wrongly identified as the attacker.

A video clip of the incident involving Arjunan was posted on the social media, but some wrongly identfied the asailant as DMK lawmaker Vagai Chandrasekar.

Arjunan was returning to Salem from Omalur on Sunday night when police deployed at the toll plaza asked his driver for the e-pass. Arjunan allegedly argued with the police and at one point in time hit a policeman who in turn pushed him away. Subsequently, Arjunan was seen kicking the policeman.

Chandrasekar -- who represents Velacherry Assembly constituency -- lodged a police complaint against two persons for 'defaming' him in the whole affair and urged for action against another person for defaming DMK party.

"These are not isolated postings. Postings defaming our President (DMK chief M.K. Stalin) and other party leaders are virally spread on the social media to misguide the public and with political mala fides," Chandrasekar said in his complaint.

"Due to the said postings, I am being enquired by members of public and my party men and the same has caused untold agony to me," he added.

He said a mere perusal of the video will show that he was not the person seen in the video.

"In spite of this, without verifying the basic facts, these persons are spreading rumours on the social media platforms, which is punishable under the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act," Chandrasekar said.
A Filipino migrant worker Alvin, second from left, in a scene from "Banana Shake," part of 2011 Korean omnibus film "If You Were Me." Courtesy of National Human Rights Commission of Korea



By Ko Dong-hwan



Small to medium companies (SMEs) in Korea, relying heavily on migrant labor, are short of workers due to COVID-19, a survey shows.



According to 1,062 local SMEs that applied this year to the central government for more foreign workers with E-9 working visas for unprofessional labor, 52 percent responded to the Korea Federation of SMEs' survey that their production pipelines were affected by lack of workers.



The shortage of migrant workers was due to the pandemic that had restricted entry from overseas from earlier this year to prevent the virus spreading.



During the first half of this year, about 2,000 migrant workers with the visas arrived, according to Chosun Ilbo citing the Ministry of Labor and Employment. That is just 7 percent of the ministry's estimate of workers' arrivals this year. The figure also is much fewer than the average annual figure of 26,000 from 2015-19.



Since Mar. 26, when the pandemic's local spread intensified, the country has had zero migrant workers with the visa, the daily said.



Some Korean firms that applied for workers as early as January this year were still pushed back by the ministry by the end of June because of the empty pool. The firms say they are so desperate to fill the void that they must hire more expensive Korean hands but the labor positions available do not attract the Koreans.



One SME owner said that although restricting foreigners may be required to prevent the pandemic spreading, it was also important to make an exception for some migrant workers so production at SMEs did not grind to stop.


Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's intial 13 months in his first term as the chief minister have not been a cakewalk or as merry as a first-time CM would expect it to be. The state's financial condition was in shambles to begin with, followed by the Covid-19 outbreak, consequential lockdown and its economic impacts, the burden of hefty promises made during campaigns, the tag of being inexperienced, Vizag gas leak and a rigorous battle with the High Court - these were a few uncontrollable factors that posed as hurdles within the time-frame.

Initially, all that made headlines was the demolition of government hall Praja Vedika, ill-treatment of the former CM, and multiple other incidents, which the according to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was political vendetta and misuse of power.

While the TDP continues to hit out at the state government after two of its leaders were recently arrested under corruption charges, the government, however, rubbished such allegations and gave credit to free and fair investigative agencies that were acting on the powerful and the rich.

Months into the Covid-19 crisis, there has been a major and drastic turnaround in the image of the 47-year-old Chief Minister, who has been lauded by a wide range of might stakeholders hailing from a plethora of industries.

Last month, PETA India praised the CM for launching an online waste exchange platform in the state to save the environment.

Thank you @ysjagan. We are sure this will help animals too!https://t.co/JUVcS9d4Zz PETA India (@PetaIndia) June 8, 2020

Alongside, the Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to AP and TS, Andrew Fleming, also applauded Reddy over his handling of the coronavirus crisis in the state. Fleming went ahead to say that the world needed to learn lessons from Andhra Pradesh in terms of battling with Covid-19.

Article documenting Andhra Pradesh success in tackling COVID19.AP has tested 14,049 per million, mobilised a network of 4.5 lakh volunteers to work with 11,158 village secretaries & pioneered tech to monitor quarantine compliance.Lessons for the  https://t.co/0mUUDvB0gG Dr Andrew Fleming (@Andrew007Uk) June 25, 2020

Delhi minister Manish Sisodia also took to Facebook to praise the state government for the Nadu-Nedu program, under which all the government educational institutions would be revamped with the best of infrastructure.

World-famous hair stylist, Jawed Habib, also showered praises on the chief minister by not only thanking him for the 'Jagannana Chedodu' scheme but also by asking other states to follow suit. Under this scheme, the AP government will provide financial assistance to tailors and barbers who lost their livelihood due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Tollywood celebrity stylist Harman Kaur put out a video appreciating Reddy for providing assistance to tailors and Nayee Brahmins.

Other states have also reportedly adopted various strategies and schemes of the Andhra Pradesh government.

Reddy also provided a 'progressive and realistic' approach of dealing with the novel coronavirus during multiple video conferences with PM Narendra Modi. He was the first to say that 'we need learn to live with Corona', for which he was initially attacked but later the same was reiteriated by a lot of other leaders including Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

During one of the video conferences, Reddy emphasised on destigmatisation of coronavirus and its related aspects. Union Health Minister Dr Harsha Vadhan personally called him to praise the 'progressive outlook' he brought with himself.

Apart from strategically dealing with Covid-19 crisis, the chief minister also launched multiple welfare schemes during the pandemic that established him close to his late father and former Andhra CM YS Rajshekhar Reddy, who was also known for his welfare schemes.

According to a popular belief, crisis can either make or break a leader, and the way the AP CM has handled the pandemic has turned things around for him.
An all-out war between the Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) seems to have broken out over the parties stand on the India-China border faceoff. The state is scheduled to see its next Assembly elections in 2022.

Hours after the Mayawati-led BSP issued a press note extending its support to the BJP-led central government on the issue, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Monday some opposition leaders were acting as undeclared spokespersons of the Narendra Modi dispensation.

Tagging a tweet of the BSP in this regard, the Congress leader on Monday said this is not the time to stand with any political party, but the country.

As I have said earlier that some opposition parties have become undeclared spokespersons of the BJP, this is beyond my understanding. This is not the time to stand with any political party, rather it is time to stand with the country and for the sovereignty of our nation. And the government who loses part of the country, we will have to gear up to fight against such a government, Vadra wrote on Twitter.

...      ,          2/2 Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) June 29, 2020

Earlier in the day, Mayawati said her party always stands with the central government on issues related to defence and security, no matter which party is in power at the Centre.

"The BSP is a principled party ... and it has always stood with the central government, no matter which party is in power, on issues of defence and security," she said.

She had taken a similar stand at the all-party meet convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the India-China border issue on June 19.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office regarding the meet, Mayawati had said that "this is not the time for politics and she firmly stands with the prime minister on whatever decisions he takes."

She further said the BSP being is a party with strong principles, is the only party that runs on the Ambedkarite movement.

Not just the Congress party, but the entire country is aware that the BSPs principles are very different from the BJP and that is why we have never fought elections in alliance with the party, she said in her statement.

Hitting out at the grand old party for not taking up other burning issues such as fuel price hike, the BSP supremo said such matters have taken a back seat as the BJP and Congress continue with their war of words on the India-China dispute.

Mayawati said that while the 'Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan (self-reliant India campaign) is a good move, the benefits of the various schemes being run by the Centre and the state governments are not reaching the poor in real earnest.

She alleged that similar complaints have been received from Uttar Pradesh where BJP is the ruling party. She claimed that state governments are extending the benefits of the programme to suit their respective constituencies.
Rejecting Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman's claims that West Bengal did not provide data on migrant workers to the Centre, senior state minister Amit Mitra on Monday said the government had sent the required information the day it was sought.

He also termed as "absolutely untrue" the Union finance minister's assertion that the Centre had provided the state with Rs 10,000 crore to fight coronavirus, saying "West Bengal did not receive a single paisa".

Addressing a virtual rally for the people of West Bengal on Sunday, the Union finance minister had said the state could not be made a beneficiary of the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA) as it had not provided any data on migrant labourers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on June 20 launched the GKRA to provide livelihood opportunities in areas/villages witnessing a large number of returnee migrant workers.

"It is very unfortunate that the Union finance minister is not speaking the truth. It could be either that she was misinformed or that she was not aware," Mitra, the state finance minister, said at a virtual news conference.

He said the state government had received two letters from the Centre seeking district and block-level data on migrant workers of West Bengal.

"We had given our responses on the day of receiving the letters and mentioned that there are 20 districts in West Bengal where migrant workers are located. However, we find that the central scheme did not include a single district of the state in the list of beneficiaries," Mitra said.

The Centre has said the GKRA will implement 25 categories of works/activities in 116 districts, each with a large concentration of returnee migrant workers, in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha.

"The state's districts were ignored in the Centre's list," he said, adding the statements of Sitharaman are "politically motivated".

According to him, while countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy had given four days to allow the demographic flow before imposing the lockdown, only four hours were given in India.

"It seems that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not aware of the existence of migrant workers in the economy," Mitra quipped.

The minister said 14 lakh migrant workers have come back to West Bengal after reverse migration. He also stated that the administration provided 4.5 lakh of such workers with jobs under the 100 days programme after doing skill mapping.

He added that the state government had announced immediate cash support of Rs 1,000 to them. The state finance minister also denied that the Centre had given Rs 10,000 crore to the state to fight COVID- 19, as claimed by Sitharaman.

"This is absolutely untrue. The Centre has not given a single paisa while West Bengal had already spent Rs 1,000 crore from its own resources," he said.

Mitra alleged that Sitharaman, instead of keeping her own house in order in view of the plunging economy, chose to target West Bengal by making statements which are far from the truth.

He claimed that the COVID-19 recovery rate in West Bengal is better than several BJP-ruled states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, while Gujarat has the highest death rate.

On the Centre's stimulus package which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said would be 10 per cent of GDP, Mitra alleged that only one per cent of the country's GDP was given as fiscal stimulus, while the balance nine per cent was in the form of loans.

Referring to Sitharaman's comments on West Bengal government's opposition to issues like CAA, NRC and NPR, Mitra said, "Why is she raking up those points in the times of severe crisis?

"NRC, NPR and CAA are packages of hate and discrimination aimed at isolation of one community," he said.

Quoting the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) data, Mitra said the unemployment rate in the country was 24 per cent in May, which was 17 per cent in West Bengal.

On another charge of Sitharaman that the state had not participated in the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme, the minister said the West Bengal government has already devised a similar scheme 'Swastha Saathi' in 2016 and 1.5 crore families have been benefitted from it.

He also claimed that the state's Krishak Bondhu scheme was better than PM Kisan Samman Nidhi as the former had an assured income plan and death benefit, which was absent in the Centre's programme.
The Shiv Sena on Monday hit out at Union minister Nitin Gadkari's remarks on the need to decongest Mumbai, saying if smart cities like Mumbai and Pune are created in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the population density of the country's financial capital will naturally come down.

An editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' claimed that nearly 1.50 lakh migrant labourers, who went to their native places during the lockdown, have returned to Maharashtra as they "do not have any work" back home.

Mumbai has been significantly contributing to the national treasury, but it has "not got the due share of financial assistance from the Centre" in the battle against COVID-19, it claimed.

Gadkari last month said there is a need to decongest Mumbai as the densely populated city is facing "disastrous consequences", referring to the mounting coronavirus cases.

In response, the Sena on Monday said, "If you create smart cities like Mumbai and Pune in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the population density of Mumbai and Pune will come down naturally. Jobs should be created in those states first."

Gadkaris concerns will automatically be addressed if those states create more and more infrastructure, the Marathi publication said.

"Nearly 1.50 lakh migrant labourers have returned to Maharashtra again during the lockdown period. They do not have any work in their native states. The reason behind it is that development has not reached those states, it said.

Some seven to eight lakh migrant workers went back from Mumbai to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha (during the lockdown), it noted.

"Nearly three lakh left from Pune and now they have started coming back. This is what is increasing the burden on Mumbai and Pune, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said.

"It clearly indicates that hunger is prevailing over the coronavirus threat. People are willing to take the risk and are travelling in search of jobs, it said.

The Union government launched the 'Smart City' mission in June 2015, but how much of it has actually materialised in so many years? the Sena asked.

"Mumbai has taken the burden of the country's population and is significantly contributing to the national treasury, but it did not receive the due share of financial assistance from the Centre in the current fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," it said.
Riding bullock carts, horse carts and bicycles, Congress leaders and workers took to the streets on Monday in country-wide protests against the fuel price hike and accused the Centre of adding to the financial hardships of the people reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.

Scores of mask-wearing protesters were detained by police for violating coronavirus lockdown restrictions related to assembly of people. In Congress-ruled states like Rajasthan and Maharashtra, the ministers too joined the demonstrations.

Participating in the Congress' 'Speak Up Against Fuel Hike' campaign across the country, party president Sonia Gandhi accused the BJP-led central government of setting "a new example of extortion", and sought an immediate rollback.

Party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also took part in the campaign on social media, and urged the people to join them in pressing the government to reduce fuel prices.

Diesel price has been hiked 22 times and petrol price has been raised 21 times since June 7 with a cumulative increase of Rs 11.14 and Rs 9.17 respectively.

"I, along with all Congressmen and others together, demand from the Modi government to immediately roll back the increase in prices of petrol and diesel raised during this crisis due to the corona pandemic," Sonia Gandhi said in a video message.

The agitating Congress leaders and workers in Punjab rode horse carts with scooters loaded on them. State Congress chief Sunil Jakhar along with MLA Angad Saini, Punjab Youth Congress chief Barinder Dhillon and other local leaders pulled a tractor with ropes.

"Farmers cannot afford to run tractors now with such a steep hike in diesel rates," Jakhar said.

AICC general secretary Harish Rawat rode a bullock cart in Dehradun during the protest and performed puja at a Shiva temple praying for "good sense" to prevail on the central government.

Leading a dharna at the Congress office, its Uttarakhand chief Pritam Singh said his party "will not tolerate this loot of people's money by the Modi government".

Rajasthan Congress president and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot led the protest in Jaipur. He said that petrol and diesel prices directly affect the common people. The Centre did not form any policy to deal with the economic slowdown and passed the burden on the common people, he said.

"No government can ignore people's voice. Petrol-diesel price hike will have to be reversed," Pilot said before submitting a memorandum to the President through the district collector.

Several Congress ministers in Maharashtra, including Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan and Nitin Raut, staged a protest at the party office in Mumbai.

Thorat, who is the Maharashtra Congress president and the state revenue minister, later led a protest in Pune where party workers, holding placards with messages demanding roll back of the hike, gathered at Alka Chowk to stage a demonstration.

Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan led a protest in Sangli along with state minister Vishwajit Kadam. Besides, state minister Satej Patil staged a protest against the fuel price hike in Kolhapur.

Congress leaders, led by Karnataka state president DK Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah, took out a bicycle rally up to the Congress office in Bengaluru, though social distancing and all the other norms to contain coronavirus apparently went for a toss during the protest.

The rally converged on the party office where a sit-in demonstration was held. "When Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, fuel prices never went up beyond Rs 75. Today, not just fuel but also there is a steep rise in prices of all the commodities. It is becoming hard for the common man to survive in the present times," Siddaramaiah told the gathering.

In the national capital, the members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and its president Srinivas BV rode a bullock cart from the outfit's headquarters at Raisina Road to Shastri Bhawan, where police stopped them.

Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar and party workers were detained as they tried to go to Raj Niwas, which is Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's official residence, to lodge their protest against the rising prices of petrol and diesel.

Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda and nearly 50 other party workers were detained in Ahmedabad while they were trying to take out a rally against the fuel price hike.

They were not given permission for such a gathering, a senior police official said. The opposition party also organised similar protests in Rajkot, Vadodara and Surat districts of Gujarat.

Congress workers in other parts of the state were also detained for holding protests over the issue, officials said.

"Not once but 22 times they raised the prices of petrol and diesel. This decision has dealt the biggest blow to the vulnerable and the poor," Rahul Gandhi said during the Congress' "Speak Up Against Fuel Hike" campaign.

A large number of party leaders put out their messages during the campaign to press upon the government to reduce fuel prices.

"The government should stop profiteering from petrol and diesel and should immediately reduce prices and excise duty on them," Gandhi said in his video message on social media.

BJP leader and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hit back at the Congress, saying the central government is using the tax revenue earned from the petrol and diesel sale to fund welfare programmes for the poor and not for any "son-in-law or Rajiv Gandhi Foundation".

Protests were held by the Congress across Haryana, including Karnal, Rohtak, Yamunanagar, Faridabad and Sirsa. Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja led the protest in Karnal, which is Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's home constituency.

"By such steps, the government is indulging in profiteering and not helping anyone to become Atma Nirbhar (self-reliant)," Selja said.

Hitting out at the Centre, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said every section, including the farmers have been hit hard by the hike in fuel prices.

Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar and state party unit women's wing head Pratima Coutinho staged a protest in North Goa district, while Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Digambar Kamat led the demonstration in South Goa district.

Party workers, led by Odisha Congress President Niranjan Patnaik, held a silent sit-in near Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneswar and sent a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking his intervention for a quick rollback of the hike in fuel price in the interest of the people who are hit hard by the pandemic.

Party workers in Jammu rode two horse carts and raised slogans against the central government.
Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the face of Kashmir's separatist politics for over three decades, on Monday resigned from the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) of which he was a part since 1993, blaming the "present situation" behind his step.

"In view of the current state of the Hurriyat Conference, I am announcing my complete dissociation from the forum. In this context I have already sent a detailed letter to all constituents of the forum," Geelani said in an audio message released on Monday morning.

The 90-year-old separatist leader has been under house arrest for a major part of the last decade.

In his widely-shared resignation letter, Geelani listed complaints about the family members of Hurriyat leaders seeking plum posts in government and financial irregularities within the separatist fold among the reasons for his stepping down from the party.

Geelani said another reason why he resigned was separatist leaders who remained silent against the revocation of Article 370 despite not being arrested.

The Hurriyat is a group of two dozen separatist outfits. Hurriyat (G) was led by Geelani until his long-time associate Ashraf Sehrai was given the charge in 2018. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik head their own outfits, which are part of the APHC.

"Even though I am in captivity, I have tried to look for you, I have continuously sent messages for you, but despite my efforts, you were not available. To make plans and to guide the community neither my health nor my captivity was a hurdle," Geelani said in his letter in what could be read as a message not just to the separatists in the Valley but to those running the Pakistan office of the Hurriyat.

Geelani's resignation is likely to cause a crisis of credibility for the separatist movement and its leaders. Of the remaining two other big leaders of Hurriyat, Farooq is being investigated in a terror funding case while Malik is being tried for the murder of four Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel. Other separatist leaders like Shabir Shah are in prison in terror financing cases.

Among the various factions of the Hurriyat, Geelani arguably holds the greatest sway among the local Kashmiris. Security agencies have reportedly made a 'G-Plan' to deal with the demise of the ailing separatist leader, rumours of whose deaths often put the security grid in the Valley on alert.

Hurriyat was founded in 1993 by political leaders like Geelani who had contested the rigged 1987 Assembly polls. These outfits were accused of acting as the political wing of militant groups.

Differences between various Hurriyat factions is not new. The different factions led by separatist leaders have accused each other of softening their positions. In 2003, the Geelani-led faction split because of differences with the Mirwaiz-led faction, which was in favour of participating in talks between India and Pakistan.

In 2014, Shah and Mirwaiz grew apart and the former went on to form a third separatist group called the 'Real Hurriyat'.

Hurriyat leaders have also come under scrutiny of investigative agencies for amassing disproportionate wealth and for evading taxes.
The Narendra Modi governments decision to ban 59 applications with Chinese links, including popular ones like TikTok and UC Browser, over security concerns received applause from leaders across the political spectrum.

Union Minister of Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said the move was taken to ensure the countrys integrity and protect data and privacy of Indians.

For safety, security, defence, sovereignty & integrity of India and to protect data & privacy of people of India the Government has banned 59 mobile apps. Jai Hind! he wrote on Twitter.

Congress leader Ahmed Patel also welcomed the decision, while adding that the government has to take more substantial measures in light of the Chinese intrusion and unprovoked attack on Indian Army.

We welcome the decision to ban Chinese apps. In light of the grave intrusion of our territory & the unprovoked attack on our armed forces by the Chinese army, we expect our government to take more substantial & effective measures, Patel said.
A nationwide protest against rising fuel prices in the country has been launched by the Congress, even as many state units of the opposition political party demonstrated on Monday.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday again took a swipe at the Central government for the rising fuel prices and urged people to join the campaign against it.

The former Congress party chief took to Twitter to show his resentment and stated, "Come and join #SpeakUpAgainstFuelHike campaign." This came after the state-run oil marketing companies raised the prices of petrol and diesel on Monday, a day after there was no hike in rates that were increasing continuously for three weeks.

Diesel price on Monday scaled a new high after prices were hiked for the 22nd time in just over three weeks, taking the cumulative increase to Rs 11.14 per litre. Petrol price was increased by 5 paise per litre and diesel 13 paise a litre across the country, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies.

While Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah protested by riding a bicycle from his residence to reach Minsk Square, members of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee were detained by police while demonstrating near the IP College. In Ahmadabad too, police detained protesting Congress workers.

In Maharashtra, Congress leaders including State Minister Balasaheb Thorat staged a protest in Pune against the increase in fuel prices.

Bengaluru: Congress leader and former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah rides a bicycle from his residence to reach Minsk Square, to participate in party's protest against the hike in fuel prices. pic.twitter.com/DTo8eMzwJR ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Delhi: Members of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee detained by police while protesting near IP College against continuous hike in fuel prices. pic.twitter.com/2vLhaJruwo ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Ahmedabad: Police detains Congress workers protesting against continuous hike in fuel prices. Congress has called for a nationwide protest over an increase in fuel prices amid #COVID19 pandemic. #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/O2ytYDCBsd ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

In Patna, Congress workers rode bicycles, bullock cart and horse cart as a mark of protest against the increase in fuel prices.

Patna: Congress workers ride bicycles, bullock cart and horse cart as a mark of protest against the increase in fuel prices. #Bihar pic.twitter.com/uvcYPJd1sL ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

The Odisha unit of the Congress will stage demonstrations across the state on Monday and Tuesday to protest the "unprecedented" increase in prices of petrol and diesel, a senior party leader said. Legislator Suresh Kumar Routray said party workers will stage demonstrations in front of central government offices in Bhubaneswar during the day.

Rahul Gandhi also shared a video wherein a person could be heard saying that the government is "rubbing salt on the wounds of people" by increasing the prices at a time when people are either unemployed or not receiving salaries.

"Amid coronavirus pandemic and tensions with China, the Centre has left the common man to fend for themselves. It is looting the country by increasing the price of petrol and diesel from the past 21 days. The poor and middle class people are helpless," the video narrated.

The video, shared by Rahul Gandhi, went on to urge the people to raise their voice against the hike, so that it lands on the "deaf ears of the government". The narrator asked countrymen to share the video of disgruntled people with the #SpeakUpAgainstFuelHike hashtag on their social media handle from 10 a.m. onwards on Monday.

At the outset, the Congress party has also decided to launch a five-day protest, starting June 30, against fuel price hike in each block of the country. The party would also hold protests, between 11 a.m. and 12 noon on Monday in front of the Central government offices against the fuel price hike, said senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal on Sunday.

(With inputs from IANS)
The Ministry of Information Technology of the Government of India has banned as many as 59 apps in India. This has been done deriving powers under the section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 citing the concerns about the security, integrity and defense of India. The apps that now stand banned in India, across the Google Android ecosystem and the Apple iPhone as well as the iPad platforms now include TikTok, Shareit, WeChat, Helo, Likee, UC News, Bigo Live, UC Browser, ES File Explorer and Mi Community.

This announcement comes at a time when tensions between India and China are at an all-time high, after the military skirmishes earlier this month. There have been suspicions that the apps developed and or owned by Chinese companies and developers collect user data from their phones without their permissions and transmit it back to the owners. Experts suggest that this could hit Chinas Digital Silk Route ambitions in a big way. India has a large existing user base on these apps, and a fairly large potential user base waiting to sign up.

The banned apps include TikTok, Shareit, WeChat, Helo, Likee, UC News, Bigo Live, UC Browser, ES File Explorer and Mi Community

The Ministry of Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India. The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures, says the Ministry of Electronics and IT in an official statement.

The Digital Silk Route is the technology equivalent of the BRI project, the Belt and Road Initiative which China has initiated to get an edge as a global technology and economic giant. The BRI attempts to connect Asia with Africa and Europe with land and maritime networks along six corridors, in an attempt to boost trade. China has also tied up with 16 other countries but has also been investing its own resources and creating a digital framework abroad. This includes optical cable lines, data hubs and other critical infrastructure projects which China needs to control the global digital discourse.

The Digital Silk Route is the technology equivalent of the BRI project, the Belt and Road Initiative which China has initiated to get an edge as a global technology and economic giant

This move could also have a cascading effect, as more countries could end up banning these apps in the coming days. There has been a global conversation over the past few months about the possible backdoors in Chinese company Huaweis 5G mobile network infrastructure allowing the company or even the Chinese government to snoop in on user data. Many countries have either banned Huaweis 5G network hardware altogether or are reluctant to use it.

This ban on popular Chinese-owned apps, including social networks such as TikTok, could have a longer-term impact on the company valuations as well, after a large chunk of their user base has been effectively shut out. At this time, it is not clear how long the ban will be in place but there are multiple recommendations in place on how to block these potentially malicious apps from being used on internet networks within India.
Over the past few days, one big name advertiser after another has come out and confirmed that they will no longer be giving Facebook any advertisements. At least for the time being. That potentially means millions in advertising revenue lost for the social media company. This comes as part of the Stop Hate For Profit campaign in an attempt to protest Facebooks perceived failure at controlling, curbing and eliminating hate speech on the social platforms that it owns, including Facebook and Instagram. At this time, Ben & Jerrys, Starbucks, Coca Cola, Unilever, Diageo, Honda, Levis, Mozilla, Pepsi, The North Face, The Hershey Company, Viber and Verizon are just some of the global brands on a revolt list that is growing by the day.

The Stop Hate For Profit campaign was set up after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis while in police custody, something that was captured on video. Facebook had probably seen this revolt coming, but the measures Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook announced, clearly arent enough. At the time, Facebook had said that it would prohibit any and all hate speech in advertisements on the platform and also restrict posts that protects vulnerable groups from attacks on social media, such as immigrants. Facebook also said they would label posts that violate its content moderation policiesyet these posts would remain visible on the network.

Facebook had clocked $17.7 billion in advertising revenue in the previous quarter

The Stop Hate For Profit isnt at best pleased. Faced with this tidal wave, Mark Zuckerberg responded today with a small number of small changes. He stated that Facebook would apply their hate policy to ads as if it was some new revelation, while not addressing hate more broadly in groups and posts. Voter misinformation may be a bit harder to spread the day of the election (but still will run rampant the rest of the time). And posts that call for violence will still be allowed if they come from someone newsworthy but they will now be labeled. None of this will be vetted or verified - or make a dent in the problem on the largest social media platform on the plane, they say in an official statement. The organizers also point to how Facebook named Breitbart News a trusted news source and made The Daily Caller a fact checker despite both publications having records of working with known white nationalists.

Ben & Jerrys, Starbucks, Coca Cola, Unilever, Diageo, Honda, Levis, Mozilla, Pepsi, The North Face, The Hershey Company, Viber and Verizon are just some of the global brands on a revolt list that is growing by the day

This circles us back to the whole issue of what really is freedom of speech and what really is public interest. A few weeks ago, Twitter tried to take the high ground by labeling some posts by US President Donald Trump for misinformation. Yet, for a social network to take high ground by saying they have suddenly started to pretend to put their house in order, is a bit rich.

The advertiser revolt is hurting Facebook a lot as far as the money bit is concerned. At the end of trading on Friday, Facebook stocks were down 8%. When markets reopen Monday, the shares are expected to trade at $212.50, down from $235 on Thursday. Estimates are that it has wiped out around $56 billion from Facebooks market value. Facebook had clocked $17.7 billion in advertising revenue in the previous quarter.

The revolt against Facebook is also dragging other social media platforms, including Twitter, Snap, TikTok and YouTube, into the debate. It is absolutely not to say that these social media platforms are immune to criticism, because they must take their own share of the blame for letting hate speech flourish on their networksTwitter allowing tweets that bordered on hate speech from politicians, for years, is an example.

A few weeks ago, Twitter tried to take the high ground by labeling some posts by US President Donald Trump for misinformation

The latest to join the advertiser revolt is Starbucks, which makes its reasons for pulling all the advertisements and the millions that go with it, from Facebook and in fact, all social media platforms. We believe in bringing communities together, both in person and online, and we stand against hate speech. We believe more must be done to create welcoming and inclusive online communities, and we believe both business leaders and policy makers need to come together to affect real change, they say. We will pause advertising on all social media platforms while we continue discussions internally, with our media partners and with civil rights organizations in the effort to stop the spread of hate speech, says Starbucks.

Unilever spent around $42.4 million advertising on Facebook just in the US last year

One of the largest advertisers on the planet, Unilever has also confirmed that it will not give any advertising to social media networks. We have taken the decision to stop advertising on @Facebook, @Instagram & @Twitter in the US. The polarized atmosphere places an increased responsibility on brands to build a trusted & safe digital ecosystem. Our action starts now until the end of 2020, they say. Unilevers brands include Dove, Lifebuoy, Lipton, Lux, Rexona, Blueair, Ponds, Pears, Walls, Tresemme and more. Unilever spent around $42.4 million advertising on Facebook just in the US last year, according to the advertising analytics platform Pathmatics.

There is no place for racism in the world and there is no place for racism on social media. The Coca-Cola Company will pause paid advertising on all social media platforms globally for at least 30 days. We will take this time to reassess our advertising policies to determine whether revisions are needed. We also expect greater accountability and transparency from our social media partners, says James Quincey, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola spent $22.1 million on Facebook ads last year and more than $18 million on Twitter, according to data by Pathmatics.

Coca-Cola spent $22.1 million on Facebook ads last year and more than $18 million on Twitter

British multinational beverage alcohol company Diageo has also confirmed that from 1 July, they will pause all paid advertising globally on major social media platforms. We will continue to discuss with media partners how they will deal with unacceptable content, they say.

It is still early days of the revolt. Expect more companies to join in, but for social media companies, the real impact will be felt on the financials and the balance sheets in the coming months. A single advertiser pulling back may not have made a lot of difference, but this movement can put pressure on social media giants to finally clean up their platforms.
SARAJEVO, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The "Chinese Bridge" Chinese proficiency competition for high school students was held online in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on Sunday amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three high school students from BiH's capital of Sarajevo and Banja Luka, the second largest city of BiH, won the top three places. Judges selected the winners through Chinese speech, talent, quiz on Chinese history and culture and dictation in Chinese.

Kevser Bukvic, who finished first in the contest, only started learning Chinese in February this year. As daughter of a Bosnian diplomat currently stationed in China, she has keen interest in Chinese culture.

"I can even imagine walking on the Great Wall and seeing its beautiful scenery. I also want to visit ancient Chinese temples, learn about Chinese history, and imagine myself as someone who lived at that time. I want to explore Chinese culture on my own," Kevser said in her speech entitled "My Chinese dream."

"Benefiting from closer economic and cultural exchanges between China and BiH, more and more Bosnians become interested in learning Chinese in recent years," La Weixin, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Sarajevo, told Xinhua.

In Republika Srpska, one of BiH's two entities, Chinese has already been included in the curriculum for primary and secondary schools, said La.

The "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition is an international contest held yearly and sponsored by the Beijing-based Confucius Institute Headquarters, or called Hanban in Chinese, according to Hanban on its website.

It consists of three events -- "Chinese Bridge" competition for foreign college students, "Chinese Bridge" competition for foreign high school students and "Chinese Bridge" competition for foreign students in China.
Hyundai Motor emblem / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor America



By Nam Hyun-woo



Hyundai Motor has joined a global brands' boycott of Facebook over its handling of hate speech, pulling its U.S. affiliate's ads from the social media platform.



According to the carmaker, Hyundai Motor America paused running advertising on Facebook from June 19, after it announced a statement celebrating "Juneteenth," a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.



"Hyundai Motor America opposes all forms of hate speech, including on social media platforms," the company told The Korea Times. "We have high expectations for the properties where we run advertising and closely monitor all of our paid media activities to determine if any adjustments are needed. We also regularly engage in conversations with our partners on their policies and procedures for managing content."

In the Juneteenth statement, Hyundai Motor America referred to the death of George Floyd, a black man killed by Minneapolis police. The statement read, "His death and the subsequent protests have provided all of us an opportunity to do more than talk about the persistent racism that confronts African Americans. We can take tangible actions as a company to create greater opportunities, for more people and help keep the promise of this great nation."



Following the statement, Hyundai Motor America said it would create a "diversity advisory council" in charge of taking "a critical look" at its business to improve its diversity representation. The decision to suspend ads on Facebook appears to be in line with this.



Hyundai Motor headquarters in South Korea refused to provide additional comments over Hyundai Motor America's decision, such as the amount it paid for advertising on Facebook.

Though Hyundai Motor did not speak out about its participation in the boycott, it came as a prompt move among rival automakers' response to the issue. Honda America said Friday that it would stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram, to "stand with people united against hate and racism."






At least 32 people were drowned and many were missing on Monday when a ferry carrying over 100 passengers capsized in Buriganga river after it was hit by a bigger vessel in the Bangladeshi capital here, officials said.

"It appeared to be an accident caused by negligence of the drivers," an official of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) told reporters.

Rescuers feared several passengers were trapped inside the ferry which sank at around 9:30 am with nearly 100 passengers on board in the Buriganga river along the Shyambazar area of Old Dhaka.

"Thirty two bodies have been retrieved so far. Search is on for the missing ones," the BIWTA official said.

According to news channels, the victims include five women and two children. The victims are yet to be identified.

The ferry 'Morning Bird', which was coming to Dhaka from Munshiganj, capsized in the river after it was hit by another launch 'Moyur-2' near the Sadarghat launch terminal.

Following the accident, the driver and other staff of Moyur-2, which was carrying some 1,000 passengers, immediately left the scene and went into hiding, police said.

Navy and coast guard divers joined the fire service rescuers while a BIWTA salvage ship was deployed to retrieve the sunken Morning Bird, described by eye witnesses as a small dilapidated vessel, which quickly capsized after being hit from behind by the bigger vessel Moyur-2.

People along the shore immediately came to the aid of the victims with country boats before the arrival of the operators with rescue equipment, eye witnesses said.

It was not clear how many people swam to safety or how many are still missing.

"The muddy water is disrupting the rescue operation, affecting divers' visibility," a fire service official said.

Poor safety standards of vessels and their reckless driving have been repeatedly blamed for frequent ferry accidents in riverine Bangladesh. In most of the cases, the ferries carry passengers beyond their capacity.
The Chinese government is taking draconian measures to slash birth rates among Uighurs and other minorities as part of a sweeping campaign to curb its Muslim population, even as it encourages some of the countrys Han majority to have more children.

While individual women have spoken out before about forced birth control, the practice is far more widespread and systematic than previously known, according to an AP investigation based on government statistics, state documents and interviews with 30 ex-detainees, family members and a former detention camp instructor. The campaign over the past four years in the far west region of Xinjiang is leading to what some experts are calling a form of demographic genocide.

The state regularly subjects minority women to pregnancy checks, and forces intrauterine devices, sterilization and even abortion on hundreds of thousands, the interviews and data show. Even while the use of IUDs and sterilization has fallen nationwide, it is rising sharply in Xinjiang.

The population control measures are backed by mass detention both as a threat and as a punishment for failure to comply. Having too many children is a major reason people are sent to detention camps, the AP found, with the parents of three or more ripped away from their families unless they can pay huge fines.

After Gulnar Omirzakh, a Chinese-born Kazakh, had her third child, the government ordered her to get an IUD inserted. Two years later, in January 2018, four officials in military camouflage came knocking at her door anyway. They gave Omirzakh, the penniless wife of a detained vegetable trader, three days to pay a $2,685 fine for having more than two children.

If she didnt, they warned, she would join her husband and a million other ethnic minorities locked up in internment camps  often for having too many children.

To prevent people from having children is wrong, said Omirzakh, who went deep in debt to scrape together the money and later fled to Kazakhstan. They want to destroy us as a people.

Birth rates in the mostly Uighur regions of Hotan and Kashgar plunged by more than 60% from 2015 to 2018, the latest year available in government statistics. The hundreds of millions of dollars the government pours into birth control have transformed Xinjiang from one of Chinas fastest-growing regions into one of its slowest in just a few years, according to new research obtained by The Associated Press in advance of publication by China scholar Adrian Zenz.

This is part of a wider control campaign to subjugate the Uighurs, said Zenz, an independent contractor with the nonprofit Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Xinjiang government did not respond to multiple requests for comment. However, Beijing has said in the past that the new measures are merely meant to be fair, allowing both Han Chinese and ethnic minorities the same number of children.

Under Chinas now-abandoned one child policy, the authorities had long encouraged, sometimes forced, contraceptives, sterilizations and abortions on Han Chinese. But minorities were allowed two children  three if they came from the countryside.

That changed under President Xi Jinping, Chinas most authoritarian leader in decades. Soon after he came to power, the government revised birth regulations so Xinjiangs Han Chinese could have two or three children, just like minorities.

While equal on paper, in practice Han Chinese are largely spared the abortions, sterilizations, IUD insertions and detentions for having too many children that are forced on Xinjiangs other ethnicities, interviews and data show. Some rural Muslims, like Omirzakh, were punished even for having the three children allowed by the law.

Fifteen Uighurs and Kazakhs told the AP they knew people interned or jailed for having too many children. Many received years, even decades in prison.

Once in the detention camps, women are subjected to forced IUDs and what appear to be pregnancy prevention shots, interviews and data show.

One former detainee, Tursunay Ziyawudun, said she was injected until she stopped having her period and kicked repeatedly in the lower stomach during interrogations. She now cant have children and often doubles over in pain, bleeding from her womb, she said. Ziyawudun said women at her camp were made to undergo gynecology exams and get IUDs, and their teacher told them they would face abortions if found pregnant.

In 2014, just over 200,000 IUDs were inserted in Xinjiang. By 2018, that jumped more than 60 percent to nearly 330,000 IUDs. At the same time, IUD use fell sharply elsewhere in China, as many women began getting the devices removed.

Chinese health statistics also show a sterilization boom in Xinjiang.

Budget documents obtained by Zenz show that starting in 2016, the Xinjiang government began pumping tens of millions of dollars into a birth control surgery program. Even while sterilization rates plummeted in the rest of the country, they surged seven-fold in Xinjiang from 2016 to 2018, to more than 60,000 procedures.

Zumret Dawut, a Uighur mother of three, said after her release from a camp in 2018, authorities forced her to get sterilized. If she didnt, they told her shed be sent back to the camp.

I was so angry, she said. I wanted another son.

The birth control campaign is fueled by government worries that high birth rates among Muslims leads to poverty and extremism in Xinjiang, an arid, landlocked region that has struggled in recent years with knifings and bombings blamed on Islamic terrorists. Though the program adopts tactics from Chinas one child policy, the campaign unfolding in Xinjiang differs in that it is ethnically targeted.

The intention may not be to fully eliminate the Uighur population, but it will sharply diminish their vitality, making them easier to assimilate, said Darren Byler, an expert on Uighurs at the University of Colorado.

Some experts take it a step further.

Its genocide, full stop, said Uighur expert Joanne Smith Finley, who works at Newcastle University in the U.K. Its not immediate, shocking, mass-killing on the spot type genocide, but its slow, painful, creeping genocide.
Five people died Saturday from the coronavirus in New York state, the lowest daily death toll the state has reported since March 15.

Saturday's total compared to 13 fatalities the day before as the number of fatalities caused by the virus continues to plummet in the state. During the peak of the pandemic in April, nearly 800 people were dying a day from coronavirus.

We are on the exact opposite end, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in an interview with NBCs Meet the Press.

New York still leads the nation in COVID-19 deaths with nearly 25,000, according to the states official tally, which doesnt include people who likely died of the disease.

Meanwhile, fewer than 900 patients were hospitalized Saturday for COVID-19, down from a peak of over 18,000 in April.

The governor cautioned that the numbers could spike again if New Yorkers let down their guard down and fail to follow social distancing and mask-wearing requirements.

Im now afraid of the spread coming from other states because we are one country and people travel, Cuomo said. Im afraid the infection rate in the other states will come back to New York and raise that rate again.

Confirmed daily infections in the U.S. hit an all-time high of 40,000 on Friday, prompting officials in Texas and Florida to reverse course and close down bars in their states again.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar stressed that the window is closing for the U.S. to take action to effectively curb the coronavirus.

CATHOLIC MASS RESUMES

Cardinal Timothy Dolan on Sunday celebrated the first public Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The storied cathedral was limited to 25% capacity and social-distancing guidelines outlined by state officials.

Dolan thanked the congregation for its perseverance and joked that more than a dozen collections would be taken to make up for the missed Sundays.

Where have you all been these last 14 weeks? Dolan quipped. Am I ever happy to see you.

The church continues to livestream daily Mass on its website.
Hundreds of people thronged a central square in Taiwan's capital Taipei for a Pride event on Sunday, unfurling a giant rainbow flag in front of the main memorial hall for late autocratic leader Chiang Kai-shek before being ushered away by police.

Proudly democratic Taiwan is a bastion of liberal values in a part of the world wherein many countries homosexuality remains illegal or taboo. Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage last year, the first in Asia.

The "Taiwan Pride Parade for the World" billed itself as a show of solidarity with countries unable to hold LGBTQ celebrations due to restrictions on public events to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. The pandemic is under control in Taiwan.

An international crowd of more than 200 people waving rainbow flags and masks, some singing and dancing, marched up to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, where a small group briefly displayed the flag in front of the building, which houses a giant statue of Taiwan's late leader.

After scattered shouts of "F**k you, Chiang Kai-shek", the crowd marched back down the steps, accompanied by a handful of police, blowing whistles to stop people lingering.

Chiang, who died in 1975, was lauded in life as an anti-communist hero, especially in the United States, but many Taiwanese revile him as a despot who imprisoned and killed opponents during a reign of terror.

Darien Chen, who represented Taiwan at Mr. Gay World 2013 and organised Sunday's event, said they were holding high the banner for the rest of the world, with hundreds of events cancelled in the traditional Pride month.

"With the rest of the world under the peak of the epidemic, only Taiwan can do this," Chen told Reuters. "Of course we won't give in, and we must continue with this flame of hope and stand up for the world, to hold the only parade in the world in this Pride month."

Taipei holds its main Pride parade in late October when the weather is cooler.
The U.S. Supreme Court defended abortion rights in a major ruling on Monday by striking down a Louisiana law placing restrictions on doctors who perform the procedure, dealing a blow to anti-abortion advocates.

The 5-4 ruling, with conservative Chief Justice John Roberts joining the four liberals justices in the majority, represented a victory for Shreveport-based abortion provider Hope Medical Group for Women in its challenge to the 2014 law. The measure had required doctors who perform abortions to have a sometimes difficult-to-obtain formal affiliation called "admitting privileges" at a hospital within 30 miles (48 km) of the clinic.

President Donald Trump's administration supported Louisiana in the case.

Anti-abortion advocates had hoped that the Supreme Court, with its 5-4 conservative majority, would be willing to permit abortion restrictions like those being pursued by Louisiana and other conservative states.

"Today's ruling is a bitter disappointment," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List.

The decision, authored by liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, marked the second time in four years that the court ruled against an "admitting privileges" requirement

In 2016, the court struck down a Republican-backed Texas law that mandated admitting privileges and required clinics to have costly hospital-grade facilities, finding that the restrictions represented an impermissible "undue burden" on a woman's ability to obtain an abortion. Breyer wrote that the two laws are "almost word-for word identical" and that therefore the court had to reach the same result.

There is sufficient evidence to find that the Louisiana measure "would place substantial obstacles in the path of women seeking an abortion in Louisiana," Breyer added.

Roberts dissented in the 2016 case, which was called Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, but voted with the liberals in the Louisiana case based on the court's tradition of adhering to its precedents, he said.

"I joined the dissent in Whole Woman's Health and continue to believe that the case was wrongly decided. The question today however is not whether Whole Woman's Health was right or wrong, but whether to adhere to it in deciding the present case," Roberts wrote in a separate opinion.

At the same time, Roberts did question some of the court's analysis in the earlier ruling, suggesting he may side with his conservative colleagues in future challenges to abortion restrictions.

'Relieved'

As a result, the positive reaction to the ruling from abortion rights group was muted.

"We're relieved that the Louisiana law has been blocked today but we're concerned about tomorrow," said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represented the Louisiana clinic.

Two of Louisiana's three clinics that perform abortions would have been forced to close if the law went into effect, according to lawyers for Hope Medical Group.

In a dissenting opinion, conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote that Louisiana and Texas rulings are similar only because "the abortion right recognized in this court's decisions is used like a bulldozer to flatten legal rules that stand in the way."

Roberts also sided with the liberal justices in two other important rulings this month. One found that gay and transgender people are protected from workplace discrimination under federal civil rights law. The other blocked Trump's bid to end a program that protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of immigrants - often called "Dreamers" - who entered the United States illegally as children.

Several other cases involving legal challenges to abortion restrictions in other states are heading toward the justices that could provide other avenues for its conservative majority to roll back access to the procedure.

Trump, seeking re-election on Nov. 3, promised during the 2016 presidential race to appoint justices who would overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. The Louisiana case marked the first major abortion dispute heard by the court since Trump appointed Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 and Neil Gorsuch in 2017 as justices. Both ruled in favor of the Louisiana abortion restrictions.

Abortion remains a divisive issue in the United States as it is in many countries. Christian conservatives - an important political constituency for Trump - are among those most opposed to it. The Republican president, who years earlier had supported abortion rights, attended an anti-abortion march in January and declared, "Unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House."

Abortion rights advocates have argued that restrictions such as admitting privileges are meant to limit access to abortion not protect women's health as proponents say. When the Supreme Court in 1992 reaffirmed the Roe v. Wade ruling, it prohibited laws that placed an "undue burden" on a woman's ability to obtain an abortion.

Baton Rouge-based U.S. District Judge John deGravelles cited the undue burden precedent when he struck down Louisiana's law in 2016. After Louisiana appealed, the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the law.
Iran has issued an arrest warrant and asked Interpol for help in detaining President Donald Trump and dozens of others it believes carried out the drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, a local prosecutor reportedly said Monday.

While Trump faces no danger of arrest, the charges underscore the heightened tensions between Iran and the United States since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Trump and more than 30 others whom Iran accuses of involvement in the Jan. 3 strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad face murder and terrorism charges," the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

Alqasimehr did not identify anyone else sought other than Trump, but stressed that Iran would continue to pursue his prosecution even after his presidency ends.

Interpol, based in Lyon, France, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Alqasimehr also was quoted as saying that Iran requested a red notice be put out for Trump and the others, which represents the highest level arrest request issued by Interpol. Local authorities end up making the arrests on behalf of the country that request it. The notices cannot force countries to arrest or extradite suspects, but can put government leaders on the spot and limit suspects travel.

After receiving a request, Interpol meets by committee and discusses whether or not to share the information with its member states. Interpol has no requirement for making any of the notices public, though some do get published on its website.

It is unlikely Interpol would grant Iran's request as its guideline for notices forbids it from undertaking any intervention or activities of a political" nature.

The US killed Soleimani, who oversaw the Revolutionary Guard's expeditionary Quds Force, and others in the January strike near Baghdad International Airport. It came after months of incidents raising tensions between the two countries and ultimately saw Iran retaliate with a ballistic missile strike targeting American troops in Iraq.
The COVID-19 pandemic is not even close to being over, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a briefing on Monday.

Tedros noted that, six months after China first alerted the WHO to a novel respiratory infection, the grim milestones of 10 million confirmed infections and 500,000 deaths had been reached.

"Most people remain susceptible, the virus still has a lot of room to move," he said.

"We all want this to be over. We all want to get on with our lives. But the hard reality is that this is not even close to being over. Although many countries have made some progress globally, the pandemic is actually speeding up."

The head of the WHO's emergencies programme, Mike Ryan, told the briefing that tremendous progress had been made towards finding a safe and effective vaccine to prevent infection, but there was still no guarantee the effort would succeed.

In the meantime, countries could fight the spread of the disease by testing, isolating confirmed cases and tracking their contacts, he said. He singled out Japan, South Korea and Germany for their "comprehensive, sustained strategy" against the virus.

The WHO plans to convene a meeting this week to assess progress in research towards fighting the disease, Tedros said.
Russian bounty offers to Taliban militants are believed to have led to the death of at least one U.S. soldier in Afghanistan, according to American intelligence, two newspapers reported, and Congress on Monday demanded more information about the reports.

The Washington Post reported late on Sunday that several American soldiers are believed to have died as a result of the Russian program, which the Kremlin has denied and which U.S. President Donald Trump has said he was never briefed on.

The Post said the intelligence stemmed from U.S. military interrogations of captured militants and was passed up from U.S. Special Operations forces in Afghanistan.

Separately, the New York Times reported U.S. intelligence officials believe at least one American military death stemmed from the bounties, citing two officials briefed on the matter. Reuters could not immediately confirm the reports.

The newspaper articles drew outrage from Trump critics who argued it would have been unconscionable for the Republican president to have known of a Russian effort to kill American servicemen while seeking to improve relations with Moscow.

Trump sought to cast doubt on the Russian bounty effort, saying on Sunday he was never briefed on the matter and that U.S. intelligence officials told him it was because the information was not credible.

A report on the Russian program by the New York Times on Friday cited unnamed officials as saying the intelligence finding was briefed to Trump and the National Security Council discussed the problem at an interagency meeting in late March.

The Kremlin on Monday flatly denied the bounty report.

"These allegations are lies," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had never discussed the allegations.

The United States has in recent years accused Russia of possibly providing support, including weapons, to elements of the Taliban. But U.S. military officials have never publicly accused Moscow of putting bounties on the heads of U.S. soldiers or coalition forces.

DEMOCRATS DEMAND ANSWERS

Four U.S. government sources familiar with intelligence reporting and analysis confirmed to Reuters the existence of classified U.S. intelligence reports alleging that a Russian military intelligence unit had offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan.

The sources indicated U.S. government agencies and experts on balance believed the intelligence reporting to be credible. The sources did not confirm Trump's assertions that intelligence agencies had somehow declared the reporting was not credible.

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats, on Monday demanded the top two U.S. intelligence officials provide an immediate briefing for lawmakers.

"Congress and the country need answers now. I therefore request an interagency brief for all House Members immediately," Pelosi wrote in a letter to Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and CIA Director Gina Haspel.

White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany told Fox News that members of Congress would be briefed on the matter on Monday.

However, aides to congressional and committee leaders said no briefing had yet been scheduled.

The New York Times and the Associated Press also reported US military and intelligence officials were reviewing past casualties to see whether they were tied to Moscow's alleged payments.

One incident under review was an April 2019 attack by the Taliban on an American convoy that killed three US Marines, the AP said, citing unidentified sources. Officials were also probing whether $500,000 found during a U.S. raid on a Taliban outpost earlier this year was tied to the program, it added.

Reuters could not immediately confirm these reports.
Four gunmen attacked the Pakistani Stock Exchange building in Karachi on Monday, killing four security guards and a police sub-inspector before being shot dead in an exchange of fire, media reports said.

The militants, who arrived in a car, opened indiscriminate fire and lobbed hand grenades at the main gate of the multi-storey building situated in the city's high security commercial hub as they tried to storm it. Two civilians were also killed in the attack. SSP City Muqaddas Haider said that seven injured persons had been shifted to a hospital for medical treatment.

Armed with automatic machine guns, hand grenades and other explosives, they tried to enter into the compound leading to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) building through a parking lot but security forces foiled their attack within the compound itself, Deputy superintendent of police (South), Jamil Ahmed said.

"They lobbed hand grenades and opened fire initially at the compound entrance to force themselves into the compound but one of them was killed immediately and that pushed them back," he said.

The police and Rangers' officials arrived at the scene and killed all the four terrorists near the entrance gates, Sindh Rangers said.

Four security guards and a police sub-inspector were killed in the heavy exchange of fire at the PSX compound on Karachi's II Chundrigar Road, also known as Pakistan's Wall Street, the police said. Two civilians were also killed in the attack.

"Explosives, hand grenades and even food supplies were recovered from the bodies of the gunmen, indicating that they had come with a plan for a long siege at the building," said the officer.

President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack and said the country is determined to root out terrorism from its soil.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) linked Majeed Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack. It was also behind the Pearl Continental hotel attack in Gwadar last year in which eight people were killed.

A senior official of the Counter-Terrorism Department said that one of the militants was identified as Salman, who hails from the restive Baluchistan province.

DSP Jamil said that none of the terrorists managed to enter the main trading hall or building and that trading did not stop even during the attack.

PSX Managing Director Farrukh Khan said the "number of people in the compound was lower than normal today as many people are still staying home due to the COVID-19".

Sindh's Inspector-General of Police Mushtaq Mahar said the bodies of the attackers have been taken into custody for investigation and forensics. "None of them managed to even get close to the main building. All four were killed at the entrance of the compound which leads to the PSX," he said.

Sindh Police surgeon Dr Qarar Ahmed Abbasi confirmed that seven bodies and seven injured, including policemen, have been brought to Karachi's Civil Hospital.

The firing by militants caused panic among the people in the building.

Some of the traders told television news channels that soon after the firing started, they huddled together in their offices and cabins as they were told to remain indoors.

"We were scared about what would happen if these terrorists managed to enter the building," a trader said.

Senior Police official Sharjeel Kharal said the attackers were armed with automatic weapons and came with a mission to create a hostage situation.

Additional Inspector-General (IG) Sindh Ghulam Nabbi Memon said the attackers exchanged fire with security guards and two of them were killed. The two others terrorists succeeded in entering the gate but were engaged in the compound of the building and were killed. The building and surrounding areas have been sealed and people were evacuated from the back door.

According to some media reports, the attackers were reportedly wearing clothes usually worn by police officials while they are off-duty.

President Alvi, in a statement, said terrorists will never succeed in their nefarious designs.

Prime Minister Khan said the entire nation is proud of the valiant personnel of the security agencies.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah condemned the attack and said it was "akin to an attack on national security and economy". "Anti-state elements want to take advantage of the virus situation," he said.

Sindh province Governor Imran Ismail condemned the incident.

"Strongly condemn the attack on PSX aimed at tarnishing our relentless war on terror. Have instructed the IG & security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are caught alive & their handlers are accorded exemplary punishments. We shall protect Sindh at all costs," he said on Twitter.

The attack happened days after three low-intensity terror attacks were carried out in Karachi, Ghotki and Larkana in Sindh, leaving four people including two Rangers soldiers dead and a dozen injured.

In the last major terror attack in Karachi in November 2018, security forces had foiled an attempt by terrorists to storm the Chinese Consulate building in the nearby Clifton area.
Vietnam's aviation authority said on Monday it had grounded all Pakistani pilots working for local airlines, amid concern from global regulators that some pilots may have been using "dubious" licences.

Pakistan said last week it will ground 262 airline pilots whose credentials may have been falsified, after global airlines body IATA said that irregularities found in pilot licences at Pakistan International Airlines represent a "serious lapse" in safety controls.

"The head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has ordered a suspension for all Pakistani pilots working for Vietnamese airlines," the CAAV said in a statement on Monday.

The suspension will be in effect until further notice from CAAV, it said, adding that the authority is coordinating with Pakistani authorities to review the pilots' profiles.

Vietnam had licensed 27 Pakistani pilots, and 12 of them were still active, while the other 15 pilots' contracts had expired or were inactive due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the CAAV.

Of the 12 active pilots, 11 were working for budget airlines Vietjet Aviation and one for Jetstar Pacific, a unit of the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines.

Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways were not using any pilots from Pakistan, the CAAV said.

Vietnamese airlines currently have 1,260 pilots, with nearly half of them holding foreign citizenship, according to the CAAV.
By Nam Hyun-woo







Korea Electric Power Corp. CEO Kim Jong-kap





Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) is losing its momentum in making key decisions regarding its profitability, as the state-run power distributor has suspended its decisions on power rates and a large overseas investment project.







KEPCO held a board meeting Friday afternoon and decided to push its plan on altering the electrical power charge rating system for the country to the second half of the year. KEPCO initially announced it would institute a new rating system by the end of November if it had received government approval by June 30.







The new rating system reportedly contains details on abolishing several discounts on households using less than 200 kilowatt-hours a month, on and off- peak fees and seasonal fees.







The new system has been widely viewed as KEPCO's bid to improve its revenue from power distribution, in order to address its mounting losses. Last year, the company posted 1.28 trillion won in operating loss, up from 208 billion won in 2018.







There has been heated debate on KEPCO's charges, as experts opined that KEPCO will suffer "chronic losses" unless there is an improvement in its current power charge rating system. KEPCO CEO Kim Jong-kap also has expressed his opinion on the necessity of the new rating system, stating that the cost of energy to consumers is cheaper than the cost of production.







KEPCO's effort to refurbish the rating system, however, failed to pick up momentum, as the domestic industry hit hard from the COVID-19 pandemic and liquidity drains from businesses.







Plunging global oil prices also weakened KEPCO's drive for new rating system, as it helped the company to cut expenses and post a surprising operating profit of 430.55 billion won ($357.6 million) in the first quarter.







Analysts said, however, this could end up being a one-off event.







"Following the government policy of encouraging eco-friendly power sources, KEPCO is seeing rising costs in emission trading and obligations for renewable energies," NH Investment & Securities analyst Lee Min-jae said. "Even if the global oil prices remain at a low level, KEPCO is bound to suffer chronic losses after 2022, unless there is a reform in its rating system."







During Friday's board meeting, KEPCO also postponed a decision on whether it will invest into a coal-fired power plant project in Indonesia.







KEPCO has been tapped into the $3.5 billion project, which is building the Jawa 9 and 10, coal-fired plants near Jakarta since last year.







Earlier this month, the Korea Development Institute (KDI) approved KEPCO's $51 million investment into the project, even though the institute calculated the investment would cause a $7 million loss for KEPCO. In Korea, a project worth more than 50 billion won by a public institution is required to pass a KDI feasibility study.







KEPCO also failed to reach a conclusion on this investment, following ardent opposition from politicians and environmental civic groups in and outside of Korea, questioning the feasibility of this project.







Some investors in KEPCO also expressed their doubts, with Blackrock sent a letter asking KEPCO to reveal its "strategic reasons" for pursuing the Indonesian and a similar power plant project in Vietnam.







Civic group members hold banners in front of the Embassy of Korea in Indonesia, Friday, denouncing Korea Electric Power Corp.'s investment plan into a project of building two thermal power plants near Jakarta. Courtesy of Solutions for Our Climate




The protests were held in Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Patna, among other places. At 10.30 a.m., Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President Anil Kumar protested against the hike in prices by the Central and Delhi Government at the petrol pump near the IP College. (Image: News18/ Nasib Singh)
Mumbai's biggest slum, reported eight new COVID-19 cases on June 26, which took the area's tally to 2,218. The doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in Dharavi has now improved to 140 days and the current growth rate of the pandemic is at 0.47 per cent. The slum's coronavirus fatality count remained unchanged at 81 as no new death case was reported in the last 24 hours. According to the official, Dharavi now has 1,019 active cases and the number of patients discharged so far is 1,118. Health workers conducted a free medical check-up in Dharavi on June 28 to keep a check on COVID-19 cases. Take a look at the pictures...Health workers arrives to administer a free medical checkup in a slum in Mumbai. (Image: AP)
The YWCA of Central Virginia will launch a new free program, the 21-Day Racial Equity & Social Justice Challenge, on July 1. This program offers the opportunity to examine these subjects with curated articles, podcasts and activities delivered via email daily. Emails will begin Wednesday and continue (Monday through Friday) through July 29. Registration for the challenge is now open on the YWCAs website, www.ywcacva.org.

Second Stage receives grant for historic church

Amhersts Second Stage has been awarded a $13,000 grant by the Easley Foundation to restore and repair 49 windows in the historic former Amherst Baptist Church building. All the windows in the original structure, built in 1882, including the tall windows with yellow pebbled glass in the Main Hall will be repointed and repainted. The work is expected to take place in the fall.

Avenel looking for vendors

Historic Avenel is looking for vendors for its upcoming Community Yard Sale. Spaces are $10 and social distancing will be in practice between vendors. The Avenel is looking for flea market, crafters and farmers. Porter House Catering will have its food truck there. Contact Irene May Catlin, facility director, at (540) 816-9385 to reserve your space.
There also was a feeling among employees of wow, I really cant believe it was the end as the center cared for its last remaining residents, she said. Some direct support staff transitioned to work in the very homes the residents they knew moved into, King said.

They had the opportunity to continue providing care for people theyve grown to love almost like family, King said.

As the site wraps up its final chapter as a state-run care facility, area officials hope the last hasnt been written in the campuss overall existence. The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance and Central Virginia Planning District Commission are pushing forward a redevelopment plan aimed at landing a new user, buyer or some presence on site that creates jobs and economic activity for the region.

At full operation, CVTC had an $87 million economic impact on the region, according to a 2014 study.

County, local and state officials have said they are eager to get some of that activity and regular traffic flow back rather than watch the campus become dormant and neglected. The vision is for the campus to once again become a destination, not a ghost town, and tie into the overall goals for Madison Heights revitalization and development, according to Amherst County leaders discussions.
The opportunity is Democrats will have new ideas they can implement, and theyll get the credit for transforming the regions economy. The risk is they dont, and theyll get blamed when nothing changes. Not that rural voters ever blamed Republicans  but if the status quo is the default, and the status quo doesnt change when parties do, then that has the effect of exposing the new party for being as ineffective as the old one.

Weve often pointed out this conundrum rural communities face: Democrats at the state and national level have little interest in their economic fate because these are conservative places that are highly unlikely to ever vote Democratic. Meanwhile, the actions that might truly transform their economies require more governmental intervention than Republican philosophy allows. Now, by these appointments, Democrats are being forced to take an interest in the fate of vast swaths of rural Virginia. How will this work?
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

Today

Thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 83F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Rain ending early. Partial clearing late. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
(Newser)  The death toll is still murky, but an attack Monday on a Pakistan stock exchange building in the country's largest city has left multiple people dead and several injured. The BBC reports the attack started in Karachi when four gunmen wielding automatic rifles drove up in a silver Toyota Corolla, lobbed a grenade, then started shooting at security personnel who tried to stop them from entering the building. They "opened fire on everyone," says Abid Ali Habib, the director of the PSX. Employees inside holed up in locked rooms or were evacuated out a back entrance. "We were all terrified," Habib tells Al Jazeera. "There was gunfire ... and suddenly everyone was rushing to the windows to see what [was] happening."

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The AP reports that special police forces quickly converged on the scene in Karachi's financial district and killed all four gunmen, who never made it onto the trading floor. A police official says food was found on the gunmen's bodies, suggesting their plan may have been to hunker down in the building for an extended period. Claiming responsibility for the ambush was the Balochistan Liberation Army, a terror group that has carried out similar attacks in Pakistan. At least one policeman and two security guards were said to have been killed, though reports from the Indian Express and the Hindustan Times note even more guard fatalities. Although thousands are typically in the building during the workweek, the usual number has been much lower lately due to the coronavirus pandemic. Trading never stopped during the attack. (Read more Pakistan stories.)
(Newser)  Ninjas are the stuff of lore in Japan, not to mention Hollywood. But now a 45-year-old Japanese man can lay claim to being the closest thing to an actual ninja in the modern world. Genichi Mitsuhashi is the first person to complete a rigorous master's program in the ninja lifestyle at Mie University, reports the Japan Times. The school is located in Iga, central Japan, the mountainous home to actual ninjas centuries ago. The two-year master's program is a mix of academic study and courses on the ninjas' martial arts skills. Mitsuhashi, though, took things a bit further and embraced the full lifestyle.

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I read that ninjas worked as farmers in the morning and trained in martial arts in the afternoon, he says. Thus, he did the same, turning himself into a self-sufficient farmer who just happens to have mad martial arts skills. He even opened a school of sorts himself to teach students ninja skills and techniques. The Asahi Shimbun notes that 16th-century ninjas were thought to be "armed farmers" who honed their skills to survive an era of constant warring. Mitsuhashi's thesis focused more on the farming aspect, explaining how ninjas played a big role in managing mountain forests. The university began offering its graduate program in 2017. (Read more ninjas stories.)
(Newser)  When the US killed an Iranian general earlier this year, Tehran retaliated by firing missiles at American military bases. Now, Iran is taking a different approach. It issued an arrest warrant Monday for President Trump and about three dozen others who played a role in planning the strike that killed top general Qassem Soleimani, reports Reuters. Tehran also asked Interpol to put out its highest-level notice, a "red notice," for the arrest of Trump, per al Jazeera. The chances of Interpol following through on that is "unlikely," notes the latter site in what is surely an understatement. Interpol has not formally commented.

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Iran did not name the others sought beyond Trump, but it emphasized that efforts to prosecute him would continue even if he's out of office. The US blames Soleimani for masterminding attacks on US troops, and Trump said the general's hands were "drenched in blood" when he justified the US drone strike in January. (Iran acknowledged mistakenly shooting down a passenger jet when it fired missiles at US bases.)
By Son Hyo-jong





The momentum for dialogue on the Korean Peninsula created during the 2018 Winter Olympic Games has been frozen in just a little over two years. Since the end of the second U.S.North Korea summit in 2019, North Korea has gradually increased its level of provocations.



On June 4, Kim Yo-jong, the first vice department director of the Workers' Party Central Committee, criticized the South Korean government for its failure to prevent North Korean defectors' groups from sending anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets over the border to the North. She also threated to demolish the InterKorean liaison office.



On June 16, the North turned the threat into action by blowing up the office in the border town of Gaeseong. The General Staff of the (North) Korean People's Army also threatened military action against the South.



In the meantime, Pyongyang has used both verbal threats and provocative actions. And it seems that the North is trying to send a message to Seoul and Washington by deliberately raising tensions.



A week after the demolition of the liaison office, however, Chairman Kim Jong-un suddenly decided to suspend any military action plan against the South while he was presiding over a preliminary meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party. Thus, it is hard to figure out the purpose of North Korea's harsh rhetoric and suspended action plan.



Based on the North's recent discourse and behavior, its intentions and calculations can be interpreted in several ways. First, North Korea seems to be trying to pressure the United States to pay attention to it.



In recent years, the U.S.China trade competition has been the critical issue in Northeast Asia. And this year, the COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a serious threat. For President Donald Trump, who is likely to be re-elected, his interest in North Korea is relatively low compared to the past two years, as he faces the big power rivalry with China and the spread of the coronavirus.



Although it has not been officially revealed, it is believed that North Korea has also suffered from difficulties due to the damage caused by COVID-19 and continued international sanctions.



It seems that North Korea has belatedly come to view the deteriorating situation as a strategic disadvantage. Hence, Kim Jong-un is apparently trying to put the brakes on the current situation and draw the attention of the U.S. to create an atmosphere conducive to making a deal again.



North Korea, therefore, is certainly applying pressure on the United States but in a manner that does not break their relationship. That is why Foreign Minister Ri Son-kwon has vowed to strengthen his country's nuclear deterrence to counter U.S. threats. But the North announced the suspension of its military action plan against the South seemingly so as not to escalate tensions further.



Second, it is speculated that there may be a problem with the power structure in the inner circle. In January, a personnel reshuffle at the 5th plenary session of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party raised the possibility that Kim Yo-jong, the sister of Kim Jong-un may have been transferred to the position of first deputy director of the committee with increased authority.



Also, in April, after Kim Jong-un was not seen in public for several weeks, rumors of poor health and even his death arose. They turned out to be false, but it may have led people to think about a power vacuum in North Korea.



Kim Jong-un's absence and Kim Yo-jong's heightened status raised questions about whether there might be power management issues such as the division of roles between Kim Jong-un and Kim Yo-jong or the drafting of a succession plan.



Although this cannot be confirmed, it is clear that the authority as well as the status of Kim Yo-jong is very solid with the Kim family's so-called Baekdo bloodline, so her expanding power could have significant meaning.



Thus, we need to check closely whether their somewhat conflicting behaviors are aimed at the division of roles to consolidate Kim Jong-un's leadership, or if they signal discord between brother and sister.



Third, the latest episode might have been for internal purposes of overcoming the economic and social problems that have become aggravated under international sanctions and amid the COVID-19 crisis. It might also have been designed to strengthen internal solidarity.



As sanctions continue, North Korea's trade with China decreased significantly last year. The situation may have worsened in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to KDI data, North Korea's total trade with China reached $2.8 billion in 2019, less than half the $5.8 billion in 2016, before the sanctions were tightened.



However, the North's trade with China has steadily increased recently. According to KOTRA data, the volume of trade with China has risen to account for 94.8 percent of the North's total foreign trade.



In the MarchApril period of 2020, after the outbreak of COVID-19, both exports and imports fell by 90 percent compared to the same period of 2019. This will make life more difficult for North Koreans than ever before, and for the North Korean authorities, the growing discontent of the people is a burden.



In addition, coping with the infectious disease with a weak healthcare system would have been a difficult challenge for the North Korean regime.



In order to overcome these socioeconomic difficulties and maintain internal order, the North Korean authorities have apparently tried to find a scapegoat  to turn the blame to the outside world by creating enemies. Against this backdrop, the North Korean authorities have taken issue with the defectors' distribution of propaganda leaflets into the North in a bid to calm public sentiment.



Then where will the North's future course of action be headed? Previous analyses show that recent moves do not seem to be aimed at bringing about a catastrophe by increasing the level of provocation. Rather, it is believed that North Korea wants to overcome unfavorable situations and create a favorable atmosphere, instead of crossing the threshold.



As a countermeasure against North Korea, the United States announced the extension of six executive orders to maintain sanctions on the North and deployed three aircraft carriers to the Navy's 7th Fleet, whose operational zones include the Korean Peninsula.



North Korea will be reluctant to carry out provocations that could target the United States, such as an ICBM test or blatant criticism of President Trump, as Pyongyang is trying to manage the situation so that it does not increase friction with the U.S.



Meanwhile, North Korea may not try to break the fundamental relationship with South Korea. We must bear in mind that North Korea did not make any actual provocations because Kim Jong-un announced the suspension of military action.



Nevertheless, as there is still uncertainty and the possibility of low intensity provocations, it is necessary to maintain readiness while keeping a close eye on the North's movements, and managing the current situation from a long-term perspective. It is imperative to find ways to flexibly cope with the situation while maintaining security preparedness.





Son Hyo-jong, Ph.D., is an associate research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses.


(Newser)  The official stats we use to determine whether our homes are at risk of flooding are woefully out of date and understate the actual danger in a big way, according to a new initiative to set the record straight. Across the US, millions more homes are at risk than government estimates suggest, says the First Street Foundation, a nonprofit made up of scientists, engineers, and academics. Coverage:

Your address: The foundation has a new "Flood Factor" tool that allows people to plug in their home address and see the newly calculated risk. Use it yourself here. Data will eventually be integrated at Realtor.com, notes Axios.

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Big picture: Flood maps from the federal government estimate that 8.7 million homes in the US are at risk, but the new research puts the figure at 14.6 million, reports the New York Times. Among other things, the foundation accounts for smaller creeks not on the federal maps, along with broader factors such as sea-level rise and rainfall. Its maps are also better able to calculate risk from intense rainfall, not just annual figures.

Flood maps from the federal government estimate that 8.7 million homes in the US are at risk, but the new research puts the figure at 14.6 million, reports the New York Times. Among other things, the foundation accounts for smaller creeks not on the federal maps, along with broader factors such as sea-level rise and rainfall. Its maps are also better able to calculate risk from intense rainfall, not just annual figures. One city's example: Chicago has the biggest gap among all cities, reports USA Today. Of the city's 600,000 properties, the Federal Emergency Management Agency says 0.3% are at risk, but the new database pegs it at 13%. That translates to about 75,000 additional properties at risk in the city.

Chicago has the biggest gap among all cities, reports USA Today. Of the city's 600,000 properties, the Federal Emergency Management Agency says 0.3% are at risk, but the new database pegs it at 13%. That translates to about 75,000 additional properties at risk in the city. A definition: So what does "at risk" mean? It's used to designate homes with a 1% risk of flooding annually, which USA Today notes is the benchmark for purchasing flood insurance. But that percentage might be misleading: It translates into a 1-in-4 chance of flooding over the course of a 30-year mortgage.

So what does "at risk" mean? It's used to designate homes with a 1% risk of flooding annually, which USA Today notes is the benchmark for purchasing flood insurance. But that percentage might be misleading: It translates into a 1-in-4 chance of flooding over the course of a 30-year mortgage. FEMA on board: First Foundation's Matthew Eby says "there are millions of Americans who have substantial flood risk and have no idea, and now they'll be able to access that," per Axios. FEMA is fine with this, welcoming the new information as a "complement" to its own. "We know there is no perfect science to predict flooding," says a spokeswoman, per the Times. "The Flood Factor product may help property owners with the critical decisions they must make and purchase necessary insurance."

(Read more flooding stories.)
(Newser)  The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Louisiana law regulating abortion clinics, reasserting a commitment to abortion rights over fierce opposition from dissenting conservative justices in the first big abortion case of the Trump era, per the AP. Chief Justice John Roberts joined with his four more liberal colleagues in ruling that the law requiring doctors who perform abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals violates the abortion right the court first announced in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. In two previous abortion cases, Roberts had favored restrictions.

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Big test: The court struck down a nearly identical law in Texas in 2016, but this case was seen as a significant test because the court has grown more conservative since then, per the Washington Post. Trump appointees Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch dissented.

The court struck down a nearly identical law in Texas in 2016, but this case was seen as a significant test because the court has grown more conservative since then, per the Washington Post. Trump appointees Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch dissented. Precedent: "The legal doctrine of stare decisis requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike," Roberts wrote in concurring with the majority decision written by Stephen Bryer. "The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore Louisiana's law cannot stand under our precedents."

"The legal doctrine of stare decisis requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike," Roberts wrote in concurring with the majority decision written by Stephen Bryer. "The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore Louisiana's law cannot stand under our precedents." Dissent: "Today a majority of the Court perpetuates its ill-founded abortion jurisprudence by enjoining a perfectly legitimate state law and doing so without jurisdiction," wrote Clarence Thomas, per the Post.

(Read more US Supreme Court stories.)
(Newser)  On the surface, Monday's Supreme Court decision on abortion seems like a major victory for the pro-choice movement, especially with John Roberts siding with the court's four more liberal members. The 5-4 decision struck down a strict Louisiana law regarding doctors' admitting privileges that would have effectively shut down nearly every abortion clinic in the state. But one sentiment emerging in analyses is that Roberts' view on this case is so narrow that the celebration of those who support abortion rights might prove to be fleeting:

Roberts sided with the majority but did not join their opinion. He wrote his own emphasizing that he voted the way he did because the court struck down a nearly identical law out of Texas in 2016. He explained that he still thinks that Texas case was "wrongly decided," per the Washington Post, but that the court can't just throw that ruling out the window four years later.

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Monday ruling is "in many ways a narrow ruling, resting on Roberts adherence to the courts 2016 decision in the Texas case," writes Amy Howe at SCOTUSblog. "With four justices very vocal in their opposition to todays ruling and a number of challenges to other laws regulating abortion in the pipeline, the legal battle over abortion seems likely to continue into the foreseeable future."

At Vox, Ian Millhiser goes further, writing that Roberts gave only a "very brief reprieve" to those who support the right to an abortion. "His opinion is laden with hints that, in a future case, he is likely to vote to restrictor even eliminatethe constitutional right to an abortion." Notably, Roberts suggested he would welcome a challenge to Planned Parenthood v. Casey from 1992.

The ruling might upset conservative activists in the short term, writes Sam Baker at Axios, but "legal experts from both sides of the ideological divide still expect the court to ultimately chip away at access to abortion and narrow the scope of the precedents that make it legal." States will learn from the losses in Texas and Louisiana and craft laws that can be better defended.

Millhiser tweeted a similar sentiment: "Roberts' opinion in June Medical is basically a roadmap for anti-abortion litigators telling them how to win the next case."

The AP rounds up reaction from anti-abortion groups, including this from the director of Priests for Life. Once again this ruling underscores the importance of elections, says the Rev. Frank Pavone. We need a solid pro-life majority on the Supreme Court to uphold the rights of women and the unborn.

(Read more US Supreme Court stories.)
(Newser)  A popular Reddit forum that described itself as "a never-ending rally dedicated to the 45th President of the United States" has been banned as part of the site's crackdown on hate speech. The r/The_Donald subreddit, launched in the early days of President Trump's campaign in 2015, was banned for frequent rule-breaking, antagonizing the company, and "failing to meet our most basic expectations." Reddit CEO Steve Huffman said Monday, per Politico. The site "quarantined" the forum, which had more than 790,000 subscribers, behind a warning screen last year. More:

The crackdown. The Trump subreddit was one of more than 2,000 communities removed Monday after Reddit updated its content policy to combat hate speech, the Verge reports. Some left-wing subreddits were also removed, including r/ChapoTrapHouse. Reddit says the vast majority of the forums removed were inactive or had fewer than 10 users.

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The new rules . Reddit said r/The_Donald was banned for violating three rules of its new content policy, including Rule 1: "Remember the human. Reddit is a place for creating community and belonging, not for attacking marginalized or vulnerable groups of people. Everyone has a right to use Reddit free of harassment, bullying, and threats of violence."

. Reddit said r/The_Donald was banned for violating three rules of its new content policy, including Rule 1: "Remember the human. Reddit is a place for creating community and belonging, not for attacking marginalized or vulnerable groups of people. Everyone has a right to use Reddit free of harassment, bullying, and threats of violence." Conservatives "not being targeted." Huffman said Monday that the banning was "absolutely not" an attempt to target conservative Reddit users, the New York Times reports. He said the company strongly supports free speech and everyone is welcome, as long as they obey the rules. "Theres a home on Reddit for conservatives, theres a home on Reddit for liberals," said Reddit's general counsel, Benjamin Lee. "Theres a home on Reddit for Donald Trump."

Huffman said Monday that the banning was "absolutely not" an attempt to target conservative Reddit users, the New York Times reports. He said the company strongly supports free speech and everyone is welcome, as long as they obey the rules. "Theres a home on Reddit for conservatives, theres a home on Reddit for liberals," said Reddit's general counsel, Benjamin Lee. "Theres a home on Reddit for Donald Trump." Twitch bans Trump . The Reddit subforum had no official connection to the presidentbut another social media platform booted an official Trump account Monday, CNBC reports. Twitch, Amazon's video streaming site, said Trump's channel was being temporarily suspended for "hateful content," including Trump's recent Tulsa rally, where he invented a story about a "very tough hombre" breaking into a woman's home.

. The Reddit subforum had no official connection to the presidentbut another social media platform booted an official Trump account Monday, CNBC reports. Twitch, Amazon's video streaming site, said Trump's channel was being temporarily suspended for "hateful content," including Trump's recent Tulsa rally, where he invented a story about a "very tough hombre" breaking into a woman's home. Most r/The_Donald users had already left. Most of the subreddit's active usersand its volunteer moderatorshad already migrated to a forum with fewer rules, the Washington Post reports. In a post Monday, the new site celebrated the banning as a victory. "They censored us, the suppressed us, they silenced us. We beat them, the site said. "With nothing but raw talent, and a patriotic drive to preserve our country, we escaped Silicon Valley censorship and created a new home out of nothing."

(Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian said earlier this month that he is leaving the company and will use income from Reddit stock "
(Newser)  Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. has confessed that he is the Golden State Killer who terrorized California with a long and sadistic series of crimes in the 1970s and 1980s. In a courtroom set up in a Cal State Sacramento ballroom, the 74-year-old uttered his first guilty plea Monday in a "hushed, raspy voice," the AP reports. DeAngelo is set to plead guilty to all 26 crimes he is charged with13 murders and 13 charges of kidnapping for purposes of robberyalong with 62 other crimes, including dozens of rapes, the Los Angeles Times reports. He'll be sentenced to life without parole in August, in proceedings that could last a week as a slew of victim impact statements are shared. The former police officer agreed to plead guilty in return for being spared the death penalty. He was arrested in 2018 after he was traced through DNA a relative submitted to a genealogy website.

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During his 12-year rape and murder spree, DeAngelo went from attacking lone women to targeting couples, often tying up the man before he raped the woman. Investigators believe he only stopped because he was becoming too old to physically overpower his victims, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. DeAngelo's crimes were "simply staggering" in scope, says Sacramento County assistant chief deputy district attorney Thien Ho. DeAngelo's monikersincluding the Visalia Ransacker and the East Area Rapist"reflect the sweeping geographical impact of his crime, Ho says. "Each time, he escapedslipping away silently into the night, leaving communities terrified for years." Authorities say they will hold a press conference at 6pm Eastern after the proceedings are over. (Read more Joseph DeAngelo stories.)
(Newser)  A man arrested for jumping in the fish tank at a Bass Pro Shop in Louisiana says he was doing it for the sake of integrity. The 26-year-old says he promised his followers on TikTokwhere several others have carried out the "Bass Pro Challenge"that he would swim through the tank at the sporting goods store. "I said that if I got 2,000 likes I would jump in the tank, Kevin Wise tells KSLA. "I got way more than that and didnt want to be a liar." Wise, who floundered his way through the tank fully clothed before running from the Bossier City store last week, has been charged with simple criminal damage to property, reports the AP. The store filed a complaint with police Friday, saying they had to empty the 13,000-gallon aquarium and clean it after Wise's stunt. (Read more Louisiana stories.)
What we know about the new cases



The first case is a man in his 50s who arrived in New Zealand from India on June 24 (flight AI1316). His result came as a result of day three testing while in managed isolation.



The second case is a woman in her 20s who arrived into New Zealand from the United States on June 18 (flight NZ5). She is the wife of a previous case who tested positive on June 22 and was already in quarantine, being considered a close contact.

What we know about the 22 infected



According to the MoH, eight are female and 14 are male.



One of the infected people is aged under nine and one is aged between 10 and 19.

Seven are between 20-29 and eight are between 30-39. There are two people in both the 50-59 and 60-69 categories, and just one between 70-79.
During the lockdown, Ofa's husband lost his job. They were eligible for government support, but didn't want to take it in case they outed themselves as overstayers.

"When I rang those numbers the Government provided, I was nervous. The questions they were asking: 'May I have your name? May I have your address?' Those kinds of questions make me scared. I don't want to provide my identity because of my situation."

Activist Kennedy Maeakafa Fakana'ana'aki Fualu - known in his south Auckland community as the Tongan Robin Hood - has been helping out overstayers since the late 1980s, when many Tongans arrived in New Zealand on a temporary visa waiver.

"A lot of them are like shadows. They're not counted. They move from house to house, from garage to garage," he told The Project.

"During lockdown, they were part of the essential services workers. They were out there cleaning, picking food to keep the food supply going."

Next month, he and other Pacific leaders will present a petition to Parliament that asks the Government to give overstayers pathways to residency.

For Pasifika, the word 'overstayer' is a reminder of the dawn raid era, when racist policies led police to swoop on homes in the early hours and demand people's visas.

"In the 1970s my uncles were here, even my father. What they faced back then was terrible. We're optimistic it doesn't happen like the 70s busting down doors in the early hours and arresting people, including those that were residents."

In 1974, Norman Kirk's Labour government granted overstayers an amnesty, and there were regular amnesties after that.

Immigration lawyer Alastair McClymont says there used to be amnesties granted every three of fours years, but he recalls the last overstayers' amnesty was about 20 years ago.

"Now it's really important because we have COVID - we have the danger of people taking COVID back to other countries," McClymont told The Project.

"They're the people who have built this economy and kept it going and some have been here for years and even decades. And to now say, 'Thanks very much, go home' is incredibly inhumane and totally lacking in any compassion and empathy whatsoever."

Ofa hopes Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will help out her and other overstayers.

"I always watch our PM, she always says be kind and compassionate to others. So I will just ask the power people, if there's any chance, be kind and compassionate to us overstayers. Please."
By Tong Kim





North Korea has just run through another pattern of escalating and de-escalating tensions with the South. The recent escalation  which started over the scattering of leaflets by some North Korean defector groups living in the South  was ended by Kim Jong-un's decision at the June 23 "preliminary meeting" of the Workers' Party's Central Military Commission to call off military action plans against the South.







During the three-week escalation period, the North cut off all lines of communication and demolished a liaison office building at Gaeseong that was built at the cost of $14.7 million to South Korean taxpayers. The North made it clear that it would have had nothing more to do with the South.







On June 17, North Korea's power No. 2 Kim Yo-jong blasted President Moon Jae-in again, ridiculing and criticizing his remarks on the 20th anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit.







The suspended KPA plans had included redeploying military forces in the vicinities of Gaeseong and Mount Geumgang, refortifying guard posts along the demarcation line, reviving military drills along the DMZ, and support for disseminating anti-Moon leaflets to the South. However, there was no threat of a major provocation that may trigger a renewed hostility.







After Kim Jong-un's disapproval of the military plans, the KPA quickly removed the front line loudspeakers that they had reinstalled for operation against the South, and state-run propaganda outlets stopped carrying, or removed from their websites, anti-South Korean commentaries.







Kim Jong-un "withheld" the KPA's plans against the South; he did not withdraw or terminate them. Technically, the plans are still pending. They may be reinstated in a new situation, as Kim Yong-chol, vice-chairman of the Party's Central Committee warned on June 24, "Nothing will turn out favorable when our 'suspension' becomes 'reconsideration.'"







North Korean media outlets reported that Kim's decision was made after "an assessment of the prevailing situation," which must have provided the rationale for suspending the military action plans at least for now.







On the positive side of their assessment, they may have concluded that most of their objectives were accomplished: 1) to stop or minimize the scattering of anti-Kim Jong-un leaflets; 2) to demonstrate the anger and solidarity of the population in support of the leadership; 3) to blame the South for their internal economic plight; 4) to pressure the South for leeway from U.S. policy and to weaken the role of "a working group" with the U.S.; 5) to draw the attention of Washington, and 6) to elevate the stature of Kim Yo-jong, a potential heir to the throne of the regime, (if this was also an objective).







On their negative side, they may also have considered adverse factors that could come with further hard-line actions: 1) a possible return to "the fire and fury" of 2017 and massive joint exercises deploying U.S. strategic war assets  including aircraft carriers and stealth bombers that they fear; 2) a strengthening of the U.S.-ROK alliance; 3) the North's comparative disadvantage in loudspeaker operations or in psychological warfare in general due to the South's economic superiority; and 4) liberals in the South may turn their backs against the North.



They know that the resignation of the unification minister of the South was a consequence of their offensive. They also know the Moon government is still better to the North than the two previous conservative administrations in Seoul.







On the other hand, it is doubtful that the theory of the division of labor between the bad cop by Kim Yo-jong and the good cop by Kim Jong-un was in Pyongyang's playbook. Kim himself never spoke ill of Moon. After the leader's overruling of the army general staff's action plans "entrusted" by Kim Yo-jong, her role may or may not change, for stronger or weaker.







One thing remains unchanged: Kim Jong-un calls ultimate shots in Pyongyang and everybody obeys. The Seoul government took some action to curb leaflet dissemination and showed humiliating restraint, only expressing regrets over the North's provocative behavior. Was it a good thing to do?







On June 25, on the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, President Moon tried to reassure Chairman Kim that he opposes war, wants to live in peace with the North, while arguing that unification is thinkable only after a long period of peace. He never mentioned denuclearization  just peace and common prosperity.







In the meantime, de-escalation brings a sense of relief. Now, how do you start talking to the North Koreans who have vowed not to talk to the South? We will have an answer, after the dusts settle.







) is a visiting professor with the University of North Korean Studies, a visiting scholar with Korea University, a fellow at the Institute for Corean-American Studies, and a columnist for The Korea Times.



Tong Kim ( tong.kim8@yahoo.com
A 16-year-old Southland teen babysitter who murdered a nine-year-old boy has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 11 years.

Handing down the sentence in the Invercargill High Court on Monday, Justice Rachel Dunningham said Daniel Cameron committed an aggravated crime by murdering Hunter MacIntosh.

"I must sentence you to life imprisonment unless it would be manifestly unjust," she said.

Summing up the facts of the case, Justice Dunningham noted Cameron had "mildly autistic personality traits" and admitted "a tendency to get angry at the stupidest things".

"[You] said Hunter was being really annoying... [and] wouldn't stop using an airhorn-like device on the night in question."
Criticism of the Government's handling of new COVID-19 cases in New Zealand needs to be "put into perspective", Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a speech on Monday.

The Prime Minister said the past couple of weeks have been "dominated" by new cases of COVID-19 arriving into quarantine and managed isolation facilities at the border and the strengthening of border defense measures.

"With no playbook to pre-empt the twists and turns of this virus, we will have issues to fix as we go, and it is right that these concerns are raised, and you will not find a harsher critic than me when things aren't perfect in our system," Ardern said.

"But it's important these issues are put into perspective and examined alongside the facts and also within the global context. The overarching fact remains that New Zealand is in an extremely good position and we will fight to keep it that way."



The Government has been grappling with a quarantine testing botch-up after it was revealed that from June 9 to 16, the Ministry of Health let 55 people out of managed isolation on a compassionate exemption - and only four of those people were tested.

The Government introduced new rules on June 9 that people in managed isolation and quarantine facilities need to be tested at days 3 and 12, and that a negative result is required for the day 12 test before being allowed to leave.

But it appeared the policy was not being enforced, after two COVID-19-carrying sisters had been allowed to leave an Auckland managed isolation facility on compassionate grounds without being tested first.

Ardern addressed the bungle, highlighting how testing has ramped up.

"In the 13 days since the positive confirmation of the New Zealand sisters who returned from London to visit their dying parent, 82,862 tests have been conducted in New Zealand with not a single case in the community identified," she said.

"That represents 21 percent of all the testing we have done since the outbreak started in just the last two weeks. Since we began testing, we have been averaging 2487 tests a day. In the past two weeks, that average jumped to 6028, and as I say: still no evidence of cases outside of managed isolation facilities."

She said the evidence from the last 14 days is that all new cases have been picked up through routine testing on about day three and day 12. That means all 22 of the current cases in New Zealand are in a facility of some form.

Ardern said New Zealand is doing well in combating the virus compared to other nations.

"Australia has reported over 400 cases. In fact, they reported 37 new cases across the country on Saturday and the state of Victoria reported 75 cases today alone, with medical staff now going door-to-door testing people in areas where outbreaks have occurred," she said.

"Our best wishes are with our colleagues in Australia as they continue their battle."

Ardern said with 10 million cases across the globe and 500,000 deaths so far, it is not surprising that more and more New Zealanders are seeking to come home.

"That does mean that some will bring the virus with them and into our managed facilities," she said. "It is unrealistic to think that we wouldn't have cases in that way and that is exactly why we have these facilities in the first place."

Ardern's speech followed Health Minister David Clark's announcement of $150 million in personal protective equipment (PPE) and is requiring face masks to be worn by returnees in managed isolation facilities.

An audit on Sunday found that PPE distribution was patchy.

National leader Todd Muller says he understands why there has been backlash against the Government over its handling of the managed isolation facilities.

"In my perspective the Government has completely let the country down," Muller told Magic Talk on Monday.

"I found it remarkable that for the four weeks they were supposed to be testing but weren't, we found no cases, and in the last 10 days when suddenly they found out how to test or needed to, we seem to be having two or three or four every day."
"The only other thing I would add is that based on some of the calculations I've seen I think there's some fairly heroic assumptions in there - but we do have a shared goal of reducing poverty."

The Greens plan to pay for their policy by introducing a wealth tax for those with a net-worth of more than $1 million, and introduce new top-tier tax brackets for the highest earners.

The party is calling for a 1 percent tax on net assets over $1 million and 2 percent over $2 million. Housing wealth under a mortgage wouldn't count, nor would "normal household goods worth less than $50,000", including vehicles.

The Greens believe the current unemployment benefit - which can be as low as $175.48 after tax - does not provide enough for Kiwis to live on, and that people need a guaranteed amount of money to get by.

"Our Guaranteed Minimum Income will mean when people ask for help, they get it," Green co-leader Marama Davidson said. "It will replace the dehumanising and unliveable social safety net we currently have, which we know does not allow people to live good lives."

The policy has been dubbed an "envy tax" by critics like ACT leader David Seymour who says it is "wrong to idolise envy and punish success" and that those are "not the values of an ambitious and prosperous society".

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters also described the policy as an "envy tax" and slammed it as "nuts" in a tweet on Sunday night.
Airline crews returning on international flights aren't required to wear masks in public because they have "well-tried and tested procedures" that help keep them safe from COVID-19, the Director-General of Health claims.

Dr Ashley Bloomfield said airlines have a very strong interest in keeping their staff and travellers safe, and Air New Zealand in particular has a process it's followed since the virus began to look after passengers and crew.

"If they've come back internationally, no, [crews are] not necessarily [required to wear a mask]," Bloomfield said on Monday.

"I do know - and again I spoke this morning with the medical director of Air New Zealand - they have really well-tried and tested procedures which started when we did that first evacuation flight out of Wuhan I don't think there's any reason why they would need to be wearing masks around the community."

Masks were made compulsory to wear on all trans-Tasman flights earlier in June after Dr Bloomfield became concerned international flights transiting in Australia could pose an infection risk to New Zealanders travelling home.
For US patients with commercial insurance, Gilead said it will charge US$3120 per course, or US$520 per vial. That is a 33 percent increase over the US$390 per vial Gilead said it will charge governments of developed countries and US patients in government healthcare programs.

'Outrageous price for a very modest drug'

In an open letter, Gilead chief executive Daniel O'Day said the price is well below the value it provides given that early hospital discharges could save around US$12,000 per patient in the United States.

Patient advocates have argued that the cost should be lower since remdesivir was developed with financial support from the US government.

US Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat from Texas, said it was "an outrageous price for a very modest drug, which taxpayer funding saved from a scrapheap of failures".

Remdesivir had previously failed as an Ebola treatment and has not shown that it can reduce COVID-19 deaths.

Gilead also said it agreed to continue to send most of its supply of remdesivir to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with the agency and states set to manage allocation to US hospitals until the end of September.

There are currently more cases of COVID-19 in the United States than in Europe, with several US states hitting new records for numbers of cases.

HHS has been distributing the drug since May and was due to run out after this week. A senior HHS official said the agency expects the drug will soon be a scarce resource, and so it wanted to remain involved in allocating it.

The agency said it secured more than 500,000 remdesivir courses for US hospitals through September. That represents all of Gilead's projected production for July and 90 percent of its production in August and September, in addition to an allocation for clinical trials, HHS said.

Once supplies are less constrained, HHS will stop managing the allocation, Gilead said. The company did not discuss its supply strategy for developed nations outside the United States.

Remdesivir's price has been a topic of intense debate. Experts have said Gilead would need to avoid appearing to take advantage of a health crisis for profits.

Gilead shares were about flat on Monday.

Analysts at Royal Bank of Canada forecast the drug could generate $2.3 billion in revenue 2020, helping offset more than $1 billion in development and distribution costs. They said additional profits could be limited because vaccines and better treatments are on the horizon.

The European Union's healthcare regulator last week recommended conditional approval of the drug when used in the critically ill.

Gilead has linked up with generic drugmakers based in India and Pakistan, including Cipla Ltd and Hetero Labs Ltd, to make and supply remdesivir in 127 developing countries.

Cipla's version is priced at less than 5000 Indian rupees (US$66.24), while Hetero Lab's version is priced at 5400 rupees (US$71.54).
Russia has denied any of its power plants are behind a spike in radiation detected in the skies over northern Europe.

Scandinavian health authorities detected 'radionuclides' across the peninsula and in the Arctic Circle last week. They're not entirely sure where they came from, but said they are definitely artificial and not part of any natural phenomena.

"The composition of the nuclides may indicate damage to a fuel element in a nuclear power plant," the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment said.

Though an exact source can't be pinpointed, their analysis points to western Russia.
Those responsible for poor health control must be punished



A group of parents have sued the director of a kindergarten in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, after their children became ill with food poisoning. As of Sunday evening, 114 out of 202 children and teachers at the kindergarten have been infected with enterohemorrhagic E. coli and 16 of them are being treated for food poisoning from undercooked meat that can cause severe kidney failure. Four children are still receiving kidney dialysis.



The first symptom of food poisoning appeared June 12 after a student complained of a stomachache. The kindergarten reported the food poisoning outbreak to the local health authorities only after 10 more students had fallen ill by June 16.



Filing written complaints, the parents asked the police to investigate whether the kindergarten had attempted to destroy evidence by not storing food in accordance with regulations. The kindergarten was slapped with a 500,000 won ($415) fine for violating health regulations for incorrectly storing six snack ingredients between June 10 and 15. The relevant law requires institutions providing meals en masse to properly preserve ingredients for 144 hours to trace the cause of any possible food poisoning. The educational authorities and police should investigate how the E. coli bacteria spread in the kindergarten and take appropriate action against those responsible for poor health control.



The kindergarten director said, "We didn't know that snacks should also be stored like meals." It is dumbfounding that the director of a kindergarten with nearly 200 students was not even aware of the basic rules of meal service. The kindergarten also deserves criticism for not informing parents of the food poisoning outbreak in a timely manner.



The educational authorities should take measures immediately to address the problem that kindergartens are excluded from the list of institutions subject to sanitation inspections with regard to the provision of meals. Kindergartens are obliged to undergo a sanitary inspection beginning next year, through a revision of relevant laws, but many parents are concerned that their children could be at risk of food poisoning prior to the regulation coming into effect.




Shamokin, PA (17872)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 89F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms in the evening, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 62F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
TDT | Manama

Arab Ministers of Social Affairs have praised Bahrains efforts to tackle the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the health, economic and social sectors. They highlighted that these initiatives eased the impact of the pandemic on the community in general, and on disabled people, the elderly and needy families.

They also praised the efficiency of the social security network and its ability to tackle disasters and crises. The ministers extended their praise during a virtual emergency session held yesterday by the Arab Ministers of Social Affairs Council to assess the social and humanitarian impact of the global pandemic.

At the end of the meeting, the Arab Ministers for Social Affairs issued a statement to boost social protection systems and broaden the scope of beneficiaries to cover new categories affected by the current crisis. They stressed on the need to coordinate Arab efforts and they also discussed best practices between the Arab member states to curb its spread.
TDT | Manama

Bahrains intermediate and secondary school students in all sections have achieved a high success rate for the academic year, according to Education Minister Dr. Majid Ali Al Nuaimi. The Minister yesterday endorsed the academic results of the students. The success rate in the final year of secondary school pupils was 97.9 per cent, with 783 students, including 551 girls, and 232 boys, achieving a score of at least 95 per cent.

The success rate in technical and vocational education was 96.5 per cent, with 15 students achieving a score of 95 per cent or more. The success rate among intermediate school students was 97.8 per cent. Dr. Al Nuaimi expressed his deep gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for supporting education, which has had the most positive effects on achieving success.

The Education Minister also extended his appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister, for their generous support and continuous care for education.

Dr. Al Nuaimi congratulated the students, their parents and teachers on the success achieved despite the challenges arising from the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He praised the efforts exerted by all members of administrative and educational entities, and all employees of the Education Ministry
TDT | Manama

Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) president Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza held a virtual meeting yesterday with Energy Harbors Corporation (EHC) representatives. The SEA chief discussed matters of mutual interest in the increasingly important arena of energy storage tied to renewable energy investments.

The EHC representatives presented further information on their patented technologies, gave updates on several technological breakthroughs represented by the technologies within their respective areas of expertise, and discussed potential pilot project opportunities within the Kingdom.

SEA team members who also attended the meeting discussed other technical considerations, barriers to be overcome and potential synergies with the existing work of the authority. Dr. Mirza highlighted the aspects of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan and National Energy Efficiency Action Plan which may benefit from the technologys impacts.

He thanked EHC for their efforts towards developing novel and innovative solutions in sustainable energy and recommended engagement with other stakeholders within Bahrain, who would be interested in such solutions.

The SEA chief invited the teams to continue their discussions into key opportunities the EHC solutions present within the context of Bahrains sustainable energy strategies, where large-scale energy storage is recognised as a vital component to ensuring the sustainability of future national, regional and global energy systems.
Tokyo should drop opposition to Seoul in G7



Japan has reportedly opposed South Korea's joining an expanded G7 summit, citing Seoul's stance was not "in lockstep" with the existing members toward North Korea and China. With myriad contentious issues prevailing between Seoul and Tokyo, it's difficult to grasp how this latest step will in any way improve bilateral ties.



Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported a top Cheong Wa Dae official as saying that that there was nothing surprising about Japan's consistency in not acknowledging or repenting for the harm it had afflicted on a neighboring country.



When U.S. President Trump raised the idea in late May of seeking to include South Korea, Australia, India and Russia within the group saying that the current G7 format does not represent "what's going on in the world," South Korea responded positively.



The G7 is a prestigious grouping of advanced economies where global issues have a chance for resolution. Thus President Moon Jae-in promptly accepted Trump's invitation, even though there was skepticism that by inviting the Indo-Pacific countries of South Korea and India, the U.S. president was trying to counter the rise of China.



Japan as a member of the G7 along with the U.S., Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Italy can duly debate any possible changes to the existing format. Britain and Canada have opposed Russia's invitation since it was expelled from the G8 over its annexation of Crimea.



Nevertheless, an opportunity to work together in a neutral venue such as the G7 could help tide over differences between Seoul and Tokyo on trade and wartime forced labor issues. Japan last July restricted the export of three core materials needed by South Korean semiconductor and display panel manufacturers, largely viewed as retaliation against a ruling by the Korean Supreme Court ordering Japanese firms to compensate the surviving victims of wartime forced labor. The two neighboring countries have since engaged in tit-for-tat retaliatory measures.



Recently, Seoul reopened the complaint with the World Trade Organization as the year-long trade friction with Japan has continued, suggesting that the two neighboring countries may engage in a prolonged trade dispute without a clear winner.



It's regrettable to see the two leading Asian economies divided at a time of an unprecedented pandemic with the accompanying economic fallout. As the Kyodo News report stated,Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may want to maintain diplomatic superiority as the only Asian member of the G7. Such narrow-mindedness will not serve any nation well when the International Monetary Fund forecast a 4.9 percent contraction for the global economy in 2020, and the OECD a 7.6 percent contraction if the pandemic resurges.



Both Moon and Abe should use their respective leaderships to find a way to work together to resolve history-based conflicts and forge a future-oriented partnership.




NEW HAVEN  Authorities are investigating a homicide after a man was found shot Sunday morning, according to the New Haven Police Department.

NHPD Capt. Anthony Duff said police officers and firefighters responded to a report of an unresponsive person at 6:22 Sunday morning.
WASHINGTON - Russian bounties offered to Taliban-linked militants to kill coalition forces in Afghanistan are believed to have resulted in the deaths of several U.S. service members, according to intelligence gleaned from U.S. military interrogations of captured militants in recent months.

Several people familiar with the matter said it was unclear exactly how many Americans or coalition troops from other countries may have been killed or targeted under the program. U.S. forces in Afghanistan suffered a total of 10 deaths from hostile gunfire or improvised bombs in 2018, and 16 in 2019. Two have been killed this year. In each of those years, several service members were also killed by what are known as "green on blue" hostile incidents by Afghan security forces who are sometimes believed to have been infiltrated by the Taliban.

The intelligence was passed up from the U.S. Special Operations forces based in Afghanistan and led to a restricted high-level White House meeting in late March, the people said.

The meeting led to broader discussions about possible responses to the Russian action, ranging from diplomatic expressions of disapproval and warnings, to sanctions, according to two of the people. These people and others who discussed the matter spoke on the condition of anonymity because of its sensitivity.

The intelligence - which the CIA was tasked with reviewing, and later confirmed - generated disagreement about the appropriate path forward, a senior U.S. official said. The administration's special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, preferred confronting the Russians directly about the matter, while some National Security Council officials in charge of Russia were more dismissive of taking immediate action, the official said.

It remained unclear where those discussions have led. Verifying such intelligence is a process that can take weeks, typically involving the CIA and the National Security Agency, which captures foreign cellphone and radio communications. Final drafting of any policy options in response would be the responsibility of national security adviser Robert O'Brien.

The CIA assessment took time and coincided with the scaling back and slowing down of a number of government functions as the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold, two people said.

A National Security Council spokesman said "the veracity of the underlying allegations continue to be evaluated." The CIA and the Defense and State departments declined to comment.

Russia and the Taliban have denied the existence of the program.

Among the coalition of NATO forces in Afghanistan, the British were briefed late last week on the intelligence assessment, though other alliance governments were not formally informed. The New York Times first reported the existence of the bounty program Friday evening.

As more details have unfolded, the primary controversy in Washington over the weekend revolved around denials by President Donald Trump and his aides that the president was briefed on the intelligence.

Trump on Sunday confirmed statements by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and the White House press secretary that he received no briefing on the subject, and he referred in tweets to "what are known as reports" by "Fake News."

"Nobody briefed or told me, [Vice President Mike] Pence or Chief of Staff [Mark Meadows] about the what are known as attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an 'anonymous source' by the Fake News . . . Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us," Trump said on Twitter, insisting that "nobody's been tougher on Russia than the Trump administration."

But his Twitter remarks did little to clarify whether the administration was denying that the assessment existed, or simply denying that Trump knew anything about it. Richard Grenell, who served as acting director of national intelligence until last month, tweeted that "I never heard this. And it's disgusting how you continue to politicize intelligence."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Sunday joined other lawmakers - including leading Republicans - in expressing concern and calling for the administration to provide Congress with an explanation.

"This is as bad as it gets, and yet the president will not confront the Russians on this score, denies being briefed," Pelosi said on ABC News's "This Week."

"But he wants to ignore," she said, "he wants to bring them back to the G-8 despite the annexation of Crimea and invasion of Ukraine, despite what they yielded to [Putin] in Syria, despite [Russian President Vladimir Putin's] intervention into our election, which is well-documented by our intelligence community and despite now possibly this allegation, which we should have been briefed on."

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump ally who golfed with the president Sunday, tweeted earlier in the day that "I expect the Trump Administration to take such allegations seriously and inform Congress immediately as to the reliability of these news reports."

In a second tweet, Graham said it was "Imperative Congress get to the bottom" of the Russian offer "to pay the Taliban to kill American soldiers with the goal of pushing America out of the region."

Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., the third-highest-ranking member of the House GOP leadership, also took to Twitter on Sunday to say that if the report of Russian bounties "is true, the White House must explain" why the president wasn't briefed, who did know and when, and "what has been done in response to protect our forces & hold Putin responsible."

A third person familiar with the issue said, "I don't think that anybody withheld anything and screwed up by not getting to the president on time." By the end of the process, the person said, the intelligence community was confident in its assessment.

The issue is not when the president was briefed, the person said, because the process worked as it should have, given the coronavirus delay and the need to draw up policy options.

"The issue now that you are aware of it, what are you going to do about it? That's where the focus should be," the person said.

In years past, there were persistent reports that Russia was supplying small arms to the Taliban. Carter Malkasian, who served as a senior adviser to the previous chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford, said Russia had cultivated a relationship with Taliban elements, largely in northern Afghanistan, beginning about 2015. The outreach was partly as a response to Moscow's concerns about the threat posed by Islamic State militants in the region, and also a desire to see U.S. troops leave the region.

But more recently, U.S. officials said that Russia - which tried and failed to start its own Afghan peace process - has been cooperative and helpful since the Taliban signed a peace deal, including a plan for U.S. withdrawal, with the administration early this year.

Malkasian, now a scholar at the Center for Naval Analysis, said the bounty operation, if true, could be a "random" initiative, rather than one that reflected a well-coordinated program ordered by the highest levels of the government.

He said a primary Russian goal in Afghanistan continues to be the exit of American forces, but not at any cost.

"They may want us out, and they may be happy to see a few Americans die," he said, "but I don't think they want to see the Taliban take over."
"We love the 7pm-cheer across the nation but want to use technology to extend the sentiments behind the cheer and bring us together in a time of need," said Katherine Lou, a Harvard University student from Vancouver, BC. She and six other students have formed a new venture, launching on Canada Day, that allows all of us to write a "digital postcard" to the country as a whole, transcending some of the limitations created by social distancing and existing social media platforms.

Visitors to DearCanadians.ca or ChersCanadiens.ca can share a meaningful photograph on one side and, on the reverse side, express their thoughts and feelings about anything that's on their mind during this unique moment, from reflections and observations, to words of gratitude for specific groups or individuals. The cards will be able to be viewed online by the public, putting individuals of diverse backgrounds and from all corners of the country into a single conversationand serving as a historical record of the public consciousness during this pandemic.

To amplify participants' impact, for every card posted, TELUS will donate $1 to support COVID-19 relief for vulnerable communities and youth across Canada, via the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation (up to 10,000 cards). Lou describes the partnership as invaluable, saying, "we are extremely grateful for TELUS' support to not only help us connect Canadians, but provide much needed funds and services to Canadian families and communities."

The "Dear/Cher Canada" initiative is spearheaded by seven students, ages 19-22, who have teamed up to create a non-profit entity called To:gether Innovations (togetherinnovations.org), using digital postcards to bring people together. The team's leaders live across North America and, true to their digital innovations, many of them have never met in person. The team includes: Aysha Emmerson, Jasper Johnston, Katherine Lou, Lara Teich, Rob Walker, Sophie Webster, and Vicky Xu.

The Dear/Cher Canada platform can be accessed starting June 30th at both dearcanadians.ca and cherscanadiens.ca.

SOURCE To:gether Innovations

For further information: Email: [email protected]; Phone: Aysha (617) 803-9895, or Jasper (617) 899-4122
To stimulate local economies across Canada, RBC Rewards gives clients double the points at restaurants and 30% more value when they redeem points for gift cards or pay with points in-store

TORONTO, June 29, 2020 /CNW/ - This Canada Day, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is helping to stimulate growth in local economies through Points for Canada, a new RBC-funded campaign that gives RBC Rewards clients the opportunity to enjoy significantly more value when they shop and dine at businesses across Canada.

"We know the last three months have been extremely difficult for business owners in Canada as the majority experienced a significant loss of revenue due to the pandemic," said Neil McLaughlin, Group Head, Personal & Commercial Banking at RBC. "Throughout COVID-19, we have supported clients and businesses through a variety of relief programs and we're proud to build on that commitment by now focusing on ways we can help stimulate growth in local economies across the country. Through Points for Canada, we're pleased to be able to help our Canadian clients receive more value from their points and help them support local businesses in their recovery."

During the month of July, RBC personal and business clients who pay using their RBC Rewards credit card, including the market-leading RBC Avion travel cards, earn 2x RBC Rewards points at restaurants across Canada (opt-in required), and at Petro-Canada from July 15 to July 21 (no opt-in required). In addition, RBC Rewards credit card clients save 30% when they redeem their RBC Rewards points to purchase select gift cards from their favourite Canadian brands, including the RBC Visa Prepaid Card which can be used to shop locally. RBC is also providing clients with 30% more value when they redeem their RBC Rewards points by using Pay In Store with Points at retailers across Canada.

Points for Canada is just another step in RBC's journey to support the recovery of businesses across Canada and local economies. In the coming weeks, RBC will be unveiling additional offers and programs designed to get Canadians engaged in supporting small and local businesses across the country.

To learn more about Points for Canada and for a list of participating brands, clients can visit www.rbcrewards.com/pointsforcanada.

About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 84,000+ employees who bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 34 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.

SOURCE RBC Royal Bank

For further information: AJ Goodman, [email protected], 647-286-4032

Related Links

http://www.rbc.com


TORONTO, June 29, 2020 /CNW/ - Dynaleo, the Edmonton, AB manufacturer of premium cannabis-infused gummies, has signed a letter of intent with its first international partner.

Dynaleo, part of Canopy Rivers' portfolio of disruptive cannabis companies, made the announcement a week after they received their Standard Processing License from Health Canada.

"We are pleased to have entered into a non-binding Letter of Intent with Pantry, a premium cannabis-infused food brand. This agreement complements our already existing relationships with cannabis brands in Canada," says Michael Krestell, Executive Chairman.

"Pantry's focus on quality products made with natural ingredients fits perfectly with our own commitment to manufacturing gummies that are of the highest quality," he adds.

Based in Los Angeles, California, Pantry was created by a group of award-winning chefs and offers a variety of cannabis-infused food products. This is the brand's first foray into Canada.

According to the agreement, Dynaleo will manufacture and distribute cannabis-infused vegan gummies under the Pantry brand within the Canadian market.

"Pantry is excited to combine our passion for creating delicious health conscious cannabis products with Dynaleo's operational excellence. Dynaleo's facility and their state-of-the-art equipment will help us achieve best-in-class efficiencies in the market. More importantly, the Dynaleo team is what really inspired us. We are a people and culture driven organization and we couldn't be more impressed with Michael Krestell, Tom Vella and the whole Dynaleo team", says Scott Jennings, CEO and Co-Founder of Pantry.

Production on the Pantry-branded vegan gummies is expected to begin in later this year at Dynaleo's state of the art, 27,000 square-foot facility, the first industrial-scale and purpose-built high-volume cannabis edible factory in Canada.

"Dynaleo is committed to providing innovative gummy solutions for our partners. We are uniquely positioned, because of the proprietary nature of our high-volume factory, to meet consumer demand for gummies in Canada," says Krestell.

Solid edible products, led by gummies, currently comprise more than 90% of the top-selling infused products. Deloitte estimates that Canada's edibles market is worth $1.6 billion annually, while Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics predict that the North American edibles market will be worth more than $4.1 billion by 2022. A new report from the market research firm Headset also shows an uptick in gummy purchases in several jurisdictions since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

About Dynaleo

Dynaleo is an Edmonton, Alberta-based licensed processor that is focused on manufacturing cannabis-infused adult chews. Dynaleo's purpose-built manufacturing plant contains specialized production equipment that it intends to use to produce CBD and THC edibles for the Canadian market that can be customized in a wide range of flavours, textures, colours, shapes and sizes to meet customer's needs and regulatory requirements.

About Pantry

Pantry is a privately-held company and one of the fastest growing infused food brands in California. Pantry sells functional food that is crafted by award winning chefs, made with only the highest quality ingredients, and lightly infused with cannabis. Products can be found today in California on the shelves of discerning dispensaries, with plans well underway to expand to additional markets in 2020.

SOURCE Dynaleo

For further information: on Dynaleo, please email [email protected] For interviews, please contact: Andrea Chrysanthou, Global Public Affairs, [email protected]

Related Links

https://www.dynaleo.com/


LG Electronics North America executives and employees send out a message of thanks to their co-workers and volunteers for their COVID-19 pandemic response on the company's electronic billboard at Times Square in New York City. The special message has been running since June 4. / Courtesy of LG Electronics



By Baek Byung-yeul



Korea's two IT giants Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics could fare better than expected in the second quarter as demand for their appliances and smart gadgets in the Korean and other advanced markets are recovering this month, analysts said Monday.



They said the virus pandemic has certainly impacted negatively on the demand for products of Samsung and LG in the global market, especially in April when countries implemented strict lockdown measures to keep their populations at home, but they could minimize the loss as retailers resumed their sales activities in June.



Both companies are set to announce their estimated second-quarter earnings reports in the first week of July, and analysts added they would likely beat the market consensus, adding Samsung will benefit from recovered demand for its TVs and smartphones and LG will be buoyed by demand for its high-priced appliances.



Samsung Electronics, the world's largest memory chip and smartphone maker, is expected to post an operating profit of mid-6 trillion won, better than the previous market consensus of around 6.1 trillion won ($5.09 billion) with help from robust chip sales and recovering demand for phones.



Lee Seung-woo, an analyst at Eugene Securities, said Samsung could post estimate-beating earnings reports in the second quarter thanks to soaring memory chip sales. Despite the virus pandemic, Samsung's chip business has remained upbeat thanks to demand from servers for data centers.



According to market tracker TrendForce, shipments of servers are expected to be increased by 9 percent in the second quarter compared with the previous quarter. DRAMeXchange data also showed the contract price for 8-gigabit DDR4 DRAM also rose to $3.31 in May from $2.84 in January.



"Samsung sold 16.9 million smartphones in the global market in May, up 47 percent from the previous month. This could be possible as closed smartphone factories started to resume their operations and Samsung could supply more budget smartphones such as the Galaxy A series. Samsung's smartphone sales will be improved in June," said Noh Kyung-tak, an analyst at Eugene Securities.



The analyst added Samsung's upbeat smartphone sales will be continued in the following months as its Chinese rival Huawei Technologies is struggling with a series of uncertainties such as the U.S. government's prolonged sanctions on the company and boycott Chinese goods movement in India due to the border dispute between the two.



LG Electronics was also expected to suffer a heavy blow in the second quarter, but the company is likely to minimize the impact thanks to recovering demand for its products in the Korean market and increased online sales in the advanced countries.



The market consensus expects the company will post an operating profit of around 400 billion won in the April-June period, about between 30 percent and 40 percent decrease from the same period in 2019, which was at 652.2 billion won ($544 million).


"Our youth's mental health is a critical priority for the Foundation," said Dave Newnham, President and Executive Director of the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. "This partnership with Kids Help Phone gives our campers a safe and reliable resource that they can count on in times of need."

For the past 45 years, the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps have proudly served nearly 300,000 youth from disadvantaged circumstances with life-changing camp experiences. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tim Hortons Foundation Camps quickly pivoted to reimagine its summer camp programming with the launch of Tims eCamp starting July 6. This all-new, online camp experience focuses on supporting youth emotionally, socially and developmentally through this challenging time.

Shifting to a virtual camp brings additional challenges to camper mental health and safety. Kids Help Phone's service demand has increased 112% compared to this time last year. Typically during the in-person Summer Program, youth have access to trained Camper Support Specialists and nurses who can assist them when they are experiencing mental health issues. While some of these staff members will still be available during our virtual camp, forming a partnership with Kids Help Phone increases the ability to support youth 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"For young people, camp is a time to grow and build new skills and relationships; this new eCamp will provide hope and creativity at a time when kids need it most," said Katherine Hay, President and CEO, Kids Help Phone. "Thanks to Tim Hortons Foundations Camp's support, Kids Help Phone will continue to offer 24/7 mental health and well-being services for the youth in Canada  and the campers!"

The Foundation is committed to continuing to find innovative ways to help youth and their families through this difficult time. This association with Kids Help Phone is another step in that process.

Guests can donate to support the development of Tims eCamp by buying a coffee and participating in Tim Hortons Camp Day scheduled for August 12, 2020  our largest annual fundraiser  and by visiting our website here or creating their own virtual fundraising event here.

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Tim Hortons Foundation Camps is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1974 helping kids to change their stories for the better. A leader in youth development programming, Tims Camps support youth from low income homes between the ages of 12 to 16  an important developmental time that helps shape who they will become as adults. Through a multi-year, camp-based program, youth learn skills like leadership, resilience and responsibility, which empower them to believe in their own potential and change their stories for the better. With seven camps in North America that run year-round Summer and School Programs, youth are supported to thrive when they return home, to excel in post-secondary education, to succeed at work and to contribute positively to their communities. The Foundation's funding comes from Tim Hortons Camp Day, fundraising activities, special events, and year-round public donations collected through counter and drive-thru coin boxes, as well as other donations. More than 295,000 kids have attended a Foundation camp at no cost to them or their families. For more information about Tim Hortons Foundation Camps, please visit timhortons.com/foundation.

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Kids Help Phone is Canada's only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, confidential support in English and French to young people. As the country's virtual care expert, we give millions of youth a safe, trusted space to talk over phone and online chat or through text in any moment of crisis or need. Through our digital transformation, we envision a future where every person in Canada is able to get the support they need, when they need it most, however they need it. Kids Help Phone gratefully relies on the generosity of donors, volunteers, stakeholder partners, corporate partners and governments to fuel and fund our programs. Learn more at www.KidsHelpPhone.ca or @KidsHelpPhone.

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Supreme Court has allowed chartered accountancy students, who are unable to appear for the examinations, to be considered "opt out cases".

In a big relief for students pursuing chartered accountancy, the Supreme Court on Monday suggested the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to consider the students who are unable to appear for the exam to be considered an opt-out case even if they dont choose the same.

A bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar and also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna was hearing a petition filed by Anubha Shrivastava Sahai, the president of India Wide Parents Association, seeking a stay on the opt-out scheme.

The ICAI had given its candidates, who had already submitted an online examination application for May 2020 examination cycle, the option to opt-out from May 2020 examinations and carry forward their candidature to the next examination. The apex court also asked the ICAI to issue fresh necessary guidelines incorporating the suggestions put forward by the bench and posted the matter for further hearing to July 2.

Also Read: Kerala Technical University 2020 Exams: All exams scheduled in July postponed

Also Read: Kerala SSLC Result 2020 date and time: Class 10th results tomorrow @ keralaresults.nic.in, how to check KBPE SSLC result

The ICAI counsel may take instructions and file the modified draft notification setting out the changes, the bench said. Supreme Court lawyer, Alakh Alok Srivastava, had appeared for the petitioner before the court and was arguing through video conferencing in the matter.

The petition sought more examination centres, a stay on the opt-out scheme, and better precautions from coronavirus for about 3.46 lakh CA students, who are scheduled to appear in the May cycle exams, to be conducted between July 29 and August 16.

The situation is continuously changing. Even if a candidate has not chosen opt-out option if they suddenly come under a containment zone what will you do? You should treat candidates who dont appear as opt-out cases, the apex court observed.

Lawyer, Ramji Shrinivasan, for ICAI, said that if a candidate sends us an email saying he is unable to take the paperdue to COVID-19 situation, we will not question it.Its a group of 4-4 exams. They can choose to appear at a later date of they are COVID affected, he further submitted to the court.

Dont be rigid. Be flexible. Show some concern for these students. You are a professional body. You must take care of your candidates, the apex court observed and asked the ICAI. The ICAI had recently filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court in the matter.

Also Read: Final year university exams postponed in Punjab till July 15: CM Capt. Amarinder Singh

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Kerala Technical University Exams 2020, the university has postponed all the exams that were scheduled to be held in the month of July.

Kerala Technical University (KTU), also known as the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, has postponed all semester/final exams that were scheduled to be conducted in the month of July. The exams were to begin from July 1 but as the number of people infected with coronavirus is increasing consistently, the exams have been postponed. This matter has now been referred to an academic committee.

The university posted this update on its official website ktu.edu.in on June 29. The update read that B.Tech S8 Regular and Supplementary Examinations (including part-time), scheduled from July 1st, have been postponed. Earlier, concerned students and their parents had raised voice against Kerala Technical University when the university was willing to conduct exams during the pandemic.

Before this decision, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor had urged Kerala CM Vijayan Pinarayi to postpone the exams in the wake of increasing coronavirus cases in the state. Despite his request, the govt was adamant on its decision to conduct the exams. Shashi Tharoor expressed his disappointment through his tweet.

Disappointed to learn today that the exams are still going ahead. I'm not alone in questioning the commonsense of this, when the CM himself has said in his daily press briefing that the situation in Kerala is alarming, &initiated strict measures to curb crowds gathering anywhere! https://t.co/uC96HxK087  Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 23, 2020

Also read: DU postpones open book exams, revised date sheet to release on July 3

Also read: UP Board Results 2020: Rs 1 lakh cash, laptop and more for meritorious students

Earlier, KTU had maintained that supplementary and regular exams will be held from July 1. KTU altered the duration of the exam and made it 2 hours and 15 mins from 3 hours. But, as addressed by the CM of the state, the Covid-19 situation in the state is alarming at the moment and the exams would have to be postponed.

Also read: IIT Jodhpur to conduct online exams for ongoing semester

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The actor took to Instagram to share a tribute to her late co-star, conveyed the message of compassion for all in today's trying times.

Actor Bhumi Pednekar on Monday pledged to feed over 550 impoverished families as a mark of tribute to late Bollywood actor and her Sonchiriya co-star Sushant Singh Rajput.

Pednekar made the announcement through an Instagram post where she shared a picture of the departed actor and penned down a note along with it.

I pledge to feed 550 impoverished families through the Ek Saath Foundation in the memory of my dear friend. Let us show compassion and love towards everyone that is in need, now more than ever, Pednekar wrote.

Also read: SRK completes 28 years in Bollywood, expresses gratitude

Also read: Ranveer Singhs Simmba to be re-released in Australia, Fiji

The two actors shared screen space in the Abhishek Chaubey directorial which continues to be a critically acclaimed film.

Rajput was found dead at his Mumbais Bandra residence earlier this month. The detailed post-mortem report has also confirmed that he died by asphyxia due to hanging.

Also read: Mukesh Chhabra shares Sushant Singh Rajputs audition reels

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has revealed that his government plans to give a Rs 1,000 crore package to spinning mills next year and focus on other sector in the following year.

Chief Minister Of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has released Rs 512.35 crore to MSMEs as the second tranche of the Rs 1,168 crore Restart package to handhold the sector and said that the government will focus on spinning mills in the next year.

During a video conference with the district collectors while releasing the second installment of the Restart package to MSME sector, the Chief Minister said that there is every need for the State to handhold the MSME sector which has 97,428 units of which 24,252 are micro units and they are providing employment to about 10 lakh people.

YSRCP Parliamentary party Chief said unlike the ex CM Chandrababu Naidu, the present CM Jahan Mohan Reddy works silently and is giving major push to the industry in the time of crisis. He tweeted, The restart package will give employment to 10 lakh people and useful for about one lakh MSMEs in Andhra Pradesh. He further said actions speak louder than words.

Actions speak louder than words.

Apollo tyres beginning its production & committing Rs.3,800 Cr investment in AP is a testimony to the trust corporate world has in @ysjagan garu.When we say "ease of doing business",we mean it in spirit,not just on paper.https://t.co/BuYr0pacvZ  Vijayasai Reddy V (@VSReddy_MP) June 26, 2020

, ,     .

CBN    ,  .

 MSME   ,   .

    .

   .  Vijayasai Reddy V (@VSReddy_MP) June 29, 2020

Also Read: Opposition hits the streets over rising fuel prices

Also Read: Delhi to start plasma bank for Covid patients: Arvind Kejriwal

Apollo tyres beginning its production & committing Rs.3, 800 cr investment in AP is a testimony to the trust corporate world has in CM Jagan Mohan Reddy. When we say ease of doing business, we mean it in spirit, not just on paper.

As promised by the government, we have released the first tranche of Rs 450 crore in May and now we are releasing Rs 512.35 crore to give a fillip to the sector as the previous government did not clear investment dues worth over Rs 827.5 crore, which we have cleared, the CM said, adding that MSMEs are considered to be second largest employment provider after agriculture.

The fixed power charges for three months, April, May and June are waived which work out to Rs 188 crores besides providing soft loans from State Investment Corporation ranging from Rs 2 to Rs 10 lakhs towards working capital with interest ranging from 6 to 8 percent to give boost to the MSME sector, he said. A Joint Collector will be made in-charge of the MSME sector.

This apart we are giving six-month moratorium and have fixed the term to three years. The State will purchase 25 % of the 360 types of goods produced by MSMEs of which 4 per cent will be from MSMEs run by SCs and 3 per cent from units run by women. The bills will be cleared within 45 days, he said. The district collectors should encourage them and cooperate to ensure that they are not pushed into despair.

In the next year the focus will shift to spinning mills. The previous government did not pay the investment incentives to industries to a tune of Rs 4,000 crore. Despite the financial constraints we have cleared Rs 827 crore uncleared subsidies by the previous government. We plan to give a Rs 1,000 crore package to spinning mills next year and in the following year will focus on other sector. These measures are to bring back the credibility of the State, the Chief Minister said.

The beneficiaries who interacted with the Chief Minister expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister and said that the amount released will be a big booster for the running of their units.

Also Read: With a spike of 19,459 new cases, Indias Covid-19 tally crosses 5.4 lakh

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Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal has given a green signal to start 'Plasma Therapy' in the capital, he also urged those who have recovered from the virus to donate plasma. Further, the 'Plasma bank' will be functional in two days.

In a bid to tackle the noxious coronavirus, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has decided to start a plasma bank to treat the patients of COVID-19 in the capital. The Plasma Bank will be made operational and functional within two days.

Mr. Kejriwal has also urged those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate plasma, he further announced that the Plasma Bank will be set-up at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Delhi, the IIT graduated minister also asserted that those who need plasma will require a recommendation from the doctor.

The minister also said that Delhi is the first state in the country to undertake trials for plasma therapy, moreover he cited that when a person is infected with coronavirus, the oxygen level drops and the respiration level increases hence it was observed that plasma will increase the level of oxygen whilst decrease the respiration level.

Also Read: Final year university exams postponed in Punjab till July 15: CM Capt. Amarinder Singh

Delhi govt will start a plasma bank https://t.co/wwbnd3ypGs  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 29, 2020

Also Read: Vande Bharat Mission phase 4: Air India to operate 170 flights to and from 17 countries

Arvind Kejriwal also announced that the akin of Dr. Aseem Gupta, a senior doctor at LNJP hospital who passed away succumbing to coronavirus on Sunday will be given compensation amount of Rs 1 crore by the Delhi government.

The capital has been labeled as Indias Wuhan with 121 new cases and three deaths that have been reported today till 10:30 am. The cumulative cases in the capital have risen to 17,392 including 402 deaths.

Also Read: No community transfer, cases wont reach 5.5L, says Shah on Delhi

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Hizbul Mujahideen commander Masood has been killed in an encounter along with three other terrorists. Doda has now become terrorist free.

Doda has become totally terrorist-free district after Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Masood was neutralised in an encounter, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said. Three terrorists including Masood were killed in an encounter with security forces at Khulchohar area of Anantnag.

With todays operation at Khulchohar area of Anantnag by Police along with Local RR unit in which 2 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists including one district commander and one HM commander Masood were neutralised. Doda district in Jammu Zone becomes totally militancy free once again, Singh said.

The J-K DGP said that Masood who hails from Doda district was involved in a rape case registered by Doda police and was absconding ever since. He later joined Hizbul Mujahideen and shifted his area of operation to Kashmir, he said.

Also Read: Those eyeing our territory will get a befitting result: PM on China

Also Read: Congress questions PM Cares fund, allege donations from Chinese companies

Earlier this month, Dilbag Singh, Director General of Police (DGP), Jammu and Kashmir said around more 27 terrorists have been killed in the last 17-18 days. 30 terrorists were eliminated in Jammu and Kashmir in April. Around more 27 terrorists have been killed in the last 17-18 days. The action against terrorists will continue, the DGP told ANI.

Also Read: Rahul Indulging in shallow politics, Shah tears into Cong over Galwan clash

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India Unlock 2.0 Guidelines, Lockdown 5.0 latest news: Fresh guidelines on 'Unlock 2.0' will be out on June 30. A lot of states across the country have already made their choice on relaxation or restriction on the economy keeping in mind the constant surge in coronavirus cases.

India Unlock 2.0 Guidelines, Lockdown 5.0 latest news: The central government is likely to issue guidelines for Unlock 2.0 on June 30. Though, a lot of states are still contemplating whether to completely open the economy and the activities amidst rising coronavirus cases in several states.

Tamil Nadu has already resorted to a second phase of the lockdown with states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh announcing a door to door survey while Karnataka has implemented a complete curfew on Sundays and Guwahati in Assam has already imposed a 14-day lockdown that began from Sunday evening.

With the country crossing the 5-lakh mark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people to remain more vigilant during the unlock period and has further cautioned that a failure to follow COVID-19 norms will not just put their lives at risk but also that of the others.

Also Read: Terrorist attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange- 5 killed, 11 injured

As we move into Unlock 2.0, a continued focus on contact tracing, testing & isolation of COVID cases, especially in areas with high test positivity rates will remain critical as we navigate the #NewNormal: Policy Specialist @urvashi01 & Navika Harshe https://t.co/Q2osir5Y3J  NITI Aayog (@NITIAayog) June 29, 2020

Some states are adamant about not opening the economy until the crisis gets over; Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has therefore said that the restrictions will continue even after June 30.

In the capital, the authorities have resorted to revising the strategy midst surging coronavirus cases; the government has announced a mammoth task of the house to house survey to check the spread of the noxious coronavirus in the city.

Unlock 2.0 will also witness the resumption of scheduled international flights on the Delhi- New York, Mumbai-New York routes.

Also Read: Opposition hits the streets over rising fuel prices

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier stressed that there was no domestic manufacturing of PPE kits when the Covid-19 pandemic started. Now that there is excess capacity, manufacturers have started receiving export requests.

The government on Monday allowed export of personal protection equipment (PPE) medical coveralls with a cap of 50 lakh per month as the country strives to achieve self-reliance while battling the COVID-19 crisis. A monthly quota of 50 lakh PPE medical coveralls for COVID-19 units has been fixed for issuance of export licences to the eligible applicants as per the criteria to be separately issued in a trade notice, according to official notification.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said repeatedly that India has the potential to not just win the COVID-19 battle but also emerge as a global leader. When the COVID-19 outbreak started India, there was no domestic manufacture of PPE kits. Now, there is excess domestic capacity and manufacturers are getting export order requests.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said over the weekend while addressing a webinar on the occasion of International MSME Day that manufacturers are getting orders for PPE kits from the United States, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and European countries.

Also Read: Delhi to start plasma bank for Covid patients: Arvind Kejriwal

Also Read: With a spike of 19,459 new cases, Indias Covid-19 tally crosses 5.4 lakh

According to the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), the size of the global market for PPEs is more than 60 billion dollars over the next five years.

The Modi government has ramped up Indias capacities to manufacture PPE kits in collaboration with private players. Reports say the country is currently producing an estimated six lakh personal protective equipment (PPE) kits per day.

Also Read: Delhi man skips screening procedure at IGI, tracked and home quarantined

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As fuel prices in India continue to witness a new high, Congress on Monday has launched Speak Up Against Fuel Hike campaign. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged everyone to share videos highlighting their plight on social media.

Just after a day of relief, petrol and diesel prices have again surged on Monday, causing unrest among people not just in the capital but also around the country. With a hike of Rs 0.05, the price of petrol has now increased to Rs 80.43 and the price of diesel has increased to Rs 80.53 after a hike of Rs 0.13. Agitated by the rising fuel prices, the opposition parties have now launched a scathing attack against Centre and hit the streets.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged people to join the Speak Up Against Fuel Hike campaign. In a video shared on Twitter, Rahul has accused the Centre of looting people by increasing fuel prices for 21 consecutive days. Encouraging people to raise their voice, Rahul asked social media users to share videos of people disturbed by increasing fuel prices on their social media handles.

As a part of the All India Congress Committees mass protest, some of the states that are witnessing demonstrations include Goa, Karnataka, Delhi, Gujarat and Bihar. Earlier in the day, police detained members of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee protesting near IP College against rising fuel prices.

Also Read: Shivraj Singh Chouhan targets Congress over funding of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation

Also Read: Arogya Sandesh: Bengal govt set to endorse immunity boosting sweets

Ahmedabad: Police detains Congress workers protesting against continuous hike in fuel prices. Congress has called for a nationwide protest over an increase in fuel prices amid #COVID19 pandemic. #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/O2ytYDCBsd  ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Patna: Congress workers ride bicycles, bullock cart and horse cart as a mark of protest against the increase in fuel prices. #Bihar pic.twitter.com/uvcYPJd1sL  ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Delhi: Members of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee detained by police while protesting near IP College against continuous hike in fuel prices. pic.twitter.com/2vLhaJruwo  ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Bengaluru: Congress leader and former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah rides a bicycle from his residence to reach Minsk Square, to participate in party's protest against the hike in fuel prices. pic.twitter.com/DTo8eMzwJR  ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar has shared in a press note that the party office-bearers and all frontal organisations will participate in a two-hour dharna from 10 am to 12 noon near South Goa District Collectorate Office at Margao and in front of Deputy Collectors office at Mapusa against rising of fuel prices. The protestors will ensure that that they maintain all social distancing norms and will be wearing face masks. This will be followed by a massive online campaign, wherein the party functionaries will share videos highlighting the plight of common man.

In the wake of Covid-19 pandemic followed by a countrywide lockdown, Oil marketing companies have been adjusting the fuel prices after an 82-day break from rate revision. Congress has critiqued this move as unjust and thoughtless.

Also Read: PM should withdraw statement on India-China standoff: Ashok Gehlot

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Amid India-China standoff, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amrinder Singh has asked the BJP-led government to return the donations they have received in the PM-CARES fund from Chinese firms.

Punjab Chief Minister Amrinder Singh on Monday asked the centre to return the donations received from Chinese companies in the PM-Cares fund, amid the current China standoff. The chief ministers statement comes a day after the Congress alleged that Chinese firms were contributing to the fund for coronavirus -related emergency.

The Congress leader further said that we cannot be taking donations from the Chinese when our boys are being killed in action; he also added that he is aware of the Chinese companies that have donated to the PM-CARES fund.

The minister emphasized on returning the Chinese money even if the donation is as little as a rupee, he reiterated on giving the money back and highlighted how India does not need Chinas help or assistance especially midst China and India dispute.

Also Read: High alert in Bihar over possibility of terrorist intrusion through Nepal

Parliament is a forum for debate so let there be a debate. We are quite confident that Rahul Ji will hold his position & bring home the points that are being raised in this discussion: Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh on Home Minister Amit Shah's remark pic.twitter.com/g9QCgljTFb  ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

The 78-year old minister blatantly asked the BJP led government as to why are they still accepting donations from the Chinese amid the Ladakh standoff.

Capt Amrinder Singh said that he was in favor of reopening the Kartarpur Corridor which allows visa-free access to Darbar Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistans Narowal district.

He further said that he is ready to give a green signal to open the corridor with strict social distancing measures.

Also Read: Delhi to start plasma bank for Covid patients: Arvind Kejriwal

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Accusing Congress of signing a discreet MoU with China's Communist Party, the BJP leader asked Sonia Gandhi to tell the country the truth, apologise.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said that the people of the country want to know why did the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) take money from China.

The country wants to know why Rajiv Gandhi Foundation took money from China? Sonia Gandhi will have to tell the country the truth. They get donations from China and do an MoU with the Chinese Communist Party. They should apologise to the country. Congress does not even have the right to speak in the matter of protecting the country, Chouhan said in the Chhattisgarh Jan Samvad programme.

In 2005-06, China gave a donation of Rs 90 lakh to the Congress. Does Congress have any shame? At that time, the chairperson of the Congress was Sonia Gandhi, he added.

Also read: Rahul Indulging in shallow politics, Shah tears into Cong over Galwan clash

Also read: 55 scams in 15 years: Tejashwi Yadav attacks Nitish Kumar govt

Chouhan said, Jawaharlal Nehru had advocated for making China a permanent member in the United Nations. Why China is shocked today after Prime Minister Narendra Modi built a road to the border. India is the only country in the world that can move ahead of China in future.

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said that Jawaharlal Nehru gave the slogan of Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai (Indians and Chinese are brothers) but the latter himself did not know that when did the Chinese enter the Indian territory in 1962.

When the Chinese had entered India, Congress had said in Parliament that what would they do with that land as even grass does not grow there, while referring to Aksai Chin area, he said.

Chouhan stated that the current scenario is different under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

China forgot that it is not the India of 1962. This is Modis India. We are in favour of peace and we will not provoke anyone but if someone provokes us, we will not leave them, he said.

Chouhan stated that Chhattisgarhs initials CG signified credible growth when Raman Singh was the states Chief Minister, but todays CG signifies chaotic governance.

What does Chhattisgarh mean? CG meant credible growth when Raman Singh was Chief Minister. But todays Chhattisgarh means chaotic governance. Today, the people of Chhattisgarh are feeling what Raman Singh was? He led the state for 15 years and wrote a new chapter in development, he said.

He said that the Prime Minister has done the work of increasing honour of the country in the world.

Generations were spent to create the best India. Today, a New India has been formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, he said.

Also read: Congress questions PM Cares fund, allege donations from Chinese companies

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The video of a Covid-19 patient accusing a hospital in Hyderabad of not providing ventilator, despite constant complaints of breathlessness, has gone viral on social media after his death.

A selfie video of a 34-year-old man, who succumbed to COVID-19 at a government hospital in Hyderabad, that has gone viral on social media, alleges that he was not given oxygen support even after he complained of breathlessness.

The incident that took place on Friday and the video had surfaced on social media and by Sunday had sparked outrage among social media users.

In the selfie video the man is heard saying that he is struggling to breathe as his ventilator had been removed. In the video addressed to his father, the man says he has been in this condition for the past three hours. Shortly after the video was sent, the man passed away.

Venkatesh, father of patient Ravi Kumar speaking to ANI over the phone on Sunday said: My son aged 34 years had high fever and we took him to several hospitals in our neighbourhood on June 23 but none admitted him. Then we went to NIMS where a doctor referred us to the Chest hospital in Erragadda.

Also read: Make In India: Centre allows export of PPE kits, caps monthly quota at 50 lakh

Also read: Delhi to start plasma bank for Covid patients: Arvind Kejriwal

On June 24 we admitted him to the Chest hospital but even at Erragadda hospital nobody treated my son, they did not even provide oxygen to him. Even after he requested them they didnt give him oxygen and said they did not know what to do. On June 26 early hours Ravi sent three videos to me and later I received a call from hospital that he had passed away.

Venkatesh said they received the COVID report stating that Ravi was positive.

The hospital called us at around 2:00 am and said that our son is no more, Venkatesh said.

The father also alleged that the police personnel had not allowed the family inside the hospital when they had gone to get themselves tested.

The police personnel did not allow us inside Gandhi Hospital when we went there for treatment. There are six people in our family and till now nobody has come to test us. My son recorded a video stating he was denied ventilator for three hours straight, due to which he turned critical and left this world. I feel sad about the health response in the State, the father of Ravi said.

V Ravi Kumar is survived by his wife and two children.

Also read: With a spike of 19,459 new cases, Indias Covid-19 tally crosses 5.4 lakh

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A CCTV footage from Hyderabad's Park Hyatt hotel featuring former TDP union minister and Rajya Sabha MP YS Chowdhary, another BJP leader Kamineni Srinivas and Ramesh Kumar has given birth to a controversy that refuses to die down.

The controversy surrounding retired bureaucrat Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar refuses to die down. It all started with the SEC unilaterally , (as claimed by the government) postponing the local body polls citing the Corona outbreak and the consequential lockdown.

Ramesh was then ousted from his post by the way of an ordinance issued by the Government , post which the HC of AP reinstated him over a petition seeking the same. The case is pending before the apex court .

A recent secret meeting as it is being called at the Park Hyatt hotel in Hyderabad which was attended by former TDP union minister and Rajya Sabha MP YS Chowdhary , another BJP leader Kamineni Srinivas and Ramesh Kumar made headline in the recent past.

Also read: India Unlock 2.0: States to make their own decision, revised guidelines to release on June 30

Also read: Andhra CM releases second restart package for MSMEs; Sai Reddy says actions speak louder than words

The  dual standards of YS Chowdhary who claimed that he gave up being a businessman when he quit the TDP and joined the BJP , is the same person who now claims to have shifted his business base to Park Hyatt during the lockdown.

The same is being used by leaders of the ruling YSRCP lead by the partys National General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Sai Reddy. The leader took to Twitter to question Chowdhary saying the latter should open up about the  dealings that the SEC has with YS Chowdhary and the nature of the same.

Whenever perpetrators enter or leave a place, they will leave something behind and take something with them. Same thing happened at that Hyd. Star Hotel.  Vijayasai Reddy V (@VSReddy_MP) June 24, 2020

One of his tweets said , This is a fight to save democracy. Didnt expect him to get caught on CCTV footage like this. They are now crying over how the cctv footage came out from a place which is visited by VIPs and celebrities.

Mr.Reddy also was seen attacking former CM Chandra Babu Naidu for allegedly being behind the meet. Another tweet of his said  What business dealings can Sujana Chowdhary, Kamineni Srinivas and Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar have ? .

However, the BJP MP has belittled all the allegations surrounding the meeting and issued a statement saying that the families of both the men have known each other for decades and it was merely a personal visit  over a cup of coffee.

With both the major parties and the BJP actively fighting it out over the integrity of the SEC and senior leaders like Vijay Sai Reddy leading the charge, this war is only expected to get more intense in the near future. The doubts are there on the behaviour of the state election commissioner Nimmagadda after his meet over politicians secretly in a star hotel. Some YSRCP leaders doubt that he postponed elections for local bodies on the instructions of the Ex CM Chandrababu Naidu . So far Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar has not given any reply over this episode.

Also read: Make In India: Centre allows export of PPE kits, caps monthly quota at 50

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With the highest-single day spike on Sunday, the global Covid-19 toll has inched closer than ever to the 10 million mark; most new cases confirmed from Brazil, US.

The global COVID-19 case total has surged past 9.8 million after a single-day record of 189,077 cases were registered worldwide over the past 24 hours, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Sunday (local time).

Today, we report a record number of new cases in the last 24 hours globally (189,077 cases), with several countries reporting their highest number of new cases in a 24-hour period, the WHO said in its daily statistical bulletin.

The latest rise to the overall case count is a significant increase from the 179,316 new positive tests reported on Saturday by the WHO.

Also read: No role of Russia in killings of US troops in Afghanistan: Taliban

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The bulk of the new cases were reported in Brazil and the United States, which confirmed 46,860 and 44,458 new positive tests over the past 24 hours, respectively. A further 19,906 new cases were also reported in India over the past day.

The WHO confirmed on Sunday that 4,612 people died from complications related to the coronavirus disease over the past 24 hours, a drop of 2,254 compared to the corresponding rise to the death toll on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, the US-based Johns Hopkins University, whose Coronavirus Response Centre also tallies COVID-19 figures, reported that the global case count has already surpassed 10 million.

Also read: US to posture appropriately to counter Chinas aggression against India, Vietnam and others: Mike Pompeo

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4 terrorists attacked the Pakistan Stock Exchange building on Monday, in which five people have been killed and eleven injured.

Five people were killed and eleven injured after four terrorists stormed the Pakistan Stock Exchange building on Monday. The gunmen had attacked the building with grenades and guns. The Karachi police Chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said that all four attackers have been killed, they had come in a silver Corolla car.

The terrorists had launched a grenade attack at the main gate of the building and stored the gate after firing indiscriminately in a random manner. The terrorists had entered from the Pakistan stock exchange main gate. Of the four, two terrorists were wearing a police dress and entered from the main gate.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has taken the responsibility for the attack on Karachi Stock Exchange. The organisation in statement said that the fighters are from its special wing called Majeed Brigade of self-sacrificing squad.

The police has sealed the entire 4 km area.

Security forces kill all 4 terrorists who attacked Pakistan Stock Exchange in #Karachi: Pakistan media pic.twitter.com/Dgz8HGCmhp  ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

Also Read: Opposition hits the streets over rising fuel prices

Also Read: Fuel prices soar to a new high after a days pause

Sindh province Governor Imran Ismail has condemned the incident on Twitter. He wrote that the attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange was solely launched to tarnish Pakistans relentless war on terror. He has instructed the IG and the security agencies to catch the perpetrators and punish them accordingly. Furthermore, the governor stressed that he is adamant to protect Sindh at all costs.

Also Read: High alert in Bihar over possibility of terrorist intrusion through Nepal

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The giant lemurs were not alone. At the same time the big primates were ambling around the Malagasy forests, so were a whole host of other, now-extinct megafauna. These included the largest birds ever to exist, the elephant birds, as well as giant tortoises, the Malagasy crowned hawk-eagle and pygmy hippos.

In a new sub-fossil site from the dry forests of western Madagascar, Julian and his colleagues have documented a range of these extinct creatures.

They have found the fossils of four different species of giant lemur, along with bones from the now extinct bibymalagasy, also known as the Madagascan aardvark, the remains of extinct giant cuckoos and even those from the extinct giant fossa, which would have been about two thirds larger than the species that survives today.

'The most important thing is that we got the carbon dates for these bones,' says Julian. 'The dates have shown that these giant lemurs survived at this site into the last millennium, which is the youngest date for that animal yet reported.

'That is probably at least 1,000 years after humans first occupied Madagascar.'

This is significant, because it is thought that one of the drivers for the extinction of many of these large animals was the arrival of people. These bones, however, show that some populations of the giant lemurs clung on in remote refuges in the inaccessible forests for potentially thousands of years.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang holds a press conference for both foreign and domestic journalists in Beijing on May 14, 2019. UPI



China announced Monday visa restrictions on US citizens who have "behaved egregiously" over Hong Kong, ahead of the expected approval by Chinese lawmakers of a controversial national security law for the city.



The country is moving forward on a security law that would punish subversion and other offences against the state in Hong Kong, which saw massive and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests last year.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump's administration said it was restricting US visas for a number of unspecified Chinese officials for infringing on the autonomy of the Asian financial hub.



In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Monday that the US "scheme... to obstruct the passage of the Hong Kong national security law will never prevail".



"To target the US's above wrongful actions, China has decided to impose visa restrictions against American individuals who have behaved egregiously on matters concerning Hong Kong," Zhao said.



China's top lawmaking committee is expected to adopt the law during sessions that end on Tuesday.



The legislation was approved by Beijing's rubber-stamp parliament little more than six weeks after it was unveiled, sending shockwaves through semi-autonomous Hong Kong and beyond.



While outlawing acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces, the legislation will allow China's security agencies to set up shop publicly in the city for the first time.



The United States, Britain, the European Union and the United Nations rights watchdog have all voiced fears the law could be used to stifle criticism of Beijing, which uses similar laws on the authoritarian mainland to crush dissent.



US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington would curb visas for unspecified current and former officials of the Chinese Communist Party "who were responsible for eviscerating Hong Kong's freedoms".



The officials targeted were "responsible for, or complicit in, undermining Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy", which Beijing promised before regaining control of the territory in 1997 from Britain, Pompeo said.



Last week, the US Senate unanimously approved a bill that would impose mandatory economic sanctions in the United States against Chinese officials and Hong Kong police identified as hurting the city's autonomous status.



Zhao warned Monday that the US "should not review, advance or implement relevant negative bills concerning Hong Kong, even less impose so-called sanctions on China, otherwise China will firmly take strong countermeasures".



Hong Kong was upended by seven straight months of protests last year, initially sparked by an eventually abandoned plan to allow extraditions to the mainland. (AFP)


FARMINGTON - Police have arrested an East Hartford woman in connection with a 22-year-old homicide of a woman, whose body was found off a hiking trail.

Katherine Pires, 50, was arrested and charged with second-degree hindering prosecution and interfering with an officer, police said.

On Sept. 24, 1998, the victim - Agnieszka Ziemlewski (Agnes or Niki as her friends knew her) - was walking in the Metropolitan District Reservoir property on a walking trail located in Farmington.

Ziemlewski, 26, was shot at close range and killed just 100 feet from the gate at Old Mountain Road in Farmington near the West Hartford border.

Ziemlewski emigrated to the United States from Poland with her family in the early 1980s. She had lived in Hartford with her parents and two sisters before moving to an apartment of her own in West Hartford. She graduated from the University of Connecticut and was working at United Health Care in Hartford at the time of her death. Agnes' father passed away in September of 1999 without his daughter's killer being arrested.

The Farmington Police Department has continuously investigated this case and never let it become cold, police said in a statement.

In 2018, the Farmington Police Departments Detective Unit partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Behavioral Analysis Unit and conducted a complete review of the case file.

Tremendous progress has been made as evidenced by Katherine Pires arrest.

The Farmington Police Department will continue to utilize all available resources and continue working with its community partners. The Farmington Police Department will not rest until justice is achieved and closure is obtained for Agnes family.

The maximum reward offered under Connecticut General Statutes of $50,000 is being offered in the case for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) responsible for Ziemlewskis murder.

Pires is being held on a $250,000 bond and is expected to be arraigned Monday morning.

The Farmington Police Department knows there are individuals in the community with knowledge who can assist law enforcement and provide closure for Agnes family. Anyone with information is asked to call (860) 673-8266 or send an e-mail to justice4agnes@farmington-ct.org.
A 19-year-old New Haven resident pleaded guilty Monday to obstruction of justice, according to federal authorities.

Diavion Hutchings, also known as Avi, 19, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in a court proceeding via videoconference, federal authorities said in a statement.

The videoconference took place pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES act, the release noted.

The case unfolded beginning in Febraury 2019 when the New Haven Police Department conducted a video-recorded interview with an individual who had just been arrested, the release said. During the interview, the individual provided information that led to the state arrest of Hutchings significant other, who federal authorities named as L.W., attributing the information to court documents and statements made in court,

A copy of the interview video was provided to L.W.s lawyer, the release said.

A federal grand jury in April 2019 returned an indictment against the individual whose interview was video recorded, the release said.

On April 24, 2019, Hutchings viewed the interview video at the office of L.W.s lawyer, and recorded at least 15 separate portions of the interview using her iPhone, the release said. Hutchings transmitted portions of the recordings that she made of the interview video to others via text message and through the use of Facebook Live. In those transmissions, Hutchings communicated threats of harm toward the individual who provided information about L.W.

Hutchings was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on June 3, 2019, according to federal authorities.

Hall scheduled sentencing for Sept. 23, and Hutchings faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, the release said.

Hutchings is free on a $10,000 bond pending sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria del Pilar Gonzalez and Sarah P. Karwan.
June is the time of year when my parents prepared to celebrate the feast of St. Andrew, patron of Amalfi, the place where they were born.

As a child, I can remember looking forward with great anticipation to the celebrations that were held at the end of the month. Its difficult to comprehend now how important that celebration was. The festivities would begin with the unfurling of a huge banner depicting the miracle of St. Andrew outside the St. Andrew the Apostle Society clubhouse on Hamilton Street. This signaled the opening of the festa that transformed Wooster Street from Olive to Wallace streets into a wonderland of colorful lighted arches that made everything seem magical at the moment they were lit.

Traffic was halted at night and the street became a pedestrian mall, where friendly encounters took place and where the street food that we all love was available. An elaborate bandstand was erected and there were concerts that ranged from classical to the popular Neapolitan music that brought throngs to listen to tunes that we all knew from our childhood and the Sunday morning radio shows.

There were performers who traveled from New York and our local talent, such as Giuseppina Pane, sang with heartfelt passion. Those who were fortunate enough to live on Wooster Street would invite friends to join them as they sat outside their houses.

The procession on Sunday morning with the statue of St. Andrew carried on the shoulders of devout men, followed by the members of the society, which was founded in 1900, meandered throughout the neighborhood. In 1928, the men would be joined by the Ladies Society, dressed in blue capes and white dresses. People came to the curb and others looked out from open windows to glimpse the burnished silver figure holding silver fish, a symbol of the connection between St. Andrew and the fishermen of Amalfi.

A solemn high Mass with three priests followed at St. Michael Church and, at the end, the traditional ancient hymn to St. Andrew was sung with great devotion by the women who remembered it from their own childhoods in Amalfi.

Looking at the archival photographs of the throngs of people gathered outside the church gives us a glimpse of the magnitude of the celebration; men in their straw hats, women and children in their Sunday best, gathering to commemorate and re-create an important event.

Other festas followed, most notably Santa Maria Maddalena, patroness of Atrani, in July, where the same celebration took place. These were important reminders to us all of the heritage that we were so closely connected to. They were carbon copies of the celebrations that were taking place back in the towns from which everyone had come  a link to our roots.

Graduations were also on the calendar in June. Since so many of the immigrants had only a grammar school education, graduations from eighth grade or high school were considered very important occasions. They represented the fulfillment of the promise of America: an opportunity to succeed in life.

During the 1930s and 40s, completing high school was not an option available to all. Some children were expected to leave school at 14 and get jobs in order to provide financial support for the family. Those who could stay in school were considered fortunate, and they usually managed to find jobs that offered them higher-paid employment. The fact that New Haven offered three high school choices was important. Students could choose to attend the academic program at Hillhouse, the business programs at Commercial or the trades program at Boardman Trade.

Everyone who had a high school graduation to attend considered that a very special event. The entire family would gather to celebrate with lots of high expectations for the success of the graduate. I love to look at vintage photos of proud relatives surrounding the smiling graduate, everyone sharing in the feeling of accomplishment.

A party would follow at home, with some wine, soda from one of the local distributors, sandwiches, perhaps some homemade suffrito and, of course, a cake.

Every time I go to my old neighborhood, I try to imagine, in my minds eye what it was like when I was growing up. The block that I lived on is now in the shadow of the highway and so it really doesnt seem like a place where someone might have lived. But, to the contrary, that one block between Hamilton and Franklin streets was teeming with activity and human interaction.

You see, the neighborhood was just alive with people going about their daily activities and creating a network of friendships and relationships that helped everyone make it through the difficult times.

When someone passed away, for instance, the survivors were always comforted to know that friends were there to support them in every way possible. During the ordeal of planning the wake and funeral, friends could always be counted on to stop by with food or coffee or hot chocolate and biscotti from one of the local pastry shops. It wasnt customary for the family to host a lunch after the funeral, but there would be enough food to last several days.

At the wake, which lasted for two days, monetary offerings were customary, to help with the cost of the funeral or to provide assistance to a widow. Everything that was done had a purpose, usually an unspoken gesture, quietly done, without any fuss.

These kindnesses represented the very fabric of the community. You helped someone, but you did it in a way that allowed the recipient to maintain their dignity and self-esteem.

This was the essence of our lives in Wooster Square, people helping people and people being proud of their place here in New Haven, their new home.

Frank Carrano lives in Branford. Contact him at f.carrano@att.net.
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BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- A draft law on export control was submitted to China's top legislature for a second reading on Sunday.

The draft, which added stipulations concerning intermediary services for goods subjected to export control, will be discussed at the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, which runs until Tuesday.

No organization or individual may provide agency, freight transport, delivery, customs declarations, third-party e-commerce trading platforms, or financial services for exporters engaged in export control violations, according to the draft.

Those that provide intermediary services for exporters engaged in illegal activities under export control stipulations will have their illegal gains confiscated, and be fined, it said.
BRIDGEPORT  Police said mourners dove for cover as a teenager fired multiple shots at them from his car Sunday afternoon.

No one in the group, gathered at a memorial for a recent murder victim, reported any injuries, police said.

Treyvon Rabb, who was free on bond on a litany of charges at the time, including robbery, burglary and larceny, was later arrested by Derby police.

The 19-year-old Derby resident was charged with attempted first-degree assault, illegally firing a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, possession of weapons in a motor vehicle and possession of a pistol without a permit.

Police said it was the latest act of violence as rival groups of young men try to flex their muscle in the city. In the past two weeks, two people have been shot to death and a half dozen others wounded.

We are doing everything we can to stop this surge in violence, Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez said.

Perez said they are working with state police and community activists to try and get the violence under control. On Monday, the police chief said he was meeting with the federally-funded law enforcement initiative Project Longevity.

Police said at about noon on Sunday, several people were gathered around the memorial for Eugene Stink Stinson, 18, on Anthony Street in the P.T. Barnum housing project. A dark-colored Chrysler sedan slowly drove by the memorial and the driver leaned out and began firing at the mourners, police said. The car then sped off.

Police said ShotSpotter recorded five gunshots.

A description of the vehicle was circulated to nearby departments and about an hour later, Derby Police alerted Bridgeport they had located the car.

Police said Rabb was the driver and sole occupant in the car when it was stopped in Derby. Inside they found several spent bullet casings as well as a bag of marijuana and a jar containing THC concentrate. No gun was recovered.

Police said Rabb admitted he had been in Bridgeport earlier but denied he had been in the area of the memorial.

During Rabbs arraignment Monday afternoon, Senior Assistant States Attorney Edward Lee Miller urged Superior Court Judge Alex Hernandez to set a high bond for Rabb, pointing out Rabb was already free on $50,000 bond on the other pending charges.

The state is concerned he is a risk to the community, Miller said.

If the allegations are correct, he showed an indifference to the suffering of other people, the judge said, ordering Rabb held in lieu of $250,000 bond.

Stinson was shot as he drove by the housing project. Wounded, he continued to drive a short distance before crashing on Fairfield Avenue, police said.

Two memorials were set up, one where it was believed he was shot and the other where he crashed.

The investigation into Stinsons death is ongoing.
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

Windy with thunderstorms, especially in the morning. A few storms may be severe. High 81F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will become overcast later during the night. Low 52F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

Windy with thunderstorms, especially in the morning. A few storms may be severe. High 81F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. Low 51F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.
The City of Niagara Falls culture committee has selected five projects to receive more than $35,000 from the municipalitys 2020 Cultural Development Fund.

City officials said the initiatives will engage the community with ideas and activities celebrating Niagara Falls history, people and identity.

They will be delivered throughout the year at various locations and events, observing strict physical-distancing policies.

Mental Health Fair/Creations in Quarantine will receive $6,800: Ten artists will create 10 art pieces expressing their feelings and mindset during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Featured in this online art show will be photography, visual arts, film and other creative multimedia projects.

The online exhibition will take place over 10 weeks starting in September and feature one artist per week promoting their work and exploring ways artistic expression can help people navigate mental, social, and cultural impacts of the pandemic.

Niagara Falls Art Gallery will receive $10,000 for website modifications: The websites will be upgraded to increase accessibility to the gallerys programming and collections, and to develop and generate new interactive content.

New artist-inspired content will be developed through artist-studio demonstrations, artist and specialist lectures, and childrens online art activities.

Online exhibitions will be developed, drawn from the gallerys permanent collections and community exhibitions.

Stories from the Porch will receive $3,765: A weekly summer event where storytellers are hosted on front porches, and audiences engage from front lawns, and a monthly event hosting music on front porches.

City officials said the format lends itself well to a temporary transition to a digital format until people can once again gather in larger groups.

Stories from the Porch will air live on Facebook and be uploaded to YouTube.

Students of A.N. Myer Exhibition will receive $4,622: An exhibition of artworks by A.N. Myer high school students that will introduce young artists to the art world.

They will get a behind-the-scenes look at the art world, putting on an exhibition including curating a show, hanging, and insight into what is required of an artist to gain exposure.

Vision 2020 will receive $10,000: An exhibition of 25 artists, and two speakers/workshop presenters to celebrate the contribution of women artists of Niagara Falls.

The project will offer artists an opportunity to exhibit alongside each other, to network and to learn of each others roles within the broader arts community. One student from each of the citys five high schools, as selected by their teacher, will be invited to participate.

The opening event will include scheduled talks on the work women do to build community and support other women, the art women make to effect change, the need to continue addressing the issue of safety in womens work, and the role of the arts in the local community moving forward. Niagara Falls Art Gallery will host the exhibition from December until March.

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The current (COVID-19) crisis landed just as we were adjudicating the applications, said Clark Bernat, the citys culture and museums manager.

Very quickly, we realized that most of the applications would not be possible, however, we knew that the creative community needed support. We are very excited that the applicants were quickly able to adjust, the adjudication committee then awarded those applicants who could continue to operate under the current conditions and still fulfil their mandates and missions.
A Fort Erie man was arrested after a driver crashed his car into the Main Street Bridge that crosses the Welland Canal in Port Colborne Sunday morning.

Niagara Regional Police said a man was eastbound when the Chevy Malibu he was driving struck a guard rail on the south side of the two-lane bridge.

The driver was not injured in the crash.

Michael James Gill, 30, is charged with impaired driving and exceeding 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood.
Niagaras COVID-19 case counts remain low at the end of June, but the regions acting medical officer of health is focused on what the potential risk is going forward.

The world hit 10 million cases of COVID-19 on Sunday and Dr. Mustafa Hirji said each successive million cases seems to be coming faster and faster.

He said the first million cases took 100 days to get to, the next few million was 12 days and the last million only five days.

The outbreak around us seems to be growing. We are a little island amongst a few other countries where weve been able to bring things under control, but theres definitely a lot of COVID-19 swirling around us, Hirji said.

I think that really highlights the risk that were going to have going forward.

Hirji pointed to case counts in the U.S. which are starting to increase again. More than half the states have growing case numbers, with many seeing sharp jumps.

I think thats a really good example of what happens when you become complacent to COVID-19, he said.

Those states are all ones where they moved quickly to reopen the economy, didnt pay attention to signs of infection slowly starting to build and that slow build has basically snowballed into a rapid build now.

Florida and Texas are re-imposing restrictions on their economy, which is the risk Hirji said Ontario could face if it doesnt remain vigilant.

Hirji said as services start opening up, people are spending more time outdoors interacting and theres a possibility the infection is going to start transmitting again.

The outbreaks at two nail salons in Kingston this week  they resulted in 21 people testing positive by Sunday  is a kind of early warning sign of what could be in store, Hirji said.

In Niagara, there was only one new case of COVID-19 Sunday and no new cases Saturday. The single new case was a close contact of a previous case.

It feels like a lot of good news. Were not seeing big numbers of cases here, but I think that belies the potential that things could change really quickly, Hirji said.

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Its really important that we dont get complacent, we keep practising physical distancing, keep washing our hands and really be diligent about wearing a face covering if we cant keep distance. And make sure were really watching how we feel and what symptoms we have so we get tested if we do have any symptoms.

The total number of COVID-19 cases Niagara has had is 750. Of those, 665 people have recovered and 24 people have active cases. At least 61 people with COVID-19 have died.
Niagara food banks say the generosity of donors is keeping them going through COVID-19  but theyre bracing for what could be unprecedented demand this fall.

Thats when its anticipated some government supports like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit will end, other community supports may dry up and people operating on their savings may run out of money.

Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold chief executive officer Betty-Lou Souter said the community has been generous through the pandemic but the big crunch is going to come when CERB ends.

Thats when were going to see, we feel, the greatest impact, said Souter, adding its the same feeling at food banks across the province with whom she speaks regularly.

Were all experiencing the same thing. The big concern is whats happening two months down the road.

Souter said Community Care is trying to maintain its 21 programs and supports and how it can meet the needs of the people who rely on those programs and supports.

Youve got to be creative and youve got to come up with different ways, she said.

Every staff person has gone on a little exercise of where we were initially, when it hit and moving forward, where were going to be.

Pam Sharp, director of community engagement for Project Share in Niagara Falls, said the big unknown for her agency is what things are going to look like later this year.

Were predicting higher numbers of clients coming through our doors in the fall, she said. A lot of Niagara Falls is tourism industry and, unfortunately, a lot of those jobs that are typically there, even just seasonally, arent this year.

Sharp said Project Share received a lot of community support at the beginning of the pandemic and support from Feed Ontario and Food Banks Canada.

But when the CERB benefit declines or people havent had any income over the summer, the agency is predicting it will see new families.

While weve had great support right now, the big question is how far is that going to take us?

She said all nonprofits are in the same boat of having to cancel fundraisers, like Project Shares Easter food drive, which typically brought in 11,250 kilograms of emergency food. This week the agency would normally be collecting donations in the Niagara Falls Canada Day parade, but thats not happening this year either.

The agency has a bin outside its rear warehouse door on Stanley Avenue where donors can pull up and drop off food completely contact-free. Its also added an online client registration so anyone new who needs to access services for the first time can go to projecthshare.ca and fill out the required information.

Jon Braithwaite, chief executive officer of The Hope Centre in Welland, said when some of the supports run out, his agency is going to see a real increase in people using the food banks.

He said its not just CERB that will have an impact. There have been a lot of pop-up food bank programs during the health crisis that arent really sustainable and wont be able to continue forever.

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At the same time, some other food bank programs in Welland that rely on older volunteers have been put on pause while the pandemic continues.

Braithwaite said its expected Hope Centres volume will increase by at least 50 per cent by the fall.

When you see numbers like 35,000 jobs lost in Niagara, then it becomes pretty easy to figure out that people are having to rely on other sources.
India banned 59 apps from China including the very popular short-video program TikTok, owned by ByteDance Ltd., citing threats to its sovereignty, security and public order, as relations between the two nations worsened.

Among the blocked apps are those of prominent Chinese technology giants including Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.s UC Web, internet search firm Baidu Inc.s Baidu Map and Baidu Translate, and gaming company Tencent Holdings Ltd.s WeChat and Clash of Kings. The move comes days after escalating border tensions with China in the Himalayas left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

The unauthorized transmission and storage of Indian users data in overseas servers and its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, is a matter of deep and immediate concern requiring the emergency measures, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said in a statement on Monday.

The move is the latest by India as it tries to reduce dependence on Chinese products. As the border standoff, thats been brewing for nearly two months worsened, customs officials began halting clearances of industrial consignments coming in from China at major Indian ports and airports.

Still, its unclear how the ban will be implemented as most of these apps already reside on users phones. The government might need to block the app servers and prevent new users from downloading them. One in three smartphone users in India will be impacted by this ban, Tarun Pathak, associate director with Counterpoint Technology, told BloombergQuint.

Meanwhile, the governments decision to bar the apps began garnering support on social media.

Its time to take some hard decisions to get out of Chinas cyber clutches, Nirmal Jain, chairman at financial services conglomerate IIFL Group tweeted.

While banning other China-made products and hardware is challenging in Asias third-largest economy, the blockade of wide swath of Chinese apps ranging from browsers, gaming, news content, music streaming and online retail is particularly significant.

India, with its half-billion internet users, is an emerging arena for global technology companies from the U.S. to China. As hundreds of millions of first-time users come online in India, they do so on Chinese smartphones and these myriad Chinese apps are their doorway to the internet.

For ByteDance, which counts India as its biggest market with over 200 million TikTok users, the move is a particular blow. ByteDance faced a brief ban in India last year, and is being scrutinized in Europe. It also faces mounting questions from U.S. policy makers over questions on whether it jeopardizes national security. ByteDance did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Some of these Chinese apps are not just for commerce but have deeply entrenched into the social fabric of our lives, said Anil Kumar, chief executive officer of technology researcher, RedSeer Consulting. They know what you do, what you say, where you go. In the current context, they can be viewed as a threat to our national security.

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MONTREAL - The Cirque du Soleil, whose aerobatic shows have been halted by COVID-19, has filed for creditor protection while it develops a plan to restart its business.

The company says it will seek court protection from creditors under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act at a hearing Tuesday at Quebec Superior Court.

Cirque du Soleil also announced the termination of approximately 3,480 employees previously furloughed in March.

We know, because of the proposal on the table, that the Cirque is saved, CEO Daniel Lamarre said in a phone interview. I am sure that at the end of the process, which should culminate in mid-September, I will have an owner.

However, he said he regrets the end of the employment relationship of thousands of employees with the company, which has US$900 million in debt.

In connection with the filing, Cirque du Soleil says it has entered into a stalking horse purchase agreement with its existing shareholders.

The Texan fund TPG Capital (with a 60 per cent stake), the Chinese firm Fosun (20 per cent) and the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (20 per cent) will inject US$100 million, while Investissement Quebec will provide a US$200-million loan.

Two funds totalling US$20 million will also be set up to support Cirque workers and pay freelancers who are still waiting.

It says the sponsors bid includes an intent to rehire a substantial majority of the terminated employees, business conditions allowing, when its operations can resume.

The company added that given that its resident shows in Las Vegas and Orlando are expected to resume before the rest of the its shows, the artists and show staff of the resident shows division are not affected.

Lamarre said there are five to six groups interested in acquiring the Montreal-based company, but they will have to meet the conditions of the offer currently on the table, which requires Montreal to remain the company headquarters.

Everyone was waiting for us to take shelter from our creditors, said Lamarre, who added he doesnt believe the company waited too long before filing for creditor protection.

In exchange for debt restructuring, creditors will receive unsecured debt of US$50 million in addition to owning 45 per cent of the Cirque, which will decrease the current shareholders stakes. TPG would hold 33 per cent, while Fosun and the Caisse will each have 11 per cent.

Cirque said its shareholders offer was the only fully documented and firm offer received.

With US$300 million, the company will be able to weather the current storm until it can start generating revenue again, likely as soon as its permanent shows in Las Vegas and Orlando can resume.

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For the 12-month period ended last September, Cirque would have generated revenues of approximately US$950 million, the rating agency Moodys calculated in a report published last March. Its profits were estimated at US$155 million.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2020.
The pandemic derailed 33-year-old Jamies wedding plans for this year. Things arent all bad for the marketing specialist though. With COVID-19 restrictions, shes been able to save a bit more money for her big day by cutting expenses tied to social engagements like drinks with the girls on weekends.

Currently, Jamie is making $72,000 a year, taking home a bit more than $4,000 a month. She is getting used to saving less because of her recent home purchase in Markham. She splits mortgage payments with her partner and they still have $315,000 to pay off.

How is she able to afford a home at 33? Shes always been very careful with her money. On a typical work day, she skips breakfast because she intermittently fasts, so meals begin around lunchtime. Also, she doesnt drink coffee.

I prefer tea and I have one when I get into the office. She keeps a stash there. Being conscious of her health also has financial benefits. She always packs lunches and snacks for work  so no takeout costs  and eats dinner at home during the week.

In fact, for Jamie, spending under $200 a week is pretty normal. She attributes a lot of that to splitting costs biweekly with her partner and her work insurance covering costs from physiotherapy to medicine.

The weekend is when Jamie will usually splurge more, but now, because of the pandemic, the costs have been cut significantly.

Friday nights I typically have some drinks and food at a girlfriends place. We bring our own drinks and order in mostly.

Saturdays are reserved for date night with her boyfriend or going out for food and drinks with friends. On Sunday, its preparing to get back to the grind with grocery shopping, meal prep and eating dinner at her moms house.

After speaking with friends and reading other Millennial Money profiles, she wrote in to get concrete steps on how she can afford to get married to her boyfriend by 2021 while being unable to save a lot of money.

We asked Jamie to calculate her weekly spending to get a better idea of her finances.

The expert: Jason Heath, managing director at Objective Financial Partners Inc., lays down the advice for Jamie.

Congrats on the new home purchase. I think its fantastic to see Jamie still has extra cash flow for savings and travel despite buying a home. Her mortgage is modest and by buying a home she and her boyfriend can comfortably afford, they can maintain balance.

Saving for an engagement and wedding should ideally be done conservatively. If their time frame is within the next couple of years, thats probably too short a time frame to take on too much stock market risk. Youd hate to put your wedding fund into stocks and get married at a time when stocks are down. Id consider saving in a High Interest Savings Account or very conservative investments with little to no stock exposure in a Tax-Free Savings Account.

Alternatively, they could use extra cash flow to pay down their mortgage in the interim and borrow back on a line of credit for the wedding cost at that time. The thinking there is that if their mortgage rate is 3 per cent and their savings account rate is 1 per cent, they would be better off paying down their mortgage as compared to saving. They could then tap their line of credit in part to fund the wedding, particularly if they expect to receive gifts that will cover a good part of the wedding costs or pay off the debt relatively quickly.

I think her risk tolerance with her pension plan can be quite different from their wedding fund. Pension plan withdrawals are generally not permissible until a plan member turns 55 and, practically speaking, might not be taken by Jamie for 30 or more years. She should have as high an allocation to stocks as she can reasonably tolerate, despite any of the volatility we have seen so far in 2020. Todays stock market declines are buying opportunities for a long-term investor and, with five or more years to an investment time horizon, a healthy allocation to stocks will help increase returns over the long run. Short-term volatility is the price you pay for good long-run returns.

I would be sure to maximize the employer matching contributions for her pension given she has no nonmortgage debt and her cash flow is good. The employer match is free money for her, so she should get everything she can get out of the plan.

Given her pension plan is already like contributing to a RRSP account, I would consider opening and contributing to a TFSA account. The TFSA may ultimately be used for funding retirement and be a long-term investment, but has the added flexibility of the funds being available along the way for other uses. She may well use some of the TFSA funds for a wedding, honeymoon, home renovation, lump-sum mortgage payment, maternity leave, catch-up RRSP contribution or other purposes. TFSAs can be very flexible and even more appealing to those already saving in a company pension plan.

I love the prioritizing Jamie is doing. She brown bags her lunch and snacks at work, but she travels two to three times per year. It goes to show you that when you cut costs in some areas, you can splurge in others.

Jamie appears to be doing well with a home, no consumer debt, retirement savings and extra cash flow. The biggest risk at her age and stage is a disability or a job loss. Job losses are more concerning for everyone these days as a result of COVID-19, but disability can be insured against with disability insurance. Id take a close look at her employer coverage to make sure it adequately replaces her income. She may have options to choose from within her group plan or she may be able to supplement coverage with a third party policy. If she has mortgage insurance, that tends to be expensive and subpar compared to a private plan, so I would look to replace that coverage.

Life insurance is less important if her boyfriend is financially independent from her at this point. Critical illness insurance may be appealing to provide a lump-sum payout if she develops a critical illness. Funds can be used for any purpose, including treatment or care costs, or for her boyfriend to take a leave of absence, as examples.

If she and her boyfriend own their home as joint tenants, it will go to him on her death. If they own the home as tenants in common, her share can be left to her beneficiaries in her will. If she doesnt have a will, the province dictates how her estate will be divided depending on her family members and the total value.

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Result: New record. She spent way less! Spending in Week 1 (excluding what insurance covers): $124.44 Spending in Week 2: $28.59!

How she thinks she did: Jamie has broken a Millennial Money record by spending only $28.59. She attributes that to the restrictions in lockdown that keep her from going out. It feels like I did great, but it isnt surprising, she says. Savings are always at the top of her mind. Limiting spending on splurges has never been an issue for her. My day-to-day spending is conservative and that never changes much.

Take-aways: Heaths advice has been helpful for Jamie to think about her future. Typically I wouldnt want to borrow money for a wedding, but the way the adviser has framed it allowed me to see that it would be more economical. Going forward, shell follow the advice to borrow to match their time frame for a 2021 wedding.

Another big point that stuck out to Jamie was the need for critical illness insurance. It was the one important takeaway and confirmation I needed. Even though shes been receiving health insurance from her workplace, she has been thinking about it for a while, and is planning to set up her own life insurance for her and her partner.

Finally, the exercise has made her more thankful. I have been very fortunate to be employed by a company that provides a pension and many benefits, and I am very aware how rare that is in this climate.

Are you a millennial living in Toronto or the GTA and need help with saving your money? Be a part of #MillennialMoney and email ekwong@thestar.ca
OTTAWAThe federal Conservatives are calling for an investigation into the Liberal governments decision to have an international charity administer a $900-million program designed to help students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The request is contained in a letter sent to Auditor General Karen Hogan on Sunday in which the Tories argue that outsourcing the Canada Student Service Grant to WE Charity undermines Parliaments ability to monitor the aid program.

The Conservatives also noted the well documented connections between WE and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as they underscored the importance of transparency, accountability and value for money in Ottawas COVID-19 spending.

By outsourcing this program to a third party, the proper channels for Opposition scrutiny, the very bedrock of our parliamentary democracy, have been circumvented, reads the letter signed by Conservative MPs Pierre Poilievre, Dan Albas and Raquel Dancho.

Indeed, it is your office that will provide the most legitimate and transparent examination of this program.

The auditor generals office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday.

The Liberal government announced the Canada Student Service Grant last week as part of a broader suite of support for students and young people struggling to find internships, job placements and other work-related experience during COVID-19.

Eligible students can earn up to $5,000 for volunteer work with non-profit organizations that are helping to cushion the impact of the pandemic. The program is supposed to place up to 20,000 students in volunteer positions between now and October.

Trudeau defended employing WE to administer the program after conflict-of-interest concerns were raised last week. The prime minister attended several WE events in the past and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, hosts one of its podcasts.

The prime minister said the decision to use WE was made by the non-partisan public service, not by him. Delivery of the grant program demanded an organization able to reach the tens of thousands of students, he said.

WE directed questions Friday to the government.

The Conservatives want Hogan to incorporate her study of WE and the student aid program into her larger review of the governments pandemic-related spending, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament later this year.

Direct federal spending on emergency aid measures now stands at $174 billion, the government announced Friday, driven by a jump in the estimated cost of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit to $80 billion.

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That is up from the previously revised $60 billion and more than double the original $35-billion estimate, as demand rises and recipients get ready to receive eight extra weeks of payments.

Statistics Canadas latest jobs report showed that returning post-secondary students, aged 20 to 24, had a record-high unemployment rate in May of 42.1 per cent, and about one-third had seen summer placements disappear because of COVID-19.

Data released Friday by the agency also found that youths in the so-called internet generation were the most likely to formally volunteer. They contributed on average 82 unpaid hours to charities in 2018 and had a volunteer rate of 52 per cent.
OTTAWAThe Canada Border Services Agency says it turned back 21 people who tried to enter the country from the U.S. in May to claim asylum.

The CBSA says 17 were sent back to the U.S. from the Quebec region and four were sent back from the Pacific region after they were stopped by the RCMP entering between formal border control points.

The 21 were turned away under the rules governing the current shutdown of the Canada-U.S. border to non-essential traffic in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Before that closure, hundreds of people a month entered away from official border points to be able to claim asylum.

The first agreement sealing the border allowed Canada to turn them all away, but after criticism Canada was abandoning its obligations to refugees, the rules were relaxed to allow some people to file claims.

To do so, they have to be exempt from the Safe Third Country Agreement that governs refugee claims at the Canada-U.S. border.

The agreement is based on the premise both countries are safe and a refugee claimant should seek asylum in whichever of the two countries they enter first.

For that reason, most people will be turned away if they show up at a regular border crossing and request asylum.

The exceptions include unaccompanied minors and those who already have family members in Canada.

Statistics from the federal government show that 185 claims were filed at land border offices last month.

Those who dont qualify for the exemption can still file claims once they are in the country, which is what has driven many to enter  often on foot  between formal border points and make claims once they arrive.

According to the latest figures from the Immigration and Refugee Board, between February 2017 and March 2020, 58,255 irregular border crossers lodged claims in Canada.

Only 28,644 cases have been heard so far. Of those, 14,420 have been accepted, 11,948 have been rejected, and the rest were withdrawn or abandoned.
DELTA, B.C.The regional district of Metro Vancouver says it has achieved corporate carbon neutrality, balancing its carbon output with its removal from the atmosphere.

Board chair Sav Dhaliwal said Monday that the regional district became carbon neutral in 2019 and is poised to remain so at least through 2022.

The achievement applies to the corporate organization of Metro Vancouver, not to the broader population of residents or businesses within the region.

The regional government has set a goal of expanding carbon neutrality across Metro Vancouver by 2050, but Dhaliwal said it will require buy-in from everyone.

Unless we are all committed to it, it cant be done, he said during a news conference at Burns Bog, a protected area in Delta, B.C.

Metro Vancouvers carbon emissions have been offset through initiatives that include parkland acquisitions, the installation of energy efficient boilers and an increase in electric vehicles for staff use, it said in a news release.

Its use of trenchless tunnel construction for major liquid waste infrastructure projects cut down on heavy trucking and caused fewer disruptions. And the ecological restoration of Burns Bog, which is known as the lungs of the Lower Mainland for the way it sequesters significant amounts of carbon, also helped the regional government meet its goal, it said.

Adriane Carr, chair of the Metro Vancouver climate action committee, said expanding the achievement to the broader population will require significant shifts in building and transportation.

Across the region, residents and businesses collectively produce about 15 million tonnes of emissions per year, with 65 per cent coming from vehicle use and building heating, she said.

This wont be easy, Carr said. But it can be done and must be done  our future generations depend on it.

The federal government has also committed to become carbon neutral by 2050, although it has been criticized by environmental organizations for simultaneously investing in oil and gas projects that produce heavy emissions.

Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said climate change is a looming crisis on the horizon and without action, its economic impacts will be worse than those of COVID-19.

Climate change is a crisis that we know is coming. Its coming more slowly but it is coming in a manner that if we do not act now, the effects will be significantly more devastating from an economic perspective than what weve been having to deal with over the past number of months, said Wilkinson, who participated in the press conference from North Vancouver via video conference.

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Reaching carbon neutrality in Canada will take a different approach in each region and industry, he said.

It will require that we work very carefully to define pathways almost on a sector-by-sector basis, as to how we are going to get there, Wilkinson says.

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OTTAWANew federal models show continued progress in suppressing the spread of COVID-19, but with significant hotspots.

The figures released by the Public Health Agency of Canada Monday show that some areas have been more heavily impacted by COVID-19 than others, specifically Quebec and Ontario.

The hotspots in the past few days include parts of Saskatchewan, Toronto, Montreal and around the border town of Windsor, Ont.

At this point, transmission of the novel coronavirus appears under control nationally with any fluctuations due to localized outbreaks, chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Monday.

She said that as restrictions ease, it will be even more important for Canadians to maintain physical distancing and good handwashing practices to keep case counts down to help with contact tracing and to not overburden the health-care system.

She said people under the age of 40 account for a greater proportion of cases after that has been steep declines in case numbers for people over 80 years old in recent weeks.

The federal public health agency now estimates there will be between 104,000 and 108,000 cases countrywide by July 12, and between 8,545 and 8,865 deaths by the same date.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday the restrictions Canadians have lived with through the spring have worked to get COVID-19 under control.

A new explosion in cases could mean a return to tight restrictions, he warned.

He said rising COVID-19 numbers in the United States demonstrate the need for continued vigilance north of the border, including keeping physical distance from each other wherever possible.

Trudeau also said federal officials will reduce the number of news conferences over the summer, but might hold unscheduled updates if there is information to share.

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An engineering student choosing between getting urgent dental work done or continuing their studies.

A daughter staying home part time in order to take care of her mother who has Alzheimers.

A farmer-turned oil worker digging into retirement savings due to industry changes.

There are more than a hundred testimonies like these contained in a report released Monday by the non-profit Basic Income Canada Network.

The report features 141 anonymized stories collected from people across Canada in April and highlights the myriad of different situations where a basic income would allow someone to get a job, retain their dignity, or in some cases, save their life.

And right now, while Canada ponders a recovery from COVID-19, is the best time to implement a basic-income program, said Sheila Regehr, founding member and chairperson of Basic Income Canada Network.

COVID hasnt created anything new. It has put a spotlight on all of the weaknesses in our system, said Regehr.

All of those inequalities that have been growing over the years and have been causing all kinds of problems for a certain group of people. Now, COVID shows that so many other people are also vulnerable.

For decades, economists have floated the idea of basic income, a policy centred on the premise that everyone deserves to have their basic needs met regardless of their income.

In 2017, Kathleen Wynnes Liberal Ontario government launched a $150 million basic-inome experiment in three cities. The Ford government cancelled it in July 2018 but multiple studies afterwards found the pilot project had positive benefits for participants. One study by McMaster University found three-quarters of people who were already employed kept working even after receiving monthly basic income, dispelling concerns that basic income discourages people from working.

And recently, in the United States, former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang championed something called universal basic income  where everyone would receive a cheque for the same amount in their pocket regardless of how rich or poor they are.

Support for basic income is growing, said Regehr.

Regehr believes Canada should adapt a progressive version of basic income, similar to how the countrys Old Age Security and child benefit programs are calculated. Essentially, your basic income cheque increases and decreases depending on how much other income you make.

In the Basic Income Network Canadas model, those who make over $55,000 (or more than $77,782 as a couple) will not receive basic income aid. On the other end of the spectrum, those who make very little income would receive as much as $1,833 per month per person or $2,593 for couples.

Regehr said her organization has submitted policy briefs detailing exactly how the country can pay for basic income  either through existing tax programs, or with a new wealth tax, or by increasing sales tax slightly  to both the House of Commons and the Senate.

The federal government has given $2,000 per month to people who lost their jobs due to COVID-19, through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, also known as CERB. Regehr and others have applauded the government for acting quickly during the crisis.

All of those people who were managing or were one or two paycheques away from disaster, getting that CERB benefit was huge for them, she said.

In particular, the cash in peoples pockets  with no strings attached  meant they could use the money in whatever way made sense for them.

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It gives people both the security and the flexibility to manoeuvre through transitions, said Regehr.

According to the stories Basic Income Canada Network collected, people used the money for everything from child care to groceries to rent. Many feared what would happen to them after the government halts CERB as some businesses, schools, and families gradually recover from the pandemic.

One respondent wrote:

We all know about the people in the middle, the ones who are struggling to keep up, but arent actually falling behind, who arent in danger of dying, but will never know what it is to truly thrive; the ones who just keep falling through the cracks. This is me.

Others lamented about how those living on disability cheques are forced to live on about half the amount of what CERB doles out.

Basic income would help those in all of these situations, said Regehr.

Many who wrote in were living on the precipice of poverty before COVID-19 hit, said Regehr. Thats why Canada should not settle for going back to the old normal, either, she said.

Normal was people starving on social assistance, using emergency rooms for health care because they cant eat properly, its police activity in disadvantaged neighbourhoods to quell the gun violence because people dont have enough to get by through legal means.

Through the stories collected by Basic Income Canada Network, Canadians living in precarious situations do a better job showing why basic income makes sense  better than any policy adviser could, said Regehr.

Some are even a little bit optimistic.

One youth who in recent years lived in shelters, under a bridge, and now in a garage, summed up the situation like this:

I truly believe that the world has enough money and resources to go around; they just need to be distributed to those in need because without the working class, everything shuts down.
OTTAWAThe federal government has been accused of violating its international human-rights obligations by refusing to help dozens of Canadian men, women and children detained in squalid camps in Syria because of their suspected links to the Islamic State militant group.

The accusation by New York-based Human Rights Watch is in a scathing report released Monday that calls on Ottawa to immediately begin bringing the detainees home  starting with the 26 Canadian children known to be in the camps.

One of those children is a five-year-old orphan known as Amira who was found on the side of a road last year after her parents and siblings were killed in an airstrike and whose case has been raised with the federal Liberal government in the past.

The government of Canada is flouting its international human rights obligations toward Canadians who are arbitrarily detained in northeast Syria, reads the 92-page report, which included interviews with detainees, families and Canadian and foreign officials.

The obligations that Canada has breached include taking necessary and reasonable steps to assist nationals abroad facing serious abuses including risks to life, torture, and inhuman and degrading treatment.

It goes on to paint a disturbing picture of conditions in the camps, with food and clean water in short supply while disease and violence are rife. Children were seen drinking worm-infested water while morality police hunted women who criticized the Islamic State group.

The Human Rights Watch report is the latest to take aim at the federal government when it comes to Canadians detained in northeastern Syria following the collapse of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repeatedly defended his governments largely hands-off approach on Monday as he noted Canada does not have diplomats on the ground in Syria and emphasized the safety concerns associated with sending officials to the area.

We have a responsibility as a government to ensure that Canadian citizens, particularly employees, are not put into danger, are not exposed to grave situations, Trudeau said during his daily news conference outside his Ottawa home.

Syria is an area where we do not have any diplomats or any Canadians on the ground and therefore we work through intermediaries to try and provide consular assistance as best we can.

Yet Human Rights Watch noted Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway and the United States had all repatriated children, and in some cases their mothers, since October. That included 10 French orphans and children in June.

The federal government also recently helped 40,000 Canadians return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization said, including 29 from Syria. The 47 known Canadians in the Syrian detainee camps include eight men, 13 women and 26 children.

Although Canadian authorities do not cite potential political fallout as a reason, in 2017 Trudeau faced a backlash simply for supporting rehabilitation programs for Canadian (ISIL) suspects who return home, the rights group wrote.

To be sure, the repatriations are not always popular, it added, noting an attempt to repatriate a Norwegian mother and child led to the collapse of that countrys government. But the vast majority of repatriations have taken place with little or no controversy.

The Canadian detainees in the camps administered by Kurdish-led organization include Mohammed Khalifa, who has been described as an ISIL propagandist, and Jack Letts, a dual British-Canadian national dubbed Jihadi Jack by British media.

The British government revoked Lettss citizenship last year. Neither the Liberal government nor the official Opposition Conservatives have expressed enthusiasm for returning him to Canada despite repeated pleas from his family.

Human Rights Watch argued for repatriation as the best  and potentially only  way to hold Canadian ISIL members to account as there is no process in Syria to investigate and prosecute those suspected of crimes.

None of the Canadians has been charged with any crime, it added. Nor have the Canadians been brought before a judge to review the legality and necessity of their detention, making their continuing captivity arbitrary and unlawful.

At the same time, the group raised the question of whether Canadian authorities are withholding or limiting consular assistance from those in the camps because of their suspected links to ISIL, which it says would also violate international law.

Trudeau repeatedly sidestepped questions Monday about whether the governments reluctance to intervene is because the Canadians in the camps were linked to ISIL, but did at one point note the potential for investigations and prosecution.

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We recognize that we need to try and help all Canadians, he said, before adding: It is more complicated when we talk about the fact that a number of these people could face charges when they return to Canada, for their activities linked to terrorism.

An annual federal report on extremism last year said some 190 people with connections to Canada are suspected of terrorist activity abroad and, in addition, approximately 60 had returned.

A small number of the 60 returnees had come back from Turkey, Iraq or Syria but many who remain abroad were said to lack valid travel documents, find themselves on a no-fly list or fear being arrested on Canadian soil.

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MEXICO CITY - Authorities in Mexico have arrested two people in connection with the murder of a federal judge and his wife in mid-June, prosecutors said Sunday, while in Mexico City 17 of the 19 suspects detained in a failed attack on the capitals police chief appeared before a judge.

Both attacks have been attributed to the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel and are seen as major challenges to Mexicos government and the security strategy of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

A suspect in the judges killing was located and detained in the city of Cuauhtemoc, in the western state of Colima, thanks to intelligence work by Mexicos marines and prosecutors, the Attorney Generals Office said in a statement. The office said a second suspect was also arrested, but provided no more details.

Meanwhile, Mexico City prosecutors office said 17 people detained in Fridays assassination attempt against Police Chief Omar Garcia Harfuch appeared before a judge.

In the attack, more than two-dozen gunmen executed a co-ordinated plan to intercept his armoured vehicle at dawn with grenades, assault rifles and a .50 calibre sniper rifle on the capitals grand boulevard. Garcia survived with three bullet wounds and within hours blamed the Jalisco New Generation Cartel for the attempt that killed two of his bodyguards and a bystander.

It came less than two weeks after the federal judge and his wife were gunned down in their home in Colima state. The Jalisco gang is also suspected in that attack.

Although analysts consider the attack on the judge and the attack on the police chief clear challenges by the cartel to Mexicos president, Lopez Obrador said on Saturday that he was not going to declare war on anyone, that he would continue with his strategy focused on labour intelligence and in eradicating the causes of violence.
CANBERRA, Australia - An Australian state lawmaker said Monday that he was not a suspect in a police investigation into unnamed people advancing Chinas goals in Australia, days after his home and office were searched by police.

Shaoquett Moselmane, a member of the opposition Labor Party from New South Wales, said he was told the investigation was looking into other people suspected of working with China and denied any wrongdoing.

I have never jeopardized the welfare of our country and our people, he told a news conference.

Police have not said why they searched Moselmanes Sydney home on Friday and also executed a warrant for his parliamentary offices.

Australia has accused China of seeking to interfere in its domestic politics, allegations that have strained relations and led Australia in 2018 to pass new national security laws that outlaw covert foreign interference in domestic politics and make industrial espionage for a foreign power a crime.

The raids are the first police investigation to grab public attention since the foreign interference laws came into force and the government bolstered funding to security agencies late last year to enforce them.

Moselmane said Monday that he would co-operate with Australian Federal Police in their investigation but also exercise his right to remain silent.

I am under no illusion that this is a serious investigation, he said.

Moselmane denied media reports that he had accepted Chinese government-funded trips to China.

In April, he stood down as assistant president of the New South Wales upper house after praising Chinese President Xi Jinpings response to the coronavirus pandemic. He said Xi had demonstrated unswerving leadership and decisiveness.

Moselmane said Monday that his views on Chinas handling of the pandemic were consistent with those of the U.S. president, vice-president and the World Health Organization.

Police declined to comment on Moselmanes news conference, saying in a statement, As this investigation remains ongoing, there will be no further comment.

Labour Party state leader Jodi McKay said Moselmanes party membership was being suspended. Moselmane said he would take leave from Parliament until the police investigation was complete.

The Chinese Communist Party-controlled Global Times newspaper on Monday accused Australia of waging an intensifying espionage campaign against China.

The newspaper cited a Chinese law enforcement agency source as saying Australia was sending agents to China to spy, gather intelligence and recruit assets. Australia was described as the thief who is crying stop the thief.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined to comment on the report.

I wouldnt be relying on Chinese state media for your sources for questions, Morrison told a reporter who asked him about the Global Times allegations.

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Morrison described the raids on Moselmane as a very serious issue for police and for the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, the nations main domestic secret service.

We introduced our foreign interference laws because we didnt want Australias political system or any other part of the country to be interfered with, Morrison said.

Morrison described Moselmane, a 55-year-old Lebanese immigrant who was mayor of a Sydney municipality before he was elected to Parliament in 2009, as a very, very long-standing and relatively senior person within the Labor Party.

The secret service, best known as ASIO, confirmed in a statement that search warrant activity occurred in Sydney on Friday as part of an ongoing investigation, but would not comment on Moselmane or its involvement.

Less than two weeks ago, Morrison said that a sophisticated state-based cyber actor was targeting Australia in an escalating cyber campaign that was threatening all levels of government, businesses, essential services and critical infrastructure.

Most analysts said Morrison was referring to China, but the prime minister would not name the country.

Already high tensions between Australia and China have been raised by the pandemic.

China in recent weeks has banned beef exports from Australias largest abattoirs, ended trade in Australian barley with a tariff wall and warned its citizens against visiting Australia. The measures have been interpreted by many as punishment for Australias advocacy of an independent probe into the origins and spread of the coronavirus.

Australias foreign minister has accused China of using the anxiety around the pandemic to undermine Western democracies by spreading disinformation online, prompting China to accuse Australia of disinformation.

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This story has been corrected to show that the secret service is the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, not the Australian Security Intelligence Agency.
WARSAW, Poland - Polands conservative president, Andrzej Duda, promised Monday to protect traditional Polish values against LGBT rights after a first-round presidential election that gave him the most votes but forced him into a runoff.

Dudas immediate return to a theme that he has raised frequently during his campaign was an indication that he is heading into a tight runoff with Warsaws centrist mayor by seeking to win the votes of those on the far right, not the political centre.

Nearly complete results from Sundays balloting show that Duda, who is backed by the populist ruling Law and Justice party, won nearly 44% of the votes.

In second place was Rafal Trzaskowski, the pro-European Union mayor, with slightly over 30%.

The two will face each other in a July 12 runoff that is shaping up as a suspenseful standoff between two 48-year-old politicians who represent opposing sides of a bitter cultural divide.

Whether or not Duda wins will determine whether Law and Justice will keep its near-monopoly on power. Over the past five years the party has taken control of the countrys judicial system in a way that the EU has denounced as violating democratic values.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which monitored the election, said that it was professionally run. But it also said that public TV broadcaster became a campaign tool for the incumbent, while some reporting had clear xenophobic and anti-Semitic undertones.

The campaign itself was characterised by negative rhetoric by the leading candidates that further aggravated the already confrontational atmosphere, the OSCE said in a statement. Inflammatory language by the incumbent and his campaign was at times xenophobic and homophobic.

While Trzaskowski trailed Duda on Sunday, in a runoff he would likely gain many voters from the nine other candidates who have now been eliminated, including a progressive Catholic independent, Szymon Holownia, who won nearly 14%.

Up for grabs will also be the nearly 7% of votes that went to a far-right candidate, Krzysztof Bosak.

On state radio Monday morning, Duda stressed how his values line up with those of Bosak, calling same-sex marriage alien and depicting Trzaskowski as left-wing.

Earlier this month, Duda said the LGBT rights movement promotes a viewpoint more dangerous than communism. Despite street protests in Poland and criticism from the EU, Duda appeared to be returning to that theme, though with slightly toned-down language.

He said ideological materials must be kept out of schools and said that any pro-LGBT materials in school would remind him of his childhood, when the communist regime taught children one ideology and children learned something else in their homes.

Trzaskowskis program calls for allowing same-sex civil partnerships but not marriage, and he has largely avoided the issue on the campaign trail.

He, too, has sought to win some of Bosaks voters by stressing their shared free-market views.

Bosak is a lawmaker with the party Confederation, which entered parliament for the first time last year on a program that is anti-American and anti-EU and opposes LGBT rights.

The partys pro-market positions have won over some libertarians who oppose Law and Justices strong involvement in the economy.

Marek Migalski, a commentator and EU lawmaker, wrote on the right-wing Do Rzeczy news site that he expects Bosaks voters to be neutralized in the runoff. He argued some wont vote, some will back Duda and some will tactically vote for Trzaskowski to weaken Law and Justice, which Confederation sees as a rival conservative and nationalist force.

Further complicating the bid for Bosaks voters is that they are not a uniform block.

Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political scientist at the University of Warsaw, said support for Bosak does not necessarily reflect the level of support for far-right radicalism in Poland because of the way Bosak avoided radical public statements during the president campaign.

He presented himself as a well-groomed, nice gentleman in a suit, appealing to many that way, she said.

Dudas support reflects the popularity he has among many older and rural Poles for Law and Justices mix of social conservatism and generous welfare spending.

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I am sure that we can build here a land of milk and honey, Duda told voters Sunday night in Strzelce, a village in central Poland.

A country that will also be safe, free of terrorist threats, without all that is often the bane of Western Europe, a country based on tradition, on its tested values, Duda said.

Polands state electoral commission announced the results of the election Monday based on a count of nearly 99.8% of all votes.
PARIS - Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon was found guilty Monday in a fraud case of having used public funds to pay his wife and children more than 1 million euros ($1.13 million) since 1998 for work they never performed.

The couples lawyers immediately appealed Mondays verdict from the Paris court.

Fillon, 66, was sentenced to five years in prison, three of which were suspended, and a 375,000-euro (more than $423,000) fine. He is also banned from seeking elected office for 10 years. He remains free pending appeal.

His 64-year-old wife, Penelope Fillon, was found guilty as an accomplice. She was given a three-year suspended sentence and fined the same amount.

In addition, the couple was requested to reimburse the National Assembly more than 1 million euros that correspond to the salaries and payroll charges that were paid. The penalty is suspended pending appeal.

The scandal broke in the French media just three months before the countrys 2017 presidential election, as Fillon was the front-runner in the race. It cost him his reputation. Fillon sank to third place in the election, which was won by Emmanuel Macron.

The Paris court considered that Fillon elaborated and established an organization enabling to misappropriate money for his personal use.

In a statement, the court said that nothing concrete has been proven in court regarding the work of Madam Fillon.

She did not have any professional activity alongside her husband, the court added. Nothing justifies the paid salaries.

Fillon and his wife have denied any wrongdoing.

Fillons lawyer Antonin Levy told reporters there will be a new trial ... We will be able to get a full and serene debate that will finally allow justice to be made.

Penelope Fillons role alongside her husband drew all the attention during the February-March trial, which focused on determining whether her activities were in the traditional role of an elected officials partner  or involved actual paid work.

Prosecutors denounced fraudulent, systematic practices.

Fillon was accused of misuse of public funds, receiving money from the misuse of public funds and the misappropriation of company assets. His wife was charged mostly as an accomplice.

During the trial, Penelope Fillon explained how she decided to support her husbands career when he was first elected as a French lawmaker in 1981 in the small town of Sable-sur-Sarthe, in rural western France.

Over the years, she was offered different types of contracts as a parliamentary assistant, depending on her husbands political career.

She described her work as mostly doing reports about local issues, opening the mail, meeting with residents and helping to prepare speeches for local events. She said working that way allowed her to have a flexible schedule and raise their five children in the Fillons countryside manor.

Prosecutors pointed at the lack of actual evidence of her work, including the absence of declarations for any paid vacations or maternity leave, as her wages reached up to nine times Frances minimum salary.

Francois Fillon insisted his wifes job was real and said that, according to the separation of powers, the justice system cant interfere with how a lawmaker organizes work at his office.

A former lawmaker, Marc Joulaud, also went on trial in the case for misuse of public funds after he allegedly gave Penelope Fillon a fake job as an aide from 2002 to 2007, while her husband was minister. He was found guilty and sentenced to a three-year suspended prison sentence.

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In addition, charges also cover a contract that allowed Penelope Fillon to earn 135,000 euros in 2012-2013 as a consultant for a literary magazine owned by a friend of her husband  also an alleged fake job. The magazine owner, Marc de Lacharriere, already pleaded guilty and was given a suspended eight-month prison sentence and fined 375,000 euros in 2018.

Fillon, once the youngest lawmaker at the National Assembly at the age of 27, served as prime minister under President Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007 to 2012. He was also a minister under two previous presidents, Francois Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac.

He left French politics in 2017 and now works for an asset management company.
WASHINGTON - The head of the U.S. Park Police refused to appear Monday to answer lawmakers questions on violence against demonstrators and journalists outside the White House, saying he couldnt as long as the federal force remains on highest alert for protests and attacks against monuments.

The White House, however, trumpeted the administrations continuing support of law officers in the now subsiding protests. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters that President Donald Trumps vision was for law and order, for peace in our streets, and against anarchy.

The Trump administration at a House Natural Resources Committee hearing Monday on official use of force at this months street protests did provide a written count and details on federal statues that had suffered lasting damage in the nations capital - two. But Democratic lawmakers charged officials again failed to provide any evidence justifying the Park Polices subjecting protesters and news media to chemical agents, clubbing and punching while clearing Lafayette Square in front of the White House on June 1.

If there was a shred of evidence, the administration would have presented fact witnesses to support this gaslighting, Rep. Jared Huffman, a California Democrat, said.

Republican Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah said the committee hearing, which featured an Australian journalist and a military veteran injured in authorities routing of demonstrators, but no administration officials, amounted to political theatre and good drama.

The forceful clearing of protesters from Lafayette Square came during weeks of massive street demonstrations around the country against police killings of Black Americans. More recently, sporadic protests nationally have sought to take down statues of Confederate generals and other monuments that are seen as glossing over historic wrongs to U.S. Blacks, Latinos and Native Americans.

The clearing of Lafayette Square is the subject of an Interior Department inspector-generals review and at least one lawsuit brought by those wounded. One of those, Navy veteran Kishon McDonald, told lawmakers Monday of being hit by the shrapnel from flash-bang grenades that authorities fired to chase away what he said were peaceful protesters.

It hurts as a Black man to see that its 2020 and we still have a government who would do this to us again over something that seems so right to protest about, McDonald said.

The acting chief of the U.S. Park Police, Gregory T. Monahan, wrote lawmakers that it would be impossible for him to appear to discuss his forces actions because of ongoing protests and accompanying violence and destruction of memorials and monuments. Monahan suggested mid-to late July instead.

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt earlier this month said law officers and other security forces in Washington were under a state of siege. Bernhardt in a letter to lawmakers then cited unspecified injuries to 50 Park Police officers, and said protesters brought on the forceful response by lobbing bricks, Molotov cocktails and other projectiles at authorities.

Democratic lawmakers say witness and journalist accounts and videos dont support that, and say the administration has yet to detail the alleged wounds suffered by officers.

McEnany said federal officials have arrested over 100 of what she called anarchists for alleged rioting and destruction of federal property.

The National Park Service, part of the Interior Department, in a report Monday detailed structural damage to two statues  the toppling of a statue to Confederate officer Albert Pike, and the scratching of paint and the bending of a sword, along with damage to the wooden carriages of cannons, of a statue of President Andrew Jackson in front of the White House. Jackson was a slaveowner who presided over the large-scale uprooting of Native American communities to take their land.

Other statues had graffiti scrawled on them, since removed, the park service said.

At a separate briefing Monday, a House Oversight subcommittee addressed the treatment of protesters and journalists at demonstrations across the country, including Lafayette Square.

The administration has denied that authorities forced protesters from the square that day so Trump could stage a law-and-order photo op nearby, clinching an upheld Bible. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said Trump and Attorney General William Barr unleashed pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets on a crowd of peaceful protesters  many of them constituents from his suburban Washington district  in order to clear a path so Trump could perform the most grotesque photo op in American history, waving someone elses Bible upside-down and above his head.?

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Associated Press writers Matthew Daly and Darlene Superville contributed. Knickmeyer reported from Oklahoma City.
WASHINGTON - Hours after an astonishing summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, President Donald Trump boldly declared a breakthrough. There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea, he tweeted.

Yet two years later, despite two more face-to-face meetings and many exchanges of warm words between the leaders, North Korea continues to build up its nuclear program and test missiles. And even if Trump still hopes for an agreement, his administration isnt betting on it happening before the November election.

The last significant contact between the two sides was outside of Stockholm last October. North Korea declared the dialogue a failure in a statement written before talks even began, administration officials say. Communication has been limited to the lower-level New York channel at the United Nations.

North Koreas recent belligerence against South Korea has only stoked more tension. The North has lashed out at South Korea for not breaking from Washington to restart inter-Korean economic projects that have been held back by U.S.-led sanctions. Pyongyang blew up a multistory liaison office in the border town of Kaesong, a place where the North and South could talk and improve relations. The North also threatened military retaliation against the South, but then backed off.

Trump administration officials are hard pressed to find signals of interest from Pyongyang in resuming talks. But they are anticipating the possibility of an October surprise before the Nov. 3 election. They arent sure if this would be an olive branch from Kim to resume talks or fireworks in the form of an atomic test or missile launch. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the administrations thinking on a sensitive diplomatic matter.

The officials note, however, that despite the Norths harsh rhetoric, Kim has not taken any irreversible steps, potentially leaving the door open, if only slightly, to renewed discussions. Experts arent ruling out the possibility of a small agreement that Kim and Trump could sign, which could burnish Kims image at home and give Trump a foreign policy win before the election.

There was some discussion among the Korea watchers where President Trump and Kim Jong Un will go for a last-minute, eleventh-hour deal  an October surprise  where North Korea agrees to partly freeze its weapons of mass destruction programs for partial sanctions relief, said Sue Mi Terry, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who formerly worked at the CIA and National Security Council.

She noted Kim said this year that he would freeze or reduce the nuclear program if his conditions are met. Im wondering if hes trying to go for the last possible minute deal with President Trump, she said.

The two leaders last met a year ago during Trumps made-for-television stroll across the Demilitarized Zone to become the first sitting U.S. president to step foot in the North.

After the first summit, in Singapore in 2018, Trump tweeted, There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea. Meeting with Kim Jong Un was an interesting and very positive experience. North Korea has great potential for the future!

Trump has repeatedly gushed about his relationship with Kim, the third leader in a dynasty reviled by Republicans and Democrats alike for human rights abuses and belligerent conduct. Trump told a rally in 2018 that Kim wrote me beautiful letters and theyre great letters. We fell in love.

Trumps likely Democratic challenger, former Vice-President Joe Biden, says Trumps meetings with Kim have only provided legitimacy to the North Korean leader.

After three made-for-TV summits, we still dont have a single concrete commitment from North Korea. Not one missile or nuclear weapon has been destroyed, not one inspector is on the ground, Biden wrote in response to a question posed by the Council on Foreign Relations.

If anything, the situation has gotten worse. North Korea has more capability today than when Trump began his love affair with Kim Jong Un, a murderous tyrant who, thanks to Trump, is no longer an isolated pariah on the world stage, Biden said.

Trump says its still early in the U.S.-North Korea diplomatic process and insists he hasnt caved during his bromance with Kim and has maintained sanctions on Pyongyang. The U.S. negotiating stance hasnt changed from its longtime posture of demanding full, verifiable denuclearization.

Trump has said that the lack of war with North Korea is essentially a win for the United States.

Intaek Han, research fellow at Jeju Peace Institute, a top foreign policy think-tank in South Korea, notes that throughout the latest provocations from the North, there have been no territorial incursions, no lives lost and no indication that things would escalate into a military conflict. He also points out that Trump himself has not been the target of the Norths recent hostile rhetoric.

North Korea isnt criticizing Mr. Trump, or the United States this time, he said. So despite all these provocations. I think that relations between Chairman Kim and Mr. Trump, more or less, remain intact and quite possibly, relations between Chairman Kim and Mr. Moon (South Korean President Moon Jae-in) may be still OK, he said.

Still, some see the risk that Kim, who is hard-pressed to improve his countrys deteriorating economy, could soon take more provocative actions.

Frank Aum at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington said Pyongyang could conduct short- to medium-range missile tests, launch satellite, expand nuclear or missile facilities or conduct cyberattacks against the United States and South Korea.

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All of this said, its not likely that North Korea will resort to a major provocation, such as a nuclear or ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) test, in the near future, he said.

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AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
Mayors from across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area are urging Premier Doug Ford and provincial health officials to make wearing masks mandatory to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

The mayors and chairs unanimously agree to request to the government of Ontario to implement a mandatory face covering measure for large municipalities, said a statement Monday on their behalf from Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti.

Every person wearing a face covering properly is protecting those around them from the risk of virus spread, said the mayors statement, which was shared on Twitter by Toronto Mayor John Tory.

We are at a critical time in the fight against COVID-19. We may do everything we can to avoid flare-ups of the virus in our communities.

Scarpitti said the mayors and regional chairs would work with their local medical officers of health to explore how they can best advance the universal wearing of non-medical masks and face coverings inside businesses and other indoor places where the public gathers, including on transit.

Ford, who recommends wearing a mask indoors in a public space or outside when a safe physical distancing of two metres apart cannot be maintained, said municipalities already have the power to mandate face coverings. Enforcement is also up to civic governments.

But the premier said it would be difficult to force all Ontarians to wear masks.

You just cant enforce it. You go up to the rural areas way up north, and theres no cases (of COVID-19), as much as we can tell and  they arent wearing masks. I encourage everyone, but we just cant enforce it, Ford said Friday.

Its up to the chief medical officer. Ive talked to Mayor Scarpitti about this and the chief medical officer of York Region. Thats their choice. If the chief medical officer of Toronto wants to implement that, theyre welcome to under Section 22 (of the Health Protection and Promotion Act), he said.

They have a lot of power to change things. So, if the community, the mayors and everyone wants to do that  good luck to them. I dont disagree, by the way.

Ontarios associate medical officer of health said Monday that the province would not rule out a mandatory mask order, but for now is strongly recommending face coverings in situations where physical distancing is a challenge.

We would consider every option as it goes along, depending on the evidence. If we see a lot of people are not complying, it may be better to have mandatory, said Dr. Barbara Yaffe.

One complication with mandatory province-wide orders is there are a number of health units across the province that have had no coronavirus cases for weeks.

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Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

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COVID-19 has exploded among agri-farm workers outside Windsor, with almost 200 new cases on the weekend and public health units from London and elsewhere sending staff to help control the outbreaks.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit reported 87 more cases in farm workers Monday on top of 96 the previous day  both highs for the region and all at the same operation, which officials would not identify.

Its unprecedented. Nobody was expecting this high number, medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed told a news conference Monday.

The cases accounted for almost 70 per cent of the 257 new infections reported Monday across Ontario by the Ministry of Health. It was a 44 per cent increase in infections from the previous day at a time when new cases have mostly been limited to fewer than 200 daily.

Five more cases were linked to a nail salon in Kingston, where 27 have now been infected.

Ahmed said the higher numbers in Essex County follow a testing blitz that began last week in an effort to get a better picture of outbreaks as six agri-farm operations in Kingsville and Leamington struggle with the highly contagious virus.

The towns on the north shore of Lake Erie were barred from stage two business reopenings last week as Premier Doug Ford allowed restaurant patios, barber shops, hair salons to resume operations in the rest of Essex County and Windsor.

There are now more than 500 cases of COVID-19 in agri-farm workers in the lush agricultural region southeast of Windsor, which is a temporary home to about 8,000 migrant workers whose labour is supplemented by the hiring of local residents.

Officials have said the migrant workers from Mexico and other countries caught the virus here after being quarantined for 14 days upon arrival. Three have died: two in Essex County and one in Haldimand-Norfolk.

Organizations representing migrant workers have been sounding the alarm for weeks about the dangers on farms and called for better protections. Some farms and greenhouse operations employ hundreds of migrant workers, who live in bunkhouses and eat together. Those close quarters contribute to the spread of COVID-19, which has infected about 1,000 of the temporary foreign workers.

The group Justice for Migrant Workers called Monday for an immediate shutdown of the entire agricultural industry until every workplace is fully sanitized and safety measures are put in place to ensure that the workers are not working under risk to their life and health.

New Democrat MPP Taras Natyshak (Essex) accused Ford of ignoring concerns of migrant workers until the outbreaks reached crisis levels, saying "the warnings about the growing hot spots at farms and greenhouses have been loud and clear."

Ahmed said almost all workers who have tested positive over the weekend did not report symptoms. Nurses, nurse practitioners and interpreters descended on the unidentified farm Monday to double check and help decide on next steps to contain the outbreak. Those steps could include temporarily shutting down the operation because so many of its 450 workers are infected.

Officials need to know if they are truly asymptomatic or if they do have signs and symptoms and for whatever reason arent speaking up about them, Health Minister Christine Elliott told a news conference in Toronto.

Theres a chance that a good number of them may in fact be symptomatic, said Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontarios associate medical officer of health, noting an assessment must be made on how many other workers or contacts those who have tested positive could have exposed to COVID-19.

Ahmed said he was pleased to have help from Middlesex-Londons associate medical officer, two of his staff and about 10 workers seconded from other health units to do interviews to get a better understanding of the situation.

Its unmanageable for a single agency, he told reporters, saying better control measures are needed on farms and raising concerns that some workers are working on more than one farm.

Ford said the government is getting a list of recruitment agencies who are approaching farmers with prospective workers, calling some fly-by-night operators.

Under a new protocol issued last Wednesday, Ontario will allow farm workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 but are not showing symptoms to keep working in clusters as long as they work, live and eat away from workers who have tested negative.

That was a compromise reached to help keep farms in operation, supplying food and to make sure crops such as cucumbers and peppers are planted and harvested. Yaffe said that protocol has not yet been enacted because its intended only for small clusters of workers.

Ahmed said he would not name the farm that has become a hot spot unless he determines it poses a risk of spreading COVID-19 to the general public.

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By law, public health units are required to name nursing homes with outbreaks but not farms, which can be identified at the discretion of the local medical officer of health.

There were 23 new cases of COVID-19 in nursing-home residents and 20 in staff over the weekend as the number of outbreaks in long-term care fell by two to 55. To date, 1,809 nursing-home residents and staff have died from the virus.

The number of patients in hospital continued to decline, falling to 214 in Mondays report from the Ministry of Health from 256 on Friday. There were 51 people in intensive care and 36 on ventilators to breathe, down 10 and five respectively from Friday.

Since January, COVID-19 has infected 36,962 Ontarians and killed 2,716, according to a Star compilation of data from health units at 5 p.m. Monday that found 232 new and probable cases and 10 more deaths in the previous 24 hours.

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Dear Amy: I am a married, 50-year-old, elementary school teacher.

Socially and politically I lean firmly left and my family is very aware of it.

My parents and my in-laws are VERY conservative and quite religious.

At gatherings they are very vocal about their disdain for liberals and Democrats, calling them names, saying they're going to hell, etc.

They also voice their dislike of other races, religions, and sexual orientation, using bigoted language.

I don't enjoy spending time with any of them. I do not voice my opinions, as I have no interest in being part of their hostile conversations.

When the assault begins, I pick up my phone and scroll through and ignore them.

I have limited my time with them as much as possible, but I can't cut them out of my life completely, as that is just not my character.

My husband lets it go and is mostly politically neutral. He says it's not worth arguing with 80-year-olds.

I find his answer irritating. Any suggestions?

Teacher

Dear Teacher: You seem to point your irritation toward your husband, whom you claim stays neutral, but you are doing the exact same thing, by ignoring comments from both your parents and his that you say are bigoted and offensive.

So, Teacher, I think its time to take these 80-year-olds to school.

I can imagine not wanting to waste your breath on your in-laws, but your parents raised you. Surely you can spend some energy in order to engage them in some thoughtful conversation about their own hate speech.

There is absolutely nothing about Christianity that gives believers license to express hatred toward other human beings. But aside from the religious aspects of this, I think it might be time for you to locate your backbone. If you consider yourself a true ally of people who are discriminated against and consigned to hell by ignorant people -- then you must use your own voice to push back.

This book is currently flying off the shelves (Im reading it now): How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi (2019, One World). Heres a quote: Denial is the heartbeat of racism.

Dear Amy: About two months ago, my boyfriend potentially had COVID-19.

The week he started to work from home, he got very sick.

Taking care of him was scary and stressful for me.

He was able to get a virtual doctors appointment. He tested negative for the virus, but still believes he had it, due to the high rate of false negative test results.

He recovered in two weeks and is good, now.

He brings this up whenever we have Zoom calls with family or friends; he even brings this up with his clients. When it initially happened -- and the month following  bringing it up made sense. I realize that sharing with friends and family can help to process a scary event.

It has now been two months (it feels like six), and hes OK. Im confused as to why he still feels the need to talk about it now, however.

Healthy and Wondering

Dear Healthy: You went through this with your boyfriend, and so you have been exposed to this story many times from many different angles. You can have whatever interior reaction you want, but your boyfriend should continue to talk about this experience if he finds it helpful. His brush with serious illness might have deepened his empathy toward others. He may also be tacitly inviting you to share in this drama, and to confirm to others how challenging this was. There are fears about people developing the illness again  after they believe they have recovered  and he might be worried about that possibility.

Some people are genuinely traumatized by an experience with serious illness. If he is ruminating excessively or seems to be stuck in an anxious loop, you should encourage him to set up another appointment with his doctor.

Dear Amy: I smoked three packs of cigarettes a day and loved it for more than 35 years.

On November 1, 1992 I stopped smoking and went on the nicotine patch for six months. I still have three cigarettes in my freezer.

I still feel guilty for my children (none of them smoke) when they had to put up with both parents smoking in the station wagon.

Ive saved enough cigarette money to take four trips to Europe and numerous cruises.

Recovered Smoker

Dear Recovered: What a testimony! (I may need to learn more about those cigarettes in your freezer)

(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)

COPYRIGHT  2020 BY AMY DICKINSON.

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
State lawmakers will reunite in Trenton on Monday for the first in-person voting sessions since March, as they rush to adopt a three-month stopgap budget before the end of June.

The Legislature began meeting remotely in late March after the governor warned against gatherings of any size to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Lawmakers have since joined committee hearings and Assembly and Senate votes by phone or Zoom.

Both houses will meet in Trenton on Monday afternoon while adhering to social distancing guidelines. Legislative chambers are off limits to press and members of the public, according to guidelines issued, and lawmakers will be spread out throughout their respective chambers and visitor galleries.

The resumption of in-person voting sessions comes as the state is in the second phase of its reopening, which allows for outdoor dining, in-person retail with reduced capacity, and the reopening of hair and nail salons.

Both the Assembly and Senate are scheduled to vote on the proposed $7.7 billion temporary budget to fund state government while Gov. Phil Murphy and lawmakers assess the havoc the pandemic crisis wreaked on tax revenues.

The states fiscal year typically ends June 30. The Legislature and Murphy extended it three months to Sept. 30, buying them time to rethink next years spending plan.

The spending plan largely follows the path laid out by Murphys administration last month, forgoing funding for now on his own new initiatives and pushing off big-ticket expenses, such as a quarterly pension payment and aid for schools, municipalities and NJ Transit, into the next fiscal year.

The Legislatures spending proposal does differ from the governors slightly, relying on higher and more up-to-date revenue estimates than earlier plans. Those higher projections allowed lawmakers to restore funding for county colleges and public four-year colleges and sock away more money into a rainy day fund.

The Legislatures budget committees approved the temporary budget last week without any support from Republicans, who said Murphy had ignored cost-saving proposals.

Rather than have the pandemic serve as a catalyst for us to fix much of what has been done wrong in New Jersey budgeting over the past 20 years, it seems to presage were going to use the pandemic as an excuse to continue to do nothing, Sen. Declan OScanlon, R-Monmouth, said before voting against the bill (A3).

Also Monday, the state Assembly is scheduled to vote on an overhaul of New Jersey teachers health care plans, the result of a deal between Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, and the powerful New Jersey Education Association. The bill stalled for months after it was approved by the Senate in March.

The overhaul introduces new health care plans that lower costs for the state, in part by slashing out-of-network reimbursements, and offers teachers lower premiums.

Sweeney and the NJEA estimated school districts could save $640 million a year, with another $404 million in savings for teachers and $30 million for the state, though actual savings will depend on how many teachers opt for one of the new plans.

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Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com
An association of school superintendents in Burlington County is calling on Gov. Phil Murphy to expand the amount of people allowed to attend high school graduation ceremonies.

The president of the Burlington County Chapter New Jersey Association of School Administrators told Murphy that some high schools in the county would still need multiple ceremonies to honor all graduates and the two guests they are allowed under the next phase of the state reopening from the coronavirus pandemic.

The number of people allowed at an outdoor event is currently at 250 people, but Murphy expects to raise it to 500 by early July, in time for high school graduations.

We ask that you allow high schools to present plans to honor all members of the Class of 2020, to be together one last time, that follow all but the 500-person capacity limit among the guidelines set forth, said Roy Rakszawski, the president of the group and superintendent of the Pre K to 8th grade Edgewater Park School District.

Rakszawskis Edgewater Park district students go on to Burlington Township High School. It has a total enrollment of under 700 for grades 7 to 12. The two largest high schools in the county are Cherokee (2,100) and Rancocas Valley Regional (2,000). Eight more schools have in excess of 1,000 students.

We specifically propose a waiver of the capacity limit for districts where venues such as stadiums can accommodate all seniors and two guests while following all the states guidelines, Rakszawski said.

The number of attendees stands at 500, and it will likely rise to that number on July 3, the governors office said Sunday. Official graduation ceremonies are permitted to resume on July 6, and districts around the state are working diligently to ensure that students get to celebrate in a safe and responsible way.

On Friday, Murphy also announced plans for reopening schools this fall.

The guidance advised more than 2,500 public schools on how to fully prepare for 1.4 million students returning to the classroom, though not necessarily at the same time. Some school superintendents  already deep into their reopening plans  have grown impatient, saying they need direction on critical issues such as health screenings and potential limits on building capacity.

Parents, students and politicians had made graduation ceremonies a major flash point in reopening the state, especially after watching milestones such as prom lost to Murphys near-lockdown measures to contain the virus.

In April, the governor said he didnt envision schools having in-person graduation ceremonies. But his stance began to soften as the number of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations dropped.

Staff writer Adam Clark contributed to this report.

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Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Mercer County Community College has unveiled three options for students to continue their education during the fall 2020 semester while the coronavirus pandemic continues across the nation.

In a press release on Sunday from President Dr. Jianping Wang, the college announced students will be able to choose from remote, online or hybrid classes.

The institution is one of a few in Mercer County to come out with a plan for fall semesters.

Some students thrive in a self-paced learning environment, while others need more interaction with their instructors and fellow students, Wang said in the release. Still, others need both flexibility and engaging interactions. That is why our dedicated faculty carefully designed three convenient and flexible ways to meet the various needs of our students.

Remote classes will be offered through a technology platform like Zoom and allow students to engage with instructors and other classmates.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

Online courses will allow flexibility for students to schedule learning on their own time.

Hybrid courses will combined face-to-face instruction and remote or online sessions. According to the release, it will feature some on-campus labs with remote lectures or other methods that meet the needs of the course materials.

The two-year college isnt the only institution in Mercer County to put forth such plans.

Rider University plans on delivering instruction in three formats as well, fully in-person, fully remote and hybrid. The fall calendar is slated to begin one week earlier than initially scheduled and students will also have one week of remote instruction following the Thanksgiving break.

The College of New Jersey has created five readiness task forces to coordinate and execute a plan to operate in the fall. As it stands now, the college is planning on face-to-face and remote educational experiences. Students will have the ability to move between them if conditions allow.

According to the TCNJ website, president Kathryn Foster will have a formal decision on fall operations by Tuesday.

Thomas Edison State University plans to restart on July 6 its on-ground program for nursing students. The majority of work, though, is taught online. Just recently, it also announced that it will lower its tuition for full-time, in-state students by 10 percent effective July 1 and it has lowered its requirement for full-time consideration to nine credits, compared to 10. No official plan for the fall semester could be found.

Princeton University also has yet to release an idea for the fall but the most recent Community COVID-19 Newsletter from June 25 states that plans will likely be released in early July.

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Brian Bobal may be reached at bbobal@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Brian on Twitter @BrianBobalHS.
In the latest sign that the 3-1/2 month old coronavirus outbreak is continuing to decline in New Jersey, the state Health Department has outlined strict rules that will allow hospitals and surgery centers to permit visitors again, according to a state Health Department memorandum.

Closing down the hospitals to all outside visitors has been among the most heartbreaking and tragic consequences of the pandemic. But as the spread of the disease has slowed after three-plus months of business shutdowns, families have pleaded to be allowed in to visit.

A spokeswoman for Hackensack Meridian Health, the largest hospital and health care provider in New Jersey, confirmed it changed its visitation policy and posted it on its website on Friday. Hackensack is requiring visits for patients with COVID-19 to be done by appointment only, the website said.

Neither Gov. Phil Murphy nor Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli has mentioned the highly-anticipated change in policy when it was shared with hospitals and healthcare facilities on June 24. A Health Department spokeswoman confirmed the policy change for hospital visits by sharing the memo but declined to comment.

A spokeswoman for the New Jersey Hospital Association Monday also confirmed the policy change.

We suggest that visitors call ahead or check the hospital website so they understand the processes and requirements before they go. Its great to be able to welcome visitors back to the hospital. Our hospitals are delivering their full complement of healthcare services, and we know the presence and support of visitors provides added peace of mind to patients, Hospital Association spokeswoman Kerry Kelly wrote in an email.

Bill Beaver of Brick said he hasnt been allowed to visit his wife, Lorraine, in the 14 weeks she has spent at south Jersey hospitals for the treatment of non-covid-19 chronic conditions. He knows the toll the isolation has taken on his wife of 51 years.

She has become severely depressed. On multiple occasions she has told me she is afraid and as time goes on she is starting to give up, Beaver wrote in an email.

The pulmonary doctor who is monitoring her has told me that he knows her progress would have been better if I could visit, he said.

Beaver said he asked the psychiatrist who diagnosed Lorraine with depression if he could get an exemption to the visitor ban for this reason, but Acuity Specialty Hospital which is located in the AtlanticCare Hospital in Atlantic City, denied the request.

Even though we FaceTime every day it does not remove the loneliness and stress, he said.

According to guidance sent to hospitals and surgery centers from the Department of Health:

One adult visitor is allowed at a time per patient but a patient who is a minor may be visited by both parents or guardians. The facility has the discretion to allow additional visitors.

Visitors will be given personal protective equipment and instructions on how to wear it. Those who do not comply will be asked to leave the facility.

All visitors must undergo symptom and temperature checks as soon as they arrive at the facility.

All visitors must perform hand hygiene before visiting a patient.

Visitors may use the cafeteria and other amenities but they must remain in the patients room, unless they are instructed to step outside during a procedure.

Outpatients may be accompanied by one adult who will wait for the patient in the designated waiting area subject to physical space availability.

The cumulative coronavirus totals since March are 14,975 deaths with 171,182 total positive tests since the outbreak began in early March, although the state has seen steady declines since the peak of the outbreak in April.

The state allowed outdoor visits with nursing home residents and people with developmental disabilities in group homes to begin starting June 21.

New York allowed hospital visits to resume on June 16.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

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Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio.
The Princess Bride stand as a classic, which of course means its vulnerable to remake culture.

While there have been whispers of interest in such a pursuit, a group of celebrities decided not to wait.

New Jerseys Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner are among the actors involved in a socially distanced performance of the film.

Vanity Fair reports that the pandemic remake, directed by Jason Reitman, is a project from Quibi, which will release chapters of the home movie every day for two weeks starting Monday.

Quibi, a short-form video platform, launched in April. Turner stars in the Quibi drama Survive and both Turner and Jonas can be seen in the Quibi travel series Cup of Joe. The couple got married (twice) in 2019 and are expecting a baby this summer.

For their Princess Bride scenes, Jonas, 30, who grew up in Wyckoff and is one third of the Jonas Brothers, and Turner, 24, who played Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, gender-swapped roles.

Jonas plays a bearded Princess Buttercup while Turner plays the masked and mustachioed Westley, aka The Man in Black, as they escape the Fire Swamp. Their corgi, outfitted with what looks like a neck pillow, plays a fearsome Rodent of Unusual Size.

In other parts of the at-home celebrity remake, Tiffany Haddish plays Princess Buttercup and Common is Westley, and Jack Black plays Westley while Diego Luna plays Inigo Montoya.

Other actors who will be in the mix include Newarks own Retta, Patton Oswalt, Taika Waititi, Zazie Beetz, Keegan-Michael Key, David Oyelowo, Lucas Hedges, Beanie Feldstein, Jon Hamm, Elijah Wood, Jennifer Garner, Hugh Jackman, Chris Pine, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, Annabelle Wallis and Jenna Ortega.

The all-star Princess Bride remake benefits World Central Kitchen through a $1 million donation from Quibi.

The narrator is none other than the original films director, Rob Reiner (Josh Gad plays the boy hes reading the story to). Actors filmed the scenes with their phones.

Cary Elwes starred as Westley in the 1987 film, in which Robin Wright played Princess Buttercup and Mandy Patinkin played Inigo Montoya.

Elwes made his feelings clear on an actual feature film remake in 2017.

Theres a shortage of perfect movies in this world, he tweeted in response to a Variety story that mentioned Hollywood powers interested in a remake. It would be a pity to damage this one.

Theres a shortage of perfect movies in this world. It would be a pity to damage this one. https://t.co/5N8Q3P2e5G  Cary Elwes (@Cary_Elwes) September 18, 2019

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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Send a coronavirus tip here.
Taylor ham ice cream sounds like a big bad mistake  who would ever eat the stuff?  but its been the most popular flavor at Windy Brow Farms in Fredon the past two years.

And now its back on the menu.

Well have it probably through September, or until I get sick of making it,' said a wise-cracking Jake Hunt, managing partner of Windy Brow Farms.

Forget that back by unpopular demand'' line on the Facebook page post; Windy Brows Taylor ham ice cream has been a runaway hit since it was introduced two years ago. The introductory flavor back then in the farms Only in Jersey ice cream collection, the Taylor ham ice cream was made with real Taylor ham, plus French toast and maple syrup.

Why the French toast and maple syrup? Taylor ham-only ice cream would be gross,' said Hunt, so he added French toast and maple syrup, creating a really good balance of super sweet and super salty.'

The French toast was not in last years batch, but its back this year.

We went back to the original recipe,' said Hunt, standing outside the farms ice cream walk-up window. We put actual pieces of French toast that we make out of cinnamon rolls, then caramelize that up, soak it in maple syrup, then mix that into the maple ice cream (and add) the caramelized Taylor ham.'

Menu board, Windy Brow Farms, Fredon

Windy Brow, named for its windy location at a brow of a ridge, has been in operation for 75 years. Fruits and vegetables are its staples, but ice cream has been a steady if not spectacular source of income; Windy Brow sells about 200 pints or quarts every weekend.

The walk-up ice cream window is open 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, while the farm store, where you can buy pints and quarts, is open Thursday through Monday.

Hunt is no stranger to ice cream making; while a student at the University of Delaware, he helped create a creamery on campus.

The Taylor ham ice cream has not been his only attempt at mad ice cream scientist; he offered a tomato pie flavor in 2018. It was made with oregano, black pepper, red pepper flakes, cumin and Italian seasoning, which was churned and upon removal from the ice cream machine swirled in housemade sungold tomato jam, ricotta cream and basil oil.

Current ice cream flavors at Windy Brow include Madagascar vanilla, dark chocolate, salty caramel, mint chip and black raspberry truffle. Current vegan flavors include coconut blueberry lime, cookies and cream, and mocha fudge. All proceeds from their Sprinkles & Cake flavor will go to two Pride organizations.

Hunt would love to make a peach ice cream, but his peach crop was pretty much wiped out this spring due to cold weather.

I will not make peach ice cream until I have fresh ripe peaches,' he said.

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Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com.
While the coronavirus pandemic has caused New Jersey high school seniors to miss out on many of the rites of passage that come with graduating, Glassboro High School still managed to find a way to send out its 110 senior students in style while still adhering to social distancing restrictions.

Glassboro High School celebrated its seniors with a drive-in commencement ceremony earlier this month.

The students of the Glassboro class of 2020 and their families took part in the ceremony at Thomas E. Bowe Schools field on June 12. The field held a 72-foot screen that displayed a pre-recorded virtual ceremony arranged by Glassboro High Schools administration and school principal Monique Stowman-Burke.

I want to thank our students and all those who sacrificed memorable moments, said Stowman-Burke. Their respect and commitment to others is a tribute of honor to those who work on the front lines. The past few months have proved to the world that the Class of 2020 is one of perseverance and tenacity and that they truly embody our newly adopted motto, Bulldog Strong.

Many of the families at the ceremony decorated their cars with balloons, signs and photo banners of their graduates. The commencement included pre-recorded songs by the schools select choir and a faculty musical tribute to the students. The 64-minute ceremony ended with senior class president Visha Puwar appearing on screen to officially present the students as graduates and lead them in a ceremonial turning of the tassel and a hat toss.

Two days before the ceremony, the Glassboro school district celebrated its seniors with a drive-through event. Two mothers, Lz Roth and Heather Buff, and Glassboro High School alumnus Martin Cartier raised more than $53,000 in cash, gifts and gift cards from local businesses and the community, which went towards the celebration, senior swag bags, and a donation to the family of a senior who recently lost a parent.

Ten years from now, we wont be fixated on the bad parts, and we wont be fixated on what we missed out on, said valedictorian Alicia Petrany. Well remember the good parts, the friendships, the triumphs and the celebrations.

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Mak Ojutiku may be reached at oojutiku@njadvancemedia.com.
A Pennsylvania man was killed Sunday morning when his pickup ran off a South Jersey highway and overturned after a tire blew out, authorities said.

Brandon Deeck, 24, of Media, Pennsylvania, was driving a pickup with a trailer hauling a personal watercraft on Route 55 southbound in Franklin Township, Gloucester County, around 9:30 a.m. when his truck suffered a tire failure, according to New Jersey State Police.

The Ford ran off the roadway to the left around milepost 40.6, struck a road sign, traveled down an embankment, hit several trees and overturned.

Deeck was thrown from the vehicle, police said.

Additional details were not released.

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Fireworks have become the latest noise complaint in communities small and large across the country. But a number of cities in Hudson County are continuing to crack down on it.

Early Sunday morning Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante tweeted the latest update on the issue, and said theres been a difference in complaints in the city since they launched their Fireworks Task Force last Monday.

There were just three complaints of fireworks after midnight, Ferrante said. On Saturday, there were six calls between 12:30 and 2 a.m.

Night 5 of our Quality of Life/Fireworks detail and we had 6 calls of fireworks between 12:30 and 2am. 5th, 11th & 14th on Sinatra, 8th & 11th on Willow, & 300 Harrison. An 18 yr old from Passaic was summonsed for Disturbing the Peace for loud music on 10th & Sinatra.  Chief Ken Ferrante (@KenFerrante) June 27, 2020

Hoboken was one of the first cities to address the nationwide issue after residents were constantly kept awake due to fireworks being set off between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. Fines could cost offenders up to $500.

Mayor Steve Fulop said on Twitter Thursday that the city was still tackling the issue, which had 1,783 firework-related calls for service so far this year. In 2019 from Jan. 1 to June 24, there were only 50 related calls.

In New Jersey, it is illegal to sell, possess or use fireworks without a valid permit.

Bayonne was the latest to join the action after Mayor Jimmy Davis said Bayonnes Fireworks Task Force will work to stop the fireworks thats been affecting the city. A summons would cost up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail.

On Thursday, Davis discussed the issue in a video message posted to Facebook and Twitter. He reminded residents that the fireworks they hear might be coming from neighboring cities.

Due to our geography and the way sound travels across the water, we unfortunately have to hear fireworks from neighboring communities as well as our own, Davis said.

This weeks video message. I discuss the fireworks issue in town. @CityofBayonne @Bayonne_OEM https://t.co/TJEioyY6KA  Mayor Jimmy Davis (@DavisForBayonne) June 25, 2020

People around the country and across all social media platforms have complained about the issue, saying that it has caused an annoying disturbance to children, pets and the elderly.
JERSEY CITY  Tyler Ballon has been painting since high school. His work has been displayed at the U.S. Capitol, re-posted on Instagram by the likes of rappers Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube. And now its in City Hall.

Ballon, 23, is currently featured in the City Hall Rotunda Gallery, which he says is great exposure and a great way to educate people who arent aware of the issues the Black community faces.

Even if you dont like the painting ... it causes you to ponder and think about it and get some type of reaction, Ballon told The Jersey Journal on Sunday.

And his latest work, which has been seen by hundreds of thousands on social media, was inspired by Caravaggios Deposition, which shows Jesus body being taken down from the cross.

In Ballons painting, a young Black man is being held by loved ones on a city street. Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube re-posted the image, with the words Stop Killing Your Own set at the top of the painting.

I felt grateful that they felt my work was even worth enough to share, he said. Its something I dont take lightly. Im thankful to be committed and dedicated and see it pay off in a little way, even if its just an Instagram post.

For Ballon, he said his artwork is an extension of himself, showing the good and bad things hes seen in his life.

The 23-year-old grew up in the Greenville section of Jersey City. He attended Snyder High School, where he continued his childhood hobby.

I kept those experiences with me, and I wanted to incorporate it into my work because it seemed like home to me, he said. I felt like my calling was to make my work about that.

His other works include Emancipated, which depicts a handcuffed Black man in an orange jumpsuit with a tear in his eye being handed a key from a person in a white robe. Pieta shows a Black woman clinging onto a Black man whose blood is seeping through the back of his white shirt.

"Emancipated"Courtesy of Tyler Ballon

Ballon said he feels its his job as an artist to reflect the times hes living in through his paintings.

His next project is another work inspired by the Pieta, a sculpture of Mary holding the dead body of Jesus in her arms. Ballons work features the body of George Floyd, who is handcuffed on the floor, being held by a loved one while a protester  whos wearing a mask  records the incident with a phone.

The death of Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers on May 25 sparked weeks of protests and demonstrations and calls to defund police departments.

Since the Black Lives Matter movement has surged across the country after the death of Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, Ballon said it made him realize that his work has always been relevant, and hopes it can create solutions for these social justice issues.

I want someone to understand... Someone whos been through those circumstances and is still able to make a positive life, a positive outlook, he said. ... And I want people who dont know those problems to be educated and have not sympathy, but empathy. So they can empathize with what people go through.

When asked if hes experienced any discrimination as a Black artist he said Its hard not to say theres anybody whos 23-years-old and a Black man or woman who hasnt experienced it.
New Jersey school classrooms have been empty since mid-March to curb the outbreak of COVID-19. The shutdown pushed parents, students and teachers into a new normal  remote learning.

Now, more than three months later, Gov. Phil Murphy said schools can reopen in September, but with restrictions. Some parents say the reopening brings new questions and concerns.

Jersey City parent Ann Ycherley is the mother of 12-year-old Jack and 4-year-old Patrick. Both of her sons go to Hoboken Catholic Academy, and though shes not worried about Jack, she said she is worried about Patrick.

According the state Department of Educations The Road Back plan:

Social distancing must be done throughout the school building and buses. Students should sit six feet apart. When social distancing is not possible face coverings must be worn.

Face coverings are required for teachers, other staff and visitors. Students are strongly encouraged to wear masks, but must if they cant social distance.

School districts must develop a scheduled increase routine cleaning and disinfecting, especially frequent touched surfaces.

Cafeterias will no longer be buffet-style. Eating times must be staggered to allow for social distancing and disinfecting.

Recess must be staggered, and staff must disinfect playground and other shared equipment. Physical education may resume, but schools should consider closing locker rooms.

Ycherley said shes concerned about her 4-year-old because hes too young to understand what it means to social distance.

They say masks are encouraged, but it should be mandatory or else they dont go in at all, Ycherley said.

Murphy had initially ordered all schools in the state to close March 18 for at least two weeks. That order was extended to April 17 and May 15 before he decided not to reopen until medical experts said it was safe to do so.

Ycherley added that kids need some time to be physically in school, which could be two out of the five days. She said the remaining days can be done online because Zoom and Google Classroom work.

Patrick will enter pre-kindergarten in the fall while Jack will go into seventh grade.

Meanwhile, Myra Santiago said shes concerned about her rising eighth grader, Maynard, whos supposed to start looking into high schools this upcoming school year.

We have no access to when are open houses, we dont know how to prepare for the entrance exams, Santiago said. Its a lot of dilemma.

Maynard attends Jersey City Global Charter School. Santiago said shes worried about how congested it can get in places like the cafeteria or during physical education classes.

They should keep limited classes and have a half-day, she said. But it depends on the Department of Education.

Some in-person learning is required in every school district in the state, but it is unclear how many hours or days a week. The DOEs 104-page plan leaves much of the fall school year up to the school districts.

But for Bayonne parent Dawn Diaz, she said she doesnt have many concerns.

Diaz has three daughters: Gabriella, a junior at Bayonne High School; Madison, a freshman at Bayonne High School; Sophia, a seventh grader at Midtown Community School.

Of course there are feelings of anxiety and fear, Diaz said. (But) I cant let that dictate our lives though. So we will be there opening day.

Diaz said the school shutdowns left her in disbelief, but what hurt her and her family more was the cancellation of Gabriellas softball season and Madisons eighth grade graduation.

Gabriella was named one of Hudson Countys top pitchers in 2019, and Diaz said her daughter hoped to bring home a county title, but due to the pandemic, that wasnt possible.

But the three are looking forward to a lost school year, despite the new regulations in place.

For the first time they are all anxiously waiting to go back! Diaz said.

As of 3:30 p.m. Sunday, New Jersey has the third-most coronavirus-related cases in the U.S. with over 173,000 infected.
New Jersey could get a taste of the upcoming Salute to America military flyover, which will pass over both New York City and Philadelphia on a journey from Boston to Washington D.C. to celebrate Independence Day.

An exact date for the flyover was not provided by the Department of Defense in a statement, but it noted that it is proud to celebrate the nations 244th birthday so the flyover is likely to be on or around July 4.

The aerial salute will include cities that played roles in the American Revolution. It will begin in Boston before proceeding to New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore and then concluding in Washington D.C. In addition, there will be a flyover of Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.

The DOD said it will provide aerial, musical and ceremonial support to the celebration in Washington, D.C. The aircraft conducting the flyovers were not revealed. There were three military flyovers in New Jersey during May, including one by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds to show appreciation for health care workers on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus.

About 1,700 service members will take part in Salute to America at no additional expense to American taxpayers, the DOD said.

Flying hours are a sunk cost for the Department of Defense, and these aircraft and crews would be using these hours for proficiency and training at other locations if they were not conducting these flyovers, according to the DOD.
As protesters around the country continue to call for police reforms or the defunding of the forces, one of the messages seen on hand-written signs and widely shared social media posts is that police in the U.S. get much less training than those in many other countries.

In New Jersey, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal has announced the state will soon require police to be licensed, a change that goes along with his earlier promise that the states Police Training Commission will reinvigorate and revamp the training recruits are receiving.
By Theodore N. Stephens, II

In the wake of the tragic death of George Floyd, all of us in law enforcement recognize this is a moment in which we must look critically at the criminal justice system, particularly in reference to how African Americans and other minorities are treated.

Institutional norms and longstanding procedures are rightly being questioned. Legitimate concerns are being raised about the sheer number of African American males in Essex County and beyond who are court-involved. Frankly, it is a disturbing pattern and one that has a lasting and debilitating impact on the well-being of our communities.

The painful truth is open-air drug transactions are more likely to occur in urban areas. Those areas are generally the most populous in the county and the defendants are most frequently Black and brown people. There are many factors that contribute to that reality, education, family life, economic opportunity and others. This situation is not caused, however by our grand jury system as a recent op-ed writer suggested.

Grand juries have been in existence in New Jersey for decades and are mandated by the New Jersey State Constitution. Their primary role is to determine if theres a reasonable basis to believe that there was a crime and that the defendant is the one who committed it. In New Jersey, it takes 12 out of 23 votes to return an indictment. Those indicted by a grand jury have their cases moved to Superior Court for trial.

Probable cause is a relatively low standard of proof. The proceedings must be fair. This stage of the process is controlled by the prosecution but the assistant prosecutor presenting the case to the grand jury is obligated to keep out prejudicial or irrelevant information. And under the applicable case law, the prosecutor has a duty to present clearly exculpatory evidence that exists.

Grand jury proceedings are recorded and can be appealed all the way up to the United States Supreme Court. In short, the grand jury is only one step in the process to establish whether sufficient proof exists to indict a defendant. It does not determine the admissibility of evidence, the legality of a search, sufficiency of an arrest, or whether a confession was given voluntarily. These issues are appropriately determined by a trial judge in an adversarial court proceeding during which defense attorneys can zealously argue for their clients.

Grand jurors act as gatekeepers holding the gate open and slamming it shut when there is insufficient evidence to support a charge.

For the most part, decisions on how to investigate narcotics cases are made at the local level. Often investigations begin based on concerns raised by residents. Similarly, decisions on when to make what are commonly known as station house adjustments'' for juvenile first-time offenders with minor offenses are also made at the local level. There is a legitimate debate over whether individuals should be prosecuted for drug offenses. However, I will note that over 3,021 people died of drug overdoses in New Jersey in 2019 and the problem persists. Changing drug laws is a matter for the Legislature, not county prosecutors.

Moreover, in Essex County juries that rule on guilt during the trial stage, have a well-deserved reputation for being tough on prosecutors. These jurors, who are mostly people of color, are not known to convict on flimsy evidence. At trial, the burden is beyond a reasonable doubt, and our jurors hold us to that taxing standard in each and every case, on each and every count, regardless of the color of the accused or the accuser.

As a prosecutor, I welcome grand jurors exercising their power thoroughly. That is their duty. It should not be perfunctory.

During my tenure as Acting Essex County prosecutor, my top priority has been to make sure the men and women who work under my leadership go where the law and the facts take them. We are the largest and busiest prosecutors office in the state. Returning baseless indictments using dubious evidence runs counter to our core mission and my personal commitment. It undermines trust in the system and, in the long run, makes it more difficult to bring justice to our communities.

At this moment in time, we know that the system is not perfect. As the world pauses and reexamines our criminal justice system, we too are engaged in a robust and thoughtful review of our practices and procedures. We have reached out to the community through several virtual town halls with the NAACP, religious leaders and others in the community for feedback and insight and will continue to do so. We know we have room to grow and improve. The next Zoom session is June 30 at 12:30. An RSVP is required.

There are many things about our system that work and work well. In our haste to bring about reform, we must resist the temptation to dismantle everything.

Theodore N. Stephens, II is the acting Essex County prosecutor.

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Recently, I read an interesting Star-Ledger opinion piece, (My white privilege, by Susan Wagner). She recounted several incidents with law enforcement and security personnel where she felt she would have been treated more harshly if she had been Black.

She wrote that she felt shame for the color of my skin and the advantages if has afforded me throughout life.

Id like to pose a rhetorical question to the writer and to those who may be sympathetic to her type of misplaced self-disdain.

Who do I apologize to for my alleged white privilege?

I grew up in a lower-middle-class, blue-collar area of West New York in Hudson County. I lived in a cluttered, four-room apartment with my parents and my sister. My parents never owned a car. They never owned a home and we rarely went on vacation because we couldnt afford it.

My father worked on the railroad and never had much money. My mother was a waitress working for tips. She went without many things so we children could have clothes and food.

I attended public high school and I worked my way through college. I never had a student loan. I paid my own way because I didnt want charity.

I spent over 40 years in a police department, rising to the rank of sergeant, trying to help all people irrespective of race, religion, gender or financial wherewithal.

I was shot at three times, but never shot back. Ive been assaulted, but never abused my authority or oath of office when taking violent suspects into custody.

Now Im retired, and I see my nation coming apart at the seams and Im told that its my fault because Im white.

So, tell me, since I was born into white privilege, to whom do I have to apologize?

Mike Barry, River Edge

The writer is retired from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police.

We are playing catch-up regarding history

In his recent letter, David A. Johnson bewails his nephews inadequate historical knowledge; he says that we need to teach history, facts about the past, not race-and-gender politics.

For at least a century, the facts about the past covered in history classes have largely left out the experiences of women and people of color. Efforts to correct this omission are very recent and not universal. We are just starting to play catch-up in this regard.

Claiming that issues of race and gender are only political and have no place in the study of history is narrow- minded. Not teaching about them leaves many students unrepresented, and it leaves students in general ignorant and unprepared for the real world.

Mary OConnor-Kelley, Fanwood

Worthy Italians deserve monuments

Gov. Phil Murphy is correct: Statues honoring Christopher Columbus should be removed. The very idea that Columbus exemplifies the contributions that Italians have made to society is pitiful, painful and pathetic.

Columbus didnt accomplish anything significant. He didnt prove that the Earth was round. The ancient Greeks had done that, and globes existed in the 15th century. Columbus wasnt the first European to come to North America; the Vikings had done that some 500 years earlier. Nor did Columbus spearhead the Age of Discovery; Prince Henry the Navigator has that distinction.

Columbus was Spains first conquistador. He subjugated, exploited and enslaved the native population. His cruelty toward the indigenous population and to European settlers who dared to defy him has been well documented.

Italy has a rich culture, heritage and legacy. There are many Italians who have enriched civilization and inspired the world; individuals such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Trocta of Salerno, Dante, Galileo, Giuseppe Verdi, Enrico Caruso, Rita Levi-Montalcini and Luciano Pavarotti. Of course, this list of notable Italians can continue ad infinitum.

If we want to honor Italian heritage, then we need to build monuments to the artistic beauty, scientific advances and creative genius that Italians have given the world  sincere, inspirational works of beauty, art, and science which unify people, heal societal wounds, and enhance humanity and the human spirit.

It is time for all Italians to put an end of having one of the worst of us represent all of us.

Mario Tagliabue, Salerno, Italy

Defund N.Js public schools

I just read retired N.J. Supreme Court Justice Gary Steins op-ed article, Racial healing begins by admitting our (public) schools are segregated.

Wasnt a voucher program that was proposed by former Gov. Christie going to help this issue by allowing parents to send their children to the public or private school of their choice? Wouldnt this have made make schools more diverse?

Maybe we need to defund the public school system. It would lower everyones property taxes. Whats the average cost to educate each student now? Its close to $22,000 a year. Thats insane. It cost less to send your kid to college.

Privatize schools, and there will be instant relief to the underfunded public employee pension program.

We cannot keep going in the same direction. Taxing property owners to death is not working. Wake up, people. Your taxes are so high because of the school systems, not the costs of your municipal and county governments.

Christopher Wood, Fanwood

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The only president who had a tougher week than Donald Trump was Woodrow Wilson. Count the ways:

Monmouth Universitys Board of Trustees voted to have Wilsons name removed from its most prominent campus building, while calling for the school to honor the African American who helped design it.

The Camden school board decided it would rename its largest high school after 90 years, accurately citing the former president and governor of New Jersey as an individual who expressed and demonstrated racist values.

Then Gov. Murphy himself said he would stop using Wilsons old desk, noting that while he has nowhere else to park his rolodex at the moment, I respect whats gone on elsewhere.

And finally, on Saturday, Princeton resolved its own Wilson issue, announcing that it would sponge the former university presidents name from its School of International Affairs after resisting calls to change the marquee in the past.

To all of that, we say: Amen.

This, in full disclosure, is an editorial mulligan. In 2016, we argued that judging such a transformative figure by todays moral standards is historical myopia, even if Wilson, a son of the Old South, was an unrepentant racist who prevented Black students from entering Princeton, who re-segregated the federal workforce as president, and even spoke fondly of the KKK.

Princeton made good on its promise to pursue diversity and inclusion that year, but its trustees concluded that a name change was a bridge too far.

But times change, as do sensitivities. The murder of George Floyd has triggered renewed efforts to pull down statues of Confederate figures and others who have come to symbolize white supremacy. Accordingly, we have an obligation to revisit those symbols and totems from time to time  not because we want to rewrite history, but because there should be some consensus on whom we choose to honor.

Until now, that has not been the case at Princeton, where nearly 300 students and five student associations sent a petition early last week to President Christopher Eisgruber and key administrators, asking them to remove Wilsons name from its prestigious public policy school.

Their argument was compelling: If Oxford and other peer universities are removing, renaming, and reshaping campus landmarks in efforts to take critical first steps in reflecting anti-racist stances, then it is not beyond Princetons ability to get woke.

A quote from Woodrow Wilson that appeared in D.W. Griffith's racist epic, "The Birth of A Nation."

If the University saw fit to change the name of the School of Public and International Affairs in 1948 to reflect the politics of the midcentury United States, the students wrote, then it is time to change the name once again, over sixty years later, to reflect the morals and principles of our institutional identity in 2020.

In response, Eisgruber instructed the University Cabinet  an elite group of academics and administrators  to identify specific actions that can be taken in areas of responsibility to confront racism and report back to him in 45 days. Concurrently, the Board of Trustees said it would review the recommendations on the 2016 report on Wilsons legacy in light of current circumstances.

By weeks end, the Trustees had seen the light: We have taken this extraordinary step, they wrote, because we believe that Wilsons racist thinking and policies make him an inappropriate namesake for a school whose scholars, students, and alumni must be firmly committed to combatting the scourge of racism in all its forms.

When we look at a reckoning with history, this is what it looks like: Protests, followed by reflection, followed by change. Bravo, Princeton.

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When the President of the United States orders troops into a war zone, he takes on a sacred obligation to protect them with ferocity.

So, it is beyond alarming to hear credible reports that President Trump did nothing after Russian intelligence officers offered Taliban fighters cash bounties to target Americans in Afghanistan, and that several Americans were likely killed as a result.

Trump claims he knew nothing about it, even though the National Security Council discussed the reports at a meeting in March, and the information was included in the written daily intelligence briefing, according to several sources who spoke with the New York Times, and later with several other media outlets.

That means one of two things: Either the president is flat-out lying, or he is not paying attention to his own intelligence agencies. Which is more disturbing?

I think its even worse if he didnt know, says Rep. Mikie Sherrill. That speaks to a much broader crisis. What is he doing to fulfill his role as commander in chief? How is it that we were briefing allies on this and our own president didnt know? I dont have any theories on how that might happen. I cant fathom it.

Sherrill served in the Mideast as a Navy helicopter pilot and has close friends in the military and intelligence services, so this hits close to home.

If youre going to put your life on the line for country, you want to have leadership in place thats going to value your life, and do what they can to protect you, she says. Thats the deal. So yeah, its very personal to me.

Trumps coziness with Vladimir Putin has been unnerving and inexplicable from the start. He has pressed for Russia to be admitted to the G7, and repeatedly questions the worth of the NATO alliance. He suggested in 2018 that he believes Putins denial of Kremlin interference in the 2016 election, over the unanimous judgment of U.S. intelligence agencies. He allowed Russia to intervene in Syria without challenge.

Trumps claim that hes been tough on Russia is disinformation. He cites the bill he signed imposing sanctions in response to the 2016 election interference, but the truth is he was cornered into signing it. He called it seriously flawed and yielded for the sake of national unity only after it passed both houses of Congress with veto-proof majorities.

The fact that he says hes tough on Russia doesnt make it true, Sherrill says. There arent any facts to back that up.

Congress now faces two urgent tasks: to find out what happened, and to fashion a response to the Russians, given the absence of White House leadership.

This time, tough questions will come from Republicans, too. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the GOPs third-ranking member in the House, tweeted this response, which several Republicans retweeted during the day:

If reporting about Russian bounties on U.S. forces is true, the White House must explain: 1. Why werent the president and vice-president briefed? Was the info in the PDB (Presidential Daily Brief)? 2. Who did know and when? 3. What has been done in response to protect our forces & hold Putin accountable?

We are cursed with a president we cannot trust, one will lash out at those who ask questions about this, even if legitimate, and retaliate against those who offer damaging testimony, even if true. January cannot come soon enough.

PS This Russia-bounty story confirms why Congress is abundantly acting within its oversight mission to subpoena Trump's business records. Does Trump owe money to Russian persons is an urgent national security question. https://t.co/865UwrpB1A  David Frum (@davidfrum) June 28, 2020

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or call (973) 836-4909. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
Everyone deserves to be free, but the nonprofit group International Justice Mission states that 40 million people are trapped in slavery today. Recently, the U.S. State Department released its 2020 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. The data shed light on this often-hidden crime and ranks 187 countries, including the United States, on their efforts to combat it.

With the truth out there for all to see, we can no longer look away. Congress has the chance to rise above artisan bickering and recommit itself to American-led programs that help rescue slaves and put their perpetrators behind bars.

Having grown up in Trenton and having lived my entire life in New Jersey, the people of this state are counting on U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, both D-N.J., along with our House members  including U.S. Reps. Andy Kim, D-3rd Dist., and Chris Smith, R-4th Dist.  to use their voices and tip the scales toward justice. If we can summon sufficient political courage, we can end slavery in our lifetime.

Stephen Pappaterra, Moorestown

Others are chasing Amy in 2nd Dist.

I voted for Amy Kennedy for the 2nd District Democratic nomination for Congress because she believes in the same things I do and is good at explaining them. In particular, she has talked about three things that are close to my heart.

She believes education is important for all children and for our country. She believes in universal preschool as a way to help level the playing field for all our children. She believes that the U.S. Department of Education should be run by educators. What a great idea!

Kennedy believes in stopping the school-to-prison pipeline by treating mental illness instead of jailing students who act out. This can only help our at risk-students.

She believes in doing all we can to improve our environment. One project that I see as an example of this is the states proposed wind port in Lower Alloways Creek Township. This plan would create a manufacturing zone for wind-energy components, creating long-term jobs in an economically distressed area of the district. It would move the country toward a more environmentally safe method of fueling our homes and businesses.

Ive heard Kennedy speak many times and feel like she is speaking directly to me. People know where she stands and, I, for one, like it. Thats why I voted for Amy Kennedy and why I hope you will, too.

Carol Friedrich, Penns Grove

Kennedy is one of five candidates seeking the Democrats nomination in a largely by-mail primary that concludes with limited in-person voting July 7. The others are Brigid Harrison, Will Cunningham, John Francis and Robert Turkavage. The Democrats winner will face incumbent Rep. Jeff Van Drew, or Robert Patterson, a challenger for the GOP nomination, on Nov. 3.

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By Christina M. Renna

Earlier this month, Gov. Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) unveiled an exciting, new plan to build a wind port in southern New Jersey.

Once completed, the port would be the nations first purpose-built port to manufacture and ship offshore wind-energy components. This would position the state, and specifically its location in Salem County, to become the East Coast hub of the wind power industry, one of the fastest growing in the United States.

The Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ), on behalf of the states seven southernmost counties, applauds this outstanding economic opportunity for the region.

Not only would the port help New Jersey meet the Murphy administrations ambitious clean-energy goals, it can also support up to 1,500 permanent, high-quality manufacturing, assembly, and operations jobs. Incredibly, port planners expect to generate up to approximately $500 million of new economic activity every year.

This project comes to South Jersey at a critical time. Salem Countys unemployment rate has risen from a pre-pandemic level of 5.3% to a recent 15.6% percent, with no indication when this upward trend will end. However, Salem Countys employment and economic issues did not start with the pandemic. Prior to COVID-19, the county lagged in all measurable economic indicators since the 2008 recession. There has never been a community that needed such a substantial and important economic development project.

The port would be situated on the eastern shore of the Delaware River in Lower Alloways Creek Township, adjacent to PSEGs Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station. PSEG has historically driven job opportunities as the largest employer in Salem County, so it is no surprise they are a partner in this landmark project. The state is lucky to have a partner in PSEG that is well-versed in project development and able to support such an ambitious undertaking.

The CCSNJ is proud to join a loud chorus of supportive business, labor and elected officials from both sides of the political aisle who understand the need for critical development projects, opportunities for the wind industry to grow in New Jersey and, more importantly, the direct correlation the port can have on economic growth, quality of life and environmental protection.

Christina M. Renna is president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey.

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Even though it will be Donald Trump versus Joe Biden this fall, New Jersey voters will still get a chance to cast ballots for president during the July 7 primary.

Trump is the only Republican on the ballot while Biden and Bernie Sanders, who ended his campaign in April, are the Democratic candidates.

Those voting in the Republican primary will also see some familiar names on the ballot  including former Gov. Chris Christie.

Thats because that ballot includes the presidents slate of delegates, elected both statewide and from each congressional district.

The former Republican governor, a longtime friend of the president, is on the ballot as a delegate, as are state Sens. Mike Testa, R-Cumberland, and Joseph Pennacchio, R-Morris. There are 46 delegates, 10 statewide and 36 from the states 12 congressional districts. There also will be 46 alternates elected the same way.

Republican voters will cast one ballot for Trump and a second for the entire delegate slate.

Most of the states elected Republicans, including Reps. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., and Chris Smith, R-4th Dist., wont be serving as delegates to the GOP convention.

The rules are different for Democrats, which means Gov. Phil Murphy wont be on the ballot as a Biden delegate, even though he has endorsed the former vice president. He automatically qualifies as a convention delegate, as do U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, all 10 House Democrats from the state, state legislative leaders and top party officials. Seats also are reserved for other elected officials.

Voters will cast just one ballot, both for president and his district delegates and alternates, whose names appear below the candidates. Thats 102 delegates from 20 districts, each one comprising two state legislative districts. There also will be one alternate from each district.

The names of Murphy and the automatic delegates, the so-called super delegates, will not appear on the ballot. Nor will the names of other elected officials or the at-large delegates allocated on the basis of the statewide vote. Those delegates wont be selected until later.

While Biden has clinched the nomination, the primarys outcome isnt totally irrelevant. As long as Sanders receives at least 15% of the vote in any district, he will be entitled to a share of the states convention delegates. That will help Sanders shape the party platform more to his liking.

Even though Sanders dropped out of the race, his delegates will still be recognized at the Democratic party convention, said Jeff Hoey, executive director of New Jersey Peace Action. They, along with all the other delegates, will become part of the wrangling that takes place at the Convention to hammer out the 2020 Democratic Party platform.

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com.
President Donald Trump on Monday entered the fray over renaming institutions, tweeting out his opposition to Princeton University removing former President Woodrow Wilsons name from its school of public policy.

Trump likened the Wilson decision to recent calls to remove actor John Waynes name from the international airport in Orange County, California.

Can anyone believe that Princeton just dropped the name of Woodrow Wilson from their highly respected policy center. Now the Do Nothing Democrats want to take off the name John Wayne from an airport. Incredible stupidity!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2020

Wayne came under fire for comments he made in a 1971 Playboy interview in which he declared, I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility.

The Princeton Board of Trustees voted to rename the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs as the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. The school was named for Wilson in 1948.

Wilson has come under criticism for refusing to hire Blacks during his tenure as governor of New Jersey and segregating the federal civil service as president. And he selected as the first movie ever shown at the White House Birth of a Nation, which portrayed Blacks as inferior beings out to assault white women and led to the revival of the Ku Klux Klan.

Wilson was Princetons 13th president and was a member of the universitys Class of 1879.

The deaths of George Floyd and other unarmed Blacks at the hands of police have led to nationwide demonstrations and a call to remove statues and scrub the names of Confederate leaders who took up arms against the U.S. to preserve slavery.

Also targeted were those who owned slaves or fought against civil rights.

Trump has opposed efforts to remove Confederate statues or remove the names of Confederate generals from military bases.

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @JDSalant.
Police have recovered the body of a man who walked into the Delaware River in Salem County on June 21.

Witnesses saw the 30-year-old Penns Grove resident walk into the river at Straughn Lane and disappear from view, prompting a search by the Salem County Water Rescue Team, U.S. Coast Guard and Delaware State Police Marine Unit.

No sign of him was found until Saturday afternoon, shortly after 4 p.m., when someone spotted the mans body along the shoreline in neighboring Oldmans Township, according to the New Jersey State Police.

Circumstances surrounding the mans death remain under investigation.

Authorities have not released his name.

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 82F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms in the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 53F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
On Sunday, two days after New Orleans learned the name Dixie Beer will soon go away, visitors to the gleaming new Dixie brewery in New Orleans East were drinking down its brews like they were going out of style.

In fact, Dixie will be around as Dixie for at least a few more months. For Dixie general manager Jim Birch the main goal now is ensuring the new brewery built beneath the Dixie name will be making New Orleans beer for a long time to come.

The first steps are taking shape as the company absorbs waves of both applause and backlash for the name change decision Dixie owner Gayle Benson announced on Friday.

What we want people to know is that were retiring a brand, not re-writing history, Birch said. The name will still be around. Well continue to tell the story of Dixie Beer from 1907 to 2020, but going forward it will have a different name.

If were going to be around for another 113 years, if were going to continue making a beer New Orleans can call its own and reach the potential of this brewery, that has to change, he said.

The new name has yet to be decided. In her statement Friday, Benson, who also owns the citys Saints and Pelicans franchises, said input from the public will help determine a new name that will best represent our culture and community.

Birch said the process to select a new name begins today, and should last through the summer. Designing new packaging and marketing materials will take time too. He invited people to share their feedback through the brewerys web site (see dixiebeer.com/contact) or at the brewery taproom itself.

We want this process to have their perspective, he said. We dont want to do this partially, we want it to be clear why were doing this and what were about, which is being inclusive.

Deep roots, changing discourse

When Gayle and (the now late) Tom Benson bought Dixie in 2017, the move was cheered as the revival a company with long local roots. Before the acquisition, however, they vetted the name "to be sure that all members of our community felt the brand was one that represented everyone and they would be proud to welcome back, Benson wrote in Fridays statement.

+16 Dixie Beer, the oldest brewery in New Orleans, will change its name New Orleans has been hoisting Dixie beer for more than a century. Soon, that beer -- and the company behind it -- will have a new name.

The decision to change the Dixie name now comes as people across the country have been calling for the removal of symbols associated with racist figures, movements and groups. Long simmering objections roared to the forefront after the killing of George Floyd in May.

While the origins of the term Dixie as a nickname for the South reach far back into history, its affiliation with the Confederacy has made it divisive in modern discourse.

In her announcement, Benson wrote that she recognized that our nation and community are currently engaged in critical conversations about racism and systemic social issues that have caused immeasurable pain and oppression of our Black and Brown communities."

Wendell Pierce, the actor and entrepreneur, praised Bensons decision last week on WBOK-1230AM, the New Orleans radio station he co-owns.

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I think its revelatory, Pierce said Friday. Gayle Benson should be applauded. And I think of all the things that have happened recently as a part of this protest movement, for them to initiate it now, without prodding from anyone else, just upon reflection, shows you shes an insightful woman, a good business person, and respectful of hearing what people are saying.

Bensons decision has drawn plenty of derision too, through phone calls and emails and, especially, social media posts, with many predicting financial ruin for the brewery.

Birch, however, sees the name change as a necessity to keep building the brewery.

Built for business

The facility that debuted in New Orleans East just five months ago was modeled to look like the original Dixie Brewery, which first opened in 1907 on Tulane Avenue. But beyond the brick tower and vintage contours, the 85,000-square-foot brewery was designed for modern consistency and efficiency.

Since opening, the brewery has produced many different styles of beer alongside the flagship lager for which its best known, to align the company with modern beer tastes.

The brewery was also designed on produce beer for a broad regional market beyond New Orleans. As the company had begun expanding to other states this spring, wholesalers raised red flags about the name, Birch said.

That was a wake up call, he said. We dont want it to be an impediment for what we can do in the future.

Birch underscored the Bensons decision to build the new facility in New Orleans East, a part of town that has seen little high-profile investment and few visitor attractions.

Regardless of the name on the bottle we have a state of the art facility in New Orleans East designed to make a lot of beer and make a difference for jobs and for the economy here, he said.

On Sunday, Birch watched people with kids and dogs in tow walk into the Dixie taproom and spread out across the brewerys park-like grounds, both now set up for social distancing. After the tumult of the name change news, he said it was refreshing to see people using the brewery as intended.

Is there anything more inclusive than getting together to drink some beer and enjoy yourself? he asked. Well have people who will be disappointed with what were doing but I think well bring in new people too. I dont expect everyone to agree with us but I hope theyll understand and give us a chance once they see what were doing.

+13 Matthew Dwyer, bartender who revived beloved New Orleans restaurant Charlies, dies at 49 Regulars at Charlies Steak House know that there is no menu, that the extra-large T-bones will arrive sputtering in iron pans and that propri
The way Jimmy Cho sees it, hes just a guy who sells fried rice.

But Cho, 44, made quite the impression on BRG Hospitality, which partnered with the self-effacing restaurateur to create Cho Thai, which opened June 18 in Uptown. Cho, who founded the Banana Blossom Thai Cafe in Gretna in 2009, inked a deal in January with Octavio Mantilla of BRG, formerly known as the Besh Restaurant Group.

I was surprised really, somebody as big as BRG came to me, Cho says. I have already learned a lot from them, about systems and consistency.

Mantilla is always looking for potential partners and fell in love with Banana Blossom last fall.

The food is so creative, so good," Mantilla says. "I know were not the first to ask Jimmy to open a restaurant together, but I think he and I just bonded.

Cho Thai is located in the building that formerly housed Warbucks, which also was a BRG restaurant, and before that Amici Ristorante and Bar and Byblos. The renovated space was set for an April opening but that was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cho Thai currently offers takeout and delivery and will add in-house dining in mid July.

Cho Thai uses Banana Blossoms menu as a jumping off point, elevating homestyle and traditional Thai dishes with classic technique and elegant presentation.

At Banana Blossom, our menu lets customers build their curries, noodle dishes and fried rice bowls with different proteins, like coconut shrimp and crispy chicken, Cho says. Cho Thai will just offer one really elevated version of fried rice made with Louisiana crab; one green curry made with soft-shell crab. The menus are similar, but Im not used to French technique. We use sous vide to cook the short rib for the Chiang Mai noodles  I never did that before. This team measures everything out by gram  Im used to just using a teaspoon.

Starters include spicy clams, fried calamari with serrano chilies and Malaysian-style roti, a buttery, puffy bread that Cho fell in love while traveling. Signature dishes include grilled shrimp pad thai and traditional ka pao gai, a stir fry of basil, ground chicken and green beans with rice. For dessert, there is mango sticky rice and fried banana.

Working with chef de cuisine Kevin Dragon, most recently the sous at Shaya, Cho is in the kitchen, tweaking and making sure the sticky rice is just so. Bowls of shrimp tom yum are layered with seafood flavor and bright with lemon grass. A section of the menu called Night Market highlights Thai street food items such as papaya salad and fried chicken spiked with Thai chilies and garlic-chili fish sauce.

Cho, who hails from a village north of Chiang Mai, came to New Orleans to attend Delgado Community College. He studied to be a surgical technician but quickly realized that wasnt for him. Raised helping out at his mothers combination noodle shop and grocery  shes 70 and is still at it  he switched to hospitality, working at a sushi restaurant before opening his own place.

The new 120-seat restaurant is a beautiful, airy space, with exposed brick, an original plaster ceiling and a handsome royal blue and gold bar. Traditional gold headpieces, bought on his annual trip home, flank the bar. A back wall with muted blue and green wallpaper reminds him of silk magnate Jim Thompsons fabric designs. The space is illuminated by eight shimmering crystal chandeliers.

I think this restaurant will make Banana Blossom even stronger, as more people get to know about us, Cho says. My idea is to partner with a strong player. I use barbecue from the guys at Blue Oak BBQ, and I get my gelato from Piccolo Gelateria. So, working with BRG makes sense to me. Theres a big learning curve working with a big company, and Im used to just talking to my staff and making a decision. We have a lot of meetings at BRG. But Im a team player and I have a very open mind. Im open to suggestions. Its a good partnership. Im excited to keep learning and moving forward.

Cho Thai

3218 Magazine St., (504) 381-4264

Open 4 p.m.-9 p.m. daily

Takeout and delivery only

Share plates $6-$18, entrees $15-$20
When COVID-19 began sweeping through Louisiana, Ginnie Baumann Robilotta, the vice president of Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO), grappled with the onset of what she described as an animal crisis: Shelters across the state closed to the public and lacked the resources to adequately care for their stock.

In an effort to save 50 animals in Pointe Coupee Parish, she pleaded for help on Facebook.

The response was incredible, Robilotta says. We literally got hundreds of foster applications.

From one social media post, ARNO was able to save the Pointe Coupee animals and reduce its shelter population to four dogs. Although ARNO has continued to pull animals from around the state and secure them with new homes, the organization has barely been able to meet the demand for fosters.

Weve had more requests for fosters than we have animals, Robilotta says.

Between March 11 and June 11, ARNO adopted out 135 dogs and 82 cats. During this same three-month period in 2019, ARNO adopted out 83 dogs and 31 cats. The increase in pet adoptions has become an unexpected silver lining of the pandemic.

Many of those animals would not have survived, had it not been for COVID-19, and instead they have great homes, Robilotta says. And they're helping the people, too. Your life is so enriched when you're stuck at home and you have animals to interact with, to take for walks and to bond with.

ARNO isnt the only animal shelter handling a surge in adoptions and fosters.

When coronavirus started hitting, we had a tremendous amount of fosters step up to the plate, said Tiffanie Stinson, the adoption/foster coordinator of Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter. I believe they thought that we were going to just euthanize everything if we had to close. That's not the case, but a lot of people said, Hey, I want to go ahead and foster.

At the Louisiana SPCA (LA-SPCA), the amount of animals that have found foster homes in April and May 2020 is more than double the amount of fosters finding homes in April and May 2019. The group adopted out 97% of the animals it admitted in March 2020, which is double the amount from March 2019.

Ana Zorrilla, the chief executive officer of LA-SPCA, says the foster-to-adopt model is unique to the coronavirus pandemic.

A lot of people opened their homes, opened their hearts, and took a cat or a dog initially as a short-term commitment, Zorrilla says. But then they realized that it was a great fit, and that they enjoyed having that cat or dog in their home. It gave them something to focus on  particularly people that were living alone, or people with children in their homes. It really did assist with the anxiety and the loneliness of the quarantine period.

Throughout the year, regional PetSmart stores showcase LA-SPCAs adoptable cats. Zorrilla says they have not been able to keep cats in the stores since the pandemic began spreading in the region.

My guess is that people have been going to buy their supplies, or maybe even just get out of the house for a little bit, and realized that there are great adoptable cats out there, she says. Cats don't do well in sheltering or confined environments, so being able to move them quickly into a home is a win.

When comparing this year's COVID-afflicted months to the same months in 2019, the Northshore Humane Society has seen a 46% average increase in adoptions.

Susie Kaznowitz, the organization's director of marketing, partially attributes the rise in numbers to children being home from school.

It was good for the kids, because its something to occupy their time, she says.

The Northshore Humane Society has experienced an escalation in visits to its full-service veterinary clinic, likely because people have more time to set aside for appointments, she adds.

Although animal lovers are emerging from quarantine and resuming their work responsibilities  and realizing that owning a pet requires a financial commitment  shelters havent noticed an increase in animal returns.

I think it's hard for somebody to bring an animal into their home and then bring them back, even if they do go back to work, she says. Nine out of 10 times they fall in love.

Shelters often help with the expense of fostering or adopting a pet by handling the necessary medical care and hosting food pantries. They counsel prospective pet owners and keep in touch with them after theyve taken their pet home.

We've been in close contact with our fosters throughout this, Zorrilla says. We've asked the question: When you go back to work, will you be able to keep your foster? And  [I]t's hurricane season. If something happens, are you equipped to evacuate with your foster? Overwhelmingly, the fosters have said, We're fine. We can evacuate with our fosters. Returning to work, at least so far, has not been an issue.

Zorrilla emphasizes that although the number of adoptions and fosters have jumped over the past few months, there still are many animals that need a home. Interested candidates should contact a shelter or an animal rescue group and remain patient when waiting for a response, she says.

Weve got about two months of work that we're still catching up on, in addition to all the new stuff coming in, Zorrilla says. If you reach out to us or another group and you don't get a call right back, just shoot us an email. Give us a minute to catch up, because certainly we want to reach out to everybody.

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When the U.S. Supreme Court agreed last month to take up an abortion case involving a 2014 Louisiana law, it made national headlines as a case that could shape the future of legal abortion in the United States. But a decision on a lesser known legal argument within the case could have an equally drastic impact on abortion rights, even if the law ultimately is struck down.

The law in question in June Medical Services v. Gee requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges to a hospital within a 30-mile radius of their clinic, a requirement that potentially could leave the state with only one abortion clinic. (It currently has three.) In 2016, the Supreme Court struck down a nearly identical admitting privileges law in Texas.

Though the law is five years old, it has yet to go into effect because of court challenges. Three of the then-five abortion clinics in the state and two doctors who provide abortions sued to block it. Then in February, the Supreme Court placed the law on hold while it decided whether to hear the case.

U.S. Supreme Court decides to hear major abortion case over 2014 Louisiana law The U.S. Supreme Court agreed today to hear oral arguments surrounding a Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileg

In its defense of the law, the state of Louisiana is arguing that abortion providers should not have whats called third-party standing  the ability to sue on behalf of their patients to challenge health and safety regulations  and the court has agreed to review that argument.

If the court sides with the state, it would mean a pregnant woman would have to bring any challenge to the states abortion laws to court herself. Both those in favor and opposed to abortion rights agree that this would mean fewer abortion-related lawsuits because it would be significantly more difficult for abortion restrictions to be challenged.

Abortion-rights activists say this is because many women seeking abortions do not have the the money, time or resources to file suit themselves, while anti-abortion activists say it will reduce the amount of baseless litigation surrounding abortion regulations.

In general, most patients who are seeking an abortion already have children, said Ellie Schilling, a New Orleans reproductive rights attorney. So you're dealing with people who have significant poverty barriers, who often have childcare issues, who would have to take time off from work. So the prospect of being a plaintiff in a high profile litigation where your identity might end up being disclosed is going to be a significant burden and a barrier to protecting your rights for the majority of patients.

It has the potential of insulating many more abortion restrictions from challenge simply on the basis of it being difficult to find someone who is willing and able to be a plaintiff, she added.

Anti-abortion groups, like the Louisiana Right to Life, say they are in favor of doing away with third-party standing for physicians and providers, arguing, like the state is, that abortion providers interests are not aligned with the interests of their patients.

Substandard physicians and for-profit providers unable to meet health requirements should not be able to hide behind their supposed patients when making legal claims against a law, Ben Clapper, the organizations executive director, said in a statement in October.

But Schilling said this argument is part of a concerted effort by anti-abortion activists to undermine the credibility of physicians who provide abortions by accusing them of not wanting to comply with health and safety regulations and insinuating that they have poor records and disciplinary histories. That is just a sham, she said. The argument is a farce.

Twelve states have signed onto a brief opposing third-party standing. Schilling said it is unclear what the court's ruling would mean for abortion cases that have already been decided or currently are moving through the courts.

According to Schilling, the court also could avoid ruling on third-party standing altogether by finding that the state improperly raised the issue. That outcome is unlikely, however, since at least four justices had to have agreed to review the case.

The fact that the petition has been taken up shows that there are four justices, at least, that want to address this issue, she said, and what it signals to me is that the four conservative members of the court, at the very least four of them, are ready to start taking up the issues that could seriously undermine abortion rights in the U.S.

The fact that they want to address this issue, that also is based in long-time Supreme Court precedent, shows that there is a willingness to begin chipping away at rights that have been considered well-settled for a long time.
Its that time of year again  when Louisiana state legislators nearly have completed their annual practice of rushing additional abortion restrictions through the legislature. Some restrictions have significantly decreased access to legal abortion over the last decade, while others have been put on hold amid taxpayer-funded legal battles.

The process typically begins with an anti-abortion state legislator  many of whom are Democrats as well as Republicans  proposing legislation further regulating abortion.

It may be a small change to the law like extending the amount of time abortion providers have to keep records, or a more drastic change like requiring abortion clinics to be within 30 miles of a hospital. Those testifying in favor of the legislation usually frame it as a common-sense measure, while those testifying against it argue it will create an additional hurdle for abortion providers and women trying to access the procedure.

The bill then passes both chambers  with only a handful of votes from some Democrats in opposition  and is signed into law by Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat whose strong anti-abortion voting record helped him win statewide election in a deeply red state.

Then legal challenges ensue.

Sen. JP Morrell, D-New Orleans, is one of the few Louisiana legislators who often votes against proposed abortion restrictions. He says abortion, along with same-sex marriage, is one of several issues where legislation passed by the state conflicts with decisions handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

It's kind of bizarre that when we have things that are found unconstitutional, there is an active effort to keep unconstitutional stuff on the books, Morrell says. As weird as that is, that has been the ultimate plan with Roe v. Wade since the beginning of time.



During the current legislative session, one of the most-discussed bills was Senate Bill 184 by Sen. John Milkovich, D-Shreveport, that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, around the sixth week of pregnancy  before many women know theyre pregnant. The bill passed the Senate 31-5 May 6, and now heads to the House. (Other states recently have passed their own fetal heartbeat laws.)

Another bill, HB425 by Rep. Katrina Jackson, D-Monroe, would add language to the state constitution clearly stating that it does not protect a womans right to choose an abortion. The House passed the bill 80-10 in April, and a Senate committee advanced it May 7.

If two-thirds of the Senate passes the bill and Edwards signs it, Louisiana voters will decide on Nov. 16 if they want the provision added to the state constitution.

Louisiana already has a 2006 trigger law in place that automatically would ban nearly all abortions in the state if Roe v. Wade is repealed by the U.S. Supreme Court. A state constitutional amendment would be harder to reverse than the current trigger law.

Walt Handelsman: Alabama Choice For more Walt toons and animations click here.

This is needed because the abortion industry would go into the Louisiana Supreme Court arguing that there is nothing about abortion in the state constitution, said Dorinda Bordlee, senior counsel of Bioethics Defense Fund, in a Senate committee hearing on the bill. This very simple amendment closes the door to judicial activism.

But when abortion restrictions are passed, that does not mean they instantly go into effect. Several existing Louisiana abortion laws are in limbo, hinging on taxpayer-paid legal battles.

Milkovich, a staunch opponent of abortion, also authored a 2018 bill that would change the time a woman could legally obtain an abortion in the state from 20 weeks post-fertilization to 15 weeks. The 15-week ban became law, with a provision stating it would only take effect if courts uphold Mississippis version of the law  a move aimed at curbing the litigation costs the state would have to pay when the law inevitably was challenged in court.

Mississippis sole abortion clinic immediately sued the state when the ban passed, and the law was blocked by a federal judge last November. U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves ruled that the 15th week of pregnancy was before viability of a fetus, or the point at which a fetus can survive outside of a mothers womb  usually between 24 to 28 weeks.

Likewise, the Louisiana bill banning abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected would go into effect only if courts upheld a similar law Mississippi passed in March. Proceedings are expected to begin in the federal Southern District Court in Mississippi this month, potentially costing Mississippi taxpayers more than a million dollars in legal fees.



Ellie Schilling, a New Orleans attorney who has represented Louisiana reproductive health care providers, says these Louisiana laws are tied to decisions on the Mississippi laws up to the Fifth Court of Appeals, which handles cases from Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas and is traditionally more conservative than other appeals courts.

If the Fifth Court of Appeals upholds either of Mississippis bans, Louisianas ban automatically kicks in  and so does its responsibility for potential legal costs if the case goes to the U.S. Supreme Court.

It would immediately be litigated here at that point, still before really there would be clarity on whether the Supreme Court was ultimately going to find it constitutional, Schilling says.

In other cases, Louisiana taxpayers are footing the legal bills outright for defending abortion restrictions. Such is the case with a 2014 law requiring abortion clinics have admitting privileges to a hospital within a 30-mile radius. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a nearly identical law in Texas in 2016.

Currently, there are only three abortion clinics in the state: one each in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport. Thats down from five in 2014 and seven operating in 2011. If the admitting privilege law goes into effect, Louisiana would be left with just one abortion clinic.

Schilling says the state currently is facing numerous additional legal challenges to its existing abortion restrictions. One lawsuit involves seven laws that were passed in 2016. Another surrounds licensing requirements for abortion clinics.

According to Schilling, a year ago the state had spent around $1.5 million on outside counsel for these ongoing lawsuits. That amount does not include the costs of in-house legal counsel or the plaintiffs legal costs the state would have to pay if it ultimately lost the lawsuit.

Louisiana Senate overwhelmingly passes two anti-abortion measures The Louisiana Senate passed a bill 31-4 today that would let residents vote on adding language to the state constitution explicitly stating it



Proponents of laws restricting abortion  who believe life begins at conception  say the restrictions are worth defending. Some, like Milkovich, oppose tying them to other states laws because it inherently delays their effectiveness.

I cannot think of a better expenditure of money that Louisiana could make than to protect the life of the unborn, Milkovich said during a House committee meeting last year, when lawmakers spent three taxpayer-funded special sessions scrambling to agree on a solution to replace hundreds of thousands of dollars of expiring state revenue.

But other abortion-law proponents, like Louisiana Right to Life (LARTL), support these types of legal provisions.

Louisiana Spotlight: Abortion curbs eagerly passed by legislators While abortion rights disputes cause fierce arguments around the nation, they create little obvious friction among Louisiana lawmakers, who re

In a statement in support of the trigger on Milkovichs so-called fetal heartbeat bill, Benjamin Clapper, executive director of LARTL, said, This provision allows our attorney generals office to focus on its current defense of already existing pro-life laws in federal court, including the likely defense before the Supreme Court of our 2014 law requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges at a local hospital.

Katie Caldwell, clinic director at Womens Health Care Center in New Orleans  one of the states three remaining abortion clinics  attributes part of the major decline in abortion clinics in the state over the last decade to the litigation costs these restrictions place on the clinics.

It becomes really difficult and really expensive to provide care when you're constantly in court fighting all these things, she says.

The U.S. Supreme Court so far has upheld its 1973 decision affirming a womens right to abortion prior to viability of the fetus. But President Donald Trumps appointment of conservative Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the court to replace former Justice Anthony Kennedy has fueled anti-abortion activists hopes that overturning Roe v. Wade entirely could be a possibility.



Other abortion-related bills working their way through the state legislature would place additional regulations on abortion providers  regulations that other health care providers in the state are not subject to and some that potentially could open up the state to more lawsuits.

State Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, filed two bills this session pertaining to abortion: one regarding information physicians must give women seeking an abortion and another dealing with mandatory reporting of sex trafficking.

Currently, abortion providers are required to tell patients the name of the physician who will provide the abortion. SB 221 would require abortion providers to put that information in writing as well  along with additional information including where the physician completed his or her residency, whether he or she has malpractice insurance and whether the doctor has been placed on probation in the last 10 years. The bill passed the Senate unanimously in April.

+7 Photos: Hundreds of protesters gather at New Orleans rally for abortion rights Several hundred people held a rally on the sidewalk outside the Hancock Whitney Center May 22, protesting state legislation that would curb a 

Mizell says the bill will give women seeking abortions additional information about the procedure and that requiring providers to give patients the physicians name in writing allows the patient to search that physicians disciplinary history online.

The purpose of the bill was just to make sure the woman had in hand what most of us as patients want in hand, and that's the information on the person that will be performing the medical procedure, Mizell says. In this case, it just would happen to be an abortion.

Opponents argue that these regulations contribute to existing stigmas surrounding abortion clinics.

It's meant to be burdensome, and it's meant to be stigmatizing to physicians who provide abortions by treating them as if they are, by definition, some sort of unqualified provider, says Schilling.

I think it's also intended to scare patients: Why are you giving me all of this information in writing about all of your qualifications? I've never had a doctor do that before, she adds.

Mizells second bill, SB 238, would require anyone working at an abortion clinic who has contact with patients  including receptionists  to be a mandatory reporter of human trafficking. (Existing law already makes the clinic and health care practitioners mandatory reporters.)

This may be the one place, especially with the trafficking victim, Mizell says, to have somebody that they can speak to and say, Look, this is what's happening to me.

Schilling says shes concerned this bill will make people who have little contact with a patient subject to major criminal penalties, which could deter people from working at clinics, whether as a physician or as a receptionist.

Louisiana Spotlight: Abortion curbs eagerly passed by legislators While abortion rights disputes cause fierce arguments around the nation, they create little obvious friction among Louisiana lawmakers, who re

HB 133 by state Rep. Frank Hoffman, R-West Monroe, changes the legal definition of abortion to include medication abortions, and would require both medication and surgical abortions to be performed at a licensed abortion clinic.

Medication abortions involve taking a pill to terminate a pregnancy and can be done during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Currently, licensed physicians in the state who have completed their OB-GYN residency can provide medication abortions. If the bill becomes law, only physicians at the states remaining clinics could administer the medication.

House Bill 484 by Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, would extend to seven years the amount of time abortion facilities are required to keep medical records of women who have abortions. For minors, the records would have to be retained for at least 10 years, beginning when the patient turns 18. Penalties would include up to $1,000 per document that was not retained and/or imprisonment of up to two years with or without hard labor.



These bills in Louisiana mirror a nationwide trend of piecemeal abortion restrictions passed in conservative states to chip away at  and potentially overturn  the Roe v. Wade decision.

Ohio, Kentucky, Iowa, North Dakota and Georgia all have passed bills that, like Milkovichs, would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law May 9 a particularly stringent provision that also would change the states definition of natural persons to include an unborn child  potentially making getting or providing an abortion punishable by life imprisonment. The law is set to go into effect in 2020, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Center for Reproductive Rights already have said theyll challenge it in court.

In Alabama, the House and Senate passed a bill earlier this month that would make almost all abortion illegal  with exceptions only when the mother's life is at risk. The bill heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, who is expected to sign it.

But the national political climate surrounding abortion differs from that in Louisiana and the Deep South in general. According to the 2016 Louisiana Survey by the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, 55 percent of Louisiana residents think abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. Forty percent of residents think abortion should be legal in all or most cases  compared to 55 percent nationally.

Slightly more than half of Democrats in the state think abortion should be legal in all or more cases, while only a little more than a quarter of Republicans share that position. This is why, in Louisiana, the abortion debate is not as cleanly split among party lines as it is elsewhere.

There's an assumption because people are from New York or California or wherever that Democrats are all pro-choice, pro-reproductive rights, Morrell says. There are social, societal, religious influences in the state of Louisiana that all come into play when you're having these debates and these discussions.

It's interesting when you talk to people personally, he adds. Their personal positions don't often reflect their votes.



Political pressures created by term limits are compounded by pressures from powerful anti-abortion groups, like LARTL and the Louisiana Family Forum (LFF). Both groups give out legislative scorecards ranking legislators from 0 to 100 percent based on their votes on bills related to abortion and other social issues.

Clapper says while LARTL publishes these scorecards on their website and in their electronic newsletters, it usually does not send out its own mailers publishing the results  though, he says, outside groups often publish the results in their own mailers and advertisements.

Clapper adds that while the scorecards are not a perfect way to measure a legislators record on abortion, the group wants to make sure the information it presents is easy to understand and distribute. When you're trying to provide something that a lot of people can digest simply, the more details you provide, your retention rate goes down among the citizens, he says. So you have to strike a balance between those two things.

Anti-abortion groups also have a strong influence on abortion-related bills throughout the legislative process.

In a Senate committee debate over Milkovichs bill that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, the committee originally passed an amendment that would make exceptions for cases of rape and incest.

However, when Clapper said he was against the amendment, state Sen. Bodi White, R-Baton Rouge, called a second vote. Ultimately, the committee stripped the amendment from the bill.

Clapper attributes the decision to strip the amendment to him being able to clarify confusion about multiple amendments moving through the committee at once. We felt that for the sake of these legislators who may have been confused in the situation, we needed to make that clear, he says.



Morrell says that because many legislators plan to run for higher office after they are term-limited in the state legislature, they consider how their voting record on abortion will impact their ability to run for state or federal office. That often means voting to avoid attack ads from large anti-abortion groups, he says.

The thing is ... that many politicians try to find the path of least resistance to re-election at a higher office, he says. It's one of those issues where I think a lot of people know the safer vote is to always vote against reproductive rights and for the pro-life stance.

Every year, you have to tour your district trying to explain away votes that people attack you for with no context, Morrell adds. Many people discover  especially newer legislators  its easier to give them a vote than to try to explain the vote.

As Alabama outlaws almost all abortions, Louisiana's 'fetal heartbeat bill' advances quickly On the same day the Alabama legislature passed a restrictive bill that would almost entirely outlaw abortion in that state, a House committee 

State Sen. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, says that the conversation about abortion in Louisiana often is framed as only two-sided, which he says does not reflect the realities of the issue. He says that legislative scorecards only contribute to that.

Where I think a lot of people are boxed in and they feel they can't properly answer and defend their position is because oftentimes that argument of either you are pro-life or pro-death, he says. ...I am firmly pro-choice. I'm also firmly in favor of life. I cherish life, I support life and to somehow suggest that if you think a woman should have the right to choose that somehow you're choosing death  I think is just an unfortunate position and it's flat out wrong.

The scorecard is going to be my way or the highway, Carter says. It's going to be either you see things exactly the way I see it or you get a poor score. There's no gray area. There's no room in there for explanation.

Life doesn't work that way. Legislation doesn't work that way. And policy doesn't work that way. I think it's a one-sided way to judge and it is a way to only get your way rather than having a meaningful discussion.

Louisiana Senate OKs public vote on declaring abortion unconstitutional; here's next step The state Senate on Tuesday approved a bid to let the public vote on whether to change the states constitution to make clear Louisiana does n
Amid renewed scrutiny over local institutions honoring Confederate leaders or slaveholders, the Orleans Parish School Board has vowed to change the names of schools "associated with the painful legacy of racism and discrimination."

In a public letter Monday, School Board President Ethan Ashley said the board would consider new names for some schools at the board's next meeting, scheduled for July 30.

"We want our schools to be welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring environments for our students each day," Ashley wrote. "A key part of that is ensuring that the names of our schools and the people that we honor through naming are reflective of the values of our district."

The letter didn't name which schools the board wants to rename. Board members did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In recent days, Lusher Charter School and McDonogh 42 have come under renewed scrutiny amid a nationwide reckoning and protests against systemic racism.

Last week, Lusher CEO Kathy Riedlinger said she would consider a name change after thousands of former students and community members criticized the school for continuing to memorialize Robert Mills Lusher, a Confederate figure and former Louisiana schools superintendent who stated that he believed in "the supremacy of the Caucasian race" while fighting against integration.

+17 Photos: Protesters march against racial biases and discrimination in the Lusher Charter School Community Lusher students, with the help of parents, teachers, alumni and supporters, organized a march to bring awareness to racial biases and discrimi

On Monday, InspireNOLA CEO Jamar McKneely sent a letter to OPSB asking permission to rename the McDonogh 42 building, which now houses the 42 Charter School. It's one of that charter group's seven public schools.

McDonogh 42, where 86% of students were Black last year and about 1% were White, was one of 30 public schools at one time named after John McDonogh, a slave and plantation owner who donated about half of his vast wealth to public education.

"Schools have a responsibility to shape the minds of bright young people and position them to achieve aspiration for their future," McKneely wrote. "Public schools have a unique mandate to ensure that their curriculums, programming, and cultural competence reflect that of the people and communities they serve. In the current political climate, our schools have an opportunity to be responsive to the will of their constitutes."

Currently, School Board rules prohibit charter boards from renaming schools. That policy passed in 2015 after a flurry of name changes over the years.

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However, in an interview last week, Ashley said the School Board had the full authority to change their names that he planned to ask members to sign off on renaming any school that had a name associated with white supremacy or slavery.

"We're going to address this issue," Ashley said.

In his statement Monday, Ashley also said he was working on reviewing Policy FDC, the policy passed in 2015 that prohibits school leaders from renaming facilities. Both InspireNOLA and the Lusher Renaming Committee, a group of alumni and activists, have asked to give input.

In 2017, Take 'Em Down NOLA, a group that advocates for the removal of symbols they say reinforce white supremacy, had identified six school buildings named after Confederates or slave holders. In addition to the two Lusher campuses, the other schools were Henry W. Allen Elementary; McDonogh 35 College Preparatory High School; KIPP McDonogh 15 School for the Creative Arts and ReNEW McDonogh City Park Academy.

Over the past several years, many schools have since been closed or been renamed, including to honor Black leaders, but original names can still be found on some buildings.

Reports have also been published on Warren Easton, a former Orleans Parish schools superintendent who had a high school named after him, for his criticism of integration.

In his letter, McKneely said that there had been some opposition to schools bearing McDonogh's name for 70 years. In 1954, local educators and civil rights leaders organized a boycott of a ceremony honoring McDonogh, who was born in 1779 in Baltimore but lived most of his life in New Orleans.

In the 1990s, another campaign led some schools to recognize Black role models instead of slaveholders.

At Lusher, a selective admission school where 23% of the 1,841 students were Black last year, and 59% White, Riedlinger said she was exploring ways to increase the schools racial and academic diversity, possibly through a pre-K recruitment program.

She also said she was expanding a relationship with the Anti-Defamation League.

"This community has always come together in times of crisis, from the integration of schools in the 1960s to Hurricane Katrina," Riedlinger said. "Relying on that resilience, we will work as a team to surround our children with the support they need."
As school districts finalize plans for the 2020-21 year amid the coronavirus pandemic, the majority of parents, teachers and community members in Jefferson Parish say they want at least some face-to-face instruction next year.

That's according to a survey released last week, which yielded 9,443 responses. About half  4,701  were parents, and others were teachers, school staff and community members.

In a statement, Interim Superintendent and Chief Operations Officer Lale L. Geer said officials would use the response to continue planning for the start of the school year set to begin in August.

"We value input from our stakeholders and are committed to being transparent while preparing for next school year," Geer said. "The feedback we get from surveys will help us make better decisions as we move forward."

In mid-June, Jefferson Parish school leaders outlined three potential scenarios for their local public schools: an in-person option; a blended on-campus and distance-learning approach and one that is all virtual.

In the survey, released Wednesday, residents were asked to rank those choices in order of preference.

Two thirds of them (3,122 respondents) ranked the in-person option as the number one choice, followed by a hybrid model and then virtual-only learning.

The results differed from a similar survey done by neighboring NOLA Public Schools, which showed more than half of parents valued distance learning options the most.

In both parishes, residents said they wanted transparency and clear guidance about what to expect next year.

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Residents in both districts also requested schools offer robust training for staff, and that teachers offer families plenty of support if they are required to help students with virtual learning.

In the Jefferson Parish survey, one teacher said weekly phone calls between instructors and families were critical to maintaining bonds and furthering student progress.

Also, a parent bemoaned that at the end of the 2019-20 school year, digital learning rolled out without any Google Classroom training for parents.

In all, 75% of Jefferson Parish respondents said they prefer a nine-month calendar to one that went nearly year-round, even though they said they understood potential benefits of the latter, especially "to cover periods of uncertainty" like coronavirus.

Asked what the biggest challenges in remote learning have been, parents cited difficulty keeping a regular schedule, dealing with social isolation and managing distractions at home.

The surveys were released the same month the Louisiana Department of Education rolled out reopening guidelines for districts.

State Schools Superintendent Cade Brumley urged districts to be flexible and have multiple plans for how to teach students, in-person and remotely. He also asked districts to follow health guidelines, including daily temperature checks, and encouraged school staff and students to wash their hands every two hours.

As former superintendent of Jefferson Parish Public Schools, Brumley had already warned parents there that a "traditional" approach to the school year might not look typical at all.

Local officials had said masks might be required for faculty and staff and that distancing measures would be in place, especially for bus travel, lunches, and restroom breaks.

"Our reopening plans will be fluid and routinely adjusted to reflect updated national, state, and local guidance," Jefferson Parish Schools spokesman Christian Justrabo said.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Louisiana law requiring doctors who perform abortions to have the right to admit patients to a nearby hospital.

The 5-4 decision, with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the court's four more liberal justices, strikes down Louisiana's requirement that critics have contended was designed to shutter abortion clinics and make the procedure harder to find.

The long-running legal challenge to the Louisiana law  which passed the state Legislature overwhelmingly in 2014 but was immediately challenged and has never gone into effect  has attracted national scrutiny, with stakes that extend far beyond the state's borders.

The state law at issue, called the Louisiana Unsafe Abortion Protection Act, is nearly identical to a similar Texas law struck down by the Supreme Court in 2016. It requires that all doctors who perform abortions have agreements from a local hospital within 30 miles allowing them to directly admit patients for treatment.

Read the U.S. Supreme Court decision here

The Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport, which provides abortions among other medical services, sued to overturn the law with the backing of a number of abortion-rights groups, including the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represented the clinic and argued the case to the Supreme Court.

+8 Abortion-rights activists rally in New Orleans as Supreme Court decides fate of Louisiana's clinics On the day the Supreme Court heard arguments for a law that could transform abortion access in Louisiana and the U.S., a group of activists, m

Julie Rikelman, who represented abortion providers in the case, told Supreme Court justices in March that the law would "do nothing for women's health" and that "nothing has changed" since the Texas decision in 2016 "that would justify such a legal about-face."

In that case  Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt  the now-retired Justice Anthony Kennedy joined the court's four liberal justices in a 5-3 ruling that declared there was no evidence that the Texas requirements "would have helped even one woman obtain better treatment."

Roberts voted in the minority to uphold the Texas law in the Whole Woman's Health decision and, in a separate opinion on Monday, continued to argue that the Supreme Court got that decision wrong.

But Roberts, a conservative appointed by George W. Bush, wrote that the facts in the Louisiana case almost exactly matched the situation in Texas and that legal doctrines demanded that the courts treat the cases alike.

"The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons," Roberts wrote. "Therefore Louisianas law cannot stand under our precedents."

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeal  which was also overturned in the Whole Women's Health case  seemed to ignore that opinion when it ruled on Louisiana's law, which had been struck down by a district judge who cited the Supreme Court's guidance.

The appellate court overturned the district judge, ruling that a handful of factual differences between the situation of abortion clinics in Texas and Louisiana meant the previous decision on a nearly identical law didn't apply.

That virtually forced the Supreme Court to take up the matter again.

Who can sue over abortion limits? The lesser known part of the Louisiana case going to Supreme Court When the U.S. Supreme Court agreed last month to take up an abortion case involving a 2014 Louisiana law, it made national headlines as a case

Justice Stephen Breyer wrote an opinion  joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elana Kagan  firmly finding that the law places an unconstitutional burden on a woman's right to obtain an abortion. Abortion complications requiring hospitalization are "vanishingly rare," Breyer wrote, and Louisiana offered "no credible evidence" that the admitting privileges requirement would provide any actual health protection for women.

Roberts didn't sign onto Breyer's reasoning. But his own opinion agreed that the Louisiana law should be struck down, casting the decisive fifth vote.

Kathaleen Pittman, the administrator for the Hope Medical Group for Women, said staff at the Shreveport clinic were busy checking in patients when the Supreme Court's decision was released Monday morning, ending the clinic's six-year legal battle against the law.

"To say we're elated hardly begins to come close to what we are feeling," Pittman said late Monday morning. "We're actually still taking care of patients this morning so the staff is having to try to calm down a little bit so patients can receive the care they deserve."

The ruling, Pittman said, will allow all three of the state's clinics that perform abortions to remain open. Pittman described Louisiana's admitting privileges requirement as another in a long series of anti-abortion "trap laws"  burdensome regulations that advocates believe are aimed solely at driving clinics out of business or creating roadblocks for women seeking abortions  "that have been undermining our rights for years."

"This week, we're winning the battle, and that means we can stay open to fight another day," Pittman said. "But as a provider, I'll tell you, I'm celebrating today but I'm still worried about our future."

Abortion opponents had hoped the Louisiana case might mark a key turning point on abortion rights, given that the makeup of the Supreme Court had shifted to the right since 2016.

It's the first abortion case the court has taken up since the 2018 retirement of Kennedy, an appointee of President Ronald Reagan who was long the key swing vote on abortion-rights issues. Kennedy has since been replaced by Justice Brett Kavanuagh, who arrived on the high court with a history of anti-abortion rulings.

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A number of legal observers believe Kavanaugh's confirmation may have tipped the balance of the U.S. Supreme Court toward an anti-abortion majority.

U.S. Supreme Court decides to hear major abortion case over 2014 Louisiana law The U.S. Supreme Court agreed today to hear oral arguments surrounding a Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileg

Justice Neil Gorsuch, another conservative seen as stoutly pro-life, also joined the court after the Texas ruling. But he replaced the late Justice Antonin Scalia, a firm opponent of abortion and advocate for overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

But Monday's decision in the Louisiana case is an indication that, even though the court now has an anti-abortion majority, the U.S. Supreme Court may be more inclined to move cautiously  if at all  toward rolling back decades of decisions upholding the legal right to abortion.

Both Gorsuch and Kavanaugh issued stinging dissents to Monday's ruling, which both argued that Louisiana's admitting privileges requirement should have been upheld. They were joined by the court's two other staunch conservatives, Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas.

Backers of Louisiana's law  including Attorney General Jeff Landry, whose office defended it to the Supreme Court  have argued the requirement is designed to ensure the health of women getting abortions.

Liz Murrill, Louisiana's solicitor general, argued to the justices that admitting privileges at a nearby hospital would speed treatment for women who experienced complications during the procedure and helps ensure the competence of the doctors performing it.

'Fetal heartbeat' abortion bill sent to Louisiana governor, who will sign it; court must uphold it Louisiana lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy if upheld by the courts, sending it to the gov

Its challengers contend the true purpose of the Louisiana law is to make it harder for women to get abortions and prevent clinics from offering the procedure. Abortion complications are rare, critics of the Louisiana law have argued, and admitting privileges do nothing to make abortions safer, since women can receive treatment at a hospital whether or not the doctor who performed the abortion practices there.

Granting admitting privileges is often a business decision for hospitals based on the number of patients a doctor sends for treatment and not on their competence as a physician. Because abortions are relatively safe procedures, critics of the law contend, few doctors who perform the procedure are likely to receive such privileges.

Indeed, U.S. District Judge John deGravelles, who initially struck down the law, ruled that only one doctor at any of the state's three abortion clinics  in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport  could have continued to offering abortions if the law went into effect, with only the New Orleans clinic remaining open. DeGravelles was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama.

A doctor in Shreveport also obtained admitting privileges but testified that he couldn't continue handling the clinic's workload as the only doctor legally allowed to perform the procedure.

In the last 23 years, Hope Clinic, which serves in excess of 3,000 patients per year, had only four patients who required transfer to a hospital for treatment, deGravelles wrote in his ruling.

+4 Louisiana v. Abortion: How the state legislature is tightening the right to legal abortion Its that time of year again  when Louisiana state legislators nearly have completed their annual practice of rushing additional abortion res

The law would limit access to safe abortions in Louisiana, deGravelles wrote, while the state did not present "any evidence that complications from abortion were being treated improperly, nor any evidence that any negative outcomes could have been avoided if the abortion provider had admitting privileges at a local hospital."

But the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned deGravelles' decision, ruling in part that doctors hadn't tried hard enough to obtain admitting privileges.

Murrill repeated that argument to the U.S. Supreme Court in March, claiming that Louisiana doctors may have "sabotaged" their own applications for admitting privileges to aid the legal challenge to the law.

Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for the court's liberal wing, added a postscript to his opinion brushing aside Murrill's contentions. He found her arguments  including Murrill's claims that the admitting privileges law is constitutional because it wouldn't go so far as to make it "nearly impossible" to obtain an abortion or place a burden on every woman seeking an abortion in Louisiana  were "beside the point" and mangled the relevant legal standards.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a landmark 1992 decision, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, that state regulations on abortion could not put an "undue burden" on a woman's ability to obtain the procedure. That decision has been cited repeatedly by the courts in striking down legal restrictions passed by anti-abortion lawmakers in a number of states.

State Sen. Katrina Jackson, D-Monroe, who authored the 2014 set of abortion restrictions at issue while a state representative, criticized the decision in a pre-taped video statement issued Monday morning. But Jackson vowed to continue pushing anti-abortion laws in the Louisiana Legislature.

"Know that, together with my colleagues, we will continue to pursue policies that both protect the health and safety of women and the lives of the unborn children," Jackson said.

Landry, the state's attorney general, ripped the decision on Monday and cast particular scorn on Roberts, given the conservative chief justice's continued criticism of the earlier decision on the Texas admitting privileges law.

"Today, the Supreme Court continued its heartbreaking line of decisions that places access to abortion above the health and safety of women and girls," Landry wrote, adding that the 5-4 decision was "not justice" but "judge-made law at its worst."
Someone stole chalices, crucifixes and other religious objects from St. Francis of Assisi while the Uptown Catholic Church was left open for private prayer on Saturday afternoon, an Archdiocese of New Orleans spokeswoman said Sunday.

The spokeswoman, Sarah McDonald, said the New Orleans Police Department is investigating the theft after church leaders filed a report.

Thieves went into the sacristy of the church in the 600 block of State Street and took various sacred objects, including chalices, ciboria and crucifixes, according to McDonald. McDonald said she couldnt comment on the objects total value.

Upper 9th Ward shooting wounds man Sunday; at least 5 shot since Saturday night A man was shot late Sunday morning in the Upper 9th Ward, one of at least three shootings since late Saturday, according to the New Orleans Po

Chalices and ciboria  the plural of the Latin word ciborium  are vessels which hold the unleavened bread and wine that Catholic priests give to parishioners at Masses. During Communion, under a doctrine known as transubstantiation, Catholics believe the bread and the wine cease to be that and instead become the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ, making the vessels that hold each objects to be revered.

McDonald said the thieves did not damage the building housing St. Francis, and the church is secured. Authorities have not named any suspects in the case.

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The theft did not prevent St. Francis from holding its weekly Sunday morning mass the following day. Many in New Orleans Catholic Community learned about the churchs stolen objects when a man describing himself as a fifth-generation parishioner asked people to keep an eye out for them in case someone tries to fence them at antique stores or pawn shops.

Handcuffed man escapes into woods off I-10 in LaPlace, captured after hours-long search After an eight-hour search, law enforcement authorities captured a man who managed to escape from State Police after they handcuffed him and r

I found it extremely hard to see the empty alcove on the main altar this morning without its gold crucifix that has been in place for 99+ years, the post read. Everything is of course replaceable, but these items represent generations of sacraments, families, pastors and faith.

Please pray for our parish and especially for those who committed these crimes.

St. Francis of Assisi Parish was founded in 1890.
A man exchanged gunfire with New Orleans police in Algiers early Saturday and then led them on a car chase into Westwego before crashing and being arrested, authorities said Monday.

Frederick Dwyer, 33, went to a hospital following the wreck; but no one else was injured, according to police.

A New Orleans Police Department spokesman said that officers were investigating a call reporting gunshots in the 3800 block of Texas Drive about 4 a.m. Saturday when they heard gunfire coming from a nearby car. Officers said they approached the car and exchanged gunfire with a man inside the vehicle, who then sped off.

NOPD said the officers sought and received permission from their supervisor to pursue the car, tailing it roughly nine miles to the corner of Central Avenue and the West Bank Expressway in Westwego. The driver  later identified as Dwyer  struck an electrical box controlling a traffic light at that intersection.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office deputies, who had joined the chase when it crossed into Jefferson Parish, arrested Dwyer after the crash.

After he was evaluated at a hospital, deputies booked Dwyer on counts of aggravated obstruction of a highway, aggravated flight from law enforcement and being a fugitive wanted by the NOPD, Sheriff's Office Capt. Jason Rivarde said.

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A 24th Judicial District Court commissioner set Dwyer's bail Monday morning at $75,000 in connection with the highway obstruction and aggravated flight counts. The commissioner did not set a bail amount for the fugitive count.

The NOPDs Public Integrity Bureau, which reviews officers uses of force, is leading the investigation into the case. The department did not say what criminal counts it expects to book Dwyer on once he's transferred to New Orleans from Jefferson.

While the NOPDs policies governing chases are highly restrictive, officers are allowed to pursue people suspected of violent crimes, such as firing a gun at police.

Saturday was not the first time authorities have accused Dwyer of attacking law enforcement. He pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated assault with a vehicle upon a peace officer, first-degree robbery and attempted first-degree robbery in 2015, according to Orleans Parish Criminal District Court records.

Dwyer, who had initially been charged with attempted murder in the case, received a three-year prison sentence, the records showed.

Dwyer's attorney, a public defender, declined comment Monday afternoon.
A large block party in Kenners Veterans Heights section ended in gunfire on Sunday afternoon, according to police.

No one among the crowd of roughly 200 revelers in the 2600 block of Acron Street was hit by any bullets, Kenner Police Department Lt. Michael Cunningham said. But a woman suffered cuts from glass shards when a round hit the window of a car in which she was sitting, and she went to the hospital on her own for treatment, Cunningham said.

Police had not identified any suspects in connection with the gunfire, which was reported about 4:35 p.m., according to Cunningham.

Cunningham said that Kenner city officials had denied the partys organizer a permit to host it, but the organizer did so anyway, hiring a DJ to play from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. A video circulating on social media showed the gathering was in full swing when dozens of gunshots rang out  possibly from more than one weapon.

This is wild...A huge gunfight errupted in Kenner during a block party pic.twitter.com/CcsHb0gx6o  newtralgroundz.com (@NewtralGroundz) June 28, 2020

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Cunningham said the partys organizer faces sanctions for hosting it despite being denied the required permit. Cunningham declined to identify the organizer, saying the case remains under investigation.

Social media video of the party suggests many attendees were not following COVID-19 prevention recommendations from government officials, who are advising residents to avoid crowds and wear masks when around others.

As of Sunday, more than 9,300 people have caught the coronavirus in Jefferson Parish. More than 480 of those patients have died, state figures show.
On the day the Supreme Court heard arguments for a law that could transform abortion access in Louisiana and the U.S., a group of activists, medical providers and community members gathered in support of reproductive rights in New Orleans.

Rained out from the initial plan to meet in Lafayette Square, the about 50 participants livestreamed a corresponding Washington, D.C., rally from inside a cozy office building in the middle of the city, and then several people in New Orleans offered remarks.

The case, June Medical Services v. Russo, could leave Louisiana with just a single abortion clinic if a state law requiring doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital is upheld.

In 1982, there were 17 abortion clinics in the state of Louisiana, said Councilwoman Kristin Palmer. Today we have three.

Stephanie Grace: As high court takes on Louisiana abortion law, some hard truths There are two ways opponents are hoping to end abortion. One is to overturn Roe v. Wade and send authority to the states, some of which have p

Since abortion was established as a constitutional right by Roe v. Wade in 1973, Louisiana has enacted more abortion restrictions  89 in total  than any other state, like requiring in-person counseling 24 hours before the procedure and requiring an ultrasound during which the technician describes and provides an image of the fetus to the patient.

June Medical Services v. Russo challenges a law that would add one more obstacle for women seeking abortions in the state.

Simi Mittal was one of those women. During one of several speeches at the New Orleans event, Mittal told the room full of attendees that she was waiting to hear back from medical schools when she and her husband found out she was pregnant. On her way to the New Orleans abortion clinic, she was met by protesters shoving what she called junk-science propaganda into her hands.

While I had the privilege of being able to discern fact from fiction, I know not everybody does, said Mittal. These medically unnecessary restrictions are designed to push abortion access out of reach for millions of Americans.

In between speakers, emcee and pro-choice advocate Katrina Rogers led participants in chants: My right, she called out. My decision, participants answered.

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Law that will soon close more Louisiana abortion clinics goes into effect next week On the 46th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, Attorney General Jeff Landry announced Tuesday that a new law wou

Medical providers made up much of the crowd at the New Orleans rally. Juliet Strauss, a first-year medical student, said she thought about the role medical providers play in access to reproductive care when she donned her white coat ahead of the rally.

This law will prevent physicians from carrying out their oath as trusted health providers," she said. "This legislation jeopardizes health and trust."

Supporters of the law that would require doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles have said that it promotes safety. Representative Katrina Jackson, the Louisiana Democrat from Monroe who authored the legislation, called it the Unsafe Abortion Protection Act.

But speakers on Wednesday said legislators should focus their attention on measures like paid family leave, lowering maternal mortality and eliminating racial bias to increase safety instead of strengthening requirements for doctors who provide abortions.

Louisiana is not a safe place to access reproductive care, said Audrey Stewart of the Birthmark Doula Collective, referencing Louisianas high maternal mortality rate. There is so much work that could be done to improve safety for folks trying to access reproductive health care. These kinds of laws are not it. When people are not able to make autonomous decisions about their body, they become less safe, not more safe.

While anti-abortion demonstrators usually gather outside of New Orleans one abortion clinic, the rally on Wednesday was free of protesters. But attendees said they should speak out on behalf of people in other areas of the state, where there are no abortion clinics and women have a harder time getting access to care.

Were living in a city where its easy for us to stand in a room and talk about this, said Palmer. Were not the rest of the state of Louisiana. We have to go outside of this parish with loud voices because there are so many pockets of woman out there that want to hear your voice, she told supporters.

If the law is upheld, clinics in Shreveport and Baton Rouge would close, leaving New Orleans with the only operating abortion clinic in the state. A doctor at the Shreveport clinic does have admitting privileges, but said he could not handle the clinics work on his own. The three abortion clinics currently perform about 8,000 procedures per year.

A decision in the case is expected in June. A near-identical law in Texas was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2016.
Louisiana lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy if upheld by the courts, sending it to the governor's desk without exceptions for victims of rape and incest.

Gov. John Bel Edwards, the only Democratic governor in the Deep South, said he will sign the bill into law.

Supporters of the so-called fetal heartbeat legislation defeated proposed changes that would have exempted victims of rape and incest from the abortion ban in a lengthy and at times fiery debate in the state House Wednesday. Critics called the ban unconscionable without such exceptions.

Even though I know there are horrible crimes that are committed with rape and incest  The child should not be killed and terminated because of the crime of the father, said state Rep. Valarie Hodges, who carried Senate Bill 184 in the House.

Louisiana now joins several other states across the South and Midwest in passing a ban on abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, around six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant. Several red states across the country are taking aim at the U.S. Supreme Courts landmark abortion rights decision Roe v. Wade by passing some of the most restrictive abortion laws seen in years.

The laws, including Louisianas newest abortion ban, will not go into effect immediately, and could be struck down entirely. Legislators tied the bill to a similar Mississippi law, which is currently making its way through the courts. If the Mississippi law is upheld by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Louisiana's ban would go into effect. The state has passed a host of abortion restrictions in recent years.

In another high-profile anti-abortion measure, the House refused to accept Senate changes to legislation that would ask the states voters to weigh in on whether Louisiana should ban abortion outright if the high court overturns the 45-year-old Roe decision, which protects the rights of a woman to end her pregnancy. The House sent House Bill 425, by Democratic Rep. Katrina Jackson, of Monroe, to a conference committee where lawmakers will clean up the final language before an expected vote to put it on the Oct. 12 ballots.

The fetal heartbeat measure passed the state House on a 79-to-23 vote, as a clutch of national and local news reporters crowded the side galleries of the House chamber. Twenty-two Democrats and one independent voted against the bill, while 16 Democrats and three without party affiliation joined House Republicans in voting for SB184. The Senate advanced the measure on May 6 with a 31-to-5 vote.

Edwards, who is at odds with his party nationally on the abortion issue, said shortly after the vote he ran as a "pro-life" candidate in 2015 and believes "pro life means more than just being pro-birth." He pointed to Medicaid expansion, criminal justice reforms and LGBTQ discrimination protections he has supported since taking office in 2016. Edwards is running for re-election this year.

"I know there are many who feel just as strongly as I do on abortion and disagree with me  and I respect their opinions," Edwards said in a statement. "As I prepare to sign this bill, I call on the overwhelming bipartisan majority of legislators who voted for it to join me in continuing to build a better Louisiana that cares for the least among us and provides more opportunity for everyone.

State Sen. John Milkovich, a Shreveport Democrat who has repeatedly pushed abortion restrictions, brought the legislation. Hodges, while presenting the bill in the House Wednesday afternoon, invoked scripture and argued the measure protects unborn babies.

"I believe the right to life is the greatest right there is," Hodges, R-Denham Springs, said in response to accusations the bill was unconstitutional.

Can't see video below? Click here.

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Republicans fought against a proposed exemption for victims of rape and incest, saying it would punish children and insisting human life begins at conception. Shreveport Republican Rep. Alan Seabaugh said he would support letting a rape victim execute the rapist, but not to get an abortion.

Several Democrats argued the GOP-led House was merely pro-birth and said the lack of exemptions for rape and incest would lead to children victims carrying babies to term.

How dare you not allow a family to make a decision for that child whos carrying a child? said Rep. Pat Smith, D-Baton Rouge.

All you so-called bible thumpers in here who supposedly preach the book you all just speak the words, said state Rep. John Bagneris, D-New Orleans. You dont walk the walk.

The House voted 35-67 to reject a proposed exemption for rape and incest victims, an amendment brought by Rep. Ted James, a Baton Rouge Democrat. A handful of Republicans voted for the exemption. Abortion rights advocates have said the lack of such an exemption in the law is cruel.

Thats a family decision," James said of whether victims of rape and incest should be able to get an abortion. "Thats not a decision for us. We are not that important to make that decision for a woman who is raped.

Michelle Erenberg, head of the abortion rights group Lift Louisiana, said the vote reveals an "indifference toward Louisiana women."

"While its not surprising the House would pass a bill that disregards the U.S. Constitution, it does demonstrate what this Legislature is all about," Erenberg said in a statement. "They want to control women and their bodies, forcing them to carry out pregnancies even when they are the result of rape or incest."

A state Senate committee earlier this month briefly added an exemption for rape and incest victims during a hearing on SB184. But a few minutes later, after Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Benjamin Clapper voiced his objection to the move, the committee reversed course and stripped out the exemption.

The state already has a host of abortion restrictions on the books, including several that the state is defending in court. A law that would require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at local hospitals is currently pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. A bill brought by Milkovich last year that would ban abortions at about 15 weeks is tied to a similar Mississippi law that is tied up in the courts.

The Legislature is also poised to pass a measure that would let the public vote on adding a line to the state Constitution to say it does not provide for abortions or funding for abortions, an effort aimed partly at helping defend abortion laws in state courts.

A crop of regulatory changes for abortion clinics are also nearing final passage, including a measure that would require women to get medically-induced abortion drugs at abortion clinics instead of OB-GYNs and another that would require providers to hold onto records longer.

Voting for banning abortions after fetal heartbeat is detected (79): Speaker Barras, R-New Iberia; and Reps. Abraham, R-Lake Charles; Adams, No Party-Jackson; Amedee, R-Houma; Anders, D-Vidalia; Armes, D-Leesville; Bacala, R-Prairieville; Bagley, R-Stonewall; Berthelot, R-Gonzales; Billiot, D-Westwego; Bishop, R-Lafayette; Bourriaque, R-Abbeville; C. Brown, D-Plaquemine; T. Brown, No Party-Colfax; Carmody, R-Shreveport; R. Carter, D-Amite; S. Carter, R-Baton Rouge; Chaney, R-Rayville; Connick, R-Marrero; Coussan, R-Lafayette; Cox, D-Natchitoches; Crews, R-Bossier City; Davis, R-Baton Rouge; DeVillier, R-Eunice; DuBuisson, R-Slidell; Dwight, R-Lake Charles; Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge; Emerson, R-Carencro; Falconer, R-Mandeville; Foil, R-Baton Rouge; Garofalo, R-Chalmette; Gisclair, D-Larose; Guinn, R-Jennings; L. Harris, R-Alexandria; Henry, R-Metairie; Hilferty, R-New Orleans; Hill, D-Dry Creek; Hodges, R-Denham Springs; Hoffmann, R-West Monroe; Hollis, R-Covington; Horton, R-Haugton; Howard, R-Many; Huval, R-Breaux Bridge; Ivey, R-Central; Jackson, D-Monroe; M. Johnson, R-Pineville; R. Johnson, D-Marksville; Jones, D-Franklin; LaCombe, D-Livonia; N. Landry, R-Lafayette; LeBas, D-Ville Platte; Mack, R-Albany; Magee, R-Houma; McFarland, R-Jonesville; McMahen, R-Minden; Miguez, R-Erath; D. Miller, D-Opelousas; G. Miller, R-Norco; Moore, D-Monroe; Jay Morris, R-Monroe; Jim Morris, R-Oil City; Moss, R-Sulphur; Muscarello, R-Hammond; Pearson, R-Slidell; Pope, R-Denham Springs; Pugh, R- Ponchatoula; Pylant, R-Winnsboro; Richard, No Party-Thibodaux; Schexnayder, R-Gonzales; Seabaugh, R-Crowley; Stagni, R-Kenner; Stefanski, R-Crowley; Stokes, R-Kenner; Talbot, R-River Ridge; Thomas, R-Metairie; Turner, R-Ruston; White, D-Bogalusa; Wright, R-Covington; and Zeringue, R-Houma.

Voting against SB184 (23): Reps Abramson, D-New Orleans; Bagneris, D-New Orleans; Bouie, D-New Orleans; Brass, D-Vacherie; Carpenter, D-Baton Rouge; G. Carter, D-New Orleans; Duplessis, D-New Orleans; Franklin, D-Lake Charles; Gaines, D-LaPlace; Glover, D-Shreveport; J. Harris, D-New Orleans; James, D-Baton Rouge; Jefferson, D-Homer; Jenkins, D-Shreveport; Jordan, D-Brusly; T. Landry, D-New Iberia; Larvadain, D-Alexandria; Leger, D-New Orleans; Lyons, D-Harvey; Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge; Marino, No Party-Gretna; Pierre, D-Lafayette; and Smith, D-Baton Rouge.

Not Voting (3): Reps. Leopold, R-Belle Chasse; Norton, D-Shreveport; and Simon, R-Abita Springs.
Three months after a global contagion brought operations at the Louis Armstrong International Airport to a virtual halt, travel is beginning to pick up, though things are far from normal.

In April, passenger traffic to the New Orleans regional airport cratered, falling by 97% compared to the same month in 2019.

So far in June, traffic is down 85%  an improvement, but still light years away from what officials projected for the gleaming, $1 billion terminal now in its seventh month in operation.

The number of flights is also way down. About 34 flights depart each day, compared to 160 daily in June of last year, according to figures released by the airport.

Though incremental, the signs of life are welcome in a city whose tourism industry employs thousands of people and supplies a considerable portion of the tax dollars that pay for city services.

Public officials and business leaders have long claimed that New Orleans needs to diversify its tourism-dependent economy and attract other, less volatile sectors. Those calls have increased as the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on many local businesses.

Armstrong International relies on airline terminal rent, concession sales and public parking to operate. The November opening of its new terminal, paid for with borrowed funds, was followed by a surge in passenger activity in the months before the pandemic. That has slowed considerably today.

An influx of $43 million in federal CARES act money is helping keep employees and debts paid, at least for now.

More airport restaurants and retail shops have reopened in recent weeks as the state has loosened restrictions for restaurants and tourist attractions in and around the city. Officials say that is a hopeful sign.

"We've seen a slight increase in sales due to Memorial Day and summer traffic, along with Phase 2 being implemented in the city," said Glen White, spokesman for Delaware North, the New York-based company that operates several of the bars and restaurants at the airport. The company has placed most full-time employees at its 12 concessions on temporary leave.

MoPho Bar recently reopened with grab-and-go options for travelers, and the company plans to reopen Dook's Burgers by mid-July, White said.

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Restauranteur Henry Coaxum, who has business interests in 11 airport concessions, said Emeril's Table also reopened last week, while Chili's and Shake Shack have continued to serve customers. Those businesses averaged $11,000 in sales this Sunday, nowhere near the $122,000 that all 11 restaurants made on March 1, but still a good day compared to others he's had recently.

"It's improving steadily," Coaxum said.

Cafe Du Monde, Lucky Dogs, Chick-Fil-A, Bar Sazerac and Moisant Market are also open, Burns said.

But the news is not all encouraging.

Allegiant Air and Alaska Airlines, citing financial hardships, asked the U.S. Department of Transportation in April for permission to curb service to New Orleans until Sept. 30, a step that was approved this month. Burns said neither airline has dropped service completely to date.

Condor Airlines, which runs a direct flight from New Orleans to Germany, also won't be bringing its airline back until next summer, a spokeswoman said, since the U.S. and Germany are restricting travel until Aug. 31 and Condor's New Orleans service is summer only.

Air Transat plans to resume flights to 22 destinations in the U.S. and elsewhere on July 23. But the Montreal to New Orleans direct line it unveiled last year isnt among them. Spokeswoman Debbie Cabana said it's too soon to say when the flight will return.

Amanda Cipos, who flew from Philadelphia to New Orleans this week for a fishing trip in Venice, said most airports she's traveled to recently have been ghost towns. "The flight was about 70% full," Cipos said, adjusting the bandana she had tied around her face.

Brian Hills, a Gentilly resident who was returning from a week-long vacation in Las Vegas, said his plane was only partially full. Still, he thinks more people are venturing out these days, particularly as a general lack of travelers has prompted some airlines to drop prices to stay competitive.

"I think some people are taking advantage of the cheaper flights," Hills said.
Editor's Note This story is brought to you by FranU.

Nearly 100 years ago, higher education in Louisiana changed forever when the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady established the School of Nursing in downtown Baton Rouge.

Since the school opened in 1923, it has undergone major transformations. The campus has moved and expanded. Although its niche remains nursing and health professions, the school now offers two doctorate degrees, four masters degrees, eight bachelors degrees and three associate degrees and has expanded to three schools  Nursing, Health Professions, and Arts & Sciences. In 2016, it was renamed Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, or FranU for short, to honor its founder and its university status.

While the university has grown, its core values that are embedded in the education experience for 97 years remain. These values are service, reverence and love for all of life; joyfulness of spirit, humility and justice. The university also remains committed to its mission to educate and form Franciscan servant leaders of all faiths.

Its all about relationships. When I was in nursing school, we were taught to care for the whole patient: physical, emotional and spiritual. That is our tradition, said Sister Martha Abshire, FranUs vice-president for mission integration and a 1972 graduate of the university.

We still have those same values, Abshire continued. But now we have liberal arts, we have pre-med, we have theology, we have biology and human sciences. The mission is the same, but the way we carry that out has expanded a great deal.

One of the universitys biggest transitions came in the 1960s. With the health needs of the community changing amid a nursing shortage, the School of Nursing was the first in the South to shorten its program from three calendar years to 27 consecutive months.

We called it the Navy SEALS training of nursing, Abshire said. My class started with 65 people and we graduated 36. It was very rigorous. They always told us that we could not fall behind because if you fell behind, there was no catching up because it was moving so quickly. But we loved it. You just dug in your heels and got the work done.

More changes came in the 1980s when the school became a degree-granting higher education institution. In addition to its nursing education program, the college began offering associate degrees in radiologic technology and general studies. In 1994, the college received its initial regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The college continued its academic expansion efforts over the years. Several new associate degree programs were added throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 1998, the college was approved as a Level II institution to offer baccalaureate degrees and added seven bachelors programs in just a few years.

Today, the universitys programs include physical therapist assistant, respiratory therapy, theology, psychology, business administration, health administration and more.

The college has also steadily increased its outreach programs. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the college administered accelerated nursing programs at three New Orleans campuses, graduating more than 450 nurses, many of whom went on to serve the New Orleans healthcare system. More recently, Abshire said the college worked with local hospitals and medical facilities to put recently-graduated nurses and respiratory therapists to work immediately in response to COVID-19.

Abshire said the FranU staff remains dedicated to helping each student determine his or her best path.

A student may come to be a nurse and once they start, they realize its not what they are called to do, she said. We help them look at what God is calling them to be. There are so many options to care for people. Its more about finding a vocation and not just a job. We spend time with the students and try to help them reach their potential to be as successful as possible.
Norman, OK (73070)

Today

Thunderstorms in the morning, then windy during the afternoon with still a chance of showers. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 74F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 52F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.
Colin Demarest covers the SRS, DOE, its NNSA and government, in general. Support his crucial reporting and local journalism, in general, by subscribing. Follow Colin on Twitter: @demarest_colin.
North Augusta, SC (29841)

Today

Partly cloudy. High near 90F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 74F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
COVID-19 Data for Pennsylvania

The PA Dept. of Health COVID-19 Dashboard reports 81,956 cases as of June 29, 2020, Pa. The state reports 2,414 probable cases, 634,711 negative cases, and 6,579 deaths attributed to the virus.

Related reading: CDC recognizes PA as one of three states for consistent COVID-19 reduction success

Looking for all statistics on the state's COVID-19 situation? Visit the Department of Health website.

The Department of Health's newly released Dashboard provides up-to-date statistics on confirmed, probable, and negative cases, and deaths, as well as a county-by-county breakdown.

Also find updated information on the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in Pennsylvania.

You can play a role in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.

Clean surfaces frequently.

Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.




Williamsport, Pa. U.S. Marshal Martin J. Pane confirmed the arrest of Daevon Kymm Bodden  a 19-year old Lewisburg man.

On June 1, 2020, the Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department investigated a shooting in the 1700 block of West Market Street, Lewisburg. As a result of their investigation, officers obtained an arrest warrant charging Bodden with Aggravated Assault and lesser included offenses. Attempts to find Bodden in and around Lewisburg were unsuccessful and the U. S. Marshals Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force was asked to apprehend Brown.

On June 25th, at about 6:30 a.m., members of the task force visited a home in the 3600 block of Raleigh, North Carolina and arrested Bodden without incident. He was turned over to the Wake County Jail to await extradition to Pennsylvania.

Pane stated, The coordination and cooperation demonstrated by law enforcement in this case led directly to a dangerous fugitive being taken off the streets. It is our top priority to arrest violent crime fugitives, especially those who have no regard for human life.

The USMS Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania is comprised of 22 state, county and local police agencies, including: the Williamsport Bureau of Police; the Lycoming County Sheriffs Office; the Pennsylvania State Police; and, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole  all of whom participated in this investigation.
Calhoun, GA (30701)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 86F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Low 68F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
La Fayette, GA (30728)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 83F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Low near 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Rome, GA (30161)

Today

Mostly cloudy early with thunderstorms developing later in the day. High around 85F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Low 69F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Napoleon, OH (43545)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then cloudy skies late. High 76F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.
JOHNSON LAKE  A man died after his Jeep drove off an outlet bridge at Johnson Lake on Saturday.

The Gosper County Sheriffs Office was dispatched at 9:21 p.m. to Johnson Lake Drive.

According to the Sheriffs Office, a 2006 Jeep was northbound on Johnson Lake Drive and drove through a bridge guard rail at the outlet bridge. The Jeep then entered the water and became submerged in over 20 feet of water.

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The Lexington Volunteer Fire Department dive team responded to the scene.

The driver and sole occupant, Juan Gonzalez, 38, was recovered from the Jeep and pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the Gosper County Sheriffs Office, alcohol appears to have been a factor in the incident.

Several agencies assisted Gosper County, including the Dawson County Sheriffs Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Johnson Lake EMS, Elwood Fire and Rescue and the LVFD dive team.
Phoenix police are investigating a stabbing incident that killed three people and injured one at at an apartment complex on Sunday.

A 19-year-old woman and two children, ages seven and nine, were found dead with stab wounds inside an apartment in Phoenix, Arizona, on 17th and Glendale avenues just after 9 a.m. They were pronounced dead at the scene. A 28-year-old man was also found in the apartment. He was in critical condition with stab wounds and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Police said at a press conference that they believe the victims are family members.

Fox 10 Phoenix said 7-year-old Meaden and 9-year-old Arsema were brother and sister and 19-year-old Danait was their aunt.

Family members told the news outlet that the 28-year-old was a relative of the victims and was living with them at the apartment at the time. He allegedly snapped and stabbed them before turning the knife on himself, Fox cited the family as saying.

Just before the stabbing, the childrens mother had left the apartment to get breakfast and returned to a horrific scene. A call was then made to 911.

Phoenix Police Department Sergeant Tommy Thompson said the incident is being investigated as a homicide and that authorities do not yet have a suspect in custody. He asked anyone with information to contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.

During the press conference, Thompson called the incident tragic.

A very tragic scene and as you may imagine, the types of scenes that are difficult for our firefighters and first responders who have to come to the scene, two in which are children that are deceased, Thompson said.

He added that incidents similar to these are also traumatic for communication officers, who are responsible for picking up 911 calls that come through the line.
Beijings grisly practice of live organ harvesting has again come into the spotlight in June as two European countries joined a chorus of opposition against the illicit trade.

For decades, the regime has faced mounting allegations that it is killing prisoners of conscience en masse to sell their organs on the transplant market.

We are deeply concerned about this, it is simply unbearable, Gudrun Kugler, a member of Austrias parliament, said on June 23, after the parliaments human rights committee unanimously passed her resolution to combat trafficking of organs and humans.

Time and again reports of illegal trafficking of human organs have surfaced in the Peoples Republic of China that contradict all human rights and ethical standards, said a statement from Kuglers office.

Ethnic and religious minorities, including Uyghur Muslims, Falun Gong practitioners, and Christians are among the groups particularly affected by such abuses, she added.

The resolution asks for the Austrian government to protect organ trafficking victims by cooperating with international bodies, such as the World Health Assembly, the Vienna-based United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Council of Europe, and to provide support for this cause whenever possible.

The Austrian parliament made the decision in response to a petition by Austrian citizens last October, which stated: We Austrians do not want organs from China for which innocent people have been killed, according to the statement.

In June 2019, an independent London-based peoples tribunal, after a yearlong investigation considering testimony from more than 50 witnesses, found clear evidence that forced organ harvesting has taken place in China for years and on a significant scale.

The conclusion shows that very many people have died indescribably hideous deaths for no reason, [and] that more may suffer in similar ways, Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, chairman of the tribunal who previously led the prosecution of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic for war crimes, said in delivering the judgment.

The tribunals final judgment released in March said there was no evidence such transplant abuse has stopped, calling it greatest possible breach of a persons human rights.

On June 12, Belgium also adopted a resolution on June 12 condemning the continuing practice of forced organ harvesting in China. In a bill passed in April 2019, the country officially banned its citizens from traveling abroad for organ transplants. Violators could face up to 20 years imprisonment with a 1.2 million euro ($1.35 million) fine.

Falun Dafa Information Center welcomed the gesture from the Austrian parliament, saying that the resolution has come at an important moment in light of Chinas recent power grab by imposing a national security law for Hong Kong. The new law includes the establishment of a Beijing security agency in the city.

In a June 25 press release in German, the center expressed concerns for the Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong, who may soon fall victim to systematic organ theft.

The disturbing issue has been an ongoing international concern since 2006, when whistleblowers first brought the issue to light.

Last August, the 168-member U.S. Republican National Committee unanimously passed a resolution denouncing the vile practice. In May, a response to the organ genocide was one of 12 recommendations that a Washington watchdog group, the Committee on the Present Danger: China (CPDC), presented to President Donald Trump and the U.S. Congress.

The United States, Canada, The Czech Republic, and Italy are among a growing list of countries that have initiated or adopted measures to curb organ transplant abuses in recent years.

From The Epoch Times
Letter to the Editor: Why is the mask so difficult?
WUHAN, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Tourism is steadily rebounding in central China's Hubei Province, which was once hit hard by the outbreak of COVID-19.

The province received more than 6.78 million tourists during the recent Dragon Boat Festival holiday, said local authorities.

Tourism revenue generated during the three-day holiday that ended Saturday totaled 2.69 billion yuan (about 380 million U.S. dollars), according to the Hubei provincial bureau of culture and tourism.

Both figures mark a sharp drop from those for the same holiday last year, but they indicate that tourism is steadily rebounding in the once hard-hit province as the epidemic has eased.

As of Saturday, a total of 330 tourist attractions in Hubei had reopened, accounting for 85.3 percent of the total, the bureau said.

To prevent crowding, tourists were required to book tickets online, and the number of visitors was kept below 30 percent of the maximum capacity of each scenic area.

More than 620 travel agencies, 320 star-rated hotels, 101 cultural centers, 102 libraries and 114 museums in the province had resumed services.

No newly confirmed, asymptomatic or suspected cases of COVID-19 were reported in Hubei Saturday, the provincial health commission said Sunday.

Hubei had reported a total of 68,135 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and 63,623 cases had been discharged from hospitals after recovery by the end of Saturday. The disease has claimed 4,512 lives in the province.
Magnolia, AR (71754)

Today

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 76F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 76F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
"The subjects were yelling, pushing officers, and not responding to verbal commands to 'stop' and 'leave the area,'" police said. The crowd eventually moved away and toward another fight that broke out.

The boy taken into custody faces misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and possessing marijuana, police said.

The girl, who is believed to be at the heart of the melee, told police another unknown girl had approached her inside the skating rink and was upset about who she had been talking to, police said. The girl attempted to attack her, but was stopped.

The unknown girl left the building, but returned a short time later with a group of friends and began attacking the first girl and others, police said.

"That is when the whole incident began to get out of control," she reportedly told police.

The girl claiming to have been victimized was caught fleeing the scene in a vehicle with others when police arrived. The driver later told police an unknown officer "yelled to him to just leave and get out of there so he sped off."
SCHERERVILLE  After police checked in on a vehicle that was stopped along U.S. 30, they discovered two red balloons filled with methamphetamine, court records state.

While patrolling on Wednesday, two Schererville police officers noticed a green Mercury on the shoulder of U.S. 30 at the Coldwell Banker entrance.

Police discovered the driver, Jaime Lynn Wilson, of Iron Mountain, Michigan, had a verbal argument with her boyfriend.

Now, Wilson is facing a level 2 felony for dealing in methamphetamine having weight of at least 10 grams, according to documents from the Lake County prosecutor's office.

Wilson told police the pair were coming from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan  about 415 miles from Schererville  and driving to visit Wilson's dying father in Austin, Indiana.

After the argument, the boyfriend "decided he had enough, exited the vehicle and walked away," court records allege. Before leaving, he took the SIM card out of Wilson's cell phone, leaving her without a way to call for help, she told police.

Officers searched the area, but did not locate the boyfriend. A police sergeant then called the boyfriend's cell phone and discovered he was walking near Walmart.
For more than a dozen years, Marion Reid, 77, had walked past the statue of Theodore Roosevelt on his way to work in information technology at the American Museum of Natural History, an employer that he said often failed to treat African-Americans with dignity.

He drove into Manhattan around noon on Sunday to photograph the statue before officials carried out plans to remove it from its place of pride at the museums Central Park West entrance, only to find himself engulfed by about 150 protesters clamoring to preserve it. Among them were men in seersucker suits and women draped with pearls, people wearing MAGA hats and others waving Blue Lives Matter flags while chanting, Save Teddy. Save our police. Save law and order. About a dozen police were in the vicinity.
Ms. Coratti said that Mr. Baron was not upset but did advise that we should be careful not to be seen as celebrating or championing recreational use of drugs. So the dispute seems to be less about journalistic principle than about whether you like edibles.

Even those who are frustrated by Mr. Barons strong-willed style of management speak with reverence of his obsessive commitment to reporting. Still, some of The Posts challenges will probably be left to his successor. Mr. Baron has told colleagues he will be around through next years presidential inauguration, but perhaps not much longer. Marty will give us a great deal of notice before he retires, and that notice has not been given, Ms. Coratti said.

But what separates todays cultural conflicts inside newsrooms from previous generations is that they now play out, in real time, in public on social media. And they offer a window into an industry, and society, struggling to find its moral footing around issues of racism.

That seemed a painful takeaway from the recent Post article about a white woman who came as Megyn Kelly-in-blackface to a Halloween party at the home of a Washington Post cartoonist in 2018. The woman lost her job when she told her employer about the coming article, which readers reacted to with outrage and questions about its news value.

Was this story intended to be a spoof of our culture? Patrick Gaspard, who served as ambassador to South Africa during the Obama administration and is now the president of the grant-making Open Society Foundations, asked on Twitter. Did they really invest all this Investigatory resource on this piece to shame this average person who holds no discernible power?

The storys handling inside The Post underscores some of the papers underlying tensions.

After a guest at the party who believed the woman was a Post employee complained to the paper, editors assigned it to two trusted veterans: Sydney Trent, an experienced former editor, and Marc Fisher, a reporter whom The Post also turned to when someone had to write about Mr. Bezoss explicit text messages. Mr. Fisher, who is white, reportedly told people he had doubts about the news value of the costume party story, though he led the reporting and writing. Ms. Trent, who is black, saw it as worth doing, three Post journalists said.

White senior editors, including Mr. Baron and Mr. Barr, signed off on the story and sided with Ms. Trent on some questions of tone. That played to old reflexes and new ones: They chose to address a complex moment with the most traditional reportorial form, and they trusted the judgment of a black reporter with a long history of writing and reporting about race. And while many Posties were conspicuously silent about the story on social media, Ms. Trent stood by it, and posted it to her Facebook page to a positive reception.

But black reporters are, of course, not monolithic, and many reporters of all backgrounds at The Post found the 3,000-word investigation puzzling. A random person dressing like a famous lady in blackface at a party 2 years ago seems the least of our concerns right now, Ms. Attiah tweeted.
On the issue of American slavery, I am an absolutist: enslavers were amoral monsters.

The very idea that one group of people believed that they had the right to own another human being is abhorrent and depraved. The fact that their control was enforced by violence was barbaric.

People often try to explain this away by saying that the people who enslaved Africans in this country were simply men and women of their age, abiding by the mores of the time.

But, that explanation falters. There were also men and women of the time who found slavery morally reprehensible. The enslavers ignored all this and used anti-black dehumanization to justify the holding of slaves and the profiting from slave labor.
The hospitals typically operate with nearly full I.C.U.s, and had planned to increase the number of critically ill patients they could treat. But the next morning, the governor issued an executive order that again restricted elective surgeries in Harris County. The order, however, allows hospitals to continue performing surgeries and procedures that will not deplete their capacity to care for coronavirus patients; some hospital executives and doctors, including ones at Methodist, said they were able to continue providing those services, which they viewed as particularly needed after being halted during the initial shutdown. The Texas Medical Center hospitals are collectively treating about 1,500 coronavirus patients, according to figures released on Saturday.

During the previous surge in mid-April, Methodists system had at most just over 200 coronavirus patients. On Sunday, it had nearly 400 inpatients with the virus, and about 150 more were being tested for it. Some models predict a peak in two to three weeks.

Roberta L. Schwartz, an executive vice president and chief innovation officer at Methodist, who is serving as the coronavirus incident commander, walked from unit to unit on Saturday trolling for beds, as she described it. She spoke with nurses and doctors, troubleshooting to solve problems that could delay sending patients home or transferring them to lower levels of care when they were ready. She informed nurses in an intermediate care unit that it would soon transition into an I.C.U. for coronavirus patients.

She visited a huge laboratory with more than $3 million worth of new instrumentation that she referred to as the Taj Mahal, a former academic lab that was repurposed to process virus tests, and took her first look at two recently purchased machines that can run 1,000 tests a day. In some parts of the country, laboratories, including Methodists, have experienced recent testing backlogs as demand and new cases have increased.

The hospital is hiring traveling nurses to bolster its staff and offering bonuses as incentives to some employees to take extra shifts. In recent days, hospital beds and mobile computers were rolled into an empty, 34-bed unit that had been shuttered and will now be used for coronavirus patients. This is why I dont have to put trailers out front and mobile hospitals out front, Dr. Schwartz said. The changes were also part of the hospitals efforts to maintain capacity to safely treat its many nonvirus patients.
Civil rights activists from the 1950s and 60s have remarked upon how quickly the Black Lives Matter movement reignited after George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25. Some of this momentum was fueled by social media: In New York, the Instagram account @justiceforgeorgenyc, which provides a schedule of events and ongoing coverage, garnered more than 200,000 followers within a few weeks.

In recent months, art critics for The New York Times have cited several accounts about black art, history and thought, including those of the curator Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, the artists Cauleen Smith and Kara Walker, and the architect David Adjaye, who led the consortium that designed the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. Here are some other accounts that are among my current favorites.

Monument Lab

(@monument_lab)
When the coronavirus sequestered Americans at home and forced businesses to close, Hale Ryan braced himself for a financial winter. As the director of sales and marketing at Metroplex Piano in Dallas and a 30-year veteran of the piano business, he had seen other crises  like 9/11 and the 2008 recession  damage sales. When the lockdown began in March, Mr. Ryan said in a recent phone interview, I thought this was going to be the final nail.

Instead, he began to field a flood of requests for instruments. Even with his showroom closed, the economy nose-diving and the professional music world in tatters, he sold pianos.

Its actually been the best three months that Ive seen in retail, he said.

The piano market encompasses a wide range of instruments, from hand-built concert grands that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to factory-made uprights, digital pianos and keyboards designed for young learners. The high-water mark of piano sales in America was 1909, when 364,500 new acoustic pianos were sold in the country. Since then, radio, television, recordings and instrument technology transformed the way music is created and consumed. Only about 30,000 new acoustic pianos are now sold here each year, but the number surpasses a million when all digital varieties are included.
Massinis original text, a novel in verse, has now been issued in English for the first time, in a translation by Richard Dixon. Its a monster, a 700-page landslide of language with no obvious speaking parts. But its apparent right from the start that Massini is the real thing. His writing is smart, electric, light on its feet.

At the same time, his book ominously circles the big questions: Were the original three Lehman brothers and their descendants heroes or villains? Did they inject spirit and muscle into the American experiment, or were they simply cowbirds, laying eggs in other birds nests? The answers are complicated.

Less complicated is the criticism, articulated most exactly by Sarah Churchwell in a New York Review of Books essay, that Massinis play glosses over the Lehmans participation in the slave trade in Alabama. Future productions should have to pinch and zoom in on these realities.

Henry emigrates to America. Having arrived, he

can smell the stench of New York

all over him:

a nauseating mix of fodder, smoke and every kind of mold,

such that, to the nostrils at least,

this New York so much dreamed about

seems worse than his fathers cattle shed,

over there in Germany, in Rimpar, Bavaria.

He moves south, to Alabama, for the sunshine. Bertolt Brecht, another Bavarian, had never been to Alabama when he wrote Alabama Song (also known as Moon of Alabama) in the 1920s. One wonders what Henry expected. He arrives, as do his two brothers shortly thereafter. They are in constant motion, making sure their materials are the finest and their prices the lowest.

Image Stefano Massini

They perfect, if not invent, the all-American idea of the middleman. They become brokers, buying cotton and selling it elsewhere. Their business expands to coffee, oil and coal, and eventually to electricity, railroads, planes, comic books, Hollywood and computing. They enter banking, and the idea of what they do becomes increasingly abstract.
1. The Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law restricting abortion.

Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for the majority, said the law put an undue burden on the constitutional right to the procedure. If upheld, it could have left the state with a single abortion clinic.

It was the first abortion ruling since two judges appointed by President Trump joined the court. The vote was 5 to 4, with Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. voting with the courts four-member liberal wing in the third major case in two weeks. Above, an anti-abortion activist in front of the Supreme Court in Washington today.

The unexpected decision preserves the status quo for abortion access, at least for now, our reporters write in an analysis.
Jessica Bennett, who covers gender and culture for The Times, spoke with Zee, Tiana Day, Shayla Turner and Brianna Chandler  four teenage girls who organized a protest and are part of the young generation at the forefront of activism for racial justice.

Zee and Tiana, neither of you had ever led a protest before. What propelled you?

Zee: Its crazy. Ive never been to a protest before  like, ever. I got inspired by what people were doing all across America, but there was no protest in Nashville at the time. I was like, why isnt Tennessee doing anything? Why are they silent?

So I was like, enough is enough. Were going to do something.

Tiana: For me, I was never really an activist before. But this movement lit a fire in me. I live in San Ramon, a suburban town in California, and Ive grown up around people who didnt look like me my whole life. And Ive been constantly trying to fit in. I would stay out of the sun so I wouldnt tan. I would straighten my hair every day. Theres so many things that I did to try to suppress who I was and what my culture was. I just never felt like myself.

But I have always had this, like, boiling thing, this boiling passion in my body to want to make a change in the world. We bought three cases of water because we thought it was enough. It was, like, four miles straight of people who were there to support the movement.

How have your families responded?

Shayla: My mom actually found out I was protesting through the newspaper. She was in Walgreens and did a double take because I was on the cover of the The Chicago Tribune.

Whats something about your generation that people get wrong?

Brianna: That our anger is not valid, that we dont have a reason to be angry, that we dont have a reason to riot. You know, there is that super popular Malcolm X quote: The most disrespected person in America is the black woman.

Thats it for this briefing. See you next time.  Melina

Thank you

To Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh for the rest of the break from the news. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

P.S.

 Were listening to The Daily. Our latest episode is about proposals to defund the police, with a conversation with a police union leader.

 Heres our Mini Crossword, and a clue: Something built at a campsite (four letters). You can find all our puzzles here.

 The writer Kevin Powell discussed his New York Times essay A Letter From Father to Child on NPRs Morning Edition.
I sensed right from the start that this musical, with its cast made up mostly of actors of color and its score influenced by hip-hop and pop music, was going to be a huge story. I remember being determined, that summer, to land an article about the production on the front page, convinced that the paper needed to make a big early statement about the show as a game-changing reflection on our culture, our politics and our history. Ultimately, the Page 1 gods agreed. I was traveling in Spain when it happened; I felt so affirmed that I didnt mind the time-zone-busting copy desk questions.

A feature that followed about Lin-Manuel Mirandas musical upbringing was particularly fun to report  as we explored the Venn diagram in which show tunes and hip-hop overlap, he started playing random songs from his iTunes library and riffing about what each one meant to him.

The story I waited longest for was about Mirandas relationship to Puerto Rico, where his parents grew up and where he spent his childhood summers. The islands influence on his art had always struck me as significant and underexplored. I knew the best way to tell that story would be to see Puerto Rico through his eyes, at least as much as a journalist can, and when he announced that he was bringing Hamilton to San Juan, I had my peg. I asked to meet him there, and in fall 2018 he agreed; a devastating hurricane and campus unrest made the story more complex than either he or I could have anticipated, and Im glad we did it.

Thats it for this briefing. Heres Christian Loffler playing from a French castle to start your Monday.  Isabella

Thank you

To Melissa Clark for the recipe, and to Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh for the rest of the break from the news. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

P.S.

 Were listening to The Daily. Our latest episode is chronicling the human condition with one of the most influential photographers in history, Robert Frank.

 Heres todays Mini Crossword puzzle, and a clue: Silly and frivolous (five letters). You can find all our puzzles here.

 Dean Baquet, our executive editor, spoke to Longform Podcast about leading change at The New York Times.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration placed new restrictions on U.S. exports of defense equipment and certain high-technology products to Hong Kong on Monday, in response to a new Chinese law aimed at tightening Beijings control over the territory.

The administration determined in late May that Hong Kong no longer had significant autonomy under Chinese rule, and promised to begin stripping away Hong Kongs privileged status with the United States if Beijing continued to crack down on civil liberties in Hong Kong.

Chinese lawmakers approved a national security law on Tuesday that could drastically curb protests and other criticisms of the Chinese government, infringing on an arrangement that has made Hong Kong, which China ceded to Britain in 1842 and which ceased being a British colony in 1997, autonomous in many respects.

In separate statements on Monday, the State Department said that it would end exports of U.S. military equipment to Hong Kong, while the Commerce Department said that Hong Kong would now be subject to the same types of controls on certain technology exports that apply to China. Those controls block American companies from selling certain types of sensitive, high-technology products that could threaten national security to China, Russia and other countries deemed to be a security risk.
In the 1940s and 50s, when Madeline McWhinney was a young economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, banking was such a mens club that meetings were often held inside one. At such gatherings at the Union League Club on Park Avenue, which didnt allow women to join until the late 1980s, Ms. McWhinney had to enter through a side door and be chaperoned by an older Fed official.

Her approach was you power through it, her son, Tom Dale, said. But you do it on the basis of performance, competency, the value youre delivering  not jawboning.

In her quiet, confident, determined way, Madeline McWhinney rose through the organizations ranks, becoming the first female officer of the Federal Reserve Bank in 1960. Five years earlier, she was the first woman to run for election to the board of trustees of the Federal Reserve Retirement System, which administered a $160 million pension fund. The position had traditionally been filled by a male vice president in an uncontested election.

The man Im running against is a nice guy, she told The New York World-Telegram and Sun. But its time he stepped down to make his chair available to a woman.
This briefing is no longer updating. The latest developments can be found here.

The Federal Reserve chair says the economy has entered an important new phase.

Jerome H. Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, will tell lawmakers on Tuesday that the U.S. economy is bouncing back, but the path ahead remains dependent on the virus and the action of policymakers.

We have entered an important new phase and have done so sooner than expected, Mr. Powell said in remarks prepared for delivery to the House Financial Services Committee. He will note that consumer spending rebounded strongly, but will warn that the outlook is extraordinarily uncertain and hinges on whether efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic succeed.

The path forward will also depend on the policy actions taken at all levels of government to provide relief and to support the recovery for as long as needed, Mr. Powell will say.

The Fed has worked to shore up markets and the economy as the pandemic tossed millions out of work and starved businesses of revenue, including by cutting interest rates to near-zero, buying huge quantities of government-backed debt and rolling out a series of emergency lending programs.
WASHINGTON  Democrats in Congress are expected to make public on Tuesday a broad list of proposals on climate change, laying out in detail what could become the starting point for their climate agenda if the party regains control of Congress and the White House next year.

The 538-page report sets a range of targets including ensuring that every new car sold by 2035 emits no greenhouse gases, eliminating overall emissions from the power sector by 2040, and all but eliminating the countrys total emissions by 2050.

It also calls for requiring companies, and by extension consumers, to pay for emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but in a way that gives money back to low- and moderate-income households. In the past, efforts like these have been politically difficult to achieve: In 2018, Gov. Jay Inslee tried and failed to enact a version in Washington State.

The package also approaches climate change as a matter of racial injustice. The report cites the police killing of George Floyd in its opening paragraph and goes on to argue that communities of color are also more at risk from the effects of climate change. The report says the government should prioritize minority communities for new spending on energy and infrastructure.
Julia Coney is a wine writer and educator based in Houston and Washington, D.C., who regularly leads tastings and teaches wine classes. Yet as a consumer, she said, white servers or merchants are always ready to instruct her, to show her how to hold a glass and to explain to her why she ought to swirl it.

In restaurants, they steer her to cheaper wines or sweeter choices that fit their stereotype of what she might enjoy.

They dumb things down for me, she said. Ive seen both innate prejudice and innate assumptions about who has the power and the discernment. Ive been told I look like the help.

She has grown tired of the tokenism, of being the only Black person invited to a tasting or on a sponsored trip to a wine region. She is sick of seeing the wine industry toss money only to white social-media influencers. So she has created a database, Black Wine Professionals, in hopes that white gatekeepers who say they want to diversify will use this tool. And if they wont take action, she said, she will.

They keep regurgitating the same person, and new people never get a chance, Ms. Coney said. People might ask me on a trip, and Im going to look at the racial breakdown. And Ill offer my spot to someone else.
The movie, directed by Tom Shepard, becomes more absorbing as the subjects paths diverge. Subhi speaks at the United Nations and, after not being able to talk about his sexual orientation in Syria, becomes an activist. Mari and Cheyenne, who only have temporary visas, must seek asylum, an arduous process for which the odds are against them. Junior, who is shown selling ballgame concessions and cleaning dishes, relocates so often the feeling of migration hasnt ended.

The film begins before the election of Donald Trump, and the policies of the new administration are kept mainly in the background. But that context is never far away, as when Subhi pays a holiday visit to a boyfriends family (said to be politically conservative), and the father awkwardly asks Subhi if he was a refugee. More than the informational nuggets the movie flashes onscreen, these scenes of personal interaction help make Unsettled distinctive.

Unsettled: Seeking Refuge in America

Not rated. In English, Portuguese, Spanish and Arabic, with subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 24 minutes. Watch on WorldChannel.org.
Europe's Banking Sector: When (and Why) the Rout Really Began

The financial sector has been one of the global stock market's bedrocks for decades. That's why its performance is so critical to the overall stock market health.

Well, here's a chart of the European Stoxx 600 Banks Index over the past four years.

Not pretty, we know.

Now let's zoom in on the price action since January of this year.

This is where the mainstream's story about Europe's beaten down banking sector starts. It's a story of being "hit hard," of credit losses which exceed those in the 2008 financial crisis -- and finally, the onset of "more pain" in the future. All "thanks" to the coronavirus.

Except, it's a mistake to blame Europe's banking sector sell-off on the coronavirus.

Yes, the sector fell 43% since the start of 2020, but that's not when the "beat down" started!

It began in 2018 -- many months before the first reported case of coronavirus on December 31, 2019.

Back in 2018, the EuroStoxx 600 was a top-performer and stood at a two and a half-year high.

At the time, there was no bearish "fundamental" backdrop like the coronavirus, and few things suggested to mainstream analysts any weakness ahead.

BUT -- on April 6, 2018, Elliott Wave International's Monday-Wednesday-Friday publication European Short Term Update showed subscribers this red line down for emphasis and said,

April 6, 2018 forecast: "...banks have a long way further to fall. Stay immediately bearish this sector."

From there September 2019, the sector plunged 40%. A rally into the end of 2019 was met with renewed optimism that "Europe's bank stocks poised for best start to a year since 2013." (Bloomberg)

But to Elliott Wave International's analysts, further bearish potential was clear.

As you may know, Elliott wave analysis doesn't look at the so-called fundamentals. Factors like unemployment, GDP, etc., don't lead the stock market -- they follow it.

In other words, to know the stock market's next move, you must skip "fundamentals" and instead look at market psychology, the true driver of trends.

That's exactly what Elliott wave patterns in market charts show you.

Which brings us to this year's continued sell-off in Europe's banking sector.

On January 13, 2020, well before coronavirus really got going, Elliott Wave International's European Short Term Update identified a completed countertrend advance on the Banks Sector index.

January 13, 2020 forecast: Europe's bank stocks "should decline directly."

From there, the sector indeed hit the skids in a sell-off to levels not seen in more than a decade -- that 43% slide we mentioned earlier.

And please note this: Elliott Wave International's analysis didn't mention coronavirus even once when making that bearish January 13 forecast. The bearish outlook was based on the fact that the price pattern called for a 3rd wave down directly ahead.

Third waves are fastest and strongest parts of the Elliott wave patterns. That helps explain the speed and ferocity of this year's decline in Europe's banking sector.

This is just one example (of MANY!) where Elliott Wave International's European Financial Forecast Service put subscribers on the right side of the trend.

What are we saying now? What's next for Europe, its markets and economies?

See for yourself right now, 100% free.

Through July 1, read Elliott Wave International's Europe-focused publications free during the ongoing FreeWeek: Europe event.

"Free" means free. There is no catch. There is no credit card required. You can see where Europe's key markets and economies are headed next, according to Elliott waves. Just click the link below for instant access to the latest forecasts.

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This article was syndicated by Elliott Wave International and was originally published under the headline Europe's Banking Sector: When (and Why) the Rout Really Began. EWI is the world's largest market forecasting firm. Its staff of full-time analysts led by Chartered Market Technician Robert Prechter provides 24-hour-a-day market analysis to institutional and private investors around the world.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




The demonstrations have also spurred a whole host of ancillary demands: Rallies for education, gender equality and social services now pop up between those calling for police reform.

Defunding the police is something that needs to happen. Police brutality is unacceptable and inhumane. But also, there are larger forces, said Biz Berthy, 24, an organizer for Vocal New York, a grass roots advocacy organization that has been promoting dialogue for the last month on drug policy, housing equality and homelessness.

For many, the protests have become a part of their daily routines.

Arianny Valenzuela, 19, said she had been to nine protests since the marches first began in the city. She and her friends were interested in efforts to slash $1 billion from the citys police budget, a proposal that will be decided by the City Council next week. After that, Ms. Valenzuela said, she would demand more accountability for police who behave inappropriately.

She noted that when protests first began, marchers were demanding the arrest of the Minneapolis police officer who knelt on Mr. Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes. After he and three other officers were arrested, she said, protesters began targeting police budgets and calling for disciplinary reforms.

Theres going to be more demands, she said.
But for Wendy Dumas-John, 62, who said she had been marching for 26 years, the lack of crowds was a bit strange.

Still, she said that the smaller turnout had its advantages.

I tell you the truth, Im kind of happy to see some of the locals around without all the tourists, she said. This is us; its a breath of fresh air.

March No. 2: Clashes with police officers

With the official Pride March canceled, the largest event on Sunday was the Queer Liberation March. The upstart march began in 2019 to counter what some viewed as the commercialization of the official march.

And this year, the countermarch, which drew more than 1,000 people, was focused on police brutality and racism.

Jay W. Walker, the lead organizer of the Queer Liberation March, said that the event was initially canceled because of the coronavirus. But after the killing of George Floyd sparked protests nationwide, organizers felt a march was necessary.

This is one of the most important moments for civil rights and human rights in this country in the last 50 years, he said.

The march was generally peaceful, but in one case the police clashed with demonstrators near Washington Square Park, with videos posted on social media showing officers pushing and shoving people gathered in the street near the park and at least one officer falling onto the ground from his motorcycle.
Across New York, workers in patient services at hospitals have had to figure out what to do with the thousands of cellphones, chargers, walkers, canes, hearing aids, dentures, glasses, clothing, shoes, wallets, Bibles, jewelry, among other items, that have been left behind by patients who have died after contracting Covid-19.

One hospital had so many of these items in April that the staff stored them in a room that had been previously used to keep the belongings of patients scheduled for surgery.

By early May, another hospital, St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, stored about 140 unclaimed items  some kept in bags used for biohazard material  in a room adjacent to its morgue.

There was no room for neither the deceased nor the property, said Demetrius Long, 60, director of security at St. Barnabas, who oversaw the hospitals coronavirus fatality management plan.

Many items have remained unclaimed, in many cases because hospital officials have been unable to locate the next of kin. In turn, they have become a symbolic reminder of the toll wrought by a pandemic that has killed more than 20,000 New Yorkers.
The chief justice of the Supreme Court infuriated conservatives once again Monday by siding with his four more liberal colleagues to strike down a Louisiana law that would have sharply restricted the availability of abortion there by requiring providers of the procedure to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

For abortion foes and no doubt President Trump, the defeat is infuriating. But its their own fault. The case, June Medical Services v. Russo, was the wrong one to bring to the Supreme Court. In their impatience to restrict the procedure, abortion opponents miscalculated by asking the court to uphold a law virtually identical to one in Texas that the court had rejected four years ago. And for Chief Justice John Roberts, that was too much.

But thats not to say the cause is lost for abortion opponents. They need to play the long game. The smartest path for them is to fight for incremental abortion restrictions, like laws approved in red states in the past several weeks outlawing abortion because of the fetuss race, sex or disability. The movement should focus on later abortions, seeking bans on terminations after 20 weeks, and most common second-trimester procedure, dilation and evacuation.

Why? Because there is no reason to think that Chief Justice Roberts believes the Constitution protects a right to choose. He suggested in his opinion on Monday that the courts most recent strengthening of the standard that states may not impose an undue burden on a womens ability to obtain an abortion was a mistake. To him, it doesnt matter if abortion restrictions serve no useful purpose, because nothing in the courts abortion jurisprudence suggested that a weighing of costs and benefits of an abortion regulation was a job for the courts.
As for the future, the company told me it was seeing high atypical transmission in Texas, Florida and Arizona, suggesting the states have yet to peak. Kinsa also cited Missouri and Utah as states where daily case counts will climb, though absolute case numbers may not look out of control. And the company pointed to the Midwest as an area to watch closely. It said it was seeing both increasing atypical Rt and increasing fever counts in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan, suggesting a forthcoming rise in confirmed cases. Pennsylvania, too, might see an uptick.

There are limitations to the data. I showed the Kinsa transmission charts to an epidemiologist, who noted that the data didnt do much to detect the duration of the outbreaks, meaning the data isnt a perfect stand-in for how much disease is out there and how long it stays. But Kinsa told me its not really tracking outbreaks; its tracking atypical illnesses and whether transmission is higher or lower than expected. So perhaps the best way to think about Kinsas data is as a way to identify anomalies in data, which public health officials can then explore in their communities. Its a warning siren, not a detailed accounting of what has happened.

For Andy Slavitt, the former acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the Obama administration and an adviser to the government on the coronavirus pandemic, information from Kinsa was an imperfect but helpful early piece of evidence to persuade the public and elected leaders to help flatten the curve.

When youre dealing with the beginning of a novel pandemic, you have no data  youre the guy in the desert trying to find a tiny sip of water and there it is, Mr. Slavitt told me. Kinsa was one of the first to have something that remotely approached a leading indicator. Does it have limitations? Yes. But its something.

Among those limitations is the varying nature of Covid-19 cases by community. I put the question of using Kinsa thermometers for outbreak surveillance to Cindy Farr, the incident commander for the Missoula City-County Health Departments Covid-19 response where I live in Montana. Missoula is a midsize city that locked down early and has avoided an uncontrolled outbreak. As a result, it has opened up sizable portions of its economy  in my figuring, a perfect candidate for an advance-warning system.

But Ms. Farr wasnt so sure. Because our outbreak has been so mild and our population density is low, only about one-third of our cases have reported fevers, she said. So it likely wouldnt be a reliable indicator for the area. But other, larger cites have shown interest. Philadelphia is distributing thermometers and using Kinsa data as a way to know when to reinstitute social distancing should cases surge.
But the solution is not to cancel; it is to adapt. Service providers across the country are figuring out how to offer safe, alternative job opportunities in these circumstances. Boston has increased the size of its program, allocating $11.9 million to fund summer jobs for 8,000 of its young residents. The program will include a mix of safe in-person and remote opportunities like conducting census outreach, developing a Covid-19 awareness program and taking college courses for credit.

Chicago announced last Friday that it is offering 20,000 positions, two-thirds of the programs normal size. The jobs will consist of a combination of online professional development and remote employment, as well as a service corps that will make masks, conduct phone welfare checks of elderly residents and develop a Covid-19 public information campaign. Washington, Philadelphia and Baltimore have all developed plans to offer almost exclusively remote summer jobs and training.

Why is it so important to continue summer jobs programs even with the difficulty of operating and funding during a pandemic? In part, because the spending is well targeted to those hardest hit by both the virus and systemic racism: young people of color and their families. Historically, workers in summer programs are paid minimum wage for 25 hours a week for six to seven weeks over the summer. In New York City, where the minimum wage is $15 an hour, a summer worker can earn more than $2,000.

Surveys of program participants in other cities suggest that these wages both help workers households and stimulate the local economy. In Chicago, almost 80 percent of net wages went to local businesses and participants families. Nearly half of Boston summer jobs participants reported contributing to paying household bills.

But the benefits of summer jobs extend well beyond cash.

For nearly a decade, we have studied the impact of these programs across multiple cities, including New York and other cities. We compare program applicants who won a random lottery for limited program slots to applicants who lost the lottery and did not receive job offers. The two groups are otherwise basically identical, except for the luck of the draw. So, any differences between them are attributable to the summer jobs program.
A little over a century ago, before drug prohibition became a priority, the market for substances like marijuana and cocaine did not generate bloodshed. When President Richard Nixon in 1971 declared drug abuse public enemy No. 1 in the United States, he spoke of a worldwide offensive. As the war on drugs unfolded, the United States inspired and even funded many law enforcement models in Latin America.

More recently, Uruguay legalized recreational cannabis in 2017. Other Latin American countries have partially decriminalized some substances, and leaders from across the political spectrum, including presidents and former presidents, have been vocal about the need to end the war on drugs. Decriminalization efforts can produce unusual alliances. They will require transnational coordination. Given the devastating consequences to black and brown communities, we can frame that discussion as a key part of global anti-racist agendas.

It has become almost a cliche to say that the U.S.-led war on drugs failed. If the intent is to save lives in the United States from substance abuse, the results are mixed at best. Other approaches, like legalization and decriminalization of some drugs, are certainly more cost-effective. If the intent is to reward corrupt actors while propping up arms manufacturers, the prison industry and entrenched law enforcement bureaucracies, then the war on drugs has been successful. Some Latin American governments insist on copying the most profit-seeking aspects of the American system, like private prisons. In the United States several states are seeking to reform criminal justice, by decriminalizing marijuana and curbing mass incarceration.

Throughout the Americas, police officers still arrest hundreds of thousands of people for marijuana-related offenses every year. Black and brown people continue to bear the brunt of repressive measures. In the United States public opinion has shifted toward the legalization of cannabis and broadly opposes war-on-drugs methods. It is hard to imagine radical changes at a hemispheric scale without U.S. leadership.

We need to rethink drug policies. Decriminalization is working well in Portugal, for instance. At the local level, it creates opportunities to redirect funding away from weapons and drug-busting, toward social and health services. To think of a regulated legal drug trade as a source of revenue can open up discussions about the possibilities of reparations to address legacies of systemic racism.

Decriminalization and legalization will never be a cure-all. There are also as many questions as answers when it comes to how it should be done. But this is a time of reckoning and to reimagine the future. Bringing the war on drugs to an end could be a major step toward curtailing violence, saving countless lives caught in the crossfire. Joao Pedros life matters.

Bruno Carvalho is a professor at Harvard, where he is a co-director of the Harvard Mellon Urban Initiative and is affiliated with the Afro-Latin American Research Institute.

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As it turns out, the Court of Appeals panel decided none of these three questions.

Take the first question. Though it purports to have done so, the court did not decide that Mr. Flynn had a clear and indisputable right to immediate dismissal. Rather, the divided court decided the entirely different question of whether the government would have had a clear and indisputable right to have its prosecution dismissed immediately. The circumstances of this case demonstrate, Judge Neomi Rao wrote, that immediate dismissal is appropriate to prevent the judicial usurpation of executive power. However, it was not the government that asked the appeals court to dismiss Mr. Flynns prosecution before Judge Sullivan ruled. It was Mr. Flynn.

The divided Court of Appeals also purported to, but did not, decide whether Mr. Flynn would suffer irreparable harm by having to wait for Judge Sullivans ruling  harm for which there is no other remedy, such as vindication on appeal. Again, the Court of Appeals decided only that the government would suffer irreparable harm that could be avoided only by the immediate dismissal of its case. Judge Sullivans decision to hold a hearing will result in specific harms to the exercise of the Executive Branchs exclusive prosecutorial power that cannot be remedied on appeal, Judge Rao wrote.

Finally, the court turned to the third question of whether the immediate dismissal requested by Mr. Flynn is appropriate under the circumstances. Once again, the court decided instead that immediate dismissal was appropriate under the circumstances for the government  as if the government had asked for immediate dismissal of its prosecution, which it had not. Because there is no adequate remedy for the intrusion on the Executives long-settled primacy over charging decisions, it ordered the district court to grant the governments motion to dismiss the charges against Mr. Flynn.

In short, the court mistakenly believed that if the government is entitled to dismissal of its prosecution against Mr. Flynn now (which it is not, by the way), then Mr. Flynn is entitled to dismissal of his prosecution by the government now, too. But that is just not true, because the governments rights and interests in immediate dismissal are vastly different from and greater than Mr. Flynns, which are lesser by far. And it is Mr. Flynn, not the government, who sought dismissal before Judge Sullivan can rule.

Knowingly or not, the Court of Appeals simply appears to have bungled perhaps the most consequential political constitutional case in recent memory.
The coronavirus is still raging, particularly in states like Texas, Arizona and Florida. We already know what it takes to beat it. We just need to do it.

As infection rates rapidly rise in many red states, Senate Republicans can and should legislate to protect their constituents and their country. Its good politics to save lives while saving the economy. They can start by taking a page from other advanced market economies that managed to turn the corner on the pandemic and safely restore normalcy. In addition to mask-wearing, these countries have all adopted a strategy to test, trace and isolate the virus out of circulation.

Taiwan was the first country to use it effectively. Applying lessons gleaned from SARS, which emerged in Asia in 2002, Taiwan immediately traced (and closely studied) its first 100 cases. It was able to avoid community spread altogether  topping out at 447 total cases  without a lockdown. South Korea was slower, but eventually suppressed its outbreak to fewer than 13,000 cases without a widespread lockdown. Germany, Australia and New Zealand have all adopted the same strategy to avoid reinstating their lockdowns. By detecting and containing new outbreaks before they spread, these market economies plan to stay open, resilient and competitive, while Americas economy loses ground amid new waves of infection.

Many Republicans think that market incentives and private-sector spending will be enough to drive innovation in diagnostics and therapeutics and to spur manufacturers to finally churn out enough tests. But this is wrong. The private sector alone cant contain Covid-19.
Thats good as far as it goes, which is not very far. It would be a mistake to interpret this decision as a sign that the chief justice has had a change of heart about protecting the bodily autonomy of American women. Even in his concurring opinion, Chief Justice Roberts said that he still believes that the Texas case was wrongly decided and that he voted to strike down the Louisiana law solely out of respect for precedent. He appears to have decided that the circumstances of this case were not ideal for crippling reproductive rights  but he left the door open to doing so in the future. Mondays decision, with the plurality opinion written by Justice Stephen Breyer, isnt so much good news for reproductive freedom as it is a temporary reprieve from all the bad.

Abortion access in many parts of the country is abysmal  five states have only one abortion clinic, for instance. If the Louisiana law had been upheld, clinics in that state (which has only three such facilities) and across the country could have closed, forcing many women to travel longer distances at prohibitive expense to receive reproductive health care.

That would violate the constitutional right to have access to an abortion without undue burden, the standard the Supreme Court has followed since the 1992 case Planned Parenthood v. Casey. A Federal District Court in Louisiana struck down the states law because it posed such an undue burden, just as the Texas law had. But the conservative federal Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed that decision, ruling that the lower court had gotten the facts wrong  that it was not clear that the new law would actually burden womens ability to get an abortion.

Mondays decision reversed the Fifth Circuit ruling, holding that the district court had gotten it right the first time. The Louisiana law, Justice Breyer wrote, was almost word-for-word identical to Texas unconstitutional law and imposed identical if not greater burdens on women, and therefore was invalid.

Chief Justice Robertss decision to concur with the four liberal justices may enrage cultural conservatives who thought that with the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, ending the right to an abortion was just a matter of time.
Public outcry began early and spread swiftly. Especially given the recent history of vandalism and violent threats against Muslims in Middle Tennessee, A huge target was placed on our community, said Sabina Mohyuddin, executive director of the American Muslim Advisory Council, a Nashville-based advocacy group. Public calls to unsubscribe from the paper flew around Twitter.

By midday the ad was ordered to be pulled from future editions of the paper, according to The Tennessean, and an investigation launched into how this white supremacist screed made it into print in the first place. The paper fired the sales manager who had approved the ad and donated $14,000  the value of the ad  to the American Muslim Advisory Council. The nonprofit will also receive $50,000 in advertising credit.

The Tennessean editor Michael A. Anastasi called the ad inconsistent with everything The Tennessean as an institution stands and has stood for and with the journalism we have produced.

Mr. Anastasi wasnt making a reference merely to his newspapers storied history. In the same print edition of the paper that carried the unforgivable ad, The Tennessean published articles on the violence interrupters of Gideons Army, a grass-roots organization that works as a successful alternative to police intervention; Nashvilles Juneteenth protest; an interview with the mother of Ashanti Posey, an African-American teenager shot to death in April; and two op-ed columns on racism and policing.

The issue also included a number of wire reports about hate crimes legislation in Georgia, the removal of Confederate statues in North Carolina, NASCARs decision to prohibit the display of Confederate flags, and worries by civil rights leaders that the 2020 census is undercounting minority populations.

You can argue that The Tennessean is now so short of journalists it cant possibly cover the full range of challenges facing this city, and you would be right. You can argue that the statewide focus of Gannetts USA Today Network  Tennessee is just a fancy way of ignoring smaller-city news, and you would be right about that, too. But you cant argue that the journalists who actually cover this town are indifferent to the plights of the communities they cover. Tennessean reporters were as appalled by that ad as everyone else.

As the first rough draft of history, journalism will always be prone to mistakes, no matter how assiduously reporters and editors try to prevent them. But canceling your newspaper subscription because of one ad, no matter how hideous  or because of one deeply offensive headline, or one flagrantly dangerous op-ed  will not cure journalism of what ails it.
Boogaloo groups may also have seized on the Hawaiian shirt for reasons other than signaling their association and intentions. Mr. Nakagawa said that doing so may be an attempt to bait the less informed into assuming the group means no real harm. That they are, really, in effect, a goofy bunch of boys despite their military-grade weaponry.

This interpretation is shared by Patrick Blanchfield, an associate faculty member at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, who regularly writes about the far right. He views the use of the Hawaiian shirt as yet another attempt by far-right groups to create an undefinable space with in-your-face absurdity.

Its by design, Mr. Blanchfield said. That confusion is what theyre trying to exploit, which means its important to keep an eye on the big picture, or whats right in front of you. If you see an image of a man wearing tactical gear with a gun and a Hawaiian shirt, the most salient thing there is that the guy has a gun and tactical gear.

ULTIMATELY, A SYMBOL like the Hawaiian shirt shifts focus from the obvious  armed men asserting dominance in public spaces  to expert-led discussions of the boogaloos movements coded symbols and language games, which are absurd to the point of meaninglessness, Mr. Blanchfield thinks. He, and other experts on white nationalist extremism in the United States, have stressed that such in-jokes are a longstanding practice of extremist movements born out of online message boards like 4chan and Reddit and, more recently, in the case of the boogaloo, Facebook.

Joshua Citarella, a researcher of extremist behaviors on the internet, has followed the boogaloo movement, sometimes referred to as Hawaiian shirt nationalism by those in far-right corners of the internet, from its earliest manifestation as a meme on social media. Its earliest expressions, Mr. Citarella said, were mostly about civil libertarianism and drew on internet aesthetics like Vaporwave.

The boogaloo kit post on social media is another recent example of the meme bridging the gap with real life. In late 2018, Mr. Citarella began to notice that users had begun sharing images of their own skins, or outfits, laid out on the ground. They were usually a combination of tactical gear, assault weapons, bottles of liquor and street wear like Supreme hoodies, all tied together in some way by the floral print of the Hawaiian shirt.
On Feb. 3, Lauren Vlach received $8 on Venmo, spread across four $2 payments, from a girl she had never met. Each payment included a block of text; read together, they formed what Cas Stephens, who sent the payments, titled her girlfriend application to Ms. Vlach.

Name: Cas Stephens

Location: Minnesota

One of the pros of dating her: Can do a backflip on a snowboard.

One of the cons: Have not seen any Disney movies.

Though she pursued her on Venmo, Ms. Stephens, 20, found Ms. Vlach, 22, on TikTok, where her videos were racking up thousands of views. Ms. Stephens, on the other hand, didnt have a profile picture yet. She figured it would be easier to get Ms. Vlachs attention elsewhere, and seized on the Venmo handle listed in her bio.

Her application was accepted, and they went on their first date that night, to watch the sun rise at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. They have been documenting their relationship on TikTok ever since.
The connective thread running through the journalist and documentarian David Frances work may be queer activism, and yet he doesnt see himself as an activist. I didnt have what it took to be a leader through difficult times, to find answers and bring people along with me, he told me earlier this month during a call from his apartment in New Yorks East Village. That was not my skill set.

His strength, it turned out, was as an observer, someone who functioned as a megaphone for those on the front line. France chronicled ACT UP and other groups that demanded more expansive medical research during the escalating AIDS crisis of the 80s and 90s, first for alternative queer publications and later for mainstream ones including Newsweek and New York magazine, before moving into filmmaking in 2012 with How to Survive a Plague, his account, told using archival footage, of the protest-led battle against H.I.V. Ive always been interested in studying the people who are able to step up and launch transformative activism from the outside, he says.

His latest film, Welcome to Chechnya, premiering June 30 on HBO, builds on this theme. It follows an underground group of activists who risk their lives to provide sanctuary and safe passage for L.G.B.T.Q. citizens of the Russian republic, where gay people are routinely tortured and killed as part of a campaign to supposedly cleanse the nations bloodline  violence that the government has largely shrugged off. Its the conclusion to what France considers his trilogy, starting with How to Survive a Plague, which was nominated for the Academy Award for best documentary, and his 2017 film The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, about the mysterious passing of the prominent black trans activist.
The New York Times said on Monday that it was exiting its partnership with Apple News, as news organizations struggle to compete with large tech companies for readers attention and dollars.

Starting on Monday, Times articles were no longer appearing alongside those from other publications in the curated Apple News feed available on Apple devices.

The Times is one of the first media organizations to pull out of Apple News. The Times, which has made adding new subscribers a key business goal, said Apple had given it little in the way of direct relationships with readers and little control over the business. It said it hoped to instead drive readers directly to its own website and mobile app so that it could fund quality journalism.

Core to a healthy model between The Times and the platforms is a direct path for sending those readers back into our environments, where we control the presentation of our report, the relationships with our readers and the nature of our business rules, Meredith Kopit Levien, chief operating officer, wrote in a memo to employees. Our relationship with Apple News does not fit within these parameters.
The rain that arrived in Brooklyn by the bucketful in the middle of Act II of Tartuffe on Saturday would normally have stopped the show.

But now isnt normal for the young theater company Moliere in the Park, whose name and mission promise outdoor performance. Originally planned, pre-pandemic, as an in-person, open-air staging at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Brooklyns Prospect Park, the production took place online instead, where weather doesnt matter and no one gets wet.

That might not have mattered if it werent so good, but this is an implicitly political Tartuffe, full of delight for our undelightful time. Under the swift, clear direction of Lucie Tiberghien, and starring Raul Esparza as the title con man and Samira Wiley as his mark, it reminds us that hypocrisy is nothing new and that the hope of overcoming it is still alive today.

That was partly the message of the technical workaround, which turned disadvantages of the format  the lack of intimacy, the unreal space, the inevitable glitches  into advantages of access. Many more people could watch, for one thing, and could see the actors more closely than usual even if the actors could not see back.
At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with travel restrictions in place worldwide, we launched a new series  The World Through a Lens  in which photojournalists help transport you, virtually, to some of our planets most beautiful and intriguing places. This week, Benjamin Lowy shares a collection of photos from an underwater shoot off the coast of Baja.

Nestled off the coast of Baja California Sur, near La Paz, lies a string of islands in the Sea of Cortez  including Isla Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida. Part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and one of Mexicos leading eco-tourism destinations, these islands, along with their surrounding reefs and outcrops, are home to countless forms of marine life.
That has long prompted complaints from Republicans and business groups that the bureau, which was set up to ensure that consumers were not taken advantage of by credit card companies, debt collectors and other financial firms, enjoyed unchecked power. In her dissent, Justice Kagan wrote that this structure was laudable.

In the midst of the Great Recession, Congress and the president came together to create an agency with an important mission, she wrote. It would protect consumers from the reckless financial practices that had caused the then-ongoing economic collapse. Not only Congress but also the president thought that the new agency, to fulfill its mandate, needed a measure of independence.

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor joined Justice Kagans dissent.

Since taking office, President Trump has targeted the agency, appointing Mick Mulvaney, a longtime critic of the bureau, as interim director after the agencys original director, Richard Cordray, resigned in late 2017. Mr. Mulvaney, who was also the budget director, saw it as an opportunity to dismantle an agency vilified by Republicans since its inception as an example of government overreach.

The case before the court, Seila Law v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, No. 19-7, was brought by a law firm that objected to an investigation of aspects of its debt relief services. The firm challenged the bureaus power to conduct the investigation, saying its director was unconstitutionally insulated from presidential control.

I think people who brought the challenges to the agency, some of them were really seeking to damage the agency, Mr. Cordray said in an interview. Its really avoided being deeply damaged by this decision.

Mr. Cordray also noted that removing the uncertainty over whether the bureau was constitutional should be helpful in strengthening its enforcement powers because the question was sometimes raised in legal challenges to its actions.

Business groups, which shared that view, challenged the laws limit on presidential power in court, saying that it violated the separation of powers. The Trump administration agreed with the challengers. The bureau once took the opposite position but changed its stance last year, agreeing that its director could be fired at will.
Speaking to reporters later outside the court, Selwyn Jones, 54, Mr. Floyds uncle, said: I know how the system works. Ive seen the system my whole life  a black man getting shaded, slighted. When I walk into a courthouse and I see like 15 white people, Im like, Oh hell, were going through this again. So, well see how the process ends up.

He added: Im not mad at anyone. We just need to fix the system. Racism must go.

On Friday, Judge Cahill had banned video and audio coverage of the proceedings, worried it could taint the pool of potential jurors. But at Mondays hearing, he said the court was studying how to allow cameras to film the upcoming trial.

Lawyers for the officers had filed a motion asking the judge to allow video coverage, arguing that doing so would provide greater public access to the proceedings in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Several news organizations, including The New York Times, had also filed motions for video and audio access to the court.

The arguments over allowing cameras in the courtroom, even as the video of Mr. Floyds killing is in wide circulation, underscored what is likely to be one of the most vexing and contested issues as the case inches toward trial: how to seat an impartial jury.

But that remains far off. The judge set the next hearing in the case for Sept. 11, and a trial date of March 8. In the coming months, the court will decide whether to hold four separate trials, or if the four former officers will be tried together.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Monday let stand an appeals court ruling allowing the Trump administration to resume executions in federal death penalty cases after a 17-year hiatus. The courts order cleared the way for the executions of four men in the coming months.

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor said they would have heard the case.

Attorney General William P. Barr announced last summer that the federal government would end what had amounted to a moratorium on capital punishment. There are more than 60 prisoners on death row in federal prisons.

Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, of the Federal District Court in Washington, blocked the executions in November, saying the protocol the government planned to use did not comply with the Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994, which requires executions to be carried out in the manner prescribed by the law of the state in which the sentence is imposed.

The central legal question in the case is whether the word manner in the 1994 law refers to the methods of execution authorized by the relevant states (like hanging, firing squad or lethal injection) or the protocols the states require (like the particular chemicals used in lethal injections, whether a doctor must be present or how a catheter is to be inserted).
But as the technique has become increasingly commonplace, genealogists, legal scholars and some legislators have voiced concerns that this revolutionary approach is violating the privacy of the people who join DNA databases to learn about themselves  not to help the police arrest their relatives for violent crimes. The fact that the approach remains largely unregulated, even as law enforcement has begun applying the technique to increasingly minor crimes  such a burglary  has only fueled criticism.

District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert of Sacramento County, who played a key role in encouraging the use of genetic genealogy in this case, said Mondays developments reinforce why it was merited. This has been a long journey for justice for countless victims and their families, she said. The facts revealed today demonstrate that Joseph DeAngelo is a sociopath, master manipulator and a sadistic serial killer.

But Elizabeth Joh, a law professor at the University of California, Davis, said the horrifying nature of his crimes should not obscure the need for more thorough regulation of the technique. The resolution of the Golden State Killer case should be lauded for bringing closure to these investigations, but the means by which DeAngelo was identified remains troubling, she said.

The crimes associated with the man who would become known as the Golden State Killer began in the mid-1970s, and by 1977, after a series of horrifying rapes of women in their homes in Sacramento County, he was nicknamed the East Area Rapist. The community held packed public forums to discuss the cases that seemed to be occurring once every month.

The fear in the community was like something I had never seen before, Carol Daly, a former Sacramento sheriffs detective, told The New York Times in 2018, after Mr. DeAngelo was arrested. People were afraid wherever they went.

Mr. DeAngelo, working as a police officer at the time, soon moved from rape to murder, killing a married couple, Brian and Katie Maggiore, while they were walking their dog in the city of Rancho Cordova in 1978.

But in 1986, the crime wave suddenly stopped, leading to decades of speculation. Had the killer died? Had he moved to another state? It turns out, he settled into a quiet life in the Sacramento suburbs  working at a Save Mart grocery store in Roseville  where he was eventually captured in 2018.
michael barbaro

From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily.

[music]

Today: The Supreme Court issues its first major ruling on abortion since President Trump appointed a conservative majority. Adam Liptak on what the decision tells us about the court and its chief justice. Its Tuesday, June 30.

adam liptak

Im starting a recording.

michael barbaro

Oh, gorgeous. Thank you for doing that. We were all just joking if its a Monday in June, its Adam Liptak time.

adam liptak

Yeah. Once in a while, the spotlight swings my way.

michael barbaro

A lot of the time, in June, every year. So Adam, tell us about this latest Supreme Court ruling on Monday.

adam liptak

We got a big abortion case and a somewhat surprising abortion case. The court struck down a Louisiana abortion restriction law that would have made it much harder for women in that state to get abortions. And the particular law at issue was about admitting privileges  about whether doctors who provide abortions have to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

michael barbaro

Right. And Adam, we have talked about admitting privileges for doctors who performed abortions in the past. But as a reminder, what is the idea behind them?

adam liptak

Its a kind of business relationship between a doctor and a hospital. It allows doctors to admit and care for their patients at given hospitals. Supporters of admitting privileges laws say that its a kind of credentialing function, that you are likely to be a slightly better doctor if a nearby hospital kind of vouches for you by giving you admitting privileges. Opponents of admitting privileges laws say theyre a bit of a scam, that abortion is very safe. If you do have to go to a hospital, they say youre going to be admitted, whether you have a doctor with admitting privileges or not.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm. So the Supreme Court on Monday sided with skeptics of this law who saw it as what you just described, as a kind of fake  something that, in practical terms, was a way to restrict abortion, not make abortion safer by giving the doctors who perform it a formal relationship to a hospital.

adam liptak

Yeah, the court basically says it doesnt provide any benefits. And it imposes enormous costs on the ability of women to have access to their constitutional right to abortion.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm. You know, on the surface, Adam, this case doesnt seem all that legally complicated, if I know my Supreme Court history well from talking to you for now three years. Which is that time and time again, the Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot place an undue burden on a womans right to have an abortion. And a law like this in Louisiana would seem to place a significant burden on a womans ability to have an abortion.

adam liptak

Well, theres a good reason to think that, Michael. Because the Supreme Court in 2016, in a case involving the identical law but in Texas, said exactly that  said that that Texas law did impose an undue burden, and it struck down the law. Two things made opponents of abortion hopeful that the court would come to a different conclusion just four years later. President Trump has appointed a couple of justices. And President Trump has said hes committing to appointing justices who will do away with abortion rights and overrule Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that established the constitutional right to abortion. And we also knew that Chief Justice Roberts, in the Texas case, had dissented. He was prepared to uphold this very same law in the Texas setting. So the surprise on Monday was that the chief justice, as it were, switched sides. Thats a bit of an overstatement. But he said, listen, we have a precedent. The rule of law requires us to uphold precedent, except for very good reasons. And here, even though Id gone the other way in 2016, Im going to live with that precedent today and vote with the four more liberal members of the court to strike down the Louisiana law.

michael barbaro

So Chief Justice Roberts is saying, even though I didnt agree with a very similar case a few years ago, I am bound by the precedent that that ruling I disagree with created for the Louisiana law.

adam liptak

Exactly right. So heres what the chief justice said: I joined the dissent in the Texas case, and continue to believe the case was wrongly decided. The question today, however, is not whether that Texas case was right or wrong, but whether to adhere to it in deciding the present case.

michael barbaro

Hm. So theres something a little bit grudging about this.

adam liptak

Yeah, I suppose grudging is one word for it. Another is principled. You know, this is a chief justice whos deeply concerned about the institutional integrity of the Supreme Court, doesnt want to have it seen as a political body that changes positions depending on changes in personnel. So it may well be that he wasnt happy to find himself in this position. But at the same time, he might have been sending an important message about the court.

michael barbaro

But of course, not every justice voted that way. So Adam, help me understand the thinking of the conservative justices who dissented in this case and disagreed with Roberts that the Texas case created a binding precedent that should be applied to the Louisiana law.

adam liptak

Yeah, so everybody agrees, everybody on both sides agrees that this is the same law. It has the same words. But the dissenters say Louisiana is different from Texas. The evidence in the case was different. The nature of the state is different. And so Justice Samuel Alito, serving the evidence in the Louisiana case, says, at least in that case, quote, There is ample evidence in the record showing that admitting privileges helped to protect the health of women by ensuring that physicians who perform abortions meet higher standards of competence than is shown by the mere possession of a license to practice. So Alito is saying that in Louisiana, this makes a difference. And the evidence in the record, he says, shows that it makes a difference.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm. I mean, does that represent a disregard for precedent in your mind? Because I remember the hearings for almost each and every one of these conservative justices. And they were all asked over the past decade or so about the role of precedent. And Im thinking back in particular to two of the conservative justices who dissented in this case  Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh. And both of them were specifically asked by Senate Democrats during confirmation hearings about the role of precedent when it came to abortion. And here they seem to be saying that the precedent doesnt apply.

adam liptak

Yeah, so I guess I want to stop at the very beginning of that analysis, Michael. I dont think theyre quite saying that. I mean, I think thats the music of the decision. But really, what theyre saying is we can live with the precedent, but were good lawyers. And well distinguish that precedent. And when we apply it to a different set of facts in a different state, were going to come to a different conclusion.

michael barbaro

Got it. Im curious what the practical implications of this ruling are on the ground, pretty much across the country, now the court has ruled that the Louisiana law is unconstitutional.

adam liptak

It would seem to rule out this particular kind of abortion restriction. Now that Texas has lost and Louisiana has lost, were not going to see states enacting admitting privileges restrictions, although creative opponents of abortion rights will find other ways to try to restrict the procedure.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm. But this particular brand of restriction is now probably going to go away.

adam liptak

You would think so.

michael barbaro

And what about in Louisiana, where this case originated?

adam liptak

Well, what would have been really striking in Louisiana is what would have happened if the case went the other way. Louisiana currently has three abortion clinics. That would have gone to one. And it currently has about five doctors who are willing to provide abortion. And that also would apparently have gone to one. So it would have required every woman in the state to travel to New Orleans to get abortions. And its not clear that that clinic would have had the capacity to serve those women, even if they could make what, in some instances, would be a very long drive  five hours each way  and do it twice. Because Louisiana also has a law requiring a waiting period between the initial consultation and the procedure itself.

[music]

So I mean, we start with this law that sounds kind of basic, standard, unexceptional. The doctors should have admitting privileges. But it turns out that when you drill down, its a vastly consequential restriction on abortion rights.

michael barbaro

Well be right back. Adam, we are now well into a series of very consequential rulings in a term that you have described as the most consequential since a conservative majority arrived on the court under President Trump. So how does this abortion ruling fit into the emerging picture we have of this conservative majority court?

adam liptak

Well, we have a conservative majority court  and youre quite right to say thats what it is  delivering in the space of two weeks three big liberal victories: on job protections for L.G.B.T.Q. workers, on protection from deportation for young immigrants known as Dreamers, and now this abortion case. So we have a court that is full of surprises.

michael barbaro

Right. And in each case, it was a member of the conservative majority that proved decisive.

adam liptak

Right. Well, it sort of cant be otherwise. Because its a 5-4 court with the four liberals in the minority. So they have to pick up at least one conservative justice to prevail. So in the employment discrimination case, they picked up not only the chief justice, but also Justice Gorsuch  one of the Trump appointees  who actually wrote the majority decision. In the Dreamers case, the DACA case, they picked up Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote the majority opinion. And now in the abortion case, they again picked up Chief Justice John Roberts, who voted with the majority but didnt join its reasoning.

michael barbaro

Im curious why this keeps happening  that the liberal wing of the court keeps picking up these conservative justices. And the reason I ask this is because we have talked so many times with you, Adam, and with our colleagues about the intense vetting process that has led to conservative justices making it into the pipeline for the Supreme Court, getting picked and then confirmed. And my sense is that the conservative legal apparatus is extremely careful about this vetting process. And it expects these judges  and tell me if Im oversimplifying  to vote consistently and conservatively. And yet.

adam liptak

So youre right, Michael. Its extraordinary. The conservative legal movement has put so much energy into identifying people they can count on, who will vote the way they want. And the vetting process is intense. And the reason the confirmation battles are so heated is because people on both sides are convinced that once one of these people gets on the court, they will vote in a right-wing direction. But it turns out that if you put a serious judge on the Supreme Court and give him or her life tenure, they are going to follow their judicial commitments, sometimes in directions that arent political, but are legal. And so in these three cases, theyre all different, but they all conform to jurisprudential commitments of the justices who voted that way. So in the employment discrimination case, Justice Gorsuch thinks the law simply means what it says. And he couldnt get away from that. And thats a conservative idea. In the DACA case, Chief Justice Roberts thought the Trump administration simply hadnt offered an adequate reason for winding down the program. Thats also a conservative idea. And then in this latest case, the abortion case, Chief Justice Roberts said, listen, we have a precedent on point. Were supposed to follow precedent. Thats basically a conservative idea. So depending on how you think about these cases, they may be politically liberal, but in an important sense, judicially conservative.

michael barbaro

I have to imagine that the greatest disappointment for this right-wing legal apparatus that you described is with Justice Roberts. Because he has been the most consistent swing vote to swing over to the liberals. And I hear you just saying that hes coming up with a conservative legal rationale in each decision. But I have to imagine this pattern is complicating his reputation with the people who supported his nomination.

adam liptak

Oh, thats way an understatement.

archived recording (tom cotton) Chief Justice Roberts consistently seems more concerned about the reputation of the court and his reputation among Democrats and the media than the rule of law.

adam liptak

The right-wing  the conservative legal movement, Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Tom Cotton  are furious with John Roberts.

archived recording (tom cotton) I would recommend that he resign and travel to Iowa for the caucuses and see if he can earn the votes of his fellow Americans.

adam liptak

I mean, maybe they could forgive him his two votes for upholding the Affordable Care Act. Maybe they could forgive him in the census case for not letting the Trump administration add a question on citizenship.

archived recording (ted cruz) Judging is not a game. But sadly, over recent years, more and more Chief Justice Roberts has been playing games.

adam liptak

But to come to three liberal conclusions in the space of two weeks, in three different blockbuster cases, is a bitter, bitter pill for them to swallow.

michael barbaro

Mm. And theyre saying so.

adam liptak

Sure. But heres the thing, Michael. Roberts, in moving to the center of the court, has become the most powerful chief justice since at least 1937.

michael barbaro

Wow.

adam liptak

The idea of both being the chief justice and the swing justice, as it were, is almost unheard of. But what you have in Chief Justice Roberts is someone whos been in the majority 98 percent of the time so far this term.

michael barbaro

Wow.

adam liptak

And hes been in the majority in every 5-4 decision so far, which looks like it will set a record for a chief justice if it lasts through the end of the term.

michael barbaro

Hm. So perhaps he has alienated the right, but he has amassed a tremendous amount of influence as a justice on this court.

adam liptak

Yes. I mean, people talk about the Roberts court because you always talk about the court by the name of the chief justice. But this is really the Roberts court in a second sense, too, that John Roberts is driving this train.

michael barbaro

You established a narrative for us about a year ago, Adam, around this question of John Roberts. And you accurately predicted he might end up being a swing vote on a question like abortion. And when we have talked about him, you said that he prizes the reputation of the Supreme Court as a nonpartisan institution, and that he might prize that reputation above his own, kind of the most natural, legal instincts. Is that what you think may be at play here? Or is it possible that we just didnt quite understand his legal instincts the entire time?

adam liptak

I think a large part of what explains this is what John Roberts goes around saying all the time and nobody takes seriously.

archived recording (chief justice john g. roberts jr.) [APPLAUSE] Thank you very much. Thank you.

adam liptak

That the court is not a political institution 

archived recording (chief justice john g. roberts jr.) We do not speak for the people. But we speak for the Constitution. Our role is very clear.

adam liptak

And I think hes demonstrating that commitment  that these are not sort of empty civics lesson statements that he makes in his public comments, but that he is authentically committed to them.

archived recording (chief justice john g. roberts jr.) We do not sit on opposite sides of an aisle. We do not caucus in separate rooms. We do not serve one party or one interest. We serve one nation. And I want to assure all of you that we will continue to do that to the best of our abilities, whether times are calm or contentious. Thanks very much. [APPLAUSE]

adam liptak

I think he earnestly believes in the legal conclusions hes drawn. But at least incidentally, it helps maintain the institutional prestige, authority, legitimacy of the Supreme Court if it doesnt break along predictable ideological lines.

michael barbaro

Mm-hmm. So in a way, hes being the change he wants to see, which does fit with who he is, but may also stretch who he is.

adam liptak

Yeah, OK.

michael barbaro

[LAUGHS] Adam, it feels like from everything youre saying about Chief Justice John Roberts that we may be getting an answer to the biggest question of all, about how he may rule, which is on any kind of challenge to Roe v. Wade. Because the rulings of the past couple weeks, and especially the ruling on the Louisiana law, suggest that he favors precedent, does not want to polarize the country. And collectively, that would all suggest  tell me if Im wrong here  that he would be inclined to support the precedent that is Roe v. Wade if it is challenged.

adam liptak

Well, so I think we have some substantial evidence for that proposition in todays ruling. He took precedent very seriously in an abortion case. But its not as though John Roberts has never voted to overrule precedent. He voted to overrule precedent in Citizens United and in other cases. And he set out a fairly elaborate set of principles for when precedents can be overruled. And its not clear to me that just because he thought this one precedent, which is trivial in comparison to the abortion rights itself in Roe, will give you the answer of how we will treat Roe. So I wouldnt count any chickens here. But there is more evidence Monday than there was last week that the chief justice takes precedent quite seriously.

[music]

michael barbaro

Well, Adam, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

adam liptak

Yes, thank you.

michael barbaro

On Monday evening, both the White House and President Trumps campaign issued statements denouncing the Supreme Courts ruling on abortion. Without naming him, the statement from the campaign appeared to criticize Chief Justice Roberts, saying, quote, Five unelected Supreme Court justices decided to insert their political agenda in place of democratically determined policies. Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today. Global deaths from the coronavirus have now surpassed 500,000, prompting a new wave of restrictions. China imposed a strict lockdown on nearly half a million people in a county south of Beijing in an effort to contain an outbreak there that is challenging the countrys claim to have beaten back the virus. In the U.S., several states moved to delay reopenings.

archived recording (phil murphy) We must hit pause on the resumption of indoor dining.

michael barbaro

In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy scrapped a plan to open restaurants for limited indoor dining later this week, saying it posed too great a risk.

archived recording (phil murphy) Given the current situation in numerous other states, we do not believe it is prudent at this time to push forward with what is, in effect, a sedentary indoor activity, especially when we know that this virus moves differently indoors than out, making it even more deadly.

michael barbaro

And The Times reports that intelligence officials gave President Trump a written briefing months ago, laying out their conclusion that Russia offered and paid out bounties to militants in Afghanistan to kill U.S. and coalition troops there. So far, Trump has denied ever being briefed on the Russian bounties. But the intelligence has provoked a furor, because the Russian bounties may be linked to the death of three U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, and because the White House has not authorized any response.

[music]
Ms. Collins, Mr. Gardner and Mr. Tillis are seen as three of the most vulnerable Republicans in the Senate. And Ms. Ernsts and Mr. Grahams seats, while nowhere near as competitive, have become more so than they were a few months ago as President Trumps popularity has eroded.

High-profile Democratic lawmakers like Senators Kamala Harris of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York were quick to applaud the decision on Monday as a victory for reproductive rights. But in a sign of what is at stake in November, Democratic officials and Senate candidates like Ms. Gideon also moved swiftly to condemn their Republican opponents, and to emphasize that if Mr. Trump gets another Supreme Court pick, the next ruling could go the other way.

Republican leaders will continue to go after the rights of women and anyone seeking reproductive care to make decisions about their own bodies, their own families and their own futures, top Democratic National Committee members said in a joint statement. Democrats are doing everything in our power to flip the Senate, defeat Donald Trump, and make sure Roe remains the law of the land.

Nearly all sitting Republican senators voted to confirm Justice Kavanaugh, including those in competitive races this year. Senator Martha McSally of Arizona, a Republican who is in a tough battle against Mark Kelly, a Democrat, had not been appointed to her Senate seat at the time of the October 2018 vote, but indicated that she would have voted in favor.

A spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee said the party values the life and health of both the mother and the unborn baby and sought to use conservative anger over the ruling to drive turnout in the fall.

Its unfortunate to see the Supreme Court trample on the prerogatives of states with this decision, the spokeswoman, Mandi Merritt, said in a statement. Its cases like this which serve as a reminder to why President Trump must be re-elected so he can appoint more conservative judges who wont legislate from the bench.

The Louisiana law at issue requires doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at hospitals, and Republican lawmakers argued on Twitter that the court had struck down legislation that fundamentally protects women. Supporters of abortion rights argue, and the Supreme Courts majority opinion agreed, that requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges does not make women safer.
WASHINGTON  House Democrats, moving to sharpen the distinction between themselves and Republicans as the coronavirus pandemic rages, passed legislation on Monday that would ensure that Americans paid no more than 8.5 percent of their income for health insurance and would allow the government to negotiate prices with drug makers.

The House passed the bill, voting almost entirely along party lines, 234 to 179, just hours after the Trump administration announced it had secured 500,000 treatment courses of a newly approved drug to treat Covid-19, remdesivir, but at a price. The drugs maker, Gilead Sciences, will charge at least $2,340 per course, after weeks of donating the drug to hospitals with severely ill patients.

At the White House, President Trumps press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, defended the arrangement, saying that because remdesivir is an inpatient drug given by infusion, patients are highly unlikely to have to pay for it and hospitals have to eat the cost of treatment use.

But the House legislation and the remdesivir announcement once again put a spotlight on the cost of health care as a political and economic issue. While the House bill has no chance of passing the Republican-led Senate, Democrats  who reclaimed the House majority in 2018 on a promise to lower health costs and expand access  intend to use it to reprise that playbook in November.
American intelligence officers and Special Operations forces in Afghanistan began raising alarms as early as January, and the National Security Council convened an interagency meeting to discuss the problem and what to do about it in late March, The New York Times has previously reported. But despite being presented with options, including a diplomatic protest and sanctions, the White House authorized no response.

The administrations explanations on Monday, in public and in private, appeared to be an attempt to placate lawmakers, particularly Mr. Trumps fellow Republicans, alarmed by news reports in recent days revealing the existence of the intelligence assessment and Mr. Trumps insistence he had not been warned of the suspected Russian plot.

The assessments pointing to a Russian scheme to offer bounties to Taliban-linked militants and criminals were based on information collected in raids and interrogations on the ground in Afghanistan, where American military commanders came to believe Russia was behind the plot, as well as more sensitive and unspecified intelligence that came in over time, an American official said.

Officials said there was disagreement among intelligence officials about the strength of the evidence about the suspected Russian plot and the evidence linking the attack on the Marines to the suspected Russian plot, but they did not detail those disputes.

Notably, the National Security Agency, which specializes in hacking and electronic surveillance, has been more skeptical about interrogations and other human intelligence, officials said.

Typically, the president is formally briefed when the information has been vetted and seen as sufficiently credible and important by the intelligence professionals. Such information would most likely be included in the Presidents Daily Brief.

Former officials said that in previous administrations, accusations of such profound importance  even if the evidence was not fully established  were conveyed to the president. We had two threshold questions: Does the president need to know this? and Why does he need to know it now? said Robert Cardillo, a former senior intelligence official who briefed President Barack Obama from 2010 to 2014.
Right now, Trumps coalition needs motivation, he said. The economy and the pandemic have sucked the enthusiasm away. At least 50 percent of America has deep and serious policy concerns with Biden and the Democrats. A choice election between two policy directions is the motivation that Trumps coalition needs, and it is why Biden is trying to be vanilla.

Swing voters have been the subject of varying interest by presidential campaigns for nearly half a century. As the nation grew increasingly polarized, their numbers diminished, and some analysts began to suggest that the era of the swing voter had passed, particularly as Mr. Trump appeared to ignore them.

But his difficulties now leave little doubt that there are indeed still many voters up for grabs, and that the entire nation is not locked in red or blue corners. Mr. Trump won Wisconsin narrowly in 2016, but now trails Mr. Biden there by 11 points, according to the Times poll. Overall, analysts estimate swing voters make up between 10 and 15 of the electorate nationally.

If you want to win, you have to get a significant percentage of the swing voters, said William G. Mayer, a professor of political science at Northeastern University who has written extensively about swing voters. I know Republicans who think that Trump is somehow incredibly savvy politically and knows just what hes doing. I strongly disagree. I think hes needlessly alienating a whole lot of people who might otherwise be inclined to vote for him.

The Times poll found that undecided voters do not trust Mr. Trump to provide accurate information about the pandemic, and think he uses the presidential podium to promote falsehoods.

And in a finding that pollsters tend to watch closely (sometimes wisely, but sometimes not) for an indication of where a still far-off election might go, they believe the country is heading in the wrong direction.

As Mr. Trump has hewed to the right, Mr. Biden has shifted left, embracing, for example, the bankruptcy bill supported by Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who he defeated in the primary, and student loan forgiveness. But those positions, which once might have been ideological outliers, do not necessarily put Mr. Biden out of step with public opinion.
WASHINGTON  President Trump retweeted a video on Monday morning of a white man and woman brandishing a semiautomatic rifle and a handgun at peaceful black protesters in St. Louis over the weekend, amplifying a surreal scene that embodied the racial divisions roiling the country.

Mr. Trumps promotion of the St. Louis confrontation was the second time in two days that the president used his social media platforms  which he often credits with allowing him to circumvent mainstream news outlets  to exacerbate racial divisions as Americans have been protesting police brutality and demanding social justice reforms after the killing of George Floyd.

On Sunday, Mr. Trump retweeted a video of one of his supporters at a retirement community in Florida yelling White power! during what appeared to be an angry clash over the president and race among white residents in the community. He deleted the tweet about three hours after posting it, and a White House spokesman said Mr. Trump had not heard the man make the white power statement. Still, no one in the White House, including the president himself, condemned the sentiment.
Carrington recommends a tight cap on dollar amounts. If you get a call that so-and-so cant make rent this month, and you have $35,000 in emergency funds and the rent is $2,000, you could draw a red line where you say, I cant get below $25,000 in emergency funds, so I can afford to help you another four months if you need it, but thats as far as I can go, he said. If you have that kind of conversation, youre not in the position where you get a call one day and you have to abruptly say, I cant help anymore.
When doctors began to recognize a serious inflammatory syndrome affecting children, apparently related in some way to Covid-19 infections, it was scary news for parents and pediatricians alike. Everyone had taken some comfort in the idea that this terrible and terrifying pandemic was in large part sparing the young.

Nobody could tell how common this new syndrome would turn out to be, and people worried that the surges of coronavirus infections and deaths among adults might be trailed by increasing numbers of children who had perhaps had mild or asymptomatic infections, but would later develop this mysterious illness.

Now, nearly two months after the first cases were reported, doctors can reassure parents that the syndrome remains rare, while continuing to urge vigilance. We do need to identify these rare children, because while they may start out with very common symptoms, they can become very sick  and also because we have therapies which seem to be working  which is the other cautiously positive news.

In the United States, we call the new pediatric inflammatory syndrome related to Covid-19 infection MIS-C, for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, while in Britain, its called PIMS-TS, for pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome, temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2. The hallmarks of the syndrome include prolonged fever, without any clear cause, and a variety of symptoms of inflammation, including rash. Laboratory tests show marked inflammation.
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan  At least 20 civilians were killed and dozens of others wounded when mortar rounds struck a crowded livestock market in southern Afghanistan on Monday, with the government and the Taliban pointing blame at each other.

Residents in the district of Sangin, in Helmand Province, where the livestock market is held in a Taliban-controlled area, said that three mortar rounds struck just as the bazaar was buzzing with a crowd of nearly 500 people and hundreds of animals. Several local elders said that the mortars had been fired by the Second Brigade of the Afghan Army, which has a base in the southwest of the district.

Human and animal flesh was mixed, said Saifullah Khan, who was at the market. Twenty-five people were killed on the spot, 10 others died of their wounds later.

Mr. Khan said that although the Taliban had fired rockets at the army base the day before, Monday morning had been quiet and there had been no fighting before the bazaar had started.
She didnt even cut the umbilical chord, my mother did it herself, said Lima, now a doctoral student in the United States who could not make it in time for her sisters burial because of coronavirus travel restrictions. We always teased her  that the doctor ran away when you were just half born.

Though the family was dislodged several times, Fatima excelled in school. She started her education at a refugee school in Pakistan founded by a Saudi charity. After the family returned to Afghanistan, she graduated high school in Kabul at a competitive Turkish international school, which she had attended on a scholarship.

By the time she graduated from the American University of Central Asia, in Kyrgyzstan, with a double major in anthropology and human rights studies, she was fluent in Arabic, Urdu, English, Russian, and the Afghan languages Pashto and Farsi (also known as Dari).

Her friends and relatives called her Natasha, the nickname her mother gave her, and she had hugs and nicknames for everyone. She was self-assured, even blunt, but in heated arguments on politics and ideas, she defused conflict with humor and charm: Easy easy, pull the brakes sister! or Patient, patient, patient!

Her disgust and frustration at womens place in society and politics, and peoples preoccupation with womens looks and dress, are clear in her social media posts.
NEW DELHI  A miles-long cloud of locusts swarmed Indias capital region over the weekend, flying through metro stations and playgrounds, invading sugar cane fields and threatening major losses to the agriculture sector at a time when coronavirus restrictions have already caused the loss of millions of jobs.

Indian officials have struggled for weeks to contain the countrys worst locust invasion in decades, as the insects have moved from western regions to the New Delhi area and farther east to Nepal despite efforts to douse crops with pesticides and kill swarms using drones. More than a half-dozen Indian states have been affected.

In a year punctuated by cyclones, heat waves, surging coronavirus infections and overwhelmed hospitals, scientists warn that the locusts could push agrarian parts of India to the brink of disaster, severely disrupting food supplies and slashing earnings for millions of struggling farmers.

Hari Chand Sharma, a prominent Indian entomologist and agriculture scientist, said the number of locusts in the country could top a trillion if the spread were not checked. He blamed foreign nations for not doing more to stop the insects from traversing large parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East this year.
Cybersecurity analysts have warned in the past about the risks Chinese apps and telecom companies may pose, citing the countrys National Intelligence Law. The law holds Chinese companies legally responsible for providing access, cooperation or support for Chinese intelligence gathering.

The same argument has been at the center of a campaign to persuade Western countries not to allow Chinese companies to build their next-generation 5G wireless networks.

Indias concerns arent overblown, they are valid, said Christopher Ahlberg, the chief executive of Recorded Future, a cybersecurity company in Massachusetts that analyzes and collects threat intelligence.

China would not be above using these apps for large scale data collection, Mr. Ahlberg added. I dont expect that the government is running all these apps, but they may make an agreement with the companies that they have to cooperate once in a while. And its easy under Chinese law to require them to do so.

After a 2017 clash between Indias and Chinas militaries over another border dispute, Indian troops were forced to delete dozens of Chinese apps from their phones over national security concerns. Some of the apps Indian troops were ordered to delete then  such as Weibo, UC Browser and Shareit  are among those that are now banned for the entire country.

Chinese mobile app firms and other tech firms are beholden to the CCP under Chinese law, Brahma Chellaney, a former adviser to Indias National Security Council, tweeted on Monday, referring to the countrys ruling Communist Party. As extensions of the Chinese state, they pose a national security risk.

Mondays move comes shortly after Indias government quietly told two state-run telecommunication firms to stop using Chinese equipment and instead use local providers, according to Reuters. And in April, the government passed legislation requiring government approval for any investments from Chinese entities.
In Florida, where daily case counts soared to new records over the weekend, the city of Jacksonville said Monday that face masks would be required in any indoor public place where social distancing was not possible. The city is scheduled to host the Republican National Convention in August.

Several other cities and counties across the state are also moving to reimpose restrictions in response to the surge, which has followed the reopening of beaches, bars, restaurants and other social activities. South Florida counties closed their beaches for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Gov. Bill Lee of Tennessee signed an executive order on Monday extending his states emergency order and some other pandemic measures until Aug. 29. Tennessee recorded a record number of new cases on Monday.

Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia is expected to extend for another two weeks the states remaining pandemic restrictions, which are set to expire on Wednesday, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

In Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly said she would sign an executive order requiring most residents to wear masks in public beginning July 3.

This is a simple, proactive step we can take to keep Kansans at work, get our kids back to school, and keep ourselves and our neighbors healthy, she said in a statement. Wearing a mask is not only safe  but it is necessary to avoid another shut down.

The governors of New York and New Jersey said on Monday that they were so alarmed by a surge in coronavirus cases in the South and West that they were reconsidering plans to begin allowing indoor dining in restaurants in their own states. Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey said the step, which had been scheduled for Thursday, would be put off indefinitely. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York said officials would make a decision on Wednesday on whether to proceed.
Antonin Levy, a lawyer for Mr. Fillon, told reporters outside the courtroom that the ruling was unfair and that a new trial was all the more necessary because the investigation and prosecution of Mr. Fillon had been carried out in scandalous conditions.

Mr. Fillon was also accused of paying his two eldest children for fictitious work as parliamentary aides when he was a senator and of helping his wife get a no-show job between 2012 and 2013 at a political magazine owned by a wealthy friend, where she did little beyond a handful of short literary reviews. Mr. Fillon and his wife were found guilty on most charges in both cases on Monday.

Reports of Ms. Fillons no-show job first emerged in the satirical newspaper Le Canard Enchaine in late January 2017, a few months before the first round of voting in the presidential election, and they were swiftly followed by an official investigation. The accusations were especially damaging for Mr. Fillon, a stern fiscal and social conservative who ran on an image of probity and austerity, calling for economic sacrifices and vowing to slash thousands of civil service jobs.

Mr. Fillon angrily denied any wrongdoing after the accusations emerged, lashed out against the news media and pressed on as the candidate for the right-wing conservative Republicains party. He had been widely seen as the favorite in the race, ahead of Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate, and Mr. Macron, then a relatively untested outsider.

But his campaign was badly damaged and Mr. Fillon failed to qualify for the second round of the elections, paving the way for Mr. Macron to defeat Ms. Le Pen. Mr. Fillon has since retired from politics and is working at an asset management company.

Mr. Fillons lawyers argued at the trial, held from late February to early March, that while there may have been few written traces of Ms. Fillons activities as a parliamentary aide, she had been her husbands eyes and ears in his home constituency, meeting residents, opening mail and writing reports on local issues. They also argued that the judicial branch had no right to interfere in the way Mr. Fillon, as a member of the legislative branch, had hired his wife.

This is an extremely harsh ruling that was handed down, Pierre Cornut-Gentille, a lawyer for Ms. Fillon, told reporters outside the courtroom. For us this is a breach of the separation of powers.
When a major explosion lit the skies on the edge of Tehran last week, the Iranian government was quick to dismiss the episode as a gas explosion at the Parchin military base, which was once the focus of international nuclear inspectors.

It turned out that was false: Satellite photographs show the explosion happened at a missile production facility not far from Parchin, a base laced with underground tunnels and long suspected to be a major site for Irans growing arsenal.

But beyond Tehrans effort at misdirection  commercial satellite photographs showed the telltale burn marks of the explosion and the location  it is unclear whether the cause was an accident, sabotage or something else.

American and Israeli intelligence officials insist they had nothing to do with it.

But in Iran, where curating conspiracy theories is a national pastime, the sight of a huge explosion in eastern Tehran quickly merged on social media with news of a power outage in Shiraz, nearly 600 miles to the south. Shiraz also has major military facilities, and the explosion and the outage happened within the same hour on Friday.
Iran has issued an arrest warrant for President Trump and 35 other people it says were involved in a drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad this year and has asked for international help in detaining them, according to Iranian news reports.

Tehrans top prosecutor, Ali al-Qasimehr, said in the reports that those sought were involved in directing the assassination of Gen. Qassim Suleimani, who was killed with other Iranian and Iraqi officials at the Baghdad airport on Jan. 3.

The comments came during a meeting with judicial figures, according to the semiofficial ISNA news agency, and Mr. al-Qasimehr added that Iran intended to pursue prosecution of Mr. Trump even after his presidential term ends.

No information was immediately available on the other people sought by Iran, but the ISNA report noted that judicial authorities have ordered arrest warrants for them and a notice of red alert through the international police. It also said that a request for cooperation had been handed over to Interpol, an international police organization that includes both the United States and Iran as members.
Others were, too. In fact, about 100 people waited in line for the casino to open Monday morning, said Kathy McCracken, the propertys executive vice president and general manager. Still, crowds were a little light by midday Monday, not typically a stellar day of the week for a casino, especially on its first day back from a 100-plus day hiatus. While some guests used the casinos online reservation module, many walked right in.
Percentage of properties at risk of flooding during a major storm

Percentage of properties at risk of flooding during a major storm

Percentage of properties at risk of flooding during a major storm

Percentage of properties at risk of flooding during a major storm

Percentage of properties at risk of flooding during a major storm

Percentage of properties at risk of flooding during a major storm

Across much of the United States, the flood risk is far greater than government estimates show, new calculations suggest, exposing millions of people to a hidden threat  and one that will only grow as climate change worsens.

That new calculation, which takes into account sea-level rise, rainfall and flooding along smaller creeks not mapped federally, estimates that 14.6 million properties are at risk from what experts call a 100-year flood, far more than the 8.7 million properties shown on federal government flood maps. A 100-year flood is one with a 1 percent chance of striking in any given year.

The federal governments flood maps guide where and how to build, whether homeowners should buy flood insurance, and how much risk mortgage lenders take on. If the new estimates are broadly accurate, it would mean that homeowners, builders, banks, insurers and government officials nationwide have been making decisions with information that understates their true physical and financial risks.

Numerous cities nationwide  as diverse as Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Buffalo, N.Y., and Chattanooga, Tenn.  show the startling gap in the risks. In Chicago alone, 75,000 properties have a previously undisclosed flood risk. And minority communities often face a bigger share of hidden risk.

Millions of home and property owners have had no way of knowing the significant risk they face, said Matthew Eby, founder and executive director of the First Street Foundation, a group of academics and experts based in New York City who compiled the data, creating a website where people can check their own address.

Explore where First Street found hidden flood risk by county Share of properties with hidden flood risk FEMA shows more risk No data +10% +20 +30 +40 Explore where First Street found hidden flood risk by county Hover Click for more detail about each county Data available only for the contiguous United States. A major storm is defined as one with a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year. | Source: First Street Foundation

Federal flood maps, managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, have long drawn concerns that they underestimate flood risk. Part of the problem is keeping the maps up to date, which is not only costly and labor intensive, but further complicated as climate change has worsened the dangers.

In addition, FEMAs maps arent designed to account for flooding caused by intense rainfall, a growing problem as the atmosphere warms.

When FEMA does issue updated maps, politicians and homeowners often object, hoping to avoid higher federal flood insurance rates. You cant appeal your rate. You can only fight your map, said Roy Wright, who ran the National Flood Insurance Program until 2018. It turns it into house-by-house combat.

Cities with the greatest increase in flood risk in First Streets model City Additional properties at risk Share of properties at risk

(FEMA  First Street) Source: First Street Foundation

The First Street Foundation created its flood model, called Flood Factor, using federal elevation and rainfall data, and coastal flooding estimates from hurricanes. The foundation then checked its results against a national database of flood claims and historic flood paths.

Overall, the results, which cover the contiguous United States  including areas the government hasnt yet mapped for flooding, and places where the federal maps are decades old  show a vast increase in risk compared with official estimates. Many inland areas, including swaths of Appalachia and numerous major cities, saw big jumps.

However, there are exceptions, particularly along the Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast, where the government has more thoroughly studied and planned for floods. There, the federal maps show more buildings at risk than the new model suggests.

First Street said that in some areas, including small municipalities, the model may overestimate flood risk because it doesnt capture every local flood-protection measure, such as pumps or catchment basins.

FEMA said it welcomed First Streets initiative, saying it would complement FEMAs efforts.

We know there is no perfect science to predict flooding, a spokeswoman said. The Flood Factor product may help property owners with the critical decisions they must make and purchase necessary insurance.

Flooding along the Chicago River last month. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times, via Associated Press

Inland Cities Face Hidden Risks

First Streets calculations indicate that many cities have tens of thousands of properties facing risks not shown on government maps. At the top of that list is Chicago.

FEMAs maps show just 0.3 percent of Chicagos more than 600,000 properties inside the 100-year flood zone. But according to First Street, almost 13 percent of city properties face that risk  some 75,000 more than FEMAs maps show.

Officials with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, which oversees stormwater management, said they had not reviewed First Streets work in detail. But they agreed that significant flood damage occurs outside the areas marked by FEMAs flood maps, which are intended to show river-based flooding, rather than flooding caused by heavy rain.

The finding that almost 13 percent of Chicago properties are at risk from rain-based flooding would not surprise me one bit, said Kevin Fitzpatrick, who supervises sewer infrastructure for the water district. He said the citys sewer system is generally intended to withstand rainfall from only a five-year storm, or a storm with 20 percent odds of happening in any given year.

The undisclosed risk isnt always evenly distributed.

One of the Chicago-area ZIP codes with the greatest hidden risk is in Englewood, near the South Side, where almost 95 percent of residents are African-American. According to FEMAs maps, none of the properties there are in the 100-year floodplain. But First Street says the number is almost one-third.

FEMA says 0.3 percent of properties at risk in Chicago First Street says 13 percent of properties at risk in Chicago 5 MILES OHare Airport OHare Airport Lake Michigan Lake Michigan CHICAGO CHICAGO Englewood Englewood FEMA says 0.3 percent of properties at risk in Chicago First Street says 13 percent of properties at risk in Chicago 5 MILES OHare Airport OHare Airport Lake Michigan Lake Michigan CHICAGO CHICAGO Englewood Englewood FEMA says 0.3 percent of properties at risk in Chicago First Street says 13 percent of properties at risk in Chicago 5 MILES Lake Michigan Lake Michigan OHare Airport OHare Airport CHICAGO CHICAGO Englewood Englewood First Street says 13 percent of properties at risk in Chicago FEMA says 0.3 percent of properties at risk in Chicago Lake Michigan Lake Michigan CHICAGO CHICAGO Englewood Englewood 5 MILES First Street says 13 percent of properties at risk in Chicago FEMA says 0.3 percent of properties at risk in Chicago Lake Michigan Lake Michigan CHICAGO CHICAGO Englewood Englewood 5 MILES FEMA says 0.3 percent of properties at risk in Chicago First Street says 13 percent of properties at risk in Chicago 5 MILES OHare Airport OHare Airport Lake Michigan Lake Michigan CHICAGO CHICAGO Englewood Englewood Vulnerability to a storm with a 1 percent chance of occurring in a given year. | Sources: Flood zones from First Street Foundation, building footprints from Microsoft.

That disparity reflects a broader trend.

In more than two-thirds of states, First Street found that areas with more minority residents also had a greater share of unmapped flood risk than the statewide average. Jeremy Porter, First Streets director of research and development, said cities seem to invest more in flood protection in areas with higher incomes and property values.

Heightened flood risk in communities of color doesnt surprise Marcella Bondie Keenan, program director for climate planning at the Center for Neighborhood Technology. Last year her group found that 87 percent of insurance claims for Chicago flood damage between 2007 and 2016 went to people in communities of color. Among the many risks, residents of flood-prone areas often suffer more mold in their homes, which can worsen respiratory conditions, a danger in the current pandemic.

We welcome any attention to the urban flooding issue that doesnt get talked about and is an environmental justice issue, Mx. Bondie Keenan said.

Appalachia also appears to face far greater risk than FEMA maps indicate. In both Chattanooga and Charleston, W.Va, FEMAs maps put well less than 10 percent of properties in the floodplain, while First Street suggests the proportion is one-third or greater. A Chattanooga zoning official said he thought First Streets numbers might be too high. Charleston officials didnt comment.

Flood maps can stir up political fights. For instance, when FEMA proposed updated maps last year for Buffalo, adding properties to the floodplain, residents objected. A member of the Buffalo Common Council, David Franczyk, said the updates would foist unnecessary and unreasonable costs on citizens.

FEMA identifies just 0.4 percent of the citys 93,583 properties as at risk, while First Street says 17.5 percent are at risk  a difference of 16,000 properties. Buffalo suffered heavy flooding in 2014 and again last summer. A city spokesman declined to comment.

On the Coasts: Poor Areas at Risk

Some of the hidden risk is by the shore. In Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a city of almost 200,000 people, FEMA puts about 41 percent of the citys 55,000 properties in the floodplain. But according to First Street, the figure is closer to two-thirds, or about 13,000 more properties.

It seems plausible, said Richard Benton, Fort Lauderdales floodplain manager, when shown First Streets map. He said the maps did accurately show areas that typically flood despite being outside FEMAs flood maps.

FEMA says 41 percent of properties at risk in Fort Lauderdale First Street says 64 percent of properties at risk in Fort Lauderdale 2 MILES FORT LAUDERDALE FORT LAUDERDALE Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean FEMA says 41 percent of properties at risk in Fort Lauderdale First Street says 64 percent of properties at risk in Fort Lauderdale 2 MILES FORT LAUDERDALE FORT LAUDERDALE Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean FEMA says 41 percent of properties at risk in Fort Lauderdale First Street says 64 percent of properties at risk in Fort Lauderdale 2 MILES FORT LAUDERDALE FORT LAUDERDALE Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean FEMA says 41 percent of properties at risk in Fort Lauderdale First Street says 64 percent of properties at risk in Fort Lauderdale 2 MILES FORT LAUDERDALE FORT LAUDERDALE Atlantic Ocean FEMA says 41 percent of properties at risk in Fort Lauderdale First Street says 64 percent of properties at risk in Fort Lauderdale 2 MILES FORT LAUDERDALE FORT LAUDERDALE Atlantic Ocean FEMA says 41 percent of properties at risk in Fort Lauderdale First Street says 64 percent of properties at risk in Fort Lauderdale 2 MILES FORT LAUDERDALE FORT LAUDERDALE Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean Vulnerability to a storm with a 1 percent chance of occurring in a given year. | Sources: Flood zones from First Street Foundation, building footprints from Microsoft.

FEMA is in the process of updating Fort Lauderdale area maps, Mr. Benton said, adding that some neighboring municipalities have told him that they intend to fight the new maps, out of concern that too many people would have to buy flood insurance. He declined to say which ones.

As with Illinois, the unmapped risk in Florida appears to disproportionately affect minority communities.

In one ZIP Code at the western edge of Fort Lauderdale that is 80 percent African-American, First Streets data puts more than 42 percent of properties in the floodplain, while FEMA puts the number at just 6.5 percent.

When Sasha Forbes bought a house nearby in 2016, she checked FEMAs database, which said the home wasnt in a floodplain. But after she moved in, local officials sent her a letter warning that her house was in an area that floods.

There was no knowledge of that when we were purchasing the house, said Ms. Forbes, a member of the Broward County Climate Change Task Force and a policy expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council, where she works with community groups to make development in cities more inclusive.

Ms. Forbes pointed out that black families tend to be more exposed to flooding because their homes are often built on cheaper land in historically segregated areas. Investing in flood protection there would be a good start, she said, adding that the public discussion of climate change should address why minorities are more vulnerable in the first place. We are really silent on the impact of race, Ms. Forbes said.
But they were back at the hotel within the next 20 minutes, when Days Hotel staff called for help after Stokes showed up in the hotel lobby and was disturbing guests. Shirtless and carrying a lighter and bed sheet, Stokes again warned troopers to leave before the real police arrived. He told troopers that he wanted EMS to respond to provide the medical supplies he needed to treat himself, but said hed refuse to go to the hospital.
He turned to me and said I was to be suspended. I was out getting lunch for me and a teacher. I had a study hall after lunch so I could take an extended lunch. I looked at the cop standing next to him, saying how is that fair, they get let go and Im the only one in trouble. He stood silent, didnt answer my question.
An 84-year-old retired farmer from Melbourne, Australia, has been trying to get his own daughter evicted from his apartment for eight years, but despite spending a small fortune on legal fees, he has been unsuccessful.

Peter Grundy, a retired wheat farmer from the Australian state of Victoria, has been trying to sell his apartment so he can move into a retirement home. He isnt entitled to a pension, so in order to secure his place there he needs to pay up front, but in order to do that he has to sell the apartment. The only problem is Peter has been trying to do just that for the last eight years, only his 49-year-old daughter, Katrina, has been doing everything in her power to stop him. Despite his best efforts to get her evicted from his property, including taking her to court, Katrina hasnt budged and legal experts say the pensioner has exhausted all legal options.

Photo: Pixabay

The state of Victoria has no other mechanism available to him [Peter] to get her out  hes followed through on everything he can do, yet she remains, and it seems every day she remains its another day of injustice for him, property lawyer James Lawrence told 9News A Current Affair.

Katrina reportedly says that her parents gifted her the Melbourne apartment eight years ago, a claim that the judge has already dismissed, but that hasnt stopped her from allegedly squatting there against her fathers wishes. She even placed a caveat on the property, which has proven a very clever and efficient way of delaying and eventually canceling any potential transactions.

NSW retiree spends eight years and $70K trying to evict own daughter https://t.co/NUjZbHMbjk  William (Billy) Hunt esq,,On_Da_Ball (@OBallmark2) June 24, 2020

Very clever and very clever in legal terms  and solicitors and the barrister said  she is someone Ive never met the like of  she has an enormous capability to come up with things we never hear of, Peter Grundy said.

The 84-year-old told reporters that he has so far spent around AU$ 70,000 trying to evict his daughter, not to mention the AU$ 200,000 in estimated rent losses he incurred over the last eight years. Since the apartment is technically his property, he has had to pay all the body corporate fees and taxes as well. Katrina claims to have chipped in as well, but failed to provide any proof of that.



Im sure it has taken the bit of youth I had left in me, Peter Grundy said about his longstanding legal battle with his daughter.
Ronn Torossian

For many years now, it seems anytime someone mentions movies that, culturally, havent aged well, sooner or later someone inevitably brings up Disneys 1946 movie, Song of the South, which most people remember mainly for the earworm song, Zip a Dee Doo Dah.

Others, who grew up in more recent decades mainly know Song of the South through its connection with a ride at Disney World, the immensely popular log flume adventure, Splash Mountain, which was built around a motif celebrating Song of the South. For the past few years, the volume on the calls to rebrand, rename or otherwise reimagine Splash Mountain, doing away with the Song of the South decor, has been growing louder. Now, those voices seem to have finally been heard.

Disney recently announced the parks will completely reimagine Splash Mountain, with a new theme based on the 2009 animated film, The Princess and the Frog, a movie known for featuring the first black Disney princess. The idea is to get away from motifs that detractors called stereotypical and offensive in its portrayal of black people as well as the glorification of the antebellum South.

Disney telegraphed this move a bit when the company released the Disney+ streaming service, unlocking the fabled Disney vault but leaving Song of the South in the vault untouched and unreleased on the service. As the parks have been closed due to COVID-19, Disney has been watching whats happening in the culture and, as many other brands have, theyre interpreting current events as a sea change. While Disney has been working on the new ride for some time, the company chose this time to release their plans to the public.

In keeping with that theme and motivation, Disney released a statement saying the new ride theme based on The Princess and the Frog will be inclusive, a ride that all our guests can connect with and be inspired by  The statement went on to say the new motif will, Speak to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year 

According to press releases, the new ride will pick up where the movie leaves off, whisking fans away on a musical adventure with Princess Tiana and her cohort, the horn-playing alligator, Louis. Music will be a key theme, as fans experience Tiana and Louis preparing to play their first Mardi Gras.

The statement described Tiana as a modern, courageous and empowered woman who pursues her dreams and never loses sight of whats really important. This is a message with which, Disney hopes, fans will readily agree.

***

Ronn Torossian is CEO of 5WPR, which was named PR agency of the year by the American Business Awards.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents Los Angeles Police Department officers, has retained public relations and public affairs consulting firm Vectis D.C. to handle police reform legislation, according to lobbying registration documents filed with Congress in June.

The LAPD has been a focus of public scrutiny amid nationwide cries for police reform in the wake of the George Floyd protests. Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti in June announced a proposal to slash the LAPDs annual $1.2 billion budget by up to $150 million. LAPPL director Jamie McBride responded by calling Garcetti clearly unstable, and being more interested in his image and how he's looked upon, as opposed to being a leader in difficult times.

According to a June 25 New York Times analysis of police groups influence in Congress, a half-dozen police organizations in the country have spent a combined $2.9 million lobbying the federal government since 2017.

Vectis is the firm founded by former California Democratic congressman and House majority whip Tony Coelho, along with Ron Packard, a Republican who was chairman of the Appropriations Committee on Energy and Water.

The firm, which maintains offices in Los Angeles and Washington, focuses on privacy/cybersecurity, environmental initiatives, municipal infrastructure/transportation and media relations.

The LAPPL account will be managed by senior partner and managing partner Don Polese, who was formerly Packards district chief of staff.
The Midland Lions Clubs Hooves4Hospice fundraising project passed a major milestone this week when the 300th animal was registered at a farm in the midlands.

The Hooves4Hospice project involves Lions Clubs in the Midlands, the Irish Hospice Foundation and the farming community working together to raise funds to build a 16 beds Level3 Palliative Care Hospice in the Midlands.

The Midlands is currently the only region of Ireland that does not have a Level 3 Hospice.

Launched only last January when well known RTE Ear to the Ground presenter, Ella Mc Sweeney, facilitated a discussion with two of the countrys best known sportsmen, Offaly man Michael Duignan and Dubliner Charlie Redmond, who both lost loved ones, related their different experiences of family hospice care - one who had the experience of Level 3 Hospice care and one who did not.

Chairman of the project, Mr. Pat Lalor, speaking this week, thanked everyone associated with the success of the project in its first five months, particularly the farmers who are taking part in the project.

Given that the Covid - 19 Pandemic hit the country just two weeks after our launch, I think the fact that we have 300 animals signed up to date is an indication of the great support and goodwill there is towards this project. As is the case for everybody, Covid19 interfered somewhat with the progress of the project due to the limitations on meetings with farmers and with the movement of animals.

However, the support from the farming community is all the more significant when we consider that many farmers are currently under financial and weather pressures along with the uncertainty of Brexit on the horizon.

We are actively continuing with the project and everyday we still have farmers contacting us in relation to joining the project.

In addition to the participating farmers, I wish to acknowledge the generous financial contributions we are receiving, on line and by post, from members of the public, which enables us to purchase more animals to place with host farmers.

We now have a great base and contacts built up as we proceed towards our ultimate goal of 500 animals. The success of the project, he said, will potentially benefit every family in the region where specialist end of life care and support is needed.

The project involves farmers being asked to donate a young animal that they or a host farmer will rear for 12 to 24 months.

When that donated animal is sold, the proceeds will go directly into the Midland Hospice Building Fund.

Some farmers will donate and rear their own animal

Others will donate an animal, which will be placed with and reared by a host farmer

The Lions Club will purchase young animals, where necessary, to be placed on host farms.

Members of the public can contribute to the cost of purchasing these animals by making a donation through the website www.h4h.midlandhospice.ie

Tullamore Lions Club will source suitable animals and has set up a special sub-committee, with farmer input, to oversee that part of the project.

It is intended that host farmers will not incur any exceptional costs over and above the cost of accommodating the young animals in their herds.

Animals purchased by Tullamore Lions Club and placed on host farms will remain the property of Tullamore Lions Club.

For further information and to make contact

Mr. Gerry Fagan

Hooves 4 Hospice Office

Bridge Centre,

Tullamore

Ph. 085 877 5477

Email: h4h@midlandhospice.ie

Website: www.h4h@midlandhospice.ie
Newly appointed Minister for Agriculture and Laois-Offaly TD Barry Cowen provided a health update on his brother and former Taoiseach Brian Cowen on Monday morning.

Barry Cowen became the first Cabinet minister from Offaly since Brian on Saturday evening after a landmark coalition deal was agreed between Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party.

Interviewed on RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland show, Barry expressed his pride at becoming a government minister and also gave an update on the health of his brother Brian who suffered a stroke last summer.

He told the nation that "he [Brian] continues to make progress and hes very much involved with me and my career."

"Hes making a steady recovery, thankfully," Barry continued. "He hopes to be home with the rest of us in the coming weeks and months and we look forward to that, he said.

PICTURED: Barry Cowen receives his seal of office as Minister of Agriculture from President Michael D Higgins

Barry will now turn his attention to the agriculture portfolio with the landscape of Brexit set to dominate his role. He will be joined by Senator Pippa Hackett, also from Offaly, as a junior minister in the Department of Agriculture with responsibility for land use and biodiversity.
Laois-Offaly Independent TD Carol Nolan was one of just three TDs to abstain in the vote which saw Micheal Martin elected Taoiseach.

Explaining her decision, the former Sinn Fein TD said she was anxious to see a government formed.

"The reason I abstained on the vote is that while I did not wish to actively oppose the formation of the new government given the majority support it had obtained in Dail Eireann, I could not, and do not, support the Programme for Government in its entirety.

"Since there is no option to support or oppose on a case by case basis re the Programme for Government, I felt it was reasonable to abstain, overall, on that particular vote.

"I want to stress that I am an Independent, unaligned TD who will be constructive in opposition, and who will support policies that are good for the country and the Midlands region in particular. That being said, I will oppose regressive policies.

"I have profound concerns about the Green Partys radical and sweeping policies and the detrimental impact these policies will have on agriculture, rural Ireland in general and the escalation of job losses at Bord na Mona and within the wider horticultural sector," she said.
Olean, NY (14760)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 81F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. Low near 50F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
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The Shangge village tunnel, the last section of the Yinchuan-Xian high-speed railway, was excavated on June 27, marking the completion of the main part of the railway.

An aerial photo shows the entrance of the Shangge village tunnel. (Photo/cyol.com)

The 6.78 km tunnel runs through Dongzhiyuan, the worlds largest loess tableland several hundred meters thick, with subsurface runoff, according to Wei Shaogang, general manager of the project department of China Railway 22nd Bureau Group, the constructor.

The wet loess zone in Dongzhiyuan is rare both at home and abroad. The complex geological situation has brought huge difficulties to the construction of the high-speed railway.

The loess of the tunnel exhibits a high moisture content of 33 percent, so it is extremely easy for the tunnel to become deformed, causing collapse during construction, said Wei.

Technicians conduct a safety check the Shangge village tunnel. (Photo/cyol.com)

However, the construction team overcame the world-level geological challenges, finding creative ways to continue construction of the tunnel.

The 618 km high-speed railway, with a design speed of 250 km per hour, is expected to begin service by the end of this year.

The high-speed railway will reduce travel time between Yinchuan in northwest Chinas Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Xian in northwest Chinas Shaanxi province to around three hours from the current 14 hours.
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Omaha Public Schools is working to make the best of a bad situation to resume classes this year.

More in our OWH Editorial:
WASHINGTON  Nebraskas all-Republican House delegation stood united last week against Democratic legislation aimed at the police misconduct that has sparked nationwide demonstrations.

Rep. Don Bacon, who represents the Omaha-based 2nd District, said he agreed with most of the bill, touting the benefits of mandatory police body cameras as an example. He said some fine-tuning could have addressed problems with other provisions, such as creating a national registry for misconduct complaints. He also expressed some concern about limiting the transfer of military equipment to police departments.

If our police are encountering a serious threat, I dont want an equal fight for them, Bacon told reporters. I want to be able to give them the tools to overcome if theres a dangerous threat there.

But the biggest sticking point, he said, was rolling back the immunity that law enforcement officers enjoy from civil liability for their on-the-job actions. Such a move would hurt the ability of police departments to recruit, Bacon said.

Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, joined her fellow Democrats in supporting the bill, which won passage but is unlikely to go anywhere in the GOP-controlled Senate.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb.  Husker Harvest Days has been canceled for the first time in its history, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event, which had been scheduled for Sept. 15-17, is considered to be one of Hall Countys premier events.

In a statement on its website, Farm Progress announced the cancellation of Husker Harvest Days and the Farm Progress Show, scheduled for Sept. 1-3 in Boone, Iowa.

In the best interest of our visitors, exhibitors, partners and staff, Farm Progress has made the difficult decision to cancel both shows in 2020 due to rapidly changing conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers said.

Show management had said earlier that Husker Harvest Days would still be held but with social distancing requirements and other health and safety changes in place.

While state and local officials had expressed support for both shows, Don Tourte, senior vice president for Farm Progress, said that it became apparent in a short time that the situation across the U.S. had rapidly changed.
An Omaha woman who is accused of causing a crash that resulted in two deaths was released from a hospital Saturday night and booked into the Douglas County Jail.

Chinyere Nwuju, 38, was released from Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy, where she was taken Wednesday after the three-vehicle collision. She was then arrested on suspicion of two counts of manslaughter and was booked into the jail at 6:30 p.m.

Investigators say Nwuju was going south on 90th Street at a high speed in a 2008 Dodge Nitro when she failed to stop for a red light about 9:10 p.m. The SUV collided with a 2002 Ram pickup, killing its occupants, Roberto Gonzalez, 58, and Annette North, 56, both of Omaha.

The force of the collision split the pickup in half, police said. The SUV continued south and crashed into a 2017 Jeep Renegade that was facing north on 90th Street while waiting to turn west onto Maple Street.

Gonzalez and North were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Jeep, Kimberly Edwards, 38, of Omaha, was not injured.

Nwujus drivers license is suspended, according to Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicle records. She had been ticketed on two occasions for driving with a suspended license.

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Authorities in Lancaster County are looking for a missing teenage mother and her toddler son.

Dominga Benito, 17, and Elver Benito, 1, were reported missing from their rural Lincoln home on Sunday.

The two may be in the Fremont area, but are not considered to be in criminal danger.

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in finding them, Sgt. Tommy Trotter said. Elver has a medical problem that requires treatment, according to a statement from the Sheriff's Office.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office at 402-441-6500.

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Janicek said he meant to send the joke texts to one co-worker, not five, but he clicked on a group text message by accident, he said. He had no answer for why he would send any such message about an employee.

He spent much of his interview last week attacking his accusers  including the target of his texted joke  and his critics like Jane Kleeb, the chairwoman of the Nebraska Democratic Party, who has told him to quit.

Janicek says Kleeb was against his run from the beginning and told voters and activists to support other candidates in the partys May 12 primary. Kleeb said hes wrong.

Janicek also criticized the target of his texts, former finance director Allison Bitterman, 30, and denied her accusation that he had invited her to skinny dip with him.

He said he would never ask a female staffer to swim naked with him. He said he invites many people to his pool. He said its the point of having a pool.

He said he felt emboldened to talk about her past after she publicly identified herself and made the allegation about the pool invitation. One thing he said was that when she went to work for Kara Eastmans campaign earlier this year against Ann Ashford, she still had possession of former House candidate Brad Ashfords electronic list of donors.
If we dont get a cash infusion, I do think you will see some of these plants go into bankruptcy, Shaw said. That could lead to oil companies buying ethanol plants, which would shift profits from farmers to multinational corporations, he added.

Last month, Grassley and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., introduced legislation that would reimburse farmers for the corn they bought going back to the beginning of this year. The House had considered aid at 45 cents per gallon produced.

What the industry doesnt need is more exemptions, Shaw said. The oil industry is not easily shamed, he said.

This is so far beyond the pale of anything that is reasonable or legal. Its a blatant attempt to circumvent the law and the court decision, he added, referring to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals case.

Oil interests have long fought the ethanol-blending requirement, contending it is expensive and unwarranted. Among their chief proponents is Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican and former presidential candidate.

The Renewable Fuels Association said the EPA is breaking the law and threatening the Midwest economy with the move.
The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana.
The cloud of Saharan dust that has been making headlines for darkening skies in the Caribbean and southern U.S. arrived in Omaha on Sunday.

A haze hung over the city for much of the day, and Paul Fajman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said it was from the Saharan dust cloud. Southerly winds ushered the dust northward from Texas and the Caribbean, he said.

The cloud, the most extreme Saharan dust cloud on record, reached the U.S. last week after being carried 5,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.

Enough dust blanketed Omaha on Sunday to noticeably affect air quality, according to the AirNow Air Quality Index published by the Environmental Protection Agency.

On Sunday afternoon, the EPA ranked particulate matter (dust) in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa at 140, which is at the upper end of the range (101 to 150) considered unhealthy for those with lung and heart conditions. Anything above 150 is considered unhealthy for the general public. Those who were vulnerable to air pollution were advised to remain indoors Sunday and reduce outdoor physical exertion.
Sayre, PA (18840)

Today

Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
MOSCOW: Russia's opposition is denouncing this week's vote on President Vladimir Putin's constitutional reforms as a joke, pointing out that copies of the amended basic law are already on sale in Moscow bookshops. From liberal reformers to Communists, Kremlin critics say the vote -- which started last week and ends on Wednesday -- is a thinly veiled attempt to keep Putin, 67, in power for life. But other than tepid calls to boycott or vote "No", the opposition has done little to actively fight the changes. Russia's top opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who last summer rallied thousands against suspected voter fraud in Moscow, has also shown little interest in...
Supreme Court Rules Single CFPB Director Unconstitutional

The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision along partisan lines, took a chunk out of the intentions the Dodd-Frank Act had for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) when it created it. The court ruled that the single-director structure of the agency is unconstitutional as is its limits on the President's ability to replace its occupant.

When Congress established CFPB it set up its funding mechanism independent of the House appropriations process, ruling its budget should come from the Federal Reserve. It also established a single director to head the agency and protected the occupant from being fired except for "inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office" during a five-year term, Each stricture was a bid to insulate the agency from political interference.

FHFA which regulates and is currently conservator for the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has a similar structure. The decision could also put into question agencies overseen by boards or commissions established with political buffers. For example, the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors has members who are appointed to 14-year terms and are not removable by the president except for cause.

The decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, said that CFPB's structure vests too much power in the hands of one person, and that the president has broad authority to appoint and remove agency heads.

"The CFPB's single-Director structure contravenes this carefully calibrated system by vesting significant governmental power in the hands of a single individual who is neither elected by the people nor meaningfully controlled (through the threat of removal) by someone who is," Roberts wrote.

He also stated that the agency's structure "has no foothold in history or tradition" and violates the separation of powers. However, the court will allow the agency to continue to operate and did not make any rulings about the Dodd-Frank Act. One fear, when the challenges to the structure first began, was that an unconstitutional ruling would endanger the many decisions, settlements, and rulemakings the agency has made over a 9-year period. This decision leaves those actions and rules, such as the Qualified Mortgage rule intact.

Katie O'Donnell, writing in Politico, said the Bureau was polarizing from its start during the Great Recession. "with Democrats casting it as a long-overdue cop on the beat for consumers after the 2008 financial crisis and Republicans slamming the agency as an example of regulatory overreach.

"Yet where Democrats see independence, Republicans see a lack of accountability. Republicans have long sought to overhaul the agency's single-director structure and replace it with a bipartisan commission akin to the leadership of other financial regulators. GOP attacks have abated since Trump put his own people in charge of the bureau, but the leadership issue has never been resolved."

The current director, Kathy Kraninger, was appointed by President Trump after the first director, Richard Cordray, resigned in 2017 to run for governor of Ohio. That provoked a court battle after Mick Mulvaney, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, was appointed acting director. The Dodd-Frank Act sets up an order of succession for the Bureau, authorizing the assistant director to act as director until the Senate can confirm the President's next appointment. Kraninger was Mulvaney's assistant at OMB.

The Supreme Court ruling does set up an interesting scenario. Kraninger previously had a good chance to fill out her five-year term. She now has to assume her appointment, which was highly controversial at the time, will not outlast the current administration should the White House turn over in January. Given the recent history of presidential appointments, she also has to worry she won't last even that long.
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The Pakistani stock exchange was attacked by a group of unidentified gunmen with explosives and sophisticated firearms. Local police officers exchanged shots with the terrorists leading to the death of at least four of the perpetrators.
KB Associates is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of the 2018 Historical Diving Society Leonard Greenstone Award. The Award recognises safety professionals, groups, organisations or companies in the fields of commercial, scientific, military or recreational diving. It was founded by, and named after, Leonard Greenstone, in 1974 and supported by NAUI; after which was then deeded to the Historical Diving Society USA (HDS) in 2012 when he 
Les Schwab Tire Centers has suspended efforts to sell the Bend company, saying that its suitors cannot easily evaluate the business value during the coronavirus pandemic.

It just isnt practical to invite prospective buyers to visit our facilities and meet employees when travel is so restricted, the Bend-based company said in a written statement Tuesday. On top of that, we find ourselves in an unprecedented time with coronavirus affecting almost every aspect of our lives and work.

Schwab Tire announced plans to sell the 68-year-old business in December, shaking up an Oregon institution. Bloomberg News reported that the family-owned company sought at least $3 billion from the sale.

We continue to believe that new ownership for Les Schwab Tires is the best way to support growth and innovation, and all the opportunities those create for our employees and communities, the company said in Tuesdays statement.

Tire Business, an industry news site, first reported the companys decision to pause the sale process in an article published Monday.

Company founder Les Schwab, his wife and both his children have all died. The business is now owned by his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, none of whom have an active role running the company.

The decision to sell one of Oregons biggest and best-known businesses came as a shock to employees and customers.

The companys headquarters are in Bend and it serves nearly 500 stores through a single distribution facility in Prineville  the small, relatively remote town where Les Schwab started the business in 1952.

Schwab Tire said annual sales last year were approximately $1.8 billion.

In Mondays article in Tire Business, chief marketing officer Dale Thompson said Schwab Tire might break up the company as part of a sale. Thompson told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Tuesday that he unintentionally gave the impression in the earlier article and that the company will be sold intact.

Its important to be clear Les Schwab has no intention of selling the companys operations in pieces, Thompson said in an email. Our strength is in our brand, and our brand represents the whole of everything we do.

The coronavirus pandemic has profoundly reduced auto traffic throughout the country, with fewer people traveling for vacation and work. Auto travel in Oregon was down more than 40% in the early days of the pandemic and remains down about 20% compared to this time last year.

"We certainly saw a drop in sales and gradual recovery (in the first half of the year)," Thompson told Tire Dealer. "We've had a little stronger recovery lately. It's been a cycle, and people seem eager to get out and drive again."

This article has been substantially updated with additional information from the company.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699

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Gov. Kate Brown announced Monday that she will require Oregonians to wear face masks everywhere in the state -- not just in a handful of select counties -- to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Brown said her new order takes effect Wednesday, and requires people ages 12 and older in Oregon to don a mask whenever theyre in a public indoor space, such as grocery stores, gyms and shopping malls.

The governor hinted that the new statewide requirement could be a last-ditch measure against surging numbers of new cases and hospitalized patients over the past month in Oregon. Repeatedly in recent weeks, Oregon has broken records for the number of new cases.

I do not want to have to close down businesses again like other states are now doing, she said in a news release. If you want your local shops and restaurants to stay open, then wear a face covering when out in public.

Liz Merah, a spokesperson for the governor, said Brown will continue to make an exception for children younger than 12, as she had in her earlier order. The governor, however, is strongly recommending that anyone over age 2 wear a mask, Merah said.

When asked if the governor will continue an exception for people with medical conditions, Merah said in an email that some accommodations in accordance with disability laws will be allowed. But Merah didnt elaborate.

Even with Browns announcement Monday, Brown has not gone as far as the governors of some other states, including Washington and California. Both of those governors require masks to be worn in indoor public spaces as well as outdoors when people cant stay at least 6 feet from others. Washingtons Jay Inslee says children over age 5 must wear face coverings, while Californias Gavin Newsom says children over age 2 must do so.

According to the all-volunteer organization Masks4All, more than 100 countries across the globe require masks. In the U.S., at least 18 states do for every county within their borders.

Cases are rising in 32 states Monday, according to The New York Times. In some states, including Oregon, thats not just because of increased testing: More people are becoming infected, too.

For months, Brown had refrained from ordering Oregonians to cover their mouths and noses. When the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shifted course April 3 and said cloth face coverings are helpful in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and should be worn, Brown recommended that the states residents wear face coverings. But she repeatedly declined to require them -- saying she had confidence that Oregonians would do the right thing.

Then last Wednesday, Brown began requiring masks in seven of the states 36 counties. Those counties were Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Marion, Polk, Hood River and Lincoln. They make up about 55 percent of the states population.

Brown later said she was adding an eighth, Clatsop County. At the time, Brown and officials with the Oregon Health Authority didnt say specifically why they werent mandating masks across the entire state.

But Mondays announcement means that two days from now, no corner of the state will be exempt.

From the beginning of the reopening process, I have said that reopening comes with the risk of seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases beyond our health systems capacity to test, trace, and isolate them, Brown said. Over the last month, we have seen the disease spread at an alarming rate in both urban and rural counties. The upcoming July 4th holiday weekend is a critical point for Oregon in this pandemic, and we can all make a difference.

Brown said she must take further action, based on modeling from the Oregon Health Authority released last Friday that warns residents should prepare to see exponential growth in coronavirus infections in the next three weeks -- with roughly 900 to 5,000 new daily infections possible under moderate to pessimistic models.

Up until two weeks ago, the state had never reported more than 200 new known cases in a day. Since June 16, it has reported five such days.

The governor said the predicted explosion in cases could lead hospitals to be overwhelmed by COVID-19 within weeks.

Although the number of patients hospitalized because of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is still significantly below April levels, over the past four weeks hospitalizations have increased by 135%.

The choices every single one of us make in the coming days matter, Brown said.

She said residents must do their part to stop another spike in cases from the long holiday weekend ahead.

Please keep your Fourth of July celebrations small and local, the governor said. We saw a lot of new COVD-19 cases following the Memorial Day holiday. Another spike in cases after the upcoming holiday weekend could put Oregon in a dangerous position.

The decision to require people across Oregon to wear masks drew immediate praise from the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems.

With cases on the rise rapidly across the state, it is now more important than ever to take this step to protect our loved ones, our neighbors, and our communities, said Becky Hultberg, the organizations president and CEO. Further, if we are to coexist alongside the disease, wide adoption of public face coverings is an essential factor in keeping our businesses and public spaces open.

Requirements to wear masks -- whether they come from government or individual businesses -- have infuriated a portion of the American public, who believe it infringes on their individual rights.

But scientists say the measures are necessary to protect society as a whole during an unprecedented and out-of-control pandemic.

Studies say masks have shown dramatic positive effects. If 80% of a closed population wore masks, infections would plunge to about 8%, compared to populations where everyone shunned masks. Thats according to a group of researchers from the University of California Berkeleys International Computer Science Institute and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Its unclear how Browns new mandate will be enforced -- whether shell solely focus on compelling businesses to require face coverings, or if individuals might be penalized, too. The governor said Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) will be a lead enforcer at businesses, but state and local agencies would assist. Merah, the governors spokesperson, didnt answer a question about whether individuals who dont comply would be fined.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee

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A judge has denied tax dodger Winston Shrouts request for early release from prison, finding that the Federal Bureau of Prisons has properly managed Shrouts coronavirus and he appears to have recovered.

U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones found the 72-year-old hadnt proven that his medical condition rose to an extraordinary and compelling'' reason warranting a sentence reduction.

Even if his medical condition did warrant release, the judge said he would have rejected Shrouts proposed release plan, which called for him to remain on home confinement in a trailer in Utah.

Jones noted that Shrout, given the chance to surrender after he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for tax fraud, failed to turn himself in and was taken into custody on an arrest warrant in Arizona after a nationwide search.

Shrout has proven by his behavior that his promises are meaningless. He lied to the Court and the probation officer when he promised that he would self-report to prison,' Jones wrote in his ruling. There are no combinations of conditions the Court could impose that would ensure that Shrout would remain in home confinement and compliant with the other general and special conditions.

Shrout was sentenced Oct. 22, 2018, after a federal jury in Oregon convicted him of six misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file tax returns and 13 felony counts of producing, presenting and shipping fictitious financial instruments.

Shrout, part of the sovereign citizen movement, made and issued more than 300 fake International Bills of Exchange'' on his own behalf and for credit to third parties. The government said Shrout falsely claimed the bills had value and purported that they were worth more than $100 trillion. Shrout also testified at trial that he stopped paying income tax or filing income tax returns well over 20 years ago.

He was scheduled to start serving his 10-year sentence March 4, 2019. He was a fugitive until he was arrested in Arizona on a warrant on Nov. 1, 2019.

Shrout, who suffers from hypertension, heart disease, lung ailments and is overweight, is among the 70 percent of inmates at the Terminal Island prison in California who have contracted the virus, according to his lawyer. Eight inmates have died there -- the federal prison with the second-highest death toll in the nation, Assistant Federal Public Defender Ruben Iniguez told the court last week.

Shrout was infected less than two months after he arrived at Terminal Island. He has already tested positive and may become re-infected,' Iniguez said last week. We simply dont know how that will end up for him. The risk where I sit is too great to gamble on his life.'

A swab was taken on April 23 and the results came back positive two days later. Shrout was quarantined from April 30 to May 2, according to court records.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian https://twitter.com/maxoregonian

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Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter
A woman delivering newspapers was not injured after bullets pierced her cars windshield Sunday morning in Vancouver, police say.

The bullets barely missed the woman when they hit her car at around 2:45 a.m., Vancouver police said in a written statement.

Gunshots also hit an occupied home, and Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Kim Kapp said police received no reports of injuries.

Police said the shooting is connected to a home where a large party was taking place. The home was rented through VRBO, a short-term rental website, though police initially said that it was an Airbnb rental.

Officers said they found more than 25 bullet casings near the house, near Northeast 151st Avenue and 11th Street.

No Airbnb rentals on the blocks where the shootings occurred had reservations during the time of the incident, Airbnb spokesperson Ben Breit said.

Note: This story and headline have been updated with additional context from Airbnb.

 Ryan Nguyen; rnguyen@oregonian.com; @ryanjjnguyen
A climber missing since Friday while traveling through treacherous terrain at Mount Rainier National Park marks the third person to go missing at the Washington park in a little more than a week.

Seattle resident Matthew Bunker was descending the mountain on skis with a partner when he is believed to have fallen in steep terrain, according to park officials.

The area where he went missing is known for its frequent avalanches and is near the site of a 2014 tragedy that killed six climbers. Officials said those conditions prevented using ground teams to search for a Bunker, and a helicopter search was hampered by bad weather and unable to locate him.

Searchers also are looking for Vincent Djie, 25, an Indonesian student living in Seattle who went missing while hiking June 19, and Talan Sabbagh, 27, of Seattle, who was last seen June 21.

Search update at https://t.co/FTvu2uG4ru

The park is not asking for assistance from the public in either search. Dangerous late spring conditions, ie widespread unstable snow bridges put independent searchers at risk & potentially create new incidents. ~pw pic.twitter.com/0Jhh2DBDj0  MountRainierNPS (@MountRainierNPS) June 26, 2020

Park officials say they do not want help from volunteer or independent search teams because of treacherous spring conditions that could put searchers at risk.

 The Associated Press
UPDATED Monday, June 29: The Rowena fire has been 50% contained and mapped at 14 acres, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry.

A Level 1 evacuation notice has been canceled, the agency said, and limited fire or smoke is visible. Firefighters will continue mopping up the blaze Monday.

The fire was caused by people, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. It remains under investigation.

***

A fire blazing near the community of Rowena in the Columbia River Gorge prompted Wasco County emergency officials to send out a level one evacuation warning for some people living in the area Sunday afternoon.

According to Wasco County Emergency Manager Sheridan McClellan, a level one alert was sent to people living within the area from 6090 Highway 30 West to 5220 Highway 30.

A level one alert is meant to tell residents to get ready, McClellan said.

The Oregon Department of Transportation closed Highway 30 in both directions as well.

A Oregon Department of Forestry account tweeted that the fire was about 10 acres of grass and scrub oak. The agency said that crews had stopped the fires spread and would continue to work on through the night.

Oregon Department of Forestry, @CRGNSA and @MCFR95 resources have stopped the spread of the Rowena Fire burning near Rowena in Wasco County. Firefighters continue to improve and strengthen the fireline and begin to mop-up.  Oregon Department of Forestry Central OR (@ODF_COD) June 28, 2020

According to a press release from the Oregon Department of Forestry, the fire burned about fifteen acres before the spread was stopped.

The Department of Forestry said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Video and pictures taken by Noel Adams shows aircraft dropping water on the fire.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker

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As protests against systemic racism and police violence enter their second month, the city of Portland and police operating within the city face a new lawsuit over their treatment of protest observers.

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Oregon and the San Francisco-based law firm BraunHagey & Borden announced Sunday they had filed a class-action lawsuit against the city and police on behalf of journalists and legal observers who were targeted and attacked by the police while documenting protests in Portland over the killing of George Floyd.

Plaintiffs named in the lawsuit include journalist Tuck Woodstock, photojournalists John Rudoff, Mathieu Lewis-Rolland and Sam Gehrke, and legal observers Doug Brown and Kat Mahoney.

A legal observer is a person who attends protests to document what happens between protestors and police. They do not intervene, but simply document actions for later review.

The defendants include the city and 60 unidentified police officers and supervisors from various agencies that have participated in policing the protests.

A spokesperson for Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said the mayor does not comment on pending litigation.

In Portland, police have fired rubber bullets at journalists and legal observers; tear-gassed them; pepper-sprayed them in the face; beaten them with batons; and thrown flash bangs directly at them, the ACLU of Oregon said in a press release. Police have arrested journalists and legal observers.

The lawsuit alleges that tactics are intended to interfere, and have done so successfully, with news reporting and neutral observation of police responses to the nightly protests.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Portland.

The suit seeks damages for injuries sustained, as well as an order declaring law enforcements actions unconstitutional and prohibiting them from targeting and attacking journalists again.

The Oregonian/OregonLive is not a party in the ACLU lawsuit. The news organization separately filed a complaint through the citys Independent Police Review over police treatment of photographer Beth Nakamura while she was covering a protest, an incident recounted in the lawsuit.

The police should not be shutting down the publics access to the messages and realities of protest in Portlands streets where people are calling for an end to police killing of Black people, said Kelly Simon, interim legal director of the ACLU of Oregon, in the press release.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
A small grain elevator on a farm near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada (Wikimedia Commons). , Saskatchewan is looking into the adoption of small modular nuclear reactors. These modular reactors may be small enough for transport, but this project is considered the most significant shift in terms of energy technology in this century. (Photo : Wikimedia Commons)

This small Canadian province has an enormously promising future as an energy technology frontrunner. Instead of solar power companies granting loans or wind power businesses giving large land grants, the Saskatchewan is looking into the adoption of small modular nuclear reactors. These modular reactors may be small enough for transport, and this project is considered to be the most significant shift in terms of energy technology this century.

The Saskatchewan government has announced the establishment of an office to help the push for nuclear power. The office will assist in the planning and development of nuclear reactors in the province.

The Ministry of Environment, through Minister Dustin Duncan, expressed that collaboration with several partners in this endeavor is required. In order to establish and adopt small modular reactors, the government's nuclear secretariat needs to coordinate with the Climate Change and Adaptation Division regarding its nuclear policy and program work.

The policy is considered suitable for the Saskatchewan since Cigar Lake Uranium Mine, the world's highest-grade uranium mine is located in the northern part of the province. Innovation in Saskatchewan uses a jet-boring method to mine Cigar Lake's ore, which is considered a challenging feat. The jet-boring technique does not require direct personnel contact with the orebody. Instead, it uses high-pressure water to cut cavities from the ore.

This new program will ensure the localization of energy production within the province. Due to the mobility of these small modular reactors (SMRs), a geographically large but small in population province like Saskatchewan can significantly benefit from these nuclear power plants.

Around 50 to 300 megawatts of power is projected to be produced by these SMRs, and the Saskatchewan government is aiming for reactors or power modules that are designed to be small enough for truck or shipping container transportation.

The minister has expressed that clean nuclear energy will provide the province economic and environmental advantages as this new energy tech is considered safe but also competitively priced. The use of SMRs, however, is projected in the 2030s the earliest.

John Root of the University of Saskatchewan's Fedoruk Centre for Nuclear Innovation said that it is economically beneficial as the province is one of the primary producers of uranium.

Opposition NDP Leader Ryan Meili has expressed that there are so many renewable power opportunities that the government has failed to transition into, such as solar, wind, and geothermal.

There have been mixed reactions regarding the small nuclear reactors. Nuclear chemist and board member of the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, Ann Coxworth, explained that it might take decades to fully operational nuclear reactors in Saskatchewan. Coxworth believes that there are many cheaper and safer alternatives that are wiser to invest in, and easier to put in place than the nuclear power reactors.

Some environmentalists have also expressed their concerns that these modular nuclear reactors have many issues, particularly radioactive waste. Apart from this, the project is touted as a tool to combat the causes and effects of climate change. Yet, new technology's operations immediacy is already being pushed for.
Demonstrations against police violence Monday marked two years since Portland State officers shot and killed Jason Washington, a 45-year-old Black father and Navy veteran.

Washingtons death ignited calls to disarm campus police officers. Those calls were amplified after the Minneapolis killing of George Floyd in late May. Floyds death gave rise to a global movement calling for police reforms to protect Black people. Protests have continued in Portland for 33 straight days. Crowds often chant Jason Washingtons name.

His widow, Michelle Washington, shared a poem with the hundreds who had gathered Monday evening near where her husband was killed.

I close my eyes and beg when I open them you will be standing there smiling at me, she said. Now all I do is stare at an urn. When will these police ever learn?

Washington had confiscated a friends gun outside a campus bar. Video footage from that night shows the gun was holstered until Washington fell as he tried to prevent a fight. The gun was in his hand as he stood up. Two officers ordered him to drop the gun, then fired on him as he appeared to be turning around after walking away.

About 300 people marched Monday evening from where Washington was killed to the campus police department, then back. They gathered near a tree covered in messages to Washington. Several relatives, friends and others gave speeches.

Washingtons brother, Andre Washington, said he didnt like to look at the Jasons tree often because it was so difficult for him. He shared a poem written in his brothers memory.

So much sorrow, with infinite pain, he said. The emotions inside, I could never explain.

A grand jury ultimately concluded neither officer who shot Jason Washington should face charges in connection with his death. Criminal charges against police officers in fatal shootings are extremely rare in Oregon.

Portland State officials agreed in December to pay $1 million to settle wrongful death claims before Washingtons family filed a lawsuit. The school also agreed to provide more training to police officers. Campus officials have so far resisted calls to take guns away from police.

Marlene Howell, a Portland State professor who spoke at Mondays vigil, said she believes the momentum is building to disarm campus officers.

I do believe that the decision makers at this university are starting to take another look at this whole issue and what public safety means, Howell said.

As Washingtons vigil came to a close just before 9 p.m., demonstrators also started to gather outside the downtown Justice Center. Protests have continued outside the Justice Center every night since May 28.

Livestream videos shared on social media showed about 100 people were gathered at the Justice Center by 10 p.m. Monday. Dozens of people filled Southwest Third Avenue on the west side of the building, chanting and cheering as people used a megaphone to deliver messages from the steps of the Justice Center. The crowd often chanted, Disarm PSU! and Say his name! Jason Washington!

Dozens of people were still outside the Justice Center at 11:30 p.m., when the crowd observed a minute of silence.

Protesters and vehicles blocked multiple streets throughout the night, including Southwest Third Avenue, Main Street and Madison Street, throughout the night, police said Tuesday.

Demonstrators remained near the Justice Center into the early morning Tuesday. Police said multiple windows and doors of the Justice Center were broken.

Multiple confrontations between police and the crowd ensued overnight.

Some protesters returned after the area was cleared by police about 2:13 a.m. and took plywood off of the building. Police said about 2:30 a.m. demonstrators were stacking plywood in front of doors of the Justice Center, and that some also attempted to enter the Central Precinct through broken windows.

Police said a fire was set on the steps of the Justice Center. They arrested Ronald James Connolly, 19, who was charged with first-degree arson.

Independent writer Donovan Farley tweeted about 2:30 a.m. that he was hit in the back several times trying to help someone who (Portland police) pushed into a car head first.

Farley also tweeted about 3:15 a.m. that officers charged at protesters, injuring two people. Protesters swarmed to help a person who was hurt, he reported, and police charged a second time. Police did not stop for the injured person, according to Farley.

No arrests were made, police said.

-- Alex Hardgrave; ahardgrave@oregonian.com; @a_hardgrave

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

Beth Nakamura of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report.

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Oskaloosa, IA (52577)

Today

A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. High 72F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 51F. N winds shifting to SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
Ottumwa, IA (52501)

Today

Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. High around 70F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low 49F. N winds shifting to SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
Community Mental Health for Central Michigan (CMHCM) received a grant from the Midland Area Community Foundation in the amount of $10,000 to make trauma-informed environmental modifications to the CMHCM-Midland office.

This project will include painting a culturally diverse hope-filled mural in the CMHCM lobby, adding welcoming signage in the agencys lobby, providing comfortable child seating, private and quiet areas, calming fish tanks and/or water fountains, and providing therapists with updated books and trauma-informed tools.
Racism has a direct impact on the number of infections by the coronavirus, COVID-19, in minority communities. Long-standing, systemic negative attitudes regarding people of color have contributed to a higher rate of infection and a larger number of deaths caused by the disease. The results are scientifically measurable and must be addressed.

More infection and mortality among minorities

Non-Hispanic African Americans have a COVID-19 hospitalization rate 4.5 times higher than non-Hispanic Caucasians, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among other minority groups, Hispanic or Latino individuals have a hospitalization rate four times higher than Caucasians. The highest hospitalization rate falls among Native Americans, with a rate five times higher, on average.

The disparities have been measured not only nationally by CDC and worldwide by the World Health Organization (WHO) but at state and county levels in the United States, as well. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), an organization dedicated to national health issues and the role of the U.S. in international health, the inequities became clear within weeks of the pandemic being recognized. As an example, in Michigan as early as the first week of April, African Americans made up 33% of confirmed infections and 41% of deaths caused by COVID-19. African Americans make up only 14% of the state's total population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Why COVID-19 rates are higher among African Americans

Certain longstanding economic and cultural practices and attitudes have led to disproportionate COVID-19 infections. The term systemic racism is now common and in analyzing what that means, the reference is accurate. The word systemic, according to Merriam-Webster, refers to something fundamental to a social, economic or political practice. As a result of attitudes that have been incorporated into policies, African Americans were not only prime prospects for higher COVID-19 rates, but for other health and economic inequities, as well.

The president of the American Medical Association (AMA), Patrice A. Harris MD, MA, addressed the problem pointing out specific results of systemic racism. Among the most prevalent was the predominance of preexisting conditions, including chronic conditions. Diabetes, hypertension, asthma and obesity are found in greater numbers in minorities. The economy may contribute to the presence of these conditions due to the inability to pay for diagnoses, treatment or insurance due to the pervasiveness of low-income jobs among these groups. Many short-term or temporary positions may not include paid sick leave and there may be a tendency to avoid staying home to rest in order not to lose wages. This not only delays recovery for the sick worker but puts co-workers at risk of being infected.

Also noted was the high number of minorities who fill essential non-medical related positions that put them at higher risk. These occupations include driving buses and trains, clerking and stocking at retail establishments and grocery stores, and service positions at hair salons, barber shops and restaurants.

Why does racism increase during a health crisis?

Misdirected fear toward certain groups historically increases during times of the spread of infectious diseases. In a report cited by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), COVID-19 has initiated fear not only of the virus, but of certain groups. This is not limited to the United States. The reference to COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus" helped stigmatize citizens with oriental heritage. In Italy, however, similar prejudices were raised when a former deputy prime minister incorrectly identified immigrants to that country from Africa as higher carriers of the virus and advocated closing Italian borders to them.

Eliminating racism and misinformed prejudice in institutional policies and in social practices is essential to improving health for all people.

Ask Dr. Haqqani

If you have questions about your cardiovascular health, including heart, blood pressure, stroke lifestyle and other issues, we want to answer them. Please submit your questions to Dr. Haqqani by e-mail at questions@vascularhealthclinics.org.

Dr. Omar P. Haqqani is the chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Vascular Health Clinics in Midland: www.vascularhealthclinics.org
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) awarded an emergency contract to begin debris removal at two bridge locations on M-30 in Midland and Gladwin counties, following a historic flooding event in May.

M-30 structures over the Tittabawassee River in northern Midland County and over the Tobacco River in Gladwin County were both impacted by flooding. Midland-based Fisher Contracting was awarded the bid at $1.2 million and is expected to begin work Monday, June 29. Debris removal is expected to finish by July 22.
A non-tobacco plant was identified in an ancient pipe for the first time, and researchers found that ancient people in what is present-day Washington smoked Rhus glabra, commonly called smooth sumac, over 1,400 years ago.

A research team from Washington State University (WSU) made this discovery when they identified its residue from an ancient archeological pipe. It was a scientific first. The scientists published their study in the Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences journal.

The pipe was excavated from central Washington. Before this discovery, the ancient peoples' use of particular plant mixtures for smoking was only speculated on. According to lead author and University of Chicago researcher Korey Brownstein, smoking had a ceremonial or religious function for Native Americans.

The authors think that the plant could have been mixed with the tobacco for the smooth sumac's medicinal properties and flavor-enhancing effect. They discovered the plant through a new metabolomics-based analysis, which is capable of detecting thousands of metabolites and plant compounds in the residues contained in archeological artifacts such as bowls and pipes. These compounds are then used for identifying what plants were consumed or smoked.

According to co-author and WSU Institute of Biological Chemistry professor David Gang, the technology marks a new archaeological chemistry frontier. In the past, residues of ancient plants were identified using the detection of only a few biomarkers like caffeine, cotinine, anabasine, and nicotine.

Gang says that while the presence of a nicotine biomarker shows that tobacco was used, it does not identify what particular species of tobacco was smoked. In addition, Gang says, if only a handful of specific biomarkers were being used, it would not tell scientists what other plants which do not have these biomarkers were contained in the artifacts.

In ancient pipes, this was the first plant identified that was not tobacco. The work of the authors also helped in elucidating the complicated evolutionary path of the trade of tobacco during the ancient American Northwest periods. An analysis of another pipe used in the Central Washington area after contact with Europeans revealed three different species of tobacco that was cultivated by the east coast natives of North America.

Co-author and WSU anthropology assistant professor Shannon Tushingham says that their research shows the extensive interaction between Native American tribes between and within various ecological areas, which included tobacco trade. She also added that their study questions the view commonly held that European-grown tobacco overtook native smoke plants.

This pioneering research work can help other researchers identify plants that ancient people consumed and provide valuable knowledge on plant-human dynamics. The research team also helped confirm the connections of ancient practices for plant management with the traditions of indigenous communities of today.

The authors shared their results with the Nez Perce tribe. Tobacco smoking is a tradition that is sacred for northwestern Native American tribes, and prior to the study, they couldn't tell what tobacco plants were smoked by their ancestors.

Brownstein said they grew the plants in a greenhouse and gave millions of their seeds so to the Nez Perce tribe so that they can re-introduce the native plants to their native land. She says such projects are essential in building trust with tribal communities.
Midland County, as well as three of the other four counties the Daily News has been chronicling since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, added no new confirmed cases on Monday, according to the daily state report.

Bay County was the only county to add a case and now stands at a pandemic total of 349 cases and 29 deaths.

Here are the pandemic totals for the other counties: Midland County, 122 cases, nine deaths; Gladwin County, 26 cases, one death; Isabella County, 101 cases, eight deaths, and Saginaw County, 1,218 cases and 120 deaths.

Midland County added three new confirmed cases over the weekend. Midland County Public Health Director/Health Officer Fred Yanoski said those cases are not associated with a cluster of cases or an outbreak.

"Some cases are popping up," he said, adding people are now traveling out of town attending events such as birthday and graduation parties. "We know the disease is highly transmissible in a congregate setting."

He noted the recent outbreak associated with a party at an East Lansing bar where at least 85 positive COVID-19 cases have been confirmed.

The state website also lists Midland County as having 42 probable cases  individuals with COVID-19 symptoms and an epidemiologic link to confirmed COVID-19 but no diagnostic test  since the pandemic started.

The Midland County health department website lists 103 Midland cases as recovered.

As of Monday, June 29, MidMichigan Health  which covers a 23-county region and has medical centers at seven sites, including Midland  has completed 8,027 tests. Of those, 7,451 were negative, 335 positive and 241 are pending.

To date in Midland County, there have been 5,688 diagnostic (current infection) tests and 455 serology (look for antibodies) tests performed, totaling 6,143 tests, according to the state website. In Gladwin County, there have been 1,773 diagnostic tests and 77 serology tests, totaling 1,850 tests in all, according to the state.

Brittany Manor in Midland is listed in the state report as having four cumulative cases and one death among residents as of June 28, and two cumulative cases and no deaths among staff. Midland Kings Daughters Home is listed as having one cumulative case among staff. The other reporting facilities, Medilodge of Midland and Stratford Pines, are reporting no cases.

Gladwin Pines Nursing Home is listed as having two cumulative confirmed cases and no deaths among residents as of June 28, and one confirmed case and no deaths among staff. Gladwin Nursing & Rehabilitation Community, the other long-term health facility reporting to the state, is reporting no confirmed cases or deaths among residents and staff.

The state lists the total recovered at 51,099 cases, as of June 26, which represents COVID-19 confirmed individuals with an onset date on or prior to May 27, 2020, according to the state website, mich.gov. The numbers will be updated every Saturday.

The state on Monday added 236 new cases and four deaths. Overall, Michigan is at 63,497 cases and 5,915 deaths.

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 e-mail 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.
After over a month of work in Midland and Sanford, Samaritan's Purse, a nonprofit organization based out of North Carolina, is wrapping up local flood relief efforts. It is staying long enough to help 20 more families before leaving the area.

Over the course of five weeks, Samaritan's Purse has employed the assistance of 1,500 volunteers to aid over 300 area families with flood relief. The organization originally estimated to remain in Midland until June 14, but organizers extended their stay another two weeks to allow more time to help a few more households.

"Now the phone calls have stopped coming in and people are starting to think about rebuilding," said Chandler Saylors, assistant program manager with Samaritan's Purse.

Saylors explained that every disaster is unique. With Midland and Sanford, it was the local response to the flooding that stood out to her. Saylor was most astonished to find that area volunteers had already worked on 82 houses in Midland and Gladwin counties by the time Samaritan's Purse arrived on May 22, just three days after the flood.

Calvary Baptist Church opened its doors to Samaritan's Purse, allowing trailers to set up in the parking lot and providing classrooms for national volunteers to sleep in. Members of the church also did laundry and helped supplement food. In return, Samaritan's Purse helped direct Calvary Baptist in where the church would be most useful.

"One of the biggest blessings with Samaritan's Purse is they do this all the time. They understand that a disaster isn't just cleaning up a house. Disasters have consequences on people, mentally, physically and spiritually," Pastor Dan Dickerson stated.

"The homeowners, the community members, the pastors, the authorities, they've all welcomed us with open arms, and it's been a wonderful partnership," Saylors said.

As Samaritan's Purse focused on helping homeowners remove possessions, flooring and drywall as well as applying mold suppressant, the church was free to assist in other needs regarding the flood. Calvary Baptist handled donations of food, cleaning supplies, drywall and insulation, water heaters and personal care items for flood victims. It is continuing to coordinate with area churches to find ways to help residents get back on their feet.

"This whole disaster for our church family has been an opportunity to show that we love people," Dickerson said. "I think the churches in Midland have done an amazing job trying to meet needs."
Two Democrats are running to unseat Republican Incumbent U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, who is seeking a fourth term as U.S. Representative for Michigans Fourth Congressional District.

The Democrats are Anthony Feig, a professor from Central Michigan University, and Jerry Hilliard, former public school teacher and community college instructor who ran against Moolenaar in 2018.

Hilliard responded to the Daily News invitation to participate in Saturdays voters guide over the weekend. His answers are below, along with Feig's responses which were featured Saturday and also are included today. Moolenaar will be invited to participate in the voters guide leading up to the Nov. 3 general election.

Born in Midland, Jerry Hilliard, 70, of Mount Pleasant, is an adjunct economics faculty member at Lansing Community College. He has a masters degree in business administration from the University of Michigan-Flint, and a masters degree in arts from Central Michigan University.

1. What would you say are the main jobs and duties of a congressional representative?

Represent the best interest of all the people residing in the 4th Congressional District, as diverse as they are; rural towns and areas, manufacturing areas, and college towns. Strive for economic prosperity, exceptional schools, improve infrastructure such as roads and bridges, world class broadband service everywhere and the highest quality schools. These things and others will make our area competitive in the rapidly changing world.

2. As our U.S. representative, how would you accomplish the above duties?

I would fight for a livable wage and healthcare that is affordable for everyone, a tax system where people and businesses pay their fair share, an end to anti-labor legislation and fight for full employment as is required in the full-employment act of 1946, all in an effort to re-build the middle class.

3. What, if any, changes would you make as a congressional representative?

I would be more accessible to the people of the 4th District by being at my offices in the district in person or at town hall type events throughout the many counties when congress is not convened.

4. What challenges do you anticipate U.S. representatives will encounter?

U.S. representatives will be challenged by inequality that persist in so many aspects of our districts. Including income, racial, religious, and lifestyle.

Anthony Feig, 51, of Mount Pleasant, has been married to his wife, Cathy, for 20 years, and they have two sons, who attend public high school. Feig is a faculty member from Central Michigan University, and serves on his labor unions board. He has been a geologist and a teacher for 25 years, with a scientific background in past climates and environments. At CMU, his research focuses on science education policy and training tomorrows science teachers.

1. What would you say are the main jobs and duties of a congressional representative?

A representative must be accessible to constituents and a fierce advocate for their needs. In the Fourth District, those needs are a clean environment, access to quality health care, strong public education, and investment in a 21st century economy.

As Michigans climate becomes warmer and wetter, our small towns and farms are the first to feel those effects. Our district has also been hard-hit by PFAS contamination. While little is known about exactly how much PFAS is in our water or its effects on crops, wildlife, and recreation, we know that action must be taken to protect our watersheds.

All citizens deserve access to affordable, quality health care, lower drug prices, rural hospitals that wont close and doctors wont move away. Over 50,000 people in the 4th District get their healthcare through the Affordable Care Act exchanges. Their continuity of coverage must be guaranteed. Health care legislation must account for these needs and specifically address the challenges of health care in rural areas.

Our schools are facing profound funding shortfalls as they grapple with COVID-19 social distancing, building use, and teacher shortages. Education is a public good that strengthens our nation and our democracy. Our children are entitled to a free public education that prepares them for work and life.

I will support legislation that protects jobs and unions so that workers and their families enjoy good quality of life. To foster the economic growth, we must invest in infrastructure for businesses, education and training for workers, and recreation for families.

2. As our U.S. representative, how would you accomplish the above duties?

I will make myself available and accessible to all my constituents by holding frequent town halls. My staff will cheerfully interact with all residents of the 4th District and provide excellent constituent services.

In Congress, I will pursue legislation and policy which address our districts needs. For the environment, this includes research and development in adaptive agriculture, reinstating tax incentives for energy-saving consumer goods, expanding alternative energy development, supporting PFAS testing for residential wells, and research into PFAS effects on crops and wildlife.

My healthcare legislation will focus on policy that ensures rural care networks can stay open, closes the gap between private insurance payouts and Medicare payouts, lowers the Medicare threshold to at least 60, allows the federal government to negotiate drug prices directly, and aggressively combats medical racism. Here in the 4th District, health care needs to be integrated with transportation infrastructure improvements.

Education legislation should expand teachers roles in education, continue to protect learners with disabilities, support apprenticeship and journeyman programs, guarantee that public money for education goes to public schools, and expand the Pell Grant program and college debt forgiveness.

Good economic legislation will work to improve our rural transportation infrastructure and protect workers rights to form unions and collective bargaining.

3. What, if any, changes would you make as a congressional representative?

The legislative actions I proposed above represent a significant change from the status quo and a new focus on the needs of our citizens, versus special interests and the very wealthy. Beyond legislation, it is time to end the divisiveness in government, and work towards the common good of our communities. Partisan bickering sadly is expected as the norm in these times, but Washington lawmakers need to start behaving like responsible adults. I will be loyal first and foremost to the people I represent.

I plan to be present and publicly available. I will be easy for people to contact, and people wont have to be screened to see if they agree with my positions in order to talk to me. This means that sometimes I will get an earful from people who disagree with me, but I have a duty to listen to everyone in my district.

4. What challenges do you anticipate U.S. representatives will encounter?

All elected officials must work hard to gain the trust of the people through not only their words, but their deeds. Some people are deeply skeptical of the government, and in many cases rightly so. Representatives will have to be true leaders. We are in a watershed moment; we can and should choose to lift each other up with dignity and leave no one behind. That is one of the most patriotic actions we can take.
Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - Botswanas Presidential COVID-19 Task Force has dispelled reports that testing for the respiratory disease at the borders is causing countrywide fuel shortages
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA)  The Nigerian Federal Government has continued its evacuation of stranded citizens abroad as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown with Sundays airlifting of 315 of them from the United Kingdom
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ruled that a Monrovia-based Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) lacked the judicial capacity to take legal action in a case it brought against the Republic of Liberia alleging the violation of the human rights of the more than 500 "displaced and victimized" families of Ganta in the countrys Nimba County over the illegal occupation of their communal lands
Athens, Greece (PANA) - Greek Foreign minister Nikos Dendias began a visit to Tunisia on Monday, where he will hold talks with several Tunisian officials focusing on ways to strengthen bilateral relations, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Foreign Ministry of the Government of National Accord (GNA) has welcomed the announcement by the Sudanese authorities of the arrest of dozens of their citizens who were traveling to Libya to be recruited as mercenaries




DELISH Nguwaya, who is challenging the magistrates court decision to deny him bail, will know his fate tomorrow when the High Court is expected to deliver its ruling on his application for bail pending trial.





He is facing charges of allegedly misrepresenting to the Government that his company was a medical firm in an attempt to be awarded tenders for Covid-19 medical supplies using his companies, Drax SAGL and Drax International.





Justice Pisirayi Kwenda last week deferred the bail ruling to yesterday, but postponed it to tomorrow. No reasons were given for the postponement.





Nguwaya was denied bail by Harare magistrate, Ms Vongai Muchuchuti, prompting him to appeal to the High Court.





In denying him bail, Ms Muchuchuti ruled that Nguwaya was a flight risk.





She said the seriousness of the offence which invariably attracts a lengthy custodial sentence in the event of a conviction could induce him to skip bail.





Charges against Nguwaya arose after he allegedly misrepresented that Drax was based in Switzerland, when it was only a consulting company with no experience in the manufacturing of drugs.





Acting on this misrepresentation, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo authorised a US$2 million medicine supply deal through NatPharm.





Nguwaya allegedly did the same using Drax International and won a supply deal worth US$40 million, the court heard.




BLOOMINGTON  A group of faculty and others who think Illinois Wesleyan Universitys liberal arts legacy is at risk are gathering on the campus quad Wednesday to reassert its importance as the board of trustees considers cutting back or eliminating several programs, including art, music and anthropology.

The event, which organizers are calling an action, rather than a protest, is intended to be a confirmation of our commitment to the importance of liberal arts, said Rebecca Gearhart Mafazy, a professor of anthropology who is beginning her 21st year at IWU.

The hour-long event, Standing Up for the Liberal Arts, will begin at 6:50 p.m. to represent IWUs founding in 1850, and include speakers and performers. Face coverings and social distancing will be required.

The board voted in May to eliminate four programs: American culture studies; design, technology and entrepreneurship; Greek and Roman studies; and international business.

Action on other recommendations, including downsizing the School of Music and discontinuing under-enrolled majors, was postponed for further study until the board meets July 16.

Illinois Wesleyan University to start semester early, end before Thanksgiving Illinois Wesleyan University has decided to start and end its fall semester early to limit the spread of COVID-19. Classes and final exams will end by Thanksgiving.

Meanwhile, notices were sent earlier this month to faculty in anthropology, French, Italian, music, philosophy, religion and sociology notifying them that their departments were under review for possible discontinuation.

Mafazy, one of those receiving the notice, said the notices are paving the way if they want to terminate our contracts. She said about 20 percent of the faculty received the notices.

IWU President Georgia Nugent said the notices were required under procedures outlined in the faculty handbook.

It does not mean the program will be terminated or the faculty member will be terminated, said Nugent.

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She said, I feel it is unfortunate that the letters had to be sent because they seem to have caused more anxiety than what was warranted.

Mafazy said many faculty and others think the recent actions and others under consideration are an erosion of liberal arts at IWU.

Nugent said, The intention is to strengthen going forward the really diverse combination we have here of liberal arts and professional programs.

I could not be more supportive of liberal arts, said Nugent, who was named president in November after three months as interim president. I spent the last six years advocating for the liberal arts.

Alumni also have been organizing letter writing campaigns and petitions.

Rachel Wimerbly, a 2015 IWU graduate in sociology, said the potential discontinuation of sociology is particularly ill-timed in the midst of current events involving the Black Lives Matter movement.

Sociology is one of the only disciplines that deals with race and class and gender and privilege, said Wimberly, who works at Goucher College in Maryland.

Molly McLay of Champaign, a 2006 graduate with a double major in English writing and women and gender studies, said her liberal arts education helped prepare her to become a social work professional.

She started at IWU expecting to be a math teacher and write on the side, but her courses ignited this passion I have for gender studies and using my voice for the public good.

Photos: Names of Illinois Wesleyan University graduates recognized in chalk during coronavirus

Contact Lenore Sobota at (309) 820-3240. Follow her on Twitter: @Pg_Sobota

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100 years ago

June 29, 1920: Rolands, the upscale department store on the square, will open a tea room and cafeteria tomorrow. Service in the facility will be of the same high level thats found elsewhere in the store. The room is finished in white ivory and royal blue, with matching tables and chairs.

75 years ago

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June 29, 1945: The Bloomington school board will move the junior high school from Lincoln School and re-establish it at Irving. The change is effective this fall. The other two junior high schools, at Bent and Washington, will remain unchanged.

50 years ago

June 29, 1970: The Carl S. Martin American Legion Post honored James Aaberg, 11, this week for his role in saving the life of teacher David Ananias. Aaberg beat out flames on the teachers clothing after his ladder came in contact with high voltage wires at Colene Hoose School.

25 years ago

June 29, 1995: The Unit 5 school board has signed a deal making Coca-Cola products the exclusive drink of high school vending machines, cafeteria fountains and school events. Pepsi also made an offer but it was based on $6 per gallon; Cokes bid was based on $3.30 per gallon.

Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com.
Another Parker Tube Float is in the books. From the looks of things, it all went a
Google's parent company Alphabet has reportedly acquired a Canadian Company out of Kitchner Ontario called North. A company that makes AR Smartglasses branded "Focals." They have sales outlets in Toronto and Brooklyn NY. While the glasses are smart technologically, they're also smart looking, unlike Google Glass that failed miserably partly due to its bizarre look and its possibly intrusive spy camera. North's introductory video below shows us just how natural they actually look on a user.

More specifically, Focals are a pair of custom-built smart glasses with a transparent, holographic display that only the wearer can see. This display floats an arms length in front of you and connects you to the people you care about, the information you need and the places you want to go in an augmented way.

Focals let you see and respond to texts, get turn-by-turn directions, check the weather, request an Uber, talk to Amazon Alexa and more  seamlessly and immediately. Obviously Alexa will be ripped out and replaced with Google Assistant.

The glanceable and minimalist interface gives users control over whats happening in their digital world without pulling them away from whats in front of them. Focals come in three colors (Black, Tortoise, and Grey Fade) and offer either prescription or non-prescription lenses.

Focals were originally sold for $999 USD ($1299 CAD) and then dropped to just US$599 last February (for non-prescription). They were custom-built using a unique sizing process to ensure a comfortable and attractive fit. The packaging includes Focals Classic frames, Loop, Charging Case and Sun Clips. Orders including prescription lenses are now on hold unless Alphabet decides to allow the company to continue.

The Glasses were to be sold to iPhone users as well as androiders as presented in the image below. One would expect Google didn't want Apple to have the opportunity of selling them at Apple Stores. This is a common practice of late, with Apple pulling support for the whether App Dark Sky for Android.

(Click on image to Enlarge)

Focals work with a ring-type of input device as presented in the image below. Apple invented a ring input device in 2015 which has already gained their second granted patent for in April 2020. Apple's ring is far more advanced than the one used with focals but Apple could easily add navigation to future smartglasses as well if they thought it would be of benefit.

(Click on image to Enlarge)

Focals use a brilliant, full-color holographic Project system as presented below. Apple was granted a killer interactive holographic display patent way back in 2014. Another patent revealing work on this technology was published in 2019.

(Click on image to Enlarge)

In fact, this past April Patently Apple posted another report pointing to further advancements being made regarding a holographic optical element that works with a projector that sends imagery to the glasses lens. One of the images from that patent filing is presented below.

North's focals works with prescription lenses. In a patent application report last week, we revealed Apple's possible modular smartglasses approach that a) pointed out vastly superior frame design with multiple components and well beyond a mere holographic projector, and b) Apple presented one way that prescription lenses would be able to simply slide into the side frame (FIG. 14) or snap in (as in FIG. 13) as confirmed by their patent figures below.

Last Thursday Canada's Globe and Mail publishing house broke the news that Google was buying Waterloo Canada's company called North.

The Kitchner publication 'The Record' reported on on Saturday that analyst Carmi Levy, a director at Londons Info-Tech Research Group had stated that "We know the company has been a technology success story, but less so a marketing success story. It often means you're ahead of your time."

North was Founded in 2012 as Thalmic Labs by a trio of University of Waterloo graduates.

Levy added that "If the acquisition by Alphabet is completed, it should be seen as validation of the innovation behind Norths technology, rather than the result of its failure from a business perspective. Its a confirmation that North was very much on to something. Market conditions notwithstanding, it doesnt take away from the achievements of the company to date."

Levy Further added that "Ideally, Alphabet will take some of Norths talent 'along for the ride,' and benefit from its patents and intellectual property."

You could check out TechCrunch's 2019 video review of the first generation of Focals by North.

Intel was working on basic AR smartglasses that could replace simple smartwatch features and notifications. North acquired those patents back in 2018. In fact, they acquired 650 patents in total. That's a lot of Intellectual Property protecting their AR smartglasses that Google is now owner of if the acquisition goes through.

It's always interesting to see what the competition is up to as it provides us with a superior image as to what could be coming to market in the future. That along with Apple's plethora of patents on future AR Glasses and HMDs that seems to we expanding monthly, we're able to get the bigger picture at the technology that will drive these new mobile devices. Knowing about North's Focals allows us to see that fitting technology into the frames of smartglasses is much closer to market than most think.

In someways we can understand why Apple is diving deeper into health features for the Apple Watch, as smartglasses will be able to provide basic apps likely as good or better than a simple smartwatch. Why look at a watch when changing your focus slightly south could provide the time and date reminder much faster.

In the end, Apple, Facebook Google and Huawei at minimum are working hard to find that right blend of features and technologies that could make smartglasses a natural choice as a mobile smart device, if not a user's first choice as a mobile device.

Google was first with 'Glass' and I'm sure that they want back into this market that they first envisioned. Today's news that they've likely acquired North shows us just how much they want back in.
Patna: Noted Bollywood actor Nana Patekar was the latest celebrity to meet with the aggrieved parents of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the actor from Patna who recently died of alleged suicide at his home in Mumbai, to share his grief and to support them on their demand for a full CBI probe into their son's death shrouded by a cloud of suspicion of foul play.

Patekar, a critically-acclaimed actor of dozens of movies, arrived in a white car at Sushant Singh Rajput's house in Rajiv Nagar in Patna and went inside where he paid floral tribute to a portrait of the late actor who was seen as a rising star of the Bollywood allegedly causing some concerns and jealousy among some of his peers and more established actors and movie-makers of the industry.

The thespian remained inside for about half an hour where he told the parents and other family members of the late actor to remain strong in this very tragic hour of their lives and continue to press for a full CBI probe after the Mumbai police summarily concluded his death as a case of suicide with no sign of any foul play.

Meanwhile, another actor from Patna, Shekhar Suman, tweeted that he was also returning to his home town to meet with the family members of Sushant Singh Rajput.

"I am going to meet them at their home. I will also appeal to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to demand for a CBI probe in Sushant's case so the family can get justice at the end," he wrote.
Patna: Few hours of rain on Sunday morning once again exposed the failure of the Nitish government as Patna roads, like many past years, turned into a living hell with water accumulation in many areas, in some areas as high as fifteen inches.



https://www.patnadaily.com/index.php/news/14782-government-failure-to-rid-patna-from-water-logging-surfaces-again.html#sigProId6dfadaa65c View the embedded image gallery online at:

"We have made available all the resources to the concerned departments so water-logging does not take place in Patna. If this problem persists, we may be forced to take harsh steps against some government officials," Kumar warned.

Many roads across the city were facing serious water-logging problem as the government, after making tall promises for years that this won't happen again, once again failed to fix the underground sewage system, many of them built over 75-80 years ago during the British rule.

Areas affected by water-logging on roads included Kadam Kuan, Rajendra Nagar, Saidpur, Congress Maidan, Dinkar Roundabout, Lohanipur, Langartoli, Buddha Murti in New Area, Nawal Kishore Path, Thakurbari Road, Park Road, Gandhi Maidan, Lalji Tola, Dariyapur, Sabzi Bagh, Bhanwar Pokhar, Karbigahia, Chiraiyantand, Bihari Sao Lane, Pataliputra Colony, Kankarbagh, Postal Park, Ram Krishna Nagar, and Mithapur, among others.

With Patna streets overflowing with garbage, residents appeared to have resigned to the fact this government has once again failed to keep its promise to rid the city from such hellish nightmare.

Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials said arrangements were being made to dispatch pumps in the affected areas so water could be drained out soon.

Suresh Kumar Sharma, Urban Development minister, in an attempt to shift the blame from the Nitish administration to someone else, said tough actions might be taken against PMC and Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO) top officials for failing to meet their responsibilities.

"I have been told that the cleaning of underground sewage would be completed by Tuesday June 30th but if they failed to do so, we will not hesitate in taking tough actions against some senior officials," Sharma said.
Larry Ralph Clipperton, 72, of Pauls Valley, Okla., entered this life as the son of Dean and Lavinna Clipperton on August 1, 1948 in Jefferson, Iowa and entered eternal life on Friday, June 4, 2021at his residence. In his death as in his life, he was surrounded by family who shared with him 




DRONES will soon be patrolling the countrys borders as Government moves to address security challenges posed by border jumpers who could be spreading infections by avoiding compulsory quarantine and testing.





Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said her ministry received funding for its Covid-19 support from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development as well and China donated 40 trucks to the army.





This came out yesterday when Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is the deputy chairperson of the taskforce against Covid-19, appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services to give oral evidence on how the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19 was handling security matters.





The committee, chaired by Cde Callisto Gwanetsa, heard that the involvement of the defence forces was allowed since they were providing assistance to the civil power.





Some of the duties of the ZDF in the enforcement of the lockdown measures included manning checkpoints within cities and on highways to ensure that only those exempted were allowed to move around carrying out their critical duties.





The defence forces and the police were also involved in joint border patrols to curb the illegal border crossings by returning residents, which have reportedly been on the increase since the closure of the official borders in March.





Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri expressed concern over policing the countrys borders to contain illegal crossings by both pedestrian and vehicular traffic into the country, and the danger of importing Covid-19 infections.





Zimbabwe has borders with Botswana (813km), Mozambique (1 231km), South Africa (255km) and Zambia (767km) adding up to a stretch of 3 066km.





Police were given motorbikes. We were given an allocation to purchase vehicles so the police will buy some. The army does not have vehicles, but the good news is that we received some 40 trucks from China. We are using these trucks to make sure we cover as much ground as possible. They will not be adequate, but its better than nothing, she said.





Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri added that although the borders would not be adequately patrolled using drones the good thing was that the use of technology had also been recommended for the monitoring of commercial vehicles transiting through Zimbabwe.





SADC has agreed to the movement of commercial goods throughout the region to balance health needs and economic imperatives, she said.





Further, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri raised concern over the shortage of personal protective equipment, which branded a serious challenge affecting the security forces working in the Covid-19 frontline.





Inadequate funding for food, transport, fuel and kitting, which became perennial after the imposition of illegal sanctions also took its toll on both the morale of troops and their effectiveness.





The main challenge confronting the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in fighting Covid-19 is lack of resources.





She noted that the same committee had frequently heard about the scarcity of funds for normal operations.





While the Ministry is making frantic efforts to acquire adequate personal protective equipment, its efforts were recently complemented by a donation from the Ministry of Defence of the Peoples Republic of China worth more than US$300 000.





Temptation comes in some situations as our soldiers do not have rations. It is important that we get resources so that our soldiers will not be tempted.





On the issue of rations, we requested for $500 million, but were only allocated $100 million, which is a drop in the ocean. It remains a concern. This is a security issue because it affects our economy. We have certain elements such as those who were in prison who may cause havoc.





We are concerned about 170 hardcore criminals released from our neighbouring countries who escaped from quarantine centres recently. Some of them have already started causing havoc in the communities. Some do not have identity documents and it becomes difficult to trace them, she said.





Minister Muchinguri Kashiri said those involved in supporting efforts to contain infections were also receiving risk allowance and had free health medical care.





She dismissed claims that Zimbabwean forces were in Mozambique saying these were just social media rumours.

Zimbabwe is mindful that these issues are issues of a regional thrust. There is strength in Zimbabwe working with other countries. Zimbabwe is still chairing the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation and we know that when a neighbour is under attack we seek a regional approach to these matters.





As a region we cannot go in to settle a problem that will overflow to other countries. We are bound by certain rules and regulations that a member cannot go in without general understanding or agreement.




Updated June 29, 2020 to reflect the latest Android tools.

Few things in life are as annoying as finding that your Android handset refuses to install any more app updates because its run out of storage. Unlike many of lifes little annoyances, though, this ones easy to fix. You can't do anything about your system files, but you can quickly clear out precious gigs by sweeping up stale downloads, rooting out offline maps and documents, clearing caches, and wiping unneeded music and video files. And if these tips dont do the trick, check out our picks for the best Android phones for every need and budget.

Clear out all cached app data

Michael Simon/IDG Clearing out cache won't save a ton of space at once but it will add up.

If you dig into the Apps storage setting screen and tap on an individual app, youll notice that each app has its own stash of cached dataanywhere from a few kilobytes to hundreds of megs, or even more. These caches of data are essentially just junk files, and they can be safely deleted to free up storage space. Select the app you want, then the Storage tab and, finally the Clear Cache button to take out the trash.

Tame your Chrome browser

Michael Simon/IDG Chrome can use up a bit of your phone's space.

One of the biggest background abusers of your phone's space is a web browser. Each time you visit a site, it stores a little bit for faster loading, and they can add up over time. To bring things back down to size, open Chrome on your Android phone, tap the menu in the top right corner, and open Settings. Then go to Site Settings and scroll down to Storage. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a Clear site storage option. Tap it and you might free up a couple of hundred megabytes.

Clean up your Downloads

Michael Simon/IDG Your phone saves everything you've ever downloaded so you might need to clear it every once in a while.

Just like on a PC or a Mac, your Android device has a Downloads folder. You'll find inside the Files app on most phonesthough it's called My Files on Galaxy phonesand Its a favorite hideout for miscellaneous junk files downloaded from the web or some other app. When you find it, the three-line menu icon in the top corner of the screen and sort the list of downloads by size, then take a look at whats hogging the most storage space. Then simply tap and hold to select the ones you don't want and trash them.

Dump photos that are already backed up

One of the best features of Googles Photos app is its ability to back up your entire photo library to your online Google account. Once your snapshots are safely backed up, Photos can zap any locally stored images to free up more space. Open the Photos app, tap the three-line menu button in the top left corner of the screen, then tap Free up space. The Photos app will let you know how many pictures it can delete from local storage and how much space you'll save. Tap OK to pull the trigger.

Note: If youre using the High quality setting for unlimited but lower-resolution cloud storage of your backed up photos, keep in mind that the Free up device storage feature will delete your full-resolution originals. Make sure youve stored them elsewhere before you tap the OK button.

Manage downloaded music, movies, and podcasts

The biggest space suckers on your Android phone are media files. Those albums that you downloaded for a camping trip or a movie for a long plane ride that you simply forgot about can eat up lots of data. Thankfully they're easy to find and remove. First, head over to the Storage tab in Settings and check the Audio and Video folders to see if there are any files that can be deleted.

Michael Simon Audio and video files can be huge space suckers.

You'll also want to check your individual streaming apps for any downloaded files. That includes Spotify, Netflix, YouTube Music or any other app you use since files may be contained within the app itself.

Erase offline areas in Google Maps

Downloading a map in the latest version of the Google Maps app is a great way to navigate when your device is offline, especially now that both searching and driving directions are supported.

But those searchable offline areas come at a cost: storage space, and potentially lots of it. Indeed, a single offline map can consume more than a gigabyte of storage depending on the size of the area.

You can check how much space your offline maps have staked out by tapping the three-line menu button in the top left corner of the main Google Maps interface, then tapping Offline. The storage used by each offline map is displayed below its name. Tap the map and tap Delete to reclaim its storage space.

Unload your least-used apps

I love the fact that I can download and install Android apps to my devices remotely from a desktop web browser. The downside? My Android handsets tend to be overstuffed with too many apps, many of them used only once (or even never).

Ben Patterson / IDG You can find out which apps you use the least with help from the Play Store app.

The solution, of course, is to delete some of those appsideally, the ones you use the least. There are also several apps that can track your app usage and tell you which apps youre using the least, among them: App Usage, App Tracker, and QualityTime. But the best judge of the apps you dont want is you. You can either browse your app drawer to find any apps you dont need anymore, or check out your library in the Play Store.

To find a list of everything on your phone, open the Play Store app, tap the three-line menu button in the top right corner of the screen, tap My apps & games, then tap the Installed tab. From there, tap the Manage your apps tab. On the next page, you'll see a list of your apps sorted by how often you use them and you can easily delete the ones you don't need anymore.

Use your phone's storage tools

If youre lucky enough to have a phone thats been updated to Oreo, Google has built in some great tools for tracking and managing your storage limits. Head over to the Setting app and tap the Storage tab. Inside youll find a handy rundown of everything thats taking up space on your phone, just like on Nougat. But in Oreo, you have more control over your files. Tap on any of the sections and youll see a list of related apps and how much space theyre using. Tap again, and youll be able to clear anything inside by selecting the Free Storage button. Just keep in mind that this will clear any files being help inside the app.

Michael Simon/IDG The storage manager in Android Oreo will help you see exactly whats eating your phones free space.

Youll also find a new Free up space button at the top of Oreos storage manager. Tap it and youll see a list of your downloads and infrequently used apps, as well as an option to clear any photos and videos that have already been backed up to the cloud. Its essentially a shortcut, but its a handy one.

Turn on smart storage

Oreo includes a new toggle called Smart Storage that can work wonders without needing to do a thing. Flip it on, and your phone will automatically clear out the biggest space-stealing culprit: photos and videos.

Michael Simon/IDG Android Oreos Smart Storage can free up space without your needing to lift a finger.

Since we all forget to clear out our photo libraries regularly, you can choose to automatically remove backed-up photos and videos after 30, 60, or 90 days, making sure you phone isnt stuffed with duplicate photos.

Get an SD card

Nearly every Android phone you can buy in 2018 has a slot for expandable storage, so youll be able to double, triple, and quadruple the space on your phone for just a few bucks. Youll want to get a micro SD card from Samsung or SanDisk in at least 32GB capacity. Prices per gigabyte decrease substantially as the capacity increases, so you should buy the biggest card that you can afford. As a very general rule, around $0.40 per gigabyte is a good price.

Michael Simon/IDG The best way to free up space on your Android phone is to add more of it.

Once you select the size you want, installing it is a snap. Theres no formatting to worry about, just pop open your SIM card slot and slide in the SD card. Then, youll be able to shift files and apps onto the card as needed to free up precious internal space. Most phones support SDcards, thought Google's Pixel phones and certain Galaxy phones do not.

Take advantage of Google Drive

Google gives 15 gigs of free cloud storage with every account, so you might as well use it. Anything inside your Downloads or Files app can be jettisoned to your Google Drive by tapping the menu button in the top right corner and choosing Send to... This will open the share sheet, where you can select Save to Drive to choose which folder to add it to. Then you can delete it from your phone without losing it forever.

Michael Simon/IDG Your phone comes with 15GB of free space that you might not be utilizing.

And if 15 gigs arent enough, you can upgrade to Google One and increase your storage by an order of magnitude for just a few bucks a month. For just $1.99 per month, youll get an extra 100GB of space, and a buck more ($2.99/month) will double it to 200GB.
Intels endless 10nm nightmare has cost it so, so much.

It all started on September 5, 2014. Thats the day Intel introduced 5th-gen Core M chips based on Broadwell, the companys first processors built using the 14-nanometer manufacturing process. Despite some manufacturing woes that pushed Broadwell back from its expected 2013 release, Intels offering served as the vanguard of processor technology. AMD remained stuck on the 28nm process with its abysmal Bulldozer architecture. A mere month later, the Apple iPad Air 2 launched with a custom A8X chip that couldnt quite hang with Intels older Haswell CPUs in Geekbenchbut it was getting close.

Six years later, the tables have turned. Intels 10th-gen Core desktop processors remain on an (upgraded) 14nm process. AMDs Ryzen chips have snatched the computing crown, and the upcoming Ryzen 5000 CPUs intend to claim the gaming crown, Intels desktop stronghold. Meanwhile, Apples doing the unthinkable: switching Macs away from x86 CPUs onto its own custom Arm silicon. And if Apples flight from Nvidia GPUs after Bumpgate in 2009 is any indication, it wont be coming back.

How did Intel get here? Lets look at how the company lost its way, starting with the death of tick-tock.

The long road to 10nm

It wasnt supposed to be like this. Intels original roadmaps expected 10nm chips to launch in 2016, with more advanced 7nm chips coming in 2018. Then the delays began.

The death of Intels vaunted tick-tock manufacturing process served as the canary in the coal mine. For years, Intels processors followed the tick-tock cadence, releasing upgraded CPUs with a smaller manufacturing process one generation, then a new microarchitecture built on the smaller process the following year. Tick-tock; tick-tock. The relentless innovation must have sounded like the doomsday clock to then-floundering AMD.

Intel

The troublesome 10nm process killed it. In early 2016, Intel confirmed that tick-tock was dead, adding a third leg to the process dubbed optimization. Intels 7th-gen Kaby Lake processors were flagged as the first optimization architecture in 2017, another 14nm chip following the releases of Broadwell and then Skylake. Considering that Intel still has yet to release 10nm desktop processors, it comes at no surprise that neither tick-tock nor tick-tock-optimization has been mentioned since.

Tick-tocks demise obviously delayed 10nms arrival. Originally slated for a 2016 launch, by early that year Intel said that its first 10nm would be Cannon Lake in the second half of 2017, a die-shrink of the optimized Kaby Lake architecture. It wouldnt launch until mid-2018, and only then in a handful of low-end systems with integrated graphics disabled. Later that year, we said Cannon Lake is barely squeaked out in any reasonable volume. The release went so poorly that when Intel previewed 10nm Sunny Cove cores to the press in December 2018, it also vowed to decouple its architecture and IP from manufacturing process as much as possible to prevent stalls like this from happening again.

The 10nm question occurs at 17:30 in the video above.

Intel CEO Bob Swan blamed the delays on sheer ambition at Fortunes Brainstorm Tech Conference in mid-2019, citing the companys history of defying odds. At a time when it was getting harder and harder, we set a more and more aggressive goal. From that, it just took us longer... We prioritized performance at a time when predictability was really important, he said. The short story is we learned from it and well get our 10nm node out this year. Our 7nm node will be out in two years and it will be a 2.0x scaling, so back to the historical Moores Law curve.

Those 10nm Sunny Cove cores indeed hit laptops in the form of 10th-gen Ice Lake processors in August, 2019. Yes, 10nm was finally, truly hereat least in notebooks. Intels desktop offerings remain on the 14nm process. And even after the three-year delay, the actual 10nm CPU cores came with lower clock speeds and didnt impress much.

Our performance analysis declared that Ice Lakes true appeal lay in its vastly upgraded graphics chops. Our general takeaway is that the CPU is on a par with, or somewhat faster than, todays laptops in most conventional applications that dont touch the special sauce of improved encryption, AI or encoding features, we said. In applications that touch those features, though, its a major upgrade over existing 14nm chips. Its telling, however, that Intels 10th-gen Comet Lake H gaming processors continue to use the 14nm process and its higher clock speeds. Newer 11th-gen, 10nm Tiger Lake chips deliver much bigger single-threaded performance gains in small laptops thanks to improvements like an innovative SuperFIN transistor design, but remain restricted mostly to ultra-thin laptops at the moment.

Gordon Mah Ung Intel desktop CPUs still game like champs.

Intel hasnt sat still for half a decade; its been fine-tuning the performance of its 14nm processors, introducing features like AVX-512 instructions, Thunderbolt 3, Wi-Fi 6, and greatly enhanced integrated graphics.

Intels also been pushing whats possible with 14nm hard to keep up with the competitive landscape. While the 14nm Core i7-6700K debuted with four cores and 4.2 GHz Turbo speeds, the new 10-core, 20-thread Core i9-10900K can hit up to 5.3GHz under optimal conditions. That might be why we havent seen 10nm processors hit desktops yet. Intels tuned the 14nm architectures so finely that its hard to imagine newer 10nm coming anywhere close to the same raw speeds.

AMD rising

Intels 10nm struggles have opened the doors for its rivals.

Gordon Mah Ung/IDG AMDs new 12-core Ryzen 9 3900X is the new king of mainstream performance CPUs.

After the disastrous Bulldozer, AMD struck back big-time with its new Ryzen processors, built using TSMCs most advanced processing nodes. Ryzen debuted in 2017 as a core-loaded 14nm monster that slaughtered Intel in multi-threaded tasks and overall value, but lagged in gaming performance. Lower prices and significant IPC improvements helped 2nd-gen Ryzen supplant Intels 8th-gen Core i7 as our recommended flagship processor. Then, with Intel mired at 14nm, AMD took the technological lead with 3rd-gen Ryzen CPUs built using an advanced 7nm process with support for blazing-fast PCIe 4.0 storage. (Intels latest 10th-gen chips remain on PCIe 3.0.)

Mentioned in this article AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 12-core, 24-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Prism LED Cooler MSRP $499.00 See it

For probably 9 out of 10 consumers looking at a high-end CPU, theyll want to buy the Ryzen 9 3900X [over the Core i9-9900K], we declared in our review. Then AMD released the faster 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X just to rub the victory in Intels face. Check out our recap on how AMDs Ryzen snatched the computing crown from Intel after 15 long years if you want to learn more.

Brad Chacos/IDG Screenshot of Amazons best-selling desktop CPUs on June 23, 2020.

Ryzen processors dominate our list of the best CPUs, and AMDs taking full advantage. The companys gained market share for 10 straight quarters, hitting nearly 20 percent of total desktop pie for the first time since 2013. Ryzen desktop CPUs accounted for 86 percent of sales at Germanys enthusiast-focused Mindfactory this past February, and theyve remained atop Amazons CPU bestseller list for years now. In desktop, overall demand for our latest Ryzen 3000 and prior generation Ryzen 2000 processor families were strong, both of which continue to top retailer bestseller lists and have more than 50-percent share of premium processor sales at many top global etailers, CEO Lisa Su said to investors in April.

On November 5, AMD plans to complete its coup with Ryzen 5000 processors that outpunch their Core rivals in gaming performance on the back of a massive 19 percent IPC uplift. Throughout AMDs desktop resurgence, top-notch gaming performance helped Intel stay competitive. If Ryzen 5000 manages to seize that crown, Intels desktop prospects look bleak in the near future, even with 11th-gen Rocket Lake CPUs coming sometime in the first quarter of 2021. Leakers expect Rocket Lake to remain on the 14nm process, though it may switch away from Intels ancient Skylake-based cores for the newer microarchitecture.

Asus The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 was the first laptop out of the gate with AMDs Ryzen 9 4900HS mobile CPU, revealed March 30, 2020.

Making matters worse for Intel, 7nm Ryzen 4000 mobile chips introduced in 2020 enable performance that all but the highest-end Intel-based systems just cant match (though Intels new 10nm Tiger Lake chips excel in small, portable laptops). To put AMDs Ryzen 4000 in perspective, you have to understand that in AMDs 50-year history, it has never beaten Intel in laptops, we said in our review. AMDs Ryzen 4000 can spar with laptops that weigh two to even three times as much. This is something we frankly didnt expect. Ryzen 4000 is without a doubt the most game-changing performance laptop CPU weve seen in years.

Laptops remained a key bastion for Intel, but AMDs knocking. Notebooks like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, Acer Swift 3, and the Dell G5 15 SE deliver killer performance at killer prices. AMD expects over 100 laptops with Ryzen 4000 to launch in 2020.

Keep reading to learn how Apple just dealt Intel another crushing blow.
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.
The CEO and founder for Caroline group Ms. Caroline Esinam Adzogble has out doored her group of companies with great initiatives.



28-year-old Caroline Esinam Adzogble, who hails from Dzodze in the Volta Region is a seasoned educational consultant and a champion for better educational opportunities across Africa.



Her Journey



As a brilliant teenager, Caroline Adzogble wanted to become a medical doctor. After graduation from senior high school, her dream of becoming a doctor was shattered as her parents could not afford the fees.



While her peers went off to college, Ms. Caroline chose to pursue courses in Information Technology.



She soon fell in love with IT as she learned the power in technology and how it links intercontinental communication.



Ms. Caroline founded an IT Training Institution in 2012 known as AITC, offering courses such as database administration systems, hardware and networking, software, and web development.



Today, Caroline is a national asset in the field of education. She is the founder and CEO of the Caroline Group in Ghana, Kenya, UK, and USA  a major conglomerate and one of the largest education groups around the world.



The Ghanaian-born inspirational and multi-award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, and educationist has a deep passion for changing education in Africa and she is already doing so.



Caroline believes the power in exposure and as such provides tailored travel-related services to students and summer programs.



She owns her own accredited international college as one of the youngest female entrepreneurs in Ghana.



Under Caroline group



The Group currently has six subsidiaries which include; Potters International College, Caroline University, International boarding school services, International university services, Mercy heart foundation, and every day travels and tours.



Roles they play



Potters International College, an online college, which she started in 2010 has been the basis of her company which has now expanded the operation to other areas.

The college offers internationally-recognized diplomas to students who have had gaps in their education and do not have the necessary academic qualification to move on to the next level.



Caroline University is a non-academic university that doesnt issue academic qualifications but rather offers short term seminars and professional development courses to aspiring entrepreneurs and corporate organizations in different cities. Her multicultural experience has earned her the right to consult for groups of schools across the globe.



International University Services serves universities by offering consulting, marketing, and recruitment services to bridge the gap that exists between International student recruitment and Institutional partnerships by diversifying the student pool and increasing student capacity on campus.



International Boarding School Services serves boarding school by offering consulting, marketing, and recruitment services to bridge the gap that exists between International student recruitment and Institutional partnerships by diversifying the student pool and increasing student capacity on campus.



Carolines efforts have been heavily complimented by the numerous awards she keeps receiving in the category of Education. MEF Presidents Youth Prize in the field of Education and Xperience Womanity Awards for Education amongst many others.





By philanthropy



Caroline is mostly noted for her US$1million scholarship scheme for 100 African students in 2018 and the 100 laptop project for students in 2019. It doesnt end there, Caroline continues to pay the fees of students and provide laptops to students that needed it. On her 28 birthday, Caroline granted 28 wishes to her fans.



Everyday Travels & Tour is a 360 travel management service through visa assistance, flights, hotels and tours for corporate organizations and individuals.







Upcoming initiatives



Speaking at the launch of the Caroline group of companies, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Caroline Esinam Adzogble indicated that her company will kick starts projects in July 2020.



On my commitment to Philanthropy, starting July I am redefining prison reform. I will be going to the Nsawam womens prison and I will be installing sanitary pad banks on site and I will be donating 1,000 sanitary pads every year. I will be starting with the Nsawam prisons and I will continue to other prisons across the globe. I will also be doing donations of beauty items to the ladies in some of these prisons.



She noted her company will be paying fines for females who are serving sentences because they could not afford to pay fines slapped on them.



I will also be paying fines for some of these women. I believe some of them are behind bars because they could not pay their fines, so I will be coming in to pay the fines for them so that they dont end up in jail.



Other initiatives which she would be adding include; Caroline TV and Radio (360 education channel which is going to solely focus on everything that entails education)



Her first personal school tour in senior high schools, universities to help them understand education being the greatest tool they have.



When women succeed conferences which will be hosted by herself and other women whom she calls Power Houses to address topics affecting women in diversity, equality, work-life balance, unfair pay grades as well as for them to share their entrepreneurial journey to motivate the youth. The women includes;Berla Mundi, Dzigbordi Kwaku, Audrey Swatson (Youngest Female Pilot), Lady Ohemaa (Young Female Lawyer) etc.



Ms Caroline stated she has 2years more to retire as she hopes to train more people for consultancy as well as apply more knowledge and trainings. She hopes to be in other countries to establish her companies before retiring at 30.



She used the opportunity to state that she is the only sole owner of the Company and nothing was handed to her neither does she have any Ghanaian partners since all her partners are abroad.



She congratulated all women doing so well for themselves to keep us the champions spirit in aiming high to achieve their goals. She advised the youth to stay true to themselves and not let social media or society pressure them into something they dont have passion for.



She stated in her final submission that her doors are opened for business, collaborations, partners etc.



More information about the group can be found on www.carolinegroup.com.



Follow her on social media Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn is @CAdzogble



For further details E-mail: [email protected] or call +233-244-271-978

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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The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has explained that one of its helicopters landed in the Kumbungu District last Thursday because of an emergency.



In a statement signed and issued by the Director Public Relations, Colonel E. Aggrey-Quashie on Saturday, June 27, 2020, the army explained that it was an "emergency landing."



HELICOPTER EMERGENCY LANDING IN KUMBUNGU DISTRICT



On Thursday 25 June 2020, at about 1745 hours, a Ghana Air Force Z9-EH Helicopter with tail number GHF 630 performed an emergency landing in a field about 3 Km southwest of Ganvuliga village.



The location is in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region, and approximately 32 Km west of the Tamale Airport.

The crew landed after observing a malfunction of the tail rotor system, which provides anti-torque and directional control to the aircraft.



The incident happened while the crew were returning from Wa to Tamale.



All the 4 crew members and 4 other military personnel on board at the time of the incident were successfully recovered within minutes by another Ghana Air Force helicopter, with no fatalities nor injuries.



There were no civilians on board, and no damage nor injuries to property and people on ground.



The landing site has since been secured and efforts are underway to recover the aircraft.



The Kumbungu District Chief Executive and the local community are also providing the necessary assistance to the recovery team.



A Preliminary Investigation Team (PIT) has been constituted and is currently on site to conduct a full assessment of the damage to the aircraft to allow a recovery to Air Force Base, Tamale. The manufacturers of the aircraft, China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) based in China, and their local representatives, have been informed of the incident and are providing all the necessary technical support. The aircraft is one of four helicopters that were delivered to the Ghana Air Force in 2015.



The crew are commended for their quick judgement and timely intervention for flying the helicopter to a safe emergency landing. The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to assure the general public that the military is still operational and its activities have in no way been affected by this incident. The morale of personnel is high and normal activities are ongoing.









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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Lawyer Kobina Tahir Hammond says he cannot brand the people of the Volta Region as non-Ghanaians and that the viral video about him has been misconstrued.



According to K.T. Hammond, who is the MP for Adansi-Asokwa, the viral video of him speaking to the press that has been labelled as ethnocentric comments against the people of the Volta Region was taken out of context.



That is not what I said. How can I brand the whole population of the Volta Region as non-Ghanaians? That was not what I said. I did not emphatically make that point. I have very good friends from the Volta Region including Fifi Kwetey, Okudzeto Ablakwa, Doe Adjaho some of whom are members of my fan club. I have grown well enough in politics to know that you do not have to stigmatize a particular section of a country because of politics. I didnt say that, KT Hammond told Citi News.



Many Ghanaians have chastised the MP for making some unsavoury comments which a section of public believes can result in chaos between Ghana and Togo.



Whilst explaining the deployment of the Military in the Volta Region, the MP stated that some foreign nationals from neighbouring Togo had participated in the election re-run of the 2008 general elections as Ghanaians in Ketu South Constituency.



Therefore, the Military is in the Volta region to check the influx as Ghana prepares to conduct a new voter registration exercise ahead of the December polls.



The military is there to make sure you vote if you are Ghanaian and if you have the constitutional right to vote. Thats all there is. They are not electoral officers, but they are peacekeeping forces. They are keeping the peace. They [Togolese] walk into the [Volta Region] and come out normally but they are not Ghanaians. When they walk in there, they can do whatever they do so I guess that is the reason for that, KT Hammond said in the viral video.



Meanwhile, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the viral video of the MP.



In a statement issued by his Special Aide Joyce Bawah Mogtari, former President John Mahama said that the deployment of troops to the regions is simply to prevent residents of these regions from the impending registration and not for any other reason.



To send troops into regions in times of peace for the sole purpose of preventing them from registration amounts to declaring war on them, the statement said.



Any President sanctioning this sort of activity stands in breach of his oath to the people of Ghana. Any President doing this commits a grave sin against the very people he swore to protect.

Source: ghanaweb









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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President Nana Akufo-Addo will later Monday, address the nation on the upcoming voters register compilation, the Director of Communications at the Presidency says.



According to Eugene Arhin, the time for the address will be communicated in the course of the day.



It will be a rare occasion of the President addressing the nation twice in a space of 24 hours, following his 13th televised address on the governments management the Covid-19 pandemic.



The expected address follow the Supreme Courts green light to the Electoral Commission to compile a new voters register.



The EC argues the current register is overly bloated.



The opposition NDC however, vehemently campaigned against the compilation and challenged same at the Apex Court.



After the Supreme Court ruled that the EC can compile a new register without accepting the current ID as an identification document, the NDC expressed disappointment but urged all Ghanaians to come out and register.



The exercise begins on Tuesday, June 30.





























The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will on Monday address the nation, ahead of the commencement...







Posted by Eugene Arhin on Sunday, June 28, 2020











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Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo has dismissed five government ministers.



Ministers for defence, interior, economy, agriculture and energy were all dismissed in a decree on Sunday.



No explanation was given for their sacking.



Their dismissal comes ahead of a parliamentary debate on Monday on which political alliances have the right to govern the country.



The country has been gripped by political turmoil for many years. President Embalo was announced as the winner of December's election. However, the long-time ruling party PAIGC said the elections was rigged.



The sacked ministers are all members of President's Embalo's Madem-15 party or parties loyal to the president, according to Reuters news agency.



"It is a strategy for Umaro Sissoco Embalo to gain the majority at the parliament," the agency quotes a website Ditadura de Consenso as saying.



Guinea-Bissau has had nine coups or attempted coups since 1980.



Mr Embalo, a former army general, has said he wants to resolve tensions and modernise Guinea-Bissau - one of the world's poorest nations.

Source: BBC









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The Upper East Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ampofo Duku, has inaugurated a new Divisional Police Command for the region.



Until the inauguration of the Bolgatanga Divisional Police Command on Friday, the region, which is made up of 15 municipalities and districts, had only one Divisional Police Command, at Bawku.



DCOP Duku said that the establishment of the Police Divisional Command in the region had been on the drawing board for more than 10 years.



He stated Divisional Police Command play major role in augmenting the efforts of the Regional Police Command in combating crime, and appealed to the government and development partners to support the creation of more police divisional command in the Upper East.



The Regional Commander said the new Divisional Police Command was built through the initiative of the Ghana Police Service, and called on the people to support fight crime.



The Commander in charge of the new Divisional Police Command, Chief Superintendent Dela Dzansi, would be expected to superintend over Bolgatanga Municipality , Bolgatanga East, Talensi and the Bongo Districts.



He said the new Police Divisional Command would include Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit [DOVVSU] and patrol units among others.



Sup Dzansi appealed to the public to support the police by volunteering information to help deal with crime.



He also urged the municipal and district assemblies and corporate bodies in the Upper East to assist the new Divisional Police Command with office equipment, to facilitate work.



The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Joseph Ameyuri, pledged the assemblys support for the newly created Police Division.







Source: The Ghanaian Times









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PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwas government is reportedly ill-equipped to smoothly run the June examinations as the Education ministry has not deployed equipment to combat the spread of COVID-19.





Government has already given the greenlight to have June examinations proceed, with pupils in boarding schools already returning to schools.





But it has emerged that the schools are not equipped with infra-red thermometers for screening students, with some district education officers extending a begging bowl to stakeholders and well-wishers for donations of the thermometers.





The Bulilima district education office has appealed for assistance as there was dire need of thermometers. The office covers Insiza, Beitbridge, Matobo, Umzingwane, Gwanda and Mangwe.





Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone went unanswered.





Bulilima district education inspector (DSI) Evelyn Ncube in a memo to stakeholders seen by NewsDay yesterday, painted a gloomy picture of the schools state of preparedness to contain the deadly virus.





Students start writing June 2020 examinations on June 30, 2020. The district is in dire need of infra-red thermometers for screening students at schools. The Primary and Secondary Education ministry is appealing for assistance. Please, anyone able to assist, contact DSI (on) 0775752266, Ncube pleaded in her memo dated June 26.





The situation, which has come at a time teachers are plotting to boycott invigilating the June exams over poor salaries and lack of protective clothing and equipment at schools, is reportedly the same countrywide.





About 10 000 teachers are required to invigilate the June examinations. Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said the issue of invigilating June examinations was before the courts, where both the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) and the Primary and Secondary Education ministry had promised to put testing kits, thermometers, sanitisers, personal protective equipment in schools by June 26.





They also promised that they would have cleaned and disinfected schools currently used as quarantine centres by then. Surprisingly, the ministry and Zimsec have been belting and bellowing instructions to school heads to scavenge for COVID-19 abatement requirements at a zero budget, an impossible feat indeed, Zhou said.





He also urged teachers to wait for official communication from unions as the matter was still before the court.





Both O and A Level examinations will start tomorrow despite leaners having last been in school on March 24, 2020.





Parents and guardians yesterday expressed concern over the opening of boarding schools for pupils who are writing June examinations at a time COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the country.





Yesterday, some parents accompanied their children back to school for the June examinations.





Parents said they were left with no choice, but to send their children back to school since they were supposed to write June examinations despite the risk of possible COVID-19 infections.





Nqobani Ndlovu, a South Africa-based parent, said. Its a tough situation. One way or the other, children have to write examinations. Personally, I would have opted that children write their exams next year. Im worried also about the set-up of infrastructure at schools, including maintaining social distance and sanitisation, he said.





Another parent, Moses Kumbeya, said parents were taking their children to school out of their good will as they had no choice.




The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa has explained that the heavy presence of armed personnel of the military and other security agencies in the Ketu South Municipality is meant to enforce the closure of border.



According to him the number of personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) at the borders was now inadequate to enforce the closure effectively, for which reason other security agencies were assisting to enforce of the closure.



Dr Letsa said this at a press conference in Ho on Friday to react to public concerns over the trend, stressing that Since the closure of the frontier a few months ago to prevent the spread of COVID-19, some lawless people still crossed in and out of Ghana with impunity, using unapproved routes.



He said that the recent claims by the Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr Henry K. Ametefee that the government had declared war on the Volta Region, and for that matter, the Ewe people, was unfortunate and totally untrue.



The Volta Region is an integral part of Ghana and so, how can the government declare war on its own people, the regional minister sought to know.



Dr Letsa revealed that human trafficking and other crimes across the border were still rampant, in spite of the closure of border.



In that regard, he said that the government could not stand aside and look on unconcerned while criminals had a field day to put the lives Ghanaians at risk.



He gave the assurance that the military personnel on duty in the area were all professional soldiers who would carry out their assigned duties diligently without intimidating anyone.



The regional minister, therefore, entreated residents of the area to go about their normal daily activities without entertaining any fear.



The Ketu South Municipal Executive, Mr Elliot Edem Agbenorwu, who was present, denied reports that the soldiers were storming the homes of the residents and demanding their identities at gun point, saying no such thing happened.

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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The National Media Commission (NMC) has urged journalists not to forget the crucial role they play to ensure free and fair general election, on December 7.



According to the NMC, in reporting on elections, journalists would be expected to serve as the guardian and voice of the people.



Speaking at a Media Convention in Kumasi, the NMCs Chairman, Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafo reminded journalists of the NMCs guidelines for political reporting which demanded that media practitioners published truthful, unbiased information.



He said the journalist had the obligation to promote good faith toward political parties, presidential and parliamentary candidates and electoral process and help strengthen democracy.



Mr Boadu-Ayeboafo asked journalists to inform voters about competing parties, candidates, campaign issues and arrangements involving electoral processes.



He stressed that the media should provide the public with information that would enable the electorate to make intelligent decisions during the elections.



Mr Boadu-Ayeboafo asked journalists not be subordinated and consider themselves as shadows of others.



He said the moment they do that, they lose their essence, they must be committed and objective by ensuring what they publish is factual, accurate and verifiable toward credibility which must be treasured.



Mr Boadu-Ayeboafo noted that of all the primary groupings, it is only the media that is mandated by the constitution to hold government accountable to the people. By failing to do that means we will be reneging on our responsibilities and obligations.



He said when we criticise the government, it is our responsibility and obligation imposed on us, but the only caveat is to do so with objectivity and not for partisanship.



Mr Boadu-Ayeboafo noted that as gatekeepers, journalists could not be passive, but should maintain credibility through meticulous attention and accuracy.



He urged journalists to be independent and take full responsibility for whatever they reported on or published.



Mr Boadu-Ayeboafo asked journalists not to allow personal interest to cloud their professional judgment, and reminded them of the GJA code of ethics that enjoins members to respect among others the right of people to information and respect for privacy and human dignity.



Nana Owusu Nyanin, chief of Kwamo, called on journalists to promote peace and national development.



He also asked traditional rulers to ensure peace during the elections, saying Ghana is a beautiful country and we have a collective responsibility to preserve the beauty of our country.



Nana Owusu Nyanin commended the GJA and US Embassy for organising the event to enable journalists to provide excellent reportage during the election.



Ashanti Regional Director of the EC, Emmanuel Bano-Bio, called on journalists to be unbiased, neutral and truthful in the discharge of their role.



Vice President of the GJA, Mrs Linda Asante Agyei, cautioned journalist against reckless reportage as well and urged politicians to refrain from careless statements.



The Media Convention 2020, is a United States Embassy sponsored project, being executed by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA),

Under the theme, The 2020 election: Role of the media in promoting civility and discernment in the political discourse.



The event brought together representatives of political parties, security agencies, Electoral Commission and media institutions, to discuss media coverage of Election 2020.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta last Saturday inspected some roads in the Eastern Region with a call on contractors to ensure speedy delivery of projects.



The tour was to afford the minister firsthand information on ongoing major projects under the Ghana Highways Authority and the Department of Urban Roads in the Eastern Region.



Some of the roads inspected included, the 24.8 kilometre Osiem to Begoro road constructed by General Construction Limited, Suhum-Asamankese road by Muudu Construction Limited, Asamankese roads, Volta Impe Limited; Asamankese-Akroso road, I.B. Maigida Construction Limited; Akroso-Oda, Midwest Construction Limited; Oda-Amonafopong road, Memphis Metropolitan Limited and Erdmac Limited .



The rest were Kade-Asuom road, constructed by Ghacos Limited, Asuom-Kwabeng, First Sky Limited; Kwabeng-Akyem Akropong, Justmoh Limited; Awenare-Ekroso Asamama, First Sky Limited and Akyem Akropong Awenere town roads, Doncross Limited.



Mr Amoako-Atta stated that for 10 years, the Akyem Wenchi Junction to Kade road had seen no improvement since it was awarded to the contractors.



The government would not sit down for any contractor to delay projects for no just reason and any contractor who unduly delays any project would have his contract immediately terminated, he warned.



He added that the contractual relationship between a contractor and the government demanded that contractors fulfilled their part, while the government was also under obligation to do its part, adding that such delays hindered the progress of development of road infrastructure in the country.



He urged contractor who were working on major road projects to avoid shoddy works and unnecessary delays, urging them to deliver on quality work.



On the Osiem-Begoro stretch of the road constructed by General Construction Limited, work was almost complete with 14.3 kilometres out of the 24.8 kilometres road receiving its primary seal while the rest of the stretch had been slated to be completed in 8 weeks.



Mr Amoako-Atta commended the contractor for producing quality work and urged all contractors to emulate, adding that the government would continue to promote quality work, and despise shoddy work.



He assured that the government would honour all payments due to enable the contractors to work efficiently and effectively, stressing the need for them to work hard to complete all road projects on time.



The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Eric Kwakye Darfour who was part of the tour was grateful for work done, recalling that the region was characterised with a lot of bad roads.



He hoped that most of the roads in the region would be completed in six months and urged the contractors to avoid delays and produce quality work.







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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The Aflao Traditional Council has appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to call the military personnel deployed to the Volta region to order as they are brutalizing civilians in Aflao



The council is also asking for the removal of obstacles placed at various points in the town.



The council, in statement signed by its president, Torgbui Amenya Fiti V, said the presence of the troops is causing fear and panic amongst the inhabitants as they are embarking on house to house searches and brutalizing motor bike riders within the town.



The presence of the troops started causing fear and panic amongst the inhabitants when they embarked on house to house searches and brutalizing of motor bikers within the towns. Additionally, the constant harassment of citizens occupying the borderlands are having detrimental effect on agricultural and other produce being brought to the markets.



The statement further adds that the Government of Ghana cannot allow its troops to brutalize its own citizens without recourse to justice whilst hypocritically lamenting George Floyds' passing at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis (USA). We are peace loving and believe in Ghana's "Freedom and Justice" for all.



Because we are peace loving does not make us cowards; when the fire is lit, there will be no turning back and the said fire will consume everything in its path, the council warned.



Below is the full statement



AFLAO LIVES MATTER



PRESS RELEASE BY AFLAO TRADITIONAL COUNCIL



29TH JUNE 2O20



As the Government projects it's power across the Volta Region (without doing same at the Western frontier with Ivory Coast or the Northern frontier with Burkina Faso) and to a larger extent Aflao along Ghana's Eastern frontier with the Republic of Togo, we the Chiefs and people of Aflao within Ketu South Municipality are feeling surrounded by detachments consisting of the army, police, immigration and national security armed personnel in uniform. These detachments, which look more like an occupying force, were deployed on Thursday 18th June 2020 according to media reports. Tents were erected and checkpoints mounted all over the rural settlements specifically Akato to Wudoaba where tents were erected in market squares (against civil norms) thereby inhibiting people from performing their daily activities.



The presence of the troops started causing fear and panic amongst the inhabitants when they embarked on house to house searches and brutalizing of motor bikers within the towns. Additionally, the constant harassment of citizens occupying the borderlands are having detrimental effect on agricultural and other produce being brought to the markets.



One thing that is beating our imagination is how Ghanaians have been conditioned by politicians to believe that the Flawus are so cheap to be bought when it comes to politics.



But at some point maybe Ghanaians will wake up and recognize that politicians will continue to create this divide and rule antics to enable them have their way through. Aflao is the second most populous town in terms of population after Ho in the whole of the Volta Region. Aflao border is one of the top three (Tema Harbour and Kotoka International Airport are the others) revenue generators in Ghana. Despite all these revenue generation, the town with over 70,000 population continues to be denied developmental projects. Those who are fortunate to land jobs in Lome (Togo), the Kayayes and truck pushers are languishing at home due the border closure.



The Aflao Traditional Council, together with all the security agencies within Ketu South Municipality supported the Government in its implementation of the protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and the records are there to prove that the MUSEC is on top of security in the municipality.



However, it should be noted that silence in the face of brutality being dished out to innocent citizens around the municipality only goes to embolden the aggressor. These sorts of abuse of power clearly goes to show that the detachment of security personnel operating in and around Aflao lack knowledge in civic duties in addition to their military training. Law abiding citizens' have certain inalienable rights that the Constitution protects. Brutalizing of innocent civilians is frown on by the Constitution of Ghana. Even Prisoners of War are protected by The Hague Convention let alone civilians going about their lawful business.



The Government of Ghana cannot allow its troops to brutalize its own citizens without recourse to justice whilst hypocritically lamenting George Floyds' passing at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis (USA). We are peace loving and believe in Ghana's "Freedom and Justice" for all.



We as Chiefs cannot look on unconcerned when security personnel brutalize our citizens no matter how difficult the situation they find themselves in. Please note that because we are peace loving does not make us cowards; when the fire is lit, there will be no turning back and the said fire will consume everything in its path.



We the Chiefs of Aflao Traditional Council in collaboration with Aflao indigenes home and abroad wish to appeal to H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, the President of the Republic of Ghana to call to order the military personnel brutalizing the civilian population as well as withdraw the obstacles placed in the daily activities of the Aflao people.



Torgbui Amenya Fiti V,



Paramount Chief of Aflao Traditional Area



and President of Aflao Traditional Council, AFLAO.









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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Mantrac Ghana Limited, the sole authorized caterpillar dealer in Ghana, as part of efforts to support the fight against COVID-19 in Ghana, has donated an amount of GHS58,500.00 being the equivalent of $10,000 to the National COVID-19 Trust Fund.



The cash donation is part of Mantrac Ghanas total commitment of $40,000 to help the fight against COVID-19 in the country.



Head of Human Resources Department of Mantrac Ghana, Mr. Kingsley Amoako-Mensah, on behalf of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff presented the cheque at the Jubilee House to the National COVID-19 Trust Fund Board of Trustees.



He said Mantrac Ghana Limited is committed to contributing to the development of the country and therefore firmly stand with the government towards the fight against the pandemic. He added that through this donation, many lives will be touched and saved.



Mr. Amoako-Mensah further said that Mantrac Ghana will donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) valued at $30,000 to some health facilities in communities where they operate in the coming months.



He further advised that all Ghanaians should adhere to the mandatory wearing of face mask, observe all recommendations on social distancing, wash hands regularly with soap under running water and use alcohol based sanitizers frequently.



A representative of the Board of Trustees for the National COVID-19 Trust Fund, Archbishop Justice Ofei Akrofi, received the cheque on behalf of the Board and called on other corporate bodies to emulate the kind gesture of Mantrac Ghana.

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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Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwasi Pratt, has waded into the issue of government deploying soldiers to the Ketu South Constituency ahead of the Electoral Commissions new voter registration exercise.



According to Mr Pratt, the action by government is an act of ethnic bigotry that can lead the nation to doom.



All this Ketu South thing what is it meant to do. What is this, Ketu South they are not Ghanaians? Why Ketu south? Somebody should come and explain to me. You know this ethnic bigotry can lead this country to doom, he said during a discussion on his Pan African TV station.



Mr Pratt underscored that such acts of marginalization by the state against people in the Volta Region is what has resulted to the emergence of a secession group in the region.



I dont support secession; I am completely opposed to secession. But go and read the justification for the secession. What are they saying? That they are marginalised, that we dont consider them Ghanaians. We always claim that they are Togolese, he said.



He questioned the level of reasoning that went into the decision to deploy the military personnel to the region when there is a growing secession agenda there whilst the country is preparing for an election.



We are going to have an election and the most sensible thing you can do is to claim that some Voltarians are Togolese who infiltrate your country to come and vote for parties of their choice. Are you sensible, are you trying to prevent chaos? I mean I cant believe it, are you sensible? He questioned.



Some residents of Ketu South last week reported that they were being intimidated by the presence of military personnel deployed to the area ahead of the ECs registration exercise.



There has been conflicting justifications from members of the ruling government who have been accused by the opposition National Democratic Congress of using the military to pursue an agenda against the people of Volta Region, which is the stronghold of the NDC.



According to Adansi Asokwa Member of Parliament, K.T Hammond, the move is to stop some Togolese nationals who will come to Ghana to register in the voter registration exercise beginning on Tuesday, June 31, 2020.



However, according to the Interior Minister, Ambrose Derry, the action by government is rather in line with efforts to ensure the closure of borders announced to manage the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Source: Ghanaweb









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Featured Video
Various stakeholders in the rice value chain have met in Accra to reaffirm their commitment to end rice importation by 2023.



The meeting, organised by the John Ageykum Kufuor (JAK) Foundation brought together the Ghana Rice Inter-professional Body (GRIB), Ghana Commodity Exchange and the Standards Authority to discuss strategies on how to achieve the set target to guard against the practice and also to ensure rice is a sustainable venture in the country.



It also brought on board private sector groups who will be working with Ghanaian farmers by providing them with harvesters, and other logistic services.



The meeting was also to see how to support the advocacy, production, processing and marketing issues in the rice value chain.



Further, it was to proffer solutions to how the rice value chain can be developed in the various regions for the country to attain the sustainability in rice production and also

improve the quality of rice grown in Ghana.



Speaking on the sidelines with journalists after the opening session, President of GRIB, Nana Ayeh Adjei II, disclosed that GRIB is expecting, before the end of the year, a mechanization provider company coming in to mop up the paddy rice into the warehouse to ease the issue of late harvesting.



He said the meeting is going to provide plans to how all farmers in the regions will plan to grow quality rice and get good market outlets and prices for the farmer.



Touching on Covid-19, he said it has not had any major impact in the value chain apart from the fact that it has slowed in the retail.



Consumption of local rice, he also said has gone up and want to see a higher rate.



Nana Ama Oppong Duah, Policy Advisor of the John A Kufuor Foundation says the engagement was part of the AGRA and Kufuor Foundation project.



The project is to support advocacy, production, processing and marketing in the value chain, she said.



At the beginning of the year, the stakeholders went around the country twice to mobilize farmers at the regional level, according to her.



Due to coronavirus, the process was stopped but its being resumed with the help of Zoom.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, says Ghanaians stranded abroad who would want to partake in the registration exercise for the upcoming elections must be registered with their respective embassies in a controlled exercise.



He said such persons would have to be quarantined for 14 days mandatorily at their own cost and once they get the all-clear can go ahead and participate in the exercise which opens Tuesday, June 30.



He said nobody would be allowed entry without going through the required processes.



The Minister fought off claims the ministry had deployed heavy security operatives to the Volta and Oti regions to intimidate and harass residents ahead of the voter registration exercise.



The minister told a press briefing the concerns of the chiefs inspired by comments by the NDC and former president John Mahama should be disregarded.



The minister said, out of the total deployment made in the enhanced calm life operation, only 98 were deployed to the Volta region and 72 to the Oti region.



He said these numbers were far less than those deployed to other border towns.



UE 207



NR 110 soldiers



NER 102 soldiers



Mr Nitiwul said the operatives would be stationed along the borders to ensure strict enforcement of the restrictions before, during and even after the exercise.



Breakdown of military deployment:



Volta Region  3 officers 95 men deployed



Oti  2 officers 70 men



upper west  4 officers 65 men



Savannah  no officer 21 men



Upper east  8 officers 199 men



northern region  5 officers 105 men



North east  3 officers 99 men









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Featured Video
Minister of Defence Dominic Nitiwul, on Monday, refuted claims by the Minority NDC that government has deployed soldiers to Volta and Oti regions to intimidate residents from registering for the new voter cards.



Mr Nitiwul, responding to the NDC's allegations and giving update on the joint security operations along the country's borders, at a news conference in Accra, said Government had no ethnocentric agenda against any ethnic group or political party in the deployment of security personnel to protect the country's frontiers.



"Those going that tangent should drop it because it will not help anybody. I want the chiefs and people of the Volta and Oti regions to know that this is pure propaganda and mischief by the NDC and should be ignored, "Mr Nitiwul said, adding, Those whipping up ethnocentric sentiment should bow down their heads in shame".



The Minister said the soldiers were deployed to the border towns to prevent unlawful entries and not to polling stations to intimidate or brutalise civilians.



Mr Nitiwul, also the member of Parliament for Bimbilla, said the Akufo-Addo-led government was not interested in ethnic politics, but to implement programmes and policies that would better the lives of Ghanaians.



The Minister said the soldiers deployed under "Operation Enhanced Calm Life" were given resources to stay at the borders for three months, while efforts are underway to find more resources to enable them to police the country's borders for extra three months.



Recounting when the military deployment started, the Minister said government, through the ministries of Defence and the Interior, started deploying soldiers and police to the border towns from February 21,2019 under an operation code named "Operation Conquered Fist", to complement the efforts of personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana Revenue Authority to prevent illegal entries.



On March 30th and April 20th, 2020, government deployed more solders to beef up security at the borders following the outbreak of the coronavirus to prevent foreigners from being sneaked into the country and ensure the border closure was respected.



However, he said, government realised that during the lockdown some recalcitrant people were still sneaking foreigners into the country through over 250 unapproved routes and 500 paths, hence it deployed more solders to stop the importation of the respiratory disease.



He said, for instance some 5,000 foreigners attempted to cross into the country during the partial lockdown and were subsequently arrested.



He noted that a test conducted by the health authorities on the suspects revealed that between 10 and 30 per cent Covid-19 infection rate among the suspects.



Mr Nitiwul observed that the deployment of security personnel at the borders helped immensely in reducing crimes at the border towns, especially in the northern part of the country such as Tumu, Bawku and Talensi during the lockdowns.



He, however, said upon easing of COVID-19 restrictions, crime rate started surging at the border towns whilst foreigners started using unapproved routes to enter the country.



He said, on June 18 and June 19,2020, the Defence Ministry launched an operation code named " Operation Enhanced Calm Life" to allow more solders to be deployed in order to support personnel of the Immigration Service at the borders.



The soldiers were deployed in nine border regions including; Volta, Oti, Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Bono and Western regions to enforce the border closure in compliance with the COVID-19 protocols.



Mr Nitiwul stated that eight senior officers and 199 soldiers were deployed in the Upper East Region, four senior officers and 65 soldiers in three operational areas in the Upper West Region, three senior officers and 99 soldiers in the North East Region, two senior officers and 70 soldiers in six locations in the Oti Region, three senior officers and 95 soldiers in the Volta Region, whilst the Western Region received one senior officer and 13 soldiers.



Mr Nitiwul condemned the false claims being peddled by the opposition NDC and former President John Mahama, who is the NDC flagbearer for 2020 election, saying that it was pure mischief to create disaffection for the ruling government.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
After bragging about how he has silenced investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Kennedy Agyapong was shocked when Mr Anas popped up again with a new expose.



Titled Corona Quacks And Thieves In Ghana, the piece seeks to uncover rot in the health sector and officials who claim to have found the cure for the novel respiratory virus.



As expected, Mr Agyapong is not giving Mr Anas any breathing space, reiterating his allegations that he, together with his senior colleagues, are the real culprits in Ghana.



Let Anas dare and show his video or even mention my name in this expose, after that, I will expose him and his bosses including senior journalists in this country on the way they have tagged the people with corruption. Seasoned journalists in this country are behind this thing, he said.



The first trailer aired has already yielded results as two quack doctors have been arrested after testing their supposed cure proved it was fake.













Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
A Sabot Carriers Private Limited driver was reportedly buried secretly in the Democratic Republic of Congo after succumbing to an unknown ailment.





The man, Dryton Mpofu, had travelled there on duty when he suddenly fell sick and died. It is claimed he was buried a few hours after his death.





Relatives say some people from DRC claimed Mpofu had died of malaria while others said it was Covid-19 hence the quick burial.





His wife and relatives are still looking for answers as to what really transpired. Contacted for comment, the company through an HR personnel George Gwezere asked for questions on email.





However, a week later they have not responded and Gwezere says he took the issue with the directors who have not responded as yet.





We forwarded your email to our public relations department and they will get in touch with you, he said.





Efforts to get a comment from an association of cross border drivers were fruitless as they referred H-Metro from one office to the other.





However, the late Drytons wife (name withheld), is heartbroken and is hoping that her husband will wake up one day and return home.





Ndiri kungoti ndikagara ndongoti ndichavaona vachisvika mumwe musi chete. They did not explain well to me and my children, we are still in shocked.





I was called pertaining the sickness of my husband. I was told it was Malaria and later told its Covid-19. They could have explained properly. After getting sick, I was told he had died and has been buried. No proper explanation has been explained to me until now.





Added the wife: We were expecting an official from the company to come to us but they have not come to explain.





Nothing has been promised in the form of compensation or anything, they are just silent. It pains me to be reminded about this issue. Me and my children are still in darkness, i am in pain. He has been working there for 13 years.





Pa compensation havana kumbotaura nezvazvo and havana chavati vataura vakango nyarara.





A close source who refused to be named said: We were told kuti mukomana akaparara but shoko rekuzivisa rufu nekuvigwa harina kumbosiyana ne24 hours. I last heard ari paKasumbalesa paborder.





I heard Dryton arwara. It was said he was having chest problems before he was admitted at Kasumbalesa.





After three days, we heard he has been transferred to Lumumbashi and the next thing, ndakunzwa kuti avigwa.





Zvikanzi akangosvika day iroro manheru haana kurarama, achibva atovigwa. So we were surprised that he has been buried and we thought his relatives were aware of it.





Another source said: The relatives were notified of the sad development and we were waiting to go and pay our condolences.





It is alleged that the relatives and the company had not agreed on anything.





They did not agree on anything, but they were only told of the issue, alluding that it was a directive from the DRC government saying all the deaths are considered as Covid-19.





So the corpse was not supposed to be repatriated to Zimbabwe due to the situation. They even asked for a report from the doctors but there was no proper communication. It was not properly communicated even if he had died of whatever disease. H Metro
Good evening distinguished citizens of our beloved country, Ghana, Members of the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a pleasure to speak to you this evening. I bring you warm greetings from the Electoral Commission of Ghana. This is the day our Father God has made we rejoice and are glad in it. Its been a long journey and we thank God for bringing us this far. Today marks an important day in our national calendar. It is the day that precedes the commencement of our 2020 Voters Registration Exercise.



Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, on Thursday, 25th June 2020, the Supreme Court gave its ruling in two cases brought against the Electoral Commission; one regarding the Commissions intended compilation of a new Voters Register, and the other, regarding the Commissions position that existing voter identification cards should not be included in the list of eligible documentation for the registration of voters.



The Supreme Court in its ruling, directed the Commission and all its stakeholders to comply with Articles 42 and 45 of the 1992 Constitution, and CI 126. By this ruling, the Supreme Court granted the Electoral Commission the authority to carry on with the compilation of the new Voters Register using CI 126, and to exclude the existing Voter ID cards as identification for voters. This ruling provides the Electoral Commission with the go ahead to commence the 2020 Voter Registration Exercise. This exercise will begin tomorrow, 30th June 2020 and will continue until 6th of August 2020.



The registration of voters is a critical process in our election cycle. The Voters Register is the bedrock on which credible elections rest. It is the foundation upon which the sovereign right of a people to choose their national leaders is hinged. Therefore, in carrying out the registration exercise, we, as a Commission, are mindful of the significance of the task we are undertaking.



We will like to assure you that, as a Commission, our rationale for compiling a new register, is not to disenfranchise any eligible voter. On the contrary, it is to ensure that all our citizens who qualify are afforded the opportunity to register and cast their votes. The Commission is of the view that only eligible citizens should be given the right to determine who governs and leads our dear country, and we are determined to ensure that no one is left behind.



We also deem it necessary to assure you that our decisions and actions are taken without fear or favour and without recourse to any individual or group of persons. We have a duty to our citizens to ensure that it is only the will of the people that stands.



I urge all Ghanaians to move forward with the Commission in implementing the ruling of the court. And indeed, this is the moment for us to move forward.



It is time for us to turn our energies towards the exercise of registering voters. Let us all join hands together, notwithstanding our differences, to ensure that every desiring Ghanaian of 18 years and above is able to register as a voter, and that only Ghanaian citizens of 18 years and above are able to register as voters.



Dear citizens, your participation in, and monitoring of, the voters registration exercise will be critical to maintaining the integrity of the Register. Please participate in the Voters Registration Exercise. Monitor the process at your registration centre. Draw the attention of the Commission to any anomalies you might observe in the process. Together, we will arrive at a comprehensive and credible Voters Register.



The use of Guarantors in establishing ones Identity



I will now move on to an issue of importance to the voter registration process; that is the question of eligible documentation for proving ones identity as a Ghanaian. CI 126 speaks to this question.



CI 126 specifies the documents that each citizen of Ghana is required to present in order to be eligible to register as a voter. The required documents are a valid passport, or a National Identification Card issued by the National Identification Authority. CI 126 further specifies that in the event that a citizen of Ghana does not have either of the above documents, he or she must present two (2) guarantors, who must themselves have been registered under the current registration process, to vouch for, or guarantee, the identity of the said person, as a citizen of Ghana. Some concerns have been raised about the use of guarantors. We wish to acknowledge those concerns. We understand that it may seem like a burden, having to find 2 registered persons to vouch for ones identity as a Ghanaian. And yet, this seems to us to be the lesser of two evils. Although it may take a little bit more of your time and that of your guarantors, it will ensure that only persons who are Ghanaians, and of age of 18 years and above, are listed on our Voters Register.



Guaranteeing of identity through the use of guarantors is actually not a novel phenomenon in Ghanas voting procedures. This system has been with us since the beginning of our democracy, as the framers of the law anticipated situations in which Ghanaian citizens might for legitimate and unavoidable reasons, be unable to produce documents to prove their citizenship.



May I crave your indulgence in presenting you with available data on the numbers of persons who have in the past been registered using guarantors as follows:



In 2014, nine hundred and twenty-eight thousand, five hundred and forty (928, 540) persons were registered as voters. Of this number, 82.2% of registering voters used guarantors.

In 2016, one million, forty-six thousand, and sixty-seven (1,460,067) persons were registered as voters. Of this this number, 92.5% used guarantors

In the continuous registration process in 2016, thirty-seven thousand, nine hundred and twenty-nine persons were registered. Of this number, 93.1% used guarantors.

In the 2018 Referendum, forty-seven thousand, eight hundred and fifty-two (47,852) persons were registered. 99.5% used guarantors.

In 2019, one million, two hundred and eleven thousand, three hundred and ninety-five (1,211,395) persons were registered. 95.2% used guarantors .

As you will have observed from the above numbers, my predecessors have applied this system in past voter registration processes as they have sought to ensure that no one was disenfranchised for valid reasons beyond their control.



I hope that the 2020 Elections should be the last time that we as a country will need the guarantor system, as come 2024, all citizens should have been issued with National Identification Cards, and the process of applying for National ID cards should have become a routine procedure carried out at district and regional levels.





Covid19 and the Voters Registration Exercise



As I mentioned earlier, the Voters Registration Exercise begins tomorrow. It begins at a time when we, as a nation, have not yet beaten the Covid19 virus nor completely curtailed its spread.



The registration exercise will require the gathering of large numbers of people. There is the risk of transmission and spread of the Covid19 virus at these gatherings. We are aware that some of us would prefer that we wait for the end of the pandemic before carrying out processes such as this one. Others believe that since the virus may linger into the long term, we must find ways to stay safe while engaging in our normal business. The latter view seems largely to reflect the global approach to the question of when to resume normal economic and social life, but with each country adapting this approach to its circumstances.



As a Commission, we have paid close attention to signals from the government and our health experts, which suggest the latter approach. We have in addition held discussions with the National Covid19 Team established by the Government, and with the Ghana Health Service. We have taken their advice on best practice in curtailing the spread of the virus. We have thus developed the following safety regiment to be carried out at all registration centres.



First andt, as has been our practice, all registration centres will be set up, outdoors, in open spaces. Where schools, churches and other such venues are used as registration centres, we will not set up camp inside the school or church buildings. Our registration centres will be set up in open fields and open spaces outside of the school and church buildings. We will not use the school or church furniture. We will use the ECs furniture and set up for use as registration centres. This has been our policy and practice in times past and will remain so. As an added measure, our furniture will continually be wiped with alcohol wipes.



Other Covid19 preventative measures that will be observed at all registration centres are as follows:



All people entering the registration centre or queuing to enter the registration centre will be required to wear a nose mask.

Upon arrival at a registration centre, each persons temperature will be taken using a thermometer gun. Persons with temperatures above 37.8 degrees Celsius will be directed to health personnel at the registration centres or the nearest public health facility. Special arrangements will be made for them to register.

The Commission will provide liquid soap and water with veronica buckets for mandatory washing of hands before joining the queue or entering the registration centre.

There will be strict observance of physical distance of at least 1 meter in queues at the centres.

Fingerprint scanners will be cleaned prior to the capturing of fingerprints of applicants, using alcohol wipes,

Hand sanitizers will be provided for mandatory sanitizing of hands when leaving the centres. It is important to note that the Ghana Health Service has released some 7000 Health assistants to each of the Registration Centres. It is expected that the Health Assistants will help ensure strict adherence to the safety protocols outlined by the Commission.

The above health protocols are in line with the governments safety protocols.



In all these safety measures, we will rely upon your cooperation. It will not be easy, but with your compliance with the above measures, we should be able to carry out all registration procedures safely.



Special arrangements for the Vulnerable



I must mention further that special arrangements have been made for elderly and vulnerable persons during the registration exercise.



All vulnerable people, such as persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and breast-



feeding mothers, the aged (60 years and above) and sick will be given priority at the registration centers.



In addition, the Commission has introduced a new facility to serve the aged and vulnerable as follows. The aged and vulnerable may go to district offices of the Electoral Commission across the country for their registration. Additionally, they have the option of printing and filling out their forms before they go to the registration centres. This will help to speed up the registration process. The Form IA which captures the biometric data as well as guarantee forms can be found on our website www.ec.gov.gh. Please note that the Registration for the aged and vulnerable at district offices of the Electoral Commission starts on Thursday, July 2nd 2020.



Field staff for the Registration Exercise



A major concern a number of citizens have raised with us has to do with the quality of our temporary officers.



We have recruited and trained and deployed over 44,000 temporary officials into the field. We are confident that the training given them has prepared them to operate efficiently and professionally. As part of the training we have drummed home the importance of instilling the principles of integrity, fairness and transparency in their actions throughout the registration period to supervise day to day activities of our temporary team.



We have introduced a Code of Conduct which spells out guidelines for their operations. As part of the recruitment exercise all staff signed an oath pledging to abide by the rules governing their activities.



We have also procured and disseminated various materials to the field. These include, forms, laminates, indelible ink, toner cartridges, and thumb-print pads. For the first time we have procured other items we term COVID-19 items and deployed these to the field.



Again, ahead of the Registration Exercise the Commission will deploy 8000 Biometric Voter Registration Kits into the field. The kits have been thoroughly tested and we are confident that they will function effectively and ensure the smooth and speedy registration of each applicant. We envisage that with the robustness of the kits as well as the extreme training offered, each applicant should not spend more than (ten) 10 minutes in going through the registration exercise.



Over 500 technicians have been trained and deployed to assist with any technical issues that may arise.



The Commission has also set up Zonal Centres throughout the country. These Zonal Centres will be manned by our technicians who are expected to ensure the prompt and timely replacement of faulty kits in the field. We believe that this will contribute to a smooth and seamless process.



Mode of Registration



The Cluster system will be used for the voterregistration exercise. A cluster will consist of five (5) registration centres/polling stations in a district. In all a total of 6788 clusters made up of 5 polling stations each will be covered. This means that all 33,367 registration centres will be covered during the registration exercise. The registration will take place simultaneously in all 16 Regions.



The entire registration will be undertaken in five (5) phases. Each phase will span a duration of six days. In effect, a registration team will spend six (6) days at each of the five centres in a cluster, thus making thirty (30) days per cluster. Six (6) days will be used for the mop up exercise.



We have published the Movement Plan on our website and in the newspapers today.



Transparency of our Processes



Distinguished Citizens, it is important to emphasize the transparency of our processes and to allay the fears of stakeholders. Over the years a number of mechanisms have been built into our processes to tighten the loose screws and ensure transparency and accountability from the registration of voters to the declaration of results. For the purposes of this exercise I will focus on the transparency embedded into our registration process.



Before the Electoral Commission commences any registration process, it has to provide all registered political parties with 21 days notice of its intention to compile or update the register. This is to afford the opportunity to the Political parties to train and assign agents to the registration centers. The agents remain at the centers from the start of the process to the end. At the beginning of each day, the Electoral Commission Officers start the machines/kits in the presence of the Political Party agents. The kits show the date, time and a record of the number of persons who have registered and should be emoty/zero at the beginning of the day.



At the end of each day, the kit generates a print-out that gives the total number of persons who have been registered in the day. Each political party is given a copy of the print-out. The Electoral Commission also forwards the same copy to its data base. Additionally, the Political Parties on their own, also record the number of persons who are registered per day. This enables them to confirm this against the print-out from the Electoral Commission. Indeed any political party with this information can set up its own system to track and record the number of applicants per registration center across the nation on a daily basis.



Furthermore, the entire registration process is monitored by various Observer Groups. This year we have a good number of observer groups which have showed interest in monitoring the processes. This will further strengthen our processes.



As a Commission which believes in law and order, peace and security we have engaged consistently with the Security Agencies through the mechanism of the Election Security Task Force. We are confident that our early and regular engagements will yield positive gains and cause us to witness a peaceful and violence free exercise. On our part we call on all Ghanaians to work with us to ensure a peaceful Voters Registration Exercise.



Members of the press, dear citizens, ladies and gentlemen, this has been a rather lengthy speech, but I hope it has addressed the most important issues relating to the 2020 Voter Registration Exercise. On behalf of the Commission I thank all our stakeholders, i.e. leaders of religious bodies, traditional authority, civil society and the media for their support over the months.



I also thank all of you for your time and the opportunity to speak to you. We look forward to seeing you, at the registration centres, with your face masks firmly in place, as we embark upon this all-important exercise. We will carry out this exercise efficiently and safely, God being our helper.



I wish you all a good evening.

Source: peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, AHEAD OF THE EXERCISE TO COMPILE A NEW VOTERS REGISTER, ON MONDAY, 29TH JUNE, 2020.



Fellow Ghanaians, good evening.



Tomorrow, 30th June, 2020, the Electoral Commission will begin the process of compiling a new register of voters, which the Commission will use for the 7th December, 2020, presidential and parliamentary elections.



The compilation of a voters register is one of the most important tasks in the effective functioning of any democracy, because if an eligible citizens name is not on the register, that citizen cannot exercise the right to vote, and cannot, therefore, participate in the determination of the choice of the government of the day. It is, thus, vitally important that all eligible voters register, so, on the designated day of 7th December, they can vote to choose the President of the nation, and the Member of Parliament of their area. In effect, our vote, our thumb, is the expression of our individual sovereign power as a citizen, which we should cherish and guard at all times.



Our country, Ghana, is regularly cited as the shining example of the place in Africa where the electoral process works, and where it is always being improved upon. We have had seven (7) consecutive presidential and parliamentary elections, which has given us five (5) Presidents in the twenty-seven (27) year history of the 4th Republic, with peaceful transfers of power from a governing to an opposition party on three (3) separate occasions. It is a record, virtually without parallel on the African continent, which we should all treasure.



All of these did not threaten the foundations of the State, and, even when there was disagreement with the result of an election, it was the Supreme Court, rather than the streets, that determined its outcome



From tomorrow, in thirty-three thousand, three hundred and sixty-seven (33,367) polling stations across the country, we embark on, yet, another journey to deepen further our nations democratic credentials, as the exercise to compile a new voters register, to be used for the December 7 general elections, commences



The hurdle, which stood in the way of the new voters register, was surmounted last Thursday, 25th June, when a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, presided over by the Chief Justice, in a unanimous decision, settled all the issues surrounding the voters register. The decision affirmed the right of the Electoral Commission to proceed with the compilation of a new register, in accordance with the provisions of C.I 126.



It reiterated the widely held belief that a credible electoral register, and, indeed, a credible election, are important ingredients to securing the future well-being of any democratic nation. I am proud to be a citizen of a nation whose independent institutions, like the Judiciary and the Electoral Commission, continue to operate without fear or favour, ill will or malice, and without regard to the political, religious or ethnic affiliations of any citizen or group of citizens.



There are some who have argued, and continue to argue that, in the midst of a pandemic, the compilation of a new register, and, indeed, the conduct of the presidential and parliamentary elections should be put on hold, and scheduled for a later date, perhaps, when the pandemic ends. That is not possible.



The Constitution of our Republic makes no provision for the extension of the mandate of the President, who wields executive power, beyond four (4) years. To exercise executive power in the Ghanaian state, you must be duly elected by the Ghanaian people. You must have their freely-expressed consent. On 7th January, 2021, when my mandate as the current President expires, a duly elected person must be ready to be sworn in as President of the Republic. There is no other way, and, in order to forestall any needless constitutional controversy, which could throw our nation into jeopardy, we must vote on 7th December 2020. The same applies to Parliament. We should not fear or be alarmed. Despite the COVID pandemic, elections are being properly conducted in many nations across the globe. In Asia, we have witnessed the conduct of the successful elections of South Korea in April, at the height of the pandemic in that country. In Europe, last week, we have seen those of Poland; and, in our own continent of Africa, both Mali and Malawi have preceded us in organising successful, national elections. Surely, it is not beyond Ghana to join these nations in organising a successful general election, even in the midst of the pandemic.



Fellow Ghanaians, we have chosen to govern our country according to the tenets of multiparty democracy and the principles of democratic accountability, and we dare not trade them off, more so, during times of crisis. To guarantee the safety of all eligible Ghanaians, at the thirty-three thousand, three hundred and twenty-seven (33,327) polling stations across the country, the Electoral Commission has put in place the necessary, elaborate protocols, as outlined earlier in the day by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa. All these protocols should be adhered to strictly. Additionally, I want to remind all Ghanaians that all the other protocols and restrictions, especially those dealing with large gatherings, must be adhered to and enforced at the polling stations at all times. So, let us all abide by them, and conduct ourselves in a manner befitting the image and status of Ghana.



So, I urge all eligible Ghanaians, I repeat all eligible citizens, that is Ghanaians of eighteen (18) years of age or above, and of sound mind, no matter what party they belong to, if any, to go out and register, so that they can exercise their civic responsibilities on 7th December, 2020, to elect a government of their choice in a free, fair, peaceful and transparent election. Using your God-given and constitutional rights costs nothing, but staying home can come at a very steep price. The pandemic, notwithstanding, we have to strengthen Ghanaian democracy.



It must be our collective duty to ensure that we have a register that is fit for purpose in December, and we must all make sure that persons who do not meet the requirements, as set out clearly in the Constitution, do not find their names into the register. If you aid the registration of an ineligible person, and you are caught, you will face the full rigours of the law. The election on 7th December must be a Ghanaian election, not a West African election, conducted with a voter register of Ghanaians. That is the only way the true will of the Ghanaian people can manifest



It is crucial that both the registration exercise and the electoral process itself be conducted in an atmosphere of peace and security, devoid of intimidation and violence. The Ghanaian people must go about the exercise of their civic duties in peace and in freedom. The security agencies have assured me that they have made adequate preparations for this, and to guarantee the sanctity of the process. They have assured me of their determination to carry out their duties without fear or favour. Improper behaviour by any citizen, no matter their political colour, will not be tolerated, and I am encouraged by the recent reassurance by the Inspector General of Police that Police have been instructed to be even-handed in their response to issues. That is the only way the rule of law can be upheld.



The longstanding deployment of security personnel, especially the military, along our borders is another dimension of this process of guaranteeing the peace of the nation. Fellow Ghanaians, it is no secret that our neighbour to the north, Burkina Faso, has, in recent times, been at the receiving end of a number of terrorist attacks, as has another neighbour, Cote divoire. To shore up our borders against such attacks, and to defend our nations territorial integrity, the Armed Forces, at least since I came into office, have been very proactive in engaging in operations to secure our borders, and foil any potential terror attacks on our soil. Operations such as Conquered Fist and Koudangou have been going along for some time, since 21st February 2019, to meet this objective. Deployments of soldiers in areas along our borders have been regular, and residents living in border towns will bear testimony to this.



Again, in the fight against COVID-19, I took the decision, on Saturday, 21st March, to close all our borders by land, air and sea. To ensure substantial compliance with this directive, and to assist personnel of the Immigration Service, our eastern, western and northern borders were shored up by some personnel from the military. This development, for example, during the period of the three-week lockdown of Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Kumasi, led to the arrest of some five thousand (5,000) persons along our borders, who had entered our country illegally. Indeed, the first six (6) recorded cases of COVID-19 in the Volta Region, for example, were those of West African nationals, who entered the country illegally.



In total, two hundred and seven (207) soldiers have been deployed along the borders of the Upper East Region; one hundred and ten soldiers (110) in the Northern Region; one hundred and two (102) in the North East Region; ninety eight (98) in the Volta Region; seventy two (72) in the Oti Region; sixty-nine (69) in Upper West; sixty-four (64) in Bono Region; twenty-one (21) in Savannah Region; and fourteen (14) in the Western Region.



Let me state, without any form of equivocation, that these deployments are not in any way intended to intimidate or prevent eligible Ghanaians from registering to vote in December. They are there for their express purpose, which is to guard our borders. That is the limit of their remit, and they will not be permitted to stray beyond that remit.



I am fully aware, like the military commanders, of the sensitivity of their deployments at this point in our history, and I am confident that that sensitivity will be fully respected. I have no interest in disenfranchising any eligible Ghanaian from registering in tomorrows exercise, nor am I interested in any improper machinations to win any election. I have spent my life fighting for free, democratic institutions in our country, and I will continue in that fight for the rest of my life. The idea of being a President, who emerges from a rigged election, is abhorrent to every fibre of my being. I want to continue to be the President of a Ghanaian people who have given me their free consent, with the blessing of the Almighty.



So please, once again, if you are eighteen years of age and above, and are of sound mind, from tomorrow, or the appointed time, go to your polling station and register. If you do not register now, you cannot vote in December. Present your Ghana card or passport, which are the only two forms of valid identification. In the absence of any of these valid IDs, an applicant can submit one completed Identification Guarantee Form, endorsed by two registered voters, to be registered and issued with a voter ID card. By these procedures, all eligible voters will be registered. No disenfranchisement of voters is contemplated by them.



Together, and adhering to the safety protocols at the polling stations, let us demonstrate that, even during a pandemic, we, in Ghana, continue to be a beacon of democracy on the continent.



Our democracy requires not a unity of ideas or political allegiances, but a unity of commitment to the Ghana project: the free, democratic, open, prosperous and united nation, respectful of human rights and the rule of law, that animated our forebears to make the sacrifices for the liberation of our nation from foreign rule, that has bequeathed to us our beloved Ghana.



May God bless us all, and our homeland Ghana, and make her great and strong.



I thank you for your attention, and have a good night.







Source: peacefmonline.com









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Iran has issued an arrest warrant and asked Interpol for help in detaining US President Donald Trump and dozens of others over the drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad.



Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said on Monday, June 29, that Trump and more than 30 others who Iran accuses of involvement in the January 3 strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani face "murder and terrorism charges", the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.



Apart from Trump's name, Alqasimehr did not identify the other suspects. He stressed that Iran would continue to pursue Trump's prosecution even after his presidency ends.



Alqasimehr also was quoted as saying that Iran requested a "red notice" be put out for Trump and the others, which represents the highest level arrest request issued by Interpol.



Local authorities end up making the arrests on behalf of the country that request it. The notices cannot force countries to arrest or extradite suspects, but can put government leaders on the spot and limit suspects' travel, according to Al Jazeera.



In January, the US killed General Soleimani, who oversaw the Revolutionary Guard's expeditionary Quds Force, and others in an air strike near Baghdad International Airport.



The air strike came after months of incidents raising tensions between the two countries.



Following Soleimani's murder, Iran retaliated with a ballistic missile strike targeting American troops in Iraq.









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Mr Seth Ntim Agyarko, Chairman and Founder of Sankofa Ghana Movement, a pressure group in Kumasi, has expressed concern about the use of money to influence votes in the country.



He said the current situation, where people were spending huge sums of money to obtain political power was not only undermining the countrys democratic dispensation, but also depriving the country the right caliber of people to serve and promote the speedy development of the nation.



Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi, Mr Agyarko blamed the two main political parties in the country-NPP and NDC for perpetuating what he called Monecracy in their internal elections.



He said the path taken by the political parties and which seemed to become a norm in the countrys politics was dangerous and if care was not taken, the countrys democracy would be sold to the highest bidder.



Mr Agyarko stressed the need for all Ghanaians to come together to fight the auctioning of political power, which was gradually affecting the performance of the countrys legislative arm of government.



He pointed out that the loud silence about this behaviour of political parties and their candidates was an indication that Ghanaians supported mediocrity.



Mr Agyarko stressed the need for all the smaller political parties to come together to form a united party to challenge and prevent NPP and NDC from taking over the country and rule it according to their whims and caprices.

Source: GNA









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The Reverend Atta Badu Snr, a Ghanaian Pastor and Founder of the Zoe Christian Centre, is set to join the United Nations to serve as a Peace Ambassador.



This follows the successful completion of his training and accreditation from the Word of Life Ministries International (WOLMI) and the Canadian International Chaplaincy Association (CICA), a UN mandated organisations to appoint and accredit ambassadorial representatives.



Rev Badu Snr was a member of the 2020 cohort of ambassadors that were specially trained by WOLMI and CICA and accredited to serve as advocates for world peace, education and poverty reduction.



Commenting on his accomplishment in a statement, the Pastor expressed his gratefulness to God and pledged to use his position to spread love and tolerance around the world.



"I am thankful to God for his calling upon my life that has led me to complete this training so that I can serve more people and bring them His Word, which brings peace and prosperity. I am also grateful to the President of WOLMI and CICA International University.



"I believe in what Jesus said at Matthew 25:43 where he commissioned us to serve mankind because service to mankind is service to Christ himself," he said.



As a committed Christian, he has completed many courses in theology and Christian Ministry, and studied Urban Mission and Ministry at the St. Mellitus College.



He has also recently completed a course in Humanitarian Diplomacy and Protocol and Diplomacy at the WOLMIC Diplomatic Academy.



With over twenty years in Christian Ministry, Rev Badu received the calling of the Lord after Secondary School Education in Ghana. Since then, he has risen from an usher to a Reverend and now to an Ambassador.



In 2008, he started the Zoe Christian Centre, which has now grown into a church with over seventy congregants.



Aside from his ministry, Rev Badu has actively contributed to the Newham Community, where he resides in the United Kingdom and currently serves as a voluntary chaplain at Newham General Hospital.



Much recently, he has been a strong advocate of racial equality.



Rev Badu Snr said "I am therefore looking forward to this role much and it is my hope and prayer that many lives will be touched by God through my work."



WOLMI is the first and only full gospel church to be granted a Non-Governmental Organisation in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, (ECOSOC).



This is the highest level of accreditation that is awarded internationally to all designates.



In this capacity, WOLMI is able to appoint and accredit 17 ambassadorial representatives annually to offices of the United Nations worldwide and numerous Ambassadors At-Large.







Source: GNA









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A member of the legal team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Baba Jamal, says the recent Supreme Court ruling on the opposition party's suit against the Electoral Commission (EC) is plagued with several inconsistencies.



The discordance, he believes, emanate from the court's directive to the EC to allow eligible Ghanaians to partake in the upcoming registration exercise, while in the same breath prohibiting such persons to use their voter's ID; an identification card generally acceptable for all important transactions.



Confused Legal Team?



Thus to him, the party's General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia did not act in a vacuum when he sought to expound on the Supreme Court ruling; albeit wrongfully that old voter ID Cards can be used for the compilation of new voters' register.



According to him, counsel for the opposition party were at the initial stages confused by the ruling, hence the information and interpretation given to the General Secretary of the party.



Up to now, a lot of lawyers are confused about the orders of the Supreme Court ruling; we are awaiting their reasons on July 15 because there are so many inconsistencies in the order of the Supreme Court . . .



The accrued right means that a Ghanaian who has voted severally in the country due to his right as a Ghanaian can take part in any voting process; the Constitution has given you a mandate that anytime there is an election you have the right to take part in the voting. The Supreme Court says it agrees with the NDC on that right to vote and if we have to register for election, what shows that I have the accrued right to register for the next election? It is the voters ID Cards which I have used to vote before . . .



In the court room, we tried to put ourselves together and we concluded preliminarily that this is how we understand the court ruling, in that voters ID cards have been accepted as part of the requirement for the new registration . . . what the General Secretary said was what our preliminary understanding was; we were confused . . . , Baba Jamal stated in an interview on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show.



Ruling



The Supreme Court, on Thursday, unanimously dismissed the NDC's case against the EC to compile a new voters register for the 2020 General Elections by excluding the use of the old voters ID for the registration exercise.



The 7-member panel presided over by Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, in its decision held that the EC is an independent body and will only be directed by the court if it acts contrary to law.



The seven member panel that heard the case included Justices Jones Dotse, Paul Baffoe Bonnie, Sule Gbagegbe, Samuel K. Marful-Sau, Nene Amegatcher, and Professor Ashie Kotey.



Gen Mosquito muddies matters



Moments after the court's decision, General Mosquito, as the NDC Chief Scribe is popularly called, suffered massive trolling on social media when he misled Ghanaians by claiming the Apex Court had ruled in the partys favour.



He claimed the court called for the inclusion of the existing voter ID card as one of the source documents for registration during the upcoming voter's registration exercise.



Expressing satisfaction at the decision to grant the party that particular relief, he told the media at the forecourt of the Supreme Court; "the court has just delivered the verdict which has granted our request for the inclusion of the existing voter card as breeder document for the compilation of the new voters register. We feel vindicated.



It Doesn't Mean We Don't Know The Law



In light of the above, a section of the public have slammed the legal team of the opposition party for misleading the NDC and further seeking to hoodwink Ghanaians into thinking the court had ruled in their favour.



Notwithstanding this, the former NDC MP for Akwatia strongly dismissed suggestions that they (legal team of the opposition party) are a bunch of ignoramuses.



This does not make us less of lawyers or it does not mean that we dont know what we are doing. We understand the law and know what it means but when an order is made especially when the order is oral, it subjects itself to several interpretations. If we had not granted interview to the media, the same media would have said that because we have lost the court case, we dont want to speak on the court ruling.



We went to the Supreme Court with almost 15 lawyers including senior lawyers and our General Secretary and vice chairmen of the party were also present. The General Secretary is the leader and Chief Executive Officer of the party and we as lawyers, we counsel him on legal issues. When the ruling was pronounced, for about 15 minutes, all of us as lawyers were brainstorming as to the meaning of the ruling . . .because the way the ruling confused everybody, he justified.





Watch Video Below





Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









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Dr Amoako Baah, Political Scientist and former lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has disclosed that the love Ghanaians have for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is waning.



According to him, there are a lot of unresolved issues and a lot of anger discouraging people to get involved with party activities.



Speaking in a one-on-one interaction on Neat FM's 'Me Man Nti' programme, Dr Amoako Baah recalled how people rushed to meet and welcome the President despite bad conditions, but presently that is not the case.



" . . there have been instances where people were bussed to meet him, he might not know . . . that is how bad it is. There is a lot of work to be done. If he assumes that those around him are telling him the truth, he is wrong . . . there was a time people were bussed in from Kumawu . . . all the people are artificial," he said.



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Former President John Dramani Mahama has called on the government to put a stop to the unnecessary Military siege in the Volta Region ahead of the voter registration exercise.



According to him the deployments of the Military men in the region will create panic and anxiety among residents who have been left in no doubt that it has been done as part of a larger strategy to intimidate them into abstaining from the registration exercise starting next Tuesday.



Mr Mahamas comment comes after the influx of military in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta region.



Locals in the region, as well as the biggest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its Minority Volta Caucus in Parliament, have condemned the military influx.



Reacting to this in a statement, Mr Mahama said the action is part of a grand scheme to disenfranchise some Ghanaians in the upcoming polls.



In a statement signed by his personal aide, Mr. Mahama said I have sufficient reason to believe that there is merit in the concerns raised by the residents of these Regions. This represents another unprecedented low in the shameless abuse of state power to attack the very citizens whose safety and security the Akufo-Addo government should be protecting. It is becoming evident by the day, that the Akufo-Addo government perceives political power as an end in itself hence the resort to such crude and high-handed measures to usurp the mandate of the people.



To send troops into regions in times of peace for the sole purpose of preventing them from registration amounts to declaring war on them. Any President sanctioning this sort of activity stands in breach of his oath to the people of Ghana. Any President doing this commits a grave sin against the very people he swore to protect," portions of the statement read.



Read the full statement below;



Statement in solidarity with Regions under military siege



Reports have filtered in of a massive deployment of Military and other security personnel in the Volta, Oti, Upper East and Upper West Regions. The unexplained security deployments to these border regions have clearly been timed to coincide with the commencement of the Voter Registration exercise across the country.



These deployments have begun to create panic and anxiety among residents of the various regions who have been left in no doubt that it has been done as part of a larger strategy to intimidate them into abstaining from the registration exercise starting next Tuesday.



I have sufficient reason to believe that there is merit in the concerns raised by the residents of these Regions. This represents another unprecedented low in the shameless abuse of state power to attack the very citizens whose safety and security the Akufo-Addo government should be protecting.



It is becoming evident by the day, that the Akufo-Addo government perceives political power as an end in itself hence the resort to such crude and high-handed measures to usurp the mandate of the people.



To send troops into regions in times of peace for the sole purpose of preventing them from registration amounts to declaring war on them. Any President sanctioning this sort of activity stands in breach of his oath to the people of Ghana. Any President doing this, commits a grave sin against the very people he swore to protect.



No one would have imagined that a Ghanaian government would be so obsessed with hanging on to power as to subject its own citizens to such mistreatment and execute an ethno-tribal agenda of this magnitude against them.



The singling out of the Volta, Oti and other regions for this kind of attack must be condemned by all. We cannot remain silent while a part of our country is marginalized on account of political calculation. The people of those regions reserve the right to support any political party of their choice and should not be punished unjustly for doing so.



Mr. President put an immediate end to this needless siege and live up to your oath of office which binds you to treat all Ghanaians equally and ensure their safety and security.



To the men and women of the Ghana Armed Forces who have been deployed for this exercise, remember that your fidelity is to the state of Ghana and not a political party. The people you encounter are the very people under whose authority you wear your respected uniforms.



The politicians who send you to intimidate fellow citizens will not be there always but your commitment to the sanctity of the state of Ghana is eternal. I urge you therefore not to become the tool by which the rights of innocent Ghanaians are abused. Bear in mind that there is always a day of accountability and that any abuse you subject your fellow citizens to, will be subject to scrutiny in the near future.



To all Ghanaians, I implore you to take interest in this matter and not sit aloof. The time has come to call out this government that continues to over-reach and abuse the mandate you bestowed on them. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security in the thinking that this is happening far away from you.



A government that can put fear in some of its citizens just to rig elections, is a clear and present danger to all citizens and it is only a matter of time before the tyranny and oppression reaches your own doorstep. Let us rally to the defense of our brethren in the affected regions and stop this power-drunk government in its tracks before they plunge our beautiful country into irredeemable anarchy.



To our compatriots in the Volta, Oti, Upper East and Upper West Regions, do not be crestfallen over these acts of intimidation. Let this motivate you to turn up to register when the exercise begins. That is the only way through which you can retain the power to vote out this government that has put you under siege because of your legitimate political choices.



This is a government that through its behavior has proven to be the most undemocratic and oppressive under the fourth republic. In the process, they have proven themselves totally undeserving of the mandate of the people.



Register in your numbers so you can vote them out and bring in a government that will respect the rights of all Ghanaians irrespective of their political choices or voting patterns.



A government that will not accept only regions that vote for them as populated by Ghanaians.



That is the government I will lead to transform our country into a prosperous one in which all will be treated equally and with respect.



When our forebears founded Ghana, they did so in the singular belief that we would live in unity and harmony, each contributing their quota to our nations development.



They did not envisage that in a later generation, some leader would arrogate unto himself the authority to unilaterally declare other of our citizens non-Ghanaian simply because of historical voting patterns.



The Fourth Republican Constitution of Ghana guarantees the rights of all Ghanaians to make free choices, those choices cannot become a basis for being targeted and subjected to intimidation and ill-treatment.



The siege of the Volta, Oti, Upper East and Upper West Regions must end now.



SIGNED

Joyce Bawah MOGTARI

Special Aide













Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected]









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The Volta region will today, Monday, June 28, 2020, become the political battleground for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).



The two political parties will be holding press conferences in the region to address issues relating to recent developments in the region.



Whereas the NDC will be holding their press conference in Aflao in the Ketu South District, the NPP will be holding their press conference in Ho, the regional capital.



The Volta Region has in recent times been trending on many news and social media platforms following the increased security presence along the borders of the country, including Volta Region which lies on Ghanas eastern boundary with neighbouring Togo.



The opposition NDC party at a press conference in Ho last week made a lopsided assessment of the NPP government and incited residents of the region against alleged destabilisation attempts by the government.



The Volta NDC Regional Communications Officer, Kafui Agbleze scored the NPP government 17 per cent as far as fulfilling their promises to the Volta region was concerned. While the Regional Chairman, Henry Ametefe made various wild allegations and divisive comments against the ruling NPP government.



He also made some tribal comments and incited residents against other tribes of the country, particularly the Akyems.



The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa in reacting to the issues pleaded forgiveness for the Volta NDC Chairman, Henry Ametefe over his tribal, inciteful and divisive comments.



He assured all that there was peace in the region and that war drums beaten by his friend from the other side was unfortunate and needless.



Meanwhile, K.T. Hammond the MP for Adansi Asokwa in the Ashanti region made some comments about Togolese interfering in the elections of Ghana. He said the close relationship between Voltarians living along the Ghana-Togo border and citizens of Togo made it easy for some non-Ghanaians to participate in Ghanas elections. Hence, the deployment of additional security along Ghanas borders.



These comments have received a lot of backlash from residents of the Volta Region who have through various platforms expressed their displeasure.



It is therefore not surprising that the NDC in its fifth edition of weekly press briefing will be addressing the nation from Aflao in Ketu South of the Volta Region. The press briefing which is being organised by the NDC Communications Bureau will be on the Topic; The 2020 Voter Registration exercise. It expected to have all 15 NDC MPs from the region present.



Although NPP has not stated what their press conference will tackle, DGN Online suspects it will address the allegations and issues raised by the NDC in the last press conference in Ho. The news conference which will be addressed by the Volta NPP Chairman, Makafui Woanya, may also try and pre-empt the issues to be addressed in the press briefing of the NDC which will come up later in the day.

Source: Daily Guide









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The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ketu South, Elliot Edem Agenorwu, says military personnel deployed to the Volta Region ahead of the voters' registration exercise are there to maintain peace and order.



He debunked claims that the military men are causing fear and panic in the region as widely speculated.



I can assure you that they are there for peace and no one is terrified by their presence, he said in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie.



The deployment of the soldiers in the Volta region particularly, has created a storm on social media with many Ghanaians divided over the issue.



Supporters of the ruling party have justified the move while opposition members push back with voter suppression claims.



Mahamas condemnation



In a statement signed by his personal aide, NDCs flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama said; I have sufficient reason to believe that there is merit in the concerns raised by the residents of these Regions. This represents another unprecedented low in the shameless abuse of state power to attack the very citizens whose safety and security the Akufo-Addo government should be protecting. It is becoming evident by the day, that the Akufo-Addo government perceives political power as an end in itself hence the resort to such crude and high-handed measures to usurp the mandate of the people.



To send troops into regions in times of peace for the sole purpose of preventing them from registration amounts to declaring war on them. Any President sanctioning this sort of activity stands in breach of his oath to the people of Ghana. Any President doing this commits a grave sin against the very people he swore to protect.



Deployment of soldiers in Volta creating suspicions, animosity  Rawlings



In a statement, Mr. Rawlings said while it is important to protect the integrity of the registration exercise, it must be done in a fair and just manner.



The presence of the military and other security agencies in some parts of the Volta and Oti Regions is generating animosity especially amongst innocent citizens whose basic way of life is being disrupted.



The deployment along the borders at peacetime especially at this particular point in time has created so much suspicion and will call for a lot of intelligent flexibility and diligence, the statement said.



It added: Ahead of the voter registration exercise and the December elections, it is important that we demonstrate a sense of fairness and justice to all individuals and groups of people whilst maintaining the integrity and the sanctity of the process.

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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BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- A total of 14,506 Chinese officials were punished in May for violating frugality rules, the top anti-graft body said on Sunday.

The officials were involved in 10,091 cases, said a statement, issued by the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and the National Supervisory Commission.

The punished officials include 43 at the prefecture or equivalent level, and 849 at the county or equivalent level, according to the statement.

Among them, 6,687 were punished for failing to fulfill their duties of promoting economic development and protecting the environment.

A total of 5,707 were punished for hedonism and extravagant conduct, including accepting gifts and awarding unauthorized allowances.
This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa North, James Agalga is certainly appalled by the governments decision to deploy the heavy military to the Volta Region ahead of the voters' registration.



He noted that the move is disturbing and an attempt to terrify indigenes from taking part in the registration exercise.



Why are they [government] targeting only Ketu? That is my worry. This government is using the military wrongly, its an abuse of their operations, The minority spokesperson on Interior in parliament said in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie.



The deployment of the soldiers in the Volta region particularly has created a storm on social media with many Ghanaians divided over the issue.



Supporters of the ruling NPP have justified the move while opposition members push back with voter suppression claims.







Watch Video Below





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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Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency and minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has asked the government to immediately withdraw the heavy military presence in the Volta region.



He says it is rather unfortunate for the government to intimidate citizens with such heavy military presence all in the name of preventing foreigners from taking part in the voter registration exercise.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he noted that residents have become traumatized and are unable to go about their normal duties.



He said there are Ghanaians who move in and out of the country to conduct their daily business activities in Togo so how then are they described as foreigners.



"This is sickening and it does speak well of us as a Democratic country. Parliament has not even been informed about this operation. So how then do you go about to deploy the military to engage in activities that are meant for the Immigration Service?"



K T Hammond's statement



Member of Parliament for Ketu South, Hon. K.T Hammond, while explaining the reason why some military personnel have been deployed to the Volta Region ahead of the voter registration exercise, made an analogy of how some foreign nationals from neighbouring Togo had participated in the election re-run of the 2008 general elections as Ghanaians in Ketu South Constituency.



He justified the military presence, saying it was to check the seeming influx of foreigners onto Ghanas electoral roll.



The military is there to make sure you vote if you are a Ghanaian and if you have the constitutional right to vote. Thats all there is. They are not electoral officers, but they are peacekeeping forces. They are keeping the peace. They [Togolese] walk into the [Volta Region] and come out normally but they are not Ghanaians. When they walk in there they can do whatever they do so I guess that is the reason for that, he said.



NDC gives government 1 day ultimatum



The Minority NDC in Parliament has meanwhile given a days ultimatum to government to withdraw military personnel from Ketu South in the Volta Region.



Emmanuel Bedzrah, Chairman of the Volta Regional Caucus addressing a press conference in Aflao Monday, stressed that the troops must be recalled to their barracks immediately.



There is no war between Ghana and Togo, Mr Bedzrah said, adding there is no need for an increased security presence in the area.



Rawlings says military deployment is generating animosity



In a related development, former President Jerry John Rawlings thinks that the presence of the military and other security agencies in some parts of the Volta and Oti Regions is generating animosity especially amongst border dwellers whose livelihood solely depend on activities along the border.



According to him, the Covid-19 restrictions have already created enough difficulties for most of our citizens and that such difficulties should not be compounded.



A statement issued by Kobina Andoh Amoakwa of the Communications Directorate of the former President's office said: Let us not make it worse with overbearing and intimidating behaviour towards our border dwellers whose livelihood solely depend on activities along the border.



Mr Rawlings said, Ahead of the voter registration exercise and the December elections, it is important that we demonstrate a sense of fairness and justice to all individuals and groups of people whilst maintaining the integrity and the sanctity of the process.



Former President Rawlings statement followed complaints by many residents of border towns in the Volta and Oti Regions over the deployment of some security personnel, particularly military personnel in the area.



Watch Video Below





Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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PPP Director of Operations, Nana Ofori Owusu has made a strident call on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to condemn the alleged ethnocentric comments by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa, K.T. Hammond.



Nana Ofori Owusu vehemently bemoaned the comments stressing it is divisive and unfair for the NPP bigwig to brand residents of Volta Region as ''non-Ghanaians''.



K.T Hammond's Controversial Statements



Military Officers have been deployed to parts of the Volta Region prior to the new voters' registration exercise which will begin on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.



Following the deployment of the Military, the people of Volta Region have raised concerns over why security forces should be concentrated in the Region.



Explaining the intent behind the Military deployment to a section of the media, Lawyer K.T Hammond said due to the close relationship between Voltarians living along the Ghana-Togo border and citizens of Togo, it is easier for people who are not citizens of Ghana to infiltrate the registration exercise, hence defeating the purpose for a new voters' register.



The military is at the Aflao border to make sure you vote if you are a Ghanaian and if you have the constitutional right to vote. Thats all there is. They are not electoral officers, but they are peacekeeping forces. They are keeping the peace. They [Togolese] walk into the [Volta Region] and come out normally but they are not Ghanaians. When they walk in there, they can do whatever they do so I guess that is the reason for that," he stated.



Dissociate Yourself, President Nana Akufo-Addo



Nana Ofori Owusu, speaking to host Nana Yaw Kesse on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', wondered why President Akufo-Addo is silent on the K.T Hammond's comments.



According to him, the President and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) must dissociate themselves from the statements by Hon. K.T Hammond.



He called on the President to rebuke the Parliamentarian in no uncertain terms because "the policies of Ghana is not about the people. It's about territorial integrity. So, if you say we're protecting our borders, then you go and you isolate a people; that is wrong. He must be condemned. I am looking at the President of the Republic of Ghana to condemn the statements of Hon. K.T Hammond because he represents his party and when somebody speaks like this, people might begin to think he is speaking for the government".



"Are you saying that you need a deliberate policy that will target the people? It's not fair. As a Parliamentarian, I thought he would rather talk about policy of protecting the borders of Ghana and the integrity of Ghana's processes, and show the fairness in terms of process we have adopted to protect the integrity of Ghana," the Progressive People's Party (PPP) activist added.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Director of Operations of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Nana Ofori Owusu has called on President Nana Akufo-Addo not to sit unconcerned over the comments made by Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa constituency, K.T Hammond.



Nana Ofori Owusu says K.T Hammond should be brought to book for his statements against the people of Volta Region.



According to him, "K.T Hammond's statement is a dangerous statement that this man must be brought to book".

As Ghanaians prepare for the new voters' registration exercise on Tuesday, June 30, some parts of the Volta Region are already heavily guarded by the Military force.



The Military presence in the Volta Region has raised a few eyebrows as the residents question why there should be a heavy security protection in the Region.



Giving reasons for the Military deployment, Hon. K.T Hammond noted that due to the close relationship between Voltarians and citizens of Togo, there is the feeling that some people who are not citizens of Ghana but are along the Ghana-Togo land might stealthily participate in the upcoming registration exercise.



He explained that the military is at the Aflao border to make sure you vote if you are a Ghanaian and if you have the constitutional right to vote. Thats all there is. They are not electoral officers, but they are peacekeeping forces. They are keeping the peace. They [Togolese] walk into the [Volta Region] and come out normally but they are not Ghanaians. When they walk in there, they can do whatever they do so I guess that is the reason for that''.



Voltarians' Lives Matter



But Nana Ofori Owusu has likened the comments by K.T Hammond to racism.



To him, K.T Hammond is fanning ethnocentric chaos among the people of Ghana and wants him to be severely punished.



Nana Ofori Owusu believes the MP's statement have the potency to spark tribal conflicts.



"We have our African brothers and sisters in America and other places that black lives matter. That people, just because you're black (the pigmentation of your skin color), people attack you and kill you; are we saying that we're going to do the same thing in Ghana here? That the people of Voltarian, because you're Voltarian origin, somehow we have suspicion against you as a person because, of no fault of yours, you were born into a certain place. Are we now going to point fingers at people who are our Ghanaian brothers and sisters? Voltarians' lives matter. Voltarians' lives, they matter," he exclaimed on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo'.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana Union Movement (GUM) has called on all citizens to see the new voters registration exercise as a national duty and come out in their numbers to register on Tuesday, June 30.



In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Monday, a Political Scientist for GUM, Revered L.K.B Trotsky, said the registration exercise was a national responsibility to deepen the West African countrys democracy and vote for an alternative party.



He described it as an opportunity for Ghanaians to break the supremacy of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghanas political landscape.



Rve Trotsky accused both political parties of ineptness and engaging in excessive borrowing with little to show, widespread corruption, and abandoning vital state enterprises, particularly those established or started by Ghanas first president Dr Kwame Nkrumah.



We are fed up with NDC and NPP deceptions and their failure to fight corruption in the country during their respective terms of office. Both have failed to arrest the growing unemployment and grow the economy, he added.



We are pleading all patriotic Ghanaians, the intelligentsia and GUM members and supporters to rise up in your constituencies, villages, towns and cities to register for your voter identification cards.



According to him, the 2020 December presidential and parliamentary polls premised on breaking the status quo to save Ghanaians from the current socioeconomic hardships, which GUMs Leader and Founder Rev Christian Kwabena Andrews (Osofo Kyiriabosom), have been called to address.



The Electoral Commission (EC) has planned to use 38 days for the new biometric voter registration exercise which is expected to capture between 16 and 16.5 million Ghanaians.



Make it a point to register with the Electoral Commission and acquire your voters ID card for the Election Day, December 7, Rev Trotsky said: Lets assist the masses for mass voter ID card registration on the registration day.

Source: GNA









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Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs has repeated the call for Parliament to be involved in the selection of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners of the Electoral Commission (EC).



According to him, the method would allow the EC chair to be selected through bi-partisan prior approval and thus shed the perennial cloak of mistrust and the perception of bias.

He argued that per Article 55 (14) of the 1992 Constitution, the ECs political party regulatory role relating to the scrutiny of sources of funds and campaign financing is a function that was continuously relegated to the background.



Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu made the call at a forum organized by the Ministry for Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA)to engage the Independent Governance Institutions (IGI) to deliberate on the impending general election and their roles in election management.



The forum, on the theme: Independent Governance Institutions and the 2020 elections: Some reflections was attended by the Electoral Commission, the National Media Commission (NMC), the Commission on Human Right and Administrative Justice, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).



Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said there was a growing rise of opinion for reforms in the face of excessive monetization of elections, especially, at the level of intra-party selection or election processes.



He said the phenomenon, if not checked, had the potential of derailing the countrys democratic journey, adding that the problem required the attention of all citizens to ensure that the EC handled all its constitutional duties.



The seeds of corruption are brazenly sown. It has the potential of derailing our journey to the kingdom of democracy. This requires the attention of all of us and also to ensure that the EC is equipped to handle all its constitutional duties, he said.



Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu emphasized need for a comprehensive review of Ghanas 1992 Constitution rather than tinkering with some aspects of the document.



He suggested that the approach could be cross-section representation to solicit the views of Ghanaians as to the way forward to review the constitution.



He raised other issues such as the composition, tenure, funding or resource allocation, selection and issues of population quota which he said were fundamental ingredient in defining constituencies but which the EC relegated to the background.



The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu advocated more resources for the IGI especially the NCCE, NMC and CHRAJ to optimize their operations in the upcoming elections.



He raised concerns about monetization of elections and the weaponization of vigilantism that had the potential to undermine the countrys democracy.



He wondered whether the various opposition parties were given fair and equal access to the State owned media as required under Article 162 of the 1992 Constitution.



Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, Chairman of the NMC in his remark announced that the Commission was working with the Ministry of Information to develop a framework to guarantee the security and safety of the journalist.



He said as a regulatory institution the NMC developed a number of guidelines some of which were to be transmitted into legislation by Parliament.



He said the objectives for the guidelines was to ensure that the media environment was free but responsible, adding that the Commission had developed guidelines for political reporting, elections, the use of languages and particularly the State-Owned media in terms of their political coverage.



Mr Ayeboafo also commended the private and the state-owned media for devoting resources both human and material to ensure they adequately covered the elections even in the face of the pandemic.



Ms Josephine Nkrumah, Chairperson of the NCCE speaking on the topic: Strengthening the institutional capacity of NCCE to deliver voter education towards the 2020 elections stated that the key objectives of the Commission in its public education was to ensure peace before, during and after elections and reduce voter apathy.



She said the commission would educate the citizenry on the need to respect voting procedures and the public health safety protocols at the registration centres in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.



She gave the assurance that the Commission would continue to enhance its civic education in terms of peoples civic responsibilities and discourse, re-activating the inter-party dialogue platforms at the constituencies towards the 2020 elections among others.



Ms Nkrumah also indicated that though challenges of the NCCE was no secret, the COVID-19 had exposed their weaknesses in terms of the tools for education and called for a strong bi-partisan advocacy for the IGIs especially the NCCE, NMC and CHRAJ in terms of the funding needs.



Mr Joseph Whittal, Commissioner of CHRAJ, called on all duty bearers to appreciate that transparency and accountability were human right issues.



He expressed concern about the increasing monetization of elections in the country, abuse of incumbency by parties in power in terms of using state resources to promote partisan interests.



Mr Alexander Poku Akubia, Acting Director, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the EC expressed worry that the high level of mistrust in the system could undermine the 2020 elections.



He however assured that the EC is confident of delivering a free and fair elections which reflect the will of the people.



He explained that every election was unique in the sense that the contest within which an election was conducted was ever changing because of the social, economic and political underpinnings.



Dr Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, Chief Director of the MoPA, stated that the objective of the ministrys engagement with the IGIs was to deepen the collaboration between the MoPA and the IGIs to support the consolidation of Ghana's democracy.



He said the meeting was to explore the various factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process and to ascertain whether the electoral processes were being prosecuted according to democratic and international standards.



The meeting would afford the participants the opportunity to assess the institutional capacity of the NCCE to conduct voter education and interrogate the regulatory framework to guide the conduct of media practitioners in the 2020 elections.



Dr Aggrey-Darkoh said the meeting would review the human rights dimensions of democratic elections in Ghana and their implications for the conduct of the 2020 elections.



He said the discussion would examine the steps taken to instill confidence in the electoral processes to be open, fair, transparent, inclusive and accountable.

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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The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the government of deploying more military personnel to the Volta and Oti regions to intimidate indigenes from participating in the upcoming voters registration exercise scheduled to begin tomorrow.



They believe there's an agenda by the ruling administration to rig the election, and deploying soldiers to the Volta Region, 'their stronghold' is one of the machinations.



NDC gives government 1-day ultimatum



The Minority NDC in Parliament has meanwhile given a days ultimatum to the government to withdraw military personnel from Ketu South in the Volta Region.



Emmanuel Bedzrah, Chairman of the Volta Regional Caucus addressing a press conference in Aflao Monday, stressed that the troops must be recalled to their barracks immediately.



Ablakwa asks govt to withdraw military



Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency and minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has asked the government to immediately withdraw the heavy military presence in the Volta region.



He says it is rather unfortunate for the government to intimidate citizens with such heavy military presence all in the name of preventing foreigners from taking part in the voter registration exercise.



Akufo-Addo's response



However, at a nation address on Monday evening, President Akufo-Addo said he has no intention of intimidating Ghanaians especially in the Volta region; neither does he have any intention of disenfranchising anyone.



"Let me state that these deployments are not in any way to prevent Ghanaians from registering to vote in December . . . I have no interest in disenfranchising any eligible Ghanaian from registering in tomorrows exercise; nor am I interested in any improper machinations to win any election," he assured.















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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Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Madam Jean Mensa has said there is a need for Ghanaians to participate and monitor the voters' registration exercise at their various registration centres as it will be critical to maintaining the integrity of the new register.



She has therefore asked citizens to draw the attention of the Commission to any anomalies observed during the process in order to arrive at a comprehensive and credible Voters' Register.



"Dear citizens, your participation in, and monitoring of, the voters registration exercise will be critical to maintaining the integrity of the Register. Please participate in the Voters Registration Exercise. Monitor the process at your registration centre. Draw the attention of the Commission to any anomalies you might observe in the process. Together, we will arrive at a comprehensive and credible Voters Register," she urged.



"We will like to assure you that, as a Commission, our rationale for compiling a new register, is not to disenfranchise any eligible voter. On the contrary, it is to ensure that all our citizens who qualify are afforded the opportunity to register and cast their votes. The Commission is of the view that only eligible citizens should be given the right to determine who governs and leads our dear country, and we are determined to ensure that no one is left behind.



"We also deem it necessary to assure you that our decisions and actions are taken without fear or favour and without recourse to any individual or group of persons. We have a duty to our citizens to ensure that it is only the will of the people that stands," Jean Mensa said at the press conference, Monday evening.



Registration exercise



The Supreme Court in its ruling last Thursday directed the Commission and all its stakeholders to comply with Articles 42 and 45 of the 1992 Constitution, and CI 126.



By this ruling, the Supreme Court granted the Electoral Commission the authority to carry on with the compilation of the new Voters Register using CI 126 and to exclude the existing Voter ID cards as identification for voters.



This ruling provides the Electoral Commission with the go-ahead to commence the 2020 Voter Registration Exercise.



This exercise will begin tomorrow, 30th June 2020 and will continue until 6th of August 2020.



The EC has recruited and trained and deployed over 44,000 temporary officials into the field.



Ahead of the Registration Exercise, the Commission will deploy 8,000 Biometric Voter Registration Kits into the field.



Over 5,000 technicians have also been deployed to the field and zonal centres set up across the country to detect faulty kits.



According to Jean Mensa, the kits have been thoroughly tested and the Commission is confident that they will function effectively and ensure the smooth and speedy registration of each applicant.



Mode of Registration



The Cluster system will be used for the voter registration exercise. A cluster will consist of five (5) registration centres/polling stations in a district. In all, a total of 6,788 clusters made up of 5 polling stations each will be covered. This means that all 33,367 registration centres will be covered during the registration exercise. The registration will take place simultaneously in all 16 Regions.



The entire registration will be undertaken in five (5) phases. Each phase will span a duration of six days. In effect, a registration team will spend six (6) days at each of the five centres in a cluster, thus making thirty (30) days per cluster. Six (6) days will be used for the mop-up exercise.



Find attached below her full speech

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The remains of late Kumawood actor Bishop Bernard Nyarko were laid to rest on Saturday at Obosomase in the Eastern Region.



Prior to that was his funeral ceremony which took place at the Lakeside Estate, a suburb of Accra.



The funeral ceremony was attended by a number of Kumawood actors, fans, friends and family who gathered to pay their last respect to the actor.



Some television stations also dedicated their airtime to celebrate the memory of the actor by showing movies Bernard had featured in.



Christiana Awuni, Bill Asamoah, Kalybos, Kwadwo Nkansah, Gloria Sarfo, Abena Ghana, Emelia Brobbey and Kwaku Manu were among the list of the many Kumawood actors who lined up to pay their last respect to their fallen brother.



The late Bernard Nyarko died at age 50 on Saturday, May 2, 2020 while undergoing treatment at the Ridge Hospital. He left behind five children.







Source: daily guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ghanaian Highlife musician, Bisa Kdei is set to stage a great comeback with his fourth studio album.



After a successful release of his latest single with songstress Sista Afia, Bisa Kdei would follow it up with the release of one of his greatest albums thus far.



The album release set for December would see some top international features with a rich mix of highlife vibes.



Bisa Kdei's three previous albums which include "Thanksgiving", "BreakThrough" and "Highlife Konnect", had successful releases and mega-hit songs on them.



The "Thanksgiving" album had songs like "Odo Carpenter", "Saa", "Baba", among others. "BreakThrough" album on the other hand had hit songs like "Brother Brother", "Mansa", "Samina" while "Highlife Konnect" had thrilling songs like "Asew", "Pocket", "Hammer", "Life", among others.



Considering Bisa Kdei's exploits in the music circles, the much-awaited album would have more great songs and bangers for music-loving fans.



Bisa Kdei broke into Ghana's music limelight back in 2012 with "Azonto Ghost" single and has been one of the few artistes keeping the Highlife genre alive beyond the shores of Ghana.







Source: GNA









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Beauty Queen Stephane Karikari has waded into the trending global discussion on rape, bringing a different twist to the fight against the canker.



The Miss Ghana 2010 winner is of the view that children at very tender must be introduced to speaking up when they sense that they are being violated in certain ways.



She insists that kids at the kindergarten level, as done in the west, must be taught by parents and teachers when they are being touched in a wrong way.



Stephanie also called out parents and guardians who conceal rape victims in their households saying they deserve hell.



She described rape as just a whole embarrassing and really disgusting act.



In Africa, the rate of child abuse is the highest at 34%. In Nigeria, 24% of females between the ages of 18 to 24 have gone through some form of sexual abuse and only 3.5% has been reported to the police. In South Africa, 41,000 pus women were raped between 2019 and 2019.



Similarly, in Ghana 514 rape cases were reported to the police with 1889 defilement cases reported.



Stephanie a new episode of her SK Diaries vlog that bothers on social issues dubbed rape in households sought to give children a voice at a young age, so they grow with it.



She said we need to create ore aggressive awareness on this type of issue. And I suggest that we start from kindergarten in schools and this is because when you look at the western world, kids know their rights from a young age.



What happens is that, when there is some sort of child abuse and they get to school, they eventually end up telling somebody, like their teacher and the right measures have been put in place to act upon it. So, I feel like we need to get that done where from kindergarten, a child needs to know, parents need to tell their children, and should even be told in school, she added.



When someone touches you this way or that way, report, you need to tell somebody, tell a teacher or tell a parent. Let it sink into the heads so that when they are growing up, they know what is wrong or what is right.



Touching on the concealment of rape victims by parents, she said at times, You have uncles, that have probably raped or touched their nieces and the parents of this little girl or boy will say its a family secret and will keep it in the house. Maybe they wouldnt be as close to the uncle anymore but it stays in the house. That is so wrong, and parents need to do better.



If you are a mother or a father and you have someone who is a rape victim in your house and you have kept quiet about it, you well done. You have succeeded in destroying someones future, and you deserve a place in hell, she fumed.



Finally, she called on the ministry of gender, children and social protection, the Ghana police Domestic Victim and Violence Support Unit and NGOs to do 600 times better in addressing rape cases.. we are looking at psychological evaluation.



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The 10th edition of the annual Radio and Television Personality Awards (RTP Award) being organized to reward personalities in radio and television industries will be held in October, the organizers have announced.



Unlike many award winners who receive nothing for their honour, winners of this years edition of the awards will take home some special goodies and souvenirs from sponsors.



Organized by Big Event Ghana, the awards ceremony is aimed at rewarding personalities who have over the years contributed immensely towards the development of radio and television in Ghana.



This year, 30 awards will be given out to deserving personalities who head different programming formats on mainstream radio and television nationwide.



The organizers have promised an improved edition this year, adding that measures have been put in place to make the event historic.



They have so far received 1,962 nominations filed from across the 16 regions of Ghana, adding that a total number of 304 more nominations were recorded as compared to 1,658 nominations filed in 2019.



Nominations for this years event were closed on June 10.



What remains now, as organizers work towards the grand launch of the event, is for the planning committee to complete work on the nomination and categorization process.



The organizers are expected to unveil the list of nominees at the grand launch of the awards ceremony in Accra very soon.



The launch is expected to attract radio and television personalities, musicians, journalists and a cross-section of the general public.



Also to be revealed at the launch will be the all new exciting prize package for winners at this years edition of the awards, as well as unveiling other packages.



Notable media personalities who have won the prestigious RTP Awards since its inception in 2010 include Kwami Sefa Kayi, Nana Aba Anamoah, Stacy Amoateng, Captain Godsbrian Smart, Blakk Rasta, Kwesi Aboagye, Gifty Anti and Alfred Ocansey.



Others include Abeiku Aggrey Santana, Johnny Hughes, Bola Ray, Kwabena Yeboah, Kofi Kumbilson and KSM among others.



RTP Awards has also witnessed performances from the likes of Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy, Kojo Antwi, Efya, Kuami Eugene, KiDi, Wendy Shay, Ruff N Smooth, Ebony, C-Zar and Selina Boateng.



Other music stars who have graced the RTP Awards stage include Asem, Okomfo Kwadee, Kontinhene, Lorde Kenya, Adina, No Tribe, King Promise, Kofi Sarpong, Akatakyie, Joyce Blessing, Irene Logan, Joe Mettle and Ambolley.

Source: Daily Guide









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Beaches in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach will be closed Fourth of July weekend as new coronavirus cases in Florida rapidly rise, according to CNN.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced that all beaches and parks in the county will be closed from Friday, July 3, through Tuesday, July 7. He warned the closure could be extended if people dont follow rules implemented to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

"As we continue to see more COVID-19 positive test results among young adults and rising hospitalizations, I have decided that the only prudent thing to do to tamp down this recent uptick is to crack down on recreational activities that put our overall community at higher risk," Gimenez said in a news release Friday.

In Miami, groups of more than 50 people are not allowed, and masks and social distancing are required. "I have been seeing too many businesses and people ignoring these lifesaving rules," Gimenez said. "If people are not going to be responsible and protect themselves and others from this pandemic, then the government is forced to step in and restore common sense to save lives."

Broward County cities, including Fort Lauderdale, will follow Miami-Dade County's example. Several mayors from Broward's coastal cities held a news conference Sunday to discuss the measure, with Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis confirming beaches would be closed from July 3 through July 5.

Some people that disagree with the decision heckled Broward County officials at the news conference. Beachgoers could be heard yelling, "Freedom," "Socialism" and "This is America."

Obviously this decision is not unanimous, right, you can hear it. All right. OK. Not everyones going to be happy about that decision and we always understand that sometimes decisions have to be made so that we can protect the majority of people. So we just ask that you understand and try to respect what were trying to do for the general public, Trantalis responded.

The reason why were doing this is because we feel that we will not be able to provide the necessary safe environment that everyone is entitled to enjoy when they come to our beaches, Trantalis said. Unfortunately, because we normally anticipate large crowds, perhaps even coming from other counties, we made this decision to move forward.

He did say, however, that restaurants and retail will remain open.

Broward County Mayor Dale Holness said Broward beaches will close on July 4 weekend in agreement with Mayors of coastal cities in Broward.

Watch: Broward Mayor Dale Holness press conference on closing beaches for July 4th holiday.

Live stream: https://t.co/hJ1yDonufP pic.twitter.com/TqTKKfuUn5  CBS4 Miami (@CBSMiami) June 29, 2020

Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner told CNN on Sunday he will also be issuing an order to close beaches under his jurisdiction for the holiday weekend. "It is an unfortunate result, but public health remains the focus of the elected leaders of Palm Beach County," Kerner said.

The Florida Department of Health reported 8,530 new coronavirus cases Sunday. On Saturday, the state reported 9,585 new coronavirus cases, a single-day record high since the start of the pandemic. The number rivals that of New Yorks peak in daily cases in early April.

South Florida -- especially the Miami area -- has the most new cases in the state, and it is mostly due to socializing, Ron DeSantis, Floridas governor, said at a briefing on Sunday.

DeSantis said there had been a big increase in positive tests among young people during the past three weeks. He believes that graduation parties and socializing without social distancing is responsible. But he also added that a backlog of testing is also a factor.

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More than 200 folks in West Virginia might have gotten more than a good workout during a recent trip to Planet Fitness, according to multiple reports.

And, now, those folks have been asked to quarantine after a fellow gym-goer tested positive for the coronavirus.

According to CNN, the Monongalia County Health Department released a statement asking anyone who went to the gym between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Wednesday, June 24, to stay home until Wednesday, July 8. The Dept. estimated the total was around 205 people, and they are also being urged to get tested, according to the report.

CNN said the state has seen a slight uptick in coronavirus cases with 400 during the past 12 days as opposed to 240 in the 10 days prior to that.
Gov. Tom Wolf and Pa. Health Secretary Rachel Levine are speaking at 1:15 p.m. at UPMC Pinnacle Community Osteopathic Hospital to thank health care workers for their role in fighting the coronavirus epidemic.

You can watch the stream through this link or through the video embedded below.

June 29 COVID-19 Update Please join us from UPMC Pinnacle Community Osteopathic Hospital in Harrisburg as we come together with health experts to talk about the importance of mask wearing in the fight against COVID-19. Posted by Governor Tom Wolf on Monday, June 29, 2020

As of noon, there were 85,988 probable and confirmed coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania. Of those cases, 6,614 people have died.

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BREAKING: Serial stabbing suspect arrested as Pa. mom mourns son killed in random slashing

Three stabbings, including one death, have been linked to the same suspect, who is still on the loose but actively being sought by Pa. police.

Pittsburgh Police released store surveillance images of the suspect after a third stabbing in 24 hours sent a victim in serious condition to a hospital on Sunday.

As KDKA-TV reports, it happened in the citys Lincoln-Lemington section.

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According to Pittsburgh Police, a person was taken to an area hospital in serious condition after being stabbed on Lincoln Avenue.

Police believe that the suspect is the same person responsible for two stabbings on Saturday night that left one person dead and another injured.

Anyone with information to call the Violent Crime Unit at 412-323-7161.

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There has been an increasing number of collaborations among East Coast wineries and craft breweries, cideries and distilleries.

One was released this afternoon as North Carolinas biggest producer of wines made from Italian grapes, Raffaldini Vineyards, and neighbor JOLO Winery & Vineyards rolled out their fourth vintage of a red blend called RARA Sisboombah. Yes, if youre going to spend the time making a wine together, you might as well give it an unforgettable name.

Jay Raffaldini and fellow owner JW Ray, the president and CEO of JOLO Vineyards & Winery in Pilot Mountain, in the northwest part of the state, each talked about their contribution and signed bottles of the new release during an afternoon event at Raffaldini in Ronda, about 50 miles to the west. They then traveled to JOLO for more conversation and a completion of the festivities. Its a blend of Montepulciano from Raffaldini and Norton from JOLO. Both are among the top premium dry wine producers in the state.

RARA uses the first two letters of the two owners. Raffaldini said the first release was around 50 cases; this years is at 100. It sells for $50. Usually, it sells out within a month, he said. Our goal is to celebrate it at its 25th anniversary, Raffaldini said.

This is normally a March or April release, but the COVID pandemic delayed it this year.

The state has been sitting in Phase 2 of its reopening plan for more than a month. Restaurants may open indoor and outdoor seating areas at 50 percent capacity for on-premises service of food and beverages. Meanwhile, bars must remain closed. Breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries are open and subject to the same requirements as restaurants.

--

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Military flyovers are planned for the Fourth of July over Mount Rushmore National Memorial, as well an aerial salute to several cities that played roles in the American Revolution as part of the 2020 Salute to America.

The Department of Defense announced on Friday that the flyovers will begin in Boston and proceed to New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore. From there they will join other Department of Defense and heritage aircraft in the Salute to America over our nations capital.

The timing of the flyovers have not yet been announced.

In all, roughly 1,700 service members will support the celebrations, according to the statement from the Pentagon. The flyovers provide an opportunity for DOD to demonstrate the capabilities and professionalism of the United States Armed Forces. Flying hours are a sunk cost for the Department of Defense, and these aircraft and crews would be using these hours for proficiency and training at other locations if they were not conducting these flyovers.

CNN reported, Last week, the White House announced that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump would host the 2020 Salute to America on the White House South Lawn and the adjacent 52-acre Ellipse, concluding with a spectacular fireworks display over the National Mall.'

In addition to music, military demonstrations, and flyovers to honor our Nations service members and veterans, the President will deliver remarks that celebrate our independence and salute our amazing heritage,' the White House said in a statement.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif.  Forty-five years after committing his first murder, Joseph James DeAngelo admitted Monday he was the Golden State Killer, serial killer and rapist and author of one of the worst crime sprees in California history.

Looking frail and speaking in a halting voice, the former policeman entered a string of guilty pleas in a Sacramento State ballroom that was converted into a courtroom for the day.

DeAngelo, 74, admitted to a 12-year binge of murder and sexual assaults from the Sacramento area to Orange County that captivated the worlds attention and spawned a multitude of nicknames for the former police officer: Golden State Killer, East Area Rapist, Visalia Ransacker, Original Night Stalker and more.

DeAngelo, who has been confined to the Sacramento County Jail since his arrest in April 2018 at his home in Citrus Heights, arrived at the makeshift courtroom at the University Union about 20 minutes before the hearing began. He was trucked to the campuss University Union in a burgundy van that was backed up to a loading dock.

Wearing a jailhouse orange jumpsuit, and a face shield to guard against the spread of the coronavirus, DeAngelo agreed to plead guilty to a total of 13 counts of murder and 13 counts of kidnap for robbery, starting with the Nov. 11, 1975, shooting death of college professor Claude Snelling in Visalia in 1975. He also pleaded guilty to committing 62 rapes and other crimes for which he wasnt formally charged.

He admitted to Snellings death, and the other crimes, with a simple but feeble, Guilty. When the uncharged counts were read aloud, he said, I admit.

Prosecutors from around the state read aloud the excruciating and sometimes bizarre circumstances of each case, including DeAngelos rummaging through the refrigerator of a Santa Barbara County couple he had just killed in December 1979, Debra Manning and Robert Offerman.

Under a plea bargain deal reached two weeks ago, DeAngelo is expected to be sentenced in August to life in prison without parole.

Prosecutors agreed to forego seeking the death penalty in order to save the cost of taking DeAngelo to trial in what would have been one of the largest and costliest prosecutions in California history. Given DeAngelos advanced age, the advanced ages of witnesses and investigators, and Gov. Gavin Newsoms imposition of a moratorium on executions, prosecutors decided it was time to accept a plea deal and not conduct a death penalty trial.

The family members of murder victims have waited decades for justice, said Amy Holliday, Sacramento Countys assistant chief deputy district attorney. The time for justice stands in front of us now.

More than 150 people attended, including DeAngelos victims and relatives of victims, media representatives and prosecutors from all over the state, forcing courtroom officials to seek a large enough venue that could allow for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the lawyers, family members and others wore masks; boxes of Kleenex were stacked up for victims and next of kin.

The Sacramento State ballroom, which can accommodate up to 2,000 people, was configured for a court hearing, with plastic chairs spaced far apart and a stage set up at one end. Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman sat in the middle of the stage, with DeAngelo and his public defenders at the right and a succession of district attorneys, led by Sacramentos Anne Marie Schubert, at the left.

In a perverse testament to the statewide sweep of DeAngelos crimes, prosecutors from multiple counties read aloud the facts underlying each of the murders, rapes and other charges to which he pleaded guilty, as well as the 62 uncharged counts.

Law enforcement personnel swept the building and the area outside with search dogs at 6 a.m. More than 20 sheriffs deputies arrived at the ballroom a little more than an hour later, more than two hours before the hearing began.

Among those savoring the moment was Margaret Wardlow, who was 13 when she was attacked by the man known as the East Area Rapist at her home on La Riviera Drive, just minutes from Sacramento State.

It was Nov. 10, 1977. Wardlow was DeAngelos youngest victim. Now, nearly 43 years later, Wardlow waited to see her attacker and hear his plea.

Hes going to plead guilty to my crimes as well as others, she said, relishing a bit of irony. DeAngelo had attended Sacramento State for a time. He went to university here. I bet he had no idea that this is the way hed visit his alma mater. Hopefully, this will give some closure.

Wardlow remembered how the East Area Rapists reign of terror gripped  and  changed the Sacramento region. As a 13-year-old living in Sacramento, she followed accounts of the crimes obsessively, preparing in her mind how she would fight back if the time came. It did and she would.

I was very defiant. I read every single article. I was always reading the newspaper, she said. By the time he got to my house, I told him I didnt care. I dont think he enjoyed visiting my home.

All of Sacramento was a victim of that man, Wardlow said. Everyone was in a fit of panic. It was a time of sheer terror.

Among the very few people who gathered outside the building was Todd Jearou, a retired law enforcement chaplain, who as a teenager in the 70s had just moved to a Carmichael neighborhood with his family when the East Area Rapist attacked one of his neighbors.

He struck seven houses down, Jearou said. We believe he was in our front yard for sure.

Jearou said the fear of the East Area Rapist was a very huge deal during his childhood and young adulthood, and completely changed the way his family lives their lives.

We couldnt go anywhere by ourselves anymore, he said. Everybody knew he was very, very violent.

Jearou said hes been hooked on the case ever since.

Everything about the DeAngelo case has been extraordinary, including his arrest. Schubert, the Sacramento district attorney, made finding a suspect a priority. She spearheaded the use of DNA evidence from old crime scenes, including semen found inside Charlene Smith, a woman he killed in Ventura County in 1980, to create a new investigative technique that plugged that evidence into genealogical websites looking for a match.

Eventually, investigators found a potential relative on a website called GEDmatch.com and began building out a family tree that led them to Citrus Heights. DeAngelo had been living in the suburb for years after being fired from the Auburn Police Department and becoming a truck mechanic.

Thienvu Ho, a Sacramento deputy DA, recalled that DeAngelo was living a vigorous life, racing around town on a motorcycle, as he was being tracked by investigators. But when they arrested him, he feigned feeble incoherence.

The case has spawned a best-selling book and a six-part documentary series on HBO that debuted Sunday.
As nearly all of Pennsylvania is now in the green phase, the number of new coronavirus cases remains relatively low compared to the peak. But the number of new cases has increased in recent days.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 492 new coronavirus cases Monday, raising the statewide total to 85,988.

Across Pennsylvania, 6,614 deaths have been tied to COVID-19, including 8 new fatalities reported Monday, according to the health department. More than two-thirds of the states coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.

The health departments new data on cases and deaths reflect figures as of midnight. There are 666,901 people who have tested negative.

In light of a spike of cases in the Pittsburgh area, Allegheny County officials said they are prohibiting on-site consumption of bars and restaurants. County officials say bars and restaurants can remain open but starting Tuesday, will only offer alcoholic products for takeout.

Health officials in Allegheny County are increasingly concerned about the rise in cases, particularly among younger adults. Allegheny County reported a one-day high of 96 new cases Sunday, surpassing the previous high of 90 on Saturday, the Associated Press reported. The county has reported 393 new cases in the past seven days.

Recent rise in cases

Statewide, the health department has reported more new COVID-19 cases being reported over the past week or so.

For the week of June 14-20, the state reported 2,804 new cases, an average of 400 a day. From June 21-27, the health department reported 3,725 new cases, an average of 532 new cases per day.

These numbers remain well below the peak weeks in April and May, when the health department regularly reported 1,000 or more new cases per day. The state hasnt seen a day with more than 1,000 new cases since May 10.

Going green

Nearly all of Pennsylvanias counties are in the green phase, the least restrictive phase in Gov. Tom Wolfs color-coded plan to reopen Pennsylvania.

Wolf said last week that Lebanon County, the only county in the yellow phase, will be able to move to the green phase on Friday, July 3. County officials reacted angrily a little more than a week ago when the governor announced only Lebanon County would remain in the yellow phase.

Philadelphia was moved to the green phase under the Wolf administrations plan last week, but city officials have kept some restrictions in place until July 3.

Late last week, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley noted cases have been increasing and theres a chance the city wont be able to move to the green phase Friday as planned.

Nursing homes

Statewide, 4,531 COVID-19 deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes and personal care homes, according to the health department.

There are 17,697 residents of those facilities who have become infected, along with 3,224 cases among employees, the department said. Statewide, a total of 20,921 people in long-term care facilities have been infected.

Cases have been found at 689 facilities in 52 counties.

The health department said 6,508 health care workers have been infected.

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A top UPMC Pinnacle specialist on Monday said he sees signs people who test positive for COVID-19 arent as sick as people stricken earlier in the pandemic. But he said its early to know if that means the disease is somehow less dangerous.

Dr. John Goldman said he suspects it may be less virulent, but also suspects other factors may be at least partly responsible.

I hope it means the disease is becoming less harmful, said Goldman, an infectious disease specialist.

Goldman said other possible reasons include increased testing, with testing no longer restricted to the most severely ill. That may be resulting in more cases being caught before symptoms have grown severe, and resulting in a greater proportion of cases involving younger, healthier people, who are less likely to become severely ill.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine offered a similar assessment, adding it also could be related to a drop in cases in nursing homes, which house the most vulnerable population. She attributed the drop in nursing home cases to factors including better infection control.

I would love to think the virus is becoming less severe. I dont see any specific evidence of it, she said.

Goldman and Levine attended an event at UPMC Community General Hospital in Dauphin County.

It was one of a succession of visits Levine along with Gov. Tom Wolf have made to hospitals to thank health care providers for their efforts caring for COVID-19 patients and to acknowledge the risk they take.

Most if not all of the scheduled speakers emphasized the importance of wearing face masks while in public to block droplets that can spread COVID-19.

The science is clear, said Doug Neidich, the chairman of the UPMC Pinnacle board of directors and the CEO of Greenworks Development. The actions of each individual will affect the health of the community and its up to each of us to do the right thing.

In discussing the contributions of health care workers during the pandemic, Dr. Christian Caicedo noted COVID-19 patients are allowed few visitors, and some have no visitors.

That poses a unique need that is being met by hospital staff, he said.

They became friends, they became family, they became advocates, said Caicedo, who oversees Harrisburg and Community General hospitals.
Robert Metz killed his lover when she refused to leave her husband.

Her body was still there, lying on the floor of Metzs apartment, when police burst in three days later. And Metz, a 69-year-old retired postal worker, was sitting in a bathtub filled with bloody water, holding a kitchen knife. He had self-inflicted cuts to his arms, wrists and groin.

Metz ended up with a 15- to 30-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to third-degree murder for the June 2018 slaying of 56-year-old Dolores Miller.

And that is where he should stay, a state Superior Court panel has decided.

In an opinion by Senior Judge Eugene B. Strassburger III, the court rejected Metzs appeal of his sentence and his claims that an Allegheny County judge didnt fully consider Metzs own needs in imposing it.

As Stassburger noted, police went to Metzs apartment after Millers daughter reported her missing. Metz had previously told police by phone that he had last seen Miller when she left his apartment to go to a casino.

After his arrest, Metz told investigators he had strangled Miller until blood came out of her mouth and nose, then had driven her car to the casino and parked it. He said he had tossed her cell phone into a lake. Yet he never moved her body.

Metz pleaded guilty to the murder count and a charge of abuse of a corpse in January 2019.

He claimed on appeal that in choosing his punishment, county Judge Thomas Flaherty didnt give enough weight to his mental health concerns and other issues that should have translated into a lighter sentence. Metz insisted that copious mitigating evidence included his regret about the killing, his four subsequent suicide attempts and his lack of a prior criminal record and his reputation as a long-serving, hardworking employee of the U.S. Postal Service.

In rejecting those arguments, Strassburger cited Flahertys conclusion that Metzs punishment is justified by the horrific nature of the slaying and Metzs ineffectual attempts to cover it up.
A group encouraging people to not wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic is distributing cards that appear to exempt the card holder from wearing a face mask. The US Department of Justice is warning Americans that the cards are fraudulent.

COVID-19 ALERT: Fraudulent Facemask Flyers, Exempt Cards not Authorized by U.S. Department of Justice https://t.co/pTa64ILFZK pic.twitter.com/4A1wKvDpCK  US Attorney MDNC (@USAO_MDNC) June 26, 2020

The cards looks official in appearance. According to a report by CNN, the laminated cards feature an image of an eagle and say Face Mask Exempt Card in bold letters across the top. They appear to be geared toward people trying to skirt state and business requirements to wear face masks in public, or to receive service. The card also references the DOJ and the Americans with Disabilities Act, the report said.

CNN reports the group that posted them on its website and distributed the cards is named Freedom to Breathe Agency. It isnt a federal or state agency. Its a Facebook group that says on its website its trying to stop face mask orders from spreading nationwide and globally, the report said.

Lenka Koloma, the groups founder, told CNN it wasnt making any recommendations to anyone and the groups mission is freedom and personal liberty. But, noted the report, she went on to say that people should only wear masks, whenever they wish to be silenced and muzzled.

The DOJs Civil Rights division and a U.S. Attorneys office have now posted warnings about the cards, calling them fraudulent.

Matthew G.T. Martin, U.S. attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, said in a news release, Do not be fooled by the chicanery and misappropriation of the DOJ eagle. He further warned, These cards do not carry the force of law. The Freedom to Breathe Agency, or FTBA, is not a government agency, the report quoted.

Since early April, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged people to wear masks. Although scientific research shows that mask wearing is saving lives by helping prevent the spread of Covid-19 by infected and asymptomatic people, the report said Koloma and her group, which according to its Facebook page had more than 5,500 members, continue pushing falsehoods - including that mask wearing dangerously limits oxygen.

There are multiple versions of the card.

There are several versions of the main card, with specific cards for Colorado and California.

According to the report, one of the cards says, I am exempt from any ordinance requiring face mask usage in public. Wearing a face mask poses a mental and/or physical risk to me.

Be aware that the cards give the impression of being issued by an official government agency. In all capital letters, at the bottom of the card, it reads: Denying access to your business/organization will also be reported to FTBA for further actions. Some cards bear the seal of the Department of Justice, in an attempt to make them look even more official, the report said.

According to the report, Koloma and Fred DiDomenico, who are listed as the co-administrators of the Facebook group, confirmed to CNN the group distributed the cards with the DOJ seal. The report said Koloma and DiDomenico would not say why the cards had the DOJ seal on them or why they removed them.

The report said its unclear if the cards were presented anywhere by anyone.

The group has disappeared from Facebook.

On Thursday afternoon, the group disappeared from Facebook, and the report said Koloma provided CNN with a screenshot with a notification saying Facebook removed the group for fraud and deception.

Prior to its removal, CNN had reached out to Facebook for comment about the group, but has not received a response to the initial inquiry or to a follow-up inquiry about why the groups page was removed, the report said.

The groups website also disappeared from the internet Wednesday morning. According to the report, Koloma says they are unsure why it disappeared.

The site was created and hosted by Wix, however, CNN said Wix has not responded to a request for comment.

While the group was asking for donations on the site, Koloma says it was not taking in any money, the report noted.

According to the report, Koloma has since created a new group page on Facebook and says it plans to distribute new cards.

The number of Covid-19 cases continues to rise across the United States, and the report said that in the last week, some 60% of states have seen increases in coronavirus cases.

READ MORE:

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WILLIAMSPORT  A former member of a white supremacist organization who played a minor role in a scheme to sell drugs to obtain money for weapons has been sentenced to four years in federal prison.

U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann Monday made note that Connor Drew Dikes, 24, of Silver Spring, Md., voluntarily left the group, known as Aryan Strikeforce.

Before he was arrested, Dikes, using what his attorney John McKenna said was a painful procedure, had the tattoos of Nazi symbols on his body covered.

Dikes was involved in two of four trips strikeforce members made between Pennsylvania and Maryland, each time with 16 pounds of fake methamphetamine.

The FBI infiltrated the strikeforce and, with undercover employees, arranged for the trips and sale of the fake drugs. Proceeds were used to buy gift cards, with the ultimate goal of purchasing weapons.

Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel advocated for a sentence in the 46- to 57-month range, citing Dikes effort to make amends.

Dikes, who has mental issues for which he is receiving treatment, told the judge without this case I dont know where Id be now.

He had pleaded guilty in April 2108 to a charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. He has since been free on his personal recognizance.

His sentence also includes a $500 fine and a five-year period of supervised release during which he may not join or have contact with any white supremacist organization.

Dikes was a former sergeant of arms of the white nationalist organization, which advocates violence as a tool to achieve its political goals. He is one six strikeforce members indicted in the scheme that included several meetings in the Harrisburg area.

All have pleaded guilty and only Joshua Michael Steever of Manville, N.J., has yet to be sentenced.

Jacob Mark Robards of Bethlehem was sentenced to 10 years, Henry Lambert Baird of the Allentown area, 14 years; Justin Daniel Lough of Waynesboro, Va., 12 years; and Steven D. Davis of Bumpass, Va., 30 months.

Four of the six unsuccessfully sought to have the indictment dismissed on the basis of outrageous government conduct.

Rocketashel has pointed out repeatedly that undercover FBI employees told the strikeforce members they were committing a crime and could drop out. Only Dikes did so.
A 45-year-old Washington resident felt a call to duty to help and comfort her community amid the coronavirus pandemic. Her actions not only comforted the community, but in turn provided comfort for herself.

According to a Today report, when Michelle Brenner was furloughed in March from her retail job, she began grocery shopping, free of charge, for those in her community that were most vulnerable to contracting COVID-19.

There was this sense of panic in my area and I felt it was my call of duty to help, Brenner told Today.

According to the report, Brenner noticed, after a few days, that she was getting many requests for lasagna, a dish she grew up making from scratch in her Italian grandmothers kitchen.

Brenner wrote on her community Facebook page, If any of you want some fresh homemade, no calorie counting lasagna, please let me know and I will gladly prepare it, the report said.

The single mom used her entire $1,200 stimulus check to buy ingredients.

Within a day or two, I had a few orders, Brenner told Today.

But a week later, the report said, Brenner, who is now known in her town as the Lasagna Lady, could barely keep up with the demand. She assembled 60 lasagnas over Easter weekend in her 10-by-10-foot kitchen with no assistance.

The majority of the people Brenner serves, the report said, are elderly or low-income  but not all.

Its everybody and anybody, she explained to Today. Some people just dont want to cook. Some are afraid to leave their house. One man came by who had just lost his father and his young son.

A report by The Washington Post said that after Brenner used her stimulus check to buy lasagna ingredients for her first 60 giveaways, she decided to start a Facebook fundraiser that quickly netted more than $10,000  enough for more than 500 pans. Then people began donating what they could  from $1 to $100  when they picked up their orders.

Brenner has made about 1,200 vegetarian and meat lasagnas since March. All the recipient has to do is pop their lasagna into an oven when they get home, the Today report said.

When Le Rodenberg, president of the Gig Harbor Sportmans Club, got word of what Brenner was doing, he offered her use of the clubs commercial kitchen. So, the report said, for the past five weeks, Brenner has been been working out of a larger space.

Rodenberg isnt the only one rallying around Brenner. According to the report, she will be making lasagnas for as long as theres a demand, thanks to more than than $22,000 in donations.

According to The Washington Post, When word got out on social media, people from all over the world started donating to my cause, said Brenner, who is single and moved to Gig Harbor from Port Orchard, Wash., six years ago.

Brenner said she is honored and humbled by the response, People say they can taste the love I put in the layers and that it brings them comfort, Today quoted.

Along the way, Brenner has also found comfort in her own lasagna.

I made lasagna 90 days in a row without a day off and it never felt like a job to me. I always wanted to be there, Brenner told Today.

I healed myself by getting to know my community. I fixed things (inside of myself) that I couldnt have paid a doctor or therapist to fix. I just feel so fortunate for the experience, she said.

According to The Washington Post report, Brenner said nothing brings her more contentment while she is out of work than passing along goodness from her kitchen.

The world as we know it is falling apart, but my two little hands are capable of making a difference, she said. I cant change the world, but I can make lasagna, the report quoted.

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Chiquita Reeves understands very few things about why her son died. She knows she keeps hearing it was an accident and because of that the 14-year-old shooter will stay in the juvenile system.

She knows in her mind that will be a slap on the wrist.

She knows that she will never see her son, Tyrone Gibson, again and that his shooter has a chance to live a full life.

Gibson, 14, was killed May 26 when he was with his friends, one of whom had stolen a gun earlier in the day. Authorities say when Gibson joined up with the group, the owners of the gun came after them. Police said they found the victim in an alley in the 2300 block of Center Street of Harrisburg just before 4 p.m.

The first hearings on the case are scheduled for this week.

The shots that killed Gibson were supposed to be warning shots, and video surveillance footage proved as much to those handling the charges.

I mean, Im a mom. I know people say let it go. I cant, Reeves said, before directing her comments to the shooter. You ate at my house. You chilled at my house. You came to my house knowing my kids was down there. No.

For Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, this was a decision based on the facts of the case, the facts that can be seen on that footage.

Its the conduct. The conduct does not support a murder charge, Chardo said. He could be 80 years old, 50 or 10 years old, the conduct is involuntary manslaughter.

Involuntary manslaughter in Pennsylvania is a misdemeanor. Chardo said elsewhere in the country it would be a felony. If this was an adult case, it could mean up to five years in prison.

The shooter doesnt have a record, Chardo said, and because of the grading of the charge, it could never be transferred to adult criminal court.

In Pennsylvania, adult criminal court means there are laid-out sentencing guidelines that judges adhere to, but for juveniles, the system is completely different.

They do a pretty in-depth study before they do the recommendation to inform the judge of what the right thing to do will be, Chardo said.

Reeves said she has heard chatter about the shooter getting therapy, which she understands. But she wonders, what if he comes out of all of it thinking he can get away with stealing guns and killing somebody?

Judge John J. Romero, Jr., board director of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, has spent the last 17 years on the bench and another 18 practicing family and juvenile law in New Mexico. He has seen juvenile justice transform over the course of his career.

When hearing about the circumstances of the case, he asks what good comes from locking up the shooter and throwing away the key?

My argument has been, when you put a kid in a detained facility, adult or juvenile  particularly when its a kid  when youre putting him in an adult facility, are you really promoting public safety at all? Romero said.

Many of the studies that have been done, some years ago, the conclusion is that when you put kids in an adult facility they commit offenses within 18 months after getting out, Romero said. While those in similar situations, processed as a juvenile, dont commit new offenses.

Juvenile justice is aimed at rehabilitation for the juvenile committing the crime. Romero described this as needing to fix whatever evil intent the child has. In this case, with it being an accident, there might not be evil intent at all.

Does that help Reeves? Not really, and Romero acknowledges that.

I think that one of the things that cannot happen  by locking him up for life or having him do yard work  is going to have him bring his friend back to life, Romero said. The restoration isnt going to happen because its physically impossible.

But what can happen, he said, is healing.

Harkening back to Native American traditions, Romero talked about how conversations among the community are key to finding peace.

There is deep hurt, wounds that will never be healed, Romero said. The goal of these peace talks, traditionally held in a circle, was to let the families walk away with a better understanding.

When it happens that one person is a victim and one is an offender, it becomes us against them, Romero said. Instead of bringing healing, its bringing further division.

The community aspect is just as important as working with the child themselves, Romero said.

You cant deal with kids without also dealing with their families, Romero said. In his experience, he has seen so many cases of families struggling with poverty, substance abuse and mental health issues, which leads to unsupervised kids and kids with problems that wont be addressed.

He said that people need to consider what can be done as a community to change things and that a caring, compassionate community can assist the entire family.

The whole community pays the price. Not just in dollars but in a kid, in a family, whos no longer potentially available to be a productive member of society, Romero said. The goal of the juvenile justice system is to impact the way they view these youthful offenders and how they can be part of the solution.

Chardo said the overall community has been at the forefront of his concerns when handling cases like this.

Youre trying to do the right thing for everyone. For the entire community, Chardo said. We have to represent the victim and the victims family, but were representing society at large. But we want to do the right thing for everyone.

Romero said sometimes he wants to ask those who have the anger and hatred from the hurt caused by these juveniles what would they do if it was their own family who committed these crimes.

For Reeves, she said she would have told her son he was wrong and that he knew what he was doing.

She said she also believes her son would have suffered if this had happened to another friend instead of him.

Tyrone would have been crying. Tyrone would have been hurt, Reeves said. And he probably would have been like man I told him not to even do that.' Thats what he would have said."

Justice to Reeves isnt simple. She doesnt know if a lifetime in prison would help her right now.

I feel like, [the shooter] owes me an apology, but I dont know if Ill accept that apology, Reever said. The mom hasnt said nothing to me. Because she knows its wrong.

I feel like its not going to help me, Reeves said.

Romero said in his courtroom he has seen healing when offenders apologize.

Your apology is important to those who have been harmed by your conduct, Romero said. For a victim to look them in the eye, and for the kid to look them in the eye. They can gauge if its genuine or is there for some room conversation.

The hurt never stops but the willingness to look beyond what has happened, the ability to look beyond what has happened takes time, Romero said.

Reeves will have her first shot at seeing the shooter, at least through a video screen, as the hearings get underway this week. In the immediate aftermath of Gibsons death, she said she had words for the shooter that she would only say to him. It is unclear if she will get that opportunity this soon.

But it is a start, and it will be her first experience actually seeing what the system will do. Right now, shes too hurt to think too far past caring for Gibsons siblings and getting to the next day.

When asked, Reeves wasnt sure what would get her to a place of healing. Maybe I just need time, she said.

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A Pennsylvania man convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious and heavily intoxicated woman on her birthday cant escape a prison sentence or a requirement to register for life as a sex offender, a state appeals court has ruled.

The decision by a panel of the Superior Court means Anthony G. Williams, 39, will keep serving a 4- to 8-year jail term and will carry the sex offender label for the rest of his days.

President Judge Emeritus John Bender wrote in the courts opinion that Williams was found guilty of assaulting the woman in July 2013 after she spent the evening of her birthday drinking tequila shots at a Philadelphia bar.

Williams was a friend of the father of the womans children. Bender noted that she told police she left the bar with Williams, believing he was taking her to her home. Instead, she testified that she remembered Williams having sex with her without her consent while she was too drunk to resist or even speak.

When she walked home the next morning her underwear was stuffed inside her bra and her tights were on inside out, the judge wrote.

A jury acquitted Williams of rape but convicted him of sexual assault and indecent assault of an unconscious woman.

In his failed appeal, Williams argued that there wasnt enough evidence to justify his convictions. He claimed the lifetime sex offender registration was an excessive punishment.
Now in his eighth month of treatment for brain cancer, state Sen. Dave Arnold is one month away from completing his second cycle of chemotherapy.

The Lebanon County Republican has had to endure a surgery and six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation every day to get to this point.

Since late January or early February, his life has revolved around a cycle of five days of high doses of chemotherapy followed by 23 days to recover. The former Lebanon County district attorney also receives an infusion every two to three weeks of a drug designed to cut off the blood supply to his tumor to try to kill it.

Talking about his cancer is not my favorite subject, Arnold said.

But he added, Thats where Im at. I feel good. I think once I get through this next month of chemo  that kind of depresses the energy level being on that  but Im doing well.

He credits his wife Alicia and daughter Reese, friends and coworkers with helping him manage the effects of the treatment while carrying out his senatorial duties that he began on Jan. 29 when he was sworn into office.

I havent missed any work or anything like that, Arnold said. I get tired more than I care to. But that just is what it is and you try your best to work through it and try to get back to the way things were, hopefully.

Sen. Dave Arnold, R-Lebanon County, took the oath of office as the 48th District senator in January with his 13-year-old daughter Reese and wife Alicia by his side.

Last Wednesday, he spoke on the Senate floor to offer a resolution declaring June Cancer Survivors Recognition Month that pays tribute to cancer survivors who he called heroes.

The resolution takes note of the American Cancer Societys estimates that 1.8 million Americans will receive a cancer diagnosis this year. Arnold said the latest statistics he could find suggest 600,000 Americans die each year from cancer.

Pausing to choke back tears during his floor remarks, Arnold mentioned his own personal battle with the disease and said he lost one of his best friends to the same form of cancer he has about 15 years ago.

There are a lot of cancer survivors out there, he said. To all survivors, I just want to say thank you. You give those of us who are afflicted the strength to keep fighting on themselves. Some of us will win the battle. Sadly, many of us wont. But all are heroes the same to me. I pray for all of you.

During his speech, Arnold named three cancer survivors who he considered his role models. Among them was one of his constituents, Steve McCracken of North Cornwall Township. McCracken, who also has brain cancer, came to meet Arnold through friends who connected them because of their shared diagnosis.

McCracken said he is as grateful to Arnold for the friendship they have developed and considers the senator to be his own inspiration.

Going through brain cancer is a harrowing experience and to know that God puts people like Dave in our lives to help us feel like we arent doing it alone and to have the support of people like Dave and the community, its such a blessing to have this kind of relationship, McCracken said. Im so thankful Dave is able to use his public position to create public awareness and be such an advocate for something that affects so many people.

Arnold discovered his malignant brain tumor after suffering headaches following a playful collision with his dog in October. A few days later, he was chosen by Republican committee people to be the partys nominee to fill an open seat in the 48th Senatorial District, which represents all of Lebanon and portions of Dauphin and York counties.

The seat was vacated by Mike Folmer, who later pleaded guilty to child pornography charges. Arnold won a Jan. 14 special election in a head-to-head race against Lebanon Valley College professor Michael Schroeder to finish the remaining three years of Folmers term.

In talking about the prevalence of cancer in an interview with PennLive, Arnold mentioned he even lost his two dogs to the disease - including the one that played a role in the discovery of his tumor.

Its very personal to me but its a disease that is so rampant, Arnold said. We need to find some cures, if thats possible, somehow.

Lebanon County GOP Chairman Casey Long, like McCracken, gave high praise to Arnold for serving as a shining example of strength and inspiration of the cancer survivors that Arnolds resolution recognizes.

Throughout his courageous battle with cancer, Dave Arnolds bravery and commitment to serving his community has only been reaffirmed, Long said. The voters of the 48th Senatorial District could not have chosen a finer person to represent us in Harrisburg. Dave, with the love and support of his family, has not missed a beat and is already accomplishing tremendous things in his brief time in office. I know I speak on behalf of many when I say, Dave Arnold is my hero.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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Starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, the window opens for applications from Pennsylvania small businesses to tap a $225 million grant program that is intended to help them recover their losses from the COVID-19 pandemic and reopen their doors.

The COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance program announced earlier this month by Gov. Tom Wolf, will accept applications for 10 days before closing until the second of four rounds of grant distributions begins in early August.

An application that can be accessed at pabusinessgrants.com.

Grants of between $5,000 and $50,000, depending on a business revenues, will be issued by the states 17 Community Development Financial Institutions within two weeks of the application period closing. Funding comes from the states allotment of federal CARES Act dollars and has to be spent by Nov. 28 when unspent dollars must be returned to the federal government.

The grants, which are anticipated to help as many as 15,000 Pennsylvania businesses, will not be doled out on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, the money will be distributed based on need.

These are grants, not loans and do not have to be repaid, said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Vincent Hughes of Philadelphia many times over during a Zoom call on Monday that had lawmakers, state officials and representatives of Community Development Financial Institutions participating.

Among the businesses planning to submit an application for a grant is Viviani Bros. of Clifton Heights, Delaware County.

Chris Viviani, a co-owner of the dry cleaning and laundry business that runs exclusively as a pick up and delivery service, said he hopes to receive a grant to help him restart and rebuild his business that has been around for 28 years.

The pandemic for our industry couldnt have been timed worse, he said. We lost our busiest quarter from a dry cleaning standpoint. It was the tuxedos. There were no weddings or proms. Thats where we made the majority of our money. And now were trying to come back at the worst quarter of the year.

His business model includes picking up clothing dropped off at storefront dry cleaners that dont have the equipment to clean it and going to office buildings and picking up laundry from individuals at their job site. But with so many offices switching to tele-commuting during the pandemic, he said they lost that business as well.

While they never fully shut down since March except for that initial 36-hour window when Gov. Tom Wolf labeled dry cleaners and laundromats as non-essential and then decided they were essential, Viviani said they basically were closed given the small amount of business that reduced their work week from a 48-hour week to a six-hour one. All eight employees they had on the payroll have been laid off.

The average person wasnt going to work. They couldnt go anywhere funerals, weddings, church, bar mitzvahs, out to dinner, so nobody really had a need to get dressed, Viviani said. I would say were off at least 80% of their usual business volume.

Small businesses that this grant program is designed to help are companies physically located in Pennsylvania that generate most of their money in the state, had 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees prior to Feb. 15, and have annual revenues of $1 million or less before the pandemic hit.

While federal CARES Act funding has been made available to businesses through other programs offered by the federal government, Dan Betancourt of Lancaster-based Community First Fund said, this program was created because we are aware the early federal stimulus dollars did not reach small Pennsylvania businesses.

The $225 million is being divided up to direct $100 million for the Main Street Business Revitalization Program for small businesses that experienced a COVID-19-related losses and $100 million for the Historically Disadvantaged Business Revitalization Program targeted to businesses with Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian and Pacific Islander owners who suffered pandemic-related losses.

The remaining $25 million will go into the Loan Payment Deferment and Loss Reserve Program which will allow the Community Development Financial Institutions the opportunity to offer forbearance and payment relief for businesses in their loan portfolios that are struggling as well as to shore up these lenders themselves.

The network of Community Development Financial Institutions anticipate distributing $50 million of the grant money in each round. Businesses only have to apply once for a grant and those not funded in an earlier round will be considered for funding in subsequent rounds.

Hughes pointed out that an advantage of running the program through the Community Development Financial Institutions is it helps businesses connect with these institutions that can assist them in obtaining further capital to meet their needs. For example, he said there remains $100 billion in Paycheck Protection Program money that is still available that they can help businesses access.

Understand that our small businesses are the economic engine of the state, said House Democratic Whip Jordan Harris of Philadelphia on the Zoom call. Had it not been for these resources, we know that many of these businesses would not be able to open back up."

In particular, he spoke of the help it will provide minority and disadvantaged businesses and those owned by ex-offenders who are trying to rebuild their lives after coming through the criminal justice system.

This is probably the largest infusion of capital for our minority-owned businesses that we have seen in a long time at the state level, Harris said.

Speaking of the civil unrest that has played out on the streets of the commonwealth and country in the aftermath of George Floyds killing while in police custody, he said helping minority-owned businesses grow will start to level the playing field economically for them by providing them with the capital they need to grow and to restore what COVID-19 has taken away from them.

Along with their most recent tax return, businesses will be required to provide a government-issued photo identification and proof they are doing business in Pennsylvania. The grant money can be used to for expenses incurred during the crisis or expenses incurred for a business to reopen, said Leslie Benoliel of Entrepreneur Works, a Philadelphia-area Community Development Financial Institution. But there is an exception, she said.

If a business received funding from another source, they cant use these funds for the same use, Benoliel said. But they can use it to pay employees, rent, buy inventory.

Jim Burnett of West Philadelphia Financial Services, another Philadelphia-based Community Development Financial Institution, added a business can use the grant money to advertise that they are back in business.

That is where Viviani said his business would put any money it would receive through this program so his customers know that Viviani Bros. is still around and ready to serve them.

I want to say were still here and if your needs have changed, we understand that. But we dont want our customers going somewhere else, he said. It feels like starting your business all over again to try and figure out what you can do.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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As of Monday, more than 2.2 million Pennsylvania residents have filed unemployment compensation claims. That tally counts claims going back to mid-March when a statewide shutdown forced businesses to shutter operations and idle workers.

Last weeks total tally of claims filed is just a little more than 51,000. By comparison, in the week ending March 28, more than 405,000 state residents filed for benefits.

New figures released by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry reflect the reopening of the state and, in many cases, the return to work for residents.

Nearly all of Pennsylvania is now in the green phase.

Labor & Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak on Monday noted that since March 15, the department has paid more than $21.5 billion in unemployment compensation benefits, including:

$9.6 billion from regular unemployment compensation

$9.6 billion from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program (the extra $600 per week)

$2.2 billion from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program since Thursday, May 7

and $129 million in extended benefits through Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC).

More than 90 percent of eligible claimants have received payment as of Monday, Oleksiak said.

He reiterated changes rolled out by the department in the wake of the unprecedented demand for unemployment compensation benefits stemming from the government shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Oleksiak said customer service staff had logged 172,000 hours in overtime since March 15.

The secretary said the vast majority of about 58,000 reports of fraudulent claims had proven to be valid claims. Funds for thos claims had been released, he said.

Fraud attempts like these are a national problem and should serve as a reminder to everyone to be as vigilant as possible, Oleksiak said.

While the number of new coronavirus cases remains relatively low compared to the peak, the number of new cases has increased in recent days.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 492 new coronavirus cases Monday, raising the statewide total to 85,988.

Across Pennsylvania, 6,614 deaths have been tied to COVID-19, including eight new fatalities reported Monday, according to the health department.

More from PennLive

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Pa. senators brain cancer battle inspires him to recognize survivors of the disease: All are heroes

I know people say let it go. I cant: Harrisburg mom remains uncertain as sons accused shooter begins court process

PIAA is monitoring recent COVID-19 cases in college football, still working for complete fall sports season

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The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574.

Community Perspective

Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. Columns are welcome on a wide range of issues and should be well-written and well-researched with attribution of sources. Include a full name, email address, daytime telephone number and headshot photograph suitable for publication (email jpg or tiff files at 150 dpi.) You may also schedule a photo to be taken at the News-Miner office. The News-Miner reserves the right to edit submissions or to reject those of poor quality or taste without consulting the writer.

Letters to the editor

Send letters to the editor by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707), by fax (907-452-7917) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Writers are limited to one letter every two weeks (14 days.) All letters must contain no more than 350 words and include a full name (no abbreviation), daytime and evening phone numbers and physical address. (If no phone, then provide a mailing address or email address.) The Daily News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer.
Pennsylvanians are driving less because of the coronavirus pandemic and thats putting the brakes on some road construction projects.

Why? Pennsylvania relies heavily on the gasoline tax to finance work on roads and bridges. With people driving less and buying less gas, the state is seeing less revenue from the gas tax.
We know you want to talk, and were giving you a great opportunity to engage with some of the most thoughtful people in our region from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday in PennLives Facebook Live -- From Protest to Progress: A Community Conversation on Race and Equality.

PennLive Opinion Editor Joyce Davis will dedicate the Facebook Live at noon Monday to hearing from you -- what you think we should be talking about in the Town Hall and the questions you would like asked.

This is your opportunity to help shape the dialogue well have on Tuesday with leaders of the local protests, law enforcement and elected officials now trying to respond to calls for police reform and an end to systemic racism in American society.

Among the featured guests for the first part of the evening are Brenton Lipscomb, a leader of the local 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, U.S. Attorney David Freed. and former Susquehanna Township Police Lt. Francia Danon Henry, one of a few African American women to serve on the force.

The Town Hall will conclude with a discussion of the way forward featuring State Rep. Jordan Harris, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Jean Foschi, Cumberland County commissioner.

You dont want to miss this opportunity to help shape the discussion and join the dialogue on PennLives Town Hall.

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!
Staff reports

The Petoskey News-Review

MACKINAW CITY  The installation of four fine art reproduction prints in popular lakeside parks completes the 2020 Art Walk, sponsored by Mackinaw City Area Arts Council.

The council installed and will maintain the year-round public displays. This project, in partnership with the Village of Mackinaw City, is intended to encourage art awareness and appreciation, local tourism engagement, cultural awareness and enhancement.

Four submissions from a wide variety of entries by Michigan-based artists were selected for this years public 2020 Art Walk. The entries were evaluated for their interest and artistry in the context of the theme of The Nature of Northern Michigan.

Art Walk participants can look forward to seeing works of art from Kim Diment of Grayling, Dan Feldhauser of Grayling, Robert Perrish of Livonia and Barb Weisenburg of Milford.

Art installations will be at Alexander Henry Park, Gary Williams Memorial Park, Chief Wawatam Park and the Veterans Memorial Park.

We all see things differently to some extent. Public art is a way to share others views of the world we live in, appreciate their talents, and enrich our community aesthetic. Based upon public interest and reaction to this years installations, MCAAC is hoping to keep this as an annual event in future years, said council trustee Dan House in a press release.

The mission of the Mackinaw City Area Arts Council is to promote participation in and appreciation of the arts in the Straits of Mackinac area through year round exhibits, education, activities and performances. Grants and membership dues support the art councils general operating fund to promote the cultural vitality of the Straits area of Northern Michigan.

For more information, visit www.mackinawcityareaartscouncil.com.
The Petoskey News-Review

GAYLORD  After living under strict stay-at-home orders as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the region and the state are at a critical point in the process of reopening.

With the summer season upon us, the pull of resuming normal life is very strong, Lisa Peacock, health officer for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, said on June 25. There are several important elements of our overall well-being at risk, including the healthy restoration of our economy and the successful opening of our schools. In order for these incredibly important milestones to be achieved, we must continue to proceed with caution.

In Michigan, confirmed coronavirus cases have been increasing. For the fourth consecutive day on June 27, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced more than 300 newly confirmed coronavirus cases. The seven-day average of daily new cases rose to 275 after bottoming out on June 15 at 152.

MDDHS reported an additional 252 coronavirus cases on June 28, bringing the statewide total to 63,261 confirmed cases. Michigans death toll also increased with an additional five deaths bringing the total to 5,911.

State data shows that Otsego County had 104 confirmed virus cases and 10 deaths as of June 28. Crawford County had 63 cases and five deaths while Cheboygan County had 22 cases and two deaths.

The first two confirmed virus cases in Michigan were reported on March 10 and the first death was reported March 19.

Local health departments in the region are reporting increased new cases as well as an increased number of contacts per those case investigations, Peacock said. This is not a cause for panic, but certainly warrants heightened awareness.

Last week, the health department reported six new cases of coronavirus, including four cases in Charlevoix County and two in Antrim County.

All six cases were related to testing conducted recently by the Michigan National Guard in cooperation with the health department at Grandvue Medical Care Facility near East Jordan.

Carol Timmer, administrator at Grandvue, said all six positive COVID-19 cases are staff members at the facility, which is home to more than 100 elders in Charlevoix County.

Peacock noted several states in the country have had to take steps backward in the process of reopening because of unfortunate violations of both state and local orders requiring protective measures.

Even Michigans nationally celebrated progress as one of the states more effective contained COVID efforts could be at risk if we dont continue to do our part, Peacock added.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said last week theres now emerging evidence surrounding the effectiveness of face coverings which indicate if a person carrying COVID-19 is not wearing a mask, theres a 70% possibility of transmitting the virus to a healthy person they are in close contact with.

If both individuals are wearing masks, the possibility of transmission drops to less than 2%.

Meanwhile, Whitmer signed executive orders on June 26 to extend restrictions on who can visit nursing homes and create a task force to prepare the facilities for a future wave of COVID-19.

The Michigan Nursing Homes COVID-19 Preparedness Task Force will have to author a plan by Aug. 31.

Under one of the two new orders, required limitations and safety measures for nonessential visits to nursing homes, health care facilities and juvenile justice facilities are continued through July 24. Those restrictions have been in place since March.
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CASA GRANDE  The city of Casa Grande is closing its pool, the new splash pad, recreation center and internal library services at 8 p.m. Monday.
Parssinen Holds Off Nemeth and Kyllonen to Win Poker Masters Online PLO Series

June 29, 2020 Will Shillibier

Both Andras Nemeth and Jens Kyllonen ended the Poker Masters Online PLO Series on partypoker with three titles each, but that wasn't enough to deny Eelis Parssinen the overall title by a single point. Parssinen took home the purple jacket after he topped the leaderboard with six cashes worth over $700,000.

He also won entry into the $51,000 Poker Masters Online PLO Series Main Event which kicked off last night. Here we round up the list of winners from the series, as well as preview Day 2 of the $1.5m GTD Main Event.

Check out more Poker Masters Online PLO Series Champions

Three-of-a-Kind From Nemeth and Kyllonen

After picking up his first victory in Event #2 for $126,686, Andras Nemeth added two more victories to his name in Events #9 and #12. What's more, both victories happened on the same day!

just setting up my twttr  jack (@jack)

The first victory came in the second $25,500 Super High Roller, with Nemeth winning $430,000 for defeating Gavin Cochrane heads-up. He then added $100,000 for his victory in Event #12, topping a final table again featuring Viktor Blom, as well as Eelis Parssinen.

Poker Masters Online PLO Series Event #9: $25,500 Super High Roller Results

Place Player Country Payout 1 Andras Nemeth Hungary $430,000 2 Gavin Cochrane United Kingdom $275,141 3 Viktor Blom Sweden $139,750 4 Aku Joentausta Finland $96,750 5 Joao Vieira Netherlands $75,250 6 George Wolff Mexico $58,109

Not to be outdone, Kyllonen added his third title in the penultimate event of the festival. Having defeated Parssinen heads-up earlier in the festival, the stage was set for a battle heading into the final event of the festival.

Poker Masters Online PLO Series Event #13: $10,300 High Roller Results

Place Player Country Payout 1 Jens Kyllonen Finland $200,000 2 Matthew Wood Canada $127,973 3 Espen Myrom Norway $65,000 4 Stephen Chidwick Mexico $45,000 5 Niklas Astedt Sweden $35,000 6 Ludovic Geilich United Kingdom $27,028

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Parssinen Crowned Champion

It was a nail-biter and a battle that swung back and forth. Parssinen had moved into the lead with a second-place finish in Event #14, won by Chance Kornuth. However, Parssinen's lead was a single point, and he knew that several players could still clinch the overall victory depending on the outcome of Event #13.

Both Aku Joentausta and Gavin Cochrane had chances depending on the result, but both missed out on even a cash allowing Parssinen to clinch victory by the slimmest of margins.

Eelis Parssinen Poker Masters Online PLO Series Results

Event Buy-in Place Payout Poker Masters PLO Series Event #03: High Roller $10,300 5th $37,100 Poker Masters PLO Series Event #05: Super High Roller $25,500 1st $440,000 Poker Masters PLO Series Event #07: High Roller $10,300 2nd $127,973 Poker Masters PLO Series Event #08: High Roller $5,200 3rd $33,800 Poker Masters PLO Series Event #12: High Roller $5,200 3rd $32,500 Poker Masters PLO Series Event #14: High Roller $5,200 2nd $63,986

Haxton Holds Commanding Main Event Lead

The whole PLO Series has been leading up to the $51,000 Main Event which attracted 29 entries. They included the likes of Viktor Blom, Sam Trickett, Joni Jouhkimainen, Andras Nemeth, Laszlo Bujtas, Pascal Lefrancois and purple jacket winner Eelis Parssinen.

After 15 levels it's partypoker Sponsored Pro Isaac Haxton who holds a commanding lead over Grazvydas Kontautas, Christopher Kruk and Andre Filipe Santos who are all level in the middle of the pack. Aku Joentausta brings up the rear with 16 big blinds.

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Isaac Haxton Canada 2,804,854 93 2 Grazvydas Kontautas Lithuania 847,705 28 3 Christopher Kruk Canada 838,980 28 4 Andre Filipe Santos Croatia 830,621 28 5 Aku Joentausta Finland 477,840 16

Play will resume with blinds of 15,000/30,000 with a 3,750 ante, with only four of the five players making the money.

Place Payout 1 $675,000 2 $442,104 3 $225,000 4 $157,896

Poker Masters Online PLO Series 2020 Standings

Place Name Earnings Points Cashes 1 Eelis Parssinen $735,359 625 6 2 Andras Nemeth $674,186 624 4 3 Jens Kyllonen $612,000 612 3 4 Gavin Cochrane $754,094 549 5 5 Aku Joentausta $507,643 452 6 6 Bengt Sonnert $259,761 366 3 7 Sami Kelopuro $320,700 321 3 8 Andrew Pantling $277,861 288 4 9 Marcello Marigliano $269,529 280 2 10 Viktor Blom $281,225 273 4

Poker Masters Online PLO Series Results (Events 1-14)

Date Event Buy-in Players Prize Pool Winner First Prize Sunday, 21 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #01: High Roller $10,300 72 $720,000 Marcello Marigliano $249,054 Sunday, 21 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #02: High Roller $5,200 81 $405,000 Andras Nemeth $126,686 Monday, 22 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #03: High Roller $10,300 53 $530,000 Jens Kyllonen $212,000 Monday, 22 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #04: High Roller $5,200 63 $315,000 Bengt Sonnert $108,961 Tuesday, 23 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #05: Super High Roller $25,500 44 $1,100,000 Eelis Parssinen $440,000 Tuesday, 23 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #06: High Roller $10,300 49 $500,000 Jesper Hougaard $183,621 Wednesday, 24 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #07: High Roller $10,300 50 $500,000 Jens Kyllonen $200,000 Wednesday, 24 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #08: High Roller $5,200 52 $260,000 Bengt Sonnert $104,000 Thursday, 25 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #09: Super High Roller $25,500 43 $1,075,000 Andras Nemeth $430,000 Thursday, 25 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #10: High Roller $10,300 52 $520,000 Sami Kelopuro $208,000 Friday, 26 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #11: High Roller $5,200 49 $500,000 Aku Joentausta $200,000 Friday, 26 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #12: High Roller $5,200 46 $250,000 Andras Nemeth $100,000 Saturday, 27 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #13: High Roller $10,300 47 $500,000 Jens Kyllonen $200,000 Saturday, 27 June Poker Masters PLO Series Event #14: High Roller $5,200 48 $250,000 Chance Kornuth $100,000

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Charleston's 350th Commemoration

In 2020, the City of Charleston and its citizens will commemorate its 350th anniversary of the arrival of English settlers from Barbados to Charles Towne Landing in 1670 and share Charlestons full and accurate story up to the present day. Throughout the year, we will honor the customs, diverse cultures, and rich heritage through a deep reflection and true representation of the citys history.
Oil and gas giant BP is selling its global petrochemicals business, including a Charleston-area plant along the Cooper River, for $5 billion as part of a plan to shift its business to renewable sources of energy.

The London-based company said in a statement Monday that the overlap of the chemicals unit with the rest of the company is "limited" and that it takes "considerable capital" to grow these businesses.

"Todays agreement is another deliberate step in building a BP that can compete and succeed through the energy transition, CEO Bernard Looney said in a written statement Monday.

The company struck the deal with Ineos, which also is based in London. The global chemicals company has more than 180 sites in 26 countries with 22,000 employees.

Petrochemicals are derived from oil and gas and are used to make industrial products such as plastics and paints.

BPs waterfront plant near Huger in Berkeley County makes purified terephthalic acid, or PTA. It's the primary raw ingredient in polyester clothing, plastic bottles food packaging, carpets, electrical insulation and other products.

The site employs about 350 workers and contractors.

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"Employees of our petrochemicals business, including those at Cooper River, are expected to transfer to Ineos on completion (of the sale)," said BP spokeswoman Megan Baldino. "BP will continue to operate the business until closing and will work with Ineos during the coming months to ensure a safe and seamless transition."

The transaction with Ineos is expected to be complete by the end of 2020.

BP in 2017 completed a $200 million upgrade to its 40-year-old petrochemical plant off Cainhoy Road. The upgrade allowed the company make PTA with less energy and fewer carbon emissions. The improvements increased the plant's capacity to 1.4 million metric tons of PTA a year.

The Cooper River plant takes up about 450 acres of BPs roughly 6,000-acre site. Most of BPs land is preserved as forest and wetlands, along with recreation facilities for employees.

According to BP, the Cooper River facility has more than $100 million in annual economic impact through payroll and third-party expenditures. The facility also pays roughly $2 million a year in school and Berkeley County property taxes.

The coronavirus pandemic has rocked the energy sector, driving oil demand and prices lower. BPs first-quarter earnings tumbled 66 percent while its debt levels, among the highest in the sector, grew, according to the Financial Times newspaper.

The crash has emboldened Looney, who took over as CEO in February, to speed up a plan to reinvent the company by overhauling its structure and assets in a bid to turn the group into a net-zero emissions company as the world shifts to greener energy, the newspaper reported.
Japan's minister in charge of coronavirus response has suggested that there's no need to declare a state of emergency a second time.

Nishimura Yasutoshi spoke to reporters on Sunday, one day after the Metropolitan government reported 57 new cases of infection. That's the most since all the nationwide state of emergency was lifted last month.

There were more than 100 new cases nationwide on Friday, and over 90 on Saturday.

Nishimura said he's wary of infections spreading from Tokyo to its neighboring prefectures.

He said the government is analyzing data from each prefecture to identify links in new cases between regions, and possible group infections.

Nishimura noted that for now the government has no plan to declare a state of emergency. He added that the medical system is more than able to deal with all coronavirus patients.
British Airways has taken delivery from Boeing of its first South Carolina-made 787-10, about six months later than originally planned.

The new Dreamliner aircraft took off from Charleston late Saturday night and arrived shortly before noon local time at London's Heathrow Airport, according to the flight tracking site FlightRadar24.

Officials from the British carrier had planned to come to North Charleston to receive their first "Dash 10" months earlier, in January. The aircraft was going to be put into service the next month, on a route from London to Atlanta.

But January came and went, and the aircraft, which is the first of a dozen 787-10s British Airways has on order, remained in North Charleston. Then in late May, plane watchers again reported that delivery of the aircraft was imminent.

But the month passed, and the jet stayed put. Boeing delivered just four airplanes in May, none of which was a passenger jet. The company also logged nine new orders and twice as many cancellations in the month.

British Airways' new 787-10 was registered in the United Kingdom on Friday, ahead of its weekend delivery, according to records from the Civil Aviation Authority.

While Boeing's North Charleston plant is expected to send more Dreamliners to London this year  at least one other Great Britain-bound 787-10 is already ready for delivery, according to a spreadsheet from the blog All Things 787  British Airways' jets aren't likely to be flying from Heathrow to Charleston International anytime soon.

The carrier was supposed to run a second season of its new Charleston-London route from March to October, but the flight's return was put off because of COVID-19. Airport officials later announced that British Airways would not be returning to the Holy City this calendar year.

During its inaugural run last year, British Airways flew a 787-8 Dreamliner twice weekly from Heathrow to Charleston International.

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From deliveries to orders to production, Boeing's business has taken a huge blow this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Concerns about the spread of the virus combined with a sharp drop in demand for new jets prompted Boeing to temporarily halt production at its factories on both the East and West coasts.

Boeing's North Charleston production line was shut down for about three and a half weeks. Workers started to return May 3.

Shortly before the campus reopened, Boeing announced in an earnings call that it would be cutting Dreamliner production from 14 per month to seven by 2022 and would reduce its workforce by 10 percent.

During the last week of May, about 6,770 Boeing workers in the U.S., including an undisclosed number of Boeing South Carolina employees, learned they had lost their jobs.

While the company said those job losses constituted the largest wave of job cuts, several thousand additional layoffs were still to come.

A 15 percent workforce cut, which is what Boeing CEO David Calhoun said the commercial airplanes and services divisions of the company could expect, would total about 1,000 of the nearly 7,000 jobs Boeing's South Carolina operation had at the beginning of the year.

The 787-10 is the longest of the three models of the Dreamliner, and it's built exclusively at Boeing's North Charleston plant. Final assembly of the 787-8 and 787-9 is split with the company's factory in Everett, Wash.

With the arrival of its Dash 10s, British Airways will become the first European carrier and third carrier overall to fly all three versions of the Dreamliner. United Airlines and All Nippon Airways already do.

The 787-10s will be joining a fleet with a dozen 787-8s and 18 787-9s.
Claims by Charleston port officials that cruise ships will continue to dock at Union Pier even if a new terminal isn't built are "preposterous," terminal opponents say, because the current facility does not meet heightened federal security requirements enacted in the wake of 9/11.

Opponents, including local environmental and historic preservation groups, raised the safety issue in their reply to the State Ports Authority's request to the S.C. Supreme Court for a rehearing in a case to determine whether a new terminal gets built.

The court has already ruled that opponents have a right to voice their concerns about a permit application for the construction project. That ruling overturned a 2014 lower court decision that blocked the opposition.

The S.C. Administrative Law Court, which deals in disputes involving state agencies, must now hold a hearing to decide whether a permit issued by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control should be reviewed. That is, unless the high court in Columbia agrees to grant the authority's petition and rehear the case  something that is exceedingly rare.

In asking for a rehearing, the SPA said opponents are hurting the city and themselves because a new terminal would reduce traffic and pollution while opening up part of Union Pier for private redevelopment and public green space. Cruise ships "will continue to call on Union Pier Terminal and the Charleston peninsula in the future regardless of whether the ports authority shifts (cruise) operations less than 600 yards north," the maritime agency said in court documents.

Attorneys representing the opponents say that isn't true. In a response filed last week, they said the SPA's own documents  including its application for the permits  show that a new facility "is needed to comply with heightened federal security requirements and to meet the expanding needs of the cruise industry."

The authority in 2007 signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. Customs and Border Protection for conditional approval of ongoing cruise operations on a trial basis.

"That conditional approval has been renewed on an annual basis with the understanding that an improved facility would be needed for continued operations," the authority has said in previous court filings.

Jim Newsome, the authority's CEO, said Monday the current terminal meets federal requirements.

The authority "works constantly with Customs and Border Protection and other federal partners to ensure that all of our facilities are compliant with applicable regulations," he said. "This is certainly the case with the current Union Pier cruise operation."

Attorneys for the terminal opponents said the authority's claims that a new terminal would be less impactful also are false because the proposed site is closer to many of the opponents' homes and is designed to accommodate expanded cruise operations, including home-porting a vessel carrying up to 3,500 passengers. The Carnival Sunshine, which now calls Charleston its home, has a 2,642-passenger limit.

In sending the case back to the lower court, the Supreme Court ruled in February that opponents "have standing"  in simple terms, they have a dog in the fight  over whether a permit allowing a new terminal is issued. Those opponents, who are represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center and the South Carolina Environmental Law Project, say they experience medical problems and decreased property values due to pollution from cruise ships that dock near the city's Historic District.

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Whether a person has standing is a determination the court must interpret, and terminal opponents said the justices made the right decision in their February ruling.

"The court interpreted the undefined term 'affected' using that words customary meaning, and found that the opponents  whose homes are adjacent to (the) proposed 28-acre shipping terminal and who reasonably fear that the diesel soot emissions already injuring them will increase  so qualify," the opponents said in the court filing.

The court has not said when it will rule on whether to rehear the case.

The authority has been trying for years to replace its existing, aging 1970s-era terminal, which the agency has termed "undistinguished," "out of date" and "unattractive." The facility is used primarily by Carnival Cruise Line, which operates year-round trips to the Bahamas on the Sunshine. Other cruise lines have ports of call at the terminal.

DHEC previously issued a permit that would authorize structural changes to an existing warehouse at Union Pier, the construction of two covered staging areas to handle passengers and luggage and the installation of five clusters of concrete pilings to support three elevators and two escalators.

In addition to the state permit, the ports authority will need federal approval from the Army Corps of Engineers to build the terminal. Opponents have challenged that in U.S. District Court. No hearings are scheduled in that case.

The Port of Charleston hosted 262,776 passengers from the Sunshine and other pleasure ships making ports of call in 2019.

Cruises throughout North America have been halted since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Carnival said it won't return to Charleston until October at the earliest. The virus has forced two cities to rethink plans for new cruise terminals. Royal Caribbean asked the city of Galveston to delay construction of a new terminal until next year and Seattle has put a $100 million cruise ship berth on hold.
For nearly 30 years, the Church Street building that houses the boutique lodging Emeline was a chain hotel.

First it was a Hawthorne Suites, then, most recently, a DoubleTree. Now, the markings of its past life are nowhere to be found in the downtown Charleston structure, which opens under a new independent flag Wednesday just steps away from the historic City Market.

For the past few years, Emeline's developers have painstakingly planned out every detail of the property, down to the soap dishes in the guest rooms  all custom-made by local ceramic artist Susan Gregory  to introduce Emeline into Charleston's increasingly competitive high-end hospitality market.

That's especially true where Emeline is located, near several of the city's highly-ranked lodgings and close to lots that have been approved for more hotel rooms.

The property's reinvention started about five years ago, when Rockbridge, a private investment firm headquartered in central Ohio, acquired the ground lease for undisclosed terms.

When the company realized the combination of the location, the strength of Charleston's hospitality offerings and the features of the building itself  the front doors, for example, have been in place since 1852  they "really decided to make it a very special property," said Brad Harvey, Emeline's general manager, who previously managed the former DoubleTree.

"They did a lot more than they initially intended to make it something really compelling for travelers," Harvey said of Rockbridge's plans

Several years were spent putting together the Emeline concept. Actual construction started in April 2019.

Emeline isn't based on a real person. She's the imagined "muse" of the developer, said director of sales and marketing Shannon Hartman, who most recently held the same role at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina.

Envisioned as the "consummate Southern hostess," Emeline is supposed to be a well-traveled collector with a taste for things that are timeless.

The seating area at the main entrance is referred to as the "living room" rather than a lobby. Instead of a concierge, the employee working in the front area is the "living room host."

Upon check-in, every guest will be handed a beverage, either a punch cocktail or a non-alcoholic offering such as iced tea or lemonade.

Another surprise complimentary beverage can be had in the evenings when all guests in the bar and lounge area of the hotel's restaurant, Frannie & the Fox, take part in a toast with a nip of house-made limoncello.

In addition to Frannie & The Fox, which will serve three meals a day with a menu centered around the kitchen's wood-fired oven, Emeline will also have a cafe, called Clerks, serving coffee, pastries and other items daily.

They're hoping to lure locals into both spots, Harvey said. Clerks will offer loyalty cards with perks for returning customers.

Dallas-based hotel operator Makeready is managing Emeline, and some features at the hotel are common across the company's portfolio, which also includes The Alida in Savannah and Noelle in Nashville.

The hotel's "Keep Shop," a small retail area near the check-in desk stocked with high-end goods, local art and custom-made products, is a feature that's common across Makeready properties, Harvey said.

The words "custom," "curated" and "local" come up frequently on a tour of the hotel, sometimes all three together.

Coffee in the hotel's cafe is from local roaster Second State. A spiral staircase that will lead up to "The Archives," an area that will feature a rotating display of art, was made by Smithey Ironware, best known for its locally made cast iron skillets.

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Many of the light fixtures were made by Urban Electric, which produces handmade, one-of-a-kind fixtures at its North Charleston headquarters.

The new hotel has the same number of guest rooms that the DoubleTree had  212  with suites making up about 60 percent of the total.

Each suite has a Crosley turntable that comes stocked with a copy of a record compiled by Mike Gomez of the John Street music store Record Stop. One side, called "Friends of Old," features classic tunes like "Love and Happiness" by Al Green. The second side, "Friends of New," has tunes like "Sparrow" from the Charleston band Jump, Little Children.

The small frames hanging above the guest room beds have one of the few hundred vintage postcards they collected, most with nautical or beach themes.

Common areas all noticeably smell like the hotel's signature scent, which is described as having notes of "lush green botanics, salty ozone, exotic woods and spice."

On each floor, stations referred to as "The Nooks" have been installed where guests can fill up reusable bottles and glasses with sparkling or chilled water from a tap.

Hartman said they wanted to pack the new property with things that "surprise and delight."

A couple of those surprises come in the form of windows incorporated into the dining spots. Behind the counter at Clerks, there is a window that slides open onto Church Street, where people passing by can pick up a coffee or a treat from the street.

At Frannie & The Fox, a small hallway behind the bar has two compartments with buttons that activate a light on the other side. When the light comes on, a bartender will lift up the window, take the guest's order and pass a cocktail through the compartment.

Since the hotel is opening in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, all employee training has included the same precautions many hotels and restaurants have been re-training their staffs to adopt, Hartman said.

"For us, these standards are going to be our baseline," Hartman said. "Plus, we're brand new, so guests have the comfort of knowing that."

On a recent walk-through of the property, all workers there for training and other preparation wore face masks, including in the kitchen.

Since many travelers are planning trips at the last minute during the pandemic, Emeline just recently started to see bookings come in, Harvey said. That makes it more difficult to gauge how the property will do this summer.

And even though some travel is returning, occupancy rates are still well below normal. South Carolina hotels were about 73 percent full in July 2019; the latest statewide figure is about 56 percent. Consequently, room rates are also down, falling by about $20 a night from a year ago to an average of $120 as of last week.

Emeline is also making its debut just days after some established high-end downtown lodgings reopened their doors for the first time since COVID-19 closures, also hoping to compete for the smaller pool of guests. The Dewberry and Belmond Charleston Place were up and running again last week.

But since the opening comes just before a holiday weekend, Hartman said, Emeline is hoping the Charleston market will see another bump in visitation, as it did over Memorial Day.

The hotel is accepting reservations and will welcome its first guests July 1, with a starting summer room rate of about $250 a night. Clerks and Frannie & The Fox will open the same day.
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Total hospitalizations for the coronavirus in the state exceeded 1,000 for the first time on Monday, state health officials said.

In addition to more than 1,300 new cases reported, officials with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control are investigating 98 probable cases of the virus statewide.

With cases on the rise, more than 10 cities and towns across South Carolina, including Charleston and Columbia, have passed ordinances enforcing the use of masks in some public settings.

Many of the ordinances require people to wear masks in grocery stores or pharmacies, and some require them in restaurants or shops. More local governments are expected to follow the trend. The state has not issued such a mandate.

Last week, nearly 50,000 people were tested across South Carolina. Over the next two weeks, DHEC projects that at least 14,000 new COVID-19 cases will be confirmed.

Statewide numbers

Number of new cases reported: 1,320

Total number of cases in S.C.: 34,546

Number of new deaths reported: 4

Total number of deaths in S.C.: 717

Number of hospitalized patients: 1,032

Percent of tests that were positive: 15.5 percent

Total number of tests in S.C.: 408,394

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Which areas are hardest-hit?

Charleston County again led the state in new confirmed infections on Monday, with 278 cases. Horry County followed with 165 cases, then Greenville County with 153.

Whats happening in the tri-county region?

The tri-county continued to see high coronavirus case numbers on Monday. In addition to 278 cases in Charleston County, Berkeley counted 41 and Dorchester saw 49.

Deaths

The four newly deceased patients were elderly individuals living in Chesterfield, Richland, Anderson and Beaufort counties.

Officials are working to confirm another three deaths related to suspected coronavirus infections.

How to stop the spread

Medical experts and government officials have begged people to wear masks as cases spike. While Gov. Henry McMaster declined to issue a statewide mask-wearing mandate, several cities have enacted ordinances within city limits.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control also asked that South Carolinians avoid crowds, stay 6 feet away from others outside their households, and regularly wash their hands.

What do experts say?

Projections posted to DHEC's website Saturday included new estimates of deaths expected through September with and without the impact of statewide precautions.

The projections, calculated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, indicate that immediate universal masking would curb infection rates in mid-July, leaving about 922 South Carolinian patients dead. Without statewide face coverings, scientists expect about 1,172 residents to die by Oct. 1.
Hundreds of cases of COVID-19 have been reported on a daily basis in the past week in South Carolina, and many residents are likely wondering why, how and what it means.

Since the start of the pandemic, a lot of data has been collected and posted to give readers as much information as possible around the COVID-19 outbreak. With South Carolina reporting higher cases of the novel coronavirus, The Post and Courier is providing additional context to some of the data that is routinely seen online.

Why are cases increasing so rapidly in Charleston?

Mike Sweats, director of the Medical University of South Carolina's Center of Global Health, said at this stage of the pandemic, its difficult to learn specifically why ZIP codes like 29403 are becoming hot spots.

The reason is that there are too many cases in the area for an investigator to come in and determine what exactly has been causing the increase in cases in the area. Residents couldve gotten infected from a local business, or they could work in an area like Hanahan and live in downtown Charleston.

Those types of investigations are typically done in the earlier stages of cases coming up.

I dont think were ever going to really know, he said. It's not feasible to track down every little outbreak.

But, he said, it is possible to draw some educated theories as to why.

Using 29403 as an example, there are a lot of apartment buildings in the area with a high population of people that have mixed economic backgrounds. Basically, there are likely people in the area who have jobs that dont allow them to work remotely.

Because they may live in a home with close quarters, its also likely difficult for them to isolate in their home when they believe they couldve been infected, Sweat said.

Those kinds of things are likely behind this, but I can't say for sure, he said.

Why mask ordinances have been a priority in certain counties

Charleston, Greenville, Richland, Pickens, Dorchester, Berkeley and Colleton counties are some of the areas in South Carolina with towns and cities that have considered or finalized rules around wearing masks.

These are also some of the counties in South Carolina with a seven-day rolling average of new cases thats higher than it was two weeks prior. The city of Charleston recently voted to require residents to wear masks inside public buildings or outdoor spaces where social distancing isnt possible. The rule goes into effect on Wednesday.

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Greenville was the first city in South Carolina to require face coverings in pharmacies, grocery stores and among all retail employees. A $25 fine is associated with not following the rule.

Charleston County sees over 220 average cases per day. Greenville sees over 150.

How does South Carolina compare with surrounding states?

In the Southeastern region of the United States, South Carolina had one of the lowest rates of coronavirus cases in April next to North Carolina. Coming up on the end of June, South Carolina is now nearly tied with Florida for the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people.

The chart below accounts for each state's population size.

Traci Testerman, an immunology and microbiology professor with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, is concerned about the way things are going in South Carolina.

The state is absolutely headed in the wrong direction, and we do need more rules and support from the governor, she said.

If everyone had access to N95 masks, then it wouldnt be a big problem for a few people to walk around without a mask, Testerman said. But since that is not the case, one of the solutions is to reduce the amount of virus circulating in the air and contaminating uninfected people.

Are we seeing more cases because of an increase in testing?

The data below illustrates the number of positive cases of COVID-19 versus the number of cases where someone tested negative.

From May 18 to June 19, while the number of positive cases was steadily increasing, the number of negative cases wasn't seeing a similar uptick.

But in the past couple of days, the total number of tests each week have slowly started rising.

At this time, experts like Testerman and DHEC still encourage residents to practice social distancing even with a mask.

"The closer you are to an infected person, the greater your risk," she said.
South Carolinas hospitality industry got overtaken by events this past week  in a good way  when three of the states largest cities adopted ordinances to require people to wear masks in public, including in restaurants.

We cant very well keep our masks on while were eating, and wait staff have to get pretty close to serve our meals and even to take our orders, so restaurants will always be one of our biggest challenges in the age of COVID-19. Compound that with many restaurants refusal to require their staff to wear masks, and we have a recipe for infection  and an invitation for a large swath of customers to keep eating at home, dealing a potentially fatal blow to individual businesses and an entire sector that is a crucial part of our economy and our lives.

Were hopeful that the mask mandates adopted by the Charleston, Columbia and Greenville councils will make restaurants safer places in those cities, and inspire more people to return to restaurants. Even more, we hope that the mask mandates will help tamp down South Carolinas soaring infection rate enough that we arent forced to follow Texas, where coronavirus hospitalizations jumped so high that the governor had to halt elective surgeries again. So were relieved that those cities took the action that Gov. Henry McMaster has declined to take, and we hope other cities and counties will follow suit. Quickly.

Until they do, people who go out to eat elsewhere in the state should follow the governors recommendation and patronize only restaurants that voluntarily require their staff to wear masks and agree to follow other basic health and safety recommendations. That should be easier to do thanks to a program Mr. McMaster and the S.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association unveiled Tuesday to help customers locate restaurants that are willing to do more than the law requires to protect their customers and staff.

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Unlike earlier voluntary programs in the Charleston, Columbia and Greenville areas that dont actually require participants to do anything more than try to protect customers, the Palmetto Priority pledge requires restaurants to enforce social distancing, disinfecting and mask wearing. Participants will be able to display a Palmetto Priority sticker and be listed on a website (palmettopriority.com) where customers can locate restaurants that are following public health guidelines.

And Palmetto Prioritys additional requirements  all managers must complete a COVID-19 training program and participants must designate one person per shift to enforce hand-washing and sanitation guidelines  make it a useful safety check for diners even in cities with mask requirements. (Well, we hope they will: As of Friday, the list of participating restaurants was marked as Coming Soon, and the association hadnt returned our email seeking an update on its timeline.)

A lot of people, understandably, arent ready to return to restaurants, no matter how many safety precautions theyre taking. But this program can be useful when they are, by demonstrating which restaurants take public health seriously as well as which ones care about their employees health. And for those people who want to start dining out again if they know restaurants are taking reasonable precautions, this could be just what they, and a struggling industry, need.
Coastal towns bracing for a rush of tourism over the Independence Day weekend raced to implement mask-wearing rules on Monday in an attempt to slow the surge in South Carolina's COVID-19 cases.

The state is now one of several in the southern half of the United States where case numbers are rising rapidly after public-health measures in the spring kept many new cases at bay. Health officials have urged that wearing masks will help stop an infected person without symptoms from unknowingly passing the disease on to others.

In Folly Beach, a beach community that tends to attract a younger crowd, the City Council voted on Monday to require masks in enclosed public spaces, including restaurants and stores, and in outdoor spaces when it is not possible to stay 6 feet away from others. People with a medical impediment and children under 3 were not required to wear coverings. The rule takes effect noon Tuesday.

The town also added specific rules for restaurants and bars. People who are sitting and actively eating and drinking do not need to wear a mask, but at all other times including if they stand to order at a bar  they do.

The town's police chief, Andrew Gilreath, said the public should be patient if calling in a masking violation. Police in beach towns are already tasked with enforcing a litany of rules about beach behavior, and are even more taxed around holidays, when more people opt to take vacations or day trips.

"We are pretty busy, especially with the July 4th weekend coming, so triaging calls is something that well have to do," Gilreath said.

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Businesses must post notices to wear masks, and those that do not enforce the ordinance on their premises are subject to a fine of $100 per day of violation or a potential revocation of their business license for repeat offenders. Individuals are also subject to a $100 fine.

Kiawah Island approved its own mask rules earlier Monday, and two coastal towns in Beaufort County also passed masking ordinances Monday morning. Both have exceptions for those who cannot wear masks for medical reasons and for people who are actively eating and drinking:

Beaufort requires masks within all publicly accessible buildings, including stores and restaurants. The ordinance does not require masking outdoors and goes into effect for 30 days starting Wednesday morning. Violators may be fined $50.

Hilton Head requires masks within commercial establishments starting Wednesday morning. Penalties include a $500 fine or 30 days in jail. The rule does not apply to beaches, where Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner advised it would be virtually impossible to enforce.

Beaufort County is expected to consider its own rule in a meeting on Wednesday.
North Charleston doesn't plan to pass a mask-wearing ordinance, but the city is looking to equip vulnerable people with face coverings as the number of coronavirus cases climbs in South Carolina.

City officials announced Monday plans to distribute nearly 15,000 face coverings from 11 locations throughout the city. North Charleston police officers will hand out masks from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at various retail locations, encouraging those who show up to put on a face covering before entering stores.

Police officers will also ride through neighborhoods with frequent youth activity, offering masks to those seen without one, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey said.

Mask distribution sites The city of North Charleston will hand out masks 3-6 p.m. Tuesday at the following locations: CARTA Superstop, intersection of Rivers and Cosgrove avenues. 843-724-7420

Family Dollar, 3315 Rivers Ave. 843-745-0030

Family Dollar, 2643 Spruill Ave. 843-666-0198

Food Lion, 4400 Dorchester Road, Unit 10. 843-746-9122

Food Lion, 7550 Dorchester Road. 843-767-2952

Food Lion, 1213 Remount Road. 843-744-8890

Harris Teeter, 9500 Dorchester Road. 843-875-2524

Save-A-Lot, 5060 Dorchester Road, Unit 360. 843-552-3282

Save-A-Lot, 4411 Durant Ave. 843-744-4019

Walmart Supercenter, 4920 Centre Pointe Drive. 843-740-1112

Walmart Supercenter, 7400 Rivers Ave. 843-572-9660

"Our goal is to educate people to wear the masks and the reasons why," Summey said. "We're not about punishing people. We're about making sure people are aware of what they need to do and working with them to accomplish that."

City officials noted the disproportionate impact of the virus among minority communities, pointing to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data that shows Blacks have a hospitalization rate about five times that of non-Hispanic white people, and Hispanics have a rate about four times that of whites.

Lydia Cotton, who serves as a liaison between Hispanic residents and North Charleston officials, said the information will be relayed to Spanish-speaking residents to ensure they have necessary safety items.

"We've never been left behind before, and we're not going to be left behind now," Cotton said.

Police Chief Reggie Burgess said it's time for the city to help curb the pandemic by reaching at-risk populations.

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"We have to keep it real folks," he said. "I'm an African American. Lydia is Hispanic American. We understand that in our neighborhoods, from the numbers we get from CDC, that we will most likely suffer from COVID-19."

The initiatives comes amid a sweep of city-level ordinances across the state requiring persons to adorn face coverings.

The city of Charleston voted days ago to require people in public spaces to wear face masks beginning Wednesday, subjecting any unmasked person who ignores a warning about the ordinance to a $50 fine.

Greenville adopted measures last week mandating people wear masks inside grocery stores and pharmacies, and Columbia passed a law requiring face coverings at commercial businesses in the state's capital.

Gov. Henry McMaster said Friday a statewide mask order would be impossible, citing concerns about constitutionality and enforcement.

Summey said its the citys goal to help protect residents from the deadly disease, while also maintaining good relations between law enforcement and the community.

"Were not here to fine people," he said. "Were not here to harass people. Were here to work with them to accomplish what needs to be done.

The mayor said the city would adhere to a statewide mandate, adding North Charleston would expect funding from the state to accompany such a law.
Japan will begin to promote "workcations" -- working in vacation-like settings -- in 34 national parks and 80 hot spring resorts across the nation in response to increased remote work and decreased tourism due to the new coronavirus pandemic.

The push by the environment ministry will financially support hotels and other tourist facilities gifted with beautiful natural assets to improve teleworking infrastructure, not the least of which is fast, dependable Wi-Fi.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spawned a fresh wave of interest in teleworking, especially in natural surroundings where workers can toil but at least feel liberated from drab office settings. And the government's efforts may help offset the lack of foreign tourists, who have been prevented from visiting due to the global crisis.

In 2016, a project was launched to increase the number of annual foreign visitors to national parks to 10 million in 2020 from 4.3 million in 2015. Fast forward to 2018 when 6.94 million foreign tourists visited national parks, marking a 16% increase from the previous year. But the pandemic has dashed hopes of meeting the 2020 target as international tourism has all but evaporated.

Another goal of the government is to encourage visitors to stay longer at national parks than the 1.3-night average, according to the ministry. Workcations may be the answer.

Free Wi-Fi is available for those who want to work on the beach in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture.

In addition to tourist facilities in parks, the program will help hotels and inns at 80 hot spring resorts to run special workcation experience tours and upgrade communications. By the end of June, the ministry will select up to 200 operators from all program applicants, allocating 600 million yen ($5.6 million) in a supplementary budget that was recently passed in parliament.

Wakayama Prefecture pioneered workcations in Japan as a matter of policy to boost local tourism in fiscal 2017. The idea has since caught on in other localities, with Nagano and Tottori prefectures following Wakayama's lead. Last November, 65 prefectures and municipalities formed a body to promote workcations in Japan, with the number of participants now reaching 89.
COLUMBIA  South Carolina business groups say lawmakers left employers at risk by not expediting liability protections if workers develop COVID-19 after returning to the workplace.

Led by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the push to guard companies from becoming the targets of coronavirus-related lawsuits" mimics lobbying efforts nationwide as states move to restart their economies following mandated closures meant to curb COVID-19's spread.

The coalition  made up of retailers, manufacturers, truckers, builders, hospitals and higher education  said the proposal, that came out of Gov. Henry McMaster's accelerateSC coronavirus recovery advisory group, is only meant to aid those following state and federal health guidelines, not so called "bad actors."

The group expressed surprise and frustration when the full legislative body didn't take it up. They thought they had a deal hammered out and instead had weeks of negotiating yanked away.

House leadership had said theyd prioritize legislation and recognized the importance of providing businesses with certainty, said Ted Pitts, president of the state Chamber of Commerce.

"And they just didn't do it," he said. "They came to town and failed to act."

House Speaker Jay Lucas, a Republican from Hartsville, said measures to aid industry during the pandemic were a priority. But with the House having only met one day last week, the focus was on authorizing spending of federal aid given to the state under the federal CARES coronavirus relief legislation.

"In a time when much needs to be done, it cannot all be done at once. Lucas said in a statement.

Industry leaders expected lawmakers would be more aggressive with the House introducing a resolution on the issue but not considering new rules. Legislators will reconvene in September.

"We feel like they left the business community out on a limb here when they also want the business community to reopen and get people back to work," Pitts said.

Rep. Tommy Pope, a York Republican who chaired a special subcommittee convened to address liability, said he had hoped language could be included in the CARES Act spending legislation. But he said the House didn't want to delay disbursements with amendments requiring Senate approval.

"I know the business community is disappointed," he said. "But that stuff needed to move forward."

Meanwhile liability laws are being passed across the country, including in North Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Kentucky. Mississippi is making progress. Pitts said companies are taking notice.

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"The urgency of this really is what's so disappointing," Pitts said, calling South Carolina's lack of action a "true competitive issue."

Opposition to proposals from industry groups seeking a "safe harbor" has come from the South Carolina Association for Justice, a group made up of trial lawyers in the state that argued the law already protects companies, as long as they don't act in negligence.

"Unfortunately trial attorneys in the General Assembly are numerous and have lots of sway in leadership positions," Pitts said.

Rep. Russell Ott, D-Calhoun, offered a liability-related amendment last week in some attempt to keep the issue moving through the legislative process. He said, while not yet perfected, a lot of work had been put into finding compromise  the business community on one side and attorneys who would like to be able to bring lawsuits on behalf of injured workers on the other.

Jay Ward, president of the lawyers association, said his group still has concerns over the length of the protection period. And there's some legalese on what it means for a business to act "reasonably" when complying. He also pointed to businesses' willingness to reopen without these protections and he doesn't think there will be enough court cases brought to justify the effort.

It has been close to two months since industry started working on the liability issue, said Sara Hazzard, president of the S.C. Manufacturers Alliance.

"We knew all along that this was going to be a difficult lift but its so critically important to rebuilding our economy and giving employers the certainty that they need," she said.

Now the coalition has turned its focus to September, pushing for passage as college students are expected to return to campuses across the Palmetto State.

I think all groups involved recognize the urgency of this legislation, said Jeff Perez, president of S.C. Independent Colleges and Universities, whose anxious sentiments were echoed by agencies representing trucking firms, farmers, and building contractors.

Ott said, because the resolution will now have to make its way through another committee  one without a chairman as former Rep. Peter McCoy has taken up post as U.S. Attorney for the state  passage is more difficult. There are questions over when that committee will meet and what the Senate might ultimately be willing to consider.

"If leadership decides it wants to move legislation through, they're going to move legislation through," Ott said, so their actions in coming months will be telling.
Long Savannah, a massive development initially seen as strengthening conservation in the Charleston region, is being challenged by environmental groups.

Though it's been in the works for 15 years, the more than 3,000-acre project is still in the relatively early stages of getting approval for disturbing sensitive wetlands. It includes multiple parcels at the undeveloped western edge of West Ashley, and will include an expansion of Glenn McConnell Parkway.

Earlier this month, a decision by state regulators to greenlight one permit for the project was challenged in two filings by multiple environmental groups. They contend the project should make more accommodation for the upward of 200 acres of wetlands being destroyed in the current design.

They also point out the project's proximity to flood-prone neighborhoods near Church Creek, a narrow stream that winds through West Ashley's suburban outskirts and is prone to overflowing into homes and churches, as it has done multiple times in recent years' storms.

Andrew Wunderley, of Charleston Waterkeeper, which is one of the protesting parties, said the request to fill or dig out that many acres of wetlands "stuck out like the north star on a clear night" from typical development proposals.

Countering that, developer Taylor Bush insists the project will actually help the problem in Church Creek, in part, because it's intended to divert water away to the nearby Stono River.

"Weve been trying to be as responsible as possible to change our plan to accommodate this new reality" that older developments nearby have inadequate water retention, Bush said.

New wetlands found

In total, the Long Savannah project has development rights to 4,500 homes based on a 2015 agreement with the city of Charleston. The plan includes both commercial and residential building, with its densest section along the expansion of Glenn McConnell Parkway.

In tandem, there are plans for an adjacent county park of more than 1,600 acres, and a city park of more than 200 acres where developers may add additional stormwater retention, Bush said.

Long Savannah has sought permits to disturb wetlands along with an adjacent housing project  a new phase of the Village Green subdivision, which could on its own bring 1,500 new homes. Both projects' drainage designs will be subject to close review by the city of Charleston nearer to when they commence construction.

But developers had to twice have a technical expert count wetlands on the property because the first report was done too long ago to still be valid. The second time around, many more wetlands were found.

Bush argued that these newly identified areas are not the bottomland swamp that a layman might picture, and called them "transitional."

Amy Armstrong of the South Carolina Environmental Law Project said that's a common defense raised by developers who plan to build on sensitive areas. Armstrong's firm is representing the Sierra Club and S.C. Wildlife Federation in a challenge separate from Waterkeeper's.

She argued that, in the eyes of the law, it doesn't matter what type of wetland is at issue  they're all afforded protection.

"I think it really misses the point," she said. "Whatever (the wetlands') quality is, they're absorbing rainwater. They're absorbing stormwater. That's what they do."

Conservation history

Environmental groups were on a tight timeline, just 15 days, to ask the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control to reconsider its decision.

But the challenges are a far cry from the time when the project was conceived, when environmentalists concerned with controlling Charleston's expansion were less laser-focused on flooding concerns.

Years ago, Long Savannah was championed by Coastal Conservation League founder Dana Beach. He has since retired from that group.

In the years before Long Savannah was even planned, conservationists pushed for several land protection deals in the swath of private land west of Bee's Ferry Road, Beach said.

"This area was in tremendous, rapid potential transition," Beach said.

He added that big pieces of land around that westward wave of development "needed to be stabilized on the edge" of where the city was growing.

Part of that stabilization was the urban growth boundary, a line drawn by county officials that attempted to control the region's sprawl.

City of Charleston Planning Director Jacob Lindsey said the project was seen favorably by the city initially because because it ensured a corridor of protected parkland would be placed at the boundary.

The theory, Lindsey said, was that "there would never be a call for the expansion of the urban growth boundary at that location because the land had been protected."

New drainage rules

Long Savannah, like other projects nearby, was put on ice when the Great Recession began in 2008. Now, more than a decade later, much of the conversation around development in the Charleston region has become laser-focused on flooding.

Existing homes closer to Church Creek have flooded multiple times, and Charleston has demolished dozens of them with federal grants so the damage doesn't continue. A consultant determined that a leading cause of flooding in this area was fill dirt, trucked in to raise house lots. The material leaves the creek few places to rise when hard rain falls.

The city has since made tailored regulations for new developments that drain to the creek.

What's next Watch for the next Boom & Balance story that dives into the Summerville area. Is expansion happening too fast, and can the town's resources keep up with the increase in residents and traffic?

If Long Savannah's developers are able to show in a later technical review that their project will divert water away from Church Creek, Charleston's stormwater chief Matt Fountain said, they would not be subject to the special rules for that basin.

They will still almost certainly face other rules that Charleston recently updated: as of July 1, development designs across the city must account for storms that are 10 percent stronger than previous standards.

Fountain said those updated rules account for strengthening storms in the wake of climate change.

Meanwhile, the groups opposed to Long Savannah's wetland permits don't know when they will hear back on their challenges, but it's likely there will be a decision on whether DHEC will take their complaints into account by the agency's July 9 board of directors meeting. DHEC has 60 days to respond.
More than a week ago, I emailed Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg to express concern over the continuing spread of the virus in the Lowcountry as well as through the rest of South Carolina, the United States and the world.

I told the mayor that  given the rising number of cases, the lack of mask wearing, social distancing and the general attitude of most people to ignore the facts and guidelines and resume their normal lives  decisive and immediate action was needed.

Lackadaisical attitudes are fueled in part by President Donald Trumps dishonest and self-promoting diatribes that the virus will just go away. He also said that if testing was slowed down, there would be fewer cases.

Therefore, I believe that mask wearing should be required in all public places and social distancing enforced, as well as increased testing and contact tracing. These ordinances should be enforced by fines large enough to be meaningful.

Greenville recently voted unanimously to pass an ordinance mandating that everyone wear a mask in grocery stores and pharmacies. Likewise, Columbia passed stronger ordinances that require masks in all public places.

Unfortunately, because of a lack of strong leadership and timely action from federal and state leaders, we need to take action on the local level.

On Thursday, Mayor Tecklenburg and City Council overwhelmingly passed an ordinance mandating masks in all public places beginning July 1. Only Councilman Harry Griffin voted against it.

Clearly, Gov. Henry McMaster should take similar action to require mask wearing, social distancing, broader testing and contact tracing throughout the state. What is he waiting for? Are we to become the next New York City?

Its our responsibility as citizens to follow these ordinances to protect our family members, friends and fellow human beings from contracting this potentially fatal virus. Local governments can pass ordinances, but we all must do our part to stop the spread of this disease.

These are unprecedented times we are living in with this virus, economic perils and racial injustices.

Only with strict adherence to guidelines and the rule of law as well as people taking personal responsibility for their actions can we hope to get through these problems and come out a stronger and more united people, country and world.

RICHARD MOSS

Darlington Avenue

Charleston

Stop oil exploration

Once again our coast is under threat as a result of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ruling that the search for oil is in the national interest and trumps any localized adverse effects.

The ruling affects federal waters off the coasts of Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia.

But Florida seems to be exempt. Why? The chance of a find there is just as possible. Could it have anything to do with a special resident along that coast who understands property values?

I dont understand how our governor was so quick to send our National Guard to Washington, D.C., but the president is not so eager to defend our coastline.

SCOTTY ANDREWS

River Landing Drive

Daniel Island

COVID aftermath

As I read the article about possible complications after recovery from COVID-19, it brought back horrific memories.

This complication is pulmonary fibrosis, the ugly disease that took my late fathers life. It should be taken very seriously.

While the disease is fatal in and of itself, those who suffer from it ultimately suffocate when they die.

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This is a result of air sacs in the lungs being unable to work properly, thus starving victims of oxygen.

The bottom line is that people should consider this when deciding whether to wear a mask.

I want to thank Charleston City Council for enacting the ordinance requiring masks in public spaces starting July 1.

SUSAN KEMMERLIN

Northbridge Drive

Charleston

Hampton Park

In response to two recent letters about closing Hampton Park to all traffic: These are tunnel-vision views.

I have lived in Wagener Terrace my entire 68 years. I have seen the park and neighborhood go through many changes.

The present setup appears to be the best for all parties involved. A full closure is bad for several reasons. The Citadel uses the back gate for deliveries and employees. The park is used for access to West Ashley, medical facilities, downtown, traffic leaving concerts and sporting events at Riley Park and access to The Citadel.

The park is used by joggers, bicyclists and walkers mainly during certain hours.

Traffic uses the vehicular lane 24 hours a day. If the park is closed, where would visitors park? The surrounding neighborhoods?

Last but not least is that dumping more traffic on Rutledge Avenue is a terrible idea. It is congested and overloaded now.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

W.E. FOLK

8th Avenue

Charleston

Protect teachers

I applaud the efforts being taken by the College of Charleston to keep students safe when they return in the fall.

But what about faculty and staff? There is virtually no mention of efforts to ensure their safety. Some are older than 60.

How will they practice social distancing in hallways and corridors with students?

How are they expected to respond to students who dont wear masks, which the school seems uncertain about enforcing?

I was disappointed in this omission by the college and the reporting that was done on the story. Please follow up on this issue.

PEGGY MALASPINA

State Street

Charleston
One week after testing positive for COVID-19, South Carolina Republican congressional candidate Nancy Mace has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Facebook, demanding the social media giant stop running an ad that urges people to get tested if they have come into contact with her within the past two weeks.

The ad was created by 314 Action, a national political action committee that spent more than half a million dollars on advertising to help get Democrat Joe Cunningham elected in 2018.

The Washington, D.C.-based super PAC has long promised to be a heavy player in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District race, where Cunningham is trying to defend his seat in one of the top U.S. House races in the country.

The ad in question started running on Friday, some three days after Mace announced she had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The digital spot labels itself as a "health alert."

It also claims Mace cast a ballot on June 23 "without a mask" and was "shaking hands with South Carolina voters" one day after learning "she had been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19."

It calls the congressional candidate's actions "irresponsible," and states her choices "may have put you and your family in danger."

Reached for additional comment on Monday, the Mace campaign confirmed their candidate did not vote curbside and physically entered the polling place to cast a ballot. Poll workers wore gloves, masks and a plastic divider separated poll workers from voters.

The campaign also said Mace was tested after she voted, not before.

A letter from the campaign's general counsel, David A. Warrington, calls the ad from 314 Action "false and deceptive in all respects," saying it was "designed to scare South Carolina voters" by calling itself a "health alert."

It further argues that broadcasting Mace's personal health information could make Facebook "equally liable for the improper disclosure and improper use of her private health information."

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A separate letter was also sent to 314 Action, the organization responsible for the political ad. That letter also demanded the ad stop running.

"Public debate about policies and issues are fair game. Lies, deception and defamation are not," the letter to 314 Action stated.

Both letters also seek to set the record straight about whether Mace knowingly put voters at risk when she voted in-person for the June 23 Republican primary runoff elections.

"Nancy Mace wore a mask when she visited her polling place on June 23rd and she did not shake hands with any voters. In fact, when she arrived at the polling place to vote at 7:15 a.m. that day, she was the only voter there," the letter from Warrington states.

Warrington is a Richmond-based attorney who is also the president of the Republican National Lawyers Association.

Brooke Bainum, a spokeswoman for 314 Action, said the ad will not be taken down.

"The facts are clear and indisputable and they're all from Nancy Mace herself: On Monday night, Mace was informed she had potentially been exposed to COVID-19. She woke up Tuesday morning  after exhibiting symptoms over the weekend and knowing she might have COVID-19  and still chose to go to a public polling place. Nancy Mace recklessly put other people's health at risk," Banium said in a statement provided to The Post and Courier. "The real question for South Carolina voters is, would you have wanted to be the next voter in the booth after Nancy Mace?"

Both Mace and Cunningham, who will face each other in the November general election, have experienced the virus.

Cunningham tested positive in March and has since recovered. Mace remains in quarantine for another week, or until she tests negative.

"Right now, all I care about is making sure my family gets better," Mace said in a media statement Monday.

In recent days, Cunningham has been calling for a statewide mask mandate. So far, more than 30,000 people in the Palmetto State have tested positive for the virus.
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Japanese defense forces will establish next spring a new electronic warfare unit responsible for jamming signals ahead of an attack on the country, Nikkei has learned.

A team of about 80 personnel will be attached to a Ground Self-Defense Force base in the southwestern city of Kumamoto. It will serve as the southern complement to the Cold War-era electronic warfare unit on the northern island of Hokkaido.

The new unit was deemed necessary in part due to mounting friction with China over the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which Beijing claims and calls the Diaoyu Islands.

In the event of an imminent island invasion, the unit would first identify the electromagnetic wavelengths enemy warships and planes use for communication and radar. It would then seek to disrupt enemy signals and attacks by guided missiles.

The specialized unit will be stationed at Kumamoto's Camp Kengun. It will coordinate with the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, which is based in Nagasaki Prefecture's Camp Ainoura and specializes in recapturing islands.

Japan's first electronic warfare unit is stationed in Hokkaido's Camp Higashi-Chitose, which gave it a prime position for intercepting Soviet signals. But the East China Sea has emerged as a newer priority in Japan's defense policy. Chinese government vessels have in recent weeks made a record number of incursions into the waters surrounding the Senkakus.

Personnel will start receiving training in electromagnetic warfare next month at the Self-Defense Force Signal School in Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo. The program will include instruction on the latest electronic warfare capabilities being developed internationally.
Congressman Dean Phillips represents Minnesotas Third Congressional District. On June 22, he emailed his supporters, stating that Racism is deeply ingrainedin our institutions, and in our everyday lives. He posted a similar message on Facebook and has created a resource guide on his website for racial justice allyship to understand our nations black experience and combat systemic racism in America. Kendall Qualls is the Republican nominee running against Phillips. Qualls posted this response to Phillips and emailed it to me. It is reproduced here with his permission.

In response to my opponent, Dean Phillips, and his attempt to convey the Black experience and redefine America in the process, Im going to tell you what its really like to be a Black man in America.

My opponents virtue signaling insults me, and it should insult you too. Dean Phillips got his degree in Urban Studies from an Ivy League School in the Northeast. I got my degree in Urban Studies from the streets of Harlem in New York City.

Yet, unlike him, Im not going to lecture you on the evils of white people, or guilt you into believing that white privilege makes you personally responsible for slavery and the struggles Black people face today.

Im not going to lecture you like he did by telling you racism is deeply ingrained in our history, in our institutions, and in our everyday lives, and white people [like you] have benefited from it. Im not going to lecture you from a place of privilege as the third wealthiest member of the House of Representatives and tell you racial justice will only be achieved if you forgo your comfort and take the blame as a white person.

Im also not going to sit idly by as statues topple, and they tell you our history needs to be erased or rewritten. Why? Because I dont believe it.

Like you, I know the overwhelming majority of white people arent racist. But as a Black man I am going to tell you that if you look for racism in America you will find it. At the same time, if you look for opportunity in America you will find it tenfold.

I am also going to tell you that in spite of spending part of my childhood in a crime and drug-infested housing project in Harlem, in spite of spending the other part in a trailer park in rural Oklahoma, and in spite of having to work nights and weekends to put myself through school, I made it.

I made it because America is an exceptional place full of exceptional people. And there are millions more just like me who made it  white, black, brown, and everything in between.

However, my opponent and his progressive comrades across the nation are using the tragic death of George Floyd to fuel the flames of racism and create a smoke screen to cover up how they failed our cities, our country, and the Black community.

When I was in high school, I remember big city politicians and urban elites calling America racist because Black-Americans struggled in the inner cities. Not much has changed. Black-Americans still struggle, the same urban elites dominate the conversation, and yet they present no fundamental plan for change. Empty platitudes and a reading list for white people wont solve the struggles in the Black community.

Those on the left tell us we have to have the tough conversations about race. I agree. Lets have the tough conversations by looking at the real barriers to progress:

* Progressive politicians and urban elites that want to shift accountability from the failed programs theyve championed and benefited from the past 50 years.

* The destruction of two-parent Black families through social programs that discourage marriage and result in generational welfare.

* Policies that limit educational opportunities, prohibit school choice, and protect teachers unions, preventing prosperity in the process.

This story isnt being told in the halls of Congress but, rest assured, I wont be afraid to speak truth to power. I wont be afraid to have the hard conversations.

This election is about our countrys direction. We must fight the ideology of destruction and those who promote the vision of America as a systemically racist country. We must fight those who enable and spread this vision, paving the way for mob rule in the process.

My opponent can independently fund his political campaign from his trust fund. In fact, he already has. Do I begrudge him for his wealth? No, because this is America and everyone has a right to pursue prosperity and happiness. But I do take umbrage at his characterization of America given all that this country has given me and my family.

Im not afraid to tell you that life isnt fair. Like all countries, America has its imperfections. But with faith and hard work, you have the freedom in this country to overcome your circumstances and build a better life. Im proof of it. I want to protect the freedom that allowed my opponents family to prosper, allowed me and my family to improve our lot in life, and make sure that freedom is here so you and your family can prosper too.

Today, we have a unique opportunity to put forth a model for racial healing and economic prosperity for all. The truth is when Black Americans prosper, we all prosper. But we will not get there by destroying monuments to abolitionists, removing pictures of Abraham Lincoln from the Minnesota House Chamber, or defunding police in the communities that need it most.

Instead, we must take action  in Minnesota and across our nation. We must speak up, protect our history, and promote principled solutions to heal our nation.

If we dont, who will?

Kendall Qualls is a former U.S. Army Field Artillery Officer and a successful businessman who has worked for Johnson & Johnson, Roche Labs and Medtronic/Covidien. I dont know him well, but he is an impressive candidate and a good guy. You can donate here if you would like to support his campaign.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Atlantas interim Police Chief Rodney Bryant was about to address the City Council on the unrest plaguing the city when a councilman informed Bryant:

I was just notified there was a young man who was just shot and killed at 377 Westchester Boulevard. Can you get a unit out there? Hes been on the ground and theres no police who have come. Hes dead already, hes on the ground and the residents have put a sheet over him and the police still havent arrived.

This incident isnt the only sign that the wheels are coming off in Atlanta. From the same source:

On June 13, as angry protesters milled around the south Atlanta Wendys the day after Rayshard Brooks was shot in the parking lot by a cop  and hours before the restaurant was burned down  there was a wild shootout in the Edgewood neighborhood in east Atlanta. Five people were wounded and two were killed. Residents reported hearing perhaps 40 gunshots.

Also:

Earlier this month, the owners of a bar in the popular Edgewood Avenue nightlife district posted a photo online of the businesss window smashed by a bullet. They said they felt unsafe and were closing until the city gets its #@&! together. What caused this? Eight people were shot nearby in six days.

And there is this, regarding drive-by shootings:

Friday in south Atlanta, police found the body of 80-year-old Clarence Knox inside his home. Residents reported at least 20 shots the night before, and cops think he was the unintended victim of a drive-by shooting. And over the weekend there was this headline: 6 injured in 3 overnight drive-by shootings in Atlanta. One of the victims is a 10-year-old boy.

Recent stats tell the same story:

During the first three weeks of this month  May 31 to June 20  75 people have been shot in Atlanta. Last year during that period, 35 people were shot in the city. . . . Eleven people have been killed during that three-week period. Last year? Five.

As far as I know, other than the case of Rayshard Brooks who chose to resist arrest and take on two officers, none of these shootings was by the police.

The upsurge in violence is likely the result of plummeting police morale, which the citys mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, admitted is down ten-fold. And why shouldnt morale have plummeted? Its clear that, as the head of the police union in Atlanta says, the city doesnt have the officers backs.

Scores of cops have called in sick, and proactive policing is now largely nonexistent. According to the union chief, officers will respond to high-level calls and protecting each other, but thats about it.

Criminals know this, so its not surprising that they are taking advantage of the situation to shoot one another and anyone else who gets in the way.

I believe Mayor Bottoms gets this. However, she may have lost the good will (and then some) she obtained by pushing through a pay raise for the police when she fired officer Rolfe without a thorough investigation after the killing of Brooks.

As for the city council, it seems clueless. Only by a vote of 8-7 did it decide not to withhold funding from the police as a way to force reforms.

Now, the council has its reform. The police force has backed off. Black lives are being lost as a result.
As expected, the Supreme Court today ruled in favor of abortion providers in June Medical Services v. Russo. It struck down a Louisiana law that required abortionists to maintain admitting privileges at a local hospital in order to perform abortions.

The vote was 5-4. Chief Justice Roberts joined the liberal majority. Justice Breyer wrote the majority opinion.

Four years ago, Roberts reached the opposite result in a Texas case in which the Court struck down a similar admitting-privileges law. Roberts was in the minority in that case.

In todays case, Roberts wrote a concurring opinion explaining his flip. He relied on the doctrine of stare decisis which, he said, bound him to the result in the Texas case.

Stare decisis is an important doctrine. But should it bind a Justice to a ruling he thought was clearly wrong just four years ago? I dont think so.

If many conservatives are getting thr sinking feeling that the Court, and Roberts in particular, are playing a shell game with us, I dont blame them. Im getting that feeling too.

Roberts began his defense of his application of stare decisis to this case by quoting Edmund Burke:

This principle is grounded in a basic humility that recognizes todays legal issues are often not so different from the questions of yesterday and that we are not the first ones to try to answer them. Because the private stock of reason . . . in each man is small, . . . individuals would do better to avail themselves of the general bank and capital of nations and of ages. 3 E. Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France 110 (1790).

Yuval Levin, a scholar of Burke, was not impressed. He finds that Justice Thomas has the better of the argument in his dissent. Thomas wrote:

THE CHIEF JUSTICE advocates for a Burkean approach to the law that favors adherence to the general bank and capital of nations and of ages. Ante, at 3 (quoting 3 E. Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France 110 (1790)). But such adherence to precedent was conspicuously absent when the Court broke new ground with its decisions in Griswold and Roe. And no one could seriously claim that these revolutionary decisionsor Whole Womans Health, decided just four Terms agoare part of the inheritance from our forefathers, fidelity to which demonstrates reverence to antiquity. E. Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France 2728 (J. Pocock ed. 1987).

(Emphasis added)

Levin finds another major problem with Roberts resort to Burke:

In the passage Roberts cites (as well as the one that Justice Thomas cites), Burke is talking about judgments made by statesmen, not by judges. And its not as though he never expressed any views about how judges should think about precedent. Thats actually a subject Burke took up explicitly. . .especially during the years of the trial of Warren Hastings. Burke described precedents as one ground, though only one ground, of legal argument, and said that before they could be treated as authoritative they needed to be tested against five crucial criteria: They ought to be shewn; first, to be numerous and not scattered here and there;secondly, concurrent and not contradictory and mutually destructive;thirdly, to be made in good and constitutional times;fourthly, not to be made to serve an occasion;and fifthly, to be agreeable to the general tenor of legal principles, which over-ruled precedents, and were not to be over-ruled by them. The Chief Justice did not refer to any such criteria in thinking through his defense of a decision he disagreed with just four years ago. And if he had, it isnt likely that his concurrence today would have withstood scrutiny under them.

Right.

The good news is that Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh voted with the conservative minority. But that provides very little consolation.

UPDATE: Ilya Shapiro notes that the Chief Justice was willing to overturn Supreme Court precedent in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), Janus v. AFSCME (2018), and Knick v. Township of Scott (2019), where the precedent was much older and more entrenched than in todays Louisiana case, and where he had not dissented from the outcome.
Before the George Floyds death a month ago perhaps the leading story in race relations was the growing momentum in California to roll back the voter-approved prohibition on racial preferences in public contracting and university admissions. The University of California has taken the first step with its decision to abolish the SAT and ACT tests for admission purposes (against the recommendation of the faculty, incidentally), with the substitute screens for admission left vague at the moment. This opens the door for an expansion of explicit race-conscious affirmative action admissions and hiring.

But theres a larger backstory to this move. If you pay close attention to the academic left (I know, a dirty job which I do so that you dont have to), you will have quietly noticed the last few years a slowly building drive to question the idea of meritocracy. (See also this article from a Yale law school professor.) The irony here is that the idea of meritocracy, and the development of achievement tests like the SAT, were the invention of liberals to open up university admissions to talented students and end the days of universities (especially elite ones like Harvard and Yale) being mostly finishing schools for the wealthy and connected elite.

But the problem for the left is that at Berkeley, Harvard, and other elite universities, not enough officially sanctioned minorities (meaning blacks and hispanics) score well enough to qualify for admission on a straight-up basis, while too many Asians (who are increasingly considered white by the identity-mongers) score so highly on the SATs that Harvard, Yale, UC Berkeley, and other elite universities could fill perhaps 40 percent of their freshman classes right now with Asians. UCLA has for a while now been said to be the University of Caucasians Lost among Asians.

Meanwhile, there is a torpedo in the water heading for the current diversity regime of race-based preferences. I suspect that the drive to jettison the SAT is a pre-emptive move in anticipation of an eventual adverse Supreme Court ruling in the lawsuit over Harvards discrimination against Asian applicants. If the regime of diversity and affirmative action admission is to survive, colleges will have to come up with a new scheme of holistic admission screening to get around the problem of meritocracy. Better to get a head start.

As everyone familiar with the history of the diversity and inclusion regime knows, it all began with Justice Lewis Powells straddle in the famous Bakke case in 1978 that struck down explicit racial quotas for admission to the University of California, but with the caveat Powell supplied that diversity could be a plus factor in admissions. At the risk of upsetting Gail Heriot and a lot of other loyal readers, I wonder whether wed have been better off if the Supreme Court had simply upheld explicit racial quotas in Bakke, instead of bequeathing us this deceptive regime of diversity, which pretends to be in service of equality when it is clearly not. Yes, it makes a total hash of the equal protection of the law in the 14th Amendment, but at least it would end the dishonesty and corruption of the diversity racket. Maybe Justice Gorsuch will save us when the Harvard case reaches the Court, and re-legitimizes explicit quotas. A lot of diversity and inclusion bureaucrats on campus can be laid off. It might have the salutary effect of making explicit what is going on, and place the identity politics crowd on the defensive, as I expect explicit quotas would be universally unpopular, except among white liberals.

Postscript: we are told endlessly that economic inequality among racial groups is the result of systemic racism, white supremacy, neoliberalism, and so forth. Yet we have this data to ponder:
This is a tough one for Marxists to understand, but the political reality has been apparent for quite a while: small business remains generally conservative, but big business is mostly on the Left. How can that be?

The answer is partly economic. Conservatism favors open competition and innovation. Big business is, for the most part, on the other side of those concepts. The easiest path for the largest companies is to partner with government, erecting roadblocks to upstart competitors in the form of expensive regulations, and blocking innovation so that small competitors have little choice but to sell their inventions to more established companies.

Big government likes this arrangement, too. It is easier for the government to collaborate with, and to control, six banks, say, rather than one thousand. In the modern world, big government likes big business, and vice versa.

These thoughts are prompted by a couple of things and will give rise to a couple of posts.

First, a number of major companies are boycotting Facebook and other social media. I can think of several good reasons to stay off Facebook, but the troubling reality is that much of corporate America is withholding its ad dollars because of Mark Zuckerbergs commitment to free speech, which I think is probably genuine.

CNBC reports:

Coca-Cola on Friday announced it will be pausing paid advertising on all social media platforms globally for at least 30 days. The company clarified it was not joining the official boycott, but said we are pausing advertising. In the week since a group of organizations have called on Facebook advertisers to pause their ad spending during the month of July, more than 90 marketers including Verizon, Patagonia, REI, Lending Club and The North Face have announced their intention to join, according to a running list from Sleeping Giants. The group of organizations includes the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, Sleeping Giants, Color of Change, Free Press and Common Sense.

The boycott has to do with racism, which, as it has continued to decline in our society, has increasingly become a corporate obsession.

There is no place for racism in the world and there is no place for racism on social media, Coca-Cola CEO and Chairman, James Quincey, said in a statement. The Coca-Cola Company will pause paid advertising on all social media platforms globally for at least 30 days. We will take this time to reassess our advertising policies to determine whether revisions are needed. We also expect greater accountability and transparency from our social media partners. The beverage giant has been posting quotes about diversity and ending systemic racism on its Twitter account, including support for NASCARs only Black driver, Bubba Wallace.

A normal person would say that Cokes support for Bubba Wallace hasnt ended well, but that is not how corporate America views it. Big businesss boycott is explicitly directed toward limiting freedom of speech:

Unilever joined brands like Eddie Bauer, The North Face and Patagonia as part of a campaign forcing the social media network to more stringently police hate speech and disinformation by taking a number of actions, including creating a separate moderation pipeline for users who say theyve been targeted because of their race or religion Following Coca-Colas announcement, Levis and Dockers said they will be pausing all advertising on Facebook and Instagram through at least July: Facebook must take actions to stop misinformation and hate speech on its platforms. It is an unacceptable affront to our values. We and Dockers are joining the #stophateforprofit campaign and pausing all ads on Facebook.

Ive never met anyone who has come out in favor of hate speech, but we all know that in 21st Century America, hate speech is a term of art. It refers to pretty much anything that challenges the left-wing narrative to which a small minority of Americans, but pretty much all reporters, professors, and corporate HR and marketing executives, subscribe.

In the corporate world, there is no such thing as left-wing hate speech, even though it is left-wingers, not conservatives, who have rioted and burned down considerable swaths of American cities. Likewise, misinformation comes only from the right. The New York Timess 1619 Project, the prime instance of misinformation of recent years? It is anti-American gold, as far as big business is concerned.

The current boycott of free speech by Coca-Cola and many other companies is the latest evidence that Americas largest corporations have gone over to the far Leftlargely out of economic interest, to be sure, but probably also due to sheer ignorance.

Part II to come tomorrow.
The latest Russia-related Trump scandal being touted by the media concerns alleged bounties offered to terrorists in Afghanistan for attacks on NATO forces. Supposedly, U.S intelligence concluded that Russia offered such payments, and the New York Times says that Trump was briefed about it. The White House denies that Trump was briefed.

If our intelligence community really concluded that Russia was offering terrorists bounties for killing Americans (and troops allied with us), its difficult to believe it didnt let Trump know. But I wonder whether U.S. intelligence actually reached this conclusion.

The Taliban and other terrorists in Afghanistan have all the incentive they need to kill Americans without the promise of Russian bounties. And to the extent that the Taliban might not want to kill Americans during a period in which it is negotiating our exit from Afghanistan, its not evident that bounties would cause the Taliban to alter this policy.

But even if offering bounties might marginally increased the number of Americans killed by terrorists, would the risk to Russia if the bounties were exposed outweigh that potential reward? Probably not.

I dont mean to deny the possibility that Russia offered bounties or, more to the point, that there are reports that it did. But at this stage, we should be skeptical that Russia actually offered bounties and, more to the point, that our intelligence community concluded that Russia did.

It seems at least as likely that the intelligence community considered the question without reaching a firm conclusion that Russia offered bounties. If so, it makes sense that it didnt brief the president.

I dont put much past President Trump. For example, its clear to me that, for a period of time, he made aid to Ukraine contingent on Ukraines willingness to investigate Joe Biden and/or his son.

But would Trump do nothing in response to a report from the intelligence community that Russia subsidized the killing of U.S. troops? Thats what the mainstream media wants us to believe, and Joe Biden has already adopted this line. But it will take more than reports in anti-Trump organs like the New York Times, based on unidentified sources, to sell the line to me.
The city of Minneapolis is deep into the cultural revolution driving the Democratic Party ever further to the left. The city is run entirely by Democrats. Boy mayor Jacob Frey is a Democrat, as are 11 of 12 current members of the city council. The twelfth  Cam Gordon, Ward 2  is a member of the Green Party. Thats diversity, Minneapolis style.

The current council lineup is displayed here. At full strength the council has 13 members. The seat for Ward 6 is vacant. The seat was held by Abdi Warsame, who resigned in April to join the Walz administration. The seat is to be filled by a special municipal election on August 11.

The eight candidates for the Ward Six seat are briefly profiled here. One is a self-identified Democratic Socialist. I find him guilty of redundancy. One is a self-identified member of the Green Party; he is looking to beef up its ranks on the council. Where is the man from the Legal Marijuana Now Party when you need him?

The city council has taken up the charge to abolish/defund the police. The Minneapolis city charter actually requires the council to fund a police department at something approaching its current size. The council has thus undertaken the process necessary to amend the charter.

Last week the council voted unanimously to advance a proposal that would substitute a new Department of Community Safety and Violence Prevention for the police department. I have embedded the text of the ordinance with the proposed charter amendment below. Among other things, the charter amendment would have to be placed before the voters for adoption before it could become law.

The Star Tribune story on the proposed amendment by Liz Navratil is vague on the text of the charter amendment. Navratils story includes a video of Mayor Freys criticism of the proposed amendment. It would be going too far to say that the boy mayor is the adult in the room, but at some level he is in touch with the reality principle.

Steve Karnowski and Amy Forliti cover the adoption of the ordinance setting forth the proposed charter amendment here. The AP story conveys a more accurate sense of the ordinance than the Star Tribune story, although the Star Tribune story better conveys the madhouse that Minneapolis has become.

The Star Tribune also reports, by the way, Gun violence soars amid crises of health, public trust, officer reluctance. Funny how that works. Reality bites.

The city council members appear to be the thought leaders of Minneapolis. The residents of the Powderhorn Park neighborhood profiled in the astounding New York Times story last week are the thought followers. They love Big Brother Sibster.

The New York Review of Books takes a look at the local doings and undoings in Krithika Varagurs story Pulling Down the Wall of No on Police Reform in Minneapolis. By contrast with the Star Tribunes coverage of events, Varagurs story is full of Black Lives Matter events and activists. With good reason, everyone in town is afraid of this crowd.

One other takeaway from Visagurs article is that the state senate, under the control of a narrow Republican majority, is the sole remaining obstacle standing in the way of this crowd. Thats not the way Visagur puts it, of course, but the translation isnt difficult and the statement is accurate as translated.

The Star Tribune is the dominant media voice in Minneapolis. For the sake of the city it badly needs to articulate the voice of civic responsibility. It needs to stand up for law enforcement. It needs to name and shame the crazies. It needs to take stock of the damage that the city has sustained and peer into a lawless future, yet the papers editorial board is otherwise engaged. They give eunuchs a bad name.

One would think that the self-interest of voters would assert itself if the proposed charter amendment were put to a vote. I cant see it passing. When your life and property are at risk, who ya gonna call?

The proposed amendment has to jump through a few more hoops to make it onto the ballot in November. Let us find out just how far gone we are.

NOTE: Coincidentally, one of the two best books I have read about Minnesota politics is Ward Number Six, by David Lebedoff. The other one is The 21st Ballot, also by David Lebedoff.

MPD Charter Amendment VII 062420 Final by Scott Johnson on Scribd
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The management of Access Bank on Sunday said it has offered to pay stamp duty charge for February to April on behalf of its customers.

A statement by the bank said deductions made between Saturday and Sunday would be reversed to customers, adding that the bank recognised that it is a tough period for customers.

The decision followed viral tweets by many Nigerians who complained of the deductions across social media, especially Twitter, at the weekend.

According to the Finance Act of 2019, bank customers are expected to pay a N50 stamp duty charge on every N10,000 deposit.

Pushing the narratives via numerous hashtags, including ##accessbankscam, many Nigerians demanded a reversal of the deductions made on accounts of the banks customers.

Today I got debited three times for stamp duty. Access bank has been tempting me. I think its time to be faithful to Zenith bank, a Twitter user said via the handle @Oritshemoyogbemi.

Another user, @Cozade_junkie, wrote: So Access Bank is Debiting N200 for stamp duty. What manner of robbery is this?

In their reactions, many Twitter users threatened to close their respective accounts with the bank.

Others said they would lead protest to various branches of the bank on Monday.

In its response on Sunday, the bank said it would pay the stamp duty on behalf of its customers.

We have considered your feedback and have decided to pay the stamp duty on our customers behalf for the affected period only, the bank said in a statement on Sunday.

This means that individuals and SMEs who were debited for the accumulated stamp duty charge for February to April 2020 will be refunded.

While we still have to remit these funds via the CBN to the federal government, we realise that we got it wrong by debiting our customers late, and we are refunding the affected stamp duty charge today to all affected customers.

We hope this gesture goes some way to make this better.
Alexander Nderitu is a Kenyan novelist, poet and playwright. His notable works include: The Stacy Walker Interview, Yuppies!, The Patriots Club, Whats Wrong With This Picture? and Hannah and The Angel. Another, When the whirlwind passes is the African continents most downloaded book.

Co-founder of the Artists for Contemporary Theatre (A.C.T.) stage and film production group, Mr Nderitu has several written research papers on African literature and theatre under his belt.

In 2017 he was named by Business Daily newspaper as one of Kenyas Top 40 Under 40 Men. In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, he speaks on the prospects of online publishing, intellectual theft, the interplay between Africa and Western literature and related matter.

Excerpts:

1. Tell us a bit about your growing up years, experiences, career path

I was born in Nyeri, Kenya, in 1979. I became interested in drawing and telling stories at a very early age. In my last two years of primary school, I used to make my own comic strips and distribute them in class. They were inspired by such comics as Spiderman, The Phantom, Batman, Flash Gordon and Modesty Blaise.

One of my characters was called Leopard Man because the leopard is my favourite wild animal. By the time I got to high school, I was an avid reader with a penchant for literature.

My English compositions were read out not just to the rest of our class but to students in other classes as well. One day, our English teacher gushed, I wish you could all write the way Alexander does! On that day, I decided I was going to be a writer.

I was 16 years old.

2. Some say writers are born, others say they are formed by circumstanceswhat is your story?

Oh, I was destined for this. I was literally born on William Shakespeares birthday  April 23rd. This is also UNESCOs World Book and Copyright Day.

Of course, my circumstances and my environment shaped my life and ideals, just like everybody else. For example, the fact that there was a public library near my home, and my parents were teachers who kept a lot of books in the house, helped get me into reading at a very early age.

When I became an adult, I was shocked to learn that there are entire towns that dont have a single public library. I grew up with books.

3. Your terrain seems to be more of that of an e-novelist. How would you assess the evolving of this platform for African writers, the challenges, vis a vis, prospects?

Sudanese griot Taban Lo Liyong once described East Africa as a literary desert. If it wasnt for digital technology, especially the Internet, it would have remained so.

E-platforms have been a boon for African writers. The first local literary journals and festivals were co-ordinated by strangers via e-mail. The first poetry groups were also on Yahoo! Groups. Then came blogs, Social Media, and mobile messaging apps. So many talents have been showcased via e-platforms.

We have also seen the emergence of continental collectives like Jalada and literary magazines like AFREADA, Chimurenga and Writers Space Africa. Writing competitions are shared online and some winners have gone on to become recognised names or acquire overseas literary agents.

Some of the most influential literary commentators are independent bloggers. Podcasts and YouTube videos are also swinging into vogue. None of these things existed when I wrote When the Whirlwind Passes. There was no YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or even the Amazon Kindle.

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The birth of Print-on-Demand technology, whereby you can order a paperback version of an e-book, has made the publishing dreams of many a writer come true.

4. Many African nations still battle the plague of copyright infringement, plagiarism and related intellectual theft. Whats the Kenyan experience?

Copyright infringement is rife in Kenya. University students have been known to photocopy entire books with impunity. There are people who openly sell or share pirated e-books via Facebook and WhatsApp.

However, book publishers seem to be more bothered about piracy than individual authors. What authors cant stand is plagiarism. Weve had a few infamous cases, including a leading legal expert and orator who admitted to having plagiarised an academic paper by one of his own students.

In terms of copyright, the Kenyan Copyright Board (KECOBO) has made a creditable effort to spread awareness of the vice and protect creators rights, but its an uphill task. One thing I would advise publishers not to do is to issue Adobe PDF versions of their books. EPUB format is safer for electronic book distribution.

5. Tell us about briefly these works of yours: The Patriots Club and Whats Wrong With This Picture? What inspired them?

The Patriots Club is about urban guerrillas trying to take over Nairobi city. Its the first book in a series starring an ageing spy master and former military man. The installment I am working on now centres on a series of biological terrorist attacks that release a deadly new virus in major African cities.

The virus then mutates and becomes a global pandemic. Initially, it was inspired by the Ebola epidemic but after COVID-19, I modified the plot. I made it a deliberate attack to depopulate Africa.

Whats Wrong With This Picture? is a comedic play about Hollywood movie-making. Its a comedy of errors in the vein of Noises Off and, more recently, The Play That Goes Wrong.

6. You are one writer who has always pushed for internet/tech options to assist writers publish their works. Why do you think this is a better option than the traditional way of publishing?

I didnt set out to be a pioneering e-novelist, it just happened that way because Africa is usually a step behind the West in technological matters.

About eight years ago, an NGO called Worldreader was founded in the U.S. and Spain. Worldreader licenses e-books from publishers and authors and then makes their library accessible via mobile phones and apps to virtually anyone.

Its an Information Age method of making books available to those who need them but may not be able to access or afford them. Many of my e-books are currently available via Worldreader. E-publishing is faster, more affordable and can potentially reach a wider audience.

Traditional publishing is slow and expensive and the distribution networks are very poor. Its also very restrictive. The biggest market for books is the education system so most publishers shy away from trade books and fiction. Poetry is rarely mainstream published.

7. Tell us a bit about the literary scene in Kenya, any lessons for Nigeria?

That question is backwards. It should be what can Kenya learn from Nigeria? For example, we dont have any association as influential as the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). Our authors look up to famous Nigerian scribes and our movie industry  dubbed Riverwood  looks up to Nollywood. Same with musicians.

Personally, I like Falz, Simi and Burna Boy. And I have a crush on Tiwa Savage. Kenya is like a smaller version of Nigeria and is also a former British colony. We have the same things  the good and the bad  but on a smaller scale. Incidentally, more Nigerians read my books on Worldreader than Kenyans. I often joke on Facebook that I am technically a Nigerian writer. Last year, I was a panelist at the 2nd annual African Writers Conference which was founded by Nigerian, Anthony Onugba. I was published in the My Africa, My City Anthology a couple of years ago and I have a short story forthcoming in this years Ebedi Review.

I would, however, like to see more cohesiveness amongst writers on the continent. More collaborations, events, reviews, associations, translations and so forth. Always remember that our national borders were imposed on us by foreigners. We can be more united.

8. Your thriller, When the Whirlwind Passes is listed as the continents most downloaded novel. Readers would love to know the thought processes behind this well lauded book.

In 1998, I read about the gangland-style murder of an Italian fashion baron. His glamorous ex-wife and three others were later put on trial for the crime. The story intrigued me so much that I decided to write a fictional account of the saga, set in Africa. My manuscript was titled, When the Whirlwind Passes. I completed it in 2001.

There were very few publishers in Kenya then, and they were  and still are  mostly interested in school text books. Meanwhile, I had been reading about the rise of e-book technology in foreign magazines like The Writer. I decided to try it. I converted my manuscript into e-book format and placed it on an American website called eBookMall.com. The book was retailing at $3.00, and the royalty rate was 50%. The first time a copy was sold, I received a physical cheque for $1.50! I still have that cheque. The book is now available in paperback format as well.

9. What philosophy propels your style of writing and on whose intellectual shoulders (mentors) do you stand?

My personal philosophies dont always influence my style or even content. Few of my writings have anything to do with Humanism, Pan-Africanism and African Socialism, which I am interested in. My writing style was most influenced by the many great authors and poets I read as a child and wanted to emulate.

As for intellectuals who have influenced me, they are legion. The African ones include Prof. Ngugi Wa Thiongo, recently deceased Swahili novelist Prof. Ken Walibora, Nigerian Chris Abani, Wole Soyinka whose plays I read in school, Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop and Prof. Ali Mazrui. If it were not for Ngugi, for example, its unlikely that I would be vernacular literature.

I am working on a poetry collection in my mother tongue, Gikuyu. I am also working on a Swahili-language Hip-Hop novel, which would have been unlikely without the influence of my late friend Prof. Ken Walibora and Kiswahili expert Prof. Wallah bin Wallah.

10. Few know you outside Kenya as a vibrant movie reviewer, scriptwriter, music and fashion buff. Tell us some of the highlights of these aspects of your life and how you juggle them.

Artistic pursuits are very time-consuming and its not easy to juggle them. It involves a lot of sacrifice. You give up a lot of things in order to pursue your dream. I have severally quit full-time jobs, dropped unsupportive girlfriends, avoided drinking buddies, pestered family members for support and so on. I dont regret being an artist.

Even when I was a child, I never wanted to be ordinary. I want to be inspirational and I want to help people. I mentioned William Shakespeare earlier. He died over 400 years ago and were still reading his works and talking about him! Same with all the great, late musicians. My art will be my legacy. As a character said in the movie days of danger, Im more scared of being nothing than of dying.

11. How do you see the African literary scene playing out in relation to Western models in the next few years?

I think it will continue to grow at a rapid clip for the next few years. Every few months, a new literary journal or award scheme pops up somewhere on the continent. Western models may not really work.

For example, we dont have a major book-chain like Waterstones. We also have very few indigenous literary agents. Communal literary events like festivals, salons, book launches, residencies and spoken word events seem to excite

Africans (take) more than solitary trips to the bookstore or even libraries, of which there is a very low density in most parts of the continent. I would like to see more locally-sponsored literary awards.

I hate it when our local heroes are crowned by foreigners. I especially detest the Nobel Prize for Literature. Every year, African punters hold their breath hoping that a writer like Ngugi Wa Thiongo or Assia Djebar will be crowned the new Nobel Literature Laureate and theyre usually disappointed.

In a continent of 1.3 billion people, only four Africans have ever scooped the Nobel Prize for Literature and thats absurd. Let me say this once more, in case some of your readers think you misquoted me: in my opinion, the Nobel Prize for Literature is irrelevant to Africans.

What we need to do is create our own super award. Sudanese-born philanthropist Mo Ibrahim has a foundation that sponsors a $5 million award for good governance. All we need is single billionaire or company to make a long-term commitment to sponsor a major award and we the literati will create an institution of our own.

We have enough literature teachers, professors, university departments, libraries, associations, bloggers and critics to vote in their preferred candidates. African scribes often talk about the danger of a single story. Well, theres also the danger of a single award scheme, especially when its foreign-based and shrouded in mystery.

12. Whats next for Alexander Nderitu?

I am working on an exciting literary project with a wonderful writer and literature teacher called Joanna Cockerline. It covers the whole of East Africa.

Weve had to postpone the launch due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. A theatrical project I was working on has been postponed for the same reason. It involved a new award scheme for theatre, including vernacular shows.

I am working on several writing projects simultaneously, including a Kiswahili novel, Gikuyu poems, and a political novel. The novel will initially exist only in e-book format because its bound to be controversial. It revolves around a powerful politician who becomes a violent warlord after losing a presidential election.
Tokyo officials say 58 new coronavirus cases were confirmed on Monday. The number of infections has been on the rise in recent days, but the government says there's no need to declare another state of emergency.

The latest figure is slightly smaller than Sunday when the daily tally was the highest since the nationwide state of emergency was fully lifted last month.

Officials say about 40 percent of people who tested positive in Tokyo over the past week have either worked at, or visited nightclubs.

A group infection was also confirmed at a nightclub in a neighboring prefecture.

Health officials are also singling out small karaoke bars as a source of infection in the city of Otaru located in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido.

36 people have tested positive and one person has died. Among them are retirees who often visit the facilities during the day.

The Chief Cabinet Secretary says there's no immediate plan to declare another state of emergency or ask people to stop travelling between prefectures.

Suga Yoshihide said, "After the declaration was lifted, a certain number of new infections have been confirmed, mainly in Tokyo. However, the results include those who were in close contact with infected people, regardless of whether they have symptoms themselves."

One infectious disease expert says now is the time to prepare for another possible surge in infections.

Professor, Hamada Atsuo at Tokyo Medical University says, " If the virus starts to spread rapidly, it will be difficult to deal with a second wave of infections. We should do all we can to avoid that."

Hamada is calling on local governments to proceed cautiously, noting that restrictions on overseas travel is expected to ease in the coming months.
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The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said that 184 illegal immigrants were rescued by the Libyan Coast Guard off the countrys western coast on Sunday.

IOM tweeted: 184 migrants, among them 14 women and 11 children, were returned to Tripoli in Libya by the coast guard.

IOM staff are onsite to provide emergency assistance.

The number of illegal immigrants rescued off the Libyan coast have increased significantly over the past few days, with the Libyan Coast Guard rescuing hundreds of immigrants, including women and children.

The fall of the previous Muammar Gaddafis government in 2011 has created a state of insecurity and chaos in Libya, which made it a preferred point of departure for migrants to cross the Mediterranean Sea towards European shores.

Shelters in Libya are overcrowded with thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, who were either rescued at sea or arrested by authorities, despite repeated international calls to close those centres.

The IOM has repeatedly stressed that Libya is not a safe point of disembarkation for migrants or refugees.

(Xinhua/NAN)
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono on Monday said the federal government has earmarked N600 billion to enhance farmer access to agricultural financing in the country.

Mr Nanono said about 2.4 million farmers were targeted to benefit from the interest free facility, designed to encourage application of modern technologies in rice and cash crop cultivation.

The minister made the disclosure at the inauguration of the 2020 wet season rice cultivation support programme at Tofai community in Gabasawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme is being implemented under the Agro Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support Project (APPEALS).

Mr Nanono said the initiative would support farmers to achieve improved productivity, enhance self-sufficiency and food security in the country.

He said: We have commenced farmer registration exercise to capture their information, number of farmlands and locations.

Also, the beneficiaries will be monitored to ensure effective utilisation of the facility, and mobilise participation in subsequent programmes.

Mr Nanono commended the APPEALS project for supporting rice farmers in the state, noting that the gesture would go a long way to encourage agricultural activities in the country.

The minister urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the fertiliser, seeds and inputs given to them to boost their production capacity.

If you make proper use of the inputs, you could employ other people and it will enable you to participate in subsequent programmes.

Also speaking, the Coordinator, APPEALS Project in the state, Hassan Ibrahim, said the project was being executed in a joint collaboration between the World Bank, federal government and the six participating states.

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Mr Ibrahim listed the participating states as Kano; Kaduna, Cross Rivers, Enugu, Lagos and Kogi.

He said about 100 farmers drawn from six rice farmer groups participated in the programme in Gabasawa, Kano.

The coordinator noted that the gesture was to augment the federal governments policy on agriculture, designed to encourage productivity, enhance farmer enterprising skills, food security and value addition as well as promote export.

The APPEALS Project in Nigeria is to enhance agricultural productivity of small and medium holder farmers, to improve value chains in the six participating states. he said.

He added that 480 tons of rice were expected to be produced by the selected farmers in Kano State.

On his part, Zubairu Ibrahim, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the state, lauded the Federal Governments agriculture transformation programmes.

Mr Ibrahim said the association would adopt proactive measures to assist its members benefit from viable agriculture development programmes and farmer support services initiated by the government.

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(NAN)
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The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, awarded N15 million against the Nigerian police over the killings of three members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in his judgement, also ordered the National Hospital, Abuja, to immediately release the three corpses in its morgue.

Justice Taiwo, while granting Reliefs A and C of the applicants, said each of the applicants must be paid N5 million as compensation for the killings.

The judge, however, did not grant the prayer that the Nigerian police should tender an apology in two national newspapers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Inspector General of Police is the 1st respondent while the medical directors of National Hospital, Abuja, and Asokoro District Hospital are both 2nd respondent in the four separate charges.

Suleiman Shehu, Mahdi Musa, Bilyaminu Abubakar Faska and Askari Hassan were alleged to have been killed by police on July 22, 2019 while on a peaceful protest to demand for the freedom of their Islamic leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

While the bodies of Suleiman Shehu, Mahdi Musa and Bilyaminu Abubakar Faska were alleged to have been deposited at National Hospital, Abuja, the body of Askari Hassan was said to have been kept in Asokoro District Hospital.

The applicants, who are said to be brothers of the deceased in the suit, are Ibrahim Abdullahi, Ahmad Musa, Yusuf Faska and Said Haruna respectively.

However, throughout the duration of the court proceedings, the Nigerian police neither filed a counter-affidavit nor sent a lawyer for representation.

(NAN)
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Following its recent sanctions of six Nigerians for alleged internet-related fraud, the United States government has arraigned 11 more Nigerian in another case of alleged $6 million bank fraud.

The U.S. Department of Justice in a statement on Thursday said the Nigerian nationals were arraigned before Justice Joel Schneider of District court of New Jersey.

The accused are Sulaiman Dosunmu, 39; Tunde Adeowo, 40; Muritala Adeowo, 55; Ayanniyi Alayande, 47; Ahmed Ponle, 41; Margiettu Kamu, 34; Rafiat Sarumi, 36; Babatunde Oke, 40; Adekunle Owolabi, 49; Olayinka Olaseinde, 42; and Olugbenga Oyedele, 47.

The U.S. treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, had earlier announced the sanctioning of six Nigerians for allegedly scamming U.S. businesses and individuals through business email compromise (BEC) and romance fraud of over $6 million.

But in Thursdays court hearing, the U.S. Attorney, Craig Carpenito, said the 11 are members of a Nigeria-based, multi-layered organisation that engaged in a massive bank fraud conspiracy in several states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Rhode Island.

The alleged fraudulent acts were committed between June 2016 and March this year, according to the statement.

Mr Carpenito added that the accused used debit cards to purchase money orders from third party stores to purchase used automobiles exported to Nigeria and other African countries at the higher market values.

Mr Carpenito noted that if found guilty, the 11 could face a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million.

Members of the group stole numerous business checks from the United States mail, altered the payee on the checks with over 400 fraudulent accounts with fake identity documents to defraud several major banks of $6 million and then launder that money and send it overseas to other conspirators.

The organisation also used fraudulent name and deposited the checks in bank accounts that had been opened with forged foreign passport documents and fraudulent U.S. visas that matched the names on the stolen checks.

Once the banks credited all or a portion of the funds to the accounts  but before the checks had cleared  the defendants withdrew the funds from ATMs or purchased money orders, using debit cards associated with the fraudulent accounts, Mr Carpenito said.
For the fourth year running, University of Ilorin this year emerged the most preferred university of first choice by admission seekers in Nigeria.

Data from the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) shows that the school, which prides itself as the university of first choice, had 103,582 students (5.31 per cent of admission seekers) jostling for its admission in 2020.

Students of the school who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES attributed the continuous preference for the school to its stable academic calendar over the years.

Until March this year, for about two decades, UNILORIN academic staff never joined their colleagues in the Academic Staff of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) in an industrial action or embarked on one of their own unlike other Nigerian public universities.

You know your graduation day the same day you gain admission, Fadlullah Azeez, a 2020 chemistry graduate of the school told PREMIUM TIMES.

This is the same reason Zaynab Mojeed, who had chosen the university twice before eventually getting admission elsewhere, gave.

I chose the school because of its fast academic calendar, and I was told they have good infrastructure, she said.

Placed second, also for the fourth consecutive year, is Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, which had 82,984 (4.26 per cent of all applicants) applications.

Students said this could be because, while the school joins other universities during nationwide strikes, it hardly ever embarked on internal strikes.

More so, students are also attracted by the flexibility in the universitys entry examination, as you do the same subject combination you did in JAMB.

For Nuhu Ibrahim, who graduated with a 4.94 CGPA, the universitys record highest in its entire 57 years history, the strongest reason is the schools alumni base.

This is a trend that is observed even in ivy league schools abroad, he said. A lot of prosperous Nigerians have graduated from ABU, and so many young lads feel like if they can graduate from there too, they would likely be successful.

Top ten universities

Closely following both UNILORIN and ABU are the University of Lagos (UNILAG) with 74,800 applications, and Bayero University (BUK), Kano, with 70,376 applications.

Top ten most sought-after Nigerian universities in 2020

The former had for three consecutive years been the fifth most sought-after university in the country and had been followed in sixth place by BUK during the same period, data shows.

Closing in on them are the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsuka with 68,971 applicants and the University of Benin with 68,805. Both schools dropped from fourth and third spot which they had respectively held for three consecutive years before 2020.

Top ten most sought-after Nigerian universities in 2020

Sitting in seventh place is the University of Ibadan, which had 62,606 applicants for the year. Obafemi Awolowo University had 58,914 applicants.

Anambra States Nnamdi Azikiwe University with 58,292 applications and the University of Jos with 57,318 complete the top ten most craved universities by applicants in Nigeria.

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JAMBs latest data released this month does not contain the admission figures for each university for 2020.

2019 applications to admission rate

Review of the examination board data for 2019 showed that across all the tertiary educational institutions in the country, two-thirds of the applicants were not admitted.

But ten universities accounted for about one-sixth of all the admissions last year, analysis by this paper shows.

University of Maiduguri leads the pack of these schools. It is trailed by universities of Calabar, Benin, Ilorin, Lagos and Port Harcourt as well as Nnamdi Azikiwe University, University of Nigeria, Ekiti State University and Rivers State University.

However, when the applications to the nations universities is matched with the admissions offered, the University of Ibadan offered the least admission to its applicants.

Only about 6.5 per cent  4,122 of its 63,378 applicants  made the final cut. Thats approximately one in every 15.

The universitys vice-chancellor, Idowu Olayinka, a professor of geology, said he was at a meeting when he was reached for comments.

But, earlier in the week, he described this on his Facebook page as evidence of competitiveness and deliberate policy of the university to be a research and postgraduate university.

Small is beautiful in this respect as it translates to manageable staff: student ratio, and in the final analysis improvement in the quality, he added.

On its part, the University of Ilorin admitted one out of every nine of its applicants. University of Nigeria, one out of every nine; University of Lagos, one in eight; University of Benin, one out of seven; and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, one in six.
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The federal government has approved what it called safe reopening of schools nationwide in the next phase of the gradual easing of lockdown ordered to curtail further spread of COVID-19.

The government also lifted the ban on interstate travels.

Interstate travels can, however, only be done outside curfew hours with effect from July 1 2020.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this at the daily briefing of the task force in Abuja on Monday.

He said the reopening of schools was meant to allow students in graduating classes, final year students, resume preparation for examinations.

Mr Mustapha said the second phase of the gradual easing of the lockdown in the country has also been extended by four weeks.

I am pleased to inform you that Mr. President has carefully considered the 5th Interim Report of the PTF and has accordingly approved that, with the exception of some modifications to be expatiated upon later, the Phase Two of the eased lockdown be extended by another four weeks with effect from Tuesday, June 30, 2020 through Midnight of Monday, 27 July, 2020.

Specifically, however, the following measures shall either remain in place or come into effect:

Maintaining the current phase of the national response, for another four weeks in line with modifications to be expatiated by the National Coordinator;

Permission of movement across State borders only outside curfew hours with effect from 1st July, 2020, he said.

Nigeria imposed its first round of lockdown in late March. Mr Buhari on April 27 announced the gradual easing of the five-week lockdown in FCT, Lagos and Ogun.

The lockdown was eased to a nationwide night curfew (8 p.m. to 6 a.m.) from May 4 to May 17.

Many states, however, amended the curfew time, largely to commence from 10 p.m. and end at 5 a.m.

The first phase of the relaxed lockdown was extended by two weeks and elapsed midnight June 1. The second phase commenced June 2 and elapses by midnight today, June 29.

Details later
The Nigerian government has approved the resumption of domestic flight as soon as practicable inline with existing international and local guidelines on COVID-19.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, who made this known at its bi-weekly briefing on Monday, said Nigerians should expect a hike in airfare.

The domestic aviation services is allowed to resume operations as soon as practicable in line with existing international and local guidelines on COVID-19, he said.

He said the resumption of flight operations would come with an increase in airfare.

He explained that the increment of products and services was not peculiar to the aviation sector.

According to him, prices of things have surged since the coronavirus outbreak.

Prices have increased generally. The prices of things prior to COVID-19 is different from what it used to be.

Even in the market, things have increased. That is the difficult thing that is going to confront us as a people and because of the protocols that are going to be introduced in the whole aviation business, you will definitely expect an increase in the prices, he said.

Nigeria shut its airports, except for essential flights, in March as the country began to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic which has caused over 500 deaths in the country.

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 had earlier announced that some domestic flights would resume on June 21.

The aviation ministry, however, said it needed more time to prepare.

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The ministry on Saturday conducted a test run of airports facilities to determine their readiness for the resumption of domestic flight operations.

Hike

Mr Mustapha said the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has already increased its customer service fare by hundred per cent.

He said this review in fare is expected in government institutions responsible for managing the aviation industry.

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has already increased its customer service fare with a hundred per cent.

It used to be a thousand naira for customer service but I think it has increased to N2000 and that is even before the operation starts. So, it is not only the airlines.

Even government institutions who have the responsibility of managing the aviation industry will review their charges because that is the nature of what COVID-19 has thrust on the people of the country and all over the world, he said.

He also said the social distancing measures have an influence on the airfare increase.

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There is also going to be the maintenance of social distancing in the aircraft. If an aircraft has a capacity of 150 people, they might now be restricted to about a 100 or 75 passengers.

Flying comes with a component of costs. Aviation fuel is one of it, salaries for the pilots, services that are paid for to the aviation industry institutions are also things to consider.

Every time you see a plane take off, there is an attendant cost to that. Who will bear the cost? It will be shared; the passengers will take part of it and the business owners will also take part in the cost and you know that nobody runs a business at a loss, he said.

Intervention

The PTF chairman said the federal government will assist the aviation industry at a time the world is fighting this pandemic.

I believe that the aviation industry is one of the industries that is hard hit by this COVID-19 because it is an industry that is designed for moving people up and down and for the last three months, they have not done anything.

So, I think as part of the intervention of government through either the Central Bank of Nigeria or the stimulus package in the economic sustainability plan of the (N) 2.3 trillion, I believe the aviation industry will have a part of it.

How is it going to be administered? The minister for aviation will be in a better position to say how, he said.
About 14 programmes of the University of Abuja, including Law, have been accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the management of the university has said.

The management also said out of the 14, 10 academic programmes were given full accreditation while four had interim accreditation.

Accreditation, according to the laws creating the NUC, is a process whereby academic programmes are evaluated every five years.

The assessment criteria include the number of academics with PhDs and the infrastructure to accommodate undergraduate and postgraduates courses.

The NUCs accreditation team also establishes the number of students that may be admitted per programme.

Each programme that complies is entitled to full five-year accreditation, with those that fall just short of compliance being awarded partial accreditation of three years only.

Statement

In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES Sunday evening, the spokesperson of the University of Abuja, Habib Yakoob, said the programmes with full accreditation include Public Administration, Education Arabic Studies, Education Christian Rel. Studies, Education English, Education Geography, Education Islamic Rel. Studies, Guidance and Counselling, Law, Chemistry and Microbiology.

He said those with Interim accreditation are Banking and Finance, Education Physics, Educational Administration and Planning, and Primary Education Studies.

Mr Yakoob also said Computer Science was not yet accredited.

Just a few days ago, your University received the results of the November 2019 National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation visit to the UofA of Nigeria; and out of 15 (fifteen academic programs visited), it is only one of them, Computer Science, that we have difficulty in, which Academic Planning Office, working with the academic department concerned, would prepare an appeal for a revisit and a re-evaluation, Mr Yakoob quoted the Vice-Chancellor, Abdul-Rasheed NaAllah, as saying.

According to Mr Yakoob, the vice-chancellor said we are in the middle of laying a solid Internet infrastructure (fibrotic) in all our campuses. Your University is establishing computer laboratories across faculties and departments where students and staff would easily walk in when they need to use computers. Several of our classrooms are in the program of now being converted into smart classrooms where learners and instructors can use cyber technology.

Your University has already built and is perfecting its UniAbuja Virtual classroom system and many students are currently taking some courses online in a Pilot study of our Virtual Classroom system, and the Centre for Sponsored Projects, the Centre for Undergraduate Research, the University of Abuja International Centre, the Entrepreneurship Centre, the General Studies unit, and more, are all mobilizing staff and students to explore world-class academic, research and global citizenship opportunities provided in the great UofA of Nigeria, the vice-chancellor reportedly said.

Sexual harassment platform

The vice-chancellor also said the university has created a rape and sexual harassment reporting platform on the main university website.

He said the platform would provide an opportunity to any student who felt she or he has been harassed, however long this has happened to her or him. (They) can report to the University authority, and such report will go directly to the designated officer and the Vice-Chancellor, where every legitimate process would be followed to thoroughly follow up and get to the bottom of the allegation while also protecting the victim at the highest level.

He said the report to this platform would receive spontaneous and immediate attention including maximum protection and security and on the spot intelligence actions.

He said the students can log their complaints on sexual harassment here.

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday kicked against the reopening of schools by the federal government due to the COVID-19 pandemic currently ravaging the country.

Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU national president, who spoke with the with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota, Ogun, said the federal government needs to address the challenges of education sector before it can talk of reopening schools.

Mr Ogunyemi, a professor, urged the federal government to provide ideal environment and should take the lead by meeting the conditions spelt out by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) before reopening schools.

The Federal Government must lead and show the ways by meeting the conditions for reopening of schools before any school can be allowed to open, because COVID-19 pandemic is a health challenge.

When it comes to public health, it is something that should not be left in the hands of individual, but the Federal Government must take the lead, he said.

The ASUU president listed the conditions spelt out by NCDC to include: provision of materials for regular washing of hands, face mask, isolations centres, space for social distancing and hands sanitiser.

Mr Ogunyemi said that many of the schools do not have financial capacities to meet those conditions and requirements for reopening of schools.

It is suicidal to reopen schools now, if the Federal Government itself could not meet the conditions spelt out by NCDC and World Health Organisation (WHO).

The nation will expose the innocent children to risks which is avoidable, he said.

Mr Ogunyemi, who expressed concerns on how many schools could afford to provide hand sanitisers, said that many of them do not even have running water, not to mention having facilities for washing hands.

He added that many schools do not have enough spaces to promote physical distancing.

The ASUU president said that putting all these requirements needed together, to reopen schools in the country now would run to millions of Naira, which most schools could not afford.

Mr Ogunyemi appealed to the federal government to provide the running funds for the principals and head teachers so that they could provide some of these facilities in their schools.

He further said that inadequate funds by many parents would hinder them from providing some of these amenities needed for reopening of schools.

Mr Ogunyemi said that the federal government needs to tell Nigerians the steps they intend to take in reopening schools.

(NAN)
Two universities in Osaka Prefecture evacuated their campuses on Monday after a bomb threat was made criticizing the English name of their planned new merged school, the operator of the schools said.

A bomb threat against Osaka Prefecture University and Osaka City University was sent by email to the Sakai city office, saying it was "retribution against the English name" of the new university, according to University Public Corporation Osaka, which operates the schools. Osaka Prefecture University is located in Sakai.

The email said the bombs will detonate at noon on Wednesday and sarin gas will be released on their campuses.

Last Friday, the operator said the two universities will merge in fiscal 2022 and the new school will be named the University of Osaka.

However, the decision came under criticism from Osaka University, a national university in the same prefecture, saying the new name is "confusing."

"The name is incredibly similar to our university, which is already well-established abroad, and can become a hindrance to both schools' futures," Osaka University President Shojiro Nishio said in a statement following the announcement last week.

He added that "University of Osaka" was already recognized abroad as Osaka University, and could be confusing for overseas universities, as well as when citing for research papers.

Osaka University asked the operator, the prefecture and the city of Osaka to reconsider the name but Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura said the new name will not cause confusion and they would not consider changing it.
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Nigeria has evacuated no fewer than 317 nationals stranded in the UK as a result of coronavirus pandemic, government officials said.

The evacuees arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe Intl Airport, Abuja Sunday night after a take-off delay at Heathrow Airport, London by Air Peace.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), in a Twitter post, said the returnees included nine infants.

According to the Foreign Affairs minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, the plane conveying the Nigerians departed the Heathrow Airport in London hours after experiencing operational delay during take-off.

@flyairpeace evacuation flight APK 7801 from Heathrow Airport London, just departed with 317 passengers including 9 infants after several hours delay, due to operational reasons, he said in a tweet.

@flyairpeace evacuation flight APK 7801 from Heathrow Airport London, just departed with 317 passengers including 9 infants after several hours delay, due to operational reasons. pic.twitter.com/ceP1Q4Y8MA  Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) June 28, 2020

NIDCOM said 175 of the evacuees disembarked in Abuja and the remaining 142 people proceeded to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

All the returnees tested negative to COVID-19 and would proceed on a 14-day self-isolation as mandated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the agency said.

This is contrary to what Mr Onyeama said during one of the daily Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefings earlier this month.

With Nigerias new policy to evacuate at least 500 of its nationals stranded in foreign lands during the pandemic weekly for a month, Mr Onyeama said evacuees would no longer go into 14-day government monitored quarantine if they test negative from their countries of residence.

He said this is so because evacuees will have to be tested at most nine days before their flight takes off.

The minister said the new policy is to ensure evacuees get tested and self-quarantine at home rather than in selected hotels.

The passengers will then be able to go home and not into prescribed hotels to self-isolate (quarantine). The whole issue of quarantine in hotels will no longer be necessary, he had earlier said.

In the meantime, Nigeria has already airlifted hundreds of its citizens from the UK, U.S., Egypt, Saudi Arabia and others due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has caused over 500,000 deaths globally.
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Iran has issued a warrant of arrest on the United State President Donald Trump over the assassination of a top Iranian general, Aljazeera has reported.

The general, Qassem Soleimani was killed alongside other Iranian and Iraqi leaders in Iraq, January, in a US drone strike ordered by Mr Trump.

The U.S. government had accused the slain general, who headed Irans elite military force, of being responsible for the attacks on the US and its allies in the Middle-East.

The Iranian government on Monday asked Interpol to help in detaining President Trump for murder and terrorism charges and more than 30 others accused of being involved in the attack that killed Mr Soleimani, Aljazeera said.

It is unlikely Interpol would grant Irans request as its guideline for notices forbids it from undertaking any intervention or activities of a political nature, the TV station said.

Days after Mr Soleimanis assassination, Iran fired ballistic missiles into two US military bases in Iraq as a retaliation.

The Iranian judiciary earlier this month said an Iranian national, Mahmoud Mousavi Majd would be executed after he was convicted of helping the US and Israel to spy on the general before he was killed.

He was a monster. And hes no longer a monster. Hes dead, Mr Trump had said of the killing of the Iranian general.

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He was planning a big attack and bad attack for us. I dont think anyone can complain about it.

An American general, Kenneth McKenzie Jr. said recently the killing of the Iranian general has deterred Iran from further attacks against the US.

I think (killing Soleimani) has had a significant effect in establishing and reestablishing a rough form of deterrence in the theater, The VOA quoted Mr McKenzie Jr., the commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), to have said.
Nigerias index case of coronavirus, an Italian national, was confirmed on February 28. Since then, the virus has spread across the country except to Cross River State if one believes the state government.

In March, President Muhammadu Buhari announced a travel ban on 15 high-risk countries. To further contain the pandemic, public gatherings of more than 10 persons were later banned, as well as non-essential travel across the countrys land, sea and air borders.

Maintain social distance; self-isolate when you notice symptoms; do not hug or shake hands; work from home, medical experts and government advised Nigerians.

At the time of initiating these precautions, including a five-week lockdown on Lagos and Ogun states and the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria had only recorded 36 cases and one death from the disease.

Not working in Lagos

Tunji Olabode lives in Idumota, one of the crowded areas in Lagos Island. He said social distancing is an uphill task in the city.

Mr Olabode lives with his family in a rented apartment. The four-storey face me and face you apartment has 10 rooms on each floor and over 50 occupants in all.

I tried to follow the order when we were asked to stay indoors. There are lots of families in the house so how is social distancing possible?

Mr Olabode is a public bus driver with his own vehicle. For the first three days, I was able to restrict my family to our room. Except my wife who often went out to buy things needed for consumption, no one was allowed to breach the stay at home order. The only excuse was a visit to the toilet and bathroom.

Unfortunately, as much as Mr Olabode tried to stay safe as advised by the authorities, his neighbours flout almost all the precautions when they meet at the well to fetch water or along the passage.

Breaching the rule to feed his family

After three days of staying indoors, Mr Olabode no longer had enough to feed his family.

You will agree with me that survival is key and for my family to survive, somebody needed to take the risk. I put my vehicle out very early in the morning to take people from CMS to Ajah and I got back home sometimes before 9 a.m. I also repeated the same in the evening to make ends meet.

He did this throughout the five weeks of the mandatory stay at home order. But Mr Olabode was not the only person who took risks.

Bashirat Adetunji, a female resident of Obalende, said she is aware that the virus spreads easily and how many Nigerians, including top officials, are dying. But she lives in a slum where social distancing is hard to achieve. In her apartment, residents are forced out to the street every night by heat. They would sit on benches outside their houses to enjoy fresh air before going to bed at late hours.

Throughout the period of the lockdown, my house was disconnected from electricity supply and most residents in the street were often out at night. You see people relaxing on benches outside to charge their phones with a battery charger, she said.

Mrs Adetunji said getting water on her street is difficult, which in turn makes it difficult for households to practise regular hand-washing.

Lockdown relaxation and realities

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Nigeria has an estimated population of 200 million and while it continues to record hundreds of COVID-19 cases daily. Observers say these figures do not reflect the true situation, because the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is not carrying out enough tests.

Lagos is the most populous city in Nigeria with an estimated 21 million people. The Nigeria Bureau of Statistics report that 8.5 per cent of the 21 million people living in Lagos, live in poverty  about 1.7 million people. Many also live on incomes earned largely on a daily basis.

It may be difficult to combat the virus in many parts of Lagos, the epicentre of the pandemic, due to the peculiarity and structures of its communities. Many families feed on the daily earnings of their breadwinners and journeying from one community to another, though vital, is fraught with danger.

PREMIUM TIMES findings showed that social distancing is not adhered to in most public vehicles, including the government-owned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Our correspondent observed passengers sitting shoulder to shoulder in public vehicles, without nose masks. This is despite orders to public transporters not to carry more than 60 per cent of their capacity. The same is obtainable in tricycles and taxis in parts of Lagos.

Business as usual

Lagos Island is also inhabited by many homeless Nigerians who pass the night under its bridges. They depend on the non-stop public activities of the state for their livelihoods. They help people to carry heavy loads from point of purchase to their vehicles or where shoppers queue for public transport.

You dont expect social distancing from someone whose life starts and ends in the market every day, Suliamon Amodu, one of the porters in CMS, said. We are trying but circumstances wont permit. I sleep and wake up here. We pay N50 and people sweat on one another in these spaces where we pass the night.

This newspaper realised that many of the homeless accept that the deadly virus is real but they cannot afford social distancing because of economic reasons.

Similarly, even sex workers still carry out their high-risk activities on a massive scale, despite the pandemic. In a brothel in Ado-Ajah Road, sex workers give customers sanitizers before and after sex, as a remedy for breaching the social distancing rule.

Lagosians who breach the social distancing order said they are scared to visit hospitals for tests, even when they notice symptoms.

It seems the only sickness in Nigeria now is coronavirus. I cant go for a test and then be added to the list of those having coronavirus while my family suffers at home,. a respondent said.

Rather than visit the hospital, many residents said they prefer self-medication and herbal preparations when they have symptoms. For them, local herbs for treating fever, malaria or typhoid bacterial infections, will cure coronavirus if addressed early enough.

Experts weigh in

Speaking on these challenges, a public affairs analyst, Peter Adekanmbi, told our correspondent that the government needs to do more on awareness campaigns and the supply of basic amenities that will help reduce the spread of the disease.

It is very important that the government sensitises people more, using all means available, including house to house visitation, on the danger of not obeying social distancing rules. The awareness will let Nigerians better understand the effect of the virus on human existence,, Mr Adekanmbi said.

I dont think it would be out of place for local government authorities to visit homes to distribute sanitizers and nose masks. Many who cannot afford to buy will then have the opportunity to protect themselves more, he added.

Speaking in the same vein, Bimpe Ojo, also a public affairs analyst, said proper fumigation of communities should be done, since it has become obvious that many cannot achieve social distancing.

This report was facilitated by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under its COVID-19 Reality Check project.
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President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday received an update from the Chairman of Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, at the State House, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PTF briefed the president on the second phase of the gradual easing of lockdown announced four weeks ago, to check the spread of the deadly virus.

NAN reports that Mr Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), was accompanied by Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, the Coordinator of the PTF on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu.

The Director-General of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, was also in attendance of the meeting with the president.

Mr Mustapha is expected, later today, to brief the press on the possible review of the existing ease of lockdown measures across the country.

Nigeria imposed its first round of lockdown in late March. Mr Buhari on April 27 announced the gradual easing of a five-week lockdown in FCT, Lagos and Ogun state.

The first phase of the relaxed lockdown was extended by two weeks and elapsed midnight June 1. The second phase spanned June 2 to June 29.

(NAN)
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday further varied the bail conditions granted the former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina.

The court on November 25, 2019 had admitted the former pension chairman to bail at N1 billion.

Justice Okon Abang, who gave the ruling, also ordered Mr Maina to produce two sureties who must be serving senators.

The judge said the two lawmakers must not be standing criminal trial in any court in the country.

He also ruled that the two sureties, who must be prepared for an N500 million bond each, must always be in court with the defendant at each adjourned date.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how on January 28, Justice Abang reduced the bail bond from N1 billion to N500 million after Mr Maina on January 13 told the court that he could not meet the stringent conditions of the bail.

Still not able to meet the adjusted bail conditions, Mr Maina in an application dated February 10, asked the court to further vary the conditions.

But in a ruling on Mr Mainas bail variation application on April 29, Justice Abang held that the former PRTT chairman failed to put sufficient material before the court to prove that he was unable to meet his bail condition, which includes a serving senator as surety.

Dissatisfied

Dissatisfied with the position of the court, again Mr Mainas lawyer, Joe Gadzama, filed another application seeking further variation of the bail conditions.

Mr Gadzama had informed the court last Tuesday that the senator representing Borno south, Ali Ndume, has agreed to act as a surety for Mr Maina.

He, however, noted that the condition that requires the surety having a certificate of occupancy of a landed property in Abuja has also not been met.

Mr Mainas lawyer then urged the court to accept a certified irrevocable power of attorney issued to Ndume in the name of one Lawal Ahmed, the previous owner of the land.

Ruling on the application on Monday, Justice Abang said since the defendant has complied with the main condition of producing a surety, the court would accept the irrevocable power of attorney to replace the certificate of occupancy.

On compassionate grounds, the court would accept the irrevocable power of attorney to replace the certificate of occupancy with respect of the property pledged as security for the bail of the defendant, he said.

However, Mr Abang refused to vary the condition that requires the surety to attend trial with the defendant and sign a register of attendance on every date fixed for trial.

He said since Mr Ndume already deposed to an affidavit dated May 5, stating that he would abide by the conditions, no other deponent can come before the court claiming that the surety cannot fulfill the condition of making appearances in court.

The defendants wife, Laila Maina, had deposed to an affidavit stating that the surety said he would not be able to attend trial with the accused.

But in his ruling, the judge held that the affidavits amounts to documentary hearsay and cannot be used to set aside facts deposed to by the surety.

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He urged Mr Maina not to jump bail being aware of the sacrifice being made by the surety.

However, in the unlikely event that the defendants jump bail, the court will be left with no other option either to order the remand of the distinguished senator Ali Ndume at a correctional centre pending when the first defendant is produced or the court shall order the surety to forfeit the penal sum upon default being made, Justice Abang ruled.

The matter has been adjourned to July 2 for continuation of trial.

Mr Maina is accused of diverting N100 billion of pension funds and is facing trial for alleged money laundering. He is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 12-count charge and is also accused of operating fictitious accounts and carrying out other fraudulent activities.

The former PRTT chairman, who went into hiding for almost two years, was arrested by the State Security Service last year.

The SSS handed over Mr Maina to the EFCC, which had declared him wanted for over a year.

His son, Faisal, who was arrested alongside him in September, is accused of operating an account he used to divert various sums of money, including N58 million.

The two men were arraigned by the EFCC on October 25 on separate charges. They pleaded not guilty.
A Dutch diplomat has lost his position after comments about alleged unethical conduct and corruption indulged in by the countrys businesses operating in Nigeria, a Dutch newspaper has reported.

Hans Smaling, who was Dutch economic envoy to West Africa between 2015 and 2018, was summarily made to leave his office after he complained about how the government and companies from the European country are involved corruption, he told NRC.

In fact, on behalf of the Dutch government, I had to push the interests of the Netherlands, for example, and indirectly facilitate forms of possible corruption. Ridiculous, the newspaper quotes the former diplomat as saying.

The new revelation comes not long after another report revealed how a former Dutch ambassador in Nigeria, Robert Petri, was engrossed in similar ethical scandal in a relationship with Shell that officials felt it was too close for comfort.

Information leak

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the NRC, a Dutch online news outlet, reported that at the end of 2017, the Dutch ambassador to Nigeria leaked the confidential information to oil company, Shell.

An investigation into Mr Petris tenure as ambassador to Nigeria was prompted by a complaint of integrity received by the country, the report revealed. The leakage of the confidential information fueled tensions at the embassy.

After two internal investigations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled Mr Petri back to the Netherlands in early 2019. The investigations revealed, among other things, a sick working atmosphere at the embassy.

Several partner organisations complained to the ministry that Mr Petri was too much on Shells hand.

Mr Petri was found to have shared confidential information about an impending visit by the tax investigative service FIOD to Nigeria at the end of 2017 with the local Shell director. He allegedly did this during a visit with his wife to the mans residence.

More revelations

Meanwhile, Mr Smaling said the country is in Nigeria for itself and his advocacy for Netherlands to work on the investment climate, on building the country, on macroeconomic stability, reforms and regulation did not find favour with authorities at the foreign ministry.

That was not what the economic envoys department wanted to hear, Mr Smaling reportedly said.

Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte arrives at a European Union leaders informal summit in Brussels, Belgium, on February 23, 2018. (Reuters)

The report said Mr Smalings position was created in 2012, after the foreign economic relations department was transferred from Economic Affairs to Foreign Affairs ministry.

The new position was created for promoting the competitive position of the Netherlands: that of economic envoy / regional business developer. These special envoys were stationed in areas of economic interest to the Netherlands, such as Singapore, Dubai, Lima, Copenhagen and Nigeria.

After 34 years of field service, Mr Smaling knows perfectly well how Dutch business operates abroad, as well as how to facilitate this as a diplomat and how to keep an appropriate distance from it.

The newspaper reported that in most countries, he discovered that Dutch companies can do normal and good business. But not in Nigeria.

An instance was given of the Swiss-Dutch commodity trader, Vitol, which shipped heavily polluted diesel from Rotterdam to Nigeria, which contains up to two hundred times as much sulfur as is permitted in Europe.

Is that what we want?Mr Smaling was quoted to have said.

Similarly, from his network, he is said to have received information about large Dutch companies that bought off problems with Nigerian customs.

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He also heard persistent rumors, from reliable sources about Shell, an oil company, that would have left suitcases full of cash to get hold of the OPL 245 mega-oil field off the Nigerian coast.

It is believed the Shell summit at the head office in The Hague would have known about this.

I pointed this out to the chief public prosecutor in the Netherlands in the autumn of 2017 in a personal conversation. That the Public Prosecution Service really had to look at that. 

Mr Smaling alleged that going to bed with Shell was not only the making of Mr Petrihe was working on a mandate.

He was sent out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the assignment to stand squarely in front of the Dutch business community.  said Mr Smaling.

NRC reports that Mr Smaling warned his executives several times. He criticised the department and ministers Bert Koenders (Foreign Affairs) and Lilianne Ploumen (Foreign Trade).

He reportedly said: I wrote a contribution in the weekend folder for the ministers. In it, I addressed endemic corruption in Nigeria. I wrote that I found it strange that the Dutch government facilitates companies that have to deal with corrupt practices. We are not going back to the times of the governor-general in the former Dutch East Indies, Abraham van Riebeeck, who said: It is immoral but beneficial. I also mentioned Shell. It was clear that no company  not even Shell  escapes gross corruption in Nigeria. 

Mr Smaling also spoke regularly with Mr Petri, the ambassador removed from his post in 2019 after he himself leaked secret information about the criminal investigation into Shell to the oil company, as NRC revealed.

The criticism was that Mr Petri was too close to Shell.

Dutch authorities react

But in a reaction, a spokesperson said the Dutch government does not approve of corrupt conducts in Nigeria or elsewhere.

The Dutch government, including our posts in Nigeria, has a zero tolerance policy on corruption, the report quoted the spokesperson.

The core of the Dutch effort is to ensure that economic interests and efforts in matters such as fighting corruption and human rights reinforce each other.

The ministry welcomes contemplation among colleagues and encourages internal debate. There is no connection between Mr Smaling s critical attitude and his retirement. In consultation with the Ministry, Mr Petri has chosen to refer questions from the press to the Communications Directorate.
Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State and chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum has absolved President Muhammadu Buhari of wrongdoing in the All Progressive Congress virtual NEC meeting held on Thursday in Abuja

Mr Bagudu said this while fielding questions from reporters on Monday in Birnin Kebbi.

President Muhammadu Buhari recently hosted the meeting of an organ of a political party in the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, the first leader to do so, drawing widespread criticisms.

But the governor said the president did not violate any constitutional provision at the meeting, contrary to the opinions of some public commentators.

He said that the countrys Constitution provided that the president must be a member of a political party before becoming the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It is that party that sponsors people and has obligation for anybody, who is a president, who contested on its platform.

Hence belonging to a political party is not partisanship.

This is created by the qualifying section of the constitution, without which he/she cannot even contest the presidency or any political position.

So, this partisanship, if belonging to a political party can be described as such, is constitutional as it is imposed upon us by the constitution, he said.

The governor said President Buhari would have possibly won if the law had allowed him to contest as an independent candidate because of his popularity.

But unfortunately, the Nigerian Constitution necessitates that aspirants can only contest on a partys platform and Buhari contested on such platform, won and took oath of office.

I dont know of any sentence in that oath of office that could have been violated by the president, attending a political party meeting in a virtual manner.

The COVID-19 pandemic made the president to adjust his itineraries and activities so that he can participate in meetings across the country, as part of his official duties and obligation to a political party in a virtual manner.

We should all remember that were the meeting to have held at APC headquarters, the president would have attended and that is not partisanship.

The president has to attend the activities of his political party and he has to pay his dues for being a member of the political party.

So, when circumstances had dictated that he participated in the virtual meeting and in a place set for him to participate, as he had been participating in many virtual events, it is unfair to call it a violation of the constitution.

Malamis role

On the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami s role in the APC swearing-in the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, Governor Mai Buni of Yobe, Mr Bagudu said the action had also not violated any law.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Malami, on Thursday, swore-in members of the caretaker and convention planning committee of the APC, an act some observers say violates the partys constitution.

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He (Malami) fully complied with Nigerias Constitution. Nothing stops him as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to administer oath of office.

As a law officer in the country, he stood to administer the oath to the chairman and if the opposition party invites him for such action, he will definitely discharge his duty as a SAN.

Also, he fully complied with the constitution of Nigeria because he belonged to a political party before becoming a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Bagudu said.

(NAN)
The Kaduna State Government has set up a White Paper Committee on the 1992 Zangon-Kataf crisis that led to the death of about 2,000 people.

This position was contained in a statement by the special adviser to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on media and communications, Muyiwa Adekeye.

The February 1992 riots in Zangon-Kataf LGA led to 95 deaths and injuries to 233 persons. In the May 1992 riots, the death toll increased, with 1,528 persons killed in Zangon-Kataf and 305 others in Zaria, Ikara and other parts of the state to which the rioting spread, Mr Adekeye wrote in the statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES.

Despite the setting up of a probe committee, previous Kaduna governments failed to act on the report.

However, a related violence occurred in the area earlier this month.

It is unacceptable that one of the factors identified by the Justice Cudjoe Commission as an immediate cause of the 1992 carnage in Zangon-Kataf is still a trigger for murder and unlawful conduct, 28 years after that tragedy, Mr Adekeye wrote.

Read the full statement by the Kaduna government below.

KDSG sets up White Paper Committee on 1992 Zangon-Kataf Crisis

The Kaduna State Executive Council has set up a committee to draft a White Paper on the two reports of the Justice Rahila Cudjoe Commission of Inquiry into the Zangon-Kataf riots of February and May 1992. The White Paper will also consider the 1995 report of the Zangon-Kataf Reconciliation Committee, chaired by Air Vice Marshall Usman Muazu.

Violent clashes broke out in Zangon-Kataf LGA on 11th June 2020 between two communities that were reportedly disputing ownership of farmlands whose place in the conflict is mentioned in the 1992 and 1995 reports. The recommendations in those reports have not received comprehensive response or attention. This is because no White Paper was drafted or adopted by the Dabo Lere government that established the Justice Cudjoe Commission and the Colonel Lawal Jafar Isa government that appointed the AVM Muazu Reconciliation Committee.

The February 1992 riots in Zangon-Kataf LGA led to 95 deaths and injuries to 233 persons. In the May 1992 riots, the death toll increased, with 1,528 persons killed in Zangon-Kataf and 305 others in Zaria, Ikara and other parts of the state to which the rioting spread.

Following the 1992 Zangon-Kataf riots, the Federal Government of General Ibrahim Babangida detained and prosecuted some persons. But the elected government of Kaduna State, led by Alhaji Dabo Lere, did not produce a White Paper to set out its official position on the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

On 30th November 1994, the military administrator of Kaduna State, Colonel Lawal Jafar Isa, appointed the Committee for Reconciliation and Search for Peace in Zangon-Kataf community, under the chairmanship of AVM Usman Muazu, himself a former governor of the state, with equal representation from the Atyap and Hausa communities.

In its 1995 report, the AVM Muazu reconciliation committee stated that it could not resolve three burning issues:

Ownership of disputed farmlands

Release of White Paper on the report of the Cudjoe Commission of Inquiry

Release of detainees

Following skirmishes a week earlier, disputes over the same farmlands again led to an outbreak of violence and killings in Zangon-Kataf and Kauru LGAs on Thursday, 11th June 2020. This compelled the State Government to impose a 24-hour curfew on the two LGAs, to contain the crisis and enable the return of law and order.

It is unacceptable that one of the factors identified by the Justice Cudjoe Commission as an immediate cause of the 1992 carnage in Zangon-Kataf is still a trigger for murder and unlawful conduct, 28 years after that tragedy.

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Therefore, the Kaduna State Government considers it vital for the promotion of peace and harmony and the rule of law that a comprehensive position be taken on the recommendations of the Justice Cudjoe Commission and the AVM Muazu Reconciliation Committee. The first step in this process is the constitution of a committee to draft a White Paper on the reports for the consideration of the Kaduna State Executive Council.

The following senior officials have been appointed as members of the White Paper Committee on the Zangon-Kataf crisis reports, and they have six weeks to submit their report:

Adamu Mansur Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Human Services

Chris Umar Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice

Abdullahi Sani Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Internal Security & Home Affairs

Habiba Shekarau Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Devt

Ibrahim Jere Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office

Phoebe Yayi Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education

Aisha K. Mohammed Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Commission

Bulus Audu SSA, KADGIS

The events of 11th and 12th June 2020 in Zangon-Kataf and Kauru LGAs offer compelling evidence that these persistent contentions over farmlands is a conflict trigger that has to be boldly addressed, rather than wished away.

The Kaduna State Government assures that it will do its utmost to bring to closure issues that have lingered, unresolved, since the Zangon-Kataf crisis of 1992. All recommendations that may be accepted by the Kaduna State Executive Council when considering the draft White Paper will be robustly implemented.

Too much has been lost to violent conflict in Kaduna State. This is a moment to close a festering sore and enable the communities to live in peace and harmony.

Signed

Muyiwa Adekeye

Special Adviser to the Governor (Media & Communication)

29th June 2020
The Lagos State Government on Sunday commissioned a newly-equipped 150-bed isolation centre at the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba.

The facility was donated by the private sector coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) to help in combating the spread of the virus.

With the newly donated isolation centre, the bed-capacity in Lagos state is now 797, an increase from 647.

While commissioning the isolation centre, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that the facility will help the state in tackling the pandemic.

Today, we unveiled a 150-bed isolation centre at the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba which increases our capacity to tackle the spread of COVID19. We thank the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID19 for delivering this well equipped facility.

Lagos is rising to the task of beating back COVID19 because of the work of our amazing health workers, private partners, @NCDCgov, the Federal Government, and residents who follow the strict guidelines we have laid down, he said in a statement.

Breakdown

The breakdown of isolation centres in Lagos as of Monday is as follows;

Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba  115

Onikan  100

LUTH  60

Gbagada  180

Landmark  81

Agidingbi  47

Lekki  45

First Cardiology Consultant Hospital  15

Paelon Memorial  11

Vedic  20

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Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba  150

Total: 797

The state governor further revealed plans of the state to build an international infectious disease research centre at IDH, Yaba, Post COVID-19.

We are committing to putting in place a purpose built international infectious disease research centre in this hospital post-COVID. We will ramp up our infrastructure and capacity and will definitely not wait for a pandemic to come upon us again before everything is in place, he said.

Mr Sanwo-Olu urged Lagos residents to remain cautious and prevent themselves from contracting COVID-19.

He encouraged citizens to wear face masks in public spaces, practise hand hygiene and physical distancing.
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The number of patients successfully managed and discharged from coronavirus isolation centres in Lagos rose above 1,500 as more people were discharged on Sunday.

The Lagos State Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that 93 more patients have been discharged following their recovery.

The patients, including 11 foreign nationals tested negative to the virus and were reunited with society.

The state last week announced more than 5,000 people had recovered outside of the isolation centres.

Today, 93 fully recovered COVID19-Lagos patients; 16 females & 77 males including 11 foreign nationals were discharged from our Isolation facilities to reunite with society.

The patients; 11 from Agidingbi, 22 from Gbagada, 36 from Lekki, 8 from Eti-Osa (LandMark), 9 from Onikan and 7 from LUTH Isolation Centres were discharged after full recovery and testing negative to COVID-19, the ministry wrote.

The actual number of discharged patients as of Monday cannot be ascertained as there are discrepancies in the figures given by the state Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Lagos State recorded 118 new cases of infection on Sunday, increasing the total confirmed cases to 10,144, with 8426 active cases, 1592 discharged cases and 126 deaths.

Lagos residents are encouraged to keep abiding by all the health guidelines by practicing physical distancing, proper hand hygiene and use face masks in public places.
BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Education has issued a guideline on improving the work on disabled children's learning in regular classes for compulsory education.

The document aims to remove the obstacles that keep disabled children from learning in regular classes, and enhance the quality of education for such children.

It highlights a sounder assessment and verification mechanism for disabled students, which will decide whether a disabled child is fit for a regular class.

The database for middle school and primary school students should be fully utilized to make sure disabled children with learning capabilities, whose ages are eligible for compulsory education, do not drop out of school, according to the guideline.

As for the quality of education, the document stresses sound adjustments to teaching content and methods based on the conditions of disabled students. It encourages customized teaching schemes to help them improve independent living.

It also calls for more specific evaluations of disabled students in regular classes, which underline their social adaptation and work abilities.

China stipulates nine-year compulsory education for children, which covers primary school and junior middle school.
The federal government has lifted the ban on interstate travel and also approved the reopening of schools for Junior Secondary School 3 ...

The federal government has lifted the ban on interstate travel and also approved the reopening of schools for Junior Secondary School 3 and Senior Secondary School 3.





Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, broke the news at the presidential task force briefing on Monday.





Mustapha, who is the chairman of the task force, said President Muhammadu Buhari gave the approval when his team met with him earlier in the day.





I am pleased to inform you that Mr. President has carefully considered the 5th Interim Report of the PTF and has accordingly approved that, with the exception of some modifications to be expatiated upon later, the Phase Two of the eased lockdown be extended by another four weeks with effect from Tuesday, June 30, 2020 through Midnight of Monday, 27 July, 2020, he said.

Specifically, however, the following measures shall either remain in place or come into effect:





Maintaining the current phase of the national response, for another four weeks in line with modifications to be expatiated by the National Coordinator;





Permission of movement across State borders only outside curfew hours with effect from 1st July, 2020;





Enforcement of laws around non-pharmaceutical interventions by States, in particular, the use of face masks in public places;





Safe re-opening of schools to allow students in graduating classes resume in-person in preparation for examinations.





More to follow
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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has described the death of foremost Ibadan businessman and philanthropist, Bode Akindele, as a great loss to the state and Nigeria as a whole.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late Mr Akindele died on Monday morning in Lagos, barely 24 hours after the burial of a former governor of the state, Abiola Ajimobi.

Mr Makinde described Mr Akindele, who was the Parakoyi of Ibadanland and Chairman of Modandola Group, as a worthy elder statesman and someone who was genuinely interested in the wellbeing of others.

A statement issued on Monday evening by Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, quoted Mr Makinde as saying that Mr Akindele contributed in no small measure to the growth of the state and his community.

The governor also commiserated with the family of the late statesman, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and the entire people of Oyo State, praying that God would grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

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The governor said the news of the death of our revered elder statesman, Chief Bode Akindele, the Parakoyi of Ibadanland and Chairman, Modandola Group, came to us as a shock.

Baba Akindele was one of the worthy elder statesmen in the state and he lived a life worthy of emulation. As an elder, he was always after the progress and wellbeing of the state and its people.

I remember that only a few months ago when the state put out calls for support towards the Oyo State COVID-19 Endowment Fund, Baba Akindele was one of the elders who responded by donating N25 million to the state.

It is sad that we lost such a noble elder and philanthropist at such a moment as this.

I pray to God to grant his entire family and the state the fortitude to bear this loss, the statement said.

(NAN)
Sterling Heights, MI (48312)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then partly cloudy and windy. High 76F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 46F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
Since we talked about real estate in an IRA last week, I thought we would stay on the real estate topic this week. I know home prices are sky 
Murphy shuttered all nine of Atlantic Citys casinos on March 16 to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. The 106-day closure will go down as the longest stretch Atlantic City has gone without operational casinos since legal gambling began in the seaside resort in 1978.

Senate President Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem, expressed surprise over Murphys announcement to not permit indoor dining following a Senate voting session Monday.

I just got off the floor and heard about it, Sweeney said, when asked what he thought of Murphys decision to postpone reopening of indoor dining, but not casinos. I need to find out what the administrations thoughts are.

Prior to Borgatas announcement, Sweeney said he did not think casinos would reopen if they cant have indoor dining.

That was a huge, huge piece of opening the casinos, Sweeney said. Who wants to go to a casino if you cant get dinner or a drink?

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, released a statement Monday evening sharply criticizing Murphys decision.
The first heat wave of 2020, which became official Sunday, extended into Monday. And, in a twist of meteorological coincidence, started on the same day as last year's first heat wave.

Monday reached 90 degrees at Atlantic City International Airport just before 1 p.m., extending the heat wave to four days.

A heat wave is when there are three days in a row with high temperatures at or above 90 degrees in New Jersey. Friday's high temperature reached 90 degrees, while it was 91 Saturday and 95 Sunday, also the hottest day of the year so far.

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On average, the first heat wave of the year starts June 28 at the airport, putting the June 26, 2020 start date right near the average. In 2019, the first heat wave of the year also started June 26, though lasted for five days.

Watch where you walk your pets during a heat wave There's nothing worse than stepping on your blacktop driveway on a hot summer day, right? We

Heat waves come in different shapes and sizes and this one was one of the more "comfortable" ones. Highs just made the minimum required temperatures, and dew points were not sticky, sitting at or above 70 degrees.

Millville Municipal Airport and Cape May County airport, the other two notable reporting airports in the region, did not see a heat wave, either. Neither did Sen. Frank S. Farley Marina in Atlantic City.

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In a normal campaign, a sitting governor with record-high approval ratings endorsing an incumbent mayor would almost guarantee a primary victory for the recipient.

But, Atlantic City politics are atypical, and the states hostile takeover of the city is even less popular among residents today than it was four years ago when it started.

So, it comes as no surprise that Mayor Marty Small Sr.s opponents are turning the tables on Gov. Phil Murphys June 17 endorsement and using it as political ammunition for their own campaigns.

My campaign is not some of the same old same old and the establishment is clearly shaken, said Pamela Thomas-Fields, the chosen candidate of the Atlantic City Democratic Committee. The truth is this is not personal, this is business. You only need to take a drive through the city to see that the status quo has not served the residents.

Small dismissed his opponents criticisms as little more than political rhetoric, saying, in part, if they could have got the endorsements that Ive gotten, it would be a different story.

Im running this city and focused on getting our economy fully open, Small said. So, Im not going to give any life to their campaigns by responding.
She graduated with high honors from Rutgers-Camden Law School, where she was known as a bright student who was passionate about the law, said her classmate and longtime friend Lloyd A. Freeman. He recruited her to serve as vice president of the Black Law Students Association, where he was president.

I knew that she was brilliant. I wanted to work with her badly, said Freeman, a partner at Archer & Greiner in Haddonfield, Camden County

If confirmed, Pierre-Louis would take a seat once held by her mentor, former Justice John E. Wallace Jr., who became embroiled in controversy when then-Gov. Chris Christie refused to renominate him for a tenured term in 2010. She clerked for Wallace in 2006 when he was the high courts sole black jurist.

Wallace recalled his former clerk as a brilliant young attorney. The two maintain a close friendship, and he joined her family at the announcement of her nomination.

You knew that she would go far, Wallace said.

Pierre-Louis began her career in 2007 as an associate at the Cherry Hill law firm Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads. She returned as a partner in 2019, handling white-collar crime, commercial litigation, and government investigations.
Plattsburgh, NY (12901)

Today

Cloudy skies during the morning hours followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening. Cloudy skies overnight. Low 59F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
A federal high court in Abuja has awarded the sum of N15 million against the Nigerian police force over the killing of three members o...





A federal high court in Abuja has awarded the sum of N15 million against the Nigerian police force over the killing of three members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).





In the judgment delivered on Monday, Taiwo Taiwo, the judge, also ordered the National Hospital in Abuja to release the three bodies deposited at the hospitals mortuary.





Ahmad Musa, Ibrahim Abdullahi and Yusuf Abubakar Faska had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the police, claiming the killing of their brothers, Mahdi Musa, Biliaminu Abubakar Faska and Suleiman Shehu, was an infringement of their rights to life and liberty.





The applicants alleged the deceased were killed on July 22, 2019 while on a peaceful protest to demand the freedom of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, their leader, and his wife, at the federal secretariat in Abuja.





They also asked the court to direct the police to issue an apology to the group in two national newspapers.





The inspector-general of police is the first respondent while the medical directors of the National Hospital, and Asokoro District Hospital are both second respondent in separate suits.





The bodies of the deceased were said to have been deposited at the National Hospital.





Throughout the duration of the proceedings, the police never made legal appearances neither did they file any affidavit to counter the reliefs sought by the applicants.





The judge while delivering judgment, held that the rights of the dead men were indeed breached.





He ordered the respondents to pay N5 million as damages to each of the applicants, and release the bodies of the dead to them for burial.





But he did not grant the request that the Nigerian police should tender an apology in two national newspapers.
Nigeria: Teachers and students missing after attack A University for girls in northwestern Nigeria was targeted Thursday in an

Ethiopian couple forego wedding party for Tigray aid An Ethiopian couple has donated funds they had set aside for a lavish wedding

Police officer found dead at Flagstaff House barracks A policeman has reportedly been found dead in his room at the Flagstaff House
Euro 2020: Lewandowski earns Poland a point against Spain Robert Lewandowski scored his first goal of Euro 2020 as Poland held Spain to

Ethiopian couple forego wedding party for Tigray aid An Ethiopian couple has donated funds they had set aside for a lavish wedding

Police officer found dead at Flagstaff House barracks A policeman has reportedly been found dead in his room at the Flagstaff House
ECOWAS postpones launch of Eco single currency to 2027 The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted a new road

Tokyo Olympics: Ugandan tests positive for Covid in Japan A member of Uganda's Olympic squad has become the first to test positive for

Nigeria: Teachers and students missing after attack A University for girls in northwestern Nigeria was targeted Thursday in an
Nigeria: Teachers and students missing after attack A University for girls in northwestern Nigeria was targeted Thursday in an

Tokyo Olympics: Ugandan tests positive for Covid in Japan A member of Uganda's Olympic squad has become the first to test positive for
ECOWAS postpones launch of Eco single currency to 2027 The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted a new road

Tokyo Olympics: Ugandan tests positive for Covid in Japan A member of Uganda's Olympic squad has become the first to test positive for

Ethiopian couple forego wedding party for Tigray aid An Ethiopian couple has donated funds they had set aside for a lavish wedding
National File

June 29, 2020

Keveon Gomera, a 26 year old African-American man was charged with assault and vandalism after he was caught spray painting gravestones of Dominican friars with swastikas and assaulting a security guard at the Catholic Church-run Providence College.

Friars Brian J. Shanley and Kenneth Sicard were at the scene and issued a statement on the matter.

Officers approached the individual to question what he was doing and to confirm the vandalism when they noticed the suspect had painted swastikas and anti-Catholic language on the cemeterys central cross and on several of the headstones, and was actively burning American flags that stood at some of the gravesites, the friars said in a joint statement.

According to a witness, Gomera was observed carrying a bucket of paint, threatening to burn the American flag, and accusing Providence College of being part of the slave plantations.

The incident demonstrates the growing violence by Black Lives Matter, as well as the tendency of the left to employ false flag incidents to implicate right-wing activists.

In 2017, a left-wing Jewish man in New York was arrested after vandalizing his own home with swastikas and then falsely reporting it to police as a hate crime.

In 2016, an African-American member of a black church congregation in Mississippi was revealed to have burned down the church and spray painted Vote Trump on the side of the building, in an attempt to influence the outcome of the election.

The Inquisitr reported previously that Senator Marco Rubio had inaccurately claimed that the far-right was behind the ongoing nationwide riots:

In his video, Rubio argued that while there were some people in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and other parts of the country who were protesting out of respect for George Floyd, there were others who simply wanted to create chaos. He claimed the people who were only interested in rioting were from both the far-left and far-right fringes and this claim angered many social media users on the conservative side of the social media spectrum. Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe was among the first to find an issue with Rubios comments. She first asked him in a reply to his video which right-wing groups he was referring to. She added she found his comments cowardly. Rubio quote tweeted her question and responded that he felt it would be cowardly to only call out left-wing groups like Antifa and ignore what others were doing.

This article was posted: Monday, June 29, 2020 at 2:58 am

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Police Command has called on members of the public to help provide information on a party al...

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Police Command has called on members of the public to help provide information on a party allegedly attended by music star, D-Banj, amid the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria.





In an 18-second video that circulated on the internet on Sunday, the musician, whose real name is Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, was seen performing at a crowded party inside a house, without face masks and social distancing rule clearly flouted.





The clips were said to have emerged from a party he attended on Saturday in Abuja.





However, the Police, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, on Sunday evening said the time and venue of the video could not be verified.

The statement read, The attention of the Chairman FCT Covid-19 Enforcement Team and Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Bala Ciroma has been drawn to a video in circulation alleged to have been recorded at a party attended by Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, popularly known as D-Bang in Abuja.





It is pertinent to state that the venue and time the video was recorded has not been verified.





Members of the public, with privileged information, are called upon to furnish the FCT Covid-19 Enforcement Team with details of the said event.





The Team wishes to state that it would not tolerate any violation of the Quarantine act and Covid-19 guidelines.
Zero Hedge

June 29, 2020

Some are calling it a last ditch attempt to keep Russiagate alive ahead of November. The New York Times on Friday said Russian intelligence officers have been offering Taliban militants cash rewards to kill American and British soldiers.

In the past two days the claims by the usual anonymous US intelligence officials have crisscrossed the mainstream media, with more confirmation offered by more anonymous intelligence officials.

Of course Russia promptly denied it, but more importantly the White House vehemently rejected the report as fake news with the president and his aides saying theyve never seen such intelligence crossing the presidents desk.

US in Afghanistan, file image.

Certainly something of this level, which hearkens back to the original 1980s proxy war between Moscow and Washington centered in Afghanistan (where it should be noted roles were reversed: the CIA spent years funding and weaponizing the jihadists, many of which would go on to make up todays Taliban), would have been a top national security priority, something presumably impossible to keep from the commander-in-chief.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Saturday in response to the Times story that neither Trump nor Vice President Mike Pence was ever briefed on such a brazen Russian intelligence plan to hand out bounties.

This does not speak to the merit of the alleged intelligence but to the inaccuracy of The New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter, she said.

And Trump himself confirmed as much, tweeting Sunday morning:

Nobody briefed or told me, VP Pence, or Chief of Staff Mark Meadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an anonymous source by the Fake News NY Times.

Nobody briefed or told me, @VP Pence, or Chief of Staff @MarkMeadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an anonymous source by the Fake News @nytimes. Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us..  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 28, 2020

And rounding things out the Taliban registered its denial as well, meaning that every major player in the NY Times story has now said the story is nonsense.

We categorically reject the notion of ever planning or carrying out targeted attacks against US or foreign forces at the behest of foreign intelligence or for the sake of collecting bounty, and we also reject receiving material support, a Taliban statement said.

Recall that the initial NYT report suggested the White House had indeed been briefed. Again its unthinkable that an alleged Russian operation this explosive could be hidden from the commander-in-chief or top executive branch intel officials or National Security Council staff. The Times also assumes this when it said:

The officials familiar with the intelligence did not explain the White House delay in deciding how to respond to the intelligence about Russia. While some of his closest advisers, like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have counseled more hawkish policies toward Russia, Mr. Trump has adopted an accommodating stance toward Moscow.

And then theres this line, casting further doubt on the whole thing: The intelligence assessment is said to be based at least in part on interrogations of captured Afghan militants and criminals.

So we are left with anonymous officials casting a dubious tale of Russian targeting Americans in Afghanistan based on interrogations  likely involving torture or perhaps enhanced techniques  of militants and criminals.

Maddow spent 3+ years pushing ridiculous conspiracy theories about Putin controlling Trump and paranoid fantasies like Russia shutting off Americans' heat during winter. Incredible that it continues with no shame: https://t.co/wTQCYds9a9  Aaron Mate (@aaronjmate) June 28, 2020

Entirely to be expected, this was enough for some to eat it up.

This article was posted: Monday, June 29, 2020 at 3:28 am

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Chris Menahan

Information Liberation

June 29, 2020

Californias Democrat-controlled legislature has voted to bring back racial discrimination in the name of anti-racism.

The California legislature last week voted to strike these words from their state constitution: The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.

The vote wasnt even close.

The California legislature has now voted to strike these words from our state

constitution: The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Im speechless. pic.twitter.com/X09mWlM9sX  Steve Miller (@SteveMillerOC) June 24, 2020

Such language is now beyond the pale for the woke left.

From The Wall Street Journal:

We live in strange times, and strange indeed is that, while deploring racism, the Democratic Legislature in California has voted to codify racial discrimination in state law. On Wednesday the state Senate voted for a constitutional amendment, ACA 5, that would reintroduce racial preferences for who gets a state job or contract, or who is admitted to a state university. The state Assembly previously passed the measure, which means the amendment will be on the November ballot. It would repeal Proposition 209, which voters approved in 1996 and outlawed racial bias in state policy. The repeal effort received a boost from the killing of George Floyd, no matter the irony of voting for discrimination by race in the name of eliminating discrimination by race.

Is this what they call systemic racism?

Upcoming Movie "Cracka" Puts Blacks As Slave Owners And Whites As Slaves pic.twitter.com/bvuNvuMwXQ  putyourselfon (@putyourselfontv) June 19, 2020

This article was posted: Monday, June 29, 2020 at 3:38 am

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Zero Hedge

June 29, 2020

It began with Iranian claims of a mere accidental gas pipeline explosion or blast that was the result of gas leak at a civilian storage site in the desert late last week.

This after multiple videos emerged online showing what appeared a huge fireball and multiple flashes lighting up the night sky at around midnight Thursday. Clearly a massive blast, it prompted Irans defense ministry to address it, given it was in the vicinity of a sensitive military site.

A military spokesperson dismissed it as an accident a gas storage facility in a public area of Parchin, about 20 miles southeast of Tehran, in statements to sate TV, but it didnt take long for analysts in the West to identify the area as being close to alleged secretive missile factories.

Satellite image shows aftermath of the explosion at Khojir missile base in Iran. One building completely destroyed and a large burn area. Iran claims a gas tank exploded near a military base. There's no sign of a gas tank here and the blast is inside the base. Image: @Maxar pic.twitter.com/ofUzOtbvkV  Raf Sanchez (@rafsanchez) June 28, 2020

This based on satellite images said to pinpoint the blast site:

Iran may have been up to more than it claims after mysterious explosions ripped apart an area near secretive missile factories in the hills east of Tehran. Images have identified a burned area in the hills near the Khojir Missile Production Complex. Regional media is now speculating that something worse may have happened when a massive explosion lit up the night skies over Iran last week. Theories initially pointed to Parchin as the location of the explosion. Iranian media claimed it was just a gas leak at a storage facility.

Prior explosions at missile and other defense testing sites have previously been covered up or downplayed by the Islamic Republic, reports suggest.

While Parchin has gained notoriety for its role in Irans pre-2003 nuclear weapons program, Khojir has generally escaped public scrutiny despite being the single most important site associated with Irans ballistic missile program. The vast area nestled https://t.co/lAqccHPMeQ  Alireza Nader   (@AlirezaNader) June 27, 2020

Initially on Friday even Iranian media described the explosion, heard and seen for miles, as a mystery blast. The cause of this sound and light is not yet known, but it was clearly heard in Pardis, in Boumhen and surrounding areas of the Iranian capital, Mehr news agency had reported.

Further fueling the speculation is that tensions with Israel and the United States are still soaring, given Irans moving forward with developing uranium enrichment capabilities  blowing past caps in place under the JCPOA  which Tehran has all along said is for peaceful nuclear energy.

But Israel believes Tehran both pursuing warheads and the ability to launch.

  #_ [#_]

  :        #      . (  ""      .)@iranshekar pic.twitter.com/mJysRbTZzl  Vahid Online (@Vahid) June 25, 2020

Anytime such unexplained explosions in the desert happen in Iran, theres also the question of possible Israeli jet or drone attacks, given Israeli Air Force strikes on Iranian targets inside Syria have become so frequent as to be a near weekly occurrence of late.

This article was posted: Monday, June 29, 2020 at 3:33 am

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Retiring detective warns the demise of NYC is coming if police continue to be stripped of resources

Steve Watson

Prison Planet.com

June 29, 2020

As police warn that the disbanding of vital units will lead to anarchy in New York City, a total of eleven people were shot in the space of under 12 hours on Saturday night.

According to a report by The New York Post, there were eight separate shooting incidents between the hours of 5.30 pm to 5am in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens and Manhattan.

Within one week there have now been 59 shootings in New York, with a total of 81 people shot.

Gun violence is up 358% in New York City since June 2019, with The New York Times reporting Tuesday that It has been nearly a quarter century since New York City experienced as much gun violence in the month of June as it has seen this year.

The explosion in gun violence dovetails with the disbanding of NYPD anti-crime units, a decision that means around 600 plainclothes officers will be taken off targeted raids and reassigned.

A retiring NYPD detective, speaking anonymously with the NY Post, recently warned that the move will be the demise of New York City.

A d v e r t i s e m e n t



Anti-crime guys are the guys are the guys who the real bad guys are looking out for. Anti-crime guys are going to drive around in not just unmarked cars. Theyll come around in other cars, rentals that the city gets that you wouldnt think are police cars. the detective noted.

When youre a really bad guy, and Im talking about really bad guys, who wont think twice about taking another life. When they step out of the car, those were the cops who they are afraid of, he urged.

The detective blasted Mayor Bill de Blasio, saying that he has absolutely no idea what policing is, after he caved to the woke mob and embraced the Defund the Police movement.

This article was posted: Monday, June 29, 2020 at 4:57 am

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Breitbart

June 29, 2020

People arriving from Pakistan brought half of all the imported coronavirus cases in the United Kingdom since March, a report has found.

As a result of the United Kingdom refusing to close down travel from virus hotspots during the pandemic, over 65,000 people from Pakistan  most of whom are believed to hold British passports  arrived in the country since March 1st.

Pakistan, which is reporting around 4,000 new cases of Covid-19 per day, is considered a high-risk country for the virus, but despite the inability or unwillingness of the Pakistani government to introduce effective containment measures, travellers from the Islamic Republic have been free to flood into the country.

Officials in Whitehall are reportedly worried that the revelations could spark a backlash against attempts to establish so-called open-air bridges with EU nations. British officials are also concerned that they will now have little ground to criticise countries like Portugal for failing to block imported cases from its former colony of Brazil.

Read more

This article was posted: Monday, June 29, 2020 at 3:30 am

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Chris Menahan

Information Liberation

June 29, 2020

The Twitterati on Saturday night reported that a white supremacist went on a mass shooting targeting peaceful protesters at Jefferson Square Park in Louisville, Kentucky.

This was the top result when searching Jefferson Square Park Sunday on Twitter:

A white supremacist opened fired at a group of peaceful protestors who were organized at Jefferson Square Park in Louisville, Kentucky, today demanding JUSTICE FOR BREONNA TAYLOR. Multiple victims were shot! THIS IS AMERICA! pic.twitter.com/aDXyH4y1q3  StanceGrounded (@_SJPeace_) June 28, 2020

Actor Daniel Newman told his nearly 1 million followers that it appeared that a White Male just committed a Mass Shooting targeting Peaceful Black Americans.

https://twitter.com/DanielNewman/status/1277094247213289473

Though Twitter will fact-check the presidents opinions, this disinformation apparently didnt merit any similar such fact-check.

On the ground reports came out just hours after the shooting claiming the gunman was a homeless man named Steven Lopez who was apparently kicked out of the park.

 Supposed homeless guy Steven Lopez open fires on protestors during an argument in Jefferson Square Park  Downtown Louisville, Kentucky  Saturday, June 27th 2020  pic.twitter.com/1Istf5bF1Q  Official thedjrayray (@thedjrayray) June 28, 2020

Several witnesses identified Lopez, who had frequented the park, as the shooter, The Courier Journal reported on Sunday. And video surveillance showed him shooting a handgun into the crowd, the citation says.

Several bystanders returned fire, shooting Lopez in the leg, according to the citation.

The Courier Journal reported that Lopez was a regular at the protests:

Lopez has been a frequent sight at the protests, which have rocked the streets of Louisville for a month. Several Courier Journal reporters have seen him among the crowd in recent days, and a speaker at a Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression press conference Sunday morning said hed been among the crowd for the past 12 days at least. Steven Lopez is arrested on June 17 after an attempt by protesters to block Liberty Street. Lopez was charged with murder on Sunday, June 28, in connection with a fatal shooting Saturday night. Court records show he was one of 17 protesters arrested on June 17, and a Courier Journal photographer captured his arrest that day in a photo. He was charged that morning with inciting a riot, disorderly conduct, harassment and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Rather than the story being one of a white male shooting peaceful black American protesters, the story was one of an Hispanic male shooting a peaceful white American protester.

The victim killed Saturday night in a shooting at a protest at Jefferson Square Park was a Louisville man who had become a vocal supporter of ongoing protests against racism and police brutality. Tyler Gerth was 27.https://t.co/CBsSS4ZHHF  Tessa Duvall (@TessaDuvall) June 28, 2020

Had the former been true, this would be the top story in the country. As the later appears to be the case, the story was dropped by the media like a hot potato.

This article was posted: Monday, June 29, 2020 at 3:36 am

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Continued Collaboration Aims to Address Pressing Healthcare Challenges Through Surgical Innovation and Education

SOLOTHURN, Switzerland, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies* today announced that Synthes GmbH has renewed a five-year cooperation agreement with the AO Foundation**. The AO is a medically guided, not-for-profit, global network of surgeons, and the world's premier education, innovation, and research organization for the treatment of trauma and musculoskeletal disorders. Under this renewed agreement, the two independent organizations will continue the work they began together in 1960 to deliver world-class professional education and develop innovations that help improve patient outcomes and increase efficiency of care.

The AO annually holds more than 800 educational events taught by nearly 9,000 AO-trained faculty, and reaches approximately 57,000 healthcare professionals through its programs. These include lectures, hands-on practical exercises, interactive discussion groups for surgeons and online learning. Per the terms of the cooperation agreement, DePuy Synthes will continue to support the AO's independently designed educational programs to advance the organizations' shared goal of driving professional education that meets the ever-changing needs of the global surgeon community.

DePuy Synthes will also continue to be the key industry partner for the AO Technical Commission (AO TC) and its Global Expert Committees and Expert Groups in the specialty areas of trauma and corrective surgery of the musculoskeletal system, spine, craniomaxillofacial, veterinary products and related instruments and implants. DePuy Synthes will develop new surgical techniques, implants and instruments under the medical guidance of independent surgeon experts in each of these AO TC specialty areas, with the aim of addressing some of the world's most pressing healthcare challenges.

"Today we proudly continue a collaboration that began almost 60 years ago to advance our shared goal of identifying and addressing compelling needs in orthopaedic surgical care," said Aldo Denti, Company Group Chairman, DePuy Synthes. "Drawing on the deep expertise of DePuy Synthes and the AO Foundation, we commit to continued rigor and quality in the development of new technologies and to ongoing excellence in delivering world-class surgeon education."

About Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies

At Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, we are helping people live their best lives. Building on more than a century of expertise, we tackle pressing healthcare challenges, and take bold steps that lead to new standards of care while improving people's healthcare experiences. In surgery, orthopaedics, vision and interventional solutions, we are helping to save lives and paving the way to a healthier future for everyone, everywhere.

About DePuy Synthes

DePuy Synthes, part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, provides one of the most comprehensive orthopaedics portfolios in the world. DePuy Synthes solutions, in specialties including joint reconstruction, trauma, craniomaxillofacial, spinal surgery and sports medicine, are designed to advance patient care while delivering clinical and economic value to health care systems worldwide. For more information, visit www.depuysynthes.com.

*Comprising the surgery, orthopaedics, vision and interventional solutions businesses within Johnson & Johnson's Medical Devices segment

** AO TECHNOLOGY AG

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/750118/DePuy_Synthes_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies
Successful Vote in Parliament Today Heralds a New Era for Georgian Democracy

U.S., E.U., International Community Applauds Georgian Dream Commitment to Electoral Reforms

TBILISI, Georgia, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Georgia took a decisive and historic step towards the European Union and the West with the adoption of the March 8 electoral reform agreement in a final Parliamentary vote.

The Parliament of Georgia voted to adopt the Constitutional Amendments required to implement the March 8 Agreement, with 117 members out of 150 parliamentarians voting in favour.

The constitutional reforms proposed by the Georgian Dream government, were the result of steadfast support from Georgia's Western Allies, the U.S., E.U., U.K. and other international partners.

Archil Talakvadze, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament issued the following statement 

"Today's vote fulfils the desire of the Georgian people for greater democracy and political participation by every citizen. It confirms that the Georgian Dream party is the true guardian of Georgia's democratic future.

"To all of our citizens, let us celebrate that our nation has come together to battle the coronavirus and to battle for stronger democratic reforms. On behalf of all Georgians, I thank our international partners especially the United States and the European Union, for helping Georgia to reach this historic moment.

"Unfortunately, many in the opposition chose to defy the will of the people and put politics ahead of the people by voting against democracy. Nevertheless, we will not let naysayers snuff out a historic accomplishment. This giant leap towards Europe will ensure security, prosperity and new opportunities for millions of people in the current and future generations of Georgians."

The radical opposition parties did not participate in the vote; they abandoned their duties when the Georgian people needed them most. Our international partners urged all parties to vote for this reform. Instead, the radical opposition tried to sabotage the vote, and hurled insults at Western diplomats who are true friends of Georgia.

The Georgian Dream, under the leadership of Bidzina Ivanishvili, has supported full proportional representation since it came to power in 2012. Georgian Dream worked with our international partners to negotiate the electoral reform, our Members of Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the reform, and the Georgian Dream-led government remains fully committed to implementing the reforms ahead of the October 2020 elections.

Georgian Dream will never break our promises, or backtrack on commitments. The government's track record of delivering for the Georgian people remains clear to see.

What Georgia's Western Allies Are Saying

Joint Statement by the Facilitators: U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan and EU Ambassadors:

"We warmly congratulate the Parliament of Georgia on today's adoption of Constitutional amendments designed to increase parliamentary pluralism and allow for a more representative legislature. We recognize that these amendments reflect difficult compromises by Georgia's political parties and commend those who ensured their successful passage"

Background

The historic electoral reform agreement was reached by all political parties on March 8 th of this year. The Memorandum of Understanding obliged all the signatories to put the interests of the Georgian citizens and the consolidation of Georgia's democracy first. The agreement was accompanied by a Joint Statement recognizing the broader objective of holding free and fair elections.

of this year. The Memorandum of Understanding obliged all the signatories to put the interests of the Georgian citizens and the consolidation of Georgia's democracy first. The agreement was accompanied by a Joint Statement recognizing the broader objective of holding free and fair elections. The March 8 Agreement was the outcome of more than three months of intense rounds of negotiations among the broad spectrum of political parties, civil society, and international partners. The entire process was facilitated by the representatives of the United States , European Union, Germany , and the Council of Europe . The participation of Georgia's allies to reach the agreement and their outspoken support for all parties to ratify the agreement was indispensable.

Agreement was the outcome of more than three months of intense rounds of negotiations among the broad spectrum of political parties, civil society, and international partners. The entire process was facilitated by the representatives of , European Union, , and the Council of . The participation of Georgia's allies to reach the agreement and their outspoken support for all parties to ratify the agreement was indispensable. The new electoral system is modelled on that used for elections to the European Parliament. The changes ratified by parliament will introduce a new parliamentary composition based on 120 proportional and 30 majoritarian seats, as well as a 1% threshold for parties, and a cap ensuring that no single party that garners less than 40% of votes may claim a majority. The passage of these amendments incorporates key OSCE/ODIHR recommendations.

NOTE : These materials are distributed by DCI Group AZ, L.L.C. for Political Union of Citizens "Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia," and additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

SOURCE Georgian Dream Political Party
HERZLIYA, Israel, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Business Intelligence Group today announced that XM Cyber has won the 2020 Fortress Cyber Security Awards in the threat modeling category. The industry awards program sought to identify and reward the world's leading companies and products that are working to keep our data and electronic assets safe among a growing threat from hackers.



"XM Cyber is proud to be recognized by the Business Intelligence Group as a 2020 Fortress Cybersecurity award winner," said XM Cyber CEO and co-founder, Noam Erez. "As the only threat modeling provider that answers the question 'Are my critical assets really secure?,' we are uniquely positioned to offer enterprises a continuous, 24/7 look into its own network through the eyes of an attacker, in order to understand any potential weaknesses and then rectify them."

XM Cyber is advancing the security industry with patented products that enable enterprises to automatically and continuously test their security posture. By safely simulating attacks 24/7, XM Cyber exposes real-life security issues that arise from vulnerabilities, human error, and misconfigurations. Additionally, recommendations to remediate issues are provided and prioritized based on importance and relation to the customer's most critical assets. By helping businesses to constantly improve their security posture, XM Cyber reduces costs and allows security teams to focus on actual issues, all while lowering exposure and risk.

"We are so proud to name XM Cyber as a winner in the 2020 Fortress Cyber Security Awards program," said Maria Jimenez, Chief Nominations Officer, Business Intelligence Group. "As our society continues to evolve and become more reliant on networks and data, companies like XM Cyber are critical at providing the protection and trust consumers demand."



For information about the XM Cyber please visit https://xmcyber.com/ . For information about the annual Fortress Cyber Security Awards, please visit https://www.bintelligence.com/fortress-cyber-security-awards .



About XM Cyber

XM Cyber brings innovation to the security industry with patented products that address the unique gaps that arise in large, complex networks. By safely and continuously simulating attacks on-premise and in the cloud, XM Cyber exposes real-life security issues that arise from vulnerabilities, human error and misconfigurations. Remediation recommendations are prioritized based on criticality and relation to the customer's most critical assets. The customer achieves a continual cycle of security posture improvement, optimizing security investments and human resources, and lowering exposure and risk. XM Cyber was founded by top executives from the Israeli cyber intelligence community and has offices in the US, UK, and Israel.

For more information: www.xmcyber.com

Social Networks: Follow us on Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

Fusion PR (for XM Cyber)

Brian Janson

E: [email protected]

T: +1(646)-452-7111

About Business Intelligence Group www.bintelligence.com

The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, these programs are judged by business executives having experience and knowledge. The organization's proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers.

Contact

Maria Jimenez

Chief Nominations Officer

Business Intelligence Group

[email protected]

+1 909.529.2737

SOURCE XM Cyber

Related Links

https://xmcyber.com


MUMBAI, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Waaree Energies, India's largest solar module manufacturer and a leader in the EPC segment, has emerged as the India's Greatest Brand by AsiaOne Magazine & URS Media International in the fifth edition of their awards. The process advisor for these awards and listing was Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India. Waaree is now the first Indian solar company to be recognized as the India's Greatest Brand the winners are judged on the basis of research across 16 industries, 1,200 brands and 62 sub-categories from multiple sectors.

Waaree was chosen on the basis of excellence in customer service and quality maintained over the years. Waaree has emerged as the most preferred brand for solar modules today, and is perceived by customers as the premium module supplier. The success story is slated to be covered by CNBC TV18 on 4th July. Waaree has already supplied near to 3 GW of solar panels till date globally, and commissioned over 600 MW of solar EPC projects in India. Waaree solar modules have been shipped to 6 continents, across 68 countries. With more than 140 tests performed at various stages of manufacturing, Waaree maintains its quality above global standards.

Speaking on this event Dr. Hitesh Doshi, CMD, Waaree Group said, "We are committed to not only meet but provide more than customers expectations from us . Our high quality Solar panels with commitment for delivery on time, best in class Services has always given us customers preference. Waaree has invested huge resources in bringing superior products and services into the market and changing the consumer experience, which we will continue in time to come. We are thankful to each and every Waaree employee, customer and All stake holders for their support and efforts in helping Waaree Brand achieve this feat in Solar Industry."

Waaree has maintained its position as the Bloomberg Tier 1 manufacturer for the last 21 quarters. Waaree serves over 5000 customers globally which illustrates the trust gained by the company over a period of 30 years of its existence.

Waaree has already won over 100 Awards for its work in solar industry, in various categories. Taking cue from the initiative of #vocalforlocal, Waaree has launched a campaign to promote prosumerism, with tagline 'Solar lagao, Apni Bijli Swayam Bano - Atmanirbhar ban jao!'. Waaree Energies is planning to further expand its footprint with 1000 franchises by the end of 2021. Waaree aims to bridge the ever growing demand - supply gap of electricity, by making solar accessible to all and inch towards a viable indigenous ecosystem.

About Waaree Energies

Waaree Energies Ltd. is the flagship company of Waaree Group, and has the country's largest Solar PV Module manufacturing capacity of 2 GW. In addition, it is one of leading players in India in EPC services, project development, rooftop solutions, solar water pumps, and as an Independent Power Producer. Waaree has its presence in over 350+ locations nationally and 68 countries globally.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1197503/Waaree_Logo.jpg

Media Contact:

Ajay Mishra

[email protected]

+91-8291354162

AGM Marketing

Waaree Energies Ltd.

SOURCE Waaree Energies Ltd.
Ahmed Kurfi, a top member of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), the party on whose platform President Muhammadu Buhari ...

Ahmed Kurfi, a top member of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), the party on whose platform President Muhammadu Buhari contested the 2011 presidential election, has made explosive revelations.





Kurfi told Sun Newspaper that it was Col. Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser (NSA), who introduced Buhari to the then ACN leader, Bola Tinubu, prior to the poll.





The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), were the parties that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC).





Former President Goodluck Jonathan, elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), appointed Dasuki as NSA on June 22, 2012.

Kurfi revealed that he; Dasuki: Adamu Adamu, incumbent Minister of Education; Kabir Yusuf, Daily Trust publisher; and Wada Maida, ex-Chief Executive of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), visited Tinubu in Lagos before the 2011 general elections.





Kurfi disclosed that he was central to the negotiation of CPC and ACN which later became APC.





I was the one who led the team that went to negotiate with Bola Tinubu, the former CPC stalwart said.





He stated that APC was a coalition of various interests that came together to form a political party for the purpose of power.





The politician said looking deeply, Nigerians would find that the APC is not a political party because all sorts of various political interests have come in.





Kurfi stated that there exists a long-standing grudge between Buhari and Dasuki and that it was purely over military matter.





He declared that Dasuki introduced them to Tinubu because they were in exile together when Abacha was after them. Also, Sambo helped Tinubus mother when he was Military Assistant to Babangida.





Kurfi, ex-CPC Director of Research and Strategy, added that Babangida also assisted Buhari with money for his elections.





He explained that this was during the campaign for Buhari in the ANPP and that Dasuki initiated the meeting.





Kurfi said the he was the one who made the arrangements and when we fly to Lagos. Sambo will make the necessary arrangements. But you know the military; its just like what Adamu Ciroma said in one of his many interviews.





He (Ciroma) said they say Buhari is unforgiving and said why should he not forgive? He overthrew a democratically elected government and put Shagari in detention; so if you are removed by the same people you used to overthrow Shagari why should you complain?





Kurfi recalled that Dasuki was with them during campaigns around the country.





He described Dasuki as someone with a lot of networks. If you want a detribalized Nigerian that is Sambo. You will see him so comfortable with every Nigerian regardless of your tribe, religion or whatever.
Under Way in Europe Since May, In Preparation in the U.S.

Designated As An Urgent Public Health National Priority In U.K.

BETHESDA, Maryland, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RevImmune, a privately held biotechnology company developing CYT107 immune therapy for infectious diseases and cancer, announced today that it has launched the "ILIAD" Phase II trial for treatment of COVID-19.

Many COVID-19 clinical trials have focused on decreasing the hyper-inflammatory phase that often occurs in COVID-19 patients and can cause substantial damage. However, there is a growing recognition that the hyper-inflammatory phase is generally temporary, and is often followed by a stage of immune exhaustion and T cell loss. Therapy with CYT107 is designed to substantially increase the number of immune T cells and correct the immune exhaustion.

CYT107 is a therapeutic form of the master growth factor for human T cells: Interleukin-7 (IL-7). CYT107 has been administered to over 440 patients in clinical trials and is known to substantially increase the number and diversity of T cells, including in patients in the ICU with low and exhausted T cell levels from overwhelming infections. CYT107 has an excellent safety profile, even in very sick patients.

The "ILIAD" Phase II trial of CYT107 for COVID-19 was selected by the U.K. National Health System for designation as an "urgent public health national priority." The trial opened in the U.K. in mid-May and is enrolling patients at 10 sites across the U.K. The trial opened in France and Belgium in early June. Preparations for the trial are under way in the U.S.

In addition to the clinical trial in COVID-19, RevImmune has also treated 12 COVID-19 patients on a compassionate use basis. The data from the compassionate use cases support the ILIAD trial design and are in the process of peer reviewed publication.

The effects of CYT107/IL-7 in restoring immune levels are both rapid and durable. The treatment involves just two administrations per week for 2-4 weeks. In clinical trials to date, the effects have been seen within days of beginning administration of CYT107, and have been seen to continue for up to a year after the 2-4 week administration. This lasting effect of CYT107 to maintain the increase in immune cells over time is important in preventing late infections that are a frequent cause of patient relapse and hospital readmission.

CYT107/IL-7 can readily be combined with other treatments as well. For example, CYT107/IL-7 can be combined with treatments such as Remdesivir, other anti-viral treatments and/or anti-inflammatory treatments. Thus, CYT107 offers a novel means of improving outcomes in COVID-19 and other infectious diseases by safely strengthening the patient's own immune system.

RevImmune is collaborating with a team of leading experts in critical care and immunology, including: Dr. Manu Shankar-Hari, the Principal Investigator leading the U.K. trial cohort, Dr. Bruno Francois, the Principal Investigator leading the trial cohort in France and Belgium, as well as Drs. Richard Hotchkiss and Ken Remy at Washington University in St. Louis, Drs. Lyle Moldawer and Scott Brakenridge at the University of Florida Gainesville, and Dr. Martin A. "Mac" Cheever, Director of the Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network (CITN) at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Dr. Remy commented: "data over the past few months from China, Italy, and the US have demonstrated that patients with COVID-19 infections have a sustained and severe loss of lymphocytes with a profound immune suppression. Patients who succumb to COVID-19 have the most severe loss of lymphocytes and have a 50% incidence of developing secondary hospital-acquired infections."

Dr. Hotchkiss explained that "IL-7 has well documented anti-viral activity in immuno-suppressed patients with HIV, hepatitis C, and JC virus. In addition, in a multi-center Phase II trial that we conducted with RevImmune, CYT107 also reversed lymphopenia (low levels of T cells) and improved immunity in patients with life threatening sepsis. We believe that IL-7/CYT107 represents an important new approach for treating immune-suppressed patients with a variety of infectious diseases."

About RevImmune

RevImmune is a privately held biotech company based in France, the U.S. and the U.K. RevImmune is in multiple Phase II trials with CYT107 for treatment of sepsis, certain infectious diseases and certain cancers. Over 440 patients have been treated with CYT107 in RevImmune's prior trials for multiple different viral diseases and sepsis. CYT107 showed an excellent safety profile and encouraging results in those trials.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1196997/RevImmune_Logo.jpg

Related Links

https://www.revimmune.com



SOURCE RevImmune Inc
RESTON, Va., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Reston-based consulting firm Counter Threat Solutions LLC (CTS) announced that Adrian Prost has been promoted to Director of Human Resources. In this capacity, Prost will manage the new hire onboarding process as well as maintain relationships with and oversee the firm's many benefits service providers.

Previously the firm's HR Administrator, Prost joined CTS in August 2019 and recently took the lead on interpreting the myriad of federal regulations surrounding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) in addition to her usual responsibilities.

"The COVID crisis created challenges for every business, and Adrian seamlessly managed her regular duties while wading through mountains of every-changing and sometimes conflicting CARES and FFRCA guidance," shared CTS' CEO Theresa Keith. "She clearly earned this merit-based promotion, tackling Congressional legislation while also balancing home schooling of her three children."

Prost's background in primary education and insurance administration lends itself to her numerous, varied responsibilities, as does her role as a mother and an Army officer's wife, where she managed Army Family Readiness Groups (FRG) pre-, active-, and post-deployment.

About Counter Threat Solutions

Counter Threat Solutions LLC (CTS) is a Woman-Owned Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) consulting company named a 2020 Best Place to Work by The Washington Business Journal. CTS provides mission-savvy subject matter experts to the U.S. Government's intelligence and defense communities, as well as innovative financial and IT solutions to its civilian clientele. Learn more about CTS at ctstruenorth.com or LinkedIn.

CONTACT

Valerie Passwaiter

(703) 987-1584

[email protected]

ctstruenorth.com

SOURCE Counter Threat Solutions
RIVERSIDE, Calif., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Zulu Ali has been inducted into Marquis Who's Who for excellence in Law and Activism. Since 1898, Marquis Who's Who has recognized accomplished and prominent professionals in its biographical publications. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Zulu Ali is a practicing trial attorney, businessman, social commentator, and activist. A former police officer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he earned a doctorate in law (J.D.) from Trinity International University; a masters in administration of justice (M.S.) and business (M.B.A.) from University of Phoenix; and an undergraduate degree with a focus on African studies from Regents College through a consortium with Tennessee State University. He is a postgraduate scholar of international and treaty law at Euclid University, West Africa and a doctoral scholar of business with a research focus on Pan-African business and trade at California Southern University.

Attorney Ali is the founder and principal attorney at the Law Offices of Zulu Ali and Associates, LLP based in Riverside, California (zulualilaw.com), where he focuses on representing persons accused of crimes, immigrants, and persons seeking civil justice in state and federal courts. Ali is also admitted to represent persons at the African Court of Justice and Human Rights in Tanzania and the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands. Attorney Ali and his law firm takes on extremely difficult cases and matters that provide an opportunity to make changes in the law, through the courts, when the law is unjust.

Attorney Ali served as Director of the American Committee for United Nations Oversight, an advocacy group that lobbied the United Nations for police reform in 2015. He is the Director of the Stop and Frisk Academy, which mentors and trains at-risk youth to deal with police encounters; Director of the Southern California Veterans Legal Clinic, a legal clinic offering no cost and low cost legal services to military veterans; and a member of the National Conference of Black Lawyers.

Equally important, In 2017, Attorney Ali was recognized as one of the most influential African American Leaders in Los Angeles by the National Action Network founded by Reverend Al Sharpton.

Attorney Ali has been Honored as a Top Lawyer by the National Black Lawyers-Top 100 and National Trial Lawyers-Top 100; a Top 10 Lawyer by the American Academy of Trial Attorneys, American Institute of Legal Counsel, American Jurist Institute, and Attorney & Practice Magazine; and Rue Ratings Best Lawyer in America.

He is the founder and CEO of 10 Nubian Queens & 5 Kings Media (http://10nubianmedia.com), a mass media production company focusing on black family and social justice content in film, radio, theater, music, and book publishing.

Ali produced the documentary film Purpose & Freedom: Keep Your Hand on the Plow, which premiered at the Wilshire Screening Room in Beverly Hills in 2017 and on-demand (purposeandfreedommovie.com); wrote and produced the stage play Purpose & Freedom: The Story of Attorney Zulu Ali & Aracely Morales, which premiered at the Hudson Theater in Hollywood in January 2020; and wrote and produced a musical compilation with various artists titled The Discography of Zulu Ali (https://zulualimusic.hearnow.com).

Attorney Ali authored the books Lecture on Black America and American Justice: A History & Paradigm of Retributive Psychosis (2016); and Black Man's Religion: Islam or Christianity (1997), a copy of which is in the Collection of Rosa Parks Papers at the Library of Congress.

Additionally, Zulu Ali is host of the nationally syndicated radio talk show Justice Watch with Attorney Zulu Ali (justicewatchradio.com) which broadcasts from an NBC Radio studio in Redlands, California; and he is a member of the National Black Radio Hall of Fame (Chicago chapter).

Ali has been married to his wife (Charito) since 1987, has four adult children (Christine, Whitney, Ashley, and Lynda), three grandchildren (Amayah, Tye, and Izem), and resides in Southern California with his family.

Born and raised by a single mother, Linda Reese Harvey, who Ali considers his hero; he is the grandson of the late A.D. and Bessie Reynolds; Perry and Catherine Reese; and Mr. and Ms. Edward Castleman. He is a descendant of Africans of Ibo and Balante distinction brought to central Tennessee in the eighteenth century and subjected to forced subjugation. His family has resided in the central Tennessee area since the eighteenth century and, in spite of forced subjugation, have contributed significantly to national wealth, community service, military service, and a variety of professional areas.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Zulu Ali

Related Links

http://10nubianmedia.com


SAN FRANCISCO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global blood transfusion diagnostics market size is expected to reach a value of USD 5.8 billion by 2027 registering a CAGR of 6.6%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as anemia, sickle cell disease, hemophilia, cancer, and kidney disease, is significantly driving the market growth. According to the Sickle Cell Disease Coalition statistics, globally, the number of sickle cell disease cases is projected to increase by around 30% by 2050.According to NCBI statistics, liver diseases accounts for around 2 million deaths each year globally. Blood transfusion is crucial for patients with such chronic diseases, as it allows to exchange the diseased cells with the healthy RBCs without disrupting the blood viscosity.

Key suggestions from the report:

Reagents and kits is expected to be the largest as well as the fastest-growing product segment from 2020 to 2027

The disease screening segment is projected to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast period

According to the WHO, screening of donated blood for detecting transfusion transmissible infections, such as hepatitis B & C and HIV, should be mandatory

The hospitals end-use segment is estimated to account for the second largest market share by 2027 on account of rising instances of Pretransfusion therapies being performed in hospitals as the therapy requires cross-matching tests between the donor and recipient

Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing regional market due to rising geriatric population, especially in China and Japan

Read 120 page research report with ToC on "Blood Transfusion Diagnostics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Reagents & Kits, Instruments), By Application (Blood Grouping, Disease Screening), By End Use (Hospitals, Blood Banks) And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/blood-transfusion-diagnostics-market

According to the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) database, a total of 60,236 donor screening was done between 2010 and 2016 at the National Blood Transfusion Center (NBTC), Eritrea. Among them, at least 3.6% of the donated blood showed positive results for TTI and 0.1% showed positive results for multiple infections. Some of the chronic infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and syphilis, create the need for accurate donor screening, thus further driving the market growth of diagnostics. Transfusion is commonly used in cases of trauma, road accidents, surgeries, childbirth, and gastrointestinal bleeding to replace major blood losses.

Grand View Research has segmented the global blood transfusion diagnostics market on the basis of product, application, end use, and region:

Blood Transfusion Diagnostics Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Reagents & Kits



Instruments



Others

Blood Transfusion Diagnostics Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Blood Grouping



Disease Screening



Serological Disease Screening





Molecular Disease Screening

Blood Transfusion Diagnostics End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Hospitals



Blood Banks



Diagnostic Laboratories



Others

Blood Transfusion Diagnostics Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America



U.S.





Canada



Europe



U.K.





Germany





Spain





France





Italy





Russia



Asia Pacific



Japan





China





India





South Korea





Singapore





Australia



Latin America



Brazil





Mexico





Argentina



MEA



South Africa





Saudi Arabia





UAE

List of Key Players of Blood Transfusion Diagnostics Market

Grifols S.A.



Immucor, Inc.



Ortho Clinical Diagnostics



Abbott Laboratories



Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.



F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.



Quotient Ltd.

Find more research reports on Clinical Diagnostics Industry, by Grand View Research:

Cannabis Testing Services Market  Global cannabis testing services market size was valued at USD 1.1 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.4% from 2020 to 2027.

in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.4% from 2020 to 2027. COVID-19 Sample Collection Kits Market  Global COVID-19 sample collection kits market size was valued at USD 2.8 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9% from 2020 to 2027.

in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9% from 2020 to 2027. Point of Care Diagnostics Market  Global point of care diagnostics market size was valued at USD 18.8 billion in 2019and is expected to register a CAGR of 3.2% from 2020 to 2027.

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:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter

SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
BEIJING, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheetah Mobile Inc. (NYSE: CMCM) ("Cheetah Mobile" or the "Company"), a leading mobile internet company with global market coverage, today announced that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders at the offices of Cheetah Mobile at Building No. 8, Hui Tong Times Square, Yaojiayuan South Road, Beijing, China, on July 13, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. (local time).

No proposal will be submitted for shareholder approval at the annual general meeting. Instead, the annual general meeting will serve as an open forum for shareholders of record to discuss Company affairs with management.

The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on July 10, 2020 as the record date (the "Record Date") for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of the annual general meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Holders of record of the Company's Class A and Class B ordinary shares at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to attend the annual general meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof in person.

About Cheetah Mobile Inc.

Cheetah Mobile is a leading mobile Internet company with global market coverage. It has attracted hundreds of millions of monthly active users through its mobile utility products such as Clean Master, casual games such as Piano Tiles 2, and Bricks n Balls. The Company provides its advertising customers, which include direct advertisers and mobile advertising networks through which advertisers place their advertisements, with direct access to highly targeted mobile users and global promotional channels. The Company also provides value-added services to its mobile application users through the sale of in-app virtual items on selected mobile products and games. Cheetah Mobile is committed to leveraging its cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies to power its products and make the world smarter. It has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since May 2014.

Investor Relations Contact

Cheetah Mobile Inc.

Helen Jing Zhu

Tel: +86 10 6292 7779 ext. 1600

Email: [email protected]

ICR Inc.

Xinran Rao

Tel: +1 (646) 417-5395

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Cheetah Mobile Inc

Related Links

https://www.cmcm.com/


TOLEDO, Ohio, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CIVC Partners, LP ("CIVC") has sold a majority stake in GPRS Holdings, LLC ("GPRS" or the "Company") to Kohlberg & Company, LLC ("Kohlberg"). The Company's management team, led by CEO Matt Aston, will continue to lead GPRS and remain significant owners of the business. CIVC will also retain a significant ownership position in GPRS. Additional terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, GPRS is the nation's largest provider of advanced scanning services for subsurface infrastructure. GPRS has an extensive nationwide network of 250+ highly trained and experienced project managers in every major U.S. market. The Company provides incredible value to their customers by supporting critical infrastructure maintenance and damage prevention services.

GPRS, the industry founder, pioneered the use of ground penetrating radar technology for identifying subsurface structures as part of maintenance, repair and remodeling work on existing infrastructure. The Company provides a superior value proposition to its customers by delivering industry-leading accuracy in subsurface locates that significantly improve job site safety and reduce costs for clients associated with damages and site shutdowns.

J.D. Wright, Partner of CIVC, commented, "Matt and his management team have done a phenomenal job of growing GPRS to become the provider-of-choice in the utility locating and structural scanning market. We look forward to continuing to work with Matt, the entire GPRS management team, and Kohlberg in this next phase of growth."

"CIVC was a supportive partner to management as we have expanded the business into new markets and widened the gap between our competition," said Matt Aston. "The GPRS team is highly enthusiastic to partner with Kohlberg for our next phase of growth as we look to expand our footprint and enhance our ability to meet our customers' needs."

"We are delighted to partner with Matt and team. GPRS has established itself as the leading private utility locating platform," said Benjamin Mao, Partner of Kohlberg. "We believe the Company is well positioned to accelerate their growth trajectory and execute on its long-term strategic plan."

Houlihan Lokey and KeyBanc Capital Markets served as financial advisors, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to GPRS. Ropes & Gray LLP served as legal counsel to Kohlberg.

About GPRS

GPRS, headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, provides private utility locating and concrete scanning services to utilities, contractors, engineering firms and environmental consultants in every major market in the United States. To learn more, visit www.gprsinc.com.

About CIVC Partners, LP

CIVC Partners is a Chicago-based private equity firm investing in high growth middle market business services companies. Since 1989, the team has invested over $1.7 billion in 66 platform companies and currently invests from CIVC Partners Fund V. More information on CIVC Partners and its portfolio companies can be found at www.civc.com.

About Kohlberg & Company, LLC

Kohlberg & Company, LLC ("Kohlberg") is a leading private equity firm headquartered in Mount Kisco, New York. Since its inception in 1987, Kohlberg has organized nine private equity funds, through which it has raised over $10 billion of committed equity capital. Over its 33-year history, Kohlberg has completed 80 platform investments and nearly 200 add-on acquisitions, with an aggregate transaction value in excess of $22 billion. For more information, please visit www.kohlberg.com.

Press Contact

Patty Walker

CIVC Partners

(312) 873-7300

[email protected]

SOURCE CIVC Partners, L.P.

Related Links

http://www.civc.com


PUNE, India, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest research report on the Global Enterprise Data Management Market published by Research Dive deliberates the influence of COVID-19 pandemic on the present and forthcoming condition of the market. This report is a valuable document for business owners, individuals, and stakeholders interested in enterprise data management market.

"COVID-19 disaster has enforced a positive impact on the global enterprise data management market growth." Download Impact Analysis Report

Key Highlights of the Report:

The COVID-19 crisis has imposed an optimistic impact on the global enterprise data management market. As per the report, the global enterprise data management market was valued at $62.3 million in 2018 and is expected to generate a revenue of $136.4 million by rising at a CAGR of 10.5% by 2026. In 2020, the size of the market has stretched up to $76.0 million owing to the rising applications of enterprise data management systems in the course of the crisis period.

Market Drivers amidst COVID-19 Crisis:

In the course of the COVID-19 disaster, enterprise data management systems are helping hospitals and government officials to measure exact count of susceptible people with the help of de-duplication automated records so that they can reach out to these people and offer medical help. These systems are been used by medical representatives to identify, test, and isolate vulnerable people who might have been in active contact with any other infected person. Additionally, these systems are been used to identify super-spreaders i.e. the people who have been a part of events where there was mass gathering and unintentionally passed on the infection. All these factors are propelling the demand for enterprise data management systems and boosting the growth of the market.

Current Face of the Market Due to COVID-19:

At present, numerous enterprise data management providers are helping hospitals and medical help centers for optimizing their resources, gathering census information, and then combining it with hospital supplies and resource capabilities. Additionally, these systems are been used for recognizing the patients in hot spot zones so that medical representatives can offer ventilators and ICU beds for the treatment of infected people. Due all this, the demand for enterprise data management systems have been increased tremendously during the crisis period.

Top 10 Leading Companies in Enterprise Data Management Market:

As per the report, the global enterprise data management market is expected to witness incessant growth after the end of COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the foremost players such as

Teradata Corporation SAP SE SAS Institute Inc. Micro Focus International PLC Orcale Corporation IBM Corporation Amazon Web Services Talend Cloudera Golden Source Corporation

And others are likely to bring in innovative developments and unlock lucrative opportunities for the market growth in the near future.

Access Varied Market Reports Bearing Extensive Analysis of the Market Situation, Updated with the Impact of COVID-19: https://www.researchdive.com/covid-19-insights

About Research Dive

Research Dive is a market research firm based in Pune, India. Maintaining the integrity and authenticity of the services, the firm provides the services that are solely based on its exclusive data model, compelled by the 360-degree research methodology, which guarantees comprehensive and accurate analysis. With an unprecedented access to several paid data resources, team of expert researchers, and strict work ethic, the firm offers insights that are extremely precise and reliable. Scrutinizing relevant news releases, government publications, decades of trade data, and technical & white papers, Research dive deliver the required services to its clients well within the required timeframe. Its expertise is focused on examining niche markets, targeting its major driving factors, and spotting threatening hindrances. Complementarily, it also has a seamless collaboration with the major industry aficionado that further offers its research an edge.

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Research Dive

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SOURCE Research Dive
TBILISI, Georgia, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Parliament of Georgia voted to adopt the Constitutional Amendments to strengthen Georgia's democracy and enact the March 8th electoral reform agreement on the third and final reading with the support of 117 members out of 142.

The Constitutional amendments will change parliament's composition for the 2020 election to 120 proportional and 30 majoritarian seats. Parties will be required to meet only a 1% threshold to enter parliament. In addition, no party earning less than 40% of votes may claim a majority. This altered system will apply to the 2020 parliamentary election and to any election falling between it and the 2024 parliamentary election.

In 2024, full proportional representation will become the norm, as it is already a constitutional requirement. Full proportional representation was first proposed by the then newly elected Georgian Dream party in 2012.

This outcome concludes the recent March 8th Agreement signed and agreed to by all of Georgia's political parties via a Memorandum of Understanding and a Joint Statement , both brokered and strongly supported by representatives of the United States, the European Union, Germany, and the Council of Europe. Foreign ambassadors urged all Georgian political parties to abide by the Agreement and move expeditiously to enact constitutional amendments that codify electoral reform.

The opposition factions United National Movement and European Georgia refused to participate in the vote despite the emphatic urging to do so by Western ambassadors and governments.

Prime Minister Gakharia asserted, "Today, Georgia has taken another important step to ensure the European and Euro-Atlantic future of our country. The new electoral system that was adopted demonstrates the Georgian Dream's strong will to consistently implement the most important changes for the country, which no other political force has been able to achieve, and which serves to further consolidate European parliamentary democracy in Georgia."

Gakharia continued, "This decision is a guarantee of the further development of Georgia's democracy and the irreversibility of its Euro-Atlantic course."

Due to the government's rapid and decisive response to the global pandemic, Georgia has been cited by global leaders and institutions for its effective response to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, Georgia's leading health official announced that the current epidemiological situation in Georgia will allow elections to be held in October 2020.

SOURCE Government of Georgia
SAN FRANCISCO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Idemitsu Renewables, the US-based renewable energy business of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd, announced today it has closed on debt financing for its 50 MWp Central 40 solar project in Stanislaus County, California.

Debt financing was provided by KeyBank National Association. KeyBanc Capital Markets served as sole arranger of the financing.

"This project expands Idemitsu Renewables' operating business in California," said Cary Vandenberg, Managing Director of Idemitsu Renewables. "We were happy to build upon our existing relationship with KeyBank and to close a successful transaction even amidst the difficulty of the current COVID environment."

"As a part of our continuing support for renewable energy, we are pleased to support the growth of Idemitsu Renewables' solar business in California," said Andrew Redinger, Manager Director & Group Head, Utilities Power & Renewables at KeyBanc Capital Markets.

The renewable power generated by Central 40 will be sold through a power purchase agreement with Silicon Valley Power, which serves the City of Santa Clara.

About Idemitsu Renewables (formerly Solar Frontier Americas)

Idemitsu Renewables, the US-based renewable energy subsidiary of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd, is a leading solar and storage developer and IPP. The company acquires, develops, owns, and operates utility-scale solar power generation plants; selling the clean energy to help communities both economically and ecologically live in healthier environments. With offices in California and Nevada, Idemitsu Renewables continues to develop its growing pipeline of energy projects. Learn more at http://idemitsurenewables.com/.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp's (NYSE: KEY) roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $141.5 billion at March 31, 2019. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of over 1,100 branches and more than 1,500 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit www.key.com. KeyBank is Member of FDIC.

SOURCE Idemitsu Renewables

Related Links

https://idemitsurenewables.com


TEL AVIV, Israel, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KELA, an award-winning Dark Net threat intelligence provider, launches Sensitive Hostname Detection to enable automatic alerting to organizations on any sensitive web pages that may be exposed to the public internet. KELA's RADARK platform is a cutting edge dark net threat intelligence technology that provides clients with 100% targeted and actionable intelligence on their assets. RADARK is meant to help organizations automatically detect threats targeting their organization at any point in time.

"Our goal as intelligence specialists is to ensure that we're doing everything we can to help our clients reduce their attack surfaces," David Carmiel CTO at KELA said. "As part of this, we understood the need to start monitoring for exposed sensitive hostnames pertaining to our clients' infrastructures. Prior to this latest addition, RADARK already detected other network vulnerabilities such as sensitive open ports, outdated technologies being operated by the client, newly discovered CVEs affecting our customers, and more. Although sensitive hostnames may not be structured vulnerabilities such as the formerly mentioned ones, they still may be used by threat actors, and in that case it's critical that we alert our clients on any of these that are publicly exposed."

Today, RADARK's Sensitive Hostname Detection alerts users on developer-related domains, which may be indicating exposure of sensitive information to the public internet. A threat from exposure of sensitive hostnames can range from anything such as simplified system authentication (since services that haven't yet reached production tend to be less strictly monitored) to exposure of content that should not yet be exposed to the open web (i.e. a beta version of a website, databases and more).

To learn more about how KELA detects vulnerabilities in your organization's Internet-facing infrastructure, contact us: https://ke-la.com/contact-us/

About KELA

An award-winning Dark Net threat intelligence firm, KELA's mission is to provide 100% actionable intelligence on threats emerging from the Dark Net. Our success is based on a unique integration of our proprietary automated technologies and qualified intelligence experts. For more information, visit www.ke-la.com.

Contact Information

Sharon Bitton

+972-3-970-2720

[email protected]

SOURCE KELA
Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation, says intending passengers on international flights may have to be at the airport five hours bef...





Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation, says intending passengers on international flights may have to be at the airport five hours before their flights takeoff.





Sirika, on Saturday, said this would be part of the operation guidelines when flight operations begin.





The minister led members of the presidential task force on COVID-19 on an inspection of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos ahead of the planned resumption of domestic flights.





According to the minister, authorities are putting the necessary equipment in place to help passengers adapt efficiently to the new normal and ensure that time is not wasted.





We will announce all the protocols again before opening. But you need to be at the airport three hours ahead of your flight, he said.





The experience is quite nice but it takes a bit of time which is why you will need to be at the airport three hours before your local flight. For an international flight, we may do five hours.





Addressing concerns about the profitability of the aviation business upon the resumption given the new protocols to be followed, Sirika said the new guidelines would be implemented in a way that flights would still be profitable.





Those new norms are coming and we will implement them in such a way that flights are profitable. The World Health Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation have developed protocols of the sitting, he assured.





Stakeholders in the industry have expressed concerns about the airlines ability to make a profit if middle row seats are kept empty in line with social distancing guidelines.




TORONTO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - On June 25, 2020, Justice Edward M. Morgan of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice released his judgment in a civil lawsuit brought by 28 former patients of the Oak Ridge Division of the Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre against the government of Ontario and two psychiatrists, Dr. Elliott T. Barker and Dr. Gary J. Maier, for subjecting patients to coercive, unethical and degrading human experimentation, without their informed consent from 1966 to 1983.

In a 310-page decision delivered after 53 days of trial evidence and submissions, Justice Morgan held that Ontario and the psychiatrists involved in operating the experimental programs breached their fiduciary duties and committed assault and battery by subjecting these patients to unethical and medically meritless programs.

The "flagrant and outrageous" programs were developed by Dr. Barker and implemented by him and Dr. Maier with the knowledge, and under the supervision, of the Crown. In the Defence Disruptive Therapy program, patients were administered high doses of mind-altering, hallucinogenic, and demystifying drugs, placed and restraints and supervised by "patient observers". In the Capsule, groups of up to eight patients were placed nude in a small, windowless room, shared an exposed toilet and were fed liquid food through straws in the wall. In the Motivation, Attitude and Participation program (MAPP), patients were subjected to "tortuous punishment", beginning with four days of solitary confinement followed by a strict regime that required them to sit motionless for hours, while "patient teachers" meted out punishments. As noted by Justice Morgan, the patients at Oak Ridge lived under the constant shadow of MAPP, described by Plaintiffs' expert, renowned forensic psychiatric Dr. John Bradford, as "positional torture".

The programs were designed to break down and change the Plaintiffs' personalities using techniques such as drug-induced delirium and hallucination, brainwashing and positional torture, with no apparent plan for reconstructing them once they had been broken down. Participation in the programs was a "condition for gaining freedom" from the maximum-security institution, withdrawal was prohibited and non-participation was punished, often at the hands of other patients.

Justice Morgan rejected Ontario's argument that it did not owe the Plaintiffs fiduciary duties because of its mandate to protect public safety: "it is not part of the Crown's custodial duty to administer mind altering hallucinogens or pain and anguish-inducing Scopolamine to the Plaintiffs. The Crown has no public safety obligation to place the Plaintiff stark naked in isolated and close quarters with each other in the Capsule, or to require them to sit rigidly immobile for hours on end in MAPP at the mercy of another patient, or 'patient-teacher', with a mental health background similar to their own. There is no conflict between the 'observation, care, and treatment' duty of the Crown toward the Plaintiffs and the protection and safety obligation of the Crown toward the public."

Justice Morgan found that the doctors and the Crown caused the Plaintiffs short and long-term harm that they did not deserve and that, in some cases, changed the trajectory of their lives.

One of the Plaintiffs, Danny Joanisse, was sent to MAPP on a number of occasions and was administered hallucinogenic drugs. He was also cuffed to a convicted pedophile murderer in the Capsule. In finding that the Defendants caused Mr. Joanisse significant short and long-term harm, Justice Morgan stated: "[h]e entered Oak Ridge as a 15-year old with a mental disorder that could have been dealt with benevolently so that, even if there was no cure, there would not be further infliction of harm. Instead, he was humiliated, degraded, and deprived of any sense of security".

Mr. Joanisse's experience is but one example of the meritless, abusive and experimental conduct of the Defendants. Another Plaintiff was 16 years old when he was admitted to Oak Ridge. He spent 6 of his 8 months at Oak Ridge in solitary confinement. The Court found that he was tormented while in Oak Ridge: "[r]eading [his] clinical history for those 8 months in 1971 is to read a tale of neglect and irresponsibility by Dr. Barker, Dr. Boyd and the entire institution. He was subjected to harmful lengths of confinement for the most petty of reasons and at the whim of other patients, with no hope of freeing himself from that cycle". While he went on to lead a successful life, this, according to Justice Morgan, "is a testament to his mental strength... One can suffer pain and continued harm and yet have the strength to persevere with life."

Joel P. Rochon, co-lead trial counsel, welcomed the decision: "This landmark decision underscores the inviolability and the right to human dignity of every person, regardless of who they are  no one should be exposed to dehumanizing and degrading treatment and experimentation. This decision sends a strong message that, in treating vulnerable, marginalized members of society, medical professionals are and have always been very much bound by ethical obligations and standards of professional conduct grounded in the Hippocratic Oath, the Nuremberg Code and the Declaration of Helsinki."

Professor Bernard Dickens, a leading medical ethicist at the University of Toronto, testified that the programs failed to meet the ethical standards of the day, including the ethical obligation of a physical to do no harm and to practice medicine with the best interest of the patient in mind. He opined that "the Province of Ontario did not provide adequate oversight of the patients' welfare and rights, leaving vulnerable, mentally-ill patients to the custody and care of psychiatrists who, embarked on experimental programs in conditions that fell short of the ethical standards of the day".

Dr. John Bradford testified that no other institution in the world has ever employed these radical techniques. The lack of resources or inadequate staffing was not, and has never been, an acceptable justification for delegation of the doctors' core professional duties to untrained patients.

The Defendants' experts, including Dr. Stephen Hucker, conceded in cross-examination that the programs were unprecedented, unethical, and inhumane. Another defence expert, Dr. Jonathan Freedman, admitted that the Plaintiffs should never have been subjected to these programs.

The Plaintiffs were represented at trial by Joel P. Rochon, Peter R. Jervis, Golnaz Nayerahmadi and Adam Babiak of Rochon Genova LLP. The decision is a determination of liability on the merits in a lawsuit that began 20 years ago. The trial will now proceed to its second phase, which will involve a determination of damages, including whether punitive damages should be awarded against Ontario and the doctors.

SOURCE ROCHON GENOVA LLP

Related Links

www.rochongenova.com


WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization representing the leading U.S. airlines, announced that its member carriers are voluntarily implementing temporary health acknowledgment policies and procedures for passenger travel as an additional level of mitigation to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Health acknowledgments are another important way passengers can "fly smart" and do their part to help prevent the spread.

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines will require passengers to complete a simple health acknowledgment during the check-in process. Health acknowledgements typically cover three primary areas:

Face Coverings  assurance that passengers will bring a face covering and wear it at the airport, on the jet bridge and onboard the aircraft;

 assurance that passengers will bring a face covering and wear it at the airport, on the jet bridge and onboard the aircraft; Symptoms  assurance that the passenger is not experiencing a temperature (38C/100.4F or higher), coughing, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, chills, muscle pain and/or sore throat; and

 assurance that the passenger is not experiencing a temperature (38C/100.4F or higher), coughing, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, chills, muscle pain and/or sore throat; and Exposure  assurance that the passenger has not had close contact with someone who tested positive or had symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

Health acknowledgments encourage passengers to make an evaluation of their own health prior to travel. Passengers who fail or refuse to complete the health acknowledgment may be deemed unfit to travel and each carrier will resolve the matter in accordance with its own policies. This measure is expected to remain in place throughout the COVID-19 public health crisis.

"Health assessments prior to air travel are just one more important measure in our multi-layered approach to help mitigate the transmission of COVID to passengers and employees," said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. "We want passengers to know that this is another change they should expect the next time they fly."

A4A's member carriers are also vigorously enforcing face covering requirements, as well as enhancing cleaning protocols and adjusting policies to limit onboard interaction.

U.S. airlines also encourage the traveling public to follow all CDC recommendations  including frequent hand-washing  for their protection as well as that of others.

For more information about how carriers are working to protect the traveling public and what travelers can do to protect themselves and others, please visit www.AirlinesTakeAction.com.

ABOUT A4A

Airlines for America (A4A) members are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, FedEx, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and UPS. Air Canada is an associate member.

A4A advocates on behalf of the leading U.S. airlines, both passenger and cargo carriers. A4A works collaboratively with industry stakeholders, federal agencies, the Administration, Congress, labor and other groups to improve aviation for the traveling and shipping public.

For more information about the airline industry, visit our website airlines.org and our blog, A Better Flight Plan, at airlines.org/blog.

Follow us on Twitter: @airlinesdotorg.

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/AirlinesforAmerica.

Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/AirlinesforAmerica.

SOURCE Airlines for America

Related Links

www.airlines.org


WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ten finalists have been named in the prestigious annual "Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!" competition presented by the National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation (NCC-PDI). Representing innovations in cardiovascular, orthopaedic and spine, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) medical devices, finalists were selected from a field of 30 semi-finalists who competed in March 2020. The ten innovators now have access to a new pediatric accelerator program and will compete for FDA-funded grants of up to $50,000 each in the final virtual pitch event on Oct. 7 as part of the 8th Annual Symposium on Pediatric Device Innovation, co-located with the MedTech Conference, powered by AdvaMed.

NCC-PDI is one of five consortia in the FDA's Pediatric Device Consortia Grant Program created to support the development and commercialization of medical devices for children, which lags significantly behind the progress of adult medical devices. NCC-PDI is led by the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children's National Hospital and the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, with support from partners MedTech Innovator, BioHealth Innovation and design firm Archimedic.

"Children deserve to benefit from our most advanced medical technologies, so we want to encourage the development and design of devices with their unique needs as top of mind," says Kolaleh Eskandanian, Ph.D., M.B.A, P.M.P, vice president and chief innovation officer at Children's National Hospital and principal investigator of NCC-PDI. "Far too few pediatric innovations complete the journey to commercialization, which is why NCC-PDI focuses on identifying and supporting innovations that will make a significant improvement in pediatric care and have a good chance of making it to clinical use."

The following are the 10 pediatric device innovations that judges selected for the final competition:

Adipomics, Inc. - Cambridge, MA - gestational pre-diabetes diagnostic to prevent birth defects

- gestational pre-diabetes diagnostic to prevent birth defects BioSense - Beverly Hill, MI  first working non-contact EKG for constant, non-invasive monitoring

- Beverly Hill, MI  first working non-contact EKG for constant, non-invasive monitoring Dsseca  University of Maryland, College Park , MD - platform device to rapidly discover biomarker signatures of oxidative stress

, MD platform device to rapidly discover biomarker signatures of oxidative stress Eclipse Regenesis, Inc.  Menlo Park, CA  first restorative therapy for short bowel syndrome (SBS) via distraction enterogenesis

  first restorative therapy for short bowel syndrome (SBS) via distraction enterogenesis Innara Health  Olathe, KS  biofeedback device to train premature infants and newborns in the neurophysiological aspects of feeding

  biofeedback device to train premature infants and newborns in the neurophysiological aspects of feeding Little Sparrows Technologies, Inc.  Winchester, MA  Portable, high-intensity phototherapy for neonatal jaundice treatment

  Portable, high-intensity phototherapy for neonatal jaundice treatment Navi Medical Technologies - Melbourne, Australia  provides quick and easy capture of real-time feedback on the location of central lines in neonates without radiation use

-  provides quick and easy capture of real-time feedback on the location of central lines in neonates without radiation use Novonate  South San Francisco, CA  secures and protects the umbilical catheter insertion site for neonates in intensive care

  secures and protects the umbilical catheter insertion site for neonates in intensive care Renata Medical  Costa Mesa, CA  growth stent for treatment of congenital narrowed lesions in neonatal patients

  growth stent for treatment of congenital narrowed lesions in neonatal patients Spino Modulation, Inc.  Montreal, Canada  anterior vertebral body tethering for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Leading up to the October 2020 pitch competition, the ten finalists are participating in a pediatric-focused track of the MedTech Innovator accelerator, one of the industry's leading nonprofit startup accelerators.

"MedTech Innovator focuses on identifying the most promising medical technology innovations in order to improve the lives of patients," says Paul Grand, CEO of MedTech Innovator. "We look forward to working with the companies participating in this year's pediatric accelerator to help them get one step closer to bringing their transformative health solutions to children who need them."

To date, NCC-PDI has mentored over 100 medical device sponsors to help advance their pediatric innovations, with seven devices having received either their FDA market clearance or CE marking. The new accelerator is the consortium's latest addition to a network of resources and experts that it provides in support of pediatric innovators.

"Delivering solutions for our youngest patients, while supporting innovators and their development, is critical in the quest to improve pediatric health," says William E. Bentley, Ph.D., director of the University of Maryland's Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices. "We're proud to empower our 10 finalists and are excited about the potential of the device submissions in the competition. Together, we can ensure a long-term approach to device innovation with children in focus  from incubation to clinical trials and eventually into production."

In addition to its annual competition, NCC-PDI is currently conducting a special "COVID-19 edition" pediatric medical device competition focused on innovations that support home health monitoring and telehealth, and improve sustainability, resiliency and readiness in diagnosing and treating children during a pandemic. The competition will provide up to $250,000 in grant awards and one entrant will be selected by Johnson & Johnson Innovation  JLABS to receive a one-year residency at JLABS @ Washington, DC, which will be located on the new Children's National Research and Innovation Campus currently under construction. Submissions are being accepted through July 6,2020 at innovate4kids.org.

Eskandanian said that supporting the progress of pediatric innovators is a key focus of the new first-of-its-kind Children's National Research and Innovation Campus located on a nearly 12-acre portion of the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus in Washington, D.C. With its proximity to federal research institutions and agencies, universities, academic research centers and on-site accelerator Johnson & Johnson Innovation  JLABS, the campus will foster a rich ecosystem of public and private partners which, like the NCC-PDI network, will bolster pediatric medical device innovation and commercialization.

About Children's National Hospital

Children's National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., celebrates 150 years of pediatric care, research and commitment to community. Volunteers opened the hospital in 1870 with 12 beds for children displaced after the Civil War. Today, 150 years stronger, it is among the nation's top 10 children's hospitals. It is ranked No. 1 for newborn care for the fourth straight year and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children's National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. In 2020, construction will be complete on the Children's National Research and Innovation Campus, the first in the nation dedicated to pediatric research. Children's National has been designated twice as a Magnet hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty outpatient centers in the D.C., metropolitan area, including the Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs. Children's National is home to the Children's National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation and is the nation's seventh-highest NIH-funded children's hospital. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels.

For more information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About the University of Maryland

The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,000 students,10,000 faculty and staff, and 280 academic programs. Its faculty includes two Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners and 58 members of the national academies. The institution secures $514 million annually in external research funding. The university's Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices seeks to catalyze the transformation of basic research into clinical practice and commercial success. The Institute aims to drive innovation by immersing creative and energetic scientists and engineers in a nurturing and rewarding research environment where engineered health systems are conceived of and investigated. The Institute is comprised of staff, resources, facilities, and a network of experts who not only facilitate prototyping and manufacturing expertise, but who also facilitate venture creation, intellectual property creation, and product passage through various clinical, regulatory and reimbursement hurdles. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit www.umd.edu [umd.edu].

About MedTech Innovator

Based in Los Angeles, Calif., MedTech Innovator is the premier nonprofit startup accelerator in the medical technology industry. Its mission is to improve the lives of patients by accelerating the growth of companies that are transforming the healthcare system. MedTech Innovator matches healthcare industry leaders with innovative early-stage and emerging growth medtech companies for mentorship and support. Founding sponsors include Johnson & Johnson and RCT Ventures, and annual program sponsors include Baxter, Boston Scientific, NIPRO Medical, Olympus Medical Systems, W. L. Gore, Asahi Intecc, BTG, Fujikura, HOYA, Jabil, JOHNAN, Maxim Integrated Ventures, EdgeOne Medical, Experien Group, Greenlight Guru, Proxima Clinical Research, Westwood & Wilshire, and Ximedica. The organization's industry partners include AdvaMed, Health+Commerce, MedTech Strategist, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. For more information about MedTech Innovator, visit https://medtechinnovator.org/ [medtechinnovator.org] and follow @MedTechAwards on Twitter.

SOURCE Childrens National Hospital

Related Links

https://childrensnational.org


SANDVIKEN, Sweden, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As previously communicated Sandvik has initiated measures across the group to mitigate effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, with actions supporting savings both short-term and long-term. Today, Sandvik provides an update on the current status of the cost measures and savings.

Temporary short-term actions are progressing according to plan and are expected to generate savings of about 1.5 billion SEK in 2020.

Savings from long-term measures, both structural and volume driven, of about 1.2 billion SEK will reach full annual run-rate by the end of 2021. The previous estimate was savings of about 0.9 billion SEK, with full annual run-rate by the end of 2021.

These long-term measures imply costs of about 1.9 billion SEK, reported as items affecting comparability in the operating profit. The previous estimate was 1.4 billion SEK. The provisions will affect the second quarter 2020 with 1.3 billion SEK and remaining provisions the second half of 2020. About 1.3 billion SEK out of the 1.9 billion SEK will impact cash flow.

"In this continued uncertain environment we need to adapt to secure our long-term market leading positions. I am pleased to see that our savings initiatives are progressing well and that we are somewhat ahead of the previously communicated long-term savings estimate," says Stefan Widing, President and CEO of Sandvik.

These measures are in addition to the announced measures in January, which impacted the operating result during the first quarter of 2020 by -364 million SEK and with estimated net savings of about 110 million SEK, with full run-rate by mid-2021.

For further information, contact:

Anna Vilogorac

Investor Relations Officer

phone: +46-8-456-11-94



Martin Blomgren

Press and Media Relations Manager

phone: +46-70-577-0549

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/sandvik/r/sandvik-provides-an-update-on-cost-measures-and-savings,c3143708

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/208/3143708/1271191.pdf Sandvik provides an update on cost measures and savings

SOURCE Sandvik
OSTERSUND, Sweden, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Skanska has signed an additional contract with existing client Virginia Hospital Center for an expansion project of site work, a new outpatient pavilion and parking garage in Arlington, Virginia, USA. The contract is worth USD 96 M, about SEK 896 M, which will be included in the US order bookings for the second quarter of 2020.

The new six-story outpatient pavilion will house physical therapy examination and treatment rooms, radiology and imaging suites, clinics for examinations and six operating rooms. The parking garage includes three levels below grade and six levels above grade sized to hold 1,700 cars.

Construction began in June 2019 and is scheduled for completion in December 2022.

Skanska is one of the leading construction and development companies in USA, 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, Skanska USA, tel + 1-617-574-14-85

Jacob Birkeland, Head of Media Relations and Public Affairs, Skanska AB, tel +46 (0) 76-899-72-69

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-signs-additional-contract-for-hospital-expansion-project-in-arlington--usa--for-usd-96-m--ab,c3143949

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/95/3143949/1271350.pdf 20200629 US Virginia Hospital Center

SOURCE Skanska
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HSRC announces the publication of its research report, "China COVID-19 Pandemic Mitigation Products Market - 2020-2024". According to the report, the Chinese cumulative 2020-2024 COVID-19 will be larger than $188 Billion, which is 11.7% of the global cumulative market. Furthermore, according to the upcoming July 1, 2020 updated report version, the cumulative 2020-2024 Global Coronavirus Pandemic Mitigation Products Market* is forecast to be worth between $1.6 and $2.1 Trillion.

Following a total 83,462 COVID-19 cases, 4,634 deaths and an extremely long lockdown of millions, China is ahead of the curve in its recovery from the recent COVID-19 outbreak, with many provinces slowly returning to normal levels of activity. Factories are restarting production and consumers are beginning to spend again. However, the crisis has had a dramatic and lingering impact on the Chinese economy. Having said that, the June outbreak in Beijing has witnessed 260 persons infected with COVID-19 is a reminder that a every measure should be taken to mitigate a second wave.

According to the China COVID-19 Mitigation Products Market -2020-2024 report six elements contributed to the effective containment of the COVID-19 outbreak:

Lessons learned from past outbreaks China PPE industry Draconic lockout of 50 million people The "health code" surveillance infrastructure China's Safe City infrastructure "We will invest whatever it takes to contain the outbreak" policy

Lessons learned from past viral outbreaks

Due to the 2003 SARS outbreak, the Chinese government has been worried about the potential return of the deadly virus. It restructured the country healthcare system to handle the next outbreak. China extended the laboratory networks to handle the pathogens of infectious diseases; moreover it founded a new laboratory in Wuhan and another laboratory to study pneumonia with uncertain origins.

It is believed that a quicker publication of the epidemic information was a lesson that China learned from the SARS outbreak as the lack of information release worsened the outbreak.

With the improved public health system, China managed to handle several public health emergencies. In coping with the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak, China developed and distributed vaccines to 100 million people within months as an active prevention. During the 2013 H7N9 outbreak in East China, the country's health system identified the pathogen five days after the outbreak. Test kits were designed and distributed to all mainland provinces three days after the identification. Within months, effective vaccines were developed. Besides, Chinese academic community was the first to reveal the virus's transmission methods, molecular mechanisms and effective treatment.

Chinese PPE industry

China manufactures the majority of the globe's PPE. In Q-1 2020, as the coronavirus tore through China went into lockdown, Chinese PPE factories ramped up production. Then China tried to jump-start the economy. With the pandemic spreading throughout the rest of the world, demand for Personal Protection Gear soared to the point that factory owners in the industry began boasting that they owned money printing machines. As orders of consumer goods shrunk, anxious manufacturers who had the clean rooms and know-how needed to make PPE switched their lines over to make face masks, gloves and PPE gowns.

With demand exploding, full payment up front became the norm. Fraud and counterfeit products proliferated. In April, the PRC government rolled out actions intended to clamp down on counterfeit PPE, and it became even trickier to ship products out of China.

The "health code" service

The Chinese government which invested already billions on advanced people surveillance infrastructure based on 230 million video camera backed by face recognition systems extended this infrastructure to mitigate the pandemic. The extension is called the "health code" service.

The "health code" service is run on the ubiquitous smart phone's platforms Alipay and WeChat. It was developed for the government to give users color-coded labels based on their health condition and travel record, and a QR code that can be scanned by government authorities.

As millions of peoples in China emerge from a long period of lockdown, their freedom of movement is largely dependent on the "health code" apps.

The apps users with a green code are allowed to travel relatively freely. A yellow code indicates that the holder should be in home isolation, and a red one indicates a verified COVID-19 patient who should be in quarantine.

The apps have become an integral part of Chinese authorities' supervision of individuals and their movements in and out of affected areas.

The "health code" service app draws on medical information including: COVID-19 related symptoms (e.g., fever, cough), medical treatment, isolated surveillance, contact information, travel record of the pandemic area, user's travel history including the mode of travel and what seat they sat in, and details on the vehicle and its driver.

View the comprehensive TOC of this report to browse through 5 volumes of market data, spanning over 1,020 pages, including 728 tables & figures and 212 submarkets - download TOC

This 1020-page 5-volume market mega report is the first and most comprehensive review of the new global COVID-19 Pandemic Mitigation Products & Services market available today. The " COVID-19 Pandemic Mitigation Products Market - 2020-2024 " report presents a thorough market analysis of 54 products & services sub-reports, 6 vertical, 4 revenue source, 5 regional and 13 national markets providing in-depth analysis of this newly formed market.

The objective of this report is to provide today's strategic decision-makers with an expert 360-degree, time-sensitive, detailed view of this interconnected market and provides answers to questions such as:

What is the COVID-19 Pandemic Mitigation Products & Services market size and what are the forecasted trends during 2020-2024?

What are the most attractive business opportunities?

What drives the customers to purchase solutions and services?

What are the COVID-19 Mitigation technology & services trends?

What is the 212 sub-markets size over the 2020-2024 period?

What are the challenges to market penetration & growth?

To adhere to our high standards of research, as nobody can truly forecast the future of this on-going pandemic, we include in the report two scenarios:

Optimistic scenario  assumes (among other things) that mass vaccination will commence by July 2021 Conservative scenario  assumes (among other things) that no mass vaccination will be available until July 2024

With a highly fragmented market we address the "money trail"  each dollar spent in the global COVID-19 Pandemic Mitigation market is analyzed and crosschecked via 5 orthogonal viewpoints:

54 products and services:

COVID-19 Vaccines



COVID-19 Therapeutic Drugs



Other COVID-19 Pharma Industry Products



PCR Instrumentation & Software



Robotic PCR Systems & Software



PCR Reagents & Consumables



Nose & Mouth Swabs



Self-collection PCR Test Kits



Serologic Test Kits



Standoff Thermometry



X-Ray Procedures



CT Procedures



Ultrasound Procedures



Wastewater Testing



PACS & Teleradiology



Medical PPE Gowns



Medical Gloves



Medical Face Masks



Medical Face Shields



Medical Eye Protection



PPE Sterilization: Systems & Consumables



Hand & Surface Sanitizers



Decontamination



Other Personal Protection Gear



AI, Big Data & Deep Learning



Homecare IT



Geo-Surveillance Systems & Services



E-Health



Blockchain Technologies



Other ICT



Noninvasive Ventilators



Invasive Mechanical Ventilators



Next Generation Ventilators



COVID-19 Homecare (Equipment, Software, Services)



Portable Ventilators



Surge Capacity Hospitals & ICUs



Kidney Dialysis



Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Procedures



Other Intensive Care Modalities



PPE Gowns Manufacturing Plants



Gloves Manufacturing Plants



Face Masks Manufacturing Plants



Face Shields Manufacturing Plants



Serologic Test Kits Manufacturing Plants



Melt-Blown PPE Fabric Manufacturing Plants



Spun-Bond PPE Fabric Manufacturing Plants



Self-collection PCR Test Kits Manufacturing Plants



Ventilators Manufacturing Plants



PCR Reagents Manufacturing Plants



PCR Systems Manufacturing Plants



Nose & Mouth Swabs Manufacturing Plants



COVID-19 Vaccine Manufacturing Plants



R&D Equipment & Consumables



Medical Glass and Other Products & Services



6 vertical markets:

Hospitals & Surge Hospitals



Clinical Labs



Clinics



Emergency Medical Services (EMS)



Homecare & Nursing Homes



Research Bodies



13 national markets:

USA



Canada



UK



Germany



France



Italy



Rest of Europe



India



China



South Korea



Japan



Rest of Asia Pacific



ROW

5 regional markets:

North America



Latin America



Europe



Middle East & Africa



Asia Pacific

4 revenue source markets :

Product Sales



Training Services



Planning & Consulting



Maintenance & Upgrades

(*) Market size is scenario dependent.

For more information, or to purchase a copy, please visit us here.

About the analysts that composed this report:

The team which composed this report brings 43 years of hands on record in the development and commercialization of healthcare products including: antibody antigen detection, E-health, Bio-decontamination and biosecurity, PACS, teleradiology, PPE, computerized tomography, medical devices, and brings long term cooperation with the FDA and CDC as well as the EU CE and other national medical legislation agencies. As early as January 20, 2020 we recruited all our analysts to research the COVID-19 pandemic mitigation related products & services purchases. We interviewed hundreds of experts, participated in more than 95 conferences and webinars, reviewed more than 1,500 publications and interviewed executives of more than 65 pandemic related companies.

About Homeland Security Research Corp. ( HSRC )

Homeland Security Research Corp. (HSRC) is an international market and technology research firm specializing in the Public Safety Industry. HSRC provides premium off-the-shelf and customized market reports on present and emerging technologies and industry expertise, enabling global clients to gain time-critical insight into business opportunities. HSRC's clients include the U.S. Congress, DHS, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, DOD, DOT, GAO, NATO, and EU, among others, as well as government agencies in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Israel, Canada, UK, Germany, Australia, Sweden, Finland, Singapore. With over 950 private sector clients (76% returning), including major defense and security contractors and Fortune 2000 companies, HSRC earned the reputation as the industry's Gold Standard for public safety market reports.

Washington D.C. 20004, 601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 900,

Tel: 202-455-0966, [email protected] , https://homelandsecurityresearch.com

SOURCE Homeland Security Research Corp. (HSRC)

Related Links

http://www.homelandsecurityresearch.com


GENEVA, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The REYL Group launches its image campaign with a new brand positioning called "SUCCESS. TOGETHER.", inspired by the collective success of its clients and teams.

Since being founded in 1973, the REYL Group has experienced continual dynamic growth, while remaining true to its entrepreneurial values and desire for innovation. As a banking partner, the REYL Group has adapted and diversified its business model to support its clients in achieving their personal, entrepreneurial and institutional objectives. Its long-term commitment of service quality, client proximity and offering of creative solutions is built on the conviction that success is a collective concept, requiring a combination of individual accomplishments.

Today, the REYL Group is actively pursuing growth across all its markets, supporting a clientele of international entrepreneurs and institutional investors through its Wealth Management, Entrepreneur & Family Office Services, Corporate Advisory & Structuring, Asset Services, and Asset Management business lines.

The REYL Group recently launched several major initiatives including the creation of Alpian, a digital financial services provider for mass affluent clients; Asteria Investment Managers, an impact investment subsidiary; the launch of the Fund Representation Solutions business line; and concluding a sponsorship agreement with Swiss Paralympic.

In order to promote this dynamic growth, the REYL Group is launching an image campaign with a new brand positioning called "SUCCESS. TOGETHER.", illustrating the integral relationship between joint effort focused on a common objective and collective success. This relationship exists both in a purely internal context and in the partnership constructed with clients. This new campaign reflects the character of the brand, built on pushing the limits, the quest for excellence, team spirit and empathy.

Jerome Koechlin, REYL & Cie Head of Communications, says: "This new campaign illustrates the virtue of team success, celebrated and revealed through strong, coherent and authentic images. It promotes the Group's profoundly human strength in unity, highlighting palpable, genuine and shared emotions. We are convinced that effective action stems from cohesion, optimism and intelligence, both individual and collective. The fundamental values of commitment, ingenuity, empathy and integrity are the pillars of this collective success. Achieving success, together, is what drives us."

Francois Reyl, CEO of REYL & Cie, adds: "The key elements in the development of our brand positioning are centred around four key focuses which illustrate our core identity as a company: the solid cohesion of our teams within a bank on a human scale, their strong entrepreneurial spirit, a 360 approach favouring integrated and innovative solutions, drawing on the combined expertise of all our employees, and the long-term alignment of interests with our clients."

The creative components of the REYL Group's new brand campaign are being disseminated across all its communication and marketing media. Discover the visuals of the "SUCCESS. TOGETHER." campaign here, along with the campaign film here, produced with the LiveTeams and Habefast agencies.

About the REYL Group

www.reyl.com

Founded in 1973, the REYL Group is an independent diversified banking group with offices in Switzerland (Geneva, Zurich, Lugano), Europe (London, Luxembourg, Malta) and the rest of the world (Singapore, Dubai). The REYL Group manages assets in excess of CHF 13.5 billion and employs more than 220 professionals.

Developing an innovative approach to banking, the Group serves a clientele of international entrepreneurs and institutional investors through its Wealth Management, Entrepreneur & Family Office Services, Corporate Advisory & Structuring, Asset Services and Asset Management business lines.

REYL & Cie Ltd is licensed as a bank in Switzerland and performs its activities under the direct control of the independent Swiss Financial Market regulator (FINMA) and the Swiss National Bank (SNB). The REYL Group's subsidiaries are also regulated by the LPCC in Switzerland, the FCA in the UK, the CSSF in Luxembourg, the MFSA in Malta, the MAS in Singapore, the DFSA in Dubai and the SEC in the United States.

Press contacts:

REYL & Cie Ltd

T: +41-22-816-80-20

[email protected]

jpespartners

Miles Donohoe

D: +44-(0)20-7520-7625

T: +44-(0)20-7520-7620

SOURCE REYL group

Related Links

http://reyl.com


WATERTOWN, Mass., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tufts Health Plan Foundation board approved an additional $900,000 to support recovery and rebuilding efforts addressing the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Connecticut. The Foundation's commitment to COVID-19 response now reaches nearly $2 million.

"Even as we grapple with the effects of the virus, we must consider future implications," said Tom Croswell, president and CEO of Tufts Health Plan. "This crisis draws attention to deeply rooted systemic health disparities. This additional funding will support nonprofit organizations in their work to address the health and wellbeing of people in communities across the region."

The Foundation also announced 13 new grants, totaling $1.7 million for support of collaborative community efforts and systems change to advance healthy aging.

"We need to learn from this experience," said Nora Moreno Cargie, president of Tufts Health Plan Foundation and vice president for corporate citizenship at Tufts Health Plan. "We have an opportunity to think differently about how our systems are addressing community needs and how we can change the conditions that hold problems in place."

The new grants go to:

The Foundation continues a two-for-one match for donations by Tufts Health Plan employees and board members to organizations addressing the coronavirus pandemic. This match now is expanded and includes donations to nonprofits working on anti-racism and social justice efforts. Since March, more than $245,000 has been contributed to community organizations.

About Tufts Health Plan Foundation

Established in 2008, Tufts Health Plan Foundation supports the health and wellness of the diverse communities we serve. The Foundation has given more than $40 million to Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island nonprofits that promote healthy living with an emphasis on older people and will give more than $5 million to community organizations this year. The Foundation began funding in New Hampshire in 2016 and in Connecticut in 2019. Tufts Health Plan Foundation funds programs that move communities toward implementing age-friendly policies and practices that are relevant, focus on older people, and include them in community solutions. Visit www.tuftshealthplanfoundation.org for grant program information and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

About Tufts Health Plan

Tufts Health Plan is nationally recognized for its commitment to providing innovative, high-quality health care coverage. Staying true to our mission of improving the health and wellness of the diverse communities we serve, we touch the lives of more than 1.14 million members in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Connecticut through employer-sponsored plans; Medicare; Medicaid and Marketplace plans, offering health insurance coverage across the life span regardless of age or circumstance. We are continually among the top health plans in the country based on quality and member satisfaction. Our Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO and Senior Care Options plans received a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the highest rating possible.* Our commercial HMO/POS and Massachusetts PPO plans are rated 5 out of 5  the highest rating possible  by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).** Our Medicaid plan is rated 4.5 out of a possible 5.***

To learn more about how we're redefining what a health plan can do, visit www.tuftshealthplan.com/whatwedo . Connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , YouTube and LinkedIn .

*Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next. For more information on plan ratings, go to www.medicare.gov. Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO plans received 5 out of 5 stars for contract years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.

**NCQA's Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings 20192020

***NCQA's Medicaid Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2019-2020.

CONTACT

Alrie McNiff Daniels

617-301-2715

[email protected]

Kathleen Makela

617-480-9590

[email protected]

SOURCE Tufts Health Plan Foundation

Related Links

https://www.tuftshealthplanfoundation.org


DENVER, June 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- York Space Systems, an aerospace company specializing in complete space segment customer solutions and the manufacturer of standardized spacecraft platforms, in conjunction with Metropolitan State University of Denver, has been awarded a Small Business Technology Transfer study contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory. The project will investigate delivering high-performance space capabilities at an unprecedented low cost and minimal wait time, using leading-edge commercial space technology.

The STTR program funds research and development for companies and higher education institutions like York Space Systems and MSU Denver, who can deliver innovative technology applications to advance the mission of the Air Force. Over the course of the study, York will leverage its operational spacecraft and open-standard payload interfaces to work in tandem with MSU Denver, applying its commercial software and tools to optimize space imagery from York's low-cost Earth Observation spacecraft being built for commercial customers.

"This program is not only beneficial to the future of the Air Force but is a chance for York and MSU Denver to demonstrate the value of this unique partnership and the cutting-edge space technology we can provide to the New Space industry," said Melanie Preisser, vice president of national systems at York Space Systems. "We are thrilled to have this opportunity given to us by the Air Force and look forward to our continued success working with MSU Denver."

As part of the study, MSU Denver's Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science is creating a Laboratory for Enhanced Space Data Analytics, which will house automated test software and initial analytics for imagery products. MSU Denver will use the laboratory to allow students to perform studies and analyses of promising commercial image enhancement approaches.

"We are fortunate to have this unique opportunity to partner with York Space Systems, to build and operate a space data laboratory for the U.S. Air Force," said Janine Davidson, Ph.D., president of MSU Denver and former under secretary of the Navy and deputy assistant secretary of defense for plans. "These innovative partnerships are the best way to ensure our education system is developing the industry leaders the nation needs."

"While we are providing faculty and talented students to support this important research, York is helping us mentor the next generation of aerospace entrepreneurs, so they understand what it takes to succeed in every aspect of space commercialization," said Jeff Forrest, MSU Denver chair and professor of the Aviation and Aerospace Science Department, who is a principle researcher on the study.

York recently received another contract from NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) for satellite mission and instrument design analysis. This builds upon York Space Systems' recent announcement of its Hydra Mission Series that accelerates new technology insertion and rapidly advances component and payload technology readiness for the broader industry.

About York Space Systems

York Space Systems was founded to radically improve spacecraft affordability and reliability, transforming and enabling next generation space mission operations worldwide. Today, it is one of the most innovative aerospace companies, specializing in both end-to-end customer solutions and the rapid production of spacecraft platforms. York's complete Space Segment Solution including spacecraft production, payload integration, system integration & test, launch services, ground segment services, and mission operations enables customers to leverage York's existing technology solutions to rapidly and responsively get to orbit outpacing competitors. York's S-CLASS industrial-grade platform is a standardized 3-axis stabilized spacecraft capable of supporting 85kg payloads with up to 3,500W peak (Enhanced power system), while reducing the cost of manufacture by an order of magnitude. The S-CLASS spacecraft is fully compatible with all launch vehicles, including ground and air-launched, and ground segment providers. When optioned with York's cloud-based mission tasking and operations center, an ultra-low-cost solution is available on demand for next generation data collection and analytics companies. For more information, visit http://www.YorkSpaceSystems.com

About Metropolitan State University of Denver

As one of Colorado's leading public universities, Metropolitan State University of Denver is reimagining what is possible in higher education through the power of access, diversity, excellence and innovation. Founded in 1965, MSU Denver offers high-value, real-world education to more than 19,000 students through career- and community-focused bachelor's and master's degree programs. And 80% of our 95,000 alumni live and work in Colorado, advancing their communities and the state economy. Based in the heart of the Mile High City, MSU Denver's thriving urban campus provides unparalleled access to internships and professional networks that jump-start careers. See what's possible for your future at msudenver.edu.

Media Contact:

Marney Burbidge

Barokas PR for York Space Systems

[email protected]

Tim Carroll

MSU Denver

[email protected]

SOURCE York Space Systems

Related Links

http://www.yorkspacesystems.com


HOUSTON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Capital Advisors LLC ("USCA") announced today that the firm and its employees have donated $101,000 to the United Way COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund. This contribution combines donations from USCA employees with an amount equal to the firm's gross institutional trading commissions generated on May 13th - USCA's 2020 Charity Trading Day.

The United Way COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Fund is delivering relief to communities in need across the United States, with a primary focus on providing food, housing and financial assistance to those hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

David King, Managing Partner and cofounder of U.S. Capital Advisors, commented, "Our objective was to make a meaningful contribution as quickly as possible in order to get resources to those most impacted by the crisis. Combining our charity trading day with an employee campaign was a way that we could partner with both our clients and colleagues to achieve this goal."

About U.S. Capital Advisors LLC

Based in Houston, Texas with additional offices in Dallas and Austin, U.S. Capital Advisors ("USCA") is an integrated financial services boutique with primary business lines in Wealth Management, Capital Markets and Asset Management. USCA's Wealth Management division provides a full range of advisory services and solutions to high net worth individuals and family offices. USCA's Capital Markets division, which includes the firm's, Equity Research, Institutional Client, Investment & Merchant Banking, and Public Finance businesses, advises corporate, institutional and municipal clients. USCA's Asset Management division includes the firm's multi-manager business, which focuses on alternative investments for individual and institutional investors. USCA was founded in 2010 and is privately owned. Securities offered through USCA Securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC; Investment advisory services offered through USCA RIA LLC and USCA Asset Management LLC; Municipal advisory services offered through USCA Municipal Advisors LLC, MSRB registered.

Contact:

David King

Managing Partner

713-366-0530

[email protected]

U.S. Capital Advisors LLC

www.uscallc.com

SOURCE U.S. Capital Advisors LLC

Related Links

http://www.uscallc.com


WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- This month marks 30 years since William Loiry's arrival in Moscow, where he was instrumental in facilitating the economic transition of the Soviet Union.

Loiry grew up during the Cold War and was concerned about the possibility of a thermonuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union began opening under President Mikhail Gorbachev, Loiry's plan was to promote peace through business. "If you are a Soviet businessman and I'm helping you make American dollars, you're not going to want to shoot me," Loiry stated.

In 1990, Loiry published the first U.S.-Soviet business guide, which became widely used in both the Soviet Union and the United States.

Loiry traveled throughout the Soviet Union, promoting his business guide, becoming the first American thousands of Russians had ever met, and one of the few Americans to meet Russian President Boris Yeltsin in Red Square. In July 1990, Loiry became the first American to visit Saratov, a city on the Volga River. Having served as President of the Tallahassee (FL)-Krasnodar Sister City Program in 1989, he also spent time learning about the culture and economy in Krasnodar during his visit in 1990. Loiry also visited both eastern and western Siberia as well as Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.

After meeting with many business leaders throughout the Soviet Union, Loiry opened an office in Moscow with supporting offices in the United States. Throughout the four years that followed, Loiry brought hundreds of Soviet oil executives, bankers, and other business leaders to the U.S. to understand American business, get a taste of American culture, and to see American democracy at work. The trips included visiting the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, meetings on Capitol Hill, and even experiencing Disney World in Florida.

"These four years were crucial in making sure the new democracies in Russia and the other former Soviet countries did not go back to an authoritarian state, which was a threat to the United States," said Loiry. "My work in creating peace through business shows that people-to-people diplomacy can make a significant difference."

Additional background on Loiry's work can be found at www.williamloiry.com.

Media Contact: Jordan Rumsey

[email protected]

SOURCE Defense Leadership Forum

Related Links

www.defenseleadershipforum.org


WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, 340 organizations signed a letter urging Congressional leaders to make telehealth flexibilities created during the COVID-19 pandemic permanent. Those signing this multi-stakeholder letter include national and regional organizations representing a full range of health care stakeholders and all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Congress quickly waived statutory barriers to allow for expanded access to telehealth at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing federal agencies with the flexibility to allow healthcare providers to deliver care virtually. If Congress does not act before the COVID-19 public health emergency expires, current flexibilities will immediately disappear.

Therefore, 340 stakeholders have sent a powerful message to Congress outlining the immediate actions necessary to ensure CMS has the authority to continue to make telehealth services available once the national health emergency is rescinded:

Remove obsolete restrictions on the location of the patient to ensure that all patients can access care at home, and other appropriate locations;

Maintain and enhance HHS authority to determine appropriate providers and services for telehealth;

Ensure Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics can furnish telehealth services after the public health emergency; and

Make permanent Health and Human Services (HHS) temporary waiver authority for future emergencies.

While federal agencies can address some of these policies going forward, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) does not have the authority to make changes to Medicare reimbursement policy for telehealth under the outdated Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act. Following these priorities will allow CMS to build on the experience gained during the pandemic and expand access to telehealth in a thoughtful, data-driven way.

Read the letter to Congress, including the list of 340 stakeholders, here.

The following quotes are from the organizations co-leading this effort:

Scott Whitaker, President and CEO, AdvaMed

"Too many patients are still going without care that is absolutely vital to their health and putting essential medical procedures on hold due to the pandemic or lack of access to care. Making recently expanded telehealth access permanent will improve patients' ability to get care outside of doctors' offices and other traditional health care settings and save and improve countless lives."

AdvaMed MEDIA CONTACT: Jon Dobson ( [email protected] )

Krista Drobac, Executive Director, Alliance for Connected Care

"The pandemic has given many seniors their first real experience with telehealth, as clinicians leveraged connected care tools to meet access challenges. It's time for Congress to eliminate outdated statutory barriers to telehealth and give HHS the ability to expand telehealth while remaining a good steward of American tax dollars."

ACC MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Adamec ( [email protected] )

Ann Mond Johnson, CEO, the American Telemedicine Association (ATA)

"As we all work to understand the impact of the waivers put in place in response to the pandemic and assess what should be made permanent, we encourage Congressional leaders to focus on existing statutory barriers that must be immediately addressed to ensure the administration can appropriately transition and modernize telehealth under Medicare and importantly, keep us all from falling off the 'telehealth cliff.'"

ATA MEDIA CONTACT: Gina Cella ( [email protected] )

Jennifer Covich Bordenick, CEO, eHealth Initiative

"The pandemic provided us with an opportunity to see the benefits of broad telehealth adoption. Virtual care doesn't just support COVID-19 care, it increases access to communities and consumers for whom traditional office visits don't always work. Hundreds of organizations want Congress to make these changes permanent because they make sense clinically and financially for both providers and patients."

eHI MEDIA CONTACT: Catherine Pugh ( [email protected] )

Joel White, Executive Director, Health Innovation Alliance

"During the current crisis, telehealth met the challenge to fill a vital gap in services for patients. It should not require another pandemic for patients to gain broad access to state of the art treatment telehealth delivers."

HIA MEDIA CONTACT: Greg Johnson ( [email protected] )

Rob Havasy, Managing Director, Personal Connected Health Alliance

"HIMSS and PCHAlliance call upon Congress to take swift action and make permanent the flexibilities that have supported the use of evidence-based connected care technologies to improve healthcare quality, access, and value for all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic."

PCHALLIANCE MEDIA CONTACT: Karen Groppe ( [email protected] )

SOURCE AdvaMed; Alliance for Connected Care; American Telemedicine Association (ATA); eHealth Initiative; Health Innovation Alliance; HIMSS; Personal Connected Health Alliance
SELBYVILLE, Del., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest report "Advanced Driver Assistance System Market by Technology (Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic High Beam Control, Blind Spot Detection, Driver Monitoring, Forward Collision Warning, Front Lighting, Automatic Emergency Braking , Night Vision, Head-up Display, Lane Departure Warning, Park Assist, Surround View System, Traffic Sign Recognition, Tire Pressure Monitoring System), Sensor (LiDAR, Infrared, Ultrasonic, RADAR, Image Sensor), Vehicle (PCV, LCV, HCV), Distribution Channel (OEM, Aftermarket), Regional Outlook, Competitive Market Share & Forecast 2026", by Global Market Insights, Inc., the market valuation of ADAS technology will cross $60 billion by 2026.

North America advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) market accounted for a revenue share of 30% in 2019, owing to rising awareness among the population on advanced safety systems and comfort features in vehicles such as infotainment, self-driving technologies, and ADAS.

The growth is majorly attributed to rising concerns about vehicle safety and increasing government regulations to integrate advanced safety systems into vehicles. Increasing research and development for the integration of advanced technologies, such as AI, for safety applications will further drive the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) market growth. Companies are continuously involved in the development of new safety systems that enable real-time monitoring and vehicle safety. The adoption of these advanced technologies in ADAS systems will deliver high accuracy and considerably reduce the chances of missed detection and false alarms. Furthermore, companies are forming several strategic agreements to induce advanced technologies in their offerings and gain high competitiveness.

Request a sample of this research report at

https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2461

The forward collision warning segment held a market share of over 5% in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 3.5 billion by 2026. These systems can detect an imminent strike, thereby alerting the driver on future collisions. Therefore, the system is experiencing high integration with vehicles to enable autonomous and semi-autonomous decision making. Furthermore, increasing automotive safety norms worldwide will create high-growth opportunities for the market.

The LiDAR segment in the advanced driver assistance system market is set to witness a growth rate of around 10% through 2026. The growth is majorly attributed to the rising adoption of semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles to detect objects such as cyclists, cars, and pedestrians. These sensors use laser pulses to create a 3D model of the environment around vehicles and aid to take an effective decision in controlling the vehicle & avoiding a collision. Companies are continuously involved in the development of new LiDAR solutions for autonomous vehicles, creating high-growth opportunities for the market.

The HCV segment is anticipated to register a CAGR of around 5% from 2020 to 2026. Several regulations to mandate the integration of automated barking technologies and speed limiters are positively influencing ADAS market growth. Market players are also innovating new safety solutions to cater to the high demand from the HCV segment. In July 2019, Peloton announced the development of its new automated solution to improve the productivity of truck drivers. It also includes radar-based active braking systems that improve safety and fuel economy.

Request for customization of this research report at

https://www.gminsights.com/roc/2461

North America's advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) market accounted for a revenue share of 30% in 2019, owing to rising awareness among the population on advanced safety systems and comfort features in vehicles such as infotainment, self-driving technologies, and ADAS. The U.S. is fast in adopting the latest technologies and has the presence of many automobile manufacturers, such as Ford, Volvo, & Fiat Chrysler, adding to the growth potential of the market.

Some of the key players operating in the market are Bosch Group, Autoliv, Inc., Continental AG, Denso Corporation, Delphi Technologies, Hyundai Mobis, Panasonic Corporation, Texas Instruments, and Valeo SA. Companies are focusing on new product developments and strategic partnership activities to innovate advanced ADAS technology and gain high competitiveness in the market.

Some major findings of the ADAS market report include:

Rising consumer preferences for advanced safety systems in vehicles will drive market growth.



Governments from several nations have introduced and mandated regulations on the integration of ADAS & other safety systems into vehicles to reduce the number of road accidents.



Companies are focusing on the development of ADAS systems for mid-range & economy vehicles to increase their position in the market. They are further collaborating with technology providers to innovate ADAS systems, maintaining the cost-effectiveness of new-entry vehicles.



Tire pressure monitoring technology is gaining significant adoption in commercial vehicles, as it delivers real-time status of temperature and pressure in tires. These features will further boost market opportunities for ADAS in the coming years.



Government regulations to increase the bandwidth for RADAR technology will increase the adoption of radar sensors for blind-spot monitoring and object detection functionality of ADAS systems.

Table of Contents (ToC) of the report:

Chapter 3. Advanced Driver Assistance System Market Insights

3.1. Industry segmentation

3.2. Industry landscape, 2016  2026

3.3. Impact analysis of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the market

3.3.1. Global outlook

3.3.2. Impact by region

3.3.2.1. North America

3.3.2.2. Europe

3.3.2.3. Asia Pacific

3.3.2.4. Latin America

3.3.2.5. MEA

3.3.3. Industry value chain

3.3.3.1. Research and development

3.3.3.2. Manufacturing

3.3.3.3. Marketing

3.3.3.4. Supply

3.3.4. Competitive landscape

3.3.4.1. Strategy

3.3.4.2. Distribution network

3.3.4.3. Business growth

3.4. Industry ecosystem analysis

3.4.1. Component supplier

3.4.2. Manufacturers

3.4.3. Profit margin analysis

3.4.4. Distribution channel analysis

3.4.4.1. End users

3.4.4.2. Aftermarket

3.4.5. Vendor matrix

3.5. Accidents and fatalities statistics, by region

3.6. Industry trends

3.6.1. Embedded vision

3.6.2. Sensors

3.6.3. Connectivity

3.6.4. Automotive Systems Infrastructure

3.6.5. Automotive HMI design

3.7. Pricing trends, by region

3.7.1. Regional Pricing

3.7.2. Cost structure analysis

3.8. Technology & innovation landscape

3.8.1. Real-time mapping data and propulsion software optimization in ADAS

3.9. Global automotive production overview, 2015-2019

3.10. Regulatory landscape

3.11. Industry best practices & key buying criteria

3.11.1. Need recognition

3.11.2. Information Search

3.11.3. Evaluation of alternatives

3.11.4. Purchase decision

3.11.5. Post-purchase behavior

3.12. Industry impact forces

3.12.1. Growth drivers

3.12.2. Industry pitfalls and challenges

3.13. Growth potential analysis

3.14. Porter's analysis

3.14.1. Industry rivalry

3.14.2. Threat of new entrants

3.14.3. Buyer power

3.14.4. Supplier power

3.14.5. Threat of substitutes

3.15. PESTEL analysis

Browse Complete Table of Contents (ToC) at

https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/adas-market

About Global Market Insights, Inc.

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.

Contact Us:

Arun Hegde

Corporate Sales, USA

Global Market Insights, Inc.

Phone: 1-302-846-7766

Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688

Email: [email protected]

Related Images

global-advanced-driver-assistance.jpg

Global Advanced Driver Assistance System Market revenue to cross USD 60B by 2026: GMI

North America advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) market accounted for a revenue share of 30% in 2019, owing to rising awareness among the population on advanced safety systems and comfort features in vehicles such as infotainment, self-driving technologies, and ADAS.

Related Links

Lane Departure Warning System Market Size

Automatic Emergency Braking Market Size

SOURCE Global Market Insights, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.gminsights.com


Stock Symbol: AEM (NYSE and TSX)

TORONTO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) (TSX: AEM) ("Agnico Eagle" or the "Company") today announced that it will release its second quarter 2020 results on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, after normal trading hours.

Second Quarter 2020 Results Conference Call Webcast

Agnico Eagle's senior management will host a conference call on Thursday, July 30, 2020 at 11:00 AM (E.D.T.) to discuss the Company's financial and operating results.

Via Webcast:

A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's website at www.agnicoeagle.com.

Via Telephone:

For those preferring to listen by telephone, please dial 1-647-427-7450 or toll-free 1-888-231-8191. To ensure your participation, please call approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call.

Replay archive:

Please dial 1-416-849-0833 or toll-free 1-855-859-2056, access code 2095908. The conference call replay will expire on August 30, 2020.

The webcast, along with presentation slides, will be archived for 180 days on the Company's website.

About Agnico Eagle

Agnico Eagle is a senior Canadian gold mining company that has produced precious metals since 1957. Its operating mines are located in Canada, Finland and Mexico, with exploration and development activities in each of these countries as well as in the United States and Sweden. Agnico Eagle and its shareholders have full exposure to gold prices due to its long-standing policy of no forward gold sales. Agnico Eagle has declared a cash dividend every year since 1983.

SOURCE Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

Related Links

http://www.agnicoeagle.com


RAMALLAH, Palestine, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 25, 2020, Arab Palestinian Investment Company (APIC) issued new five-year bonds through two parallel issuances in both the US dollars and euro currencies with a gross value of USD 73.841 million, of which USD 58 million and I14 million are in a private subscription with the participation of nine banks and companies including Arab Bank, Cairo Amman Bank, Bank of Palestine, Quds Bank, Bank of Jordan, Jordan Ahli Bank, the National Bank, Palestine Deposit Insurance Company and the National Insurance Company.

The bondholders of the two issuances held a general assembly on Thursday, June 25, 2020, in Ramallah, which was chaired by APIC Chairman and CEO Tarek Aggad, and was also attended by APIC's executive management team; the manager of the Securities Directorate at the Palestine Capital Market Authority Murad Al-Jadbih; representatives for the bondholders; the custodian of Cairo Amman Bank; as well as Shehadeh Law Firm, the legal counselor of APIC. At the bonds general assembly, Wasata Securities Company was elected and assigned as the trustee for both issuances.

APIC's General Assembly had approved and ratified the issuance of new corporate bonds with a nominal gross value of up to USD 75 million during its extraordinary meeting that took place in Ramallah earlier in May.

In his statement, Aggad said that the bond issuance is an important step towards assisting the company in achieving its future plans and will also effectively enhance its capital structure. Aggad added, "We thank all the institutions that subscribed to APIC bonds, which proves their trust in APIC group particularly during the current challenges that include political uncertainty, the current closures and preventive measures in place due to the coronavirus pandemic." Aggad noted that several of the banks that had subscribed to the first and second bond issuances in 2012 and 2017 have since renewed their subscriptions for this third issuance, which demonstrates the great trust that APIC has enjoyed from bondholders during the past years.

APIC bonds are structured with a bullet repayment after five years; are not traded nor listed on Palestine Exchange and any other stock exchange; are not convertible into shares; represent excellent debt; and are collateralized with 100% collateral coverage ratio.

About APIC

APIC is a foreign public shareholding investment holding company listed on the Palestine Exchange (PEX: APIC). It holds diversified investments across the manufacturing, trade, distribution and service sectors in Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates through nine subsidiaries: Siniora Food Industries Company; Unipal General Trading Company; Palestine Automobile Company; Medical Supplies and Services Company; National Aluminum and Profiles Company (NAPCO); Sky Advertising and Public Relations and Event Management Company; Arab Palestinian Shopping Centers (BRAVO); Arab Leasing Company and Arab Palestinian Storage and Cooling Company, employing over 2000 staff through its group of subsidiaries.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/640722/APIC_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Arab Palestinian Investment Company (APIC)
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, June 30, 11:00 AM (ET), Washington Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory will participate in an online dialogue with American Jewish Committee (AJC) entitled "Race in America: The Faith Perspective" as part of AJC's Advocacy Anywhere webinar series.

In a conversation with Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC Director of Interreligious and Intergroup Relations, Archbishop Gregory will discuss religion and race in America. The discussion will focus on how faith can be a source for good as America confronts the current health and race crises.

Register in advance for this probing AJC Advocacy Anywhere conversation.

As former president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and current co-chair of the Dialogue between the USCCB and the National Council of Synagogues, Archbishop Gregory has been a leader of Catholic-Jewish and interreligious relations for decades.

A recognized leader of Catholic-Jewish dialogue, Rabbi Marans played a central role in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the transformational Nostra Aetate document, delivering a keynote address at the official U.S. Catholic commemoration and participating in multiple audiences with Pope Francis.

American Jewish Committee, the leading global Jewish advocacy organization, launched its pioneering online series AJC Advocacy Anywhere on March 20. More than 3 million people have logged on to view the almost daily offerings.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


STOCKHOLM, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ASSA ABLOY has entered into binding agreements with Italy based FAAC Group for the sale of certain agta record and ASSA ABLOY businesses, as part of the commitments to address the competition concerns of the EU Commission in connection with the acquisition of the Swiss company agta record (the "Divestiture").

The divested business includes the agta record operations in the Netherlands, Austria, Hungary and Slovenia, as well as the ASSA ABLOY automatic pedestrian door business in France and the UK. In addition, agta record's high-speed door business located in France is also included.

The divested business had a turnover in 2019 of approximately EUR 93 million, representing about 20% of total initial added revenue. The selling price for the Divestiture is EUR 100 M on a cash and debt free basis.

The Divestiture is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close during the third quarter of 2020.

The acquisition of agta record is expected to be closed during July 2020 after all remaining closing conditions and the EU Commission requirements have been fulfilled.

Additional information, particularly with regard to the closing of the acquisition of agta record and to the subsequent tender offer by ASSA ABLOY on the remaining agta record shares, will be communicated as soon as possible.

For more information, please contact:

Nico Delvaux, President and CEO, tel. no: +46-8-506-485-82

Erik Pieder, CFO and Executive Vice President, tel. no: +46-8-506-485-72

Bjorn Tibell, Head of Investor Relations, tel. no: +46-70-275-67-68

About ASSA ABLOY

The ASSA ABLOY Group is the global leader in access solutions. The Group operates worldwide with 49,000 employees and sales of SEK 94 billion. The Group has leading positions in areas such as efficient door openings, trusted identities and entrance automation. ASSA ABLOY's innovations enable safe, secure and convenient access to physical and digital places. Every day, we help billions of people experience a more open world.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/assa-abloy/r/assa-abloy-sells-certain-businesses-in-relation-to-the-acquisition-of-agta-record,c3143607

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/7333/3143607/1271101.pdf Press release (PDF)

SOURCE ASSA ABLOY
All Islands Reopen to International Travel; Visitors Must Present Negative Test and Complete an Electronic Health Visa

NASSAU, Bahamas, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation is preparing for Phase 2 reopening, July 1, which allows for the resumption of international travel.

All travellers visiting The Bahamas beginning July 1, must:
ARLINGTON, Va., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As many businesses turn toward rebuilding and recovery following the economic shutdown, the Better Business Bureau has partnered with Indeed to offer a $200 Sponsored Job credit* for new accounts in the U.S. and Canada that post a job.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment rates have risen dramatically as companies have been forced to lay off or furlough employees. Now as some area reopen, many businesses are hiring back furloughed employees, as well as looking for new hires. To help employers find the right people for their team, BBB has partnered with Indeed, a BBB Accredited Business based in Austin, Texas, to offer a $200 Sponsored Job credit* to new accounts in the US and Canada. Companies can claim the credit at Indeed.com/partner/bbb (terms, conditions, quality standards, and usage limits apply).

According to Indeed, employers can post jobs for free but Sponsored Job ads receive optimal visibility, delivering more quality applicants to the job. The partnership with BBB is an exclusive offer by Indeed and is only available through the partnership website. In addition to the credit to businesses, BBB receives a referral fee to support its mission of trust in the marketplace.

BBB and Indeed are also working together to provide employers with education around job placement effectiveness, interview strategies, and hiring best practices, as well as educating consumers about employment scams.

The partnership with Indeed is BBB's newest latest effort to assist businesses in recovery. Check out BBB.org/smallbusiness for other programs, reports, and information.

*Offer only available for new accounts in the US and Canada that post a job. Credit expires one year after account creation. Users are charged upon expiration of the credit based on Sponsored Job budget. Terms, conditions, quality standards, and usage limits apply.

ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. In 2019, people turned to BBB more than 183 million times for BBB Business Profiles on nearly 5.8 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at BBB.org . The International Association of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

ABOUT INDEED: More people find jobs on Indeed than anywhere else. Indeed is the #1 job site in the world (comScore, March 2018) and allows job seekers to search millions of jobs in more than 60 countries and 28 languages. Over 1.5M employers use Indeed to find and hire new employees, making Indeed the largest job site in the US, Canada, and the world. More than 250 million people each month search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies on Indeed, and Indeed delivers 3X more hires than any other job site (SilkRoad Technology Source of Hire Report, 2018). For more information, visit indeed.com.

SOURCE IABBB

Related Links

http://www.iabbb.org


I think hes right, the mayor said. The facts have been worrisome. In the course of this week, it got worse and worse around the country, it got worse and worse with this nexus to bars and restaurants. We saw it, the state saw it, everyone started talking.
DALLAS, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BLK, the largest dating app for Black singles, launched a new in-app engagement entitled #BLKVoices to create a space for users to sound-off and express their views on timely social and cultural topics. In support of and inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement that spurred a global call for action, the first #BLKVoices initiative, Educate An Ally, will prompt users to share their thoughts on how non-Black allies can help the Black community in the continued fight for racial equality and justice.

"At BLK, it's not about 'standing in solidarity' with the Black community, because we are inherently part of the Black community. We have been standing, marching, and living unapologetically in our melanin, and now it's time for non-Black allies to educate themselves and show up for the Black community," expressed Jonathan Kirkland, Director of Brand Marketing for BLK.

With over 3 million downloads, BLK is committed to getting the voices of its users heard beyond familiar circles, extending its platform as a place to encourage education and dialogue with broader audiences around the topics of racism and discrimination. BLK will work with media outlets and partners to amplify the Educate an Ally responses.

Leading up to the #BLKVoices launch, the app has also donated to several national and local organizations as well as shared and promoted links to resources related to mental health, local activism, bail relief for protestors, and legal and legislative organizations. With the current COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the higher levels of stress Black Americans experience as a result of discrimination, BLK understands that it's more important than ever to provide easily accessible tools that can help address the community's needs.

#BLKVoices is driven by BLK's overall mission to create a community that spotlights the Black experience while nurturing and uplifting Black people with love.

- LOVE, BLK.

ABOUT BLK:

BLK was introduced in August 2017 and is currently the leading dating and lifestyle app for Black singles. With a goal of helping users find love at its core, BLK has built a community and space where Black love in all its forms and expressions can happen every day. BLK's mission is simple: bring Black people together to spark meaningful connections.

SOURCE BLK
DENVER, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CenturyLink Inc. (NYSE: CTL) today announced that Qwest Corporation, its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary ("Qwest"), pursuant to the redemption notice issued on June 10, 2020, has completed a partial redemption of $200 million in outstanding principal amount of its 6.875% Notes due 2054 (the "Qwest Notes").

Additional information regarding the redemption of the Qwest Notes is available from Bank of New York Mellon.

About CenturyLink

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is a technology leader delivering hybrid networking, cloud connectivity, and security solutions to customers around the world. Through its extensive global fiber network, CenturyLink provides secure and reliable services to meet the growing digital demands of businesses and consumers. CenturyLink strives to be the trusted connection to the networked world and is focused on delivering technology that enhances the customer experience.

Learn more at http://news.centurylink.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical and factual information, the matters set forth in this release and other of our oral or written statements identified by words such as "estimates," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "plans," "intends," and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are based on current expectations only, are inherently speculative, and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Actual events and results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or implied by us in those statements if one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect. You are cautioned not to unduly rely upon our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments, changed circumstances, or otherwise. We may change our intentions, strategies or plans (including our plans expressed herein) without notice at any time and for any reason.

SOURCE CenturyLink, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.centurylink.com


2020 edition enables research community to make decisions with confidence using new data on open access models and updated journal self-citation parameters

LONDON and PHILADELPHIA, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CCC), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, today released the 2020 update to its annual Web of Science Journal Citation Reports (JCR). The annual JCR release enables the research community to evaluate the world's high-quality academic journals using a range of indicators, descriptive data and visualizations. The reports are used by academic publishers across the globe to evaluate the impact of their journals relative to their field and promote them to the research community.

The JCR is based on 2019 data compiled from the Web of Science Core Collection, the flagship collection in the world's largest publisher-neutral global citation database.

The structured data are curated by the global team of experts at Clarivate, who continuously evaluate and select the collections of journals, books and conference proceedings covered to ensure accuracy in journal impact evaluations. These insights enable researchers, publishers, editors, librarians and funders to explore the key drivers of a journal's value for diverse audiences, making better use of the wide body of data and metrics available in the JCR, including the Web of Science Journal Impact Factor (JIF).

Key highlights for 2020:

The journals selected for inclusion: This year's edition includes more than 12,000 journals from 83 countries across five continents and 236 research categories in the sciences and social sciences. More than 1,600 journals are fully open access. 351 journals have been added to the JCR this year - 178 of which are fully open access.

This year's edition includes more than 12,000 journals from 83 countries across five continents and 236 research categories in the sciences and social sciences. More than 1,600 journals are fully open access. 351 journals have been added to the JCR this year - 178 of which are fully open access. New descriptive data on open access models: New data show each journal's articles by access model. This provides the research community with transparent, publisher-neutral information about the relative contribution of articles published free to read and re-use under Creative Commons licenses ('gold open access') to a journal's overall volume of content and citations. For the 7,487 hybrid journals in the JCR, readers are now quickly and easily able to identify:

New data show each journal's articles by access model. This provides the research community with transparent, publisher-neutral information about the relative contribution of articles published free to read and re-use under Creative Commons licenses ('gold open access') to a journal's overall volume of content and citations. For the 7,487 hybrid journals in the JCR, readers are now quickly and easily able to identify: the number of papers published via the traditional subscription model, and



those published via Creative Commons licenses.

Objectivity in journal selection: Clarivate has suppressed 33 journals from the JCR this year to support the integrity of the reports, representing 0.27% of the journals listed. The JCR monitors and excludes journals that demonstrate anomalous citation behavior including where there is evidence of excessive journal self-citation and citation stacking. In 2020, the methodology and parameters for the effect of journal self-citation on JCR metrics has been updated to better account for discipline norms.

Clarivate has suppressed 33 journals from the JCR this year to support the integrity of the reports, representing 0.27% of the journals listed. The JCR monitors and excludes journals that demonstrate anomalous citation behavior including where there is evidence of excessive journal self-citation and citation stacking. In 2020, the methodology and parameters for the effect of journal self-citation on JCR metrics has been updated to better account for discipline norms. In addition, an Editorial Expression of Concern has been issued for 15 journals with one or more published items with an atypically high-value contribution to the JIF numerator and a pattern of journal citations disproportionately concentrated into the JIF numerator. Clarivate will continue to review content of this type with the goal of developing additional screening for distortions of the Journal Impact Factor.

Keith Collier, Senior Vice President of Product, Science Group at Clarivate said: "For over 40 years publishers, institutions, funders and researchers have relied on unbiased data in the Web of Science Journal Citation Reports to identify and evaluate the world's leading sciences and social sciences journals. The carefully selected and structured data within the JCR allows the research community to better understand citation impact trends and make confident decisions about their publication strategies.

"In 2020, we have added new descriptive data and updated self-citation parameters to further support the research community with trusted insights that can inform decisions and accelerate the pace of innovation."

Each journal profile in JCR provides a rich array of indicators. This includes the Web of Science Journal Impact Factor, which identifies the frequency with which an average article from a journal is cited in a particular year; the Immediacy Index, which measures how frequently the average article from a journal is cited within the same year as publication; the journal's rank in category, determined by Journal Impact Factor, expressed as a percentile; and cited half-life, which is the median age, in years, of items in any journal in the category that were cited during the JCR year, to name just a few.

For more information, please see our blog.

Visit the Journal Citation Reports website to explore all available data, metrics, and analysis. Our suppression policy can also be found on our website.

Follow us on Twitter via @WebofScience, #JCR2020.

About Clarivate

Clarivate is a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation. We offer subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise that cover the entire lifecycle of innovation  from foundational research and ideas to protection and commercialization. Today, we're setting a trail-blazing course to help customers turn bold ideas into life-changing inventions. Our portfolio consists of some of the world's most trusted information brands, including the Web of Science, Cortellis, Derwent, CompuMark, MarkMonitor and Techstreet. For more information please visit Clarivate.com.

SOURCE Clarivate Analytics

Related Links

www.clarivate.com


CHICAGO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot joins CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, in recognizing 25 City Colleges of Chicago graduates who will receive scholarships from the company to continue their education at a four-year college or university. The winners recently graduated from Chicago's community college system with an associate degree, having earned it debt free as recipients of the Chicago Star Scholarship. Each student will receive an additional $5,000 scholarship over two years from CME Group to support completion of their bachelor's degree, creating more opportunities for students with diverse economic backgrounds to pursue their higher education goals.

"The Star Scholarship program expands equity and opportunity for our dedicated students, helping us build a stronger pipeline of talent across Chicago," said Mayor Lori Lightfoot. "CME Group recognizes the strength and determination within our community colleges, and we are honored to help these students reach the next milestone in their path to success."

"We are proud of all the hard-working students we are able to help support as they continue their college education," said CME Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Terry Duffy. "We wish these scholars great success in finishing their studies and starting their careers, which will help power both our local and global economy going forward."

For the fourth year in a row, CME Group selected 25 Star Scholar students from City Colleges of Chicago to receive scholarships that will support them in furthering their college career with a bachelor's degree in accounting, management, math, computer science (IT), finance or economics at one of the Chicago Star Partner colleges and universities in the fall.

"I want to thank CME Group for creating the opportunity for talented and hard-working students to pursue their academic goals, regardless of their financial means," said Chancellor Juan Salgado. "Together, we are putting City Colleges students on the path to upward mobility and helping to create a more inclusive Chicago economy."

The Chicago Star Scholarship program at City Colleges of Chicago has helped more than 8,550 CPS graduates attend college tuition-free. Star Scholars are diverse, representing more than 75 Chicago ZIP codes and more than 175 CPS high schools. Forty-four percent of first-time, full-time Star Scholars who started in Fall 2016 graduated from City Colleges within three years, exceeding the national average for community colleges.

CME Group joined the Star Scholars movement in 2017 after a long partnership with the City of Chicago on initiatives designed to help make college more affordable and attainable for CPS graduates. Dating back to 1986 when CME Group and the City of Chicago launched the CME Group Mayoral Award for Student Achievement, CME Group has awarded nearly $2.2 million to thousands of high-achieving CPS students in pursuit of college degrees.

Recipients of this year's CME Group Star Partnership Mayoral Award graduated in May and Summer 2020 with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above and a major in accounting, management, math, computer science (IT), finance or economics.

For more information on the Chicago Star Scholarship at City Colleges of Chicago, visit www.ccc.edu/starscholarship.

As the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets, optimize portfolios, and analyze data  empowering market participants worldwide to efficiently manage risk and capture opportunities. CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural products and metals. The company offers futures and options on futures trading through the CME Globex platform, fixed income trading via BrokerTec and foreign exchange trading on the EBS platform. In addition, it operates one of the world's leading central counterparty clearing providers, CME Clearing. With a range of pre- and post-trade products and services underpinning the entire lifecycle of a trade, CME Group also offers optimization and reconciliation services through TriOptima, and trade processing services through Traiana.

CME Group, the Globe logo, CME, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Globex, and, E-mini are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. CBOT and Chicago Board of Trade are trademarks of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange and ClearPort are trademarks of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. COMEX is a trademark of Commodity Exchange, Inc. BrokerTec, EBS, TriOptima, and Traiana are trademarks of BrokerTec Europe LTD, EBS Group LTD, TriOptima AB, and Traiana, Inc., respectively. Dow Jones, Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and S&P are service and/or trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and S&P/Dow Jones Indices LLC, as the case may be, and have been licensed for use by Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CME-G

SOURCE CME Group

Related Links

http://www.cmegroup.com


CHICAGO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ASCEND TECHNOLOGIES LLC, a leading Chicago-based Midwest managed services provider (MSP), today shared aggregated data from its support desk showing collaboration service desk calls spiked by over 157% in March as shelter-in-place orders went into effect.

The data demonstrates that while these tools are commonly used, many organizations have not validated the entire user base has the tools installed correctly, security protocols are in place and important permissions and administrative processes are followed.

"The spike in support calls for these tools, particularly Microsoft Teams and Zoom wasn't unexpected," says Corey Dean, VP, Operations, Ascend Technologies (Ascend). "What this illustrates, though, is that these collaboration tools need to be more fully included in every organization's business continuity and disaster recovery plans. Regular testing, version management, permissions and administration are important. Plus, planning for work from home scenarios is crucial to seamless business operations. Being able to efficiently move operations from offices to partially or fully remote is now part of our business reality," continues Dean.

"On average, issues presented during the spike took 50 minutes to resolve. Depending on how many users an organization has and how many had issues, it could mean days or even weeks of lost productivity  not to mention lost revenue," shares Dean. "For companies without a support desk and the engineering team to perform administration of these tools, the shift to working from home had a significant impact on productivity and efficiency for at least a few weeks and probably more," concludes Dean.

ABOUT ASCEND TECHNOLOGIES

Ascend Technologies is a far cry from your run-of-the-mill managed services provider. Our team of over 100 U.S.-based information technology professionals enable business growth through innovation and technology. Ascend helps business leaders make IT investments with confidence, eliminate cybersecurity threats, meet the needs of the business and optimize user productivity. Businesses endure, grow and innovate on a foundation of efficiently run core IT systems. Ascend makes technology the catalyst for business expansion. To learn more visit www.teamascend.com .

SOURCE Ascend Technologies

Related Links

http://www.teamascend.com


DENVER, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Crestone Services Group, LLC, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Rilo Electric & Communications Construction, LLC (d/b/a RECC Wireless).

RECC Wireless will operate as a division of Crestone's A to Z Field Services and be led by Kevin Glynn, the Company's founder. RECC Wireless is a leading builder of wireless networks specializing in turnkey tower construction and maintenance. "This is a terrific complement to our existing business. RECC's wireless capabilities align seamlessly with our wireline services and allow us to better serve our communications customers," stated Rick Barrett, CEO of Crestone Services Group.

Kevin Glynn, President of RECC Wireless, said, "We are excited to join Crestone and see this as the perfect partnership for both companies. The transition to 5G infrastructure requires well-funded, high performing teams and that is what the merger of RECC with Crestone represents."

"The Company's talented employees and two decades of experience will benefit us as we continue on our path to become the leading utility and communications contractor in the West," Barrett added.

About Crestone Services Group

Crestone Services Group was formed in 2015 to develop a leading utility services company pursuing strategic acquisitions in the communications, power, and gas distribution markets. To date, Crestone Services Group has completed eight acquisitions of businesses supporting communications carriers and public utility owners. Crestone Services Group is a joint investment between Diamond State Ventures, Banyan Investment Partners, Asydan Capital Management and Post Road Group and is led by former Blackeagle Energy Services CEO, Rick Barrett.

About Diamond State Ventures

Founded in 1999 with its first fund, Diamond State Ventures is a licensed Small Business Investment Company ("SBIC") engaged in providing debt and equity financing to lower middle-market companies across the United States. With approximately $225 million in invested and committed capital across three funds, DSV will participate in a variety of transactions including growth/expansion financings, recapitalizations and buyouts. Importantly, DSV seeks to invest in exceptional businesses managed by extraordinary people who possess a record of achievement, integrity and determination.

About Banyan Investment Partners

Banyan Fund, L.P. was founded in 2002 to provide mezzanine capital to smaller middle-market companies headquartered primarily in the Southeastern United States. Mezzanine capital is used to supplement a company's debt capacity beyond banks' credit limitations and is a substantially cheaper and less dilutive alternative to equity financing. We strive to contribute beyond the capital we provide to our clients, by entering into a close partnership arrangement with management teams coupling high integrity with a desire to build substantial enterprise value.

About Post Road Group

Post Road Group is a private investment firm based in Stamford, CT. Post Road's special opportunity investment team executes debt and equity investments in primarily tech, media, telecom, and other tech-enabled business services companies. Since its founding in 2017, the team has invested over $500 million in its target industries, and is currently investing out of Special Opportunity Fund I. To learn more, please visit postroadgroup.com.

SOURCE Crestone Services Group
In addition, Spark and Dense Air have agreed on a spectrum swap in the 2.6 GHz band which allows Dense Air to align their spectrum holdings into contiguous 2x35 MHz blocks. Spark and Dense Air believe that the reallocation will result in more efficient use of spectrum and therefore create the potential for better mobile services for New Zealanders.

Dense Air is a new class of network operator, that 'enhances and extends' the coverage and capacity of existing Mobile Networks and operates as a 'Carrier of Carriers', typically on a neutral host basis. Dense Air uses a comprehensive portfolio of 4G and 5G small cells to offer their 'Radio Network-as-a Service' to Mobile Operators in Dense Air's licensed spectrum which is dedicated to small cells for densification/extension deployments. Dense Air also provides the technology platforms and operational support to enable targeted deployment of these small cells to the most beneficial locations.

Paul Senior, CEO of Dense Air said "We are very pleased to announce this first live call over Spark's network, and the realignment of our spectrum holdings in NZ. In combination with the recently offered 40 MHz of 3.5 GHz spectrum, Dense Air is well positioned to help New Zealanders get the best possible Mobile Services".

Renee Mateparae, Technology Evolution Lead at Spark said "Dense Air's solutions provide options to extend our coverage and capacity in non-traditional ways. We continue to evaluate these solutions which could help keep Kiwis better connected in higher density areas like large buildings and high foot traffic locations such as central city districts and shopping malls.

What is Dense Air?

An optimised network densification and network extension mobile service

Solution delivered using Indoor and Outdoor Small Cells

Service operates in 70 MHz of 2.6 GHz licensed, dedicated spectrum

In future 2.6 GHz will be augmented with 40 MHz of 3.5 GHz spectrum

Dense Air Small Cells provide services on a "Neutral Host" basis

Supporting 4G LTE and 5G NR networks

Services are offered on a wholesale "Carrier of Carriers" basis

DOES NOT compete with Mobile or Fixed Operators or other Retail Service Providers

Services are delivered in Urban, Suburban or Rural areas

The focus is on mobile use cases, including enhanced Mobile Broadband, IoT, Public Safety

About DENSE AIR :

Dense Air is headquartered in London, UK and has spectrum assets in Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, New Zealand and Australia; it's target launch markets. Dense Air provides unique "carrier of carriers" neutral host small cell services to deliver cost effective densification to any existing 4G or 5G Mobile Carrier or Service Provider. Dense Air New Zealand is based in Auckland, and will begin offering commercial services in 2020.

About Spark

As New Zealand's leading digital services company, Spark New Zealand's purpose is to help all of New Zealand win big in a digital world. Spark provides mobile, broadband and digital services to millions of New Zealanders and thousands of New Zealand businesses.

www.spark.co.nz

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1197632/Dense_Air.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1197631/Dense_Air_Logo.jpg

Contact: Paul Senior ([email protected]), +44-7785397938

SOURCE Dense Air
HOERSHOLM, Denmark, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TOOsonix A/S, a pioneer in HIFU focused ultrasound technology for dermatology, today announce that it has released its System ONE-M as a CE-marked medical device for aesthetic treatments.

The release coincides with the publication of two clinical papers in the peer-reviewed scientific journal, Skin Research and Technology (John Wiley and Sons, Inc.), describing very positive results from the first clinical treatments performed at the Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark by the renowned Professor Jrgen Serup, MD.

The system delivers accurate thermal focal points to a chosen layer of the human skin, and directly in the lesion chosen for treatment. Applied to the outer skin the method is ablative. The system can however also reach lesions down to the dermal interface to the fat and abnormal vessels in the outer subcutis, without disturbing the out-of-focus outer skin. Thus, no wound and no scar!

"The CE marking of our first medical device is pioneering the field of HIFU used for the human skin. It is the first important step in TOOsonix' vision to make new and advanced HIFU systems available for dermatological use all over the globe. The new system is ready for a range of new applications", states Torsten Bove and Tomasz Zawada, co-founders of TOOsonix. "We initially intend to offer this device to first-mover dermatologists within the European Union, and look forward to the resulting physician feedback and market data that can guide our addition of more medical indications in the future".

Professor Jrgen Serup MD, first author of the two publications introducing the system[1,2], comments: "High frequency HIFU has a significant potential for future use in dermatological clinics, particularly in the laser/IPL clinics, as a new and specialized member of the family of advanced devices. Tattoo removal has been studied in detail. In our experimental work we have furthermore, demonstrated that the device used for Actinic Keratosis has important advantages over photodynamic therapy (PDT), practically, resource-wise, and with respect to efficacy. Noteworthy is the reduced pain-level during treatment. HIFU can be applied to multiple sites of the body in one short session and, obviously, has the potential to replace PDT in the future. Experimental use indicates the device can be used for dedicated ablative treatment of skin cancers, particularly basal cell carcinoma, and for a range of different premalignant conditions as well as a multitude of benign skin tumors. The method is an entirely new treatment modality in dermatology, with a large potential".

For picture documentation from the studies please visit: https://www.toosonix.com/before-and-after.

ABOUT TOOSONIX SYSTEM ONE-M

System ONE-M is a focused ultrasound device operating at 20 MHz, which creates thermal lesion points in the upper dermis and epidermis of the human skin. Within the focal point, the temperature rapidly increases to 50-60 C, which introduces acute cell necrosis. The body's own immune system may thereby become activated to remove and replace affected cells with new and healthy cells.

The system provides an innovative and easy-to-use treatment modality that enables physicians and other qualified practitioners to offer safe and effective aesthetic treatments of their patients. Medical indications, such as Actinic Keratosis and Basal Cell Carcinoma, are already demonstrated to be highly effective, and will be added to the indicated use as soon as on-going regulatory activities are completed.

ABOUT TOOSONIX A/S

TOOsonix is a Danish company pioneering the ultrasound and dermatology field with its unique high-frequency focused ultrasound devices. The company was founded in 2017 on the foundations of more than 35 years' experience in ultrasonic technology and devices. The company has financial backing from one of Denmark's most successful private investor companies.

REFERENCES (available free of charge by open access)

[1] Serup J, Bove T, Zawada T, Jessen A, Poli M. High-frequency (20 MHz) high-intensity focused ultrasound: New ablative method for color-independent tattoo removal in 1-3 sessions. An open-label exploratory study. Skin Res Technol. 2020;00:1-12.

https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.12885

[2] Serup J, Bove T, Zawada T, Jessen A, Poli M. High-frequency (20 MHz) high-intensity focused ultrasound: New Treatment of actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, and Kaposi sarcoma. An open-label exploratory study. Skin Res Technol. 2020;00:1-8.

https://doi.org/10.1111/srt.12883

RELATED LINKS

https://www.toosonix.com/

For further information, please contact:

Torsten Bove

Managing Director

+4528107790

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/toosonix-a-s/r/dermatology-hifu-product-release,c3141245

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/19585/3141245/1269809.pdf Press release (PDF)

SOURCE TOOsonix A/S
The Trafalgar Community Centre will serve as a research, resource and community centre and is one of the two such facilities under the Housing Revolution. Each will feature a multifunctional events space, a sick bay, a clinic, and a dining and activity hall.

Dr McIntyre said that "the good news is, by August, we should complete our centre [] the community is really, really looking forward to this." The government website describes it as "a place where at-risk youths can receive help, neighbors can socialize with each other and anyone can receive educational classes and participate in recreational activities."

Dr McIntyre also announced that the government has built a new EC$23-million road that connects the remote village of Cochrane to the national network. PM Skerrit confirmed that the government is planning another 150 units in the Roseau Valley alone, part of the CBI-funded Housing Revolution.

With regards to the new road, Dr McIntyre said: "We really wanted it done before the hurricane season, so, besides the whole aesthetics and beautifying the whole area, it's just something much safer for the villagers, which they are very pleased [about]." PM Skerrit added that "this road can serve as a potential bypass in the event of any challenges on the Canefield-Pont Casse Road."

Meanwhile, key sectors of the economy have reopened after all 18 COVID-19 cases in Dominica recovered. "Both tourism and the agriculture [are] back on track," Dr Irving McIntyre said. Still cautious, Dominica is confident about its economic recovery. It continues to attract foreign investors seeking second citizenship via the CBI Programme. Once they pass the due diligence checks, they can obtain Dominica's valuable citizenship within three months. They do so by either contributing at least US$100,000 to the Economic Diversification Fund or investing US$200,000 or more in pre-approved luxury and eco-conscious hotels.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1197835/Trafalgar_Community_Centre_Dominica_CBI.jpg

Contact:

[email protected]

www.csglobalpartners.com





SOURCE CS Global Partners

Related Links

https://csglobalpartners.com


NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Effective July 2, 2020, Brit Global Specialty USA ("BGSU") will transfer the renewal rights for Brit Global Specialty USA's Cargo business to Falvey Cargo Underwriting. Additionally, Will Frohne and Yasu Saegusa will move from Brit to Falvey Cargo as underwriters.

Brit believes Falvey is a better strategic fit for its Cargo business, as it continues to focus its growth around core products that present the strongest opportunities to build scale and generate sustainable returns for BGSU.

President and CEO of Falvey Cargo Underwriting, Mike Falvey, says, "Falvey is committed to making the transition seamless for brokers formerly working with Brit, and providing them with the World-Class service we are known for. More importantly, we are very excited to welcome Will and Yasu to the team as they are a great fit for our organization. They provide outstanding service to brokers and are some of the best marine cargo underwriters in the market today."

Will Frohne has almost 22 years of experience in both the Marine insurance and reinsurance space, with a background in Cargo. He has held various senior positions on both the underwriting and broking side with RSA, Marsh, Willis Re, Allianz, and most recently with Brit where he was SVP  Marine charged with building out Brit's presence in the US Cargo market. He is an active member of the American Institute of Marine Underwriters and holds a Certificate in Ocean Marine Insurance. Will graduated from SUNY Maritime College, Ft. Schuyler with a BS degree in Meteorology & Oceanography and holds an unlimited tonnage any ocean U.S. Coast Guard 3rd Officer's license in the US Merchant Marine. Will says, "I'm very excited for Yasu and I to join the Falvey Cargo team, and to help transition our book of business over from Brit. Being part of the Falvey team puts us in an even better position to service our clients and brokers by capitalizing on the technology, resources and capacity provided by the Falvey Insurance Group." Will will be based in Long Island, NY.

Yasu Saegusa has over 16 years of experience in cargo underwriting, holding multiple senior underwriting and management positions with AIG's Tokyo, New York, and Los Angeles offices, and most recently with Brit as VP Marine, focusing on developing Brit's cargo book on the West Coast and supporting growth of the national cargo portfolio. Yasu graduated from Keio University in Tokyo, Japan with a bachelor's degree in Economics and is fluent in both English and Japanese. Yasu adds, "I could not be more thrilled and excited to be joining the team at Falvey Cargo. Very grateful for this opportunity and I look forward to continue providing the best service I can to our Brokers and Insureds." Yasu will be based in Los Angeles, CA.

These new additions will bring Falvey Cargo's underwriting headcount to 13, as the company approaches its 25th year in operation.

About Brit

Brit is a market-leading global specialty insurer and reinsurer, focused on underwriting complex risks. It has a major presence in Lloyd's of London, the world's specialist insurance market provider, with significant US and international reach. Brit underwrites a broad class of commercial specialty insurance with a strong focus on property, casualty and energy business. Its capabilities are underpinned by robust financials. Brit is a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.

About Falvey Cargo Underwriting

Falvey Cargo underwrites marine cargo coverage in three cargo industry segments: General Cargo, Life Sciences, and Technology. Founded in 1995, Falvey Cargo Underwriting has evolved into the largest cargo covernote holder at Lloyd's of London, offering the highest MGA capacity in the marine cargo market. With over 150 years of combined marine cargo underwriting experience, Falvey Cargo provides global reach with local expertise servicing clients around the world from offices in Rhode Island, California, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Washington, Toronto, and London, with dedicated loss prevention, claims adjusting, and recovery services in-house. Falvey Cargo Underwriting is a subsidiary of Falvey Insurance Group.

www.falveycargounderwriting.com

Media Contact:

Megan Bell

[email protected]

(401) 214-5600

SOURCE Falvey Cargo Underwriting

Related Links

http://falveycargounderwriting.com


At first, they quarantined together in one bedroom at home in Los Angeles, since as far as they knew, no one else in their family had it. For days, their symptoms were relatively mild. Then both took a turn for the worse.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (NYSE:FNF) (the "Company") today announced the publication of its 2019 Sustainability Report. This initial report provides a comprehensive overview of the Company's policies, strategies, initiatives, and related performance.

Highlights from the 2019 Report:

FNF fosters an inclusive workplace by welcoming all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identification

10% of the FNF Board of Directors, 25% of FNF's Executive Team, and 66% of our workforce are women

Corporate Governance Guidelines for selecting new directors includes considering a diversity of age, gender, nationality, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation

80% of FNF's Board of Directors are independent from management

Board focus on good governance practices, which promote the long-term interests of FNF shareholders and support accountability of the Company's board of directors and management

Women in Leadership program encourages and promotes women into active leadership roles

Local operations donate thousands of hours annually to serve their communities, including feeding the hungry, volunteering at hometown charitable organizations, and fundraising for philanthropic efforts

Launch of Digital Strategy Initiative promoting sustainability through paperless technology programs

Increased electronic payment processing, significantly reducing paper waste

Deployment of Energy Star compliant technology in majority of data centers

Reduction of environmental impact through energy efficiency, water conservation and waste management

"At FNF we're committed to upholding our Company's core values, which inspire us to do our best each day, driving sustainability within FNF and the communities in which we operate," commented FNF Chief Executive Officer, Randy Quirk. "With the issuance of our inaugural Sustainability Report we are continuing to lead by example. At FNF we believe that building a sustainable business means being transparent about our business practices, corporate governance, and commitment to environmental stewardship."

Access to the 2019 Sustainability Report.

About Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (NYSE: FNF) is a leading provider of title insurance and transaction services to the real estate and mortgage industries. FNF is the nation's largest title insurance company through its title insurance underwriters - Fidelity National Title, Chicago Title, Commonwealth Land Title, Alamo Title and National Title of New York - that collectively issue more title insurance policies than any other title company in the United States. More information about FNF can be found at fnf.com.

FNF-G

SOURCE Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.fnf.com


LONDON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, FlyForm Ltd  a UK-based Elite ServiceNow partner  received a growth capital investment from Lloyds Bank, in partnership with Izy Capital as Lead Advisor. With this investment, FlyForm will continue to consolidate its position as the leading ServiceNow consultancy firm, before expanding into complementary market spaces, ultimately targeting annual revenue of 1 billion over the next 10 years.

Founded in late 2015 and headquartered in Cardiff (Wales), FlyForm is led by co-founders Arron Davies (COO) and Philip Davies (CEO)  one of WalesOnline's "2019's 35-under-35" inductees. Since its early days, the company has quickly expanded to work with clients across the UK and experienced compounded annual growth rate of 261%. The company's current clients span a variety of sectors, including government, financial services and healthcare.

"We are beyond grateful to Lloyds Bank and the Izy Capital team for their help in achieving this massive opportunity," says CEO Philip Davies. "I look forward to working with my co-founder Arron and our growing team toward our vision of building Wales' first global technology consultancy with 1bn in annual revenue. This injection of capital will help us accelerate even faster into the next level, as well as being a huge vote of confidence in our vision to continue supporting the local economy with hundreds of jobs in the near future."

FlyForm works exclusively with ServiceNow  one of the leading global B2B cloud platforms with 2019 revenue of $3.5bn. Earlier this year, FlyForm achieved ServiceNow Elite Partner status, the highest ranking level for a UK-based partner. As ServiceNow targets global revenue of $10bn, FlyForm remains committed to bringing the cloud software platform and its ground-breaking technological innovations to more organisations around the world.

"FlyForm are a fantastic example of the vibrancy and the growth opportunity within the ServiceNow partner ecosystem," says Seb Fitzjohn, Vice President of Alliance & Channel Ecosystem EMEA at ServiceNow. "A big part of ServiceNow's strategy is to create the conditions for our partners to invest and scale, based on delivering customer success, and amazing experiences on the NOW platform."

"We are delighted to support FlyForm with their scale objectives," says Christopher Ryan, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank. "Their growth trajectory over the past several years has been remarkable and we very much look forward to a long-term relationship as digitisation is forced to the top of all enterprise agendas."

David Rees, Managing Partner at Izy Capital (and Lead Advisor for this round), says, "We have been working with FlyForm for several years. They are an awesome bunch of guys as borne out by CAGR since 2016 of 261%. With the widescale migration to enterprise cloud digitisation and the support of the incredible ServiceNow ecosystem, our clear sense is this is just the beginning."

About FlyForm

FlyForm (www.flyform.com) is an Elite ServiceNow partner, providing consultancy, implementation and managed services. Formed in 2016, the group has seen CAGR in excess of 200% driven by a commitment to the four pillars of success:

Culture - Creating a supportive environment where employees feel valued

Creating a supportive environment where employees feel valued Quality - Taking pride in delivering high quality outcomes with products we truly believe in

Taking pride in delivering high quality outcomes with products we truly believe in Integrity - Always acting in alignment with our core values and being willing to have difficult conversations

Always acting in alignment with our core values and being willing to have difficult conversations Results - Relentlessly committed to achieving their client's outcomes

About Izy Capital

Izy Capital is a global early stage venture capital and growth stage advisory practice. With a presence in London, UAE, New York, Vancouver and Mumbai, Izy looks to work with globally aspirational founders who have the ambition, drive, resilience, and vision to deliver against significant market opportunity.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1196653/FlyForm_Logo.jpg

SOURCE FlyForm Ltd

Related Links

https://flyform.com


NEW YORK, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Meredith Corporation's (NYSE: MDP: Meredith.com) FOOD & WINE will host its first-ever FOOD & WINE Classic at Home virtual event on Thursday, July 23 beginning at 4 p.m. EDT at www.foodandwine.com/ClassicAtHome and featuring all-star talent including Martha Stewart, Jacques Pepin, Ayesha Curry, JJ Johnson, Stephanie Izard and Kwame Onwuachi. Emcee'd by FOOD & WINE Culinary Director at Large Justin Chapple, the event will also include wine tastings led by FOOD & WINE Executive Wine Editor Ray Isle and FOOD & WINE Contributor Anthony Giglio, and a beer tasting led by Garrett Oliver.

Created to offer a taste of what the annual FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen is all about, the new two-hour interactive culinary experience will also bring attention to the restaurant industry and raise funds for five charity partners: Jacques Pepin Foundation, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Southern Smoke Foundation, Wholesome Wave and World Central Kitchen.

Hunter Lewis, Editor in Chief of FOOD & WINE, said, "The FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen is always a highly anticipated event bringing together chefs, restaurateurs, winemakers, sommeliers, and food lovers from all over. Though we've missed being there this June, I'm delighted that we're able to offer this fun and entertaining experience with top talent that also supports relief efforts at a time when there is so much need across the restaurant industry and in areas of social justice."

Attendees (ages 21+) who wish to purchase the wines that will be featured in the wine tastings in advance to taste along in real time, visit www.wine.com/ClassicAtHome.

To register and reserve your space for this complimentary event, visit www.foodandwine.com/ClassicAtHome. To find out more about the charity partners and to donate, visit https://classic.foodandwine.com/charity/.

This event is created in partnership with KitchenAid, Le Creuset, Lexus and S.Pellegrino.

ABOUT FOOD & WINE

FOOD & WINE is the ultimate authority on the best of what's new in food, drink, travel, design and entertaining. FOOD & WINE has an extensive social media following on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. FOOD & WINE includes a monthly magazine in print and digital; a website, foodandwine.com; a books division; plus newsletters, clubs, events, dinnerware, cookware and more. At FOOD & WINE, we inspire and empower our wine and food obsessed community to eat, drink, entertain and travel betterevery day and everywhere. FOOD & WINE is part of Meredith Corp.'s (NYSE: MDP: Meredith.com) portfolio of best-in-class brands.

SOURCE Meredith Corporation

Related Links

http://Meredith.com


MEXICO CITY, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo LALA, S.A.B. de C.V., a Mexican Company focused on healthy and nutritious foods ("LALA") (BMV "LALAB"), will host a conference call to discuss Second Quarter 2020 Results.

Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 11:00am EST / 10:00am CST



Presenters: Arquimedes Celis, Chief Executive Officer Alberto Arellano, Chief Financial Officer David Gonzalez, Investor Relations Officer



Dial-in: 1 877 705 6003 (US and Canada, toll-free) 01 800 522 0034 (Mexico, toll-free) 1 201 493 6725 (International, toll)



Webcast: http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=140533



Results: LALA's Second Quarter 2020 Results Press Release will be issued after Mexican Market close on Monday, July 20, 2020



Contact: David Gonzalez and Elias Rangel Investor Relations Tel.: +52 (55) 5814 -7192 [email protected]

** Registration is required for the call; please dial in at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

About LALA

Grupo LALA, Mexican healthy and nutritious food company, has more than 65 years of experience in the production, innovation and distribution of milk, dairy products, cold cuts and beverages at the highest levels of quality. LALA operates 31 production plants and 176 distribution centers in Mexico, Brazil, the United States and Central America. The Company is supported by more than 38,000 employees. LALA operates a fleet of more than 7,000 units for the distribution of more than 600 products that reach more than 578,000 points of sale. LALA, Nutri Leche and Vigor are part of the Company's extensive brand portfolio.

For more information, visit: www.lala.com.mx

"Grupo LALA trades on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "LALAB"

SOURCE Grupo LALA, S.A.B. de C.V.

Related Links

https://www.lala.com.mx


SAN FRANCISCO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Entitled "Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Safety and Efficacy Study of Dutogliptin in Combination with Filgrastim in Early Recovery Post-Myocardial Infarction: rationale, design and first interim analysis", the presentation provides an initial insight into patient outcomes of the trial that is currently ongoing in multiple centers. Patients included in this trial experienced a severe form of Myocardial Infarction known as STEMI. Soon after the initial intervention to re-establish adequate blood flow to the coronary arteries, patients begin a two-week treatment with Recardio's dutogliptin, a small molecule that enables sustained homing of mobilised stem cells to the site of cardiac injury. By releasing paracrine factors, stem cells have been shown to have significant repair and regenerative effects that improve healing and recovery of cardiac function after the infarction.

More information about the clinical program is available by visiting the "clinicaltrials.gov" website at the following link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03486080

About Recardio

Recardio Inc. is a clinical-stage life science company focusing on therapies for cardiovascular, oncology and infectious diseases. The company is located in San Francisco, California, and has operations in the USA and Europe. The company's lead drug candidate, dutogliptin, is a DPP-IV inhibitor that has demonstrated significant effects in activating various chemokines like SDF-1, a protein that is critical for cardiac regeneration. In addition to its current Phase 2 cardiovascular clinical program, Recardio will fully develop the therapeutic platform as a regenerative medication for patients with various cardiovascular diseases including acute myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure, with the potential of improving heart function, quality of life and survival.

For more information, visit: http://www.recardio.eu/ or contact [email protected]

SOURCE Recardio

Related Links

http://www.recardio.eu


MIAMI, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Island Queen Cruises & Tours, Miami's premier cruise and tour company, is resuming Millionaire's Row Cruises, Everglades Tours, and private yacht charters for the summer of 2020.

Passengers can safely and confidently explore Miami aboard a fully-narrated bilingual sightseeing cruise along Biscayne Bay and Millionaire's Rowthe Homes of the Rich and Famous. Guests can travel through the Everglades, a treasured ecosystem of South Florida, by taking a tour that includes an airboat ride, an alligator wildlife show, and a walking trail filled with crocodile exhibits. For special occasions with groups, friends, and family, the company's wide selection of private yachts and catamarans are available to rent for reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, and more.

While navigating through the uncharted territory of the COVID-19 pandemic, Island Queen has been closely monitoring state and local guidelines while being conscientious of information released by the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA). The passenger vessel community has always been highly focused on ensuring the safety of its crew and guests, now more than ever. PVA's Safety and Security Committee recently released a guidance document covering best practices for reopening and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on how to best limit the effects of coronavirus. This provided the necessary framework for enhanced operation standards moving forward.

The company is prioritizing the monitoring of employee and passenger health, proven hygiene practices, social distancing, personal protective equipment, and thorough cleaning and disinfecting. Their cruise schedules will be updated as new information is provided.

"We invite you to make the most out of your summer by getting out on the water to experience Miami," notes Island Queen Director of Sales & Marketing Patrick Young. "It's a great time to be a tourist in your own city. Thanks for supporting our small business during these trying times. We can't wait to see you."

About: For over 60 years, Island Queen Cruises & Tours has offered top-rated Miami experiences through cruises, attractions, and more. The company hosts daily sightseeing cruises, educational tours, and many other activities that allow its guests to discover the marvels of this major US city.

Contact: To purchase a ticket and view all COVID-19 safety measures, visit https://islandqueencruises.com/. For any questions, send us a message at https://islandqueencruises.com/contact/ or contact Tania Padilla at [email protected] or (786) 514-3533.

SOURCE Island Queen Cruises & Tours

Related Links

https://islandqueencruises.com


ALISO VIEJO, Calif., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambry Genetics Corporation (Ambry), a leading clinical genetic testing laboratory, announced the launch of its CARE for COVID Program to provide employers with the system, tools, and support they need to screen, test, and manage their employees' health with respect to COVID-19 as they return to work.

Leveraging the existing Ambry CARE Program , which currently enables hereditary cancer risk-assessment at scale, the CARE for COVID Program helps employers make informed decisions about which employees to test, and how frequently, using an online symptom and exposure questionnaire based on the latest CDC guidelines and recommendations. Ambry is developing a comprehensive testing portfolio to integrate within the CARE for COVID Program to create a comprehensive end-to-end screening, testing, and employee health-management solution. Ambry's initial test offering will be a saliva RT-PCR test for active COVID-19 infection detection, with incremental test options to be rolled out shortly thereafter, and will include point-of-care antigen testing.

An AI-based virtual assistant enables employees to answer the screening and exposure questionnaire from their computers, tablets, or mobile phones to assess the risk of returning to work, and to guide them to the appropriate tests.

"To aid in employee safety, return-to-work initiatives, and general peace of mind, employers need a clinically validated, comprehensive, and cost-effective approach. The CARE platform is that turn-key solution from screening to testing that helps provide a safe work environment and limit potential exposure," Ambry Chief Executive Officer Aaron Elliott said. "We can tailor our CARE for COVID Program to meet employers' individual needs as employees return to work and to support continued employee health and wellness."

The CARE for COVID Program follows a simple process. Ambry's Virtual Assistant (AVA) guides employees through the online exposure and screening questionnaire, after obtaining their consent, educating them on the process, and guiding them through the questions. Once completed, the employee will be notified whether they should consider testing, and provides employers information to help them assess whether the employee should return to work. The CARE for COVID Program also includes a HIPAA-compliant portal for employers to track employee completion status. In later versions, the Program plans to offer workplace exposure tracking, helping to quickly identify additional employees who may be at risk and flagging them for testing to help reduce further spread of the virus.

The CARE for COVID Program incorporates the latest guidance from federal agencies, including the CDC. Ambry worked directly with noted experts in academia, industry, and government to develop the program.

The CARE for COVID Program can be customized depending on each organization's needs.

"We recognize that every business has its own specific needs and concerns as they open up again and that a best-in-class screening and testing program would have to be flexible enough to fit any organization," Ambry Chief Commercial Officer Tom Schoenherr said. "Our CARE for COVID Program will soon incorporate a portfolio of testing options providing businesses a full view of the landscape of employee health to help ensure that everyone is as safe as possible in the face of the ongoing pandemic."



The Ambry CARE (Comprehensive Assessment, Risk, and Education) program is a population-health, precision-medicine tool that can be used to address employee health and wellness across a range of medical issues. Already used to help people learn whether they are at risk for hereditary cancers including breast and colon cancers, the program can also be adapted to help employees identify and manage diabetes, cardiovascular, and other diseases. To learn more about the CARE program and hereditary cancer risk, please visit ambrygen.com/care.

ABOUT AMBRY GENETICS

Ambry Genetics, as part of Konica Minolta Precision Medicine, excels at translating scientific research into clinically actionable test results based upon a deep understanding of the human genome and the biology behind genetic disease. Our unparalleled track record of discoveries over 20 years, and growing database that continues to expand in collaboration with academic, corporate and pharmaceutical partners, means we are first to market with innovative products and comprehensive analysis that enable clinicians to confidently inform patient health decisions. We care about what happens to real people, their families, and the people they love, and remain dedicated to providing them and their clinicians with deeper knowledge and fresh insights, so together they can make informed, potentially life-altering healthcare decisions. For more information, please visit ambrygen.com .

For more information on risk factors for hereditary cancer, please visit cancer.gov's fact sheet on hereditary cancer and genetic testing.

Press Contact:

Liz Squire

[email protected]

(202) 617-4662

SOURCE Ambry Genetics
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal-Bay LLC, the Lawsuit Pre-Settlement Funding Company, announced their commitment to assisting victims of childhood sexual abuse. The Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February, and plaintiffs believe the move was made to avoid paying the 275 cases already ruled upon, and the more than 1400 cases still waiting to be decided.

Statute-of-limitation extensions in states like NJ, NY, PA, and CA have created an influx of new filings, but have also made negotiations regarding settlements and ultimately settlement values or amounts more difficult to evaluate. The BSA has already paid over $150 million in settlements since 2017, and future settlement amounts will be determined based on the organization's total assets and the amount of debt they hold. The non-profit's viability post-payout will also be a consideration.

Chris Janish, CEO, commented on the situation, "Legal-Bay has been a leader in funding sexual abuse lawsuits, however there remains uncertainty on exactly how the Boy Scouts Bankruptcy case will unfold. Nonetheless, we remain one of few companies who are still actively funding the Boy Scout claims."

To apply for funding right now, visit the company's website by clicking HERE.

Legal-Bay has funded many BSA cases throughout the country, as well as sexual assault and/or harassment in the workplace, commercial litigation cases, racial discrimination cases, police brutality lawsuits, slip and fall, personal injury, car and truck accident cases, and many more. Legal-Bay's fast-track approval process can have you approved in one day, and funding within 48 hours of your initial application.

If you or a loved one require an immediate cash advance, please visit the company's website HERE or call 877.571.0405 where agents are standing by to hear about your specific case.

Legal-Bay's programs are non-recourse lawsuit cash advances, also known as case funding, which means no risk, as you only repay the settlement advance if you win your case. Many clients refer to funding as a law suit loan, lawsuit loan, lawsuit loans, pre-settlement loans, settlement loans, or settlement loan  however they are not deemed as loans because if plaintiff loses their case then they don't need to pay back.

SOURCE Legal-Bay, LLC
COVINGTON, La., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LLOG Exploration Offshore, L.L.C. ("LLOG" or "the Company"), a privately-owned exploration and production company focused on the deepwater Gulf of Mexico ("GOM"), today announced the sanctioning of its Taggart discovery and the signing of a production handling agreement for development via tieback to the Williams-owned Devils Tower Spar in Mississippi Canyon 773.

The Taggart discovery is located on Mississippi Canyon Block 816 in approximately 5,650 feet of water. The Mississippi Canyon 816 #1 discovery well was drilled in 2013 to a depth of 11,562 feet and encountered 97 feet of net pay in two Miocene objectives. Two subsequent appraisal wells were drilled in 2015 and 2019 and encountered 147 feet and 84 feet of net pay, respectively.

Philip LeJeune, President and CEO of LLOG, commented, "LLOG is pleased to announce the sanctioning of our Taggart discovery, and we look forward to the successful development of this deepwater asset. We are proud to have finalized an agreement with Williams for the recovery and processing of Taggart's reserves via subsea tieback to their nearby Devils Tower Spar. Williams will provide the infrastructure necessary for the efficient and economic development of the Taggart discovery which has reserves totaling approximately 27 million barrels of oil equivalent. We believe this partnership is a perfect match due to both companies' experience developing deepwater assets and commitment to operating with excellence, integrity, and safety. LLOG is looking forward to beginning the successful execution of this deepwater Gulf of Mexico development project."

LLOG and its affiliates own 100% of the Taggart development. Initial development plans at Taggart include the completion and tie back of two wells with first production expected in 2022.

About the Company

LLOG Exploration Offshore, L.L.C. is a privately-owned exploration and production company. LLOG's corporate headquarters is in Covington, Louisiana, and the Company has an office in Houston, Texas.

For additional information, please contact [email protected] or visit the Company's website at www.llog.com.

SOURCE LLOG Exploration Offshore, L.L.C.

Related Links

http://www.llog.com


During the podcast, the two CEOs emphasized that COVID-19 is a more unique and complex crisis than any challenge these leaders have previously confronted, including the 2008 Recession, periodic oil and gas sector corrections, and geopolitical crises.

"COVID has unquestionably changed the world and the challenges before us are all-encompassing," said Khaldoon Al Mubarak, CEO of Mubadala. "No textbook exists to manage the economic fallout from this pandemic, yet despite these obstacles, we live in a world powered by innovation, technology, and ingenuity. Progress is no longer measured in months, but rather in days and hours. In a short span, we are making advancements in the study of vaccines, treatments, and testing. At Mubadala, COVID has taught us to keep moving forward, evolve, modernize, and never remain stagnant."

For David McCormick, CEO of Bridgewater Associates, the experience of serving as US Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs during the 2008 financial crisis is informing his decision making as he leads Bridgewater through the current challenge. "During that time, I learned from Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that in a crisis, you must iterate, experiment, make decisions, and then adjust," said McCormick. "The US government response to the coronavirus is enormous, and many orders of magnitude larger and more rapid than what transpired in 2008. Mistakes will be made, but policymakers deserve credit in the way they were able to quickly avert a more severe crisis. They must also evolve these policies to remedy any shortcomings of this unparalleled intervention."

Both Khaldoon Al Mubarak and David McCormick agree that a fundamental economic paradigm shift is now accelerated due to COVID-19. Certain sectors, notably technology, are quickly evolving and will play a significant role in the worldwide economic recovery. Al Mubarak in particular emphasized medical technology, Artificial Intelligence, Life Sciences, pharmaceuticals, and E-Commerce as positive economic drivers.

In commenting on the future of the global economic landscape, both executives emphasized the importance of promoting cooperation and dialogue to manage the increasingly competitive US-China relationship. "Global economic growth is dependent on a certain level of stability between the two largest economies in the world," Khaldoon Al Mubarak said. "When the United States and China maintain a stable trade and political relationship, it enables growth to continue and allows the whole world to benefit." Added David McCormick, "The US-China relationship is the defining global relationship of our lifetimes. It is evolving in ways that create real risk, both for investors and for the world economy as a whole. The relationship has to be managed with great care and sophistication, even as we recognize that it's moved to a new stage of competition."

For Khaldoon Al Mubarak, COVID-19 reinforced the concept that nations must develop a domestic production capacity, especially for critical medical supplies. As an example, he referenced the recently announced partnership between Mubadala subsidiary Strata Manufacturing, a maker of composite aero-structures, and Honeywell, a manufacturer of N95 masks. Strata adapted to the coronavirus by transforming itself to produce masks at their UAE facility for export to countries with significant need.

"Our world has forever changed, but deep thinkers with incredible business acumen like Khaldoon Al Mubarak and David McCormick will play pivotal roles as we transition from economic standstill to recovery," said Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba. "As Khaldoon and David shared on Podbridge, we must remain committed to globalization and trade, and leverage our technological knowhow, ingenuity, and creativity to sustain a meaningful economic rebound."

Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak is the Managing Director and Group CEO of Mubadala Investment Company. Mubadala is a sovereign investor managing a global portfolio of assets aimed at generating sustainable financial returns for its shareholder, the Government of Abu Dhabi. Mubadala's US $232 billion portfolio spans five continents with interests in multiple sectors and across all asset classes.

David McCormick is CEO of Bridgewater Associates, a premier asset management firm focused on delivering unique insight and partnership for the most sophisticated global institutional investors. Before joining Bridgewater, McCormick was the US Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs in the George W. Bush Administration, and prior to that served in senior posts on the National Security Council and in the Department of Commerce.

Podbridge is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast services. For more information about Podbridge, visit www.podbridge.com and receive updates on Twitter @UAEUSAUNITED .

Lamiyae Jbari

[email protected]

202 243 2464

SOURCE Embassy of the United Arab Emirates

Related Links

http://www.uae-embassy.org


Given the number of cases in this outbreak, we consider this a higher risk exposure than a typical visit to a restaurant or bar, Vail said. There are likely more people infected with Covid-19 not yet identified.
Under his leadership, the largest infrastructure rehabilitation effort in Nicor Gas' history was deployed. Through Investing in Illinois, cast iron main pipelines and copper services were retired, resulting in the safe replacement of more than 831 miles of aging, natural gas pipeline and underground storage systems. Nearly 100,000 service replacements also were conducted throughout the 656 communities Nicor Gas serves. Investing in Illinois is Nicor Gas' system improvement initiative designed to help ensure the continued safe and reliable delivery of natural gas in the state of Illinois.

"I'm humbled to have been a part of a team who always puts customers and their safety first. The company would not continuously improve our systems and communities without the dedication and hard work of every single employee," Williams said. "They put safety above all else because they believe it. It's personal to us  all of us. Time and time again, this commitment superseded any other obligation we have had as a company, and our communities are better for it."

"Melvin Williams is a dedicated and respected leader who has been an ardent champion of natural gas and its benefits. Anyone who has met Melvin knows he holds the safety of his employees, customers and communities first. His leadership will be greatly missed," said Kim Greene, Southern Company Gas chairman, president and CEO. "Melvin's many accomplishments span his decades with Southern Company Gas, and our industry is better thanks to his contributions. We all wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement."

Williams began his career with Southern Company Gas in 1989. His depth of knowledge in all facets of natural gas utility distribution increased over the next 31 years as Williams held leadership positions in numerous areas of the company, including sales and new business development, regulatory affairs, utility operations and financial planning and analysis. Prior to his current position, Williams served as senior vice president of planning and business services operations. He also served as vice president and general manager of Atlanta Gas Light and Florida City Gas.

As a champion of diversity and inclusion for employees and our communities, Williams served on the Southern Company Gas Leadership, Empowerment, Acceptance and Diversity (LEAD) Council and is the founding chairman of the Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council, as well as a member of the Chicago chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy.

During his tenure at Southern Company Gas, Williams actively supported numerous community and youth organizations and continues to be passionate about charitable causes. His dedication and engagement include serving on the board of directors for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, the board of trustees for the Field Museum of Chicago; and the board of the Southern Company Gas Charitable Foundation. He also is a lifetime member and Hall of Fame inductee of the Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club of Savannah. Williams earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Savannah State University.

John O. Hudson, III, executive vice president and chief external and public affairs officer at Southern Company Gas, will succeed Williams as president and CEO of Nicor Gas.

About Nicor Gas

Nicor Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Nicor Gas serves more than 2.2 million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. For more information, visit nicorgas.com.

About Southern Company Gas

Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America's premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with approximately 700,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.

SOURCE Nicor Gas

Related Links

https://southerncompanygas.com/


DUBLIN, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Protective Clothing Market for Life Sciences Industry 2019-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The publisher predicts that the global market for protective clothing for life sciences industry would witness a CAGR of 6.26% over the forecast period 2019-2028.



The growth of this market is primarily being driven by the growing demand for protective clothing from end-users. Additionally, the large investments in research & development and the stringent rules & regulations to ensure the safety of workers at workplaces also helping in bringing growth to the market. Furthermore, the enhanced biotechnology & healthcare expenditure, along with the rising demand from developing nations for PPE, open up several new opportunities for market growth.



However, the high cost of these clothing as well as the surge in the outsourcing & automation of pharma manufacturing, are hindering the market growth. Moreover, manufacturing complexities, evolving market trends, and the stiff competition from generic products are creating hurdles in the protective clothing market for life sciences industry's growth.



The global market spans across the regions of North America, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia-pacific, and Europe.



The Asia-Pacific is poised to be the fastest-growing market globally during the forecasted period. The improvement in the medical hygiene standard in the region is attributable to the growth of the market in the APAC. China is the largest market in this region, holding the maximum market share. It is also one of the most lucrative markets in the world for various industries, ranging from medical products to pharmaceuticals. The country's healthcare industry is growing speedily, thanks to the rapid urbanization, increasing disease burden, favorable demographic trends, growth in income, and the economy's overall growth. This has significantly boosted the nation's protective clothing market for life sciences industry.



Major players engaged in the protective clothing market for life sciences industry are Kimberly-Clark, WL Gore & Associates Inc, Honeywell International Inc, DuPont, Kappler, Uvex Group, Tronex International Inc, Irudek Group, BioClean (By Ansell), Lakeland Inc, VF Corporation, Ansell Ltd, Berkshire Corporation, 3M Company, and Lindstrom Group.



The 3M Company, is a US-based multinational conglomerate, with operations in over 65 countries. It functions across several domains, catering to end-users across a range of industries. In the protective clothing segment, it offers head & face protection, protective suits & apparel, protective eyewear, etc. the company's strong R&D infrastructure helps it in developing innovative products, making 3M a frontrunner in most of its businesses. In May 2020, the US Department of Defense awarded 3M two contracts to manufacture N95 respirators in the country's efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Global Protective Clothing Market for Life Sciences Industry - Summary



2. Industry Outlook

2.1. Market Definition

2.2. Key Insights

2.2.1. Disposable Clothing Type to Dominate the Market

2.2.2. Asia-Pacific to Witness the Highest Growth

2.2.3. Cleanroom Clothing Holds Largest Market Share Amongst Applications

2.3. Porter's Five Force Analysis

2.3.1. Threat of New Entrants

2.3.2. Threat of Substitute

2.3.3. Bargaining Power of Suppliers

2.3.4. Bargaining Power of Buyers

2.3.5. Threat of Competitive Rivalry

2.4. Market Attractiveness Index

2.5. Vendor Scorecard

2.6. Value Chain Analysis

2.7. Market Drivers

2.7.1. Growing Demand from End-User

2.7.2. Huge Investments in R&D

2.7.3. Stringent Rules and Regulations

2.8. Market Restraints

2.8.1. High Cost of Protective Cloths

2.8.2. Surge in Outsourcing and Automation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

2.9. Market Opportunities

2.9.1. Growth in Biotechnology and Healthcare Spending

2.9.2. Increasing Demand from Emerging Economies

2.10. Market Challenges

2.10.1. Complexity in Manufacturing

2.10.2. Growing Price Competition in Generic Products and Evolving Market Trends



3. Global Protective Clothing Market for Life Sciences Industry Outlook - by Type

3.1. Disposable

3.2. Reusable



4. Global Protective Clothing Market for Life Sciences Industry Outlook - by Product

4.1. Suits/Coveralls

4.2. Gloves

4.3. Aprons

4.4. Facemasks and Hats

4.5. Protective Eyewear and Cleanroom Goggles

4.6. Footwear and Overshoes

4.7. Wipes

4.8. Others



5. Global Protective Clothing Market for Life Sciences Industry Outlook - by Application

5.1. Cleanroom Clothing

5.1.1. Pharmaceutical

5.1.2. Biotechnology

5.1.3. Medical

5.2. Radiation Protection

5.3. Bacterial/Viral Protection

5.4. Chemical Protection

5.5. Others



6. Global Protective Clothing Market for Life Sciences Industry - Regional Outlook

6.1. North America

6.1.1. Market by Type

6.1.2. Market by Product

6.1.3. Market by Application

6.1.3.1. Market by Cleanroom Clothing

6.1.4. Country Analysis

6.1.4.1. United States

6.1.4.2. Canada

6.2. Europe

6.2.1. Market by Type

6.2.2. Market by Product

6.2.3. Market by Application

6.2.3.1. Market by Cleanroom Clothing

6.2.4. Country Analysis

6.2.4.1. United Kingdom

6.2.4.2. Germany

6.2.4.3. France

6.2.4.4. Spain

6.2.4.5. Italy

6.2.4.6. Russia

6.2.4.7. Rest of Europe

6.3. Asia-Pacific

6.3.1. Market by Type

6.3.2. Market by Product

6.3.3. Market by Application

6.3.3.1. Market by Cleanroom Clothing

6.3.4. Country Analysis

6.3.4.1. China

6.3.4.2. Japan

6.3.4.3. India

6.3.4.4. South Korea

6.3.4.5. Asean Countries

6.3.4.6. Australia & New Zealand

6.3.4.7. Rest of Asia-Pacific

6.4. Latin America

6.4.1. Market by Type

6.4.2. Market by Product

6.4.3. Market by Application

6.4.3.1. Market by Cleanroom Clothing

6.4.4. Country Analysis

6.4.4.1. Brazil

6.4.4.2. Mexico

6.4.4.3. Rest of Latin America

6.5. Middle East and Africa

6.5.1. Market by Type

6.5.2. Market by Product

6.5.3. Market by Application

6.5.3.1. Market by Cleanroom Clothing

6.5.4. Country Analysis

6.5.4.1. United Arab Emirates

6.5.4.2. Turkey

6.5.4.3. Saudi Arabia

6.5.4.4. South Africa

6.5.4.5. Rest of Middle East & Africa



7. Competitive Landscape

7.1. Dupont

7.2. Kimberly-Clark

7.3. Ansell Ltd

7.4. 3M Company

7.5. Lakeland Inc

7.6. Bioclean (By Ansell)

7.7. Honeywell International Inc

7.8. Irudek Group

7.9. Berkshire Corporation

7.10. Kappler

7.11. Tronex International Inc.

7.12. Uvex Group

7.13. Lindstrom Group

7.14. WL Gore & Associates Inc

7.15. VF Corporation



8. Methodology & Scope

8.1. Research Scope

8.2. Sources of Data

8.3. Research Methodology



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dnoyv8

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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MONTREAL, June 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Turquoise Hill Resources today announced the Government of Mongolia and Oyu Tolgoi LLC have reached an agreement to prioritise a State Owned Power Plant (SOPP) in order to support the Government's decision, taken by Cabinet in April, 2020, as the domestic power solution for the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia. The agreement envisages that the Government of Mongolia would fund and construct a SOPP at Tavan Tolgoi.

The existing Power Source Framework Agreement (PSFA) between Oyu Tolgoi and the Government of Mongolia has been amended to reflect joint prioritisation and progression of SOPP in accordance with agreed milestones. Upon its delivery, SOPP would provide long-term and reliable power supply for Oyu Tolgoi's open pit operations and underground project development.

The Parties will now work towards achieving the milestones agreed in the amendment, which include signing a Power Purchase Agreement by 31 March, 2021, commencement of construction by no later than 1 July 2021 and commissioning of SOPP within four years thereafter, and, negotiating an extension to the existing power import agreement by 1 March, 2021, to ensure that there is no disruption to the power supply required to safeguard Oyu Tolgoi's ongoing operations and development.

"We welcome the Government of Mongolia's proposal to progress Oyu Tolgoi's long-term domestic power requirements and to prioritise SOPP," stated Ulf Quellmann, Chief Executive Officer of Turquoise Hill. "The amendments to the PSFA provide Oyu Tolgoi and the Government the additional framework and time required to solidify a power solution and finalise the commercial arrangements in the best interests of all stakeholders. This agreement is a testament to the continued collaboration and commitment of the Government, Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto to the long-term success of Oyu Tolgoi."

The agreed PSFA amendment can be found at www.turquoisehill.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made herein, including statements relating to matters that are not historical facts and statements of the Company's beliefs, intentions and expectations about developments, results and events which will or may occur in the future, constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements and information relate to future events or future performance, reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events and are typically identified by words such as "anticipate", "could", "should", "expect", "seek", "may", "intend", "likely", "plan", "estimate", "will", "believe" and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. These include, but are not limited to, statements regarding agreements on power including the possible progression of the State Owned Power Plant ("SOPP") and related amendments to the Power Source Framework Agreement as well as power purchase agreements, the timing, construction and commissioning of the potential SOPP, sources of interim power, information regarding the timing and amount of production and potential production delays, statements in respect of the impacts of any delays on the Company's cash flows, expected copper and gold grades, liquidity, funding requirements and planning, statements regarding timing and status of underground development, the development options under consideration for the design of Panel 0 and the related cost and schedule implications, the potential impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, operations and financial condition, capital and operating cost estimates, timing of completion of the definitive estimate review, mill and concentrator throughput, the outcome of formal international arbitration proceedings, anticipated business activities, planned expenditures, corporate strategies, and other statements that are not historical facts.

Forward-looking statements and information are made based upon certain assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements or information. There can be no assurance that such statements or information will prove to be accurate. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies, local and global economic conditions, and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of copper, gold and silver and projected gold, copper and silver grades, anticipated capital and operating costs, anticipated future production and cash flows, the anticipated location of certain infrastructure and sequence of mining in Panel 0, the availability and timing of required governmental and other approvals for the construction of the SOPP, the ability of the Government to finance and procure the SOPP within the timeframes anticipated in the PSFA Amendment, the willingness of third parties to extend existing power arrangements, the status of the Company's relationship and interaction with the Government of Mongolia on the continued operation and development of Oyu Tolgoi and Oyu Tolgoi LLC internal governance. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and information include, among others, copper; gold and silver price volatility; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries; development plans for processing resources; the outcome of the definitive estimate review; public health crises such as COVID-19; matters relating to proposed exploration or expansion; mining operational and development risks, including geotechnical risks and ground conditions; litigation risks; regulatory restrictions (including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability); Oyu Tolgoi LLC's or the Government's ability to deliver a domestic power source for the Oyu Tolgoi project within the required contractual time frame; communications with local stakeholders and community relations; activities, actions or assessments, including tax assessments, by governmental authorities; events or circumstances (including strikes, blockages or similar events outside of the Company's control) that may affect the Company's ability to deliver its products in a timely manner; currency fluctuations; the speculative nature of mineral exploration; the global economic climate; dilution; share price volatility; competition; loss of key employees; cyber security incidents; additional funding requirements, including in respect of the development or construction of a long-term domestic power supply for the Oyu Tolgoi project; capital and operating costs, including with respect to the development of additional deposits and processing facilities; and defective title to mineral claims or property. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. All such forward-looking statements and information are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company's management in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. These statements, however, are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements or information.

With respect to specific forward-looking information concerning the continued operation and development of Oyu Tolgoi, the Company has based its assumptions and analyses on certain factors which are inherently uncertain. Uncertainties and assumptions include, among others: the timing and cost of the construction and expansion of mining and processing facilities; the timing and availability of a long-term domestic power source (or the availability of financing for the Company or the Government to construct such a source) for Oyu Tolgoi; the ability to secure and draw down on the supplemental debt under the Oyu Tolgoi project financing facility and the availability of additional financing on terms reasonably acceptable to Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Rio Tinto and the Company to further develop Oyu Tolgoi; the potential impact of COVID-19; the impact of changes in, changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practices in Mongolia; the availability and cost of skilled labour and transportation; the obtaining of (and the terms and timing of obtaining) necessary environmental and other government approvals, consents and permits; delays, and the costs which would result from delays, in the development of the underground mine (which could significantly exceed the costs projected in the 2016 Oyu Tolgoi Feasibility Study and the 2016 Oyu Tolgoi Technical Report); projected copper, gold and silver prices and their market demand; production estimates and the anticipated yearly production of copper, gold and silver at Oyu Tolgoi; and the willingness of third parties to extend the current power arrangements to the Oyu Tolgoi mine.

The cost, timing and complexities of mine construction and development are increased by the remote location of a property such as Oyu Tolgoi. It is common in mining operations and in the development or expansion of existing facilities to experience unexpected problems and delays during development, construction and mine start-up. Additionally, although Oyu Tolgoi has achieved commercial production, there is no assurance that future development activities will result in profitable mining operations.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, which contribute to the possibility that the predicted outcomes will not occur. Events or circumstances could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements are included in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's Annual Information Form dated as of March 18, 2020 in respect of the year ended December 31, 2019 (the "AIF") as supplemented by our Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 ("MD&A").

Readers are further cautioned that the list of factors enumerated in the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of the AIF and in the MD&A that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions with respect to the Company, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events.

SOURCE TURQUOISE HILL RESOURCES LTD

Related Links

https://www.turquoisehill.com/


WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pending home sales mounted a record comeback in May, seeing encouraging contract activity after two previous months of declines brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, according to the National Association of RealtorsO. Every major region recorded an increase in month-over-month pending home sales transactions, while the South also experienced a year-over-year increase in pending transactions.

May 2020 Pending Home Sales Infographic NAR Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun (PRNewsfoto/National Association of Realtors)

The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI),* www.nar.realtor/pending-home-sales, a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings, rose 44.3% to 99.6 in May, chronicling the highest month-over-month gain in the index since NAR started this series in January 2001. Year-over-year, contract signings fell 5.1%. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001.

"This has been a spectacular recovery for contract signings, and goes to show the resiliency of American consumers and their evergreen desire for homeownership," said Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist. "This bounce back also speaks to how the housing sector could lead the way for a broader economic recovery."

"More listings are continuously appearing as the economy reopens, helping with inventory choices," Yun said. "Still, more home construction is needed to counter the persistent underproduction of homes over the past decade."

According to data from realtor.com, among the largest metro areas, active listings were up by more than 10% in May compared to April in several metro areas, including Urban Honolulu, Hawaii; San Francisco, Calif.; San Jose, Calif.; Denver, Colo.; and Colorado Springs, Colo.

"The outlook has significantly improved, as new home sales are expected to be higher this year than last, and annual existing-home sales are now projected to be down by less than 10%  even after missing the spring buying season due to the pandemic lockdown," Yun said.

NAR now expects existing home sales to reach 4.93 million units in 2020 and new home sales to hit 690,000. "All figures light up in 2021 with positive GDP, employment, housing starts and home sales." Yun noted that in 2021, sales are forecast to rise to 5.35 million units for existing homes and 800,000 for new homes.

May Pending Home Sales Regional Breakdown

The month of May saw each of the four regional indices rise on a month-over-month basis after all were down in April 2020.

The Northeast PHSI grew 44.4% to 61.5 in May, although it was still down 33.2% from a year ago. In the Midwest, the index rose 37.2% to 98.8 last month, down 1.4% from May 2019.

Pending home sales in the South increased 43.3% to an index of 125.5 in May, up 1.9% from May 2019. The index in the West jumped 56.2% in May to 89.2, down 2.5% from a year ago.

The National Association of Realtors is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

*The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.

The index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20% of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months.

An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined. By coincidence, the volume of existing-home sales in 2001 fell within the range of 5.0 to 5.5 million, which is considered normal for the current U.S. population.

NOTE: Existing-Home Sales for June will be reported July 22. The next Pending Home Sales Index will be July 29; all release times are 10:00 a.m. ET.

Information about NAR is available at www.nar.realtor . This and other news releases are posted on the NAR Newsroom at www.nar.realtor/newsroom. Statistical data in this release, as well as other tables and surveys, are posted in the "Research and Statistics" tab.

SOURCE National Association of Realtors
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the nation's leading certifying organization for pharmacy technicians, is pleased to announce a collaboration with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) to provide pharmacy technician credentialing in immunization delivery to those completing the APhA/Washington State University Pharmacy-Based Immunization Administration by Pharmacy Technicians Program.

The training program will serve as a stepping stone for PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs) to earn an Assessment-Based Certificate. Developed by APhA in partnership with Washington State University, the training program provides pharmacy technicians with the knowledge and skills they need to safely administer vaccinations to patients.

"This very exciting collaboration builds on APhA's decades of experience in delivering pharmacy-based immunization training," said Daniel Zlott, PharmD, BCOP, Vice President of Professional Education Resources for APhA. "The program will ensure that pharmacy technicians who complete the training are well-positioned to support immunization-related services within pharmacies, while the US identifies solutions to meet the increased demand for vaccine services that we anticipate in the face of the upcoming flu season, provision of routine vaccines, and the release of a COVID-19 vaccine," he said.

"The demand for immunizations in the pharmacy setting is growing, and technicians are critical to successfully meeting that demand," said William Schimmel, PTCB Executive Director and CEO. "APhA is the leading authority on immunization training for pharmacists, so we are pleased to collaborate with them on this program for technicians." APhA has conducted immunization training for pharmacists for almost 25 years. The new certificate will be one of the credentials that can count toward becoming an Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT-Adv).

"Pharmacy technicians are an integral component of optimal pharmacy practice," said Scott Knoer, MS, PharmD, FASHP, Chairman of the PTCB Board of Governors, and APhA CEO and Executive Vice President. "Offering this credential will support the expanding role of pharmacy technicians as important members of the pharmacy care team focusing on improving the health of their communities."

Pharmacy technicians are currently authorized to immunize in several states, including Idaho, Rhode Island, and Utah, and other states are considering regulatory and policy changes to allow immunizing by technicians. In all states, technicians already have important roles that support pharmacy-based immunizations, such as assisting with the completion of vaccine administration record forms, accessing vaccination histories, managing inventory, entering data, and handling billing. Their work serves to advance the level of medication safety and helps pharmacists deliver optimum patient care.

PTCB plans to launch new specialty certificate programs in Billing and Reimbursement and in Hazardous Drug Management this summer, followed by the launch of a new Controlled Substances Diversion Prevention Program later this year, and the release of the Immunization Program, for a total of six certificate program introductions since 2019. PTCB's certificate programs in Technician Product Verification (TPV) and Medication History were launched last year.

Active PTCB CPhTs who have completed at least four certificate programs, including TPV and/or Medication History, or three certificate programs and PTCB's Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) Certification, and 3 years of work experience, will be eligible to earn a CPhT-Adv Certification this year.

Technicians can learn more about APhA Education programs at pharmacist.com/education .

Technicians can learn more and apply for the new PTCB certificate programs at ptcb.org/credentials .

https://www.ptcb.org/news/ptcb-collaborates-with-american-pharmacists-association-to-develop-immunization-credential-program-for-pharmacy-technicians

About the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)

PTCB is the nation's leading pharmacy technician certifying body. PTCB holds medication safety paramount through rigorous programs to certify technicians qualified to support pharmacists and patient care teams in all practice settings. PTCB's Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) Program is fundamental across practice settings and is the foundation for all PTCB credentials. PTCB also offers the Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) Certification Program, launched in 2017, and Assessment-Based Certificate Programs, including Technician Product Verification (TPV) and Medication History. Founded in 1995, PTCB serves more than 288,000 active PTCB CPhTs and CSPTs, and many thousands within pharmacy technician stakeholder organizations. Visit ptcb.org .

About the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

The American Pharmacists Association is the largest association of pharmacists in the United States advancing the entire pharmacy profession. Our expert staff, and strong volunteer leadership, including many experienced pharmacists, allow us to deliver vital leadership to help pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists and pharmacy technicians find success and satisfaction in their work, while advocating for changes that benefit them and their patients. For more information, please visit www.pharmacist.com .

SOURCE Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)

Related Links

https://www.ptcb.org


ESPOO, Finland, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Picosun Group reports excellent results in ALD-organic bilayer encapsulation of metal electrodes for neuroprosthetics and bioelectronic medicine. Group also reports superior hermetic barrier performance of its ALD nanolaminates against corrosive ion diffusion in aqueous media. This is an important result for medical ALD applications and implantology, where metal components and sensitive microelectronics need to be protected against corrosion caused by human body fluids.

Picosun's ALD nanolaminates were proven to completely block the diffusion of Na+, K+, Cl- and PO 4 3- ions, which are known to be amongst the most corrosive ionic species in aqueous media [1]. Tests were performed at 87 C PBS (phosphate-buffered saline) solution for 2 months (see Figure 1). Several of Picosun's ALD materials have been proven non-cytotoxic and safe for human tissues already earlier [2], which gives great flexibility for designing tailored nanolaminate encapsulants for varying substrates and levels of protection.

For (platinum) metal electrode protection, ALD HfO 2 was first used as an attachment and innermost barrier layer deposited right against the metal, and biocompatible organic polymer PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) was applied on top of the ALD film to create impermeable, stable bilayer protection combing the best properties of both materials [3]. ALD HfO 2 provides good adhesion to and hermetic sealing of the surface, whereas PDMS, as the more "macroscopic" layer, robustness and sturdiness on top of the ultra-thin ALD film. The bilayer coatings were tested by soaking them in PBS solution for 450 days at room temperature.

The results of both tests again support ALD's enormous potential to provide totally new solutions to the challenges medical device industries are facing. The constant trend of increased miniaturization and system-level integration of microelectronics drives the same development in implantable medical devices as well. When the device size decreases but its complexity and the time the device spends inside human body increase, traditional encapsulation methods fail.

"ALD's excellent barrier properties either as such, or combined with other encapsulation methods, support the trend of miniaturization and increased functionalization of medical microelectronics and enable a variety of novel products. Introduction of ALD encapsulation can also help the manufacturers to replace expensive, noble metal components with cheaper materials, when ALD protection ensures the inertness of the devices inside the body. Picosun's ALD technology is already at use at several medical device manufacturers, and we want to keep spearheading ALD's integration into healthcare industries. We are happy to provide production-proven, turn-key solutions to manufacturers to realize a whole new generation of safer, longer-lasting and user-friendly implantable devices for remote and digital healthcare," says Dr. Jani Kivioja, CTO of Picosun Group.

Picosun provides the most advanced AGILE ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) thin film coating solutions for global industries. Picosun's ALD solutions enable technological leap into the future, with turn-key production processes and unmatched, pioneering expertise in the field - dating back to the invention of the technology itself. Today, PICOSUN ALD equipment are in daily manufacturing use in numerous leading industries around the world. Picosun is based in Finland, with subsidiaries in Germany, USA, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Korea, and Japan, offices in India and France, and a world-wide sales and support network. Visit www.picosun.com.

[1] ALD 2019 - 19th International Conference on Atomic Layer Deposition, 21-24 July 2019, Bellevue, Washington, USA / ULIMPIA project, funded by PENTA under grant number PENTA-2017-Call2-16101-ULIMPIA.

[2] https://www.picosun.com/press/picosun-expands-selection-of-biocompatible-ald-materials-for-medical-applications/

[3] Nanbakhsh et. al., "Long-term encapsulation of platinum metallization using a HfO 2 ALD-PDMS bilayer for non-hermetic active implants", Proceedings of IEEE 70th Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC), 3-30 June 2020, Orlando, Florida, USA / POSITION-II project, funded by the ECSEL JU under grant number Ecsel-783132-Position-II-2017-IA.

More information:

Dr. Jani Kivioja

CTO, Picosun Group

Tel: +358 46 922 8804

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.picosun.com

CONTACT:

Minna Toivola

D.Sc., Marketing Manager, Picosun Oy

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +358 40 758 8748

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/picosun-oy/r/picosun-s-medical-ald-solutions-ensure-excellent-hermetic-encapsulation,c3143557

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/16058/3143557/1271052.pdf Release https://news.cision.com/picosun-oy/i/figure-1,c2800929 Figure 1

SOURCE Picosun Oy
HAIKOU, China, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 27, according to Baoting Convergent Media Center, a special program for the Dragon Boat Festival "People Taste, Weekend Shopping" was held in the broadcast room "Quicklook" launched by Xinhua News Agency on Douyin, the popular short video platform in China, to unveil the situation of Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County, a tropical rainforest county in Hainan Free Trade Port, to the public for the first time. During the two-hour live-streaming, nearly 90,000 netizens across the country entered the broadcast room to appreciate Baoting's beautiful and charming scenery, various local specialties and ancient unique folk customs.

Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County is located in the central part of Hainan Province, thus boasting superior natural ecological environment and cultural and tourism resources. Qixianling, as a landmark of Baoting, has unique original natural wonders such as peculiar peaks, hot springs and tropical rainforests.

During the live-streaming, in addition to the charming scenery in Qixianling, Shenyu Island, known as the "Fairyland on Earth", situated deep in the tropical rain forest, has also left a deep impression on many netizens. It is hailed by many tourists as a good place to escape from busy work and find peace of mind, as there is no hustle and bustle of city life. Whether it is the clear Biyu Lake, the original tropical rainforest, or the freshwater jellyfish known as the "giant panda in the water", are amazing.

Baoting is also permeated with customs of Li and Miao minority groups. The live-streaming also introduced Binglanggu-Hainan Li & Miao Cultural Heritage Park, which enabled netizens all over the country to appreciate the primitive boat houses of Li nationality, cheerful Hainan Eight Tones performances and ethic song and dance performances of Li and Miao nationality, as well as the live display of the world-class intangible cultural heritage project -- Li brocade art and the provincial intangible cultural heritage project -- Li rattan art in this session.

In the live broadcast, four famous dishes in Baoting, i.e. pork, chicken, fish, and beef dishes, all made of unique local ingredients, were displayed one after another, making netizens salivate. Baoting also boasts the largest rambutan production base in China. In recent years, local quality gold passion fruit has developed, and even domestic durian and mangosteen have been successfully planted here, which let netizens reacquaint with Baoting.

Image Attachments Links:

Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=366333

Caption: The live broadcast and Baoting beautiful scenery and fruits

SOURCE Baoting Convergent Media Center
WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rembrandt Charms will be giving away hundreds of sterling silver charms and charm bracelets to first responders, front line workers and other heroes in appreciation for all their hard work battling the pandemic. Rembrandt also launched its Tell Your Story, Heroes Edition contest, giving consumers the opportunity to share stories about the special COVID-19 heroes in their lives. Winners will receive a sterling silver bracelet or charm.

Rembrandt Charms thanks heroes.

Traditional charms are sentimental and timeless keepsakes that recall significant moments or persons in one's life. After WWII, soldiers returned home with charms and charm bracelets for their spouses and children and launched a major traditional charm bracelet craze in North America.

Our COVID-19 Charm Collection was created in response to countless requests from our charm collectors who wanted specific Covid-19 charms to add to their bracelets, or to give to their loved ones and to heroes in their communities. Rembrandt's Covid-19 charms are flying off the shelves! Whether it's for medical professionals, first responders, essential workers, new graduates and others, these charms hold special meaning to the charm collectors. There is even a comical charm commemorating the pandemic's toilet paper hoarders. Each charm can be engraved on the back to further personalize it.



USA Today is featuring Rembrandt Charms as a company supporting those on the front lines, helping kick start our economy and donating to Feeding America. This USA Today Special Edition America Responds Magazine will be on sale starting the week of July 4th. To date, the USA Today Covid-19 web page has reached over a billion consumers and has over 300,000 user visits. "With such a high-level of national exposure, we believe our Covid-19 Collection and Tell Your Story Heroes Edition contest will be extremely successful," states Eric Lux, Vice President, Rembrandt Charms. "Along with the giveaways, we will be making a donation directly to Feeding America. Our company has over 50-years of significant philanthropic contributions."

For more information, please visit: RembrandtCharms.com

Rembrandt Charms is a family owned company that has been designing and manufacturing charms and charm bracelets for over 50 years. Only Rembrandt Charms offers thousands of charms in such a wide range of precious metals, including Sterling Silver, Gold Plate, 10 and 14 Karat Yellow Gold, and 14 Karat White Gold. All Sterling Silver merchandise is Rhodium Plated to prevent tarnishing.

All Rembrandt Charms merchandise is manufactured in Canada or the United States and is covered by our Lifetime Warranty, reflecting the craftsmanship, dedication and commitment of our entire staff. The Rembrandt Charms collection is available exclusively through authorized retail jewelers.

Media Contact

Susan Wojcik

Marketing Manager

Rembrandt Charms

800-828-7840

[email protected]

SOURCE Rembrandt Charms

Related Links

http://RembrandtCharms.com


Specialized learning plans target math concepts missed during school shutdowns

LOS ANGELES, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mathnasium Learning Centers  committed to changing lives through math  is launching the Mathnasium Kickstart Program to address the loss of math skills and comprehension that resulted when schools were closed for the final 10-12 weeks of the academic year. The learning loss students experienced, dubbed the "COVID slide" by academic experts, further compounds the loss typically associated with the "summer slide."

Students kept out of school are struggling to keep up in math. Mathnasium Learning Center's new Kickstart Program can determine exactly which end-of-year concepts a student may have missed and address them with special learning plans.

Recent research by the NWEA stated that math was the academic subject hardest hit by the school shutdowns. The organization projected that some students could lose up to a full year of math comprehension if learning deficits are not addressed through additional instruction. Because math knowledge is cumulative, concepts missed now could take years to make up, jeopardizing future math learning.

"Mathnasium's thorough evaluation of standards and curriculum frameworks resulted in a series of strategic assessments that pinpoint learning gaps students have developed over the past few months," said Associate Vice President of Education and Training John Bianchette. "The combination of our customized learning plans and instructional methodology address those gaps and reverses the COVID slide."

The Kickstart Program runs through Algebra 1 in the U.S. and grade 9 in Canada. Students can learn from anywhere: in person at local learning centers, or live online with [email protected].

Mathnasium builds a student's foundation and future ability to be successful in mathematics. Studies show that students who attend a neighborhood Mathnasium Learning Center regularly boost their grades and scores, learn critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, and gain self-confidence. To see independent research on Mathnasium's effectiveness, see www.mathnasium.com/our-results

About Mathnasium

North America's leading, math-only supplemental education franchise, Mathnasium teaches math so that children understand it, master it, and love it. The result of 40+ years of hands-on instruction and research, the Mathnasium Method has transformed the lives of children in grades 2-12 since 2002. With more than 1,000 learning centers worldwide, Mathnasium is ranked #2 in Forbes' Best Franchises to Buy in America for 2019.

www.mathnasium.com

Contact:

Joanne Helperin

Marketing Communications Manager

[email protected]

(323) 271-0851

SOURCE Mathnasium Learning Centers

Related Links

http://www.mathnasium.com


"We are beyond excited to welcome Sharon to our Board of Advisors. Her experience in launching consumer and employer tech solutions in the health and benefits space will be an invaluable asset to Scripta as we rapidly scale our business via partnerships with benefits consultants, and continue to offer the most innovative cost containment solutions to self-insured employers and regional health plans," said Eric Levin, CEO of Scripta Insights.

Cunninghis is currently Chief Development Officer at Lane Health, a new disrupter focused on improving health by eliminating financial barriers to care that often lead to negative outcomes. Her role includes development of strategies and plans for acquiring new customers, and she is involved in business strategy, operations, member services and sales.

Prior to this role, Cunninghis spent the bulk of her career at Mercer, a leading human resources consulting firm. Most recently, she served as a Sr. Partner and the US Healthcare Business Leader, including its consulting, brokerage, administration, and Medicaid solutions. Prior to that she created, led the development of, and grew Mercer's highly successful Marketplace 365 offering. Her accomplishments also include creating and launching technology solutions to transform brokerage processes. She holds a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated Cum Laude.

"I look forward to working with the team at Scripta. I am eager to share my experience in developing new approaches to technology to successfully launch new customer solutions at Scripta, and to helping Scripta tackle the incredibly important issue of reducing pharmacy benefit costs in America," said Cunninghis.

About Scripta Insights

Scripta Insights, a company founded by doctors, is using technology to create transparency, disrupt and improve the $300B self-funded pharmacy benefits marketplace.

Scripta is a cloud-based healthcare IT solution that delivers immediate, real savings on pharmacy benefit costs for self-insured employers, payers and their members. It empowers companies to take control of their pharmacy spend, while helping members get the medicine they need at the best possible price.

Scripta's proprietary software, Script.AI, was developed over a decade and is designed to analyze millions of pharmacy transactions in mere seconds to yield actionable insights. It uses data analytics, AI and expert insights from its P&T Committee to recognize savings opportunities that, until now, have been impossible to identify.

Scripta has saved employers and members millions of dollars on prescriptions.

For more information about Scripta, visit www.scriptainsights.com .

Media Contact:

Kristen Joerger, LKPR, Inc., [email protected] , 603-494-3295

SOURCE Scripta Insights

Related Links

www.scriptainsights.com


New York is by no means out of the woods with the coronavirus, especially given the upticks we are seeing in other states and the risk those upticks pose here when you take travel into account, Schumer said at a news conference Sunday. Extending this declaration will keep New York positioned to both respond and to keep fighting.
MONROE, Ohio, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- When the State of Ohio implemented a Stay-At-Home order in March and shut down visitation in nursing homes and assisted living, Ohio Living Mount Pleasant Director of Marketing Christine Apking knew things wouldn't be the same for a long time.

"I knew that our residents' lives were about to change drastically. They were at risk for social isolation, boredom, loneliness, and depression. Our team realized they would be needed by the residents more than ever before, to provide reassurance, friendship, and companionship.

"I knew I had to help. That's when I spoke with our Executive Director, Stan Kappers, and we created the Smile Project."

The Smile Project is a simple program. Apking put the word out through churches and the school district in the small community of Monroe, Ohio, that residents could use a smile. She asked for cards, letters, and children's drawings to be mailed to the campus to bring a smile to the residents who could no longer see their families.

"The response was huge," says Apking. "More than I could have ever imagined. The school superintendent even rallied her teams to generate interest."

"We have distributed more than 500 letters, cards and pictures to our campus of 400-plus residents in long-term care, short-term rehab, assisted living, and independent living," said Kim Porter, Nursing Activity Coordinator. "Each time a hand-colored picture or handwritten card is received, the residents' eyes light up and they smile from ear to ear. The Smile Project has been a blessing!"

As people shared the Smile Project opportunity, cards and letters began pouring in from around Ohio and beyond. One care package of crossword puzzles was sent by a Girl Scout Troop in California.

Some people have been especially creative. Musicians and school band classes have sent videos. Art teachers have sent canvas paintings.

"I was happy that the younger generation were so thoughtful and considerate of us," said Ginny, an Ohio Living Mount Pleasant resident. "It came at a special time of my life when I would have been celebrating my 70th anniversary with my late husband."

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio Living is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit, multi-site aging services organizations, operating 12 life plan communities, Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice and Ohio Living Foundation.

Melissa Dardinger

614.888.7800 x1098

[email protected]

SOURCE Ohio Living

Related Links

https://www.ohioliving.org


DALLAS, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Spectral MD, Inc. announced today that Wensheng Fan has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer.

Wensheng is a Co-Founder and was the first employee of Spectral MD. Over the past 11 years, he has served as the second in command of Spectral MD as CTO and Co-Founder and, more recently, as COO.

"We are elated that Mr. Fan has agreed to become our CEO. The Company will continue its growth with a focus on commercialization and regulatory approvals. As we enter this phase of development, the Board has every confidence that Wensheng can build and lead the Spectral MD team to achieve results that will promote the interests of our employees, investors, business and government partners, and the patients and members of the medical community that we serve," stated a representative of the Spectral MD Board of Directors.

Dr. Michael DiMaio, who co-founded the company to serve unmet clinical needs that he witnessed as a leading cardiac surgeon, has served as CEO of the Company since 2013. He has steered the company through a steady growth phase, established a regulatory pathway, and led the team to obtain nearly $150 million of non-dilutive federal funding from grants and contracts. Dr. DiMaio was recently named Chief of Staff of Baylor Scott and White The Heart Hospitals due to his recognized leadership. Dr. DiMaio will continue to serve as an advisor to the Board for clinical studies and retain the title of CEO and Chairman Emeritus. The Company thanks Dr. DiMaio for his expertise and unwavering leadership, dedication, and continued service. Dr. DiMaio stated, "I am excited to support the next phase of the Company's growth in order to reach the market with the first truly AI guided system of wound care to address multiple clinical problems."

The balance of the executive management team remains unchanged, including Dr. Jeffrey Thatcher as Chief Scientist, Mr. Kevin Plant and Mr. Louis Percoco as engineering team leads, and Dr. Maria Cadic as Head of Project Management and Operations. The Company expects to continue hiring and expanding its team in the coming months.

Mr. Fan stated, "I believe Spectral MD has developed critically important diagnostic and healing assessment technology that will meaningfully improve patient outcomes in amputations, burns, critical limb ischemia, diabetic foot ulcers and other areas. As we transition to the regulatory and commercial phase, I am grateful for the service of those who have gone before me and proud to lead a very strong Spectral MD team."

Mr. Fan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Tsinghua University and a Master of Science degree from Northeastern University. Prior to his time with Spectral MD, Mr. Fan held senior development and engineering positions with three leading companies. Mr. Fan is based in Dallas, Texas.

About Spectral MD:

We are a dedicated team of forward-thinkers striving to revolutionize the management of wound care by "Seeing the Unknown" with our DeepView Wound Imaging System.

www.spectralmd.com

[email protected]

SOURCE Spectral MD

Related Links

http://www.spectralmd.com


VANCOUVER, B.C., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- StrategyBox, a marketing analytics platform that makes it easy to understand what marketing activities drive sales, has closed a $2 million seed round with Fuel Ventures of London, England. This investment is a first in Canada for Fuel Ventures.

Mark Pearson, General Partner of Fuel Ventures, said, "Our team sees StrategyBox as the future of marketing reporting. They show a company the journey a customer takes from first touch to sale. Then provide AI-powered recommendations on what content, ads and activities most effectively drive a customer forward in the buying process. It's a game-changer and we couldn't be more excited to dive in with our support."

Aaron Vidas, StrategyBox CEO, said, "I started the company to do what should be easy today, but isn't: understanding how marketing activities drive revenue. Today we're saving our customers thousands of hours annually automating marketing reporting and driving millions in additional revenue with our recommendations."

Continues Vidas, "Fuel's resources allow us to bring those valuable tools to more companies at a time when more sales can be the difference between life and death for a business."

With 300% month-over-month revenue growth and a growing customer base in retail, SaaS and financial services, the new capital brings StrategyBox's total funding to $2 million. The company will use the funds to support 50+ additional marketing and advertising platforms. As well as adding radio attribution - the ability to show how radio ads influence online sales - to its platform.

StrategyBox is a marketing analytics platform with offices in Vancouver, Canada and London, England. Its customer journey mapping tools make it simple for retail, financial services and technology companies to understand how marketing activities drive sales.

Fuel Ventures is an early and growth stage investor in leading technology businesses headquartered in London, England. Fuel's portfolio includes some of the fastest-growing U.K. technology companies including Paddle and Moteefe, which have been listed recently by Deloitte as the fastest-growing software and e-commerce companies in the U.K. On the back of this success at finding winners, the company is expanding its reach and is now investing in key technology hubs globally, with Vancouver being the first official Canadian investment.

Media Contact

Aaron Vidas, CEO, Founder, StrategyBox

Direct - +1.778.288.0488

Email - [email protected]

Site -www.strategybox.com

SOURCE StrategyBox, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.strategybox.com


FAIRFAX, Va., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With COVID-19 case numbers rising throughout Arizona, surgeons with the Get Ahead of Stroke campaign are warning residents that ignoring stroke symptoms out of fear of being exposed to coronavirus at a hospital increases their risk of disability or death.

Research published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery (JNIS) shows that ischemic stroke patients are arriving at hospitals and treatment centers an average of 160 minutes later during the COVID-19 pandemic, as compared with a similar timeframe in 2019. These delays, say stroke surgeons from the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS), are impacting both survival and recovery.

"As Arizona continues to see a spike in COVID-19 cases, fear of exposure is causing people to avoid seeking help for medical emergencies, but you can't ignore a stroke," said Dr. Felipe C. Albuquerque, a neurosurgeon at Phoenix's Barrow Neurological Institute and SNIS board member. "This research suggests that patients are neglecting symptoms and delaying treatment, meaning they are either dying at home or arriving at stroke centers like ours too late to be helped."

Under normal conditions, stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability. Nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke every year, taking the lives of about 140,000 annually, and many more are left permanently disabled. Dr. Albuquerque says it is likely that the number of stroke-related deaths will increase in 2020 due to the pandemic, especially if patients continue to delay treatment and reach hospitals too late.

In the case of the most serious strokes  known as an emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO)  up to two million brain cells die each minute. The longer a patient waits before they are treated, the greater the impact the stroke will have  potentially paralyzing them for life, or worse. Patients who arrive at the hospital quickly have the best chance to survive and recover their independence following a stroke. Dr. Albuquerque advises Arizonans to use the FAST method to assess any potential stroke symptoms: Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Time to call 911.

"Patients should know that stroke units in hospitals have implemented protocols to safeguard patients from COVID-19," said Dr. Albuquerque. "What remains unchanged throughout this pandemic is that we still need to play it safe when it comes to stroke and always call 911. Avoiding or delaying treatment will only lead to more deaths."

Get Ahead of Stroke is a national public education and advocacy campaign designed to improve systems of care for stroke patients. Founded in 2016 by the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS), the campaign is currently working with its partners to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic does not deter stroke patients from getting the lifesaving care they deserve.

SOURCE Get Ahead of Stroke

Related Links

https://getaheadofstroke.org/


SANTA FE, N.M., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Southwestern Association for Indian Art (SWAIA) is pleased to announce additional details about their partnership with the Clark Hulings Fund, which will launch the 2020 Virtual Indian Market on Aug. 1, 2020, while providing business training and support to Native artists. A further collaboration with Artspan.com is producing e-commerce websites and a global marketplace where visitors can easily find, experience and acquire the world's best Native American art.

Gabriella Marks Photo

The Clark Hulings Fund (CHF) has arranged for SWAIA to work with a third partner, Artspan, to provide websites to SWAIA artists throughout the U.S. and Canada. The CHF will deliver hands-on training to the artists, not only to help create top-notch e-commerce sites but also to teach digital sales and marketing strategies and how to employ them effectively.

Artspan is currently working with SWAIA and the Clark Hulings Fund to create websites for SWAIA artists throughout the U.S. and Canada. These individual artist websites will be integrated into a central Native American Art Marketplace opening August 1.

Artspan was the first website company to focus on artists, artisans and photographers. It will provide Native American artists with individual websites. The artwork on the sites will provide the inventory for an Art Marketplace which will stand in for the Santa Fe Indian Market.

The cancellation of this year's physical Santa Fe Indian Market, the most important juried Native art market to both artists and collectors, will now be accessible virtually year-round at the Artspan SWAIA Marketplace. Buyers will be able to purchase artworks directly from an artist's website and through the Native American Art Marketplace and artists will have a robust set of tools and platforms with which to run their businesses online.

Virtual Indian Market will be live at swaia.org from August 1 through August 31offering engaging programming and fan favorites like the Native American Clothing Contest, and a re-imagined awards program. Individual artist websites will be live for one year, with the option for artists to renew the e-commerce sites to market and sell work.

"SWAIA's goals are both immediate and long-term," says Executive Director Kim Peone (Colville Confederated Tribes / Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians). "Our first objective is to launch a solution-based platform to meet the economic needs of our artists. Longer-term goals will position SWAIA as a technology leader and innovator, able to offer increased services and support to Native artists."

For virtual market updates, events and a growing list of participating artists, please visit: www.swaia.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Audrey Rubinstein | 505-490-5029

[email protected]

About SWAIA: The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) is a non-profit organization supporting Native American arts and culture. It creates economic and cultural opportunities for Native American artists by producing and promoting the Santa Fe Indian Market, the biggest and most prestigious Indian art event in the world since 1922. www.swaia.org

Related Images

glendora-fragua-artist-swaia-2019.jpg

Glendora Fragua-Artist, SWAIA 2019

Gabriella Marks Photo

Related Links

The Clark Hulings Fund

Artspan

SOURCE Southwestern Association for Indian Arts

Related Links

http://www.swaia.org


A Live-to-Air Weekly Series on JAZZ.FM91

TORONTO, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - This summer, the TD Toronto Jazz Festival brings live music directly to you with a weekly concert series, broadcasting live from the JAZZ.FM91 studios. The TD Toronto Jazz Festival Summer Concert Series, presented by TD, features some of the most outstanding and sought-after musicians in the city  local legends and leading lights of Toronto's jazz scene. Running from July 3 to August 28, each weekly performance will air live on JAZZ.FM91, every Friday from 5pm to 6pm.

The Festival's mandate has always been to provide as many opportunities for local musicians to perform as possible. With the effective cancellation of all live music events at the end of March, including the 2020 TD Toronto Jazz Festival, it has been almost impossible for musicians to earn a living. From now until the spring of next year, the Festival will be offering a variety of ways to support musicians, and for the public to experience live music, through efforts such as the Summer Concert Series, because we know there is nothing better than live music. The TD Toronto Jazz Festival Summer Concert Series is also made possible with support from Ontario Creates.

"Over the nine weeks, you'll hear multiple generations of musicians, from internationally acclaimed veterans to emerging artists - outstanding instrumentalists and vocalists whose music includes bebop, Cuban, Caribbean, blues and soul traditions" states Artistic Director, Josh Grossman.

"As a long-standing supporter of Canadian music and artists, we are proud to continue sponsoring the TD Toronto Jazz Festival," said Scott Belton, Senior Vice President, Retail Banking, Metro East Region, TD Bank Group. "At TD, we understand the vital role musicians and artists play in shaping the culture of our communities, and we are excited to share these performances in a virtual way and help inspire the city of Toronto with the power of music."

The lineup for the TD Toronto Jazz Festival Summer Concert Series:

July 3  Ted Quinlan Quartet

July 10  The Don Thompson Trio

July 17  Jenie Thai

July 24  Joanna Majoko Quartet

July 31  OKAN

August 7  Alexander Brown Quartet

August 14  Joy Lapps Project

August 21  Kirk MacDonald Generations Quartet featuring Virginia MacDonald

August 28 - Donnybrook

For more information, visit torontojazz.com.

SOURCE Toronto Downtown Jazz Society

Related Links

www.torontojazz.com


NEW YORK, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Gas Engine Market In North America 2020-2024

The analyst has been monitoring the gas engine market in North America and it is poised to grow by $ 256.86 mn during 2020-2024 progressing at a CAGR of 4% during the forecast period. Our reports on gas engine market in North America provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors.







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05917780/?utm_source=PRN







The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current North America market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by the increasing demand for efficient heat and power generation in North America and reduction in the price of natural gas. In addition, increasing demand for efficient heat and power generation in North America is anticipated to boost the growth of the market as well.

The gas engine market in North America market analysis includes end-user segments, application segment, and geographic landscapes



The gas engine market in North America is segmented as below:

By End-user

 Power

 Industrial

 Residential

 Commercial



By Application

 Power generation

 Co-generation

 Others



By Geographic Landscapes

 US

 Canada

 Mexico



This study identifies the abundant availability of natural gas in North America as one of the prime reasons driving the gas engine market in North America growth during the next few years.



The analyst presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters. Our gas engine market in North America covers the following areas:

 Gas engine market in North America sizing

 Gas engine market in North America forecast

 Gas engine market in North America industry analysis





Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05917780/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

Related Links

www.reportlinker.com


TEL AVIV, Israel, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: TASE) announces today the launch of the English version of its 'MAYA' corporate website. The English 'MAYA' website is designed to make information regarding TASE and the companies listed on it more accessible to foreign investors, particularly in light of the growing interest expressed by investors from around the world in Israeli companies.

The MAYA website, which serves as a central website for investors active in the Israeli capital market, was initially launched in 2000 and is the site on which corporate filings, reference and payment dates new issues schedules, TASE announcements, TASE board of director resolutions, etc., are posted. In addition, there is a corporate fact sheet for each company, summarizing key corporate information, such as its area of activity, principal shareholders, corporate securities and financial performance.

For the first time, TASE is launching an English version of the MAYA website. The Israel Securities Authority (ISA) encourages companies to publish their reports in English as well, in order to make the information accessible to foreign investors. Accordingly, it has recently added a dedicated form, which enables companies opting to do so, to send current reports in English. Listed companies can voluntarily file in English. These disclosures will be posted on the MAYA English language website, generating additional foreign investor exposure to these companies.

In addition to the disclosures of companies choosing to file in English, the MAYA English website includes additional information for foreign investors, such as: a corporate fact sheet, reference and payment dates of corporate actions for TASE-listed securities, a schedule of forthcoming offerings, projected dates for the release of financial reports, TASE memoranda regarding various subjects and more.

Some 54 companies, with a combined market cap of approximately NIS 280 billion are currently dually listed on TASE. These companies trade concurrently on TASE and foreign securities exchanges, and file all disclosures in English. In addition, over the past year, some 20 companies have filed specific disclosures and primarily presentations, in English.

TASE places great importance in the publication of disclosures in both English and Hebrew and believes that this will increase foreign investor exposure to and investment of in TASE-listed Israeli companies.

The English reports published by the companies are posted on MAYA commencing on January 1, 2020.

MAYA system: https://maya.tase.co.il/en

Contact:

Orna Goren

Head of Communication and Public Relations Unit

Tel: +972-76-8160405

[email protected]

SOURCE The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd.

Related Links

https://maya.tase.co.il/en


As signs of a curve flattening in many states emerge, elected officials are rolling out plans to get employees back to work or simply back to the office. Businesses across the country are preparing to reopen their offices, and with that, health and safety has become the number one priority.

Flexible Solutions for Every Home Office

The way you work is changing every day, and you're most likely still figuring out your perfect set up. Whether you have a dedicated room or share the space with the rest of the home, it's important that you have the right products that fit you and your home office needs.

Twitter employees are working from home as long as they choose, even permanently if they want. Google employees are remote until 2021, at least. Other tech companies are moving to remote work in the COVID-19 era and it's brought into focus some long-held principles about work.

Whether you have a designated office or share the space with the rest of the home, it's important that you have the right products that fit you and your home office needs.

The Small Home Office

You might not have space for a formal home office, but HON's multifunctional desks and ergonomically friendly seating are designed to fit in small spacesand if you're cramped for space, you can stow your desk away when the work day is done.

For workers who want a productive space that can also multi-task after hours, "having a nesting table like the Between is helpful," said Evan Sanford, Category Merchandising Manager for The HON Company.

"Also, the Coordinate desktop riser is great because it sits on top of an existing work surface."

Coordinate desktop risers allow you to stand or sit, offering ergonomic flexibility and comfort throughout the day. When working with a small footprint (like an apartment), it's important to utilize furniture that fits when you need the space to work, but doesn't get in the way when you need the space for something else.

The Shared-Room Home Office

As you continue exploring new workstyles in your own home, you may have found a nook that is just right.

Those who are outfitting shared rooms look for style and function, and typically, they want the furniture to coordinate with their home environment (we call it "resimercial"). For a shared room, the fully-upholstered Matter chair is an excellent choice, providing comfort and a look that can blend into any space.

"When you walk into the room, you won't necessarily say 'that's an office chair,'" Sanford said.

Another option in the shared-room category is the Voi work surface. Its contemporary and modern design gives off a minimalistic vibe, and it has various laminate top and paint options that fit many different aesthetics.

The Dedicated Home Office

A designated office space can be key to maximizing productivity. HON offers products for a traditional or modern office solution designed to ergonomically support you and fit the aesthetic of your home. These products are similar to what you might see in an office space.

"Some of our best options are the Coordinate height-adjustable tables. When we talk to people about what products they want, height adjustability is at the top of the list," Sanford said.

With the market shifting toward more workers being remote and/or working from home, a comfortable and ergonomic solution will make your home office more inviting, and you may find yourself more productive as well.

How to Plan for a Health-Conscious Return to Work

Work-from-home arrangements were made almost overnight as the pandemic forced the implementation of stay-home orders. While the transition was sudden, American businesses and workers have risen to the occasion. From a trying situation has come a revelation in the way we work, and how it might look going forward.

As signs of a curve flattening in many states emerge, elected officials are rolling out plans to get employees back to work or simply back to the office.

Preparing for a New Normal

While we don't know for certain what work and office environments will look like in three weeks or three months, we do know they will look different. And the new dynamic could feature more permanent changes designed to support health and well-being of employees.

Experts agree that making employees feel safe and comfortable about being in the office should be at the forefront of every decision-maker's mind as workers across the country get ready to return.

"The biggest thing that companies are focusing on is the mental and physical well-being of their workers," said Holli Renaud, Account Merchandising Manager for The HON Company. "Employees need to mentally feel good about coming into the office, and that translates into some of the physical things companies are doing to promote that comfortability.

"It's going to be about space, cleaning and separation between workstations and in common areas, too. That's how a lot of people are thinking about this situation as they prepare for this change." The changes required won't all be easy, though.

Finding a happy medium between appropriate spacing and a people-focused environment is the task facing companies now. Companies may be trying to juggle the open workplace and collaborative areas with options that can be conducive to social distancing.

"How do we incorporate those elements into the working environment? How do we make sure we continue to build a workplace that people want to work in, while also being able to maintain social distancing? These are key considerations for companies as they look to reopen," said Jim Foster, Vice President & General Manager Merchandising & National Accounts at The HON Company.

For more information, check out https://www.hon.com/industry/healthy-workplace-solutions

SOURCE The HON Company

Related Links

hon.com


ATLANTA, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tosca, an innovator in reusable packaging and supply chain solutions, announced today that it has agreed to acquire Contraload NV, a leader in plastic pallet pooling in the United Kingdom and European Union.

The acquisition of Contraload will expand Tosca's geographic reach and increase its product portfolio. The combined company will offer customers a stronger value proposition through increased network density and an expanded product offering.

In conjunction with the transaction, funds advised by Apax Partners (the "Apax Funds"), which acquired Tosca in 2017, will commit additional capital to Tosca to fund the acquisition of Contraload. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Tosca has a 60-year history of innovation that has driven its growth into a leading North American provider of reusable packaging and supply chain solutions across a wide array of markets. Today, the company is the largest RPC pooler in North America, offering an enhanced product portfolio and the most extensive service center network for grocery retailers and suppliers. It employs more than 1,236 people and operates 29 service centers worldwide.

Headquartered in Aartselaar, Belgium, Contraload is a leading provider of upstream reusable plastic pallets and containers for the FMCG industry and other commercial markets in Europe. The company, which runs a unique Pan-European pooling service and employs more than 150 people, also offers outsourced pallet and layerpad conditioning and management services for customer-owned asset pools. Contraload was founded in 2004 and has approximately 3 million units in use, serving close to 3,000 companies.

Eric Frank, CEO of Tosca, stated: "Tosca's acquisition of Contraload, a leader in plastic pallet pooling in the United Kingdom and European Union, establishes our combined company as an even stronger partner for our customers globally and allows us to continue to propel the reusable revolution."

Jesse Sels, Contraload's Founder and Managing Director, said, "Having built Contraload into the leader in pooling plastic pallets, layerpads and IBCs in the B2B environment across Europe, we are excited to join with the Tosca team through this transaction. Our companies have a shared commitment to service excellence, innovation and reducing waste throughout the supply chain."

Ashish Karandikar, Partner at Apax Partners, said: "Three years ago, we partnered with Tosca's management team to build a world-class pooling business that brings sustainability, innovation and value to customers' supply chains. The acquisition of Polymer in 2019 established Tosca's 'last mile' capabilities in Europe. The combination with Contraload represents another important advance as it brings together Tosca's last mile capabilities with Contraload's offerings in the 'first mile' of a product journey  thereby creating unique visibility and value for customers. The combined organization offers a strong global network, an expanding reusables portfolio, improved research and development, and custom capability for all customers from CPGs to grocery chains."

About Tosca

Tosca is a leading provider of reusable packaging and supply chain solutions across a diverse range of markets including eggs, case-ready meat, poultry, produce, seafood, and cheese. Our proven RPC system is a smarter way to move fresh product safely from source to shelf, substantially reducing shrink and labor cost, maintaining product quality, and optimizing overall supply chain efficiency for retailers, growers, and suppliers. Tosca recently acquired Polymer Logistics, expanding our geographic reach, product portfolio and R&D capabilities. For more information visit: www.toscaltd.com.

About Contraload

Contraload has grown to become the expert and market leader in pooling load carriers in a B2B environment, across Europe with service centers to support customers in over 15 countries. Markets include food ingredients, food packaging, hygiene products, infant nutrition, beverage can and non-hazardous liquids. Re-use is the key word as Contraload facilitates moving away from single use packaging towards a circular model of returning re-usable packaging. For more information visit: www.contraload.com.

About Apax Partners

Apax Partners is a leading global private equity advisory firm. Over its more than 40-year history, Apax Partners has raised and advised funds with aggregate commitments of approximately $50 billion. The Apax Funds invest in companies across four global sectors of Tech & Telco, Services, Healthcare and Consumer. These funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. For more information see: www.apax.com.

Media Contacts

For Tosca

Susan Heil, Tosca I +1 920 569 5335 I [email protected]

For Contraload

Kevin Boone, +32 3 304 92 90, [email protected]

For Apax Partners

USA Media: Todd Fogarty, Kekst CNC | +1 212 521 4854 | [email protected]

UK and Global Media: Matthew Goodman / James Madsen, Greenbrook | +44 20 7952 2000 | [email protected]

Notes to Editors

London-headquartered Apax Partners (www.apax.com), and Paris-headquartered Apax Partners (www.apax.fr) had a shared history but are separate, independent private equity firms.

SOURCE Tosca; Apax Partners
BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Beijing has lowered the prices for nucleic acid testing at public medical institutions, authorities said on Sunday.

Starting on June 25, the price for each test went down from 180 yuan (about 25 U.S. dollars) to a ceiling of 120 yuan at all of the city's public medical institutions, Du Xin, deputy head of the Beijing Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau, said at a press conference on COVID-19 response.

These medical institutions are allowed to further lower their prices for testing, Du added.

Non-public medical institutions involved with public health insurance programs are required to lower the prices to the same level, too, for people who are covered by such programs.

Other non-public medical institutions are allowed to set their testing prices according to the market, but they must follow national and municipal regulations, Du said.

Beijing reported 14 new confirmed domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases and three asymptomatic cases on Saturday, the municipal health commission said on Sunday.
We will continue to take every necessary precaution to ensure the safety of our community, and we have taken a number of steps across all of our locations, which include enhanced cleanliness and sanitization policies and procedures, extensive training for staff, physical distancing measures, reducing physical touch points in the club with touchless check-in, and more, the company said in a statement.
The future three-story facility will also feature professional hitch installation; propane; extended hours storage access; RV/boat/vehicle storage; a U-Haul Re-Use center for gently used household goods and materials to be shared amongst the community; and the ecofriendly Take A Box, Leave A Box program.

The 100,000-square-foot building is expected to be completed by fall 2021.

"St. Augustine is a growing community, and U-Haul plans to invest in the future," said Amanda Bauer, U-Haul Company of Jacksonville president. "We're anxious to complete this project so we can offer our customers a beautiful facility with the variety of do-it-yourself moving products and services they have come to expect."

While U-Haul Moving & Storage of Mill Creek is under construction, nearby U-Haul facilities and neighborhood dealers are available to support customers. U-Haul Moving & Storage of St. Augustine at 3524 U.S. Hwy. 1 S. is open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday; 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Bauer expects to hire a staff of 12 or more Team Members when the facility is fully operational. U-Haul will look to hire locally to promote job growth within St. Augustine. Find U-Haul career opportunities at jobs.uhaul.com. U-Haul also encourages local contractors to bid on construction work.

"Our studies show we can reduce traffic congestion in St. Augustine by providing a full-service U-Haul facility in this area," Bauer added. "We have a useful product that people want to see integrated into the neighborhood. Being part of St. Augustine's development is important to us."

As an essential service provider, U-Haul has remained open throughout the COVID-19 outbreak while offering contactless programs and enhanced cleaning protocols, including added steps for sanitizing equipment between customer transactions. U-Haul products are used daily by First Responders; delivery companies bringing needed supplies to people's homes; small businesses trying to remain afloat; college students; and countless other dependent groups  in addition to the household mover.

Please visit uhaul.com/announcement for more information on how U-Haul is keeping its Team Members and customers safe during the summer moving season.

About U-Haul

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of 22,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 167,000 trucks, 120,000 trailers and 43,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 697,000 rooms and 60.7 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry, and is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S.

Contact:

Andrea Batchelor

Jeff Lockridge

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 602-263-6981

Website: uhaul.com

SOURCE U-Haul

Related Links

www.uhaul.com


ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready), a newly established nonprofit organization formed in response to the economic hardships created by COVID-19, today announced details of its plan to help thousands of unemployed Virginians access the training needed to get back to work.

VA Ready and its partners - 20 of the Commonwealth's leading businesses - provide incentives for motivated, out-of-work Virginians to reskill for in-demand jobs in high-growth sectors. Upon achieving their new credential in one of 29 selected training programs, "VA Ready Scholars" receive a $1,000 Credential Achievement Award and are offered opportunities to interview at many of Virginia's best companies.

Further partnering with Virginia's 23 community colleges and their existing FastForward initiative, a state-sponsored workforce credential grant program, VA Ready marries Virginia's business needs with high-quality, short-term training programs offered by community colleges. Funded through philanthropic donations and company contributions, VA Ready recognizes and rewards student initiative to gain new skills.

"Too many Virginians have lost their jobs, and they want to, and deserve help to, retool for in-demand jobs," said Glenn A. Youngkin, co-founder and chairman of VA Ready. "The time is now to focus training efforts on equipping our workforce for Virginia's dynamic sectors like technology, healthcare and the skilled trades. Virginia businesses in these sectors expect to hire tens of thousands of people in the coming years, and yet we have record unemployment. We need to get moving to get people ready."

"This is an exciting new partnership to help people who are out of work because of the pandemic," said Governor Ralph S. Northam. "We have people who need work and companies who need employees, so Virginia's community colleges and employers are coming together to help. If you choose a high-demand field, our community colleges will train you and then Virginia Ready will help you find a job and give you a $1,000 achievement award. This is one more way that Virginia is demonstrating that helping workers also helps business and our economy."

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, nearly 875,000 Virginians have filed for unemployment. Lower-wage earners and minority communities have been hit the hardest. At the same time, demand is projected to grow for specialized jobs in the fields of technology, healthcare and manufacturing/skilled trades.

VA Ready's business partners represent the Commonwealth's leading companies with projected hiring needs in the technology, healthcare, manufacturing and skilled trades sectors. They include:

Founding Partners Strategic Partners Business Partners





Carilion Clinic Booz Allen Hamilton 1901 Group Dominion Energy CoStar Group Bon Secours Richmond Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) K12 Inc. Health System Genworth Financial Perspecta CNSI PwC Sentara Healthcare General Dynamics SAIC

Harris Williams



Huntington Ingalls Industries



ManTech



Maximus



Northrop Grumman

In addition to supporting credential earners with financial incentives, VA Ready business partners, through the VA Ready Talent Task Force, will consult with college leaders to ensure that program offerings and curricula remain focused and relevant to rapidly evolving industry needs. They also participate in the VA Ready Job Exchange and provide job interview opportunities to VA Ready Scholars.

Out-of-work Virginians with ambition to gain new skills can enroll in VA Ready's first cohort of VA Ready Scholars for Community College programs beginning after August 1.

"With an average out-of-pocket cost of just over $1,000, our FastForward training programs are the most affordable option in higher education today and the fastest way for someone to skill-up for a career that offers family-sustaining wages," said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia's Community Colleges. "But we know that price tag is still out of reach for too many people, especially the newly unemployed. We are pleased to work alongside VA Ready and its business partners to make those training opportunities more affordable and accessible -- and get people back to work."

"Virginia's strength lies in its people, and so many people have come together over the past few weeks to stand up this new initiative so quickly," said Caren Merrick, CEO of VA Ready. "I want to thank all of our partners in the business, education and government communities whose enthusiasm, expertise and eagerness to help have made this possible. By working together, thousands of our out of work Virginians will be able to secure new jobs, and Virginia businesses will find more of the skilled workers they need."

VA Ready is also grateful for professional partners McKinsey & Co., Pinkston, McGuireWoods and KPMG, whose in-kind contributions of research, strategic consulting, legal and communications expertise have made establishing the coalition possible.

For more information on VA Ready, including how to apply, visit www.vaready.org .

About The Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready)

VA Ready, a newly established nonprofit organization formed in response to the economic hardships created by COVID-19, is a dynamic partnership with 20 of the Commonwealth's leading businesses and the Virginia Community College System's 23 community colleges, to retrain and equip out of work Virginians who want to gain the required skills for in-demand jobs in high-growth sectors.

About Virginia's Community Colleges

Since 1966, Virginia's Community Colleges have given everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the right skills so lives and communities are strengthened. By making higher education and workforce training available in every part of Virginia, we elevate all of Virginia. Together, Virginia's Community Colleges serve more than 280,000 students each year. For more information, please visit www.vccs.edu .

WHAT VA READY BUSINESS PARTNERS ARE SAYING

Ernst & Young LLP Vice Chair, East Region Managing Partner Rich Jeanneret:

"Unprecedented times like these require innovative and impactful approaches. VA Ready will strengthen the resiliency of Virginia's workforce, in particular in underrepresented communities. EY is proud to stand with this commitment to retrain unemployed Virginians and stimulate the economy."

SAIC Chief Human Resources Officer Michelle O'Hara:

"SAIC is very proud to take part in the VA Ready program to help address the growing unemployment in Virginia resulting from these times of crisis. By retraining unemployed Virginians in skills that fill in-demand jobs, VA Ready will benefit our communities and economy while giving companies like SAIC access to a broader and more diverse talent pool."

Genworth President and CEO Tom McInerney:

"Genworth is proud to be a part of Virginia Ready. As an ally of people who need long term care and their families, we see a unique opportunity to not only make a tangible difference in the lives of newly unemployed Virginians, but also to help meet the increasing demand for professional caregivers that has challenged the long term care industry during the past several years."

Booz Allen Hamilton Talent Strategy Officer Aimee George Leary:

"Training and employment opportunities -- particularly for racial minorities, who have been disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the systemic injustices of our society -- are more important than ever. We have focused for many years on training and reskilling our employees to meet the changing needs of our clients and business. We are honored to partner with VA Ready on this vital initiative and to help fill the growing demand for skilled technology jobs."

K12 Inc. CEO Nate Davis:

"The VA Ready program stands to make a high-demand, high-potential career accessible to the many Virginians who are out of work and in need right now. With career readiness education being one of K12's top priorities, we are so proud to be supporting this program, and look forward to seeing how its upskilling opportunities will help empower people and get the state's economy moving again."

1901 Group CEO Sonu Singh:

"1901 Group looks forward to working closely with VA Ready to strengthen our economy, support career pathways, and fulfill thousands of open positions by identifying, training, and employing Virginians impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. VA Ready's vision aligns closely with 1901 Group's 10-year track record of developing sustainable IT jobs in regions such as Southwest Virginia."

Harris Williams Managing Director and Co-founder Hiter Harris:

"Harris Williams is proud to be a part of this innovative, impactful effort and is committed to supporting our community. We applaud Glenn and the corporate partners for creating the cause, and supporting Virginians during these trying times. This model provides an exponential impact in helping people get back on their feet and back to work."

WHAT STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS ARE SAYING ABOUT VA READY

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney:

"The Virginia Ready program allows our city's unemployed residents to leverage their talents and reposition their skills to compete and contribute in the high-growth sectors of technology, healthcare and manufacturing and skilled trades. Virginia Ready makes Richmonders ready, and I am pleased to support this timely initiative."

Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander, Ph.D.:

"Career Technical Education is a critical pathway that allows our young people to develop in-demand advanced skills. But the rising cost of postsecondary education continues to erect barriers to access for occupations that can elevate promising students into the middle class. We are grateful that VA Ready is helping us to take down barriers to fulfilling vocational careers and personal achievement. With this significant investment, they are supporting our students and preparing them to work across emerging industries in a rapidly evolving economy."

Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea:

"This is a tremendous opportunity for many of our citizens who have lost employment as a result of Covid 19. I want to thank Suzaane and Glenn Youngkin and Dr. Nancy Agee for making this program available to the Roanoke Valley. This effort complements the city's partnership with Virginia Western Community College and the current Star City Strong Recovery fund initiative of City Council, which is intended to support our community's economic recovery. As I have said on many occasions we are in this together."

Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., Senate Republican Leader (3rd District):

"It is very encouraging to see businesses across the Commonwealth taking the initiative to help Virginians in this way. Retraining workers for available jobs in growing business sectors has a double benefit: It helps Virginians who have lost their jobs due to this terrible pandemic, and it helps Virginia businesses find the well-trained employees they need in order to grow. Great vision and execution by Virginia Ready."

Sen. Janet Howell (32nd District):

"Virginia is home to hundreds of thousands of technology job openings, many of them located in the tech hub of Northern Virginia's 32nd District. VA Ready is the missing link in our efforts to rapidly provide employment to our unemployed neighbors and provide trained employees for Virginia businesses. It represents enlightened business at its best."

Sen. Stephen Newman (23rd District):

"VA Ready is an extraordinary plan to put Virginians back to work during these extraordinary times. The mission of Glenn and Suzanne Youngkin and the VA Ready board is simple, match living wage jobs with those hit-hard by the COVID-19 recession. Best of all it is a private sector solution from some of the best business minds in our Commonwealth. This will be a bi-partisan effort with a strong partnership with our Community College System that will pay dividends for years to come."

Del. Luke Torian (52nd District):

"I appreciate the innovation and focus of Virginia Ready where businesses and our community colleges are working together to fill in-demand, high-paying jobs. I hope Virginians across the state will take advantage of this unique opportunity to be retrained with skills that will lead to rewarding careers and help grow our economy."

Del. Kirk Cox (66th District):

"I'm excited for the launch of the Virginia Ready Initiative (VA Ready) in our state. As our economy begins to recover from the devastating effects of COVID-19, it's essential that workers have immediate access to the necessary skills that employers are looking for. VA Ready and their partners are giving workers the opportunity to set a new path for themselves and their families during these trying times."

Virginia Economic Development Partnership President and CEO Stephen More:

"VA Ready is a timely initiative that will help thousands of Virginians to recover more quickly from the economic damage of the COVID-19 pandemic, while also enabling them to meaningfully increase their wages and/or explore new career opportunities. What Glenn and Suzanne Youngkin have launched is an exemplar of high-impact, well-designed philanthropy that builds on great work that already is underway at community colleges across the Commonwealth. I'm grateful to Glenn and Suzanne, as well as to all the other leaders and companies involved, for envisioning this exciting program and bringing it to life in record time."

Virginia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Barry DuVal:

"Increasing access to workforce training programs in high-demand fields helps to position our talent in Virginia to lead. Investments in talent development and training, like VA Ready, are crucial to our Commonwealth's future success."

SOURCE The Virginia Ready Initiative

Related Links

http://www.vaready.org


FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- What began nearly two years ago as an idea for a new digital health platform has quickly accelerated into web-based intelligence that will transform healthcare, and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida-based healthcare technology startup WITHmyDOC is at the epicenter of the innovation.

"With the healthcare industry changing so rapidly, we felt like the future would see a need for more real-time patient data for physicians to monitor care," WITHmyDOC President Richard Rodriguez explains. "We began working on the technology and last October formed WITHmyDOC. Little did we know there would be a COVID-19 pandemic drawing more attention to telehealth and telemedicine options. We're excited about announcing our product offering this summer and entering the telemedicine market," he adds.

Rodriguez has a proven track record in information technology, also serving as CEO of cloud computing company Centuric for over two decades. It was Centuric's team that first began working on the new platform.

For WITHmyDOC, Rodriguez put together a leadership team of technology experts and senior healthcare professionals led by Frank Peluso, Chief Technology Officer and Jorge Rodriguez, Vice President Sales and Marketing.

"Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring are part of the future of healthcare. WITHmyDOC will be part of that solution," Rodriguez concludes.

About WITHmyDOC

Based in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, WITHmyDOC is a digital health company trailblazing a new world of advanced health care and remote patient monitoring. For more information, call 786-796-2907.

Media Contact:

Juliann Kaiser, 770.643-0615

[email protected]

SOURCE WITHmyDOC
Veterans such as Ridgefield native and longtime Tempe resident Hap Carty pursued a new life after the war, and in doing so planted the seeds of prosperity for U-Haul, a product of the peace for which America fought.

WWII-era Navy veteran L.S. "Sam" Shoen and his wife, Anna Mary Carty Shoen, conceived U-Haul in June 1945 when they recognized a basic need while moving up the West Coast, having left behind most of their belongings since one-way trailer rentals did not yet exist. From that idea, an industry was created and a new level of mobility became attainable for every American family.

New Display at Pearl Harbor

Today, U-Haul is committed to honoring veterans and supporting veteran causes. This is accomplished through recruiting veterans and giving them hiring preference; direct assistance to veteran groups; participation and sponsorship of Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades; and supporting Pearl Harbor tributes.

The Company's 75th anniversary tributes will peak triumphantly with the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum's dedication of the renovated Ford Island Control Tower on Aug. 29. A number of U-Haul Pacific Theater veterans' bios and photos will be displayed in the tower lobby.

The tower will showcase a new elevator, gifted by U-Haul CEO Joe Shoen, providing public access to the observation deck where America's lone WWII aviation battlefield can be revered and our heroes remembered.

Eager to Serve

Carty was born in 1927 to Bill and Mary Carty. He grew up on the family ranch in Ridgefield. He was the third of six children, and brother to U-Haul co-founder Anna Mary. Carty not only worked the ranch, but he worked in shipyards and lumber mills during his high school years. He attended Ridgefield High School, graduating in 1945.

Carty joined the Army immediately after high school. He went through 17 weeks of infantry training at Camp Roberts, Calif. He then put in for an overseas tour, but was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division's transportation unit at Fort Riley, Kan. Though he did not face the perils of combat since the war was coming to an end, Carty remained willing and ready to serve his country. He was honorably discharged as a private first class (PFC) in 1946.

Carty came home on furlough at one point in 1945 and found himself in the business of building trailers. His brother-in-law had converted an old milk house on the Carty ranch into a welding and carpentry shop, and was in the process of building the first fleet of U-Haul trailers. During his furlough, Carty helped build the first 10 U-Haul-manufactured trailers.

After his discharge in 1946, Carty joined the upstart business to become the first U-Haul employee. In 1952, Carty established the first U-Haul manufacturing plant east of the Mississippi River. It was stationed in Boston. In the late 1950s, Carty enrolled in night classes and completed two years of manufacturing management undergraduate study at Penn State University.

A Remarkable Legacy

Over the course of an extraordinary 41-year career with U-Haul, Carty held many key leadership positions. These included: rental company president; product director; director of transportation; district vice president; U-Haul International (UHI) president; Kar-Go International president; AMERCO (parent company of U-Haul) vice president; and UHI chairman of the board.

As president of Kar-Go, Carty was instrumental in establishing the U-Haul Technical Center in Tempe, Ariz., in 1970. At that time, it was the industry's only such research and development facility of its kind.

Carty retired in December 1987, but continued to serve on the AMERCO and U-Haul boards through 2006. He also served on the Tempe Zoning Board of Adjustment and was a longtime member of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce.

Carty and his wife, Toni, have six children: Gail, Tim, Martin, Kevin, Katie and Patrick. They have 14 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Carty continues to be a resident of Tempe.

Veteran Ties and Appreciation

The Shoens started U-Haul upon Sam's discharge with $4,000 of accumulated Navy pay and the courage formed by the cauldron of WWII. With the help of other veterans, the young couple forged their new enterprise from the freedom that victory produced.

Today, U-Haul serves all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces, helping millions of families move every year. Carty is one of the many veterans who laid the foundation for the present prosperity U-Haul enjoys.

U-Haul is one of a myriad of companies built by these incredible veterans, who are to be saluted and remembered during this 75th anniversary celebration. Thank you, Hap.

Find more veteran tributes in the History and Culture section of myuhaulstory.com.

About U-Haul

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of 22,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 167,000 trucks, 120,000 trailers and 43,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 697,000 rooms and 60.7 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry, and is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S. For information on moving safely and smartly with U-Haul during the COVID-19 pandemic, please reference https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8601451-u-haul-moving-season-covid-19-safety/.

Contact:

Jeff Lockridge

Sebastien Reyes

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 602-760-4941

Website: uhaul.com

SOURCE U-Haul

Related Links

www.uhaul.com


SHANGHAI, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO) ("ZTO" or the "Company"), a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China, today issued its annual ESG report for 2019. The report outlines ZTO's accomplishments in 2019, highlighting the company's commitment to sustainable development and its dedication to giving back to the community.

In 2019, ZTO achieved a new milestone, becoming the world's first express delivery company with annual parcel volume surpassing 10 billion. Its rural distribution network is further growing, its ecosystem is steadily expanding and infrastructure capacity is continuously being strengthened.

"Express delivery will play an increasingly important role to connect consumers and producers. Standing at a new starting point and embarking on a new journey means that ZTO will gather more resources and shoulder greater responsibilities," said Meisong Lai, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZTO, "We will expand our capabilities by integrating resources and innovations to diversify products and services that better serve evolving customer demands. ZTO will not only become a ubiquitous brand, but a culture of shared-success, a force that connects trust and expectations, a desire to give back to society, and a way of life that brings happiness to more people".

For the full 2019 ESG report, please visit:

https://libs.zto.cn/ZTOExpress2019ESGReport.pdf

About ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO) ("ZTO" or the "Company") is a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China. ZTO provides express delivery service as well as other value-added logistics services through its extensive and reliable nationwide network coverage in China.

ZTO operates a highly scalable network partner model, which the Company believes is best suited to support the significant growth of e-commerce in China. The Company leverages its network partners to provide pickup and last-mile delivery services, while controlling the mission-critical line-haul transportation and sorting network within the express delivery service value chain.

For more information, please visit http://zto.investorroom.com/

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the Company's unaudited results for the next quarters of 2020, ZTO management quotes and the Company's financial outlook.

These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's belief regarding expected results and events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of its control. The Company's actual results and other circumstances may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and events indicated in these forward-looking statements. The financial results to which this news release is related are preliminary, unaudited and subject to audit adjustment. In addition, the Company may not meet its financial outlook included in this news release and may be unable to grow its business in the manner planned. The Company may also modify its strategy for growth. In addition, there are other risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ from what it currently anticipates, including those relating to the development of the e-commerce industry in China, its significant reliance on the Alibaba ecosystem, risks associated with its network partners and their employees and personnel, intense competition which could adversely affect the Company's results of operations and market share, any service disruption of the Company's sorting hubs or the outlets operated by its network partners or its technology system. For additional information on these and other important factors that could adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, please see its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this release, except as required by law. Such information speaks only as of the date of this release.

SOURCE ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.

Related Links

http://zto.investorroom.com/


Hyderabad, June 29 : The COVID-19 cases in Telangana surpassed 14,000 mark with 983 people testing positive.

The fresh cases pushed the state's tally to 14,419. While 9,000 of them are undergoing treatment, 5,172 have been discharged including 244 on Sunday.

The day also saw four deaths, taking the death toll to 247.

For the first time in nearly two weeks that the state has not registered a jump in the number of cases. The state on Saturday had reported 1,087 cases, the highest single-day jump.

Greater Hyderabad remained the worst affected district, accounting for 816 cases on Sunday. Rangareddy and Medchal districts bordering Hyderabad reported 47 and 29 fresh cases respectively. The Mancherial district also witnessed a big spike with 33 cases. Warangal Urban and Warangal Rural districts also registered new cases in double figures.

According to the director of public health and family welfare, 3,227 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative number to 82,458.

Meanwhile, the central team led by Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, Luv Agarwal, will be visiting COVID-19 designated hospitals in Hyderabad and interact with health officials on Monday.

Officials said the team would have few containment centres picked up randomly. It will then visit Gandhi Hospitaland newly created Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) in Gachibowli.

The team is expected to review the COVID-19 response and management in Telangana along with Health Minister, Eatala Rajender and other senior health officials.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
"Rasbhari" (series streaming on Amazon Prime)

Cast: Swara Bhasker, Ayushmaan Saxena, Neelu Kohli

Direction: Nikhil Bhat

Rating: * * and 1/2 (two and a half stars)

By Vinayak Chakravorty

"Rasbhari" tries to be erotic and edifying at the same time. The idea is to set up a quirky, coming-of-age drama in smalltown India buoyed by sexual fantasy. Layered within is a subtext that teases with the paranormal, in a bid to leave a broader comment on the societal urge to scuttle a woman's sexuality.

Nikhil Bhat's series spreads its dual idea over eight episodes. You have Swara Bhasker as the sizzling English teacher Shanu, who arrives in smalltown Meerut with her husband and right away conquers all the male hearts, sending boys and men alike on a trip of fantasy.

Among Shanu's besotted brigade is Nand Kishore (Ayushmaan Saxena) whose big dream -- no surprises -- is to lose his virginity before he finishes high school. The problem is Nand seems to develop brotherly vibes with almost all the girls he knows, and that includes the odd one who makes her advances quite apparent to him. Shanu's arrival changes his life. Suddenly, Nand falls head over heels for the English teacher.

Shantanu Shrivatava's writing adds a spin to the narrative here. As Nand is drawn to Shanu's allure and even signs up for private tuitions to get close to her, he begins to hear unpalatable things about her. He learns that Shanu has been making out with many of the guys about town. As the town's women prepare to lead a charge against Shanu for snatching their husbands, the mention keeps coming up of Rasbhari, the teacher's alter ego who, we are told is the spirit of a courtesan.

Is Rasbhari to blame for the sexual trangressions that Shanu is blamed for? Or is she merely an imagination figment to let Nand protect his beautiful perception of Shanu? Or, Rasbhari is perhaps a metaphor of Shanu's liberated sexuality, something that smalltown societal norms do not condone in a woman.

"Rasbhari" obviously set out to craft a strong statement, but the narrative struggles to put across its point. Writing erotica for the screen can be tricky business, and one would really have to strain one's imagination to think of sexually-loaded content in Indian mainstream that has assuredly put across its point (a recent commendable example would perhaps be "Lust Stories"). "Rasbhari" tries to come across as a layered allegory but the storytelling doesn't always come up with the right nuances to support the notion.

The fact does not help either that the actual story takes time to start. The series of eight episodes tests your patience over nearly half of its runtime before the story really starts warming up.

This is Swara Bhasker's show and if you can overlook a wardrobe that seems randomly borrowed from what Sushmita Sen wore in "Main Hoon Na", she manages to make sufficient impact in an authorbacked role.

Interestingly, this is the second time after "Anaarkali Of Aarah" that Swara plays a smalltown temptress in a film that highlights double standards when it comes to gauging female sexuality. However, while that film stayed true to a singular intent and impressively put across its point, 'Rasbhari" gets its purpose muddled somewhere down the line, as it tries playing out its episodes.

The series obviously has an intent. It falls short in execution.

(Vinayak Chakravorty can be reached at vinayak.c@ians.in)

-- Syndicated from IANS
Tehran, June 29 : Amid increasing infections and fatalities over COVID-19 pandemic, after partial removal of lockdown, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said that wearing face masks in public areas will become mandatory from next week.

"From July 5, wearing masks in all public areas will be compulsory for two weeks," Rouhani said on Sunday at a meeting of the National Headquarters for Managing and Fighting the Coronavirus, Xinhua news agency reported.

If necessary, the new decision will remain in force for the next month, he was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.

He also said those who fail to observe the health measures and regulation will be penalized.

According to Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi, the use of mask and respect to social distancing are "a must" in the provinces which are in high-risk condition.

Disrespect to social distancing and disregard of health protocols are the main reasons for the resurgence of the pandemic in some of the cities in the country, Harirchi was quoted as saying by IRNA.

Also, services will not be given to those without masks in areas such as government organizations and shopping malls, he said.

Rouhani said on Sunday that the health ministry has provided a list of spaces and gatherings which are regarded as high-risk areas.

The use of masks and protective gears has been optional in most areas in Iran.

Iranian officials have hinted that they may reimpose restrictive measures.

Rouhani also said on Sunday that the current year is the hard year for Iran as the country is grappled with economic pressures, due to the U.S. sanctions, as well as the outburst and endurance of novel coronavirus disease.

But, the Islamic republic will hopefully overcome this tough situation in unity, he stressed.

Iran reported its first COVID-19 cases on Feb. 19. It imposed restrictions late in the month and started to gradually ease the restrictions from April.

Iran's confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 222,669 on Sunday after an overnight registration of 2,489 new infections, IRNA reported.

Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said at her daily briefing that out of the new cases in the past 24 hours, 1,406 have been hospitalized.

The pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 10,508 Iranians, up by 144 in the past 24 hours.

Besides, 183,310 have recovered and been discharged from hospitals while 2,946 remain in critical condition.

According to Lari, 1,610,869 lab tests for COVID-19 have been carried out in Iran as of Sunday.

The Iranian health official said that five provinces are still in high-risk condition.

Iran and China have offered mutual help in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

In mid-February, at the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak in China, Iran lit up the Tehran Azadi (Liberty) Tower to show its solidarity with China, and donated 3 million masks to China.

In return, China has delivered several shipments of medical supplies to Iran. On February 29, a five-member Chinese medical team visited Iran for a month-long mission to help Iran fight the pandemic.
Kabul, June 29 : Both the Afghan government troops and the Taliban group have stepped up military operations as over 70 people including 10 civilians have been killed across the country over the past 24 hours, officials said.

In the latest violent incident, a roadside mine planted by the Taliban struck a car in Washir district of the southern Helmand province at 3 p.m. local time Sunday, killing six civilians, including women and children and injuring two others, provincial police spokesman Mohammad Zaman Hamdard said on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported.

A similar incident claimed the lives of three civilians including two children as a mine planted by the Taliban insurgents on a road in Manjek district of the northern Jawzjan province went off on Sunday morning, provincial government spokesman Abdul Marouf Azar said.

Government forces operations have killed 23 militants and injured nine others in the eastern Ghazni and neighbouring Paktia provinces on Sunday, according to officials.

A mortar mine fired by the Taliban militants struck a house in Qargan area of the northern Faryab province Saturday evening, killing one civilian and wounding four others, police said.

According to the police, eight militants were killed and 13 others sustained injury in Qaramqul district of Faryab province over the past 24 hours.

A dozen militants have been killed elsewhere in the northern Jawzjan province since Saturday, provincial government spokesman Marouf Azar claimed.

The security forces have killed seven militants and wounded seven others in the eastern Kapisa province over the past 24 hours.

A total of 14 militants have been killed and 15 others injured in Saghar district of the western Ghor province on Saturday, according to a statement of the Interior Ministry.

Fighting usually gets momentum in spring and summer in Afghanistan commonly know as the fighting season among war-weary Afghans.
According to a report created by the Department of Homeland Security and distributed to law enforcement and government agencies on Thursday, the U.S. is already seeing shortages of over 200 types of drugs and medical supplies, due to international shutdowns from early on in the pandemic that strained the supply chain. These shortages, officials predict, will only worsen if future outbreaks of the virus force new shutdowns.
New Delhi, June 29 : Hollywood's 'Thor' Chris Hemsworth is as vulnerable as anybody else and grapples with uncertainties just like everyone. The actor says he looks at vulnerability as an access point for the audience and feels they make the character more relatable.

"I'm as vulnerable as anybody else," Hemsworth told IANS when asked about tapping into vulnerabilities for a character.

"You know, anything involving children, children (being) in jeopardy or if their safety is threatened, having children myself, it's certainly easier to sort of draw upon the visceral nature of what that the circumstances would evoke in you," he added.

Picking his recent digital film "Extraction" as an example, he continued: "We shot this movie in India, Bangladesh and Thailand, I didn't have my family with me, so having that distance, I was certainly missing them more than usual. And so to sort of tap into those emotions was a little more accessible." "You know, (we all have the) same uncertainties. Some people are better at hiding them than others. But I think vulnerability is an access point for an audience and it shows that you are human. It shows that there are qualities that hopefully people can relate to, and uncertainties and questions (with which) people can identify with and that was what was so wonderful about the script of 'Extraction' that was laid out in front of us and there for us to dive into." After steering projects like "Home And Away" and JJ Abrams' "Star Trek", Hemsworth scored his big break in 2011 with the film "Thor" as the Norse God of Thunder Thor, embarking on the journey of becoming one of the biggest and bankable movie stars in the world.

This year, Hemsworth made his digital debut as an actor with "Extraction".

In Sam Hargrave's "Extraction", Hemsworth is seen as a fearless, black market mercenary Tyler Rake, who embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he is enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord.

Talking about the working experience on the Netflix film, he said: "It was just such an incredibly wonderfully collaborative experience. It was the first time that I was working with the streaming platform. They have really carved out a space for this type of film that you may not be able to put on the consumer during this sort of time in cinema history.

"We were able to make a sort of a real throwback to the classic action films where you are not relying on special effects and visual effects. It is all in camera. It was a pretty exhausting, but wonderfully collaborative, incredible experience," he summed up the experience.

(Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in)
Ramallah, June 29 : Palestine denied any contacts held with the United States, following Israeli media reports about a Palestinian-US dialogue over US President Donald Trump's Mideast peace plan.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said that Palestine's position has not changed concerning the severed ties with both the current US administration and Israeli government, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.

Abu Rudeineh reiterated the Palestinian leadership's decision against the Israeli annexation, saying that all plans to impose the annexation in one go or in phases are "a matter of principle," according to a statement published by Palestine's official WAFA news agency.

"Any dialogue must be based on UN resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative and the peace plan proposed by President Mahmoud Abbas before the United Nations Security Council and on the basis of the principle of the two-state solution that ends the Israeli occupation and allows the establishment of an independent state of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital," said Abu Rudeineh.

"Israel must assume its full responsibility as an occupying power if it goes ahead with annexation," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

On Saturday night, Israel's Public Radio reported that Abbas declined a phone call by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over the anticipated annexation plan, and that US officials met secretly with Palestinian officials in an attempt to organise a channel of dialogue between the Palestinian leadership and the White House.

However, no breakthrough was reported.

The Israeli government is planning to annex more than 30 percent of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley. It also plans to impose sovereignty on several Israeli settlements in the territory.

Tension between the two sides has mounted after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his annexation plan will be implemented on July 1.
Srinagar, June 29 : Three terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces at Khulchohar in South Kashmir's Anantnag district Monday morning.

Arms and ammunition including an AK 47 rifle and two pistols were recovered from the slain terrorists.

"Three terrorists eliminated in the ensuing gunfight. One AK 47 rifle and two pistols were recovered. Joint operation is in progress," Army said in a brief statement.

According to details, army and police had launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on the basis of a specific information about the presence of terrorists. As the cordon was tightened the hiding terrorists fired at the security forces which triggered the encounter.

"Three unidentified terrorists have been killed. We are ascertaining the identities while the search is on. Further details shall follow," police said in a statement.
Washington, June 29 : The House of southern US state Mississippi passed a bill to remove a Confederate battle emblem from its state flag, local media reported.

The House passed the bill in a vote of 91 to 23 with broad bipartisan support, said the reports.

The bill now sends to the state Senate and Republican Governor Tate Reeves has said he will sign it if passed, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.

A commission would design a new flag that cannot include the Confederate symbol broadly condemned as racist, said the reports, the new design would go before voters in November for approval.

The state flag, adopted in 1894, nearly 30 years after the end of the Civil War, is the last in the country to feature the Confederate battle emblem.

The move came in the wake of weeks of anti-racism protests and civil unrest following the death of black man George Floyd in police custody on May 25, renewing attention on symbols of the Confederacy across the country.

African American people make up 38 percent of the Mississippi population.
Srinagar, June 29 : Authorities in Kashmir have dispelled alarmist rumours spread following an official order for two-month long stock building.

Department of food, supplies and consumer Affairs had asked oil companies to build cooking gas stocks for two months in the Valley.

The order was followed by wild rumours that the decision to build stocks was a prelude to 'something big in the offing'.

The rumour came in the background of heightened border tensions between India and China in Western Ladakh.

Trying to set the rumour mill at rest, authorities today said some people are spreading false information regarding a communication with respect to the LPG stock in Kashmir valley.

A statement issued here by the food, supplies and consumer affairs department said some people are spreading all kind of rumours by referring to a letter, written by Director, of the department addressed to Nodal coordinator for Oil companies in J&K, in connection with "ensuring adequate stocking of LPG in Kashmir.

"The same has been written by the Director, FCS&CA Kashmir, to prevent any shortfall of essential commodities (particularly LPG) during the ensuing Monsoon season.

"We all know that the NH-44, between Ramban-Jawahar tunnel stretch, behaves in an unpredictable manner during the rains.

"Currently, we maintain nearly a month of stock in Kashmir. We have requested the LPG companies to explore the feasibility of maintaining the stock for nearly 2 months to prevent any panic situations that may arise in the event of highway closure for longer duration," the statement added.
Washington, June 29 : US President Donald Trump said that he was never briefed on intelligence that Russians offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing American troops.

"Nobody briefed or told me, @VP Pence, or Chief of Staff @MarkMeadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an 'anonymous source' by the Fake News @nytimes," Trump tweeted on Sunday morning.

"Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attack on us," he added.

Casualty records, however, showed that the year of 2019 was the deadliest year for US service members in Afghanistan since 2014, with 22 American troops killed, reports Xinhua news agency.

The President's tweets echoed Saturday's White House statement on this matter, in which Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said several senior officials had confirmed that neither Trump nor Vice President Mike Pence was briefed on the intelligence.

McEnany also noted that the statement "does not speak to the merit of the alleged intelligence but to the inaccuracy of the New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter".

In a report on Friday, The New York Times said that Trump had been briefed on the intelligence that Russian intelligence units secretly offered bounties to Taliban-related militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan during US-Taliban peace talks.

The story also said the National Security Council discussed this issue at an inter-agency meeting in late March, while the White House thus far has not taken any actions to respond.

Democrats and former officials cited the story as fresh evidence of Trump's disqualification as the President.

Former Vice President and the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Saturday criticized Trump's failure to punish Russia as "a betrayal of the most sacred duty".

Trump's former National Security Adviser John Bolton on Sunday said in an interview with CNN that the President's tweet indicated "his fundamental focus is not the security of our forces ... he's saying well nobody told me therefore you can't blame me".

Others doubted the theory that Trump had not been briefed on this matter.

"I have trouble believing it, but as someone who got the presidential daily briefing for more than 7 years the idea that a POTUS wouldn't be briefed on a Russian bounty on US troops is even more alarming," tweeted Ben Rhodes, who served as deputy national security advisor in former President Barack Obama's administration.

In a Sunday interview with ABC, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also expressed concern that some officials may have avoided bringing the issues to the president.

"We'll find out he has briefed and it was in his daily brief, but if it were not, what does that say about the concern that those who briefed the President have about not going anywhere near the Russia issue with this President?.

"Something is very wrong here, but this must have an answer," she added.

The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, and the death toll of American service members has surpassed 2,400 in this longest war in Washington's history.

Trump has long complained about the endlessness of the war and sought a full withdrawal from the country.

In the agreement signed in late February between the US and the Taliban, Washington said it would reduce its forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 within 135 days.

The agreement also called for the full withdrawal of the US military by May 2021 if the Taliban meets the conditions of the deal, including severing ties with terrorist groups.

Commander of US Central Command Kenneth McKenzie said earlier this month that the American military had reduced its troops level to 8,600 in Afghanistan, fulfiling its first phased pullout obligation under the deal.
Beirut, June 29 : A Lebanese judge resigned a day after issuing an international media ban on US Ambassador Dorothy Shea over critical comments she made of the Hezbollah Shia group.

Sunday's decision taken by Mohamed Mazeh, a judge of the southern city of Tyre, came after the US Ambassador blamed the Shia group for worsening the economic situation in the country.

"By its actions and threats, Hezbollah destabilizes the country and jeopardizes the country's economic recovery," Shea said during an interview with Al-Hadath on Saturday.

She expressed "very serious reservations" over the independence of the government and that it is "not beholden to Hezbollah".

The comments by the diplomat "threaten the social peace" and "incite the sectarian conflict," the Judge Mazeh ruled on Sunday.

Despite the ruling, the Ambassador was interviewed twice by Lebanese media.

During an interview with the LBCI TV channel on Sunday, she considered the decision to be "unhelpful and unnecessary".

An "appropriate action is being taken (by the Lebanese government) to reverse this inappropriate ruling," she added.

The Judge on Sunday issued a statement, published by local media, saying that he was not notified that he was subject to any administrative proceedings.

"In the event that this happens to be true, and before referring me to the Inspection Authority because of a ruling I made with a clear conscience and in full conviction... I present my request to end my service in the Judiciary, which I will officially submit on Tuesday, June 30, 2020," he said in a statement.

Although Lebanese authorities did not appreciate the Ambassador's comments, Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad rejected the Judge's ruling.

"No one has the right to prevent media from giving the news and restrict the liberty of the media," the Minister tweeted on Saturday.

The US and the UK among other countries consider Hezbollah as a terror group and have even mulled imposing sanctions on the organization.

Prime Minister Hasan Diab formed a government last December backed by the Hezbollah and its allies, two months after Saad Hariri resigned following massive anti-government protests.

Lebanon has been negotiating with the International Monetary Fund over a program to help it out of its worst economic crises since the end of the civil war (1975-1990).
Manila, June 29 : The Philippine Coast Guard was on Monday looking for 14 Filipino fishermen who disappeared the day before in the South China Sea after their boat collided with a Chinese cargo ship off the coast of Mindoro.

The Coast Guard identified the ship as the MV Vienna Wood, Efe news quoted Captain Armando Balilo, spokesman for the Coast Guard, as saying.

The Coast Guard BRP Boracay boat resumed search operations at dawn on Monday and is combing the waters of Mindoro to locate the fishermen, in addition to having launched an aerial search.

The Vienna Wood had departed from the Philippine port of Subic, and was sailing to Australia when it collided with the Philippine fishing vessel Liberty 5 early Sunday morning at Cabo Calavite, Balilo said.

The vessel's owner, Irma Fishing and Trading, reported the boat as missing after it did not dock at Navotas in the morning and was found capsized hours later, with no trace of any of its crew.

A search for diving was started on Sunday afternoon around the wrecked ship, which suffered severe damage with the central section of the hull sunk, but was cancelled at dusk.

In June last year, another Chinese ship sank a Philippine boat and drifted 22 Filipino fishermen some 300 km southwest of Reed Atoll, an area of the disputed South China Sea.

A Vietnamese ship rescued the 22 Filipinos after the collision, in an event that caused great outrage in the Philippines, where President Rodrigo Duterte, who has guided his foreign policy towards China, played down the issue.
New Delhi, June 29 : Minority shareholders are opposing the move by Zuari Agro Chemical Limited to transfer its Goa unit to Paradeep Phosphates.

Minority shareholders say that the proposed transfer of the manufacturing unit will make ZACL merely a holding company, holding shares of many subsidiaries and Associates Company with hardly any business remaining in ZACL. It is a known fact that any holding company is always traded to a substantial discount to its intrinsic value.

Finquest group is one of large minority shareholders and has conveyed its dissent and concerns for the way in which minority shareholders of ZACL are treated. Subject to revaluation of the plant of ZACL, they suggested that Paradeep Phosphates Ltd. should be merged with ZACL, which is a listed entity and have other valuable investments as well.

In fact, Paradeep Phosphates will get benefit of existing banking arrangements as well as support of existing infrastructure. Also, 20 per cent Equity holding in Paradeep Phosphates held by Government will become liquid as it will be listed, Finquest suggested.

It is learnt that they also seem to have been contacted by investor advisory firms who are of similar opinion that this transaction is totally against and prejudicial to interest of minority shareholders.

If promoters, because of dominant shareholding carry out his ill motivated plan, minority shareholders say will have to approach appropriate legal forum for protection of their interest and rights. Shareholders approaching the government are not ruled out as the Government of India is a 20 per cent shareholder of Paradeep Phosphate.

Alternatively, they are learnt to have suggested distribution of shareholding of various subsidiaries and associates i.e Paradeep Phosphate (and get the same listed), Mangalore Chemical and Fertilisers to the shareholders of ZACL.

Shareholders say that ZACL and its associate companies could not reach their true potential after the death of K.K. Birla, who founded the company.

In the recent past, ZACL could not meet financial commitment to its bankers which resulted into downgrading of its credit rating by rating agencies which in turn led to recall of loans by its bankers. This also resulted into closure of its manufacturing operation in NPK-B plant from April 27, 2019 as the company was not having funds to purchase raw materials.

"It is unbelievable that the company which promoted and managed another company Chambal Fertilizer and Chemicals Ltd, whose operations are very profitable, had to close down operation due to unavailability of finances which many shareholders allege to be mismanagement of ZACL by its promoters. The financial performance for the last 8 quarters of ZACL speaks for it," according to shareholders.

ZACL, announced its 4th quarter results on June 21 with a note which has not only surprised but also anguished minority shareholders. "In October 2019, with a view to building a large fertilizer company with access to both Phosphates and Nitrogenous fertilizers and to access the markets serviced by the Company, it proposed and OCP group agreed to evaluate Company's Goa plant for a merger into or slump sale to Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL) on both Strategic and financial grounds." "With this objective in mind, reputed advisors were engaged both by the Company and OCP group. After detailed discussions, both Company and OCP have recently agreed to a valuation of US $280mn for the Goa plant of the Company. This transaction would bring in long term funds in the Company and would take care of long-term Liabilities of the Company.

Both the parties have also agreed that the said valuation is subject to a confirmatory due diligence to be undertaken by PPL for purchase of Goa Plant of the Company and other legal requirements, including approval of Government of lndia," the note said.

It may be noted that presently, the Company and OCP hold 50 per cent each of the total equity capital of Zuari Maroc Phosphates Private Limited (ZMPPL) and ZMPPL holds 80.45 per cent of the Share capital of PPL.

Shareholders have been totally taken by surprise and anguished by the above intention of promoters of the company, which is effectively leading ZACL to be only a holding Company, holding shares of various group entities. "The act and intention of heirs of K.K. Birla viz. Saroj Poddar who was instrumental in promoting Gillette India Ltd., venture with the renowned 'The Gillette Company,' US, lead to the Minority shareholders being anguished with intention of Mr Saroj Poddar in respect of ZACL," shareholders said.
Hyderabad, June 29 : A heart-wrenching selfie video of a young COVID patient complaining of negligence by a state-run hospital in Hyderabad and saying goodbye to his father has gone viral over social media.

"Though I told them that I can't breathe, they removed the ventilator. I am fed up. It's been three hours, daddy. It's like my heart has stopped beating. Bye daddy bye. Bye everyone," said the man in the video.

According to the family of P. Ravi Kumar (34) he died soon after he recorded the selfie video on June 26 at government-run Chest Hospital, where he was admitted on June 24.

Ravi's father P. Venkateshwarlu said they shared the video so that the world knows what's happening in hospitals. "No other family should go through this ordeal," he said.

The hospital authorities, however, denied that there was any negligence. They said he died of cardiac complications.

They said the patient was given medicines and put on supplementary oxygen but he developed heart related complications.

Hospital Superintendent Dr Mahboob Khan clarified that the patient was not put on a ventilator and hence was incorrect to say that it was removed. According to him, Ravi Kumar was suffering from a condition called myocarditis.

Hospital superintendent said this heart related complication is being observed in some younger patients infected by Coronavirus. Such patients die due to lack of oxygen supply to the heart.

The deceased is survived by his wife, a 12-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son.

After working in Saudi Arabia for 10 years, Ravi Kumar had returned home two years ago and has been living with his parents.

Venkateshwarlu said his son started complaining of breathlessness on June 23. He took him from one hospital to another but no one admitted him. "We went to 11 hospitals but they refused to admit without a Coronavirus test," he recalled.

The next day he took Ravi to a private lab and gave a sample for COVID-19 test. The same night his condition started worsening and his father took him to Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) but authorities there told him to go to Chest Hospital. He was finally admitted to that hospital.

Venkateshwarlu was staying in the hospital premises. He said his son sent him a selfie video late on the night of June 26. He watched this around 2.30 a.m. and went inside the ward but by then his son had breathed his last.

The next day hospital authorities handed over the body to the family and they performed the last rites. The report, which came later in the day, showed him to be COVID positive. Authorities quarantined his family members and were gathering information about 30 people who attended the funeral.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Researchers around the globe are working overtime to discover the first effective coronavirus vaccine, but in an interview with CNN, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that a vaccine can only create herd immunity if a large enough portion of the population gets it. With the current amount of apathy and anti-vax sentiment in the U.S., thats a more difficult task than it may seem.
Paris, June 29 : France's Green party and its left-wing allies have made significant gains in the second and final round of municipal elections, while President Emmanuel Macron's centrist The Republic on the Move (LERM) failed to gain a strong foothold.

Exit polls showed that the European Ecologists and the Greens (EELV) recorded a strong performance in the elections held on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.

They claimed victory in cities including Lyon, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Poitiers, Besancon, Annecy, Bastia and Tours.

Traditionally, one of bastions of the Republicans party, Marseille, France's second largest city, switched to the left wing.

The environmentalist Michele Rubirola, who headed a left-wing coalition, was seen winning the vote with nearly 40 per cent, 10 percentage points ahead of her conservative rival Martine Vassal, according to Ipsos/Sopra Steria.

"What has won tonight is the desire for a concrete ecology, an ecology in action. It is a turning point in the political life of the country. It is the moment of ecology," Yannick Jadot, leader of the French greens told France 2 television.

Marine Le Pen's far-right party seized the control of Perpignan in the south, its first takeover of a city of over 100,000 inhabitants since 1995.

The anti-immigrant and protectionist party's candidate Louis Aliot, was seen collecting 52.7 per cent of the vote versus 47.3 per cent for the sitting conservative mayor.

"The first message this evening is that this so-called Republican front fell in Perpignan, and tomorrow it could fall elsewhere. (The victory) is a great message for the future," Alliot told supporters.

Exit polls suggested that Macron's party, founded by him ahead of his 2017 election, could emerge from the local contest without winning a major city, a severe blow to the president's plan to build a local power base ahead of 2022 presidential election.

Incumbent socialist Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo topped the vote with 49.3 per cent, sending the President's candidate Agnes Buzyn, former Health Minister, into a distant third place.

It wasn't all bad for the head of state.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe won the race in northern port city of Le Havre with 58.83 per cent of the vote.

Holding two executive posts is allowed under French law. But the Prime Minister's mayoral victory raised questions over a possible government reshuffle, reported French media.

Citing a source close to the Elysee, France info radio reported that Macron has congratulated Philippe for the "beautiful victory" and the two men would meet on Monday morning.

The President also "expresses concern about the low turnout in municipal elections," which he said "is not very good news for the country's democracy".

The turnout of Sunday's round slumped to a record low level of 34.67 per cent, according to the Ministry of Interior.

In the 2014 local polls, 52.36 per cent of eligible voters had voted.

Previously scheduled for March 22, the voting took place after the government started a gradual exit in mid-May from months-long restrictions in response to the spread of COVID-19.

On March 15 when the first round was held, 44.66 per cent of some 47.7 million voters shunned the voting.
New Delhi, June 29 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday again took a swipe at the Central government for the rising fuel prices and urged people to join the campaign against it.

The former Congress party chief took to Twitter to show his resentment and stated, "Come and join #SpeakUpAgainstFuelHike campaign." This came after the state-run oil marketing companies raised the prices of petrol and diesel on Monday, a day after there was no hike in rates that were increasing continuously for three weeks.

Rahul Gandhi also shared a video wherein a person could be heard saying that the government is "rubbing salt on the wounds of people" by increasing the prices at a time when people are either unemployed or not receiving salaries.

"Amid coronavirus pandemic and tensions with China, the Centre has left the common man to fend for themselves. It is looting the country by increasing the price of petrol and diesel from the past 21 days. The poor and middle class people are helpless," the video narrated.

The video, shared by Rahul Gandhi, went on to urge the people to raise their voice against the hike, so that it lands on the "deaf ears of the government". The narrator asked countrymen to share the video of disgruntled people with the #SpeakUpAgainstFuelHike hashtag on their social media handle from 10 a.m. onwards on Monday.

At the outset, the Congress party has also decided to launch a five-day protest, starting June 30, against fuel price hike in each block of the country. The party would also hold protests, between 11 a.m. and 12 noon on Monday in front of the Central government offices against the fuel price hike, said senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal on Sunday.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
June 29 : Tara Sutaria maybe just two films old, but the millennial actress is well acquainted with fashion. Every time she stepped out for photo shoots, fashion events, or red carpets, the fashionista never disappointed the fashion police. From sultry dresses, crop tops to miniskirts, Taras head-turning sartorial picks helped her make her place in the glam world.

Taras personal style is all about glamour. This girly-girl has always been spotted in traffic-stopping outfits. In this picture, Tara comes across with a hint of oomph as she leans against the wall in a sequin blazer dress, stockings, and boots with blue smokey eyes.

The Student of The Year 2 actress doesn't shy away from the spotlight. Tara loves her form-accentuating minis, and in this picture, she is seen in an attention-grabbing red checkered blazer dress with matching pumps, stockings, and headband, all enhancing her sultry quotient.

You cannot miss Taras sheer gorgeousness in this brown and white polka dot bikini, posing against the backdrop of Maldives sparkling waters of the ocean. Completely doused in sultriness, Tara is seen being shot by celebrity photographer Rahul Jhangiani.

The Marjaavaan actress slays in this pink number comprising a skimpy bralette and a matching tiny skirt. She tied her look together with a matching wrist band, high ponytail and blue shimmery sneakers.

Tara knows how to induce glamour to her girl-next-door look in a basic white off-shoulder crop top worn with blue jeans. Her wardrobe is doused with glamorous ensembles as she balances relaxed silhouettes with sultry numbers.
Washington/Kabul, June 29 : The US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is set to meet Taliban leaders in Doha to discuss the intra-Afghan talks, the State Department said in a statement.

Khalilzad on Sunday departed for Doha, Islamabad, and Tashkent, the statement said, adding that "at all three locations, the Ambassador will urge support for all Afghans to meet their remaining commitments ahead of intra-Afghan negotiations, specifically reduced violence and timely prisoner releases", reports TOLO News.

It added that Khalilzad has been joined by US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) CEO Adam Boehler and his team.

"Afghan peace, economic growth, and regional connectivity are closely linked and mutually supportive," the statement said, adding that "the delegation will explore investment opportunities and partnerships in a range of sectors to advance the economic recovery of Afghanistan and support sustained peace and stability in the region".

"Due to the challenges of travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ambassador Khalilzad, CEO Boehler, and their delegation will also conduct meetings with Afghan officials throughout the trip remotely via video." As violence continued across the country, President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday called on the Taliban to end the violence and instead come forward to start the intra-Afghan talks.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 29 : The COVID-19 onslaught has accelerated the pace of IT modernisation and digital transformation via Cloud-driven solutions in the vast public sector in India and various state governments are fast embracing the Cloud technology to reduce the infection rate while efficiently managing the lockdown, a top global Amazon Web Services (AWS) executive has stressed.

According to Teresa Carlson, Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector, AWS (the Cloud arm of e-commerce giant Amazon with over $40 billion annual run rate), as COVID-19 continues to spread, the global health emergency will only be resolved by governments, businesses, academia and individuals working together to better understand this virus and ultimately find a cure.

"Research institutes, scientists and organisations working on diagnostics need reliable, scalable compute power, which AWS can deliver to them along with industry-leading services like analytics and machine learning, so they can process and analyse large data sets and iterate quickly," Carlson told IANS.

Today, from state governments to startups, India is fast harnessing AWS Cloud technology for scale, speed and agility and above all, data security.

Quantela, a provider of smart urban infrastructure automation, has developed CoVER (COVID-19 emergency response) platform in India.

"CoVER is used by government authorities across 10 cities in India to monitor, manage, track, diagnose, communicate, collaborate and prevent the impact of COVID-19. In one of the large cities in southern India that has so far reported far fewer COVID-19 cases, they used CoVER to track about 120 hospitals, 600 ambulances, and 400 isolation beds, and monitor people in quarantine," informed Carlson.

The officials attributed real-time access to data and quick decision-making as among the key measures that helped the city contain the spread of COVID-19 even in densely-populated areas, and significantly helping reduce the infection rate in the city.

The India eGovernments Foundation collaborated with AWS to develop the National COVID-19 e-Pass solution within 72 hours to provide a digital pass management system that supports multiple state governments, to manage the lockdown while ensuring smooth movement of the essential service providers across and within states.

"Since its launch, more than 50,000 organizations have been evaluated, and more than 6,00,000 daily passes have been issued on the platform. It has been deployed in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Telangana, Puducherry, Odisha and Karnataka," the AWS executive noted.

TruFactor is a platform that provides mobile-first consumer data and insights. The company has a patented platform that ingests, filters, and processes over 100TB of data anonymously, using AI to produce graphs that combine digital signals, physical people movement data, and demographics to help tackle spread of COVID-19.

TruFactor has listed datasets on AWS Data Exchange, a service that makes it easy for millions of AWS customers worldwide to securely find, subscribe, and use third-party data in the cloud.

Innovaccer, a San Francisco-based healthcare technology company, with offices in India and Asia, launched a COVID-19 Management System that can conduct early community-based triage of COVID-19 patients through automated assessments in minutes.

The multi-platform system is currently in use by the governments in Goa and Puducherry in India. Within three days of launch, more than 25,000 citizens in Goa had already used the app to assess their vulnerability to COVID-19.

Mumbai-based Qure.ai, a healthcare startup built on AWS, has developed a machine learning-powered solution called 'qXR' which uses X-rays to classify patients as high, medium, or low risk for COVID-19 in less than a minute.

Built on data from more than 2.5 million radiology scans, qXR is capable of detecting problem areas and abnormalities that are indicative of COVID-19.

Since its deployment in over 40 sites across South Asia, Europe and North America, it is identifying approximately 5,000 suspected cases on a weekly basis. Qure.ai is currently in talks with the state governments to use its solution in government hospitals, large clinics and healthcare centres across the country.

AWS announced the Diagnostic Development Initiative (DDI) in March this year.

"This is a programme to support customers who are working to bring better, more accurate, diagnostics solutions to market faster, and promote better collaboration across organizations that are working on similar problems," Carlson told IANS.

This includes an initial investment of $20 million to accelerate diagnostic research, innovation, and development to speed collective understanding and detection of COVID-19 and other innovative diagnostic solutions to mitigate future infectious disease outbreaks.

"We are actively working with 35 projects that have been submitted and are still accepting more applications," said Carlson.

(Nishant Arora can be reached at nishant.a@ians.in)

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-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mirzapur : , June 29 (IANS) The famous Vindhyachal temple of Uttar Pradesh in Mirzapur district has finally reopened after 100 days of closure in view of the corona crisis. Pilgrims will be allowed restricted entry from Monday.

An elaborate ritual was performed on Sunday evening, as it reopened. The temple had remained closed even after June 8 when most other temples reopened in Unlock 1.0.

The Vindhyachal temples, located about 8 km from Mirzapur, on the banks of the holy river Ganga, is dedicated to Goddess Vindhyavasini (daughter of Yashoda-Nanda) and is one of the most revered 'Siddhapeeth' of the presiding deity.

The Vindhya Panda Samaj (VPS) had decided to close the Vindhyachal temple and other temples of the triad, including Kalikhoh and Ashtabhuja, on March 20 in view of the pandemic. The VPS did not reopen the temples on June 8 because one of the priests had tested positive for corona.

VPS president Pankaj Dwivedi said: "We decided to reopen the temple after all plans for crowd control, arrangements related to safety as per the guidelines of the government were discussed and implemented.

"An 'Akhand Kirtan' (mass religious recital) by selected priests was organised on Sunday afternoon with the performance of 'Rajshree aarti'." He said that devotees will have to stand within circles drawn to maintain social distancing and wait for their entry in the temple after wearing masks and sanitizing hands.

Devotees will offer prayers from outside the sanctum sanctorum and exit the temple without touching anything. Similar arrangements will be effective in other temples of Vindhya triad.
New Delhi, June 29 : The National Company Law Tribunal has directed for a meeting of Bharti Airtel shareholders to consider and approve the scheme of arrangement between Airtel, Bharti Airtel Services, Hughes Communications and HCIL Comtel.

The meeting will be held on July 31 through video conferencing.

In an order dated May 11, 2020, the Principal Bench of the National Company Law Tribunal at New Delhi had directed a meeting to be held of the equity shareholders of Bharti Airtel Limited on Friday, July 31, 2020 between 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. ("Meeting") through video conferencing or other audio visual means.

The meeting is being called for the purpose of considering, and if thought fit, approving with or without modifications, the proposed composite scheme of arrangement between Bharti Airtel, Bharti Airtel Services Limited, Hughes Communications India Limited (now known as Hughes Communications India Private Limited) and HCIL Comtel Limited (now known as HCIL Comtel Private Limited) and their respective shareholders and creditors under Sections 230 to 232 and other applicable provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.

As per a company notice to shareholders, there shall be no meeting requiring physical presence at a common venue in view of the present circumstances on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Airtel will also be offering Postal Ballot and remote e-voting facility prior to the meeting of the equity shareholders including the public shareholders to cast their votes for or against on the resolution set forth in the notice.

Airtel has appointed KFintech to provide remote e-voting facility as well as to enable the equity shareholders of Airtel to attend and participate in the meeting through VC/ OAVM.

Each equity shareholder (including public shareholders) can opt for only one mode for voting i.e. through postal ballot or through e-voting prior to or at the meeting (through VC/OAVM). In case equity shareholders cast their vote via both the modes i.e. postal ballot as well as e-voting either prior to or at the meeting, then voting done through either of the e-voting mode shall prevail and voting by equity shareholder through other means shall be treated as invalid.
New Delhi, June 29 : A total 67 per cent citizens say they will not take metro or local trains in the next 30 days even if they are restarted, according to a LocalCircles survey.

Only 15 per cent citizens say they will visit a gymnasium or swimming pool in the next 30 days if they are restarted. 93 per cent citizens do not plan to have a holiday hotel stay in the next 3 months.

Unlock 1.0 which announced the reopening of several sectors and relaxation in many areas is nearing its end on June 30. With the number of cases in India crossing 525,000 and 100,000 cases getting added now in just 6 days, many citizens are greatly concerned about COVID-19 reaching them.

LocalCircles conducted a survey to check if with Unlock 2.0, how willing are people when it comes to using metros/local trains, visiting gyms/swimming pools, booking holiday hotel stays, etc in the next month or so. The survey received over 24,000 responses from 241 districts of India.

The Delhi Metro Railway Corporation recently said that they are working on a list of standard operating procedures to resume metro services as soon as possible. Mumbai local trains also re-started operations for essential services providers on June 15 after being shut for 84 days due to the lockdown restrictions, but the ridership has been very low.

A total of 25 per cent citizens say they will take metro/local trains in the next 30 days if they are restarted while 67 per cent said they will not do it as it might be unsafe. Although the sharp increase in fuel prices has put a dent in people's pockets, they are still hesitant in using public transport due to the fear of catching COVID-19.

The Central Government, in the May 30 order, had said that they would take a decision on the reopening of gymnasiums and swimming pools during the phase 3 of the unlocking plan.

Many gym owners and their associations have been demanding that the Government allows them to reopen sooner but with the rate of COVID-19 infection climbing with each passing day, citizens still do not look ready to take any chances.

Only 15 per cent citizens in the next question said that they will visit a gymnasium or swimming pool in the next 30 days if they are restarted and a large 84 per cent said they will stay away from these places for some more time.

Hospitality sector has been one of the worst affected one due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Although the Government has given permission to hotels to restart operations, their bookings have been low as people have stayed away from travel and public places. Business travel has been minimal and holiday bookings have been nearly zero.

When asked if they were planning any holiday hotel stay with family in the next 3 months, i.e. between July to September, 93 per cent replied in a negative while only 4 per cent said yes.

With a daily case load of over 18,000 and 525,000 plus infection, the spread of the virus is rising each day.

LocalCircles said although, many in the Government and Industry are now in support of opening up all locked areas of the economy due to the financial impact, citizens at large seem to be clear about what they want, which is safety and containment first.

At this juncture, the results of the survey clearly show that majority citizens are not in favour of metros and local trains as well as gyms and swimming pools in Unlock 2.0 and add another variable to an already complex problem.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Dhaka, June 29 : At least 23 people were killed on Monday when a boat capsized in Bangladesh's Buriganga river after it collided with another vessel, according to authorities.

The incident took place near Dhaka's Shyambazar at around 9.30 a.m., bdnews24 quoted the Fire Service Control Room Officer Rozina Islam as saying.

The victims include three children and six women, according to Rozina.

Divers from the fire service subsequently arrived on the scene and began the rescue operation with the help of the BIWTA and Coast Guard.

The boat, Morning Bird, was heading toward Sadarghat from Munshiganj when it collided with the Moyuri-2 vessel from Chandpur, said BIWTA transport inspector Md Selim.

It carried more than 50 passengers and some of them swam to the shore.
Kolkata, June 29 : The carcass of a 36-feet-long critically endangered whale washed ashore in the coastal belts of West Bengal's East Midnapore district on Monday.

The incident took place at Mandarmani when a huge whale washed up on shore this morning. Though the cause of its death is yet to be known but local sources revealed that the dead whale has injury marks over its tail and body.

Whales are endangered schedule-I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India.

Officials from the local Mandarmani police station and state forest department have already arrived at the spot. Experts are now examining the carcass of the mammal to ascertain the reason for its death.

Earlier on May 23, a 40-feet-long whale had washed up on the shore in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary area in Odisha's Kendrapara district. It also had injury marks on the body.
That probably doesnt come as much of a surprise to anyone who has watched the president of the United States and his No. 2, the latter of whom happens to be the chair of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, fly in the face of science by not covering their own faces in public. Or maybe your lack of surprise comes from the curious sight of a family unit who has caught your eye: The mother and children are dutifully mask-clad out in public but, for some reason, the father is not.
New Delhi, June 29 : The Delhi High Court on Monday adjourned till June 30, hearing in a petition seeking extension of time granted to the general public to give suggestions in the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 2020 on the ground that the public could not participate fully due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A division bench of the High Court presided by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan adjourned the matter till June 30 while asking the Central government's counsel to seek instructions if there is a possibility of extension of the time limit.

The High Court observed that there is ambiguity in the concerned notification and asked the Central government how it will be resolved. In the last hearing, the court had issued notice to the Centre to file its response on the matter.

Vikrant Tongad through his petition sought extension of the timeline granted to the public to give its suggestion regarding the EIA 2020, ending on June 30, to September 30 or till the time the Covid-19 lockdown is in force.

On March 23, this year, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) published a draft notification on Environmental Impact Assessment and sought objections or suggestions from members of the public. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government extended the notice period to the public until June 30 hoping that the lockdown would end, the plea said.

"However, even this time is woefully inadequate, since cases of COVID-19 are on the rise, and there are still several restrictions on people's movements and access to technology and resources. The extension notification itself is contradictory and unclear as to the exact duration of extension of notice period," the plea said.

The petitioner further contended that the postal services have been suspended, in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, on account of which citizens cannot send their objections to the government.

"As a result of this, the members of public have been unable to comment on a substantive notification that completely supersedes and replaces the existing environmental norms," the petitioner said.

Tongad further states that in order to facilitate a fair and meaningful consultation, the notification needs to be translated into all official vernacular languages and shall be placed at a prominent position on the MoEF & CC website as well as the websites of the Central and State Pollution Control Board and the Environment Ministries of all the States.
Dubai, June 29 : A jobless Indian visitor to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is in desperate need of financial help to settle an outstanding hospital bill of 112,000 dirham ($30,493), a media report said on Monday.

Sutapa Patra, 27, from West Bengal underwent treatment for a number of conditions including colitis, pancreatitis and severe sepsis, said the Gulf News report.

She also complained of severe stomach ache when her roommates at an accommodation where she was staying in Karama admitted her to a private hospital.

Owing to her pre-diabetic condition, her condition became more complicated and surgery had to be performed immediately.

Speaking to Gulf News, Patra said she came to the UAE in November 2019 on a three-month long visit visa.

She was promised a job of a chef in a hotel by a recruitment agent in India. Unfortunately she was duped by the agent and when she landed in UAE she was told there was no job.

Instead she was made to work as a domestic help for a family. Patra claimed she was not paid a salary and given only one meal a day to eat.

Patra she was now being looked after by some families in Dubai and one of them tried to find her a job in the UAE.

"Unfortunately due to the pandemic situation in the UAE, my application for a work permit was cancelled. Added to this my visit visa also expired in the middle of February. I just want my bill to be settled and I want to return home to India," she told Gulf News.
San Francisco, June 29 : With Twitter showing no signs of relenting in flagging tweets that violate its policies, including those of US President Donald Trump, several Republican politicians have started pushing the social media platform Parler as an alternative.

From Ted Cruz and Jim Jordan to Elise Stefanik and Nikki Haley, many have already joined the platform which was founded by computer scientists John Matze in 2018.

Leading the push to make a shift to Parler is Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale who has been on the platform for about two years now.

In a post last month, he even made some suggestions to make Parler emerge as an attractive alternative to Twitter. These recommendations included spending money on luring more people from the media and hiring a designer, according to a report in CNBC.

Parler calls itself "an unbiased social media focused on real user experiences and engagement." Number of users on the platform increased from 1 million to more than 1.5 million over the course of about one week after The Wall Street Journal last week said the Trump administration was in search of alternatives to Facebook and Twitter over fears that these two platforms could flag or remove more content as the election approaches.

However, this sudden growth has also put the 27-year-old Matze, who is also the CEO of Parler, in a peculiar position as he does not want the platform to be seen as an echo chamber for pro conservatives.

In a bid to attract liberals to the platform, Parler even announced a $20,000 "progressive bounty" to a progressive pundit, commentator or writer with 50,000 followers on Twitter or Facebook for opening a Parler account and engaging in an open debate.

In fact, Parler doubled the amount after it found few takers for its earlier $10,000 proposal.
Karachi, June 29 : Terror gripped Pakistans economic hub Karachi on Monday when terrorists attempted to storm the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSE) building, which resulted in the deaths of 10 people, including the four militants who were gunned down by law enforcement agencies.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group working out of Afghanistan has claimed responsibility of the attack.

BLA said its Majeed Brigade, consisting of a suicide attacker, carried out the attack, on the first day of trading week.

The four terrorists, armed with explosives and ammunition, entered the parking area of the PSE building, located at I.I Chundrigar road, the business centre where important offices, including the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) are located.

According to witnesses, the terrorists threw grenades on security guards, followed by heavy firing at officials.

"The attackers came to the building in a silver Toyota corolla car, parked it close to the entrance gate and started throwing grenade bombs and kept shooting," said an eyewitness.

Security forces were quick to respond to the attack as an instant operation was initiated that neutralized all the four terrorists.

The other victims comprised four security guards, two locals, while seven others were also injured and taken to the hospital.

"The terrorists were equipped with heavy ammunition and explosives. They were attempting to enter inside the stock exchange building. However, their intentions were blocked by our quick response teams, who neutralized all four terrorists," said a police official.

As per the Pakistan Stock Exchange officials, the attack was carried out in the compound of the building, confirming that the one of the four terrorists was able to reach inside.

Pakistan Rangers cordoned off the area and secured the location, concluding the operation after declaring the area cleared of terrorists.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah condemned the incident, saying that the attack was "akin to an attack on national security and economy", Dawn news reported.

"Anti-state elements want to take advantage of the virus situation," he said in the statement.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail condemned the incident, saying: "We shall protect Sindh at all costs." The attack has raised serious concerns over the re-emergence of terror outfits in the country.
Mumbai, June 29 : The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday demanded 'justice' for a 75-year old man who reportedly died while in isolation at the MMRDA Quarantine Centre in Powai.

The deceased, Parshuram Jadhav of Bhandup, along with four other family members were admitted to the centre after his wife had tested COVID-19 and was taking treatment at the Kurla Bhabha Hospital.

The family said that though Jadhav had fever, cough and breathing issues, he was not admitted to the hospital and BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities failed to act on time.

His COVID-19 test was done but the report was not received, and despite all efforts, he was not admitted to any hospital.

On Sunday night, around 9 p.m., Jadhav collapsed and died at the quarantine centre and was cremated at the Ghatkopar Crematorium early on Monday.

In a letter to the BMC, BJP state Vice-President Kirit Somaiya alleged this is the second such instance in two days with a similar death of one Shivdas Kamble, but the BMC categorically denied any lapses on its part.

The worst-hit in the country, Mumbai currently has 1,34,453 people in institutional quarantine and a case doubling rate of 41 days.
Jerusalem, June 29 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he is willing to negotiate with the Palestinians on the basis of US President Donald Trump's Middle East "peace plan".

The remark was made on Sunday night in a pre-recorded address to a conference organized by "Christians United for Israel", a US-based pro-Israeli evangelical group, reports Xinhua news agency.

Speaking two days before his set date for annexing part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Netanyahu urged the Palestinians to "embrace" Trump's plan.

"I encourage the Palestinians not to lose another opportunity," he said.

"They should be prepared to negotiate a historic compromise that could bring peace to Israelis and Palestinians alike.

"Israel is prepared for such negotiations, and I am prepared for such negotiations," he added.

Netanyahu has set July 1 as the date for his plan to annex the Jordan Valley, which makes up some 30 per cent of the West Bank, a territory seized by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war.

The Palestinians, who claim all of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, have rejected the idea.

The last Israeli-Palestinian peace talks broke down in 2014, mainly because of their deep divisions on the issues of the Jewish settlements and Jerusalem.

The resumption of peace talks has hit a roadblock since Trump declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in late 2017 and moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed holy city in mid-2018.

Israel considers the entire Jerusalem as its eternal capital, a fact that is rejected by the Palestinians, who insist that East Jerusalem be the capital of their future independent state.

More than 600,000 Jews live in about 140 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
New Delhi, June 29 : The strict customs scrutiny and non-clearance of imports from China has now hit the pharmaceutical sector -- the lifeline amid the pandemic -- making industry representatives to reach out to the government and seek urgent clearance of the goods at ports and airports.

In a communication to the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) said that it has been inundated with distress calls from its member companies over an acute disruption in manufacturing of pharmaceutical products over the last three days.

The letter was also marked to the Prime Minister's Office and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade among others.

"Very critical KSM's (Key Starting Material), intermediates & API's (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) are not being cleared for the reasons not known to the industry at all," said the letter by Dinesh Dua, Chairman, Pharmexcil.

Even critical devices such as 'infrared thermometers' and 'pulse oximeters' which are specifically aimed at covid diagnosis as also 'glucometers' and 'strips' are also held up at the Delhi airport, he said.

The letter dated June 27 noted that self reliance or the "Atamnirbharta" principle will take its own time in a phased and considered manner through the government's incentives such as 'pharma parks' as also 'production linked incentives' (PLI).

Describing the delay in customs clearances as "man-made" disruptions, the industry body said that they have created tremendous difficulties for the industry and if the clearances are not made on top priority "whatever great work" has been done to maintain the current 90-100 per cent production and supply chain may get completely diluted.

"We urgently appeal to you to kindly intervene in the matter on SOS and kindly instruct that clearances from customs are permitted and all these materials which are genuine in nature are allowed to be cleared and dispatched to ensure there is no disruption of manufacturing at all under any circumstances," it said.

Pharmexcil is just another industry body which has in the past few days reached out to the government and raised concerns over the delay in customs clearance and its impact on the supply chain.

Previously, the Apparel Export Promotion Council and India Cellular and Electronics Association reached out to the government last week seeking early customs clearance of their imported goods needed in the manufacturing process.
Jaipur, June 29 : Religious places in rural Rajasthan recording a limited number of devotees will be opened from July 1 while the larger ones in the urban and rural areas will remain closed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The state government has also lifted the 14-day home quarantine norm for those coming to Rajasthan from other states.

These decisions were made in a review meeting chaired by chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday night.

Gehlot said the religious places which generally get less than 50 devotees per day could be opened. However, all guidelines will have to be followed which include social distancing and compulsory use of masks and sanitisers by people.

The decisions came after a committee of district collectors suggested the same, he added. Gehlot said the mandatory 14-day home quarantine norm for those coming from other states had been lifted. However, they should follow all other guidelines and go for testing if they see any Covid-19 symptoms emerging.

The corona awareness campaign which started in the state on June 20 will now end on July 7. The campaign was started to spread awareness about the which, he added, has been successful.
Lucknow, June 29 : A study conducted by the Indian Institute of Management-Lucknow (IIM-L) has found that nearly 42 per cent consumers stocked chocolates in their homes during the lockdown period.

Consumers purchased and stocked chocolates to keep the children happy and also as a dessert.

The survey, conducted by IIM's Centre for Marketing in Emerging Economies (CMEE), also threw light on shopping habits and lifestyle of consumers during lockdown.

It showed that during the first phase of lockdown, 39 per cent consumers experimented with newer brands which were usually not in their purchase list.

Their willingness to compromise on their preferred brands increased to nearly 54 per cent in the second round of lockdown, allowing newer brands to establish themselves in the market.

Nearly 75 per cent people stocked rice and 65 per cent stocked wheat flour. In the vegetable category, people stocked up on onion and potato that have a longer shelf life compared to green vegetables.

The study further stated that health and hygiene consciousness rose remarkably during the lockdown and 40 per cent consumers purchased surplus stocks of items like sanitary napkins, nappies and tissues while 39 per cent bought disinfectants and 36 per cent purchased cleaning agents in excess.

Consumers also focused on boosting immunity and purchased supplements like vitamin C and amla (gooseberry).

The survey, conducted on 931 people from metros, tier I and II cities through social media platforms, also studied how people spent their time during lockdown.

The study said that 53 per cent spent their time in watching television while 45 per cent people resorted to online activities and sleeping.

Only 24 per cent of those who took the survey said they read books and news during the lockdown.

Nearly 44 per cent people said that they invested a lot of time in cooking new dishes while 20 per cent took to meditation and prayers.

Prof Satya Bhusan Dash, who led the study, said, "We are seeing a new normal. Health and hygiene as well as concern for family well-being, including spending quality time with them, will become habits. Marketers will do well to adopt strategies that address these core needs."
New Delhi, June 29 : Enterprise software major SAP on Monday launched a new programme called "Global Bharat" to enable Indian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) become globally competitive by equipping them with digital technologies.

The programme is aimed at driving greater efficiencies of MSMEs by adopting three initiatives -- gaining access to global marketplace, digitally skilling workforce and digitally transforming businesses.

"The impact of pandemic on the economy and businesses has been felt majorly by MSMEs across the country. Being a potential contributor to India's GDP (29 per cent) and providing employment to over 111 million people, it is imperative to strengthen the sector for the revival of the country's economy," Deb Deep Sengupta, President and Managing Director, SAP Indian Subcontinent, said in a statement.

"Global Bharat, is our endeavour to enable MSMEs to augment business operations and re-access critical processes that overcome inefficiencies and make them globally competitive." First, as a result of the programme, MSMEs will have open access to SAP Ariba Discovery where any buyer can post sourcing needs and any of the four million suppliers on Ariba Network can respond with their ability to deliver the goods and services required with no fees through December 31, 2020.

Ariba Network is a digital business-to-business marketplace where more than $3.3 trillion in global commerce flows annually. By accessing the SAP Ariba Discovery offer, Indian MSMEs can enroll themselves as suppliers and access a global customer market.

Secondly, business owners will have access to SAP India's Code Unnati, a coveted "Golden Peacock Award" winning digital skilling initiative.

MSMEs will be provided accessibility to 240 courses, with more getting added in a few months, on digital financial, soft skills, productivity technologies that will digitally skill the workforce and adapt to the new working environments.

The curated courses will be made available through a mobile application for people to access via their android smartphone devices, SAP India said.

Thirdly, the Global Bharat initiative also brings affordable and accessible enterprise technology for MSMEs.

The programme was launched in association with Nasscom Foundation, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Pratham InfoTech Foundation.
Our students should not have worry day to day if their counselors are going to be taken away, he added. The mayor needs to fully restore the Single Shepherd program and not play budget games with the mental health of our students in some of the poorest communities in New York City.
New Delhi, June 29 : The Delhi High Court on Monday sought a response from the Aam Aadmi Party government and Delhi Police over an application moved by several foreign nationals related to Tablighi Jamaat seeking modification in the court's earlier order.

A division bench of the High Court presided over by Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar issued notice to the respondents on the application filed through Advocate Ashima Mandla seeking permission to shift one of the venues where some of the foreign nationals were staying with the permission of the court.

The petitioner stated that 65 foreign nationals housed at Meeraj International School are facing discomfort due to the arrangements at the school.

The community is thus praying for permission before the Court to immediately shift them from Meeraj International School to Texan Public School.

The application said that the community has now identified an additional 2 alternate places of accommodation, which may be used in the future, if need be, to house any of the 955 foreign nationals in question.

"The community once again undertakes to bear all costs for shifting accommodation and further duly notify the Delhi Police of the whereabouts of the foreign nationals," the application stated.

On May 28, the bench had allowed 955 foreign nationals to shift, who had attended the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin area here, to alternate places of accommodation.

Earlier Tablighi Jamaat took the responsibility to arrange food and meet the daily needs of the foreign nationals.

The foreign nationals have, however, been directed not to leave their respective accommodations without intimation. The Central government said that none of the foreign nationals are under detention and the relief to fly back home has not been pressed.

Earlier, the counsel for the petitioners had sought the release of these foreign nationals, who participated in the event and are being held in institutional quarantine since March 30 despite having tested negative for COVID-19.

It was further informed by way of the status report that the Delhi Police has neither arrested nor detained anyone in the case lodged against members of the Tablighi Jamaat for participating in the religious congregation at Nizamuddin Markaz during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Delhi Police had in its response filed before the court said that that Tablighi Jamaat "deliberately, wilfully, negligently and malignantly disobeyed" the orders of the government regarding the lockdown and social distancing amidst the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The police had informed the court that the authorities of Markaz at the Tablighi Jamaat Headquarters, were contacted by Delhi Police. One Mufti Shahzad was apprised of the situation arising out of the spread of COVID-19 and was asked to take immediate action for preventing the spread of this disease. He was directed to send the foreign devotees back to their countries and the Indians to their respective native places. "However, no one paid any heed to the lawful directions of Delhi Police," the investigating agency told the court.

"They deliberately, wilfully, negligently and malignantly disobeyed the lawful directions promulgated in this regard. Written notices were also issued to Maulana Mohd. Saad and the Markaz management. However, they refused to pay any heed," the police said in its report.

The Delhi Police also told the court that an audio has been found where Tablighi Jamaat head Maulana Saad was "heard asking his followers to defy the lockdown and social distancing and to attend the religious gathering of the Markaz." "An audio recording purportedly by Maulana Mohd. Saad, head of the Tablighi Jamaat, was found in circulation on whatsapp on 21.03.2020, in which the speaker was heard asking his followers to defy the lockdown and social distancing and to attend the religious gathering of the Markaz, the investigators had said.

--IANS anb/bg

A

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Sydney, June 29 : WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's father, John Shipton, is fighting tirelessly for the release and return of his son, who is facing an extradition trial in London for publishing classified information, a process he described as abuse.

"We maintain that the extradition request is a fraud in the English court... It's a fraud in the English legal system, it's a case of abuse of process, it is a disgrace," Shipton, who travelled from Melbourne to Sydney to campaign for his son's release, told Efe news in an interview.

The 80-year-old is organizing public events in Australia despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and hopes to travel to London in August to support Assange during his extradition trial which, he says, is being carried out under "dire" circumstances.

In May 2019, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Nils Melzer, said, after visiting Assange in the Belmarsh prison along with two medical experts, that he showed "all symptoms typical for prolonged exposure to psychological torture, including extreme stress, chronic anxiety and intense psychological trauma".

Assange has spent almost a decade in confinement, first under house arrest in a British town and then at the Ecuadorian embassy in London between 2012 until 2019, when Ecuador withdrew his political asylum status.

Shipton has urged the Australian government to mediate with the UK administration for the release of his son, who is wanted in the US on 18 charges of espionage and computer intrusion, for which he could be sentenced to prison for up to 175 years.

"I believe the government can, if it wishes to, assist us in bringing Julian home. I believe that (it) is very simple for the Prime Minister (Scott Morrison) to pick up the phone and ring (his UK counterpart) Boris Johnson and say Julian Assange is an Australian citizen in dire circumstances.

"This will resolve this immediately and that's easily possible," he told Efe news during the interview.

He went on to say that Assange's "extradition request is a fraud in the English court... It's a fraud in the English legal system, it is a case of abuse of process, it is a disgrace".
Lucknow, June 29 : Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will launch the 'Har Ghar Jal' (piped water to every house) campaign at Bundelkhand on Tuesday.

The project is linked to the 'Jal Jeevan Mission', estimated to cost Rs 10,131 crore.

According to the government spokesman, the Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions will be covered by this project in the first phase at a cost of Rs 2,185 crore. A population of 14 lakh in Mahoba, Lalitpur and Jhansi will benefit from it.

"On the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the chief minister had asked officials to ensure every house gets piped water facility, especially in regions where groundwater is contaminated with fluoride and arsenic," the spokesman added.
New Delhi, June 29 : Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Monday demanded a rollback of the fuel price hike as the party held nationwide protests against the government over the rising petrol and diesel prices.

As a part of the party's 'speak up' campaign, Sonia Gandhi in a video appeal asked the government to cut taxes and lower the burden on the consumers during the time of the coronavirus when people are already suffering economically.

"I along with the Congress workers and citizens demand that the government should take back the hike in prices of diesel and petrol in these tough times," said Sonia Gandhi.

She alleged that the government was "insensitive" towards the people's problems as it increased the prices 22 times in three months.

"The government has earned extra Rs 18 lakh crore since 2014 and the crude oil prices have decreased worldwide," said Sonia Gandhi.

She said that in the national capital and other metros, the cost of petrol and diesel has crossed Rs 80 a litre.

The Congress workers used bullock carts, cycles and other means to demonstrate against the government. The protests will be held for five days K. C.Venugopal, Congress General Secretary, said, "Today as a symbol of protest against the unjustifiable hikes in fuel prices, I rode my bicycle to Parliament as part of the nationwide movement started by Congress Party." Since the daily price revision resumed on June 7, petrol price has increased by Rs 9.12 and diesel rose by Rs 11.01 in the national capital. In other cities also, the magnitude of the increase was similar.

Petrol prices in the other metros of Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata were at Rs 87.14, Rs 83.59 and Rs 82.05 per litre respectively.
Dhaka, June 29 : At least 30 people were killed on Monday when a boat capsized in Bangladesh's Buriganga river after it collided with another vessel, according to authorities.

Bodies of 19 males, eight females and three children were recovered so far, Shahadat Hossain, a duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence, confirmed to The Daily Star news.

The boat, Morning Bird, which was coming to Dhaka from Munshiganj, capsized in the river after it was hit by the other vessel, Moyur-2 near Sadarghat launch terminal at around 9.30 a.m., he said.

The boat was reportedly carrying over 100 passengers, according to local police.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has seized Moyur-2 but its captain and other staffers managed to flee the scene, BIWTA Joint Director Alamgir Kabir told The Daily Star.

BIWTA has formed a four-member committee to investigate the launch capsize and asked to submit report as soon as possible, said its Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq.

The highly polluted Buriganga river forms a part of the main waterway connecting Dhaka with other parts of the country.

Boat accidents occur frequently in Bangladesh, where hundreds of waterways, including the Ganges Delta rivers Brahmaputra, Padma and Meghna, are commonly used for transport, Efe news said in a report.

In most cases, the mishaps can be attributed to overloading and the poor condition of the vessel.

However, such incidents have considerably reduced over the years due to improvements in weather forecasting and implementation of new safety regulations.
Lucknow, June 29 : Sadhvi Rithambhara, a senior leader of the Ram temple movement, claimed on Monday that she was not guilty in the Babri mosque demolition case.

Appearing before a special CBI court here, the Sadhvi said that a national movement had built up at that time and people wanted to free themselves from 'mental slavery' which led to the demolition of the mosque.

Later, she told reporters that she could not divulge any more details since the matter was in court.

"The court should keep in mind that the Supreme Court has cleared the way for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Meanwhile, those named as accused in the Babri demolition case who are senior citizens or unwell, will not be required to physically present themselves before the court due to the Corona pandemic.

The court has already asked the government to arrange for video conferencing for those who are unable to come to court.

--amita/skp/

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 29 : The Tihar Jail authorites have informed the Delhi High Court on Monday that that "some foreign prisoners forced their way out of the ward and also damaged the locks of gates" "...On 16.06.2020 morning, 15-20 foreign inmates created problem in the jail. They forced their way out of the ward and also damaged the locks of gates of Ward No. 9 and Chakkar.

"Sensing trouble and having no other alternative, Alarm was sounded in the jail at around 8.30 a.m., reinforcements called and these inmates were physically controlled by minimum use of force," the jail authorities said in a status report filed before a single judge bench of the high court presided by Justice C. Harishankar.

This comes days after Pinjra Tod activist Natasha Narwal, who is currently in judicial custody in the Tihar Jail in a case relating to Delhi riots, told the Court that the video conferencing facility in jail was suspended after "large scale violence" took place.

"In the process, 15 inmates and 10 jail staff have suffered minor injuries. They have been given treatment in the jail dispensary by the jail doctors. Punishment as per jail rules will be made against the defaulting inmates," Tihar said in its response.

A day before the incident took place, some of foreign inmates came to the Deodhi of the jail in the morning on some pretext and refused to leave till late evening, despite repeated counseling/persuasion by the jail officers. Since the jail has to be locked up in the evening, they had to be physically removed to different cells in the jail by the jail staff where they were locked.

The jail authorities told the court that foreign inmates of Cental Jail no. 6 in Tihar Complex, have been agitating for some time demanding that they should also be considered for grant of interim bail. Jail Authorities have been consistently counseling them and briefing them that their cases are not falling under the prescribed criteria for consideration of grant of interim bail.

"However, they have also been told that even if their cases do not fall in the criteria, they are free to move application independently in the Hon'ble Courts for either interim bail or regular bail through DSLSA lawyers or private lawyers. However, these inmates repeatedly resorted to agitation / protest and did not seem amenable to reason," the report stated.

In response to Narwal's contention that the video conferencing facility, the jail staff said that the her counsel had conducted video conferencing successfully with her on 24.06.2020 and next video conference session of Narwal with the Counsel will be conducted on 29.06.2020 in the evening.

It also told the court that Narwal availed the facility of calling her family on telephone 08 times so far.

"...with regard to the prayer of the instant petition which inter alia relates to providing of books and reading material, it is submitted that 13 books and 2 registers have been provided to her," said the status report filed by the jail authorities.

During Monday's hearing, Narwal's counsel argued that since the petitioner is accused in multiple FIRs, he shall be granted more time for legal interviews. Advocate Adit S Pujari sought for 30 minutes time twice a week for legal interviews.

However, due to unavailability of Delhi government senior standing counsel (Criminal) Rahul Mehra, the court passed over the matter for the second half.

In the previous hearing, Pujari had told the court that as per information received by him, Jail number 6 in Tihar Jail, where his client is lodged, was under a complete lockdown following incidents of violence against some inmates on June 16.

"The video conferencing facilities were thus not being allowed," Pujari had said adding that Narwal was not subjected to any violence.

Opposing the submissions made by Pujari, Mehra had said that as per the instructions he got from DG Prisons, the reason for non-operation of video conferencing was "connectivity issue".

The arguments came in while the court was hearing a petition filed by Narwal seeking a direction to the Tihar Jail authorities to allow her access to her counsel by way of video conferencing.

In its chargesheet, the Delhi Police have alleged that both Natasha and another Pinjra Tod activist Devangana Kalita were actively involved in hatching the conspiracy to cause riots near Jafrabad Metro Station in Delhi.

"They were also part of a larger conspiracy and were found to be connected to the "India Against Hate" group and Umar Khalid. The message, found in the phone of an accused, on whatsapp chat, reveals the conspiracy and the extent of preparation for causing riots," the statement by the police added.
Sydney, June 29 : The head of Australia's special forces has acknowledged war crimes committed by some elite soldiers in Afghanistan, blaming "poor moral leadership" for the atrocities.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Major-General Adam Findlay, the Special Operations Commander of Australia, admitted that war crimes could have been covered up in a private briefing to Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) soldiers in March, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

He blamed the incidents on a failure in leadership, which he described as "one common cause".

"It is poor leadership," Findlay said. "In fact, it is poor moral leadership." The report said the government will face a difficult choice over how much to tell the public about SAS misconduct after Justice Paul Brereton delivers his long-awaited report to Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell in the coming weeks.

Findlay said in his briefing that Brereton has identified "trigger pullers" and "names that come up beyond the trigger pullers" who enabled war crimes.

He said that one positive out of the inquiry was the "moral courage" of SAS soldiers who have blown the whistle on war crimes.

"There is strength here. There is a moral code. The reason we got the (Brereton inquiry) is because people came forward (to expose war crimes)," Findlay said.

"(Winston) Churchill had a great saying: 'When you are walking through hell it is best that you keep walking.' That's what we are going to do. This is going to be a tough 10 years. And we have to rehabilitate the reputation and the capabilities and everything of this command ... we can't wallow in it." Last week, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation revealed that two Australian special forces soldiers were under investigation for killing an unarmed intellectually disabled Afghan man known only as Ziauddin in 2012.
Kolkata, June 29 : Miscreants made an attempt to loot the UCO Bank's New Market branch in the heart of the city, the Kolkata Police said here on Monday.

According to sources, on Sunday night the miscreants broke open a backside window of the bank's branch office and entered the lockers section. They disabled the CCTV system.

They tried to open the main vault using a gas cutter, but failed. They could open only a smaller vault, containing coins.

Senior city police officers visited the branch on Monday and questioned bank officials, including the branch manager.

No one has been arrested. The police are studying the CCTV footage of the surrounding areas to identify the miscreants.
Patna, June 29 : As political parties in Bihar prepare for the scheduled Assembly election later this year, there is still a dispute over the formation of a coordination committee among the opposition parties in the Grand Alliance.

The Congress has given a week-long 'ultimatum' on this issue.

When Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi took up the front regarding the coordination committee in the grand alliance, there was hope that coordination would finally be established in the alliance.

After the RJD did not pay heed to the demand of a coordination committee by national president of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) Jitan Ram Manjhi, there was a possibility that the Congress would mediate in the matter. But, after Manjhi's return from Delhi to Patna and the meeting of the core committee of his HAM party, once again there is tension between the two parties.

HAM spokesperson Danish Rizwan said, "Sonia Gandhi, in a meeting with the parties of the grand alliance, talked about the coordination committee in a week to solve the problem. Now there are just three days left. Only then we will take a decision." Meanwhile, there has also been a tug of war between RJD and HAM.

RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari seems to dismiss the demand for the coordination committee, saying that no such committee has been formed in the grand alliance so far.

HAM spokesman Danish Rizwan has advised RJD leaders to exercise restraint.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Lallan Kumar said that all parties in the Grand Alliance need to remain united. Sources say the BJP is also in touch with HAM chief Manjhi.

Manjhi has also praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, indicating a warming of ties with the NDA.
President Trump imposed a new immigration ban  this time on certain temporary workers. He also extended his ban on certain immigrants. Heres what you need to know about the presidents latest immigration proclamation that bans issuance of some nonimmigrant visas until the end of the year. You can read about the ban on immigrant visa issuance here: https://bit.ly/3hWSaVf.
Shillong, June 29 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has tested negative for novel coronavirus, an official said on Monday.

Sangma's swab sample was tested first on June 22 and then again on Sunday. "Both the samples were found negative," an official at the Chief Medical Officer's office in Shillong said.

The national President of ruling National People's Party (NPP) has been in home quarantine for several days after his return to Shillong from Delhi and Imphal.

The NPP supremo had gone to Imphal after four of his party ministers pulled out from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Manipur government on June 17. He also accompanied the aggrieved party MLAs to Delhi, where the Meghalaya Chief Minister held meetings with union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national President JP Nadda on June 25 before he returned to Imphal on June 26 and then to Shillong on the same day via Guwahati.

According to the CMO official, a team of officials and police personnel, who accompanied the Chief Minister to different places, had also tested negative for coronavirus but are also in home quarantine.

Meanwhile, Sangma tweeted that two more Border Security Force men have tested positive in Shillong, taking the total nCoV cases in Meghalaya to 50, including 7 active cases and one death.

One of the BSF personnel had returned from Haryana on June 26 whereas another is a driver engaged in transporting troopers from Assam to the paramilitary force's Meghalaya Frontier headquarters in Shillong.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 29 : As expected, the twin-jet Rafale combat aircraft would be delivered to the Indian Air Force by July end, top defence officials said, adding that France, at the very beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, informed India of this delivery date.

"French company Dassault Aviation is expected to deliver the much awaited twin-jet combat aircraft Rafale by July end," a senior IAF officer said.

"It would inform us of the delivery date and also if there would be any delay. As of today, everyone is expecting that it would be delivered as told by the French company," he added.

Asked about reports of July 27 as delivery date, the IAF officer said: "We are not aware." A Defence Ministry official had a similar response.

On June 2, France had reaffirmed its commitment to ensure timely delivery of Rafale aircraft despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The expected date of delivery is July end.

France's reaffirmation came when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had a telephonic conversation with French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly. They discussed matters of mutual concern including the Covid-19 situation, regional security and agreed to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation.

Both ministers appreciated the efforts made by armed forces of India and France in fighting the pandemic.

The Indian Defence Ministry had then said that France had reaffirmed its commitment to ensure timely delivery of Rafale aircraft despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

On October 8, 2019, Rajnath Singh flew a sortie of the inducted Rafale aircraft in France. "The new Rafale Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) will make India stronger and will give a boost to its air dominance exponentially to ensure peace and security in the region," the minister had said during his address at the Rafale handing over ceremony at France's Merignac.

Some of the major contracts related to procurement and supply of defence equipment signed with foreign countries since 2013-14 include the joint venture for manufacturing of AK-203 rifles, agreement for manufacturing of spares, components, etc required for Russian/Soviet origin platforms and defence equipment, manufacture of Ka-226T helicopters, supply of S-400 long range surface to air missile system, the Rafale fighter jets, the M777 ultra-light howitzer, and the C-17 aircraft.
Patna, June 29 : Sushant Singh Rajput's US-based sister Shweta Singh Kirti on Monday penned post for the late actor.

Along with the it, she also posted a picture from Sushant's prayer meet, which was conducted at their residence in Bihar.

"A Final love and positivity filled send-off to my little brother. Hope you always stay happy where ever you are.... we will always love you for eternity. #Sushantsinghrajput." she captioned the post.

In the image, we can see Sushant's family members praying for him.

Remembering Sushant, social media users paid their condolences on Shweta's post.

"Lots of strength to your family," a user commented.

"He was such a fine actor. Will truly miss him," another one wrote.

Sushant was found hanging on July 14 at his residence.

A Final love and positivity filled send-off to my little brother. Hope you always stay happy where ever you are.... we will always love you for eternity.  #Sushantsinghrajput Posted by Shweta Singh Kirti on Sunday, June 28, 2020

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi, June 29 : Amid tension at the borders, top Indian and Chinese military delegations will meet for the third time in the next two days in Chushul in Leh district, sources said.

"This time the talks will be held in Chushul on the Indian side. The last two meetings were held in Moldo on the Chinese side," said sources, adding that the agenda of the meeting would be to take forward the proposals made by both the countries for disengagement.

"All contentious areas during the current standoff will be discussed to stabilise the situation," sources added.

The last two meetings at the Corp Commander level were held on June 6 and June 22.

On June 22, talks took place between Indian and Chinese military delegates for around 11 hours. The dialogue was held in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere and there was "mutual consensus to disengage".

"Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in eastern Ladakh were discussed," the Indian Army had stated.

The meeting between 14 Corps Commander Lieutenant General Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military District chief Major General Liu Lin happened on the lines of the one they held at the Chushul-Moldo border personnel meeting (BPM) point in eastern Ladakh on June 6.

Also, Major General-level dialogue took place for three consecutive days after the violent clash at Patrolling Point 14 in Galwan Valley on June 15 left 20 Indian soldiers dead. The three-day talks were carried out to ease the tense situation and to get 10 Indian soldiers released, including four officers, who were in Chinese captivity.

Major General Abhijit Bapat, who is the Commander of the 3 Division of the Indian Army, had raised several points with the Chinese with regard to the incident on the intervening night of June 15/16.

The clash occurred at the South bank of Galwan river, which flows in an east-west direction before it's confluence with Shayok river, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army troops.

Those were the first casualties faced by the Indian Army in a clash with the People's Liberation Army since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.

Sources said that Indian Army troopers were outnumbered by 1:5 ratio when they came under attack from the PLA soldiers at Patrolling Point 14 along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

"The numbers were stacked up against the Indian Army troopers. Yet, the Indian side decided to fight the PLA troopers. The Indian soldiers were outnumbered 1:5 by the Chinese troopers," sources said.

China is also said to have used thermal imaging drones to trace the Indian Army soldiers scattered on the treacherous terrain before brutally attacking them.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 29 : Union Minister for Housing and Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri has said that the Modi government has increased the budget for Ladakh four fold recently amid the India-China face-off in the region. He added that plans are underway to develop Leh and Ladakh into a smart region.

Puri said that importance has been given to the preservation of the language and culture of the region while amending the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act. Describing the self-reliant India campaign as a movement, the Union Minister said there will be a special focus on Ladakh in this direction too.

Puri was addressing a virtual rally to the people of Ladakh on Monday.

"Leh and Ladakh will soon be developed into smart region. Fifty four mobile towers have been approved for telecom connectivity in the region. Currently, site survey work is in progress. Rs 500 crore has also been allotted to the Organic Development Institute," Puri said.

He said he would himself go to Ladakh soon to take stock of all the developmental projects.

The Union Minister said that construction of roads in Ladakh has been expedited. The union territory is now in a better position to fight against the Covid epidemic.

"So far, only 941 cases have been reported and one death has occurred. This shows that Ladakh is combating corona in the best way possible. Soon Ladakh will be free of corona," Puri said.

Ladakh in-charge and BJP national vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna and Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal were also present during this virtual rally.

"Very happy to connect with our sisters & brothers of Ladakh along with senior leader of @BJP4India @ImAvinashKhanna, @MPLadakh & senior leaders of @BJP4Ladakh through a virtual Jan Samvad Rally today," tweeted Puri after the event.

It is in Ladakh that both Indian and Chinese troops are in combative mood along the Line of Actual Control after the transgression by the Chinese army.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Shimla, June 29 : Amid tension on the India-China border, Himachal Pradesh Governor Bandaru Dattatraya has written to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, suggesting precautionary measures relating to the state's border areas of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts that share boundaries with China.

In a letter, he said these areas are strategically important as they lie adjacent to China and amidst the tension between China and India, they need more attention.

"The state shares more than 260 km boundary with Tibet and China and therefore, we need to be suitably prepared for any eventuality," he said.

The modes of communication and road transport in these remote border areas of the state should be strengthened.

He said at present only one independent brigade of the Indian Army has been deployed at Pooh and suggested that in future the deployment of the army might be increased to an independent mountain division.

The Governor said adequate arrangements must be made to tackle drones from China as and when required.

Dattatraya said there was an urgent need for an airstrip in the Spiti area for prompt deployment of forces in the border areas in case of need and this airstrip would act as an advanced landing ground.

"The state police is trying its best and the Superintendents of Police of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti have visited villages in the border areas and interacted with the people to build their confidence and ensure their safety.

"However, similar continuous efforts need to be undertaken by central intelligence agencies, the Indian Army and the ITBP to instill a sense of security and confidence among the people living in the border areas," he said.

The Governor said the Atal tunnel under the Rohtang Pass, which connects Manali in Kullu district with Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district, is likely to be completed soon.

The commissioning of the tunnel would allow year-round traffic on the Manali-Leh axis, thereby significantly increasing road traffic.

He said on account of its strategic importance, adequate arrangements for intelligence, security and maintenance of this axis round the year need to be made in advance.

He hoped these suggestions once implemented would strengthen India's position on the India-China border and would also generate confidence among the local people.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hyderabad, June 29 : Over 5,000 Covid-19 patients in Telangana are undergoing treatment at their homes through telemedicine facility, Health Minister E. Rajender said on Monday.

While a total of 7,109 people tested positive were in home isolation, 1,438 have recovered and 5,671 were under treatment. Only 26 had to be shifted from their homes to hospitals, he added.

He said those tested positive but were asymptomatic or with mild symptoms were being treated in home isolation and they were recovering in 7-10 days.

As on Sunday, Telangana had 9,000 active cases of Covid-19. Over 3,000 were undergoing treatment at various government and private hospitals.

Rajender appealed to people not to get worried over the increasing number of cases and clarified that there is no shortage of beds, oxygen, ventilators or medicines in government-run hospitals.

The Health Minister, along with Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, addressed a news conference to counter what they called "false propaganda over social media by some people with vested interests to malign the government".

They appealed to people not to believe the misinformation being circulated over social media and rely on the information from the government.

Their appeal came after a selfie video of a Covid patient at government-run Chest Hospital in Hyderabad complaining about alleged negligence went viral over social media. The 34-year-old man died after sending the video to his father.

The Health Minister said the man was admitted at the Chest Hospital though several private hospitals had refused to admit him. He said the patient was administered oxygen and the hospital did its best to save his life. The minister pointed out that the man died of cardiac related complications.

"The government is allowing use of mobile phones and giving Internet facility in hospitals so that those undergoing treatment be in touch with their families but some people are misusing the facility to malign the government hospitals. This is demoralising for the staff doing their duties despite the risks," he said.

The minister also found fault with the media for not highlighting the recovery of hundreds of people but giving wide coverage if there was a death.

He pointed out that it is the same Chest Hospital where the head nurse contracted Covid-19 while discharging her duties and succumbed to the disease.

Rajender said out of 250 people in the Health Department who tested positive, only one has died and that is the head nurse of the Chest Hospital.

He said 37 people discharging duties in private hospitals also tested positive. As many as 184 policemen also found infected and a couple of them died but the rest recovered.

Over 100 journalists were tested and many found positive. One of them died.

Allaying the apprehensions of people, the minister and the Chief Secretary pointed out that the mortality rate in the state is 1.7-1.8 per cent against the national average of 3 per cent. The state has so far reported 247 deaths, most of them due to comorbidities.

"The Covid cases are on rise in all regions in the country but the pace in our state is slow. See what is happening in other cities. Wherever there is more population, higher economic activity and high mobility, the cases increase, then stabilise and later come down. What we should always be worried about is how many deaths have occurred. It's not many in Telangana," the Chief Secretary said.

Greater Hyderabad had 10,666 cases out of 14,419 cases reported till Sunday. Out of this, 7,250 were active cases.

The Chief Secretary appealed to people not get panicky and rush to hospital if they test positive.

"Please understand you can recover in houses. Many are recovering...," he said.

If anybody has problems breathing in problem, he can dial 104 and an ambulance will pick him up from his house and shift him to hospital, he added.

Both the minister and the top bureaucrat evaded direct reply when asked if they will conduct a door-to-door test for Covid-19. They merely said the government was following guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to do tests only on symptomatic people.

The minister, however, said the government was ready to do any number of tests. He said swab collection under the special drive to do 50,000 tests in Greater Hyderabad would resume on Tuesday.

The drive was paused three days ago due to a backlog of samples. The authorities had collected 36,000 samples.

Stating that nobody can question the government's commitment to save lives and to provide best services to people, Rajender said there was no shortage of beds in government hospitals.

He pointed out that at Gandhi Hospital, the nodal facility for treatment of Covid patients, only 650 out of 2,000 beds were occupied.

He said out of the total 17,081 beds available in government hospitals for treatment of Covid patients, 3,500 are equipped with oxygen supply while work was on to provide oxygen for another 6,500 beds.

He said the hospitals had 1,000 ventilators and the Gandhi Hospital has only 10 patients on ventilators.

He appealed to private hospitals not to exhaust the resources by providing beds to patients who were asymptomatic or with mild symptoms.

He also announced that 4,700 doctors and nursing staff recruited on war footing would be deployed in government hospitals from Tuesday while additional 150 ambulances will also be provided.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, June 29 : A new study by academics from two leading US universities have called for shutting red-light areas to save thousands of sex workers from the scourge of Covid-19.

The study by a coalition of experts from Harvard Medical School and Yale School of Medicine has warned of a staggering 400,000-plus infections and over 12,000 deaths among red-light area workers and residents in a year if these red-light districts are reopened.

It has cautioned that India would require 70 per cent more hospital beds by the time the pandemic peaks if red-light areas are reopened, push India over the peak medical capacity faster. Fewer sick people would then be able to receive treatment, causing an increase in preventable deaths.

It said that Maharashtra could be among the worst-affected states, and that Pune's Budhwar Peth would see nearly 4,800 cases, around 700 admitted to hospitals and over 160 deaths.

Similarly, Mumbai's notorious Kamathipura, Grant Road and Falkland Street could see nearly 3,500 cases, almost 500 hospitalisations, and more than 110 deaths.

Next would be Nagpur's Itwari Chowk with over 1,600 cases, more than 235 in hospitals, and more than 55 deaths.

This would take the state's total to over 9,900 cases, more than 1,400 hospitalisations and 325-plus fatalities.

New Delhi's GB Road red-light area would also be at a high risk, with over 2,700 cases, more than 385 cases in hospitals, and 90-plus deaths.

According to the study, West Bengal's red light areas would experience over 2,000 deaths of sex workers and locals if they are reopened.

However, more than 90 per cent of the cases and deaths in cities like Kolkata, Pune and Nagpur could be prevented before the pandemic peaks by shutting down the red-light areas, suggested the study.

Co-authored by Yale University's Dr Abhishek Pandey and Harvard Medical School's Dr Sudhakar Nuti, the study has other interesting revelations to make.

"It is impossible to practice social distancing in red-light areas, and that sex workers, pimps and brothel managers are at higher risk of infection. By keeping red-light areas closed, thousands of deaths among the residents there can be averted," said Pandey.

"The Indian government has implemented smart and effective measures to flatten the curve, but it is unlikely for the pandemic to be resolved until there is a vaccine. It is therefore important that red-light areas remain closed until a vaccine is developed and widely distributed to protect the sex workers and the population at large," averred Nuti.

Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) Chief Advisor Smarajit Jana said: "It will be dangerous if the sex workers are allowed to operate as soon as the lockdown is lifted. Due to their nature of work and the congested living conditions, a single case can infect a hundred persons." DMSC is West Bengal's NGO with a membership of around 65,000 sex workers spread over 50 red-light areas in that state.

Similarly, Dr Sahayakan, member of Code Red Coalition -- a global body of medicos and researchers advising governments on prevention of Covid-19 spread -- said: "None of the protection measures like distancing, masks, or sanitisation can effectively stop Covid-19 transmission during sex. It cannot be practiced safely in red-light areas in India given their nature, and can result in many cases and deaths." The study recommends that sex workers need to skill up to get employment in lower-risk jobs and a beginning has been made in places like Andhra Pradesh.

The scientific model used in the study was applied to several India cities, with the projections that it could reduce cases and deaths by over 90 per cent in Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Jalgaon, Satara, Meerut, Silchar, Kolkata, and Durgapur; and over 60 per cent in Thane, Sangli, New Delhi, Guntur, and Sonarpur.

Entitled 'Modelling the Effect of Continued Closure of Red-Light Areas on Covid-19 Transmission in India', the study was conducted by Yale's Center for Infectious Disease Modelling & Analysis' Pandey, Pratha Sah, Chad Wells, Alison P. Galvani, and Harvard's Nuti and Jeffrey P. Townsend, and has been shared with authorities concerned in India.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
San Francisco, June 29 : Microsoft is reportedly working on a new feature called 'app groups for its foldable smartphone Surface Duo that would allow users to create groups and let them launch two apps directly into a dual-screen session.

This feature will allow users to easily pre-select and pair two apps to quickly launch in the multi-window view, reports Windowslatest.

While using app groups, a shortcut will be created and pinned to the home screen, enabling quick access to apps that users access in a regular basis.

For example, one can create a group of OneNote and Microsoft Edge and then tap on the shortcut icon to launch OneNote on the left screen and Edge on the right screen.

The Surface Duo is expected to come with mid-range specs, including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC, 6GB RAM, and either 64GB or 256GB of storage.

The device will also feature a single 11MP camera sensor above the right display that will be used for both front and rear-facing photos and videos and will be powered by Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB RAM/64GB or 256GB storage options.

The smartphone houses two equal-sized 5.6-inch AMOLED displays. Each screen offers a 4:3 aspect ratio, 1800 x 1350 pixels resolution and 401ppi pixel density.

Surface Duo will ship with a 3460mAh battery and feature USB-C fast charging.

It won't support 5G, maxing out at 4G LTE speeds instead. It is also speculated that the device lacks support for wireless charging and NFC.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Thiruvananthapuram, June 29 : On expected lines, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) on Monday booted out its ally -- Kerala Congress (Mani) for defying its directive to vacate the president post of the Kottayam district panchayat.

Reading out the suspension of Kerala Congress (Mani), UDF convenor and Congress MP Benny Behanan said the Jose K. Mani faction in the UDF has been expelled from the UDF.

"Numerous discussions on this topic were held and lot of time was given to them to abide by the directives of the UDF. Before coming to this fresh decision, we held talks with all the UDF leaders and everyone was unanimous that there should be no room for anyone who does not abide by the UDF directions. From now on they will not be invited to the UDF," said Behanan.

Kerala Congress (Mani) is the party founded by UDF veteran late K.M. Mani and is now led by his son and Rajya Sabha member Jose K. Mani.

Incidentally the erstwhile Kerala Congress (Mani) comprises of two factions -- one presently led by Mani and the other led by veteran legislator P.J. Joseph and practically for all purposes for the past one year they have been functioning as two different entities.

Kerala Congress (Mani) after the 2016 assembly polls had six legislators with both Mani and Joseph having three each, but with the passing away of K.M. Mani in 2019, trouble broke out between the two factions and it worsened, when Jose K. Mani's handpicked candidate lost the Pala assembly by-election, a seat held by the late Mani for 52 years.

The differences of opinion between the two factions worsened after Joseph raised the issue of getting the post of the president of the district panchayat of Kottayam for his faction, which Jose K. Mani said won't be given up as there was no written agreement for sharing it.

For the past two months, Joseph was demanding that it's the responsibility of the Congress-led UDF to intervene and get the post, which was part of an agreement.

Soon after the 2016 assembly elections, Mani Sr, sprang a surprise when he announced that he is leaving the UDF as they were not treated properly and despite making sincere attempts to make an entry to the ruling CPI-M led LDF, two years later, Mani Sr decided to return to the UDF.

The UDF then decided to welcome Mani Sr and a Rajya Sabha seat was offered to their party and soon Jose K. Mani, who had more than a year left as Kottayam Lok Sabha member, resigned and got elected to the Upper House, much to the displeasure of numerous UDF leaders.

Reacting to the expulsion of his faction from the UDF, Jose K. Mani, who was greeted with shouting of slogans by his party workers when he arrived at his office in Kottayam, told the media that this act of the UDF is against K.M. Mani who was one of the founding members of the UDF 38 years back.

"This ousting is unlawful and not in tune with political morality. We were not given fair justice as there was no written agreement to hand over the president's post. If this sword of indiscipline is slashed on us, Joseph should have been ousted not once but several times by now. Joseph created so much havoc when the Pala by-election was held after the demise of K.M. Mani. What happened now is selective justice, which is injustice," said Jose K. Mani adding that he has called a meeting of party leaders on Tuesday as his prestige is at stake.

In Kerala, the political canvas over the years is when one party gets booted out from one political front, a door opens from the other front and for Jose K. Mani, the BJP-led NDA has welcomed him to join ranks with them.

The CPI-M led LDF however was more guarded in response. It's convenor A. Vijayaraghavan said it's too early and the only thing what has now surfaced is trouble has broken out in the UDF.

"At the moment no door is open or closed. More things have to surface for any decision to be taken, as at the moment things are too early," said Vijayaraghavan.

Now all eyes are on the way the CPI-M sees this new development as the local body elections are to be held in October and the grand finale - the assembly polls in May 2021.

The 'unified' Kerala Congress (Mani) though does not have a pan-Kerala presence, it's a force in Kottayam and Idukki districts and it remains to be seen how the CPI-M views this.

During the period 2011-16 huge protests were unleashed against K.M. Mani, who had to resign as Finance Minister in 2015, over allegations of corruption.

And when he presented his 13th budget in the Kerala Assembly, the CPI-M led LDF, then in the opposition, had created the worst ever unruly scenes on the floor of the assembly and he amidst huge ruckus presented the budget in a minute.

So it remains to be seen the political morality of the Left, when it sits down to discuss this new development.
He has become one of the most frequently sanctioned lawyers, if not the most frequently sanctioned lawyer, in the District. Judges in this District and elsewhere have spent untold hours addressing Mr. Liebowitzs misconduct, which includes repeated violations of court orders and outright dishonesty, sometimes under oath, Furman wrote in a 54-page order.
New Delhi, June 29 : Amid tension at the borders, top Indian and Chinese military delegations will meet for the third time on Tuesday in Chushul in Leh district, sources said The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

"This time the talks will be held in Chushul on the Indian side. The last two meetings were held in Moldo on the Chinese side," said sources, adding that the agenda of the meeting would be to take forward the proposals made by both the countries for disengagement.

"All contentious areas during the current standoff will be discussed to stabilise the situation," sources added. The last two meetings at the Corp Commander level were held on June 6 and June 22. On June 22, talks took place between Indian and Chinese military delegates for around 11 hours.

The dialogue was held in a cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere and there was "mutual consensus to disengage".

"Modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in eastern Ladakh were discussed," the Indian Army had stated.

The meeting between 14 Corps Commander Lieutenant General Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military District chief Major General Liu Lin happened on the lines of the one they held at the Chushul-Moldo border personnel meeting (BPM) point in eastern Ladakh on June 6.

Also, Major General-level dialogue took place for three consecutive days after the violent clash at Patrolling Point 14 in Galwan Valley on June 15 left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

The three-day talks were carried out to ease the tense situation and to get 10 Indian soldiers released, including four officers, who were in Chinese captivity.

Major General Abhijit Bapat, who is the Commander of the 3 Division of the Indian Army, had raised several points with the Chinese with regard to the incident on the intervening night of June 15/16.

The clash occurred at the South bank of Galwan river, which flows in an east-west direction before its confluence with Shayok river, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army troops.

Those were the first casualties faced by the Indian Army in a clash with the People's Liberation Army since 1975 when an Indian patrol was ambushed by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh.

Sources said that Indian Army troopers were outnumbered by 1:5 ratio when they came under attack from the PLA soldiers at Patrolling Point 14 along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

"The numbers were stacked up against the Indian Army troopers. Yet, the Indian side decided to fight the PLA troopers. The Indian soldiers were outnumbered 1:5 by the Chinese troopers," sources said.

China is also said to have used thermal imaging drones to trace the Indian Army soldiers scattered on the treacherous terrain before brutally attacking them.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Ranchi, June 29 : An old woman, who was admitted for heart-related issues at Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) and had tested Covid-19 positive, died on Monday, taking the coronavirus toll in the state to 17.

Of the 2,382 Covid-19 cases, 559 are active. The state has reported 75.84 per cent recovery rate, as per the Health Department data.

Of the total coronavirus cases, 1,950 were migrant labourers returning from the various coronavirus hotspots in the country, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and Tamil Nadu.
New Delhi, June 29 : The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre that if the visas of the foreigners who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat meet in Delhi in mid-March were cancelled, why were they still in India? "You deport them," the top court said.

The apex court also sought clarification from the Ministry of Home Affairs on its stand on the visa status of nearly 2,500 citizens from 35 countries.

A bench comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna took up the pleas filed by the foreigners, who were blacklisted for 10 years through video conferencing.

Posting the matter for further hearing on July 2, the bench told the Centre's counsel, "Tell us if there was just a general direction or individual orders sent to each one of them, informing them about the blacklisting and cancellation of visas." The Centre's counsel contended before the bench that the copies of the petitions have not been served to them, and sought time to file a reply. Senior advocate C.U. Singh, representing the petitioners, contended before the bench that the blacklisting order was a general note for 900 persons. "Their countries are asking them back. The embassies are also asking," argued Singh.

The bench noted that the MHA notification said that the decision has to be taken on case to case basis by the state authorities. The bench said if visas have been cancelled, then it needs an explanation as to "why they (foreigners) are still here in India. And if visas have not been cancelled, it is a different situation." The bench said let the Centre issue a statement on this matter.

On June 26, the apex court had asked the foreign nationals to send the copy of their petition to the Centre, where they have challenged the Ministry of Home Affairs' order blacklisting them for allegedly participating in the Tablighi Jamaat event.

More than 30 petitioners, who moved the top court, submitted that they had to forfeit their passports to the state administration after the registration of FIRs, which led to deprivation of personal liberty, without following the procedures established under the law.

"All human beings are born with some unalienable rights like life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. The importance of these natural rights can be found in the fact that these are fundamental for their proper existence, and no other right can be enjoyed without the presence of the right to life and liberty. Life bereft of liberty would be without honour and dignity and it would lose all significance and meaning and the life itself would not be worth living," read the plea.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, June 29 : The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday asked the Tuticorin District Collector to depute officials from the Revenue Department to take control of the Sathankulam police station.

The court, hearing the custodial death of father and son, also said it was for the Tamil Nadu government to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

P. Jeyaraj and J. Bennicks, the father and son duo, had been booked for not closing their mobile shop in time on June 19 by the Sathankulam police. They were remanded to judicial custody and lodged in Kovilpatti jail on June 21.

Jeyaraj died on June 22 night and Bennicks on June 23 morning in the judicial custody, allegedly due to the police torture.

The court took suo moto cognizance of the case.

The court also asked the forensic team to collect all the materials to protect the evidence after the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Tuticorin, who was monitoring the case, submitted that the Sathankulam police were not cooperating with the probe being conducted by the Kovilpatti Judicial Magistrate.

When the government counsel asked for permission to transfer the probe to the CBI, the court said it was a policy decision and its permission was not needed.

To control the damage, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Sunday announced transfer of the probe to the CBI and said the high court's permission would be sought for it.
Mumbai, June 29 : In a bizarre incident, a car which was reportedly not serviced for long, suddenly caught fire after the owner switched off the engine and stepped out, officials said here on Monday.

The incident happened late on Sunday at the Ushakiran Building and the fire brigade which rushed there saw the entire vehicle burning in the parking lot.

They immediately deployed two high pressure jets and managed to extinguish the blazing vehicle within minutes.

Enquiries with the vehicle owner revealed that he returned home from outside and was parking it when he noticed some smoke emanating from the engine.

He immediately switched off the engine and jumped out to safety, unhurt, even as the vehicle was suddenly engulfed in flames.

After verifying his statements and checking the CCTV footage of the parking area, it was concluded that the probable cause of the blaze was a "defective electric circuit", said a fire brigade officer.

Since many vehicles are lying unused during the past over three months of lockdown, the Mumbai Fire Brigade has advised people to check for any damage caused by rodents, especially to the electrical wiring which can cause such a fire.

The fire brigade also dismissed social media rumours that there was a sanitiser in the vehicle which allegedly resulted in the fire.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, June 29 : Absconding for almost seven years, a Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) supplier was deported here from Bangkok last week and sent to judicial custody, the CBI said on Monday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the nodal central agency involved in the deportation process, said it arrested Kuldeep Singh Dua on June 25 morning after his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). Facing Look Out Circular (LOC) against him, Dua, a resident of district Nawanshahr in Punjab, was produced before a special CBI court later and was sent to 14-day judicial custody.

The CBI had registered a case on September 13, 2012 against Dua, one Kulwant Rai and other unidentified persons on a complaint from customs department at IGI Airport under charges of criminal conspiracy and using counterfeit currency as genuine.

It was alleged that the custom department's preventive wing had seized fake currency notes to the tune of Rs 6,01,500 in the intervening night of September 11-12, 2012 from Rai, a resident of Mukatpura district Nawanshahr in Punjab.

During investigation, the passenger had named Dua as the person who handed over the the consignment for carrying to India. After investigation, a chargesheet was filed against Rai while Dua was continuously absconding for almost seven years and was not available for investigation, the CBI said.
Hyderabad, June 29 : Paving the way for construction of a new complex for Telangana Secretariat, the Telangana High Court on Monday permitted demolition of the existing structures.

A Division Bench dismissed petitions challenging the government decision to raze the old buildings and build a new complex for the administrative headquarters. Building a new Secretariat was a policy decision and the court couldn't interfere with that, it said.

The judgment came as a victory for the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government as last year the court had struck down the cabinet decision to build legislature secretariat after demolishing Errum Manzil, a heritage structure in the heart of the city.

In August 2019, the government had temporarily shifted the Secretariat to Burgula Rama Krishnarao Bhavan to replace the existing structures with a swanky complex, to be spread over 5-6 lakh sq feet area, at a cost of Rs 400 crore.

All 10 blocks, spread over 25 acres near Hussain Sagar lake, which served as the Secretariat of undivided Andhra Pradesh, will now be demolished to build a new complex.

Heritage activists had claimed one of the blocks was constructed by Nizam, the ruler of erstwhile Hyderabad State, and carried heritage tag.

Though other buildings were built during the last couple of decades, the government said they had been built without following safety norms and were proving inadequate to meet the requirements.

Congress leaders Revanth Reddy, Jeevan Reddy and others had challenged the government decision in the court terming it as waste of public money. They argued the existing structures were in good condition and could meet all the requirements.

The government had argued the state needed an integrated complex with modern amenities to ensure smooth functioning.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao had initially planned to acquire Bison Polo ground in Secunderabad to build a new secretariat. But he had to drop the idea as the Defence Ministry refused to hand over the land.

On June 27, 2019 the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the new Secretariat and legislature complexes.

The foundation stone for the legislature complex was laid at Errum Manzil, a family palace built by Nawab Fakrul Mulk, a noble of the erstwhile Hyderabad state.
New Delhi, June 29 : Expressing concern over the strained ties with Nepal, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has said that if Nepal does not come out of the clutches of China soon, then its situation will also be like that of Tibet. RSS sources have asked the current government of Nepal to be cautious of China's expansionist policies.

The RSS has always been interested in Nepal due to its cultural similarities with India, friendly relations with people-to-people contact and a large Hindu population.

Nepal during the monarchy was a declared Hindu nation until 2008. However, it was declared a secular country soon after the monarchy came to an end in 2008. Yet, the RSS still sees Nepal as a Hindu nation.

The RSS is keeping an eye on the latest dispute with Nepal over its new map which shows Indian territory.

Recently a meeting of the top brass of the RSS was held in which the issue of Nepal also came up for discussion.

A senior RSS functionary on the condition of anonymity shared his views with IANS on the relationship between Nepal and India. He said, "Oli's Communist government in Nepal is playing into the hands of China. The nationalists in Nepal are also opposing the Oli government. Nepal, under Oli's leadership, has completely surrendered to China. If Nepal does not come out of the clutches of China, then its situation will be like that of Tibet." He added, "Nepal will have to come out of China's influence. Otherwise its sovereignty will be jeopardized as the world is witnessing China's expansionist policies. It always eyes the land of neighbouring countries. This is what it has started doing to Nepal, which has been an ally of India for centuries. It will have to be smart enough to gauge China's mood." Amid the map controversy, the RSS has advised both the central government and the Indian media to see Nepal as a "friend country". The RSS believes that both China and Pakistan are enemy countries, therefore, it is necessary to be strict with them, but that is not the case with Nepal.

"Even as the Government of Nepal has adopted a non-cooperative attitude with India at the moment, the people and many political parties have stood rock solid with India. Nationalist leaders and general public of Nepal have started opposing the policies of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's government in Nepal," he added.

The RSS has a word of advice for the Indian media also -- avoid using harsh words for Nepal in the event of a dispute.

The RSS functionary told IANS, "India and Nepal have hundreds of years of ties. Nepal is our cultural partner, both are brothers. Both countries have a lot of similarities. In such a situation, whatever disputes have to be resolved, the government will have to settle with softness in a calm atmosphere and in a diplomatic way. The policy involving China and Pakistan cannot apply in the case with Nepal. In Nepal's case, a soft but effective strategy will have to be adopted. The media should not use words that cause any inconvenience to the people of Nepal."
Kolkata/New Delhi, June 29 : After 'Didi ke Bolo' (Tell Didi) and 'Banglar Gorbo Mamata' (Mamata is Bengal's pride), here comes another likely campaign from the house of Trinamool Congress, in July - 'Shoja Banglay Bolchhi' (Speaking in clear terms).

However, this campaign which is slated to be launched on July 21, appears to be an 'inspiration' from BJP's high voltage virtual rallies across India. To get a sense of what the TMC leaders feel, Mamata has convened another virtual conference on June 3. However, there are two issues confronting the party.

But, first up the event itself. July 21 is the most important day in Banerjee's political history that it observes amid much fanfare each year as 'Shahid Divas' or Martyrs Day to commemorate the 1993 Kolkata firing when 13 people were shot by the West Bengal Police in Kolkata, during a rally by the youth wing of West Bengal Congress under the leadership of a young Mamata Banerjee.

The protest rally was in demand of voters' identity cards to be made the sole required document for voting in a communist Bengal where elections were more often than not rigged. After coming back to power, this day has been the red letter day which was used as political muscle flexing with lakhs attending.

However, this year's coronavirus pandemic and still a ban on public meetings, has changed the ground realities for Banerjee. She is now considering borrowing an alternative idea or two from her arch enemy - the BJP.

Now, if TMC sources are to be believed, the party has almost decided to go ahead with a virtual address this year on July 21, where CM Banerjee will use social media platforms like Facebook, Youtube and Periscope to address party cadres.

The choice of the speculated campaign 'Shoja Banglay Bolchhi', which is likely to be launched on the same day is also tip to be a series of virtual addresses, much akin to BJP's virtual rallies, which began by Union Home Minister Amit Shah's address to West Bengal, given the state's importance in BJP's scheme of things.A "We are also hearing the same as you have learnt (that this July 21, Mamata Banerjee will address through virtual medium). We will get a clear picture on July 3. Then all the nitty gritty will be discussed," said senior TMC leader and former Union minister Sishir Adhikari.

Though the 'Shahid Diwas' event was planned to highlight "Left front's 34 year of misrule", this year the address is less likely to centre around the Left as it is likely to focus on the BJP.

"Didi (CM Banerjee) is a classic communicator. Her connection with people is beyond doubt. But we will find out more details about the event on July 3, when we will get to interact with her," repeated another TMC heavyweight, on condition of anonymity. However, he added that the focus of the party is expected to be on the "communal politics of BJP".

All the MPs, MLAs, state ministers and even district presidents central to TMC's ground work, will be present at this virtual meeting on July 3. Mamata Banerjee is likely to ask them for advice on how to observe July 21, while maintaining social distancing. Though sources say that a decision seems to already have been taken after Prashant Kishor's I-PAC came up with the idea.

However, there are two issue that the TMC is facing - to match the grand scale at which BJP was able to organise Shah's virtual rally for Bengal and even if they do, they will have to eat their own words of criticism where they accused Shah and BJP of giving precedence to politics over a pandemic or India-China border tensions.

At least 15,000 mega LED screens were put up and more than 70,000 smart TVs were installed across the state for connecting with cadres down to the booth level, for Shah's virtual rallies, IANS learnt. To put things into perspective, West Bengal has an estimated 78,000 polling booths. If TMC wants to indeed go virtual as it seems the case for July 21, they have to match this massive scale of expenditure.

Moreover, soon after Shah's virtual rally, TMC leader and MP Derek O' Brien hit back at the Home Minister over him raising the CAA issue while saying, "They care for nothing other than votes." Banerjee's nephew and TMC de facto No 2 Abhishek Banerjee then tweeted, "Since Shah has been living in virtual reality, let us bring him back to reality by asking: Has China made any incursions into Indian territory?" Now, if TMC chooses to take a leaf out of BJP's virtual rallies, it will mean they will have to give up their own criticism of the BJP.

A final decision will only be that by the Chief Minister herself, insist TMC sources. However, when it comes to Bengal, TMC knows it cannot let the problems come in the way as for Bengal's ruling party it is a chance of survival with the 2021 Assembly election slated less than a year from now.

All the more so, as it faces BJP's election machine that has already surprised Banerjee last year by grabbing 18 Lok Sabha seats from the state, a jump of 16 seats from 2014.

(Anindya Banerjee can be contacted at anindya.b@ians.in)
Mumbai, June 29 : Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt released the first poster of his comeback directorial feature "Sadak 2", starring daughters Alia Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt, on social media on Monday evening, and was almost immediately fending against massive trolling and hatred.

Ever since the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput earlier this month, Bhatt has been has been at the receiving end on social media, like many Bollywood celebrities who accused of promoting nepotism and scuttling the chances of outsiders.

On Monday, netizens' anger and hatred reflected in the comment section of the filmmaker's latest post.

Bhatt released the poster with a caption that stated: "When you come to the end, you discover that there is no END." Reacting to his tweet, netizens slammed the filmmaker, holding him responsible for demeaning Sushant's mental condition and threatening to boycott "Sadak 2".

"Guy who declared 26/11 as RSS ki Sazish and his own son helped terrorists to identify the places, tried to declare Sushant as mentally unstable, having relationship with lady younger than her daughter's daughter, lowest scum possible...Don't know why this guy is not in jail," declared a social media user.

"When you put END to someone's life intensionally, you'll soon release your END," wrote another user.

"We are not interested... get lost," retorted another user.

A user responded by sharing the poster of Sushant Singh Rajput's upcoming last film "Dil Bechara." Another user has started a poll asking people to choose between "Sadak 2" and "Dil Bechara".

While Alia also shared the poster on Instagram, she smartly 'limited' the comments section. Only one comment is visible.

However, Alia's "Sadak 2" co-actor Aditya Roy Kapur shared the poster on Instagram and met with heavu trolling. Aditya, who is the youngest brother of bigwig producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, was faced with a barrage of hate speech aimed at Mahesh Bhatt and Alia Bhatt.

"Boycott Sadak 2. Boycott Alia Bhatt and Mahesh Bhatt," wrote a user.

"Sorry bro isme Alia Bhatt hai, hum nahi dekhenge (This film features Alia Bhatt and I am not going to watch it)," wrote another user.

"Sadak 2" is a follow-up of Mahesh Bhatt's 1991 hit "Sadak" and is produced by his brother Mukesh Bhatt. The sequel reunites the original film's lead pair of Sanjay Dutt and Pooja Bhatt, and also stars Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapur. "Sadak 2" marks Mahesh Bhatt's return to filmmaking after 20 years.

On Monday afternoon, it was confirmed that the Bhatts have decided to bypass theatrical release for the film and take it directly to the streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar for an OTT premiere.
In 2017, U.S. Customs & Border Protection seized 6.6 kilos of GBL from China bound for the apartment belonging to Ciceros parents, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney David Felton wrote. An investigation into a meth supplier in Mexico whose name was saved in Ciceros phone is ongoing, the prosecutor wrote. The phone also had a photo of multiple kilos of meth on a scale, authorities say.
Mumbai, June 29 : For Akshay Kumar, essaying role of a transgender in upcoming "Laxmmi Bomb" was not easy. It was the "most mentally intensive role" he has done in his career. The actor says he had to portray the character with sensitivity and honesty so that he doesnt end up offending any community.

On Monday, he announced that the horror comedy is going direct for a digital premiere and shared an intense poster of his look from the film, which is directed by Raghava Lawrence and also stars Kiara Advani.

"In 30 years, this is the most mentally intensive role. Never experienced it before. Credit for it goes to Lawrence sir. He introduced me to a version of me which I didn't know existed. It was different from my other characters. Iska bolna, chalna action reaction maine kabhi portray nahi kiya," Akshay said while talking about his character of a transgender in the film during a virtual press conference.

"Mujhe dhyaan rakhna tha ke main isse poori imaandari se portray karoon bina kisi community ko offend kare. Maine willingly itne retake diye hai iss film ke liye to shoot every scene to maximum potential (I had to be sure that I did this role without offending any community. Despite doing 150 films, I was so excited to be on the sets every day. I have never given as many retakes as I have given in this film). 'Laxmmi Bomb' has made me more sensitive about gender equality," he added.

The actor continued: "I was genuinely excited to be on set everyday, pushing the boundaries, learning more about myself. This film has taught me to be even more understanding about gender equality. Be anything you want, but don't be ignorant. Kindness is key to peace." Recalling his experience of wearing a sari for the role, he said: "It is a lovely garment that fits all sizes and shapes. We see women in our daily lives who wear a sari and catch buses and trains, go about their daily routine without the pallu even budging an inch. I couldn't even walk in a sari, it was quite an experience for me. Hats off to how women manage it. I would say if you want to appreciate a sari truly, you should try wearing one." Talking about his lockdown experience, he said: "For the first time, I have been at home in my entire career for so long".

He added that he would have easily made two to three films during this time.

"I played games with my family, watched a lot of shows with my wife, baking with my son, taash (cards) with mom, made a few ads as well while sitting at home," he added.

While no release date has been announced, "Laxmmi Bomb" is slated to premiere on Disney+ Hotstar.
Mumbai, June 29 : Actress Esha Deol celebrated eight years of her marriage on Monday.

Taking to Instagram, Esha posted a picture from her wedding day. In the picture we can see Esha and her husband, businessman Bharat Takhtani, seated at the mandap and smiling.

"This day many years ago ... my forever, my love, together for keeps together for eternity! Love u my BeeTee .God bless," she wrote.

Esha and Bharat have two daughters, Radhya and Miraya.

A few weeks ago, Esha posted a video of her wedding vidai in which we can see her carrying out rituals like scattering rice as she walks away to her new home with husband Bharat. Her parents Dharmendra and Hema Malini were in tears.

On the work front, Esha tried her hand at writing a book a while back. She came up with "Amma Mia!", a book on motherhood.
Chennai, June 29 : As many as 3,949 more persons tested positive for coronavirus while 62 such patients died in Tamil Nadu in the last 24-hour cycle, the Health Department said on Monday.

The two figures are new highs for the state in a single day. The total active cases in Tamil Nadu now are 37,331.

In a statement issued here, the department said the total case tally had climbed up to 86,224 and the death toll till date to 1,141.

A total of 30,039 more samples were tested, taking the state's total to about 11.40 lakh.

The number of Covid-19 patients who got cured went up to 47,749 as 2,212 more persons were discharged from various hospitals on Monday.

The number of corona-infected children in the state in the age group 0-12 went up to 4,225.

State capital Chennai continued to lead Covid-19 infection table at 2,167 more positive cases, and a total tally of 55,969. The active cases in the city now are 21,681.

Amid the daily coronavirus infection rate staying over 3,000 in the southern state, an expert medical committee said it had not recommended extension of the lockdown after June 30 after holding a review meeting with Chief Minister K. Palaniswami.

Prabhdeep Kaur, Deputy Director, National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), said the committee didn't recommend lockdown extension as it was not the only way to control the virus spread.

The panel took into account the socio-economic issues connected with the lockdown while making its recommendation, Kaur said. The panel instead suggested tightening of restrictions in areas with high infection rate.

It was now for the state government to take a call on lockdown extension, she said.

Attributing the spike in coronavirus cases to increased testing, she said over 80 per cent of the new cases were of mild infections. The panel has recommended increase in number of tests in Madurai, Trichy, Vellore, and Tiruvannamaai.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Hyderabad, June 29 : The forest department has booked three persons in Telangana's Khammam district for their gruesome act of killing a monkey by hanging it after it had strayed into their field to quench its thirst.

The incident took place in Ammapalem village under Vemsoor 'mandal' on June 26 but came to light on Sunday.

The video of the cruel act went viral on social media, shocking the netizens who called for stringent punishment for the perpetrators.

Sadu Venkateshwar Rao, caretaker of a teak plantation, and two others attacked a few monkeys that were quenching their thirst from a water tank. One of them fell into the tank, they caught hold of it, beat it with sticks and tied it with a rope around its neck.

The accused then hanged the animal from a tree and not stopping at that, they let two lose two pet dogs on the hapless monkey struggling for its life. After a few minutes, the monkey died and they left its dead body hanging to scare other monkeys away from the field. The next day they threw the body away from the field and tried to burn it.

Forest officials rushed to the village after the video went viral on social media. "We recovered the partially burnt body of the monkey and questioned the accused, who confessed to the crime. We have booked them under Section 9 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972," said A Venkateshwarulu, forest range officer, Khammam.

The officials said the accused were not taken into custody due to the Covid-19 situation, but were summoned to the forest office for further inquiry. A fine of Rs 25,000 has been slapped on the accused.
Chennai, June 29 : AIADMK leader and former member of Parliament and Tamil Nadu Assembly K. Arjunan has courted controversy over assault on a police official on duty at a toll plaza in Salem even as a DMK lawmaker cried foul as he was wrongly identified as the attacker.

A video clip of the incident involving Arjunan was posted on the social media, but some wrongly identfied the asailant as DMK lawmaker Vagai Chandrasekar.

Arjunan was returning to Salem from Omalur on Sunday night when police deployed at the toll plaza asked his driver for the e-pass. Arjunan allegedly argued with the police and at one point in time hit a policeman who in turn pushed him away. Subsequently, Arjunan was seen kicking the policeman.

Chandrasekar -- who represents Velacherry Assembly constituency -- lodged a police complaint against two persons for 'defaming' him in the whole affair and urged for action against another person for defaming DMK party.

"These are not isolated postings. Postings defaming our President (DMK chief M.K. Stalin) and other party leaders are virally spread on the social media to misguide the public and with political mala fides," Chandrasekar said in his complaint.

"Due to the said postings, I am being enquired by members of public and my party men and the same has caused untold agony to me," he added.

He said a mere perusal of the video will show that he was not the person seen in the video.

"In spite of this, without verifying the basic facts, these persons are spreading rumours on the social media platforms, which is punishable under the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act," Chandrasekar said.
New Delhi, June 29 : Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has targeted Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati for supporting the BJP-led NDA government's stand on the India-China border faceoff. She accused Mayawati of becoming an "unannounced spokesperson" of the ruling party.

"As I said, some opposition leaders have become unannounced spokespersons of the BJP, which is beyond my comprehension," she alleged.

In a blatant dig at Mayawati for supporting the BJP-led Centre's stand, Priyanka remarked, "There is no point in standing with any political party at this time. Every Indians will have to stand with India, stand with the integrity of our land." The Congress general secretary's dig comes in the wake of the BSP chief's support for the ruling BJP on the issue and also her sharp criticism of the Congress. The BSP chief remarked that her party was formed because of the Congress's "failure to do anything" for neglected sections of people, who Mayawati claims to represent.

An agitated Priyanka once again claimed on Monday that India has lost land to Chinese aggression. She claimed, "We have to build courage to fight against the government which has lost the land of the country." This allegation comes despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi assuring the nation that India has not ceded even an inch of land to China.
Hyderabad, June 29 : Hyderabad police on Monday registered a case against leading film producer and leader of Andhra Pradesh's ruling YSR Congress Party, Prasad V. Potluri for allegedly letting loose his pet dogs on police officers who had gone to his residence for investigation of a complaint against him.

PVP, as Prasad is popularly known, his wife and another person were booked under Indian Penal Code's Section 353 (Assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty).

The case was registered at Banjara Hills police station on a complaint by sub-inspector D. Harish Reddy, who along with another officer and a home guard, had gone to PVP's house in posh Jubilee Hills.

The police officers had gone as part of the investigations into a complaint lodged by a person with Banjara Hills police last week, alleging that PVP was stalling his house construction and threatening him.

When the team reached PVP's house they were stopped at the main gate by a person and when they told him about the purpose of the visit, he went inside and came back only to inform them that PVP and his wife have asked him not to allow anybody in. When they tried to enter the house, five dogs came charging towards them, making them flee the place.

PVP had joined the YSRCP on the eve of 2019 elections and contested unsuccessfully as the party candidate from Vijayawada Lok Sabha seat.
Mumbai, June 29 : Tripti Dimris performance in "Bulbbul", the new horror film that was released digitally, has been widely acclaimed. The actress has opened up on fighting her fears and stepping out of her comfort zone to become an actress.

Tripti took to Instagram on Monday to talk about the same. The actress also spoke about the difference between her real-life personality and her on-screen character in "Bulbbul".

"Growing up, I was extremely different from the character I play in 'Bulbbul'. I was not an extrovert at all! She's curious and excitable and I was the opposite of it. I was very shy and I never felt comfortable participating in school functions and activities. I even hated getting doubts cleared in class because I didn't like having all those eyes on me." "Something changed when I got to college. I realised it's time I take to the stage and face the world. I became more involved in college activities and even joined a modelling agency, which turned out to be the door that opened these opportunities for me. I remember putting off giving my first audition because the thought of facing the camera terrified me. Surprisingly, I did well and I got selected, which led to my debut movie 'Poster Boys'." "From being uncomfortable with so many eyes on me to now feeling at home on a set, I've come a long way. I am here because I chose to fight my fear and get out of my comfort zone. I chose to trust myself and stopped listening to my insecurities. I'm still nervous in new situations, I still fumble but I now know you can always overcome those fears and give it your all." "Remember, fear is just a feeling and no feeling is permanent. Fight it even if you fail. You can always get back up and try again. I'm glad I chose to fight," Tripti wrote on Instagram.

She also shared a photo of her character Bulbbul's childhood (played by child actor Ruchi Mahajan) and the grown up Bulbbul (played by herself) in the horror flick. Tripti also shared a throwback photo from her childhood.

Meanwhile, netizens are demanding to #BoycottNetflix on Twitter as they find the Bengali folk song "Kalankini Radha" used in the film and its English subtitles offensive to Hindu religious sentiments.
New Delhi, June 29 : The Indian government on Monday banned nearly 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, WeChat and UC Browser and Xiaomi's Mi Community over national security concerns as India-China bilateral relations remain strained after the death of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley clash with Chinese PLA troops in eastern Ladakh.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a list of 59 Chinese apps that are now banned in the country.

"These measures have been undertaken since there is credible information that these apps are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order," said a MeitY statement.

The ministry received complaints from various sources including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users' data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside India.

"The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures," the statement read.

The MeitY said the move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile users.

"There have been raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians. It has been noted recently that such concerns also pose a threat to sovereignty and security of our country," said the government.

Other Chinese apps in the banned list are Club Factory, SHAREit, Likee, Mi Video Call (Xiaomi), Weibo, Baidu, Bigo Live and more.

Earlier this month, Indian intelligence agencies red flagged these Chinese apps over safety and privacy issues of users.

The government needs to either block access to these apps or advise people to stop their use, according to the intel inputs, said the agencies.

The report comes amid growing chorus from Indian activists to boycott Chinese products due to the border tensions between the two countries in Ladakh.

The recommendations of the intelligence agencies have backing of the National Security Council Secretariat which determined that certain China-linked applications could be detrimental to the country's security, said the report citing an unnamed government official.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, June 29 : For the fourth day running, Maharashtras Covid-19 tally jumped sharply by 5,257 new cases on Monday, while the state's fatalities surpassed the 7,500-mark, health officials said.

The state's death toll shot up to 181 on Monday, down from the previous single-day high of 248 recorded on June 23.

Earlier on June 16, the state had reported the highest 1,409 fatalities after taking into account reconciliation of earlier deaths, which drastically escalated the toll.

With Monday's 181 fatalities, the state's death toll climbed from Sunday's 7,429 to 7,610, while the total number of cases zoomed to 169,883, both being the highest in the country.

This comes to roughly one death recorded every 8 minutes and a staggering 219 new cases notched every hour in the state on Monday.

The recovery rate marginally fell from 52.59 per cent to 52.37 per cent, while the mortality rate stood at 4.48 per cent.

For most days in June, the state has been recording three-digit highs of deaths and since the past four days, 5K plus new patients, causing big worries to the health officials.

The health department said that of the total number of cases declared till date, 73,298 were active cases as on Monday, lower (favourable) vis-a-vis the number of patients cured, indicating a positive sign.

Of the total 181 fatalities declared on Monday, Mumbai alone notched 92 deaths -- taking the city's death toll to 4,463, while the number of positive patients shot up by 1,226 to touch 76,765.

Besides Mumbai's 92 deaths, there were 26 deaths each in Thane and Pune, 12 in Aurangabad, 11 in Solapur, 8 in Jalgaon, 3 in Amravati, and 1 each in Nagpur, Osmanabad and Nashik.

On the positive side, a total of 2,385 fully cured patients returned home on Monday, taking the number of those discharged to 88,960 -- relatively higher than the 73,298 active cases at present.

Meanwhile, in a significant move to combat the pandemic, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday inaugurated the world's largest and India's first Project PLATINA -- a Plasma Therapy Trial Centre. It will provide free treatment to all critical patients at the 17 government hospitals and 4 BMC hospitals.

As many as 1.42 lakh patients received free treatment under the Mahatma Jyotiba Janarogya Yojana, including 1.22 lakhs for Covid-19 and the rest for serious ailments of heart, kidney etc., said Health Minister Rajesh Tope.

As hinted by Thackeray on Sunday, the state government on Monday extended the lockdown till July 31 and started its stringent implementation across the state, but also promised that there would be gradual easing of restrictions.

The MMR (Thane Division) remains a tricky issue as deaths and cases shoot up, with a whopping 3,593 new patients pushing up the number of positive cases to 122,325 on Monday. It has reported 5,530 Covid-19 fatalities so far.

Thane, with 36,002 cases and 871 fatalities, has emerged as the second worst-hit district in the state after Mumbai.

Pune district comes third with 21,303 patients and 740 deaths till now. But the Pune Division ranks second (after MMR) with 24,980 patients and fatalities reaching 1,040 on Monday.

The next major region of concern is Nashik Division with 521 fatalities and 9,040 positive cases, followed by Aurangabad Division with 258 deaths and 6,004 cases, and Akola Division with 126 fatalities and 2,654 cases.

Kolhapur Division has notched 51 deaths and 1,997 patients, Latur Division has 43 fatalities and 981 cases, while the Nagpur Division has recorded 18 deaths and 1,817 cases.

Only Kolhapur Division recorded zero fatalities on Monday, though there were new Covid-19 cases.

The number of people sent to home quarantine increased from Sunday's 570,475 to 574,093 on Monday, while those under institutional quarantine increased from 37,350 to 37,758 on Monday.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The old cars will have areas near the conductor cab blocked off to passengers so conductors can have space to social distance. Unlike the rest of the MTAs subway fleet, train crews must pass through public areas when switching from one side of the car to the other while they open and close their doors.
Bengaluru, June 29 : A Bengaluru city policeman tested positive for Covid after his death even as more infections are occurring in the police department, an official said on Monday.

"An assistant sub inspector (ASI) attached to the Whitefield police station has succumbed to the virus," said an official.

The 57-year-old officer fell down in the washroom at his home on Saturday and was declared dead on being rushed to hospital.

Later, a swab test was conducted on the police officer which confirmed his Covid positive status.

Meanwhile, as many as 50 policemen of the 150-strong Central Crime Branch (CCB), including drivers, are in quarantine.

"In CCB many are in quarantine, around 50," CCB Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Kuldeep Jain told IANS.

Since June 10, policemen above 55 years of age have been advised to work from home and from Saturday those above 45 with co-morbidities have also been told to work from home.

On Sunday, 15 policemen tested positive for the virus, including a senior police officer in the north traffic division.

The senior officer's office as well as Yelahanka traffic police station have been sealed and staff quarantined.

Similarly, a head constable deputed as a gunman for a civic body corporator, a head constable in the armed reserve and a V.V. Puram ASI have also tested positive for the virus among others.

The state government has also created an exclusive facility for infected policemen.

ESI Hospital at Indiranagar has been notified as a dedicated Covid hospital to treat moderate and severely symptomatic policemen.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Guwahati/Shillong, June 29 : Even as Assam is fighting an all-out war against COVID-19, the deteriorating flood situation, triggered by heavy rains, claimed four more lives taking the death toll to 24 while affecting over 13 lakh people in 25 of the state's 33 districts, officials said in Guwahati on Monday.

Officials of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said that in the current wave of floods since early last week, nine persons have so far died in Barpeta, Dhemaji, Udalguri, Goalpara and Dibrugarh districts taking the total death toll to 24 in the floods and 23 more people were killed in separate landslides since May 22.

According to the officials of various authorities, there have been incessant heavy monsoon showers across the northeast region including Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh causing most rivers including mighty Brahmaputra to flow above danger levels in many places and inundating fresh areas everyday.

An official of the ASDMA said that the flood-hit districts are -- Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Udalguri, Chirang, Darrang, Nalbari, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Bongaigaon, South Salmara, Goalpara, Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro), Morigaon, Hojai, West Karbi Anglong and Tinsukia.

Quoting reports of various districts, the officials said: "Over 13.17 lakh people in 2,404 villages affected by the floods and over 83,168 hectares of crop areas were badly affected due to the floods. Around 27,452 people took shelter in 273 relief camps." The National Disaster Response Force, Assam State Disaster Response Force personnel, along with local administration, are continuously working to rescue the affected people and rendering relief services, including distribution of relief material to the marooned villagers.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has also directed Deputy Commissioners of all the affected districts to address the needs of the flood-hit people urgently while adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday discussed the Assam flood situation with Sonowal over phone and assured all kinds of central government's help to the state to deal with the situation. Meanwhile, the heavy monsoon rains affected normal life in most parts of the northeastern states.

The rain water has inundated vast low lying areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram. With India Meteorological Department predicting more rains in the next few days, Assam and other northeastern states might have to face tougher days with worsening flood situation along with COVID-19 surge.

The state government has clamped a 14-day total lockdown in Kamrup (Metro) district, in which Guwahati, the state's main city and commercial hub falls, from Monday midnight. Besides, daily night curfew and complete lockdown on Saturday and Sunday in the entire state was also promulgated to prevent the community transmission of coronavirus.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, 29 June : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The Twitter handle of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) released this information on Monday night.

It is believed that Modi will share his views on Unlock 2.0, which will kick in from Wednesday. On Monday night, the government released the new guidelines for Unlock 2.0. It said the new rules will be in force till July 31. Almost all activities have been allowed outside the containment zones save a few like functioning of schools and colleges and international travel, among others.

National broadcaster Doordarshan will telecast the Prime Minister's address live.

Interestingly, the address comes in the backdrop of the growing India-China border tensions. On Monday evening, the government banned 59 Chinese apps under national security considerations, a move seen as India's response to China's recent misadventures that resulted in casualties on both sides.
Chennai, June 29 : The Madras High Court's Madurai Bench on Monday asked the Tuticorin District Collector to depute officials from the Revenue Department to take control of the Sathankulam police station.

The court also intiated criminal contempt case against three policemen as the Kovilpatti Judicial Magistrate had reported tha the Tuticorin police was preventing him from carrying his inquiry in the custodial death of P.Jeyaraj and J. Bennicks.

Meanwhile the Tamil Nadu government passed an order transferring the probe into their death to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Jeyaraj and and his son Bennicks had been booked for not closing their mobile shop in time on June 19 by the Sathankulam police. They were sent to judicial custody and lodged in Kovilpatti jail on June 21.

Jeyaraj died on June 22 night and Bennicks on June 23 morning in the judicial custody, allegedly due to the police torture.

The court, which took suo moto cognizance of the case, also asked the forensic team to collect all the materials to protect the evidence after the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Tuticorin, who was monitoring the case, submitted that the Sathankulam police were not cooperating with the probe being conducted by the Kovilpatti Judicial Magistrate.

The court also initiated criminal contempt proceedings against D.Kumar, Additional Superintendent of Police, C.Prathapan, Deputy Superintendent of Police and constable Maharajan.

In his report, the Kovilpatti Judicial Magistrate had said Maharajan made a very disparaging remark against him while the other two officers were present.

The High Court also observed free and fair probe is not possible unless the three policemen are transferred.

The court also ordered the Additional Advocate General, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tirunelveli range, and the Tuticorin District Superintendent of Police to appear before it on Tuesday.

When the government counsel asked for permission to transfer the probe to the CBI, the court said it was a policy decision and its permission was not needed.

To control the damage, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Sunday announced transfer of the probe to the CBI and said the high court's permission would be sought for it.
Noida, June 29 : Even as Delhi continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, its neighbouring Gautam Buddha Nagar district, which comprises Noida and Greater Noida, witnessed just 53 new cases on Monday, while 211 people were discharged from different hospitals.

The district, which has sternly insisted in regulating to and fro traffic from Delhi, didn't report any death in the last 24 hours.

The Uttar Pradesh government informed that 211 people have been discharged in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of those discharged to 1,430. As on Monday, the district has 756 active cases. So far, Gautam Buddha Nagar has reported 22 Covid related deaths.

As on Monday, GB Nagar has 257 Category 1 and 56 Category 2 containment zones.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state, has reported 685 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, while 698 people have been discharged from different hospitals.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Bengaluru, June 29 : Exam results of the Karnataka Pre-University Course (PUC) board and the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) board would be declared in July last week and August first week, respectively, a minister said on Monday.

"We will try to declare the results of PUC exams in July last week and SSLC exams in August first week," state Primary and Secondary Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar told reporters here.

The last PUC exam in English was held across the southern state on June 18 as it could not be held on March 27 due to the sudden enforcement of lockdown and its subsequent extension till May 31.

PUC board exams in other subjects were held from March 4-24 across the state. About 6 lakh students appeared for the exams.

The SSLC exams, which began on June 25, will be held till July 3 in about 3,000 centres across the state. About 8.5 lakh students registered for the exams being held under the Covid-19 cloud.

"SSLC exams in three subjects -- English, mathematics and science -- have been held so far. The fourth exam in social science will be held on July 1. Two more exams will be held in first language (mother tongue) on July 2 and in third language on July 3," board director V. Sumangala told IANS.

As in the mathematics paper on June 27, around 98 per cent of the students appeared for the science paper on Monday.

"There were no reports of any student being affected by the infection at any of the exam centres across the state," she said.

Instead of giving promotion to students of Class X and XII as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and other states have done, the state government decided to hold the exams defying the coronavirus scare.

In a related development, Kumar warned private schools across the state against increasing tuition and other fees for students in this academic year, which is yet to commence due to the extended lockdown caused by the Covid-19 scare.

"We got reports that about 1,150 schools across the state have increased fees and action was taken against 450 of them, as it is unfair to burden the parents when they are also affected by the pandemic," Kumar said.

The state education department has set up a helpline for parents to complain against schools increasing fees. An official will address the grievances of the parents and the students against such schools.
Bengaluru, June 29 : As many as new 1,105 Covid cases were recorded in Karnataka, with 738 of them in Bengaluru, as the state's tally breached the 14,000 mark to settle at 14,295, while 19 people succumbed to the virus, an official said on Monday.

"New cases reported from Sunday 5 p.m. to Monday 5 p.m., 1,105," said a health official.

As 738 more cases have been added in the past 24 hours, currently Bengaluru is battling the highest number of cases in the southern state with 4,052 infections, out of which 3,427 are active.

Meanwhile, a record 19 people have succumbed to the virus - 12 in Ballari, three in Bengaluru Urban and one each in Bagalkote, Ramanagara, Dakshina Kannada and Hassan.

Among the new cases on Monday, Bengaluru Urban has accounted for 738, followed by Ballari (76), Dakshina Kannada (32), Bidar (28), Uttara Kannada (24), Kalaburagi (23), Hassan and Vijayapura (22 each), Tumkur and Udupi (18 each), Dharwad and Chikkamagaluru (17 each), Chikkaballapura (15), Yadgir (9), Mandya (8), Mysuru (6), Shivamogga (5), Raichur, Bagalkote, Gadag and Kolar (4 each), Bengaluru Rural (3), Davangere, Ramanagara and Chitradurga (2 each) and Haveri and Kodagu (1 each).

However, on a positive note, 176 patients got discharged, leading to the total discharged patients count rising to 7,683.

Covid cases in critical stage have risen to 268 across the state.

Out of the 14,295 cases, 6,382 are active while the number of deaths rose to 226.

In a effort to strengthen the health infrastructure, Karnataka will be receiving 1,200 ventilators of the 30,000 being manufactured in the city, said Deputy Chief Minister C. N. Ashwathnarayan, who attended a meeting with the heads of private hospitals on Monday with Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa.

"At the urging of our government, private hospitals have agreed to allocate 9,000 beds," he said.

On Sunday, he visited Ramanagara district to monitor Covid preparedness. He also visited the Dayanand Sagar hospital.

Yeidyurappa also inaugurated Mysuru's first private Covid lab - at the JSS Medical College - remotely on Monday, Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar said, adding that the state has 79 Covid testing labs - 44 government and 35 private.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, June 30 : The CPI-M has shot off an angry letter to the Election Commission over the poll panel "altering" electoral procedures, which the party claims is being done without political consultations.

Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, in his letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, has said how he is "greatly disturbed" by the news.

"We are greatly disturbed by the media reports that the Election Commission of India, bypassing the established practice of consulting political parties, is unilaterally initiating measures to provide voters, aged over 64 years, the use of postal ballots," he said.

The age limit for voters to can opt for postal ballot in Lok Sabha and assembly polls has been reduced to 65. Earlier, that age bar was 80. This decision was taken in view of the coronavirus outbreak as the Centre has repeatedly asked those above 65 to stay indoors since they are vulnerable to the disease.

But now, with the Bihar election on the horizon, Yechury feels the "tearing hurry" in which the age bar was brought down was "unilateral".

"In the past, the ECI, despite the wide ranging and comprehensive powers under Article 324 for 'control and superintendence' of elections mandated by the Constitution, has always insisted that they will not exercise this power unilaterally. This had created an extremely healthy precedent of recognising the political parties, representing the people, as principal stakeholders," he noted.

He said that the "current changes in the Rules, both in October 2019 and that on June 19, 2020 have not been preceded by any consultation with the political parties whatsoever".

"From the media reports, we are constrained to infer that the tearing hurry that the ECI displays is on account of the impending Bihar Assembly elections scheduled to be held in November 2020," he alleged.

Highlighting how the move may help the ruling BJP-JD-U alliance, Yechury wrote: "A consensus among political parties and ECI is necessary for introducing new voting practices which will adversely affect the verifiability of a large number of voters, thus, transparency and integrity of the process; not to mention, the leverage available to the incumbent administration in organising the postal ballots." The CPI-M demanded that the poll panel should not "unilaterally proceed further" in implementing these changes without "proper and transparent consultation" so that a "level playing field" is ensured.
New Delhi, June 30 : Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Monday welcomed the governments decision to ban nearly 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, WeChat and UC Browser, among others.

Patel said in a tweet, "We welcome the decision to ban Chinese apps. In light of the grave intrusion of our territory and the unprovoked attack on our armed forces by the Chinese army, we expect our government to take more substantial and effective measures." The ban on Chinese apps came after the recent violent standoff between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh which resulted in loss of lives on both sides.

The government on Monday banned nearly 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, WeChat and UC Browser and Xiaomi's Mi Community over national security concerns as the India-China bilateral relations continue to remain strained.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued a list of 59 Chinese apps that are now banned in the country.

"These measures have been undertaken since there is credible information that these apps are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order," said a MeitY statement.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Allianz has partnered with The National Pension Service of Korea (NPS) to establish a USD 2.3 billion investment platform to build a diversified core portfolio of high-quality properties in the Asia Pacific region. The platform will be in the form of a new Singapore domiciled, closed-end fund called Allianz Real

[]
The confrontation unfolded on the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, which began after police raided the historic Stonewall Inn, a well-known gay bar on Christopher St. The ensuing riots are widely thought to be the birth of the global LGBTQ rights movement.
Our Health & Hygiene Program partners with restaurants to ensure standard health protocols are consistently followed in all locations, provide critical feedback on necessary changes to improve those standards, and solicit feedback directly from customers on their perceptions of health and safety.

A Closer Look, in partnership with the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) and Dallas College, announce the launch of the new Texas Restaurant Promise Certification Program that will train, inspect, and certify restaurants on the additional precautions that must be followed per the Texas Governors minimum standard health protocols.

The Texas Restaurant Promise Certification Program is the only program of its kind that trains, inspects, and certifies restaurants on the new health and safety protocols. The goal of the Program is to build trust between restaurants and their guests by ensuring employees and owners understand the necessary safety protocols of operating in a COVID-19 environment. The Texas Restaurant Promise Certification decal will be visible on the doors of restaurants that graduate from the program to let guests and patrons know that those businesses are focused on their health and safety.

As part of the Certification Program, A Closer Look will offer Health and Hygiene evaluations and monitoring. A Closer Looks Health and Hygiene Satisfaction Program is a three-pronged approach to help businesses measure and monitor locations ability to execute and maintain critical customer-facing health and hygiene standards. The Companys independent field ambassadors utilize A Closer Looks 15-point assessment designed to focus on compliance with key health and hygiene processes recommend by the government for restaurant reopening and customer safety. A Closer Look will partner with restaurant owners to identify potential problem areas to address based on the health and hygiene assessments and direct guest feedback about their customer experience as it relates to health and hygiene. Once restaurants complete the Health & Hygiene Program, they will join A Closer Looks Trusted Partner Program, which will offer customers a way to provide direct feedback about the restaurants health and hygiene practices via text message on an ongoing basis.

At A Closer Look, we believe that when customers feel restaurants are taking their health and safety seriously, they are more likely to return and recommend to others. Both are critical components to helping restaurants thrive again, said Chris Gillen, CEO of A Closer Look. It is our honor and pleasure to help those restaurants impacted by COVID to safely serve their customers again.

The training portion of the Texas Restaurant Promise Certification will include five courses with a focus on each role within the restaurant: New Protocols for Owners and Operators, Take-Out, Delivery, and Food Trucks, Front of House Staff, Back of House Staff, and Cleaning Crew. In order to become certified and earn a decal, employees from a restaurant must complete all five courses. A grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is powering the work behind this program, enabling the first 500 restaurants to take advantage of the new program and certification for free.

The first class begins June 25. More information can be found at TXRestaurant.org/TXRestaurantPromiseCertification.

About A Closer Look

For more than 25 years, A Closer Look has partnered with a variety of businesses, including restaurants, hospitality, retail, hotel, senior living, and others, across North America to provide in-depth customer experience feedback. A Closer Look uses qualified, independently contracted evaluators that assess clients current customer experience operation through detailed stories, which, when paired with data analytics, help identify friction points that provide clarity on how to improve brand loyalty and maximize profitability.

About the Texas Restaurant Association

The Texas Restaurant Association was formed in 1937 to serve as the advocate in Texas and the indispensable resource for the foodservice industry. Today, as a leading business association, TRA represents the states $70 billion restaurant industry, which is comprised of more than 50,000 locations and a workforce of 1.4 million employees. Along with the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation, the Association protects, advances, and educates the growing industry. To learn more about the Texas Restaurant Association, visit: https://www.txrestaurant.org/

About Dallas College

Dallas College, formerly the Dallas County Community College District, was founded in 1965, and comprises seven campuses: Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland. Dallas College offers online learning, and serves more than 83,000 credit and 25,000 continuing education students during the fall and spring semesters. Dallas College also offers dual credit for students in partner high schools and early college high schools throughout Dallas County. Dr. Joe May, the colleges 7th chancellor, has established the Dallas College higher education network in partnership with area school districts, colleges and universities, businesses, community organizations and others to support student success and college completion by removing barriers and providing services that help them earn a college credential and start their professional careers. To learn more about Dallas College, visit: https://www.dcccd.edu/
'This solution helps in a lot of ways, so cruise lines will be able to monitor, do contact tracing and minimize visits to the medical center since people can chat or have a video consultation with a doctor,' said Roger Blum of Cruise & Port Advisors, which represents netTALK Maritime.

In a world filled with viruses that can ruin a cruise vacation for thousands of guests or even put a ship out of commission, the new netTALK MARITIME Integrated Passenger and Crew Communications Experience gives cruise lines the ability to identify a sick passenger early and quarantine him or her immediately. This makes the ship safer for all onboard, and provides much needed reassurance to the cruising public who are currently reluctant to set sail again.

The netTALK MARITIME system has seamlessly joined with the Tritan Software SeaCare platform, allowing frequent, critical, real-time health information to be sent electronically to the ships medical team without any initial physical interaction required. The SeaCare platform complies with all governmental requirements and can receive, process, monitor, protect, and manage the required health data of each person onboard (guests and crew). All of this is provided through the ongoing contactless health-check methods gathered and made available securely through netTALK MARITIME.

The screening process includes noninvasive pulse reading and rhythm, respiration rate and rhythm, fever detection (coming soon), Sp02 oxygen saturation (coming soon), and a chat-bot questionnaire based on current triage protocols used by hospitals. A photo is taken at time of measurement to ensure identity.

With this interactive method, symptoms are quickly caught, allowing the sick person to be quarantined immediately. The chance of broad contamination is instantly minimized. The medical staff is alerted to any potential health problem, allowing them to make an assessment, a diagnosis, and a recommendation for care.

Screenings can be custom configured by guest or crew location in real-time, by certain time intervals, or simply self-reporting at their leisure before leaving their cabin - not just at embarkation and debarkation. Guests are also quickly checked when entering public areas of the ship to prevent contamination of large gatherings. Crew members are screened at key points, such as before entering guest cabins, before manning workstations, and at other scheduled times to verify they are healthy and able to work around other crew and guests.

For sick passengers required to quarantine, virtual checkups continue directly from their cabins. Using the passengers mobile phone and the cruise lines own app embedded with the netTALK MARITIME system, the medical team can communicate with patients via voice, video, walkie-talkie, and chat features, and can also facilitate shore-side doctors to speak directly with patients. Some vital-sign diagnostics can even be checked via the mobile phones camera, further minimizing any personal contact with infected passengers.

To protect others onboard, once a sick person is identified, contact tracing can be enabled to locate, test, and potentially quarantine people at risk of infection due to their previous proximity to a known infected person. Contact tracing also identifies locations onboard where an infected person spent time so those areas can receive extra sanitization.

"This solution helps in a lot of ways, so cruise lines will be able to monitor, do contact tracing and minimize visits to the medical center since people can chat or have a video consultation with a doctor," said Roger Blum of Cruise & Port Advisors, which represents netTALK Maritime to the cruise industry. "This could also allow virtual consultations for people who have non-COVID issues, such as a cut, reducing their potential exposure at a medical center waiting room."

Before the cruise industry can return to previous operations and capacity levels, health concerns must be addressed. The cruising public must feel confident and reassured before they risk their vacation time, money, and health on a cruise, and the netTALK MARITIME Health Services solution makes that level of confidence achievable.

About netTALK MARITIME

Leveraging the latest advances in technology, netTALK MARITIME gives cruise lines and other sea-going vessels a revolutionary new health solution. Key to this new powerful solution is netTALK MARITIMEs Shipboard Communications platform, that gives critical instantaneous information to passengers, crew, and medical staff through their own mobile phones via the cruise lines own app via voice and video calling, real-time chat, and push-to-talk walkie-talkie features. In addition to advanced communications, the system increases health and safety through ongoing monitoring of everyone onboard. The netTALK MARITIME system includes all of these service components:



Health Services  Frequent and secure contactless vital-sign health monitoring of all guests and crew are seamlessly relayed to the Tritan Software SeaCare platform which receives, processes, monitors, protects, and manages the health data. A sick passenger can be quarantined swiftly, monitored remotely, and contact tracing can locate others who may have had interaction with that person.

Wayfinding Services  Guest groups can stay in contact, organize meet ups, and share location information. They can get dynamic directions to a specific location or to where others in a guests party are located.

Messaging Services  Generalized or guest-specific messages can be determined by current location onboard. Crew can be notified of approaching guest arrival. Improve guest satisfaction by providing invisible services to guests based on preferences, location, and time.

Location Services  Locate children and other guests booked on the same reservation. Opt-in to share locations with other select guests. Verify presence at muster stations. Use geo-fencing for added security, such as being notified if a child leaves a protected area, or an unauthorized person enters a secure or crew-only area.

Heat Maps and Flow Services  Understand guest flow and group dynamics. Analyze heat maps to review current and historical trends. Track crew. Predict traffic flow. Verify passengers are onboard. Distribute live emergency video to all stakeholders and emergency responders.

About Tritan Software

Tritan is the industrys #1 provider of Health Information and Incident Management software platforms. Tritan currently supports approximately 90% of existing cruise lines with a rapidly growing presence in the Commercial Shipping, Energy and Mining industries. Tritan Software is a privately held corporation with headquarters in Miami, FL.
The idea of doing a live show spotlighting businesses and artists every night of the week was very exciting to both the city of Carmel and us

Adam Grubb Media, a full-service media company that specializes in video production, announces a unique solution for the Carmel Arts & Design Districts Meet Me on Main monthly event.

This strategy spotlights multiple businesses through a live-streamed hosted show, interviewing artists, owners and community leaders, while allowing consumers to experience their community in the comfort of their home.

Prior to COVID-19, Meet Me on Main, was a monthly event to experience the local art district and the businesses on Main Street. It offered expanded options of hands-on art, along with live music, face painting, and other activities. After safety measures were put in place limiting businesses operations, the Carmel Arts and Design District needed an alternative method to continue their monthly event.

Adam Grubb Media, a long-standing video production partner of The City of Carmel, was tasked to coming up with a solution to connect both audiences under these limited circumstances.

They did this by spotlighting a business every night of the week at 5pm, culminating the main event for the hour-long show on Saturday. These artists and businesses were able to go live on Carmels social media platforms and Carmel TV to showcase their craftsmanship and products, hosted by Adam Grubb.

The idea of doing a live show spotlighting businesses and artists every night of the week was very exciting to both the city of Carmel and us, said Adam Grubb, President of Adam Grubb Media. This is our natural process of creativity, thinking outside of the box, and doing what we do best.

About Meet Me on Main

Meet Me On Main is a virtual showcase that connects consumers with businesses in the Art and Design District of Carmel. To follow along, visit the Carmel Arts & Design District Facebook page, City of Carmel YouTube channel or watch on Carmel TV, which is available on most local cable outlets, but is also easy to access on the Citys website.

About Adam Grubb Media

Adam Grubb Media a full-service media company offering video production, promotional apparel, and marketing solutions. They are a high-energy team of go-getters, storytellers, and experts in all things media who work tirelessly to get your business, product, and message seen.

For more information on their services visit adamgrubbmedia.com

Media Contact:

Sierra Gordon

Adam Grubb Media

sgordon@adamgrubbmedia.com
She has already built strong relationships with reporters and secured earned media placements for our clients in major outlets including National Geographic. Adina is poised and professional, with a strong work ethic and great attention to detail.

Red Banyan, a crisis management firm focused on managing complex, high-stakes communications issues, has hired Adina Pollak as Account Coordinator. Based in Washington, D.C., Pollak is responsible for providing general account support, including in-depth research, outreach to journalists, and content creation.

Adina received her BA from Tufts University and as an undergraduate interned with Jewish and non-profit organizations, supporting their marketing and outreach.

Adina has been a great addition to our team, providing tremendous support to her colleagues and delivering enormous value to Red Banyans clients, said Founder and CEO Evan Nierman. She has already built strong relationships with reporters and secured earned media placements for our clients in major outlets including National Geographic. Adina is poised and professional, with a strong work ethic and great attention to detail.

Since its launch in late 2010, Red Banyan has continued to expand, establishing itself as one of the leading crisis PR agencies in the United States. With offices in South Florida, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Red Banyan provides crisis management, litigation support, media relations and other strategic communications services to a variety of national and international clients.

About Red Banyan

Red Banyan is a specialized communications firm and crisis management firm focused on solving complex, highly sensitive and mission-critical communications challenges. Specializing in crisis communications, corporate public relations, government relations, and legal PR, Red Banyan provides an integrated approach to communications rooted in strategy. Learn more at http://www.redbanyan.com, become a fan on the Red Banyan Facebook page and follow the firm on Twitter and LinkedIn.


Junior League of Charleston Donation Without access to adequate supplies, we see that children are often left in their diapers longer, causing rashes, urinary tract infections and other medical issues. Amid the coronavirus pandemic we have seen these numbers increase drastically."

Aeroflow Healthcare, a nationwide provider of durable medical equipment (DME), today announced a donation of $10,000 to the Junior League of Charleston Diaper Bank. This donation will help to fund needed diapers and supplies that will be distributed to children and families in the Charleston, South Carolina and surrounding areas.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, one in three American families struggled to afford a supply of diapers to keep their children clean, dry and healthy. With no government assistance programs specifically allocating dollars toward the purchase of diapers and the recent pandemic causing all-time high levels of unemployment, the need for diapers in our country has increased drastically.

Having access to diapers is critical to the wellbeing and health of children and their families. Without access to adequate supplies, we see that children are often left in their diapers longer, causing rashes, urinary tract infections and other medical issues. Amid the coronavirus pandemic we have seen these numbers increase drastically, said Mica Phillips, Director of Urology at Aeroflow Healthcare. We are proud to partner with the Junior League of Charleston to help lessen the diaper divide, even if in a small way.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak in early March, the Junior League of Charleston has distributed over 60,750 diapers to families in the Charleston and Tri-County area, impacting 1,270 children and their families in the Lowcountry. Their goal is not only to provide families with the supplies they need, but also empower them toward self-sufficiency through a multitude of services that increase their health, wellness and security.

The Junior League of Charleston is serving the Lowcountry during these unprecedented times amid COVID-19. Now, maybe more than ever, community means so much to so many, and the impact that the Junior League of Charlestons Diaper Bank is making in our community is an example of how our members can respond rapidly to address dramatic and growing demand for diapers, says Beth Bailey, JLC 2018-2020 President. We are incredibly grateful for Aeroflows generous support as we continue to address diaper need and make sure all families in our community during this crisis have access to a sufficient supply of diapers.

About Aeroflow Healthcare

Aeroflow Healthcare was founded in Asheville, NC in 2001 as a home oxygen provider, and has since grown to become a nationwide provider of durable medical equipment. In 2017, Aeroflow was also awarded the HME Excellence Award for Best Home Medical Equipment Provider and has been recognized as a business offering top-notch benefits to employees with the Great Place to Work Award. Aeroflow is an accredited Medicare and Medicaid provider and accepts most commercial insurance. To learn more about Aeroflow Healthcare and getting medical equipment through insurance, visit http://www.aeroflowinc.com.

About Junior League of Charleston

The Junior League of Charleston is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. The Junior League of Charleston reaches out to women of all races, religions and national origin who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to voluntarism. Learn more at jlcharleston.org.
Ultimately, its about helping businesses better help their customers, and were excited to see how Airys use of Business Messages will impact both brands and consumers.

Airy, the international provider of automated messaging solutions, announces today the availability of Googles Business Messages for its global client-base. Airy is part of an initial group of companies to integrate with Googles Business Messages.

Todays consumers increasingly prefer messaging for customer support, instead of picking up the phone or writing an email. Indeed, the immediacy and convenience of chat lead to an overall smoother customer experience. Googles Business Messages, integrated across participating businesses on Google Maps and Search, help consumers reach out to the brands they are interested in with a single click or tap of the finger.

Googles Business Messages are complemented by Airys customized, automated FAQs, so that brands can provide accurate answers without human interaction on their side. If a customers request is more unique, the conversation is seamlessly transferred to a human support agent. The consumer is then notified once an answer arrives, even after he or she has left the chat.

Were pleased to have Airy integrate with Googles Business Messages, whether helping connect customers to a live agent or through interactive, automated replies, says Rob Lawson, Partnerships Manager at Google. Ultimately, its about helping businesses better help their customers, and were excited to see how Airys use of Business Messages will impact both brands and consumers," he adds.

At present, brands cannot implement Googles Business Messages directly, but need to work with a Google partner, such as Airy.

Airy has already helped several leading brands adopt Googles Business Messages. Patrons of the San Francisco seafood restaurant Scomas, the 65th largest restaurant in the United States by revenue, can now reserve tables and order pickup through Googles Business Messages. Guests of the Komische Oper, Berlins second largest venue by tickets sold, can now ask questions directly via Google Maps before visiting. TEDi, one of the major European discount retailers, has connected 1687 store locations and received many pre-purchase inquiries in the first week, often related to product availability.

Since 2015, Airy has been working with major global players across 12 industries to take their customer support and marketing to the next level, based on an organic fusion of Automations and human interaction. As an official Google and Facebook partner, Airy has built a messaging platform that helps businesses connect with - and delight - their customers instantly, reducing support ticket volume and increasing CSAT scores quarter over quarter.

To find out more about setting up Googles Business Messages, visit the Airy website.
2019 Honda CR-V Model Available at Atlantic Honda

The Atlantic Honda inventory of pre-owned vehicles includes a selection for manufacturer certified models. In comparison to standard used models, certified pre-owned vehicles are offered in better conditions with detailed inspections, reconditioned exteriors and interiors, extended warranties and additional perks depending on the manufacturers origin and the dealership location.

To ensure the quality of its selection, the Atlantic Honda certified pre-owned inventory includes only pre-owned Honda models, with a current total of 89. All current models are in the new to nearly-new range with model years ranging from 2016 to 2019.

Options include the following manufacturer certified models. A 2018 Honda Fix LX with 11,115 miles that can be financed for $14,888. A 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid Base with 21,727 miles that can be financed for $19,888. A 2017 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite with 62,966 miles that can be financed for $27,888. A 2017 Honda Ridgeline RTL-T with 20,992 miles that can be financed for $28,888. A 2019 Honda CR-V LX with 15,963 miles that can be financed for $22,888. Additional manufacturer certified models currently in stock in the Atlantic Honda certified pre-owned inventory include the Civic Sedan, the Civic Hatchback, the Accord sedan, the Accord Hybrid sedan, the HR-V SUV and the Pilot SUV.

To fully explore the benefits of Honda certified models, customers are encouraged to browse through the dealerships certified pre-owned vehicle selection and to contact the Atlantic Honda team with additional questions, concerns or requests for assistance during the shopping process. The main number for phone calls directed to dealership staff is 631-665-0005. Additional means of communication include online messaging, email and on-site visits to the store. The Atlantic Honda dealership is located at 1375 Sunshine Hwy., Bay Shore, New York 11706.
Lester Greenhaw, an avid writer and church goer who lives on a family farm in his native state of Arkansas, has published his new book The Knight of the Ages: The Beginning: an action-packed adventure in battle and in faith.

Lester writes, Have you ever wondered where honor and pride come from? Lets take an adventure back, way back in time where knights, princesses, kings, and so many more are to be found. How would you live? Would you follow the crowd, or perhaps you would follow your heart? Maybe be a lone wolf? Who would you be if you could be anyone? Would you be D, a knight that fights for what is right? Would you be Atom, the lead knight in the kings army? Perhaps you would be Molly, a woman that fights alongside male knights? How about Ashley, the shy, bashful girl that keeps to herself, waiting for her knight in shining armor to rescue her? Or perhaps you would be King Grief, leader of the kingdom? How about Rachel, the princess, King Griefs daughter? Perhaps you would be someone else. Dont choose right now, lets dive into this story filled with adventure and see what happens.

Published by Page Publishing, Lester Greenhaws engrossing book is a lighthearted yet thought-provoking story of integrity, faith, and the eternal battle of good against evil.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase The Knight of the Ages: The Beginning at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Benn, Haro, & Isaacs, PLLC is now serving the Orlando, Florida area Its no secret that employers and their insurance companies have attorneys hard at work to protect their rights, and so should you, says partner, William Haro. We are excited to add Orlando to our service area, giving us the privilege of assisting more injured workers in Florida.

Benn, Haro, & Isaacs, PLLC a law firm specializing in workers compensation claims, is excited to announce they are now serving the Orlando, Florida area.

Benn, Haro, & Isaacs has eight locations in total throughout Florida, including a new location in Tampa and Ft. Myers as well. Benn, Haro & Isaacs, PLLC represents clients with all types of cases related to workers compensation. The firm is diverse in its representation, aiding clients with everything from claims stemming from chronic overexertion or repetitious movement problems, to slip and fall accidents, to injuries resulting from poor work conditions. The firm is dedicated to representing those bringing forth a workers compensation claim and does not represent employers or insurance companies.

Its no secret that employers and their insurance companies have attorneys hard at work to protect their rights, and so should you, says partner, William Haro. We are excited to add Orlando to our service area, giving us the privilege of assisting more injured workers in Florida.

The attorneys at Benn, Haro, & Isaacs are multilingual and prepared to serve clients in Orlando who speak English, Spanish, and Creole. Benn, Haro, and Isaacss legal team work on a contingency basis, meaning that their clients pay nothing unless the firm secures a settlement.

Injured Orlando residents seeking representation for a workers compensation case can obtain a free legal consultation by simply calling (954) 716-8287 or visiting http://www.accidentlawyerfl.com and filling out the contact form. The Benn, Haro, & Isaacs website also provides additional information regarding workers compensation claims and their process.

About Benn, Haro & Isaacs, PLLC - The Workers' Compensation Firm:

Benn, Haro & Isaacs PLLC is a Florida-based law firm specializing in workers compensation cases. With locations throughout Florida, our firm can be retained to represent any employee who is injured in a work-related incident.

The attorneys at Benn, Haro & Isaacs PLLC have over 45 years of combined legal experience. They offer free consultations for those injured on the job and always represent their client, not the employer or insurance company, with professionalism, helping them attain the best possible outcome.

For more information, please visit the Benn, Haro, and Isaacs, PLLC website or call (954) 716-8287.
Car insurance quotes can help drivers find the best insurance policy for them. Insurance providers will determine the cost of a policy after applying several factors.., said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents some of the most important pieces of information everyone should know about car insurance quotes.

For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/car-insurance-quotes-online-explained/

Most first-time car owners can feel overwhelmed when shopping for car insurance. Luckily, car insurance quotes can help them outline the types of coverages a policy offers and how much they can expect to pay. Car insurance quotes are estimates, based on the car owner's personal information, of how much a provider will charge on an insurance policy. Because premiums vary across insurers, quotes are very important. To avoid paying too much on an insurance policy, drivers should compare as many quotes as possible. Also, drivers looking to buy a new car should get quotes based on the car they want to get. Furthermore, drivers who are not satisfied by their current provider can also get quotes to find a new carrier that suits their needs.

When determining car insurance premiums, providers use different factors such as:



Age. Older, more experienced drivers cause fewer accidents and are charged less on their insurance rates. Usually, young drivers under 25 pay the highest car insurance premiums.

Gender. Statistically, men are more likely to be involved in an accident. For this reason, car insurance companies charge more on male drivers.

Credit. In most states, car insurance companies are allowed to use the drivers credit score as a factor to determine the premiums. Statistically, drivers who have a poor credit score are more likely to file car insurance claims. For this reason, they pay more on insurance. On the other hand, drivers with excellent credit score and clean driving records are more likely to receive better deals on their premiums.

Driving record. Policyholders who have a history of at-fault accidents and traffic violations pose a higher financial risk for insurance providers. To lower their risk, insurance companies will charge more on the premiums of drivers with poor driving history.

Address. The place where a driver lives can impact the insurance rates for several reasons. Drivers living in bad neighborhoods where car thefts and vandalism are often will pay more on their insurance. Furthermore, drivers living in a city where there is a high rate of traffic accidents per capita can also expect to be charged more by their carriers.

Make and model of car. Drivers who are driving electric, luxury, sports, or exotic cars will pay more on their insurance because these types of vehicles cost more to repair or to replace. On the other hand, used family cars, minivans, or popular SUV models cost less to insure.

Mileage. Drivers who are using their cars to drive frequently are more likely to be involved in accidents and to file insurance claims. To pay less on their premiums, drivers should avoid driving too often.

The type of policy and coverage. Some drivers who own older vehicles choose to purchase only the state minimum insurance required by the law. However, drivers who lease or finance their vehicles are required by their lenders or leasing agents to get full coverage. Furthermore, besides having full coverage, some policyholders add optional coverages to be better covered against different situations.

Drivers looking to get insurance quotes can do so in the office of a local agency of a national insurance carrier, like Allstate, Geico, or State Farm. Drivers can also request quotes via phone or they can get them online. Most major insurers have websites that offer online quotes where drivers will need to give details such as name, address, age, gender, location, vehicle type, how they use the vehicle, and how much they drive, to get quotes. Some insurance providers will even allow drivers to get insurance policies at the end of the quote process.

The insurance policies are sold by agents who work directly with an insurance company or by agents who work independently and can offer multiple quotes from different providers, without having to visit several agencies.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.
In the middle of June, SFIEC (Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation) collaborated with Myanmar Duchinj Foundation to launch the first stage of the "Sun Village along Mekong River" project in Magwe province in Myanmar. Love and warmth from Shenzhen have once again reached the beautiful River basin of Mekong.

The project raised 300 sets of miniature solar power generation equipment (systems) and 1700 solar table lamps to be donated to the families, temples and schools of Ashay Thiri and Ywar Thit counties in the province.

Donating ceremony held in local temples

On the day of the event, the recipient villages declared to set up their own project management committees which would collaborate with the Shenzhen and Myanmar project sponsors to distribute and install the donated equipment and take care of the maintenance services.

The donation of household solar power generation equipment

Besides, the project also donated 32 sets of medium-sized solar power generation equipment (systems) to local district libraries in Myanmar.

Management Committee internal training

With the support from the Office of Foreign Affairs Work Committee of Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee, Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation has joined forces with local forces to carry out projects such as "Sharing construction experiences of Special Economic Zones", "Sun Village along Mekong River" and "Bright Tour along Mekong River", jointly with governments, think tanks and civil organizations of countries along the Mekong River.

The "Sun Village along Mekong River" project has directly benefited 16,000 people in Cambodia and Myanmar with a total installed capacity of 47,000 KWH from solar power equipment. It is expected to reduce 23.3 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and contribute to the green development of the Lancang-Mekong Region.
The NYPD for roughly 40 years had made short summaries of cops disciplinary records available to reporters. But in 2016, the department began to withhold even that meager information, and argued that the 50-a clause prevented them disclosing such details -- a position that was widely criticized by police reform advocates and the media.
Her passion for the awareness of music therapy attests that she will make a valuable contribution to our organization.

Childrens Music Fund (CMF), a non-profit that helps sick children heal through music therapy, announces the appointment of Ellee Kennedy, Miss Naples, as its first CMF Kids Ambassador. This new role will be instrumental in being a voice and representative for all the children with life-altering illnesses that the organization helps by providing music therapy services on their journey to a better quality of life.

In her role as CMF Kids Ambassador, Miss Naples will raise awareness about music therapy and educate on its evidence-based healing benefits for children with conditions such as cancer, mental illness, rare diseases, autism, and blood disorders. She will lend her personal support to our CMF Kids and co-chair several new projects to further build the CMF Kids community and participate in fundraising.

I am thrilled to be the first CMF Kids Ambassador for Childrens Music Fund, said Ellee Kennedy, Miss Naples. Music is truly what got me through my 12 years of medical treatments, and I am passionate to ensure each child in my position has the same creative and musical resources I had.

Alongside her work with Childrens Music Fund, Miss Naples has also devised the Putting the A in S.T.E.M initiative to educate and advocate for the use of music therapy in patients treatment plans. More information on her social impact effort is found here: @MusicTherapy4STEAM.

Miss Naples is a great inspiration to our CMF Kids going through medical treatments and needing to manage their pain, fear and anxiety. Her passion for the awareness of music therapy attests that she will make a valuable contribution to our organization, said Raffi Tachdjian, MD, MPH, Founder and President of Childrens Music Fund. Having a CMF Kids Ambassador on our team is incredibly significant for Childrens Music Fund as we continue to increase awareness and expand the reach of our cause through the publishing of evidence-based research and providing more hours of music therapy to help our CMF Kids now and in the future.

Miss Naples, is part of the Miss America Organization and represents Naples county in Florida. She will be competing for Miss Florida in 2021. At a young age, Miss Naples was diagnosed with hypogammaglobulinemia, a rare blood condition where she was required to receive IVIG blood infusions every three weeks for 12 years. During her time undergoing treatments and a strenuous recovery process as a sixth-grade student, she found comfort in exploring her passion for music and even went on to earn a bachelors of Music in Music Business and Classical Singing from the University of Miami, Frost School of Music. Read her bio at https://www.thecmf.org/team/cmfkids-ambassador/. Learn more about her life story and medical journey at https://www.thecmf.org/missnaples/. View her video introduction at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iZ-J_MZ-Bo.

About the Childrens Music Fund

Childrens Music Fund helps children with chronic or life-altering illnesses, such as different forms of cancer, blood disorders, lung/heart/kidney disease, autism, and immune-deficiencies to improve their quality of life through music therapy. Engaging children in music therapy helps reduce pain, fear, and anxiety, and provides a much needed distraction from their conditions. The organization supports research on music therapy and uses evidence-based data to further innovate the field and work to integrate music with medicine. Childrens Music Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Learn more at

Website: https://www.thecmf.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecmforg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecmforg

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/children's-music-fund

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thecmforg
Chris Hobbs of TTT Studios, a top Canadian custom software developer, has been accepted into Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives.

Chris Hobbs was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors.

We are honored to welcome Chris Hobbs into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Technology Council. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.

As an accepted member of the Council, Chris has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Chris will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts.

Finally, Chris will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team.

I am excited to have been invited to be a member of the Forbes Technology Council, says Chris. As a founder of a startup that has survived more than a decade, I'm a strong believer that the community is better when we all share and I am confident I can bring an open perspective. TTT Studios is a company that I'm proud to say leads by example. Whether it's bleeding edge technology, the integrity and passion we apply to our work, or the unwavering ethics in our approach. I see an opportunity here for us to lend our voices to the conversation.

ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS

Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive.

For more information about Forbes Technology Council, visit forbestechcouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com.

ABOUT TTT STUDIOS

TTT Studios is a Canadian tech company and award winning Digital Innovation Studio, building custom software for more than 150 clients around the world. They work with industry leaders and challengers who have ambitious goals and see the value in re-shaping their industries through technology. With experience across 20+ different industries, their technical capabilities include mobile development, AR & VR, IoT, AI, cloud computing, and enterprise solutions.

Contact Information:

Pauline Lee, Marketing Manager at TTT Studios

marketing@ttt.studio
What attracted me to Engel & Volkers is the companys sophisticated and luxury brand that represents both me and my clients with a high level of professionalism.

Engel & Volkers Denver is pleased to announce that Dan Pearson, previously the owner and employing broker at Addison & Maxwell  Real Estate Brokerage in Littleton, Colorado, joins Engel & Volkers Denver as a Real Estate Advisor under Jim Cavoto, the Licensed Partner of the Denver office.

Pearson is a fifth generation Coloradoan, who started out by gaining valuable experience in land acquisition and development before transitioning to managing sales at Colorado Home Realty and RE/MAX, and eventually Addison & Maxwell. In Dan Pearson, we gain a highly experienced salesman who knows Colorado as well as an excellent negotiator with a high level of emotional intelligence.

What attracted me to Engel & Volkers is the companys sophisticated and luxury brand that represents both me and my clients with a high level of professionalism, said Pearson.

With his broad base of experience in all facets of real estate, including building, development, renovation, and commercial real estate transactions, Pearson looks forward to becoming one of the top producers at Engel & Volkers, able to provide his clients a premium level of service with the support of the brand.

For further information, please contact:

ENGEL & VOLKERS DENVER

Jim Cavoto

Licensed Partner

2049 Larimer Street

Denver, CO 80209

USA

T: +1 720.692.6563

Denver@EVRealEstate.com

Denver.EVRealEstate.com

About Engel & Volkers: Engel & Volkers is one of the worlds leading service companies specialised in the brokerage of premium residential property, commercial real estate, yachts, and aircrafts. Based in over 800 locations in total, Engel & Volkers offers both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of services. Consultancy, sales, and leasing form the core competences of the staff of more than 11,000 people operating under the Engel & Volkers brand. The company is currently operating in over 30 countries on four continents. Intensive training schemes in its in-house real estate Academy and the high level of quality assurance governing its systematically structured service provision are key factors that account for the companys success. In doing so, the company is setting new standards in the realisation of digital solutions for real estate brokerage.
The Telekom Innovation Pool (TIP), Deutsche Telekoms strategic investment fund advised by DTCP, announces its investment in the $18 million Series B+ funding round in Cynet, an autonomous breach protection company. TIP was joined by new investors BlueRed Partners and Merlin International. Existing investors Norwest Venture Partners and Ibex Investors also participated in the round. The company now has raised a total of $38 million.

The funding will be used to reach the cybersecurity companys three main growth objectives. The geographical objective is to fuel Cynet's high velocity growth in the U.S. and international markets. The investment will also enable the autonomous breach protection pioneers engineering workforce to maintain its technological edge, and to further develop the companys CyOps team so they can continue to provide critical customer support amidst increasingly complex cyber threats.

Cynet was founded in 2015 by security experts Eyal Gruner and Netanel Amar with the sole purpose of bringing breach protection within reach of any organization, regardless of size and security skills, thus resulting in the Autonomous Breach Protection with the Cynet 360 platform. The Autonomous Breach Protection solution provides the customer with best-of-breed adaptive protectionfrom the widest set of commodity and advanced threatswith zero operational overhead, zero maintenance efforts, and zero manual operation.

With the increase in frequency, scope, sophistication level, and severity of cyberattacks, companies must be prepared to combat cybersecurity. It is particularly challenging for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to find budget for, and integrate and manage, a broad range of siloed solutions. Cynet had SMEs in mind when developing their tools. The breach protection company covers a broader range of security concerns than other players and offers solutions that meet SME budget and IT department size constraints, whilst guaranteeing easy deployment. Cynet also offers one of the best tools for standardized and automated managed cyber defence with strong Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) forensic and auto-remediation capabilities.

With the current shortage in cybersecurity talent and increasing resource constraints, enterprises of all sizes need to simplify their product stacks, says DTCP Analyst Florent-Aurelien Couturier-Crouzillac. Cynet is addressing that problem at its core by combining a broad range of security features in a robust breach protection platform which enables its customer to reduce operational overhead, maintenance efforts, and manual inputs to a minimum.

Telekom Security, the cyber security unit of Deutsche Telekom, is leveraging Cynets technology to address the SME market. There is a growing need for integrated solutions, enabling our customers to more easily manage the high complexity of security. The combination of Cynets solution portfolio with our managed service offering is a great way for Telekom Security to fulfill this expectation, stated Thomas Fetten, CEO of Telekom Security. Telekom Security addresses SME customers looking for security services from trusted partners in Germany and Europe.

About Cynet

Cynet 360 is the worlds first autonomous breach protection platform that consolidates and automates monitoring and control, attack prevention and detection, and response orchestration across the entire environment. Cynet 360 delivers these capabilities by pioneering the use of Cynet Sensor Fusion to continuously collect and analyze all endpoint, user, file and network activities across the protected environment. This makes it the only platform capable of seeing the true context of each activity and radically different from any siloed endpoint or network solution that merely monitors parts of the overall activity, resulting in reduced accuracy and protection scope. Through its complete threat coverage, Cynet 360 eliminates the need of complex multi-product security stacks, making robust breach protection within reach for any organization, regardless of its size and security skills.

About DTCP

DTCP is an investment management group with $1.7 billion assets under management and advisory from corporate and institutional investors, and a portfolio of over 60 companies. The group provides venture and growth capital, private equity, and advisory services to the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors. It operates and invests in Europe, North America, and Asia out of its Hamburg, San Francisco, Tel Aviv, and Seoul offices. To learn more about DTCP, visit http://www.dtcp.capital http://www.linkedin.com/dtcp-capital, or @dtcp_capital on Twitter.
DLC Management Corporation, a national owner and operator of open-air shopping centers, is pleased to announce it has executed a lease with Lidl at Frederick County Square in Frederick, MD. The addition of the expanding international grocer is a continuation of DLCs value enhancement strategy for the property, one of two Frederick, Maryland open-air retail assets acquired in a joint venture with Acadia

Strategic Opportunity Fund V LLC in August 2019.

The center is situated immediately west of the Rt. 15 and W. Patrick Street (Rt. 40  The Golden Mile), a major interchange in the area. This prime location offers Lidl one of the most desirable locations in the trade area with traffic counts that average over 47,000 vehicles passing the center daily. The grocer will occupy a 27,799 sq. ft. portion of a former Big Kmart box along with Ollies Bargain Outlet. Lidl is projected to open in 2021.

Ranked as a Top-3 grocer by Food & Wine Magazine, Lidl operates more than 11,000 stores and is active in 32 countries, employing around 287,000 employees globally. Lidl offers customers the highest quality fresh produce, meat, bakery items and a wide array of household products at the lowest possible prices. Lidl first established its U.S. headquarters in Arlington County, Virginia, in June 2015, and today sells its award-winning products in more than 100 stores across nine east coast states.

With best in class value creation strategies designed to create win-win scenarios for all stakeholders, DLC remains focused on bringing consumers an expansive selection of high-quality merchants, delivering transformational redevelopments and maximizing the performance of each of its assets.

About DLC Management Corporation

DLC Management Corporation is one of the nations preeminent private retail real estate companies, with expertise in acquisitions, new developments, redevelopments, leasing, and management. Headquartered in New York, DLC has regional offices in Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas and Washington, DC. For additional information about DLC Management Corporation and its portfolio, please visit http://www.dlcmgmt.com.
Dr. Eleni Voltidi, Prosthodontist in Eden Prairie, MN, Joins PerioWest Practice As a prosthodontist, Dr. Voltidi specializes in diagnosing, treating, and maintaining oral function, in particular with regard to replacing missing teeth.

Prosthodontist Dr. Eleni Voltidi has joined PerioWest, a periodontal practice specializing in gum disease treatment, cosmetic dentistry services, and dental implants in Eden Prairie, MN. She empowers the practice to provide more comprehensive, collaborative specialty care.

A native of Athens, Greece, Dr. Voltidi completed her dental degree at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in 2010 before going on to earn her Certificate of Prosthodontics and Master in Dentistry from University of Birmingham, Alabama. She then finished her Fellowship in Dental Oncology and Maxillofacial Prosthetics at the renowned Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

As a prosthodontist, Dr. Voltidi specializes in diagnosing, treating, and maintaining oral function, in particular with regard to replacing missing teeth. She provides a full assortment of essential prosthodontic services, including restorations, prosthetics, veneers, and cosmetic treatments. Her addition to the practice enables PerioWest to expand its dental implant capabilities.

Drs. Andres R. Sanchez and Voltidi offer collaborative, specialist-level care that enables patients to have their dental implants both placed and restored in a single convenient practice. That means fewer office visits and no need to arrange care with outside doctors. Under the direction of Dr. Sanchez, a board-certified periodontist, PerioWest has become well-known for restoring full, healthy smiles with dental implants after tooth decay and loss.

Dr. Voltidi is passionate about creating healthy, functional, attractive smiles. During her off-hours, she enjoys spending time with her husband and her daughter. To learn more about Dr. Voltidi visit http://www.periowestmn.com. Patients seeking the services of a prosthodontist in Eden Prairie, MN should request a consultation with Dr. Voltidi. To schedule an appointment, call 952-567-7457.

About the Practice

PerioWest is a periodontal practice offering personalized dental care for patients in Eden Prairie, MN and the Twin Cities areas. Dr. Andres R. Sanchez received his Certificate & Masters Degree in Periodontics from the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. He is a board-certified periodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. In addition, Dr. Sanchez has been involved as a primary author in more than ten scientific papers published in major periodontal and implant dentistry journals. His associate, Dr. Eleni Voltidi is a prosthodontist who completed her Fellowship in Dental Oncology and Maxillofacial Prosthetics form the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. PerioWest provides state-of-the-art dental implant treatment, LANAP laser therapy, and advanced periodontal care to Eden Prairie, MN and the Twin Cities areas. To learn more about Dr. Sanchez and the services provided at PerioWest, please visit the practice website at http://www.periowestmn.com or call 952-567-7457.
Celebrating 50 Years in business proved to be an opportunity of self-reflection for Earth, Inc. Since Earth was first introduced to the U.S. market in 1970, Earth Shoes instantly became synonymous with eco-minded culture. Fast forward to 2020, and it seems the fashion industry is catching up to the importance of sustainable, mindful fashion and manufacturing, as the issues facing the planet are more urgent than ever.

Now is the time to make a difference, and Earth, Inc. is making moves towards a brighter future with two new leads within the Earth Product teamwelcoming Jocelyn Thornton in the newly created role of Executive Vice President of Product and Merchandising, and Fred Allard as Creative Director of Product.

Thornton comes to Earth with extensive experience in both Product Development in the footwear industry for brands including Sperry and Clarks as well as consulting experience at the Doneger Group, where in her role as SVP, she led large players in the fashion and retail industry, helping build and implement successful brand and product strategies.

Its a privilege to work for a brand with the name Earth, as it carries a daily reminder of what we need to protect, says Thornton. As we develop shoes for the future, were looking to make decisions that are not only considerate of the sourcing and manufacturing process, but also mindful of the end-of-product life cycle, she continues. Im excited about the future of Earth, Inc. and thrilled to be on this journey with the brand."

Fred Allard has been designing shoes and fashion accessories for over 35 years for brands such as Nine West and The Jones Group. Allard will be leading the design of the newly reinvented, eco-friendly Earth line, set to debut in Fall 2021. Theres no plan B for our planet, a reality we all have to face. Allard explains. I realized I needed to re-think the way I approach my creativity to fashion for the future. Joining the Earth, Inc. team gives me the opportunity to design with purpose and bring sustainability to fashion, concludes Allard.

Earth, Inc. welcomes Jocelyn and Fred and looks forward to an exciting future with new products that will speak to responsible design in comfort and sustainabilitymade with 100% recyclable materials. Just as Earth Shoes did fifty years ago, we hope our brand will inspire a new generation to live more mindful and fulfilling lives.
Ed Minn "Ed has shown a high investment acumen and a relentless work ethic since joining Weatherbie Capital. The performance of the Alger Weatherbie Select 15 strategy is a testament to his skill."

Fred Alger Management, LLC (Alger), a $30 billion growth equity investment manager, is pleased to announce that Edward M. B. Minn, CFA, will be added to the portfolio management team of the Weatherbie Specialized Growth strategy effective July 1, 2020.

Mr. Minn joined Weatherbie Capital, LLC, an Alger affiliate, in 2013 and has 15 years of investing experience. He is the portfolio manager on the Alger Weatherbie Select 15 SMA Composite, a focused portfolio of smaller capitalization growth stocks with a five-star overall rating from Morningstar (among 248 Small Growth separate accounts, based on risk-adjusted returns, as of 3/31/20). Mr. Minn also has research responsibilities in the consumer, media & communications, diversified business, information services, and technology areas.

Ed has shown a high investment acumen and a relentless work ethic since joining Weatherbie Capital. The performance of the Alger Weatherbie Select 15 strategy is a testament to his skill, said Matt Weatherbie, CFA, chief executive officer and co-chief investment officer of Weatherbie Capital. He has been a meaningful contributor to the long-term performance of our flagship Specialized Growth strategy. I am excited to have him join me, George Dai and Josh Bennett on this strategy.

The Weatherbie Specialized Growth Composite has outperformed the Russell 2000 Growth Index over the past 1, 3, 5, and 10 years through 3/31/20, net of fees. The average annual total returns (%) as of 3/31/20 are: Gross of Fees: -11.7, 14.0, 12.1, 14.0, and 11.0; Net of Fees: -12.4, 13.2, 11.2, 13.0, and 10.0; Russell 2000 Growth Index: -18.6, 0.1, 1.7, 8.9, and 5.5 for the 1-, 3-, 5-, 10-years and since inception (7/1/1996) periods, respectively. The composite outperformed the index by 619, 1,310, 954, 413, and 445 basis points annualized, net of fees, for the 1-, 3-, 5-, 10-years and since inception periods, respectively (through 3/31/20). Note that only periods greater than 12 months are annualized.

The strategy has top decile rankings for the 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods and a top quartile ranking since inception. Its eVestment Percentile Rankings (in the U.S. Small Cap Growth Equity universe) are 25, 5, 4, 6, and 19 for the 1-, 3-, 5-, 10-years and since inception (7/1/1996) periods, respectively. The U.S. Small Cap Growth Equity category consisted of 66, 75, 78, 82, 99 managers for the 1-, 3-, 5-, 10-years and since inception time periods.

About Alger

Founded in 1964, Alger is widely recognized as a pioneer of growth-style investment management. Headquartered in New York City with affiliate offices in Boston and London, Alger provides U.S. and non-U.S. institutional investors and financial advisors access to a suite of growth equity separate accounts, mutual funds, and privately offered investment vehicles. The firms investment philosophy, discovering companies undergoing Positive Dynamic Change, has been in place for over 50 years. Weatherbie Capital, LLC, a Boston-based investment adviser specializing in small and mid-cap growth equity investing is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alger. For more information, please visit http://www.alger.com.

The Weatherbie Specialized Growth Composite is composed of institutional accounts which primarily invest in equity securities of smaller capitalization growth companies that have attractive growth and quality characteristics. The strategy will have approximately 50 holdings. All returns assume reinvestment of dividends and are gross of withholding taxes where applicable. Performance for periods of less than one year are not annualized. The Composite is calculated in U.S. dollars. Gross of fees performance is shown prior to the deduction of management fees and after the deduction of trading expenses. Net of fees performance reflects the deduction of realized management fees and trading expenses. Prior to 2017, net of management fee performance was calculated by applying the model management fee of 0.25% per quarter that reduces the composites gross quarterly return, based off of the standard fee schedule of 1% on the first $20 million, 0.85% on the next $40 million, 0.75% on the next $40 million and 0.60% on assets over $100 million. Effective January 1, 2017, net of management fee performance is calculated based on actual management fees charged per each clients negotiated fee schedule. Some accounts in the composite may have an incentive fee in addition to the standard management fee. Any incentive fees are crystalized and paid at the end of the period. Additional information regarding the policies for valuing portfolios and calculating performance are available upon request. Past performance is not an indication or guarantee of future results. A complete list and description of Fred Alger Management, LLC composites and performance results is available upon request: 800.223.3810 or http://www.alger.com.

Risk Disclosures: Investing in the stock market involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks as their prices tend to be higher in relation to their companies earnings and may be more sensitive to market, political, and economic developments. A significant portion of assets will be invested in technology and healthcare companies, which may be significantly affected by competition, innovation, regulation, and product obsolescence, and may be more volatile than the securities of other companies. Investing in companies of small and medium capitalizations involve the risk that such issuers may have limited product lines or financial resources, lack management depth, or have limited liquidity. Assets may be focused in a small number of holdings, making them susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory event than a more diversified portfolio. Foreign securities and Emerging Markets involve special risks including currency fluctuations, inefficient trading, political and economic instability, and increased volatility.

2020 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete, or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The Morningstar Rating for funds, or star rating, is calculated for separate accounts with at least a three-year history. It is calculated based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a managed products monthly excess performance, placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The Morningstar Rating does not include any adjustment for sales loads. The top 10% of products in each product category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a managed product is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. The weights are: 100% three-year rating for 36-59 months of total returns, 60% five-year rating/40% three-year rating for 60-119 months of total returns, and 50% 10-year rating/30% five-year rating/20% three-year rating for 120 or more months of total returns. While the 10-year overall star rating formula seems to give the most weight to the 10-year period, the most recent three-year period actually has the greatest impact because it is included in all three rating periods. Alger Weatherbie Select 15 SMA was rated 5 Stars for the 3-year period among 248 Small Growth separate accounts as of 3/31/20.

Rankings and ratings may be based in part on the performance of a predecessor fund or share class and are calculated by Morningstar using a performance calculation methodology that differs from that used by Fred Alger Management, LLCs. Differences in the methodologies may lead to variances in calculating total performance returns, in some cases this variance may be significant, thereby potentially affecting the rating/ranking of the Fund(s). When an expense waiver is in effect, it may have a material effect on the total return or yield, and therefore the rating/ranking for the period.

eVestment and its affiliated entities (collectively, eVestment) rankings reflect a comparison of an investment managers results to other managers in an eVestment peer group who use the same investment strategy. Note that eVestments rankings may use a performance calculation methodology that differs from Fred Alger Management, LLCs.The U.S. Small Cap Growth Equity category consisted of 66, 75, 78, 82, 99 managers for the one-, three-, five-, ten-, and since inception time periods. Differences in the methodologies may lead to variances in calculating total performance returns, which might affect the ranking of Algers strategies. eVestment collects information directly from investment management firms and other sources believed to be reliable; however, eVestment does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the information provided and is not responsible for any errors or omissions. Please note that for any reporting period, some investment management firms in a particular eVestment category might not have provided their results, which might affect the rankings or comparison of Alger performance to eVestment data. The rankings are displayed for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon when making investment decisions. Data is from a composite and is gross of fees.

The Russell 2000 Growth Index measures the performance of the small-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000 companies with higher growth earning potential as defined by Russell's leading style methodology. The Russell 2000 Growth Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the small-cap growth segment. Investors cannot invest directly in any index. Index performance does not reflect deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. Note that comparing the performance to a different index might have materially different results than those shown. Any views and opinions expressed herein are not meant to provide investment advice and there is no guarantee that they will come to pass.

Frank Russell Company (Russell) is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell is a trademark of Frank Russell Company. Neither Russell nor its licensors accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the Russell Indexes and / or Russell ratings or underlying data and no party may rely on any Russell Indexes and / or Russell ratings and / or underlying data contained in this communication. No further distribution of Russell Data is permitted without Russells express written consent. Russell does not promote, sponsor or endorse the content of this communication.
We are pleased to support Employers Risk Administrators clients and help meet their ever-growing needs, said Mike Naclerio, President & CEO of Enquiron.

Employers Risk Administrators, a PEO specializing in customized packages of group benefits, payroll, workers compensation, unemployment claims, and more, is now providing immediate human resource, ERISA health care and ERISA retirement support to their clients. Employers Risk Administrators has partnered with Enquiron and launched the Employers Risk Administrators Employer Resource Center, designed to help their clients combat human resources, employment law, ERISA health care and retirement issues. Employers Risk Administrators has always been committed to providing their clients with relevant and timely solutions, and the launch of the Employers Risk Administrators Employer Resource Center is just another example of that.

All enrolled clients will be personally introduced to a variety of human resource, employment law, ERISA health care and retirement advice, content, tools and resources including training courses, personalized alerts, news and more. Clients will also have the ability to ask questions to employment law and ERISA attorneys.

We feel this addition is an important part of what our clients hired us to do, which is to assist in the protection of the companies they are building, said Sharon McReynolds, CEO of Employers Risk Administrators. This is an extremely beneficial value added service to what we already offer.

We are pleased to support Employers Risk Administrators clients and help meet their ever-growing needs, said Mike Naclerio, President & CEO of Enquiron. The Employers Risk Administrators Employer Resource Center will help organizations address evolving human resource, employment law, and ERISA retirement and health care issues. We look forward to kicking off this exciting enhancement for Employers Risk Administrators clients.

ABOUT EMPLOYERS RISK ADMINISTRATORS:

Employer's Risk Administrators provides efficiency in terms of operations and cost for workers' compensation, unemployment, compliance, employee engagement, and data management. Through our intensive work with major clients, Employers Risk aims to bring valuable expertise to the small business owner. Our customized service helps to mitigates cost while improving employee retention, increasing our overall productivity, and reducing the risk of error. As a trusted advisor, we offer a wide range of quality benefits packages tailored to each of our individual clients. Employers Risk helps you find ways to manage health care costs and provide answers to employment compliance concerns, freeing up your staff to focus on what you got into business to do.

ABOUT ENQUIRON

Enquiron, http://www.enquiron.com, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, provides consultative business solutions to employers in all 50 states, across various industries, sectors and sizes. Since 1996, Enquiron has revolutionized the way that services impacting Human Resources, Employment Law, Healthcare, Retirement, Cyber Security and more are delivered to and utilized by employers. Enquiron has locations across the United States and is a trusted partner to organizations who need specific answers to specific questions. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Carrie Cason, License Partner of Engel & Volkers Gainesville I was initially drawn to Engel & Volkers because of their stylish and sophisticated brand.

Engel & Volkers today announced its latest franchise expansion into North Central Florida with Engel & Volkers Gainesville. Local market expert Carrie Cason will lead the new brokerage as License Partner and Broker. Engel & Volkers Gainesville marks the companys first location in the North Central Florida region. Cason has obtained the licensed rights to Alachua and Columbia Counties.

After 20 years in the real estate industry, I was ready to take the next step in my career, said Cason. I am ready to wind down my personal transactions and begin transitioning into a leadership role to mentor other talented realtors. I want to pass on the knowledge I have accumulated, to help others achieve their professional goals. While I enjoyed many successful years at my sister-in-laws brokerage, I am ready to branch out on my own and bring this phenomenal brand to North Central Florida.

Cason is exploring commercial space in West Gainesville to build her shop. In the meantime, she is actively recruiting talented local professionals to join her team of advisors. A grand opening is planned for late 2020.

As a company who relied on in-person meetings to deliver our unique value proposition, we quickly had to restrategize how we could effectively conduct business during these unprecedented times, said Timo Khammash, Managing Partner of Engel & Volkers Florida. Because of the advanced systems, tools and virtual offerings that were already available through Engel & Volkers, we found it easier to adapt than other brands. This enabled us to continue conducting business and expanding the brand throughout Florida. We are thrilled to enter the North Central Florida market with Engel & Volkers Gainesville and look forward to further growth throughout the state.

Cason comes to Engel & Volkers after 10 years at Swift Creek Realty. Prior, Cason was with Westfield Realty Group and RE/MAX Professionals. She has been in the real estate industry for twenty years, earning her brokers license in 2004 and designations such as the GRI and CCIM along the way. Cason specializes in residential real estate, new construction and corporate relocation. She has completed nearly 600 transactions throughout her career, totaling a volume of more than $150,000,000. Cason also holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and Public Relations from the University of Florida.

I was initially drawn to Engel & Volkers because of their stylish and sophisticated brand, said Cason. It was their superior suite of resources and the collaborative global network that really sold me. Although Engel & Volkers is not well known in North Central Florida yet, I am simply introducing the area to a well-established global industry leader. This is the impetus needed for me to attract top-performing local professionals and affluent clientele.

Established in 1854, Gainesville has become the largest city in North Central Florida. It is home to the University of Florida, a top-ranked public research university. North Central Florida is known for world-class education, health care, culture, and outdoor recreation. This area of the state has been steadily increasing in population over the last decade.

###

Press contact:

Linzee Werkmeister, Director, Public Relations & Franchise Support

Email: Linzee.Werkmeister(at)evrealestate.com

Tel: (239) 348-9000

About Engel & Volkers:

Engel & Volkers is a global luxury real estate brand. Founded in Hamburg, Germany in 1977, Engel & Volkers draws on its rich European history to deliver a fresh approach to luxury real estate in the Americas with a focus on creating a bespoke, white-glove concierge client experience at every stage of the home buying or selling process for todays savvy homeowner. Engel & Volkers currently operates approximately 175 shop locations with more than 4,000 real estate advisors in the Americas, contributing to the brands global network of over 12,000 real estate professionals in more than 30 countries, offering both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of luxury services, including real estate, yachting and aviation. Committed to exceptional service, Engel & Volkers supports its advisors with an array of premium quality business services; marketing programs and platforms; as well as access to its global network of real estate professionals, property listings and market data. Each brokerage is independently owned and operated. For more information, visit evrealestate.com.

About Engel & Volkers Florida:

Engel & Volkers Florida is the Master License Partner of the global luxury real estate brand Engel & Volkers in the state of Florida. Recognized for uniquely recruiting, training and equipping some of the top professionals in the real estate industry, Engel & Volkers Floridas exclusive franchise model positions its license partners at the top of the premium market to gain market share and support their bottom line. The company represents franchise locations in: 30A Beaches, Belleair, Boca Raton, Bonita Springs-Estero, Cape Coral, Clermont, Coconut Grove, Delray Beach, Destin, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers Downtown, Gainesville, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Jupiter, Leesburg, Madeira Beach, Marco Island, Melbourne Central, Melbourne Downtown, Miami-Coral Gables, Olde Naples, Orlando Downtown, Orlando-Winter Park, Palm Beach, St. Augustine, St. Pete, Stuart, Wellington, and Windermere.

Engel & Volkers Florida is continuing to strategically strengthen and expand its presence in premium real estate markets across the state of Florida. If you would like to know more about the Engel & Volkers brand or how to join its global network, which is known for demonstrating competence, exclusivity and passion, feel free to call our corporate office, located at 633 Tamiami Trl N., Suite 201, Naples, FL 34102 USA. Tel: +1 239-348-9000.

For more information about Engel & Volkers Florida, please visit florida.evrealestate.com
Mayor de Blasios message to New Yorkers today was clear: you will have fewer cops on your streets, he said in a statement. Shootings more than doubled again last week. Even right now, the NYPD doesnt have enough manpower to shift cops to one neighborhood without making another neighborhood less safe. We will say it again: the mayor and the city council have surrendered the city to lawlessness. Things wont improve until New Yorkers hold them responsible.
The patient and caregiver testimonies gathered by the FSHD Society will be published in a Voice of the Patient Report that will be submitted to the FDA, for inclusion in the framework used to evaluate future FSHD therapies.

The FSHD Society is holding a landmark meeting today in which individuals and families living with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) will tell representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about how the muscle-wasting disease affects their health, and what they hope future treatments will do to improve their quality of life. One of the most common types of muscular dystrophy, FSHD affects an estimated 1 in 8,300 people in the general population. Caused by a genetic aberration on chromosome 4, FSHD results in a life-long, progressive loss of muscle strength, with around 20 to 25 percent of affected individuals needing a wheelchair by age 50. There is currently no treatment to slow or stop the disease.

Todays meeting, called the Voice of the Patient Forum, is an externally led Patient-Focused Drug Development (EL-PFDD) meeting recognized by the FDA. A key component of the Societys Therapeutic Accelerator initiative, the meeting had originally been scheduled for April 21, 2020, in College Park, Maryland. With the outbreak of COVID-19 this spring, the meeting had to be rescheduled and reformatted as a live webcast to protect participants from potential exposure to the virus. Nearly 500 people have registered for the virtual event. The meeting is co-sponsored by Fulcrum Therapeutics, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and Optum. Friends of FSH Research is participating as well.

The PFDD meetings, started in 2012 by the FDA, are used to obtain patient perspectives on specific diseases and their treatments. The success of these meetings led FDA to set up a mechanism for patient groups to organize externally led PFDD meetings.

According to the FDA, PFDD meetings give FDA and other key stakeholders, including medical product developers, health care providers, federal partners, an important opportunity to hear directly from patients, their families, caregivers, and patient advocates about the symptoms that matter most to them, the impact the disease has on patients daily lives, and patients experiences with currently available treatments. This input can inform FDAs decisions and oversight both during drug development and during our review of a marketing application.

The FSHD Societys meeting will provide individuals with FSHD, caregivers, and other stakeholders an opportunity to share their experiences and preferences so that the FDA and the biopharmaceutical industry can:



understand the FSHD patient journey, and recognize patient preferences and risk tolerance so these may be translated into improved clinical trial designs, selection criteria, and development of outcome measures relevant to FSHD drug development;

demonstrate the complexity and heterogeneity of FSHD, with the end goal of development programs and trial designs that will reflect these aspects of the disease;

create a practical, scientifically rigorous framework that incorporates patient preferences and patient-reported outcomes into FSHD clinical research to ensure that trials are measuring not only statistical success, but also demonstrating meaningful benefit to individuals with FSHD;

better understand patient and caregiver perceptions about the treatments they are currently using, which treatments are most beneficial, and which ones may have side effects;

encourage identification and use of approaches and best practices to facilitate patient enrollment and minimize the burden of patient participation in clinical trials; and

ensure that people with FSHD understand the value of their participation in clinical trials, and how their input impacts FDA and biopharmaceutical industry decision-making and outcomes at all levels to both improve their own health-related quality of life as well as that of others with FSHD, now and in the future.

Prior to the meeting, the FSHD Society distributed online surveys related to the disease burden and unmet medical need of FSHD and received nearly 2,500 responses. Data from these surveys was used to plan our Voice of the Patient Forum and will also be included in our report to the FDA, said June Kinoshita, Director of Research and Patient Engagement at the FSHD Society.

Individuals and family members living with FSHD will be able to submit written testimonies if they are unable to participate in todays live webcast. Submissions will be accepted until July 31 and can be sent to comments@fshdsociety.org, said Kinoshita.

The patient and caregiver testimonies gathered by the FSHD Society will be published in a Voice of the Patient Report that will be submitted to the FDA, for inclusion in the framework used to evaluate future FSHD therapies.

About the FSHD Society

The FSHD Society is the worlds largest research-focused patient organization for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), one of the most prevalent forms of muscular dystrophy. The Society has catalyzed major advancements and is accelerating the development of treatments and a cure to end the pain, disability, and suffering endured by one million people worldwide who live with FSHD. The FSHD Society has transformed the landscape for FSHD research and is committed to making sure that no one faces this disease alone. The Society offers a community of support, news, and information through its website at https://www.fshdsociety.org.
MaryJo Robison Mary Jo Robison, secretary-treasurer/manager at LaPrairie Mutual Insurance Company (Henry, Ill.), was elected to serve the remaining term of the seat left vacant by the departure of Amy Goughnour. The term expires in June 2022.

At Grinnell Mutual Bartelt Conference and Education Center, with social distancing guidelines in place, Grinnell Mutuals 112th annual business meeting convened on June 24 in Grinnell, Iowa.

The secretary of the board of directors presented the financial statements and elections were held.

Elections

Mary Jo Robison, secretary-treasurer/manager at LaPrairie Mutual Insurance Company (Henry, Ill.), was elected to serve the remaining term of the seat left vacant by the departure of Amy Goughnour. The term expires in June 2022.

Robison has been at LaPrairie Mutual for 21 years, the last 10 as secretary-treasurer/manager. She is a member of the NAMIC Merit Society, served on NAMICs Farm Mutual Conference Board, and chaired its Development Planning Committee. Robison also served as chair for the Illinois Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (IAMIC). She holds the PFMM and FMDC designations.

Larry Cook, of Frontier-Mt. Carroll Mutual (Lincoln, Ill.), Mark Knouse of White Pigeon Mutual (Wilton, Iowa), Bill Lampe, first vice-chair, of Heritage Mutual (Preston, Iowa), and Steve Underwood of United Mutual (Washington, Mo.) were re-elected for three-year terms ending in June 2023.

About Grinnell Mutual

Grinnell Mutual, in business since 1909, is the 111th-largest property casualty insurance company in the United States and the largest primary reinsurer of farm mutual companies in North America. Its products are available in 19 states.
Cyd Greer With 15 years of seasoned experience and impressive honors, Cyd Greer has been ranked as the #1 real estate agent in Napa Valley since 2009 and is among the top producing real estate brokers in the U.S.

Haute Residence is pleased to welcome Cyd Greer to the exclusive Haute Residence Network as its representative in the Napa Valley, California real estate market.

With 15 years of seasoned experience and impressive honors, Cyd Greer has been ranked as the #1 real estate agent in Napa Valley since 2009 and is among the top producing real estate brokers in the U.S.

Having acquired expertise in marketing, finance, and strategic planning through 20 years in management and consulting, Cyd took her business acumen, along with her compassion, innate curiosity, and analytical skills to the field of real estate and quickly rose to become one of the top performers in the profession, producing over a billion dollars in sales to date. Cyd is consistently named in The Thousand by the Wall Street Journals list of top U.S. producing sales agents. She was most recently ranked #39 in this elite national group as well as #7 among all agents in the entire San Francisco Bay Area.

Cyd has earned Coldwell Bankers highest honor, the International Society of Excellence award. Based on production volume, this award was earned by only 133 of Coldwell Bankers 92,000 agents internationally. Cyd's practice is focused on luxury properties, vineyards, wineries and complex land deals. She and her husband produce a Cabernet Sauvignon wine under the brand Greer, with grapes sourced from their property in Rutherford, California.

Visit Cyd Greer's Haute Residence profile: https://www.hauteresidence.com/member/cyd-greer-2/

Visit Cyd Greers website: http://cydgreer.com/

ABOUT HAUTE RESIDENCE

Designed as a partnership-driven luxury real estate portal, Haute Residence connects its affluent readers with top real estate professionals, while offering the latest in real estate news, showcasing the worlds most extraordinary residences on the market and sharing expert advice from its knowledgeable and experienced real estate partners.

The invitation-only luxury real estate network, which partners with just one agent in every market, unites a distinguished collective of leading real estate agents and brokers and highlights the most extravagant properties in leading markets around the globe for affluent buyers, sellers, and real estate enthusiasts.

HauteResidence.com has grown to be the number one news source for million-dollar listings, high-end residential developments, celebrity real estate, and more.

Access all of this information and more by visiting http://www.hauteresidence.com
When looking towards the future, businesses must evaluate these reactionary measures and determine which require permanent solutions. Now more than ever, the customer experience of a brand is significant for instilling confidence in its consumers.

It's no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications have significantly impacted how we live and work, but have you considered how it's changed the average consumers shopping habits? In our latest Design Thinking blog post, the HFA team considers how COVID-19 has transformed pickup, curbside, and delivery services across a few key industries throughout the United States.

Before this outbreak, consumers had extensive choices regarding where to shop, what to eat, and what convenience retail looked like daily. Many had already started embracing the trend towards online shopping, in-store pickup, meal carry-out, or delivery. Those retailers who hadn't previously adopted these services are now challenged to quickly implement solutions to help customers maintain social distance and avoid contact with others as much as possible.

Now that we are looking forward to a phased approach to reopening, what will the implications be for these industries? Will customers continue to choose low-contact delivery methods, or will they go back to their pre-COVID-19 shopping habits? How can we, in the design industry, help shape the future, regarding future responses?

"We have seen a variety of reactionary measures implemented across the retail sector already: from one-way aisles in the supermarket to increased numbers of designated pickup spots."

"When looking towards the future, businesses must evaluate these reactionary measures and determine which require permanent solutions. Now more than ever, the customer experience of a brand is significant for instilling confidence in its consumers."

Here at HFA, we strive to help our clients design safe and comfortable spaces for all through socially conscious designs. During the COVID-19 outbreak, that meant taking into account responsibly distanced shopping options (pickup, curbside, and delivery) in restaurants, convenience stores, and large retail environments.

With 30 years of experience from the retail, restaurant, commercial, and real estate industries, at HFA know that were uniquely positioned to use our knowledge and expertise to help further the architecture industry as a whole in this post-pandemic era.

To read more from HFAs Design Thinking series check out the HFA blog: https://blog.hfa-ae.com/

About HFA

Founded in 1990, HFA is a full-service Architecture and Engineering firm with locations in Bentonville, AR; Franklin, MA; Fort Worth, TX; and Mexico City, MX. Focused on designing for the customer experience, HFA works coast to coast with retail, real estate development, office, industrial, fueling, restaurant/food service, lifestyle, and education clients.

Contact: Daryl Whitmer, Director of Marketing and Business Development, (479) 2737780 ext. 274 or daryl.whitmer@hfaae.com.
With the technology in place to make these complicated simulations possible through FNTS partnership with Folding@home, this allows scientists to concentrate on research, analysis and finding cures.

FNTS, a leading cloud and IT managed services provider in Omaha, Nebraska, is helping power the fastest supercomputer in the world through a computing project committed to tackling COVID-19.

In February 2019, FNTS began providing in-kind technology support to Folding@home, a research project that uses donated computing power to analyze and fight diseases that result from protein misfolding and mutations inside our body. Humans rely on proteins to live, but when they misfold or misbehave, there can be serious health consequences like cancer and heart disease.

The Folding@home project is powered by millions of computers running molecular simulations using free and secure downloadable software thats now being used to help understand the dynamics of COVID-19 proteins in order to prevent viral infection. These simulations require the help of thousands of volunteers, or citizen scientists, from all over the world who share their unused computing power. The project has yielded 233 research papers throughout its 20-year history.

Operating one of the most secure, technically advanced data centers in the United States, FNTS began donating its fully managed platforms to Folding@home in 2019. Through the use of high-performing operating systems and cloud services that augment the computing resources of volunteers, FNTS provides Folding@home access to increased bandwidth and storage so results can be efficiently analyzed and delivered.

Folding@home is a prime example of how technology is increasingly being used in nontraditional ways to further health care research in the fight against diseases such COVID-19, FNTS president Kim Whittaker said. With the technology in place to make these complicated simulations possible through FNTS partnership with Folding@home, this allows scientists to concentrate on research, analysis and finding cures.

Below is more information on Folding@homes COVID-19 research:



With more than 3 million devices running Folding@home software, the project broke the exascale computing barrier, making the project the worlds fastest supercomputer. Exascale computing refers to computing systems capable of at least one exaFLOP, or one quintillion floating-point operations per second. To match what one exaFLOP computer system can do in just one second, one calculation would need to be performed every second for more than 31 billion years. This feat is accomplished through community, volunteer and technology partners.

More than 700,000 volunteers are running the Folding@home software, up from 30,000 volunteers in February.

Folding@home wants to better understand how the virus interacts with the human ACE2 receptor required for viral entry into human host cells. Researchers recently determined the mechanism by which the viral Spike opens up to bind ACE2, and are now looking for ways to disrupt or block these interactions. This involves a parallel approach involving the design of new therapeutic antibodies or small molecules.

Folding@home is partnering with the COVID Moonshot, a large-scale collaboration looking to crowd-source a low-cost inhibitor to target the main viral protease of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Folding@home is running simulations of promising molecules from the Moonshot to help chemists identify potentially useful directions.

Folding@home, established in 2000 and now run by Greg Bowman at Washington University in St. Louis, now consists of teams from 11 universities around the world that research protein dynamics, how they contribute to human health and disease, and new opportunities for treatment. For more information on Folding@home, please visit foldingathome.org.

About FNTS

As a nationally recognized leader in managed IT services with a passion for all things public, private, hybrid and multi-cloud, FNTS specializes in partnering with customers that are in highly regulated and compliance-driven industries, with a continued focus on layered security solutions. As FNTS marks its 25th anniversary in 2020, our driving force remains the same: to orchestrate agility, transparency and continued optimization for our customers, all while keeping cost containment top of mind.

FNTS is a wholly owned subsidiary of First National of Nebraska. First National of Nebraska and its affiliates have more than $23 billion in assets and 5,000 employee associates.
PoolContractor.com POOLCONTRACTOR.COM levels the playing field for the industry and provides pool builders the means to compete against much larger builders.

PoolContractor.com - a new review portal for the swimming pool industry officially launched last month with over a million visitors to the site in May. Digital agency - PoolMarketing.com has released several new websites specifically for the swimming pool industry. Their initial offering PoolContractor.com is aimed at providing Pool Contractors and Pool Builders that specialize in swimming pool construction a platform to promote their pool construction business and compete with larger builders in their market.

The website was built by Internet Entrepreneur Joe Trusty, published author, software developer and CEO of Norcal Web Designs, LLC a digital agency in Sacramento, CA. For the past 5 years, Joe Trusty was the Director of IT & Marketing for Premier Pools & Spas franchise organization, one of the largest pool builders in the world. In that space of time, Joe was able to help them grow their revenue by over $250 million. Now, embarking on his own digital enterprise - with PoolContractor.com - he's created a platform that offers pool builders better visiblity and tools to market their business.

"The pool industry as a whole is so fragmented, that there hasn't been a true marketing powerhouse out at the forefront leading the charge. Our initial offering and planned network of websites plan to disrupt the entire industry and level the playing field for so many businesses. PoolContractor.com is only the beginning" said CEO Joe Trusty.

The website has been an immediate success due to the branding of the web property and search engine optimization. Over 5,000 website visitors submitted a request for an estimate or tried to contact a pool builder during the month of May on the platform and the doors weren't even officially open yet.

Website visitors test drove some of the finer features on PoolContractor.com such as the autolocate feature that automatically populates the website with your location to find the best pool contractor nearest you. There were also over 700 new reviews left for businesses on the platform last month. This in addition to over 500,000 reviews aggregated from popular websites like Google Reviews, Facebook, Yelp, Houzz, and more. Visitors are starting to look to PoolContractor.com as a trusted source for finding real pool contractor reviews from actual homeowners in their local area.

This isn't the only site that PoolMarketing.com has in the works. They've been busy quietly collecting a portfolio of top tier domain assets they plan to launch as fully completed websites over the next 2 quarters. PoolMarketing.com now owns over 30 top tier domain brands similar to PoolContractor.com that it plans to build out into a network of websites that all interlink with eachother.

"The pool industry is ready for some seasoned marketing veterans that know how to drive quality leads and provide better marketing services" said co-founder Marianne Trusty. "There's a definite need for this service. We provide pool builders and service companies the abillity to appear higher in the search engines, showcase their great reviews, and can promote them in all of our different platforms. It's a real game changer."

One thing is for certain, with the number of projected websites scheduled to launch this year, PoolContractor.com has become one of the anchors of the powerful advertising network that is destined to become PoolMarketing.com
A few words used to describe the weekend by the newly ordained Rabbis and Cantors were "love, family, honored, connection, appreciation, blessed, holy, sweet and moving."

Rabbi Steve Blane of Sim Shalom Jewish Universalist online synagogue and a Bet Din convened a holy ordination and Shabbaton on the June 19th weekend online. Rabbi Blane is the Dean and Founder of the Jewish Spiritual Leaders' Institute that was created to train clergy to meet the needs of modern Jews. The group of twelve ordained this past weekend joined the 162 Rabbis and Cantors in the US, Canada, Great Britain, Japan and Israel. JSLI alumni are serving in pulpits, as Chaplains, educators and performing life cycle events.

While the ordination was moved online due to COVID-19 it remained a truly moving and spiritual event and allowed the friends and family of the candidates to attend an online gathering. A few words used to describe the weekend by the newly ordained Rabbis and Cantors were "love, family, honored, connection, appreciation, blessed, holy, sweet and moving."

ABOUT JSLI AND SIM SHALOM

Sim Shalom is an interactive online Jewish Universalist synagogue which is liberal in thought and traditional in liturgy. Created in 2009 by Rabbi Steven Blane on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Sim Shalom offers a means of connecting the unconnected. Rabbi Blane leads accessible and short Shabbat services every Friday night using a virtual interface and additionally Sim Shalom provides online education programs, Jazz concerts, conversion and life-cycle ceremonies along with weeknight services at 7:00PM EST led by Rabbis and students of this online community.

Rabbi Blane is also the founder and director of the Jewish Spiritual Leader's Institute,

http://www.jsli.net, the online professional rabbinical program and the Union of Jewish Universalists Communities, http://www.ujuc.org.

Sim Shalom, a non profit 501  (3) tax-exempt organization, nurtures a Jewish connection through its mission of innovative services, creative education and dynamic outreach to the global community. For more information visit http://www.simshalom.com or call 201-338-0165.


Enacted to help the state regulate its underground economy. "CABIA is proud to partner with Engineered Tax Services in our fight to protect California's small businesses. We appreciate the great work Engineered Tax Services does for dozens of employers, and we're thrilled to have their continued support in our efforts to reform PAGA."

Julio Gonzalez, Founder and CEO of Engineered Tax Service (ETS), one of the largest specialty tax engineering firms in the country is proud to be a member of the California Business and Industrial Alliance (CABIA). The California Business and Industrial Alliance (CABIA) is a trade organization founded in 2017 by business executives and entrepreneurs to fix Californias unfavorable law, the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).

CABIA is actively fighting to reform a harmful law on the books in California, the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and has filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against the state over PAGA.

This law allows aggrieved employees to file lawsuits against their employer to recover civil penalties. More than 35,000 PAGA complaints have been filed against employers since 2004. The problem has grown worse in recent years; in 2016, more than 5,000 PAGA complaints were filed  an astonishing 1,440 percent increase from the laws first year in effect. Instead of empowering employees, PAGA helps fill the pockets of large law firms at the expense of our states small businesses and nonprofits. While it takes one disgruntled employee to file a claim over a minor issue, such as a typo on a pay stub, it can cost businesses thousands if not millions of dollars in settlements  very little of which is recouped by employees.

Tom Manzo, Founder of CABIA, released the following statement: "CABIA is proud to partner with Engineered Tax Services in our fight to protect California's small businesses. We appreciate the great work Engineered Tax Services does for dozens of employers, and we're thrilled to have their continued support in our efforts to reform PAGA."

CABIA is actively working to educate the public on PAGA abuse through news interviews, opinion editorials, video testimonials, and social media posts.

About CABIA

The Alliance is led by a team of experienced California business owners and communicators committed to creating a regulatory climate that fosters the creation of new businesses and helps existing ones prosper. You can learn more about CABIA's work at http://www.cabia.org.

About ETS

Engineered Tax Services, Inc. (ETS) is a licensed engineering firm that focuses on federal, state, and local tax benefits. Founder and CEO,Julio Gonzalez, is an expert in tax reform whose strong presence is helping define our current tax laws. Under Gonzalez's guidance and true insight into how the industry is shaping, Engineered Tax Services is one of the largest, fastest growing, and most innovative engineering, energy, and specialty tax credit services firm in the country. Visit us at http://www.engineeredtaxservices.com


Can loveyep, the L wordhave a place in your business strategy? The team at Softway thinks its not only possiblebut vital for success in todays business landscape. Thats why theyve launched a brand new podcast, available now, everywhere you listen to podcasts. Each episode of Love as a Business Strategy busts the doors off topics that most business leaders shy away from in the workplace.

Through humor, heart, and honesty, Love as a Business Strategy arrives on the podcast scene at a tipping point of business and digital transformation amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. As practitioners, the hosts of Love as a Business Strategy talk about the golden triangle of businesspeople, process, and technologyfrom a lens of empathy, humanity, and love.

We wanted to create a podcast that tackles business topics in a very unique and compelling wayfrom our approach at Softway, Jeff Ma, Director of Project Management at Softway said. Providing a space for shifting paradigms and thinking outside of the box was exciting to us, and were happy to share our perspective with the world, he said.

The first two episodes: Love as a...business strategy? and How Business Leaders Can Actually Help Black Employees, are available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and all other podcast streaming providers. Softway plans to release new episodes on a bi-weekly basis.

###

Softway is a digital transformation agency in Houston, TX that humanizes technology, propels brands, and changes culture. The 200 person organization has offices in the USA and India. Visit softway.com for more details.

ENDNOTES //

Contact details: Frank Danna, Director of Culture and Seneca | frank@softway.com
Amidst the current climate, companies are pivoting their marketing strategies on a near-daily basis. Morning Brew, the media brand empowering the modern business leader through accessible and engaging content, launched Marketing Brew. The new content property will serve as a resource for marketers to stay informed on vital industry news through Morning Brews hallmark concise and intelligible style. Marketing Brew will be delivered in the morning, three times per week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting today, June 29.

Morning Brews newest B2B franchise will cover the latest news on platforms, campaigns, adtech/martech, digital strategy and marketing channels. Marketing Brew will cater to brand marketers, growth marketers, advertising and media industry professionals.

Signing on as the newsletters first advertiser is longtime Morning Brew advertising partner Sailthru, the leading personalized marketing automation technology provider for retailers and publishers  Morning Brew included.

Marketing Brew was implemented as a direct response to reader feedback and joins Morning Brews robust roster of content properties including industry franchises Retail Brew and Emerging Tech Brew, pop-up newsletter The Essentials and weekly podcast Business Casual. In the spring of 2020, Morning Brews inaugural newsletter surpassed over 2 million subscribers, Retail Brew achieved 130,000 subscribers and Emerging Tech Brew eclipsed 200,000 subscribers.

Leading the content efforts for Marketing Brew is Phoebe Bain, who joined Morning Brew in April as a Marketing Writer. Bain hails from Social Media Today, where she covered marketing on social media, brands and trends on social platforms. Marketing Brew will also be the first of Morning Brews content properties to accept op-eds from industry experts  providing a platform to amplify important topics and opinions.

We pride ourselves on the inter-connected community weve built that has influenced the direction of our company, said Alex Lieberman, CEO and Co-Founder of Morning Brew. As our readers progress professionally, we aim to continuously meet their needs from a content perspective. The new generation of marketers are digitally-native, change jobs  in-house or agency  frequently, and are looking to start their own companies. With so much change due to COVID-19, we want to continue to be an aid to our subscriber-base by delivering engaging and relevant content.

For more information, or to sign up for Marketing Brew, please visit https://www.morningbrew.com/marketing.

About Morning Brew

Morning Brew is a media brand empowering the modern business leader through accessible and engaging content. Since its founding in 2016, Morning Brew has equipped millions of users with the most important news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley, introduced new verticals (Emerging Tech Brew, Retail Brew, and The Essentials, a pop-up newsletter for the COVID-19 era) and expanded mediums with a weekly podcast, Business Casual. With a combined and growing reach of over 2.5 million readers and listeners, brands such as Goldman Sachs, Google (Waze) and Betterment partner with Morning Brew to leverage the companys highly-obsessed community through native advertising opportunities.

Morning Brew is based in New York City and was founded by Alex Lieberman and Austin Rief. In 2019, Lieberman and Rief were named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for Media. To sign up for Morning Brew, visit https://www.morningbrew.com/.
A round hit Elvin Fernandez, 27, a resident of the Gowanus Houses, in the head. Medics took him to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Brooklyn Methodist, where he was in critical condition before dying Wednesday.
Logo "Our doctors fulfill their purpose by being totally accountable for helping their patients achieve better health."

ChenMed, the nations leading senior-focused primary care practice, today announced that doors are opening on 15 new Dedicated Senior Medical Centers during the next 20 weeks, advancing the companys 35-year tradition of transforming care of the neediest populations.

This 25.7% expansion of ChenMed practices located in underserved communities means tens of thousands of low-income seniors in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Memphis, Orlando, Philadelphia and St. Louis will, at convenient and beautiful locations in their neighborhoods, be able to start accessing highly personalized primary care that delivers better health.

Our commitment to underserved communities has never been stronger, explains Christopher Chen, M.D. ChenMed CEO. Given recent events and the calls for more social and racial justice, there couldnt be a better time to be approaching 80 primary care centers in 10 states. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we are unwavering in our intention to continue to deliver on our mission by giving underserved seniors the same concierge care that is available to Americans with greater financial means.

Dr. Chen adds: Our doctors fulfill their purpose by being totally accountable for helping their patients achieve better health. Plus, ChenMed centers offer services that help reduce barriers to healthy living, from transportation assistance to on-site medications to helping with social services.

Three new Dedicated centers in St. Louis, and a new, fifth Dedicated center in Philadelphia will start seeing patients July 1, 2020. Then, in rapid succession, Dedicated will open doors on the first of three new Cleveland centers July 20; the first of three new Cincinnati centers August 31; the first of three new Memphis centers, plus the first of two Orlando centers September 28. All 15 new Dedicated centers are expected to be seeing patients by November 9.

Unlike many fee-for-service healthcare providers that were slow to adapt approach to care as they became aware of the coronavirus pandemic, ChenMed, as a global-risk provider of choice for more than 20 Medicare Advantage health plans, has remained flexible, fast, and focused in helping protect both patients and employees from COVID-19 risks:



Flexible ... ChenMed established a coronavirus task force and decided to shift patient care focus to helping at-risk seniors stay healthy, happy and home. In Jan. 2020, ChenMed moved all data, including access to its proprietary EHR system, to the secured cloud. This enables thousands of employees, including all doctors and care team members, to effectively work remotely.

Fast ... Weeks before most communities initiated formal shelter-at-home orders, ChenMed successfully pivoted from 98% in-center patient appointments to 95% virtual appointments in just one week  all while keeping medical centers open so patients in need of urgent in-person care had an option beyond the emergency room. Then, as patient needs for safe in-person primary care visits rose over time, ChenMed adapted again.

Focused ... ChenMed primary care doctors intentionally have the industrys smallest patient panels and are financially rewarded for delivering VIP service and better health outcomes. They see patients virtually or in-person as often as needed, and they do whatever it takes to help their patients thrive.

The ethnically diverse, low-income, and generally frail seniors ChenMed serves benefit greatly from the practices proven ability to pivot whenever needed to improve both quality of care and patient experience. For years, ChenMed primary care physicians have been giving their cell phone numbers to patients asking them to text or call whenever a health concern arises.

Plus, ChenMed doctors and care team members consistently encourage same-day in-person appointments whenever needed at convenient neighborhood locations. The Chen, Dedicated, and JenCare Senior Medical Centers offer door-to-doctor transportation. They also find ways to stay open -- as safe, secure and welcoming care environments -- even when communities are impacted by extreme weather, coronavirus stay-at-home orders, or periods of civil unrest.

Our primary care doctors serve an average of just 400 patients each, says Gaurov Dayal, M.D., ChenMed President New Markets and Chief Growth Officer. Thats less than one-fifth the national average of 2,300 patients per primary doctor, and it is a real quality of care advantage for our seniors  especially for those with multiple chronic health challenges.

Noting how ChenMed doctors average 10 times more face-to-face time with patients than a typical physician does, Dr. Dayal reinforces how vital physician time investment is. He reports the average age ChenMed patients is 72 years; that 75 percent of ChenMed patients are living with five or more major and chronic health conditions; that 95 percent of ChenMed patients are low-income (within 300 percent of U.S. poverty level); and 75 percent of ChenMed patients are minorities (50 percent African American) who have increased health risks year-round, heightened by the coronavirus pandemic.

Aligned incentives fuel better health outcomes and ChenMed growth

The future is bright for the value-based care that ChenMed doctors provide, says Dr. Chen, and weve been seeing a record number of outstanding primary care doctors applying to join us during the coronavirus pandemic.

He adds this news is not surprising, because our doctors have the freedom to do whats needed by patients, and not to be distracted by concerns about what services will be covered by Medicare. Dr. Chen then spotlights ChenMeds five-fold increase in first and second quarter new physician signings achieved in 2020; and the high levels of satisfaction both ChenMed doctors and patients have precisely because they are focused on improving health outcomes together.

We are absolutely bullish about our new market openings, says Dr. Dayal, and expect our presence will grow dramatically in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Memphis, Orlando and St. Louis, just like we are doing in the Philadelphia market we continue to grow. During the year ending June 30, 2019, Dedicated Senior Medical Center membership growth in Philadelphia exceeded 62 percent.

About ChenMed

For seniors most in need of care, high-quality health care often is beyond reach. ChenMed brings concierge-style medicine  and better health outcomes  to the neediest populations. ChenMed is a privately owned medical, management and technology company that currently operates 59 primary care medical practices for diverse populations of seniors. A provider of choice for some 20 Medicare Advantage health insurance plans, ChenMed brands include Chen Senior Medical Center, Dedicated Senior Medical Center, and JenCare Senior Medical Center.

Results of ChenMeds high-touch approach to primary care are impressive, as illustrated in the Modern Healthcare cover story, which reports, Indeed, ChenMed's approach has resulted in 50 percent fewer hospital admissions compared with a standard primary-care practice, 28 percent lower per-member costs and significantly higher use of evidence-based medications. Learn more about the high-growth company, where patients also average 75 percent fewer emergency room visits @ http://www.ChenMed.com, and/or follow us @chenmed.
Millions of businesses around the country have been given the green light to open following the pandemic closures. Many of them, however, are not sure where to begin and what measures to take in order to help keep their employees and customers safe and healthy. Business Training Media is offering an online COVID-19 Training and Resource Center, which can play an important role in helping businesses to safely open and get back to offering their services.

As the country opens, we all want to ensure that safety measures are taken to help keep people safer, but to also gain their confidence, explains Myron Curry, founder of Business Training Media. Customers need to know that you have a good understanding about the safety measures so they feel comfortable visiting your establishment. We provide you with all the COVID-19 tools you need to do just that.

The online COVID-19 Training and Resource Center offers all of the information a company needs to help prepare for a safe opening. The collection of resources includes online courses, training programs, videos, on-demand webinars, white papers, fact sheets, posters, and more. Many companies are having their employees take the online courses, so they are well prepared for working with customers at this time.

Some of the tools and resources offered in the comprehensive COVID-19 Training and Resource Center include:



A Rational Guide for Returning to the Post COVID-19 Workplace video

Creating a Safe and Healthy Office Environment and Working Safely in the age of the COVID-19 Pandemic video

Reopening the Workplace Virtual Conference: Navigating the Reality of COVID-19

New Office, New Obstacles video

COVID-19: Business Continuity Action Plan Development & Emergency Response Protocols  on demand webinar

CDC Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

Coronavirus: Guarding Against COVID-19: Online Interactive Training

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Online Course

Personal Protective Equipment poster

Coronavirus & Other Contagions: HR & Safety's Role Preventing Spread of Infection During Pandemics  on-demand webinar

Important Information About Your Cloth Face Mask Coverings

And much more!

Our COVID-19 Training and Resource Center is filled with helpful information, tools, and educational materials, added Curry. Its imperative that every employee understand the importance of maintaining virus safety protocols, and we help make it easier for them to do it.

To access the COVID-19 Training and Resource Center, visit the site: https://www.businesstrainingmedia.com/covid-19-employer-training-center.php

Business Training Media offers over 6,500 training products, including online courses in management, cybersecurity, customer service, sexual harassment, COVID-19 resources, and more. The company has provided training for such companies as Bank of America, FedEx, Verizon, Google, Yahoo, and more. To learn more or register for the course, visit the site: https://www.businesstrainingmedia.com

About Business Training Media

Founded in 1998, Business Training Media offers thousands of training products for corporations. Based in Encino, Calif., it provides business training solutions for companies worldwide. It has had over 26,000 customers, including many Fortune 500 companies. Its training tools are available in multiple delivery options, including online, video streaming, DVD, USB, webinars, books, games, and more. To learn more, visit the site: https://www.businesstrainingmedia.com
Pond Lehocky associate Melissa Chandy My hope is to work together as a committee with a common goal of coming up with ideas and ways to fight racism and hate. I hope that we can challenge ourselves with the task of creating and implementing plans to continue the change weve seen," co-chair Melissa Chandy said.

As Pond Lehocky approaches its 10th anniversary they have launched the firms first ever Diversity and Inclusion Committee in honor of Pride Month and to fight social injustices. The committee will be co-chaired by founding partner Thomas Giordano and senior associate Melissa Chandy. It will be comprised of attorneys, members of the firms executive team, and staff members of all different backgrounds.

The creation of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee is Pond Lehockys declaration that it is committed to the fight against racism and hate.

My hope is to work with other attorneys, executive team members, and staff members, with a common goal of coming up with ideas and ways to fight racism and hate, Melissa Chandy said. I hope that we can challenge ourselves with the task of creating and implementing plans, to continue the change weve seen both locally and nationally. With that in mind, the upcoming election will be of particular importance to the committee.

The goal of this committee is to promote ideas and events to further the spirit of diversity and inclusion, develop policies and practices to recruit, support, promote, and retain staff with diverse experiences and attributes and importantly incorporate racial justice and diversity in our community engagement and outreach efforts. The creation of this committee is a call to action to promote diversity and inclusion, not only within the firms walls, but within the community.

Throughout Pride Month, the firm has spotlighted different LGBTQIA+ staff members who offered their perspectives on the workplace and the importance of diversity and inclusion within organizations. Pond Lehocky has made it a mission to diversify the legal industry, not only to meet a moral obligation, but because it understands that inclusion is good for business. Getting diverse input and insights allows Pond Lehocky to better connect with clients, who come from all walks of life, and helps the firm deliver innovative legal solutions to clients most pressing problems.

Pond Lehocky remains committed to fighting for the rights of injured workers, which includes a fight for basic rights and freedoms.

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ABOUT POND LEHOCKY

Headquartered in Pennsylvania, Pond Lehocky is one the largest law firms in the region and helps Americans with workers compensation, employment law, injury and disability legal matters. Since opening its door in 2010, the firm has won more than 80 awards, including U.S. News and World Reports Best Law Firms, The Philadelphia Inquirers Top Workplaces, Philadelphia Business Journals Best Places to Work, and recognized by The Legal Intelligencer as one of the top law firms in Philadelphia for gender diversity.


Potomac Testing Acquires EMT ...we expect to be able to better serve and expand our combined customer base with stronger capabilities and greater experience.

POTOMAC TESTING, a TechPro Power Group company, today announced the recent acquisition of Electrical Maintenance & Testing, Inc.(EMT), a NETA Accredited independent third party electrical testing firm based in Carmel, Indiana.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Brian Borst, EMTs President, said: We are very pleased to join Potomac Testing and the TechPro Power Group family of companies. We will be able to continue our deep commitment to the highest standards of safety, quality and service to customers, while enabling our team to further grow professionally as part of an industry-leading organization.

Mr. Ken Bassett, President of Potomac Testing, said: By addressing the many opportunities for union project work together with EMTs operational leadership and technical staff, we expect to be able to better serve and expand our combined customer base with stronger capabilities and greater experience. In addition, we look forward to sharing best practices and certain back office functions to the benefit of our combined teams.

ABOUT ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE & TESTING INC.

Based in Carmel, Indiana, EMT is a NETA Accredited independent third party electrical testing firm, specializing in power distribution equipment testing, maintenance, and life extension services. EMT also provides Engineering Services, including Short-Circuit, Coordination, and Arc Flash Hazard Analysis. For more information, please visit http://www.emtesting.com.

ABOUT POTOMAC TESTING

A TechPro Power Group company, Potomac Testing, established in 1985, has earned its position as an industry leader in comprehensive low, medium, and high voltage electrical equipment services: from NETA acceptance and maintenance testing, planned and emergency field services, power quality and engineering studies, to retrofitting and refurbishment of electrical equipment. For more information, please visit http://www.potomactesting.com.

ABOUT TECHPRO POWER GROUP

Established in 2017, TechPro Power Group is a family of best-in-class companies providing electrical, instrumentation and control testing and start-up and commissioning services as well as electrical test equipment rental, sales, calibration and repair to the power, oil & gas, process industries and other industrial end markets. Its holdings include Potomac Testing and Technical Diagnostic Services, LLC (TDS).
Q8 Trade, an online trading platform focused on clients from the MENA region, aims to take trading education to the next level, which is why it had recently announced a partnership with the Hawks Trading Academy, a place where clients will be able to get certified, learn how to trade, and benefit from a wide range of educational resources.

Becoming a professional trader requires any individual to accumulate key information about the markets, trading strategies, risk management, technical or fundamental analysis. The Hawks Trading Academy integrates all the necessary knowledge to take trading to the next level, no matter the previous background or experience traders have.

Benefits of the Hawks Trading Academy

With the partnership between Q8 Trade and the Hawks Trading Academy, clients can become certified traders and thus get all the benefits they deserve to receive when trading with a licensed broker. The companys certification program allows access to videos and articles that put traders on the right track to start their trading journey and get all the educational resources they need.

Given education is the cornerstone of the services provided by Q8 Trade, the Academy will provide clients with all the tools and education needed in order for them to become professional traders. The Hawks Trading eBooks is one of the most popular resources designed for aggressive traders looking to conquer the currency markets. It provides strategies and tips for setting entry and exit points, as well as finding profitable trades, making sense of the randomness of the forex markets, and how to attack these markets for success.

Finding all the educational resources required to become a profitable trader in one place is relatively hard, as traders need to search for information in many different places, read tons of books and attend webinars charged expensively by various online mentors. With access to the Hawks Trading Academy, traders working with Q8 Trade will get access to all the resources free of charge, only being required to open a real account and make a deposit.

Integrating education alongside industry-leading trading conditions

Providing access to educational resources is only a fraction of the services provided by Q8 Trade. The broker is well-known for its competitive trading services. It had developed a proprietary web-based trading platform, a mobile trading app, and offers support for the popular MetaTrader 5 platform. Traders can choose between 5 different account types, multiple deposit/withdrawal methods, and benefit from a wide range of trading features.

Q8 Trade is a trading brand aiming to be a leader in online trading services, opening access to Western-like trading conditions for traders based in the MENA region. Its years of experience in the field as well as the countless positive feedback, combined with the benefits of the Hawks Trading Academy collaboration, make Q8 Trade an optimal place to trade.

About Q8 Trade

Q8 Trade is an online trading platform offering access to competitive services. The brand is specialized in providing access to a wide range of markets, including FX, stocks, indices, and bonds. It offers traders access to various educational resources via collaboration with the Hawks Trading Academy and ensures the highest trading standards for customers based in the MENA region.
Stem Cell Therapy for Liver Failure in Mexico (888) 988-0515 Effective stem cell treatment for liver failure requires a large amount of stem cells. R3 offers those numbers of cells in Mexico with options that are safe and cost effective!

R3 International is now offering a new program for stem cell therapy for liver failure in Mexico. The program offers up to 200 million stem cells, with the cost starting at only $8975.

Millions of individuals suffer from chronic liver disease, which occurs due to a number of causes such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, metabolic diseases, and other conditions. All too often, conventional therapies fail to provide the desired result.

Stem cell therapy has been shown in several studies to produce beneficial results for liver failure. This includes a study of 43 patients from 2012 in Stem Cells and Translational Medicine noting significant increase in survival rates, along with no adverse events.

In its new program, R3 International uses the same weight based protocol. Each treatment provides up to 50 million stem cells at a time, with the treatment occurring at the stem cell therapy clinic in Tijuana Mexico. To date, hundreds of patients have received stem cell therapy in Mexico with R3 for a variety of conditions. No adverse events have been reported, and outcomes have been sensational for organ failure, arthritis, diabetes, dementia, stroke, stem cells for Lyme disease, Crohns and many more.

In order to receive treatment, patients start with a free phone consultation with the licensed, experienced stem cell doctor from R3 International. After the consult and review of medical records, the doctor provides a treatment recommendation. Then the dedicated patient concierge representative will assist with travel logistics and transportation from San Diego to the clinic is provided.

Simply call (888) 988-0515 to schedule the phone consultation and learn about options for treatment.


Sneak Peek of NVADR Dashboard Having an Attack Surface Management program is paramount from a security point of view, because an organization can only protect what they know.

RedHunt Labs, a UK based Cyber Security company, has launched its Attack Surface Management Platform NVADR for organizations to gain holistic visibility of their perimeter security.

NVADR provides Continuous Asset Discovery as well as Data Leak Monitoring through its wide-spread distributed collectors and notifies organizations in case a new asset/data leak/security vulnerability belonging to the organization, surfaces on the internet. Through deep correlation algorithms, the verification engine maps assets to the organization and verifies the ownership, thus removing the noise and showing only actionable information.

Gartner has predicted that by 2020-21, one-third of successful attacks on the enterprise will be through shadow IT resources and leaked sensitive information. The majority of breaches these days take place because of untracked assets or leaked sensitive information. Common examples include exposed MongoDB / ElasticSearch instances, leaked AWS keys and tokens, database credentials on code repositories like GitHub, etc. In 2018, Teslas AWS keys were left publicly exposed on the internet and attackers were able to exploit their AWS infrastructure and thus causing catastrophic damage to the organization.

Tracking an updated inventory of currently owned public assets and monitoring data leaks sounds like an obvious practise, but the majority of organizations struggle to do this continuously, effectively at a large scale. With our scaled and matured product, we solve this problem at a blazing fast speed. In the majority of cases, we have observed that companies believe they know their attack surface, but after using NVADR, they realise that they were missing a lot of sensitive areas and were blindfolded towards their security posture.

In order to be resilient against attackers, organizations need to gauge their complete attack surface, not just IP Addresses, Subdomains, but also their web/mobile applications, acquisitions, code repositories, third party associations, etc. Shubham, co-founder of @RedHuntLabs wrote an article 'Redefining Assets' in this modern era.

RedHunt Labs has always been committed to help organizations become more secure by going beyond finding assets/data leaks and also helping its customers with security tools and consultation practice.

To learn more about NVADR and how it can help your organization help become more secure, visit https://redhuntlabs.com/nvadr or Request a Demo.

About RedHunt Labs:

RedHunt Labs is a UK based Security Engineering Company providing Attack Surface Management (ASM) solutions. Combining years of experience in offensive security, defensive security and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) RedHunt Labs has created 'NVADR' to solve the perimeter security problem. RedHunt Labs runs the internet security research project 'Project Resonance' and also educates the world with the cutting edge tools and techniques in OSINT. The company is backed by private investors from the UK and mentored by industry veterans.

Website: http://www.redhuntlabs.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/redhuntlabs
Aditanium Capital Corp. (https://aditanium.com/) is excited to add the newest addition to the corporate board of directors, Alisha Ilaender. Earlier in 2020, the board of directors began planning to launch a robust marketing and recruiting system to support the anticipated growth efforts in the local Fraser Valley Real Estate market. The appointment of Alisha Ilaender will take the lead role in the newly formed acquisition team, which will focus on acquiring neglected and under managed multi-family apartment buildings.

"In the beginning of the year, we had no way of knowing that COVID-19 would come into the picture. That said, we have seen a massive demand for multi-family buildings and the need for a dedicated acquisition specialist. Myself, along with the other directors have put our full confidence and trust in Alisha Ilaender to take charge of preforming the required due-diligence involved in Aditanium's strategic holdings," said Taylor Apsouris, co-founder and CEO of Aditanium Capital Corp.

The Aditanium Acquisition Team will work closely with local commercial real estate holders across the province of British Columbia. Acquisition Specialists work to evaluate current opportunities to grow passive cash flow by leveraging the Aditanium REIT business model.

"It's a unique time of opportunity to obtain and add to Aditanium's Real Estate holdings. By leveraging technology and optimizing revenue streams, we have been experiencing growth during the market decline caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. While traditional Real Estate investors are struggling to simply maintain business, our diversified investment fund has not only adapted, but has also found huge opportunity in the Canadian market," said Alisha Ilaender, Acquisition Specialist for Aditanium Capital Corp.

Aditanium is currently reviewing the engineering, installation and maintenance services required in order to acquire an additional asset held by the expanding Real Estate fund. This is in line with the core business model of acquiring income-producing commercial real estate buildings. Although some Real Estate Investment Funds are publicly traded, Aditanium Capital Corp is a private REIT and held as a BC Corporation. The fund allows investors the opportunity to invest in large-scale income producing real estate.

About Aditanium Capital Corp: Aditanium is a Real Estate Investment Fund, for qualified investors who desire a relatively low risk and steady stream of passive cash flow generated from the tenants who lease Aditanium's Real Estate holdings. Aditanium has a proprietary technology, utilizing a secure and transparent investor dashboard; enabling investors to view their acquisition from the platform at my.aditamnium.com.
By implementing policies and practices that are consistent with rapidly changing guidelines, employers can help protect themselves from litigation and help mitigate employee concerns as they return to the workplace.

As states across the country continue with phased reopening plans, businesses are challenged with new compliance hurdles and safety considerations that have emerged as a result of COVID-19. Still beholden to prepandemic regulations, businesses must also follow extensive new guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure a safe workplace and protect their employees from recognized environmental hazards.

Additionally, employers are navigating new complexities around COVID-19 related to leave management and disability accommodation and trying to manage general anxiety, fear, and concern from their employees around returning to the workplace.

Matthew H. Parker, an attorney with Whelan Corrente & Flanders LLP in Providence, Rhode Island, sees three reasons for the hesitancy: (1) a fear of contracting the virus by going back into the workplace, (2) a need to stay home to care for children whose schools and day cares are closed, and (3) a reluctance to give up unemployment benefits.

Dina M. Mastellone, an attorney with Genova Burns LLC in Newark, New Jersey, says that although employees generally lose unemployment benefits if they dont return to work, employers still need to evaluate an employees reason as to why they cannot return to work on a case-by-case basis in order to determine whether or not they may be eligible for federal, state, and/or local leave laws, including paid sick, family, or school closure leave.

With these unprecedented challenges, BLR is dedicated to supporting businesses as they prepare to reopen with the latest regulatory guidance, resources, and solutions.

In a free Return-to-Work Checklist, BLRs legal editors and experts break down the different measures businesses need to take to provide employees with a safe workplace environment. Businesses can download a copy at https://interactive.blr.com/RTW-Checklist-COVID-19.

For even more robust training, BLR is offering a COVID-19 and the Workplace: Housekeeping and Hygiene course through its learning solution TrainingToday to help employers comply with existing safety and health standards and implement new housekeeping and hygiene practices. View course details at https://simplifytraining.com/course/covid-19-workplace-housekeeping-hygiene/.

BLRs Reopening the Workplace Virtual Conference: Navigating the New Reality of COVID-19 is now available on demand. This provides information about determining the who, when, and how of bringing an employers workforce back; the implementation of temperature and symptom checks or social distancing in the workplace; and answers on:



Health, privacy, and employer liability issues

Leave issues (FFCRA, FMLA, PSL)

Wage and hour and benefits issues

Employee rights and protections

Virtual conference attendees also receive a PDF of 20 FAQs related to Reopening the Workplace answered by BLRs in-house team of legal editors and experts. Learn more at https://store.blr.com/reopening-the-workplace.

BLRs commitment to supporting businesses during reopening doesnt stop there; the company is planning to provide continued guidance and education, such as the upcoming Workplace Safety Recordkeeping Essentials in the COVID-19 Era: How to Comply with Newly Issued Guidance and Train Workers on Recordable/Reportable Requirements Master Class on August 12, 2020. Those professionals wishing to attend can register for this event at https://store.blr.com/record-keeping-essentials-covid-19.

BLR recommends employers follow all of the applicable guidance from the CDC, state, and local public health authorities, from providing the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks, gloves, and hand sanitizers, to disinfecting high-contact areas, implementing social distancing, and more. By implementing policies and practices that are consistent with rapidly changing guidelines, employers can help protect themselves from litigation and help mitigate employee concerns as they return to the workplace, says Chris Ceplenski, Managing Editor for BLR.

You can also check out BLRs Coronavirus and Pandemic Response Solution Center, which is being updated as new information becomes available, at https://interactive.blr.com/Solution-Center/Coronavirus.

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About BLR

Business and Legal Resources (BLR) is an information services and technology company with more than 20 years of experience working with the nations top companies to simplify compliance and drive success. BLR delivers award-winning online and in-person solutions, including training programs, events, web portals, reports, and subscription services to help businesses unlock their full potential. Over 30,000 businesses turn to BLR each year for the knowledge and tools they need to respond quickly in todays continuously evolving business environment. https://www.blr.com/

About TrainingToday

TrainingToday provides online education programs for employees and supervisors by offering an extensive course library on hundreds of workplace topics, engaging and interactive presentations, and valuable training tools. In order to fit into your training plan, TrainingToday offers multiple learning management system (LMS) delivery platforms for you to choose from, and its even mobile-friendly, so you can train your employees anywhere, anytime. https://interactive.blr.com/trainingtoday-demo
SCP Health (SCP) and Cornerstone at the Ranch (Cornerstone), a skilled nursing facility (SNF), announce the launch of a new post-acute care program to improve clinical outcomes and quality-of-life for residents at Cornerstone.

SCP provides a comprehensive approach to real-time post-acute care for residents in SNFs by applying its expertise in quality outcomes, consistent care, and patient experience to the skilled nursing facility environment. In this new venture, residents and care teams at Cornerstone at the Ranch will have access to a 24/7 clinical care team and nurse call center.

This model allows for better care coordination between the hospitals clinical team and case management teams, and the medical professionals caring for patients in skilled nursing facilities after discharge, explains Lisa Fry, Chief Growth Officer at SCP Health. A post-acute care program of this nature grants SNF residents improved clinical outcomes and a better care experience for themselves and their families.

SCPs post-acute care program offers:



A local physician  typically a member of the local hospitals Hospital Medicine team  performs biweekly rounds on residents and can serve as the Medical Director of the program overseeing a team of NP/PAs.

NP/PAs staffed at the SNF are on call 24/7 and round on residents during the weekdays. They also act as a liaison to the physician(s) and are backed by SCP 24/7.

Access to a 24/7 nurse call line with triage protocols to help prevent readmission and improve outcomes.

Now, more than ever, its important that attentive and expert clinical support be available for our residents, who are among the most vulnerable population during this current Coronavirus outbreak, says Ricky Bonin, Chief Operating Officer of Paramount Healthcare, the management company for Cornerstone at the Ranch.

SCP is currently deploying post-acute care programs in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in areas across the United States. To learn more about post-acute care services, contact business_development@scp-health.com.

About SCP Health

SCP Health (SCP) is a clinical company. At our core we work to bring hospitals and healers together in the pursuit of clinical effectiveness. With a portfolio of over 8 million patients, 7500 providers, 30 states, and 400 healthcare facilities, SCP Health is a leader in clinical practice management spanning the entire continuum of care, including emergency medicine, hospital medicine, wellness, telemedicine, intensive care, and ambulatory care.
After the judge and lawyers left the call, dozens of friends and supporters of Rahman  including her mother and some nieces and nephews  stayed on the line a few minutes longer to offer her words of encouragement.
Medical e-Learning during COVID-19 COVID-19, social distancing, and stay-at-home protocols have exposed a major challenge in diagnosis and remote treatment of individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).

COVID-19, social distancing, and stay-at-home protocols have exposed a major challenge in diagnosis and remote treatment of individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). According to Health Risk Screening, Inc.s President Dr. Craig Escude, as telehealth becomes one of the most-often used methods of diagnosis and treating patients in the pandemic era, the training and education of clinicians is critical to the success of the patients outcome. This is true now more than ever as it relates to patients with IDD.

The implementation of telehealth and e-learning solutions would be paramount for all caregivers. Healthcare professionals and caregivers are enormously disadvantaged in providing care for those with IDD during COVID-19, Dr. Escude says. E-learning tools are crucial to providing accurate diagnostic support to healthcare workers. Early intervention saves lives of people with IDD in home and facility settings.

Not all physicians who provide healthcare through telehealth possess the specialized training to work with IDD patients for accurate diagnoses. New York area Emergency Department Director Dr. Mathew Kaufman understands the challenges and has become part of the solution through his telemedicine company StationMD. ER physicians clearly see the need for prevention and care practices that keep vulnerable patient groups like those with IDD out of the ER. Direct Support Professionals (DSP) are in the best position to observe, record, and report signs and symptoms that may indicate changes of health status. The challenge is that both DSPs and ER physicians lack training in identifying and treating health issues in people with IDD.

The availability of e-learning in this specialty area of medicine enables remote physicians to diagnose, isolate, and set up treatment protocols of COVID-19 positive IDD patients within the facility, Dr. Kauffman explained. This kind of training equips our staff with the ability to determine the severity of the medical problem, what to do about it, and if they should be transported to the ER.

A major complicating condition is pneumonia. In fact, aspiration pneumonia is considered one of The Fatal Five preventable causes of death in people with IDD. Statistics show that patients with IDD suffer death from pneumonia at two to five times the rate of those without IDD. Thats according to a data-backed research brief recently posted by Syracuse Universitys Lerner Center for Public Health.(1) This not only shows the outsized danger of COVID-19 to individuals with IDD but points to a lack of diagnostic support for this group(2).

Education and training is critical to avoiding unnecessary suffering by people with IDD, and having access to e-learning tools, such as HRSs Curriculum in IDD Healthcare, could support physicians in helping clinicians meet that diagnostic objective for these vulnerable patients. The use of e-learning tools has been shown to reduce ER visits by 41 percent when used by DSPs working with vulnerable populations in a group of more than 6,000 California home care workers.(4)

HRSs e-learning tools provided significant background and education to StationMD personnel helping patients with IDD to avoid unnecessary trips to the ER. HRSs Curriculum in IDD Healthcare eLearn course can have a profound impact on helping clinicians by arming them with the fundamentals they need to provide healthcare for people with IDD. The Curriculum has already proven to be an important new e-learning solution for medical student training and use by ER physician groups, just as it did for StationMD.

This tool is part of a broader metric-backed understanding that e-learning tools have proven to be equally or more effective than traditional teaching methods.(5) As life in general and medicine specifically become more digitized, having easily accessible tools and training will not only save the lives of patients with clinical complexities, but the population at large as well. This effectiveness is mirrored in telehealth interventions that combine E-learning as part of an evidenced-based, person centered services approach for healthcare teams. (6)(7)(8)

According to Dr. Escude, it is these types of innovations between telehealth and e-learning to better diagnose IDD patients that will be necessary to deal with an increasing remote healthcare diagnostic age. Dr. Escude says. It will take a combination of education and increased access to trained clinicians to play a major part in stemming mortality rates as we move forward.

About Health Risk Screening, Inc.:

Health Risk Screening, Inc.s roots began in 1992. HRS is an industry leader in training courses, webinars, and materials to help at-risk populations. HRSs focus is on developing tools and training for the person-centered support of these vulnerable populations. Through the education of government agencies and service providers, HRS aims to improve lives. One such tool is the Health Risk Screening Tool, of which HRS is the sole developer, producer, and distributor. The web-based HRST is the most widely used and validated health risk screening instrument for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With unrelenting focus, HRS works to fulfill its mission of improving the health and quality of life for people faced with these types of vulnerabilities. For more information, visit http://www.hrstonline.com.

1. Dalton Stevens. Potential Impacts of COVID-19 on Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disability: A Call for Accurate Cause of Death Reporting, Lerner Center,

April 14, 2020, lernercenter.syr.edu/2020/04/14/potential-impacts-of-covid-19-on-individuals-with-intellectual-and-developmental-disability-a-call-for-accurate-cause-of-death-reporting/

2. Michelle Diament. COVID-19 Cases at Group Homes, Institutions Going Untracked, May 11, 2020, disabilityscoop.com/2020/05/11/covid-19-cases-at-group-homes-institutions-going-untracked/28313/

3. Retooling for an Aging America Building the Health Care Workforce, NCBI Books, 2008, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK215401/

4. Kezia Scales. Leveraging Technology to SupportNot SupplantThe Home Care Workforce, Health Affairs, August 7, 2019, healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20190805.54553/full/

5. E Learning as good as traditional training for health professionals: where is the evidence? WHO, 2015, who.int/hrh/news/2015/e_learning_4_hrh/en/

6. Totten AM, et al. AHRQ comparative effectiveness technical briefs, in telehealth: mapping the evidence for patient outcomes from systematic reviews. Rockville: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, June 2016, effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/telehealth_technical-brief.pdf

7. de la Torre-Diez I, et al. Cost-utility and cost-effectiveness studies of telemedicine, electronic, and mobile health systems in the literature: a systematic review. Telemed J E Health. 2015;21(2):815, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers, January 2015, liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/tmj.2014.0053

8. Winifred V. Quinn Ellen OBrien Gregg Springan. Using Telehealth to Improve Home-Based Care for Older Adults and Family Caregivers, Advancing States, May 2018, advancingstates.org/sites/nasuad/files/using-telehealth-to-improve-home-based-care-for-older-adults-and-family-caregivers.pdf
The greatest obstacle to saving Arbuckles Fort is raising the necessary funds to acquire the property containing the site.

The Archaeological Conservancy, the West Virginia Land Trust, and the Greenbrier Historical Society are excited to announce the launch of a crowdfunding campaign for the acquisition of the Arbuckles Fort archaeological site located in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. This project is an opportunity to preserve a site dating to the Revolutionary War and early settlement period in the state, as well as protect the important natural resources located on the property. These resources will be available for educational and tourism activities.

Arbuckles Fort was part of a chain of forts established to defend settlers moving into the Colonial United States western frontier. It was constructed in 1774 in reaction to raids from Native Americans in the western part of Virginia, now West Virginia, brought about by increasing European settlement. The fort was built above the confluence of Muddy and Mill Creeks and was first occupied by Captain Matthew Arbuckles militia company, who remained until the fall of 1774 when they left to guide Colonel Andrew Lewis to Point Pleasant as part of a campaign during Dunmores War. The fort was reoccupied at least by the fall of 1776 during the American Revolution. As groups of Native Americans increasingly sided with the British, the fort was strengthened as a defense along the Allegheny Frontier. The fort was attacked twice but held.

No description of the fort has ever been found, but excavations conducted by archaeologists Kim and Stephen McBride have helped reveal the history of this important site. Buried features include a stone chimney base and foundation from a blockhouse, with a nearby large storage pit that may have served as a powder magazine, ash and refuse filled pits, and a slag concentration from blacksmithing. A trench filled with post molds delineates a stockade with north and south bastions, and two gates. The archaeological integrity of the site; its connection to Native American, African American, and settler communities; and its rich historical documentation give the Arbuckle's Fort site tremendous potential for research and public interpretation.

This 25-acre preserve will serve as a permanently protected monument to the struggles our Greenbrier Valley ancestors endured in the mid-1700s as they put their roots down in the region. The fort site now rests on a lush grassy knoll bordered by two slow meandering streams; inviting visitors to interpret history while peacefully enjoying the natural setting. Local school students and tourists have used the site to learn about archaeology and history; the permanent preservation of this property will ensure they can continue to do so. It is anticipated that conserving such historic sites throughout the Greenbrier Valley will increase the draw for tourists, and will ultimately boost the local economy as the Valley becomes a destination for more visitors.

The greatest obstacle to saving Arbuckles Fort is raising the necessary funds to acquire the property containing the site. The West Virginia Land Trust and The Archaeological Conservancy are seeking to raise $125,000 to purchase the site which currently has no protections against development or destruction. The West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund has already committed $25,000 to management of the property, and our hope is that $60,000 of the total amount can be crowdfunded through outreach to the local community in partnership with the Greenbrier Historical Society. Once acquired, the partners plan to work together to develop the site into a passive use park with signage about the cultural and natural resources protected within the property. Future plans include developing a Friends Group to help maintain the site and share the importance of this resource on the local and state levels.

Please consider donating to this conservation effort at https://give.archaeologicalconservancy.org/holdthefort, to support the protection of this extraordinary site. Each $30 donation will give you a 1-year membership to The Archaeological Conservancy.

About The Archaeological Conservancy:

The Archaeological Conservancy, established in 1980, is the only national non-profit organization dedicated to acquiring and preserving the best of our nation's remaining archaeological sites. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Conservancy also operates regional offices in Mississippi, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nevada. The Conservancy has preserved over 550 sites across the nation. More information can be found at http://www.archaeologicalconservancy.org.

About the West Virginia Land Trust:

The West Virginia Land Trust is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to protecting special places, focusing on projects that protect scenic areas, historic sites, outdoor recreation access and drinking water supplies by protecting land that borders rivers and streams. Since 1994, the organization has protected more than 10,000 acres of land statewide. More information can be found at http://www.wvlandtrust.org.

About the Greenbrier Historical Society:

Founded in 1963, the Greenbrier Historical Society is dedicated to community enrichment through education and preservation of the history and culture of the Greenbrier Valley. A regional organization, we serve the West Virginia counties of Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, and Pocahontas. We own and manage three properties, the North House (our offices and headquarters), the Barracks, and the Blue Sulphur Springs Pavilion. The mission of the Greenbrier Historical Society is to share the diverse history and culture of the Greenbrier Valley. More information can be found at https://www.greenbrierhistorical.org.
I am committed to supporting efforts to find cures for this blood cancer in honor of my mother and stepmother, and every patient, survivor and their loved ones touched by this disease.

The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF)  the nations largest nonprofit organization devoted exclusively to funding innovative lymphoma research and serving the lymphoma community  held its annual wine tasting event online on Thursday, June 25. Swirl: America, An At Home Tasting Event raised more than $20,000 to help fund research to fight lymphoma and is now available on-demand nationwide. Hosted by award-winning Inside Edition journalist and LRF Spokesperson Lisa Guerrero, the virtual fundraiser featured a mixology session of refreshing summer cocktails designed by Robby Haynes, co-founder of Chicago-based Apologue Liqueurs. Lisa, who is passionate about helping to stop lymphoma and has family members affected by the disease, is in her inaugural year as an LRF spokesperson.

We are truly grateful for Apologue, Dukes Liquor Box and all our supporters of the Swirl: America, An At Home Wine Tasting, said Meghan Gutierrez, LRF Chief Executive Officer. Due to their extraordinary generosity and longstanding commitment to LRFs mission, we have not only raised funds but have also united philanthropic communities across the country to make an impact on lymphoma research and the lives of people impacted by this blood cancer.

As part of her partnership with LRF, Lisa Guerrero launched the #SwirlAndSayCheese cheeseboard challenge and demonstrated how to make a happy hour cheese board. Contestants have until Saturday, July 25 to post a picture of their cheese board creation on either Facebook, Twitter or Instagram tagging @4lisaguerrero, and using the hashtag, #SwirlAndSayCheese. The winner will receive a handmade, mosaic Swirl and Say Cheese Lazy Susan created by Lisa herself.

There are millions of families in the United States impacted by lymphomaincluding mine, said Lisa Guerrero, LRF Spokesperson and Chief Investigative Correspondent for Inside Edition. I am committed to supporting efforts to find cures for this blood cancer in honor of my mother and stepmother, and every patient, survivor and their loved ones touched by this disease.

For more information about Swirl: America or other ways to support LRF, visit https://lymphoma.org/swirlmamerica.

About the Lymphoma Research Foundation

The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) is the nations largest non-profit organization devoted to funding innovative research and serving the lymphoma community through a comprehensive series of education programs, outreach initiatives and patient services. To date, LRF has awarded more than $63 million in lymphoma-specific research.

For additional information on LRFs research, education and services, visit lymphoma.org.
The Plain Dealer Top Workplaces Cleveland 2020 Award It's exciting to be a part of a culture where everyone is united under a common goal. -Mike Valentine, Binary Defense CEO

Binary Defense, a leading managed security services provider, has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2020 honor by The Plain Dealer. Winners were selected by evaluating 15 drivers of high performance and engaged cultures that are critical to the success of any organization, including alignment, execution, and employee connection, just to name a few. Binary Defense ranked high in many of these categories, with exceptional ratings indicated for management support and employee approval of overall company direction.

Founded in 2014, Binary Defense is a growing cybersecurity firm that made the 2019 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies, ranking #1,361 nationally and in the top 30 in Ohio. In 2019, the company added 20 employees, expanding the employee base to just under 100. The organization also moved into a state-of-the-art office building located in Stow, Ohio. To go from a start-up to a growing and thriving organization in just a few years is a true testament to the employees who believe in our mission to create a world free from cyber threats, said Mike Valentine, Binary Defense Chief Executive Officer. Its exciting to be a part of a culture where everyone is united under a common goal.

That goal is championed by the companys founder and premier cybersecurity expert David Kennedy, who, along with Valentine, wanted to build an organization to defend companies against hackers trying to steal data and proprietary information. They assembled a team of the industrys top cybersecurity experts to monitor customers computer networks and help defend against cyberattacks around the clock with their proprietary Managed Detection & Response solution. They can also monitor the leading Security Information & Event Management (SIEM) technologies, analyzing thousands of data logs to determine if suspicious behavior is occurring. Finally, a team of counterintelligence experts combs through and infiltrates the dark web and other online forums to proactively seek out digital and physical threats against customers.

Benefits of working at Binary Defense, in addition to health, dental, vision and 401(k), include an unlimited PTO policy, which stresses the importance of work-life balance. Employees also enjoy free snacks, soft drinks and energy drinks while working in the Stow office. A recently-formed Engagement Committee is rolling out monthly events and contests for the team to participate in, ensuring a stronger, healthier and more engaged culture, even during the pandemic, in which employees shifted to remote work.

In a fast paced and evolving industry, the demand for a cybersecurity skillset will only increase. There is a global shortage of those trained in cybersecurity. Binary Defense provides job opportunities in a growing market and partners with local colleges and universities for training opportunities. Someone with a cybersecurity background, or someone who wants to learn the industry and contribute to something meaningful can make a real impact at Binary Defense, Valentine says.

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About Binary Defense

Binary Defense is a managed security services provider and software developer with leading cybersecurity solutions that include SOC-as-a-Service, Managed Detection & Response, Security Information & Event Management and Counterintelligence. With their human-driven, technology-assisted approach, Binary Defense is able to provide their clients with immediate protection and visibility, combating and stopping the next generation of attacks that their business faces. The company is headquartered in Stow, Ohio at 600 Alpha Parkway. For more information, please contact David White at David.White@binarydefense.com.
Nebula Graph adopted an open source distributed architecture. This is a strength allowing it to securely process data sets with more capable performance compared to any competing graph database.

Nebula Graph is now commercially available as the only database that can store and process billions of data points with trillions of relational connections in a shared-nothing distributed architecture for the industrys best business continuity. This makes it the highest performing graph database in the world. It is designed to meet the biggest data information discovery needs of the worlds largest businesses.

Earlier this month Nebula Graph raised $8M in a series pre-A funding round. The lead investor was Redpoint China Ventures. Matrix Partners China, who previously contributed as an angel investor, also contributed to this series pre-A round.

Nebula Graph is an open-source graph database. It was developed by VEsoft Inc. engineers. The team collectively has many years of leadership experience at some of the worlds most recognizable technology companies, such as Alibaba, Facebook, Huawei, and IBM.

Nebula Graph Advantages

Nebula Graph adopted an open source distributed architecture. This is a strength allowing it to securely process data sets with more capable performance compared to any competing graph database. This makes it the most capable big data analytics database in the world.

Nebula Graphs distributed high-availability architecture is also designed for scalability and recovery without disruption, ensuring the best business continuity. This deployment model and architecture make it the most reliable graph database in the world.

In addition, Nebula Graph created its nGQL programmable query language. It is very much like the common SQL query language but designed for graphs. So, this helps ensure there is little learning curve to get started. Nebula Graph is also provided with Nebula Graph Studio, a visualization application that combines data imports with graph exploration. This delivers a better understanding of data over textual formats.

The Graph Database Market and Applications

Graph databases are disrupting the billion-dollar market for the traditional Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). This is because large organizations today require big data and business analytics exceeding RDBMS capabilities. Nebula Graph has been launched for this purpose.

Graph databases are different from RDBMS databases because they store deep relationship characteristics about data within data itself. A graph database can efficiently manage millions of transactions or more and uncover how data sets relate to each other.

Nebula Graph is ideal for a CIO seeking to uncover the value of connected business data. Data Architects are another ideal user, who typically look to process connected data cost-effectively. Finally, Data Scientists will find it useful to explore the value buried in connected data.

Nebula Graph Real-World Usage

There are many markets that have large amounts of meaningless information stored in separate silos, ideal for Nebula Graph to mine it for meaningful results. This is true from finance, healthcare, and government agencies to Internet-of-Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and more. Because of Nebula Graphs proven capabilities, some of the worlds leading Internet properties are already using it in their real-world applications.

Xiaohongshu, a large user-generated-content community (UGC community) in Asia has countless relationships on the platform, from followers to likes. They use Nebula Graph for anti-fraud in their marketing. It prevents fraudulent users from stealing coupons to resell them. They also use it to detect bots and bot content. Youzan is a popular Asia-based ecommerce platform selling a variety of products. They are using Nebula Graph as a real time product recommendation engine. Finally, Qichacha is a popular business information inquiry platform. The company is using Nebula Graph to discover insider trading transactions.

Nebula Graph Pricing and Availability

Nebula Graph has been in beta mode since mid-2019. Nebula Graph v1.0 is now commercially proven and immediately available under Apache 2.0 licensing in the open source community. Plans are that, at some point, it will also be made available as a cloud service. It is currently available to businesses in North America, Europe, and Asia.

About VEsoft, Inc.

VEsoft Inc. has created Nebula Graph, the worlds most capable database for big data analytics discovery. Nebula Graph provides an industry-best capability of storing and handling billions of vertices and trillions of edges, with just milliseconds of latency. Its shared-nothing deployment architecture, removing any single point of failure and allowing fast recoveries, enables the industrys best business continuity. The company has secured $8 million in a series pre-A funding from investors that include RedPoint China Ventures as the lead and Matrix Partners China, which previously contributed as an angel investor. To learn more, visit https://nebula-graph.io/en/.

Note: Whether noted or not, references to certain words may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

TESTIMONIALS

Qian Yong, Graph Tech team leader at JD Digits

JDD used to use Janus Graph as its graph platform. The main problem with Janus Graph was slow read and write capability as well as an inactive community. The bug fixes were slow to come and the experience was not good. Then we encountered Nebula Graph when looking for new graph database solutions. JDD immediately joined the community and partnered with the Nebula Graph team. We have worked together and developed many features. With the highly performant distributed storage and query capabilities of Nebula Graph, JDD is able to dig up the most important connections from our super large amounts of business data, which benefits both internal and external businesses. We have been migrating our graph related projects from Janus Graph to Nebula Graph.

Zhao Dengchang, the AI platform expert at Meituan

"Before we found Nebula Graph, we had tried many well-ranking graph databases on db-engines.com, including Neo4j, Janus Graph, and Dgraph. However, our project was not able to go live because these solutions couldnt meet our requirements from both a scalability and performance point of view. Then we found that Nebula Graph is neatly designed and scalable. In addition, it is written in C++ and highly performant. Nebula Graph is built distributed. Also, the team is excellent and capable. We have worked with them and solved so many problems and finally improved the performance much higher than we had expected. We have set up a graph platform based on our existing infrastructure for easier business access. Currently we are working closely together, hoping to migrate more knowledge graph projects to Nebula Graph."

Chen Qi, the Data Platform expert at YouZan

"There are tremendous advantages in graph-based risk management and recommendation solutions compared to traditional ones. Thanks to the innovative capabilities enabled by the graph technology, we have found a bunch of new growing opportunities. Therefore, we have been looking for highly performant open source graph databases based on our requirements of high throughput and low latency. After a thorough comparison among multiple solutions including Nebula Graph, Neo4j, Dgraph, and JanusGraph, we finally chose Nebula Graph because first, the scalable distributed architecture can avoid capacity bottlenecks for business growth. Second, the performance of Nebula Graph meets our expectations better than the other candidates. And third, the community is quite active and responsive when we have encountered any problems."

Zheng Wenyu, the Knowledge Graph Algorithm expert at Suzhou Langdong Network Technology Co., Ltd (Qichacha)

"Graph database technology is perfect for use in scenarios like understanding supply chains, gaining insight into enterprise relationships, and more. At the very beginning, we adopted a well-known single-host graph database which did support our rapid business growth in our early stage. However, our business data scaled rapidly and the original solution fell short in both scalability and timeliness. We have been keeping a close eye on Nebula Graph ever since its beta launch back in May 2019 and found that the distributed architecture meets our business requirements perfectly. Plus the project has iterated fast. After a few months of trial and profiling, Nebula Graph has substituted the original solution in most of our internal business units. We plan to migrate more businesses to Nebula Graph in the future as soon as the OpenCypher compatibility is ready."

Chuixue, head of the anti-cheat and risk control algorithm at Xiaohongshu (RED)

"I have a graph, a red graph. There are a lot of graphs that exist in xiaohongshu as an online community. They decipher the connections between users and notes, followings among users, transaction relationships, etc. A traditional RDBMS cannot efficiently support the graph storage and online queries at xiaohongshu. I have done my research on many graph databases out there on the market. Some just hope for Moore's law and some just cannot meet our performance requirements. The reasons we chose Nebula Graph include that we believe that the Nebula Graph team has the deepest understanding of the graph database industry because they have tremendous experience in real-time recommendations, search, and risk control. In addition, the core architecture provides cluster-level scalability and supports super-scale datasets perfectly. It's worth mentioning that Nebula Graph has realized Reservoir Sampling to solve the super nodes problem in the graph world per xiaohongshu's request. We are protecting the Red Graph community with Nebula Graph as the underlying risk control weapon. Meanwhile we are adopting Nebula Graph in other business units."
By making toilet paper from ancient forests essential to the climate fight, Procter & Gamble and other companies are flushing away our forests and our planets future, said Shelley Vinyard, NRDCs Boreal Campaign Manager and report co-author.

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) today released an updated analysis of the climate impacts caused by the tree to toilet pipeline destroying the climate-critical Canadian boreal forest. The Issue with Tissue 2.0 report includes a new sustainability ranking for toilet paper brands and other tissue products made by major U.S. producers.

While toilet papers emergence as one of the most sought-after products in America was an unexpected side effect of COVID-19, the toilet paper shortage has brought to the forefront the urgency of creating a more sustainable, resilient means of production of tissue products. Currently, the industry clearcuts one million acres of boreal forest each year - leading Canada to rank third globally, behind Russia and Brazil, in terms of global intact forest loss  in part to produce pulp that U.S. tissue makers roll into the ultimate disposable product: toilet paper.

By making toilet paper from ancient forests essential to the climate fight, tissue companies are flushing away our forests and our planets future, said Shelley Vinyard, NRDCs Boreal Campaign Manager and report co-author. Instead of exacerbating the climate crisis, companies like Procter & Gamble must take urgent action to create more sustainable products. Our planet has no time for the largest companies in the world to take half-measures or deflect blame, said Vinyard.

NRDCs 2020 scorecard ranks 26 toilet paper brands, giving an A or A+ score to 11 brands, including the new winner Who Gives A Crap, which received the top grade for its rolls made of 100 percent recycled materials, including 95 percent postconsumer recycled product. Major brands -- Charmin, Cottonelle, and Quilted Northern -- bring up the rear with F grades, because they are made entirely of virgin forest fiber. NRDC evaluated facial tissue and paper towel brands, as well.

Together with its partners, NRDC is pushing U.S. tissue makers like Procter & Gamble to take steps to minimize their impact on the planet, including sourcing half or more of their pulp from post-consumer recycled content, which would save at least 1.6 million tons of virgin wood from being turned into throwaway tissue products every year.

Toilet paper releases carbon with every flush, landing major U.S. tissue makers in the hot seat for their role in turning Canadas boreal forest from a climate asset to a liability.

With every roll of their unsustainable toilet paper, companies are pushing the world closer to climate catastrophe. Thats because climate change isnt just about smokestacks and tail pipes, or oil wells and coal mines. Its also driven by cutting down irreplaceable climate-critical forests like the Canadian boreal for something as short-lived as a flush, said Jennifer Skene, an attorney with NRDCs Canada Project and report co-author.

Climate facts about Canadas boreal forest:



The forests vegetation and slow-decaying soils lock away nearly twice as much carbon as is contained in all the worlds recoverable oil reserves.

In recent years, Canada has ranked third globally in intact forest loss, behind only Russia and Brazil, largely due to logging.

One million acres of the Canadian boreal are clearcut each year.

Each second, industry clearcuts 1,400 square feet of the boreal, an area the size of a small house.

Every minute, the clearcut area reaches the size of a small city block.

In addition to challenging major tissue brands to add post-consumer recycled pulp to products, NRDC also calls on tissue makers to invest in recycled and alternative fiber research and stop sourcing tissue pulp from critical habitats of threatened species and areas where logging companies have not obtained free, prior and informed consent before operating in the traditional lands of Indigenous Peoples.

Additional Resources



Download scorecard here

Boreal Photography: Photo credit is required: River Jordan for NRDC

Video footage of the Boreal forest in Ontario

NRDC Boreal Team video interviews

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NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at NRDC.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.
Hurricane preparedness is key for everyone in Florida. With COVID-19 and social distancing, its even more imperative to update disaster preparedness plans, including supply kits, evacuation routes, shelters and more, says Stephen Shanton, CEO and president, Venture Construction Group of Florida.

With over 20 years of experience in providing storm and hurricane damage repairs and emergency services to homeowners and commercial/industrial property owners and businesses throughout Florida, Venture Construction Group of Florida (VCGFL) launches a free webinar series in conjunction with multiple chambers of commerce throughout the state. The webinar series kicked off in May and sessions will be held through July. Chamber partnerships to date include Boca Raton, Hobe Sound, Jensen Beach, Palm City, Stuart/ Martin County. Webinars are open to the public. To RSVP or learn more, call 1-866-459-8351 or email HurricaneServices@VCGFL.com.

The VCGFL Hurricane Preparedness webinar includes updated information per the National Hurricane Center and provides a live Q&A platform. Topics include creating a hurricane preparedness checklist, developing a disaster plan, determining your evacuation zone, reviewing insurance policies and flood insurance, and the importance of property readiness and conducting routine property inspections.

Hurricane preparedness is key for everyone in Florida. With COVID-19 and social distancing, its even more imperative to update disaster preparedness plans, including supply kits, evacuation routes, shelters and more. And of course, seeing our latest supply shortages, be sure you have everything you need to strengthen your property, says Stephen Shanton, CEO and president, Venture Construction Group of Florida.

Hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin officially runs June 1 through Nov. 30. September is the most common month for hurricanes making landfall in the U.S., followed by August and October, according to an analysis of 1851 to 2015 data by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, 2020 Atlantic hurricane season activity is projected to be above normal. A normal Atlantic hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which 6 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes. This year, NOAA estimates higher than normal activity, including 13-19 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater). Of those storms, 6-10 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater), and 3-6 are predicted to strengthen into major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher).

NOAAs analysis of current and seasonal atmospheric conditions reveals a recipe for an active Atlantic hurricane season this year, said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., acting NOAA administrator. Our skilled forecasters, coupled with upgrades to our computer models and observing technologies, will provide accurate and timely forecasts to protect life and property.

VCGFL specializes in hurricane storm damage repairs and emergency services, along with the tornadoes, winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge and flying debris that often come along with it.

VCGFL is a proud member of numerous chambers throughout the state including: Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach North, Palm City, Stuart/ Martin County, Hobe Sound, Daytona Regional, Cocoa Beach Regional, Melbourne Regional, Marco Island Area, Southeast Volusia, Panama City Beach, Bay County, Greater Tallahassee Chamber, Destin chambers of commerce.

About Venture Construction Group of Florida

Founded in 1998, Venture Construction Group of Florida (VCGFL) is an award-winning leader in construction, restoration, renovations, roofing, storm damage repairs, and 24/7 emergency services throughout Florida, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bahamas and the Caribbean. Specializing in industrial/ commercial projects, VCGFL assists property managers, condominium boards, homeowner associations, association boards, hotels, and business complexes with general contractor services, roofing, specialty construction, historical restoration, water and flood mitigation, and property repairs due to fire, flood, water, wind and hurricanes. With offices in Boca Raton, Ft. Myers, Naples, Panama City Beach, Orlando, Stuart, Tampa, San Juan, and Nassau, VCGFL is committed to operational excellence and exceptional customer service. VCGFL takes care of the details every step of the way including roofing, siding, windows, drywall, flooring, paint, gutters to rebuilding properties after major storm events from hurricanes, tornadoes, and hailstorms. VCGFL holds leading industry awards including the Owens Corning Pinnacle Award for Safety, Construction Business Owner Award, Roofing Alliance MVP Award, Coatings Pro Contractor Award, Pro Remodeler Forty Under 40 Award, Qualified Remodeler Top 500 Remodelers Award, Qualified Remodeler Master Design Award, Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association S.T.A.R. Spotlight Trophy for the Advancement of Roofing Awards in Sustainability and Community Service. CEO Stephen Shanton is an esteemed member of the prestigious Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). Entrepreneur Magazine hails YEC Consists of Some of the Most Well-Respected Minds in Entrepreneurship. Shanton is a certified member of the WindStorm Insurance Network and is a WIND Certified Umpire, WIND Certified Appraiser, and WIND Certified Fellow. VCGFL carries the industrys leading accreditations and is an exclusive certified National Storm Damage Center Preferred Contractor, Certified Member of the United Association of Storm Restoration Contractors. VCGFL is a proud member of Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) Industry Members Association (EIMA); Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA); Gold Coast Builders Association (GCBA); Insurance Appraisal and Umpire Association (IAUA); National Association of Environmentally Responsible Mold Contractors (NAERMC); National Association of Home Builders (NAHB); National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA); Property Liability and Resource Bureau (PLRB); Restoration Industry Association (RIA). VCGFL is a registered U.S. Federal Government Contractor and holds leading certifications including Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, Mule-Hide Legacy Contractor, Certified CertainTeed Contractor, and Duro-Last Certified Contractor status. VCGFL credentials have been vetted and screened through independent third-party Global Risk Management Solutions. For more information, call 866-459-8351 or visit us online at http://www.VCGFL.com.

Media Inquiries:

Sarah Barrett

Elev8 Consulting Group

Ph: 386-243-5388

Web: http://www.elev8cg.com

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Views abound from the Mirror Lake Inn's outdoor swimming pool "We have taken the concept of cleaning, that was thorough enough to help us achieve 36 consecutive AAA Four Diamond awards, and invested time, energy and money into making it even better, said Ed Weibrecht, Mirror Lake Inn owner.

Cleanliness and friendliness, the hallmarks of the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa in Lake Placid for over 40 years, are back on display once again as the iconic lodging property started welcoming guests for full-time service on June 26. The Inn just completed soft openings over the weekends of June 12-14 and June 19-21.

The AAA Four Diamond property, offering an authentic Adirondack experience, felt a moral and civic responsibility to do their part in flattening the curve and therefore made the decision to temporarily shut down the resort on March 16. But now, as Upstate New York advances through the states four phases of reopening, the staffs friendliness has started greeting guests once again with open arms. When those visitors now walk through the doors, they notice an elevated level of cleanliness that is noteworthy.

With the health and safety of our staff and guests uppermost on our minds, we have taken the concept of cleaning, that was thorough enough to help us achieve 36 consecutive AAA Four Diamond awards, and invested time, energy and money into making it even better, said Ed Weibrecht, Mirror Lake Inn owner. The past three months have landed us in a completely new and different world thanks to COVID-19. But our guests can rest assured that since March 16 when we closed, we have researched new methods and invested in state-of-the-art hospital-grade cleaning equipment. Equally as important, we have made a commitment to everyone who enters our resort, be they visitors or staff, that they should have the utmost confidence in our consideration of their health.

In conjunction with the Inns return to daily operation, the Northern region of New York is set to enter phase four, also on June 26. To mark the welcome back, the Mirror Lake Inn is offering several new packages for stays through December 20, 2020.



Stay four nights and get the fifth night free. This deal is applicable for all room types.

Stay 14 consecutive nights or more and receive 50 percent off the nightly rate.

These offers must be booked directly with the hotel. Please call the onsite reservations team at 518-523-2544. They will help you make the best decision for your group or family, and can inform you of the myriad of activities that you can enjoy while in Lake Placid.

For a complete listing of Mirror Lake Inn packages, please log on to: https://mirrorlakeinn.com/our-packages/

The luxury seven-acre property offers 130 units all overlooking Mirror Lake and the Adirondack High Peaks. The single-loaded construction and design concept of the magnificent resort naturally lends itself to better social distancing as there are less guests in the hallways than traditional lodging properties where rooms are placed on both sides of the corridor. No other Adirondack region hotel is designed in this manner.

With health and safety front and center, heres what guests and hotel staff can expect when they enter the Inn:



As per the Governors executive order of May 29, all guests and employees are required to wear face coverings when in indoor common areas including hallways and elevators or wherever social distancing is not possible.

Hospital-grade Ultraviolet-C disinfecting tools have been deployed throughout the property to ensure the highest levels of cleaning and disinfection. This will continue.

Hospital-grade Electrostatic sprayers have been used to ensure the most thorough levels of disinfection on high touchpoint areas. This will also continue.

Remote check-in capabilities are being implemented via a smartphone app, allowing you to check in from your vehicle upon arrival, avoiding the traditional check in process.

A task force has been created to monitor the situation and work in conjunction with CDC and local officials to ensure safety protocols are implemented and maintained throughout the resort.

All staff will undergo thermal imaging prior to the start of every shift.

All staff will complete a state mandated health and safety questionnaire prior to every shift.

Any staff member registering a fever greater than 100.4, or who is unable to positively answer the verbal portion of the health and safety screening, will be unable to come on property until cleared by a healthcare professional.

All staff will wear PPE equipment while working in common areas or wherever social distancing is impractical.

Maximum hotel occupancy has been reduced to 75 percent.

Whenever practical, guest rooms will be left vacant for 72 hours for a potential virus to die without a host after each guest departure.

To review the entirety of the Inns new policies and protocols, please log on to: https://mirrorlakeinn.com/covid-19-safety/

The pandemic has also resulted in a change to the dining scene inside the Mirror Lake Inn. The View Restaurant, AAA Four Diamond rated the past 13 consecutive years, has been re-imagined and enlarged with greater spacing as part of the new safety measures. The redesign includes hardwood flooring to facilitate better cleaning and sanitation.

Taste Bistro has now been integrated into The View with the bistros most popular items to be found on The Views menu. The end result will present guests with the best of both worlds: a combination of upscale dining and elegant comfort food. Tastes footprint has become The View Lounge. The hip Cottage Cafe, on the shore of Mirror Lake, continues to welcome diners and revelers for its 43rd year. The Cottage presents both indoor and outdoor settings, and now features yet a third and fourth open air options to complement its deck and patio. For added service and efficiency, the Inn is implementing to-go apps for these restaurants, allowing guests to order and pre-pay electronically from their own device.

The spa and salon are also ready to welcome guests. A physical barrier has been inserted at the check-in desk. Treatment schedules have been altered to ensure ample time for cleaning and disinfecting treatment surfaces between customers. Equipment in the fitness room will also be cleaned and disinfected between guest use. Manicures and pedicures will be limited to one at a time, although booking as a safe group is permissible. The policy is similar for the gift shop. In high traffic areas of the spa/salon, social distance markers have been put in place.

We are insisting on these protocols for the safety of our guests, employees and the local community, continued Weibrecht. Until such time as we, in conjunction with the State of New York, determine that it is prudent to relax these protocols, we will strictly adhere to them and look forward to a time when we might be able to lift those protocols.

-MLI-

About the Mirror Lake Inn

The AAA Four Diamond Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa is a luxury lakefront resort offering an authentic Adirondack experience. The Inn, rated Four Diamond for 36 consecutive years, offers both Four Diamond world-class cuisine and casual dining options, with impeccable service amid awe-inspiring views. Only one other property in New York State (located in Manhattan), has maintained the Four Diamond designation longer than Mirror Lake Inn. It is the only property in Lake Placid that combines Four Diamond lodging and dining. The Inn's renowned Lake Placid spa pampers the body and refreshes the mind with a comprehensive menu of services. The Inn is conveniently located one block from the restaurants and shops on Main Street in Lake Placid.
A day after a Queens County Surrogate's Court dismissed his initial June 23 motion, President Donald J. Trump's brother, Robert S. Trump, filed a new lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court in Dutchess County, once again seeking to block publication of Mary L. Trump's forthcoming tell-all, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man.

The June 26 filing, which is nearly identical to the Trump family's defective June 23 effort, is based on a sweeping confidentiality clause agreed to in 2001, when the estate of the presidents father, Fred Trump Sr., was settled. The suit seeks to block publication of the book, as well as a declaration that Mary L. Trump has breached her confidentiality agreement, and potential damages. The action also names the book's publisher, Simon & Schuster, as a defendant.

On the S&S website, the forthcoming book is described as a revelatory, authoritative portrait of Donald J. Trump and the toxic family that made him," and claims to offer insight into how Trump "became the man who now threatens the worlds health, economic security, and social fabric. The publisher's catalog copy describes Mary L. Trump as a trained clinical psychologist as well as the presidents only niece. The book is scheduled for a July 28 publication.

According to a report on the website Law.com, Trump family attorney Charles B. Harder told Dutchess County Supreme Court justice Hal B. Greenwald in a June 26 letter that the Trump family hoped to move quickly to avoid "the situation presented in the recent case of United States v. Bolton," in which a federal judge declined to issue a restraining order blocking the publication of former national security adviser John Bolton's memoir of his 18 months in the Trump administration, The Room Where it Happened, noting that the book had already been widely distributed.

Lawyers for Mary L. Trump and for S&S also wrote to the judge, insisting that the action seeks to impose what is clearly an unconstitutional prior restraint.

 "The relief [Trump] requests is among the most extraordinary remedies a litigant can request under the law, a prior restraint of speech on a matter of public interest..." 

"Regardless of Mr. Trumps efforts to make this seem like a small dispute about the breach of a confidentiality provision in a Settlement Agreementto which Simon & Schuster is not a partythe relief he requests is among the most extraordinary remedies a litigant can request under the law, a prior restraint of speech on a matter of public interest," wrote S&S attorney Elizabeth McNamara in a June 26 letter to the court, requesting that S&S be allowed to brief this issue before any order to show cause or other provisional relief is entered.

In her June 26 letter to the court, Mary L. Trump's lawyer, Anne Champion, indicated that Mary L. Trump will fight the motion to block publication, and also requested the opportunity to fully brief the court. "The First Amendment unquestionably protects Ms. Trump's right to participate in the electoral debate by writing and having published her work concerning the President's character and fitness for office," Champion wrote, "and it independently protects the right of Defendant Simon & Schuster, Inc., to publish it as well."
Learning how to communicate effectively while wearing facial coverings can be a challenge. Shannon Van Hyfte, a clinical associate professor of audiology and director of the M.D. Steer Audiology Clinic at Purdue University, has some tips to make communicating easier. (Stock image)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  As wearing facial coverings and masks becomes the new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic, learning how to communicate effectively while wearing them can be a challenge.

Thats especially true for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, says Shannon Van Hyfte, a clinical associate professor of audiology and director of the M.D. Steer Audiology Clinic in Purdue Universitys College of Health and Human Sciences.

We usually tell people who are trying to communicate with someone with a hearing impairment not to cover their face, and now were living in a world where everyone needs to be covering their face, Van Hyfte says. Its posing a unique challenge to people with hearing loss.

Wearing facial coverings makes speech signals harder to hear, Van Hyfte says. It also reduces nonverbal cues from facial expressions and the ability to read lips.

Everyone is having to work a lot harder to find those signals we use when we communicate, she says. I hope this is teaching us to be more patient when communicating with others. Right now, were all experiencing what its like to not hear as well as wed like to, and I hope that makes us more understanding toward people with hearing loss.

For individuals who wear hearing aids, getting a mask to fit properly over their ears also is a challenge, Van Hyfte says. She recommends that they wear a mask with an extender to make sure it fits securely without interfering with the hearing aid.

Van Hyfte, who sees patients regularly and teaches Purdue audiology students how to interact with patients, has the following tips to help with communication in a masked world  especially with those who are hearing-impaired.

Pausing and slowing down. Pausing between sentences while conversing with another person lets the other person keep up  and it allows for better breath support.

Keeping a level volume. While the other person may have trouble hearing and understanding you, Van Hyfte says, raising your voice isnt necessarily helpful. It can really degrade the signal of your voice, making it that much harder to hear, she says. Keeping your voice at a consistent, level volume will make it easier to communicate.

Eliminating background noise. Try to move to a quieter area, away from background noise and distractions, if possible.

Other forms of communication. Van Hyfte suggests that when communicating with someone with a hearing impairment, ask how theyd prefer to communicate. Using an app or pencil and paper can sometimes be easier and more effective.

About Purdue University Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Purdue Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences is a top-ranked department (No. 3 in Speech-Language Pathology and No. 9 in Audiology; U.S. News & World Report), with research and clinical efforts to mechanistically investigate and treat a variety of hearing, speaking, language, and swallowing disorders. The departments state-of-the-art research and clinical laboratories facilitate cutting-edge scientific discoveries and a committed engagement with citizens of Indiana through top-quality clinical service delivery. The department supports stellar education of its students through four pre-eminent degree programs. Visit https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/slhs/ to learn more.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 6 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu.

Writer: Abbey Nickel, 740-326-0481, nickela@purdue.edu

Source: Shannon Van Hyfte, svanhyff@purdue.edu
Hernandez, who also goes by the name Charles Joy, was sentenced to five to 15 years in 1992 for assault, weapon possession and reckless endangerment. He returned to prison in 2006 to serve a 12-to-15 year sentence for weapon possession. He was released to parole in 2018.
INDIANAPOLIS  Michele McMahon has been elevated to associate dean for the graduate nursing programs with Purdue University Global, effective July 1.

McMahon, currently academic chair for Purdue Globals Nurse Practitioner Programs, is a dual board-certified acute care nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner with teaching experience at the graduate level and clinical expertise in critical care. She boasts a diverse clinical background in health promotion, disease prevention, acute and chronic care management, and health education. McMahon has experience as a program director. She has been academic chair for family nurse practitioner, adult gerontology primary care and adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner programs.

I feel so fortunate and honored to transition into the role of associate dean, McMahon said. I look forward to building relationships, cultivating a culture of trust and purpose, and incorporating innovative and creative strategies to achieve the mission and vision of the Purdue Global School of Nursing. Together, we will embark on this journey to move forward as the industry leader with programs that have unprecedented quality and rigor. We will aim to engage and empower faculty and students to provide an exceptional educational experience and improve persistence. I look forward to continuing to work to achieve our shared goals with such a dedicated and amazing team.

McMahons honors include receiving the 2016 Excellence in Teaching Award at South University (Savannah, Georgia) and being recognized as the 2014 Nurse Practitioner of the Year at St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital. She was a Sigma Theta Tau International (nursing honorary) experienced academic leadership participant in 2020 and a nominee for the Nightingale Excellence in Nursing honor in 2018. She is certified as an acute care nurse practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, family nurse practitioner by the American Association of Nutritional Consultants and in fundamentals of critical care support for advanced cardiac life support and basic life support.

I am thrilled to see Dr. McMahon become the associate dean of graduate programs for the School of Nursing, said Melissa Burdi, Purdue Global vice president and dean for the School of Nursing. She possesses a wealth of expertise and leadership in nursing higher education, and we look forward to her leading numerous strategic initiatives that will continue to add quality and rigor to our programs.

McMahons research interests include integrating virtual reality experiences for skills labs for graduate and undergraduate students, developing orientation and support mechanisms of new nursing faculty, using technology in distance learning to promote robust experiences, and increasing skills acquisition and persistence.

McMahon earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Michigan, a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Wayne State University, a postgraduate certificate from South University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Oakland University.

About Purdue University Global

Purdue University Global is the extreme personalization online university, providing students the competitive edge to advance in their chosen careers. It offers a hyper-tailored path for students to earn an associate, bachelors, masters or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, desired pace, military service, previous college credits and other considerations  no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global serves more than 31,000 students (as of March), most of whom earn their degree online. It also operates several regional locations nationwide. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. It is affiliated with Purdue Universitys flagship institution, a highly ranked public research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue University also operates two regional campuses in Fort Wayne and Northwest, Indiana, as well as serving close to 6,000 science, engineering and technology students at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus. For more information, please visit purdueglobal.edu.

Media Contact: Tom Schott, 765-494-9318, tschott@purdue.edu

Sources:

Melissa Burdi, melissa.burdi@purdueglobal.edu

Michele McMahon, michele.mcmahon@purdueglobal.edu

Note to Journalists: A photos of Michele McMahon is available on Google Drive.
A sign points pedestrians across Martin Jischke Drive to avoid the Meredith South construction site.

Two new dormitories, Meredith Hall South and Griffin Hall North, are set to be ready for occupancy by this fall.
Five residents of Rosewalk Village of Lafayette have died from the coronavirus. Nearly one-third of the county's new cases from last week have been attributed to the nursing home.
Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 91F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms later during the night. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.

Tomorrow

Cloudy. Periods of rain early. Thunder possible. High 71F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Berks County court

Mother in hangings seeks defense funding

Berks County mother charged with killing her son and daughter requests county help in paying for her defense
Colebrookdale Twp.

Man dies after shooting self, authorities say
Glasgow, 35, was fatally shot in the chest on his way to his car while attending a house party on E. 49th Street near Church Ave. in East Flatbush early on June 17. Relatives say he was trying to break up an argument between two men.
Pakistan remains a safe haven for a host of regional terror groups, including the Afghan Taliban and its integral subgroup, the Al Qaeda linked Haqqani Network, according the the State Departments newly released Country Reports on Terrorism 2019.

Pakistan continued to serve as a safe haven for certain regionally focused terrorist groups, State notes in its opening paragraph on Pakistan. It allowed groups targeting Afghanistan, including the Afghan Taliban and affiliated HQN [Haqqani Network], as well as groups targeting India, including LeT [Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa] and its affiliated front organizations, and JeM [Jaish-e-Mohammad], to operate from its territory.

After noting that Pakistan has taken modest steps in 2019 to counter terror financing and to restrain some India-focused militant groups, State criticizes Pakistan for failing to take decisive actions against Indian- and Afghanistan-focused militants who would undermine their operational capability.

State also blasts Pakistan for harboring wanted terrorists, including JeM emir Masood Azhar and LeT commander Sajid Mir, who was a mastermind of the Nov. 2008 terror assault on Mumbai India.

Azhar and Mir are widely believed to reside in Pakistan under the protection of the state, despite government denials, the report states.

Ironically, State praises the Pakistani government for playing a constructive role in U.S.-Taliban talks in 2019.

In other words, State is slamming Pakistan for continuing to harbor the Taliban and allied terrorists, who continue to attack the Afghan government and military as well as remaining allied with Al Qaeda, while praising Pakistan as a partner for peace.

In 2019, the Taliban and the affiliated HQN [Haqqani Network] increased terrorist attacks targeting Afghan civilians, government officials, and members of the international community, the Country Reports on Terrorism 2019 section on Afghanistan notes. This trend has continued in 2020, despite the U.S. and the Taliban signing what is wrongly characterized as a peace deal.

The deal, which was signed on Feb. 29, 2020, is in fact a withdrawal agreement that is heavily weighted to benefit the Taliban. The U.S. and the Taliban agreed to halt attacks on each other. The U.S. committed to a full withdrawal in 14 months, removing Taliban leaders from international sanctions lists, and forcing the Afghan government to conduct a lopsided prisoner exchange.

The Taliban made no concessions. It is not required to denounce and target Al Qaeda and other allied terror groups, commit to a ceasefire, negotiate with the Afghan government, or protect key social reforms such as womens rights. Instead the Taliban said it would not allow Afghanistan to be used as a launchpad for attacks on the West. This is the same promise the Taliban made prior to 9/11, which it of course did not honor.

Pakistan supported the U.S.-Taliban talks and continues to back the withdrawal deal as it benefits its Afghan proxy, the Taliban.

India-focused militant groups fight in Afghanistan

While States Country Reports on Terrorism 2019 rightly calls out Pakistan for remaining a safe haven for terror groups, it wrongly classifies LeT and JeM as India-focused militant groups. Additionally, it is wrong to call these outfits regionally focused and India-focused, as they support Al Qaeda and its global jihad.

LeT, JeM, and groups such as Harakat-ul-Muhahideen, and Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami not only operate against India, but also fight alongside the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. These groups were created with the support of Pakistans military and the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate and continue to base themselves inside Pakistan with the assistance of the government to this day.

State notes that Pakistan worked to restrain some India-focused militant groups after a suicide car bombing in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir that killed more than 40 policemen. That attack was carried out by JeM.

Pakistan has the ability to dial up and tamp down the violence in Jammu and Kashmir. It does this by using Afghanistan as a relief valve. Fighters from the Pakistan-backed terror groups redeploy from the Indian to the Afghan front when international pressure due to their attacks in India creates problems for Pakistan.

Pakistans dampening of the operations of terror groups in the Indian theater leads to an increase in attacks by these groups in Afghanistan. This is in direct contradiction to statements made by Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, who praised Pakistan as a partner for peace that committed to helping reduce violence in Afghanistan.

Just wrapped up a visit to Islamabad. #Pakistan supports efforts to accelerate intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations, and is committed to helping reduce violence in #Afghanistan. Everyone I saw recognizes the benefit peace will bring to the region. https://t.co/f2ENCLZoxl  U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) April 30, 2019

Less that three years prior to making that statement, Khalilzad, Congressional testimony, called Pakistan a State Sponsor of Terror.

If Pakistan was indeed committed to helping reduce violence in Afghanistan, as Khalilzad claimed, it would dismantle the infrastructure of the Taliban, LeT, JeM, and the host of allied terror group that continue to base themselves inside Pakistan. Instead, Pakistan continues to not only provide safe haven for these groups, but directly backs them.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

This article appeared originally at FDD's Long War Journal.
In fact, Kaplan notes in the introduction that it was concern over one such individual personality that was the impetus for the book, calling out President Donald Trump's 2017 threat to rain fire and fury on North Korea. For the first time in several decades, American citizens were concerned about nuclear war, though their fear took the form of a vaguely paralyzed anxiety. Because of the long reprieve from the bomb's shadow, few people know how to grasp its dimensions; they've forgotten, if they ever knew.[2]

In part, this lack of understanding has been by design. From the very beginning of the atomic age, U.S. nuclear policy has been shrouded in secrecy. One of The Bomb's greatest contributions is to shine a light on this secret history. Kaplan takes the reader from the Truman administration through the Trump administration, highlighting key players along the way, including RAND strategists, Air Force officers, low-level staffers, and Congressional members. What emerges is at the same time terrifying and oddly comfortingterrifying in how close the U.S. has come to starting a nuclear war and comforting in putting what seems like a unique presidency into a broader context that shows President Trump has not been the first American president to both know very little about nuclear weapons upon entering office and to threaten their use seemingly cavalierly.

Kaplan takes the reader from the Truman administration through the Trump administration, highlighting key players along the way, including RAND strategists, Air Force officers, low-level staffers, and Congressional members.

One concerning revelation to come from the book is how little U.S. nuclear strategy, particularly during the Cold War, seems to have been based on determining the best methods of deterrence, but rather came together as a product of competing bureaucratic interests. Kaplan shows how the U.S. nuclear war plan has always called for overkill, a condition created from several factors. In one sense, the overkill was based on heavily siloed information. For instance, in describing the first civilian investigation into nuclear targets and planning by Franklin Miller in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was discovered that three separate USSR targets were all within range of one weapon; but due to the nature of the Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP), a bomber, missileer, and analyst were each given separate instructions to destroy a factory, the Ministry of Defense headquarters, and a railroad yard all in the city of Moscow. Further, the war plan specified that there must be ``high confidence'' in the targets being destroyed, and each target thus had several weapons aimed at it.[3] In total, Miller and his aides found that there were 689 separate weapons aimed at a fifty-mile radius surrounding Moscow.[4]

In another sense, overkill was borne out of ensuring that funding continued for weapons development. Strategic Air Command had an office devoted to safeguarding nuclear weapons funding and development, which led to a dangerous cyclejustification of funding coming from the number of targets to be hit and the number of targets to be hit coming from the number of weapons in the arsenal. As one general, a former commander of Strategic Air Command, told a Senate committee, I need 10,000 weapons because I have 10,000 targets.[5] Essentially, the nuclear war plan was a product of supply, not demand, for nuclear weapons.

While I found this discussion of the major players and strategic war plans interesting, I was disappointed to discover little space given to exploring the trajectory of deterrence theory that grew out of, and in conjunction with, changes in U.S. nuclear strategy. I expected to see explicit references to scions such as Thomas Schelling, Hermann Kahn, Glenn Snyder, and Robert Jervis, as well as a discussion of how academia and policy interacted in real time to explain some of the divergences in thinking between presidents and generals.

Beyond highlighting how strategy has evolved, Kaplan offers several examples of how presidents and generals interacted to form policy. Famously, the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 saw President Kennedy striking a deal with Nikita Krushchev to remove missiles from Cuba (publicly) and Turkey (secretly). The Bomb shows that U.S. civilian and military advisors alike opposed this plan, advocating instead for a direct bombing of missile sites and invasion of Cubaan action that most probably would have resulted in World War III. Nixon's administration, like several of his successors, seriously attempted to figure out a way to include a ``limited nuclear option'' that would make nuclear weapons more usable, but failed in the attempt.
David Nostrand, 58, was at the helm of a 17-foot Boston Whaler in West Fox Creek Channel in the Great South Bay, just south of the village of Babylon, when he crashed into a 22-foot Activator about 2:40 p.m. on Sunday, Suffolk County police said.
In early June, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released two reports on the Iranian nuclear program. They make for worrisome reading. A year into its decision to start breaching the constraints imposed by the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, otherwise known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran has begun crossing some important thresholds that dangerously reduce its breakout time for developing a nuclear weapon. As it does so, the specter of a possible military strike to destroy Irans nuclear project will inevitably reemerge.

In May 2019, exactly one year after President Donald Trump's decision to abandon the JCPOA and reimpose crippling U.S. sanctions, President Hassan Rouhani announced Irans intention to stop observing some of its JCPOA commitments. Rouhani described the gambit as an effort to force the deals European participants (Germany, France, and Britain) to take steps to ensure that Iran would reap its economic benefitseither by convincing the Trump administration to relax its maximum pressure campaign or by circumventing U.S. sanctions and continuing to do business with Iran themselves.

Neither happened. In response, Iran has been good to its word. It has proceeded to violate incrementally one after another of the JCPOAs restrictionsexceeding limits on its uranium stockpile, enriching beyond 3.67 percent to 4.5 percent, conducting research and development on additional advanced centrifuges, and resuming enrichment at the underground Fordow nuclear facility. At the same time, Iran insists that it has not withdrawn from the JCPOA and is prepared to reverse its violations once the U.S. comes back into compliance by unwinding sanctions. Importantly, the IAEA has thus far been allowed to continue its extensive inspections regime authorized by the JCPOA.

But those inspections paint an increasingly alarming picture. For the first time since the JCPOA went into effect, Iran earlier this year amassed enough low enriched uranium (LEU) to produce a single nuclear weapon. This key threshold significantly reduces its estimated breakout timei.e., the time it would take to produce enough highly-enriched uranium (HEU) for one atomic bomb. The fact that the majority of Irans LEU stockpile is also now enriched up to 4.5 percent further reduces its breakout time by as much as 15 to 20 percent, according to the highly-respected Institute for Science and International Security. Based on the IAEAs most recent report on the JCPOA, the Institute now calculates that in a credible worst-case scenario, Irans breakout time could be as low as 3.1 months and as high as 3.9 months. As Irans step-by-step breaches of the nuclear deal persist, the trajectory over the coming months is likely downward still toward even shorter timelines.

As a point of comparison, just before the JCPOAs restrictions went into effect in January 2016, Irans breakout time was commonly assessed at around two months. Before an interim nuclear deal in November 2013 that neutralized Irans stockpile of 20 percent enriched uranium, it had been closer to one month. With implementation of the JCPOAs limits, the administration of President Barack Obama claimed that the timeline had been extended to over 12 months. For its part, the Institute for Science and International Security estimated that the breakout time under the JCPOA was actually closer to eight months--based on the reasonable assumption that in any breakout scenario Iran would not just bring back thousands of older, less efficient IR-1 centrifuges that had been put in storage, but also the 1,000 next-generation IR-2 centrifuges that were mothballed under the deal.

Its important to note that breakout estimates do not include the additional time that Iran would need to convert weapons-grade HEU into an actual bomb, much less develop a reliable warhead that could be delivered on a ballistic missile. That said, theres a high likelihood that this work would be conducted at difficult-to-detect secret sites, perhaps in parallel with a ramp up in Irans enrichment program rather than sequentially. Indeed, as reflected in the so-called nuclear archive that Israel secreted out of Iran in 2018, many relevant activities related to weapons work may have been going on for years--possibly even up to the present.

Its in that context that the second IAEA report issued this month regarding Irans compliance with its safeguards obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is especially troubling. The Agency noted with serious concern that for four months, Iran has been denying inspectors access to two undeclared sites and has refused for almost a year to clarify questions related to possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear activities."

According to the Institute for Science and International Security, the IAEA was led to seek access to the two sites (both of which have been effectively razed) at least in part on the basis of environmental sampling it did at an open-air warehouse in Tehran in January 2019 that revealed the existence of manmade uranium particles. The warehouse had never been declared by Iran and was only revealed to the IAEA by Israel in the summer of 2018, another revelation of the nuclear archive. Though Iran rapidly destroyed the warehouse and attempted to sanitize the area, the uranium particles were found, raising the concern that Iran could be hiding undeclared nuclear material today. The fact that the two sites targeted for inspection are both suspected of having connections to the Amad program--Irans crash effort in the early 2000s to develop up to five nuclear weaponsdramatically raises the stakes.

The concerns are obvious. Where is the undeclared nuclear material today? What happened to the equipment that was present at these sites before they were razed? And do the activities related to nuclear weapons development that were taking place there in the past continue today at other secret locations? It should be clear that these are not purely issues of historical curiosity, but urgent matters of current concern, raising as they do the distinct possibility that Iran might presently be conducting activities related to nuclear weapons.

To sum up: on the one hand, in its declared nuclear program, while by no means racing toward a bomb, Iran is systematically reducing its breakout time; on the other hand, there are growing concerns that Iran may be concealing both undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities. Put them together, and it's an especially troubling combination that inevitability raises the uncomfortable question: What happens if the situation continues to worsen?

The IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution on June 19, calling on Iran to provide prompt access to the two sites. If Iran's obstinance continues, the IAEA board could find Iran in violation of its NPT obligations and refer its file to the United National Security Council for possible action. That would almost certainly strengthen the Trump administrations contingency plan to snapback all Security Council sanctions unilaterally for Irans violations of the JCPOAwhich, importantly, incorporates its pledge to adhere to the NPTs Additional Protocol.

Of course, the hope is that significant increments of additional economic pressure will stay Irans nuclear advancement, if not convince it to at last change course, and take up Trumps offer to negotiate a better deal. But given the reality that more than 19 months of devastating sanctions have so far failed to induce any positive changes in Iranian behavior, serious consideration needs to be given to the possibilityperhaps even the likelihood--that ratcheting up the economic pain even further will fare no better in convincing Iran to halt its nuclear escalation.

So what then? For Democrats and their likely nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, should they enter office next January the answer seems straightforward: Try to stabilize the deteriorating situation through a rapid return to the JCPOA, trading some form of sanctions relief for a reversal of Irans nuclear violations. That, of course, is anathema to the Trump administration, a complete repudiation of its historic decision to abandon Obamas nuclear deal in the first place and a dagger through the heart of its maximum pressure campaign.

This invariably leads back to the possibility of a military strike to stop Irans nuclear advancement should it proceed apace. Two years ago, when Trump announced his withdrawal from the JCPOA and his intent to reimpose sanctions, he seemed to hint as much, warning that If the regime continues its nuclear aspirations, it will have bigger problems than it has ever had before. The next day, he amplified the threat: I would advise Iran not to start their nuclear program. I would advise them very strongly. If they do, there will be very severe consequences.

At the time, I wrote that Surely, the president and his advisors understand that one likely consequence of killing the deal and reimposing sanctions is that Iran might begin expanding its nuclear program again. After posing the question of what Trump would do if Iran called his bluff before sanctions have their intended effect, I concluded that It goes without saying that absent a rock-solid commitment to move militarily against Irans nuclear program in short order should it prove necessary, the presidents decision to crater the Iran deal prematurely really would constitute not just a major gamble, but extreme diplomatic malpractice.

Well, here we are. Iran had responded to Trump's maximum pressure by expanding its nuclear program and significantly reducing its breakout time, bringing it much closer to the 2-month timeline that existed before the deal than to the 8 to 12-month one that existed at the time Trump left the JCPOA. But theres no indication whatsoever, at least not yet, that the administration is starting to contemplate actions other than further sanctions to reign in Irans nuclear expansion. Given how incremental Irans violations have been to date, thats likely to remain the case at least until the U.S. elections in four months. Barring any dramatic new breaches by Iran, Trump is probably safe waiting until then before taking up any possible military options. If he wins, he can deal with it in a second term. If he loses, it will be Bidens problem.

Its worth noting that Israels calculation could be different. Waiting until the U.S. elections pose real risks in terms of Israel's own military option against the Iranian nuclear program. While not unthinkable in the event of a Biden victory and Americas return to the JCPOA, it would be infinitely more difficult in the face of strong opposition from a newly-elected president. By contrast, while clearly leery himself about getting the United States into another military conflict in the Middle East, Trump would likely be sympathetic to Israel taking matters into its own hands. In John Boltons recent book about his tenure as Trumps national security advisor, he reports that in 2017, before he joined the administration, Trump urged him to tell Bibi [Netanyahu, Israels prime minister] that if he uses force [against Irans nuclear program], I will back him.

In addition to assured U.S. support, an Israeli strike before the U.S. elections would also occur at a time of especially high Iranian vulnerability. Irans economy is already on its knees. Its been further ravaged by one of the world's worst outbreaks of COVID-19. Its population is deeply disgruntled and restless. Its most elite military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force, has yet to regain its footing after the targeted killing of its longtime commander, Qassem Soleimani, in a U.S. drone strike. And its most powerful proxy is that Hezbollah is still licking its wounds after its costly involvement in Syrias civil war and preoccupied with the catastrophic implosion of Lebanon's economy, but possibly the entire state. While the attendant risks of any military action against the Iranian nuclear program will be formidable under any circumstances, from Israel's standpoint, they may be far more manageable today in light of the unprecedented stresses that the Iranian regime is experiencing.

That said, between an exclusive reliance on additional sanctions and a dangerous military strike, there may still be room for coercive diplomacy to play an important role. Specifically, the United States, Israel, or preferably both could communicate to Iran a set of red lines regarding its current nuclear expansion that, if crossed, would dramatically increase the likelihood of a forceful response. They might include starting to enrich uranium to 20 percent again, ending or seriously curtailing the IAEA inspection regime, or abandoning its obligations under the NPT.

Notably, in a speech at the United Nations in 2012, Netanyahu famously held up a cartoon bomb, drew a red line (literally) at the point on the diagram when Iran would accumulate enough 20 percent uranium for one nuclear weapon, and made clear that Israel would act to stop Iran should it reach that point. While Netanyahu was widely mocked for the stunt, its well worth remembering that, afterward, Iran went out of its way to make sure its stockpile of 20 percent uranium never approached his redline. Deterrence worked.

The IAEAs recent reports should serve as a wake up call. While the worlds attention has been focused elsewhere, the Iran nuclear clock has begun ticking again. Slowly, deliberately, a new crisis is brewing. Even as the Trump administration continues to hope that its current strategy of maximum economic pressure will work fast enough to avert it, the administration urgently needs to be developing an answer to the question: What if Plan A doesnt work?

John Hannah, senior counselor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, served as national security advisor to former Vice President Dick Cheney.
America is on fire. Today, as the heat of frustration and anger burns across the country, there is a moral call to action for colleges to be in the front line of justice as the door to massive social transformation bursts open. That is because universities exist to nurture the best the human spirit has to offer, that of scholarship in service of democracy. These are the days to make that civic commitment real, through the kind of learning that brings the college into the community, rather than sequestering it behind ivy covered fences.

Institutions of Higher Education across the country are issuing fierce statements to their campus communities about their dedication to forging a more representative polis. It is time for them to act upon that conviction. There is no better season to dive into the process of reimagining what an American college education can be than during a genuine transition period such as ours, especially since so many universities have the financial wherewithal to take this summer and lay the groundwork for curricular change.

In the wake of Covid-19 and initial fiscal concerns, many colleges expressed concern that they could not do more, and may do less going forward, in terms of how their courses are structured. However, it turns out that returns on endowment investments have rebounded since the March dip. Congress recently passed an aid package for American universities, allocating $14.25 billion for emergency relief.

Private college enrollment is not doing as poorly as projected a few months ago. Public universities may be less expensive, but they also require tuition, and they are doing okay in their student deposits. In short, colleges are holding their own economically while many communities around them are swelling with frustration and fear of an even bleaker tomorrow. What can American colleges do to make good on their rhetoric of justice?

The answer is right at their campuses doorsteps. As leading American political thinker Michael Walzer explains, justice starts locally. Students, their professors, and their college administrators should serve the neighborhoods where their campuses exist. Universities dont pay property taxes in their role as public interest non-profits. Colleges benefit from the subsidies provided by local taxpayers. Even if only for the sake of economic reciprocity, colleges ought to give back in practical ways to their local host governments and the neighborhood residents who live beyond their gates. Considering their commitment to democracy and their economic privilege, universities have a responsibility to the communities in which they exist. Not all have lived up to this responsibility as readily as expected. For example, Yale University, the third richest university in America, refused to open its emptied dormitories to house its host citys first responders, and only relented after public pressure.

There is an emergent moral call for colleges to use their endowments to support research, staff, and students in jeopardy during this period of economic uncertainty. Teaching and research matter now more than ever because the world is going to have to recalibrate its institutional and social structures to respond to a global socio-economic order in freefall.

Here are some of the questions American colleges need to answer right now: How can we get more students in service roles within our local communities? To which civic and governmental partners should we send them? How can we work more effectively with community change agents and municipal offices? How can we support our cities and towns through deepened philanthropy and strategic partnerships aimed at more efficient service delivery? How can we mobilize our cadre of research experts, facilities, and impassioned students to make our communities better places to live and work, especially with massive social dislocation and economic pain going on just beyond our campuses? Can great universities also offer classes and programs to retrain the uprooted middle class, and open up programs to graduating high school students who might never have had the chance to go to college, but now need higher education more than ever?

If colleges dont devote a significant portion of their substantial human, intellectual, and material capital to civic ends, they will forfeit a moral claim to social value. Higher Education is a hub of thought leaders, specialized researchers, and young talent available to reach deeply into the wells of civil society and public service to share in the working out of a more responsive democracy. It is not a question of colleges resources. The resources are there. It is a question of will.
This pandemic has reawakened this movement of school choice, said Calvin Lee of American Federation for Children at a roundtable discussion on school choice in Waukesha, Wisconsin this week. While COVID-19 has not been easy for many families as they have tried to balance work and educating their children at home, it has offered many parents a window into their childs learning that they never would have had. If nothing else positive comes of this change of lifestyle during the pandemic, parents exercising school choice will be a remarkable silver liningbut there is a lot of work to do before choice is available to all students across America.

The roundtable was hosted by Vice President Mike Pence, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway as well as Wisconsin parents, school leaders and school choice advocates. Building off of Lees comments, Pence said, every parent became an educator, in part, and had to make choices in the way they use their own time and the way they became engaged Im really struck by your comment that maybe this challenging time through which weve passed has reinvigorated that principle in parents.

School choice, in a broad sense, is about giving parents and students more educational options, whether that be in public schools, private schools or homeschooling. For instance, Chris Lawrence from No Better Friend, another choice parent and advocate, shared how the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) has allowed him and his wife to send their kids to St. Marcus Lutheran School, where their children also receive a religious education.

National surveys have also shown that more families are interested in homeschooling. According to a RealClear Opinion Research poll, a whopping 40% of families are more likely to homeschool or do virtual schooling with their kids after the shutdown, and 64% support school choice in general.

At its essence, school choice is about trusting that parents know what is best for their children. Thats one of the great things about school choice, Ive always observed, said Pence. It has the effect of reminding parents that theyre the most important person in their childs life, and that their decisions and their choices in the best interests of the kid are the best guiding principle.

While this discussion was an important step in acknowledging the opportunity parents had to learn about their kids education during the shutdown, more work must be done to expand the educational opportunities for all students. For instance, despite Wisconsins immense success with the parental choice programs serving over 40,000 students, the state still has, some of the largest racial achievement gaps for minority students in the country.

In Milwaukee, the states largest school district, NAEP scores show that an African American eighth grader is reading at the proficiency level of his or her fourth-grade, white peer. This learning gap contributes to students educational outcomes, with Milwaukees high school graduation rate hovering around 66% on average for the past few school years.

Without a doubt, school choice programs help address education inequities for underserved students. Research found that students participating in the MPCP are more likely to have higher proficiency in math and English on state tests, graduate from high school and attend and graduate from college compared to their public school peers. But not every Wisconsin child has access to a school choice program due to barriers like enrollment caps.

More can be done legislatively to help families access educational opportunities, too. The administrations support for school choice is a step in the right direction with several proposals in Congress that would expand opportunities for families. U.S. Representative Bryan Steil (R-Wisconsin) submitted a letter to congressional leadership advocating for the expansion of 529 plans so that families can access that funding for homeschooling and distance learning needs. Secretary DeVoss Education Freedom Scholarships proposal would create a voluntary tax-credit scholarship for states that choose to implement it.

School choice could also be expanded across the country with the pending decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, a case about the constitutionality of Blaine Amendments. If the Court rules in favor of the Montana mom, Kendra Espinoza, school choice programs could be enacted in at least 13 states and help thousands of students across the country.

Were fighting for school choice, which really is the civil rights [issue] of all time in this country, President Trump said to reporters last week. And the reality is, its a civil rights issue for students and their parents. Every parent should be able to choose where their kids go to schoolregardless of their income, said Pence at the roundtable this week. The time is now for parents to make a choice.
Fifteen years ago today, George W. Bush uncorked one of his frequent malapropisms. Discussing his upcoming trip to Denmark, the president told a prominent Danish broadcast journalist, Im looking forward to a good nights sleep on the soil of a friend.

As the 43rd president of the United States would be the first to admit, this slip of the tongue was not an isolated occurrence. This was the commander-in-chief who assured the country three years after 9/11: Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.

Shortly thereafter, in September 2004, Bush lamented the exodus of family physicians from the profession by telling a Missouri audience, Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs arent able to practice their love with women all across the country.

Bush was running for reelection that year, so verbal contortions like these didnt necessarily help his cause. Then again, the American people knew what they were getting when he ran the first time. Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning? Bush had said in South Carolina on Jan. 11, 2000. Sixteen days later, he told a New Hampshire crowd, I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family.

I cite these Bushisms not simply to make fun of them, but to make a larger point -- and explain why I miss them. But first, a little perpective.

* * *

All presidents do it. Its not humanly possible to speak all day long with a microphone in your face and not sound occasionally like Yogi Berra. Ronald Reagan may have been the Great Communicator, but he was also the man who said soon after arriving in the White House, Now, were trying to get unemployment to go up, and I think were going to succeed.

And attending Harvard Law School didnt preclude Barack Obama from telling a group of Oregon supporters, Over the last 15 months weve traveled to every corner of the United States. Ive now been in 57 states. I think one left to go. Alaska and Hawaii, I was not allowed to go to -- even though I really wanted to visit -- but my staff would not justify it.

Still, when it came to such stuff, George W. Bush was in a league of his own. Political writer Jacob Weisberg turned them into a book -- and after Bush won reelection, a sequel. I covered that presidency and remember them well. Here are a few of my faves:

-- We ought to make the pie higher. -- South Carolina GOP debate, Feb. 15, 2000

-- I think if you say youre going to do something and dont do it, thats trustworthiness. -- CNN online chat, Aug. 30, 2000.

-- Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream.  La Crosse, Wis., Oct. 18, 2000.

-- There is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And Im sorry it's the case, and Ill work hard to try to elevate it. -- National Public Radio interview, Jan. 29, 2007.

And yet, such verbal miscues seem so innocent now. The man currently occupying the Oval Office disgorges them too regularly, and often with a mean-spirited edge, to laugh them off. President Trump has even pointed to his predecessors gaffes as a way of attacking not only those presidents but also the media. When President Obama said that he has been to 57 States, very little mention in Fake News Media, Trump tweeted in 2018. Can you imagine if I said that...story of the year!

Which brings me back to Dubyas June 29, 2005 interview with Kim Bildsoe Lassen, a well-known broadcast journalist in Denmark. Although it was the first time an incumbent U.S. president was interviewed on Danish television, Bildsoe Lassen pulled no punches. He opened his interview by telling Bush that because his time was limited, I would like to start rather bluntly, if I may. He wasnt kidding. Bildsoe Lassen told the president that under his leadership the U.S. had become an often arrogant superpower in the minds of many Europeans, adding that some believed Bushs either youre with us or against us attitude had created a more violent and dangerous world.

The interviewer then asked whether the apparent absence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq had compromised the moral leadership of the United States. And then he followed that question by saying, But do you understand that there are people who say, Can we believe it the next time a grave danger is emerging??

In other words, the journalist was doing his job. And Bush did his. He never questioned the motives of his interlocutor, never complained about the coverage he received (or anything else), or responded to each question by providing his own counternarrative.

Near the end of the interview, Bush was asked whether he sleeps well at night, given the enormous pressures of the job. Bush replied that he did -- and that he was usually asleep early, much to the chagrin of Laura Bush. The president credited his sound sleep with his habit of regular exercise and reading. Im an avid reader, he said. I like to read history. I just finished a book about George Washington. And so I get my mind off my work.

That answer set up the ending of the interview, which may be viewed as a Bush blooper -- or a refreshing glimpse into how healthy presidential communications once transpired, and could again. Here is how it went:

Bildsoe Lassen: Thank you, sir. Just this very last question.

Bush: Please.

Bildsoe Lassen: What are you looking forward mostly to in your visit to Denmark?

Bush: Im looking forward to seeing your prime minister, who I like. Hes a good guy. Im looking forward to seeing Her Majesty. I have never been to Denmark. Im looking forward to seeing the beauty of the country. I dont get out much when I travel, I must confess. I wont be your average American tourist being able to move around freely. I wish I could. But the job doesn't afford me to do that [and] it would be unfair to the people of Denmark if I tried to move around too much because the security would be quite inconvenient to them. But I really am looking forward to having a good discussion, talking about our common interests, talking about a way forward to help promote democracy and peace. And Im looking forward to a good nights sleep on the soil of a friend.

Bildsoe Lassen: Thank you very much, sir, for your time. And I hope you have a pleasant and enjoyable visit to Denmark.

Bush. Thank you, sir, appreciate it.

Bildsoe Lassen: Thank you.

Bush. Good job.
Good morning. Its Monday, June 29, 2020. Fifteen years ago today, George W. Bush uncorked one of his frequent malapropisms. Discussing his upcoming trip to Denmark, the president told a prominent Danish broadcast journalist, Im looking forward to a good nights sleep on the soil of a friend.

As the 43rd president of the United States would be the first to admit, this slip of the tongue was not an isolated occurrence. This was the commander-in-chief who assured the country three years after 9/11: Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.

Shortly thereafter, in September 2004, Bush lamented the exodus of family physicians from the profession by telling a Missouri audience, Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs arent able to practice their love with women all across the country.

Bush was running for reelection that year, so verbal contortions like these didnt necessarily help his cause. Then again, the American people knew what they were getting when he ran the first time. Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning? Bush had said in South Carolina on Jan. 11, 2000. Sixteen days later, he told a New Hampshire crowd, I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family.

Ill have more Bushisms -- and explain why I miss them -- in a moment. First Id point you to RealClearPolitics front page, which presents our poll averages, videos, breaking news stories, and aggregated opinion pieces spanning the political spectrum. We also offer original material from our own reporters and contributors, including the following:

* * *

We Digitized the Mob, and Theres No Place to Hide. Frank Miele laments that our leaders have not just tolerated, but endorsed, mob violence as an acceptable weapon of social change.

Three Ideas to End the Rot on College Campuses. Charles Lipson responds to the brand of McCarthyism suppressing the free discussion of diverse ideas in academia.

Think the Cancel Mobs Cant Get Any Worse? Think Again. Harlan Hill makes the case that a Biden win in November would rain down destruction on more than just Confederate statues.

Why W.Va. Hasnt Cancelled Robert Byrd. In RealClearInvestigations, Steve Miller explains the KKK-linked senator's absolution from the current wave of building renamings.

To Win, Trump Needs the Greatest Comeback of All Time. Bill Scher compares the presidents current polling numbers with those of previous incumbents seeking reelection.

Rumors of Office Buildings Death Are Greatly Exaggerated. RealClearMarkets editor John Tamny argues that work-from-home arrangements detract from the value of corporate culture to businesses.

Democrats Health Care Plan Would Harm Hispanics. In RealClearHealth, Yanira Cruz cites with the bills linkage to foreign reference drug pricing, which has long kept patients in other countries from accessing new treatments.

How Did the Coronavirus Get Into Semen? RealClearScience editor Ross Pomeroy spotlights research showing that the respiratory virus has gotten into some mens reproductive systems.

How America Can Win the Critical Minerals Battle Against China. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillettes prescription is in RealClearEnergy.

Clock Is Ticking on Next Iran Nuclear Crisis. In RealClearDefense, John Hannah writes that the Rouhani regime has significantly reduced the time needed to produce enough highly enriched uranium for one atomic bomb.

* * *

All presidents do it. Its not humanly possible to speak all day long with a microphone in your face and not sound occasionally like Yogi Berra. Ronald Reagan may have been the Great Communicator, but he was also the man who said soon after arriving in the White House, Now, were trying to get unemployment to go up, and I think were going to succeed.

And attending Harvard Law School didnt preclude Barack Obama from telling a group of Oregon supporters, Over the last 15 months weve traveled to every corner of the United States. Ive now been in 57 states. I think one left to go. Alaska and Hawaii, I was not allowed to go to -- even though I really wanted to visit -- but my staff would not justify it.

Still, when it came to such stuff, George W. Bush was in a league of his own. Political writer Jacob Weisberg turned them into a book -- and after Bush won reelection, a sequel. I covered that presidency and remember them well. Here are a few of my faves:

-- We ought to make the pie higher. -- South Carolina GOP debate, Feb. 15, 2000

-- I think if you say youre going to do something and dont do it, thats trustworthiness. -- CNN online chat, Aug. 30, 2000.

-- Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream.  La Crosse, Wis., Oct. 18, 2000.

-- There is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And Im sorry it's the case, and Ill work hard to try to elevate it. -- National Public Radio interview, Jan. 29, 2007.

And yet, such verbal miscues seem so innocent now. The man currently occupying the Oval Office disgorges them too regularly, and often with a mean-spirited edge, to laugh them off. President Trump has even pointed to his predecessors gaffes as a way of attacking not only those presidents but also the media. When President Obama said that he has been to 57 States, very little mention in Fake News Media, Trump tweeted in 2018. Can you imagine if I said that...story of the year!

Which brings me back to Dubyas June 29, 2005 interview with Kim Bildsoe Lassen, a well-known broadcast journalist in Denmark. Although it was the first time an incumbent U.S. president was interviewed on Danish television, Bildsoe Lassen pulled no punches. He opened his interview by telling Bush that because his time was limited, I would like to start rather bluntly, if I may. He wasnt kidding. Bildsoe Lassen told the president that under his leadership the U.S. had become an often arrogant superpower in the minds of many Europeans, adding that some believed Bushs either youre with us or against us attitude had created a more violent and dangerous world.

The interviewer then asked whether the apparent absence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq had compromised the moral leadership of the United States. And then he followed that question by saying, But do you understand that there are people who say, Can we believe it the next time a grave danger is emerging??

In other words, the journalist was doing his job. And Bush did his. He never questioned the motives of his interlocutor, never complained about the coverage he received (or anything else), or responded to each question by providing his own counternarrative.

Near the end of the interview, Bush was asked whether he sleeps well at night, given the enormous pressures of the job. Bush replied that he did -- and that he was usually asleep early, much to the chagrin of Laura Bush. The president credited his sound sleep with his habit of regular exercise and reading. Im an avid reader, he said. I like to read history. I just finished a book about George Washington. And so I get my mind off my work.

That answer set up the ending of the interview, which may be viewed as a Bush blooper -- or a refreshing glimpse into how healthy presidential communications once transpired, and could again. Here is how it went:

Bildsoe Lassen: Thank you, sir. Just this very last question.

Bush: Please.

Bildsoe Lassen: What are you looking forward mostly to in your visit to Denmark?

Bush: Im looking forward to seeing your prime minister, who I like. Hes a good guy. Im looking forward to seeing Her Majesty. I have never been to Denmark. Im looking forward to seeing the beauty of the country. I dont get out much when I travel, I must confess. I wont be your average American tourist being able to move around freely. I wish I could. But the job doesn't afford me to do that [and] it would be unfair to the people of Denmark if I tried to move around too much because the security would be quite inconvenient to them. But I really am looking forward to having a good discussion, talking about our common interests, talking about a way forward to help promote democracy and peace. And Im looking forward to a good nights sleep on the soil of a friend.

Bildsoe Lassen: Thank you very much, sir, for your time. And I hope you have a pleasant and enjoyable visit to Denmark.

Bush. Thank you, sir, appreciate it.

Bildsoe Lassen: Thank you.

Bush. Good job.

Carl M. Cannon

Washington Bureau chief, RealClearPolitics

@CarlCannon (Twitter)

ccannon@realclearpolitics.com
Are the polls real?

Karl Rove thinks they are real. Lets be honest about it: The president is behind today, he said Friday on Fox News.

Donald Trumps campaign is behaving like they are real. Money is being spent on ads in Georgia, Ohio and Iowastates that Trump won in 2016 by five, eight and nine percentage points, respectivelyas well as all of the other battleground states that Trump won more narrowly. There are no reports of his campaign buying ads in states Hillary Clinton won, a clear sign of playing defense.

If the polls are real, should Trump really be all that worried? After all, its only late June. A lot can happen in four months, right?

Let me put it this way: In the history of presidential election polling, no elected incumbent president has ever come back from as big a hole as Trump is now in.

Only two elected incumbents have ever come back at all.

In mid-July 2004, George W. Bush was behind John Kerry in the RealClearPolitics national average by 2.7 percentage points, but won with a popular vote margin of 2.4 percentage points.

In mid-October 2012, Barack Obama was behind Mitt Romney in the RCP national average by 1.5 percentage points, but won with a popular vote margin of 3.9 percentage points.

Bush and Obama were behind by slight margins, and eked out narrow victories. Trump, over the past week in the RCP average, has been behind Joe Biden by nearly 10 points. To come back from a deficit of that size would be literally historic.

The only elected incumbents to suffer from a double-digit deficit at any point in their reelection campaigns, based on Gallup data from 1936 to 2008 and RCPs national averages since 2004, are Jimmy Carter in 1980 and George H. W. Bush in 1992. They are also the only two elected incumbent presidents to lose reelection in the polling era.

Granted, there are examples of presidential election comebacks.

Similar to Trump today, Harry Truman was down 11 percentage points in June and July 1948, according to Gallup. But Truman was to many Americans an accidental president, having attained the Oval Office not at the ballot box but by line of succession after Franklin D. Roosevelts death. Truman required a furious 31,000-mile whistle-stop train tour, putting him in front of 3 million voters, to repair his image and turn his campaign around.

The elder Bush was losing badly to Michael Dukakis in the late spring and early summer of 1988, sinking to a 17-point deficit in Gallup polling after the Democratic National Convention. But most Americans did not know the governor of Massachusetts very well. Bush was able to define him by launching a ferocious series of negative ads. (Dukakis inadvertently abetted Bushs attacks by errantly believing the best response was no response.) Bush grabbed an eight-point lead by September and never looked back.

And Gerald Ford mounted a near-comeback in 1976. Ford was not elected president or vice president, he pardoned his disgraced predecessor, and after the Democratic National Convention, he trailed Carter by a whopping 33 percentage points, according to Gallup. But Carter had no national profile before the primaries and his initial support proved thin. The fall campaign almost completely narrowed the gap, with Ford losing the popular vote by just two points.

Rove, on Fox news, pointed to the Truman and Bush examples to argue Trump still has a path to victory. But neither campaign offers a model Trump can follow. Trump is not an accidental president like Truman, someone the public just needs to get to know better. He has been in the public eye so much our collective retina is seared. A Truman-style whistle-stop tour wont show us anything that we havent already seen.

The Trump campaign has been trying to replicate Bushs brutal 1988 campaign, albeit with less subtlety. Campaign Manager Brad Parscale bragged in May that he had built a Death Star that would train its fire on Joe Biden. But as a former vice president and six-term senator, Biden is a far more well defined figure than Dukakis. Its no surprise, therefore, that the initial blitz of attacks has fallen flat.

There is a reason there have been no major comeback stories by elected incumbent presidents. Voters elect a president holding certain expectations, and if those expectations havent been met after 42 months, its highly unlikely something will happen in the next four months to change perceptions.

Should we declare Trump finished? Of course not. Just because no elected incumbent has ever come back from 10 points down doesnt mean Trump cant become the first. But whether or not a comeback happens is likely out of Trumps control.

He appears incapable of changing his bombastic approach to governing, making it hard for voters to change their perception of his presidency. Bidens chummy, empathetic image has solidified in the public mind, so much so that his penchant for gaffes has yet to derail his candidacy. Biden probably would have to commit a gaffe of an extremely more serious nature than anything he has done to date, if he is to sabotage himself.

Furthermore, Trumps abilityat this junctureto contain the coronavirus and rejuvenate the economy is also limited. Many of us probably arent expecting any autumn miracles, and even if there is one, the public may not give Trump any of the credit. Still, an economy on the mend could well help Trump close the current polling gap.

We cant know the future, but we can know the present. At present, a majority of the public has soured on the Trump presidency and is ready to end it. As history shows, that is not a good place to be. For Trump to win, he will have tosome way, somehowmake history.
Traverse City, MI (49684)

Today

Showers in the morning then continued cloudy and windy in the afternoon. High near 65F. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 44F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph, becoming SW and decreasing to less than 5 mph.
Its a great thing to see because the original Pride started with the civil rights movement, Matthew Fischer said as he passed out hand sanitizer at Foley Square. So were really going back to the roots of that and making sure we encompass everything that empowers people to be who they are.
Porterville, CA (93257)

Today

Clear skies. Low around 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low around 70F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Athens, GA (30605)

Today

Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. High near 90F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low near 70F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Analyzing the data

Last week was a record-breaking week in Athens and Georgia  and not in a good way.

From June 22-28, Athens added 104 coronavirus cases, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. That was an increase of 166.7% over the week of June 15-21, when Athens added 39 new cases. In addition, Athens set a record for the most cases reported in a single day at 22 on June 25  a figure it matched the next day.

166.7% increase

of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Athens from the week before.

This increase mirrors the broader trend happening statewide. From June 22-28, Georgia added 12,509 confirmed cases. That is 78.2% higher than the 7,020 cases in the state from June 15-21.

The surge in cases, also evident in states like Florida and Texas, is being driven in large part by an increase of cases among younger people. People under 30 now account for 26.6% of the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Georgia. Younger people are less likely than older adults to become seriously ill from the coronavirus, but a high number of infected young people could make it more likely that the virus will spread to older and more vulnerable populations.

Despite rise in cases, Athens saw no new deaths or hospitalizations this week. However, Athens and the surrounding region could be facing a shortage of critical care beds, as only 18 out of 70 were available on June 28, according to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. The region still has plenty of available emergency room beds.

In the news

The surge in coronavirus cases in Georgia comes after Gov. Brian Kemp allowed bars and nightclubs to reopen on June 1 and after Black Lives Matter protesters held large demonstrations following the killing of George Floyd. However, there is now evidence from other parts of the country that it is not the protests causing the spike in coronavirus cases, but rather parties and large social gatherings. Thus, bars and nightclubs could be what are driving the surge in cases in Georgia too.

As coronavirus cases rise across the state and region, the University of Georgia laid out more of its plans for the fall semester in an ArchNews email on June 23. UGA will provide two cloth face masks and a digital thermometer to each student, faculty and staff member. However, the University System of Georgia will not require students to wear masks, leading to criticism from students and faculty.

The recent surge of cases in young people should be especially troubling for colleges. The high number of younger people contracting the virus could be a sign of what will happen when classes start in the fall.

An outbreak at UGA or another campus could be particularly costly. College students come from all over the state and region. If there is a spike in cases at colleges, then that could lead to spikes across Georgia, including in places that have so far escaped the worst effects of the pandemic. That could be especially harmful to rural communities that often have less access to health care.

The surge in cases could have an effect on the economy. According to Unacast, a company using data from phones and other sources to measure social distancing efforts, average mobility has risen to approximately pre-pandemic levels in Athens-Clarke County and Georgia.

But this rise in mobility might not last. One study found that an increase in coronavirus deaths was associated with substantial changes in consumer behavior and traffic. Though Georgia has thankfully reported fewer deaths in recent weeks, current hospitalizations have been rising, suggesting that deaths could start to increase as well.

The rise in cases has also led some businesses to shut down, and in some of the worst-hit states, such as Texas and Florida, governors are once again closing bars. If Gov. Brian Kemp makes the same decision in Georgia, the bar-laden Athens economy could be devastated.
The murdering monster was also known to bind some of his victims and lay them down in front of TV sets. Prosecutors say he would turn the TV on and cover the screen with a towel so he would have this glow, so he could see her. He would also take trophies from his victims houses, including pieces of jewelry like rings and cuff links, authorities have said.
The University of Georgia considers naming a building or college in someones honor one of the highest and most distinct honors that it can bestow, according to UGAs finance and administration website. Many of UGAs buildings are named for racist figures  people who owned slaves or espoused white supremacy. Students and faculty are calling for their renaming as protests against racial inequality continue across the nation and in Athens.

On June 17, the University System of Georgia announced an advisory group that will review the names of buildings and colleges at all 26 USG universities, which includes UGA.

The advisory groups recommendations will be publicly announced once they finish the review. There are no students on the board. No other information about the review process has been released. Aaron Diamant, USG spokesperson, did not respond for a request for comment by press time.

The process of renaming is inherently murky, Amber Roessner, a UGA alumna and leader of the independent Rename Grady task force, said. The UGA alumni-driven initiative, made up of about 30 members, aims to rename UGAs Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Currently, the school is named after Henry W. Grady, who was a known white supremacist. The task force wants to name the college after Charlayne Hunter-Gault, who was the first Black woman to attend UGA and who has had a lifelong career as a journalist.

Sydney Phillips, a junior political science and public relations double major, signed the petition. She said as a Black student who is enrolled in Grady classes, its difficult to walk into a building every day that you know is named after a white supremacist.

This is a time for Grady to take a good look at how it is helping or hurting minority students, Phillips said.

What we know about the renaming process

USG has outlined some guidelines for naming buildings, colleges and schools. Its website specifies that the president of each USG school should ensure that the naming or renaming process is matched with the level of service or philanthropic giving from the person, persons, group, or groups for which the naming will be made.

UGAs policy specifies that namings can be authorized for outstanding and distinguished service, for philanthropic giving, or both, according to the finance and administration website.

All names of colleges, schools and real estate at USG institutions require authorization by the USG chancellor, chief administrative officer and the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents is the governing authority of the USG.

The USG has a procedure for the removal of names of university buildings and facilities, too.

When it becomes apparent that there may be a reason to consider the removal of a name from a facility  the Vice President for Institutional Advancement shall be supplied with the original naming history and all salient circumstances surrounding the removal recommendation, according to the USGs place naming guidelines.

The president of the university then makes a determination as to whether a name should be removed. In the case of changing a name of a building or a college, the president has to submit a proposal for the removal of a name to the USG chief facilities officer.

UGAs removal policy says naming is based on a flexible standard regarding outstanding service to the University of Georgia, to the nation, or to society. All relevant facts will be taken into account if a building or college is renamed, according to the policy.

If a situation warrants the removal of a name that was previously approved by the Board of Regents, the decision whether to remove the name lies in the sole discretion of the Board in consultation with the Chancellor, according to the USG website.

The president of a university can name and remove the name of interior spaces and academic units subordinate to colleges and schools, such as departments, without prior approval of the Board.

Looking to the past to inform the future

The most recent naming of a UGA college was when the UGAs College of Education was named after Mary Frances Early, UGAs first African American graduate. The college hosted a fundraising initiative to name the college, which gathered $2.6 million in October 2019. UGA President Jere Morehead made a donation of $200,000 from the Presidents Venture Fund toward the effort.

The Rename Grady initiative is fully prepared to raise funds for the renaming effort, Roessner said. Its effort is tasked with a slightly different case than the College of Educations  before it was named after Early, there was no name attached to it. In order to assign Hunter-Gaults name to the school of journalism, Rename Grady has to first get approval to remove Gradys name.

Roessner said that Rename Grady is attempting to work in conjunction with the USG and UGA in order to make this change possible.

The initiative sent emails in early June to USG Chancellor Steve Wrigley, Board of Regents chair Sachin Shailendra and Morehead about the renaming efforts, according to a June 15 news release. They have not received a response since emailing them.

Although no contact between the task force and USG has been established, Roessner said members of Rename Grady will continue their efforts to attend the August Board of Regents meeting to make their case. Roessner said that the task force hopes to work with the new USG advisory board.

The petition to rename Grady College had more than 8,500 signatures on Saturday. Roessner said that the petition is still active, and members of the Rename Grady task force are still hoping to gather more signatures.

We felt very strongly that our petition could serve as a voice that would enact change and meaningful change, Roessner said.

Roessner said the task force is taking the renaming process one step at a time and will have more solid plans for next steps after making contact with the USG. When decades of UGA students have known buildings and colleges for their current names, institutional change can be a learning process.

Its hard to explain a process in a moment where the process is shifting, Roessner said. Thats truly what were seeing in this moment.
Emily Blecher returned to her home in Shdema, Israel, in March on the second to last plane before Israel started to cancel flights.

Blecher, a rising sophomore sport management major, said she heard about many Israelis getting stuck all around the world. Due to possible online classes and visa issues, Blecher is unsure about her plans for this fall.

Some international students at the University of Georgia like Blecher are facing uncertainty about their fall plans because of the coronavirus. Living in another country means extra planning when it comes to returning to school  international students have to plan around travel restrictions and must have a backup plan in case students are sent home from campus like in the spring.

In fall 2019, UGA had 2,003 enrolled international students, according to the 2019 UGA Fact Book.

Most of Europe is under an exercise increased caution advisory and most of Asia and the Middle East are under exercise increased caution and do not travel advisories, according to the U.S. Department of States website. If travel advisories are still in place in the fall, some students who went to their home countries may not be able to return to Athens.

Students are also unsure if their classes will be in-person or online. The University System of Georgia is currently planning for a return to in-person instruction in August, but plans are subject to change depending on the public health situation.

Once Blecher got back home, she had to self-quarantine for 14 days, during which Israel was under a lockdown. There was no work or school and everyone had to stay home, Blecher said.

Blecher is also on the equestrian team and will have to take this into consideration when deciding to come back in the fall. If classes are online, Blecher said she does not think she will go back to Athens.

It kind of feels like we might not know anything until August, Blecher said. Thats not enough time to decide whether we, international students, can come or not.

Other students, like Malus Li, had a later return home and had to self-quarantine for 28 days.

Li, a rising sophomore psychology major from Xian, China in the Shaanxi province, left Athens on May 7. When Li returned to China, she had to self-quarantine in a hotel for 14 days before going home, where she self-quarantined for another 14 days.

Li plans to return to campus in the fall because she does not want to spend a semester or year without taking classes. She hopes to graduate early.

I think its hard for international students to travel or do school next fall, Li said. Some of us even stayed in the U.S. just to make sure that if school is open in the fall we can be back for sure.

Pankti Rana, a rising senior biology major from Surat, India, is one of the international students who stayed in the U.S. She left Athens when UGA closed campus after spring break in March.

Rana has been staying with her aunt in Auburn, Alabama, so she did not face any travel or visa issues. Rana said she plans to return to Athens in the fall for classes.

Rana has other international friends who were stuck in India or stuck in the U.S. unable to return to India, which went under a nationwide lockdown starting March 24 and eased restrictions on June 8, according to The Guardian.

Being an international student, I greatly empathize with other students who are either stuck in the U.S. or in their own countries, as their education is being greatly affected, Rana said.
June 29, 2020 11:53 IST

Yes, India needs desperate measures to kick-start growth. But selling off its lungs to the highest bidder to hack away cannot be the way out, says Sumit Bhattacharya.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi at the launch of the auction process of coal blocks for Commercial mining, June 18, 2020. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of the auction of 41 coal blocks in some of India's most pristine green belts and areas already wracked by mining is perhaps best described by that old Chanakya chestnut, vinaash kale viprit buddhi.

Anyone who knows someone struggling to find a hospital bed or in hospital with COVID-19 and astronomical medical bills probably knows about the vinaash kale bit.

The International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook Update for June 2020, released on June 24, is also cheerfully headlined: 'A Crisis Like No Other, An Uncertain Recovery'.

Global growth is projected at at -4.9 per cent in 2020, and the Indian economy, the IMF said, would register -4.5 per cent growth in 2020-2021, a drop of 8.7 percentage points from last year.

From the IMF to the social media economist, everyone understands that in such times drastic measures are needed. But falling back on coal at a time when the world resembles something we thought would happen 100 years later seems equally evidently disastrous. The viprit buddhi.

How mining destroys the environment has by now become painfully evident. Airpocalypse IV, Greenpeace's report in January this year on 287 cities and towns in India, found Jharia in Dhanbad district of Jharkhand's coal belt the most polluted town in the country. The second most-polluted was the Dhanbad district headquarters.

Jharia is the closest to Mordor, the evil Sauron's land in The Lord of the Rings, that one can imagine.

There are vast stretches where fires rage underneath the ground. Every time it rains, the smoke rises up through the ground, cracking huts and tenements of the coal workers among whom bronchial diseases and other ailments are common.

Twenty-two of the 41 coal blocks up for auction are in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra have objected to the Centre's move of auctioning coal mines.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has challenged the Centre's move in the Supreme Court, which has not covered itself with anti-government judgments of late.

He has said that the mines would not fetch their true price in the midst of the global pandemic, and the environmental and socio-economic damage would be too great.

'Decision by @CoalMinistry + @PMOIndia to go ahead with #CommercialMining & #CoalBlock auctions w'out acknowledging our concerns around the potential socio-economic + enviromental costs & the impact on our forests & tribal population is blatant disregard of Co-operative Federalism,' Soren tweeted two days after Modi's announcement.

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) of many of the mines has not been done, many including Soren have pointed out.

Environmentalists are up in arms over the new draft EIA rules that, among other drastic proposals, reportedly aim to regularise illegal industries for a fee and waive public hearings for 35 highly polluting industries.

The deadline for objections to the EIA is June 30, amid a global pandemic.

Many of the mines across the states are in areas protected under the Schedule V of the Constitution. Areas that have dense and vast stretches of forests, and tribal populations.

Many of the mines across the states are in areas protected under the Schedule V of the Constitution. Areas that have dense and vast stretches of forests, and tribal populations.

Maharashtra Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray has written to the prime minister, pointing out that one of the mines is in the big cat corridor of the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve that was twice scrapped earlier because of green damage concerns.

In Chhattisgarh, two days before Modi's announcement, nine sarpanches reportedly wrote to the prime minister against opening up mining in the Hasdeo Arand area.

They said the gram sabhas in the region had built a model of 'aatmanirbhar' local self-governance under the provisions of the forest rights laws and that ignoring local opinions flies in the face of Modi's call.

Chhattisgarh's environment minister Mohammad Akbar has written to the Centre that five of the blocks under Hasdeo Aranya and the adjoining Mand river catchment area not be auctioned.

Akbar said the Chhattisgarh government wanted to declare the area an elephant reserve.

Globally there is growing consensus -- apart from the handful of leaders who seem hell bent on becoming horsemen of the apocalypse by feeding greed over green -- that destroying large forested areas also gives rise to disease and pandemics.

A report by thr McKinsey Global Institute this year says India could experience heatwaves by 2030 that no human being would be able to survive. The effect of concrete jungles on intensifying heat is also well documented by now.

As the coronavirus forces the world into survival mode, it is doubly important to not go back to what we have been doing wrong over millennia. A rethink of development is in order, the most hardened of capitalists now are saying.

Even the IMF, which no one can accuse of being a bleeding-heart tree-hugger, has suggested: '...building on the record drop in greenhouse gas emissions during the pandemic, policymakers should both implement their climate change mitigation commitments and work together to scale up equitably designed carbon taxation or equivalent schemes'.

According to an article in Nature, daily global carbon dioxide emissions fell by 17 per cent by early April 2020 compared with the mean 2019 levels, thanks to global lockdowns because of COVID-19.

Climate scientists have pointed out that is nowhere near enough needed to ward off the catastrophic changes we are already getting glimpses of. And according to The New York Times, emissions are surging back as countries reopen their economies.

There can be an argument that green dreams are not practical at a time when the country is looking into an economic abyss. But then, to twist Nietzsche's quote about battling demons, if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.

Yes, India needs desperate measures to kick-start growth. But selling off its lungs to the highest bidder to hack away cannot be the way out.

That is not being vocal for local, nor a way to atmanirbharta. And neither is it Chanakya niti.

Sumit Bhattacharya is a Kolkata-based journalist and musician.

Production: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
June 29, 2020 12:41 IST

The ministry of home affairs has received more than 20 proposals for foreign direct investment (FDI), including from China and Hong Kong, requiring security clearance between April and May.

We are vetting some of these proposals which have come from various sectors. One of the applications is from a well known start-up, an official said. We await inputs from Research and Analysis Wing, intelligence agencies, external affairs ministry, and embassies.

IMAGE: Demonstrators burn Chinese toys during a protest in New Delhi. Photograph: Prabhat Mehrotra / ANI Photo.

In sync with the current sentiment, the Union home ministry is likely to stall security clearance to a clutch of Chinese companies seeking to invest in India, according to officials close to the development.

The ministry of home affairs (MHA) received more than 20 proposals for foreign direct investment (FDI), including from China and Hong Kong, requiring security clearance between April and May.

We are vetting some of these proposals which have come from various sectors. One of the applications is from a well known start-up, an official said.

Six proposals for close to Rs 1,000 crore are under strict scrutiny, he said.

We await the inputs from the Research and Analysis Wing, intelligence agencies, external affairs ministry, and embassies, he pointed out, at a time when Chinese investments are under scrutiny across sectors, following the border face-off.

The proposals are from sectors like information technology, internet business, and infrastructure, among others. The list also includes trading- and logistics-related projects.

Recently, India tightened the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy for neighbouring nations, with focus on China. This also applies to transactions where the beneficial owner of the investment is from China. The amendments were made to curb opportunistic takeovers or acquisitions of Indian companies due to Covid-19.

This is applicable to all sectors and not just in historically sensitive or critical ones, such as telecommunications, banking, insurance, defence and so on, said another official privy to the matter.

Sources in the ministry also hinted that if border tension escalated, India might put China under prior referral category status.

This implies that visas will be issued after running a thorough background check on individual applicants from those countries.

The home ministry is the nodal authority to provide security clearance to foreign investment under the National Security Clearance Policy.

Experts say that in the current situation, obtaining security clearance is quite a task.

The processing of FDI applications for government approvals takes between 8 weeks and 10 weeks, depending on the proposal and the ministry concerned. It is the subject of national security, which is mostly opaque and the ministry is not obliged to provide the reason for delaying an application or even revoking a proposed investment, said an FDI expert.

According to him, a total of 14-15 parameters are fixed in eight to nine sensitive areas like telecom, ports, and civil aviation. And in case of delay in clearance, the applicant cannot seek judicial intervention.

In the past few years, several tech companies and start-ups have attracted investment from China. Between 2015 and 2019, the home ministry has given security clearances to more than 6,000 investment proposals, most of which were from China, Singapore, the UK, and Hong Kong.

However, in 2019-20, Chinese foreign investment stood only at $160 million, according to the official data.
June 29, 2020 13:21 IST

The central bank has not set a deadline for banks to conclude the stress-test exercise, but senior bankers opine that some were already looking at this, and will now fast-track it by September-end, when they will have a better picture of their books after the moratorium on the servicing of loans and a 180-day view on the performance of borrowers accounts.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked banks to carry out detailed stress tests due to the impact of COVID-19 on their books and put capital-raising plans with board approvals in place, if needed.

This is the first major regulatory move by the central bank to ascertain the health of banks and take proactive measures to ring-fence them after the outbreak of the pandemic.

The central bank in its communique to chief executive officers of banks on June 19 said stress tests would take into account three scenarios - baseline, medium, and severe stress - which will cover all key financial parameters pertaining to the quality of the book.

If there is significant capital impairment, clear-cut-board approved capital-raising plans are to be in place.

While precautionary provisioning for COVID-19 has not been explicitly stated in the letter, it cannot be ruled out, said a source.

This may call for even more capital to be raised by banks, and the sums set aside for state-run banks for their recapitalisation in the Union Budget may need an immediate revisit.

The central bank has not set a deadline for banks to conclude the stress-test exercise, but senior bankers opine that some were already looking at this, and will now fast-track it by September-end, when they will have a better picture of their books after the moratorium on the servicing of loans and a 180-day view on the performance of borrowers accounts.

The latest RBI move should be read in the light of its pre-Covid Financial Stability Report (FSR-December 2019), which had observed that while the banking sector had shown signs of stabilisation, the performance of state-run banks needed to improve and efforts needed to be taken to build buffers against disproportionate operational risk losses.

After COVID-19, this is a given.

The stress tests had indicated that under the baseline scenario, the gross non-performing asset (GNPAs) ratios of all banks may move to 9.9 per cent by September 2020, from 9.3 per cent in September 2019 due to changes in the macroeconomic scenario, marginal increase in slippages, and the denominator effect of declining credit growth.

Under severe stress, the GNPA will rise to 10.5 per cent, and for 52 banks, it would move up to 15.6 per cent, from 9.4 per cent. This may require additional tier-1 capital.

Accordingly, the capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 53 select banks was projected to come down to 14.1 per cent by September 2020 under baseline expectations and 12.7 per cent under severe stress from 14.9 per cent in September 2019.

The RBI also noted that three banks had CAR below the minimum regulatory level of 9 per cent by September 2020, without considering any further planned recapitalisation.

However, if macroeconomic conditions deteriorate, five banks may record CAR below 9 per cent.

While the central bank had qualified that these scenarios should not be interpreted as forecasts or expected outcomes, it is clear with its latest missive asking banks to undertake post-COVID stress tests that it feels there could be sharp deterioration in key financial parameters, calling for the need to enhance capital buffers significantly.

Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters
June 29, 2020 11:31 IST

Globally, the focus has moved back to India, especially in terms of telecom assets. Vodafone Idea, with some 300 million customers, continues to be attractive with shares available at a low price.

Can Vodafone Idea survive in a three-pronged battle in the private mobile services space?

For the answer, consider this: Starting FY23 Vodafone Idea has the burden to pay an additional over Rs 9,200 crore annually that includes its AGR dues as well as the increase in the deferred spectrum payment, once the two-year moratorium offered by the government is over.

Vodafone Idea will have to cough up an additional Rs 5,235 crore every year till 2040 to pay its remaining portion of the AGR dues.

That is, of course, if the Supreme Court endorses the formula of the Department of Telecommunications that seeks to allow telcos to follow a staggered payment scheme for paying their AGR dues over 20 years at an 8 per cent annual rate of interest.

Its worth noting that while the two-year moratorium on the spectrum payment will surely help Vodafone Idea tide over its immediate financial crisis, it has to pay a higher bill from FY23 - an additional Rs 4,023 crore for spectrum.

Yet, despite this additional burden, the chances of the company getting out of the woods is much higher than when the Supreme Court judgment first came and both partners - Vodafone and the Aditya Birla group - said they would shut down if the government did not bail them out.

Since then, things have changed: The price war is over, tariffs have gone up, Trai is pushing for a minimum tariff cap, the lockdown saw demand for data as well as revenues go up by around 15 per cent, and Jio Platform raised over Rs 100,000 crore and also roped in Facebook as a stakeholder.

Globally, the focus has moved back to India, especially in terms of telecom assets.

Vodafone Idea, with some 300 million customers, continues to be attractive with shares available at a low price.

Vodafone Idea has paid only 13 per cent of it AGR dues.

It has told the Supreme Court that it is in no position to furnish additional guarantees as it has been unable to make a profit in the last few quarters.

The Supreme Court in turn has asked telcos to submit a 10-year balance sheet and deposit a reasonable payment to prove their bona fides.

Vodafone Idea has three options or a combination of them to survive.

One, hope for a substantial increase in ARPUs since the price war is over and tariffs are moving up.

Two, with its mounting debt and bank loans out of the question, the two partners might have to infuse more cash, together with the monetisation of some assets.

Three, find a third partner. Talks are believed to be on with Google for a possible stake sale but more on that later.

The first option might seem to be a bit of a stretch but its not impossible.

In the first two years, it could be easy, thanks to the moratorium on spectrum payments and perhaps some reduced capital expenditure.

According to Axis Capital, it will only require a reasonable 8 per cent increase in ARPUs to pay Vodafone Ideas annual dues.

But the challenge will be from 2023 when it has to pay its spectrum dues of over Rs 16,296 crore annually (earlier it was paying Rs 12,273 crore).

Axis Capital says ARPUs will have to move up by 57 per in FY23 from December 2019 levels to sustain Vodafone Ideas additional pay outs of spectrum now - or go up from Rs 134 a month to over Rs 200.

If this looks tough, note that Airtel (which of course has higher ARPUs) is already talking of reaching that magic number in a few quarters.

The second option of monetisation with more cash infusion is complex.

The companys debt-to-Ebitda ratio has already hit 7.6 and if the total AGR demand is included, it will hit 11.8.

Clearly, that keeps banks away from lending further.

Also, Vodafone Idea does not have material cash in its balance sheet to give, despite having paid much less than its rivals of the total amount due upfront. Airtel, for example, has paid 41 per cent.

Vodafone Idea can prove its bona fides in several ways.

It can utilise the Vodafone Plc contingent liability indemnity of Rs 8,400 crore, of which Rs 1,700 crore has already been paid.

Alternatively, it can bank on monetisation, such as the proposed merger of Bharti Infratel and Indus Towers, which could fetch the company around Rs 4,000 crore (Vodafone Idea is selling its stake in Indus Towers).

The problem is that the deal has been stuck for a while. The final deadline is the end of June.

Or, it can use the cash from the Rs 700-crore tax refunds it has received and hope to set some of this off against the Rs 8,000 crore pending in GST refunds.

The third option of finding another partner looks more promising.

Reliance has roped in Facebook as a substantial equity partner with a 9.9 per cent stake in Jio Platforms.

Global players like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, say sources, are also anxious not to miss out on the action in India.

They are looking at opportunities in the convergence space which includes controlling digital platforms, reaching out to a large consumer base in one go, and pushing their products - cloud computing, data centres and the like - to reach the largely untapped MSME market.

Significantly, Google has reportedly had talks with Vodafone Idea to pick up a 5 per cent stake.
June 29, 2020 16:08 IST

Already 15-20 per cent of the workforce, earlier used to be procured from staffing firms and subcontractors, are replaced by freelancers tapped from platforms like Topcoder, GitHub, and Upwork.

With increasing uncertainties, aggravated by the pandemic, over business demands, information-technology (IT) services firms are replacing part of their contractual workers (known as contractors in IT parlance) by freelance coders, or gig workers, crowdsourced from the marketplace.

According to multiple sources in large Indian and global IT services firms, even though crowdsourcing was there earlier, it is now happening on a scale and proportion never seen before.

Already 15-20 per cent of the workforce, earlier used to be procured from staffing firms and subcontractors, are replaced by freelancers tapped from platforms like Topcoder, GitHub, and Upwork, said a top executive at a global tech firm in India.

If situations like the current one (which is triggered by the pandemic) continue, probably crowdsourcing as a model to tap temporary skilled workforce can be as matured as the offshore model itself, the executive added.

Topcoder, owned by Wipro through its acquisition of US-based cloud services firm Appirio in 2016, hosts around a 1.6-million community of software developers, programmers, and data scientists for freelance work.

Microsoft-owned code-hosting site GitHub, too, witnessed a surge in terms of daily active users in Asia during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has a community of 50 million users globally.

IT firms typically depend on contractors to meet unforeseen demand, get access to skillsets that may not be immediately available, or satisfy onsite requirements in the absence of enough visa-holding staff.

However, there is also a cost involved in tapping into them. They are given a couple of months notice if a company wants to disengage them.

With the demand constraints and the increasing focus of IT firms to conserve cash, they are not only reducing the number of contractors but also lowering overheads in roping in geeks.

IT firms will naturally increase their dependence on subcontractors.

"It was a measure when demand was high and supply (of workforce) less.

"Now the equation has changed and companies will let go of their subcontractors first and then their regular employees, said Pareekh Jain, outsourcing advisor and founder of Pareekh Jain Consulting.

Going for gig employees makes sense because there are fewer employment terms attached.

"Also there is no long-term commitment in times of uncertainties.

"However, in the long term, this practice does not go in line with service providers interests because their value proposition is training the workforce in-house for more prominent roles, he added.

Subcontracting costs have emerged as some of the major expenses of IT services firms in the past couple of years. Among the tier-I companies, the percentage of subcontracting cost to total expenses was the highest for Wipro, at 21 per cent, followed by Tata Consultancy Services, at 10.8 per cent, and Infosys, at 9.4 per cent, in 2019-20. Going for freelancing software programmers, however, has a few downsides, say experts.

The major one is scale, which means it does not provide one the ability to hire in bulk and ramp up the team quickly.

The other issue is there is a fear that companies having such a workforce may be at the risk of losing their differentiation, especially when they are working on niche and intellectual property-heavy products and solutions.

Tracking these geeks individually may not be easy and entails a cost, especially when they are working remotely.

Hiring temporary and gig workers is an interim plan owing to macroeconomic uncertainties and (H1B and L1) visa issues, while companies need to check the long-term sustainability of this model. Sending employees onsite has become tighter due to travel restrictions, said Omkar Tansale, research analyst at Axis Securities.

The shift in hiring is also probably because of few mid-level employees reaching the glass ceiling or upper limit of salary levels in a few firms and can no longer be employed on a contract basis, said a partner at a management consulting firm.

The gig-based trend is a natural progression in the economy overall, though it cant be seen as a replacement of subcontractors, the person added.
June 29, 2020 10:37 IST

According to experts, this will have major impact on new investments by Chinese players in companies, such as Paytm, Ola, BigBasket, Byjus, Dream11, MakeMyTrip, and Swiggy, when they go for follow-up funding.

Chinese investors, such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Xiaomi, are active in the Indian start-up space, and have collectively invested billions of dollars.

Chinese investment in Indian start-ups is expected to face major hurdles as Sino-India tension escalates.

With both countries locked in a stand-off, India is expected to increase the level of scrutiny of investments coming from China - both directly and indirectly.

According to experts and industry insiders, this will have major impact on new investments by Chinese players in companies, such as Paytm, Ola, BigBasket, Byjus, Dream11, MakeMyTrip, and Swiggy, when they go for follow-up funding.

Chinese investors, such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Xiaomi, are active in the Indian start-up space, and have collectively invested billions of dollars.

My apprehension is that investments in sensitive sectors may be subject to deeper inspection by the government, said Atul Pandey, partner at law firm Khaitan & Co.

Analysts said firms and start-ups looking to raise further funding from Chinese investors - both existing and newer ones - may be well advised to look into other alternative sources.

The government had recently made changes to its FDI policy and introduced strict measures to curb opportunistic takeover due to the COVID-19 crises.

It had introduced a pre-clearance mechanism on investments from China.

The government is keenly scrutinising all existing applications involving investments from China (and potentially Hong Kong), said Pandey, who has been regularly interacting with private equity funds and investors from China affected by this move.

Pandey said he has assisted clients in filing necessary applications with the government seeking its approval and has been advising them to adopt a wait-and-watch approach.

Officially, there hasnt been any change in the Indian stance since Press Note 3 came out in April.

There is no dividing line between the government and private business in China.

If there is Chinese investment in sectors such as media, social media or fintech, they will be in a position to spread disinformation or misuse sensitive data for other purposes.

Therefore, monitoring of such investments is needed, said Amit Bhandari, Fellow, energy and environment studies at foreign policy think tank Gateway House.

According to Sumit Kochar, corporate lawyer and partner at advisory firm Dolce Vita Trustees, Chinese companies have pumped money into Indian unicorns like Paytm, Snapdeal, Swiggy, Ola, Zomato and soonicorns that possess commercial and personal data of millions of Indian users.

Though exposing or using the data for any illicit means may have serious implications, according to Indian laws, Kochar is of the view that the Chinese firms may try to grab the sensitive data these firms are holding to retaliate through other channels.

On Wednesday, it was reported that Indian Intelligence agencies asked the government to block or advise people to stop using 52 mobile apps linked to China.

The list included videoconferencing app Zoom, short-video app TikTok, UC Browser, and file-sharing app Shareit.

In India, China tech giants and venture capital (VC) funds have become the primary vehicle for investments largely in tech start-ups.

This is different from other emerging markets where Chinese investments are mostly in physical infrastructure.

According to Gateway House, even though Chinese FDI into India is at $6.2 billion, its impact is already outsized, given the increasing penetration of technology into India.

Analysts believe that the deal flows into the country have already been impacted due to recent changes to India new FDI policy.

Chinese VC investors are (becoming) increasingly anxious and in some cases even withdrawing term sheets that were on the table.

"The present escalation further complicates life for Indian start-ups, said Salman Waris, managing partner at New Delhi-based specialist technology law firm TechLegis Advocates & Solicitors.

Start-ups, looking to raise capital from Chinese investors, will now need to rework their strategies from scratch (due to FDI restrictions).

This will cost them both time and money.

This, coupled with the fall in the basket of investors to choose from and the uncertainty with regard to the availability of VC, is making Indian start-ups defer IPO plans, enforce paycuts, implement furloughs, cut investment round sizes, and accept unfavourable bridge rounds with compressed valuations, added Waris.

N Raja Sujith, partner and head of South India at law firm Majmudar & Partners, is of the view that one needs to be mindful of the fact that Chinese investors are still not barred from investing in Indian firms.
June 29, 2020 18:00 IST

If solutions are not found, adequately and in good time, things could simply slip out of everyones hands, warns N Sathiya Moorthy.

IMAGE: Police personnel baton charge a migrant worker in Surat. Photograph: PTI Photo.

The India-China border row and Nepals recalcitrant behaviour of the past weeks may have taken the nations focus away from the Covid-19 pandemic, and more so the plight of the migrant labour who have suffered immensely. Left unattended, and unsympathetically so, the migrant labour issue has every potential to blow up on the face of the nation, particularly individual states, than may be imagined.

The migrant labour problem did take the sheen out of the nations legitimate claims to low pandemic hit for its size and population. Now, no Indian should be surprised if one of those pictures of a migrant labourer or group traversing anything from 500-3000 km back home on bare foot and empty stomachs, won an international photograph/video of the year award.

But then it is not about what happened, but what may await the nation in the future, which needs greater and immediate attention. Going by most analyses, more people in the organised, unorganised and non-organised farm sectors will be losing jobs -- and those that have lost theirs may not get it back any time soon.

Post-economic reforms, the nation has witnessed more of left militancy than before. It has spread from West Bengals Naxalbari to undivided Andhra Pradeshs pre-Independence communist strongholds, and also Kerala and Tamil Nadu of the sixties and seventies, to non-traditional central Indian states, including Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Left militant literature from time to time has recalled their decades-old Dandakaranya Plan and others, which talk about Maoist takeover of the nation through rural and urban militancy. According to media reports over the past several years, police intelligence has established left militant presence/dominance from north to south, east to west (both urban and rural) in a way that divides the nation into four quartets in the fertile imagination of the ideological authors.

Simultaneously, there have also been reports over the past decade and more that families in rural north have been sending their teenaged male children, especially, to other parts of the country for gainful employment, not only to improve the family income. It was aimed more at keeping away children in the impressionable age-group from the prying eyes of Maoist-recruiters and their ideology.

Even before the lockdown, migrant labour from one part of the country has always been made to feel that they were not working in another part of the very same India that is Bharat. It had begun in Bal Thackerays Maharashtra of the sixties and seventies. In more recent times, branding some of them as illegal Bangladeshi nationals without verification has become a pastime for some ideological groups.

In the post-liberalisation years, there have been occasions when the local police in every state has looked down upon migrant labour from another part of the country with the kind of suspicion they did not deserve. With the nation-wide lockdown possibly making migrant labour the single largest social constituency with probable electoral potential, the possibilities are as exclusivist and they can be made inclusive, otherwise.

The lockdown has made the migrant labour feel that they have no nation, no government and no employer to call their own. Todays migrant labour is conversant in the local language or languages, and well-networked, too, thanks to the massive social media penetration in every language. That is a whole world outside of the urban elites grasp and comprehension.

Even without such possibilities, there are already religion, language and culture-based animosities apart from increasing caste and class consciousness among all sections, in the post-liberalisation generation. Social media constantly feeds not only their dreams but also their fears and anxieties.

Recall how only a few years ago, migrant labour and also students and others from north-eastern states crowded railway stations across south India for rushing back home, based on a social media rumour. On that occasion, the nations intelligence agencies could trace the mischief to Pakistani ISI, and thus nib the trouble in the bud. Such a situation is not impossible in the months and years to come.

In this, the Tablighi Jamaat-centric motivated insinuations through social media on the community spread of Covid has done the nation more harm. The successive episodes of community spread, as with Koyambedu market episode in Chennai, may have pushed the TJ issue to the background, but the hurt may still be deep-seated.

In a country where there are enough people to push and provoke a religion-centric agenda, as a unifying factor against castes and caste divisions, the idea that one particular community (alone) was responsible for the social communication of the pandemic leaves a heavy burden on the affected lot. Even as they may seek to erase that sense of guilt (as against culpability), there are enough of the others who may want to exploit an inherently flawed situation and consequent construct.

Given the possibilities and probabilities of our times, anti-India State terror arms like the ISI can be expected to try and muddy the troubled migrant labour waters in the country directly and not-so-directly. They will be looking as much for anti-India propaganda opportunities overseas (read: West) as for real targets inside the country.

Against this overall background, any over-the-counter interpretation of the Centres lockdown era intentions to come up with what is already seen as pro-management labour laws and pro-corporate farm-holding patterns, can be an add-on cause for national worry. The answer lies in a judicious mix of maximum consultations at the stake-holder level and greater and deeper intelligence-networking and follow-up action -- not one without the other.

Worse still, the nations recent behaviour of reacting to social media and 24x7 television news, and shifting gears from one issue to the other, can do more harm than good, if only over time. Neither the prime minister, nor chief ministers and their respective governments can hope to compete with TV news media in their TRP war, and cheer to themselves over the way the nation has forgotten festering issues such as the migrant labourers' sorry lot.

If solutions are not found, adequately and in good time, things could simply slip out of everyones hands. Considering that Naxals have a common name-tag but no real central leadership to negotiate with or put down, it is the kind of an idea and platform the governments cannot hope to wish away, as they have had the wonderful knack of coming back and spreading out like an octopus, to cover more states and people.

N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is Head-Chennai Initiative, Observer Research Foundation.
June 29, 2020 10:19 IST

'There is a compulsion to look hard, decisive, and risk-taking; start something; and then conclude it in a way you can claim victory.'

'That is not such an easy option against China,' notes Shekhar Gupta.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi with Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist party of China, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, June 10, 2018. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters

As Mao did to Jawaharlal Nehru in 1959-1962, Xi Jinping has thrown at Prime Minister Narendra Modi the biggest challenge in his public life.

Over the next few days, weeks, months, and years, he will take decisions that determine the strategic fate of his nation. And his own political legacy.

Reading his mind is an act of daring.

Over these six years he has built a formidable reputation of delivering the most stunning surprises, without anybody having an inkling.

Even on crucial strategic and foreign policy issues.

Remember his sudden stopover in Pakistan on his way back from Kabul.

Gaming his responses over the Chinese provocations in Ladakh is complex, but there are pointers.

So, for once, we can read the main question on his mind as he weighs strategy and politics.

Simply put, demand that he must respond, but not in a way that looks like Nehru.

The politics and strategic, philosophical and ideological thought he and his ideological and political parents, the RSS and BJP, have constructed is founded on not being like Nehru.

The most important thing then is to 'not repeat his waffling blunders'.

Mr Xi has thrown the gauntlet at him at the moment of his choosing, just as Mao had done in 1962.

The pressure on him is to respond immediately, in anger, and exasperation just to be seen to be doing something, as Nehru did.

Translated: How to show fellow Indians and the world that you are not Nehru of 1962, without doing precisely what Nehru did under pressure in that fateful year.

Nehru took a decision ('I have told my army to throw out the Chinese') that might have looked brave, but was divorced from reality.

History has judged him harshly.

Not as a brave, tough leader who 'died' fighting, as politically and physically he never recovered from that decision.

He will forever be seen as a weakling who went to war against his conviction.

IMAGE: Then prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh with Xi Jinping in Beijing. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

In 2020, Mr Modi has many advantages.

His political environment has no resemblance to that of Nehru, whose greatest critics were the nationalists within his Cabinet.

Mr Modi has no such problem.

The Opposition is weak, Parliament is no threat, and the armed forces in an enormously better state, despite the PLA's modernisation.

He, however, shares one weakness with Nehru: A larger than life public image, and a thin skin.

That is what Mr Xi has seen as an exposed flank.

From Chumar to Doklam to Pulwama, the Chinese have noticed how vital a factor 'face' is for Mr Modi in his domestic politics.

There is a compulsion to look hard, decisive, and risk-taking; start something; and then conclude it in a way you can claim victory.

That is not such an easy option against China.

What motivated Mr Xi to initiate this confrontation is not so relevant any more.

It doesn't matter because the Chinese are now at our doorstep.

And from the way they are digging in and hauling in heavy equipment it's clear they look prepared for the long haul.

It takes Mr Modi back to the dilemmas all his predecessors have faced.

Is India fated by geography and history to endure a two-front situation?

How can India change this?

Can it reach out to either of the two, and break out of the triangulation? If so, which one?

And third, if it has no way out, or until it has a way out, can it still remain essentially non-aligned?

For clarity, if you give up that pretence and align with any big powers, you cannot also hold on to Cold War notions of strategic autonomy.

Can you trade it for better security?

Every choice involves compromises. Mr Modi has to pick one.

Nehru junked his inflated notions of non-alignment and reached out to Kennedy's America for help in 1962.

Help came, and he permitted the Americans to even set up a military mission, headed by a two-star general, in New Delhi. This came at a price.

IMAGE: Then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru with then Chinese premier Zhou Enlai, left, April 21, 1960. Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Western powers dissuaded Pakistan from taking advantage of India's predicament in October-November 1962, but in December, Sardar Swaran Singh was negotiating under duress with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on Kashmir.

This was in return for Western support.

Swaran Singh stalled and as Nehru declined and Kennedy was assassinated, the American opportunity was gone.

India swung Centre-Left again.

Indira Gandhi was sharper.

In 1971, when the Bangladesh opportunity came, she knew she could win only if something could keep China off India's back.

She signed that Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation with the Soviet Union, which was a euphemism for a strategic alliance.

It gave her those few weeks' leeway to finish the war.

A leader's isn't an easy place to be in.

The substance of strategic and foreign policies is less pretty than the summits.

Rajiv Gandhi, Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Manmohan Singh grappled with the same challenge.

None had the political capital Mr Modi does.

All made at least one effort to reach out to Pakistan and break that triangulation.

We had recounted a prescient tutorial by Manmohan Singh on how it was better for India to reach out to Pakistan for peace to deny China this low-cost strategic counterweight.

Mr Modi too made a dramatic flourish with Nawaz Sharif and then gave up too soon.

Pathankot, Gurdaspur, and other betrayals happened for sure.

Great leaders distinguish the tactical from the strategic.

As things unfolded subsequently, he and his party built their politics on anti-Pakistanism.

Terrorism became the pre-eminent strategic threat in our nationalist imagination.

Pakistan-terror-Islam became the three prongs of the BJP's electoral proposition.

Mr Modi tried to break out of the same triangulation that his predecessors grappled with and failed.

But he reached out to China instead, celebrating its leader,/strong>, ignoring its provocations, and welcoming its investment, and looked the other way while the annual trade deficit grew to $60 billion.

This, when his economic nationalism won't let him sign even a tiny trade deal with the US.

The calculation was to give China a vested interest in peace with India.

Mr Xi has now shown that the world's deputy superpower doesn't weigh its strategic interest in trade surpluses.

The idea of isolating Pakistan by reaching out to its allies, China on the east and the Arab world on the west, was creative and audacious.

It failed as Mr Xi won't play ball.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Modi with Imran Khan in New Delhi, December 2015. Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter

Mr Modi is back to the same three choices: Align with a big power, make peace with one of the two neighbours, or keep fighting on two fronts, in the manner of ekla cholo re.

What about a combination of the first two?

The unipolar world is now over. As is non-alignment. China is the other pole as the Soviet Union used to be.

It has no incentive in settling its borders, not even delineating the LAC, with you.

Peace between two antagonists is possible only when the bigger power wants it. For India, Mr Xi's China isn't that power.

So, the question: Can Mr Modi swing back to where India is the stronger power that wants peace with Pakistan? Much as you may detest Pakistan, it is also more prone to global, especially Western, influence.

Especially when it is an economic basket case.

There is also a shared global interest in moderating the nature of the Pakistani polity.

It can't happen overnight.

But if you do set yourself on that course, it would necessitate adjustments in your domestic politics.

The tricky call then: Does your electoral politics drive your strategic choices, or the other way around?

The platter, or the thaali of choices before Mr Modi, is the old one.

Nehru chose the worst, Indira Gandhi the right but temporary one, Manmohan Singh tried a third but didn't have time or political capital.

By Special Arrangement with The Print

Production: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
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Last updated on: June 29, 2020 22:35 IST

'Open conflict would be a disaster for both China and India.'

IMAGE: Indian Army trucks move along a highway leading to Ladakh, June 17, 2020. Photograph: Danish Ismail/Reuters

"The border dispute will continue indefinitely with occasional flareups. India's best bet is to work with China and try to negotiate a way back to the previous status quo," Dr Christopher K Colley -- a non-resident China Fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC who researches China, India, US relations -- explains to Rediff.com's Nikhil Lakshman.

Depsang 2013. Chumar 2014. Doklam 2017. Ladakh 2020. In your opinion, what message is China sending India by these frequent military provocations?

What precise Indian actions have angered the Chinese Communist party/PLA leadership?

When was the decisive period when the situation spun out of India's control?

It is very difficult to know precisely what message Beijing is trying to send to New Delhi.

However, China does have a reliable track record of responding to what it perceives as actions that threaten the status quo.

In other words, projects such as road building activities in disputed areas, or close to disputed areas that have the potential to decrease Chinese security are frequently correlated with more aggressive (China would argue defensive) behaviour by Beijing.

Without better information it is very difficult to know precisely when the situation spun out of India's control.

It most likely occurred on the night of the 15th of June, but unless more details are released there is no way to know.

The message Beijing appears to be sending is one of cease your road/infrastructure building activities that are close to contested territory.

What is your opinion on India's building of infrastructure in the area, enabling the swifter movement of troops, activation of long unused airfields in the region: Would you say it is a factor in the current situation?

As mentioned above, this seems to be the best explanation for the recent hostilities as this increases India's military capacity in the region (infrastructure projects), while decreasing China's security situation.

In your understanding of the Chinese and PLA, did the Doklam setback -- where the Indian Army rushed to Bhutan's assistance and stood its ground -- resulting in a setback of sorts for the PLA provoke General Zhao Zhongqi and his deputies in the South Xinjiang Military District to strike back in an area of their advantage.

The Galwan Valley and the Pangong Tse lake all presenting attractive targets since Indian troops were not deployed there for some weeks due to the pandemic?

I have no information to address this question, but the timing is off.

Doklam was three years ago.

I think this is unlikely and the time periods are too far apart to establish a tit-for-tat.

IMAGE: Indian soldiers stand guard as Indian Army vehicles pass through the Zojila Pass on their way to the Ladakh frontier. Photograph: PTI Photo

What are India's options if the Chinese refuse to return to their previous positions?

Will Prime Minister Modi be forced to go to war to preserve his domestic image -- muscular protector of national interest?

Or is war out of the question given the economics involved for New Delhi?

How can war be averted if the PLA is intent on conflict?

Open conflict would be a disaster for both China and India.

With the current state of the pandemic and the global economy this would have terrible social, political, and economic repercussions for the world economy.

India's best bet is to work with China and try to negotiate a way back to the previous status quo.

Contrary to popular belief in both China and outside of China, Beijing has a commendable record of compromising in territorial disputes.

It has offered to compromise in 17 of 23 disputes, including a potential 'territorial swap' with India.

However, it is important to note that these compromises were negotiated in past decades when China was much weaker.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi with Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist party of China, at the Hubei provincial museum in Wuhan, April 27, 2018, during their first informal summit, months after the Doklam standoff. Photograph: China Daily/Reuters

Have the events of June 15/16 set back India-Chinese relations back a generation, given the fact that post-1962 clashes -- in 1967 and 1975 -- occurred when there were no real diplomatic ties, no CBMs in place?

Would Xi's China be satisfied with that outcome since it puts into place what Beijing sees as an upstart challenger to its hegemony in Asia?

The events have certainly set relations back, but we will not know the extent of this for some time.

From an economic perspective, China is a very important partner for India.

Depending on how it is measured China is India's number one trade partner.

However, the events of mid June will likely strengthen the hand of hawks in New Delhi who will take a harder line on China, especially on the security front.

Is there a Pakistan angle in the current confrontation in Ladakh, to keep India wrong footed with tensions on both the Line of Control as well as the Line of Actual Control, not to mention India's current problems with Nepal?

What does Beijing gain by keeping Delhi on edge?

Is it to shackle Modi's ambitions for India and Indian influence which clash with Beijing's own ambitions in South Asia, South East Asia, even parts of Africa?

Does Xi's China see Modi's India as the leader of an anti-China grouping of nations in Asia?

It is difficult to say what role Pakistan plays in the current situation.

At best it is likely a secondary issue, and it may be largely irrelevant to the immediate situation.

It is important to remember that by far China's most pressing security concerns outside the mainland are in East Asia and in the Pacific.

In terms of the current situation, Beijing does not gain much, as this will likely lead to greater cooperation between India and the US.

This will be the case regardless of who wins the November election in America.

IMAGE: An anti-China protest in New Delhi, June 19, 2020. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

Since it is unlikely that the vexed India-China border dispute will be resolved in our time -- and perhaps even in our children's time, given Beijing's disinclination to discuss specifics and keep the discussions nebulous -- will India be compelled to monitor the LAC as vigilantly as it does the LoC?

What does Beijing gain by keeping the border issue unresolved, and on the boil?

I agree that the border issue will not be solved for a very long time.

Challenges to this are present in both capitals.

Nehru famously refused a 'swap' by stating that if he agreed 'I shall no longer be prime minister of India, I shall not do it.'

It would be extremely difficult for Prime Minister Modi to be able to find an acceptable solution to the dispute that would be perceived by the Indian public as 'giving away' 38,000 square kilometres to China.

On the Chinese side, Chinese officials have painted themselves into a corner by stating that China has never and will never give up a square inch of Chinese territory.

Previous border settlements, where in the majority of cases China gave up more than 50 percent of the claimed territory, were withheld from the Chinese public.

It is nearly impossible to find Chinese citizens who are aware of these compromises.

Chinese leaders would have a very hard time explaining to the Chinese public that they 'gave away' 90,000 square kilometers of Arunachal Pradesh, or South Tibet.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Modi takes notes at the all party meeting to discuss the situation on the India-China border, June 19, 2020. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

If, When and How will the current standoff in Ladakh be resolved?

Will it involve much give and take for the Chinese to retreat?

A week on, it appears that leaders on both sides are trying to reduce tensions.

This is a very positive development.

A short and limited war between the two would be a disaster and would likely not resolve anything.

The border dispute will continue indefinitely with occasional flareups.

Perhaps the most important development to emerge from the latest confrontation is the likelihood of closer ties between India and the US.

This is not in China's strategic interest.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Modi with United States President Donald J Trump and his wife Melania Trump in Ahmedabad, February 25, 2020. Photograph: Al Drago/Reuters

Could Beijing be irritated by New Delhi's closer ties to Washington in the Modi-Trump years?

Did the Modi-Trump events in Houston last September and Ahmedabad in February needle Beijing?

Or are we reading too much into this?

Maybe Beijing does not give a damn about Delhi's perceived proximity to DC?

Beijing is increasingly concerned with improving ties between New Delhi and Washington.

Beijing has been watching this for the past two decades since the last year of the Clinton administration.

Chinese security experts are not as concerned with India on its own, but when combined with the US it catches their attention.

Beijing would like to avoid a situation where it faces a potential challenge from Washington in both the Pacific and South Asia.

The most recent meetings between Modi and Trump were not significant enough to cause the current situation.

However, they do contribute to the increasing unease about Washington and New Delhi's working relationship.

Production: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Last updated on: June 29, 2020 20:48 IST

'China would rather tie us down and bleed us as much as it can so that we aren't able to lift our heads to face them.'

IMAGE: An Indian Air Force helicopter seen flying over Eastern Ladakh, June 19, 2020.

Air Marshal Pranab Kumar Barbora retired as the Indian Air Force's vice-chief in December 2010 after having served the IAF and the nation for 40 years.

Commissioned in the IAF just before the 1971 War, he was twice awarded the Chief's Commendation as well as the Vayu Sena Medal and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

The air marshal is well known in the air force as an intelligent and no nonsense commander with exceptional man management and leadership skills.

He was also known for his quick decision making abilities and has been in the news after his revelation earlier this month about how he took the decision to land an An-32 aircraft at Daulat Beg Oldi, India and the world's highest advanced landing ground.

Air Marshal Barbora, who also served as Commander in Chief of the the IAF's Western Air Command, discusses the situation in Eastern Ladakh with Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).

IMAGE: Air Marshal Pranab Kumar Barbora, centre, with other senior Indian Army and Indian Air Force officers after the IAF landed an An-32 aircraft at the Daulat Beg Oldi airfield, the world's highest airfield, in 2008.

Why land an An-32 at Daulat Beg Oldi when helicopters can do the job?

I had to use helicopters because there was no other option till then. As you are aware, helicopters are costly machines to operate, they carry lesser load and while coming back from DBO, they could hardly get back anything.

The An-32, if landed, could easily take 4 tons in and come back with 2 tons if the temperatures were sub zero. That gave us a huge advantage by operating these machines.

Also, one had to accept a large volume of losses if the loads were para-dropped as was being done then.

You are a helicopter man with so much experience. You know it best! So we were losing as a nation in every way by not landing.

Secondly is the criticality of the location of the DBO ALG.

If for any reason we were to lose this area to the Chinese or the Pakistanis -- and I am not saying that they are going to do it! -- it would place us in a tremendously disadvantageous position.

We won't know what to do if it happens.

Therefore, it is important that we keep troops there and keep their morale high by giving them all the air support that they require.

And in this time of heightened tensions, it would be so much faster to replenish troops and required weapons should the need arise, isn't it?

You very well know the difference in terrain imperatives on both sides of the Himalayan divide.

On our side we have hilly terrain and on theirs, it is almost flat plateau land.

There isn't any decent operating Chinese air base close to DBO and therefore, to protect the area, I decided to move the fighters including the SU-30s to Leh.

I briefed the boys that they should fly within the laid down limits of the border and also do sorties by night in that area.

You see, it is the sound that carries far in these areas. When a fighter aircraft flies here (in Ladakh), it sends across a clear message to the other side. I did the same when I was in the East (when he served as Commander in Chief, Eastern Air Command) too.

I actually made them fly in the Arunachal hills by night. This is not only to keep their professionalism at the highest level, but it also made them confident that it can be done as a routine.

In fact, the helicopters did me proud when they carried out the first casualty evacuation by night from the hills of Anini during my tenure!

I am so proud of the boys I led in the IAF. They showed me that they could achieve the seemingly impossible with ease and professionalism.

Operations like these not only show off our capabilities to the other side, but also make us stronger to take on the enemy with the same assets that we have in hand.

So with the aspects of own morale and perception management at the border, our professional and operational potential was growing by doing such things as landing at DBO.

When you decided to go ahead with the planning and execution of the DBO mission, how did the Indian Army and paramilitary respond to the huge ask?

We had a very short time window available to us. I had just taken over (as Commander in Chief, Western Air Command) on January 1, 2008, and I wanted to accomplish the mission by May.

You see the sortie had to be done when the weather was clear and the temperatures were under zero degrees.

There was a lot of physical work involved to get the airstrip fit for our landing. So, without wasting any time I got in touch with my army counterparts -- the 14 Corps Commander at Leh, and the Northern Army Commander at Udhampur, Lieutenant General P C Bhardwaj.

They were so highly professional and positive in their approach that my fears were immediately put to rest after the meetings.

They saw the reason that I was going ahead in the tight timeframe and assured me of full support.

They had no worthwhile equipment to do the task at DBO at that time and I assured them that Mi-26 support to move men and heavy equipment would be given when asked for.

And what a job these boys did!

They had the best of leaders at all levels. Bhardwaj was a very well decorated general and went on to become the vice chief like me later.

I got much more support than what I had envisioned due to his personal indulgence and involvement.

Braving the weather and the fact that they had to work with their bare hands, the army did an exceptional job in making the airfield fit for operation in a very short time.

The biggest task that they had was to fill up the crevice that had been made across the runway due to an earthquake.

Actually, I don't buy the story of the earthquake; I think it was gradual eating away of the surface by snow and ice over 43 years of weathering.

In any case, I have no reason to crib at all. It was a job so professionally accomplished. All kudos to those brave 40, 50 men who did the hard work at that altitude.

IMAGE: IAF fighter jets operating over Eastern Ladakh, June 19, 2020.

Why keep the mission a secret?

It wasn't a secret really. All those who had to know of it were told. The lesser number of people who knew, it would be better, isn't it? My contention of need to know was because somehow down the line things leak and lead to unpleasant things.

We were already in the midst of planning something big with the involvement of the rest of the air force and I felt we should not make too much noise and do it as a matter of fact rather than an exception.

Leaks take place everywhere, and I needed to be extra careful. So I gave nothing in writing.

There was another reason for this. You see when the first presentation was given to me in Delhi at the Western Air Command Headquarters, everybody was trying to tell me how the mission was a no go.

I then told them to arrange for another presentation to tell me how it can be done.

This got them under some kind of pressure, I think, and they now worked towards the goals that I had set for them.

I wanted to be dead sure myself that the mission was going through before we got people to hear or talk about it.

In those circumstances, it was best to just work quietly and move towards the goal without making too much noise.

I, willy-nilly, took charge of things .

I told my SASO (Senior Air Staff Officer), 'Fighter flying toh chalta rehta hai, you take care of that, leave this mission to me'.

I delegated authority to all in the chain.

It would have been easy for me to bypass everyone in this chain and talk to Chafekar (then Group Captain Suryakant Chafekar, commander of the 48 Squadron, who flew the historic flight; you can read about the flight in the links below this paragraph) directly, but then it wouldn't have been in the correct scheme of things and not in the correct traditions of our service.

Everyone in this chain knew what they were supposed to do and I didn't have to interfere at all.

If there was help required, anyone could ask and it would be made available due to this clearly defined chain of command.

Things moved fast, plans were made and Chafekar definitely had some plans already made.

I directed Chafekar and his team that they shouldn't spend too much time practising their landing procedures at DBO during their drop sorties since it would stir up the Chinese.

They were to make some concessions and simulate those conditions here at Chandigarh while they trained; and train hard they did.

The DBO airfield had to be made operational within a month, month-and -a-half. It then had to be checked by the pilots and declared fit before the flight.

How much manpower was required for the same? How much equipment was pushed into DBO to hasten things?

Look, that wasn't my problem, was it? I had the reassurance from the army that things will be done and they were fully capable of doing the task.

In terms of support, we gave them the helicopter trips that they required. As far as I was concerned, my pilots had to be happy with the work.

If they weren't, there was no way I would be forcing it down their throats. After all, they were to undertake the mission.

On our part we had to worry about contingencies should they occur at DBO. If there was a tyre to be changed with the engines running, well, it had to be practised.

The search and rescue teams had to be placed at vantage points so that in the event of a bad landing or crash, the survivors were lifted to safety in the shortest possible time.

All this technical and operational nitty-gritties were worked between the Command Staff and Chandigarh (where the IAF's 48 Squadron was based) to the last detail, leaving nothing to chance.

My SASO and his operations staff were masters at this and did what they were supposed to do.

All I could do as a Commander was to give them the space to think and plan and guide them based on my experience and nothing else.

One thing that worried me was what if the engine switches off at DBO? With the Auxillary Power Unit unable to operate at that altitude, what was to be done?

I told my engineering guys to think about novel and out of the box ideas of starting the engine like jump starting your car!

I left it to them completely to think of the technical contingencies and find solutions, at the same time we kept our fingers crossed that nothing should happen!

In your opinion, was it just a one-time operation or did you want it to continue? How did you manage thereafter to train more pilots and how long did these landings continue?

Like I said, I believe in delegating responsibility. Once we had achieved the mission and proved that it was possible, I left it to the operations branch to take it forward.

As far as figures are concerned, I won't be able to tell you how many pilots were trained to land there, but I can assure you that they were adequate in number.

The army also had to tell us if they had any meaningful load to be delivered at DBO.

If it was just 500 kg or something, there was no point in doing so much for so little isn't it? So I left it to the army to give us the task, and based on the same, we ensured that we had the pilots and the machines available.

Did you plan for infrastructure development at DBO as also posting IAF manpower for furthering operations at DBO?

No, not at all. There was no such plan then. We had moved in the requisite manpower to accomplish the mission and we had plans in place to do so again should the requirement arise at a later date.

You know, we had managed to train those ITBP (Indo Tibetan Border Police) and Army boys to give us the weather and they were good at it!

The rest of the administrative support was managed by the army and hence there was no requirement to create separate infrastructure at DBO at all. At that point in time, we didn't fly too often to DBO.

So it was basically a show of capability, show of strength. To tell the Chinese that we can operate when we want to.

The Chinese know all that. We have been doing this day in and out in the north east, haven't we? The hidden agenda is as clear as day to both sides.

How do you compare the two air forces along the northern border? What progress has our air force made in projection of air power along this border in your career in the IAF?

What exactly does China want?

With these border skirmishes increasing over time, how serious are the designs of the Chinese?

Is it a show of force or belligerence?

Or do the Chinese mean more?

Firstly, our progress has been perfect. Our plans are well thought of and cater to all our requirements over time.

Plans being what they are, the only constraint is the money.

Although the current government has given adequate impetus to our growth, there is a lot of scope for improvement.

But you know, our other development plans also have to be given the push too. Eradication of poverty is one of them.

So when we ask for 126 Rafales, we get 36, because the government can only give us this much.

We need to optimally utilise what we have and plan well for what we are going to get so as to get maximum bang for the buck.

The IAF needs to make full use of its multi-role aircraft with boosted ranges by mid-air refuelling so that forces can be swung from one theatre to another or operate inter theatre in future conflicts.

And by the way, I am in no way advocating theatre commands as yet, since we are not 'ready' for them at the moment.

As far as air power is concerned, we have adequate to deal with the situation, and I am sure that plans are afoot to keep it that way.

We have to keep projecting the entire National Power to our adversaries to prevent conflict, and I think we are doing so quite well, especially in the recent past.

In my opinion, China doesn't want war, and actually, all of us could do without it especially in this pandemic scenario.

War, will, as such, be the last resort.

China would rather tie us down; and bleed us as much as it can so that we aren't able to lift our heads to face them.

That is their strategy. And they do it slowly and steadily.

We need to study them, and study them hard to find new and innovative solutions in the soft and hard power domains to contain them and keep them within their borders.

Air Commodore Nitin Sathe retired from the Indian Air Force in February 2020 after 35 distinguished years of service in the IAF.

A helicopter pilot, he served as the station commander at the IAF's Jammu station between 2010 and 2012.

Production: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
Source:

Edited By:

June 29, 2020 17:13 IST

Partially relaxing export norms, the government on Monday permitted shipments of Personal Protection Equipment medical coveralls for COVID-19 with an export quota of 50 lakh units per month.

IMAGE: Workers prepare Personal Protective Equipment suits for Railways at Patliputra Industrial area during the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in Patna. Photograph: ANI Photo

The product was banned for export earlier, but has now been moved to the restricted category, under which an exporter would have to seek a licence from the government for shipments.



In a notification, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade said: "A monthly quota of 50 lakh PPE medical coverall for COVID-19 units has been fixed for issuance of export licence to the eligible applicants to export PPE medical coveralls for COVID-19 as per the criteria to be separately issued in a trade notice".

All other items that are part of PPE kits remain prohibited and the monthly quota shall not be applicable on export of these items, it said.



These items include medical goggles, all masks other than non-medical/non surgical (cotton, silk, wool, polyester, nylon rayon, viscose - knitted, woven or blended); nitrile gloves and face shield.

These products are in huge demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted: "Boosting Make in India exports, PPE medical coveralls for COVID-19 have been allowed with a monthly export quota of 50 lakh."



DGFT has also laid out a detailed procedure and criteria for export of PPE coveralls.



An exporter has to apply online through a DGFT's system for export authorisation and there is no need to send a hard copy of the application.



"Only applications for export of PPE medical coveralls for COVID-19 filed from 1st to 3rd day of each month will be considered for the quota of that month," the directorate said adding that all approvals/allocations will be done by 10th of every month.



Validity of the export licence will be for three months only.



Further, it said that the firm applying should be a manufacturer of PPE coveralls and copy of testing/accreditation of the product shall be issued to the firms from the laboratories notified/recognised by the textiles ministry.



"The firm shall either submit a copy of importing country's PPE medical coveralls standards certificate obtained by it or a copy of Bureau of Indian Standards certificate obtained by it, if the importing country does not insist on a standard certificate," it added.



All the relevant documents have to be submitted along with the online application to fulfill the eligibility criteria and incomplete applications will not be considered for any allocation, it said.



Earlier on June 22, the government had decided to continue exports ban only on specific PPE such as medical coveralls of all classes and goggles.



For the first time, on January 31, India had banned export of all PPE including clothing and masks.



Hailing the decision, Apparel Export Promotion Council of India Chairman A Sakthivel said the government should also allow export of N95 masks.



The decision to permit export of PPE medical coveralls has opened the entire global market for domestic players who were fast enough to seize this opportunity of producing and supplying PPE kits as the world struggles to control coronavirus pandemic, Sakthivel said.



The production of PPE is more than sufficient to cater to the needs of the country and allowing exports of such items will not only help the health workers across the world, but also support the revival of the apparel industry in the country, he added.



The council has been requesting the government to allow these exports as the production of PPE has increased to over 8 lakh units per day.



"A single mask manufacturing machine can produce one lakh pieces per day and we have more than 200 such machines currently," he said.



The government should soon extend the export opportunity for N95 masks as well, he said, adding that the size of the global market for PPEs is more than USD 60 billion for the next five years.



The chairman further said that India is in competition with countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan as they have lifted the ban on PPE exports and are receiving huge orders from large buyers in the US and Europe.
Source:

Edited By:

Last updated on: June 30, 2020 01:57 IST

Family members or relatives of over 50 people who have recovered from COVID-19 are not willing to take their loved ones home fearing getting infected, forcing the government to keep them in state-run facilities, a senior official said on Monday.

According to Dr Prabhakar Reddy, nodal officer for COVID-19 at Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad, about 50 such people are being kept at Nature Cure Hospital as their kin did not come forward to take them home.

"We had 60 such cases where the relatives or family members refused to take the recovered people home fearing that they and their children would also get infected. We are trying to convince them. As of now 50 such people, both men and women, are being kept at the Nature Cure Hospital," Dr Reddy told PTI.

Some of the recovered patients are aged people, including a 93-year old woman and are still in Gandhi Hospital while the rest have been sent to different facilities.

"We cannot use police force on the kin and ask them to take them back home. We are counselling them saying there is no harm due to the recovered persons. Some three or four people were taken home after we convinced them," he added.

The state-run Gandhi Hospital which was declared a COVID-19 treatment facility is currently treating 723 patients, out of which over 350 are on oxygen supply.

According to him, the regular mortuary at Gandhi Hospital can accommodate 65 to 70 bodies.

The hospital has set up an exclusive morgue for COVID-19 deaths with a capacity of about 20 bodies.

Prabhakar Rao said separate teams have been set up to handle the special morgue as per COVID-19 protocols.

As on Sunday night, Telangana has 14,419 COVID-19 positive cases and 5,172 people have been discharged so far, while 9,000 were under treatment, a state government bulletin said.
Source:

Edited By:

Last updated on: June 29, 2020 18:55 IST

Congress leaders on Monday staged protests in different cities against hike in fuel prices, raising slogans and riding bicycles and bullock carts.

IMAGE: Indian Youth Congress workers riding on a bullock cart stage a protest against the Central Government over hike in the prices of petrol and diesel, outside Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

In New Delhi, state Congress president Anil Kumar and party workers were detained by police at a petrol pump near Parmanand hospital.

Kumar said police detained him and party workers as they tried to go to Raj Niwas, which is Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's official residence, to lodge their protest against the rising prices of petrol and diesel.

IMAGE: Congress workers ride a bullock cart as they protest against price hike of petrol and diesel, at a Petrol Pump in east Delhi, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Police said they were detained around 10 am and would be released soon.

IMAGE: Delhi Congress president Anil Chaudhary being detained during a protest against rise in fuel price, in New Delhi, on Monday. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo

Protesting against the fuel price hike, the Delhi Congress chief, said, "People are already suffering from coronavirus and consequences of lockdown. At such a time, the rise in prices of petrol and diesel by the Modi government and Kejriwal government in Delhi is adding to their woes."

IMAGE: Youth Congress workers ride a bullock cart outside Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

In Patna, Congress workers rode bicycles, bullock carts and horse carts to protest against the increase in fuel prices.

The protesters raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government during the demonstration.

IMAGE: Congress supporters ride a horse cart in Patna. Photograph: ANI Photo

"The fuel prices are rising almost every day. The country is already dealing with so many crises; the public should be given relief in such a situation. The government is trying to torture the public in different ways," said Madan Mohan Jha, Congress chief in Bihar.

In Gujarat, state Congress president Amit Chavda and nearly 50 other party workers were detained in Ahmedabad while they were trying to take out a rally, police said.

IMAGE: Bihar Congress president Madan Mohan Jha with party leaders and supporters ride cycles in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo

They were not given permission for such a gathering, a senior police official said.

The opposition party also organised similar protests in Rajkot, Vadodara and Surat districts of Gujarat and demanded roll back of the hike.

IMAGE: Congress leader Siddaramaiah -- along with party workers -- rides a bicycle in Bengaluru. Photograph: ANI Photo

In Ahmedabad, Chavda and 50 other Congress workers, including MLA Gyasuddin Shaikh, were detained near Sardar Baug area while trying to take out a rally against the increased prices of petrol and diesel.

Police said the demonstrators were not given permission for such a gathering or for taking out a rally.

"The Congress workers gathered in a busy area without any permission. We have detained nearly 50 protesters, including Chavda and Shaikh, for holding protests and trying to take out a rally without permission," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 2, Dharmendra Sharma said.

IMAGE: Youth Congress activists pull a car in protest against rising fuel prices in Panaji. Photograph: ANI Photo

Before being detained, Chavda slammed the government over the fuel price hike and denying permission for the protest.

"This government is not ready to understand the plight of the people, who were first hit by coronavirus and now by fuel price hike. We will continue to raise the issues concerning citizens, who were literally abandoned by this government. We want the Centre to roll back the hike," Chavda told reporters before his detention.

Congress workers in other parts of the state were also detained for holding protests over the issue, officials said.

IMAGE: Supporters of Congress load a motorcycle on a rickshaw as they protest against fuel price hike, in Ahmedabad. Photograph: ANI Photo

In Karnataka, Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah rode a bicycle in Bengaluru, from his residence to reach Minsk Square, to participate in the party's protest against the hike in fuel prices.

The Maharashtra Congress also staged protests across the state on Monday against the increase in fuel prices, and demanded roll back of the hike.

A senior party leader said people were already hit hard by the coronavirus-induced lockdown, hence at such a time the Centre should reduce the fuel prices.

IMAGE: Chandigarh Mahila Congress activists hold placards as they stage a protest in Chandigarh. Photograph: ANI Photo

Several Congress ministers, including Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan and Nitin Raut, staged a protest at the party office in Mumbai.

"The petrol and diesel prices have been increased by the Centre in last some days. The prices should be slashed as people are already affected by the lockdown," said Thorat, who is the Maharashtra Congress president and the state revenue minister.

Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan led a protest in Sangli along with state minister Vishwajit Kadam.

Besides, state minister Satej Patil staged a protest against the fuel price hike in Kolhapur.

IMAGE: Left Front and Congress workers lay down their bikes on a road and shout slogans during a protest at Bolpur town in Birbhum district of West Bengal. Photograph: PTI Photo

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday urged people to join the 'Speak Up Against Fuel Hike' campaign.

Diesel price on Monday scaled a new high after prices were hiked for the 22nd time in just over three weeks, taking the cumulative increase to Rs 11.14 per litre.

Petrol price was increased by 5 paise per litre and diesel 13 paise a litre across the country, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies.
June 29, 2020 08:43 IST

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, flanked by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, left, and Home Minister Amit Anilchandra Shah. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

What does a ruling party at the Centre do when differences among its members crop up at the state level? Dispatch differing leaders to the Centre.

Recently, the Bharatiya Janata Party drafted B L Santhosh at the Centre when his interventions in Karnataka became unbearable for Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa

With Jagat Prakash Nadda taking over as BJP president, organisational changes have been announced, but are slow in coming.

Now that the Rajya Sabha elections are over and more COVID-19-induced restrictions are being lifted, there is talk that normal politics may return.

There is talk that extensive changes in the organisation and even the Union council of ministers might be in the offing.

Nadda is likely to accommodate leaders from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in the organisation and is learnt to have even sent a list to Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi.

Given the differences between the Shiv Sena and the Congress in Maharashtra, the situation is ripe for a change in the coalition. The sticking point, of course, is who should be the chief minister.

Devendra Fadnavis will lose face if he has to play second fiddle to present Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

One solution would be to pluck out Fadnavis from Maharashtra and plant him in Delhi.

Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP government is at war with the party. Some drastic surgery and transplantation could help in stabilising the situation.

The party is not short of options: There are organisational as well as government vacancies that need to be filled.

There is even talk that Home Minister Amit Anilchandra Shah could become India's new defence minister.

Expect some changes next month ahead of Parliament's monsoon session, virtual or otherwise!
Weather Alert

This product covers Eastern North Carolina TROPICAL DEPRESSION CLAUDETTE APPROACHES NORTH CAROLINA, EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN SLIGHTLY** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - None * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Coastal Onslow, East Carteret, Hatteras Island, Mainland Dare, Mainland Hyde, Northern Outer Banks, Ocracoke Island, and West Carteret * STORM INFORMATION: - About 280 miles west of Buxton NC or about 210 miles west of Morehead City NC - 34.7N 80.4W - Storm Intensity 35 mph - Movement East-northeast or 70 degrees at 20 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ Tropical Depression Claudette will track across eastern North Carolina and strengthen to a minimal Tropical Storm overnight, and move offshore by mid-morning Monday. Heavy rain bands and embedded thunderstorms from this system will lead to the threat of flash flooding across the area overnight through tomorrow morning. Additionally, isolated tornadoes will be possible overnight, but the overall threat is low. Tropical storm force winds are expected across coastal sections of eastern North Carolina. This could lead to some downed trees and scattered power outages. Minor storm surge flooding of 1 to 3 feet above ground will be possible along sound-side locations of the Outer Banks and mainland counties adjacent to northern portions of the Pamlico Sound. Additional storm surge flooding of 1 to 2 feet above ground will be possible across Bogue Sound, and the into the lower New and White Oak rivers. Overwash of dunes and flooding of properties and roadways will also be possible for locations where dune structures are weak. The threat for stronger and more frequent rip currents will continue for area beaches through the middle of the week. Dangerous marine conditions are also expected, with strong winds and seas building to 7 to 10 feet creating treacherous conditions for mariners. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * WIND: Prepare for hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across Eastern North Carolina. Potential impacts include: - Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about. - Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over. - A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways. - Scattered power and communications outages. * SURGE: Prepare for locally hazardous surge having possible limited impacts across the Outer Banks and mainland counties adjacent to northern portions of the Pamlico Sound. Potential impacts in this area include: - Localized inundation with storm surge flooding mainly along immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots, or in areas farther inland near where higher surge waters move ashore. - Sections of near-shore roads and parking lots become overspread with surge water. Driving conditions dangerous in places where surge water covers the road. - Moderate beach erosion. Heavy surf also breaching dunes, mainly in usually vulnerable locations. Strong rip currents. - Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings. Elsewhere across Eastern North Carolina, little to no impact is anticipated. * FLOODING RAIN: Prepare for dangerous rainfall flooding having possible significant impacts across areas south and east of a Manteo to Kenansville line. Potential impacts include: - Moderate rainfall flooding may prompt several evacuations and rescues. - Rivers and tributaries may quickly become swollen with swifter currents and overspill their banks in a few places, especially in usually vulnerable spots. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches overflow. - Flood waters can enter some structures or weaken foundations. Several places may experience expanded areas of rapid inundation at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Some streets and parking lots take on moving water as storm drains and retention ponds overflow. Driving conditions become hazardous. Some road and bridge closures. Prepare for locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible limited impacts across all of eastern North Carolina. * TORNADOES: Prepare for a tornado event having possible limited impacts across Eastern North Carolina. Potential impacts include: - The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events. - A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power and communications disruptions. - Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats pulled from moorings. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to check your emergency plan and emergency supplies kit and take necessary actions to protect your family and secure your home or business. If you are a visitor, know the name of the county or parish in which you are located and where it is relative to current watches and warnings. If staying at a hotel, ask the management staff about their onsite disaster plan. Listen for evacuation orders, especially pertaining to area visitors. Rapidly rising flood waters are deadly. If you are in a flood-prone area, consider moving to higher ground. Never drive through a flooded roadway. Remember, turn around don't drown! If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter quickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not prone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter options. If in a place that is vulnerable to high wind, such as near large trees, a manufactured home, upper floors of a high-rise building, or on a boat, consider moving to a safer shelter before the onset of strong winds or flooding. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio and local news outlets for official storm information. Listen for possible changes to the forecast. * ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov - For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org - For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org NEXT UPDATE ----------- The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City NC around 6 AM, or sooner if conditions warrant.
On June 28, China's first civil airliner with independent intellectual property rights, the C919, landed at Jiaohe airport in Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region, in preparation for carrying out ground and air flight tests here.

The temperature in Turpan on the day reached 42 degrees Celsius and the surface temperature was 70 degrees Celsius.

As a large domestic airliner, the C919 has to carry out corresponding test flight activities in the development stage. High-temperature tests refer to an extreme climate test that all modern aircraft must pass.

Turpan is also known as "Huozhou", which means Land of Fire. It is rich in high temperature resources and is also one of the best sites in China for carrying out high temperature tests.
When investigators arrived, they found a white Jeep Cherokee riddled with bullet holes on 12th Avenue between Pike and Pine, Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best said, according to the TV outlet. Officers were told two men in the vehicle had been shot, but both were gone when officers got there.
Sometimes when youre looking to drive off-road, you need something thats nimble and graceful and able to deftly cross hazardous terrain. And sometimes, you need a vehicle the size of a small building. In 1939, the Antarctic Snow Cruiser was unveiled. How did such a massive vehicle come about? And  given that the Antarctic Snow Cruiser is hardly a household name  what happened to it when it first ventured to the worlds southernmost continent?

Writing at Jalopnik, Erin Marquis has the story of one of the strangest vehicles ever made. Scientist and explorer Thomas Poulter worked on the project, along with the Research Foundation of the Armour Institute of Technology (now the Illinois Institute of Technology). The design process took 2 years, as the Snow Cruiser was designed to be a movable lab in which scientists could conduct experiments in the field. Marquis gives a good sense of the vehicles scale:
TORRINGTON - One person is hospitalized after an early morning fire tore through a two-family house early Monday morning.

At around 1:40 a.m., a neighbor reported the fire after they saw smoke coming from the building at 88 Birden St.

Within minutes, firefighters arrived at the 2  story, two-family residential building with smoke coming from the first floor.

Fire Chief Peter A. Towey said, first-arriving crews initiated an aggressive interior attack to locate the fire and check for occupants.

A second alarm was called at 1:46 a.m. to bring additional crews to the scene and provide for city coverage.

Drakeville and Torringford Volunteer Fire Departments were placed in quarters to assist with city coverage.

Towey said, one occupant was located and removed from the first floor with burns and transported from the scene. Lifestar was requested due to the nature of the injuries, but was unable to transport due to weather conditions.

The patient was transported by Trinity Ambulance to tghe hospital in Waterbury.

The fire was reported knocked down and cleared of all occupants at 1:54 a.m.

The Fire Marshals Office, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Fire Marshals Office, is conducting an investigation into the cause and origin of the blaze.

The condition of the person burned is not known at this time.

According to Torrington property records, the house has seven rooms including three bedrooms.

The building and the quarter-acre it sits on has an appraised value of $76,408.
Endless debate swirls around the cost, quality, and accessibility of health care in the United States. Stacker has compiled 25 terms useful in understanding the complex issue.

This article was first published on Stacker
In this June 4 photo, a woman looks at the plywood covering the windows of a Starbucks store in downtown Naperville, Ill., as Naperville residents used hearts to post messages in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Starbucks is the latest company to say it will pause social-media ads after a campaign led by civil-rights organizations called for an ad boycott of Facebook, saying it doesn't do enough to stop racist and violent content. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
Nissan Chief Executive Makoto Uchida told shareholders on Monday he is giving up half his pay after the Japanese automaker sank into the red amid plunging sales and plant closures in Spain and Indonesia.

Uchida apologised for the poor results and promised a recovery by 2023, driven by cost cuts and new models showcasing electric-car and automated-driving technology.

All the world's automakers have been hurt by nose-diving sales caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

But the problems are especially serious for Nissan Motor Co. which already was fighting to salvage its reputation after the financial misconduct scandal of its former star executive Carlos Ghosn.

Nissan, based in Yokohama, Japan, sank into its first annual loss in 11 years, reporting a 671.2 billion yen ($6.3 billion) loss for the fiscal year that ended in March.

It has not given a projection for this fiscal year, citing uncertainties over the virus outbreak.

Uchida again outlined Nissan's strategy to focus on three major global markets, Japan, China and North America, including Mexico, and relying on alliance partners for the other markets.

The company also plans to reduce the number of models it offers.

At the shareholders meeting in Yokohama on Monday Uchida also said he would "like to resign" if business did not improve.
Sushant Singh Rajput, 34, was found dead in his Bandra apartment on June 14, sending shockwaves in the film industry. While the Mumbai Police is still investigating the case and has recorded over 25 people's statements, debates and conversations around 'nepotism', 'depression/mental health' & 'industry pressure' are being intensively discussed.

A Facebook post from Suhrita Das' page went viral on Sunday  who according to her BIO works for Vishesh Films (film producing company owned by brothers, Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt). In a post dated June 14, Suhrita wrote a message for Sushant's rumoured girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and revealed that she used to seek 'counsel from Bhatt Saab' related to Sushant.

She wrote, "Dear Rhea,

When the world will be pouring grief for Sushant Singh Rajput and expressing shock and condolence I stand by you firm and strong. Having been a silent spectator to your impossible attempts at trying to keep him together and going.... it is my moral duty as a mother and a citizen of this country to tell once and for all that clinical depression is a catastrophe that medical science has no solution or answer to. Every time you came running to the office to seek counsel from Bhatt Saab or spoke to him on the phone Ive seen your journey , your struggle. Cant forget the evening in Sushants terrace when it almost felt like everything was normal in the world while deep within he was slipping away. Sir saw that, thats why he shared the very words his Master UG told him warning him about Parveen Babi, walk away or this will take you down under along with.

You gave your everything and more, you did more much more than your bit woman.

Love you my Jalebi.

Stay strong."

Rhea Chakraborty spotted outside Farhan Akhtar's residence in Mumbai; see pictures

NOTE: Suhrita's account is now private and hence the post is not visible. At the time of writing this article on Sunday, the account was open and a screen grab was taken. See below:

Rhea Chakraborty's 9-hour questioning in Bandra police station

Sushant Singh Rajputs rumoured girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty recorded her statement with the Mumbai Police for around nine hours recently. Mumbai Police is investigating the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, who died by suicide. Snapped by the paparazzi in the afternoon, Rhea was seen coming out of the Bandra police station in Mumbai. Rhea was accompanied by her father. As she came out of the police station, she was surrounded by media persons for a quote, but she folded her hands to offer no comments.

'She started crying even today...': Sandip Ssingh reveals Ankita Lokhande's frame of mind

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
He is charged with two counts of shooting with intent to kill, as well as illegal possession of a firearm, according to court records.
Hollywood actor Zac Efron had been travelling all around the globe before the Coronavirus pandemic. Netflix released the trailer of Zac Efrons travel show Down to Earth. In the trailer, the actor can be seen experimenting with food while learning about energy and how to lead a sustainable life. Check out the trailer of the show Down to Earth.

ALSO READ: Jared Leto Shares A Picture With Blonde Hair, Fans Call Him Zac Efron; See Here

Down to Earth trailer

It has been reported that Zac Efrons show takes him to France, Iceland, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Sardinia, Lima, Iceland as well as Iquitos. The 32-year-old actor is accompanied by Darin Olien who is a wellness expert. The Netflix series focuses on helping the environment by learning about the sustainable ways of living as well as travelling across the world and learning about new people and their cultures.

ALSO READ: Vanessa Hudgens Makes A 'High School Musical' Video With Zac Efron's Part Replaced; Watch

Zac Efron hosts as well as reportedly narrators for the travel show. In the trailer of Down to Earth, Zac Efron can be heard saying, we are traveling around the world to find some new perspectives on some very old problems. Giving his fans more insight on what the show has in store for them, Zac Efron stated, Food, water and energy are all the main staples for modern life.

In the Down to Earth trailer, it has been mentioned that the duo will meet top eco-innovators who will teach them how to lead a sustainable life. Zac Efron can be seen eating carbs and coming face-to-face with giant community fart bags in the trailer. The trailer also stated that the duo will witness how change is an inside job. It has been reported that the new Netflix series Down to Earth will be aired on the streaming app on July 10, 2020.

ALSO READ: Zac Efron Did Not Join 'High School Musical' Cast During A Reunion Session; Here's Why

Zac Efron has been very vocal about bringing in a change to help the environment. On the occasion of World Earth Day, recently, the actor joined hands with the discovery channels Great Global Clean Up. He also wrote a lengthy post on his social media to commemorate the day. Zac Efron wrote, Happy Earth Day! I have always been in awe of the magic and mystery of Mother Nature. Exploring the unknown has always been a true passion in my life and now, more than ever, I realize how important it is to take care of our planet, our people and every living thing we share it with. Please be safe, be healthy and be kind to one another. [sic]

ALSO READ: When Leonardo DiCaprio Gave Important Life Advice To Zac Efron

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
After successfully completing the 'Mission Sagar' in the southern Indian Ocean region, Indian Naval Ship Kesari arrived at Kochi on Sunday after 55 days of its deployment. As a part of port calls the ship delivered 580 tons of food aid and essential medical stores to local authorities of Male (Maldives), Port Louis (Mauritius), Antsiranana (Madagascar), Moroni (Comoros Islands) and Port Victoria (Seychelles) under its special 'COVID Relief Mission'.

READ | COVID-19: 12 out of 157 trainee sailors at INS Shivaji infected, Navy releases statement

Apart from the essential services, a 14-member Naval Medical Assistance Team was also deputed to Mauritius and Comoros for 20 days each that assisted local governments in the formulation of long term strategy to combat COVID-19 through mutual sharing of experience.

'Mission Sagar' India's commitment to partners in IOR

'Mission Sagar' is inspired by Prime Minister Modi's vision of SAGAR -- Security and Growth for All in the Region. The shipment carrying essential medicines and medical assistance team as part of 'Mission Sagar' reaffirms India's role as a preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean region (IOR) and reflects India's commitment to work together with its maritime neighbours and partners in the IOR.

READ | Five deaths, 252 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan

The ship's long deployment in rough seas and difficult times towards the delivery of essential medical aid has been widely appreciated by these countries. Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth had personally thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a telephonic conversation last month for the deployment of INS Kesari. Furthermore, heads of states, as well as senior dignitaries from other countries, had also expressed gratitude for the timely aid.

READ | China puts half a million people under lockdown in Beijing amid fresh COVID-19 cases

GOI Deploys INS Kesari

The Centre government started Mission Sagar last month to assist friendly neighbouring countries with essential supplies amid the pandemic. It deployed INS Kesari to Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles, carrying on board two Medical Assistance Teams, consignments of COVID-19 related essential medicines and food items. This assistance came as a response to the requests made by their governments to deal with the pandemic.

COVID-19 situation in India

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data on Sunday, the total Coronavirus cases in India stand at 5,28,859. Out of which 2,03,051 are active cases and 3,09,713 people have recovered from the infection. 16,095 deaths reported so far.

READ | Indian Navy provide medical & COVID essential assistance to IORs under 'Mission Sagar'

(With inputs from ANI)
In the wake of the ongoing tensions with Nepal due to amendment in its map and claiming areas of India as its own, traders of Panitanki town situated on the India-Nepal border near Siliguri, have decided not to sell any Indian products to Nepali citizens.

The Panitanki Babosayee Samity, the apex body of 1,210 shops has condemned Nepal's action to make the controversial amendments in its map to include Indian territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura as its own and hence the trader's body has decided not to conduct any business activity with them.

READ | Amid Rift Over New Map, Nepal PM Oli Accuses India Of Seeking To Topple His Government

READ | 'India Will win Both Battles Under PM Modi - Covid & At LAC': Amit Shah's Full Interview

"We were sending everything to Nepal and helping them over the years. But, the Nepali government has shown India's territories into their map. So, we have decided that we will not do business with them," Dipak Chakraborty, Secretary, Panitanki Babosayee Samity, told ANI.

"We will not send them anything if they do not remove India's territories from the Nepal map," he added.

Santosh Singh, a member of the market committee said, "The Nepali government should think again. They should not give up on India due to pressure from China. They will be facing problems as we have stopped doing business with them. We have sent them medicines and food during the earthquake."

Prakash Choudhary, a trader in the market, said, "We are putting India first, we can do business later. The governments should resolve the differences. Until Nepal takes back its decision, we will stop the export of goods to Nepal."

READ | Congress Says 'unclear What Sharad Pawar Said' After NCP Supremo Reminds It Of 1962 War

READ | 'Sharad Pawar Ditched BJP At The End Moment': Checkmate Author Tells The Maharashtra Story

Nepal on June 18 completed the process of redrawing the countrys political map by adding three important Indian areas into its map through a constitutional amendment. India has termed this unilateral decision and artificial enlargement by Nepal without holding talks with India as untenable.
The NIA on Sunday conducted searches at the houses of an ISI agent who was arrested for allegedly sending photographs of sensitive and strategically important installations and information of the movement of the armed forces to suspected handlers of Pakistan's powerful spy agency.

The searches were conducted at the residential premises of Mohammad Rashid at Chandauli and Varanasi, an NIA official said. Rashid was arrested on January 19 and booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act . He was in contact with defence/ISI handlers in Pakistan and had visited Pakistan twice, the official said.

Rashid was found to be transmitting photographs of some of the sensitive and strategically important installations in India and the movement of the armed forces to suspected ISI handlers in Pakistan, the premier investigation agency said. During the searches, a mobile phone and some incriminating documents have been recovered and seized, the official said. Further investigation is underway, he added.
Amid political turmoil between BJP and Congress on the recent LAC faceoff and border tension with China, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Sunday asserted that Congress stands with the country at the time of crisis. However, backing the former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on his continuous attacks on the Centre over the LAC incident, Khurshid said 'to support the government, Gandhi needs to know the truth'.

READ | Amid worsening flood situation in Assam & Bihar, Amit Shah dials CM's & assures assistance

"We stand by with the country at this time of crisis. Rahul is the leader of the opposition and to support the government he needs to know the truth", Salman Khurshid said.

The former Congress chief on Friday had urged PM Modi to 'speak the truth' and tell people if the Chinese have occupied any Indian territory. Gandhi claimed that he has 'heard' that the Chinese have occupied Indian territory at not one but three locations. He also accused the Prime Minister of surrendering the Indian territory to Chinese aggression and has launched a series of attacks along these lines, accusing him of lying to the people of India, with his own attacks coming under fire for their faulty simplification and erroneous assertions.

READ | 'Coordinated strategy will be formulated soon': Amit Shah on border restrictions in NCR

'Little provocation is needed'

Khurshid further said in order to know the truth there is a need for 'provocation'. He also added that the truth involves the safety and security of the entire nation. The Congress leader further criticised Home Minister Amit shah for not expressing caution and care about the LAC standoff between the Indian and Chinese soldiers.

"Sometimes to know the truth, little provocation is needed. It involves the safety and security of the entire nation. Whatever may be in Chinas mind for aggravating the situation, there isnt exactly caution and care expressed by Shah", Khurshid said.

Amit Shah slams Rahul Gandhi

Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi for indulging in 'shallow politics' and dared them to have a discussion about India's ongoing faceoff with China in the Parliament. Holding that Rahul Gandhi was saying things that China and Pakistan liked to hear, Shah lambasted the Opposition for not standing by the soldiers and for politicising the issue.

READ | 'India has fought very well': Amit Shah compares India's COVID cases with other countries

Galwan valley clash

20 Indian Army soldiers including Commanding Officer were martyred when a violent faceoff broke out while the de-escalation process was underway in the Galwan Valley. As per US intelligence reports, the Chinese side suffered 35 casualties including a Commanding officer. Sources revealed that an Indian colonel was attacked by Chinese Army personnel with iron rods without any provocation leading to hand-to-hand combat between hundreds of personnel.

READ | Amid border row, Chinese social media deletes PM Modis statement on the Galwan clash
Advising the Centre to indulge in talks with its neighbours, NC patron Farooq Abdullah, on Sunday, said that India must talk with Pakistan and China on its issues. Maintaining that 'War is not a solution', he said that the future lay in talks. On being asked on J&K's new domicile law, he slammed it calling it unconstitutional.

Farooq Abdullah: 'War is not the solution'

"India-China or India-Pakistan, the only future is talk. War is not the solution," he said yo reporters in Srinagar. Commenting on the domicile law, he added, "We are against everything they have done. It is illegal, unconstitutional. How do you think I can accept that which is unconstitutional?".

Omar Abdullah demands explanation to J&K govt's 'Stock 2-month LPG supply' order

Current scenario at LAC

Sources reported on Thursday that Chinese forward troops have moved back from PP-14, PP-15 and PP-17. India, too, has moved back 1.5 kms from our claim line. Republic TV on Tuesday had reported that the Chinese PLA troops had reoccupied the areas that they had previously disengaged from after the June 6 meeting. Currently, both India and China are engaging in commander-level talks and the situation remains tense due to heavy build-up on both sides.

J&K administration further extends ban on high-speed internet in Kashmir till July 8

India-China's war of words

Slamming China's incursion into Indian territory at the LAC, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserted that the Chinese side took pre-meditated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties which reflected its intent to 'change facts' on the ground in violation of the previous agreements. China, on the other hand, has now staked claim over the entire Galwan Valley. It has also maintained that the Indian Army 'broke the consensus and crossed the Line of Actual Control, deliberately provoking and attacking Chinese officers and soldiers', leading to violence. India, in its commander-level talks have demanded a return to status quo in April, asking the Chinese to remove the additional buildup done in the Galwan and Pangong Tso areas.

Coronavirus Live Updates: HM rules out community transmission in Delhi; tally at 5,08,953

What happened at Galwan?

20 Indian Army soldiers including Commanding Officer were martyred when a violent faceoff took place on Monday night while the de-escalation process was underway in the Galwan Valley. Sources revealed that India's colonel Santosh Babu and two jawans were attacked by Chinese Army personnel with iron rods while removing a tent put up by China at patrol point 14, leading to hand-to-hand combat. While three soldiers were killed in action, 17 other succumbed to their injuries and hypothermia, four others are in critical but stable condition, while 72 others are recuperating from minor injuries at various hospitals. China, which has not revealed its casualties from June 15 clashes, has admitted the loss of a Commanding officer.

Congress' former Defence MoS Pallam Raju claims 'Chinese trangressed 18 km into Depsang'
BJP Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday said that the Congress party is trying to gain political points over Galwan valley clash at a time when the rest of the country is working to make the disaster an opportunity. Naqvi said that Congress leaders are trying to make a "disaster into anarchy."

READ: Rahul Gandhi's Relaunch Can Wait; Vadras Don't Equal Entire Opposition: BJP's Nadda

Naqvi criticses Congress for being an opportunist

"While locusts are dangerous for crops, losers are disgust for the country. On one hand, the entire country is strongly working for turning disaster into opportunity, on the other hand, Congress is trying to turn disaster into anarchy."

Naqvi was addressing BJP workers via Facebook after virtually garlanding Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay's statue in Rampur. He later added, "This is the same political party which had raised a question on the valour of our security forces during Pulwama and Balakot in a criminal conspiracy to disgrace India. Such an irresponsible political behavior had never been seen before on the sensitive issue of the country's safety and dignity which is being displayed by Congress and its leaders."

READ: NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar Slams Cong Politicisation Of Galwan; Sends Out 1962 Reminder

Congress leaders, led by former President Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly questioned the Central government over the handling of the Ladakh clash with Gandhi going to the extent of calling PM Modi as 'surrender Modi'. In another incident, Gandhi claimed that he has 'heard' that the Chinese have occupied Indian territory at not one but three locations. Taking to Twitter, Rahul Gandhi in a video said, "The entire country is united and stands with the country and the army. A few days ago, our Prime Minister had said that no one has occupied even an inch of Indian territory, no one intruded in our country. But we have heard, the people of Ladakh are also speaking, and satellite images have shown, and even the army generals are saying that China has occupied our land. Not one, but three territories have been occupied by the Chinese."

READ: BJP's Nalin Kohli Questions Cong Over RGF, China Ties As Sonia Gandhi Ups Ante On Galwan

BJP has repeatedly hit back at Congress for doubting the government's statements, with party President JP Nadda slamming Congress party's recent 'tantrums' surrounding the Galwan valley faceoff, alleging that the 'dynasts' were 'delusional' about their role as the opposition, adding that Gandhi's 'relaunch' in the party can wait.

READ: Priyanka Gandhi Asks PM 'How Can You Gift Our Land To China?', Demands Answers On Galwan
China's government-backed media Global Times on Monday reported that Chinese experts had the capacity to provide specialist pesticides to India to fight the locust attack in the country, but they would only provide them if the Indian side 'asked for it'. The Chinese mouthpiece also stated that India must 'create conditions' in order to receive aid from China.

India has been witnessing one of the worst locust attacks in nearly 30 years, however, the Centre and the state governments are using all measures to reign in control of the crop-destroying swarms. Recently, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a body under the UN, lauded India for its hands-on approach in tackling the menacing swarms saying that it is the only country in the world to control locust using drones.

As desert locusts invade #NewDelhi, Chinese experts say China has capacity to provide specialist pesticide equipment India needs. They said, however, the Indian side must ask for it and create conditions for such measures to take place. https://t.co/DPoqHKqx2y pic.twitter.com/kpQsYuUR9e  Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 28, 2020

Read: As Locust Menace Reaches Delhi-NCR, India 'the First' To Mobilise Drones For Battle

While India has been setting up control rooms across various states coordinating operations between the Agriculture Department, Fire Department and Central team, deploying drones and vehicles to spray insecticides and pesticides, China had used ducks and chickens to fight locusts when they witnessed their worst locust plague.

Over 7 lakh ducks and chickens were sent Xinjiang to eat up the destructive swarms back in the early 2000s. China had even promised to send over 1 lakh ducks to next-door neighbour Pakistan this year, the place where these locust swarms are originating from, to tackle the affected areas of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab provinces.

Netizens react

China promised Pak a duck army for battling locusts. They remained a promise. Not a single duck arrived. The world knows China cannot be trusted. What it provides is below standards. So better you maintain silence to save your reputation  Maj Gen Harsha Kakar (@kakar_harsha) June 28, 2020

No one believe you anymore. The inventor's of #WuhanVirus.  Prakash Bishnoi (@NationB4Self) June 28, 2020

Stop your new found obsession with India.

Take Chinese help !!!!

Impossible.

"Indian side must ask for it"

Your arrogance is only matched by your duplicity.  Lt Col Sundeep Parija (Retd) (@sundeepparija) June 28, 2020

Desparate to become friends again!  Gobbar Times  (@GobbarTimes) June 28, 2020

Read: Locust Attack: Delhi Govt Puts All Districts On High Alert; Issues Advisory

Read: Around 70 Per Cent Of Locust Swarm Eliminated In UP's Jalaun: Official
In the wake of anti-racism protests across the world, monuments to two colonial giants have come under scrutiny in the Belgian town of Halle.

Three weeks ago, a bust of Leopold II, the Belgian king who has been held responsible for the deaths of millions of Congolese, was spattered in red paint, labeled "Murderer," and later knocked off its pedestal.

Nearby, a pale sandstone statue formally known as the "Monument to the Belgian Pioneers in Congo" has stood for 93 years.

It depicts a naked Congolese boy offering a bowl of fruit in gratitude to Lt. Gen. Baron Alphonse Jacques de Dixmude, a Belgian soldier accused of atrocities in Africa.

Eric Baranyanka, a 60-year-old musician who came to Halle as a refugee from its African colony of Burundi when was 3, said he has always found the statue of Jacques "humiliating."

He was lovingly raised by a white foster family and said he never experienced prejudice until after he had been in Belgium for about a decade.

But at school, Baranyanka found out how others felt about race.

One teacher poured salt on his head, he recalled, saying it would make it whiter.

When he wanted a part in a school play of the 17th century fairy tale "Puss in Boots," he was denied a role, with a teacher telling him: "Mr. Baranyanka, in those days there were no Blacks in Europe."

Halle Mayor Marc Snoeck said he "never really noticed" the monuments until an anti-colonial group raised awareness of them a dozen years ago in the town of 40,000 people about 15 kilometers (10 miles) south of Brussels.

Eunice Yahuma, a local leader of a group called Belgian Youth Against Racism and the youth division of the Christian Democrats, knows about Belgium's troubled history.

"Many people don't know the story, because it is not being told. Somehow they know, 'Let's not discuss this, because it is grim history,'" said Yahuma, who has Congolese roots.
France's oldest nuclear power plant is all set to shut down on June 30, after 40 years in operation. The Fessenheim plant was established in 1977 and faced huge criticism by anti-nuclear campaigners after the catastrophic meltdown at Fukushima in Japan in 2011. According to the reports, the decision to shut it down was given a green light by the French President Emmanuel Macron. Run by state-owned energy company EDF, one of Fessenheims two reactors was disconnected in February, as per reports.

READ: France Holds Municipal Elections Postponed By Virus Crisis

READ: France Arrests Six People Over Banksy's Stolen Artwork Commemorating Paris Attack

Govt to shut more reactors

The second reactor is expected to be taken down early on Tuesday but it takes a lot of time for the entire process to get completed and the plant is not expected to be fully dismantled before 2040 at the earliest. Anne Laszlo, Fessenheim union representative reportedly said ahead of the closure that, "We hope, above all, to be the last victims of this witch hunt against nuclear energy".

As per reports, at the end of 2017, Fessenheim had more than 1,000 employees and service providers on site. In the 1990s, several safety failures were reported at the nuclear power plant including an electrical fault, cracks in a reactor cover, a chemistry error, water pollution, a fuel leak, and non-lethal radioactive contamination of workers.

The French government in January said that it is aiming to shut 12 more reactors nearing or exceeding the 40-year limit by 2035, when nuclear power should represent just 50% of the countrys energy mix in favour of renewable sources.

READ: France: Hundreds Of Dead Dolphins Wash Up On Atlantic Coast, Scientists Concerned

READ: France: Macron, Rutte Meet To Discuss Post-virus Economies

Image: Fessenheim/Twitter
Manfredonia is currently being held in jail in his hometown of Newtown, Conn. The charges hes facing include murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, home invasion, and assault of an elderly person. Aside from the attack with the sword, he has also been accused of a break-in in which he held the houses owner captive, and the murder of 23-year-old acquaintance Nicholas Eisele on May 24. Authorities would eventually find him in Maryland three days later, where he surrendered without incident.
Italy honoured those who died of the new coronavirus with a special concert performed at a cemetery in Bergamo.

The country's President Sergio Mattarella attended the Requiem concert along with representatives of families who had lost loved ones to the virus.

They were also joined by the 243 mayors of cities in the Bergamo province, one of the hardest-hit by the virus pandemic.

The Requiem Mass, composed by Bergamo native Gaetano Donizetti one of Italy's most important 19th century composers, was performed.

Mattarella also helped lay a wreath at the cemetery and paid tribute to those who had died of the virus.

The ceremony in the one time epicentre of the European outbreak came a day after Italy registered the lowest daily tally of COVID-19 deaths in nearly four months.

On Saturday, Italian authorities said eight people had died of the virus.
New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) A concession agreement for the 600 MW Kholongchhu Indo-Bhutan joint venture hydroelectric project was signed on Monday, paving the way for the commencement of its construction and other related works.

The concession agreement for the project between the Bhutanese government and the Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Limited was signed in the virtual presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Bhutanese counterpart Tandi Dorji, a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement said.

"The signing of the concession agreement will lead to commencement of construction and other works of this first Joint Venture Hydroelectric Project between India and Bhutan. The project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025," it said.

The 600 MW run-of-the-river project is located on the lower course of the Kholongchhu River in Trashiyangtse district in eastern Bhutan.

The project envisages an underground powerhouse of four 150 MW turbines with water impounded by a concrete gravity dam of 95 metres height, the MEA said.

It will be implemented by Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Limited, a joint venture company formed between Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) of Bhutan and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) of India, the statement said.

Both Jaishankar and his Bhutanese counterpart emphasised the importance of hydropower development as an important pillar of mutually beneficial bilateral economic cooperation.

They also recalled the trust, cooperation and mutual respect that have long characterised the unique and special friendship, anchored in mutual understanding and reinforced by a shared cultural heritage and strong people to people links between India and Bhutan, the statement said.

Bhutan Economic Affairs Minister Loknath Sharma, and senior government officials including foreign secretaries of India and Bhutan, secretary (power), Government of India, ambassador of India to Bhutan and ambassador of Bhutan to India were also present at the signing ceremony held through videoconferencing, the MEA said.

The hydropower sector is the flagship area of India-Bhutan bilateral cooperation, it said.

The 720 MW Mangdechhu hydroelectric project was jointly inaugurated earlier in August 2019 by the prime ministers of India and Bhutan.

With this, four hydroelectric projects of bilateral cooperation (336 MW Chukha HEP, 60 MW Kurichhu HEP, 1,020 MW Tala HEP and 720 MW Mangdechhu HEP), totalling over 2,100 MW, are already operational in Bhutan, according to the MEA.
Hundreds of Hezbollah supporters marched in a Beirut southern suburb on Sunday night, chanting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans and vowing loyalty to the group's leader. The protest came hours after Lebanon's foreign minister summoned the US ambassador to Beirut over comments she made recently in which she criticised Hezbollah.

The meeting between Lebanese Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti and US ambassador Dorothy Shea is scheduled for Monday afternoon.

Local media said the minister would tell the ambassador that according to the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, an ambassador has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of another country and should not incite the Lebanese people against one another.

On Saturday, a Lebanese judge banned local and foreign media outlets in the country from interviewing the US ambassador for a year, saying that her criticism of Hezbollah was seditious and a threat to social peace.

The judge's ruling came a day after Shea told Saudi-owned TV station Al-Hadath that Washington had "great concerns" over Hezbollah's role in the government.

Hezbollah is backed by Iran, and is regarded as the strongest political and military force in Lebanon.

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At least six people have been killed and several have been injured after a terror attack took place at the Pakistan Stock Exchange building in Karachi, Pakistani media reported on Monday. Out of the six people dead, two are civilians and the other four are attackers.

'An unfortunate incident took place'

The injured are being admitted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment

The terrorists stormed the building and opened indiscriminate firing on everyone, reports added, stating that surrounding areas have been sealed by Police & Pak Rangers.

According to a witness, "The terrorists entered from the main gate. They entered the Stock Exchange building, fired at the main gate, entered the premise and opened fire inside."

"An unfortunate incident took place at the Pakistan Stock Exchange," said Abid Ali Habib, Director Pakistan Stock Exchange. "They [terrorists] made their way from our parking area and opened fire on everyone."

READ | UAE to not receive passengers from Pakistan over coronavirus fears

READ | Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeeds India-born counsel passes away in Pakistan

Speaking to Pakistan's Geo TV, the Inspector-General Karachi said that the situation was under control and all terrorists had been killed in the attack. He said that Rangers and police officials had entered the building and were conducting a search operation.

According to the IG, the attackers were reportedly wearing clothes usually worn by police officials while they are off-duty. Police said the militants conducted the assault with sophisticated weapons and were carrying a bag which probably held explosives.

Sindh province Governor Imran Ismail condemned the incident.

Strongly condemn the attack on PSX aimed at tarnishing our relentless war on terror. Have instructed the IG & security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are caught alive & their handlers are accorded exemplary punishments. We shall protect Sindh at all costs.  Imran Ismail (@ImranIsmailPTI) June 29, 2020

The Karachi stock exchange is Pakistans largest and oldest stock exchange.

READ | Pakistan has reactivated its narco-terror operations in the Kashmir valley: J&K police

READ | Farooq Abdullah asks India to hold talks with Pakistan & China; says 'War isn't solution'
Demonstrators travelling in vehicles as part of a 'caravan' protested on Sunday in Mexico City against the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

At the centre of the discontent is lack of security and the economic devastation worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is pushing more Mexicans into poverty.

Thousands of vehicles beeped their horns as they drove down Reforma Avenue to the centre of the city demanding Obrador's resignation.

Demonstrators coordinated the protest through social media networks and have dubbed themselves: "FRENA" or National Front Against AMLO.

The demonstrators also called for better security in the country, saying they weren't feel safe when going out.

They also said the economy was suffering following three months of stay at home measures implemented by the government because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

More than 212,000 people have tested positive for the virus in Mexico with at least 26,000 deaths, according to government figures.
Singapore is planning to allow tourism-linked businesses to resume operations in stages during Phase 2 of lockdown reopening, according to the tourism board of the country. The Singapore tourism board on June 28 said that the reopening of tourism-linked businesses will start by allowing 13 major tourist spots to reopen from July 1. According to reports, the tourist attractions that have been allowed to reopen from July 1 are Universal Studios Singapore, City Zoo, casinos at Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. However, operators at these attractions will have to follow safety measures imposed by the government and will have to operate at 25 percent capacity.

Read: Coronavirus: Singaporeans Asked To Avoid Crowding Ahead Of General Polls

COVID-19 in Singapore

According to Singapore's health ministry, the country on June 29 confirmed an additional 202 cases of COVID-19 infection, the vast majority of whom are Work Permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories. health ministry data suggests, there are currently 5,925 active cases in Singapore, with 37,508 patients discharged so far. The country has recorded 26 deaths as of June 28. According to reports, the city-state imposed a partial lockdown after a second wave of the deadly coronavirus. The second wave was mainly sparked by foreign workers living in overcrowded dormitories where social distancing norms are almost impossible to practice.

Read: Singapore: Indian National Who Recovered From Coronavirus Dies Of Heart Attack

Migrant workers living in dormitories across Singapore have become the source of increasing coronavirus cases in the past few months. According to reports, Singapore is recording new coronavirus cases daily linked to congested dormitories. Authorities have reportedly moved healthy workers to Army camps, vacant public housing blocks, and accommodation vessels, known as floating hotels. Migrant workers in Singapore mostly come from nations like India, Bangladesh as the country finds it cheaper to hire these foreign workers than their in-house professionals who are comparatively expensive.

Read: Singapore Leader Calls For Early Elections For New Mandate

Read: Singapore's COVID-19 Tally Reaches 41,833 With 218 New Cases

(Image Credit: AP)
Amid the unprecedented outbreak of coronavirus, UK Labour Partys leader Keir Starmer took a dig on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on June 29. In a televised interview with an international media outlet, UKs opposition party leader said that Johnson has been asleep on the wheel during the COVID-19 crisis. He not only called the measures taken by the Conservative government slow but also called the communication terrible.

Moreover, Labour Party leader told ITV that UK governments response to coronavirus contagion began to break down when Johnsons adviser Dominic Cummings started defending his actions defying the protocol and travelled hundreds of kilometres citing the safety of his son. Starmer also said that British PMs administration did not do the groundwork required for test, trace and isolate. Meanwhile, as per Johns Hopkins University tally, UKs infection toll has surpassed 312,600 with at least 43,634 deaths.

I think the prime minister has been asleep at the wheel, he has been slow, the comms, the communications has been terrible, Starmer said. It began to break down frankly when Dominic Cummings put forward a ridiculous defence of what he had done in the northeast.

Read - UK PM Boris Johnson Awards 'Skipping Sikh' For NHS Fundraising Efforts

Read - Poll Results Show UK PM Boris Johnson Less Popular Than Labour Leader Keir Starmer

UK PM was 'too slow'

Recently, after Starmer visited Stevenage and had a word with the construction team on site, Keir Starmer noted that Johnsons response to the health crisis was too slow but the same can not be repeated while reopening countrys economy. Calling it one of his concerns, the Labout Praty said that at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, UK PM didnt see the problems that were coming. He also said that Boris Johnson was dismissive of the challenge of containing the spread of coronavirus and was just too slow.

Keir Starmer said that UK PM was slow into the lockdown, slow to provide protective equipment, slow on testing, slow to appreciate the problems in care homes and now slow on track and trace. We cant go into the economic crisis thats coming alongside the health crisis in the same way.

The Government was too slow to respond to the health crisis. We cannot afford the same mistakes with our economy.



Britain needs a Back to Work Budget with a focus on jobs, jobs, jobs. pic.twitter.com/Riu8HkHrWJ  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 28, 2020

Read - UK PM Boris Johnson Calls Cricket Ball 'natural Vector Of Covid'; County Restart Unlikely

Read - UK PM Announces Further Lockdown Ease Measures

Image: AP
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Torrential rains in the Yangtze river basin coupled with the release of floodwater from the massive Three Gorges hydroelectric dam upstream have left major cities along the river submerged, local residents told RFA.



Heavy rains in the Yangtze region have left at least 12 people dead and more than 10 million people affected by the floods, with social media footage showing drowned streets with cars and scooters swept away by turbulent, muddy waters.



In the Yangtze river city of Yichang, residents blamed recent releases of water from the Three Gorges and Gezhouba dams upstream of the city for flooding in their backyard.



In the central province of Hunan a woman was electrocuted after high-voltage power lines fell into water amid heavy rains and flooding along the Hunan river, which flows into the Yangtze at Yueyang.



Social media footage from the area showed a man pulling a woman to safety as she was swept away by floodwater.



Social media reports said there had been several electrocutions in recent days.



A resident of Hunan's Xiangyang city surnamed Li said the water level on the nearby Yangtze was very high at the weekend.



"I heard that the Three Gorges Dam and Gezhou Dam, which are upstream, are currently in full flood relief mode," Li said. "Yet the flood season isn't even here yet; the main flood season in the Yangtze river basin is usually July and August."



"Will cities in the Yangtze river basin, including Wuhan, experience flooding this year?" he said.



Home 'totally flooded'



A local resident surnamed Wang said his furniture had been washed away by the floods.



"It was raining really hard while I was at work," he said.



"When I got home, our home, which is on the ground floor, had been totally flooded by water so deep that some of our furniture was even washed away," Wang said.



Heavy rainstorms dumped 272 millimeters of rain on Yichang in the course of a single day on Saturday, the largest amount since records began.



By Sunday afternoon, 12 people had died and 10 were reported missing.



Currently, 25 rivers in China have water levels above danger level, outside of worst-hit Chongqing, Hubei, Henan, and Anhui.



Wide areas of Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hunan and other provinces have now also begun to see floods, sparking the ruling Chinese Communist Party to declare a national emergency on Sunday.



'The experts were right'



Jiangsu-based rights activist Zhang Jianping said he had never seen such a huge flood disaster in his lifetime.



"With hindsight, I think that all of those experts who opposed the building of the Three Gorges were right," Zhang said. "Since it was built, it has never played a role in preventing flooding or droughts, like we thought it would back then."



"There used to be big rains [plum rains] at this time back in the countryside, and they were heavier than this, but we were never flooded," he said.



Rescue teams were dispatched in worst-hit Mianning county in the southwestern province of Sichuan, using life-detectors, sniffer dogs, and excavation equipment to look for survivors of a flash flood in the mountainous area, state news agency Xinhua reported on Monday.



"The casualties were mainly caused by a sudden mountain torrent, which diverted rivers to inundate houses and roads," it said, adding that the sudden flood had led to the evacuation of more than 7,000 people.



Rivers changed course, washing away five bridges, and damaging power lines in the area, the agency said.



President Xi Jinping on Sunday called for "all-out efforts to prevent floods and geological disasters, intensify rescue and relief work, and ensure that people's lives and safety are the top priority," Xinhua said.



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Ma Lap-hak and Wu Hoi-man for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Satellite imagery shows what appears to be an amphibious assault transport ship of the Chinese Navy docked at Woody Island in the South China Sea, June 27, 2020.

China has docked what looks to be a Type 071 warship in service with the Peoples Liberation Army Navy at Woody Island, Chinas main administrative center and military base in the South China Seas Paracel Islands.

The ship will likely be used in in a large-scale naval exercise planned in the area this week. On Saturday, Chinas Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) announced a military exercise would take place in the South China Sea from July 1 to 5.

Satellite imagery seen by RFA shows a ship fitting the profile of the Type 071 (also called the Yuzhao-class) sitting in harbor at Woody Island as of June 27. The ship was not there on June 25.

The Type 071 is a landing platform dock capable of carrying helicopters, a battalion of marines, amphibious vehicles and other cargo for amphibious warfare. It frequently features prominently in military exercises or drills involving the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Chinas burgeoning Marine Corps (PLANMC).

Woody Island is Chinas biggest outpost and military base in the South China Sea, located in the Paracel archipelago in the regions northern half.

The island is disputed between Vietnam, China, and Taiwan, but occupied by China, which has built a settlement there and formally incorporated the artificial island into a local government district that covers the Paracel Islands and Macclesfield Bank. Macclesfield Bank is claimed by the Philippines.

Woody Island is a frequent stop for the China Coast Guard (CCG) and infamous paramilitary fishing fleets on their way to other parts of the region to assert Chinas claim to nearly the entire South China Sea. However, navy warships are rarely seen in Woodys harbor, and based on RFA's existing satellite imagery this is the first time the Type 071 has shown up there.

China's military exercise set to take place this week in waters also claimed by Vietnam is nothing unusual, said Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank.

"But this is part a worrying pattern. Chinas provocations in the South China Sea have grown more frequent during the global pandemic, and Beijing seems committed to escalate rather than try to calm things down," he told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.

The docking comes after the United States conducted a massive naval exercise with two aircraft carriers in the Philippine Sea on Sunday.

Dual carrier operations demonstrate our commitment to regional allies, our ability to rapidly mass combat power in the Indo-Pacific, and our readiness to confront all those who challenge international norms that support regional stability, Rear Adm. George Wikoff said in a press release put out by the U.S. Navy.

The U.S. also conducted a bilateral exercise with Japan last week, and Singapores navy conducted training drills with the U.S. and Japan in the South China Sea on June 17 and June 22, respectively.

The deployment of warships to disputed islets and rocks in the region raises concerns over the ongoing militarization of the South China Sea.

Following the 36th ASEAN summit on Friday, Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who chaired the meeting, emphasized the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states  that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea.

The Type 071 is not alone. Satellite imagery shows what looks to be a KJ-500 maritime surveillance plane sitting on Woodys airstrip.

A plane that looks like a KJ-500 early warning aircraft sits on the apron of Woody Islands massive airstrip, June 27, 2020. Credit: PlanetLabs Inc. Vessel tracking data and satellite imagery show that a ship in service to the MSA, the Hai Xun (Sea Patrol) 1110, is also in Woodys Island other harbor. Three smaller ships that could belong to either the navy or coast guard are right in front of the Type 071s bow.

On June 21, China revised a law governing the part of the armed forces that oversees Chinas coast guard, instructing it to join in exercises with other branches of the military.

Additional reporting and editing by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
Twitter has flagged tweets by the president for being untrue and inciting violence, though it did not take issue with Trumps recent accusation that a TV personality critical of him may have been involved in a murder.
Ethnic Rakhine villagers who fled their homes arrive with their belongings at a temporary monastery camp in Sittwe, capital of western Myanmar's Rakhine state, June 29, 2020.

UPDATED at 6:27 P.M. ET on 2020-07-01

The Myanmar army reversed plans to empty dozens of villages in northern Rakhine state to pursue rebel fighters after criticism from Western diplomats over the weekend, but a local lawmaker said Monday that more than 10,000 civilians had fled their homes as reports of artillery fire raised fears of an attack.

Local officials in northern Rakhine state told RFAs Myanmar Service on Friday that the government military had ordered a village tract of 17 communities housing some 10,000 people in northern Rathedaung township emptied for clearance operations against the Arakan Army (AA).

Rathedaung township administrator Aung Myint Thein said in an earlier report that Colonel Min Than, Rakhine states border affairs and security minister, notified him on June 23 to inform all residents of the Kyauktan village tract to clear out so Myanmar forces could begin their sweep.

Rathedaung is one of several townships in northern Rakhine state where an 18-month-old conflict has killed about 260 civilians and displaced about 160,000 others.

On Sunday, Min Than told RFA that he revoked the order on June 26 because of exaggerations of the term clearance operations, though he did not elaborate.

Min Than spoke to RFA a day after the Myanmar missions of Australia, Britain, Canada, and the United States issued a statement expressing concern over reports of the militarys planned clearance operations in the Kyauktan village tract and the worsening overall humanitarian and security situation in the conflict zone.

The fleeing of villagers along the Kyauktan village tract will further contribute to Rakhines already significant and increasing internally displaced population, the statement said.

The United Nations issued a statement Sunday expressing concern about the armed conflict and called on combatants to allow humanitarian access.

Word of the armys reversal did not reach people in the Kyauktan village tract and surrounding areas in time, said Khin Maung Latt, a Rakhine lawmaker in Myanmars upper house of parliament.

The villagers are already fleeing as there are military activities in the area  artillery shells are falling and exploding in the area, he told RFA.

More than 10,000 people from 20-some villages have fled. In addition to those villagers, some people from Rathedaung and villages near Sittwe and Buthidaung are also fleeing.

People are fearful, said Khin Maung Latt. They are still fleeing.

RFA was unable to reach local officials for comment.

IDP camps full in Rathedaung

Myanmar and AA forces have been engaged in intensified hostilities during the past year and a half, with the rebel army fighting for greater autonomy for Buddhist Rakhines in the state, where it runs several townships.

Khin Hsan Htay from Rathedaungs Yay Myat village said she fled to the state capital Sittwe to escape firing in the direction of her community and artillery explosions on houses.

We fled to another village, [but] that village was also fired upon, so we fled to Sittwe because we knew we would be safe only here, she told RFA. Now, we have taken shelter in a displacement camp at a Buddhist monastery.

A volunteer helping displaced civilians, who gave his name as Bekka, said many villagers who fled the Kyauktan village tract have been sent to Sittwe because the 18 temporary camps in Rathedaung town are full.

After authorities issued the announcement about the upcoming military operation, three more camps opened temporarily, [but] they are now full, he said.

RFA contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross to find out how the organization is helping displaced civilians from Rathedaung, but received no response.

Ethnic Rakhine villagers, who fled from conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, arrive at a temporary monastery camp in Sittwe, western Myanmar's Rakhine state, June 29, 2020. Credit: AFP Human rights violations

Khin Saw Wai, a lawmaker from Rathedaung township, said local humanitarian groups and donors are providing some food supplies and accommodations for internally displaced persons (IDPs), but they have not yet received any help from the government.

She said it was not safe yet for people who fled by car, truck, or boat to return home.

If there are no battles and the conditions are safe for them to return, then they will come home, the lawmaker said.

Rakhine state municipal affairs minister and spokesman Win Myint said the government had not received any applications for assistance for the IDPs from Rathedaung township, though officials are ready to help.

In the meantime, the Myanmar military should make efforts to staunch the flow of IDPs, a local NGO worker said.

To stop local civilians from fleeing their homes, it is important to address their fears, said Zaw Zaw Tun, secretary of the Rakhine Ethnics Congress (REC). The military should act consistently with its announcements once it withdrew the first one.

People are still fleeing despite the withdrawal of the first announcement, so the military operations should end according to the pledge, he said.

Nickey Diamond, a Myanmar human rights specialist with the Southeast Asia-based NGO Fortify Rights, said targeting civilians will make matters worse for the Myanmar military, which faces legal action on genocide-related charges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and other legal action at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for its 2017 crackdown on Rohingya communities.

Now, the new clearance operations targeting the civilians are also human rights violations, he said.

If the Myanmar military continues to commit human rights violations, it will be more challenging to defend itself at the ICJ and ICC or other U.N.-mandated court trials in the future, he said.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Ming Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report incorrectly state that Colonel Min Than notified Ratheduang township administrator Aung Myint Thein on June 25. He notified him on June 23.
Recent deadly clashes between Indian and Chinese forces along the unmarked border between the two countries are prompting calls for India to rethink its policy toward Tibet, which before its conquest by China had historically served as a buffer between the two larger powers.



India must now be bolder in considering its policy regarding questions on Tibet, deputy speaker of Tibets India-based exile parliament Yeshi Phuntsok told RFAs Tibetan Service in an interview last week.



Until the Tibet issue is resolved, the present simmering Himalayan border conflict between the Chinese and Indian troops will remain. Therefore, finding a peaceful solution to the problem of Tibet is key to Indias security, Phuntsok said.



We are asking the Indian government to help resolve these issues by supporting resumed dialogue between the Dalai Lamas representatives and the Chinese leadership on the basis of the Middle Way Approach, Phuntsok said.



The Middle Way refers to the proposal of the Dalai Lama, who fled to India after an abortive Tibetan uprising against Chinese control in 1959, to recognize Beijings rule over Tibet in exchange for a greater autonomy in Tibetan areas.



Five Tibetan NGOs including the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) and Students for a Free Tibet, however, met in India on June 18 to condemn what they called Chinas aggression on the border and to call instead for Indian support for Tibets return to its former independence.



It is high time for India to recognize Tibet as an independent country and an occupied nation, TYC president Gonpo Dhundup said, according to a June 18 report in the Hindustan Times.



An independent Tibet is the only solution to the Indo-China conflict, added the national director for Students for a Free Tibet, quoted in the Times.



A clash between Indian and Chinese security forces in the Galwan Valley in northwestern Indias mountainous region of Ladakh in June left dozens of soldiers dead on both sides, many of them beaten to death with clubs, marking the first fatalities in a confrontation between the two militaries in more than four decades.



Each side blamed the other for the clash, with both India and China saying that troops from the other side had crossed into their territory. Corps-level talks continued on Monday, The Times of India reported.



Indian views of China harden



In India, views toward China have hardened, with growing grassroots calls for a boycott of goods from the countrys second largest trade partner.





The Indian government has banned 59 apps developed by Chinese firms  including, Tik Tok, WeChat and Weibo  citing concerns that they were engaging in activities that are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, and security of state and public order, the Press Information Bureau said Monday.



The current face-off in Ladakh is only the latest in a series of flare-ups along Chinas and Indias 2,200-mile-long undemarcated border, or Line of Actual Control, with Indian soldiers on May 9 using their fists to block an attempt by Chinese troops to cross into Indian territory at the Nakula pass in northern Sikkim.



In June 2017, India sent hundreds of troops into Bhutan to defend its ally against efforts by China to build a road southward into Doklam, an area claimed by both China and Bhutan. The stand-off continued for over two months and ended when both sides withdrew.



China and India, now both nuclear-armed powers, fought a border war in 1962 that left hundreds killed or wounded on both sides.



After gaining independence from Britain in 1947, India had never bothered to consolidate its northern border, because Tibet was a friendly, peaceful, and culturally linked country, Indian defense analyst and retired general PG Kamath told RFAs Tibetan Service.



This was shown to have been a strategic mistake after China invaded and occupied Tibet in 1950, bringing Chinese troops up to the still undemarcated border with India, he said.



India then helped China by recognizing its occupation of Tibet as legitimate, said retired general and former director of Indian military training Vinod Saighal.



If India had not recognized Chinas occupation of Tibet, no one else in the world would have done so, Saighal said, adding that India may soon change course in its view of Chinas presence in Tibet.



China has overplayed its cards this time, he said.



Can policy change?



China is an expansionist power, which is obviously not to the liking of the government of India and the people of India, added retired general and former director of Indias Center for Land Warfare Studies Dhruv C. Katoch.



But I dont think that any [Indian] political party will change the status quo on Tibet. I think whats important nowadays is that there is support for the Tibetan people, and their cause is increasing among the Indian public, he said.



Indian government policy toward Tibet may be difficult to change, agreed Tenzin Lekshay, deputy director of the Dharamsala, India-based Tibet Policy Institute.



But Tibetans should take the opportunity to make the Indian public more aware of the situation in Tibet. I think that creating awareness of the Tibetan issue will also help us in our cause, Lekshay told RFA.



India, home to 85,000 refugees from Tibet, has given mixed signals to Tibetans over the years as it courts China as an economic partner.



In 2018, on the eve of a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Indian government issued a directive prohibiting bureaucrats and leaders from attending events organized by the Central Tibetan Authority (CTA) marking 60 years in India in 2019.



Lobsang Sangaypresident of the CTA, the India-based Tibetan exile governmentcalled on China this month to withdraw its forces from Tibet and allow the formerly independent Himalayan country to resume its historic role as a buffer state.



When Tibet was independent, the Indian army did not require a defense budget of 60 billion dollars. It was not necessary at all, Sangay said in an interview with India Today.



So, once Tibet is demilitarized and declared a zone of peace, the two largest populated countries in the world, India and China, will have permanent peace.



China, which has occupied Tibet for over 70 years, is unlikely now to pull its forces back from the border with its rival India, though, many believe.



Only a restoration of Tibets independence will fully address the question of Tibets status and help promote peace along the border, Tibetan activist Tenzin Tsundue said to RFA in a recent interview.



The Tibetan peoples demand for independence is not just because we dont trust [Chinese president] Xi Jinping and his machinery of control, Tsundue said, but because we believe only the restoration of Tibets independence can truly guarantee the survival of Tibets religion, culture, land, and people.



We can respect China only as our neighbor, not as our boss, Tsundue said.



Reported by RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Dorjee Damdul. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Forced sterilizations and abortions targeting Uyghurs in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) have dramatically increased in recent years and likely constitute a government-led campaign of genocide under United Nations definitions, according to a report released Monday.

While Chinas government has long controlled reproductive rights in the country, restrictions in the XUAR significantly intensified around the same time a campaign of mass incarceration was launched in the region in April 2017, German researcher Adrian Zenz said in a new report titled, Sterilizations, IUDs, and Mandatory Birth Control: The CCPs Campaign to Suppress Uyghur Birthrates in Xinjiang.

Since then, Uyghur women with three or more children have increasingly been subjected to heavy fines, required to submit to pregnancy tests and examinations, and forced to implant intrauterine devices (IUDs) or undergo sterilization surgeries, the report said.

Those who refuse are regularly detainedper explicit government directionsin the regions network of internment camps, believed to hold up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.

Population growth in the XUAR fell by 84 percent in the two largest Uyghur prefectures from 2015 to 2018, and declined further in 2019, according to Zenz, a senior fellow in China Studies at the Washington-based Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and one of the worlds foremost experts on mass incarcerations in the region.

Zenz drew from a sizable cache of official documents to compile the report, as well as interviews with former internment camp detainees. He cited a 2019 memo detailing a campaign of mass female sterilization in rural Uyghur regions that targeted between 14 and 34 percent of all married women of childbearing age in two Uyghur counties that year.

He said the project had sufficient funding for performing hundreds of thousands of operations to tie the fallopian tubes of women in the region in 2019 and 2020.

By 2019, Xinjiang planned to subject at least 80 percent of women of childbearing age in the rural southern four minority prefectures to intrusive birth prevention surgeries (IUDs or sterilizations), with actual shares likely being much higher, the report said.

A year earlier, 80 percent of all new IUD placements in China were performed in Xinjiang, despite the fact that the region only makes up 1.8 percent of the nations population.

Zenz notes that from 2015 to 2018, more than 1.2 million new residents were added to the XUARs Han Chinese majority regions, and by the end of that period, population growth rates in these regions were nearly eight times higher than the surrounding rural Uyghur regions. He said the figures suggest Beijing is doubling down on a policy of Han settler colonialism.

Campaign of genocide

Zenz warned that growing disparities between Uyghur and Han population rates, the apparent impact of the internment policy, and what documents suggest is a campaign of mass sterilization in at least two Uyghur regions should give the global community major cause for concern.

The population control regime instituted by CCP authorities in Xinjiang aims to suppress minority population growth while boosting the Han population through increased births and in-migration  In tandem, these three strategies appear to undergird a wider game plan of ethno-racial domination, he said.

These findings raise serious concerns as to whether Beijings policies in Xinjiang represent, in fundamental respects, what might be characterized as a demographic campaign of genocide, Zenz concludes, citing Article II of the U.N. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which includes imposing measures intended to prevent births within the [targeted] group.

Zenzs report, published by the Washington-based Jamestown Foundation, appears to confirm earlier reports by RFAs Uyghur Service of former camp detainees, including one named Tursunay Ziyawudun who last year said she and others held at the camps were routinely made to take medication that affected their reproductive cycles or subjected to forced sterilization.

Another, Zumuret Dawut, told RFA she and her husband were fined 18,000 yuan (U.S. $3,000) for their third child who was born outside of the family planning limit, but said she was made to first undergo sterilization despite paying it.

Widespread condemnation

Mondays report drew an immediate condemnation from Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, who dismissed the claims as baseless and suggested that the international media was cooking up false information on Xinjiang-related issues when the region is harmonious and stable.

But U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has repeatedly spoken out against abuses in the XUAR, wrote in a tweet that Washington condemns the use of forced population controls against Uyghur and other minority women and calls on the CCP to cease its campaign of repression, adding that, history will judge how we act today.

In a statement issued by the State Department later on Monday, Pompeo called Zenzs findings disturbing, although sadly consistent with decades of CCP practices that demonstrate an utter disregard for the sanctity of human life and basic human dignity.

We call on the Chinese Communist Party to immediately end these horrific practices and ask all nations to join the United States in demanding an end to these dehumanizing abuses, he said.

The report also prompted a tweet from the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), which called forced sterilizations and coercive population control methods an appalling reminder of the #Chinese govts efforts to repress #Xinjiangs ethnic minorities.

The Chairs condemn the unacceptable violence against #Uyghur women & call for @UN discussion of crimes against humanity, the tweet said, referring to Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, and Representative Jim McGovern, a democrat from Massachusetts.

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC)a group of lawmakers from North America, the European Union, and Australia from a range of political partiessaid in a statement it would request that the U.N. conduct an urgent probe into the treatment of Uyghurs and for appropriate courts to determine whether it constitutes crimes against humanity or genocide.

Call for action

The Munich-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC) exile group said that the international community can no longer stand by while evidence mounts against the Chinese government of its rights violations in the XUAR.

The findings of this report confirm what many Uyghurs have dreaded for the past three years: the Chinese government is trying to erase us, WUC president Dolkun Isa said in a statement.

Not just our language, history, culture, religion, and ethnic identity, but  us as people. We have to be direct and honest about what we are experiencing. This is genocide.

Zenzs report comes less than two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump enacted 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 XUAR and provides for sanctions against Chinese officials deemed responsible for them under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

Congress may also soon debate new legislation which would prohibit imports from the XUAR to the U.S. amid growing evidence that internment camps in the region have increasingly transitioned from political indoctrination to forced labor, with detainees being sent to work in cotton and textile factories.

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, introduced in March, would block imports from the region unless proof can be shown that they are not linked to forced labor.
China is forcing women to be sterilized or use contraceptive devices in an attempt to limit the population of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minority groups in the western Xinjiang region, according to new research published on June 29.

The report, conducted by China expert Adrian Zenz, says China's policies may amount to slow-motion demographic genocide.

The report led to calls for an international investigation into China, which called the allegations "baseless."

Beijing has already faced condemnation for placing more than 1 million Uyghurs and members of other mostly Muslim ethnic groups in Xinjiang in concentration camps since early 2017.

China says the camps are reeducation and training centers needed to combat separatist terrorism and extremism.

Uyghurs are the largest Turkic-speaking indigenous community in Xinjiang followed by Kazakhs. The region is also home to ethnic Kyrgyz, Tajiks, and Hui, also known as Dungans. Han, China's largest ethnicity, is the second-largest community in Xinjiang.

Zenz's report uses Chinese government documents, regional data, and interviews to show systematic reproductive repression against non-ethnic Han people in Xinjiang.

"Since a sweeping crackdown starting in late 2016 transformed Xinjiang into a draconian police state, witness accounts of intrusive state interference into reproductive autonomy have become ubiquitous," the report says.

It says Uyghur women and other ethnic minorities are being threatened with internment or forced into the camps for violations of draconian birth-control policies.

Grounds for punishment include refusing to abort pregnancies that exceed birth quotas.

Some women who had fewer than the legally permitted limit of two children  three in rural areas  were forced to use invasive intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs).

It also reports that women are being coerced into receiving sterilization surgeries or given injections that stopped their periods, or caused unusual menstrual bleeding indicating birth-control use.

China also continues a policy of forced family separations to indoctrinate families, the report says.

Government documents also revealed Uyghur women in rural communities received frequent mandatory gynecological exams and pregnancy tests from local health officials.

The analysis of government data shows a dramatic fall in the natural population growth in Xinjiang, with rates in two of the largest Uyghur prefectures falling by 84 percent between 2015 and 2018. Rates continued to decline in 2019.

Chinese government documents also showed mass female-sterilization campaigns in southern Xinjiang aimed at rural Uyghur women with three or more children, as well as some with two children.

The report finds that Xinjiang planned to subject 20 percent of women of childbearing age in four rural minority prefectures to IUDs or sterilization.

In a sign of how focused birth-prevention surgeries are in the region, 80 percent of all new IUD placements in China were performed in Xinjiang in 2018, despite the region only accounting for 1.8 percent of the country's population.

It has been previously reported that the Chinese Communist Party is promoting ethnic Han men to marry Uyghur women -- some of whose husbands may have been interned in camps or died there.

In other efforts to change the population balance of Xinjiang, China is offering land, jobs, and economic subsidies to attract Han migrants there.

The report accuses Beijing of engaging in "a policy of Han settler colonialism."

It says the findings provide "the strongest evidence yet" that China's policies in Xinjiang meet one of the criteria of the UN Convention on Genocide prohibiting "measures intended to prevent births within the group."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanded an end to the Chinese Communist Party's "utter disregard for the sanctity of human life and basic human dignity."

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group of North American, European, and Australian members of parliament from a range of political parties, said that they would push for a UN investigation "to decide whether or not crimes against humanity or genocide have taken place."

With reporting by AFP and AP
Coronavirus disinformation published by Chinese and Russian state media outlets in France, Spain, and Germany is in some cases reaching a greater audience on social media than news coverage of the global pandemic produced by major domestic media outlets in those countries, according to a study by the Oxford Internet Institute (OII).

The study, released by OII on June 29, found that the Russian international news network RT has achieved up to five times the number of engagements per article share on Twitter and Facebook with its French-language coronavirus coverage than the major French daily Le Monde.

China Radio International (CTI), meanwhile, has generated four times the number of engagements per shared article than the leading Spanish newspaper El Pais.

RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region.

"Many of these state-backed outlets blend reputable, fact-based reporting about the coronavirus with misleading or false information, which can lead to greater uncertainty among public audiences trying to make sense of the COVID-19 pandemic," OII research assistant Katarina Rebello said in a press release.

The co-author of the study, OII Director Philip Howard, said that along with Russia and China, state-backed media from Iran and Turkey were also targeting "French, German, and Spanish-speaking social-media users around the world with news on coronavirus."

OII researchers found that the disinformation varied depending on the language and source country.

For example, Russian outlets disseminating coronavirus coverage in French and German "consistently emphasized weak democratic institutions and civil disorder in Europe."

Russian and Iranian media produced "polarizing content" intended for Spanish-speaking social-media users in the United States and Latin America.

And Chinese and Turkish outlets promoted their countries' respective "global leadership in combating the pandemic" in disseminating Spanish-language content.

The OII studied output from Russia's RT and Sputnik news agency, China's Global Television Network, China Radio International, and the Xinhua News Agency for its study, along with content from Iranian and Turkish media outlets.

It covered each outlet's 20 most popular stories from May 18 to June 5. A previous OII study found that heavily politicized news stories from some state media from Russia, China, Iran, and Turkey could have 10 times the impact as news organizations such as the BBC.
The global death toll from the coronavirus is over 500,000, with more than 10.1 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness.

Here's a roundup of COVID-19 developments in RFE/RL's broadcast regions.

Kazakhstan

President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has ordered the Kazakh government to outline a new package of coronavirus restrictions after a recent sharp rise in infections.



After reprimanding and warning several regional governors, heads of government agencies and ministers, over the abrupt increase in cases, Toqaev said on June 29 that he wanted lawmakers to impose similar measures to the tough lockdown that the Central Asian nation approved in March.



Toqaev's spokesman, Berik Uali, said that the president also criticized the website Coronavirus2020.kz, saying that, as the country's main source of online information, it had failed to fulfil its main task -- to serve as a tool to connect state agencies with citizens.

The spread of the virus intensified after the state of emergency declared on March 16 was lifted on May 11 and quarantine restrictions were eased. The Word Health Organization has designated Kazakhstan as experiencing a "rapid" spread of the coronavirus.

Toqaev said earlier that his government had allocated $10 billion to tackle the pandemic and its impact on the economy.



The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has skyrocketed to almost 37,996 from about 5,000 at the time Kazakhstan started lifting the nationwide lockdown in mid-May. Deaths have surged to 183 from 32 over the same period.



Toqaev's order to the government to prepare new restrictions comes four days after he replaced the health minister amid the surge in coronavirus cases.

Russia

Russia's military has reported that the testing of a Russia-produced vaccine on troops who volunteered to take part in clinical trials has shown success.



"No complications or side effects were observed," the dpa news agency cited the Russian military's Krasnaya Zvezda (Red Star) newspaper as reporting. The clinical trials are scheduled to wrap up by the end of July.



Russia intends to sell the vaccine globally if all goes well, according to Health Minister Mikhail Murashko.

Kosovo

The prime minister of Kosovo has warned that officials may have to reinstate lockdown measures if things don't improve after a recent surge in reported coronavirus cases there.

Avdullah Hoti said on June 28 that he's worried the hospital system will be overwhelmed.



Kosovo has seen a steep daily increase in the number of virus cases since the easing of containment measures. Overall, it has reported at least 2,590 confirmed cases and 48 deaths, including 12 in the past week.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service and news agencies


Hundreds of financial records leaked by a self-confessed money launderer at the center of a corruption scandal in Kyrgyzstan have been published, showing how hundreds of millions of dollars linked to a secretive cargo empire were funneled out of the country over the course of several years.

The documents, made public on June 29 as part of a journalistic investigation by RFE/RL, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), and the Kyrgyz news outlet Kloop, were given to reporters last year by Aierken Saimaiti, a Chinese-born businessman previously based in Kyrgyzstan, prior to his November 10 murder in Istanbul.

Following Saimaiti's death, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, the OCCRP, and Kloop published an investigation based on these records, interviews with Saimaiti, and their own independent reporting.

The investigation implicated influential former Kyrgyz customs official Raimbek Matraimov in widespread corruption linked to the money Saimaiti moved out of the country.

Matraimov and his family deny any links to Saimaiti or corruption and filed a libel suit over the investigation.

The trove of Saimaitis records released on June 29 include wire-transfer orders, personal financial ledgers, electronic spreadsheets, and what he described as sham contracts used as cover to move hundreds of millions of dollars abroad to Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Britain, and the United States, among other countries.

The bulk of the money shown in these records was transferred on behalf of Khabibula Abdukadyr, a secretive Uyghur businessman with a Kazakh passport who has built a murky cargo-and-real-estate empire in Central Asia, Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

Abdukadyr was virtually unknown to the broader public until the investigation was published in November.

The release of Saimaitis records coincides with two new investigations published by the outlets, together with Bellingcat, that are based on documents the murdered businessman provided to reporters.

One expose reveals the identity of previously unknown donors to the Matraimov familys charity, which Saimaiti claimed was the recipient of bribe money he paid as part of a corrupt scheme in Kyrgyzstans customs service. The Matraimovs vehemently reject that charge.

The report reveals how these newly revealed donors had demonstrable links to Saimaiti, as evident from documents he gave reporters prior to his murder.

The second investigation focuses on more than $1 million that Saimaiti claimed to have wired to Britain toward the purchase of a luxury apartment for Matraimov, whose family is known for leading a lavish lifestyle seemingly at odds with his long career as a public servant.

E-mails sent to the Abdukadyr family went unanswered. An adviser to Iskender Matraimov, Raimbeks brother and a member of parliament, asked for additional time to make a full response but did not follow up before publication.

Kyrgyz lawmakers on June 18 approved the findings of a parliamentary commission that concluded Kyrgyzstan was not involved in the nearly $1 billion investigators said Saimaiti transferred out of the Central Asian nation.

Critics of the commission say it failed to sufficiently investigate the evidence of corruption presented in the expose published by RFE/RL, OCCRP, and Kloop in November following Saimaitis murder.

Earlier in June, Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security (UKMK) claimed a reporter with RFE/RLs Kyrgyz Service had received money from Saimaiti but presented no evidence beyond hearsay testimony from two individuals, including a former ambassador currently in pretrial detention on abuse-of-office charges.

RFE/RL strongly rejected the allegations.

RFE/RL President Jamie Fly said at the time that they "appear to be the latest attempt in a long-standing campaign of retaliation against journalists by corrupt individuals seeking to protect their wealth and power."
Controversy continues to mount over reports that Russian security officers allegedly offered bounties to the Taliban for the killing of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.



Though U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that the intelligence reports were not deemed credible and the Kremlin and the Taliban have rejected reports alleging that officers of the GRU  Russia's foreign military intelligence -- either paid or offered money for killing American soldiers, questions continue to surround the charges.



Meanwhile, questions are being raised about the Kremlin's true motives in the war-torn country.



Russia's Recent History, Initial Interests In Afghanistan



Although no longer a direct neighbor, Russia shares a close recent history with Afghanistan.



The Soviet Union's fateful decision to invade its impoverished southern neighbor in December 1979 is ultimately seen by many to have contributed to the collapse of communism and disintegration of the U.S.S.R. 12 years later.

In the 1990s, a struggling Russia identified preventing terrorism, drug trafficking, and a spillover of the Afghan war into its Central Asian backyard as its main interests. It cooperated with and supported the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance to achieve these objectives.



The Kremlin welcomed the demise of the Taliban regime as a result of a U.S.-led military attack in late 2001, which was prompted by the September 11 (9/11) terrorist attacks against the United States.



"With regard to Afghanistan, Russia is guided by quite specific and pragmatic considerations of a strategic, political, and economic character, which, and this is fundamentally important, largely coincide with the real interests of Afghanistan itself," noted Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov in an op-ed in early 2002.



Why Did Russia Begin Competing With The United States In Afghanistan?



For more than a decade after 9/11, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Washington and its transatlantic allies for taking on the "burden" of fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and urged them to "carry it to the end."



But once major NATO combat operations ended in late 2014, the Kremlin moved toward undermining the U.S. mission in the country.



The shift was partly fueled by Putin's desire to restore Russia's great power status, but it was mainly due to competition with the West in Ukraine and later in Syria, where Russia joined Iran in defending President Bashar al-Assad's regime.



By late 2015, Zamir Kabulov, Putin's special envoy to Afghanistan, was openly touting contacts with the Taliban. He told Interfax in December 2015 that Moscow's interests in Afghanistan "objectively coincide" with those of the Taliban in fighting the extremist Islamic State (IS) militants, whom Moscow was battling in Syria. Some Russian officials claimed the Kremlin was sharing intelligence and exchanging information with the Taliban against IS.



What Are Moscow's Objectives In Afghanistan?



Counterterrorism ostensibly still tops Moscow's declared interests in Afghanistan.



"The situation in Afghanistan has been one of the key items on our agenda with Washington since we launched the Russia-U.S. dialogue on counterterrorism in December 2018," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov told Interfax in May.



He likewise celebrated the addition of the Afghan branch of IS, locally called IS Khorasan, to the UN Security Council's sanctions committee's list in May 2019 as a "good example of effective cooperation" with the United States.

Russia and China have backed Washington's efforts to end the war in Afghanistan through negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government. Last month, the Russian Foreign Ministry celebrated a brief cease-fire on the occasion of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr and called for "removing all obstacles to a comprehensive settlement of the Afghan problem."



But Hameed Hakimi, a research associate with the Chatham House think tank in London, says Russia is now bent on cultivating its own patronage networks in Afghanistan to gain advantage over the United States and China.



"This is a departure from a brief period post-2001, U.S.-led military intervention in Afghanistan when there was a seeming convergence of interests between Moscow and Washington over 'stabilizing' Afghanistan," he told RFE/RL.



Hakimi says Moscow is still worried about drug trafficking, the IS presence in Afghanistan, and threats aimed at its Central Asian allies. "It is also key for their wider regional influence over Central Asia, particularly Tajikistan, which shares a border with Afghanistan," he said.
TBILISI -- Georgian lawmakers have approved a bill on election reforms following a foreign-brokered deal to change a system that opposition parties insisted unfairly favored the ruling party heading into elections this autumn.



Lawmakers of opposition National Movement and European Georgia parties boycotted the June 29 parliamentary session, saying one of the conditions of the March 8 deal, namely the release of opposition figure Giorgi Rurua from pretrial detention, had not been met. Still, the bill was approved by 117 lawmakers, with three voting against it.



The legislation takes effect once President Salome Zurabishvili signs it into law.



The amendments outlined in accordance with the March 8 memorandum of understanding facilitated by U.S. and European Union officials, dictate that parliament consists 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 in accordance with the national share of the vote that a party wins.



This led to Georgian Dream, led by billionaire founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, holding three-quarters of the legislature's seats even though it won just under half of the popular vote.

Opposition parties have insisted that three opposition figures, including Rurua, the founder and a shareholder of the opposition-aligned Mtavari Arkhi TV, must be released from custody in order to meet all the conditions of the March 8 deal.



Georgian Dream has said the release of opposition figures from custody was not a condition of the agreement.



In mid-May, President Zurabishvili pardoned two opposition politicians, Gigi Ugulava, the leader of the European Georgia party, who once served as Tbilisi Mayor, and former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili, who leads the Victorious Georgia party. Many thought then that Rurua would also be released, but this has not happened.



Rurua was arrested on November 18 and charged with illegally purchasing, possessing, and carrying a firearm, which he and his supporters have denied. Opposition parties insist that Ruruas arrest was politically motivated.
PRISTINA -- Kosovar President Hashim Thaci says he will immediately resign if a judge in The Hague confirm war-crimes charges filed against him, including crimes against humanity, stemming from Kosovos war of independence in 1998-99.



In a prerecorded address to the nation, Thaci rejected the false accusations against him and said: My heart is hurt, but not broken. My mind weighs heavy, but is not bleary. My blood is heated, but clean, according to a transcript distributed by his office.

He also vowed to consult with Kosovos political leaders in the following days to discuss the next steps.

The Kosovar president delivered his address in the wake an indictment being announced by a special prosecutor's office in The Hague on June 24, alleging that Thaci and another senior Kosovar politician, Kadri Veseli, are among those "criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders" and other wrongdoing involving "hundreds of known victims of Kosovo Albanian, Serb, Roma, and other ethnicities and including political opponents."



Thaci commanded guerrilla forces under the banner of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) during the conflict.



A pretrial judge at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague has until October to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for a trial based on the 10-count indictment, according to the statement from the Special Prosecutor's Office.

In his address to the nation, Thaci said "there has not been and could not be even a single piece of evidence" against him.



He also blasted the prosecutor's decision to announce the indictment before it has been confirmed by the court, calling the move a "massive scandal."



"No crime, alleged or even committed, by anyone, justifies public lynching," he added.



Veseli has also proclaimed his innocence.

Earlier in the day, Albanias Prime Minister Edi Rama made an unexpected visit to neighboring Kosovo, which has a predominantly ethnic Albanian population, to meet with Thaci, Veseli, and other Kosovar leaders.



After arriving in Pristina, Rama tweeted that the indictment was a "shameful stain of 21st century" world justice.



After the indictment was announced, a planned meeting between the Kosovar president and his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, at the White House was postponed. The meeting, which had been scheduled to take place on June 27, was aimed at kickstarting suspended talks on normalizing relations between the two neighbors.



Kosovo declared independence in 2008 and is recognized by more than 110 countries, but not by Belgrade.

"I do not know whether it was chance or intrigue that, midway toward the White House, the notification for an unconfirmed indictment was released," Thaci said on June 29.



Thaci said the meeting being called off was "a strong blow to the opportunity of achieving peace between Kosovo and Serbia."



On June 27, Kosovo's Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti said his government remains "committed to the normalization process with Serbia.



Speaking to reporters after his return from Brussels, Hoti said he and the U.S. special presidential envoy, Richard Grenell, had agreed on "another date which will be soon" for the continuation of negotiations.



Meanwhile, France and Germany have indicated their willingness to co-host a summit with the Kosovar and Serbian leaders in Paris.
Every single day, almost, we have conversations with hospital providers and CEOs and other members of our community and we felt that it was time to take this step, said Jordan Elsbury, Currys chief of staff.
The big problem with the announcement in early June that the first freight train had left the Chinese city of Lanzhou bound for the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, is that the railway link in Kyrgyzstan needed for the trip is not yet done.

Not even close to being completed.

It would seem the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway is just another of those grand projects conceived decades ago that might never be built.

But in this case there is some hope it will be realized -- though it will probably have to wait for better times in a world economy.

Alternative Travel Plan

To compensate for the lack of a full Kyrgyz link on this project, a new "road-rail" combined-cargo transport line has been devised.

The train that left Lanzhou station in China's northwestern Gansu Province on June 5 is carrying a load of some 230 tons of electrical appliances worth about $2.6 million.

The train first traveled to Kashgar in the western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, near the border with Kyrgyzstan. From Kashgar, the goods were loaded onto trucks for the journey westward across Kyrgyzstan to the city of Osh, where they were reloaded onto a train headed for Tashkent. Part of that route used the Pap-Angren railway line in Uzbekistan that the Chinese helped build and which opened in early 2016.

The loading and unloading of goods, along with the trucking operation, will be repeated when the train from Tashkent leaves for China due to carry some 525 tons of Uzbek cotton worth some $1 million.

At least the Chinese train's departure seems to have reawakened the Kyrgyz to their unfinished business.

On June 17, Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov held a meeting with Foreign Minister Chingiz Aidarbekov, Transport and Roads Minister Janat Beyshenov, and Vasily Dashkov, the head of the state railway company Kyrgyz Temir Zholy, to discuss railway issues that included the line from China to Uzbekistan.

Jeenbekov reportedly described the railway line connecting China and Uzbekistan as one of the largest and most strategically important projects for Kyrgyzstan.

On June 18, according to the Kyrgyz Temir Zholy website, "construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway will start in a month," and company head Dashkov said he didn't see any "particular obstacles" but rather just a "few points [to conclude]."

But that message disappeared from the website on June 19.

The head of Kyrgyz Temir Zholy's Railway Design and Construction Department, Zhamshitbek Kalilov, later said the June 18 post was a misunderstanding and said there is no way construction will start in July.

Not Kyrgyzstan's Route

Kalilov said talks with Chinese and Uzbek officials were continuing, mainly by videoconference due to the coronavirus, but he mentioned there were still issues with financing and the perennial problem of track-gauge size.

The CKU railway has been discussed since the latter part of the 1990s.

The prime ministers of China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan all met at the Kyrgyz-China Irkeshtam border post on July 21, 1997, to open the crossing.

They said at the time they would also soon open the Andijon-Osh-Kashgar highway, though the highway only started being used to ship goods in early 2018 -- when they promised a railway would also connect the three countries.

In June 2001, Kyrgyz Transportation and Communications Minister Kubanychbek Jumaliev announced an agreement had been reached for construction of the CKU railway line but it was more than six years later -- in January 2008 -- that China's Xinhua news agency reported construction of the railway had begun and the line would be completed in 2010.

Since then, the project was often mentioned when Uzbek or Kyrgyz officials met with Chinese officials but little progress was made on finishing it.

In 2017, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev spoke about the railway project, objecting to the fact that the proposed railway line would not make any stops in Kyrgyzstan.

Atambaev proposed the railway take a different route than the one planned, so that trains would also serve the remote Kyrgyz towns of At-Bashi and Kazarman, a significant deviation north from the original plan and one that Atambaev admitted would add $1.5 billion to the cost of building the railway.

Kalilov indicated the route was still not completely agreed upon. In March 2018, when Kalilov was transport minister, he said China was insisting on the shortest route possible through Kyrgyzstan.

That likely means through the Irkeshtam crossing, some 230 kilometers nearly due west from Kashgar, and the route that trucks currently use as part of the road-rail link.

But Kalilov said Kyrgyzstan was exerting "all efforts so that the railroad goes through the pass at Torugart," which would run some 165 kilometers north from Kashgar before turning west into Kyrgyzstan and head toward Uzbekistan.

Kyrgyzstan does not have the extra $1.5 billion Atambaev mentioned and, in the June 18 message briefly posted on the Kyrgyz Temir Zholy website, Dashkov said the railway through Kyrgyzstan had an estimated price tag of some $4.5 billion.

The line is not long, only some 450-500 kilometers, but it passes through the mountains, sometimes at altitudes of 2,000 to 3,500 meters.

That means it will require the construction of nearly 50 tunnels -- and more than 90 bridges. A very tall order for any country but especially one like cash-strapped Kyrgyzstan.

Dashkov said that when it came to money, "the Russian and Uzbek sides are ready to help us."

It was a curious statement, as neither of those countries are in a financial position to spend that kind of money on construction of a railway through Kyrgyzstan and, in Russia's case, it is difficult to see why Russia would spend money on a project that would provide a trade route between Asia and Europe that avoids Russian territory.

That said, there were reports at the end of November 2019 that Jeenbekov said Russia had provided Kyrgyzstan with 200 million rubles (then worth some $3.15 million) to prepare the "technical-economic basis" for the CKU railway, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in April 2020 there were talks with China about Russia's participation in building the CKU railway.

The Best Route West

Reports at the start of June about the opening of the road-rail, combined-cargo transport line claimed that if and when a railroad did go through Kyrgyzstan, it would be the shortest route for China to trade with Europe and the Middle East.

Currently, the main railway line connecting China to Europe and the Middle East runs through Kazakhstan's Khorgos crossing and one report said that by shipping through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan the route would be "295 kilometers shorter than through Khorgos." It also claimed that "compared with the traditional route [through Khorgos], the time saved would be as much as five days."

That prospect might not be appealing to Kazakhstan, but several other countries stand to benefit from such a route if the CKU line is extended further westward.

One report said the extension would run through Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey to Europe, while another said the route would run through Turkmenistan and, by ferry, across the Caspian Sea to Istanbul and to Europe.

Ideally it could split and do both, though any railway line through Afghanistan would face the same security problems that have for more than 20 years prevented construction of electricity lines and natural-gas pipelines from Central Asia through Afghanistan to Pakistan.

More immediately for China's interests, the completion of the CKU line would open a line to the Mingbulak oil field in Uzbekistan. Mingbulak is best-known for being the site of possibly the worst inland oil spill in history. An explosion at a well in early March 1992 led to some 285,000 tons of oil being spilled, which helped fuel a fire that burned over an area of more than 60 hectares for some two months.

The site was abandoned until the China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) signed a deal in October 2008 (that runs until 2035) to reopen and develop the field. Work was suspended again in 2015 due to the low price of oil on world markets, but resumed in 2017, and the CNPC believes there is more than 30 million tons of oil there and that Mingbulak can eventually produce some 4,000 barrels per day.

Not a huge amount, especially for China's needs, but it is less than 500 kilometers from China's border.

As it stands now, the only way to transport it is via road. But Mingbulak is located in Uzbekistan's Namangan Province, as is the Pap railway station that is on the CKU railway line.

And assuming Kyrgyzstan can convince China, Uzbekistan, and whoever might be funding the railway's construction to include some train stops in Kyrgyzstan, Transport Minister Beyshenov claimed in August 2019 the railway line could help Kyrgyzstan open up new mining sites that would allow Kyrgyzstan to export more coal, gold, aluminum, iron, and other resources.

Kyrgyzstan almost surely will not start construction of its segment of the railway line anytime soon.

But the CKU railway is one of the last two major projects connecting China to Central Asia that remains incomplete (the other is Line D of the Turkmenistan-China natural-gas pipeline.

And the proposed extension of the railway to Europe and the Middle East -- one day far off in the future -- will always be appealing to more countries than just China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, known locally as Azattyk, contributed to this report
An industrial-waste landfill near the Russian city of Norilsk caught fire on June 29, in the third environmental disaster to hit the area around the Siberian Arctic city in a month.



Civil defense authorities said the 1,000-square-meter fire at the solid=-ndustrial-waste landfill was later contained as smoke billowed out over the tundra.



The landfill is located several kilometers from residential areas.



The incident follows two environmental disasters near the industrial city, home to Norilsk Nickel, the world's leading nickel and palladium producer.



On June 28, Norilsk Nickel admitted one of its plants pumped wastewater from a reservoir into the fragile Arctic environment and that it has suspended the responsible employees.



Greenpeace Russia released photos of the illegal dump it said likely contained heavy metals, surfactants, and sulfurous acid.

The nongovernmental environment group said that satellite images suggest Norilsk Nickel workers regularly engage in such discharges.



Russias Investigative Committee said it opened an enquiry after receiving reports of the "unauthorized dumping of liquid waste into the tundra" on the site of the facility.



In what has been described as the worst environmental disaster to impact the Arctic, on May 29 more than 21,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled into the soil, two rivers, and a downstream lake after a storage tank at a Norilsk Nickel-operated power plant collapsed or sank due to the thawing permafrost soil.



Two plant managers and two top engineers have been arrested on suspicion of violating environmental-protection rules. The mayor of Norilsk and a government inspector have also been charged with negligence.



President Vladimir Putin declared a state of emergency after the incident and Norilsk Nickel promised to pay the costs of the cleanup, estimated at 10 billion rubles ($145 million).



Norilsk Nickel is own by Russias richest man, Vladimir Potanin.



Local officials and environmental groups say it could take years for the environment to recover from the fuel spill.

With reporting by dpa and Interfax
A mortar attack on a market in southern Afghanistan has killed at least 23 people and injured dozens of others.

A spokesman for the governor of the southern province of Helmand said the June 29 attack occurred close to a cattle market and that children were among the dead.

The spokesman immediately pinned the attack on the Taliban, which in turn blamed the government.

While violence had dropped across much of the country after the Taliban offered a brief cease-fire to mark the Eid al-Fitr festival last month, officials say the insurgents have stepped up attacks in recent weeks.

President Ashraf Ghani on June 29 urged the Taliban to "refrain from war and violence and to accept the will of the Afghan people," which he said wants the government and the militant group to start much-delayed talks aimed at ending the war in the country.



Save The Children, an international nongovernmental organization, said it was "horrified by the ongoing attacks in Afghanistan, which continue to take the innocent lives of children."



Country director Milan Dinic in a statement called the latest attack a "sad reminder that no child is safe in Afghanistan until the weapons are put down."

On June 28, a roadside bomb killed at least six civilians and wounded two others in the same province.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and dpa
Nearly half of the donations received by a well-known Kyrgyz charity run by the powerful Matraimov family have been linked to an illicit underground network.

A charitable foundation run by Kyrgyzstans politically powerful Matraimov family received much more money than previously known from an underground network that laundered a vast fortune out of the country, according to newly revealed bank records.

The questionable funds represent nearly half of the $1.4 million in donations the Ismail Matraimov Charitable Foundation is publicly known to have received between 2014 and 2019.

The money appears to have originated in an underground cargo empire run by a Uyghur family with the collusion of Kyrgyzstans customs service. The Matraimov familys most prominent member, Raimbek Matraimov, is a former deputy customs chief who -- according to an earlier investigation by RFE/RL, OCCRP, and Kloop -- enabled and profited from the illicit business.

Raimbek Matraimov. (Photo: Facebook)

Read the previous investigation for more about the Abdukadyr family and how they made millions smuggling goods from China into Central Asia.

The investigation relied in part on materials provided by Aierken Saimaiti, a self-confessed money launderer, murdered in Istanbul in November, who had accused Matraimov of being instrumental in widespread corruption.

Saimaiti claimed to have laundered $700 million, the proceeds of the underground business, out of Kyrgyzstan -- but also said that he and his wife had funnelled part of the proceeds to the Matraimov familys charity, explaining that this money represented a portion of Raimbek Matraimovs share of the spoils.

Part of the earlier investigation revealed the Matraimov familys real estate holdings in Dubai, including a construction project jointly owned with the Abdukadyrs. Saimaiti wired tens of millions of dollars to the Abdukadyrs in Dubai.

The Matraimovs have denied any links with Saimaiti, conceding only that his wife had donated $200,000 to their charity, allegedly on behalf of a businessman they have declined to identify. Iskender Matraimov, Raimbeks older brother and a member of parliament, has said that the goal of the family foundation was to promote a healthy lifestyle, that the donations constituted "zeket" (a form of Islamic charity), that the donors were his foreign friends, and that they did not want their names to be disclosed.

A video from the Matraimov foundations Facebook page shows people delivering goods. (Photo: Facebook)

After an initial investigation into Saimaitis money laundering was published by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service last spring, the countrys financial police conducted a preliminary investigation that included a review of the donations the Matraimovs charity received.

The agency released a statement that included a list of what it called the organizations only 10 donors between 2014 and 2019, identifying them by their initials. These donors transferred a total of $1.4 million to the foundation, the police said.

One of the donors, identified as W.B., appears to be Saimaitis wife, Wufuli Bumailiyamu.

Newly obtained U.S. bank records reveal the identity of three more of these 10 donors. Though the Kyrgyz police had not publicly flagged these payments as problematic, and the Matraimov family has vigorously denied any impropriety, an analysis by reporters shows that all three had demonstrable links to Saimaiti and the money he laundered out of Kyrgyzstan.

The Records Ironically, reporters were able to obtain the new U.S. bank records after the Matraimovs sued RFE/RLs Radio Azattyk and Kloop for libel in Kyrgyzstan in response to the outlets earlier investigation. Using a U.S. statute that allows a party to apply to a U.S. court to obtain evidence for use in foreign litigation, RFE/RL sought a subpoena to present to two U.S. banks -- Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and The Bank of New York Mellon -- for records related to the transactions Saimaiti claimed had been made to the charity. The U.S. banks were involved because they acted as third-party banks that processed the transactions, which were made in U.S. dollars. In response to the subpoena, details for a total of 66 unique wire transfers were obtained.

The newly revealed transactions, totaling $470,000, include wire transfers from companies based in Turkey and Dubai that listed commercial reasons -- such as payment for textile and purchase of electronics. Kyrgyzstans financial police have said the organization does not conduct any kind of commercial activity. Saimaiti told reporters that he used a variety of companies to obscure the origins of money wired to the charity, including a company from the United Arab Emirates. As evidence, he gave reporters records of the wire transfer from Dubai. Their authenticity has been independently confirmed by the U.S. bank records.

A protest against corruption in Bishkek after the publication of the initial investigation in this series. (Photo: Alexandra Titove, Kloop)

Along with the $200,000 sent by Saimaitis wife, the newly revealed transactions bring the total sum the charity is known to have received through the money-laundering network to $670,000. This is nearly half of the total wired to the charity between 2014 and 2019, as stated by the Kyrgyz financial police.

Raimbek Matraimov is not known to have ever faced formal corruption charges, and he and his relatives deny benefitting from illicit wealth. Neither Matraimov nor his brother, parliamentarian Iskender Matraimov, responded to a request for comment. An adviser to Iskender Matraimov asked for additional time to make a full response, but did not follow up before publication.

Saimaitis Claims Saimaiti initially claimed that he had wired a total of nearly $2.4 million to the Matraimovs charity. As evidence for this total, he gave reporters documents related to seven alleged transfers to the charity. The Matraimov family has acknowledged receiving $200,000 from his wife, but challenged the authenticity of the remaining documents. Until his death, Saimaiti continued to claim that all the documents were legitimate. However, the questioned documents could not be independently verified and are not confirmed by the newly obtained U.S. bank transactions. For more detailed information about which records are confirmed by which sources, see the chart below. This chart indicates which questionable donations to the Matraimovs charity have been verified by various sources, including Saimaiti, Kyrgyzstans financial police, newly revealed U.S. bank records, and the Matraimovs themselves. They show that the amount independently verified to have originated in accounts associated with the underground money laundering network far exceeds what the family has admitted.

These are the five transfers now confirmed to have been sent to the Matraimov charity from Saimaiti's wife and associates. Click here to open a more detailed chart, showing the proofs for each of these transfers, in a separate window.

The Turkish Donor

One of the three newly revealed donors to the Matraimovs is a man named Dilsat Artis, a Turkish citizen who, according to the U.S. bank records, transferred $170,633 to the Matraimov foundation on October 19, 2015.

There is little public information about Artis. But Saimaiti described him as someone who does business for the Abdukadyr family in Turkey. A bank statement and a transaction spreadsheet provided by Saimaiti indicate that Artis appeared repeatedly in what Saimaiti described as his money-laundering system. According to those records, Saimaiti sent a total of $2.35 million to Artis in 13 separate wire transfers in 2014-15. The bank account number listed for Artis in Saimaitis spreadsheet matches the one that appears in the newly revealed U.S. bank records.

Click here to view the transfers associated with Artis in an interactive graphic.

Saimaiti also provided reporters with a photograph of Artiss Turkish drivers license that matched the Turkish national ID number listed for Artis in the countrys corporate records.

Artis also appears to be involved in the business empire of the Abdukadyrs, the family whose money Saimaiti was laundering. A separate bank statement provided by Saimaiti shows that, in 2014, Artis deposited tens of thousands of dollars into the bank account of Palvan Insaat Turizm, a key Abdukadyr firm in Turkey, and that he received multiple payments from the company as well.

Click here to see Artiss transfers to and from Palvan in one of Saimaitis internal records.

Reached by reporters, Artis said he had a long-standing business relationship with the Abdukadyrs. He said he had learned about the Matraimovs Kyrgyz foundation while living in Istanbul, and that his wire transfer to the organization represented "zeket," a charitable donation encouraged in Islam.

He also described himself as a long-established businessman who did frequent business in Central Asia and said the payments he received from Saimaiti were for goods and services on behalf of customers. Reporters could find little evidence of any significant business activity by Artis in the region at the time the payment to the Matraimov family was made. The two Turkish companies he owned at the time appeared to have no websites.

There is one notable exception: In December 2018, Artis established a new company that soon acquired a 30 percent share in an Uzbek company behind a controversial $430 million development project in Tashkent. The BBCs Uzbek Service reported officials saying that local residents would be evicted from their homes to make way for the project. Artis did not respond to subsequent questions about the nature of his investment.

The Proxy Firms

In an interview just weeks before he was killed, Saimaiti pointed to two specific transfers to the Matraimov charity.

There are my transfers, from Turkey and in the name of Turks, and of their companies, Saimaiti said. Theres $160,000 and $140,000.

Saimaiti did not state the names of the companies that carried out the transfers. But the newly revealed U.S. bank records now appear to confirm their identities.

In the case of the $160,000 transfer, Saimaiti sent reporters corroborating documents: a wire-order form and an electronic transaction receipt documenting the transfer to the Matraimov charity from a Dubai-based firm called Alwasl General Trading FZE. Reporters were initially unable to verify the authenticity of these records independently, but the U.S. bank transactions match the details they contain, including the transaction amount of $159,965, the date of the transfer, its purpose (listed as purchase of electronics), and the account number.

Reporters found little public evidence that Alwasl carried out any business activity other than importing four shipments of frozen squid from India to Turkey in August 2017 worth about $336,000. This information appeared in import/export records obtained by the Washington-based research group C4ADS.

Calls to a listed number for Alwasl resulted in no response. Two individuals identified as representatives of the company were contacted. One immediately ended the conversation; the other read a message but did not respond.

The second company known to have wired money to the Matraimov charity is a Turkish firm with the unwieldy name Star Crystal Kuyumculuk Gida Tekstil Turizm Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi  which is Turkish for Star Crystal Jewelry Food Textile Tourism Industry and Trade Limited Company. The company is owned by a man named Aybek Ulucay, about whom reporters could find virtually no information.

The U.S. bank records show that, like the Dubai firm Alwasl, Star Crystal listed a commercial purpose for its October 2016 wire transfer of $139,965 to the Matraimov charity: payment for textile. The sum of that transfer is consistent with the $140,000 transfer to the Matraimiov charity that Saimaiti had mentioned.

Saimaiti frequently listed variants of the phrase for textile as a reason for his transactions, explaining that this technique was used to move money for other purposes. Disguising large payments as business transactions is a common technique in money laundering. Click here to see the 78 wire transfers Saimaiti made listing the purpose as textiles in an interactive graphic.

Reporters found multiple connections between Saimaiti and Star Crystal.

In the first place, an electronic wire transfer receipt provided by Saimaiti shows that a small Kyrgyz firm he operated sent $499,200 to the company on April 24, 2017, for textile materials. The Turkish bank account listed in the document matches the one from which Star Crystal wired money to the Matraimov charity as a payment for textile."

There were further connections to Star Crystal among a network of working-class cash couriers that Saimaiti used to spirit massive sums of laundered money out of Kyrgyzstan.

A document the money launderer provided shows that one of his couriers flew from Bishkek to Istanbuls Ataturk Airport in March 2017, declaring $801,000 in cash upon arrival. The customs declaration form states that the money belonged to Star Crystal.

A cash declaration form, filled out by one of Saimaitis couriers, that shows him bringing $801,000 into Turkey and declaring the money as belonging to Star Crystal. The company also has a shared Istanbul address with two other Turkish companies that received over $1.8 million from Saimaitis small Kyrgyz company.

Saimaiti also provided reporters with a Turkish declaration in which another Kyrgyz courier stated that he had brought 10.48 kilograms of gold to Istanbul the same month. Star Crystal is listed as the owner of the gold. The previous summer, the same courier had also deposited $9,880 into the Turkish bank account of Saimaitis wife, who withdrew that precise amount the next day. The same account was used a few months later to send one of her two donations to the Matraimov charity.

Despite repeated efforts, no contact information for Star Crystal was found. Another company registered at the same address also had no available contact information.

Project Credits

Plunder And Patronage In The Heart Of Central Asia is a joint effort by Radio Azattyk, the Kyrgyz Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; OCCRP; and OCCRP's Kyrgyz member center, Kloop. Over two dozen journalists from these organizations worked for months to make the investigation possible. Due to multiple threats received by reporters and editors over this period, their names are not disclosed.
BISHKEK -- Hundreds of protesters have rallied in Bishkek urging Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov to veto new legislation that they say would curtail press freedom in the Central Asian state.

The protesters gathered near the railway station in the Kyrgyz capital on June 29 wearing medical masks, many of which had a large red "X" to symbolize the "muzzling of freedom of speech." They also held posters with slogans such as "We are not slaves," and "You can't stop us talking," as they marched toward the parliament building.

The draft law on manipulating information, approved by parliament last week, would allow the blocking of websites without a court order and compel companies to store and possibly hand over private user data if requested to do so by authorities.

Some of the protesters held portraits of lawmakers who initiated the controversial law with large signs saying "Fake lawmaker" and called on lawmakers Gulshat Asybaeva and Ainura Osmonova, to resign.

The demonstrators also chanted "No quorum, means no law," referring to allegations by rights activists that several lawmakers had been caught voting on behalf of colleagues absent from the June 25 session at which the media bill was passed.

The protesters attempted to practice social distancing during the march and rally to comply with the Health Ministry requirements aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

Under the bill, which will come into force after Jeenbekov signs it into law, authorities will not be required to get court backing to shut down or block websites containing information deemed to be inaccurate or false and to shut down social-media accounts deemed misleading.

It also requires real-name registration for website owners and social-media account owners.

Internet service providers (ISPs) would be required to store user data, including photos, audio, and video, for up to six months and share them with government agencies upon request.

Several domestic and international organizations last week urged Jeenbekov to reject the bill.
Russia has denied any nuclear incidents after an international body detected unusual radioactive isotopes produced by nuclear fission in northern Europe.



Last week in Sweden, a station of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), which monitors the world for evidence of nuclear weapons tests, detected unexplained "higher than usual levels" of radioactive isotopes that likely came from somewhere around the Baltic Sea.



The CTBTO head, Lassina Zerbo, tweeted on June 26 that the elevated levels of three radionuclides generally associated with civil nuclear activities -- cesium-134, cesium-137, and ruthenium-103 -- had been detected on June 22-23.



But the group also said later the same day that the levels it saw were "not harmful for human health."



Russia's Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) said on June 29 that it had measured radiation levels after the CTBTO's report and all measurements "indicated stability."



The Rospotrebnadzor's press service stressed that Russia's executive bodies, monitoring the radiation situation, did not confirm the information in question.



Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov also said on June 29 that Russia's "state-of-the-art, modern radiation safety monitoring system" had not registered any "threatening situations or emergencies."



Rosenergoatom, a unit of the state nuclear company Rosatom, said over the weekend that Russia's two northwest nuclear power plants, in the Leningrad region and Kola peninsula, were working normally and radiation levels were unchanged.

Based on reporting by Reuters, TASS, and Interfax
This investigative series is based, in part, on a trove of documents given to reporters by murdered money launderer Aierken Saimaiti. Here, for the first time, the documents he provided are presented.

In the Plunder And Patronage In The Heart Of Central Asia series, RFE/RL, OCCRP, and Kloop used evidence provided by a self-confessed money launderer to show how more than $700 million, including proceeds from a regional cargo-smuggling empire run by a secretive family, was funneled out of Kyrgyzstan.

The initial publication late last year provoked protests in the country, particularly since the stories implicated Raimbek Matraimov, a powerful former customs official, in enabling and profiting from the business. No serious criminal investigation into the corruption revealed in the stories appears to have been launched.

The Abdukadyr family, which ran the smuggling empire, has made no response -- but the powerful Matraimov family, many of whose members are current or former senior government officials, did. The Matraimovs did not stop at denying the facts presented in the stories. Following the stories publication, they launched a libel suit against RFE/RL and Kloop that is still ongoing.

The family, their supporters, and even government agencies have also sought to throw doubt on the authenticity of the financial records used in the investigations, claiming that Aierken Saimaiti, the money launderer who provided them, had given reporters fraudulent documents. Saimaiti -- who is now the subject of an investigation by Kyrgyzstans security services -- was murdered in Istanbul shortly before the release of the stories.

Reporters did everything possible to corroborate the authenticity of the documents he provided. In many cases, they were able to corroborate sums and other details listed in the records with publicly available information, including real estate records in the United States and the United Arab Emirates. A small selection of U.S. bank records newly obtained by reporters confirms dozens of Saimaitis wire transfers, suggesting that he broadly provided authentic documents.

In the interest of full transparency, we are now releasing the original documents used in the investigations. The documents contain minor redactions of account numbers and private individuals names.

The interactive map below collects all 843 transactions provided by Saimaiti in one searchable database. The map shows how much money was received in each country from Kyrgyzstan or Turkey. In cases when the transactions were backed by individual documents, these documents are downloadable, individually or as a package. A spreadsheet in which Saimaiti recorded many other transactions is also available for download. Transactions that appeared to be duplicates have been removed and the data has been slightly reformatted to make the interactive graphic more functional.

Click here to download all the records together. Click here to download Saimaitis spreadsheet. Click here to download the source data behind the interactive table.

We are also releasing a separate collection of documents provided by Saimaiti. These invoices, fake loan agreements, sham contracts, and personal ledgers provide additional context and detail on how he carried out his massive money laundering scheme over the years.

Click here to download the invoices. Click here to download the fake loan agreements and sham contracts. Click here to download Saimaitis personal ledgers and notes.

Project Credits

Plunder And Patronage In The Heart Of Central Asia is a joint effort by Radio Azattyk, the Kyrgyz Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; OCCRP; and OCCRP's Kyrgyz member center, Kloop. Over two dozen journalists from these organizations worked for months to make the investigation possible. Due to multiple threats received by reporters and editors over this period, their names are not disclosed.
One of the last claims made by Aierken Saimaiti, a self-confessed money launderer who was murdered in Istanbul last November, was that he sent millions of pounds to London for a powerful former Kyrgyz official. What happened to the money? Heres where the evidence leads.

Before his murder in Istanbul last November, Aierken Saimaiti disclosed a trove of secrets to reporters about his prolific money laundering from Kyrgyzstan on behalf of the Abdukadyrs, a secretive Uyghur family.

Those revelations formed the basis of a multipart investigation by RFE/RL, OCCRP, and its Kyrgyz member center, Kloop, that triggered anti-corruption protests in Kyrgyzstan and rattled the Central Asian nations political landscape.

But Saimaitis murder left several mysteries lingering as well, including the true fate of 5.6 million pounds ($6.8 million) he said he had sent to the United Kingdom.

One of Saimaitis most explosive claims was that this money went toward the purchase of a luxury London apartment for a senior Kyrgyz customs official. The funds, he claimed, were compensation for the officials facilitation of an illicit cargo empire run by the Abdukadyrs that made the family millions.

Read the previous investigation for more about the Abdukadyr family and how they made millions smuggling goods from China into Central Asia.

That official, Saimaiti said, was Raimbek Matraimov, who then served as deputy chief of the Kyrgyz Customs Service and who is notorious for his familys lavish lifestyle, seemingly at odds with the salary of a career public servant.

The powerful but secretive former official has become a lightning rod for anti-corruption sentiment in the country, particularly since the earlier investigations implicated him in the operation of the Abdukadyrs illicit business.

The previous investigation also showed that Saimaiti funneled a portion of the proceeds from the Abdukadyrs business to a charitable foundation run by the Matraimov family and to Dubai, where they co-own a real estate project -- bribes, he alleged, that compensated Matraimov for his cooperation. The Matraimov family has rejected these claims.

The Matraimovs also reject Saimaitis allegation that he wired bribe money to the familys charitable foundation. They concede only that Saimaitis wife transferred $200,000 to the organization, purportedly on behalf of a businessman whom they have declined to identify.

The planned purchase of the luxury apartment in Wren House, a swanky development close to the Thames River in historic central London, would fit with what is known about the Matraimov familys lifestyle. The former civil servants son attended an expensive private school in the city and has been seen wearing a watch worth tens of thousands of dollars; his wife is known to have visited London several times.

Bakai Matraimov is known to wear watches worth tens of thousands of dollars. (Photos: Instagram)

To support his claim about the alleged bribe to the Matraimov family, Saimaiti provided several documents, including a statement of account for the apartment and wire-transfer records. The details in the documents match known information about the banks that were used to send the money, and the apartments purchase price listed in the account statement is close to what it ultimately sold for.

However, the story is murkier than it first appears.

Only two of the documents reference Matraimov, and those are handwritten. The total the documents represent in wire transfers adds up to less than half of the value of the apartment. Moreover, after months of investigation, it emerged that the apartment was in the end purchased by a person with no apparent connection to the Matraimovs or Abdukadyrs.

It is unknown whether Saimaiti had evidence of additional wire transfers in his possession that he did not, or could not, give to reporters. It is also unclear why the purchase of the apartment did not go ahead, though the person who eventually bought it said that an earlier buyer had backed out. Saimaiti was murdered in Istanbul in November, and the full story of what happened may have died with him. This still leaves open the question of what happened to the 5.6 million pounds Saimaiti claimed he sent -- one of the last and most specific allegations of bribery he ever made.

E-mails sent to the Abdukadyr family went unanswered. An adviser to Iskender Matraimov, Raimbeks brother and a member of parliament, asked for additional time to make a full response but did not follow up before publication.

London, Through Adil To Rayim

I transferred some money to England -- 5.6 million pounds, Saimaiti told reporters. We sent it for...Raim[bek] Matraimovs home. I dont know whether the property is registered under his name or the name of someone else.

Saimaiti said that he had been instructed to arrange wire transfers toward Matraimovs apartment in the name of Aibibula Nuermaimaiti, one of the sons of Khabibula Abdukadyr, the 56-year-old head of the Abdukadyr family, and that Nuermaimaiti had told him to record the transfers as Matraimovs money.

To support his claim, Saimaiti gave reporters three documents directly related to the apartment: a preliminary statement of account for its purchase and two wire-transfer receipts.

The undated statement of account shows that the apartment had a listed purchase price of 5,446,800 pounds ($6.8 million), plus some additional fees, confirming part of Saimaitis claim. It indicates that 1,634,404 pounds ($2.03 million) had already been deposited toward the apartment, though it does not say where this money came from.

The three primary documents related to the Wren House apartment that Saimaiti sent reporters. (Credit: Aierken Saimaiti)

The two wire transfers show an additional 1 million pounds ($1.24 million) being sent in January 2017 to the London law firm Svetlova LLP, which caters to Russian-speaking and other overseas clients, including those seeking to buy U.K. property, and which the statement of accounts indicates as the facilitator of the apartment purchase. The money was wired from Adil Global Dis Ticaret Limited Sirketi, a Turkish company with no public record of business activity. Saimaiti said he regularly used such Turkish firms to launder money for the Abdukadyr family and provided documentary evidence.

Whos Behind Adil Global? The legal owner of Adil Global could not be reached for comment. His brother, Ismail Kaskariy, spoke briefly with reporters. Kaskariy, a Turkish citizen, said that he personally knew Saimaiti and dined with him on one or two occasions. He claimed that the company was his, though this is not confirmed by public records. Kaskariy said the company dealt in cargo and shipped goods to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. He did not respond directly when asked if his company ever received goods from Britain, and said he did not remember the wire transfers to London. In November 2016, Turkish authorities detained seven Uzbek and Kyrgyz men at Istanbuls Ataturk Airport after they arrived on the same plane carrying $9.5 million in cash. Days later, Kaskariy claimed that $5.36 million of that money belonged to a company he owned, and that it was part of his legitimate business operations. That company, reporters found, has used the same official address as Adil Global. (Saimaiti ran a network of working-class cash couriers making similar trips from Kyrgyzstan to Istanbul, though its unclear if he worked with the detained men.)

The details of payment section of the two wire-transfer documents indicates the name of Aibibula Nuermaimaiti, linking the mysterious Turkish company to the Abdukadyr family.

One of Saimaitis personal financial records corroborates these transfers, showing that he recorded $1.2 million -- the equivalent of 1 million pounds -- being wired in January 2017. The transaction has a Uyghur-language annotation reading London Adil arkilik Riyim, or London, through Adil to Rayim. (Photo: Aierken Saimaiti)

All three documents identify the property in question: 262 Wren House.

U.K. land registry records show that this code refers to a sixth-floor apartment at a posh building on the Strand, an upscale thoroughfare in central London.

The sprawling residential complex opened its doors to wealthy residents in early 2017 with all of the accoutrements associated with elegant living: a luxury swimming pool, spa, and in-house cinema for occupants, as well as valet parking, a liveried doorman, and a 24-hour concierge -- all just a short stroll from the Thames River, the Royal Courts of Justice, and the Royal Opera House.

The development at 190 Strand, which includes Wren House. (Photo: Public domain)

Saimaiti also gave reporters wire-transfer orders indicating that his wife, Wufuli Bumailiyamu, made two additional transfers to Nuermaimaitis bank account in the United Kingdom in September 2016.

The two wire-transfer receipts -- for 876,105 pounds ($1.1 million) and 60,000 pounds ($74,545) -- were marked with the handwritten note RK, an abbreviation Saimaiti said he used for Matraimov. Next to the abbreviation on each document, the word England appears to be written in Uyghur, though there is no mention of an apartment and the specific purpose of these transfers is unclear.

Click here to see the transfer records and the Turkish bank statement of Saimaitis wife, which shows that the same amount of cash had been deposited to her account shortly before these transfers were made.

Matraimovs main connection to London appears to be his son, Bakai Matraimov.

The Abdukadyr family, however, has property in London worth tens of millions of dollars.

A brochure for the prestigious Bellerbys College in London states that one of its alumni from Kyrgyzstan, identified as B. Matraimov, finished studies there in 2017 and moved on to City Universitys Cass Business School.

A public relations firm representing Bellerbys said the details of any current or former students could not be disclosed for reasons of data protection and privacy.

According to Bakai Matraimovs LinkedIn profile, he studied at City University from 2016 to 2019. His mother, Uulkan Turgunova, travelled to London on several occasions, including his 21st birthday, and posted a number of photos from the famously luxurious Savoy hotel and other upscale establishments.

Bakai Matraimovs mother, Uulkan Turgunova, posts an Instagram photo of her visit to the Savoy hotel in London. (Photo: Instagram)

Money From Third Parties

The millions of pounds Saimaiti wired to the United Kingdom on behalf of the Abdukadyr family highlights the responsibility of legal professionals to monitor whether the funds they receive into their client accounts are from credible sources.

In cases where the sources of private funds for property purchases raise concerns, the U.K. Legal Sector Affinity Group, which is made up of British legal-sector supervisory authorities and professional bodies, advises legal professionals to ask clients to explain the sources of the funds -- and to assess whether those explanations are valid.

Aborted Transactions As Money Laundering? A group of international bar associations has also warned that the client accounts of legal professionals can be abused for money-laundering purposes. Attempts to misuse client accounts might occur in, for example, the case of aborted transactions -- criminals may avoid suspicion by appearing to conduct a purported legitimate transaction that, for one reason or another, collapses before completion, but after the transfer of illegitimate funds into a lawyers client account, the guidance issued in 2014 states. The group adds that it may be difficult to ascertain whether an aborted transaction was legitimate, and that legal professionals should look out for circumstances where the client: (i) tells you that funds are coming from one source and at the last minute changes the source of funds; or (ii) asks you to send money received into your client account back to its source, to a third party or multiple recipients, sometimes according to the direction of a third party (in order to conceal the identity of the real criminal client).

The wire transfers sent to the client account of Svetlova LLP, the firm listed as the facilitator of the purchase of the Wren House apartment, came from a Turkish company with no web presence, no apparent business, and no visible connection to Aibibula Nuermaimaiti, the man whose name appeared in the wire-transfer details.

The firm's owner, solicitor Tatjana Svetlova, did not tell reporters which specific steps, if any, she undertook in relation to the transfers. There is no evidence that Svetlova LLP failed to comply with its legal and professional responsibilities. In response to inquiries from reporters, she wrote that her firm fully complies with all legal and regulatory requirements, including in relation to anti money laundering/[know-your-client]/source of funds, and that all relevant information is made available to regulatory and law enforcement agencies upon request.

She wrote that she and her colleagues had never previously heard of Saimaiti or his killing.

Svetlova wrote that confidentiality requirements prevented her from confirming the identities of her firms clients or its work on their behalf.

It is therefore not possible for us to comment on your questions or provide detailed rebuttals, she wrote, adding that no negative inference should be drawn by the professional constraints under which we are required to operate.

Svetlova wrote that any allegation that her firm was involved in either the laundering of money obtained from criminal activity in Central Asia and/or knowingly enabled a wealthy Uyghur family to bribe a senior Kyrgyz customs official would be entirely false.

A Buyer Who Asked That The Toilets Be Changed

What happened to the money wired to the U.K. for the Wren House apartment -- whether it was refunded, transferred to someone else, or used to buy another property -- remains unclear.

What is clear is that the apartment indicated in the wire transfers was ultimately purchased by someone with no apparent links to either the Abdukadyr or Matraimov families.

The apartment was acquired on May 19, 2017, by the former wife of a wealthy Russian businessman. That was about four months after the Saimaiti wire transfers were sent to the Svetlova LLP client account.

The current owner purchased the apartment through an offshore entity for 5.3 million pounds ($6.59 million), close to the amount indicated in the document Saimaiti provided.

She said in an interview that she purchased the apartment directly from the developer, Berkeley Group. She said she was told at the time that the apartment had a previous prospective buyer who ultimately declined to go through with the purchase.

During her viewing of the apartment, they told me that it had just appeared on the market because there had already been a buyer who asked that the toilets be changed to include a bidet function, the owner told reporters.

As you understand, Berkeley would not make any changes without money. As far as I recall, the buyer declined because he found a better option, but I dont know if it was with Berkeley or some other company, she said.

She added that she had no idea who the previous prospective buyer was.

I didnt really ask around. I simply didnt have a reason to. Furthermore, even if I had asked, its unlikely they would have told me the name of the buyer and the reason he declined. These are always confidential issues, she said.

Asked whether she had ever worked with Svetlova LLP, the new owner responded: I have never even heard of that firm.

Berkeley Group CEO Rob Perrins, who owns a 2.1 million pound ($2.61 million) apartment on the fourth floor of Wren House, did not respond to e-mails seeking comment about the documents provided by Saimaiti or a potential prospective buyer who appears to have pulled out of an agreement to buy Apartment 262.

In response to the e-mailed inquiries, Berkeley Group solicitor Joanna McClelland wrote: We do not comment on buyers or prospective buyers.

Project Credits

Plunder And Patronage In The Heart Of Central Asia is a joint effort by Radio Azattyk, the Kyrgyz Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; OCCRP; and OCCRP's Kyrgyz member center, Kloop. Over two dozen journalists from these organizations worked for months to make the investigation possible. Due to multiple threats received by reporters and editors over this period, their names are not disclosed.
Three environmental activists have died in western Iran while trying to extinguish wildfires in a mountainous area close to the border.

The three -- Mokhtar Khandani, Yasin Karimi, and Balal Amini -- died on June 28 in the Hawraman region in Kermanshah Province, Iranian media reported.

[The three men] were surrounded by fire and due to heavy winds their lives could not be saved, Jalil Balayi, the director of the provincial crisis management office in Kermanshah, told the official government news agency IRNA.

Earlier, the head of the countrys Environmental Protection Unit, Jamshid Mohabatkhani, told the semiofficial Mehr news agency that it wasnt clear whether the three men had died due to fire in the region or land mines left from the 1980-88 war with Iraq.

Reports said hundreds of residents in Paveh city took to the streets on the evening of June 28 to say farewell to the three men.

Footage posted on social media showed ambulances carrying the remains of the three surrounded by residents, some of whom were chanting martyrs dont die.

Khandani was the spokesman of the Zhiway Pawa Society, a nongovernmental organization working to raise environmental awareness. Amini worked with the same group, while Karimi was also involved in protecting the environment as a volunteer.

Iran has been hit by wildfires in recent weeks in the Zagros mountain range that runs along the western side of the country. The provinces of Ilam, Kurdistan, Khuzestan, and Bushehr have been affected as well. Volunteers have been reportedly involved in attempts to extinguish the fires amid criticism that authorities were not doing enough to contain the wildfires.

Last month, Iranian media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) had dispatched helicopters to Zagros to contain forest fires.

Army helicopters were reportedly also assigned to extinguish fires in a protected area in Kohgiluyeh in the southwest.

Officials have suggested that some of the recent fires across Iran have been caused by arson.
Property taxes have skyrocketed over the last six years, Gounardes argued. The burden of a rapidly-growing city budget is disproportionately felt by homeowners in non-gentrified outer-borough neighborhoods across the city, yet the city keeps saying that they are not raising property taxes, which flies in the face of the lived experiences of homeowners who see their property tax bills grow significantly year after year after year.
Food trucks rolled into Richmond across from Town Hall on Thursday for the first food truck night. The event had fewer trucks because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was originally published on Richland Source in 2014.

MANSFIELD -- For people who love to read hard-boiled murder mysteries, or go to the movies and watch dark plots of crime and suspense, the decade following World War II was a golden era of cliffhangers.

Just in time to embody that national fascination with its own courtroom mystery drama, the people of Mansfield had a homegrown tale of suspense  replete with 87 witnesses, a slippery trail of circumstantial evidence, and a bona fide love triangle.

The infamous Sternbaum case was  at that time  the longest murder trial in Ohio history. It took place during the weeks of February in 1954 when every day the headlines came dark and large with the latest courtroom developments and, like turning the pages of a detective pulp magazine, the city puzzled over the mysterious murder trial of Max Sternbaum.

1950s Drama

It was a sensational tiral that could only have happened in the 1950s  today the rules of engagement in court proceedings are so different there could never be the 'Perry Mason Moment' when a surprise witness walks through the courtroom door and everyone turns and gasps.

Thats exactly what happened in 1954 when the mystery woman was unveiled during the last week of the trial.

And with the advanced forensics of today, we take it for granted that everybodys molecules will leave a trail of who did what. But in 1954, Max had blood on his clothes and no one could even say whose it was.

The crowds in attendance at the production continually grew throughout the month, and because there were only 67 seats in the courtroom, competition for them was fierce among the women of Mansfield. On Feb. 17, they literally tore one of the doors off its hinges in the hallway.

The defendant became something like a literary character in print, and iconic in Mansfield, as the headlines daily referred to him simply as 'MAX.' Even months after the trial when the front page said MAX, everybody knew exactly who it was talking about.

The Plot

The crime was easy enough to picture in the gritty black and white of those '50s detective movies  a dark alley after midnight, neighbors waking to a cry in the street and footsteps running on the pavement. And then flames and smoke, a knot of uniforms acting alarmed  and soon the quiet little homey neighborhood isnt Vale Avenue anymore, it is 'the scene of the crime.'

It will be at least a generation before anyone can see it any other way.

It was the night spanning Dec. 4 and 5, 1952, when the fire alarm went off  but there was a train blocking the B&O tracks that kept the Fire Department from getting there, so witnesses watched helplessly while evidence burned. And Max Sternbaum, lying in the street nursing his bloody head, kept pleading for someone to go into the wall of smoke to rescue his wife.

Mrs. Sternbaum wasnt recovered from the building until later, and there was plenty to show that she hadnt died from the fire, but from a wrench.

Maxs story was that he was working late, sitting at his desk when a voice said "dont turn around." The robber got Maxs wallet, his watch, and whacked him on the head with a wrench. When Max came to there was smoke everywhere and the neighbors had to drag him out of the house.

After the fire was out there wasnt much for the cops to go on, so the community suffered an uneasy hiatus while the file sat on an 'Unsolved' pile for most of a year.

Sternbaums

The name was certainly familiar around town. There were four 'Sternbaums Footmarts' in Mansfield, and the office that burned in the crime was located behind the store on Springmill Street. That house, on Vale Avenue, had once been the home of Carl Sternbaum, an immigrant from Poland, who originated the grocery business with a small family store on the first floor of his house.

It was his sons who expanded the small grocery business into supermarkets after World War II. It was in memory of his lost son that Carl donated the land down the street where they built the Friendly House. He was a well-loved man in the neighborhood, which only magnified the horror of what was to follow.

What Followed

It was the State Fire Marshall who kept doggedly following clues and casting a wider and wider net until he came up with a secret girlfriend in Columbus. She came to be known in the papers as the mystery woman.

The Mystery Woman thought Max was going to marry her, but when that didnt work out she agreed to spill the beans and testify that they had been talking divorce just a few days before the murder.

Max was arrested a year and a day after the fire, and went to trial two months later.

The Show

If you didnt happen to attend the show, there was plenty of great '50s hyperbole describing it every day in the news  like when the Richland County Prosecutor dropped a bombshell in court. On Feb. 19, the news report was written like a True Detective article: A steel-edged tenseness hung over the courtroom yesterday as the States case began building up to its climax.

The Mansfield News-Journal carried pages and pages of actual testimony so the whole county could follow the witnesses like reading a pulp crime magazine or a Hollywood script.

In the end it was all the loose ends that created so much suspicion  Why wasnt there a light on when he said he was working? How did Max know his wife was in the building? How did the stolen money end up in his wifes purse?

Those were the questions that convicted him in the towns eyes  those and the excruciatingly documented gifts, dinners, and motel rooms that Max paid for that didnt go to his wife.

To the city it sure looked like Max did it. But none of that is hard evidence, and on March 5 the jury acquitted Max Sternbaum.

The Last Chapter

On May 4, just shy of two months later, Max married the mystery womans best friend. It was a bold move and it was announced on the front page in bold headlines.

That summer the attention of the entire nation was riveted to a similar murder case in Cleveland when Dr. Sam Sheppard was on trial for the murder of his wife. Afterward it was commonly assumed in Ohio Bar circles that Sheppard was convicted because Sternbaum was not.

A good murder mystery always has a sigh of relief at the end through its resolution, and perhaps that is why this particular story persists in the common memory and imagination of Mansfield  because in the end no one could really say who did it, least of all the law.

Generations have passed since the trial. If time hasnt provided justice for the crime, it has clearly demonstrated how it is that the horror and distress of one family can be magnified through public sensation to involve the entire community in a shared trauma so great it becomes no longer pathology, but rather history.
The changes come on top of $8 billion de Blasio had already slashed from his proposed budget  which now stands around $86 billion  and in the wake of huge tax revenue shortfalls due to the coronavirus outbreak. City Halls executive office and the City Council remained embroiled in budget negotiations Monday, one day before the legally-mandated deadline to hammer out an agreement.
COLUMBUS -- Officials and superintendents said local control is a good thing for Ohio school districts, but consistency and guidance from the state is necessary in a global pandemic.

Opponents and interested parties testified in a recent meeting of the Senate Education Committee regarding Senate Bill 320, which seeks to give full authority for school reopenings to the districts for the 2020-2021 school year.

The bills language excludes other public officials from determining a schools readiness to reopen. That includes the Ohio Department of Health and the governor.

Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to announce guidelines for districts this week, though superintedents in Richland County have said they expected a combination of in-person and online education.

Dr. Eugene T.W. Sanders, CEO and Superintendent of Sandusky City Schools, said his district is preparing multiple plans for the fall school year, including traditional opening and fully online options.

He said administrators had very specific details when they were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that guidance is still needed for them to move forward.

While we love the ability to make our own local decisions  we think thats important and part of the democratic process  we do need the standard parameters that weve historically received so that theres consistency across the board, not just in our region but across the state of Ohio, Sanders said.

Members of the committee asked Ohio Education Association president Scott DiMauro about questioning the judgment of school boards and superintendents after he argued that local control in how schools operate doesnt discount the need for health guidance.

Why would you not trust your local school boards and superintendents who know their school districts the best, taking information from state and local health departments to be able to determine whether or not their local school districts should be open? asked Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Powell.

DiMauro said it wasnt a question of trust, rather a question of who is best positioned to make critical decisions in the midst of a global pandemic.

To completely leave this in the hands of local school districts, given the fact that weve got over 600 of them across the state, many of them in very close proximity to each other, to us just doesnt seem to make much sense, DiMauro said.

The committee did not vote on the measure, but Chair Sen. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, said they may hold another committee meeting next week before breaking for the summer.

(The above article was first published in the Ohio Capital Journal and is republished here with permission.)
The nations largest bank set an opening date for its first Richmond-area branch.

Chase Bank, a unit of JPMorgan Chase & Co., will open the branch at 8727 Staples Mill Road in Henrico County on July 21, a bank spokeswoman said Monday.

The company will not hold a typical ribbon-cutting ceremony at the branch, located at the southeast corner of Parham and Staples Mill roads, until later this year because of the coronavirus, she said.

A month or so after that office opens, Chase plans to open a second branch at 11720 W. Broad St. in front of Short Pump Town Center. The bank is converting the former Matchbox brick oven pizza restaurant into a branch.

Plans also call for a new branch to be built at 5205 W. Broad St., just west of Willow Lawn Drive in Henrico on the site of the former Extra Billys Barbecue restaurant.

Meanwhile, Chase has plans for its first downtown location  in the former Peking Restaurant space at the northeast corner of East Cary Street and South 13th Street in Shockoe Slip, according to the banks application on June 6 with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which regulates and supervises all national banks.
Clement Denicourt opened the bakery in 1983 with aid from the owners of Bread Oven, a restaurant and bakery on Dupont Circle in Washington. Denicourt took full ownership of Jean-Jacques in 1987.

In 2006, Denicourt sold Jean-Jacques to Jozef Bindas.

It will be the same quality and the same atmosphere, Denicourt said in a 2006 Richmond Times-Dispatch article. The legacy will continue.

Bindas said in the same article that no changes were planned. My thing is being in the back and producing things to make sure everything stays the same.

Bindas, who started training as a pastry chef in his native Belgium in the mid-1960s, said at the time that he had always wanted to own his own bakery.

At the young age of 13, after an apprenticeship under a French master baker, he fell in love with the art of pastry and bread making. Jozef traveled the world learning from the best, the GoFundMe page said. He truly loved making beautiful and delicious treats for his local Richmond community to enjoy.

After finishing culinary school, Jozef Bindas worked as a master chef in Belgium and Germany. He began working at Jean-Jacques the same year he moved to the U.S.

The couple married in 2011.
It looks as if Richmond wont get a food hall after all  at least not in The Belleville, which was touted as the citys first and slated to open in Scotts Addition this year.

Alexandria-based Neighborhood Restaurant Group announced in October its plan to open a 25,000-square-foot food hall (a kind of fancy food court) at 1509 Belleville St. Called The Belleville, the project was set to feature roughly 18 food vendors, three bars and a brand-new taproom for The Veil Brewing Co.

But alas, due to the impact of COVID-19 on most business sectors, the restaurant group has canceled the project.

Given the unforeseen circumstances, as well as the unknowns that the restaurant industry is facing for at least the next year, we mutually agreed with our partners to let this project go. We are disappointed; we were really excited about this project, and have met such incredible, talented people, said Molly Hippolitus, a spokeswoman for the Northern Virginia restaurant group.

Part of the project included The Veil Brewing Co. moving its Scotts Addition taproom from 1301 Roseneath Road to The Belleville to allow the popular brewery more space to brew at its existing location. That portion of the project is also canceled.
The leader of the Milla Bloods street gang teared up Friday as he apologized to the court and family members of Christopher Lamont Motley, who was shot to death in 2016 during an ambush meant for a rival gang leader.

First and foremost, Im truly sorry for my actions. I cant take back what I did, and if I could, I would, Deshawn Anthony said. I hope today that you can see the change in me.

Anthony made the comments in U.S. District Court, where he was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy and use of a firearm in a violent crime in aid of racketeering for his role in Motleys shooting death.

Anthony is the first to be sentenced to prison from among several members of the gang who accepted plea deals for taking part in a multiyear gang war in Danville that included Motleys death.

During the hearing, to which the Register & Bee listened by phone, Chief Judge Michael F. Urbanski described the killing of Motley as a planned execution.

It was the organized and planned murder of a rival gang leader, which unfortunately resulted in the death of an innocent man, Urbanski said.
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In addition to pulling in nearly $50,000 in taxpayer money as a legislator and voting for a raise for himself this year, Brescia also makes just over $17,000 a year as mayor of Montgomery, a small village about 12 miles west of Newburgh. Brescia has held that post since 1990.
Erik Johnston, the head of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, said in an interview Monday that initial applications are one-time money, but people can apply again if they continue to face financial issues related to the pandemic and theres money left.

The two main scenarios for applicants, Johnston said, are people struggling to pay their July rent or mortgage, and people who have back rent or mortgage payments theyve been unable to pay.

People receiving the money will also be connected with housing counseling, according to Northams office.

Safe, stable housing is essential for public health, said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. As we continue to secure funding for rent and mortgage assistance, this $50 million investment will serve the most vulnerable Virginians while providing a road map for future relief.

Housing advocates urged the governor to seek an extension to the eviction freeze, which he had successfully done earlier this month.

The heads of the Virginia Poverty Law Center, Legal Aid Justice Center and New Virginia Majority said the program rolled out Monday is not ready and is not enough.
After securing the Republican nomination to run against Sen. Mark Warner in November, Army veteran Daniel Gade is challenging the two-term incumbent to five debates.

Gade announced Monday that he wants to debate Warner five times, which is two more than the Democrat proposed last week. The debates, according to Gades campaign, would be spread across the state, including Southwest Virginia, Tidewater, Richmond, the Southside and Northern Virginia.

Virginians deserve to hear the difference between Mark Warners do-nothing career and a fighter who can actually get things done in the Senate for Virginians, Gade said in a statement. I am thrilled to challenge Warner to these 5 debates that will cover real issues such as affordable health care, quality education, well-paying jobs, individual liberty and much more. As a warfighter and a professor, I look forward to debating Warner on the battlefield of ideas.

A spokeswoman for Warners campaign declined comment.

Gade topped two other Republicans in last weeks GOP primary, receiving 67% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections. The American University professor won every city and county in the state.
Northam and other state leaders argue that wearing masks helps slow the spread of the virus, which has killed more than 1,700 people in the state.

Wearing a mask is such an easy, effective way to help control the spread of COVID and to show your fellow Virginians that you care about the health and well-being of your friends, neighbors, and community, Attorney General Mark Herring said in a statement. As cases continue to spike around the country, we know that our progress in controlling COVID in Virginia is real, but requires a sustained commitment to things like covering our faces and maintaining social distancing whenever possible.

Herring added: Im proud we were able to defend this commonsense measure to help stop COVID, and Im really proud of all the great work my team has done to keep Virginians safe during this uncertain time.

Despite the virus toll on the state, Virginia is set to enter its third reopening phase Wednesday. Restaurants can operate at full capacity, with social distancing in place, and social gatherings can have up to 250 people, among other guidelines.
In interviews with state officials, according to the report, the federal agency found that Virginia does not have procedures in place, outside of formal disputes, to find out if a local school district did not comply with IDEA, even when the state was given credible information about potential noncompliance.

The federal law guarantees a free appropriate public education to students with disabilities.

Completely ignoring credible allegations of noncompliance is not a reasonable method of exercising the States general supervisory responsibilities, the report says.

The federal report, which The Virginia Mercury first reported, offers two examples of the states lack of oversight.

In one situation, a complaint was filed to the state alleging systemic noncompliance by a local school system. The school district was not conducting timely evaluations, was not giving special education students sufficient access to the general education curriculum, and falsified documentation related to students individualized education programs (IEP), according to the report.
As a geriatrician and attending physician in nursing homes, I have seen firsthand the havoc that COVID-19 can wreak. Out of a moral and ethical obligation, I became widely engaged in developing clinical guidelines.

Our initial focus was on proven infection prevention strategies, testing and access to personal protective equipment (PPE). As the pandemic progressed, and data showed nearly 40% to 50% of COVID-19 deaths had occurred in nursing homes, well-intended guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) promoted extreme social isolation measures to protect this vulnerable population.

Subsequent federal guidelines on reopening nursing homes have placed a greater focus on universal testing while minimizing mental, psychosocial and extended effects of prolonged social isolation. I strongly believe that an emphasis on person-centered care is important and a basic patient right. As we seek to reopen all of America, this calls for a shift to reimagine the role of testing.

Who?
If, as you read this story, you found yourself cheering for the Armenians and admiring their will to survive  their bravery, their dedication  then I ask you to take a close look at how you view those living among us now with their own family histories of trauma and loss. They are no less awful than that experienced by my ancestors.

The events of these past weeks have been unveiled for us all to see ever more clearly a corruption that plagues the lives of Black Americans  a people who witness time and again that despite laws that proclaim equality, their lives and their sons and daughters lives can be extinguished in a moment in circumstances that leave white lives intact and whole.

While I personally have not suffered much at all from prejudice or systemic barriers, I am able to draw on the experience of my ancestors to glimpse the anguish, the despair and even the rage felt by those whose lives are constricted by the certainty of uncertainty and by the palpable fear of unfairness. My awareness of my familys past allows me to see the present with clarity, gives me the ability to respond with empathy and drives me to find a way to act.
Alexander Hamilton is coming to our living rooms. Starting July 3, those of us with a Disney+ subscription will be able to stream a cinematic production of the Broadway smash-sensation Hamilton.

Since its original debut at The Public Theater in New York City five years ago, Hamilton has been so popular that many have not seen it but know the songs. This past fall, the show debuted in Richmond to sold-out crowds.

At the time, I wrote life lessons from Hamilton. Now, Im struck by how the contagious popularity of the Broadway hit has the power to connect us and create a ray of hope in what has been an otherwise dark spring and early summer 2020.

Lin-Manuel Mirandas musical Hamilton always has been about possibility and that is one of the things that makes it such a draw for so many. In successfully adapting a lesser-celebrated American founder, Miranda also reminds us that voices and ideas linger, even if they do not immediately take hold. This notion gives me hope for the unheard, the silenced and those deemed powerless at a given time.
Yes, we know theyre hot. They dont always fit. And they can fog up your glasses. But scientific experts continue to emphasize that face masks help contain the spread of COVID-19.

Virginians age 10 and older are required to wear a face mask while inside a public building or business. That includes grocery stores, salons and government buildings like libraries. It also applies to public transportation. There are exceptions  if youre eating, drinking, exercising or if you have a health condition.

Masks dont have to be medical grade. You can wear a bandana or a piece of cloth. But the important thing is to wear one. We still are amazed to see people not wearing them in public.

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has explained, the highly contagious virus is thought to spread person-to-person mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Thats why social distancing is so important.

If youre talking, when things are coming out of your mouth, theyre coming out fast, Linsey Marr, a researcher at Virginia Tech who studies the airborne transmission of viruses, recently told National Public Radio (NPR). Theyre going to slam into the cloth mask. I think even a low-quality mask can block a lot of those droplets.
Dissent, consequences helped shape America

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Those who follow the news know that, not too long ago, protesters and rioters marched through nighttime streets to destroy a symbol they associated with suppression and tyranny. They hid their faces behind masks  some even wore disguises  suggesting their goal was vandalism rather than a redress of grievances. And when property was destroyed, they proclaimed the result as regrettable but justifiable. It was, however, an attempt to spark popular dissent against lawful governance.

The government responded with a law-and-order approach. It put soldiers in the streets to disperse crowds, impose curfews and make arrests. All of this was done to curb dissent and maintain the support of the populace.

The majority of the people, however, backed the dissenters and judged that the moment cried out for action. Some deemed that action was too destructive; most believed that when laws and policies violate basic human rights, we must grant protesters our understanding, even if we cannot grant them our full approval.
Trump and top aides have denied being briefed about the intelligence report. But they have not explained who was told or why he was not informed if that is the case.
Richmond, KY (40475)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 85F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Low 56F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Mexicos Interjet announces reactivation of national, international flights into Cancun

Cancun, Q.R.  Mexicos Interjet says that as of July, they will begin adding additional flights to Mexican destinations including the city of Cancun. Currently the only flight by them into Cancun arrives from Mexico City.

The airline announced that they will open flights into Mexican cities as well as reestablish international routes with Dallas, San Antonio and Houston, while flights from Los Angeles and Chicago to Cancun will follow in August.

The company has gone through serious economic difficulties due to COVID-19, losing 89 percent of its operations in May and reactivating one Mexico City-Cancun flight on the 16th of June. Domestically, the company began flying from Mexico City to Chetumal, Acapulco, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mazatlan, Veracruz, Villahermosa and Zihuatanejo, using Sukhoi (Russian) brand jets as of the 16th.

In a statement, the company indicated that it went through a capitalization process with which it will be able to incorporate Airbus brand aircraft to reestablish operations from Mexico City to Hermosillo, Culiacan, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Torreon, Oaxaca and Cancun.

Regarding international destinations, during the same month we will reestablish air connection with the following destinations: Dallas, San Antonio, Houston. Additionally, during the month of August, we will expand our air offers to Los Angeles and Chicago, they added.
Radford police are seeking help finding a West Virginia man who allegedly attacked his estranged wife in the city around midnight Saturday.

Dennis Ray Blankenship Jr., 36, of Bluefield, is being sought after an incident in which he is accused of pushing his estranged wife into a wall, putting his hand on her throat and blocking her exit from a residence because she did not go along with his sexual advances, according to a news release issued Monday by city police.

He is wanted on charges of domestic assault and battery, strangulation and abduction.

The incident occurred late Saturday in the 300 block of Fairfax Street, the news release said. Police were called at 12:07 a.m. Sunday after the woman, who was not named in the news release, got to a neighbors home and called for help, the news release said. Blankenship left before officers arrived.

Police ask that anyone with information about Blankenships location to call 540-731-5040 or email crimestoppers@radford.gov.

Blankenship was described as 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds. Police said he had connections in the New River Valley and in West Virginia.

The news release said that police consider Blankenship to be dangerous. An emergency protective order has been issued, the news release said.

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FINCASTLE  The Botetourt County School Board on Monday appointed Jonathan Russ as superintendent, and he will begin work Wednesday. Russ, a Southwest Virginia native, comes from Fredericksburg City Public Schools.

Were going to work hard, but were going to have fun, Russ said as he introduced himself to an audience of about 30 people who gathered for the announcement.

Russ, who has 29 years of experience in education, was most recently deputy superintendent. He also has been a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of assessment and accountability, director of human resources and chief administration officer.

Our school board is confident that Dr. Russ is a great fit for Botetourt County and will provide the leadership to achieve the high expectations we have for our division, said school board Chair Michelle Crook.

Russ said he plans to visit classrooms often to get to know the students of Botetourt County.

Ive learned over the 29 years Ive done this, education today takes all of us, he said. It is not a superintendent whos going to come in and make decisions and thats what its going to be. This is a community effort.
Kimberly King, who served as a community integration manager at CVTC, said in a phone interview the final days of employees providing care for residents there brought happiness since the majority of them were transitioning to new community homes.

That has truly been a joy to watch over the years, King said.

There also was a feeling among employees of wow, I really cant believe it was the end as the center cared for its last remaining residents, she said. Some direct support staff transitioned to work in the very homes the residents they knew moved into, King said.

They had the opportunity to continue providing care for people theyve grown to love almost like family, King said.

As the site wraps up its final chapter as a state-run care facility, area officials hope the last hasnt been written in the campuss overall history.

The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance and Central Virginia Planning District Commission are pushing forward a redevelopment plan aimed at landing a new user, buyer or some presence on site that creates jobs and economic activity for the region.

At full operation, CVTC had an $87 million economic impact on the region, according to a 2014 study.
Its all political, Greenway said at one point. I dont care which side youre on. No matter what side youre on. I just think its all partly political.

That comment drew some criticism from Jason Moretz, who later said, Science is not political.

Oh yes it is, Greenway replied.

Moretz, who represents Windsor Hills, said it was still unclear how children are affected by COVID-19.

So I mean, yeah, maybe its easier to have teachers and students return to school as normal. We dont have parents upset with us, we dont have to worry about child care, he said. However, the easiest choice isnt always the best choice.

Moretz voiced general support for sending all elementary students back in-person if there was a safe option.

During his presentation, Nicely explained the rationale behind why pre-K through second grade is slated for daily in-person instruction: Its critical that the youngest students are in-person for reading development, and it will help families with child care, he said.
South Africa: Ministers, Deputies to monitor COVID-19 in districts

In an effort to tighten governments grip on the impending surge of COVID-19 cases, President Cyril Ramaphosa is deploying Ministers and Deputy Ministers to every district of the country to support the work of provincial health authorities.

President Ramaphosa revealed this on Monday in his weekly newsletter to the nation.

This, he said, will be in addition to getting a line of sight on specific challenges in the districts.

In his letter, the President also paid tribute to frontline healthcare workers, who have succumbed to the virus.

We need to work together to safeguard the health of not just our frontline workers but the entire workforce, he said.

President Ramaphosa commended what he described as sterling work done by unions in educating members around infection control, prevention and hygiene.

They are also supporting the work of the Department of Employment and Labour in conducting workplace inspections to ensure health and safety protocols are in place for returning workers. Many of our trade unions are also providing Coronavirus information to their members and employers are running awareness campaigns, he said.

One of the challenges that has emerged in the country, he said, is the stigmatisation of people who have tested positive for Coronavirus.

As a society, we have a collective responsibility to stamp out the stigmatisation of people infected with Coronavirus. There have been disturbing reports of individuals being ostracised from their communities and of communities protesting against Coronavirus patients being admitted to local hospitals and clinics, he said.

This must stop, he said.

With over 2 000 COVID-19 related deaths confirmed since March, the President said it was important to support and comfort to those in hospital isolated from their families.

In honouring health workers, the President said: That the men and women carrying out this most noble and sacred of duties are themselves falling ill and dying is a devastating blow.

They are on the frontline of fighting this pandemic. They are working under great pressure and must carry the psychological strain of knowing they are at risk of contracting the virus. They are the true heroes and heroines of our battle against Coronavirus.

We salute these brave South Africans, who leave their homes, families and loved ones to report without fail for duty every day in clinics, hospitals and other health facilities. There they provide medical care, administrative support and other services like cleaning and catering.

Government, he said, will continue to support healthcare workers by providing them with personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essentials.



He said it was critical for society to work together to promote acceptance and stand firm against victimisation.

We must show understanding, tolerance, kindness, empathy and compassion for those who are infected with this virus and for their families."

President Ramaphosa said the best way to overcome societys instinctive fear of illness and contagion is to observe the hygiene protocols that are in place.

We know what causes the virus and what we can do to protect ourselves from becoming infected. We know we have to maintain social distancing, to self-isolate if we have come into contact with those infected and to present to a hospital if we have symptoms. We must continue to be guided by facts and not rumours.

In the days, weeks and months that lie ahead, he said, the country will at times deal with fear and despondency as the numbers of people infected and dying continue to rise.

It may be that things have gotten worse, but we are certain that they will get better. Our scientists and medical advisers told us that the rate of infections will go up as we move towards our peak. But it will certainly come down, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-06-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A dragon boat race was held to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in Taohuatan town, Jingxian county, Xuancheng of east Chinas Anhui province on June 25, the first day of the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday.

Dragon boat racing is a traditional folk custom in Taohuatan town, with nearly a thousand years of history in the locality.

Surrounded by clouds and mist, the Taohuatan scenic area, the venue for the event, looked like a fairyland during the race. Local villagers rowed while singing special work songs on intricately decorated dragon boats to mark the important traditional festival.
It was unfortunate for my lack of practice with this technology thing, he told G1. I was wearing a pink T-shirt and, to play with, a friend sent me these panties. It was one of those sexy shop items, which is edible. Thats why I smelled it. This was just a joke that, due to my naivete, became public.
Since we initially filed suit, nine more people have died in Virginias prisons from coronavirus. We had an understanding that the Northam administration and VDOC were acting in good faith when they claimed to care about releasing people who are incarcerated to stop needless deaths. We have yet to see them show it, said Harding in a written statement. Our attempts to get confirmation that theyre living up to our agreement have been met with no sense of urgency. People who could have been released weeks ago are still sitting in their cell waiting for help as COVID-19 continues to spread.

Thursday, the VDOC released a statement, detailing some of its safety efforts and taking issue with the ACLUs accusations of noncompliance and that If the Virginia ACLU wants the states prisons emptied, they must take that up with the legislature.

Its unfortunate to see the Virginia branch of the ACLU struggle to remain relevant by attacking what by any objective measure has been amazing work, the release reads. As the Virginia ACLU knows, the DOC is under no legal obligation to release any certain number of people pursuant to the budget amendment passed by the General Assembly on April 22. 
The ACLU is seeking a declaration from the court that police have been acting unlawfully and ask the court to prohibit police from engaging in activities that violate protesters constitutional rights.

When these young people tried to educate their community about racism in Richmond and how to dismantle it, police stormed in and turned their positive space into a war zone, said Eden Heilman, legal director for the ACLU of Virginia. City leaders have a responsibility to protect our constitutional rights, instead they have encouraged the escalation of violence by police against protesters.

Taylor Maloney, a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University who is named in the affidavit, said the suit takes a stand against the unchecked violent and outright malicious behavior exhibited by the Richmond police.

I want space for us to mourn and be angry at the system we didnt ask to live in, Maloney said.

In addition to the complaint, the ACLU filed a request for the city, RPD and VSP to halt these alleged violations.

New Virginia Majority released a statement of solidarity with Virginia Student Power Network Friday afternoon, noting an escalation of police violence against protesters.

A boiling point has been reached, and people from all walks of life are starting to demand an immediate stop to police violence and real policy solutions from our leaders, stated Tram Nguyen, NVM co-executive director. As a lifelong Richmonder, Im heartened to see that young Black people are leading the way, and using their voices to protest violence and senseless killings. We should follow their lead.
Laws passed in the recent session will allow for the expansion of power purchase agreements  a financing mechanism used for solar projects  for customers of Appalachian Power and Old Dominion Power, Barnes said.

Net metering caps were also lifted for these utilities from 1% to 6%, which gives clean energy developers a lot more long-term certainty for coming in and establishing businesses here, she said.

The Virginia Clean Economy Act requires Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to be 100% carbon-free by 2045 and 2050, respectively.

As part of the transition to renewable energy, Dominion has to secure 16,100 megawatts of energy from solar and wind sources by the end of 2035. According to the law, at least 200 megawatts have to be on previously developed project sites, which could include former mine lands.

While the VCEA doesnt guarantee that renewable energy projects will be built in Southwest Virginia, it does open up the market to the region, Barnes said.

The VCEA generated controversy in Southwest Virginia during the General Assembly session, when an early version of the law would have closed Dominions Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in Wise County by 2030. The final version allows the coal and biomass plant to stay open through 2045.
Weve previously looked at what other countries have done with monuments of historical figures who had fallen into disfavor. Some of the formerly communist countries in eastern Europe  Hungary, Lithuania and, weve since learned, Estonia  have taken the statues that came down along with the Iron Curtain and used them to populate outdoor museums that tell the story of what happened between 1945 and 1989. Nothing quite tells the story of communist repression in Hungary like the Hungarian-Soviet Friendship Memorial, which just so happened to get erected in 1956  the year that Soviet tanks crushed an attempted uprising in Budapest.

Virginia should do the same thing with the Confederate monuments that are now in the process of coming down, lawfully or otherwise. In our case, the period we need to explain is the century from 1869 to 1969, which we dont necessarily recognize as a time of authoritarian repression but which was for many of Virginias citizens.

That century is bookended by two historic events. In 1869, Virginia drafted its post-Civil War constitution, which was a progressive document for its day. It created a free public school system, it extended the vote to Black Virginians, it expanded democracy by requiring local board of supervisors be elected when previously theyd been appointed by judges. Heres a key point that we dont remember well: Virginia did not move directly from Reconstruction to repression. There was a period after Reconstruction when Virginia was headed down a different path. Under the Readjusters (a local variant of Republicans), the state abolished the poll tax and the whipping post. It opened Virginia State University to train Black teachers. It appointed Black workers to state office and even elected some. As late as 1891 decades after Reconstruction  Virginia had an African-American congressman. But then came the conservative backlash. Conservative Democrats won control of state government and proceeded to impose what we know today as Jim Crow laws. They also set about erecting Confederate monuments, a visible reminder of who was really in charge now. From that came the notorious 1902 state constitution that disenfranchised more than half the states voters, a one-party oligarchy and, eventually, Massive Resistance to the Supreme Courts order to integrate. Not until 1969, when Republican Linwood Holton was elected governor and declared the era of defiance is behind us, can we say that era really ended.
As our nations policymakers including Congressman Morgan Griffith continue their work to support our countys most vulnerable during this pandemic, I am thankful for groups like the Alzheimers Association for their continued support.

I volunteer on behalf of the Alzheimers Association as an Ambassador to Congressman Griffiths office. Ive seen the tremendous strain the COVID-19 pandemic is causing on nations caregivers.

More than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for loved ones with Alzheimers or other dementias, including 150,000 here in Virginia. During this time of national uncertainty and social distancing, there is added stress on caregivers.

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the health of millions in this country and around the world, but also presents additional challenges for more than five million Americans living with Alzheimers and their caregivers. Caring for a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic can add stress for dementia caregivers. While, dementia likely does not increase risk for COVID-19, dementia-related behavioral changes, advanced age and common health conditions that often accompany dementia may increase risk. This can cause added stress for caregivers.
Pilot Bill Knorr closes the door of his Cirrus SR 22 Turbo securing passenger Orion Davis-Lower in the front seat as they prepare to fly from Casper to Denver on Wednesday, June 24. Davis-Lower, 15, and his mother Crystal Lower are from Big Fork, Montana and are taking part of Angel Flight program so Orion can receive a heart surgery in Denver.
Fillon, 66, was sentenced to five years in prison and fined more than $423,000. He was also banned from seeking public office for 10 years. However, three of his sentence years were suspended and he remained free awaiting appeal.
Rocky Mount, NC (27804)

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New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday attacked the BJP government at the Centre for raising fuel prices 22 times since the lockdown, accusing it of extorting people, and sought an immediate rollback of the hikes.

She charged the government with profiteering at the expense of the people, saying its duty was to help them in times of crisis and not make profits out of their hard-earned money.

Sonia Gandhi and Narendra ModiParticipating in the Congress Speak Up Against Fuel Hike campaign across the country, she said on the one hand, the Covid-19 pandemic was wreaking havoc and on the other, the rise in petrol and diesel prices was making life very difficult for the people.

The Congress launched the countrywide campaign on Monday to press the central government to roll back fuel prices as they were hurting the common people.

Party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined the campaign on social media, and urged people to join them in pressing the government to reduce fuel prices.

Sonia Gandhi"I, along with all Congressmen and others together, demand from the Modi government to immediately roll back the increase in prices of petrol and diesel raised during this crisis due to the corona pandemic," Sonia Gandhi said in a video message.

"I also urge them to roll back the rise in excise duty on petrol and diesel since March this year and give this benefit to the countrymen. This will be a big relief in this period of economic crisis," she said.

"The government has set a new example of extortion from people through this unjustified increase in petrol and diesel prices. This is not only unjust but also insensitive," Gandhi said.

Petrol and Diesel prices hiked"The Modi government has made provision for collecting lakhs of crores by raising excise duty on petrol and diesel in the last three months. All this is happening at a time when the international crude oil prices are continuously falling," she said.

The Congress president said that since 2014, instead of giving relief of the falling international crude oil prices to the people, the Modi government has raised the excise duty 12 times, which helped it collect additional revenue of nearly Rs 18 lakh crore.
New Delhi: Delhi Congress leaders on Monday staged a protest across the city against hike in fuel prices, raising slogans against the BJP-led central government and the AAP dispensation in the national capital.

Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar and party workers, however, were detained later by police at a petrol pump near Parmanand hospital.

Photo

Kumar said police detained him and party workers as they tried to go to Raj Niwas, which is Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal's official residence, to lodge their protest against the rising prices of petrol and diesel.

Police said they were detained around 10 am and would be released soon.

Protesting against the fuel price hike, the Delhi Congress chief, said, "People are already suffering from coronavirus and consequences of lockdown. At such a time, the rise in prices of petrol and diesel by the Modi government and Kejriwal government in Delhi is adding to their woes."

Petrol price was hiked by 18 paise a litre

Diesel price on Monday scaled a new high after prices were hiked for the 22nd time in just over three weeks, taking the cumulative increase to Rs 11.14 per litre.

Petrol price was increased by 5 paise per litre and diesel 13 paise a litre across the country, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies.

In Delhi, a litre of petrol now comes for Rs 80.43 per litre as compared to Rs 80.38 earlier. Diesel rates have been increased to Rs 80.53 per litre from Rs Rs 80.40.
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday urged people to join the "Speak Up Against Fuel Hike" campaign.

He made the appeal through a video posted on the micro-blogging site Twitter.

Rahul Gandhi tweet"The Central government has left people on their own during coronavirus pandemic and China situation. The Centre is looting people by increasing fuel prices for consecutive 21 days. Let us raise our voices to compel the government to withdraw increased prices. Post videos of people perturbed with fuel prices hike on your social media handles," says the voiceover in the video.

The price of petrol on Monday increased to Rs 80.43 (a hike of 5 paise) and that of diesel increased to Rs 80.53 (a hike of 13 paise) in Delhi, a day after there was no change in the rates in the national capital.

Petrol, diesel prices hikedOil marketing companies have been adjusting retail rates in line with costs after an 82-day break from rate revision amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. These firms on June 7 restarted revising prices in line with costs.
Jaipur: A fine of over Rs 6 lakh was slapped on a family in Rajasthan's Bhilwara district for inviting more than 50 guests in a marriage function amid the restrictions in place to combat the coronavirus threat, officials said.

Ghisulal Rathi, a resident of Bhadada Mohalla, had arranged a function for his son's marriage on June 13. He had invited over 50 guests, violating the guidelines for the management of Covid-19. After the event, 15 guests tested positive for the disease while one died.

Photo According to the information, as many as 58 others were quarantined and it is said that invites flouted norms like wearing face masks, social distancing, cleanliness and did not even use sanitisers.

The state government incurred a loss of Rs 6,26,600 for arranging isolation and quarantine facility, testing, food, ambulance for these guests. To recover the said amount, the family has been asked to deposit the money in the CM Relief Fund.
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday hoped that in view of the current Covid-19 situation across the state, there would be no further lockdown and appealed the people to strictly adhere to the safety protocols and restrictions to save themselves, their families and the state.

While interacting with media persons, the Chief Minister said that the State has made elaborate arrangements to combat any emergent situation in near future.

Capt Amarinder Singh

Sharing the inputs regarding Covid-19 till June 28, the Chief Minister said that there were 5216 confirmed corona cases, of which 133 deaths had been reported. He said as many as 23 patients were in High Dependency Unit (HDU) and seven critically ill-patients on ventilators.

He also informed that the Covid testing capacity would be enhanced to 20,000 per day by July end with four new testing labs, which was at present around 10,000 per day.

Pointing out further, Captain Amarinder said that the state had adequate essential equipment to manage any further spread of the pandemic, which it had been largely able to control so far and he didnt wish the stocks to be pulled out of storage for use as his entire focus was on saving lives.

Appreciating the indomitable spirit of Punjabis, Captain Amarinder called upon them to keep restraint in this hour of crisis amid corona virus in the larger public interests.

Capt Amarinder SinghThe Chief Minister further said that he was really perturbed, when he go through the daily reports of people challaned for violating the health safety measures and cautioned them to abide by the precautionary health guidelines not only to ensure their own safety but of the entire state too.

He also advised the people not to be callous and misconstrue the symptoms of Coronavirus with common flu, cold, cough, body ache and fever due to change of season rather they should immediately seek advice from the doctor to have timely treatment.

Referring to another question, the Chief Minister said that in the first stage, 4248 beds in government hospitals had been set aside, with another 2014 now being added, while the private hospitals had allocated 950 beds for Covid patients.

The total number of isolation centres identified to accommodate a large number of cases if the crisis aggravates stands at 52 government and 195 private, he added.

CoronavirusOf the 554 ventilators available, the Chief Minister said that in addition to the equipment already handed over to hospitals and other frontline workers, the Health Department had stocks of 5.18 lakh N95 masks, 75.47 lakh lakh triple layer masks, 2.52 lakh PPE kits and 2223 oxygen cylinders.

Answering a query regarding lay off in private sector amid Covid-19, the Chief Minister said that the labour which had gone their home states are now returning to Punjab as they envision job potential in the state.

He, however, said that the majority of industrial units in the state had resumed operations and would be soon operating at its optimum production capacity and contribute enormously towards the states revenue.

CoronavirusUndoubtedly, the state had suffered a colossal loss of revenue of Rs 33,000 crore due to corona crisis, the Chief Minister said that the Centre didnt give a single penny out of Rs 20 lakh crore package except Rs 2200 crore as States share in GST, which was our legitimate right.

Asked to comment whether Punjab has entered the community transmission as the cases in country has crossed mark of five lakh cases with just 19,000 cases reported yesterday only, the Chief Minister further said that the Covid situation in Punjab was more or less under control as compared to the states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi and hoped that peoples pro-active participation to tackle the Corona crisis would surely keep this unfortunate stage at bay.
Chandigarh: Asserting that nobody wants a separate state for Sikhs, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday dismissed a recent statement of Akal Takht Jathedar that the Sikh community will accept Khalistan if the government offers it.

Sikhs living in the country are leading prosperous lives. Why would they want a Khalistan? Nobody wants it and I do not want it, said Singh while replying to a question on Khalistan during a press conference here.

Capt Amarinder SinghSingh said every Sikh always stood for the unity and integrity of the country.

Do you know how many Sikh soldiers we have? They sacrifice their lives for the country. We fight for our country and this is our country, said Singh.

Capt Amarinder Singh On June 6, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh had said, The Sikh community will accept Khalistan, a separate state for Sikhs, if the government offers it.

Even the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gobind Singh Longowal had also endorsed the Akal Takht jathedar's views on Khalistan.
Rutland, VT (05701)

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Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr made the announcement Monday, stating that Trump is one of more than 30 suspects Irans government wants to put on trial for the killing of Soleimani in Iraq.
Marblehead - The family of Wesley E. Carr Jr. announces his passing on June 9, 2021, after a brief illness. Born in Lynn, MA, on November 10, 1932, he was the son of the late Wesley E Carr and Helen McGann Carr. Wes graduated from Swampscott High School with the class of 1950, and he immedia
San Onofre Beach, where a shark bite left a 35-year-old woman fighting for her life, is one of Southern Californias Californias white shark hot spots, said Chris Lowe, a professor of marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach.

Tagging data, fishermens catch and beachgoer observations all indicate that the popular San Diego surf spot, along with Ventura, Santa Monica Bay and Huntington Beach, has long been a nursery for the ocean predators.

These are areas where young white sharks occur, Lowe said. We know that based on known fishing records dating back to the 1930s.

Shark bites at the site seem to bear that out. More than half the shark attacks that have occurred in San Diego County since 2004 took place at San Onofre, according to figures from the Shark Research Committee, a nonprofit organization that shark attacks on the West Coast. As of Saturday there have been 11 shark attacks in the county in that time, including six at San Onofre.

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Other reports from San Onofre and surrounding areas also confirm that white sharks are regular visitors. Recent videos showed sharks breaching in the water beyond the surf break, and in 2010 a paddle boarder captured GoPro footage of a baby white shark circling his board. In nearby San Clemente, at least three fishermen landed white sharks from the shore or pier between 2013 and 2016.

As alarming as shark encounters may seem, theyre rarely a threat to people, said Nicole Nasby Lucas, a researcher with the Oceanside-based Marine Conservation Science Institute. Mature white sharks prefer the open ocean, or marine mammal rookeries at the Farallon or Channel Islands. The younger sharks feed exclusively on fish, and dont start hunting seals or sea lions until theyre about 10 feet long, scientists said. So its unusual for one to bite a human, as it did on Saturday.

Generally its not a threat for people, because they only eat fish, as juveniles, she said. It could be the only time there would be danger from a juvenile would be if you are swimming in a school of fish.

Young white sharks tend to swim just outside the surf break, but sometimes come closer; Lowe said he has caught them in water ranging from 12 feet to just three feet deep.

Smaller sharks can definitely get into that shallow water, he said.

While the baby sharks favor the three northern beaches, he said juveniles from 1 to 3 years old - about six to nine feet long  often gravitate to San Onofre.

If those other places are the nursery, lets think of that as preschool for white sharks, he said.

Lowe said its not clear why the sharks linger there, but said San Onofres abundant food supply could be part of it.

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Its a very productive habitat, (with) stingray, halibut, croakers and barred sand-bass, usually species that are living on the bottom, Lowe said. These are species that are easy for them to catch.

As seals and sea lions have recovered from near extinction, white sharks, which hunt marine mammals as adults, have also flourished. Stingrays, a favored prey of juveniles, are also on the rise, Lowe said.

It seems like the number of juvenile (white sharks) is going up, so from everything we tell, the population is healthy and increasing, Nasby said.

With sharks swimming alongside people, beachgoers should be predator smart and avoid remote locations, murky water and river mouths, which can deposit decaying animals that may attract sharks, Lowe said.

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Millions of people go in the water each year without incident, so they need to be aware, but they dont need to be afraid to go in the water, he said.

Note: a previous version of this article misidentified the prey of juvenile white sharks. The young sharks often eat stingrays.

deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan
A third-grade student accused of sexually assaulting a classmate at Enrique Camarena Elementary School last summer has not been enrolled in the school since July, according to an email from Principal Jonathan Strout.

Strout sent the email Sunday, before students returned from Spring Break on Monday, to add more information about the incident because we felt it critical to share some additional information to allay fears that some of you may be feeling.

The email comes less than a week after The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on a lawsuit filed by the parent of a student they say was sexually assaulted at the school after lunch on July 25 and July 27.

In both cases, the school allegedly noted that the victim and another boy, both 8 years old, were alone and unsupervised for 15 minutes but did not tell the parents, according to the lawsuit.

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The Chula Vista Elementary School District has previously said that school officials contacted law enforcement as soon as they learned about allegations.

The principals email sheds light on how the school responded to the incident, why they chose not to tell the public about it, and whether the student accused in the lawsuit was still in school.

Strouts email says neither of the students involved in the incident have been enrolled in the school since July. It also says the school chose not to tell parents about the incident, in part, because no other students were involved.

In order to ensure compliance with student privacy laws, and because no other students were in danger of being harmed, this incident was not shared with the public in collaboration with discussions with (the Chula Vista Police Department) and Child Protective Services, Strout wrote.

Strouts email also describes what policies are in place to keep children from being unsupervised for an extended period of time.

When teachers realize that a student is out of class for a period of time longer than expected, they contact the office, the principal wrote. Administration and staff work to locate the student immediately.

Strout concluded the email by asking parents for their trust and debunking rumors about other incidents at the school, specifically an email he received claiming a student had a knife on campus.

This is false, he wrote of the rumor. I encourage parents to communicate with the school directly before making such statements. I ask for your trust that we will share critical information, but we will not alarm the public regarding isolated incidents or regarding rumors that are simply not true.

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Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter
When students see themselves reflected in their learning materials, they are more successful in school and more inspired about their futures. Open educational resources allow teachers to better cater materials to their students experiences, incorporating up-to-date, real-world examples. This September, both the pandemic and the recent protests against racism will be top of mind for students. With open textbooks, teachers can easily incorporate information on COVID-19 and discussions about racial justice into their materials, to connect the realities outside of the classroom with the learning goals of the day.
Gold mining significantly limits the regrowth of Amazon forests, greatly reducing their ability to accumulate carbon, according to a new study. The researchers warn that the impacts of mining on tropical forests are long-lasting and that active land management and restoration will be necessary to recover tropical forests on previously mined lands.

Gold mining has rapidly increased across the Amazon in recent years, especially along the Guiana Shield, where it is responsible for as much as 90% of total deforestation. The Shield encompasses Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Venezuela and small parts of Colombia and northern Brazil, and its forests hold roughly twenty billion tonnes of aboveground carbon in its trees.

The ability of tropical forests to recover from gold mining activities has remained largely unquantified. Now, an international study led by the University of Leeds is the first to provide detailed field-based information on the regeneration of forests in Guyana after gold mining, and the first ground-based estimate of carbon sink lost as a result of gold mining activities across the Amazon.

The team's findings, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, found that forest recovery rates on abandoned mining pits and tailing ponds are amongst the lowest ever recorded for tropical forests. At some sites there was nearly no tree regeneration even after three to four years since mining had stopped.

They estimate that mining-related deforestation results in the annual loss of over two million tons of forest carbon across the Amazon. The lack of forest regrowth observed following mining suggests that this lost carbon cannot be recovered through natural regeneration.

Lead author Dr Michelle Kalamandeen, began this research as a postgraduate researcher in the School of Geography at Leeds she is now a postdoctoral researcher at Cambridge University. She said: "This study shows that tropical forests are strongly impacted by mining activities, and have very little capacity to re-establish themselves following mining.

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"Our results clearly show the extraction process has stripped nitrogen from the soil, a critical component to forest recovery, and in many cases directly contributed to the presence of mercury within neighbouring forests and rivers. Active mining sites had on average 250 times more mercury concentrations than abandoned sites.

"Not only does this have serious consequences for our battle against global warming by limiting Amazonian forests' ability to capture and store carbon, but there is also a larger implication of contaminating food sources especially for indigenous and local communities who rely on rivers.

"A positive finding from this study shows that overburden sites, areas where topsoil is deposited during the mining process, recorded similar recovery rates as other Central and South American secondary tropical forests abandoned after agriculture or pasture.

"Active management and enforcement of laws is clearly needed to ensure recovery and to safeguard communities and there are methods available, such as replacing the soil using the overburdens at abandoned sites. But there is an urgent need for large-scale recovery management to be tested and implemented.

"We could be facing a race against the clock. The current crisis is significantly increasing the demand for gold, given its perceived role as an economic stabiliser. With current gold price more than US$1700 per ounce and estimated to reach US$2000-3000 in the coming months, many artisanal and small-scale miners are already rapidly responding to this increase in pricing, and the weakening of environmental laws and policies as we've seen in Brazil, leading to further deforestation in the Amazon."

The team used forest inventory plots installed on recently abandoned mines in two major mining regions in Guyana, and re-censused the sites 18 months later. The study analysed soil samples and determined individual trees' above-ground biomass -- the tree's living plant material -- to determine recovery and chemical changes caused by mining.

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Their results suggest that forest recovery is more strongly limited by severe mining-induced depletion of soil nutrients, especially nitrogen, rather than by mercury contamination. The high rate of mercury does however have serious implications for negative impacts on food security, water supply and local biodiversity.

Study co-author, Dr David Galbraith, Associate Professor in Earth System Dynamics at Leeds, said: "Currently approximately 1.3 million square kilometres of the Amazon is under prospecting for mining activities.

"This research provides support to local and national governance structures to critically approach policy implementation and development for land management, including how and where mining occurs, and more stringent monitoring and action for forest recovery. It shows that carefully planned active restoration projects will be critical in this regard.

"But responsibility lies beyond remediation efforts to mitigate the damage done. Investors and consumers alike need increased awareness and accountability of the environmental footprints of gold mining."

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) who supported the fieldwork are optimistic that the results from this research will help in making more informed decisions for their reclamation policies and programmes, monitoring and enforcement.

Mr Newell Dennison, Commissioner of the GGMC said: "The research results showed two important aspects: that overburden areas recovered relatively well and there was limited recovery in mining pits and tailing ponds. The latter being areas where we need improved management. The more data we can accumulate for recovery of secondary forests in mined out areas, the better we are all positioned for the implementation of effective programmes and operations that aid in the recovery of our rainforests. We look forward to working with Dr Kalamandeen and her team in the future."

The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) expressed gratitude and appreciation to the research team for the important and impressive empirical work done in [this] paper.

Mr Gavin Agard, Commissioner of the GFC said: "We expect that this scientific work has greatly improved Guyana's baseline and understanding of the forest degradation impacts of mining with respect to biomass recovery and sets a foundation for more dynamic, focused studies to advise planning and policy for improving secondary forest growth and restoring biomass capacity.

"The findings and recommendations from this study will significantly impact policy and management strategies for forest restoration and rehabilitation in mined-out areas, which is a key objective for Guyana under the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC.

"The contribution of deforestation and degradation to climate change cannot be ignored, and thus we welcome the contributions of this research team to build and improve our communal knowledge and understanding of our changing forests as we continue to pursue the highest standards of sustainable forestry in Guyana."
The Board of Elections should have ramped up its staff to handle the huge number of requests  but lets not get into the efficiencies of the board right now. The underlying problem was the need for an application process. Why not just send all registered voters a ballot? California and New Jersey are among the states doing this. New York can and should follow suit.
Humans and monkeys may not speak the same lingo, but our ways of thinking are a lot more similar than previously thought, according to new research from UC Berkeley, Harvard University and Carnegie Mellon University.

In experiments on 100 study participants across age groups, cultures and species, researchers found that indigenous Tsimane' people in Bolivia's Amazon rainforest, American adults and preschoolers and macaque monkeys all show, to varying degrees, a knack for "recursion," a cognitive process of arranging words, phrases or symbols in a way that helps convey complex commands, sentiments and ideas.

The findings, published today (Friday, June 26) in the journal Science Advances, shed new light on our understanding of the evolution of language, researchers said.

"For the first time, we have strong empirical evidence about patterns of thinking that come naturally to probably all humans and, to a lesser extent, non-human primates," said study co-author Steven Piantadosi, a UC Berkeley assistant professor of psychology.

Indeed, the monkeys were found to perform far better in the tests than the researchers had predicted.

"Our data suggest that, with sufficient training, monkeys can learn to represent a recursive process, meaning that this ability may not be as unique to humans as is commonly thought," said Sam Cheyette, a Ph.D. student in Piantadosi's lab and co-author of the study.

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Known in linguistics as "nested structures," recursive phrases within phrases are crucial to syntax and semantics in human language. A simple example is a British nursery rhyme that talks about "the dog that worried the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built."

Researchers tested the recursive skills of 10 U.S. adults, 50 preschoolers and kindergarteners, 37 members of the Tsimane' and three male macaque monkeys.

First, all participants were trained to memorize different sequences of symbols in a particular order. Specifically, they learned sequences such as { ( ) } or { [ ] }, which are analogous to some linguistic nested structures.

Participants from the U.S. and monkeys used a large touchscreen monitor to memorize the sequences. They heard a ding if they got a symbol in the right place, a buzzer if they got it wrong and a chime if the whole sequence was correct. The monkeys received snacks or juice as positive feedback.

Meanwhile, the Tsimane' participants, who are less accustomed to interacting with computers, were tested with paper index cards and given verbal feedback.

Next, all participants were asked to place, in the right order, four images from different groupings shown in random order on the screen.

To varying degrees, the participants all arranged their new lists in recursive structures, which is remarkable given that "Tsimane' adults, preschool children and monkeys, who lack formal mathematics and reading training, had never been exposed to such stimuli before testing," the study noted.

"These results are convergent with recent findings that monkeys can learn other kinds of structures found in human grammar," Piantadosi said.

The study's senior author is Jessica Cantlon at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The history of our planet has been written, among other things, in the periodic reversal of its magnetic poles. Scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science propose a new means of reading this historic record: in ice. Their findings, which were recently reported in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, could lead to a refined probing ice cores and, in the future, might be applied to understanding the magnetic history of other bodies in our solar system, including Mars and Jupiter's moon Europa.

The idea for investigating a possible connection between ice and Earth's magnetic history arose far from the source of the planet's ice -- on the sunny isle of Corsica, where Prof. Oded Aharonson of the Institute's Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, was attending a conference on magnetism. More specifically, the researchers there were discussing the field known as paleo-magnetism, which is mostly studied through flakes magnetic minerals that have been trapped either in rocks or cores drilled through ocean sediments. Such particles get aligned with the Earth's magnetic field at the time they are trapped in place, and even millions of years later, researchers can test their magnetic north-south alignment and understand the position of the Earth's magnetic poles at that distant time. The latter is what gave Aharonson the idea: If small amounts of magnetic materials could be sensed in ocean sediments, maybe they could also be found trapped in ice and measured. Some of the ice frozen in the glaciers in places like Greenland or Alaska is many millennia old and is layered like tree rings. Ice cores drilled through these are investigated for signs of such things as planetary warming or ice ages. Why not reversals in the magnetic field as well?

The first question that Aharonson and his student Yuval Grossman who led the project had to ask was whether it was possible that the process in which ice forms in regions near the poles could contain a detectable record of magnetic pole reversals. These randomly-spaced reversals have occurred throughout our planet's history, fueled by the chaotic motion of the liquid iron dynamo deep in the planet's core. In banded rock formations and layered sediments, researchers measure the magnetic moment -- the magnetic north-south orientations -- of the magnetic materials in these to reveal the magnetic moment of the Earth's magnetic field at that time. The scientists thought such magnetic particles could be found in the dust that gets trapped, along with water ice, in glaciers and ice sheets.

The research team built an experimental setup to simulate ice formation such as that in polar glaciers, where dust particles in the atmosphere may even provide the nuclei around which snowflakes form. The researchers created artificial snowfall by finely grinding ice made from purified water, adding a bit of magnetic dust, and letting it fall though a very cold column that was exposed to a magnetic field, the latter having an orientation controlled by the scientists. By maintaining very cold temperatures -- around 30 degrees Celsius below zero, they found they could generate miniature "ice cores" in which the snow and dust froze solidly into hard ice.

"If the dust is not affected by an external magnetic field, it will settle in random directions which will cancel each other out," says Aharonson. "But if a portion of it gets oriented in a particular direction right before the particles freeze in place, the net magnetic moment will be detectible."

To measure the magnetism of the "ice cores" they had created in the lab, the Weizmann scientists took them to Hebrew University in Jerusalem, to the lab of Prof. Ron Shaar, where a sensitive magnetometer installed there is able to measure the very slightest of magnetic moments. The team found a small, but definitely detectible magnetic moment that matched the magnetic fields applied to their ice samples.

"The Earth's paleo-magnetic history has been studied from the rocky record; reading it in ice cores could reveal additional dimensions, or help assign accurate dates to the other findings in those cores," says Aharonson. "And we know that the surfaces of Mars and large icy moons like Europa have been exposed to magnetic fields. It would be exciting to look for magnetic field reversals in ice sampled from other bodies in our solar system."

"We've proved it is possible," he adds. Aharonson has even proposed a research project for a future space mission involving ice core sampling on Mars, and he hopes that this demonstration of the feasibility of measuring such a core will advance the appeal of this proposal.
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The coronavirus pandemic has affected millions of people around the world and still continues to affect many more. Economies are down, which caused many businesses to shut down, and people are losing their jobs.

However, for some people, the pandemic is an opportunity to earn more money by scamming people into buying a 'cure' that does not truly treat anyone with the virus and is a waste of thousands of dollars.

Investigative reporter Anas Aremeyaw Anas goes undercover in Ghana to expose a COVID-19 scam that could cause more harm than curing the infection.

Quack Doctors Sell Fake 'Coronavirus Cure'

In a report by BBC News, Anas investigated two quack doctors who claim that they have a cure for coronavirus. Surprisingly, they even advertise it on the radio. However, to avoid getting arrested, they said that they are not selling it to people since they are still waiting for the regulators' approval.

To investigate further, Anas went to this quack doctor named Dr. Abdellah, who broadcast his phone number on the radio. Anas brought a secret camera with him and pretended that his brother was sick with coronavirus to test if the quack doctor will secretly and illegally sell it to him.

Abdellah and his brother did their best to sell this 'coronavirus cure' to Anas by saying that the drug does not need any trials because he knows its potency. They even said that they have already given it to many people and never received any negative feedback.

Furthermore, they claimed that parents had taken their children out of the hospitals after recovering from the virus thanks to their coronavirus cure.

After the sales talk, Abdellah sold three bottles of the said cure for about 1,000 cedis or approximately $172 to Anas despite his earlier claim that he does not sell the 'cure' to anyone.

But before leaving, the older Dr. Abdellah warned Anas that one of the bottles would cause serious diarrhea. "It will push out every liquid that is not supposed to be in his system. Every liquid from the body," he said.

A few weeks later, Anas went back to see the brothers after they called him many times to urge him to buy more. Inside their house, Anas found more than 100 bottles of their concoction. The older brother said that he possesses mysterious spiritual power and that he is invincible in an effort to try and convince Anas to buy more of their product.

The brothers demanded 150,000 cedis or $25,974 for more than 100 bottles of their 'coronavirus cure.' They thought they hit the jackpot, but Anas only took the bottles he bought to the Ghana Standards Authority for a toxicology test.

Read Also: Next on Gilead's Agenda: Inhaled Remdesivir and Other User-Friendly Versions of the Drug

Not Safe for Human Consumption

The test results showed that all the Abdellah brothers' products failed to meet the standards for human consumption because they contained unacceptable levels of bacteria and mold, which can cause serious illness.

Anas and his team then took their findings to the director of FDA Delese Mimi Darko. Upon seeing the bottles, she immediately said that the product is clearly not an FDA approved drug. They will never allow to put on the label that it is a cure. She promised that the FDA would take swift action against anyone selling unregistered medicines.

After their investigation, the FDA of Ghana moved to shut down the facilities of the Abdellahs. They found more than 300 bottles, and Dr. Abdellah even tried persuading the agents that they had not been selling the products. He claims that they are already on the process of licensing the products.

They are now detained by the FDA and will be questioned by the authorities.

Read More: Dexamethasone: First Life-Saving Coronavirus Drug Found Could Only Cost $8, That's Not the Best Part Yet
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Nuclear and radiation authorities from Finland, Norway, and Sweden have detected low levels of radiation in Northern Europe. Although the source of the radioactive isotopes is yet to be confirmed, Nordic officials say that they may be coming from a nuclear power plant in Russia, one of the world's leading nations in nuclear energy.

The Soviet Union has built nuclear power plants since 1954, becoming the first nation in the world to generate electricity from such a source. By the 1980s, they had 25 power reactors in their nuclear industry.

However, in 1986 was the disastrous Chernobyl accident as a result of a poorly design reactor, killing 30 workers in the following months and causing 237 individuals to be diagnosed with acute radiation syndrome (ARS) onsite. During that time, large amounts of radioactive substances were in the air for about 10 days, with lighter radioactive isotopes carried over to Scandinavia and Europe via the wind. Some fear that the detection of three radioactive isotopes near the Baltic sea may be similar to what happened in Chernobyl.

"Sensors in Sweden have detected a rise in nuclear particles..." is exactly how the Chernobyl news story started back in 1986.  Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) June 27, 2020 Just sayin.

Unknown Source

The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority said, 'it is not possible now to confirm what could be the source of the increased levels.' The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands said, 'these calculations show that the radionuclides (radioactive isotopes) come from the direction of Western Russia.'

Although the readings show an increased level of radioactivity, authorities have said that they are not harmful to humans or the environment. The Dutch agency explained, 'The radionuclides are artificial, that is to say, they are man-made. The composition of the nuclides may indicate damage to a fuel element in a nuclear power plant.' Despite theories pointing to Russia, the Dutch environmentalist authorities said that the source of the radioactive particles remains unknown.

Russia's Rosenergoatom, the country's sole nuclear power plant operator, shared with a local news agency that their radiation levels have been normal for the entire month of June. A spokesperson said, 'Both stations are working in [the] normal regime. There have been no complaints about the equipment's work. No incidents related to release of radionuclide outside containment structures have been reported.'

Urmas Reinsalu, The Minister of Foreign Affairs said that ' it is in our interests and the interests of international security to determine the cause of this rise for it is surely manmade. The Environmental Board in Estonia and International Atomic Energy Agency are continuing to monitor radioactivity alongside other countries until they find out the source.

Read Also: Reprocessing of Spent Nuclear Fuel Makes Them Less Lethal, Cleaner Alternative to Fossil Fuel

Nuclear Energy Plans

The detected radioactive particles were Cesium (Cs-137 and Cs-134), cobalt (Co-60), and Ruthenium (Ru-103) isotopes, picked up by the Harku radiation filters from June 13 to 21 in Estonia. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) has mapped out the initial spread of these isotopes and Teet Koitjarv from the Environmental Board says that radiation monitoring continues to be active 24/7.

22 /23 June 2020, RN #IMS station SEP63 #Sweden detected 3isotopes; Cs-134, Cs-137 & Ru-103 associated w/Nuclear fission @ higher[ ] than usual levels (but not harmful for human health). The possible source region in the 72h preceding detection is shown in orange on the map. pic.twitter.com/ZeGsJa21TN  Lassina Zerbo (@SinaZerbo) June 26, 2020

Russia remains one of the top nuclear power-producing nations in the world alongside China, the United States, France, and North Korea. The CEO of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, which owns Rosenergoatom, has shared the company's long-term goal by 2050: 'We took a punt on the Breakthrough project, on fast reactor technologies, and today we are leading in this field. It's necessary to make this leadership absolute and to deprive our competitors of their hopes of overcoming the gap in the technological race.'

Read Also: Nuclear Fusion and All Its Advantages May Be Achieved, If a New "Tokamak" Design Is Effective
Police officers are not robots. Theyre doing a job most of us would never dream of doing. Mistakes will be made. And Im not in any way suggesting that what happened to George Floyd was a mistake. The video speaks for itself.

But its very easy to ask, after the fact, Why did you have to shoot him? Couldnt you have just shot him in the leg? Real life isnt an episode of Starsky and Hutch.

In real life, the decision to use force is made in fractions of seconds. Sometimes, suspects are armed, sometimes theyre not. Often, you dont know.

On May 28, at 12:15 p.m., Officer Nate Lyday, of the Ogden, Utah, police department, responded to a domestic violence call. A woman told a 911 dispatcher her husband was trying to kill her. When Lyday and a probation officer reached the house, the suspect, a 53-year-old man, was sitting on the front porch. The suspect was uncooperative, according to investigators, and after a brief discussion, went back into the house, slamming the door behind him.
My big push with Marvel is hire the best person for the job, even if it means were going to get the best two women, were going to get the best two men... fine, Mackie stated, adding that by doing so, hell help build a new generation of people who can put something on their resume to get them other jobs.
The Black Lives Matter movement has encouraged older Whites to take an interest in literature written by Black authors, as well as the murder of George Floyd, the Cambridge University alum added. Its helping people examine their role in the murder, because we all contributed to that moment and are all responsible in some way, be it from staying silent to full out not tolerating violence in any form. No ones hands are clean.
The funnyman opened his Sunday night HBO show Last Week Tonight this week by mocking Vice President Pence for a recent press briefing where he spoke about measures being taken to limit the spread of coronavirus. Pence reportedly failed to mention during his speech that the medical community has concluded that wearing masks limits transmission.
SEATTLE -- Local health leaders say they don't like the direction the state is heading in with COVID-19 cases on the rise.

King County Public Health Officer Doctor Jeff Duchin says they'll be proactive.

"We're depending on one another to prevent infections and stay safe," Duchin said. "Unless we can successfully manage the risk of COVID-19, it'll be very difficult to continue to reopen and move forward."

He says from June 14-20, King County saw 156 more cases than the previous week -- a 60% increase in cases.

King County joins places like Whatcom, Snohomish, Skagit and Pierce Counties as seeing more recent cases.

For King County, according to Duchin, that could partly be due to an increase in testing.

"Our testing has doubled since June 7th," he said.

But that's not the case in those other counties.

On Saturday, Pierce County saw 55 more cases than the previous day when they need an average of about 17 to move on to Phase Three.

According to the state Department of Health's COVID-19 dashboard, there is a slight upward trend in cases statewide.

Duchin credits some of these increases in King County to people thinking social distancing measures can be relaxed with the reopening process.

"That's giving COVID-19 too many opportunities to spread from person to person," Duchin said.

So the state is putting a pause on Phase Four to assess the growing cases in Washington.

Duchin says if this worrisome trend continues in King County, we may be revisiting phase one before seeing Phase Three.

"The risk is still serious, and we must take steps to manage that risk," Duchin said.

As cases keep going up, health officials again want to remind folks about the importance of wearing masks, following social distancing rules and staying home if you're sick.

Pierce County announced 21 new cases Sunday afternoon, which again is over that average of 17.

This article first appeared on KOMO News.
Washington was up front when the coronavirus set its timetable early this year, with 37 of the first 50 confirmed deaths coming in the Evergreen State, its early victims including renowned UW pathology professor Steve Schwartz and popular Leschi Market co-owner Steve Schulman.

Hard to believe three months have passed, and the direction the COVID-19 pandemic has taken. The TV anchors this morning were reporting from Arizona, with 73,908 confirmed cases and 1,588 deaths, ravaged Native American reservations and worried hospital administrators. President Donald Trump just held a rally down there with a largely maskless audience in a megachurch.

Washington is way down the list at 31,752 cases and 1,312 deaths, with spikes mainly in Central and Eastern Washington counties where some local officials railed against "Czar Inslee" for ordering shutdowns. Still a "hot spot" Franklin County in April saw county commissioners pass an open-for-business resolution, only to rescind it the next day.

The state's response to the pandemic has been proactive, science-based, explained to the public and quite popular. Gov. Inslee put his goofiness and hyperbole in blind trust, read the warning signals and made the state a national model for quick response.

Nor has Washington made the mistake of reopening too quickly, which has powered the pandemic in places like Florida, Texas, Alabama and Arizona all with governors who are camp followers of Trump.

Yet, Inslee is being rebuked for his wear-masks order by the same people who earlier denounced him for shutting schools, sued to keep churches open, while ridiculing safe-distance rules and limits on public gatherings.

The grifter running for governor, Tim Eyman, told backers to "engage in mass mask disobedience" ... Just as in March he urged people to show up at a meeting in Oak Harbor in numbers that would defy Inslee's first limit on crowd size. Eyman and his mini-me, State Rep. Jim Walsh, have repeatedly urged disobedience of measures designed to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Eyman's latest attention grabbing gambit, a lawsuit to halt the mask wearing requirement.

"Only from a government BUREAUCRAT would come a THREE page 'order' regarding face masks which happens to be unconstitutional and unenforceable," Walla Walla based GOP political adviser Lance Henderson wrote on his Facebook page.

Of course, there was Lewis County Sheriff Robert Snasa, asked at a rally about mask wearing, shouting "Don't be a sheep." The crowd cheered.

The purpose of wearing a mask is to protect others from your sneezing and unseen transmission of the coronavirus, even by those who appear perfectly healthy.

State Rep. Jenny Graham says she wears a mask when "appropriate," but largely ignored responsibility to others in a post last week: "Life is not risk free for anyone. Everyone assumes risk when they go into a public setting. Other bugs beside COVID-19 exist every day. Someone I know is currently infected with a nasty flu that is attacking his organs. We will never escape the flu and viruses but you can minimize your risks."

The mask debate unmasks just how chaotic America's response to the coronavirus is and has been. No national leadership, states and cities going in different directions, communities lacking a sense of community, sheriffs deciding which laws to enforce.

At the U.S. Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and colleagues are wearing masks. McConnell is preachy on the subject. Over on the House side of the building, numerous Trump acolytes are deliberately not wearing masks, despite the fact that thousands of people work in the building.

Experts on the White House task force have urged wearing masks. Pence has seemed to come around. Yet, Trump refuses, even after White House advance staff and Secret Service tested positive after the Tulsa rally. The president's behavior is aped by more primitive followers. The White House press secretary gives a suit-yourself response when asked Monday.

The president moved the Republican convention out of Charlotte because North Carolina refused to bend health rules on social distancing and wearing masks to fit the presidential will. It's now slated for Jacksonville, Florida and guess what. Jacksonville just enacted a mask requirement on Monday.

Mask wearing is about looking our for your fellow man/woman, but self-interest is also at stake. The pace for reopening the economy, and not re-closing the economy, depends on how we slow the pace of the pandemic.

We can take limited comfort that Washington (and British Columbia to our north) acted early, and that Inslee has resisted reckless reopening. We still have a livable corner of the world here. Makes sense to keep down the casualty lists.

Jay Inslee is not asking for much that we wear masks, just a modest use of intelligence.

MORE:
Starbucks joined the growing list of companies boycotting Facebook over hate speech policies by pulling their advertisements from the social media platform.

"We will pause advertising on all social media platforms while we continue discussions internally, with our media partners and with civil rights organizations in the effort to stop the spread of hate speech," Starbucks said in a statement on Sunday.

The global coffee giant joins other major companies such as REI, Eddie Bauer, Levi's, The North Face, Ben & Jerry's, Patagonia and Coca-Cola in the Stop Hate for Profit campaign which calls on businesses to not advertise on Facebook until the website addresses hate speech and misinformation on its platform.

The campaign claims that Facebook makes $70 billion in annual advertising revenue while allowing "hate and extremism to spread faster and further than ever before."

On June 26, Facebook announced changes including a voter registration campaign that aims to register 4 million voters, steps to fight voter suppression and swifter removal of hateful content on the platform.

The company has also announced that it will label content as "newsworthy," a justification the company has used in the past to leave up misleading posts from President Donald Trump.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained the policy on his personal page:

"A handful of times a year, we leave up content that would otherwise violate our policies if the public interest value outweighs the risk of harm. Often, seeing speech from politicians is in the public interest, and in the same way that news outlets will report what a politician says, we think people should generally be able to see it for themselves on our platforms.

We will soon start labeling some of the content we leave up because it is deemed newsworthy, so people can know when this is the case. We'll allow people to share this content to condemn it, just like we do with other problematic content, because this is an important part of how we discuss what's acceptable in our society -- but we'll add a prompt to tell people that the content they're sharing may violate our policies."

Zuckerberg clarified that even "newsworthy" content found to be suppressing voter rights or inciting violence may be removed.

This decision to leave up misleading content from Trump stands in stark contrast to Twitter's approach to hiding Trump's tweets that depict violence and attaching fact-checking labels to ones that spread misinformation.

The boycott extends to advertising on Facebook's subsidiaries, including Instagram and WhatsApp.

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Neither Georgia, nor any other state, has the right to consume as much water as it wishes, the Florida brief said. The union was built, and has endured, on the commonsense principle that all states have an equal right to the reasonable use of shared resources. That is all that Florida asks this court to vindicate here.
ST. LOUIS (AP)  A white couple pointed guns at protesters in St. Louis as a group marched toward the mayor's home to demand her resignation after she read the names and addresses of several residents who supported defunding the police department during an online briefing.

A social media video showed the armed couple standing outside of their large home Sunday evening in the upscale Central West End neighborhood of the Missouri city.

'WHITE POWER': Trump tweets video of supporter shouting racist slogans at Florida parade

In the video, the unidentified couple shouted at protesters, while people in the march moved the crowd forward, urging participants to ignore them. People in the crowd included Black and white protesters.

It wasn't immediately clear whether St. Louis police were aware of the incident. An email and phone call from The Associated Press to police weren't immediately answered.

The group of at least 500 people was heading toward Mayor Lyda Krewson's home, chanting, Resign Lyda, take the cops with you, news outlets reported.

Resignation demands come after a Facebook Live briefing on Friday where Krewson read the names and addresses of several residents who wrote letters to the mayor suggesting she defund the police department.

The video was removed from Facebook and Krewson apologized Friday, stating she didn't "intend to cause distress."

The names and letters are considered public records but Krewsons actions received heavy backlash.

Protesters nationwide have been pushing to  defund the police  following the death of George Floyd and other Black people killed by law enforcement. Floyd, who was in handcuffs, died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on Floyds neck for nearly eight minutes.

MASK PROBLEMS: Fort Bend commissioners speak out after new mask order declaration

Krewson, a white longtime alderwoman, was elected as St. Louis' first female mayor in April 2017 by pledging to work to reduce crime and improve impoverished neighborhoods. She and her two young children were in the car in front of their home in 1995 when her husband, Jeff, was slain during a random carjacking attempt.

Homicides have spiked in recent years in St. Louis, which annually ranks among the most violent cities in the nation based on FBI statistics.

An online petition calling for Krewsons resignation had more than 43,000 signatures as of early Monday.

As a leader, you dont do stuff like that ... its only right that we visit her at her home, said state Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, speaking into a megaphone at the protest Sunday.
This is a high price for a drug that has not been shown to reduce mortality, Dr. Steven Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic said in an email. Given the serious nature of the pandemic, I would prefer that the government take over production and distribute the drug for free. It was developed using significant taxpayer funding.
Ms. Lyu, please tell me your mothers name. Ill pray for her at the temple, a Sri Lankan engineer said to his Chinese colleague, Lyu Zeying.

Lyu is a high-pressure welder with China Machinery Engineering Corporation, the Chinese contractor of the Puttalam coal-fired power plant in Sri Lanka. The power plant generates more than 40 percent of the electricity needed by the country.

In March, the Sri Lankan government announced curfew measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures led to a drastic drop in the number of Sri Lankan staff working at the power plant, which in turn increased the Chinese employees workloads.

Due to the pandemic, Lyu and her husband were unable to attend their daughters wedding. Even more sadly for the couple, Lyus mother passed away, but they were unable to come back to the country to bid a last farewell to her.

We had to stick to our duty to ensure the smooth operation of the power plant while fighting against the pandemic, Lyu explained.

Sri Lanka is in dire need of high-pressure welders, which makes Lyu indispensable to the construction of the power plant. She and her husband always rush to provide help when they are needed.

In April, the projects Chinese staff worked day and night to improve the plants power generation so that it could provide 50 percent of electricity needed by the country during the pandemic.

In addition to offering technical support to the Sri Lankan side, the Chinese team also contributed to the countrys pandemic control efforts. On June 1, it donated an infrared temperature screening system to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), which has greatly improved the efficiency of carrying out body temperature checks of staff at the power plant.
Rich Pedroncelli/AP

The seven-day-average for the number of new coronavirus cases in the United States hit an all-time high this week  a jump primarily fueled by large increases in the country's three most populous states: California, Texas and Florida.

All three states reported their largest case increases of the pandemic last week, although case increases are not always indicative of spread of the virus since case totals will increase as testing increases. However, hospitalizations and the percentage of positive tests are also trending upwards in the three states, so the case increases cannot simply be attributed to increased testing.
The course of American history has been changed by countless inventions, from the tiny things that made everyday life different to huge landmark projects that made history. To compile a list of 100 inventions that changed America, Stacker looked at lists like ones from the Atlantic and philosophical STEM brain trust Edge.org along with a healthy dose of food history. The rest is a mix of marquee events like the launch of Sputnik and the invention of the internet and some wildcards that you probably can't imagine your life without.

What are the parameters here? Well, we've left out inventions from before the idea of "America" even existed, so a rough cutoff of the year 1500. Yes, the Gutenberg printing press influenced America, but it already existed when maps first began to reflect Amerigo Vespucci's name in the 1500s. The compass, many kinds of clocks, many kinds of weapons, the scientific method-these ideas date way back and underpin the development of much of the world, not just America. Eyeglasses and steel already existed.

We can't promise everything you imagine will be on this list, but the items represent everything from manufacturing and computers to personal care and convenience foods. Ice cream wasn't invented in the United States, but Thomas Jefferson brought the first recipe known to be made in the U.S. after his travels in France. Some major inventors were known briefly but largely forgotten, like the handwashing pioneer who helped Florence Nightingale save lives during the Crimean War. Other breakthroughs, like aspirin, were only formal inventions following years of, in that case, treatments made from willow bark.

Some of the best ideas aren't inventions, so you won't find those here either. Democracy and evolution are great, but we're sticking with concrete inventions or at least concrete methods, like the calculus that helps describe how real objects act and the notation system people made up to use it. Charles Darwin didn't invent the idea of evolution, but scientists who began to sequence the human genome invented the techniques and systems to do that laboratory work. Let's jump in and learn about some important inventions.

You may also like: U.S. cities with the cleanest air

This article was first published on Stacker
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that a court has barred the former CEO of Illinois-based Navistar International Corporation, Daniel C. Ustian, from serving as an officer or director of publicly-traded companies. The SEC charged Ustian, of Naperville, Illinois, and Navistar in 2016 with misleading investors about Navistar's development of an advanced technology truck engine that could satisfy U.S. pollution standards. Navistar agreed to settle the SEC's charges in 2016, and the SEC commenced federal court litigation against Ustian.

In February 2020, without admitting or denying the SEC's allegations, Ustian consented to a judgment that imposed injunctions against him and ordered him to pay a penalty of $250,000 and disgorgement of $250,000. The judgment also provided that the court would later determine, upon motion by the SEC, whether to bar Ustian from serving as an officer or director of publicly-traded companies. The SEC filed a motion in March 2020 to impose the officer-and-director bar against Ustian, and Ustian subsequently agreed to the bar. The court's entry of the order barring Ustian from serving as an officer or director of publicly-traded companies ends the SEC's litigation in its entirety.

The SEC's case was handled by Eric Phillips, Jonathan Polish, Timothy Stockwell, and Anne Graber Blazek, with assistance from Kristine Rodriguez, of the Chicago Regional Office.
London, KY (40741)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 84F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms in the evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 58F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Keene, NH (03431)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 90F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms later during the night. Low 66F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Its as if Oregon's Willamette Valleya fertile slice that runs between Eugene and Portland, about 70 miles inlandwas created to grow berries. The cool, mild winters and warm-but-comfortable summers create the perfect microclimate for trailing berries to thrive. Bushes of blackberries, many different varieties, cling low to the ground to survive winter, and dont turn to jam on the plant under summers scorching sun.

Oregon is home to only one true native blackberry plant, Rubus ursinus, a shrub with prickly branches that produces sweet, oblong berries. And though its a perfectly plump, multi-faceted fruit, scientists and horticulturalists with the US Department of Agriculture and Oregon State University have long worked together to cross-breed berries, seeking higher yields and even more fragrant fruit. Plenty of delicious new berry cultivars have come out of this partnership, but the marionberry is the prized jewel.

Bernardine Strik

The birth of this particularly sweet berry, led by USDA horticulturalist George F. Waldo, involved crossing a Chehalem blackberry with an olallieberry, a blackberry cultivar with native Rubus ursinus in its parentage. The new hybrid and its potential were first noted in 1945; the berry was tested, mainly in Marion County, Oregon, until its official release in 1956. Marion is a new blackberry that shows promise of meeting some needs of Oregons small fruit industry not fully met by the most widely grown blackberry varieties, Thornless Evergreen and Boysen, Waldo wrote in a pamphlet, noting that the plant produced more fruit that ripened faster, and its fruit quality has been generally superior to that of both varieties.

Blackberries, raspberries, and marionberries are all known as caneberries, a family of berry varieties that produce fruit on woody vegetative shoots called canes. Marionberry plants typically produce just a few long canes (often around 16-20 feet long) that are easy to train and handle, making it an easy option for growers in any operation. They also produce pretty massive berries compared to other varieties.

While growth potential and ease of growth are obviously important factors in a cultivar, what's made the marionberry so successful is its balanced taste, which makes it ideal for preserves, jams, and pie fillings.

Erin Lynch from Platings and Pairings

Its sweeter than most other berries, but not overly so, says Linda Strand, commissioner of the Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission, and sales manager of Columbia Empire Farms. In blind taste tests around the country, people always prefer it. Its our gold standard in the industry.

According to Bernadine C. Strik, professor of horticulture and berry crops specialist at Oregon State University, that perfect flavor comes down to chemistry: Marionberries have a 14% sugar concentration, 1.5% acidity, and a pH of 3.2, which is similar to the pH of a sweet strawberry. For non-horticulturalists, that means its delicious.

When someone tastes a marionberry, there's that real balance between sugar and acid, which is really required when you process something, says Strik. If something's really sweet and low acid, it comes across as very bland with no flavor, fresh or processed. And if something is too high in acidity, then of course it's unpalatable unless you add sugar, and that tends to be a little less desirable to consumers. Marionberries really need no accompaniment, and are somewhat easier to eat than other caneberries because of their tiny seeds.

While marionberries are sometimes marketed as being seedless, and eating one youd assume that was accurate, a seedless berry is actually impossible, according to Stirk. But marionberry seeds are essentially undetectable to the tonguethey are extremely flat and thin, and evenly coated with a gelatinous material that helps them slip by without notice.

Easy to grow, and growing in popularity, the cultivar blew up in Oregon and in surrounding states, becoming the most popular berry in the region. Marionberries still account for about 25% of the states berry production, an impressive feat for a cultivar developed over 50 years ago.

In the 90s, the industry wrestled with a small identity crisis as people began associating the boon berry with Marion Barry, the disgraced former Washington DC mayor. Barry, who died in 2014, had made a name for himself as a civil rights leader, but was caught in an FBI sting operation in 1990 and ended up serving time in prison as a result. Strand recalls a runner with Late Night with David Letterman calling to order marionberries for a bit on the show about Barry.

Today, marionberries are known for being the perfect berry for eating out of hand, and for processing. Sweet and smooth, theyre ideal for making preserves, jams, fruit spreads, pie fillings, sauces, crisps, crumbles, and more. Because they were bred more for flavor than durability, these berries dont travel well outside the Pacific Northwest. And, unfortunately, marionberries aren't grown outside of the Pacific Northwest because it's one of the few regions in the world that specializes in this type of berry harvesting and processing.

Courtesy of the Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry Commission

Though they're fragile, an advanced harvesting method means their flavor and texture is consistent in processed products. While other berry varieties are sometimes harvested in large batchesnot every berry ripens at exactly the same time, so massive harvests mean many unripe berries end up with ripe onesmarionberries are harvested very selectively. During the short four-week season that kicks off around Independence Day, the berry fields are picked every few days with finely tuned row machines that vibrate at very specific frequencies, causing only the ripe berries to fall off the plant to be collected.

As Oregon became known for the cultivar, an effort in 2009 aimed to make the marionberry the official state berry. The action was supported by most legislators but was ultimately abandoned when a prominent berry producer claimed a focus on one specific berry variety might hurt the sales of other varieties.

While marionberries have exploded in popularity, there are still disadvantages that horticulturalists are trying to solve through breeding. Marionberries plants are thorny, making hand-harvesting tricky and rare, and they are less cold-tolerant than some other varieties, leading to variance in production from year to year.

Two other cultivars developed under the same program by the late horticulturalist Chad FinnBlack Diamond and Columbia Starsought to solve the issues of marionberries and have risen in popularity, but havent surpassed the 1956 cultivar in terms of overall quality.

I dont think were close to improving on the marionberry, says Stirk, seemingly convinced of its relative perfection, among berries, at least not in the near future. I think its market share could shift slowly, but in terms of it being a standard, I dont see that changing anytime soon.
First things first as the As head back into getting ready for a 2020 season: They have a large pool of players from which to draw.

The team, however, is not releasing all the names on this list for procedural reasons: Top pick Tyler Soderstrom, an 18-year-old catcher from Turlock, hasnt been signed yet. Soderstroms signing will be announced Monday, according to multiple sources.

High-profile prospect Robert Puason, a 17-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic, was reported to be among the As pool players, according to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, but also was not on the list released Sunday, likely because he is traveling to the U.S. Inviting top young players such as Soderstrom and Puason to the player-pool camp, which was expected to be in Stockton, will enable them to get instruction and some simulated games when they might otherwise be limited in their development this year.

Two other top shortstop prospects who were in the As spring camp will be at the alternate site for the same reason: last years top pick, Logan Davidson, and defensive whiz Nick Allen. So will two prospects who werent in spring camp: 2019 second-rounder Tyler Baum, a right-hander, and fourth-rounder Kyle McCann, a catcher.

Others not on the list because they are traveling to the U.S. include outfielder Luis Barrera and right-handed pitchers Wandisson Charles and Miguel Romero. All of the players not announced Sunday will go to the teams alternate site  which is more uncertain than it was last week. The Chronicle has learned that new COVID-19 orders announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday that include San Joaquin County, and spikes in positive coronavirus tests in the area, have the team rethinking its use of the Class A Ports stadium, at least in the short term.

Teams have been encouraged to use nearby facilities for their alternate camps because MLBs 2020 protocols call for a site close enough to not require commercial air travel. The As already had been investigating other options while trying to work out a deal with the city of Stockton for use of Banner Island Ballpark.

The group of 42 players heading to Oakland features a number of non-roster players, including catcher Carlos Perez, infielders Ryan Goins and Nate Orf, and pitchers Lucas Luetge, Jaime Schultz and Jordan Weems. Outfielder Skye Bolt, infielder Sheldon Neuse and pitchers Paul Blackburn and Daniel Gossett, all optioned to the minors before spring training was shut down in March, also will be in Oakland.

Several 40-man-roster players, such as outfielder Dustin Fowler and starters Daulton Jefferies, Grant Holmes and James Kaprielian, will go to the alternate site, along with some nonroster invitees: McCann, outfielders Greg Deichmann and Buddy Reed and pitchers Tyler Baum, Parker Dunshee and Brian Howard.

More Information A's roster pool Reporting to Oakland (42) 1. Franklin Barreto, IF 2. Khris Davis, DH 5. Tony Kemp, IF/OF 8. Robbie Grossman, OF 10. Marcus Semien, SS 12. Sean Murphy, C 13. Jorge Mateo, IF 15. Seth Brown, OF 16. Liam Hendriks, RHP 18. Chad Pinder, IF/OF 20. Mark Canha, OF/1B 21. Sheldon Neuse, IF 22. Ramon Laureano, OF 23. Ryan Goins, IF 25. Stephen Piscotty, RF 26. Matt Chapman, 3B 28. Matt Olson, 1B 30. Austin Allen, C 31. A.J. Puk, LHP 32. Daniel Gossett, RHP 33. Daniel Mengden, RHP (IL) 35. Jake Diekman, LHP 36. Yusmeiro Petit, RHP 37. Jonah Heim, C 38. T.J. McFarland, LHP 39. Vimael Machin, IF 40. Chris Bassitt, RHP 44. Jesus Luzardo, LHP 45. Nate Orf, IF 47. Frankie Montas, RHP 48. Joakim Soria, RHP 49. Skye Bolt, OF 50. Mike Fiers, RHP 55. Sean Manaea, LHP 57. J.B. Wendelken, RHP 58. Paul Blackburn, RHP 60. Lucas Luetge, LHP 62. Lou Trivino, RHP 63. Carlos Perez, C 68. Jaime Schultz, RHP 70. Jordan Weems, RHP 82. Burch Smith, RHP Note: Numbers listed are the players' jersey numbers. Reporting to alternate training site (12) Nick Allen, IF Tyler Baum, RHP Logan Davidson, IF Greg Deichmann, OF Parker Dunshee, RHP Dustin Fowler, OF Grant Holmes, RHP Brian Howard, RHP Daulton Jefferies, RHP James Kaprielian, RHP Kyle McCann, C Buddy Reed, OF See More Collapse

Susan Slusser covers the As for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: sslusser@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susanslusser
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered 19 California counties with surging coronavirus outbreaks to close all bars moving forward, including both indoor and outdoor operations. The order, effective immediately, is expected to be in place for three weeks, Newsom said. In the Bay Area, the list includes counties on the governors watch list: Contra Costa, Santa Clara and Solano counties.

Here are the latest rules and information from each Bay Area county on the status of bars reopening, closing, or remaining closed:
Upcoming political events in the Bay Area. Events take place online unless otherwise noted:

WEDNESDAY

Clearing land mines: Heidi Kuhn, a former CNN reporter and producer, discusses her transformation to peace activist and founder of Roots of Peace, which removes land mines and replaces them with vineyards and orchards. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 11:30 a.m. More information is here.

How Russia rigged democracy: A discussion with former CIA director John Brennan and David Shimer, author of Rigged: America, Russia, and One Hundred Years of Covert Electoral Interference. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 3 p.m. More information is here.

THURSDAY

High courts year: Ben Feuer, chairman of the California Appellate Law Group, analyzes the U.S. Supreme Courts session. Hosted by Mannys. 6 p.m. More information is here.

SATURDAY

Defund police, defund the Pentagon: A car caravan organized by Code Pink and other groups. Starts at 2 p.m. outside San Francisco City Hall on Polk Street between Grove and McAllister streets. More information is here.

SUNDAY

Poor Peoples Campaign virtual open house: Welcoming new people into the movement to build power with and among poor people. 2 p.m. via Zoom. More information is here.

TUESDAY

Rep. Ro Khanna: Fremont Democrat holds a town hall meeting. Noon. Submit questions in advance here; join meeting here.

Wealth in the West: How public and private land interests are competing in the American West. Panelists include Justin Farrell, associate professor of sociology at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; Dina Gilio-Whitaker, American Indian studies lecturer at California State University San Marcos; and Diane Regas, president and CEO of the Trust for Public Land. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. Noon. More information is here.

Raising up the workforce: How America chipped away at social safety net protections for the labor force and possible steps to reverse the decades-long trend. Veena Dubal, an associate professor at UC Hastings College of the Law, and Jacob Hacker, director of the Institution for Social and Policy Studies at Yale University, join KQEDs Sam Harnett. Hosted by KQED. 6:30 p.m. More information is here.

JULY 8

How the right rules: How President Trump embodies a Republican embrace of plutocracy and right-wing extremism, with the authors of Let Them Eat Tweets  Jacob Hacker, director of the Institution for Social and Policy Studies at Yale University, and Paul Pierson, political science professor at UC Berkeley. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 12:30 p.m. More information is here.

JULY 9

Trump and the Middle East: How the Trump presidency is affecting the Middle East. Panelists include author Banafsheh Keynoush and Eddy Simonian of the University of San Francisco. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 2 p.m. More information is here.

To list an event, please email Chronicle politics editor Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com
The BET Awards on Sunday evening included former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown in an In Memoriam tribute segment to people who died in the last year.

Just one problem: Hes very much alive.

Brown, 86, was surprised to field a flood of calls from friends and family members checking on his well-being.

I couldnt figure out why the phone was all lit up, Brown said Sunday night. Finally, my niece called and she was pissed off  she said, If youre going to die, youre supposed to tell me.

Screenshots of the broadcast shared over social media showed a photo of a smiling Brown with the title: Willie Lewis Brown Jr., Politician. It seemed the network might have confused Brown with Hall of Fame former Oakland Raiders cornerback Willie Brown, who died in October at 78.

BET issued a statement Monday morning that noted the mistake had been corrected.

Our sincerest apologies go to Willie Lewis Brown Jr. , a dedicated public servant for over 30 years, and former mayor of San Francisco, company officials said. The in memoriam package was immediately corrected before the rebroadcast, and BET has been in direct contact with Mr. Brown and his family.

Brown, who writes a weekly column for The Chronicle, said he hadnt been watching but heard first from friends on the East Coast  where the awards aired earlier  and then from a BET executive who profusely apologized for the error.

Brown said he was told BET would correct the segment for its West Coast airing. He said he was surprised nobody had fact-checked his supposed demise but generally laughed it off.

I also said, Whatever you do, please dont fire anybody, Brown said.

Brown said one friend whod called Sunday had mused about the reaction generated by news of his passing. I said, That doesnt mean Im cared for, Brown joked. Those are people that owed me money. He said the calls had left him partly bemused.

I said, Let me ask a question: If you thought someone died, why would you be calling them? Brown said. One my guys said, Knowing you, Id call you.

Chronicle staff writer Tony Bravo contributed to this report.

Matt Kawahara is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: matt.kawahara@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthewkawahara
As of Tuesday, San Quentin State Prison had 1,106 active cases as the coronavirus has raced through its population of more than 3,500 inmates, and the numbers continue to climb.

There have also been 102 active cases among infected staff at the facility on San Francisco Bay. A man on Death Row who died last week has now been confirmed as positive for the coronavirus at the time of his death, marking the first fatality in San Quentin tied to a positive test.

About a third of the inmates have yet to be tested or are awaiting results, which means the case number could potentially be much higher.

Heres what you need to know about the major outbreak so far.

How it began

There were no coronavirus cases at San Quentin in March, April or May  until the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation decided to transfer 121 incarcerated men from the California Institute for Men in Chino to the Marin County facility on May 30.

At the time, the Chino facility was the site of one of the states deadliest prison outbreaks. State officials said they decided to transfer those 121 prisoners to the otherwise untouched San Quentin facility in order to spare them from the outbreak.

The transferred men had been on a list of inmates who had reportedly not been infected and were medically vulnerable  and officials maintained they were clear of the coronavirus.

But a Chronicle investigation by reporters Megan Cassidy and Jason Fagone found that many of the men werent tested for the coronavirus up to a month before they were put on crowded buses. Some began feeling sick right after getting to San Quentin, and several were found to be positive upon arrival.

Paul Kuroda / Special to The Chronicle

How it spread

At first, the cases were contained among the Chino prisoners. But they quickly spread to the rest of San Quentin, due in part to the design of Californias oldest prison facility.

Most of the cells at San Quentin have bars, not solid doors, making it easy for the virus to spread. Prisoners who tested positive for the virus were sent to isolation cells, the only ones with solid doors.

Read more about the prisoners and officers who realized they had been infected with the coronavirus.

The virus has also spread to Death Row, where 196 of 725 inmates have tested positive and one inmate  Richard Eugene Stitley, 71  has died.

Read more about the situation on Death Row.

What can be done?

A team of health experts have recommended that the prison population be reduced by at least half, arguing that its nearly impossible to socially distance within a prison, especially one like San Quentin. If the situation isnt managed, the outbreak could have dire implications for the Bay Area, they noted.

Read more about their recommendations to stop the spread at San Quentin.

Prisoner advocates also called for the thousands of older and medically vulnerable prisoners to be released, arguing that they are at a low risk to reoffend and have already served their minimum mandatory sentences.

Learn more about that in our Fifth & Mission podcast episode featuring Cassidy and Fagone.

The halted transfer

Paul Kuroda/Special to The Chronicle

Prison officials planned not to release the inmates, but to transfer them to a facility in the Bakersfield area  North Kern State Prison, which has 2,200 incarcerated men.

The plan was to take them if all the inmates tested negative, but just before they left, the staff found out two had tested positive.

I dont know what they think theyre doing, Marvin Mutch, a former San Quentin inmate and the director of advocacy with the Prisoner Reentry Network, said of the state Corrections Department. Its remarkable, whats going on. Its unbelievable.

Read more about the derailed plan here.

Whats the situation at the states other prisons?

San Quentin has surpassed all of the cases at the states prisons, with 916 new cases in the last two weeks. The situation accounts for more than a third of the state prisons confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The California Institution for Men in Chino has 509 reported cases of the virus  62 in the last two weeks  and 16 deaths. Chuckawalla Valley State Prison in Blythe has 291confirmed cases and two deaths, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations online tracker.

State lawmakers expedited an oversight hearing on the states prison system to find out why the outbreak has grown so rapidly. Its scheduled for July 1.

Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annievain
More than a month after the police killing of George Floyd set off protests worldwide, social justice protests demonstrations this weekend merged with a landmark event  the 50th anniversary of San Francisco Pride.

The Peoples March & Rally: Unite to Fight was held where the first Pride March took place 50 years ago. People of color organized the Sunday demonstration, which grew to more than 500 people, to call for gay rights and an end to racism and police brutality.

By 10:30 a.m., the intersection at Washington and Polk streets was filled with people carrying signs and wearing costumes that ranged from simple crowns to complete pink jesters. The signs included: The nightmare must end: The Trump/Pence regime must go, and Respect existence, or expect resistance. A flatbed truck repurposed as a parade float of sorts was adorned in neon pink and green flowers, as well as signs.

The demonstration felt as much like party as a protest, with the crowd dancing straight down Polk to City Hall. Once there, a series of activists addressed the crowd in between musical acts.

Also in San Francisco, protesters gathered at Dolores Park to honor LGBTQ freedom fighters ... to call for the liberation of Black, brown and indigenous people, and to demonstrate that trans and queer people are in this fight, according to the organizers.

In the Fillmore, people gathered for the Marsha P. Johnson Solidarity Rally, honoring the Black trans community. The event included the unveiling of the African-American Arts & Culture Complexs Black Trans Lives Matter mural.

In Oakland, protesters gathered at Henry J. Kaiser Park for the Sit, Walk & Listen Pride Celebration and Black Lives Matter protest. Some meditated with Buddhists for Black lives.

On Sunday afternoon, Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan announced she would ask her colleagues at a Tuesday meeting to reconsider their earlier passage of a budget, so that more funds can be pulled from the Police Department and spread to community programs.

Kaplan joined protesters in a caravan from the Port of Oakland to council members and the mayors houses.

City Council slashed jobs in the middle of a pandemic to save the police budget, a sign on one car said. Were coming for your jobs & Oakland police dept. too.

Rusty Simmons and Matthias Gafni are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: rusty.simmons@sfchronicle.com, matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Rusty_SFChron, @mgafni
Corinna Goulds first reaction to the videos of protesters recently pulling down the statue of St. Junipero Serra in Golden Gate Park was: Its about time.

Gould  the traditional spokesperson for the Confederated Villages of Lisjan/Ohlone  fought the canonization of Serra for many years with other indigenous people, to little avail.

Serra  a controversial Franciscan evangelist who established missions up and down Californias coast and is remembered by most indigenous communities as a cruel colonizer  was elevated to sainthood five years ago. Despite vigils, protests and petitions, emblems honoring him are still scattered across the Bay Area.

The past few weeks have been a watershed moment for historical memory. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, at least 100 Confederate statues and symbols have been toppled or removed, along with many other historical monuments and emblems across the country, as anger over systemic racism has boiled over.

After toppling Serra on June 19, San Francisco protesters moved on to other statues nearby: Francis Scott Key and President Ulysses S. Grant. After the Christopher Columbus statue in Coit Tower was vandalized multiple times and threatened to be thrown in the bay, the citys Arts Commission arranged for its removal.

San Francisco Chronicle

The Chronicle issued an online reader survey for its replacement and received thousands of responses, with the Ohlone people at the top. So far, second place is a tie  between California firefighters and no statue at all.

Some indigenous leaders said they might welcome potential Ohlone recognition in a place as prominent as Coit Tower  but others think the conversations around removal and replacement are happening too fast and missing some key steps.

Just replacing a statue with something else is not allowing us to heal and talk about the pain that has been created here, and what the consequences have been, Gould said.

To be silenced again  thats the problem

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

One step in particular that San Francisco officials failed to take, Gould said, was including indigenous voices in the conversation about the Columbus statues removal.

April McGill, executive director for the American Indian Cultural Center in San Francisco, said she is disappointed that despite the centers partnership with the citys Arts Commission and past work with Mayor London Breed, it wasnt contacted about the Columbus statue decision. And although its removal felt like closure for a lot of American Indian people, they shouldnt have had to witness it from afar, she said.

To be silenced again, and not be included  thats the problem, said McGill, who is of Yuki, Little Lake and Mishewal Wappo tribal descent. Youre on Native land  and when you remove something like that, there should have been someone there. We missed an opportunity here that was really important.

An indigenous presence at that moment, McGill said, could have allowed for healing and education, as well as a partnership with the Italian American community, to whom Columbus is often seen as a hero.

The decision felt like another form of an erasure, she said, something indigenous people have had to contend with for hundreds of years in the Bay Area and beyond.

The San Francisco Arts Commission attributed the quiet removal of the Columbus statue to an abundance of caution for public safety at the direction of City Hall.

As for next steps, Replacing the Columbus statue will be a future topic of discussion, Rebekah Krell, the commissions acting director of cultural affairs, said in an email to The Chronicle. Our focus remains on public safety and realizing the mayors directive to assess remaining public monuments. We advocate for a holistic approach and public process.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

As the debates continue, critics on both ends of the ideological spectrum are processing the movement to rename or remove problematic monuments as a choice between erasing or preserving history. But activists and tribal leaders who support the call to dismantle these monuments see the real issue as the way in which the glorification and preservation of history have collapsed into one another, obscuring the truth.

To the people who say toppling the Serra statue destroyed history, Gould said that the last 250 years in the Bay Area did exactly that, in obliterating the history of indigenous people  both with the little thats taught of their stories in the California public school system and the demolition of their historic shell mounds.

Thousands of years of our peoples monuments and cemeteries were destroyed so that this new society could come in and benefit off our land that was stolen, Gould said.

Historical context seen as key

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Experts on California Native history like Jonathan Cordero, chairperson of the Ramaytush Ohlone (the First Peoples of San Francisco), also maintain that the monuments erase history because they dont provide the context to understand problematic figures such as Serra. His actions, Cordero said, are in part responsible for the staggering loss of indigenous lives  up to 80% of the population  within the mission system.

We see Serra standing there, sort of dignified and proud, and it invokes these narratives about conquest and manifest destiny, said Cordero, who is also a professor of sociology at California Lutheran University. But what you dont see is the consequences to Native Americans of the actions of these colonizers.

Serra established nine of the 21 Catholic missions that ran down the states coast. Within them, Native Californians were forced, often brutally, into a new way of life: to build the missions, adopt agriculture and abandon their culture. A large population also died because of unsanitary conditions and disease in their cramped living spaces.

In an interview with The Chronicle, the Most Rev. Salvatore Cordileone, archbishop of San Francisco, said he believes Serra has become an icon of something he detested  and that he made heroic attempts to protect the indigenous people from their Spanish conquerors.

But Cordileone also wants people to look beyond the mission era.

Theyre very deep scars, very deep evils that have been inflicted on the indigenous people here, he said. I think telling the stories and owning up to them is a step in the right direction.

Cordileone said projects are in place to address some of this history, including a revised and more objective curriculum for Catholic schools about mission history, and the inclusion of more Indian perspectives during mission tours.

There are some figures of history who have accomplished great things but also had flaws, Cordileone said. But rather than having a frenzied violent reaction, we need to have a rational discussion about this.

Feeling of invisibility

Jungho Kim / Special to The Chronicle

Right now, when Vincent Medina walks past the statues of those historical figures  the ones whose actions contributed to the genocide of his people  he feels as if hes invisible.

But its not just the statues that remind Medina, chairman of the Muwekma Language Committee, of a brutal and painful lineage. The historical markers seem to be everywhere. Theyre in city names like Vallejo  which honors Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, a Mexican general and one of the founding fathers of California who greatly mistreated Native Americans. Theyre in the church of Santa Clara University at the memorial site of Peter Burnett  Californias first governor, who famously said: That a war of extermination will continue to be waged between the races until the Indian race becomes extinct must be expected.

To see these markers of these people who enslaved our ancestors, stole our resources, looted our land, and at the same time, are being promoted as being these heroes  it feels incredibly hard to see these people elevated, Medina said.

The devastation of colonization, especially Serras actions, is still at work today, Medina said.

With more than 800 members,the Muwekma Ohlone are the largest tribe in the central Bay Area, but the conversions and deaths of their ancestors continue to affect their connection to much of their lineage, he said.

Destruction is so fast, but healing takes so long

Its evident in our last names today and the fact that many of our people still speak Spanish, Medina said. Destruction is so fast, but healing takes so long  and its evident that were still healing over 200 years after these missions.

If The Chronicles informal survey is any indication of the Bay Areas interest in honoring Ohlone culture, Medinas thrilled  especially considering the dearth of visible Ohlone history around the Bay Area.

But many think a more conscious way forward might be one that entirely reconsiders statues as tools of commemoration.

For Cordero, the thought of the city potentially replacing the Columbus statue with a monument to the Ohlone people could run counter to indigenous tradition. Native people dont do statues, he said. Thats a white thing. Its a non-Native thing.

Whatever the decision, Medina hopes it wont start and end with statues  as its not only history that deserves honoring, but the present culture of Ohlone and indigenous communities too.

He longs for a present where original Ohlone place names could adorn Bay Area streets, where traditional Ohlone architectural styles could be incorporated into modern urban architecture, where traditional burns could be brought back with old Ohlone technology, where Chochenyo could be spoken across the valleys, where ancient burial sites or shell mounds arent always subject to the threat of development.

Where there could be a deep familiarity and reverence for Ohlone culture, he said  and not just for the elements that have been lost.

Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annievain
A couple embraced, masks pushed aside, and kissed outside the Roaring Donkey in Petaluma. Inside the bar, under low lighting, unmasked patrons filled nearly every seat sipping cocktails, many of them seemingly oblivious to the blue tape on the floor marking the 6-foot distance they were supposed to keep from each other.

Clean your hands ya filthy animals, read a sign next to the bar-front entrance with a bottle of hand sanitizer beside it. A masked DJ bobbed his head to the beat and played loud music while masked bartenders mixed drinks.

On Saturday night, in bars throughout downtown Petaluma, owners installed Plexiglas partitions between bartenders and customers. Still, people moved between groups, hugged one another and shook hands. It was a rare scene in the Bay Area, one that is being closely watched  and may not last.

Bars like the Roaring Donkey have become a focus of concern throughout the country, revealed as a source of coronavirus outbreaks. In Florida, where cases are surging, patrons of several bars recently tested positive. In Louisiana, also a hot spot, nearly 100 people tested positive after barhopping in Baton Rouge.

On Sunday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered bars closed in seven counties: Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, San Joaquin and Tulare. He recommended eight other counties, including Santa Clara and Contra Costa in the Bay Area, close bars due to surging cases. Health officers from Sacramento, San Diego and Riverside counties announced Monday they will also close bars there.

Most people in the Bay Area cant go to bars unless they sit outside, and unless food is served. But with state approval, Sonoma Countys bars, indoor dining, wineries and breweries have been open since June 19.

Sonoma County officials say they are monitoring case counts and that they have no plans to shut down again. Nevertheless, the numbers look worrying. On average, the number of new daily coronavirus cases doubled in June compared with May, to 20 from 10, according to a Chronicle analysis of county data.

It puts a pressure on everything, for sure, said David Rabbitt, a county supervisor who represents Petaluma, about the increase in cases. At the same time, we cant stay locked up forever and need to figure out a way forward and need to have businesses operate safely. It doesnt mean the risk is going to be zero, but you need to minimize it.

In Sonoma County, 1,118 people have become infected with the coronavirus, and five have died. Some public officials fear that with the Fourth of July weekend looming, visitors from outside the county will flood the indoor businesses and transmit the virus.

Am I concerned? Absolutely, said county Supervisor Lynda Hopkins. We have not yet had a major cluster in the hospitality industry, but its only a matter of time. We know that we will have outbreaks in different businesses.

Infectious disease experts say the recent increase in new cases across California is driven by young people. New cases among people under 35 surged by 73% in the last two weeks of June compared to the first two weeks. The experts blame new social gatherings at bars and other indoor places as the probable cause.

They are beginning to go into environments, especially indoor gatherings where there isnt social distancing being practiced; theyre not wearing masks in some of these settings, said George Lemp, an infectious-disease epidemiologist and retired director of the California HIV/AIDS research program at the University of California. There is a tendency among young people to feel theyre invincible and so they are less likely to wear masks and be cautious.

On Monday, Newsom said the increase in the rate of positive cases was concerning, adding, When you reopen the economy, new interactions will happen.

The scene in downtown Petaluma, which is a magnet for surrounding communities, was quieter and less crowded Saturday night than usual. For many people, it felt more like a weeknight. Any anxiety about an infectious virus that could tear through an establishment were far from everyones minds.

Honestly, it doesnt really matter what you do, said Tom Peden, 57, of Sebastopol, from his barstool at Gales Central Club. You can wash your hands, you can wear your gloves, you can wear a mask  if youre going to get it, youre going to get it. Youll either recover or you wont.

Ramin Rahimian / Special to The Chronicle

Peden is wrong. Health experts believe that masks help prevent the spread of the virus because if a sick person wears one, their droplets wont spread. If a healthy person wears one, they can be protected from breathing in the virus. People can also have the virus without showing any symptoms, experts now know.

Yet Peden said hes not worried because his 70-year-old friend contracted the virus and it was just like a really bad flu.

I bet you Id be sick for a week because I have a really good immune system, he said.

In fact, data shows that many otherwise healthy people can suffer devastating effects from the coronavirus, including organ damage, that go well beyond flu-like symptoms in some cases.

Downplaying the effects of the virus is dangerous and shows a state of denial, said Robert Siegel, an infectious-disease expert at Stanford University. Bars can be ground zero for outbreaks because people are not only typically close together and without masks, but need to speak louder over loud music, he said. This makes it easier for droplets carrying the virus to spread farther.

If we get completely back to normal, the virus will be very happy because it will very effectively spread and more people will die, Siegel said. Bars are a significant manifestation of a phenomenon that is more widespread and that has to do with denial about the virus.

Barhopping is also dangerous because people can spread the virus from one establishment to another, he added.

For workers and patrons, reopening brings a sense of normalcy back to their lives. Most of the bars in downtown Petaluma had signs taped on the walls that encouraged social distancing. All the bartenders had masks on and patrons were asked to wear masks if they walked around the bar or walked to the bathroom, though masks could be removed to sip cocktails.

Across Sonoma County, officials say most bars are operating below capacity to allow for social distancing. At the Hideaway, a Petaluma dive bar, a Plexiglas partition separated people from the lone bartender mixing drinks. New hand sanitizer dispensers were installed by the doors. Every hour or so, workers cleaned the tables with bleach and sanitizer.

Amanda Siler, 39, stood at the bar at the Hideaway and said there werent any clear-cut rules and that there was too much of a gray area around mask-wearing inside bars. She raised her eyebrows when the bartender cleaned the countertops.

Now, we are smelling bleach, Siler said, rolling her eyes. Thats interesting.

Nearby, at McNears Saloon and Dining House, reopening has been a long process, said Shennon ODonnell, a manager.

When the restaurant and bar first opened with only outdoor seating, a workers roommate tested positive, causing the owners to close again and get the whole staff tested. Once the tests came back negative, they reopened, ODonnell said.

Its been such an emotional roller coaster for everybody, she said. Its just a whole new world.

By 11 p.m. on Saturday, every seat at the bar was taken. Bartenders mixed drinks behind a Plexiglas partition at the end of the bar before giving them to customers.

Upstairs, roommates Jo Nickerson, 36, and Brennan Kunkel, 37, played pool. Tensions had increased between the two in their home because Nickerson refused to wear a mask at the grocery store.

I said, Bro, if you do that, you can get the f out of my house, Kunkel said, shaking his head.

Nickerson said all the rules are silly and maybe people should take Vitamin D, get sunshine, get exercise and get sleep.

Ramin Rahimian / Special to The Chronicle

But that night, the roommates set aside their differences and their masks to hoist pints of Pliny the Elder beer.

Hes a buddy, Kunkel shrugged. Its going to get to a point where its like, All right, lets not talk about this at all.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Applicants must be an adult, prove they are U.S. citizens or a permanent legal resident, pay rent or have their primary residence in Orange County, and be able to show they lost a job or pay from a reduction in hours at work as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
Called to action by the catastrophic outbreak of COVID-19 inside San Quentin State Prison, protesters stretched nearly the length of the villages Main Street to the prison gates Sunday.

Hundreds from the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, interfaith religious groups, family members of inmates, and former prisoners filled the quaint Marin County neighborhood. They held signs of protest, cheering and chanting as leaders addressed the crowd with demands directed at Gov. Gavin Newsom and Ralph Diaz, head of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

As recently as last month, the prison reported zero coronavirus cases among its incarcerated population. However, that changed after 121 men were transferred in late May to San Quentin from the California Institution for Men in Chino, the site of the prison systems deadliest outbreak.

By Sunday afternoon, 871 prisoners and 89 staff members were confirmed to be infected, according to the states web tracker. The count spiked by 258 cases since Saturday.

This is not just incompetence, said Emile DeWeaver, who spent 21 years in prison, including seven at San Quentin. This is about power, who has it and how they choose to wield it.

DeWeaver, who had his 67-year prison sentence commuted by then-Gov. Jerry Brown in 2017, drew thunderous reactions from the crowd as he explained how the people could regain the power and detailed demands that should be made to the governor and CDCR secretary.

Among the demands, protesters asked Newsom to grant mass clemency and release prisoners, asked the CDCR to stop collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and asked for the end of transfers between prisons during the pandemic.

Neither the Governors Office nor the CDCR responded to requests for comments about the demands Sunday. A day earlier, the transfer of inmates from San Quentin to a prison in the Bakersfield area was halted after two tested positive.

Thats a start, but not nearly enough, according to the protesters, who paused a two-hour demonstration a handful of times to peacefully move people, banners, microphones and speakers out of the street to allow prison workers to drive through the gates.

Movement isnt quite so easy inside San Quentin, where the 3,600-plus incarcerated represent more than 100% of the designed capacity.

They have no freedom to wash their hands, use soap or socially distance, said the Rev. Deb Lee, who used to teach tai chi at the prison. This is taking away their dignity.

With people holding signs such as Care, not cages and Cant get well in a cell, a series of speakers rotated to the microphones at the front of the crowd. Some directed chants, with the leader saying: Free them, and the crowd responding all or now.

Others prompted the crowd to fall into silence while sharing heartfelt stories. Oaklands Shawanda Scott, who identified as Mama Bear, told the crowd that her son was locked behind the gates that made the backdrop of her emotional speech.

My son will be mad at me, because I am cussing, but I give no f, she said, before turning her message to the CDCR. Let him go. I can take care of my son. Youve proven that you cannot.

Organizers of the demonstration gave out the phone numbers of Newsom and Diaz and prompted the crowd to call them every other day until all of the demands are met.

The groups also are asking for adequate coronavirus testing for incarcerated people and prison staff and that staff be regulated to work in only one part of the prison to avoid spreading the virus.

According to published demands of the incarcerated community, they are also asking for free personal protective equipment, hygiene products and essential goods until the end of the pandemic. With visitation suspended for three months, they are asking for free tele-visits.

Rusty Simmons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rsimmons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Rusty_SFChron
The San Francisco Controllers Office released a batch of recommendations for reforming contracting processes within the citys Public Works Department following a months-long, sweeping investigation launched in response to the public corruption scandal touched off by the arrest of former director Mohammed Nuru earlier this year.

Overall, the recommendations are intended to shore up weaknesses and identify blind spots within Public Works vast contracting apparatus, parts of which Nuru may have exploited.

Public Works awarded 366 contracts with a value of $1.4 billion from July 2017 to March 2020. We found weaknesses in various department and citywide procurement approaches, concentrated in several contracting methods, that create risks for abuse and fraud, the Controllers Office said in a statement summarizing the findings.

Throughout our review, we found significant lapses in the tone at the top created by Mr. Nuru that provided the pressure, rationalization and ability to carry out unethical and unacceptable acts, the summary said.

Nuru has been charged with fraud over an alleged scheme to bribe an airport commissioner in exchange for a vote to approve a lease for a chicken restaurant at San Francisco International Airport owned by Nick Bovis, who was arrested alongside Nuru but has since agreed to cooperate with the U.S. attorneys office.

But Nurus arrest triggered a still-widening internal probe into wrongdoing at City Hall, particularly around how for years money  possibly at the direction of city officials  flowed between contractors and nonprofits before ending back at Public Works and other agencies for events, including a Public Works Christmas party, subpoenas issued by the City attorneys office suggest.

The Controllers Office and city attorneys office are conducting parallel investigations into potential wrongdoing within City Hall.

The city attorneys office is focused on rooting out misconduct by city employees. Investigators and auditors with the Controllers Office are assessing systemic failures that allowed misconduct to occur.

Our job is to ensure the transparency, accountability and ethical behavior that San Franciscans are owed when it comes to the delivery of city services and the use of their tax dollars, City Controller Ben Rosenfield said in a statement. In simple terms, the Controllers Office is seeking to rectify bad policies and practices that undermine those goals.

Rosenfields office found a number of flimsy practices and legal loopholes within Public Works contracting systems that increase the risk of fraud and abuse and made recommendations for how the department, Mayor London Breed and the Board of Supervisors can remedy them.

Supervisor Matt Haney on Monday announced he intended to introduce an anti-corruption legislative package based on the reports findings and recommendations. One piece of that package would end whats commonly called the best friends forever gift exemption, a fuzzy area of city law that allows officials to avoid having to report gifts given by longtime, close personal friends.

The casual, blatant corruption in our city government goes far beyond Director Nuru, Haney said. We have to root out the bad actors and change the laws that allow pay-to-play politics.

Haney is also pursuing an initiative for the November ballot that would split Public Works into two departments and create commissions to provide greater oversight and transparency in its inner workings. A separate ballot measure, spearheaded by Supervisor Gordon Mar, seeks to create a dedicated city position solely focused on rooting out corruption and government waste. The measures may face a difficult path ahead, considering the substantial costs theyd likely incur while the city stares down a nearly $2 billion budget deficit brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the recommendations from Rosenfields office urges the city to undo a 2011 decision by then-Mayor Ed Lee to delegate an enormous amount of authority to approve Public Works construction contracts to Nuru. Lee appointed Nuru to lead the department that same year.

Among the six city departments that approve construction contracts, Public Works is the only one without a commission to provide transparency and oversight into its procurement process. That oversight function rested with Lee  until he decided to transfer it to Nuru, consolidating the power to award major contracts in his office.

Breed, a personal friend and brief romantic partner of Nuru two decades ago, said Monday that following the recommendations, she reversed Lees 2011 decision and assigned oversight authority over contracting to Sailaja Kurella, acting director of the Office of Contract Administration and City Purchaser.

I know these are the first in a series of recommendations, and we need to continue to identify problematic issues that erode public trust across our city. We have work to do, but we will do that work. Our residents and city workers deserve nothing less, Breed said in a statement.

This month, federal officials filed criminal charges against Balmore Hernandez, a former Public Works employee now CEO of construction and engineering firm AzulWorks, for allegedly supplying Nuru with $250,000 worth of building materials for his vacation home in Stonyford (Colusa County) in exchange for inside information on city contracts.

The controllers report highlighted that allegation as evidence of the need for greater external oversight for Public Works contracting.

Public Works was also able to get around normal contracting safeguards under a program Breed instituted last year meant to speed up the citys ability to administer homelessness services and build shelters. The department awarded 15 contracts worth $25 million using that sped-up process. Seven of those, worth a combined $10 million, were awarded through no discernible selection process and are at the greatest risk of fraud or abuse in the award process, according to the report. The largest of those contracts was valued at $4.7 million.

Acting Public Works Director Alaric Degrafinried reverted to a more traditional contracting process around homelessness services and structures shortly after he took the helm of the agency in February  one of several policy changes the report said should be continued or even promoted citywide.

The Controllers Office also urged city policymakers to tighten rules surrounding grants  which arent subject to the same legal controls as contracts, allowing for less oversight into how theyre administered.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa
Natalie Logusch reeled as she read the letter taped to the front door of her downtown Berkeley apartment in mid-April.

UC Berkeley proposed to undertake the development of the property you currently occupy, it said. If you are displaced for the Project, you will be eligible for relocation assistance. It provided contact information for a relocation company.

It was devastating, said Logusch, whos lived in the rent-controlled two-bedroom at 1921 Walnut St. for 10 years. This is my home. The world was in the middle of a pandemic. Her fellow tenants include people whove lived there 25 years, she said.

Tenants from six of the buildings eight units have joined forces to fight back. They plan a socially distanced protest on Monday at 4 p.m. outside their building. Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin, Councilwoman Kate Harrison and housing activists will speak.

Understandably for these tenants theres a lot of anxiety, a lot of uncertainty, said John Selawsky of the Berkeley Tenants Union. Theyre in danger of losing their homes; waiting for the next shoe to drop.

A larger issue, he said, is that UC campuses are not subject to local zoning laws and housing regulations, such as Berkeleys rule that developers who raze rent-controlled units must replace them by building new rent-controlled apartments.

UC Berkeley is in contract to purchase 1921 Walnut, but the sale has not closed, said spokesman Dan Mogulof in an email. Berkeleys F.E. Forbes Co., a real estate investment management and private mortgage lender which appears to be the buildings owner, according to Berkeleyside, did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

The university already owns adjacent properties and plans to develop them for student housing to provide hundreds of new beds within apartment-style units, he said. Incorporating this final piece of the block would provide us with space and flexibility needed to efficiently construct the best possible facility.

A January memo to the regents said a donor had offered to build a complex called the Gateway Student Housing Project to house up to 810 students on land bounded by University Avenue, Oxford Street, Walnut Street and Berkeley Way. At that time, the school owned five of the six parcels; 1921 Walnut is the sixth. The project would break ground in the third quarter of 2021, the memo said.

The letter to 1921 Walnut tenants was sent under a UC policy that requires occupants to be notified of potential relocation before a property is acquired, Mogulof said, noting that it says the tenants do not have to move now. The current residents can plan on remaining in the building for at least several months, he wrote.

If and when the sale closes, and the shelter-in-place rules are lifted, the University will ensure residents receive all of the relocation assistance they are entitled to, Mogulof said, referring to a 52-page UC policy that says residents dislocated by the university should receive fair and reasonable relocation payment and assistance to find comparable dwellings. How much assistance depends on circumstances such as income, cost of comparable housing and moving expenses, he said.

But worried tenants fear that will not be good enough.

Ideally we want UC not to buy the building so we could stay, said Paul Wallace, whos lived at the site for five years, and noted that the university previously planned to build on the parcels around 1921 Walnut, while leaving it intact. A distant second choice (would be to) compensate us for the relocation, and (move) to similar accommodations with similar rent in a rent-controlled building.

Finding comparable space could be a tall order in Berkeley, which, like much of the Bay Area, has a housing crisis. Rent-controlled units rarely come to market and when they do, their current asking rents are much higher than those paid by people whove been in a unit for many years.

The charm and character of the 111-year-old building, which has hardware floors, wainscotting and higher ceilings, would also be hard to find elsewhere.

UC cant find us comparable apartments, said Logusch, who relies on being close to public transit. If they evict us, I can be displaced from Berkeley permanently, maybe from the Bay Area.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
Joseph James DeAngelo admitted in June that he was the infamous Golden State Killer. The 74-year old avoided the death penalty by taking a plea deal, pleading guilty to 13 counts of first-degree murder and 13 kidnapping counts in six counties. His weeklong sentencing hearing began Tuesday.

From 1974 to 1986, DeAngelo went on multiple killing and rape sprees throughout the state, including the East Bay and Central Valley. His targets included sleeping couples, and he became known as the Visalia Ransacker, East Area Rapist and Original Night Stalker. Later he was given the Golden State Killer nickname after investigators connected the crimes.

The case went unsolved for decades, until detectives cracked it using genetic genealogy technology and arrested DeAngelo at his suburban Sacramento-area home in 2018.

Here is a roundup of Chronicle coverage of the case:

 Interactive map: See where the crimes related to the Golden State Killer case occurred across California.

 The investigation: DNA evidence played a crucial role in solving the Golden State Killer case. Read about how investigators used an open-source genealogy website to identify Joseph James DeAngelo as the suspect.

 Cold-case detective: Investigator Paul Holes worked on the Golden State Killer case for 24 years. He talks about the events leading up to DeAngelos arrest: To finally get to the point where you find the right guy, it is a very good feeling.

 Go-to expert: A year after Joseph DeAngelos arrest, genealogy pro Barbara Rae-Venter keeps solving crimes.

 A victims story: She was 13 when the Golden State Killer crept into her Walnut Creek bedroom. Mary Berwert speaks about the horrific attack.

 How evidence was gathered: The Golden State Killer suspects DNA was taken from his car as he shopped at Hobby Lobby.

 Eerie detail from killers home: Paul Holes, now a retired Contra Costa County cold-case investigator, reveals a telling piece of evidence from the Citrus Heights home of Joseph DeAngelo.

 The 13th victim: DeAngelo has now been charged with the killing of Claude Snelling, a Visalia college professor. This story details the then unsolved murder, when he was known as the Visalia Ransacker.

 Neighbors shocked: Citrus Heights parents say their daughter babysat for Joseph James DeAngelo.

 The 2018 arrest: A one time cop living quietly in the Sacramento suburbs is pegged as the East Area Rapist, with authorities saying DNA helped link him to multiple slayings and dozens of rapes in the 1970s and 80s.

 Arrested before: DeAngelo, who was not on the radar yet as the Golden State Killer suspect, was arrested in 1996 during a sting operation targeting individuals with outstanding warrants. He ended up in Sacramento County Jail for 3 1/2 hours.

 A patchwork of clues: A look back at the chilling details of the Golden State Killers crimes before investigators zeroed in on their suspect.

 Behind the bestseller: A new HBO documentary documentary series, Ill Be Gone in the Dark, details the bestselling book of the same name by the late Michelle McNamara. The author obsessively researched the case for years, and is credited with coining the nickname the Golden State Killer. McNamara died in 2016 and the book was posthumously released in 2018. The first episode in the six-part series came out on June 28.

Kellie Hwang is a Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com
Take a look at whats happening in Oakland, the president said Thursday night on Fox News as he absurdly compared living in Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore and Oakland to living in Afghanistan, Guatemala and Honduras.

Its like living in hell, he said.

Ignorance is a hallmark of white supremacy.

Were officially in a recession and, as of Monday, more than 125,000 people in the United States have died from the still-raging coronavirus. But the president was on TV disparaging cities with large Black populations.

The president talks like he has a hood covering his face. Besides, you cant see whats happening in Oakland today without genuinely appreciating what happened during the last recession.

This is a pivotal year in our countrys history. The overwhelmingly peaceful uprisings have pushed cities like Oakland to meaningfully address police brutality. The Oakland City Council reduced police funding by $14 million last week, but thats not nearly enough to combat systemic racism.

If you believe Black lives matter, I urge you not to lose sight of the economic devastation facing marginalized communities because of the pandemic. And know this: Racial justice wont ever be achieved without sustained investment in communities with historical gaps in health care, education and employment.

Those gaps widened during the Great Recession, as the federal government bailed out the sinking banks and automakers while underwater homeowners were left to drown. The median net worth of Black households dropped 43% during the recession that followed the 2008 financial crisis, according to a 2014 report by Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank that conducts public opinion polling, demographic research and content analysis.

In 2016, the net worth of a typical white family was nearly 10 times greater than that of a Black family, according to the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization.

In this country, homeownership is a primary source of wealth. Predatory lending practices used to exploit low-income homeowners activated the foreclosure crisis, wiping out economic gains for minorities. Investment companies snapped up foreclosed houses in Black and brown neighborhoods in West Oakland and East Oakland  neighborhoods historically cut off from investment  for little before renting and selling at prices that people who grew up in the neighborhoods couldnt afford. This opened the door to gentrification.

A 2018 study conducted by City University of New Yorks Institute for State and Local Governance found that 37.6% of Black workers take home less than it costs to live in Oakland. Almost half  46.5%  of Latino workers make less than a living wage in Oakland while only 12.3% of their white neighbors do.

The disproportionate toll of the pandemic on Black and brown communities is already visible. Black and brown people are more likely to work in low-wage industries and, according to a California Budget & Policy Center report, 64% of jobs lost in California from February to May were in low-paying industries.

This means that many of the people who have lost work were already struggling before the crisis and are unlikely to have a financial cushion to weather this downturn, said the report by Alissa Anderson, a senior policy analyst.

Thats what happened.

Harry Hamilton / City of Oakland

Darlene Flynn, head of Oaklands Department of Race and Equity, came to Oakland in 2016 to address social equity through policy-making. Progress in policy was happening before the coronavirus, aided by the unmitigated incompetence of the presidents administration, halted our lives.

We have a nice baseline across the city of people who understand what it looks like to apply equity thinking to policy-making and decision-making, Flynn told me. Im not claiming that were fixed, but weve done that groundwork.

The president would see how Oakland is paving the way toward equity if he didnt have an antagonistic relationship with facts. In April 2019, Oaklands Department of Transportation decided to drive a larger portion of the citys infrastructure bond money to the low-income neighborhoods in the flatlands of East Oakland. Of course, some residents were aggrieved by the citys attempt to address historic racial and economic disparities.

The recession will put Oaklands progress in jeopardy.

We all know when were broke, its really hard to improve ourselves, Flynn said. Theres a way that equity can get set aside when its just about trying to keep the lights on and trying to get the garbage picked up. Im very, very concerned about what another recession is going to do  not to peoples will to do something, necessarily.

It will take political will and money to address the gaps in society.

To actually close these gaps and help build wealth, we need intentional policies to actually help African Americans, help Latinx groups to create wealth, Olugbenga Ajilore, a senior economist at the Center for American Progress, told me. When you have wealth, youre able to weather these recessions, these setbacks, these downturns a lot better.

You cant tell me the money isnt there. As part of the economic stimulus package, the federal government sent about $1.4 billion to dead people, the Government Accountability Office reported Thursday.

Its yet another failure by this countrys inept leadership. Theres no wonder why the president whines when journalists take a look at whats happening inside the clown carnival that is his administration.

Thats why were all living in hell.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays and Thursdays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
Crimes previously committed by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. hung over Bill Johnson for the entire time he was chief executive of the parent company PG&E Corp.

Effective Tuesday, Johnson will retire, handing control of Californias largest utility to a successor who also faces a new set of problems. The task of the next top executive, Bill Smith, is to keep the company stable while beginning to steer it away from its catastrophic past.

It wont be easy. Not only does PG&E owe billions of dollars to the victims of previous wildfires sparked by its power lines, but the company also faces a profound challenge in what may be an acutely dangerous fire season this year. PG&E is under pressure from all sides to avoid causing more calamities while also reducing the use of its most extreme fire-prevention measure: power shut-offs like those that left millions of Californians without electricity last year.

The coronavirus pandemic adds another complication, both for PG&Es more than 20,000-member workforce and the 16 million Californians it serves.

Shepherding the company through those headwinds in the near term will be Smith, a former AT&T executive who has been on PG&Es board since October. As the interim CEO while the company searches for a long-term leader, Smith will be the fifth top executive of PG&E Corp.  including another interim chief  in just five years.

Jana Asenbrennerova / Special to The Chronicle 2019

He assumes control of PG&E shortly after Johnson traveled to Butte County to appear in a courtroom to accept the companys guilt over the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. Smith also attended part of the Butte County proceedings, and both executives expressed regret over the fires.

The turnover at the top also comes just as the company resolves its bankruptcy that began last January because of PG&E-caused wildfires that killed more than 100 people and incinerated more than 20,000 buildings across Northern California in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

PG&E declined to make Smith or Johnson available for an interview. Company spokeswoman Lynsey Paulo said in an email that Mr. Smiths top priority is to continue efforts to reduce wildfire risk through system inspections, system upgrades, enhanced vegetation management and other operational improvements.

He credits retiring CEO Bill Johnson for managing the companys wildfire-related challenges under very difficult circumstances, she said. Smith plans to keep that work on track.

Michael Macor / Special To The Chronicle 2019

Smith, who recently moved from Texas to San Francisco as he prepared to start his new role at PG&E, has no prior experience working for an electric and gas utility. But he spent nearly 40 years with AT&T and its predecessor companies, where he held a variety of operational roles, Paulo said.

Throughout his career, he managed organizations with more than 100,000 employees and contractors and led network and customer care efforts across a broad global footprint, she said in the email. Smiths compensation package wont be approved until PG&E seats its new board when it officially emerges from bankruptcy, which the company currently expects to happen by Wednesday.

Throughout Johnsons 13-month tenure, PG&E was working feverishly to get its bankruptcy plan approved in court and by state regulators. The process became even more urgent last summer, after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law that required PG&Es plan to be approved by Tuesday in order for the company to qualify for a new form of utility wildfire insurance.

PG&E ultimately met that deadline with time to spare. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali confirmed the companys plan June 20, a few days after he said he would do so because leaving fire survivors and other creditors with no other options on the horizon is not an acceptable alternative.

Bankruptcy was not the only major item on PG&Es agenda while Johnson was in charge. Last fall, the company undertook a historic effort to prevent more fires by repeatedly turning off its power lines when fast, dry winds blew through Northern Californias parched landscape.

Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press

PG&E drew widespread criticism because millions of people were affected by the outages, some for days on end. The PG&E website also crashed amid high traffic, and local government leaders accused the company of poorly communicating its plans to them.

And despite its aggressive efforts, PG&E may be responsible for the October 2019 Kincade Fire. The company left one of its high-voltage Sonoma County power lines turned on even as it shut down other parts of the grid in the same area. A piece of that power line broke right around the origin point of the fire, the cause of which is still under investigation.

Critics believe the blackouts will define Johnsons legacy at the company.

A customer living their daily life isnt following the ins and outs of the bankruptcy, said Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network consumer group. People expect that if they pay their monthly bills, the bargain that they get ... is that they have reliable, safe energy. Clean energy. And he did not deliver that, particularly during the fall.

But Tom Dalzell, the business manager of PG&Es largest union, IBEW Local 1245, said Johnson was limited because he inherited a system that was built 100 years ago. Reflecting back on Johnsons time at PG&E, Dalzell said the outgoing CEO was likely unable to spend as much time on big operational changes as he had planned.

Interactive Vaccine Tracker: Latest developments Detailed information about the coronavirus vaccines as it becomes available.

He got some, but I think he came here thinking that was mostly what he was going to work on and it wasnt, Dalzell said. He got them out of bankruptcy. He got them through a fire season. He got through a legislative season and he entered the (Camp Fire) plea.

Dalzell recently spent about an hour and a half with Smith, who he said has some good instincts despite his lack of experience in the energy sector. Still, Smith clearly faces big challenges.

He has to avoid fires, improve the (shut-offs) ... and hes got to deal with the move away from natural gas, Dalzell said. Hes got tough finances coming out of bankruptcy. There are a lot of challenges.

Nick Otto / Special to The Chronicle 2019

State officials have so far not embraced the most dramatic possible ways of reforming PG&E  such as transforming it from an investor-owned company into a government-run utility, an idea endorsed by State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and some progressives. But they have laid plans to take more aggressive steps if PG&E-caused fires continue harming communities after its bankruptcy.

The California Public Utilities Commission has established an escalating enforcement process through which it can revoke PG&Es operating license if the company further harms the people it serves. Also, state Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, has authored legislation that would have the state transform PG&E into a new nonprofit called Golden State Energy if the company loses its license. The bill, SB350, was approved by the Assembly and was referred to a Senate committee.

A group of local government officials led by San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo had proposed turning PG&E into a customer-owned cooperative similar to a credit union. While the idea is not coming to fruition anytime soon, Liccardo said it could still be in play should PG&E cause even more disasters.

Liccardo remains concerned about the state of PG&Es electric grid and its debt burden after bankruptcy, among other matters.

If there was ever a company well-suited to stumble, its PG&E, he said.

Ultimately, the immediate responsibility for keeping PG&E on track will fall to Smith, the incoming interim CEO. And he must do so while facing a deep level of distrust from customers weary of all the death, destruction and disruption that the company has caused over the past decade.

Theres no trust, said Toney, the utility reform network leader. Trust has to be earned. Theyve got a long way to go.

J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris
San Francisco voters could be weighing as many as five tax hike measures this fall, in what will be a test of how the coronavirus-fueled recession influences attitudes on economic growth and whether the citys big businesses are paying their fair share.

Four of the five tax-increase proposals  which have been placed on the November ballot but could still be withdrawn up until the end of July  were rooted in the pre-COVID days of 2019 when the city was flush with cash, the hotels were packed with business travelers, unemployment was about 2% and the growth of tech companies seemed limitless.

Now the city faces a dramatically different economic landscape: a $1.5 billion deficit over the next two years, 12.6% unemployment and the flight of thousands of tech workers, many of whom are leaving the high-priced Bay Area to work remotely from more affordable locations.

While pro-business groups argue that the current health and economic crisis is exactly the wrong time to introduce new taxes, members of the progressive-dominated Board of Supervisors say the city will need the additional revenue to continue providing essential services.

We are in a crisis where we are going to have (blown) a hole in our essential health response system unless we ask some companies to help out a little more, said Supervisor Matt Haney. And these companies can pay a little bit more. These companies spend that much on lunch.

Haney, along with Supervisor Hillary Ronen, is behind one of the three revenue measures: a tax on CEOs earning at least 100 times the median income of their average worker. The tax could apply to companies such as Wells Fargo, Visa, Gap Inc., Comcast, Bank of America, JP Morgan and Chipotle, according to Chronicle research and the citys chief economist, Ted Egan.

It would raise as much as $140 million annually.

Another measure, by Supervisor Gordon Mar, would put a 1.12% payroll tax on stock-based compensation and is expected to raise $50 million to $150 million. It would apply to any public company that issues stock options or other equity grants to its employees.

A third, by Supervisor Dean Preston, would double the transfer tax from about 3% to 6% for residential and commercial properties sold for more than $10 million. Some of the revenue from that measure would go to help compensate small landlords who were unable to collect rent because their tenants lost income because of coronavirus.

The fourth and fifth measures, the most comprehensive and complicated, are two competing proposals to overhaul the citys gross receipts tax, one by Mayor London Breed and the other by the Board of Supervisors. Both proposals would simplify the tax code and eliminate what remains of the citys payroll tax, which was meant to be phased out over several years but has lingered because the gross receipts tax did not raise enough money.

And both versions would unlock money from Proposition C, the 2018 successful ballot measure taxing big business to fund homelessness programs. While the city has been collecting the Prop. C money, it has not been able to spend it because of a lawsuit over the measures margin of victory. Both gross receipts tax reforms would give companies a tax break if they agree to let the city keep the Prop. C money, even if the courts strike down the measure and order the funds to be repaid. Prop. C has been bringing in $250 million to $300 million annually.

The difference is that Breeds proposal contains no significant tax increases, while the board version would generate about $181 million a year in additional tax revenue.

Business leaders are giving all the proposed tax increases a thumbs down. Jay Chang of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce said the boards version of the gross receipts tax would punish low-margin businesses that have lower payroll but high gross receipts. These industries include hotels, restaurants, auto dealerships and grocery stores.

Of course Im against it, said Sal Qaqundah, who owns Arguello Market, a small grocery store in the Richmond District. Every time you turn around, there is a new tax.

Under the proposal, hotels would pay an estimated 13% more.

Kevin Carroll, executive director of the Hotel Council of San Francisco, said the taxes would make it harder to reopen the industry, which  before the pandemic  employed 24,000 workers and paid $440 million a year in room rate taxes.

Our industry is already devastated because of COVID, he said. Any new taxes or additional costs would keep us from hiring back our employees. For our industry, even suggesting new taxes doesnt make sense. If anything we should be looking at ways to reduce taxes.

Jennifer Stojkovic, executive director of tech advocacy group sf.citi, said its not a good time to add taxes while we are facing the real possibility of an exodus of the tech industry in San Francisco.

Adding a whole bunch of taxes all at once when we are in the middle of massive layoffs is the wrong direction to go in, Stojkovic said. We want to focus on economic recovery. How are we supposed to recover if we are getting hit with new taxes at the ballot every six months?

Interactive Vaccine Tracker: Latest developments Detailed information about the coronavirus vaccines as it becomes available.

San Francisco companies that have announced major layoffs include Uber, Airbnb, Lyft, Zenefits, Eventbrite, Lending Club and Sonder.

Still, its unclear how many of these measures will actually end up on the ballot. Supervisors often put measures on the ballot early in the summer as bargaining chips, and the stock-based compensation may play that role, according to City Hall observers. Either the mayor or the supervisors pushing the higher revenue-generating version of the gross-receipts tax could agree to pull their measure in exchange for changes to the other measures.

Haney said that nobody wants to see two competing gross receipt measures on the ballot and that he is convinced a compromise will be struck. Mar denied that the stock compensation measure is a bargaining chip, adding that its a good proposal and has the support of the public and my colleagues.

Jason McDaniel, an associate professor of political science at San Francisco State University, said the political climate favors populist taxes that squeeze more money from big business. After a decade-long boom that has made San Francisco the most expensive city in the country, it will be tough to make most city voters sympathize with large corporations that are suddenly suffering, he said.

All the energy would be with progressives on this right now, he said. I dont think the fiscal future of big business is something people are worried about. Its about protecting small business, health care, teachers, the community.

Jim Stearns, a veteran progressive political operative, said the taxes are all neatly crafted in such a way that they target a narrow group of wealthy businesses and individuals and not average renters or homeowners.

It is absolutely clear from every poll Ive done that people really want to tax the wealthy, he said. People are livid about the gross disparity in wealth. They are getting unemployment, or still waiting to get unemployment, and wondering how they are going to pay their rent. And then they see that Jeff Bezos made $5 billion during the pandemic. The Amazon CEOs net worth has actually increased by more than $50 billion since the shelter-in-place orders went into effect.

Laurie Thomas, a restaurant owner who is executive director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, said the situation is more nuanced and urged the board to hold off on new taxes until the fallout from the coronavirus is better understood.

We have a hurting city right now, she said. Many of us have had to lay off our workers. Owners have not taken compensation, have not been able to pay their bills. We have all had to radically rethink how we do business. I dont think a tax increase in any sector is going to be helpful.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen
The Internal Revenue Service should not try to recover stimulus payments sent to deceased people if it made the payment despite having information in its possession that the individual was in fact deceased, Erin Collins, the new IRS national taxpayer advocate, said Monday in her first report to Congress.

Collins also explained why many people who filed their 2019 tax returns and havent received a refund may be in for a long wait.

The IRS issued about 965,000 economic impact payments to deceased taxpayers, the report said. (In a report issued Thursday, the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated that almost 1.1 million payments totaling nearly $1.4 billion had gone to decedents.)

In her report, Collins  who heads an independent organization within the IRS that represents taxpayers  said that as the payments were being issued, the IRS was aware that 837,000 of the 965,000 taxpayers had died but did not program its systems to exclude decedents. At first, it seemed these payments would not have to be returned to the IRS, as early guidance said families that received extra stimulus funds for ineligible children did not have to return the funds.

However, on May 6, the IRS posted a notice that said, A payment made to someone who died before receipt of the payment should be returned to the IRS by following the instructions about repayments.

The Cares Act authorized payments up to $1,200 per eligible adult and $500 per eligible dependent. Its technically a credit for tax year 2020, but rather than making people wait until next year to claim it on their 2020 returns, Congress authorized payments based on 2019 or 2018 returns, or for those who did not have to file a return, based on Social Security or railroad retirement benefits. It did not prohibit payments to people who filed a 2019 or 2018 tax return, or had a final tax return filed on their behalf, and were not alive when the payment was sent out, assuming they met income and other eligibility requirements.

In fact, the IRS sent out paper checks made out to the persons name, followed by DECD, for deceased. Many people who filed a joint return in 2019 or 2018 with a spouse who later died received direct deposits of $2,400.

This was also an issue in 2008, when the IRS sent stimulus payments to deceased people who were eligible based on their 2017 tax return. In 2008, the IRS did not ask that the payment be returned and took no steps to collect the payment from the decedent taxpayers estate or family, Collins wrote.

After a 2013 GAO report highlighted this problem, the IRS implemented a process to use death records to update taxpayers accounts in order to identify and prevent improper payments, the GAO said in last weeks report.

In late March, when Congress was drafting the Cares Act, an IRS working group charged with administering the payments first raised questions with Treasury officials about payments to decedents, the GAO said, citing IRS officials.

Nevertheless, the act did not prohibit payments to dead people. The IRS counsel subsequently determined that IRS did not have the legal authority to deny payments to those who filed a return for 2019 (or a 2018 return if they had not yet filed a 2019 return), even if they were deceased at the time of payment, the GAO said.

Based on that decision, the IRS did not use third-party data, such as Social Security death records, to stop payments to deceased individuals for the first three batches of payments, the GAO said. The first three batches accounted for 72% of the payments disbursed as of May 31, and included almost 1.1 million payments totaling nearly $1.4 billion to decedents.

The GAO said that according to a Treasury official, Treasury was unaware the payments would go to decedents until it was reported in various media outlets. After reading such reports, the IRS and Treasury determined that a person is not entitled to receive a payment if he or she is deceased as of the date the payment is to be paid because such payments are potentially improper under the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019.

At that point the IRS stopped sending them to dead people and asked for the return of payments that had already been sent to the deceased.

The GAO said that the IRS should consider cost-effective options for notifying ineligible recipients on how to return payments, such as sending letters to their last known address.

Collins, on the other hand, said, if the IRS made the payment despite having information in its possession that the individual was in fact deceased, the National Taxpayer Advocate recommends the IRS not spend its resources pursuing enforcement actions against a decedents estate or a family member who received (a payment) for a decedent.

Where does this leave people who received a payment on behalf of a deceased family member or client?

Mark Luscombe, principal analyst for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, said he agrees with the taxpayer advocates recommendation. It is probably not cost effective for the IRS to seek to recover any of the payments through enforcement actions, he said in an email. I think that recipients of the payments to deceased taxpayers have an argument that they are entitled to keep the money, but the IRS has counter arguments that they are not. It may end up being the result that the IRS will gladly accept repayments from those who voluntarily return the money but in the end will make no significant effort to recover the money from those who do not.

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Steve Hartnett, director of education with the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, said, My advice to clients would still be to return the funds. However, Id advise the client of the national taxpayer advocates position if they fell within the category of taxpayers whom the (IRS) knew had died and let them make the call.

Collins added that taxpayers who filed a 2019 paper return and are entitled to refunds may be in for a long wait. The IRS suspended the processing of paper tax returns, and as of May 16, it had a backlog of 4.7 million paper returns. Although the IRS is reopening some of its core operations, it is not clear when it can open and log all the returns sitting in mail facilities.

She added that some taxpayers whose returns were mistakenly flagged by IRS anti-fraud filters are experiencing lengthy delays in receiving their refunds. This includes many who filed electronically. All tax returns claiming refunds are passed through filters designed to detect identity theft and other types of fraud. Some of these filters have false positive rates of 50% to 80%, meaning they halt refunds to taxpayers who are entitled to them.

Affected taxpayers are often asked to mail in documentation to substantiate their claims, but the IRS has not opened or processed many of their responses, delaying their refunds, she said.

She added that taxpayers have had difficulty getting help from the IRS because it also shut down its phone lines and assistance centers. The IRS has begun reopening its operations, but it will take some time before they are restored to full capacity, she wrote.

In a statement responding to the report, the IRS said that the efficient use of resources has never been more important than in the past few months. In response to COVID-19, the IRS delivered stimulus payments in record time. It said millions of Americans got economic impact payments within 14 days after the Cares Act was enacted. In 2008, the first 800,000 payments did not start reaching taxpayers for 75 days.

It added that our extraordinary efforts to timely implement relief in the wake of COVID-19 have taken place in the middle of an unprecedented extended filing season.

Kathleen Pender is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: kpender@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kathpender
A federal grand jury indicted an Air Force sergeant for murder and attempted murder after he allegedly killed a federal security guard in Oakland and later ambushed a Santa Cruz County sheriffs deputy, a judge said Monday.

Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler told Steven Carrillo on Monday that the grand jury charged him in the indictment with first-degree murder of a person assisting an officer or employee of the United States and attempted murder of a person assisting an officer or employee of the U.S.

Carrillo is accused of being the gunman who sprayed bullets across a guard shack May 29 in front of the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland, killing 53-year-old David Patrick Underwood and wounding another officer.

Carrillo did not enter a plea Monday, as his case was continued to later this week.

The 32-year-old Ben Lomond resident, who was on active duty at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, appeared in court via video from Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, wearing a red jumpsuit and a blue mask strapped underneath his chin. The indictment followed a criminal complaint unsealed by federal authorities almost two weeks ago.

Yes, Carrillo responded when the judge asked if he understood the charges and potential penalties.

The judge postponed the arraignment and the entry of a not-guilty plea until Thursday, when Carrillo is expected to be appointed a lawyer who will represent him.

A week after the shooting in Oakland, Carrillo allegedly ambushed sheriffs deputies in Santa Cruz County who were responding to a report of a van containing firearms and bomb-making materials. Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 38, was killed and several other law enforcement officers were wounded, according to authorities and court records.

Prosecutors in Santa Cruz charged Carrillo with a slew of felonies, including murder and attempted murder in connection to the Ben Lomond incident.

A lawyer representing Carrillo in the state case, Jeffrey Stotter, made special appearances during the first two federal court hearings, but he is not expected to represent Carrillo in the federal case.

Federal prosecutors have linked Carrillo to an extremist, anti-government group called the Boogaloo movement.

The group started in far-right-wing culture on the internet with the belief that there is an impending civil war, according to experts. The movements followers, some of whom call themselves Boogaloo Bois, are generally younger and more likely to turn to acts of violence than members of other militia-type groups.

Authorities accused Carrillo of fatally shooting Underwood from a white van after developing a plot with Robert Alvin Justus Jr. of Millbrae. The pair allegedly drove to Oakland and took advantage of the distraction afforded by protesters marching through the citys downtown in a demonstration against police brutality. Justus is accused of driving the van.

Did you see how they fing fell! Carrillo said after the shooting as the two drove away, according to an affidavit.

Carrillo used white spray paint to disguise the window on the sliding door of his van, according to the FBI. On June 5, the agency released surveillance photos of a white van they believed was involved in Underwoods shooting.

The next afternoon, Santa Cruz County sheriffs deputies received a call about a suspicious white van abandoned off Jamison Creek Road, on land controlled by a water company. The caller reported seeing ammunition, guns and equipment to make bombs inside the van.

Around 2:30 p.m., deputies drove up a narrow, twisting road through the Santa Cruz Mountains and arrived at Carrillos house, where he opened fire and tossed homemade bombs, investigators said.

As he fled, his hip bleeding from a gunshot wound, Carrillo allegedly carjacked a white Toyota Camry. Investigators later found the car with Boogaloo-associated terms and phrases scrawled in Carrillos blood on the hood: BOOG, I became unreasonable and stop the duopoly.

Jack Bennett, an FBI special agent in charge, said in a news conference last week that the investigation was ongoing and more suspects could be identified.

Alejandro Serrano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alejandro.serrano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @serrano_alej
Leah Millis/The Chronicle

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin proposed cutting the citys police budget by more than $9 million Monday, following weeks of nationwide protests denouncing police violence against Black people and calling to slash law enforcement budgets.

The mayors proposal builds upon his June 6 emergency ordinance to adopt several of the 8 cant wait police use-of-force reforms that have been adopted by multiple cities and counties across the country in response to the May 25 police killing of George Floyd, a Black man, in Minneapolis.
McEnany said she had talked to the president before the briefing to get his thinking and its the personal choice of any individual as to whether to wear a mask or not. He encourages people to make whatever decision is best for their safety but he did say to me he has no problem with masks and to do whatever your local jurisdiction requests of you.
SACRAMENTO  Four decades after he started sneaking into homes, tying up victims, raping women and killing couples, former police officer Joseph DeAngelo pleaded guilty Monday to 26 charges of murder and kidnapping, admitting what pioneering forensic science had already proven  he was the sadistic Golden State Killer.

His acceptance of a plea deal spared him death, a reprieve the 74-year-old never offered more than a dozen men and women he shot and bludgeoned to death during a 12-year spree of rapes and killings during the 1970s and 80s.

The admission of guilt guarantees that DeAngelo will be sentenced to life without parole.

DeAngelo was charged with 13 counts of murder, with additional special circumstances, as well as 13 counts of kidnapping for robbery in six counties, including Contra Costa County in the Bay Area. He admitted to more than 50 rapes, including some in Santa Clara, Contra Costa and Alameda counties, but the statute of limitations expired on those crimes. He will be sentenced in August.

Sitting in a wheelchair and wearing an orange jumpsuit and a plastic visor over his face Monday, DeAngelo was taken into a university ballroom, where officials read detailed accounts of each crime. On one side of the room sat his victims and their families and on the other dozens of law enforcement officials and prosecutors.

Many cringed during more than seven hours of gut-wrenching, graphic descriptions of DeAngelos crimes. He raped a UC Davis student, a babysitter, a pregnant wife, a mother whose 6-year-old daughter cried nearby. He whispered through clenched teeth, berating couples and threatening to cut the ears off their sleeping children. He taunted police with creepy phone calls bragging about his carnage and invincibility.

His crimes were strikingly similar. He would find an open window or break in through a door of suburban houses at night, wearing a ski mask and waking up couples or women by shining a flashlight in their eyes. He would bring shoelaces and have the women tie up their boyfriends or husbands before binding the women and sexually assaulting them repeatedly over hours, dimming the lights. Hed place dishes on the mens backs as a makeshift alarm system and warn them that if as much as a rattle was heard from a plate hed kill everyone in the house. Meanwhile, hed rummage through the houses, eating food, drinking beer, stealing small amounts of money and trinkets before eventually slinking out.

DeAngelo struck fear in the hearts of residents from Sacramento down to Orange County. Prosecutors shared how residents at the time lived in fear, one household lined their hallways with tarps to provide a warning system. His crimes earned morbid monikers: Visalia Ransacker, East Area Rapist and Original Night Stalker.

Over the years, investigators connected some of the Southern California murders with a series of rapes in the Bay Area and the Central Valley, and the suspect was named the Golden State Killer. Officials now believe he committed crimes in 11 counties from 1975 to 1986.

Each crime summary culminated with the judge asking DeAngelo how he pleaded to the charge or did he admit to the uncharged crime.

Guilty, or I admit, DeAngelo said repeatedly in a croaky voice.

In total, DeAngelo admitted to 62 uncharged crimes, most of them rapes of women and girls, that occurred in Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties.

Last year, district attorneys decided to pursue the death penalty. But with DeAngelos advanced age and Gov. Gavin Newsoms executive order halting executions, it was doubtful he would ever be put to death.

One previously undisclosed detail of DeAngelos 2018 arrest became public Monday. Sitting alone in an interview room that day, DeAngelo was recorded talking to himself, according to court records.

I did all that, he said. I did all those things. Ive destroyed all their lives I raped. So now I gotta pay the price.

Mondays hearing was moved from a cramped Sacramento County Superior courtroom to a Sacramento State University ballroom to provide space for social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic and a large number of victims expected to attend.

Two years ago, investigators decided to use a family genealogy website that stored a massive database of genetic profiles from amateur sleuths looking to find long-lost relatives. They uploaded the Golden State Killer profile to GEDmatch.com and got a hit. A distant relative of DeAngelos had uploaded a DNA profile and investigators mapped out family trees and slowly narrowed down possible suspects.

The genetic road map eventually led to DeAngelo, a grandfather living in Citrus Heights (Sacramento County). Police surveilled his home in a quiet residential neighborhood and eventually confirmed the match by pulling DNA from his car door and a tissue in his garbage.

The effort not only caught one of Californias most notorious criminals, but it also launched a new era of crime-solving where genetic genealogy is used to crack dormant cases. That technique and DeAngelos crimes garnered worldwide interest, launching a best-selling book, a six-part HBO documentary that premiered Sunday, podcasts and countless television shows.

Since his arrest, DeAngelo has appeared increasingly frail, losing weight and rarely showing any emotion.

DeAngelo was fired from the Auburn Police Department in 1979 after he was caught shoplifting. He had previously worked as an officer in Exeter from 1973 to 1976, not far from where the Visalia Ransacker burglarized more than 100 homes in the Central Valley.

DeAngelo also talked to himself in 1979, when he was stopped shoplifting dog repellent and a hammer.

After trying to run away, the stores security tied him to a chair. He pretended to have a heart attack and babbled until sheriffs deputies arrived and he asked to speak to them privately. He told them he was a police officer and had just pretended to act crazy to avoid getting in trouble.

Debbi Domingo McMullan, whose mother Cheri Domingo and her boyfriend, Greg Sanchez, were murdered by DeAngelo in 1981, stood with her brother Monday wiping away tears as a prosecutor read horrific details. Her mother was bludgeoned and raped by DeAngelo in Santa Barbara.

On Monday, she finally heard DeAngelo take responsibility and a judge declare him guilty.

It was hard to stay on my feet, Domingo McMullan said during a break.

Jane Carson-Sandler, only identified by prosecutors as Jane Doe 20, said she approached DeAngelo on Monday because she wanted him to look at her when he admitted his guilt. Although he did not look at her, Carson-Sandler said it had been an extremely emotional day.

Look what hes done to some of these other women, Carson-Sandler said. Its just heartbreaking to hear what theyve gone through and what were still all going through. Admitting his guilt is one thing but this will never be over for us. Well never truly have closure.

Our wounds heal but our scars remain, she said.

Matthias Gafni and Alejandro Serrano are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com, alejandro.serrano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni, @serrano_alej
A 71-year-old man who died last week while serving time on San Quentins Death Row tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the first known death of a coronavirus patient inside Californias oldest state prison.

Richard Stitelys test results, announced by Marin County officials late Monday morning, come as a monstrous outbreak continues to overwhelm San Quentin State Prison, now infecting more than 1,000 incarcerated people and 89 employees at the facility.

As of Monday evening, more than one out of every four people incarcerated at San Quentin were infected.

Stitely, who had refused to be tested, was found dead Wednesday night. His official cause, mode and manner of death are still pending additional investigation, and as of Monday afternoon no San Quentin deaths were counted on the prison health care systems official COVID-19 tracking website.

Roger Fielding, Marin Countys chief deputy coroner, said Stitelys forensic postmortem examination and toxicology testing are scheduled for Tuesday.

Stitely was convicted in Los Angeles County for the rape and murder of 47-year-old Carol Unger, who was last seen leaving a bar in Reseda with Stitely on Jan. 19, 1990. A jury sentenced him to death on Sept. 14, 1992, and he was admitted to Death Row on Sept. 23, 1992.

Officials on Monday said there are 196 confirmed cases among San Quentins condemned population, amounting to about one in four of the 725 people on Death Row.

Prison officials have not released a detailed number of cases by unit inside the facility.

To date, 22 incarcerated people have died and more than 4,800 others been infected from the coronavirus throughout Californias prison system  including 1,500 new cases in the last two weeks.

Sixteen of those deaths came from the California Institution for Men in Chino, which until recently had the largest outbreak among the 35 state-owned prisons.

San Quentins case count recently overtook Chino, and the prison now holds at least 500 more patients with active COVID-19 cases than any other facility in the state.

The Bay Area facility had zero cases among its population until early June, when a poorly executed transfer of 121 men from Chino brought the virus to San Quentin. While prison officials said all of the Chino men had been tested before getting on buses, The Chronicle reporting revealed many had not been tested for weeks prior to the May 30 transfer.

The Chino transfer, which also sent 66 men to another state prison in Corcoran (Kings County), touched off outbreaks at both receiving facilities, and was deemed a significant failure by a federal judge overseeing medical treatment at California prisons.

As of late last week, prison officials were gearing up for yet another transfer, planning to move as many as 150 men out of San Quentin to North Kern State Prison near Bakersfield. But the transfer was ultimately called off after two of the men bound for Kern tested positive.

On Monday afternoon prison staffers were setting up tents on San Quentin grounds to make space for coronavirus patients.

Air-conditioned tent structures are in the process of being set up to help provide on-site locations for additional physical distancing in housing and for medical triage, officials said in an email.

On Wednesday, state lawmakers will hold a Senate oversight hearing to find out why the coronavirus has surged at various lockups across the state.

Megan Cassidy and Jason Fagone are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com, jason.fagone@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy, @jfagone
While President Trumps authority to spend money on his border wall remains uncertain, the Supreme Court rejected a challenge Monday to the administrations power to override environmental laws during construction of 145 miles of barriers in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Environmental and wildlife-protection groups argued that Congress violated constitutional standards with laws from 1996 onward that allowed the government to waive other federal, state and local statutes in order to install physical barriers and roads near U.S. borders to deter illegal crossings in areas of high illegal entry.

The laws were rarely used for 20 years, but the Trump administration has invoked them repeatedly to clear the way for the presidents signature project, a wall along 450 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. The Department of Homeland Security has cited the 1996 law and its successors to waive environmental reviews, build on lands inhabited by protected species, take paths through private farmland, and uproot rare saguaro cactus plants in the Organ Pipe National Cactus Monument in Arizona.

Environmental advocates argued that the federal waiver law unconstitutionally ceded lawmaking powers to the executive branch. But a federal judge in Washington, D.C., upheld the law last September, saying Congress had determined in 1996 that the need to discourage illegal entry into the United States outweighed laws governing land use. The 1996 law also cut off normal routes of appeal and required opponents to take their case directly to the Supreme Court, which denied review Monday.

Were disappointed that the Supreme Court wont consider the Trump administrations flagrant abuse of the law to fast-track border wall construction, said Jean Su, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, lead plaintiff in the case. This administration has made a mockery of the Constitution to build an enormously destructive wall. Well continue to fight these illegal waivers and do everything possible to prevent further damage to the beautiful borderlands.

Environmental groups and a number of states, including California, are also fighting Trumps orders to redirect billions of dollars in military funds for wall construction after Congress refused to appropriate the money.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled last Friday that Trump had lacked authority to divert $2.5 billion in military funds in order to build 130 miles of walls and barriers in California, Arizona and New Mexico. The 2-1 ruling said Congress, which has constitutional authority over federal spending, had designated the funds for military pay, weapons and other Defense Department purposes, and never allowed Trump to spend them on wall construction.

The Supreme Court, however, has allowed construction to continue during the funding dispute, which is likely to return to the high court in the aftermath of the Ninth Circuit ruling.

In Mondays case, the environmental and wildlife advocates said the Department of Homeland Security had used the 1996 law, signed by President Bill Clinton, and followup statutes to override more than 40 environmental and land-regulation laws along 145 miles in the four states.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf has swept aside a vast breadth of public and private liberties protected by federal, state, local, and tribal statutes in the name of border wall construction  all without an iota of congressional guidance, the advocates said in their Supreme Court filing.

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

Among other things, they said, Wolfs department ignored the impact to endangered species such as the jaguar, Mexican gray wolf, Sonoran pronghorn and bighorn sheep, whose continued existence depends on the freedom of cross-border migration. And they said the same law could conceivably be used to waive an array of legal protections, including minimum wages and bans on racial discrimination, anywhere within 100 miles of a land or sea border, including San Francisco.

In response, the Trump administration said the court has allowed Congress to delegate powers to the executive branch as long as that delegation includes standards, such as the need to prevent illegal immigration.

It is Congress, and not the executive branch, that made the policy judgment in (this law) that the need for expeditious construction of barriers and roads in areas of high illegal entry in the vicinity of the United States border outweighs the policy interests advanced by other laws, Justice Department lawyers told the court.

The case is Center for Biological Diversity vs. Wolf, 19-975.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
On this episode of Extra Spicy, co-host Soleil Ho talks with Daniel M. Lavery about potatoes for dessert, imaginary restaurant ideas and the persistence of the dinner table as the place where family tensions come to a head. Lavery is a writer and advice columnist who has produced satirical writing on the rhetoric of beans, breasts and "Columbo" in his newsletter, Shatner Chatner.

Plus: In this weeks Dear Spicy, Soleil Ho and Justin Phillips dole out their own advice about making it as professional food writer on the Dear Spicy segment of the podcast.

Listen on your favorite app

Here is a full transcript of Soleil Ho's interview with Daniel M. Lavery, which has been lightly edited for clarity. The interview was conducted on June 23, 2020.

Soleil Ho: So before we start, would you mind saying your name, your occupation, and your pronouns?

Danny Lavery: My name is Daniel M. Lavery. I use boy pronouns for the most part, and I am a writer. Right now, I am Dear Prudence of Slate and I write books.

Soleil Ho: Well, thank you for joining me on the show.

Danny Lavery: Thank you.

Soleil Ho: For this show, would you prefer that I call you Daniel or Danny?

Danny Lavery: Either one is great. Just never call me Dan.

Soleil Ho: Got it. Okay, so, I literally just recorded in a podcast with you yesterday. I was so happy and privileged to be able to dole out advice alongside The Prudy. Thank you for that.

Danny Lavery: That was a delight. We had really intense questions, and I really, really enjoyed getting to answer them together.

Soleil Ho: Thankfully, we got a lot of food questions. And I wanted to ask ... We got  what was it  two questions about food? Is that a frequent kind of flier in your advice column?

Danny Lavery: I think it definitely is the classic staple of advice columns for a reason. And then I think there has probably been an uptick since a lot of the stay-at-home, shelter-in-place orders went out back in March because many, many, many more people are cooking from home way more often than they were a couple of months ago.

Soleil Ho: And the dinner table seems to be a classic setting for melodrama. Wouldn't you agree?

Danny Lavery: I would agree. I would absolutely agree. I would not try to fight you on that one. I think we eat the dinner table for maybe a quarter of our meals. It's definitely not the main place.

Soleil Ho: There's so much emotional and sentimental value put on the dinner table. Like, is that how you see it as well? Or maybe not?

Danny Lavery: Probably, and I think also if people have more than two members of their household, the more people you have, the more likely you are to sit at the table. Like when there's two of you, you're like, "We could eat in bed just as easily"  eating in bed is fantastic. But when you have a family of six or something, it's not going to work out that way.

Soleil Ho: Yeah. I was wondering, then: What makes it so easy for that to be the site of all this conflict and all this angst and all this pain and also a lot of good things? What are some commonalities that you see in questions and concerns about that?

Danny Lavery: Well, I think in an advice column  just sort of given the historical audience  those sort of questions tend to be around the interest in the problems that come with being middle-class women. That's not to say that they were the only people who read or write into those columns, not by a long shot, but for a lot of at least the 20th century movement, that's kind of where it's been at. And that's where most of the anxieties and problems are located.

Danny Lavery: Thats why advice columns will get tons and tons of questions like, "My husband and I can't agree about unloading the dishwasher or hiring a housecleaner," and not a ton of questions from other perspectives. So with all that said, I think the dinner table is kind of a classic site of conflict for that sort of relationship because it's often where the ideas of egalitarianism for that type of couple start to break down, if they do break down.

Soleil Ho: Yeah, that is sort of where the truth kind of comes out, right? Not out of a well, but out of the  what's a good analogy? The gravy boat? No. Out of the dishwasher.

Danny Lavery: Yeah, and I think especially because it's something that you have to do at least a couple of times a day. And yet, usually if you're doing it at home, you're not getting paid for it, so there's that kind of push and pull between. It has to happen constantly. And also, oftentimes, there's this sense of: "I don't wanna hear too much about it. I don't want to think too much about what goes into this."

Soleil Ho: Wow. That seems like such a great microcosm of my entire life right now.

Danny Lavery: Yeah.

Soleil Ho: Yeah. Well ... just writing about food and having a very significant portion of people not care about the process or kind of the labor of it. So I really relate to the questions you get about when making food ends up being kind of a drudgery  not through the fault of the person doing it, but just the reception of it. Yeah, it's really interesting.

Danny Lavery: And I'm just thinking of ways that it extends outwards  there was so much talk this week about a number of states that are attempting to reopen in-restaurant dining and the ways in which waitstaff are being put in these impossible situations. And again  like on a bigger scale  this idea of like: I don't want to think too much about the risks the person bringing the food to the table might be running.

Soleil Ho: Yeah. No, it's also like the idea of knowing how the sausage gets made, which is one of my favorite idioms, probably, because it's simultaneously gross but also really fascinating to me personally. We hear about the undocumented workers who are infected with COVID-19 who work in our slaughterhouses. And just all of the stuff that happens behind the scenes so that we can eat something that is tasty to us.

And having to reconcile those two worlds  at least that are artificially separated  is kind of like full-time work. You have to do it constantly because people are so eager to ignore it. Which is why I think the dinner table is the site of  It's like where you get your thousand paper cuts, I think, in a bad relationship.

Danny Lavery: Yeah. Yeah. Oh, man.

Soleil Ho: But I also wanted to talk about your food writing, because in addition to being an advice columnist, I think that you are a fantastic part-time food writer. I love everything that you say about food. And you're not like a traditional one  you don't write about recipes necessarily or restaurant reviews, but other things.

Danny Lavery: I think part of that is because when I do food writing, it's almost always on my newsletter, so I never have to pitch it. So it's always just like, "What do I feel like writing about food right now?" Which is like a couple of times a year. Sometimes, I mostly just want to write about certain emotional states or fixations that I can launch myself into around food. I have an almost manic, sort of riff on how I feel when I think about a bean.

Soleil Ho: How do you feel when you think about a bean, Danny?

Danny Lavery: I feel like a very simple farmer in the south of France who says, "I have my one hat and my very simple life and I eat my one bean and it's so good for me. And, you in the big glimmering cities with your many things and your sweetmeats, you have nobody. But I am a simple man of the soil. Please just leave my company."

Soleil Ho: You are like the image of the two kind of dirt-speckled hands holding two palmfuls of dried beans.

Danny Lavery: Yeah. And that whole fantasy of like simplicity and Frenchness that I can get swept up into just as easily as the next person.

Soleil Ho: Yeah, I know. The thing I really love about your writing, too, is you're very much fixated on the image of food and the rhetoric of food: The things that we say about it and the things we associate with it, how we talk about it more so than even like the object itself.

Danny Lavery: Yeah. I think the states that we get ourselves into around food are fascinating.

Soleil Ho: Yeah. Like your whole thing on your newsletter  I love your listy essays, and this one was about what we say about beans.

Danny Lavery: Yeah, that was like a year later  almost a year to the day, actually. Like once a year, l write about beans.

Soleil Ho: You gotta fill your quota somehow.

Danny Lavery: Yeah. I think the one that you're referring to is the possibly explicable things people sometimes say about cooking beans. They started with like eight or nine different forms of hedging as well.

Soleil Ho: Right. Yeah. I think food is one site  especially as someone has to write about it constantly  where it's so easy to get banal and so easy to just fall into tropes because it's so relatable. It's a commonality. It's like the jumping-off point for so many other conversations. And yet there's so many interesting conventions that we just touch on because there's not too many deep things you can say about beans, I think.

Danny Lavery: I think, too, when a particular type of food becomes newly trendy, or written about in a way that it hasn't previously, or written about by types of people or in types of outlets that it wasn't being written about a month or two months earlier: There becomes this kind of conversation about the conversation of like, "I have to acknowledge the things other people are saying about beans now."

Danny Lavery: Does that make sense? There's the whole sort of like  Anything that I read about beans will start with some sort of gesture towards the soaking debate.

Soleil Ho: The big soaking debate!

Danny Lavery: Because you have to drum up some sort of, like, intensity or topical peg, there's like, "Stop worrying about soaking beans, you idiots! You're wasting your life soaking the beans. Don't be precious. Look, these are beans. When you put water on them, they turn from stones to pillow, Like, just relax."

Danny Lavery: And then there can also be the kind of like, "This is how people try to make cooking beans seem too difficult for the regular cook. It's quick and easy. Don't let anyone tell you different. And then someone else is like, "No, no, no, no, you're slacking. I don't! Don't be fooled. The soaking is important." I don't know. Theres so much that's wrapped up in that. And I love the conversation before the conversation.

I feel like it was maybe seven or eight years ago that people are complaining about food bloggers writing long things before posting a recipe.

Soleil Ho: Oh my God. Yes.

Danny Lavery: And like a couple of years ago, that had become so played out. There was a sort of like: "No, no, I love reading that stuff, it's fine. It just takes 10 seconds to scroll past if you don't like it. You know, it's free. You're not paying for it." And now, people seem to bring it back up sort of obsessively or like, We can't let this question die. I have to find a new angle on it. I don't know. I find that amazing. I find it amazing the way that conversations about the way people write about writing about food sort of spiral out of control with this back-and-forth and back-and-forth.

Soleil Ho: Yes, it takes on a pattern. When you're in it, it's really hard to see. It's like this "Groundhog Day" sort of thing, where you're like: "Wait, I've had this conversation before. We've had this fight before. We've had this backlash before." And it feels like it's this illusion of progress. Like a dialectic that might be evolving, but it really is just sort of like spiraling into itself all the time.

Danny Lavery: Yeah. And I think at least for me  when I've seen it or sometimes participated in it  there's sometimes the sense of: I don't know, unless I had a lot of technical expertise that I'd be able to say something new about how to make beans. But I bet I could say something new about the way other people write about making beans if I wanted to give that a shot."

And so I think, especially in food writing, there can be a fear that, "If it's not a topical or if I haven't added something new, why would anyone read this?" I think they are also just really connected to the precariousness of trying to make a living as a food writer, which I don't do. That's not precariousness that I'm subject to. But, just in general, theres this kind of sense of, "How will I get the clicks?" Which I don't hold any individual writer responsible for, obviously. But, yeah, there's just the sense of like, "I've got to give 'em a hook. I gotta get 'em in the door!"

Soleil Ho: No, I mean, the hook is the symptom of this underlying thing. And we all just have to do it because that's kind of what we're stuck in. I think one of the lines in your bean essay is: "Beans will fix everything." And to me, that brought to mind, like all the coronavirus stories: Beans are your coronavirus food." Or, "Focaccia is your coronavirus food". You know, like everyone had to hit the SEO in the title. And you can just kind of weave any sort of straw into gold with the right search terminology.

Danny Lavery: Yeah, and I think also just like a very real sense of like: "I am also freaked out. Whats the food that I can associate with both ... fussiness ... but that it's also simple and can remind me of general ideas about hardiness, authenticity, earthiness, anything that feels grounding? So, that part of it makes a lot of sense to me.

And then I think just the next thing: I think we might be asking and expecting too much of beans. It's hard. I think writing about food is ... I think it's sort of like a way of trying to deal with terror. And it's hard to write about terror.

Soleil Ho: Tell me more about this.

Danny Lavery: Yeah, I mean  Ive been thinking a lot about this lately, too. I guess what I'll say is: When it comes to both workers' rights and the future and climate change, everything about the systems that we have in our food ways is terrifying.

Everything about factory farming is terrifying. Anybody who tries to think about it for more than a minute, I think, often runs into just this absolute sense of terror, like, "Oh my God, we've created hell on Earth. And I don't know how to think about that. Like, there's just these massive pig shit lagoons spreading across the country and these horrifying slaughterhouses where people are forced to work under the most inhumane conditions. And it's also what's making the Arctic turn a hundred degrees. And also, there's this disease out there that no one seems invested in actually protecting us from. And also, bodies are strange and food spoils so quickly.

And it goes from wonderful and beautiful and appetizing to terrifying and dangerous very, very quickly. And then let's also throw a little bit of like any sort of aspect of disordered eating on top of it. And it's terrifying. It's genuinely, genuinely terrifying.

And so then when you look to something like beans to address it, it's sort of like: "OK, beans, what I need from you is to like usher in a slightly pastoral but also slightly urbanized communist paradise future, where there's ice at the poles and there's like maybe like 10 pigs die a day, but not like a million, you know, like a number I can wrap my head around. And they're all killed by a farmer named Jeff, and he thinks about it very seriously.

"And there's no pig-shit lagoons. And we all eat at a big, long, low table and people make money for pulling up radishes. And things work. And that's what I need from these beans today."

And I don't think beans can do all that. I don't think they can hold all that intensity. I have no idea if that made any sense.

Soleil Ho: No, it makes a lot of sense, actually. Especially as a restaurant critic. Speaking as a restaurant critic with acute anxiety and sadness about everything, it's easy to think of food as a source of comfort. I think that's like the narrative that we can slide into. And there's kind of a limit to that comfort. I think there is so much out there, like you're saying, that is terrifying. Like a nice pot of beans just can't do. And I think to pretend that  And a lot of it is just pretend, at least for me personally, whenever I say that something is comforting, it's kind of an affectation because nothing is truly comforting in this world.

Danny Lavery: Well its comforting in a way that kind of actually keeps the fear going because it's like: "OK, well, I feel good now for half an hour." But the pig shit we're doing down in Georgia 

Soleil Ho: They persist!

Danny Lavery: So, it's like, "This made me feel better, but now I feel guilty about feeling better because I shouldn't feel better. I should stay hungry and freaked out so that I can help change things." But where would I start with changing things? That feels too big. But I can eat a bean. But now I feel good, and that's wrong.

Soleil Ho: God, the grounding part of food is really important, right? It is the way we connect to each other and connect to our ancestors and our roots, certainly. But I think that we can almost go too far and use the food to ignore things. And I think thats the way people treated food writing for a long time, like consumers. And even ourselves, food writers, as like this is the "no-fly zone" for politics, or the sad stuff or the terrifying stuff. But, yeah, I mean, food can't do all that work, like you're saying.

Danny Lavery: Yeah. And I do think that there's lots of great food writing out there. I do agree. I think mostly like the sort of big-name outlets that probably pay the most for food writing tend to, or have tended to, shy away from that.

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But I do think that that food is out there. I remember a couple of years ago when a number of authors I read a lot started posting about school lunch debt and about various attempts that sometimes local communities had attempted to pay off school lunch day, which is a horrible phrase.

Also, the idea of children having debt for school lunch and that there were school districts that would not allow others to pay  they rejected attempts from local donations. They were like, "No, no, no. What we really want is to hold these forty seven dollar bills over the heads of these kids." And feeling really alerted to different kinds of food writing around that conversation and remembering what it was like growing up in the Midwest at a school where everyone had little cards that they would swipe that would be tacked onto an account that your parents had to put money into.

And then remember just like the nightmarish food that even that amount of money would buy you. Like kids whose parents couldn't do that had to have like a separate, shittier lunch. Everything about that is such a failure to take care of children, which, like, as we know from pop music, are literally the future.

I don't know. That was two or three years ago, and it felt like it opened me up to looking for a different kind of food writing that felt really meaningful and really powerful ... and optimistic in the best possible sense of the idea. Like, "We can't live in a society that charges 6 year olds for horrible lunches. We got to feed the damn kids."

Soleil Ho: Oh, my gosh. Yeah. As somebody who grew up in the New York City public school system, I usually just didn't eat lunch even though my mom paid into it because it was just so disgusting to me. I couldn't do it. So I was just gruesomely skinny when I was in elementary school. I just ate breakfast and dinner and just kind of waifed around my school because I just had no energy.

Danny Lavery: I remember I imagine the Chicago school system had a lot of similar lunches and they were not  They were barely edible.

Soleil Ho: Dark days. Well, I wanted to talk a little bit more about ... Because I know  from just knowing you and seeing you post things on the Internet  that you've been really involved in mutual aid work in Brooklyn, where you live.

Danny Lavery: Yeah, yeah. Starting back in April, I had seen that our neighborhood and a couple other nearby neighborhoods had gotten together and started a mutual aid program, and I was looking for ways to help out that didn't involve leaving the house and was able to get trained as a dispatch coordinator. So now I have a couple of shifts a week where I do dispatch, which basically means that I monitor our email account and our phone number. And taking requests from people in that community who are either looking to donate something or trade something or who need something, and then put up the request, find a volunteer who's up for it, and then tracking and making sure everything gets done.

So, mostly it's been food, but since the summer's picked up, it's also been about the AC. Because the city, I guess, used to have cooling centers sometimes in the summer and now obviously, they can't do that. So like last week, we had somebody who is moving in with four air conditioners. That all work, But I cant take them with me. So we have these different volunteers offering a free ride or to bike a few units to other people's houses. It's been very, very cool.

Soleil Ho: Wow. So, OK, we're in this moment, too, where we're talking kind of en-masse, having this big cultural conversation about who gets to eat, how food is distributed, but even the future of restaurants and all the stuff and like "How we're going to get food and circulate food?" Can you talk about the work of mutual aid groups in that context: What is the vision of the world that they're kind of putting into place?

Danny Lavery: Yeah. So I will preface this with: I have done mutual aid work now for two-and-a-half months. So I'm really new to it. And this particular mutual aid is also pretty new. So there's a lot I don't know about it. There are tons of mutual aids in Brooklyn and Queens, in Manhattan and the Bronx, some of which we've done a little sharing with. And some of which have a longer history. So what I would say is that basically I know it to be a group of people living fairly near one another, trying to exchange resources and services for mutual benefit.

That's kind of all I know. You know, I didn't know much about the history. I don't know if there's a formal organization of, Here's what mutual aides are and aren't. I'm real new to it and I haven't done any sort of like reading about it. I do know that we try to pool our resources, but it's not the a sense of we're trying to raise donations or start a charity or anything like that. We try to figure out who can offer what and who needs what, and try to put those people in contact with one another. And I think that's all I know about it.

Soleil Ho: The simplicity of it is just what I find really alluring and just exciting. And it just feels so much more straightforward than all the sort of convoluted, I think, artifice and structure that we put on top of: Person A receiving something from Person B. That's what I like about it, and I haven't been able to do that sort of stuff, just because of my work. But yeah. You know, I'm glad you're doing it.

Danny Lavery: I am too. And I hope that like a year from now that I'll know more about it and a half a stronger sense of, "What is it committed to? What is it not committed to?" I feel the same way. I think of the last few months; everything has come about as a result of either direct protest or pushing over statues or people taking care of one another, like, during protests. Everyone I have been to  has been like  everyone is messed up. There are tons of people handing out free clubs, free masks, free hand sanitizer. People are on it, and they're really looking out for one another. And I find that really, really exciting.

Soleil Ho: So since I don't want to take up too much more of your time, I did want to ask one last question, which is about potatoes. You mentioned earlier that you really love the sort of grounding, simple food. And I know that you have a very strong love of potatoes for similar reasons, I think.

Danny Lavery: Potatoes are just delicious and also like a big, stupid-looking rock.

Soleil Ho: You had this Tweet that I think I have bookmarked  and I look at it sometimes like I look at a little robin's egg that's preserved in a curio cabinet  about Dessert Potato, your restaurant idea.

Danny Lavery: The best dumb idea I've ever had.

Soleil Ho: I think so. How do you feel about Dessert Potato now, in retrospect? This idea where it's like Pinkberry, except it's potatoes instead of frozen yogurt.

Danny Lavery: It sounds absolutely repulsive. But it's just the kind of weird, kind of dumb, kind of gross, maybe weirdly appetizing if you're the right kind of high. It's an idea that feels, like in this country, should have taken off, you know? Like just some weird restaurant where you go in and they're like, "Here's a baked potato and an infinite number of dessert toppings you can put on it. And youre like, Yeah, Id spend eight dollars on that."

Soleil Ho: If this restaurant existed, would you get a dessert potato every day?

Danny Lavery: I mean, I would be the manager and proprietor of Desert Potato. So I think I'd have to.

Soleil Ho: You have to taste the goods, right?

Danny Lavery: You have to taste the goods. You have to. Yeah. I would absolutely do it. I would be very sick of it. I would hate it.

OK, yeah. I just looked it up. Oh, that's disgusting. I love it. I love it. And I was like, Yeah, million dollars on my first day. Absolutely, I think it was very over-the-top and ridiculous. And I'm so glad it doesn't exist.

Soleil Ho: I mean, even if it doesn't exist, whats the dessert potato that you're craving right now?

Danny Lavery: I would want to go for something that would just be weird. Like I'm going: Nutella, whipped cream, cherry preserves.

Soleil Ho: On what potato base?

Danny Lavery: Just a regular white baked potato. Yeah. I'm going full weird.

Soleil Ho: I think I would love a puree of potato, done up, kind of like soft serve. And then, I think, sprinkles and maybe creme anglaise.

Danny Lavery: Well, yeah. I mean, you say that I'm kind of back on board with the idea. It works. It would be so inconvenient. It would be the kind of thing that you wouldn't need a container. Like you think, Oh, I could kind of walk around carrying the baked potato." But that wouldn't work. It would be way too hot. And the skin would start to fall apart where you'd use a fork. So you would need like a dumb little paper container, and then like a little fork and knife. Everything about it is so inconvenient! I really like it.

Soleil Ho: I'm imagining someone carrying like a bunch of baked potatoes in one of those baby slings that you wear on your chest. And it's warming, a little lumpy, but it would conform to your body as you walk.

Danny Lavery: Yeah. Yeah! You know what? I'm back on board. Let's do this; let's get this going.

Soleil Ho: That would be like the buffet option.

Danny Lavery: Yes. A potato buffet! I agree.

Soleil Ho: Oh, man. It's been such a pleasure to talk to you, Danny.

Danny Lavery: As always. As always, my friend. I send all of my potato feelings to you.

Soleil Ho: Thank you. And with that, I really appreciate your time and all of your beautiful, lovely blossoming thoughts about beans and potatoes and why we love them. Thank you.

Danny Lavery: OK. Bye for now.
The Bay Areas efforts to track coronavirus cases and prevent the spread of disease are showing early signs of success, although plans to directly contact a vast majority of people who tested positive still face daunting challenges.

Many local counties are approaching their goal of contacting 90% of the regions positive cases, while others are still scrambling to ramp up their contact-tracing operations. Despite those obstacles, the Bay Areas early progress is encouraging, even as coronavirus cases spike across the state.

The relatively high rates of contact reported by county health officials compare favorably with other metropolitan areas hit hard by the pandemic. In New York City, for example, less than half of cases reached provided information about their close contacts, according to the New York Times.

Despite these early victories, Bay Area health workers say extensive challenges lie ahead, especially when it comes to identifying contacts with infected individuals and overcoming societal reluctance to participate.

We knew early on that there were going to be challenges with effectively doing case investigation and contact tracing with this number of cases in a pandemic of this scale, said Dr. Nick Moss, acting director of Alameda Countys Division of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention. This is really unprecedented compared to what health departments are usually doing.

Contact tracing is one of the primary public health tools used to break the chain of coronavirus infection. Case investigators call people who tested positive and work to quarantine those individuals, while also trying to identify and contact others who may have been exposed. The end goal is creating a database of cases and a road map to exposure and containment.

Its a challenging job. Dr. Lucia Abascal provides clinical support to a team of San Francisco contact tracers, drawing on her bilingual skills to cold-call strangers. But that doesnt mean theyre willing to talk.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Even if people with the virus, and their subsequent contacts, pick up the phone, they may be reluctant to give personal information. Others worry about losing wages if they miss work, or live with family and cant isolate. One man wanted to make sure his information wouldnt be shared with the federal government because his wife is undocumented.

Heres how Bay Area counties are coping with a variety of those challenges.

Workforce: Before the pandemic, local health departments staffed a handful of contact tracers to track HIV or tuberculosis infections. When COVID-19 hit, the state and counties embarked on a huge mission to multiply that workforce. Health departments filled emergency staffing needs with volunteers, county workers and state employees.

UCSF has trained thousands of contact tracers per week for San Francisco and the state. The California Department of Public Health set a goal of 10,000 contact tracers by July 1. So far, that number includes 3,000 county employees and 3,300 state workers deployed to counties for six to nine months.

The state set a goal of 15 tracers per 100,000 residents in each county, which some Bay Area departments already exceeded. San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda are able to track nearly all cases with their current workforce, but are prepping for a possible case surge.

Alameda Countys 83 contact tracers were able to reach about 85% of cases as of Wednesday. They eventually want 300 workers, but it can take a month for training. Santa Clara is still hiring and waiting for more state employees. San Mateo is ready to repurpose state workers.

Other counties havent met their goals yet and are facing pressure to keep up. Marin County, which was swamped with new cases this week, reached 70% of confirmed cases and only 46% of their contacts in the past two weeks.

Were getting snowed a little bit, said Marin County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Stephen A. McCurdy. At one point earlier this week, he was one of only three workers making calls as the rest were trained on a new state software, which he said had some hiccups. The county currently has 39 contact tracers and wants to get to at least 50.

Contra Costa County contacted 74% of confirmed cases and 68% of their contacts in the first three weeks of June. The biggest hurdle is staffing, as redeployed county employees return to day jobs and new staff tracers are hired, spokesman Will Harper said. By the end of the week, the county will have 146 contact tracers, Public Health Director Anna Roth said Tuesday, with a goal of 173 by August.

Privacy: The first hurdle contact tracers face is simply getting in touch with people and convincing them to participate. McCurdy of Marin County said data on confirmed cases from testing sites can take up to a week to come in. In Alameda, contact information is sometimes spotty, without a phone number or address, said Public Health Director Kimi Watkins-Tartt.

Even if contact tracers have a number, not everyone answers an unknown incoming phone call. Santa Clara Countys main limiting factor in reaching most, but not all, cases, is the willingness of the public to share information, a spokesman said.

Technology could provide an answer to that problem. The state recently rolled out a new tracking system called CalCONNECT, which five Bay Area counties are using. The program lists the caller ID on contact tracing calls as CA COVID Team and can also text and email. San Francisco uses software from a company called Dimagi for similar purposes.

Apple and Google teamed up to develop a contact tracing app to help notify people of their exposure, but California state and county contact tracing programs dont use any cell phone tracking technology yet.

For now, contact tracers may try the number of a confirmed case three times over the course of two days. Once someone picks up the phone, San Franciscos refusal rate to participate is less than 2%. Marin Countys McCurdy said people have immediately hung up on him.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Contact tracers also never ask for Social Security numbers, bank account information, or immigration status, but sometimes still need to reassure people its not a scam and persuade them to comply.

They have to see its not just in their best interest, but in the interest of the community, McCurdy said.

New York City is starting to knock on doors to reach more people. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Friday that President Trumps coronavirus task force is considering ways to beef up contact tracing in person, the New York Times reported.

Support: Even when people are on board with the idea of staying at home, many who are most vulnerable to the virus cannot do so safely if they live with others or cant miss work. In San Francisco, only about 60% of people contacted through the program could adequately self-isolate.

Contact tracers connect those isolating with county social services who can provide hotel rooms and arrange for food delivery. San Francisco also drops off medicine and cleaning supplies to some people in quarantine.

Marin County offers disaster relief payments of up to $1,500 per individual and $2,000 per family for individuals isolating who tested positive. McCurdy wants to see it extended to people who quarantine to monitor symptoms.

A San Francisco program to give cash assistance to people who dont qualify for federal aid or paid sick time is in the late stages of development.

The health department has a responsibility to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens have access to resources, said Dr. Darpun Sachdev, case investigation and contact tracing unit chief for the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Culture: The virus has disproportionately affected communities of color: In San Francisco, Latinos account for half of the infections in San Francisco despite making up only 15% of the population. More than half of contact-tracing calls are conducted in Spanish. Sachdev attributed the countys relative success to the diversity of its staff such as Abascal, a Mexico native who uses her language and cultural knowledge to build trust with other Latinos.

As counties look for more contact tracers, theyre turning to organizations that speak the language and understand the culture of vulnerable communities. Alameda County is contracting with local health clinics. Santa Clara County wants to hire 65 people to address the needs of disproportionately affected groups. San Francisco already trained four staff members from Instituto Familiar de la Raza, a Latino organization in the Mission District that can build on existing relationships to overcome the communitys mistrust in the health system, said Rafael Velazquez, the centers HIV services program director.

The contact tracing for us is absolutely a priority in terms of how we continuously flatten the curve and reduce transmission, said Jon Jacobo, chairman of the health committee on San Franciscos Latino Task Force. We understand very well that community led efforts will always have better results because the level of connection is deeper than that of a government agency.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench
Jackson said she has heard some concerns from attorneys about how to make sure virtual juries are following a judges instructions and not doing anything improper. But others are very interested to see how the first trial goes, she said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it an act of unfathomable cruelty. The Trump administrations move to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to repeal the Affordable Care Act in the midst of the worst pandemic in a century simply makes no sense as a matter of politics or public health.

In doing so, the Trump White House has just assured that the landmark health law that is providing coverage to 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions will be a significant issue in the November election.

Why the president would pick such a battle  especially in the absence of a plausible alternative to replace it  is inexplicable. Did he and his strategists somehow miss the message of the 2018 midterms, when the law was in the thick of the debate, and Democrats won big?

Its doubly puzzling because the Trump administration is taking a more aggressive stance when the lawsuit brought by 20 Republican attorneys general was in trial court. At that point, the administration was focused on eliminating pre-existing conditions rather than the entirety of the law. The case now going to the Supreme Court with the administrations support argues that the law became void when Congress eliminated a tax penalty for Americans who fail to buy insurance, commonly known as the individual mandate.

Did someone forget to remind President Trump that, despite his opposition to the individual mandate, he has repeatedly said he would defend a requirement for coverage of pre-existing conditions?

Most important of all is the absurdity of peeling back access to health care during the coronavirus pandemic in which more than 125,000 Americans have died  and infections continue to surge in many states with neither a vaccine nor effective treatments in sight. It is notable that the American Medical Association, along with many doctors and hospitals, opposes the lawsuit.

California has taken the lead among the 17 states that have come forward to defend the law.

Now is not the time to rip away our best tool to address very real and very deadly health disparities in our communities, state Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement last week. This fight comes at the most critical time. The death toll from the coronavirus today is greater than the death toll of the Vietnam War.

The job losses from the shutdown-induced economic shock also must be considered. In fact, a new report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services showed 487,000 Americans enrolled on Healthcare.gov in April and May  a 46% increase from the previous year.

In his brief on behalf of the Trump administration, Solicitor General Noel Francisco argued that the absence of a tax penalty upheld by the Supreme Court  unraveled the core of the law. He suggested the individual mandate was inseverable from the requirement on covering pre-existing conditions.

His logic would be laughable if the stakes were not so serious.

Nothing the 2017 Congress did demonstrates it would have intended the rest of the ACA to continue to operate in the absence of these ... integral provisions, Francisco wrote.

Pure nonsense. If the then-Republican-controlled Congress had intended to repeal the Affordable Care Act, it would have done so. It lacked the votes. One vote, to be precise. Many will recall Sen. John McCains pivotal thumbs-down vote in the early morning hours of July 28, 2017, to preserve the law commonly known as Obamacare.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, instantly signaled that he would be pressing the issue. He should. Americans need the law more than ever.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
As an Asian American woman, I support ACA5 because I believe that affirmative action helps even out the playing field. I hope that one day our country no longer requires affirmative action.

But until we reach that day, I dont believe that pitting minority groups against one another benefits anyone. Theres a belief in the Asian American community that your application will be held to a higher standard by colleges if you identify as Asian.

The Asian model minority stereotype is what unfortunately fuels this perception and has created the beast of higher expectations that the Asian American community complains about today.

From reading the legislation, ACA5 will simply allow ethnicity to be one of the factors considered as a part of a complete application package. The Asian American community should focus on fighting the harmful model minority stereotype, not affirmative action.

Niyati Narang, San Mateo

Cost of celebration

Regarding Presidents July 4 trip to Mt. Rushmore draws fire (Nation, June 26): I noted in the article by Stephen Groves that President Trump hopes for a campaign rally at Mount Rushmore and that a flyover of fighter jets and a fireworks display would be involved.

Will the cost of fire prevention, fire extinguishing and fighter jets all be covered by the campaign?

Bill Morley, Atascadero,

San Luis Obispo County

Whitewashed history

Decades of inaction led statues to topple (Heather Knight, Bay Area, June 28) was excellent. I had cut out and saved Heather Knights column S.F.s monuments to male supremacy (June 13, 2017).

In that column, Knight had a link to a list of the 87 San Francisco statues. I have used her column to teach my English students from abroad about San Franciscos past.

They always ask. Visitors want to experience our past in real life. Public art does that.

I have felt hampered. Our statues do not provide a jumping point for conversation with a tourist eager to practice English.

In America, we have amnesia. I am tired of how America sweeps its genocide under the carpet of history, as well as slavery, Native Americans on reservations and the Vietnam Wars toxic chemical weapons.

Public monuments spur conversations that reach beyond the limited moment of the history they embody. We should do what is done in Berlin and erect monuments to resistors, martyrs for freedom and writers who spoke out against a horrific past.

Its time to teach visitors to our city the truth beyond Americas whitewashing.

Elizabeth Heidhues, San Francisco

Nursing home failures

Regarding Care homes still most vulnerable (Front Page, June 24): Thank you for shining a light on the tragic but avoidable suffering and deaths in nursing homes because of poor regulation of the an industry that puts profits over people.

With 40% of the deaths from this pandemic occurring in nursing homes, this situation cries out for thorough investigation and a complete and total change in the way older adults are cared for after hospitalization and/or when their families need help caring for them.

The failure of nursing homes to adequately care for their residents was happening before the pandemic, but now its obvious that the business model of elder care does not work. We should demand the abolition of warehousing of our elders by businesses that claim to care for them but obviously do not.

Lets put an end to this deadly process and demand that our elected officials stop the flow of federal funds to private nursing homes; and instead, build public and nonprofit nursing homes that are designed and run for the benefit of the residents and their families; and/or assist families in taking care of their own, their elders, so they can age in place.

Lets do what we would want done for ourselves.

Art Persyko, San Francisco

Fight virus globally

As states across the country begin to open, including California, the continued rise in cases of COVID-19 has made its continued threat abundantly clear. While we are discussing the many ways we can fight this virus domestically, what could be added to the conversation is how we can also be doing more to fight it abroad and how doing so may actually be a benefit to all.

As seen with the rapid spread of this virus across the world, pandemics do not care about borders. Outbreaks of COVID-19 are a threat to all, no matter where they live. Millions living in developing nations such as Yemen and Syria, are at increased risk of being pushed into further abject poverty as the COVID-19 outbreak ravages through these countries. With more people in poverty, there will be less access to health care and basic sanitary practices.

This is why fighting COVID-19 everywhere is so important, because this virus will no doubt continue to spread from country to country if it is not dealt with everywhere.

This pandemic has caused a humanitarian health crisis for countries around the world. When it comes to fighting this virus we are truly in it together.
Junipero Serra. Sir Francis Drake. President Ulysses S. Grant. Even Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics to the national anthem.

What do the public statues being toppled across the Bay Area and the rest of the world have in common?

Theyre figures from history who supported white supremacy. And they're all men.

So heres a timely proposal: Why dont we replace them with monuments memorializing the heroic women of color whove helped shape our state?

The current protests have given us an opportunity for a deep cultural reckoning about how we want to see ourselves. The monuments that any society erects reflect its values.

Lets use this opportunity to address an unjust imbalance.

There are shamefully few statues or monuments honoring California women of color. In part, this is because our state's memorialists have historically focused on early conquerors, explorers and presidents.

According to a San Francisco analysis about the representation of women on city property, The United States has less than 400 statues depicting real historic women. Generally, statues tend to portray war heroes or elected officials, who are overwhelmingly Caucasian/wWhite men. When women are portrayed in statues, they are often hypersexualized, fictional characters, or a means to carry a metaphor, such as Lady Liberty.

The few statues of women that do exist are often chosen, not to honor the contribution that those women made as individuals, but because of their physical beauty or their relationships with powerful men.

One of the very few monuments devoted to a woman in California is a 26-foot-high sculpture of Marilyn Monroe in a low-cut dress and high heels. Its now on permanent display in Palm Springs, provoking some discussion of objectification of the actress whose life ended in tragedy.

Likewise, the svelte figure atop a pedestal in San Franciscos Union Square was modeled on a young Alma de Bretteville, who was considered a great beauty at the turn of the 20th century. Not long after, she became the mistress and eventual wife of the wealthy sugar king Adolph Spreckels.

The statue, in fact, wasnt really about Alma. It was meant to honor Adm. George Dewey, who led a key battle in the Spanish-American War. Now, most San Franciscans just call the figure on top of the pedestal, Big Alma, as its model became known as in her later years.

Instead of sexy movie stars or paramours of wealthy men perhaps we should start honoring more California women from diverse backgrounds who are not solely defined by the male gaze.

Women, for example, who worked for social justice, created art and literature, and led civil rights movements.

San Francisco would be a good place to start. Out of 87 public statues, just two represent real women. The city passed a law about three years ago aimed at increasing the percentage of women honored in this way, but, perhaps predictably, nothing much has changed.

A much-anticipated competition to honor the writer Maya Angelou with a piece of public art stalled with a disagreement at City Hall over which representation to pick.

One of the competing artists, Lava Thomas, told The San Francisco Chronicle: Artists deserve better, women deserve better, and Black women deserve better.

Yes, they do.

Its time for us to finally begin honoring Black women and other women of color.

There are plenty of candidates. One is Tien Fuh Wu, a Chinese girl sold by her father as a child servant who ended up working at a brothel in San Francisco. She eventually became a pioneering social worker who advocated tirelessly for decades to help vulnerable girls and women in Chinatown.

Or perhaps we should consider Bridget Biddy Mason, an African American woman born into slavery who bought her freedom, became a successful investor, and helped found Los Angeles First African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Theres also Ruth Asawa, the sculptor interned with her Japanese American family during World War II and helped create the San Francisco School of the Arts. Or Maxine Hong Kingston, whose 1976 book The Woman Warrior broke boundaries in Asian American literature and who remains a towering (and living) figure in California literature.

My own vote would be for a public statue honoring San Franciscos early gay rights activists Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, who were among the first same-sex couples to be married in the U.S.

Its time we look for different heroes  and a different model of heroism  to honor.

Julia Flynn Siler is the author of The White Devils Daughters: The Women Who Fought Slavery in San Franciscos Chinatown.
Signs encouraging social distancing are placed on the seats of a bus at the LYNX central station in downtown Orlando on Friday, June 26, 2020. Many safety measures have been installed on the buses for the Coronavirus outbreak. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
An important risk factor is worsening the devastation of COVID-19: employer-sponsored health insurance.

Experts are finding that a lack of health insurance translates to higher medical bills, worse health outcomes and faster spread of COVID-19. So its devastating that, during the first months of the coronavirus outbreak, 30 million additional Americans lost their employer-sponsored health insurance along with their jobs.

The nation now contains the highest rate of citizens without health insurance in the developed world  surpassing even the numbers of several developing countries, such as Mexico and the Philippines.

It didnt have to be this way, and it doesnt have to remain this way.

The pandemic has made it abundantly clear that America needs to reform its anachronistic employer-sponsored health care model. The question is, how?

The most ambitious solution is Medicare for All, which generally suggests abolishing the private insurance system entirely and offering all Americans public coverage.

Whether or not this strategy would be effective, it certainly would not be immediate. Nor is it guaranteed to overcome lobbying barriers. As a reminder, attempts to pass national health insurance reform failed under Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Clinton.

A different, smaller-scale approach is decoupling private insurance from employment.

This occurs in other wealthy countries. In Germany, for instance, individual citizens must purchase coverage from 109 competing insurance companies, known as sickness funds.

Since this coverage isnt tied to a job, it remains constant regardless of changes in employer or occupation. And if German citizen lose their jobs, they receive free or subsidized health care through safety net payments.

In the U.S., the most significant barriers to this style of reform are the hefty tax exemptions and lower premiums associated with employer-sponsored health insurance. These barriers could be addressed by increasing federal subsidies (paid for by the $250 billion in tax revenue now gained annually), offering greater tax deductions for individual health insurance plans, or capping premiums and deductibles for individual plans.

A third approach that has recently been proposed is expanding Medicaid to all Americans who lack employer-sponsored health insurance, Medicare, veterans benefits or some other form of coverage.

This could expand Medicaid coverage to an estimated 17 million more Americans by 2021. Though this does not erase employer-sponsored health insurance, it may serve as a workable interim solution.

Expanding Medicaid coverage, however, is not the same as expanding Medicaid access. The safety net program is currently riddled with numerous enrollment issues. For example, all states besides Iowa maintained documentation requirements (e.g., proof of Social Security number) from applicants applying to Medicaid during the pandemic, but the federal offices required to obtain these documents were closed with limited phone capacity.

In order to make any Medicaid reforms work, Congress would need to concurrently streamline enrollment requirements and allow presumptive eligibility, which lets states temporarily enroll individuals until full eligibility determinations can be made. Plans would also have to be made for states that decide they are not interested in expanding Medicaid to their residents.

Each of these solutions has its downside, but all are worth considering, as COVID-19 and its harmful impact on unemployment are not vanishing anytime soon. This month, officials at the Federal Reserve indicated they expect the unemployment rate to end 2020 at 9.3%, and remain elevated for years ahead.

As a nation, it is time America safeguards its citizens against the burden of the pandemic and fixes its outdated employer-sponsored health insurance system. There are plenty of options and models to consider. The one option that needs to end is the one that has failed to cover enough Americans for nearly 80 years.

Soleil Shah is a medical student at Stanford University School of Medicine and a former researcher for the World Health Organizations European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. Twitter: @soleil_shah
My life changed when I got hired to clean rooms at the San Francisco Hilton in 1993. Like many immigrants to San Francisco, Id had a hard time before then, working as a seamstress and other minimum wage jobs. The citys hotels  where most employees are organized into a union  offered something different. The work was hard, the cost of living was high, but I could put my sons through college, and I didnt worry about my family seeing a doctor when they needed to.

Today, 98% of hotel workers are laid off. We all wonder what the future holds. But even though the shutdown of tourism was beyond our control, we want a voice about our future and that of the industry we work in.

Billions of people all over the world have been cooped up for months; many look forward to going somewhere different. To lure those potential travelers back, we need to make San Francisco the go-to destination for people who want to get away with confidence. Our city needs them to know our hotels are the cleanest, safest and best places anyone can visit. And room cleaners know better than anyone how to make that happen.

Thats why we were so disappointed when hotel owners started driving a different agenda. In the middle of the pandemic, these companies started pushing the idea that guest rooms shouldnt be cleaned daily. The California Hotel and Lodging Association wants hotels to plan for no housekeeping during a guests stay. The CEO of Host Hotels, which owns the Marriott Marquis and others, said: We view this opportunity, this crisis, truly as an opportunity to redefine the hotel operating model. The CEO of Park Hotels, which owns the Hilton where I used to work, said the business has been out of balance, and I think theres a unique opportunity now.

Lets be clear: Theyre not doing this to keep anyone safe.

The World Health Organization has recommended exactly the opposite. So have governments from Singapore to China to France. To their credit, luxury hotels chains like Four Seasons and Omni recognize its importance. When rooms arent cleaned on a daily basis, the grime builds up, and it takes much more work and attention to sanitize them thoroughly. When youre under pressure from your boss to finish a heavy workload on a tight timeline, its easy to miss things. And now the stakes are higher than ever.

For corporate executives, this is about money, plain and simple. Some hotel corporations have been trying to convince customers to give up room cleaning for years ... because it generates millions in profits. Now these same companies see a new opening, and theyre using an age-old tactic: stoke their customers worst unfounded fears. But Black, brown and Asian housekeepers  overwhelmingly women  dont spread disease. We prevent it.

Tens of thousands of our jobs depend on San Franciscos ability to attract visitors. Rather than allow a corporate agenda to lead us on a race to the bottom, we should follow a different path. Lets make sure our hotels are the cleanest, most welcoming places they can be. Lets ensure that all the spaces where people come and go, including guest rooms, are cleaned regularly and thoroughly. Lets put people back to work showing the entire world that there is nowhere better to visit than San Francisco.

Housekeepers know about cleaning rooms. Listen to us.

Tina Chen was a hotel room cleaner and now is secretary-treasurer of San Franciscos hotel and restaurant workers union, Unite Here Local 2.
SACRAMENTO  California added four more counties Monday to its watch list of places with concerning growth in their local coronavirus outbreaks, including Solano County, as Gov. Gavin Newsom hinted that he could renew some restrictions on public life.

State public health officials are now closely monitoring the conditions in 19 of Californias 58 counties, including Contra Costa and Santa Clara in the Bay Area, representing nearly three-quarters of the state population. In addition to Solano, Glenn, Merced and Orange counties were added to the list Monday.

With the number of coronavirus cases, the rate of positive tests and hospitalizations all increasing statewide, Newsom on Sunday ordered seven counties where the virus is spreading more rapidly to shutter bars again or keep them closed, and recommended the same for eight others on the watch list.

At a news conference Monday, the governor suggested he might augment that order with even more restrictive ones, though he did not offer details.

We are considering a number of other things to advance, and we will be making those public as conditions change, he said. This is a dynamic process, not a static one.

California reported 5,307 new coronavirus cases Sunday, Newsom said, and the state has seen a 45% increase in its total number of confirmed cases in just the past week.

The number of hospitalizations also jumped by 43% over the past two weeks, to 4,776 patients, the governor said, and the rate of positive tests is climbing. It was 5.5% during the past 14 days, compared with 4.4% two weeks ago.

We dont like the trend line, Newsom said.

The governor said gatherings between family and friends who were not mixing during the statewide stay-at-home order are contributing to the rising spread. But he also called on businesses to do more to protect their workers and customers by following state regulations, such as a recent mandate for Californians to wear a face covering outside the home when physical distancing is not possible.

We will be stepping up our enforcement in the state of California, he said.

Imperial County in the southeastern corner of the state, whose rural health system has been overwhelmed by coronavirus patients, remains the most urgent outbreak. County officials have not yet reinstituted a local stay-at-home order, as Newsom urged them to do last week.

If they are unsuccessful in building consensus around going back into a stay-at-home order frame, the state of California will assert itself and make sure that happens, he said Monday.

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
Im so sick of eating my own food. Even if they put Costco pizza on a platter here, I would be so happy.

You guys are heroes, you know that right? Thank you for your service.

Can I pet your dog?

Look at the guy over there. Hes not wearing the mask over his nose!

Im so glad theyve opened up the street for dining. This feels so European, dining al fresco. Doesnt this feel so European?

We should order food that doesnt do well as takeout. Remember French fries?

You know whats driving this allits capitalism! Its money!

I feel like we need to tip more, right? What is that, 18%? How do you figure that out without a calculator though?

You think this is bad, just look at Florida.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

So theoretically, you cant catch COVID from bread. But can you get it from soup?

You know what I dont miss, is communal tables. Sitting next to random people trying to make small talk about wine and their vacation homes in Sonoma? Good riddance.

Excuse me, can we get some fresh silverware? I promise I didnt slobber all over it.

I just dont know whats right anymore.

Honey, you cant touch other peoples dogs right now! Im so sorry, maam. He hasnt been out in months.

How was the bathroom situation?

Going to restaurants, going to the movie theater is going to be the new civic activism. This is what people did after the big earthquake. Mark my words.

Put your mask back on! Oh wait, wait, never mind, the waitress just walked away. Put it down.

You think this is bad, just look at Arizona.

I think the heat from boiling a soup kills coronavirus. Or is it the salting that kills it?

20%. Its just easier, anyway.

Stop yelling about capitalism! We know already! You cant just yell like that in public: Were around people now!

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Excuse me, Im sorry, but could you not scoot your chair so close to our table? Im so sorry, I dont think youre diseasedjust, you know.

Look, do you want every nice restaurant to close and become a Taco Bell?

Please put your mask on, sir.

Going to a restaurant right now doesnt make us bad people. But it doesnt make us good people either. We just want food, simple as that. Theres nothing simpler.

I dont know, I kind of miss rubbing elbows with random people at the bar. Not that Im sick of you! Im just saying.

We need to tip 30%, minimum.

Its so nice to have a proper cappuccino again. My god.

You think this is bad, just look at Texas.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Isnt it funny how we all just kind of forgot about sustainability during the pandemic? My drawer is just overflowing with plastic forks and bags now. Oh, I dont know, I just think its funny, is all.

I wouldnt mind a few more Taco Bells, to be honest.

Remember mussels?

Why do we need to tip more? Its not like the food is any better than it was before.

Youve got to cover your nose or it doesnt work!

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

This work of fiction (yes, Im still just cooking at home) was inspired by a conversation with Daniel M. Lavery, a writer and advice columnist who has produced excellent satirical writing on the rhetoric of beans, breasts and Columbo in his newsletter, Shatner Chatner. Lavery is the latest guest on The Chronicles food podcast, Extra Spicy. On the show, we talk about potatoes for dessert, our imaginary restaurant ideas and the persistence of the dinner table as the place where familial tensions come to a head. Take a listen!

Recommended reading

 This op-ed by a restaurant worker in Sacramento is a frank look at what its like to be back on the job during the pandemic. I think the really important takeaway from a restaurant perspective is that, in good times, hospitality is all about making the guest feel welcome and appreciated, which sometimes means bending the rules of engagement a bit to fit their needs. But in these times, the rules are truly unbreakable, which leaves staff in the awkward position of having to act in a way that could potentially alienate their customers.

 Definitely read Osayi Endolyns dissection of the New York Times latest story about Thai fruits, panned by critics for treating its subject with the kind of Orientalist disgust often associated with early colonial travelogues to the tropics. Its a wonderful, patiently written guide to media literacy.

 Over in New York City, restaurant critic Pete Wells goes searching for his first sit-down meal in ages. He wonders how city life might transform if restaurants begin to spill out onto the streets en masse, similarly to how theyve been encouraged to take over parking spaces and sidewalks here in the Bay Area.

 Heres an answer to a question that Ive never thought to ask: What are the best caldos of all time? Im a fan of Mexican soups of all sorts, and Erick Galindos ode to his top ten is dreamy and packed with exquisite detail about albondigas, birria, you name it. His number one surprised me!

Bite Curious is a weekly newsletter from The Chronicles restaurant critic, Soleil Ho, delivered to inboxes on Monday mornings. Follow along on Twitter: @Hooleil
There is now no doubt: Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., is the Golden State Killer.

On Monday, DeAngelo, 74, pleaded guilty to over two dozen charges  and admitted to many more uncharged crimes  in a Sacramento State ballroom, the unusual venue needed to safely accommodate the many victims, witnesses and media with social distancing.

In exchange for pleading guilty, DeAngelo will avoid the death penalty and instead spend the rest of his life in prison. He also agreed to waive his appellate rights and will pay to-be-determined restitution to his victims. A formal sentencing hearing will be held in August.

As prosecutors from Ventura, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Contra Costa, Orange, San Joaquin, Yolo, Alameda and Stanislaus counties recited the details of his murders, DeAngelo, looking disinterested, responded "guilty" to each charge. On allegations with no formal charge attached, he simply said, "I admit."

The former California police officer stalked such a wide swath of the state that he collected nicknames everywhere he went. In Central California, he was the Visalia Ransacker. In Sacramento and the Bay Area, he was the East Area Rapist. In Southern California, he was the Original Night Stalker. And, finally, he became the Golden State Killer after crime writer Michelle McNamara coined the moniker in 2013.

DeAngelo raped more than 50 women from 1975-86. Because the statute of limitations expired for the rapes, prosecutors could only ask DeAngelo to admit to those crimes which he did. He also murdered at least 13 people. He admitted guilt in the first-degree murders of Brian and Katie Maggiore, Lyman and Charlene Smith, Keith and Patrice Harrington, Manuela Witthuhn, Janelle Cruz, Claude Snelling, Robert Offerman, Debra Manning, Cheri Domingo and Gregory Sanchez.

After the brutal bludgeoning of Cruz in 1986, the Golden State Killer disappeared, leaving frustrated investigators chasing red herrings and dead ends for 30 more years.

In his wake, DeAngelo left countless traumatized families. Along with victimizing women, he subjected husbands and boyfriends to the horror of listening to their partners being raped while they were tied up in another room. DeAngelo sometimes placed dishes on their backs, warning if he heard a plate fall, he'd kill them. Some children slept through attacks, although others awoke to the unfolding nightmare and were forced back into their rooms, alone for hours as DeAngelo roamed the house.

The Golden State Killer was known for creating violating, personal connections to victims, calling women by their first names or telling them he'd stalked them before. It's unclear if he really had links to them, however. DeAngelo broke into victims' homes before he attacked, giving him ample access to photos, letters and other identifying details. Investigators believe DeAngelo would case streets for days or weeks before attacking, and he'd often target a single neighborhood repeatedly before selecting a new one. In the days leading up to an attack, residents would notice family photos moved, closed doors they'd sworn they left open and scratches on window screens.

The psychological terror did not end with rape. In some cases, police believe DeAngelo called his victims afterward. In one such call, a woman and children could be heard in the background, leading investigators to speculate the killer was a family man. One woman, at the request of police, kept her phone number for years in the hopes the attacker would call and reveal identifying information.

Decades after the last case went cold, investigators announced in 2018 that DNA led them to a break in the case. Detectives submitted the killer's DNA to an open-source genealogy website called GEDmatch, where it found a hit with a DeAngelo relative who used the service. Detectives were then able to narrow their list of suspects, eventually arresting DeAngelo after a covertly obtained sample from his trash matched the DNA that linked so many crime scenes.

Left alone in the interrogation room, Sacramento County Deputy District Attorney Thienvu Ho said DeAngelo began to talk to himself.

"I did all that," he allegedly said.

For the last three decades, DeAngelo lived in a single-story home in Citrus Heights. During many of his crimes, he was an active duty police officer  specializing in burglary cases  in Auburn and Exeter. He was fired by Auburn Police in 1979 after a shoplifting arrest. Only in retrospect did the stolen items take on a dark significance: Hed lifted a hammer and dog repellent.

Until his retirement in 2017, he worked as a truck mechanic for Save Mart in Roseville. He had a wife and three daughters, although he and his wife separated in the early 1990s. Sacramento County jail records indicate DeAngelo rarely, if ever, receives visitors.

Capital punishment is suspended in California due to a 2019 executive order signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The order put a moratorium on executions for the duration of Newsom's governorship but in order to fully repeal the death penalty, state voters will have to weigh in. Given DeAngelo's age, it's highly unlikely he would have ever been executed by the state. But the plea bargain expedited the legal process, something both DeAngelo's public defenders and the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office pushed for given the strain it would place on victims and witnesses.

"Many of these people, all deeply affected by these crimes, may not be with us in time for a jury trial," Sacramento County Deputy District Attorney Amy Holliday said Monday. "... The sexual assault victims have waited decades for justice."

DeAngelo has been in jail since his arrest in April 2018.

He will now likely die there.

Katie Dowd is the SFGATE managing editor. Email her: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd
I know theyre watching this morning, so Id like to say this as clearly as I can. If you want to work together to make needed reforms, Im ready to sit down and talk. But if you think youre going to silence me with rubber bullets or intend to intimidate me through statements to press, you thought wrong, Ratlieff said.
First there were only seven. Then 48. One has an iconic fire hose nozzle-looking tower on top, another a 100-foot cross. One was even leveled by dynamite to make way for a steel works.

San Francisco is defined by its hills.

But which is the steepest?

It's not Lombard Street. While the famous winding block between Hyde and Leavenworth, with its tight turns and postcard views, has become the celebrity of San Francisco streets, its incline even before the eight switchbacks were built in 1923 was a relatively paltry 27%. It may be the crookedest and most famous block in the city, but it's certainly not the steepest.

For years it was claimed that Filbert Street was the steepest in the city, with a sharp 31% grade. David Letterman once released 100 watermelons down the block in the name of science and late-night ratings. If you google "San Francisco's steepest street" it's still Filbert that shows up, despite it actually only being the sixth-highest incline in the city limits.

YouTuber and San Francisco native Joey Yee wanted to find out, and climbed the city's actual steepest streets in a video posted on YouTube this weekend.

"San Francisco has maybe the most bonkers topography of any city anywhere, 47 square miles and not a single neighborhood is completely flat," Yee said, "A grade of over 15% is steep enough to deter most city planning commissions from building pretty much anything, but this is San Francisco, where we hate anything flat and where the hills are just minor inconveniences in pursuit of the best views in town." He added.

There is no official city list of San Francisco's steepest blocks so Yee drew from a 2010 story by datasmith Stephen Van Worley to outline his quest.

It reveals that Filbert Street only comes out on top when looking at the more touristy areas of the city. Von Worley made it his mission to explore the more neglected backstreets and concluded that after being repaved in 2009, the modest, one-block, dead-end stretch of Bradford Street, near where the 101 and 280 freeways converge, reigned supreme at a vertigo-inducing 41% grade. This discovery pushed North Beach's treacherous Romolo Street into second place.

Here's the list of blocks climbed by Joey Yee in his infographic-laden video that went viral on Reddit on Monday.

"Making videos about the city's culture (and everything fun & fascinating) has been a huge goal of mine since I started the channel back in October." Yee told SFGATE.

1. Bradford above Tompkins (41% grade)

2. Romolo between Vallejo and Fresno (37.5% grade)

3. Prentiss between Chapman and Powhattan (37% grade)

4. Nevada above Chapman (35% grade)

5. Baden above Mangels (34% grade)

6. Ripley between Peralta and Alabama (31.5% grade)

7. 24th between De Haro and Rhode Island (31.5% grade)

8. Filbert between Hyde and Leavenworth (31.5% grade)

9. 22nd between Vicksburg and Church (31.5% grade)

10. Broadway above Taylor (31% grade)

Yee climbed all these blocks so you don't have to. Watch his dizzying quest here:

Andrew Chamings is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings
After a driver didn't stop for a group of protesters in a Tampa roadway and "slowly rolled through" the crowd, one of the demonstrators was arrested and jailed, according to a news report.
The Pasco County Sheriffs Office said on a series of Twitter posts that the woman fled during an investigation in Port Richey, Florida. The office said that the woman fired a shot at the deputies, who then shot at her, striking her once.
It's "remarkable" that President Donald Trump is energetically denying that he knew of intelligence reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin had put bounties on U.S. and allied troops in Afghanistan, former national security adviser John Bolton said Sunday.

Two days after a New York Times report on the alleged actions by Russian military intelligence - paying Taliban-linked militias to kill Americans - Trump tweeted that "nobody briefed or told me" of the issue.

"Nobody briefed or told me, @VP Pence, or Chief of Staff @MarkMeadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an "anonymous source" by the Fake News @nytimes. Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us....."

"It is pretty remarkable the president's going out of his way to say he hasn't heard anything about it, one asks, why would he do something like that?" Bolton said.

"He can disown everything if no one ever told him about it," Bolton said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." "It looks like just another day in the office at the Trump White House."

Bolton said he didn't know the quality of the intelligence on the Russian bounty plan, or the extent of it. And not all information that flows through the many U.S. intelligence agencies is passed on to the commander in chief, Bolton noted.

"There needs to be a filter of intelligence for any president, especially for this president," he said.

"Active Russian aggression like that against American servicemen is a very, very serious matter," Bolton added.

Asked why Trump is often defensive of Russia's Putin, Bolton said he didn't read anything into it, necessarily. " I just don't know what to say other than if he likes dealing with strong authoritarian figures."

Trump on Sunday also lashed out at Democratic nominee Joe Biden, who criticized the president over his handling of the Russian reports on Saturday.

"Funny to see Corrupt Joe Biden reading a statement on Russia, which was obviously written by his handlers. Russia ate his and Obama's lunch during their time in office, so badly that Obama wanted them out of the then G-8. U.S. was weak on everything, but especially Russia!"

Bolton is in the middle of a media blitz to promote his tell-all book depicting the president as consistently prioritizing his own re-election, even above national security. On NBC he repeated a contention that while he won't vote for Trump in November, he won't vote for Biden, either.

Bolton paints Trump in the book as ignorant, easily manipulated by foreign leaders and unfit for office. Trump has fired back, calling the book "lies" and tweeting that Bolton is "wacko" and a "disgruntled boring fool."
A news release from the Miami-Dade Police Department said one of its officers was driving on the access road to the water and sewer department facility of the county on Sunday when the two cyclists were struck.
WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Monday to immediately start negotiations on a new coronavirus relief bill.

Their demand comes with cases spiking significantly in a number of states but little urgency from congressional Republicans and the White House to respond.

"The nation has seen a dramatic surge in both cases and deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Adding to that pain, our economy is facing one of its greatest challenges since the Great Depression. Over one fifth of the workforce has requested unemployment assistance," Pelosi and Schumer wrote in a letter to McConnell. "Now is the time for action, not continued delays and political posturing."

Senate Republicans and the White House have been eyeing late July as the time frame for putting together another coronavirus bill, after passing four bills in March and April pumping about $3 trillion into the economy. The Democratic-led House passed another massive relief bill 45 days ago, but Republicans declared it dead on arrival in the Senate and Trump threatened to veto it.

Congress is in session this week, but lawmakers then plan to leave Washington for a two-week recess for the Fourth of July. There are no plans to pass coronavirus legislation before the recess.

In response to the Pelosi-Schumer letter, a McConnell spokesman pointed to comments McConnell made Friday in Kentucky, when he said: "In July, we'll take a snapshot of where the country stands, see how the jobs are coming back, see where we think we are. And if there's a final rescue package, that's when it will develop and it will start, once again, in my office . . . the House efforts are simply not practical.

"So we will sit down in July what seems to fit the way forward based on the conditions a few weeks from now," McConnell said. "One thing I can tell you will certainly be in the bill - it's not negotiable-liability protection for hospitals, doctors, nurses, businesses, universities, k-12 related to the coronavirus."

McConnell's position has been essentially unchanged since April.

Meanwhile some critical deadlines are approaching when relief measures will expire. Enhanced unemployment benefits passed as part of the $2 trillion Cares Act in March will expire on July 31. The small-business Paycheck Protection Program will stop accepting new loan applications on Tuesday, though about $100 billion is left in the program.

"We are outraged that instead of holding bipartisan, bicameral negotiations during the June work period, you chose to prioritize the confirmation of right-wing judges and several Republican-led committees devoted precious time to chasing President Trump's wild conspiracy theories," Pelosi and Schumer wrote. "The House has acted. It is unacceptable that the Senate would recess without addressing this urgent issue."

On Sunday, Vice President Mike Pence held an event in Dallas where he urged Americans to wear face masks and practice social distancing as the United States surpassed 2.5 million confirmed cases. Texas, Arizona and Florida have emerged as the new hot spots.

Democrats have been calling for a national testing strategy and also want to send more money to state and local governments, some of which have been forced to lay off employees in droves. Senate Republicans are divided on what to do next, or whether another relief bill is even needed.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, whose state is seeing a surge in new cases, told reporters at the Capitol on Monday that another relief bill is "inevitable" given the state of affairs. Cornyn said it needed to include liability protections for businesses, but after observing what is happening in Texas he said a testing strategy also is needed.

"I think what we need more than anything else is not just more testing, we need a testing strategy. Because a lot of these new cases are people between the ages of 20 and 59. And they are people letting their guard down, going to bars," Cornyn said. "I think now cries out for a strategy that tests more asymptomatic people so we can get a handle on the community spread, which is what's going on now."

In the months since Congress last acted on bipartisan coronavirus legislation, partisanship has increased on various fronts at the Capitol. That's leading some lawmakers to begin expressing concerns about their ability to muster the political will to deliver on another relief bill - especially as the election approaches.

"Every day we're closer to the election, every day bipartisan legislation gets harder," Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., a longtime member of the Appropriations Committee, said in an interview. "But the reality is we need another coronavirus bipartisan package to put the funds we need for vaccines and research, more money in public health, assistance to businesses, encouragement for people to go back to work with appropriate protections. All those things are going to require, again, us to work together. And right now, since we've passed that fourth package, we've been pulling apart rather than pulling together."

Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., told reporters late last week, "You have 53 different opinions on what to do right now" - the number of Republicans in the Senate. Braun also argued that "I think the economy is going to surprise us" by rebounding.

On Monday, in another response to the crisis, the House moved to pass a bill called the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act including more than $100 billion in emergency rental assistance and homeowner assistance, a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, and billions to respond to and prevent coronavirus outbreaks among homeless people, among other provisions.
Wuhan University in central China's Hubei province has built more than 600 "home-based laboratories" and sent them to students restricted to their homes through express delivery, as part of efforts to help students complete all their experimental teaching tasks this semester.

(Photo/cctv.com)

These "home-based electronic laboratories" are made up of more than 1 million electronic components selected and repackaged into more than 600 test kits, coupled with integrated instruments that have been developed independently, according to a responsible person from the team.

This laboratory equipment has been sent to students via express delivery, so that students stuck at home due to nationwide epidemic control measures are able to carry out experiments in their own homes.

For students majoring in electronic information, conducting experiments is essential for their studies, and they need to put the theoretical knowledge they have learned into practice.
Deputies instructed Thomas to step out of the vehicle with arms raised and walk backward toward them. Deputies also had a female with an infant exit the vehicle Thomas was driving
MINNEAPOLIS - The four former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd's killing are scheduled to make another court appearance Monday as prosecutors appear to be moving to try them in one trial, a move that is likely to be vigorously opposed by defense attorneys who say their clients are already at risk of facing an unfair jury.

Separate hearings had been scheduled for Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and Alexander Kueng, but they were consolidated. Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill was appointed this month to oversee the cases.

Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Floyd family, told the Star Tribune that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office is prosecuting the case, informed Floyd's relatives in a private meeting last week that a single trial will be scheduled for March 8, with a pretrial hearing set for Sept. 11.

A spokesman for Ellison did not respond to a request for comment. The upcoming court schedule is expected to be discussed at Monday's omnibus hearing, in which the former officers could be asked to enter formal pleas in the case. Three are expected to attend the hearing in person; Chauvin will appear remotely from a state prison where he is being held on a minimum $1 million bail.

Lane and Kueng are both out on bail. Thao is being held at the Hennepin County jail on a minimum $750,000 bail.

The legal maneuvering comes about a month after Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was pinned at the neck under Chauvin's knee on May 25. Chauvin, who is white, has been charged with second-degree murder. The others have been charged with aiding and abetting.

The prospect of a single trial probably will be challenged by at least two of the defendants. Attorneys for Kueng and Lane have argued that their clients, rookies who had been full-time officers for less than half a week, were following the orders of Chauvin, a 19-year-veteran of the department who had been their field training officer. They argue that their clients tried to intervene but were rebuffed by Chauvin, the senior officer at the scene.

"The fellow in the front is a training officer. They're required to call him 'Sir.' He has 20 years' experience," Earl Gray, the defense attorney for Lane, said of Chauvin during a recent bail hearing. "What is my client supposed to do but to follow what the training officer said? Is that aiding and abetting a crime?"

Charging documents, citing police body-camera footage, say Lane twice asked Chauvin if they should "roll" Floyd onto his side, including right after the man stopped moving. "I am worried about excited delirium," Lane told Chauvin, citing a forensic term that has been used by medical examiners to describe the sudden in-custody death of individuals who might be under the influence of drugs or in an agitated state.

"That's why we have him on his stomach," Chauvin replied, according to court records citing the footage.

When Floyd stopped moving, Lane again pressed to roll him over, according to charging documents, but Chauvin didn't move. Kueng checked Floyd's right wrist and told the others he couldn't find a pulse, according to prosecutors. "He was trying to . . . communicate that this situation needs to change direction," Thomas Plunkett, Kueng's attorney, argued at a recent bail hearing.

But videos indicate that Chauvin stayed put until paramedics arrived.

The move to shift blame to Chauvin has been rejected by state prosecutors as well as Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, who has said that being a rookie is no excuse for an officer not to intervene when they see another officer doing something wrong.

"The policies that I put out for the department, those policies are not guided in years of service. I don't put policies out to say that you should only react or respond if you're a two-year member or a five-year member or a 10-year member," Arradondo said this month. "And if policies or subculture get in the way, then I expect, and I demand, one's humanity to rise above that."

Last week, Arradondo joined other several public officials, including Democrats Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in describing Floyd's death as "murder." He said both Thao and Chauvin had undergone training to prevent suffocation of people being restrained facedown.

"George Floyd's tragic death was not due to a lack of training - the training was there. Chauvin knew what he was doing," Arradondo said in a statement. "The officers knew what was happening. One intentionally caused it, and the others failed to prevent it. This was murder; it wasn't a lack of training."

Arradondo's statement was quickly cited in court by the defense, arguing that the objectivity of their cases has been compromised. In an unusual move, attorneys for the four men filed a joint court motion Thursday in support of news media requests, including from The Washington Post, to allow audio and video recording of upcoming hearings, to counteract officials' critical statements about their clients.

Plunkett, writing for the defendants, cited "unethical leaks" and "many prejudicial comments" from public officials including Arradondo and Ellison, and said having open media coverage of the hearings would give their clients a better chance at a fair trial.

"This relief is necessary to blunt the effects of the increasing and repeated media attacks from various officials who have breached their duty to the community," Plunkett wrote, adding that audio and video coverage would "let a cleansing light shine on these proceedings."

Under the rules of Minnesota courts, both the prosecution and the defense must agree to permit cameras and audio recording equipment in the courtroom. In a motion filed Friday, Cahill, the presiding judge, ruled that there would be no additional coverage of pretrial hearings, citing an objection from prosecutors and concerns about tainting the jury pool.

He said he would address media coverage of the trial at a later time.
The fall of the statues is a huge gain for the movement, though I think that liberal and conservative media outlets will try to represent (it) as senseless violence rather than the strategic political move it really was, protester Micah Le told the Associated Press.
It became clear that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was in retreat when he closed the bars.

Ever since restarting the Lone Star state's economy in early May, Abbott ignored the pleas of mayors and county leaders to impose strict rules to stop covid-19. The 62-year-old Republican appeared repeatedly on Sean Hannity's Fox News show to tout his commitment to keeping business open, while the pandemic quietly gathered strength.

During the past week, Texas saw record case numbers, and hospitals in Houston, its biggest city, neared their limits. Even then, Abbott agreed only to pause the reopening. He didn't order people to wear masks or stop going out.

But Friday, he shut the saloons at high noon.

Abbott's reversal underscored a crisis that was weeks in the making and driven by four distinct causes: the failure of public-health work like contact tracing, heavy economic pressure, the political neutering of its cities, and Abbott's solidarity with President Donald Trump's agenda. Every week of free commerce allowed more Texans to fall ill.

Now, the second-most-populous state faces the prospect of mortality like that seen in New York three months ago. Texas is fast becoming the new center of the pandemic in the U.S. The nation on Saturday saw total cases jump 1.9%, the biggest percentage increase in six weeks, with more than 45,000 new infections.

On Friday, the top official in Harris County, which includes Houston, declared an emergency, and thousands of cell phones buzzed with warnings to shelter in place. "Today, we find ourselves careening toward a catastrophic and unsustainable situation," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said during a media briefing. "There is a severe and uncontrolled outbreak of covid-19. Our hospitals are using 100% of their base capacity now, and are having to start relying on surge capacity."

The counties around Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio all saw their case numbers at least triple since the reopening began, although none started with as many as Harris. Across Texas, the rate of positive covid-19 tests has risen to 17.5%, far above the 10% threshold that's considered concerning, according to data presented by the White House virus task force on Friday. The same day, the Texas state health department put the rate at 13.2%, still more than double the May 31 figure of 5.4%.

What's happening in Texas "can happen anywhere," said David Lakey, vice chancellor for health affairs and chief medical officer for the University of Texas system.

"The vast majority of people still have never been infected with it, and so are virologically naive to it," said Lakey, a former commissioner of Texas' health department. "So it should not surprise us that given the right circumstances, that it will infect many more people."

Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis said the state reopened too fast, while the virus was still spreading, and that the governor hobbled local efforts to control it.

"If ever there was a time when I wished my predictions about what would happen were wrong, this was it," Ellis said. "The sentiment on the ground here is that we are scared to death."

Abbott's office didn't respond to a request for comment.

More than six months into the pandemic, it can be hard to remember how quickly it became political. In late February, when an official at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta warned it would spread, conservative radio broadcaster Rush Limbaugh declared it nothing more than the common cold. Trump said was it under control and exaggerated by his foes.

In the U.S., the disease initially kept a low profile outside of big cities on the East and West coasts, where a state of alert over time turned to complacency. Texas reported its first five cases March 6; four were in Houston.

The nation's energy capital sprawls over a metropolitan region of more than 9,400 square miles - larger than New Jersey - in swampy southeast Texas. Its population of about 7 million is one of the nation's most diverse. Veined with freeways and largely unhindered by zoning, residential neighborhoods tumble into strips of businesses that tumble into industrial emplacements. It has at least three districts that could compete for the title of downtown. (That includes the official downtown.)

Like much of the South, Houston had a handicap going into the pandemic: the uninsured. Texas didn't expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, leaving many residents without access to regular care. About 25% of residents under age 65 in the city of Houston lack health insurance, according to Census Bureau estimates.

The state's Republican leaders also had a tradition of undercutting the power of its Democrat-led cities, particularly after Abbott took office in 2015, said Renee Cross, senior director of the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston. "Arguing over a city ban on plastic bags or on fracking is nothing compared to this," she said. "Covid takes it to another level."

Local leaders were first to act against the virus, starting with the March 6 cancellation of the South by Southwest festival in Austin. Houston and Harris County then cut short the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a nearly-three week economic powerhouse that was already eight days into its run. "It's like five Super Bowls," said Ellis, the county commissioner. "That took some chutzpah."Abbott largely stayed on the sidelines. Pressed to do what other governors had done to blunt the disease's spread - issue a shelter-in-place order - he said that was up to local authorities. He ordered the vulnerable to stay home, banned nursing-home visitors and mandated quarantines for visitors from New York, where the virus was raging.

Abbott finally imposed a lockdown beginning April 1. It lasted only a month. He also said his orders pre-empted any city or county rules.

"One of the major ways that the governor miscalculated and caused the second wave is when he did open Texas, he took away the local governments' ability to enact common-sense requirements," said Clay Jenkins, the judge of Dallas County, its top elected executive position.

In Houston, the flash point was Harris County Judge Hidalgo's mask order, which included a $1,000 fine. Hidalgo, a 29-year-old naturalized citizen born in Bogota, wasn't the first local leader to mandate masks. But her order inflamed state Republicans, drawing protests, cries of tyranny and eventually an intercession from Abbott.

Texas reopened in phases, first with restaurants at 25 percent capacity, then bars and other businesses. The capacity limits gradually eased. Each phase brought a jump in cases 10 to 14 days later, said Marilyn Felkner, a public health professor at the University of Texas at Austin. "It's real easy to see looking backward," Felkner said. "It was probably a little bit harder going forward."

Vivian Ho, a health economist at Rice University in Houston, is more critical. She called the situation "a disaster in so many ways." Despite recommendations that the state ensure cases weren't rapidly rising before easing limits, "that all was ignored," Ho said. "Pretty much every Friday there was a new relaxation in the guidelines."

Ho said the state's testing and contact-tracing capabilities are inadequate and that Abbott should have allowed mask requirements and "shut down bars a long time ago."

On June 16, as cases continued to climb, leaders of all the state's major cities wrote Abbott, begging for the right to implement mask orders. He refused, but hinted that there was in fact a way they could do that already. He didn't say what it might be.

In San Antonio, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff found the loophole. On June 17, he ordered businesses to require masks or face fines, instead of putting the onus on the public directly. Abbott didn't object. Cities and counties across the state enacted mask mandates within days.

For Houston, it was too late.

Texas has the second-largest number of hospital beds in the country after California. More than a fifth are in Houston, according to state data, but that robust medical infrastructure is facing strain.

Surging demand led the Texas Children's Hospital system there to begin accepting adult covid-19 patients Monday. On Thursday, Abbott suspended elective surgeries in Harris County and other major metropolitan areas to free hospital capacity.

Even Houston's Texas Medical Center, a sprawling complex of hospitals, research facilities and medical schools that bills itself as the largest medical city in the world, is under pressure. Wary of people avoiding necessary medical care for fear of getting the virus, officials have sought to reassure patients that they are well-prepared and still have room for patients.

The center said late this week that the region's intensive-care capacity of 1,330 beds had reached maximum capacity, a situation that will require the conversion of other facilities to covid-19 wards.

The situation is less dire than it sounds, with three times that many beds available in surplus, Bill McKeon, the Texas Medical Center's chief executive officer, said in a Thursday interview.

As of Saturday, Texas had 143,371 cases, of which 29,163 were in Harris County and Houston. That's about half what New York state had in late April, at the peak of its outbreak, but the road ahead for Texas could still be long and grim. At an urgent-care center in South Austin, the line for rapid covid-19 tests wrapped around the building at 5 a.m. Sunday. People sat in tailgating chairs and on top of buckets. One group of men was drinking beer from a cooler.

"It's going to be a very busy month for the health-care systems," said Lakey, the University of Texas official.

In a television interview Friday evening, Abbott said he wished he'd closed the bars sooner.
In particular, we took important steps to ensure PPP funds would be available to those businesses most in need, including economically disadvantaged businesses, many of which do not have longstanding financial relationships with banks and credit unions. To date, over 1.2 million loans and nearly $100 billion have been disbursed through small financial institutions such as CDFIs, nonbanks, and others, many of which work to connect underserved and rural communities with capital.
She found herself listening for the sirens all the time. Before, they had been just background noise, ambulances regularly blasting through Beth Blauer's neighborhood in Baltimore to or from a nearby critical-care facility for the elderly.

Now she knew every emergency trip from the nursing home could turn up later as a statistic on her computer screen.

The novel coronavirus was working its way through the United States, and Blauer - along with dozens of colleagues at Johns Hopkins University - was actively tracking its path.

"The sirens now feel different," she said recently. "They come with a different flood of emotions."

The noise outside her window was a tangible reminder of the human lives hidden in the maze of anonymous data that had come to dominate her days.

Since launching in January, the university's Coronavirus Resource Center had exploded in scope and popularity, garnering millions of page views and popping up in news coverage and daily conversation. Through numbers, the tracker has told the story of what the virus is doing while the story is still unfolding, offering a nearly real-time picture of its silent march across the globe.

But even as data has jumped to the forefront of international discussions about the virus, the Johns Hopkins team wrestles with doubts about whether the numbers can truly capture the scope of the pandemic, or whether the public and policymakers are failing to absorb the big picture. They know what they are producing is not a high-resolution snapshot of the pandemic, but a constantly shifting Etch a Sketch of the trail of covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.

Case counts are consistently inconsistent. Reporting practices differ from country to country, state to state, even county to county. If authorities fail to contextualize the virus with other factors - like Zip codes, race or Medicaid usage - the hardest-hit communities can go unseen.

"Numbers in some ways instill this sense of comfort. But then on the other hand, they can be wrong," said Lauren Gardner, the associate professor at Johns Hopkins's Whiting School of Engineering who has spearheaded the global tracker since day one. "And they can be wrong for lots of different reasons."

For those looking closely, the Hopkins project does lay out a clearly legible story about American life today, one involving economic inequality, racial disparities and poor access to health care. Many of the same issues flared up in street protests following the May 25 killing of George Floyd in police custody, an incident that sparked civil unrest and temporarily pushed the pandemic off America's front pages.

The tracker data can offer a bridge between the two news cycles, those working all hours to maintain it say. And as cases again begin to spike in the south and west, the Johns Hopkins project remains a key resource for understanding the virus's impact.

"This is the first time data has been such a central part of the narrative," said Blauer, the executive director of Johns Hopkins University's Centers for Civic Impact. "The human connection - I think we need more of that in the larger national narrative. It just feels like the compassion is getting lost."

- - -

It started over coffee.

The virus had clouded Ensheng Dong's thoughts all January. Every time the first-year PhD student called home to China's Shanxi province, he heard about the sickness spreading from Wuhan.

Dong modeled outbreaks as part of his studies. He had lived through China's 2003 SARS pandemic. Combing the available Chinese statistics, he realized each data point could be a former classmate or neighbor or family member.

So when Gardner, his adviser at Hopkins, suggested that Dong create a map to track the global reach of the infection, he readily agreed.

"I wanted to use my experience to collect data to show the public," Dong said. "And the first member of the public was me."

Gardner, an expert in modeling infectious-disease spread, initially had a fairly modest vision for the project. She knew disease reporting - or how authorities track and publicize the numbers - is inconsistent. She figured that by noting the data in real time, she and Dong could provide academic colleagues with statistics for later analysis.

"When we started this there was not a single dedicated covid-19 tracking website by a public health authority anywhere," she said.

Dong went straight to work. For 12 hours, he collected data, translated information from Chinese, designed tables and bulldozed the statistics into a program that would create a map. His stark aesthetic choices - black for the background, red for dots indicating infections - were deliberate: "I wanted to alarm people that the situation was getting worse."

The next morning, Jan. 22, Dong showed Gardner his results. After a few tweaks, the project went live, with red dots ballooning across countries - and provinces,when possible - to show numbers of known cases, and charts listing confirmed cases and deaths for each jurisdiction.

Gardner and Dong fished through media reports and Twitter accounts for updates, manually punching in the new figures. Early on, as the virus spread to Japan and South Korea, the project was a crowdsourced effort, with people from around the world emailing about new cases. The data feeding into the dashboard was open to the public in a Google Sheets file, so anyone could click through the numbers and pinpoint mistakes or offer suggestions.

As the potential dimensions of the disaster took shape - millions sick, global lockdowns, a scorched-earth economy - the public looked to the tracker to make sense of a frightful ordeal.

Lainie Rutkow, a professor of health policy and management at Hopkins's Bloomberg School of Public Health, was reminded of the public anxiety she witnessed in the days after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a cataclysmic event that had rerouted her from a career in law to one in public health.

"That same type of uncertainty, I see now," she said. "Those feelings of uncertainty about what happens next."

She joined the team with the idea that what Gardner and Dong had started could grow into a more ambitious tool, one that could not only track the virus but explain and contextualize the spread for a global audience desperate for information.

At the same time, the mechanics behind the project were rapidly changing. In February, governments began releasing virus statistics. Rather than ease the workload, the shift revealed a major shortcoming: There was no international body laying out criteria for how to tally coronavirus infections or deaths. Each country put out its own data, sometimes revising it weeks or months later in ways that dramatically changed the trends the tracker was trying to identify.

The pace of infection - faster every day - created more issues for the small team.

"Initially, I was trying to update it two to three times a day, at 12 p.m. and 12 a.m.," Dong said. "But people were so anxious to see the dashboard, so I had to update every three to four hours. But sometimes by the time I had collected it all, the data had updated in the original data source, so I would have to tear down everything I'd done and collect it again."

- - -

Blauer first pulled up the tracker out of personal caution. It was February, and she was supposed to travel to Israel and India soon.

As she scanned the dashboard, Blauer recognized that what her colleagues were building hit on concerns central to her own work at the Centers for Civic Impact, which helps local and state governments use data in decision-making.

She contacted Rutkow and asked to join the team.

Her own plunge into data started after college, when Blauer worked as a juvenile probation officer in Baltimore City.

She would get called to police stations in the middle of the night and asked to determine whether a child who had just been arrested could go home with family or needed to spend the night in jail.

"I was asked to make a decision in the lives of these kids based on no information," she said. "I didn't know if the child had been in school that day, if they had access to food at home, if there was a social worker involved with the family."

There had to be a better way, she decided.

In 2004, she became a key player in then-Mayor Martin O'Malley's CitiStat program, a data-driven effort to track and monitor municipal work.

When O'Malley became governor, Blauer ran a similar statewide effort from Annapolis, tracking everything from infant mortality rates to budget spending. The large-scale effort - one of the first of its kind in government - "became a kind of religion," she said.

The experience schooled Blauer on the nitty-gritty complexities of American inequity. Any given Zip code was layered with the historical baggage of past policies. Discriminatory housing, health-care access, school stability - they were all baked in.

So when Blauer and others began plotting a U.S. dashboard to complement the global tracker in March, they decided a simple tally of infections and deaths would not be enough to fully explain what the virus was primed to do to black, Latino and Native American communities.

The team settled on three areas of additional information for each county in the United States. The first was health-care capacity - not only the number of intensive care unit beds and staffing statistics, but how people had access to the local health-care system, whether through private insurance or Medicaid. Next, they decided to add information on the demographics of each county, including a racial breakdown, unemployment figures and age distribution.

The third focus was comparing county disease data against the state as a whole. The goal was to measure whether the virus posed an equal-opportunity risk, or whether all that historical baggage would determine who lives and dies.

The U.S. map went live in mid-April, and was quickly complicated by inconsistencies in how different jurisdictions presented data.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had just changed its guidance, suggesting that local health officials include probable deaths and probable infections in their counts. Some states did. Some didn't. Sometimes some counties within a state would follow it, and others would chart a different course.

"It's one thing that this is not consistent globally, that Spain presents data differently from Indonesia, and Indonesia reports differently from the U.S.," Gardner explained. "The thing that's crazy to me is how different the reporting is within a state in the United States, let alone state to state."

By then, Johns Hopkins, like the rest of the county, was on lockdown. The tracker team - which now comprises dozens of professors, experts and students from multiple departments - coordinated via long Zoom meetings, emails and phone calls.

"The first six and a half weeks, we were building the plane as it flew, and we were flying at supersonic speeds," said Sheri Lewis, a member of Hopkins's Applied Physics Laboratory working on the tracker.

The U.S. map soon illustrated what anecdotal reports were suggesting: Minority communities were being hit hardest by the disease.

In Washington, D.C., African Americans accounted for 74% of deaths, but 46% of the city's population. In Arizona, Native Americans - who make up about 5% of the population - accounted for 18% of deaths. And in South Dakota, where African Americans are less than 3% of the population, they represented 17% of coronavirus cases; other minority populations totaling around 16% of the population, including Latinos and Native Americans, made up 70% of cases.

For Gardner, the U.S. map put a spotlight on inequalities that made the pandemic more heartbreaking.

"When you actually start looking at the affected populations, the breakdown of race and age and ethnicity and socioeconomic demographics, it becomes so much more human," she said.

Even Blauer, who has spent her career teasing out the social ills hidden inside strings of numbers, felt frustration and resignation as she watched the virus's path.

"We've known for generations that populations that are poor and living in highly dense areas have these co-morbidities that are presenting for risk for covid-19," she said. "But the reality of the situation is we don't do anything about it. If you are born black in this country, it's harder for you to get a job, harder for you to keep a job and also harder for you to stay alive."
WASHINGTON - A federal judge's unsealed opinion shows that she ordered Roger Stone to report to prison July 14 because there are no confirmed coronavirus cases at the federal minimum security facility he is assigned to, and because he threatened a witness and sought to intimidate jurors, the court and individuals in his investigation.

Stone, 67, had been due to surrender June 30 to a federal prison in Jesup, Ga., while he appeals his November conviction on charges of lying and witness tampering in a congressional investigation.

But the longtime confidant of President Donald Trump requested a two-month delay to Sept. 3, citing the novel coronavirus pandemic, which prosecutors did not oppose.

In an order late Friday, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson granted a two-week delay, but no longer. She cited a sealed opinion, which both sides gave her permission to unseal Monday.

In the five-page document unsealed Monday, Jackson said she denied Stone's request because the U.S. Bureau of Prisons had already afforded Stone more than 60 days to surrender since the court denied his motion for a new trial in mid-April. The bureau also declined to allow another extension.

Prosecutors have opposed other prisoners' requests for compassionate release during the pandemic, citing the absence of cases at the facilities where they are housed, including older prisoners such as Stone, Jackson said. She also noted that two defendants who received extensions and whose cases Stone cited were not convicted of threatening a witness, nor of violating court gag orders by abusing social media to "stoke potentially violent sentiment" against case participants, including posting an image of Jackson next to what appeared to be crosshairs.

"At the end of the day, the guiding principle must be that Mr. Stone is entitled to no more and no less consideration than any other similarly situated convicted felon," the judge wrote. However, she wrote, "It is fair to say that no one was contemplating that approving voluntary surrender [at Stone's February sentencing] could lead to a possible six-month delay in reporting."

Stone, a longtime GOP operative and friend of Trump's, is expected to seek a stay of his 40-month prison sentence since he appealed his case in April to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Stone was convicted by a federal jury in Washington of lying during his September 2017 testimony to the House Intelligence Committee to conceal his central role in the 2016 Trump campaign's efforts to learn about Democratic computer files hacked by Russia and made public by WikiLeaks to damage Trump's general-election opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Stone was the last person charged in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. Before Stone's sentencing, Attorney General William Barr and senior Justice Department officials intervened to recommend a lower sentence for the longtime Trump ally, prompting all four front-line prosecutors to withdraw from the case and 2,600 former prosecutors to call for Barr to resign.
DeSantis said that because of the vetoes, along with about $800 million reverted back to the state by agencies, the budget stabilization fund and trust fund balances, he believed Florida would have a $6.3 billion buffer to absorb revenue losses and weather any storm that the economic recovery may throw our way going forward.
The man accused of being the "Golden State Killer" pleaded guilty to killings and admitted other crimes Monday, finally bringing to a close an infamous string of long-unsolved slayings, rapes and burglaries that terrorized California during the 1970s and 1980s.

Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., 74, admitted he was one of the nation's worst serial predators, as part of deal with prosecutors in a handful of California counties that spared him the death penalty. The deal calls for him to serve life in prison without parole.

In a hoarse and halting voice, DeAngelo said "guilty" or "I admit" over and over, after multiple prosecutors spent hours detailing horrific attacks that were so prolific and spread out across Northern and Southern California they were initially thought to be the work of multiple suspects. The hearing was ongoing as of 4:15 pacific daylight time.

"The scope of Joseph DeAngelo's crime spree is simply staggering, encompassing 13 murders and almost 50 rapes," said Thien Ho, assistant chief deputy District Attorney for Sacramento County. "His monikers represent the sweeping geographical impact of his crimes. The Visalia Ransacker, the East Area Rapist, the Original Nightstalker and Golden State Killer. Each time he escaped, slipping away silently into the night leaving communities terrified."

Ho added that after DeAngelo's arrest in April 2018 he began to talk to himself while waiting in an interview room. "I did all those things," Ho said DeAngelo muttered. "I've destroyed all their lives, so now I've got to pay the price."

Claude Snelling was gunned down in his Visalia backyard in 1975, after he tried to fight off a man attempting to kidnap his teenage daughter.

Debra Manning was raped and shot in the back of the head, before her boyfriend, Robert Offerman, was shot and killed in his Santa Barbara County apartment in 1979. The suspect ate leftover turkey out of his fridge.

Greg Sanchez was shot and bludgeoned in the head 24 times, before his girlfriend, Cheri Domingo, was raped and bludgeoned to death in a home where she was house sitting outside of Goleta, Calif., in 1981.

And so it went, prosecutors piling chilling detail upon chilling detail.

Many waited four decades for this moment of reckoning. The hearing was held at a cavernous Sacramento State University ballroom, a venue chosen because it was large enough to hold the more than 150 victims, family members and others who were expected to attend and provide for social distancing. Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman presided.

Deputies wheeled DeAngelo into the hearing in a wheelchair. He appeared in an orange jumpsuit, wearing a faceshield to protect him from the coronavirus. The former police officer and Navy veteran did not speak other than to answer a judge's questions.

The arrest of DeAngelo in 2018 marked an extraordinary breakthrough, since it came decades after the hunt for the killer had grown cold, and because it relied on a groundbreaking genetic technique that has now helped solve dozens of other crimes.

DeAngelo was quietly living out his retirement in the Sacramento suburb of Citrus Heights when authorities linked him to a series of brutal attacks that stretched from 1975 and 1986.

It would take the advent of a new technology to finally crack the case long after it had gone stale.

Paul Holes, an investigator for the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office, and other investigators used a technique that was originally developed to reunite adoptees with their birthparents.

Holes's team uploaded a DNA profile of the killer to a public DNA database that scours tens of thousands of other profiles to find potential relatives. The search uncovered some distant cousins.

The team then found a common ancestor between the relatives and the killer and created family trees down to the present day. One of the forking branches contained DeAngelo.

Investigators trailed DeAngelo before scooping up something he discarded that contained his DNA. That was tested against the DNA recovered from the crime scene and it produced a match, Holes said. DeAngelo was soon arrested.

The victims and their family members are expected to confront DeAngelo at an August sentencing, which is slated to last days. Victims are expected to read impact statements at that hearing.
The Tara Animal Hospital, seen above at its new facility, will be ready next month to treat patients after a major expansion.
Deaths from the coronavirus worldwide topped 500,000 and infections surged past 10 million, two chilling reminders that the deadliest pandemic of the modern era is stronger than ever.

The infection milestone is a rebuff to health experts and global leaders -- including U.S. President Donald Trump -- who had hoped early in the pandemic that the virus would fade away with the summer heat. Instead, infections are multiplying faster than ever.

It took four months after the pathogen first surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan to reach 1 million infections. The spread of the coronavirus has steadily accelerated, compressing the time frame to a million additional cases every week now.

"It's a startling number," Richard Riggs, chief medical officer of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said of the 10 million milestone. "It seems like it's going to continue for quite some time."

The latest milestone for cases may serve only as a relative marker, as the true number is likely to be higher given the difficulty of tracking infections. The death toll is equally sobering, and some health officials predict 1 million fatalities may not be far off.

The World Health Organization reported almost 190,000 new cases for the 24-hour period through early Sunday, after Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this month that the pandemic has entered "a new and dangerous phase."

The global epicenter of the coronavirus is continuing to shift. First it was China, then Europe, and now developing countries with weaker health-care systems like Brazil and India are reeling. Since late March, the U.S. has had the most cases globally and is still adding infections at a record daily pace. States such as Texas, Arizona and Florida are becoming overwhelmed, forced to reverse plans to open their economies.

The U.S. and Brazil together represent 49% of all new infections, according to the WHO's data for the latest 24 hours. Cases from the Americas account for 62% of the 189,077 new infections, followed by 13% from Southeast Asia and 8.8% from Europe.

Governments are increasingly accepting there may be no quick return to life as it was before the pandemic, as economies have been battered by prevention measures that restricted people's movements and damped consumption. People are still trying to get on with lives that have been interrupted, but more lockdowns and social distancing measures may be looming.

"Going back into a lockdown is a terrible option, but we do need to be flexible," said Caroline Buckee, associate director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "The question for policy makers is how much of a rise are they willing to tolerate."

While efforts to contain the virus have been successful in some areas, it's still not clear whether information gained during the past six months is significantly reducing complications and death rates, Riggs said. Recent breakthroughs, including treatment with Gilead Sciences Inc.'s remdesivir and the inexpensive steroid dexamethasone, may make a difference.

"I'm hopeful we have learned more about how to care for these folks," he said.

A recent outbreak in Beijing is a reminder that even places that had shown success in controlling the virus can't tame it indefinitely. Other regions from Tokyo to Seoul and Australia's Victoria state are also seeing cases bubble back up. The best hope lies in the development of a vaccine, which is unlikely to be ready this year despite a global race to come up with an effective shot.

In the early stages of the outbreak, officials in the northern hemisphere pointed to the potential that the virus would go away in the summer, with people outside and not in close quarters. Those hopes have been dashed.

"It doesn't look like there's any significant impact right now from the weather," Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the U.S., said this month. He had earlier noted that hot weather tends to slow lung infections.

The situation may worsen when autumn comes. The U.S. and other northern countries will need to prepare for a flu season that will be complicated by the coronavirus pandemic, adding more stress on already stretched health-care systems.

"We haven't seen the end of covid-19, and we haven't seen the full scope of it yet, either," said Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. "This will be as dangerous as the Spanish flu in many ways," he said, referring to the 1918 pandemic that infected an estimated 500 million people.
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The protesters marching through St. Louis on Sunday evening were armed only with posters and chants, all meant to put pressure on Mayor Lyda Krewson to redirect city funds away from law enforcement.

"Resign Lyda, take the cops with you," they shouted on the way to the mayor's house in the Central West End, banging on drums and carrying signs that said, "Respect us." The first-term Democrat had publicly released the names and addresses of some fellow activists, and now they wanted to bring their demonstration to her door.

But as the peaceful crowd of about 500 walked along a private, gated street, a white couple who emerged from a marble mansion had something else in mind.

Around 6 p.m. Sunday, a barefoot man in a pink collared shirt walked out from the five-story house, carrying a semiautomatic rifle as he appeared to threaten the group. A few feet away, a woman pointed a pistol at the crowd, her finger directly on the trigger.

The Washington Post was unable to independently confirm the couple's identity as of early Monday, at which point a video of the scene on social media had been viewed almost 9 million times. The video had been so widely shared on social media that President Donald Trump retweeted the video without explanation on Monday morning.

In a region that has long been in the spotlight for tensions over policing and racial inequality, the interaction seemed to capture the divisions rippling throughout the nation in 2020.

It is unclear whether the mansion's owners were the couple captured in the video of the protests, and attempts by The Post to contact them late Sunday night were unsuccessful. Neither Krewson nor the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department immediately responded to a request for comment.

For weeks, massive crowds in St. Louis - like those in cities across the United States - have rallied against police brutality and racial injustice following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month.

Several protesters personally handed letters to Krewson at a demonstration last week, calling on her to shutter the city's Medium Security Institution, a 1,100-bed prison known as the "workhouse," and slash city funding for St. Louis police down to nothing. During a live-stream Q&A on Facebook Friday, she turned to a crumpled stack of those letters and began reading them one by one.

"Here's one that wants $50 million to go to Cure Violence, $75 million to go to Affordable Housing, $60 million to go to Health and Human Services, and have zero go to the police," she said in the now-deleted video, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

For each letter calling on police defunding, Krewson also named the writer and their street or home address - even as some viewers in the comments pleaded with her stop.

The public identification, or "doxing," of activists is not illegal, but such an act carries a particularly fraught legacy in the St. Louis area: Since Michael Brown was shot by police in nearby Ferguson, Mo., six people connected to the protests that followed in 2014 have been found dead - some of them in violent, mysterious ways, the Associated Press reported.

One St. Louis alderwoman said the mayor had resorted to "intimidation of the residents [she was] elected to represent." Another called it "a move designed to silence dissent." Scheduled in St. Louis for the following day was a rally involving the far-right Proud Boys, a group with a history of assaulting leftist protesters.

While emails or letters to elected officials are considered public records in Missouri, the Post-Dispatch reported, these documents and any names or addresses listed on them are usually released to the public only after a records request.

Hours later, Krewson said she was sorry for the transgression and took the video off the Internet, writing, "Never did I intend to harm anyone or cause distress."

But her apology was not enough to quell the demonstrations. Following a number of tense confrontations over the weekend, more than 40,000 people signed an online petition calling on Krewson to resign.

On Sunday evening, they brought their campaign to the mayor's house, painting the words "resign" on the street in front.

"As a leader, you don't do stuff like that," State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge (D) told the crowd through a megaphone, according to the Post-Dispatch. "It's only right that we visit her at her home."

As they made their way to a rally at Krewson's house on Lake Avenue, they passed by 1 Portland Place, a gargantuan, white marble home that St. Louis magazine said had once been called "St. Louis' most dazzling mansion."

The owners of the "Midwestern palazzo" on a private street had undergone a decades-long renovation to bring the home back to its original glory. As the magazine described in 2018, they spent years obsessing over a 45-foot-high limestone dome, a house organ so large its pipes lead to the basement and chandeliers fitted with Tiffany shades, one of them a "perfect copy" of a fixture hanging from the Pisa Cathedral.

Yet the barefoot couple standing in front of the house's perfectly manicured green lawns did not need to do much to defend the mansion. Moments after they pulled out their weapons, a black man in a "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" shirt directed the crowd to keep moving.

"Let's go, let's go, let's go," he shouted.
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court struck down a restrictive Louisiana abortion law Monday, a dramatic victory for abortion rights activists and a bitter disappointment to conservatives in the first showdown on the controversial issue since President Donald Trump's remake of the court.

As with other recent liberal victories at the court, Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. was key in the 5-4 decision. He joined the court's liberals rather than his conservative colleagues, including Trump's appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

Roberts said the Louisiana law could not stand given the court's 2016 decision to overturn a similar Texas law, which required doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

"The legal doctrine of stare decisis requires us, absent special circumstances, to treat like cases alike," Roberts wrote in concurring with the decision. "The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore Louisiana's law cannot stand under our precedents."

Roberts's vote was all the more striking because he dissented in the Texas case. He said he continues to "believe that the [Texas] case was wrongly decided." But he said the question was whether to "adhere to it in the present case."

It was perhaps the most dramatic example of Roberts's new role as the pivotal member of the court. It indicated that while he supports restrictions on abortion - his solo opinion in fact tightened a concession won in the Texas case - he is unready at this point to overhaul the court's jurisprudence supporting the right of a woman to choose the procedure.

The White House issued a statement criticizing what it called an "unfortunate ruling."

"The Supreme Court devalued both the health of mothers and the lives of unborn children by gutting Louisiana's policy that required all abortion procedures be performed by individuals with admitting privileges at a nearby hospital," the statement from press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said.

She added: "Unelected justices have intruded on the sovereign prerogatives of state governments by imposing their own policy preference in favor of abortion to override legitimate abortion safety regulations."

Justice Stephen Breyer wrote the main decision in the case, just as he had in the Texas decision four years ago. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan joined him, which resulted in this: No women wrote about the case, but all six male justices did.

The question was whether Louisiana's 2014 law requiring doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals unduly burdens women's access to abortion. Practitioners have said it has proved impossible for most of the doctors to acquire the privileges, leaving only one eligible to perform the procedure.

Breyer said the law is "almost word-for-word identical" to the Texas law. In that case, now-retired justice Anthony Kennedy joined the court's four liberals to form a majority in what was its most important endorsement of abortion rights in 25 years.

The court's 2016 decision in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt said the admitting-privileges requirement "provides few, if any, health benefits for women, poses a substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions, and constitutes an 'undue burden' on their constitutional right to do so."

Hospitalization after an abortion is rare, all sides agree, and the lack of admitting privileges by the doctor who performed the procedure is not a bar to the woman getting needed medical care.

Breyer's decision Monday read like a replay of the 2016 decision. The admitting privileges requirement provided no benefit to protect women and was likely to mean two of Louisiana's three clinics would have to close, imposing onerous problems for thousands of women across the state, Breyer wrote.

"The requirement places a substantial obstacle in the path of a large fraction of those women seeking an abortion for whom it is a relevant restriction," he wrote.

Roberts disagreed with Breyer's reasoning. But he nonetheless concluded: "The Louisiana law burdens women seeking previability abortions to the same extent as the Texas law, according to factual findings that are not clearly erroneous. For that reason, I concur in the judgment of the Court that the Louisiana law is unconstitutional."

Each of the court's four most consistent conservatives wrote separately to describe their disagreement.

"Today a majority of the court perpetuates its ill-founded abortion jurisprudence by enjoining a perfectly legitimate state law and doing so without jurisdiction," wrote Justice Clarence Thomas. "As is often the case with legal challenges to abortion regulations, this suit was brought by abortionists and abortion clinics. Their sole claim before this court is that Louisiana's law violates the purported substantive due process right of a woman to abort her unborn child."

As he has in the past, Thomas said the court's landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade was "made out of whole cloth, without a shred of support from the Constitution's text. Our abortion precedents are grievously wrong and should be overruled."

Justice Samuel Alito Jr. denied that Louisiana had not shown there were benefits to having doctors acquire admitting privileges. And he embraced an argument raised late in the litigation by Louisiana: that abortion clinics should not have standing to protest the regulations.

"The idea that a regulated party can invoke the right of a third party for the purpose of attacking legislation enacted to protect the third party is stunning," Alito wrote. "Given the apparent conflict of interest, that concept would be rejected out of hand in a case not involving abortion."

But Roberts joined Breyer and the others in saying the court had allowed such standing for years, and Louisiana had waived the argument early in the litigation.

Gorsuch criticized the court's decision-making, and said that its usual rules go by the wayside when "a case touching on abortion enters the courtroom." Kavanaugh said he would have sent the case back to the lower court for additional fact-finding on the doctors' attempts to acquire admitting privileges and whether any of the three abortion clinics would close.

Louisiana has adopted more abortion restrictions than any other state, and Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, said he was disappointed with the outcome.

"Throughout my career and life as a pro-life Catholic, I have advocated for the protection, dignity and sanctity of life and will continue to do so," Edwards said in a statement. "While I voted for the law in question and am disappointed, I respect the U.S. Supreme Court's decision and trust that Louisiana and our nation will continue to move forward."

Abortion rights activists were happy, but wary of what comes next.

"This is a big win that vindicates what we've said all along, which is that the Louisiana admitting privileges law is unconstitutional," said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which led the fight against the law. "This is a victory for the people of Louisiana and the rule of law, but this case never should have gotten this far."

The Supreme Court will soon be called upon to take up other abortion restrictions passed in the states, including nearly complete bans on the procedure.

"The court's ruling today will not stop those hellbent on banning abortion," Northup said. "We will be back in court tomorrow and will continue to fight state by state, law by law to protect our constitutional right to abortion. But we shouldn't have to keep playing whack-a-mole."

The case is June Medical Services v. Russo.
We may be living inside the biggest annual carbon crash in recorded history. The quarantines, shutdowns and trade and travel stoppages prompted by the spread of the coronavirus led to a historic plunge in greenhouse gas emissions. In some places, the environmental change was palpable - smog lifted from cities free of traffic congestion, rivers ran clear of the murk that long clogged their banks.

But the romantic vision of nature "healing" itself was always an illusion. As The Washington Post reported earlier this month, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are the highest they've been in human history, and possibly higher than in the past 3 million years. The specter of man-made climate change looms all the more ominously over a planet in the grips of a viral pandemic.

A look at headlines in just the past few days paints a stark picture: The giant plumes of Saharan dust that wafted over the Atlantic and choked a whole swath of the southern United States - where authorities are, as it is, struggling to cope with a surge of infections of a deadly respiratory disease - was a generational event, which some scientists link to deepening, climate change-induced droughts in North Africa.

By Saturday, swarms of locusts reached the environs of the Indian capital New Delhi, marking the latest advance of a vast plague, the scale of which experts haven't seen in decades. Successive invasions of the desert insects are expected to hit parts of South Asia through the summer, following multiple swarms ravaging countries in East Africa.

Scientists suggest the magnitude of the new swarms is a direct consequence of warming temperatures in the Indian Ocean, which created a pattern of torrential rainfall and cyclones that yielded more fertile breeding grounds for the locusts. Though much of the Indian spring harvest was collected before the locust swarms arrived, the Horn of Africa region could suffer up to $8.5 billion in lost crops and livestock production by the end of the year as a result of this locust outbreak, according to World Bank estimates.

"Nations which were already under threat of food insecurity now face a real danger of starvation," Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., said in a statement touting bipartisan legislation in the House to boost aid to African countries affected by the infestation. "There are now up to 26 million people who are at risk of acute food shortages and widespread hunger."

Earlier this month, record warm conditions in Siberia sparked raging wildfires in the peatlands that ring the Arctic. There have been what some scientists branded "zombie" blazes - fires sparked the previous summer that never fully died out as winter set in and then were reignited as temperatures soared. The Siberian Arctic is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world.

"The Arctic is figuratively and literally on fire - 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," climate scientist and University of Michigan environmental school dean Jonathan Overpeck told the Associated Press.

The heat and fires have terrifying consequences in the short term, too. It is believed that a monumental Arctic oil spill in Norilsk, north-central Russia, took place after melting permafrost led to a reservoir collapsing toward the end of last month, triggering a leak in the facility that reminded many of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill.

Then there's the Amazon rainforest, the proverbial lungs of the world: Experts fear an even greater spread of fires this year than in 2019, with Brazilian authorities amid the pandemic less able to guard against the illegal blazes often set by loggers, miners and would-be farmers.

Brazil isn't alone in its struggles with the more immediate, invisible threat of the virus. But climate change doesn't wait. "You may feel, because of the pandemic, that you are living to some degree in 1918," wrote New York magazine's David Wallace-Wells, referring to the flu outbreak that rattled the world a century ago. "The Arctic temperatures of the past week suggest that at least part of the world is living, simultaneously, in 2098."

Optimists say the experience of the pandemic may focus policy minds more clearly on the need for more decisive, collective action on other fronts. "I was so worried about the dangers of going too far," Sally Capp, lord mayor of the Australian city of Melbourne, recently told the BBC when discussing her reticence in the past over pushing too aggressive a climate platform. "I have become much more resolute about my values, prioritizing humanity and protecting the environment, so they can play a larger role in driving my agenda."

On Sunday, municipal elections in France showed a surge in support for the left-leaning Greens, the latest sign that climate-minded politics is coming to dominate the agenda in the West's major cities. But experts warn that even some of the most well-intentioned governments are behind in meeting carbon-slashing goals, while commitments to climate action around the world are not being upheld in any meaningfully consistent or uniform manner.

The Trump administration, of course, is the climate villain of the moment - rejecting international pacts, gutting national environmental protections and regulations, and sidelining and censoring its own climate researchers and scientists.

"With the pandemic raging and public attention somewhat distracted away from continuing climate-destructive anti-scientist manipulations, protecting climate scientists is a more urgent task than ever," wrote American meteorologist Jeff Masters. "The world-wide coronavirus lockdowns are proof that humanity can act quickly on a global scale to help pass our civilization's pop quiz. Collectively, we can do so again to help us pass our coming climate change final exam."
Kim Victory was paralyzed on a bed and being burned alive.

Just in time, someone rescued her, but suddenly, she was turned into an ice sculpture on a fancy cruise ship buffet. Next, she was a subject of an experiment in a lab in Japan. Then she was being attacked by cats.

Nightmarish visions like these plagued Victory during her hospitalization this spring for severe respiratory failure caused by the coronavirus. They made her so agitated that one night she pulled out her ventilator breathing tube; another time, she fell off a chair and landed on the floor of the intensive care unit.

It was so real, and I was so scared, said Victory, 31, now back home in Franklin, Tennessee.

To a startling degree, many coronavirus patients are reporting similar experiences. Called hospital delirium, the phenomenon has previously been seen mostly in a subset of older patients, some of whom already had dementia, and in recent years, hospitals adopted measures to reduce it.

All of that has been erased by COVID, said Dr. E. Wesley Ely, a director of the Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction and Survivorship Center at Vanderbilt University and the Nashville Veterans Administration Hospital, whose team developed guidelines for hospitals to minimize delirium.

Now, the condition is bedeviling coronavirus patients of all ages with no previous cognitive impairment. Reports from hospitals and researchers suggest that about two-thirds to three-fourths of coronavirus patients in ICUs have experienced it in various ways. Some have hyperactive delirium, paranoid hallucinations and agitation; some have hypoactive delirium, internalized visions and confusion that cause patients to become withdrawn and incommunicative; and some have both.

The experiences are not just terrifying and disorienting. Delirium can have detrimental consequences long after it lifts, extending hospital stays, slowing recovery and increasing peoples risk of developing depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Previously healthy older patients with delirium can develop dementia sooner than they otherwise would have and can die earlier, researchers have found.

Theres increased risk for temporary or even permanent cognitive deficits, said Dr. Lawrence Kaplan, director of consultation liaison psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. It is actually more devastating than people realize.

The ingredients for delirium are pervasive during the pandemic. They include long stints on ventilators, heavy sedatives and poor sleep. Other factors: Patients are mostly immobile, occasionally restrained to keep them from accidentally disconnecting tubes, and receive minimal social interaction because families cannot visit and medical providers wear face-obscuring protective gear and spend limited time in patients rooms.

Its like the perfect storm to generate delirium; it really, really is, said Dr. Sharon Inouye, a leading delirium expert who founded the Hospital Elder Life Program, guidelines that have helped to significantly decrease delirium among older patients. Both her program and Elys have devised recommendations for reducing delirium during the pandemic.

The virus itself or the bodys response to it may also generate neurological effects, flipping people into more of a delirium state, said Dr. Sajan Patel, an assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco.

The oxygen depletion and inflammation that many seriously ill coronavirus patients experience can affect the brain and other organs besides the lungs. Kidney or liver failure can lead to buildup of delirium-promoting medications. Some patients develop small blood clots that do not cause strokes but spur subtle circulation disruption that might trigger cognitive problems and delirium, Inouye said.

Nails in a Rotating Head

AK-47, Ron Temko wrote in shaky handwriting from his hospital bed.

Then he pointed at his neck to show where the assault rifle should aim.

Temko, a 69-year-old mortgage company executive, could not speak because of the breathing tube in his mouth  he had been on a ventilator at UCSF Medical Center for about three weeks by then. So, on a Zoom call nurses arranged with his family, he wrote on paper attached to a clipboard.

He wants us to kill him, his son gasped, according to Temko and his wife Linda.

No, honey, Linda implored, youre going to be OK.

At home now in San Francisco after a 60-day hospitalization, Temko said his suggestion that his family shoot him stemmed from a delirium-fueled delusion that he had been abducted.

I was in a paranoiac phase where I thought there was some sort of conspiracy against me, he said.

When he was first placed on the ventilator, doctors used a lighter sedative, propofol, and dialed it down for hours so he could be awake and know where he was  a regimen to try to avoid delirium, said Dr. Daniel Burkhardt, an anesthesiologist and intensivist who treated him.

But then Temkos respiratory failure worsened. His blood pressure plummeted, a condition propofol intensifies. To allow the ventilator to completely breathe for him, doctors had him chemically paralyzed, which required heavier sedatives to prevent the trauma of being conscious while unable to move.

So Temkos sedation was switched to midazolam, a benzodiazepine, and fentanyl, an opioid  drugs that exacerbate delirium.

We had no choice, Burkhardt said. If youre very sick and very unstable, basically what happens is we conclude you have bigger problems. You know, I have to get you to live through it first.

After about two weeks, the sedative-weaning process began, but other delirium-related quandaries emerged. Temko began experiencing pain and anxiety, compelling doctors to balance treating those conditions with using medications that can worsen delirium, they said.

The repeated nursing visits Temko needed interrupted his sleep-wake cycle, so he would often take daytime naps and become sleepless and agitated at night, said Jason Bloomer, an ICU nurse.

At home, his wife kept her phone by her pillow so she could hear him via a nurses tablet. He would wake up and was confused and anxious and hed start getting all worked up to where the ventilator couldnt work, said Linda Temko, who would reassure him, Its OK, breathe.

His hallucinations included a rotating human head. Every time it came around, someone put a nail in it, and I could see that the person was still alive, he said.

He imagined that his wristwatch (which was actually at home) was stolen by a man who turned it into a catheter. The man played a recording of Ben Bernanke, the former Federal Reserve chairman, and told Temko that because he recognized the name, You know too much, youre not leaving the hospital.

When Bloomer asked, Do you feel safe?, Temko shook his head no and mouthed around his breathing tube: Help me.

Later, he became despairing. I did not know if I wanted to live or die, he said.

He met with Kaplan, the psychiatrist, who recognized his symptoms as delirium, partly because Temko bungled tests like naming the months backward and counting down from 100 by sevens. He could only get from 100 to 93, Kaplan said, adding, The cardinal sin of delirium is always impaired attention.

Kaplan prescribed Seroquel, which he said helps with perceptual disturbances and anxiety.

Temko said another turning point came when Bloomer said that with months of hard work, recovery was likely.

An optimistic cognitive sign, said Kaplan, is that Temko can now describe his delirium in much more detail than he could several weeks ago.

I Saw the Devil

Some coronavirus patients develop delirium even after relatively short ICU stints.

Anatolio Jose Rios, 57, was intubated for just four days at Massachusetts General Hospital and did not receive highly delirium-inducing sedatives. Still, as sedation was lifted, he heard booms, and saw flashes of light and people praying for him.

Oh my God, that was scary, he said. And when I opened my eyes, I saw the same doctors, the same nurses who were praying for me in my dream.

After the ventilator was disconnected, Rios, a normally gregarious man who hosts a radio show, only responded with one- or two-word answers, said Dr. Peggy Lai, who treated him.

I saw people lying on the floor like they were dead in the ICU, he said. He imagined a vampirelike woman in his room. He was convinced people in the hall outside were armed with guns, threatening him.

Doctor, do you see that? he recalled saying. They want to kill me.

He asked if the door was bulletproof and, to calm him, the doctor said yes.

Like many delirious patients, Rios warped typical hospital activities into paranoid imaginings. Watching a hospital employee hanging a piece of paper, he said, he thought he saw a noose and feared he would be hanged. His delusions were not helped by one of many seemingly small delirium-fueling factors: His eyeglasses had not yet been returned to him.

After 10 days of hospitalization, he spent two months in a rehabilitation center because of foot inflammation, recently returning to his East Boston apartment. In May, his father in Mexico died of COVID-19, Rios said. He reflected on another hallucination in the hospital.

I saw the devil, and I asked him, Can you give me another chance? and he said, Yes, but you know the price, Rios recalled. Now I think I know the price was my father.

Down a Rabbit Hole

Two months after returning home from her three-week hospitalization, Victory said she has been experiencing troubling emotional and psychological symptoms, including depression and insomnia. She has been noticing the smell of cigarettes or wood burning, a figment of her imagination.

I feel like Im going down a rabbit hole, and I dont know when I will be back to myself, she said.

Dr. Kevin Hageman, one of her physicians at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said she was pretty profoundly delirious.

Victory, a Vietnamese immigrant and previously healthy community college student majoring in biochemistry, said she did not remember yanking out her breathing tube, which was reinserted. But she recalled visions blending horror with absurdity.

One moment, scientists in Japan were testing chemicals on her; the next, she was telling them, I am an American, and I have a right to eat a cheeseburger and drink Coca-Cola, she recalled, adding: I dont even like cheeseburgers.

Along with this agitated hyperactive delirium, she experienced internalized hypoactive delirium. In a recovery room after leaving the ICU, she would stare for 10 to 20 seconds when asked basic questions, said Hageman, adding, Nothing was quite processing.

Victory managed to take a picture of herself with nasal oxygen tubes and a forehead scar, post it on Facebook and write Im alive in Vietnamese so her parents in Vietnam would know she had survived. But another day, she called her husband, Wess Victory, 15 or 20 times, repeatedly saying, I give you two hours to come pick me up.

It was heartbreaking, said Wess Victory, who patiently told her she could not be released yet. For four or five days, she still couldnt remember what year it was, who the president was.

Finally, he said, something clicked.

Now, to help overcome the fallout from the experience, she has started taking an antidepressant her doctor prescribed and recently saw a psychologist.

People think when the patient got well and out of the hospital, it will be OK, its over, Kim Victory said. I worry if the virus didnt kill me back then, would that have affected my body enough to kill me now?

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
A British pregnant mom found out that she has 2 wombs during her 12th-week scan. She is carrying a twin in each of her wombs.





Pregnant Mom with 2 Wombs and 2 Cervixes

Kelly Fairhurst's doctor told her that her situation is "one in 50 million chance." She learned that she had a second womb when she had a scan for her third-month pregnancy. She also has an added cervix. She shared that she was shocked by the news.

The pregnant mom of Essex, Britain, told The Sun her happy thoughts. She said that she feels incredibly grateful for experiencing this one-of-a-kind event. She is also excited that she is having two babies.

They are planning to deliver the babies via a C-section. She explained that her two previous births have been so quick. They think that there is a risk it might not be possible.

The 28-year-old pregnant mom already has two daughters, who both came out before their due dates. She said that if one of the twins comes out prematurely, she may go into labor twice.

Even after they had given birth prematurely with their first two daughters, Fairhurst and her partner, Joshua Boundy, are still grateful. They know how to count their blessings for the things that they receive.

Fairhurst shared an ultrasound scan on Instagram. She wrote a caption that says they feel blessed beyond belief for having twins. She wrote that it is the start of their journey after having two beautiful daughters, Agyness, 4, and Margot, 3. She shared that on May 5, they found out that they were having twins during their 12th-week scan.

Having twins is already quite shocking for the couple, but then the sonographer told them something more surprising. He said the pair that the pregnant mom has 2 wombs and two cervixes. Each womb contains one twin each.

The birth defect is known as didelphys uterus. According to the doctor, the chances of conceiving twins in that condition is one in 50 million.

How a Woman Develops 2 Wombs

Didelphys uterus or the double uterus is a rare congenital abnormality. A female fetus usually starts having two small tubes that later on join together. It will form a hollow organ which is called the uterus.

Sometimes, which happens very rarely, the tubes do not join fully. Instead, each tube develops into a separate structure. It then leads to a woman to have 2 wombs or uteruses. A double uterus may have one cervix or sometimes two.

Women who have a double uterus or 2 wombs often have successful pregnancies. However, a pregnant mom who has the condition may have an increased risk of miscarriage or premature birth. Doctors are not sure how this happens. They believe that it may be due to genetics because usually, it runs in the family.

See also other articles:

Mom Offered Body as Surrogate to Carry Grandchild After Daughter's Many Failed Pregnancies

Mom Battling Breast Cancer Gives Birth to A Healthy Baby Boy

Mom Shared How Her Son Suddenly Died in Daycare [A Heartbreaking Story]
Until her 90s, Frances Goldin, spent every last Sunday of June at the Pride parade. She brought the same sign she brought since the early 1970s. The sign said, "I adore my lesbian daughters -- Keep them safe."

After almost 50 years, the mother of two lesbian daughters was not able to join the parade this year. Goldin died last May at the age of 95.

The Mother's Support to Her Daughters

Goldin's daughters came out in the early 1970s. Since then, Frances supports her daughters.

One of Goldin's daughters, Reeni, recounts the moment she and her sister came out. Frances told Reeni, "Oh, why didn't you tell me sooner?!"

Since then, she took part in the Pride parade in New York City. Someone would always take a photograph of Frances with the sign.

READ ALSO: Dwyane Wade Dyed His Hair, Matching His Daughter Zaya's Pink Hair

Why It's Important For the Mother To Join the Pride

In an article by BuzzFeed in 2016, Reeni said that her mother joins the parade because France believes in equality and fairness.

"She really puts her money where her mouth is. She works for it. That's her life," Reeni added.

Even if Reeni and her sister can no longer join Frances in the Pride because they do not live in New York anymore, Frances still joins the parade. Most of the time, when Frances attends the Pride, she would "adopt" other queer women. She said, "Whoever came with me; they were my daughters."

READ ALSO: Khary Payton Introduces Son, Karter [Who Was Born a Female]

The History Behind The Sign

Goldin's old roommate created the sign. The same person who created the sign also thought of the message. "I don't think I could have dreamed up the same wording that had as much emotional appeal to gays and lesbians as he did," Goldin said.

Three years after carrying the same sign, the mother of two lesbian daughters added three words, "Keep them safe," to the signage. Goldin said that she thought of adding these words after seeing an increase in recorded violence against gays and lesbians.

The People's Reaction To the Sign

According to Goldin, the sign works like a charm. Every year, people would come near Goldin and kiss her. Some of the gays and lesbians would tell her to call their parent, which Goldin always did.

Frances says she reached out to several parents over the years. Whenever she makes the calls, she would tell other parents what they are missing. She said, "I told them what they were missing, how they were wounding their children by not reaching out to them."

Goldin only missed one parade for almost fifty years. She suffered from a heart attack then. However, when she returned in the following year, people from the parade shared how they missed her. One of those who approached her after missing on Pride was a police officer from NYPD.

These instances made Goldin feel touched and amazed over the years.

READ ALSO: Teen's Coming Out Video to Her Mom Goes Viral On TikTok
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

San Francisco firefighters rescued two people from a burning home in the city's Excelsior District on Monday morning, fire officials said.

Fire officials first reported the one-alarm fire on Twitter at about 10:45 a.m. in the 500 block of Lisbon Street.

The two people rescued from the home are expected to survive. Around 11:05 a.m., fire officials said the blaze had been contained.

PG&E has also responded to the scene due to live wires being downed, fire officials said.

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SANTA CRUZ (BCN)

A 32-year-old San Jose man was arrested Sunday in Santa Cruz as a suspect in an assault that is being investigated as a hate crime.

Santa Cruz police were notified of a physical altercation taking place outside a motel in the 1400 block of Ocean Street shortly after 2 a.m.

Officers found both parties in the fight and determined that one had been the victim of an unprovoked attack by San Jose resident Cody Chavez, who allegedly directed racial epithets at the victim.

The victim, a 46-year-old native of Jamaica, was taken to a trauma center with injuries considered serious, but not life threatening.

Chavez was booked for battery with serious bodily injury, violation of civil rights causing violent injury, and resisting arrest. A judge approved a bail enhancement request for Chavez.

"There is no place for this heinous behavior in our community, or our country, and we will not tolerate it," Deputy Chief of Police Bernie Escalante said. "The Santa Cruz Police Department will do everything within our ability and authority to hold this person accountable through the criminal justice system. Our hearts go out to the victim and wish him a speedy recovery."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Unit at (831) 420-5820.

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A U.S. District Court judge in San Jose has found a 41-year-old man guilty of economic espionage, theft of trade secrets and conspiracy.

Hao Zhang, 41, of China, was found guilty by U.S. District Judge Edward J. Davila of the Northern District of California.

Evidence submitted during the course of the trial demonstrated that from 2010 to 2015, Zhang conspired to and did steal trade secrets from two companies: Avago, a designer, developer, and global supplier of a broad range of analog, digital, mixed signal and optoelectronics components and subsystems with a focus in semiconductor design and processing, headquartered in San Jose and Singapore; and Skyworks, an innovator of high performance analog semiconductors headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts. Judge Davila found that Zhang intended to steal the trade secrets for the benefit of the People's Republic of China.

Zhang is currently released on a $500,000 secured bond. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 31, before Davila. The maximum statutory penalty for each count in violation of 18 U.S.C.  1831 is 15 years in custody and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution if appropriate. The maximum statutory penalty for each count in violation of 18 U.S.C.  1832 is 10 years in custody and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution if appropriate.

Calls to defund the police have spread nationwide, as communities grapple with police brutality following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and San Jose's militarized response to otherwise peaceful protesters in late May.

While some support complete abolition of the San Jose Police Department's proposed $449 million budget, the discussion for many Santa Clara County nonprofit leaders presents an opportunity to reallocate some of those dollars and responsibilities to local organizations for social needs, instead of sending armed law enforcement to non-violent emergencies.

"I'm not saying we don't need any law enforcement," said Sparky Harlan, CEO of the Bill Wilson Center, which provides support services for homeless youth, families and adults. "For me, defunding looks at how we repurpose a big chunk of the money and narrow the scope of what police departments do."

This concept isn't new to Harlan, who worked for a nonprofit contracted by San Mateo County to deal with 911 calls such as drug overdoses, mental health crises and civil disturbances in the 1970s.

She's poised to take on those issues again - here in Santa Clara County - as soon as police relinquish those responsibilities. But the county also needs to loosen restrictions on staffing requirements, she said, as requirements for licensed staff who don't have 24-hour availability ultimately lead to police deployment.

This week, police chiefs from San Jose, San Francisco and Los Angeles penned an op-ed addressing calls for defunding. While pushing for reform and admitting room to improve, they also welcomed the idea of redefining their officers' roles.

Students from Madison Park Academy in Oakland created more than 700 face shields to donate to hospitals across the country amid to Covid-19 pandemic.

High school students in Tawana Guillaume's engineering pathway have created hundreds of face shields on 3D printers as part of a group called 3D Printing Friends.

The group donated the printed face shields to numerous hospitals including Alta Bates in Berkeley, St. Mary's Medical Center in San Francisco, Mt. Sinai in New York City and Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC, among others.

According to the Oakland Unified School District, 3D Printing Friends has donated over 5,100 shields to date, and the students of Madison Park Academy cleaned and packaged most of them.

High winds and dry conditions prompted a National Weather Service red flag warning for elevations 1,000 and above in the North Bay from 10 p.m. Sunday to 8 p.m. Monday.

The services says inland peaks in Napa and Sonoma counties are particular areas of concern, where north-northeast winds of 15 to 25 mph and gusts of 30 to 50 mph are expected Sunday night.

While wind speed is expected to ease by Monday, conditions will be drier, with relative humidity will drop from 30 to 40 percent to 10 to 25 percent.

Mild mountain temperatures of 55 to 65 degrees are forecast overnight Sunday.

"The combination of the offshore winds, lowering relative humidity values, and dry fuels will likely lead to critical fire weather conditions for the higher elevations of the North Bay," the NWS said in an advisory.

Restrictions on public recreation areas in Marin County have been put into effect during the red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service for elevations of 1,000 feet or more from 10 p.m. Sunday to 8 p.m. Monday.

The Sky Oaks watershed of the Marin Municipal Water District on Mount Tamalpais, Natalie Coffin Green Park in Ross, Leo Cronin parking lot in Lagunitas, and Mount Vision Road in Inverness are closed during the red flag period.

Mount Tamalpais State Park roads north of Panoramic Highway on Pantoll Road and Ridgecrest Boulevard are closed to motor traffic until 7 a.m. Tuesday and all park use permits north of Panoramic Highway are suspended, including filming.

A memorial service being held Wednesday for Cal Fire Capt. David William Lutz is limited to friends, family and colleagues due to novel coronavirus concerns, but can be viewed online via live stream at https://vimeo.com/432350402/d4412931df.

Lutz, who died June 17 at age 33 in an off-duty hiking accident at Pfeiffer Burns State Park near Big Sur, was a captain with the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit.

The Los Gatos native began his career in 2008 as a Fire Fighter I in the San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit. He most recently was stationed at the El Granada Station within the Half Moon Bay-based Coastside Fire Protection District.

Hackers who attacked computer servers at the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine were paid a ransom of more than $1 million to regain access to data that had been maliciously encrypted by malware, university officials announced Friday.

The school's Information Technology staff detected a security incident on June 1 and the affected areas, described as "a limited number of servers in the School of Medicine," were isolated from the UCSF core network.

The attack left the servers inaccessible and malware uploaded during the breach encrypted data on the affected servers that was used by the attackers as proof of what had been perpetrated.

"The data that was encrypted is important to some of the academic work we pursue as a university serving the public good," the university said in a news release. "We therefore made the difficult decision to pay some portion of the ransom, approximately $1.14 million, to the individuals behind the malware attack in exchange for a tool to unlock the encrypted data and the return of the data they obtained."

Officials emphasized that the attack did not affect patient care, its novel coronavirus work or the overall campus network.

Signs warning of freshwater harmful algal blooms have been placed along the Salmon Creek lagoon in Bodega Bay "out of an abundance of caution," the Sonoma County Department of Health Services announced.

A caution advisory recommends staying away from algae and scum in the water and preventing children and pets from going into the water.

The department said it anticipates the placement of more signs this summer at other freshwater recreational areas in rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

Harmful algal blooms are formed by cyanobacteria, known as blue-green algae that multiply into harmful blooms as water temperature increases.

A 32-year-old San Jose man was arrested Sunday in Santa Cruz as a suspect in an assault that is being investigated as a hate crime.

Santa Cruz police were notified of a physical altercation taking place outside a motel in the 1400 block of Ocean Street shortly after 2 a.m.

Officers found both parties in the fight and determined that one had been the victim of an unprovoked attack by San Jose resident Cody Chavez, who allegedly directed racial epithets at the victim.

The victim, a 46-year-old native of Jamaica, was taken to a trauma center with injuries considered serious, but not life threatening.

Chavez was booked for battery with serious bodily injury, violation of civil rights causing violent injury, and resisting arrest. A judge approved a bail enhancement request for Chavez.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Hackers who attacked computer servers at the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine were paid a ransom of more than $1 million to regain access to data that had been maliciously encrypted by malware, university officials announced Friday.

The school's Information Technology staff detected a security incident on June 1 and the affected areas, described as "a limited number of servers in the School of Medicine," were isolated from the UCSF core network.

The attack left the servers inaccessible and malware uploaded during the breach encrypted data on the affected servers that was used by the attackers as proof of what had been perpetrated.

"The data that was encrypted is important to some of the academic work we pursue as a university serving the public good," the university said in a news release. "We therefore made the difficult decision to pay some portion of the ransom, approximately $1.14 million, to the individuals behind the malware attack in exchange for a tool to unlock the encrypted data and the return of the data they obtained."

Officials emphasized that the attack did not affect patient care, its novel coronavirus work or the overall campus network.

The university said it is working with a cyber-security consultant and other outside experts to investigate the attack and bolster system defenses.

The tainted servers are expected to be restored in the near future.

"This incident reflects the growing use of malware by cyber-criminals around the world seeking monetary gain, including several recent attacks on institutions of higher education," the university said. "We continue to cooperate with law enforcement, and we appreciate everyone's understanding that we are limited in what we can share while we continue with our investigation."

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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

A 36-year-old San Francisco man has been charged with 19 felony counts of wire fraud and other crimes, accused in connection with several alleged investment schemes from 2013 to 2016, according to a joint statement from the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Internal Revenue Service on Friday.

According to the complaint, Michael Brent Rothenberg is alleged to have raised millions of dollars to invest in Silicon Valley start-up companies, but allegedly took much higher fees than those to which he formally agreed. Federal officials said Rothenberg also committed bank fraud with alleged schemes to obtain money to make up for shortfalls in one of the funds he managed.

Federal officials allege that, since 2013, Rothenberg fraudulently obtained at least $18.8 million through illegal conduct.

Rothenberg made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court Friday.

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Rothenberg founded a venture capital company, Rothenberg Ventures Management Company, LLC that he used between 2013 and 2016 to raise and manage four annual funds whose purpose was to invest in Silicon Valley start-up companies, mostly those pursuing virtual reality technology.

The complaint alleges Rothenberg partially funded his money commitment to the second of those funds by committing bank fraud when, in 2014, made false statements about his wealth to his bank while refinancing his home mortgage. Federal officials allege that Rothenberg, while obtaining a $300,000 personal loan, poured some of the ill-gotten money he obtained from the bank into that second fund.

Federal officials also contend that, in 2015 Rothenberg took excessive venture capital fees from one of the funds he was managing at his Rothenberg Ventures Management Company, creating a shortfall in that fund he did didn't want his investors to know about. Rothenberg then allegedly engaged in a scheme to defraud a bank by making false statements and misrepresentations to that bank to obtain a $4 million line of credit to pay back the fund from which he had taken excess fees.

In February 2016, officials said, Rothenberg allegedly engaged in a scheme to defraud an investor who believed was investing in a Rothenberg-owned virtual reality content production company, when in fact most of that money is alleged to have gone somewhere else.

Overall, in connections to the above and other allegations, Rothenberg faces two counts of bank fraud, two counts of making a false statement in a loan application to an FDIC-insured lender, 11 counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering.

Each of the wire fraud charges carries maximum statutory penalties of up to 20 years in prison, not more than three years supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The two bank fraud charges and the two false statement to a bank charges each carry a maximum of 30 years in prison, not more than five years supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine. The money laundering charges carry a penalty not more than 10 years in prison, not more than three years of supervised release, and fines.

The Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case, which is being investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigations.

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Alameda became the latest Bay Area county to announce it will pause its plans for further reopening amid a recent uptick in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.

In a statement released Monday, the county noted that hospitalizations had been declining through June 22, but have started trending back upwards over the past week. The county currently allows for outdoor dining, indoor retail and other Stage 2 "low-risk" activities, but had planned to apply for a regional variance on Tuesday. A regional variance allows counties to reopen Stage 3 "high-risk" businesses such as hair salons, gyms and bars.

San Francisco was the first Bay Area county to suspend reopening plans last week when officials called off plans to reopen hair salons, barbershops, massage therapy, museums, swimming pools and more amid an uptick in cases.

Here's where the nine Bay Area counties stand on future reopening plans.

Pausing

Contra Costa: The county announced Monday it is delaying the reopening of bars, some personal services, indoor dining, gyms and fitness centers, museums, and hotels for tourism amid an increase in cases and hospitalizations. These sectors were slated to reopen on July 1, but officials will wait to release a new date when the COVID-19 outbreak "is better contained."

Marin: After San Francisco paused its Monday reopening plans last Friday, officials in Marin followed suit and trimmed down the number of businesses permitted to reopen Monday. Hair salons, barbershops, indoor dining, campgrounds and picnic areas reopened, but nail salons, massage therapy, hotels and gyms were postponed to a to-be-determined date in the future. The state estimates that the virus' base reproduction number (R-effective or R0) is higher in Marin County than in any other Bay Area county.

San Francisco (see above)

Alameda (see above)

Future reopening planned, but no confirmed plans to pause

Santa Clara: In a statement released last Friday, county health officer Dr. Sara Cody announced she planned to write a new health order this week "that will mark the end of" a "sector-specific strategy" to business restrictions.

"I anticipate issuing a new order next week that will mark the end of our sector-specific strategy and the beginning of a new phase, where many activities will be allowed to resume with appropriate risk reduction measures in place," she wrote. "And of course, many high-risk activities simply cannot safely resume here or elsewhere anytime soon. This new order and related materials are under development and will be shared as soon as they are ready, which I anticipate will be in the middle of next week. It will go into effect several days later, giving businesses time to put appropriate safety measures in place."

The county has seen a slight increase in hospitalizations over the past week.

No future reopening planned

San Mateo, Solano, Napa, Sonoma. These four counties are following the state's reopening plan in real-time. Most businesses approved by the state to reopen with modifications have reopened in these counties, and the state has not announced plans to reopen any additional businesses anytime soon.

SFGATE News Editor Amy Graff contributed to this report.

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Eric Ting is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said at his Monday briefing an increase in the spread of the coronavirus led him to ask some counties to reverse their reopening plans.

The state has ordered Imperial County, where 23% of people tested are positive, to pull back its reopening and reinstate a more strict shelter-in-place order.

What's more, over the weekend Newsom ordered bars to close in seven counties over the weekend and recommended that eight other counties do the same.

"Were doing this because were seeing an increase in the spread of this virus, he said.

The state has allowed counties to move through the first three stages of reopening their economies on their own timelines, but Newsom has said repeatedly the reopening process also includes a "dimmer switch" that the state may need to use to "toggle back" their shelter-in-place orders. This weekend, Newsom said that "dimmer switch" was used to force the closure of bars in seven jurisdictions. He explained the seven counties  Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, San Joaquin and Tulare  had been on a state watch list for more than 14 days due to increasing case numbers. The eight counties, where it was only recommended that bars be closed, have been on the watch list between 3 and 14 days.

State officials are closely monitoring county data and have developed a watch list of counties that need additional support in mitigating the virus and may be asked to pause or reverse reopenings. On Sunday, 15 counties were on the watch list and today it grew to 19 with Solano, Merced, Orange and Glen counties added.

Here's the complete list:

Contra Costa County Fresno County Glenn County Imperial County Kern County Kings County Los Angeles County Merced County Orange County Riverside County Sacramento County San Bernadino County San Joaquin County Santa Barbara County Santa Clara County Solano County Stanislaus County Tulare County Ventura County

Newsom said the 19 counties "represent about 72% of the state population that have targeted engagement."

The number of counties under surveillance is growing as cases increase, with 5,972 new cases reported Friday, 4,810 Saturday and 5,307 Sunday. The state has seen a 45% increase in the number of positives in California in the last week.

The increase is in part a result of a rise in the number of people being tested. On Sunday nearly 106,000 people were tested, a record number in a single day. But Newsom noted that the positivity rate  the number of people who have tested positive divided by the total number of tests administered  has also gone up. Two weeks ago, the positivity rate was 4.4%. Monday it was 5.5%.

Hospitalizations are also up 43% in the past two weeks, but the state's hospital capacity has been able to handle the increase. Currently, 7% of the available beds are being used by COVID-19 patients.

Newsom said that if the case counts continue to see dramatic increases, the state will ask counties to roll back more openings.

"We have applied this dimmer switch to certain sectors," he said. "If we don't see mitigation of this spread we will do more."

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

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Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfate.com.
By Deepak Chopra MD, and Paul Scialla

The lockdown that occurred in the face of COVID-19 brings to light something almost everyone overlooked in the past. We are now an indoor species. This was already true before the lockdown. Outdoor work has declined radically since the Industrial Revolution. In the West today we spend on average over 90% of our lives inside, whether in our homes, offices, schools, hotels or restaurants.

This development is contrary to most of human history, which was spent primarily outdoors. Unknown to most people, the boxes we now occupy have a profound impact on our health and well-being. Our physical and social environments conceivably have as much impact on our health as factors more widely recognized, such as genetics, lifestyle, and behavior patterns. Indoors the elements of air and water quality, lighting, temperature, and acoustics can all have a direct impact on such diverse things as respiration, sleep, immunity, and cardiovascular health.

While the notion of wellness real estate first emerged several years ago, COVID-19 has brought about a sudden awareness: What surrounds us matters. What we touch matters. It makes a difference how we gather indoors and share the same air. In a word, real estate is, and will remain, the largest carrier of a pathogen load such as the coronavirus or the next pathogen we face in the future.

The risks are primarily threefold: airborne (what we breathe), surface borne (what we touch), and behavioral borne (how we gather and how we care for our immune systems).

As society cautiously returns to normal, we should reconsider all three of these risks. Programs such as the WELL Health-Safety Rating from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), which is evidence-based and third-party verified, focuses on strategies to protect people in a post-COVID environment. Drawing on insights from nearly 600 public health experts, virologists, government officials, academics, business leaders, architects, designers, building scientists, and real estate professionals, the rating provides a reliable means to measure how effectively all building types can be maintained for the health of the people inside them.

The rating program is relevant for all building types  restaurants, schools, retail stores, offices, theatres  and is a review of policies and protocols that building operators put in place regarding cleaning and maintenance requirements, emergency response readiness, social distancing, and other factors that explicitly address the risk of pathogen transmission. The WELL Building Standard expands further into design interventions such as improved air filtration and ventilation to reduce the concentration of airborne viruses, pollutants and allergens, and circadian lighting to help balance 24 hour sleep-wake cycles.

Strategies to consider based on this research include:

Enhanced cleaning products and protocols: Maintaining thorough cleaning protocols on high-touch surfaces can help reduce the chance of infection.

Improved air quality: Opening windows to increase ventilation within a space or implementing air filtration technologies can help reduce the concentration of airborne viruses, along with other pollutants and allergens.

Elements of comfort: Working from home may lead to decreased physical activity and increased strain on our bodies. Active furnishings can help discourage prolonged sitting and sedentary behaviors.

Mental health support: Connecting with nature through plants, light and access to views can help improve mood and mitigate stress. This is particular important since stress is known to weaken the immune system.

Circadian lighting design: Poor sleep quality can play a role in weakening the bodys immune function. Lighting that mimics the patterns of the sun can help promote a restful nights sleep.

These strategies are an important step in responding to todays public health challenge, but also to building a healthier future overall. One of the positive outcomes that has come to light over the past few months is a collective understanding that every facet of the indoor environment plays a role in our health outcomes. This is the next phase in promoting a holistic approach to well-being.

DEEPAK CHOPRA MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. He is the author of over 89 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. His 90th book, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.

Paul Scialla is the Founder/CEO of Delos and Founder of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), which administers the WELL Building Standard globally to improve human health and wellbeing through the built environment. After 18 years on Wall Street, including 10 at Goldman Sachs as a Partner, Pauls interest in sustainability and altruistic capitalism led him to found Delos, which is merging the worlds largest asset class  real estate  with the worlds fastest growing industry  wellness. Paul graduated from New York University with a degree in finance, and he currently resides in New York City. www.wellcertified.com
On Tuesday, Fortunate Higgins told Humans of New York that she finally found her son's grave four years after his death. A police officer helped her by purchasing a headstone for her six-month-old baby boy, Elijah.

In 2015, Higgins was taking graduate classes and a class that focuses on grief. A Poughkeepsie Journal reporter, who was working with the police officer who helped raise funds to buy a headstone for Elijah, called her. Higgins said that she had been looking for her baby's grave because she did not know where it was.

Black mom saw a miracle

In 2015, Higgins and Lieutenant Jim Janso, the police officer met, and the black mom was relieved to find her son's grave finally. She called the police officer her hero because he had helped lift all the weight that she has been carrying. She looks at it as a miracle and does not know the right words to say.

Police officer explained the autopsy report

A few days after Elijah died, Higgins visited the police department. Janso helped her understand her child's autopsy report. He informed her that her baby had died due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The police officer felt personally connected with the black woman's family because he performed CPR on Elijah to try to save him. Janso had been visiting Elijah's grave over the years.

Son was buried in an unmarked grave

Higgins felt comforted and grateful for Janso. Even though the mom's grief was all-consuming, the police officer showed kindness and thoughtfulness. The strange funeral customs of the US has made her confused. The black mom was worried that she could not afford a headstone for her Elijah's burial site. She buried her child in an unmarked grave.

The 38-year-old mom thought that keeping a photo of her child would help her find her son's grave. However, every time she tries to find it, she would get lost. She was crying and praying so much all the time.

Initially from Uganda, Higgins felt alone and devastated when her baby died. The black mom had no families nearby to support herself and her firstborn, Ethan, 3. The African community and her friends from work arranged a funeral for her son. Even so, she felt unsure about what was happening.

How Elijah died

On March 31, 2011, Higgins received a text message from Elijah's babysitter at one in the morning. It alerted her that something was wrong with her six-month-old son. The black mom immediately left her night shift job to bring her child to the hospital.

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities' care manager, Higgins, told TODAY Parents that she thought Elijah was just sick. She packed her diaper bag and everything she needed without any idea that her son had died. The doctors and paramedics did CPR and treatments, but they could not save the baby.

Higgins said that she was in a state of confusion; she thought that she would still see her son alive. The doctor walked in and told her that her son's heart stopped beating.

See also other articles:

Black Teen Died After Facility Staff Members Forcible Restrained Him

Black Mother and Son Treated Differently from a White Kid in Restaurant Due to Clothing

Mom Shared How Her Son Suddenly Died in Daycare [A Heartbreaking Story]

COVID-19: Nurse Returns to the Frontline a Few Days After Surgery
Will Arnett, the star of BoJack Horseman," is galloping away from his custom Beverly Hills home, Variety reported. The prefab hybrid is available for $10,995,000.

The actor purchased the property for $2.86 million in 2015, according to realtor.com. The design-savvy star then tapped the architect Suchi Reddy, who collaborated with the prefab company Living Homes to build a new residence for him.

The result, a glass-and-steel-frame modern marvel, landed on the cover of Dwell magazine. Although partly prefab, its not exactly a kit house. About a third of the home was built on site, according to the Dwell feature, including the glass staircase tower and a guest wing, which houses Arnetts recording studio.

The story notes that even the prefab section, which consists of six modules in the main house, was heavily customized.

Will Arnett's home in Beverly Hills realtor.com

Entry realtor.com

Living room realtor.com

Open kitchen realtor.com

Dining area with built-in seating realtor.com

Master suite with private terrace realtor.com

Patio realtor.com

Backyard with pool realtor.com

Completed in 2017, the 4,000-square-foot layout includes five bedrooms and 4.5 baths.

The light and airy entry opens to a living area with floor-to-ceiling windows. The open kitchen with built-in seating adjoins the dining area.

An office converts to a guest room with a pull-down Murphy bed. The master suite is on the top floor and opens out to a private deck.

The gated grounds, which boast an infinity pool and spa, are surrounded by dense treetops. The outdoor living space has a barbecue station, a fireplace, and areas for lounging and dining.

Arnett has traded real estate before. In 2017, he sold his share of two West Village condos in New York City to his ex-wife, Amy Poehler, who bought him out of the units for $6.49 million after the couple split up. The two contiguous units had apparently been combined into one residence, Mansion Global reported.

Arnett may be best known for his role as Gob Bluth in the series Arrested Development. Hes also appeared in movies such as Blades of Glory and Hot Rod. The native Canadian's deep baritone can be heard voicing such characters as Batman in "The Lego Movie" franchise.

Richard Ehrlich with Westside Estate Agency holds the listing.

The post Will Arnett Lists His Modern Marvel in Beverly Hills for $11M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Despite the thousands of adults who self-identify as Hufflepuffs, Harry Potter is still undeniably a story written for children. As an aging fan of the series, I understand the nostalgia, but today's hellscape makes it hard to look back on the adventures of some wand-fizzling pre-teens and feel the same sense of dread at a villain whose name isn't spoken aloud.



That said, magic is still tight. There's nothing more appealing right now than pure escapism, but given the assault of bad news staring up at me from my phone, keeping my attention requires a show that's a little bit ... savage.



Let me introduce you to that series, which is currently blazing up Netflix's top 10 charts: "The Order."

RELATED: How HBO Max's new Anna Kendrick rom-com could revolutionize streaming
Sharon, PA (16146)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 81F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers later at night. Low 52F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Screenshot of the report by The New Daily

The cause of tension in the Sino-Australian relationship is largely due to the ignorance of the Australia side, said a report of The New Daily on June 26, citing new research from The Australia Institute.

Australia is doomed to continue its tit-for-tat with China because Australias political class dont understand its biggest trading partner, the new research claimed.

According to the report, in Australia there are only 20 academics and think tanks with expertise in China, and no specialist schools for training policymakers.

Although no one knows how many people are employed in the federal government to provide advice on China, our stupid approach reveals how little we understand it, Allan Behm, head of the International and Security Affairs Program at The Australia Institute, told The New Daily.

If youve got about 20 people who know about China, youre a hell of a long way beyond the queue line, Behm was quoted as saying. Our politicians dont understand what theyre dealing with. They dont have enough factual knowledge. They dont understand its history or culture. They dont know enough about Asia in general.

The second thing, Behm noted, is we take cues from the confrontation between Washington and Beijing and we fit into the slipstream of Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo, stressing, thats stupid because Trump is unhinged and Pompeo is a loyal acolyte.

In April, Australia enflamed bilateral tensions with China by calling for an independent international inquiry into the outbreak of COVID-19. This shows were picking fights where we dont need to, Behm said. We handled COVID-19 extremely badly.

Australian needs to invest in education about China while exercising soft power and not parroting American foreign policy, the article added.

China is here to stay and we have to deal with it, said Behm. All of that requires knowledge and great skills in advocacy. And finely honed diplomatic skills.
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"You know, anything involving children, children (being) in jeopardy or if their safety is threatened, having children myself, it's certainly easier to sort of draw upon the visceral nature of what that the circumstances would evoke in you," he added.

"I'm as vulnerable as anybody else," Hemsworth told IANS when asked about tapping into vulnerabilities for a character.

Picking his recent digital film "Extraction" as an example, he continued: "We shot this movie in India, Bangladesh and Thailand, I didn't have my family with me, so having that distance, I was certainly missing them more than usual. And so to sort of tap into those emotions was a little more accessible."

"You know, (we all have the) same uncertainties. Some people are better at hiding them than others. But I think vulnerability is an access point for an audience and it shows that you are human. It shows that there are qualities that hopefully people can relate to, and uncertainties and questions (with which) people can identify with and that was what was so wonderful about the script of 'Extraction' that was laid out in front of us and there for us to dive into."

After steering projects like "Home And Away" and JJ Abrams' "Star Trek", Hemsworth scored his big break in 2011 with the film "Thor" as the Norse God of Thunder Thor, embarking on the journey of becoming one of the biggest and bankable movie stars in the world.

This year, Hemsworth made his digital debut as an actor with "Extraction".

In Sam Hargrave's "Extraction", Hemsworth is seen as a fearless, black market mercenary Tyler Rake, who embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he is enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord.

Talking about the working experience on the Netflix film, he said: "It was just such an incredibly wonderfully collaborative experience. It was the first time that I was working with the streaming platform. They have really carved out a space for this type of film that you may not be able to put on the consumer during this sort of time in cinema history.

"We were able to make a sort of a real throwback to the classic action films where you are not relying on special effects and visual effects. It is all in camera. It was a pretty exhausting, but wonderfully collaborative, incredible experience," he summed up the experience.

(Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in)

--IANS

sug/vnc/rt
According to a representative for Asbury, Nancy Newhouse Porter, Asbury died on Friday morning in Los Angeles following a long battle with abdominal cancer, reports variety.com.

Los Angeles, June 28 (IANS) Kelly Asbury, best known for directing Academy Award-nominated animation films "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" (2002) and "Shrek 2" (2004), has died. He was 60.

Asbury, who started his career at Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1983, directed five animated feature films during his career -- "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron", "Shrek 2a in 2004, which he co-directed with Conrad Vernon; "Gnomeo & Juliet" in 2011; "Smurfs: The Lost Village" in 2017; and his final directorial effort was 2019's "Ugly Dolls", for which he got stars like Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle MonAie, and Blake Shelton on board.

His other work includes credits on aceThe Little Mermaid", Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas", "James and the Giant Peach", "The Prince of Egypt", "Chicken Run", aceShrek", "Wreck-It Ralph", "Frozena and "Sherlock Gnomes".

The Texas native was also credited as a writer in the 1991 film "Beauty and the Beast" and worked as a story artist on "Toy Story" in 1995 and both "Kung Fu Panda" and "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" in 2008.

"Inside Out" writer Ronnie del Carmen, who worked with Asbury on the "Prince of Egypt", paid tribute to the animator on Facebook.

He wrote: "So sorry to hear this today. Everyone loved Kelly, it's impossible to not be charmed by him or feed off of his positive energy. We worked together on 'Prince of Egypt' and when I joined Pixar stories of the great "Kell-god" was already legend. I will miss him dearly. Rest In Peace dear friend."

--IANS

sug/sdr/
The team from University of Surrey's Centre for Understanding Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP) found that even before the Covid-19 crisis, many of the world's leading economies were experiencing larger slower growth cycles (recession cycles), suggesting precisely such a period of critical slowing down in the economic system.

London, June 28 (IANS) Countries like the US, the UK and Germany should prepare for a long slow recovery with prolonged periods of instability in the wake on Covid-19 pandemic, a new research has warned.

The team's analysis suggested that the added weight of the Covid-19 crisis may result in one of the weakest and most unstable recoveries in recorded history for many economies.

The global economy is facing one of the largest downturns since the Great Depression in the 1930s.

"Placing the economy on hold to prevent unfathomable human tragedy from the Covid-19 pandemic was the right decision. Trying to force our way back to economic growth now would be the wrong one. A post-growth world is the new normal," said Professor Tim Jackson, Director of CUSP at the University of Surrey in a paper published by Nature.

Rates of growth across member states of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have been in decline since the 1970s, a phenomenon known as 'secular stagnation'.

The average growth in gross domestic product (GDP) per capita fell from over 4 per cent in the mid-1960s to little more than 1 per cent in the pre-pandemic years.

The International Monetary Fund expects global GDP to decline by 5 percent this year alone with a contraction of 3 percent likely even in the emerging and developing market economies.

"It's time to rethink and remake the economic models that have been failing us for decades. The challenge is enormous. But so is the prize. CSD theory suggests that a resilient, sustainable economic system which protects the health of people and planet is now within our grasp," Jackson noted.

The overall number of global COVID-19 cases crossed the 10 million mark on Sunday, with deaths nearing 500,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

The US accounted for the world's highest number of infections and fatalities with 2,510,323 and 125,539, respectively, according to the CSSE.

Brazil came in the second place with 1,313,667 infections and 57,070 deaths.

--IANS

na/
Iran To Require The Wearing Of Masks At Indoor Gatherings

06/29/20

Source: RFE/RL

Iran has announced that it will make the wearing of masks mandatory at indoor gathering places as the number of coronavirus fatalities recorded in a single day rose by the highest number in nearly three months. The measure announced by President Hassan Rohani on June 28 was accompanied by news that hard-hit provinces would be allowed to reimpose restrictions aimed at countering the impact of the virus. Rohani said the new mask requirement would be in force until July 22.





Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier warned the country's economic problems could worsen if the coronavirus spreads unchecked.

The country shut down nonessential businesses, closed schools and cancelled public events in March, but the government gradually lifted restrictions from April to try to reopen the country's sanctions-hit economy.

Iran reported 144 new fatalities owing to the coronavirus on June 27, its highest death toll for a single day in almost three months. The country is among the top 10 in the world in terms of the number of coronavirus infections, with more than 222,600 infections recorded, and over 10,500 deaths.



People praying at a mosque in Ahvaz, Iran

The Islamic republic had refrained from enforcing full lockdowns to stop the pandemic's spread, and the use of masks and protective equipment was optional in most areas.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], June 28 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Pragya Thakur on Sunday said that Congress party is devoid of moral, ethics and patriotism.



"Congress should see its collar. They don't know how to speak. The party is devoid of ethics, morale, and patriotism," said Thakur when asked about Congress raising questions over India-China standoff.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had posted a video on his Twitter handle and said, "We are coming to hear, people are saying, satellite images show, Ladakh's residents are saying and retired Generals of the Army are saying that China has snatched away our land. It has taken away land not just at one place but at three places."

"Prime Minister, you will have to speak the truth and tell the country. If you say no land was taken and the truth is otherwise, then it will be China's gain," he added.

India and China have been involved in talks to ease the ongoing border tensions since last month. On June 15, 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. (ANI)


"From July 5, wearing masks in all public areas will be compulsory for two weeks," Rouhani said on Sunday at a meeting of the National Headquarters for Managing and Fighting the Coronavirus, Xinhua news agency reported.

Tehran, June 29 (IANS) Amid increasing infections and fatalities over COVID-19 pandemic, after partial removal of lockdown, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said that wearing face masks in public areas will become mandatory from next week.

If necessary, the new decision will remain in force for the next month, he was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.

He also said those who fail to observe the health measures and regulation will be penalized.

According to Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi, the use of mask and respect to social distancing are "a must" in the provinces which are in high-risk condition.

Disrespect to social distancing and disregard of health protocols are the main reasons for the resurgence of the pandemic in some of the cities in the country, Harirchi was quoted as saying by IRNA.

Also, services will not be given to those without masks in areas such as government organizations and shopping malls, he said.

Rouhani said on Sunday that the health ministry has provided a list of spaces and gatherings which are regarded as high-risk areas.

The use of masks and protective gears has been optional in most areas in Iran.

Iranian officials have hinted that they may reimpose restrictive measures.

Rouhani also said on Sunday that the current year is the hard year for Iran as the country is grappled with economic pressures, due to the U.S. sanctions, as well as the outburst and endurance of novel coronavirus disease.

But, the Islamic republic will hopefully overcome this tough situation in unity, he stressed.

Iran reported its first COVID-19 cases on Feb. 19. It imposed restrictions late in the month and started to gradually ease the restrictions from April.

Iran's confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 222,669 on Sunday after an overnight registration of 2,489 new infections, IRNA reported.

Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said at her daily briefing that out of the new cases in the past 24 hours, 1,406 have been hospitalized.

The pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 10,508 Iranians, up by 144 in the past 24 hours.

Besides, 183,310 have recovered and been discharged from hospitals while 2,946 remain in critical condition.

According to Lari, 1,610,869 lab tests for COVID-19 have been carried out in Iran as of Sunday.

The Iranian health official said that five provinces are still in high-risk condition.

Iran and China have offered mutual help in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

In mid-February, at the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak in China, Iran lit up the Tehran Azadi (Liberty) Tower to show its solidarity with China, and donated 3 million masks to China.

In return, China has delivered several shipments of medical supplies to Iran. On February 29, a five-member Chinese medical team visited Iran for a month-long mission to help Iran fight the pandemic.

--IANS

rt/
The remark was made on Sunday night in a pre-recorded address to a conference organized by "Christians United for Israel", a US-based pro-Israeli evangelical group, reports Xinhua news agency.

Jerusalem, June 29 (IANS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he is willing to negotiate with the Palestinians on the basis of US President Donald Trump's Middle East "peace plan".

Speaking two days before his set date for annexing part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Netanyahu urged the Palestinians to "embrace" Trump's plan.

"I encourage the Palestinians not to lose another opportunity," he said.

"They should be prepared to negotiate a historic compromise that could bring peace to Israelis and Palestinians alike.

"Israel is prepared for such negotiations, and I am prepared for such negotiations," he added.

Netanyahu has set July 1 as the date for his plan to annex the Jordan Valley, which makes up some 30 per cent of the West Bank, a territory seized by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war.

The Palestinians, who claim all of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, have rejected the idea.

The last Israeli-Palestinian peace talks broke down in 2014, mainly because of their deep divisions on the issues of the Jewish settlements and Jerusalem.

The resumption of peace talks has hit a roadblock since Trump declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in late 2017 and moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the disputed holy city in mid-2018.

Israel considers the entire Jerusalem as its eternal capital, a fact that is rejected by the Palestinians, who insist that East Jerusalem be the capital of their future independent state.

More than 600,000 Jews live in about 140 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

--IANS

ksk/
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said that Palestine's position has not changed concerning the severed ties with both the current US administration and Israeli government, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.

Ramallah, June 29 (IANS) Palestine denied any contacts held with the United States, following Israeli media reports about a Palestinian-US dialogue over US President Donald Trump's Mideast peace plan.

Abu Rudeineh reiterated the Palestinian leadership's decision against the Israeli annexation, saying that all plans to impose the annexation in one go or in phases are "a matter of principle," according to a statement published by Palestine's official WAFA news agency.

"Any dialogue must be based on UN resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative and the peace plan proposed by President Mahmoud Abbas before the United Nations Security Council and on the basis of the principle of the two-state solution that ends the Israeli occupation and allows the establishment of an independent state of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital," said Abu Rudeineh.

"Israel must assume its full responsibility as an occupying power if it goes ahead with annexation," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

On Saturday night, Israel's Public Radio reported that Abbas declined a phone call by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over the anticipated annexation plan, and that US officials met secretly with Palestinian officials in an attempt to organise a channel of dialogue between the Palestinian leadership and the White House.

However, no breakthrough was reported.

The Israeli government is planning to annex more than 30 percent of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley. It also plans to impose sovereignty on several Israeli settlements in the territory.

Tension between the two sides has mounted after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his annexation plan will be implemented on July 1.

--IANS

rt/
On April 6, 2017, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 27 asMicro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day. By declaring so, the UN GeneralAssembly recognized the importance of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprisesto achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) and promote innovation, creativityand sustainable work for all.The effort is to create more opportunities and right ambience for the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises so that they are inundated with multiple options in taking their businesses to the pinnacle.Understanding India's severe potential during the countrywide lockdown and the waycitizens have beautifully responded to PM Shri Narendra Modi's call for making thenation Atmanirbhar, the experts found this moment as the right opportunity tounveil the MSME Forum."All my best wishes are with the newly launched MSME Forum and its creators on thisday when the entire planet is celebrating World MSME Day. I'm sure this MSMEForum will flourish soon and bring a new change in the country. My message toall the Indian entrepreneurs that entrepreneurship in Bharat is not new and hasalways been appreciated and highly looked upon by the other nations for centuries," said Pratap Sarangi."Thousands of years back the business linkage between Bharat and other countrieswere of 98 per cent. India's global GDP contribution during 1700s was 25 per cent. Albeit the figure has come down, still it's time to accelerate the graph and again prove oursuperiority," he added.The various announcement of various policies and programs by the centraland state governments are playing pivotal roles in changing the mindset of theyoung generation and a larger number of youths are getting attracted to foundingbusinesses. However, still many constraints are being observed such as leadershipquality, finance, right approach, legalization, certification, etc. that hinder the growthof the budding entrepreneurs.The launch of MSME Forum has been accomplished on June 27 in the warm presenceof the eminent stalwarts as the speakers from diverse professions.The opening speech was given by Ashutosh Kumar, CEO, MSME Forum. The sessions were conducted by Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Minister of State for MSME, RaviChanakya, Chief Mentor, MSME Forum of India, Dharmendra Saxena (CIO-MSMEForum) on Platform and its functions, Manava Prem, Partner, Arora Prem andAssociates, Vijay Sethi, CIO Hero MotoCorp, Manoj Kumar Trivedi, MD,iGlobe Research and Analytics, Manoj Mantri, MD, Ginni Agro Products, Dr. SubasisNandei, Managing Director, TQS Global Management Services, and Patel UmeshKannaujia, Co-Chair, MSME Forum."India's economy that is affected by lockdown due to coronavirus, and thanks to PMModi for adopting several steps in reviving it. The package of Rs 20 lakh croreannounced will have a huge positive impact on the MSME sector. Various facilities have been provided with no collateral for the benefits of the micro, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. There are various packages which you can get in the government portals to ensure the rapid boosting of India's economy and making the country Atmanirbhar," said Pratap Sarangi."For example, PPT kit was not in India during the first stage of coronavirus, but now India is manufacturing and even exporting PPT kit to other countries (over 3 lakh everyday export). This is being done by MSME Ministry. Waste management is a beautiful subject which MEME sector needs to concentrate on. MSME sector should take a challenge of collecting and reusing agricultural, industrial, plastic wastes etc. Even water renewable and solar industry can also bring huge financial benefits to the entrepreneurs. Even our MSME Ministry is trying to maximum exposure to rural people's talent at the international level through various processes including exporting," he added.The architects of MSME Forum have a mission to empower the entrepreneurs andrelentlessly uplift the neglected MSME segment across the country by providingthem a composite and state-of-art platform. Their pledge is to supporting andencouraging Make in India, stimulating Digital India and make Bharat Atmanirbhar."We're very happy to launch the MSME Forum on the World MSME Day. The MSMEin India typically account for 40 per cent of GDP, approximately one-third of themanufacturing output in the country, 45 per cent of the export and one of the largest employment generators. MSME bank credit to GDP ratio in India is close to6 per cent, which is far less than countries like South Korea, China, Thailand and Malaysia where the figure is over 15 per cent," Manava Prem, Partner, Arora Prem and Associates said."The key challenges before MSMEs are high-interest rates, high servicing processing cost, lack of proper accounting, reporting and compiling systems, long turnover time etc. The inadequate assist to finance is the primary reason why most of the MSMEs in India are in the macro or small stages only. A forum like this is the need of hour where any MSME can approach for various supports it requires in terms of wide assistance to finance, documentation, compliances and legal supports," he added.MSME Forum is created to act as a holistic platform to address various challengesconfronted by the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs. The parent organizationhas already proved its expertise in helping multitude of business owners across thenation. The services of MSME Forum range right from incubating a buddingentrepreneur to supporting the expansion of an existing entrepreneur.The platform provides a complete hand holding support across all aspect of thebusiness Ecosystem The support is provided in the form of consultancy, supportservices and Advisory."We're happy to launch the MSME Forum on the World MSME Day. The future ofIndia belongs to today's youth. The youths are always filled with special talents whichthey need to recognize and utilize so that a new revolution of business takes placeacross the country. The mindset of the Indian youths have altered in the last fewyears from job seekers to job providers. This new forum will surely be proved as astimulator in flourishing the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in future andmake Bharat Atmanirbhar," Ravi Chanakya, Chief Mentor, MSME Forum of India said."We're proud to launch the MSME Forum on the World MSME Day. The buddingentrepreneurs need to find out why their profits are not at par with sales. This forumis going to serve all kinds of assistance in taking the business to next levels. Hemainly spoke on need on industry 4.0 to optimise cost and increase profitability,"Manoj Trivedi, an expert of industry 4.0 and MD of iGlobe Research & Analytics,opined.This story is provided by MSME Forum. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI)
The island nation was initially planning to open its international airports to tourists on August 1, but has now decided to give priority to repatriate stranded Sri Lankans.

Colombo, June 29 (IANS) Sri Lanka has decided to delay reopening the country to foreign tourists by at least two weeks, but lifted its nationwide curfew on Monday as the island-nation prepares to hold parliamentary elections in the coming weeks.

"We want to restart tourism as soon as possible. But more than 46,000 Sri Lankans have registered with the government and are waiting to return. We want first ensure that they are back," Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told Efe news.

The government has laid down rules for foreign travellers entering the country after the airports reopen.

Tourists will have to produce a negative PCR report taken within 72 hours prior to their arrival on the island, followed by a second one after landing, and a third if they stay for more than 10 days.

Moreover, visitors will have to undergo another PCR test if they develop symptoms of Covid-19 infections during their stay in the country.

The authorities had declared a nationwide lockdown on March 20 to check the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The government took the decision to completely lift the curfew as there were no records of new COVID-19 cases at the community level, and with an eye on the upcoming general elections on August 5, an official from the Police Media Division told Efe news

He added that all the cases that have been recorded at the moment were from two major clusters - the Sri Lankan Navy and those returning from abroad.

"Even though the curfew is completely lifted people will not be able to gather in large groups as they did before COVID-19. People will have to follow health guidelines as recommended by the Health Ministry," said the official.

The authorities also announced that people who fail to wear masks would be ordered to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Senior Police DIG of the Western Province, Deshabandu Tennakoon, said this decision was taken because people were flouting recommendations to wear masks in public.

"Over 19,000 people were stopped by the police for not wearing a mask or wearing it in the wrong way on Friday," underlined Tennakoon.

As of late Sunday, Sri Lanka had recorded almost 2,000 total COVID-19 cases, with 11 deaths, according to the Health Promotion Bureau. Only around 360 of the cases were active.

--IANS

ksk/
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday said that it has conducted searches at the residential premises of accused Md. Rashid in Chandoli and Varanasi districts of Uttar Pradesh in connection with the investigation of ISI agent case.



NIA in a press statement has said that the case was registered against Md. Rashid on April 6 under section 123 of IPC and Sections 13, 17 and 18 of UA(P) Act.

"During the investigation, it was revealed that accused Md. Rashid was in contact with Defence/ISI handlers in Pakistan and had visited Pakistan twice. He was found to be transmitting photographs of some of the sensitive and strategically important installations in India and the movement of the Armed forces to suspected ISI handlers in Pakistan," NIA said.

During the searches, a mobile phone and some incriminating documents have been recovered and seized, NIA said.

Further investigation into the case is underway, NIA added. (ANI)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The beach at Gateway National Recreation Areas Great Kills Park will open for swimming on Wednesday.

According to the National Park Service, lifeguards will be on duty at Great Kills Park beginning Wednesday -- the same day that New York City beaches are scheduled to open for swimming during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Park rules and regulations remain in effect for Great Kills Park, and visitors should follow social distancing guidelines and stay six feet apart from other visitors. Group gatherings should also be avoided.

The National Park Service posts updates regularly at www.nps.gov/coronavirus, and at www.nps.gov/gate for specific details.

The beach has been open for visitors to walk and run. And currently beach-goers are also able to sit on chairs or blankets.

The Multiple Use Path at Great Kills Park is accessible for recreational use, such as biking, walking, and running.

The boat launch is also open; parking in the boat launch lot is by permit only. And 2019 permits are being honored for the 2020 season. Fishing is allowed, and 2019 fishing/parking permits will be honored for the 2020 season. No 2020 permits are being issued at this time.

Playgrounds have reopened as of June 22.

Bathrooms are open and available at the Beach Center and limited portable toilets are available throughout Great Kills Park.

CITY BEACHES OPEN FOR SWIMMING WEDNESDAY

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. The city beaches will open for swimming on Wednesday when lifeguards are on duty.

On Sunday, residents fled to the boroughs city beaches to cool off -- clad with their umbrellas and beach towels while getting some sun or hiding under the shade. Some residents were seen dipping their feet or going waist-deep in the ocean for some respite from the summer sun.

New York City Parks Department employees were seen at beach entrances, giving out free masks to residents.

21 Social distancing and masks at Staten Island's beaches

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

Those who visit will have to follow several health guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

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.

State-run beaches opened for swimming in late May.

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Life Upended. The coronavirus outbreak has had a devastating impact on our nation, and it has touched Staten Islanders in countless ways. In this series, reporter Tracey Porpora will share the stories of those who have been thrust into situations that were unimaginable just a few months ago -- those who have seen their life completely upended. This is the sixth story of Life Upended.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Elaine Putonti, owner of Cape House Gallery in Tottenville, along with her husband, Richard, has had people from all over the world visit her shop specializing in unique gifts, which is housed in a refurbished 90-year-old cape.

Listed in tour guides as the last stop to visit in New York City, the speciality home decor and gift shop has been a mainstay on the southernmost tip of Staten Island for nearly three decades.

Weve had people stop in from Germany, France, all different places. They come in, walk around and shop. Its amazing, said Putonti. Its a special place because we put the gallery in this old beautiful house at a time when everyone had left Tottenville. ...My husband renovated this place with his own hands for about 10 months, and we created a gorgeous venue here.

The Putontis went to school to learn custom framing, and they built their business from scratch, she said.

I figured back then, if you build it, they will come. And they did, she said of the business that helped them put their three now-grown children through school.

The year 2020 marked Putontis 28th year in business selling home decor items, including custom framing of everything from posters to shadowboxes. Elaine Putonti also is a floral designer, and sells an array of gifts from jewelry to decorative furniture accent pieces.

We listen to our customers, and if theres something they want, we bring it in for them. We do a lot of listening to our customers and give them a lot of personalized service. Thats what we are known for. We take time with customers. We dont rush people, she said. Most of our business over the years has been through referrals. People trust when someone says, You need to go there.

But overnight, everything the Putontis built was almost gone for good when coronavirus (COVID-19) shuttered the business on March 21 for three months.

In 28 years, weve weathered many storms, but this is the worst weve ever seen, she said, citing economic downturns, recessions and competition with online merchants.

At the onset of the pandemic, the Putontis went through an array of mixed emotions.

We are senior citizens, so we were fighting the fear of getting the virus; we were very concerned about that. We were shut down, so we were feeling sort of claustrophobic. Remember -- we were shut down in March, and we werent running out to take a walk right away, she said, noting they now have five grandchildren.

At the start of the lockdown she tried to apply for loans, to no avail.

We had no access to any kind of funding while we were closed, said Putonti, noting she didnt qualify for government loans, like the PPP (Payroll Protection Loan). We dont have a bunch of employees. ... It was very confusing. In the beginning we werent getting any answers. Finally, we saw we didnt qualify because 75% had to be used for payroll.

The couple lived on their savings during the pandemic. But were hesitant to dip in.

We wanted to know we will have money to live on once we retire, so it was scary not knowing how long this would last, she said.

And only in late June was she finally able to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance (EIDL) Loan, which promises to provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses affected by the coronavirus, said Putonti.

Dont forget, all your mortgage payments, utilities and other expenses didnt stop for the three months when we were closed. And they keep raising real estate taxes; this year they raised them a lot, she said.

NAIL IN COFFIN'

With so many challenges for small businesses in recent years, coronavirus could be the nail in the coffin, so to speak, for small businesses, said Putonti.

Even before the pandemic, small business has suffered, because of the big box stores, and the internet. Walk down any Main Street in any small town and you will see a lot of small businesses closed. Its just rampart. We have just hung in there because we just love the place here. We are very reluctant to give it up, she said.

BACK OPEN

The gallery was allowed to open up in Phase 2, which started June 22. And Putonti said shes not going down without a fight.

Shes afraid people are still hesitant to go out shopping. In addition, many people have lost their jobs, and as a result, luxury items are often cut from peoples budgets when times are tough.

There are those people who are going to be very reluctant to spend money now, she said.

Even though Cape House Gallery has lost a significant amount of revenue during the pandemic, Putonti said she hasnt given up yet.

We are going to fight our way through this, and try our damnedest not to go down, she said.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK***

If your life has been upended because of the coronavirus and you would like to share your story, please e-mail porpora@siadvance.com and put Life Upended in the subject line.

OTHER LIFE UPENDED STORIES:

Life Upended: With clients gone, single mom takes job shopping for senior citizens

Life Upended: Laid off for the first time at age 62

Life Upended: I have 3,000 dresses and no buyers

Life Upended: With her business closed, single mom fears losing everything

Life Upended: I might have to retire with no money, says business owner, 77

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NEW YORK, N.Y. -- With less than a week remaining before the City Council has to adopt the citys fiscal 2021 budget, the city is faced with pressure to drastically cut the budget of the largest and most expensive police force in the country.

In New York City, the City Council is pushing to cut the NYPDs $6 billion budget by $1 billion in fiscal 2021 as calls to defund the police grow.

Lawmakers have proposed making those cuts by reducing the NYPDs uniform headcount, cutting overtime, and moving responsibilities like school safety, homeless outreach, school crossing guards and mental health from the NYPD to other agencies.

The $1 billion cut was proposed as calls to defund the police intensified as anti-racism protesters took to the streets across the country calling for police to be held accountable for their actions following the death of George Floyd, a Black Minneapolis man who died after a white cop kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Meanwhile, hundreds have descended outside of City Hall calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council to make the $1 billion cut, vowing to not leave until their demands are met.

Those protests, and calls to reform and defund the police, touched all parts of the city, including Staten Island, many of them organized by the Island youth.

WHERE FUNDING WOULD GO

Kevin Walton, 23, of Mariners Harbor, who together with a group of about 10 other Island youth, formed the Youth Leaders of Staten Island and organized a rally on Hylan Boulevard drawing more than 500 people, thinks a $1 billion cut is a good starting point, but wants that funding to be redistributed to low-income communities of color.

Growing up on Staten Island, Walton said he saw the divide between communities on North and South Shores especially disparities in education.

He said NYPD funding needs to be redirected to build more community centers, for summer youth programs, and students in low-income areas.

I believe $1 billion is a wonderful starting point, I would love to be able to see where the money is reallocated to before any other funds are redirected, Walton said.

WILL MAYOR SUPPORT IT?

Right now, it is unclear whether Mayor Bill de Blasio will support a $1 billion cut.

With the city facing a looming $10 billion budget gap it needs to figure out how to fund in less than a week, the mayor has said all agencies will have to trim their budgets and possibly lay off staff.

De Blasio previously said $1 billion was not the way to maintain safety, But his administration is reportedly now pushing for a $240 million cut, but he has refused to say how much he is willing to support.

We dont have a final dollar figure, but were going to do something very, very substantial, de Blasio said of where things stand with negotiations on the NYPDs budget with the City Council on The Brian Lehrer Show Friday.

Well know more in the next few days. Yes, money will come out of the NYPD. Yes, money will go to youth programs. Yes, were going to work on changes in the approach to schools he continued.

IN OTHER CITIES

In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti proposed diverting as much as $150 million from the LAPDs budget to programs to help communities of color.

In Baltimore, protesters painted defund the police on a downtown street as the Baltimore City Council voted to scrap about $22 million in police spending in fiscal 2021.

But in Chicago, Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot has resisted calls to defund the police, arguing that the term is a nice hashtag but ignores any real reform. But Lightfoot has said officers should not answer social service related calls.

Mike Perry, the program manager of Staten Islands Cure Violence Program, said he thinks any funds redirected from the NYPD should be given to programs similar to the one he runs.

Every year, the program works with about 50 high-risk youth who are brought into the program from the NYPD as an alternative to jail in the hopes of turning their lives around.

EFFORTS TO STEM ISLAND VIOLENCE

The Islands Cure Violence Program only operates in Stapleton, Park Hill and Mariners Harbor, Perry said.

In order to expand, Perry said he would need about $5 million annually to work in other areas of Staten Island like New Brighton, West Brighton, Port Richmond and Arlington.

I think the money should go directly to men and women and organizations on the ground who are in their communities servicing the communities, Perry said.

Taj Ellis, who works as an assistant program director for the Mariners Harbor Community Center and serves on the Staten Island Advances Disparity Project Steering Committee, said defunding the police means rebuilding the force from the ground up.

The way the police department runs, theyre the overarching department for law enforcement, but law enforcement comes in multiple ways; its not always just crime and punishment, Ellis said.

REBUILD THE NYPD

So when I say they need to defund the police, I mean they need to break down the police department as it is now and then rebuild it in such a way that it handles our community in a more holistic way, he said.

Ellis thinks the police department needs to be divided into multiple community-based organizations that tackle social welfare, domestic violence, child abuse, and drug abuse.

For now, the fiscal 2021 budget needs to be adopted by June 30, just days away.

Speaker Corey Johnson has not said whether he would sign a budget that did not cut the NYPDs budget by $1 billion.

Johnson said he and the mayor were still trying to find common ground on the budget and indicated the two still had a long way to go.

There is a big hold up right now and I still think theres a pretty big delta, a really big delta between us, Johnson told reporters Thursday of the City Councils and the mayors differing views on the budget.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday said he has taken political heat for his decisions concerning nursing homes during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in New York, but dismissed the criticism amid calls for an independent investigation into his directives.

Ive taken political heat, Cuomo said on NBCs Meet the Press with Chuck Todd, before adding: There are facts and theres politics.

In New York, were number 46 in the nation in terms of percentage of deaths at nursing homes, compared to the total percentage, Cuomo said, referring to numbers compiled by the New York Times. We have to figure it out, but if they want to point fingers, not at New York. Were number 46. You have 45 other states to point fingers at first.

Cuomo has received widespread criticism for a March 25 directive requiring nursing homes to accept medically stable coronavirus patients.

The March 25 directive is no longer viewable on the state Health Department website, and Cuomo effectively reversed the order on May 10, forcing individuals to test negative before being admitted to a nursing home facility.

State Health Department data shows that nearly 30% of the boroughs deaths have occurred in nursing homes.

Cuomo has directed New York State Attorney General Letitia James and the DOH to probe the COVID-19 situation in nursing homes, but officials decried those efforts as lackluster  namely because such an investigation would involve the state investigating itself.

Republican Congress Reps. Lee Zeldin (NY-1), Pete King (NY-2), Elise M. Stefanik (NY-21) and Tom Reed (NY-23) have called on the federal government to investigate New York States adherence to appropriate safety and health guidance within nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

The New York Post also reported the band of Congressional Republicans have called on James to back an independent investigation centered on the March 25 directive.

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore) have called for an independent investigation to review the handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes across the state.

In one letter to the chairmen of the Committees on Health; Oversight, Analysis, and Investigation; and Aging, a group of 14 Republican Assembly members asked for a review of the states policies, decisions and protocols they say fell short.

In a separate letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr, Malliotakis wrote that the March 25 order issued by the New York State Health Department  which is overseen by Cuomo  effectively unleashed a wolf into a hen house.
Update: The missing woman has been found and is safe.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Massachusetts authorities said a missing 86-year-old woman with memory impairment issues was seen walking into a Bay Street gas station early Monday morning.

Betty Thorndike, 86, was reported missing after an officer from the Maynard Police Department in Massachusetts encountered the woman attempting to find directions to an address in Plymouth. She was later found to have not arrived to the location.

As a result of the Maynard Police departments preliminary investigation, authorities determined that Thorndike had recently moved from Maynard to Plymouth, and could have struggled to remember her address.

Police initially issued a silver alert to safely locate her.

The Maynard Police Department wrote on Facebook that Thorndike was positively identified on Bay Street in Staten Island New York at approximately 3:04AM leaving a Speedway gas station.

The only Speedway listed on Bay Street is in Rosebank.

The NYPD provided photos from the gas station, and the Maynard Police Department said it was working with New York agencies and actively searching for the woman.

Authorities said Thorndike was seen driving a gray Honda Accord with registration PL401.

If you see Betty Thorndike please contact the authorities immediately by dialing 911, the police department wrote. We request the publics continued assistance with sharing this information on social media so that we may help her to return home safely.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) is embarking on a clinical and academic partnership with the Mount Sinai Health System, which the hospital says is aimed at improving quality and outcomes for Staten Islanders.

President and CEO of RUMC Daniel Messina said the integration is an opportunity for the hospital to build and expand on its own tertiary care teaching medical center by exploring opportunities for new joint programs and initiatives.

We share many goals, including patient care outcomes and quality, expanding access to advanced primary, specialty, and ambulatory services, and the over-all clinical commitment to population health, said RUMC President and CEO Daniel Messina.

The hospital says the partnership will give borough residents access to world-class primary, specialty, ambulatory, and inpatient care through the Mount Sinai network, an integrated system of eight hospitals and a nationally ranked school of medicine.

Both hospitals will maintain their own individual governance while growing an integrated clinical and academic relationship.

Arthur Klein, president of the Mount Sinai Health Network said, Our commitment to the community and shared mission to provide the care that this community deserves is our main goal."

For any health need, from maintenance of chronic conditions to having access to the most complex medical procedures, Staten Island residents can rest assured that their medical needs will be met, Klein said.

RUMC is one of the two private hospital systems serving Staten Islanders, and the only hospital on the boroughs North Shore.

At the peak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on Staten Island in April, RUMC was providing in-patient treatment for more than 200 people with the virus, at least 50 of them in their intensive care unit.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After a five-alarm fire tore through six Huguenot townhouses in January, a Department of Buildings (DOB) investigation found that the inferno spread quickly from one home to five other attached residences  wreaking havoc as firefighters worked for two hours to quell the blaze that was visible for miles.

Now, some homeowners in the community are staring down thousands in expenses  though their homes were never touched by the blaze.

Inadequate fire separation and fire stopping along the party walls of the buildings was labeled as a contributing cause of the fires rapid spread, the DOB said.

The agency also discovered that the development complex had an additional 68 properties with the same applicant, builder and architectural design as the buildings which were damaged, indicating that they too could have the same safety deficiencies and posed a potentially critical safety issue, the agency said.

The fire injured 19, according to the DOB, and Jim Long, an FDNY spokesman, said that the blaze began in a dryer vent that was not properly maintained at 827 Rensselaer Ave.

The agency issued Commissioners Orders  which dont include court dates or financial penalties  to the 68 properties, requiring homeowners to hire registered design professionals and investigate possible firewall issues in their residences and provide the DOB with assessment reports.

The homes damaged in the Rensselaer Avenue fire were found to have inadequate fire separation and fire stopping along the party walls, contrary to the approved plans when the houses were first built, said DOB spokesman Andrew Rudansky in a written statement. Our engineers have determined that dozens of homes in this development may similarly lack these life-saving and legally required features. We are currently engaging with the affected homeowners with the goal of remediating this issue, and providing any necessary guidance throughout the process.

A vacate order placed on the door of one of the Rensselaer Avenue homes. (Staten Island Advance/Joseph Ostapiuk)

HOMEOWNERS: CITY SHOULD PAY

However, multiple homeowners said they are frustrated at the cost of the DOBs requirements, and some claim the agency should be held responsible for the bill since it initially issued a certificate of occupancy when the homes were first built.

Joe Grieco, a resident of Ramapo Avenue and a recipient of one of the orders, said some members of the community joined together and hired a licensed architecture firm  ThinkDesign Architecture  to conduct the inspections required by the DOB, though he hasnt yet utilized the company.

The firms costs, which total well over $3,000 per homeowner, according to estimates obtained by the Advance/SILive.com, is a financial burden that he said is difficult to stomach, especially during a pandemic.

In addition to the costs for the initial report to be generated, ThinkDesign has quoted the actual construction in some of the homes to total in the realm of $8,500.

Were living on paycheck to paycheck. Why doesnt the buildings department pay for this because they wrote off on it?, Grieco said, referring to the DOB issuing a certificate of occupancy when the homes were first built.

Hany Yacoub, 51, another homeowner on Ramapo Avenue, called the situation frustrating and said the city is conveniently washing its hands from the responsibility and placing it on the current owners of the homes.

It really is not just a health issue, its also an economic issue, said Yacoub, saying that coming up with thousands of dollars in the middle of a pandemic is a difficult proposition.

It seems very unfair and also unethical that the city is expecting the homeowners to be responsible for such repairs when these houses were built 30 years ago and were also issued a C of O by the DOB, said Salina, a Ramapo Avenue homeowner who received a DOB order and wished to have her last name omitted.

In light of the financial costs, which include processing fees, Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) wrote a letter to DOB Borough Commissioner Ira Gluckman asking for filing fees for affected homes to be waived, in order to help with large cost associated with these repairs.

The letter, also signed by Assemblyman Mike Reilly (R-South Shore), Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island), state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) and Community Board 3 District Manager Charlene Wagner, said that ThinkDesigns investigation of some of the properties found that the party walls in the buildings in question were built properly, and the proper fire division exists  contrary to the homes involved in the fire, though additional fire stopping is required in the roofs of the homes.

ORIGINAL PLANS

According to Rudansky, the original approved plans for the homes issued Commissioners Orders  including those involved in the fire  showed proper fire separation and fire stopping would be installed throughout the buildings; however, it is likely that the homes were inspected after they were built during the 1980s  leaving the interior of the walls unable to be checked for the proper safety measures.

If the buildings were not properly built to plans, the owners may have to discuss their concerns with the developer and architects, Rudansky said.

The general contracting company who built the homes, Forrestal Homes, Inc., no longer appears to be in existence.

Peter F. Oddo Jr.  the registered architect for the buildings, according to the DOB, and whose business previously resided at 3309 Richmond Ave., is listed as deceased in public records.

Richard Corash, of Corash and Hollender, and a lawyer who specializes in real estate law, business agreements, and resolution of complex estate and probate disputes, said the responsibility for correction of the homeowners concern would depend on who initially certified the homes plans and whether the home was built in accord to the approved plans.

If the plans for the home or the inspection certifications by the architect did not comply with the building code, then the responsibility would fall on both the builder and the architect, Corash said. However, if the Department of Buildings incorrectly inspected the homes and certified that the residents had adequate fire stopping walls in accord with the code, then the Department of Buildings would also share the responsibility.

Even in the case of the contracting company not currently being in existence, legal action might still be pursued against the owner of the company who signed or benefited from the application on the owners behalf, he said.

Work was being completed on the Rensselaer Avenue homes. (Staten Island Advance/Joseph Ostapuk)

DOB: INSPECTION DEADLINE FLEXIBLE

The Commissioners Orders indicates homeowners must complete the required inspections of their firewalls and submit assessment reports by July 15, which will show if the 68 properties issued the orders have adequate fire separation and fire stopping; however, Rudansky said the timeline for these initial reports are flexible.

Provided there is no immediately hazardous condition caused by the building, and the property owner is indicating that they intend to make the required repairs, we will allow them additional time beyond what is enumerated in the DOB violation, Rudansky said.

ThinkDesign, the company that has been retained by approximately two dozen of the 68 homes, along with four of the six Rensselaer Avenue homes, said that initial inspections of some of the residences show that the party walls were built properly and that the proper fire division exists, according to Dominick Ciccarelli, 40, an associate of the firm, and Frank Martarella, 48, the principal architect.

However, their investigation also determined that no fire division or fire stopping exists within the cavity of the mansard roofs in the front and rear of some of the homes  a feature that is required by New York law.

The fire division should have extended into the cavity of the mansard roof and an 18-inch return on the perimeter of the division should have also had the fire-resistant material, according to the firm.

The total scope of the work will become clear when the DOB has received all of the necessary reports investigating the firewall in the individual properties, said Rudansky, and added that the agency has been in contact with homeowners and elected officials to aid in the process and will expedite any associated reviews to help the Huguenot residents remediate the safety issues as quickly as possible.
2298504

Get tough on human traffickers

Sin Chew Daily



The fact that Malaysia remains on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year in the 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report by the US Department of State invariably deals a severe blow on the country's international image.

Put it this way, we have never been a star performer in any international human trafficking report. Prior to this, we were on several occasions put in the lowest Tier 3 alongside the likes of Sudan and Zimbabwe.

Several years ago, given the government's positive effort and hard work, Malaysia managed to ascend to the more respectable Tier 2, but the momentum was short-lived and we were subsequently downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List.

The government should adopt speedy and effective measures to tackle human trafficking crimes so that the country can deliver itself out of the unglamorous Tier 2 Watch List and improve its standing. If we take no actions or have not done enough, it is likely for the situation to deteriorate and our ranking to slip further.

To be fair, the government has never condoned human trafficking activities. As a matter of fact, the Trafficking in Persons Report has admitted that the Malaysian government has indeed put in significant efforts, including the appointment of two experts to extend help to the victims and save over a hundred of them.

The thing is, the government has not done enough, prompting the Report to conclude that the Malaysia government does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking.

Human trafficking activities have been rampant in the country. It is imperative for the government to demonstrate its resolvedness by putting in more resources to curtail human trafficking activities.

The recent Ops Covid-19 Benteng initiated by the police saw the detention of 371 skippers in four states within only four days. Additionally, the police arrested three immigration officials suspected of colluding with foreign human trafficking syndicates at Pasir Gudang ferry terminal in Johor a few days back. This shows how serious the situation is.

The severity of the human trafficking issue has highlighted the deficiency in our system as well as corruption on the part of government officials. The authorities must decisively overhaul the system and make unbending efforts to crush people smuggling syndicates.

In the meantime, there has to be improved transparency in the handling of admission of migrant workers into this country. Where law enforcement is concerned, not only should the culprits be apprehended, they must also be indicted so as to warn off potential offenders.

According to the Trafficking in Persons Report, "the government prosecuted and convicted fewer traffickers", and this is obviously not sufficient to effectively weed out human trafficking activities.

The bodies of suspected Rohingya and Bangladeshi people smuggling victims were discovered in Wang Kelian mass graves in Perlis in 2015. The revelation shocked the entire nation and the government subsequently set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the incident. Unfortunately no outcome from the investigation has been made public and no one has been prosecuted, raising public doubts over how determined the government was in battling the human trafficking vice.

The police have recently stepped up their effort to fight human trafficking syndicates, which is a good move. The government and enforcement authorities need to be firm and make sure the culprits will be sanctioned by the law.
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Having been pinged by the ASX for disclosing its growth strategy details to the media before telling the market, would-be pint-sized aviation challenger Regional Express has finally put out an official statement to investors about how it plans to finance taking on Virgin and Qantas on the lucrative, Sydney-Melbourne-Brisbane routes.

The most startling difference between Rexs explanation to The Australian Financial Review last month and Mondays version of the plan is cost.

Rex has big plans despite COVID risks. Credit:Grahame Hutchison

Last month Rex said it was looking for $200 million in funds to turn the regional operator into a bigger airline that serviced flights between the golden triangle routes between Sydney-Melbourne-Brisbane. It now needs only $30 million to achieve that aim.

Indeed Rex has so sharpened its pencil that it could have drawn fingertip blood. (Remember this is a company that announced in March that it had a six-month runway of reserves before financial collapse).
A surge in coronavirus cases both locally and abroad sent investors scurrying on Monday as fears of renewed economic restrictions knocked the Aussie sharemarket to a two-week low.

The ASX slumped 1.5 per cent on Monday, shedding $27 billion. Credit:STEVEN SAPHORE

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 fell 89.1 points, or 1.5 per cent, to 5815 as the second peak of COVID-19 kicked up a gear. About $27 billion was wiped from the bourse as 165 companies ended lower in a session of greatly subdued volume.

There were about 700 million shares traded, well under the two-week daily average of 1.05 billion.

The market fell by as much as 2.1 per cent at one stage after it was announced cases in Victoria had risen by 75, the fourth-highest total since the pandemic began.

In the US, new cases topped 40,000 for a third consecutive day as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide has passed 10 million. The death toll has passed 500,000.

Chief investment officer at Australian Eagle Asset Management, Sean Sequeira, said the second surge was a reminder the pandemic was going to be around for some time yet.

There was a lot of excitement, particularly in Australia, that the virus for the most part governments had gotten on top of it, Mr Sequeira said.

It was always expected that there would be more outbreaks, but the extent of those were unknown  So when things have grown a little bit faster than expected, that is a big concern for the market in the short term

The heavyweight financials fell a collective 1.6 per cent as NAB led the losses for the big four banks, down 1.6 per cent to $18.11. Macquarie Group fell 2.3 per cent to $116.43.

CSL dropped 1.1 per cent to weight health stocks down, though Fisher and Paykel rose 6.9 per cent as demand for its medical devices drove a 37 per cent boost in full-year profit.

Supermarket Coles ended 0.9 per cent higher at $16.94 but rival Woolworths ended flat at $36.37. Wesfarmers was also subdued at $43.86.

The influential materials sector slipped 1.4 per cent as the iron ore giants fell. Rio Tinto dropped 1.7 per cent to $97.27, BHP lost 1.9 per cent to $35.38, and Fortescue Metals sagged by 3 per cent to $13.75.

Goldminers did their best to add some lustre to the index as the price of the precious metal remained at near seven-year highs of $US1772 an ounce. Newcrest rose 0.8 per cent, Northern Star 0.7 per cent, and Evolution closed 4.1 per cent higher

Energy stocks slumped by a collective 2.8 per cent as demand concerns whacked oil prices, while a 5.1 per cent decline for toll giant Transurban weighed heavily on industrials.

National carrier Qantas lost another 5 per cent to $3.62 while travel firms Flight Centre, Corporate Travel, and Webjet each lost between 3.6 per cent and 5.3 per cent.

The property sector ended 2.9 per cent lower as a number of firms went ex-dividend.

Jefferey Halley, Asia-Pacific senior analyst for ONADA, said Mondays losses may have been limited somewhat by a rebound in Chinese data at the weekend.

Mr Halley said Chinese industrial profits in May rose by 6 per cent to continue a trend of improvements.

(This) lend(s) hope to markets that China is recovering quickly, even as spikes in COVID-19 outbreaks in the United States raise fears its recovery could be derailed, he said.

US futures are pointing to a subdued session on Wall Street tonight.
Play Travel is hoping to replicate the success of its backer Afterpay in enticing Millennial consumers to get through the coronavirus-induced squeeze on the travel sector, with the start-up's founder Andrew Paykel saying the buy now, pay later model works just as well for paying for a holiday as it does for clothes.

Mr Paykel launched Play, initially called LayAway Travel, in 2015 after almost 20 years working in his family business Fisher & Paykel which was sold to Chinese appliance manufacturer Haier. The online travel agency lets customers book holiday packages, including flights and accommodation, and pay for them in weekly instalments over three to 12 months.

Andrew Paykel started travel start-up Play Travel in 2015.

Having started off "on the smell of an oily rag", according to Mr Paykel, the business has managed to attract the attention of Afterpay and AP Ventures, the Sydney-based investment vehicle 44 per cent owned by the buy now, pay later behemoth, which last year pumped $15 million into Play.

While Mr Paykel had no prior experience in the travel industry, he saw a gap in the market for a product inspired by the layby offered at Fisher & Paykel and the success of Afterpay in the overall payments market.
A bottle of Old Sam Demerara rum is seen in Halifax on Friday, June 19, 2020. The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corp. says it will change the logo but keep the name of a locally bottled rum brand that appears to depict a laughing Black man. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Sydney Theatre Company executive director Patrick McIntyre is "cautiously optimistic" the theatre will reopen in September despite significant cash flow issues and fresh challenges with coronavirus cases in Australia.

Mr McIntyre's comments come as auditors tagged the STC's latest financial report with a warning casting "significant doubt" over its ability to stay afloat.

Helen Thomson and Glenn Hazeldine in STCs No Pay? No Way! - the last show presented before the COVID-19 shutdown. Credit:Prudence Upton

Like every other performing arts company, STC is reeling after being forced in March to close its doors amid the COVID-19 crisis. But it was already facing financial stress with the closure for refurbishment of its Walsh Bay theatres at the beginning of 2019.

The double whammy has left Sydney's premier theatre company in the most precarious situation it has faced in its more than 40-year history.
The coronavirus-related drop in greenhouse gas emissions during the March quarter will not be enough to set the nation on a trajectory it needs to meet Paris reductions commitments.

During the year to the end of March, emissions fell by around 1.2 percent while emissions during the March quarter were about 3 per cent less than those of the previous quarter.

If this reduction continued, Australia would not hit its 2030 targets until 2035 and would overshoot them by a cumulative 628 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, according to an analysis by Ndevr Environmental , an environmental auditing company with a track record of accurately estimating the nation's emissions.

Grounded aeroplanes in the desert near Alice Springs. Credit:Getty

Under the Paris Agreement, Australia has committed to reducing emissions by 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and to pursue emissions reductions consistent with the international effort required to limit global warming to below two degrees and as close as possible to 1.5 degrees.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd said that the Commonwealth had encouraged Victoria to seek more support, citing more than 200 members of the Defence Force, assisting on the ground at this time, with more available if needed.

Overnight, Victoria requested an additional 800 people to provide support including 200 clinical staff to carry out testing, 100 people to assist with the on-ground coordination of community engagement and doorknocking, and 500 to assist with further testing, contact tracing and public engagement.

Professor Kidd said the government was very concerned about the rate of asymptomatic cases. Many people are not asymptomatic but have very mild symptoms, which may indicate COVID-19, and this is why it is absolutely essential that anyone who has even the mildest symptoms of fever, cold, flu-like symptoms arrange to get tested and especially for those in the areas of community transmission in Melbourne, stay-at-home waiting for the results, he said.

He said that anyone who was offered a test should accept it. "My request to all the people in Victoria is if someone approaches you and asks you to please do a test, please comply. These tests are there to protect us all.

''They'll be protecting you and your health and wellbeing. They'll be protecting your family, they'll be protecting the wider community. Testing is a fundamental tenet of the work we're doing."
The allegations against former High Court judge Dyson Heydon have shocked many. But not everyone.

Some reporting says his behaviour, whatever it was, was an open secret in not just the court but the profession more widely. Only they know if that's true.

Former High Court judge Dyson Heydon, Former chief justice of the High Court Murray Gleeson and Former High Court judge Michael McHugh. Credit:

In other reports, set up as revelations in themselves, we are told two judges knew. We'd be surprised if it were only two, but Justice Michael McHugh is reported as having been told that Mr Heydon tried to kiss an associate and alerting the then chief justice, Murray Gleeson  apparently remarking later that he, Mr Gleeson, would have to deal with it.

Having met Mr McHugh, that response doesn't sit well with my perception of him as a really decent man. "It's someone else's problem" is less than I would have expected. But it may be less than what he actually did so I just can't say. We haven't heard anything of what Mr Gleeson may have done, assuming he was in fact told. Mr Gleeson reportedly told The Australian Financial Review that "the accounts relayed to you are false". It would have been a very sticky situation for any judge who was aware.
A senior NSW public health official conceded that passengers on the ill-fated Ruby Princess should not have been allowed to leave the ship before the COVID-19 test results came back, an inquiry has heard.

Doctor Christine Selvey, acting director of communicable diseases with NSW Health, gave evidence at the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Ruby Princess on Monday. She accepted that "with hindsight" the passengers should have stayed on the ship until the test results were obtained.

The special commission inquiry into the Ruby Princess continues. Credit:Janie Barrett

The Ruby Princess, which docked in Sydney on March 19, has been linked to more than 650 cases of COVID-19 and 21 deaths.

Dr Selvey also conceded that the "outcomes would have been improved" had passengers been quarantined on March 19 but that "at that time it wasn't considered".
Almost 40 people have been arrested in a third weekend of large protests against the detention of refugees in a Brisbane hotel.

Several hundred protesters braved cool and drizzly conditions to again march on the Kangaroo Point Central hotel, demanding the release of the about 120 men held inside.

It comes after police took court action ahead of last weekend's rally to stop the protest blocking the busy Main Street for a second weekend in a row.

In a repeat of that event, the largely face-mask-clad group of protesters first gathered in a park behind The Pineapple Hotel near the Gabba about 2pm.
Sydney scientists hope a common blood pressure medication could be used to treat COVID-19 as researchers turn to cheap and existing drugs to ease patient suffering.

A new trial will investigate whether the class of drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers can stop the coronavirus from infiltrating the body's cells.

Associate Professor Meg Jardine and Professor Carol Pollock at the Kolling Institute of Medical Research. Credit:Louise Kennerley

"Thinking laterally is really what is required now," said Professor Carol Pollock, who is leading the study at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.

"With new drugs, you can't get around the fact that they need to go through preclinical testing, clinical testing."
One of the most damning revelations during the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was how leaders within those institutions were willing to cover up the appalling actions of individuals. Turning a blind eye, not believing victims' stories, shutting down whistleblowers  time after time, leaders put protecting the reputation of an institution above the safety of the children in their care and kept dark secrets behind closed doors.

So it should be applauded when leaders of powerful institutions with esteemed reputations are willing to confront head-on the shocking failures of the past. One such leader is Major-General Adam Findlay, the senior army officer in charge of Australia's special forces.

In one of the biggest scandals to face the Australian military in years, it was alleged that some elite soldiers within the SAS committed war crimes in Afghanistan. Senior NSW judge Paul Brereton has overseen a long-running investigation into the claims. For a unit that had a reputation for attracting the army's best of the best, it was a stunning and damning revelation.

In an extraordinary confidential briefing to dozens of troops at SAS headquarters, General Findlay has admitted that some elite soldiers did commit war crimes in Afghanistan. And he did not stop there. There are guys who criminally did something. But can you tell me, why was that? General Findlay asked the soldiers at the briefing. He pointed the finger at one common cause ... poor leadership. In fact, it is poor moral leadership.

He went on to say that people within the SAS who "had nothing to do with this" now had to "serve to make this place better and pay for the sins" of others. We have to continue the cultural and governance change. For a lot of reasons but because it is right.
The Idahos company, Maersk Line, Limited, notified the Coast Guard and worked with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ship was sanitized and a new crew was brought out on Saturday. The next day, the Idaho sailed into Virginia International Gateway to complete cargo operations then sailed back out of Hampton Roads on Sunday evening, Patrick McCaffery, general counsel for Maersk Line, Limited, wrote in an email to The Virginian-Pilot.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The miraculous discovery of Jane Rimmers body on August 3, 1996, was the breakthrough Perth homicide detectives had been waiting for. They finally had a body, and with it a major lead. The 23-year-old childcare worker had vanished off the streets of Claremont 55 days earlier after a night out with friends at The Continental Hotel. Jane Rimmer. She was the second suspected victim of the Claremont serial killer and her crime scene offered the first clues as to what had happened to the missing women. A family made the grim discovery after a rooster ran out in front of their car while they were driving down a semi-rural road in Wellard, 40 kilometres south of Perth. "The kids all looked at me and I said, 'Oh, go for it', so they all got out and they all chased the chook, mother Tammy Van Raalte-Evans said. While the children played, Ms Van Raalte-Evans walked down a bush path, drawn to the biggest death lily shed ever seen.

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As she admired the lily in what she described as a bush cocoon, she saw a persons feet and followed the body up to find Ms Rimmer lying naked, concealed under branches. Dozens of police descended on the scene within hours. The cross erected at the location where Jane Rimmer's body was found in Wellard in 1996. Credit:Nine News Perth Fronting the media the next day, Detective Inspector Paul Ferguson said the area was being searched for any clues to the identity of the killer. By finding Janes body what that has done is given us a second phase to move into and that is that we now have a crime scene and a body to work from, he said. One of those clues was a Telecom pocket knife found on Woolcoot Road, less than a kilometre from the crime scene. After Ms Rimmers death, WA Police launched Macro Taskforce to investigate her disappearance and that of Sarah Spiers. Their symbol became the death lily, also known as the arum lily.

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Two husband and wife couples who lived in Wellard told detectives they heard a woman screaming and shouting on the night Ms Rimmer was murdered. Kenneth Mitchell said he heard a woman screaming leave me alone, let me out of here, before noticing a car drive away in the direction of the site where Ms Rimmers body was found. Another couple closer to her final resting place recalled blood-curdling cries that stopped mid-scream. It would take 20 years for detectives to unravel the mystery and charge Bradley Edwards with Ms Rimmers murder. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video During the 51-year-olds Supreme Court trial, prosecutors claimed residents had heard the moment he cut his victims throat. Defensive wounds on Ms Rimmers forearm showed she had tried to fight back. Fibres recovered from Ms Rimmers hair suggested she had been bundled into the rear cargo area of a 1996 Holden Commodore VS Series 1 station wagon, the same type of vehicle the accused drove at the time.

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Other fibres recovered also indicated she had had contact with a seat in the same vehicle. However, a single blue polyester fibre would prove the most important in her case. The rare fibre had also been found on the shorts of a teenager who was abducted from Claremont in 1995 and raped in a nearby cemetery. A similar fibre would eventually also be recovered from the body of Ciara Glennon, the Claremont serial killers suspected third victim. Following Mr Edwards arrest in 2016, the fibres were linked to custom-made Telstra trousers worn by technicians in the mid-90s. Mr Edwards was a Telstra technician and uniform records showed he owned pairs of the trousers. Bradley Edwards in the mid-1990s.

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Mr Edwards eventually confessed to the cemetery rape on the eve of his triple murder trial but denies murdering the three women. His lawyer Paul Yovich said Ms Rimmer and Ms Glennons crime scenes mirrored one another and it could be reasonably assumed the same person murdered them  but he said that man was not Mr Edwards. Mr Yovich said the state had managed to prove only that Mr Edwards fit into a category of people who could have committed the crimes based on the type of vehicle he drove, his employment, and his history of sexually motivated attacks on strangers. Although he is unquestionably in the class of persons [who could be involved in the crimes] the size of that class and the uncertainty of the evidence would be unsafe to draw the conclusion the accuseds clothing or vehicle is the source [of the fibres], he said. The single piece of evidence linking Mr Edwards directly to the killings is his DNA profile, which was recovered from underneath Ms Glennons fingernails. Mr Yovich said the DNA contaminated Ms Glennons exhibit in a lab. Mr Edwards did not provide an alibi for the evening Ms Rimmer was killed, as he was unable to recall his movements 20 years on.

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The West Australian newspaper is under fire for publishing a cartoon which refers to an Indigenous character using an offensive racial slur.

The Modesty Blaise comic strip depicts characters discussing an Indigenous tracker who is pursuing them in a protracted story line.

The Modesty Blaise cartoon strip that was printed in The West Australian on Monday, June 29, 2020. Credit:The West Australian

One character in the comic strip said they were being pursued by "four men, all armed ... and an Aborigine", a word which is considered politically incorrect and offensive by some Indigenous people.

"It's no use hiding", another character says before using an even more offensive word referring to Indigenous people. "[He] will smell us out quicker than a bloodhound," the text continues.
Australia will recruit 500 cyber spies and build on its offensive capabilities to take the online fight overseas in a $1.3 billion funding boost, amid rising tensions with China and a growing wave of attacks against the nation's critical infrastructure.

The Australian Signals Directorate will also share intelligence with government departments and companies in near real time as part of the biggest ever cash injection to Australia's cyber defences.

State actors are trying to hack computer networks.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will on Tuesday announce the ASD will be given more than $1 billion over the next decade to disrupt foreign cyber criminals and better identify malicious hacks.

The funding announcement comes amid an escalating wave of cyber attacks against Australian governments and businesses, including critical infrastructure such as hospitals and state-owned utilities.
More than 3.5 million Australians have cut spending or reduced their home loans to survive the coronavirus recession with warnings the economy could take an even larger hit unless immigration levels are boosted.

A special survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics pointed to a lift in employment across the country, however, it revealed the pandemic's broader economic impact will last longer than feared with many households unwilling to return to their pre-virus spending ways.

The Morrison government is considering a review of its key $70 billion JobKeeper wage subsidy program plus its $550-a-fortnight coronavirus supplement for people on welfare payments including JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and Parenting Payment.

The ABS found at least 8 per cent of the population is receiving the supplement and another 11 per cent believes they are being paid under the JobKeeper program. Both are due to finish at the end of September, prompting fears of a massive hit to the economy.
The Premier's point-blank refusal to respond to me or anyone protesting the Powerhouse being ripped from its roots in Ultimo is a sad reminder of how little our voices count. Unions of old may have been disruptive, but oh for another Jack Mundey. - Peter Farmer, Northbridge Your correspondent suggests, quite rightly, that our state government should examine its conscience over the Powerhouse debacle (Letters, June 29). Sadly, it seems the NSW LNP's conscience has already been boxed up and sent to Parramatta  in a very small box. - Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn The more we read about this move, the more it is obvious that it is just about real estate and what money can be made from it. Not only will we be losing such a wonderful museum, but the character of this part of the city, once home to many factories that told the story of our once-vibrant manufacturing industry, will be diminished even more. - Mary Lawson, Marrickville If they haven't already, I hope that letter writers will send equally passionate letters to the Powerhouse Environmental Impact Statement. Public submissions end on July 7 so let your disgust be heard before it is too late. - Patricia Dunn, Gerringong It's not too late, Premier, to reverse the tragic decision to close the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences at Ultimo (the Powerhouse Museum). The Royal Society of NSW, Australia's oldest scientific and cultural organisation, deplored the original decision to move the museum to Parramatta, believing that the museum in its present location is a priceless resource for the city and the state, and that Parramatta deserves a new cultural institution. Please halt this tragic destruction of a cultural icon before it is too late. - Professor Ian H Sloan, President, Royal Society of NSW

No easy exit strategy from pandemic I have been considering the outcome if no vaccine for COVID-19 is found ("Crystal ball into a murky future", June 29). We cannot keep our country locked down forever. Effective treatments may be one solution but if these are not found, then the ultimate result must be herd immunity, resulting in many more deaths. Perhaps the economies of those countries experiencing the most infections now will reach herd immunity earlier than Australia, and their economies may recover faster than ours. - Gillian Baldwin, Windradyne Despite unarguable proof from Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia that border closures are effective barriers to COVID-19 transmission, the NSW government persists with its policy of denial ("No need to shut border despite new outbreak", June 29). Has it learned nothing since the Ruby Princess disaster? Finger-wagging will do nothing. Border closure is a far safer alternative. - Garth Clarke, North Sydney Please, Gladys, close the Victoria/NSW border before it's too late. - Stephen Wallace, Glebe Rod Anderson (Letters, June 29) complains his Sydney-Melbourne flight was full but says he had a "good reason" to be on it. No doubt everyone else on it thought they did, too. - Eva Elbourne, Pennant Hills

Defence leadership vacuum The irony of it all ("General speaks out over atrocities", June 29). Major-General Adam Findlay attributes war crimes in Afghanistan to "poor moral leadership" and yet David McBride, one of the soldiers who relentlessly pursued the truth despite being ignored at every official level, continues to be threatened with life imprisonment for exposing these most abhorrent crimes ("Corruption investigations hit record high", October 23, 2019). True moral leadership. - Peter Davies, Clothiers Creek We are running out of institutions yet to heap discredit on themselves. Perhaps Aunty is the only institution we can trust. The ABC has brought many failures to light, yes that's the same ABC that the Liberals seem ideologically bent on defunding. - Peter Spencer, Glebe This old Digger says 'no' "It's important to commemorate them but I wonder what the old Diggers would think," writes Paul Doyle (Letters, June 29). As an old Digger and a current 'client' of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (the Department from Hell, in my lexicon), I think this is an unconscionable misdirection of scarce funds to expand and disturb an excellent Australian War Memorial. I am disgusted that this profligate waste goes on, while fellow old Diggers, male and female, are cheated of their rights, and treated abominably. - Ian Usman Lewis, Kentucky

Kiefel beacon of hope The High Court of Australia was the last bulwark of reliability and decency still standing with honour in this country. Some churches, schools, police, politicians, and so on, have all shown their weaknesses about the sexual abuse of children and women. I support Amanda Vanstone's statements about fellow judges of Dyson Heydon ("Who knew what over Heydon claims?", June 29) who were aware of his alleged behaviour. It is yet to be seen whether the law fraternity pursues the accusations against Heydon with the same fervour as it pursued the other institutions. A chink of hope comes from Chief Justice Susan Kiefel. We'll wait and see if her moral strength trickles down to fellow and lower court judges and the Attorney-General. - John Colussi, Wahroonga Let Heydon face his own royal commission. - Peng Ee, Castle Cove Private prejudice I found the suspension of Catherine Blundy from her Christian school yet another reminder of how so often private schools reject students who are seen as "hard work" ("Expelled at seven, Cate began fight for support", June 29). Having worked for NSW Department of Education for 39 years I witnessed students who had started in a private school and ended up in their local public school. We made the adjustments, we worked with the families and we supported the teachers we had to make changes to our own meagre budgets to support these kids and it was often very difficult work. Private schools take public money and yet are free to reject students when they don't fit in and they don't even need to publicly report on suspensions. Fortunately, we have public schools to take all comers. It's a shame we don't fund them like private schools. - Cynthia Pitt, North Narrabeen

Vaping and teens Dr Alex Wodak ("Don't outlaw vaping, help smokers", June 26) would be wise to talk to school educators about the reality of nicotine vaping rather than rolling out again his flawed methadone analogy. At present, 15-year-old high school students in Sydney have no difficulty in buying highly addictive nicotine e-cigarettes and liquids over the internet and on-selling if they get enough. Australian Border Force staff are in no position to determine what package is destined for a smoker trying to quit and what will poison a developing brain with nicotine and create a lifelong addiction sated mainly with cigarettes. Adults seeking to use e-cigarettes short term to quit smoking based on a medical consultation/prescription are well provided for in the proposed regulations. With his experience of the similar model used for access to methadone, it is a surprise that Wodak finds this change so radical and difficult to accept. - Matthew Peters, Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Macquarie University Building watchdog is blind Matt O'Sullivan's article on the expense of re-cladding many buildings highlights a problem that can have one just solution: the cost of the necessary work must be met by the NSW government ('Thousands caught in inner city cladding crisis", June 29). Over the past 20 years, successive governments of both political persuasions have privatised the certification regime, thereby failing to ensure that developers follow up responsibilities while reaping the stamp duty rewards arising from the plethora of shabby residential shanty-towns pushed up by money-hungry, fly-by-night phoenix charlatans. The outcome was totally predictable. When I practised as a solicitor, I always warned my clients about the pitfalls of buying off the plan. This is the end result of poor government and of conflicts of interest being allowed to thrive. - James Gralton, Garran, ACT

Dogs' best friend Many human and dog behaviours indicate a shared DNA (Letters, June 29). Both species contain those who like to chase a ball, have a pat on the head, beg, bite and bark at strangers, sniff out friends and lick the boots of those at the table who are dropping them crumbs. And both species have those who become somewhat bored and angry if caged up for too long who tend to go a little crazy when released. - Joy Cooksey, Harrington Trump Stoned The Rolling Stones want to stop Donald Trump using You Can't Always Get What You Want as his post-rally walk-off song ("Stones lawsuit to stop Trump", June 29). They could maybe let him use Just Your Fool (from Blue and Lonesome), or Turd On The Run (from Exile on Main Street). Alternatively, perhaps Trump could see if Carly Simon would let him use You're So Vain. - Paul Attfield, Mount Colah Sybil ceremony
Melbourne's ever-growing number of coronavirus cases has forced the FFA to revamp the restart of the A-League, scheduling most of the matches in a NSW hub.

The escalation in Victoria means A-League chiefs have been forced to make contingency plans, with only two matches in mid-July taking place in Melbourne.

The matches between Melbourne Victory and Western United, due on July 16, and United and Melbourne City, set for July 20, will go ahead as planned.

The rest will take place in a NSW hub.
Grieving Indonesians are snatching back the bodies of family members who died of coronavirus, so the deceased can be buried in line with religious practice - despite the dead still potentially being contagious.

Indonesia has now recorded 54,010 coronavirus cases and 2754 deaths, though experts believe that because of low testing rates the true number of infections is substantially higher.

Workers in protective suits carry the coffin of a suspected victim of COVID-19 during a burial at Pondok Ranggon cemetery in Jakarta, Indonesia, earlier this month. Credit:AP

The national government has issued strict rules, endorsed by the Ulema Council, for the burial of people suspected or confirmed to have died from coronavirus. The rules require health workers to take charge of the bodies, which are still washed and bathed, but then wrapped in plastic or placed in a body bag, to prevent the spread of the infection.

A fatwa issued by the Ulema Council, the country's top clerical body, states that many typical burial rites can be skipped if necessary because of the pandemic.
The Chinese government is taking draconian measures to slash birth rates among Uighurs and other minorities as part of a sweeping campaign to curb its Muslim population, even as it encourages some of the country's Han majority to have more children.

While individual women have spoken out before about forced birth control, the practice is far more widespread and systematic than previously known, according to an AP investigation based on government statistics, state documents and interviews with 30 ex-detainees, family members and a former detention camp instructor. The campaign over the past four years in the far west region of Xinjiang is leading to what some experts are calling a form of "demographic genocide."

Alif Baqytali hugs his mother, Gulnar Omirzakh, at their new home in Shonzhy, Kazakhstan. Omirzakh, a Chinese-born ethnic Kazakh, says she was forced to get an intrauterine contraceptive device, and that authorities in China threatened to detain her if she didn't pay a large fine for giving birth to Alif, her third child. Credit:AP

The state regularly subjects minority women to pregnancy checks, and forces intrauterine devices, sterilisation and even abortion on hundreds of thousands, the interviews and data show. Even while the use of IUDs and sterilisation has fallen nationwide, it is rising sharply in Xinjiang.

The population control measures are backed by mass detention both as a threat and as a punishment for failure to comply. Having too many children is a major reason people are sent to detention camps, the AP found, with the parents of three or more ripped away from their families unless they can pay huge fines.
For years, the Indian government failed to allocate more funding to train medical workers to fill the staffing gap or provide existing healthcare professionals with the knowledge to provide advanced care. Front-line healthcare workers in India have been dubbed 'Corona Warriors'. Credit:Bloomberg "Healthcare workers have been referred to as corona warriors," said Dr Saurabh Sachar at Safdarjung Hospital. "It can take 10 years and discipline to reach that stage - to develop a person who can work well independently in an intensive care unit, can work in a team, and decide what's best for the patient." India's public healthcare system is one of the most underfunded and outdated in the world, with less than 12 ($22) spent per person annually. Poor working conditions and stagnant wages have also prompted 100,000 doctors to emigrate to countries such as Australia and Britain. At one hospital Pamila and her mother visited, there were not enough staff to lift Gurubari on to a stretcher and she had to do it herself.

Eventually, she was admitted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital for treatment after Pamila's local MP intervened following a plea on social media. Loading The spread of the virus is not predicted to peak until November. New Delhi has the largest number of infections out of any city in India, at 73,780, but the city's deputy chief minister has predicted by the end of July, it will see 550,000 infections and require 80,000 more hospital beds. "Our current healthcare workforce is under a lot of pressure at this moment, not only due to the duration of the epidemic until now, but also to cope with the spurt in cases. We wonder how the government will manage to get enough healthcare workers to support the expansion of hospitalisation facilities," says Malini Aisola, co-convenor of the All India Drug Action Network.

The shortage of healthcare workers is being exacerbated by the lack of adequate personal protective equipment, leading to doctors contracting COVID-19 from patients. Healthcare professionals in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata said that while supplies had increased since the lifting of a nationwide lockdown on June 1, there were still shortages and they were often having to re-use torn PPE. "We understand these are difficult times, and it would be extremely wrong to think of our selfish interest now," said one Delhi nurse, on condition of anonymity. "We are not asking for money or anything like that. After all that we try to do, we just want to be treated like humans." We just want to be treated like humans. A nurse on the coronavirus frontline in Delhi Another nurse in New Delhi said more than 300 workers in his hospital had tested positive for COVID-19, and blamed a lack of protection. A government doctor in a hospital in the city of Surat said that shortages meant each employee was having to care for 30 coronavirus patients.

Private hospitals are not faring well either, with three facilities in Mumbai closing after a large number of staff tested positive for coronavirus. Civil defence members prepare beds in a makeshift quarantine ward in the OraBella Banquet hall in New Delhi. Credit:Bloomberg Healthcare professionals are facing pressure to stop coming to work. "Most of the staff left the hospital when it was converted to treat COVID-19 patients, because their families said they shouldn't be around the sick," said Dr Pankaj Solanki, the owner of the Dharamveer Solanki Multispeciality Hospital in New Delhi, which specifically treats coronavirus patients. "We have had to hire new nursing, laundry and security staff four or five times over the last 20 days because everyone is so scared, they refuse to come."

Dr Solanki fears he will have to shut his hospital and many others will follow suit over the next few months, due to staff shortages. Reports of patients being refused hospital admission has prompted the Indian government to step in and take control away from the Delhi government. It first proposed the institutional quarantining of every positive case, but this was overturned after authorities in Delhi said they had nowhere near enough healthcare staff. To cope with the predicted 80,000 extra beds it will need by July 31, the Delhi government is converting 500 train carriages and setting up a 10,000-bed COVID care facility in an ashram in the centre of the city. Twenty-five luxury hotels will house patients, with unqualified staff expected to deliver medicines instead of room service.

The coming months will be "mayhem", predicts Dr Yogesh Jain, a public health expert. The German embassy in New Delhi warned its citizens they faced "little or no chance" of any hospital admission. The onset of India's monsoon season, and with it a surge in diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, will put further pressures on hospitals. A COVID-19 screening facility inside a government-run hospital in Jammu, India. Credit:AP There is, however, good news for Minz, who has been moved from an ICU to a general ward after 17 days.
Woodard said in the last month, marches and demonstrations have become more specific, calling for actions he believes can challenge systemic racism, such as one focused on supporting people with special needs and an upcoming sit-in to combat secrecy regarding records on police uses of force. He felt the weeks of demonstrations since the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes, have encouraged more people to become active and stand up for what they believe.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES

Karachi: Militants attacked the stock exchange in the Pakistani city of Karachi on Monday, killing at least three people - two guards and a policeman, according to police. Special police forces deployed to the scene of the attack and in a swift operation secured the building, killing all four gunmen.

There were no reports of any wounded among the brokers and employees inside the exchange and a separatist militant group from a neighbouring province later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Security personnel surround the stock exchange after an attack in Karachi, Pakistan. Credit:AP

The attackers were armed with grenades and automatic rifles, police said. They launched the attack by opening fire at the entrance gate of the Pakistan Stock Exchange in the southern port city, the country's financial centre.
Paris: A court has found French former prime minister Francois Fillon guilty of having used public funds to pay his wife and children for work they never performed.

His wife, Penelope Fillon, has also been found guilty as an accomplice. The court has not detailed the sentence yet.

The work had brought the family more than 1 million euros ($1.64 million) since 1998.

Francois Fillon, right, and his wife Penelope wear protective masks as they arrive at Paris courthouse on Monday. Credit:AP

The scandal broke in the French media just three months before the country's 2017 presidential election, as Fillon was the front-runner in the race. It cost him his reputation. Fillon sank to third place in the election, which was won by Emmanuel Macron.
London: British firms are being warned to review their China supply chains amid concerns of "demographic genocide" against the Uighur minority after a report found women in Xinjiang province were forced to undergo abortions and sterilisations.

The warning from Nigel Adams, British junior foreign minister, came as MPs demanded an independent investigation into the report by the new global inter-parliamentary alliance on China.

In a rare display of cross-party unity in the British Parliament, 25 MPs from the three major parties: Conservative, Labour and the Scottish National Party demanded the UK government toughen its stance on China in light of the findings.

A Uighur woman and children sit on a motor-tricycle after school at the Unity New Village in Hotan, in western China's Xinjiang region. Birth rates in the mostly Uighur regions of Hotan and Kashgar have plunged since 2015. Credit:AP

The report - Sterilisations, Forced Abortions, and Mandatory Birth Control - The CCPs Campaign to Suppress Uyghur Birthrates in Xinjiang, by Tibet and Xinjiang expert Professor Adrian Zenz - says population growth in the Xinjiang province fell by 84 per cent in the two most Uighur-populated districts between 2015 and 2018 and fell further in 2020.
The man accused of being the Golden State killer agreed to plead guilty in Sacramento, California, more than two years after he was arrested using an investigative technique that has fundamentally changed how some violent crimes are solved in the United States.

In front of victims and their families, Amy Holliday, the Sacramento County deputy district attorney, announced that Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., 74, had agreed to plead guilty to 13 counts of first-degree murder across California in the 1970s and '80s.

Joseph James DeAngelo, centre, during his trial before pleading guilty to being the Golden State killer. Credit:AP

In addition, she said, he also agreed to admit guilt in a multitude of crimes for which he was not charged, some of which passed the statute of limitations.

Throughout the hearing, prosecutors from counties across California approached the podium and described a series of murders, rapes and burglaries in detail. Michael G. Bowman, a judge for the Sacramento County Superior Court, then asked DeAngelo for his plea.
The Vice-President was appearing with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who acknowledged that there has been a rapid rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the state in recent weeks after Abbott begin allowing businesses to start reopening in early May. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "COVID-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past few weeks," said Abbott, who on Friday again shut down bars and limited restaurant dining, a day after Texas reported a record high confirmed positive tests of 5996. Abbott has also banned elective surgeries in the state's largest counties. Police officers stop motorcyclists from entering a restricted area that is sealed off to control the spread of the coronavirus in Lahore, Pakistan. Credit:AP

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, meanwhile, defended the fact that President Donald Trump has rarely worn a mask in public, saying he doesn't have to follow his own administration's guidance because as a leader of the free world he's tested regularly and is in "very different circumstances than the rest of us." Addressing spikes in reported coronavirus cases in some states, Azar said on NBC's Meet the Press that people "have to take ownership" of their own behaviours by social distancing and wearing masks if possible. California Governor Gavin Newsom rolled back reopenings of bars in seven counties, including Los Angeles. He ordered them to close immediately and urged eight other counties to issue local health orders mandating the same. More Florida beaches will be closing again to avoid further spread of the new coronavirus as officials try to tamp down on large gatherings amid a spike in COVID-19 cases. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said interactions among young people are driving the surge.

"Caution was thrown to the wind and so we are where we are," DeSantis said. Africa's confirmed cases of COVID-19 continued to climb to a new high of more than 371,000, including 9484 deaths, according to figures released Sunday by the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. South Africa's Health Minister warned that the country's current surge of cases is expected to rapidly increase in the coming weeks and push hospitals to the limit. Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said the current rise in infections has come from people who "moved back into the workplace". China on Monday reported a further decline in new confirmed cases, with a total of just 12, including seven cases of domestic transmission in Beijing, where nearly 8.3 million people have now undergone testing in recent weeks. No new deaths were reported Monday, leaving the total at 4634 among 83,512 confirmed cases of COVID-19. New clusters of cases at a Swiss nightclub and in the central English city of Leicester showed that the virus was still circulating widely in Europe, though not with the rapidly growing infection rate seen in parts of the US, Latin America and India.

Poland and France, meanwhile, attempted a step toward normalcy as they held elections that had been delayed by the virus. Wearing mandatory masks, social distancing in lines and carrying their own pens to sign voting registers, French voters cast ballots in a second round of municipal elections. Poles also wore masks and used hand sanitizer, and some in virus-hit areas were told to mail in their ballots. Loading "I didn't go and vote the first time around because I am elderly and I got scared," said Fanny Barouh as she voted in a Paris school. New York, once the nation's pandemic epicentre, is now "on the exact opposite end," Governor Andrew Cuomo said in an interview with Meet the Press.

The state reported five new virus deaths Saturday, its lowest reported daily death toll since March 15. During the state's peak pandemic in April, nearly 800 people were dying every day. New York still leads the nation in COVID-19 deaths with nearly 25,000. In the state of Washington, Governor Jay Inslee put a hold on plans to move counties to the fourth phase of his reopening plan as cases continue to increase. But in Hawaii, the city of Honolulu announced that campgrounds will reopen for the first time in three months with limited permits to ensure social distancing. Loading Britain's government, meanwhile, is considering whether a local lockdown is needed for the central English city of Leicester amid reports about a spike in COVID-19 among its Asian community. It would be Britain's first local lockdown. "We have seen flare-ups across the country in recent weeks," Home Secretary Priti Patel told the BBC on Sunday.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in an urgent Central Committee meeting on, June 29, 2020.

The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday at 16.00 hrs. and will be held in a virtual setting. The Minister of General Affairs will be in attendance.

The agenda points are:

1.

2. Approval travel for the President of Parliament to attend the funeral on Curacao of the Member of Parliament and ex-Chairman

3. Mr. W. W. Millerson on July 4, 2020 (IS/990/2019-2020 dated June 25, 2020)

4.

2.

3. Discussion on the new entity that will oversee the allotment and disbursement of the third tranche and any further

4. liquidity support (IS/993/2019-2020 dated June 26, 2020)

5.

Due to measures taken to mitigate the coronavirus (COVID-19), the House of Parliament is only allowing persons with an appointment to enter the Parliament building.

The parliamentary session will be held virtually and will be carried out live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1 www.pearlfmradio.sx, via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and Parliaments Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten




Organizers start Islandpreneur Network based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Islandpreneur Live 2020 was a success. This 3-day virtual summit attracted 650 registrants from more than 35+ countries, of which the majority were Caribbean countries. Unexpected were those who attended the summit from India, Brazil, Morocco, and Austria. A world map highlighting where registrants came from and a listing of the countries were shared on the last day of the summit.

Hosted by Ife Badejo of Produce Wealth Revolution (PWR) Agency, this summit was designed to empower Caribbean entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital world and be more resilient. The organizing team included Dwayne Griffith, Chief Impact Officer of PWR Agency, Kerai Kreative Style who focused on strategic marketing and Optimize Curacao who designed the website and managed its search engine optimization (SEO). Shekina Dare from Central Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten, played an important role as well in the organization of the event, helping to secure speakers. During the event, the hybrid team expanded to include both in-person and remote volunteers. The local media company, Aicon Media, covered the entire three (3) days to capture photos and video of this unprecedented experience.

The summit was streamed live from the offices of TelEm Group, the official telecom partner for Islandpreneur Live 2020. There was stable internet over the course of the three days and no glitches caused by the internet. Many attendees gave the feedback that they were impressed that there was no faulty connectivity as that often happens even in bigger virtual productions. In addition to ensuring that the organizers were properly connected to the 25 speakers from around the world and hundreds of attendees, TelEm Group provided dedicated tech and marketing support through the event. This meant that minor challenges were swiftly addressed and that they covered behind scenes.

The virtual summit opened with a welcome word from Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunications of Sint Maarten, Honorable Ms. Ludmila de Weever, who holds degrees in economics and international relations. The Minister praised the organizers for hosting such an event to help inspire and create connections to facilitate entrepreneurship. Minister de Weever explained that entrepreneurship is the very backbone of our economy on Sint Maarten and emphasized that doing business digitally is a means to overcome the challenges related to size and to craft a more resilient and robust economy.

Though all sessions were greatly appreciated, some highlights of Islandpreneur Live 2020 were the masterclasses Islandpreneurs & Digital Payments and StartUp Finance and the roundtable discussion: Get Paid Online, which were all hosted by the Centrale Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten (CBCS). Glensher Maduro, Head of Digital Payments Department of CBCS shared the advancements that the CBCS has already taken to facilitate instant payments and the impact on that has on business growth whether it is online or in person. Following this masterclass on June 24, Natasha Chatlein, keynote of the day, helped to facilitate the round table discussion. One of the key takeaways of the round table which has panelists Renato Ignacio, software engineer, and founder Minubia.com and Luis Santine financial expert and founder of CXPay, is the importance of islandpreneurs using regional payment processors to influence the banks to fully embrace the new normal of doing business. Though bank representatives were not included in these discussions, it became clear that banks have a very strategic role to play in facilitating digital payments and may not be operating at the same speed of adaptation for a variety of reasons.

This virtual summit, unlike many others, had three (3) keynotes. Natasha Chatlein, based in Silicon Valley, shared the opportunities to ensure economic resilience and open other economic drivers by making a global tech hub in the region. Ms. Chatlein, through her business, Brain Coral Labs, is working on securing USD$50 million for smart investment in regional tech businesses and entrepreneurs. This amount is low compared to what is needed but it allows for a solid start. The investment will be attached to knowledge sharing to empower island techpreneurs.

Leslie Samuel, originally from St. Maarten and an internationally acclaimed social media and online business expert, described his story from securing a professorship at a reputable university without having the necessary PhD requirement based on his early start in doing youtube videos to teach his students. Leslies shared videos and content that he never shared before in the decade that he has been successfully training thousands to thrive online. He provided a 5-step process on how to monetize ideas online and best practices of doing including some tools he uses. Leslie ended by making a bold statement, It is 2020, excuses are invalid, admonishing islandpreneurs to be active lifelong learners and earners.

The final keynote was given by Jeff Hoffman, close contact of Dwayne Griffith of the PWR Agency, shared the importance of islandpreneurs to not focus on how to get the world to the islands but how to take the islands to world. Jeff used examples related to tourism activities, such as food, music, and even virtual tourism. Jeff shared a global process to move forward during uncertainty and even gave action points on how to maximize this process. The three points were: Repurpose, Retool, and Redeploy. He emphasized that we should all look to solve global problems and not limit ourselves to islands.

The summit ended with closing remarks from Minister of Finance of Sint Maarten, Honorable Mr. Ardwell Irion. Minister Irion expressed his delight to be a part of this summit and the developments happening in the region. As it pertains to Sint Maarten, the minister announced that there will be monthly financial literacy webinars to educate the public on the government budget and thereafter on budgeting in general. There will be also a financial literacy month in schools that will start with secondary schools. These activities will be hosted by the Ministry of Finance. Honorable Mr. Irion aspires to be part of the few public administrations in the world that lead innovation. For that reason, his cabinet is actively promoting fintech and will host a blockchain conference in November with the Centrale Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten.

Following the ministers address, Ife Badejo, the executive producer of Islandpreneur Live 2020 and founder of PWR Agency, made a toast to the success and a new era of islandpreneurship that impacts the world, which started the islands first virtual happy hour and wine tasting event. Barefoot Wine and Bubbly and Prime Distributors hosted the Islandpreneur Happy Hour with the bearded bartender, Paul Peterson. Attendees were able to ask questions directly to the bartender on how best to pair wine with foods and why.

For a limited time, the recordings will be made available for free to all those who registered for Islandpreneur Live 2020. The entire three-day experience including the virtual happy hour and wine tasting was all complimentary. Organizers would like to thank all the registrants, speakers, volunteers, and partners such as TelEm Group, Centrale Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten, Urban Adapters, Optimize Curacao, Kerai Kreative Style, and Dwayne Griffith (PWR) for making Islandpreneur Live 2020 such a huge success.

Based on the success and as a follow-up, PWR Agency and partners will launch Islandpreneur Network, to further foster relationships, educate, inspire, and find funding for islandpreneurs around the world.

To learn more, kindly email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or whatsapp +1-721-523-1842.
EnWave Signs Equipment Purchase Agreement with Calbee Inc. to Expand Commercial Manufacturing Capacity

Posted by Publisher Internet

EnWave Corporation (TSX-V:ENW | FSE:E4U) (?EnWave?, or the \Company\  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/enwave-corp/ ), announced today that it has signed an Equipment Purchase Agreement with Calbee, Inc. (?Calbee?), a leading global snack manufacturing company, to commission an additional two 10kW Radiant Energy Vacuum (?REV??) dehydration machines in Japan. The addition of the two 10kW REV? machines will significantly expand Calbee?s commercial manufacturing capacity to launch its new line of REV?-based snack products.

Calbee has successfully developed several ?better-for-you? snack products internally using REV? technology and intends to intensify its commercial efforts throughout 2020, focusing on premium, healthy fruit and vegetable snack products.?

Calbee entered into a royalty-bearing commercial license agreement with EnWave approximately one year ago, and the purchase of the two additional REV? machines demonstrates the commercial value of using EnWave?s proprietary technology for producing premium snack products.

Calbee continues to have the exclusive rights to commercialize EnWave?s REV? food dehydration technology for the development of several premium, healthy fruit and vegetable snack products and ingredients in the country of Japan. The installation of the two additional 10kW machines will triple the royalty-bearing production capacity of Calbee in Japan.

About Calbee

Calbee, Inc. is one of the largest snack food companies in Japan, and is a leader in the manufacture and sale of potato, flour-based snacks, and processed cereals. Calbee holds over 50% market share for the domestic Japanese snack market and holds over 70% market share for potato-based snacks. Outside of Japan, Calbee also has major international presence in the snack markets in the United States, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, and the United Kingdom with several well-known household brands. The company was founded on April 30, 1949 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

About EnWave

EnWave Corporation, a Canadian advanced technology company, has developed Radiant Energy Vacuum (?REV??) ? an innovative, proprietary method for the precise dehydration of organic materials. EnWave has further developed patented methods for uniformly drying and decontaminating cannabis through the use of REV? technology, shortening the time from harvest to marketable cannabis products.?

REV? technology?s commercial viability has been demonstrated and is growing rapidly across several market verticals in the food, and pharmaceutical sectors, including legal cannabis. EnWave?s strategy is to sign royalty-bearing commercial licenses with innovative, disruptive companies in multiple verticals for the use of REV? technology. The company has signed over thirty royalty-bearing licenses to date. In addition to these licenses, EnWave established a Limited Liability Corporation, NutraDried Food Company, LLC, to manufacture, market and sell all-natural dairy snack products in the United States, including the Moon Cheese? brand.?

EnWave has introduced REV? as a disruptive dehydration platform in the food and cannabis sectors: faster and cheaper than freeze drying, with better end product quality than air drying or spray drying. EnWave currently offers two distinct commercial REV? platforms:

1. nutraREV? which is a drum-based system that dehydrates organic materials quickly and at low-cost, while maintaining high levels of nutrition, taste, texture and colour; and,

2. quantaREV? which is a tray-based system used for continuous, high-volume low-temperature drying.

EnWave is also active in the pharmaceutical industry through a joint development agreement with GEA Lyophil, a leader in GMP drying machinery.

More information about EnWave is available at www.enwave.net.

EnWave Corporation

Mr. Brent Charleton, CFA

President and CEO

For further information:

Brent Charleton, CFA , President and CEO at +1 (778) 378-9616

E-mail: bcharleton@enwave.net ?????

Dan Henriques, CA, CPA, Chief Financial Officer at +1 (604) 835-5212

E-mail: dhenriques@enwave.net

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

Safe Harbour for Forward-Looking Information Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking information based on management\-\-s expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Company\-\-s strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures, and the expected synergies following the closing are forward-looking statements. All third party claims referred to in this release are not guaranteed to be accurate. All third party references to market information in this release are not guaranteed to be accurate as the Company did not conduct the original primary research. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although the Company 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 as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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.
Somerset, KY (42501)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 83F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers in the evening, then overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low 58F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
He called her at school with the good news of his selection for the cast of Saturday Night Live. And when he was honored at a Hampton Arts Foundation fundraising event last fall, Schuler was invited and recognized from the podium by her former student for encouraging his passion for theater.
Secure access control is helping to shape the post-pandemic world

With the continued rolling back of COVID restrictions in the UK, there is a palpable sense of relief. A mixture of mass vaccinations, widespread testing, and track and tracing of the infection is helping to enable a healthy bounce back for businesses  with secure access control taking an important role in facilitating this. However, rather than just being a reaction to the wake of the pandemic, there is every sign that the economy, and consequently the security sector as well, are both rebuilding and reshaping for the long-term new normal. Prioritising Safety Already deemed an essential service even during the first wave of the pandemic, the security industry has of course taken a vital role in protecting people and property throughout the crisis. Now that venues in the UK are starting to reopen again, our services are key to occupancy management and ensuring that disease transmission is limited as far as possible. Access control is also key in reassuring people that their safety is a priority. Making the upgrade Its all been about choosing the most suitable components and technology that already existed with a few tweaks Businesses and organisations have a duty of care to their employees and the safety of visitors  so controlling access, employing lateral flow testing, and deploying suitable Track & Trace mechanisms are all key components. I think those outside our industry are surprised to learn that most of the technology being deployed and used hasnt just magically developed since COVID appeared  its all been about choosing the most suitable components and technology that already existed albeit with a few development tweaks or adjustments for the situation at hand. This includes using or installing facial recognition readers rather than using fingerprint or contact tokens, it is swapping to automatic request to exit sensors instead of buttons; it is using powered secure doors rather than having people all grab the same handle. Using mobile credentials is also a key technology choice  why not use the highly secure, easy to manage, cost-effective, and of course contact-free benefits of this approach? Touchless solutions We have seen a clear shift in organisations looking to protect their staff and visitors. For instance, we have a big utility customer in Southeast Asia that has just replaced close to 200 sites using fingerprint readers with an additional facial recognition capability. We have also seen a big rise in demand for touchless request to exit sensors and Bluetooth Low Energy Readers for use with smartphone authentication. Working together Integration of security systems is of course nothing new, but in the post-pandemic or endemic age, it has perhaps never been more important. Installations need to be simple, straightforward, and rapid to help maintain safe distancing but also to ensure systems can be deployed as soon as they are needed. The world is changing and developing rapidly and there is simply no place for systems that dont work with others or cause the end-user considerable cost and inconvenience to upgrade. This flexible delivery of security solutions perfectly matches the evolving and increasing demands of the market. Its clear that end-users want systems that work well and can easily integrate with their existing systems  not only security but all the other business components which work in unison with each other over a shared network. Great opportunities ahead The recent work-from-home trend is also clearly changing the way organisations and businesses interact with the built environment. Lots of companies are downsizing, offices are being split up, there is lots of revitalisation and reuse of existing office space  all of which creates considerable opportunities for security providers. UK inflation more than doubled in April 2021 with unemployment figures dropping and the Pound rising in value There are also, in the UK at least, clear signs that the construction industry is rapidly growing again -with a forecast of 8% rebound and growth this year. UK inflation more than doubled in April 2021 with unemployment figures dropping and the Pound rising in value  all positive signs for UK-based security providers. Undoubtedly the highly successful UK vaccination rollout has helped considerably, but there are signs that the Eurozone looks set to improve considerably over the next few months as well. Using integrated access control Undoubtedly the pandemic has made security markets around the world more aware of the benefits of integrated access control in managing the needs of the new normal COVID endemic environment. For example, as a business, we have always had keen interest from the UK healthcare sector, but over the last 12 months, we have seen a big growth in previously modest international markets including Morocco, Kuwait, Bahrain, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand  all of which are very keen to adopt improved access control solutions. Learning the lessons Nobody would deny the last year or so has been unprecedentedly tough on everyone, as a society we have had to make huge changes and sacrifices. Governments, organisations, and businesses all need to be better prepared in the future, to understand the things that went wrong and those that were successful. However, there is a world beyond the immediate pandemic and its effects. Flexible working practices and the changes these will have to the way we live and work will undoubtedly present great opportunities for the security sector in helping the world evolve. The pandemic has been a wake-up call for many organisations with regards to their duty of care to employees  particularly when it comes to mental health and providing a sensible work/life balance. Where we work and the safety of these facilities has received far more scrutiny than before. Flexible security systems Integrated security solutions have a vital role to play in not only protecting the safety of people during the post-lockdown return to work but also in the evolution of the built environment and move towards smart cities - which inevitably will now need to consider greater flexibility in securing home working spaces rather than just traditional places of work. Importantly, powerful access control and integrated security systems need to be flexible to the uncertainties ahead. The COVID pandemic has shown that nothing can be considered certain, except the need for greater flexibility and resilience in the way we operate our professional and personal interactions.
Allie Kirkman South Bend Tribune

South Bend Tribune

SOUTH BEND  When Purdue Polytechnic High School South Bend opens its doors for the first time this fall downtown, students will be expected to participate in daily temperature checks and wear face masks in the classroom.

Theyll attend school in person only twice a week to ensure social distancing. No visitors will be allowed in the building and no physical field trips are planned for the year at this point in an effort to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.

We have had to make some tough decisions regarding how to best balance both our desire to return to in-person education as usual and the obvious need to maintain the health and safety of our school community as well as protect our vulnerable populations, said Scott Bess, Purdue Polytechnics head of schools. PPHS will continue to provide the hands-on, exciting curriculum that we are known for, whether that is inside the walls of our classrooms or virtually.

Purdue Polytechnic High School South Bend (PPHS) will open its doors to roughly 75 ninth-grade students on Aug. 12 at the former Studebaker main assembly plant at 635 S. Lafayette Blvd., part of entrepreneur Kevin Smiths Renaissance District technology park.

Purdue Polytechnic, a charter network founded by Purdue University with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), received approval from the Indiana Charter School Board in December to open its third charter campus in South Bend.

A grade level will be added each year to the school, which aims to enroll low-income and minority students.

Bess said administrators originally wanted to enroll 125 students in the school for its first year, but the coronavirus pandemic forced them to size down.

We had just started planning events and being present with prospective families when everything shut down, Bess said. There is no real substitute for getting out and engaging face-to-face, so we had to rethink what our first year would look like. We needed to do things safely.

Charter school leaders relied on data and guidance from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local public health experts when they crafted opening plans.

Opening will be a challenge, but I am ready for that and so is our team, said Bibi Hardrict, PPHS principal. Our plans are accommodating. We really want families to feel 100% supported and understand that we are going to take on this big journey together.

The new schools plans could change based on spikes in local cases, suspected or positive cases within PPHS or updated guidance from health departments. For now, heres what student can expect to see this fall:

Alternative schedules

Students will be assigned to a Boiler or Techie group as part of PPHS hybrid learning model.

Boiler students will attend school in-person on Mondays and Tuesdays with Thursdays and Fridays being e-learning days. Techie students will attend school in-person on Thursdays and Fridays with Mondays and Tuesdays reserved for e-learning. Wednesdays will be e-learning and early release days for all students.

Students will receive their Boiler or Techie group assignments from their school.

Bess said high school administrators are willing to create individualized learning plans for families who would prefer that their students attend school virtually only or in-person for both Boiler and Techie days. On-site learning will be accommodated as space and distancing allow with permission from school leaders.

Some parents at our other schools said they were not ready to send their kids to school, no matter how safe or small it might be. Others said their home environment is not good for extended e-learning for a number of reasons, like work obligations or lack of internet, so they wanted students to be in the building, Bess said. I do think the majority will choose two days on and three days all virtual, but we wanted our families to have a choice.

PPHS will supply Wi-Fi hotspots to students who need internet access at home to complete remote learning.

Face masks required

Face masks and thermometers will be provided to students prior to the start of the school year.

All high school students and staff will be required to wear masks in the building while in proximity to others unless otherwise allowed by a PPHS staff member. Outdoor spaces where students will not be required to wear a face mask will be frequently used for learning.

Any student who does not wear a mask will not be able to attend class on-site, but will be enrolled in e-learning.

Additionally, students are required to take their temperature at home before coming to school every morning. Any student who has an elevated temperature or who may have been exposed to the coronavirus is expected to isolate at home and participate in e-learning.

Any student who has a COVID-19 symptom, including a fever, cough, sore throat, chills, runny nose and sneezing will be sent home by the school nurse. Students will not be allowed to return to school until they are no longer contagious per CDC guidelines.

Cleaning and sanitizing

PPHS will implement deep cleaning protocols and sanitize high touch areas.

Hand sanitizer will be available to all students and staff throughout the school day.

Floor plans will be modified throughout the school year to ensure social distancing protocols are met.
Staff reports

South Bend Tribune

June 29, 1918: After having: sustained the loss of a cooking car and sleeping car which were destroyed by fire during Thursday nights storm, H. W. Reed & Sons, contraction firm constructing a new road in the vicinity of the Coalbush church, on Friday began making the necessary repairs to their damaged cars. The work of road building will not be hindered by the loss sustained. The fire originated when a bolt of lightning struck the camp.  The South-Bend Daily Tribune

June 30, 1921: W. E. Dodge, of Erie, Pa., who left Chicago at 1 oclock yesterday afternoon in a $7,000 Italian airplane for Jersey City, N. J., to procure photographs of the Dempsey-Carpentier fight for the Chicago Herald and Examiner was slightly hurt yesterday afternoon when his plane was wrecked as he made a forced landing on account of engine trouble five miles southeast of Goshen. The machine crashed through a fence. Damage to the plane is estimated at $1,000. It was shipped to Chicago for repairs.  The South-Bend Daily Tribune

July 1, 1932: Persons from Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, California, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Tennessee, Washington, Maine, Colorado, Arizona, New York, Rhode Island, Iowa and Kansas visited the interesting museum of the Northern Indiana Historical society in the old courthouse, 112 South Lafayette boulevard, in June. The total number of visitors for the month was 1,008 of which 186 were from out of the city.  The South Bend-Daily Tribune

July 2, 1946: While production is under way in three of the six huge buildings of the Oliver corporations plan No. 2 here, preparations were being made today by the army air forces specialized dept crew to release the other three buildings in the group to the corporation Friday.  The South Bend Tribune

July 3, 1959: Thousands of Michigan City and nearby Indiana and Michigan residents lined the shores of Lake Michigan here [Michigan City] Thursday to see the largest naval flotilla pass in review on the Great Lakes in more than 100 years. Crowds lined the harbor pier and breakwater and the beach to cheer the 14 Navy vessels assembled in the Lakes in connection with the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the visit to Canada and Chicago of Englands Queen Elizabeth II.  The South Bend Tribune
Jeff Parrott

South Bend Tribune

SOUTH BEND  St. Joseph Countys health department has found nearly 70 violations of its mask order among local businesses since May, revealing spotty compliance and confusion as officials lean toward extending it.

The county hasnt yet moved to impose fines and has handled the violations so far by instructing store managers and owners on steps they can take to comply with the order.

The health department is now planning a new campaign, seeking input from businesses and residents, to publicly praise businesses that are taking the order seriously  while still holding out the possibility of imposing fines if mask use starts to dramatically decline.

Since the May 4 order took effect, the health department has found businesses in the county violating it 69 times  during 37 inspections triggered by customer complaints and 32 more during routine food service inspections, according to records The Tribune obtained through a public records request.

Im a little worried that theres been a decay in compliance in St. Joseph County, said Dr. Mark Fox, the countys deputy health officer.

The health department validated 10 complaints during the week of June 14-20, compared to an average of 5.4 per week over the prior five weeks, according to the records.

Part of that may stem from confusion, Fox said. As the governors plan (to reopen the economy) has rolled out and has allowed increased capacity, I think theres the sense that, Oh, everything is fine, we dont have to be as stringent as weve been. If you look around the country, the places that have opened up too quickly or without safeguards like mask orders are feeling the crunch.

The order requires face coverings for all people inside businesses and enclosed public spaces where social distancing of at least 6 feet cant be maintained. It is set to expire July 4 but health officials are considering an extension; Fox said he expects the county to make an announcement either way early this week.

Fox, other county officials and South Bend leaders have credited the mask order with keeping the countys infection rate lower than they initially feared and lower than in some surrounding counties. The primary effect of the order is to reduce transmission from someone who isnt aware they have the coronavirus.

All of the fundamental considerations that prompted us to adopt the mask order in the first place, all of those are still true, Fox said. Were still in the midst of a deadly pandemic, theres still not an effective vaccine or treatment. And the things that we know have an effect, good hand hygiene, physical distancing and face coverings, those are still the most effective strategies that we can identify for general public settings to reduce the transmission.

Its up to them

Inspectors with the health department have validated the 37 complaints from a total of 66 received; they have discovered the remaining 32 during food inspections.

Carolyn Smith, the health departments food service director, noted that Gov. Eric Holcombs Back on Track plan for reopening the economy has always required employees to wear masks in businesses that serve ready-to-eat food, along with providing hand sanitizer for customers. The county order added the mask requirement for customers who enter businesses.

Some customers have complained that businesses arent requiring their employees to cover their faces and arent providing hand sanitizer, while others have complained that customers arent wearing masks. The health department isnt validating complaints about customers, Smith said.

So when we get a complaint that employees and customers are not (wearing masks), then we are looking basically at what the management and staff have within their control, because you cant control customers, she said.

A Tribune reporter noted to Smith that at least one local store, Menards, has offered disposable masks for $1 and also prohibited people without masks from shopping.

Yes, Menards is, and there are others that have those components in place, Smith said. They have the signage, they have the sanitizer, they are speaking. However, we have said, Do not put yourself in harms way, because we have people in this county who have been accosted ... because somebody was angry about the face mask.

Smith was referring to the Mishawaka 7-Eleven store manager who was punched and kicked in May while trying to enforce the mask rule.

Its up to them as to how far they want to go with it, she said.

Stressful time for everybody

In many cases, employees at businesses have said to inspectors that they had been told  either by owners, management or corporate lawyers  that they didnt have to follow the order.

The order, however, cites state law that gives county health departments the power to act to control the spread of communicable diseases.

Conversations with inspectors also revealed confusion about aspects of the order.

On May 13, a health inspector, responding to a complaint that customers and employees werent wearing masks at Marcos Pizza, 1321 Milburn Blvd. in Mishawaka, arrived to find staff not wearing them.

The general manager told the inspector that the Toledo, Ohio-based companys legal advisers had said the ordinance wasnt enforceable, records show. When contacted by The Tribune for comment, Marcos corporate spokeswoman Leah Haran declined to be interviewed.

Our corporate team has instructed all franchisees to strictly follow the guidelines and recommendations set out by the CDC and local health departments, Haran said in a written statement. Recently, we have been closely monitoring the surge of COVID-19 cases across the country and have made a systemwide decision that requires all Marcos employees to wear masks.

McClure Oil, a Marion-based company that operates gas station/convenience stores in 17 counties, has violated the mask order three times  twice at its 6220 U.S. 31 South location in South Bend, and once at its 2304 E. Edison Road store, also in South Bend, according to the records.

A manager at the U.S. 31 location told an inspector responding to a complaint May 26 that the business had not been requiring employees to wear masks. She said four employees had medical conditions that prevented them from wearing masks.

Less than two weeks later, on June 3, the health department received another complaint. An inspector arrived on June 10 to again find no staff wearing face coverings, and there was no hand sanitizer available for customers. A shift manager told the inspector that face coverings had been available for staff at one point but disappeared, and that management had given employees no guidance on face coverings.

Kelly McClure, McClure Oil president, said its been difficult for the company to keep up with changing rules, within the state and among counties.

In no other county in Indiana are we required to wear masks, McClure said. How was it communicated? By having somebody come in and follow up on a complaint? Thats their mechanism for letting you know?

Bonnie Doon Drive-In, 2704 Lincoln Way West in South Bend, was among the first businesses found to be violating the order. On May 8 and 10, customers complained to the health department that car-hop servers werent wearing masks.

Bonnie Doon still hasnt opened its dining room, and owner Adam Carroll told an inspector that he didnt think car-hop servers had to cover their faces because theyre outdoors, but the inspector told him they must wear masks because they are also working indoors with other employees.

I thought if were only doing to-go orders then masks werent required, unless youre doing table service, Carroll told The Tribune. Once I found out everyone needs to wear a mask, weve all been wearing masks. Were a small business. Its a stressful time for everybody. I misunderstood the original mandate.

Tom Faulkner, owner of Faulkners BK Root Beer Drive-In, 1020 N. Logan St. in Mishawaka, was found to have violated the order. People filed complaints May 12 and 20 stating that employees werent wearing masks. An inspector arrived May 21 to find a server and a cashier not wearing them.

Faulkner said he knew servers needed masks to protect themselves and customers, but he didnt initially understand that employees in the building also needed them.

We were all learning at the time, Faulkner said. I thought only the people who dealt with people needed to wear them. Now theyre all wearing them all the time. It was a total learning process for everybody.
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Pictured is an example of the fraudulent face mask exempt cards, not authorized by U.S. Department of Justice. (Photo courtesy of United States Attorneys Office)
"I'm being told, from on high, that we need a mask. Why did we not need these masks back in March? Why didn't we need them April? Why do we need them now? ... Again, my problem with the masks and all of these restrictions is that they are arbitrary and capricious."
It was once slated for development, but instead is home to the oaks, the Georgia sun rose, a tiny, bright yellow flower rarely seen in these parts and a stand of tidal red cedar, one of only seven like it in the state.
This article was produced in partnership with the Propublica Local Reporting Network .

On a recent Sunday, protesters marched through the center of Weston, a small, wealthy town in southwest Connecticut. They chanted no justice, no peace and raised handwritten signs that read Black Lives Matter and Silence is Violence.

Somewhere in the crowd, Brian Murray-Dalrymple hoisted his own message.

Fact check: Weston, CT. No Black teachers. No Black police officers. No Black board members. No Black town of Weston government office members.

Murray-Dalrymple, one of the towns few Black residents, viewed the June 7 protest through a different lens than his white neighbors.

It was a photo opportunity. Thats all, said Murray-Dalrymple, a limo driver and father of five who moved his family to the town eight years ago.

Eight days after that protest, at which elected officials urged the overwhelmingly white crowd to fight racism, Weston officials turned their attention to housing. With a unanimous vote, they adopted the towns strategic plan, which recommends keeping most development to single-family homes on lots of at least two acres, a requirement that has resulted in a typical sale price of $660,000  and a lack of diversity. Just 1.4 percent of residents are Black. Local officials rejected a suggestion to convert a vacant property into affordable housing for seniors. Instead, they carved out a small area of land surrounding the town green for potential development.

Fundamentally, this is who we have been for a long time, said Ken Edgar, the chairman of Westons Planning and Zoning Commission, referring to the towns large homes. We are trying to move the ball, but there would have to be demonstrated interest before I think we move the ball further and build diverse housing on small lots.

Despite its liberal reputation  and Democrats controlling the legislature for the last 23 years and the governors mansion for nine  Connecticut is one of the most segregated places in the country. And with thousands of residents pouring into the streets this month to protest racism, housing advocates and progressive Democrats saw an opportunity to change that, calling for an overhaul of the states exclusionary housing laws.

That opportunity, however, appears to be fading.

At the state Capitol, Gov. Ned Lamont and legislative leaders have shelved a raft of proposals that could spur more affordable housing, after ending the legislative session early this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Now, they are expected to return to Hartford next month for a special session to address a single reform in response to the protests: police accountability.

The limited agenda represents a stark retreat for leaders who began the year with bold pledges to tackle Connecticuts affordable housing crisis.

Lamont in particular seemed poised to shift the debate, publicly criticizing wealthy towns, after a series of articles published by the Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica showed the lengths to which local jurisdictions have gone to block affordable housing, and by extension the people who need it.

You know, I think they are nuts not to allow their downtowns to develop a little bit, not to have more multifamily housing, not to have more affordable housing, not to allow more of their community to live where they work, he told the Connecticut Mirrors Steady Habits podcast in January.

But this month, after a Juneteenth event billed as A roundtable on Racial Equality and Social Justice, Lamont struck a more passive tone, telling reporters he supports leaving zoning decisions up to local officials. Asked whether some towns zoning regulations are shutting out minorities, Lamont said, Im not as interested as much in changing the laws within these towns.

Max Reiss, a spokesman for the governor, said in a statement that the administration prefers to work collaboratively over forcing towns to allow projects that they dont support. The state Department of Housing, he said, is currently building an affordable housing toolkit for local officials to make it easier to communicate the issue to their local communities.

By working together toward a common goal, we can be much more successful, and effective, Reiss said. Divisive policies which promote conflict and inhibit growth are at the heart of the problems in this country. We do not believe in these kinds of policies in Connecticut, and are actively working against them.

Any challenge to local control also faces an uphill battle in a legislature dominated by suburban lawmakers who represent communities that have fought changes for years. House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, said he doesnt believe tackling zoning reforms is possible during a special session but is open to considering it.

To have protracted debate and public input, I dont believe the time frame will allow it, he said. The General Assembly as a whole has been struggling with this issue for years. Having a vote by early July is sort of hopeful and wishful to be honest.

Other Democrats disagree. On Wednesday, the state House of Representatives progressive caucus  representing nearly half of the partys members in the lower chamber  announced it supports taking aim at exclusionary zoning during the special session.

We need to take advantage of the moment that we have, said Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven.

Urban legislators, many of them Black, say the police killing of George Floyd and the demonstrations that swept the nation exposed the need for systemic reforms in several areas of American life, including housing.

If we dont do it now, we will never get it done, said state Sen. Doug McCrory, D-Hartford, the vice chairman of the Housing Committee who has served in the legislature for 25 years.

No longer do we chip around the outside and do what I call Novocain legislation, he added. Thats what weve been doing ever since Ive been here. Just a little here. Just a little there because we dont want to offend anybody. We dont want anybody to be upset. No more. This is the time for the state of Connecticut to step up to the plate and be bold.

A coalition of land use attorneys, planning and zoning commissioners and architects  named Desegregate CT  is pressing the legislature and governor to change the laws that allow local officials to block affordable housing in small towns. The result of so-called home rule has been a concentration of low-income units in urban areas.

In Hartford, some neighborhoods have as much as 70 percent of the housing units reserved for low-income residents  which, in turn, puts a strain on the towns ability to raise enough revenue to pay for things like schools and street repairs. I think its time for Connecticut to ask itself, what will these pandemics mean for our land use regime, said Sara Bronin, the leader of Hartfords Planning and Zoning Commission and an expert on land use at UConn Law School. Segregation is an urgent crisis.

From NIMBY to BANANA

Town officials say theyre not opposed to affordable housing in principle  but it has to fit in with whats referred to as the character of their small communities. That typically means low-density projects, not multistory apartment buildings.

But civil rights leaders and developers have a name for this type of zoning  Jim Crow Zoning  because it allows Connecticuts wealthier towns to shut out more affordable housing from being built, and the minorities who would live there. Developers argue that smaller projects dont make financial sense because of the cost of the land and the construction. The rent they could charge would not justify the outlay, they say.

The irony of BLM protests in white communities is it is these same towns that repeatedly block the development of affordable housing, which we know is an efficient way to promote integration, said Fionnuala Darby-Hudgens of the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, a nonprofit that advocates for more desegregation.

As the Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica reported last year, more than three dozen towns in the state have blocked construction of any privately developed duplexes and apartments within their borders for the last two decades. That often locks low-income people out of educational and employment opportunities. In southwest Connecticut, for example, it costs 3.5 times more to live near the high-scoring elementary schools in Westport, Weston or Wilton than in Bridgeport, one of the most impoverished cities in the state. It is the largest gap in the country, the Brookings Institution reported.

Segregation is one of the roots of the evil in our society, and its perpetuated by exclusionary zoning. Lets just call it what it is, its Jim Crow Zoning, said Richard Freedman, a developer with a history of fighting local officials to build affordable housing in high-end communities. Its a system of social control, an insidious, complicated system of social control, just like the old Jim Crow laws.

Local officials in towns that have rejected affordable housing have disputed claims of discrimination. They point to frail public infrastructure, clogged streets, a lack of sidewalks and concerns about overcrowding as reasons for denying projects.

The challenge to our community is not just to the character of neighborhoods, but also to firefighting and police response, potentially to educational capacity, to human services support and to our tradition as a single-family home community, Jim Marpe, Westports Republican first selectman, told residents in his State of the Town Address last year.

Connecticut stands out on the national stage. The suburbs surrounding New Haven are more exclusive than Silicon Valley, which is notorious for its high housing costs, according to research from Professor Robert C. Ellickson at Yale Law School. The towns of Bethany, Madison, Orange and Woodbridge designate more than 98 percent of their residentially zoned land solely for single-family dwellings, built on lots of at least 1 acre. In each place, less than 3 percent of the population is Black. In Guilford, 93 percent is reserved for single-family homes and requires a 2-acre minimum. Just 1 percent of the population there is Black.

For people of color, the experience can be isolating  and alienating.

In Weston, where only eight affordable housing units are reserved for low-income residents, Murray-Dalrymple said that he and his family have experienced several instances of unequal treatment, such as when school officials expelled his eighth-grade son last year after a disciplinary incident. Murray-Dalrymple filed a complaint with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, alleging his son was treated harshly because he is Black. The commission did not return a call seeking comment.

William S. McKersie, superintendent of Weston Public Schools, and Anthony Pesco, the chairman of the Weston board of education, declined to comment on the case, saying they could not discuss individual students. But Pesco said, the board takes allegations of racial bias and racial injustice very seriously.

The only way conditions will improve, Murray-Dalrymple said, is if the town makes it possible for more people from diverse backgrounds to be able to afford to move there and serve in public office. He pays $3,300 to rent a three-bedroom home in town.

Edgar, the chairman of the towns Planning and Zoning Commission, attended Westons Black Lives Matter protest and said town officials recognize the need for affordable housing. Were looking affirmatively towards having more diversification in our housing, he said, citing the towns strategic plan, which designates the town center as a potential area for affordable housing. Youve got to start some place.

He said residents generally oppose allowing homes to be built on smaller lots because its never been done. Theyre also concerned that more children would move into the community, inflate school rolls and, in turn, lead to higher taxes. Can we build a new school to accommodate the hypothetical one-quarter acre homes? It hasnt been on the table in Weston, Edgar said.

Enrollment in Weston schools has declined by 9 percent over the last 10 years and is projected to drop by an additional 4 percent over the next five. The district is now looking at consolidating to three schools from four.

Across Connecticut, the opposition to affordable housing in these wealthy enclaves remains stiff. Karen DuBois-Walton, president of the housing authority in New Haven and a member of the State Board of Education, said critics have hardened in recent years, evolving from being labeled NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) to BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone).

If we continue to subscribe to zoning policy that reinforces what we have at this point at the long end of a long history of inequity, then we will be agreeing that we are going to continue to reinforce racist policy, she said.

Stay in your lane

Instead of challenging those zoning practices, though, state officials have steered taxpayer money to build more subsidized developments in struggling communities with high crime, few jobs and struggling schools.

The Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica reported last year that 80 percent of the states 27,000 subsidized housing units were located in struggling communities, literally erecting pockets of poverty. Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, designed to help low-income people find decent housing outside poor areas, have also failed; the bulk are being used in high-poverty neighborhoods because those are the only places with available rentals for voucher recipients.

Over the past month, Rodney Williams has protested at several Black Lives Matter demonstrations in New Haven in the wake of Floyds death. He grew up in housing projects in Brooklyn, New York, and has lived in Newhallville, a poor section of New Haven, for years.

When the man was saying, I cant breathe, the truth is America has had they foot on our neck ever since we was young, he said. If we had access to opportunities, we could afford to live where we want to live. We should be able to live where we want to live.

Desegregate CT, the coalition of attorneys and local land use officials, is developing proposals to rein in local control and clear the path for more affordable housing.

Some Democrats also want to revive legislation that died during the regular session this year. Among the proposals: expanding the jurisdiction of housing authorities so they could build in surrounding communities and starting a pilot program that would allow children to continue attending their school if they win a housing voucher and decide to move.

Much depends on Lamont, who has tread lightly; in fact, he has deferred to legislative leaders entirely on the agenda for a special session. In January, he floated tying state spending on transportation upgrades in affluent communities  such as new or renovated train stops  to local approval of more affordable housing projects. But the money was set to come from installing toll roads throughout the state, a proposal that died. Now, amid the economic downturn, the state coffers for transportation projects are nearly empty.

Aside from legislation, the governor can still influence the housing debate through the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, where his appointees decide how to direct public funding to construct affordable housing. But even there, officials say they plan to continue using a selection process that hinges on local approval  a system that critics argue results in the warehousing of poor people in poor communities.

Under the existing system, few developers of affordable housing even propose building in wealthy towns, fearing organized opposition.

That was the case in Waterford, where Harold Foley, owner of Georgia-based HF3 Group LLC, proposed a 40-unit apartment complex on the property where Cohanzie Elementary School closed in 2008. Located in an area of single-family homes, across the street from a baseball field and playground, the proposal drew immediate protests from neighbors. Some said they feared affordable housing would not fit in with the neighborhood. Others worried about crime. Still others cited traffic and the impact on property values. The developer ultimately walked away from the project.

Several local elected officials attended the towns recent Black Lives Matter protest.

Beth Sabilia, a Democrat and selectwoman, said she opposed the project because of the neighbor concerns but she did not weigh in publicly at the time. Ive always been schooled to give the zoning board their lane, let them stay in their lane.

People want to stay in their lanes, she added, but Im not necessarily sure that staying in your lane is the way to move ahead.
Iran has issued a warrant to arrest U.S. President Donald Trump and 35 others for the killing of a top Iranian general in January, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

"The 36 individuals who were involved in the assassination of Qassem Soleimani have been identified and they include political and military officials from the U.S. and other governments and the judiciary has ordered that a red notice be sought for them from the international police," Mehr cited public prosecutor Ali Alghasi Mehr as saying in a judiciary meeting on Monday.
The watch industry loves dramatic turnarounds. And also contradictions. Fifty years ago, mechanical watches were all we had. But they were swept away by quartz watches  before returning to favour at the turn of the century  only to be faced with the advent of... the smartwatch. But this time, mechanical watchmaking is not under threat; it has become a prosperous industry. In fact, there is now so much choice that brands have been forced to come up with the concept of limited series and one-off pieces!

Today, the market is more vibrant than it has been in two centuries. Anyone can treat themselves to a mechanical or quartz timepiece, a smartwatch, something brand new or second-hand, part of a current collection, a limited series, or a unique piece. There are even one or two boutiques that cover all of these categories. One of them is Bucherer. Bucherer is a watch manufacturer, distributor and retailer, of both new and pre-owned watches. The company is in a unique position. But it does mean that collectors can sometimes find themselves a little overwhelmed. How do you find that special something that no one else has?

Go niche!

There are several ways of standing out from the crowd. The first is to choose a niche brand. Bucherer represents several: H. Moser & Cie for the top of the range, Emile Chouriet for more affordable timepieces, and between the two, the venerable independent brand Oris, which was born in Holstein in 1904.

Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Vantablack  H. Moser & Cie

Heritage Centre Seconds Funky Blue  H. Moser & Cie.

The Oris Big Crown ProPilot X Calibre 115, for instance, is a rare and highly technical series equipped with an in-house calibre. Its a good way to set yourself apart; it has a strongly contemporary vibe, combined with the added value of a manufacture movement.

ProPilot X Calibre 115  Oris

Rare, but not unique

Another potential differentiator is the limited series. People tend to agree what makes an interesting limited edition: no more than a few dozen pieces, or a few hundred at the most. Beyond that, and the concept of limitation starts to lose its meaning.

But Bucherer has taken this idea and transformed it into an art, a philosophy. It was the first watch retailer to commission its partner brands to produce special limited series, to be distributed exclusively in its own shops. Bucherer also decided the theme: blue! And thats the story behind the Bucherer Blue series, whose prestigious proponents include Panerai, Piaget, Baume & Mercier, Glashutte Original, Longines, Oris, Rado, Tissot, Breguet and IWC, not forgetting the in-house brand, Carl F. Bucherer. If you choose one of these limited series, most of which are numbered, youre guaranteed to be wearing a unique example of a rare model.

Manero Auto Date  Carl F. Bucherer

Why not go for CPO?

And finally, those in search of uniqueness shouldnt rule out the idea of a second-hand watch. Since launching its CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) selection last autumn, Bucherer can now offer a curated range of rare timepieces, all professionally serviced and fully guaranteed. This is the perfect way to get hold of a rare timepiece, particularly if you set your sights on a model thats no longer produced, or one that was already part of a limited series. Some good examples are Panerai Radiomir models that are no longer available, or maybe a Breitling Superocean. This collection has recently been re-edited, which means that original models will inevitably increase in value, as we saw with the old Breguet Type XX watches. And youll get it for a highly competitive price. What are you waiting for?
Australian Mines Ltd (ASX:AUZ) is an exploration company with assets in Australian including the Mt Martin gold mine. The company is also exploring for gold in Nigeria.

Australian Mines begins low-cost RC drilling at Thackaringa project near Broken Hill

Australian Mines Ltd (ASX:AUZ) has begun drilling designed to test high-priority base metal targets at the Thackaringa project near Broken Hill in Far West NSW following an airborne Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic (VTEM) survey.

The VTEM survey, commissioned by Australian Mines, was conducted over its entire Thackaringa project area in 2017 and revealed nine separate anomalies.

Of these anomalies, Target A1 and Target A5 in the northern section of the tenement were classified as high-priority targets by two separate and independent consulting firms, Mitre Geophysics and Newexco Exploration, who concluded these targets represent areas of potential base metal mineralisation that warrant follow-up drill testing.

This drill program is anticipated to take up to three weeks to complete



Target A1 first-up

A low-cost reverse circulation drilling program is underway at Target A1 to verify the presence of base metal mineralisation, which is expected to take up to three weeks.

Managing director Benjamin Bell said: "It is too early to speculate on what type of conductive source may be causing the high priority anomalies at Thackaringa.

"It is, however, important to continue with our drilling and exploration activity at this project, which is relatively low cost, as we look to unlock further value for our shareholders."

The project's proximity to the regional mining town of Broken Hill, where mining major BHP originated mining the supergiant Broken Hill lead-zinc-silver ore body, allows access to an established local mining culture and highly skilled workforce.



Maintaining Sconi focus

Bell said: "We are maintaining our focus on progressing our flagship Sconi Project to meet the huge demand for technology metals from the electric vehicle revolution and rapidly expanding energy storage industries.

"However, our longer-term strategy is all about maximising the value from each of our projects - Sconi, Flemington and Thackaringa, for the benefit of our shareholders and all our stakeholders."
Connecticut is fortunate to have a criminal justice system in which the states attorney and his subordinates decide whether or not to bring charges based on provable facts and legal principles, not on political considerations. Each prosecutor is a high government official whose task is to do justice, not to win cases or bow to popular sentiments. He or she has broad discretion and an ethical obligation to seek equal justice for all, including victims and even convicted criminals when the law or exculpatory evidence requires their exoneration. Prosecutors in this state do not run for office, but are appointed by the independent state Criminal Justice Commission.

The apolitical nature of the criminal justice system in Connecticut stands in sharp contrast with the politicized one that exists in Georgia, in which each county district attorney (DA) vies for office in a partisan election and sometimes improperly factors in political considerations when deciding whether or not to prosecute cases. Fulton County DA Paul Howard, an African American, is currently doing just that in bringing a politically tainted prosecution against two white Atlanta police officers regarding the June 12 shooting death of a Black man named Rayshard Brooks.

The officers were called late on a Friday evening to a Wendys restaurant parking lot where they found Brooks passed out behind the wheel of his parked car. They aroused him and gave him a field sobriety test. He failed the test and the officers then decided to arrest him for operating under the influence. Brooks refused to be handcuffed, fought with officers, and stole a Taser from one of them. He then ran away with the cops in hot pursuit. At some point during the brief chase Brooks turned toward the officers and fired the stolen Taser at the officer nearest him. That officer then fired his service weapon at Brooks, striking him twice in the back and killing him. This sequence of events was recorded from different angles and to a greater or lesser extent by the police body and dash cameras, the parking lot surveillance equipment, and eyewitness cellphone videos.

Five days later, DA Howard announced in a televised news conference that arrest warrants were being issued charging each officer with multiple crimes, including a felony murder charge against the officer who shot Brooks. Howard said it was unnecessary to wait for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to complete its ongoing investigation and that he would proceed without a grand jury presentment because the process involved would take too long to complete. In justifying the charges, Howard asserted that Brooks was only slightly impaired and never posed a threat to the officers, but inexplicably failed to address Brooks violent behavior when he struggled with them. Howard also claimed the shooter yelled I got him immediately after shooting Brooks and then subsequently kicked him as he was lying injured on the ground. In mentioning this excited utterance and the kick Howard implied that such behavior is strong evidence of the intent to assault element required to prove the felony murder charge. Further, Howard explained why he believes the shooter unreasonably used lethal force under the circumstances and why he should have known the Taser Brooks fired was not a deadly weapon. Finally, Howard gave both the attorney for the Brooks family and the attorney for some of the other alleged victims an opportunity to comment on the case.

Howard is currently running for re-election in a county with a substantial Black constituency. His presser was clearly meant to show his constituents that he would take quick action to prosecute alleged police brutality inflicted upon members of the Black community. There is no question that police officers who are properly convicted of brutality should be punished. No reasonable person regardless of race is in favor of bad cops unlawfully injuring or killing anyone. But everyone, and especially a prosecutor, should know that the accused officers, just like all other criminal defendants, are entitled to an impartial jury, the presumption of innocence, and a fair opportunity to present a defense. The DA nevertheless trampled on those rights by basically starting the trial of his case-in-chief against the officers on television instead of in the courtroom. The impropriety of press conference was exacerbated in regard to the shooter because the felony murder charge carries a potential death sentence upon conviction. That charge was filed less than one week after the incident, filed without giving the GBI time to complete its forensic investigation, and filed without a presentment to a Georgia grand jury impaneled to ensure there is sufficient evidence to justify the felony murder charge.

In publicizing the felony murder charge as a reality television show Howard was effectively genuflecting to Black Lives Matter, the peaceful protesters legitimately concerned about police brutality, and the angry mobs threatening to burn down Atlanta unless the officers were immediately prosecuted. Many in each of these groups conflate the death of Brooks with the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other African Americans who have died while in police custody. Any future trial in the Brooks case, however, must be decided solely on its own merits and not on the claimed factual circumstances and alleged racial animus involved in other deadly encounters between Black criminal suspects and police officers. The accused officers are presumed innocent, but if they are convicted, the guilty verdict should be solely based on evidence produced within the four corners of the courtroom pursuant law. The prosecutor should not put his thumb on the scale of justice by using the media to win votes and enhance the likelihood of a conviction.

In light of what the Fulton County DA Paul Howard is doing in the Brooks case, the people of Connecticut should be grateful that our prosecuting authorities do not need to keep an eye on the ballot box when they decide how to handle notorious criminal matters.

Gary White is a state Superior Court judge in Stamford.
STAMFORD  City police said they had to break off a chase with two men last week who they said are members of a shoplifting gang that has been sneaking into stores around the metropolitan area for months and swiping expensive health and beauty products off shelves.

The outfit is known as the Little Rascals, police said.

Police last Thursday recovered nearly $2,000 worth of merchandise in a bag that one of the suspects dropped outside of the Ridgeway Stop & Shop before running away and leading police on a short chase, they said.

Although the gang is responsible for dozens of shoplifting thefts costing area stores about $50,000 worth of inventory, Thursdays incident the was first time any police department came close to catching them, Capt. Diedrich Hohn said.

No police have actually confronted them, Hohn said. We were the first. They come in fast and leave fast. With this incident Im glad no one got hurt and hopefully this will act as a deterrent and they wont come back to Stamford.

Hohn said it was the second raid in a week by the gang of thieves. On June 19, two gang members boosted about $900 worth of products from the Stop & Shop on West Main Street, he said.

On Thursday police were notified the gang was striking again at the Ridgeway Stop & Shop. When officer Silas Redd confronted the thief outside the store he dropped the bag and ran from the parking lot towards Wells Fargo on Sixth Street, police said.

Officer Willie Guilford was next to the bank and helped give chase before the suspect hopped into a waiting black Kia with New York license plates. The Kia fled on Sixth Street before making a right turn on Bedford Street, going the wrong way.

The chase was quickly terminated because it would have been too dangerous for patrol cars to pursue the vehicle, police said.

The Kia ended up on Strawberry Hill Avenue before hopping back to Bedford, again going the wrong way. At the end of Bedford the Kia ran over a roadway median but kept heading south and was not seen again.

Hohn said on June 19 two gang members were confronted by a store employee inside the West Main Street Stop & Shop, but one of the men indicated to the employee that he had a knife and the two were allowed to leave the store. They were picked up by a waiting driver in a car with out-of-state plates.

Hohn said since February the gang has hit Stop & Shop stores in Norwalk and Ansonia and in Westchester, Orange and Ulster counties in New York.

They are looking for high end products like Nexium or Rogaine and they will go in there and clean out a whole aisle, he said.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
S earches for holiday breaks in Europe doubled this weekend after it was confirmed that onerous quarantine rules will be scrapped for some of the most popular destinations.

Online holiday comparison site Travelsupermarket said it had experienced the busiest weekend since the start of the lockdown in a last-minute dash for the Med.

Countries likely to be rated as green or amber on a new traffic light system set to be unveiled in Parliament today saw the biggest spikes.

Visitors returning from them will no longer need to self-isolate for 14 days.

The system of air bridges will come into force on July 6, and Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel will also be dropped.

The detail of country ratings is expected to be announced on Wednesday.

Travelsupermarket said searches for Spanish holidays were up 100 per cent on the previous week. Searches for Greece were up 216 per cent, Italy 170 per cent, and France 167 per cent.
B urger chain Byron has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators as the coronavirus crisis impact on the restaurants sector was laid bare.

Accountancy giant KPMG has been running a sale of the company since early May and talks with three unnamed potential buyers are ongoing.

Sources said the company is confident it will seal a deal for Byron, which has 1200 staff, most likely through a pre-park administration. The administration process would protect the business from being taken over by its creditors.

Causal dining chains were struggling before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, which then forced them to shutdown in March.

Restaurants in England outside Leicester, which is subject to a two week lockdown extension, are allowed to reopen from Saturday. Byron was planning a phased reopening of its 51 UK sites from Mid-July according to Sky News, which broke the administration news.

The chain's largest shareholder is Three Hills Capital Partners, which helped wiped out the company's debts in 2018 through a restructuring which ensured it could keep trading.

Byron is one of a string of chains to hit difficulties due to a crunch on consumer spending and higher costs, which was then exacerbated by the coronavirus outbreak. Cafe Rouge owner Casual Dining Group, which has 250 restaurants, filed a notice to appoint administrators in May.
K im Kardashian Wests make-up brand KKW is set to be valued at $1 billion after cosmetics maker Coty reportedly agreed to buy a 20% stake.

Coty, whose make-up labels include CoverGirl and MaxFactor, also bought a 51% stake in younger sister Kylie Jenner's business last year.

The latest collaboration with the celebrity family comes as Coty's majority shareholder, JAB Holdings, attempts to boost the group's fortunes following a 62% fall in shares this year.

The Financial Times reported that Coty will have the option to acquire a majority stake in KKW. No details on KKW's sales or profits have been disclosed, the paper added.

The deal highlights the continued marketing power of the Kardashian family following their rise to fame in a 2007 TV reality show. Kardashian West has 178 million followers on Instagram, and Jenner 183 million.

Last week Kanye signed signed a deal with Gap / AFP via Getty Images

Last week Kanye West, who is married to Kim, signed a major 10-year clothing deal with high street retailer Gap for his clothing line Yeezy. Kanye already has a premium Yeezy fashion line, while his Adidas YEEZY trainers retail for around 400 and regularly sell out online.

The deal is expected to give the ailing high street brand a major boost, with Gap hoping the collection will generate $1 billion in annual sales in 5 years
B usinesses are scrambling to assess the impact of a local lockdown on Leicester due to a surge in Covid-19 cases.

The East Midlands city has experienced a spike in infections in recent weeks and current lockdown restrictions are expected to be extended there for a further two weeks, meaning pubs, bars, cinemas and restaurants will remain shut instead of being allowed to open on Saturday as planned.

Government is also understood to be considering tougher measures including the closure of non-essential stores that opened only two weeks ago and possible travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the disease. This could have an impact on the large Fosse Park retail park to the south of the city, home to a string of chains including Next and Primark.

The areas status as a key manufacturing and logistics hub for the country could make the extended lockdown an issue for businesses, with staff absenteeism due to the virus a potential problem.

Independent retail analyst Nick Bubb said: A renewed lockdown would be bad news for the already hard-pressed UK clothing manufacturing and footwear industries based in Leicester.

Leicestershire is also home to large offices for listed retailers including Next, Dunelm and Shoe Zone.

Bosses at Next this morning discussed the impact of the local lockdown on its Enderby site but decided not to change operations there.

The head office typically houses 3500 staff, and 500 have returned, working on a rota basis to ensure distancing measures. This situation will continue, despite the local lockdown.

It is understood Dunelm, which is headquartered in Syston, will also not be affected by the lockdown extension as employees are still all working from home.

The logistics industry was also taking the development in its stride. Natalie Chapman, head of urban policy, at the Freight Transport Association, said: We will need to understand the full scope of what a lockdown in Leicester would look like, as the region is a key logistics hub for not just the East Midlands but the rest of the UK.

However, the classification of logistics workers as essential at the start of the pandemic should ensure that they have access to the distribution centres and vehicles which are so vital to our daily lives.

James Wroath, chief executive of logistics giant Wincanton, which has some smaller operations in Leicestershire, was not concerned by the potential upheaval. We have dealt with the whole country being in lockdown and provided an essential service with new social distancing protocols - regionally or nationally these protocols will continue to work, he told the Standard.
C ONSUMERS played it financially safe in lockdown, moving to pay off old debts and being reluctant to take on new loans including mortgages.

Mortgage approvals in particular have plummeted - they were down 90% in May compared to pre-Covid levels.

Figures from the Bank of England today showed that mortgage approvals for house purchases fell further to a new record low of just 9,273 in May, having fallen back sharply to 15,851 in April from 56,145 in March.

High loan to value mortgages are in particular hard to come by, which leaves stretch first time buyers in even greater difficulty.

Another 4.6 billion of consumer credit was repaid in May. That was the third month of net repayments. Economists say that is due to a collapse in new borrowing rather than cash rich Britons paying off credit cards.

Laura Suter at investment platform AJ Bell said: So far as a nation weve saved 157 billion during lockdown, as our outgoings have been slashed and weve decided to build up our rainy-day funds for the rocky economic times ahead. This trend continued in May with 52bn squirreled away by people into savings accounts.

At the same time we used spare cash to pay off debts, with another 4.6 billion of debt repaid by individuals, including 1.8 billion of credit card borrowing. This means over lockdown weve paid off almost 16 billion of debt in total.

While the public looks to pay down debt or at least not incur new liabilities, the government is racking up borrowing apace as it tries to keep the economy afloat.
W irecard may feel like a faraway tale of a crooked German firm but it's more local than you'd think.

For starters, "Europe's Enron" comes just as the region is plotting to take control over increasing amounts of regulated business from the City, post-Brexit.

Many continental financial firms and their clients have been sceptical about the capabilities of their local regulators and banks to run the big wholesale banking work that London has been doing for the EU over many decades.

This howler of a scandal will do nothing to ease their concerns.

Blame the auditors all you like (they deserve it), but regulators supposedly overseeing the German company have abjectly failed.

Even as allegations of major wrongdoing swirled last year, German banking regulator Bafin appointed only one person to scrutinise the giant firm.

It heaps shame and humiliation on Germany that it took an English newspaper, the Financial Times, to expose the scandal.

Expect the financial power-drift from the City to Frankfurt to be less hasty now, and a newly-confident Amsterdam to take over more of Germanys financial regulatory work.

Wirecard is a UK story, too, because more than 1.5 million British citizens and merchants have now found themselves unable to make transactions and in some cases, access their money thanks to Wirecards implosion.

Fintech firms like Curve used Wirecard exclusively to make their transfers, as did stock market quoted Morses Club. Morses today admitted that its U Account customers have now had their funds frozen.

Quite why they hadn't switched earlier is a question they have to answer their angry customers. Perhaps they weren't reading the FT this past 18 months.

Wirecards collapse creates opportunities as well as headaches. Rival payment processors are gleefully onboarding Wirecards stranded clients and charging a premium, no doubt.

Customers like Revolut are not in such a desperate position. It was wise enough to have multiple providers, and has switched seamlessly.

Now, from his eyrie in Canary Wharf, founder Nikolay Storonsky should ponder the deeper opportunities at hand.

Wirecard is a goner, but its software and licence to process card payments for merchants (known as "acquiring" in the lingo) could come up for sale in its liquidation.

Storonsky should put in a bid.

Why? Because building from scratch a platform robust enough safely to hook up to Visa, Mastercard and the banks costs a fortune in time and money.

Wirecard's platform may have had a careless owner, but it is built, roadworthy and ready-to-go.

It would be a quick route to Revolut getting an acquirer's licence and putting a turbocharger under its recent push into the business banking market.

Not only that, but it would save Revolut a bunch of fees for other acquirers' payment processing services.

Storonsky raised $500 million from investors in February, just before covid hit Europe.

If he could use some of it to buy the Wirecard platform for a song, he'd put Revolut up there with Adyen and Worldpay as a player in this moneyspinning corner of financial services.

And what does "moneyspinning" look like? Last year, Adyen made an underlying profit of e126 million. That was up 79% on the year, fuelled by profit margins of 57%.
S ir Mark Sedwill has always known he might have to take a bullet in the service of his country.

As an intelligence officer and then our ambassador in Kabul, he has put his life on the line. As the Home Office permanent secretary who faced Theresa Mays toxic advisers, and then the Cabinet Secretary who had to navigate the Tory feuds that brought Boris Johnson to power, he has also survived uncivil war at Westminster.

Until now.

Hes been forced out as both civil service head and National Security Adviser by the Johnson team in Downing Street.

Their charge (delivered with a straight face) is that government is run by amateurs. Their critique of the civil service, set out in a well-crafted speech by Michael Gove at the weekend, is that it lacks professionalism.

Officials, he argues, are unfamiliar with commercial and statistical best practice; mandarins are shuffled from one task to another; rigorous analysis of what works is prevented by vested interests, pressure groups and lazy media; innovation is discouraged by a system, from promotions to the National Audit Office and parliamentary committees, that rewards the risk-averse.

Theres quite a bit of truth in all of this  indeed these are charges that could be levelled at almost any bureaucracy at any time in history.

Asking those in charge the constant question could things be done better? is right. But there are two flaws in the critique.

The first is that it is dismissive of the talent and commitment of those who work hard in our civil service. The virtues of largely uncorruptible, un-nepotistic, meritocratic administrators may be taken for granted in countries such as Britain; that is not the case in much of the rest of the world.

Some inertia in the face of the latest hare-brained scheme by the latest political guru to remodel the way we do things is needed in a mature democracy  we manage relations of this island of 65 million people by reconciling interests, not by permanent revolution.

Sure, Whitehall departments could do with more specialists  the experts in agricultural tariffs that Mr Gove lauds in his speech, and which, thanks to him and others, we now need in their hundreds. But we also need officials who can apply their skills more generally, across the silos of specialisation, and weigh competing interests.

When the post-mortem (literally) is done into Britains handling of coronavirus, we suspect we will find that ministers paid too much attention to narrow expertise and made a fetish of following the science  without exercising the broader judgments that successful countries did.

The second problem with the Downing Street rage against the machine is the lack of self-awareness. Its no good berating Whitehall for its lack of radicalism. If the Prime Minister asked his officials for plans for far-reaching reforms of our schools, welfare, healthcare and criminal justice systems, they would provide them. The truth is, he and his ministers dont want them.

The NHS is untouchable; school reform died in 2014; the only thing happening with welfare is more of it; and were back to chasing headlines with promises to lock people up. The most effective and original policymaking this Government has undertaken has been the furlough scheme  devised and seamlessly executed by the same Treasury that No 10 derides.

Its no good thinking that you can end the tendency to run everything from the centre by moving the Ministry of Paperclips to Mansfield. The devolution seen with the handing of tax powers to the Scottish Parliament, the creation of metro mayors, the empowerment of school academies has ground to a halt  and, in the case of micro-managing the bailout of Transport for London in this city, gone into reverse.

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Musgrave Minerals Ltd (ASX:MGV) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Musgrave Minerals discovers new gold lode just 75 metres from Starlight discovery

Musgrave Minerals Ltd (ASX:MGV) has identified a second high-grade lode 75 metres to the south and striking parallel to the new Starlight gold discovery at Break of Day, within the company's 100%-owned ground at its flagship Cue Gold Project in Western Australia's Murchison district.

The White Light' lode aligns with several historical isolated gold intersections over a strike extent of more than 100 metres.

Highly encouraging results have been returned from White Light, prompting the company to extend the reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign at Break of Day.

Results include:

6 metres at 54.4 g/t from 211 metres;

6 metres at 5.4 g/t from 111 metres; and

9 metres at 5.1 g/t from 21 metres.



"Confident lodes can be extended"

Musgrave managing director Rob Waugh said: "This is another positive result for the company as we build the high-grade gold resource base at Cue.

"Drilling is continuing and we are confident we can extend the lodes and make new discoveries as our geological knowledge of the system grows."

The intercepts at Starlight and White Light are outside the existing Break of Day resource of 868,000 tonnes at 7.2 g/t for 199,000 ounces contained gold.



Starlight assay results

The current RC drilling program at Break of Day has been extended following the discovery of the new White Light lode with 42 RC holes completed to date with assay results received for 31 holes.

Assays for 1-metre individual samples have been received for previously reported intersections based on 6-metre composites and confirm the high-grade gold results at Starlight, which include:
I s Sadiq Khan really serious? He wants to move City Hall from opposite the Tower of London to distant Canning Town. He has found a former exhibition hall called the Crystal overlooking Royal Victoria Dock, which would save him 5 million a year in rent and support the regeneration of the Royal Docks. So why not move across the river to Thamesmead, which also needs his support?

I have nothing against Canning Town. But its heart has been smashed by roads and towers, and has become a dump for vanity projects such as the empty cable car. The Crystal hall is nowhere near a Tube, only the Docklands Light Railway. When I last visited it by road it took a congested hour from Charing Cross. It would be like transplanting Londons heart to Finchley or Brentford.

Location matters to power, a symbol as well as a convenience. It is inconceivable that ministers or officials will traipse to Canning Town for meetings or receptions. Greater London Assembly sessions will go unattended, committees will resort to Zoom. There will be no demos or marches. Khan will sit in his office alone, like Philip II in his distant Escorial, or more likely disappear from public view.

When London finally won democratic government as the LCC in 1888, it built County Hall on the South Bank. Within half a century, it was the most powerful and progressive civic body in Europe, with even its own NHS. Its successor, the GLC, was able so to enrage Margaret Thatcher that she abolished it in favour of direct rule in 1986. County Halls civic chambers have lain mostly unused ever since.

Sadiq Khan should abandon City Hall but he should storm up the river and occupy old County Hall

When Tony Blair gave London back its leader in 2000, Ken Livingstone vainly opted for his glass testicle in Lord Fosters bleak More London in Southwark. It has not worn well, and nor has Londons mayoralty. For the two decades, it has been at war with Whitehall over who runs the capital. Londons planning and transport have been ruled from Whitehall. Unlike Manchester, London failed to win control of its NHS or rail services. A battle now looms over who should plan Britains towns and cities post-coronavirus, with Johnson wanting to appoint central commissioners. This is the death of what remains of local democracy.
YouTuber Shane Dawson is no stranger to controversy, but his latest has drawn the fury of Willow Smiths family.

Willow, the daughter of Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith, was the subject of an old Dawson video which saw the star mime a lewd act in front of a poster of her. She was reportedly 11 years old in the poster at the time, according to Vulture.

Both Jada and Willows brother Jaden criticised Dawson after he posted a lengthy apology video titled Taking Accountability, in which he apologised for his history of blackface and use of the N-word on his channel.

Jaden was the first from the Smith family to criticise him after his video, sharing tweets full of angry emojis and saying that he was screaming at the top of my lungs.

He tweeted, SHANE DAWSON I AM DISGUSTED BY YOU. YOU SEXUALIZING AN 11 YEAR OLD GIRL WHO HAPPENS TO BE MY SISTER!!!!!! IS THE FURTHEST THING FROM FUNNY AND NOT OKAY IN THE SLIGHTEST BIT.

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Jaden also called for people to support creators who support our morals, writing, This Man Was Also Doing Black Face On The Regular...This Is Not Okay.

Willows mother, Jada, also tweeted: To Shane Dawson ... Im done with the excuses.

Shane Dawson has previously apologised for past controversial jokes made in the early 2010s, which have included relying on racial blackface stereotypes as well as comments about pedophilia and zoophilia.

Since then, he has shifted to making documentary mini series about some of YouTubes most controversial stars, including Tana Mongeau and Jeffree Starr (who recently addressed his previous affiliations with Nazi symbols).

Dawson has also been called out by other high profile YouTube creators for his behaviour, including at the 2017 Streamy Awards, where Dawson was nominated for creator of the year. As host Jon Cozart performed a musical roast, he sang that Dawson had spent half his career in blackface and after an awkward silence he asked, Nobody remembers Shanaynay [one of Dawsons characters] in this room? Okay.

Dawsons most recent video apology was posted over the weekend and was titled Taking Accountability, in which he addressed his previous use of blackface and said there was literally no excuse for it. He also addressed his jokes sexualising young children, especially after a resurfaced clip from his old podcast (which he said was a source of a lot of regret for me) began making the rounds on Twitter.

He said he had been inspired by YouTuber Jenna Marbles to apologise, who also recently apologised for her behaviour and announced she was leaving the platform, as well as after seeing his Black friends on social media address the pain of racially insensitive jokes and continued that his previous apologies had been inadequate.

Dawson, who said he should have been punished for his behaviour, added: I dont even know how to fully apologise. It seems like something that is irredeemable, but it is something that I shouldnt even be able to get out of. I should lose everything for that.

Dawson clarified that he doesnt have hate in my heart for anyone and additionally addressed how wrong it was for him to also play Asian and Mexican stereotypes on his channel.

He discussed how some fans had defended his use of blackface: That is scary because [those fans] made me realise that oh my God. I have been part of such a huge problem and I have been avoiding it. And thats wrong. So I am so sorry that I added to the normalisation of blackface or the normalisation of saying the n word.

Dawson also addressed previous comments he made sexualising young children and said, I swear on my life, I am not somebody who would ever talk about a child - in seriousness - in any way that was inappropriate. That is disgusting. That is gross. It is not something I would ever do, it was something I did for shock value or because I thought it was funny or because oh my god, my child molester character. I promise that is not real, that is not me.

Getty Images

Dawson said he hated the person he was when he made those jokes and continued: This is coming from a place of just wanting to own up to my s**t, wanting to own up to everything Ive done on the internet which has hurt people that has added to a problem which has not been handled well. I should have been punished for things.

If you dont accept the apology, that is ok, he added.
T he first official image of the suspect who was shot dead by officers during a knife attack in Glasgow has been released.

Badreddin Abedlla Adam, 28, from Sudan was gunned down by officers following a mass stabbing at a hotel in the city on Friday.

Police Scotland, who released the picture, said confirmation of his identity was based on information the deceased provided to the Home Office earlier this year.

Six people were injured, including police officer David Whyte, in the attack at the Park Inn Hotel in West George Street.

Three of the other male victims are asylum seekers while two are members of hotel staff.

Glasgow Attack - In pictures 1 /17 Glasgow Attack - In pictures Emergency services staff with a person on an ambulance trolley at the scene in West George Street in Glasgow Milroy1717/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Armed officers @ThatReilz/PA Emergency respoders are seen at the scene @Milroy1717/Reuters Sky News Sky News @JATV_scotland/PA @JATV_scotland/PA Sky News @Milroy1717/Reuters @JATV_scotland/PA @JATV_scotland/PA Sky News @Milroy1717/PA @Milroy1717/PA Getty Images Getty Images

They are aged 17, 18, 20, 38 and 53 and all were still in hospital as of Saturday, one in a critical condition.

Mr Adam had been moved to the hotel along with around 100 other asylum seekers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Scotlands Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said she is seeking an urgent call with the Home Office about asylum accommodation.

A man who said he knew the perpetrator told ITV he warned of the attack the night before.

Pictures released of Glasgow stabbing suspect

Giving his name as Siraj, he said Mr Adam told him: I will attack so everyone should take it seriously.

I told him no, theres no need to attack and he said they hate me, I hate them, they are against me.

He started to say a lot of stuff like that but I said nobody hates you, nobody knows you, nobody knows each other.

I reported him to the hotel reception and then the next day, yesterday morning, the housing manager talked to me and I said to him everything he (the attacker) said to me.

Glasgow stabbing attack: Injured police officer named

And in the afternoon, it happened.

Police Scotland, which has said the attack is not being treated as terrorism, has launched an appeal for any witnesses to come forward.

On the weekend, Constable Whyte thanked his colleagues for saving lives. He said he will never forget the scene officers attending the incident were confronted with.

As the first responders on scene, myself and my colleague did what all police officers are trained for, to save lives," said Mr Whyte.

The officer thanked his colleagues who put themselves in harms way to contain this incident and assist with the vital treatment given to myself and others at the scene by other emergency services.

Mr Whyte added: Despite suffering serious injuries myself, I know that the swift actions of colleagues saved lives and prevented a far more serious incident.
A mother pushing a baby in a pram was stabbed seven times in the face and neck by a violent offender days after he had been released from jail, a court has heard.

Josephine Conlon was returning home after meeting other new mothers at a bakery in Streatham, south London, when she was shoved from behind on December 30, the Old Bailey was told.

Mark Brazant, 44, who had been released from jail on Christmas Eve, went on to stab her multiples times in an unprovoked attack before running off, it is alleged.

Prosecutor Louise Oakley said: They had never met each other before and were complete strangers.

A mother was left bleeding and slumped over a pram after the alleged attack in Downton Avenue

But, having followed her a short distance and having deliberately armed himself with a kitchen knife, he used it to inflict multiple stab wounds to her face and neck."

Mrs Conlon was rushed to hospital for treatment and later gave an account to police.

She described being pushed from behind before the buggy containing her baby daughter rolled into a parked car, jurors heard.

She told police: He was all over me. He was kneeling over me, so he had the dominant position. I was on the floor being stabbed.

Brazant denies attempted murder and the case continues at the Old Bailey / PA

She recalled screaming and repeatedly asking him what he wanted, as she ducked and rolled in an attempt to get away.

The court heard how Brazant, who has paranoid schizophrenia, had disappeared following his release from Thameside jail.

He had served a prison sentence for three offences of battery and one of common assault, jurors were told.

It was planned that he would return to live at a supported house for people with mental health problems, jurors heard.

But when he failed to turn up, he was reported missing by staff.

In the early hours of January 2, Brazant walked into Wandsworth Police Station carrying a knife and said he had stabbed a person on the street two days earlier.

Jurors heard the defendant had accepted stabbing Mrs Conlon but denied that he intended to kill her or cause really serious harm.

Ms Oakley said it was the Crowns case that having paranoid schizophrenia does not provide him with a defence to the horrific crime.
A woman who was stabbed in the face and neck while pushing her baby in a pram has recalled the "horrific" attack.

Josephine Conlon, 36, was stabbed seven times in the face and neck in Streatham, south-west London on December 30 last year.

Brazant, 44, had been released from jail a few days earlier on Christmas Eve.

Giving evidence at the Old Bailey, Mrs Conlon said she first became aware of Brazant when she was shoved in the back.

She said: It felt quite strong and I knew straight away it was not just someone trying to get me out of the way. I knew I was in danger.

A mother was left bleeding and slumped over a pram after the alleged attack in Downton Avenue

When she was shoved again, she dropped her mobile phone and fell on to a driveway.

The buggy containing her infant daughter rolled on to the kerb and became wedged next to a parked car.

Mrs Conlon said: I remember him being above me. From that original shove your mind goes into overdrive, trying to work out whats happening.

I remember thinking he had pushed me into the driveway because he was going to rape me.

Then he didnt, he just started hitting me.

I realised I was being stabbed. I was screaming a lot because I was not in the road so I wanted somebody to hear me.

I was ducking and trying to get away and trying to get up on to my feet.

The trial is being heard at the Old Bailey / AFP via Getty Images

I could feel blood. The adrenaline took away pain but I could feel things dripping.

Mrs Conlon said she remembered thinking about kneeing her assailant in the groin as she pushed him.

She added: I managed to get up on my feet and thats when he turned and ran away.

She screamed for help and neighbours came to her aid before she was taken to hospital.

She told jurors that she needed help to ring her husband Greg because her hands were covered in blood.

Mrs Conlon was discharged from hospital the next day but continues to have treatment for scars to her face and neck, the court heard.

Prosecutor Louise Oakley told jurors that Brazant was a complete stranger who had followed his victim a short distance before attacking her with a kitchen knife.

Previously, the defendant, who has paranoid schizophrenia, had served a prison sentence for three offences of battery and one of common assault, jurors were told.

He was released from Thameside jail on Christmas Eve, but had been reported missing after he failed to turn up at a supported house for people with mental health problems.

Jurors were shown CCTV of Brazant, dressed all in black, travelling on a bus before crossing paths with Mrs Conlon in Streatham.

Although the attack was out of shot, jurors heard Mrs Conlons screams and a baby crying, which was captured on audio at the scene.

The mother was heard to shout out: What do you what? Help. Help me, help me.

In the early hours of January 2, Brazant walked into Wandsworth police station carrying a knife, and said he had stabbed a person on the street two days earlier.

Jurors heard that the defendant accepted that he stabbed Mrs Conlon but denied he intended to kill her or cause really serious harm.

Ms Oakley said it is the Crowns case that having paranoid schizophrenia does not provide him with a defence to the horrific crime.
D ozens of students at a college in a London borough hit hard by coronavirus have won places to study medicine at top universities after being inspired by the heroics of NHS staff during the pandemic.

Some 52 pupils at Newham Collegiate Sixth Form in East Ham have been offered places at leading universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, to study medicine in September.

They include identical twins Emmanuel and Edoard Beltazar, both 18, who barely spoke a word of English when they moved to the UK from Italy just four years ago. The pair are due to take their place on the same medicine course at University College London in September.

Emmanuel said: It has been incredible watching the scenes on the television of what these immensely brave people in the NHS are doing every day.

People who live in our neighbourhood and from our ethnic background, which is south Asian, have been very badly affected. It makes the whole thing so much more personal.

It is frustrating because if this had happened in five years time, me and my brother could be there on the front line helping. It will be such a proud moment for us when we finally join the NHS.

Edoard added: When there are people dying in your neighbourhood, on your street, it is very close, very scary. Never has the world needed doctors and nurses and other frontline staff so much. They are heroes and we want to be just like them. Newham has the second worst Covid-19 death rate in the country with 196.8 deaths per 100,000 people. It is also the borough with some of the highest poverty levels in the UK and one of the most ethnically diverse.

Rafiah Niha, 18, from East Ham, won a place to study medicine at Magdalen College, Oxford.

She said: At times it has had me in tears overcome with emotion. Newham is an area which has been really badly affected by the pandemic. There are high levels of social deprivation and a large number of BAME residents and multi-generational families living under one roof.

The work the doctors and NHS staff are doing to help people is so inspiring. These people are my heroes, I want to be like them.

Newham Collegiate headteacher Mouhssin Ismail grew up in the borough and gave up a six-figure salary as a City lawyer to become a teacher in his old neighbourhood in 2015.

He said: In many ways I understand the instinct of these young people. They have seen great pain inflicted upon their community and want to do something to help. The reason I quit my job to become a teacher was because I felt there was a tremendous amount of potential going to waste.

When it is your community, your friends, your family being affected you cannot help it feeling personal.
A Leicester MP has said she believes a local lockdown is necessary for her constituency where hundreds of coronavirus cases have been recorded in the past two weeks.

According to Public Health England data, almost 3,000 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in the East Midlands city since the start of the coronavirus epidemic. Of these, 866 cases were reported in the last two weeks.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Labour MP for Leicester East Claudia Webbe called for a local lockdown - which would be the first in England - to be implemented.

It came as Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he was frustrated that a 9am meeting with Government officials to discuss the potential lockdown was cancelled.

Sir Peter claimed he received an email in the middle of the night making the cancellation.

In a television appearance on Sunday, British Home Secretary Priti Patel confirmed the government was considering a local lockdown / Getty Images

Ms Webbe said: There are significant worries and significant problems in terms of inequalities and high levels of poverty that Im concerned about.

That is the context in which this Covid-19 is operating in. So Im very concerned, and I really do believe that where the data allows we need to ensure that we engage in processes to protect lives, and I think we need to go into therefore more localised lockdown to protect lives and ensure that we can address this virus.

The Government hasnt reassured us. Thus far, the messages and the communication from the Government have been unclear, and it has been difficult, and I really dont understand what communities are meant to follow.

Leicester has seen 866 cases in the past two weeks / PA

Ms Webbe added that the Governments lifting of lockdown restrictions on July 4 while her constituency was seeing a new spike in cases would be reckless.

She said countrywide lockdown measures introduced in late March should be re-introduced in Leicester, such as asking people to stay in their homes as much as possible and the two-metre social distancing restriction.

Were talking about a situation where we need a lockdown, but on July 4, almost a week on, were talking about the easing of lockdown," she said.

I think this is reckless when youve got a situation in Leicester where 25 per cent of the cases (in the city) have happened in the last two weeks.

Asked if the Leicester reports were accurate on the BBCs Andrew Marr show on Sunday, Ms Patel said: Well, that is correct.

She added: There will be support going into Leicester and in fact the Health Secretary was in touch with many of us over the weekend explaining some of the measures, the support on testing, resources that will go into the local authority as well.

The Government says it is supporting officials in Leicester in their battle against Covid-19 / PA

But Sir Peter told LBC that more testing data is needed before deciding whether to implement a local lockdown in Leicester.

He argued the information was key to determining what intervention is needed to respond to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases.
B oris Johnson is promising to build, build, build by injecting billions of pounds into public projects to ease the UK through the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Prime Minister will use a keynote speech to say he wants to follow in the footsteps of president Franklin D Roosevelt, who led the US out of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Mr Johnson, speaking in the West Midlands later on Tuesday, will say the Government intends to spend 5 billion "to accelerate infrastructure projects.

Some 1.5 billion is to be allocated this year to hospital maintenance, more than 1 billion for a 10-year school rebuilding programme, 100 million on road projects, and 900 million for "shovel-ready" local growth projects in England this year and next.

Coronavirus in numbers: Worldwide deaths exceed 500,000

Announcing the plans, Mr Johnson expected to say: "It sounds positively Rooseveltian. It sounds like a New Deal. All I can say is that, if so, then that is how it is meant to sound and to be, because that is what the times demand: a Government that is powerful and determined and that puts its arms around people at a time of crisis.

"This is a Government that is wholly committed not just to defeating coronavirus but to using this crisis finally to tackle this country's great unresolved challenges of the last three decades.

"To build the homes, to fix the NHS, to tackle the skills crisis, to mend the indefensible gap in opportunity and productivity and connectivity between the regions of the UK. To unite and level up.

"To that end we will build, build, build. Build back better, build back greener, build back faster, and to do that at the pace that this moment requires."

Opposition MPs accused him of not offering any new ideas and trying to "hoodwink" voters with rehashed manifesto promises.

Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman and party leadership contender Layla Moran said Mr Johnson was offering nothing new.

She said: "Boris Johnson is attempting to hoodwink the nation again with reheated promises rather than seizing this moment to move forward as a country.

"This speech looks like a rehash of manifesto pledges with no real plan to deliver a greener and fairer future. It shows this Government has already run out of ideas and run out steam.

"The Prime Minister also needs to realise that our infrastructure is human, not just bricks and mortar.

"We need a mass retraining programme and a cast-iron promise not to repeat the mistakes of the Thatcher years and leave entire communities behind."

The Prime Minister is promising to 'build, build, build' as the UK emerges from the coronavirus pandemic / PA

Mr Johnson is expected to say: "Too many parts of this country have felt left behind, neglected, unloved, as though someone had taken a strategic decision that their fate did not matter as much as the metropolis.

"And so I want you to know that this Government not only has a vision to change this country for the better, we have a mission to unite and level up - the mission on which we were elected last year.

"If we deliver this plan together, then we will together build our way back to health.
A former Cabinet Secretary today said he was worried by Boris Johnsons decision to hand the key role in protecting national security to his chief Brexit negotiator, who has no previous experience in the field.

Lord ODonnell said the appointment of David Frost as National Security Adviser (NSA) was concerning because he lacked deep subject knowledge and he could be a yes-man who would fail to advise the Prime Minister objectively.

His concerns were echoed by a former NSA, Lord Ricketts, who said that Mr Frosts appointment suggested that Mr Johnsons inner circle was trying to take over influential roles.

Lord West, the former First Sea Lord who served as security minister under Gordon Brown, told the Standard he would not have put Mr Frost high on a list of candidates.

David Frost is a former career diplomat who served as ambassador to Denmark before leaving to become head of the Scotch Whisky Association / REUTERS

The concern followed last nights rushed announcement that Sir Mark Sedwill, who controversially held the posts of both Cabinet Secretary and NSA at the same time, will stand down from September.

Sir Mark is the third top Whitehall mandarin whose departure has been announced since Decembers election, and was linked to a hard rain shake-up of Whitehall being planned by the PMs close adviser Dominic Cummings.

Mr Frost is a former career diplomat who served as ambassador to Denmark before leaving to become head of the Scotch Whisky Association. Brought back to Whitehall by Mr Johnson, he is currently leading the UKs trade negotiations with the European Union.

Lord ODonnell told Radio 4s Today programme: Im worried about the appointment of David Frost as National Security Adviser because Im not quite sure how putting a special adviser in that role works, how thats consistent with Michael Goves desire for deep subject knowledge for someone who hasnt really had much of a background in national security.

Asked if the services impartiality is being eroded, the peer said: I think appointing a special adviser to a national security role is quite clearly an example of that.

Its a problem because political appointees are there and they are more likely to be subject to group-think, more likely to be yes-men, more likely to say what it is ministers want to hear as opposed to giving good, objective, speaking truth to power which is what its all about.

Lord Ricketts, a former senior diplomat, said it confused the lines in Whitehall. This doesnt sound to me like opening up the Government to new diverse ways of thinking, which is what Michael Gove was talking about. It feels like an even tighter circle of people around the Prime Minister who share his political views.

Lord West said: Im surprised that someone was picked for such a crucial role who really hasnt much of a background in either defence or security.

Mark Sedwill will step down from his role as top civil servant at Britain's Home Office / REUTERS

He would not be high on my list. I am sure he is a capable man, but Im not sure he has a great depth of understanding.

Tom Tugendhat, the chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs select committee said Mr Frosts close relationship with the Prime Minister meant he was better able to advise him. He is a highly capable individual. My personal belief is that the NSA should be a political appointment because it needs to be someone who can advise and challenge the Prime Minister. You need to be pretty close to the PM to challenge them.

Sir Mark, 54, the most powerful official in Government, said in a letter to Mr Johnson: We have agreed that I will stand down and leave government service at the end of September.

Mr Cummings is widely said to have had a difficult relationship with Sir Mark, who was appointed Cabinet Secretary in 2018 by Theresa May.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Prime Minister should not be focusing on reshuffles in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.

Speaking on Sky News, Sir Keir said: I dont think that now is the time to start moving around senior civil servants. Weve got an economic crisis just around the corner.

Mr Johnson paid tribute to Sir Mark as an outstanding servant to the UK.

Sir Mark has given incredible service to this country. He came in at a very difficult time, he told Times Radio.

He has seen the Government through all sorts of very tough stuff  changes in the premiership, an election, Brexit, dealing with the worst bits of the Covid crisis. He has got a lot more to offer and I am sure he will.

The Prime Minister played down suggestions that Sir Mark had been the subject of a series of negative briefings in the media. I try not to read too much of the negative briefing.

There is an awful lot of stuff that comes out in the papers to which I wouldnt automatically attach the utmost credence, he said.
L eicester was today being ordered to endure another fortnight of lockdown in an attempt to quell a local surge in coronavirus.

Health officials believe that at the very least the entire city of more than 320,000 people will have to wait at least two more weeks without the freedoms being given to other areas on July 4, including the reopening of pubs and restaurants, cinemas and permission for dinner parties and sleepovers.

More draconian measures  including the closure of non-essential stores that opened only two weeks ago and possible travel restrictions to prevent the disease spiking in nearby Birmingham and other cities  are being considered.

The message may have to be stay at home, said one government official.

Civic leaders in Leicester hit out this morning at what they called an over-reaction to a spate of Covid-19 cases in the east of the city, home to many communities of Indian and Pakistani heritage, who make up a third of the citys population.

Local lockdown in Leicester during Coronavirus pandemic 1 /31 Local lockdown in Leicester during Coronavirus pandemic Leicester has seen 866 cases in the past two weeks PA A city council worker carries rubbish from a coronavirus testing centre at Spinney Park which will be incinerated Getty Images Leicester could be the site of the UK's first local lockdown PA The Government says it is supporting officials in Leicester in their battle against Covid-19 PA Members of the military set up a walk-in mobile Covid-19 testing centre at Spinney Hill Park in Leicester PA A worker for Leicester City Council disinfects public toilets PA A man cleans the windows of a launderette in Leicester PA A member of military personnel uses a tub to collect used a self-test kit from a member of the public at a COVID-19 drive-through mobile testing unit set up at Evington Leisure Centre in Leicester, AFP via Getty Images Members of the military operate a walk-in mobile Covid-19 testing centre at Spinney Hill Park in Leicester PA People queue at walk-in mobile Covid-19 testing centre at Spinney Hill Park in Leicester PA A man wearing a protective visor crosses the road on mobility scooter in Leicester PA Members of the military operate a walk-in mobile Covid-19 testing centre at Spinney Hill Park in Leicester PA People walk by an electronic billboard displaying a government message AFP via Getty Images Robin Dignall and Maria Demetriou-Clamp disinfect chairs at their hair salon Hair@1RD in Leicester as the city may be the first UK location to be subjected to a local lockdown after a spike in coronavirus cases PA A woman wearing a PPE mask walks past social distance advisory singns in Leicester's North Evington neighbourhood Getty Images People walk by an electronic billboard displaying a government message AFP via Getty Images Soldiers from the Royal Logistics Corp operate a mobile coronavirus (Covid-19) testing site at Evington Leisure Centre Getty Images A youth cycles past a sign telling local residents to "Social Distance" and advising on how to help "Prevent the Spread" of coronavirus, in the North Evington district of Leicester AFP via Getty Images Gallowtree Gate in Leicester after the Health Secretary Matt Hancock imposed a local lockdown following a spike in coronavirus cases in the city. PA A man sits on a bench, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Leicester Reuters A worker disinfects a bin following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Leicester, Reuters A worker disinfects a McDonald's restaurant Reuters A police car on Gallowtree Gate in Leicester PA Shops open their shutters in Leicester after the Health Secretary Matt Hancock imposed a local lockdown following a spike in coronavirus cases in the city PA AFP via Getty Images Reuters PA AFP via Getty Images Getty Images PA PA

Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby told LBC he was angry and frustrated after a 9am meeting with government officials was postponed.

He said he had been sent documents at about one oclock this morning that contained very little substance and protested of incredible frustration at getting data out of the Government.

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There was alarm in other cities too, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan writing to the Government warning of a lack of clarity about how such local cases would be dealt with.

In the letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Mr Khan was expected to say: To support a localised approach we need more information about the Governments plans for mobilising and delivering the response to local outbreaks.

Without further clarity on the powers and resources at Londons disposal to manage any local lockdown or enhanced social-distancing measures, we cannot deliver public confidence in the response that Londoners expect and deserve.

Boris Johnson talks of the 'nightmare' that is coronavirus

Mr Hancock was due to hold a video conference with Sir Peter and local health officials at lunchtime, when he was expected to make clear that legislation would be used to ensure measures are taken.

The local lockdown is the first major test of the Governments ability to carry out crackdowns on localised coronavirus flare-ups  the policy dubbed whack-a-mole by Boris Johnson  which is seen as essential to enable the bulk of the country to get back to normal.

A source told the Standard that Leicester had been closely monitored for more than a week and in the past few days the data had shown a worrying trend, with outbreaks based around work places including meat and food processing businesses.

On Friday night, a team of Public Health England Officials was despatched to the city to investigate and confirmed that cases were spreading among communities where it is common to find several generations in a household.

Four mobile testing units have been deployed to the area that will focus tests on workers, including people who show no symptoms.

Health officials are keen for the citys leaders to persuade the city to obey a longer lockdown, despite the economic consequences. Nothing is being ruled out at this stage, including a ban on travel to other cities.

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /61 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images

Lawyers are looking at the legislation that is required, and if secondary legislation is needed it will be taken, said a source.

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Castillo Copper Ltd (ASX:CCZ) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Castillo Coppers three-pillar strategy to be mid-tier copper producer on track with $2.1 million fund-raising to expedite plans

Castillo Copper Ltd (ASX:CCZ) is firmly on track with a three-pillar strategy to transform into a mid-tier copper business having completed a $2.1 million fund-raising exercise to expedite its operations in Australia and Zambia.

The company, which has three core copper assets in New South Wales and Queensland in Australia and in Zambia, is close to drilling at its Mt Oxide pillar in Queensland's Mt Isa copper-belt.

The company has a three-pillar strategy to build a copper business. They are:

 Pillar 1: Mt Oxide project - Arya prospect with large scalable interpreted massive sulphide conductor and high-grade Big One deposit that are set to be drill-tested once approvals secured;

 Pillar 2: Four prospective Zambia copper projects near established mines with JORC compliant resources; and

 Pillar 3: Cangai Copper Mine - plans to develop one of Australia's highest grading copper deposits to bankable feasibility study (BFS).

Castillo Copper is in the final stages of its planned listing on the Secondary Board of the London Stock Exchange.

The company has also formed the Broken Hill Alliance with Squadron Resources and Impact Minerals Ltd (ASX:IPT) seeking to optimise another asset in Far West NSW.



Fund-raising

Last week, the company raised $2.1 million after completing a placement to current and new sophisticated and institutional investors.

There will be 95,454,545 new shares issued at 2.2 cents per share, representing a 12% discount to the closing price on June 16, 2020.

The placement, which was well supported by current and new Australian and UK shareholders, also includes one free attaching unlisted option for each share subscribed for, exercisable at 5 cents, expiring three years from the date of issue.

Placement shares and options will be issued in a single tranche without shareholder approval under CCZ's existing placement capacity pursuant to ASX Listing Rules 7.1 (12,935,940 shares and 104,454,545 options) and 7.1A (82,518,605 shares).

As well as the Mt Oxide prospects, funds will also be allocated to the ongoing development of the other two pillars - Cangai Copper Mine and projects in the Zambian copper-belt - and general working capital.
R ebecca Long-Bailey has said her sacking from Labour's front bench for sharing an article that contained an allegedly anti-Semitic conspiracy theory was an "avoidable mess".

Writing for the Guardian on Monday, Ms Long-Bailey said she "takes responsibility" for her actions and said she never intended the tweet to cause harm, adding: "I know how painful anti-Semitism is."

The former shadow education secretary wrote: "It was a mess, and an avoidable one. Of course I take responsibility for my own actions."

Ms Long-Bailey was fired by Sir Keir Starmer last week after sharing a tweet linking to an interview with the actor Maxine Peake.

In the article, Ms Peake claimed police linked to the death of George Floyd in the US had learned their tactics from the Israeli secret services.

Sir Keir, following his initial decision to sack Ms Long-Bailey, said he had acted in order to rebuild trust with the Jewish community after years in which Labour has been embroiled in allegations of anti-Semitism.

Sir Keir Starmer / Getty Images

Ms Long-Bailey wrote on Monday that she "did a quick read" of Ms Peake's interview in the Independent before retweeting it, adding that the actor is her "constituent and [a] stalwart Labour party supporter."

Shortly afterwards, Sir Keir's staff rushed to alert Ms Long-Bailey to the anti-Semitic connotations of Ms Peake's comments.

She said: "I explained to the leaders office that I would never have intended to retweet or endorse anything that could cause hurt to anyone," adding that she has helped in efforts to get rid of anti-Semitism in Labour.

She said Sir Keir's staff then worked with Ms Long-Bailey to produce a clarification, before deciding this wasn't enough and the original tweet should be deleted.

Ms Long-Bailey didn't delete the tweet because "complete silence... over what had just happened would have been an abdication of the Labour partys responsibility to advance dialogue and understanding on this issue; silence is what allows antisemitic conspiracy theories to fester and spread," she said.

She was later sacked by Sir Keir over the phone. The original tweet and later clarifications remain online.

Ms Long-Bailey said she would now focus on her constituents in Salford and Eccles as a backbencher, working "in parliament and in the community doing the job I was always elected to do: a voice for the voiceless, because the welfare of the people is the highest law."

Kate Green has replaced Rebecca Long-Bailey as Shadow Education Secretary / PA

A snap poll after Ms Long-Bailey's sacking suggested that 47 per cent of Brits backed Sir Keir's decision.

But a group of MPs on the left of the party, which includes former leader Jeremy Corbyn, have said "significant disagreement remains" with Sir Keir about Ms Long-Bailey's removal.
W ith driving lessons and tests set to return next week, businesses have been sharing how they plan to introduce new safety measures to ensure the safety of their customers and drivers.

Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg announced on June 25 that driving lessons and tests could resume in England after the coronavirus outbreak saw a temporary halt for the lessons.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will set their own dates for the return of lessons and tests.

Driving instructors' diaries are expected to fill up fast as thousands of Brits who have been unable to take their tests or learn the useful skill will be able to make bookings for next week.

RED Driving School said it will resume lessons July 6, theory tests will resume from 4th July and driving tests will resume from 22nd July.

Drive Johnson's driving school has continued to provide lessons for key workers during the pandemic but from July 4 anyone can book a lesson or test with one of its instructors.

Ian McIntosh, CEO of RED Driving School said: "Pre Covid-19, 4,000 driving tests were held per day, so it is easy to imagine the huge backlog which has now built up.

"The Government is telling people to avoid public transport  in fact, the use of a private car is now being encouraged, so this news will be welcomed by thousands of learner drivers up and down the country."

When making the announcement Mr Rees-Mogg said the industry should return "in a way that avoids a second peak in infections".

Here are some of the safety measures driving schools are putting in place to ensure the safety of their customers and instructors.

The Government announced driving lessons can resume from July 4 / PA

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Most driving schools have said they follow the Government's guidelines when it comes to wearing PPE during the lessons.

Students and instructors will be asked to wear face coverings and disposable gloves that will be changed with each session.

AA Driving School, which also runs the British School of Motoring, said it was asking customers and instructors to wear clothing that covers their arms and legs.

Fewer staff

Not all driving instructors will be continuing lessons as some people are at more risk of the coronavirus than others.

Drive Johnson's said it has opened its office with fewer staff to ensure social distancing can be maintained at work.

The driving school also said some staff won't be returning just yet due to personal health or the need to protect family members.

It expects that 85 per cent of its instructors will be back teaching by July 4.

Mr McIntosh from RED added: "We will of course only commence teaching using RED instructors who choose to resume and will make allowances for those who feel the need to continue to self-isolate.

"This means that, despite the easing of lockdown, all instructors and customers can decide for themselves whether or not to participate in driving lessons."

Some driving schools are already taking bookings / PA

Sanitisation

Driving students will be asked to wash their hands before entering the car and the steering wheel and other controls will be wiped down before the lesson.

Additional training

RED Driving school said all of its instructors will be trained in how to reduce viral contamination and how to "ensure best practice for operating a safe driving lesson".

Customers will also be asked to declare that they are symptom free before they step inside a car.

Speaking after the announcement on June 25 Gareth Llewellyn, DVSA Chief Executive, said: "It has been vital that lessons and tests only resume when safe to do so and in line with the governments advice.

"We know this has been a tough time for the whole country including learners and driving instructors but I am pleased to announce the restart of lessons and tests in England.
E ducation Secretary Gavin Williamson has said the government will fine parents who do not send their kids back to school.

Mr Williamson added on BBC Breakfast that advice on how schools will fully reopen in England will be set out at the end of this week.

Gavin Williamson said a return to school will be compulsory and families may face financial penalties if they keep their children at home  unless there is a good reason for the absence.

A detailed plan on how the Government will ensure that all children in England are back in the classroom in the autumn will be set out by the end of this week, the minister said.

Mr Williamson told BBC Breakfast that the government will set out how schools should operate after reopening later this week.

There is currently a limit of 15 pupils per classroom in England schools / AFP via Getty Images

What we will be doing at the end of this week is setting out further advice as to what the full return of all pupils looks like and giving clear steers to how schools should operate, he said.

In response to a question from a science teacher, he acknowledged efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus will be more challenging in secondary schools.

Its going to be more complex within secondary schools, he said.

On LBC, the Education Secretary said parents could be fined if they do not send their children back to school after their scheduled reopening in England in September.

It is going to be compulsory for children to return back to school unless theres a very good reason, or a local spike where there have had to be local lockdowns," he said.

We do have to get back into compulsory education as part of that, obviously fines sit alongside that.

Unless there is a good reason for the absence then we will be looking at the fact that we would be imposing fines on families if they are not sending their children back.

Boris Johnson has set out a new investment plan for schools / PA

It comes as a new survey shows more than half of leaders in the most deprived schools have significant concerns about vulnerable pupils safety and wellbeing

The most deprived schools are more likely to report that their main focus of in-school activities for vulnerable pupils and key workers children has not been curriculum-based work, according to the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER).

The report, based on a survey of more than 3,000 teachers and senior leaders, found that three in five teachers said vulnerable pupils were less engaged with learning activities than their peers.

Mr Williamson told BBC Breakfast that the government will set out how schools should operate after reopening later this week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also made a 10-year undertaking to improve school facilities, along with sprucing up classrooms currently in use.

Downing Street said a 1 billion cash injection would see construction work start on the first 50 projects as soon as September 2021.

Parents could be fined if their kids do not attend school / PA

Another 560 million will go towards school repairs in this financial year. Further education colleges will see 200 million of the 1.5 billion promised by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in his spring Budget to transform college estates over the next five years fast-tracked so that work can be brought forward.

Mr Johnson acknowledged that coronavirus has been a "disaster" for the UK but insisted the country will pull through.

"This has been a disaster, let's not mince our words, this has been an absolute nightmare for the country," he said.

"The country has gone through a profound shock. But in those moments you have the opportunity to change and to do things better."

He added: "So what we're going to be doing in the next few months is really doubling down on our initial agenda, which was all about investment, if you remember, in infrastructure, in education, in technology, to bring the country together."

Downing Street said that full details of the schools programme, along with eligibility for funding, will be laid out at the next Spending Review.
L isteners trying to experience the new Times Radio station on its launch day instead found themselves tuned in to an outlet based in Malawi.

The station launched on Monday with breakfast show hosts Aasmah Mir and Stig Abell holding an exclusive interview with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

But some listeners tuning in on Amazon's Alexa smart speaker were instead directed to Times Radio Malawi, where they heard lively music interspersed with a discussion of Malawian politics in Chichewa.

The station, based in the east African country, bills itself as "the radio experience that engages all Malawians at different social economic levels.

Times Radio is the new Rupert Murdoch-backed advert-free radio station launched in an apparent bid to rival the BBC on UK airwaves.

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch owns News UK, which is behind the new Times Radio / AFP/Getty Images

The upstart station poached top names from the national broadcaster, in addition to securing talent from across News UK titles, which include The Times, The Sun, and The Sunday Times.

Listeners were amused by the mix-up, with Anthony Swift writing: Alexa play Times Radio stubbornly delivers Times Radio Malawi."

Another, Daniel Fox, wrote: If my experience is anything to go by - "Times Radio Malawi" have just enjoyed their biggest audience ever this morning.

"Is it *actually* that difficult to get all smart speakers ready ahead of launch?

Smart speakers are an increasingly important tool for media outlets in reaching consumers, as up to one fifth of British homes have an Alexa or other smart speaker - and many have jettisoned a conventional radio.

The BBC also offers bitesize news bulletins via smart speaker audio command.
A judge has ordered WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to appear at his next court hearing unless he can provide medical evidence.

District judge Vanessa Baraitser made the ruling after being told that Assange was said to be too ill to attend Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday.

He was meant to attend the latest administrative hearing in his extradition case at the court but he did not turn up.

Assange, 48, is wanted in the US to face 17 charges under the Espionage Act and conspiracy to commit computer intrusion after the publication of hundreds of thousands of classified documents in 2010 and 2011.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange raises his fist prior to addressing the media on the balcony of the Embassy of Ecuador in London in 2017 / AFP via Getty Images

He is currently being held in Londons maximum-security Belmarsh prison while the court system tries to reschedule his extradition hearing, which was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Assanges barrister Mark Summers QC told the court his client did not appear by video link because he was unwell.

Mr Summers said he was surprised US authorities issued a new and wider indictment last week against Assange, whom they are seeking to extradite from Britain.

Protesters outside a previous hearing in Woolwich Crown Court / Getty Images

He said: We are to say the least surprised by the timing of this development.

Assanges legal team had heard about the latest indictment through the press and is waiting to be served with it, he said.

The judge told the court that the final hearing is likely to be held at the Old Bailey in September.

She said this has not been confirmed but it is almost certainly to be held at the Central Criminal Court.

In adjourning the case to July 27 at 10am, the judge said Assange must appear via video link unless there is medical evidence to explain his non-attendance.
Dinosaurs were wiped off the Earth by an asteroid, and not volcanic activity as some theories suggest, according to new research.

Most dinosaurs went extinct about 66 million years ago, and many scientists believe an asteroid crashing into the Earth killed them off.

However, some researchers have argued that a series of volcanic eruptions over tens of thousands of years led to their demise.

But a new study by scientists at Imperial College London, the University of Bristol and University College London suggests that only an asteroid could have fostered the conditions that caused dinosaurs' extinction.

Artist's impression of a dinosaur watching an asteroid hit the earth / PA

The research also shows that a series of volcanoes could have helped life on Earth recover from the asteroid in the long term.

Lead researcher Dr Alessandro Chiarenza, who conducted this work while studying for his PhD at Imperial, said: We show that the asteroid caused an impact winter for decades, and that these environmental effects decimated suitable environments for dinosaurs.

In contrast, the effects of the intense volcanic eruptions were not strong enough to substantially disrupt global ecosystems.

Our study confirms, for the first time quantitatively, that the only plausible explanation for the extinction is the impact winter that eradicated dinosaur habitats worldwide.

Both an asteroid impact and long-running volcanoes would produce gases and particles that would block out light from the sun, causing permanent winters.

Researchers have previously used geological markers of climate and powerful mathematical models to try to work out whether asteroids or volcanoes were responsible for killing off dinosaurs.

But the new study combined this with environmental factors that different species of dinosaur needed to survive, like rainfall levels and temperature.

Scientists found that only an asteroid could have eliminated all habitable areas, whereas some potential habitats could have survived a volcano series.
T he CEO of a US restaurant chain has donated his salary plus an additional $5 million (4.04 million) to support his employees through the coronavirus pandemic.

Kent Taylor, 64, has given away his annual income and bonus, totalling more than $800,000 (646,392) to an emergency fund called 'Andy's Outreach', which he set up 18 years ago to help employees cover rent, mortgage payments and funeral expenses.

Mr Taylor said he noticed many of his workers looking to the fund for help, and that the money was quickly getting depleted, which prompted him to donate millions of his own.

His donations have enabled him to keep all his staff with full pay across his 600 restaurants, despite the business taking a huge hit earlier this year because of lockdown measures.

The 64-year-old, who founded the popular steak house Texas Roadhouse, based in Louisville, Kentucky told People: "It's how I was raised. I did what I felt was right.

"This is that kind of time where you have to persist and think differently and take care of those that are with you and lift everyone's spirits and march forward."

Texas Roadhouse CEO  who reportedly made $1.3 million in 2018  will forgo his base salary and incentive bonus.

The additional funds will be made available to assist front-line hourly restaurant employees, the report states.https://t.co/TODtYcRYIT  New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) March 26, 2020

Asked what made him open the emergency fund nearly two decades ago he said: "We were doing that to take care of our people that might have a loved one die that needed money for a funeral or an operation.

"It would transition to where people gave part of their paycheck, whether 10 cents of $10, to help our people during times of need."

At the beginning of lockdown he also bought latex gloves, masks and eyewear for all his workers to ensure they remain safe from the deadly virus.

Speaking to People he added: "I'm 64 years old and I call people under 55 kids. So I have 70,000 kids, and you want to take care of them.

"I relate it to my own personal family and I want to take care of my family, is how I look at it."

Mr Kent said he remembers what it was like to struggle because in the early 90's when he first started his business he was a single parent who had to rely on his own parents help for money and accommodation.

As such, it has touched him to feel the gratitude of his employees, hundreds of whom have sent him thank you letters.

He said: "When you're down and out, that sticks in your head. A lot of people think when you make it later in life it leaves, but it stays in your brain. Later in life you want to give back in the same way.
C hina will impose visa restrictions on US individuals with "egregious conduct" on Hong Kong-related issues, officials announced on Monday.

The move mirrors US sanctions against Chinese officials who are deemed responsible for "undermining Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy".

The announcement comes as the top decision-making body of China's parliament deliberates a draft national security law for Hong Kong which pro-democracy activists in the city fear will be used to tighten Beijing's control.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, who announced the new sanctions during a press briefing on Monday, did not specify which US individuals have been targeted.

"The US is attempting to obstruct China's legislation for safeguarding national security in the HK SAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) by imposing the so-called sanctions, but it will never succeed," he told reporters.

"In response...China has decided to impose visa restrictions on US individuals with egregious conduct on HK-related issues."

Protesters call for 'liberation of Hong Kong' - In pictures 1 /12 Protesters call for 'liberation of Hong Kong' - In pictures Hong Kong protest - 24/05/2020 Anti-government protesters run away from tear gas during a march against China's plans to impose national security legislation in Hong Kong REUTERS Hong Kong protest - 24/05/2020 Anti-government protesters march against Beijing's plans to impose national security legislation in Hong Kong REUTERS Hong Kong protest - 24/05/2020 Anti-government protesters march against Beijing's plans to impose national security legislation in Hong Kong AP Hong Kong protest - 24/05/2020 Hong Kong riot police fire tear gas as hundreds of protesters march along a downtown street during a pro-democracy protest AP Hong Kong protest - 24/05/2020 Hundreds of protesters with banners march along a downtown street during a pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong AP Hong Kong protest - 24/05/2020 Pro-democracy protesters march during a protest against Beijing's national security legislation in Hong Kong AP Hong Kong protest - 24/05/2020 Pro-democracy protesters march during a protest against Beijing's national security legislation in Hong Kong AP Hong Kong protest - 24/05/2020 Riot police checking citizens on a roadside during a protest in Hong Kong AP Hong Kong protest - 24/05/2020 Protesters set up blockades during a protest against Beijing's national security legislation in Hong Kong AP Hong Kong protest - 24/05/2020 Burning debris is seen on a street during a protest against Beijing's national security legislation in Hong Kong AP Hong Kong protest - 24/05/2020 Medical volunteers help a man to move away as police fire teargas during a protest in Hong Kong AP Hong Kong protest - 24/05/2020 Anti-government protesters move away after riot police disperse them during a march against Beijing's plans to impose national security legislation in Hong Kong REUTERS

Last week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the new visa restrictions imposed by Washington apply to "current and former" officials of China's ruling Communist Party "believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy".

The US Senate also approved a bill that would impose mandatory sanctions on people or companies which back efforts to restrict Hong Kong's autonomy.

It includes secondary sanctions on banks that do business with anyone backing any crackdown on the territory's autonomy.

Zhao, the foreign ministry spokesman, told reporters that China has lodged a complaint with the US over the bill and warned that Beijing will respond with "strong countermeasures" in response to US actions on Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous region which has had a "one country, two systems" policy since Britain handed it to Chinese rule in 1997.

China's parliament passed a draft of the controversial national security bill earlier this month.

The UK, Australia and Canada have said they are deeply concerned by the legislation which could undermine the one country, two systems principle.
T he death toll from Covid-19 passed half a million people while South Korea and China appear to be battling a second outbreak of the virus.

The respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus has been particularly dangerous for the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, although other adults and children are also among the 501,000 fatalities and 10.1 million reported cases.

While the overall rate of death has flattened in recent weeks, health experts have expressed concerns about record numbers of new cases in countries like the United States, Brazil, as well as new outbreaks in parts of Asia.

More than 4,700 people are dying every 24 hours from Covid-19-linked illness, based on an average from June 1 to 27.

That equates to 196 people per hour, or one person every 18 seconds.

A girl raises her fist in the air in front of the Minneapolis First Precinct during a Pride march on June 28, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota / Getty Images

It comes as California ordered some bars to close on Sunday, the first major rollback of efforts to reopen the economy in the most populous U.S. state as novel coronavirus cases nationwide soar to record levels day after day.

Governor Gavin Newsom's order for bars to close in Los Angeles and six other counties followed moves by Texas and Florida to shut all their bars on Friday. Public health officials in California and throughout the United States have identified bars as the riskiest non-essential businesses currently open.

Consuming alcohol reduces inhibitions, which leads to less mask-wearing and social distancing, health officials warn. Patrons in noisy bars often shout, which spreads droplets more widely.

Meanwhile, South Korea, which has been one of the most successful countries at suppressing the spread of Covid-19, reported 42 new cases as infections steadily climb in the greater capital area, forcing authorities to consider stronger social restrictions.

The figures announced by the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday brought the national caseload to 12,757, including 282 deaths.

Twenty-four of the new cases were reported from capital Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas, which have been at the centre of a virus resurgence since late May.

A barber cuts a customer's hair on a street amid a recent outbreak of Covid-19 in Beijing / AFP via Getty Images

At least 12 of the new cases were linked to international arrivals as the virus continues to strengthen its hold elsewhere around the world.

South Korea was reporting hundreds of new cases a day in late February and early March following a major surge surrounding the southeast city of Daegu, where the majority of infections were linked to a single church congregation with thousands of members.

But while health authorities had used aggressive testing and contact tracing to contain the outbreak in that region, they are having a much harder time tracking recent transmissions in the Seoul metropolitan area, where about half of the countrys 51 million people live.

China has imposed a strict lockdown in Anxin County, Heibi, near Beijing, after a new surge in cases. Anxin is 90 miles south of Beijing and the lockdown affects 400,000 people.

There have been 18 cases in Anxin since the recent outbreak in a meat market Beijing two weeks ago. The nation's capital has now seen 311 new cases since mid-June.

Case numbers are also growing swiftly in Latin America, on Sunday surpassing those diagnosed in Europe, making the region the second most affected by the pandemic, after North America.

People wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus cross a road in Seoul / AP

Texas has seen a surge of cases after allowing businesses to reopen following the US' nationwide lockdown, and has begun to reimpose restrictions.

Both Vice President Mike Pence and Texas Governor Greg Abbott acknowledged the rapid rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the state in recent weeks after Mr Abbott began allowing businesses to start reopening in early May.

"Covid 19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past few weeks," said Mr Abbott, who on Friday again shut down bars and limited restaurant dining, a day after Texas reported a record high confirmed positive tests of 5,996.

The World on Coronavirus lockdown 1 /45 The World on Coronavirus lockdown Getty Images A UK government public health campaign is displayed in Piccadilly Circus Reuters Chinese paramilitary police and security officers wear face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus as they stand guard outside an entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing AP A usually busy 42nd Street is seen nearly empty in New York AFP via Getty Images Bondi Beach, Australia Getty Images Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images View of the illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer that reads "Thank you" as Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro Dom Orani Tempesta performs a mass in honor of Act of Consecration of Brazil and tribute to medical workers amidst the Coronavirus (COVID - 19) pandemic Getty Images Rome AFP via Getty Images An Indian man paddles his bicycle in front of a mural depicting the globe covered in a mask, as India remains under an unprecedented lockdown over the highly contagious coronavirus Getty Images Aerial view of the empty 9 de Julio avenue in Buenos Aires in Argentina AFP via Getty Images A view of an empty Grand Canal Reuters Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Central cemetery in Bogota, Columbia AFP via Getty Images The facade of the Palacio de Lopez (seat of the government palace) AFP via Getty Images Miami, Florida AFP via Getty Images Aerial view of the empty Simon Bolivar park in Bogota AFP via Getty Images An LAPD patrol car drives through Venice Beach Boardwalk AP Venice Beach, California Getty Images Los Angeles, California Getty Images Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images Many shops stand shuttered on the Venice Beach boardwalk Getty Images Empty escalators are seen at a deserted train station during morning rush hour after New South Wales began shutting down non-essential businesses Reuters A nearly empty Times Square in New York AFP via Getty Images Caracas AFP via Getty Images Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador AFP via Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Midland Park in Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A general view of an unusually quiet Civic Square at lunchtimein Wellington, New Zealand Getty Images A policeman rides his motorcycle wearing a face mask in front of a closed shopping mall in Buenos Aires, Argentina AFP via Getty Images Florida Keys AP The historic Channel 2 Bridge closed to fishermen, bikers and pedestrians in Florida Keys AP The Beach on Scenic Gulf Drive near Seascape Resort in south Walton County, Florida sits empty of tourists AP Surfers Paradise is seen empty in Australia Getty Images A deserted Rajpath leading to India Gate in New Delhi AFP via Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images A general view is seen of a closed Luna Park in Sydney, Australia Getty Images Empty roads are pictured following the lockdown by the government amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Kathmandu, Nepal Reuters An empty New York Subway car i AFP via Getty Images The empty pedestrian zone is seen in the city of Cologne, western Germany, AFP via Getty Images Place de la Comedie in the city of Montpellier , southern France AFP via Getty Images An empty street in Kuwait city AFP via Getty Images A building is covered by the Portuguese message: "Coronavirus: take precaution" over empty streets in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, AP A general view shows an empty street after a curfew was imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Reuters Parliament of Canada is pictured with empty street during morning rush hour AFP via Getty Images A near empty beach on Southend seafront in England PA Near empty Keswick town centre in Cumbria, England PA

Governor Abbott has also banned elective surgeries in the state's largest counties.

Mr Pence praised Mr Abbott for his decisions both to reopen the state, then to roll back the reopening plans. He also encouraged the wearing of face coverings in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
O ne of Spain's most popular beachside holiday regions has had a major coronavirus outbreak, a week after British tourists began returning to the area.

The Costa del Sol in southern Spain recently reopened its beaches, along with the rest of the country, following several months of coronavirus lockdown.

But more than 90 people have tested positive for the virus in Malaga, in a fresh outbreak, while six have also fallen ill in the town Casabermeja, a short drive to the north.

A lorry driver has reportedly been hospitalised, while his children have also tested positive.

A man relaxes in the water in Malaga / REUTERS

Spain has only recently opened up its borders again. Many more British tourists are expected to fly out next week, when the Government is set to announce "air bridges" with certain countries, including Spain.

This would mean that people flying to these countries would not have to quarantine for 14 days when returning to the UK.

And Spain's tourism minister insisted that the country was ready for the new influx of tourists, despite the rising infections.

Were looking forward to the return of our tourists to Spain, so they can enjoy the experiences they have in the past," Isabel Oliver said.

Back to the beach: Benidorm in Spain, which is set to be on the air bridge list / STR/AFP via Getty Images

Maybe theyll experience them a bit differently but it will be totally pleasurable for them.

Referring to the people who tested positive in Malaga, she added: We knew this could happen and the reaction has been super quick to control the situation.

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Certainly, one race or sex is not superior to another. To ignore systemic oppression and its impact on the past and present policies, however, is to put ones head into the sand. I was struck by the fact that even recently, most white Americans were unaware of the Tulsa Race Massacre of June 1, 1921 when mobs of white residents attacked black residents and destroyed homes and businesses in the Greenwood district in Tulsa. Thirty-five plus square blocks of the neighborhood  at the time the wealthiest black community in the United States, known as Black Wall Street  was decimated, with up to 300 people dead. Ten thousand black people were left homeless and property damage of black businesses and homes was an estimated at $1.5 million in 1921 dollars. It is precisely the omission of this kind of event in local, state, and national histories that establishes the need to examine systemic problems.

Arlene Violet on critical race theory. She is a Republican who served as RI Attorney General
I ran has issued an arrest warrant for Donald Trump over the killing of top general Qassem Soleimani.

While the US President faces no danger of arrest, the charges underscore the heightened tensions between Iran and the United States since Mr Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Mr Trump and more than 30 others whom Iran accuses of involvement in the January 3 strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad face "murder and terrorism charges," the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

Mr Alqasimehr did not identify anyone else sought other than Trump, but stressed that Iran would continue to pursue his prosecution even after his presidency ends.

General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike / AP

Interpol, based in Lyon, France, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mr Alqasimehr also was quoted as saying that Iran requested a "red notice" be put out for Trump and the others, which represents the highest level arrest request issued by Interpol. Local authorities end up making the arrests on behalf of the country that request it. The notices cannot force countries to arrest or extradite suspects, but can put government leaders on the spot and limit suspects' travel.

After receiving a request, Interpol meets by committee and discusses whether or not to share the information with its member states. Interpol has no requirement for making any of the notices public, though some do get published on its website.

It is unlikely Interpol would grant Iran's request as its guideline for notices forbids it from "undertaking any intervention or activities of a political" nature.

The U.S. killed Soleimani, who oversaw the Revolutionary Guard's expeditionary Quds Force, and others in the January strike near Baghdad International Airport. It came after months of incidents raising tensions between the two countries and ultimately saw Iran retaliate with a ballistic missile strike targeting American troops in Iraq.
S panish villagers defiantly festooned their local streets with hundreds of rainbow flags after police ordered the mayor to take down a banner celebrating Pride.

The mayor of Villanueva de Algaidas near Malaga in southern Spain had raised the rainbow flag at the village's town hall ahead of Pride celebrations this weekend.

But police told him to bring it down, citing a Supreme Court ruling that only flags of Spain, its regions or the European Union can be flown from state buildings.

Juan Civico, the village's Socialist mayor, told Reuters: "After the complaints, we studied what we had to do. We saw that under the law we had to remove the flag.

A villager with her rainbow decorations / Reuters

"But the people can put what they like on their balconies."

A shopkeeper 50 miles away in the seaside resort of Torremolinos heard about the ban and decided to take action.

Juan Alcantara posted on a Facebook group asking villagers if they wanted rainbow flags. After getting 100 requests, he drove over to the village, where he gave out 300.

Europe's museums and galleries reopen after lockdown - in pictures 1 /18 Europe's museums and galleries reopen after lockdown - in pictures People walk behind a poster showing the safety distance for visiting the Gemaeldegalerie 'Alte Meister' (Old Masters Picture Gallery) in Dresden, central Germany, Wednesday, May 6, 2020 AP Visitors wearing protective face masks look at the paintings, on first day of reopening at Leopold Museum, during the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Vienna, Austria REUTERS A staff member checks the body temperature of a visitor at the entrance of the Jacquemart-Andre Museum on the first day of the reopening in Paris on May 26, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Two women wearing the face masks visit the Jacquemart-Andre Museum on the first day of the reopening in Paris on May 26, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Visitors wearing protective face masks look at the The Sistine Madonna, a painting by Raphael, at the Old Masters Gallery at the Zwinger palace complex on the first day the palace reopened to the public during the coronavirus crisis on May 05, 2020 in Dresden, Germany Getty Images People wear protective face masks as they watch the exhibition "Genealogies of the art, or art history as visual art" at the Picasso Museum open to the public, as some Spanish provinces are allowed to ease lockdown restrictions during phase one, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Malaga, Spain, May 26, 2020 REUTERS People wear protective face masks as they watch the exhibition "Genealogies of the art, or art history as visual art" at the Picasso Museum open to the public, as some Spanish provinces are allowed to ease lockdown restrictions during phase one, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Malaga, Spain, May 26, 2020 REUTERS A traffic light system allows visitors to tour the Rosenborg Castle museum while observing social distancing, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday May 26, 2020 AP A traffic light system allows visitors to tour the Rosenborg Castle museum while observing social distancing, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday May 26, 2020 Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima A man wearing protective mask visit the Museum of Illusion on May 13, 2020 in Paris, as France eased lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of the of the COVID-19 pandemic. AFP via Getty Images A woman walks through the outdoor exhibition area after the reopening of the exhibition 'Karl Lagerfeld Photography. The retrospective.' in the Moritzburg Art Museum in Halle, Germany, Friday, May 22, 2020 AP A woman walks through the outdoor exhibition area after the reopening of the exhibition 'Karl Lagerfeld Photography. The retrospective.' in the Moritzburg Art Museum in Halle, Germany, Friday, May 22, 2020 AP After over two months of closure, the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum opens its doors to the public, after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions eased, in Aarhus, Denmark May 22, 2020 via REUTERS A museum attendant wearing a face mask and shield stands in a room at the Galleria Borghese museum in Rome on May 19, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Visitors wearing a face mask view "David", a 1623-1624 marble sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini at the Galleria Borghese museum in Rome on May 19, 2020 AFP via Getty Images A visitor wearing a protective face mask stands next to a painting by US painter Edward Hopper entitled "Cape Cod Sunset" after the reopening of the exhibitions Edward Hopper and Silent Vision Images of Calm and Quiet at the Beyeler Foundation in Riehen near Basel, on May 15, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Visitors wear face masks, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as they look at The Death of Marat painting by Jacques-Louis David at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels, Tuesday, May 19, 2020 AP A visitor wearing a protective face mask watches a dancer perform the installation piece "Our Labyrinth" at the Lee Mingwei exhibition at the Gropius Bau museum on the first day the museum reopened since March during the coronavirus crisis on May 11 in Berlin, Germany Getty Images

He said "The village is full [of flags]. It is incredible."

Piedad Queralta, a villager who hung two flags from her house, said: "I think people should be free to love who they want to as long as it does not cause anybody any harm."
P ierce Brosnan has paid tribute to his daughter Charlotte on the seventh anniversary of her death.

The former James Bond star, 67, posted a photo taken by his wife Keely Shaye Smith, as he relaxed at home in Hawaii.

Quoting classic film Casablanca, Brosnan also sent his love to his granddaughter Marley May in the caption of the snap.

Heres looking at you kid in remembrance of Charlotte and with happy birthday wishes for my darling Marley May, he told his 1.3 million Instagram followers.

Several fans offered their support, with Marcella actor Anna Friel sending her condolences by commenting a series of heart emojis.

Brosnan lost daughter Charlotte to ovarian cancer in 2013. She was just 41 years old.

Charlotte fought her cancer with grace and humanity, courage and dignity. Our hearts are heavy with the loss of our beautiful dear girl, the actor said in a statement at the time.

Loss: Pierce Brosnan with daughter Charlotte pictured at an award ceremony

We pray for her and that the cure for this wretched disease will be close at hand soon. We thank everyone for their heartfelt condolences.

Brosnans first wife and Charlottes mother, Cassandra, died from ovarian cancer in 1991, aged 43.

His long-term producing partner, Beau St Clair, also died from the disease in 2016.

The actor has previously spoken candidly about his experiences with grief, saying he often struggled to feel optimistic.

Speaking about the disease on the 2014 Stand Up to Cancer special, Brosnan said: To watch someone you love have his or her life eaten away bit by bit by this insidious disease, that kind of sorrow becomes an indelible part of your psyche."

He later told Esquire in 2017: I dont look at the cup as half full, believe me.

The dark, melancholy Irish black dog sits beside me from time to time."
Ogden jazz icon Joe McQueen may be gone, but his memory and legacy live on. One physical reminder of his life, McQueen's lifelong home at 3158 Grant Ave., has now become available for sale. The house received extensive remodeling, but as investor Richard Casperson has said, "Joe's energy is 
Frankfort, KY (40601)

Today

Thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 84F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

A steady rain in the evening. Showers continuing late. Low 56F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Two St. Catharines residents face assault charges after an altercation at Sunset Beach Sunday night in the north end of the city sent one woman to hospital.

Niagara Regional Police laid the charges after three people were sprayed with bear mace, and a suspect brandished a knife.

Niagara Emergency Medical Services paramedics treated two victims at the scene and transferred a female to hospital for further treatment. Police said the injuries were not life-threatening.

When you mix drinking with the hot sun, sooner or later, you will have trouble, a neighbour said. I wouldnt say there are problems every day, but, now and again, it can get a little rowdy.

Grantham Ward Coun. Bill Phillips attended a city hall meeting about the beach Monday with the mayor, fire chief, senior staff and fellow ward Coun. Dawn Dodge. Phillips said everyone is concerned.

We view it as a problem, he said. Its a problem we want to solve without too much of an impact on the people who enjoy the beach responsibly.

In the short term, Phillips said, the city will likely move to close the beach earlier in the evening.

Its Sunset Beach, so we want people to enjoy the sunset, but we had to break up a big party in May, and now this fight, he said.

The city has asked police to step up patrols.

Sunday, we had our city traffic enforcement down there ticketing and towing vehicles, Phillips said. Our tickets are only $30. If you go to a beach in Toronto, you pay $50 for parking for the day. People are saying, Ill take the ticket.

In Wainfleet, the tickets are $100. Im not saying we are going to do that, but we have to do something in the short term and look for long-term solutions.

The beach was renamed in 2015  it was Municipal Beach  and features a 360-metre stretch of sand on Lake Ontario and a boat launch. There are also beach volleyball courts and other amenities.

We have created a bit of a monster down here, Phillips said. Its a great spot, but the people who live down here are taking the brunt of this. On a weekend afternoon, its crazy, and getting worse.

Another neighbour said as the situation deteriorated in Port Dalhousie with flood damage and the closure of the piers, more people are using Sunset Beach.

Yesterday (Sunday) was as busy as Ive ever seen it, he said. The water was filled with boats and Jet Skis.

Mackenzie Benard, 22, is charged with assault, administering a noxious substance, assault with a weapon and uttering threats.

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Sasha Smith, 23, is charged with assault.

Both were released with a Sept. 1 court date.
REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says details are coming soon on when nearly all businesses in the province will be allowed to reopen, signalling an end to the financial support to get them through the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

Moe said many businesses are already operating again, except for some like bingo halls and casinos.

The premier said specific dates on when more COVID-19 restrictions can lift is to be unveiled Tuesday.

These last few months have not been easy for any business whether theyve been open or not, he said.

Moe said that with the reopenings, the governments $50-million emergency program for small and medium-sized businesses, designed to provide relief to those forced to close because of provincial COVID-19 restrictions, will be winding down.

It would be coming to a close here as most of our businesses would be able to be open now.

The Opposition NDP said the Saskatchewan Party government has spent about $27 million of the programs $50 million funding and that applications have been rejected because its parameters are too narrow.

Moe said the intention of the grants was clear and, as compared to elsewhere in Canada, many people were able to keep working during the pandemic.

We havent been impacted quite as much as some other provinces, he said Monday.

Saskatchewan reported one new case of COVID-19 on Monday in the far north region, bringing the provinces total to 779 infections. So far, 679 people have recovered and 13 have died.

Moe said the small business grants were in addition to the relief programs announced by the federal government to which the province also contributed.

The premier said as of right now theres no more provincial support on the horizon to help cushion the impact of the pandemic, but stated nothing is off the table if Saskatchewan gets hit with a second wave of cases that requires another shutdown.

For the short term what we see is what we have put out to support our businesses.

NDP leader Ryan Meili accused Moes government of not spending enough on health care, small businesses or education to help people in those sectors weather the global health crisis.

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The provincial government has already announced it will spend an extra $2 billion on infrastructure over the next two years in an effort to stimulate the economy and create jobs as Saskatchewan recovers from the pandemic.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2020
Democrats and Republicans in Congress demanded on Monday that U.S. intelligence agencies promptly share with lawmakers what they know about a suspected Russian plot to pay bounties to the Taliban to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and threatened to retaliate against the Kremlin.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate, each requested that all lawmakers be briefed on the matter and for CIA and other intelligence officials to explain how President Donald Trump was informed of intelligence collected about the plot. Trump has said he was not made aware of an intelligence assessment about the plot; officials have said that it was briefed to the highest levels of the White House and appeared in the presidents daily intelligence brief.

Congress and the country need answers now, Pelosi, D-Calif., wrote in a letter to John Ratcliffe, director of national intelligence, and Gina Haspel, the CIA director. Congress needs to know what the intelligence community knows about this significant threat to American troops and our allies and what options are available to hold Russia accountable.

In the Republican-controlled Senate, James Inhofe of Oklahoma, the chair of the Armed Services Committee, said he had asked for information as well and expected to know more on the matter in the coming days.

Members of Congress were caught off guard on Friday when The New York Times first reported that U.S. intelligence had found that a Russian military intelligence unit had secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants in exchange for killing U.S. troops and their allies in Afghanistan. National Security Council officials met in March to discuss the intelligence, but the White House has taken no known action in response.

The White House has not challenged that the intelligence assessment exists, or that the National Security Council held an interagency meeting about it in late March.

But Trump and his press secretary, Kaleigh McEnany, have both claimed that he was not briefed on the intelligence report. Trump said in a tweet late Sunday that Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or Vice President Mike Pence.

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ROME - The Vatican says Pope Francis has been informed about an appeal launched by a group of Catholics in Poland urging intervention into cases where bishops have continued to cover up for priests who sexually molest children.

The group EnoughHarm took out a full-page advertisement on Monday in Rome daily La Repubblica, addressed to the pope. It urged Francis to repair our church and heal the wounds of abuse victims.

The lack of a decisive reaction by the church hierarchy to reports of reprehensible behaviour by some bishops is cause for public scandal and harms the good of the church, the ad said. It harms its unity, because it divides those who are concerned for the image of the institution and those who have the good of victims at heart.

Largely Roman Catholic Poland has become the latest country to face a reckoning of sexual abuse by priests and coverup by their superiors. The scandal has hit particularly hard in Poland given the churchs enormous authority and influence in all aspects of life and the pride of many Poles in their native son, St. John Paul II.

Two recent documentaries, however, have cast a spotlight on individual cases of abuse and how bishops ignored victims, discredited their claims and shuttled abusers around to protect them and the reputation of the church.

Just last week, Francis appointed a temporary commissioner to run the central diocese of Kalisz and sidelined its bishop, Edward Janiak, after he was placed under Vatican investigation following accusations in the most recent documentary that he covered up two cases of abuse.

And on Monday, the Vaticans office for clergy announced it had tasked the same Polish prelate who is conducting the preliminary investigation into Janiak, Poznan Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, to also conduct an investigation into the seminary in Kielce.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis had been informed about the appeal in the Repubblica advertisement, which echoes an online petition issued in a variety of languages under the EnoughHarm groups Polish domain www.dosckrzywdy.pl

The Holy Father was informed about the appeal and prays for those who sent it, Bruni said. The church must do everything possible so that canonical norms are applied, that cases of abuse are brought to light and those guilty of the crimes are punished.

Francis last year updated the churchs in-house canon law to also punish bishops who cover up for abusers, after the Vatican for decades turned a blind eye to local church leaders who failed to protect their flocks from predators. The norms contain detailed steps for investigating negligent bishops, as well as provisions to protect whistle-blowers who report them.

So far, a handful of bishops are known to be under investigation according to the new norms.

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AP correspondent Monika Scislowska contributed from Warsaw, Poland.
AUSTIN, Texas - When a participant at a rally in Austin to protest police brutality threw a rock at a line of officers in the Texas capital, officers responded by firing beanbag rounds  ammunition that law enforcement deems less lethal than bullets.

A beanbag cracked 20-year-old Justin Howells skull and, according to his family, damaged his brain. Adding to the pain, police admit the Texas State University student wasnt the intended target.

Protesters took to the streets in Austin and across the nation following the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. In some instances, police reacted with force so extreme that while their intent may not be to kill, the effects were devastating.

Pressure has mounted for a change in police tactics since Howell was injured. He was not accused of any crime. He was hospitalized in critical condition on May 31 and was discharged Wednesday to a long-term rehabilitation facility for intensive neurological, physical and occupational therapy. His brother has questioned why no one is talking about police use of less lethal but still dangerous munitions.

If we only talk about policing in terms of policies and processes or the weapons that police use when someone dies or when they are properly lethal and not less lethal, were missing a big portion of the conversation, said Josh Howell, a computer science graduate student at Texas A&M University.

The Austin Police Department said in a news release that, before June 1, its officers used Def-Tec 12-gauge beanbag munitions on protesters. According to the manufacturers website, they have a velocity of 184 mph (296 kph)

The growing use of less lethal weapons is cause for grave concern and may sometimes violate international law, said Agnes Callamard, director of Global Freedom of Expression at Columbia University and a U.N. adviser.

From 1990 to 2014, projectiles caused 53 deaths and 300 permanent disabilities among 1,984 serious injuries recorded by medical workers in over a dozen countries, according to Rohini Haar, an emergency room doctor in Oakland, California, and primary author of the 2016 Physicians for Human Rights report.

Ishia Lynette, a spokeswoman for the Austin Justice Coalition, said her group had been organizing a rally with an expected 10,000 attendees, but that was cancelled after Howell was shot. With anger flaring on both sides, the organization that advocates for racial justice feared confrontations could arise.

I feel safe in some sense, but it is always in the back of my head, the what if? Other people can incite violence, whether that be other protesters or the police, Lynette said.

The Austin City Council has since begun an overhaul of the Police Department, banning the use of less lethal munitions and tear gas in crowds participating in free speech, and prohibiting the use of chokeholds. The attack on Howell is one of more than 100 under investigation.

Lynette hailed the citys efforts to change, but said more needs to be done. Her organization also has been calling for Austin Police Chief Brian Manley to resign.

They recently banned chokeholds, rubber bullets, beanbags, she said. These are small things, but we need them to take more actions to not hurt any more protesters. Since then, I have seen videos of them operating in the same way. If they would uphold what they said, it is not enough, but it is a start.

David Frost, who captured on video the moments after Howell was shot, said he saw protesters throwing fist-sized rocks and water bottles at the line of police on an overpass. Then he saw Howell fall. He was bleeding heavily and went into a seizure, Frost said.

As medical volunteers with red crosses on their arms helped Frost to move Howell to a safe place, officers again opened fire. Frosts video shows the police firing towards them.

Manley said at a news conference that Howell was not the intended target, insisting that the officer was aiming for the person who he said attacked the police line near the Austin Police Department headquarters.

One of the officers fired their less lethal munition at that individual, apparently, but it struck this victim instead, Manley said. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and we hope his condition will improve quickly.

Howell was not the first person at the Austin rallies to be injured by police. A day earlier, 16-year-old Brad Levi Ayala, who was watching a protest from a distance, was also shot in the head with a beanbag.

We cant really take comfort in the phrase less lethal, Josh Howell said. Because if what we mean is less lethal than a bullet, thats not a high bar to clear.

He declined to comment on the changes the city and police chief said they are making because he doesnt live in Austin.

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This story was first published on June 27. It was updated on June 29 to correct the name of a man who captured on video the severe injuring of a protester during a demonstration in Austin, Texas. His name is David Frost, not David Foster.

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Acacia Coronado is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a non-profit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A former police officer who terrorized California as a serial burglar and rapist and went on to kill more than a dozen people while evading capture for decades pleaded guilty Monday to murders attributed to the Golden State Killer.

Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. had remained almost silent in court since his 2018 arrest until he repeatedly uttered the words guilty and I admit in a hushed and raspy voice as part of a plea agreement that will spare him the death penalty for a life sentence with no chance of parole.

DeAngelo, 74, did not co-operate with authorities. But he muttered a confession of sorts after his arrest that cryptically referred to an alter ego named Jerry that he said forced him to commit the wave of crimes that appeared to end abruptly in 1986.

I did all that, DeAngelo said to himself while alone in a police interrogation room after his arrest in April 2018, Sacramento County prosecutor Thien Ho said.

I didnt have the strength to push him out, DeAngelo said. He made me. He went with me. It was like in my head, I mean, hes a part of me. I didnt want to do those things. I pushed Jerry out and had a happy life. I did all those things. I destroyed all their lives. So now Ive got to pay the price.

While prosecutors suggested DeAngelo had been faking a split-personality, Ho said his day of reckoning had arrived.

The scope of Joseph DeAngelos crimes is simply staggering, Ho said. Each time he escaped, slipping away silently into the night.

Theres no escaping now. DeAngelo, seated in a wheelchair on a makeshift stage in a university ballroom that could accommodate more than 150 observers at a safe distance during the coronavirus pandemic, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of murder and dozens of rapes that were too old to prosecute.

All told, he admitted to 161 crimes involving 48 people, Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten said.

The large room at Sacramento State University was made to look like a state courtroom with the seal of the Sacramento County Superior Court behind the judges chair and U.S. and state flags on the riser that served as a sort of stage for a daylong proceeding that had a theatre-like feel. Large screens flanked the stage so spectators could follow the livestreamed hearing.

DeAngelo, who wore orange jail scrubs and a plastic face shield to prevent possible spread of the virus, listed to one side and his mouth hung open as prosecutors read graphic details of the rapes and killings where he snacked on leftover turkey before leaving.

Family members wept as the proceeding went on most of the day. A pile of used tissues sat on the floor next to Jennifer Carole, whose father, attorney Lyman Smith, was slain in 1980 with his wife, Charlene Smith, who was raped before being killed.

This is much harder than I thought it was going to be. And I thought it was going to be hard, Carole said. I feel a lot of anger, which I dont think Ive felt so powerfully before.

DeAngelo, a Vietnam veteran and a grandfather, had never been on investigators radar until just before his arrest.

Investigators didnt connect a series of assaults in central and Northern California to slayings in Southern California until about a decade after the last killing and eventually settled on the Golden State Killer nickname for the mysterious assailant.

Police used DNA from crime scenes to find a distant relative through a popular genealogy website database then built a family tree that eventually led them to him. They tailed DeAngelo and secretly collected DNA from his car door and a discarded tissue to get an arrest warrant.

The retired truck mechanic was arrested at his home in the Sacramento suburbs  the same area he terrorized in the mid-1970s, earning the title East Area Rapist.

Prosecutors detailed sadistic acts he committed after slipping into homes undetected and surprising couples in bed by shining a flashlight in their faces and threatening to kill everyone in the house  including young children  if they didnt follow his orders.

The masked prowler initially said he only wanted their money to earn their co-operation. He would have women bind their husbands or boyfriends face down in bed with shoelaces, and then he would tie up the women. Victims described being prodded by the barrel of a gun or the point of a knife.

He piled dishes on the backs of men and said they would both be killed if he heard the plates crash while he raped the women.

At a home in Contra Costa County in the fall of 1978, he told a woman he would cut her baby boys ear off if she didnt perform oral sex after he had raped her.

I admit, DeAngelo said after the prosecutor read the description of that crime.

He stole whatever he could find, sometimes a few bottles of Budweiser and some cash, other times diamond rings. He slipped off into the dark on foot or by bicycle and even evaded police who at times believed they came close to catching him.

DeAngelo knew the territory well.

He started on the police force in the San Joaquin Valley farm town of Exeter in 1973, where he committed his first killing.

DeAngelo was among the officers trying to find a serial burglar in the neighbouring city of Visalia responsible for about 100 break-ins.

Community college professor Claude Snelling was killed by the suspected Visalia Ransacker after trying to prevent him from kidnapping his 16-year-old daughter.

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After three years on the force, DeAngelo moved back to the Sacramento area, where he worked for the Auburn Police Department in the Sierra foothills until 1979 when he was caught shoplifting dog repellent and a hammer  two items that could be of use to a burglar.

DeAngelo killed a couple walking their dog in a Sacramento suburb in 1978, but the majority of murders came after he moved to Southern California.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer choked up as family members of the victims stood during his description of each of the four killings there. Spitzer, who wiped a tear at one point, diverged from other prosecutors to address DeAngelo directly when discussing the May 5, 1986, rape and slaying of Janelle Cruz, 18  the final killing.

You attacked her, you beat her and you raped her, Spitzer said. You murdered her in the first-degree, bludgeoning her in the face.

A guilty plea and life sentence avoids lengthy and expensive litigation. Victims will be able to confront DeAngelo during a lengthy sentencing hearing beginning Aug. 17.

Victims began to stand in the audience as accounts of their attacks were read. Nearly two dozen were on their feet in solidarity as a prosecutor from Sacramento  where most of his sexual assaults took place  detailed each case. They cheered and laughed when Deputy District Attorney Amy Holliday noted victims consistently reported DeAngelo had a small penis.

One man, Victor Hayes, who was held at gunpoint while his girlfriend was raped in 1977 shouted out that he wanted his name read aloud.

Ive been waiting for 43 years. Im not ashamed of what happened. Ive never been John Doe in my life, Hayes said later. I want accountability and accountability starts with my name.

Among the questions that remain is whether DeAngelo actually stopped his life of crime and, if so, why?

Ho cast doubt on DeAngelos statement in the interrogation room, saying he had feigned feeble incoherence to detectives despite appearing sharp while under surveillance the day before his arrest. Ho said DeAngelo had acted crazy when he was arrested for shoplifting three decades earlier in an attempt to avoid charges.

James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University, said most serial killers do not have dual personalities or inner voices, though movies often portray them that way.

He said serial killers who get away with attacks for years are usually cunning and organized. Someone who suffers from a serious mental illness isnt capable of that. Serial killers who blame an alter-ego for their crimes are usually faking it, he said.

Its self-serving for someone to suggest that they did all of these things because of this voice: Dont blame me, blame the voice, Fox said.

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Melley reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press journalist Stefanie Dazio contributed from Los Angeles.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that DeAngelo hadnt been on investigators radar until just before his arrest.
NEW YORK - There were protests, rainbow flags and performances  it was LGBTQ Pride, after all.

But what was normally an outpouring on the streets of New York City looked a little different this year, thanks to social distancing rules required by the coronavirus.

With the citys massive Pride parade cancelled, Sundays performances were virtual, the flags flew in emptier than normal spaces and the protesters were masked.

The disruption caused by the virus would be an aggravation in any year, but particularly in this one, the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march in New York City.

Its a great thing to see because the original Pride started with the civil rights movement, Matthew Fischer said as he passed out hand sanitizer Sunday at Foley Square. So were really going back to the roots of that and making sure we encompass everything that empowers people to be who they are.

Fischer said it was important this year to show co-operation between the Black and LGBTQ communities, given the recent deaths of George Floyd and others that have sparked demonstrations against police brutality.

A number of people in the crowd at Foley Square held signs reading All Black Lives Matter, with a black fist surrounded by rainbow colours. Most wore masks, though some scrapped social distancing in favour of hugging friends. One man held a sign advertising free hugs.

The first Pride march, on June 28, 1970, was a marker of the Stonewall uprisings of the year before in New York Citys West Village that helped propel a global LGBTQ movement.

Initially called the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, it looked much like the protests that have streamed through the streets of New York City daily in recent weeks over racial injustice. Marchers trooped to Central Park, chanting Gay power! and Gay and proud!

Cities around the world in subsequent years followed New Yorks lead, hosting commemorative events.

The historic Stonewall Inn, known as the birthplace of the gay rights movement, furloughed its employees and has been shuttered more than three months amid the pandemic. But it announced Sunday it will receive a $250,000 contribution from the Gill Foundation  money that will go toward several months of rent and utilities.

I dont think things will really be back to normal for us until theres a vaccine, so this is a much-needed lifeline, co-owner Stacy Lentz told The Associated Press. It would be devastating to think about walking down Christopher Street and seeing that building shuttered.

Organizers of this years event in New York City were determined to showcase some of that spirit, with a TV broadcast honouring the front line workers who have been so necessary in the fight against the virus as well as people and institutions of the LGBTQ community.

The show featured several performers including Janelle Monae, Deborah Cox and Billy Porter, and appearances from a number of other celebrities.

The Queer Liberation March for Black Lives and Against Police Brutality, meanwhile, marched from Lower Manhattan toward Washington Square Park. The organizers are activists who held a protest march last year as an alternative to the main Pride parade, saying it had become too corporate.

The group wrote on Twitter that police had become aggressive later in the afternoon, saying it ended its live streaming of the march early because police were using pepper spray and making arrests.

Joseph Engargeau feared there might be no event this year because of the coronavirus restrictions. Instead, he felt this scaled-down version better resembled the first Pride than the massive event the parade became.

Engargeau, wearing a rainbow mask, said hes watched tourists through the years come to snap photos of the Stonewall, only to realize it doesnt look like anything special.

Its just this nothing place, he said, but it meant everything.

Other celebrations of the day were visual. At Rockefeller Center, more than 100 rainbow flags were placed around the centre rink, and the plaza was lit up in rainbow colours.

In the West Village, a rainbow light art installation next to the Stonewall Inn was expected to illuminate the sky in tribute to the uprising and the original march, as well as those who have marched and fought through the years.

The feeling doesnt go away because of the coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in an interview with WABC-TV.

Gatherings of large groups of people are still barred in New York City as part of an effort to control the spread of the coronavirus. Other parades cancelled this spring included the St. Patricks Day parade and Puerto Rican Day parade.

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Still, people have gathered by the thousands since the late-May death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota. One of the largest demonstrations was a June 14 demonstration in Brooklyn, where thousands gathered for a Black Trans Lives Matter protest.

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Associated Press writer Jim Mustian contributed to this report.
OTTAWAWhoever becomes Conservative leader in August will face a tough job holding the party together after what has been an extraordinarily vitriolic and fractious campaign, Conservative MPs and party insiders tell the Star.

The partys 2020 leadership race has included disqualifications and legal challenges, a failed attempt to kick one candidate out of caucus, public frustration with the partys leadership committee, the threat of at least one defamation suit and, now, a police investigation into "hacking allegations.

The relationship between the races two front-runners, Peter MacKay and Erin OToole, appears to be growing increasingly hostile  boiling over at the partys French-language debate earlier this month, with the two men trading barbs and shouting over each other.

One non-aligned Conservative MP told the Star the race has created more division within caucus than the last leadership contest in 2017, with squabbles that would normally stay within the party being litigated in public.

(The new leader will) need to quickly unite caucus, and swiftly unify caucus around some sort of vision for the country that gets everybody working in the same direction, said the MP, who asked for anonymity to discuss internal caucus dynamics, in an interview Monday.

We had 10 years of Harper, and were now five years past that point. I think what is really needed is that vision  I think that might even be a ballot question for members, is who is going to get everyone pointed in the right direction, or in a unified direction. Is that even possible?

Leadership contests, by nature, split a party into camps. But unlike the 2017 race  where 13 candidates competed for the leadership, including several sitting MPs  the Conservative caucus is roughly divided in two. MacKay has secured the endorsement of 56 sitting MPs and senators, while OToole has the support of 36. Leslyn Lewis, a Toronto lawyer and social conservative, has picked up a handful of MP endorsements, while Derek Sloan has received no caucus support.

The dynamic in this race has some significant differences than 2017 campaign, according to Hamish Marshall, who ran Andrew Scheers successful leadership bid and the Conservatives 2019 election campaign.

The front-runner in 2017, Maxime Bernier, had virtually no caucus support despite polling at the head of the leadership pack. And while Scheer and OToole were competing for the same votes, there wasnt a lot of vitriol between the two campaigns, Marshall said.

But even after the comparatively cordial 2017 race, Scheer and his team spent a lot of time and energy working to repair rifts that the leadership contest exposed. Former rivals like OToole, Lisa Raitt, and Bernier were given prominent critic portfolios. Same with non-aligned MPs like Pierre Poilievre, who remains the partys finance critic.

The dynamic now is very different, because youve got two big, big blocks supporting each guy, Marshall said.

And theres a lot of dirt being thrown.

The divisions within caucus are not simply personal, but include ideological  and regional  factors. While no western Conservative stepped into the race, the issues facing the partys heartland are still front and centre.

On Monday, the Hill Times reported that Calgary Midnapore MP Stephanie Kusie  an OToole backer  warned that a MacKay victory could create problems for party unity. Kusie, who declined an interview with the Star, told the Ottawa paper that MacKay would have to appoint both Western MPs and social conservatives to prominent roles to smooth things over.

Otherwise, Kusie said, some of those MPs could leave the fold.

At the same time, the Conservatives are faced with the prospect of a more organized populist party in their backyard. Jay Hill, a former Harper cabinet minister, has agreed to temporarily run the Wexit party  a Western separatist movement.

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While Wexit has been dismissed as a fringe party, Hill is well-known and respected within Conservative circles. Asked if the movement had any chance at picking up political momentum, Marshall immediately said yes.

The potential is there, Marshall said.

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Qian, whose girlfriend of six years may no longer be able to come to the U.S. as a result of the restrictions, has not been back home for two years because he worries that if he leaves, he will not be able to reenter the country. If he had known that the U.S. would adopt such restrictions and rhetoric toward immigration, he would have sought a position in another place like the European Union or Singapore, he said.

Since the beginning of 2019, the U.S. has granted 4,213 new and continuing H-1B visas in Missouri, of which 826 went to Washington University and the Kansas City health technology company Cerner Corp. A January report from the National Science Foundation found that nearly a third of those working in science and engineering in the U.S. were born outside the country.

The freeze will not apply to foreign nationals who are currently in the U.S. or those with green cards. It provides exemptions for some foreign workers, such as academics on J-1 visas, for work and study exchanges. Officers issuing visas will consider petitions for other exemptions, such as those engaged in COVID-19 or food services work.

Still, St. Louis scientists, from postdoctoral researchers to the chiefs of key area institutions, lashed out after Trumps announcement.
A lawyer for the couple, Albert S. Watkins, said the McCloskeys are supportive of the message of the peaceful protesters, but felt threatened by two "bad actors" who threw insults at them. The couple "acted lawfully" by seeking to protect their property and their family inside the home, he said. Their response stemmed from "fear and apprehension, the genesis of which was not race-related."

Their entire practice tenure as counsel (has) been addressing the needs of the downtrodden, for whom the fight for civil rights is necessary, Watkins said. My clients, as melanin-deficient human beings, are completely respectful of the message Black Lives Matter needs to get out, especially to whites  (but) two individuals exhibited such force and violence destroying a century-plus old wrought iron gate, ripping and twisting the wrought iron that was connected to a rock foundation, and then proceeded to charge at and toward and speak threateningly to Mr. and Mrs. McCloskey.

Protester James Cooper said he didn't see any protesters threaten the McCloskeys, but said several activists urged the crowd to keep moving past as the McCloskeys pointed guns.
The new license was issued nearly a month after a state administrative hearing judge ruled against the administrations effort to shutter the facility.

In his 97-page decision, Administrative Hearing Commissioner Sreenivasa Rao Dandamudi said Planned Parenthood had demonstrated that it meets the requirements for renewal of its license.

Health department spokeswoman Lisa Cox told the Post-Dispatch that the health, safety, well being and quality of care is, and will continue to be, our top concern at the facilities we regulate through licensure and was our sole focus throughout the license process last year.

While we still strongly disagree with some of the legal determinations in the (Administrative Hearing Commission) decision, we are encouraged by the improvements in the quality of the care practices and procedures that have been made over the past year, she added.

Following Dandamudis decision, Planned Parenthood requested a new inspection from the administration and received a positive score.

Yamelsie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, described the most recent inspection process as less confrontational than the 2019 inquiry led by employees of state health chief Randall Williams.
Shirley Allison, the treasurer of Polk County, where Parson has his home, also wants the governor to sign the legislation.

Officials in Springfield want the governor to sign the measure because it contains language allowing voters there to consider local tax increases to fund tourism and early childhood education.

The passage of this bill offers the opportunity for Springfield to consider some key investments in our community as we move forward with our economic recovery, noted a letter from the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

The Missouri Fireworks Association also sent Parson a letter saying he should sign it because of a clause that would allow them to continue selling fireworks even if there is a burn ban in place because of dry weather.

The change would bar fireworks dealers from selling missile or skyrocket fireworks during the ban because the high-flying explosives could leave a persons property when used.

Ambulance districts also are pushing the governor to support the bill because it would it would allow each district the option to have local control of their sales tax and other funding options subject to voter approval.
Roberts said he saw the incident on the news, but said he wasnt aware one of the people waving a gun had donated to his campaign until his campaign treasurer told him Monday.

Roberts, an attorney like the McCloskeys, said he may have met Mark McCloskey at some kind of professional event, but I cant it remember, honestly. We dont have a personal relationship.

He couldnt recall whether McCloskey made the donation at a fundraiser. The $250 is just a fraction of the nearly $236,000 Roberts had raised by the end of March, according to ethics commission records.

Mark McCloskey on July 16, 2017 gave $600 to the campaign of Steven Roberts Sr., the state representatives father, days after the elder Roberts lost his bid for Board of Aldermen.

McCloskey was one of only three donors the elder Roberts reported in post-election paperwork that year.

McCloskey also gave $500 to Celeste Vossmeyer in June 2017, who was also running for the seat.
Lower-income households are worried that the pandemic will re-intensify and disrupt their incomes further, said Zandi. They are also unsure of how much  if any  more help is coming from Washington, D.C.

Ramirez, 40, spent a month chasing down her unemployment benefits after she stopped working in late March. When the payments finally started arriving, Ramirez banked them to build a cushion.

Knowing that the benefits are going to be reduced dramatically and unsure of when theyll get back to work, Ramirez and her husband are living frugally. To save money on groceries, they wake up at 5 a.m. about once a week to get in line at a nearby food bank.

Ramirez will likely have reduced hours if she gets her job back in August, her manager told her. The hotel that employed her husband is still shut down.

We need to have a backup, said Ramirez, whose daughters are ages 1 and 5. I have children to feed.

For Finchum in Nashville, there is no prospect of a return to her old job. Her employers were nearing retirement so decided to close the business down when the pandemic struck.

The stimulus package has been a life saver, she said.

Additional reporting by Anna Irrera in New York.
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Taiwan wants to buy several dozen American Harpoon II anti-ship missiles for use on truck-mounted launchers. The land-based missiles would quickly be moved to where needed and fired at oncoming Chinese ships. While Taiwan already manufactures locally designed anti-ship missiles, it needs to import Harpoons to get its land-based missile force up to strength by 2022. Taiwan believes that with enough truck-mounted anti-ship missiles they could cripple any Chinese invasion fleet. Taiwan calculated it would be cheaper, and faster, to import Harpoon IIs than to expand their own anti-ship missile production capability.

Taiwan first faced this shortage in early 2019 when they approved the production of Hsiung Feng 2B anti-ship missile. Only 36 of these new models were ordered because that was how many could be produced by 2023. Hsiung Feng 2B has greater range (250 kilometers compared to 160 in earlier versions) and is better able to resist jamming and other countermeasures. The 685 kg (1,507 pound) Hsiung Feng 2 surface to surface version is stored in a firing container. The missile is 4.8 meters (14.9 feet) long, 400mm in diameter and has a 180 kg (400 pound) warhead. The Hsiung Feng 2 first appeared in the 1990s and has undergone several upgrades since then. These improvements concentrate on extending the range and improving the guidance system. Current versions of Hsiung Feng 2 use GPS/INS to reach the general vicinity of the target then employ pattern recognition (via an onboard electronic database) to select a specific (or one of several worth hitting) targets and go after that ship. For its final approach, Hsiung Feng 2 speeds up to near-supersonic (250 meters a second) speed.

Chinas rapidly growing fleet has many newer ships with defensive weapons designed to deal with sub-sonic anti-ship missiles like Hsiung Feng 2, but even with that chance is still a factor, especially if the Chinese ship can be attacked when it does not expect it. That is not the most likely use of Hsiung Feng 2 as these are built to defend the 180 kilometers wide Taiwan Straits that separate China and the island nation of Taiwan. There is a belief that American support will be sufficient to deter or defeat a Chinese attack. Everyone expects any such war to be short. Thus, less than a thousand (possibly only a few hundred) Hsiung Feng 2s have been produced. Taiwan releases few details of upgrades or production and usually only does so when such information has become difficult to hide. Details of upgrading older missiles are easier to conceal while that is less expensive than building new ones and easier to get past the usually parsimonious parliament. The extreme secrecy forces China to spend more time, effort and money on espionage efforts in Taiwan. Since Taiwan develops its own electronics and has plenty of qualified people to do it China has to be wary of some new development they dont know about and wont discover until it starts sinking their ships.

With that in mind, Hsiung Feng 2 appears to have been built in larger (than a few hundred) numbers and upgraded regularly. Hsiung Feng 2 is mainly used as a surface-to-surface weapon from both ships and land-based launchers. Some, the exact number is not public, Hsiung Feng 2 launchers are hidden around the island, disguised as other structures on hillsides overlooking coastal waters. There is also an air-launched version.

The new truck-mounted missile batteries are a solution to the problems created by China installing more short-range ballistic missiles that could hit the fixed land-based missile batteries once their location was known. Apparently, China has figured out where most of the carefully hidden batteries are. Taiwan mounted some of the land-based missiles on trucks but this required a tractor-trailer rig. The Harpoons can be mounted on an 8x8 truck, as Denmark did between 1988 and 2002, putting four missiles on an 8x8 flatbed truck. Taiwan realized it could do the same with the 19-ton 8x8 HEMTT military trucks they bought from the United States. HEMTT is one of the most widely used heavy military trucks currently in use. Over 35,000 have been built since 1981 and it is still in production. HEMTT can carry up to 20 tons. This is more than sufficient to mount four Harpoons in storage/launch containers, in addition to fire control equipment. HEMTT is much more mobile than the tractor-trailer used for locally built Hsiung Feng missiles.

Since 2000 Taiwan has been attempting to upgrade its military with new weapons and better training to deal with the rapidly growing quality of Chinese weapons and training standards for military personnel (especially pilots and sailors). Yet Taiwan has made little progress in either area. The purchase of new weapons is often quietly delayed and training reforms put off.

While making the military stronger is popular with Taiwanese in general, for too long government officials seemed more concerned with not upsetting China. Despite that China has vigorously opposed any efforts to help build a stronger Taiwanese military. This growing military weakness versus China has become more of an issue in Taiwan and there was growing pressure to improve training and reduce corruption within the military before it was too late. Yet many Taiwanese prefer to believe that the United States will protect Taiwan from Chinese aggression. That is no longer a sure thing either and since 2010 Taiwan has become more serious about preparing for the worse.

In response, the Taiwanese Navy has been building more heavily armed (with Hsiung Feng 2) Tuo Chiang class missile corvettes. For example, in late 2014, four years after issuing the contract (to design and build the first of twelve 600-ton stealthy twin-hulled missile boats) Taiwan commissioned (put into service) the first of them. Construction took about two years and the first ship cost $72 million. These are actually large missile boats designated as corvettes. Each carries 16 anti-ship missiles (eight Hsiung Feng 2 and eight Hsiung Feng 3 supersonic/range 130 kilometers), a 76mm gun, a 20mm Phalanx autocannon (for missile defense), two 12.7mm machine-gun and six torpedo tubes plus a large array of electronics, including electronic countermeasures. The stealth and defensive electronics are meant to keep these ships afloat long enough to use most of their missiles against their more numerous Chinese counterparts. This includes the new Chinese aircraft carriers. These corvettes have a crew of 41, a top speed of 71 kilometers an hour and a helicopter pad. Tuo Chiang class ships carry sufficient fuel, water and food to stay at sea up to a week at a time. They are basically coastal defense ships. These new corvettes are the continuation of a trend in the Taiwanese Navy, which sees small ships carrying lots of anti-ship missiles as the key to success against the Chinese navy. But in typical fashion orders for more Tuo Chiang class ships were slow in coming and only recently did construction begin on more of them.

In 2010 the first of 31 smaller Kuang Hua (KH-6) class guided-missile patrol boats entered service. These 34.2 meter (106 foot) long, seven meter (22 foot) wide, 170 ton ships have a crew of 19. They were armed with four Hsiung Feng-2 anti-ship missiles, a 20mm autocannon, two 7.62mm machine-guns, and two decoy (for incoming missiles) launchers. Top speed is 55 kilometers an hour. At cruising speed of 22 kilometers an hour, the ships can stay at sea for about two days at a time. All 31 KH-6s are now in service. The KH-6s replace thirty older and smaller (57 ton) Hai Ou class boats. These patrol boats guard the coast, and especially the Taiwan Straits that separate China and Taiwan. Construction on these boats proceeded according to schedule.

The one major weakness of these Kuang Hua missile boats is that they have no real air defenses and depend on the Taiwanese maintaining air superiority whenever and wherever these small craft are operating. Without that air cover, these small ships would be target practice for Chinese warplanes. That appears to be one reason for the new program to build locally what could not be obtained overseas (because of Chinese diplomacy and threats).

Theres nothing unusual about tiny Taiwan developing and building world-class weapons. Israel, Norway and Sweden all do that and have the large export sales to show for it. Taiwan is blocked from most export opportunities by the relentless pressure from China to block such independent activity but that does not prevent Taiwanese firms from doing a good job. Unfortunately, China makes it impossible to export weapons. Using diplomacy, financial pressure and threats China blocks Taiwanese arms exports and makes it difficult for Taiwan to import weapons. Without the export potential it is much more expensive to develop and produce weapons for the Taiwanese military.
GRAFENWOEHR, BY, GERMANY 04.16.2020 - A U.S. Soldier with the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Armor Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division fires a M2 .50-caliber heavy-machine gun from a M88 Recovery Vehicle during the battalions Table 4 mounted machine gun range at the 7th Army Training Commands Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, April 16, 2020. (U.S. Army photo by Gertrud Zach)

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June 29, 2020: Governments dont function well in Somalia but criminal organizations are another matter. The largest criminal organization in Somalia is al Shabaab. Given the history of Somalia that should not be a surprise. Britain administered Somalia from 1884 to 1960 and after much effort imposed more peace, prosperity and unity than the region had ever known. That lasted until about two decades after independence and then the usual bad habits began tearing Somalia apart again. The tribal/clan rivalries kept the pot boiling and even the rise of a "clean government" party (the Islamic Courts) after 2001, based on installing a religious dictatorship, backfired and turned into another warlord group called al Shabaab. That caused even more Somalis to flee their homeland and led to even more problems as Somali refugees throughout Africa and worldwide. While doing that Somalis acquired a reputation for organized violence and criminal behavior as well as entrepreneurial success.

Meanwhile, al Shabaab still has a lot of popular support. The majority of Somalis oppose Islamic terrorism but a significant minority (up to 20 percent) support or tolerate groups like al Shabaab. The main reason for the support is desperation for a solution to the poverty, corruption, factionalism and chaos that makes Somalia such a dangerous place to live in. Overcoming those ancient traditions is the main obstacle to peace and there is no quick solution. Al Shabaab survives because its leaders concentrated on finances and pay its bills.

For example, since 2018 al Shabaab has had an arrangement with Kenyan peacekeeper force commanders who will take bribes to allow al Shabaab controlled charcoal production and export of that charcoal to Dubai. This has long been the main source of income for al Shabaab. When al Shabaab lost control of the southern port of Kismayo in 2014, al Shabaab's income fell by more than half. Since then al Shabaab has established other income sources, mainly smuggling in areas it controls, along with extortion and anything else it can get away with. The charcoal operations is worth about $15 million a year to al Shabaab, which comprises over a third of the income that currently keeps about 7,000 al Shabaab members going.

So far Kenya has been reluctant to crack down, apparently because some prominent Kenyan families are involved. At least that is usually the main reason for ignoring clear evidence of corruption. While not as corrupt as Somalia, which is ranked the most corrupt of 180 nations worldwide, Kenya comes in 137th. Al Shabaab has worked a little harder to find a corruptible Kenyan official but finding someone is not impossible.

Al Shabaab still uses force when bribes wont work. Force is not only cheaper but often more lucrative. In the last year about a thousand violent acts can be traced back to al Shabaab. Most of this violence took place in southern Somalia and northern Kenya and most were about economics, not religion. Al Shabaab members are more gangsters than religious fanatics.

There are still religious fanatics in Somalia and some are in al Shabaab. There they either keep their fanatic beliefs to themselves or move on and join the local ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) group in northern Somalia. That ISIL group has a hard time surviving because they dont get along with the government security forces, local clan militias or with al Shabaab itself. As a result of all those distractions the local ISIL group could only carry out four terror attacks in May and in June there were even fewer attacks. The problem was the Somali ISIL group has fewer than a hundred active members and, despite their fanaticism, they get killed and there are not enough new recruits to grow the organization.

Covid19 Come And Gone

For a while, there was a growing fear of a covid19 coronavirus epidemic that would kill key political, military and terrorist leaders. The virus seemed to be more fatal to older people and most leaders were older and felt vulnerable. In early April the Somali Minister of Justice died of covid19. He was brought to the capital a week earlier and taken to the only hospital in the country that can treat covid19. Tests showed that he was infected and he was isolated. This was the second covid19 death in Somalia. The first victim was a 58-year-old man who had not been outside the country and died four days before the Finance Minister.

In March the government announced that one of four Somalis who had just returned from China had covid19. This was the first such case known to be in Somalia. If covid19 gets loose in Somalia the local health system wont be of much help because the local health system is largely non-existent. So far about 3,000 Somali covid19 cases have been confirmed and 90 Somalis have died. That comes to 182 confirmed cases per million population and six confirmed covid19 deaths per million. There has been no widespread quarantines or restrictions on movement. Most Somalis still live in rural villages that get few outside visitors. But several million Somalis live in cities, refugee camps or large towns. In those urban areas, there are many epidemic diseases and covid19 is not considered as much of a threat as existing threats like cholera, infections and a lack of antibiotics or annual influenza. In the West, there are easy cures available for all that but in Somalia, a lot of curable conditions are incurable threats. Covid19 is another incurable condition and not as nasty as many others Somalis deal with daily.

In Kenya, there are 113 infections per million and three deaths. Ethiopia has 50 cases per million and 0.9 deaths. Most of Africa is showing low rates of infection and death because health care throughout Africa is unable to handle, much less count, something like this.

June 27, 2020: The National Independent Electoral Commission has told parliament that it is impossible to hold elections for parliament and a new president as scheduled on November 27. That current presidential term expires on February 8, 2021.

The delay was blamed on the usual suspects; political deadlocks, poor security (bandits and Islamic terrorists), bad weather (floods this time) and covid19. To assure a minimum level of legitimacy the six million eligible Somali voters must be registered biometrically and requires special equipment that has not yet been obtained because the Electoral Commission does not have enough money and needs at least $70 million to set up 5,000 polling stations and carry out the biometric registration. More time is also required but it is not going to be enough. None of this is a surprise.

The first parliamentary elections finally took place in 2016 and the new legislature was installed at the end of 2016. This was supposed to have taken place months earlier but did not because too many of the current politicians regard elections as a threat to their income (from corruption). Some foreign donors correctly saw the delays as a ploy so the interim government could stay in power longer and steal more aid money. This led to threats to halt aid if elections for parliament and president were not held. That worked, sort of, and the electoral process lurches forward, if only to keep the free money coming. The presidential election (or selection, by the parliament) was supposed to take place by the end of January 2017 but took a lot longer. Part of the problem is political with many of the clans (tribes) maintaining armed militias and refusing to abide by a one man, one vote system. That is, some clans demand more (foreign aid and other resources) than their numbers justify. A compromise was worked out to accommodate that. In effect, the new parliament was created by a selection rather than a national election. The national parliament has 275 members who were elected by 14,025 voters selected by 135 clan elders. The 54 members of the upper house of parliament are selected by local (state or regional) assemblies. A Western style election (in which all adult citizens can vote) was not expected until the early 2020s, if ever. The current president was selected by the 2016 parliament and what means all manner of deals were made in return for support of one candidate or another. The major aid donors have quietly made it clear if the new government does not curb the rampant theft of foreign aid, there will be a lot less of it and thus the new president is expected to be more effective in curbing corruption. The current government did not do much to reduce the corruption and foreign aid has declined.

Somalia has a hard time pleading poverty because so much foreign aid gets stolen by Somalis before it can reach the people who need it and whose desperate plight caused foreign donors to donate. The failed, so far, election preparations can be expected to continue failing with or without additional time and money. No one wants to admit that Somalia is a failed state but fewer and fewer donors want to keep sending aid to Somalia only to find that most, or all of it was stolen. There are many other needy areas where most of the aid gets to those who need it.

June 23, 2020: In Mogadishu, an al Shabaab suicide bomber tried to attack the Turkish military training center compound but was shot by Somali guards and detonated his explosives far from the entrance. A civilian was killed and two Somali trainees were wounded. Al Shabaab took credit for the attack. Al Shabaab is particularly hostile to the Turks because the Turks will not pay protection money to the Islamic terrorists to avoid violence like this. The Turkish training facility has, since 2017, trained four Somali infantry battalions and a fifth is being trained. The Turks ran separate training programs for officers (150 graduates so far) and NCOs (250 grads so far). The Turkish military reputation is respected by Somalis and the training is tough, thorough and effective. The Turk trained battalions are visibly more effective against al Shabaab and the Islamic terrorists would like to see it shut down.

June 14, 2020: In the southeast, a cross the border in Kenya (Mandera country) two al Shabaab gunmen were killed when Kenyan police caught them trying to destroy a cell phone tower. A policeman also died. Al Shabaab extorts money from Kenyan and Somali cell phone companies to ensure al Shabaab does not attack cell phone company property. That extortion effort works better in Somalia than in Kenya, where the security forces are more effective.

June 8, 2020: In the southeast (Lower Shabelle region), peacekeepers defeated an ambush attempt by al Shabaab gunmen. None of the peacekeepers were injured in the brief firefight and the al Shabaab got away with at least one wounded man. The ambush took place in a populated area and three nearby civilians were killed and two wounded by the crossfire.

June 1, 2020: Outside Mogadishu, a roadside bomb hit a civilian van carrying family members to a funeral. The bomb may have been meant for one of the many security forces and government vehicles that use the road. No one, including al Shabaab, took credit for the attack indicating someone screwed up and set off the bomb on the wrong vehicle.

May 28, 2020: Outside Balad (30 kilometers north of Mogadishu), soldiers were accused of kidnapping and killing seven health workers and another civilian in response to a recent roadside bomb attack that had killed nine soldiers. The army denied the accusation and pointed out that al Shabaab and bandits often wear army uniforms when they carry out attacks. Al Shabaab may have been trying to extort money from the medical foreign aid group the victims worked for.

May 17, 2020: About 125 kilometers off the south coast of Yemen two pirate speed boats tried to seize a British chemical tanker. The armed guards on the tanker fired on the approaching speedboats and the pirates fired back. There was some bullet damage to the tanker, including some glass that was shattered on the bridge. The armed guard on the tanker was more accurate and disabled one of the speedboats and the other one also stopped to deal with that. It was unclear if the pirates were from Somalia or Yemen. Some of the Islamic terror groups in Yemen has tried to rob or seize ships off the coast. There are still some pirates operating out of small northern Somali ports but of late the more successful attacks have come from Yemen based pirates.

Meanwhile, the piracy threat has moved to the other coast of Africa. The waters off the Nigerian coast have, over the last few years, become the scene of most pirate activity on the planet. This happened gradually and Nigeria does not want to keep this dubious achievement. No one ever does.

In 2015 there were 178 attacks on ships at sea worldwide but none off Somalia and less than a hundred off Nigeria. The most active area was Southeast Asia. In 2016 Southeast Asia accounted for over 35 percent of the pirate attacks worldwide. By 2017 anti-piracy efforts by the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia had reduced the local threat and the current piracy hotspot is off the West Africa coast, particularly off Nigeria. By 2019 the Nigerian coast was the scene of most pirate activity.

Worldwide piracy has been declining since 2012 because most of the Somali pirates were shut down, showing that it could be done. At that point activity shifted back to areas where it had been a problem for centuries, like the coasts of Malaysia and Indonesia and areas near the Malacca Strait. There most of the attacks are robberies of the crew and the stealing of portable valuables. The crewmen are usually not hurt and based on their experience it appears most of the pirates come from Malaysia and Indonesia and were largely amateurs. There were some professionals in action in 2014. These fellows were able to hijack ships long enough for cargo to be transferred at sea to someone who could resell it and this provided far more money for the pirates than the more common robbery incidents. But those professional pirates are gone, in part because theft that large left a data trail that police and intelligence agencies could pick up and follow. In 2015 Malaysia and Indonesia joined forces to run more helicopter and warship patrols through areas where most of these less costly robbery attacks were taking place. This sort of quick reaction patrol could move in quickly enough to catch pirates before they and their loot could disappear into one of the many coves or villages that dot the Malaysian and Indonesian coasts. Police also went after the middlemen (fences) who buy the valuable (and portable) electronics these grab and go pirates prefer. If you find the fence you can often find his suppliers. In any event, these robber pirates are more numerous and being amateurs can quickly drop out and, as far as the police are concerned disappear. Some of these small-time pirates are believed to have been in the business, on and off, for over a decade. The police want to make some arrests and well publicized prosecutions (and convictions) to discourage many of these amateur pirates from returning to robbery.

The Somali pirates are victims of their own success. Because of their continued threat, the International Anti-Piracy Patrol remains and large ships take many precautions to avoid capture. Some nations have stopped sending ships to the patrol but most continue to do so because its good training for the crews and gives the ships a realistic workout. It also helps keep insurance rates down in the area and that translates into lower shipping costs for goods to and from northeast Africa.
Morgan Tume and Kendra Young met in Year 9 at Tauranga Girls College, but it wasnt until they were in Year 13 that they, along with two other girls in the same phys-ed class, discovered they each had a dream of joining the Royal New Zealand Navy.

All four women are now in the RNZN and Able Communications Warfare Specialist Tume and Leading Logistic Supply Specialist Young have the honour of being posted to the RNZN's newest and biggest-ever ship.

The pair will be part of the inaugural crew of Aotearoa, a 173-metre sustainment vessel with state-of-the-art design and capability.

Construction began on Aotearoa in South Korea in 2018. She completed her sea trials off South Korea recently and arrived in New Zealand last week, after a 16-day journey.

She will be formally commissioned at the Devonport Naval Base in late July and Able Communications Warfare Specialist Tume and Leading Logistic Supply Specialist Young cant wait to get on board.

I'm very excited to be a part of the first crew to serve on Aotearoa, Able Communications Warfare Specialist Tume says.

I can't wait to see what its capabilities are and am hoping we get to berth in Antarctica one day.

She joined the RNZN at the end of Year 13 because of the variety of work involved and the opportunities to travel and meet people from a wide variety of backgrounds in New Zealand.

It was the only thing I could see myself doing, she says.

She has already had some memorable overseas deployments, including two notable trips with Leading Logistic Supply Specialist Young  six months visiting 10 countries around Asia in 2017, which included escorting the United States supercarrier USS Nimitz, and being part of the crew that took HMNZS Te Kaha to Canada in 2018 for its frigate systems upgrade.

Since I've been out of training I have been to 13 countries with the Navy, which has definitely been a highlight, she says.

Leading Logistic Supply Specialist Youngs keenness to join the RNZN stemmed from a three-day Defence Careers Experience she attended while in Year 13.

After that I definitely wanted to do something that was challenging, physical and rewarding  and thats exactly what the Navy has given me, she says.

Since she joined, in addition to the Asia and Canada trips she has also been on operations and exercises off the coast of Australia and around the Pacific Islands.

I love ship life and making new friendships built on joint experiences, she says. Being part of the commissioning crew of Aotearoa will be really challenging but a great career development opportunity.

For the Commanding Officer of Aotearoa, Captain Simon Rooke, its all hands on deck as the ship gets nearer to being commissioned.

Im delighted with the calibre of officers and sailors we have and I know how proud they all are to be posted to Aotearoa, Captain Rooke said. Theres something very special about being a crew member of not only a brand new Navy ship but the biggest one weve ever had in our fleet.

Aotearoa will provide an important Antarctic support capability to assist with the New Zealand Defence Forces Southern Ocean monitoring.

The ships enhanced winterisation capabilities, such as ice-strengthening, will allow it to undertake operations in Antarctica, including resupplying McMurdo Station and Scott Base.

Aotearoa has a world-first naval Environship design, which incorporates a new wave-piercing hull form that reduces resistance and lowers fuel burn, while its combined diesel electric and diesel propulsion plant has lower exhaust emissions than older vessels.
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Auburn, N.Y.  A child in the city of Auburn has tested positive for the coronavirus, Cayuga County health officials said Monday.

Cayuga County Public Health Director Kathleen Cuddy said the child is 12 years or younger, but she did not provide any additional information about the child such as the childs exact age or condition.

Symptoms of the disease are generally less severe in children and teens compared with adults, according to a study published in Pediatrics that looked at 2,143 children in China with Covid-19 from Jan. 16 to Feb. 8.

The study found 4.4% had no symptoms, 50.9% had mild disease and 38.8%had moderate symptoms. Only 0.6% developed acute respiratory distress syndrome or multiple organ dysfunction, the study reported.

There are now 29 people in mandatory quarantine and eight people in mandatory isolation in Cayuga County, health officials said. In addition, one person is hospitalized due to complications from the coronavirus.

The county has reported a total of 118 confirmed coronavirus cases, two Covid-19 related deaths, and 108 people have so far been discharged from mandatory isolation in Cayuga County, according to the health department.

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Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie OToole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call 315-470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook
The number of workers at an aluminum plant in Montgomery County testing positive for the coronavirus has risen.

The cluster includes many workers who live in Oneida County, about an hour west of the Keymark Corp facility in Fonda.

Of 500 workers, 74 have tested positive for the virus, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who mentioned the cluster in todays earlier briefing. Cuomo also said the plant remains closed at this time.

Of the 74 cases, 53 people live in Oneida County, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente announced today.

The number of positive cases may rise more. All the workers at the plant have been tested, but not all the results of those tests are in yet, Picente said.

One person from the aluminum plant cluster is hospitalized, Oneida County officials said.

Montgomery County Health Department officials began tracking cases from the Keymark recently, and said they are working closely with the company.

Keymark, which specializes in aluminum extrusions, has been in business since 1964. Along with its location Upstate, it also has a plant in Lakeland, Florida.

Officials in Montgomery County said they have been able to suggest improvements to the business pandemic and infection control response plan.

According to officials there, workers testing positive for the virus live in four different counties. Five of the positive cases reside in Montgomery County, officials said.

Oneida County and state officials would not identify the name of the aluminum plant. Montgomery County officials confirmed the name today in a briefing.

Another coronavirus cluster reported recently was at Champlain Valley Specialties, a town of Oswego apple processing facility. There, 82 out of 179 workers tested positive for the coronavirus, according to state officials said.

Many of the workers at the apple processing plant live in Onondaga and Oneida counties, state officials said. In Onondaga County, 42 cases last week were linked to the apple processing plant, according to Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon.

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Albany  Dont go to a state with coronavirus on the rise and expect to get paid sick leave benefits when you come back to New York.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order Saturday that strips the paid sick leave protections for New York employees who voluntarily travel to high-risk states after June 25.

"If we are going to maintain the progress we've seen, we need everyone to take personal responsibility," Cuomo said in a statement.

Thats why Im issuing an executive order that says any New York employee who voluntarily travels to a high-risk state will not be eligible for the Covid-19 protections we created under paid sick leave.

The order is the latest crackdown by Cuomo to avoid a surge in coronavirus in New York as its infection rates have been at record lows, but have hit record highs in parts of the South and West.

On Wednesday, the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut agreed to implement a 14-day quarantine on anyone visiting from eight states with high rates of Covid-19.

The states are Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Texas. California and several other states are also expected to be added to the state.

Travel to the same states will lead New Yorkers to have to forgo Covid-19 paid sick leave that Cuomo and the state Legislature approved March 17.

The criteria for a state to make the list is a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or higher than a 10% test positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average.

The sick-leave order does not apply if the employee travels for work or at the employer's request, Cuomo said in a news release.

The order expands on a mandate earlier this year that made New Yorkers ineligible for paid sick leave if they travel to a country with a level two or three travel health notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For employees in the private sector who have to take mandatory or precautionary quarantines or isolation because of Covid-19 exposure, the Legislature passed a law to provide paid sick leave with various benefits depending on the size of the employer:

Employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income less than $1 million need to provide job protection for the duration of the quarantine order and guarantee their workers access to Paid Family Leave and disability benefits, including wage replacement for their salaries up to $150,000. Employers with 11 to 99 employees and employers with 10 or fewer employees and a net income greater than $1 million must provide at least 5 days of paid sick leave, job protection and guarantee the same benefits. Employers with 100 or more employees, as well as all public employers, need to provide at least 14 days of paid sick leave and guarantee job protection for the duration of the quarantine order.

The order Saturday was announced alongside a directive from Cuomo to have the state Department of Health investigate Covid-19 exposure at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, Westchester County, during a high school graduation ceremony earlier this month.

An attendee has tested positive for the virus and since then, four others tested positive.

As we are seeing in other states who reopened quickly, the pandemic is far from over and we need stay vigilant, Cuomo said.

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Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com
Albany, N.Y.  Incoming air travelers to New York could soon be asked to fill out forms that would aid the states new policy on quarantines for people from locations where the coronavirus is still spreading rapidly.

Its unclear what information travelers would be asked to submit on the forms, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo described them as similar to the landing cards many countries use for international travelers. The cards typically gather basic information about where passengers are coming from, how long they plan to be in a country and whether theyre bringing in certain items.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is talking with airlines about the forms now, Cuomo said during a radio interview Monday on WAMC. Airlines have been cooperative so far, he added.

Information from the forms would help the state enforce its quarantine rules, Cuomo said. It would be compiled into a database, he added.

New York, along with New Jersey and Connecticut, announced required, 14-day self-quarantines last week for travelers arriving from places with high rates of Covid-19 infections.

Experts have said the rule will be difficult to enforce.

Cuomo said previously the state would use random checks to help enforce the requirement.

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Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
New York  New York state will require large malls to take steps to remove particles of the coronavirus from indoor air in order for the properties to reopen, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday.

That could include installing air filters powerful enough to remove the virus or taking other steps to exchange air in a property, Cuomo said during a press conference in New York City. The filters or other steps will be mandatory.

He did not offer any update on when malls might be allowed to return. He didnt mention gyms or movie theaters, which also have not yet been allowed to restart anywhere in the state.

While strong filters or other air exchange measures will be mandatory for malls, Cuomo said the state is recommending them for all businesses, even those that were allowed to reopen previously.

The coronavirus is large enough that existing high efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA filters) can remove it, Cuomo added.

Many malls, gyms and movie theaters across the state expected to return in phase four of New Yorks reopening plan. Five regions, including Central New York, entered phase four last week.

But Cuomo has so far held off on approving the return of any of those businesses. He has said repeatedly hes concerned about the potential for the virus to spread in large enclosed spaces.

Local officials and state representatives in the Syracuse have been asking Cuomo to reopen Destiny USA for weeks.

Destiny itself has been criticizing Cuomos move to keep malls closed. The property developed a detailed reopening plan several weeks ago with the hope of being allowed to return earlier and has defended its indoor air quality.

Nonessential businesses, including malls, first closed in New York in March to help slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Central New York began the phased reopening plan in May.

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Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
Small weddings are allowed in New York state this summer as the state starts to ease restrictions from the coronavirus shutdown.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has increased the limit on social gatherings to 50 people in regions that have entered phase four of restarting the economy.

The limit is 25 people in phase two and three regions. New York City is still in phase two.

The governors office is working on more specific guidelines for weddings and other social events. Here is the current situation:

The service

A place of worship is permitted to seat up to 50% occupancy for a religious service. So if a church is big enough, the number of people at the wedding could exceed 50 people.

Cuomo had set the limit at 33% for phase four and 25% for phases two and three, but a judge blocked it Friday after a federal court challenge by two Catholic priests from Upstate New York and three Orthodox Jewish congregants from Brooklyn.

There is no limit on an outdoor religious service.

The Catholic Diocese has plans to continue with the 33% limit. The diocese has been holding wedding services in churches throughout the pandemic, spokeswoman Danielle Cummings said. Some couples decided to get married when the limit was just 10 people, she said.

Guests must wear masks and adhere to social distancing rules. The diocese has guidance on its website for weddings and other religious services.

The reception

Receptions are subject to the gathering limit. That is currently up to 50 people in phase four regions and 25 people in phase two and three regions. It could change.

The reception can be held at a restaurant. It can also be held at a hotel ballroom or banquet hall that is not a traditional restaurant, as long as the venue has a liquor license. The venue must follow the social distancing and safety rules for restaurants.

Currently, that means everyone must wear a mask unless they are seated.

Does that mean guests have to wear masks when they dance? The guidance in the works for weddings is likely to address this kind of situation. For now, the best practice is always to wear a mask when social distancing is not possible, Cuomos staff said.

Thats the kind of information people like Greg Kraus need to know. He is the general manager at Traditions at the Links, in East Syracuse.

When Cuomo announced last week that the limit on gatherings would increase to 50, Kraus had to cancel another wedding. A couple had already scaled back the guest list from 250 to 150 for last weekend. But that was still too many.

Kraus said he understands the limits, especially as other states open up too early and struggle with increased infection rates. But as someone who throws parties every weekend for a living, he said he could use more of a heads up from the state.

People keep asking us on our end: What do we know, what do we know, what do we know? he said. And we almost always say: Not much more than you do. That is challenging as a business.

Travel

Last week, travel got even more challenging for wedding planning. Cuomo and the governors of Connecticut and New Jersey imposed a 14-day quarantine on residents of states that have high coronavirus infection rates. If guests are coming from a state that has a positive test rate higher than 10% over a seven-day rolling average, they will have to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in New York.

For now, that includes Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. That list could change if infection rates increase in other states.

The new rule also means that a New Yorker who attends a wedding in any of those states must quarantine for 14 days when he or she returns to New York.

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Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Contact Michelle Breidenbach | mbreidenbach@syracuse.com | 315-470-3186.
Ithaca, N.Y.  Ithaca firefighters rescued a man Sunday who was injured after jumping about 40 feet into water at the bottom of a ravine.

The departments rope rescue team was called to the dam near Giles Street around 4:30 p.m. to help the man, who had injured his shoulder as a result of the jump into Six Mile Creek.

Using a rescue basket and rope system, rescuers were able to haul the man out of the ravine. A waiting ambulance transported him to a nearby hospital for treatment.

This is the departments fifth rope rescue of the month and third near this particular 30-foot dam. The other two calls happened off Coddington Road and Lake Street.

The department said this should be a reminder for people to only hike on approved paths and to not swim in restricted locations.
Utica, N.Y.  A man riding in a vehicle in Utica on Saturday yelled the N-word and said he supports slavery and lynchings of Black people in a racist rant directed at a woman in another car.

The tirade, which was caught on camera, shows the man leaning out the front passengers side window to yell toward the driver of another vehicle. The two vehicles appeared to be driving west on Genesee Street at the time.

Jakeila Phillips said on Facebook she was in the other vehicle. She said she recorded the nearly one-minute-long tirade and shared it on her Facebook page. As of 4 p.m. Sunday, her video was shared more than 2,400 times. The video was reposted multiple times on Twitterone of those reposts alone has more than 450,000 views.

Phillips did not immediately return a Facebook message seeking comment.

The man in the video, who identified himself as Barry Wardell, repeatedly yells I hate (N-word) and said that Black people should be slaves before asking for his grandparents property to be returned.

He then points towards Phillips, who is Black, and says that might have been your f****** ancestors.

He told Phillips that he is a chef and hangs (N-words) on the weekends.

In a statement, Hamilton College President David Wippman identified the man as a contract employee of the colleges food services provider and banned him from the college, effective immediately.

I am appalled by what is on the video, he said in a statement, calling Wardells behavior an extreme violation of our community standards.

The food contractor, Bon Appetit, issued a statement, saying the company is aware of the video and will take swift and appropriate action. Wardell worked for the company for one month before being placed on leave in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

We condemn these vile comments whole-heartedly, the company said in a statement.

In a statement, Utica police said the department is aware of the video and are investigating to see if any crimes occurred.

Regardless of the criminality of it we were disgusted and horrified by the words used, the department said in a statement. It is one of the most ignorant things anyone has ever said and is not indicative of the citizens here and the city we are all proud of.

Phillips posted the video shortly before 3:30 p.m. Around a half-hour later, Wardell made a similar racist rant toward several pedestrians in the village of New Hartford, police said.

New Hartford Police Investigator Andrew Allen did not specify what exactly was said, but said it was very similar in nature to the video from Utica. Allen said police have had prior contact with Wardell, though he was unsure whether Wardell had a criminal history.

While New Hartford police determined the racist rant was not criminal, police did speak with Wardell, Allen said.

We will keep an eye on the situation, Allen said.

Contact Jacob Pucci at jpucci@syracuse.com or find him on Twitter at @JacobPucci.
As Americans embrace the movement to remove the Confederate flag from a place of honor in the public square, those who ignore Christopher Columbus role in giving the green light to centuries of racism and dehumanizing of Indigenous peoples must be called to task.

That includes Governor Cuomo, whose eloquence in response to the anti-racism movement sparked by the murder of George Floyd apparently does not extend to the genocide and enslavement those first transatlantic voyages initiated and which continue to underpin oppression of Indigenous peoples to this day.

Whether blinded by an understandable pride in his Italian-American heritage, or a refusal to educate himself on the sordid abuse Columbus loosed on Indigenous peoples in the so-called New World, Cuomo would do well to remember the slogan his father used in his own last campaign for governor  the facts matter.

That oppression  whether of African Americans, Indigenous peoples or others not part of the European settler community  all stems from the mindset laid out in the Doctrine of Discovery, the 15th century series of Papal bulls that said European explorers who discovered lands not occupied by Christians could consider those lands empty and seize them in the names of their sovereigns.

Pope Nicholas Vs Dum Diversas authorized explorers to invade, search out, capture, and subjugate the Saracens and pagans and any other unbelievers and enemies of Christ ... and to reduce their persons into perpetual servitude.

Lest you think that is ancient history, the Doctrine provided religious justification for the enslavement of Africans and continues to underpin American law on Indigenous rights to freedom, land and resources.

Columbus, who never landed in North America and sailed under the Spanish flag centuries before Italy even existed as a nation, recounted in his diaries how his men regularly went on gang raids for gold, and for the raping and taking of women and children as slaves for sex and labor.

The growing understanding of links between oppressions of African Americans and Indigenous peoples is why recent protests quickly expanded to include Columbus statues. That is why we are so encouraged at the broad cross-section of people, including activists in the Black Lives Matter movement, who have come together to demand the removal of Syracuses Columbus statue.

Protestors have pulled down Columbus statues in Virginia and Minnesota, and beheaded one in Boston. Even Columbus, Ohio, approved removing a Columbus statue from in front of City Hall.

In New York City, police have been dispatched to protect two Columbus statues, one atop a 70-foot-tall column in Columbus Circle and the other on Literary Walk in Central Park, which activists have targeted for removal.

And the reckoning with racist history continues to expand.

After years of agitation led by Indigenous leaders, New York Citys American Museum of Natural History has announced the planned removal of the equestrian statue of Theodore Roosevelt, which portrays Roosevelt as a Great White Father with Indigenous and African American stereotypes depicted subserviently below him.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan has called for removing a statue of William Schuyler, the largest local slaveholder at the time of the American Revolution, from in front of City Hall.

At the State Capitol, there are calls to remove the statue of Gen. Philip Sheridan, who led brutal and racist campaigns against Indigenous nations in the American West, proclaiming to Comanche chief Tosahwi that The only good Indian is a dead Indian.

No one should presume that removing offensive symbols will solve problems of racism, inequality, oppressive police tactics and governmental neglect. But we also know that history is not static. It changes over time as we are exposed to the hollowness of tarnished depictions that whitewash racist and oppressive aspects of those we supposedly honor.

Perhaps we should not be surprised that the governor does not hear the pleas of New Yorks Indigenous residents. Unlike his father, Andrew Cuomo has not met with Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy leaders for his entire administration, whether the issue was land rights, educational opportunities or the abortive clean-up of Onondaga Lake.

Until the larger society confronts the fact that symbols of oppression go far beyond the Confederate flag, peace will not come to the land. Until then, Cuomo, as does President Trump, continues to have his knee on our necks.

Betty Lyons, a citizen of the Onondaga Nation, is president and executive director of the American Indian Law Alliance.

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Cynthia Grant Bowman is the Dorothea S. Clarke Professor of Law at Cornell Law School, in Ithaca.

The televised deaths of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks have made the inherent racism in our criminal justice system painfully evident to Americans. This national epiphany led many to join street protests. Commentators and people with lived experiences have described how Black men and women are forced to live.

Eventually people will return to their homes; a few police will be fired and/or prosecuted; and some police policies changed. But the legacy of the past remains  slavery, lynching, Jim Crow and mass incarceration. Black men, many with excessive sentences, are incarcerated under appalling conditions. In the context of Covid-19, those conditions violate the Eighth Amendments prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, turning time-limited sentences into potential death sentences.

Racism pervades not only police practices but also bail, adjudication, sentencing and parole. This has become apparent in New York state during Covid-19. All three branches of government have failed to respond to the plight of incarcerated persons of color, particularly those who are older and suffer from health problems that make becoming infected quite probably fatal.

Despite a stack of clemency petitions awaiting his attention, the governor has to date commuted the sentences of only 23 people. The Legislature has also failed to act by ignoring draft bills that would allow older incarcerated persons to seek parole. The judiciary, the branch particularly charged with protecting the civil rights of incarcerated people, has repeatedly turned a blind eye to legal motions and writs seeking the release of people at grave risk of contracting Covid-19. By contrast, courts in other states and the federal system have been releasing incarcerated persons at particular risk from Covid-19 or transferring them to home confinement. The media, religious leaders, law professors, civil rights organizations and community activists have urged New York courts to do the same.

Yet the trial judges of this state have denied these pleas, holding that they lack authority to release persons convicted in their own courts. One brave exception is Justice Stephen G. Schick in Sullivan County. On April 29, 2020, Justice Schick granted a writ of habeas corpus to Jalil Muntaqim, a 68-year-old Black man who has served almost 50 years of a 25-to-life sentence imposed when he was 19. His prison record is exemplary. He suffers from hypertension which caused a stroke. He has respiratory ailments and lung damage from tuberculosis. In other words, he is someone who is self-evidently vulnerable, someone for whom the states duty of care is particularly clear.

However, the state of New York, represented by Attorney General Letitia James, appealed Justice Schicks ruling and moved to hold up Muntaqims release pending appeal, arguing that conditions in New York prisons are adequate and that the state is taking sufficient precautions to prevent spread of the virus. But in the crowded and antiquated conditions of prison, this is impossible, as many other state governors, public health officials, and corrections experts have recognized.

Proof of this impossibility was swift. Muntaqim was hospitalized with the virus before his appeal was even argued. The appellate court issued its decision one week later  a week during which the national conversation about racism dominated the streets and the airwaves. The court held that there was no evidence that correctional authorities had consciously disregarded a substantial risk of serious harm to Muntaqim. So while Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen are back in their luxurious apartments, the court ordered that Muntaqim should remain in a prison cell.

All three branches of New York state government should be ashamed of the institutional racism that pervades our criminal justice system and their collective failure to address it.

Also in Opinion: Coronavirus makes reducing NY prison population a matter of life and death (Commentary)

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Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com
Washington  Democrats hoping to expand their House majority added Dana Balter on Monday to the partys list of 24 top-tier candidates across the nation.

The move means that Balter, 44, of Syracuse, will receive extra fundraising and organizational support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of House Democrats.

Balters addition to the partys Red to Blue program comes less than a week after she won the vote at the polls over Francis Conole in the Democratic primary election for the 24th Congressional District.

Balter will challenge Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, in November in a rematch of their 2018 campaign. Katko won the election by 5 percentage points.

Democratic candidates have to meet goals for grassroots engagement, local support, campaign organization and fundraising in order to qualify for the DCCCs top tier of support.

The DCCC would not say how much money it plans to spend helping Balter in this years election. The committee has already sent a full-time field director to Syracuse, a sign of the national importance of the 24th District election.

Republicans in Washington have also made Katkos campaign one of the partys national priorities.

Katko was one of the first 10 GOP House members added to the National Republican Congressional Committees Patriot Program for 2020. The program helps GOP incumbents with financial and other campaign resources. Katko is chairman of the program.

Katko is among only three House Republicans who are seeking reelection in a district that Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election.

The DCCC said a poll it commissioned shows this years Balter-Katko matchup is highly competitive.

Balter led Katko, 48-45% in the poll of 400 likely voters in the 24th District conducted June 18 through June 22. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

Katko campaign manager Tom Haag noted that the poll was conducted at a time when Balter had been airing a series of TV ads for her Democratic primary election campaign. Katko did not have any ads on TV this month.

The same poll found former Vice President Joe Biden leads President Donald Trump by 18 percentage points (54-36) among voters in the Central New York district.

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.

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Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Washington  Rep. John Katko wants Congress to investigate a report that Russia secretly offered militants bounties to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and if true, why the Trump administration has not held Russia accountable.

The New York Times reported Friday night that U.S. intelligence officials concluded months ago that Russia covertly offered the rewards to Taliban-linked militants.

The report said President Donald Trump had been briefed about the intelligence findings, but his administration had not taken any action against Russia.

Katko, R-Camillus, said Monday he wants Congress to determine if the intelligence existed, whether it was credible and whether Trump was informed about the potential threat.

We definitely need to get to the bottom of whether this happened or not, Katko said in an interview. If it did, Russia needs to be held accountable for it. I say that not only as a member of Congress, but as the father of an Army infantry soldier.

Katkos oldest son is a lieutenant in the Army National Guard.

Trump has denied knowing anything about the Russian bounties detailed in The New York Times report published online Friday.

The president tweeted Sunday that he followed up with intelligence officials and learned that the information they received was not credible.

Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or @VP, Trump tweeted. He later added, Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us.

Nobody briefed or told me, @VP Pence, or Chief of Staff @MarkMeadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an anonymous source by the Fake News @nytimes. Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us.....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 28, 2020

Katko, a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said Congress should invite intelligence officials to testify and determine if Trump had been informed about the bounties, as The New York Times reported.

Im not taking his word for it, Katko said of Trump. I want to know what the facts are, and I want to have those facts verified. The American people and the service members deserve answers.

If the report is confirmed, Katko said, he wants to know whether the president and vice president were informed by U.S. intelligence officials. If not, he wants to know why.

If this is true, and they knew about it, most certainly they should have informed the president, Katko said of intelligence officials.

At least a half-dozen Republicans in Congress have called for investigations into the report.

Separately, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said Monday that all members of the Senate should be briefed by intelligence officials on the issue.

I am calling for the Directors of National Intelligence and the CIA to immediately brief all 100 Senators on reports that Russia placed bounties on U.S. troops in Afghanistan, said Schumer, D-N.Y. We need to know whether or not President Trump was told this information, and if so, when.

The press secretary for Russian President Vladimir Putin told The New York Times that the Kremlin had not been made aware of the accusations contained in the report.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
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Utica, N.Y.  What are the chances schools will open their classrooms for instruction this fall?

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said today he thinks the chances are 50-50.

With the increase in the number of coronavirus cases in many states across the country, Picente said thats his best guess at the moment.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned on Sunday that the growing number of cases in other states could affect how safe it is for New York to restart in-person teaching in schools. He said if the number of cases continues to increase, kids could be doing remote learning for a long time.

Picente Monday echoed Cuomos concerns, but also said he hopes schools can reopen.

I strongly believe we need to get students back in school,' he said.

He said he believes it can be done by staggering when groups of students attend school. School districts will have to get creative, he said.

The big question is transportation,' he said.

Picente said residents all over need to keep track of the coronavirus numbers, and keep their eye on the ball.

If people dont wear masks or social distance, the number of coronavirus cases may continue to rise, and not reopening schools may be the consequence, he said.

Not reopening schools leads to a host of other issues, including who watches the kids if parents are working, Picente said.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

Restarting NY: Can you have a wedding this summer in NY state?

Cuomo: NY school reopenings at risk if coronavirus keeps spreading nationally

NY State Fair 2020: Deep-fried faith continues for a socially distanced event as cancellations begin

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com
New Scotland, N.Y.  A lit firework was thrown into the home of an Upstate New York sheriffs office employee, police said Sunday.

Spectrum News reports Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said it is investigating after someone opened the front door at a residence in New Scotland, New York, and tossed a lit firework inside Saturday night. An Albany County Sheriffs Office worker was at the Albany-area home with his family, watching TV on the couch with his 4-year-old daughter, when the incident occurred around 10 p.m.

The firework exploded and burned an area rug, Apple said. The employee and his wife were able to put out the fire with a pillow before it caused further damage.

No injuries were reported.

Albany County Sheriffs deputies responded to the scene. Its unclear if the individual or individuals involved were targeting the sheriffs office employee; the employee has not been identified.

An investigation is ongoing.

News10 reports anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Albany County Sheriffs Office at 518-765-2351.
Tahlequah, OK (74464)

Today

Thunderstorms in the morning will give way to steady rain in the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 74F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 48F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Florida Department of Health reported 10,629 new COVID-19 cases statewide during the week of June 11-17, bringing the cumulative total since March 2020 to 2,310,881. Forty-three more people died, upping the death toll to 37,555.
Dr. Angus Jameson, Pinellas Countys emergency medical director, and Dr. Jon Thogmartin, chief medical examiner for the District Six Medical Examiners Office, both say the best way to control the rate of community spread of COVID-19 is by social distancing and wearing a facial covering. They say the novel coronavirus is going to be with us for a long time, and everyone needs to learn to live with it safely.
After unveiling the TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Silver Dial Limited Edition at the beginning of the year to kick off the luxury watchmakers 160th anniversary, the brand is now introducing a second collectors edition to mark the historic milestone: the TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal Limited Edition. Montreal was the name of a collection of luminous Heuer automatic chronographs launched in 1972. Now, the Montreal design makes a striking comeback in the form of an 39 mm TAG Heuer Carrera that is limited to only 1,000 pieces.

The Heritage Department selected the white Montreal design to mark TAG Heuers anniversary year because the piece is pure beauty and the colourful dial is full of joy. We played with the existing design codes and brought them to life in a bold new way, merging them with the Carrera spirit and breaking the rules in true TAG Heuer fashion, says Catherine Eberle-Devaux, TAG Heuer Heritage Director.

TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal Limited Edition  TAG Heuer

Combining the heritage of two TAG Heuer greats: the Carrera and the Montreal

The creativity behind this limited-edition anniversary timepiece stems from the idea of fusing the designs and DNA of two iconic TAG Heuer watches. The new TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal Limited Edition is directly inspired by the White Heuer Montreal, reference 110503W, which launched in 1972. Today, it is an exceedingly rare collectors item. For the anniversary model, TAG Heuer borrowed the original, perfectly balanced red, yellow and blue colour palette of the White Heuer Montreal. The bright dial is emblematic of the 1970s, when watch design was transformed by the ability to use coloured luminescent materials; this invention opened-up a fantastic new era of creativity.

Ten years earlier, in 1962, then-CEO Jack Heuer heard the story of the legendary Carrera Panamericana, one of the most treacherous road races in the world. The word carrera, which in Spanish can mean road, race, career or course, caught his attention: he knew immediately that this would be the perfect name for a new timepiece. The first Heuer Carrera chronographs left the factory the following year. As a lover of clean, modern design, Jack Heuer wanted the aesthetics of the Heuer Carrera chronograph to be pure and well-proportioned  features that make the watch perfect for drivers who need to see the time at a glance during adrenaline-pumping races.

These stories and designs all merge on the matte white dial of this special timepiece, which holds three stunning blue azurage counters. The chronograph minute counter at 3 oclock stands out with three curved lines from 1 to 5, 10 to 15, and 20 to 25 that are coloured with yellow Super-LumiNova. The same yellow Super-LumiNova is also found on the central minute and hour hands, while the central chronograph seconds hand features a distinctively different bold red lacquer.

The dial is protected by a domed glassbox sapphire crystal. The polished stainless-steel timepiece paired with a blue alligator leather strap, reflecting the splash of colour on the dial. The unique limited-edition number of each piece is engraved on the case back, where the innovative Calibre Heuer 02 and its dedicated oscillating mass are visible through the sapphire crystal.

TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal Limited Edition  TAG Heuer

Vintage design with modern technology

Possibly the most significant difference between the Heuer Montreal and the modern limited-edition model is the movement within the timepiece. The tribute model is powered by the brands Calibre Heuer 02 manufacture movement. This in-house innovation is entirely Swiss-made in TAG Heuers Chevenez manufacture. It comprises 168 components, including a column wheel and a vertical clutch  signatures of improved chronograph timekeeping and high-quality manufacture movements  and boasts an impressive power reserve of 80 hours.

TAG Heuers Calibre Heuer 02 manufacture movement offers five key benefits:

A power reserve of 80 hours  an increase of 30 hours compared to the Calibre Heuer 01.

A thinner movement, which allows for a thinner case design and improved comfort for the wearer. The thickness is 6.95 mm, compared to the Heuer 01s 7.30 mm.

The vertical clutch improves the precision of the start-and-stop functions as well as the running of the chronograph second hand, meaning that there is no loss of time when using the chronograph function.

There is a column wheel, which provides more accurate and precise functionality  made noticeable by the smooth movement when manipulating the pushers.

Precision and greater stability with a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour).

Packaged in a special box that highlights the heritage of this prominent timepiece, the TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal Limited Edition will be available exclusively in TAG Heuer boutiques and online at www.tagheuer.com for select countries in July 2020.
29 June 2020

Type Media Article



Virtual Beef Week replaces the planned major Teagasc Beef 2020 Open Day, which was due to take place at the Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation centre, Grange, County Meath. Due to COVID-19 farmers will now have the opportunity to access the latest research and knowledge through their mobile phone, laptop or tablet.



Building a Sustainable Irish Beef Sector

Each day will involve two streamed broadcasts,

BeefTalk at 12 midday Live@Grange at 7 pm

This will be accompanied by a continuous stream of content through social media platforms.

Day 1 Monday July 6th

Beef Talk - 12 noon

The first day will focus on the Derrypatrick Herd at the Teagasc Animal and Grassland, Research and Innovation centre, in Grange County Meath, Monday mornings Beef Talk will look at how it achieves its breeding targets of 100% AI and a very compact calving.

Michael Mc Manus who manages the herd will discuss how this is achieved in practice.

who manages the herd will discuss how this is achieved in practice. Bernadette Earley will outline the animal health programme for the suckler herd, including the vaccination plan and the castration of male calves.

will outline the animal health programme for the suckler herd, including the vaccination plan and the castration of male calves. Alan Twomey will talk about differences between selecting on the basis of Replacement Index and the Terminal Index.

View the Beef Talk on Monday at 12pm on Teagasc Facebook

Live@Grange - 7pm

Monday evening will see the first live transmission from Grange. There will be updates from the Suckler beef research at Teagasc Grange along with how it has been implemented at farm level.

David Kenny will talk about his research on Bull fertility and on synchronisation programmes that are being used to improve compact calving and the use of AI at farm level with video clips from farmers using the technology.

will talk about his research on Bull fertility and on synchronisation programmes that are being used to improve compact calving and the use of AI at farm level with video clips from farmers using the technology. Frank O Sullivan , who is the Vet for Teagasc Grange, will discuss the practical steps farmers need to look at if they are to reduce their antibiotic use and the role of health planning on suckler farms.

, who is the Vet for Teagasc Grange, will discuss the practical steps farmers need to look at if they are to reduce their antibiotic use and the role of health planning on suckler farms. Orla Keane will discuss her work on parasite control, anthelmintic resistance and where suckler farmers could improve. She will also look at how management might have to change if the legislation around anthelmintic availability and use changes.

Join the interactive livestream each evening at 7pm on www.teagasc.ie/virtualbeefweek

The Teagasc Virtual beef week is kindly sponsored by FBD Trust.
Prodigy07 BHPian



Join Date: May 2013 Location: Chennai Posts: 667 Thanked: 585 Times

Minor enhancements on a #TinCan - My modified Maruti Baleno



Baleno owners would have seen my posts on service, exterior modifications etc in the Official review thread.



I didn't want to create a separate thread until I had some substantial update on my car.



The mods on my car are definitely NOT on the lines of Gannu_1/Suhaas307/Dr Naren/graaja.



Quick background on the purchase:



First, let me give you all a quick background on my purchase.



Way back in 2016, when there were rumors floating around that Maruti will launch Baleno RS with a Manual and 6 Speed AT, I decided to exchange my 2014 Ertiga Vxi manual as my left calf muscles were tired of the perennial traffic on GST Road (courtesy Pallavaram flyover construction).



I got a fairly decent price for my Ertiga from NEXA Nandanam and made a booking for Baleno CVT(Zeta). But, they wanted to seal the exchange deal immediately as they found a prospective buyer for my Ertiga. Do note that Zeta was the top most variant in CVT lineup without Touchscreen system, Projector headlamps and slightly different tail-lamps. Also, NEXA confirmed that I can swap by booking to the RS variant once they receive official communication from MSIL.



Now, there were again rumors floating around that RS version might be launched ONLY in automatic transmission. This again made me to reconsider my booking.



Also, NEXA Nandanam called and updated me that the Automatic version that I had booked had a 6 months waiting period. I started getting impatient and wanted the car immediately. So, tried calling other NEXA dealers in Chennai. Alas, all of them quoted the same waiting period.



At the same time, I read one of the post here on TBHP that procuring a car from Tier-2 city might be easier.



So, I quickly reached out to NEXA Vellore and NEXA Trichy. Luckily NEXA Trichy had a Metallic Urban Blue (Zeta CVT) in transit. So, I quickly wired them the booking amount and told them to block the vehicle for me. After 2 weeks, the vehicle reached their yard and they started pestering me to make the full payment. But, I strictly told them I cannot do that until I see the vehicle. Luckily my dad's friend, a professor who's hometown was Trichy offered to do the PDI on behalf of us. Post the PDI, he gave us a green signal to proceed with the payment.



So, after a week, we drove the vehicle to Chennai with a temporary registration.



Saga of the enhancements:



Post permanent registration, the first modification that I wanted to carry out was replacing the OEM alloys.



I badly wanted Momo Revenge in Matt Black. Alas, none of the dealers in Chennai had stock. So, settled with a Machined Black 5 spoke alloys.



In the meantime, I got the headlights smoked and added Philips H4 LEDs and H11 Fog bulbs



In the midst of this, I felt the OEM Sigma version front grill looked good. So, got that grill as well.



Something struck me that painting the thick chrome on the Zeta grill would look nice. So, got it painted in Piano black and reverted from Sigma grill to Zeta.



Baby-steps towards RS makeover:



By mid-March 2017, proper spy pics of Baleno RS started circulating on TBHP confirming that RS variant would ONLY be launched in manual transmission. But, Maruti had made lot of enhancements on the exterior front to slightly differentiate from the normal variants viz; (The front grill, front and rear bumper with skirt and the side skirts sitting plush on the running board). Also, after seeing this variant in person, I desperately wanted a exterior makeover on my Baleno.



Months passed and I slowly got hold of the part numbers for RS (Front grill, front bumper with skirt and side skirts and the RS decal). I made a quick visit to MASS and provided them the part numbers and asked them to order all the required parts. It took about 3-4 weeks to get the front grill, RS decal and the side skirts.

Front bumper with skirt took an another 1 month to arrive.



Initially I didn't like the visual appeal of the RS rear bumper. But, to get a complete exterior cosmetic makeover, I decided to get the rear bumper along with the skirts too.



Finally I decided to do a chrome-delete of the window lining, rear boot-lid spoiler and decal. However I'm still not convinced to get the chrome door handles painted in body colour. I might probably get them wrapped in piano black.





Tyre/Wheel Upgrade:



During the fag end of 2018, I wanted to replace the alloys and wanted the Momo revenge in Matt Black. Call it luck, Momo had introduced Revenge in Concave finish. Made a quick visit to my favorite alloy/tyre dealer and paid an advance. So, along with the alloys I swapped the OEM 195/55 R16 Alnac 4Gs to 205/50 R16 Continental MC5.



Can I improve the handling?



Post the tyre upgrade, I got the RS Front coil springs to compliment the tyre upgrade. (Pic and Part numbers given below)



Wait... enhancement is still not complete.



Now, with the exterior makeover done, I wanted the car to sound a little sporty.

So, got a Magnaflow Endcan (Model: 10445) with the stock resonator in place. Now, the car sounds a little sporty beyond 2.5K rpm. Heck, it's a CVT. Don't expect too much.



Still not contended with what I have done so far... How about some after-market springs?



Even after the tyre/wheel upgrade I was still not happy with the handling. That's when I started reading Naren's and Suhas's thread on Cobra springs.



Post extensive research, I decided to get Cobra Springs on OEM dampers. The springs are currently in transit and stuck at Bangalore and I will get them installed post the extended lock down in Chennai that will hopefully end by June 30th.



Got Magnaflow?, but I need to take peek below the rear bumper. OK let's do something



So, I'm also trying to experiment by replacing the OE resonator with K14B (Ertiga/Ciaz) resonator to check if there's substantial improvement in the sound and little difference in performance. The parts have already arrived at MASS and once again I need to wait until the lock down is lifted to get them customized and installed at a FNG.



OK... What about Brakes?



I've had discussions with DBHP'ian Leoshashi on the compatibility of rear discs from the RS variant.



The rear beam definitely needs to be changed to accommodate this conversion. Also, I'm waiting for the warranty to get completed next year to take the plunge on this modification.



So, here's a quick synopsis of the enhancements done (till date) on my 2016 Baleno CVT



a) Pioneer AVH-Z5190 BT ICE

b) Avan Acoustics tweeters

c) RS Front grill in piano black

d) RS Front bumper with skirt

e) RS side skirts

f) RS Rear bumper with skirt

g) RS decal

h) Chrome delete (Window lining, rear bootlid spoiler,'S', 'RS' and Baleno decal)

i) Momo Revenge Concave (Matt Black)

j) Continental MC5 205/55 R16

k) Smoked Headlights with (Philips H4 LED and LED fog bulbs)

l) Magnaflow End can (OEM resonator is in place)



Work In Progress:



a) Cobra Lowering springs (Yet to install)

b) K14B Resonator (Yet to install)



Few updates are pending from an ICE perspective



a) JL Audio Front components (friend will carry down from the US as and when the lock down is relaxed)

b) HAT Sub (Already with me)

c) Need to identify a suitable 4 channel amp to pair the components and sub

d) Dynamat damping (Again, my friend will get it from the US)



Kindly excuse the amateurish photos.



Delivery (NEXA Trichy)







Smoked headlights, Sigma grill and Plati Alloys



Headlight Smoking charges - Rs 2500

Sigma grill 71741M68P005PK - Rs 350

Plati 16" (Set of 4) - Rs 25K







Zeta grill painted in Piano Black



Painting charges - Rs 750







ICE



1) The upgrade that I've done is not of audiophile grade though. I'm again baby steps towards this mod.

2) Firstly, I've upgraded the OEM system to Pioneer AVH-5190BT that comes with Android Auto and Apple Car play.

3) The OEM steering mounted controls work perfectly.

e) The headunit display colour matches perfectly with the instrument cluster and doesn't look out of place.

4) The only grouse I've with this system is, it comes ONLY 1 USB port. C'mon Pioneer do you expect us to disconnect our mobile everytime we have a need to connect an USB with FLAC audio? You could have very well given 2 USB ports

5) Also, the OEM interior look is lot by adding an aftermarket panel!

6) The ICE installer where I got this swap done was suggesting me try out a pair of new 28mm Silk Dome tweeters that can supposedly play at different crossover points.

7) These are definitely better than the OEM tweeters.

8) These tweeters had to be fixed on the A-pillar trim and OEMs were dummied out.

9) Now that I'm looking at a SOLID upgrade, these tweeters will go in to my Celerio and the Baleno will get JL Audio 6.5 Components paired with HAT Sub.



Pioneer AVH-5190BT - Rs 21000

Avan Acoustics 28mm tweeters - Rs 11000













RS Side Skirts (Includes replacement of running board as well) and Piano black ORVM covers



1) Maruti has made this mod slightly complicated as the skirt is not a direct fit.

2) This includes replacement of the running board as well.

3) But, the advantage with this is, there's no need to fix the skirts with additional screws (or) use 3M tapes that's religiously followed while fitting OEM skirts (or) aftermarket skirts. The skirts sit plush onto the running board

4) Also, there's no compromise on the ground clearance which is not the case even with OEM body kit.



Black ORVM Cover

84728M76M20-5PK - Rs 200 (each)



RS Side Skirts

77211M68P10 - Running board(RHS) - Rs 1023.40

77213M68P10 - Lower skirt (RHS) - Rs 2421.80

77221M68P10 - Running board(LHS) - Rs 1023.40

77223M68P10 - Lower Skirt (LHS) - Rs 2421.80



Painting charges - Rs 6800/-







RS grill and front Samurai lip



RS Front grill:



1) This grill definitely enhances the look and increases the sporty quotient.

2) Downside - They are pricey.

2) Factory finished in Gun-Metal shade



RS Front Grill - 71740M68P30-CP4 - Rs 2046

Piano Black painting charges - Rs 1000

Samurai bumper lip - Rs 2000







RS Front bumper and skirt



1) For a layman, there's no big difference between the RS variant and the normal ones.

2) Yes, one who is hawk-eyed will definitely notice the difference especially with the tighter lower air dam, gun metal grill and skirts.

3) Also, the light spread from the fogs are definitely better as the ones in RS protrude slightly.



RS Front Bumper

71711M68P10-5PK - Rs 1700



RS Lower Grill

71721M68P10-5PK - Rs 195



Fog Lamp Bezel - Rs 51 each

71751M68P50-5PK

72761M68P50-5PK



Front skirt

71771M68P00-5PK - Rs 3226







Momo Revenge and Continental MC5



1) 205/55 R16 Continental MC5s are definitely a big upgrade from the stock Alnac 4G 195/55 R16

2) The tyres are sticky and offers good balance between handling and comfort.

3) But, the tyres are noisy and this is the only grouse that I have so far.

4) Now that, Michelin has launched Pilot Sport 4 in 205/55 R16 profile, I will definitely swap the MC5 when they breach the 60K barrier.

5) The wheels that I have in my vehicle are 7.5J. So they slightly jut out. Need to exercise caution while parking close to the kerb.



Momo Revenge Concave (Matt Black) - Rs 36000 (Set of 4)

Continental MC5 205/55 R16 - Rs 24000

Hub centric ring was provided free of cost







Rear Chrome Delete



Painting charges - Rs 1200







RS Rear bumper and skirt



1) BIG and visible difference especially with the thick lower gun metal skirt.

2) The number plate housing is also different giving a faux diffuser look.

3) But, this bumper cannot accommodate the mud flaps giving a tough time to the vehicles in the rear during monsoon.

4) With the addition of 205 rubber and 7.5J wheels, its definitely a pain for the vehicles behind.

5) To overcome this issue, I've added a pair of universal rubber mud flaps.



Rear Bumper:



71811M68P40-5PK - Bumper - Rs 3109

71813M68P40-5PK - Rear Lower Skirt - Rs 2949.21



RS Decal - 77871M79M00A3Z



Painting charges - Rs 4500/-







With Magnaflow End-Can



1) After having made the Baleno to look a little sporty, I wanted the car to sound a little sporty too.

2) I started doing research on Borla/REMUS/Magnaflow etc; Finally I decided to get a Magnaflow Universal end-can

3) As this is a CVT, I wanted to experiment with a simple set-up before taking a plunge into CatBack system.

4) Yes, I'm totally satisfied with Magnaflow. It's NOT LOUD at all. It has got that deep bass beyond 2.5K rpm and sounds divine in our company's stilt parking.

5) Apart from this, I'm trying to experiment by removing the K12M resonator and adding K14B resonator with appropriate mods.



Magnaflow 10445 Universal End can - GBP 75











RS Front Coil Springs



1) With the RS Front coil springs, the ride has become even more stiffer.

2) But, please don't expect day & night difference with these springs.

3) These are being replaced with Cobra Lowering springs



41111M68P40 - Rs 645 (each)













Cobra Lowering Springs

1) The Cobra springs are currently in transit (stuck at Bangalore) and should reach me hopefully next week

2) I should be able to post a quick review once I get them installed at a FNG

3) Got them from A.M Racing Delhi for Rs 24000







Suzuki K14B Resonator



a) The K12M resonator would be replaced with this. But, the resonator is still at MASS

b) I shall post a review once I get them installed at a FNG after required modifications post lockdown

c) 14250M60M00 - Rs 4500/







Resting during Lock-down











Signing-Off...



Yes, as the title suggests, this modification thread is definitely on a Maruti SuzukiBaleno owners would have seen my posts on service, exterior modifications etc in the Official review thread.I didn't want to create a separate thread until I had some substantial update on my car.The mods on my car are definitely NOT on the lines of Gannu_1/Suhaas307/Dr Naren/graaja.First, let me give you all a quick background on my purchase.Way back in 2016, when there were rumors floating around that Maruti will launch Baleno RS with a Manual and 6 Speed AT, I decided to exchange my 2014 Ertiga Vxi manual as my left calf muscles were tired of the perennial traffic on GST Road (courtesy Pallavaram flyover construction).I got a fairly decent price for my Ertiga from NEXA Nandanam and made a booking for Baleno CVT(Zeta). But, they wanted to seal the exchange deal immediately as they found a prospective buyer for my Ertiga. Do note that Zeta was the top most variant in CVT lineup without Touchscreen system, Projector headlamps and slightly different tail-lamps. Also, NEXA confirmed that I can swap by booking to the RS variant once they receive official communication from MSIL.Now, there were again rumors floating around that RS version might be launched ONLY in automatic transmission. This again made me to reconsider my booking.Also, NEXA Nandanam called and updated me that the Automatic version that I had booked had a 6 months waiting period. I started getting impatient and wanted the car immediately. So, tried calling other NEXA dealers in Chennai. Alas, all of them quoted the same waiting period.At the same time, I read one of the post here on TBHP that procuring a car from Tier-2 city might be easier.So, I quickly reached out to NEXA Vellore and NEXA Trichy. Luckily NEXA Trichy had a Metallic Urban Blue (Zeta CVT) in transit. So, I quickly wired them the booking amount and told them to block the vehicle for me. After 2 weeks, the vehicle reached their yard and they started pestering me to make the full payment. But, I strictly told them I cannot do that until I see the vehicle. Luckily my dad's friend, a professor who's hometown was Trichy offered to do the PDI on behalf of us. Post the PDI, he gave us a green signal to proceed with the payment.So, after a week, we drove the vehicle to Chennai with a temporary registration.Post permanent registration, the first modification that I wanted to carry out was replacing the OEM alloys.I badly wanted Momo Revenge in Matt Black. Alas, none of the dealers in Chennai had stock. So, settled with a Machined Black 5 spoke alloys.In the meantime, I got the headlights smoked and added Philips H4 LEDs and H11 Fog bulbsIn the midst of this, I felt the OEM Sigma version front grill looked good. So, got that grill as well.Something struck me that painting the thick chrome on the Zeta grill would look nice. So, got it painted in Piano black and reverted from Sigma grill to Zeta.By mid-March 2017, proper spy pics of Baleno RS started circulating on TBHP confirming that RS variant would ONLY be launched in manual transmission. But, Maruti had made lot of enhancements on the exterior front to slightly differentiate from the normal variants viz; (The front grill, front and rear bumper with skirt and the side skirts sitting plush on the running board). Also, after seeing this variant in person, I desperately wanted a exterior makeover on my Baleno.Months passed and I slowly got hold of the part numbers for RS (Front grill, front bumper with skirt and side skirts and the RS decal). I made a quick visit to MASS and provided them the part numbers and asked them to order all the required parts. It took about 3-4 weeks to get the front grill, RS decal and the side skirts.Front bumper with skirt took an another 1 month to arrive.Initially I didn't like the visual appeal of the RS rear bumper. But, to get a complete exterior cosmetic makeover, I decided to get the rear bumper along with the skirts too.Finally I decided to do a chrome-delete of the window lining, rear boot-lid spoiler and decal. However I'm still not convinced to get the chrome door handles painted in body colour. I might probably get them wrapped in piano black.During the fag end of 2018, I wanted to replace the alloys and wanted the Momo revenge in Matt Black. Call it luck, Momo had introduced Revenge in Concave finish. Made a quick visit to my favorite alloy/tyre dealer and paid an advance. So, along with the alloys I swapped the OEM 195/55 R16 Alnac 4Gs to 205/50 R16 Continental MC5.Post the tyre upgrade, I got the RS Front coil springs to compliment the tyre upgrade. (Pic and Part numbers given below)Now, with the exterior makeover done, I wanted the car to sound a little sporty.So, got a Magnaflow Endcan (Model: 10445) with the stock resonator in place. Now, the car sounds a little sporty beyond 2.5K rpm. Heck, it's a CVT. Don't expect too much.Even after the tyre/wheel upgrade I was still not happy with the handling. That's when I started reading Naren's and Suhas's thread on Cobra springs.Post extensive research, I decided to get Cobra Springs on OEM dampers. The springs are currently in transit and stuck at Bangalore and I will get them installed post the extended lock down in Chennai that will hopefully end by June 30th.So, I'm also trying to experiment by replacing the OE resonator with K14B (Ertiga/Ciaz) resonator to check if there'simprovement in the sound andin performance. The parts have already arrived at MASS and once again I need to wait until the lock down is lifted to get them customized and installed at a FNG.I've had discussions with DBHP'ian Leoshashi on the compatibility of rear discs from the RS variant.The rear beam definitely needs to be changed to accommodate this conversion. Also, I'm waiting for the warranty to get completed next year to take the plunge on this modification.So, here's a quick synopsis of the enhancements done (till date) on my 2016 Baleno CVTa) Pioneer AVH-Z5190 BT ICEb) Avan Acoustics tweetersc) RS Front grill in piano blackd) RS Front bumper with skirte) RS side skirtsf) RS Rear bumper with skirtg) RS decalh) Chrome delete (Window lining, rear bootlid spoiler,'S', 'RS' and Baleno decal)i) Momo Revenge Concave (Matt Black)j) Continental MC5 205/55 R16k) Smoked Headlights with (Philips H4 LED and LED fog bulbs)l) Magnaflow End can (OEM resonator is in place)a) Cobra Lowering springs (Yet to install)b) K14B Resonator (Yet to install)a) JL Audio Front components (friend will carry down from the US as and when the lock down is relaxed)b) HAT Sub (Already with me)c) Need to identify a suitable 4 channel amp to pair the components and subd) Dynamat damping (Again, my friend will get it from the US)Kindly excuse the amateurish photos.Headlight Smoking charges - Rs 2500Sigma grill 71741M68P005PK - Rs 350Plati 16" (Set of 4) - Rs 25KPainting charges - Rs 7501) The upgrade that I've done is not of audiophile grade though. I'm again baby steps towards this mod.2) Firstly, I've upgraded the OEM system to Pioneer AVH-5190BT that comes with Android Auto and Apple Car play.3) The OEM steering mounted controls work perfectly.e) The headunit display colour matches perfectly with the instrument cluster and doesn't look out of place.4) The only grouse I've with this system is, it comes ONLY 1 USB port. C'mon Pioneer do you expect us to disconnect our mobile everytime we have a need to connect an USB with FLAC audio? You could have very well given 2 USB ports5) Also, the OEM interior look is lot by adding an aftermarket panel!6) The ICE installer where I got this swap done was suggesting me try out a pair of new 28mm Silk Dome tweeters that can supposedly play at different crossover points.7) These are definitely better than the OEM tweeters.8) These tweeters had to be fixed on the A-pillar trim and OEMs were dummied out.9) Now that I'm looking at a SOLID upgrade, these tweeters will go in to my Celerio and the Baleno will get JL Audio 6.5 Components paired with HAT Sub.Pioneer AVH-5190BT - Rs 21000Avan Acoustics 28mm tweeters - Rs 110001) Maruti has made this mod slightly complicated as the skirt is not a direct fit.2) This includes replacement of the running board as well.3) But, the advantage with this is, there's no need to fix the skirts with additional screws (or) use 3M tapes that's religiously followed while fitting OEM skirts (or) aftermarket skirts. The skirts sit plush onto the running board4) Also, there's no compromise on the ground clearance which is not the case even with OEM body kit.Black ORVM Cover84728M76M20-5PK - Rs 200 (each)RS Side Skirts77211M68P10 - Running board(RHS) - Rs 1023.4077213M68P10 - Lower skirt (RHS) - Rs 2421.8077221M68P10 - Running board(LHS) - Rs 1023.4077223M68P10 - Lower Skirt (LHS) - Rs 2421.80Painting charges - Rs 6800/-RS Front grill:1) This grill definitely enhances the look and increases the sporty quotient.2) Downside - They are pricey.2) Factory finished in Gun-Metal shadeRS Front Grill - 71740M68P30-CP4 - Rs 2046Piano Black painting charges - Rs 1000Samurai bumper lip - Rs 20001) For a layman, there's no big difference between the RS variant and the normal ones.2) Yes, one who is hawk-eyed will definitely notice the difference especially with the tighter lower air dam, gun metal grill and skirts.3) Also, the light spread from the fogs are definitely better as the ones in RS protrude slightly.RS Front Bumper71711M68P10-5PK - Rs 1700RS Lower Grill71721M68P10-5PK - Rs 195Fog Lamp Bezel - Rs 51 each71751M68P50-5PK72761M68P50-5PKFront skirt71771M68P00-5PK - Rs 32261) 205/55 R16 Continental MC5s are definitely a big upgrade from the stock Alnac 4G 195/55 R162) The tyres are sticky and offers good balance between handling and comfort.3) But, the tyres are noisy and this is the only grouse that I have so far.4) Now that, Michelin has launched Pilot Sport 4 in 205/55 R16 profile, I will definitely swap the MC5 when they breach the 60K barrier.5) The wheels that I have in my vehicle are 7.5J. So they slightly jut out. Need to exercise caution while parking close to the kerb.Momo Revenge Concave (Matt Black) - Rs 36000 (Set of 4)Continental MC5 205/55 R16 - Rs 24000Hub centric ring was provided free of costPainting charges - Rs 12001) BIG and visible difference especially with the thick lower gun metal skirt.2) The number plate housing is also different giving a faux diffuser look.3) But, this bumper cannot accommodate the mud flaps giving a tough time to the vehicles in the rear during monsoon.4) With the addition of 205 rubber and 7.5J wheels, its definitely a pain for the vehicles behind.5) To overcome this issue, I've added a pair of universal rubber mud flaps.Rear Bumper:71811M68P40-5PK - Bumper - Rs 310971813M68P40-5PK - Rear Lower Skirt - Rs 2949.21RS Decal - 77871M79M00A3ZPainting charges - Rs 4500/-1) After having made the Baleno to look a little sporty, I wanted the car to sound a little sporty too.2) I started doing research on Borla/REMUS/Magnaflow etc; Finally I decided to get a Magnaflow Universal end-can3) As this is a CVT, I wanted to experiment with a simple set-up before taking a plunge into CatBack system.4) Yes, I'm totally satisfied with Magnaflow. It's NOT LOUD at all. It has got that deep bass beyond 2.5K rpm and sounds divine in our company's stilt parking.5) Apart from this, I'm trying to experiment by removing the K12M resonator and adding K14B resonator with appropriate mods.Magnaflow 10445 Universal End can - GBP 751) With the RS Front coil springs, the ride has become even more stiffer.2) But, please don't expect day & night difference with these springs.3) These are being replaced with Cobra Lowering springs41111M68P40 - Rs 645 (each)1) The Cobra springs are currently in transit (stuck at Bangalore) and should reach me hopefully next week2) I should be able to post a quick review once I get them installed at a FNG3) Got them from A.M Racing Delhi for Rs 24000a) The K12M resonator would be replaced with this. But, the resonator is still at MASSb) I shall post a review once I get them installed at a FNG after required modifications post lockdownc) 14250M60M00 - Rs 4500/ Last edited by Prodigy07 : 28th June 2020 at 08:44 .
guyfrmblr Senior - BHPian



Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,126 Thanked: 3,760 Times

Extraterrestrial Highway Extraterrestrial Highway:



Aliens' stories would always fascinate me as a kid. I have read lots of stories/rumors surrounding Area 51. Ever since I landed in the USA, it was my dream to drive through the Extraterrestrial Highway which always gets featured in any story related to Area 51. This road is also feature in "100 roads to drive before you die". My dream came through when I drove through this road in 2016. Even though we didn't come across any alien ( ), the experience of driving on his highway was fantastic. I have never driven in such a road in my life. It was a completely difference experience. I wanted my parents to experience the same. I knew they would definitely like the experience of traveling on this road (and I was not wrong).



ET Highway (NV-375) is a 100 miles route between Crystal Springs and Warm Springs in Central Nevada. It passes near the famed Area 51 (Nellis Airforce base) and is a famous destination UFO/aliens enthusiasts. This route is void of any services or traffic. There are no gas stations for the entire length of the route. There is no cell phone service The only thing that can be found in this route is the village of Rachel. This village just has one small alien themed restaurant called Ale Inn. The Shell gas station in Ash Springs (on US-93) is the last service one can get in this route. This is just before the starting point of ET highway at Crystal Springs. For folks who travel towards West after ET highway on US-6 W, the next gas station is located 150 miles away in the town of Tonopah. For folks who travel towards East after ET highway on US-6 E, the next gas station is located 220 miles in the town of Ely. Either way, it's a good idea to fill up at the Shell gas station in Ash Springs so that there is no chance of getting stranded in the middle of nowhere.



Our plan for the 3rd day was to just drive through Extraterrestrial Highway, US-6/US-50 and reach Salina in Utah. The total distance is almost 600 miles. It generally takes around 12 hours to do this journey. After 2 days of roaming around Las Vegas, we started early morning 5 AM from Silverton hotel. Our goal was to reach Salina by 7 PM in the evening.



We took I-15 N from Las Vegas towards Salt Lake city and took the exit to US-93N which connects to ET highway.





This route has a scarcity of good restrooms. So one has to plan judicially for the nature calls. The Pahranagat National Wildlife Area has well maintained rest rooms. This is located on US-93 few miles before the town of Alamo:





This area is a spring in the middle of the desert. This is also a tribal reservation area. If anyone is interested in bird watching, I read on the signboards that this area has lots of unique birds:













There used to be a board called "Extraterrestrial Highway" before at the beginning of the ET highway at Crystal Springs but looks like someone has stolen it. I have read on the web that this signboard gets frequently stolen for the purpose of keeping it as a souvenir. Usually the state of Nevada is quick in replacing signboards. Since it wasn't there on the day we went, I believe it was stolen just a few days back. I just saw two cones placed in the spot where the signboard stood. I'm cross-posting the pic of the signboard from my old travelogue from 2016:





There is a signboard next to the "Alien Research Center" which shows the distance to town of Rachel. "Alien Research Center" is nothing but a gift shop which has a great collection of Alien themed gifts.





Endless straight stretches on ET highway. This is at the beginning of the highway. The water source seen at a distance is Key Pitmann Wildlife Management area in Crystal Springs:





After driving through some really straight stretches, we come across Mt Irish Wilderness area which has some really steep curves:





Mt Irish wilderness area:





Straight stretches again after crossing Mt Irish Wilderness area. One has to experience the vastness on this highway. It cannot be explained through photos:





The faint white line is the Groom Lake road which leads to Nellis Airforce base (Area 51). This is where the famed White Bus is often spotted. This link has more information on the famed White Bus -





The distance from this point to those mountains is at least 50-60 miles (or more than that). As I mentioned earlier, the vastness cannot be explained through pictures.

Aliens' stories would always fascinate me as a kid. I have read lots of stories/rumors surrounding Area 51. Ever since I landed in the USA, it was my dream to drive through the Extraterrestrial Highway which always gets featured in any story related to Area 51. This road is also feature in "100 roads to drive before you die". My dream came through when I drove through this road in 2016. Even though we didn't come across any alien (), the experience of driving on his highway was fantastic. I have never driven in such a road in my life. It was a completely difference experience. I wanted my parents to experience the same. I knew they would definitely like the experience of traveling on this road (and I was not wrong).ET Highway (NV-375) is a 100 miles route between Crystal Springs and Warm Springs in Central Nevada. It passes near the famed Area 51 (Nellis Airforce base) and is a famous destination UFO/aliens enthusiasts. This route is void of any services or traffic. There are no gas stations for the entire length of the route. There is no cell phone service The only thing that can be found in this route is the village of Rachel. This village just has one small alien themed restaurant called Ale Inn. The Shell gas station in Ash Springs (on US-93) is the last service one can get in this route. This is just before the starting point of ET highway at Crystal Springs. For folks who travel towards West after ET highway on US-6 W, the next gas station is located 150 miles away in the town of Tonopah. For folks who travel towards East after ET highway on US-6 E, the next gas station is located 220 miles in the town of Ely. Either way, it's a good idea to fill up at the Shell gas station in Ash Springs so that there is no chance of getting stranded in the middle of nowhere.Our plan for the 3rd day was to just drive through Extraterrestrial Highway, US-6/US-50 and reach Salina in Utah. The total distance is almost 600 miles. It generally takes around 12 hours to do this journey. After 2 days of roaming around Las Vegas, we started early morning 5 AM from Silverton hotel. Our goal was to reach Salina by 7 PM in the evening.We took I-15 N from Las Vegas towards Salt Lake city and took the exit to US-93N which connects to ET highway.This route has a scarcity of good restrooms. So one has to plan judicially for the nature calls. The Pahranagat National Wildlife Area has well maintained rest rooms. This is located on US-93 few miles before the town of Alamo:This area is a spring in the middle of the desert. This is also a tribal reservation area. If anyone is interested in bird watching, I read on the signboards that this area has lots of unique birds:There used to be a board called "Extraterrestrial Highway" before at the beginning of the ET highway at Crystal Springs but looks like someone has stolen it. I have read on the web that this signboard gets frequently stolen for the purpose of keeping it as a souvenir. Usually the state of Nevada is quick in replacing signboards. Since it wasn't there on the day we went, I believe it was stolen just a few days back. I just saw two cones placed in the spot where the signboard stood. I'm cross-posting the pic of the signboard from my old travelogue from 2016:There is a signboard next to the "Alien Research Center" which shows the distance to town of Rachel. "Alien Research Center" is nothing but a gift shop which has a great collection of Alien themed gifts.Endless straight stretches on ET highway. This is at the beginning of the highway. The water source seen at a distance is Key Pitmann Wildlife Management area in Crystal Springs:After driving through some really straight stretches, we come across Mt Irish Wilderness area which has some really steep curves:Mt Irish wilderness area:Straight stretches again after crossing Mt Irish Wilderness area. One has to experience the vastness on this highway. It cannot be explained through photos:The faint white line is the Groom Lake road which leads to Nellis Airforce base (Area 51). This is where the famed White Bus is often spotted. This link has more information on the famed White Bus - https://www.dreamlandresort.com/area51/bus.html The distance from this point to those mountains is at least 50-60 miles (or more than that). As I mentioned earlier, the vastness cannot be explained through pictures. Last edited by guyfrmblr : 24th June 2020 at 16:38 .


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Microsoft and Intel researchers have found a way to combine artificial intelligence and image analysis to create a highly effective means to combat malicious software infections.

The researchers call their approach "STAMINA" -- static malware-as-image network analysis -- and say it's proven to be highly effective in detecting malware with a low rate of false positives.

What STAMINA does is take binary files and turn them into images that artificial intelligence software can analyze using "deep learning."

"STAMINA is a fascinating approach to classifying malware," said Mark Nunnikhoven, vice president of cloud research at Trend Micro, a cybersecurity solutions provider headquartered in Tokyo.

"This approach is like graphing a large table of data," he told TechNewsWorld. "It can be easier to spot patterns in the graph than combing through the raw data."

By using common image analysis machine learning approaches, the teams were able to group malware samples into families and differentiate between desired software and malware, Nunnikhoven said.

"This isn't the only machine learning method, but it is a new and interesting approach filled with potential," he added.

The biggest shortcoming of the method is tied to malware size, Nunnikhoven noted. "Because the technique converts the malware to an image, it can get resource-intensive quickly. If you've ever tried to open a really large photo on an older computer, you have firsthand experience with the challenges."

99 Percent Accuracy

"As malware variants continue to grow, traditional signature-matching techniques cannot keep up," Intel researchers Li Chen and Ravi Sahita and Microsoft researchers Jugal Parikh and Marc Marino explained in a white paper.

"We looked to applying deep-learning techniques to avoid costly feature engineering and used machine learning techniques to learn and build classification systems that can effectively identify malware program binaries," they wrote.

"We explored a novel image-based technique on x86 program binaries," they continued, "which resulted in 99.07% accuracy with 2.58% false positive rate."

Classical malware-detection approaches involve extracting binary signatures or fingerprints of the malware. However, the exponential growth of signatures makes signature-matching inefficient, the researchers explained.

Malware also can be identified by analyzing the code of files. That's usually done with static or dynamic analysis, or both. Static analysis can disassemble code, but its performance can suffer from code obfuscation. Dynamic analysis, while able to unpack the code, can be time-consuming, they pointed out.

"While static analysis is typically associated with traditional detection methods, it remains to be an important building block for AI-driven detection of malware," Microsoft's Parikh and Marino wrote in a separate post on STAMINA.

"It is especially useful for pre-execution detection engines: static analysis disassembles code without having to run applications or monitor runtime behavior," they noted.

"Finding ways to perform static analysis at scale and with high effectiveness benefits overall malware detection methodologies," Parikh and Marino noted.

"To this end, the research borrowed knowledge from computer vision domain to build an enhanced static malware detection framework that leverages deep transfer learning to train directly on portable executable (PE) binaries represented as images," they explained.

Better Scaling, Faster Processing

"Traditional malware analysis techniques have been decreasing in efficacy for a long time," observed Chris Rothe, chief product officer of Red Canary, a cloud-based security services provider located in Denver.

"Static and dynamic analysis are effective but can be difficult to scale," he told TechNewsWorld. "One of the benefits of this approach is that it makes it possible to leverage technology from other domains that has the ability to operate at large scale."

"This is necessary because of the explosion of binary samples that have been created by attackers mutating malware to avoid detection," Rothe continued. "So if this technique works, it could bring back binary analysis as a viable method of threat detection."

The Microsoft-Intel approach also reduces the size of input into the analysis system, which can translate into faster processing.

"If you're turning a binary file into pixels, there's a certain amount of input downsizing that goes with that," said Malek Ben Salem, Americas security R&D lead for Accenture, a professional services company based in Dublin.

"With STAMINA, they go even further. They turn binaries into pixels and then they reduce the size of the image," she told TechNewsWorld.

"The fact that you can reduce that input size and feed it to a deep-learning network means you can process a lot more information," Ben Salem said. "You can look at many more instances of malware, which will speed things up a lot."

Easy on the Human Eye

Although the researchers see their method being used in a completely automated environment, the images would be valuable to human security types, too.

"In cases where a machine isn't sure if a file is benign or not and human inspection is needed, a human would find it easier to relate to an image than to hexcode," Ben Salem noted.

Adding deep learning to the detection process also provides advantages over existing techniques.

"With a deep learning model, you can deal with complex data," Ben Salem said. "That means minor variations in malware could be more easily detected way better than the classical machine learning approaches we've been using so far."

The researchers acknowledged limits on their methods.

"Our study indicates the pros and cons between sample-based and meta data-based methods," they wrote in their white paper.

"The major advantages are that we can go in-depth into the samples and extract textural information, so all the characteristics of the malware files are captured during training," the researchers explained.

"However, for bigger size applications, STAMINA becomes less effective due to software not being able to convert billions of pixels into JPEG images and then resizing," they continued. "In cases like this, meta-data-based methods show advantages over sample-based models."

In the future, the team wants to evaluate hybrid models using intermediate representations of the binaries and information extracted from binaries with deep learning approaches. Those datasets are expected to be bigger but may provide higher accuracy.

The researchers plan to continue exploring platform acceleration optimizations for their deep learning models so they can deploy such detection techniques with minimal power and performance impact to the end-user.

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.




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A new virtual reality headset designed for mobility will serve as an entry point into a new virtual world, its maker announced Tuesday.

The US$599 Mova headset from XRSpace, founded by former HTC chief Peter Chou, will support 5G and be the exclusive on-ramp to Manova, a social reality platform that aims to defy the boundaries of space and time to bring people together.

Users can roam Manova as full-body avatars with a user's personal features to socialize, work and play in a number of public and private spaces, according to XRSpace.

The battery-powered Mova headset is built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. The unit comes in two colors, white and orange. It is 20 percent lighter than any other VR headset on the market, XRSpace claims.

It pairs a set of optical sensors with proprietary scanning technology that allows hand gestures to control objects and navigate virtual worlds.

"Gestures are getting better and are a more natural way to control the headset," said Kevin Krewell, principal analyst at Tirias Research, a high-tech research and advisory firm based in Phoenix, Arizona.

XRSpace touts the absence of wires and controllers in its promotional material for Mova, but it's likely that controllers will be introduced later to provide the more accurate control needed for some games and detailed work, he told TechNewsWorld.

Mova also has space scanning applications for creating real world physical locations inside the device.

"Our mission is to bring people together through the power of 5G XR, surpassing the limited experience of smartphones today," Chou said. "The singular goal of XRSpace is to take XR to the masses by redefining how people connect, socialize, and collaborate by simplifying the hardware and user experience."

Not Priced for Masses

There are some doubters about XRSpace taking virtual and augmented reality to the masses, considering the Mova's $599 price tag.

"VR is already a niche market," said Tuong Nguyen, senior principal analyst at Gartner, a research and advisory company based in Stamford, Connecticut.

"Six hundred dollars will limit the headset to niche adopters, so XRSpace is going for a niche within a niche," he told TechNewsWorld. "I don't expect it to get much traction."

VR is having a moment right now, as people look for new experiences due to the isolation wrought by the pandemic over the past few months, observed Ross Rubin, principal analyst at Reticle Research, a consumer technology advisory firm in New York City.

However, that moment could be fleeting.

"In general, it hasn't reached the mainstream," Rubin told TechNewsWorld. "Part of that is due to price, so this is not going to be a democratizing headset."

Big Gamble

Introducing an expensive VR headset at this time could be risky business for XRSpace.

"I think it is a big gamble. The trend is toward relatively less expensive headsets to hit more mainstream adoption price points," Krewell said.

"It's a huge gamble to go with a new hardware release," maintained J. P. Gownder, principal analyst at Forrester Research, a market research company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

"Although the founder has a background in hardware at HTC, VR is a terribly tricky -- and disappointing -- market for consumers," he told TechNewsWorld. "Oculus and HTC Vive have spent years honing their offerings and, as importantly, their relationships with developers."

Developers can make or break headset sales, Tirias' Krewell noted.

"XRSpace has to face off with more established VR competitors who already have a pretty good library of content," he said. "As we've seen with the launch of Half Life: Alyx, good content can drive more headset sales."

Made With Mobility in Mind

The addition of 5G to Mova's repertoire may be a mixed bag for the device.

5G eventually will be a boon for virtual reality because it will deliver high bandwidth and massive collaborative experiences with low latency, Gartner's Nguyen noted.

"If you look at where we are in 5G, we're barely getting started. Including 5G is reasonable, but how many people who buy the headset are going to be able to use 5G?" he wondered.

"It's hard to judge how 5G will appeal to consumers," said Krewell. "5G is just rolling out, but it's important to the sales channels of the wireless carriers. The Mova headset may well be sold bundled with a 5G data plan subsidy."

The Mova clearly is designed with mobility in mind, observed David MacQueen, executive director for the global wireless practice at Strategy Analytics, a research, advisory and analytics firm based in Newton, Massachusetts.

"The inclusion of 5G and using gesture control as the default means you don't have to carry controllers around," he told TechNewsWorld.

AR, VR Convergence

It's unusual that Mova was launched with a single, consumer-focused application, suggested MacQueen.

"The use-cases for VR which require mobility tend not to be consumer, and are more in the prosumer and enterprise areas, for uses such as drone control," he explained.

There is an opportunity for the headset with mobile carriers, MacQueen noted. "Many carriers are looking to VR to demonstrate the benefits of 5G, and as one of the first headsets to feature VR connectivity, Mova could see some traction amongst carriers."

How the carriers position the device likely will depend on their local markets, he explained. In China, where home PC and console ownership is very low, and carriers often have well-developed consumer content plays, a standalone device with built-in connectivity may fare well. In North America and Western Europe, it might struggle as a consumer device.

The price point of the headset is high, MacQueen acknowledged, "but the component cost must be relatively high, too. The 5G connectivity module is likely to be the main driver of the high price relative to the competition right now."

Many VR headsets will have 5G in the future, Rubin said.

"It makes sense for augmented reality because that experience can take place anywhere," he pointed out.

"For virtual reality, because it's a more immersive experience that tends to take place in the confines of a room, 5G may not be as critical," Rubin said.

"It's widely accepted by companies on both VR and AR sides of this technology that the two will converge," he continued."Today we think of VR as this thing where you have blinders on, and you're creating a world unto itself, whereas augmented reality takes place in the real world with overlays of digital objects. In the future, there will be more of a spectrum of experiences."

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.




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Apple will announce a new processor for its Mac computer line at its virtual World Wide Developers Conference later this month, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

Fulfilling a years-long rumor, the company will begin using an ARM chip based on Apple's A14 processor, which will be featured in the next iPhone.

Although the next generation of Macs will run on a mobile chip, the computers will continue to use macOS and not Apple's mobile operating system, iOS, Bloomberg noted.

ARM chips tested inside Apple reportedly have shown sizable improvements over Intel-powered versions, especially in graphics performance and artificial intelligence.

The Apple processors are more power-efficient than Intel's, which could lead to lighter, thinner Macs.

In addition to the main processor, Apple's ARM SoC (system on a chip) for the Mac will have a graphics processing unit and a neural engine for handling machine learning functions, Bloomberg noted.

The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company reportedly will produce the new processors using five nanometer technology, which it already uses to produce chips for Intel rivals Qualcomm and Advanced Micro Devices.

"Apple likes to make their own components. They did it first for the iPhone and iPad, and now they're extending that to the Mac," said Bob O'Donnell, chief analyst at Technalysis Research, a technology market research and consulting firm in Foster City, California.

"Apple just wants to control the whole experience, and they feel that if they design the chips, they can design the software to best take advantage of those chips, and they can get the best possible performance and experience for their users," he told TechNewsWorld.

Better Cost Control

Users, developers and Apple itself will benefit from the company's move away from Intel chips in favor of designing its own processors, maintained Linn Huang, research vice president for devices and displays at IDC, a market research company in Framingham, Massachusetts.

"Intel supply disruptions over the course of the last two years, as well as its slowness to land on 10 nanometer, have been a thorn in the side of Apple, which likes its supply chain the way it likes its ecosystem -- tightly integrated," he told TechNewsWorld.

"Moving towards their own platform allows them to be in more control of their feature set and roadmap," Huang added.

Bringing Macs into the ARM fold can help Apple manage some of its costs, maintained San Jose, California-based Kevin Krewell, principal analyst at Tirias Research, a high-tech research and advisory firm.

"It allows Apple to spread the development costs of its A-series ARM processors over more chips," he told TechNewsWorld. "This would really be an opportunity for Apple to differentiate itself from the rest of the PC industry even further."

5G Roadmap

Apple will benefit from severing ties with Intel, suggested David McQueen, research director at ABI Research, a technology advisory company headquartered in Oyster Bay, New York.

"Apple now won't be beholden to Intel's chipset launch dates and update cycles," he told TechNewsWorld.

Moving to ARM-based chips can bring efficiencies and better battery life without sacrificing performance, McQueen added.

"Some of Apple's A chips already perform well in benchmarks against those from Intel," he said. "The move may also help cut out some size constraints, possibly allowing Macs to be made thinner, while also negating a need for fans."

In addition, the move could pave the way to make all of Apple's devices 5G-enabled, potentially using its own 5G modems in the future, the fruits of its billion dollar deal to obtain Intel's smartphone modem business last year, McQueen speculated.

ARM-based PCs will be able to behave more like smartphones and smart speakers, noted Frank E. Gillett, principal analyst at Forrester Research, a market research company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

"The PC may be able to gauge a user's emotions and ask to help. It could sense when a user approaches and starts up the computer, before it's touched," he told TechNewsWorld.

"All those things require low-power background processing, which has been difficult to add to the Intel architecture, which wasn't designed for those things," Gillett said.

Heavy Lifting for Developers

One potential drawback to Apple's move is that as a chip maker, the company would have to keep up with demand for its chips and stay ahead of the curve in chip technology, ABI's McQueen pointed out.

"But it seems to have done pretty well so far at that with its A series of processors for iPhones and iPads, and the advantages seem to outweigh any challenges," he said.

However, Apple's plan does raise some questions.

"It's a risky and expensive move for Apple, and right now I'm scratching my head on why Apple would do this," said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy, a technology analyst and advisory firm in Austin, Texas.

"There's no clear benefit for developers or for users, and it appears Apple is trying to boost profits," he told TechNewsWorld.

"All things equal, Apple's new CPUs would need to outperform Intel's to translate the X86-Intel-AMD world to ARM," Moorhead noted. "To get a strategic benefit, Apple needs developers to rewrite applications to take advantage of its GPUs and NPUs, which is a heavy lift."

An Apple First

ARM adoption across the Apple line could be beneficial to developers, however, suggested Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies, a technology advisory firm in Campbell, California.

"Developers would have a single processor platform to develop for, which would make their development for Apple devices easier and more consistent," he told TechNewsWorld.

The biggest impact of the move could be on Apple's development community, which now develops applications for ARM devices on MacBooks running X86 processors, noted IDC's Huang.

"In the future, developers could build iOS apps on ARM architecture and then deploy into ARM servers," he said. "Consequently, the biggest ripple might not be for Apple or its users, but for the developer ecosystem."

When ARM-based Macs roll off the production line, it will be the first time in the 36-year history of the company that the computers will be based on a chip made by Apple.

It has changed processors twice in the past. In the early 1990s, it went from a Motorola processor to one made by IBM, the PowePC chip. Then in 2005, the company announced a switch from IBM to Intel at its WWDC, and the new Intel Macs began appearing in January 2006.

To cushion the blow of the change on users during the PowerPC to X86 transition, Apple included an emulation program called "Rosetta" in all Macs.

"Apple will likely provide an x86 to ARM emulation layer, much as Microsoft has done in the Windows-on-ARM versions of Windows," observed Tirias' Krewell.

"Apple's done this before, and they've been successful doing it," said Technalysis' O'Donnell. "The difference now from the past is that so much software is Web- and cloud-based. That makes things theoretically easier."

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.




Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will launch the 'Har Ghar Jal' (piped water to every house) campaign at Bundelkhand on Tuesday. The project is linked to the 'Jal Jeevan Mission', estimated to cost Rs 10,131 crore. According to the government spokesman, the Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions will be covered by this project in the first phase at a cost of Rs 2,185 crore. A population of 14 lakh in Mahoba, Lalitpur and Jhansi will benefit from it. "On the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the chief minister had asked officials to ensure every house gets piped water facility, especially in regions where groundwater is contaminated with fluoride and arsenic," the spokesman added.




A breathtaking photograph depicts the International Space Station (ISS) passing between the Earth and the sun. According to CNET, the incredible composite shot was taken by photographer Joel Kowsky of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). If you look closely at the image below, you can see the tiny ISS against the sun's warm, yellow face.

The astronauts aboard the ISS also snapped a few Crew Dragon photos during their spacewalk as a possible return date was revealed.

Although the ISS is closer to the Earth than the Sun, the orbiting laboratory is still dwarfed in the background against the immense sun's surface.

The now-viral photo shows the ISS's position in its orbit as Kowsky snapped his pictures around 1:15 p.m. U.S. Eastern Daylight Time. The transit lasted about 0.54 seconds and was shot while aiming his camera at 10 frames per second.

How to snap the ISS traveling across the Sun--NASA

Kowsky says that many websites help determine when the ISS is going to transit the sun. Still, weather and timing are typically the key problems for shooting clear pictures.

"With [a minimal] path of visibility along the ground, having clear weather at the identified location is one of the most limiting factors in [capturing] a transit," said Kowsky, who had weather ruin a recent attempt.

Even when photographing the sun, proper protective equipment is required because looking directly at it can harm your eyes. The space agency has previously released images of the ISS Crossing the sun, including during the August 2017 total solar eclipse. Recent transit pictures also revealed a lack of sunspots. The sun is approaching a time of low solar activity known as the solar minimum.

SpaceX photos

NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy tweeted a spectacular shot of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station (ISS).

The capsule looks tiny alongside the massive space station. In reality, its interior is big enough for a person to do anything similar to a somersault.

pic.twitter.com/hsE0bJld5t Astronauts cherish every opportunity to be part of a #spacewalk , and yesterday was no different. @AstroBehnken and I completed the first step in updating the external batteries which are connected to the outboard starboard solar arrays on @Space_Station  Chris Cassidy (@Astro_SEAL) June 27, 2020

Cassidy recorded the image with fellow astronaut Bob Behnken during the spacewalk. The trip included constant work to update the space station's power systems, exchanging old nickel-hydrogen batteries for new lithium-ion batteries.

The batteries store power from the leading solar arrays at the station. The new ones would provide the orbital outpost with an increased and more effective power range. Cassidy later tweeted a few other shots from the spacewalk, one being a "space selfie" and another being taken shortly after the pair returned to the ISS 's interior.

NASA has declared the six-hour spacewalk a success and is now planning another Wednesday, July 1, to see the work completed.

SpaceX Crew Dragon

The spacecraft of SpaceX launched its first crew on May 30, carrying Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley as part of the Demo-2 flight to the ISS.

NASA said last week that it is currently planning the Crew Dragon return, along with Behnken and Hurley, no sooner than August 2. The trip home will follow the completion of the spacecraft's further testing during its docked period at the space station.

This includes a measure of habitability scheduled for July 4. It will consist of four astronauts from the ISS joining the capsule. They will be performing everyday tasks and emergency procedures and will also be learning how it will work with more astronauts onboard during future crew missions. Upcoming space tourism trips may be seen as a potential NASA mission in the future.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Virtual reunions, or those meetings conducted in video conferencing programs such as Zoom, are very popular today that there is a global pandemic threat. People stay at home and work at home, including your favorite Hollywood celebrities. Watch the video to see what happened.

One of those at-home meetings that became memorable during the weekend was the X-Men cast, both the old and new breed.

RELATED STORY: How To Watch The X-Men Movies In Chronological Order

Detective Pikachu lead actor Ryan Reynolds on a whim, "hijacked" and "crashed" the virtual reunion among old and new X-Men cast, Screenrant reported.

The prank war is ongoing between Hugh Jackman, playing the older Wolverine's role, and Ryan Reynolds from Deadpool. Fans were hoping that Reynolds will be able to reprise his role in X-Men movies or any Marvel and Fox film. It did not push through until the former's retirement, but X-Men Origins: Wolverine actors managed to have fun even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virtual meet

Through the years, Jackman and Reynolds have found several years to prank on each other. This is brought alive in a first solo Wolverine movie, initially launching Deadpool.

"The Merc-With-A-Mouth's first big-screen adaptation was bad, but thankfully the actor was given another crack at bringing him to life in 2016's sleeper comic book hit, Deadpool. The following year, Jackman officially hung up his Adamantium claws via the acclaimed Logan, retiring the role without making the dream of a Wolverine cameo in a Deadpool movie come true," Screenrant further reported.

The pair has been talked of the town in Hollywood for being in a clash, and you could see Jackman's face in the video conference when Reynolds appeared.

READ ALSO: How 'Deadpool' Fits Into The X-Men Movie Timeline

In celebration

The video conference was held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the original X-Men movie, with Jackman gathering Professor X, Sir Patrick Stewart, Storm, Halle Berry, and Jean Grey, Famke Janssen in a virtual get-together. Suddenly, Reynolds surprised them.

He was uninvited.

The former Wolverine actor tried to appease himself and probably everyone to explain that it was only for the cast of 2000 movie. Then, James McAvoy, portraying the role of the current Professor X, and Sophie Turner, Jean Grey, also joined in.

Jackson was seen stressed out. But according to the fans, it was "fun chaos."

Then, the actors started leaving the video conference, leaving both Reynolds and Jackman. To counter the possible argument, Sabretooth Liev Schreiber popped in, making it an X-Men: Origins: Wolverine meet.

There were several comical moments, including Reynolds cracking on how these movies' timelines never mattered most of the time. This includes the partnership and tie-up with Disney and Fox. There were also words on having a Fantastic Four movie, along with Deadpool.

What do you think? Share your insights in the comments below.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) warned that investing in iBSmartify Nigeria's cryptocurrency is a risky one. According to ZDNet's latest report, investing in InksNation and iBledger have a financial risk outside of the local commission's regulatory protections since they are unregistered.

To avoid any unregulated products and crypto-related scams, SEC has warned many investors away from dealing with iBSmartify Nigeria cryptocurrency offerings. Acting as an alternative market to traditional financial products, many investors, especially the early ones, consider the cryptocurrency sector, such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), as an innovative and interesting marketplace that can offer lucrative returns on the purchase of crypto.

However, many fraudsters, scammers, and hackers are waiting in the wings to take advantage of every innovation that is created in the market. As interest in cryptocurrencies increased, the unregulated space became an Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), a Wild West of exit scams, and failed cryptocurrencies that offered little, or even no protection to traders who are investing their hard-earned fiat currency for speculative investment in cryptocurrencies.

According to the previous report of ZDNet, online credit card skimmers were used by different hackers and cybercriminals to improve their attack methods continuously; the malicious code was discovered in image file metadata loaded by e-commerce websites. The Malwarebytes Director of Threat Intelligence, Jerome Segura, said that the new attack method is a way to hide credit card skimmers in order to avoid being detected by security protections. This is just one of the many risks during the ongoing pandemic, where hackers are developing new ways to trick their victims.

SEC warns investors about investing in iBSmartify Nigeria

According to ZDNet, theft, exit scams, and insider fraud are still rampant, although the regulators worldwide have attempted to control the industry by implementing rules that turn cryptocurrencies into ICOs and assets as investment events.

SEC looked into some of the recent activities of iBSmartify Nigeria, the entity responsible for the promotion of crypto-based on Inksnation and the iBledger (iBcashcryptocurrency) blockchains. The report stated that the InksNation, which offers the Pinkoin cryptocurrency, claims that in less than nine months, the Inksledger blockchain can end poverty in any country, promoting love, goodness, oneness, unity, equitable distribution of wealth, and peace.

However, SEC confirmed that the organization, as well as its products, are deemed illegal since they are not registered or regulated by the commission.

"The attention of the Commission has been drawn to the activities of iBSmartify Nigeria, the promoters of a Blockchain known as iBledger (iBcashcryptocurrency) and InksNation," said SEC in its official website.

"The general public is hereby advised that neither the promoters of iBSmartify Nigeria nor the illegal products they offer are registered or regulated by the Commission," the commission added.

Also Read: BEWARE: China's Power Equipment Could Trigger Electricity Grid Failure: India Will Inspect for Malware

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Why Digital Solutions Will Be Key to Managing Contracts Remotely)

The circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated businesses to adopt remote working capabilities. Tech companies that provide communication and collaboration tools like Microsoft, Zoom, and Cisco saw surges in new customers as lockdowns forced companies to institute work-from-home policies.

Unfortunately, many businesses are struggling to cope. Depending on their industry, these business are unable to shift their important activities online. A number of publicly listed companies has already filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. While some countries are already relaxing their restrictions and are now allowing workplaces to operate at limited capacities, the threat of the coronavirus continues in the absence of a cure or vaccine. Remote work is the new normal.

Because of this, many companies are still intent on relying on digital channels to handle their workloads and ensure continuity. Crucial activities such as business contracts and agreements, which are conventionally undertaken manually and face-to-face, now also have to be done remotely.

Fortunately, solutions providers already acknowledge such a need and are offering services to help companies digitize their contract management tasks. Recently, document generation and automation platform DocFusion and corporate governance service ContractZen announced the integration of their solutions, providing a seamless and streamlined workflow for business agreements.

"Typically, business deals are made face-to-face and their agreements are embodied by signed contracts. However, we're living in a different time where we're forced to perform transactions through digital means. Our solution enables that, and, with our partnership with DocFusion, we can now provide a secure and streamlined workflow for business agreements," ContractZen CEO Markus Mikola said.

For a number of companies, especially smaller operations, the contract management process has mainly been dealt with manually. Contract drafts were edited from existing templates with the details simply edited or inserted. Signing documents is also done physically and in face-to-face settings. Storing and archiving signed documents also means filing physical copies in cabinets.

This process is not only tedious but also risky. Manually creating and handling documents introduces the element of human error. It is quite common for staff to erroneously input details or even leave out crucial terms or provisions. Manual and physical archiving also carries risks. Searching for specific information about agreements can take time. Time-bound provisions can also be neglected should a party fail to monitor these milestones.

Such errors can have real financial costs. There have been several high-profile errors over the course of history that cost erring parties millions of dollars. Recently, Maine dairy company Oxford Dairy settled a lawsuit for $5 million due to an ambiguity caused by the lack of a comma in the state's overtime law's provisions.

"We believe that the ongoing digitalization within enterprises does not bring optimal results if it focuses on digitizing paper documents and trying to extract the important data with the help of expensive solutions. Rather, there should be a fundamental shift in thinking toward creating a fully digital process from start to finish," Mikola added.

Digital solutions can be leveraged to minimize these issues. Using DocFusion, companies can create their own contract templates using drag and drop fields to specific sections that contain dynamic information. Rules and conditions can also be created so that only relevant terms are inserted to a document when certain conditions are met. This way, companies can prevent unnecessary changes from being made into the contracts.

ContractZen allows transacting parties to collaborate on contracts through virtual meetings and data rooms. It also allows for the digital signing of documents using electronic signatures which are now valid and binding based on the laws in many territories, including the US and the EU. Signed documents are also automatically tagged and archived on the cloud. The generated metadata helps users to easily pull up records in the future.

The integration between these two solutions merges DocFusion's content creation capabilities with ContractZen's document management service. Documents generated from DocFusion are automatically stored and managed in ContractZen. This creates a streamlined workflow that not only speeds up the process but also minimizes the potential areas where human error can be committed.

"Automating the rules-based document generation, in combination with auto classification and automatic uploading the documents into ContractZen, a normally repetitive, error-prone process, that relies heavily on the human in the loop, has been transformed into a seamless experience. This saves time, reduces errors, increases compliance, saves money, and ultimately leads to happy stakeholders who will be able to find their records when they need it most," said DocFusion CEO Ernest Kleynhans.

The World Bank's recent forecast projects that the global GDP will contract 5.2 percent in 2020. As such, businesses face great uncertainty moving forward. Ensuring business continuity is crucial for most operations to survive. Adopting solutions that allow for workloads to be performed digitally and remotely will be crucial. Contract management is clearly among the key business activities that companies must consider when digitizing their workloads. It ensures that companies are able to maintain business relationships through binding, error-free, and enforceable agreements.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Tehachapi, CA (93561)

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Mostly clear. Low 64F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Monday demanded a rollback of the fuel price hike as the party held nationwide protests against the government over the rising petrol and diesel prices.

As a part of the party's 'speak up' campaign, Sonia Gandhi in a video appeal asked the government to cut taxes and lower the burden on the consumers during the time of the coronavirus when people are already suffering economically.

"I along with the Congress workers and citizens demand that the government should take back the hike in prices of diesel and petrol in these tough times," said Sonia Gandhi.

She alleged that the government was "insensitive" towards the people's problems as it increased the prices 22 times in three months.

"The government has earned extra Rs 18 lakh crore since 2014 and the crude oil prices have decreased worldwide," said Sonia Gandhi.

She said that in the national capital and other metros, the cost of petrol and diesel has crossed Rs 80 a litre.

The Congress workers used bullock carts, cycles and other means to demonstrate against the government. The protests will be held for five days

K. C.Venugopal, Congress General Secretary, said, "Today as a symbol of protest against the unjustifiable hikes in fuel prices, I rode my bicycle to Parliament as part of the nationwide movement started by Congress Party."

Since the daily price revision resumed on June 7, petrol price has increased by Rs 9.12 and diesel rose by Rs 11.01 in the national capital. In other cities also, the magnitude of the increase was similar.

Petrol prices in the other metros of Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata were at Rs 87.14, Rs 83.59 and Rs 82.05 per litre respectively.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The Twitter handle of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) released this information on Monday night. Prime Minister @narendramodi will address the nation at 4 PM tomorrow.  PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 29, 2020

It is believed that Modi will share his views on Unlock 2.0, which will kick in from Wednesday. On Monday night, the government released the new guidelines for Unlock 2.0. It said the new rules will be in force till July 31. Almost all activities have been allowed outside the containment zones save a few like functioning of schools and colleges and international travel, among others. National broadcaster Doordarshan will telecast the Prime Minister's address live. Interestingly, the address comes in the backdrop of the growing India-China border tensions. On Monday evening, the government banned 59 Chinese apps under national security considerations, a move seen as India's response to China's recent misadventures that resulted in casualties on both sides.




More data shows Louisiana could face a significant housing crisis due to COVID-19 once the federal moratorium is lifted on July 25.

The number of homeless families in Acadiana and statewide has continued to rise, but the state could be dealing with 130,000 households being homeless when the federal ban on evictions is lifted July 25, according to a report from the Center for Planning Excellence.

With a high number of residents working in the restaurant, tourism and hospitality industries, the state ranks third for having a high risk of evictions.

We need to take swift, targeted action to keep people in their homes now, said Camille Manning-Broom, president and executive director of CPEX, which drives urban, rural and regional planning in Louisiana. As well as develop longer-term strategies to address the issues that have made such a large group of Louisiana residents vulnerable to homelessness in the first place.

Many households in Acadiana are already considered homeless but are in sheltered housing. Data from the Acadiana Regional Coalition on Homelessness shows the number of homeless residents in Acadiana has swelled last month to 789, a sharp rise from the 421 in January, in its eight-parish region.

About 248 households are currently living in hotels in Acadiana. That includes 55 parents and 79 children, data shows.

Looming homeless crisis in Lafayette needs much more funding, speakers say More federal and state money should be dedicated to helping avoid a homeless crisis in Acadiana and throughout Louisiana, two housing advocates say.

This, ARCH director Leigh Rachal noted during a webinar last week, is with a federal moratorium still in place. The agency is still getting daily requests for housing assistance after getting as many as 20 a day in April and May, she said.

The number of people who experiencing homelessness has skyrocketed higher than its been since weve tracking this since 2007, Rachal said. The other startling piece of this is we have family homelessness on the rise of almost 200% of what we were experiencing two months ago. We are very concerned about the number of families with children who if the hotel funding ended today would be out on the street.

Statewide there are 1.6 million households, with about 600,000 of those being renter households, CPEX data shows. Up to 281,000 are considered rent-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. Sections of Lafayette have 10-15% of households hit that threshold, but there are sections of Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry that have more than 20%.

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The Acadiana region lost 21,800 jobs in April and had an unemployment rate of 11.9% in May.

ARCH raised $60,000 to help house people and families in 18 hotels in the region starting in April and continued until the federal government began covering their expenses, Rachal said. The number of hotels housing people is down to 12 now.

Theres a few out in the rural areas that we are still directly paying, Rachal said. Our goal is to help people find stable housing they can move into. Long term, thats a very unpleasant living environment, and its also very expensive. They cant cook. Trying to figure out how to keep your kids entertained is difficult.

Funding to address the issue will have to come from the federal government, Rachal said. Closing the rent gap nationwide will cost up to $31.8 billion over six months, CPEX data shows, while Louisiana will need up to $432.2 million.

ARCH and other agencies that address homelessness, including Catholic Charities of Acadiana and SMILE Community Action Agency, will continue to raise money to help people stay in their homes, but it wont be enough.

The issue has not gotten enough awareness in recent weeks, Rachal said.

You cant fundraise yourself out of a housing crisis, she said. I think (the issue) is kind of hidden right now. I think we are able to go about our daily lives and arent realizing the tsunami wave thats building in the background. Its kind of like the calm before the storm. If you dont know a hurricane is coming, you dont do the preparations for it. Thats kind of where Im at right now.
Michael Boudreaux will wait until Friday to make a decision on whether to keep Juban's Creole Restaurant open in July.

With three of the four restaurants in the Juban's Restaurant Group  Beausoleil, Christina's Restaurant and Adrian's  temporarily closed, Boudreaux said he wants to see if Gov. John Bel Edwards changes the state's reopening status before making a decision.

Adrian's and Beausoleil remained open during the state's lockdown, when restaurants were limited only top takeout and delivery services. Juban's reopened during Phase I, as did Christina's, when the state allowed 25% capacity in restaurant dining rooms.

The group temporarily closed Adrian's in early June, when Phase II transitioned dining rooms from 25% to 50% capacity. Adrian's takeout business was good, but Boudreaux cited its limited staff as one of the reasons for his decision for the temporary closure.

And though Christina's business with the downtown office crowd was brisk, there wasn't enough staff to maintain the operation, he said.

The lack of staff continues to be a problem because unemployment benefits for laid off or furloughed workers are more lucrative, Boudreaux said.

Beausoleil Restaurant and Bar to temporarily close amid coronavirus resurgence Beausoleil Restaurant and Bar will close temporarily and re-open in August amid the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state.

The federal government in April added $600 per week in supplemental funds to Louisianas maximum unemployment payment of $247 per week to laid-off workers or those with significantly reduced hours.

The benefits are scheduled to run out on July 31, so Boudreaux is aiming to reopen all three of the restaurants Aug. 1.

"It only makes sense to close for the next three weeks," Boudreaux said. "July is traditionally the slowest month for business for restaurants, and I have to be honest, the next week is going to stink."

Last week's decision to close Beausoleil was based on the spike in the state's coronavirus cases.

+6 'What's normal now?' Juban's Restaurant Group fights through pandemic with new concepts, closures As managing partner of four restaurants, Michael Boudreaux would like nothing better than to see things go back to how they were before the co

"The number of cases went up because of the increase of COVID cases with the bars reopening," Boudreaux said. "But this is temporary, too."

Boudreaux said the closures would also give his staff a chance to take some vacation time.

"We can all take a vacation, clear our heads and come back Aug. 1 ready to work," he said. "I'll talk to my CPA to see where we stand. The goal is to lose the least amount of money possible. The target reopening date is Aug. 1, and we'll see how things are at that time. We're going to have to let the market decide what we're going to do."
When Garry Winchester was a child and on extended summer visits with his grandparents in St. James Parish, his grandfather would often remind the youth from New Orleans about the family's ties to the sugar cane fields along River Road.

Just upriver from where the now 71-year-old Winchester's grandparents had lived in the small community of Welcome, his great-grandfather, Williams Lot Winchester, spent the early part of his life as a slave working those fields for a White master who carried the same last name as his, according family history.

Garry Winchester says he's never forgotten his great-grandfather's story and has spent decades gathering information about the family, though sparse antebellum records of slaves have left that history frustratingly murky.

"That's a fact of what we have deal with as African Americans. It's not gonna be an easy thing. You know we were not treated as human beings. We were treated as property," said Winchester.

+4 Graves on Formosa site belonged to slaves? Archaeologist says he isn't so sure now A private archaeologist who concluded in June that a suspected slave cemetery was found on the site of the proposed Formosa Plastics chemical 

But a running political fight over the $9.4 billion Formosa Plastics chemical complex proposed in the Welcome area may end up providing more information about Winchester's and other families and has the potential to reveal more about the pre-Civil War history in the region.

FG LA LLC, a Formosa affiliate building the chemical complex, said Friday it will halt previously announced plans to move an old plantation graveyard found on part of the complex's proposed site along the Mississippi River.

While the company says it had always planned to find out who is was buried there, FG LA said it has decided "to pause" moving the graves "and conduct additional research to learn the identity or ethnicity of the remains in continued consultation with SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) and with potential descendants, if identified."

FG LA has reached out to Garry Winchester, a retired U.S. Navy civilian employee who has taken an interest in genealogy, and says it wants to stay in contact.

In a report, FG LA's consulting archaeologist initially suggested the unmarked graveyard from the old Buena Vista Plantation, once owned by a White planter named Benjamin Winchester, could be a slave cemetery. Four sets of human remains were found there.

The graveyard and the potential it may hold the bodies of formerly enslaved people fueled community and environmental activists' push to block the complex. They object to the facility because of air pollution the company proposes to emit in the majority-Black area, which is surrounded by other heavy industries.

The archaeologist later modified his position, noting he couldn't say without more information who was buried in the graveyard: slaves, White field hands, Chinese immigrant laborers or others.

The community groups and media organizations recently found Garry Winchester, who appears to be the first person with a family tie to the old plantation. His name and story appeared in an affidavit filed by the groups in a court fight for access to the graveyard for a Juneteenth commemoration. The groups prevailed and held a ceremony at the site, at which Winchester spoke.

Winchester, who believes his great-grandfather's parents may be buried in the cemetery though he doesn't have proof, said he has mixed feelings about moving the gravesite but welcomes FG LA's attempts to find out who is buried there.

"I think that's a good decision, on our part and on their part. I mean it shows at least that they're interested in maybe investigating further," he said.

Groups opposed to the complex and other experts in the region's African American history said they say they are opposed to moving the graves.

Kathe Hambrick, founder of the River Road African American Museum in Donaldsonville and curator and director of interpretation for the West Baton Rouge Museum in Port Allen, said she opposes any industry moving any of the graves of any people in the river region, much less enslaved ones.

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"They deserve not to be moved because if you set a precedent by starting to move them, there will be no end to that," said Hambrick, who has been involved with preserving slave graveyards at other industrial sites along the river.

The Buena Vista graveyard instead should have a 10- to 25-acre commemorative park built around it, she said.

+6 With Formosa's site work gearing up, environmentalists push St. James to rescind permit VACHERIE  With a new administration in office in St. James Parish, residents and environmental activists are renewing a push to reverse the a

The echoes of history leave intriguing but not fully connected clues about the Winchesters' ties to the Buena Vista Plantation and to Virginia, where the plantation's owner had also lived.

Benjamin Winchester, the White sugar planter who owned the Buena Vista Plantation, was a lawyer, judge and former Louisiana legislator. He was born in Maryland and had lived in Kentucky and Virginia before he moved to Louisiana in 1813.

He owned 197 slaves two years before his death in 1852, when his plantation was taken over by his widow and son, a separate archaeological report from the environmental groups says.

Born into bondage on Aug. 1, 1854, in Louisiana and dying a free man on Jan. 13, 1944, Williams Lot Winchester survived the Civil War and Reconstruction as a youth and saw World War I, the Great Depression and much of World War II as a middle-aged and elderly man before his death at 89.

Williams Winchester was buried in a cemetery a few miles upriver from the old Buena Vista Plantation in the historically Black community of Lemannville. The graveyard is behind Buena Vista Baptist Church off Buena Vista Street near the Sunshine Bridge.

Perhaps more intriguingly, Williams Winchester's death certificate says his father was a "Mr. Winchester." It's not clear who that man is.

+5 Activists: Knowledge of suspected slave cemeteries hidden during St. James permit fight for Formosa WELCOME  Activists are accusing a Formosa Chemical subsidiary of having initially withheld from the general public its knowledge of two small

Garry Winchester said he has uncovered shipping documents showing a William Winchester, born in 1800 and, thus, too old to be the great-grandfather, had been transferred from Virginia to New Orleans in 1822 by agents known for their involvement in the slave trade.

As a young man, Garry Winchester's great-grandfather had told a census taker in 1880 that his parents were from Virginia, though his death certificate from 1944 says they were born in Louisiana.

It's not clear why those origins don't match up or if they might reflect different understandings of what was being asked on different government forms 64 years apart.

Finally, the adult son of Benjamin Winchester, the plantation owner, was also named William.

During the Juneteenth ceremony at the Buena Vista gravesite, Garry Winchester spoke of the need to learn more and clear up the mysteries of the past.

"You need to do your genealogy, not just for your ancestors but for your descendants. It will mean a lot to them," he said.
The man accused of killing Baton Rouge Police Lt. Glenn Hutto Jr. and another man in April is entitled to a prompt probable cause hearing, a lawyer with the Capital Appeals Project in New Orleans is arguing for the second time.

Ronnie Kato, 36, has been jailed since the fatal April 26 shootings and is being held without bail. He has not been indicted, but East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III has said his office intends to seek the death penalty.

+4 Will man accused of killing BRPD officer face death penalty? District attorney explains decision East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III's office has taken two death penalty cases to trial during his 11-year tenure. The 

"Mr. Kato has a constitutional and statutory right to a prompt preliminary examination," Joshua Schwartz, a staff attorney with the Capital Appeals Project, argues in a motion filed last week in Baton Rouge state court.

It is the second time Schwartz has filed a motion for a preliminary exam. The first motion was filed in late April.

Probable cause is determined at a preliminary examination. The defense can subpoena and cross-examine witnesses at such a hearing.

Schwartz filed another motion in April to enroll in the case for the limited purpose of protecting Kato's rights, but Moore said Monday that no judge in the 19th Judicial District Court has indicated that Schwartz may enroll for only a limited role.

"It is our belief that no one with recognized authority to represent the defendant in this case has requested a preliminary hearing and therefore no such request is legally before the court," the district attorney said.

+3 Lawyers certified to handle death penalty cases sought for accused Baton Rouge cop killer The man accused of fatally shooting Baton Rouge Police Lt. Glenn Hutto Jr. in April is indigent and in need of two lawyers certified to handle

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Schwartz points out that the state constitution says the right to a preliminary exam "shall not be denied in felony cases except when the accused is indicted by a grand jury."

A grand jury has not yet taken up Kato's case.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic shut down the East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury until June 10, when it met for the first time since March 12.

"Mr. Kato has the right to a prompt preliminary examination. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic should not result in further delay," Schwartz argues. "While the pandemic has caused temporary Court closures, the Louisiana Supreme Court has expressly approved of hearings conducted via video conferencing to protect the health and safety of all involved."

Detectives believe Kato fatally shot his girlfriend's stepfather, Curtis Richardson, 58, on North Pamela Drive off North Sherwood Forest Drive the morning of April 26, then shot Hutto, 45, and Baton Rouge Police Cpl. Derrick Maglone as they looked for him at a home on Conrad Drive off Winbourne Avenue and North Foster Drive that afternoon.

Hutto, 45, was killed. Maglone, 35, was critically injured and released from the hospital May 7.

+15 Veteran BRPD officer killed in shooting remembered as 'man of true courage' who led by example Lt. Glenn Hutto Jr. spent the final moments of his life doing what he was best known for  standing beside his subordinates and showing them w

Kato, of Baton Rouge, barricaded himself in a house after the shooting and was taken into custody after a standoff with police that lasted several hours.
A new law could give some of Louisiana's juvenile lifers a chance at freedom, part of a years-long push to rethink prison sentences in the state with the highest incarceration rate in the country.

Act 99, which passed with bipartisan support, grants automatic parole eligibility to offenders convicted of crimes as children once they have served 25 years and met certain pre-release qualifications. Lawmakers aimed to provide "virtual" juvenile lifers  those serving so many decades behind bars that their time becomes a functional life sentence  the chance to prove they've changed their ways before they reach old age.

Some juvenile justice advocates think the language of the law goes even further. They believe it essentially abolishes the sentence of "life without parole" for children and clears the way for those who received such a sentence to receive a parole hearing automatically.

"This changes so many peoples lives," said Renee Slajda, communications director for the Louisiana Center for Children's Rights, a New Orleans-based nonprofit. "It gives every child an opportunity for a second chance. It gives hope to a lot of people and their families who were sentenced as children to die in prison."

Key players who helped pass the bill, however, say it was never meant to apply to sentences of juvenile life without parole, just those with lengthy sentences.

"I dont even think that we could have passed how (some) are attempting to apply the bill," said Rep. Edward "Ted" James, a Democrat from Baton Rouge, who was the primary author of Act 99. "We could never pass (such legislation) in this climate."

While the Louisiana law's impact remains uncertain, it is part of a national reckoning over whether it is ever morally justified to incarcerate children for the rest of their lives.

"Right now, when you give a child a life sentence or a virtual life sentence, youre saying at the front end, you can never change," Slajda said. "You are irredeemable. Your life no longer matters."

Debunking the 'superpredator' myth

In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a landmark decision that sentencing juveniles to life without parole was unconstitutional and should only be applied in the rarest of cases.

Four years later, the court made that ruling retroactive.

Suddenly, hundreds of inmates with criminal convictions imposed while they were teenagers  many of whom still carried their "life without parole" sentences as middle-aged and elderly adults  had the opportunity to appear before a judge to argue why they should be re-sentenced to a term that would make them parole-eligible.

It was a striking moment for a state that has the highest rate of people serving a sentence of juvenile life without parole in the country, according to the most recently available data collected by Senior Research Analyst Ashley Nellis with The Sentencing Project.

As scientists eventually learned the decision-making part of the brain doesn't fully develop until well into adulthood, the understanding of how trauma can influence children's actions also changed. Adverse childhood experiences, such as physical and sexual abuse, poverty and drug-addiction, can further endanger rational decisions in minds that are still maturing.

"Kids are impulsive, irrational, do horrible things at times when theyre young," said Andrew Hundley, executive director of the Louisiana Parole Project, himself a former juvenile lifer. "And as they grow older, they mature and develop whenever they have a strong support system."

Juvenile lifers who re-enter society on parole are unlikely to return to criminal activities, according to a recent study from Montclair State University. The report shows that the recidivism rate for juvenile lifers in Philadelphia was just shy of 1%.

Hundley, the first lifer paroled in Louisiana after serving almost two decades behind bars, now runs a nonprofit to help the formerly incarcerated transition successfully back into society. He has seen people who spent decades in prison transform into small business owners, state employees and members of local churches.

Advocates say old stereotypes and misunderstandings of how the adolescent mind works set the stage for harsh sentencing practices of the 1980s, when child criminals were seen as irredeemable.

"The 'superpredator' myth has completely shaped the past 40 years of how we treat children in the justice system," Slajda said. "This idea that children  and particularly Black children  are evil, have no conscience and can never change."

'He never lost hope'

Shirley Davis has a room ready for her brother if he comes home.

"I bought him a TV and a nice, beautiful white comforter," she said.

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It has been 40 years since her brother, Joe Brown, was convicted of first-degree murder as a teenager and taken to Angola, where he has spent his days praying he would one day return to his family. He is one of the juvenile lifers who advocates say could receive parole eligibility when Act 99 goes into effect Aug. 1.

"He never lost hope," his sister said. "Neither did I. Even when it looked bad, I still never gave up hope."

Brown was arrested after he robbed and killed a woman in November 1979 on a New Orleans sidewalk at the age of 17. He was later sentenced to life without the possibility of parole after initially being sentenced to death.

In recent years, Brown has been waiting for his chance to appear before a judge and argue he should be able to simply ask for his freedom before the parole board. His is one of the so-called "Miller/Montgomery" cases, named for the juvenile lifers in the watershed court decisions.

Cases expected to clog Louisiana courts, and cost millions, after state fails to address unconstitutional life sentences About 300 Louisiana inmates spending their lives in prison for murders committed as teens are turning to the courts after the Legislature fail

The Louisiana Center for Children's Rights currently represents 62 of these clients, from children facing the potential life sentence without parole to adults hoping to have a re-sentencing hearing. These cases are notoriously difficult to fund and litigate, requiring time-consuming research and mitigation work, much like when a client faces the death penalty.

"Youre recreating a life history, and in a lot of cases, its very hard to find those records," said Lindsay Blouin, deputy chief district defender in East Baton Rouge Parish. "Sometimes those records dont exist."

Act 99 has the potential to erase the expensive need for JLWOP representation and fast-track lifers to the parole board, skipping the re-sentencing step entirely.

Attorney Emily Ratner of the Louisiana Center for Children's Rights says Brown is emblematic of the juvenile lifers who have changed during their time in prison.

While assessments in the court record show Brown struggled with an intellectual disability as child, Ratner reported that during his time at Angola, Brown has learned to read and write.

"People who have been put in Angola, [who have] been totally thrown away, keep working, keep growing, keep improving," Ratner said. "They keep moving and fighting for the next day."

'This is a good thing'

Some, however, are less certain about whether the new law applies to those sentenced to life without parole.

Representatives of the Louisiana District Attorney's Association, which supported the legislation, argue the law will not apply to these clients.

"I suspect there will be people who attempt to judicially enforce this or superimpose it on LWOP offenders. That will be met with legal resistance," said Loren Lampert, executive director of LDAA. "If amending the statute becomes necessary, we stand prepared to seek that remedy."

Lampert said his group backed the bill  in concert with the Louisiana Center for Children's Rights  because some "virtual lifers" were having to wait longer than actual lifers to get a chance at parole.

"This was a time when all the stakeholders came together and tried to do the right thing," he said. "Everybody recognized this was an inequity that needed to be fixed. This is a good thing that we all came together and worked to address that inequity."

Nevertheless, Slajda said LCCR "did not realize that the agreed-to language was not the language that was ultimately filed and passed by the Legislature," language she says broadens the scope of parole eligibility.

In recent Zoom meetings, members of the Louisiana Public Defender Board debated if and how the law would apply to the Miller/Montgomery clients, though no consensus has been reached. State Public Defender Remy Voisin Starns hopes to clarify the law's impact in the coming weeks.

"Things are still so in flux about Miller/Montgomery right now that we really dont have any place to stand," Starns said in the last board meeting of the fiscal year.

As the coronavirus pandemic has raged on, public defenders have been facing a budget crisis. Miller/Montgomery cases have featured prominently in board discussions, from cutting contracts with nonprofits like LCCR to redistributing the cases to district defenders. Some point out the public defenders' financial woes would be partially alleviated if Act 99 removes the need for representation.

+2 Future of public defense threatened with fiscal collapse as coronavirus closes courts across state The Louisiana Public Defender Board has long claimed their offices are dangerously underfunded, but now the financial blow dealt by the corona

Advocates agree that virtual juvenile lifers are often overlooked when it comes to criminal justice reforms, though they still hope the law will reach all those who entered the system as children.

"Louisiana moving so far forward on this shows that we understand the issue of brain development and the fact that children can redeem themselves as they grow up," Slajda said. "If we understand that, we have to understand that applies to every child."
Two small legal practices have moved into downtown office buildings.

The Baton Rouge offices of Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore are now located on the 11th floor of the Chase North Tower, attorney Matt Bailey told the Downtown Development District Board Tuesday. Sprinkle Law Firm has moved into One American Place, said attorney Richard Sprinkle.
Those expecting Connie Bernard to quickly resign from the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board in the face of recent controversy are likely to be disappointed.

Shes getting ready for a fight, said Woody Jenkins, the former state legislator who has served with Bernard for years on the parishs Republican Partys executive committee. She wont lay down.

Bernard, 58, has weathered previous controversies over her decade serving on the School Board. Those include her involvement in a June 2012 effort by supporters of presidential candidate Ron Paul supporters to control a state GOP convention, which alienated some Republicans. Bernard also had a tough 2014 reelection, which she won with 52% of the vote, where she had to overcome former allies who rallied behind a GOP challenger and greatly outspent her.

EBR school board candidates message undercut by campaign developments The two best-funded Republican candidates in the District 8 East Baton Rouge School Board race tout their credentials as strong conservatives.

Her current predicament, however, is far more grave. New enemies are joining forces with old enemies. And some former supporters are parting ways.

Anna Fogle said she first met Bernard in the '90s, but the two got to know each other only after Bernard became a School Board member. They also connected because Bernards son and Fogles daughter went to school together at Glasgow Middle. Fogle spent several years as the president of a local association of gifted parents and spoke to Bernard on occasion about education issues.

Fogle recalls she would occasionally press Bernard to take stances at odds with local business groups that exercise a lot of influence over board affairs, prompting internal struggles for Bernard. Fogle said Bernard would ultimately do the right thing, which caused her political problems.

Theres some wrong thinking at times that had to be righted, Fogle said.

Nevertheless, Fogle said Bernard needs to resign after her recent comments about Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. In a June 10 TV interview, Bernard said those offended by the name of Lee High School in Baton Rouge should learn a bit more about Gen. Lee.

Fogle noted that the school system serves largely Black students  more than 71% last year.

I wouldnt have thought she was as tone deaf as her comments showed her to be, Fogle said.

Still, she said, she expects Bernard to hang on and complete her third term, which ends Dec. 31, 2022.

To me, its amazing how she keeps on going with all of the issues that she faces, Fogle said.

Bernard did not respond to an Advocate request to speak for this story.

Bernards comments about Gen. Lee were compounded after local activist Gary Chambers called her out at a June 18 board meeting for shopping online even as the board was debating whether to change the name of Lee High School.

The three-minute video of Chambers speech went viral. Bernard was quickly labeled a Karen, an internet insult attached to any White woman acting inappropriately, rudely or in an entitled fashion. Some went further, declaring that Connie is the new Karen.

+4 Speech blasting Connie Bernard at Baton Rouge school board meeting goes viral; LeBron, TMZ share it A three-minute video of local firebrand Gary Chambers on Thursday night berating and calling for the resignation of East Baton Rouge Parish Sc

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After that meeting, Bernard apologized for her comments nine days earlier about Gen. Lee, saying they were insensitive and she is deeply sorry. But she denied she was shopping during the board meeting  it was a pop-up ad that she neglected to close; several witnesses disputed her contention.

The partial apology added fuel to the fire. By Monday, the four Black board members held a news conference calling on Bernard to resign, but she quickly announced she intends to serve out her third term.

The next day, a petition was filed seeking to force Bernard out of her District 8 seat. Petitioners have 180 days, or until about Christmas, to collect more than 8,000 signatures from registered voters in the district, which covers much of the southeastern part of the parish. More than half of the district is situated in the newly approved city of St. George.

A successful recall petition would set up an election where voters in District 8 would vote for or against recalling Bernard from office. If enough voters agree to such a recall, then Bernard would be removed from office, setting the stage for a special election for someone else to serve the remainder of the term.

In August 2018, Bernard also provoked calls for her resignation, calls she also resisted. They arose from an episode where Bernard walked into a party at a neighbors house, leading to a profanity-filled confrontation that was caught on video. She is still fighting misdemeanor counts of simple battery and entering and remaining after being forbidden.

+2 EBR school board member seen in profanity-filled video during confrontation pleads not guilty Prosecutors who reviewed a profanity-filled viral video of East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member Connie Bernard confronting a young part

The video of the Aug. 10, 2018 incident shows a side of Bernard the public hadnt seen. During one 22-second stretch, she drops eight F-bombs.

At one point, the video shows her grasping one young man at the base of his neck. That physical contact is the root of the simple battery charge. Some people whove seen the video argue she was choking him, but District Attorney Hillar Moore has been unwilling to describe Bernards actions as choking.

I didnt touch anybody you f****** b******, Bernard declares in the video after the confrontation moved to the front lawn.

The outrage at the time was tempered by the knowledge that Bernards husband, John, had recently been diagnosed with cancer, something Bernard cited when she subsequently gave up her post as a board vice president.

Embattled EBR school board member Connie Bernard gives up VP post, citing husband's cancer diagnosis Embattled East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member Connie Bernard on Friday gave up her position as vice president of the panel, saying her

The incident provoked anger by many in the Black community, even though all the participants were White, with some arguing that Bernard, as a White person, was being treated much easier by authorities than if she were Black.

She also was charged with battery back in 2018 for choking a teenage boy on camera inside of his own home, reads one online petition calling for Bernards resignation.

Maya Guntz, who is vice chairwoman of the recall effort, said the 2018 incident alone was not enough to get her to seek Bernards recall, but it did add to her dissatisfaction with the board member.

The bar is really low for Connie Bernard, Guntz said. Shes the cussing, fussing, child-choking school board member.

Similar to now, Bernard at the time issued only a partial apology, expressing regret only for her foul language that night. Months later, she pleaded not guilty to the two charges, which she is still facing. A July 27 status conference is scheduled before Judge Ron Johnson.

District Attorney Moore said the next step is to schedule a trial, but the coronavirus outbreak creates uncertainty as to when that trial will happen.
In a departure from the usual politics between the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP, Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia hailed the role played by the Centre in the battle against the Coronavirus in the national capital. He dubbed the Centre's support as "tremendous".

"Our Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sought help and support of every agency to battle Corona in Delhi. We got tremendous support from Central government, religious organisations like Radha Swami Satsang, Akshardham Temple trust, Terapanthi, various hotels, banquets halls, private hospitals and NGOs like Doctors for U," said Sisodia.

Recounting the steps it took, the Delhi government said that in the first week of June, there was a sudden spike in corona cases. There was a shortage of beds and testing. Kejriwal had then reserved 40 per cent beds in all big private hospitals for Covid patients in addition to declaring some big hospitals like GTB hospital as COVID dedicated. Hotels were converted into hospitals and 3,500 beds were set up in hotels which addressed the shortage of beds.

However, Sisodia added, "Today, there is no shortage of beds in Delhi. For increasing testing, we sought central government's help and they helped us with procuring rapid testing kits. Since then, testing has been increased by four times. Central government also provided us with oxygen cylinders, ITBP doctors and nurses for Radha Swami COVID centre and guidance from domain experts".

Striking a note of cooperative administration, Sisodia said that Kejriwal believes that battle against Corona is very big and no individual or agency can deal with it alone. He added that the recovery rate has increased to 62 per cent.

"Today more patients are recovering in Delhi than those who are falling ill, number of deaths is coming down, positivity rate is decreasing rapidly."

Sisodia said the coming weeks won't be "as bleak as it looked as first week of June" when the Delhi government had announced that there will be 5.5 lakh cases in Delhi by July 31.
Legislation that would ban most civil lawsuits against school districts and colleges if students or teachers contract the coronavirus will be decided on the final day of the special session.

The Senate on Monday approved an amended version of the House-passed measure.

But the House on Monday evening rejected those changes, sending the proposal to a House-Senate negotiating committee to try to work out differences between the two versions.

State Sen. J. Rogers Pope, R-Denham Springs and former superintendent of the Livingston Parish school district, said school leaders need safeguards spelled out in House Bill 59 to comfortably reopen schools in August. "I think very strongly we need to do this to offer a little bit of protection so we can have school and get kids back into a building," Pope told the Senate Monday morning.

Louisiana House votes to protect school systems, colleges from coronavirus lawsuits A bill that would shield public and private school systems from civil lawsuits if students or teachers contract the coronavirus won Louisiana 

While the bill has won lopsided approval in both chambers, it has sparked arguments behind the scenes.

Critics contend the legislation would cripple the ability of families and teachers to recover if they contract the virus because of sloppy procedures by schools.

Rep. Buddy Mincey Jr., R-Denham Springs, a 13-year veteran of the Livingston Parish school board and chief sponsor of the bill, told a Senate committee on Friday that he too is afraid that public schools will be reluctant to reopen without new legal protections.

First look: Here's how Louisiana public schools can safely open amid coronavirus, officials say Public school students in the third grade and older along with adults should wear face masks "to the maximum extent possible" when schools reo

Mincey also said the bill was never intended to hurt students or school employees "although that has been implied by others."

Backers have said repeatedly the bill would not change worker's compensation coverage enjoyed by teachers and other schools employees even though those payments are capped.

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The special session has to end by Tuesday at 6 p.m.

HB59 is being sought by the Louisiana School Boards Association, which represents board members statewide.

Cynthia Posey, director of legislative and political affairs for the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, one of the state's two teacher unions, told the Senate Education Committee last week that her group was inclined to support the bill, then took a neutral stance amid calls and concerns from teachers.

Posey said some LFT members "are afraid districts will not adopt policies that protect them."

The stance of the other union, the Louisiana Association of Educators, is unclear.

Under HB59, civil lawsuits would be an option only if school districts display gross negligence during the public health emergency.

The Senate approved an amendment offered by Senate Education Committee Chairman Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, aimed at ensuring school employees will be working in a safe environment.

The change would require the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to adopt emergency rules based on guidelines spelled out by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that would serve as minimum standards that schools would be required to adopt.

College governing boards would be required to do the same.

During committee debate last week Fields also added an amendment that would limit the civil liability only to COVID-19, the current strain of the illness caused by the virus.

Mincey's original proposal provided a more expansive list of public health emergencies.
A political committee associated with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber has joined the chorus calling for the resignation, and failing that, the recall from office of East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member Connie Bernard.

We are calling for East Baton Rouge School Board member Connie Bernard to resign and expressing our support for the people of District 8 seeking to recall Ms. Bernard should she refuse to do so, Randy Cangelosi, chair of the board for FuturePAC, said in a statement issued Monday afternoon.

Cangelosi said the nation is watching and Baton Rouge should be a place that does not condone damaging language and behavior from an elected official charged with responsibility for our children.

Ms. Bernards recent insensitive comments and actions surrounding the process to rename Lee High School are not isolated incidences of poor judgement, Cangelosi said. Ms. Bernards repeated actions have demonstrated not only insensitivity and disrespect for the public and the students of the district, but also a pattern of poor judgment that does not befit her position on the board.

+4 Connie Bernard, facing a recall, is not backing down: 'She's getting ready for a fight' Those expecting Connie Bernard to quickly resign from the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board in the face of recent controversy are likely to

Bernard, who took office in November 2010, has faced several controversies through the years, including an August 2018 incident when she entered a neighbors house where a party was going on, sparking a profanity-filled confrontation that was caught on video. She is facing misdemeanor counts of simple battery, and entering and remaining after forbidden, both emanating from that incident.

More recently, she has come under attack for a June 10 local TV interview where Bernard said anyone offended by the name Lee High should learn a little more about Robert E. Lee, the Confederate general the school is named after. She was again criticized June 18 when she was caught on camera apparently shopping for dresses while the School Board was debating whether to rename the 61-year-old high school. Bernard apologized the next day for her June 10 comments, saying they were insensitive and she is deeply sorry. But she denied that she was shopping  it was a pop-up ad that she neglected to close; several witnesses disputed her contention.

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Bernards excuse was called into further doubt Monday. Pursuant to a public records request, WAFB-TV asked for and received the browser history from a School Board-issued laptop that Bernard used on June 18  she was also using her personal laptop. The Advocate subsequently obtained some of the same information from the school system.

The online consignment and thrift store website named thredUP shows up several times during Bernards browser history on the public laptop. The school systems IT Department cross-tabulated that record with what was happening during that meeting, which lasted almost eight hours.

Bernard first goes to the site a little before 8:30 p.m. for a period of time. Shes back on the site at 9:10 p.m., just before the Lee High renaming starts. The thredUP url continues to show up in her browser for 35 more minutes, during a period when several board members are discussing the issue but before public comment.

At one point, the history shows Bernard adding an item to her shopping cart.

FuturePAC, the Chambers political arm, is historically one of the largest contributors to School Board political campaigns in East Baton Rouge Parish, giving up to $5,000 per election cycle.

FuturePAC has given Bernard a total of $3,500 during the decade shes been on the parish School Board. Both contributions were given after shed won an election, first $2,500 after the fall 2010 election and another $1,000 after the fall 2014 election. But while those races were under way, the political action committee passed her over to contribute money to her opponents.

Last week, two other education reform groups that spend money on local School Board races also called for Bernard to resign: Stand for Children Louisiana and Democrats for Education Reform. Neither has given her money in the past. In 2014, Stand contributed $6,000 to the campaign of Bernards main opponent that year, Christopher Bailey.
Louisiana lawmakers gave final legislative approval Monday to send $250 hazard pay checks to up to 200,000 frontline workers and came close to taking the final step on overhauling the states legal system in hopes of lowering auto insurance rates.

But negotiations continued as agreement on the state budget continues to elude legislators. Lawmakers have until 6 p.m. Tuesday, when special session adjourns, to agree and pass the government spending plan for the fiscal year that begins Wednesday.

The proposal to send checks to workers heads to the desk of Gov. John Bel Edwards, who said he supports it, and represents the highlight of Democrats accomplishments in the special session that was premised in large part on coronavirus recovery.

The legislation, House Bill 70 by Rep. Sam Jenkins, D-Shreveport, uses a small fraction of the states federal coronavirus aid, $50 million of more than $1.8 billion available, to steer money to workers who interacted with the public at the height of the states outbreak.

It won unanimous approval in both chambers of the Legislature, gaining steam in the latter part of the session that must end by 6 p.m. Tuesday.

After Republicans successfully redirected $300 million in aid originally headed to local governments to be used instead on grants for small businesses, Democrats crafted the plan for the hazard pay. Jenkins said it was only fair to send $50 million to workers given the $300 million sent to businesses.

Several Democrats say they dont believe the bill goes far enough, and would prefer to spend more on workers. Jenkins said it was difficult to get more to workers because the money was already promised to local governments, who have also been hit hard by the pandemic.

I would have been surprised had I not seen bipartisan support for something that was going to get some (money) to all the people we represent, Jenkins said. These people live all throughout our states and live in all of our districts.

The Louisiana Department of Revenue will send out notices for people to begin applying in mid-July, Jenkins said. A spokesman for the agency did not respond to questions Monday.

Under the legislation, workers would need to apply for the checks and would qualify if they make less than $50,000 a year and are employed in a list of jobs deemed essential. Those include health workers, emergency, fire and law enforcement personnel, bus drivers, garbage workers grocery store and convenience store workers and others. The workers must have worked at least 200 hours between March 22 through May 14, when the states stay-at-home order was in place.

Democrats pushed the bill as a counterpoint to Republicans sending hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Jenkins bill would cost $50 million of the states $1.8 billion in federal coronavirus aid.

The Republican-led Legislature has put forth a host of measures that would cut taxes for businesses, send $300 million in federal aid to small businesses and change the states civil laws to limit payouts to plaintiffs and their attorneys, which business groups argue would lower car insurance rates.

The state Senate on Monday night agreed to a deal to give final approval to House Speaker Clay Schexnayders House Bill 57, which supporters call the tort reform they think will lead to lowering some of the nations highest policy prices for auto insurance. But in a deja vu moment, an issue with the wording was discovered, leading to postponement of the final vote needed to send the measure to Edwards. Rep. John Stefanski, the Crowley Republican lawyer who was handling the measure for the speaker, told his colleagues that he wanted clean-up the problematic language before the House votes, which now will be sometime Tuesday.

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In the final moments of the regular session on June 1, both chambers approved a far more sweeping measure only to discover too late that sloppy wording had created a windfall, far exceeding the cost of treating minor injuries  a fatal flaw for a strategy of reducing rates by limiting what a court can award. The governor vetoed that bill earlier this month, noting that the measure was not the product of compromise.

Schexnayders legislation made changes on three of the five points sought by business and insurance interests.

State Sen. Barrow Peacock, the Bossier City Republican who shepherded the speakers bill in the Senate and sat in on the negotiations said he doesnt know for certain, But I think this is something the governor will sign.

Republican legislative leadership has flexed its independence from the governor from before the special session even began, by calling lawmakers into session themselves. Historically, the governor calls lawmakers into session.

The GOP-led Legislature also scored Monday when Gov. Edwards notified them he had signed the states $5.5 billion construction budget without striking any items out via the governors powerful line-item veto authority.

Governors in Louisiana wield considerable power, in part because of the so-called line-item veto ability. The governor can simply remove any project from the construction budget, called House Bill 2, with the stroke of a pen. Edwards chose not to do that this time, in a break with past practice. Lafayette Republican Stuart Bishop, chair of the House Ways & Means Committee, said the bill represented history and he touted his move to divert millions in planned projects to the states savings account.

A group of lawmakers were also meeting behind closed doors to hash out what the state budget will look like for the fiscal year that starts Wednesday. Among the issues were a proposal by state senators to freeze pay raises for state employees until at least October and a new hospital payment plan crafted by Edwards administration.

Jenkins, at a press conference held outside the House chambers as lawmakers waited on agreements to materialize, said Democrats were concerned with the pay raise language and were working to ensure workers could win back the raises retroactively if they were granted later in the year. Republicans in the Senate say they dont want to boost pay for government workers when private businesses are suffering, and say theyll sideline the money until October for use plugging budget holes if needed.

Business executives who set the agenda for the legislative session on behalf of Republican legislative leaders have pushed a host of tax breaks they say will aid businesses as they recover from the ongoing economic crisis. Opponents argue the proposals represent giveaways that have long been sought by business groups and would do little other than deepen the states financial problems.

The Legislature has already passed tax breaks that would cost around $18 million in the upcoming fiscal year, and others that would total millions more were still awaiting passage.

Mark Ballard of the Capitol news bureau contributed to this report
Pilots and test crew members from the US Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing are slated to begin a three-day certification test campaign for the 737 MAX on Monday (US time).

The test is a pivotal moment in Boeing's worst-ever corporate crisis, long since compounded by the novel coronavirus pandemic that has slashed air travel and jet demand.

Boeing's future business relies upon the rebirth of the troubled 737 MAX, which still has a backlog of more than 3800 orders. Credit:AP

The grounding of the fast-selling 737 MAX in March 2019 after two crashes in five months killed 346 people in Ethiopia and Indonesia triggered lawsuits, investigations by Congress and the Department of Justice and cut off a key source of Boeing's cash.

The FAA confirmed to US lawmakers on Sunday that an agency board had completed a review of Boeing's safety system assessment for the 737 MAX "clearing the way for flight certification testing to begin. Flights with FAA test pilots could begin as early as tomorrow, evaluating Boeings proposed changes to the automated flight control system on the 737 MAX."
A slew of major insurers have stopped issuing new insurance cover for suppliers of department stores Myer and David Jones over rising concerns of mass insolvencies in Australia's anemic retail sector.

Insurance brokers have told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald the five largest providers of trade credit insurance in Australia have all begun to actively reduce their exposure to suppliers of the two retailers, viewing them as too risky to continue to insure.

Major insurers are becoming increasingly cautious about providing cover to suppliers of Myer and David Jones. Credit:Eamon Gallagher

Liam Berry, national manager of trade credit at multinational insurance brokerage giant Lockton said insurers were taking a pessimistic view of the department store sector.

"What we know is all major trade credit insurers are reviewing their current credit limits provided on David Jones and Myer, and have been actively seeking to reduce capacity for existing clients. No insurer appears willing to provide new cover on either group in the current climate."
A summit that included a star-studded virtual concert hosted by Dwayne Johnson has raised nearly $US7 billion ($10.2 billion) in cash and loan guarantees to assist the poor around the globe whose lives have been upended by the coronavirus pandemic.

Global Citizen said its summit with world leaders had raised $1.5 billion to help COVID-19 efforts in poor countries, along with a promise of 250 million doses of a vaccine for those nations if one is successfully developed.

The group said it had secured $5.4 billion in loans and guarantees from the European Commission and the European Investment Bank to support fragile economies worldwide.

The event included a Johnson-hosted concert with performances by Jennifer Hudson, Miley Cyrus, Coldplay and Justin Bieber. Cyrus performed The Beatles' Help! in an empty stadium and Hudson performed Where Peaceful Waters Flow from a boat in Chicago.
The line isn't doing what it's meant to do. After several months of mild up and down, the COVID case chart for Texas is surging. Hospitals are filling up. Governor Greg Abbott has called a halt to the state's reopening and the hunt is on for stadiums and empty halls to house patients. Texas has already been through a lockdown and come out the other side, but both its hospitalisations and the proportion of positive test results have doubled in the past three weeks, the opposite of what should happen as testing capacity expands. In the US overall, after six weeks falling or flatlining, new cases are now approaching the highs of more than 30,000 a day last seen in April.

Tubers prepare to float the Comal River in Texas despite the recent spike in COVID-19 cases. Credit:AP

Despite warning signs, an almost mystical notion has taken hold, which claims that COVID-19 has entered some sort of "natural decline". Life is slowly edging towards normality and public spaces are filling up, from park loungers to protesters, beachgoers and rioters. Surely the worst is over?

Sadly, the fact that we are bored with this whole virus thing doesn't actually mean we are safe. There is very little compelling evidence to suggest we are anywhere near mass immunity. Survey testing has so far found that antibodies are present in about 5 per cent of most populations. This may underestimate our resilience, given that not everyone needs antibodies to fight off COVID, but it is a long way from herd immunity.

This shouldn't surprise anyone following the data. In the past few weeks, there have been surges in many places where the epidemic had been in stasis or decline, such as Singapore, South Korea, Israel, China and the US, where the growth is concentrated in Texas, Arizona, Florida and California. In most of these cases outside the US, authorities have got on top of the new clusters quickly, imposed local lockdowns and run intense contact-tracing operations to root out transmission, avoiding anything big enough to be called a "second wave". But the virus' capacity to generate a second wave should not be in doubt. The only uncertainty is whether we will spot and snuff out new clusters fast enough to avoid one.
A wave of new coronavirus outbreaks is pushing Victorian health authorities to their limits as the state introduces a world-first saliva test.

But don't expect to see the unpleasant, more accurate nasopharyngeal swab replaced in NSW's COVID-19-testing clinics.

Victorians at a COVID-19 testing centre in Keilor. Credit:Darrian Traynor

A total of 75 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Victoria on Monday - the fourth-highest single-day total that took the state's total to 2099.

The spike in Victoria caused chaos to the AFL schedule, forced NRL side the Melbourne Storm to relocate to Brisbane for the foreseeable future and the Melbourne Rebels to move their upcoming Super Rugby AU game against the Queensland Reds to Sydney.
The Delhi High Court on Monday adjourned hearing till July 6 a batch of petitions in connection with the violence that erupted in and around Jamia Millia Islamia in December last year.

A bench presided by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan, which was hearing the pleas through video conferencing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, listed the matter for hearing on July 6 after noting that some of the parties have not received the replies filed in this matter.

Earlier, Delhi Police filed an affidavit before the High Court in connection with the matter. It stated that the violence that erupted in December last year was a "well-planned and orchestrated attempt by some persons with local support (who were not students) to intentionally perpetrate violence in the area" and the said incident "was not sporadic but well-planned".

"From the electronic evidence and also from the statements recorded, it is clear that in the garb of student agitation, what happened in fact appears to be a well-planned and orchestrated attempt by some persons with local support (who were not students) to intentionally perpetrate violence in the area," the affidavit read.

"The investigations have revealed that the local leaders and politicians were instigating the protesters and were raising extremely provocative and inciting slogans (who were arrested subsequently)," the police said.

In the affidavit, the police stated that it is clear that the violence "was not sporadic" but "a well-planned incident", as the rioters were well armed with stones, lathis, petrol bombs, tube-lights etc, which "clearly manifest that the intention of the mob was to disrupt the law and order situation in the area."

The affidavit also stated that exercising the fundamental right of dissent is and should be respected. "However, no person can be allowed to commit breach of law, indulge in violence, arson and riotous activity causing danger to life, limb and property of innocent citizens under the garb of exercise of fundamental right of free speech and assembly," it said.

Rebutting the batch of petitions, the police stated that the petitioners have created a patently false and fabricated picture of police brutality. "It appears from the averments made in the respective writ petitions that a concerted and well-orchestrated effort has been made by the petitioners to mislead the court," it added.

"It was only due to unavoidable circumstances, as contemporaneously captured in electronic evidence gathered by the respondent, that it became imperative for it to enter the university, which was being used as a shield by the rioters to pelt stones and other lethal objects on the police force," the police said in response to the allegations of the petitioners that the police had entered the campus without permission.

In a violent confrontation between the police and anti-CAA protesters on December 15 last year, petrol bombs were targeted at police personnel, ordinary citizens and the media as a raging mob seized parts of south Delhi refused to let go.
Avoiding caffeine, taking multivitamins, going on a low-protein, high-carb or ketogenic diet, taking a holiday, swimming with dolphins, rock climbing and juggling are touted online as cures for anxiety and depression.

They may have other benefits but, like a third of 440 treatments, there is insufficient or no scientific evidence to support these claims, research by Beyond Blue has found.

Beyond Blue commissioned researchers to review the scientific evidence-based literature on 440 treatments for depression and anxiety. Credit:istock

Beyond Blue's lead clinical advisor Dr Grant Blashki said the non-profit mental health organisation commissioned researchers from the University of Melbourne to review the scientific evidence-based literature on 440 treatments for depression and anxiety. These included psychological, medical, complementary and lifestyle interventions.

"We know at the moment - in a time of fake news - there are self-proclaimed mental health experts on social media who make unsupported claims about the effectiveness of treatment," he said.
Poker machines are being used to launder money and avoid tax across NSW as drug dealers and cash-based businesses wash dark money in pubs and clubs, law enforcement and industry experts allege.

The Herald has confirmed that authorities have not launched action under anti-money laundering (AML) laws against any of the 2400 clubs and pubs across the state since 2010.

Nick McTaggart, the former national coordinator of the Australian Federal Police's Criminal Asset Task-Force, said poker machines are useful to launder money from the black economy.

Poker machines are used to launder money in NSW but distinguishing gamblers from money launderers is difficult. Credit:Peter Braig

"If I'm a punter tradie doing this sort of exercise, in a good day, I might have $2000 worth of cash payments I don't want the taxman to know about, so go to the pub, have three beers and put $2000 through the poker machines," Mr McTaggart said.
Immediately before Jamie Boothey raised his fists in preparation for the blow that would eventually kill him, passers-by giggled, took out their phones and began filming.

CCTV and iPhone video captured Mr Boothey's altercation with 37-year-old Rorey Nolan as they were drawn intoa broad-daylight skirmish outside Dandenong Plaza in October 2018.

The injury to Jamie Boothey's head led to his death in hospital two months later and Rorey Nolans subsequent plea of guilty to manslaughter. the Supreme Court heard. Credit:Vince Caligiuri

Seeing the two men raise their fists, passers-by laughed as Nolan punched the 51-year-old, yelling f---, f--- after Mr Boothey fell backward and cracked his head against the concrete.

It was that injury to his head, prosecutors told the Supreme Court on Monday, that would lead to his death in hospital two months later and Nolans subsequent plea of guilty to manslaughter.
"Second peak, second wave. Its got the same challenges. Weve got significant numbers to follow up, and weve got significant risk of transmission," he said. Professor Sutton pleaded with Victorians to stay at home if they were experiencing coronavirus symptoms, including a runny nose, sore throat and fever. "What I would say is we know what works already. We just need people to do it," he said. The state government has raised the prospect of local lockdowns in Melbourne's hotspot areas, primarily the north and north-west of the city, if case numbers don't decrease, but has not confirmed whether they would definitely be introduced.

Loading Local lockdowns were "absolutely an option", Professor Sutton said, but would be a "harder step" and not necessarily proportionate to the current situation. He said they would also present logistical issues, such as residents of those suburbs moving to live in other areas with friends or family. "We know what the consequences are of a lockdown in terms of fatigue, peoples behaviours," Professor Sutton said. "We dont want to drive people out of suburban areas, into new, unaffected areas. So theres a balancing act in terms of making a call on a lockdown. We know that its a real challenge for businesses, we know its a real challenge for people in their homes if thats required."

He explained that local lockdowns would look different to Victoria's statewide shutdown in March because transmission was occurring between gatherings of families and friends, rather than in businesses such as restaurants and pubs. "Its a little bit different [compared to March]. We know that the transmission is occurring across households and its people seeing too many others across too many vulnerable settings," he said. Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, Health Minister Jenny Mikakos and Victorian Premier Dan Andrews (pictured from left to right). Credit:Penny Stephens "We know that for a lot of our settings - restaurants and other places that have really taken up the COVIDsafe code, if you like - the risk of transmission in those settings is well managed." Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said of Monday's 75 cases, one new case is linked to hotel quarantine, 14 are linked to outbreaks, 37 have been detected through routine testing and 23 are still under investigation.

There have been no new deaths, Ms Mikakos said, with the death toll remaining at 20. Nine people are in hospital, including one in intensive care. Around 15,000 tests were undertaken on Sunday, bringing the total number of tests conducted to 792,000. "What I can say is that many of the cases that have come through today are overwhelmingly concentrated in those priority suburbs," Ms Mikakos said. Professor Sutton also said that Victoria's current situation was to be expected under Australia's suppression strategy.

Loading "We knew these challenges would come. The suppression strategy always flagged that there was a balancing act between easing restrictions, to get business back up and running, to have people start to lead more normal lives," he said. "You cant be in a stay at home setting for 12 months continuously. So it is a seesaw. We have to respond to this particular challenge now. But were all ready for it, and were all knowing that it was a game, a risk, that we had to work through, where the uptick in cases would occur as restrictions ease." The Chief Health Officer said there were no legal directions for stricter stay-at-home orders yet, but he thought it was a conversation to be had over the next couple of days. Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien labelled Professor Sutton's admission that contact tracers were at their limits a "real concern".

"Youve got to ask the question: if we are so stretched for resources, why did Daniel Andrews turn his back on 850 Australian Defence Force personnel?" Mr O'Brien said. "Those 850 troops should be here in Melbourne today. They should be tracing, they should be testing and they should be securing hotel quarantine." A link between a North Melbourne family outbreak and a Brimbank family outbreak has been established, according to Ms Mikakos. Included in the 75 cases reported are three positive tests involving security guards who were linked to the cluster at the Stamford Plaza Hotel, bringing that total to 23.

Loading "They have undertaken their day-11 tests as is standard practice where we have an outbreak, so those people are already in quarantine as part of that," Ms Mikakos said. The Wollert outbreak has grown to 10 people, with one new added on Monday. There are three new cases linked to a family in a new outbreak around Patterson Lakes and Lysterfield, bringing that outbreak to four. In Truganina, there have been three cases linked to another new family outbreak, bringing the number in that outbreak to five.
Nine schools and two childcare centres in Melbourne have been linked to recently confirmed cases of COVID-19, after students became infected through contact with family members.

Six of those schools were connected to some of the 75 new coronavirus cases announced on Monday.

The schools where children have tested positive for the virus are Maribyrnong College, Footscray High School, Al-Taqwa College in Truganina, Queen of Peace Parish Primary School in Altona Meadows, Aitken Hill Primary in Craigieburn and Port Phillip Specialist School in Port Melbourne.

Footscray High School. Credit:Joe Armao

Two Guardian childcare centres, in Abbotsford and Pascoe Vale, have also been linked to positive cases.
Taxpayers have spent $1 million compensating employees who lost wages and entitlements in the collapse of Made Establishment, the restaurant empire founded by celebrity chef George Calombaris.

But despite the taxpayer payment, more than two dozen former kitchen and waiting staff have received none of the money owed to them in superannuation and redundancy entitlements because as temporary visa workers they do not qualify for government support. Some are out of pocket more than $15,000.

George Calombaris at The Press Club in 2009 Credit:Craig Sillitoe

The Made Establishment empire, which included a dozen restaurants and employed 364 permanent and casual staff, collapsed under the weight of a $7.8 million wages underpayment scandal, significant financial debts and poor trading conditions despite a large 2017 investment by former Swisse vitamins boss Radek Sali.

The company's eateries included The Press Club, Hellenic Republic and Jimmy Grants.
Health experts have warned a new COVID-19 saliva test being rolled out in Victoria should be used only as a back-up for those who refuse a throat and nasal swab as early studies show it is missing about 13 per cent of infections.

Victorian health officials are allowing returned travellers in hotel quarantine and residents of Melbourne's coronavirus hotspots to spit into a jar instead of having the more invasive swab in a bid to drive up testing rates as they battle an escalating outbreak.

A person demonstrates a COVID-19 saliva test. Credit:Daniel Pockett

Professor Sharon Lewin, whose Doherty Institute developed the saliva test, said its 87 per cent accuracy rate was due to "lower levels of virus" in saliva compared with nasal secretions collected using the "gold standard" nasopharyngeal PCR swab test.

Australian Medical Association president Tony Bartone said the saliva test should be used only as a "second resort" for people who refused a throat and nasal swab, which is 96 to 100 per cent accurate when performed correctly.
Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party received a drubbing on Sunday in municipal elections, as the Greens celebrated victories in several big cities after a surge in support.

Macron had hoped the elections would help anchor his young party in towns and cities across France, including Paris, ahead of an anticipated 2022 re-election bid.

But aides had more recently been playing down expectations and the sweeping wins by the Greens, who in some cities joined forces with leftist allies, may compel Macron to reshuffle his government to win back disenfranchised left-wing voters.

In a rare bright spot for Macron, his Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, won his bid to become mayor of the northern port city of Le Havre. Although the French constitution allows Philippe to name someone to act as mayor while he remains Prime Minister, his win deepens questions over his job as premier.
Tehran: Iran has issued an arrest warrant and asked Interpol to help detain US President Donald Trump and others it believes carried out a drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, a local prosecutor reportedly says.

While Trump faces no danger of arrest, the charges underscore the heightened tensions between Iran and the United States since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Trump and more than 30 others whom Iran accuses of involvement in the January 3 strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad face "murder and terrorism charges," the state-run IRNA news agency reported on Monday.

Alqasimehr did not identify anyone else sought other than Trump, but stressed that Iran would continue to pursue his prosecution even after his presidency ends.
Regional Editor

Derek Draplin is a regional editor at The Center Square. He previously worked as an opinion producer at Forbes, and as a reporter at Michigan Capitol Confidential and The Detroit News. Hes also an editor at The Daily Caller.
Up for debate:

Live legislation tracker

Check out the latest developments on bills pending before state lawmakers in four key topics.
Visitors walk by a souvenir t-shirt shop June 23, 2020, in Kennebunkport, Maine. The coronavirus pandemic has hurt many of Maine's businesses that rely on just a few months in the summer for most of their annual revenue.
A statue of Benjamin Franklin stands outside of the Old Post Office Building in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Jameson Taylor is vice president for policy at the Mississippi Center for Public Policy

Sean Parnell is Senior Fellow in Philanthropic Freedom at The Philanthropy Roundtable
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured a spectacular image of the spiral galaxy NGC 2775.

NGC 2775 is located approximately 67 million light-years away in the northern constellation of Cancer.

The galaxy was discovered on December 19, 1783 by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel.

It belongs to the Antilia-Hydra Cloud of galaxies and is the main member of a small group of galaxies called the NGC 2775 group.

Also known as LEDA 25861 or UGC 4820, NGC 2275 has a diameter of 80,000 light-years and is classified as a flocculent spiral galaxy.

NGC 2775s flocculent spiral arms indicate that the recent history of star formation of the galaxy has been relatively quiet, Hubble astronomers said.

There is virtually no star formation in the central part of the galaxy, which is dominated by an unusually large and relatively empty galactic bulge, where all the gas was converted into stars long ago.

Millions of bright, young, blue stars shine in the complex, feather-like spiral arms, interlaced with dark lanes of dust, they noted.

Complexes of these hot, blue stars are thought to trigger star formation in nearby gas clouds.

The overall feather-like spiral patterns of the arms are then formed by shearing of the gas clouds as the galaxy rotates.

The spiral nature of flocculents stands in contrast to the grand design spirals, which have prominent, well defined-spiral arms.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, sitting in front of a model simulating the course of the state's coronavirus crisis, speaks June 29, 2020, during a news briefing in New York City.
Staff Reporter

Nyamekye Daniel has been a journalist for five years. She was the managing editor for the South Florida Media Network and a staff writer for The Miami Times. Daniel's work has also appeared in the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald and The New York Times.
A police officer listens as people get ready to march during a Juneteenth event Friday, June 19, 2020, in Milwaukee. Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure all enslaved people be freed, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
UW Health, one of Wisconsin's largest healthcare providers, is cautioning people to stay vigilant about the coronavirus.
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Towanda, PA (18848)

Today

Partly cloudy early. Scattered thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High around 90F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening giving way to periods of light rain overnight. Low 59F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Oneonta, NY (13820)

Today

Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 87F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Thunderstorms in the evening, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 56F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Press Release

June 28, 2020 HONTIVEROS REMINDS SCHOOLS TO COMPLY WITH THE BAWAL BASTOS LAW

Safe Spaces Act mandates all schools to act on reports of sexual harassment experienced by students "Schools need to do better in protecting our children and young people from sexual harassment." This was the remark of Senator Risa Hontiveros on Sunday as she reminded school administrators in both private and public education institutions to comply with the Safe Spaces Act (Republic Act No. 11313), also known as the Bawal Bastos Law. "The Bawal Bastos Law mandates all schools at all levels to enact an anti-sexual harassment policy that will protect students and teachers alike from sexual harassment," the Senator, principal author of the said law in the Senate, said in a statement. Hontiveros' reminder came after allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment towards students from teachers in several universities surfaced online. The Senator also explained that under RA 11313, schools are required to provide a safe and confidential mechanism for the reporting and redress of grievances on matters of sexual and gender-based harassment. "Hindi na nakakagulat na ang mga estudyanteng biktima ng sexual harassment ay napipilitang magsiwalat ng hinaing sa social media," she said. "Oftentimes, when victims are dismissed by their own school heads, they turn to social media communities for support," she added. Hontiveros also urged schools to put their students' safety and welfare at top priority. "Alam kong knee-jerk reaction kadalasan ang pagtakpan ang mga kaso at perpetrators ng sexual harassment para protektahan ang imahe ng school. Pero mali ito. Students' safety and welfare should be our top priority," she declared. "Survivors of sexual harassment and abuse must be given full support. They should not be judged or dismissed. Perpetrators of sexual abuse, especially those in positions of power, should be punished and in some cases, turned over to the authorities," Hontiveros said. The Senator also called on the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Philippine Commission on Women to perform their regulatory mandate in monitoring education institutions' compliance with their obligations under the Bawal Bastos Law. "Schools should be thoroughly and regularly reviewed if they are compliant with their obligations to the law," Hontiveros said. "Kapag may perennial lapses at non-compliance, dapat kasama ito sa pag-review ng kanilang license to operate," she added.
Melanie joined The Daily Times in the early 90s and has served as the Life section editor since 1993. A William Blount and UT alum, Melanie is generally the early arriver who turns on the lights in the newsroom.

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The year was 1950, and America was a nation racked with uncertainty and fear. North Korean Communist forces invaded the South, and we were in the grips of another war. President Harry Truman placed Americas railroads under the control of the U.S. Army.

A Cold War with Russia by then had long settled in. On the homefront, the ugly era of McCarthyism was beginning. People were not concerned about a deadly virus falling from the sky so much as a devastating, annihilating bomb. The president approved the construction of the hydrogen bomb in response to this threat, and Albert Einstein warned that nuclear war could lead to mutual destruction.

Fast-forward to today. According to at least one new report, folks in the U.S. are more unhappy today than they were back then. Keep in mind that this conclusion was reached before the eruption of mass protests and the report that, as of June 23, more than 122,000 U.S. pandemic-caused deaths have occurred in the United States.

Called the COVID Response Tracking Study, the survey of 2,279 adults draws on nearly a half-century of research from the General Social Survey and was conducted May 21-29 with funding from the National Science Foundation. As reported by Time magazine, this periodic study has collected data on American attitudes and behaviors at least every other year since 1972.
One person was killed and another was seriously injured in an accident on Texas 6 in Robertson County on Sunday.

Officials said the three-vehicle accident happened around 11:51 a.m. about seven miles south of Hearne.

A Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman said troopers believe a vehicle driven by 32-year-old Maria Roque-Manueles of Bryan was stopped in the inside northbound lane waiting to make a U-turn on the highway when it was struck from behind by another vehicle.

The impact of the crash sent Roque-Manueles' vehicle into the southbound lane, where it struck a pickup.

Roque-Manueles was pronounced dead at a Bryan hospital just after 1 p.m. according to the DPS spokesman. A passenger in her vehicle remained hospitalized in serious condition Sunday night.

Eight other people in the other vehicle were released after having their injuries treated at hospitals.

The highway was shut down for about three hours.
In a letter earlier this month, West's supporters in the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats raised the prospect that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is leaning on Texas donors to not give to West. The DSCC called it a "false and unsubstantiated allegation," and the coalition's chairman, Carroll Robinson, declined to provide the names of any donors being leaned on to The Texas Tribune at the time.

The runoff has seen a slew of endorsements that the candidates have used to press their cases. West has been endorsed by five of his former primary opponents  none have backed Hegar  and he argues they show he can bring people together across the state. He has also touted timely endorsements given the national conversation on police and race, most notably Benjamin Crump, the prominent civil rights attorney who represents Floyd's family.

Hegar's runoffs endorsements have included several national Democratic groups that have helped back up her electability argument, such as EMILY's List and the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund. She has also earned the backing of two former presidential candidates, fellow veteran Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren, who Hegar voted for in the presidential primary.
"We must learn to dominate the virus and not let the virus dominate us," Carson said.

Pence's trip also coincided with a growing debate in Texas over requiring people to wear masks. Abbott has resisted calls to fine individuals who do not wear masks but has allowed local governments to order businesses to require customers to do so.

Pence, Cornyn and Carson all had face coverings on when they disembarked Air Force Two in Dallas on Sunday morning, as did their three greeters: Abbott, state House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and Attorney General Ken Paxton. All appeared to remain masked while seated at the church, according to video broadcast by the church.

Pence has made headlines for not wearing a face covering at other public appearances during the pandemic. President Donald Trump has also refused to wear a mask in front of cameras.

First Baptist Dallas, led by pastor and ardent Trump supporter Robert Jeffress, had "strongly encouraged" attendees to wear masks and also socially distance. But the video of the ceremony showed most attendees sitting close together in pews, with only some donning masks. Most of the over 100 people in the choir and band sections on the stage were not wearing masks.
In 1976, he was promoted to a management position which resulted in the family moving to Madisonville, Texas. After only 3 years, Louis was again promoted to Regional Manager and moved the family to Navasota in 1980. Louis truly loved living in Navasota and dedicated himself to serving the community. An active member of the Grimes County Chamber of Commerce, Louis was named President of the Chamber in 1983 and again in 1985. In 1987, he was named Grimes County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. That same year, his company recognized Louis as the Gulf States Utilities Economic Developer of the Year.

Louis was a dedicated member of Christ Our Light Catholic Church in Navasota and served on the Parish Council board and was actively involved in volunteering and fundraising for the church. In addition, Louis was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus Navasota Council 9367.

In 1987 Louis was asked to serve as Director of Governmental Affairs for Gulf States/Entergy. He considered this role as the most fulfilling of his illustrious career. In 2002, after a 41-year career at Gulf States/Entergy, Louis retired.

He truly made a lasting impact on every life he encountered. Rumor has it that even Boudreaux and Thibodeaux were devastated by the news of Louis' passing.
Clayton's pre-SEC biography mirrors the resumes of thousands of current and former lawyers at white-shoe law firms throughout the country. The bulk of those people are, not coincidentally, also white men - since the racial and ethnic diversity of large law firms is almost uniformly terrible. (According to a study last year, minorities made up about one-quarter of law firm associates and less than 8 percent of equity partners, who, according to the report, remain "disproportionately white men.")

All of this was fine preparation for the job of SEC director, where Clayton oversees both regulatory and enforcement functions of the agency. He has been perfectly serviceable but unremarkable and was described as someone with "a light touch on regulatory issues."

But that is no justification for a promotion to one of the country's most important prosecutors' offices, nor is it a means to burnish litigation credentials, as it was reported how Clayton saw the job. Viewing the job as a resume builder is offensive to people who spend their whole lives training to become good litigators.
Egypt has said that four weekly one-way boat trips will be operated from Jordan starting 29 June to bring Egyptian citizens back home, the transportation ministry announced on Sunday.

According to an official statement, the Egyptian transportation minister said the ferries will be operated from Aqaba to Nuewiba by the Arab Bridge Maritime Company (AB Maritime), a joint venture between the governments of Jordan, Egypt and Iraq.

AB Maritime will be using its Ayla vessel, which can carry 1,000 passengers and 90 cars or 22 buses, according to data on its website.

The move comes amid the continued suspension of travel between Egypt and Jordan due to preventive measures put in place by the two countries to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the statement, the ferries will have a medical team and clinic on board; and passengers, luggage, and cars will undergo disinfection before every trip.

Egypt began repatriating its citizens in March after it grounded all international flights as part of sweeping measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

The country has limited its air traffic to domestic trips and cargo flights.

Around 57,000 nationals were repatriated by EgyptAir and Air Cairo, Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Manar Ennaba said in earlier press statements.

Egypt will gradually resume regular international flights at all its airports starting 1 July. Foreign tourists will only be allowed into three coastal governorates as part of tour groups, which aims to help offset the vital sectors losses amid the pandemic.

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June 29, 2020 DELA ROSA WELCOMES THE DOH SUBSTANCE ABUSE HELPLINE, VOWS CONTINUOUS FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS DURING THE PANDEMIC Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa assured the public of the continuous and relentless drive of the government in battling illegal drugs in the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic. As one of the speakers during the Online Grand Launch of the "Substance Abuse Helpline 1550" of the Department of Health (DoH) on Friday, Dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, guaranteed support to the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the Duterte administration and the new DoH helpline. "Amidst the pandemic, we certainly have not relegated the war on drugs on the side. This remains a major concern of government that deserves all the support and attention we can give-From our end at the Senate, let me assure our countrymen that the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs is leaving no stones unturned in seeking better and stronger ways to fight the illegal drug menace," Dela Rosa said. The senator, who also served as chief of the Philippine National Police where he led the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the present regime, added that such efforts will not only go after drug peddlers but save the lives of their victims. "Hindi lang po sa pagtugis ng mga drug lord at mga drug personalities kundi pati sa pagsagip sa mga biktima ng illegal drugs na nais gumaling at magbagong buhay," Dela Rosa noted. The neophyte Senator underscored the importance of the DoH Substance Abuse Helpline 1550. "Under the 'new normal', we have shifted largely to the use of telecommunications in our daily lives. And with this added helpline facility that the DOH has established, we hope to send the message to our countrymen that they can seek help at anytime, anywhere and be assured that the government is there for them, ready to lend a hand at all times. This is to assure every Filipino that help is easily accessible, fast and reliable. We want to save and help rebuild lives." Dela Rosa urged the public, "sa ating mga kababayan na nangangailangan ng drug treatment and rehabilitation, huwag po kayong mag-atubiling humingi ng tulong sa pamamagitan ng bagong Helpline na ito ng DOH. Sa gitna ng pandemiya na ating pinagdadaanan ngayon, nais kong iparating sa inyo na ang inyong pamahalaan ay hindi tumitigil sa pag-aalay ng tulong at suporta sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa pagtugon sa mga suliranin na dala ng iligal na droga." During his speech, Dela Rosa also highlighted the innate resiliency among Filipinos in the midst of every crisis and challenge in life. "Sa gitna ng pandemiyang ating nilalabanan at sa gitna ng iba pang suliranin at mga hamon sa kalusugan at seguridad ng bawat Pilipino, palakasin pa natin ang pagtutulungan at pagmamalasakit sa isa't-isa. Alam natin na walang tatalo sa tapang at galing ng Pilipino sa pagtugon sa anumang problemang hinaharap. For as long as we remain in solidarity, for as long as we remain strong in the midst of adversity, and for as long as we remain faithful to the Lord, we will surmount every obstacle along the way," Dela Rosa said.
Thank you, Dick Cheney. Thank you, Mitch McConnell, who lofted a mask at a news conference Friday and declared, "These are really important."

The maddening aspect of #RealMenWearMasks isn't the message but what's behind it: We've reached the point of this polarized pandemic where our current plan for salvation is convincing certain recalcitrant men that wearing masks is the testosteroney thing to do.

"People need face coverings that make them feel stylish, cool, and - yes - even manly," a Harvard epidemiologist wrote in the Atlantic.

Men, otherwise, are less inclined to wear masks. A recent study, co-authored by professors at Berkeley and the U.K.'s Middlesex University, found that men resisted for several reasons: They were less likely to believe they'd get sick with the coronavirus (they are actually more likely to get sick), and "Men more than women agree that wearing a face covering is shameful, not cool, a sign of weakness, and a stigma."

As a result of this toxic mask-ulinity, we have a whole campaign dedicated to slipping men's faces into some sexy, sexy N95s.

"Mask shaming men won't work. Here's what will," read the headline of a Los Angeles Times article suggesting ways to "make masks and masculinity a better fit."
The association's mission was twofold: lobbying Congress to pass a pension bill for former slaves and also providing mutual aid to sick, dying and needy members. It held annual conventions and sent materials to state and local chapters and by 1916 had approximately 300,000 members. Congress never passed this legislation and the movement ended when House was sent to jail on false and trumped up charges of fraud in 1916. Political activism had a price.

It wasn't just the federal government that refused to respect black property rights after the Civil War. White violence toward African Americans often jealously targeted prosperous African Americans, despite whites claiming to be avenging the honor of white women. That was the case in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa - an affluent area that earned the nickname Black Wall Street.

On May 30, 1921, false accusations that Dick Rowland groped Sarah Page in an elevator spelled trouble for this community. After outnumbered black men retreated from a confrontation with armed white men, white mobs burned 35 blocks, destroyed approximately 1,200 houses and 300 people died. Black property and black lives did not matter to these white Americans who destroyed the wealth that African Americans struggled to accumulate decades after being considered property.
"That's the real evil of this type of programming," Arthur West of the Washington League for Increased Transparency and Ethics, which sued Fox News in April over its coronavirus coverage, told the Times of San Diego. "We believe it delayed and interfered with a prompt and adequate response to this coronavirus pandemic." (A Fox News lawyer called the suit "wrong on the facts, frivolous on the law," and said it would be defended vigorously; a judge dismissed the suit in May.)

Beyond the risks the general public faces from consuming this nonsense and misinformation, there's the fact that the president himself has been picking up these same ideas and using them to steer policy. Instead of tapping experts in the medical and scientific community - many of whom are on the government payroll - he has chosen to educate himself by watching right-wing news outlets.

Recall the South Carolina campaign rally in late February where Trump dissed his political adversaries' criticism of his virus response as "their new hoax." Or the Feb. 26 White House news conference where he said of the virus: "We're going to be pretty soon at only five people. And we could be at just one or two people over the next short period of time." The next day, he offered his now-infamous "it's going to disappear" reassurance.
In 1841, Solomon Northup wrote of a woman named "Eliza," whom he first met in a "slave pen" in Washington, D.C. Eliza had deep affection for her children, but she was inconsolable because she knew that their separation from one another was inevitable. Sleep was impossible for her, though she maintained her composure around white people. Eliza's sorrows intensified when she and her children were taken to the slave markets of New Orleans, where speculators acquired capital by selling human chattel. There her son Randall was callously sold, and Eliza embraced him, cried and kissed him repeatedly and told him to "remember her."

But Eliza's sorrows continued as she was soon purchased without her daughter, the event that completely broke her spirit. "Please master," she screamed, "I can never work any if she is taken from me: I will die." Eliza did not die in a physical sense until many years after these separations, but Northup writes that for the remainder of her life she expressed signs of severe emotional trauma from which she never recovered. She mourned Randall and Emily day and night, often refusing comfort from even her closest friends, and Northup observed her speaking to her children as if they were present. He suggested that her heart broke from a "burden of maternal sorrow," and it seems clear she was mentally and emotionally damaged.
More than 20 million Americans ages 60 to 65 got a rude surprise this year.

Many of us, BC - before the novel coronavirus - had counted on a little more time before we had to see ourselves as "old." Yet in recent weeks, we've been shoved toward senescence as supermarkets have scheduled "senior hours" for those 60 and older, and major media have reported experts' warnings that the elderly, starting at age 60, are extra vulnerable.

Suddenly 60 is the new 65. At 62, I believe I speak for many other late-stage boomers when I say: Wait, what?

"I turn 60 later this year so I noticed that acutely," said Chip Conley, founder of the Modern Elder Academy, which he calls the world's first midlife wisdom school. "It was all of a sudden: I'm in a high-risk group? I'm perceived as elderly?"

I don't mean to reject any help that might keep me and my graying cohort alive. Bring on those peaceful senior shopping hours. Nor would I ever argue that policing these linguistic limits should be a top priority when thousands of Americans have died, tens of millions are out of work and our democracy is floundering.
Protesters gather to support asylum seekers detained at the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel in Brisbane, Australia, on June 28, 2020. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

Almost 40 Arrested at Rowdy Qld Protest

Almost 40 protesters have been arrested during another rowdy protest demanding the release of asylum seekers detained at a Brisbane hotel.

Hundreds of people joined a protest march to the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel & Apartments on June 28, where about 120 men are in long-term detention.

Police arrested 37 people after they staged a sit-in, refusing to move on after a two-hour protest permit expired.

They have been charged with refusing to comply with police orders and will face court at later dates.

The Kangaroo Point hotel has seen a succession of protests that have ramped up in the last few weeks.

Protesters are demanding the freedom of the men, brought to Australia from Manus Island and Nauru, mostly under orders that they receive specialist medical care.

Some have been confined to the hotel for a year, but have notched up almost seven years in detention overall.

Other rallies staged by Refugee Solidarity Brisbane/Meanjin saw the same hotel blockaded earlier this month.

Brisbane City Greens councillor Jonathan Sri, who was arrested at a previous rally at the hotel, said protesters had told police they would move from the road if they were allowed to pass hot food to the men inside.

The government refused, and instead of passing over the meals, decided to arrest dozens of people, he wrote on Facebook.

Ironically, the protest organisers had made a deliberate decision not to block Main St this week in order to minimise traffic disruption, but in the end, Main St was fully blocked off not by protesters but by police cars that were queuing up to take people to the watch house.

Tracey Ferrier
A police vehicle arrives to the place where an abandoned vehicle that is believed to have been used by gunmen in an attack against the chief of police was found, in Mexico City on June 26, 2020. (Marco Ugarte/AP)

Ambush of Mexico Police Chief Leaves Few Options

MEXICO CITYThe dramatic assassination attempt against Mexico Citys police chief was just the latest and clearest sign that Mexicos powerful criminal element is bringing the violence it has unleashed on the general population directly to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors door.

More than 35,000 Mexicans were murdered in 2019, the highest number on record; its a grave threat to the presidents ambitious agenda.

On June 26, more than two dozen gunmen executed a carefully coordinated plan to intercept Police Chief Omar Garcia Harfuchs armored vehicle at dawn with grenades, assault rifles, and a .50 caliber sniper rifle on the capitals grand boulevard. Garcia survived with three bullet wounds and within hours, blamed the Jalisco New Generation Cartel for the attempt that killed two of his bodyguards and a bystander.

It came less than two weeks after a federal judge and his wife were gunned down in their home in the western state of Colima. The Jalisco gang is also suspected in that attack.

The cartel declared war on the government of Lopez Obrador, said Samuel Gonzalez, a security analyst and the man who established the Attorney Generals Office special organized crime unit. He doesnt have any other option than to go after them, because otherwise, attacks on high-level government officials could continue.

It didnt take long for Lopez Obrador to disagree.

Were not going to declare war on anyone, he said on June 27 in a video broadcast through his social media. Were not going to violate human rights. Were not going to allow massacres. But were going to stop these attacks from being orchestrated, and were not going to make any agreements with organized crime as we did before.

The president said the key will be perseverance, with help from the intelligence services, which reportedly gave some warning that Garcia might be targeted by an attack.

Now, we have given great importance to intelligence, Lopez Obrador said. Before, the CISEN (National Intelligence Center) was used to spy on opponents. That is over. Now, we have an intelligence center to prevent, and that is why these attacks have been prevented or the most regrettable and serious results of these attacks have been avoided.

In 2019, this intelligence showed some problems.

In October, a botched operation to capture a son of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman in Culiacan, resulted in the young drug capos release after cartel gunmen wreaked havoc on the city in the state of Sinaloa. Lopez Obrador said this month that he ordered the release to avoid more bloodshed.

At the time, Lopez Obrador pushed aside criticism that it was a sign of weakness that organized crime would continue to exploit. The president responded that his government wont be forced into a drug war.

This is pacifying the country by convincing, persuading without violence, offering well-being, alternative options, better living conditions, working conditions, strengthening values, he said then. He asked for one more year to completely change this.

On June 17, Raul Rodriguez a columnist for El Universal, one of Mexicos largest newspapers, wrote in a column that Mexican intelligence had intercepted a conversation between Jalisco gang operators, in which it was clear they were planning to hit a major target in the city.

Rodriguez wrote that two unnamed security officials had confirmed the information and that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had confirmed the authenticity of the conversation. No names were mentioned, but analysts determined that the four potential targets were three members of Lopez Obradors cabinet and Garcia.

Its the way the mafiosos communicate with governments to tell them, You touch me and were going to kill your most important officials, said Edgardo Buscaglia, an organized crime expert at Columbia University.

When this happens, organized crime understands that the government is taking measures that are going to hurt its business and they begin to kill members of the political elite, he said.

Earlier this month, Santiago Nieto, the head of Mexicos Financial Intelligence Unit, announced that in collaboration with the DEA, the unit was freezing nearly 2,000 accounts believed to be used by the Jalisco gang. Nieto was mentioned as one of the potential cabinet-level targets of the cartel this month.

There are also nearly a dozen pending extraditions of Jalisco gang associates, Buscaglia said.

The administration should continue to pressure the cartel while increasing security to protect its political elite, starting with Lopez Obrador who continues to fly commercial and travel with little security, he said.

On June 27, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum shared a photo with Garcia smiling from his hospital bed and said that he was doing well and had more energy than ever. She praised Mexico Citys police for a rapid response that likely saved his life.

Since the attack, authorities had made 19 arrests in the case, she said, including the alleged mastermind of the plot. Lopez Obrador had not made any comments since early June 26.

Later, Ulises Lara, spokesman for the capitals prosecutors office, confirmed the arrests and listed the weaponry recovered. It included 34 rifles, a grenade launcher, and five .50 caliber sniper rifles.

Mexicos security strategysome question whether it is coherent enough to merit the labelbears little resemblance to the hugs, not bullets slogan that Lopez Obrador campaigned on.

2019s soaring murder rate already challenged his longer-term goal of attacking the root causes of violence. The economic devastation worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic is making clear those policies will have little chance as more Mexicans are pushed into poverty.

All thats in place now is not a coherent, integrated security strategy, but one that is very much almost exclusively reliant on the force, on militarized force specifically, said Franko Ernst, senior analyst with the International Crisis Group. He warned that increasing military pressure on the Jalisco gang, which has already suffered from internal rifts and splintering, could lead it to break apart into warring factions as has happened with other dominant cartels in recent years.

Ernst noted that in May, the government decreed that the military will continue policing the country, a task Lopez Obradors newly created National Guard was supposed to take over but has shown itself incapable doing. Now, the Jalisco gangs leader, Nemesio Oseguera, aka El Mencho, has finally established himself very firmly as the inevitable public enemy of the Fourth Transformation, Lopez Obradors term for his administration.

Its just going to push some other more integrated, more sound security policies further into the future, he said.

By Maria Verza & Christopher Sherman
The pillar of a demolished Catholic church is seen in Puyang, in China's central Henan Province on Aug. 13, 2018. The church was demolished after the congregation refused to donate the building to the county government. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

American Lawyer Takes on Chinese Regime and the Catholic Church

News Analysis

A lawyer who has spent her career working for the welfare of missing and trafficked children has now turned her efforts to protecting the religious rights of children in China.

On June 2, Liz Yore filed three submissions to the United Nations special rapporteur (SR) on freedom of belief and religion. The first details religious rights abuses of Chinese children, while the second outlines the imprisonment by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of two Catholic bishops, one of whom has been detained for 25 years, whose whereabouts are unknown.

The third, says Yore, alerts the SR to a September 2018 agreement between the Vatican and China, in which the Vatican whether wittingly or not  aided and abetted a China campaign to wipe religion off the map of China.

Special rapporteurs are independent, unpaid human rights experts appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council. Among other mandates, they investigate and assess complaints of a wide range of human rights abuses and violations, including those affecting religious freedom.

Banning Children, Teens From Religious Services

While China made itself a signatory to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1992, the CCP has nonetheless enacted laws to prohibit any child or teenager under 18 from attending or participating in religious services of any faith, even those most closely identified with Asia, Yore pointed out.

The revised religious regulations  inhibit children under the age of 18 from participating in religious activities and religious education, the State Departments 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: China states.

The law mandates the teaching of atheism in schools, and a CCP directive provides guidance to universities on how to prevent foreign proselytizing of university students, it states.

As underscored by Yores submission to the SR, Article 14 of the UNCRC specifically addresses childrens religious rights.

Parties, it states, shall respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

Article 14 also enshrines the rights and duties of the parents to provide direction to the child in the exercise of his or her right to those freedoms.

There is a caveat in the convention, however.

Freedom to manifest ones religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.

The CCP often uses such loopholes to justify that its repression of any kind of human right is for public safety, which it brings under the rubric of national security or stability.

However, Article 14 isnt the only clause of the UNCRC that addresses the rights of a child in matters of the non-secular. The convention also protects the spiritual rights of children, in four subsequent articles.

For the spiritual well-being and development of children, signatories must ensure that the child has access to information and material from a diversity of national and international sources.

In another clause, the rights of disabled children, including their spiritual development, are enshrined in the UNCRC. And Article 27 recognizes the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the childs physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development.

Finally, Article 32 recognizes the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the childs education, or to be harmful to the childs health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.

Despite these promises, however, as a result of Chinas new law, 300 million Chinese children are not allowed to darken the doors of a house of worship, Yore said.

This is the ending of religious practice in China for a generation.

Those voices are not going to be heard in China, Yore said.

The Vatican, China, and Bishops

Yore is also concerned with the state of religion in China as a whole.

As a Catholic, Yore is particularly appalled by the September 2018 agreement signed by the Vatican and China, the first public agreement between the two since the CCP took over China in 1949.

Yore said that the agreement is a catastrophe not only for the Catholics but for all religions.

Cardinal Joseph Zen, former bishop of Hong Kong, speaks during a press conference at the Salesian House of Studies in Hong Kong on Sept. 26, 2018, following the Vatican announcement on Sept. 22 of a historic accord with China on the appointment of bishops in the Communist country. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

The agreement, although its exact details have been kept secret, Yore said, allows the CCP to select bishops for the church in China, although Pope Francis has said in separate reports that the ultimate decision will be his.

Most controversially, reports say that the Vatican will accept as legitimate seven Chinese bishops who were ordained by the Chinese regimes official Catholic Patriotic Association, and who thus have been considered, until now, as illegitimate bishops.

Yore said that religious rights across the board in China have now been compromised. China can now throw in everybodys face that the Pope has agreed to sit down and negotiate with them.

Pope Francis has thrown the church under the bus, she said.

Meanwhile, the fates of Bishops Su Zhimin and Cui Tai, both of whom have steadfastly refused to renounce Rome and accept the CCP Catholic Church, are in question. Some believe that Su may no longer be alive, while Cui was taken away by police on June 19, after having been released in January, according to Asia News.

Church members within his diocese say his whereabouts are unknown.

Meanwhile, an unknown number of Catholic bishops, priests, and laity remain in prison, human rights activist Benedict Rogers reported in Standpoint magazine in January.

Yore says Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong was pleading with the Pope not to sign this agreement, and was trying to educate the pope about the CCP; he flew from Hong Kong to Rome without an appointment to see if he could persuade the pope not to go forward with the agreement.

The agreement has been criticized almost in unison by human rights NGOs such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Open Doors, as well as by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Yore says.

They have been pleading with the Vatican to disclose the terms, she said, but recently we have been hearing that [the Vatican and China] will renegotiate the agreement, which comes up for renewal in September 2020.

Background of an Activist

Yore formerly worked for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, as well as Oprah Winfreys Child Advocate, both with the Oprah Winfrey Show and in South Africa at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, according to Yores website biography.

When I think of the hundreds and thousands of priests and clergy who were put in jail, how can I remain silent? she says about her motivation.

Elizabeth Yore. (Courtesy Elizabeth Yore)

I have an obligation to push what legal remedies are out there. I have worked long enough in this field to see miracles happen, to see justice, and to see the impossible become the possible, she noted, when asked about the likelihood that her U.N. submissions will bear fruit.

Ive been involved in childrens issues all my life. I follow my gut, she said.

There has been a demolition derby of destruction of churches, shutting down masses, shutting down pilgrimages and pilgrimage sites, Yore said.

Why arent we putting all of these faces of people who are going missing up there? Yore said about those who disappear in China for practicing their religion. I dont know if theres even a list up in the Vatican.

We should be doing this as a way to keep these cases fresh, and to keep the heat on the CCP. All the Uyghurs  why dont we have their pictures? This seems to me this is something China would hate. Why arent we promoting it? People are going missing and there are a million in the campslets track them, lets demand their release, Yore said.

I hope these [special rapporteur] submissions give hope to people in China.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig answers questions during a press conference at the Detroit Police Headquarters in Detroit, Mich., on June 7, 2019. (Kimberly P. Mitchell/Detroit Free Press via AP)

Detroit Police SUV Was Attacked During Protest, Chief Says

A Detroit police vehicle was attacked late on June 28 by a group that included agitators armed with hammers, Police Chief James Craig told reporters.

A group of 25 to 30 individuals that included some wearing Black Lives Matter shirts surrounded the car on Vernor Highway, blocking the vehicles pathway and jumping on the hood of the SUV.

The police officer who was driving the vehicle was proceeding slowly until the rear window was smashed.

Officers reported that once they heard the rear window smashed  they were not certain that they were not being fired upon, Craig said on June 30. They accelerated to get out of there in the event they were being fired upon.

At that point, many among the group disengaged with the vehicle, although several males who had hopped onto the hood held on when the driver sped up. After stopping briefly, the driver sped away, reaching speeds of up to 25 miles per hour.

The officers did the right thing, Craig said. They had to take quick, evasive action.

If officers had waited, their vehicle may have been breached, he added.

An investigation is continuing, and the officers in question remain on duty, Craig said. Officials arent sure what was used to break the window; they suspect it may have been a skateboard.

Craig read a text message he said was from a woman who was at the protest before leaving.

They were plotting to provoke the police. As I was leaving, I saw those same guys hitting the police vehicle for no reason, the unnamed woman said in the message.

A Detroit Police Department vehicle with a smashed rear window. (Detroit Police Department)

Protesters walk past the entrance to Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, on June 7, 2020. (Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images)

The protest started out with no problems earlier on June 28 before swelling to 300 to 350 people, according to police officials, who said most of the protests in recent weeks have been peaceful.

The violent behavior on June 28 included the people who jumped onto the police car, he said.

Video footage showing one angle of what happened was widely circulated, leading to accusations that officers rammed protesters. It wasnt clear how many people, if any, were injured. Police officials said theyre not aware of any injuries.

Jae Bass, 24, one of the males who were on the hood, said he stood in front of the vehicle to try to stop the police officer from continuing to drive.

In response to that, he just floored it, Bass told the Detroit Free Press. He went super fast. Me and a couple of other organizers that were with me, just went flinging off. We went flying off. He ran over a couple peoples arms, feet. He ran over her phone. I think I was the last person on the car. I was just holding onto the car.

Bass was one of a group of protesters who surrounded two officers earlier in the evening before the officers returned to their vehicle and drove away.
Press Release

June 29, 2020 De Lima bewails PNP's reported use of social media to red-tag progressive groups Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has slammed the Philippine National Police (PNP) over reported cases of red tagging of progressive groups by the regional offices, through the PNP's official social media accounts. De Lima filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 451 seeking to exact accountability from the persons responsible for the state-sponsored disinformation campaigns, which are obviously intended to suppress legitimate forms of dissent and protest while undermining the country's democratic institutions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "State agents' blatant red-tagging of activists is an attack on the very foundations of our democracy and constitutes a grave abuse of authority and misappropriation of public funds in addition to the potential harm it may cause to its targets," she said. "This practice of red-tagging undermines the fundamental principles of the Constitution and other international treaties to uphold, promote, and protect basic human rights, particularly the right to freedom of speech and expression," she added. De Lima pointed out that the current political climate makes these instances of red-tagging even more dangerous given the anticipated signing of the Anti-Terrorism Bill, which uses an overbroad definition of terrorism that can subject suspects to weeks of detention prior to an appearance before a judge, into law. "Activists and legitimate political dissent may be wrongfully conflated with terrorists and acts of terror with such irresponsible and malicious acts perpetrated by state agents," she said. Last June 7, two PNP regional offices reportedly posted images on their official social media accounts, accusing legal activist organizations of being communist fronts while implying that the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act would snuff them out. De Lima recalled that one Facebook account - which belongs to Butuan City-headquartered Police Regional Office 13 - listed a number of activist organizations as "communist terrorists", including militant groups Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students, Bayan Muna and Kabataan Party-lists. De Lima added that another Twitter account with the handle PNPBaguioStn4 - which is followed by the PNP's official Twitter account - also published a post, singling out Kabataan party-list. The same account accused the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Gabriela Women's Party, Bayan Muna, League of Filipino Students, Kabataan Party-list, and Anakbayan of being terrorists an earlier post before Labor Day last May 1. De Lima maintained that an investigation is necessary to exact accountability from the law enforcement officials who were directly involved in these instances of red-tagging and red-baiting. "Critical dissent is a crucial component of a healthy and functioning democracy and allows for the participation of ordinary citizens in the political process," she said. In filing the Resolution, De Lima said she believes that the Senate investigation can also help determine whether the reported cases of red-tagging "are components of institutionalized counterinsurgency strategies geared towards winning the 'hearts and minds' of people through massive social media disinformation campaigns." It may be recalled that in the 17th Congress, De Lima sought a similar Senate inquiry into the rampant human rights abuses committed by state actors against legitimate civil society organizations and rights defenders in the country in the guise of counter-insurgency measures.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is seen with South Australian Premier Steven Marshall and Senator Anne Ruston during a visit to a fire damaged property on Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island, southwest of Adelaide, Wednesday, January 8, 2020.(David Mariuz-Pool via Getty Images)

Australian PM Slams Reprehensible Redress Holdouts

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is not kidding when he says institutions refusing to join the national child abuse redress scheme will lose public funding.

Morrison and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston have threatened to cut off future funding and possibly tax concessions if organisations fail to sign up by June 30.

Anne Ruston and I are not kidding. We expect people to sign up and if you dont want to sign up then I wont be signing any cheques, he told Sydney radio 2GB on June 29.

Morrison and Senator Ruston on Friday wrote to 25 institutions, urging them to do the right thing and join the scheme.

All institutions are doing in not joining is doubling down on the crime and doubling down on the hurt, they said.

We consider it to be reprehensible that you have failed to sign up to the scheme.

The financial sanctions being considered include stopping future public funding and suspending organisations charitable status and tax concessions.

Be aware, failure to sign up to this program means I will ensure that there will be no further public funding that theyll be eligible for going forward, Morrison said.

Im certainly prepared to do that and even prepared to consider their charitable status.

The Victorian government has also threatened to cut off state funding for organisations that dont join the scheme.

Times up, Victorian Attorney-General Jill Hennessy tweeted on Monday.

Weve already said no funding for institutions which do not sign up, and well explore every sanction available for those evading their responsibility to survivors.

The non-participating institutions will be named and shamed on Wednesday, when Senator Ruston announces what action the federal government will take against them.

The Jehovahs Witnesses is among the organisations that have refused to sign up, arguing it does not have the institutional settings of other faith-based institutions that the redress scheme is designed to cover.

The 25 institutions that received the letter were either named in redress applications or the child abuse royal commission, and were holding up compensation for 103 survivors.

Survivor support group Blue Knot Foundation president Cathy Kezelman said not joining the scheme was indefensible.

Institutions which have failed to commit to joining the national redress scheme are showing that the same appalling lack of accountability and failure of moral rectitude that enabled children to be sexually abused on their watch continues unabated, Kezelman said.

Religious, community, charity, education and sporting organisations have had two years to join the scheme, and must at least by Tuesday provide a written commitment to do so.

Legal service Knowmore principal lawyer Anna Swain said survivors hoped institutions did the right thing, but expected some victims would miss out on compensation and acknowledgement.

There will be many people who are left incredibly distressed and disappointed, she said.

By mid-June, the scheme had received 7133 applications and made 2501 payments totalling almost $202 million.

Megan Neil
The 12-story building that a report by Internet security firm Mandiant identified as the home of a Chinese military-led hacking group in Shanghai on Feb. 19, 2013. (Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images)

Beijings State-Owned Media Accuses Australia of Espionage Offensive Against China

Chinas state media has claimed Australia is ramping up spying efforts against Beijing just days after Australian intelligence services raided the home and office of a state parliamentarian over allegations of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence.

The CCP-run Global Times, a vocal commentator on party-related issues, accused Australia of waging an intensifying espionage offensive against China.

The editorial piece claimed Australia has been sending spies to China to gather intelligence and recruit agents. While domestically, Australia is allegedly instigating defections amongst Chinese residents and spying on international students.

The story quoted an anonymous source from a Chinese law enforcement agency, saying Australia tried to install wiretaps in the Chinese embassy in Canberra.

The Chinese Embassy in Australia is seen from a hot air balloon in the capital city of Canberra on March 9, 2013. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Global Times claims come just days after the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and Australian Federal Police raided the home and office of New South Wales (NSW) Member of Parliament Shaoquett Moselmane over concerns he was under the influence of the CCP.

A 60 Minutes and Fairfax Media investigation revealed ASIO was looking for evidence on phones and laptops, and there was long-running concern about Moselmanes pro-Beijing views. In late February he applauded Beijings response to COVID-19 telling a gathering at a restaurant in Sydneys Chinatown:

It has spread a little, but because it was contained so much in China, that meant that the rest of the world had not been affected as it would if those measures were not taken, he said.

So, congratulations to the government  we know who are our friends in crisis.

In April, Moselmane resigned as assistant president of the NSW upper house for his praises and for lauding Chinese leader Xi Jinpings unswerving leadership during the pandemic.

The 60 Minutes report said Moselmane was only under investigation and the allegations were not confirmed.

The Australian Labor Party moved swiftly to suspend Moselmanes party membership following news of the raid, while NSW Liberal Treasurer Dominic Perrottet announced a motion on Saturday to suspend Moselmane from the state parliament.

Moselmane on June 29 told AAP reporters he was not a suspect and the raids were related to investigations into other individuals connected with the CCP.

The federal agents have a job to do and it is imperative that they do their job without state and federal political interference. I am under no illusion that this is a serious investigation, the first of its kind, precedents will be set, Moselmane said.

Sadly the political lynching has already commenced, he added.

Moselmanes staffer John Zhang is also under investigation.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on June 26 said it was very concerning that an investigation was launched into a very, very long-standing and relatively senior person within the New South Wales Australian Labor Party.

But this is an issue that the federal government will not shy away from. Its very important to our integrity as a country and our security as a nation. We take it very seriously, he said.
California Governor Newsom Orders Bar Closures Over COVID-19 Fears

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on June 28 ordered the closure of bars in seven counties that have seen a surge in cases of COVID-19.

In a statement, Newsom also recommended that eight other counties in the most populous U.S. state close their bars, as he urged Californians to remain vigilant against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Due to the rising spread of #COVID19, CA is ordering bars to close in Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, San Joaquin, and Tulare, while recommending they close in Contra Costa, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, & Ventura, Newsom said on Twitter.

COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger, he said in a statement. Thats why it is critical we take this step.

Newsoms order for bars to close in Los Angeles and six other counties followed moves by Texas and Florida to shut all their bars on June 26. Public health officials in California and throughout the United States have identified bars as the riskiest non-essential businesses currently open.

A pedestrian wears a mask while walking past a closed Nickel Diner in Los Angeles on May 7, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Consuming alcohol reduces inhibitions, which leads to less mask-wearing and social distancing, health officials warned. Patrons in noisy bars often shout, which spreads droplets more widely.

The surge in cases has been most pronounced in Southern and Western states that didnt follow health officials recommendations to wait for a steady decline in cases before reopening. More than 2.5 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the United States, and more than 125,000 have died.

Newsoms decision marked a shift from earlier in the week, when he told reporters that each county was being monitored for increases in virus cases.

I cant say this enough, California is not one size fits all, Newsom said. Each county has unique criteria and conditions. And within those counties, unique conditions as well.

Los Angeles County Mayor Eric Garcetti welcomed the move, saying it will help curb transmission of the virus.

As we started reopening more businesses, we cautioned that we may need to change course to protect public health from this deadly virus, he said in a statement on Twitter. I support @CAGovernors order to close bars in LA County and other counties to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti speaks at a Los Angeles County Health Department press conference on the CCP virus in Los Angeles on March 4, 2020. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

Los Angeles County remains the epicenter of the outbreak in the state, reporting an additional 2,542 cases by June 29making up more than half of new transmissions in California.

Long Beach City Mayor Robert Garcia wrote on Twitter: From the start of our reopening process weve said that we would be led by the facts and the data. I support Governor @GavinNewsoms decision to close bars in several counties in California, including here in LA County and Long Beach. We must continue to prioritize public health.

Elsewhere in states that have seen cases drop, bars have been a source of outbreaks. One bar in East Lansing, Michigan, has been linked to more than 85 cases, and local health officials say that number is likely to rise.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Police arrest a man (C) and lead him to a nearby bus during a protest against China's planned national security law in Hong Kong on June 28, 2020. (Issac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images)

China Finalizes Draft of National Security Law for Hong Kong, Suggests It Could Apply Retroactively

Beijings national security law for Hong Kong inched closer to formal approval on the second day of a three-day meeting of Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress (NPC).

Li Fei, head of the Constitution and Law Committee within the NPC Standing Committee, issued a version of the national security law that could be voted on, according to Chinese state-run media Xinhua, in an article published on June 29. The vote is a formality, as the NPC rubber-stamps decisions made by Chinese Communist Party leadership.

The Standing Committee oversees the NPC.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee, then tabled the finalized bill, according to Xinhua.

The Xinhua news report didnt provide more details about the national security law.

But in an article published late on June 28, state-run newspaper Global Times, citing unidentified legal experts, indicated that the national security law could apply retroactively to those cases relevant to anti-extradition bill movement, although there was no reference to any retroactive clauses in the initial draft adopted by NPC in May.

The ongoing mass movement in Hong Kong started in June last year, when millions protested against a since-scrapped extradition bill. At that time, many Hongkongers feared that they could be extradited to China and put on trial in Chinese courts which are notorious for failing to uphold the rule of law.

Beijing formally began the process of drafting a national security law for Hong Kong on May 28, after the NPC conducted a ceremonial vote. The law would criminalize those who engage in activities connected to subversion, secession, terrorism, and foreign interference against the Chinese regime.

Formal Procedure

After the Standing Committee formally votes, the bill will be added to the annex of Hong Kongs mini-constitution, called the Basic Law. Afterward, it will be announced in a Hong Kong government gazette, for the law to be implemented.

The national security law will be deliberated for a vote by June 30, when the NPC meeting ends, according to Ip Kwok-him, a Hong Kong representative to the NPC and a cabinet member of the Hong Kong government, who was cited in the Global Times report.

On June 20, the NPC standing committee released more details about the draft proposal: Beijing would have jurisdiction over certain cases under exceptional circumstances; the regime would also establish a national security agency in the city; and the chief executive, a position currently held by pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam, would appoint judges to hear national security-related cases.

Criticism

Since the end of May, many Hongkongers and government officials around the world have criticized the proposal, saying that it would spell the end of the citys autonomy, which was guaranteed when the territory reverted to Chinese rule from British administration in 1997.

Under the handover agreement, the SinoBritish Joint Declaration, signed in 1984, Hong Kongs Basic Law was drafted, which aims to guarantee the city a high degree of autonomy for at least 50 years after 1997 under the one country, two systems model.

Recently joining the chorus of international critics was Reinhard Butikofer, a member of the European Parliament.

Why are we still talking about a national security law? Thats not what it is. It is a CCP takes complete control law, Butikofer stated on Twitter on June 29.

Alan Leong, chairman of Hong Kongs pro-democracy Civic Party, wrote that he agreed with Butikofers statement.

With the national security law, #CCP is taking back #HK for a second time since 1997, only that this time round #CCP is no longer bound by the Sino-British Joint Declaration or burdened with promises enshrined in the #BasicLaw, Leong stated in a tweet.

On June 28, Hong Kong police arrested 53 people for unlawful assembly in Mong Kok after hundreds took part in a silent protest against the national security law.

On June 29, local district councilor Ben Lam, who was among those arrested, said the police abused their power to arrest him when he was simply live-streaming in Mong Kok. Via his Facebook page, he said he refused to post bail and was eventually released unconditionally that morning at around 4 a.m. local time.

Lam recounted on Facebook that prior to his release, he overheard a conversation between police officers inside the Hung Hom District police station, where he was detained. A police officer said that people would stop showing up at protest sites if police made the move to arrest groups of protesters.

He said that was evidence the Hong Kong government has resorted to the tactic of making indiscriminate arrests in an attempt to slow ongoing protests in the city.
Diner Shocked to Find Real Pearl Inside Steamed Clam at Seafood Restaurant in New Hampshire

A customer at a New Hampshire seafood restaurant got a little more than what she ordered from a Dover seafood restaurant when she bit down on a perfect, natural white pearl.

Newicks Lobster House at Dover Point has been a favorite haunt of political consultant Mike Dennehys wife since she was a child, reports WMUR 9. Attending the eatery with her family on June 20, Mrs. Dennehy ordered the clambake special and was shocked to discover a white pearl within one of the steamed clam shells.

Since New Hampshires lockdown restrictions were relaxed, Newicks has been adhering to social distancing guidelines, offering outdoor seating in the parking lot; and learning of Mrs. Dennehys curious find, restaurant staff gathered in the lot at a safe distance to glimpse a peek at the beautiful marine treasure in her hand.

Despite having visited the establishment many times over the yearsNewicks is a family-run venture locally renowned for its fresh seafood and beautiful viewsher familys first public dining venture was marked with a rare find.

This isnt the first pearl to be discovered at a seafood restaurant. In December 2018, another diner made headlines for finding one in his $14.75 pan roast at New York Citys Grand Central Oyster Bar. After biting down on the tiny treasure, Rick Antosh first thought he had lost a tooth or a filling.

This isnt Joes Steakhouse. Its the most famous oyster place in the United States, Antosh told the New York Post. I [assumed] it doesnt happen often, but figured it happens at times.

An expert later appraised the pearl and valued it at between $2,000 and $4,000. Antosh didnt intimate as to whether or not he would sell the pearl but did say he may return to the restaurant to try his luck at finding another.

Natural pearls are considered very rare. Fine jewelry experts Goldstein Jewelers estimate that the odds of finding a natural pearl in your restaurant order are roughly one in 10,000 to 12,000, depending on the species of mollusk.

Cultured white and pink pearls from pearl oysters (James St. John/CC BY 2.0)

The picture-perfect pearls we see in paintings and high-end jewelry stores are also misrepresentative, the experts explain. The vast majority of natural pearls are small, off-white, and contain visible imperfections.

The oysters we eat are not the same species of oyster from which we obtain pearls for fine jewelry, and only about 1 in 10,000 of these oysters will produce pearls considered of gem quality by professional pearl appraisers.

Before diamonds assumed first place for most coveted gem in the 19th century, natural pearls were valued above all other gems owing to their extraordinary rarity.

A natural pearl forms organically when an irritantsuch as seawater, sand, or dust particlesworks its way inside the soft tissue muscle of an oyster, explains The Pearl Source. This irritant causes the oyster to produce layers of secretions, called nacre, as a defense mechanism; these secretions slowly form a natural pearl.

A cultured pearl, on the other hand, is formed in exactly the same way except for the fact that the irritant is inserted into farmed oysters via human intervention. Natural pearls are much rarer, and thus more valuable.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
DNA Evidence Points to 8-Year-Olds Killer After 38 Years

After nearly 38 agonizing years, the family of Kelly Ann Prosser finally has some closure.

Police in Columbus, Ohio, said Friday they cracked the cold case on who abducted, sexually assaulted, and killed the 8-year-old, all thanks to genealogical testing and a podcast tracing the history of the case.

Investigators say on Sept. 20, 1982, Kelly Ann was abducted in Columbus University District while walking home from Indianola Elementary School. Two days later, her body was discovered in a cornfield in nearby Madison County, Columbus Deputy Police Chief Greg Bodker said during a news conference Friday.

Case details from the Ohio Attorney Generals Office say Prosser had been beaten, sexually assaulted, and strangled.

What was left behind was whatafter yearshelped investigators solve the case.

This is a case that throughout the years all of CPD wanted to solve, and a case that affected all personnel on a personal level, Bodker said. Imagine in 1982 collecting something that you didnt know would one day existDNA.

Suspect was Released Months Before Killing

After one of the police departments most intense investigations, evidence preserved from the crime scene proved to be the key for solving the case decades later, Bodker said.

Bodker identified Prossers killer as Harold Warren Jarrell, a now-deceased man who was not mentioned in the original Prosser case file.

In 1977, Jarrell was charged and convicted with abducting a different 8-year-old girl from Tamarack Circle, on the north side of Columbus. He was released in January 1982, eight months before Prossers abduction, said Sgt. Terry McConnell.

Hes not currently a suspect in any other crimes in Columbus, according to Bodker.

In a statement read aloud by McConnell during Fridays news conference, Prossers family thanked law enforcement for their dedication to their case over nearly four decades.

When Kelly Ann left for school, the morning of September 20, 1982, we did not expect our time with her would abruptly end or that our future would change in every way imaginable.

One moment we had this dazzling, mischievous 8-year-old little girl, then suddenly all we had left were memories, photographs that will never age, a calendar marking a dreadful new holiday, a grave, and pieces of Kellys life stored in a box, the statement read.

Tracking Down Relatives

Around 2014 or 2015, the DNA collected was entered into the CODIS, a national database of DNA samples used by law enforcement, but no matches came out of the database, McConnell said.

In March, the police department partnered with Advance DNA, a forensic genealogy research company, which used the DNA sample to assemble a family tree for the potential suspect and provide additional leads for the detectives, McConnell said.

Jarrell worked for a local radio station in Columbus for much of the 1970s and 1980s, while holding other odd jobs throughout his time there. Although he had already died in Las Vegas, police were able confirm the link between Jarrell and Prosser after obtaining DNA samples from Jarrells living relatives, McConnell said.

After following the new leads from Advance DNA, detectives also realized that a 2014 anonymous tip cited a similar name to Jarrells, though at the time it wasnt verified due to limited information, McConnell said.

AdvanceDNA said in a statement to CNN that their team leveraged DNA matches to the DNA profile provided by the Columbus Division of Police and that the DNA matches came from users of two genetic testing companies who had opted in for law enforcement matching.

In Kellys case there were no close matches, instead leads were developed through connecting a series of 3rd cousins, the company said.

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The submerged streets and inundated buildings after a flood in Mianning county in southwestern Chinas Sichuan province on June 27, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Flooding Worsens in China as Discharged Waters From Three Gorges Dam Inundate Cities

Heavy rain continued to fall on dozens of Chinese cities on June 29, leading to severe flooding. But unlike past instances of major disasters, no senior Chinese Communist Party officials have visited the affected regions thus far.

Moreover, the Three Gorges Dam, located in the upper region of the Yangtze river in Hubei Province, and other reservoirs discharged their accumulated water, affecting nearby cities.

For example, in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei and where the COVID-19 pandemic first broke out, floodwaters reached up to car roofs.

Weather forecasts showed that the Yangtze river region will experience more rainfall in the next ten days. Hydrologists have previously warned that discharged water from the Three Gorges reservoir could sweep away people who live downstream.

Discharging Water

State-run media Xinhua quoted government officials who confirmed that the Three Gorges Dam released the accumulated stormwater in its reservoir on June 29.

The discharging average speed on Monday was 35,000 cubic meters per second (about 554.76 million gallons per minute), according to the report.

The department of water resources of Hubei also announced on June 29 that it discharged water from 1,081 local reservoirs after their water levels went over the warning limits.

The department added that eight of those reservoirs were large-size, meaning their storage capacities were larger than 100 million cubic meters (26.4 trillion gallons); 28 of them were medium-size, with storage capacities of more than 10 million cubic meters (2.6 trillion gallons); and 1,045 small-size.

Wuhan has the Yangtze river passing through it. The city was inundated on June 29 due to the high water level of the Yangtze and heavy rain.

State-run media Hubei Jingshi reported that floodwaters had entered the first floor of buildings in some neighborhoods of Wuhan. In addition, 35 roads in the Qiaokou, Wuchang, Hongshan, and Gaoxin districts were closed on Monday due to the deep flood waters.

Many other cities in Hubei were also suffering from flooding.

State-run CCTV reported that on June 27 evening in Guangshui city, flood waters reached so high that people could not get out of their cars or houses.

The regime has not announced any related death toll, but locals shared a video on social media of a woman who died after she was washed away by flood waters.

On June 27, the cities of Yichang, Xiangyang, Jingmen, Xiaogan, Huanggang, Enshi, and Shennongjia reported floods. 7,005 people were forced to leave their homes and about 650,000 others suffered losses due to the flooding, according to authorities.

The central government announced on Monday that more heavy rainstorms are forecasted to arrive in the upper regions of the Three Gorges Dam during the first half of July.

In the early hours of June 30, Xinyang city in Henan Province, Shijiazhuang city in Hebei Province, Hengdong county in Hunan Province, and other regions also reported flooding.

Chinese Leaders

26 out of Chinas 34 provinces and regions have reported flooding in June. But no Chinese senior officials have visited the disaster areas.

In past decades, officials would visit as part of the Partys propaganda efforts. Premier Li Keqiang, and former premiers Wen Jiabao and Zhu Rongji visited Wuhan during the flooding season in 2016, 2010, and 1998.

On June 27, some state-run media published reports that Wen met with the director of the Earth Sciences School of Lanzhou University in Beijing on June 22. Since October 2019, he hadnt participated in any public activities.

The timing and locationthe school is known for its hydraulic engineering programhas China observers speculating that Wens recent appearance is not coincidental.

He wants to deliver the message that he is focusing on the Three Gorges Dam, said U.S.-based China affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan in an interview.

Before his political career, Wen was a geologist and engineer for 17 years, upon graduating with a masters in geology.

When he was premier, Wen did not show public support for the Three Gorges Dam. When the dams completion ceremony was held in May 2006, neither Wen nor Hu Jintaothen-Chinese leader and former hydraulic engineerattended.

Meanwhile, current Party leaders have not addressed the nationwide disaster.

On June 29, Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted a politburo meeting in Beijing. He made no mention of the flooding but said: The army must unswervingly adhere to the partys absolute leadership The military must be absolutely loyal, absolutely pure, and absolutely reliable.

This is his first public appearance since Xi attended the EU-China summit via video conferencing on June 22.

On June 28, Chinese premier Li Keqiang hosted a foreign trade forum in Beijing. Li also didnt mention the floods, but said that maintaining foreign trade and foreign investment is very critical, adding that unemployment was a major problem.

Since the resurgence of the CCP virus outbreak in Beijing that occurred in early June, the Partys senior leadership have made few public appearances.
Fresno Teen Distracts Burglar for 40 Minutes During Home Invasion to Protect His Little Sister

A terrifying scene played out just after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, when a burglar broke into a home in Fresno, California. Two teens were home alone during the home invasion, a 15-year-old boy and his 13-year-old sister.

The brother stumbled upon Steven Vega, 23, inside their home near E. Butler and S. Clovis Avenues, the Sheriffs Office stated. Vega, who is homeless, had forced his way in, and he told the teen that he was there to steal their belongings. The boys sister had no knowledge of the burglar, nor he of her, at that time.

A tense 40 minutes followed as the boy tried to distract Vega away from his sisters room and deescalate the situation. The teen tried to remain calm while he formed a plan to misdirect the burglar and keep his sister safe; first, he led Vega into a room and told him he could take whatever he wanted, which he did.

Steven Vega, 23 is now in custody (Courtesy of Fresno County Sheriffs Office)

Then, Vega told the teen that he was hungry, as he was homeless, and so the boy took him into the kitchen, where he heated up a frozen burrito and gave it to the robber. After his meal, Vega proceeded to search other rooms of the home, and the teen managed to divert his attention from his sisters room once again.

The boys sister was still unaware of the intruders presence, and her brother did not wish for her to get scared.

Finally, the man headed for the door, but he took the keys to the familys gray 2019 Chevy Camaro parked in the driveway and drove off with it. After the intruder had left, the teen brother took his sister to the neighbors house and explained what had happened, and the Sheriffs Office was called.

Detectives spotted the gray Camaro stuck in a field and arrested 23-year-old Vega (Courtesy of Fresno County Sheriffs Office)

Deputies started searching for the suspect on Wednesday but were unable to locate the vehicle that day. On Thursday, they spotted the car, which had gotten stuck in the dirt in a field. Vega was seen asking for help freeing the vehicle from the owner of the property.

The officers arrested Vega. In the car, they found all of the stolen items from the robbery on Wednesday. Vega, it turns out, was on parole for a prior home-invasion conviction. He is now in custody and facing charges of home-invasion robbery, kidnapping, auto theft, possession of stolen property, and looting, the Sheriffs Office stated.
A student on the campus of Peabody College at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 18, 2018. (Harrison McClary/Reuters)

How to Control College Costs in the Age of COVID-19

NEW YORKTina Smets had long thought about getting a college degree, but that seemed impossible.

As a mom of three kids, waitressing nights at a local restaurant in Kearney, Nebraska, the 31-year-old did not want to saddle her young family with tons of student debt.

But then she heard about Nebraska Promise, a new University of Nebraska program that covers tuition for families below a certain income level.

I dont think I would have considered it otherwise, Smets said of her planned business administration degree. I actually didnt believe it at first.

Stories like Tina Smets are becoming more common in this strange COVID-19 era. Facing the prospect of declining enrollment, many colleges are becoming more creative in order to attract and keep potential students.

Every senior leadership team is on their whiteboard right now, thinking about eight or nine or 10 different options to help more students be able to enroll, said Jim Hundrieser, vice president for consulting services at the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

The University of Nebraska program covers tuition for families earning less than $60,000 a year. The University of Maine is offering in-state pricing for out-of-state students whose colleges have had to shut down.

Some schools have frozen their tuition rates, including the University of Minnesota, Colorado State, and the University of Colorado. Some colleges offer discounts for students hurt by the economic crisis, such as the 30 percent tuition discount offered by Georgias Thomas University for online undergraduate programs.

The measures are aimed at stemming a fall enrollment decline of up to 20 percent, according to a survey by consulting firm Simpson Scarborough. More students are considering a gap year, and the number of international students could drop through the floor.

Families dont want to pay tens of thousands of dollars a year just to have their kids stay home all day, said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher and vice president of research for Savingforcollege.com.

As a result, many colleges are proving more flexible on admissions and pricing, welcome news for incoming students. Tuition and fees have rocketed more than 25 percent in the last decade, according to The College Board, leading to a whopping $1.6 trillion in student debt.

Colleges Need Students

There are other potential silver linings. For those whose dream college might be just a bit beyond reach, this could be their lucky year. This is going to be the best year to be admitted off the waiting list, Kantrowitz said. Colleges need students, and it will be easier to get in.

Currently, 776 colleges report having space available for the upcoming academic year, according to the College Openings Update from the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Last year? Only 422, said Kantrowitz.

Financial aid will also be affected by the crisis. Original offers for the upcoming academic year as calculated using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)are based on financial data from 2018.

So if your familys financial circumstances have changed, you can appeal the award in a bid to secure more aid.

With some colleges behind the eight-ball because of squeezed budgets, most students can take their time in order to make the right call financially.

Out of 4,000 institutions across the country, maybe 400 or 500 require that you make your decision by a certain date, Hundrieser said. But the other 3,500 are very understanding with what families are facing and want to help as you consider all your choices.

Hundrieser suggests that with many families wary about residential options, this might be the perfect year to opt for a low-cost community college close to home. Students could potentially transfer to their dream college later onhaving racked up credits in the meantime.

By Chris Taylor
How We Think About Forgiveness at Different Ages

Children's understanding of forgiving deepens and expands as they grow older

If youve seen your children struggle to forgive someone for hurting them, you know that forgiveness is complicated. After all, forgiveness is complicated for adults, too. At times, we wonder why were trying to forgive someone anyway. Later, we might think weve forgiven them, only to experience a sudden burst of anger and resentment.

My research has found that it takes many years for us to grasp the notion of forgiveness as we grow up. In over 30 years of studying forgiveness, I have interviewed children and adolescents as well as college students and adultsand found that our understanding of forgiveness evolves over childhood and young adulthood, partly influenced by what we learn from our parents and communities.

Young children are often taught that the proclamation of Im sorry followed by the automatic reply of I forgive you can solve any conflict. This may be because we as parents and educators seek a quick solution to interpersonal disputesand when problems are short-lived, these kinds of quick exchanges help. At the same time, if there is deeper hurt with deeper anger, children need more time to process the unfairness and to feel angry for a while.

To support childrens maturing understanding of forgiveness, parents can start by having age-appropriate discussions about it with their kids, based on where kids are in their cognitive and emotional development. These conversations can change the way children think about forgiveness and help them emotionally recover when they inevitably experience harm and unfair treatment from others in life.

Getting Even

In our studies of how children, adolescents, and adults think about forgiveness, we assess their thinking by presenting them with dilemmas and asking them questions about what kinds of conditions might make forgiving easier. As an example of a dilemma, Mrs. Jones falsely accuses Mr. Thompson of a crime, and he now faces time in prison for something he didnt do. In general, what we find is that children and adolescents start with some misconceptions about forgivenessand eventually grow in their understanding and practice of it.

When they think about forgiveness, fourth graders often equate it with first getting even. Without formal learning about what forgiveness is, many 9- and 10-year-olds think they could forgive and make up with classmates only if those classmates first got what they deserved: punishment for their misbehavior.

Of course, sometimes classmates arent punished, because whatever happened never gets the attention of a parent or teacher. If kids dont forgive unless the perpetrator is brought to justice, they may never be able to release their pent-up anger.

At this stage, one way to help kids learn about forgiveness is to challenge their conditional thinking (if no punishment, then no forgiveness). Parents can encourage their children to reflect on these questions: Do all people have inherent or built-in worth? If so, do those who act unfairly from time to time also possess this kind of worth? If so, can you see that those who sometimes hurt you also have inherent worth?

Its not that people with inherent worth should never be punished. But as children see the inherent worth of everyone, including those who behaved badly, then they might consider forgiving (because the other has worth) and not become trapped in their anger as they await punishment that may never come.

This does not mean that kids abandon the quest for justice or stay quiet about the harm done to them. Instead, it means that external circumstances will not get in the way of the emotional healing that forgiveness can provide.

Compensation

Compared to fourth graders, when we talk to seventh graders, we see them developing whats called a reciprocal perspective. They can think of themselves and others at the same time, and in turn they can try to do good for themselves and others. With a reciprocal perspective, the students often say that it will be easier to forgive if they are compensated for what happened to them.

This is not the same as the younger kids who seek punishment. If a 12-year-old had an apple stolen at lunch, for example, they might forgive when the other person eventually gives them an apple in return.

Whats similar is the tendency for these children to see forgiveness as a conditional act, offered only if there is recompense. Again, this means that they can get trapped in deliberate unforgiveness until compensation comes.

Of course, compensation is not always possible. If one person pushes the other down, what compensation can occur there? Perhaps a heartfelt apology will do, but its less clear-cut, and the conditional forgiving may never take place.

Around this age, we can help kids learn about forgiveness by distinguishing forgiving from reconciling, a process where people negotiate their way back to a sense of mutual trust. Is it possible to forgive before you reestablish trust with the other person? The answer is yes; just because you forgive someone doesnt mean youll choose to reconcile with them, and just because they arent interested in reconciliation doesnt mean you cant release your anger and get closure through forgiveness. As kids learn that forgiving and reconciling are not the same thing, then they may be more open to offering unconditional forgiveness, even while (as above) they still strive for fairness.

A Social Norm

In my interviews, some of the seventh graders and many of the 10th graders take a more complex view of forgiving, unrelated to the need for punishment or compensation. Now, the focus is on their peer group and their family context. Students consider: What does my peer group have to say about forgiving? Do they like it and encourage it, or not? What does my family think about forgiving?

At this point, the teens willingness to forgive depends on what the norms are in his or her group and family. Similar to younger ages, the teen continues to be influenced by outside factorshere, other peoples beliefs and attitudesrather than driven by an internal conviction that forgiveness is good in and of itself.

Still, social norms can be useful in shaping peoples own values, so nurturing forgiveness at this age means taking advantage of those norms. For instance, we can highlight examples of peer and family interactions in which forgiving was a central theme and seen as good. Hearing stories of peers accepting forgiveness, or families who go through conflicts and yet forgive and reconcile, might help teens to value and try out forgiveness for themselves.

If parents are opposed to forgiving, then at this stage it becomes more difficult for adolescents to learn to appreciate it. Still, if peers and teachers value the norm of forgiving, this can challenge adolescents to think more deeply about it. We get conflicting messages all the time in society, and this is why some of the important groups in an adolescents life (including families, social media groups, or houses of worship, if they belong to one) might consider talking about the theme of forgiveness as a possible response to unfairness.

Adolescents can easily handle the cognitive complexity of holding both forgiveness and justice in mind at the same time: Forgive and seek justice.

A Moral Virtue

At its highest developmental level, forgiveness means to unconditionally offer mercy to someone who acted unfairly. College students and adults begin to see that if forgiving is a strong moral virtue, then it should be offered regardless of external factors such as punishment, compensation, or the norms of different groups. They tend to see forgiveness as worthy of their time because its good for families, communities, and entire societies.

The highest form of forgiving is to offer love and kindness for the good of othersand not for some self-serving reason, like hoping for compensation or approval by our peer group after we forgive.

Sometimes, though, young adults (just like teens) can still experience external pressure to forgive, if they see that their communities demand forgiving. In other words, they are forgiving because of other peoples expectations and not yet as an end in and of itself.

To fully grasp forgiveness in this sense is rare, and formally learning about forgiveness may be necessary. Children can reach a profound understanding of forgiveness in adulthood by persistently practicing it, with the help of parents, when they are hurt by others. Such learning, begun early in life, is a building block for mature adult thinking about forgiveness.

It is hard work, but helping our children to reach this highest level of forgiving can set them up to exercise their own free choice to forgive, and to live a life without unhealthy anger and with more peace.

Dr. Robert Enright is the founder of the International Forgiveness Institute. This article was originally published in the Greater Good online magazine.
Press Release

June 29, 2020 HONTIVEROS TO PAGCOR: REVOKE LICENSE OF TAX-DELINQUENT POGOs "Kanselahin na ang lisensiya kung hindi pa rin maka-comply sa pagbabayad ng buwis." This was the remark of Senator Risa Hontiveros as she urged the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to immediately revoke the license of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) for failing to settle their tax deficiencies amounting to at least P50B in 2019. "PAGCOR should exercise its regulatory powers and come down hard on tax-evading POGOs. Dahil kung wala namang parusa, wala namang multa, bakit pa nga ba sila magbabayad?," she said following reports from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) that there are delays in the reopening of POGOs due to non-payment of unpaid taxes and non-submission of notarized commitment to pay such debts. According to PAGCOR's Offshore Gaming Regulatory Manual issued on 03 July 2018, any arrears are a ground for non-renewal of license. Hontiveros explained that failure to discharge financial commitments including payment of correct taxes is a ground for the revocation of licenses. "Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) na mismo ang nagkumpirma na walang POGO ang nakapagbayad ng utang na P50B sa franchise tax at withholding tax para sa muling pagbubukas ngayong may community quarantine," the Senator stated. "Kung hindi sila sumusunod despite repeated warnings, hindi na lang dapat temporary closure ang katapat. It's time to cease their operations." The BIR said that all the 50 offshore online casinos are not paying their franchise taxes due to issues of jurisdiction. POGOs are arguing that since they do not operate in the Philippines, they are not covered by the country's jurisdiction. However, Hontiveros said that an Ad Hoc Licensing Committee was created by PAGCOR to handle, process and give final recommendation on the issuance of POGO licenses. "Kumikita sila at nakakapag-operate sa pamamagitan ng mga service providers that are based in the country. Kaya marapat lang na magbayad din sila gaya ng mga nandito sa Pilipinas," she added. Moreover, BIR Memorandum Circular No. 102-2017 affirmed that POGO operators and accredited service providers are subjected to 5% franchise tax on Gross Gaming Receipts or a pre-determined minimum monthly revenue, whichever is higher, apart from income tax and withholding tax. Hontiveros then urged the authorities to track down the 'bigger fish' and go after big-time tax evaders such as POGOs. "Kung ang maliliit na negosyo, agad napapasara dahil sa hindi pagbabayad ng tamang buwis, all the more that we should be strictly enforcing the same sanction on tax-delinquent POGOs na bilyon-bilyon ang pagkakautang sa gobyerno. PAGCOR should ensure that the country's best interests are being upheld. Hindi interes lang ng POGO," she concluded.
A person holds a smartphone with TikTok logo displayed in this picture illustration taken on Nov. 7, 2019. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

India Bans 59 Mostly Chinese Apps Amid Border Crisis

NEW DELHIIndia on June 29 banned 59, mostly Chinese, mobile apps including Bytedances TikTok and Tencents WeChat in its strongest move yet targeting China in the online space since a border crisis erupted between the two countries in June.

Indias technology ministry issued an order stating the apps are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, security of state and public order.

Following the order, Google and Apple will have to remove these apps from the Android and iOS stores.

The move comes after a deadly border clash between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in a disputed Himalayan region earlier in June that resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers.

The ban is expected to be a big stumbling block for Chinese firms such as Bytedance in India, which have placed big bets in what is one of the worlds biggest web services markets.

Indian congress party supporters leave Chinese goods on a flag displaying the country of China, along with an inscription reading Boycott Made in China, during an anti-China demonstration in Kolkata, India, on June 18, 2020. (Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing-headquartered Bytedance had plans to invest $1 billion in India, open a local data center, and had recently ramped up hiring in the country.

India is the biggest driver of TikTok app installations, accounting for 611 million lifetime downloads, or 30.3 percent of the total, app analytics firm Sensor Tower stated in April.

Protesters shout slogans as they hold posters of Chinese leader Xi Jinping during an anti-China demonstration near the Chinese embassy in New Delhi, India, on June 18, 2020. (Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images)

Among other apps that have been banned are Tencents WeChat, which has been downloaded more than 100 million times on Googles Android, Alibabas UC Browser, and two of Xiaomis apps.

Google said it was still waiting for government orders, while Apple didnt respond to a request for comment. Bytedance didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

This is the quickest and most powerful step the government could have taken to put economic pressure on Chinese companies, said Santosh Pai, a partner at Indian law firm Link Legal, which advises several Chinese companies.

Anti-China sentiment has long simmered in India over accusations of cheap imports flooding the country, but the border clash has brought tensions to the fore with calls being made to boycott Chinese products.

Indian customs at ports have since last week held back containers coming from China, including Apple, Cisco, and Dell products, Reuters reported previously.

By Sankalp Phartiyal & Aditya Kalra
Julian Assange gestures to the media from a police vehicle on his arrival at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on April 11, 2019. (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Indictment Surprised Assanges Lawyers

The impact of a superceding United States indictment against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is still being considered by both the prosecution and the defence in his UK extradition hearing.

The 48-year-old did not appear for a routine call-over hearing at the Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Monday.

Assange is fighting extradition to the U.S. to face 17 charges of violating the U.S. Espionage Act and one of conspiring to commit computer intrusion.

The U.S. Department of Justice made fresh allegations last week that Assange recruited hackers at conferences in Europe and Asia to provide WikiLeaks with classified information, including military secrets.

Judge Vanessa Baraitser said she had received an email about the superceding indictment, but defence lawyers were annoyed.

Prosecution barrister Joel Smith said both parties were still considering the impact of the superceding indictment.

If we need to involve the court  then we will inform the court at the appropriate time, he said.

Barrister Mark Summers said via telephone that the defence only heard about the new indictment against Assange from media reports.

We were surprised to hear about it in the media, he told the court.

Summers said the fresh allegations could impact the upcoming case management hearings.

The defence is due to provide the court with its final evidence on July 10.

Assange did not to attend due to the coronavirus risk and hasnt been seen in court for about three months.

Smith said that the prosecutions psychologist hadnt been able to assess Assange in prison due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Judge Baraitser said Belmarsh prison officials had emailed her to say that he was not unwell, he was refusing to attend.

The judge said Assange could only be absent if he was actually unwell, not if he was worried about becoming ill.

She said if he did not attend the next call-over on July 27 he would have to provide a medical certificate.

Summers said that the defence could do that if required.

The Australian is accused of publishing thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic and military files, some of which revealed alleged war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hes also accused of trying to recruit hackers to provide WikiLeaks with classified U.S. information.

The charges carry a total of 175 years imprisonment.

London
Italian Mom Furloughed From Her Job Cooks Family Lasagna Recipe for Anyone for Free

When Michelle Brenner lost her job because of the pandemic, she decided to use her extra time and a family lasagna recipe to create a free-food movement in her Washington community.

So far, she has made more than 1,275 pans of lasagna for friends, neighbors, first responders, and anyone in need of a good fresh mealwithout charging anyone.

For Brenner, this is a labor of love, and she has no plans to stop.

I knew it was my time in my life to give back to the people who paved lifes path for me to have the 45 years of life that Ive had, she told CNN.

Frozen lasagna is not a treat

Brenner, who moved to Gig Harbor, Washington, about six years ago, was furloughed from work at a menswear store after Covid-19 hit. She quickly realized that she is not very good at sitting around.

Michelle Brenner prepares meals using her family lasagna recipe. (Courtesy of Michelle Brenner)

She said she decided she wanted to help elderly members of her community and those who could not get out and shop for themselves because of the pandemic.

So, she signed up to work as a shopper for Instacart. She only spent two days working with the grocery delivery appbut during that time, she noticed one item her customers kept asking for: frozen lasagna.

One of those customers was a man in his nineties. Brenner said when she delivered the frozen lasagna and other items to him, he confessed to her that he had not had any fresh food in nearly a month and a half.

That moment inspired Brenner to do some grocery shopping of her own and pick up the ingredients to make her family a fresh lasagna based on her grandmothers recipe.

Frozen lasagna is not a treat, she said. I am not a fan of frozen lasagna. Im very Italian.

After her dish came out of the oven, Brenner jumped on Facebook to do what so many others have done throughout quarantine: share her home-cooked meal on social media. In her post, Brenner offered to make her lasagna and deliver it free of charge to anyone who wanted one.

Meals prepared by Michelle Brenner using her family lasagna recipe. (Courtesy of Michelle Brenner)

When she received enough requests, she went to the store and spent her $1,200 stimulus check on ingredients and started cooking.

She made more than 130 lasagnas and distributed them to those who requested it for free.

The whole point of this is to spread that sense of community wherever we can through the comfort of lasagna, she said. So, I dont want anybody to feel disincluded because reality is there are people out there who cant afford a dollar.

A one-woman operation

This is a one-woman operation. Brenner spends eight to 14 hours per day doing all the cooking herself. She spent the last 90 days working without a day off.

Many of us go to work and want to go home right away  and I never had that feeling, she said of her recent cooking endeavor.

Brenner started the operation in her own home, pushing her kitchen to its limit and setting up a contactless food pantry in her front yard.

Recently, she said she was given free use of a commercial kitchen at the Gig Harbor Sportsmans club, allowing her to grow her operation.

The process of distributing the lasagnas has allowed Brenner to see the impact of her work first hand.

One family, she said, cried when she arrived on Easter, because without the lasagna and other treats, they told her they did not have enough money to celebrate the holiday this year. Another woman told Brenner she donated lasagna to the nurses taking care of her mother in an Alzheimers ward.

Brenner said she feels her lasagna delivers more than just nutrition: It creates an opportunity for family members to bond.

Thats a family meal, thats time to sit together, thats memories making, thats conversations, she said. Its something youll remember the rest of your life.

Although she distributes the lasagnas for free, many in her community wanted to chip in. They decided to organize a series of fundraisers online to help Brenner keep the operation going. Over the last nine weeks, Brenner said they raised more than $23,000 for herwhich translated into 1,275 pans of lasagna.

While Brenner does not know what will happen when her furlough ends, she said she does not plan to stop making lasagna for others. She called the experience of making lasagna for her community a dream come true.

People say are you tired? Brenner said, and I go, you know, I dont have time to think about that, I have lasagna to make.

CNN Wire contributed to this report.
Police cordon off the area after a fatal shooting at Jefferson Square Park, in Louisville, Ky., June 27, 2020, in a still image obtained from a social media video. (Maxwell Mitchell via Reuters)

Man Who Participated in Protests Charged With Murder of Photographer

A man apprehended on suspicion of killing a photographer at a park occupied by protesters had participated in a number of recent protests, officials said.

Steven Nelson Lopez, 23, was arrested on charges of murder and first-degree wanton endangerment.

This man had been participating in the protests since they began, and he had been arrested a couple of times over the past several weeks, interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder told reporters at a press conference on June 28.

He had been repeatedly asked by other members in the park to leave due to his disruptive behavior.

Showing surveillance footage at a press conference, officials said Lopez late June 27 fatally shot Tyler Gerth, a 27-year-old photographer, at Jefferson Square Park in Louisville.

A man opened fire from the edge of the protest area at about 9 p.m., resulting in several people firing weapons, and chaos for those at the park, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, a Democrat, told reporters.

It is just difficult to comprehend why things like this happen, Fischer said. Whether they were there at the time of the shooting or not, I know the sadness of those who have been organizing and participating in peaceful protest for racial justice. This is absolutely not what they wanted, or any of us wanted.

A man prays at Jefferson Square Park in Louisville, Ky., on June 28, 2020. (Dylan Lovan/AP Photo)

Deputies from Jefferson County Sheriffs Office responded quickly and began treating victims while police officers were on the scene within four minutes of receiving a call.

Surveillance video showed a man authorities said was Nelson at the corner of the park brandishing a weapon. The man, dressed in black shorts and a T-shirt and carrying a dark-colored backpack, appeared to be in the process of being pushed out of the park by several people before pulling out the gun.

After he did so, the people scattered as Nelson fired multiple shots.

Bystanders also captured the shooting on cellphone cameras, giving officials multiple angles to work with in identifying the shooter.

Tyler was incredibly kind, tenderhearted and generous, holding deep convictions and faith, Gerths family said in a statement to the Louisville Courier Journal.

Multiple other people in the park were armed at the time of the incident. Investigators are still working to identify everyone who may have fired during the situation.

Following the shooting, the Louisville Metro Police Department said conditions in the park have become increasingly unsafe.

While most protesters in the park have been largely peaceful, things changed last night when shots rang out in the park, leaving one dead and one other shot, the department stated.

A protester speaks with Louisville police officers who were handing out flyers on an overnight camping ban in Louisville, Ky., on June 28, 2020. (Dylan Lovan/AP Photo)

Starting June 28, officers were enforcing a local law that prohibits camping.

The park will be closed each night at 11 p.m. and reopen at 6 a.m. Any property left overnight will be removed. The park will be cleaned daily.

People who dont leave the park can be charged with third-degree criminal trespass.

Amy Hess, chief of public services, said the number of tents became a safety issue, blocking officials from seeing what exactly happened from surveillance video.

She said officials werent enforcing the law before the shooting.

Signs prohibiting camping have been in the park since the beginning, but officials wanted to balance the First Amendment exercise of free speech, the need to be able to come together and demand change, at the same time while understanding that ordinances were in place for a reason, and it was specifically to help protect public safety, she said at the press conference.

When that became out of balance, we saw a need last night to take action.
Mississippi to Choose New State Flag After Vote to Remove Confederate Symbol

Mississippis House and Senate passed a measure that will remove the Confederate symbol from the states flag, sending the historic bill to Gov. Tate Reevess desk.

Reeves has said he would sign legislation to change the flags insignia.

The legislation cleared the House on Sunday 9123 and also the Senate with a 3714 vote. The push to change the flag again came after widespread Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.

The flag was adopted in 1894, and it has red, white, and blue stripes with the Confederate symbol at the top left. The new design will include the phrase In God, We Trust.

Mississippi state voters will cast their ballot to choose a new state design in November. The design cannot include the Confederate symbol.

We should not be under any illusion that a vote in the Capitol is the end of what must be done  the job before is us to bring the state together and I intend to work night and day to do it, Reeves, a Republican, said Saturday.

I would guess a lot of you dont even see that flag in the corner right there, noted Mississippi state Representative Ed Blackmon, who is Black, on Saturday. There are some of us who notice it every time we walk in here, and its not a good feeling.

People gather at the Robert E. Lee Monument in Richmond, Va., on June 18, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Jefferson Davis great-great-grandson, Bertram Hayes-Davis, said the states flag should be changed, explaining that the battle flag has been hijacked and doesnt represent the entire population of Mississippi.

It is historic and heritage-related, there are a lot of people who look at it that way, and God bless them for that heritage. So put it in a museum and honor it there or put it in your house, but the flag of Mississippi should represent the entire population, and I am thrilled that were finally going to make that change, Hayes-Davis told CNN.

In the wake of Floyds death and the Black Lives Matter protests and riots, many symbols of the Confederacy have been removed, including a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee at Richmonds Monument Avenue. NASCAR also said it would prohibit the flags from being displayed at races and events.

In 2000, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that the flag lacked official status. State laws were updated in 1906, and portions dealing with the flag were not carried forward. Legislators set a flag election in 2001, and voters kept the rebel-themed design.

Reeves and many other politicians have said people should get to vote on a flag design in another statewide election.

People wanting to keep the Confederate-themed flag could gather more than 100,000 signatures to put that design up for statewide election. Its too late to get it on the ballot this November, though, because of timelines set in state law.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cafes in Melbourne's Degraves street open for dine in customers in Melbourne, Australia on June 1, 2020. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

New Financial Year Brings New Tax Cuts for Small Business

Tax cuts for Australian small businesses legislated three years ago, with further reductions fast-tracked last year, will kick-in on July 1 as the economy looks to rebuild in the aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdown.

From the new financial year, the corporate tax rate for businesses with an annual turnover under $50 million will be reduced from 27.5 percent to 26 percent.

It was part of the Coalition governments plan to reduce the tax rate over a 10-year period from the long-standing 30 percent to 25 percent.

Initially the government planned for businesses with a turnover of under $50 million to be taxed at 27.5 percent, however in the 2018-19 mid-year budget, the government decided to fast-track the next stage and bring in a 26 percent tax rate for the 2020-21 financial year.

The reductions are timely as businesses fight for survival in what the Reserve Bank Governor Robert Lowe alluded to as the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression.

In the next financial year (2021-22) the rate will again fall to 25 percent, five years earlier than originally planned.

The government is also offering unincorporated businesses with an annual turnover below $5 million, an increase in the small business tax discount from 8 percent to 13 percent.

In the following financial year (2021-22) it will increase to 16 percent. The measures are estimated to cost the government $3.2 billion over the next four years.

Ann Kayis-Kumar, senior lecturer at the School of Taxation and Business Law, University of New South Wales told The Epoch Times, While at first blush a tax cut looks like a terrific way to ease the burden on small businesses, there are two issues at play that also need to be considered.

First, small businesses have the opportunity to make use of a myriad of concessions and reliefs. This ranges from the small business capital gains tax concessions (which are equal parts generous and complex) to COVID-specific reliefs such as the extended instant asset write-off and cash flow boost, she said.

However, the unintended consequence of all these measures is that there is a lot to keep up withwhich, in turn, can increase the tax compliance burden on small businesses, she added.

Second, reducing the corporate tax rate has no impact on already loss-making firms. This is particularly problematic given were currently facing the economic aftershocks of the COVID pandemic, Kayis-Kumar said.

In the new financial year, the government will be cracking down on illegal phoenixing where executives strip down their businesses and transfer the assets to another company to avoid paying outstanding liabilities.

The government over four years is providing $59.9 million to the Australian Taxation Office and $4.7 million to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to combat such illegal behaviour.

It estimates such actions will return $196.4 million to the budget over the next four years.

The latest development follows as job figures for May showed unemployment in Australia at 7.1 percent. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that 835,000 Australians have been out of work since the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, set in.

Jennifer Westacott, CEO of the Business Council of Australia said: Every choice we make over the next six months must get businesses back open safely and create new jobs for Australians.

Together we can give Australians the best skills in the world, strengthen our workplace relations system so it works for employees and employers, and make it easier to invest and do business.
An exterior view of the AFP Headquarters in Canberra, Australia, on June 6, 2019. (Getty Images)

NSW MP Claims Political Lynching

Embattled NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane denies hes a suspect in an investigation into Chinese interference which included searches of his home and office, saying the inquiry relates to other people.

Moselmane gave an impromptu statement on Monday, insisting he had done nothing wrong and suggesting he was the victim of political lynching.

He said the investigation was into certain other people who may have sought to advance the goals of the Chinese government, but did not extend to him.

Moselmane was last week suspended from NSW Labor and will no longer sit in the parliamentary caucus after Fridays raid on his Rockdale home.

Following the raids conducted by federal police and Australias intelligence service, he plans to take a leave of absence from parliament.

Federal authorities are yet to make allegations or disclose the nature of their concerns.

They have also searched the home and business of one of Moselmanes staff members, named by multiple media outlets as John Zhang.

The federal agents have a job to do and it is imperative that they do their job without state and federal political interference. I am under no illusion that this is a serious investigation, the first of its kind, precedents will be set, Moselmane told reporters.

Sadly the political lynching has already commenced.

I have done nothing wrong. I have never jeopardised the welfare of our country and our people.

Moselmane stood down as assistant president of the NSW upper house in April after praising Chinese Leader Xis response to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying Xi had demonstrated unswerving leadership and decisiveness.

On Monday he stood by those views, saying they had been promulgated by the World Health Organisation and at one point by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Moselmane, who has been in NSW parliament since 2009 and was formerly Rockdale City Council mayor, is reported to have made repeated trips to China over the past decade, where he has met with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members.

He said on Monday he made those trips for reasons of charity.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday told reporters foreign interference was a serious issue and required a swift response from federal law enforcement.

But he said the vetting of prospective members of Australian parliaments remained adequate.

Its very concerning there has been this investigation launched  into someone who has been a very long-standing and relatively senior person within the NSW ALP, Morrison said.

This is an issue the federal government will not shy away fromits very important to our integrity as a country and our security as a nation.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday told reporters her government had previously raised concerns about Moselmane with the NSW Labor party, but Opposition Leader Jodi McKay had not responded to them quickly enough.

McKay last week said the raids on Moselmane had come as a surprise.

By Angelo Risso
Ontario Premier Doug Ford stands at the podium during a press announcement at the Queens Park Legislature in Toronto on Aug. 9, 2018. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young)

Ontario Announces Task Force to Overhaul Towing Industry

TORONTOA wave of alleged criminal activity rocking Ontarios tow truck industry clearly shows the need for stronger oversight, Premier Doug Ford said on June 29 as he announced a newly appointed task force would be reviewing ways to overhaul the sector.

The group, consisting of officials from across numerous government ministries as well as the Ontario Provincial Police, will draft a new regulatory framework for the sector that has wound up in the crosshairs of at least two high-profile police probes in recent months.

Ford cited the investigations by both the Toronto and York Regional Police services when announcing the task force.

To all the bad actors out there, my message is very clearthe partys over, Ford said at a news conference. Were coming for you, and well catch you, and we will lock you up.

York police said last month that a number of industry players were facing charges following an investigation dubbed Project Platinum that spanned several jurisdictions but concentrated on the Greater Toronto Area.

Supt. Mike Slack of the forces organized crime and intelligence services said at the time that a lucrative turf war had erupted along stretches of major provincial highways, resulting in charges ranging from murder to arson. None of those charges have yet been proven in court.

Slack alleged multiple tow truck companies, all with ties to organized crime, had defrauded insurance companies with vehicles involved in real and staged collisions. He alleged the companies would grossly inflate towing bills, move cars from lot to lot to increase storage fees and inflate repair bills.

Body shops and car rental companies were in on the schemes, Slack said, and would receive profitable cuts for themselves.

Insurance companies grew wise to the alleged frauds, Slack said, prompting them to hire a Vaughan, Ont., law firm to help them push back against the scams. That firm, police alleged, itself became a target of threats and gun violence and was ultimately forced to close up shop.

Project Platinum ultimately resulted in dozens of charges against at least 20 people. Weeks later, Toronto police charged 11 others in an investigation of its own that ensnared a veteran officer.

The officer was accused of stealing encrypted police radios and helping to put them in the hands of tow truck operators. Those drivers would then rely on dispatch information to arrive first at accident scenes and secure lucrative towing jobs, the force alleged.

In reviewing the mandate of the new task force, Ontario Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney said that practice would be among the many issues flagged for review.

This is an element that contributes to the violence, she said. Its certainly something that we will be looking at as part of the task forces work.

The task force will also be asked to provide recommendations for a new regulatory framework, which could potentially replace the current system that leaves the towing industry subject to a patchwork of regulations set by municipalities rather than the province.

Solicitor General Sylvia Jones agreed Monday that it was time for tighter regulations.

(Towing companies) are operating in an industry that lacks oversight and structure, and where too many criminals are making their own rules, she said. A spike in violence within the industry  is a threat to Ontarians and public safety, and it must end.

The government said the task force would also review issues such as stronger consumer protections, training and background checks for industry members.

Mulroney said the group has been asked to present its recommendations by the end of July, which will then be shared with sector members and municipalities for input before any government action on the issue gets underway.

By Michelle McQuigge
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) during a weekly press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 26, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Pelosi Wants Officials to Brief House on Russian Bounty Intelligence

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wants U.S. intelligence officials to brief the House of Representatives regarding reports that Russia placed bounties on American troops in Afghanistan.

Citing anonymous officials, several news outlets claimed Russians have been paying the Taliban to assassinate U.S.-led coalition troops.

U.S. officials later said the intelligence was suspect and that neither President Donald Trump nor Vice President Mike Pence was briefed on it.

The President now denies being briefed, but the Administration has not denied the existence of the intelligence, Pelosi wrote in a June 29 letter (pdf) to Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and CIA Director Gina Haspel.

The questions that arise are: was the President briefed, and if not, why not, and why was Congress not briefed. Congress and the country need answers now.

I therefore request an interagency brief for all House Members immediately. Congress needs to know what the intelligence community knows about this significant threat to American troops and our allies and what options are available to hold Russia accountable.

Lawmakers, including some Republicans, have said in recent days they want answers about the intelligence.

I expect the Trump Administration to take such allegations seriously and inform Congress immediately as to the reliability of these news reports, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wrote on Twitter on June 27.

President Donald Trump delivers a speech following a tour of Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wis., on June 25, 2020. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

Trump responded directly to Graham on June 28, writing on Twitter: Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or @VP.

Trump said the situation was potentially another fabricated Russia Hoax, referring to a myriad of reporters, pundits, and lawmakers who claimed there was evidence his campaign colluded with Russia. Those claims were dismissed by special counsel Robert Muellers team, which found no evidence supporting them.

Ratcliffe said in a rare statement on June 27 from the Office of Director of National Intelligence that he confirmed neither Trump nor Pence were ever briefed on the intelligence alleged in news reports.

The White House statement addressing this issue earlier today, which denied such a briefing occurred, was accurate. The New York Times reporting, and all other subsequent news reports about such an alleged briefing are inaccurate, he wrote.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters on June 29 at the White House that the intelligence wasnt verified and that Trump wasnt personally briefed on it.

There is no consensus within the intelligence community on these allegations, she said. The veracity of the underlying allegations continue to be evaluated.

Russian officials have denied the report.
Vice President Mike Pence speaks after leading a White House coronavirus task force briefing at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington on June 26, 2020. (Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)

Pence: Leaders of Black Lives Matter Pushing Radical Left Agenda

Leaders in the Black Lives Matter movement are pushing a radical agenda, Vice President Mike Pence has alleged, citing how activists want to defund the police.

Pence, a Republican, was pushed repeatedly during an appearance on CBS Face the Nation on why he wont say black lives matter, a phrase that activists say is a way of elevating concerns over what they describe as systemic racism.

Pence said he finds Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. an inspiration and that he traveled to Kings home church in Alabama with Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) in 2010.

I cherish the progress that we have made toward a more perfect union for African Americans throughout our history. And Ive aspired throughout my career to be a part of that ongoing work. Its really a heart issue for me, Pence said.

And as a pro-life American, I also believe that all life matters, born and unborn. But what I see in the leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement is a political agenda of the radical left that would defund the police, that would

CBS reporter John Dickerson interrupted, saying, Leave that out of it. Just the phrase.

Pence continued, tear down monuments, that would would press a radical left agenda and support calls for the kind of violence that has beset the very communities that they say that theyre advocating for.

A group of delegates participate in a discussion with Vice President Mike Pence, center, at the Covenant Church of Pittsburgh in Wilkinsburg, Pa., on June 12, 2020. (Keith Srakocic/AP Photo)

Ive literally met with African American leaders around this country and in the national capital area who made it clear to us they want law and order. They want peace in our streets, Pence said.

Dickerson asked Pence: So you wont say black lives matter?

John, I really believe that all lives matter, Pence said. And thats where the heart of the American people lies. And were going to continue to stand strong. Were going to continue to stand strong with Americans that want to see us come together as a nation. And were going to carry that message all the way to November and for four more years.

The Black Lives Matter Global Network, a global nonprofit that was founded in 2013 after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murder in the killing of Trayvon Martin, didnt respond to a request for a response to Pence.

The group says its mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.

Black Lives Matter activists are pushing to defund police departments across the United States and some have said they want the departments abolished, a situation thats unfolding in Minneapolis.

Leaders in the movement have declined to condemn the rioting and looting thats taken place in tandem with protests over alleged police brutality and racial injustice.

Hawk Newsome, a New York-area leader of the group, drew criticism, including from President Donald Trump, after saying last week, If this country doesnt give us what we want, then we will burn down this system and replace it.

Trump called the remarks treasonous. Newsome told The Epoch Times that hes open to meeting with the president.

Protesters hold signs during a march in Chicago on June 28, 2020. (Natasha Moustache/Getty Images)

The Trump administration has taken a number of steps since the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. Pence met with black leaders in a number of states while the president met at the White House with relatives of minorities who have been killed in recent years, primarily by police officers, before signing an executive order on police reform.

Both have declined to use the phrase black lives matter.

A reporter in Philadelphia recently tried multiple times to get Pence to say it.

Pence said: Let me just say that what happened to George Floyd was a tragedy. And in this nation, especially on Juneteenth, we celebrate the fact that from the founding of this nation, we cherish the ideal that all of us are created equal and endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights. And so all lives matter in a very real sense.

Its the reason why President Trump in the wake of that tragic event in Minneapolis said that justice would be served. Weve met with law enforcement leaders. Weve met with African American leaders.

I dont accept the fact, Brian, that theres a segment of American society that disagrees in the preciousness and importance of every human life, he said when the reporter, Brian Taff with ABC 6, continued to try to get Pence to say the phrase.
On the Pride March arrest

Pride marches celebrate equality so only the tone-deaf will respond to its commemoration with violence and intolerance.

It is an internationally celebrated activity and it is only in lands ruled by bigotry that a Pride march and all the ideas it espouses are repressed - by Talibans, the Ayatollahs, new czars of Russia, and by the Nazis an era ago.

The Philippines should not be in this column.

And we should be aghast at the sight of officers of the law arresting marchers who were exercising their constitutional rights in a manner compliant with pandemic protocols, unable to cite what laws were violated.

For decades and through several administrations, maximum tolerance was the hallmark of police behavior during peaceful assemblies.

It appears that this policy has been conquered by the virus of intolerance.
Vice President Mike Pence speaks after leading a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington on June 26, 2020. (Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)

Pence: White House Looks to Governors to Set Mask-Wearing Policies

Vice President Mike Pence on June 28 said people should follow guidance from state and local officials on wearing masks in public to curb transmission of the CCP virus as cases surge in parts of the United States.

During an appearance on CBS Face the Nation, Pence pushed back against criticism that President Donald Trump has not encouraged wearing face masks, noting that the president had indicated that he will leave it to states to decide whether masks should be mandatory to protect against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, commonly known as the coronavirus.

The White House wishes to defer to governors, Pence said.

One of the elements of the genius of America is the principle of federalism, of state and local control, the vice president told guest host John Dickerson on June 28. Weve made it clear that we want to defer to governors. We want to defer to local officials, and people should listen to them.

He remarked that every state has a unique situation, praising the American principle of federalism.

Pence added that the White House believes masks should be worn in public wherever social distancing is not possible and in situations where authorities deem it is necessary to do so. He added that he had worn a mask on several occasions this week and that Trump has worn a mask before.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommendednot requiredthe use of masks. The World Health Organization (WHO), meanwhile, updated its guidance on June 5 to recommend that governments urge people to wear fabric face masks in public.

Dickerson challenged the White Houses stance, saying that many believe the CCP virus pandemic is a problem that requires a coordinated national result, which is what these outbreaks are showing.

The virus doesnt know federalism, he told Pence.

But the vice president rebutted, If wed have taken that approach, wed have never had the success that we had in the greater New York City area. Wed have never had the success in Michigan or New Orleans because, from early on, we worked closely in partnership with governors to make sure that they had what they needed when they needed it, tailored to the unique circumstances in their states.

Nearly half of those testing positive are Americans under the age of 35 and those that are requiring to be hospitalized is significantly lower than it was two months ago. pic.twitter.com/PS1rbe0NdX  Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) June 28, 2020

Pences remarks clashed with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who separately said on June 28 that there should be a nationwide mandate for the wearing of face coverings to ward against further spread of the CCP virus.

Definitely long overdue for that, Pelosi told ABC News on Sunday when asked about whether masks should be required.

According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 125,000 Americans have died from the virus so far. The COVID Tracking Project noted on Saturday that in the past several weeks, deaths have continued to fall, even as cases and hospitalizations spike across the South and West.

About 500 people died from the CCP virus on June 26, the project reported.

An increasing number of U.S. states are requiring their residents to cover their faces when they visit essential businesses or use public transportation.

California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columnia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have made it mandatory to wear a mask.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
Plan Afoot to Erect Statue of Churchill in Calgary

We hope to inform a new generation about who Winston Churchill was, says association president

Amid the attempts to revise Winston Churchills legacy and recast him as a monstrous figure, an organization in Calgary is forging ahead with a plan to erect a statue of Britains wartime prime minister in the city next year.

Churchill visited Alberta in 1929, and while Edmonton honoured him with a statue and a downtown square in his name, Calgary has no statue, and the Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary wants to change that.

The other major city in AlbertaEdmontonhas long had a Churchill statue, and in the spirit of friendly rivalry, we thought it long overdue to honour Churchill who did so much to save Western civilization from Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, says Mark Milke, the president of the society.

But the main reason for pursuing the project, Milke notes, was a high school debate the society hosted on the question of whether Churchill statues should be taken down and the resulting debate resolution.

The Churchill Society of Calgary sponsors high school debates with hundreds of very bright students every year. A few years back, one debate resolutionand I paraphraseresolved that Churchill statues should be taken down due to his views. The students meant well. The resolution was proposed because statue attacks were then in the news and they wanted something topical to debate. But the resolution was poorly worded to assume thoroughly odious views on the part of Churchill, he said in an interview.

That was one spur for the local Churchill statue project but also a wider initiative where we wanted to place historical figures such as Churchill in proper context. The vast majority of Churchills life and accomplishments was unarguably positive.

Through donations, the organization aims to raise $300,000 for the statue and ongoing maintenance and another $200,000 for a speaker series, according to its website. $150,000 has been raised so far. The organization will soon commission the sculpture, seek approval from the city, and work with the city on placement, the goal being to have the statue installed in a prominent public area by Aug. 24, 2021, the 92nd anniversary of Churchills visit to Calgary.

The effort is concurrent with Churchill being a prominent target of anti-racist activists who see him as a symbol of British imperialism and a racist. Earlier this month, the famous statue of Churchill in Londons Parliament Square was defaced by protesters. It was subsequently boarded up by authorities, and his granddaughter, Emma Soames, said it might have to be placed in a museum in order to protect it if the demonstrations continue.

Soames told the BBC that theres a tendency in contemporary society to view history entirely through the prism of the present, noting that her grandfather had often held views which particularly now are regarded as unacceptable but werent necessarily then.

Milke says that while we need to be honest about historical figures and their flaws and virtues, their lasting achievements must also be considered, especially in contrast with their counterparts.

Its one thing to lobby for the removal of statues of southern Confederate generals who fought to defend slave-holding statesthey were anti-freedom and tyrannical, he says.

Its quite another to demand the removal of statues of men like Churchill whose basic premise and direction was liberal and who defended liberal democracies and freedom from tyrants including Hitler.

During riots in recent weeks in the United States, mobs have taken down or targeted statues of former presidents like George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, and Abraham Lincoln. One group wants to tear down the Emancipation Statue in Washington, which was paid for by freed slaves and honours Lincoln for ending slavery, while some Black Lives Matter activists have now set their sights on statues of Jesus.

Milke says the hatred that has sprouted against Churchill springs from ignorance and the aim with the Calgary statue project is to put the spotlight on his many achievementsnot just his wartime leadership but beyond.

We hope to inform a new generation about who Winston Churchill was and why he matters to the free, open, and better world we live in today, he says.

British statesman Winston Churchill at Waterloo Station, London, at the start of a trip to Canada with his son Randolph (2nd R) on Aug. 3, 1929. Seeing them off is Churchills daughter, Diana. (Puttnam/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The two-time prime Minister who guided Britain through the Second World War spent a three-month vacation in Canada and the United States in the summer and fall of 1929. In Alberta he visited the oilfields and Banff, and reportedly fell in love with the Rockies.

Andrew Roberts, the prominent British historian and author of the widely acclaimed biography Churchill: Walking with Destiny, says Churchill had a deep connection with and love for Canada and its fitting that Canadians proudly celebrate and pay tribute to him.

The only place that Churchill ever spoke of retiring toapart from his home in Kentwas Alberta, such was his love of the province and its sense of boundless possibilities, he said in an interview.

It is fitting that the greatest champion of liberty of the 20th century should be commemorated in such a magnificent way in Calgary, and particularly at a time when deliberate attempts are being made to misinterpret and besmirch his legacy.

Roberts describes Churchill as a man who insisted on the equality of all races before the law throughout the Empire throughout his career, who put his life on the line many times to defend the indigenous populations of the Empire, and who defeated and destroyed historys worst racist, Adolf Hitler.

Churchill adored Canada, and it is wonderful to see Canadians return the tribute.
Right Place at Right Time: Kansas National Guard Saves Girl From Jumping Off Bridge to Her Death

A group of Kansas National Guard members on a health-related mission were sidetracked by distressed girl about to leap off a highway bridge very likely to her death.

It was raining heavily, and the group were heading to Lawrence, Kansas, on May 25 to join the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment on a food-distribution mission bringing 4 million meals to needy families.

On their way, Specialist Darin McQueen noticed a girl perched on the edge of a bridge on Kansas Highway 10, reports the Department of Defense. McQueen told his colleague, Staff Sgt. Joshua Thompson, that their group needed to pull over.

The Kansas National Guardsmen that prevented a young woman from jumping off a Kansas Highway 10 bridge on May 25, 2020 (Army Staff Sgt. Dakota Helvie/U.S. Department of Defense)

It was very unusual to see someone sitting on the bridge when it was raining pretty heavily, McQueen later explained. [It] meant someone wasnt doing okay. Citing extensive military training for his quick instincts, McQueen said the lone girl on the bridge was an obvious indicator of trouble afoot.

Seconds after spotting the young woman, whose identity was not released, the Guard members made the decision to stop and help.

Thompson and his colleague Sgt. Caleb Grady slowly approached; she was crying and nudging her way toward the edge, they later said. Thompson engaged her in conversation while Grady climbed down beneath the bridge. Every time she would look down, she would see me instead of what she was planning on doing, he explained.

Cpl. Ethan Payne called for backup while others in the group controlled the flow of traffic around the Guards vehicles.

She wanted to know why we had stopped when so many before us had driven by and yelled for her to jump, Thompson explained, later telling KMBC that the indifference the young woman had suffered made him sick to my stomach.

Thompson secured the girls trust by reaching out his hand and offering to talk. She accepted his help, and then he helped her off the edge of the bridge and carried her to the van. Other guardsmen then sat down and spoke with her.

McQueen, who first noticed the young woman on the bridge, talked to her about things she could relate to to help calm her down.

State troopers arrived on the scene and promised to return the girls bike to her house, then first responders notified her family of her whereabouts and drove her to get further help.

Grady described the successful rescue as incredibly rewarding to KMBC while Thompson said that saving a citizen in distress made the entire team feel really, really good.

Every soldier is a sensor, a reporter, and this really showcases that, said group member Cadet Anthony Swanson, as per the DOD. Their response was the epitome of what it means to be a Guardsman.

Capt. Matthew Indermuehle, the commander of the soldiers who performed the rescue, praised his team for their moral courage. They were in the right place at the right time, he said, and [were] able to help someone in need.

According to statistics from the CDC, a total of 48,344 Americans died by suicide in 2018, with an estimated 1.4 million suicide attempts that same year. Suicide remains the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
Engineers of United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) push trollies at the 12-inch UMC wafer factory in Tainan Science Park, Taiwan, on April 28, 2006. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

Senators Introduce Bill to Boost US Production of Semiconductors Amid Beijings Threats

In a move to counter Chinas tech ambitions, a bipartisan group of senators has introduced legislation aimed to boost the United States production and development of semiconductorstiny chips that power everything from smartphones to missiles systems.

With the Chinese Communist Partys continued efforts to dominate the rest of the worlds microelectronics industries through theft and coercion, it is critical that we work swiftly to strengthen domestic production of semiconductors and maintain our strategic competitive edge, Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) said in a June 26 statement from his office.

The legislation was introduced by Risch, as well as Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Angus King (I-Maine), and Doug Jones (D-Ala.). The lawmakers seek to include the measure as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 (S.4049).

The bill, named the American Foundries Act of 2020, would authorize the U.S. Commerce Department to award $15 billion in grants to states to assist in construction, expansion, or modernization of semiconductor plants and facilities. States would be limited to receiving no more than $3 billion in grants.

It would also allocate $5 billion for the U.S. Department of Defense to provide grants for private sector entities to create, expand, or modernize their manufacturing or research facilities capable of producing secure and specialized chips for defense and intelligence purposes.

Additional funds of $5 billion would go to research and development of semiconductors to ensure U.S. leadership in the industry.

Of that total, $2 billion would be earmarked for the expansion of the Electronics Resurgence Initiative of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is a Pentagon agency responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. An additional $1.5 billion would go to the National Science Foundation, $1.25 billion to the Department of Energy, and $250 million to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

None of the funds appropriated under the bill may be provided to entities under the foreign ownership, control, or influence of the Chinese regime or other foreign adversaries, according to the bill text.

It also stipulates that the U.S. president will establish a subcommittee under the National Science and Technology Council for efforts such as strengthening the domestic microelectronics workplaces and guiding and coordinating funding for breakthroughs in next-generation microelectronics research and technology.

Americas technological advantage played a decisive role in our victory in the Cold War, and it will be equally important to our ability to outcompete China over the coming decades, Hawley said in the statement.

U.S. trade body Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) welcomed the proposal in a statement on June 25.

The U.S. simply cannot afford to cede more ground to competing countries in the production of semiconductor technology, which is the bedrock of our countrys digital economy and defense systems, said John Neuffer, SIAs CEO and president.

SIA, in a policy report issued on June 18, said the United States currently enjoys a great lead over China in terms of market dominance and technical advancements, despite the latters attempts to boost its semiconductor industry through state-backed policies.

According to the SIA report, the U.S. semiconductor industry had a market share of 47 percent in 2019, followed by South Korea with 19 percent, and China with 5 percent.

The United States is the leader in logic process technology, which is needed to manufacture advanced semiconductors such as artificial intelligence chips. According to the SIA report, the United States was four years ahead of China in this technology in 2010, and the same gap continued to exist in 2019. Meanwhile, Taiwan and South Korea closed the gap from being two years behind in 2010, to being neck-and-neck with the United States in 2019.

The SIA outlined several recommendations for the U.S. government to ensure Americas leadership in semiconductor innovations, such as tax incentives for semiconductor manufacturing, more investment in semiconductor research, STEM education, and more resources for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to prevent and prosecute semiconductor intellectual property theft.

Federal prosecutors in late 2018 indicted Taiwanese chipmaker UMC, Chinese chipmaker Fujian Jinhua, and several engineers for conspiring to steal trade secrets related to DRAM memory chips from U.S. chipmaker Micron.

In early June, both houses of Congress proposed the CHIPS for America Act, part of which includes tax benefits in the form of refundable investment tax credits for companies making purchases of semiconductor equipment or building manufacturing facilities in the United States.
SA Premier Steven Marshall speaks to media with Mel Andreatta Matilda's assistant coach, Corey Wingard Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services and David Ridgway Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) during a Matildas media opportunity on August 31, 2019 in Adelaide, Australia. (Mark Brake/Getty Images)

South Australia Moves to Lowest Virus Restriction Level

South Australia is continuing to lift COVID-19 restrictions, with the state moving to its lowest level since measures were first imposed to contain the virus.

From Monday SA moves to stage three, which includes relaxing density requirements for pubs, bars and restaurants  with one person allowed for every two square metres.

Large venues such as Adelaide Oval will be free to cater for up to 50 percent of their normal capacity, provided health officials have approved their safety plans.

The Adelaide Casino will also reopen.

Premier Steven Marshall says the changes will allow more businesses to open and employ more people.

But its not a time to get complacent. Its up to all of us to heed the health messages, he said.

If youre sick, stay home. If you have cold and flu symptoms, get tested. And keep up good hygiene practices.

SA reported no new coronavirus cases on June 28, taking the states run of days without a new infection to more than a month.

However, 250 repatriated Australians arrived in Adelaide from India on Saturday and local health officials have warned that could result in some new cases.

They are spending the two weeks in supervised quarantine to limit any spread to the wider community.

Health Minister Stephen Wade said all those arriving in SA were tested when they landed and would be checked while in isolation.

What weve seen interstate is about five to 10 percent of travellers returning from the subcontinent have tested positive on their arrival, Wade said.

If we see similar figures in SA we could expect up to 25 new cases.

Adelaide
A couple brandished guns as a group of activists moved into their gated neighborhood in St. Louis on June 28, 2020. (Daniel Shular via Reuters)

St. Louis Couple Brandishes Guns After Activists Break Into Gated Neighborhood

A couple in St. Louis stepped outside their mansion on June 28 and wielded firearms after a group of activists broke through a gate to enter the private neighborhood.

Video footage shows the group, protesting against the citys mayor, entering an area clearly marked Private Street.

Mayor Lyda Krewson lives in the same neighborhood.

As the group moved by their home, the couple, identified as Mark and Patricia McCloskey, appeared on their back porch and told the activists to move on.

Shortly thereafter, the couple moved onto an area near their front door and continued urging the group not to stop.

Activists can be heard shouting Eat the rich, and Why are you threatening us? Some threatened to enter the home.

After shouting at the couple for at least 10 minutes, the group continued on to Krewsons house. Video footage didnt show any of the activists attempting to move toward the couples home.

A St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman told The Epoch Times that police officers responded to a 911 call at the location around 7:20 p.m.

The victims stated they were on their property when they heard a loud commotion coming from the street. When the victims went to investigate the commotion, they observed a large group of subjects forcefully break an iron gate marked with No Trespassing and Private Street signs, a police incident summary said.

Once through the gate, the victims advised the group that they were on a private street and trespassing and told them to leave. The group began yelling obscenities and threats of harm to both victims. When the victims observed multiple subjects who were armed, they then armed themselves and contacted police.

An investigation into what happened is ongoing.

In a statement sent to news outlets, the McCloskeys said they acted lawfully by remaining on their property, which sits on what they described as a private gated lane in St. Louis.

Their actions were borne solely of fear and apprehension, the genesis of which was not race related. In fact, the agitators responsible for the trepidation were white, the statement said.

Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner said in a June 29 statement that she was alarmed at what happened, where peaceful protestors were met by guns and a violent assault.

We must protect the right to peacefully protest, and any attempt to chill it through intimidation or threat of deadly force will not be tolerated, she said. My office is currently working with the public and police to investigate these events.

John Ammann, a professor of justice at Saint Louis Universitys School of Law, told The Epoch Times that the couple shouldnt have aimed guns at the group.

In Missouri, they can do open carry, so maybe holding the guns at their side was OK. But not aiming them, he said in an email.

And maybe someone from the neighborhood was in the protest and gave the protestors permission to be on the street.

Photographs from the McCloskeys, who are both lawyers, showed iron gates at an entrance into the private neighborhood damaged.

Numerous protests have devolved into violence in recent weeks since the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in police custody in Minnesota.

Missouri has a so-called castle doctrine, a law that permits people the use of deadly force if people enter their homes.

The statute, officially titled Use of force in defense of persons, also says a person doesnt have a duty to retreat from a dwelling, residence, or vehicle where the person is not unlawfully entering or unlawfully remaining and from private property that is owned or leased by such individual.

According to a Missouri Law Review of property law (pdf), gated communities have been affirmed in courts as being able to bar entry to non-residents who dont receive invitations to enter.

State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge Jr., a Democrat who was with the activists, alleged that the couple violated the law, not the protesters.

So who are the real thugs, when people took to the street to address injustice in our city and local leaders, he wrote on social media. The people wasnt [sic] on any property but this law firm couple decided to come and point guns at us!

The protest was sparked by Krewson, a Democrat, reading the names and addresses of some demonstrators who met with her outside St. Louis City Hall last week. She also read suggestions submitted by the demonstrators, many of which called for defunding the police.

Late June 26, Krewson issued an apology, saying: I would like to apologize for identifying individuals who presented letters and comment cards to me at City Hall as I was answering a routine question during one of my updates earlier today. While this is public information, never did I intend to cause distress or harm to anyone. The post has been removed and again, I sincerely apologize.

She also said she doesnt agree with the idea of defunding, or slashing money for, the St. Louis Police Department.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri called what Krewson did shocking and misguided and activists are calling for her resignation.
A couple holds guns as a group of activists moved into their gated neighborhood in St. Louis on June 28, 2020. (Daniel Shular via Reuters)

St. Louis Couple Who Brandished Guns Say They Were in Fear for Their Lives

The Missouri couple who were filmed wielding guns on their property after a group of activists broke into their private neighborhood said they feared for their lives.

Mark McCloskey, 63, and his wife, Patricia McCloskey, 61, were seen in footage widely circulated on social media outside their mansion in St. Louis on June 28, telling a group of activists to move on past their home.

McCloskey held a rifle while his wife had a handgun.

The lawyers said they were having a family dinner outside their home when the crowd busted through wrought iron gates that are marked with signs including one warning against trespassing.

A mob of at least 100 smashed through the historic wrought iron gates of Portland Place, destroying them, rushed towards my home where my family was having dinner outside, and put us in fear of our lives, McCloskey told KMOV.

This is all private property. There are no public sidewalks or public streets. We were told that we would be killed, our home burned and our dog killed. We were all alone facing an angry mob.

In a statement released to news outlets on June 29, the couple said theyve had a long career that includes protecting the civil rights of clients victimized at the hands of law enforcement.

The peaceful protesters were not the subject of scorn or disdain by the McCloskeys, the statement read. To the contrary, they were expecting and supportive of the message of the protesters. The actions of violence, destruction of property, and acts of threatening aggression by a few individuals commingling with the peaceful protesters, gave rise to trepidation and fear of imminent and grave [sic].

The situation wasnt race-related; the agitators were white, the lawyers alleged.

Albert Watkins, a lawyer for the couple, said, The Black Lives Matters movement is here to stay, it is the right message, and it is about time.

The McCloskeys want to make sure no one thinks less of BLM, its message, and the means it is employing to get its message out because of the actions of a few white individuals who tarnished a peaceful protest, he said.

Some called for the husband and wife to be charged for holding guns while on their property. Video footage reviewed by The Epoch Times appears to show Patricia McCloskey pointing her gun at some of the activists.

Asked about the incident, a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman told The Epoch Times that theres an ongoing investigation into what happened.

The couple, she said, reported a trespassing violation that took place at 7:23 p.m.

The victims stated they were on their property when they heard a loud commotion coming from the street. When the victims went to investigate the commotion, they observed a large group of subjects forcefully break an iron gate marked with No Trespassing and Private Street signs. Once through the gate, the victims advised the group that they were on a private street and trespassing and told them to leave, an incident summary of the police response stated.

The group began yelling obscenities and threats of harm to both victims. When the victims observed multiple subjects who were armed, they then armed themselves and contacted police. The investigation is ongoing.
Supreme Court Allows Consumer Watchdog Agency to Stand, Strikes Down Internal Structure

Although the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), formed in the wake of the 2008 financial crash, is unconstitutional, the powerful agency may continue to exist under new rules, a divided Supreme Court ruled.

The 54 ruling handed down June 29 in the case, known as Seila Law LLC v. CFPB, was a victory for the Trump administration. Seila Law, a California-based law firm, had refused to honor CFPBs request for information, called a civil investigative demand, and challenged the entitys structure, claiming it was unconstitutional. Oral arguments were heard March 3.

The CFPB was designed to be free of the influence of the president. Federal law blocks the president from dismissing its director, who has to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, before that persons five-year term lapses, unless the termination is for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. The decision found the president has the authority to fire the director at will.

The CFPBs unusual funding mechanism also keeps the agency independent. Although it may seek funding from Congress, the agency is excluded from the normal congressional appropriations process, and, instead, receives most of the money it needs to operate from the Federal Reserve System.

The court noted the existence of the controversial funding system, but didnt topple it, as some critics had hoped.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany hailed the decision, but nonetheless took shots at the CFPB, which is frequently a target of conservative ire. The ruling represents an important victory for the fundamental principle that government officials should be accountable to the American people, she said in a statement.

But the CFPB was designed based on a distrust of the American peoples ability to participate in their government. The CFPB is exempt from the congressional appropriations process, because CFPBs creators did not trust democratically-elected representatives with funding the agency.  In practice, the CFPB was designed to prevent the American people, to the maximum extent possible, from exercising oversight over CFPBs sole director, who was granted vast authority over the financial lives of every American.

Then-House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, a Texas Republican who has since left Congress, called the CFPB arguably the most powerful, least accountable agency in U.S. history, in a 2017 Wall Street Journal op-ed.

CFPB zealots have the power to determine the fairness of virtually every financial transaction in America. The agency defines its own powers and can launch investigations without cause, imposing virtually any fine or remedy, devoid of due process, he wrote.

Separation of Powers

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion for the court, which was joined by four conservative justices. Justice Elena Kagan and three other liberal justices dissented from the courts central holding.

The Supreme Court found that because the CFPB director, unlike the typical federal official, isnt accountable tothat is, cant be fired bythe president of the United States, the agencys structure violates the separation of powers doctrine.

The CFPBs single-Director structure is an innovation with no foothold in history or tradition, Roberts wrote.

In addition to being a historical anomaly, the CFPBs single-Director configuration is incompatible with our constitutional structure. Aside from the sole exception of the Presidency, that structure scrupulously avoids concentrating power in the hands of any single individual.

The framers of the U.S. Constitution designed the office of president to make the holder the most democratic and politically accountable official in Government. Only the President (along with the Vice President) is elected by the entire Nation, Roberts wrote.

The court found that the protection from removal enjoyed by the CFPB director, while unconstitutional, is severable from the other statutory provisions bearing on the CFPBs authority. The agency may therefore continue to operate, but its Director, in light of our decision, must be removable by the President at will.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) speaks during a protest in front of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau headquarters in Washington on Nov. 28, 2017. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Warren Pleased

Democrats have long defended the 9-year-old agency, the brainchild of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who was a bankruptcy law professor and consumer advocate before assuming office. Republicans accuse the agency of overreach.

Warren celebrated the ruling on Twitter shortly after the court released it.

Even after todays ruling, the @CFPB is still an independent agency, she wrote.

The director of that agency still works for the American people. Not Donald Trump. Not Congress. Not the banking industry. Nothing in the Supreme Court ruling changes that.

Then-President Barack Obama signed the DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, creating the CFPB, and appointed Warren to take the lead role in establishing it.

The Sacramento, California-based Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), a public interest law firm that filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case, gave a qualified thumbs-up to the court ruling.

PLF noted that funding for the CFPB comes not from Congress, as required by the Constitution, but from the Federal Reserve.

The new holding, while not addressing all of the constitutional infirmities of the CFPB and independent executive agencies generally, is a step in the right direction for a return to the Framers government of limited and divided powers.
Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Law That Limits Access to Abortion

A Louisiana law that requires abortionists to have hospital admitting privileges close to where the procedure takes place is unconstitutional, the Supreme Court ruled in a 54 vote.

The June 29 ruling in the case, June Medical Services LLC v. Russo, was a defeat for the Trump administration, which sided with Louisiana.

Enacted in 2014, Louisianas Act 620 required an abortion-providing medical doctor to have active admitting privilegesmeaning the physician is a member of the hospitals medical staff and has the ability to admit patients and provide diagnostic and surgical servicesat a hospital within 30 miles of where an abortion is provided. Violations can be punished with imprisonment, fines, and license revocation.

The Trump administration criticized the court ruling, which tees up partisan fights this election year, putting the abortion issue on the political front burner.

States have legitimate interests in regulating any medical procedureincluding abortionsto protect patient safety, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement. Instead of valuing fundamental democratic principles, unelected justices have intruded on the sovereign prerogatives of state governments by imposing their own policy preference in favor of abortion to override legitimate abortion safety regulations.

Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat who was his partys vice-presidential candidate in 2016, lauded the decision.

I applaud the court for continuing to uphold a womans constitutional right to make her own health care choices. Judges must respect precedent regardless of their own personal views, and the addition of new justices to the court should never jeopardize basic rights and freedoms.

2016 Precedent

Justice Stephen Breyer wrote the plurality opinion, representing his views along with those of three other liberal justices. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote his own separate concurring opinion agreeing with the result. Four conservative justices dissented.

The month before oral arguments, which took place on March 4, the Supreme Court temporarily stayed enforcement of the Louisiana law, a move suggesting most of the justices already believed the law might be unconstitutional. The vote for that was also 54, with Roberts siding with the liberal justices.

The Louisiana law is almost word-for-word identical to Texas admitting-privileges law, which the Supreme Court struck down 53 in Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt, a 2016 opinion, Breyer writes for the court in the new decision.

In the previous decision, the Supreme Court agreed with a trial court finding that the Texas statute offers no significant health benefit, and made it impossible for abortion providers to obtain conforming privileges for reasons that have nothing to do with the States asserted interests in promoting womens health and safety, Breyer writes.

This places a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking an abortion, and without any health-related benefit, made the trial court conclude the law imposes an undue burden and is therefore unconstitutional.

Although an appeals court in the Louisiana case upheld Act 620, it found the trial court was mistaken on the facts. The Supreme Court disagrees and determines that those factual findings by the trial court were correct, Breyer writes.

We have examined the extensive record carefully and conclude that it supports the District Courts findings of fact. Those findings mirror those made in Whole Womans Health in every relevant respect and require the same result. We consequently hold that the Louisiana statute is unconstitutional.

Health Concerns Versus TRAP

Louisiana had argued that its admitting-privileges law screens out incompetent physicians and promotes good health by making sure a patient who suffers complications can be promptly admitted to a nearby hospital.

Louisiana Solicitor General Elizabeth Murrill told the justices during oral arguments that Act 620 was justified by abundant evidence of life-threatening health and safety violations, malpractice, noncompliance with professional licensing rules, legislative testimony from post-abortive women, testimony from doctors who took care of abortion providers abandoned patients.

The unhygienic, unsafe practices in some of the nations lightly regulated abortion clinics came to light during the trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell. In 2013, Gosnell, whose clinic was filled with blood-covered furniture and dirty medical instruments, was sentenced to life imprisonment on three counts of first-degree murder for stabbing three babies born alive with scissors.

Abortion rights advocates counter that the law is an unconstitutional sham intended to chip away at abortion rights established in 1973s Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, and an example of what they call a TRAP law that imposes targeted restrictions on abortion providers. They say such laws make it more difficult to provide abortions, without actually making them safer.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks in an abortion rights rally outside of the Supreme Court as the justices hear oral arguments in the June Medical Services v. Russo case in Washington on March 4, 2020. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

The Supreme Court came under rhetorical fire from Democrats as it was hearing the case in March.

At a pro-abortion rights rally beside the courthouse steps while oral arguments were underway, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, vowed unspecified retribution against conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh should they vote to uphold the law under challenge.

Theyre taking away fundamental rights, Schumer told the crowd. I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind! And you will pay the price! You wont know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.

Chief Justice Roberts released a statement later that day condemning Schumers remarks and indicating the justices would not be swayed by them.
Test Results Needed Before Ruby Princess Scatter

A NSW Health executive says she believed more COVID-19 swabs should have been taken and clearer messaging provided before passengers were allowed to disembark the Ruby Princess and scatter across Australia and internationally.

The Special Commission of Inquiry into the Ruby Princess heard from NSW Heath communicable diseases acting director Christine Selvey on Monday.

Commissioner Bret Walker SC told Selvey he was particularly interested in the decision to let people off the ship without COVID-19 test results having been confirmed.

The doctors on board the Ruby Princess collected 13 swabs suspected for COVID-19 before docking in Sydney on March 19.

Four of the 13 swabs tested positive to the virus and passengers were sent an email from NSW Health on March 20 notifying them they were now considered close contacts of COVID-19 carriers.

What Im interested in among other things is the extent to which the decision to allow people off the ship before test results were back turns out to have been a very poor one by the NSW public health officials involved, what is your opinion about that? Walker SC asked.

Yes but I believe the decision that was made at the time was based on the experience of the people making those decisions, Selvey said.

I think the decision would have been better had they taken into account the change in the case definition that had been made a few days earlier.

The Communicable Disease Network of Australia had expanded its COVID-19 suspect case definition to include anyone who had travelled from overseas on March 10.

Walker SC questioned why Selvey seemed reluctant to question the poor decision made by her colleagues at NSW Health.

I wasnt involved in any of the development of the cruise ship policies or procedures. I wasnt really in a position to make a judgement on all those risk assessments that had led into it and the assessment of the Ruby Princess, the public health official said.

As I believe some of my colleagues have already said, the response is proportionate to the risk.

Selvey was earlier questioned about discrepancies in information between federal and state correspondence regarding travel after disembarkation from the ship, self isolation timelines and the use of face masks.

I agree the messaging should be consistent, she said.

When questioned whether NSW Health tried to contact airlines about Ruby Princess passengers travelling onward, Selvey said this was handled by federal authorities rather than on a state-level.

Later in the inquiry, Selvey told the inquiry she was not aware NSW Health had taken steps to notify the 98 crew members who disembarked on March 19 about the positive COVID-19 results.

She said she was involved in a teleconference on March 20 in which the decision was made to keep about 1000 crew members on board the vessel, including a COVID-19 positive male worker.

My recollection is that there was a discussion with Carnival Australia representatives that it was their preference to keep all their crew including the crew member who had tested positive on board the ship and to manage the outbreak according to the United States Centre for Disease Control plan for management of COVID-19 on a cruise ship, Selvey said.

The inquiry continues.

By Ashlea Witoslawski
Press Release

June 29, 2020 Villanueva: Failure to follow PH laws, regulations triggered exodus of POGOs The reported exodus of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) due to tax issues just solidifies our position that POGOs have very little, if at all, economic contribution to the country, and especially with their unwillingness to pay the correct taxes, according to Senator Joel Villanueva. At every instance when legislators called out POGOs for violating the country's laws, the government bent over backwards just to make them comply and yet these firms squandered all the opportunities given to them, pointed out Villanueva, the Senate labor committee chair. "POGOs won't be a loss to the Philippine economy. We should attract companies that invest in Filipino people. Good riddance," Villanueva said in a statement. "The exiting POGO companies should still pay the taxes they owe us. Otherwise, we should blacklist them and name them publicly so that other countries will be warned about the behavior of these companies." "Sobra-sobra na nga po ang pagkakataon na ibinigay sa mga POGO, ngunit kitang-kita naman po natin na winaldas lang nila ito. Hindi po natin dapat patuluyin sa ating bayan ang mga negosyong walang balak tumalima sa ating mga batas at panuntunan," he continued. "Hindi rin po sapat ang trabahong nilikha ng sektor na ito para sa ating mga kababayan." As the state gaming regulator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) should have been circumspect in drawing up a regulatory framework for the POGO sector, and proactive in ensuring all applicable laws are followed by all their licensees, according to Villanueva. Villanueva's labor committee uncovered irregularities involving the influx of illegal foreign workers which eventually was tied to the rise of the POGO sector in the country. Despites calling the attention of various government agencies, violations of labor, immigration, and taxation laws by the sector continued. The rise of the sector has also been linked to rising criminality and prostitution, among others. For instance, illegal POGO operations continued while the government enforced movement restrictions in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From April to early June, authorities busted at least six underground POGO operations in various parts of Metro Manila, arresting hundreds of foreigners and confiscating equipment. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) also disclosed to the Senate labor committee that POGO firms owe the government at least P50 billion in unpaid taxes in 2019. The bureau even crafted last month a set of guidelines for POGO firms to make payments and commit to settle past obligations just to be allowed to resume its operations. On the other hand, the Department of Labor and Employment disclosed that over the course of its labor inspections in 2019, it discovered some 6,678 illegal foreign workers in PAGCOR-licensed POGO firms and POGO service providers. "PAGCOR also admitted that there were about 100 to 120 illegal POGO firms operating in the country. They were never clear what they intended to do about it, despite their mandate of regulating the gaming industry," Villanueva said. "Meanwhile, they left their job to various government agencies who were left to fend for themselves." Villanueva called on the government to ramp up its efforts to boost long-term public investments to attract new foreign direct investments in the country "which in turn will result in the creation of massive employment for our people." "The Philippines remains to be open for business, and we welcome to our shores investors who are able to create jobs and livelihood for our people. At the same time, we want enterprises that are responsible and faithful to the laws of our land," he said. "The failure of POGOs to adhere to our laws resulted in their exit. This is what happened, plain and simple."
President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., on June 20, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Twitch Suspends President Trumps Channel, Citing Hateful Conduct

Twitch, Amazons live-streaming site, temporarily banned President Donald Trumps channel, claiming that some content on the channel violated the platforms community guidelines against hateful conduct.

Hateful conduct is not allowed on Twitch. In line with our policies, President Trumps channel has been issued a temporary suspension from Twitch for comments made on stream, and the offending content has been removed, a Twitch spokesperson said in a statement via email.

A message on the Twitch channel for President Donald Trump on June 29, 2020. (Screenshot)

According to a transcript included in Twitchs statement, two comments streamed on the presidents channel allegedly violated the rules:

2015 campaign kickoff, recently rebroadcast on Twitch : When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre not sending you. Theyre not sending you. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems, and theyre bringing those problems with us. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, I assume, are good people. But I speak to border guards and they tell us what were getting. And it only makes common sense. It only makes common sense. Theyre sending us not the right people.

: When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre not sending you. Theyre not sending you. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems, and theyre bringing those problems with us. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, I assume, are good people. But I speak to border guards and they tell us what were getting. And it only makes common sense. It only makes common sense. Theyre sending us not the right people. Tulsa Rally: Hey, its 1:00 oclock in the morning and a very tough, Ive used the word on occasion, hombre, a very tough hombre is breaking into the window of a young woman whose husband is away as a traveling salesman or whatever he may do. And you call 911 and they say, Im sorry, this numbers no longer working. By the way, you have many cases like that, many, many, many. Whether its a young woman, an old woman, a young man or an old man and youre sleeping.

Twitch told The Epoch Times that they communicated with Trumps team and reminded them that politicians on Twitch must adhere to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines with no exceptions.

The channel was not restored at the time of publishing. Its unclear how long the suspension will last.

Earlier that day, another social platform, Reddit, banned a Trump fans subreddit.

Some content in r/The_Donald, the influential pro-Trump community, broke the rule against promoting hate based on identity or vulnerability, content manipulation, and antagonizing other communities, Reddit claimed in a statement.

Reddit renewed its content policy and banned about 2,000 subreddits on Monday. The Trump supporter community is one of them.

Alongside the change to the content policy, we are initially banning about 2,000 subreddits, the social platform stated. The vast majority of which are inactive. Of these communities, about 200 have more than 10 daily users. Both r/The_Donald and r/ChapoTrapHouse were included.

The move from Twitch and Reddit came after Twitter started adding warnings to Trumps posts. The company says that it is a normal procedure for it to use public interest notice[s] for posts that violate the Twitter Rules.

The Trump campaign didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The president and the Trump administration have repeatedly accused internet companies, including Twitter and Facebook, of exceeding their role as an online platform by stifling and censoring user viewpoints that it does not agree with, in particular, conservative viewpoints.

Janita Kan contributed to the report.
Sidney Powell, author of the bestseller "Licensed to Lie" and lead counsel in more than 500 appeals in the Fifth Circuit, in Washington on May 30, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Twitter Restricts Account of Michael Flynns Lawyer Sidney Powell

Twitter restricted the account of Lt. Gen. Michael Flynns lawyer Sidney Powell on June 29 in the latest action against a prominent conservative.

Powell is an open supporter of President Donald Trump, a Republican. She represents Flynn, who was Trumps first national security adviser.

Powells final tweet before being restricted appeared to be a link to an American Thinker article that alleged Attorney General William Barr was being attacked by most media outlets and Democrats because they believe Obama administration criminals are above the law.

Twitter and Powell didnt respond to requests for comment by press time.

Powell posted in the afternoon on June 29 that her account was unlocked.

Directing a missive at Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, she wrote: Why in the world did @Twitter suspend my account and remove everyone I was following. Your abuse of conservative and #patriotic free speech knows no bounds.

Twitter has been steadily ramping up its actions against well-known Republicans while taking little or no action against Democrats as the Trump administration and Congress mull removing special protections that tech giants receive under the Communications Decency Act.

Twitter has repeatedly added warnings to Trumps tweets in recent weeks while taking no action against tweets posted by his presumptive challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden.

In one of the tweets that received a warning, Trump wrote that there would never be a so-called autonomous zone in Washington while hes president, promising to meet people trying to set one up with serious force. Trump didnt specify any groups or name any activists in his tweet.

Twitters warning told users that the tweet violated the Twitter rules about abusive behavior.

Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter Inc., testifies at a hearing to examine foreign influence operations use of social media platforms before the Intelligence Committee at the Capitol in Washington on Sept. 5, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Anarchists and far-left activists took credit for setting up the autonomous zone in Seattle. City officials there have repeatedly declined to force the occupiers out. At least three shootings have taken place inside or near the zone.

The president told The Federalist recently that he expects to be banned by Twitter.

Some people say I should join Parler, Trump said. Maybe. We do have over 194 million followers, though, across multiple sites.

Parler is a social media platform that was created in 2018 as an alternative to Twitter.

Of the potential ban, Trump said, I expect it will hurt them more than they realize.
Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, after a short morning session that ended the fourth day of trial in her extradition case, leaves British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver with her security detail on Jan. 23, 2020. (Don Mackinnon/AFP via Getty Images)

Three-Quarters of Canadians Support Meng Extradition Case Playing out in Court, Disagree With Intervention: Poll

A new poll shows that 72 percent of Canadians are supportive of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhous extradition case continuing the court process in Canada, without intervention by the prime minister to free Meng in order to secure the release of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig detained in China.

The Angus Reid poll found that this was a common trend among the 1,488 respondents who participated in the survey, with as high as 93 percent of respondents saying China cant be trusted to uphold human rights.

Last week, 19 former federal cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, and diplomats signed an open letter urging the federal government to intervene in the extradition case against Meng in exchange for the release of Kovrig and Spavor, who have been arbitrarily detained in China since December 2018 and were charged with espionage on June 19.

But at a press briefing on June 25 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rejected the idea, saying such a move could endanger Canadians abroad.

Trudeaus stance gained a majority of Canadians support. The poll found that not only two-thirds of Canadians say the case should play out in the courts, but 81 percent say Chinese goods should be boycotted in Canada in response to the detention of Kovrig and Spavor.

Beijing had denied a direct link between the arrest of Meng and the detention of the two Canadian men until June 24, when a Chinese official admitted Ottawas intervention in Mengs case could open up space for resolution.

In a media briefing June 24, Zhao Lijian, the spokesman for Chinas foreign ministry, cited comments made by Kovrigs wife to media outlets saying Canadas justice minister has the power to end the extradition case at any point.

The open letter, which made a similar argument about the legality of Ottawa interfering in Mengs case, was made public on June 23. The letter to Trudeau came under heavy criticism for rewarding Chinas so-called hostage diplomacy tactics and setting a dangerous precedent by kowtowing to Beijings demands.

The poll also shows most Canadians think the approach of the Trudeau government is too soft on the Chinese regime, with 50 percent disagreeing that the government has handled tensions with China well.

Meng was arrested in Vancouver on Dec. 1, 2018, at the behest of the United States in connection with bank and wire fraud in violation of American sanctions on Iran. Nine days later, Kovrig and Spavor were detained in China.

With reporting by Justina Wheale.
UKs Johnson to Announce New Infrastructure Plans

LONDONPrime Minister Boris Johnson will announce plans this week to get Britain moving again, with measures to boost infrastructure construction after the coronavirus lockdown is lifted, interior minister Priti Patel said on June 28.

Johnson will set out plans in a speech on June 30 to fast-track building projects such as hospitals, schools, housing, and road and rail infrastructure, part of efforts to try to stem a decline in support for his government.

The British leader has been criticized for his response to the coronavirus crisis, with opposition parties and some scientists saying the government was too slow to order a lockdown, too slow to carry out widespread testing, and not clear in its messaging.

But Johnson, who won a large majority in last years election, hopes to revive his fortunes by returning to his pledges to level up Britain by focusing spending on traditional Labour-supporting areas that backed his Conservative Party.

Its an important plan  As we move out of this awful, awful period of coronavirus, this dreadful disease, we want to get Britain moving again, Patel told Sky News.

We are building now very much a road to recovery, a roadmap, focusing on infrastructure right now  focused on roads, broadband, the type of things that effectively help to create jobs but also provide services and economic growth and opportunity around the country.

Despite the likely questions over the bill for such works, Johnson repeated that his government wouldnt return to the austerity policies seen under Conservative former Prime Minister David Cameron. He told the Mail on Sunday newspaper that he would act fast to build our way back to health.

According to pollster Opinium, more of the public favor opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer as prime minister over Johnson, although the Conservatives still hold a lead in terms of voting intention.

Parties

Some scientists fear that Britain is on course for a second wave of coronavirus, not helped by some people holding parties and large gatherings after Johnson announced a further easing of Englands lockdown in early July, when pubs and restaurants can reopen.

My concerns with the UK government are sometimes less with the substance  Im more concerned that the messaging  seems much more that its all over and you can go back to doing everything as you did before, Mark Drakeford, the first minister of Wales, told Sky News.

Patel said people should still follow the guidelines.

Its important that the public realize that this virus has not disappeared at all, she said. We are still in a health emergency  People need to follow the guidance.

UK Considers First Local Lockdown

Britains government is considering a lockdown for the central English city of Leicester amid a spike of COVID-19 casesthe first time that a single UK area would face such an extreme measure during the pandemic.

The Sunday Times first reported that a lockdown could come within days, after 658 new cases were recorded in the Leicester area in the two weeks preceding June 16. Patel acknowledged in a BBC interview June 28 that ministers were considering the move.

There will be support going into Leicester and in fact the health secretary was in touch with many of us over the weekend explaining some of the measures, the support on testing, resources that will go into the local authority as well, Patel said. With local flare-ups, it is right we have a localized solution.

But Patel gave no indication of the number of people who could be affected by the local lockdown being discussed or whether the surrounding area would be affected. Leicester has a city population of 330,000.

The spike comes amid fear that the disease has been spreading through the citys large Asian community, who often live in multi-generational households. The local outbreak underscores the disproportionate hit that the pandemic has had on Britains minority communities.

By Elizabeth Piper

The Associated Press contributed to this report
US-China Commission Backs Call for UN to Hold Chinese Regime Accountable for Human Rights Abuses

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) on June 27 backed expert calls for the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to hold the Chinese regime accountable for human rights abuses.

The CECC said Saturday that it supports a statement issued by over 50 independent U.N. human rights experts, which on Friday called on the international community to take all appropriate measures to monitor Beijing and act collectively and decisively to ensure its government respects human rights.

The Chairs support statement by 50+ @UN independent experts calling for an urgent @UNHumanRights session to evaluate #Chinese govts persistent human rights violations & to discuss establishment of UN mechanisms to monitor #HongKong, #Xinjiang, & #Tibet. https://t.co/PHe8Jl7smc  China Commission (@CECCgov) June 26, 2020

The Chairs support statement by 50+ UN independent experts calling for an urgent UNHumanRights session to evaluate #Chinese govts persistent human rights violations & to discuss establishment of UN mechanisms to monitor #HongKong, #Xinjiang, & #Tibet, the independent agency said in a statement on Twitter.

The experts, who work on various mandates from the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council, raised in their statement a number of concerns over the repression of fundamental freedoms in China.

This includes the Chinese regimes repression of religious and ethnic minorities in its northwestern Xinjiang region and Tibet, allegations of excessive force against Hong Kong protesters, and reports of retaliation against people who spoke out about the COVID-19 outbreak.

U.N. independent experts have repeatedly communicated with the government of the Peoples Republic of China their alarm regarding the repression of fundamental freedoms in China, the statement said. The U.N. independent experts believe it is time for renewed attention on the human rights situation in the country, particularly in light of the moves against the people of the Hong Kong SAR, minorities of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, the Tibet Autonomous Region, and human rights defenders across the country.

Brilliant news! UN Human Rights Commissioner on #HK calling for a special session on human rights in HK, a special envoy/rapporteur for HK, and for member states to force China to act. Huge kudos to @benedictrogers  the driving force behind this. https://t.co/veAWhgRx1h  Luke de Pulford  (@lukedepulford) June 26, 2020

The experts highlighted their concerns about the Chinese Communist Partys so-called national security legislation on Hong Kong. Beijings rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress (NPC), bypassed Hong Kongs local legislature in late May to enact the legislation that would criminalize activities connected to subversion, succession, terrorism, and foreign interference.

The NPC on Sunday began reviewing its proposed law for the city, which the experts said would introduce poorly defined crimes that would easily be subject to abuse and repression and could allow Beijing to encroach upon the citys special status.

Concerns have been raised that the legislature would breach Hong Kongs Basic Law, which guarantees that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights can remain in force in the territory.

Under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which set the terms of Hong Kongs transfer to Chinese rule, the regime agreed to grant the city autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed in the mainland, under the formula of one country, two systems.

This is a very important point. Beijings plan is: (i) impose the draconian national security law; (ii) thereby crack down harshly on dissent; then (iii) rely on the decreased dissent as evidence that HKers are now happy under CCP rule. The world must not fall for this ruse. https://t.co/MU7XkHpvhc  Wilson Leung   (@WilsonLeungWS) June 28, 2020

It would undermine the right to a fair trial and presage a sharp rise in arbitrary detention and prosecution of peaceful human rights defenders at the behest of Chinese authorities, the experts said. The national security law would also undermine the ability of businesses operating in Hong Kong to discharge their responsibility to respect human rights in line with the U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Chilling Effect

Wilson Leung, a barrister in Hong Kong and a member of the Progressive Lawyers Group, told The Epoch Times that news of the legislation has already had a chilling effect on Hong Kong residents. Activists and groups who were once vocal and critical of the CCP are growing increasingly silent and fearful of repercussions.

After the proposed law was announced, we were already seeing a lot of self-censorship among activist groups who have become a lot more afraid of talking to international NGOs, talking openly to international political leaders, and foreign press, because any of this could be evidence of foreign collusion in the future, Leung said in a phone interview from Hong Kong. We know how vague and widely Beijing uses these concepts.

Thats already among activists, who are relatively more willing to take a stand. Among other people, lots are deleting their social media accounts or their history to make sure that nothing they said in the past may be seen as critical of the communist government, Leung continued.

I have friends buying burner phones to speak anonymously, because anything you say with your real phone number, may again be evidence against you. We know that there is a plan to station mainland security agents in Hong Kong, and that brings with it the fear of technological surveillance that they have in the mainlandwhich would mean that anything you say on your phone may no longer be safe.

The experts in their statement urged the 47-member state council to act with a sense of urgency to take all appropriate measures to monitor Chinese human rights practices. They suggested the UNHRC establish an impartial and independent U.N. mechanism to closely monitor, analyze, and report annually on the human rights situation in China.

Leung added that while calls from international bodies against human rights abuses committed by the Chinese regime are a step in the right direction, they are unlikely to deter Beijing in the long run.

I cant remember the last time there was such a concerted level of concern amongst international bodies, the barrister told The Epoch Times. It shows how obviously wrong this whole process and decision is.

CCP Tactics

Leung warned that the Chinese regime may employ similar tactics as it has used with Xinjiang, where more than a million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities are believed to be detained in the regions vast network of camps, which Beijing says are to educate and transform those whom the CCP deems at risk of the three evil forces of extremism, separatism, and terrorism.

Despite the regimes claims of reeducation, former Uyghur detainees have told The Epoch Times that they were subject to torture, forced to denounce their faith, and forced to pledge loyalty to the CCP while held for unknown reasons in often overcrowded facilities.

In Xinjiang, theyre using a highly exaggerated threat, and then using that as an excuse to impose draconian controls on the population, which it wants to suppress, Leung said. In Hong Kong, they used the protests last year to point out that there was violence occurring and therefore they needed these new oppressive laws which will apply controls over many more people than were involved in violence.

They will now use the lack of any open dissent, and say that everyone is happy here, ignoring the fact that this is because they have severely criminalized and punished it.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The United States is responding to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) unrestricted warfare strategy by ratcheting up its war of words and escalating its countermeasuresa more hard-hitting approach to a threat that previous administrations failed to fully recognize, according to experts.

Top U.S. officials, as well as politicians from both sides of the political aisle, have expressed concern about Chinas increasingly aggressive and hostile stance toward the United States. FBI Director Christopher Wray said recently that no country presents such a danger to Americas innovation, economic security, and democratic ideas than the Chinese regime.

National security adviser Robert OBrien, meanwhile, recently said the United States will no longer be passive in dealing with China.

Aside from the rhetoric, U.S. counteractions have also ramped up. Wray revealed last week that the bureau currently has more than 2,000 active investigations that trace back to the CCP, marking a roughly 1,300 percent increase in economic espionage probes with links to the Chinese regime. He said the bureau opens a new counterintelligence investigation that ties back to China every 10 hours.

The recent public proclamations from both the administration and members of Congress reflect a frustration with Chinas aggressive theft of U.S. innovation and technology, says Nicholas Eftimiades, a former senior U.S. intelligence official and author of the book, Chinese Intelligence Operations.

The U.S. sees Chinas large scale economic espionage and covert influence activities as supporting economic predatory practices and military expansion in the South and East China seas, he told The Epoch Times.

The Chinese communist government has never been friends with the U.S., he said. It is only now, some American politicians are realizing it.

Since 2018, the U.S. administrations efforts to abate Chinas espionage, commercial espionage, and intellectual property theft has been increasing, according to Eftimiades. If the United States backs up its current rhetoric with actions, allies will also move more aggressively to counter China, thereby increasing global pressure on the CCP and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to comply with the established global rule of law, he said.

Previous administrations and members of Congress believed China would liberalize as it gained wealth. Eftimiades called the story of U.S.China relations a very sad tale of American arrogance, ignorance, political greed, and corruption.

Chinese and American companies were happy to donate and offer business opportunities to U.S. politicians who shared those beliefs, he said. The result was a massive expansion of Chinas military, trillions lost in U.S. intellectual property, a threat to the world rule of law, and rich American companies and politicians.

Only now, when Chinas unrestricted warfare approach is impacting the world, are U.S. politicians finally taking note.

In February, the FBI was already conducting roughly 1,000 investigations into Chinas attempted theft of trade secrets, just one of many fronts in the communist regimes wide-ranging campaign against the United States. Every FBI field office at the time was working on trade-secret theft cases involving China, with potential victims spanning almost every sector and industry.

According to a review of DOJ press releases, the department has brought more indictments related to Chinese infiltration since 2019 than during the entire eight years of the Obama administration.

John R. Mills, former director of cybersecurity policy, strategy, and international affairs at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, said the uptick in FBI probes is significant and is due to a massive reprioritization of the bureaus assets and resources.

The way FBI, law enforcement, and national security investigations work is they just have to be told what the priority is and they will pivot and reprioritize, Mills told The Epoch Times. Thats what your seeing, a massive reprioritization of FBI activities here.  It has a huge effect.

While the bureau has increased its efforts, some say it wont be enough to fully deal with the CCP threat until a national strategy and an all-of-society approach is utilized.

The FBI is attempting to meet an impossible challenge, Eftimiades said. There are thousands of PRC intelligence officers operating in the U.S. The FBI cannot mitigate Chinas clandestine collection activities.

True Colors

The effort to fight the Chinese communist infiltration was launched in November 2018 by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions shortly before he submitted his resignationthe campaign was formally known as the China Initiative.

The Trump administrations efforts in the matter had already ramped up prior to the formal launch. Sessions noted that no one was charged with spying for China during the last four years of the Obama administration and that the Trump administration indicted four alleged spies in 2017 alone.

Early in June, Charles Lieber, the former chair of Harvard Universitys chemistry department, was indicted on charges of making false statements about funding he received from the Chinese regime, the DOJ said.

Lieber was arrested in January for allegedly lying about his participation in the Chinese state-backed Thousand Talents recruitment program. A federal grand jury on June 9 indicted him on two counts of making false statements to federal authorities.

And in one of the latest cases, 41-year-old Hao Zhang was found guilty on June 26 of economic espionage, theft of trade secrets, and conspiring to commit both offenses, according to the DOJ. Between 2010 to 2015, Zhang attempted to steal trade secrets from two companies for the benefit of the Peoples Republic of China.

Sessions directed the DOJ to focus on a range of priorities related to Chinese infiltration, including identifying key trade-secret theft cases, developing a strategy to go after non-traditional intelligence collectors being co-opted by the communist regime, and to applying the Foreign Agents Registration Act against unregistered agents advancing the Chinese regimes interests.

U.S. officials are right to characterize the CCP as the biggest threat to the United States, according to Eftimiades.

He described how over the past two decades, the CCP downed a U.S. military reconnaissance aircraft, used lasers to blind U.S. pilots, disrupted U.S. satellites, threatened to stop U.S. companies from exporting antibiotics made in China, and stole trillions in U.S. intellectual property.

The Chinese Communist Party also launched an offensive to redirect blame and responsibility over how it dealt with the CCP virus outbreak in China. Aside from the United States, other countries around the globe have also expressed anger and frustration over the CCPs botched handling and far-reaching coverup of the CCP virus, also known as the novel coronavirus.

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, said people around the world are now getting a better understanding of the CCP.

The CCP has for years claimed to be a responsible member of the global community but showed once again its true colors in this pandemic, he told The Epoch Times. Justice demands it be held morally culpable for its dangerous and callous behavior.

Yang said that while others are tied up with the pandemic and its economic consequences, the CCP will become even more aggressive in its disinformation campaign of mask diplomacy. He said that this will further contribute to feed the global distrust and resentment.

Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on June 30 designated Chinese telecom giant Huawei and telecom equipment maker ZTE as companies that pose a national security threat to the United States.

In a statement, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai noted that both companies have close ties to the Chinese Communist Party and Chinas military apparatus and that they would both be broadly subject to Chinese law, which obligates them to cooperate with the countrys intelligence services.

Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report.
There are many ways to teach subjects, such as math. For example, if you have young children, you could teach them to make change with coins. (Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock)

Veteran Advice for Potential Homeschoolers

A conversation with LaNissir James

After a year like no other, parents everywhere are considering a variety of educational alternatives for their children. At the top of many lists is the option to homeschool.

I asked LaNissir James, a homeschooling mom of seven, for her advice to parents at this very unique time. James is also a high school consultant at the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), which supports homeschooling families.

Heres what she said.

The Epoch Times: Please tell us about your homeschooling journey: When did you begin homeschooling your children and what prompted you to do so?

LaNissir James: My three daughters attended a private school, and after they completed fourth grade, kindergarten, and preschool, we decided to homeschool. My children were A students in school but emotionally their needs were not met. We looked for alternatives in education and came across homeschooling with the initial intent to homeschool our children for one year until our oldest daughter reached middle school.

We fell in love with all the progress, possibilities, and benefits of homeschooling, and we never looked back. When we started homeschooling, we had three kids. We now have a total of seven homeschool kids from ages 422 years old. That fourth-grade daughter is now a college graduate and her sister is heading to college in the fall.

LaNissir James, a homeschooling mom of seven and consultant at the Home School Legal Defense Association. (Courtesy of LaNissir James)

The Epoch Times: Many parents find themselves considering the option of homeschooling for the first time right now. What advice would you give potential homeschoolers in making that decision?

Ms. James: There has never been a better time to homeschool. My advice to first-time homeschoolers is to find mentors who are homeschooling the way you want to homeschool your child. If you want to take your kid on more field trips to learn educationally, then find that homeschool field trip mom. If you want to build a student who performs well in STEM, then find that mom who loves STEM.

Also, I recommend that parents get connected to homeschool leaders at HSLDA.org so that they can speak with an educational consultant in high school, special needs, or toddlers to tweens to support your specific homeschool needs. I encourage parents to customize their childs education to help their student grow to new heights.

The Epoch Times: Other parents have decided that they will surely homeschool next year for the first time. What steps do you recommend they take to prepare for their first year of homeschooling?

Ms. James: Parents who are preparing to homeschool next year for the first time should do some important prep such as identifying the academic areas where their child needs the most attention. Let this area be your No. 1 focus so that breakthroughs happen during your first year. If your child needs help reading, read more. If your child needs help in math, do more math.

Another important step for first-year homeschoolers is to decide what method you want to use to educate your child. Do some homework on different types of educational approaches many homeschoolers usetraditional, eclectic, classical, Charlotte Mason, or Montessori. This will help you select the right curriculum for your homeschool style.

Also, youll want to check out what your states homeschool law requireswhether for withdrawing your child from public school, notifying the school you are homeschooling, being sure to teach any required subjects, or arranging testing and evaluation.

The Epoch Times: Still other parents are worried that their children may have fallen behind academically given the way this school year transpired. What tips would you recommend parents borrow from homeschoolers that might make their childrens summer more educational?

Ms. James: A tip that I recommend parents borrow from homeschoolers is to be flexible and relax on how you teach a subjectespecially during the summer. There are many ways to learn math. For example, you could spend the summer incorporating math in your daily routine. You could teach your student to learn the practical importance of understanding percentages by learning how to calculate the taxes on every summer purchase, or your child could create the summer family budget. If you have little kids, they could learn to identify coins and make change using coins from their piggy bank.

The Epoch Times: Is there any other advice youd like to offer parents who are considering pulling their children out of school and homeschooling this fall?

Ms. James: My advice would be to believe in yourself. You know whats best for your child. There are so many resources available in homeschooling, so you dont have to be an expert in every subject. I encourage parents to be willing to learn alongside their child in a way that causes the entire family to grow. Identify your why for homeschooling, and know that you are not alone.

Connect with us at HSLDAwe are here to help you get started and have the resources and consultants to make homeschooling possible for every family. You can learn about your states homeschool law, identify your childs learning preferences, and more in our free homeschooling guide at HSLDA.org/QuickStart.
Brett Sutton the Chief Health Officer of Victoria speaks to the media in Melbourne, Australia, on June 22, 2020. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Victorias Chief Medical Expert Weighs Up Lockdown Options for Melbourne Virus Hotspots

The Victorian government has not ruled out the possibility that stay-at-home orders may return for Melbournes COVID-19 hotspots if the number of new confirmed cases continues to increase as they have been for the last week.

For the first time in three months, Victoria has 75 new cases reported in one day (as of June 29, 11 a.m.). The last time one-day figures were as high was March 31, when 96 new cases were recorded.

The states total case numbers were 2,0991,775 have recovered, 20 have died, and 288 are active.

A testing blitz has been underway since June 25 and so far 53,000 tests have been carried out. The states Premier Daniel Andrews has asked for help with this task from the Australian Defence Force.

Mobile testing clinics, testing drive-throughs, and popups in shopping centres have been set up to offer free tests.

Locking Down Hotspots a Possibility

Victorias Chief Medical Officer Brett Sutton said the lockdown of suburban areas requires careful consideration and should be a last resort.

He highlighted the logistical difficulties of implementing a postcode based lockdown, including the concern that people may not adhere to it.

I think you can get particular kinds of strange behaviours if you go down that pathway where people move to other suburbs or people change their behaviours in ways that might increase risk, he said at a press conference on June 27.

The very best approach is to ramp up all of the things that we are doing now, he added.

This is a text book approach in how you respond to outbreaks and I think if we can get peoples cooperation and that behaviour change sustained over the next couple of weeks then well see numbers go down.

The premier said restrictions will be reviewed once they have the results of the testing blitz in the hotspot suburbs.

If we have to further limit movement in some of those suburbs, for instance, a stay at home order much like we all as a community had to endure  if that is deemed the appropriate public health response then that is what we will do, Andrews said in a press conference on June 28.

Sutton said partial lockdowns to contain the spread of the virus were not off the table.
Washington and Lee University Considers Potential Name Change

Faculty members at Washington and Lee University (WLU) are considering taking Lee out of the universitys name because of the association with the Confederacy.

Located in Lexington, Virginia, the WLU was named for George Washington, whose donation ensured the schools survival, and Robert E. Lee, who turned the school into a modernized research university following his military career in the Confederate Army.

More than 100 undergraduate and law school professors who attended a virtual meeting Wednesday are expected to send a formal request to the universitys president and the board of trustees by the end of the month, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Everyone who was in that conversation feels that the best thing for our institution is to drop our affiliation with Lee, the associate professor who organized the discussion told the newspaper. Of course there were people who did not participate in the conversation, but for those who did, there was not one voice suggesting that this was not the right thing to do.

In a letter to the campus community, WLU President Will Dudley said that while he is aware of the effort to drop Lees name, the fact that the Confederate commander made transformational contributions to the university complicates the matter.

Many of you have called for decisive action in accordance with our values. You have asked me what we have done. And you have asked me what more we will do. I welcome these questionswhich I ask myself every day, Dudley said. He promised a host of measures to promote diversity and inclusion, including expanding enrollment of low-income students by 33 percent, making Juneteenth a university holiday, and establishing a George Floyd Endowment.

The WLU was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, according to its website. The small classical school was renamed Liberty Hall in 1776 in support of the patriot cause. In 1796, George Washington donated $20,000 worth of James River Canal stock to solve the schools financial crisis. The board of trustees promptly changed the name of the school to Washington Academy to express their gratitude.

In 1865, Robert E. Lee, who had long looked on George Washington as his role model, turned down many job offers from other schools to accept the post of president of Washington Academy. After Lees death in 1870, the trustees voted to change the name to Washington and Lee University to commemorate the significant changes the former Confederate commander brought to the school. Lee and many of his family members are buried in the Lee Chapel on campus.
There is no Virginia case law, either state or federal, that has held a tort of negligent hiring or negligent retention to apply to the actions of a former employee, Palmer told Judge Clyde Perdue.

She further argued that Flanagans employment issues before he came to WDBJ were verbal, not violent, and that managers could not have anticipated the attacks he would later commit.

At the close of the hearing, Perdue sustained the defense motion on the grounds that Flanagan had been let go two and a half years earlier.

I might be wrong, but I dont believe it was foreseeable, Perdue said.

Gardners attorney, Bill Stanley, said afterward that he will appeal the decision.

I think the courts ruling, respectfully, went far outside what the obligations are in a demurrer proceeding, he said.

Im going to appeal this all the way. Its an unfortunate ruling and I think its the wrong one.

While Gardners three-year-old suit cites approximately $222,000 in medical expenses, Stanley says that total has since more than doubled to more than a half-million dollars.
MIDDLEFIELD  A local 10-year-old who has launched two fundraising projects over the past three years to supply school libraries across the state with books representing people of color has already raised $4,100 toward her efforts.

Draya Gohagon, created a GoFundMe drive, Books that Represent All Kids, this month and to date has garnered $2,605 of the $1,500 goal. It is a continuation of a successful 2017 effort, Childrens Books for All Kids, which collected donations totaling $1,045.

That first fundraiser took in more than $1,000 in two days.

Draya recently finished fourth grade at John Lyman Elementary School and is moving on to Memorial Middle School.

Drayas mother, Michelle Gohagon, director of instructional technology and professional development at Middletown Public Schools, is white, and her father, Darrell Gohagon, who works at the state Department of Children and Families, is Black.

Her parents have talked with Draya about recent events taking place across the country dealing with racism, Black Lives Matter and related protests.

Even though we tried to shelter Draya from what was going on, there was this child understanding of it, her mother said.

If kids have more love in their heart, maybe they wouldnt act that way, she told her daughter.

A drawing Draya made for the new GoFundMe drive is of three fists she colored with black, brown and yellow markers and carries the message: I might not be the same, but thats not important. No freedom till were equal. I sure support it!

His daughter takes after her parents, Darrell Gohagon said. He said he is usually the loudest person in the room, and his wife also freely expresses her opinions.

When we say something, were coming from the heart, and thats what she expressed to people, he said.

Draya has always been inquisitive, her father said. She doesnt really stop until she gets answers, much like her parents.

His daughters activism at such a young age is impressive, he said. It makes me feel super proud. When she and her mother put their minds to something, they can do anything. I just knew it was going to be successful this time.

The family routinely discusses issues of race. We give her the answers without trying to freak her out too much. We give her the facts in a kid way to try to still keep her a kid, Darrell Gohagen said.

Draya was a guest speaker during a recent virtual meeting of the Connecticut Association of School Librarians at nErDcampCT, which included librarians from across the country. Draya was a little shy at first, then introduced a slideshow she created and illustrated.

By way of introduction, Lyman librarian Jenny Lussier called Draya one of the most amazing 10-year-olds that I know.

Draya explained to participants that her passion is activism. She shared that her favorite author is childrens book writer Jacqueline Woodson, and that when she grows up, she wants to be a dance teacher and activist.

What people dont always notice about me is I am Black and white. I am mixed, and I love it, she said.

In kindergarten, she realized she may be a little bit different than most of her classmates and she spoke to us, Michelle Gohagon said.

Draya described what precipitated her fundraising project.

All my classmates were allowed to draw their portrait with a pink or peach pencil, but my teacher  who is awesome  made the mistake of telling me I had to draw my portrait with a brown pencil. I really wanted to draw myself with a purple pencil, but I wanted to draw my color the same as everyone else, she said.

My daughter is super fair-skinned, teetering on the edge of white, and they gave her a pitch-black pencil. That maybe sparked the questions, her father said.

Michelle Gohagon grew up in Enfield, which had a predominately white population at the time, she said. Her husband was raised in New Britain.

Because she lives in a predominantly white community here, we wanted to really have her love and embrace who she is, or were going to go down this path of not feeling good about herself, Michelle Gohagon said about her daughter.

There are few people of color in this small, rural community, her father said. I figured she got the brown color (pencil) because her daddy was that brown color, but shes definitely not that color, he said.

I did not want to be different. It made me sad to feel different, Draya said. Her teacher apologized, and suggested they meet with Lussier, her favorite librarian, to map a path forward.

Her mother asked if there were any books that dealt with biracial children at the library. To add more, they came up with suggestions together and set out to create the GoFundMe account.

Draya also participated in the Chalk the Walk project, spearheaded by social justice organization WEE the People in Boston, which helps kids and families learn how to talk about race and fight against racial injustice, according to her mother.

Draya is even hoping a representative will visit her school one day in person or virtually.

On the day of the Chalk the Walk event, the 10-year-old invited friends and neighbors to join her in chalking quotes on the sidewalk outside her home. One was from Maya Angelo: Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.

She also talked about her activism and shared topics of importance to her.

Drayas next project is to interview her favorite authors for a YouTube channel she plans to set up. The response, which Draya posted on her Twitter account, has snowballed, her mother said, as they received a flood of offers.

For information, visit gofundme.com.

Editors note: The original version of the article, Buying books that depict racial diversity, reported the incorrect name and link to the Wee the People event in the story. It was the Wee Chalk the Walk : a Family Day of Action for Black Lives.
House Democrats on Tuesday will issue an ambitious plan to fight climate change, a move intended to reassure their base of supporters but that's sure to inflame opponents on the right.

The proposal will be released at an event at the Capitol with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and several other Democratic lawmakers.

In a statement announcing Tuesday's unveiling, the committee offered no details on the plan but called it "a comprehensive congressional action plan to solve the climate crisis." A spokesman for Democrats didn't respond to a request for comment on specifics.

The more than 500-page plan, from the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis convened by Pelosi, D-Calif., and chaired by Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., seeks to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and calls for achieving 100% clean vehicles by 2035, according to people familiar with the details.

It also demands an extension of a lucrative tax credit that's successfully boosted the use of solar power, the people said.

The plan, written by the Democratic majority on the bipartisan committee, also sets a goal of achieving net-zero emissions for the electricity sector by 2040. And it calls for putting a price on carbon, among other environmental regulations, but is silent on how that should be achieved and leaves much of the nitty-gritty of legislating to other committees.

With Republicans in control of the Senate, the plan serves as little more than a climate wish-list for Democrats. But it's a marker of what the party may pursue if it wins full control of Congress and the White House in November.

Republicans will almost certainly use it in an election year to paint Democrats as "environmaniacs" out of touch with working people and the economy.

"It would be a gift," said Tom Pyle, president of the American Energy Alliance, a free-market advocacy group that opposes many of the policies likely to be contained in the plan.

At the same time, the recommendations may not go far enough for the party's progressive wing, which has called for effectively phasing out greenhouse emissions by 2030. A broad climate bill unveiled earlier this year by Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee was panned by some environmentalists for not being strong enough.

Presumed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden last summer unveiled a $1.7 trillion climate plan that sets a goal of 100% clean energy and net-zero emissions by 2050, while vowing to go "well beyond" the climate policies embraced by Barack Obama when he was president and Biden served as his vice president.

Democrats have made combating climate change a top priority at a time of increased voter anxiety about catastrophic hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires, as well as major reports concluding that urgent reductions in carbon dioxide emissions are needed.

About two-thirds of Americans think the federal government is doing too little to reduce the effects of climate change, according to polling released this month by the Pew Research Center.

The select panel, revived by Pelosi when Democrats took control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections, has spent more than a year looking at ways to curb emissions that contribute to global warming, including an examination of oil drilling and coal mining on federal lands, and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector.

In its previous iteration under a Democratic majority, the panel, then known as the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, used dozens of hearings to emphasize Democratic priorities, evaluating advancements in renewable power and the consequences of climate change.

The panel's work helped pave the way for broad legislation to create a cap-and-trade system for carbon dioxide emissions that passed the House in 2009 before faltering in the Senate.
WESTPORT  Police are reminding town residents remain cautious after multiple black bear sightings were reported in northern Westport on Monday afternoon.

Lt. Jillian Cabana, a Westport police spokesperson, said the department received reports of a large young male bear and bear cub. The bears were not acting in an aggressive manner and were observed to be acting normally, she said.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Wildlife Division (DEEP) was notified.

With black bear sighting becoming more common in Connecticut, Cabana said residents should take extra precautions to avoid negative encounters.

Bears have an incredible sense of smell. To prevent luring them towards your property, secure your garbage in sturdy covered containers in a garage or outbuilding, Cabana said.

Residents who compost were also reminded not to throw meat scraps or greasy, oily or sweet materials in your compost pile.

Cabana also advised residents to clean their grills after each use, refrain from leaving pet food outdoors, remove bird feeders from your property for the summer and to keep an eye on pets and small children playing outside.

If sighted, use caution and do not approach the bear. The mere presence of a bear does not necessitate its removal. According to DEEP, if left alone and given an avenue for escape, the bear will usually wander back into more secluded areas, Cabana said.

DEEP does not take routine reports of bear sightings over the phone.

Sightings can be reported to Westport Animal Control at (203) 341-5076 or reported to DEEP online.

For more information on bears, visit the DEEPs website.
President Donald Trump is seeking reelection with the lowest approval rating of any incumbent president in 40 years. A series of events initially seen as chances for the president to shine - the coronavirus pandemic, the civil unrest that followed the death of George Floyd - have only deepened his problems and increased support for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

But the president has largely avoided the sort of "dead man walking" analysis that once greeted Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush. The reason is the 2016 election, which humbled the president's smuggest critics and broke the reputation of many election prognosticators. The argument against electoral despair is the same argument Trump makes about rebuilding the post-pandemic economy: He did it once, and he can do it again.

There's a catch. Trump campaign veterans and his supporters have almost completely erased the role of two "October surprises" that damaged Hillary Clinton, in an election so close that any individual factor could have decided it. The first was hacks into Clinton campaign email, culminating in the release via WikiLeaks of more than 20,000 pages from the personal account of John Podesta. The second was the decision of then-FBI Director James Comey to announce, in a letter to Congress, that there would be a probe of emails found on a Clinton aide's laptop.

Polling found that both stories damaged Clinton, possibly moving the last undecided voters to Trump and sealing his win. But those stories are increasingly left out of the campaign's theory about what happened in 2016. And neither the Biden nor Trump campaign can really plan for revelations or scandals that could come.

Either event, the hack or the Comey letter, would have been a fantastic gift to any candidate. Each was welcomed and promoted by Trump, who sometimes spent minutes of his rally speeches going over the latest revelations from Podesta's email or latest speculation about how Clinton could go to prison.

"I think it's the biggest story since Watergate," Trump told The New York Times in late October 2016, the day that Comey opened his email probe and informed members of Congress. "I think this changes everything."

The boost Trump got from both events was crucial but gets left out of arguments for how the president can patch his coalition back together. For the president and his allies, the story of 2016 was that a first-time candidate rallied the "forgotten man," and any speculation about how the hacks or Comey affected that is sour grapes. "The Democrats made up and pushed the Russian story as an excuse for running a terrible campaign," Trump tweeted in March 2017, an argument he'd continue making through his term.

For Democrats, the WikiLeaks and Comey crises simply aren't worth reliving. The party's left viewed them as a diversion, a way of avoiding a reckoning over Clinton's policies and ensuring that the people who lost that election would remain in power. And Clinton's allies were queasy about the implications: that after all their work, Anthony Weiner's sexting habit had indirectly cost them the presidency.

"If the election had been on October 27, I would be your president," Clinton said six months after the election, referring to the day before the Comey letter.

Since then, the Trump administration has effectively fought the Russia story to a draw, with Democrats focused on beating him this year and with the president's supporters convinced that the real 2016 scandal was that the FBI surveilled his campaign. But the voters of 2016 had no idea that the Trump campaign was being watched. To the contrary, pre-election headlines reported that the FBI found "no clear link to Russia" in the Trump campaign.

Clinton, by that time, had been repeatedly thrown off course by the theft of Podesta's emails. The trove included at least one piece of news that Clinton had tried to conceal; the text of paid speeches she'd given after leaving the State Department. But the offhand communications between her staffers inspired waves of negative stories that Trump benefited from. They were as frivolous as a comment one Catholic adviser made about right-wing Catholics ("Her campaign staff should apologize to people of faith," said Mike Pence) and as impactful as conversations about art and Italian food that spawned the unending "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory.

Questions about the stolen emails even shaped the final two presidential debates between Trump and Clinton. In the second, Clinton was asked to defend a comment about negotiating from "public and private positions," which came from a paid speech published in the emails. When Clinton pivoted to attacking Russian hackers, Trump mocked her for shifting blame from her own behavior.

"Anything wrong happens, they like to say the Russians," Trump said. "She doesn't know if it's the Russians doing the hacking. Maybe there is no hacking. But they always blame Russia."

In the third debate, moderator Chris Wallace asked Clinton to explain remarks she'd made about creating a "hemispheric Common Market with open trade and open borders." Clinton once again followed the strategy of ruling the material out of bounds because of how it was obtained, and Trump rolled his eyes again, before citing a different hacked email before tens of millions of viewers.

"WikiLeaks just actually came out," Trump said. "John Podesta said some horrible things about you, and, boy, was he right."

Before the election, the WikiLeaks trove and the Comey letter were universally seen as boosts to Trump. At the very least, the drumbeat of negative Clinton news helped the Republican nominee push past his own negative headlines. The first email dump came just an hour after The Washington Post first reported on a tape of Trump bragging about sexual assault, and the Comey letter came after millions of early votes were cast; Trump encouraged voters who'd already marked ballots for Clinton to get them back and vote for him.

In Trumpworld's revised history of the campaign, the October surprises didn't change the outcome. "We didn't need WikiLeaks," White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said in a 2017 interview with ABC News. "We had Wisconsin."

But Trump had both. At his final two pre-election rallies in Wisconsin, the Republican nominee cited stolen emails to further his case against Clinton. At an Oct. 17 stop in Green Bay, Trump touted "another series of emails" from the Clinton campaign to argue that Clinton was being controlled by "international donors" - a garbled reference to Clinton aides talking about whether to take donations from Americans registered as lobbyists for foreign countries.

At a Nov. 1 stop in Eau Claire, his last visit to Wisconsin before the election, Trump spoke for several minutes about Podesta's early 2015 reference to "dumping" emails and predicted a "constitutional crisis" if a candidate whose emails kept inspiring FBI probes made it to the White House.

"In a newly released email, John Podesta has been caught saying, 'We need to dump all of these emails.' Can you believe that?" Trump said, misrepresenting a 2015 message about making Clinton's emails public as a message about destroying them. "It's WikiLeaks!"

The combination of WikiLeaks and the Comey letter was crucial for Trump, syncing up with his message that Clinton was uniquely corrupt. Five days before the election, Fox News anchor Bret Baier even reported, incorrectly, that Clinton might be indicted.

Yet in the years since the election, across a series of interviews and memoirs, Trump allies have hardly mentioned the stories that helped him control the narrative for the campaign's final stretch. Just two memoirs deal with them. In "Team of Vipers," former White House communications aide Cliff Sims gives one line to the WikiLeaks emails trove, misidentifying them as from "Hillary Clinton's private email account," instead of Podesta's. But he spends two full pages on a small scene inside Trump Tower's war room as the Comey story breaks.

"Back in Trump Tower, the atmosphere was euphoric," Sims writes. "For the first time since Access Hollywood, we saw an opening that might actually lead us to victory."

In "Let Me Finish," former New Jersey governor Chris Christie (a Republican who, like Sims, does not have any role in the current campaign) is even blunter about the Comey letter, recounting a conversation with Trump, whom he'd once said would need "a break" to win the election.

"Is that the break you were talking about?" Trump asked Christie in a phone call.

"Yes, it is," Christie said.

But in Christie's telling, the WikiLeaks trove was a "running rally punchline" that got Trump into trouble when the probe of Russian hacking began, not a benefit that peeled votes from Clinton. "He was just riffing on media reporters and getting a reaction," Christie wrote. "Most people in politics hope bad stuff will come out about their opponents."

In "Understanding Trump," Newt Gingrich's quick turnaround book about the election, Comey and WikiLeaks are not mentioned at all. Trump's victory is attributed to smart decisions he made, like a last-minute Minneapolis rally that spilled into Wisconsin media markets. "It was the smaller, less expensive, practical Trump team that figured out how to get the keys to the American political system," Gingrich writes.

In "Let Trump Be Trump," former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and strategist David Bossie were out of the inner circle by October 2016. The only reference they make to either October surprise is a compliment to how Trump derided reports that the hackers were Russian: "The phrase 'four-hundred-pound hacker' immediately became an Internet meme." In "With All Due Respect," a memoir seen as Nikki Haley's initial push into the 2024 presidential campaign, the former U.N. ambassador offers the company line on 2016: "Donald Trump won because he reached a culture in America that has felt ignored and voiceless," and "the things that fueled his victory aren't easily captured in polls or political talking points."

Was Trump going to lose before the Comey letter? Christie thought so. Were the Podesta emails crucial to shifting negative attention back from Trump to Clinton in October 2016? Roger Stone thought so.

But the popular memory of Trump's campaign is that he built on his base of white voters and tamed his rhetoric in the race's final stretch, giving Clinton little to attack and swing voters a lot to like. When Republicans urge the president to change his tone, it's because they credit him for doing so in the final stretch of the last election, and credit that for his victory.

Trump did avoid making the sort of gaffes that often capture news cycles now. It worked, in part, because of the drumbeat of negative news and revelations about Clinton, something that even traditional investigations into Biden have not been able to match.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was previously published in the October 2019 edition of Murder Mysteries. Monday Mysteries will publish each Monday through October 2020.

The clock had struck 11 as James (Vaclav) Parkos moved in silence around his darkened home in Comstock on Dec. 13, 1935.

The elderly farmer and his wife had decided to turn over their rural Valley County farm to the younger generation in order to spend their golden years together in the town. After Marie passed away in 1933, James was left alone in the house.

As he continued his late-night stroll, a shape separated from the shadows and hands suddenly grabbed ahold of the old man. As his attacker lashed out, he fought the blows and kicks as valiantly as he could until the 76-year-old man could no longer keep on his feet.

James crashed to the floor and, as his head made contact, darkness overtook him while he faded into unconsciousness.

Tragedy had again struck the Parkos family. The tight-knit Bohemian community, located in western Valley County, had previously suffered the loss of 12-year-old Alice Parkos at the hands of a fiend who stole into her home during the night in 1917.

Despite the severity of the head wounds, Parkos did not immediately succumb to his injuries. He lingered for a week, but never regained consciousness. Authorities were unable to question him about what had occurred in his home that fateful night.

James Parkos, one of the earliest Bohemian settlers in Valley County, died on Dec. 20, 1935.

Custer County Sheriff Glenn Fox immediately traveled to Comstock with his deputy to pick up the man suspected of the crime. The town marshal had already locked up Joe Pazderka, 50, in his jail to await the arrival of the sheriff. Pazderka had been a boarder living in the house with James Parkos.

Pazderka had lived in the Comstock area for most of his life, except for a brief period of confinement in the Nebraska State Hospital from 1919 to 1921. Upon his discharge, he returned to Custer County where he lived with his parents and worked as a farm laborer.

After the death of both of his parents, Pazderka tried to support himself but was unsuccessful in gaining work. Census records reflect Joe Pazderkas highest grade completed was the first grade.

He had become practically destitute when James Parkos befriended him and took Pazderka into his own home several months prior to the night of the attack.

When questioned by Sheriff Fox and Custer County Attorney Allen Black about the fateful night, Pazderka told the authorities he had been bantered and pestered by some boys in Comstock. He feared the boys who taunted him had broken into the house when he heard someone moving around.

Without turning on the light or attempting to call out to ascertain who it was, he moved toward the sound and began fighting with the shadowy figure. It was only after the person he was fighting with stopped fighting back and the house was again silent that he turned on a light.

When he turned on the light, he realized it was James Parkos lying still and silent on the floor in front of him.

After concluding the investigation in Comstock, County Attorney Black determined no criminal charges would be brought against Joe Pazderka for the death of James Parkos. However, he determined that Joe Pazderka would need to stand before the Custer County Sanity Commission for a hearing on his mental stability.

On Dec. 31, 1935, the Custer County Sanity Commission determined that Joe Pazderka was insane. The commission ordered that he be committed to the Nebraska State Hospital in Hastings, where he resided the remainder of his days.
The issue is that air transport is not mere automated transport of passengers from one place to another. It involves human frailties and needs during flight which require human intervention.





by Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne

Writing from Montreal





You can have data without information, but you cannot have information without data

Daniel Keys Moran





ARGUMENTS FOR DEPENDENCE ON DATA





Over the past 6 months, with the advent of the Covd-19 crisis which crippled the global economy and decimated the air transport industry, the aviation community came to the realization that for air transport to come anywhere near providing its global services of 2019 it would take up to 3 years, going well into 2023. Even then, the status quo that existed - of congestion and inefficiencies - would not go away and new technology would have to intervene.













One of the most harmful and unwanted costs in air transport before the Covid-19 crisis was the cost incurred by airlines on delay. It was said that the direct cost of air transportation delay was USD 32.9 billion which incurred a loss of USD 8.3 billion to airlines. Once airlines are on their feet without wobbling digital technology may greatly alleviate this problem as well as problems caused to the industry by the rise of mobile, social media, a multi-layered, multi-screen and fragmented travel experience, and digital transformation and Big Data. Against this backdrop, airlines will compete with each other to possess the most data on the basis that one who owns data owns the world As Tim Clarke, President of Emirates has said: Emirates has to move and move at least at the pace of our competitors. We have put data and technology at the center of the business. There is no compromise on the spend on technology and digital. Data is key  if you dont embrace data, you will perish. New platforms in which our future processes are going to sit will be fundamental to our future, so deconstructing and reconstructing the firm in the digital environment is what we must do. The way we go about assembling the resources, and how you use back of house systems, are going to be completely transformed by digital.





In 2019 it was reported that small cell segment accounted for around 48.5% of the global 5G - the fifth generation of cellular network technology that represents the next-generation of mobile networks beyond LTE networks which represent a 4G mobile communications standard. At least four major phone carriers in the US  AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint  have already developed plans to put in place their mobile 5G networks in 2019 in the aviation market arguably because the fast growing investment and infrastructure and investment in aviation would require the most current technology to ease congestion and make the air transport product more user-friendly. It is said that 5G is widely believed to be smarter, faster and more efficient than 4G. It promises mobile data speeds that far outstrip the fastest home broadband network currently available to consumers. With speeds of up to 100 gigabits per second, 5G is set to be as much as 100 times faster than 4G. The fifth-generation cellular network standard carries with extremely fast communication capabilities, with fail-safe low-latency links that would allow real-time communication and interaction. Another advantage is reported to be 5Gs support for huge numbers of connected devices in small areas.





An article in Deloitte Insights has revealed that the results of recent surveys give a snapshot of preferences of enterprises for IoT. The results of one survey suggests that, 34 percent of companieswhich happens to be the top responsefelt they expected gains in efficiency from IoT (Internet of Things) technology. On the other end of the spectrum, only 6 percentby far the lowest response polledanticipated realizing new revenue derived from the use of IoT technology. The article goes on to say that yet another survey of companies that were already using IoT had found similar results: 52 percent used IoT to improve efficiency versus 40 percent that used customer-facing IoT applications for differentiation and generating new revenue.





An earlier cited article, based on the Conference on e-Business, e-Services and e-Society, held in October 2017states: There are more than 20 IoT characteristics which can complement and add value in aerospace systems in many ways by reducing customer pain points such as flight cancellation, flight delays. An exclusive benchmark analysis report published by the International Air transport Association (IATA) has mentioned that USD 15 billion was spent on direct maintenance, with average maintenance cost of USD 295 million per airline and USD 1087 per flight hour. Identification of potential systems and its relevant characteristics maturity is the key to implement and develop IoT products/systems in aerospace.





A spokesman for Airbus has opined that the 5G experience will not only enable passengers to stream more high-bandwidth content than with 4G technology as well as afford them seamless connections between their abodes, modes of transport (taxi) the airport and through to the aircraft cabin. He has added: with 5G, connectivity will flex to address different IoT-use cases: augmented assets (motorized, un-motorized assets, baggage tracking), enhanced operations (catering, turnaround optimization, passenger flow) and smart airports (building management), he says. And thats really the gist of this new generation  its not just about more speed and capacity; its about how 5G catalyzes virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and especially the IoT.





Airports too will benefit immensely from advances made in artificial Intelligence (AI), big data and machine learning with many opportunities presented with applications combining all three that would make the passenger experience as well as operational efficiency more fluid and obstacle free. These applications would be based on predictive (anticipatory) intelligence where AI, big data and machine learning could anticipate an issue and resolve it before the fact, thus offering distinctive value in the product. Areas that could make expedient and more reliable the functioning of an airport experience are baggage handling, catering, turnaround optimization, passenger flow and resource management. A spokesman for SITA has observed: [F]or example, being able to monitor and optimize every single vehicles usage around the airport will deliver considerable savings in fuel costs and overall resources, including labor. 5G will also accelerate the growth of smart airports, with next generation facility and building management. Areas I see where this will make a big difference include baggage handling, catering, turnaround optimization, passenger flow and resource management. For example, being able to monitor and optimize every single vehicles usage around the airport will deliver considerable savings in fuel costs and overall resources, including labor. 5G will also accelerate the growth of smart airports, with next generation facility and building management.





Products and services offered by the Internet have been of immense advantage for the strategic development of corporate strategy of many airlines. The use of internet applications has also been an enabler for airlines to operate in an ever-increasing connectivity with the world, enabling them to compete in an information driven world. This industry convergence has brought the consumer and the air transport industry closer together, offering the consumer convenience in obtaining air travel without the services of travel agents and having the assurance of a reliable after sales service as well as a unique way of conducting business with an air carrier. For the airlines the advantages lie in the minimizing of distribution costs as well as the usual tedium of marketing their product, thus enabling them to offer lower fares.





ARGUMENTS AGAINST DEPENDENCE ON DATA





The latest edition of The Economist says the magic of algorithms are proving elusive: A survey carried out by Boston Consulting Group and MIT polled almost 2,500 bosses and found that seven out of ten said their Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects had generated little impact so far. Two-fifths of those with significant investments in ai had yet to report any benefits at all.





Perhaps as a result, bosses seem to be cooling on the idea more generally. Another survey, this one by PWC, found that the number of bosses planning to deploy ai across their firms was 4% in 2020, down from 20% the year before. The number saying they had already implemented ai in multiple areas fell from 27% to 18%. Euan Cameron at pwc says that rushed trials may have been abandoned or rethought, and that the irrational exuberance that has dominated boardrooms for the past few years is fading.





Sutapa Amornvivat, who runs an AI driven company in Thailand, cautions that AI has to be managed well as: with the right tools and technology, crucial insights can be unlocked from data. At the same time, we should be aware that the blind spots and biases within can lead us to the wrong conclusions. Real limitations to data-driven approaches exist and necessitate human oversight to ensure that they are utilized correctly and to their fullest protection.





The Economist goes on to say in an earlier article: data-wrangling of various sorts takes up about 80% of the time consumed in a typical ai project, says Cognilytica. Training a machine-learning system requires large numbers of carefully labelled examples, and those labels usually have to be applied by humans. Big tech firms often do the work internally. Companies that lack the required resources or expertise can take advantage of a growing outsourcing industry to do it for them. A Chinese firm called MBH, for instance, employees more than 300,000 people to label endless pictures of faces, street scenes or medical scans so that they can be processed by machines. Mechanical Turk, another subdivision of Amazon, connects firms with an army of casual human workers who are paid a piece rate to perform repetitive tasks.





CONCLUSION





The issue is that air transport is not mere automated transport of passengers from one place to another. It involves human frailties and needs during flight which require human intervention. Whether it would involve a drunken unruly passenger or a frail elderly passenger who is struggling to evacuate an aircraft that has been beached on water, or the act of taking a decision to hand over to authorities a delinquent passenger on arrival, it would be difficult for robotic intervention to solve such issues. At best, all that AI could do is perform one single task (better than humans) that it is programmed to execute. That same AI would fail if it were could do is something else that it is untrained to do. In other words, AI cannot adapt. Could we teach robots to be guilty  which is an affectation of the mind that impel us not to repeat a wrong and at the same time feel remorse? Would a robot make reparation for a wrong committed and how would it do so? David Gelernter in his book The Tides of Mind: Uncovering the Spectrum of Consciousness, argues that the human mind is not just a creation of thoughts and data but is also a product of feelings that are the end result of sensations, images and ideas . We weep over and over when thoughts come into our heads in recurrent order, as Proust said: the last vestige of the past, the best of it, the part which, after all our tears seem to have dried, can make us weep again.





Dr Abeyratne is the author of Aviation in the Digital World which will be released in July by Springer.
KEARNEY  The University of Nebraska at Kearney announced Friday that more than a dozen staff positions had been cut, which is the first step in overcoming a $2.8 million budget deficit for the Kearney school outlined and affirmed by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

A total of 15 state-funded salary positions  five filled and 10 vacant  were cut Wednesday, adding up to $800,000 in state-funded salary and benefit savings.

There are few things that are more difficult than sharing the news with colleagues that we can no longer afford their position, UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen said in a press release. We have known that budget reductions are imminent, and that a long-term view is important to emerge following these challenges in a position of strength.

According to UNK Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance Jon Watts, two other filled positions were cut this week as the university seeks to strategically reorganize and combat other financial losses from the pandemic.

Its about realigning workforce expectations and our goals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Watts said. Its not life as normal. Its not business as usual. Some positions, we just had to realign and we had to put those resources where they could be better utilized.
Some writers responsible for generation-defining works of fiction go on to fame and fortune. Others choose a lower-profile life. The latter would aptly describe Charles Webb, who died on June 16 at the age of 81. Webb is best-known for his novel The Graduate, which was inspired by his own life and was memorably adapted for the screen by Mike Nichols. While Webb continued writing and publishing books, he also opted to spend much of his life in relative poverty.

As John Leland writes in his obituary of Webb for The New York Times:
ALTON  An Alton baker and a restaurant chain have struck a deal to not only help save a local business but also show UniTEA in diversity.

Yvonne Campbell, head baker and owner of My Just Desserts in Alton, recently accepted a deal with McAlisters Deli, in Edwardsville, and saved her from a potential financial crisis.

This really has been a blessing, financially, Campbell said. Because of COVID, we have been operating at a third of capacity.

The deal also has been about spreading awareness through a campaign promoted by McAlisters called Love Your Neighbor. The campaign seeks to find local, black-owned businesses to help spread a message of unity  or as the campaign states #uniTEA  during the nations current civil rights movement.

For Campbell, her part of the deal was to produce 33,000 cookies for 17 locations across the bi-state area as well as in Iowa and Kentucky. But, there was one catch.

Were famous for pies and brownies, she said. We dont make cookies.

While My Just Desserts normally doesnt offer cookies as an option, Campbell said she couldnt turn down the work, nor the message. So she had to get creative. To bake the cookies, she reworked her famous Toll House brownie recipe into a cookie recipe.

It has worked better than I ever thought it could, she said.

After fulfilling the order, Campbell said she does not plan on stopping there.

It has worked so well, she said. We could even see these cookies in our stores.

Campbell also has considered working with Schnucks, as the grocer is offering goods made by local businesses as grab-and-go items.

My Just Desserts, 31 E. Broadway, has been located in Alton since 1986. Campbells first job in high school was at the bakery and cafe and after studying culinary arts, she moved back into the baking world.

Campbell will celebrate her second year as owner July 2.

My Just Desserts is currently open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, but Campbell said that if a steady flow starts to pick up business, her hours might expand to accommodate patrons.

For those who want to try one of the 33,000 cookies, Campbell said McAlisters in Edwardsville is one of the 17 locations slated to receive the sweet treats.

For more information visit www.myjustdesserts.org or follow its Facebook page @AltonDesserts.
ALTON  The Alton Municipal Band opened their 130th consecutive season Saturday with a scaled-down, social-distanced performance for the weekly fresh fruits and vegetables crowd.

The muny band kicked off its 2020 concert series at the Alton Farmers and Artisans Market, with a brass quintet that performed under a red tent at the corner of the Liberty Bank Amphitheater parking lot. The repertoire of 17th century, march, jazz, pop and Broadway music offered patrons listening pleasure.

Its something that they can tap their toes to while theyre in line or are walking by, said trumpeter David Drillinger, an Alton Muny Band member.

It reminds them that the Alton Municipal Band is out here despite the pandemic we are going through. We cant play in the park so were going to play in other venues like this.

Other members of the quintet included Dennis Meyer, also on trumpet, Matt Geary on horn, Neal Strebel on trombone and Kelley Kesterson on tuba. Four of the members are retired public school band directors who have performed with the Alton Municipal Band over the years. The quintet also has performed twice with the Alton Municipal Band as featured guest artists.

Gov. J.B. Pritzkers Restore Illinois plan entered Phase 4 Friday, which allows outdoor recreation to resume and gatherings of up to 50 people. That was music to the ears of farmers market shopper and Jerseyville resident Phillip Sears, who was pleasantly surprised to encounter the Alton Muny Band Saturday.

Its nice to hear them, to have something to listen to as we hang out, said Sears, whose preferred farmers market music is anything upbeat, a little jazzy.

The municipal bands mascot, JoJo the Clown, thought the quintets jazz does a good job, its very spunky and energetic.

JoJo, also known as 18-year-old Lahna McClaine, of Alton, was on hand Saturday to help make the concert even more enjoyable for entire families.

Before the coronavirus hit, we did weekly concerts in the parks and I would march around with the kids, she recalled. It was a way for people to get together and have a good time.

The band brings a lot of excitement to the Farmers Market. Its something that people can listen to when they are walking around, and its a good way to support Alton.

McClaine recently assumed the role of JoJo from her grandmother, who had done it for years but is no longer able to clown around with the band.

Its a good energizer, its positive, especially in a time like this, McClaine said. Its a good way to meet people and have a good time.

The opposite end of the widely spaced, social-distanced Alton Farmers Market featured another performance Saturday, that of a trio of musicians representing Altons Jacoby Arts Center.

People are walking by, dancing and smiling, putting money in the tip jar, so they must like it, said musician Joshua Grassle said. Every little bit helps. We are playing music that is kind of upbeat and happy, something that all people can enjoy.

The Alton Municipal Band will return to the Alton Farmers Market with a percussion ensemble July 18 and a clarinet ensemble July 25. Visit www.altonmunyband.org for more information or follow on Facebook.
EDWARDSVILLE  Edwardsville School District Superintendent Jason Henderson is considering options following Gov. J.B. Pritzkers announcement on June 23 about the state developing guidelines for in-class learning amid coronavirus threats.

The state moved into the next phase of reopening Friday.

Today ISBE, IBHE, and ICCB are issuing guidance that will serve as baseline public health requirements and expectations for the return of in-person learning this fall in P-12 schools and higher education, including all public school districts, non-public schools, colleges and universities, Pritzker said Tuesday.

As for District 7, Henderson said he and his staff are working to figure out plans for fall. For now, nothing has been confirmed but one thing is for certain, it will look different than usual.

A lot of things are in the discussion phase, Henderson said. We are doing everything we can to get all students back to school every day.

The Illinois School Board of Education (ISBE) released a 60-page report last week discussing guidelines for public schools and its students from preschool to 12th grade. The guidelines fall in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions coronavirus disease recommendations.

The guidelines include social distancing, personal hygiene and use of personal protective equipment. Most concepts discussed are not new in terms of guidelines state officials have been reiterating during the pandemic.

For now, ISBE has confirmed face masks will be required for all students and faculty at all times.

ISBE is also looking into staggering schedules to limit student interaction by convening in smaller groups. That option, though, is not preferable, Henderson said.

We are looking at how to lower class sizes and potentially compact time schedules but that would also have to be worked out with our busing, Henderson said.

Additional possibilities include keeping desks appropriately distanced, staggering walking times in between classes and not allowing students to congregate. Henderson said while still a large task to successfully enact, he believes the plan is easier than staggering schedules.

Another option is to continue remote learning for those who volunteer. Henderson said the option is viable and if adopted, students will be required to learn remotely instead of in-person for the entire fall semester. The measure is in an effort to keep students from switching from one environment to another during the school year and would be made available around registration.

ISBE advises that any district choosing to continue remote learning may use their discretion to select the days and duration.

Henderson said he does not plan on using a hybrid schedule of in-class and remote learning.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture plans to host junior livestock and horse shows in September.

The Junior Livestock Expo will take place in Springfield over the course of the weekends of Sept. 11-13 and Sept. 18-20. Beef, sheep, dairy goats, pygmy goats and rabbits will be in show during the first weekend. Swine, dairy cattle and meat goats will be shown the second weekend.

A Junior Horse Show will take place in the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds for two weekends. The English showing will take place Aug. 29-30 and the Western showing will be Sept. 5-6.

Illinois residents between the ages of 8-21 can enter the competition.

 Marco Cartolano
GLEN CARBON  Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois congratulates Colleen McCracken from Edwardsville, Illinois for becoming a Gold Award Girl Scouta designation she earned by addressing a widespread lack of awareness about Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

POTS is a form of Dysautonomia, or disorder of the autonomic nervous system, that affects one in every 100 teenagers, but is misdiagnosed frequently  an experience which Colleen endured.

I came up with the idea for POTS education after struggling to get an accurate diagnosis to my ongoing health problems, she said.

Colleen realized that current and future healthcare professionals needed more education about POTS, so she delivered a series of presentations in the community. She addressed emergency medical technicians at Edwardsville Fire Department, nursing staff at the Madison County Health Department, school nurses at Edwardsville Community District 7 and students in kinesiology class at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. During her presentations, she explained how to identify, diagnose and treat the disorder. Afterward, she held an open discussion, where she found many of the medical professionals believed they may have encountered someone with the POTS, but could not find a diagnosis at the time. After her lesson, the kinesiology course added a unit on POTS to the syllabus permanently.

To spread awareness even further, she collaborated with Edwardsville City Council to have October proclaimed Dysautonomia Awareness Month in the city. When the proclamation was presented at the City Council Meeting, she gave a speech. In addition, Colleen used social media to reach a global audience. Her accomplishments were even featured by the advocacy organization Dysautonomia International.

I have had other POTS patients who have seen my advocacy work reach out to me both for advice and in gratitude, Colleen said.

Gold Award Girl Scouts change the world for the better, and they change it for good. The Gold Award is earned by girls in grades 912 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in developing sustainable solutions to local, national and global challenges. Since the highest award was established in 1916, Girl Scouts have answered the call to drive lasting, impactful change. The Gold Award is the mark of the truly remarkable. Along with making a difference in her community, Colleen also gained confidence in her ability to change the world.

Through my Girl Scout Gold Award project, I have learned how to make an effective presentation to educate people and how to make a difference in their lives, she said.

Colleen is a Trifecta Award Girl Scouta designation she received by earning the Girl Scout Bronze Award, Girl Scout Silver Award and Girl Scout Gold Awards. Colleen is the daughter of John and Stacey McCracken. She is a member of the class of 2020 at Edwardsville High School in Breese. After graduation, she plans to attend Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver to study flute performance.
Teachers feel appreciated, college students feel more welcome, and the community is a better place because of the Jacksonville Area Conference of Churches Life and Works Committee.

The two Jacksonville women who co-chair the committee prefer not to draw too much attention to themselves. Sorry, Stacy McQueen and Pat Glyshaw, but thats not how we do it with our Neighbors features.

I think that everybody can make an impact on their community by just doing something simple, McQueen said.

We are mainly just leading by example, Glyshaw said.

The Conference of Churches, founded in 1956, is an ecumenical group of 14 congregations and organizations that strives to serve the Jacksonville area. The Conference committees include Ecumenical Mission, Youth Ministry, Public Relations, and Life and Works. McQueen and Glyshaw, both members of Faith Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, joined the latter committee four years ago.

Our job is to come up with about three community service projects per year and we run those by the Conference of Churches board and the delegates. Some are repeat projects and some are new, McQueen said. We have a system of organizing collections and distributing the items we collect.

The most recent Life and Works Committee Project consisted of teacher appreciation baskets. A donation collection was held in January and February, and before it was over six crates of teacher supplies were delivered to Jacksonville High School and 10 crates to Jacksonville Middle School.

The reason we targeted the middle school and high school is because the elementary schools all have a business partner in town that helps provide those things, McQueen said. We had markers, colored pens and pencils, Post-it notes, sanitation wipes, tissues, crayons, paper clips, rubber bands. I think people just cleaned out their offices and donated things.

The teacher appreciation project hit close to home because I am a teacher. It really helped me see the trickle down effect of the donations, said McQueen, a 33-year educator who teaches in the Virginia school system. You see the people in the community that donate, then all of the people who help to make the baskets, the teachers that receive the baskets, then it trickles down to the kids in school. That was really neat for me to see how many people are affected by this project.

Glyshaw, a retired School District 117 librarian, was also pleased by the reception to the teacher appreciation baskets.

It was really nice to see the teachers faces light up when we delivered the baskets, Glyshaw said. We received some really nice thank-you cards from them afterwards.

The Life and Works Committee accelerated their schedule this year so the teacher supplies could be delivered to classrooms before school buildings were closed due to COVID-19 safeguards.

Now, I think people appreciate teachers even more with this pandemic and the kids being at home and having remote learning, Glyshaw said.

College welcome kits for incoming freshmen and transfer students at Illinois and MacMurray Colleges are another Life and Works Committee project.

I was at Illinois College last August when they had their event for new students, Glyshaw said. We were handing out the welcome kits to the students, and they were so appreciative. I was very surprised by how many said thank you. Often at these types of events kids will walk by and dont really acknowledge youre there, or just pick up something because its free.

The Life and Works Committee has also collected used shoes for the Shoe Man Project, delivered supplies for the local prison inmate reading program the Storybook Project, collected prizes for charitable fundraisers, assisted the New Directions homeless center, and helped to stock the Personal Needs Pantry at First Baptist Church.

During normal years, participating Conference members store donations at their respective churches and then deliver the items to a central location, where McQueen and Glyshaw coordinate the sorting and packing.

We were packing some donated items in one of the rooms at Faith Lutheran Church and there happened to be a funeral there that day, McQueen said. And people who were there for the funeral literally walked into the room and started packing with us.

For the time being, McQueen and Glyshaw have put the donation delivery and packing on hold and are encouraging the churches to donate directly to the Jacksonville Area Food Center while pandemic restrictions are still in place.

Those who are interested in donating or learning more about Jacksonville Area Conference on Churches programs can go to jacksonvilleareacc on Facebook or contact one of the member congregations or organizations: Centenary United Methodist, Central Christian, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Community of Christ, Franklin-Durbin United Methodist, Faith Lutheran, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, First Baptist, First Presbyterian, Grace United Methodist, Lynnville Christian, Trinity Episcopal, Wesley Chapel, and the Baptist Camp.

Each individual church can contribute in their own way to the community, Glyshaw said, but together, the Conference of Churches can do great things and make a bigger impact to the Jacksonville community through the Life and Works projects.

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NEW CANTON  Two people suffered minor injuries Sunday in a crash at 225th Street and 255th Avenue in Pike County.

Amber N. House, 25, of Kinderhook was going south on 225th Street when her car and one being driven east on 255th Avenue by Pearce L. Chaplain, 20, of Barry collided at 8:26 p.m., according to Illinois State Police.
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Linkedin Vladimir Putin (The Jakarta Post) Moscow  Mon, June 29, 2020 11:19 357 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406625d626 3 Opinion United-Nations,Security-Council,Vladimir-Putin,Russia,international-relations,global-economy Free

Seventy-five years have passed since the end of the Great Patriotic War. On June 22, 1941, the Soviet Union faced the strongest, most mobilized and skilled army in the world with the industrial, economic and military potential of almost all Europe working for it. Not only the Wehrmacht, but also Germanys satellites, military contingents of many other states of the European continent, took part in this deadly invasion.

The Nazi strategists were convinced that a huge multinational state could easily be brought to heel. But from the very first days, it was clear that the Nazi plan had failed.

The Soviet Union, no matter what anyone is trying to prove today, made the main and crucial contribution to the defeat of Nazism. By mid-1944, the enemy was expelled from virtually all of the Soviet territory. However, the enemy had to be finished off in its lair.

And so the Red Army started its liberation mission in Europe. It saved entire nations from destruction and enslavement, and from the horror of the Holocaust. They were saved at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives of Soviet soldiers.

The efforts of all countries and peoples who fought against a common enemy resulted in victory. The British army protected its homeland from invasion, fought the Nazis and their satellites in the Mediterranean and North Africa. American and British troops liberated Italy and opened the Second Front. The US dealt powerful and crushing strikes against the aggressor in the Pacific Ocean.

The victor powers left us a system that has become the quintessence of the intellectual and political quest of several centuries. A series of conferences  Tehran, Yalta, San Francisco and Potsdam  laid the foundation of a world that for 75 years had no global war, despite the sharpest contradictions.

Historical revisionism, the manifestations of which we now observe in the West, primarily with regard to the subject of World War II and its outcome, is dangerous because it grossly and cynically distorts the understanding of the principles of peaceful development, laid down at the Yalta and San Francisco conferences in 1945. The major historic achievement of Yalta and other decisions of that time is the agreement to create a mechanism that would allow the leading powers to remain within the framework of diplomacy in resolving their differences.

The twentieth century brought large-scale and comprehensive global conflicts, and in 1945, nuclear weapons capable of physically destroying the Earth also entered the scene. In other words, the settlement of disputes by force has become prohibitively dangerous. And the victors in World War II understood that. They understood and were aware of their own responsibility toward humanity.

A new global confrontation started almost immediately after the end of World War II and was at times very fierce. And the fact that the Cold War did not grow into World War III has become a clear testimony of the effectiveness of the agreements concluded by the Big Three. The rules of conduct agreed upon during the creation of the United Nations made it possible to further minimize risks and keep confrontation under control.

Of course, we can see that the UN system currently experiences certain tension in its work and is not as effective as it could be. But the UN still performs its primary function. The principles of the UN Security Council are a unique mechanism for preventing a major war or a global conflict.

The calls that have been made quite often in recent years to abolish the power of veto, to deny special opportunities to permanent members of the Security Council, are actually irresponsible. After all, if that happens, the UN would in essence become the League of Nations  a meeting for empty talk without any leverage on the world processes. How it ended is well known. That is why the victor powers approached the formation of the new system of the world order with utmost seriousness seeking to avoid repetition of mistakes made by their predecessors.

The creation of the modern system of international relations is one of the major outcomes of World War II. It is a duty of ours  all those who take political responsibility and primarily representatives of the victor powers in World War II  to guarantee that this system is maintained and improved.

Our colleagues  Mr. Xi Jinping, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, Mr. Donald Trump and Mr. Boris Johnson  supported the Russian initiative to hold a meeting of the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states, permanent members of the Security Council.

It would be useful to discuss steps to develop collective principles in world affairs. To speak frankly about the issues of preserving peace, strengthening global and regional security. A special item on the agenda of the meeting is the situation in the global economy. And above all, overcoming the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Our ability to work together and in concert, as real partners, will show how severe the impact of the pandemic will be, and how quickly the global economy will emerge from the recession. Moreover, it is unacceptable to turn the economy into an instrument of pressure and confrontation. Popular issues include environmental protection and combating climate change, as well as ensuring the security of the global information space.

The agenda proposed by Russia for the upcoming summit of the Five is extremely important and relevant both for our countries and for the entire world. And we have specific ideas and initiatives on all the items.

There can be no doubt that the summit of Russia, China, France, the United States, and the UK will play an important role in finding common answers to modern challenges and threats, and will demonstrate a common commitment to the spirit of alliance, to those high humanist ideals and values for which our fathers and grandfathers fought shoulder to shoulder.

Drawing on a shared historical memory, we can trust each other and must do so. That will serve as a solid basis for successful negotiations and concerted action for the sake of enhancing the stability and security on the planet, for the sake of prosperity and well-being of all states.

***

The writer is President of Russia. The article is abridged from the original text which is available here.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
Democratic structure of India would become weak, if there would be no credible opposition party, to critically assess the programmes of the ruling party.





by N.S.Venkataraman





BJP government led by Narendra Modi is having its feet firmly on the ground. Under the charismatic leadership of Modi and his image as a honest crusader, the opposition leaders in India look small before him. In the process, BJP government is becoming very powerful and some people even say authoritarian.





Rahul Gandhi

Obviously, democratic structure of India would become weak, if there would be no credible opposition party, to critically assess the programmes of the ruling party.





Unfortunately, congress party, the only significant national party in India apart from B J P , has become listless, weak and is rapidly losing credibility after Rahul Gandhi took over as the president of the party. He has been selected as party president mainly because he belongs to Nehrus family and not due to any particular merit. With his sister also now entering political arena as the general secretary of the party and the mother overseeing the son and daughter as interim president of the congress party, the picture of congress party as essentially a family controlled party is complete and obvious.





With the recent news that Sonia and Rahul visited China ,when congress party signed some sort of agreement with the communist party of China and Rajiv Gandhi Foundation received fund from China has totally demolished the image of the congress party as a reliable and dependable political outfit.





As the only national party now in India, it is necessary that congress party should resurrect itself. This cannot happen, if Sonia and her family would continue to control the party, with the image of the party now lying shattered.





Certainly, Sonia and her family would not give up the control over the party under any circumstances and would hold the finances of the party firmly under the grip. The family would encourage and give prominence only to those persons in the congress party who firmly commit their loyalty to the family. With the prospects of congress party under the control of Sonia family now very dim, the only option is that people with good image and courage of conviction in the party should demand leadership change in the congress party. Most likely it would not happen and such demand would be shouted down by the loyalists of Sonias family.





In such circumstances, it is necessary to force a split in the congress party, to make it get rid of the family control.





Some people in the congress party should take the initiative. Certainly, they would not have an easy time but gradually would receive support from the cross section of the countrymen and those who believe that the country needs a strong opposition party, so that BJP would not become authoritarian.





In any case, under the control of Sonias family, Congress party can not get majority in Parliamentary election at any time in future. Then, why not take a chance and split the congress party, so that it would be resurrected as a clean party, that would help in ensuring vibrant parliamentary democracy in India.
Prize-winning Lebanese documentary filmmaker Carol Mansour fears the world has learnt nothing from the novel coronavirus shock and will go back to square one or worse when normal life returns.

The director, who lost her father living in Canada to the COVID-19 disease, admits "what scares me the most" is that mankind has learned nothing from this crisis.

"Maybe the skies and the rivers have cleared up a bit, but if the coronavirus crisis can't change us, I don't know what can," she told AFP in an interview on Zoom.

"I am very afraid of what will happen after the return to normal" because the crisis "apparently did not teach us anything".

"I think that we will quickly return to where we were and perhaps worse," with "three percent of the world population" remaining in charge of the planet.

In her own world, Mansour said the curbs linked to the pandemic have brought out "a personal dimension" in her work and pushed her to look differently at her city, Beirut.

As for her media, the future of cinema remains in suspense, although she has stayed creative in lockdown.

It's as if "we pressed a stop button" since the virus swept across the globe, said Mansour, who lives in the Lebanese capital.

In collaboration with Daraj.com, an independent media platform, Mansour has produced two short films on the epidemic, including one on her father.

"Every day we hear about... the number of people who have died from coronavirus but I never imagined that my father would be one of those figures," she says in the film My Father, Killed by Covid-19.

Read also: A World Redrawn: Novelist says Syrians will remain unheard

'Has Beirut become beautiful?'

In a second video, Mansour focuses on contradictions in "her plans, hopes and concerns" for Beirut in the era of coronavirus.

"Beirut is ugly," she said, "because of the indiscriminate construction, the proliferation of huge shopping centers and the continued demolition of old buildings."

But that has been cut short by the epidemic and stay-at-home restrictions.

She explained that she could now walk in usually crowded streets, "alone among cats" because with confinement, Beirut "has become a city of cats".

"Has Beirut become beautiful or has calm embellished it?" she mused.

The Lebanese director of Palestinian origin has won several international awards, including the 2018 prize for best documentary at the Delhi film festival for Stitching Palestine.

Under confinement, Mansour also decided to make another "very personal" film about her mother who fled to Lebanon in 1948 from Jaffa in present-day Israel and died in 2015.

The film addresses her mother's discussions "on Palestine" while she was suffering from Alzheimer's.

"I was filming it without intending to collect these videos to make a film," she said.

Coronavirus has come at a time when we had already grown familiar with "new ways" of seeing and photographing.

"With Stitching Palestine we shot segments via Zoom with 350 participants from 20 different countries," she said.

"We watched the film, then a discussion took place. In this area, there has definitely been some change."

As for Mansour's private life, with the coronavirus, "I've discovered things about myself... I speak (more) now," she said with a laugh.

She has also grown to appreciate the merits of a simpler life. "I only yearn for friends and hugs."
A cat in central Japan's Toyama city has been honored by local police for helping lead to the rescue of an elderly man who had fallen into an irrigation channel.

On June 16, a 77-year-old woman taking a walk around 7:30 p.m. found female cat Koko, who belongs to a neighbor, staring into the canal and acting strangely. When she followed the cat's gaze, she found a man lying on his back in a 60-centimeter-wide, 40-cm-deep canal. The water was about 15 cm deep.

Calling out for help from her 48-year-old daughter who lives nearby, she immediately went to the man's rescue, and was shortly joined by Koko's owner, 45-year-old Tomoko Nitta, and her 20-year-old and 18-year-old sons.

Read also: Feline good: French cat survives coronavirus infection

The five people managed to lift the man out of the canal. He was found to have sustained only scrapes.

Toyama Minami Police Station honored the five neighbors with certificates of commendation on Saturday, while Koko got some cat food.

Holding Koko in her arms, Nitta said, "I want to tell her well-done, as (her discovery of the man) led to his rescue."

Satoshi Nakada, chief of the police station, said the "bonds among local residents, including the cat, saved a man's life."

But Koko, described by Nitta as being "shy of strangers," appeared not to welcome the police chief's attempt to stroke her head, which she turned away from him.
Balinese traditional farming and irrigation system subak was celebrated by Google Doodle on Monday through an illustration of a farmer looking at lush rice paddy fields.

On this day in 2012, subak was recognized by UNESCOs list of World Heritage Sites.

Developed around the ninth century, the system is more than just irrigation infrastructure as it involves a cooperative social tradition among farmers.

Subak is also said to reflect an old philosophy called Tri Hita Karana, which encourages humans to live harmoniously with nature, fellow beings and spiritual beliefs.

Hana Augustine, the Indonesian-based artist behind the doodle, said she wanted to highlight the role of subak farmers.

These farmers are often overlooked, yet we consume the harvest of their labor daily, Hana said.

She hoped the illustration would help people learn about subak, just like she did when researching for her artwork.

When people travel to Indonesia or other countries and see this irrigation system in rice fields, I hope they say, 'Hey! Did you know that subak came from Indonesia?' (wir/kes)
First-timers to the popular open-air Taruko Caferesto that conveniently sits within Ngarai Sianok valley in the city of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, would immediately be in awe of the scenic Tabiang Takuruang cliff, rocky river and greeneries that make up its surroundings.

My attention, however, was distracted at the time by the urge to see in person one very famous British chef who has finally decided to step foot in my country.

It was a rainy day in late January, a time when we were still very much carefree and all we had to worry about was which local restaurant to try next or what souvenirs to bring home.

The foreign and local crew members were at work when we arrived after lunchtime. And there he was, busily cooking Indonesian dishes in the rain using traditional clay stoves set on a long wooden table strategically installed right beside the river, with the striking cliff as background.

Accompanying Gordon Ramsay as he cooked was Indonesia's own legendary chef and TV personality, 73-year-old William Wongso, who served as his mentor in learning the traditional dishes of West Sumatra.

Among the dishes the 52-year-old multi-Michelin starred chef attempted to make  and later serve to the West Sumatra governor and his family members at the location  were the region's signature beef rendang (slow-cooked meat in coconut milk and spices), eggplant balado (eggplant cooked with spicy chili sauce), fried fish with rendang sauce and ampiang dadiah (buffalo milk yogurt).

"Indonesian cuisine sometimes gets a little bit lost in translation, and they get sort of swallowed up into that sort of amazing backdrop. But until you come here, you don't understand how individual it is  understand that there are over 200 variations of rendang [...]  and how everything is localized. We don't have dishes like that in the UK. We have Lancashire hotpot up north but then we don't have 20 versions of it," Ramsay shared.

"And the nice thing about the essence of food here is in the preservation. The locals are buying produce fresh daily. The last time I experienced something as exciting as this was when I was in Vietnam."

His presence in Bukittinggi was part of the second season of Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, which premiered earlier this month on National Geographic.

If the first season saw the Ironman athlete embark on various adventurous culinary journeys, the second boasts even more thrilling off-grid and off-recipe food escapades, this time in Indonesia, Tasmania, South Africa, Louisiana, Norway, India and Guyana.

Among his experiences during his five-day trip in West Sumatra, aired on Monday, were milking a buffalo  which then decided to defecate on his face  and participating in pacu jawi (traditional bull race) in a remote rice paddy field, working as a deckhand in the open ocean and exploring a bat-infested cave system in search of giant prawns.

This week, @GordonRamsay heads to Sumatra to learn the secrets of Indonesian cuisine. Tune in Sunday at 10/9c on National Geographic. #Uncharted pic.twitter.com/7OX0RAOkyG  Nat Geo Channel (@NatGeoChannel) June 26, 2020

"What an amazing week here, incredible. A little bit dangerous  trying to ride those bulls was hard. Milking the buffalo this morning for my yogurt was hard as well. Also going out with the locals and fishing with those incredible nets; I think the boat was actually older than me, built in the 1940s," Ramsay said, chuckling.

As a first-timer to Indonesia, he described the country as "amazing" and "really beautiful", however found the roads to be "a bit crazy."

"I still find it hard when I drive past a motorbike and there are four people on it and not one of them got a helmet. [However, Indonesia has] incredible culture, very self-sufficient, very unmanufactured [...] Everyone understands it's a working nation and nothing has been overcommercialize  that's a nice thing," he said, boasting that he had tried all the local snacks, from bika (coconut-based cake) to durian, and was particularly impressed with the former.

"Have you seen the way they cooked [bika]? In a clay pot? So [they're] less smokey and the flavors [are] there."

He enjoyed going to a traditional market as well.

"Have you been to the local market here? [It's] incredible; hustling and bustling. And the way they preserve the vegetables for market sale; it's the kind of ingredients that any [chef] would dream of."

Regarding the show itself, Ramsay described Uncharted as "coming off the glamour side of the tourist attraction and going into the real heartbeat of what this country stands for. Going back to learning because I get stripped of everything I got."

"So, I knew I was going to get my ass kicked by William Wongso, I knew that. He's 73 years of age, he's been cooking for six decades. He knows 200 versions of rendang. He got me turmeric leaves this morning, rolled them up, tied them in a bow and told me to put it in my rendang. I said, why? He said, trust me. So, two hours later it made it a little bit more fragrant. I'm very lucky to become a student under someone like William."

William, who is featured in the episode alongside rendang master Katuju who took Ramsay to the local market, and food writer Ade Putri Paramadita who introduced him to some cattle farmers, shared a similar sentiment, particularly how the two immediately became friends after their first meeting in West Sumatra's capital city of Padang.

"He's very spontaneous, lovable, very interested to learn because I think this is the first time a Western chef learned the right way of cooking the West Sumatran-style of rendang, as [there are] many Western chefs whove never been to Indonesia claiming they [can] cook rendang, without [knowing] the legacy," William said at the filming location.

According to William, red meat is among the key ingredients in rendang, as well as locally obtained 24-percent fat-content coconut cream and curly chili.

Read also: Why beef rendang is the right food to send to natural disaster victims

"Rendang in West Sumatra is a legacy, has its own character and so many varieties, easily more than 200. One thing in common, rendang is West Sumatran caramelized beef curry, and Gordon did a great job. He learned to understand and he tasted from different places around this area," William said. "Rendang that is cooked using one recipe but with a different cooking method or cooking time will have different a taste. [The color will change from a] yellow curry, and then become brown curry, and if you further cook it and make it is darker, then it becomes rendang.

"[Gordon's version of rendang] was what you call the stage between kalio and rendang. I advised him to stop at this stage; he can keep it in the freezer and later just take it out and cook it again if he wants to make rendang. Because once it already becomes rendang, you cannot go back to this more creamy, soft and tender stage of kalio.

[The locals usually cook the beef] drier as a way to preserve it.

William was the one who suggested that the shows producers focus on West Sumatra when they could not figure out which destination to explore among the country's over 17,000 islands.

"I had no second thought. I immediately told [them to explore] West Sumatra because the complexity of the culture is very unique; the food culture is known all over Indonesia. I [advised] them to open with makan bajamba [Minangkabau tradition of dining together while sitting on the floor], so spectacular."

West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno told journalists invited to the shooting location that he was hopeful that the program could help promote the region's cuisines and culture to the world.

"The show is a good opportunity for us [as it can help promote] not only the iconic rendang, but also [other dishes such as] ikan balado [grilled mackerel with chili sauce] and tourist activities like pacu jawi, fishing and jungle trekking," he said.

Separately, showrunner John Kroll praised the local administration for being so welcoming.

"They made it clear that we want you here, we will do things to help you. When we get that kind of welcome from a place, it's very difficult to say no. And I can tell you, now that I've done 10 episodes of the show  six in the last years and four so far this year  we have never got a warmer welcome than we have here in Indonesia."

Kroll added that the crews experience of shooting in the province had been an "absolute fest" in terms of help, support and love from the local people.

"And the people that we have encountered, from the farmer by the side of the road to the people who [prepare] our lunches, have just been the kindest, warmest people we've met anywhere in the world."

The verdict of Ramsay's Sumatran dishes from the governor and his family can now be watched on the show. But during the January interview, the restaurateur only said that they all seemed happy.

"Forget Michelin stars, Good Food Guides and glamorous restaurants. I stand there naked and afraid. The Zulu chief warrior in South Africa told me straight: I would eat that in my house and the governor today said that he enjoyed the rendang, which I started cooking last night at 8 o'clock. It's not the kind of food I grew up with, so I try to get up to speed by [learning] every day, go gather my ingredients, go back, practice and study [again]."

Ramsay has had his share of negative responses for opening an Asian restaurant because he is not from Asia.

"So, you're saying that every country you know, you need to be from that country if you need to learn that food; that's total rubbish. I'm not an Indonesian chef but I'll certainly use beef rendang when I get back to my restaurant in London without a doubt because I know I've been to the heart and [understand] the essence.

"The number one seller at our restaurant at Terminal 5 [of Heathrow Airport in] London is butter chicken, which [I learned to make and understood when] I went to India, the birthplace of butter chicken. So, I can't wait to put beef rendang [on the menu]; I cant wait to do that."

__________

The Jakarta Post was invited for a press visit to Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, by National Geographic on Jan. 21 to 23.
Indonesian animated series Kiko premiered on Disney XD on Thursday.

Created by Jakarta-based media company MNC Animation, it follows the underwater adventures of a mutated goldfish named Kiko and his friends.

According to a statement, the series will air on Disney XD every Friday in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines.

"[Thanks to] the platform provided by Disney XD, MNC Animation can contribute at the international level, MNC Animation CEO Liliana Tanoesoedibjo said in the statement. "[It serves as] proof that the animation market is thriving in this country. Hopefully, we can continue to develop our cooperation, especially with prominent brands in the media industry."

Read also: Preschool children who have more screen time show structural differences in their brains: Study

Since it was aired for the first time in 2016, Kiko has won various awards, including the Panasonic Gobel Award for Best Animation and Children Program Category in 2016 and 2019, Favorite Local Animation and Children at Indonesian Television Awards in 2017 and 2018 and the Asian Academy Creative Awards in 2019.

The series has been shown in 52 countries since last year, including in the United Kingdom, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

MNC Animation is part of MNC Group, an Indonesian multinational conglomerate engaged in media, finance, property, natural resources and transportation. (gis/kes)
The European Union will plough more money into rocket launches, satellite communication and space exploration to preserve its often unsung successes in space and keep up with US and Chinese ambitions, its space chief said on Sunday.

Over the past decades, Europe has sought to build independent access to space from US and Russian pioneers to help its industry, with successes such as Ariane rockets or GPS-rival satnav Galileo.

But the recent emergence of US competitor SpaceX and its reusable rockets as well as China's rapid advances, including the first ever landing on the far side of the Moon last year, is giving new urgency to Europe's ambitions.

"Space is one of Europe's strong points, and we're giving ourselves the means to speed up," European Commissioner Thierry Breton, whose brief include the space sector, told Reuters in an interview.

Breton, the former French head of IT company Atos, said that for the first time, the EU budget will be used to support new technology to launch rockets, including reusable ones.

The EU will for the first time sign a 1 billion euro agreement with Arianespace with guaranteed orders to give it more visibility, in exchange for more innovation.

"SpaceX has redefined the standards for launchers, so Ariane 6 is a necessary step, but not the ultimate aim: we must start thinking now about Ariane 7," Breton said.

Breton, who hopes the European Commission will provide 16 billion euros for space in its next budget, said he would propose a 1 billion euro European Space Fund to boost startups. He also wants to launch a competition to give free access to satellites and launchers to startups, to spur innovation.

For the Galileo satnav system, Breton said he would bring forward to the end of 2024 instead of 2027 the rollout of a new generation of satellites, "the most modern in the world", that can interact with each other and provide a more precise signal.

He wants to launch a new satellite system that can give high-speed Internet access to all Europeans, and begin work on a Space Traffic Management system to avoid collisions, made more likely with the rapid increase in the number of satellites.
A giant panda gifted by China to Taiwan has given birth to a second female cub after being artificially inseminated, Taipei Zoo announced Monday.

Yuan Yuan and her partner Tuan Tuan have been top attractions since arriving from China in 2008 as a symbol of what were then warm relations between the two sides.

The unnamed cub, weighing 186 grams, was born on Sunday after a five-hour labor, the zoo said.

"We were hoping the mother could look after the cub. But Yuan Yuan was probably very tired from the birth... so after evaluation we decided to remove the cub" to be fed by caretakers, the zoo said in a statement.

It added that the newborn cub was in stable condition after being treated for a minor injury to its back.

Yuan Yuan gave birth to a daughter Yuan Zai in 2013 -- the first giant panda born in Taiwan.

Beijing usually only loans its pandas, and any progeny must be sent to China.

But in a rare departure from that protocol, Taiwan was allowed to keep Yuan Zai as her parents were a gift, according to Taipei officials.

China's decision to give Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan to Taiwan was a symbolic gesture when the self-ruled island was run by a Beijing-friendly Kuomintang administration.

"Tuanyuan" -- a combination of the Chinese characters of the pandas' names -- means "reunion" or "unity".

Read also: Canada zoo to send pandas home after bamboo shortage

The pair's arrival sparked a panda mania on the island, especially after Yuan Zai's birth.

Taiwan and China have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949 and Beijing has vowed to one day bring the island back into the fold, by force if necessary.

Since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen -- who views Taiwan as a de facto sovereign state and not part of "One China" -- Beijing has ramped up military, economic and diplomatic pressure.

Fewer than 1,600 pandas remain in the wild, mainly in Sichuan province, with about 300 in captivity around the world.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 29, 2020 15:52 356 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40662739b8 1 National IllegalAnimalTrade,smuggling,birds,wildlife,wildlife-trade,wildlife-protection Free

The Bakauheni Port Police (KSKP) together with the Lampung Agriculture Quarantine Body have confiscated more than 29,000 birds intended to be shipped to Java over the past six months.

A top official at the Agriculture Quarantine Body, Karman, said authorities had managed to thwart at least 43 smuggling attempts at the port from January to June this year.

The latest smuggling attempt was thwarted last Saturday, with 400 distinctive black and white kacer ( Oriental magpie-robin) seized from a minivan that had departed from Jambi. The driver failed to show official documents for the shipment, the official explained.

"All of the birds have been handed to the Lampung Natural Resources Conservation Agency [BKSDA] to be released into the wild," Karman said Monday.

Other birds confiscated include cucak ijo (greater green leafbird), kutilang (sooty-headed bulbul), perkutut (zebra dove) and prenjak (bar-winged prinia), with the smugglers attempting to deliver the majority of the birds to Pramuka bird market in East Jakarta.

Last year, the authorities managed to stop the illegal shipping of roughly 39,000 birds in 45 different smuggling attempts, kompas.com reported. (vny)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 29, 2020 19:39 356 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406627f4d7 1 National Banten,Greater-Tangerang,PSBB,PSBB-Masa-Transisi,coronavirus-restrictions,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

Banten Governor Wahidin Halim has announced that he will extend the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Greater Tangerang to July 12.

"We have agreed to extend the PSBB in Greater Tangerang with some relaxations that are still in accordance with the health protocols," Wahidin was quoted as saying by kompas.com in a statement on Sunday.

He added that the decision to extend the PSBB in Greater Tangerang for a fifth time was taken after a virtual meeting with leaders from South Tangerang, Tangerang city and Tangerang regency.

"We need to extend the PSBB, because a lot of residents are still violating the health protocols in public places. At several traditional markets, for example, there are a lot of people who wear face masks but don't maintain a physical distance," Wahidin explained.

He said the PSBB extension was aimed at making residents more disciplined in following health protocols, such as wearing masks and maintaining a distance between one another before entering the so-called new normal phase.

Tangerang Regent Ahmad Zeki Iskandar said his administration was currently considering extending shopping mall opening hours from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the PSBB.

In preparation for entering the new normal, the city also plans to allow wedding receptions and sport events, albeit without an audience.

"Despite the relaxation, residents need to remain disciplined in wearing masks and following other health protocols," Zaki said on Sunday.

According to data from the Banten Health Agency, there are 1,131 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Greater Tangerang as of Sunday, with 81 fatalities. (nal)
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Shanghai, China  Mon, June 29, 2020 08:40 357 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066250f22 2 World China,Beijing,coronavirus,coronavirus-testing,COVID-19,COVID-19-test,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,pandemic Free

Beijing has ramped up coronavirus testing efforts and has tested about a third of the Chinese capital's population so far, a city official said on Sunday, as authorities seek to control an outbreak stemming from a wholesale market in mid-June.

As of Sunday noon, Beijing had collected 8.29 million patient samples for testing and completed 7.69 million tests, Zhang Qiang, an official from Beijing's municipal committee, told a press conference.

"This means we have already tested all the people that need to be tested. We are also rolling out large scale screening to key regions and key populations [of the city] and improve our capability of testing," said Zhang, adding that Beijing was also receiving medical support from other provinces.

Beijing reported its first case from the outbreak at Xinfadi market on June 11 and 311 people in the city of over 20 million have tested positive for the virus since then.

According to Zhang, the testing is being done in batches and includes workers from the market and residents in surrounding neighborhoods. Students, front-line medical staff, and workers in the transportation, banking, supermarkets, express deliveries and beauty salon industries will also be tested.

Zhang added that Beijing's daily testing capacity has increased to 458,000 per day.

China on Sunday reported 17 new coronavirus cases, of which 14 were from Beijing.
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Linkedin Christophe Vogt (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States  Mon, June 29, 2020 14:50 356 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406626dca1 2 Business Boeing-737-MAX,united-states,FAA,aviation,test-flight Free

Boeing's 737 MAX plane could take its first test flight from Monday, a crucial step for the survival of the company's star model that has been grounded for 14 months.

Two sources close to the case told AFP Friday the flight could take place early the following week.

Neither Boeing nor the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the flight when asked for comment on Sunday.

"We continue to work diligently on safely returning the 737 MAX to service. We defer to the FAA and global regulators on the process," a Boeing spokesperson told AFP.

The MAX has been grounded globally since March 13, 2019, following an Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 people. That catastrophe came just a few months after a Lion Air MAX crash that killed 189 people.

The troubling similarities between the two accidents, both of which occurred shortly after takeoff, along with the pilots' inability to regain control of the plane, led global aviation authorities to ground the model indefinitely.

For months, the United States aviation giant has been struggling to get its medium-haul aircraft  whose sales were its main source of revenue before the grounding  back into service.

The model's anti-stall flight system, the MCAS, was partially to blame for both crashes. But other technical malfunctions, including one involving electrical wiring, were subsequently detected during the aircraft's modification process, slowing down its recertification.

For weeks, Boeing has been awaiting the green light from authorities to conduct test flights to prove the modifications provide maximum safety.

Boeing Field

Civil aviation authorities cannot approve the modified model until they have examined how it performs in flight. They will also look at the thousands of data points collected during the flights.

For this reason, three days of test flights have been planned, according to the New York Times.

They will take off from Boeing Field, just outside Seattle, the manufacturer's birthplace in the northwestern US state of Washington.

The weather is difficult to predict, but forecasts show Monday will be partially cloudy, with little wind and a 10 percent chance of rain.

According to the Times, an FAA pilot will be at the controls to test out the modifications conducted on the plane, and a Boeing test pilot will also be on board.

In general, test flights are meticulously prepared for.

Delay after delay

A few months ago, Boeing anticipated the MAX would return to service in mid-2020, around June.

But the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in travel restrictions and lockdown measures to try and slow its spread, has upset the schedule.

According to The Seattle Times, European and Canadian aviation authorities have demanded substantial new changes to the plane's flight control system.

The two regulators, along with the FAA "have agreed Boeing will be required to make these additional design changes... only after the MAX returns to service," the newspaper reported.

When asked by AFP for further details, a Boeing spokesperson said Friday that safety is the company's top priority.

The spokesperson also said that Boeing is committed to answering regulator questions and meeting all certification and regulatory requirements.

Boeing urgently needs to get the 737 MAX back in the air in order to pull itself out of a historic crisis.

The aircraft accounts for more than two-thirds of the company's order book and is therefore crucial to the mid-term survival of the manufacturer  which, like the entire aviation industry, is suffering from the effects of the coronavirus crisis.

At the end of April, Boeing released details on a downsizing plan to cut total headcount by 10 percent, or roughly 16,000 employees in all.

In March, credit ratings agency S&P downgraded its rating for Boeing to BBB from A-, moving it into a speculative category.

The additional modifications required by foreign aviation authorities could add substantial costs to the MAX program. They could also slow the increase in deliveries that Boeing would need to rebuild its cash flow.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Beijing, China  Mon, June 29, 2020 07:30 357 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406624db3a 2 World virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,China,pandemic,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-vaccines,human-test,human-trial,SARS-CoV-2 Free

China National Biotec Group (CNBG) said on Sunday that early human test results for a coronavirus vaccine candidate suggested it could be safe and effective, the second vaccine candidate from the firm to show encouraging results in a clinical trial.

The experimental shot, developed by a Beijing-based unit of CNBG, has induced high-level antibodies in all the inoculated participants in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial involving 1,120 healthy people, according to preliminary data of the trial, CNBG said in a posting on the social media platform WeChat, without disclosing specific readings.

Chinese companies and researchers have been allowed to test eight vaccine candidates in humans at home and abroad, making China a major front-runner in the race to develop a shot against the virus that has killed nearly 500,000 people globally.

CNBG, affiliated to the state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), said earlier this month that another vaccine candidate produced by its Wuhan-based unit also triggered high-level antibodies safely in clinical trial participants based on preliminary results.

A vaccine has to prove its effectiveness in "Phase 3" human test where thousands of participants are recruited in order to be cleared for sale.

CNBG said on Tuesday it will run a Phase 3 for its vaccine candidate in the United Arab Emirates, without specifying which shot will be tested.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 29, 2020 17:08 356 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406627a0f8 1 Politics COVID-19,Jokowi,cabinet,cabinet-meeting,health-ministry Free

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has again demanded his Cabinet make a greater effort to address the COVID-19 crisis, as he criticized what he called a "lethargic" response to the pandemic.

In a meeting on Monday, Jokowi told his ministers to do more to handle the health crisis, such as by deploying more healthcare personnel to provinces outside Jakarta that still showed high transmission rates or by increasing the supply of urgently needed medical equipment to help the country in battling the virus.

"There must be innovations that can be seen by the people and that have a real impact on controlling the spread of the disease," Jokowi said, "Unless we do something [to change] such a lethargic [response], there will not be significant improvements."

The President specifically called on the Health Ministry to immediately reimburse the cost of COVID-19 treatment in the country's hospitals, as well as paying financial assistance to the families of deceased COVID-19 patients without delay.

The procedures within the Health Ministry should not be complicated," Jokowi said, The payment of hospital claims, incentives for medical and laboratory workers should be made immediately. What are we waiting for? The budget has been allocated anyway."

Monday was not the first time that Jokowi lambasted his aides over the country's COVID-19 response.

Read also: COVID-19: Jokowi threatens Cabinet with reshuffle in fiery address

In a video posted on the Presidential Secretariats official YouTube channel on Sunday, Jokowi was seen saying that he was ready to take extraordinary steps, including a Cabinet reshuffle for ministers who failed to take the COVID-19 crisis seriously.

In the footage, which was apparently shot during the June 18 Cabinet meeting, the President also lambasted the Health Ministry for being sluggish in paying out the promised financial incentives for health workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 outbreak. He cited how only 1.5 percent of the Rp 75 trillion (US$5.3 billion) state budget prepared for the health sector had been disbursed so far.

In his statement on Monday, Jokowi also spoke out about incidents where people rejected swab and rapid COVID-19 tests, saying this was because authorities suddenly arrived to perform tests without having properly disseminated information about them.

"I think the most important thing is for us to have integrated efforts to control [COVID-19] so that all of us can work effectively without any departmental rivalries between ministries, institutions or regions, as this is unnecessary," he added.

According to the government's official count, Indonesia recorded 55,092 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Monday, with a total death toll reaching 2,805. (trn)
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Linkedin Tri Indah Oktavianti, Ivany Atina Arbi and Alya Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 29, 2020 17:24 356 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406627ba55 1 National Sexual-assault,sexual-abuse,sexual-abuse-in-Catholic-Church,Catholic-church,KWI,bishop,Child-sexual-abuse,#catholicsexabuse Free

A recently uncovered case of child sexual abuse at a Catholic church in Depok, West Java, has put a spotlight on sexual abuse in the wider Indonesian Catholic Church, causing adherents throughout the country to call for justice and reform.

On Sunday, the Catholic Women Human Rights Activists, a group made up of 194 Indonesian Catholic women, condemned the sexual assaults allegedly carried out by 42-year-old church caretaker Syahril Parlindungan Marbun, who has been accused of molesting at least 20 altar boys between the ages of 11 and 15 since 2002.

The group said one of the victims parents had reported the alleged assault to St. Herkulanus Church in 2014.

However, at that time, the issue was solved through mediation by the church and the suspect was not removed from his position as the altar boys mentor but was instead promoted to head of the mentorship subsection, the group said in a statement on Sunday.

The group called on the Diocese of Bogor and St. Herkulanus Church to establish a safe place maintained by a team of independent experts to manage and document the rehabilitation of victims and their families.

When asked about the groups statement, St. Herkulanus parish priest Yosef Sirilus Natet said he did not know whether a report was made in 2014.

I wasnt in the parish during that time, he said to The Jakarta Post. I dont know [what happened in 2014]. That is why I think we should let the police investigate the matter.

Yosef himself, who was appointed to the parish earlier this year, is one of the priests who received a report about Syahril from one of the victims parents earlier this month and coordinated with the Bogor diocese and the KWI to report the case to law enforcement authorities.

Other rights activists have said that the Depok case is only one of many sexual abuse cases in the Church, the majority of which have gone unreported because of a lack of support from church communities.

Last year, weekly magazine Warta Minggu, published by the Tomang Roman Catholic parish in West Jakarta, reported that at least 56 people had been sexually abused in Catholic churches throughout the country.

We always face huge struggles against sexual abuse issues within the Church as not everyone seems to think of the matter as a crime against humanity, Sister Eustochia Monika Nata of the Maumere Diocese in East Nusa Tenggara said at a virtual press conference on Sunday.

What makes it harder is that our activism is often seen as an action against fellow Catholics, she added.

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Diah Pitaloka, who has long fought for stronger sexual violence laws in the country, said victims of sexual harassment or assault  particularly those who were assaulted by religious leaders  were usually silenced as cases could tarnish the reputation of religious leaders and church communities.

"Sexual harassment cases within religious communities are abundant in number, but only a few of them are reported. We need strong will from the community to change this condition," Diah said, encouraging more parties to push for the passage of a sexual violence bill that sided with victims.

Human rights activist Valentina Sagala echoed Diah's statement that reported sexual assaults were only the tip of the iceberg. Many victims, she said, were reluctant to speak up because of the absence of regulations.

"We need at least three things to encourage them to speak up: first, clear anti-sexual violence laws; second, reporting mechanisms for victims; and [third,] campaigns against sexual violence," she said.

The Catholic Women Human Rights Activists have urged the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) to establish sexual abuse prevention protocols for women and children.

Maria Cherry, a St. Herkulanus Church parishioner, called on the church to create strict rules to protect children from sexual abuse.

Sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has been consistently reported on worldwide. This is a real danger, and church law should address it thoroughly to protect children from sexual violence, Maria said in a discussion on Friday.

Indonesian Catholic Women (WKRI) chairwoman Justina Rostiawati, who also works with the KWI, said there had been an effort in the diocese and the church to deal with sexual abuse through open discussion.

[But] while some Catholic Orders have started to develop and implement sexual abuse prevention protocols against minors, it remains a challenge to create awareness among Catholic dioceses and parochial pastors, she said during a virtual press conference on Sunday.

Through his apostolic letter Vos Estis Lux Mundi, Pope Francis passed an ecclesiastical law requiring each diocese to create a system for reporting sexual abuse by June 2020.

The Catholic Church in Indonesia, however, has yet to create such a system.

Bogor Diocese judicial vicar Yohanes Driyanto said that setting up such a system was not easy as not many priests had mastered canon law. He added, however, that he was ready to be involved.

Im ready to be a part of the group that will create the protocol, he said.

Gisella Tani, a member of the St. Aloysius Gonzaga Cijantung parish in East Jakarta, said that church laws against sexual abuse would assure victims that they would be well-received and protected and that their reports would be taken seriously.

It shows support and will help ease their psychological stress as a result of the incident, she said, adding that the church should develop comprehensive sex and gender education to prevent sexual abuse.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with a statement from the St. Herkulanus parish about the 2014 report against Syahril.
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Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 29, 2020 14:38 356 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406626c6b0 1 National drugs,medicine,COVID-19-drugs,BPOM,health,COVID-19,Corona,virus-korona-indonesia Free

Strict testing is required for the slew of supposed coronavirus remedies that have garnered public attention in recent months, experts say.

For people seeking to mitigate the impact of the outbreak on their health, alternative medical practices claiming to be cures for COVID-19 have become increasingly appealing.

However, health experts have cautioned against taking these claims at face value and have called on the government to bolster the screening process for new medicines to ensure that they are safe for public consumption.

Epidemiologist Pandu Riono from the University of Indonesias Public Health Faculty urged all stakeholders to comply with existing laws on the production of medicine to ensure public safety.

Although were in the middle of an emergency, we still have to keep public safety in mind, Pandu said during an online discussion held by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) on Sunday.

He went on to urge the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) to play a more active role during the pandemic to prevent the market from being saturated with questionable products that could exacerbate existing health hazards.

There are no shortcuts when it comes to [medicine]. Every stakeholder must abide by the law, he said.

Read also: Preventing misleading claim of COVID-19 cure

At the same event, Indonesian Doctors Council (KKI) chairman Sukman Tulus Putra supported Pandus opinion, saying that the public should err on the side of caution and remain skeptical of any claims of a COVID-19 cure as there was currently no medicine proven to cure the disease.

He said pharmaceutical companies and researchers should be objective when advertising their products and refrain from issuing false claims that could potentially harm consumers.

Dont simply claim that you have discovered the cure for COVID-19. Going straight into production without having passed clinical trials is an ethical violation, Sukman said.

There have been numerous claims of supposed COVID-19 remedies in Indonesia since the country reported its first confirmed cases in March.

Several weeks after the countrys outbreak began, President Joko Jokowi Widodo announced that the government had prepared medicines, including three million doses of chloroquine phosphate  an antimalarial drug  which he described as having been proven to cure COVID-19 in other countries.

However, health experts have warned the public against consuming chloroquine without proper medical supervision, citing a number of potentially debilitating side effects, such as weakened muscles and mental disorders.

Earlier this month, experts advised against using dexamethasone, an inexpensive and widely used medication, which had previously been hailed as a major breakthrough in COVID-19 treatment.
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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 29, 2020 19:23 356 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406627ef28 1 National djoko-tjandra,BLBI-case,bank-bali-case,Attorney-General-Office,ST-Burhanuddin,fugitive Free

Djoko Soegiarto Tjandra, a fugitive in the high-profile Bank Bali corruption case, returned to the country and filed a case review against his conviction with the South Jakarta District Court in early June, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) has said.

The graft convict was scheduled to attend his own case review submission hearing at the court on Monday, Attorney General ST Burhanuddin said. Djoko did not appear.

Burhanuddin told members of House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs in a hearing on Monday that the AGO was tracking down the fugitive.

Burhanuddin said the office had not received any information about Djoko's arrival in the country before learning that he had come to the South Jakarta District Court on June 8 to file his case review.

He said Djoko had reportedly been in Indonesia for the past three months.

"Honestly, this is a result our intelligence weaknesses. That's the fact. I asked the court, and they said [the case review] was filed through an integrated service that had no identity control," he said in the hearing.

He said the AGO would discuss the issue with the Immigration Office to establish the details of the graft convict's arrival in Indonesia. Burhanuddin believed that Djoko should not have been able to enter the country freely because of his status as a fugitive.

The AGO has been hunting for Djoko for years  but to no avail. Burhanuddin said he had previously received information that Djoko had been spotted in Malaysia and Singapore.

Burhanuddin said he had instructed his officers to immediately arrest Djoko as he was expecting him to come to the hearing on Monday. "We've been looking for him for three days, but we havent found him yet."

Read also: President weighs in on Djoko Tjandra saga

Djoko was involved in the Bank Bali scandal, which saw hundreds of billions of rupiah embezzled from state bailout funds for the 1998 Asian financial crisis. He was acquitted in 2000 but later convicted in 2009 after the AGO filed a request for review.

The Supreme Court convicted both Djoko and former Bank Indonesia governor Syahril Sabirin and sentenced them to two years' imprisonment each for misusing Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support (BLBI) funds in the case. The court ordered Djoko to pay Rp 546 billion (US$54 million) in restitution to the state for illegally disbursing the funds to the bank in 1999.

Djoko, however, fled Indonesia on a chartered flight from Halim Perdanakusumah Airport in Jakarta to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea (PNG) on June 10, 2009, just a day before the Supreme Court issued its verdict on the AGO's request for review.

Then-PNG Ambassador to Indonesia Peter Ilau confirmed on July 12, 2009, that Djoko had obtained PNG citizenship.

The AGO suspected that Djoko had falsified legal documents when applying for PNG citizenship, as Djoko was a fugitive and would have concealed information during his application process.

Indonesia has no extradition treaty with PNG.

South Jakarta District Court spokesperson Suharno confirmed to kompas.com that Djoko had not attended the hearing on Monday. He had reportedly claimed to be sick.
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Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 29, 2020 12:40 357 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066263632 1 Business PLN,SKKMigas,Gas,power-plant,electricity,pertamina,subsidy-cut Free

Four gas producers have inked deals to supply gas at below market price to several gas-fired power plants as part of the governments plan to slash billions of dollars in energy subsidies.

Producers Pertamina EP, Pertamina Hulu Energi, PT Kangean Energy and EMP Bentu Ltd. signed on Friday 11 deals with state-owned electricity company PLN to supply the gas, said the Upstream Oil and Gas Special Regulatory Taskforce (SKK Migas) in a statement.

Read also: Cheap gas incentives to cost government Rp 121.78 trillion in forgone revenue

PLN, the plants operator, is slated to buy the gas at US$6.09 per million British thermal unit (mmbtu), cheaper than what the company is currently paying at $8.21 per mmbtu.

With lower gas prices, this will reduce PLNs electricity supply cost [BPP] and thus, create a more efficient electricity supply, PLN spokesman Agung Murdifi told The Jakarta Post via text message on Friday.

Buyers should also increase gas consumption with the lower prices, said Dwi Soetjipto, head of SKK Migas, an agency that often speaks on behalf of oil and gas producers in Indonesia.

With Fridays deals, PLN has secured 213.73 billion British thermal units per day (bbtud) worth of cheap gas, which is 15.4 percent of the total receivable as stipulated by Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) ministerial decree (Kepmen) No. 91K/2020.

Read also: More companies sign deals to secure gas discounts

The Energy Ministry expects the incentive to save state coffers around Rp 20 trillion ($1.4 billion) in electricity and fertilizer subsidies each year between 2020 and 2024, which is the incentives lifespan.

Fertilizer producers, an equally heavy consumer of natural gas, are also slated to receive the cheap gas this year, but through a different ministerial decree.

A Pertamina EP official was not immediately available for comment.
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Linkedin Elizabeth Piper (Reuters) London, United Kingdom  Mon, June 29, 2020 08:50 357 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066251dec 2 World Britain,UK,Boris-Johnson,infrastructure,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,economy Free

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will launch a plan this week to get Britain "moving again" after the coronavirus lockdown, when the government will set out measures to boost infrastructure construction, interior minister Priti Patel said on Sunday.

Johnson will make a speech on Tuesday to set out plans to fast-track building projects such as hospitals, schools, housing, and road and rail infrastructure, part of efforts to try to stem a fall in support for his government.

The British leader has been criticized for his response to the coronavirus crisis, with opposition parties and some scientists saying the government was too slow to bring in a lockdown, too slow to carry out widespread testing and not clear in its messaging.

But Johnson, who won a large majority at last year's election, hopes to revive his fortunes by returning to his pledges to "level up" Britain by focusing spending on traditional Labor-supporting areas that backed his Conservative Party.

"It's an important plan ... As we move out of this awful, awful period of coronavirus, this dreadful disease, we want to get Britain moving again," Patel told Sky News.

"We are building now very much a road to recovery, a roadmap, focusing on infrastructure right now ... focused on roads, broadband, the type of things that effectively help to create jobs but also provide services and economic growth and opportunity around the country."

Despite the likely questions over the bill for such works, Johnson repeated that his government would not return to the austerity policies seen under Conservative former prime minister, David Cameron. He told the Mail on Sunday newspaper that he was going to act fast "to build our way back to health".

According to pollster Opinium, more of the public favor opposition Labor leader Keir Starmer as prime minister over Johnson, although the Conservatives still hold a lead in terms of voting intention.

Parties

Some scientists fear that Britain is on course for a second wave of coronavirus, not helped by some people holding parties and large gatherings after Johnson announced a further easing of England's lockdown in early July, when pubs and restaurants can reopen.

"My concerns with the UK government are sometimes less with the substance ... I'm more concerned that the messaging ... seems much more that it's all over and you can go back to doing everything as you did before," Mark Drakeford, the first minister of Wales, told Sky News.

Patel said people should still follow the guidelines.

"It's important that the public realize that this virus has not disappeared at all," she said. "We are still in a health emergency ... People need to follow the guidance."
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Taipei, Taiwan  Mon, June 29, 2020 09:00 357 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066251fc8 2 World Taiwan,rainbow-flag,pride-month,Pride-March,LGBT-rights,LGBTQ,LGBT,Taipei Free

Hundreds of people thronged a central square in Taiwan's capital Taipei for a Pride event on Sunday, unfurling a giant rainbow flag in front of the main memorial hall for late autocratic leader Chiang Kai-shek before being ushered away by police.

Proudly democratic Taiwan is a bastion of liberal values in a part of the world where in many countries homosexuality remains illegal or taboo. Taiwan legalized same sex marriage last year, the first in Asia.

The "Taiwan Pride Parade for the World" billed itself as a show of solidarity with countries unable to hold LGBTQ celebrations due to restrictions on public events to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. The pandemic is under control in Taiwan.

An international crowd of more than 200 people waving rainbow flags and masks, some singing and dancing, marched up to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, where a small group briefly displayed the flag in front of the building, which houses a giant statue of Taiwan's late leader.

After scattered shouts of "Fuck you, Chiang Kai-shek", the crowd marched back down the steps, accompanied by a handful of police, blowing whistles to stop people lingering.

Chiang, who died in 1975, was lauded in life as an anti-communist hero, especially in the United States, but many Taiwanese revile him as a despot who imprisoned and killed opponents during a reign of terror.

Darien Chen, who represented Taiwan at Mr. Gay World 2013 and organized Sunday's event, said they were holding high the banner for the rest of the world, with hundreds of events cancelled in the traditional Pride month.

"With the rest of the world under the peak of the epidemic, only Taiwan can do this," Chen told Reuters. "Of course we won't give in, and we must continue with this flame of hope and stand up for the world, to hold the only parade in the world in this Pride month."

Taipei holds its main Pride parade in late October when the weather is cooler.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 29, 2020 17:16 356 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406627aeb3 1 National pregnant,rape,rape-case,Denpasar-Bali,denpasar,Sexual-assault Free

A 13-year-old girl from Denpasar, Bali, who got pregnant after being allegedly raped multiple times by her cousin and who was forced to marry him, was reportedly raped again by her father-in-law after delivering the baby.



The alleged incident came to light after officials from the South Denpasar Community Health Center (Puskesmas) felt suspicious of the girl's behavior during a health checkup. The officials then alerted authorities.



The girl later told officials from Denpasar's Integrated Care Center for the Empowerment of Women and Children (P2TP2A) that she had been raped.



"After communicating with her, she admitted that she was raped by her cousin until she got pregnant. After the baby was born, she was raped by her father-in-law," Gusti Ayu Agung Yuli Marhaeningsih, a legal advisor from the Denpasar P2TP2A, said on Friday as reported by Tribunnews.com.



Marhaeni said the girl and her parents had come to the P2TP2A office for further questioning.



"Her parents said that she had been raped by her cousin who lived near their house. However, they decided not to report the incident to the police, as the perpetrator had agreed to take responsibility for his action by marrying her," she said.

Read also: American wanted by FBI entered Indonesia before Interpol's red notice: Minister



The girl and her alleged rapist did not register their marriage, as they are both still minors.



"A court order is necessary to register a child marriage. Since they did not carry out the procedures, they decided to marry unofficially," Marhaeningsih said.



She also explained that the baby was taken from the girl by other family members shortly after it was born in early 2020.



Marhaeningsih said that the girl's parents did not know what they should do about the incident, as they were unsure about legal matters. She said officials from the Denpasar P2TP2A had advised the girl's parents to report the incident to the police as the alleged incident violated the law.



"We had advised them to go to the police, but they said they were still thinking about it since the girl would be putting her husband and her father-in-law behind bars," she said. (nal)
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Linkedin Martin Abbugao (Agence France-Presse) Singapore  Mon, June 29, 2020 09:53 357 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40662584b9 2 Business Huawei,Singapore,Singtel,5G,united-states Free

Nokia and Ericsson have been chosen as Singapore's main 5G network providers, telecom operators said, leaving Huawei with only a minor role as the Chinese tech giant faces growing United States pressure.

Huawei has been dogged by allegations of stealing American trade secrets and aiding China's espionage efforts, with Washington pushing countries to bar the company from involvement in their next-generation networks.

Huawei has denied ties with the Chinese government.

Singtel, one of the city-state's main telecom operators, said Wednesday it had chosen Sweden's Ericsson to build its 5G network after the government gave final approval.

A joint venture that includes the country's two other major telecom operators, M1 and StarHub, announced it had opted for Nokia to build its main 5G infrastructure.

However, both M1 and Starhub said that other firms, including Huawei, could have some involvement in the project.

Huawei only won the contract to be a provider for a smaller, local network system, operated by TPG Telecom, a more minor player.

The Southeast Asian city-state tries to maintain good relations with both the US and China, and Information Minister S. Iswaran insisted that no company had been excluded in the selection process.

"We have run a robust process spelling out our requirements in terms of performance, security and resilience," he said, adding that mobile network operators also had their own criteria.

"There is a diversity of vendors participating in different parts of the 5G ecosystem, and... there remain prospects for greater involvement in our 5G system going forward."

Iswaran said the 5G investments will run into "billions of dollars".

Knowing your supplier

Singapore is aiming to have ultra high-speed internet coverage for half of the country by the end of 2022, and expand it to cover the entire island by the end of 2025.

The US government launched a worldwide campaign against Huawei, the world's largest supplier of telecom network equipment and the planet's number two smartphone maker, about 18 months ago.

Washington essentially banned Huawei from the US market last year, although earlier this month it let the firm back into the fold when it comes to companies working together to set standards for 5G networks.

The Pentagon has published a list of 20 Chinese companies it says are backed by the military, in the latest instance of a running tit-for-tat economic battle between Washington and Beijing, and Bloomberg reported Huawei is one of them.

"As the People's Republic of China attempts to blur the lines between civil and military sectors, 'knowing your supplier' is critical," Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman said in Washington.

The list covers firms "owned by, controlled by, or affiliated with China's government, military, or defense industry," Hoffman said in a statement.

"We envision this list will be a useful tool for the US Government, companies, investors, academic institutions, and likeminded partners to conduct due diligence with regard to partnerships with these entities."

Huawei did not immediately respond on the publication of the list.
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Linkedin Yunindita Prasidya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 29, 2020 19:43 356 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406628040c 1 Business DBS,Indonesia,market,investment,COVID-19,recovery Free

Indonesia is still among the preferred Southeast Asian markets for investment amid the countrys continuous fight against COVID-19, backed by strong household spending and a young working population, Singapores largest bank, DBS, has stated.

In a report titled CIO Insights 3Q20 released on Monday, DBS noted that the country would quickly return to normalcy after the relaxation of the pandemic-related restrictions, while household spending  which contributes more than half of its gross domestic product (GDP)  will continue to drive the recovery.

The investment strength in Indonesia lies in its favourable demographics. Indonesia is the third-most populous country in Asia, the fourth globally, and has a high proportion of young working adults, the report reads.

The Indonesian market, along with regional neighbour Singapore, trade at around 13 times forward price to earnings and are deemed to be the cheapest markets in ASEAN, leaving room for earning adjustments, the report stated.

Meanwhile, with the governments fiscal stimulus and monetary easing support, together with Indonesias structural demographic strength, DBS expects the economic woe from the pandemic to be over by the second quarter of this year.

With the pandemic impact on the economy, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has projected that the economy will contract by more than 3 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, after growth slowed to 2.97 percent in the first quarter. She expects full-year growth of 1 percent under the baseline scenario but a full-year contraction of 0.4 percent under the worst-case scenario.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian government has allocated Rp 695.2 trillion (US$ 49.3 billion) worth of COVID-19 spending to boost economic growth and strengthen its healthcare system amid the pandemic. From the total, around Rp 110 trillion of the stimulus has been allocated for social safety programs for the poor and vulnerable.

DBS stated in the report that the stimulus was expected to drive consumer spending in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the countrys consumption was largely driven by the low-middle income segment.

Meanwhile, DBS chief investment officer Hou Wey Fook said e-commerce would become a key trend in the post-pandemic economy.

[In] the longer term, the theme of a young population, growing economy and a population enjoying digital tools is actually very positive for Indonesia, Fook said during a webinar on the market outlook on Monday following the publication of the DBS report.

The DBS report says Indonesia is fast becoming the regions biggest e-commerce market, supported by private equity funds investing in digital start-ups as well as President Joko Jokowi Widodos push for a digital economy.

According to a study by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company titled e-Conomy SEA 2019, which DBS cited, Indonesias internet economy is expected to skyrocket at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32 percent between 2015 and 2025.

Between 2015 and 2019 alone, the Indonesian e-commerce sector grew at a CAGR of 88 percent with a gross merchandise value (GMV) of US$21 billion.

Consequently, DBS predicts that the sectors that will come out as post-pandemic winners are within the equity themes of health care and technology.

During the webinar, Fook suggested investors stick with a barbell strategy, an investment strategy that includes the extremes of high risk and no-risk assets, as it had shown resilience during the meltdown and a rebound in the upturn.

He added that staying engaged in risk assets, including equity, had resulted in swift rebound due to the unprecedented economic stimulus rolled out by the Fed.

The Jakarta Composite Index (JCI), Indonesia Stock Exchanges main gauge, which has gained 20 percent from Marchs bottom, is currently taking a breather, the report notes. JCI fell by 22.19 percent year-to-date (YTD) as of Monday.

We expect more upside for the index for it to recover to pre-crisis levels, the report reads.

Previously, Hariyanto Wijaya, head of research at Mirae Asset Sekuritas Indonesia, the countrys most active brokerage house, reminded investors to keep their losses small when investing during volatile times.

Please set your cut loss limit quite reasonably, we suggest around 20 percent, Hariyanto said during a webinar held by The Jakarta Post on June 17. If investors already get sufficient gains, I suggest taking a profit.
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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 29, 2020 12:19 357 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066260617 1 World humanitarian-crisis,diplomacy,crime,ASEAN,Rohingya,Myanmar,boat-capsized Free

Indonesia has garnered praise for its decision to provide humanitarian assistance to the nearly 100 Rohingya migrants stranded off the northern coast of Aceh this week, as pressure mounts on the region to deal with the crisis in Myanmar.

The government is working with civil society groups as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to ensure the well-being of a large group rescued by local fishermen, the Foreign Ministry has said.

The central government and the local administration [of Aceh], in collaboration with the UNHCR and IOM, will immediately make further efforts to handle these 99 Rohingya migrants. The people of North Aceh and Indonesian civil society groups are also actively providing humanitarian assistance, the ministry said in a statement on Friday evening.

Officials described Wednesdays rescue as a decision made based on humanitarian principles and that the refugees were in a very poor, emergency and life-threatening situation in the waters off North Aceh.

Read also: Indonesian fishermen rescue dozens of Rohingya refugees in Aceh waters

But now the main focus was to provide them with basic needs, temporary shelter and the necessary health services that ensure they follow health protocols to prevent COVID-19 transmission among the Rohingya migrants, the ministry said.

Indonesias statement comes amid concerns that local authorities were mulling over whether to send the refugees out to sea after their boat repairs.

However, the move has received praise from activists and Rohingya advocacy groups such as the Arakan Rohingya National Organization, which expressed its gratitude to the government and people of Indonesia for their generous efforts to rescue Rohingya refugees in distress.

A coalition of civil societies in Indonesia also applauded the move, saying the rescue could not have been possible without help from the central government.

The coalition, comprising nine organizations including the Indonesian Civil Society Association for the Protection of Refugee Rights (SUAKA), Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) and Amnesty International, noted that the state was initially hesitant, but then the local community initiated the rescue out of solidarity and humanitarian spirit.

ASEAN countries need to accept Rohingya refugees and not reject the vulnerable groups whose lives are increasingly threatened in the middle of the sea, the coalition said.

Most ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, are not party to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, which would otherwise legally oblige them to take in and take care of any refugees that arrive at their borders.

Read also: Despite conventions refugees still lack rights

Nevertheless, Indonesia has repeatedly stressed that it is willing to go beyond the call of duty to provide Rohingya refugees safety and shelter when such incidents occur.

UNHCR representative to Indonesia Ann Maymann said her agency stood ready to support the government in providing the necessary humanitarian assistance and quarantine measures.

Too crowded: Rohingya refugees gather at a market on May 15, 2020, as the first cases of COVID-19 emerged in the area, in Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhia. Some 15,000 Rohingya refugees are now under coronavirus quarantine in Bangladesh's vast camps, officials have said. (AFP/Suzauddin Rubel )

Indonesia has several times been a country that has set an example to others in the region, having also provided life-saving humanitarian assistance to Rohingya boat people in Aceh in 2015 and in 2018, she said in a statement on Friday.

Other neighboring countries, who were forced to take in stranded Rohingya in a larger incident in 2015, were reluctant to help this time around, with Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin saying at Fridays summit that his country could no longer afford to take in any more Rohingya refugees, according to local reports.

In addition to the assistance, the ministry said authorities were also investigating whether the migrants rescued could be victims of human trafficking. Human smuggling is a crime that must be stopped and this requires regional and international cooperation, it said.

In mid-May, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her Australian counterpart Marise Payne discussed the boat people situation using the Bali Process framework, which involves dozens of countries that make up the supply chain of irregular migration around the world.

As co-chairs of the group, Indonesia and Australia have been called on by civil society organisations to convene high-level discussions on the unfurling refugee crisis, although the Australian side has reportedly resisted the pressure.

Read also: Indonesia, Australia explore solution to Rohingya refugee crisis under Bali Process

This unsafe sea journey will certainly continue to occur as long as the root of the problem is not resolved, the ministry asserts.

Wednesdays rescue occurred just days before President Joko Jokowi Widodo met other Southeast Asian leaders for the ASEAN Summit, in which they also highlighted the challenges that the organization faces in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

Read also: Totally shameful: Outrage as ASEAN nations abandon Rohingya boat people

ASEAN has been widely criticized for its slow handling of the crisis, which is being led by an ad hoc support team that has helped Myanmar since February to repatriate Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in 2017.

The Rohingya are a largely Muslim minority in Rakhine state who have been discriminated against and robbed of civilian rights in Myanmar.

Retno said the ad hoc team had recommended setting up an FM radio station in Rakhine to build awareness of the repatriation program, strengthen social cohesion and build trust and confidence. They also suggested provisions for basic services.

Myanmars government had shut down the internet in Rakhine for the past two years as its military continues to be embroiled in a conflict against who they claim to be the Arakan Army, an insurgent group fighting for more autonomy for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists.

Myanmars consistent dismissal of criticism against its treatment of minority groups  including the Rohingya  also made it harder to ensure the success of repatriation efforts, as refugees remain fearful of their safety if they return to a country that doesnt acknowledge their citizenship status.

For Indonesia, it is important to ensure efforts to create safe conditions in Rakhine State so that the Rohingya can return voluntarily, safely and with dignity in their homes in Rakhine State, the ministry said.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Jerusalem  Mon, June 29, 2020 13:00 357 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066263f52 2 World Israel,broadcast,broadcast-permits,TV,evangelicals,TV-networks Free

Israel's media watchdog said Sunday that it had withdrawn the broadcast license from US-based evangelical network GOD TV, accusing it of seeking to target Jews with Christian content.

International Christian network's GOD TV launched its Shelanu [Hebrew for "ours"] channel at the end of April on Israeli cable provider Hot, describing it as catering to Christians.

But the channel provoked an immediate outcry in Israel, with then-communications minister David Amsalem accusing it of being a "missionary channel" seeking to convert Jews to Christianity.

The Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council launched an investigation to determine if GOD TV had misrepresented its content when it applied for a licence.

Council chairman Asher Bitton said on Sunday that following the probe and a hearing, he had informed Hot that Shelanu broadcasts must be removed within seven days.

"The channel is aimed at Jews with Christian content, in contrast to the original broadcast request, which stated it was designated for Christians," Bitton said in a council statement.

It said that a Christian channel for Jews would not be automatically disqualified in the future, but that it would have to seek council approval, which Shelanu had not done.

Hot could file a new request for Shelanu that would include "a truthful and detailed" characterization of the channel, the statement added.

A spokeswoman for Hot said that the company was "cooperating with the council and will act in accordance with its decisions on the matter".

In one promotional clip for Shelanu, GOD TV director Ward Simpson tells viewers, "we're going to preach the Jewish Jesus to the nation of Israel... they're going to hear the gospel presented to them in their native tongue".

In a separate online video response to the criticism, he acknowledged that "proselytizing in Israel is a very touchy subject" but went on to say that preaching about Jesus was a mission.

GOD TV broadcasts religious content in around 200 countries and claims to have several hundred million viewers.

Israel enjoys vigorous support from evangelical movements in the United States but keeps a lid on missionary work in the Holy Land.

While Israeli law only expressly forbids the giving of money or gifts to encourage conversions to another religion, missionary activities in general are closely monitored by the authorities and are offensive to many Israelis.

According to Israeli government data, around two percent of the population is Christian, mainly Arabs.
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Linkedin Ben Kellerman (Reuters) New York, United States  Mon, June 29, 2020 09:45 357 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406625713b 2 World gay-parade,pride-month,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,coronavirus-restrictions,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the cancellation of most in-person Pride events this year, but organizers of a march in Manhattan on Sunday expect to draw tens of thousands of people to the streets in solidarity with protesters demanding an end to racial injustice and police brutality.

The second annual Queer Liberation March will cap a month of Pride events, virtual and live, during which the celebration of LGBTQ lives has merged with the nationwide demonstrations ignited by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month.

"It has to be centered on the movement for Black lives, it has to be focused on issues of police brutality," said Jay W. Walker, co-founder the Reclaim Pride Coalition, the group organizing the march.

The group staged its first protest last year by walking in the opposite direction to New York City's marquee Pride parade, rejecting that event's large uniformed police presence and the ubiquitous corporate-sponsored floats that normally drift down Manhattan's 5th Avenue each year.

This year, the march promises to be the city's main in-person event on Pride Sunday, after the official parade was canceled in April for the first time in its 50-year history due to the pandemic.

"I think it's a moment for Black lives to really lean on the expertise of Black trans folks and learn from their experience of what they have done around police brutality," said LaLa Zannell, the ACLU's trans justice campaign manager, who will be at the New York City march on Sunday.

On June 28, 1969, patrons of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, fought back during a police raid, sparking days of sometimes violent demonstrations against harassment and giving birth to the modern LGBTQ rights movement.

Activists memorialized the first anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion with what they called Christopher Street Liberation Day, starting an annual Pride tradition that is now celebrated around the world.

Marches and rallies with a focus on racial injustice, and the struggle of Black transgender people in particular, are planned in other US cities on Sunday.

In Chicago, a Pride march will aim to draw attention to the historic origins of Pride as a movement of protest.

Grassroots activist group ACTIVATE:CHI said it was working with the organizers of the city's Pride, spurred on by "the current political, social, and economic climate coupled with the clear inability of our government to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities."
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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 29, 2020 09:08 357 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a40662529f0 1 Business Saiful-Mujani-Research-Consulting,survey,economy,COVID-19,coronavirus,pandemic Free

The share of Indonesians who say the economy has worsened over the past year has reached a record high.

Public opinion pollster Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) found that 92 percent of the respondents surveyed from May 12 to 16 believe Indonesias economy is worse than in 2019. That number reflects the highest negative sentiment since the survey began in 2003, or five years into Reform Era.



The highest previous spike of such sentiment was 58 percent in mid-2008, when the global financial crisis unfolded.

But the share of respondents with that bleak view slightly declined to 85 percent in the latest survey from June 18-20.



We can say that Indonesians optimism is now in its worst shape, Ade Armando, the director of communication at SMRC, said in a virtual briefing on Thursday. Now that it has reached 85 percent, there is a sign of more optimism in June.



The survey comes at a time when countries around the world are trying to re-emerge from lockdown as the pandemic prompted international institutions to keep revising down forecasts for growth globally, including in Indonesia.



In its June forecast released earlier this week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected a 0.3 percent contraction of Indonesias economy this year. The fund also slashed the countrys growth forecast by 2.1 percentage points to 6.1 percent next year.



With millions of job losses, the pandemic has slowed the countrys growth to 2.97 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, the lowest since 2001, as people lost their income and did not spend as much.



SMRC described a similar picture. Only 34 percent of the respondents said Indonesias economy would be in better shape next year.



However, that marks a slight increase in the share of respondents with an optimistic outlook from 27 percent during the record-low in May, as some provinces and cities started easing restrictions and reopening businesses.





With the coronavirus restrictions hitting economically disadvantaged groups hardest, they showed greater support for the governments policy to transition toward a so-called new normal, or reopening the economy while implementing health protocol.



The share of Indonesians who said the country should transition toward the new normal right now stood at 83 percent among those with income below Rp 2 million (US$141.32), higher than among those with income levels above that.



By educational background, the share of Indonesians who said the new normal transition should be delayed was highest among workers with a college degree at 22 percent and lowest among those with elementary school or lower background at 12 percent.





Chatib Basri, who served as Finance Minister from 2013 to 2014, said Thursday that support for delaying the new normal transition among elementary school graduates was lower, because most of them were informal workers, whom the pandemic hit disproportionately.



The National Development Agency (Bappenas) reported that the pandemic affected trade, manufacturing, construction, transportation and warehouses, accommodation and the food and beverages sector. The proportion of workers with an elementary school background accounted for between a quarter and one-third of the total labor force in each sector, according to SMERU Research Institute.



The large-scale social restrictions is a policy biased toward the middle class if there is no social protection, as the majority of Indonesians are informal workers, said Chatib.



Staying at home is a luxury, he added. It is more costly than going back to work despite the risk. And the lower class prefers to go back.



Rosan Roeslani, the chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), which oversees 200 business associations, said Thursday that the number of affected workers reached 6.4 million as of late May. The number is more than double the Manpower Ministrys official tally at 3 million or 2.3 percent of the national workforce.

He said most of them were furloughed and only 10 percent of them were laid-off, since firms could not afford the severance pay.



The survey is consistent with our observation, said Rosan. But businesses know that even if we ease the restrictions, it is still a long way to recover to pre-COVID-19 levels, because productivity will definitely decline due to physical distancing.
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Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 29, 2020 18:39 356 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406627df7a 1 National Ombudsman,BUMN,state-enterprises,State-owned-Enterprises-Ministry,civil-servants,ASN,PNS,overlapping Free

The Indonesian Ombudsman has found that hundreds of state officials, including active members of the police and military, sit as commissioners of state-owned enterprises, resulting in what it says is a conflict of interest and poor accountability.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Ombudsman member Alamsyah Saragih said that data collected by his office indicated that 397 state officials had concurrent roles at state firms, while 167 others had secured positions at subsidiaries of those companies.

Of those found to have second positions at state firms, 65 percent are active members of the National Police, the Indonesian Military, the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), the Attorney Generals Office (AGO), the State Audit Agency (BPKP) or local administrations, according to the Ombudsman.

In addition, staff members at 16 state universities, including the University of Indonesia and Gadjah Mada University, were found to have taken simultaneous roles at state enterprises.

Alamsyah said the phenomenon was partly the result of a legal loophole in the amended Government Regulation No. 53/2010 on civil servant discipline, which supposedly did not forbid state employees from assuming secondary roles as commissioners of state enterprises or any of their subsidiaries unless those employees served as active members of political parties.

He said Law No. 25/2009 on public service  which, on paper, prohibits civil servants from securing concurrent positions at state firms  had often been deflected by those holding both positions on the basis of semantics.

The Ombudsman had found that the clash between the two regulations has resulted in an [unfair] recruitment process, ethical negligence, conflicts of interest, discrimination and poor accountability, Alamsyah said, adding that his office would officially write to President Joko Jokowi Widodo and the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry about its concerns.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 29 2020

Second Lt. Dewa Ayu Ardikna Suari has been named by the Indonesian Air Force as its first female loadmaster, in an unprecedented move in the male-dominated military force.

Graduating from the Air Force Academy in 2017, 25-year-old Ayu completed her three-month loadmaster training on Wednesday. She is currently assigned to the 2nd Squadron at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in East Jakarta.

As the loadmaster in the Air Force, she will be responsible for the safe loading and unloading of cargo.

Commander of the 1st Wing Transport, Col. Fata Patira, conferred the title on her in the training closing ceremony held at the base on Wednesday.

A native of Gianyar, Bali, Ayu expressed her gratitude for her assignment in the force.

Without the blessing of God, my parents and sister and the support of my senio...
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, June 30 2020

The Bakauheni Port police, in cooperation with the Lampung Agriculture Quarantine Body, have confiscated more than 29,000 birds intended to be shipped to Java over the past six months.

Karman, a top official at the Agriculture Quarantine Body, said authorities had managed to thwart at least 43 smuggling attempts at the port from January to June this year.

The latest smuggling attempt was intercepted last Saturday, with 400 distinctive black and white kacer (Oriental magpie-robin) seized from a minivan that had departed from Jambi. The driver failed to show official documents for the shipment, the official explained.

"All of the birds have been handed over to the Lampung Natural Resources Conservation Agency to be released into the wild," Karman said Monday.

Other birds confiscated include cucak ijo (greater green leaf...
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Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, June 30 2020

The government has opened the possibility of Bank Indonesia (BI) buying government bonds with a zero-coupon rate as part of a burden-sharing scheme to finance the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior minister said on Monday.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the central bank might bear 100 percent of the coupon rate burden for bonds issued to finance programs that were considered in the public interest, including for health care, social protection and financial support for regional governments. She expected the programs to amount to Rp 397 trillion (US$28 billion).

We are currently finalizing with the central bank how many government bonds we will sell to the market and how many well sell through private placement to BI, Sri Mulyani told lawmakers during a hearing on Monday.

Earlier ...
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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, June 30 2020

Indonesia has garnered praise for its decision to provide humanitarian assistance to the nearly 100 Rohingya migrants stranded off the northern coast of Aceh this week, as pressure mounts on the region to deal with the crisis in Myanmar.

The government is working with civil society groups as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to ensure the well-being of a large group rescued by local fishermen, the Foreign Ministry has said.

The government and the local administration [of Aceh], in collaboration with the UNHCR and IOM, will immediately make further efforts to handle these 99 Rohingya migrants. The people of North Aceh and Indonesian civil society groups are also actively providing humanitarian assistance, the ministry said in a statement on Friday evening.

...
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) -  Tue, June 30 2020

Although businesses are experiencing a downturn in these uncertain times, some micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are looking for ways to remain in business, with one company making a comeback after closing temporarily.

Yogyakarta-based shoe brand Amazara, established in 2015, returned to operations in early March after previously closing from August 2019 to February 2020. Offering womens casual shoes at prices ranging from Rp 145,000 (US$ 10.14) to Rp 349,000, Amazara is popular among students and young women especially in Yogyakarta and its surrounding areas, with its products among the best-selling items on various e-commerce platforms including Tokopedia and Shopee.

Uma Hapsari, founder of Amazara said in a statement that she realized business was currently slow, but she believed that small and medium fashion enterprises that were able to adapt ...
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Manila, Philippines  Mon, June 29, 2020 15:00 356 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406626e095 2 SE Asia Philippines,boat-incident,fishing-boat,boat-accident,boat-crash,missing-fishermen Free

Philippine rescuers were searching Monday for 14 people missing after a local fishing boat collided with a cargo ship, authorities said.

The boats crashed early Sunday in waters southwest of Manila, capsizing the Philippine fishing vessel Liberty 5 off the coast of Occidental Mindoro province.

The captain of the cargo ship Vienna Wood, which is registered in Hong Kong, called for help "a few hours later" and the vessel was being escorted to land by the Philippine Coast Guard, said agency spokesman Commodore Armando Balilo.

It was not immediately clear if the Liberty 5 had sunk.

Philippine authorities deployed aircraft and ships in the hunt for the missing people, who included 12 Filipino crew members and two passengers.

Strong ocean currents interrupted the search Sunday evening, but operations resumed early Monday.

The Philippines has a poor shipping safety record, with scores dying in mishaps at sea each year, usually aboard wooden-hulled outriggers that move people from one small island to another.

There have also been incidents allegedly linked with maritime disputes.

In June last year, a Chinese fishing trawler hit a Filipino boat near Reed Bank, an area of the South China Sea within Manila's territory but which is also claimed by Beijing.

Vietnamese fishermen rescued 22 Filipinos after that collision, which left President Rodrigo Duterte facing accusations of defending Beijing.

Duterte has tried to downplay the case, calling it an "accident" and accepting Beijing's offer to conduct a joint investigation.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters)  Mon, June 29, 2020 08:20 357 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a406624f9c0 2 SE Asia Myanmar,Rakhine-state,Rohingya,Rohingya-Muslims,Rohingya-people,MilitaryOperations Free

Thousands of villagers have fled their homes in Myanmars Rakhine state after a local administrator warned dozens of village leaders that the army planned clearance operations against insurgents, a lawmaker and a humanitarian group said.

But a government spokesman said late on Saturday an evacuation order issued by border-affairs officials had been revoked. Border affairs acknowledged issuing the order through the local administrator but said it affected fewer villages.

The warning to the village leaders came in a letter written on Wednesday, which was seen by Reuters and verified by a state government minister, Colonel Min Than.

The letter, signed by the administrator of Rathedaung township, Aung Myint Thein, told village leaders he had been informed the operations were planned in the township's Kyauktan village and nearby areas suspected of harboring insurgents.

The letter does not specify where the order came from, but Min Than, Rakhine states border affairs and security minister, told Reuters it was an instruction from his border affairs ministry, one of three Myanmar government ministries controlled by the army.

Clearance operation will be done by forces in those villages, the letter from the administrator said.

While this is being done, if the fighting occurs with AA terrorists, don't stay at the villages but move out temporarily, it said, referring to the Arakan Army, the name of the Rakhine state insurgents.

The administrator could not be reached for comment by Reuters.

Min Than said the clearance operation described in the letter referred to military operations targeting terrorists.

He said the administrator had misinterpreted the order from his ministry and that the operations would only take place in a few villages, not the dozens mentioned, but confirmed other details.

The operations could last up to a week, Min Than said by phone, adding that those who remain will be those who are loyal to the AA.

On Saturday, government spokesman Zaw Htay said in a statement on Facebook the government had instructed the military not to use the term clearance operations. He also said the letter ordering people to flee had been revoked.

He did not answer phone calls from Reuters seeking further comment. Reuters did not see the revocation instructions.

This year the Myanmar army has been fighting the AA, a group from the largely Buddhist Rakhine ethnic group that is seeking greater autonomy for the western region, also known as Arakan.

Dozens have died and tens of thousands been displaced in the conflict. Save the Children says 18 children were killed and 71 injured or maimed between January and March, citing local monitoring groups. The army says it does not target civilians.

"Clearance operations" is the term the Myanmar authorities used in 2017 to describe operations against insurgents from Rakhine's Muslim-minority Rohingya people. During those operations, hundreds of thousands of people fled from their homes. Refugees said the army carried out mass killings and arson, accusations the army has denied.

Rohingyas fled to neighboring Bangladesh during that military crackdown, which the government said was a response to attacks by Rohingya insurgents.

The United Nations said in a statement on Sunday it was concerned by intense fighting in Kyauktan, including reports people were trapped and houses damaged. It called on all parties to "respect international humanitarian law, fulfill their responsibilities and take urgent measures to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure".

On Saturday, the British, Australian, US and Canadian embassies in Myanmar said they were deeply concerned by the reports of the Myanmar Militarys clearance operations along the Kyauktan village tract and the worsening humanitarian and security situation across the region."

We are aware of the historic impacts of such operations disproportionately affecting civilians, the statement said. It called on all armed actors to exercise restraint while in areas inhabited by local communities, some of whom may not, by no fault of their own, be able to seek refuge elsewhere.

In anticipation of the new operation, Min Than said 80 people had fled Kyauktan to elsewhere in Rathedaung township and that the army had prepared shelter and food.

Zaw Zaw Htun, the secretary of the Rakhine Ethnic Congress, a humanitarian group, said at least 1,700 had fled to the neighboring Ponnagyun township.

Another 1,400 are sheltering in a nearby village and are in dire need of food and other supplies, said regional parliamentarian Oo Than Naing from Rathedaung township.

A military spokesman did not answer phone calls seeking comment about the operations. Reuters could not independently verify how many people had fled their homes.

The UK-based rights group Burma Human Rights Network said residents of 39 villages had begun to flee since the order was issued in Kyauktan on Wednesday, citing local sources.

The Kyauktan area is home to tens of thousands of people, from both Rohingya and Rakhine communities, according to the Rakhine Ethnic Congress.

Journalists are barred from most of Rakhine state, and the government has imposed an internet shutdown on most of the region, making information difficult to verify.
Jeju Island is a popular travel destination this summer. As overseas travel is almost impossible due to concerns about COVID-19, more South Koreans are flocking to the southern island from the mainland.

The island boasts vast natural areas, from oceans to mountains and fields, where tourists can avoid close contact with others. Travelers often stay at private villas and get around in rental cars -- good holiday options in the time of the coronavirus pandemic.

But tourists need to be responsible while traveling on Jeju Island. Wearing masks is a must. Another must is monitoring your health and reporting any suspected COVID-19 symptoms to the authorities.

Here are some travel spots and activities that people can enjoy on Jeju Island while taking precautions against the virus.

Organic farm experience

A tourist picks corn at the Mulme Healing Farm. (The Korea Herald/Im Eun-byel)

The Mulme Healing Farm is an organic farm and education center situated in Aewol, a 20-minute drive from the Jeju International Airport.

Though Aewol is a popular touristy neighborhood packed with cafes and restaurants, the farm is secluded in a quiet area populated only by locals. Yang Hee-jeon, the owner, founded the farm in 1995 while studying alternative medicine.

Yang harvests organic tangerines, sweet potatoes, citrons (yuja) and corn on the farm. He also runs Nomad Nature Traveling, a program that allows people to experience healthy lifestyles through trekking, meditation, healthy eating and other activities.

Forest therapy

A tourist walks along a path in the Seogwipo Forest of Healing. (The Korea Herald/Im Eun-byel)

The Seogwipo Forest of Healing, 20 minutes from the city center, is a serene forest of cedar trees.

There are 10 themed paths, which together stretch 11 kilometers and allow visitors to explore the forest under the direction of forest guides. The forest is 320-760 meters above sea level and showcases the islands diverse vegetation.

The forest has experience programs that run from one to three hours. Participants can walk through the forest barefoot to feel the texture of the islands soil. A refreshing footbath in a cedarwood bathtub awaits. The trails are barrier-free, open to visitors of all ages and accessible to people with disabilities.

Admission is 1,000 won for adults, and special programs cost 20,000 won. Reservations are mandatory for all visitors. For more information, check the website at healing.seogwipo.go.kr.

Read also: Jeju Island introduced to global audience via UNESCO media campaign

Off-road driving experience

Being out in nature does not mean the absence of excitement. The Jerazin Offroad Jeju Camp offers an adrenaline-fueling off-road vehicle experience to its visitors.

Hopping into an off-road specialized vehicle, tourists can explore the peaceful 430-square-kilometer campsite, mainly occupied by Jeju Island horses. The wild pasture is open only to authorized vehicles.

A veteran driver leads the visitors on a bumpy 6.5-kilometer ride. One may fear the car overturning at any moment, or being pushed out the window during the ride. During breaks, visitors can take in the beautiful wilderness of Jeju Island.

Participants must be at least 120 centimeters tall, and rides cost 39,000 won per person.

Village in a crater

The Hanon-Maar Crater was formed 50,000 years ago and measures 3.8 kilometers in diameter, making it twice as wide as Baengnokdam, a lake at the peak of Hallasan.

For 500 years, the bottom of the crater has been home to rice paddies, which yield the most plentiful rice harvest on Jeju Island. Jeju Island is a volcanic island with soil that is otherwise unfit for rice cultivation. The crater, on the other hand, has the perfect conditions for growing rice. A small picturesque village is at the bottom of the crater, resembling a fantasy film.

There is ongoing debate about whether the crater should be restored to its natural state.

An old market for hipsters

The Seogwipo Daily Olle Market is the biggest market in Seogwipo. Founded in 1960, it has 200 stores and 140 stalls. Though the market has a 60-year history, the facilities are relatively modern as it was renovated in 2001.

This once-neglected traditional market is now frequented by young tourists at night as rows of food stalls sell unique snacks. Croquettes made with pork from Jeju black pig, fried snow crab and more are on the menu.
Australia's Victoria state will implement mandatory coronavirus tests for returning travelers after a sharp spike in infections over the past two weeks, the state's premier said on Sunday.

The country's second-most populous state had 49 new cases on Sunday, its highest in more than two months and the 12th consecutive day of double-digit rises. The rest of Australia has seen almost no infections.

"Much like a bushfire, putting this out is challenging," Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews told a press conference, alluding to wildfires at the end of last year that burnt through vast swaths of the country.

"Containing it, though, is something that we can do, and test and trace is the most effective thing to do."

Victoria's officials said earlier this week that some 30 percent of returning travelers refused a COVID-19 test, and Andrews said it will be a mandatory procedure. Australia also requires all locals who return to quarantine in hotels for two weeks.

People in quarantine will be tested twice, first on day three and then on day 11 of their-two week quarantine period. Those still refusing testing will be required to remain in quarantine for a further 10 days, Andrews said.

New South Wales, Australia's largest state by population and which on Sunday recorded only three new cases, implemented similar measure on Friday.

About 40,000 people have been tested since Friday in Victoria as public health officials increased efforts to prevent further spread of the virus. Since the start of the year, nearly 12 percent of the state's population has been tested.

Despite the spike in Victoria, Australia's 7,700 cases and 104 deaths remain well below that of many other nations.
Thailand will allow pubs and bars to reopen on Wednesday and plans to let in some foreign travelers after recording five weeks without any community transmission of the coronavirus, a government official said.

Pubs, bars and karaoke venues will be able to operate until midnight as long as they follow safety guidelines such as ensuring two meter spaces between tables.

"Alcohol consumption could reduce discipline so there will be close monitoring before customers enter venues," Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the governments Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, told a briefing on Monday.

Foreigners with work permits, residency and families in Thailand will also be able to enter the country, but will be subject to a 14-day quarantine.

Taweesin said foreigners seeking certain types of medical treatment such as some cosmetic surgery or fertility treatment could also be allowed into the country.

Business visitors from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China and Hong Kong could also be exempted from a two-week quarantine period under a fast track entry if they have certificates to show they were free from COVID-19 and were tested upon arrival.

The country's aviation regulator has banned international flights since April.

"There is no proposal to change the flight suspension and travelers can return with repatriation flights and special flights," he said.

The government's coronavirus task force will recommend the extension of the emergency decree until the end of July for cabinet's approval on Tuesday.

The coronavirus has killed 58 people in Thailand, among 3,169 infections, while 3,053 patients have recovered.

But the country has gone 35 days without community transmission and new cases have been among Thais returning from abroad and detected during quarantine.
With three more cases of COVID-19 confirmed over the weekend, Isabella County breached the 100-case mark.
Wirtz, VA (24184)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 68F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 68F. Winds light and variable.
The Gratiot County Sheriff's Office is looking for help in identifying a male and female wanted for questioning in an alleged larceny on June 
FILE - In this June 17, 2020, pool file photo provided by the Michigan Office of the Governor, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks in Lansing, Mich. A federal appeals court late Wednesday, June 24, 2020, halted a lower judge's ruling and kept closed gyms and fitness centers that Whitmer ordered shut months ago to curb the coronavirus. (Michigan Office of the Governor via AP, Pool, File)
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Mt. Pleasant

Vietnam Memorial honors those from the mid Michigan area who passed during the Vietnam War
Sterling Heights, MI (48312)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy late. High 76F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 46F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
Special Report: Monday, 29th June 2020, Intersociety, Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria

Executive Summary : The Nigerian security forces and their chiefs are likely to have corruptly or criminally collected and pocketed total cash sums validly estimated at not less than N44billion or over $120m in the past 90 days or from 30th of March to 30th June 2020. Our investigation covered lands and borders and did not include railways, coastal lines, water ways and airports. The criminal sums were collected by the named culprits while enforcing intra and inter-state COVID-19 prevention lockdowns. Those directly or vicariously responsible for collection and pocketing of the bribes included officers and personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps and Nigeria Customs Service.

Officers and personnel of Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Navy also got involved especially where they mounted roadblocks or were joined as members of Joint Security Taskforce (JTF) and drafted to jointly man COVID-19 border post and boundary post security. The Joint Security Taskforces under reference are generally maintained across the country by various State Governments. Involved in the roadblock, boundary post or border post COVID-19 bribery and extortion were the civilian COVID-19 taskforces drawn from State or Federal Governments ministries of health and transport. At the State level, various vigilante groups represented by the Vigilante Group of Nigeria also participated and are still participating.

Therefore, from Defense Forces; soldiers of the Nigerian Army and officers and personnel of the Nigerian Navy and Air Force were all involved. From policing agencies; almost all departments of the Nigeria Police Force including Border Police, Highway Police, Police SARS, Anti Cult Police, Anti Terror Police (CTU), Anti Bunkering Police, Police Mobile Force, Police CID or Detective Police, Police Animal Division and General Duties Police, etc were all involved. From paramilitaries; officers and personnel of Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Security & Civil Defense Corps, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and Customs Service were all involved. Excluded or not involved are officers and personnel of Immigration, Fire and Prisons Services; likewise officers and personnel of the intelligence agencies; namely: State Security Service, National Intelligence Agency and Directorate of Military Intelligence.

It is on record that Intl Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law, INTERSOCIETY, has earned a name in Nigeria or a part of it in tracking security and law enforcement roadblock corruption and other service malpractices including abuse of power and brutality. These have been on since 2009, a year after Intersociety was formed (2008). The tracking was done and is still being done using a combination of natural and scientific methods. The tracking is also one of the noble legacies inherited from the Anambra State Branch of the Civil Liberties Organization, headed between 2001 and 2007 by our founder and board chair. His leadership of CLO started tracking police roadblock extortion way back in 2003 and 2006. Since then, it had been repeatedly done in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

Grand Total Of The Collected & Pocketed Bribes : The grand total of the bribery and extortion across the country arising from COVID-19 border post, boundary post and roadblock security bribery and extortion is validly estimated at N44b or over $120m. That is to say that in the past three months of 30th March to 30th June, not less than N44b is validly estimated to have been criminally collected and pocketed. From border post extortion, it is N8b, N2.7b from the military roadblocks across the country; N7.2b from the Southeast, N6.5b from the South-south, N5.5b from the Southwest, N4b from the Northwest, N3b from the North-central and N2b from the Northeast. Included also is N4b arising from bail fees following mass and other unlawful arrests; totaling N44b or over $120m from 30th March to 30th June (tomorrow) 2020. The N2.7b military roadblock extortion did not include criminal proceeds arising from military extortion at border post and boundary post COVID-19 security. In all, S/E takes the lead with N7.2b, S/S N6.5b, S/W N5.5b, N/W N4b, N/C N3b and N/E N2b.

Calls : We call for end or scrapping of the so called inter-state lockdowns as they have become counterproductive and conduit pipe for the countrys security and law enforcement agencies and their chiefs-who are determined to continuously recommend for their extension, as it is now more extension, more billions in our pockets. We again renew our call on the authorities of the Federal Government of Nigeria to frontally address the chronic corruption and other service malpractices including abuse of power and brutality which have become almost intractable in the countrys security, defense and law enforcement or policing sector. Nigerian Government must also end the long suffering of the Nigerian road users owing to the counterproductive and corruption prone interstate lockdowns and device better and result-oriented ways of preventing and managing the COVID-19 Pandemic. End of Executive Summary

Background Of This Investigative Statement

The authorities of the Federal Government of Nigeria and those of the countrys 36 States had at different dates in March 2020 announced various measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 virus. Among the measures was imposition of the intra and inter-state lockdowns. While the 36 State Governors announced total restriction of movements in their States, the Federal Government and the Governors agreed and imposed inter-state lockdowns throughout Nigeria. These were in addition to closing of the countrys borders and coastal lines, water ways, railways and shutting down of its 54 domestic and international air ports.

However, the exercise has been converted by the named security forces and their chiefs as well as their civilian counterparts into instruments for bribery and extortion. The named security agencies brazenly had a field day, collecting bribes at will and with reckless abandon, to the extent that the bribery and extortion have become widespread and unceasing. In the announcement of the intra and inter-state lockdowns, certain categories of vehicles and their movements were exempted. They included those on essential duties and others in haulage services; but contrary was the case as they were heavily extorted and still being heavily extorted. Through collection and pocketing of bribes, too, all types of vehicles particularly those conveying passengers, were and are still being extorted before allowed passage at roadblocks, boundaries and borders. The Nigerian criminal entities have also been operating at will, wrecking havocs on defenseless citizens and properties while the same security agencies looked the other side.

Security Lockdowns Bedeviled By Corruption

Both intra and inter-state COVID-19 lockdowns have become grossly counter-productive and achieved no meaningful results with regard to COVID-19 prevention. Left unchecked, the Nigerias security forces and their chiefs will continuously recommend for their extension so as to continue to smile to the bank with illicit proceeds or billions arising from same. Apart from the fact that the Federal Ministry of Health and its NCDC are being economical with the truth with respect to accurate data concerning the real number of COVID-19 infected persons and deaths in Nigeria, many States including Anambra have technically collapsed their counter COVID-19 measures or converted same into instruments of intimidation, extortion and bribery.

For instance, apart from Nigeria being one of the least countries in Africa with COVID-19 testing and management capacities; having carried out total testing of only 130,165 persons as at 28th June 2020, with total confirmed cases of 24,567 infections and 565 deaths, the country has acutely under-reported or misrepresented its statistics. By its own recent account, 60% of the 1,774 recent sudden deaths in Kano was COVID-19 related, yet, till date, this has not been reflected in the national COVID-19 data or statistics. As a matter of fact, out of not less than 3,000 sudden deaths that recently hit Kano, Jigawa, Yobe and Bauchi, 60% or 1,800 are COVID-19 related, yet they have been omitted. Contrarily, in South Africa, over 1.2m people have been tested; with 124,590 infections and 2,340 deaths recorded.

In real and credible data capturing, Nigeria should be living with Hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 infections and thousands, if not tens of thousands of deaths. In Anambra State, for instance, Government in the State has technically proclaimed same as COVID-19 free, yet people are dying secretly and being buried here and there; with their relatives ignorantly blaming their deaths on high BP, high sugar, high fever, high malaria or typhoid, over thinking, etc. Among the latest COVID-19 causalities in the State was Prof Okwudiri Udemezue, Provost of School of Heath Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi.

The States infection records have remained stagnated at 71 as against its neighboring Delta State which has 912, Ebonyi 395, Imo 303, Abia 302 and Enugu 261; yet Anambra is the gateway into the named States. Enugu State has just lost to COVID-19 a serving High Court Judge, Justice Fidelis Ngwu. The only sign of COVID-19 prevention enforcement in Anambra State presently is the enforcement of wearing of facemasks for criminal fees, which has provided a field day for police and Government hired militant entities including criminal taskforces.

Sources Of The Bribery & Extortion

Four major sources were identified: border post extortion, boundary post extortion, roadblock extortion and extortion arising from illegal and unlawful arrests or threats of same. Illegal and unlawful arrests involved impoundment of passenger vehicles and mass arrest of their occupants resulting in their torture, detention and extortion. They also included late evening and night invasion of restaurants, provision sales stores, event centers, drinking and eating joints, hotels, motor parks, playing grounds and residential houses, etc. These were perpetrated and are still being perpetrated by General Duties, SARS and Operational Police officers and in some cases by the Joint Security Taskforce (comprising military, police and paramilitary personnel).

Short Data On Nigerian Geography & Territorial Security

Nigeria is a country of estimated 204m citizens (UN estimates 2020) with general labour force of 60.08m; 923, 768 km2 of land mass, 853km of coastline, 8,600km waterways, 4,477km border distance, 198,200 kilometers of road network (trunk A, trunk B and trunk C) and 3,505km of railway as well as 54 serviceable airports. The countrys road networks are further divided into four major categories including trans-national or international border highways; 34, 200km of Federal or Trunk A Roads, 34, 000km of State or Trunk B Roads and 130,000km of Communal/Local Government or Trunk C Roads. Out of the referenced Federal and State Roads, about 60% are paved.

Number Of Security Employees Securing The Above: The Nigerias security forces (military, paramilitaries, police and intelligence) are presently put at about 740,000 including 215,000 active and 52,000 reservist officers and personnel of the Armed Forces (Army, Air Force and Navy); 300, 892 sworn police officers, 100, 822 paramilitary personnel and 60,000-70,000 intelligence personnel; totaling 740,000 armed officers and personnel. Also other than, the countrys 853km of Coastline, 8,600km of waterways and 3,505km of railway, the rest are instruments of bribery and extortion using COVID-19 intra and inter-state lockdowns. Nigeria also shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. It also shares a border with southern part of Cameroon or self proclaimed Republic of Ambazonia. These are represented by four major Trans National Highways joining Nigeria with the four countries; with adjoining roads. Such roads are classified as A1 Highway, A2 Highway, A3 Highway, A4 Highway, etc.

A Case Study Of Onitsha Niger Bridge & Southeast : Onitsha Niger Bridge has been under our monitoring since 30th March 2020. It is used in this investigative statement as a case study; likewise Anambra State and the Southeast Region. In three months or from 30th March to 30thJune 2020, by our counting and calculation, not less than N720m is strongly believed to have been criminally collected and pocketed at Onitsha Niger Bridgehead alone; involving mostly haulage, passenger and other vehicles crossing Onitsha into Asaba and other parts of the country as well as those coming into Onitsha. Those responsible or participating in the bribery and extortion exercise, sighted and identified included: (1) soldiers of 302 Artillery, Onitsha, (2) Nigerian Navy Post, Ogbaru, (3) officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Anambra State Police Command (different departments), (4) Federal Road Safety Corps, (5) the Nigerian Security & Civil Defense Corps, (6) the Vigilante Group of Nigeria and (7) the COVID-19 officials from the State Ministries of Health and Transport. Included are different squads of Government and private militant revenue agents. The named extortionists had engaged and still engage the services of civilians as their criminal toll collectors.

Patterns Used By The Extortionists : While they pretended to be enforcing the inter-state lockdown at the Onitsha Niger Bridge, their hired civilian toll collectors were found busy counting vehicles and collecting the tolls upfront before allowing them passage. With four lines formed leading to long gridlock stretching down to Onitsha Upper Iweka on daily basis, the collectors usually count 25 vehicles from each line and another 25 from second line or 50 vehicles per two lines, collect their tolls upfront and allow them to move. These they do under the watchful eyes of their employers or extorting security agencies; after which another set of 50 vehicles will be counted from the other two lines. It also takes about an hour to pass 100 vehicles, leading to twenty passes per day, totaling passage of 2000 vehicles daily involving haulage, passenger and other vehicles including those belonging to pharmaceutical companies or delivering licit drugs to Onitsha drug marketers. Those coming into Onitsha are also not free from the bribery and extortion as they pay sundry tolls to stationed soldiers, police, FRSC and private and Government militant revenue agents before being allowed passage.

Amounts Charged & Collected : Sums extorted or criminally collected and pocketed varied. They ranged from N10, 000-N7, 000-N5, 000 especially at the heat of the lockdowns to 5,000-N3, 000-N2, 000-N1, 000 as at today; all per haulage or passenger vehicle. For vehicles hauling drugs; illicit and licitly imported types, they are a gold mine for the extortionists as tolls to be collected and pocketed must not be less than N50,000-N1m as case may and depending on the drug type and the owner. For purpose of this investigative statement, N3, 000 flat benchmark is used. That is to say at passage of 100 vehicles per hour at Onitsha Niger Bridge, N300,000 is criminally collected and pocketed and for 2000 vehicles passed per day, it is N6m, N180m per month and N540m in the last three months of 30thMarch to 30th June 2020.

Another N2m is criminally collected and pocketed daily from vehicles allowed into Onitsha at the same Bridge. This further translates to N60m per month and N180m in the past three months. In all, therefore, a total sum of N720m is likely to have been criminally collected and pocketed at the Onitsha Niger Bridge in the past three months of 30th March to 30th June 2020. This further singles out Onitsha Niger Bridge (Delta-Anambra Boundary) as the most lucrative boundary post extortion throughout Nigeria. Using same statistics, too, another N400m (N200m each) is likely to have been criminally collected and pocketed from Anambra section of Amamsea/Ugwuoba or Anambra/Enugu boundary and Uli/Mgbidi/Amorka or Anambra/Imo boundary.

Added to the two (N720m and N400m) is N1.4b arising from the existing daily police extortion from estimated 800 police roadblocks in Anambra State in the past three months. By the existing data, N40, 000 is extorted daily on average by each of the 800 police roadblocks in the State, translating to N32m daily, N960m monthly and N2.88b in the past three months. But owing to drastic reduction in the extortion instruments (i.e. movements of vehicles, humans and wares) during the intra state COVID-19 lockdown in the State, the N2.88b strongly believed to have been criminally collected and pocketed by 800 police roadblocks since 30th March, has been reduced to half or N1.4b. In all, therefore, the total COVID-19 bribery and extortion from Anambra roads is validly estimated at N2.5b; out of which Onitsha Niger Bridgehead accounted for N720m.

In Abia State, using the same statistics, at N40, 000 per police roadblock daily multiplied by 800 police roadblocks in the State, same N2.88b was supposed to have been criminally collected and pocketed in the past three months, but having been reduced to N1.4b and added to N500m strongly believed to have criminally collected and pocketed by COVID-19 security taskforces at the key boundaries of the State with other States (i.e. Abia-Imo, Abia-Rivers, Abia-Ebonyi, Abia-Akwa Ibom and Abia-Enugu); total sum of N1.8b is likely to have been criminally collected and pocketed. In Imo, it is N1.3b arising from N900m being half of its N1.8b existing police roadblock extortion in the past three months and N400m strongly believed to have been criminally collected and pocketed by COVID-19 security taskforces at its key boundaries with other States (i.e. Imo-Anambra, Imo-Rivers, Imo-Abia and Imo-Enugu).

In Enugu State, it is N500m or half of existing N1, 12b police roadblock extortion from its 500 police roadblocks at N25, 000 per day in the past three months, added to N300m strongly believed to have been criminally collected and pocketed by its COVID-19 taskforces at its key boundaries with other States (i.e. Enugu-Anambra, Enugu-Benue, Enugu-Kogi, Enugu-Ebonyi and Enugu-Abia), totaling N800m. Same sum of N800m is credited to Ebonyi State including N500m police roadblock extortion and N300m COVID-19 security taskforce extortion at its key boundaries including Ebonyi-Enugu, Ebonyi-Cross River, Ebonyi-Benue and Ebonyi-Abia boundaries. Enugu and Ebonyi States are the least States in the Southeast with abundant extortion instruments. This is owing to their blue-collar classes.

Other Geopolitical Regions Projected & Covered : South-south: Based on similar statistics, South-south was also projected and covered and credited with total COVID-19 extortion of N6.5b. The amount principally arose from boundary post and police roadblock COVID-19 extortions. The amount was also credited because the region is highly industrialized and an oil region; with high volume of extortion instruments largely found in Rivers, Edo, Delta, Cross River; with remainders in Akwa Ibom and Beyelsa States. Southwest: This region is likely to have lost N5.5b to police roadblock and COVID-19 boundary post security extortion. Northwest: This region with seven States is likely to have lost N4b. Though higher in the number of States, but it is not blessed with high volume of extortion instruments. North-central: Though a gateway between North and East and West, but its extortion instruments are lower than those of other regions except Northeast; therefore, it is likely to have lost N3b. Northeast: It is the least region with extortion instruments and likely to have lost N2b to police roadblock and COVID-19 boundary post security extortions in the past three months or 30thMarch to 30thJune 2020.

Proceeds From Military Roadblocks : Going by our existing data on military roadblock extortion in the Southeast and South-south, it strongly indicates that daily average of N60,000 is extorted by each of the projected 600 military roadblocks in the two regions, translating to N36m daily, N1.08b monthly and N3,24b in the past three months or since 30thMarch 2020; but owing to drastic reduction in extortion instruments during intra state and interstate lockdowns, the amount has been cut down to N1.6b or N800m for each of the two regions. Using same method, Southwest is likely to have lost N500m to military roadblock extortion, North-central N300m, Northwest N200m and Northeast N100m; totaling N2.7b. The amount of N2.7b from military roadblock extortion is entirely different from inter-state boundary post and inter-country border post COVID-19 military blockades and extortions.

Intl Border Blockade Extortion : From our recent interactions with Muslim traders from Republics of Niger and Chad who crossed over to Nigeria in April and May to buy goods in Onitsha, it was found that they are heavily being extorted at borders by soldiers, Customs, Police Border patrols and other security agencies.. Their ware-billed goods are also heavily extorted before being allowed passage. It is therefore our projection that not less than N8b has been lost to Nigerian border security personnel in connection with COVID-19 security extortion. This is on average of N2b for each of the countrys four major international borders and their road routes.

N4B Arising From Mass Arrest Extortion : A total of not less than N4b is strongly believed to have been criminally collected and pocketed by various security and law enforcement agencies particularly the Police SARS, Anti Cult Police, General Duties Police, Anti Terror Police or CTU, Police Patrol Teams and Joint Security Taskforce or JTF. The N4b emanated from late evening and night invasions or raiding or broad day arrests and bail fees imposed, collected and pocketed. By availability of extortion instruments, therefore, Southeast takes the lions share of N1.5b, South-south N1b, Southwest N600m, North-central N400m, Northwest N300m and Northeast N200m, totaling N4b. In that of the Southeast, it is Anambra State N500m, Abia N400m, Imo N300m and Enugu and Ebonyi N150m each.

Available Evidence : Quantum of irrefutable evidence gathered in the course of this investigative statement abounds, but few are cited here for want of space. One of such is from the Arewa Agenda, an association of Truck Drivers from Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno and other parts of the North who briefly converged at a trailer park in Port Harcourt, Rivers State few days ago where they raised alarm over cruelty and reckless extortion continuously meted on them by men of some security and law enforcement agencies including soldiers, policemen and others with exception of the personnel of the Immigration, Fire and Prison Services and intelligence agencies.

According to the leader of the truck drivers, who spoke in Hausa (the video is attached), The situation is so incredible that we may be transporting goods worth sometimes as little as three hundred thousand naira only for an example, from the North to the South or vice versa or thro and fro. But before you get to your destination, you may have spent over a hundred and fifty thousand naira on uniformed men alone. It has gotten to a point where if you dont give them money, they will ask you to park and if you park and refuse to oblige them, they will threaten to shoot you and boast that nothing will happen if they kill you. Civil Defense officers, Soldiers, and Policemen have made it mandatory on us to settle them before we pass.

Truck drivers are being treated like robbers. And we are the ones transporting the same food that feeds the Nation. Now, we are ferrying fertilizer from Port Harcourt, and all the drivers that loaded have set aside hundred and fifty thousand Naira each for road passage. Even at that it may not be enough. If you refuse to give, they will threaten to shoot and boast that the highest that will happen is that they will be redeployed, the truck drivers leader added. The situation has deteriorated so much that drivers are being extorted right in front of barracks. It has gotten to an extent that they would abuse us, beat us like thieves. Another truck driver who said he was a victim, revealed that soldiers even threatened to burn down his truck in Ahoada, Cross River State. The link to their media interview is here: https://globalsentinelng.com/2020/06/25/arewa-truck-drivers-accuse-security-paramilitary-personnel-of-extortion/?fbclid=IwAR28p_ZsXAj-_IWv4HRXBY-Pbb5eLW6LuJCXykni879nhBoMA88KWDO3pas

In addition to the above, we further gathered that the roadblock, boundary post and border post COVID-19 security bribery and extortion have since led to astronomical increase in the prices charged from passengers by local and interstate passenger vehicles as well as haulage vehicles. For SIENNA cars going to Lagos, for instance, prices have doubled from N6, 500 per passenger to N15, 000 and N17, 000 if coming from Lagos to Owerri. Passenger prices for 13-seater buses have also doubled from N6, 000 per passenger to N15, 000 from Onitsha to Lagos or vice versa. Each of these named vehicles spends over N50, 000 on roadblock and boundary post bribery and extortion. Similar situation is found in KEKE, Okada, Datsun, Diana and 911 Lorrys haulage vehicles as they now charge double from what they used to charge so as to bribe their way through at security and law enforcement roadblocks and boundary post blockades. Some, if not many passenger transport companies have also unbranded their vehicles to evade detection.

Cases abound and are rampant especially at the heat of the intra state lockdowns whereby Police SARS, Police Anti Cult, Police Patrol and General Duties Police Squads had and still have a field day, invading and arresting citizens en masse; claiming to be enforcing lockdown, or wearing of facemasks, or enforcing Government movement restriction or curfew. Such mass arrests were reported in many, if not most parts of Nigeria particularly in Anambra and Abia States. The real motives behind such mass arrests and detention were and still are to extort the victims.

In one of such arrests carried out in Awada area of Anambra State, near Onitsha, over 40 citizens sitting and discussing in front of their residences were surrounded and arrested in April 2020 by a police team identified as Police Anti Cult Unit from Oba in Anambra State. In the end, each of the over 40 arrested citizens was forced to pay N10,000 as bail fee and over N400,000 was instantly collected and pocketed by the Officer-in-Charge and his men. The N400, 000 collected further translates to total daily extortion sum by ten police roadblocks at N40, 000 per day and for each of the ten squads.

Signed:

For: Intl Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law

Emeka Umeagbalasi (Criminologist & Graduate of Security Studies), Board Chair, Damaris Amaka Onuoha, Esq., Head of Campaign & Publicity, Comrade Samuel Kamanyaoku, Head, Field Data Collection & Documentation, Obianuju Igboeli, Esq., Head of Civil Liberties & Rule of Law

Contacts: WhatsApp/Mobile: +2348174090052, Email: [email protected] , URL: intersociety-ng.org
The Borno State Government has in the course of it's socio economic reforms of government structures in the last one year established 6 reform agencies to effectively and efifciently enhance and implement the state government policies, programmes as well as projects.

Secretaty to the State Government (SSG). Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa stated this at Press briefing held weekend at the conference room of the SSG's office, Governor's Office, Musa Usman State Secretariat . Maiduguri.

He said the newly established agencies include Borno State Geographic Information system (BOGIS), Borno State Education Trust Fund (BSETF), Borno State Security Fund (BSSF). Borno State Bureau of Public Procurement, Agency (BSBPPA) , Borno State Healthcare Delivery Services Agency (BSHCDSA) and Agency for the Coordination of MDAs and Humanitarian Affairs.

The procurement act was passed by the National Assembly and was also domesticated by the Borno State House of Assembly, (BOSHA), all government procurement must be through bureau of public procurement in line with public procurement act to curb corruption. and was established.

 During the period under review, the state government has also Constituted a Committee on Civil Service Reform so that some of the systemic challenges and institutional inadequacies both structural and instutional be addressed Civil service is dynamic and we must make changes to meet the changing trend of governance", Shuwa said.

The SSG further explained that the state government has had agreement with Cameroon, Niger and and Chad Republic when the governor visited them with a view to bring back over 250,000 Nigerian Refugees, from Borno state and other neighbouring states of the north east where already 2, 000 refugees from Cameroon have arrived Banki border town in Borno state and we are discussing with the Nigerian Refugees Commission and Nigerian Air Force to repatriate others also back to their ancestral homes in Nigeria

He said: "We have written letters to the Shehus of Bama and Dikwa, as well as the Emirs of Gwoza, Askira to relocate back to their communities for full restoration of civil authority and they are now all in their domains with their traditional district and village heads as well as tittle holders on the issue of return of IDPs and restoration of civil authority at the 27 LGAs of the state, Shuwa said.

He said that within the last one year, the state government has also employed 150 medical doctors, 120 administrative staff and 5 professionals to fill the vacancies created by the retirement of workers in the civil service but also has to be incorporated in the budget
President Chakwera, I believe that you now know the pain to be suffered whenever an incumbent President comes up with a ploy to remain in power for ever by using violent means like faking elections results in disfavor of those that compete against him or her. That is the pain we the people of Africa and all other lovers of good governance suffered when Mutharika chose to violate your political rights by faking the election results to cajole you out of fairly won Presidential race in Malawi. We the powerless people of Africa were embittered in our hearts just as you were or even more than you did. But we thank goodness for the bravado among some members of the Judiciary in Malawi for dismissing the falsely generated leadership to pave way for a re-run, an act which has done Africa proud, the act which has removed the knee of oppression, tyranny and dictatorship of electoral fraud from the neck of the politically suffocating people of Malawi, they could not breathe, but now, we believe that under your leadership they will breathe.

Dear Mr. President Chakwera, you are the genuinely elected President of Malawi due to the fearless choices of the people of Malawi. You are now the president not because you are a genius, super-human, a demi-god, more equal than others or an infallible political fibrand. You are the president of Malawi because the people of Malawi wanted political change; they felt that you are meritorious enough to be the point through which they can express meretriciously their collective feelings for this political change. The Change in governance for better policy formulation, inclusivity, accountability, cooperation, rule of law, media freedom, poverty elimination, gender mainstreaming, impartiality , respect for human rights, restoration of self-confidence in Malawian statehood and as well as nurturing political culture that cherishes transparency, accountability as well as responsibility for all the political decisions and actions that will be taken under your government. But above all else, you are the change through which the people of Malawi will live the rule of law and savour the juices from the fruits of constitutional tyranny in the sense that when your time for leaving the office comes you will not maneuver around by employing some selfish electoral acrobatics primarily intended to make yourself a life-long President, if I am not justified to say a life-long panjandrum. I hope and believe that your recent experience was an enough moment for harnessing materialized conscience that will unflaggingly guide you away from the broad path leading to the political syndrome of the cult of dictatorship. I call it a dictatorial syndrome but Ali A. Mazrui in his Cultural Forces behind World Politics called it the Sisyphus complex, the complex that rules the process of Ovidian like Metamorphoses among post-colonial African politicians who always begin their careers as saints of revolutionary politics only to graduate into unshakeable tyrants sometimes later. And it is evidently true that the typologies of political psychologies observed in the late Felix Nkurunzinza, Robert Mugabe, Daniel Moi, or currently observed in the likes of Yoweri Museveni, Paul Kagame and Salvar Kiir are nothing less than the landmarks of psychological metamorphosis hurtling down these leaders from the pedestals of saintly revolutionaries and liberationists to the politically depraved basin of Sisyphus complex.

Mr. President Chakwera, the problem of Africa is not our historical experience of colonialism but the current social vices of auto-colonialism, auto-racism, auto-sexism, auto-imperialism, auto-patrimonialism, auto-capitalism and un-challenged graving among the members of the political class to stick on power even if they are officially elected out or found guilty or found un-fit to occupy a political office. These vices have blended to be Africas Acheels heel. Kenya is not an exception; we the poor, toiling and moiling people of Kenya had a similar experience of having our supreme court nullifying the faked Presidential election results in 2017. We were happy; we thought that it was the time of the future beginning to belong to the people of Kenya. But no, we were wrong and our celebrations were too early, if not the goofiest collective act in Africas political civilization. Whatever that was happening was not beyond bourgeoisie opportunism. That is why Kenya of today is now under fulsome threat of bourgeoisie dynasties, the dynasties that have now naturally attracted one another into a harmonious union strictly focused serving their commonly shared and similar interests; they are now using their strengths in form of superlative position in ownership and control of all the financial systems and resources in the country to cement themselves in the matrix of power, I mean political power. We no longer have a functional parliament and Judiciary in Kenya. Our current experience in Kenya is that we now only have a semi-despotic executive swimming in absolute power and ruthlessly devastating any man or woman standing on the way of the dynasties in their madcap quest to permanent ownership of political power. It is so unfortunate that Kenyas dynastic executive is now using judicial terror, political party discipline, scary jail-terms, intimidation, impeachment, media-black outs and far-fetched court cases to destroy those that question the rapidly bludgeoning dynastic culture in Kenyas political socialization around choice of the executive. It is so discouraging and very unfortunate for the powerless people of Kenya.

However, there is always some light at the end of the tunnel. The kind of hope inspiring light like the one discoursed about in the Land-Marks of Scientific Socialism, a critical analysis of Logic of Eugene Duehring by Friendrich Engels in which Engels argued that looking for political power the way Napoleone Bonaparte, Mobutu Seseko, Idi Amin dada and Stalinist Russia did will never give anyone permanent political power. In the book, Engels assured his readers that, political power is a blessing one gets from good economic relations, and obviously good economy belongs to the working people that always interact with indestructible power of the earth to create value. That is why I congratulate you Mr. President Chakwera for being the political expression of the workers of Malawi; I congratulate you with hope that you will be the first political illuminati of Africa to come out of power without being forced to.

Alexander Opicho writes from, Lodwar, Kenya; [email protected]
The Naira note is now the God that is firmly emplaced in our various temples. The way our modern preachers worship money is very amazing. Me I no go suffer, I no go beg for bread summarizes the way we approach God. In business a Nigerian can cheat you while saying the afternoon angelus in the market. A prophet can defraud you while speaking in tongues too.

In Nigeria, gospel messages are preached in busses and funds and offerings are raised too in order to support the work of God. After all, GSM handsets have been stolen at crusade arenas, pockets have been picked in Churches too, etc. I have heard a pastor said that under good arrangement Satan can go to heaven, meaning perchance God can be bribed to change His mind. Im not saying that all Nigerians are crooks, no, there are some good pastors but the bad ones have overwhelmed the good ones.

The question that has continued to keep me awake at night is: why is it that the picture that is painted of God in Nigeria today is that of an economic goldmine, a huge investment or material gains only? The use of private Jet is the watch word of many men of God as Jesus has promised us paradise of goodies, promotions, banishment of suffering etc, as we accept him into our lives. What an error!

The Bible says, for it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings Heb. 2:10. Remember that one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (as is evident in Galatians 5:22) is longsuffering, so from where do we get the message that If E no be me, Na who God go bless if not from ignorance and falsehood?

It is my honest opinion that Nigeria will be better than it is presently, when Christians start to seriously question themselves on how far they are approximating the degree of excellence inherent in the tenets of the faith they profess.

I have no apologies to render to anybody consequent upon what I have said so far. Im bamboozled at the way things are going in this nation. How many Roman Catholic, Arch Bishop, Bishops and Rev. Fathers have private Jet in Nigeria? What about other clergies in some other orthodox churches? In these orthodox churches, things are done with profound understanding and wisdom. In the Pentecostal churches where the Holy Spirit is assumed to be supreme things are not done wisely. Oh what a fulfillment of Christ prophesy/sayings that the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light Luke 16:8

Money is good but we must be very careful how we associate Christ with it. Yes, He (Christ) made use of money during his first advent, no doubt about it but the same Christ warned, For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and loose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul. Mark 8:36-37. The modern day preachers have reduced God to only tithe and offering. The God of material acquisition only!

Those preaching the message of salvation to people are now enslaving the same people. A situation where young girls descend so low hawking their sacred bodies at the corner of some churches is amazing. It was in Port Harcourt that I was told that a young girl who had no job (but specializes in prostitution) pays a better tithe and supports the work of God with ill-gotten money. What an abomination!

When the Pastor got to know about it, he consequently implored the sister to continue in the business (prostitution) until she gets a better work. Christ forewarned, When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, whoso reads let him understand Matt 24:15. It should be noted here that the above Bible quotation has a profound eschatological meaning in relation to the end time. On the other hand, the pastors advice to the young girl is an abomination in the science of the true worship of God.

Today we see people who dress well with their Bibles begging for food in the name of God. In fact na poverty cause am. I remembered two years ago, I gave my sister her University school fees and she went to the church and sowed it as a seed of faith telling me that the man of God told her that she will buy a car before the end of August 2018. Up till now she has not bought a bicycle tube not to talk of buying a car.

Im not doubting God at all neither am I against sowing of seed faith, but like the great sage, Wisdom is principal thing, therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting get understanding Prov. 4:7. Some church people end up getting wisdom without understanding while few have understanding without wisdom. The two (wisdom and understanding) are the highest seed of faith a Christian needs to have in order to be productive.

Child of God, consider the true life and examples of Christ and relate same to the life of the so called great men of God of today. I am not the judge, neither am I here to judge any but simple logic should tell us that if you have enough money to the extent of getting a Jet for yourself and you have some unemployed people in your congregation, it is not very religious and loving to assist the unemployed in one type of business or the other? Is this not the best form of serving God?

Christ met with a young ruler who shared the same view with some modern preaches during his time. The rich young ruler was so nice and abided by the rules of the kingdom when Jesus instructed him to go and sell what you have and give to the poor and you shall have treasure in heaven.he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions Matt. 19:21-22. How many of our present day preachers can sell 40% of what they now have to create employment for our jobless youths in their various (private business centers) Churches in keeping to divine injunctions? Have the present day men of God forgotten that serving God means serving man?

Today God can be sold for much money in some churches. To consult a prophet is like consulting a medical doctor; you must pay consultation fees, pay prayer seed, Bible reading seed, prophesy seed, marriage seed, building seed, examination success seed, seed for fruit of the womb, accident free seed, to mention a few. Where are we getting all these from, if not from the modern devil- money?

The gospel of salvation which Christ brought has become a means of perpetual enslavement to some naive preachers who see nothing but money in everything. The preachers of today should remember that a saint is one who makes goodness attractive and like St. Augustine, Christ came when all things were growing old. He made them new. As those who believe in Christ, we should take up the challenge to bring reformation that is in tandem with the last days prophesies. As a Christian, I know that faith makes a Christian, life proves a Christian, trial confirm a Christian while death crowns a Christian.
SEOUL (Reuters) - Around 4,000 recovered COVID-19 patients from a religious group at the centre of South Koreas largest outbreak will donate plasma for research, an official said on Tuesday, a day after local officials filed a lawsuit against the church.

In February and March, a massive outbreak among members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus made South Korea the scene of the first large outbreak outside of China.

At least 5,213 of the countrys total 12,484 cases have been linked to the church outbreak, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

Church founder Lee Man-hee had internally advised recovered members to donate their plasma, which is badly needed for coronavirus research, Shincheonji media coordinator Kim Young-eun told Reuters on Tuesday.

Many of recovered church members wanted to donate to express thanks to the government and medical staff, she said.

The city of Daegu - where most of the church infections were centred - filed a civil lawsuit against the church on Monday, seeking 100 billion won ($82.75 million) in damages.

Daegu authorities had previously filed a complaint against the church accusing it of not submitting a full list of members and facilities, and not cooperating with city health efforts.

Shincheonji says it fully complied with government efforts.

The National Institute of Health said 185 people have so far come forward to donate plasma as of Monday and said they were in talks with Shincheonji for donations.

South Korea health officials have said that in the absence of other treatments or vaccines, plasma therapy may be a way to lower the death rate, especially in critical patients.

At least 17 South Koreans have received the experimental therapy, which involves using plasma from recovered patients with antibodies to the virus, enabling the body to defend against the disease.

South Korea has reported 281 deaths from COVID-19.

Health authorities said they were testing 176 people who came into contact with crew members on a Russian fishing vessel docked at Busan after 16 aboard the vessel were tested positive.
In the words of Dr. Denis Taylor, a British leading scientist in the electronics field and former Chief UNESCO Advisor at the University College, Nairobi, Kenya, who was also among the British scientists that developed radar during the Second World War, One thing that is very apparent to all is that developing countries must concern themselves first and foremost with their natural resources. This does not, however, mean selling these natural resources abroad as raw products. No, to get the maximum benefit, the raw products must be turned, if possible, into manufactured products and then exported. I believe this is one of the main reasons why developing countries should encourage a proportion of their better graduates to have training in research method. Now, we can come back to the question - "ls research important in the developing countries?" I think it is.

Despite the above truth, It is barefaced that the Nigerian state has neither supported research in the country or treated education sector, one of the tripods on which nation building stands, fairly since the nations independence. The situation is exacerbated by the successive governments mindless or near-exclusion of the sector from the nations budgetary allocations. Infact, by its admission, the Federal Ministry of Education few years ago declared that the funding of education at all levels in the country is below the benchmark recommended by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). While UNESCOs benchmark for funding of education was 26 per cent of the national budget and 6 per cent of the gross domestic products (GDP), Nigeria has been allocating 6 per cent of the national budget to the funding of its education.

However, there is one event in recent weeks that came not only as a surprise, but probably did more than anything else to help Nigerians believe in President Muhammadu Buharis declaration during the democracy day celebration broadcast on the 12th June, 2020, that his administration remains committed to expanding access to quality education in a manner that enhances the productivity of its citizens.

That event is the recent upward review of the National Research Fund (NRF) of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) from N3 billion to N7.5 billion for the year 2020, by President Muhammadu Buhari

While making the disclosure lately at this years Board of Trustees (BoT) retreat of the organisation in Abuja, TETFund Executive Secretary, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, going by reports, explained that the latest approval by Mr. President makes the agency the largest holder of research grant in Nigeria. Noting that the President also approved the establishment of six medical simulation research and clinical training facilities in six colleges of medicine in each geopolitical zone within the year and submitted that the authorisation provided TETFund an opportunity to provide 12 COVID-19 and related infectious disease molecular laboratories, two in each geopolitical zone, making the fund the highest single provider of the diseases test centres nationwide

Essentially, aside this revelation and other observations such as Mr. Presidents fresh claim that he has launched the Better Education Service Delivery for All in 17 states, established additional 6 Federal Science and Technical Colleges, and executed a pro-active Teacher Training Plan with all states of the Federation, among others, there are in my views, an entirely set of reasons why President Buharis actions in this direction are commendable.

First, it is pretty obvious to most Nigerians that the nation has in the past had too many leaders that defined education too narrowly in a manner devoid of process and outcome fairness; Got preoccupied with revenue generation in ways that impeded scholarly researches, truncated academic calendar with strike actions, laced Nigerian universities with dilapidated and overstretched learning facilities with universities producing graduates devoid of linkage with the manpower needs of the nations industrial sector.

Nigerians have equally at different times and places witnessed leaders that continuously mouth education as the bedrock of development, proclaimed that with sound educational institutions, a country is as good as made-as the institutions will turn out all rounded manpower to continue with the development of the society driven by well thought out ideas, policies, programmes, and projects. Yet, they ended up with lip service to the development of this critical sector.

Without doubt, there is simply no question that Nigeria being a developing nation will continue to face developmental challenges and this reality underscores the importance of research/education as well as provides answers to why the presidents action needs to be applauded.

As an illustration, development experts believe that the traditional progressive solution to problems that involve a lack of participation by citizens in civic and democratic processes is for the nation to redouble their emphasis on education. As education is, in fact, an extremely valuable strategy for solving many of the society ills. In an age where information has more economic value than ever before, it is obvious that education should have a higher national priority. It is also clear that democracies are more likely to succeed when there is widespread access to high-quality education.

What about security and economy? Will they benefit from this basket of support given to research by Mr. President? I think they will. The reason is not far fetched. As the world is in agreement that a countrys defense capability has to continually upgrade as new technology, especially information technology, is incorporated into weapon system. This requires a sound economy that can afford to pay for new weaponry and a highly educated and trained people who can integrate the various arms into one system and operate them efficiently and effectively.

While Nigerians celebrate this new found love for education, the situation in the sector says something else that calls for more work, more reforms and more funding.

Separate from the painful reality that over 13.4 million Nigerian children are currently out of school, and the nations educational policy crying for redesignment to suit the 21st century demands, I believed and still believe that as a nation, we are highly skilled and frequently very good at single loop learning. We have spent much of our lives acquiring academic credentials, mastering one or a number of intellectual disciplines that neither has a link with our industrial and global demands nor needed to solve real-world-problems. This very fact ironically explains why the nation is often so unable at creative solution creation.

More particularly, considering the fact that there is a complete stoppage of real-time teaching and learning in about 185 out of 193 United Nations recognized countries (including Nigeria) which are shut arising from the threat of COVID-19 pandemic. From primary to secondary institutions; and also, to higher institution, the social and mental health costs of keeping such a great percentage of the population of learners out of learning conclave cannot be only huge but remains a sign that Nigeria needs a renewed emphasis on redoubling its investment in ICT or digital literacy education.

For a very long time, there have been attempts to extend the notion of literacy beyond its original stage in the country as the present understanding of education tends to encourage critical discussion but neglects the social diversity of literacy practices, retain a narrow focus on information, and made little impact to what students can produce through ICT skills. Across the globe, true education can no lnger be regarded as merely a set of competences that live in peoples heads. But a phenomenon that is only realized in and through social practices of various kinds, and it therefore, takes different forms in different social and cultural contexts.

And Nigeria cannot confine its attention to the isolated encounter between the reader and the text or the teacher and the student. It is time to take account of the interpersonal context in which that encounter takes place and the broader social and economic processes that determine how such knowledge are produced and circulated.

I hold the opinion that Mr. President needs to do something to help education in the country. It Is in the interest of the government to do this as a formidable way of curbing crime and reducing threatening insecurity in the country. It should be done not merely for political consideration but from the views of national development and sustenance of our democracy.

Utomi is a Lagos-Based Media Consultant.
Q: I have been planning a trip to Texas in August to attend a family gathering. I booked the flight before the coronavirus shutdown. While Im still a little worried about a cancellation, so far it looks like the reunion is on. Trouble is, my boss heard through the grapevine that I am planning a flight, and he informed me that the company has a new policy forbidding employees from flying during the epidemic. He said if I get on a plane, I can forget about coming back to work. Can they do that?

A: Employment is at-will in Michigan, which means employers do not need a reason to terminate workers employment, as long as they dont base an employment decision on an employee or applicants race, religion, sex, disability, pregnancy, age or  in Michigan, but not necessarily elsewhere  weight, height or marital status.

Employers have broad powers to dictate how an employee may act, speak, dress or interact on the job. They can ban specific hair styles, tattoos, piercings and certain styles of shoes, prohibit interoffice dating, and, of course, require workers to follow the usual rules on on-time arrival, sick days, drug or alcohol use, computer use, phone use and confidentiality policies, etc.

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But employers also can make rules that reach into a workers private life.

An employer may base an employment decision on a workers off-duty conduct if it causes or might cause an economic loss, for example. Employers have been able to require workers to quit smoking, under the rationale that smokers have higher insurance premiums and therefore affect the employers bottom line.

Or a workers off-duty conduct can result in termination if a company feels it harms the company reputation. Amy Cooper, the woman whose threats to falsely report an African-American man to police because he asked her to keep her dog on a leash went viral, not only became a symbol of racism in action, she also lost her job.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control has advised people against traveling. According to the CDC, travel, especially on a plane, increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. And Texas, a state that rushed to reopen businesses with few restrictions, has seen the number of people who have contracted COVID-19 grow to more than 61,000 by May 31, and 114,886 as of June 22  and the numbers are not going down.

So, your employer can argue that the ban on airplane travel (and travel to Texas) is justified as you could conceivably contract COVID-19, either while traveling to Texas, or at your family gathering, then bring the disease back to the workplace  presenting clear economic harm. Whether the restriction on air travel would be upheld in a court is not clear.

We suggest discussing your travel plans with your employer to see if a compromise can be reached. Perhaps you could agree to self-quarantine on your return from the family gathering  either working from home, or taking an unpaid leave.

While the new policy seems excessive  and perhaps arbitrary, if it targets only airplane travel  failing to follow it could cost you your job. With about 40 million Americans out of work, now is probably not the best time to risk termination  no matter how unfair it may feel.

Attorney Daniel A. Gwinns Troy practice focuses on employment law, probate, and trusts and estates. Contact him with your legal questions at daniel@gwinnlegal.com or visit gwinnlegal.com. Ask the Lawyer is informational only and should not be considered legal advice.

Coronavirus in Michigan: 211 new confirmed cases, 5 new deaths reported Michigan added to its total of confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus on Friday afternoon, with 211 new confirmed cases and 207 probable 
Oakland County is moving quickly with plans to support communities that may lack the election infrastructure and staff to handle a significant influx in absentee ballots during the 2020 presidential election season.

Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed HB 5141 into law, which amends the Michigan Election Law to allow city and township clerks to work collaboratively with other local clerks to create joint absent voting counting boards, which process and count absentee ballots on Election Day. These agreements aim to help local clerks with the expected increase in absentee ballots due to the passage of Proposal 3 in 2018 allowing for any registered to vote-by-mail.

Aug. 4 and Nov. 3 will be the first presidential primary and general elections held since no-reason absentee voting became law in Michigan. Although local clerks were already expecting and preparing for a record-breaking number of absentee ballots for this year's elections, voter concerns over in-person voting due to the coronavirus pandemic has only heightened those expectations.

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On June 25, County Commissioner Nancy Quarles (D-Southfield) introduced a resolution that, if approved by the board of commissioners, would allocate $1.2 million in CARES Act dollars to support the creation of a County Absent Voter Counting Board.

Judge won't stop absentee voter application mailings LANSING (AP)  A judge on Thursday refused to stop the secretary of state from sending unsolicited absentee ballot applications to millions of

Oakland County forming study group to ensure safe and secure elections during pandemic A new study group will make recommendations to ensure Oakland County voters and election workers are protected during the upcoming elections.

The money would be used to purchase additional voting equipment, such as high-speed tabulators, and conduct virtual poll worker training, at no cost to the communities, which is necessary for the county's election division to administer a countywide absent voter counting board.

To date, 21 city and township clerks have requested to participate in the County Absent Voter Counting Board for the August Primary Election while approximately 40 local clerks have requested to participate for the November General Election.

Oakland County Elections Director Joe Rozell could not be reached for comment in time for publication.

During the May 5 municipal elections, Michigan saw record-breaking turnout for the approximately 50 elections in 33 counties and 200 municipalities across the state, with nearly 25 percent of eligible voters participating and 99 percent of those voters casting absent voter ballots. This turnout was driven by voter concerns over in-person voting due to the coronavirus pandemic combined with no-reason absentee voting.

As it did in May, a large increase in absentee ballots combined with Michiganders being able to register and vote on Election Day could present a challenge to local clerks with limited staff and resources. The formation of this county absent voter counting board seeks to ease the burden placed on those clerks as they continue to prepare for a surge in absentee ballots.

According to the introduced resolution, Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown supports this effort. Her office anticipates that the State of Michigan will cover approximately $475,000 of these absent voter counting board-related costs, which also includes the securing of facilities and paying of absent voter counting board members.

Local clerks began mailing out absentee ballots to residents last week for the August 4 primary election, according to the Michigan Secretary of State's Office.

Jocelyn Benson: Voters need clear choices of how to vote in pandemic LANSING (AP)  Michigan's chief election officer said she is cautiously optimistic about preparations for the 2020 elections amid the coronavi

In May, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced that her office would be sending all 7.7 million registered voters in Michigan an absentee ballot application for the August and November elections. The constitutionality of this decision has been challenged in court, but upheld by the Michigan Court of Claims in a June 18 opinion.

State Sen. Ruth Johnson, former Michigan Secretary and current chair of the Senate Elections Committee, has been critical of Benson's decision calling it "unsolicited" and one that was made without consulting with local clerks. Johnson said that sending absentee ballot applications has always been the job of local clerks, which are traditionally not sent without a request from voters.

Last week, State Reps. Leslie Love (D-Detroit) and Kara Hope (D-Holt) called for a hearing on legislation they introduced earlier this year. House Bills 5447-5450 would allow clerks and elections workers to work in shifts and begin processing absentee ballots the Monday before an election. Under state law, absentee ballots cannot be processed and counted until 7 a.m. on Election Day.

The bills would also allocate $1.5 million to increase pay for current election workers or to hire new election workers. An additional $3 million would be provided to local governments to purchase high-speed tabulators and other equipment to efficiently process the increased volume of absentee ballots.
RF Interference: Unintentional Emissions from devices On June 18, Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) published Public Consultation 51 on the future update of the Spectrum Use Regulation (current Resolution 671 of November 3, 2016).



A translation of the LABRE post reads:



Unlike previous public consultations, this does not directly address the proposed text for the new regulation. The present consultation is a grant making, a stage prior to the development of the law itself, so that the regulator can obtain information from society in advance with the objective of guiding the update proposal, which will then be materialized in a second future public consultation.



Permissions are generally divided into themes or thematic axes in which the elements that may compose the future standard are organized. In this case, 7 axes were listed, all dealing with spectrum management and valid for all telecommunications services.



One of the innovations is the inclusion of regulatory treatment for unintentional emissions. Briefly, sources of unintended emissions are those derived from equipment that was not designed for radio frequency emission, but due to the characteristics of its embedded electronics and interconnected network, they end up emitting radio frequencies and electrical disturbances with the potential to cause interference in services telecommunications and an increase in the level of radio noise. Classic examples of these products are household appliances, energy saving lamps, LEDs, switching sources and power controllers, inverters and rectifiers, etc.



In the international scenario, the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) traditionally develops technical reference standards for containing these interferences, seeking electromagnetic compatibility between the most different electrical and electronic systems. These standards may or may not be nationalized in Brazil through the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT), but to become mandatory they must be adopted in federal regulations.



Theme 2 addresses this problem by seeking allowances from society for the future elaboration and making of regulatory decisions since in recent years the problem of interference has increased worldwide, being more serious in countries like Brazil where there is in general, organized application and harmonized technical standards for electromagnetic compatibility.



LABRE, through its Spectral Management and Defense group, has been fighting for many years to raise the awareness of the authorities so that the noise level in the radio bands is reduced and that the electromagnetic spectrum is protected. Several thematic meetings, lectures and seminars were developed with partner institutions exposing the problem of interferences and the need to combat them from the perspective of spectral defense, in addition to participation in specialized work committees and contributions to public consultations aimed at protecting the spectrum.



Anatel acknowledged in its own making of permissions that unintentional emissions "have caused harmful interference in regular telecommunications services, to the detriment of the proper operation of communications networks" and identified as an objective "to protect radiocommunication services against harmful interference from unintentional emissions.



The granting of permissions has a longer deadline for sending suggestions (2 months, ending on August 18th). LABRE will develop its institutional contribution, as well as guide those who wish to individually contribute to the consultation. Wait for future information on the LABRE website. Also be a LABRE member.



Source LABRE https://tinyurl.com/BrazilLABRE Anatel Public Consultation 51 Spectrum Use Regulation https://sistemas.anatel.gov.br/SACP/Contribuicoes/TextoConsulta.asp?CodProcesso

=C2357&Tipo=1&Opcao=andamento
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has introduced a four-pronged police reform plan aimed at strengthening police-community relations and ensuring that all Michiganders are treated with dignity and respect under the law.

The plan was developed in partnership with community leaders and law enforcement organizations. It's focused on reforms in the areas of policy, personnel, community engagement, and prevention and accountability to address racial disparities in how law enforcement is applied toward communities of color.

Whitmer said this proposal will help ensure that all Michiganders, no matter their community or the color of their skin, are treated with humanity and respect. Earlier this month, Whitmer voiced her support for a series of police reform policy plans while calling on Michigan law enforcement agencies to enhance their training and policies.

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Leaders across the state and country have been calling for increased police reforms following the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd in late-May at the hands of a police officer. That officer has been charged with second-degree murder in Floyd's killing.

Earlier this month, the governor also expressed support for measures that require law enforcement officers to complete training on implicit bias and de-escalation techniques, including Senate Bill 945, which is sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin. The governor has also urged police agencies to require their officers to intervene when they observe an excessive use of force by another officer.

The plan includes:

Policy

Ban chokeholds/windpipe blockage.

Further limit the use of no-knock warrants.

Require "duty to intervene" policies.

Classify false, racially-motivated 911 calls as a hate crime.

Require in-service training for all licensed law enforcement officers to maintain licensure.

Authorize the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) to do the following: Audit law enforcement agencies to ensure they are accurately reporting violations of law or improper use of force. Establish penalties for agencies who dont comply with reporting.

Direct the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Mental Health Diversion Council to make recommendations on best practices and training for police departments when responding to situations involving persons with mental illnesses.

Personnel

Provide incentive programs for law enforcement agencies to hire/retain officers who live where they work.

Require retention of disciplinary records resulting from violations of law or improper use of force.

Partnership and community engagement

Invest in programming in communities around the state that connect local police and community leaders to build relationships.

Invest in expanding existing community relationship programs to break down barriers between police and communities around the state.

Prevention and accountability

Require independent investigations of all shootings and use of force that resulted in the death of unarmed civilians at the hands of law enforcement.

Colonel Joe Gasper, director of The Michigan State Police, said law enforcement derives its authority from the public who entrusts police to protect and serve them.

"I am fully committed to working with Governor Whitmer and her administration to increase accountability and improve transparency in order to build community support and trust," he said.

According to 2019 data voluntarily reported to the FBI by hundreds of Michigan law enforcement agencies, 39 people (16 Black, 1 Hispanic, and 22 White) experienced use-of-force at the hands of 54 law enforcement officers, of which 49 were White. The FBI defines use-of-force as events that result in death (13), serious injures (17), or where firearms were discharged in a person's direction.

About 63% of Michigan's law enforcement agencies (368 of the 581) have created submission accounts with the FBI to be able to submit data into the bureau's National Use-Of-Force Data Collection, which launched in 2019. These 368 agencies account for about 90% of the 18,918 total law enforcement officers in the state, according to The Michigan State Police. 346 of these agencies submitted data in 2019.

Whitmer has encouraged police departments statewide to participate in this comprehensive use-of-force reporting effort led by the FBI.

In an effort to bring more community voices to the table when establishing statewide police reforms, four seats have been added to MCOLES, including the Director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.

Suspect in jail after man shot to death in Oakland County A 26-year-old Pontiac man was killed Sunday evening in the city after a shooting.

+2 Man drowns after jumping into North Commerce Lake A 30-year-old Commerce Township man is dead after apparently drowning in a western Oakland County Lake.
A 30-year-old Commerce Township man is dead after apparently drowning in a western Oakland County Lake.

The Oakland County Sheriff's dive team was activated just after 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 28, after the report of a man in the water who did not resurface. They were sent to Bluebird Drive.

The area is between Benstein Road and South Commerce Road, just north of Walled Lake Central High School.

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The sheriff's office reports that the man was on a pontoon with friends, with the watercraft near a sandbar. As they left the area, the swim ladder fell from the pontoon.

"The victim jumped into the water attempting to retrieve the ladder, however, he did not resurface," the sheriff's office reported.

The man's body was found after a brief search by divers, who recovered the body is about 20 feet of water. Life-saving efforts were attempted but the man was pronounced dead.

The victim was identified as Gurvit Sharma.

An autopsy was scheduled through the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office.

"At this time, it appears alcohol may have been a factor in the drowning," the sheriff's office reported. "The incident remains under investigation by the OCSO Marine Unit."

Suspect in jail after man shot to death in Oakland County A 26-year-old Pontiac man was killed Sunday evening in the city after a shooting.

Royal Oak City Hall to open to public after new building is completed Royal Oak will allow public access to City Hall next month after the new city hall building is completed.

Gretchen Whitmer proposes four-pronged police reform plan Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has introduced a four-pronged police reform plan aimed at strengthening police-community relations and ensuring
Michigan saw another small increase in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday with only 236 added.

This continues the weekend trend after having ended last week with increased figures.

Overall, Michigan has 63,497 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5,915 deaths, with four new deaths announced Monday, the second day in a row with just four new deaths.

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With 6,726 probable cases of COVID-19, the state has topped 70,000 in terms of overall cases, reaching 70,223 on Monday. Michigan also has 246 deaths listed as probable.

Every county in Michigan has at least one case of COVID-19, except for one, Ontonagon in the far northwest of the Upper Peninsula.

Nationally, Michigan has fallen out of the top ten in the number of cases. Early after the pandemic's arrival in the United States, Michigan ranked as high as fourth in total cases, and last week, the state ranked tenth. On Monday, it had fallen to 11th, overcome by Arizona, one of the southern and southwestern states seeing widespread growth in infections. Arizona had more than 74,500 cases on Monday afternoon, nearly 5,000 ahead of Michigan.

Worldwide, the total number of cases of the disease caused by the coronavirus stood at 10.2 million on Monday afternoon, with nearly 503,000 deaths recorded, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

National trends

Masks continue to be a hotbed political issue, either encouraged or mandated in many parts of the country because they are considered the best and easiest way to slow the spread of coronaonvirus.

Not warn by most supporters of President Donald Trump at his two recent rallies, the city of Jacksonville in Florida on Monday ordered masks be worn in settings where social distancing is not possible. The city will be site of the Republican National Convention in August, where the president will accept his renomination, having moved the public portion of the convention from North Carolina.

The head of the World Health Organization also said on Monday that the pandemic is "not even close to being over," The Associated Press reported.

Much of the U.S. is seeing this, as the country's number of daily new cases is at about 40,000, topping heights of the pandemic's early weeks, when the cases exploded in New York and New Jersey and, to a lesser extent, in Michigan.

With the spike in cases in the U.S., AMC Theatres also announced Monday it was pushing back the opening of the bulk of its theaters on July 30 rather than mid-month. Movie theaters are still not open in Michigan, part of the final stage of reopening.

Local trends

Wayne County  excluding Detroit  saw the highest number of new confirmed cases with 27, pushing the total number of confirmed to 10,264.

Oakland County added 25 cases on Monday, pushing the county's total to 8,848. The county leads the category of probable cases with 3,094.

Macomb County added 18 cases, pushing its total to 7,136. There are 181 probable cases there.

Detroit, the community with the highest number of infections, added just 13 on Monday, pushing its total to 11,543.

In western Michigan, Kent County added 12 cases, though mlive.com is reporting that three downtown Grand Rapids restaurants have had to close due to confirmed cases by employees.

In central Michigan, Ingham County added just 10 cases, though the East Lansing bar cited as a source of an outbreak that has led to more than 80 infections remained closed and served as a national example of what can happen to a business. The Detroit Free Press reports that 30 cases in the Grosse Pointe area are tied to someone infected at the East Lansing brew pub returning home and attending a party in the Wayne County suburbs.

North of Lansing, there were no changes in Isabella, Clare, and Gratiot counties.

+2 Man drowns after jumping into North Commerce Lake A 30-year-old Commerce Township man is dead after apparently drowning in a western Oakland County Lake.

+4 Amid pandemic, scores of U.S. Catholic schools face closure Catholic schools have faced tough times for years, but the pace of closures is accelerating dramatically amid economic fallout from the corona

+4 Cohorts, clear masks, fog machines: Pontiac schools releasing initial back to school plan With just about three months left until students return back to school for the fall, Pontiac School District is releasing some of its plans to

Woodward Dream Cruise officially canceled; car enthusiasts vow to show up The board that oversees the Woodward Dream Cruise voted Monday, June 29, to cancel the event this year because of the coronavirus.
A 26-year-old Pontiac man was killed Sunday evening in the city after a shooting.

Emergency responders were sent to Ridgemont Street at 7:21 p.m. Sunday, June 28, with the report of a shooting. There, deputies found a man dead in the parking lot, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office reported.

A suspect was arrested a short time later, after an anonymous tip reported where the shooter had gone. Investigators reviewed security video and located the apartment where the alleged shooter had gone, locating him and detaining him as well other people who were present.

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Deputies also found four pistols when they searched the apartment.

The suspect is described as a 21-year-old Pontiac man, who is in the Oakland County Jail, pending possible charges.

+2 Man drowns after jumping into North Commerce Lake A 30-year-old Commerce Township man is dead after apparently drowning in a western Oakland County Lake.

+4 Erebus Haunted Attraction plans new oddities, curiosities museum for downtown Pontiac A new museum is under construction in downtown Pontiac at the hands of Erebus Haunted Attraction.

Woodward Dream Cruise officially canceled; car enthusiasts vow to show up The board that oversees the Woodward Dream Cruise voted Monday, June 29, to cancel the event this year because of the coronavirus.

Gretchen Whitmer proposes four-pronged police reform plan Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has introduced a four-pronged police reform plan aimed at strengthening police-community relations and ensuring

Royal Oak City Hall to open to public after new building is completed Royal Oak will allow public access to City Hall next month after the new city hall building is completed.
Police dog Isaac was called in to deal with a domestic incident in the north end Friday night.

A mother and son, 21, were in an argument at about 9:44 p.m. Property was damaged, and police attempted to arrest the son on a charge of mischief, but he allegedly resisted and tried to hit an officer.

Isaac caught the suspect, who was then charged with assault with intent to resist arrest.

His name was not released to protect the other person's identity.
Police were called Saturday at about 10 p.m. after a vehicle was seen hitting a pole before entering a Lansdowne Street West restaurant parking lot and hitting the building.

The woman driving the vehicle was suspected of being impaired.

Berlyn Rymer, 22, of Delhi, Ontario was arrested and charged with operation while impaired by drug and possession of a Schedule I substance (methamphetamine)

She was released and will appear in court Aug. 27.
For months, Canadians have been painfully aware this countrys nursing home residents were suffering the most and dying the most from COVID-19.

For months theyve known emergency measures, such as sending in the army to the worst-hit facilities, was just a stopgap for a heartbreaking crisis that should never have happened.

Now, two new reports have revealed just how bad the situation truly is and how much a very expensive fix is in order.

The first report, from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, is not only disturbing, its embarrassing. Canada has done a worse job of protecting elderly long-term-care residents than any other wealthy country.

As of late May, 80 per cent of Canadas known COVID-19 deaths were residents of nursing or retirement homes. Thats nearly double the average for countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. In Australia, 28 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths were in long-term-care facilities. In Germany, it was 34 per cent and in Netherlands 15.

Nor is Canadas terrible record merely a matter of percentages. Nearly 6,000 residents in 971 Canada nursing and retirement facilities had died from COVID-19 as of June 19. With a population more than twice the size of Canadas, Germany was reporting roughly half the number of actual deaths in its long-term-care facilities.

The stark discrepancy between Canada and so many other advanced nations wasnt coincidental. The analysis by the Canadian Institute for Health Information concluded the countries that best guarded their nursing home residents were the ones that had made sweeping changes at their facilities as soon as they locked-down their societies. Canada, to its shame, wasnt one of these places.

The second report, by University of Toronto, McMaster University and Public Health Ontario scientists, casts further light on Canadas dismal performance. It reveals that the major reason for the deadly spread of COVID-19 in our long-term-care facilities was because so many nursing home residents have to live in ward-like rooms with four people. Literally hundreds of lives could have been saved if the country had phased out those rooms  many of which became death-traps. Residents in the most tightly-packed homes were twice as likely to catch COVID-19 and die from it as residents in the least crowded facilities. But when the pandemic arrived, one in four nursing home residents lived in a four-bed room.

The Ontario government has only started to correct this glaring oversight. As of this month, its not allowing new long-term-care residents into ward rooms where three or four people share a room and bathroom. The government is also boosting its funding to help the homes do this and, in effect, keep beds empty to avoid overcrowding.

But this doesnt address the situation for all those still in rooms with four people. Since 1999, the province hasnt allowed new facilities to have more than two people per room. Yet were still grappling with the legacy of the many homes that opened before that time and still have those packed wards.

It will cost a lot of money to end the failed ward model. But we must do it, whatever the price tag. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives last week called for $1.8 billion more in provincial funding so the homes can reach safe staffing levels. Thats a whole different issue, but it indicates just how much Ontario must do to do its elderly right.

The independent commission Premier Doug Ford will launch next month to tackle these issues has its work cut out for it.
As more establishments begin to reopen in Toronto during Stage 2, a group of architects and traffic engineers have come up with an idea to make business more successful this summer.

Local architecture firm Smart Density and traffic planning firm Trans-Plan propose limiting the use of some streets on certain days of the week to pedestrians only  allowing for people to move about while maintaining social distancing and at the same time permitting businesses such as restaurants to expand their outdoor presence even further.

It could really help to boost the economy this summer, said architect and urban planner Naama Blonder, a co-founder of Smart Density.

And why not? Its so easy to implement.

Under Stage 2 of the provinces reopening plan during the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants are permitted to operate patio dining and establishments offering personal services such as hair salons can open. Toronto entered Stage 2 last Wednesday.

Retailers with storefront entrances had already been permitted to open since the province entered Stage 1 of the reopening last month.

Smart Density and Trans-Plan noted that a few patio tables wont be enough to make most restaurants profitable this summer. After months of being closed  except for takeout and delivery services  restaurants will still only be able to operate at about half of their usual capacity to maintain social distancing.

Blonder said the proposal  which her group is floating to business improvement areas in the city  would allow restaurants to have even more space this summer.

It could be a restaurant, could be a bookstore, a designer with a pop-up, its really about extending their business outside, Blonder said.

And it will still be safe and within social distancing guidelines.

She said the proposal would go further than the citys current plan for restaurants, dubbed CafeTO, which was headed to city council this week for final approval.

That plan includes reallocating curb lane space for patios, and waiving patio fees so that restaurants and bars can open and expand them sooner.

With Smart Density and Trans-Plans proposal, they suggest banning cars entirely on certain days of the week, such as Thursday to Sunday, and yielding the space over to businesses and pedestrians.

CafeTO is a great start, but perhaps its not bold enough, Blonder said.

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Main Street businesses have suffered so much, she said. What else can be done?

The economic impact of COVID-19 has been particularly brutal for small businesses, including restaurants, that had to almost completely shut down for several months at the beginning of the pandemic in March.

Restaurants tend to have thin profit margins, and many have faced challenges in retaining staff and paying fixed costs, most notably rent.

Recognizing that the impact is ongoing, the federal government announced Monday it was extending its rent relief program for businesses by another month.
Given the events of the past three months, many of us are newly converted germaphobes, transformed from the kind of people who would ride the subway to a cafe and eat a croissant without washing our hands on arrival to the sort who are terrified to pass someone too closely on a sidewalk.

Dr. Bonnie Henry gets it: We scared people and, once you scare them, its hard to undo. As provincial health officer for British Columbia (and author of Soap and Water & Common Sense, a guide to avoiding viruses, parasites and disease), it was Henrys job to scare us. It worked! But now we need to learn to live in this new normal.

So now that weve entered Stage 2 of reopening across Ontario, we have questions. Throw off your mask (if youre at home!) and settle in for some expert answers.

How often should I wash my face masks?

Cloth face masks should be washed in a washing machine after every use, advises Dasantila Golemi-Kotra, an expert in microbiology and an associate professor at York University. They should be dried in a dryer or outside, especially now that the weather is hot.

No washing machine? Put the mask in hot water with detergent, let it sit for 30 minutes and then rinse.

If you have a single-use mask and you cant readily get more, Golemi-Kotra suggests allowing it to dry out in a box for three days. But if the mask has been used extensively in crowded areas or for a prolonged time, throw it in the garbage.

What kind of mask is best?

Face masks essentially act as a filter, so the more layers a mask has, the more effective it is, says Jason Tetro, a microbiologist and the author of two books on germs. An N95 mask has 250 layers (although the public has been asked to leave those for medical professionals and other front-line workers), while a cotton bandana has two or four.

What if someone walks by me within two metres and were not wearing masks?

Unless someone is actively coughing or sneezing in your direction, the risk of getting infected when youre on the move is low, says Golemi-Kotra. Henry agrees and adds that more risk lies in sitting next to someone in a coffee shop, having a conversation, sitting in a meeting room where people are talking, or going to a church service and standing next to someone whos singing.

Is it a good idea to wear gloves?

With gloves, you actually end up picking up more (particles) from surfaces and you cant effectively use a hand sanitizer, Tetro says. If youre using gloves because you think there might be coronavirus on that melon youre knocking on, just use your hands. Then wash them or use sanitizer if thats not possible.

Should I avoid the subway?

Tetro does advise avoiding public transportation if you can. All of those tubes  buses, subways, planes  are basically like emergency rooms, he explains. Theyre usually crowded and full of people whose health status you dont know. If you need to take transit, wear a mask, as the TTC mandates, and maintain as much distance as you can. Henry recommends using transit in off-peak times if possible.

Is it safe to eat in a restaurant?

Recently, Henry went to a newly reopened restaurant for the first time. It was a bit nerve-wracking, she admits, but she took comfort in the measures that she and her team had put in place: capacity limits, tables far apart, frequent cleaning and servers taking orders from a distance.

Worried about using restaurant cutlery? Dont be, says Tetro. Most restaurants have hot water dishwashers and as long as the water reaches 65 degrees Celsius, youre fine.

What about takeout coffee?

The main concern is drinking from a potentially contaminated lid. Tetro warns against using lids left on the counter because you have no idea who has coughed or sneezed on them. If the barista puts on a lid behind the counter using gloves, there should be no risk, he says.

We all touch the same hand sanitizer pump in stores. Is that dangerous?

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Not really, says Golemi-Kotra, since youre hitting your hands with the sanitizer after theyre contaminated. Make sure youre doing that properly: Put a generous amount of the sanitizer and rub those hands and fingers as you would do when washing hands.

Whats the safest way to have people over?

Henry recently had friends come to visit on her lawn. I put a bottle of wine and glasses on a tray in the middle, poured it and then everyone got their own glasses. She served individually wrapped treats. Last night, I went to a friends house for dinner. She has a long table, and I sat at one end and she and her husband sat at the other. If in doubt, follow Henrys motto: Fewer faces, bigger spaces.
With COVID-19 cases surging in the United States, Canadians living in the country are hunkering down and find themselves thinking a bit more about home these days.

Some expats who spoke with The Canadian Press from the hardest-hit areas said they were surprised by the speed at which their respective states reopened, while others said the situation was overblown.

All are trying to maintain physical distancing and wear masks when they do go out.

All we can do is the best we can to stay as safe as possible, but its definitely nerve-racking, said Houston resident and Toronto native Grace Gonzalez.

Texas surpassed 5,000 hospitalizations last week as the second-biggest state scaled back its aggressive opening strategy, ordering bars closed indefinitely and restaurants to reduce capacity.

In Houston, where Gonzalez has lived for eight years, the public threat level was raised to its highest level on Friday.

I was in shock when they decided to open up Texas, I felt it was way too early, Gonzalez said. We never saw a dip at all ... there wasnt any of that flattening of the curve before they decided to reopen.

Gonzalez said masks werent prevalent in recent weeks and many went about their lives as if everything was back to normal. But she stayed at home most of the time, while making limited trips to stores.

I feel like a lot of mentality (here) is if you feel sick or if youre in one of those groups that are immunocompromised, you should stay home, but if Im healthy, why should I have to stay home? Gonzalez said.

That question of individual-versus-collective good is something Ontario-born Cheryl Applebaum noted in Florida, where more and more younger people have been infected. The state set a record Saturday with more than 9,500 cases.

Officials moved to shutter beaches and discouraged bar gatherings in a state that has more than 3,300 registered COVID-19 deaths.

It really just increased our anxiety level, said Applebaum, who lives in the Tampa area.

Applebaum was born in Windsor, raised in Toronto and has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years with her Canadian husband.

Both my husband and myself are in the more vulnerable age group, were both seniors and we have been very conscientious about social distancing, wearing face coverings, proper hygiene when we go out and come in, said Applebaum. And to see some of the people in the grocery stores relax those things has been very disconcerting.

Applebaum acknowledges the situation has her thinking about Canada a lot these days.

To be honest, this (COVID-19) in conjunction with the political climate down here has made us seriously think about moving back, Applebaum said.

However, not all Canadians living in the U.S. are overly worried.

Ken Moon, who lives in a town just north of Dallas, feels the situation is overblown on both sides of the border.

Others may chose to say you must hide away forever and never do anything again, but thats not how we live our lives, said Moon, a southeastern Ontario native who found out through serological testing that hed had COVID-19 in February, with milder symptoms, despite having other health issues.

Moon said he believes the bigger numbers in recent days are more a result of increased testing. He says the only real change in his day-to-day life is wearing a mask.

It is what it is, the biggest thing is keeping those that are infected away from the seniors care facilities, Moon said.

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Moon said he wasnt opposed to the Texas reopening plan, noting some acquaintances in Canada havent left home in months.

I have no idea where this idea of complete quarantine came from but thats what theyre doing, and its kind of like Why are you doing that? Moon said.

Like in Canada, the COVID-19 circumstances vary across the country.

The situation in Florida was worrisome enough for Ontario-born Laurie Turley-Michel that she headed back to her summer residence in Ohio early, with the impression that people in the Sunshine State were in denial about COVID-19.

I was personally afraid to go out at all, said Turley-Michel, who has been in the U.S. for 15 years. It wasnt until right before we decided to come back to Ohio that they implemented a stay-at-home order, but it didnt last long. Florida was one of the first to start reopening.

She works at a law firm where employees are mostly working remotely and clients are obliged to wear a mask for meetings. Turley-Michel has largely stayed home, other than going for groceries or essential purchases. She always wears a mask in public.

We havent had family over here, we live in a rural area so its easier to stay social distanced, Turley-Michel said.

Amy Williams, who lives in a small town near the Arizona-Mexico border where cases have been low, said she was optimistic when the lockdowns in March in her home state and her home province of Ontario happened almost in lockstep.

Ontario and Arizona issued lockdown orders within two or three days of each other and then I felt in terms of cases, we were on the same trajectory as Ontario and then our governor decided to open things up, said Williams, a native of Mississauga who will have to put off an annual summer trip home due to obligatory quarantine measures.

On Sunday, Arziona had 3,858 new cases of COVID-19. Ontario, with almost double the population, had 178.

Williams, a mother of two who works as a psychologist in the local school system, said her primary concern is how schools will reopen during the earlier August return in that state amid the spike.

I just dont see how were going to be able to not only physically prepare for the reopening, but mentally, Williams said.

I dont know what thats going to look like.
Bir Lahlou, 29 June 2020 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Mr. Brahim Ghali, has sent a message of condolence to his Algerian counterpart, Mr. Abdelmadjid tebboune, following the passing of former Prime Minister, Moudjahid Belaid Abdesselam.



"With great sadness and sorrow, we have learnt the news of the passing of Mujahed Belaid Abdesselam, former Prime Minister, and we would like to extend to you, and through you to the family of the deceased and to the Algerian people my deepest condolences and sincere sympathy," said the President of the Republic.



Algeria has undoubtedly lost one of its heroic men and mujahedeen, who sacrificed for its liberation, progress and pride, and spared no effort in serving it, added the President of the Republic. (SPS)



062/SPS/T
HALIFAXThe Nova Scotia government is moving ahead with plans to further reopen the province now that it hasnt reported a case of COVID-19 in the past 17 days.

However, Premier Stephen McNeil warned Friday that with limits being raised on how many people can gather at bars, restaurants and organized events, the risk of a resurgence in infections was also increasing.

As a result, the province has issued an emphatic recommendation for residents to wear non-medical masks when physical distancing among strangers becomes difficult.

McNeil said Nova Scotians must get in the habit of wearing a mask, noting that he has had to change his own habits.

Even when I saw others wearing them, I didnt always wear one myself, he told a virtual news conference.

Ive had to rethink this and do a bit of soul-searching. After all, when someone is wearing a mask, they are protecting me and others. So I need to do the same for them.

The premier then offered a slogan of sorts to promote the use of masks.

Dont think of it as a task. When in doubt, wear a mask.

The provinces previous advice was to ask residents to consider wearing a mask when physical distancing couldnt be maintained.

But the provinces chief medical officer of health, Dr. Robert Strang, said he wants to normalize the wearing of masks to reduce the inherent risks that come with allowing larger gatherings.

As examples, Strang said masks should be worn when entering grocery stores or malls, using public transit or at public gatherings with limited space.

Wearing a mask is a way of showing that we care about other people, he said.

Meanwhile, the province announced Friday that all bars and restaurants will be allowed to operate at full capacity and continue serving until midnight, effective immediately.

However, that change assumes establishments will continue to adhere to physical-distancing rules, which has required bars and restaurants to create more space for patrons by moving chairs and tables farther apart.

The province is also allowing private campgrounds to operate at 100 per cent capacity, and all public pools can reopen with physical distancing for lane swimming and aquafit classes.

As of next Friday, Nova Scotia will increase the limits on gatherings organized by recognized business or community organizations.

That includes weddings, funerals, cultural events, concerts, festivals, dance recitals and faith-based gatherings, which will increase to 250 people if they are outdoors and 200  with maximum 50 per cent capacity  if they are indoors. In either case, physical distancing is still required.

These events do not include family gatherings, which remain limited to a 50-person maximum with physical distancing.

Last week, the province announced that Nova Scotians could start gathering in close social groups of up to 10 without physical distancing.

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Though the province announced these groups did not have to be exclusive, Strang said Friday there seemed to be confusion over what that actually meant.

Were telling people that you can chose who is in your group of 10, but this is limited, he said, adding that it was wrong to think any random gathering of 10 people was acceptable. Ideally, people would have a single, closed social group.

A total of 1,061 people in Nova Scotia have tested positive for the virus  and 63 of those people have died, most of them in a long-term care facility in Halifax. Two people remain in hospital, though their cases are considered among the 998 officially resolved cases.

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MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine coast guard found no signs Monday of 14 people missing since a fishing boat and cargo vessel collided in choppy waters a day earlier.

The fishing boat was damaged and overturned, and the search for those aboard was hampered by strong waves, according to officials and coast guard photos.

The coast guard said the cargo vessel MV Vienna Wood collided with the FV Liberty 5 for unclear reasons in the early hours of Sunday about 27 kilometres (17 miles) off Mamburao in Mindoro Occidental province south of the capital, Manila.

A coast guard light plane and a helicopter joined the search Monday for the 12 fishermen and two passengers on board the Liberty 5, coast guard spokesperson Commodore Armando Balilo said. After a daylong search, there was no sign of the missing people, he said.

The fishing boat had been heading for metropolitan Manila when the collision happened.

The Hong Kong-flagged cargo vessel, which first reported the collision, was taken into custody for an investigation and was escorted by a coast guard vessel to nearby Batangas province, the coast guard said.

The vessel, with 20 crew on board, was not carrying any cargo at the time of the collision. It was en route to Australia.

Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of frequent storms, badly maintained boats, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations. In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,341 people in one of the worlds worst peacetime maritime disasters.
CAIRO - Libyan tribes loyal to military commander Khalifa Hifter on Monday offered to end their blockade of the countrys oil production, which has cost Libya over $6 billion since January, as part of a political settlement in the war-torn country.

In a statement after a tribal meeting at Libyas Zueitina oil terminal, tribal leader Amhmed Idris al-Senussi said they have reopened the oil ports and given a mandate to Hifters forces to negotiate a restart in production.

He said they hope Hifter can find solutions to ensure oil revenue does not land in the hands of terrorist militias, referring to forces allied with a rival U.N.-supported government in the capital, Tripoli.

Ahmed al-Mosmari, a spokesman for Hifters forces, said they welcome any popular mandate to protect oil installations.

The announcement came as Libyas National Oil Corporation expressed hope that oilfields will start pumping again as foreign powers negotiate with the Tripoli-based government over the distribution of oil revenues in the divided country. The talks quietly got underway weeks ago, the corporation said, supervised by the United Nations and United States.

A future agreement will seek to guarantee transparency and social justice for all Libyans, the corporation added.

Early this year, powerful tribes loyal to Hifters eastern-based forces seized export terminals and choked off major pipelines, trying to starve the Tripoli administration of crucial revenues.

Oil, the lifeline of Libyas economy, has long been at the centre of the civil war, as rival authorities jostle for control of Africas largest reserves.

Hifters supporters contend that the Libyan Central Bank, which holds the countrys vast oil wealth, benefits only the U.N.-supported government. They say oil revenues have been diverted to pay foreign mercenaries fighting Hifter.

Oil is for all Libyans, al-Senussi said, The Libyan people have the right to benefit from their revenues to improve their living conditions and move forward with the reconstruction of the country.

Ali Saad, the chairman of the tribal council in the southeastern al-Wahat region, the site of sprawling oil fields under Hifters control, echoed the popular complaints.

We did not see any school being constructed, we did not see any bridges constructed, nor did we see roads being paved, he said. Money is being wasted, and the country has become poor.

While ordinary Libyans suffer the effects of a crumbling economy, foreign powers have increasingly joined the conflict, drawn by strategic and economic interests in the eastern Mediterranean.

Russia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and France support Hifters forces. A Kremlin-linked security company known as Wagner has employed hundreds of foreign mercenaries to bolster Hifters 14-month offensive to capture Tripoli, according to U.N. experts.

Russian military contractors and other foreign mercenaries were seen meeting last week with a Hifter-allied militia in the Shahara oil field, Libyas largest, in an apparent bid to stave off an offensive by Tripoli forces and prevent the resumption of oil production.

On the other side of the conflict, Turkey is the main sponsor of the Tripoli government. Its deployment of armed drones, military experts and thousands of Syrian mercenaries reversed the tide of war and forced Hifters forces to withdraw from much of the territory theyd seized since starting their campaign to capture Tripoli in April last year.

An agreement to end the countrys long-running standoff over oil wealth and resume production could pave the way for peace talks and help deter a Turkish-backed assault on the coastal town of Sirte.

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The city is a strategic gateway to the central and eastern oil crescent under Hifters control, where 1.2 million barrels a day were shipped around the world before the shutdown.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has called Sirte a red line, suggesting direct military intervention if Turkey crosses it. Hifter and his allies have pushed for a cease-fire.
WASHINGTON - Eight Republican lawmakers attended a White House briefing Monday about explosive allegations that Russia secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing American troops in Afghanistan  intelligence the White House insisted the president himself had not been fully read in on.

Members of Congress in both parties called for additional information and consequences for Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, and eight Democrats were to be briefed on the matter Tuesday morning. Still, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany insisted Trump had not been briefed on the findings because they hadnt been verified.

The White House seemed to be setting an unusually high bar for bringing the information to Trump, since it is rare for intelligence to be confirmed without a shadow of doubt before it is presented to senior government decision-makers. McEnany declined to say why a different standard of confidence in the intelligence applied to briefing lawmakers than bringing the information to the president.

Republicans who were in the briefing expressed alarm about Russias activities in Afghanistan.

Rep. Michael McCaul, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep. Adam Kinzinger were in the briefing Monday led by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and National Security Adviser Robert OBrien. McCaul and Kinzinger said in a statement that lawmakers were told there is an ongoing review to determine the accuracy of these reports.

If the intelligence review process verifies the reports, we strongly encourage the Administration to take swift and serious action to hold the Putin regime accountable, they said.

Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Texas Rep. Mac Thornberry, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said, After todays briefing with senior White House officials, we remain concerned about Russian activity in Afghanistan, including reports that they have targeted U.S. forces.

Senators were reviewing classified documents related to the allegations Monday evening. The information they received was not previously known, according to one aide who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

On CNN, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confirmed the timing of the Democratic briefing but said its no substitute for what they owe the Congress of the United States. She said this is as serious as it gets.

She speculated that Trump wasnt briefed because they know it makes him very unhappy, and all roads for him, as you know, lead to Putin. And would he tell Putin what they knew?

McEnany, for her part, repeatedly stressed that the allegations had not been confirmed.

There is no consensus within the intelligence community on these allegations and in effect there are dissenting opinions from some in the intelligence community with regards to the veracity of whats being reported and the veracity of the underlying allegations continue to be evaluated, she said.

The intelligence assessments came amid Trumps push to withdraw the U.S. from Afghanistan. They suggested Russia was making overtures to militants as the U.S. and the Taliban held talks to end the long-running war. The assessment was first reported by The New York Times, then confirmed to The Associated Press by American intelligence officials and two others with knowledge of the matter.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn told reporters Monday, I dont think its should be a surprise to anybody that the Talibans been trying to kill Americans and that the Russians have been encouraging that, if not providing means to make that happen.

He added, Intelligence committees have been briefed on that for months. so has Nancy Pelosi, so has (Democratic Senate leader) Chuck Schumer. So, this is, this is a more leaks and partisanship.

While Russian meddling in Afghanistan isnt new, officials said Russian operatives became more aggressive in their desire to contract with the Taliban and members of the Haqqani Network, a militant group aligned with the Taliban in Afghanistan and designated a foreign terrorist organization in 2012.

The intelligence community has been investigating an April 2019 attack on an American convoy that killed three U.S. Marines after a car rigged with explosives detonated near their armoured vehicles as they travelled back to Bagram Airfield, the largest U.S. military installation in Afghanistan, officials told the AP.

Three other U.S. service members were wounded in the attack, along with an Afghan contractor. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter. The officials the AP spoke to also said they were looking closely at insider attacks  sometimes called green-on-blue incidents  from 2019 to determine if they are also linked to Russian bounties.

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One official said the administration discussed several potential responses, but the White House has yet to authorize any step.

Intelligence officials told the AP that the White House first became aware of alleged Russian bounties in early 2019  a year earlier than had been previously reported. The assessments were included in one of Trumps written daily briefings at the time, and then-national security adviser John Bolton told colleagues he had briefed Trump on the matter. Bolton declined to comment, and the White House did not respond to questions on the matter.

The intelligence officials and others with knowledge of the matter insisted on anonymity to discuss the highly sensitive matter.

The White House National Security Council wouldnt confirm the assessments but said the U.S. receives thousands of intelligence reports daily that are subject to strict scrutiny.

Trumps Democratic general election rival, former Vice-President Joe Biden, used an online fundraiser Monday to hammer the president for a betrayal of American troops in favour of an embarrassing campaign of deferring and debasing himself before Putin.

Im disgusted, Biden told donors, as he recalled his late son Beaus military service. Families of service members, Biden said, should never, ever have to worry theyll face a threat like this: the commander in chief turning a blind eye.

Asked about the reports on the alleged bounties, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday, These claims are lies.

If in the U.S. the special services are continuing to report to the president, I suggest that one be guided by the relevant statement of President Trump, who has already given his assessment of these publications, he told reporters during a conference call.

Bolton, who was forced out by Trump last September and has written a tell-all book about his White House tenure, said Sunday its pretty remarkable the presidents going out of his way to say he hasnt heard anything about it. One asks, why would he do something like that?

___

Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann contributed to this report.
Religious holidays bring two alcohol ban days, four-day weekend

PHUKET: Temples are being asked to ensure that new normal health guidelines will be observed for the Asarnha Bucha and Khao Pansa Budhhist holidays this coming weekend (July 4-5).

alcoholcrimepolicereligionculture

By The Phuket News

Monday 29 June 2020, 09:06AM

Image: National Office of Buddhism

CRITICAL UPDATE: The Phuket Provincial Police and the Ministry of Public Health later confirmed that alcohol ban will be from 00:01am July 5 thorugh to 23:59pm July 6.

All visitors to temples must wear face masks and be provided hand sanitiser. They must also observe social distancing and large gatherings must be managed in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, explained Saroj Kansirilasin, Director of the Secretariat of the National Buddhism Office.

The auspicious Buddhist holidays Asarnha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent), also called Vassa, will be observed Saturday and Sunday (July 4-5), respectively.

As both are major religious holidays, the sale of alcohol is banned by law across the country on both days. As such, the alcohol ban will start at 00:01am Saturday (July 4) and conclude at midnight Sunday night (23:59pm July 5).

As both holidays this year occur on the weekend, the Cabinet last week proclaimed that the following Monday and Tuesday (July 6-7) will be substitution public holidays.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Rungrote Thakurapunyasiri confirmed to The Phuket News that the ban on the sale of alcohol will be enforced on the major religious days only.

"The ban on the sale of alcohol will be enforced on Asarnha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent), but there will be no ban on the substitution day public holidays, he said.

The two religious days and the ensuing public holidays will bring a four-day weekend for government officers from Saturday through Tuesday (July 4-7).

Over the four days, most government offices on the island will be closed, including Phuket Immigration Office, the Employment Office, the Land Transport Office and the islands three District Offices.

All main bank branches will be closed, but branches in shopping centres will remain open.

All Royal Thai Police and Tourist Police stations will remain open and some local consulates will be open to serve their respective citizens.

Only on the weekend, alcohol sales is prohibited across the country, except at duty-free shops at the airport.

According to an announcement by the Prime Ministers Office on January 22, 2015, the sale of alcohol is prohibited on five specific religious days: Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asarnha Bucha Day, Khao Pansa and Wan Org Pansa.

Under the order, anyone caught breaking the ban faces a prison sentence of up to six months, a B10,000 fine or both.

Asarnha Bucha day is the full-moon day of the eighth lunar month, commemorating the Buddhas first sermon to his first five disciples after attaining Enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago.

As part of making merit to honour the day, Buddhists attend evening candlelit processions called wien tien at temples across the country. Visitors are welcome to respectfully join the event.

Buddhist Lent day, or Khao Phansa Day, is the start of a period of three lunar months during the rainy season when monks are required to remain in one particular place or temple and undertake deep meditation.
Sirinath National Park readies for reopening

PHUKET: Local residents will have to book their entry online to ensure they will be allowed to enter Sirinath National Park after it reopens on Wednesday (July 1), Park Chief Natthawat Nuisriram has confirmed, as the number of people allowed in the park at any one time has been limited 520.

natural-resourcestourismCOVID-19

By The Phuket News

Monday 29 June 2020, 01:05PM

The QueQ app has a special section just for registering to enter national parks. Image: Screenshot

Phuket Vice Governor Wongsakorn Nunchukan and other officers yesterday (June 28) inspected the parks readiness to reopen. Photo: Sirinath National Park

Sirinath National Park, on Phukets west coast, is allowed to fully reopen on Wednesday following an order issued by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) last week, Chief Natthawat explained.

Under the order, 64 national parks, including Phang Nga Bay National Park, are allowed to fully reopen come Wednesday.

A further 63 national parks, including Lanta Island National Park and Hat Noppharat Thara  Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, will be allowed to partly reopen.

However, 28 national parks, including Mu Ko Surin National Park, Mu Ko Similan National Park, and Tarutao National Marine Park are to remain closed.

In order to enter Sirinath National Park, visitors must register their queue through the QueQ (on App Store here and Google Play here), Chief Natthawat said, following a visit to the park by Phuket Vice Governor Wongsakorn Nunchukan and other officers yesterday (June 28) to inspect the parks readiness to reopen.

The QueQ app on its home screen has a special section named especially for national parks. However, even in the English version of the app, the section remains the only section still listed in Thai (as " 155 ")

To enter the park, visitors will have to show officers their approved queue code from the app, Chief Natthawat told The Phuket News.

All visitors will also have to register their entry and exit from the park through the ThaiChana web platform, he added.

Officers will check every visitor for elevated body temperature before permitting entry to the park, Chief Nattahwat noted.

People living in the area, many of whom enter park areas frequently for short periods, may enter their park by registering only through the Thai Chana platform, Mr Natthawaut pointed out.

However, they may be refused entry simply because the limit may have already been reached. So, to make sure they will be allowed to enter the park, we strongly suggest that local residents book their entry through the QueQ app, he said.
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 93F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. Low 73F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.
Staff reports

Watertown Public Opinion

PIERRE  The South Dakota Transportation Commission awarded 49 bridge replacement projects totaling approximately $25 million at their meeting Thursday in Pierre, including projects in Big Stone City, Brookings County and Grant County (2).

113 applications, totaling $79.9 million in total project costs, were received by the South Dakota Department of Transportation. Seven cities submitted eight applications and 37 counties submitted 105 applications.

The projects will require a 18.05 percent local match. During the 2020 Legislative session, approximately $4 million dollars was appropriated to help offset the local match resulting in approximately 5-6% share for the selected local governments.
Discrimination against the black-people is not limited just to the American society; this type of racial discrimination has many times been reported in China too.





by Ali Sukhanver





US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has recently said in a statement that the Chinese threat to India and Southeast Asian nations is one of the reasons America is reducing its troop presence in Europe and deploying them to other places. He further said, The actions of the ruling Chinese Communist Party mean there are threats to India, threats to Vietnam, threats to Malaysia, Indonesia and the South China Sea challenge. We are going to make sure the US military is postured appropriately to meet the challenges. In other words the US has decided to jump into the conflict and confrontation between India and China. Experts are of the opinion that at this very critical juncture of its history when the Whites and the Blacks in the country are at daggers drawn, the US must not step into another war which in fact doesnt belong to the people of the US. They are forecasting the same situation which the US has been facing in Afghanistan for the last many years. It is the most urgent need of time that the Trump administration must focus only on minimizing the racial differences on priority basis.





African nationals in China

Though the so-called civilized and highly educated western society claims, it has wiped off the curse of slavery from the world forever but unfortunately, the Black people are still being treated as if they are the slaves. The White people do not try to understand that the Black people are not black by choice. God made them black. If it were in human control, not even a single person would have opted for the Black skin. It is the result of this racial discrimination and disliking that today the most advanced country of the world America is facing the ever worst situation regarding law and order. Everywhere there is nothing but one slogan resonating; Black Lives Matter. The wave of agitation and protest seems crossing the American boundaries. However, it is yet unclear whether the Black Lives Matter movement is against the police department or against the White people but whatever it is; one thing is alarming that in some of the demonstration against George Floyd killing, the protesters in different European countries tried to destroy the statues linked with slavery. If the protest was against the police brutality, the protesters would never have targeted the statues linked with slavery. It seems very clear that a racial-war between the Black and the White people is in the offing. This war, if not controlled over, may prove a serious threat to the US supremacy in the world. The actual issue is not to save America from disintegration or to keep away China from occupying the seat of the World Super Power; the actual problem is; how to save the black people from racial discrimination.





Discrimination against the black-people is not limited just to the American society; this type of racial discrimination has many times been reported in China too. The ABC News last April published a very detailed report on racial discrimination against the African-Americans in China. The report included detailed statement of an African-American Andrew who has been teaching English language in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou since long. He said talking to the ABC News, As COVID-19 cases originating in China appeared to decrease, and cases that the government said were brought into the country from abroad increased being foreign in China, and especially being black, meant feeling unwelcome in certain places. In the past couple of weeks, things have changed drastically.





Earlier to that a health alert was also issued by the Chinese authorities in the second week of the last April; this health alert was seriously objected by the US Consulate General Guangzhou, Peoples Republic of China. According to US Consulate General Guangzhou the alert directed the local police to keep an eye on bars and restaurants so that they might not serve clients who appear to be of African origin. Some of the African-Americans have launched a complaint that some businesses and hotels are refusing to do business with them. Apparently all these instructions and directions seem directly linked with the pandemic of Covid-19 but inwardly it seems that the African-Americans have to face same racial discrimination in China which they are allegedly facing in the American society; say some experts on racial issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian categorically rejected all these allegations levied by the US Consulate General. He said At a moment when the international community urgently needs to work together to fight the pandemic, the US side is making unwarranted allegations in an attempt to sow discords and stoke troubles. This is neither moral nor responsible. We suggest that the US had better focus on domestic efforts to contain the spread of the virus. Attempts to use the pandemic to drive a wedge between China and Africa are bound to fail.





Any kind of discrimination, whether racial or religious, is no doubt a crime against humanity. For a peaceful and prosperous future of the world, we will have to discourage this evil at every level. And one more thing must also be kept in mind that racial discrimination is not only faced by the African-Americans; in India the Muslims, the Sikhs, the Christians and the low-caste Hindus commonly known as the Dalits are also the worst victim to the racial discrimination. If there was no religious or racial discrimination in India, the Sikhs would never have demanded a separate homeland for them.
Lisa Kaczke And Danielle Ferguson

Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Law enforcement will soon be able to pull over and ticket drivers in South Dakota for the sole reason of using their cellphone while driving.

A new state law will go into effect on Wednesday making it a Class 2 misdemeanor to use a cellphone except for emergency purposes, using a GPS app, or reading or entering a phone number. Talking on the phone will need to be done in either a hands-free mode or by holding the phone up to the ear. The offense will carry a $122.50 fine.

Some cities such as Sioux Falls already have an ordinance prohibiting texting while driving, and texting and driving already was a secondary offense in South Dakota, meaning a driver had to be pulled over for another reason in order to be ticketed. But the new state law expands banned uses to include taking photos, using the internet, posting to social media, reading emails and using phone apps, and makes it a primary offense, meaning drivers can be pulled over for only using a cellphone.

The goal was not to create a law where you can write a bunch of tickets and come across with a heavy hand of enforcement. It was about trying to change behaviors and hopefully save some lives and injuries as well, said the laws sponsor, Rep. Doug Barthel, R-Sioux Falls.

There were 827 crashes in South Dakota last year where distracted driving with cellphones and other electronic devices was a contributing circumstance, according to the Department of Public Safety.

Barthel, the former Sioux Falls police chief, said it took a lot of work to get to this point and its great to see that were approaching the finish line. The Legislature initially rejected the law in 2019 and this years bill included the compromise that drivers can either hold the phone up to their ear or in a hands-free mode. He also received help from Sen. Deb Soholt, R-Sioux Falls, who advocated for the bills passage in the Senate, he said.

There was concern that this law would be a foot in the door and lawmakers would restrict cellphone use further in future legislative sessions, but Barthel said he doesnt plan to bring legislation to do so.

Barthel wasnt planning to introduce the bill this year after last years defeat, but he got a phone call last year from Castlewood residents Jeff and Lesa Dahl, whose 19-year-old son Jacob Dahl was killed when he rear ended a truck while taking photos with his phone on his way home from Northern University in 2014.

After hearing their story, it was tough for me to say no, Barthel said.

Hundreds of ideas for laws were either approved or defeated during the Legislatures nine-week session in Pierre this year.

Other laws going into effect this year that affect South Dakotans:

More driving laws

Itll also become a Class 2 misdemeanor to disrupt a funeral procession with a vehicle that isnt part of the procession. That includes joining the procession to get the right-of-way, passing the procession on any two-lane highway or roadway, passing the procession on the left on any highway with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction, or entering an intersection where a procession is proceeding through a red light unless the driver can do so without crossing the processions path.

Industrial hemp

The new state law legalizing hemp and CBD in South Dakota went into effect immediately in March, but South Dakota farmers had to wait before they could start planting hemp.

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture began working to create its industrial hemp program to regulate hemp growing and processing in the state as soon as it was signed into law, according to department spokeswoman JaCee Aaseth.

The SDDA has been drafting administrative rules regulating the program, writing the state plan to submit to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for approval, hiring staff to administer the program and establishing the processes, forms and databases needed to regulate the program, according to Aaseth.

While COVID-19 has presented some challenges, we have been able to move forward as planned, Aaseth said.

The SDDA was allocated $36,586 in general funds in the 2020 budget to work on the hemp program and that has been sufficient funding to cover the preliminary costs until July 1, when the 2021 budget begins, according to Aaseth.

We anticipate that the program will be fully implemented in the fall, at which time processors and growers can obtain licenses from the SDDA, Aaseth said.

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Flandreau Santee Sioux, Oglala Sioux Tribes, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe have all had their hemp programs approved by the USDA. The Yankton Sioux Tribe is in the process of drafting a plan for the USDAs review, according to the federal agency.

Voter registration

South Dakotans without a drivers license can use a non-drivers license identification number to register to vote beginning July 1.

An effort was defeated during the legislative session to allow tribal IDs to be used to register to vote, but tribal IDs can still be used as a photo ID on Election Day.

Victims in rental units

Victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault and stalking cant be penalized for terminating their lease early under a new state law.

Beginning July 1, a tenant may terminate his or her lease and vacate the rental unit without penalty for early termination if the tenant or a member of the tenants household is the victim of alleged domestic abuse, unlawful sexual behavior or stalking.

The tenant must notify the landlord in writing that the termination is due to the tenants fear of imminent danger or injury to the tenant or member of the tenants household. The tenant needs to provide with that notice one of the following: a police report regarding an alleged incident of domestic abuse, unlawful sexual behavior or stalking during the previous 30 days; a protection order issued during the previous 30 days; or documentation signed by a health care provider stating that the provider examined the person within the previous 30 days and has reasonable cause to believe the person was a victim of domestic abuse, unlawful sexual behavior or stalking.

Additionally, the landlord cant disclose a forwarding address or other contact information provided by the tenant to anyone without the consent of the tenant.

Interns

Interns will be given the same legal protections under state law as employees against unfair and discriminatory practices in the workplace beginning July 1.

Tribal IDs

Tribal identification cards can be used as a valid form of identification in all businesses in South Dakota, including when a persons age needs to be verified, beginning July 1.

Human trafficking

Those accused of human trafficking a minor will no longer be able to say the minors guardian consented to the act or they didnt know the victims true age as defenses to the charge beginning July 1.

Prior out-of-state stalking charges

This change was prompted by a Sioux Falls case in which a man convicted of stalking in another state was accused of stalking the mayor. This law makes it so any conviction or guilty plea to stalking in another state could constitute a higher penalty if the same charge is committed here. DUIs and assault convictions from other states, and stalking or harassment convictions from in-state, were already qualified for the charge enhancement.

Sexual assault kits

A new state law increases the amount of time sexual assault testing kits are kept before they are destroyed. Sometimes victims complete the kit, but do not want a criminal case brought right away. Under the new law, the health care facility that performs the test must inform the victim that the sexual assault kit will be preserved by law enforcement for at least seven years  up from one year  from the date of the examination or treatment or until the victim reaches the age of 25, whichever is later, before it is destroyed.

Dismissal of certain controlled substance charges for pregnant women

Certain controlled substances offenses shall be dropped for a woman who is pregnant if she: receives adequate prenatal care from a licensed health care professional during her pregnancy; enrolls in an addiction recovery program before the child is born, remains in the program after the birth and completes the addiction recovery program.

Needy family benefits

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, benefits can no longer be denied to someone solely because they have a felony conviction for possession, use or distribution of a controlled substance.

Juvenile justice

Juvenile law currently requires that the courts place the child in the least restrictive settings available in keeping with the best interests of the child. A child may be sentenced to the Department of Corrections if: no viable alternative exists; the DOC is the least restrictive alternative or the child is charged with a crime of violence or sex offense.

The law also says a judge must determine that the child presents a significant risk of physical harm to another person. A new bill adds an or to this section.

The law adds the option that the court may commit a child to the Department of Corrections if a judge finds that the child is a high-risk for reoffending based on a risk assessment, if the child has had other previous unsuccessful discharge from probation, if the child has been convicted of intentional damage to property of over $5,000 or the child has been convicted of a drug distribution offense.

Another new law allows the Juvenile Justice Public Safety Oversight Council to continue its work. The council, formed to monitor the changes prompted by a 2015 change in laws around juvenile justice, was set to end its time this year, but requested to continue its work for another three years.

Jail-based, outpatient competency restoration for criminal defendants

This law change adds more options to criminal defendants awaiting a competency restoration. Once a defendant goes through a competency evaluation and is determined that he or she is unable to assist in their defense or properly understand their charges, they must undergo treatment restoration.

Defendants who are deemed as not a danger to the public can now complete outpatient treatment, as opposed to being sent to the only state-run mental health hospital, the Human Services Center in Yankton. This bill also adds state-approved jail-based competency restoration as an option, a move Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead has said will decrease the wait time for defendants to receive the treatment they need and save money on housing and transportation.

Sex offender registry

The charge of felony use or dissemination of a recording or photo without consent will be added to the list of sex offense convictions that are required to register for the sex offender registry. Other charges include rape, felony sexual contact with a minor, sexual contact with a person incapable of consenting, child pornography, kidnapping, felony indecent exposure, bestiality and more.
Watertown Public Opinion

Representatives of both Walmart and Hy-Vee grocery stores in Watertown have said all recalled Fresh Express salad products have been removed from their shelves.

Christina Gayman, Hy-Vee director of public relations, told the Public Opinion Monday that she knew of no illnesses in South Dakota caused by the Fresh Express products.

A list of the 13 recalled types of salad products that included iceberg lettuce and other vegetables was published in Mondays Public Opinion.

A representative at the Walmart store in Watertown said some products were removed last week, but wasnt sure which ones because he wasnt working at the time.

The worker shared a web address where Walmart recalls can be checked, and the Fresh Express products are listed. They include salads produced at the Fresh Express Streamwood, Illinois, facility. They may contain a combination of iceberg lettuce, red cabbage or carrots and have the product codes of Z178 or a lower number.

Both Watertown stores said the products were pulled immediately once the recall was made because of a possible contamination of cyclospora.

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the cyclospora parasite. A person could become infected after ingesting contaminated food or water. Common symptoms include severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, body aches and fatigue. The infection is treated with antibiotics and most people respond quickly to treatment.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 200 illnesses have been reported in connection with a current outbreak of cyclospora in primarily Midwest states.

County Fair Food Store in Watertown was also contacted by the Public Opinion. A representative said the store does not stock Fresh Express products.

Gayman said many grocers sell Fresh Express items.
Staff reports

Watertown Public Opinion

Fire trucks, police cars and many friends on Friday helped celebrate Riggs Fishers Make-A-Wish Day sponsored by South Dakota Make-A-Wish and Dacotah Bank.

The event began with a reveal of the changes Make-A-Wish volunteers installed in 7-year-old Riggs bedroom.

A parade of vehicles started at 5:45 p.m. and proceeded past the home of Brad and Vicky Fisher. The parents next to the curb with sons Riggs and Ryett, 1, and watched many Watertown Fire Rescue, Watertown Police Department, Codington County Sheriffs Office, Codington County Search and Rescue and S.D. Highway Patrol vehicles drive past. Following the service vehicles were many friends, as sirens and whistles changed to honking horns.

Following the parade the Fishers and friends enjoyed cake and other treats.

Riggs has and three major heart surgeries and suffers from Zhu{span}-Tokita-Takenouchi -Kim Syndrome (ZTTK), a severe multisystem developmental disordercharacterized by delayed psychomotor development and intellectual disability.
WATERLOO  Waterloo Regional Police are asking for help in finding a couple who were having an argument that turned physical.

On Saturday at about 7 p.m. police received a call about an altercation involving a man and woman in the area of Sunview Street and University Avenue West.

The pair left the area in a four-door, silver/grey vehicle. Police say they want to check on the well-being of the man and woman.

Anyone with information about this incident or the man and woman are asked to call police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
WILMOT TOWNSHIP  Protesters called on the weekend for the removal of the Sir John A. Macdonald statue in Baden.

The gathering was mostly peaceful, although one person was arrested after swinging a water bottle and shouting Lies! to interrupt the speeches. He was later released without charges.

More than 45 people gathered near Castle Kilbride on Saturday afternoon around the Macdonald statue, still stained with red paint from three separate incidents of vandalism earlier in the week. The first splashing of paint came on Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21.

Protesters maintain that the legacy of Sir John A. Macdonald is too damaging to be memorialized on a statue in a park.

It has become clear that there is a lack of understanding of the residual and intergenerational trauma and acts of terror that occurred at the very hands of our first prime minister, said Cheyanne Thorpe, reading from a written statement.

Thorpe, who identifies as Indigenous, stood directly in front of the Macdonald statue, addressing people spaced out around a fountain.

Earlier that morning, signs were hung on the statue referencing statements Macdonald made in the House of Commons in the 1880s when he was promoting the creation of residential schools. These schools tore Indigenous children from their families and subjected them to abuse, violence and shame in their own identity.

The last residential school in Canada closed in 1996. Some in the community are the children and grandchildren of people forced into these schools, Thorpe said.

These residents should not be forced to relive past traumas by the sheer presence of statues on public grounds.

She said the five statues on the Prime Ministers Path beside the Wilmot Township offices should be removed and placed in a museum. The group is not looking to erase history, but rather amend it, mould it and create it by addressing these issues.

As a community, we need to choose the right side of history. Now is the time for change... acknowledgement, representation and acts of reconciliation.

Many people attending the rally said they supported organizers in calling for the statues removal. Others said they were just there to listen.

It grieves me at so many levels whats happening with this whole thing, said Susan Hamer, a New Hamburg resident who came to Baden to be part of the conversation and attend the protest. She said that even though the statue is in Baden, the conversation around its removal has become an issue for the entire township.

Its dividing the community, she said, adding much of the discussion is taking place on social media.

Greg Shinnie lives near the statue and sees it daily. When it was first covered in paint and he saw workers struggling to clean it with a pressure washer, he brought over some paint thinner to help them clean it  the paint was oil-based.

Im not going to clean it again if its going to keep happening, he said. He expects it will.

He helped clean it up that first time not because he supports it, but because he doesnt support the vandalism. He said he knows the artist, Ruth Abernethy, and part of his motivation to help clean was out of respect for her and her work.

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He was against the installation of the Prime Ministers Path, but said residents didnt get a say in whether the project moved forward or not. He said he would prefer to have statues of local heroes in the park, people like Sir Adam Beck, a politician and energy pioneer from Baden.

Another protest last week saw members of an alt-right hate group arrive and taunt people who had gathered to protest the memorialization of Macdonald.
WATERLOO REGION  A former Kitchener resident has filed an official complaint with the regions integrity commissioner against Wilmot Mayor Les Armstrong in connection to a Facebook post the mayor shared earlier this month.

Alim Nathoo, now living in Toronto, filed the complaint on Saturday, citing section 21.2 of the regions code of conduct for members of council  the section dealing with discrimination. He moved out of the region in 2018 after living in Kitchener for four years.

He said the mayors apology wasnt good enough and called for an independent investigation to look into why the mayor shared a White Lives Matter video on Facebook.

The American video says the Black Lives Matter movement is a hoax. It also minimized police brutality to Black people.

Nathoo said he was motivated to file this complaint partially because of the discrimination he experienced in 2017 after challenging two men who were using racial slurs on regional public transit. He brought his concerns to regional council and ended up prompting the installation of signs on local buses that say everyone deserves to ride with respect.

He said racism and discrimination is still widely experienced in the region, especially in online spaces like social media, and he wants local officials to call it out whenever they can. This means taking action against Armstrong and not allowing this to end with his apology.

If youre going to be racist or discriminatory to someone, that needs to be addressed, he said, suggesting Armstrong should lose three months of pay. He also suggested Armstrong undergo anti-racism and diversity training.

Armstrong did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Nathoos complaint.

Armstrong has since apologized to his fellow Waterloo Region councillors, constituents and the greater community at a council meeting last week.

Before the apology, he had said he posted the video as a way to spark conversation.

In his apology he said: I have been ignorant and am incredibly sorry for my actions, and called those actions a significant error in judgment.

On Friday morning Armstrong spoke at a special council meeting where he responded to repeated calls for his resignation and criticism that his earlier apology was insincere.

Ive given this considerable thought, and Ive chosen not to resign. Instead I am determined to show you through my actions that the sincerity of my apology is genuine.
It was the most raw and painful municipal council meeting Ive ever witnessed in nearly 40 years as a journalist.

Wilmot Township Mayor Les Armstrong presided over his own public shaming on Friday.

He read a statement of apology for having earlier shared an American video on social media that had minimized police brutality to Black people, and also described the Black Lives Matter movement as a hoax.

Then, one after the other, members of the public stood up to demand his resignation and to document the pain he had caused.

Some of the people who spoke were civil, even though they had been deeply hurt.

As humans we all make mistakes, said Mannheim resident Rory Farnan.

Farnan said he had voted for Armstrong in the 2018 election. But now, although he accepts Armstrongs apology, You have lost my confidence to lead as mayor, as well as my vote, he said.

Nigel Gordijk, a person of colour who has lived in Wilmot 13 years, said he has never been made to feel like an outsider.

But Armstrongs long delay before apologizing for his post, and the arrival of a white supremacist group in town last week, has made him feel differently.

This is my home and I no longer feel safe here, because this is a place where white supremacists also feel at home  and thats because you opened the door to them, he said.

Other comments lapsed into insult and taunting that, if someone else had been chairing the meeting, would likely have been ruled unacceptable.

Youre, what, 71? said Gita Schuster-Ashley to Armstrong. And a perpetual civil servant so youve got a great pension. Its not about money.

So Im just thinking, isnt it time you should be enjoying your golden years? Isnt it time to pass the torch to a younger, more progressive leader?

Schuster-Ashley called Armstrong a racist several times.

Do you really want to be known as the racist mayor? she said.

Thank you, Geta. Armstrong said weakly when she was finished. Are there any questions of the delegation from council? Seeing none, thank you again.

And on and on like this, for an hour and 39 minutes of public flogging.

Partway through, a clearly exhausted Armstrong read a statement that he wouldnt be resigning, but would work to do better.

A motion was passed by councillors agreeing that he would have to report quarterly on his progress in educating himself. Township chief administrative officer Grant Whittington gave a statement that a council members negative actions can have an impact on all residents, the township and their staff.

Turning up the heat on all this, of course, was the issue of the Sir John A Macdonald statue beside the township hall, on which red paint was thrown twice last week. On Wednesday, after the statue was defaced a second time and cleaned up by locals a second time, several people wearing Urban Infidels gear showed up to protect it.

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Urban Infidels has been described by the Canadian Anti-Hate Network as an anti-Muslim organization that should be considered dangerous.

One of the group was Chris Vanderweide of Kitchener, who is on bail after being charged with assault at a Pride event in Hamilton last year.

On Friday, Armstrong was also accused of enabling the groups presence.

You have allowed them to come here, said Coun. Cheryl Gordijk, who is Nigels wife. She said the mayor should have denounced them.

I did not invite those people to come out here, said Armstrong. I did not sanction those people to come out here. And I cannot tell them they cannot come out here, as we cannot tell anybody that they cannot come out and express their opinion.

That said, I do not condone their actions or their speech.

Free speech, Armstrong reminded the meeting, is part of the freedoms citizens enjoy in this country. And people can only be stopped from gathering if their activities go beyond speech.

No one but Armstrong knows what caused him to put up that video, or what is in his heart.

But he is still the mayor. The people of Wilmot put him there and he has the right to stay, if he wants to, until the next election in 2022.

Thats more than two years in increasingly difficult times for this township. There will be more discussions ahead, including whether the collection of statues of the prime ministers, so painful for some to see, remain at the outdoor park, are moved to an indoor setting, or are removed completely.

It is to no ones advantage to have a sidelined, resentful mayor at the forefront of this conversation. He needs to be able to guide, and speak up for, the community. He will need help.

Local residents need to give Armstrong the benefit of the doubt as he educates himself and tries to become a leader for everyone. And that starts with civility.

No one can learn when he or she feels constantly berated. Not a child. Not a 71-year-old man either.
WILMOT TOWNSHIP  Wilmot Township held an emergency closed council meeting on Monday morning in the wake of the recent controversy around its mayor and Prime Minister statue display.

A notice on the townships website read: The general nature of the meeting is events of the past week including followup of the Statement of Apology from the Mayor at the June 26, 2020 Special Council Meeting and the vandalism and subsequent public cleanup of the statue are the general topics.

No decisions were made by council. Rather, Coun. Angie Hallman said it was an opportunity for councillors to authentically share our feelings about recent events in the township that have caused much debate.

While it is always her practice to have meetings open to the public, this was a time for council to talk behind closed doors.

We needed to have these honest discussions about what was on the agenda, Hallman said.

According to the notice, the meeting was held in accordance with the Municipal Act for the purposes of the security of the property of the municipality; personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal employees; and, potential litigation affecting the municipality.

Coun. Cheryl Gordijk said on Twitter, when asked if minutes or details would be shared, that confidentiality concerns prevented that for closed meetings.

The rural township has been anything but quiet recently.

Mayor Les Armstrong apologized for what he called a significant error in judgment twice last week, during both a regional and township council meeting, for sharing a White Lives Matter video on Facebook after first defending the post.

Several delegations at the special township meeting on Friday demanded his resignation, but Armstrong said he has chosen not to resign and instead I am determined to show you through my actions that the sincerity of my apology is genuine.

While controversy has swirled around Armstrong, so too has it around the Sir John A. Macdonald statue beside township hall in Baden. Three times last week red paint was thrown on the statue, which has also drawn protests and vigils.

Demonstrators have called for its removal due to Macdonalds role in creating the residential school system that took Indigenous children from their families and culture.

The Macdonald statue is part of a larger project called Prime Ministers Path, which has been controversial since first being proposed and struggled to find a home before Wilmot decided to provide a space for them to be displayed outdoors.

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The next scheduled public council meeting is July 13, although the mayor could call another meeting as he did for this past Friday.

Hallmans motion will go back to council at that scheduled meeting, requesting that council pause the statue project until consultations are held.
Nearly 150 people gathered outside the Fearman's Pork Inc. on Harvester Road Sunday in tribute to Hamilton animal rights activist Regan Russell, who died at a similar vigil last week.

Russell, 65, died after being struck by a transport truck outside Fearmans slaughterhouse June 19. Witnesses said she had been giving water to pigs inside the trailer of a truck entering the meat processing facility shortly before she was hit.

Friends and fellow activists spoke at the gathering, vowing to continue their fight against the animal agricultural industry in Regan's name.

The Burlington vigil, organized by Toronto Pig Save, was joined by other vigils in cities around the world honouring the local activist.

A Sunday morning media release from Toronto Pig Save called for the repeal of Ontario Bill 156 and included a GoFundMe fundraiser link to carry on her legacy.
CBK entered politics at a time when many important political events were taking place globally. When she got into politics, the old world was crumbling. People were struggling for new world order.





Editorial





Former President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratungas (CBK) 75th birthday falls today. She has ruled the country two terms and engineered some of the most required constitutional reforms such as introducing independence commissions to usher the principles of democracy. As usual, unfortunately, most of the mainstream media outfits selling extremism and racism for survival paid less attention to celebrate her birthday.





CBK ( File photo)

In the last seventy-five years has been a turning point in Sri Lanka's modern history. Her role as a distinguished politician is very important. Her contribution to the development of society as a whole is highly commendable.





The former President is a critical figure in the social system of the country. First of all, her personal life was an example of genuine rebellion against the old social order. Her decisions in personal life were very radical. Secondly, as a politician, she has proven herself to be a leader who has for decades sought to address the causes of the social crisis.





CBK entered politics at a time when many important political events were taking place globally. When she got into politics, the old world order was crumbling. People were struggling for new world order. At the same time, the global political power swinging between the two major parties was pushing into one camp. Her mother, the former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) Sirimavo Bandaranaike, was a part of a massive political campaign to make the South Asian region a peace zone, one of the most successful humanitarian missions in Global politics.





By the early eighties, however, the situation in Sri Lanka was worsening due to rampage of communalism. Although the government was able to systematically suppress the youth uprising of 1971 with international support, the situation became more complex after the eighties. The socio-economic problems of the country were becoming more and more confusing. This situation has been exploited by various people for their benefits. Like today, there were opportunist people who have sanded the eyes of leaders and misled them. Consequently, most of the humanitarian operations launched by many leaders were disrupted.





Sri Lanka, which has been branded as an Island of racism, is being isolated from the international community. There was a false notion that the Sinhalese are the people who would not tolerate the opinions of the minority and trample on the rights of minority ethnic groups. Under these circumstances, the turmoil in Sri Lanka gained international attention. It was interpreted by many as an international problem, not just an internal issue in Sri Lanka. As a result, Sri Lanka was becoming a victim of racist, extremist and terrorist practices maintained by various interested parties.





On the one hand, Tamil communalism was nourishing and the social reformers and real intellectuals living in the Tamil community were eliminating prematurely. Islam extremism, on the other hand, was silently swallowing society like cancer. In the meantime, some Sinhalese gangs have reacted to this situation with the utmost carelessness.





CBK's politics are more important because of her skill in understanding this social disorder. First, she apologized to all the victims of the communal riots launched by various parties in the country as the head of state. Thereafter, she laid the foundation for a strategic program to safeguard the territorial integrity of the country. One of its main strategies was to mobilize Tamil political parties and social groups that were under threat from the LTTE. Thereafter, an intellectual of Tamil origins like Lakshman Kadirgamar was asked to join politics to educate the world about its foreign policy.









Then the US First Lady Hillary Clinton (L) shares a joke with then the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga during their meeting at the president's official residence. After a brief absence from active politics, she returned in 2014 as the majority of the countries identified her service as a much required national call. Her work for reconciliation during the period was very important. The Office of National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) was established and it is serving as a peace bridge between the communities to have lasting peace. The ONUR used a multi-layered strategic approach to identify and address the causes behind the social disorder. This is how then the government headed by CBK gained the Sri Lankan reputation. She has led initiative to re-engineer the strategic diplomatic relation with states such as Israel. It was a major step in strengthening the military power of the country. The services rendered by people like Mr Kadirgamar in dealing with foreign affairs are priceless. In many cases, CBK has chosen the right people for her political strategy.After a brief absence from active politics, she returned in 2014 as the majority of the countries identified her service as a much required national call. Her work for reconciliation during the period was very important. The Office of National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) was established and it is serving as a peace bridge between the communities to have lasting peace. The ONUR used a multi-layered strategic approach to identify and address the causes behind the social disorder.





Introducing the concept of brotherhood schools ( Sahodara Paasal) to bring together children of all ethnicities in one place, celebrate cultural events together, create a common platform for NGOs to advocate for various causes in the country, are some of the remarkable steps taken by the ONUR.



Several activities were undertaken by the ONUR to provide basic facilities to uplift the living standards of the people who were displaced and disrupted due to the conflict. ONUR has identified ex-LTTE cadres and facilities them to create long term self income opportunities. The main objective of the ONUR was to liberate the country from the viruses of racism and extremism and to create an environment where everyone could live in dignity.





For many years, she has observed very carefully that the country's Muslims are becoming victims of opportunists and extremists. She was well aware of the brainwashing of innocents by these Islamic extremists through a method such as some of Madrasa schools. The only solution is to create a long term programme and create an environment where Muslim children can coexist with the rest of the kids in the country. The concept of Sahodara Pasal originated as a result. Unfortunately, empty critics do not understand the social impact of these activities.





Fortunately, current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has proven himself to be a leader who understands this. It is a positive move. What the country needs are leaders who have the vision to identify and treat common social issues without party politics. If such leaders and sincere people come together to support them, it will become a thriving state. Then the citizens of the state will be proud and united. That's what we desire for. It is, we believe, the political goal of CBK.





We Wish You Happy Birthday to You, Madam CBK!





Ayubovan!
Sharon Murphy isnt stressing out over her next hospital visit.

Murphy, 57, was among the first patients to receive elective surgery at St. Josephs Healthcare Hamilton, as the hospitals Charlton campus gradually ramped up activities in June.

Murphy had her right knee replacement surgery on June 11. She was originally slated to receive the procedure in mid-March before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of all elective procedures.

Every day it gets a little bit better, said Murphy. Its a very, very painful procedure.

Thankfully, as other services open up, Murphy now has access to physiotherapy and chiropractic care to aid in her recovery over the next few months. Shes currently recovering at home, with help from her husband.

Aside from the surgery, Murphy said the staff at St. Joes made the experience as stress-free as possible. Upon entering the hospital, there were volunteers at the door taking temperatures and hand sanitizer throughout the hospital. Staff also provided very clear direction on where to go. Murphy was discharged on June 14.

Everything was fantastic, she said. I felt very lucky and safe in the four days I was there.

Murphy said patients shouldnt feel nervous about going to the hospital. The City of Hamilton employee has no fears over returning to the hospital for her July followup.

Murphy praised the integrative care program at St. Joes, which encourages patients to do as much as they can, to the best of their abilities, she said.

Dr. Anthony Adili, chief of surgery at St. Josephs, and Dr. Stephen Kelly, chief of surgery at Juravinski Hospital, have been working closely as part of a committee examining the ramp-up of surgical procedures in Ontarios southwest hospital region.

As part of the analysis, said Adili, health officials have been careful to restart procedures without overwhelming the system. Hospitals are also cognizant to drug issues, personal protective equipment, patient flow and any challenges health-care partners may be having with patient beds.

Its been a slow, gradual ramp-up and weve been very fortunate that weve been able to maintain the urgent cancer surgeries and semi-urgent surgeries, said Adili.

While procedures like knee replacements are considered elective, Adili acknowledged they are important to protect and enhance patients quality of life and ability to work.

Kelly said the Juravinski was also fortunate to maintain most of its cancer work when activities ramped down in the earlier days of the pandemic.

We have had good feedback from our patient-family adviser groups, telling us cancer and cardiac (surgery are) important, but dont forget about chronic, disabling pain, said Kelly.

Now that procedures such as joint surgeries are opening up once again, its anticipated there could be a slight increase in cancer surgeries as well, as diagnostic activities, such as colonoscopies, also begin ramping up.

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Kelly and Adili both stress that hospitals are safe places to visit and patients shouldnt let fears of contracting COVID-19 prevent them from accessing care.

Hospitals are safe places to have care and if you need to come to a hospital, you should come to a hospital, said Kelly.

In a joint statement on June 24, Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Josephs announced new protocols that enable visitors to enter hospitals once again.

We were very cognizant of the lack of people having support and caregivers with them in the hospital when we ramped down, said Kelly. But now that we have a slightly better situation, were very keen to get them back into a hospital setting.

Family members and care partners 18 and older are now permitted to visit in-patient areas of the hospitals between the hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at HHS and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at St. Joes.

One family member or caregiver can be present at a patients bedside at one time. The patient can choose up to two family members or caregivers to visit on designated days.

Visitors will notice new physical distancing protocols inside waiting rooms, where a certain number of chairs will be taped off to keep people apart.

All visitors are screened at the front door and required to wear masks.

As well as the masking, we do want people to physically distance, said Kelly. Certainly, when youre in a room with your loved one and you want to give them a hug, I dont think anyone is going to stop you doing that. But certainly, we dont want anyone congregating together in cafeterias or anything like that. We want to make sure people keep up physical distancing. If someones having a procedure or operation, they have to somebody with them.

Adili hopes visitors and caregivers will understand why the restrictions are in place.

We have all of these guidelines in place to protect our patients. And we dont want to be dropping our guard  because after all, it is about the patient, he said.

Kelly commended Hamiltonians for their efforts in flattening the curve of COVID-19 infections, but also warned now is not the time to let the guard down.

People in Hamilton did a fantastic job of flattening the curve, of staying home and not going out. And I think the health-care workers in the hospital here and in this region are exactly the same, he said. Weve done all this hard work, and I dont think anybody is interested in jeopardizing that by doing things that wouldnt be safe for our patients.
A year after his appointment, the judge leading the Red Hill inquiry is still waiting for documents needed to investigate the slippery parkway mystery.

City council voted in February 2019 to ask a Superior Court judge to investigate why a troubling friction study on the crash-prone parkway was inexplicably hidden for years. Justice Herman Wilton-Siegel was appointed in May of that year to head the city-funded inquiry, which has cost about $2 million so far.

Wilton-Siegel announced Monday the inquiry will hold a virtual public hearing July 7 to hear from participants about their efforts to comply with requests for documents. Members of the public can watch via livestream at rhvpi.ca.

An update posted on the inquiry website said the COVID-19 pandemic has understandably resulted in some delays for participants asked to gather tens of thousands of documents related to the parkway and hidden friction study.

However, the Inquiry cannot proceed to the next stage of its work, interviewing persons of interest, until all documents have been received and reviewed, the update notes.

The inquiry was originally expected to hold public hearings and hear witness testimony this fall, but head inquiry lawyer Rob Centa said in April the judge and his team were still waiting on a significant number of documents from the City of Hamilton and other participants.

As a result, a fall public hearing no longer seems feasible.

In April, the citys lawyer for the hearing, Eli Lederman, told councillors his team had reviewed more than three million documents and identified at least 30,000 that could be relevant to the investigation.

When asked Monday, Centa would not say which participants still owe the inquiry documents, but noted in a statement the inquiry would receive updates on all document production efforts at the July 7 virtual hearing.

At a hearing held before the pandemic began, the inquiry granted formal participation rights to the city, province of Ontario, parkway builder Dufferin and project consultant Golder. The judge can also choose to request documents from other parties, using the courts if necessary.

Centa said in a statement the inquiry has not needed to use the courts to compel co-operation and does not anticipate that being necessary.

The city apologized to residents after it rediscovered 2013 Red Hill test results that showed the busy parkway was more slippery than expected  despite assuring the public for years that the asphalt friction was normal.

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Last year, Hamilton lowered the parkway speed limit and repaved the roadway  after doing updated tests on the old asphalt in anticipation of the judicial inquiry.

Family members of Red Hill crash victims are attempting to pursue a separate $250-million class action lawsuit against the city.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced Haldimand-Norfolks fourth annual Pride celebration online. But in that change, organizers saw an opportunity to spread their message of inclusivity and equality even further.

Even though were usually dancing on the street and celebrating, it was important to convert that to our new reality, said Pride Haldimand Norfolk committee member Meghan Piironen.

We have so many people in the community that need us 24-7, all year round. And especially Pride month, its our time to shine.

As the month progressed, co-organizer Sue Wilkins saw a noticeable increase in interest and excitement in events run through the groups Facebook page, including art and photo contests, trivia nights, and livestreamed musical performances.

The committee also pointed local supporters to events hosted by neighbouring Pride and Black Lives Matter groups, including a bicycle parade on Six Nations for LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit members and their allies.

Its been really awesome to see the community join together, Piironen said.

One benefit of going online was collapsing the vast distances between and within the rural counties, which, coupled with a lack of public transit, can be a barrier for those who want to attend Pride Day  normally held in late May at a Dunnville park  but dont have a way to get there.

If you cant get transportation to come to the prime event of the year, how do we get people to meetings? Wilkins said.

Pride Haldimand Norfolk hosts meetings and movie nights throughout the year. The group also organizes a Pride Night during the River Arts Festival in Dunnville in November and booths at various health and wellness fairs.

The small group of volunteers works with several PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) groups in the two counties, and provides resources and advice to businesses looking to organize their own Pride events.

In response to homophobic incidents earlier this year at Piironens high school, Cayuga Secondary, Pride Haldimand Norfolk members set up a table in the lobby and talked with students.

There were more students showing support than ever. It was amazing to see, said Piironen.

She and several friends, who all identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, formed her schools first Gender and Sexuality Alliance (known at other schools as gay-straight alliances) this year in response to some Cayuga students harassing their LGBTQ+ classmates.

The groups first meeting was mostly Piironen and her friends talking among themselves, but as word spread more people joined, helped by older members walking through the halls with younger students so they wouldnt have to walk alone and risk harassment from their peers, Piironen said.

Being part of a GSA and now Pride, its definitely given me a lot more confidence knowing there is more support in the community, and more resources if I ever needed help, she said.

Throughout her high school years, Piironen said the term gay was most often used as an insult.

Now its finally being talked about in a healthy way, and I think that will progress to some sort of normalcy. Because our goal is to not have to have a GSA, she said.

Getting to that level of acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community will mean confronting some entrenched social mores in this rural community, she added.

I dont mean to make it political, but our area is very conservative, and we havent had the representation before, Piironen said.

Thats a problem, says Jason Mayo, an openly gay public high school teacher and gay rights advocate who lives in Haldimand and teaches in Norfolk.

We need to address the lack of representation that we have in the community at large, and the hesitation for people to come out and be themselves in a smaller community, and how that often really holds a lot of people back, said Mayo, a driving force behind the Rainbow Ball, an alternative prom founded in 2015 that welcomes Grand Erie students of all sexual orientations.

He pointed to the lack of openly gay teachers, politicians, and other influential community leaders in Haldimand-Norfolk, which leaves students exploring their sexuality with no one to look up to.

Who do you talk to in a school if you dont see anyone else like you? Mayo said. Growing up here and never seeing anyone like myself in a position of power or influence, it makes you feel like youre invisible, and maybe you cant be something special, or something important, or something great.

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Pride member Frances Porter, who co-organized the first Pride Day in Dunnville with activist Ken Hancock, said local attitudes toward LGBTQ+ equality are slowly moving in the right direction.

I think so, she said. After we had the disruptions at our Pride events, I was actually surprised at how much support we got.

That first year, about 200 people joined together for songs and speeches in support of gay rights. Attendance doubled the next year, with loud supporters overshadowing a small group who showed up to protest the event.

Porter, who lives in Haldimand, said despite this progress, the local LGBTQ+ community and their allies still face stigma.

We raise the issue of a Pride flag being flown at our county, and we get nothing. They dont even want to talk about it, she said. Its a long way to go.

This year Norfolk County had the Pride flag flying outside town hall in Simcoe for the first time, after Coun. Kim Huffman noted its absence at a council meeting in early June.

Huffman, who has attended past Pride Days in Dunnville, told her fellow councillors that flying the rainbow flag and posting about Pride on the countys social media accounts would be a very inclusive move for our LGBTQ+ community.

That move was appreciated, Mayo said. But looking more broadly, he said acknowledgement isnt enough. There is a need for acceptance and making room for stories beyond the heteronormative narrative in Haldimand-Norfolk.

We dont stand on an equal footing, rights-wise, as everyone else, he said. Were still fighting for certain rights and privileges that are just granted to people normally.

Wilkins said Indigenous, Black, and LGBTQ+ youth in Haldimand-Norfolk still have to regularly worry about their safety and well-being.

When you work with people who have their whole lives felt different, and often are treated different, it really breaks your heart to hear that stuff going on in your own community, she said.

Supporting people who face discrimination doesnt have to be complicated, said Piironen.

If we have any concerns and theyre doing something that we find offensive, if they listen to us and acknowledge that and create change in themselves, I think thats the biggest step to being an ally, she said.

Its about showing respect. It all comes down to the fact that were all human, we all have the same emotions, and it shouldnt be that big of a deal, because its about love and who we love. And that shouldnt be any worry to anyone else.
DODOMA, Tanzania - A small-scale miner in Tanzania has become an overnight millionaire after unearthing two of the biggest rough tanzanite gemstones ever found.

Tanzanias government bought the book-sized stones weighing 20 pounds (9 kg) and 11 pounds (5 kg) from miner Saniniu Laizer for $3.4 million.

Minerals Minister Doto Biteko said on state television Wednesday the government is buying the rare minerals for preservation.

Were signing agreements today in public to facilitate the cash transfer ... and the government recognizes Laizer is a new billionaire, he said, speaking in terms of the local currency.

Laizer said in a televised interview he plans to open a shopping mall and a school for his community. The money that I have received today, I will allocate it to more development activities, he said.

Tanzania is a rich country, President John Magufuli said when congratulating him.

Tanzanite is found only in the East African country.

Mining activities accounted for 17% of the East African countrys GDP in 2019. Magufulis administration has imposed reforms that seek to curb smuggling and increase revenue collection in the sector.
Theres a nasty phrase burning through the Internet from Canadas smallest province right now  plate shaming.

Prince Edward Island hasnt reported any COVID-19 deaths and Islanders plan to keep it that way, even if that means being uncharacteristically frosty to visitors.

That explains an ad posted Saturday on Kijiji, which promises to help outsiders hide their place of origin by purchasing or renting out a P.E.I. licence plate.

The ad reads: P.E.I. License (sic) Plate/ $50.00 and goes on to explain: All you Mainlanders coming to PEI sick of being harassed by dummies about your New Brunswick license plate? Well dont worry Ive got just the fix. Slap this baby on your car and tell folks youre from Summerside, and youre all set! Rental for $50 a month or buy it for $150 flat!

When asked by the Star, the ads poster wouldnt comment Sunday on whether hed had any bites, despite the ad receiving 122 views since it was posted Saturday.

The ad comes as the tiny province braces for an influx of cottage owners, many of whom have out-of-province license plates.

It also comes as P.E.I. prepares to join with Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador to create an Atlantic bubble on July 3, which will allow residents of the region to travel within the four provinces without having to self-isolate for 14 days.

Meanwhile, there have been reports of cars being vandalized and one of a nasty note being left on the windshield of a rented car with Nova Scotia plates driven by a local Salvation Army pastor. The local pastors note read, go the (expletive) back to the mainland and was signed, all of P.E.I.

In response to such reports of plate shaming, Island resident Paddy Wadden has posted on Twitter: Love PEI & Islanders we live in #PEI, pay taxes here, and were here months or years before COVID. Please dont key our cars or shame us just because of our license plates are from out of the province.

This debate has even spilled into the provincial legislature, with the Opposition and Green party leader Peter Bevan-Baker blaming Islanders uncharacteristic hostility toward outsiders on the Premier Dennis Kings government for what he believes has been inconsistent messaging.

King acknowledges the provinces initial four-phase plan to gradually lift restrictions has been more accelerated, but he maintains all decisions to ease restrictions have been made in consultation with the provinces chief public health office.

From the beginning of this, we realized that we had to evolve and adapt every day on a lot of the decisions that weve been making, he said in an interview Saturday.

I certainly feel confident in the process that we put together from the position that everything has been based on the best data and science and the best public health information.

He characterized the anti-outsider sentiment as isolated incidents and believes they were sparked by fear of the unknown triggered by a concerning resurgence of COVID-19 cases in some American states.

My own belief is that many people in our province and beyond have been watching events as they transpire around the world and maybe transporting that back here, he said.

For example if you see whats taking place in Florida, its vastly different than what takes place here, so I think thats a big part of it.

There have been heightened tensions about tourists from Quebec, which has been hard-hit by the pandemic.

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Quebecers wanting to go to Cap-aux-Meules on the Iles-de-la-Madeleine were only allowed to pass through P.E.I. to reach the ferry in Souris starting June 26.

While theyre finally allowed into the province, they arent allowed to stop for anything other than fuel or washroom breaks and must go straight to the ferry terminal in Souris.
Toronto police are looking for an 18-year-old Toronto man wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Leaside.

On June 9 at 7:30 p.m., gunshots rang out near a skatepark at Vanderhoof Avenue and Research Road.

Investigators said a group of people were sitting in a parked vehicle when suspects approached in a vehicle and started shooting at them.

Police arrived on scene a short time later and located two people who had been shot: 20-year-old Maaz Jogiyat and another 20-year-old man, whose injuries were deemed non-life threatening.

Jogiyat was rushed to a trauma centre, but later died of his injuries.

In the days following the shooting, Toronto police asked for the publics help to locate a dark coloured four-door SUV last seen travelling north on Brentcliffe Road towards Eglinton Avenue East. Detectives also appealed to anyone who had contact with Jogiyat on June 9 to come forward.

Investigators announced Friday that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Maviya Tahir. He is wanted for first-degree murder and attempt murder.

Tahir is described as five feet 10 inches and 150 pounds with a light complexion.

Police said he is believed to be armed, violent, and dangerous. Anyone who locates this man is advised to not approach him, but to call 9-1-1 immediately.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com.

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Regent Park resident Sureya Ibrahim and her neighbours are speaking out following what she described as a despicable and disgusting act of racist violence that has struck their community.

Ibrahim is referring to a noose, which was discovered Friday morning on the 27th floor of a building under construction at the corner of Sumach and Dundas streets. The Daniels Corporation is the developer of this project.

This is the third construction site in Toronto where a noose has been found in recent weeks. On June 10, two Black workers found nooses at an EllisDon construction site at East Yorks Michael Garron Hospital. Another was found Thursday at a site at 81 Bay Street, which is shared by EllisDon and Govan Brown.

On Sunday night, about 100 members of the Regent Park community came together to show they wont tolerate racism in their neighbourhood or anywhere for that matter.

Enough is enough. We are tired, said Ibrahim, a long-time community member and anti-racism advocate, who said its time systems and institutions that oppress Black, Indigenous and people of colour are dismantled.

She said Sunday evenings Regent Park Against racism rally, which was hosted by Regent Park Mothers of Peace, the Regent Park Neighbourhood Association, and community members, was about ensuring those responsible for such hate crimes are held accountable, and discussions take place to find ways everyone can work together to dismantle systemic racism.

Area resident Gail Lynch was supposed to be celebrating her 53rd birthday and Pride this weekend, but was pulled away from those festivities to speak out against yet another act of racism in her neighbourhood.

To the person that did that, to their family, what is it about my skin that you hate so much? Why do you hate me so much? asked Lynch, who called on political leaders, police, and the Daniels Corporation to have deeper conversations about steps they can take to eradicate racism in all its forms.

Local Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam, MPP Suze Morrison, and Toronto District School Board Trustee Chris Moise all pledged to do everything they can to learn and listen and use their positions to effect change.

Its unfortunate and heartbreaking we have to be here under these circumstances.  This is a very difficult moment in time, said Wong-Tam, who called a noose a horrifying and potent symbol of racial terrorism and white supremacy.

No young Black child in this community should walk the streets knowing someone was willing to hang a symbol of their death and oppression from the tallest towers in our neighbourhood, Morrison added.

Toronto Police Supt. Peter Moreira of 51 Division told those at the rally he would do everything in his power to find those responsible for this crime and make them pay for it.

This strikes at the core of who we are as human beings, said Moreira, who urged anyone with video footage or information to contact police.

This is a criminal incident that we take extremely seriously.

Representatives from the Daniels Corporation condemned the hateful act and said theyve already taken steps to ensure this and all of their construction sites are safe, welcoming places for all workers.

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Speaking at the rally, vice-president Sam Tassone said one of the first things the company will be doing is letting all workers know theres zero tolerance for racism.

No one will be going to work (Monday morning) until we have a very important discussion with all workers on our site, he said, adding this call to action meeting will be taking place first-thing Monday morning. Tassone also said theyre working with industry partners and unions to put an end to anti-Black racism in the construction industry.
In a small apartment in Torontos east end, 77-year-old Janet McLeod is waiting on edge.

McLeod  who was born in the city, and has lived in her subsidized seniors housing unit at Greenwood Towers for seven years  is one of millions of Canadians receiving the federal governments emergency benefits. But instead of providing a lifeline during COVID-19, McLeod fears the payout may leave her in an even shakier financial position.

Its not doing one bit of good, McLeod said. Toronto Community Housing has warned that her rent may now rise, as Ontario is considering payments under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit as income.

Shes been warned of clawbacks from the federal level too, since she also receives the Guaranteed Income Supplement as a low-income Canadian senior. But she doesnt know yet how much money she may lose in total.

And shes not alone. Torontos shelter, housing and support department says that, while most re-calculations of rent-geared-to-income have led to monthly payments being lowered, theyre also aware of some cases where households are facing increased rent because of the pandemic payouts.

As for the GIS, the federal government says a preliminary estimate compiled before the CERB extension found that approximately seven per cent of GIS recipients would be eligible for pandemic pay  and that 0.4 per cent were thought to have income levels with CERB that would exceed eligibility limits for the income supplement.

The unsteady ground has left McLeod pinching dollars. Before the pandemic, she offered her experience as a retired guidance counsellor to students eyeing post-secondary slots, for a fee.

Shes tried to pivot to providing services online from home. But without clarity on rent increases and future clawbacks, she hasnt been able to bring herself to replace her computer  an old gal that she says shuts off, sporadically, once a day.

Im scared to spend it, she said, referring to CERB. Because what if you claw it back? Ill be in debt, and then I cant pay my rent. None of us knows whats going to happen. Am I scared? Hell, yes.

Community housing staff seemed to be doing their best to get her answers, McLeod said. Toronto Community Housing told the Star about 15 per cent of tenant calls to their client centre in the last two months about rent deferral have mentioned CERB, mostly inquiring whether it counted as income.

But the situation has caused McLeod to consider whether she can afford to live in the city any more. That (subsidy) makes it possible for me to live in Toronto, she said. The city I was born in, and can no longer afford. She considered whether somewhere like Montreal would be cheaper, but, at her age, she worries about the harsh winters.

The issue has attracted the attention of retired Ontario social services bureaucrat John Stapleton, who argues that raising rent and clawing back benefits from CERB recipients defeat the payments purpose.

Its income thats trying to get people to stay indoors, Stapleton said, noting that seniors housing residents were at particular risk of COVID-19, and that things like delivery services came with extra costs.

Heres this extra money, this $2,000 a month thats here to help you do that, he said, and yet, were going to charge you rent on it.

The situation McLeod is facing is caused, in part, by the fact that Ontario is considering CERB as earned income  a designation that attracted attention earlier in the pandemic, when questions arose about how much Ontarians in social assistance programs like Ontario Works would be allowed to keep.

Treating CERB as earned income allowed those receiving social assistance to keep a portion of the emergency pandemic pay.

Since CERB is considered income in Ontario, Toronto community housing includes it when calculating rent-geared-to-income  though both the city and the province say theyve urged social housing providers to be flexible during the pandemic.

Including CERB in subsidized rent calculations is consistent with a directive from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the feds say. But the decision whether to adhere to that instruction is ultimately up to the provinces and territories. (Prince Edward Islands government told the Star it wouldnt raise rent in subsidized housing, even if CERB recipients were making more than usual.)

Federal officials also consider CERB as income for the purposes of the GIS, Stapleton said, meaning that McLeod and others could wind up seeing clawbacks.

Federal seniors minister Deb Schultes office, in an email to the Star, confirmed that CERB payments would affect GIS entitlements, but said the maximum payment from the emergency program  $12,000 over 24 weeks  would not exceed annual exemption limits on its own. Currently, GIS recipients can earn up to $5,000 per year without reducing their benefits, and the next $10,000 of earnings would be partially exempt, Schultes office said.

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McLeod, for now, is stuck in limbo. She says the amount she takes home from CERB is comparable to the amount she brought in last year from helping students with their postsecondary applications  but when shes able to work, she can factor in business expenses.

Now on CERB, with her work stunted, she anticipates less from her usual supports as she tries to retool to work from home.

Those of us who are being honest, and trying to be upfront, are saying Wait, dont change the rules on me, McLeod said. Its going to destroy my little business  just because Im being honest.

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
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.
Canadian Blood Services is gearing up to start testing for COVID-19 antibodies in the next few weeks, contributing to a massive cross-country study to determine just how many people have been infected with the disease.

Chantale Pambrun, director of Canadian Blood Services Centre for Innovation, said the organization partnered with the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force in the spring. The task force was set up by the federal government to co-ordinate efforts around understanding immunity, and includes researchers from across the country.

The blood banks have been saving samples from people who donated in the past few months, which they can rapidly test to inform the task force.

Its a really great opportunity for blood donors today who have come through the doors in the last few months to contribute to this data, she said, to understand, what has COVID done to Canadians.

The antibody tests dont show whether someone has COVID-19, like the nasal swab tests. They instead show whether someone has had it in the past and recovered.

Canadian Blood Services will also test donors going forward, to help the task force get to the goal of at least 1 million samples. Hema-Quebec, the non-profit that supplies blood in Quebec, will also support the project, a spokesperson confirmed.

A similar study in the United States that looked at samples from blood banks and collected in labs for other tests found the number of Americans infected with the coronavirus is 10 times higher than thought, about 23 million people. Thats about 5-to-8 per cent of the population, but still means over 90 per cent is still susceptible, the head of the CDC announced Thursday.

The antibody tests find people who didnt have symptoms or only had mild ones and werent counted in official testing totals because they never got the nasal swab test.

Taking the blood samples wont involve having to stick an extra needle in a persons arm, but are done in the background, Pambrun said, with samples they normally hold for testing of blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, to provide the task force with an aggregated view of the results for them to then plug those results into a bigger data set.

For about 80 per cent of donors, theres enough blood left over after safety testing to test for the antibodies, she said.

They dont test for active COVID-19 because its not spread through blood, Pambrun added.

The federal government has already ordered 140,000 antibody tests from Abbott Laboratories for the study, Federal Procurement Minister Anita Anand told reporters on a recent press call.

These kits will play an important role in tracking how widely the virus has spread, she said.

Information made available through these kits could also prove valuable in the estimation of potential immunity and vulnerabilities in our population.

Theres been some controversy with accuracy of antibody tests in the U.S. but the Abbott test is one of a handful approved by Health Canada.

The task force will roll out several studies over the next two years, said Dr. Tim Evans, director of the School of Population and Global Health at McGill University, whos leading its secretariat.

They will also look at trends in specific populations such as seniors and pregnant women, and occupational groups like long-term-care home workers and employees at meat packing plants.

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The goal is to get an understanding of the level of infection across the country, he said, and eventually understand also through the antibody test what the levels of immunity are, and what their duration will be and what level of protection they provide with respect to risk of further infection.

The approved tests have very low false-positive rates, he said.

Pambrun said they will not be informing donors if they have the antibodies, as the science on immunity is still developing, through studies like those being undertaken by the task force.

The balance that we have is we dont want to give people false assurance that you wont get COVID-19 again because we dont know that, she said.

But we are keeping on top of what the evidence shows and how informative this could be to donors.

Ministry of Health spokesperson Hayley Chazan told the Star earlier this month that a framework for incorporating these serology tests into the provinces wider testing strategy is expected to be released shortly.

In the meantime, the Health Canada-approved antibody tests are currently licensed only for research, and individuals cant go out and get them if they want to know if theyve been infected.

Canadian Blood Services is also still looking for convalescent plasma donors for another clinical trial theyre part of, giving plasma from people whove recovered from the coronavirus to current patients.

For now, theyre only taking male donors as female plasma is more complicated, Pambrun said, because of possible past pregnancies.

Men whove had sex with men in the last three months are also barred from donating blood products.
The three levels of government must flip the switch and quickly create new housing for homeless people in Toronto ahead of an anticipated second wave of COVID-19, says the executive director of a community health centre in the city.

Angela Robertson, executive director of Parkdale Queen West community health centre and a co-lead on the Toronto region COVID-19 homelessness/shelter working group, says the governments must quickly transition to a short-term strategy for housing the homeless. That strategy should include reinvesting in new affordable housing construction, turning existing vacant buildings into affordable units and putting money into creating new rooming houses and supportive units.

We have seen what political will and commitment can do in the immediate short term to respond to the challenges that COVID brought to our communities, to the economy, Robertson says, referring, for example, to the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which provides temporary income to those who lost work during the pandemic.

I may be in opposition to others who are still thinking of housing as a long-term strategy, but the pandemic has identified that housing is the most responsive remedy  a medicine for homeless, unsheltered folks who are affected by COVID-19, Robertson says.

As co-lead of the COVID-19 homelessness working group Robertson is working with fellow co-leads Dr. Andrew Boozary, the University Health Networks executive director of health and social policy, and Dr. Andrew Bond, medical director of Inner City Health Associates.

Among a host of initiatives, the working group  which includes physicians and nurses, from the health-care sector, along with managers and staff from dozens of community-based groups in Toronto  was formed in the spring to reimagine the support services and systems that are needed to assist homeless and unsheltered people, both during and after COVID.

The working group, funded through Ontarios Ministry of Health, is also implementing a health and harm reduction strategy aimed at bringing a range of supports, including mobile coronavirus testing, to the homeless wherever theyre located  in the new hotel space created by the city to ensure physical distancing, traditional shelters, drop-in centres or encampments homeless people have set up under bridges, parks or beside roadways in the city.

Two new COVID-19 recovery sites in Toronto were recently set up in hotels as places where homeless people with COVID-19 can be treated and recover, and staffed with support from the working group. For instance, Robertsons community health centre is involved in co-ordinating the provision of staff from a host of Toronto agencies who offer client support and harm reduction workers in the recovery sites.

The City of Torontos Shelter Support and Housing Administration is also involved with the sites where about 900 people have been cared for, says Boozary from UHN.

Boozary says the second wave of the coronavirus, predicted to begin sometime this fall, is a statistical certainty, according to epidemiologists, and with that comes certain risks for further waves of homelessness on the horizon in Toronto.

Housing has to be a priority when were dealing with this virus, he says.

The rate of homelessness before COVID-19 was unacceptable. We were wilfully blind, and we cant afford to go back to that, Boozary adds.

Based on the citys 2018 Street Needs Assessment, a census of the citys homeless population, its estimated there were 8,715 people experiencing homelessness on the day the assessment was conducted, April 26, 2018.

The estimate included homeless individuals outdoors, in city-run shelters and 24-hour respite sites (including 24-hour womens drop-in centres and the overnight Out of the Cold program), in shelters for women fleeing violence, health and treatment centres and correctional facilities.

As we brace for a second wave of the virus, we need lasting housing solutions, Boozary adds.

Robertson says its time to flip the switch in terms of the provision of housing resources that have been promised by the federal government and province, resources that will help reduce homelessness.

I think what it means in tangible terms, lest we forget, in the late 1990s and early 2000, in this province, the then-Conservative government downloaded social housing to the city, without the appropriate funding to maintain or replenish and increase housing stock.

They thought the private sector would step in and develop housing that would then make affordable housing miraculously appear. But what we have seen instead is an affordable housing crisis, Robertson says.

In the near term, Robertsons housing strategy envisions varied approaches.

Ontario had a strong co-op housing sector that was a model for bringing affordable housing to working people. This approach should be revisited, she says.

Additional supportive housing units need to be established for people with substance abuse and mental-health challenges, she adds.

New rent subsidies should also be brought forward to support people when affordable units are brought on-stream, Robertson suggests.

And we still need to look at investments in mixed housing like rooming houses, where we know that has been a viable option for many who have transitioned out of street homelessness. That is a model that I think can and should still have support extended to it, Robertson says, adding there are existing structures in Toronto that can be converted into this type of housing.

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Given the anticipated second COVID wave in the fall, Robertson believes all levels of government need to move on a housing plan in the next six to 12 months.

We have gotten stuck in being told there is no money. And those of us who administer ... we get stuck there and begin to believe that. We have seen that homelessness is not an inevitable condition we need to live with just because we keep being told there is no money, Robertson adds.

Among several announcements, the City of Toronto had previously stated it plans to increase investments by $3 billion, mostly to support the creation of 20,000 new affordable rental and supportive housing units.
The dark horse plaintiffs  a group of standardbred race horse breeders  locked in a six-year, $65-million lawsuit against the province clinched a breach-of-contract victory linked to a now-defunct revenue sharing program as part of a Superior Court decision released Monday.

Its not easy to win against the government in a civil case, said the groups Toronto lawyer, Jonathan Lisus.

The breeders were really very brave to take this on.

Lisus called the case a long shot because there was so much misinformation out there regarding details around the Dalton McGuinty governments decision-making in 2012 to end the Slots at Racetracks Program, which began in 1998.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Michael Emery, in his Monday ruling, accepted the plaintiffs argument that there was a valid contract between the race horse breeders and the province arising from a 1998 letter of intent (LOI) that was breached as part of the SARP initiative.

Justice Emery granted the plaintiffs motion for summary judgement against Ontario for breach of contract. All other claims against Ontario were dismissed as the plaintiffs were unable to continue those claims at law under the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, 2019 (the CLPA) that was proclaimed July 1, 2019.

The plaintiffs are members of the horse racing industry who bred horses to race at Ontario racetracks during the period of time revenues shared under SARP enhanced the value of race purses and increased funding to (a horse improvement fund), Emery wrote.

As horse people with (the Ontario Harness Race Industry Association), it was reasonable for them to expect that Ontario would recognize their right to reasonable notice as an express or implied term of the LOI when SARP ended.

Emery described the LOI as the crucible that contained the overall terms for SARP, how it would work and the essential benefits it would yield to interested parties.

Brian Gray, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Attorney General, said in an email Monday that the ministry is currently reviewing the judgment.

As this matter is in the appeal period, it would be inappropriate to comment, Gray said.

There is a 30-day period to appeal the decision.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. was a co-defendant in the action. Emery dismissed all claims against the crown corporation. Emery also dismissed the plaintiffs other claims of negligence and negligent misrepresentation.

Breach of contract damages will be calculated in a future proceeding.

In 2014, a group of 38 standardbred race horse breeders took Kathleen Wynnes government to court over claims the province made a bad faith decision in 2012 to abruptly end SARP with only one years notice. (In 2012 budget papers, the province calculated the horse racing industry had received $3.7 billion from SARP since its inception; over the 2011-2012 season it collected $345 million).

The breeders, mostly from rural Ontario, alleged the short-notice cancellation damaged their livelihoods as their businesses hinged on the five-year breeding cycle for race horses.

Walter Parkinson, assistant farm manager at Seelster Farms in Lucan, Ont., is one of the plaintiffs. Emery noted that Parkinson testified about his financial distress; that Parkinsons yearling prices dropped from $30,000 on average to about $14,000 for 2012 to 2014, that he sold 25 broodmares at a loss and 100 acres of land to raise capital.

It was a very long, drawn out process but we remained optimistic, said Parkinson, 41, referring to the six years of litigation. I think we have a renewed sense of optimism now, with this judgement, that the long wait was worthwhile.

Emery also wrote that the plaintiffs do not contest the right of Ontario or OLG to terminate SARP through the nonrenewal or cancellation of siteholder agreements, but that they claim that Ontario and OLG gave them insufficient notice of that cancellation because of their rolling investment to breed horses.

(The horse breeders) claim their level of investment was reliant on representations made by Ontario and OLG that SARP would continue over the long term for the benefit of the industry and the agricultural sector in Ontario, Emery wrote.

They say the decision to cancel SARP has caused them substantial damages because their economic expectations were calibrated on a five-year breeding cycle for standardbred horses.

In his conclusion on liability for the breach of contract claim, Emery wrote that the plaintiffs are members of the constituency of horse people who have rights under the LOI.

I have concluded that the plaintiffs have contractual rights that flow under the LOI and at law, he wrote.

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Those rights include the expectation that they would be given reasonable notice if and when Ontario terminated SARP directly or, as it did, by directing OLG to terminate the siteholder agreements with racetracks.

OLG spokesperson Rui Brum said the OLG is currently reviewing the decision in detail.

While we are within the appeal period of the decision, it would not be appropriate to comment further in detail, Brum said in an email.

Read more about:
Council meets virtually Monday and Tuesday with a packed agenda, including proposals to defund and reform the Toronto Police taking centre stage.

Mayor John Tory has tabled a set of proposals that advocates have criticized as hollow and are expected to be presented in contrast to a motion from Coun. Josh Matlow to ask the police make at least a 10 per cent cut in next years budget, which some have said still doesnt go far enough.

The proposals follow weeks of protests in Toronto and across the border over police violence and anti-Black racism that has seen calls to defund and abolish police services in favour of non-police alternatives and community programs.

Other items on the agenda that are up for debate include a city program to allow restaurants and bars to have expanded patio space during the pandemic, plans for new affordable housing, concerns over COVID-19 impacts on tenants and more.

Follow along with the city hall bureau:

City Council, meeting 22, June 29, 2020
Police are appealing to the public to help them find who stole a 365-kilogram radar speed camera earlier this month in downtown Toronto.

Police said in a news release Monday that the camera, also known as an Automated Speed Enforcement system, was stolen between June 10 and 12 from its location near Queen Street West and Jameson Avenue.

The device . . . typically requires a hydraulic lift to remove it, police said in their news release.

This isnt the first time someones managed to haul away one of the bulky machines. Over December and January, four were stolen.

The cameras cost around $50,000 each.

The remaining cameras are scheduled to start automatically fining speeding drivers on July 6, after what Mayor John Tory called a speeding epidemic

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, on their Facebook Leave a Tip page, or by texting TOR and a message to CRIMES (274637).
Ontario is overhauling the GTAs violence-plagued towing industry and assembling a task force, the provincial government announced Monday.

The province-led task force will help develop a regulatory model that will increase safety and enforcement, clarify protections for consumers, improve industry standards and consider tougher penalties for violators, according to the governments news release.

Over the past two years, the industry has seen at least four murders, numerous arsons, brazen shootings and fraud across Greater Toronto.

The towing task force will work with police, public safety experts, and municipal and industry partners, Premier Doug Ford said, calling the violence totally unacceptable.

To all the bad actors out there, my message is clear: the partys over, Ford said Monday at his daily briefing.

Were coming for you, well catch you, and we will lock you up.

York police said earlier this month that four distinct criminal organizations had been fighting over turf in a complex fraud ecosystem that involves kickbacks and insurance fraud at auto centres, physiotherapy clinics, car rentals, body shops and more.

Ford said the task forces proposals would be aimed at a small group of bad apples out there causing trouble, lighting trucks on fire, smashing windows and getting mixed up in organized crime.

Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney said her ministry and the solicitor general will lead the task force, which has met twice already. Representatives from four other ministries as well as the Ontario Provincial Police will also be involved, Mulroney said.

Tow truck licensing is currently regulated at the municipal level.

But only about 20 of the provinces 444 municipalities have a system in place, Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice-president of government and community relations at the Canadian Automobile Association, told the Star earlier this month.

Di Felice said Monday in a statement that the CAA would like to see a tow truck licensing system, clearer rules around consumer protection and the establishment of a body to oversee the industry.

CAA is also advocating for a regulation that would implement criminal background checks, discourage racing to accident scenes, charging consumers sky-high towing bills, and fraud, reads her statement.

Mulroney said on Monday that the provincial government was considering a provincial licensing scheme.

We are looking at all options. We want to strengthen provincial oversight of the towing industry. Its something that we have heard from stakeholders on this issue, and that includes provincial licensing. The task force will provide recommendations and well continue to consult with industry, said Mulroney.

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In May, as part of a joint-forces operation called Project Platinum, police arrested 20 people across southern Ontario, seizing guns, cash and drugs in a project targeting organized crime violence in the GTA tow truck industry.

York Region police seized 11 tow trucks, a machine gun, 16 handguns, 13 shotguns, nine rifles, a sawed-off shotgun and brass knuckles, among other weapons. Police also announced the seizure of five kilograms of fentanyl, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, 1.25 kilograms of crystal meth, 1.5 kilograms of cannabis and more than $500,000 in cash.

The announcement comes one week after 11 people were arrested, including a veteran Toronto police officer, for the alleged theft of an encrypted police radio, among other charges.

Police allege he participated in the theft of encrypted police radios that fell into the hands of towing companies, allowing tow truck operators to monitor police activity and learn about accidents before their competitors.

With files from Peter Edwards, Robert Benzie, and Jacob Lorinc.

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Outbreaks in the agricultural sector in southern Ontario continue to drive up new cases of COVID-19 in the province.

Windsor-Essex reported 98 new cases on Sunday and 88 on Monday, most of them from a single farm.

Staff from the nearby Middlesex-London public health unit have joined Windsor-Essexs team to manage the crisis, sending in nurse practitioners to farms to manage confirmed cases and contact tracing.

Premier Doug Ford said Monday that federal employees were inspecting the bunkhouses of the temporary foreign workers and that the federal government was picking up the tab for the hotels and motels where workers are isolating.

The province has also ramped up testing.

Were going to make sure were doing everything in our power to resolve these cases as quickly as possible, said Ford.

***

Nearly 40 per cent of workers at Windsor-Essex farm test positive

Mass testing at a Windsor-Essex farm over the weekend resulted in the areas highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19.

About 175 cases were found in two days. The farm has about 450 workers.

The Windsor-Essex area is home to upward of 10,000 temporary farm workers. Some live in bunkhouses on farms, but others live in the community and workers can move from farm to farm.

Asked Monday whether it was becoming a public health crisis, Dr. Wajid Ahmed, associate medical officer of health for Windsor-Essex, said that it was too early to tell.

Although the virus was sweeping through one farm, workers on others had tested negative and on some farms, there were a limited numbers of positive cases, he said.

As of now, what we are dealing with is unprecedented and nobody was expecting this high number, said Ahmed. I think as we continue to work with all these cases and contacts we will have a better understanding of what the ongoing risk to this population is.

Ahmed declined to identify the farm.

The majority of workers who tested positive didnt report having symptoms, but Ahmed said it would take interviews by nurse practitioners during case management to determine if that is truly the case.

The province recently eased the rules surrounding migrant workers who test positive, allowing them to continue working if they are asymptomatic so that farms dont fear losing large numbers of employees to isolation.

However Ahmed said the latest workers to test positive were in isolation.

Susan Bondy, an epidemiologist with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, said that ideally, people should come forward to be tested on their own.

However, community supports are necessary when it comes to a workforce that is particularly vulnerable.

Contact tracers should detect, test, isolate and support, she said, noting migrant workers particularly need reassurance that they can remain with an income, remain with food and adequate housing.

That is a challenge, because in many cases accommodations, really good access to primary care (and) access to social services is certainly lower in the agricultural workforce than other workforces.

***

Toronto and Peel drive up Ontario numbers

Collectively, the number of new cases coming out of the GTA is still the largest in the province. The GTA reported 85 new cases Monday, while Toronto Public Health reported 62 new cases  though after removing 60 duplicate cases from their tally, the citys number actually fell by 10.

The rest of Ontario reported 147 cases Monday.

According to Peel Public Health, of the 280 cases reported between June 19 and 25, 80 per cent were related to an outbreak or close contact with a confirmed case. Only one per cent are linked to travel outside of Ontario.

Im disappointed that its not lower, said Bondy. For those health units  I would like to see it come right down and experience a period of thinking we can actually eliminate it from the communities.

Some regions are still catching up on testing, she said. You have people who are asymptomatic and you have people who havent yet been tested who probably are connected to an outbreak. So were still doing catch up on local areas that have just undetected virus in the community.

Bondy said different trends will be driving daily case totals. What accounts for 50 (cases) one week is a different phenomenon from what accounts for the 50 the next week, she said.

Anna Banerji, an infectious disease specialist with the University of Toronto, told the Star its reassuring that case totals havent yet skyrocketed with the reopening of shopping malls and salons. Well see what happens in the next few weeks, (but) we havent seen a trend going up  at least in the GTA. Im reassured by this.

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That said, Banerji cautioned against reading too deeply into daily totals. I think that all of our numbers and the emphasis on the numbers are completely inaccurate, she explained, noting that tests could produce false negatives which skew the numbers.

Additionally, the possibility of asymptomatic people going undetected means the true number is much higher. The number of people who have had COVID  I would estimate is at least five to 10 times higher than what we know of, Banerji said.

***

Ontarios struggles while the Atlantic Provinces bubble

Ontario was the only province to report more than 200 cases on Monday.

Quebec, with a total of more than 55,000 cases, the most of any province, reported 72 new cases of the virus on Monday, down from 77 the day before.

Cases there have declined steadily since the second week of May, mostly due to decreases in Greater Montreal, which is where the majority of cases have been located.

British Columbia gave its first update in three days on Monday, reporting 26 new cases as of Friday and bringing their total to 2,904. Alberta reported 39 cases on Sunday.

Saskatchewan and Manitoba have both reported daily cases in the single digits recently.

Meanwhile, residents of Canadas eastern provinces will be able to travel freely as of July 3 between New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador thanks to an agreement by their premiers that eliminates a requirement to self-isolate for 14 days.

New Brunswicks borders are still closed to the rest of the country unless youre travelling to the province because of work, health care, you own property or youre visiting family, in which case the isolation requirement is still in place.

PEI and Newfoundland also remain closed to non-essential travellers.

Nova Scotia never closed its borders, but visitors to the province from outside the Atlantic Provinces are still required to self-isolate.

***

What is going on in the U.S.?

South of the border, cases of COVID-19 continue to rise.

Despite a brief downturn in the countrys daily totals, case positivity is again peaking. On Sunday, the country saw nearly 40,000 cases in one day, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The United States is having a terrible escalation of the rate of positive infections, said Banerji, pointing to Florida and California as states that are continuing to break daily records. I dont think we can let our guard down with this virus.

As of Sunday, the U.S. has seen five consecutive days of single-day records and comprises almost 25 per cent of the global total of cases.

Only two states  Connecticut and Rhode Island  are reporting a decline in daily case numbers. In Minnesota, for example, people in their 20s have become the largest group of confirmed cases of the virus  a spike that appears to be tied to reopened bars and public spaces.

Meanwhile, the state of Florida is seeing a staggering rise in positive results, reporting 43,964 new cases the week of June 21 to 28. This represents over 31 per cent of the states total case numbers. While Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has chalked this rise up to increased testing, U.S. epidemiologists say the increases are real and the result of continued spread.

In response to continued case growth that appears to follow eased lockdown restrictions in late May, many states are pausing or restricting reopening plans. Miami-Dade County has announced it is closing its beaches and banning gatherings over 50 people.

Experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimate more than 20 million U.S. citizens have been infected with COVID-19  far beyond the official figure of 2.5 million total cases.

Correction  June 29, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version to update the graphic showing the number of new cases per day related to COVID-19 in the Windsor-Essex health unit. The previous graphic mistakenly showed cumulative cases, not the number of new cases.

Graphics by Andres Plana

With files from Ed Tubb
An overseer appointed to monitor the embattled Durham Regional police force has told it to drop its internal prosecution of a whistleblower, finding senior command improperly tried to use the spectre of discipline as a bargaining lever to make her dish dirt on another officer.

The instruction to end the disciplinary proceedings against Sgt. Nicole Whiteway is the latest development in the ongoing investigation by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, which alleges there is credible information that the forces top brass might have participated in alleged criminal conduct.

Whiteway was one of several employees of Durham Regional Police Service who filed complaints to Ontarios solicitor general, accusing the police chief and members of his senior command of corruption and abuse of power.

The allegations, which the chief says are baseless recriminations and innuendo from disgruntled employees, prompted the province to order an investigation into the countrys 10th largest municipal police force.

In May 2019, the commission appointed an administrator  retired Toronto deputy police chief Mike Federico  to oversee promotions and internal discipline inside Durham police to mitigate against any potential interference in the commissions investigation so that the public can be assured that a full accounting will be achieved.

In reviewing the internal charges against Whiteway that alleged she stole money from an abusive ex-husband, Federico determined the forces efforts to leverage a potential resolution to Whiteways disciplinary proceedings by asking her to provide damaging information on a high-ranking officer were improper, according to his June 17 decision obtained by the Star.

Continuing the disciplinary proceeding against Whiteway would amount to an abuse of process and is contrary to the public interest, Federico concluded.

The administration of justice cannot condone such conduct and, clearly, should not be used as a tool for such purposes.

Durham police would not comment on the administrators decision. In its submissions to the administrator, the police service maintained that it has evidence against Whiteway and that it was making legitimate inquiries, in good faith, about the possible misconduct of a high-ranking DRPS officer.

Whiteways lawyer described her as a dedicated police officer, single mother with four children and a survivor of horrific domestic abuse.

To see her mistreated like this is absolutely sad and shocking, lawyer Peter Brauti said. Thankfully, bullies dont seem to be doing very well in society these days so we continue to have faith that she will ultimately prevail.

Whiteway is a veteran cop whose mother was the first female deputy chief in Durham. In 2017, her ex-husband filed a complaint with Durham police, accusing Whiteway of stealing upwards of $20,000 when she went to his apartment to pick up some belongings, according to her complaint.

It was a false accusation, Whiteway said, a ploy by her ex to get her to withdraw domestic assault charges (the ex later pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a weapon, one count of assault and two counts of uttering death threats).

Whiteways complaint alleged she and her lawyer tried to resolve the theft allegation but Durham police dragged its heels, suggesting that she could be of assistance such that (Whiteways) charges would not be a problem.

She said then-Deputy Chief Uday Jaswal met with both her and her lawyer, fishing for dirt on the police services other deputy chief, Chris Fernandes.

Whiteway said she refused to play along. I was no longer prepared to be toyed with, used or extorted for political purposes, Whiteway said in her complaint to the province.

A lawyer representing Durhams senior command had denied Whiteways allegations, calling them false and defamatory. As deputy chief, Jaswal was responsible for enforcing professional standards, the lawyer previously told the Star in a statement. He understands the importance of such matters and the effects such matters have on individual officers. He takes those responsibilities extremely seriously.

In his decision calling for Whiteways charges to be withdrawn, Federico notes that there was circumstantial evidence against Whiteway because three friends of the ex-husband say Whiteway told them she found the money.

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However, there is no public interest in pursuing the disciplinary proceedings in light of conduct of Jaswal and Durham police, Federico said.

Jaswal is now a deputy chief in Ottawa, where he is currently suspended and facing disciplinary charges for allegedly sexually harassing female subordinates. Jaswals lawyer has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing by the senior officer.

Durham police chief Paul Martin had turned to the courts to challenge the commissions order that led to the appointment of the administrator, but Ontarios Divisional Court dismissed the motion in April.

The commission recently extended Federicos appointment until at least the end of 2020, finding a serious crisis of confidence in senior command persists among Durhams rank-and-file officers that constitutes an emergency.
WASHINGTONThe United States Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Louisiana law that could have left the state with a single abortion clinic.

The vote was 5-4, with Chief Justice John Roberts voting with the courts four-member liberal wing but not adopting its reasoning. The chief justice said respect for precedent compelled him to vote with the majority.

The case was the courts first on abortion since President Donald Trumps appointments of two justices shifted the court to the right.

The Louisiana law, which was enacted in 2014, requires doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

The laws supporters said the law protects the health and safety of women seeking abortions and that the requirements for obtaining admitting privileges helps ensure the competence of doctors. Opponents disputed that, saying that hospitalizations after abortions are rare, that women would receive medical care at hospitals whether their doctors had admitting privileges or not and that abortion providers are often unable to obtain admitting privileges for reasons unrelated to their competence.

Only two of the five doctors who provide abortions in Louisiana have obtained admitting privileges: one in New Orleans and one in Shreveport. But the Shreveport doctor testified that he could not handle the clinics work alone. If the law went into effect, a trial judge concluded, there would be a single doctor in a single clinic, in New Orleans, available to provide abortions in Louisiana.

The judge, John W. deGravelles of the U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge, struck down the Louisiana law in 2017, saying it created an undue burden on womens constitutional right to abortion. The experience of the clinic in Shreveport, Hope Medical Group for Women, showed, he wrote, that the law was a solution in search of a problem.

In the last 23 years, Hope Clinic, which serves in excess of 3,000 patients per year, had only four patients who required transfer to a hospital for treatment, deGravelles wrote. In each instance, regardless of whether the physician had admitting privileges, the patient received appropriate care.

The law, deGravelles ruled, was essentially identical to the one from Texas that the Supreme Court struck down in the 2016 decision, Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt. Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for the majority in that decision, said courts must consider whether the benefits claimed for laws that put restrictions on abortion outweigh the burdens they put on the constitutional right to the procedure.

There was no evidence that the Texas laws admitting-privileges requirement would have helped even one woman obtain better treatment, Breyer wrote. But there was good evidence, he added, that the requirement caused the number of abortion clinics in Texas to drop to 20 from 40.

The vote in that decision was 5-3, with Justice Anthony Kennedy joining the courts four-member liberal wing to form a majority. It was decided by an eight-member court after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia that February, and since then, Justice Neil Gorsuch was appointed to succeed Scalia and Justice Brett Kavanaugh to succeed Kennedy.

In 2018, a divided three-judge panel of the federal appeals court in New Orleans reversed deGravelles ruling and upheld the Louisiana law notwithstanding the Supreme Courts decision in the Texas case, saying that the laws benefits outweighed the burdens it imposed.

Unlike Texas, Louisiana presents some evidence of a minimal benefit, Judge Jerry E. Smith wrote for the majority. In particular, he wrote, the admitting privileges requirement performs a real, and previously unaddressed, credentialing function that promotes the well-being of women seeking abortion.

Smith faulted doctors seeking to provide abortions in the state for not trying hard enough to obtain admitting privileges and said abortions would remain available after the law went into effect.

In dissent, Judge Patrick E. Higginbotham wrote that the majoritys ruling was impossible to reconcile with the Supreme Courts 2016 decision in the Texas case and with its 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which banned states from placing an undue burden on the constitutional right to abortion.

I fail to see, Higginbotham wrote, how a statute with no medical benefit that is likely to restrict access to abortion can be considered anything but undue.

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The full 5th Circuit refused to rehear the case by a 9-6 vote. In dissent, Judge Stephen A. Higginson wrote that the Louisiana law was equivalent in structure, purpose and effect to the Texas law invalidated by the Supreme Court in 2016.

I am unconvinced that any justice of the Supreme Court who decided Whole Womans Health would endorse our opinion, Higginson wrote. The majority would not, and I respectfully suggest that the dissenters might not either.
ISLAMABAD - A ruling by Pakistans Supreme Court on Monday paves the way for a man convicted of involvement in the gruesome 2002 murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl to walk free later this week.

The Supreme Court refused a government request to suspend a lower courts ruling exonerating Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh of Pearls murder before a 90-day detention order expires on Thursday.

The Supreme Court also refused to immediately hear the appeal and instead said the appeal would be heard on Sept. 25.

Saeed Sheikh was ordered to remain in detention in April after the Sindh High Court overturned the murder conviction and death sentence, generating outrage from Pearls family, the U.S. government and media rights groups.

The 90-day detention was ordered under a public order regulation that allows detainees to be held longer if their release could incite violence and chaos.

The lower court upheld a kidnapping charge that carries a seven-year sentence. Saeed Sheikh has been in prison for 18 years, all spent on death row.

For 18 years he hasnt even seen the sun. He has been in solitary confinement on death row, his lawyer Mahmood Sheikh, who is no relation, said in a telephone interview on Monday following the Supreme Courts refusal to quickly hear the governments appeal.

Pearls parents have also filed an appeal to Pakistans Supreme Court challenging the lower courts ruling.

The government prosecutor, Faiz Shah, declined to say whether the government would seek an extension of Saeed Sheikhs detention. Saeed Sheikhs lawyer said a review board would have to be established to extend his detention.

The Sindh High Court in April also acquitted three others accused in the case: Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil, and Salman Saqib, who were earlier sentenced to life in prison. Saeed Sheikh, a former student at the London School of Economics, and the others were convicted in 2002.

Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was kidnapped in Pakistan in early 2002 while working on a story about Islamic militants. A videotape received by U.S. diplomats in February of that year confirmed that the 38-year-old was dead. He had been beheaded.

In court testimony and emails released during the 2002 trial, Saeed Sheikh said he developed a personal relationship with Pearl before he was kidnapped, with both sharing their concerns about their wives, who were pregnant at the time. Marianne Pearl gave birth to their son Adam in May 2002.

The Pearl Project, an investigative journalism team at Georgetown University, carried out a three-year investigation into Pearls kidnapping and death. They concluded the reporter was beheaded by Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, who was arrested in Pakistan in 2003 and later described as the architect of the 9-11 attacks on the United States. Mohammad is a prisoner at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The prosecutions cases are won or lost not on the basis of emotion, they are won or lost on the basis of evidence and in this case the prosecution did a woeful job, said Sheikh, the lawyer. If Daniel Pearls parents have any grievance or complaint it should be against the Pakistani authorities for the prosecutions failings.

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Saeed Sheikh had been arrested in 1994 by Indian authorities, accused of kidnapping three Britons and an American, who were all freed unharmed, in Indian-ruled Kashmir.

In 1999, India freed Saeed Sheikh and two other militants in exchange for the release of 155 passengers and crew aboard an Indian Airlines plane hijacked to Kandahar, Afghanistan.
BRUSSELS - The European Union on Monday prolonged economic sanctions against Russia for six months for failing to live up to its commitments to the peace agreement in Ukraine.

The measures target Russias financial, energy and defence sectors, as well as goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes They are part of a raft of sanctions slapped on Russia in 2014 after it annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, and are tied to respect of the 2015 Minsk peace deal.

Given that full implementation has not yet been achieved, EU leaders took the political decision to roll-over the economic sanctions against Russia, the EU Council said in a statement. The sanctions have been extended until Jan. 31.

The move limits Russian bank and company access to EU capital markets and outlaws financial assistance or brokering for Russian financial institutions. It halts all imports, exports or transfers of defence equipment, and limits Russias access to some sensitive technology used in oil production.

More than 14,000 people have been killed in fighting between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron lashed out Monday against Turkeys criminal responsibility in Libya.

Speaking during a visit to Germany, Macron strongly condemned Turkeys actions in Libya as unacceptable.

He said Turkey doesnt respect any of its commitments. France sees Ankara as an obstacle to securing a cease-fire in the conflict-torn country.

Tensions between France and Turkey escalated following a June 10 incident between Turkish warships and a French naval vessel in the Mediterranean, which France considers a hostile act under NATOs rules of engagement.

Turkey has denied harassing the French frigate.

France accused Turkey of repeated violations of the U.N. arms embargo and of importing Syrian fighters to Libya.

Macron also condemned interference in Libya from Russian private military contractor Wagner.

Libya has been in turmoil since 2011 when a NATO-backed uprising toppled leader Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed.

The country has since been split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each backed by armed groups and different foreign governments.

Macron denied backing the east-based forces led by commander Khalifa Hifter, stressing France is in favour of finding a political solution. The U.N.-supported government in the capital, Tripoli, is mainly backed by Turkey.
TEHRAN, Iran - Iran has issued an arrest warrant and asked Interpol for help in detaining United States President Donald Trump and dozens of others it believes carried out the U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, a local prosecutor reportedly said Monday.

Interpol later said it wouldnt consider Irans request, meaning Trump faces no danger of arrest. However, the charges underscore the heightened tensions between Iran and the United States since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Trump and 35 others whom Iran accuses of involvement in the Jan. 3 strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad face "murder and terrorism charges," the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

Alqasimehr did not identify anyone else sought other than Trump, but stressed that Iran would continue to pursue his prosecution even after his presidency ends.

Alqasimehr also was quoted as saying that Iran requested a red notice be put out for Trump and the others, which represents the highest-level arrest request issued by Interpol. Local authorities generally make the arrests on behalf of the country that requests it. The notices cannot force countries to arrest or extradite suspects, but can put government leaders on the spot and limit suspects travel.

After receiving a request, Interpol meets by committee and discusses whether or not to share the information with its member states. Interpol has no requirement for making any of the notices public, though some do get published on its website.

Interpol later issued a statement saying its guidelines for notices forbids it from any intervention or activities of a political nature.

Interpol would not consider requests of this nature, it said.

Brian Hook, the U.S. special representative for Iran, dismissed the arrest warrant announcement during a news conference in Saudi Arabia on Monday.

Its a propaganda stunt that no one takes seriously and makes the Iranians look foolish, Hook said.

The U.S. killed Soleimani, who oversaw the Revolutionary Guards expeditionary Quds Force, and others in the January strike near Baghdad International Airport. It came after months of rising tensions between the two countries. Iran retaliated with a ballistic missile strike targeting American troops in Iraq.
BAGHDAD - Iraqi authorities released on bail Monday some men with ties to an Iran-backed militia detained under suspicion of carrying out a series of rocket attacks against the U.S. presence in the country, Iraqi government and militia officials said.

The release comes five days after Iraqi security forces arrested 14 men suspected of orchestrating attacks against the U.S. Embassy in Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone and American troops located in Iraqi bases. The arrests, based on a judicial order, marked the strongest action to date by the new government in Baghdad against the perpetrators affiliated with a powerful Iran-backed militia group.

The officials offered varying accounts of the number of detainees who had been released. A militia official said 11 among the 14 arrested on Thursday were released on bail and three suspects remained in custody. Two government officials did not specify the number and said some were released on bail. One government official said all were released except one prime suspect.

Official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

A military statement following the arrests said a special investigative committee was formed to include the Interior Ministry and other Iraqi security forces to follow up on the case.

The U.S. has blamed Iran-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah for orchestrating attacks against its embassy and American troops inside Iraqi bases, and criticized the Iraqi government for not identifying and arresting the culprits.

The raid was carried out according to a judicial order based on Iraqs anti-terrorism laws, and was issued following intelligence reports indicating the men had orchestrated attacks against the U.S. presence.
BEIRUT - Imprisoned members of the Islamic State group rioted Monday in a jail controlled by U.S.-backed fighters in Syria, demanding fair trials and visits by their families.

The riots in the northeastern city of Hassakeh started with the prisoners trying to break metal doors inside the jail, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor.

It said that some detainees were wounded, without giving further details.

The North Press Agency, a media platform operating in the Kurdish-administered areas, said the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are sending reinforcements to the prison.

Kurdish authorities currently operate more than two dozen detention facilities scattered across northeastern Syria, holding about 10,000 IS fighters. Among the detainees are some 2,000 foreigners whose home countries have refused to repatriate them, including about 800 Europeans.

Riots have broken out at least twice this year, in March and in early May.

The two-day riots in March were among the most serious uprisings by the prisoners since IS was defeated a year ago, when the SDF seized control of the last sliver of land controlled by the extremists in eastern Syria.

The Observatory reported that U.S. military helicopters flew over the prison on Monday night.

SDF officials have been saying for months that the international community and the U.S.-led coalition bear responsibility for finding solutions for IS detainees, and need to give more support for security and living conditions at the prisons.

IS has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks in recent months in Syria and Iraq, leaving scores of people dead in both countries. IS had declared a caliphate in June 2014 in large parts of Iraq and Syria, and was only defeated after a yearslong campaign by an array of international and local forces.

The militant group appears to be expanding its operations as governments in both countries are focused on containing the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout.
BEIRUT - The U.S. ambassador to Lebanon said Monday after meeting the countrys foreign minister that they have turned the page over a court ruling issued over the weekend barring local and foreign media from interviewing the envoy over her comments regarding Hezbollah.

A judge had ordered the year-long ban after U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea told Saudi-owned TV station Al-Hadath that Washington has great concerns over the Iran-backed militant groups role in the government.

She said Lebanon is reeling from years of corruption of successive governments and accused Hezbollah of siphoning off government funds for its own purposes and of obstructing needed economic reforms.

Critics viewed her comments as foreign interference in Lebanese affairs, but the judges ruling was also harshly criticized by many in Lebanon, where the media enjoys far more freedom than in many other Arab states.

On Monday, Shea read a brief statement in which she said that her meeting with Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti was positive.

We turned the page on this unfortunate distraction so we can all focus on the real crisis at hand, which is the deteriorating economic situation in Lebanon, she said.

A few protesters held a sit-in outside the Foreign Ministry during the meeting.

The court ruling remains in effect but appears unlikely to be enforced.

Lebanon, one of the most indebted countries in the world, is mired in its worst economic crisis in decades. It recently defaulted on its debt and has been negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for weeks with no breakthrough so far.

The local currency lost more than 80% of its value against the U.S. dollar in recent months amid soaring prices and popular unrest.

The court decision by the Lebanese judge reflected the rising tension between the U.S. and Hezbollah, and revealed a widening rift among groups in Lebanon amid the crisis.

Shea said the U.S. stands ready and will continue to help the Lebanese people as the government takes the necessary steps to address the underlying causes of the crisis.

State-run National News Agency quoted Hitti as saying during the meeting that freedom of the press and opinion are a sacred right in the country, which enjoys wider freedoms than many other Arab countries.

Hitti, who had summoned Shea to the meeting, also said that it is important that Beirut and Washington continue their co-operation in all fields to help Lebanon weather the crisis.

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Hezbollah and its allies are dominant in parliament and back the current government. It is designated by Washington as a terrorist group and the U.S. has recently expanded sanctions against it.

However, Washington is one of the largest donors to the Lebanese army, making for one of the more complicated diplomatic balancing acts in the region.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A targeted shooting outside an Amazon facility in Jacksonville, Florida, left one person killed and two others slightly wounded Monday, authorities said.

The 20-year-old man who was fatally shot was waiting in line outside the Amazon warehouse to apply for a job, Jacksonville Sheriffs Office Assistant Chief Brian Kee said during a news conference.

Kee said two men got out of a silver car at about 2 p.m., ran up to the victim and started firing handguns before they drove away. Two bystanders were grazed by bullets but did not require hospitalization, Kee said.

Authorities said the shooting on the citys north side does not appear to have been a case of workplace violence.

This is not random. It was specifically targeting this victim, Kee told reporters. We are not inside the facility at all.

The suspects were still at large a few hours after the shooting. The identities of the victims were not immediately released and the motive behind the shooting was unclear.

One local television station posted a photo on its website showing shattered glass at an employee breakroom that appeared to have been caused by a bullet.
WASHINGTON - Democrats pushed a package expanding Obamacare coverage through the House on Monday, a measure thats doomed to advance no further but spotlights how the coronavirus pandemic and President Donald Trumps efforts to obliterate that law have fortified health cares potency as a 2020 campaign issue.

While the legislation had no chance of survival in the Republican-led Senate and faced a White House veto threat for good measure, Democrats plunged ahead anyway. It joins a pile of bills theyve compiled that highlight their priorities on health care, jobs, ethics and voting rights, issues they intend to wield in this years presidential and congressional elections.

The bill cleared the House by a mostly party-line, 234-179 vote over solid GOP opposition. Republicans, whove never relented since unanimously opposing former President Barack Obamas 2010 statue, called the measure a blow to the nations health care system during a pandemic and a political stunt.

This bill attempts to exploit the coronavirus pandemic to resuscitate tired, partisan proposals, the White House wrote in its statement. It said provisions curbing prescription drug costs would cut pharmaceutical company revenues and undermine the American innovation the entire globe is depending on by crimping their research on developing vaccines and treatments.

GOP lawmakers votes against the House measure seemed certain to pop up in campaign spots this fall. In a taste of those ads, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Mondays vote gave lawmakers a choice between strengthening health care protections or being complicit in Trumps effort to dismantle it.

Make no mistake, said Pelosi, D-Calif. A vote against this bill is a vote to weaken Americans health and financial security during a pandemic.

Three lawmakers, all facing potentially tough reelection fights this fall, crossed party lines on the vote: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J.

Democrats used Trumps and the GOPs failed 2017 efforts to erase Obamas law as their chief issue in the 2018 elections, helping them capture House control by gaining 40 seats.

Theyve talked ever since about reprising that theme in this years campaigns by focusing on curbing drug and health care costs and saying Republicans want to dismantle the Obama laws patient protections. Republicans have denied that that is their goal.

Last week, the White House made a move that Democrats say provides them with fresh ammunition and that even some Republicans consider a political blunder.

It filed papers with the Supreme Court backing Republican-run states drive to have Obamas entire law declared unconstitutional. The increasingly popular statute has expanded coverage to 20 million Americans, and required insurers to cover patients with preexisting conditions and include children up to age 26 under their parents policies.

Debate also came as the number of cases of COVID-19, the disease that coronavirus causes, has begun soaring anew in more than half the states, including many that relaxed restrictions on activities aimed at preventing the illness spread. The United States reported 38,800 newly confirmed coronavirus infections Monday, boosting the total over 2.5 million. More than 125,000 Americans have died, the highest figure in the world.

The House bill would expand tax credits for lower-earning Americans for paying insurance premiums, let more people qualify for subsidies and cap the portion of income some consumers would pay for coverage. It would let the government negotiate with pharmaceutical makers over drug prices, and block low-cost plans the Trump administration has permitted that dont require coverage of people with preexisting conditions.

The legislation would also cut federal payments to states that dont expand Medicaid to cover more low-income people, as Obamas statute allows. Around a dozen states, mostly run by Republicans, have opted not to do so.

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said that meant Democrats would be punishing states that dont expand Medicaid even as they struggle to cope with the virus. Its vindictive and its probably unconstitutional, Walden said.

The Democratic bill lacks a keystone of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Bidens health care plan: creating a government-run public option that people could join. Critics have said such a proposal could force people to abandon job-provided policies they like.

Democrats criticized Republicans for repeatedly claiming that after repealing Obamas law they would pass legislation protecting patients, though theyve never presented a viable replacement package.

Its been four years since our colleagues who say theyre going to protect people have done anything, said Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich.

The nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation has estimated that nearly 27 million people have lost employer-provided coverage because of pandemic-related layoffs. Nearly half a million people have gotten Obamacare policies, the government said last week.

The White House filed papers with the Supreme Court last week supporting an effort by GOP-led states to have the entire Obamacare statute declared unconstitutional.

Republicans have argued that the health care law became unconstitutional when Congress passed a 2017 tax bill eliminating the statutes fines on people who dont have health insurance.

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But that tax measure left intact the health care laws requirement that nearly all Americans get health coverage. Republicans have argued that with the tax penalty abolished, the coverage requirement and the entire law must be invalidated.

It is not clear whether justices will hear oral arguments before this Novembers election. A decision is unlikely until next year.

The Supreme Court has rejected two previous efforts to declare the health care law invalid.
SILVER SPRING, Md. - A federal appeals court on Monday upheld Marylands ban on bump stocks and other devices that make guns fire faster, a state law that preceded a nationwide ban. Both bans responded to the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

A divided three-judge panel from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected claims by gun owners rights advocates that Marylands law violates the Fifth Amendments prohibition on taking private property for public use without just compensation.

Marylands ban on private ownership of bump stocks and other rapid fire trigger activators took effect in October 2018, one year after a gunman opened fire on the crowd at a Las Vegas concert from a high-rise hotel suite, killing 58 people. The gunman, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, had equipped several semiautomatic guns with bump stocks so they could fire at a rate approaching a fully automatic machine-gun.

A nationwide ban on the sale and possession of bump stocks took effect in 2019. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives outlawed the attachments at President Donald Trumps direction after the Las Vegas mass shooting. In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to put the federal ban on hold.

A group called Maryland Shall Issue and four of its members filed a class action in June 2018, naming Gov. Larry Hogan as the defendant. Hogan, a Republican, signed the state ban into law.

In the 4th Circuits majority opinion, Judge Stephanie Thacker said Marylands ban does not require bump stock owners to turn them over to the government or a third party. Property owners know that laws can make their personal belongings worthless in areas where the government has a traditionally high degree of control, Thacker said.

We can think of few types of personal property that are more heavily regulated than the types of devices that are prohibited by (the law), she wrote.

Judge Julius Richardson, who partially dissented from the majority opinion, concluded that Marylands law violates the Fifth Amendments takings clause. Richardson said the court should have revived the plaintiffs claims under that clause.

Surely, the government must compensate owners for their personal property if it physically dispossesses owners, he wrote. But Maryland instead requires owners to physically dispossess themselvesor face imprisonment.

Richardson also rejected Marylands argument that the federal ban on bump stocks means the outcome of the appeal is moot. The state ban applies more broadly than its federal counterpart and bans at least one device that is excluded from the federal ban, he wrote.

Maryland Shall Issue executive director Mark Pennak said the plaintiffs likely will ask the full 4th Circuit to review the case.

We do not challenge the right of the state to ban these (bumps stocks) prospectively for new owners, he said Monday. What we challenge is the right of the state to refuse to pay people whose own personal property is being taken because (the law) requires them to be destroyed.

In November 2018, U.S. District Judge James Bredar ruled that the law falls well within Marylands traditional police power to define and ban ultra-hazardous contraband. The judge said the plaintiffs made a circular argument leading to absurd results in suggesting that states can pass and enforce contraband laws only with respect to items that already were defined as contraband.

Under such an approach, public safety regulations would be permanently frozen in the past, and states would be inhibited from addressing new threats to the public, no matter how grave, he wrote.

Bump stocks and similar devices were widely available and largely unregulated before the Las Vegas shooting. Now anyone in possession of a bump stock can be charged with a federal offence punishable by up to 10 years in prison. A violation of Marylands ban is a misdemeanour that carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

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Associated Press reporter Lisa Marie Pane in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - Military planes will conduct flyovers in a handful of major cities along the East Coast as part of this years July Fourth celebration amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Pentagon says roughly 1,700 service members will support a salute to the Great Cities of the American Revolution. The exact timing of the flyovers is still being worked out, but they will begin in Boston and proceed to New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore.

From there, the military planes will join with other aircraft participating in the Salute to America over Washington, D.C. Washington has held an Independence Day celebration for decades. President Donald Trump added to the mix of events last year with a speech and a display of tanks and warplanes.

The White House said the president and first lady Melania Trump will host this years salute from the White House South Lawn and the Ellipse. It said the president will deliver remarks, and the ceremony will include music, military demonstrations and flyovers. Last year, Trump spoke near the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

The cost to federal taxpayers jumped to more than $13 million for last years celebration, up from about $6 million to $7 million in previous years, government auditors recently reported. Some Democratic lawmakers have criticized the additional expense to meet what was described as the presidents extravagant demands.

But the Pentagon said that the flyovers provide a chance for the Department of Defence to demonstrate the professionalism of the Armed Forces and that the crews in this years celebration would have been using those hours for training at other locations if not participating in the flyovers.

Trump plans to kick off Independence Day festivities with a showy display at Mount Rushmore the day before. The event will include fighter jets thundering over the 79-year-old stone monument in South Dakotas Black Hills and the first fireworks display at the site since 2009.

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NEW YORK - For a story that has dominated the news during the past four months, a survey out Monday illustrates the difficulty that many Americans have in finding information they can believe about the coronavirus pandemic.

Three in 10 Americans say they trust President Donald Trump and his administration to get the facts straight all or most of the time when talking about COVID-19, the Pew Research Center said.

I cant think of any precedent for that, said Dan Fagin, director of New York Universitys Science, Health and Environmental Reporting program, and a former reporter. Theres a reason why that number is so low. Honestly, what disturbs even more is that there is 30% of the public who think they can believe the president on this.

The president, along with some other leaders, were criticized initially for not taking the threat seriously, for delivering misinformation about potential treatments and, even today, delivering mixed messages on the need for masks and social distancing.

Even though Trump was a polarizing figure before the health crisis, he had a chance to get Americans to rally behind him by offering solid, consistent information, said David Ropeik, retired Harvard University professor and author of How Risky Is It, Anyway? Why our Fears Dont Always Match the Facts.

He cited former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks as an example of a leader people rallied behind in a time of crisis.

Trust is an intuitive sense of who we think is on our side, and that is why risk communication is really crucial in a time like this, Ropeik said. That is why the federal government has blown this and many of the state governments havent.

The Pew survey found dramatic differences in how the public assessed key sources of information on coronavirus, said Amy Mitchell, Pews director of journalism research.

A little more than half of those surveyed (53%) trusted the accuracy of information they were getting from governors or state leaders, with 44% believing the news media. Trust numbers were higher for local media sources, Pew said.

Nearly 2 of 3 Americans said they had confidence in the information they were getting from the Centers for Disease Control and other health organizations.

What is encouraging is that people do have great faith in public health experts, Fagin said. Thats why Anthony Faucis role is so important and that its a great blessing that hes been involved in all of this.

Ropeik said social media has muddied the waters with misinformation. Thats illustrated by Pews finding that 71% of Americans had heard the conspiracy theory that the virus outbreak had been intentionally planned, and that 36% said that is probably or definitely true.

Among people who cite the president and his administration as their primary source of information about the coronavirus, 56% of Pews respondents said they believed that theory, which is unsupported by evidence.

The survey also found evidence of a growing partisan divide in beliefs. For example, a majority of Republicans (54%) said they believed most or all of information provided by Trump, while only 9% of Democrats do.

More Republicans increasingly believe the coronavirus is overblown, said Pew, which conducted an online survey between June 4-10 of 9,654 people in a panel of adults selected randomly.

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While Ropeik is less confident, NYUs Fagin said he believed Trump had the ability to turn things around if he sticks with facts and models important behaviour, such as wearing a mask in public and insisting on social distancing by his supporters.

What opinion leaders do can make a big difference, he said.
MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin animal health officials are cautioning the states mink producers about the dangers of the coronavirus following outbreaks among animals on several farms in Europe, spurring renewed calls from animal rights activists to ban the fur trade.

There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the states $223 million mink industry, which is the largest in America. Still, producers say theyre taking precautions to protect their herds, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

Kevin Hoffman, spokesman for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, said the agency released guidance this month from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Centers for Disease Control for veterinarians who work with Wisconsins mink ranches.

The guidance revealed that the virus that causes COVID-19 has been detected in mink on multiple farms in the Netherlands and research has shown ferrets, a close relative of mink, can catch and spread the disease in laboratory settings. It noted that there is no evidence suggesting that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus to humans, though it cautioned that further study was needed.

Many coronaviruses can spread through coughing or sneezing, or by touching an infected person, but officials said the present illness does not not transmit readily between people. Earlier this year, the Wuhan (China) Municipal Health Commission said some of the infected patients ran businesses in a seafood market, meaning its possible they were infected by animals there. The market was suspended and under investigation.

Last week, Hoffman said his agency hadnt received any reports of suspected mink infections in Wisconsin.

The state, which had 67 mink farms as of the last USDA census, supplied nearly half of the countrys roughly 3 million pelts sold in 2018. The states fur exports that year were worth close to $227 million, DATCP estimates.

Bob Zimbal is the owner of Zimbal Minkery in Sheboygan, the states largest mink producer. He said hes not concerned about the potential for infection, noting that his operation has always had biosecurity procedures in place and is now doing temperature checks on staffers.

U.S. animal rights activists contend that the European outbreak shows that confined animal breeding is a public health matter, and they want to see more controls on the mostly unregulated domestic fur industry.

Mink farms are really kind of breeding grounds for infectious diseases, said PJ Smith, director of fashion policy for the Humane Society of the United States. Not only is this industry horribly cruel to animals and bad for the environment, but now its a risk for the spread of COVID-19.
Big number: at least 10 per cent. The suggested target for reducing the $1.1 billion Toronto police budget as proposed in a motion by Coun. Josh Matlow and Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam. Mayor John Tory has a competing motion that does not call for a specific budget reduction target. Both motions will be considered at a council meeting that starts today.

After Mayor John Tory and councillors received tens of thousands of emails and calls on the subject, there isnt much disagreement at Toronto city hall that its time to change the way the citys police service operates. There is, however, a whole lot of disagreement about whether it makes sense to attach a budgetary number to those changes.

Thats the state of play as council is set to debate two dueling motions for police reforms at their meeting that starts today. At a glance, they look pretty darn similar.

The first, by Coun. Josh Matlow with a second from Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam, outlines a plan to identify alternatives to policing and address police violence that disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous and people of colour, while also asking the police to provide line-by-line detail of their budget. The competing motion by Mayor John Tory hits those same notes, calling for a report that lays out alternative models of community safety response.

The most important difference: a number.

Matlow and Wong-Tams motion specifically requests the police provide a budget proposal for 2021 that is a minimum of 10 per cent lower than their current budget, a move that would shave about $100 million off the $1.1 billion the cops spend each year. Torys motion references likely reductions to the Toronto Police Services budget that could arise from reforms, but holds off on setting a reduction target.

When he announced his police reform plan last Thursday, Tory defended his decision not to call for a specific budget cut, pointing out a target would be arbitrary and that budgetary considerations should come after figuring out changes to things like emergency response to people in mental health crisis.

This has to be done carefully and not based on a number that somebody picked, but based on a process where we go about making change for mental health and many other areas and then making the budgetary changes that go with them, the mayor told reporters.

Hes got a point. Matlow and Wong-Tams budgetary target is not really rooted in a clear rationale beyond ten being a round number. And Torys right, too, that pushing for a budget reduction is an inelegant way to go about police reform. A budget cut is a blunt instrument.

But blunt instruments exist for a reason. Sometimes a project calls for a sledgehammer instead of a screwdriver.

Thats especially true in situations where previous attempts at more deliberate approaches to deconstruction havent worked. Its not as if the notion of reforming the Toronto police is new  its been tried before.

Most recently, Tory pushed for the creation of a Transformational Task Force designed to modernize policing and reduce the budget in 2016. He later heralded their initial recommendations, saying they would lead to the restoration of trust in some places where trust had been eroded between police and the community. Just a few years later, the most obvious legacy of the task force is that the police are no longer responsible for overseeing lifeguard and crossing guard programs. The trust part remains elusive.

The citys police have proven adept at dragging their feet on reform efforts and pushing things back toward status quo. Tory is asking Torontonians to believe this new attempt will see a different outcome. Its a big ask.

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Matlow and Wong-Tams budget-cutting motion doesnt guarantee change either. Despite some fearmongering about how it would lead to fewer cops on the streets, its merely a request that the police provide a budget proposal for next year with a reduction in spending. That proposal would still be subject to approval from the Police Services Board and council, and a cut could even face appeal at the provincially-mandated Ontario Civilian Police Commission. In the end, it may prove that cutting ten per cent is untenable due to labour contracts and the reduction will need to be revised or spread over a few years.

But whatever the outcome, requesting a budget cut now would be a strong signal that the mayor and councillors are serious this time about change to policing  and that theyre willing to use a blunt instrument to achieve results. Given the unsuccessful history of Toronto police reform and real questions about why this attempt will be any different, a signal of seriousness might be a signal worth sending.
This week, Russian voters have been told that they will choose whether to accept a constitutional amendment that will allow Russias President Vladimir Putin to remain in power until 2036. By that year, he will be 83 years old. Canada must be prepared for such an outcome.

The opportunity for Putin to exit Russian politics democratically and bloodlessly likely passed in 2012. After stepping aside for four years following his first two terms, Putin ran for a third presidential term.

Since then, the Russian rulers armed forces and intelligence agents have invaded and occupied Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, shot down a civilian airliner, aided in the bombing of civilians in Syria, engaged in extraterritorial assassinations, and interfered in dozens of elections in efforts to undermine the western rules-based order. In addition, pro-democracy opposition leader, Boris Nemtsov was gunned down steps from the Kremlin in 2015, while Nemtsovs colleague, Vladimir Kara-Murza, survived two attempted poisonings.

Putin is acutely aware of the destruction and chaos that he and his fellow kleptocrats have sown and the massive wealth and power that they have accumulated along the way. For him, the alternative paths to remaining in power could lead to criminal and war crimes trials, or a trip straight to the gallows.

This is why last March, Putin reluctantly agreed to support his legislative allies who begged him to eliminate presidential term limits in order to allow Putin to remain in power 12 years past his current term, which ends in 2024.

There is never any doubt about what the outcomes of elections in Putins Russia will be and the rescheduled July 1 constitutional referendum is no different.

And yet, sagging popularity ratings, the mishandling of the COVID-19 crisis, and the collapse of oil prices are clearly making the Kremlin nervous.

There is a growing number of disenfranchised young Russians who expect Western-style freedoms and a European standard of living. These Russians are looking for possible alternatives to Putin.

Among the highest profile pro-democracy and anti-corruption alternatives is Alexei Navalny, who was charged by Russian authorities with criminal slander last week  a transparent attempt to silence him before the referendum. Petr Verzilov, a Canadian citizen and member of the activist Russian punk collective Pussy Riot, was detained on Sunday, in a not-so-subtle warning to deter other Russian activists.

On Wednesday, despite being in the midst of pandemic, the Kremlin held a mass demonstration of military power to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In addition to commemorating Russias veterans, the propaganda event glorified the Soviet conquest and occupation of much of Central and Eastern Europe, through which, Putin deflects attention of Russian voters away from pesky distractions like democracy, human rights, and a Western-style standard of living. The goal of glorifying the Stalinist Soviet Union of two generations ago is to suggest that the same glory can be achieved, so long as Vladimir Putin remains at the helm.

Russias neighbours are also keenly alert to Putins sinking poll numbers. In late 2013, Putins popularity was at its lowest since he became President in 2000 but by the summer of 2014, after invading Ukraine and annexing Crimea, he hit a near all-time high.

In addition to the heightened anxiety of our Eastern NATO partners, there are other potential consequences for Canada; Russias rapid militarization of the Arctic among them. Over the past decade, at least 30 Russian Arctic military bases have been built or refurbished as part of Russias 2035 Arctic Masterplan, which calls for an aggressive expansion of Arctic resource claims.

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A recent study by the Canadas National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians warned in a new report that the Kremlin engages in foreign interference activities across Canadas political system and that the nature and extent of Russias foreign interference threat is significant. More worrying is the Canadian governments failure to address this well documented threat since the last federal election.

With the outcome of Russias constitutional referendum next week a fait accompli, the Trudeau government must prepare for yet darker days ahead by heeding the warnings of our intelligence experts and working with our NATO allies to defend our collective sovereignty.
In a pandemic, individual liberty is often restricted, with the ethical justification that we are preventing greater harm to a significant number of people.

After nearly 100 days of extreme restrictions on visitors in nursing and retirement homes, does this rationale still stand? In Ontario, directives on the restart of the healt-care system are guided by four ethical principles  proportionality, minimizing harm to patients, equity and reciprocity. And yet, these same principles are being violated in the ongoing lockdown of nursing and retirement homes.

Visitor restrictions should balance the current risk and circumstances, using the least restrictive measures. We are missing the mark on proportionality.

To date, more than 80 per cent of Canadas COVID-19 deaths have been long-term-care residents. Our national shame in leaving these residents unprotected was caused by many factors, including a failure to secure personal protective equipment (PPE) and delays in implementing universal masking of staff, restricting workers to one home, and widespread COVID-19 testing.

Now that many of these issues have been addressed, it is time for homes to cautiously welcome back visitors. International experience in the Netherlands shows that this can be safely accomplished without new COVID-19 infections.

The ongoing lockdown is not proportionate to the wishes of many residents. Advocates for extreme visitor restrictions believe COVID-19 deaths must be avoided at all costs. There has been disregard for many older adults with limited life expectancies who would say death is not the worst outcome. Spending your last days, weeks or months lonely and isolated from loved ones is far worse.

Minimizing harm. Many residents have died or deteriorated not because of acquiring COVID-19, but because of the collateral damages of the ongoing lockdown and visitor restrictions. When physical, social, spiritual and emotional needs are not attended to, residents decline. Many will never recover. Long-term-care physicians in France noted that the effects of the lockdown were causing more deaths than the virus.

Equity. Decision-makers are failing to appreciate that not all visitors are the same. Many are actually unpaid family and friend caregivers who could easily be trained in infection prevention and proper use of PPE.

Another important consideration is that restrictions are being applied to peoples homes where older adults live. Normally, the law assures that residents physical and psychological needs are met and that they have access to visitors.

Reciprocity. Currently, many homes in Ontario are moving to weekly, short, outdoor and physically distanced visits. This is not enough.

With competing perspectives about one issue, how do we reconcile all views and still make an ethical policy for visitors? We must strike a balance and support the wishes of all, recognizing it will be imperfect.

While we advocate for a more balanced allowance for visitors with greater attention to residents quality of life, we are not suggesting disregard for the importance of preventing COVID-19 transmission. Decision-makers must consider the breadth of perspectives of residents, and implement policies guided by the same four ethical principles underpinning the reopening of other sectors of our health-care system.

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The Supreme Court of Canada clarified the concept of reasonable doubt in its 1997 ruling in a case called Lifchus. The Crown is not required to prove its case to the level of absolute certainty. A reasonable doubt is not a frivolous doubt. It must be based on reason and common sense and logically connected to the evidence, the court said.

Superior Court Justice Joseph Di Luca cites this case in his ruling on Friday in the trial of Toronto police officer Michael Theriault and his brother Christian Theriault. But the judges application of this core legal principle, based on his own factual findings, set the bar for the Crown at a nearly impossible level to meet. The ruling is head scratching and elevates any potential doubt to a reasonable doubt.

The brothers were on trial on charges of aggravated assault and attempt to obstruct justice in the December 2016 beating of Dafonte Miller after he took change out of one of their vehicles, in the driveway of their parents home in Whitby. The young Black man lost an eye as a result of his injuries.

Christian Theriault was acquitted of all charges and Michael Theriault was convicted only of simple assault.

In a nutshell, these are the judges conclusions. He found that while the brothers chased Miller for more than 100 metres, beat him on two occasions, including clubbing the young man with a metal pipe, there was an air of reality to their claim of acting in self-defence, which the Crown did not disprove beyond a reasonable doubt.

The line was never crossed until Michael Theriault continued to strike Miller with a pipe, later on in the beating. This was only assault because the judge found that it was the blows with his fists that caused Miller to lose his eye and that was at a moment when the brothers may have been acting in self-defence.

While in a perfect world, once Mr. Miller was disarmed, the defendants would have stopped hitting him, clinical precision is not required, Di Luca suggests. By that stage, they were probably just beating on Mr. Miller. Probability, however, is not the test for a criminal case, he explains.

Di Luca notes that he is troubled by misleading statements the brothers initially gave to police that resulted in the young man being wrongfully charged with assault with a weapon (charges that were later withdrawn). Once again the judge says he cant decide beyond a reasonable doubt if the brothers intended to obstruct justice.

The judge states that he must be cautious about all of Millers testimony because he was untruthful about searching for unlocked cars to steal loose change. The same level of caution does not appear to apply to the defendants, despite their own credibility problems as found by the judge. As well, there is other independent evidence to support Millers version.

In his analysis, Di Luca ignores whether alcohol was a factor. Michael Theriault testified he had a couple drinks and his brother was drinking. How much they consumed is unknown.

What is known, is that after hearing a truck door closed, Michael Theriault rolled out of his parents garage as the door was opening and in his stocking feet, chased an unknown person at nearly 3 a.m.. on a late December night, yet denied arming himself with the metal pipe.

Michael Theriault admitted when he caught up to Miller he was punching as hard as he could. Injuries on one of Christians hands were hardly surprising given that he was punching Mr. Miller, notes Di Luca

He describes this part of the incident as retribution and that Michael Theriault did not identify himself as an officer. As well, the judge finds that the initial intent was to capture and assault the young Black man.

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However, he cant exclude the possibility that while fleeing, Miller found the pipe outside in the middle of the night and brandished it before it was taken away. Di Luca adds that he cant exclude the possibility that at some point, Michael Theriault changed his intent and planned to make a lawful arrest.

Does this sound like a reasonable doubt?
First she said there was no systemic racism in the RCMP.

Then she backtracked.

Then Brenda Lucki, the RCMPs head honcho, went before a parliamentary committee and explained that the RCMP might be discriminating against short people who apply to join the RCMP.

Indigenous people were left reeling in disbelief.

If Commissioner Lucki believes this, then she does not understand what systemic discrimination is, Sen. Murray Sinclair, who hails from Manitoba and led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, wrote on Facebook.

Sen. Lillian Dyck of Saskatchewan, who boasts both Indigenous and Chinese heritage, called for Luckis resignation.

Marion Buller, an Indigenous B.C. judge who headed up the Missing and Murdered Women and Girls Inquiry, reminded Lucki that she pledged to improve relations with Indigenous communities when she took on her position two years ago but there has been little action on that front.

Its not surprising that the head of Canadas national police force would want to defend her force, the thousands of men and women who work in communities across the country.

But surely reality cant be completely ignored in favour of white washing.

Lucki first denied that there is any systemic racism within the RCMP only a few days after Chantel Moore, a young Indigenous woman had been shot and killed by an officer in New Brunswick.

Lucki denied there was a problem only days after the RCMP were caught on video using an open car door to knock a Nunavut man to the ground.

A few days later Rodney Levi, who was also Indigenous was shot dead by RCMP in New Brunswick.

And by that time if Lucki didnt know about the March 10 dash cam video of Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca-Chipewyan First Nation in northern Alberta being tackled to the ground and punched in the face during an encounter with the RCMP in Fort McMurray, her senior officers in Alberta surely did.

They had viewed that video and didnt see any need to reprimand, discipline or suspend the officer.

Now it has been revealed that six months earlier Simon Seguin, the officer who delivered that flying tackle and then punched Adams face into the pavement, had been charged with assault, mischief, and unlawfully entering a private residence while off-duty and is due to go on trial in September.

The charges were never made public, which is the usual practice.

According to CBC News, after an internal review Seguin was given a one-day suspension for the mischief allegation and received a letter of reprimand on his file for the assault charge.

This was after the incident with Chief Adam and before any decision had been rendered by the courts on the off-duty assault charge.

Just to be clear: Seguins supervisors knew he had already been charged with assault when they viewed the dash cam video of him tackling Chief Adam and still they left him on active duty.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde, who hails from Saskatchewan and knows well the role of the RCMP in Indigenous communities, said in a statement Thursday that the RCMP should suspend Seguin until the provinces police watchdog, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, concludes its investigation into Adams arrest.

The news that Const. Simon Seguin is still on active duty is unacceptable. The RCMP should suspend the officer ... First Nations see the assault on Chief Allan Adam as unprovoked and unforgivable. To re-establish trust, the RCMP must address incidents of brutality head on.

Its not as though the issues surrounding policing and Indigenous people havent been studied, and studied. Theyve been studied in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, with the Murdered and Missing Women and Girls Inquiry, recommendations have been made but very few have been implemented.

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Complacency is killing our people, Bellegarde said during a Global News interview.

Forty per cent of the Indigenous population in Canada is policed by the RCMP, mainly in the west and the north. Its predecessor, the North West Mounted Police, was on hand almost 150 years ago when First Nations in the West were being herded onto reserves so settlers could move in.

Isnt it about time for the RCMP to get serious about creating a better relationship?
This article is the second in a series exploring the long-term social impacts of COVID-19, written by members of the Trudeau Foundation COVID-19 Impact Committee:

We live in a time of uncertainty and unravelling. Recent events have profoundly shaken the complacent assumptions that once grounded our worldview.

We assumed our world was healthy and that medical advances would look after us. COVID-19 destroyed that assumption.

We assumed racism and the divide between the rich and the poor would be rectified. Racially inspired shootings and the responding fury in the streets showed us that we were profoundly wrong.

And we proudly proclaimed that we lived in a just society. And now we know some of us dont.

Canadas legal system is widely admired. The World Justice Project ranks Canada overall ninth of 128 nations. Not bad. However, when we drill down to justice on the ground, Canada ranks 56th  bleak for an advanced nation that prides itself on justice.

What good are rights if you cant enforce them?

We need to face the facts  Canada is suffering from a justice crisis. More than 15 years ago, I called the crisis out when, as chief justice of the Supreme Court, I started talking about access to justice. The response stunned me. Hundreds of women and men contacted me with their own stories of unattainable justice.

So, things arent perfect, you say, get over it. Not so easy. Behind every email, every letter I received, was a story of injustice and loss. Parents seeking access to children, caught up in processes that never seemed to end. Children at risk, left in dangerous situations for months while those in charge waited for court dates. People who had lost their jobs, people injured by negligent drivers, people desperate to stave off what they saw as unjustified eviction notices.

The cost of unresolved legal needs is great, in terms of the suffering it inflicts, but also in terms of loss to society. Unresolved legal problems often overwhelm those involved. They become less productive, running from procedure to procedure; they sometimes lose their jobs. Their health, mental and physical, deteriorates. Relationships deteriorate.

COVID-19 is the great revealer, showing us the cracks in the infrastructure of justice that judges, lawyers and justice officials have been frantically working to paper over. Pre-COVID, courts and tribunals were typically working to the maximum of their capacity and beyond, struggling with delays and backlogs. Post-COVID, they found themselves literally unable to cope.

How do you file documents when the courthouse doors are closed? How do you run a trial when people cant enter the courtroom? How do you manage a jury trial when the jurors cant listen to the evidence and deliberate together?

As a result of COVID-19, Canada is being forced to confront the justice crisis full on. A system that we thought could maybe cope with a bit of rule tinkering and the odd cash injection was revealed for what it is  stressed beyond its means and unable to provide effective and timely solutions to legal needs.

If we do nothing, we risk discrediting an already weakened justice system and betraying our image of Canada as a just society. How will we respond to the crisis COVID-19 has revealed?

First, we must acknowledge that it is time to bring the justice system into the 21st century. Technology is not a magic cure and can create problems of its own. How, for example, does a judge hear a matter remotely when the parties have no online access? But there is a growing consensus that we need to equip our justice institutions with the infrastructure required to do justice in the modern world.

Second, the new justice system that will emerge from COVID-19 must be focussed not only on the grand principles of the law, but on furnishing on-the-ground justice to those who need it. How can the court or tribunal best help women and men resolve their problems? How do we deal with the reality that legal problems twine inextricably with other problems, like mental illness, homelessness and health concerns?

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Third, we must be prepared to spend what is required. For far too long, the justice sector has been starved of resources. Money spent on justice will pay off in reduced costs of health care, law enforcement and running over-populated prisons. As important as health care and education may be, so is an effective justice system, truly able to serve the needs of citizens.

Canadians need justice, and Canada should be a just society. Now is the time to make it happen.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated on Monday a number of national projects, including the new Sphinx International Airport as well as Heliopolis landmark Baron Empain Palace following the completion of its first-ever restoration.

The ceremony, which El-Sisi is attending at Al-Galaa Theatre in Heliopolis, also saw the inauguration of the New Administrative Capital Airport and a number of projects in eastern Cairo.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly presented plans for the development of Khedivial Cairo, which began with the renovation of Cairos Tahrir Square and other areas, including the Maspero Triangle and the Magra El-Oyoun aqueduct, which is set to serve as a tourist attraction.

Madbouly said that the size of development projects carried out by Egypt in the past six years totaled EGP 4.5 trillion ($278 billion).

The PM said that Egypt continues to achieve the best growth rates in the Middle East and North Africa despite the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic on global growth rates.

He said the global economy is seeing a recession due to the pandemic, with a negative growth rate amid a plunge in tourism traffic globally.

Madbouly said that Egypts growth rate had reached 5.9 percent before the crisis, but the forecasted growth rate now stands at 4 percent by the end of fiscal year 2019/2020, which is still the highest in the region.

The PM said that the size of government investments in fiscal year 2020/2021, which begins on 1 July, is estimated at EGP 400 billion, adding that the state also seeks the restoration of around 1.2 million feddans in the upcoming period to help achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural resources.

The state has allocated EGP 15 billion in the telecommunications sector in the upcoming financial year to upgrade the sectors infrastructure and scale up the services provided to citizens, Madbouly said.

By August, more e-services will be provided to citizens through the governments digital portal, he said, adding that the government aims to provide 155 online services by the end of 2020.

Revival of the Baron Empain Palace

President El-Sisi attended the inauguration of the long-dormant Baron Empain Palace in Heliopolis following a restoration process that took over two years.

The palace is designated as a tourist destination as well as a historical exhibition on the history of Heliopolis.

The restoration work on the mansion, originally built in 1911, was carried out in collaboration with the Armed Forces Engineering Authority and the Arab Contractors Company on a budget of more than EGP 100 million.

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled El-Anany said the inauguration of the palace is important for the countrys tourism sector, adding that the opening reaffirms that Egypt does not forget its history.

Egypt will gradually resume regular international flights at all its airports starting 1 July. Foreign tourists will only be allowed into three coastal governorates as part of tour groups, which aims to make up for the losses the vital sector has suffered amid the pandemic.

Egypt hopes that the resumption of regular flights starting next month will boost its ailing tourism sector, an essential source of foreign currency.

Minister El-Anany said that the country is currently bracing for the gradual resumption of tourism on Wednesday to three governorates under strict preventive measures.

El-Anany said 400 hotels nationwide have received the necessary health safety certificates to reopen and receive tourists at a reduced occupancy, praising support provided by the finance ministry and the Central Bank of Egypt to help aid a sector hit heavily by the pandemic.

New airports inaugurated

The Egyptian president also attended the inauguration of two new airports: Sphinx International Airport (SPX) and the New Administrative Capital Airport, both of which aim to alleviate pressure on Cairo International Airport, which is in the eastern side of the capital.

The SPX, which is part of the government's plan to stimulate tourism to the country, had opened its doors in 2019 as part of a trial operation.

The airport aims to serve the Greater Cairo districts of 6 October and Sheikh Zayed, as well as the governorates of Fayoum and Beni Suef.

It also aims to serve tourists coming to visit the pyramids and the anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), which is around 90 percent complete.

The SPX, built with a budget of EGP 300 million, has been dubbed the 300 passenger airport in reference to its accommodation capacity per hour.

The New Administrative Capital Airport was also inaugurated under a plan to connect the areas of East Cairo, Shorouk and Badr cities, as well as the Suez Canal cities.

The airport will have the capacity to accommodate 300 passengers per hour, with 45 buildings around the place and a main terminal of over 5,000 square meters of space, which will help ease the load on the capitals main airport.

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Peter Gay is the Executive Director of North Attleborough Community Television Inc.  North TV. The views expressed in his column are not necessarily those of North TV. He may be contacted at pgay@northtv.net.
Pakistani security officials killed four gunmen in Karachi before they could enter the stock exchange building with automatic rifles and hand grenades.

The attackers were not able to enter the main compound, Farrukh Khan, chief executive officer of the exchange said by phone. The situation is under control now, said Khan. The KSE 100 index, which dropped after news of the attack, gained 0.4% at 12:59 p.m. in Karachi.

"There was very heavy firing," said Abid Ali Habib, chief executive officer at Aba Ali Habib Securities Pvt. who was in his office on the fourth floor. "We decided to close our office doors with no movement inside or out."

Terrorists opened fire when security officials were checking their car, according to Habib. The stock exchange is located at one end of I.I. Chundrigarh Road, home to the central bank, and headquarters of most major banks in the nation.

One policeman and two exchange security guards were killed, senior police officials said on local TV, in what was the worst terrorist attack in Pakistan's financial hub in two years. The incident mirrors an attempted raid on the Chinese consulate in the city in 2018 that killed at least seven people.

Authorities found bullets and food items with the terrorists, Geo TV reported.

"It seemed to be a planned hostage situation that was stopped," said Ikram Sehgal, a former military officer and chairman of Pathfinder Group, Pakistan's largest private security company. "There will be more such attacks."

Baluchistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the attack, the Associated Press reported. The militant group has been demanding independence for Baluchistan province, which is rich in gas.

The exchange compound has two main buildings with one for stock exchange management and another for brokerage houses. Security officials have evacuated the building to check for other attackers.

"I was a minute away when I got a call from the office about the attack," said Zafar Moti, head of Zafar Moti Capital Securities Pvt. He decided not to head into office.
California's San Quentin State Prison is seeing an explosion of coronavirus cases after a botched transfer from another facility, impacting hundreds of incarcerated residents and scores of correctional officers and staff in a potential public-health threat to the San Francisco Bay area.

Some 974 people incarcerated at San Quentin tested positive for Covid-19 as of 7:30 a.m. PDT Monday, according to data from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. That means more than one in four of the prison's total population of 3,507 has been infected. State data also show that 89 staff members at San Quentin have covid-19. Officials are now conducting mass testing at San Quentin on the incarcerated population; testing of all staff has been completed.

As of Sunday, San Quentin had completed 1,198 tests, Dana Simas, a spokeswoman for the CDCR, said in an email. The rate of 485 tests per 1,000 people is more than five times the state and national rates, she said. The agency has been working with the California Department of Public Health to develop a comprehensive staff-testing plan that involves ongoing testing of all staff at all institutions, she said.

Prisons are a prime example of the type of "congregate" environments where Covid-19 can spread rapidly. Social distancing is impossible in small cells with bunkmates, not to mention in shared restrooms, showers and common areas.

More than 600 people attended a virtual town hall via Zoom and Facebook Live on Saturday to discuss the growing crisis. The town hall, led by three formerly incarcerated people who served time at San Quentin, urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to reduce the prison population via early or earned release and stop the practice of transfers.

"Covid does not contain itself within prison walls," Adnan Khan, the co-founder and executive director of Re:Store Justice, which was founded in 2017 inside San Quentin, said during the town hall.

Built in 1852, San Quentin is California's oldest correctional facility. The walled prison is made up of four large cell blocks and includes the state's Death Row.

San Quentin had zero known covid-19 cases through May, but infections jumped after state prison officials transferred 121 people from the California Institution for Men in Chino on May 30. The practice of transferring inmates from one facility to another within the state has been widely condemned for spreading the virus.

Plans to transfer additional people from San Quentin to another prison in Southern California have been halted after additional testing for covid-19 among those slated for transfer revealed two positive cases, the department said on its website Saturday.

Statewide, there were 2,545 incarcerated people with active cases of Covid-19 and 391 active cases among correctional employees as of Monday morning. At least 21 incarcerated people have died, including 16 at the Chino facility.

San Quentin is located across the bay from San Francisco in Marin County, where prices of single family homes can top $1 million but economic disparity is widespread.

Latinos make up just 16% of the county's population but account for 75% of its confirmed coronavirus cases. The county's total cumulative case and hospitalization counts don't include the San Quentin State prison cases. At least four San Quentin inmates have been treated at local Marin County hospitals, according to the county.

California was the first to enact a statewide stay-at-home order in mid-March and has been slow to reopen. On Sunday, the governor ordered bars in seven counties, including Fresno, Imperial and Los Angeles, to close again amid an uptick in cases and hospitalizations.

While Newsom has generally gotten high marks for his data-driven and aggressive approach to containing the virus spread, his response to outbreaks within the state's vast prison system has come under criticism. State Assemblymember Marc Levine, whose district in Marin County includes San Quentin, has been pleading for a site-specific plan since April and has urged Newsom to name a covid czar and expand on-site hospital capacity.

"Unrestrained Covid-19 infections at San Quentin State Prison is creating the worst prison-health catastrophe in state history," Levine said in a statement Friday.
Just after Donald Trump was elected president, Barack Obama slumped in his chair in the Oval Office and addressed an aide standing near a conspicuously placed bowl of apples, emblem of a healthy-snacking policy soon to be swept aside, along with so much else.

I am so done with all of this, Obama said of his job, according to several people familiar with the exchange.

Yet he knew, even then, that a conventional White House retirement was not an option. Obama, 55 at the time, was stuck holding a baton he had wanted to pass to Hillary Clinton, and saddled with a successor whose fixation on him, he believed, was rooted in a bizarre personal animus and the politics of racial backlash exemplified by the birther lie.

There is no model for my kind of post-presidency, he told the aide. Im clearly renting space inside the guys head.

Which is not to say that Obama was not committed to his pre-Trump retirement vision  a placid life that was to consist of writing, sun-flecked fairways, policy work through his foundation, producing documentaries with Netflix and family time aplenty at a new $11.7 million spread on Marthas Vineyard.

Still, more than three years after his exit, the 44th president of the United States is back on a political battlefield he longed to leave, drawn into the fight by an enemy, Trump, who is hellbent on erasing him, and by a friend, Joe Biden, who is equally intent on embracing him.

The stakes of that reengagement were always going to be high. Obama is nothing if not protective of his legacy, especially in the face of Trumps many attacks. Yet interviews with more than 50 people in the former presidents orbit portray a conflicted combatant, trying to balance deep anger at his successor with an instinct to refrain from a brawl that he fears may dent his popularity and challenge his place in history.

That calculus, though, may be changing in the wake of George Floyds killing by police in Minneapolis. As Americas first Black president, now its first Black ex-president, Obama sees the current social and racial awakening as an opportunity to elevate a 2020 election dictated by Trumps mud-wrestling style into something more meaningful  to channel a new, youthful movement toward a political aim, as he did in 2008.

He is doing so carefully, characteristically intent on keeping his cool, his reputation, his political capital and his dreams of a cosseted retirement intact.

I dont think he is hesitant. I think he is strategic, said Dan Pfeiffer, a top adviser for more than a decade. He has always been strategic about using his voice; its his most valuable commodity.

Obama is also mindful of a cautionary example: Bill Clintons attacks against him in 2008 backfired so badly that his wifes campaign staff had to scale back his appearances.

Many supporters have been pressing him to be more aggressive.

It would be nice, for a change, if Barack Obama could emerge from his cave and offer  no wait, DEMAND  a way forward, columnist Drew Magary wrote in a much-shared Medium post in April titled Where the Hell is Barack Obama?

The counterargument: He did his job and deserves to be left alone.

Obama has now been out of office for 3 1/2 years, and he is still facing this kind of scrutiny  no one is pressuring white ex-presidents like George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter the same way, said Monique Judge, news editor of the online magazine The Root and author of a 2018 article arguing that Obama no longer owed the country a thing.

Obamas head appears to be somewhere in the middle. He is not planning to scrap his summer Vineyard vacation and is still anguishing over the publication date of his long-awaited memoir. But last week he stepped up his nominally indirect criticism of Trumps administration  decrying a shambolic, disorganized, mean-spirited approach to governance during an online Biden fundraiser. And he made a pledge of sorts, telling Bidens supporters: Whatever youve done so far is not enough. And I hold myself and Michelle and our kids to that same standard.

A few hours later, during an invitation-only Zoom fundraiser, Obama expressed outrage at the presidents use of kung flu and China virus to describe the coronavirus. I dont want a country in which the president of the United States is actively trying to promote anti-Asian sentiment and thinks its funny. I dont want that. That still shocks and pisses me off, Obama said, according to a transcript of his remarks provided by a participant in the event.

Obama speaks with the former vice president and top campaign aides frequently, offering suggestions on staffing and messaging. Last month, he bluntly counseled Biden to keep his speeches brief, interviews crisp and slash the length of his tweets, the better to make the campaign a referendum on Trump and the economy, according to Democratic officials.

He has taken a particular interest in Bidens work-in-progress digital operation, the officials said, enlisting powerful friends, like LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt, to share their expertise, they said.

Yet he continues to slow-walk some requests, especially to headline more fundraisers. Some in Obamas camp suggest he wants to avoid overshadowing the candidate  which Bidens people are not buying.

By all means, overshadow us, one of them joked.

Obama Will Not Be Able to Rest

From the moment Trump was elected, Obama adopted a minimalist approach: He would critique his policy choices, not the man himself, following the norm of civility observed by his predecessors, especially George W. Bush.

But norms are not Trumps thing. He made it clear from the start that he wanted to eradicate any trace of Obamas presence from the West Wing. He had the worst taste, Trump told a visitor in early 2017, showing off his new curtains  which were not terribly different from Obamas, in the view of other people who tramped in and out of the office during that chaotic period.

The cancellation was more pronounced when it came to policy. One former White House official recalled Trump interrupting an early presentation to make sure one staff proposal was not an Obama thing.

During the transition, in what looks in hindsight like a preview of the presidency, one Trump aide got the idea of printing out the detailed checklist of Obamas campaign promises from the official White House website to repurpose as a kind of hit list, according to two people familiar with the effort.

This is personal for Trump; it is all about President Obama and demolishing his legacy. Its his obsession, said Omarosa Manigault Newman, an Apprentice veteran and, until her abrupt departure, one of the few Black officials in Trumps West Wing. President Obama will not be able to rest as long as Trump is breathing.

When the two men met for a stilted postelection sit-down in November 2016, the president-elect was polite, so Obama took the opportunity to advise him against going scorched-earth on Obamacare. Look, you can take my name off of it; I dont care, he said, according to aides.

Trump nodded noncommittally.

As the transition dragged on, Obama became increasingly uneasy at what he saw as the breezy indifference of the new president and his inexperienced team. Many of them ignored the briefing binders his staff had painstakingly produced at his direction, former Obama aides recalled, and instead of focusing on policy or the workings of the West Wing, they inquired about the quality of tacos in the basement mess or where to find a good apartment.

As for Trump, he had no idea what hes doing, Obama told an aide after their Oval Office encounter.

Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and close adviser, made an equally indelible impression. During a tour of the building he abruptly inquired, So how many of these people are sticking around?

The answer was none, his escort replied. (West Wing officials serve at the presidents pleasure, as Trump would amply illustrate in the coming months.)

When the Kushner story was relayed to Obama, aides recalled, he laughed and repeated it to friends, and even a few journalists, to illustrate what the country was up against.

A White House spokesman did not deny the account, but suggested Kushner might have been talking about security and maintenance personnel rather than political appointees.

During other conversations with editors he respected, including David Remnick of The New Yorker and Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic, Obama was more ruminative, according to people familiar with the interactions. At times, he would float some version of this question: Was there anything he could have done to blunt the Trump backlash?

Obama eventually came to the conclusion that it was a historic inevitability, and told people around him the best he could do was set a counterexample.

Others thought he needed to do more. During the transition, Paulette Aniskoff, a veteran West Wing aide, began assembling a political organization of former advisers to help Obama defend his legacy, aid other Democrats and plan for his deployment as a surrogate in the 2018 midterms.

He was open to the effort, but his eye was on the exits. Ill do what you want me to do, he told Aniskoffs team, but mandated they carefully screen out any appearances that would waste time or squander political capital.

Obama was, then as now, so determined to avoid uttering the new presidents name that one aide jokingly suggested they refer to him as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named  Harry Potters archenemy, Lord Voldemort.

Trump had no trouble naming names. In March 2017, he falsely accused Obama of personally ordering the surveillance of his campaign headquarters, tweeting, How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!

It was an inflection point of sorts. Obama told Aniskoffs team he would call out his successor by name in the 2018 midterms. But not a lot.

It was telling how Obama talked about Trump that fall: He referred to him less as a person than as a kind of epidemiological affliction on the body politic, spread by his Republican enablers.

It did not start with Donald Trump  he is a symptom, not the cause, he said in his kickoff speech at the University of Illinois in September 2018. The American political system, he added, was not healthy enough to form the antibodies to fight the contagion of racial nationalism.

The pandemic has, if anything, made him more partial to the comparison.

The virus, he said during his appearance with Biden last week, is a metaphor for so much else.

Golf Going Better Than My Book

Obama felt one of the best ways to safeguard his legacy was by writing his book, which he envisioned as both a detailed chronicle of his presidency and as a serious literary follow-up to his widely praised 1995 memoir, Dreams From My Father.

In late 2016, Obamas agent, Bob Barnett, began negotiating a package deal for Obamas memoir and Michelle Obamas autobiography. Random House eventually won the bidding war with a record-shattering $65 million offer.

The process has been a gilded grind. One former White House official who checked in with Barack Obama in mid-2018 was told the project was like doing homework.

Another associate, who ran into the former president at an event last year, remarked at how fit he looked. Obama replied, Lets just say my golf game is going a lot better than my book.

It was not especially easy for the former president to look on as his wifes book, Becoming, was published in 2018 and quickly became an international blockbuster.

She had a ghostwriter, Obama told a friend who asked about his wifes speedy work. I am writing every word myself, and thats why its taking longer.

The books timing remains among the touchiest of topics. Obama, a deliberate writer prone to procrastination  and lengthy digression  insisted that there be no set deadline, according to several people familiar with the process.

In an interview shortly after Obama left office, one of his closest advisers had predicted that the book would be out in mid-2019, before the primary season began in earnest, an option preferred by many working on the project.

But Obama did not finish and circulate a draft of between 600 and 800 pages until around New Years, too late to publish before the election, according to people familiar with the situation.

He is now seriously considering splitting the project into two volumes, in the hope of getting some of it into print quickly after the election, perhaps in time for the Christmas season, several people close to the process said.

Obamas other big creative enterprise, a multimillion-dollar 2018 contract with Netflix to produce documentaries and scripted features with his wife, has been a tonic, and quick work by comparison.

Obama got a kick out of screening dozens of potential projects and offered specific suggestions  scrawled onto the yellow legal pad he used to write his book  to directors and writers. His production firm, Higher Ground Productions, is run out of a small bungalow on a Hollywood studio lot once home to Charlie Chaplins company, and he spent a day kibitzing with its small staff during a visit in November.

One of the first efforts was Crip Camp, an award-winning documentary about a summer camp in upstate New York, founded in the early 1970s, that became a focal point of the disability rights movement.

Obama saw the project as a vehicle for his vision of grassroots political change, and provided feedback during the 18 months the movie was in production.

We saw footage that the filmmakers had just begun to cut together and sent it to the president to look at, said Priya Swaminathan, co-head of Higher Ground. He wanted to know how we could help the filmmakers make this the best telling of the story, and they were into the collaboration. We watched many, many cuts together.

A Tailor-Made Moment

Part of what Obama finds so appealing about filmmaking is that it allows him to control the narrative. In that respect, the 2020 campaign has been a disorienting experience: His political career is supposed to be over, yet he has a semistarring role in a production he has not written or directed.

Nowhere has that low-grade frustration been more apparent than in his complicated relationship with Biden, who is concurrently covetous of his support and fiercely determined to win on his own.

Obama was supportive of Biden, personally, from the start of the campaign, but he promised Sen. Bernie Sanders, in one of their early chats, that his public profession of neutrality was genuine and that he was not working secretly to elect his friend, according to a party official familiar with the exchange.

Moreover, Obama has always been cleareyed about his friends vulnerabilities, urging Bidens aides to ensure that he not embarrass himself or damage his legacy, win or lose.

When a Democratic donor raised the issue of Bidens age late last year  he is 77  Obama acknowledged those concerns, saying, I wasnt even 50 when I got elected, and that job took every ounce of energy I had, according to the person.

Still, he is an enthusiastic supporter, and played a central role in pushing Sanders to accelerate the endgame that led to Bidens earlier-than-expected victory in April. He spent the next few weeks tidying up a few messy political loose ends, working to improve his chilly relationship with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who irked him by criticizing his Wall Street speaking fees as emblematic of the scourge of money in politics, calling it a snake that slithers through Washington.

He has never seen Bidens campaign as a proxy war between himself and Trump, his aides insist. But he is, nonetheless, tickled by the lopsided metrics of their competition of late.

Obama monitors their respective polling numbers closely  he gets privately circulated data from the Democratic National Committee  and takes pride in the fact that he has millions more Twitter followers than a president who relies on the platform far more than he does, people close to him said.

The former president devours online news, scouring The New York Times, The Washington Post and Atlantic sites on his iPad constantly, and keeps to his White House night-owl hours, sending texts and story links to friends between midnight and 2 a.m. Even during the pandemic he does not sleep late, at least on weekdays, and is often on his Peloton bike by 8 a.m., sending off a new round of texts, often about the latest Trump outrage.

Obama was already stepping up his criticism of Trump before Floyds killing in May. Aniskoff organized an online meeting with 3,000 former administration officials whose purpose, in part, was to soft-launch his tougher line. (Democrats close to Obama helpfully leaked the recording of his remarks.)

Yet the rising cries for racial justice have lent the 2020 campaign a coherence for Obama, a politician most comfortable cloaking his criticism of an opponent  be it Hillary Clinton or Trump  in the language of movement politics.

Obamas first reaction to the protests, people close to him said, was anxiety  that the spasms of rioting would spin out of control and play into Trumps narrative of a lawless left.

But peaceful demonstrators took control, igniting a national movement that challenged Trump without making him its focal point.

Soon after, in the middle of a strategy call with political aides and policy experts at his foundation, an excited Obama pronounced that a tailor-made moment had arrived.

Obama has lately been in close contact with his first attorney general, Eric Holder, sharing his outrage over the way the current attorney general, William Barr, personally inspected the phalanx of federal law enforcement officers who tear-gassed demonstrators to clear the path for Trumps walk to a photo op at a historic church near the White House.

Holder has few qualms about calling Trump a racist in the former presidents presence. Obama has never contradicted him, but he avoids the term, even in private, preferring a more indirect accusation of racial demagoguery, according to several people close to both men.

His response to the Floyd killing was less about hammering Trump than about encouraging young people, who have been slow in embracing Biden, to vote. When he chose to speak publicly, it was to host an online forum highlighting a slate of policing reforms that went nowhere in his second term.

In that sense, the role he is most comfortable occupying is the job he was once so over.

On June 4, an hour or so before Floyds memorial service in Minneapolis, the former president called his brother, Philonise Floyd  a reprise of the calls he made to grieving families over his eight years in office.

I want you to have hope. I want you to know you are not alone. I want you to know that Michelle and I will do anything you want me to do, Obama said during the emotional 25-minute conversation, according to the Rev. Al Sharpton, who was on the call. Two other people with knowledge of the call confirmed its contents.

That was the first time, I think, that the Floyd family really experienced solace since he died, Sharpton said in an interview.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
SPRINGFIELD  Illinoisans looking to get outside while keeping their distance from others this summer are likely to venture down less-trodden paths, which has the Illinois Poison Center preparing for more calls about exposure to dangerous plants.

From the nauseating effect of eating an unripe tomato to the cotoneasters berries that become cyanide when eaten, the Illinois Poison Center is warning people to be cautious when exploring the wilderness.

We want everyone to enjoy their summer, Illinois Poison Center Assistant Vice President Carol DesLauriers said. Please err on the side of caution  no matter how tasty a plant looks.

In 2019, the Illinois Poison Center fielded 1,158 calls related to exposure to plant toxicity, 37% of which were during the summer. Nationally, officials said more than 14,000 exposures were reported to poison centers.

DesLauriers said she expects an increase in calls about plant exposure this summer because residents will want to get out of their homes yet still maintain good social distancing practices.

Education is the best defense against exposure to dangerous plants, she said. People heading outdoors to explore should know what poison ivy looks like, for instance.

Most people know to avoid poison ivy, but they dont realize their own backyard might contain plants that are very dangerous if consumed, Illinois Poison Center Medical Director Dri. Michael Wahl. Its important to understand the potential dangers in summer plants especially if you have young children around.

Some lesser-known plants can cause skin irritation that can be severe depending on sensitivity. The wild parsnip, common in most of North America, can cause painful welts on skin exposed to the plant and sunlight. Its common in wooded areas and roadsides in Illinois.

DesLauriers said calls to the Illinois Poison Center helpline, at 1-800-222-1222, are free, confidential, and could save a trip to the emergency room.

For a list of dangerous plants to watch out for this summer, go to illinoispoisoncenter.org.
The U.S. and China are moving beyond bellicose trade threats to exchanging regulatory punches that threaten a wide range of industries including technology, energy and air travel.

The two countries have blacklisted each other's companies, barred flights and expelled journalists. The unfolding skirmish is starting to make companies nervous the trading landscape could shift out from under them.

"There are many industries where U.S. companies have made long-term bets on China's future because the market is so promising and so big," said Myron Brilliant, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's head of international affairs. Now, they're "recognizing the risk."

China will look to avoid measures that could backfire, said Shi Yinhong, an adviser to the nation's cabinet and a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing. Any sanctions on U.S. companies would be a "last resort" because China "is in desperate need of foreign investment from rich countries for both economic and political reasons."

Nevertheless, pressure is only expected to intensify ahead of the U.S. elections in November, as President Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden joust over who will take a tougher line on China.

Trump has blamed China for covering up the coronavirus pandemic he has mocked as "Kung Flu," accused Beijing of "illicit espionage to steal our industrial secrets" and threatened the U.S. could pursue a "complete decoupling" from the country. Biden, likewise, has described President Xi Jinping as a thug, labeled mass detention of Uighur Muslims as unconscionable and accused China of predatory trade practices.

And on Capitol Hill, Republicans and Democrats have found rare unity in their opposition to China, with lawmakers eager to take action against Beijing for its handling of Covid-19, forced technology transfers, human rights abuses and its tightening grip on Hong Kong.

"China is going to be a punching bag in the campaign," said Capital Alpha Partners' Byron Callan. "But China is a punching bag that can punch back."

China has repeatedly rejected U.S. accusations over its handling of the pandemic, Uighurs, Hong Kong and trade, and it has fired back at the Trump administration for undermining global cooperation and seeking to start a "new cold war." Foreign Minister Wang Yi last month said China had no interest in replacing the U.S. as a hegemonic power, while adding that the U.S. should give up its "wishful thinking" of changing the country.

Both sides have already taken regulatory moves aimed at protecting market share.

The U.S. is citing security concerns in blocking China Mobile Ltd., the world's largest mobile operator, from entering the U.S. market. It's culling Chinese-made drones from government fleets and discouraging the deployment of Chinese transformers on the power grid. The Trump administration has also tried to constrain the global reach of China's Huawei Technologies Co., the world's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer.

Meanwhile, China prevented U.S. airline flights into the country for more than two months and, after the U.S. imposed visa restrictions on Chinese journalists, it expelled American journalists. It has stepped up its scrutiny of U.S. companies, with China's state news agency casting one probe as a warning to the White House. China also has long made it difficult for U.S. telecommunications companies to enter its market, requiring overseas operators to co-invest with local firms and requiring authorization by the central government.

One of the most combustible flash points has been the Trump administration's campaign to contain Huawei by seeking to limit the company's business in the U.S. and push allies to shun its gear in their networks.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission moved to block devices made by Huawei and ZTE Corp. from being used in U.S. networks. And the Commerce Department has placed Huawei on blacklists aimed at preventing the Chinese company from using U.S. technology for the chips that power its network gear, including tech from suppliers Qualcomm Inc. and Broadcom Inc.

After suppliers found workarounds, Commerce in May tightened rules to bar any chipmaker using American equipment from selling to Huawei without U.S. approval. The step could constrain virtually the entire contract chipmaking industry, which uses equipment from U.S. vendors such as Applied Materials Inc., Lam Research Corp. and KLA Corp. in wafer fabrication plants.

The curbs also threaten to cripple Huawei. Although the company can buy off-the-shelf or commodity mobile chips from a third party such as Samsung Electronics Co. or MediaTek Inc., going that route would force it to make costly compromises on performance in basic products.

Huawei was on a list the Pentagon unveiled last week of companies it says are owned or controlled by China's military, opening them to increased scrutiny. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing accused the Trump administration of "violating the very market economy principle the U.S. champions."

"We are strongly opposed to this," the foreign ministry said Sunday of the Pentagon's designation. "China urges the U.S. to stop suppressing Chinese companies without reason and provide a fair, just and nondiscriminatory environment for Chinese companies to operate normally in the U.S."

After the new restrictions, the editor of the Communist Party's Global Times newspaper tweeted that China would retaliate using an "unreliable entities list" that it first threatened at the height of the trade war last year. Although China didn't identify companies on the list, the Global Times has cited a source close to the Chinese government as saying U.S. bellwethers such as Apple Inc. and Qualcomm could be targeted.

The fallout could extend to companies heavily reliant on Chinese supply chains, as well consumer-facing brands eager to expand sales in Asia. Boeing Co., which recorded $5.7 billion of revenue from China in 2019, and Tesla Inc., the biggest U.S. carmaker operating independently in China, are among companies most exposed if relations sour further.

"We're playing in a much wider field now," said Jim Lucier, managing director of research firm Capital Alpha Partners. "We're not simply talking about 'you tariff me' and 'I tariff you.' The playing field is virtually unlimited."

Planes and Automobiles

U.S. automakers have also been singed. In June, China fined Ford Motor Co.'s main joint venture in the country for antitrust violations, saying Changan Ford Automobile Co. had restricted retailers' sale prices since 2013.

Aviation has been another source of tension, as both countries squabble over access to their skies. China's decision to limit U.S. airlines operations to those services scheduled as of March 12 hurt carriers such as United Airlines Holdings Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc, and American Airlines Group Inc. that had suspended passenger flights to and from China because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. responded earlier this month by initially threatening to ban all flights from China, then relenting to allow two flights weekly once Chinese officials eased their restrictions. Now, in what appears to be a staged de-escalation, China gave U.S. passenger carriers permission to operate four weekly flights to the country and earlier this month, the Trump administration matched the move by also authorizing four flights from Chinese airlines.

It's happening outside of aviation too. Consider the U.S. government's decision to seize a half-ton, Chinese-made electrical transformer when it arrived at an American port last year and divert the gear to a national lab instead of the Colorado substation where it was supposed to be deployed. That move -- and a May executive order from Trump authorizing the blockade of electric grid gear supplied by "foreign adversaries" of the U.S. in the name of national security -- have already sent shock waves through the power sector.

The effect has been to dissuade American utilities from buying Chinese equipment to replace aging components in the nation's electrical grid, said Jim Cai, the U.S. representative for Jiangsu Huapeng Transformer Co., the company whose delivery was seized. Although Cai said the firm has supplied parts to private utilities and government-run grid operators in the U.S. for nearly 15 years without security complaints, at least one American utility has since canceled a transformer award to the company, Cai said.

Trump's directive is tied to a broader effort to bring more manufacturing to the U.S. from China. "This is a part of the administration's efforts to impair China's supply chains into the United States," said former White House adviser Mike McKenna.

Escalating tensions could jeopardize the U.S. economic recovery as well as China's trade commitment to buy $200 billion in American goods and services over the next two years. The country's purchase of U.S. goods increased last month as the economy continued its recovery from the coronavirus shutdowns, but imports are still far behind the pace needed to meet the terms of the phase one trade deal, according to Bloomberg calculations based on data from China's Customs Administration.

U.S.-China struggles also may factor into the November presidential election. Former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton alleges in a new book that Trump asked Xi to help him win reelection by buying more farm products -- a claim the White House has dismissed as untrue.

"I don't expect one single blow to send this relationship in a tailspin," the chamber's Brilliant said. "Each side will calibrate their reactions in a way that will not tip the scales too far."

Take the recent spat over media access. After the U.S. designated five Chinese media companies as "foreign missions," China revoked press credentials for three Wall Street Journal staff members over an article with a headline describing China as the "real sick man of Asia."

Then the Trump administration ordered Chinese state-owned news outlets to slash staff working in the U.S. Beijing responded in March by effectively expelling more than a dozen U.S. journalists working in China.

Both the U.S. and China have ample opportunities to ratchet up regulatory pressure. A bill passed by the Senate last month could prompt the delisting of Chinese companies from U.S. stock exchanges if American officials aren't allowed to review their financial audits.

And last week, as the U.S. State Department imposed visa bans on Chinese Communist Party officials accused of infringing the freedom of Hong Kong citizens, a senior official made clear the move was just an opening salvo in a campaign to force Beijing to back off new restrictions on the city.

China, similarly, can slow licensing decisions and regulatory approvals, launch investigations under its anti-monopoly law and squeeze financial firms that want to do business in the country. For instance, the country could rescind pledges to let U.S. financial firms take controlling stakes in Chinese investment banking joint ventures, according to a Cowen analyst.

"China will not make any significant compromise and will retaliate whenever and wherever possible," said Shi, the Renmin University professor.

Companies are still lured to China and its massive local market -- and tensions with the U.S. don't overcome the Asian superpower's appeal. Just one-fifth of companies surveyed by the American Chamber of Commerce in China late last year said they had moved or were considering moving some operations outside of the country, part of a three-year downward trend.

But the coronavirus pandemic has subsequently pushed more companies to reckon with the risks of relying too heavily on any single country for their supply chains, amid existing concerns about forced technology transfers, cost and rising tensions that could damp investment in China.

China is no longer the lowest-cost manufacturer, and companies are more reluctant to invest there, said James Lewis, director of the Technology Policy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "Everyone would like to be in the China market -- everyone wants it to be like 2010 -- but things are changing."
The push to rethink American policing since George Floyd's death in Minneapolis in May has quickly gained traction. Cities and states have banned chokeholds and some other uses of force, Congress is considering legislation to do the same and some local officials have moved to reduce police funding.

But issues central to this ongoing debate - including how officers should police communities and how departments police their officers - may prove insulated from these policy proposals.

Police and city leaders have repeatedly adopted changes, only for these efforts to run headlong into two formidable and interconnected forces: veteran officers who resist these efforts and the powerful unions fighting discipline. This combination can make it difficult for departments to evolve, even after they publicly pledge to increase training and accountability, former law enforcement officials and experts say.

Minneapolis's experience shows how difficult it can be to change a police department.

Last year, after police there used fatal force in two high-profile encounters that led to protests, Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, felt he had to do something bold. Frey announced the nation's first ban on "fear-based" and "warrior-style" police training, which teaches officers that every encounter with a citizen is fraught with danger and could be fatal.

The rebellion from the police union was immediate. The group's brash president, Lt. Robert Kroll, said he wanted officers with "ice in their veins" and was "proud to embrace" so-called warrior training. Kroll made his own announcement: Free lessons in the aggressive, military-style policing methods were available for every Minneapolis police officer who wanted them.

Kroll's formal training never came to pass, but around that time, warrior-style training videos were shared among the force to blunt changes, said two officers who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.

The response highlighted what experts say are pivotal barriers to improving policing across the country, even as momentum grows for rethinking and changing law enforcement practices.

It begins when new officers, fresh out of the academy, get some version of "the talk" when they get to a department, former police chiefs and other experts said in interviews.

"They go out on the streets with their field training officer, and the first thing they hear, and I heard the same thing: 'That's the academy, this is the street, kid, the real world, and things are different here,' " said Janee Harteau, a former Minneapolis police chief who pushed changes when she led the department.

"That's how culture is created," said Harteau, who was ousted in 2017 amid an outcry after a Minneapolis police officer shot and killed a woman who had called 911.

Police union officials argue that the fault is not with the officers. Jim Michels, a lawyer for the Minneapolis union, said there is no follow-through from supervisors after training. "Unless supervisors hold officers to the standards to which they have been trained, the training itself is meaningless," he said.

- - -

When then-officer Derek Chauvin was recorded kneeling on Floyd's neck for minute after minute, three other officers were present - including Thomas Lane and Alexander Kueng, who both graduated from the Minneapolis Police Department's academy last year.

They were supposed to be part of a transformative movement. Years of training changes meant Lane and Kueng would bring a guardian-style approach to their work with the community. They were supposed to be equipped with de-escalation techniques and methods to intervene when another officer used excessive force.

The rookie officers - and Tou Thao, an eight-year veteran of the force - did not stop Chauvin as he drove his knee into Floyd's neck.

Experts said the newer style of "guardian-style" training, which has gained traction in police academies over the past five years, can be quickly superseded by the words and actions of an experienced officer showing a rookie the ropes.

They pointed to Chauvin, a 19-year veteran of the Minneapolis police and a field training officer, and his encounter with Floyd as an example.

"You can spend eight months training someone, then you put them in this situation. That's at the heart of reform," said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, which works with police departments. "You can get everything right in training, then you have this guy."

A newer officer out with their field training officer is "supposed to respect what he's doing," Wexler said. "A 19-year veteran is revered."

It was Lane's fourth shift patrolling the streets of Minneapolis and Kueng's third. The officers were fired and face criminal charges.

Kueng's attorney declined to comment, and attorneys for the other three men did not return calls and emails seeking comment. Kroll, the union president, initially defended all four ex-officers but condemned Chauvin's actions in media interviews last week. He did not respond to interview requests for this report.

Michels, the Minneapolis police union lawyer, said Chauvin's actions were "disgusting and outrageous."

Field training officers can also be promoted despite complaints about how they police. Chauvin had at least 17 prior complaints filed against him, with one that resulted in disciplinary action, according to department records.

"Doesn't it seem logical that you would not put someone with that kind of record in a supervisory position?" said Timothy Bildsoe, a member of the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training, which sets training requirements for police departments in the state.

The only complaint that resulted in disciplinary actions against Chauvin came from a 30-year-old woman he pulled over in 2007, who was yanked from her vehicle and placed in the back of a patrol car for going 10 mph over the speed limit, records show.

The woman filed a complaint the next day. Investigators said that Chauvin "did not have to remove the complainant from car" and that the interview could have been done "outside the vehicle," records show.

His discipline: A letter of reprimand.

More than a decade later, Chauvin was a field training officer on the streets with rookies. Spokesmen for Medaria Arradondo, the Minneapolis police chief, declined to be interviewed.

Police officers can get worn down by the change in police chiefs - who are often out of the job in just a few years - and a parade of new policies, said Hassan Aden, the former police chief in Greenville, N.C.

"Officers in departments that have constant change in leadership get fatigued and at some point, they develop the attitude that I'm going to outlast this," Aden said.

- - -

Since Floyd's death, advocates for change have taken aim at police unions and described them as obstructing improvements. Top police officials across the country signed an open letter this month saying "contracts and labor laws hamstring efforts to swiftly rid departments of problematic behavior."

These unions can hinder attempts at change, current and former police chiefs say, because they undermine attempts at accountability, including disciplining or getting rid of the so-called "bad apples" on the force.

In Minneapolis, Kroll's proposed warrior training last year was part of a broader pattern of pushing back against changes and critics, including denouncing Minnesota officials as "despicable" in a recent letter.

"It was open insubordination that continues," Andrew Johnson, a Democratic city councilman, said of Kroll's push for the warrior training. "If that's the culture, you have to wonder how effective new training and reforms are going to be."

In Minneapolis, Arradondo announced two weeks after Floyd's death that he was walking away from contract negotiations with the police union. Arradondo said he'd return to the table with outside experts to help him strip away provisions allowing rogue officers to remain on the force. His biggest gripe: binding third-party arbitration.

"There is nothing more debilitating to a chief . . . than when you have grounds to terminate an officer for misconduct and you are dealing with a third-party mechanism that allows for that employee to not only be back on your department but to be patrolling in your communities," Arrandondo said recently.

Michels, the lawyer for the police union, responded on Facebook that the laws that govern arbitration for officers are no different than they are for any other public employee in the state.

Through arbitration, when police chiefs seek to fire or discipline an officer, the union can appeal that decision - which leads to an arbitrator being picked to make the final call. Former police chiefs say this dilutes their authority and weakens their ability to improve departments.

"They don't stand up and support you when you fired the bad cop," Harteau said of the police union in Minneapolis. "Instead they grieve it, get his job back, praise themselves and tell the officers, 'We're the only ones who care about you . . . we've got your back.' That's a huge hurdle."

In Minneapolis, arbitration can be a lengthy process.

Two Minneapolis police officers who work in a majority black community were fired last year for decorating a Christmas tree in 2018 with a malt liquor can, a cup from Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and a pack of Newport cigarettes.

The day after images surfaced on social media, Frey, the mayor, condemned the incident as "racist" and "despicable" and said the officers would be fired within the day. Instead, the firings took months. A year and a half later, the case is in arbitration.

In nearly half the cases in Minneapolis, firings are overturned, the police union and city officials said.

A 2017 Washington Post investigation found that dozens of the country's largest police departments were forced to rehire nearly one-quarter of officers who were fired for misconduct and appealed.

Stephen Rushin, an associate law professor at Loyola University Chicago, reviewed more than 650 police union contracts.

Rushin found that most departments let officers facing discipline have multiple levels of review, including an appeal to an arbitrator - who then had "significant authority to re-litigate the factual and legal grounds for disciplinary action," he wrote in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review last year.

Each layer of review given to officers might be defensible on its own, but "may combine to create a formidable barrier to officer accountability," he wrote.

"If you're ordered to rehire an officer who's dangerous, who's dishonest, who can't testify as a witness . . . that's a danger to the entire public," Rushin, whose father was a police officer, said in an interview.

Michels, the union lawyer, defended arbitration. "It's easier to blame arbitration than to look in the mirror," Michels said. "When management loses a case, it's because they either failed to prove their case or they have failed to adequately discipline the employee before it was raised to the situation that is being arbitrated."

Due to state labor laws, arbitrators must also look at past disciplinary measures that were taken when officers committed similar offenses, said Peter Ginder, a former Minneapolis deputy city attorney who negotiated contracts with the police union. The purpose is to make sure discipline is meted out evenly, and not used as a weapon against an employee a boss doesn't like, or is discriminating against due to their race, gender or sexual orientation.

That makes it difficult for a new police chief, who wants to turn around the department, to take more aggressive action.

"The city can't discipline because it has never disciplined," said Dave Bicking with the Minneapolis-based Communities United Against Police Brutality. "It's a Catch-22."

- - -

The Washington Post's Holly Bailey in Minneapolis and Julie Tate and Alice Crites in Washington contributed to this report.
MADISON COUNTY  Road construction ramped up in June with the Illinois Department of Transportations announcement that Interstate 270 was reduced to one lane between Illinois 3 and the I-55, I-70 and I-270 interchange.

The work during the first three weeks of June is the first phase of a much larger repaving project planned after the Independence Day weekend.

On May 21, St. Louis Regional Freightway issued its 2021 Priority Freight Projects on major area infrastructure projects that will benefit commuters, companies, transportation officials and visitors.

The I-270/I-255 outer belt is one of the regions most traveled freight corridors. Per the 2016 East-West Gateway Congestion Report, segments of 270 in St. Louis and Madison counties were labeled as, severe bottlenecks.

According to Freightway, bi-state cooperation on I-270 improvements from I-70 in northwest St. Louis County to Route 157, or 24 miles, will cost $1.2 billion. Work in Missouri began in April with the closure of an off-ramp then in June accelerated with a Lindbergh Boulevard to I-270 ramp closure and the removal of the Old Halls Ferry overpass. Next will be intersection closures at Dunn and Pershall roads and the removal of the Washington/Elizabeth overpass. Missouris portion of the project should be done by Dec. 1, 2023.

Frieghtway calls I-270 a key logistics corridor with more than 18 million square feet of new industrial space in the past five years as manufacturers, suppliers and distributors have discovered or expanded into the St. Louis regional market.

This spring, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), submitted an Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant application for $40 million to complete its portion of the 270 Project from Highway 367 to the Chain of Rocks Bridge.

The state transportation agencies also will cooperate on the new Chain of Rocks Bridge, replacing two bridges built in 1966. The bridges have seen traffic volume rise from 19,800 in 1975 to almost 45,000 in 2020; 17 percent of todays volume is trucks.

Both state transportation entities announced $223 million in funding for the bridge two years ago, but construction is not expected to start until 2023 or 2024.

Of all the Mississippi River bridges at St. Louis, only the Eads Bridge (opened in 1874) is older than the Merchants Bridge, which was finished in 1890. The bridge is the link between eastern and western rail freight, it carries more than 40 gross tons every year and serves six Class I railroads.

Currently two trains cannot pass each other on the bridge due to load restrictions. Reconstruction of the 130-year old bridge began in 2018. Planned work includes removing and replacing three river-span trusses, seismically retrofitting the existing river piers and improving the east approach.

In terms of the Merchants Bridge, its one of the main east-west rail corridors in the region. Its an absolute vital artery in order to maintain efficient rail movement across the Mississippi River, commercial manager at Watco Terminal and Port Services, Ryan Krull said.

This region is the second largest freight rail interchange location in the nation and the third largest freight rail interchange location by tonnage. The project is fully funded and the Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA) of St. Louis received $21.5 million in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements to cover 10 percent of the bridges cost. TRRA is covering the rest of the $222 million price tag.

The new double-track structure will provide additional capacity for increased freight and passenger rail.

Two years ago, the Illinois Competitive Freight Program poured $17 million into revamping the Route 111 interchange at I-270. Last fall, IDOT announced another $84.5 million to make 270 six lanes from the Chain of Rocks to west of Route 203. This money also includes a reconstruction of the Route 3/I-270 interchange and the Route 111 and Chain of Rocks Road intersection.

To bookend what happened in Missouri, this spring, IDOT submitted its own INFRA application for $33 million to unclog the freight bottleneck from the river to 111. MoDOT wrote a letter of support for the project.
From March through May, around 10 million migrant workers fled India's megacities, afraid to be unemployed, hungry and far from family during the world's biggest anti-Covid lockdown.

Now, as Asia's third-largest economy slowly reopens, the effects of that massive relocation are rippling across the country. Urban industries don't have enough workers to get back to capacity, and rural states worry that without the flow of remittances from the city, already poor families will be even worse off -- and a bigger strain on state coffers.

Meanwhile, migrant workers aren't expected to return to the cities as long as the virus is spreading and work is uncertain. States are rolling out stimulus programs, but India's economy is hurtling for its first contraction in more than 40 years, and without enough jobs, a volatile political climate gets more so.

"This will be a huge economic shock, especially for households of short-term, cyclical migrants, who tend to come from vulnerable, poor and low-caste and tribal backgrounds," said Varun Aggarwal, a founder of India Migration Now, a research and advocacy group based in Mumbai.

In the first 15 days of India's lockdown, domestic remittances dropped by 90%, according to Rishi Gupta, chief executive officer of Mumbai-based Fino Payments Bank, which operates the country's biggest payments bank.

By the end of May, remittances were back to around 1,750 rupees ($23), about half the pre-Covid average. Gupta's not sure how soon it'll fully recover. "Migrants are in no hurry to come back," Gupta said. "They're saying that they're not thinking of going back at all."

If workers stay in their home states long term, policymakers will have more than remittances to worry about. If consumption falls and the new surplus of labor drives wages down, Agarwal said, "there will also be a second-order shock to the local economy. Overall, not looking good."India announced a $277 billion stimulus package in May and followed it up with a $7 billion program aimed at creating jobs for 125 days for migrants in villages across 116 districts. Separately, local authorities are also looking for solutions.

Officials in Bihar have identified 2,500 acres of land that could be made available to investors, said Sushil Modi, deputy chief minister of Bihar, a state in east India. "We can use this crisis as an opportunity to speed up reforms," he said.

The investors haven't materialized yet, and in the meanwhile, state governments are relying on the national cash-for-work program that guarantees 100 days worth of wages per household.

Skilled workers don't want to do manual labor offered through the program, and even if they did, says Amitabh Kundu of RIS, many think of it as beneath their station. "There will be an increase in social tensions," he predicts. "Caste may again start playing a role. It's absolute chaos."

For skilled workers, initiatives vary:

-- Uttar Pradesh, which received 3.2 million people, is compiling lists of skilled workers who need employment and trying to place them with local manufacturing and real estate industry associations. So far, the government says, it's placed 300,000 people with construction and real estate firms.

-- Bihar has placed returners in state-run infrastructure projects and hired others to stitch uniforms and make furniture for government-run schools, even as they waited in quarantine centers, said Pratyay Amrit, head of the state's disaster management department.

-- The eastern state of Odisha announced an urban wage employment program aimed at putting as many as 450,000 day laborers to work through September. Some 25,000 people have been employed, so far, under the scheme, G. Mathivathanan, principal secretary for housing and urban development said.

It's not clear any of this will be enough to make a dent, says Ravi Srivastava, professor at New Delhi-based Institute of Human Development, adding that the states don't have much of a track record on economic development.

"It was the failure of these states to improve governance and put development plans in place that led to the out-migration in the first place," he said.

But officials and workers' rights advocates see opportunity. Uttar Pradesh has established liaisons to encourage companies from the U.S., Japan and South Korea to establish manufacturing in the state. There and in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the government has made labor laws more friendly to employers, making it easier to hire and fire workers.Modi, the minister from Bihar, said the migration may also give workers--historically a disenfranchised group--new power, particularly as urban centers struggle. "The way industries treated workers during the lockdown -- didn't pay them, the living conditions were poor -- now these industries will realize the value of this force," Modi said.

"In the days to come, labor will emerge as a force that can't be ignored anymore," he added. "That's the new normal. We will work out how to ensure dignity, rights to our people who are going to work in other states."

Bihar is due for elections by November, a vote that could be an early test of the mass migration's political consequences. The state is currently governed by a coalition that includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. Amitabh Kundu, a fellow at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries, a New Delhi-based government think-tank, said migrant workers are likely to be angry voters.

"Chief ministers are telling these migrants that they will not have to go back for work," he said. "But their capacity to do something miraculous in next four to five months is doubtful. If they can retain even one-fourth of the migrants, I would call it a success."
To the Editor,

The Jan. 10, 2020 issue of The Southern Illinoisan had an article announcing the joint effort of Democrats Gov. Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton for real justice reform in Illinois that will require more than just policing prisons.

Justice reform is about striving to make equity and economic opportunity a reality for every community and every Illinoisan, because we simply cannot have justice without equity and opportunity, Stratton said.

Equity (the quality of being fair and impartial) and opportunity for all! Just think about that for a moment and how it relates to people with disabilities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26 1990. It was the worlds first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities. Before the American Disabilities Act was signed, people using wheelchairs who wanted to ride a bus or train would need to abandon their wheelchairs. A restaurant could refuse to serve a person with disabilities. A grocery store could prevent a disabled person from buying the goods there. A potential employer could even ask about a persons disability on employment applications. This was the world of people with disabilities as recent as 1990.

Of course, we will probably see many changes since it is an election year and the impact of the Covid19 pandemic will insure even more amendments. But where does that leave the ADA and citizens with disabilities of Illinois in 2020? It has been 30 years since the ADA was passed but many people with disabilities living throughout Illinois are without services such as easy access to housing & employment not only because of the pandemic but many citizens have never received services either because they were turned down or no services were available for their disability. Without funding, their lives are stagnant and they shouldnt be because they still have the right to live full and protected lives just like all Illinoisans.

The ADA is divided into five titles:

 Employment (Title I)

 Public Services (Title II)

 Public Accommodations (Title III)

 Telecommunications (Title IV)

 Miscellaneous (Title V), which includes information regarding the ADAs relationship with other federal and state laws, including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, requirements relating to the provision of insurance, construction and design regulations by the U.S. Access Board, prohibition of state immunity, inclusion of Congress as a covered entity under the law, promotion of alternative means of dispute resolution, and establishment of technical .

Services like housing, public transportation, employment, public accommodations, public services, education regarding the disabled ex. parking issues, police, employment discrimination, housing, accessible meeting places are just some of the issues that still exist in rural Illinois.

As we are closely watching the BLM Movement and hoping for changes that will unify all the citizens of this great country - BLM, LGBTQ, and last but not least the disabled community - the one thing we as a nation must fully understand is that more accomplishments can be made when we work together. As our nation watches the changes unfold before our very eyes, we can only hope there will be reform for everyone, not only the justice system: equity and opportunities for everyone.

Lynn Puryear

Staunton
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kristin Cianfichi and her husband, Andrew, have spent many nights basking in the heat and glow of their fire pit in the backyard of their East Mountain home.

The Scranton couple bought the tall, stone-wrapped, gravel-topped fire tower about three years ago, but only fired it up a few times before the coronavirus started keeping people at home in March, she said.

Now we use it all the time; what else are you going to do? Kristin Cianfichi said. Were able to stay outside, even on cool evenings, and we can see out over the valley. It creates a romantic ambiance.

The Cianfichis arent the only ones getting cozy around a fire pit these days. The Scranton Fire Department has received more than double the amount of calls for open burns from January to June this year than last, rising from 17 to at least 35 , Chief Al Lucas said.

The majority of calls have been from March through June, Lucas said.

There has been an uptick and I would say it probably has something to do with COVID-19, Lucas said. More people are home and looking for something to do.

Theres also been an uptick in open burn calls in the county, according to David Hahn, Lackawanna County director of emergency services . So far this year, the countys 911 call center has received 318 calls about open burns compared to 424 calls for open burns in all of 2019. Those numbers dont include Scrantons calls, Hahn said.

If I had to guess, Id say a lot of people are home and taking care of their yards more, Hahn said. Its not concerning to me as long as they are following the rules of their municipalities.

Lucas said the city has an ordinance that prohibits open burns, but outdoor fires are permitted under certain circumstances. All outdoor fireplaces must have a flue to vent smoke and gases, and screening to keep the sparks contained, per the ordinance.

The department aims to inform homeowners of the citys rules before issuing citations.

Our first approach is to educate, Lucas said. We give them a copy of the ordinance and tell them to put it out if theyre burning inappropriately, and weve found that most people comply. If we have to go back two or three times, we will issue a fine but we havent run into that this year.

Clarks Summit Fire Chief Jay Miller said the department hasnt noticed an increase in open burn calls, but he has seen outdoor fires in the borough.

I know there is a little bit of an uptick because people are home and making use of their backyards, but nothing has gotten out of hand, he said. Its a concern if someone isnt doing it properly, like burning too close to a home or using the wrong fuel.

The borough has an ordinance that requires residents to have a permit for open burning unless they are having a cookout, Miller said.

Jerry Longo , owner of Jerrys for All Seasons in Dunmore, has noticed an increase in fire pit sales over the past five years, but it has been more pronounced this year.

Were up about 30% from last year, Longo said.

Leon Stankowski constructed a fire pit at his home in Clarks Summit from a large soup pot his uncle purchased during an auction at an old Naval base in Maryland. While stay-at-home orders were in effect, he and his family gathered in the yard several times a week to enjoy a fire and some conversation.

My uncle, who is now deceased, is my godfather, so it definitely means more than if I found it online or at a garbage dump, Stankowski said about the unorthodox fire pit.
June 29, 1945

Growing numbers of divorce a concern for county officials

Lackawanna County Court officials were concerned about the growing numbers of couples seeking divorces in the county.

Since the beginning of 1945, county judges granted 111 divorce decrees and heard 57 uncontested divorce actions, bringing the total to 168. In 1944, the courts granted a total of 307 divorces for the year.

Court officials are considering a solution in an attempt to lower the number of divorce filings. The possible solution would be to have a special master to hear the cases instead of a judge. If they go with the master, those filing for the divorce would have to pay the masters fee of $100.

War exhibit at Murray

Officials at the Murray Corp. plant in Scranton announced the opening of a war industry exhibit at the plant.

The exhibit displayed such items as a model of an American JB-2 jet bomber, gun turret from a B-26, electrically heated clothing, assorted aircraft rockets, lifesaving equipment for water, jungle and arctic conditions and an assortment of weapons and uniforms used by the Japanese forces. War films were also shown along with an arts and crafts exhibit featuring items made by service men using found items.

The exhibit was open to the public and was organized by the Murray Corp. and the Army Air Force.

At the movies

Out of this World at the Strand, Son of Lassie at the Comerford, Murder, He Says at the Capitol, Between Two Women at the West Side, Bells of Rosarita at the State and Stage Door Canteen at the Favini Theatre.

Brian Fulton, library manager, oversees The Times-Tribunes expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history. Contact Brian at bfulton@timesshamrock.com or 570-348-9140.
The proposed Scranton to Hoboken, New Jersey, passenger train may have hit the end of the line.

Or just stalled for years of more waiting .

New Jersey Transit, which would operate the train, recently issued a 10-year transportation plan that has no new dollars for extending service on the Lackawanna Cutoff beyond Andover, New Jersey. The agencys plan calls for spending $1.845 billion on three other service expansion projects, but not the remaining 21 miles on the cutoff between Andover and the Delaware Water Gap.

There are no plans at this point to extend the project beyond Andover, New Jersey Transit spokeswoman Lisa Torbic said in an email.

Larry Malski, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority, and other officials sloughed off the new plan. They continue to seek federal money for the project.

We need the next 21 miles, and thats what were going after in the federal appropriation, Malski said. Once the 21 miles are there, were in Pennsylvania. We control our destiny.

Democrats on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released a $494 billion, five-year surface transportation bill June 3 that contains $26 billion for rail projects, including $19 billion for the new Passenger Rail Improvement, Modernization and Expansion grant program. The program is devoted entirely to passenger rail improvements and expansion, performance optimization, and intercity passenger rail transportation expansion, according to a House Democratic summary. The bill also increases funding to $7 billion for an existing federal grant program for passenger and freight rail projects. The bill would allow commuter rail authorities to compete for the money. On June 22, the House Democrats included the provisions of that bill in a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill that would focus on roads, bridges, transit systems, schools, housing, broadband access and other infrastructure.

So far, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, has shown no willingness to get behind a huge infrastructure bill.

New Jersey Transit has begun extending its service 7.3 miles to Andover on the 28-mile cutoff whose tracks were removed in the 1980s. That extension alone isnt scheduled for completion until the second half of 2026, Torbic said.

A study released earlier this year pegged the cost of restoring the service between Scranton and Hoboken at $288.93 million, far cheaper than a $551 million estimate in 2006. Chuck Walsh, president of the North Jersey Rail Commuter Association, said a plan minus the cutoff shouldnt come as a surprise, but said federal transportation priorities could change New Jersey Transits mind.

Thats the message they have given us, that they dont really want to be  at least at this point in time  involved west of Andover, he said. Would funding from the federal government change that? It remains to be seen.  Its not over. Stay tuned.

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-8, Moosic, said transportation plans get amended regularly and blamed the coronavirus pandemic for tanking states transportation and other revenues, limiting funding for more projects. Other New Jersey Transit projects also failed to make the plan, he said.

It means in the short term, theyre not devoting money to go past Andover, Cartwright said. Theyre continuing to work to Andover.  Its really not an apposite time for them to be adding things to the wish list.

Cartwright said he isnt upset or deterred.

When and if we get federal money to extend this line to the Delaware Water Gap, that 10-year plan gets amended immediately, he said. Ive not given up hope. Its going to be a long slog. Ive said that ever since I started talking about this.
This is a tough time to be a cheerleader for the U.S.-Israel relationship. It is not easy to watch as our close partner  with the reckless encouragement of the White House  considers annexing parts of the West Bank, a policy that would imperil both countries interests.

I am proud of my advocacy for the bond between these two nations, which has spanned my whole career as a scholar and think tank director. I argued publicly that the United States should move its embassy to Jerusalem. I opposed the Iran nuclear deal. I believe bolstering Israel advances U.S. interests.

And yet even to an ardent proponent of U.S.-Israel cooperation, this example of it defies all logic. It kills whatever slim chance remains for President Donald Trumps peace plan. For Palestinians, it validates the claim that Israel just wants territorial expansion. For Jerusalem, it abandons a relatively secure and surprisingly durable status quo for no reason. If the U.S. and Israeli governments cant convince even me of the logic here, there is no hope they will convince others that annexation is anything but a domestic political maneuver fueled by the electoral power of Israels ideologically motivated settlement movement.

Annexation emerged as a real possibility in January, when Trump unexpectedly appended a promise of U.S. backing for the move to the announcement of his long-awaited peace plan. Ever since, I have looked for a compelling explanation for why Israel should unilaterally extend its sovereignty over territory it long claimed was in dispute, a step that will undermine its legal justification to be in the territory in the first place. That search has been unsuccessful.

Over the past two decades, Israel has offered Palestinians statehood based on progressively more generous territorial compromises and, when those offers were rejected, preserved a tolerable less-than-peace status quo. Under Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority grouses about an array of indignities but not so much that it embraces violent uprising; it works closely with the Israeli government to counter the spread of the radical Hamas movement into the West Bank. This situation has allowed for both Palestinian self-government and Israeli settlement growth under Israeli security control.

Unilateral annexation is a radical departure. The idea springs from a gloomy view of Israels strategic situation in which the worlds consensus has lurched leftward  in a pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel direction  as Israeli politics has shifted rightward. Israel traditionally viewed the peace process as a way to achieve secure and defensible borders; settlement growth, especially deep in the West Bank, complicated this by providing a rationale to claim more land in an eventual deal. At the same time, much of the world moved in the opposite direction, viewing the entire area as legitimately Palestinian.

Many Israelis are worried that a future American administration might be sympathetic to this emerging global view. In 2016 President Barack Obama broke with decades of U.S. policy and declined to block a U.N. Security Council resolution labeling as illegal all Israeli settlements. It horrified Jerusalem and fed a fear that its closest ally might someday join the chorus calling for Israel to return to what the late Israeli diplomat Abba Eban once called Auschwitz borders.

The Trump administrations sympathetic approach, in the view of annexation advocates, gives Israel an opportunity to construct its own future without fear of American meddling. They believe annexation will trigger little global reaction. Once Israel has a sovereign eastern border recognized by the United States, other nations will reconcile themselves to the new reality. Advocates even contend that many Arab nations would welcome annexation for taking the territorial issue off the agenda.

There may be something to that analysis. Arab countries have warmed to Israe. Leaders mouth bromides about the Palestinians while building common cause with Jerusalem against Iran and doing private business deals. And in U.S. politics, the drift away from unwavering support for Israel within the Democratic Party is real.

But neither trend is written in stone. This month,the Emirati ambassador to the United States wrote an essay for Israels largest newspaper telling Israelis they cant have it both ways  they must choose between annexation and normalization. In America, while a chorus of Israel critics received the most attention for their 2018 congressional victories, moderates won the vast majority of Democratic seats. A moderate candidate clinched the Democratic presidential nomination this year.

Maintaining the status quo may hold theoretical risks, but annexation invites the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, a third Palestinian intifada, the suspension of the peace treaty with Jordan, the Arab country most intimately connected with the Palestinians; or a rupture in diplomatic relations with Israels allies abroad, including perhaps the imposition by European countries.

Why would Israel want to distract the world from Iran precisely when Tehran is breaking every remaining constraint in the 2015 nuclear deal? Why would Israel take steps that help prosecutors at the International Criminal Court assemble a case against it? Why would Israel invite the embarrassment of a President Joe Biden  one of the few non-Jewish political figures on the left to call himself a Zionist  revoking Trumps recognition of annexation?

Annexation proponents return to the same theme: Israel is essentially alone in the world; we need to take our destiny into our own hands.

Advocates are shockingly defeatist about Israels diplomatic future and vainly indifferent to the danger they court. It felt odd to speak out against a seminal policy shift jointly endorsed by American and Israeli leaders. But the potential for long-term damage to the relationship is so great that anything less would be derelict.

Annexation will not end the debate about territory. Israelis and Palestinians will still have competing claims, Israel will still lack internationally recognized boundaries, and the territorial aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will remain unresolved.

Annexation will badly degrade Israels strategic environment by heightening tensions in the West Bank, worsening relations with Jordan, and turbocharging anti-Israel sentiment in Europe, the United Nations and other international institutions.

Annexation could lead Israels closest friends to abandon the position that its presence in the West Bank was a legitimate outcome of its defensive operations in the Six-Day War of 1967. While the steady growth of settlements has eroded the image of Israel as a legal occupier pending a negotiated peace, annexation would confirm to many the view of Israel as an illegal occupier whose actions prevent peace.

Thankfully, a decision to annex West Bank territory is not a certainty. Many actors abroad  Trump, the Palestinian leadership, key Arab states, even Biden  can affect Israels choice. Israels security establishment can inject some realism into a debate that is only beginning to focus on cost-benefit analysis. After reading polls showing that most Israelis dont support annexation, perhaps Netanyahu will decide that prudence is the wiser course.

Friends of the U.S.-Israel relationship will be put to the test. I will work to protect this vital partnership, but that work will become immeasurably more difficult thanks to those who choose ideological gratification without tangible gain.
I think theres a lot of people coming down here not wanting to wear the face masks and theyre making it worse. And on a holiday like that ... its going to keep spreading when that many people are in town, Wiseman said. If they close South Beach then all the people in South Beach are going to come up here to Broward.
The death toll now stands at 120,000. The United States, with roughly 4% of the worlds population, accounts for about 25% of its COVID-19 deaths.

Those states that reopened despite warnings that doing so would cause a spike in coronavirus cases are now seeing  all together now  a spike in coronavirus cases. And Donald Trump has returned to doing political rallies despite being advised by experts that large crowds are essentially a buffet table for the coronavirus. Granted, based on last weeks rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, large crowds are not a problem for Trump just now, but still 

Oh, and let us not forget Deborah Baber, the proud Trump Republican who became a social media sensation last week in defending what she calls her inalienable right not to wear a mask. Her must-see performance before the Ventura County Board of Supervisors somehow weaved in sadomasochism, terrorism and a rendition of God Bless America notable for its evocation of the mountains, white with foam.

Baber is just one of many folks who have been filmed behaving badly  the guy who shoved his way into a Walmart is also worth a look  because they believe that in refusing to wear masks, they strike a blow for freedom. Just like John Lewis standing up to state troopers on that bridge in Selma, Alabama, or that Chinese guy standing up to a tank in Tiananmen Square except, you know  stupid. And not really about freedom.

Fed up with the unmasked holdouts, the Miami Herald recently ran a tartly worded editorial advising people to just put on their damn masks. For the record, a HuffPost/YouGov poll conducted in May found that most of us feel the same. Overall, 62% say wearing a face mask is a matter of public health. Yet only a bare majority  51%  of Republicans agree; 42% of them consider masks a matter of personal choice.

The World War II generation famously sacrificed for the common good in a time of common threat, going without meat, sugar, gasoline and rubber for four years. Yet some of us are whining because theyre asked to wear masks for a few months. But theres another difference between this era and that one. Everybody back then knew exactly what they were fighting and why.

By contrast, the fight against the coronavirus is waged in a murk of misinformation and a cloud of confusion. Is it really just the common cold? Do masks work? Did the virus originate in a Chinese lab? Will warm weather kill it? Or hydroxychloroquine? Or Lysol? Is it all Obamas fault? Is it a hoax designed to make Trump look bad?

Blame the murk in part on a medical community that, early on, failed to speak with one clear and consistent voice, particularly about masks. Blame it on Trump, to whom truth is always an unwelcome stranger. But blame it also on our own susceptibility, on the fact that, these days, every third voter fancies themselves Mulder or Scully, ferreting out the truth they dont want you to know. The right and the left both carry that tendency, but it is far more pronounced on the right, thanks to a 24-hour electronic megaplex of half truths, untruths, and conspiracy theories that normalizes the paranoid and the utterly bizarre.

Meanwhile, back at the pandemic, people are dying. So now would be an excellent time for some of us to yank their heads from their fundaments. Put on the damn mask, indeed. And stand 6 feet apart. And listen to the experts. After all, they dont know who you voted for.

And the virus doesnt care.

LEONARD PITTS JR. is a columnist for the Miami Herald. lpitts@miamiherald.com.
London, KY (40741)

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Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 83F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Showers and thundershowers during the evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 58F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
USAID/Uganda is seeking for qualifiedindividuals to fill the Project Management Assistant (Budget) position. Theposition is in the USAID/Uganda Office of Education, Youth, and ChildDevelopment (EYCD). EYCD manages multiple funding streams including BasicEducation, Higher Education and Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief(PEPFAR) funds which support basic education, child protection, and positiveyouth development activities. The multiple funding sources are allocated acrossactivities and have different reporting and management requirements. Theprimary purpose of this position is to provide support to the EYCD Office inmanaging its multi-year portfolio of $200 million. The position will assist theEYCD Office to develop the annual program budget; oversee the procurement planand track procurement actions; complete financial reporting requirements forpresidential initiatives and other USAID activities; and assist the office inresponding to additional financial information needs as requested. The positionplays a major role in managing EYCDs complex and unique portfolio.
The Water Engineer/Governance Assistant willsupport the Water engineer/governance officer conduct hand pump technicalassessment, and work closely with Hand pump mechanics to haverepairs/rehabilitation of water sources done. He will also oversee Water usercommittee training, monitor WSC and Borehole functionality. He/she will workclosely with sub county health assistant to collect water samples and ensureroutine water testing is conducted in District water office
EMILY ST. LAWRENCE, Chariho girls lacrosse, senior: St. Lawrence scored the 100th goal of her career in a 16-1 win against Lincoln. St. Lawrence finished her career with 104 goals, eight short of the school record. The team did not play last season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

JOSH MOONEY, Stonington track & field, sophomore: Mooney scored in three events at the State Open meet. Mooney was second in the 110 hurdles, fourth in the javelin and fifth in the 300 hurdles. He scored all 17 of Stoningtons points.

ALEX STOEHR, Westerly softball, freshman: Stoehr hit three triples and a double in a doubleheader sweep of Barrington. For the week, she was 7 for 13 with four doubles, two triples and three RBIs. Stoehr is hitting .333 for the season.

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The Government resisted pressure to actively track down elderly women underpaid thousands of pounds in state pension when fielding questions in parliament today.

Labour urged Pensions Minister Guy Opperman to launch a full investigation into the scandal, uncovered by This is Money and our columnist Steve Webb, to find and pay women affected by the error what they are due.

Opperman said the Department for Work and Pensions are looking into the matter, and invited women who believe they are affected to contact the Pension Service helpline or Pension Wise.

State pension scandal: Labour ramped up the pressure on the Government in parliament over underpayments going back decades

Webb, a former Pensions Minister who is now a partner at LCP, condemned this response as 'woefully inadequate'.

Tens of thousands of elderly women could be owed an estimated 100million in lost state pension after a blunder stretching back decades.

Shadow Pensions Minister Jack Dromey told the House of Commons: 'Case after case has been uncovered of retired women underpaid on their pension.

'Many don't know yet to this day. Some have tragically died before learning of the department's mistake.

'When will the department work out how many women have been affected, who they are and bring forward a plan to contact them.'

Jack Dromey: 'Case after case has been uncovered of retired women underpaid on their pension'

He said a proper investigation was required, so that the older women who built Britain get the justice they deserve in retirement.

Labour MP Nick Smith said: 'Informed commentators say that over a hundred thousand women are going to be impacted by this error.

'Many of them will be old women more likely to be living in poverty.'

Smith also asked the Government to review backdating rules to ensure women are treated fairly.

Some women have received full payouts, while others whose husbands reached state pension age before March 2008 are only getting a one-year backpayment and increased sums going forward - see the box below.

Opperman said in parliament today: 'We invite anyone who thinks they have failed to claim a state pension increase they are eligible for to contact the department whether through the pension service helpline or alternatively Pension Wise can assist.'

Labour has ramped up the pressure on the Government by putting down a series of written questions, including asking whether it will pay any sums owed to the heirs of women who have died while receiving incorrect state pension.

This is something This is Money has asked repeatedly, but the DWP has refused to respond.

Labour has also asked what the tax liability will be for women who receive back payments of underpaid state pension in a single financial year.

Why are some married women being underpaid state pension? Married women who retired on small state pensions before April 2016 should get an uplift to 60 per cent of their husband's payments once he reaches retirement age too. Since March 17 2008, the increases are supposed to be automatic, but before that women had to apply to get the full sum they were due.

We recently asked tax experts for their view on whether women affected will avoid paying unnecessarily high amounts of tax.

The Government's tax arm has told us: 'HMRC is working with the DWP to determine any tax implications of these payments as soon as possible.'

Webb said: 'With more and more women coming forward to report underpaid state pensions, there is no doubt that there is a systematic problem here.

'It is not good enough for the DWP to ask people to come forward one by one. The government has had long enough to review this issue  it is time for action.

'DWP must use its own records to track down the women who are missing out as a matter of urgency.

'The current response to this issue is woefully inadequate.'

In a previous statement by the DWP, a spokesperson said: 'We are aware of a number of cases where individuals have been underpaid state pension.

'We corrected our records and reimbursed those affected as soon as errors were identified.

'We are checking for further cases, and if any are found awards will also be reviewed and any arrears paid.'

It notes that married women are required to make a claim to have payments increased if their husband reached state pension age before 17 March 2008, but not if he did so after that.

The DWP says it encourages anyone who thinks they have failed to claim a state pension increase they are eligible for to contact the department.

It adds that 'interest and consolatory payments' will be considered on a case-by-case basis and depend on individual circumstances.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose aggressive reopening plan has been criticized in light of the mounting case totals, said Sunday that the numbers showed more widespread testing and increased spread of the disease among younger people.
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Does this mean that well never be sane and healthy enough to enjoy our Judaism and sense of community in ideal moments unless we are facing Armageddon? I hope not, but Im certain that the reasons we have structured holidays like Yom Kippur when the Gates are closing, or Sukkot when all we have over our heads is a temporary roof, or Purim when we are about to face mass extinction, or Pesach when we are about to be cast into the Red Sea, or Tisha BAv when we sit humbly on the ground and realize how low the mighty have fallen, is that they are all object lessons to teach and remind us that weve survived these darkest of tragic conditions to see yet another day through faith, perseverance, sacrifice, and hard work.
Dorothy Eleanor Mercer passed away on June 9, 2021 at Archbold Memorial Hospital. She was born on December 18, 1932, in Pavo to the late Early Byrd Wood and to the late Nellie Deen Wood. She was married to Eugene Mercer who precedes her in death. Survivors include her children, Leon David Mc
SARATOGA SPRINGS  Stewart's Shops is celebrating National Ice Cream month with 50 cent, single-scoop cones on Wednesday, July 1.

Stewart's offers 65 different ice cream flavors and has recently released limited-edition flavors for summer, including Bake Placid Cheesecake, Cold Brew Cookie Dough, Mango Dragon Fruit Sherbet and Red, White and MOO!

Later this month, on July 19, Stewart's will offer another deal for National Ice Cream Day. Customers will be able to make their own sundaes for $1.99.

The Saratoga Springs-based convenience store chain, which operates 337 shops in upstate New York and southern Vermont, produces its own ice cream using milk from dairy farms near its plant.
The only National Historic Landmark devoted to dance, and the longest-running dance festival in the United States, Jacobs Pillow has always been fertile ground for innovation and celebration, Executive Director Pamela Tatge said during the festivals virtual Dance We Must event on June 20.

Thats true even in a pandemic: The Pillow has canceled its summer season at the Becket campus, cut 40 percent of its staff and lost 50 percent of its income, Tatge said, but online classes, performances and trainings continue, and an eight-week virtual festival begins on July 8. It will include videotaped performances from the past decade, talks by dance scholars and choreographers, post-show Q&As with the artists, an at-home version of the festivals intergenerational movement class and a series of master classes taught by faculty of the School at Jacobs Pillow.

The festival has also continued to commission new work, now created specifically for a virtual format. Dance We Must, hosted by Pillow trustees Kyle Abraham of A.I.M. (Abraham in Motion) and Wendy Whelan of the New York City Ballet, featured six new pieces choreographed for the event.

The range of approaches in the new work illustrated the possibilities and potential for dance when its made to be filmedcertainly not a new artistic endeavor, but one that could be pushed forward exponentially by the current circumstances. The breadth of styles ran the gamut from site-specific work like Irene Rodriguezs contemporary flamenco piece Following My Dream and Jabu Graybeals tap solo Breezy, both performed in lush outdoor settings; to intimate pieces with direct, close-up gazes, like those choreographed and danced by Christopher R. Wilson of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and A.I.M.s Catherine Ellis Kirk, whose undulating movements seemed barely contained within the double frames of her room and the screen.

NYCBs Daniel Ulbricht and his fiancee, Danielle Diniz, added a note of joy with a jazzy, playful duet, titled Over the Moon with You in June and performed on the deck of her parents home, where the pair has been in quarantine for the past few months. Tap dancer Michelle Dorrance, a perennial Pillow favorite, and four of her fellow tappers (including Graybeal) closed out the evening with a group piece that embodied community and cohesion despite the physical distance maintained between the performers.

Dance We Must (a quote from Pillow founder Ted Shawn) also included the presentation of the festivals 2020 Dance Award to Ronald K. Brown, founder of the Brooklyn-based Evidence, A Dance Company. Brown formed the troupe in 1986, just two years out of high school, after a friend told him he had to start a dance company to tell his grandmothers stories.

He uses movement to emphasize the importance of community in African-American culture, said Tatge, who described Brown as a radiant human being who is deeply dedicated to dance as a means of transformation and action.

This moment reminds me to focus on whats right, to continue to do the work and to keep love and truth at the front, Brown said in accepting the award.

Throughout the evening, dance icons like Mikhail Baryshnikov, Virginia Johnson of Dance Theatre of Harlem and choreographers Trey McIntyre and Ohad Naharin dropped in to talk about what the Pillow has meant to their careers and for dance in general. Whelan recalled executing her first triple pirouette on the Pillow stage, and Michael Novak, Paul Taylors successor, called the Pillow a symbol of the fact that creation never stopsit will always endure.

Now more than ever, we need dance to bring us together, said Emily Molnar, artistic director of Ballet BC, and Jacobs Pillow is at the heart of that conversation.

Tresca Weinstein is a frequent contributor to the Times Union.
The latest peek into its true essence occurred a month before this years convention. AIPAC purchased an advertisement on Facebook showing a collage of three Democratic congresswomen: Reps Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Betty McCollum of Minnesota and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. The text read: The radicals in the Democratic Party are pushing their anti-Semitic and anti-Israel policies down the throats of the American people Its critical that we protect our Israeli allies especially as they face threats from Iran, Hezbollah, ISIS and  maybe more sinister  right here in the U.S. Congress.
Even though New York Army National Guard Maj. Michael C. Costello of Guilderland was on duty 6,128 miles from home, he didn't miss seeing his new daughter right after she was born.

The 42nd Infantry Division soldier had expected he'd miss the birth while serving in Kuwait. He also expected his wife Kate would give birth in a hospital.

Those expectations changed in big ways when their second child, Siena Jude Costello, couldn't wait for a hospital trip and was born in their home.

Michael ended up seeing the daughter and mother via a video chat application on his smartphone, said Maj. Jean Kratzer, 42nd Infantry Division spokeswoman.

His mother-in law had a significant role in the child being born at home.

Kate had arranged for her mother, Mary Lou Hubly of Clarks Grove, Minn., to stay with her during her husband's deployment.

A plan called for Hubly to go to Guilderland to watch her grandson while one of Kate's friends brought her to St. Peter's Hospital in Albany and also stay to help with the new baby.

Just before the birth the major's wife was talking with him via video on her phone as she was preparing to leave for the hospital and said she would call back. After there was no call back and Kate didn't pick up a follow-up call, he checked his home security cameras via his smartphone and saw EMS, police and neighbors in his front yard. But his anxiety eased after Kate's friend picked up the phone and told him she was about to bring Kate to the hospital.

On that day, May 25, Siena Jude arrived so early there was no time to go anywhere.

Fortunately, being a mother of eight grown children, Hubly knew what to do. So she took charge and delivered the baby. "Delivering little Siena Jude was a gift and a grace," Hubly said. "We are still savoring that precious experience. It was a very easy and wonderful birth."

"When I realized that we weren't going to make it to the hospital, I didn't have any anxiety since I knew Mom was there," Kate said. "Even after the EMS arrived, they let her continue to help since they saw she had control of the situation."

Minutes after the birth of Siena Jude, Michael was able to connect via video chat and see his wife and healthy new baby girl.

With a 2-year-old at home and a newborn, Kate said she is incredibly grateful for her mother's help.

"My mom has made all the difference during these first few weeks. Michael's family and our neighborhood have been so supportive," she said. "I'm learning every day to accept the help that is so graciously given and for which I am so grateful."

"I am blessed and grateful to have the support of my mother in-law," Michael said. "She has been a godsend to help our family during this deployment. Every day I get daily photos from my wife.

"We are making good use of FaceTime, and Siena already recognizes his voice, and she gets calm and curious when she hears him," Kate added.

Graham, their 2-year-old, was at home for the excitement when the Guilderland Police Department and the Guilderland Emergency Medical Service showed up to assist Kate and take the newborn to St. Peter's Hospital.

Baby Siena and mother Kate are healthy and are now doing well at home.

New lieutenant colonel

Josh Heimroth of Albany has been promoted to lieutenant colonel in the New York Army National Guard.

Heimroth, who currently serves as executive officer to the adjutant general of New York, was promoted during a ceremony at the New York National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters in Latham.

He has been reassigned to command the New York Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion.

Heimroth enlisted in the Army in May of 1997 and served in the field artillery. In 2006, Heimroth earned his commission as a military intelligence officer.

Heimroth had his new rank pinned on by his grandmother Sally and daughter Shayna.

He previously served with the Recruiting and Retention Command, the 42nd Infantry Division and 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, along with a deployment to Afghanistan where he served with Special Operations during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Heimroth holds a bachelor's degree from Siena College in marketing and management, as well as a master's degree in human resources management from Webster University.

He has earned a Bronze Star Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, an Army Good Conduct Medal, a Senior Parachutist Badge and an Air Assault Badge. He has also earned parachutist badges from the French and German militaries.

News of your troops and units can be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or brownt@timesunion.com.
At the southern end of Hamilton County, a radio dead zone has plagued emergency workers for years. Law enforcement cannot check license plates. Ambulance corps members cannot call a hospital.

After years of looking for ways to bolster communications in the area, a tower on Cathead Mountain in Benson appears to be the answer. The problem? It is surrounded by land where state law prohibits motorized vehicle use, a real challenge for building a tower, let alone maintaining or repairing one.

To build a road to the mountaintop, the county must cross about half of a mile of forest preserve, and to do that, two successive state Legislatures and approximately 19 million New Yorkers must vote to amend the state Constitution. If that wasnt daunting enough, one of the leading environmental groups in the Adirondacks is not convinced a constitutional amendment is needed, though state agencies say it is.

Without a specific plan on paper comparing costs, planning a road and how the site would get power, the Adirondack Council is hesitant to back a constitutional amendment, said council spokesman John Sheehan.

We are almost every year asked to amend the Constitution, the forever wild clause, for one reason or another, Sheehan said. Personally, Ive seen 30 years of this. It is important for us to have a set of principles in place for when we think its appropriate to amend the Constitution, and how we go about doing that.

Others agree Hamilton County should have more specifics, though most are in support of an amendment. There is no bill on the Legislatures docket, but Hamilton County Chairman Bill Farber is hoping state lawmakers will vote this year to get the two-to-three-year amendment process rolling.

I have not given up hope, Farber said.

Safety issue

Mike Tracy has worked in the emergency medical field for 22 years and is the assistant fire chief for the village of Speculator. Parts of Arietta, Wells, Benson and Hope are disturbingly silent, and we arent just talking cell service.

You cant hear anything down there, Tracy said, about his emergency radio. We cant communicate with the fire departments. We cant communicate with dispatch.  The further south you get, the worse it gets for us.

If there is a call for help at Auger Falls, a popular hiking destination, it is a nightmare for first responders. The communication is so poor, Tracy said, they have to set up people every 30 to 40 feet on the trail to relay information.

Hamilton County Sheriff Karl Abrams has responded to domestic incidents where he couldnt let dispatch know his location.

Ive had DWI arrests where I couldnt even tell my office I had somebody in custody, Abrams said. On a safety standpoint for law enforcement, EMS or fire, its not good.

Don Purdy, director of the countys emergency services, said theyve tried radio repeaters to boost a signal and satellite phones. During last years Halloween storm, Purdy said the satellite phone signal was so poor he couldnt finish dialing a call let alone complete one.

When talking about doing anything in the Adirondacks, there are a number of environmental groups to consult. So far, Farber is heartened that all have heard his plea and agree an emergency communications solution is needed. Now he is trying to figure out how to get it done.

Why Cathead?

When it comes to communication for Adirondack communities, mountains are barriers.

The county is part of the Adirondack Regional Interoperable Communications Consortium, part of a statewide network to connect the emergency services of neighboring counties. Part of it involves radio towers set up all over the state, bouncing signals off of one other. They have to be in sight of an operable tower to communicate.

Most of Hamilton Countys townships are in bowls, Abrams said, and its hard to bounce signals into them. Another challenge for the county is that the state owns most of the mountaintops where towers cant be built. So, privately owned, high-elevation land is valuable, if you can get private landowners on board.

Abrams said Cathead is the countys last link. Between its location and height, it can bounce a signal off of their tower on East Mountain. The sheriffs office in Lake Pleasant has a signal that bounces to Oak Mountain, then to East Mountain, then up to Blue Mountain. As part of the Adirondack consortium, the signal can continue traveling to Gore Mountain, which is also visible from Cathead Mountain.

If Hamilton County is able to get communications on top, Purdy said it would also help out Fulton County and Saratoga County emergency services, who are also struggling with poor communication at their northern ends.

The top of Cathead Mountain, including about 800 acres in the area, is privately owned by the Hatchbrook Sportsmans Club. Nathan Clark, the clubs president, said Farber approached him about four years ago to talk about an emergency tower. The top is already home to a fire tower and limited radio equipment for the DEC and State Police.

Roadblock

Clarks club has had a tumultuous experience owning the property.

Made up of a close-knit group of friends between the ages of 43 and 84, the multi-generational club has owned the property since 1989. Back then, they had access to two rights-of-way to their hunting camp and an abandoned forest ranger cabin. But the entry points were owned by someone else, and a foreclosure process put the land in the states hands, thereby closing the roads.

For a while, Clark said, the club could get special state permits for motorized access to their camp site, but then the state did away with those in 2000. Members sued the state to regain motorized access but lost.

The fire tower had been open to the public, but a DEC fire tower report shows in 2000, the trail was officially closed since the landowners withdrew their permission for the public to use the trail. Consequently, public access to the Cathead Mountain trail and fire tower is not allowed.

In 2010, the club pursued their own attempt at a constitutional amendment in order to get motorized access to their campsite, but many environmental groups opposed and records show it did not make it past committees.

Clark and the rest of the Cathead Mountain owners lease the fire tower to the State Police for radio transmission. To perform any maintenance or repairs, State Police fly a helicopter to the top and let off a technician on an old helicopter pad.

Its not accessible by ground, and it does not have commercial power to it, so its obviously not an ideal situation for us, but its powered by a combination of solar panels, wind turbine and a generator, said Beau Duffy, spokesman for the State Police. Maintenance and repairs would be a lot simpler if there was road access.

Road access would be simpler for the hunting club, too, but Clark said its more than that. Many of the club members are volunteer first responders, and theyre eager to help Hamilton County.

Another public benefit

One of the ways to do a constitutional amendment to the forever wild provision is through a land swap. Clark said, what weve essentially agreed to to this point, the club is willing to give up  thats a big word there  were willing to give up lot 172, lot 165 and lot 122, which comprises 480 acres. Were willing to convey that to the state of New York for 80 acres.

The 80 acres would be for the access road, which the club would be able to use, but it would also be used by the emergency services organizations. The public would also regain access to the fire tower, which Clark said his club closed because of disputes with the state.

We would really like to be able to help the residents and the communities be able to use that again, Clark added. There will be some conservation easements on some of that stuff that were still trying to figure out. Were not going to build any hotels or lodge, to hire out for hunting excursions.  We got members in their 80s, 70s. Im probably one of the youngest guys at 43. We want to be able to get back there in a safe manner.

The 400 acres the club would hand over to the state brushes the Silver Lake Wilderness tract and is near the Northville-Lake Placid trail, making it a very desirable proposed swap for those with visions of opening the tower back up to the public and protecting more prime Adirondack land.

Besides the public safety aspect of this proposed amendment, Farber and many others want the public to hike Cathead Mountain. There could be plans down the line to connect the hike to the Northville-Lake Placid Trail, too.

You can see forever and a day, Clark said about the view from Cathead. In my opinion, its one of the most beautiful spots to go and see the Adirondacks.

"Four hundred acres on the table and give the county an easement for the communications tower and the public an easement to the summit of the mountain, thats pretty generous for the club, Bauer said. Thats, in our minds, when we talk about a global solution, those are all the pieces of it.

Disagreement

Sheehan and the Adirondack Council issued a press release in May, announcing that Hamilton County could pursue other means to put an emergency communications tower on Cathead other than an amendment. The release irked a number of groups that were part of the conversation.

In an interview with Adirondack Explorer, Sheehan suggested some of those alternatives could be Hamilton County utilizing State Polices helicopter or hiring a helicopter to do any maintenance needed on the mountaintop. He also suggested a road with a gate that only Hamilton County had access to.

In conversations with Farber, the Adirondack Council has suggested opening back up an old jeep road that forest rangers used to use. The councils administrative fix suggestions raised legal questions for Farber and other environmental groups.

The Adirondack Council is wrong, said David Gibson, of Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve. Who wants to see helicopters flying up that ridge? Its practically in the Silver Lake Wilderness. Lets eliminate helicopter use entirely, which is antithetical to wilderness environment. Its also dangerous to have choppers fly up there all the time.

Farber also worried about making repairs via helicopter in bad weather, when the emergency communications would likely be needed most.

The idea of opening up the jeep trail had Bauer concerned, too. After hiking the property, Bauer said both entryways would necessitate a level of (tree) cutting that we believe violates the Constitution. We take that seriously, since we have been in court since 2013 trying to defend the trees on the forest preserve.

The Court of Appeals has yet to decide on what tree cutting should look like in the Adirondacks, and Farber isnt willing to take a chance on a quick fix that could have the county end up in court.

It would be an easy thing for somebody to litigate, and the courts would likely conclude they were right, Farber said.

Next steps

A spokesperson for the Adirondack Park Agency told the Adirondack Explorer it reached the conclusion with the DEC that a constitutional amendment is necessary to access the private land on Cathead Mountain.

We are committed to resolving the access issues to Cathead Mountain in a way that is legally defensible, the spokesperson added.

Bill Ingersoll, of Adirondack Wilderness Advocates, said he was glad the APA and DEC have denied the possibility of an administrative fix.

The constitutional amendment process is tried and true, and if done right, the amendment clearly delineates who is giving up what, and who gets what, as opposed to monkeying with the state land master plan, and that so-called administrative fix, Ingersoll said.

Still, Sheehan would like to see Hamilton County do more homework.

Those alternatives may be too expensive or impractical, Sheehan said. If they are, then fine, but we need to explore that first before we make a decision. I think its important for us to be careful about that. The public has come to rely on the Adirondack Council for advice on this. Cases where we have gone out to heavily promote an amendment, its approved overwhelmingly. Generally if were not in favor, if were opposed, its very unlikely the Legislature would approve it to begin with.

Former DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said the parties should come together and work out the details. He favors a constitutional amendment, but Martens said he understands why Sheehan wants to have everything on paper.

Ultimately, if it goes before the voters of New York, they all know exactly what theyre giving up, Martens said.

Farber said spending more money on an engineer and specific plan is a concern for the county, and some county board members feel enough has already been spent with nothing specific to show for it. Farber also feels theres not much at stake for those opposed to a constitutional amendment if it were to pass one Legislature since it still has to pass again the next year.

But theres a big risk there for Hamilton County by not doing it, he added.

Without those detailed plans or a bill, its hard to say how legislators will come back to Albany and vote on an amendment.

State Senator Todd Kaminsky, D-Long Beach, and Assemblyman Steve Englebright, D-Setauket, chair the two legislative bodies environmental committees. Englebright said he had not made a determination one way or another. Kaminsky said he was sympathetic to the emergency communications aspect.

Im in active discussions with the governors office, DEC, different environmental groups and Hamilton County offices, Kaminsky added. Im hoping well have a plan to resolve it soon.

State Sen. Jim Tedisco, R-Glenville, represents Hamilton County. He called the issue critically important.

We hope the Adirondack Council will stay at the table with Hamilton County officials and continue to discuss this public safety issue as we believe, based on our understanding from the APA and DEC, that theres not an administrative fix for it and it needs to be done by a constitutional amendment, Tedisco said.
ALBANY  The Albany County Legislature will push to repeal the county law legalizing "sparklers" in response to growing complaints about fireworks being set off in neighborhoods around the county.

"I got it wrong when I voted for Local Law A for 2016," Chairman Andrew Joyce said of the county's decision to opt-in on a state law that allowed counties to legalize sale and use of the so-called sparkers, which for weeks have been at the heart of a statewide debate over explosive growth in the use of fireworks.

While it is still illegal to posses and use more powerful fireworks like bottle rockets, Roman candles and M-80s, authorities say the lower-powered sparklers can make it difficult for law enforcement to determine when the more dangerous explosives are used.

"These aren't just being used for special occasion. As the chairman said what was sold to the county legislature was sparklers," said Legislator Matthew Peter, who represents the Center Square neighborhood in Albany

"For us this is a little bit of buyer's remorse where we were told one thing and we got another," Peter continued. "And it's up to us to take action."

That's what the legislators plan to do next with legislation to opt out of the state law allowing sparklers. The legislation wouldn't take effect until after July 4, but it would be in place before the other period - Dec. 26-Jan. 2 - when sparklers can be purchased and used.

Mayor Kathy Sheehan said opting out will allow police officers to more easily pursue people using illegal fireworks. Officers will no longer have to figure out what kinds of fireworks are being used. The mayor held a Zoom meeting with leaders of the city's neighborhood associations Monday to discuss the situation.

The city is distributing campaign-style literature that urges city residents to "Be Part of the Solution" by calling city police at 518-438-4000 to report illegal fireworks or to go online at www.capitalregion crimestoppers.com. Sheehan said residents can contact city police to have illegal fireworks picked up.

For weeks, people complained that fireworks were a nightly disturbance that this year seemed to have started more than a month before July 4, Officials said illegal fireworks are being brought in from nearby states, such as New Hampshire and Pennsylvania where they are legal. Sheehan said she has heard anecdotally that illegal fireworks have been made in Columbia County and other counties too.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that the State Police are launching an effort to prevent fireworks sold in Pennsylvania from making their way into the state. In the Binghamton area, billboards advertise fireworks for sale just across the border in Pennsylvania.

The use of the fireworks ignited conversations about quality of life and the adverse impact fireworks can have on people, pets and war veterans suffering from PTSD.

Earlier this month, Albany officials said calls to the city's 911 system for fireworks were up 700 percent - 232 as of June 15 - compared to just 29 calls at the same point last year.

Fireworks rattling Capital Region neighborhoods well before July 4th

Churchill: For the love of dogs and sleep, make the fireworks stop

Late Saturday, someone threw a lighted firework into the home of an employee of the Albany County Sheriff's Office, igniting a throw rug.

The employee was at his home in New Scotland watching television with his wife and 4-year-old daughter when the explosive was tossed in the house. The couple extinguished the firework with a pillow before it could spread and no injuries were reported.

So far, no one has been arrested.

Cuomo signed a bill in 2014 allowing the purchase and use of "sparkling devices," of which the type, size and construction is regulated. A county had the right to pass a local law that would also ban sparkling devices; Columbia and Schenectady counties are among the small number of counties that have banned them. Even with the ban, Schenectady County officials say they've seen explosive growth in the use of fireworks this year.
SCHENECTADY  More than 200 people gathered on Sunday outside Bumpy's Polar Freeze, a popular ice cream parlor, to rally against store owner David Elmendorf, who allegedly sent text messages using racial slurs and saying he doesn't hire black people.

The demonstration was peaceful and passionate, with protesters blocking part of State Street in front of the restaurant for more than two hours. The protest culminated in the shop shutting down for the evening around 6:15 p.m.  three hours earlier than usual  and three employees walking out, saying they'd quit.

"We set this up today ... to eradicate white supremacy in our home. There's no space for it here," said organizer Mikayla Foster, 21, who was born and raised in Schenectady. "It looks a lot of different ways. I think people get it confused, that the only thing we're fighting against is police brutality, but that's not the case. We're fighting against every system that is set to discredit us, disenfranchise us, dismantle us as a people."

Foster, who works with the community organizing group All of Us, led the crowd for much of the protest, kicking off the event by directing a group of roughly 75 people who had shown up at 4 p.m. from a side road to the sidewalks in front of Bumpy's and much of State Street, blocking traffic. Within an hour, more than 200 people had arrived with signs ranging from "Shut racists down" to "Be kind." They chanted and danced together in front of the shop.

"We are active and ready to move forward against oppression, against black and brown people dying, against white supremacy  the same white supremacy you see at Bumpy's over here today," Foster said at the start of the protest. "They have been operating on systems of racism and oppression for years now. It's a damn shame, because they didn't know that Schenectady came with heat like this. So, today, what the (expletive) we're going to do is shut it the (expletive) down."

The group did what was promised - at least for Sunday. There were at least five employees inside Bumpy's Sunday afternoon, and by the end of the event, three had walked out. All were black men.

The protest gradually moved from the street to the lot directly outside the ice cream parlor, as demonstrators held a sit-in in front of the venue for about an hour. As attendees inched closer to the shop around 5:15 p.m., some protesters started collecting money for the employees, saying they would buy them out of working for the restaurant.

Attendees raised at least $270 for each of the men who left and promised to help them find new jobs. One of the workers, Shameil McCoy, was wearing a Bumpy's shirt  and took it off as protesters cheered. Some demonstrators later jumped on it and threw it in the pool next to the establishment.

Meanwhile, Bumpy's was open Sunday despite the owner racking up daily fines of $2,000 earlier in the week for ignoring a Schenectady County health department shutdown order over a minor code violation. Schenectady County Attorney Chris Gardner has said Elmendorf was charged Wednesday with obstructing governmental administration for allegedly tearing down and ripping up notices posted at the State Street business for it to close down.

Organizer Khalifa Jackson, 27, of the group BLX, said Sunday's protest was just the first step in taking down a number of businesses in local communities "that are built on the foundation of white supremacy and are allowed to thrive in these environments." Her organization also helps locate and augment community resources for black children; she advertised a community cleanup at Jerry Burrell Park scheduled for July 19.

"I think we had a really good turnout today," Jackson said. "A lot of people are very passionate here, so of course emotions run high. We're very frustrated, we're tired at the end of the day  but I feel like we definitely maintained our initial purpose and mission, which was to shed light on what is going on in this establishment and bringing the community together to remind them just how much we're worth and how much our lives are valued."

The protest was swiftly organized after racist text messages allegedly sent by Elmendorf surfaced on social media last week. By Friday, Gardner had asked the state attorney general's office to conduct an immediate civil rights investigation into Elmendorf's "discriminatory and illegal actions."

It wasn't clear if Elmendorf was present at the shop during Sunday's protest, and he could not be reached for comment. The parlor was open as usual and took a few customers at the beginning of the event, as demonstrators yelled nearby. The shop also had two "Blue Lives Matter" flags flying from the restaurant.

One customer, 23-year-old Billy Cohn, said he bought ice cream Sunday before he was aware that officials were asking for an investigation into the text messages. Cohn has frequented the establishment for years and thought the messages were fake  but changed his mind after a brief confrontation with demonstrators who informed him of the cause.

"I regret it," he said of buying the ice cream, adding that he will "never" shop at Bumpy's again. Cohn ended up staying on scene to livestream the rest of the protest.
Although Maglione has acknowledged Ratlieffs shooting, he has defended the actions of his officers, who he said were responding to attacks. In the videos, some officers are seen being struck by objects such as rocks. Others reported being burned by fireworks.
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court declined Friday to force Texas officials to offer mail-in ballots to all voters in the state because of the threat of the coronavirus, not just those over 65.

The justices, without comment, turned down a request from the Texas Democratic Party to reinstate a district judge's order that would affect the upcoming primary election in July and the general election in November.

There were no noted dissents to the order, but Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that the case raised "weighty but seemingly novel questions" regarding whether special conditions for those over a certain age violated the constitutional rights of younger voters.

She said an emergency request like the one before the Supreme Court was not the right time to consider them. But she added that she hoped the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit "will consider the merits of the legal issues in this case well in advance of the November election."

In May, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery issued a preliminary injunction allowing all Texas voters who feared exposure to the coronavirus to ask for a mail-in ballot, not just those older than 65.

But the decision was immediately appealed by the state's Republican leaders: Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Secretary of State Ruth Hughs, an Abbott appointee.

A unanimous three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit put Biery's ruling on hold, saying such decisions were best left to state officials. Besides the recent age exception, the state allows absentee voting only for voters who are out of state or have a disability.

The state's decision to allow older voters an absentee ballot was a concession to the coronavirus outbreak. Texas faces a spike in reported covid-19 cases.

But Democrats said such protection from voting in person must be offered to all. Once Texas decided to expand the absentee ballot process for older Texans - or make any change to voting procedures - it was constitutionally obligated to extend the benefit to all, the party argued.

"Texas can no more limit vote-by-mail to voters over the age of sixty-five than it could limit its early voting period only to voters under the age of sixty-five (perhaps on the theory that older voters are less likely to face childcare or employment responsibilities that make it difficult to get to the polls on a Tuesday)," the Democrats argued in their filing to the court.

"Whatever right to vote a state creates - whether it involves polling hours, early voting, or vote-by-mail - must be extended to all voters without regard to their race, their sex, their payment of a tax . . . . or their age."

Texas countered that the appeals court got it right, and that voting accommodations are not constitutionally protected.

"The Fifth Circuit correctly explained that petitioners' ineligibility to vote by mail does not implicate 'the right to vote' protected by the Twenty-Sixth Amendment - or any other constitutional provision," Texas told the Supreme Court in its legal filing.

"There is no constitutional right to vote by mail, and each petitioner acknowledges that he or she has the option to vote by personal appearance on election day or during the extended early-voting period Texas is offering before the July primary."

The Texas legal battle comes as states adjust their procedures in response to the pandemic and expand voting by mail.

All voters in every state but two - Mississippi and Texas - have the right to cast mail or absentee ballots for the midyear primaries after the pandemic led 14 states to relax their rules. Many states are now considering extending those changes for the general election in November.

- - -

The Washington Post's Michelle Ye Hee Lee contributed to this report.
Steve Jacobs / Times Union

ALBANY The YMCA of the Capital District has filed a notice with the state that outlines plans to layoff 1,426 employees as part of a COVID-related temporary plant closure.

Notice of the job cuts, which started on March 27, were filed with the state Department of Labor on June 17 under the federal WARN Act. That law requires advances notices of layoffs in companies with 50 or more employees.
The Louisville (Kentucky) Metro Police Department has fired Brett Hankison, one of three police officers involved in the egregious death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician who was shot dead in her home although she was not guilty of any crime. Prosecutors should go further and bring criminal charges against all three. Civilians have been prosecuted for behavior less damning.

But even criminal prosecutions of the three involved in Taylor's death won't change the dynamic that prompted them to break down her door in the middle of the night, claiming they were looking for evidence of illegal drugs. After all, a judge signed off on no-knock warrants that allowed police to barge into her home. (The Louisville Metro Council has since outlawed no-knock warrants.)

Taylor's murder is a consequence not only of outrageous police conduct but of the misguided, decades-long "war on drugs." That campaign has fostered a lawless climate within the criminal justice system, a climate that misrepresents arrests as security, low-level dealers as drug kingpins and imprisonment of nonviolent drug offenders as victories over the illegal drug trade.

Around the country, some advocates for police reform have shifted to a call to defund the police, an unfortunate tagline that could be interpreted as giving up police protection from actual criminals. Instead, they ought to call for defunding the war on drugs, which would save billions of dollars, shift resources to social services and scale back the police war on poor black and brown neighborhoods.

Since then-President Richard Nixon declared illegal drug use (not poverty or racism or systemic inequality) "public enemy No. 1" in 1971, the United States has spent approximately a trillion dollars in its war on drugs, according to the Center for American Progress.

What have we purchased with that money? The use of illegal drugs certainly hasn't decreased. Rather, it has shifted, waxing and waning among different drugs and populations. While cocaine surged in popularity in the 1980s and methamphetamines about a decade later, prescription opioids became the preferred method of illegally self-medicating in the 21st century. When authorities cracked down on prescription drug supplies, addicts simply shifted to heroin and synthetic opioids.

Meanwhile, the war on drugs has been a cornerstone of what legal scholar Michelle Alexander has called "The New Jim Crow," fueling the mass incarceration of black Americans, especially men. Although black Americans account for about 12.5% of all users of illegal drugs  a number on par with our percentage in the population  we account for about 30% of all drug arrests. Police departments encourage their officers to make arrests, so they routinely target penny-ante dealers and users in poor neighborhoods. For decades, Congress even held on to a blatantly racist law that punished the use of crack cocaine (which is used disproportionately by blacks) more harshly than the use of powdered cocaine.

As opioid addiction began to disproportionately affect white Americans, the rhetoric around illegal drug use began to shift appreciably. While black Americans who used crack had been disparaged as outlaws deserving imprisonment, white opioid users have been described sympathetically as addicts deserving treatment.

The mass incarceration of black men has decimated entire neighborhoods, locking up young men who should have been working and taking care of their families. When they are finally released, they are subjected to long periods of parole, which means they can be imprisoned again for minor offenses. Worse still, they are shunned by employers because they have felony records.

The punitive approach to drug use has also encouraged the growth of violent criminal cartels, mostly south of the border. Citizens of Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia have suffered horribly from Americans' demand for illegal drugs and the drug kingpins who stepped in to provide the supply. The United States learned nothing from alcohol prohibition, which fueled the rise of violent gangsters such as Al Capone.

The war on drugs can make police officers indistinguishable from violent gangsters. In 2007, three Atlanta police officers were sent to prison for killing 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston in her home after they barged in on a no-knock warrant obtained by lying to a judge. Similarly, reports indicate that the Louisville police may have lied to obtain their warrant for Taylor's home.

It's past time to put an end to this official thuggery.
THE ISSUE:

Russia is alleged to have offered bounties for terrorists to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

THE STAKES:

Congress must find out if this is true and if the Trump administration stood idly by.

---

The allegations are alarming  that Russia offered bounties to terrorists to kill American and other coalition forces in Afghanistan  and incendiary  that either President Donald Trump knew of it and took no action or for some reason wasn't told.

The first order of business is for Congress to get the truth from an often-secretive and far-too-often-untruthful administration.

According to reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post, Russia offered the Taliban money to kill coalition forces starting last year  which would as surely be an attack on our troops as if Russia had itself attacked. We can't say with certainty now how many of the 18 American troops killed in Afghanistan the past two years may have been slain in exchange for Russian payments.

The intelligence was said to have been discussed at the "highest levels" in the White House, including at a meeting in March.

Yet Mr. Trump insists nobody told him about it and cries "fake news," as usual. But the news turns out to be not so fake: His spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany, while asserting that neither the president nor Vice President Mike Pence was briefed on the reported bounty program, acknowledged the intelligence community has indeed been looking at it. She claims that no consensus has been reached and that "some" question the information's veracity and dodges questions about when Mr. Trump learned of the allegations.

The prospect that the president did nothing in response to Russian proxy attacks on U.S. service members would be all the more inflammatory given Mr. Trump's past record of accepting Vladimir Putin's denial of interference on his behalf in the 2016 election, over the assessment of the U.S. intelligence community. Mr. Trump has also been pushing lately to let Russia rejoin the G-7 forum of leading industrial nations. Russia was indefinitely suspended from it in 2014 after annexing Crimea from Ukraine.

Then there's Mr. Trump's reputation for being inattentive to intelligence briefings and past reports that there are some subjects  like unfavorable news concerning Russia  that he doesn't even want to hear. Was he briefed but didn't listen? Given information he didn't read? Or wasn't told so as to avoid upsetting him?

It says something about the seriousness of the allegations and Mr. Trump's strained credibility that representatives and senators on both sides of the aisle are demanding Congress be briefed on the issue. Congress  all of it, not just Mr. Trump's Republican allies  must get a full accounting of what is going on, of who knew what and when.

A little more than two weeks ago, Mr. Trump assured more than 1,100 graduating cadets at West Point, "If our people are threatened, we will never, ever hesitate to act." And just two weeks before that, Mr. Trump, by the Post's count, had set a new record for false and misleading statements since taking office: 19,128. Those new officers, and every person in the military, and every other American citizen, deserve to know if that statement was true or just one more lie.
Farmington, WV (26555)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High around 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers in the evening, then overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low 59F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
June 29, 2020





2006 - we had Daniel Craigs Bond, The X Factor and Rihanna, yet, unbelievably, wed never heard of an app. Like all of those things, apps feel like theyve been around forever, but the iPhone (News - Alert) would actually be released a year later and - not to overstate - totally change our lives. 007 might still use a Sony, but its thanks to Apple (News - Alert) that apps, snaps and maps in our pocket became the new normal, seemingly overnight.







The iPhone 12 is expected to launch in September, and the rumour mill has already been churning for months. But despite Apples reputation for innovation and design, its hard to imagine what more our phones could do. Smartphone sales in general are flattening out - which makes you wonder, is there anything left for Apple to pull out of the bag?

Since the first iPhone arrived on the scene, weve had additions like the App Store, sat nav, video recording, FaceTime (News - Alert) , Siri and Apple Pay. But these game-changing updates were all packed into the first half of iPhones decade-plus reign. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are still the best selling models, and most of the features added since have been incremental improvements to look and performance.

While we only have rumours to go on so far, the iPhone 12 range is tipped to be faster, with improved screens and 5G connectivity. Not the kind of features youll want to show off to your friends, maybe, but ones that do play into an evolving desire for our phones to simply fit seamlessly into our day. The queues around the Apple Store might not be as long in 2020, but its important for the tech giants to keep pace with what the people really want - not a shiny status symbol, but a tool to enhance their lives and experiences.

Even if the phones dont change much, maybe the way we get our hands on them will. When it comes to buying a new iPhone, London-based start-up Raylo dont think you should be buying one at all. They believe the future is in leasing your most used bit of tech. Raylo offer the chance to lease the latest iPhones for a monthly fee thats cheaper than buying outright or paying off the full price over the course of a contract. Its a model where value, service and sustainability are king. You dont own the phone, but does it matter when youve got access to all the same experiences in your pocket?

As well as value, sustainability is a huge factor in leasing - The UN have acknowledged theres a massive global e-waste problem and were all guilty of dumping an old phone or leaving it to fester in a drawer. Even when theyre recycled, the creation of new phones is putting a huge demand on limited natural resources. While theres no getting around the fact that Apples next freshly-pressed iPhone will have to come off the factory line, Raylo ensure that the phone you leased goes back into circulation when your done.

As well as brand new iPhones, Raylo have also added the option of a refurbished iPhone X to their range, and pre-owned phones are another trend on the rise. With big updates between releases becoming rarer, clued-up consumers are looking to snap up previous models which still do a pretty great job. Research by CSS (News - Alert) Insight this year found that 60% of UK shoppers would now consider getting a refurbished phone.

While Tim Cook and co look ahead to the iPhone 12 and beyond, customers prioritising value and sustainability might just be looking in the rearview mirror. We can always count on Apple to innovate and, no matter what, there will be iPhone fans who want the latest release, but how they think about getting that device might be the biggest update on the horizon.
June 29, 2020





According to data collected by the Pew (News - Alert) Research Center, an estimated fifty-one percent of adults in the U.S. use online banking services to manage their financial accounts. In many cases, those who have chosen not to enroll in online services cite security concerns as a primary factor in determining their lack of participation.







While concerns about internet banking security are valid, FinTech experts like Vladimirs Remi assert that managing banking accounts with online tools is ultimately safe, as long as standard security practices are implemented vigilantly.

In short, the threats posed by online banking are distinct from those posed by traditional banking methods, but that does not make internet banking inherently dangerous. Those who mindfully choose to partner with institutions that are prudent with their cybersecurity efforts in addition to adopting safety-minded practices minimize risk and safeguard themselves against any harmful security breaches.

Is Online Banking Secure?

In many ways, online banking is actually far more secure than traditional banking practices, especially when it comes to the handling of large amounts of cash (as is the case with large physical deposits and withdraws).

As long as you are vigilant about following best practices and you are educated on your financial institutions procedural safety recommendations, online banking is incredibly secure. If you are feeling uncertain, ask your bank or credit union what in-built security measures they employ to help protect their customers. In most cases, financial institutions are also able to execute additional safety measures to help maximize account safety. These might include daily credit limits, fraud flags, notifications, and regional locks.

Partner with a Security-Minded Institution

Online banking services can only be as secure as the financial institution offering them; that is why it is essential to partner with security-minded banks and credit unions that work whole-heartedly to protect its clients.

The most secure institutions have vigilant measures in place that help to ensure security breaches cannot occur, both internally and externally. These systems work to secure not just the internal process (employees, vendors, systems, and processes) but customer-facing elements as well.

Secure infrastructure, mandatory authentication requirements (including multi-factor authentication), audit trails, secure processes, and continuous communication are all integral elements of any banks security initiative. Together, these help keep clients data safe from cyberattacks and other potential threats that might otherwise put clients sensitive information at risk.

When shopping around for a financial institution, Vladimirs Remi recommends inquiring specifically about the bank or credit unions cybersecurity initiatives and current practices. Choosing an institution that is security-minded and dedicated to protecting your data and assets is the first step in staying safe while banking online. Additionally, many financial institutions offer extensive informational resources for clients wishing to learn more about safe banking procedures and cyber security practices in general.

Best Practices for Banking Online

After confirming that you have partnered with a secure financial institution, much of staying safe online when banking electronically will come down to your own practices and procedures. Most financial institutions have their own recommendations, which Vladimirs Remi recommends familiarizing yourself with. In addition to those standards, the following basic principles are excellent practices when aiming to safeguard your online banking account.

Choose Complex Passwords

It may go without saying for many, but the importance of choosing a complex password can never be understated. In order to safeguard your account against unwanted breaches, craft a strong, unique password. 8 characters or more is the standard, although longer is certainly ideal. If possible, opt to implement a passphrase rather than a single word or series of characters. Additionally, be sure to include numbers and special characters in addition to letters. Using a variety of upper and lower cases is also effective in increasing a passwords overall strength.

Once you have established your password, refrain from sharing it with anyone or storing it anywhere on your computer or mobile device. Be wary of emails and phone calls, even those claiming to be from your bank, which openly or indirectly solicit your password, as these are common scam tactics.

Change Your Password Regularly

It may seem like common sense that a stronger, more complex password is more secure; fewer understand the importance of changing passwords frequently, regardless of the initial passwords perceived strength. This may help guard your account from potential threats in the event of a security breach. Additionally, Vladimirs Remi highlights the importance of using unique, never-before-used passwords in order to maximize your accounts security standing. That way, if one of your personal accounts is hacked, the others are not necessarily at risk as well.

Avoid Automated Login Features

Auto-login saves time and energy, but top experts assert that its convenience is never worth the security risk. Auto-login interfaces work by storing your sensitive data. Should that database ever be hacked or compromised, your sensitive login details will also be made available.

Additionally, opting in on auto-login offerings turns your personal devices into a dangerous liability. If your computer or mobile device is lost or stolen, thieves and hackers will likely be capable of accessing your most sensitive accountsbanking accounts included.

Set Transaction Limits

Transaction limits refer to pre-set caps on how much an individual can transfer or withdraw from an account during any given amount of time (usually a day or a week). Generally speaking, transaction limits are customizable and can be edited or lifted by the account owner at will. In limiting the amount of money immediately accessible, this measure works to limit the damage of any successful breaches, protecting the account owner from losses should the account details be stolen and fraudulently used.
[June 29, 2020] Apple Growth Partners Named Top Workplaces 2020 by The Plain Dealer

Apple (News - Alert) Growth Partners (AGP), award-winning accounting and business advisory firm, has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2020 honor by The Plain Dealer. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 drivers of engaged cultures that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few. "In times of great change, it is more important than ever to maintain a connection among employees," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward based on real-time insights into what works best for your organization. The Top Workplaces program can be that positive outcome your company can rally around in the coming months to celebrate leadership and the importance of maintaining an employee-focused culture, even during challenging times." Recognized for the second consecutive year by Top Workplaces, AGP has focused efforts on developing and fostering a positive culture to attract new employees and retain engaged team members. Measurements such as the Top Workplace employee-based survey help keep the firm accountable to the needs of employees. Chairman Chuck Mullen has placed significant emphasis on maintaining a healthy culture. "We continually make decisions that led to our firm being an awesome place to build a career, which leads to other benefits such as being able to attract top talent," says Mullen. "We take pride in adapting to the needs of our employees. For example, last year, we established core hours to provide a better work/life balance and to move away from the industry-standard 8 AM to 8 PM hours during the tax season."



In addition to introducing core hours, AGP also established an employee advisory committee, consisting of staff members not on the Executive Committee. The committee meets to discuss ways to improve employees' experiences through anonymous surveys and focus groups. "Our firm truly listens to employees through a variety of methods," explains Mullen. "We're dedicated to keeping AGP a leading firm in Northeastern Ohio, and we can only do that if our employees are truly engaged."

About Apple Growth Partners Apple Growth Partners is an award-winning accounting and business advisory firm with more than 75 years of helping grow local businesses. With offices in Cleveland, Akron, Canton, and Kent, AGP offers a full range of services, including audit and assurance, tax planning and compliance, business valuation, litigation consulting, employee stock ownership plans, and transaction advisory services. To learn more, visit www.applegrowth.com. About Energage Energage offers a fully unified SaaS (News - Alert) platform, plus support and professional services, to help organizations recruit and retain the right talent. As a B-Corporation founding member, Energage has committed itself to the purpose of making the world a better place to work together. Based on 14 years of culture research, the engine behind 51 Top Workplaces programs across the country, and data gathered from over 20 million employees at 60,000 organizations, Energage has isolated the 15 drivers of engaged cultures that are critical to the success of any business, and developed the tools and expertise to help organizations measure, shape and showcase their unique culture to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. For more information, please visit energage.com. Follow us on Twitter @teamenergage and Facebook and LinkedIn (News - Alert) @energage. #### View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005002/en/

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Demand Surges for Impossible Foods' First All-New Product Since the Blockbuster Impossible Burger

Impossible Foods is experiencing unprecedented demand for Impossible Sausage Made From Plants, the company's first all-new product since the 2016 debut of Impossible Burger.

The leading food tech startup launched Impossible Sausage in January. Within six months, the savory patties have become available at more than 20,000 locations throughout the United States. To see the full list of locations, please check our locator map.

Impossible Sausage debuts today at 30 of America's top diners as ranked by Yelp (News - Alert) -- proof that Impossible Foods' plant-based meat satisfies the most discerning comfort-food aficionados and brunchers. And starting today, all restaurants nationwide can order Impossible Sausage.

"We launched Impossible Burger in 2016 at America's best restaurants, when consumers were just starting to get a taste for Impossible products and few realized that plant-based meat could outperform animal analogues in taste, nutrition and convenience," said Impossible Foods' Founder and CEO Dr. Patrick O. Brown. "By the end of 2016, we had expanded to a grand total of four restaurants. By contrast, Impossible Sausage went from zero to 20,000 restaurants in the first half of 2020 alone -- a clear bellwether for growth and a warning to incumbent meat producers."

Best of the wurst

Impossible Sausage is a pre-seasoned, pre-cooked savory patty from Impossible Foods, Inc. Magazine's company of the year and one of Time Magazine's 50 Genius companies. Winner of the 2020 Food and Beverage Award, Impossible Sausage is a versatile item for drive-through, pickup or dine-in service, Impossible Sausage outperforms conventional sausage from pigs for nutrition and sustainability.

Compared to the leading brand of pork sausage, Impossible Sausage has the same amount of protein, 60% more iron, 45% fewer calories, 60% less total fat, 50% less saturated fat and 0 mg cholesterol. Impossible Sausage has none of the negative effects of the animal analogue, and it has no antibiotics or slaughterhouse contaminants.

The convenient 1.6-ounce patties are pre-seasoned with traditional breakfast seasoning and arrive fully cooked in 10-pound boxes (100 patties). The juicy, savory plant-based patties that pair perfectly with traditional breakfast accompaniments and steal the show as a center-of-the-plate delicacy.

To buy Impossible Sausage for your restaurant, email hello@impossiblefoods.com.

Trust your local diner

Starting today, Impossible Foods is expanding sales of its award-winning sausage widely to all restaurants nationwide. America's largest food distributors and redistributors, including DOT, Sysco, US Foods and others, now carry Impossible Sausage at warehouses throughout the United States.

Also today, some of America's top-ranked diners, according to Yelp, will begin serving Impossible Sausage. Impossible Foods teamed up with Yelp to curate a list of the top diners across the country* -- and these beloved institutions are the first independently owned restaurants to feature Impossible Sausage. The full list of diners offering Impossible Sausage is available here (and listed below). Participating diners were also offered one-month free access to tools that help them promote their new Impossible Sausage dishes, including Yelp Connect and Business Highlights; as well as Yelp Waitlist to help the restaurants safely reopen their dining rooms and manage capacity.

"Plant-based meat has experienced a significant rise in consumer interest on Yelp as we've seen a 140% increase in review mentions of 'plant based' over the past two years," said Yelp trend expert, Tara Lewis. "In fact, Impossible Burger was one of Yelp's biggest food trends in 2019, and we don't see that slowing down anytime soon. Consumers are looking to make socially conscious decisions when it comes to dining out and, with our curated list of top diners, they'll know just the place. We're thrilled to highlight some of these incredible local spots."

"The classic mainstreet diner is a cornerstone of American cuisine -- and their hard-working owners would never settle for second best," said Impossible Foods' President Dennis Woodside. "We want to work with independent restaurateurs and spread the word that America's diners are open for business -- whether for takeout or dine-in, for long-time loyal customers or for new fans specifically searching for Impossible Sausage."

For sales details, email hello@impossiblefoods.com.

30 of America's Top Diners According to Yelp:*

Little Richard's Family Diner - North Pole, Alaska

Little Anthony's Diner - Tucson, Arizona







Beach Break Cafe - Oceanside, California

Broadway Diner - Middletown, Delaware

Boynton Diner - Boynton Beach, Florida

Daily Eats - Tampa, Florida

Little Duck Diner - Savannah, Georgia

Oxbow Diner - Bliss, Idaho

Gallery Pastry Shop - Indianapolis, Indiana

Drake Diner - Des Moines, Iowa

D. Nalley's - Louisville, Kentucky

Miss Portland Diner - Portland, Maine

The Diner at 11 North Beacon - Watertown, Massachusetts

Al's Breakfast - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Brent's Drugs - Jackson, Mississippi

Union Diner - Laconia, New Hampshire

Marlboro Diner - Englishtown, New Jersey

Plaza Cafe Downtown - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Plaza Cafe Southside - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Champs Diner - Brooklyn, New York

The Dive N - Pineville, North Carolina

Canal Street Diner - Bolivar, Ohio

Cafe Lift - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Early Bird Diner - Charleston, South Carolina

Inskip Grill - Knoxville, Tennessee

Maple Leaf Diner - Dallas, Texas

Ruth's Diner - Salt Lake City, Utah

Bob's Diner - Manchester Center, Vermont

Anchor Allie's - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Fare Well - Washington D.C.

*This is an all-time list of 30 of the top diners across the U.S. according to Yelp. The company identified independently owned businesses in the diners category, then ranked those spots using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews. When available, all businesses on this list have a passing health score, and were confirmed open and operating with either dine-in, delivery or takeout as of June 1, 2020. Each diner has a claimed Yelp page and agreed to participate in the campaign.

About Impossible Foods:

Based in California's Silicon Valley, Impossible Foods makes delicious, nutritious meat and dairy products from plants - with a much smaller environmental footprint than meat from animals. The privately held food tech startup was founded in 2011 by Patrick O. Brown, M.D., Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry at Stanford University and a former Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. Investors include Mirae Asset Global Investments, Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, Google (News - Alert) Ventures, Horizons Ventures, UBS, Viking Global Investors, Temasek, Sailing Capital, and Open Philanthropy Project.

Impossible Foods was Inc. Magazine's company of the year and one of Time Magazine's 50 Genius companies. The flagship product, Impossible Burger, was named top plant-based burger by the New York Times and received the Food and Beverage (FABI) Award from the National Restaurant Association.

More information:

impossiblefoods.com

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Media kit:

www.impossiblefoods.com/media

About Yelp Inc.

Yelp Inc. (www.yelp.com) connects people with great local businesses. With unmatched local business information, photos and review content, Yelp provides a one-stop local platform for consumers to discover, connect and transact with local businesses of all sizes by making it easy to request a quote, join a waitlist, and make a reservation, appointment or purchase. Yelp was founded in San Francisco in July 2004. Since then, Yelp has taken root in major metros in more than 30 countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005566/en/
[June 29, 2020] Emmaus Life Sciences Receives Endari Marketing Authorization from the Israeli Ministry of Health

TORRANCE, Calif., June 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: EMMA), a leader in sickle cell disease treatment, announced today that it was issued a license from the Israeli Ministry of Health on June 17, 2020 granting marketing authorization for the commercial distribution and sale of Endari in Israel.

Endari is approved in Israel as in the U.S. as an amino acid indicated to reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease in adult and pediatric patients five years of age and older. Dr. Yutaka Niihara, M.D., M.P.H., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Emmaus, commented, We are very pleased that the Israeli Ministry of Health has issued this license to Emmaus. It represents another important step in providing increased access to Endari in the Middle East and North Africa region with its large and underserved sickle cell disease patient population. George Sekulich, Senior Vice President of Global Commercialization of Emmaus, added, The approval from the Israeli Ministry of Health is an important and gratifying validation of the safety and efficacy of Endari. It is also a significant development in our strategy of expanding the global availability of Endari. We look forward to working with our partner, Megapharm Ltd., to make Endari available to the Israeli sickle cell disease patient population. About Emmaus Life Sciences Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, marketing and sale of innovative treatments and therapies, including those in the rare and orphan disease categories. For more information, please visit www.emmausmedical.com. About Endari (prescription grade L-glutamine oral powder) Indication (U.S.) - Endari is indicated to reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease in adult and pediatric patients five years of age andolder.



Important Safety Information The most common adverse reactions (incidence >10 percent) in clinical studies were constipation, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, cough, pain in extremities, back pain, and chest pain.

Adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation included one case each of hypersplenism, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, burning sensation, and hot flash. The safety and efficacy of Endari in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease younger than five years of age has not been established. For more information, please see full Prescribing Information of Endari at: www.ENDARIrx.com/PI. About Sickle Cell Disease Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder characterized by the production of an altered form of hemoglobin which polymerizes and becomes fibrous, causing red blood cells to become rigid and change form so that they appear sickle shaped instead of soft and rounded. Patients with sickle cell disease suffer from debilitating episodes of sickle cell crises, which occur when the rigid, adhesive and inflexible red blood cells occlude blood vessels. Sickle cell crises cause excruciating pain as a result of insufficient oxygen being delivered to tissue, referred to as tissue ischemia, and inflammation. These events may lead to organ damage, stroke, pulmonary complications, skin ulceration, infection and a variety of other adverse outcomes. Sickle cell disease is a significant unmet medical need, affecting approximately one hundred thousand patients in the U.S. and millions worldwide, the majority of which are of African descent. An estimated 1-in-365 African American children are born with sickle cell disease. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding the license received from the Israeli Ministry of Health. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which change over time, including the risk that the license does not result in significant sales of Endari in Israel and uncertainties related to Emmaus working capital and ability to carry on its existing operations and obtain needed financing and other factors previously disclosed in the companys reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and actual results may differ materially. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Emmaus assumes no duty to update them, except as may be required by law. Company Contact: Investor Relations Contact: Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. LifeSci Advisors Joseph (Jay) C. Sherwood III Bruce Mackle Chief Financial Officer (929) 469-3859 (310) 214-0065, Ext. 3005 bmackle@lifesciadvisors.com jsherwood@emmauslifesciences.com

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[June 29, 2020] Government of Canada and provinces implement digital business registration solution

OTTAWA, ON, June 29, 2020 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada recognizes that connecting Canada's different federal, provincial and territorial business registries will make business registration and reporting easier. In an effort to make it simpler and faster to start a business in Canada, governments across the country have together developed and launched a digital solution to improve business registration, saving businesses time and money. The digital solution, called the Multi-Jurisdictional Registry Access Service (MRAS), reduces red tape and internal trade barriers for companies by connecting business registries across the country. It enables businesses in Canada to register seamlessly in select provinces and territories without having to provide the same information to each jurisdiction. Today, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have become the first jurisdictions to adopt the MRAS digital solution to connect their business registries and exchange information. This means businesses will find it easier to register in those provinces now and in other jurisdictions in the future. The adoption of MRAS by the western provinces is an extension of the MRAS-enabled Canada's Business Registries, a free online search platform of Canadian businesses launched in 2018. MRAS is the result of a pan-Canadian collaboration led by the federal government to make it easier for companies to register and do business with government and to increase corporate transparency. Under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement's Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation Table, jurisdictions across Canada haveendorsed an agreement to reduce internal trade barriers by collaborating in the adoption of MRAS.



Quotes "We're committed to improving corporate transparency and reducing internal trade barriers for Canadian businesses. The adoption of the Multi-Jurisdictional Registry Access Service by the four western provinces is the result of a successful collaboration that will bring tangible benefits to businesses. As the economy turns the corner on the pandemic, businesses can rest assured that our government is making it easier for them to invest and create jobs."

 The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Industry, Science and Innovation

"Canadians are innovative and entrepreneurial, and our government is breaking down longstanding regulatory red tape to help more entrepreneurs turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses. That's why we've come together to create the Multi-Jurisdictional Registry Access Service  making it easier for businesses to register with governments and navigate across the Western provinces. We remain committed to helping Canadian business owners rebuild in the weeks and months ahead."

 The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Quick facts The Multi-Jurisdictional Registry Access Service (MRAS) is a digital solution created to connect the 14 business registries in Canada . It is part of the Government of Canada's efforts to reduce the registration burden and provide client-centric digital services for businesses, including small businesses.

. It is part of the Government of efforts to reduce the registration burden and provide client-centric digital services for businesses, including small businesses. Businesses are legally required to register in each province or territory where they conduct business. Business registration is akin to birth registration, as it similarly serves as an authoritative source of identity.

More business registries are expected to use MRAS to expand streamlined business registration across Canada , starting with Corporations Canada (federal) in the fall 2020.

, starting with Corporations Canada (federal) in the fall 2020. British Columbia , Alberta , Saskatchewan and Manitoba's adoption of MRAS delivers on commitments made under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement to reconcile business registration and reporting requirements between the jurisdictions, thus simplifying interprovincial business processes. Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media.

Twitter: @ISED_CA, Facebook: Canadian Innovation, Instagram: @cdninnovation and LinkedIn Follow @CanadaBusiness on social media for business-related news: Twitter, Facebook SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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[June 29, 2020] Laffer Study: Widespread Adoption of Digital Credentialing Would Lead to $437.6 Billion in Annual Economic Benefits

Laffer Associates, the economic research firm founded by renowned economist Dr. Arthur B. Laffer, issued a report today detailing the vast economic benefits of digital solutions that can dramatically shorten periods of worker unemployment, particularly in the COVID-19 economic recovery. Accounting for the labor needs in a job market recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Laffer report estimates that full implementation of a digital instant-placement program would benefit the U.S. economy to the tune of $437.6 billion per year. "America faces a crossroads, and there's one sure way to speed up economic recovery - by compressing the amount of time it takes to get a job and creating a more efficient labor market," Said Dr. Laffer. "The sooner we can get the 40 million unemployed Americans back to work, the sooner they'll be gainfully employed, off government assistance and back to contributing as taxpayers-a win, win, win. Companies like Merit are ready to step in and make a meaningful difference in the coming economic recovery, having already established a robust verified identity platform. Government leaders at the federal, state, and municipal levels would be wise to employ their innovations." Even during healthy economic periods, the hiring process costs employers an average of 42 days and $4,129 per hire. The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic downturn has brought increased urgency to reduce the time between a worker losing a job and starting a new employment opportunity - a period of time known as "frictional unemployment." "The notion of interoperable learning records is taking hold across the country, and Merit is leading the way by building easy-to-deploy infrastructure that allows states to get people the credentials they need to quickly get to work," said Tomer Kagan, Merit's CEO. "Dr. Laffer and team have identified a half-trillion-dollar economic gap, and Merit is standing by ready to help states take swift action."



The report recommends policymakers at all levels of government adopt digital solutions such as interoperable learning records (ILRs), which contain digital records of a worker's credentials (such as educational background, employment history, training history, and certifications held). Employers can instantly verify prospective employees' merits - promoting efficiency and significantly reducing the amount of time it takes to fill employment vacancies. "Companies like Merit are ready to step in and make a meaningful difference in the coming economic recovery, having already established a robust verified identity platform," Laffer added. "Government leaders at the federal, state, and municipal levels would be wise to employ their innovations."

About Laffer Associates Laffer Associates is the culmination of a lifetime's worth of rigorous institutional and academic economic research by the firm's founder and chairman, Dr. Arthur B. Laffer. For over four decades, the Laffer Associates team has developed original works and proprietary models that analyze and forecast how economics affects the real world. Laffer Associates provides research and consulting services to a wide range of corporate and money management clients and plays an active role in educating and advising government policymakers about economics. The firm is based in Nashville, Tennessee. About Merit Merit is the first universal verified identity ecosystem for government, businesses, and workers to operate with the efficiency, trust, and transparency that comes with having universal mobility. By letting everyone access, track, and organize their achievements in real time, Merit is bringing personal and professional skills verification into the digital age. Through a single, secure platform, Merit puts the power of trusted and verified credentials in the hands of professionals across the public and private sectors, supporting professional licensing, occupational regulation, workforce development, emergency services, recreation, and other digital credentialing applications. Find more information about how Merit is helping everyone shape their future at https://www.merits.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005164/en/

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[June 29, 2020] Morgan Stanley Announces $10 Million to Support National Urban League Collaboration

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is pleased to announce $10 million in grants to support the National Urban League (NUL) and expand a number of critical initiatives in communities where the Urban League operates. The funds will support the following initiatives: Infrastructure support for NUL's Urban Empowerment Fund, credit union and NUL's financial literacy and homeowner counseling programs. NULs Workforce Development Program with an emphasis on technology programs that help close the digital divide by expanding broadband access for communities and households that lack affordable high speed internet. The current pandemic has demonstrated the importance of equitable internet access for working and attending school from home. A four-year internship program in NUL's Office of the President to provide rising leaders the opportunity to work alongside NUL's executive management. "We are proud to further our commitment to our longstanding partner the National Urban League to support underserved communities that have disproportionally been impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic and its economic consequences," said Thomas R. Nides, Vice Chairman of Morgan Stanley. "This funding will help maximize the positive impact of the NUL on the communities it serves." "We are excited to have Morgan Stanley's support to strengthen our highly impactful economic empowerment initiaties, which advance our relentless efforts to close the racial wealth gap in America," said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League.



This is the latest action Morgan Stanley has taken to support communities grappling with the economic and health crisis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous commitments Morgan Stanley has made include: $10 million in grants to support Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) including Industrial Bank of Washington, D.C., and Citizens Trust Bank of Atlanta, GA, that will allow the banks to bolster loan loss reserves to help weather the economic impact of COVID-19. A $10 million investment to support the New York Forward Loan Fund, part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's initiative to reinvigorate New York's small businesses and critical non-profits. The New York Forward Loan Fund will provide sustainable capital to Community Development Financial Institution's (CDFI) to make low cost recovery loans in communities hard hit by the COVID-19 health and economic crisis. $25 million in grants to support the ongoing relief efforts to the global COVID-19 crisis. These grants have been given to organizations that are fighting hunger as well as organizations focused on disease control, caring for the sick and financial support for those most vulnerable in our communities who are struggling with the economic loss. As part of the $25 million commitment, the Firm has launched the Morgan Stanley COVID-19 Hunger Relief Campaign, which has facilitated employee contributions to critical feeding partners in all of the Firm's major global locations and the Firm has matched employee contributions dollar for dollar up to $5,000 per employee for designated feeding programs. Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005799/en/

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[June 29, 2020] NewRez Issues First Annual Employee Service Award Through Multiplying Good Partnership

NewRez LLC ("NewRez" or the "Company"), a national mortgage lending and servicing organization, announced earlier this month its partnership with Multiplying Good, a long-standing national nonprofit dedicated to empowering, supporting and celebrating public service. One component of the partnership involves recognition for employee volunteerism through Multiplying Good's long-standing Jefferson Awards Foundation (JAF) Champions Program, honoring those who put others first. Those receiving Jefferson Awards are empowered to do more, while their stories of extraordinary public service inspire others to action. NewRez is pleased to announce that Donnie Gravley, Director of Training and Development of the company's servicing division, has been selected to receive the company's inaugural JAF Champion award. Since starting with the company 8 years ago, Mr. Gravley has championed countless giving and volunteer efforts across offices in Houston, Texas, Tempe, Arizona, and in his home office in Greenville, South Carolina. He embodies the NewRez mission of investing in the health, vibrancy and sustainability of our communities through charitable contribution, outreach, and participation. By way of time and deed, Donnie has gathered colleagues to support the March of Dimes, United Way, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Susan G. Komen, The Wounded Warrior Project, and several local schools, education programs, and women's centers. "Donnie is passionate about supporting local comunities and has demonstrated this passion in countless ways over the years. He has led numerous charitable initiatives and successfully engaged other employees in his efforts. We recognize Donnie as one of those people who sees a problem and wants to fix it," says Liz Monahan, NewRez Chief Human Resources Officer. "Donnie is a conscientious and caring person, and he approaches every giving opportunity with gusto."



"Engaging my colleagues in community service is very important to me. Giving connects and engages us as a team. It's the opportunity to feel we're part of something bigger," Gravley said of his charitable endeavors. "The most gratifying part of leading these efforts is, for me, planting a seed of giving back and watching it grow into something beautiful. I have seen first-hand my colleagues taking small things and made great strides to give back. With the help of the NewRez NOW (Neighborhood Outreach Works) program, we will be able to do even more incredible things for our communities." Over the past four decades, the list of Jefferson Award recipients is unparalleled. Recipients include hundreds of national figures - both public and private -more than 63,000 unsung heroes, and tens of thousands of individuals in communities across the country. These individuals represent the good that is happening all around us, in every community across the nation. Multiplying Good makes it their mission to elevate them and exponentially increase their acts of service.

About NewRez LLC NewRez LLC (NewRez) is a leading nationwide mortgage lender and servicer. As a lender, NewRez focuses on offering a breadth of industry-leading products, supported by a loan process that blends both human interaction and the benefits of technology into an unparalleled customer experience. Founded in 2008 and licensed to lend in 49 states, NewRez is headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania and operates multiple lending channels, including Correspondent Lending, Wholesale, Direct-to-Consumer, Retail, and a network of joint venture partners. The servicing business operates through NewRez's servicing division, which consists of its performing loan servicing division, NewRez Servicing, and its special servicing division, Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing. NewRez also has several affiliates that perform various services in the mortgage and real estate industries. These include Avenue 365 Lender Services, LLC, a title agency, and E Street Appraisal Management LLC, an appraisal management company. NewRez is member of the New Residential Investment Corp. family. More information is available at www.newrez.com. About Multiplying Good Multiplying Good is a national nonprofit that channels the power of public service to unleash potential in individuals. For nearly 50 years, they have honored those who build better communities, trained young leaders, and activated individuals and organizations to multiply the impact they can deliver. Through a continuum that starts with engagement and culminates in recognition, they fuel personal growth and multiply the power of service to others. Through recognition, they inspire individuals and those who hear their stories to deliver greater positive change. You can learn more about the organization by visiting MultiplyingGood.org or engaging with their online communities via Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook (News - Alert) . View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005506/en/

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[June 29, 2020] Tennant Company Announces Grand Prize Winner in K-12 Custodians Are Key Contest

Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC), a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing of solutions to reinvent how the world cleans, has announced the grand prize winner chosen in the company's inaugural Custodians Are Key contest. The eight-month recognition program rewards the great work K-12 custodians are doing in schools around the country and honors them and their school with a $15,000 prize package. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005131/en/ Kris Kantor, grand prize winner of Tennant Company K-12 Custodians are Key contest. (Photo: Business Wire) Kris Kantor of Hayes Elementary in Lakewood, Ohio, was one of 12 finalists chosen from more than 2,000 nominations from around the United States. During a surprise event at his school Friday, June 26, Kantor received a prize valued at $5,000 while his school received $10,000. The Custodians Are Key program launched September 9, 2019, and concluded on April 29, 2020. "We had so many amazing nominees for this contest, which made it challenging to whittle down to 12 finalists, much less identify a single person to win the grand prize. Kris Kantor's clear devotion to students and staff is what gave him the edge," said Lisa Hrpcek, channel marketing manager, Tennant Company. "There's never been a more important time to herald the important work these heroes like Kris and the other nominees undertake for our schools." Kantor was nominated last November by School Health Aide Maureen Yantek who described him as fastidious about organization and cleanliness, making his school the best building in the district. But it is Kantor's attention to detail that elevates him, learning everyone's name, including more than 300 students and staff. He created a program called "Kids with Kantor" where he works with students on special projects once a week during his lunch hour, building everyday objects ike bird houses, decorative wooden boxes and toy helicopters while teaching kids about safety, tool use and teamwork.



"Kris lives by the motto that he has painted outside his office: 'work smarter not harder.' This enables him to get his regular job duties completed efficiently and effectively, which leaves him time to engage with others. What truly sets Kris apart is the respect and kindness he shows to all students, faculty, and staff," said Yantek. "We've always been proud to count Kris as one of our own. This acknowledgement of his great work is extremely deserved," said Eric Fortuna, principal at Hayes Elementary. "We are lucky to have Kris on our team and look forward to celebrating him when school is back in session."

Principal Fortuna said he will consult with Kantor on how best to spend the $10,000 prize money because he always has great ideas. Custodians Are Key Program Details Tennant received more than 2,000 nominations from around the country of school custodians who are making their schools better, going above and beyond their daily jobs, and showing students and staff they care. The second annual Custodians Are Key contest will kick off September 15, 2020. When the contest opens, simply submit your nomination at tennantco.com/custodian. A committee of judges selected by Tennant will select finalists and winners based on the quality of the nomination and the impact the custodian makes on his or her school. View this video to learn more. Visit tennantco.com/custodian to learn more about Custodians Are Key and to submit your nomination. About Tennant Founded in 1870, Tennant Company (TNC), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing solutions that empower customers to achieve quality cleaning performance, reduce their environmental impact and help create a cleaner, safer, healthier world. Its products include equipment for maintaining surfaces in industrial, commercial and outdoor environments; detergent-free and other sustainable cleaning technologies; cleaning tools and supplies; and coatings for protecting, repairing and upgrading surfaces. Tennant's global field service network is the most extensive in the industry. Tennant Company had sales of $1.14 billion in 2019 and has approximately 4,400 employees. Tennant has manufacturing operations throughout the world and sells products directly in 15 countries and through distributors in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.tennantco.com and www.ipcworldwide.com. The Tennant Company logo and other trademarks designated with the symbol "" are trademarks of Tennant Company registered in the United States and/or other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005131/en/

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[June 28, 2020] ElcomSoft Certified: Digital Forensics Trainings and Trainer Certification Programs

LONDON, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ElcomSoft Co.Ltd. announces partner certification and end-user training programs in the fields of computer and mobile forensics. ElcomSoft's partner trainings and the newly announced certification program will allow the company's regional partners to deliver additional value to their customers by launching localized, ElcomSoft-approved educational programs. The new training course targets ElcomSoft partners who wish to establish educational programs for their end-users. ElcomSoft will supply the required software licenses and materials to help partners develops teaching skills necessary to educate others on how to cope with encryption and password protection, handle digital evidence and extract information from mobile devices and cloud services. The Trainer Certification program enables partners to independently conduct trainings on behalf of ElcomSoft. ElcomSoft Trainer Certification Program ElcomSoft provides a certification program for those who want to become a trainer. Courses for 'ElcomSoft Certified iOS and Cloud Forensics Trainer' and 'ElcomSoft Certified Data Decryption and Password Recovery Trainer' qualifications ae available. During these courses, trainers will obtain the knowledge and skills required to use ElcomSoft software and gain the necessary abilities to convey that knowledge to their customers.



By taking part in our trainer's training and receiving the Certified Trainer status from ElcomSoft, partners will be able to teach and certify clients, adding value to their current offerings. ElcomSoft will provide the required software licenses and support materials necessary for the classes, including student assignments and trainers-only materials. More information about the ElcomSoft Certified program at https://www.elcomsoft.com/trainer_certification.html

ElcomSoft End-User Training Programs In today's complex world, an investigation is more than connecting the device to the computer and launching one or more forensic tools. Deep knowledge and overall understanding of the correct forensic workflow are required for a successful investigation. We teach students the fundamentals of computer forensics, conveying the entire forensic workflow to help increase the success rate. After taking the course, students will understand the available acquisition options, and will be able to collect the largest set of evidence accessible under given circumstances. More about ElcomSoft end-user training programs at https://www.elcomsoft.com/elcomsoft_trainings.html About ElcomSoft Co. Ltd. Founded in 1990, ElcomSoft Co.Ltd. is a global industry-acknowledged expert in computer and mobile forensics providing tools, training, and consulting services to law enforcement, forensics, financial and intelligence agencies. Contact: Olga Koksharova, o.koksharova@elcomsoft.com, US toll-free: +1-866-448-2703, UK +44(0)870-831-2983

SOURCE ELCOMSOFT Co. Ltd.

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[June 29, 2020] 5G and Beyond: Kyoto Semiconductor's KP-H High-speed Photodiode With Lens-integrated Chip-on-carrier Achieves Bandwidth of 40GHz

Kyoto Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Kyoto, Japan) has developed a high-speed photodiode KP-H KPDEH12L-CC1C to support 400Gbps transmission systems that use PAM4 ( Pulse (News - Alert) Amplitude Modulation 4) inside and between data centers. With the introduction of this InGaAs photodiode, the company is continually supporting the increasing speeds and capacity requirements for transmission systems in 5G networks and beyond. Mass production will start in November, 2020. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200628005047/en/ KP-H High-speed Photodiode KPDEH12L-CC1C (Graphic: Business Wire) KP-H KPDEH12L-CC1C main features (1) High-speed

The size of the carrier on which the PD is mounted, and the width and length of the high frequency electrode pattern placed on the carrier are optimized using an electromagnetic simulation (Note 2). As a result, we have achieved the world's top class 400Gbps and 40GHz as a frequency band with an integrated transimpedance amplifier. The KP-H photodiode has passed Telcordia (News - Alert) GR-468-Core, which is the standard reliability test for communication equipment. (2) Easy implementation

KPDEH12L-CC1C is mounted on a carrier that is optimally desgned to achieve high frequency. A condenser lens is integrated on the backside of the photodiode (Note 3), allowing the incoming light to collect in the light absorption area, and makes it easy to align the optical fiber with PD. The PD chip is mounted on a carrier twice as big as the chip itself.



Background of development

Currently, we have achieved transmission speeds of mainly 100Gbps by bundling 4 lanes of 25Gbps. However, there are growing demands in the market for 400Gps to 800Gbps transmission speeds. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ( IEEE (News - Alert) ) set the standard of PAM4 that corresponds with 4-bit signal to one modulation. The transmission speed per PD reaches 50Gps (= 400Gps/4 lanes/2 (PAM4)). The transmission bandwidth required for the PD to achieve this speed will be 35~40GHz. See the following for more information. https://www.kyosemi.co.jp/en/lp/kpdeh12l-cc1c

About Kyoto Semiconductor

Kyoto Semiconductor was established in 1980 in Kyoto as a dedicated manufacturer of semiconductors. The semiconductors manufactured offer superlative performance and precision, suited for use in optical transmission. They are manufactured end-to-end, including pre- and post-processing, and together with Kyoto Semiconductor's unique packaging technology, at our location in Japan and made available to customers around the world. Kyoto Semiconductor leads the industry with world-standard technologies for optical device solutions based on Japanese quality and attention to production detail. Notes

1) 4- level modulation method 8PAM 4 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation 4)

Instead of mounting 2-bit information {0, 1} for one modulation, the method mounts 4-bit information {0, 1, 2, 3}. This method allows transmission of twice as much information as conventional method.

2) Carrier

The patterns with little attenuation in the high-frequency are formulated on the surface of the board on which the PD is mounted. The dimension of the carrier is 0.6 x 0.48 x 0.25 t mm.

3) Condenser lens

The figure shows a schematic view of the PD chip. A condenser lens is built into the surface where the light enters, and is focused and collected on a small light absorption layer.  2020 Kyoto Semiconductor, Co Ltd. All rights reserved. Information in this press release, including product pricing and specifications, content of services, and contact information is current and believed to be accurate on the date of the announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice. Technical and application information contained here is subject to the most recent applicable Kyoto Semiconductor product specifications. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200628005047/en/

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[June 29, 2020] Habasit's New Multi-purpose Field Joining Presses Deliver a Lightweight Plug & Play Solution for Belt Widths up to 600 mm

REINACH, Switzerland, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Whatever the application, fast and easy belt installation and replacement is essential to maintaining productivity and efficiency on the line. Now Habasit's new PML joining presses deliver a uniquely robust yet lightweight automated solution for all belts in widths up to 600 mm. The presses offer quick and easy setup with no need for compressed air or money, time, and labor, while delivering the high-quality joining needed for top belt performance and reliability. While belt users can select the best belt configuration among thousands of alternatives, up to now there have been relatively few joining tools. For example, with no presses on the market for narrow belts, these have had to be manually joined, which is time-consuming and relies heavily on operator skill. Similarly, although joining presses are available for wider belts, these are too heavy, large and complex for belts below 600 mm in width. In direct response to these challenges, Habasit has now introduced its PML series of field joining presses for narrow belts. Easily portable, plug & play operation The compact, lightweight new presses (four sizes, from 6.5 kg to 23 kg) are easy to transport in the case supplied. Their aluminum frame ensures simle handling during on-site installation, facilitated by a compact control unit. Optimized air cooling and the absence of water or compressed air makes setup quick and straightforward: electric power is all that is required. An onboard setting gauge shows the pressure generated by tightening the closing screws with a standard ratchet wrench, which is delivered with the kit. This is what allows repeatable results.



Multi-purpose PML presses offer quick and safe joining for most conveyor, power transmission and timing belts, covering all widths up to 600 mm. These multi-purpose tools can handle both fusion and bonded joining methods, including Habasit's Flexproof, Thermofix and Quickmelt methods, so there is no need to have multiple tools for different technologies. The control unit allows quick setup of joining parameters and control of the joining cycle.

Suitable for narrow belts While low-end tools to join belts up to 100 mm in width are currently available on the market, the new PML range offers world-class professional equipment for all belt widths up to 600 mm. If several narrow belts need to be joined, PML presses can weld multiple belts simultaneously, depending on the width. This means major reductions in joining time of at least 50%, as well as lower labor costs. Professional, top-quality joining Companies looking to achieve top-quality, reproducible belt joining on narrow belts will find the new plug & play PML joining solution an excellent way to achieve this while saving money, time, and labor. Habasit's PML presses are a great investment for customers wishing to abandon inefficient, manual tools. About Habasit Habasit helps customers improve the reliability, quality and productivity of their equipment and processes through comprehensive, tailor-made solutions based on its extensive range of fabric-based conveyor belts, plastic modular belts and chains, power transmission belts, and monolithic and timing belts. Established in 1946 in Basel, Switzerland, the family-owned company is present in over 70 countries, with 3,800+ employees in affiliated companies and service centers worldwide. For further information, please visit www.habasit.com. Information for editors: press releases and photos are available at www.pr-box.de/en. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1033105/Habasit_Logo.jpg Company:

Habasit International AG

Romerstrasse 1, P.O. Box, CH-4153 Reinach BL, Switzerland

Tel.: +49 (0) 6071 / 9 69-0

Fax: +49 (0) 6071 / 9 69-52 33

Email: Habasit.Communications@habasit.com

Website: www.habasit.com

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A car involved in a shooting, with broken windows and bullet holes sits Monday, June 29, 2020, in Seattle, where streets are blocked off in what has been named the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone. One man was killed and another wounded early Monday in the protest zone, the second deadly shooting in the area. Police said the shooting happened before dawn in the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood, near downtown. (Elaine Thompson/AP)
[June 29, 2020] Home-hair Colouring Picks up Among Celebrities; Actress Neha Dhupia Gets Hair #ColourAtHome With Godrej Expert Rich Creme

MUMBAI, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Godrej Expert Rich Creme, India's most trusted hair colour brand from the house of Godrej Consumer Products Limited, collaborates with Bollywood actress and talk-show host Neha Dhupia as she colours her greys and unveils a new look. This is a second celebrity association by Godrej Expert Rich Creme aimed at advancing enthusiasm about hair colouring at home. Through this activity, Godrej Expert Rich Creme has kick-started the challenge of #ColourAtHome Regular hair colour users neglected hair care because they are at home with no social or formal commitments during the lockdown. Additionally, many people are unsure about colouring their hair at home. As a leader in the hair colour space, Godrej Expert Rich Creme wanted to nudge people to colour their hair as well as highlight the simplicity of the entire process. After owning the space of hair colouring during the lockdown, Godrej Expert Rich Creme is keeping the conversation ongoing through this digital association with Neha Dhupia. Conceptualized by Creativeland Asia and produced by Creativeland Pictures, Neha's video begins with her speaking about how she has tried several new things during the lockdown. She decided to colour her hair and that's when her stylist suggested to use Godrej Expert Rich Creme. Haven't coloured her hair ever in her life, Neha decides to try out hair colouring at home for the first time. Ditching her self-claimedlucky 'grey hair' she expressed her desire to have those coloured and is thrilled with the ease of application and the results. She concludes the video by encouraging her followers to experience the goodness of Godrej Expert Rich Creme themselves.



Commenting on the purpose behind the campaign, Sunil Kataria, CEO - India and SAARC, Godrej Consumer Products Limited, said, "Through this initiative, Godrej Expert Rich Creme reiterates the messaging that colouring hair at home is easy. This is contextual and relevant during the lockdown as well as when situation normalizes, which we wish happens soon. By involving a popular personality like Neha Dhupia, we are constantly emphasizing that irrespective of who you are and wherever you are, it is simpler to colour your own hair even when you have never tried colouring them." Anu Joseph, Chief Creative Officer, Creativeland Asia said, "A lot of people are spending a lot of time at home, and therefore, have been trying things they have never done before. We thought it's a great opportunity for Godrej Expert Rich Creme to bring in the conversation of colouring one's hair by oneself. If stars who are usually dependent on their hairstylists can try DIY hair colouring at home, anyone can. It's that simple to look beautiful."

Godrej Expert Rich Creme #ColourAtHome campaign aiming to promote hair colouring at home; may lead to more celebrities participating and unveiling a coloured hair look. One can get to know more in the coming days. Link to Neha's post: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CB-AONEHeOj/?igshid=j9rsbgxsy5g About Godrej Consumer Products Ltd: Godrej Consumer Products is a leading emerging markets company. As part of the 123-year young Godrej Group, we are fortunate to have a proud legacy built on the strong values of trust, integrity and respect for others. At the same time, we are growing fast and have exciting, ambitious aspirations. Today, our Group enjoys the patronage of 1.15 billion consumers globally, across different businesses. In line with our 3 by 3 approach to international expansion at Godrej Consumer Products, we are building a presence in 3 emerging markets (Asia, Africa, Latin America) across 3 categories (home care, personal wash, hair care). We rank among the largest household insecticide and hair care players in emerging markets. In household insecticides, we are the leader in India, the second largest player in Indonesia and are expanding our footprint in Africa. We are the leader in serving the hair care needs of women of African descent, the number one player in hair colour in India and Sub-Saharan Africa, and among the leading players in Latin America. We rank number two in soaps in India and are the number one player in air fresheners and wet tissues in Indonesia. But for us, it is very important that besides our strong financial performance and innovative, much-loved products, we remain a good company. Approximately 23 per cent of the promoter holding in our Group is held in trusts that invest in the environment, health and education. We are also bringing together our passion and purpose to make a difference through our 'Good & Green' approach to create a more inclusive and greener India. At the heart of all of this, is our talented team. We take much pride in fostering an inspiring workplace, with an agile and high performance culture. We are also deeply committed to recognising and valuing diversity across our teams. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1197525/Godrej_Neha_Dhupia.jpg

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[June 29, 2020] The geopolitical threat may be catastrophic for the semiconductor industry; several European carriers proactively spoke out in support of Huawei

BEIJING, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The escalating geopolitical tension between China and the US is threatening the security of the global supply chain. As COVID-19 rages worldwide, the role of telecom networks has heightened. 36Kr was invited to the webinar held by Total Telecom on June 18. This webinar brought in top global telecom experts, including Adrian Scrase, Head of the 3GPP Mobile Competence Centre and ETSI CTO, Luis Alveirinho, CTO of Altice Portugal, Sally Eaves, CTO of Forbes Technology Council, and Dimitris Mavrakis, Research Director of ABI. The topic of the webinar was how to ensure the resilience and stability of the global telecom supply chain. The Trump administration announced a new rule on May 15, banning any foreign chipmakers from shipping chips with US software or technology to Huawei without a license granted by the US Department of Commerce. This move may cut ties between Huawei and its chip suppliers, who provide the chips it uses for cellular base stations, servers, and smartphones. 36Kr believes that the new rule will disrupt the entire semiconductor industry and may bring down the global supply chain. This would cause economic loss, and even slow down technological advancements. "We need suppliers to better support our business operations," said Altice Portugal CTO Luis Alveirinho, on behalf of telecom carriers serving enterprises and consumers. Alveirinho added, "We now live in a global village where the supply chain has become more globalize and fragmented. We need to rely on technological standardization to unite more partners across the global supply chain."



"Many CIOs and CTOs have expressed their pressure in the discussion," said ABI Research Director Dimitris Mavrakis. "The problem facing carriers is that besides technology and commercial factors, they have to consider other factors when selecting suppliers. This may cause delay in 5G rollouts." As someone who is deeply involved in standards development, Adrian Scrase believes that politically-driven restrictions on certain players are the "most pressing risk", which may have "catastrophic" consequences. "If we are subject to such restrictions, then we won't be able to use the best technologies to serve people's interests."

According to Sally Eaves, the impact of geopolitics on the telecom industry will be harmful both now and in the future. "The intervention of geopolitics in the semiconductor industry will not only affect 5G deployment," she said, "What's worse, it will delay the digital transformation of industries, widen the digital divide, and even affect the production of medical equipment like ventilators to deal with the pandemic." Strategy Analytics' report suggests, "Escalating trade sanctions against Huawei and China will have ruinous consequences on the global telecom and semiconductor industries, as well as the US economy. This is especially true in tandem with the present COVID-19 global economic slowdown." According to Teletime, Luiz Alberto Garcia, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Algar Telecom said that, banning certain 5G suppliers in Brazil would be a "huge mistake". Garcia noted that "excluding a supplier that holds nearly 50% of the market share and has a global presence and outstanding technology expertise" from competition may increase the price of 5G, and will eventually hurt the interests of users. He is clearly referring to Huawei here. While the US is targeting Huawei out of geopolitical motives, many carriers from Germany, France, and other European countries have proactively spoken out in support of Huawei. These carriers included the world's second largest mobile carrier Vodafone Group Plc and telecom service provider Telefonica Brasil. "The UK's leadership in 5G will be lost if mobile operators are forced to spend time and money replacing existing equipment," Scott Petty, Vodafone UK's chief technology officer, told Reuters in an emailed statement. This suggests that carriers in many countries have realized the role that Huawei plays in Europe's 5G deployment, which is attributable to its expertise and patents in 5G, as well as the mutual trust it has built with European carriers over decades. 36Kr estimates that 5G will benefit up to 40 million people in Germany by mid-July, thanks to Huawei's innovative technologies, spectrum coordination, reasonable tariffs, and new 5G smartphones. SOURCE 36Kr

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[June 29, 2020] Cheetah Mobile to Hold Annual General Meeting

BEIJING, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheetah Mobile Inc. (NYSE: CMCM) ("Cheetah Mobile" or the "Company"), a leading mobile internet company with global market coverage, today announced that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders at the offices of Cheetah Mobile at Building No. 8, Hui Tong Times Square, Yaojiayuan South Road, Beijing, China, on July 13, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. (local time). No proposal will be submitted for shareholder approval at the annual general meeting. Instead, the annual general meeting will serve as an open forum for shareholders of record to discuss Company affairs with management. The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on July 10, 2020 as the record date (the "Record Date") for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of the annual general meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Holders of record of the Company's Class A and Class B ordinaryshares at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to attend the annual general meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof in person.



About Cheetah Mobile Inc. Cheetah Mobile is a leading mobile Internet company with global market coverage. It has attracted hundreds of millions of monthly active users through its mobile utility products such as Clean Master, casual games such as Piano Tiles 2, and Bricks n Balls. The Company provides its advertising customers, which include direct advertisers and mobile advertising networks through which advertisers place their advertisements, with direct access to highly targeted mobile users and global promotional channels. The Company also provides value-added services to its mobile application users through the sale of in-app virtual items on selected mobile products and games. Cheetah Mobile is committed to leveraging its cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies to power its products and make the world smarter. It has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since May 2014.

Investor Relations Contact

Cheetah Mobile Inc.

Helen Jing Zhu

Tel: +86 10 6292 7779 ext. 1600

Email: IR@cmcm.com ICR Inc.

Xinran Rao

Tel: +1 (646) 417-5395

Email: IR@cmcm.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cheetah-mobile-to-hold-annual-general-meeting-301084854.html SOURCE Cheetah Mobile Inc

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[June 29, 2020] Farsight Security Unveils Technical Innovations, Promotions and User Community Activities to Mark DNSDB 10th Anniversary Milestone

SAN MATEO, Calif., June 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To mark the 10th anniversary of its flagship solution, DNSDB , and the significant role it has played in helping to detect and mitigate global cyberattacks, Farsight Security, Inc., a leading cybersecurity provider of DNS Intelligence, today announced a new DNSDB graphical web interface, DNSDB Scout Web Edition , as well as the launch of year-long promotional and user community activities. Farsight DNSDB is the worlds largest historical passive DNS database, with more than 100 billion DNS records. Starting with a single suspicious domain or IP address, security professionals can query DNSDB to find related DNS digital artifacts, from name servers to other IP addresses or domain names, to gain new, actionable insights into an adversarys malicious infrastructure. "DNSDB was not the first service we created from the real-time Security Information Exchange (SIE), and was also not the first Passive DNS database in the world. As relevance junkies and innovators, our task was to find and make a unique contribution to this field, using our own deep prior knowledge about the DNS protocol and the business ecosystem that had sprung into existence after the commercialization and privatization of the Internet starting in the late 1990's," opined Paul Vixie, Founder and CEO of Farsight Security. "DNSDB is unique by design in four ways. First, we have the largest and most diverse sensor network, and so the best coverage of the DNS pattern space. Second, our database is wicked fast -- fast enough to use in real-time defense. Third, we avoid all knowable forms of personally identifiable information -- we see only the content of the DNS, never end-user transactions or end-user IP addresses, so our services are useless for surveillance purposes. Fourth and finally, our services inhere to the anatomy of DNS itself, and to the use of DNS as a way to deliver security. The Farsight Security team and our customers have a high bar, and we have never stopped improving our technology, and we never shall." DNSDB 10th Anniversary: Whats New --DNSDB Scout Web Edition: In an effort to improve the user experience for our flagship product, DNSDB, Farsight has developed and released a new web version of DNSDB Scout , the graphical interface for DNSDB, called DNSDB Scout Web Edition . Additional new features for our flagship solution will be announced and rolled out overthe next year.



--DNSDB Promotions: Starting today, every new DNSDB customer will receive a free Enterprise Block Query (EBQ) for 10,000 queries; in addition, all current DNSDB customers who renew their subscriptions on-time will receive a free EBQ for 10,000 queries. With no daily query limit, EBQ is designed to accommodate bursting usage patterns common for investigations and a must-have tool when data breaches strike. The promotion will run through May 31, 2021. --DNSDB User Meetup Group: DNSDB Enterprise and Community Edition users who want to learn more about DNSDB best practices as well as share use cases and how DNSDB benefits their work are invited to join our new virtual meetup group and attend upcoming events. Additional user activities will be announced throughout the year.

DNSDB  Delivering the Security Difference for Global Organizations Today Farsight DNSDB, the industry standard for historical passive DNS, is used by threat hunting and incident response teams of todays leading government agencies, Fortune 500 corporations including financial, healthcare and manufacturing institutions, top technology firms, including leading cybersecurity companies as well as universities and other non-profits. Below is a snapshot of how DNSDB is helping to protect todays organizations  thank you to the DNSDB users below for sharing their stories: For many years, CSIS Group has used DNSDB in connection with both threat intelligence gathering and as a tool for forensic and incident response. "Using passive DNS for investigations and handling computer incidents is a must-have for anyone dealing with cyber security in all its aspects. We simply wouldn't be able to defend, respond and detect as fast and as efficiently as we do, if it wasn't for the power of DNSDB." -- Peter Kruse founder and head of CSIS eCrime unit in Denmark.





has used DNSDB in connection with both threat intelligence gathering and as a tool for forensic and incident response. "Using passive DNS for investigations and handling computer incidents is a must-have for anyone dealing with cyber security in all its aspects. We simply wouldn't be able to defend, respond and detect as fast and as efficiently as we do, if it wasn't for the power of DNSDB." -- Peter Kruse founder and head of CSIS eCrime unit in Denmark. For years now, Farsight has been helping the security community to fight cybercrime to make the Internet a safer place. Its innovative technology based on very unique, real-time passive DNS data provides investigators with a powerful tool for discovering previously unseen malicious infrastructures, bullet-proof hosting services, ongoing phishing, or malware campaigns. DNSDB helps to solve many cybersecurity problems, ranging from inferring the security performance of hosting providers, through domain hijacking prevention, analysis of victims of DDoS attacks, to building practical systems to dismantle botnets under real-life constraints. -- Maciej Korczynski, Ph.D., Cybersecurity Researcher, Universite Grenoble Alpes , Cybersecurity Institute Grenoble.





, Cybersecurity Institute Grenoble. Passive DNS provides important insight to security teams looking to understand the context and relationship between real-time and historical domain services. Farsights DNSDB context has allowed LookingGlass Cyber Solutions to deliver superior actionable intelligence analysis in our threat intelligence products and services for many years. Without this context, our customers would lack a key information source associated with both their own networks, their third-parties and their potential adversaries. --Allan Thomson, Chief Technology Officer, LookingGlass Cyber Solutions.



to deliver superior actionable intelligence analysis in our threat intelligence products and services for many years. Without this context, our customers would lack a key information source associated with both their own networks, their third-parties and their potential adversaries. --Allan Thomson, Chief Technology Officer, LookingGlass Cyber Solutions. Farsight Securitys passive DNS service has provided timely contextual intelligence to the REN-ISAC community for years. Our members continue to convey how powerful this knowledge is for detecting and responding to cyber threats. We greatly appreciate Farsight's committed partnership with our research and education community. --Doug Pearson, Technical Director, REN-ISAC.



community for years. Our members continue to convey how powerful this knowledge is for detecting and responding to cyber threats. We greatly appreciate Farsight's committed partnership with our research and education community. --Doug Pearson, Technical Director, REN-ISAC. DNSDB has been a key data source for the Verizon Autonomous Threat Hunting product ever since its inception under Niddel. DNSDB delivers high quality data, which is paramount to the machine learning analytics we developed. -- Alex Pinto, Lead Author of the Verizon Business Data Breach Investigations Report . Pricing & Availability

Farsight DNSDB is available via an annual subscription. For more information on pricing and how it can benefit your organization, please contact sales@farsightsecurity.com.



About Farsight Security, Inc.

Farsight Security, Inc. is the worlds largest provider of historical and real-time passive DNS data. We enable security teams to qualify, enrich and correlate all sources of threat data and ultimately save time when it is most critical - during an attack or investigation. Our solutions provide enterprise, government and security industry personnel and platforms with unmatched global visibility, context and response. Farsight Security is headquartered in San Mateo, California, USA. Learn more about how we can empower your threat platform and security team with Farsight Security passive DNS solutions at https://www.farsightsecurity.com/ or follow us on Twitter: @FarsightSecInc . Karen Burke

Director of Corporate Communications

Farsight Security, Inc.

kburke@fsi.io

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[June 29, 2020] Pay Governance Hires 40-Year Veteran as Partner in Its Chicago Office

Executive compensation consulting firm Pay Governance (www.paygovernance.com) has hired Michael (Mike) Kesner as a Partner. In this role, Kesner is responsible for working with clients across industries on a wide range of executive compensation issues. He is based in Chicago and brings more than 40 years of experience in the executive compensation consulting industry to the firm. Kesner works extensively with S&P 500 clients in various industries across the United States. His strong consulting, technical and marketing skills will strengthen Pay Governance's presence in the Chicago and Midwest markets. Kesner i a thought leader, featured speaker and author on the topics of executive compensation and corporate governance. He has served on the advisory board of Compensation Standards and was a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Executive Compensation.



"Mike brings exceptional experience in advising large, complex clients," said Managing Partner Ira Kay. Prior to joining Pay Governance, Kesner was the national practice leader for Deloitte's (News - Alert) U.S. executive compensation consulting practice.

Pay Governance LLC is a leading independent consulting firm focused on delivering advisory services to compensation committees. The consultancy also advises the management of companies in situations in which the firm does not serve as the independent committee advisor. Pay Governance has locations throughout the United States in New York, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Dallas, Cleveland, Charlotte, St. Petersburg, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The firm also has strategic affiliate relationships with Pay Governance Japan and Pay Governance Korea. For more information, visit www.paygovernance.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005092/en/

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[June 29, 2020] Auxly Provides Update on Cultivation Strategy

TORONTO, June 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX.V - XLY) ("Auxly" or the Company), a consumer packaged goods company in the cannabis products market, today provided an update on the Companys national and international cultivation strategy. The Company is pleased by the progress of its cultivation portfolio, which is instrumental in supplying a secure, cost-efficient and consistent source of input material for the Companys growing portfolio of cannabis products. In order to sharpen the Companys near-term focus on Cannabis 2.0 dominance in Canada, the Company has decided to rationalize its cultivation portfolio by focusing on its domestic cultivation, while maintaining optionality in Uruguay. Sunens Farms Inc. On June 15, 2020, the Company announced that Sunens Farms Inc. (Sunens), the Companys organic cultivation joint-venture with legendary greenhouse operator Peter Quiring, secured a standard cultivation licence from Health Canada for the first phase of its fully automated, purpose-built, 1.1 million sq. ft. greenhouse facility in Leamington, Ontario. The first phase of the licensed area includes approximately 360,000 sq. ft. of cultivation, processing, and storage space, with the additional licence amendments for the remaining phases being submitted throughout the course of 2020. Since announcing receipt of the cultivation licence, the Sunens team has already commenced cultivation of organic cannabis within the licensed area. Cannabis harvested from the Sunens facility will provide Auxly with a consistent, traceable source of low-cost, organic dried flower to support Auxlys commercial strategy, including the manufacturing of Auxlys branded cannabis products at its Dosecann facility in Prince Edward Island and continued product innovation. The Company believes that the Sunens facility will be the cornerstone of its cultivation portfolio and, when fully operational, will produce approximately 100,000 kg of organic cannabis annually. Robinsons Cannabis Inc. On May 20, 2020, the Company announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Robinsons Cannabis Inc. (Robinsons), received its sales licence from Health Canada, expanding Auxlys product portfolio to include hand-crafted cannabis flower for the connoisseur market. Since receipt of its cultivation licence, Robinsons has been growing small-batch cannabis at its 27,700 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Robinsons will release a selection of its favorite genetics in select Canadian provinces in July of 2020, each grown with an uncompromising commitment to quality, flavor and craftsmanship.

Robinsons Outdoor Grow Incorporated On November 15, 2019, the Company announced the launch of Robinsons Outdoor Grow (Robinsons OG), a large-scale outdoor cultivation project located in Hortonville, Nova Scotia, with over 158 acres of land available for development. Robinsons OG will provide the Company with access to organic, sun grown cannabis flower to help support the Companys ongoing development of Robinsons branded cannabis products. The Company is pleased to announce that Robinsons OG has secured a standard cultivation licence from Health Canada. However, given timing for the optimal outdoor planting season and the operational challenges posed by COVID-19, the Company has made the strategic decision to delay the commencement of cultivation activities at the Robinsons OG site and, instead, focus its efforts on the continued development of the Robinsons OG land and facility in preparation for the 2021 cultivation season. Kolab Project Inc. During 2019, the Kolab Project Ic. (Kolab) facility located in Carleton Place, Ontario, was focused on providing quality cannabis flower and pre-rolls to registered medical patients across Canada. In 2020, the Company made the strategic decision to cease cultivation at the Kolab facility and fully focus Kolabs operations on pre-roll manufacturing and innovation activities to support the Companys branded pre-roll product offering.



Inverell S.A. Inverell S.A. (Inverell) is the Companys 80%-owned subsidiary located in Montevideo. Inverell has completed its 2019-2020 harvest which resulted in approximately 43,000 kilograms of packed hemp biomass. However, due to the slower than anticipated pace of cannabis-specific regulatory development in Latin America (LATAM) and, consequently, the slower development of viable near-term commercial channels in the region, the Company has chosen not to proceed with planting for the 2020-2021 growing season nor with the development of extraction capabilities with a view to reducing headcount and keeping operating expenditures to a minimum. This strategy will reduce future operating expenses by approximately $6-7 million annually, which can be redirected into the Canadian market with a view to driving more immediate revenue to Auxly. Auxly will maintain the optionality Inverell provides and continue to monitor the regulatory landscape in LATAM, while exploring extraction opportunities as well as sales channel opportunities for the current stored biomass into legally permissible jurisdictions.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Hugo Alves" CEO About Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX.V: XLY)

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 have 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: IR@auxly.com

Phone: 1.833.695.2414 Media Enquiries (only):

For media enquiries or to set up an interview please contact:

Email: press@auxly.com 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: the proposed operation of the Sunens and Robinsons OG facilities; the timing for completion and licensing of the additional phases of the Sunens facility; production capacity, including discussions of plans or potential for expansion of capacity at existing or new facilities; expectations of future growing capability at the Robinsons OG project; the successful production and launch of Robinsons products; the Companys execution of its product development and commercialization strategy; consumer preferences; political change, future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis and cannabis products; and competition and other risks affecting the Company 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: the Companys subsidiaries are able to maintain their current licences and are able to obtain and maintain all other necessary governmental and regulatory authorizations and permits to operate their facilities and conduct business, and whether such authorizations and permits can be obtained in a timely manner; Robinsons OG is able to successfully cultivate and harvest outdoor cannabis crops in Nova Scotia at the anticipated cost and yield; the acceptance and demand for current and future Company products by consumers and provincial purchasers; the Company is able to find new opportunities for the stored biomass in Uruguay; and general economic, financial market, regulatory and political conditions in which the Company operates will remain the same. Additional risk factors are disclosed in the annual information form of the Company 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.

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[June 29, 2020] Vestas wins 84 MW order for V150-4.2 MW turbines in Vietnam

SINGAPORE, June 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vestas has secured an 84 MW order to supply, transport, install and commission a total of 20 V150-4.2 MW wind turbines for a wind project in Vietnam. Working closely with the customer to understand their requirements and the site conditions, Vestas was able to customise a solution featuring the V150-4.2 MW at a hub-height of 145m to help optimise the wind energy production for the project. The order takes Vestas' firm order intake for the V150-4.2 MW in Vietnam to over 600 MW since its first win back in March last year, underlining the turbine variant's excellent fit to deliver high and efficient energy production in Vietnam's low to mid wind conditions. The order also includes a 20-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement, designed to maximise energy production for the site. With a yield-based availability guarantee, Vestas will provide the customer with long-term business case certainty. "Vestas is extremely excited about the current boom in activity in the Vietnam wind market," said Clive Turton, President of Vestas Aia Pacific. "We are thrilled to work closely with our customers and partners to bring our world-leading wind energy solutions to the market, helping Vietnam grow into a regional leader in clean energy."



The project and customer are undisclosed at the customer's request. The construction of the project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2021, ahead of the current wind feed-in tariff deadline in Vietnam.

About Vestas Vestas is the energy industry's global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service wind turbines across the globe, and with more than 115 GW of wind turbines in 81 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled more than 98 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas' more than 25,500 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future. For updated Vestas photographs and videos, please visit our media images page on:

https://www.vestas.com/en/media/images. We invite you to learn more about Vestas by visiting our website at www.vestas.com and following us on our social media channels: www.twitter.com/vestas

www.linkedin.com/company/vestas

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[June 29, 2020] EllaLink & EMACOM launch the "EllaLink GeoLab" SMART submarine cable initiative

DUBLIN, Ireland and FUNCHAL, Portugal and MADEIRA, Portugal, June 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seismology, volcanology, marine ecology, and oceanic conditions are key to understanding the future of our planet. EllaLink is proud to contribute to such understanding by launching the EllaLink GeoLab initiative which aims to provide the scientific community with real-time, accurate and relevant data on seabed conditions. This initiative will be the first dedicated facility of its kind as part of a telecoms submarine cable.

The EllaLink GeoLab infrastructure will be provided by EllaLink in cooperation with EMACOM. Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) Technology will be used on cable a dedicated fibre in the Madeira Branch of the EllaLink System. It will collect data along the route which will be optically transmitted back to the shore, independently and without impacting either telecoms traffic or the design life of the cable, making EllaLink in to the first system to integrate SMART cable concepts. The Research and Education (R&E) community in Europe will enjoy access to the data generated by the EllaLink GeoLab initiative. For this, EllaLink is collaborating with GEANT and the Portuguese NREN, FCT, both members of the BELLA Consortium, who will use EllaLink cable to support R&E collaborations between Europe and Latin America. Philippe Dumont, CEO of EllaLink said In a time of continued environmental change, critical information about the planet can be ascertained from the seabed. Submarine telecoms cables are best placed to monitor seabed conditions at all time and make such data available to scientists on-land. We are proud to lead the way into a new era of submarine cable systems supporting such scientific progress. Pedro Bettencourt Calado, Vice President of Autonomous Region of Madeira added Addition of DAS technology into the EllaLink branch to Madeira neutral operator EMACOM, is a move designed to pave the way for a greater understanding of the waters that surround our archipelago. The importance of educational progress relating to earthquakes and oceanographic conditions cannot be underestimated. We look forwarding to hosting the GeoLab facility in Funchal. Joao Cadete de Matos, Chairman of Autoridade Nacional de Comunicacoes (ANACOM) said of the news ANACOM considered the addition of seismic and environmental detection features in the future submarine cables Ring connecting the Mainland, Azores and Madeira greatly beneficial for Portugal, and it had the opportunity to propose such development to the industry. Therefore, ANACOM welcomes this important innovation and recommends its adoption by other future submarine cable systems developed on the Portuguese Continental Platform. Erik Huizer, CEO of GEANT commented GEANT provides users with highly reliable, unconstrained access to computing, analysis, storage, applications and other resources, to ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of research. EllaLink will provide direct connectivity between the research and education communities of Europe and Latin America, thanks to the work of the BELLA Consortium of which GEANT is a member. GEANT therefore welcomes the development of a dark fibre research infrastructure that can support DAS and other technologies, without disturbing telecommunications traffic, as a further engagement from EllaLink for the R&E community. Nuno Rodrigues, FCT Board Member said Science has shown time and again its fundamental role in the creation of knowledge beacons pointing the way to sound and sustained human and technological development. Today, this mission depends ever more on sophisticated scientific infrastructures to understand the complex processes that govern our world, upon which the discovery of new and relevant knowledge lies. GeoLab is fr more than just a sophisticated scientific infrastructure, it is a scientific challenge in many fields of knowledge that FCT is committed to support and engage with the national and international scientific community to pursue such goal.



About EllaLink EllaLink is an advanced optical platform offering secure high capacity connectivity on a unique low latency transatlantic route serving the growing needs of the Latin American and European markets. The EllaLink network directly connects Brazil and Europe, linking the major hubs of Sao Paulo and Fortaleza with Lisbon, Madrid, and Marseille.

The EllaLink System is being built with state-of-the-art coherent technology initially offering 72Tbps of capacity over four direct fiber pairs between Europe and Brazil. The landing sites in Fortaleza (Brazil) and Sines (Portugal) have been secured, the marine survey is complete, and the cable manufacture is almost finalized. EllaLink is scheduled to be Ready for Service in Q1 2021. EllaLink is a privately funded and independent company committed to providing products and services on a Carrier Neutral and Open Access basis. For more information visit ella.link Press contacts EllaLink: info@ella.link About EMACOM The company EMACOM  Telecomunicacoes da Madeira, Unipessoal, Lda., incorporated in August 1998 is100% owned by the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Its main objective is to provide fiber optic services as a neutral operator in the Autonomous Region of Madeira  Portugal, and to promote with international connectivity, the development of IT business opportunities in this region. For more information visit http://www.eem.pt About Alcatel Submarine Networks Alcatel Submarine Networks, part of Nokia, leads the industry in terms of transmission capacity and installed base with more than 650,000 km of optical submarine systems deployed worldwide, enough to circumnavigate the globe 15 times. From traditional Telecom applications to Content and Over The Top Service Provider infrastructures, as well as to offshore Oil and Gas applications, ASN provides all elements of a turnkey global undersea transmission systems, tailored to individual customers needs. An extensive Services portfolio completes its comprehensive offering for the submarine business, including project management, installation and commissioning, along with marine and maintenance operations performed by ASNs fully owned fleet of cable ships. About GEANT GEANT is Europes leading collaboration on network and related infrastructure and services for the benefit of research and education, contributing to Europe's economic growth and competitiveness. The organisation develops, delivers and promotes advanced network and associated e-infrastructure services, and supports innovation and knowledge-sharing amongst its members, partners and the wider research and education networking community. For more information, visit www.geant.org About ANACOM Autoridade Nacional de Comunicacoes (ANACOM) is the national regulatory authority (NRA) for communications for the purposes of the law of the European Union (EU) and national legislation. About FCT FCT  Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia is the Portuguese national funding agency for science, research and technology. FCT also manages the Portuguese NREN through its FCCN branch. FCCNs main objective is the planning and managing of the RCTS  Rede Ciencia, Tecnologia e Sociedade (Science, Technology, and Society Network), which is an academic network consisting of a digital research infrastructure, covering all areas of knowledge and the entire national territory. Its services are provided by means of a high-performance network for education and research institutions, thus ensuring communication requirements and advanced digital services for the various user communities from these entities.

RCTS is also a test platform for applications and advanced communication services. About BELLA BELLA (Building the Europe Link with Latin America) provides for the long-term interconnectivity needs of the European and Latin American research and education communities by procuring and deploying a long-term Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) for spectrum on a direct submarine cable between the two regions, and deploying a 100Gbps-capable research and education network across Latin America. BELLA is implemented by a Consortium of the Regional Research and Education Networks GEANT (Europe) and RedCLARA (Latin America) and the National Research and Education Networks of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Por tugal and Spain. BELLA receives funding from the European Union through the Horizon 2020 programme under grant agreement number 731505 -DG CNECT- (BELLA-S1), from DG DEVCO under grant agreement LA/2016/376-534 (BELLA-T), and from DG GROW. BELLA receives funding in cash and kinds, from CEDIA (Ecuador), REUNA (Chile), RENATA (Colombia) and RNP (Brazil). Together, they contribute 30% of the access cost to the EllaLink transatlantic cable, as well as making significant contributions to upgrading the RedClara regional network in South America. In the specific case of the EllaLink cable, the Latin American contribution comes from RNP, the Brazilian NREN, which is supported by a long-term programme launched by the government of Brazil. For more information visit http://www.bella-programme.eu , and follow us on Twitter: @BELLA_Programme. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0903ac88-918c-478d-838c-6320972ff09a



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[June 29, 2020] Medable Partners With Datavant to Simplify Integration of Data Sources for Decentralized Clinical Trials

Medable Inc., the leading software provider for decentralized clinical trials, and Datavant, the leader in helping healthcare organizations safely connect their data, today announced a partnership that will help clinical trial teams easily integrate multiple data sources to accelerate decentralized trial design, recruitment and data management. Medable will integrate Datavant's technology into Medable's decentralized trials platform, allowing trial teams to combine real-world health records, claims, diagnostic and other data sources with their clinical trial data. This will eliminate various manual and time-intensive steps that slow down clinical trials, while also improving patient access and helping trial teams optimize evidence generation during and after studies. "Making it easier to integrate multiple data sources is an important step in our mission to reduce clinical trial timelines by 50 percent," said Dr. Michelle Longmire, CEO and co-founder of Medable. "Datavant provides us with a broad array of built-in connections to real-world data sources, which can now be combined to yield a more holistic view of patient health than clinical trial data alone." Datavant's technology enables the linking of de-identified data across the entire patient journey, including electronic health records, claims, and diagnostics, as well as emerging sources such as genomics, wearable devices, socioeconomic and behavioral data and more. Datavant's technology is already used by hundreds of organizations, including life sciences and medical device companies, academic medical centers, insurers and leading data aggregators and analytics companies. By linking real-world data sources with other sources of study data, clinical trial teams will be betterequipped to generate and submit real-world evidence for regulatory assessment.



"Accelerating the pace of clinical development will help patients get access to life-saving therapies more quickly," said Travis May, Datavant CEO. "We're excited to help power Medable's work in accelerating clinical trials by making it easier to connect to the ecosystem of real-world data." Medable started working together with Datavant earlier this year, as part of a multi-company research framework to accelerate the development of diagnostics and treatments for COVID-19. The ACCESS initiative-short for American COVID-19 Collaborative Enabling Seamless Science-provides a mobile application and secure infrastructure to connect health researchers and clinical trial teams securely with millions of home-bound individuals in the United States.

ACCESS makes it easy for individuals to contribute specific information about their COVID-19 experience, combine it with health records and data from wearable devices, and opt-in to participate in current and future studies for diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines. The data that people share can be quickly and anonymously matched to research studies, providing researchers with a foundational framework for dynamic research at scale. About Datavant Datavant's mission is to connect the world's health data to improve patient outcomes. Datavant works to reduce the friction of data sharing across the healthcare industry by building technology that protects the privacy of patients while supporting the linkage of de-identified patient records across datasets. Datavant is headquartered in San Francisco. Learn more about Datavant at www.datavant.com. About Medable Medable is on a mission to get effective therapies to patients faster by transforming clinical drug development with disruptive technologies. The company's digital platform streamlines design, recruitment, retention and data quality for decentralized trials, replacing siloed systems with integrated digital tools, data and interfaces to accelerate trial execution. Medable connects patients, sites and clinical trial teams to improve patient access, experience, and outcomes. Medable is a privately held, venture-backed company headquartered in Palo Alto (News - Alert) , California. For more information, visit www.medable.com and follow @Medableinc on Twitter (News - Alert) . View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005233/en/

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[June 29, 2020] Star Tribune Names Code42 a 2020 Top 150 Workplace

Code42, the leader in insider risk detection, investigation and response, has been named one of the Top 150 Workplaces in Minnesota by the Star Tribune. Among the top 50 midsize companies, Code42 was ranked #7 on the list. A complete list of those selected is available at StarTribune.com/topworkplaces2020 and was published in the Star Tribune Top Workplaces special section on Sunday, June 28. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005178/en/ Code42 ranks 7 among top 50 midsize companies in the Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces in 2020. (Graphic: Business Wire) The Star Tribune Top Workplaces list recognizes the most progressive companies in Minnesota based on employee opinions measuring engagement, organizational health and satisfaction. The analysis included responses from over 76,000 employees at Minnesota public, private and nonprofit organizations. The rankings in the Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces are based on survey information collected by Energage, an independent company specializing in employee engagement and retention. "Being named as one of the most progressive employers in Minnesota, based onour employees' feedback, is an honor and I want to thank our team," said Joe Payne, Code42 president and CEO. "At Code42, we strive to create a workplace and culture where our employees can thrive professionally and personally - from the innovative insider risk solutions we deliver to the career development and community outreach we support."



Star Tribune Publisher Michael J. Klingensmith said, "The companies in the Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces deserve high praise for creating the very best work environments in the state of Minnesota. My congratulations to each of these exceptional companies." The Code42 insider risk solution provides a company-wide and segmented view of suspicious file movement, sharing and exfiltration activities. It sorts that activity by file type, user and vector, such as email, Dropbox (News - Alert) , iCloud, USB, browser uploads, Slack and others. This information allows security teams to identify unusual data trends, gaps in security awareness and Shadow IT.

Code42's insider risk solution has received a number of industry awards in 2020, including a gold Stevie Award, a CyberDefense Magazine InfoSec Award for Best Insider Threat Detection and a Cybersecurity Excellence Gold Award for Best Insider Threat Solution. For a complete list of Code42's industry recognitions, visit the Honors page on the company's website. To qualify for the Star Tribune Top Workplaces, a company must have more than 50 employees in Minnesota. Nearly 3,000 companies were invited to participate. Rankings were composite scores calculated purely on the basis of employee responses. About Code42 Code42 is the leader in insider risk detection, investigation and response. Native to the cloud, Code42 rapidly detects data loss, leak, theft and sabotage as well as speeds incident response - all without lengthy deployments, complex policy management or blocking employee productivity. With Code42, security professionals can protect corporate data and reduce insider risk while fostering an open and collaborative culture for employees. Backed by security best practices and control requirements, Code42's insider risk solution can be configured for GDPR, HIPAA, PCI (News - Alert) and other regulatory frameworks. More than 50,000 organizations worldwide, including the most recognized brands in business and education, rely on Code42 to safeguard their ideas. Founded in 2001, the company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and backed by Accel Partners (News - Alert) , JMI Equity, NEA and Split Rock Partners. Code42 was recognized by Inc. magazine as one of America's best workplaces in 2020. For more information, visit code42.com, read Code42's blog or follow the company on Twitter. 2020 Code42 Software, Inc. All rights reserved. Code42 and the Code42 logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Code42 Software, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other marks are properties of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005178/en/

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Police said the man and woman told the marchers to leave because they were on a private street. But people in the crowd yelled obscenities and threats, police said. The man and woman said they saw people who were armed, so they armed themselves and called police, according to authorities.
[June 29, 2020] American Express Commits More than $200 Million to Help Get Customers Shopping Small with its Largest-Ever Global Shop Small Campaign

American Express (News - Alert) , which has a long history of backing small businesses, today announced its largest-ever global Shop Small Campaign, that includes a commitment of more than $200 million over the next several months to help jumpstart spending at small merchants1, many of which were impacted by COVID-19. Additionally, in continuation of our longstanding support for minority-and women-owned businesses, American Express is building a coalition, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, that will bring together the U.S. Black Chambers, the National Black Chamber of Commerce, the National Business League and Walker's Legacy with a $10 million pledge over the next four years to fund a program that will provide grants to U.S. Black-owned small businesses to assist in their recovery and address the challenges they face due to racial and social inequalities. A portion of the grant will also fund building the capacity of the network by offering leadership development and business mentoring. More information will be available at ShopSmall.com. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005399/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) According to the Small Business Recovery Research conducted by American Express, 62 percent of U.S. small businesses reported that they need to see consumer spending return to pre-COVID levels by the end of 2020 in order to stay in business. To help encourage consumers to Shop Small, eligible and enrolled U.S. Card Members can receive $5 back after they spend $10 or more at an eligible U.S. small merchant when they shop online, curbside or in-store, up to 10 times beginning today through September 20, 2020. Enroll by July 26, 2020 at ShopSmall.com. Eligibility and terms apply. Similar offers are rolling out globally in Australia, Canada and the UK, with France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain and more to follow. "American Express has backed small business owners through challenging times for decades, and we are standing for them today as many struggle to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Stephen J. Squeri, Chairman and CEO of American Express. "Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities, and now is the time to join together and help them rebound from this global crisis, because their success is critical to job creation, strong economies and thriving neighborhoods." American Express has also made it easier for consumers to locate U.S. small merchants that are open for online or in-store purchases through an updated Shop Small Map with a new data driven filter that allows merchants to easily update their information, like store hours as well as contact details, and will be providing merchants with turnkey marketing tools, expert insights and advice, special savings on curated solutions to help them market their business and other resources to assist with reopening. A Critical Time but Bright Future for Small Businesses This Card Member offer comes at a critical juncture for small enterprises. The Small Busines Recovery Research showed that nearly 1 out of every 4 small business owners stopped paying themselves a salary to be able to remain open in the current climate, but without customers, they are not sure if they will make it to 2021. Although many U.S. small businesses have adapted their operations through the COVID-19 pandemic, 65 percent of U.S. business owners said it would be most helpful to their business to have their "regulars" return and start making purchases again.



Fortunately, the Small Business Recovery Research shows that three-quarters of U.S. consumers are currently looking for ways to Shop Small and support their community, while 62 percent say that they will prioritize shopping small when businesses in their area reopen, assuming that they will be able to follow social-distancing guidelines. U.S. small business owners have a similar outlook, with 78 percent saying they are optimistic about surviving COVID-19 impacts and 80 percent expecting to see customers return once it is safe to do so. Strengthening a 10-Year Legacy

For more than 10 years, American Express has backed small businesses through its Small Business Saturday and Shop Small movements, as well as recently creating the Stand for Small coalition. American Express understands the impact these initiatives can have on the small business community. Over the past 10 years Small Business Saturday has helped drive over $120B in reported consumer spending at local businesses in the U.S. on the day2. As small businesses reopen and recover, American Express will be there to back our customers, merchants and communities with the support of millions of our Card Members behind us. ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress. Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, Accertify, InAuth, corporate card, business travel, and corporate responsibility. ABOUT SHOP SMALL Shop Small is an international movement to support small, independent businesses and call attention to the valuable and distinct contributions they make to their communities and the economy. Shop Small celebrates small businesses ranging from retail stores and restaurants to fitness studios and salons, and everything in between. The Shop Small movement was spurred by the widespread participation in Small Business Saturday, a day founded in 2010 by American Express in the U.S. This national holiday shopping tradition is dedicated to celebrating small businesses and driving more customers through their doors on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Learn more and connect with us on ShopSmall.com, instagram.com/shopsmall, facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday. ABOUT THE SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY RESEARCH This poll was conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of American Express between May 28-June 1, 2020 among a national sample of 2000 Consumers and 500 Small Business Decision Makers. The interviews were conducted online among a target sample of Adults based on company size (<100 employees, fewer than 25 locations) and job description (decision maker) for Small Business Decision Makers and based on income level (Household Income of $70k) for Consumers. Results from the full US survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. 1 Our commitment of up to $200M supports a Card Member offer and the associated marketing campaign to encourage American Express Card Members in select countries around the globe to Shop Small in their local communities and online.

2 This spend statistic is an aggregate of the average spend as reported by consumers who shopped small on SBS in surveys commissioned by American Express reporting spend habits on Small Business Saturday since 2012. It does not reflect actual receipts or sales. Each such survey was conducted online among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. The data was projected from the samples based on then- current U.S. Census estimates of the U.S. adult population (18+). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005399/en/

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[June 29, 2020] Churchill Mortgage Recognized as a "Top Workplace" by The Tennessean for Eighth Consecutive Year

Churchill Mortgage has been recognized as a "Top Workplace" by The Tennessean for the eighth consecutive year. Energage, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools, surveys employees anonymously for The Tennessean to select the winners based on positive employee feedback. "In times of great change, it is more important than ever to maintain a connection among employees," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward based on real-time insights into what works best for your organization. The Top Workplaces program can be that positive outcome your company can rally around in the coming months to celebrate leadership and the importance of maintaining an employee-focused culture, even during challenging times." Churchill Mortgage operates with the guiding principle of "people over profits" by offering its employees thorough training and equipping them with proven, executable strategies to grow their business. By ensuring employees are backed by world-class operations, compliance and sales teams, they can focus on mentoring borrowers throughout their journey towards debt-free homeownership. The company also offers an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) program that provides employees with a long-term retirement invetment - a direct benefit from their success with the company in the form of annual allocations of stock in the parent company.



The lender understands that to create life-long customer-lender relationships, employees need the right resources. That is why Churchill offers continuing education courses and resources designed to expand all employees' knowledge of the industry and equip each with the tools necessary to support any and all borrowers. "Our goal has always been to cultivate a culture of support and appreciation for our greatest asset - our employees," said Mike Hardwick, President and CEO of Churchill Mortgage. "Without them, we would not be able to attain the incredible growth we have seen or offer our customers the unparalleled service we are known for. In fact, 2020 has been a record year for Churchill Mortgage. Being recognized as a top workplace is a great accomplishment and achieving this for eight consecutive years is a testament to our dedication to our employees' continued success."

The Tennessean published the complete list of Top Workplaces on June 21. About Churchill Mortgage

Founded in 1992, Churchill Mortgage is a privately-owned company by its more than 400 employees. A full-service and financially sound leader in the mortgage industry, the company provides conventional, FHA, VA and USDA residential mortgages across 46 states. As heard on personal finance expert and author Dave Ramsey's nationally syndicated radio show, the lender's mission is to help borrowers achieve debt-free homeownership and build wealth through a smarter mortgage plan, regardless of their starting point. Churchill Mortgage is a wholly owned subsidiary of Churchill Holdings, Inc. Churchill Mortgage's notable achievements include recognitions as a "Top Lender" by Scotsman Guide: Residential, an eight-time "Top Workplace" by The Tennessean and a "Top 100 Private Company" and "Best in Business" by the Nashville Business Journal. For more information about Churchill Mortgage, visit www.churchillmortgage.com or follow the company on LinkedIn, Twitter (News - Alert) @ChurchillMtg and Facebook (News - Alert) at www.facebook.com/churchillmortgage. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005422/en/

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[June 29, 2020] Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company Acquires One of Its Top Performing Franchisee-Owned Esports Gaming Centers and Signs a Percentage Rent Lease

Boca Raton, Florida, June 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company ( OTCQB:WINR ) (Simplicity Esports), announced today that it formed a new, majority owned subsidiary and acquired all of the assets of PL Gaming Texas LLC, one of the most successful franchisee-owned esports gaming centers in its nationwide footprint. The consideration paid for the acquisition was a combination of cash and restricted shares of common stock. Additionally, Simplicity Esports executed a lease assignment and amendment with the landlord that does not require a specified fixed rent, but instead determines rent as a percentage of gross sales.

Roman Franklin, President of Simplicity Esports, stated, Our franchisee has done an excellent job building, staffing, and growing this location. The gaming center consists of over 30 gaming stations, gaming related merchandise and accessories for sale, and a quality staff that will remain in place after the acquisition to continue serving the centers thousands of existing customers. The percentage rent lease structure gives us the necessary flexibility to navigate COVID-19 related impacts on customer traffic counts by reducing fixed costs. As previously announced, we continue to use the strength of our corporate guarantee to prtner with landlords on percentage rent leases. Prior to this acquisition, Simplicity Esports only reported the royalty fees collected from the franchisee in its financial statements. However, because financial reporting for majority owned gaming centers is consolidated, as a result of this acquisition, 100% of this gaming centers revenue will now be included in Simplicity Esports financial statements.



About Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company: Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company (WINR) is an established brand within the esports industry, competing and streaming in popular games across different genres, including Apex Legends, PUBG Mobile, Overwatch, League of Legends, and various EA Sports titles. Simplicity Esports also organizes and hosts various online play from home tournaments in the U.S. and Brazil. Simplicity Esports also operates as a franchisor of Esports Gaming Centers that provide the public an opportunity to experience and enjoy gaming and esports in a social setting, regardless of skill or experience. Additionally, Simplicity Esports is an organizer and host of paid entry, online, play from home tournaments.

Apex Legends, PUBG Mobile, Overwatch, League of Legends, Fortnite, EA Sports and Free Fire are registered trademarks of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond Simplicity Esports control, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of Simplicity Esports Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on August 29, 2019 and our subsequent SEC filings, as amended or updated from time to time. Copies of Simplicity Esports filings with the SEC are available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Simplicity Esports undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Simplicity Esports Contact:

Roman Franklin

President

Roman@SimplicityEsports.com

561-819-8586

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[June 29, 2020] Prosus Delivers Solid Results for the Twelve Months Ended 31 March 2020

Prosus N.V. (AEX:PRX) today announced its results for the twelve months ended 31 March 2020. Group highlights for the period The complete results and commentary are available at www.prosus.com/investors.

See "Notes" section for an explanation of the numbers. Revenues increased 23% to US$21.5bn (FY19: US$18.3bn). Trading profit grew 16% to US$3.8bn.(FY19: US$3.4bn). Core headline earnings grew 13% to US$3.4bn (FY19: US$3.1bn). Ecommerce revenue grew 33% to US$4.3bn (FY19: US$3.6bn): Food Delivery orders grew by 102%, driving revenue growth of 105% to US$0.8bn (FY19: US$0.4bn); The Classifieds and Payments & Fintech segments remain profitable at their core and continue to grow profits, while investing to drive further growth.

Tencent grew revenues 21% year-on-year*. Invested US$1.3bn in existing and new businesses. Solid net cash position of US$4.5bn, and an undrawn US$2.5bn revolving credit facility. The group is well-positioned to navigate the Covid-19 uncertainty ahead. *Prosus holds a 31% stake in Tencent. Basil Sgourdos, Group Chief Financial Officer, said: "The group has delivered a good set of annual results, with all of our segments making good progress against their financial and strategic objectives. Revenue grew 23% to US$21.5bn, and trading profit grew 16% to US$3.8bn. The Classifieds and Payments & Fintech segments continued to deliver growth, and both are profitable at their core. Our Food Delivery segment almost doubled revenues and is now one of the fastest-growing food delivery businesses globally, reflecting our ability to build scale and strong positions in high-growth markets. We ended the period with a net cash position of US$4.5bn, which positions us well to continue investing in our businesses and pursuing growth opportunities." Bob van Dijk, Group Chief Executive Officer, said:

"The past year was a truly transformational twelve months for the group, marked in September by the listing of our international internet assets as Prosus on Euronext Amsterdam. This is an exciting step forward, opening up fresh opportunities to build long-term sustainable value. Throughout the year, we continued to execute our long-term strategy of building leading consumer internet companies. This was reflected in a solid performance driven by revenue growth, notably the Food Delivery segment, and improved profitability in our ecommerce businesses, particularly the Classifieds segment, underpinned by continued growth of Tencent. In recent months, Covid-19 has had a marked impact on the daily lives of citizens and economies across the world. From the start, we have prioritised the health and well-being of our people, their families, and the communities we serve. We are working hard to protect our businesses for the long term. At both a group and a local company level, we have also provided support to governments and communities to play our part in the response to the pandemic. While the global societal and economic impacts of Covid-19 are likely to persist for some time, we are con?dent of our ability to weather the storm. We also expect that group businesses are likely to benefit from a further acceleration of the underlying trend toward online - brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic - to emerge well-placed for long-term growth." Koos Bekker, Group Chair, said:

"This was a good year in the evolution of our group. As the world changes, so do we. The fundamentals of several of our businesses look sound. However, during the last quarter the world economy took a massive blow. Its consequences will include certain technologies accelerating, but also some social and political shifts that are hard to predict. We will continue to respond and adapt."







Key metrics FY20 FY19 Revenue 21 455 18 340 Trading profit 3 777 3 377 Core headline earnings 3 357 3 090 Free cash outflow (338) (102)

NOTES on the numbers: All growth percentages are shown in local currency terms and adjusted for acquisitions and disposals unless otherwise stated.

All amounts are shown on an economic-interest basis (i.e. including a proportionate consolidation of the contribution from associates and joint ventures) unless stated as being presented on a consolidated basis.

All numbers shown are from continuing operations, i.e. excluding MultiChoice Group, which has been presented as a discontinued operation in FY19. The complete results are available at www.prosus.com/investors Looking ahead: navigating uncertain times

The fundamentals of the group are strong, and the year ended with good momentum off the back of a solid performance. The group is focused on the long term and expects to benefit from a further acceleration of the underlying trend toward online ecommerce companies brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. We face the challenging period from a position of relative financial strength and with sufficient liquidity to navigate the changing environment, to continue to invest in our businesses to position them well for future recovery, and to continue to seek out new opportunities. We will remain disciplined in our investment approach, deploying capital on growth assets operating in growth industries with an expected return in excess of our cost of capital. -ends- About Prosus

Prosus is a global consumer internet group and one of the largest technology investors in the world. Operating and investing globally in markets with long-term growth potential, Prosus builds leading consumer internet companies that empower people and enrich communities. The group is focused on building meaningful businesses in the online classifieds, payments and fintech, and food delivery sectors in markets including India, Russia and Brazil. Through its ventures team investments, in areas including edtech and health, Prosus actively seeks new opportunities to partner with exceptional entrepreneurs who are using technology to address big societal needs. Every day, millions of people use the products and services of companies that Prosus has invested in, acquired or built, including Avito, Brainly, BYJU'S, Codecademy, eMAG, Honor, iFood, LazyPay, letgo, Meesho, Movile, OLX, PayU, Red Dot Payments, Remitly, SimilarWeb, SoloLearn, Swiggy, and Udemy. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005471/en/

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[June 29, 2020] INVESTOR ALERT: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Announces Investigation of Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (BKD) on Behalf of Investors

Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces an investigation on behalf of Brookdale Senior Living Inc. ("Brookdale" or the "Company") (NYSE: BKD) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. On April 30, 2020, Nashville Business Journal reported that a proposed class action lawsuit had been filed against Brookdale, accusing the Company of, among other things, purposeful "chronically insufficient staffing" at its facilities in an effort to meet financial benchmarks since at least April 24, 2016. According to the lawsuit, the Company misinfomed both residents and their families in promising to provide daily living services and basic care. The lawsuit also claims that the proposed class of plaintiffs "have not received the care and services they paid for."



On this news, the Company's share price fell $0.56 per share, or over 15%, over two trading sessions, to close at $3.12 per share on May 1, 2020. If you purchased Brookdale securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com, or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005712/en/

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[June 29, 2020] TeraGo Inc. Announces Election of Directors

TORONTO, June 29, 2020 /CNW/ - TeraGo Inc. ("TeraGo" or the "Company") (TSX: TGO, www.terago.ca), announces that the nominees listed in the management information circular for the Company's 2020 Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") were each elected as directors of TeraGo. Detailed results of the ballot voting for the election of directors held today on June 29, 2020, as well as the other matters voted on at the virtual Meeting are as follows:







Brief Description of Matter Voted Upon Outcome

of Vote (1) For Against 1) In respect of fixing of the number of directors of the Company at seven (7); Approved 6,071,859 (99.99%) 375 (0.01%) 2) In respect of the election of directors to hold office until the close of the next annual meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed:

For Withheld Antonio (Tony) Ciciretto Approved 6,067,734 (99.93%) 4,500 (0.07%) Matthew Gerber Approved 6,059,922 (99.80%) 12,312 (0.20%) Michael Martin Approved 6,054,373 (99.71%) 17,861 (0.29%) Gary Sherlock Approved 5,967,468 (98.27%) 104,766 (1.73%) Laurel Buckner Approved 6,067,459 (99.92%) 4,775 (0.08%) Richard Brekka Approved 5,954,282 (98.06%) 117,952 (1.94%) James Sanger Approved 5,946,845 (97.94%) 125,389 (2.06%) 3) In respect of the re-appointment of KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants as auditors of the Company to hold office until the next annual meeting of Shareholders and authorizing the directors to fix their remuneration. Approved 6,096,216 (100.00%) 100 (0.00%)



For Against 4) In respect of the resolution to amend the Company's share option plan, and the reservation of 165,000 additional common shares issuable upon the vesting and due exercise of any options granted under such plan.(1) Approved 3,643,763 (78.56%) 994,655 (21.44%)

(1) Includes only votes of disinterested shareholders. A report of voting results for each resolution presented at the Meeting prepared in accordance with National Instrument 51-102  Continuous Disclosure Obligations has been filed on www.sedar.com. About TeraGo TeraGo owns a national spectrum portfolio of exclusive 24GHz and 38GHz wide-area spectrum licences including 2,120 MHz of spectrum across Canada's 6 largest cities. TeraGo provides businesses across Canada with cloud, colocation and connectivity services. TeraGo manages over 3,000 cloud workloads, operates five data centres in the Greater Toronto Area, the Greater Vancouver Area, and Kelowna, and owns and manages its own IP network. The Company serves business customers in major markets across Canada including Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Ottawa and Winnipeg. For more information about TeraGo, please visit www.terago.ca. SOURCE TeraGo Inc.

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[June 29, 2020] KBRA Releases the Bank Treasury Newsletter and Bank Treasury Newsletter Chart Deck

Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) releases this month's edition of the Bank Treasury Newsletter and Bank Treasury Chart Deck. This month's newsletter, Bank Treasurers Vacation at Home, looks at the FDIC's decision to neutralize the loans made under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and bank use of the PPP Liquidity Fund (PPPLF) for purposes of calculating the deposit insurance assessment. The FDIC decision is put in context with other recent decisions by regulators since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to smooth the way for the banking industry to participate in the emergency programs set up by the Fed and the U.S. Treasury, in order to aid businesses and households and stabilize capital markets. A look at the $515 billion balance of PPP loans outstanding in the context of the broader industry balance sheet, shows the heavy inflow of deposits at multiples of loan outflows, and how this trend is contributing to significant pressure on net interest margins, on top of pressures from a flatter yield curve. In addition to margin concerns, bank treasurers list credit as a key worry for the remainder of 2020 and see more reserve build for Q2 2020. Despite these pressures, bank managers continue to defend paying shareholder dividends. The June edition of the Bank Treasury Newsletter Chart Deck surveys various measures which confirm the success of the Fed's efforts to calm the markets since March. Whle bank treasurers are contending with sizeable inflows of deposits and limited loan demand, the Chart Deck shows how nonfinancial corporations are sitting on the cash proceeds they have raised through longer-term loans and the capital markets.



Click below to view the reports: The Bank Treasury Newsletter Chart Deck: June 2020

The Bank Treasury Newsletter: June 2020

COVID-19, CECL, and Q1 2020 Provisions About KBRA and KBRA Europe

KBRA is a full-service credit rating agency registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. In addition, KBRA is designated as a designated rating organization by the Ontario Securities Commission for issuers of asset-backed securities to file a short form prospectus or shelf prospectus. KBRA is also recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as a Credit Rating Provider and is a certified Credit Rating Agency (CRA) with the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered with ESMA as a CRA. Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is located at 6-8 College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005844/en/

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WestRock Honored for Outstanding Merchandising Achievement

WestRock Company (NYSE: WRK), a leading provider of differentiated paper and packaging solutions, received 19 awards at this year's Outstanding Merchandising Achievement (OMA) Awards - the most of any entrant - including the distinguished Creative Award.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005846/en/

The display WestRock designed for Colgate Target (News - Alert) Optic White Advanced won a bronze 2020 Outstanding Merchandising Achievement award. (Photo: Business Wire)

The OMAs celebrate merchandising and design excellence in the retail space. They are presented by SHOP! Association, a global non-profit trade association dedicated to enhancing retail environments and experiences.

WestRock won the distinguished Creative Award for a permanent display for a large personal care consume goods company that was launching a new shaving product designed specifically for women. The WestRock-designed display reinforced the company's brand messaging with elements of playfulness and humor.







"As consumer shopping preferences evolve and the retail environment becomes more competitive, retailers need to find more ways to engage shoppers and convert them to buyers," said Rick Parris, senior vice president, Merchandising Displays at WestRock. "WestRock's retail expertise across a variety of channels and in numerous industries allows us to leverage our scale and drive differentiated value for our customers. Congratulations to our talented Merchandising Displays team for creating innovative displays that help connect people to products."

In addition to the Creative Award, WestRock earned two Gold Awards, three Silver Awards and 13 Bronze Awards.

Award highlights include:

SmileDirectClub In-line Portfolio Display @ Walmart

GOLD - Healthcare, Permanent



GOLD - Healthcare, Permanent Native Bathtub Endcap for Proctor & Gamble

SILVER - Mass Merchandise, Semi-Permanent

Colgate Target Optic White Advanced Endcap for Colgate-Palmolive

BRONZE - Hair Care and Skin Care, Temporary

WestRock, a leading provider of merchandising displays in North America, offers differentiated in-store solutions that optimize the effectiveness and efficiency of top retailers and brand marketers promotional supply chains.

About WestRock

WestRock (NYSE: WRK) partners with our customers to provide differentiated paper and packaging solutions that help them win in the marketplace. WestRock's team members support customers around the world from locations spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Learn more at www.westrock.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005846/en/
[June 29, 2020] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a Leading Securities Fraud Law Firm, Announces Investigation of Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (BKD) on Behalf of Investors

Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a leading national shareholder rights law firm, today announced that it has commenced an investigation on behalf of Brookdale Senior Living Inc. ("Brookdale" or the "Company") (NYSE: BKD) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of the federal securities laws. If you suffered a loss on your Brookdale investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at https://www.glancylaw.com/cases/brookdale-senior-living-inc/.You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at shareholders@glancylaw.com to learn more about your rights. On April 30, 2020, Nashville Business Journal reported that a proposed class action lawsuit had been filed against Brookdale, accusing the Company of, among other things, purposeful "chronically insufficient staffing" at its facilities in an effort o meet financial benchmarks since at least April 24, 2016. According to the lawsuit, the Company misinformed both residents and their families in promising to provide daily living services and basic care. The lawsuit also claims that the proposed class of plaintiffs "have not received the care and services they paid for."



On this news, the Company's share price fell $0.56 per share, or over 15%, over two trading sessions, to close at $3.12 per share on May 1, 2020. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding Brookdale should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC (News - Alert) Whistleblower Program. Under the program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email shareholders@glancylaw.com. About GPM Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. ISS Securities Class Action Services has consistently ranked GPM in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report. In 2018, GPM was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements. With four offices across the country, GPM's nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPM's lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct including cases involving financial restatements, internal control weaknesses, earnings management, fraudulent earnings guidance and forward looking statements, auditor misconduct, insider trading, violations of FDA regulations, actions resulting in FDA and DOJ investigations, and many other forms of corporate misconduct. GPM's attorneys have worked on securities cases relating to nearly all industries and sectors in the financial markets, including, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, real estate and REITs, financial, insurance, information technology, health care, biotech, cryptocurrency, medical devices, and many more. GPM's past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times (News - Alert), Bloomberg Businessweek, Reuters, the Associated Press, Barron's, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, and Money. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005722/en/

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[June 29, 2020] JEMTEC Second Fiscal Quarter & Financial Update

JEMTEC INC. TSX-V: JTC VANCOUVER, BC, June 29, 2020 /CNW/ - JEMTEC Inc. (TSXV: JTC) (the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its Third Quarter performance for the period ended April 30, 2020 and the Companies improving financial situation, with no debt, strong liquidity and net worth. One Time Dividend

On January 8, 2020, the Company announced that the board of directors approved the payment of a onetime special dividend of $0.25 per common share (the "Special Dividend"). The Special Dividend was payable to shareholders of record as of the close of business on January 17, 2020, resulting in a dividend declaration of $679,219. As of April 30, 2020, the dividend declared had been paid. Q3 Revenues and Expenses

Revenues have increased by 2% during the quarter ended April 30, 2020 compared to the quarter ended April 30, 2019 due to an increase in revenues from CSC. The Company earned revenues on its agreements with the Provinces of Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Correctional Service Canada, as well the Company earned revenues from private bail clients by presenting the release plans for court cases. Expenses increased by 8% compared to 2019 due mainly to different eqipment mix and foreign exchange.



Q3 Income Tax

For the quarter ended April 30, 2020, the Company recognized a provision for income tax expense of $35,000 (2019 - $Nil). The current income tax expense was related to income tax in Canada. Q3 Net Income

For the quarter ended April 30, 2020, the Company recorded a net income of $86,847, compared to a net income of $142,929 during the quarter ended April 30, 2019. This decrease in net income is primarily due to the increase in the income tax provision.

Q3 Liquidity

At April 30, 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $1,869,932 and working capital of $1,781,414. All cash and cash equivalents are on deposit with a Schedule I bank in Canada in current or interest accruing accounts. Eric Caton, President and CEO said, "We are pleased with the Q3 results and the new and extended agreements are up and working well, we see a profitable and stable path ahead with the Company well positioned to grow its core business and increase market share. "Jemtec has provided a full spectrum of monitoring technologies and services to provincial and federal correctional and border services across Canada since 1987 and in doing so has built a reputation for offering the best technological solutions and support for use in this demanding environment. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 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. Investors 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. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Jemtec Inc.

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It didnt work then I dont think it will work now, he said by email on Monday. Given the fact that I have no informal or formal role in Scott Israels campaign or the campaign of any other candidate for sheriff, and that I am supporting no candidate for sheriff, I think voters will see through this wild attempt at guilt by association which in this case is factually incorrect.
45533 


For the 18th & Vine community, more police is a thorny solution to violent crime To tackle violent crime, some in the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District are asking why there isn't more of a police presence, while others are reluctant to bring in additional police in light of recent national events focused on police brutality.

Credit to the newspaper for picking up this contradiction our blog community has discussed for weeks . . . Check the link tease with more info for subscribers:
Called the Yachting Limited Edition, this design is a marine version of the iconic Mercedes G63 AMG as Carlex puts it. The company has made a few tweaks to the exterior, but most of the changes come inside the cabin. With all the light-shade leather and wood trim on the interior, it looks pretty neat, doesnt it?

The Mercedes-AMG G63 is a popular SUV among enthusiasts and aftermarket companies alike. This time, Carlex Design Europe has laid its hands on the boxy beauty and gave it a special treatment.

This Polish aftermarket company gives the G63 a nautical twist for the sea lover in you LISTEN 03:52

Whats Different On The Outside?

The Carlex G63 Yachting Limited Edition is painted in a dual-tone shade. The upper half features a satin black color, whereas the lower can be had in either polar white or brushed silver. Up front, the star logo is swapped with Carlexs logo on the grille. CARLEX lettering is also present at the tip of the hood. The headlights and bumpers are retained.

The side profile features a black strip running from the fenders to the end of the vehicle. The G63 Yachting Edition rides on 22-inch brushed wheels wrapped in low profile tires. In the rear, things are the same except for a custom wheel cover. The design gives a strong nautical vibe to this marine-themed SUV and it looks pretty good.

The Interior Lives Up To The Nautical Theme

Most of the changes are made to the cabin. Carlex is offering this G63 Yachting Edition in two different marine themes.

The first one comprises of off-white leather with Alcantara, whereas the second version makes use of cognac leather with light accents.

The seats come with shoulder pads finished in a metallic shade along with heavy bolstering on the sides. There are a lot of wood decor elements around the cabin. Theyre present on the door panels, steering wheel, grab handles, as well as the floor. The same treatment is given to the cargo area as well.

What Powers The Carlex G63 Yachting Edition?

Carlex has not made any changes to the G63s drivetrain. In standard form, the Mercedes-AMG G63 comes with a 4.0-liter, biturbo V-8 engine under the hood that churns out 577 horses and 627 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated a nine-speed AMG Speedshift 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox. Power is sent to all the wheels via a two-speed transfer case.

Mercedes-AMG specifications Engine 4.0-liter, biturbo V-8 Horsepower 577 HP Torque 627 LB-FT Transmission nine-speed AMG Speedshift 9G-Tronic automatic 0 to 60 mph 4.5 seconds Towing 6,500 pounds

This powerful mill helps the G63 sprint to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds flat. It features a central differential lock along with front and rear diffs, and a low range mode as well. The other stuff includes:

AMG Performance Exhaust System

Double-Wishbone Front/Rigid-Axle Rear Suspension

Adaptive Damping Suspension

AMG high-performance Braking System

Trailer hitch that can tow up to 6,500 pounds

Final Thoughts

Carlex Design had released renderings of the Mercedes-AMG G63 Yachting Edition earlier this year, but the actual photos have come out now. These are images of the first finished vehicle designed for the companys customer in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The company hasnt released the prices of the same, but we are expecting it to cost around $50,000 over the cost of the donor vehicle. The 2020 Mercedes-AMG G63 starts at $156,450 in the States, so the Carlex Yachting Edition should cost you north of $200,000.

What are your thoughts on this nautical version of the boxy off-roader? Share them with us in the comments section below.

Source: Carlex Design
Blue Ridge Community College is hosting a free FAFSA Night from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, at its Transylvania County Campus to help any student interested in filling out their FAFSA.

FAFSA Nights are one of several ways the college is taking part in FAFSA Frenzy NC, which is a massive, state-wide push by www.myFutureNC to boost FAFSA numbers across North Carolina throughout the month of June.

A FAFSA, the federal application for student aid, is an online form students fill out to determine their eligibility for federal financial aid. While many students are often surprised at the a...
GENERAL COURT

OF JUSTICE OF North CAROLINA

SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION

Transylvania COUNTY

17SP45

IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY VERONICA HOWELL DATED JANUARY 26, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 392 AT PAGE 435 IN THE Transylvania County PUBLIC REGISTRY, North CAROLINA

NOTICE OF SALE

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 12:00PM on July 13, 2020 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Transylvania County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Veronica Howell, dated January 26, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $80,250.00, and recorded in Book 392 at Page 435 of the Transylvania County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property:

235 Duckworth Ave, Brevard, NC 28712

Tax Parcel ID:

8585-39-3796-000

Present Record Owners:

The Heirs of

Veronica Howell

And Being more commonly known as: 235 Duckworth Ave, Brevard, NC 28712

The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Heirs of Veronica Howell.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is June 9, 2020.

Grady I. Ingle or

Elizabeth B. Ells

Substitute Trustee

10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400

Charlotte, NC 28216

(704) 333-8107

17-091810

M6/29/2TC-74227
During its recent meeting, Brevard City Council addressed a complaint about city-project progress and heard special presentations.

In the Monday, June 8, issue of The Transylvania Times, Aaron Baker, Transylvania Tourism board member and marketing manager at Oskar Blues Brewery, wrote a letter to the editor, titled Not One Inch, in which he said the city has been slow on projects.

Baker had also submitted the letter for public comment during the meeting.

Mayor Jimmy Harris addressed the letter.

Ill tell you why things have been delayed, he said. The city of Brevard d...
According to a June 17 article in the Asheville Citizen Times, HCA (Hospital Corporation of America) has received about $1 billion in bailout funds through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security or CARES Act since the start of the pandemic.

HCA owns 185 hospitals. One billion dollars equals $5,405,405.41 per hospital.

The funds do not need to be repaid.

The bailout amount was cited in a recent New York Times study that reported that HCA earned more than $7 billion in profits over the past two years. It is worth $36 billion. Its chief executive, Samuel Hazen, had tota...
When Gov. Roy Cooper announced Wednesday that North Carolina would not proceed to Phase Three of reopening the state until at least July 17, political opportunists wasted no time in criticizing the decision.

Some Republicans claimed Cooper was trying to kill small businesses in the state while others, such as Michael Speciale, Rep. R.-Craven, said bars and gyms are no different than any other business.

Not only are these comments disingenuous and in some cases factually inaccurate, but they are politicizing a public health care crisis.

Last Wednesday, the same day Cooper made his announc...
When Pence visited Orlando in May to meet with tourism-industry leaders, he proclaimed that Florida was leading the way to open up America again. But in recent days, the state has reported record numbers of people testing positive for COVID-19 and implemented social restrictions such as prohibiting most bars from serving customers on their premises.
Forests in the Southern Appalachians are some of the most biologically diverse temperate forests in the world: however, these forests have departed from healthy conditions and many wildlife and plant species are in decline due to a lack of habitat diversity.

At 1.04 million acres, the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests are one of the best opportunities to meaningfully benefit wildlife at a landscape-scale because of the large land base under one ownership and the unique forest types found on the forests (e.g. high elevation spruce-fir forests) that are critical for many wild...
Johnstown, PA (15901)

Today

Partly cloudy in the morning. Thunderstorms developing later in the day. A few storms may be severe. High around 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 58F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Johnstown, PA (15901)

Today

Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours. Thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 83F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms in the evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 56F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Gerald Kirkham, 88, of Terre Haute, passed away Friday, June 18, 2021 in Terre Haute Regional Hospital. Gerald was born in New Goshen on June 9, 1933 to Cecil Kirkham and Fay Lake Kirkham. He was a member of the Lutheran Church and member of the American Legion in Sellersburg, IN. He was an 
Climate change and water quality are definitely atop the list. Sea levels are rising and were beginning to witness the extreme effects of climate change. In these times, we need leaders who will prioritize climate change and environmental issues. Its why I will work with Democrats and Republicans to ban fracking. The governor has already expressed interest in this area. Climate action includes addressing water quality issues. Much of our issues in this area are due to utilities and industry, like the Big Sugar industry. These entities do not realize that our water belongs to all of us and not them. I will be working across the aisle to address this issue. The second issue is healthcare. The Republicans have refused to expand Medicaid, leaving hundreds of thousands of poor people uninsured. We need bold leaders who will fight to expand Medicaid, cap the prices of insulin, and so much more. I have laid out the basics of my healthcare priorities. Id like to see non-profit community health clinics in every single zip code in the State of Florida. This would bring down the wait times in the emergency room, and allow people in rural communities & communities of color access to basic quality healthcare. Furthermore, I would implore the state to look at other models. The model I am particularly interested in is the State of Massachusetts MassHealth program, where Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is combined into one program. Finally, campaign finance reform. I do not believe much of anything, let alone the above, can be accomplished without huge campaign finance reform. We need to ban corporate money in politics, and lobbyist donations.
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If you are in an abusive relationship of any kind, know that you are not weak for what has happened to you. You are worthy of support, and you are not alone. Your support system may not look like mine did and it may not be what you expect, but know that you deserve to have one. There is hope, without shame and without stigma. Friends and loved ones, if you suspect that somebody you know is in an abusive relationship, do whatever you can to be there in a supportive and non-judgmental way. Realize that this situation is not about you, and you likely wont get the satisfaction of being the savior that fixes everything, but you can be a rock of support for when the individual is ready to ask for help. This link has some good suggestions for steps to take. Thehotline.org is another great resource.
Do you know what the official language of Sudan is? Sudan is known to have two official languages. Usually, the learned people in the country speak English, while the locals prefer speaking in Arabic. This makes the two languages the most popular languages in the country.

Image: pixabay.com

Source: UGC

Most countries in Africa adopted the language of their colonizers. This explains why English is the official language in many of these states. Sudan adopted English as its official language after the influence of their colonizers, the Englishmen.

The country is also a multi-lingual nation hence the need to have a common language that can be understood by all. English is what works in Sudan. It is, however, not the only language the country has.

If you have ever wondered about Sudan official languages, then the over 60 local languages spoken by the natives of Sudan will not come as a surprise. The official Sudanese language may be English, but this does not mean that local dialects and others like Arabic are not used.

About Sudan

Sudan is ranked among Africa's largest country. It is one of the Northeastern African countries boasting of a mixed population. Most people in the region are ether Arabic, or of African descent. It has its capital city in Khartoum, whereas the biggest national city is Omdurman.

Kush was what modern-day Sudan was referred to before. Before turning into what we know today, it once was referred to as Nubland. The country was formed in 1956 when it became officially known as the Republic of Sudan. The nation's boundaries were set and adopted from the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, whose establishment goes back to 1899.

The country's culture, behaviours, and beliefs are a combination of different tribes. The country has mixed geographical patterns, including forested lands and desert areas. As for the country's religion, about 97% of the country is Muslim.

The country can be said to be Arab influenced despite being in Africa. Its population highly comprises of Arabs whose presence is attributed to past Arab worldwide movement and dispersal. Sudan's current composition is majorly made of Arabic-speaking individuals, with a small percentage of Africans.

The Nubians, Fur, Beja, Nuba, as well as the Fallata are among the few African communities that can be traced back to the country. It may be surprising that an African country could have so many Arab-speakers but colonial and pre-colonial African-Arabic trade and migration may have contributed significantly to this.

Image: facebook.com, @sudannews

Source: UGC

The official language of Sudan

Is English spoken in Sudan? Yes, it is. African countries that were colonized by the English people adopted English as the official language because it was what many people understood. It has been said that this resulted from the colonialist having impressed their language on the African people. Most African countries adopted their colonizers' languages even after they departed probably because it was the easiest thing to do.

This explains how Sudan's official language ended up being English. This notwithstanding, the native languages of the country still exist. African Sudanese continue to practice their cultures and embracing their original languages and dialects. No amount of change has been able to erase this over the years. On the contrary, there are over 60 indigenous languages.

It may have been a good thing considering that there are many international languages spoken in the country. Without an official language, confusion is inevitable. Choosing to make English the official language could just be a matter of better and effective communication which is good for business.

In addition to that, Arabic is also the second official language in the region. This can be traced to a large number of Arabs. They were a major part of ancient Sudan hence the influences of culture, traditions, and language. It is not a shocker that the country opted for Arabic as another common language that many people in the area can identify with. Despite the variations in dialect and intonations, most locals prefer speaking Sudanese Arabic. Usually, English is spoken by the learned, while most locals understand Arabic.

Do Sudanese speak Arabic?

Apart from identifying English as the official language of Sudan, the Sudanese people are also known to speak a lot of Arabic. However, their version is unique since the dialect borrows a lot from the local language, El Rotana. As a result, Sudanese Arabic reflects the influences on the country from both Arabic and African cultures.

Arabic language spoken in Sudan

Sudanese Arabic differs from the popularly known Arabic language. It is also commonly spoken throughout Sudan and Eritrea. Some Sudanese tribes are registered to have similar accents to Saudi Arabians.

Why do they speak Arabic in Sudan? Well, this is because Arabic is the language that is understood by most people in the country. Arabic is a national language of Sudan and is spoken by over 42 million people.

READ ALSO: All primary schools in Uganda to start teaching Swahili

What is the native language of Sudan?

Sudan has over 142 languages, with 9 being extinct. However, the country's most popular languages are Arabic, which is used in the east, north, west, as well as in the middle regions. Apart from Arabic, there are other tribal languages spoken countrywide. You may also have heard about the Juba Arabic variant, which is a mixed language spoken in Southern Sudan.

Image: facebook.com, @sudancbk

Source: UGC

The official language of Sudan may be English and Arabic, but it helps to acknowledge the presence of numerous other local languages. More than 145 languages are linked to the people of Sudan. Many of these lean on the Arabic side compared to the African ones. English continues to be one of the languages used officially, especially for the learned people, while Arabic is popular because of being used widely across the country.

READ ALSO:

Video of Chinese students learning Gikuyu language in class excites Kenyans.

What language is spoken in Kenya?

Kiswahili was born in Tanzania, grew up in Kenya but died in Uganda - Kalonzo Musyoka.

Source: Tuko
- Heavily pregnant actress Regina Daniels recently had a baby shower which was attended by close family members and friends

- A clip from the intimate ceremony making rounds online captured the expecting mum dancing as loved ones hailed her

- One close friend present called the actress Mama Ejima, suggesting that she may be expecting twins

Popular Nigerian actress Regina Daniels is due to welcome her first child with billionaire husband, Ned Nwoko.

The young Nollywood actress was recently treated to a lovely baby shower event by close friends and family members.

READ ALSO: Kenyans urge Coca-Cola to grant beautiful girl pictured drinking their beverage an advertising deal

Regina Daniels dances during baby shower. Photo: Instagram/@regina.daniels/@sarahuche

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: COVID 19: Idadi ya visa vya maambukizi nchini yazidi 6,000

A beautiful video from the ceremony was posted on Instagram and it captured the moment Regina arrived at the venue with her face glowing and joy showing.

Upon her arrival, the heavily pregnant actress wasted no time and bust into dance as her friends hailed her.

READ ALSO: Jowie Irungu spotted hanging out with bff Joe Muchiri months after release from jail

READ ALSO: UN yakerwa na video ya ngono ndani ya gari lake nchini Israel

Interestingly, while the dancing and celebration was going on, a loud cheerer in the background could be heard calling the actress Mama Ejima.

The name in Igbo language is often reserved for women who are mothers of twins or those who are expecting twins. It is also used for all expectant mothers.

Perhaps this is an indication that the actress may be expecting a set of twins with her wealthy husband.

READ ALSO: Mother-in-law should never enter her married son's bedroom - Bi Msafwari

Fans on social media were excited and immediately congratulated the actress for her new journey.

They all predicted that Regina would make a good mum and having twins would be a blessing in disguise.

The star and her hubby announced the news of their pregnancy in June 2020 after months of speculation.

Regina and Ned posted photos of the beauty during a photoshoot holding her grown belly and said their family was growing.

"My baby is having a baby," Ned proudly gushed.

Later on, the thespian lamented that COVID-19 had visited the world at a very bad time and regre

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.

We lost five children before our daughter Charisa came - Shinel Wanja | Tuko Talks | Tuko TV

Source: Tuko.co.ke
Newspapers on Monday, June 29, report on the state of COVID-19 pandemic in the country as anxiety builds up ahead of President Uhuru Kenyatta's review of the current containment measures on July 6.

Also extensively covered is how the ODM party and its NASA partner Wiper are hoping to rip big from vacancies created after Jubilee Party expelled renegade members from House committees.

READ ALSO: Musalia Mudavadi is jealous of my political progress - Senator Cleophas Malala

COVID-19 cases in the country topped 6,000 on Sunday, June 28, and settled at 6,070 while deaths and recoveries were 143 and 1,971 respectively. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Just In: Former Churchill Show comedian Kasee confirmed dead

1. Daily Nation

Daily Nation reports that Uhuru is expected to reopen the country next week, thus ending a period of about four months that Kenya has been on partial lockdown.

Earlier, the president said reopening will be dependent on the capacity of counties to tackle the pandemic.

On Sunday, June 28, the Ministry of Health revealed that counties had met the requirements which included setting up of at least 300 beds as part of measures to take care of COVID-19 patients.

The ministry also stated that passengers travelling between counties will be examined to establish if they have any signs or symptoms of the disease.

"With this approach, we will be able to kick out about 80% of COVID-19 cases. It a simple approach that does not require a lot of resources.

If we can do this, then we can open up the country," said Health Acting Director-General Patrick Amoth.

READ ALSO: Majority of Kenyans would vote for Ruto if elections were held today - opinion poll

2. The Standard

Panic has gripped parliament after at least six lawmakers were diagnosed with COVID-19 and got admitted to various hospitals in Nairobi.

The six confirmed cases have seen at least 20 other MPs seek testing over the weekend after closely interacting with the infected.

Clerk of the National Assembly Michael Sialai, however, said House leadership was not aware of any of its members who were COVID-19 positive, noting that health was a private matter and could only be made public if patients volunteered such information.

According to the daily, cases of COVID-19 among MPs can easily be transferred to their constituencies since they travel often between the legislative units and Nairobi.

The Standard has reported politicians have been gathering and convening meetings in various parts across the country, some in total disregard of health guidelines, and this was cited as one of the factors that led to infections among MPs.

READ ALSO: Sheria msumeno: Waluke, Wakhungu wapewa faini ya zaidi ya KSh 700M ama jela miaka 7

3. People Daily

Counties could be headed for another revenue standoff in case senators today fail to agree on a cash sharing formula proposed by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA).

The CRA has proposed counties will share the KSh 316.5 billion allocated to them in the 2020-2021 fiscal year based on population.

This means populous counties will reap big while those with meagre count will get smaller allocations.

Devolved units that are expected to benefit more from the approach are Nairobi (KSh 5.3bn), Nakuru (KSh 3.1 bn), Kakamega (KSh 2.1 bn), Kiambu (KSh 1.3 bn) and Uasin Gishu (KSh 923 million).

Sparsely populated counties will, however, have a smaller allocation compared to what they were allocated in 2019-2020 financial year.

Mandera will shed KSh 2.09 bn, Wajir will forgo KSh 1.4 bn, Mombasa (KSh 1.4 bn), Kwale (KSh 1.2 bn), Marsabit (KSh 2.3 bn), Kilifi (KSh 1.1 bn) as Garissa loses KSh 484M.

READ ALSO: Miguna makes last minute cancellation of K24 interview, says he can't compromise his principles

4. The Star

The daily reports that ex-president Mwai Kibaki has from since June 19 been admitted at a VIP ward at The Nairobi Hospital.

Kibaki was admitted after experiencing lower abdominal pains.

A team of doctors attending to him said there was no cause for alarm since they were managing the discomfort.

READ ALSO: Waiguru impeachment: Kirinyaga MCAs disagree with Senate decision, vow to move to court

5. Taifa Leo

Despite Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru having survived an impeachment motion against her, it has emerged that she is still being probed for fraud-related charges by the EACC.

The commission's central region boss Charles Rasungu said the anti-graft agency was investigating a KSh 50 million tender the county awarded Velocity Ltd.

According to Rasungu, the case was presented before the EACC by a Kirinyinga resident in May 2020 and not MCAs who were seeking to dethrone the governor.

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.

We lost five children before our daughter Charisa came - Shinel Wanja | Tuko Talks | Tuko TV.

Source: Kenya Breaking News Today
NEW YORK  Chesapeake Energy, a shale drilling pioneer that helped to turn the United States into a global energy powerhouse, has filed for bankruptcy protection.

The Oklahoma City-based company said Sunday that it was a necessary decision given its debt. Its debt load is currently nearing $9 billion. It has entered a plan with lenders to cut $7 billion of its debt and said it will continue to operate as usual during the bankruptcy process.

The oil and gas company was a leader in the fracking boom, using unconventional techniques to extract oil and gas from the ground, a method that has come under scrutiny because of its environmental impact.

Other wildcatters followed in Chesapeakes path, racking up huge debts to find oil and gas in fields spanning New Mexico, Texas, the Dakotas and Pennsylvania. A reckoning is now coming due with those massive debts needing to be serviced by Chesapeake and those that followed its path.

More than 200 oil producers have filed for bankruptcy protection in the past five years, a trend thats expected to continue as a global pandemic saps demand for energy and depresses prices further.
The world record for paddlefish taken with rod and reel will likely fall to a giant 146.7-pound Oklahoma monster snagged at Keystone Lake on June 28 by James Lukehart of Edmond.

The massive fish was confirmed as the official new state record for that species, beating the previous record of 143 pounds set just over a month ago by Jeremiah Mefford of Kiefer, who was on hand to see his state record fall by the wayside.

scale pfish

Mefford is a fishing guide, and Lukehart was his client when he snagged the huge paddlefish. Mefford provided a witness signature on the record fish affidavit.

The standing rod-and-reel world-record American paddlefish, taken from a Kansas pond in 2004, is listed at 144 pounds. The largest American paddlefish on record, taken by a spearfisherman in Iowa in 1916, reportedly weighed 198 pounds.

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Senior Fisheries Biologist Jason Schooley and Fisheries Technician Eric Brennan were able to quickly travel to Keystone Lake to weigh and certify the potential world-record fish.

Lukeharts monster measured 70.5 inches in length and 45 inches in girth. Under the guidance of ODWC, the fish was released and monitored after official measurements were taken.
The states response to COVID-19 has been disastrous. Were I in charge of the states COVID-19 response, I would have dedicated more resources to testing, especially at Floridas nursing homes. Additionally, I would not have been so quick to re-open. Governor DeSantis was in a hurry to re-open the economy, and Floridians are seeing that the results of his haste are more cases, more hospitalizations, and I fear, more deaths due to COVID-19. I would also have convened a special session of the legislature and repealed the many corporate tax cuts and loopholes that have been passed in recent years, and devoted those extra resources to addressing this crisis. Finally, I would have worked to fix Floridas broken unemployment system by increasing the amount of assistance available to Floridians and fixing the mess of a website that has left thousands of unemployed Floridians unable to access the benefits they are owed.
Good news from Florida for Wagoners toughest cowboy, Kaleb Dorr, who underwent two major leg surgeries recently and came through with flying colors.

Now, its on to physical therapy.

It seems like yesterday that the Dorr family got law enforcement escort as a send-off for this needed surgery at the Palm Beach Childrens Hospital.

Dorr has TAR Syndrome and the leg surgeries were needed to straighten and help them grow properly. The surgeries were handled by Dr. Dror Paley of the Paley Institute at St. Marys Medical Center.

The left leg was operated on first and took the most time, but the right leg needed much help, too. Kalebs mom, Kim, commented on the most recent surgery of June 24.

The right leg was the most visibly twisted and is now so straight! Kim said. Before surgery his right knee bent to the outside and his foot turned completely inside. His pain level has been a little more intense with the right leg, but he is saying today that it is starting to feel better.

The Dorr family wished to thank everyone for the prayers and supportive comments during all of this. The family has one major wish now for Kaleb.
John Ford called me in Houston and asked if Id do him a favor, Johnson said in the book. And I said yes sir. I didnt even ask what it was.

The favor: Will you be in Bogdanovichs movie? For added incentive, Ford asked Johnson, who had been in many films with John Wayne, if he wanted to be the Dukes sidekick all his life.

So I called my agent and told him to call the studio and tell them that Ben Johnson wanted twice his salary to do the movie, Johnson said in the book. I knew nobody would pay that much money.

The studio agreed to Johnsons request. He won an Oscar (best supporting actor) for his work in The Last Picture Show. He said in interviews that it was an honor to win an Academy Award because there had never been a cowboy to win one.

Johnson died in 1996. You can revisit his career at the Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum in Pawhuska. The museum opened in June 2019.

Harryhausens career has been on display in Oklahoma, too. In July 2017, an exhibition of almost 150 original Harryhausen models, prototypes, bronzes, sketches and storyboards debuted at the Science Museum Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. It was billed as the first U.S. exhibition of his work in many years. The exhibition ended Dec. 3, 2017.
There seems to be agreement on several key points, but Democrats argued the Senate bill does not go far enough. Republicans said the House bill has no chance of passage in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Each member of the Oklahoma delegation issued written statements on the situation.

Unfortunately, my (Democratic) colleagues ... have no intention of changing anything, said Hern, who represents Tulsa, Washington and Wagoner counties. Change comes from bipartisan legislation that can pass both the House and the Senate, which requires input from both sides. ... Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi never wanted her bill to make it to the presidents desk, which is why she refused any Republican input. Her goal was to win a moral victory in the House today and victimize herself for the next five months in the hopes of winning an election.

We saw the same lack of leadership in the Senate, Hern continued. Americans are marching, but elected Democrats dont care. They will play the victim and continue to politicize this issue through Election Day.
Oklahomas COVID-19 cases rose by 228 on Monday, with 53 new cases in Tulsa County.

A fatal COVID-19 case reported Sunday was an Oklahoma County patient older than 65; the death toll Monday remains at 385, according to state health data.

Oklahoma State Department of Health officials have recorded 13,172 cases of COVID-19 across the state, with Tulsa County seeing the most cases of Oklahomas 77 counties: 3,304 as of Monday, with 67 deaths.

Tulsa Countys rolling 7-day average for cases inched up to 130.3; there are 1,111 active COVID-19 cases in the county, Tulsa Health Department reported Monday.

Hospitalizations are at 329 currently across the state, a number that started steadily rising May 22.

ICU capacity became a cause for some concern late last week when one midtown Tulsa facility went on temporary ICU-divert status due to a non-COVID influx of patients. According to state Health Department survey information, Hillcrest Medical Centers ICU was using 51% of its capacity as of Sunday; OSU Medical Center was at 61%. Saint Francis Hospital, with the biggest ICU unit in Tulsa, was operating Sunday with only 10% of its ICU beds available.
Keith said there will be more than enough space at the event for vendors and visitors.

They will have plenty of room on that upper level (of River Spirit Expo) to allow all of the booths with a little more room between them than normal, and masks will be available at the door, she said. They have all of the hand-sanitizing stations, they have monitors at the bathrooms to keep them clean, that kind of thing.

An Affair of the Heart organizers also plan to provide masks and a hand-sanitizing station.

Dart said he was glad to see the fairgrounds incorporating COVID-19 guidelines and recommendations into their events.

We talked about having it so that everyone who attends is (voluntarily) masked and is aware of social distancing ... and hand-washing is available, Dart said.

Darts review of the fairgrounds public health protocols Friday afternoon could turn out to be a harbinger of things to come for local event organizers and facility managers. In a Zoom meeting earlier in the day, Dart joined area mayors and city managers to discuss, among other things, the possible creation of a certification program for public events and the importance of normalizing wearing masks.
The guide and angler knew how to handle the fish to keep it alive. Lukehart said he jumped out in the shallows and waded around with the fish to keep water moving over its gills until Shooley arrived. The biologist said it took some effort to help the fish recover from its stress, but thanks to the ability to watch the fish after it was released with the LiveScope sonar, they could leave knowing the fish would be OK.

When we first pulled it up, I think my wife wondered if there was going to be something else up on our wall, Lukehart said with a chuckle. But this is one that if we had the ability it is definitely one I wanted to release to give someone the chance to have the experience I did catching that thing today.

As for lifting the heavy fish on his own for photos, he shared a tip. She floats pretty well in the water, then you get your hands right and you just have to bend your knees and lift properly, he said. I was definitely ready to put her back down though.

Caitlin Lukehard also caught and released an 82-pound paddlefish before they caught the record-setting fish. And they landed a 55-pound fish tagged and took home for dinner.

Were fixin to get it brined up and put it on the smoker for dinner, he said.
OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma lawmakers on Monday expressed deep concern about reports that Russia placed bounties on U.S. service members and troops from other western countries serving in Afghanistan.

While there is a lot we dont know at this stage, these are serious allegations, said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, whose district includes Tinker Air Force Base and Fort Sill.

If true that Russia reprehensibly targeted our service members, it will certainly require a swift, strong and appropriate response from the United States.

Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, Weve known for a long time that Putin is a thug and a murderer, and if these allegations are true, I will work with President Trump on a strong response.

Featured video: Tulsa County Election Board opens for early voting
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps volunteers are invaluable to Tulsas response to the novel coronavirus pandemic as health officials try to trace and curb the diseases spread.

Bruce Dart, Tulsa Health Department executive director, last week said his agency began with three or four contact tracers. Now? There are about 60.

The tracing process involves notifying a person of a positive test and working with the individual to retrace their steps from 48 hours before symptoms arose to determine other potential exposures for monitoring, quarantining or testing.

Many THD contact tracers are volunteers through the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, or OKMRC. The group helps out during disasters or emergencies and offers assistance with public-health initiatives in calmer times.

Theyve been extremely helpful, Dart said. I dont think wed be able to be where were at without our volunteer group from the OKMRC.

Statewide, OKMRC has more than 7,300 volunteers, with approximately 400 joining since the pandemic began. Carrie Suns, OKMRCs Tulsa County coordinator, said the number is growing daily and that more than 1,300 are in Tulsa County.
Johnson, 45, joined the Tulsa Police Department in 2005. He later earned the rank of sergeant and is a graveyard-shift supervisor on the east side of town.

Zarkeshan, 26, is a patrol officer. A recent Tulsa Police Academy graduate, he completed his training in May and has been on patrol for about six weeks.

Franklin remarked about the symbolism of the uniform that police officers wear and how we sometimes believe that were invincible.

Every time I put this uniform on, I remember the last part of our oath (of) office, and that says with my life if need be, he said.

This uniform is just that: Its a uniform, Franklin said. Inside of this uniform is just a regular person. Im just like you, and were just like you. The only difference is we do a different job than what you do. So, for us, were just as much a part of the community as you are.

Franklin noted that for more than 24 years, our department has not had to deal with a situation such as this.
RTHK: Six killed in attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange

Baloch separatists opened fire and hurled a grenade at the Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi on Monday, authorities said, killing six people including a policeman.

Four security guards, a police officer and a bystander were killed in the melee, while local police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said all four assailants were also dead.

"Police have recovered modern automatic weapons and explosive materials from the terrorists," Karachi police said in a statement.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) later claimed responsibility in a message, saying an elite unit of fighters had carried out the assault.

The separatists have carried out a string of high-profile attacks across the country in recent years  including in the southern port city.

The BLA is one of several insurgent groups fighting primarily in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, which has been rocked by separatist, Islamist and sectarian violence for years.

The group has targeted infrastructure projects and Chinese workers in Pakistan multiple times in recent years, including during a brazen daylight attack on Bejing's consulate in Karachi which killed four people in 2018.

Last year, the US State Department designated the BLA as a global terrorist group, making it a crime for anyone in the United States to assist the militants and freezing any US assets they may have.

Business continued as usual at the Karachi stock exchange after the attack.

"Trading is smooth and continuing. PSX benchmark index one of the Best Performer in Asia today so far," tweeted Mohammed Sohail, a broker at the exchange.

For a while after the attack the bodies of at least two gunmen could be seen in a pool of blood near the exchange. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-06-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Gulf airline Emirates said on Monday that it will restart passenger flights to Cairo and Tunis starting 1 July, bringing its total destinations to 52 next month.

Emirates is one of many airlines around the world who are resuming operations after months of suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In an official press release sent to Ahram Online, Emirates said it will operate flights to the Maldives starting 16 July, and that its network aims to offer travelers convenient connections between the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas through its Dubai hub while ensuring the health and safety of customers and employees both on the ground and aboard flights.

Flights can be booked online through Emirates website or through travel agents, it said.

The company said that people can also travel to Dubai, after Emirati authorities announced the reopening of the business hub to visitors starting 7 July amid new air travel protocols that facilitate travel for UAE citizens, residents and tourists while adhering to health and safety measures.

The carrier said it has implemented several measures to ensure the safety of travelers and employees, including the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitisers, and antibacterial wipes to all customers.

The company also said that travelers will only be allowed to board flights if they meet the entry criteria set by their destination countries.

Visitors to Dubai should have an international health insurance policy covering illness from COVID-19 for the duration of their stay, it said.

The announcement by Emirates comes as Egypt braces for a gradual resumption of regular international flights at all its airports starting 1 July. Foreign tourists will only be allowed entry into the three coastal governorates with the lowest coronavirus infection rates in the country.

Egypt halted all international flights on 19 March in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus. It has since only allowed its airports to open to domestic, freight and special repatriation flights.

Flights will be resumed with countries that have reopened their airports, minister Mohamed Manar Enaba said earlier this month.

The areas that will open for foreign tourists in the first stage are South Sinai, where the popular seaside resort of Sharm El-Sheikh is located, the Red Sea governorate, home to the city of Hurghada, and Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean.

Egypt hopes that the resumption of regular flights starting next month will boost its ailing tourism sector, an essential source of foreign currency.

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District 88 is a multi-ethnic district with a wide range of resident income levels. Many residents and families, particularly those who are not Caucasian, are in need of assistance with healthcare, housing, jobs, and childcare support, but the Republican-led majority has effectively abandoned those in need of a safety net by allowing whatever safety net did exist to be frayed almost beyond repair. This situation has been worsened by the current pandemic we find ourselves in now. When I am elected by the District voters, I will make working toward correcting these issues my top priority.
In 1920, the first year the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, Alice Robertson rarely left the cafe that she owned in Muskogee while she was running for Congress. She delivered speeches to her own customers while running newspaper ads that listed the daily specials before briefly describing her policy positions.

Given little chance to win, Robertson wound up beating a three-term Democrat to become the first Oklahoma woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. And while she lost her seat in the next election, Robertson made good on one of her signature campaign promises: to bring a veterans hospital to the state, where thousands of young men had returned with serious injuries from the trenches of World War I.

It would have made more sense to build the hospital in Tulsa, where obviously more veterans lived. But Robertson came from Muskogee, and her district got the gravy. The original 25-bed facility opened on Flag Day in 1923.

Now theres a $173 million plan to move the hospital to where it should have been all along.
"You don't want things so convenient that you don't even know when fraud might be occurring, but on the other hand you don't want it so secure no one can vote," the state election board secretary says.
Father's Day was spent in under more quiet conditions than usual because of the extended curfew in effect. But the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation has taken the lockdown period to combat the spread of COVID-19 through a sanitisation programme. Here's Alicia Boucher with the details.
The U.S. National Defense Authorization Act provides for the allocation of $250 million for Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

[Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)] provides $250 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides support and assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, of which $50 million can only be used for lethal defensive equipment, reads the summary of provisions in the FY21 NDAA posted on the website of the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services.

In addition, the prohibition on funding for any activity that would recognize the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea will be extended.

[FY 2021 NDAA] continues to limit military-to-military cooperation with Russia, extending a rule of construction that the prohibition does not affect bilateral military-to-military dialogue for the purposes of reducing the risk of conflict, the summary reads.

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As of June 29, Kyiv city and 12 regions of Ukraine do not meet all the necessary criteria for easing quarantine measures introduced to prevent the coronavirus spread, according to data provided by the Health Ministry.

In particular, Kyiv city, Volyn, Donetsk, Zakarpattia, Kyiv, Luhansk, Lviv, Mykolayiv, Odesa, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk regions are not ready to weaken coronavirus quarantine yet.

The Ministry notes that relevant data from Crimea and Sevastopol city are not available.

The Health Ministry explains that the transition of regions to the next stage of quarantine, which provides for the easing of lockdown restrictions, is possible if the epidemiological situation in the region meets the necessary criteria.

These criteria reflect the control of virus transmission, the level of capacity of the treatment network, epidemiological facilities and the healthcare system in general to tackle the spread of the acute respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and, respectively, allow the control over the epidemic situation at the level reached on the current date.

As of June 29, Ukraine reports 43,628 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Some 646 new cases have been confirmed over the past day.

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As prepared for delivery

Opening

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Colleagues,

I would like to warmly welcome all of you to this virtual meeting -- a first for the Annual Meeting on Rule of Law and Human Rights.

After 12 years of gathering in New York in person, we now connect from all corners of the planet.

This global network of Member states, United Nations and UNDP staff, public servants, NGOs, and individuals represents our collective commitment to strengthen the Rule of Law and Human Rights as we work towards the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs and secure a new social contract.

I would like to extend a particular welcome to our distinguished speakers from Bangladesh , Burkina Faso , Armenia , Sri Lanka , the Netherlands and the United Kingdom .

I would also like to take a moment to thank those who directly contribute to UNDPs ability to implement comprehensive rule of law and human rights programmes: the Netherlands , the United States , Sweden , Switzerland , the United Kingdom , Germany , Norway , and Japan .

Current State of Affairs and Challenges

Let me start with a reflection on the challenges that lie before us.

The COVID-19 pandemic is shaking the very foundations of our societies. It is exposing inequalities, weak health and social security systems and the digital divide.

It is also complicating our existing governance, human rights and security challenges.

We have seen governance by coercion, control and consent in various combinations.

And violence against women has spiked dramatically in the wake of global lockdowns.

Indeed, structural discrimination was starkly illustrated by the disproportionate impact of the virus on marginalized groups.

It shows that the enjoyment of rights is neither a given -- nor is it equal.

It is clear that tough choices had to be made but obligations to respect human rights and the rule of law remain in place. This is not purely a legal requirement but a value-based approach which grounds the well-being of our societies.

And we must remember that the pandemic did not occur in a vacuum.

We were already seeing searing divisions in the political discourse; racism and exclusion; and the erosion of trust.

In particular, I see three main trends in this area:

1. Firstly, voter turnout has fallen by a massive 10 per cent since the beginning of the 1990s -- some may argue that the public is voting with its feet when it comes to expressing faith in the electoral process. At the same time, there are positive developments -- one global poll suggests that trust in government has risen by 11 points to an all-time high of 65 per cent during the pandemic.

2. Secondly, we have seen increasing demands for socio-economic justice and accountability for human rights violations. In 2018 and 2019 alone, millions of people in more than 60 countries -- from Chile to Sudan to France -- came on to the streets to make their voices heard on a range of social, economic and political concerns. As UNDPs 2019 Human Development Report put it, inequality was a common thread. And the current anti-racism protests worldwide have brought calls for accountability, justice and the rule of law to the very forefront of our thinking.

3. And thirdly, conflicts and instability in many parts of the world intensified continuing to cause untold human suffering. And forced displacement continued to reach new record numbers in 2019 -- nearly 80 million people.

It could be said that the COVID-19 crisis has played out in this theatre of risks.

The Way Forward

So, as we move forward from the pandemic and support the socio-economic recovery, we are at a critical turning point  which I believe we must turn into a positive tipping point.

We must influence change in a direction which is transformational for people and the planet.

It is clear that securing the rule of law and human rights is key to achieving the transformational change we need -- based on principles of trust, accountability and justice. This ultimately means forging a new, more inclusive social contract.

In this context, UNDP has a mandate through the 2030 Agenda to support people-centred justice; reduce violence -- and build inclusive and effective institutions.

This is also the foundation on which we have built successive Global Programmes on Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights.

Examples of how UNDPs work is contributing to Progress

So, I would like to share some examples of how UNDPs works to achieve our objectives.

 Firstly, we continue to strengthen national human rights systems

This work is an important part of our commitment to the UN Secretary-Generals Call to Action on Human Rights.

-We work closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions .

-In 2019, UNDP supported over 50 National Human Rights Institutions to provide better service to communities and oversee governments.

And our support resulted in a number of notable outcomes. To take a few examples:

-In Ukraine, the number of people expressing trust in the Office of the Ombudsperson rose by 17 percentage points from 2018 to 2019.

-In Mali, joint efforts with OHCHR enabled the National Human Rights Commission to monitor places of detention and to ensure that human rights challenges are taken into account by the government.

We also know that the private sector is key to increasing respect for human rights, including labour rights.

We are committed to supporting responsible business through the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights . And tomorrow, 30 June 2020, we will be launching a global effort on business and human rights -- capitalizing on the important work we have been undertaking in the Asia-Pacific region to date.

 Secondly, we are strongly committed to supporting the rule of law and sustaining peace efforts  we do this by leveraging our integrator function.

For instance:

We remain heavily invested in supporting the Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law with the Department of Peace Operations.

-We have a strong partnership with UN High Commissioner for Refugees  and in 2019, we made a pledge to the Global Refugee Forum to support displaced people in 20 countries.

-Thanks to support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we began a new initiative on gender justice with UN Women in 2019.

-In 2019, we supported joint engagements with peace operations capacities in 13 contexts -- for instance in Haiti and the Central African Republic . I am pleased that we will be hearing from these two countries in the next session.

-And with the Peace Building Fund and the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs, we will be targeting armed violence reduction at country-level in 2020.

 Thirdly, we are committed to prioritizing innovation  including using digital technology in the rule of law and human rights arenas. Notably, service provision during the pandemic has been enabled by the adaptability of online platforms and apps.

-For example, in Pakistan, UNDP and Peshawar High Court are establishing 14 virtual courts to ensure the timely hearing of civil and criminal cases.

-Or in the Kyrgyz Republic, where we partnered with private pro bono lawyers and tech companies to provide free legal aid online and to support survivors of Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) during the quarantine.

We also remain mindful of the need to ensure such new systems are based on human rights  and take privacy considerations into account.

In a wider sense, through our Digital Strategy, UNDP is committed to improving access and overcoming the digital divide at a time when women are 20 per cent less likely to own a smartphone in low- and middle-income countries than men.

At the same time, we know that connectivity is more important than ever to access life-saving information and justice services.

Conclusion

In closing, UNDP remains driven to remove the barriers which people face in realizing their rights -- and support institutions to modernize, expand access and ensure that services are provided without discrimination.

To this end, UNDPs partners help us shape priorities and magnify our impact -- from UN partners to national institutions to civil society.

Therefore, we look forward to hearing the eye-opening and innovative contributions to Reimagining the Rule of Law & The Future We Want. The consultations are a chance for us to work even more closely together to shape that brighter future.

And making those right choices as we recover from COVID-19 could be the tipping points that transform our planet and our societies for the better  changes that help advance a new social contract fully based on accountability, trust and justice.
Hakima, 21, holds her four-month-old baby, Jad, at Bar Elias refugee settlement in Lebanon. She fled Syria five years ago and is living with her husband at her brother-in-law's house, after the one they had been living in was flooded.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

NEW YORK/GENEVA  On the eve of the fourth Supporting Syria and the Region conference in Brussels 30 June, the United Nations urged international donors to redouble their commitment to Syrians and the region.

The Heads of the UN's humanitarian, development, and refugee agencies called for solidarity with countries hosting record levels of refugees and continued support to the UNs programmes that are saving lives, protecting vulnerable families, building resilience across Syria and the region and pursuing durable solutions to end civilian suffering.

The appeal comes with additional urgency as the impact of COVID-19 wreaks havoc on economies and threatens to further destabilize the region.

Governments and other donors are expected to announce pledges of support for a US$3.8 billion appeal for the UN and partners humanitarian work inside Syria and a $6.04 billion refugee and resilience plan for countries in Syrias neighborhood. The plans are currently 30 per cent and 19 per cent funded, respectively.

Inside Syria, more than 11 million people need aid and protection. While hostilities have decreased overall, there are tensions and flare-ups of violence in the northwest, northeast and the south, including resurgence of ISIL-affiliated groups.

The conflict in Syria has lasted almost as long as the First and Second World War combined, Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said. A whole generation of children has known nothing but hardship, destruction and deprivation. Nearly 2.5 million children are out of school. The economy is crumbling, millions remain displaced, and more and more people are going hungry. The world can do something about that tomorrow. Generous pledges, quickly paid out, can help the UN and humanitarian NGOs stay the course in Syria and get people the food, shelter, health services and protection they urgently need.

Half the pre-war population  more than 13.2 million people  remain displaced inside and outside the country. This is the largest refugee crisis in the world, with 6.6 million refugees scattered throughout the world. The vast majority  over 5.5 million refugees  live in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.

After nearly a decade of hosting some of the worlds most vulnerable people, host governments are struggling to sustain services to refugees. The situation is compounded by the disastrous socio-economic impact of COVID-19. Recent data point to sharp economic downturns and spiraling impoverishment in host countries. Robust efforts are needed to support the most vulnerable and preserve stability.

Millions of refugees have lost their livelihoods, are taking on debt and are increasingly unable to meet their basic needs. There is increased risk of child labour, gender-based violence, early marriage and other forms of exploitation.

The COVID-19 crisis has had an immediate and devastating impact on livelihoods of millions of Syrian refugees and their hosts in the region, said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. The most vulnerable in the society  including millions of refugees  have lost their already fragile and meager income. They are sliding deeper into poverty and debt. The international community must come together with sustained and predictable support for Syrian refugees and the countries and communities in the region that have generously hosted them for years.

Neighbouring countries have continued to express their commitment to hosting refugees, but robust support and responsibility sharing from the international community is urgently needed. Without this, the hard-won gains made over the past years risk being lost, with potentially disastrous human and political consequences.

The economic crisis now crashing upon an already-strained region is rolling back development and putting unbearable pressure on governments and communities hosting refugees in the region, said Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. Millions of people who just months ago were struggling to stay out of poverty, have now completely lost their livelihoods. As an international community, we must send a strong sign of solidarity by increasing support for neighbouring countries hosting refugees from Syria.

So far in 2020, the UN and its partners in Syria have delivered assistance to an average of 6.2 million people each month, including lifesaving food for 4.5 million people across all 14 governorates.

In Syria and the region, partners have stepped up as needs have grown with the COVID-19 crisis. While delivering comprehensive protection, humanitarian and resilience support reaching millions of people, the UN's plans also include specific COVID-19 measures to address the most pressing needs.

At last year's conference in Brussels, the international community confirmed a total of US$7 billion in funding to support humanitarian, resilience and development activities in 2019. All pledges have been paid in full, and donors contributed additional funds during 2019.

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The closed Zakany border crossing between Hungary and Croatia, photographed in October 2015.  UNHCR/Rasheed Hussein Rasheed

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is concerned about a legislative development in Hungary, the adoption on 17 June of the Act LVIII on Transitional Rules and Epidemiological Preparedness related to the Cessation of the State of Danger in response to the COVID-19 situation. This enactment further undermines the effective access to territory and asylum for those fleeing wars and persecution which had been already seriously constrained before.

Based on the new act, people arriving at the border of Hungary with the wish to seek asylum will be turned away and directed to declare such intent at a designated Hungarian Embassy. This may expose asylum-seekers to the risk of refoulement which would amount to a violation of the 1951 Refugee Convention and other international and regional human rights instruments to which Hungary is a State Party.

When presented with an asylum request at its borders, a State is required under international and EU law to provide admission at least on a temporary basis to examine the claim, as the right to seek asylum and the non-refoulement principle are otherwise rendered meaningless. Effective access to territory is an essential pre-condition to be able to exercise the right to seek asylum.

Due to these fundamental concerns, we urge the Government of Hungary to initiate the withdrawal of the act and to review its asylum system to bring it into conformity with international refugee and human rights law as well as EU law, said UNHCRs Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Gillian Triggs.

While UNHCR understands the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, good practices across Europe and globally demonstrate that public health can be protected while ensuring access to territory and asylum, including through quarantines and health checks. UNHCR has compiled examples of such good practices and issued them together with further practical recommendations to States.

UNHCR Position on Hungarian Act LVIII of 2020 on the Transitional Rules and Epidemiological Preparedness related to the Cessation of the State of Danger is available here.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
Behind the counter of her small convenience store in a rundown neighbourhood of Tripoli, northern Lebanon, 35-year-old Kawkab Mustafa keeps a list of debts owed to her by customers she has allowed to buy goods on credit. In recent months, the list has grown so long she needs four separate notebooks to record all the entries.

Kawkab and her clients, who include both Lebanese locals and Syrian refugees, were already feeling the pain of months of financial turmoil, accompanied by political protests, that has hamstrung Lebanons economy and pushed as much as 45 per cent of the countrys population under the poverty line, according to the World Bank.

The arrival of COVID-19 and restrictions to contain its spread in March have brought further misery, leaving many unable to work and pushing them closer to the brink of destitution.

"We didn't think we would be in this situation."

The situation is seriously bad here, Kawkab said. The neighbours used to be able to pay their debts before, but  they all lost their jobs. We keep thinking it will get better, we didnt think we would be in this situation. Then corona came and levelled us to the ground.

Lebanon is currently home to 892,000 registered Syrian refugees, and has the highest per capita population of refugees in the world. According to the most recent assessment by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, nine out of ten Syrian refugee families in Lebanon were living in debt even before COVID-19 exacerbated the situation, with average household debt levels of US$1,115.

For Kawkab, business is so bad that she has fallen behind on rent and is in arrears to her own suppliers, while her husband  a refuse collector  has not been paid for three months. The weekly medication she needs to manage a kidney condition is beyond her reach, putting her health at risk.

I need an injection every week, but now I can only afford on injection every three weeks, she explained. If the situation continues like this, I wont be able to pay the rent for the shop. I owe three months rent on my apartment too.

Kawkab and her husband Rabie check the ledgers of her struggling convenience store.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Local children buy snacks from the store, which is struggling during Lebanon's economic crisis.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Syrian refugee Bodour al-Qader fled Homs in 2012 and is one of Kawkab's regular customers.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

A young Syrian refugee carries a gas canister through Bab al-Tabbaneh neighbourhood in Tripoli, Lebanon.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Bodour al-Qader fled Homs, Syria, in 2012, married a Syrian and is stepmother to his four children including Mahmdouha Rafik (left) in Tripoli, Lebanon. The family relies on aid due to the COVID crisis.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Despite these dire circumstances, she continues to help her most vulnerable customers where she can, extending more credit to them and allowing them to pay her back bit-by-bit when they can afford to.

One of her regulars is Syrian refugee Bodour Al-Qader, who fled to Lebanon from Homs in 2012. With her husband currently unable to find work, they have run up debts of 500,000 Lebanese Pounds (US$331) in recent months and fallen behind with the rent.

Before  my husband might work for a day or two per week and it would help us get by. Now its been three or four months that we havent paid rent, Bodour said. I borrow from Kawkab; she knows me now. When I have money, I will give it to her.

Kawkab said she believes she is doing the right thing even if it makes her own situation more precarious, and that her generosity would ultimately be repaid by others.

I have to stand by people, and if there is anything I could do I would do it, she said. Its right this way. In these times no one lends, but in my case, they are kind to me now because I help them, and when I am going through hard times, they stand by me.

See also: UN chiefs urge sustained support to Syrians and the region ahead of fourth Brussels conference

As the economic slump undermines the ability of the Lebanese people to provide for themselves, it also erodes their capacity for even the smallest acts of generosity towards Syrian refugees. International support for Lebanon and humanitarian agencies is more crucial than ever to help the country and the Syrian refugees it hosts.

With governments coming together on 30 June for a virtual pledging conference for Syria, UNHCR is urging them to provide enhanced funding for more than 5.5 million Syrian refugees and the countries hosting them in the region, and millions more inside the war-torn country in need of humanitarian assistance.

For Kawkab, with no immediate prospect of an improvement in her circumstances, for now she must content herself by finding comfort where she can.

I have faith in God that he will change this situation. If God doesnt help us, who will?
Fans of Dr. Disrespect, a well-known Twitch streamer, have noticed that his account on the streaming platform has vanished, with many saying the Amazon-owned company might have banned him.

Days After Twitch Banned Streamers Due to Controversy

Interestingly, his disappearance from Twitch came just a few days after the platform has decided to break their silence about the allegations on tons of streamers and content creators on the site about sexual harassment and abuse.

According to a recent report by Tech Times, dozens of people, mainly women, have come out on social media to share their experiences with Twitch and people in the gaming community in general.

The company has started banning streamers and is reportedly issuing permanent suspensions after they investigate the cases.

Now, is Dr. Disrespect banned from the platform for the same reasons?

Read Also: Microsoft's Xbox Gives up on Retail Stores; Opens 'Showrooms' Instead

No Confirmation From Twitch

In a report by The Verge, the company hasn't yet confirmed whether they did ban Dr. Disrespect or whether he is permanently banned as well as the reason behind the decision.

Dr. Disrespect, whose real name is Herschel "Guy" Beahm, has recently signed an exclusive two-year contract with Twitch for a "life-changing" amount of money, which was undisclosed, and has also made a deal with a particular production company that will create an animated TV series based on his online persona.

For those who don't know, Beahm, aka Dr. Disrespect, became famous in Twitch and all across the internet for his exaggerated persona who takes gaming rather seriously.

According to the news outlet, the personality is on the list of the top 10 most followed channels in Twitch along with well-known streamers, with several of them moving on from the platform and no longer using it, including Tyler "Ninja" Blevins.

However, it doesn't seem like Dr. Disrespect was among the personalities who allegedly used their status to harass and abuse others, but he is indeed one controversial streamer.

Back in 2018, Beahm was under fire after allegedly performing racist caricatures while he was streaming.

There was also the controversy last year when he streamed from the men's bathroom during E3, to which he was temporarily banned.

Dr. Disrespect Has Reportedly Violated Twitch's Terms

This time, however, people are unsure what was Dr. Disrespect's violation, but in an email to the news outlet, Twitch did say that he has violated the community guidelines of the platform or their terms of service.

Nevertheless, they did not state which one.

"As is our process, we take appropriate action when we have evidence that a streamer has acted in violation of our Community Guidelines or Terms of Service. These apply to all streamers regardless of status or prominence in the community," a Twitch spokesperson said.

Some have been speculating that the ban of one of Twitch's most famous personalities does not involve the allegations of harassment and abuse, but instead, it might be due to a DMCA takedown, according to GameSpot.

Earlier this month, Twitch has received an influx of copyright claims from past clips.

A source has even told the gaming website that Dr. Disrespect's ban is permanent, but until Twitch or Beahm has officially announced it, take it with a pinch of salt.

Read Also: One-Third of Americans are Playing More Video Games During the Coronavirus Quarantine

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Borrell did not say what form the mechanism would take, or when it would be introduced.

The European Commission is preparing measures to protect the European Union as it faces threatened U.S. sanctions, which could break international law, on a link to carry gas directly from Russia to Germany, the EU's foreign policy chief said.

U.S. senators this month announced a bill tightening sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, designed by Russia's Gazprom, Reuters said.

Washington says the link, due to begin operation early next year, will boost Moscow's economic and political influence in European countries.

Read alsoBill expanding sanctions against Nord Stream 2 filed in U.S. House of Representatives  Naftogaz

"The EU's position on U.S. sanctions against European companies that carry out legitimate and lawful activities under European law is unequivocal. They are unacceptable and contrary to international law, and the Union firmly opposes them," Joseph Borrell said in a written response dated June 25.

"The Commission is preparing the ground for the adoption of an enhanced sanctions mechanism that will improve Europe's resilience to the effects of extra-territorial sanctions imposed by third countries."

Borrell did not say what form the mechanism would take, or when it would be introduced.

He was replying to a question from EU lawmaker Emmanuel Maurel regarding initial U.S. sanctions on the project imposed in December.

By damaging the European Union's economic interests, U.S. sanctions would weaken the two parties' show of unity against Russia's actions to destabilise Ukraine, after Moscow annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Kyiv in 2014, Borrell said further.

The U.S. sanctions threat has prompted the German parliament's economic committee to hold a hearing on July 1 and German business lobbies have called for rescue funds for companies affected.

Timm Kehler, head of gas lobby Zukunft Erdgas, in a statement to the committee published before the event, said such a precedent of "extra-territorial sanctions" must be avoided.

"The adoption of such a tightened and retroactive sanctions law would be an unacceptable encroachment on the EU sovereignty and energy security of Western Europe," he said.
Most of Ukrainians say it is better not to borrow money from IMF  poll

Almost a quarter agree that cooperation with the Fund is expedient.

If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter
No casualties were reported on June 28; two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded on June 29.

Russia-led forces on June 28 mounted eight attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, one of the missiles hit a civilian's house in the village of Pivnichne near the town of Toretsk in Donetsk region.

Illegal armed formations used proscribed weapons, namely 122mm artillery systems and 82mm mortars, as well as grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine-guns, and rifles, the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Headquarters said on Facebook in a morning update on June 29.

Read alsoRussia's hybrid military forces in occupied Donbas trying to recruit local miners  intel

Hot spots were the villages of Luhanske, Myronivske, Novozvanivka in the Pivnich (North) sector and the town of Avdiyivka and villages of Starohnativka and Vodiane in the Skhid (East) sector.

"What is more, the invaders endangered civilians' life by insidiously shelling the village of Pivnichne, near Toretsk. Russian occupation forces lobbed an anti-tank guided missile into the courtyard of a house. Fragments damaged neighboring houses. Fortunately, there are no civilian casualties," the JFO HQ said.

No Ukrainian army casualties were reported in the past day.

According to intelligence reports, Ukrainian troops on June 28 eliminated two enemy fighters and another one was wounded.

On June 29, Russia-led forces again violated the ceasefire in Donbas, having opened fire from banned 120mm mortars near the village of Krymske. They also used grenade launchers and rifles.

Two members of Ukraine's Joint Forces received shell fragment wounds and were evacuated to a hospital. "Their condition is satisfactory," the JFO HQ said in a follow-up update.

As UNIAN reported earlier, enemy troops mounted 12 attacks on Ukrainian positions on June 27. One Ukrainian soldier was killed in action, another three were wounded in action.
The U.S. special representative for Iran said the warrant was a propaganda stunt that nobody would take seriously.

Iran has issued an arrest warrant for U.S. President Donald Trump over the killing of top Iranian commander Gen Qasem Soleimani in Iraq in January.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Trump and 35 others faced murder and terrorism charges, and that Interpol had been asked to help detain them, the BBC reported.

However, Interpol said it would not consider the Iranian request.

Read alsoIran sends recorder from downed Ukrainian jetliner to France  media

The U.S. special representative for Iran said the warrant was a propaganda stunt that nobody would take seriously.

Soleimani died in a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport ordered by Trump, who said the general was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American troops and was planning imminent attacks.

Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at Iraqi military bases housing U.S. forces.

"About 36 individuals have been identified in connection with the assassination of Hajj Qasem. They supervised, acted upon, and ordered [it]," Alqasimehr was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency.

"This includes political and military officials from the U.S. as well as other countries, for whom the judiciary has issued arrest warrants and the Interpol has issued Red Notices."

Trump was on the top of the list and his arrest would be sought even after his presidency had ended, the prosecutor added.

An Interpol Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. It is not an international arrest warrant.

U.S. special representative Brian Hook said: "Our assessment is that Interpol does not intervene and issue Red Notices that are based on a political nature.

"This is a political nature. This has nothing to do with national security, international peace or promoting stability... It is a propaganda stunt that no-one takes seriously."

Interpol, which is based in the French city of Lyon, subsequently told the BBC that it would not consider the Iranian request for help.

Under its constitution, it was "strictly forbidden for the organisation to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character", it said.

Analysts say the issuing of the arrest warrant is little more than a symbolic gesture by Iran, but that it reflects the depth of animosity felt towards President Trump.
The levels were "not harmful for human health."

Russia has denied any nuclear incidents after an international body detected unusual radioactive isotopes produced by nuclear fission in northern Europe.

Last week in Sweden, a station of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), which monitors the world for evidence of nuclear weapons tests, detected unexplained "higher than usual levels" of radioactive isotopes that likely came from somewhere around the Baltic Sea, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) said.

Read alsoPutin allows nuclear response to conventional threats

The CTBTO head, Lassina Zerbo, tweeted on June 26 that the elevated levels of three radionuclides generally associated with civil nuclear activities  cesium-134, cesium-137, and ruthenium-103  had been detected on June 22-23.

But the group also said later the same day that the levels it saw were "not harmful for human health."

Russia's Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) said on June 29 that it had measured radiation levels after the CTBTO's report and all measurements "indicated stability."

The Rospotrebnadzor's press service stressed that Russia's executive bodies, monitoring the radiation situation, did not confirm the information in question.

Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov also said on June 29 that Russia's "state-of-the-art, modern radiation safety monitoring system" had not registered any "threatening situations or emergencies."

Rosenergoatom, a unit of the state nuclear company Rosatom, said over the weekend that Russia's two northwest nuclear power plants, in the Leningrad region and Kola peninsula, were working normally and radiation levels were unchanged.
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Starbucks will suspend advertising on some social media platforms in response to hate speech. The coffee company has become the latest business to pause social media advertising, joining the growing list of brands such as Coca-Cola, Diageo, and Unilever which have recently suspended its paid social media marketing efforts.

In a blog post on Sunday, June 28, the coffee giant said it stands "against hate speech" as it believes in "bringing communities together, both in person and online." The article entitled "Creating Welcoming and Inclusive Online Communities" also states that "both business leaders and policymakers need to come together to affect real change."

"We will pause advertising on all social media platforms while we continue discussions internally, with our media partners and with civil rights organizations in the effort to stop the spread of hate speech," Starbucks said in the blog post.

The social media advertising suspension will not include YouTube, a Starbucks spokesperson told The Verge. However, the company will continue to post on social media, but not make paid advertisements.

Call for greater social responsibility

Starbucks' announcement came after Coca-Cola compelled social media firms to have "greater social accountability."

Coca Cola will pause advertising on all social media platforms globally while Unilever, owner of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, said it would stop advertising on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram in the U.S. through 2020, according to BBC News.

The company's social media suspensions are in response to Facebook's moderation approach over the content on its platform, which is "too hands-off." On Friday, June 26, Facebook said it would label potentially harmful or misleading posts.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also said the company would ban advertising claiming that people of a certain race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, social class, immigration status, gender identity, or sexual orientation are threats to others.

#StopHateforProfit campaign will go global

After it was launched earlier this month The "Stop Hate for Profit" campaign has already received support from over 160 companies that have vowed to stop advertising over social media for July.

In an interview with Reuters on Saturday, June 27, the campaign's organizer Common Sense Media Chief Executive Jim Steyer said they will begin calling on major companies in Europe to join the boycott.

Common Sense, Free Press as well as U.S. civil rights groups Anti-Defamation League and Color of Change launched the campaign after George Floyd's death in the hands of a Minneapolis police. The #StopHateforProfit organizers accused Facebook's unsatisfactory actions to stop hate speech and disinformation as few small changes made by Facebook would not "make a dent in the problem."

"The next frontier is global pressure," said Steyer adding that they will urge global companies to pull their Facebook ads globally, particularly Unilever and Honda, which have only vowed to suspend their U.S. advertisements.

Earlier this month, the European Commission asked tech companies like Facebook to submit monthly reports on how they manage misinformation about coronavirus.

Meanwhile, both Starbucks and Coca Cola said they would not join the #StopHateForProfit campaign, despite the latter being listed as a "participating business" and the brands' suspension of social media advertising.

Read also: Facebook Boycott: Unilever, Verizon, and More Joins Pledge to Pull Out Ads

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Emily Thornton can be reached at emilythornton@wwub.com or 509-526-8325. U-B reporter Jeremy Burnham contributed to this story.
The United Kingdom authorities and health officials are developing a new app for contact tracing, with the ability to detect areas with high-risk infections, Engadget reported.

The app reportedly presents features "useful beyond exposure warnings." Sources from various media outlets reveal that the NHS' innovation department is also developing the app to carry more features. This includes the "Geiger counter" map, which can detect and warn areas with higher infection areas. For instance, a neighborhood with several cases among its residents.

RELATED STORY: Coronavirus Risk: If You're Blood-Type A, Look Out for COVID-19! Here's Why You Maybe More Vulnerable

More features

Other features included in the app development are building barcodes to allow workplaces to know if they have come to contact with an infected individual. It also includes a timer for individuals prompted to implement self-quarantine.

There is no comment yet from the Department for Health and Social Care, particularly from their spokesperson regarding the official confirmation on these details. However, they emphasized the support for NHS testing and tracing services.

Plus, there are more features to be added. According to the report, there will also be new "PPEs in the pocket" schemes in the marketing campaigns to further mitigate the issues.

Widescale distribution of the app to test is necessary to prevent more infections leading to intensifying lockdowns. However, there are no guarantees that the public will be able to download this.

For instance, Singapore recently launched "smart bracelets" to address the struggle of encouraging people to use the app. With these bracelets, they can easily access these apps whenever needed without pulling out devices and managing the touch screen.

The Philippines declared with the fastest spread in West Pacific

There are now more than 10 million COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide, with more than 500,000 deaths and five million recoveries. However, the number is continuously growing.

RELATED STORY: Shocking Coronavirus Update: COVID-19 Can be Transmitted to Online Items Even After 9 Days - Study

In Asia, the Philippines has recently been declared the country with the fastest-rising number of cases in the entire Western Pacific, local media reported.

In just two weeks, the country recorded the fastest rise of confirmed cases with COVID-19 in the region, more than three times the spread in the neighboring country of Singapore, presently in the "second wave."

There are more than 8,000 new cases in the Philippines since June 16, the highest among 22 nations in Asia.

The Southeast Asian country is also the first in the world where a foreigner, a Chinese national, has died of the virus in its first months since December 31, 2019.

Care home residents

Meanwhile, The Guardian reported care home residents in the United Kingdom were more likely to yield to COVID-19 than any other European nation, except Spain, studies have shown.

The number of residents dying in these facilities was a third higher in Italy and Ireland, and approximately double that in Sweden and France. In Germany, the country is 13 times higher.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Thunderstorms led to the postponement of graduation ceremonies for both of Nashuas high schools this week, but the Class of 2021 was rewarded with great weather as a result.
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COVID-19 treatment Remdesivir will cost thousands of dollars in the United States as confirmed by its maker, Gilead Sciences Incorporated. According to Bloomberg's latest report, the U.S. government and other developed countries will be charged $390 per vial of remdesivir, which is a total cost of $2,340 for a typical 5-day course of treatment.

NBC News also reported that remdesivir will cost $3,120 for those patients who have private insurance, as announced by Gilead Sciences on Monday, June 29. The report confirmed that the cost of remdesivir drugs will depend on income, insurance, and other factors of the patient.

"We're in uncharted territory with pricing a new medicine, a novel medicine, in a pandemic," said the chief executive of Gilead, Dan O'Day.

"We believe that we had to really deviate from the normal circumstances and price the drug to ensure wide access rather than based solely on value to patients," he added.

A consumer group swiftly criticized the provided price for the coronavirus treatment, saying that it is an outrage because of the amount the taxpayers invested towards the drug's development. Dan O'Day said that the prices will be implemented to the drugs after the treatment courses that the company has donated to the United States, and other countries run out, which is expected to happen about a week.

Remdesivir will cost higher more than you expect

According to NBC News' latest report, the federal officials have allocated the limited supply in the U.S., but the states' agreement with Gilead will end after September. The report stated that the U.S. government confirmed on Monday, June 23, that it will supply 500,000 additional courses to hospitals through September, which will be produced by Gilead beginning in July.

"We should have sufficient supply ... but we have to make sure it's in the right place at the right time," said O'Day.

It was also reported that Gilead is allowing generic makers to supply the drug in 127 poor or middle-income countries, with two of them already doing it for around $600 per treatment course. The report stated that the cost of remdesivir had been highly anticipated since it became the first medicine to show benefit during the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, which killed more than half a million people around the world in just six months.

Remdesivir was said it would be cost-effective in a range of $4,580 to $5,080 if it saved lives, as stated by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review. This nonprofit group analyzes prices for other drugs or medicines.



Also Read: COVID-19 New Update: Experts Say Alpacas Have Tiny Antibodies that Could Neutralize Coronavirus

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
THE MOST FAMOUS father in history only got third billing in the Holy Family. A few walk-ons in the Bible were the best that Joseph could manage. That is what fathers do. They are there for the family, not in the spotlight. They work hard and back up mothers everywhere as needed.
Next week: The Veterans Administration Hospital in Manchester  30 years in the making.

Aurore Eaton is a historian and writer in Manchester, contact her at auroreeaton@aol.com or at www.facebook.com/AuroreEatonWriter
A celebration of the life for John Robert "Bobby" Brown, 72, will be held at his residence on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at 10 a.m. Bobby was born in Dublin, but his home was Baldwin County. He was predeceased by his parents, John Preston "Pete" Brown and Virginia Watson Brown. He was retired
A clean, well-lighted place for original reporting -- and an annex to my website, MedFraud

You have the soul of an investigative reporter - Rhonda Schwartz, ABC News Senior Investigative Producer
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Panama City, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Jun, 2020 ) :Anti-corruption prosecutors in Panama on Monday questioned ex-President Juan Carlos Varela over alleged illegal campaign donations from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

Varela's office said he had "taken the initiative" to appear voluntarily before prosecutors investigating donations to his right-wing Panamenista Party ahead of 2014 presidential elections.

Odebrecht has acknowledged paying $59 million in bribes to Panamanian officials between 2010 and 2014, when another former president, Ricardo Martinelli, was in power.

Martinelli's sons and several associates are also implicated in the scandal.

Varela's office said the alleged bribes were unconnected with his presidency and only concerned his electoral campaign.

The campaign was financed "according to the laws of our country," it said.

Varela succeeded Martinelli as president in 2014. Varela has been harshly criticized for not canceling state contracts with Odebrecht during his presidency, which ended last year.

The Brazilian company is a prominent builder in the Central American country, undertaking 17 megaprojects since 2005, ranging from roads and highways to hydroelectric and urban renovation, garnering an estimated $10 billion.

Odebrecht has already agreed to pay the government 220 million Dollars in reparations over 12 years and cooperate with anti-corruption investigators, as part of an agreement reached with Brazilian and Panamanian prosecutors.
(@FahadShabbir)

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th June, 2020) US police have confirmed that two people, including the gunman, were killed and at least four others were hospitalized with injuries following a shooting at a Walmart distribution center in Red Bluff in the US' state of California, adding that several eye witnesses with traumatic stress were admitted to a hospital, too.

Allison Hendrickson, a spokesperson for St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in Red Bluff, earlier told Sputnik that two people were fatally shot and four others were injured. The police also said earlier in the day that the shooter had been shot. Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston has confirmed the toll of casualties.

"We have one deceased victim. I can identify him as last name - Haro-Lozano, first name - Martin. He is purportedly from Orland, California. He is an employee here at Walmart. We do not know his relationship with the shooter. We have identified the shooter, who also deceased ... The shooter is a white male, 31 years old," Johnston said at a press encounter.

According to the assistant sheriff, the shooter had prior history of employment with the Walmart distribution center.

Johnston confirmed the investigation into the incident was ongoing.

The shooting took place at around 03:30 p. m. local time (22:30 GMT) on Saturday at a distribution center of the Walmart retail corporation in Red Bluff, located about 120 miles north of California's capital Sacramento.

According to Red Bluff Daily news, the shooting occurred during a shift change. The gunman drove into the distribution center and opened fire.

The Sacramento Bee reported that the shooter drove a white vehicle that wedged into the building. According to KHSL TV, a fire started at the site while there were about 200 workers inside the facility.

Dispatchers told The Sacramento Bee that the gunman was in the middle of the parking lot and that he was shot in the chest by around 03:45 p. m.

Red Bluff City Manager Rick Crabtree said as quoted by KRCR tv on Saturday that an alleged shooting suspect was shot and transported to a local hospital just south of Red Bluff. Crabtree confirmed that a car rammed into the Walmart distribution center on Saturday, causing a fire.
ASHGABAT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th June, 2020) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited his Turkmen counterpart, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, to pay an official visit to Ukraine.

The invitation was extended in Zelenskyy's congratulatory message on the occasion of Berdimuhamedow's 63rd birthday, which was published in the official daily newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan.

"I would like to take this opportunity and invite you to pay an official visit to Ukraine at your convenience," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy congratulated Berdimuhamedow on behalf of the Ukrainian people, praising his contribution to the friendly cooperation between the countries.

"I am deeply convinced that our common effort, aimed at unlocking the potential of the Ukrainian-Turkmen cooperation, will serve as a powerful impetus for further deepening of our fruitful cooperation in all the spheres of mutual interest," the Ukrainian leader went on to say.

Berdimuhamedow, born in 1957, has led Turkmenistan since 2007. Prior to that, he used to head the country's Health Ministry and to serve as the vice-president.
Arsenic exposure is associated with a higher risk of developing urothelial carcinoma (UC). Previous studies mostly focused on UC of the bladder. A deeper understanding of how this environmental exposure affects clinical outcomes in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is needed.A recent study by Lopez et al. in Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations examined UTUC clinical outcomes in an arsenic-exposed region in Northern Chile (Antofagasta) and compared them to the rest of the country. The authors point out that in this region, the mean arsenic concentrations rose to 870 mg/l, exposing the whole population to arsenic levels up to 17 times the WHO recommended levels for several decades. While the exposure ended several years ago, its long-term effects persist. The authors identified 257 UTUC-specific deaths in Chile between 1990 and 2016. The mortality rate was 2.15/100,000 in the arsenic exposed region compared to 0.07/100,000 in the rest of the country (mortality rate ratio 17.6; 95%CI: 13.522.9). The mean age at the time of UTUC cancer-specic death was signicantly lower in the exposed region (63.3 vs. 69.0 years; P < 0.001). UTUC-related hospital discharges were also significantly higher (RR 14.8; 95%CI: 11.519.1).The study has limitations but describes a significant epidemiological association between arsenic exposure and worse clinical outcomes UTUC patients. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms mediating these effects is critical. This is particularly important to prevent or mitigate the long-term impact of environmental exposures, which may persist for several years after the exposure itself stops.Written by: Bishoy M. Faltas, MD, Director of Bladder Cancer Research, Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell MedicineReferences:
Valdosta, GA (31601)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High 86F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early with thunderstorms developing later at night. Low 72F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The Minnesota Department of Health has announced 315 new COVID-19 cases and 10 additional deaths today.

The additional cases bring the states total positive cases to 35,861, with 31,225 no longer needing isolation.

Meanwhile, hospitalizations for the disease are continuing to trend downward. As of Monday, 278 people are in the hospital battling COVID-19, with 140 in intensive care.

The states death toll is now 1,435. The majority of the deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities.

Testing has now breached over 592,900 overall in the state. About 7,522 were completed in the last 24 hours. The states goal is 20,000 tests a day.
EU Ambassador to ASEAN Igor Driesmans. - Photo courtesy of the Mission of the EU to ASEAN

What do you think about the role of Viet Nam in organising the 36th ASEAN Summit, as well as its efforts during the past six months to promote a 'cohesive and proactive ASEAN'?

Thank you for this opportunity to speak with you. Let me start by saying that Viet Nam has just successfully hosted the ASEAN Summit by overcoming some truly unprecedented challenges. For the first time in over half a century of relations, ASEAN leaders met and spoke virtually, by videoconference. The technical and logistical aspects of this undertaking are impressive, and Viet Nam was able to achieve this  even including a colourful opening ceremony! As Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasised in his speech during the summit, the world is changing irreversibly, and this event proves that ASEAN is readily adapting to these changes.

Viet Nams focus on strengthening a cohesive and proactive ASEAN could not be more relevant than it is today when the pandemic has provoked a global economic shock unlike any other in recent history. The Prime Minister spoke of the need to uphold the spirit of solidarity, co-operation and the sense of responsibility towards the international community, and I believe that this has been the driving force behind Viet Nams chairmanship of ASEAN since the early days of this crisis.

Under the leadership of Viet Nam, ASEAN has shown a real willingness to come together to find regional solutions and to mitigate the effects of this crisis. ASEAN agreed the statement of the Economic Ministers on Strengthening Economic Resilience in Response to COVID-19, which paved the way for the adoption of the declaration of the Special ASEAN Summit on the Coronavirus Disease in April. ASEAN leaders agreed to co-operate on health and research, consular assistance, supply chains and the post-COVID recovery, and since then ASEAN countries have been actively sharing information and co-ordinating on disease control at the regional level.

Viet Nam has also been able to reaffirm the centrality and unity of ASEAN by maintaining the regular, substantive engagement between the region and its partners since the outbreak of the pandemic. One example of such dialogue was the EU-ASEAN Ministerial Video Conference on the Coronavirus Disease in March, where ASEAN showed itself to be a united and cohesive group. I think that these efforts are also bearing fruit in the fight against COVID-19, with the region currently displaying a high proportion of recoveries from confirmed cases, low fatality rates and few incidents of community transmission.

How do you assess the results of the 36th ASEAN Summit? What were the most important outcomes?

This was the first official summit hosted by Viet Nam as the 2020 ASEAN Chair, and despite the difficult circumstances, it was able to achieve several major outcomes.

It was very encouraging to see that ASEAN leaders continued to pursue an ambitious regional integration agenda, with the announcement of the 'Vision Statement on A Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN: Rising Above Challenges And Sustaining Growth'. With this comprehensive document, they reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing progress across a wide range of areas, in pursuit of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

In particular, the vision statement recognised the need to deal effectively with the COVID-19 pandemic and at the same time to promote socio-economic recovery in the region. The leaders agreed to support a post-pandemic recovery plan for ASEAN with wide-ranging actions that aim to strengthen resilience of the regional economy.

The leaders also endorsed a number of important initiatives presented to them at the summit, including the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies, and the ASEAN Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Public Health Emergencies. They also approved the Ha Noi Plan of Action on Strengthening ASEAN Economic Co-operation and Supply Chain Connectivity, demonstrating their determination to ensure the flow of food, medicines, as well as medical and other essential supplies in the region. These are all significant deliverables under Viet Nams theme of 'Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN'.

What issues should ASEAN and Viet Nam - as ASEAN chair this year - focus on in the next six months? What will the EU do to promote these key issues?

In the immediate future, the focus should be on keeping control of the outbreak, while also launching a post-pandemic recovery. While global growth rates this year will likely be slower, with careful planning and the right actions there is a chance that ASEAN economies remain reasonably stable and avoid recession. The key issues will be solidarity and co-operation based on jointly agreed proposals, and this is why initiatives like the Ha Noi Plan of Action are so important.

The EU will continue to support ASEANs efforts to achieve a prosperous, safe and united community, as this brings benefits to both our regions. We were among the first partners to hold a meeting between our foreign ministers on COVID-19, and we will continue to exchange information to identify ways to tackle the crisis. We are currently collaborating on research into COVID-19, with 18 new EU-funded research projects open to ASEAN scientific organisations.

The EU and its member states have so far mobilised over 350 million euros (US$392.6 million) to support health systems and economic recovery in ASEAN under a collective 'Team Europe' approach. We will continue working with ASEAN to ensure that supply chain connectivity is maintained. And while we will continue to expand our free trade and investment agreements in the region, such as the free trade agreement with Vietnam that eliminated 99 per cent of customs duties, our relationship is no longer only about trade and co-operation. Increasingly, the EU and ASEAN are working together on security and defence in areas such as maritime security. We are also intensifying our co-operation on non-traditional security threats related to issues such as resource scarcity, infectious diseases, natural disasters, people smuggling, drug trafficking and transnational crime.

Looking ahead, green economy, digitalisation in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the fight against climate change will increasingly become major areas of co-operation between the EU and ASEAN. The green agenda, in particular, is a top priority for the EU and for our partnership with ASEAN. The EU sees ASEAN as an indispensable partner in this regard  together, we can protect the international rules-based order and preserve our 'global commons'.
At a pedestrian zone around the Hoan Kiem Lake at the heart of Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA)  Hanoi has set itself a target to welcome about 11 million domestic tourists by the end of 2020, according the citys tourism sector.

Based on forecasts and Hanois socio-economic development scenarios to counter the COVID-19 pandemic, the city will give priority to the recovery of the domestic tourism.

Accordingly, some tourist destinations in the city have lowered ticket fees or presented gifts to attract more visitors.

The Department of Tourism said it will focus on tourism products which Hanoi boasts strengths in, such as heritage tourism, ecotourism and agrotourism when COVID-19 is brought under control.

The sector will also work to further promote the citys image as a safe, friendly and civilised destination, and improve human resources quality.

Night-time economy is expected to help develop Hanoi tourism, according to tourism experts and policymakers.

The Hanoi Old Quarter, located in the downtown in Hoan Kiem district, is the most popular destination in the capital city. Tourists come here to explore ancient streets, craft products, local food or experience lives there. In the evening, streets become more crowded and lively with Hang Dao  Dong Xuan night fair and outdoor music performances.

Since 2016, Hanoi has allowed Hoan Kiem district to pilot the extension of opening hour of bars and restaurants to 2am. As a result, their revenues increased by about 30 percent.

Following the pilot, tourist arrivals in 2016 neared 1.4 million, up 22.8 percent from a year earlier. The figure went up to 1.95 million in 2017, nearly 2.2 million in 2018 and 2.5 million in 2019.

Between January and May 2020, Hanois tourism sector earned over 16.6 trillion VND (715 million USD), a deep reduction compared to the same period last year. However, it was still an encouraging figure, as both the national and global economies have been adversely impacted by the pandemic.

There are 3,499 tourist accommodation facilities with 60,782 rooms in Hanoi. Among them, 66 hotels with 9,953 rooms have three- to five-star ratings, and eight condotels with 1,534 rooms have four- or five-star ratings.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, foreign tourist arrivals to Vietnam in the first five months of this year totalled 3.7 million while the number of domestic holidaymakers stood at 16 million, down 50 percent and 58.5 percent, respectively, from the same period last year.

The capital city last year welcomed nearly 29 million tourists, up 10.1 percent year-on-year, more than 7 million of them foreign guests, increasing by 17 percent.

In recent years, Hanoi has been hailed as one of the most attractive destinations in the region and the world by prestigious international organisations such as Asias Leading Destination and the Worlds Leading Destination in 2018.

In 2019, Hanoi won the Travelers Choice Awards and was ranked among the 25 leading destinations in Asia, and the 25 worlds leading places on TripAdvisor website.

CNN listed Hanoi along with Phu Quoc Island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang as the best travel destinations in Asia in 2019.

Many highlights of Hanoi were recently listed in the CNNs article suggesting 13 memorable experiences for foreign visitors in Vietnam such as search for the best pho in Hanoi, make vermicelli noodles in Cu Da village, and ride the Reunification Express (officially known as North-South Railway).

Hanoi ranked fifth among the seven best places in Asia for solo travellers by Bigseventravel.

The Italian tourism website described Hanoi as a hectic, crazy and often confusing city, and a wonderful base from which to explore the north of Vietnam, including the world natural heritage site of Ha Long Bay in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh and the popular resort town of Sa Pa in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai.

According to Mastercards Asia Pacific Destinations Index, Hanoi ranked 15th among the 20 leading destinations in the region.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses the Hanoi 2020  Investment & Development Cooperation conference on June 27 (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - By 2045, when Vietnam becomes a developed country, Hanoi must have developed into one of the political, economic and cultural centres in East Asia, according to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

He made the remark on June 27 while addressing the Hanoi 2020  Investment & Development Cooperation conference that aimed to promote post-COVID-19 economic recovery and development in the capital city.

Opening the event, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue said the conference looked to press on with administrative reforms and stronger improvement of the local business climate and competitiveness so that Hanoi can achieve as high as possible socio-economic results, with its gross regional domestic product growth 1.3 times faster than the whole countrys gross domestic product expansion, and the budget revenue target of 285 trillion VND (nearly 12.3 billion USD) this year.

In his speech, PM Phuc said Hanoi authorities have actively dialogued with and created optimal conditions for all economic sectors to develop, noting that thanks to their dynamism, the city has attracted a number of foreign-invested and large-scaled projects.

With its new stature, Hanoi now should not merely be the political, economic and cultural centre of Vietnam but one of the centres in Southeast Asia, and by 2045, among such hubs in East Asia, he said, adding that the target for Hanoi at present is no longer to compete with other Vietnamese localities but with other cities in the region like Bangkok, Jakarta, Shanghai, and Manila.

To do so, the PM noted, Hanoi needs to have good institutional quality and capitalise on existing special mechanisms for it, especially the National Assemblys recent resolution on piloting some specific financial and budgetary mechanisms and policies for the capital.

The city should also make full use of opportunities and be more proactive to seek new development models and engage in global value chains. Besides, it needs to maximise the geo-political and economic advantages of Vietnam and the Capital Region, while cooperating with other localities and consider them partners for common development as each of them has specific advantages, according to PM Phuc.

The Government leader noted that Hanoi needs to have its own strategic shareholders, good businesses, rich people, talented people, especially sci-tech companies and high-quality human resources.

He also asked the city to create a competitive and institutionally efficient and effective economy and become a liveable capital city.

Local per capita income has approximated 5,500 USD each year, and if the average annual growth rate of 9 percent is sustained, Hanoi will be able to become a high-income locality by 2030, 15 years ahead of the similar target for Vietnam, the PM added.

At the conference, Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Duc Chung announced 282 projects worth 483.1 trillion VND that his city is inviting investment to. Authorities also presented investment certificates to 229 projects worth 405.57 trillion VND.
A housing project in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA)

HCM City - The property industry in Ho Chi Minh City, and in fact the country in general, faces several problems that need urgent solutions, especially with regard to legal provisions.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, general director of Dai Phuc Land, said it took her company 15 years to complete procedures for one of its projects.

The long delays often meant by the time a project was underway the design became outdated, she said.

But if the company made adjustments to meet market requirements, it would have to apply from the beginning again, she lamented.

Tran Quoc Dung, Deputy General Director of Hung Thinh Group, said it took at least one year for a project to complete basic procedures and begin sales, but in most cases it was more like four or five years.

The final step of issuing red books  the title deeds -- to buyers also faced difficulties, he said.

Le Hoang Chau, Chairman of the HCM City Real Estate Association, said there had been a remarkable decline in the supply of new housing projects in HCM City in recent years.

It was down 20 percent in 2018 and 70 percent last year. In 2019 only one project managed to complete legal procedures and begin sales.

Conflict and overlapping legal provisions were mainly to blame for the decline, Chau said.

"The current licensing process involves four steps, which take a lot of time," he added.

Nguyen Trong Ninh, director of the Ministry of Constructions housing and real estate market management department, admitted these regulations were not consistent because they were found in multiple laws.

He said HCM City should therefore draft solutions for the difficulties faced by developers, and his ministry and others would give their opinions on them.

Asked about the procedures for issuing land use right certificates, he said in general people must be granted the certificate immediately after the deal is completed.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for the issuance of red books and handles them based on each case, according to Ninh.

The Law on Investment prescribes the procedures for adjusting a project and which ones are handled by the Department of Planning and Investment and which ones by others.

The law also stipulates that the Department of Construction is the authorised agency to handle issues related to construction procedures and apartment planning and adjustment.

He admitted that supply had decreased this year due to not just to the COVID-19 pandemic but also to the overlapping and inconsistent laws.

The Government had this year provided many solutions to help revive the market and resolve the difficulties faced by the industry, he added.
A worker collects palm oil fruits (Photo source: Reuters)

Hanoi (VNA)  Owners of palm plantations in Malaysia have urged the government to let foreign workers return.

The Malaysian Estate Owners Association proposed the government consider the survival and sustainability of the sector, and allow companies that have been unable to recruit locally to hire foreign workers immediately.

Malaysia, the worlds second-largest producer and exporter of palm oil, is facing a serious labour shortage.

Its palm-oil industry relies on foreigners for 70 percent of the plantation workforce, mainly from Indonesia and Bangladesh.

Thousands have left the plantations for home due to border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To get into graduate school students usually require a form of undergraduate research training, which can be found in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.
Vietnamese citizens waiting to board the flight home (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA)  Vietnamese agencies in and outside the country worked with the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and French agencies on June 28 and 29 to arrange a flight for more than 280 Vietnamese citizens in France and some other European countries to return to Vietnam.

Passengers on the flight were those under 18, the elderly, the ill, workers with expired labour contracts and students without accommodations due to school closure, and other people in difficult circumstances.

Pandemic prevention measures were implemented strictly during the flight, and crew and passengers were quarantined upon arrival at Van Don International Airport in northern Quang Ninh province, as per regulations.

At the direction of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Vietnamese agencies at home and representative offices abroad will continue to conduct flights bringing citizens home based on their needs and domestic quarantine capacity.
Vietnamese workers (Photo: VNA)

Jakarta - Vietnam and Bangladesh are considered the most potential competitors of Indonesia in attracting foreign investment after COVID-19, according to Indonesian Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono.

To welcome the wave of foreign investment shifting from China, Indonesia has prepared land areas to draw investors, he said.

The minister added that President Joko Widodo has repeatedly expressed concern about Indonesias weaker attraction of foreign investment than neighbouring countries.

Therefore, Indonesian government agencies have quickly adjusted a number of policies to create the optimal conditions for overseas investors to operate in the Southeast Asian country.

The government has pushed the policy of building industrial parks to welcome US and Japanese investors.

Indonesia is now home to 103 active industrial parks covering 55,000 hectares.
Chinas top law-making body is expected to pass a sweeping national security law for Hong Kong on Tuesday  a move that many critics and ordinary Hong Kongers fear will empower the Communist Party to tighten its control and threaten the unique status of the freest city on Chinese soil.

In the wake of the yearlong protests in Hong Kong sparked by a controversial extradition bill that could see individuals sent to China for trials, China has repeatedly told Hong Kong leaders to enact legislation to plug the loophole of national security. In October, Chinas Communist Party leaders unveiled steps to safeguard national security in Hong Kong.

In late May, China shocked many by announcing it would impose a sweeping national security law through an annex of the citys mini-constitution, the Basic Law. Chinas top legislative body, the National Peoples Congress Standing Committee, has been holding a three-day deliberation on the security law since Sunday. The law is expected to pass on Tuesday.

Although Hong Kong reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997, its post-handover mini-constitution, the Basic Law, safeguards the citys basic freedoms and civil liberties, as well as the rule of law, according to the common law tradition.

Human rights and legal experts say the details of the national security law released so far by the Chinese state media contain a series of draconian measures that allow the Chinese authorities the right to exercise jurisdiction under special circumstances over what they call a minority of national security cases, as well as the power to detain and try suspects.

The national security law, according to the draft law, is also supposed to override Hong Kong legislation should conflicts arise, while the power of interpreting the new law is vested in the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

The authorities assertion that the national security law will only affect a tiny minority is hardly reassuring when the law includes repressive measures that could be used to target literally anyone the government chooses, said Joshua Rosenzweig, head of Amnesty Internationals China section.

Critics say the law would quickly sabotage Hong Kongs rule of law and its safeguards of civil liberties and human rights  the cornerstones of its success as a bustling Asian financial hub. Some predict this will trigger the citys quick demise.

They also decry the lack of clear definition over what activities constitute national security crimes and say the power granted to the Chinese security authorities would essentially enable them to take over any case they wish.

According to a summary of the draft, punishment would be handed down for offenses relating to secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, but no further details have been given so far. On the eve of the laws expected passage, Hong Kongs NOW TV reported that the maximum penalty for secession and subversion would be a life sentence.

Ching Cheong, a veteran Hong Kong journalist and political commentator who had been jailed for three years in China, said the national security law is foisting upon Hong Kong the ideology, thinking and behavior patterns of the Communist Party.

The four crimes  secession, subversion, terrorism, collusion with foreign powers  that the law punishes are determined purely on the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party, he said. Under the one-party dictatorship, the party and the state are integrated, so criticizing the Communist Party is tantamount to subverting state power.

But in any normal society, criticizing the ruling party or requesting it to step down should not constitute a crime, he said.

Also, according to the draft law, Hong Kong will set up a new national security commission headed by its Beijing-appointed top leader, which will be supervised by the Chinese government. China will also establish an agency to analyze the national security situation in Hong Kong and monitor, supervise, coordinate and support the local governments efforts, collect intelligence and handle relevant cases.

Chinese security agents, which it says are required to follow Hong Kong laws, also will be stationed in the city to deal directly with some cases there.

The new law would also grant power to Hong Kongs top leader to choose judges to handle national security cases in the city  a move criticized by legal experts and rights groups as undermining the principle of the rule of law and impeding the independence of the judiciary.

Hong Kongs pro-Beijing media has also reported the law would include the establishment of special detention centers where suspects in national security cases can be held indefinitely. Pro-Beijing politicians said individuals who breach the security law could also be extradited to China  where courts have a conviction rate of over 99%.

Other details known so far include the creation of a special police unit to enforce the national security law and a special prosecution unit created by the citys department of justice for national security crimes. The law also would require the Hong Kong government to strengthen supervision and management of schools and other organizations on matters relating to national security.

Martin Flaherty, a visiting law professor at Princeton University who specializes in human rights issues in China, said he was concerned that the China-designed law would threaten Hong Kongs judicial independence, traditionally a pride of the former British colony.

The transferring from one jurisdiction to the other means precisely moving from an independent judiciary to one that is constructed to carry out the wishes of the Party and the government, he said.

Flaherty, who has researched China, Northern Ireland and Turkey, believes that Beijing is perhaps ironically imitating the very bad precedent of many Western nations of setting up a separate and draconian judicial system. But he stressed that such a law would be much worse under the Chinese regime because it lacks the basic forms of constitutional limits, separation of powers, an independent judiciary, and the basic idea that the rule of law should constrain government and the party.

The results are there for all to see: the crushing of dissent of any sort, incarceration, torture, trials with preordained results, and the brutal intimidation of lawyers who seek to defend those accused of amorphous laws, he said of China.

This type of system is established for the ostensible purpose of national security, but is really designed to get easy convictions, he said, adding that it would undermine due process protections, target the political opposition, and often end up radicalizing the population.
Urban land rights NGO Sahmakum Teang Tnaut released a research document on Monday showing a slowdown in land evictions in the capital, but said there was little evidence the process was improving or following human rights standards.



The document, released by Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT) and titled Eviction and Relocation, provides statistics on all reported land evictions in Phnom Penh since the 1990s.



Pointing to recent evictions conducted in the last three months at Boeung Chhouk A, Boeung Samrong, and Boeung Tamok, STTs report shows little improvement in local authorities' conduct while dealing with communities slated for eviction.

Impoverished Cambodian families continue to be evicted despite the Covid-19 pandemic making families vulnerable to sickness and extreme poverty, read the reports press release.



Phnom Penh had been mired in a slew of land disputes, emanating from the local governments handing over of land to private interests, in many cases, often to the detriment of communities and residents. This includes the forced eviction of families from Dey Krahorm, Boeung Kak Lake, and Borei Keila.



Local law enforcement has in the past responded violently to communities protesting these evictions, with land rights activists and advocates often facing arrest, detention, and intimidation.

Starting from before 1999, STT reported there had been 68 evictions within Phnom Penh, with 50 of these communities receiving some form of relocation from the state. A majority of evictions, around 42, were linked to the alleged occupation of public state land, and nine were evictions carried out by development companies who had been given state land.

Around 29 of these communities had been given 90 or fewer days before the eviction, the report reads, a human rights standard for such actions. Nine of the evictions involved violence from state forces, seven of which affected women and children.

STTs documentation showed that women often bore the brunt of evictions, undergoing long stretches of stress and trauma, some even blaming themselves for their familys poor conditions. Relocation sites also provided women with little access to bathrooms and privacy, with others reporting that they feared rape and assault at these locations.

Indebtedness was very high among these communities STT studied, with an estimate suggesting that 17 communities had 91 percent or more households with some form of debt.

Highlighting recent evictions, STT reported that authorities deployed bulldozers to Boeung Chhouk A community in northern Phnom Penh on June 20, 2020. Only a few families had been consulted before the eviction. The remaining households were then given a 15-day notice for the eviction, again well short of the 90 days that human rights guidelines on evictions.

On 24 April 2020, authorities again brought a bulldozer to a site in Boeung Samrong in Russey Keo district, where 18 families live. According to STT, families claimed they owned the land since 1979, with authorities disputing this by calling the land state property.

Soeung Saran, executive director of STT, said the authorities routinely didnt explain the exact reasons for eviction and in other cases provided no consultation at all.

The government, especially City Hall should conduct the proper consultations and provide suitable compensation for villagers who are affected, he said.

When they are evicted, they are told they live on the state land, he said. But after eviction, the land is given to a private group or company. Villagers are then wondering how that happened.

Touch Sam On, a 57-year-old villager living in Boeung Chhouk village at Russey Keo district, said his house was slated to be demolished soon, but that he contested the eviction and demolition. He added that he has lived on the land since 1995 and disputed claims that he was occupying the land illegally.

They have the plan to bulldoze the houses and evict us like animals. It is unacceptable, he said.

If evicted, Touch Sam On said he would have to rent a new home, which he was afraid he could not afford because he was expected to pay $400 a month for a loan.

Russey Keo District Governor Chea Pisey refused to comment on the report, directing queries to Phnom Penh City Hall. Municipality spokesperson Meth Measpheakdey could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Ministry of Land Management spokesperson Seng Lout also refused to comment about the report or the recent evictions, asking reporters to contact district governments for comment.

I have not received any information about the eviction. If [you] hear from anyone, you can ask from that [person], he said.

According to STT, since the 1980s, Phnom Penh has witnessed the eviction and relocation of more than 50 communities, totaling around 9,832 families and more than 40,000 people. The rights group said most of these communities had suffered trauma and continue to suffer as a result of the flawed processes used by the local and national government.
Stowe, VT (05672)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. High 89F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms in the evening, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 61F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Senior Rehab and Recovery Center in Athens confirmed on Monday that 23 residents and nine employees tested positive for coronavirus.

Wade Menefee, the facilitys director of nursing, said they took an aggressive approach to testing and tested all staff members and residents after the first positive case. He said that's more than 100 people who were tested and some of them were asymptomatic.

Senior Rehab and Recovery Center in Athens Senior Rehab and Recovery Center in Athens

The residents are being treated in a dedicated coronavirus unit at the facility. Menefee said they had everything ready to go for that unit, so once the first case was confirmed, all they had to do was shuffle things around. The unit also has a dedicated staff.

Menefee said the facility has safety measures in effect, including residents being screened twice a day, employees being screened at the start of every shift and the National Guard visiting in April.

Employees who tested positive are following CDC guidelines before they return to work, Menefee said. He said residents who tested positive are being treated at the facility right now, and if their conditions get worse, residents and families can make the decision to move them to a hospital.

The facility was not able to tell us if anyone has been transferred to the hospital.
L'Oreal, the world's largest cosmetic and beauty company, announced on Friday that it will stop using words like "whitening" and "fair" in describing its products. The announcement comes amid anti-racism protests and calls against racial inequality following George Floyd's death.

"The L'Oreal Group has decided to remove the words white/whitening, fair/fairness, light/lightening from all its skin evening products," the French cosmetics giant said in statement.

L'Oreal faced backlash earlier in the month following a post on Twitter stating it "stands in solidarity with the Black community, and injustice of any kind." The post garnered comments accusing the company of hypocrisy for dropping British model Munroe Bergdorf from its brand in 2017, following comments she made about systemic racism.

The model herself, also criticized the brand for its solidarity message for Black Lives Matter, saying L'Oreal "threw me to the wolves for speaking out about racism and white supremacy." She was the UK brand's first transgender model before she was dropped.

Bergdorf said in a Twitter statement that L'Oreal Paris brand president, Delphine Viguier, "expressed regret for how the situation was handled" following a conversation between the two. The company rehired Bergdorf and she will now join the UK company's diversity and inclusion advisory board.

L'Oreal isn't the first company to make changes to its brand, as pushback continues over controversial skin-lightening products and beauty companies' lack of racial diversity in products and advertisements

On Thursday, Hindustan Unilever, the Indian and Bangladesh unit of Anglo-Dutch firm Unilever, announced that it would "stop using the word 'Fair" on its "Fair and Lovely" skincare products. Unilever stated its reason was to move toward "a more inclusive vision of beauty."

Johnson & Johnson, also announced on Thursday it has discontinued two lines of skincare products from its brands that include the word "fairness" on its labels for the same reasons.
The Alabama Department of Corrections announced Monday that an employee in Decatur has coronavirus, and an inmate who tested positive for the virus has died.

The department said the staff member at North Alabama Community Based Facility/Community Work Center in Decatur self-reported a positive coronavirus diagnosis. That person is self-quarantining.

Last week, the department said a staff member at the Limestone Correctional Facility in Harvest tested positive for coronavirus.

Also Monday, the department said Wanda Gaye Dison, a 68-year-old inmate who was serving a 55-year-sentence for rape and sodomy out of Montgomery County at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, died Monday.

Heres more from the departments news release:

On June 21, Inmate Dison was transferred to a local hospital from Tutwilers infirmary due to her advanced, chronic medical conditions and rapidly declining health. Upon admission to the hospital, Dison was tested for COVID-19 and subsequently returned a positive test result. She remained under the care of the hospital until her unfortunate passing. Disons exact cause of death is pending the results of a final autopsy. The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) extends its sympathies to the Dison family and her loved ones during this difficult time.

INMATE POPULATION

The ADOC has confirmed that two (2) inmates at Tutwiler have tested positive for COVID-19.

One of the inmates was asymptomatic and was tested as a precautionary measure prior to a necessary facility-to-facility transfer. The other inmate was on level-two quarantine awaiting the results of a test for COVID-19 after presenting with signs and symptoms of the disease. Upon notification of their positive test results, both inmates were moved to medical isolation. After completing our consultation with the State Medical Director of the ADOCs contracted health services provider, the decision was made to keep the respective areas in which these inmates were housed on level-one quarantine.

Sixty-five (65) total cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among our inmate population, forty-one (41) of which remain active.

ADOC STAFF

The ADOC was informed via self-reporting that:

two (2) staff members at Birmingham Community Based Facility/Community Work Center in Birmingham, Alabama;

one (1) staff member employed at St. Clair Correctional Facility in Springville, Alabama;

three (3) staff members employed at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama;

one (1) staff member employed at North Alabama Community Based Facility/Community Work Center in Decatur, Alabama; and

one (1) staff member employed at Kilby Correctional Facility in Montgomery, Alabama, have tested positive for COVID-19.

These eight (8) individuals promptly self-quarantined under the direction of their healthcare providers.

The ADOCs Office of Health Services (OHS) has initiated investigations to determine which, if any, ADOC inmates or employees may have had direct, prolonged exposure to these staff members. Upon completing the appropriate due diligence, OHS will advise any staff with direct exposure to contact their healthcare providers and self-quarantine for the recommended 14-day period, or as advised by their health care providers.

Eighty-two (82) COVID-19 cases among ADOC staff and contracted staff remain active. Eighty-one (81) staff members who previously self-reported a positive test have been cleared by medical providers to return to work.
Several disturbances will travel through North Alabama as we go through this workweek. The first of these disturbances will bring scattered showers and storms both today and Tuesday afternoons. As is the case with any storms in the summer, heavy rain and gusty winds are possible with the stronger cells. By midweek, the forecast becomes a little more tricky. The chances for showers and storms remains in the forecast, but the question becomes how widespread those rain chances will be. Some data sources continue to bring in separate disturbances almost every day heading into the weekend. Other sources are suggesting a low pressure develops in the southeast and is cutoff, meaning it stalls out over the southeast.

This scenario could result in widespread heavy rain for the holiday weekend that could wash out any fireworks or outdoor activities for the holiday weekend. Given the uncertainty among data at this time, we will maintain a middle of the road forecast, with scattered showers and storms each day through the rest of the week and into the weekend. For now, the most widespread rain looks to be Wednesday through Friday, but that could still change. Rainfall totals will likely range from 1.5 to 2.5 inches over the next week, with locally higher amounts possible in stronger storms. If you have any outdoor plans to celebrate the July 4th holiday, stay with WAAY 31 for updates throughout the week as the forecast continues to evolve. Temperature wise, highs and lows hover right around normal, with highs in the upper 80s and lows near 70.
West Morgan High School is in the midst of responding to the news that one of its student-athletes tested positive for coronavirus.

The student attended workouts on Wednesday and was tested on Thursday. He got his results back Saturday.

School officials said the group of athletes were screened prior to the workout, followed social distancing guidelines and wore face coverings.

Right now, administrators are waiting for direction from the Alabama Department of Public Health and state school board on when facilities can reopen.

The student that tested positive will quarantine for at least 14 days.
Alabama has two new programs to expand coronavirus testing and the notification of people who may have been exposed to the virus.

The programs are called Testing for Alabama and Stay Safe Together. Theyll be implemented by the Alabama Department of Public Health and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The state says these platforms will support public institutions of higher education to enhance safety on campus during the pandemic, and they may later support businesses and other entities.

Theyre supported by $30 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The state says theyll also target underserved areas and hotspots for cases.

The Testing for Alabama initiative will allow every college student attending a public four-year and two-year college in the state to be tested prior to reentry on campus.

A news release provided by UAB on Monday says the Stay Safe Together platform will include a coronavirus health check and an exposure notification app backed by Google and Apple. The state says the app can anonymously alert someone if they are at risk from being exposed to someone who tested positive for coronavirus.

UAB says the app is expected to be ready in time for the fall semester.
Alabama is just two months away from reopening schools come this fall.

However, it's still unclear exactly what this "new normal" will look like for teachers and students.

Parents do have a choice on whether they want to send their kids back to the classroom or enroll them in a virtual academy.

WAAY 31 spoke with a mother whose daughter has a compromised immune system about why she's still considering sending her daughter back to the classroom.

Many parents have expressed the need for social interaction for their children's growth and that's exactly what this mother wants for her daughter. She told us in-person instruction is what's best for her, but she knows if anything happens, she will be pulled out immediately.

"If for some reason, even the day before, something catastrophic occurs, she will not go. I'm really following day by day and doing my best to keep her safe," said Loni Newbould.

Newbould's daughter has allergy-induced asthma and food anaphylaxis, making her immune system and lungs very weak.

However, Newbould says her daughter is ready to return to school. She attends Discovery Middle School in Madison, and she's set on being around her teachers again and fellow students after social distancing for more than 14 weeks.

Newbould said she does have some concerns.

"If the protocols they have put in place, they're going to look good on paper, but I don't know if we're going to be able to execute them and that's what I'm curious about," she said.

In an announcement made by the state superintendent, he stated in all schools, there would be social distancing in place and everyone must wear a mask.

Newbould, like many other parents, is curious to know just how enforceable it will be during this academic school year.

Aside from her concerns, she's hoping whatever decision a parent makes for their child doesn't get reprimanded. She says it's important to take into consideration everyone's situation is different.

"Nobody's going to be right, nobody's going to be wrong. Whatever you decide to do for your child is what you're going to do," she said.

Newbould told us she hopes everyone understands coronavirus safety measures are new to everyone and she hopes parents can uplift one another during such an unprecedented time.
With the number of coronavirus cases on the rise, the the public health department admitted hospitals in Alabama could get overwhelmed at some point.

Dr. Karen Landers, Lauderdale County officials, and the city of Florence hosted a press conference Monday to discuss what the pandemic is doing in the Shoals area.

As of last week the North Alabama Medical Center said it was treating less than 10 coronavirus patients and Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield said it had nine patients with coronavirus in the hospital.

Landers said during the press confrence that we need to take measures now like wearing masks and social distancing to prevent overwhelming Alabama's health care system.

"In terms of what can go on in the fall people talk about first wave second wave but we've never gotten out of the first wave in Alabama," said Landers.

Landers spoke to a crowd of city and county officials, some county officials still weren't wearing masks despite being in an enclosed room.

"Take the measures now, lets do what we can now to reduce our numbers so that our healthcare system will be able to have an opportunity to recover and regroup before we have the respiratory season that comes along," said Landers.

"Right now our healthcare system is handling this okay but I stress that they are handling this with an all hands on deck approach where healthcare workers are working very long hours it is very stressful to our doctors and nurses.

Florence Mayor Steve Holt said the Lauderdale County numbers land them right in the middle of how everyone is handling it.

"We have 372 positive cases out of 6,852 tests that have been administered so that's a 5.4% infection rate compared to tests administered that puts us in roughly in the middle of all 67 counties," said Holt.

Currently, the City Hall and police department lobbies are closed to the public because of the coronavirus. The city doesn't require it's employees or members of the public to wear masks if they come into a city building but Holt said that could change in the future.

"It's not our intention to mandate wearing a mask either with our employees that's an option but we do highly recommend it particularly if your going into a public building," said Holt.

Holt said when it comes to a mandatory mask order he doesn't see that happening in Florence, but said he gets a lot of calls on the issue.

"I get calls and emails each week from somebody that insists we mandate wearing a mask and within the same hour I'll get a call or email from someone saying don't get on my constitutional rights and demand that I wear a mask," said Holt.

Holt wears his mask in public places. He lowered it while explaining why the masks are so important.

"I had a gentleman over the weekend say I lost a relative recently that was strong and health and that relative passed away because of the coronavirus and it made an impact on me that this is serious and this is not going away right now and this might be more serious than ever," said Holt.

Holt said if the city begins to allow more people in public buildings he could see masks being a requirement along with other safety measures already in place.

"We have put up all kinds of protective screening. We've revamped our lobby area. We've done that at the municipal court and I think were in the process of doing that at the city clerks office," said Holt.

Landers said she encourages everyone to wear a mask.
The University of North Alabama released its plan on Monday for the fall semester.

A 20-page document outlines the process. The university is requiring all students, faculty members and visitors on campus to wear a face mask if they cannot maintain six feet of distance from one another.

The plan is for faculty and staff to transition back to campus by the end of July. Employees are required to do daily self-temperature checks at home before coming to work.

The document says depending on state and federal guidance, a limited number of students may return to campus in July. Some athletes will arrive to campus on July 6.

In August, students will be able to move into housing in what the university calls a staggered plan of action. They will not be required to wear face masks while in their rooms or apartments with assigned roommates, or while exercising.

Students will, however, be required to monitor themselves for coronavirus symptoms and do self-temperature checks.

Fall 2020 classes are set to begin on Aug. 19.

Upon returning from Thanksgiving break on Nov. 30, the university will resume classes via remote learning with no face-to-face instruction for the rest of the semester. However, housing will remain open for students who choose to stay on campus.

Fall semester final exams will be done remotely from Dec. 4 to Dec. 9.

You can read the full 20-page plan below:
Officials in Lauderdale County held a news conference on Monday about the coronavirus pandemic.

We heard from Dr. Karen Landers with the Alabama Department of Public Health, EMA Director George Grabryan, Florence Mayor Steve Holt and Florence City Schools Superintendent Dr. Jimmy Shaw.

Landers said the states contact tracing app will start with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and should be ready for beta testing this summer.

Officials urged to people to wear face masks.

Right now, Florence city employees are not mandated to wear masks, but the mayor said theyd possibly reconsider the option in the future of enforcing the public to wear masks if they come into city buildings.

You can watch the briefing below.

Find more coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Monday the country's national security extends beyond its political borders to any region that may negatively affect its historic rights.

"This is a turbulent region and the regional and international intertwined balances make it difficult for any country to live in isolation and await the repercussions of developments surrounding it," the president said during the celebration held to commemorate the 30 June 2013 Revolution.

"Egypt is aware of these challenges that may border on real threats which need to be confronted firmly to maintain the country and its people's security and stability.

"Egypt has comprehensive and influential power in its regional surrounding, but it always prefers peace... Egypt doesn't interfere in others' affairs but at the same time, it does what it takes to maintain its national security. This is Egypt's policy that is based on honour, without compromising its rights," El-Sisi added.

The country is facing multiple challenges to its national security in its western neighbour, Libya, and to the south in Ethiopia.

Egypt has been engaged in tripartite negotiations with Sudan and Ethiopian over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam for nearly a decade, with talks achieving less than satisfactory results.

Cairo fears the dam will diminish its water supply from the Nile, on which it relies for much of its fresh water.

Ethiopia hopes the massive $4.8 billion megaproject on the Blue Nile, which has been under construction since 2011, will allow it to become Africas largest power exporter.

More recently, Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan agreed that Addis Ababa will delay the filling of the dam until an agreement is reached, the Egyptian presidency said on Friday, signalling progress in talks over the disputed project.

The announcement came after an emergency African Union online summit of leaders of the three countries, chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The United Nations Security Council will hold a meeting on Monday night to discuss the GERD developments after the three countries had sent memos and letters to the international body with Egypt urging the council to intervene to preserve international security and stability.

El-Sisi earlier said that Cairo can directly intervene in Libya to protect the countrys national security with the support of local tribes, stressing that the country has the legitimacy to interfere.

Egypt has been trying to defuse the Libyan situation, drafting the Cairo Declaration, together with the Commander of the Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar and Libyan Parliamentary Speaker Aguila Saleh.

The Cairo proposal, in line with UN resolutions and recommendations of the Berlin Conference, calls for a ceasefire that would pave the way for electing a leadership council for Libya.



The initiative also called for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Libya.

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Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers said as of Monday there are 115 inpatients with coronavirus in the hospital system.

This includes a 16-year-old patient with coronavirus in the ICU. Spillers said this is the first teen and youngest patient with coronavirus on a ventilator in the ICU.

No other details about the patient were revealed Monday.

Spillers said on June 1, there were 28 inpatients with coronavirus in the system.

Right now, there are 44 inpatients with coronavirus in Madison County. That includes 38 in Huntsville Hospital's main campus, six in Madison Hospital and two in Crestwood Medical Center.

There are 16 patients in the Intensive Care Units, and 11 of the inpatients with coronavirus in Madison County are on ventilators.

Decatur Morgan Hospital has 20 inpatients with coronavirus, and Marshall County has 30.

There are 12 inpatients with coronavirus at Helen Keller Hospital. Athens Limestone Hospital has nine inpatients with coronavirus, which Spillers said is the most since the reporting started.

Spillers said the average age of admission for patients with coronavirus is in the mid-50s. He said the large majority of patients hospitalized have a pre-existing condition.

Spillers said there is a higher percentage of people testing positive, at about 6% locally and 10% statewide. He said almost 2,000 people were tested for coronavirus in Madison County last week. He said very few people without symptoms being tested are getting positive results back.

Spillers said people should expect to see substantial increases in the amount of cases in the state over the next couple of days.

The Huntsville Hospital system has an adequate supply of personal protective equipment and ventilators, but ICU beds can be tight depending on the facility, Spillers said. He said testing is limited and they would prefer to do more of it. He said nationally, the weak link in his opinion is testing.
UPDATE: Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Long said starting Tuesday, officials will make face masks available to everyone that comes to the courthouse without one.

Alabama Department of Public Health Administrator for the Northern District Judy Smith said she is concerned about the Fourth of July holiday and an increase in cases.

Folks, we are not doing good, she said during Mondays news conference.

Smith said we need to take charge, and people need to wear face masks. She also said a lot of people got sicker by putting off treatment not related to coronavirus during the pandemic.

The next Morgan County news conference will be on July 6 at 10 a.m.

FROM EARLIER:

Officials in Morgan County are holding a news conference on Monday about the coronavirus pandemic.

We expect an update from Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling and Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Long.

Stay with WAAY 31 on air and online for updates.

Find more coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here.
UPDATE: Alabama State Troopers confirm one person was killed in the wreck.

FROM EARLIER:

The Jackson County Emergency Management Agency says eastbound lanes are closed Monday afternoon on Highway 72 at County Road 69 in Bridgeport due to a major wreck.

Authorities are directing eastbound traffic into the westbound lanes, as of 2:18 p.m.

Stevenson police are at the scene investigating. Alabama State Troopers say theyre told it involves multiple vehicles and a possible fatality. A trooper is at the scene to assist.

Drivers are urged to avoid the area if possible. You can find live WAAY 31 traffic alerts here.
Voters will be able to keep the pens they use to sign in, and they also will receive pencils so they can use the eraser end to operate the selection wheel and buttons on voting machines. Poll workers will spray and wipe down the machines after each person votes, Van Wolfe said.

We want everyone to come out and vote and we want everyone to feel safe in doing so, she said.

Voters older than 65 or who are disabled can vote by mail. Applications can be obtained through the elections office and must be returned no later than Thursday.

Curbside voting also is available for anyone physically unable to go inside one of the voting locations.

The elections office produced a five-minute video that highlights health protocols and procedures that will be employed at the polling locations. Van Wofe recommends voters watch the video, which is available on the McLennan County Elections Office website and at wacotrib.com, before going to the polls.

Face coverings and social distancing are recommended, she said.

Sample ballots and a list of Election Day polling locations are available on the elections office website under July 14 runoff election.

On voting machines, poll watchers, photo IDs: A Q&A with local election officials If Election 2020 leaves some voters wondering whether studying candidates and issues and braving the mounting complexities inherent in voting 

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Decatur, IL (62521)

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Cloudy. Cooler. High around 70F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..

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Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 51F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
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The Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center stands in Beaver County, Pa., Tuesday, May 12, 2020. At that point, coronavirus had sickened about 12,000 residents of 540 nursing and personal care homes in Pennsylvania, accounting for about one-fifth of the states confirmed infections of the coronavirus.
Washington, IN (47501)

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Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. High 76F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Rain showers early with clearing later at night. Low 53F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
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Australian Associated Press customers will be prevented from signing a deal with News Corp Australia's newswire for six months under a proposed sale agreement with the new owners that is expected to be completed early this week.

Industry sources familiar with the contract between AAP and the consortium of philanthropists and investors led by chief executive Peter Tonagh said that News Corp will be unable to immediately poach customers from the revived AAP newswire and will instead run the content exclusively for its mastheads including The Australian, The Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun.

The AAP newswire could be sold to its new owners in a matter of days. Credit:AAP

News Corp, which is a major shareholder in AAP along with Nine Entertainment Co (publisher of this masthead), had been in discussions with some publishing customers about the licensing of its content before an agreement was made to sell the newswire. Existing subscribers to AAP include Guardian Australia, Daily Mail Australia, Antony Catalano's Australian Community Media and Seven West Media.

News Corp's newswire, which is expected to launch this week, is part of a major restructure and new digital-focused strategy that is being implemented by the Rupert Murdoch-owned publisher across national, metropolitan, regional and local mastheads. The newswire was initially intended to service News Corp's newspapers after the closure of AAP was announced in March, but discussions eventuated with customers that were concerned about the prospect of losing court and breaking news coverage.
Major Australian swimwear brand Seafolly has become the latest retail victim of the coronavirus pandemic, with the company appointing voluntary administrators on Monday afternoon.

The bikini and swimsuit retailer has been in operation since 1975, and runs 44 stores in Australia under both the Seafolly and Sunburn brands, with a further 12 overseas. The company employs 121 staff in Australia.

Swimwear giant Seafolly, which operates 44 Australian stores, has collapsed and is looking for a buyer.

In a statement, administrators for the company directly cited COVID-19 as the reason for its demise, saying the appointment had been made due to "the crippling financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic".

Seafolly has been placed in the hands of KordaMentha administrators Scott Langdon and Rahul Goyal, who will continue to trade the business while looking for a buyer.
Australia's biggest oil and gas producers are likely to follow Britain's BP in slashing global oil price forecasts in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, in a sign that the economic shock of the pandemic could reverberate for years to come.

With BP last month cutting oil price assumptions from $US70 to $55 a barrel, analysts and investors are questioning whether earlier price forecasts issued by Australian energy giants such as Woodside and Santos are in line for sharp revisions.

Australia's energy producers are likely to follow BP in slashing oil price forecasts in the wake of coronavirus. Credit:Rob Homer

The long-term price movements could have severe implications for Australia's $50 billion-a-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) export sector and imperil the viability of billions of dollars of projects awaiting final decisions off the coast of Australia due to lower-than-expected rates of return.

"BP's move is a signal that some participants in the industry are likely revisiting assumptions supporting their projects," Morgans analyst Adrian Prendergast said.
I too was a judges associate and I, too, was sexually harassed by the judge for whom I worked.

When the Dyson Heydon allegations broke last week, I was overwhelmed by disbelief and excitement that it had been possible for allegations of sexual harassment about one of the most highly esteemed and powerful judicial officers in the country to come to light, that the allegations had been afforded a serious and thorough investigation, and that Chief Justice Susan Kiefel of the High Court of Australia had published a beautifully worded statement outlining that the women were believed.

Former High Court justice Dyson Heydon has denied sexual harassment allegations. Credit:Ben Rushton

A precedent for handling such allegations against members of the judiciary had been paved at the highest level of the legal profession and this precedent was founded on respect for the alleged victims.

I felt that, finally, I had a platform for holding the man who had sexually harassed me accountable. For legal reasons and to afford my alleged perpetrator procedural fairness, I am unable to identify the persons involved or the jurisdiction in which the alleged offending took place. But this is my story.
Lets face it: the federal governments overhaul of university fees in the humanities, widely interpreted as a swipe against what it sees as pesky leftists, is pretty stinging.

Universities have been caught in an escalating culture war. Credit:Louise Kennerley

As a Gen Xer, I was primed for the possibility  even the desirability  of winding up behind the desk at the local video library where my high-honours paper on reading ideology and desire in Ferris Bueller's Day Off would come in handy.

Still, federal minister Dan Tehans announcement comes at a time when humanities graduates have been forced into an existential reckoning about our relative uselessness in a national crisis. We analysed and interpreted and poeticised our strange new world to death, but the pandemic brought into sharp relief our non-essentialness against cleaners, truck drivers and supermarket workers, let alone teachers, farmers, nurses, doctors and the scientists beavering away for a COVID-19 vaccine.

If this doesnt ring true for you, brilliant. But the idea that a mere arts degree is a dead end runs so deep that Tehans policy feels almost like a parental rebuke  if it wasnt smothered in disingenuousness.
In a confidential briefing to troops at SAS headquarters, Major-General Adam Findlay admitted some elite Australian soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan. He blamed the atrocities on poor moral leadership and also admitted some of the crimes had been deliberately covered up.

In this episode, national editor Tory Maguire is joined by investigative journalist Nick McKenzie to discuss the briefing and the long-awaited Brereton report into SAS misconduct thats due to be delivered in the coming weeks.

Our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage.

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Qantas laid off 6000 workers last week. Deloitte is cutting 700 jobs. Unless governments act, theres going to be a lot more of this. Australian governments must urgently develop an economic transition plan for the next six to 12 months.

Australia has been luckier and has managed the COVID-19 crisis better than most. But Australia is far from back to normal. We will be living in a "with-COVID" world rather than a "post-COVID" world for a long time.

Qantas and Jetstar planes parked at Avalon Airport. Credit:Jason South

Despite an initial bounce as the lockdown eased, the economy faces significant headwinds: weak underlying demand, a global recession, higher household and business debt and slower population growth. A second wave of the virus would further undermine any recovery.

The economic transition plan needs three components. First, governments should close eligibility gaps and fix design flaws in the JobKeeper wage subsidy. JobKeeper should move to upfront payments and expand to cover temporary workers and short-term casuals. The federal government should also introduce a separate part-time payment rate to better target the scheme.
A report handed to the Morrison government four months ago contains many of the recommendations that would make it harder for powerful men to harass their subordinates.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins' landmark report on sexual harassment at work recommended legal reforms to make people who allowed harassment to happen liable and require employers to proactively reduce the risk of harassment like they do other health threats at work.

Allegations against former High Court judge Dyson Heydon have reignited a national debate about sexual harassment at work. Credit:Anna Kucera

"[The government] cant say we dont know what to do because the... report gives you a really comprehensive and thorough examination of the issues and consequences," said Kate Eastman, SC, an employment and human rights barrister.

This masthead last week revealed a High Court report had found Mr Heydon harassed six female associates, reigniting a national conversation about harassment at work. Through his lawyers, Mr Heydon categorically "denies emphatically any allegation of sexual harassment or any offence".
A coalition of unions including union boss John Setka's wing of the CFMMEU is preparing a legal challenge to the federal Labor Party's takeover of the troubled Victorian branch.

The ALP's national executive appointed administrators to run the Victorian branch until 2021 on Premier Daniel Andrews' invitation after allegations of branch stacking against former powerbroker Adem Somyurek. The intervention also suspends party members' rights to select Victorian candidates for three years.

Victorian construction and general secretary of the CFMMEU, John Setka. Credit:Chris Hopkins

The Victorian CFMEU, the plumbing union, health workers union and rail, tram and bus union have agreed to launch a legal challenge to the national executive's decision. Rob Graauwmans, vice-president of the Victorian CFMEU, said he supported efforts to clean up the party, but rejected the method.

"Members and unions pay millions of dollars supporting the party and are entitled to their democratic rights," Mr Graauwmans said. "This isnt a one-party state, unnecessarily removing democratic votes from members is just not Australian."
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry had a telephone call on Monday with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said Shoukry reiterated Egypt's keenness on pushing forward cooperation with China in all domains.

The Chinese foreign minister conveyed the greetings of Chinese President Xi Jinping to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi while Shoukry conveyed the greetings of president Sisi to the Chinese president.

The two ministers praised the level of development in the two countries' relations as well as coordination and consultations between them to promote international peace and security.

Short link:


Mexico City: Authorities in Mexico have arrested two people in connection with the murder of a federal judge and his wife in mid-June, prosecutors said on Sunday, while in Mexico City 17 of the 19 suspects detained in a failed attack on the capital's police chief appeared before a judge.

Both attacks have been attributed to the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel and are seen as major challenges to Mexico's government and the security strategy of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is grappling with record violence in Mexico. Credit:AP

A suspect in the judge's killing was located and detained in the city of Cuauhtemoc, in the western state of Colima, thanks to intelligence work by Mexico's marines and prosecutors, the Attorney General's Office said in a statement. The office said a second suspect was also arrested, but provided no more details.

Meanwhile, Mexico City prosecutor's office said 17 people detained in Friday's assassination attempt against Police Chief Omar Garcia Harfuch appeared before a judge.
Our house is on fire, warned the teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg at last years World Economic Forum meeting in Davos.

Her pointed words - accusing adults of sitting idly by as the planet burns - quieted a roomful of global leaders, inspired young activists worldwide and underscored the critical importance of putting young people at the centre of global action to build a better future. Climate change is happening now. That was apparent in Australias recent unprecedented bushfires, in which 18 million hectares burned and an estimated one billion animals died. It was also reflected in Indias 2019 heatwave, among its longest and most intense in decades. And a warming planet is contributing to the global spread of dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection. Yet, even as the clock runs out on our ability to avert a catastrophe, global climate action is not gaining the needed momentum. As Thunberg and other youth activists have underscored, it is our children who will bear the brunt of this failure; they will inherit an increasingly inhospitable planet.

Failing

Climate change is not the only area where we are failing our children. Predatory commercial marketing that targets children and their caretakers is contributing to the widespread consumption of unhealthy products, such as alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes and sugar-sweetened beverages. The global economic losses associated with the inappropriate use of breast milk substitutes - associated with lowered intelligence, obesity and increased risk of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases - amount to an estimated US$302 billion. Children are our most precious resource, and they deserve to live long, healthy and productive lives. To determine how to enable them to do just that, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Childrens Fund and The Lancet medical journal recently convened a landmark commission that brought together 40 experts on child health and wellbeing. As the commissions report - A Future for the Worlds Children? - notes, the key is to invest in people while they are young. Evidence shows that hungry children have poorer health, worse educational outcomes and earn less as adults. Children who are exposed to violence are more likely to commit violence.

Care

Conversely, children who receive proper nutrition, appropriate care and quality education grow up to be healthy, productive citizens, who are presumably better equipped to raise healthy, productive children of their own. In short, investing in children today brings life-long, and even intergenerational benefits. This brings value to all of society. For example, a school-building programme undertaken in Indonesia from 1973 to 1979 has helped boost todays living standards and tax revenues. The return on investment in children is remarkably high. In the United States, every Dollar invested in a preschool programme was found to bring US$7 to US$12 in societal benefits per person, through reductions in aggressive behaviour and improved educational attainment. In lower-middle-income countries, every US$1 invested in maternal and child health can bring more than US$11 in benefits. But we should not pursue such investments only because of the numbers. If we cant protect our childrens futures, what is the measure of our humanity?

The commission calls on leaders at every level, from heads of State and government to civil society and local leaders, to place children at the centre of strategies to achieve sustainable development. This will require long-term vision, with presidents and prime ministers ensuring that sufficient funds are directed toward the needed programmes and supporting effective collaboration among ministries and departments. Every sector has a role to play in building a world fit for children. For example, traffic accidents are the top killer of children and young people aged five to 29, implying an urgent need for interventions to improve road safety. Likewise, with 40 per cent of the worlds children living in informal settlements - characterised by overcrowding, poor access to services and exposure to hazards such as fires and flooding - housing reform is essential.

Some countries recognise the importance of boosting public investment in children. In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns government has introduced a world-first wellbeing budget, which puts people - especially societys most vulnerable, including children - first. The budget allocates billions of Dollars for mental health services, child poverty and measures to tackle family violence.

But New Zealand continues to emit far too much carbon dioxide  183 per cent of the level needed to meet its 2030 target and adhere to the Paris climate agreement, according to our report. Other rich countries such as Norway and South Korea are doing similarly well in helping children flourish today, while continuing to emit far too much carbon dioxide to ensure that children tomorrow can do so as well. Meanwhile, some less wealthy countries such as Armenia, Costa Rica, and Sri Lanka are on track to reach emissions targets by 2030, and are doing a fair job of ensuring that their children are healthy, educated and safe.

I dont want your hope, Thunberg told world leaders in Davos. I want you to panic  and act. She is right. If we are to bequeath a sustainable future to this young generation, and those that follow, our leaders must act courageously and immediately. This is the stuff legacies are made of.
Wilmington, DE (19810)

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Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High near 90F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Mostly cloudy skies. Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low around 70F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
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MANZINI  Teachers who will not be at work today face the no-work, no-pay rule.

This was said by the Minister of Education and Training, Lady Mabuza, after she was asked what would the ministry do to deal with teachers who would heed their associations call that they should stay at home. On Friday, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), in a press conference, ordered teachers to stay at home. The associations leaders claimed to have conducted an inspection exercise in schools to ascertain the level of preparedness before calling their members to resume their duties today. The call by government for teachers to return to schools came through the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training, Bertram Stewart.

Preparations

Stewart said all teachers in high schools should report for work today. He said the teachers would be expected to assist the administration with preparations and administering of all the protocols that would assist government from preventing the spread of the coronavirus among learners. Notwithstanding the fact that it is only Form Vs who will be attending class on July 6, 2020, all teachers are expected in schools in order to assist the administration. So, its not only teachers who are teaching Form V who are expected at their workstations but all teachers, he said. The minister, emphasising what Stewart had said, appealed to all teachers to be at school today as failure to adhere to the instruction would lead to government invoking the no-work, no-pay rule.Mabuza said the implementation of the rule would be a last resort as she was hopeful that teachers would attend school from today.

The minister said SNAT had been part of the developments in relation to the reopening of schools from the initial steps and they had developed all the plans working together. While stating that, Mabuza acknowledged that there were instances that the ministry and teachers had differing opinions at times but they were always sorted through proper engagements.

Id say as a nation, we need each other like never before, Mabuza said. She said as a country, it was essential to be united in such times to see the exercise through. The minister said it was imperative that teachers understood that the Form V pupils and final year students must sit for their examinations.


Weatherford, TX (76086)

Today

Partly cloudy in the morning. Thunderstorms developing later in the day. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 85F. S winds shifting to N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, mainly cloudy late with a few showers. Low 58F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Weber State Summer STEM Program Goes Virtual

June 26, 2020

OGDEN, Utah  Weber State is going virtual this year to host PREP (Pre-Freshman Program), a rigorous seven-week summer course in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) for students in seventh to ninth grades. The program will be held using ZOOM beginning June 29 and running through Aug. 6.

We are disappointed we won't have the students on our campus, but were excited to hold PREP virtually, said Dana Dellinger, WSU PREP director We are retaining the most important elements of the program. Our students will still stretch themselves academically and intellectually, meeting new people and interacting with college students and each other. It is going to be a unique experience for everyone.

Seventh to ninth grade students in Weber, Davis and Ogden school districts, who maintain a B+ average in their math classes, achieve good grades overall and have a teacher recommendation, are eligible to apply.

Students typically attend PREP for three consecutive summers. First-year students are introduced to logic and its application to math, engineering and problem-solving. Second year is for algebraic structures, physics and more math-related problem-solving. The third year focuses on technical writing, probability and statistics, and computer science.

This year, participants will attend PREP four days a week from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. In addition to regular course work, students can participate in projects, mini-classes and challenges from the college student program assistants.

I love working with the students and watching them get excited about the things they are learning, said Sarah Stamps, WSU PREP site coordinator and physics major. As a physics student, I love that students are getting this exposure to science and engineering. Watching them develop passion and determination through these tough subjects shows how much they're capable of and will surely help them succeed in the future.

With careful adherence to COVID-19 guidelines, students will also participate in PREP in the Park for class projects such as a bottle rocket competition and physics experiments. This will allow students to interact with each other in a safe environment.

One of the benefits to PREP is the opportunity for students to make connections with their peers and teachers, Dellinger said. We have tried to be creative in still offering those experiences while also following safety guidelines to protect the health and welfare of everyone involved.

The program is offered free to students thanks to a partnership with the Davis, Ogden and Weber school districts, WSUs College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology, College of Science, the Sorenson Foundation, Hill Air Force Base STEM, Wadman Corporation, Northrop Grumman and the Noorda Foundation.

The program, now in its sixth year, was designed to prepare and motivate students to pursue studies and careers in STEM fields. More than 450 students have been involved in the program since its inception in 2015. To learn more about PREP, visit weber.edu/wsuprep.

For photos, visit the following links.

photos.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2020-photos/June-2020/i-GgHZVZD/0/7557a98e/X2/Closing%20girls%20with%20goo-X2.jpg

photos.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2020-photos/June-2020/i-KPhdLw4/0/523318f3/X2/PREP%20kids%20w%20bot%202019-X2.jpg

photos.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2020-photos/June-2020/i-NqgHXRf/0/97e47fd1/X2/PREP%20measuring%20girls%202019-X2.jpg

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
The permanent closure of a Niagara Falls dinner theatre has pulled the plug on a major fundraiser to help breast cancer survivors attend an international dragon boat festival.

South Niagara Canoe Clubs Hope Floats dragon boat team paid more than $7,000 to book a fundraising dinner and show at Oh Canada, Eh! that was scheduled for April.

Funds raised were to be used to help team members attend the International Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Festival in New Zealand in 2022.

About a week before their soldout fundraiser was to take place, the theatre cancelled the gig due to the global pandemic and offered a new date in late December.

Members subsequently came across a Facebook post announcing the dinner theatre had permanently closed and had filed for bankruptcy.

Their phone and email were all disconnected and we were unable to contact them, said Brenda Arndt, a captain with the Hope Floats dragon boat team.

The teams event had sold out, at $65 a ticket, and the club has reimbursed all 150 guests.

All told, the crew is out more than $9,700, which has depleted our savings account, Arndt said.

The dragon boat team held a previous fundraising event at the Lundys Lane dinner theatre which made it possible for members to attend the 2018 international breast cancer dragon boat festival in Italy.

We were very pleased with that event, Arndt said. We were looking forward to going back.

The team had expected this years event would also be profitable as it would have included a silent auction, raffle and 50/50 draw.

We dont hate Oh Canada, Eh!, Arndt said. We feel bad for them, but we want our money back.

The club has filed a proof of claim against Canadiana Productions Inc., which operated popular theatre, but Arndt isnt too optimistic at this point the money will be returned.

Its a long, drawn-out process and theres no guarantee anything will come from it, she said.

Anyone interested in supporting the crew can send an e-transfer to hopefloats@southniagaracanoeclub.ca. For additional information, visit southniagaracanoeclub.ca/hopefloats.

The dinner show is not the only team fundraiser that has been derailed due to COVID-19.

The inaugural Hope Floats Challenge was to be held at the end of August at Welland International Flatwater Centre. Proceeds were to be split between the dragon boat team and Wellspring Niagara.

Members are still hoping to attend the 2022 event.

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If we can recoup, we will go, Arndt said. Hope floats eternal.

Oh Canada, Eh! could no longer be reached by phone Monday. An email sent to the company was undeliverable.

Taylor Leibow, a public accounting firm and insolvency trustee based in Hamilton, will hold a video conference meeting with creditors of Canadiana Production Inc. in early July.
The top Senate Republican said Monday that there should be no stigma to wearing face masks to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus as President Donald Trump continues to refuse to wear one in public.

The remarks by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., came one day after Vice President Mike Pence appeared at an event in Texas, one of the new coronavirus epicenters, where he urged Americans to don masks and wore one himself while not speaking.

"We must have no stigma - none - about wearing masks when we leave our homes and come near other people," McConnell said in Senate floor remarks Monday afternoon. "Wearing simple face coverings is not about protecting ourselves. It is about protecting everyone we encounter."

The virus has killed more than 123,000 people in the United States, and U.S. cases make up by far the largest share of the worldwide caseload. On Sunday, the U.S. surpassed 2.5 million confirmed cases amid a new spike in infections in Texas, Florida, California and other Southern and Western states.

McConnell contracted polio as a 2-year-old in Alabama, and he has spoken in recent months about how the coronavirus crisis has made him think about his own life as well as the fear Americans felt during the polio epidemic that hit the country decades ago.

McConnell has also stressed the importance of wearing face masks during appearances in Kentucky and in comments to reporters.

On his trip to Dallas on Sunday, Pence attended a briefing with Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson. All four were wearing face masks as they entered and left the meeting.

As the pandemic has swept across the U.S., members of the White House coronavirus task force have typically not worn masks and have stood close to each other at media briefings, and Trump has frequently ridiculed reporters and others for wearing face coverings.

The battle in Congress over face coverings has at times grown tense. Last week, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., who chairs the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, threatened to end the practice of holding in-person hearings because some Republicans on the panel refused to wear masks.

"I will stay in the safety of my home as I would ask all of you to do," Clyburn said during the Friday hearing.

Republicans, several of whom had worn masks into the hearing room before taking them off, contended that they could practice social distancing safely while seated maskless at the dais.

On Monday, Clyburn sent a letter to the top Republican on the subcommittee, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, informing him that any member who does not wish to wear a mask may join the upcoming hearings via videoconference - but will not be allowed to participate in person.

In the letter, Cyburn noted that the Office of the Attending Physician has issued guidance stating that face coverings are required for House meetings held "in a limited enclosed space, such as a committee hearing room, for greater than 15 minutes."

"The Attending Physician's guidelines make clear that the mask requirement is in addition to - not an alternative to - social distancing guidelines," Clyburn said. He added: "Unfortunately, the Republican Members' refusal to wear masks undermined the safety of everyone in the hearing room."

- - -

The Washington Post's Robert Costa and Annie Linskey contributed to this report.
More than half a million people have died in the coronavirus pandemic, an AFP tally showed Sunday, as bars in Los Angeles were ordered to close again due to surging cases in the United States.

The worldwide number of recorded infections is now just over 10 million from the virus that first emerged in China late last year, with fears growing of a full-blown second wave. The rate of contagion has doubled since May 21.

One million new infections were recorded in just six days, according to the AFP count based on official sources, even as some countries loosen punishing lockdowns that have devastated their economies and thrown millions out of work.

The United States, the hardest-hit country, has more than 2.5 million cases alone, and efforts to reopen the worlds biggest economy have been set back by a jump in new infections in big states such as Florida and California.

President Donald Trump was under growing pressure to set an example by wearing a face mask as his health secretary warned the window is closing for the country to gain control of the situation.

The disease is also rampaging through Latin America, where Brazil alone has over 1.3 million cases.

Infections are up too in some other parts of the world that have reopened, with Europe registering a caseload of over 2.6 million, although daily rates have stabilised.

 Severe and complicated 

The US state of California was the latest authority to reimpose restrictions, ordering bars in Los Angeles and six other counties  an area with 13.5 million residents  to close because of the rising number of cases.

The hardest-hit parts of the US are in the south and west, where many state leaders had pushed for early economic reopenings.

But Los Angeles, the second-largest US city, only re-opened its bars on June 19.

California had already ordered some areas to reinstate stay-at-home orders, while San Francisco announced a pause in its reopening.

In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis conceded there had been an explosion in new cases as the state notched a record 9,585 cases in 24 hours.

Young people frustrated by months of confinement have poured back to the states beaches, boardwalks and bars, often without masks and seemingly unconcerned about social distancing.

Miami announced beaches would close over the July 4 holiday weekend and bars are also shutting their doors.

New coronavirus cases have been surging in more than half of US states, reaching record highs.

Several other countries have also imposed new restrictions to counter fresh outbreaks.

China imposed a strict lockdown on nearly half a million people in a province surrounding Beijing to contain a fresh cluster.

Beijing official Xu Hejian described the situation as severe and complicated.

And while the British government warned it might have to shut down the city of Leicester because of a spike in cases, it still plans a July 4 reopening of pubs, restaurants and hairdressers across England.

In Paris, police used tear gas to disperse crowds of young people who had gathered for an impromptu party on Saturday evening.

 Very serious situation 

The tension between reopening battered economies  efforts pushed in the US by Trump  and public health concerns is a source of debate in nearly every country.

US deaths now exceed 125,000, about a quarter of the world total.

This is a very, very serious situation and the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on CNN.

The EU has pushed back a decision on a list of safe countries from which travellers can visit Europe  a list which could exclude the US.

With Trump struggling to get his re-election bid off the ground ahead of the November vote, the campaign confirmed that planned events featuring Vice President Mike Pence in Arizona and Florida next week had been postponed out of an abundance of caution.

Infections are also running higher in India, with densely populated cities particularly hard hit.

Although a nationwide lockdown is gradually being eased, the country set a daily record Saturday with 18,500 new cases and 385 deaths. Total infections are at 509,000, with more than 15,600 deaths.

Iran, which has struggled to curb its outbreak even as it gradually lifted restrictions from April, said it would make mask-wearing mandatory in certain areas from next week.

Many global events have had to be curtailed because of the pandemic, with the 50th anniversary of the first Gay Pride march marked mostly online.

SOURCE: AFP
File photo / File photo

WESTPORT  Two black bear sightings were reported Monday in the northern section of town, according to a police news release.

A bear cub was spotted about 1:10 p.m. on Wilton Road and a young male bear was spotted on Coleytown Road about 1:35 p.m., the news release said, but they were not acting in an aggressive manner. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Wildlife Division was notified.
Today

Hot and steamy with sunshine and some clouds; a slight chance of a t-storm towards evening to the west.

Tonight

A drenching t-storm in the evening; otherwise, mostly cloudy and humid.

Tomorrow

Mostly cloudy, much cooler, and turning less humid with a couple of showers and a t-storm.
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ICAEW (the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales) recently convened an expert panel to address the actions leaders in Saudi Arabia must take to guide their businesses through the new normal world beyond the pandemic.



The joint webinar was held last week with leading specialist recruitment group, Robert Walters.



Captains of Saudi industry were asked to give insight into the issues they are prioritizing to help steer their companies through recovery. These include: challenging any long-held assumptions about their businesses that they had before the coronavirus pandemic; plotting scenarios of what the business may need to do next; understanding the critical interdependencies within their supply chains and how they may have been affected by the pandemic; and exploring available financing measures and strategies that could help the business rebuild.



The panellists included Adnan Zakariya, Country Managing Director, Protiviti Saudi Member Firm for Management Consultancy; Ammar Khayyat Chief Financial Officer at SACO; and Asad Zain, Vice President Finance of Olayan Saudi Holding Company. The webinar was led by Omer Zakaria, Manager for Saudi Arabia and the Northern Gulf region of Robert Walters Middle East, and moderated by Vanessa Heywood, Head of Business Development MEASA, ICAEW.



To manage risks during early stages of an economic crisis such as the pandemic, speakers advised that companies must first ensure:



 the health and safety of employees

 that the business can continue to operate

 that profitability can be preserved as much as possible

 that the business can manage its cash flow to stay liquid.



Panellists also agreed that an essential step in managing potential risks in an organisation is to set up a crisis management team that will provide regular reviews of progress being made, while following government guidelines.



Michael Armstrong, FCA and ICAEW Regional Director for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), said: This is, undoubtedly, a worrying time for many organisations in Saudi Arabia. While the Vision 2030 economic diversity agenda should remain a top priority for steering the Kingdoms economic recovery, it is likely COVID-19 may be the primary concern for businesses at this time. However, what the coronavirus has shown is that companies can be innovative, adaptable and resilient.



The accountancy profession has a pivotal role to play in helping businesses navigate their way through the recovery process  by identifying risks, presenting sound financial information, measuring goals and using data. The immediate priority of accounting professionals in Saudi Arabia should be ensuring that sufficient liquidity is kept in the system to help cash flow in the face of an abrupt fall in demand due to coronavirus-related lockdowns or social distancing restrictions.



Omer Zakaria, Manager  Saudi Arabia & Northern Gulf at Robert Walters Middle East, said: COVID-19 represents a turning point in business history  the creation of a new normal. We may never revert to our old ways of working or doing business once the worst of the crisis has passed. Therefore, companies must come up with new ways of operating and utilising their time and recourses more efficiently.



As we rebuild the global economy, we must remember that strong economies are rooted in inclusive, responsible and sustainable behaviours. Companies that plan ahead, think strategically, adapt quickly to changes, and empower and trust in their employees during times of uncertainty, will be best positioned to leverage it for future growth.



Cost optimisation, process reengineering and communication



During the webinar, panellists urged businesses in Saudi Arabia to focus not only on implementing cost-cutting initiatives, but on cost optimisation too. That means assessing areas where operational costs can be re-allocated or avoided altogether.



The speakers agreed that companies in Saudi Arabia must revisit their operational processes and look for new areas of enhancement through automation. For many Saudi companies this would require investment in technology and upgrading their telecommunication infrastructure.



Companies in Saudi Arabia should also remember the crucial need for communication during a crisis, both within the organisation and externally with customers, stakeholders and banks. Speakers agreed that encouraging employees to ask questions, maintaining open lines of communication and implementing best communication practices can help organisations to communicate more effectively and responsibly across all channels  be that via telephone calls, emails or social media.



The webinar was attended by ICAEW members and senior finance representatives from major global and regional organisations.  TradeArabia News Service
Bahrain has announced the extension of its stimulus measures to support private sector jobs and citizens.

Finance and National Economy Minister said Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa today stated that in line with Royal Directives, the government has decided to take additional stimulus measures following consultation with the Legislative Authority and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry, a Bahrain News Agency report said.

Over a three-month period starting from July 2020, the Government will support 50% of salaries for insured citizens employed in the private sector working for companies most affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19), under a scheme administrated by the Ministry of Labour and in cooperation with relevant entities.

For the same three-month period the government will meet citizens domestic electricity costs for primary residences, up to the full cost of the same period the preceding year.

Economic sectors most adversely affected by the repercussions of Covid-19 will be further supported by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) according to the rules and conditions approved by its board of directors.

Shaikh Salman said: We review our necessary and targeted economic interventions on an ongoing basis, always ready to make adjustments or take additional steps, where we anticipate emerging pressures or particular sector requirements.

This additional package of measures announced today will further reduce pressure on householders and families across the kingdom, at the same time as supporting the many jobs of those employed in the private sector, as their employers continue to respond to the unique economic challenges posed by Covid-19.

"Our Covid-19 response objectives remain unchanged  to protect the health and employment of our citizens, and the long-term strength of our economy. Until such time as we can return Bahrain to delivering strong and sustainable economic performance and growth, the government remains committed to early, targeted and effective economic intervention and support, he added.
The next streamed production in The Shows Must Go On series has been revealed.

From 3 July 2020, Michael Flatley's hit Celtic Tiger will be presented for free on YouTube by Universal .

The Irish dance show was first seen in 2005, touring North America, Europe and Asia over the following months. Flatley starred in the piece, as well as producing, choreographing and directing it. Flatley's other productions include Lord of the Dance and Riverdance.

It will be available on The Shows Must Go On YouTube page from Friday 3 July at 7pm BST, and then be presented for a full 48 hours.

While free, it is always worth exploring ways to support the theatre community during the pandemic  you can find out more here.

Click here to see the show live on YouTube from 7pm.
Saudi Arabia's housing and construction sector surged by 8.03 per cent last year following its major projects in line with the Vision 2030 and it witnessed further positive growth in the first three months.

The kingdom's building sector will see faster recovery with the utilisation of drones under the new normal set-up, which continues to require safety measures including social distancing, according to an industry expert.

Contact-less drone technology to help firms kick-start operations by providing effective alternative to guarantee continuity of operations, while ensuring health and public safety, remarked Rabih Bou Rashid, the CEO of Falcon Eye Drones (FEDS)  the Middle Easts leading provider of Drone Technology, Data Technology, and Digital Transformation.

He said that drones are an imperative tool to ensure continuity of building operations in Saudi Arabia, whose construction sector has been thriving for the past years.

The pandemic has presented a considerable challenge to the construction sector in Saudi, which used to require a significant number of labourers. As the Kingdom contains the spread of the disease as a paramount concern, drones can help afford an effective alternative to guarantee the sectors continuity of operations, while ensuring health and public safety, stated Rashid.

In a recent report released by the Kingdoms Ministry of Housing, the sector has surged by 8.03 per cent in 2019 following its major projects in line with the Vision 2030. It has also contributed to the kingdoms GDP boost to 12.6 per cent.

In addition, the report stressed that the first quarter of the year 2020 witnessed positive growth in the construction and housing sector.

The momentum, stated Bou Rashid, can be kick-started with the use of drones.

"In the GCC, more players in the construction industry are utilising drones in getting their projects done while safeguarding the wellbeing of their workers - noting that they regulate activities at a more economical, more precise and speedier pace than the conventional construction process," he added.

Bou Rashid pointed out that drones could help trim down expenses by up to 11.8 per cent in terms of monitoring the development of a construction project.

"This is because drone technology allows them to detect slip-ups on a regular basis," he said.

The ability of drones to steadily monitor a construction status through recurring flights and high-resolution, accurate aerial view maps, he said, can help managers effortlessly mark potential challenges before they become exorbitant problems, and even save employees five hours a week on needless meetings.

"Drones can help avert costly errors as they help developers identify slip-ups prior to and during the construction, which  if left unchecked  can put a dampen on a projects budget later on, he said, noting that this can also decrease manual rework by 25 per cent.
Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. Cooler. High 68F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies with a few passing clouds. Low 48F. N winds shifting to S at 10 to 15 mph.
GEORGETOWN  Come July 1, Temple Bnai Chaim will have a new spiritual leader, cantor and educator in Cantor Harriet Dunkerley.

She succeeds Rabbi Rachel Bearman, who led the congregation for the past six years. Bearman recently took a position as a rabbi at a large synagogue in St. Louis to be closer to her family.

She made invaluable contributions and will be greatly missed, but we are so excited about the new ideas and energies Harriet brings with her, the temple said of Bearmans departure.

I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the TBC family, Dunkerley said in a statement. I look forward to dreaming together and working with our leadership to put those dreams into action, to building relationships and creating new and lasting bonds with all the members of our dynamic and warm community. She added, I look forward to raising our voices together in song, study and prayer both inside and outside of our beautiful sanctuary.

June Mara, president-elect of the temples board of trustees, said Dunkerleys qualifications were only part of what impressed the search committee.

Her warmth, spirit of inclusion, exuberance and spirituality will serve our entire congregation while welcoming congregants back both virtually and, eventually, in person to our building, she said.

A native of Annandale, Va., Dunkerley graduated with honors from Mary Washington College, earning a bachelor of arts in musical theater with a concentration in vocal performance and acting. She holds a masters degree in sacred music from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion and was ordained in May 2019.

As a student, Dunkerley served as cantorial intern for congregations in Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut. Her experience has been furthered by studying Jewish mystical traditions and educational travel to under-served communities in Lithuania, the Republic of Georgia, Azerbaijan and the West Bank.

Dunkerley, her husband John, a musician, and their daughter Rosella, soon to be Bat Mitzvah, are in the process of finding their new home near the temple. She can be reached at: cantorharriet@templebnaichaim.org.

Temple Bnai Chaim is at 82 Portland Avenue in Georgetown, Conn. Information: 203-544-8695 or visit templebnaichaim.org.
WILTON  Students at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Academy recently organized a food drive to benefit the Wilton Food Pantry.

The students are members of Sodality, a Catholic youth group for students in sixth through eighth grades that is largely dedicated to community service projects.

Our Lady of Fatima Youth Ministry Coordinator Mara Fleming explained it was Abby Jones, a Wilton resident and seventh-grade student, who suggested the food drive during a recent Sodality meeting on Zoom.

We talked about specific problems that the pandemic is causing in our community, Fleming said. Abby pointed out that the pandemic has been, understandably, taking everyones attention right now, and that some constant needs  like feeding the hungry in our community  are being overshadowed.

Fleming recalled Abby saying, I dont want us to forget about them.

Click here to sign up for The Bulletins free, electronic newsletter, Online Today.

Part of Abbys inspiration came from the schools previous initiatives to provide meals to local healthcare workers during the pandemic. Since the crisis began, volunteers, including students, staff and parents, have organized several large-scale meal deliveries to Norwalk Hospital and other healthcare workers in the area.

Abby obtained permission from Academy principal Stan Steele and pastor, Father Reggie Norman, to set up collection bins for the food drive, and then tackled all the logistical details, including scheduling, promotion and the delivery.

Abby did it all, Fleming said. She was an excellent leader in this project. When I last left off with Abby, she was writing thank you notes to people who supported the food drive.

Sodalitys projects are entirely youth-led, Fleming said. The club aims to foster a habit of service in its participants, and to really equip them with the skills and confidence they need to take a good deed from idea to successful conclusion.

Sodality is not limited to Our Lady of Fatima. Interested students in sixth through eight grade are welcome to check it out by emailing Fleming at fatimayouthk8@gmail.com with any questions.
Nestle in the Middle East and North Africa has so far supported 100,000 families and 50,000 healthcare professionals. It donated 10 million food and beverage servings, 620,000 litres of water, in addition to supporting the provision of essential medical supplies to governments, health institutions, and local organisations relief efforts.

The initiatives are implemented in collaboration with more than 30 local entities in 17 countries.

Our priorities focus on three main objectives: 1. safeguarding the safety and wellbeing of our employees, our collaborators, business partners and the communities we are a part of; 2. ensuring continued production and delivery of much-needed food and beverage products to help meet the nutritional needs of individuals and families; and 3. stepping up relief efforts to local communities and healthcare professionals, said Dragan Culibrk, Nestle Ad Interim Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer, Middle East and North Africa.

Food and beverage donations are being provided to Algerias Ministry of Trade; various government and other initiatives in Egypt; Jordans Hashemite Charity Organisation; various charitable organisations including the Lebanese Food Bank; the Mohamed V Foundation in Morocco; the Oman Charitable Organisation; various emergency funds in Palestine; collaborative efforts in Saudi Arabia; the governments 1818 fund in Tunisia; the Dubai Health Authority; and the Yemeni Food Bank.

Nestle donations are also supporting hospitals, healthcare professionals and medical initiatives run by governments and other entities in Egypt, the Jordanian Ministry of Health fund, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, providing ventilators to Intensive Care Units, medical and personal protective equipment, including the provision of more than 100,000 face masks.

In line with Nestles global collaboration with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in its pandemic emergency efforts, food or medical support are also being provided to the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent Society, the Tunisia Red Crescent, and the Emirates Red Crescent in the United Arab Emirates. Select activities are being facilitated where needed through the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

In addition to its donations across the region, totaling nearly $3.7 million, the companys various divisions are contributing in their different expertise.

Nestle Health Science for example is working with healthcare professionals to enhance medical nutritions impact on patients in intensive care, with a special focus on those requiring treatment with ventilators.

Nestle Professional also continues to offer pragmatic support to its business partners in the hospitality industry, as they reopen to welcome back their customers. This is being done through its "Always open for You" initiative which is allocating $2.1 million to benefit more than 5,000 foodservice outlets in the Mena region. Support includes payment term extensions, coffee machines rental fees suspensions, provision of free products including 2.5 million Nescafe cups, trainings, marketing and other services.

In addition, Nestle is fully meeting its commitments to key suppliers, with the example of the company buying agreed volumes from dairy farmers in Morocco to help sustain their livelihoods and mitigate current significant demand disruptions for their highly perishable fresh milk produce.

We care deeply for people and for the communities in which we operate, and always strive to remain true to our purpose of Enhancing Quality of Life and Contributing to a Healthier Future, concluded Culibrk. Food and beverages help keep people healthy and enhance their quality of life, and we want to meet our responsibility to provide good nutrition, especially for the most vulnerable in society. -- Tradearabia News Service


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Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 91F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers later at night. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Close to 260,000 jobs will become available in Saudi Arabia's tourism sector during the next three years as the kingdom is working on opening 38 tourist sites in seven tourist destinations by 2022, said a report citing Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Bin Aqeel Al Khateeb.

The disclosure was made during a remote meeting held with Saudi media leaders on the "Zoom" platform, which witnessed the launch of the "Saudi Summer" season, said a report in Saudi Gazette

The Tourism Authority will work in coordination with the relevant authorities, to measure, develop and improve the tourist experience.

He said: "Tourism constitutes 10 per cent of the average total income of the world's economies. This sector constitutes 18 per cent of Spains income, for example, 16 per cent of Frances income, while it contributes 3.5 per cent of the income in the Kingdoms economy. We look forward to raising the sector's contribution to 10 per cent by 2030."

The minister reviewed, in the virtual meeting, the number of employees currently working in jobs related to tourism, who number approximately 600,000, noting that "the ministry seeks to provide 260,000 job opportunities during the next three years. It also aims to provide one million job opportunities by 2030, to bring the total by then to about 1.6 million job opportunities", the report said.

The Kingdom aims through the tourism sector strategy to reach 100 million annual visits, from within the kingdom and abroad, by 2030 compared to 41 million visits at present, it said.
If our relationships with friends and family werent complicated enough, COVID-19 has thrown a wrench into the works. As the pandemic presses on while restrictions begin to loosen, differences of opinion on physical distancing can put close bonds at risk.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/6/2020 (356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

If our relationships with friends and family werent complicated enough, COVID-19 has thrown a wrench into the works. As the pandemic presses on while restrictions begin to loosen, differences of opinion on physical distancing can put close bonds at risk.

Even with guidance from public health officials, people are having to make decisions about how comfortable they are rejoining a socially-distanced world while simultaneously navigating how that world should look  something theyve never done before.

Whatever side youre on, it can be difficult to hear a friend criticize your life choices in an already stressful time. Lets face it, people become defensive.

In recent weeks, many of us have questioned our friends morals or found relationships strained because theyre taking physical distancing less seriously than we are. And because of the high stakes, rifts created now may not be so easily mended.

With our lives turned upside down for the foreseeable future, its hardly a surprise some of us arent seeing things the same way. Because so many questions about the virus persist, many of us are trying to figure out how to socialize.

We all have different personalities, varying tolerances for risk and unique situations that alter our chances of spreading or contracting the virus. So how can we respect our contrasting stances on socializing safely without causing a rift?

"Respecting different points of view on social distancing is no different than respecting differences with other topics," says Dr. Rehman Abdulrehman, a clinical and consulting psychologist who specializes in working with anxiety-related disorders and stress.

Respecting different points of view on social distancing is no different than respecting differences with other topics." Dr. Rehman Abdulrehman

In most situations, we exist on a scale of avoiding or taking risks. How we assess risk varies based on information we get from friends and family, the news and events in our lives, and on our personal circumstances and experiences.

All these risk factors influence the degree to which people have been following COVID-19 safety measures  some wear masks, others dont. Some people avoid public places, others dont. As restrictions loosen, this disparity may widen even further.

Abdulrehman says the responses people have had to social distancing have varied because the information weve received has been inconsistent. But thats not entirely surprising  were in a completely new reality.

"We are continuously learning about it," Abdulrehman says. "Weve watched the news and different regions have responded differently. For many, this uncertainty makes them more anxious."

Typically, we seek friends who have similar values and beliefs to our own and in times of crisis, we turn to those friends for support. But if one of those friends feels differently about something critical, it can hit a nerve.

Tensions can arise with your own family and friends who may not be adhering to physical distancing to the same extent you are. These can be uncomfortable conversations to have but its important to communicate your boundaries clearly. Understanding or trying to empathize with friends who have a different approach to physical distancing is an important first step. Its also easier said than done.

Unlike most other disagreements, a friends behaviours may pose a risk to your health and that of others.

These disagreements can be an opportunity for growth in a relationship if we try to understand each others mindset.

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS I think its important to state reasons why we are not feeling comfortable going, says Abdulrehman.

"Although disagreements happen between important people in your life, a respectful conversation back and forth about your perspectives is usually helpful in helping each of you see the others perspective," says Abdulrehman.

This means before stating your point of view, summarize your understanding of their position. Once youve discussed your position, allow the other person to clarify what they mean or think. Abdulrehman says serious disagreements beyond this may reflect larger issues in the relationship.

A recent Angus Reid Institute poll conducted online June 8-10 suggests a significant number of Canadians are now less stringent about following certain behaviours aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. It found those between the ages of 18 and 34 were least likely to follow recommended social distancing measures. And while 70 per cent of those surveyed said they still rigorously wash their hands, only 36 per cent were keeping away from public spaces.

It also noted that concerns about community transmission and the infection of friends or family members remain well above majority level, with 69 per cent of Canadians still worried someone close to them may become sick.

Manitobas Phase 3 reopening plan began on June 21 and includes allowing public gatherings of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors  as long as people can stay two metres apart.

If friends are planning a party but youre not ready to see others in person, be clear and upfront with them about how you feel. Theres nothing wrong with letting someone know you wont be attending their gathering or youll only be comfortable seeing them if they let you know who else theyve been around or where theyve been in the last two weeks.

I think its important to state reasons why we are not feeling comfortable going," says Abdulrehman. "Staying silent on the matter may leave people to make assumptions, including negative ones, about why we are not going."

Staying silent on the matter may leave people to make assumptions, including negative ones, about why we are not going. Dr. Rehman Abdulrehman

If you do decide to go to the party, its important to monitor whats happening there. For instance, if you were expecting a handful of people but end up in a room of 50 where you cant safely distance, its acceptable to say you dont feel comfortable and leave.

Remember: you cant control another persons behaviour and we cant make other people do what we want. You can share your experiences and be understanding, but ultimately it may not change how your friends or family choose to physically distance.

"Remember that we love people not because they are the exact same as us, but because they care about us and they can sometimes provide us different perspectives about life and ourselves," Abdulrehman explains.

Getting back to more relaxed interactions, in accordance with public health guidelines, will take time and people will continue to have a range of reactions.

Disagreements can be challenging when it comes to opinions about the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.

"Though respecting different perspectives is important, this can be particularly difficult when opinions about social distancing impact people in care, be it children or the elderly," he says. "In this situation, it will be very important to ensure concerns of the party seeking greater distancing be heard."

Abdulrehman also stresses the importance of not pulling away from relationships in which youve had a disagreement over physical distancing, especially if the last conversation you had could be perceived as judgmental.

"If you continue to engage with loved ones in any way you feel comfortable, like phone calls and video chats, the message that you still care remains apparent," he says.

This pandemic is new territory for all of us and there are no simple solutions. But if we come from a place of thinking everyone is doing their best, we can have more positive conversations and our relationships will remain close even though we cant be.

sabrinacarnevale@gmail.com

Twitter: @SabrinaCsays
As southwestern Manitobans clean up after a string of severe thunderstorms Sunday night, an Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist said residents should brace themselves for more ahead because the overall pattern in the sky lingers into the week.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/6/2020 (356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As southwestern Manitobans clean up after a string of severe thunderstorms Sunday night, an Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist said residents should brace themselves for more ahead because the overall pattern in the sky lingers into the week.

"The big picture yesterday was a low pressure system sitting in North Dakota and a frontal structure extending from that to southwestern Manitoba were the lifting mechanisms or the triggers for these storms," said warning preparedness meteorologist Natalie Hasell.

ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE CANADA The trough caused by a front extending out from a low pressure system in North Dakota created a string of severe thunderstorms in southwestern Manitoba Sunday night. Residents should brace themselves for a repeat event tonight. (Submitted)

The system is very slow moving, which meant storms stuck around a long time or lines of storms travelled over the same areas. Torrential rainfall and hail were reported. One tornado hit three miles southeast of Rapid City.

There is great potential for more of the same into the week, beginning again late Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning, with showers Tuesday and Wednesday. The greater risk is in southwestern Manitoba.

"Not huge amounts of precipitation (Tuesday and Wednesday), but considering how much youve already gotten, this will be a problem," said Hasell.

Downtown Brandon gets pelted with rain around 5 p.m. Sunday. As of Sunday evening, at 5:52 p.m, meteorologists from Environment Canada warned about a line of thunderstorms that stretched from south of Elgin to just north of Dauphin Lake, traveling northeast at 25 kilometres an hour. (Kyle Darbyson/The Brandon Sun)

"If you are in an area that did not get significant precipitation, check your sump pump. Take that opportunity now to make sure that there isnt anything wrong with the failsafes that you have in place. Check your roof, check your shingles."

She said there isnt much people in the areas who have already seen a lot rainfall can do at this point for tonights possible onslaught.

Hasell strongly suggests going to Environment Canada's warm season weather hazards page to plan and prepare.

"Were nowhere near out of it," she said.

People should remember its only late June.

"All of July is active usually. A lot of August is active. Even into September and sometimes October. Being prepared now will put you in good stead for the rest of the sseason," Hasell said.

A broken tree lies in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery following Sunday's storm. On Monday morning several broken branches were visible scattered throughout the cemetery. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

Much of Southern Manitoba is also under a heat warning.

Hasell said more than 100,000 cloud-to-ground lightening strikes occurred in the area Sunday. Across Manitoba there were approximately 300,000 such strikes.

"That is more than Manitoba usually gets in one year," she said.

In terms of precipitation, the areas with the greatest rainfall were just to the west and northwest of Brandon, and not far from Dauphin. Environment Canada registered 156 mm at Oak River, 155 mm at Brandon airport, 153 mm at Minnedosa, 151 mm at Forrest, 135 mm at Rivers 120 mm at Alonsa and 115 mm at Newdale.

Those numbers are from actual measuring sites and Hasell said its possible some places without sites received more rain, while places just outside any one of the storms could have seen as little as 20 mm. Each storm along the line or trough was small and focused.

"They might be small but theyre really pretty powerful and frightening," Hasell said.

"We dont have a count for how many storms, but we know the line more or less."

Environment and Climate Change Canada accepts reports and photos from people who have experienced severe weather events.

"We are still looking for more information," Hasell said.

Those with information or photos can call 1-800-239-0484 or email mbstorm@canada.ca

The department monitors the hashtag #mbstorm on Twitter.

 mletourneau@brandonsun.com

 Michele LeTourneau covers indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism.
OTTAWA - Canada's chief public health officer says the country appears to have largely gotten a handle on the spread of COVID-19, limiting transmission after weeks of restrictions that are being slowly eased  raising the possibility of numbers going back up.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 29/6/2020 (356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - Canada's chief public health officer says the country appears to have largely gotten a handle on the spread of COVID-19, limiting transmission after weeks of restrictions that are being slowly eased  raising the possibility of numbers going back up.

Dr. Theresa Tam said efforts since mid-March to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus seem to place the country far enough down from the peak of the first wave of the outbreak.

The figures released Monday by the Public Health Agency of Canada showed Quebec and Ontario still remain the most heavily affected regions of the country.

Tam said multiple distinct peaks in the curve for Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick should also serve as reminders that a resurgence of COVID-19 can happen in any place at any time, even in areas with low levels of community transmission.

She said that as restrictions lift, it will be even more important for Canadians to maintain physical distancing and good handwashing practices to keep case counts down, help with contact tracing and not overburden the health-care system.

"As restrictive public health measures are being lifted to minimize the unintended health, social and economic consequences (of the pandemic), we expect to see some resurgence of cases," she said during a midday briefing on Parliament Hill.

"The key is to keep the number of cases small through ongoing core public health practices. We must be able to rapidly detect and isolate cases and quarantine their contacts in order to keep any resurgence small and manageable."

The most recent figures provided by the federal public health agency put the country's total number of reported cases of COVID-19 at almost 103,250, including 8,522 deaths. Tam said 64 per cent have recovered and of the more tens of thousands being tested daily, only one per cent are testing positive.

Over the last eight weeks, each new case of COVID-19 has on average infected less than one person, a key metric that public health officials watch to determine whether the pandemic is being kept under control.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks at a reporter as he listens to a question during a news conference outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Monday, June 29, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

At this point, transmission of the novel coronavirus and the disease it creates  COVID-19  are under control in most jurisdictions across the country, Tam said Monday.

Any fluctuations in that figure are now the result of smaller, localized outbreaks in a handful of hotspots, including Toronto, Montreal and around the border town of Windsor, Ont. where many migrant workers have contracted the disease.

Updated modelling figures released Monday by the federal public health agency now estimate there will be between 104,000 and 108,000 cases countrywide by July 12, and between 8,545 and 8,865 deaths by the same date.

Long-term care and assisted-living homes account for roughly one-fifth of all cases, and four-fifths of all deaths.

About eight per cent of COVID-19 cases have resulted in death; just over three per cent need intensive care.

Over the last few weeks, there has been a steep decline in cases among people over age 80, which has meant that people under the age of 40 account for a greater proportion of cases nationally.

A new explosion in cases could mean a return to tight restrictions that Canadians have lived with through the spring to get COVID-19 under control, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said before the updated figures were released.

Speaking outside his Ottawa residence, Trudeau said rising COVID-19 numbers in the United States demonstrate the need for continued vigilance north of the border, including keeping physical distance from each other wherever possible.

"It is going to be really, really important that everyone remains attentive and vigilant to their own behaviours so that we can prevent a second wave from arriving as we've seen in many places," Trudeau said.

Trudeau and public health officials plan to scale back the pace of their news conferences over the summer. The almost daily occurrence will now drop to twice a week for Tam and her deputy, Dr. Howard Njoo; Trudeau said federal officials might hold unscheduled updates if there is information to share.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2020.
It isnt great, but it could be a lot worse in Winnipeg.

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This article was published 29/6/2020 (356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It isnt great, but it could be a lot worse in Winnipeg.

Thats a key takeaway from CBREs second-quarter report on the industrial and office real estate sector, which gives insights into how national and domestic markets were influenced by the turbulence of COVID-19. The quarter was the first to occur during the time of pandemic, and all things considered, Winnipeg appears to be in good shape.

"In comparison with other major markets, we have one of the most stable ones there is," said Ken Zacharias, a senior sales representative with CBRE with a focus on the citys industrial market.

As expected, both the industrial and office sectors had a tough quarter: office vacancy rates increased to 10.2 per cent from 8.9 per cent, and the industrial sector saw a four per cent availability rate and 156,829 square-feet of negative absorption.

While those figures arent exactly cause for celebration, they arent cause for significant panic either: each figure puts the city square in the middle of the pack amongst major cities data.

Though the national average for office vacancy is 10.8 per cent, cities like Halifax (15.2), London (15.7), Edmonton (19.8), and Calgary (24.5) far outpace it. Over the last three fiscal years, Winnipegs vacancy rate has generally hovered around its current level. Its much the same on the industrial side, with Halifax (6.5 per cent), Edmonton (8.7) and Calgary (9.7) with much higher availability than Winnipegs average of 3.5 per cent.

At a time like this, being average is a good thing, especially with more uncertainty ahead, Zacharias said.

He said while this quarters negative absorption  a measure that means more space was vacated or put on the market than was leased, indicating a decrease in demand  was extremely high, he suspects it will begin to creep in a positive direction during the third quarter.

Zacharias said though its not possible to predict the future, the industrial sector in Winnipeg and beyond is poised to benefit from the current market conditions. A reason for that is the burgeoning of e-commerce operations, which requires investment in domestic distribution space, as well as a renewed interest in bringing manufacturing on shore.

Much of that development will happen outside the city, in rural municipalities like Rosser and Macdonald, where theres an abundance of space and higher quality facilities available.

But CBRE pointed to the establishment of a 250,000-sq.-ft. package-sorting facility in the St. Boniface Industrial Park as an example of the development the city and surrounding areas could see in the near future. The facility is well into construction, and Zacharias said hes heard it could be ready to run by the end of the year.

"Industrial real estate is a bright light in a challenging period and businesses in this sector are grateful to have new supply to support the surge in e-commerce logistics activity," said Jason Kiselbach, Managing Director, CBRE Vancouver in a release. "We expect demand to grow in most markets and industrial properties to come out ahead in the wake of COVID-19."

Zacharias isnt a specialist in offices, but he said even the gurus of commercial real estate cant quite predict where office realty will end up. There are many elements up in the air, including the persistence of work from home strategies, companies hitting pause on lease agreements, and the spatial needs of employers.

Compared to the first quarter, office vacancy in Winnipeg did increase, and it came to a bit of a freezing point. But as reopening continues, and the third quarter gets underway, the industry will see whether the ice begins to thaw.

ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca
LONDON - The Rolling Stones are threatening President Donald Trump with legal action for using their songs at his rallies despite cease-and-desist directives.

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FILE - In this March 24, 2016 file photo, members of The Rolling Stones, from left, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Ron Wood pose for photos from their plane at Jose Marti international airport in Havana, Cuba. The Rolling Stones are threatening U.S. President Donald Trump with legal action for using their songs at his reelection campaign rallies despite cease-and-desist directives, according to a statement issued by the band Sunday June 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa File)

LONDON - The Rolling Stones are threatening President Donald Trump with legal action for using their songs at his rallies despite cease-and-desist directives.

The Stones said in a statement Sunday that their legal team is working with music rights organization BMI to stop use of their material in Trump's reelection campaign.

The BMI have notified the Trump campaign on behalf of the Stones that the unauthorized use of their songs will constitute a breach of its licensing agreement, the Stones said. If Donald Trump disregards the exclusion and persists, then he would face a lawsuit for breaking the embargo and playing music that has not been licensed.

The Trump campaign team didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The Stones had complained during Trump's 2016 campaign about the use of their music to fire up his conservative base at rallies.

The Rolling Stones 1969 classic You Cant Always Get What You Want was a popular song for his events. It was played again at the close of Trump's recent rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma  an indoor event criticized for its potential to spread the coronavirus.

The music rights organization BMI provides licenses for venues to play a broad array of music and has a catalogue of more than 15 million songs that can be played at political events. Artists can opt out of having their music played at political events, and a BMI statement says the Stones have done that.

BMI has informed the Trump campaign that if it plays Stones music again at an event, it will be in breach of its licensing agreement, the statement said.

Other artists have also complained about having their music associated with Trump's events.

The family of the late rock musician Tom Petty said that it had issued a cease-and-desist order after Trump used the song I Won't Back Down'' in Tulsa.

Trump was in no way authorized to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind,'' the statement said. Both the late Tom Petty and his family firmly stand against racism and discrimination of any kind. Tom Petty would never want a song of his to be used in a campaign of hate. He liked to bring people together.''

Grammy Award-winning musician Neil Young lashed out at Trump in 2018 after hearing one of his songs played against his wishes during Trump's pre-midterm campaign rallies. The Canadian-born musician admonished Trump for using his 1990 single, Rockin in the Free World, in spite of earlier warnings.
GATINEAU, Que. - The Tim Hortons mobile ordering app is being investigated by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and provincial agencies in Quebec, B.C. and Alberta.

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A Tim Hortons employee hands out coffee from a drive-through window to a customer in Mississauga, Ont., on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Tim Hortons mobile ordering app is being investigating by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and provincial agencies in Quebec, B.C. and Alberta.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

GATINEAU, Que. - The Tim Hortons mobile ordering app is being investigated by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and provincial agencies in Quebec, B.C. and Alberta.

The joint investigation was prompted by concerns raised in media reports about how the app may be collecting and using data about peoples movements as they go about their daily activities.

It will examine whether the fast food restaurant chain owned by Restaurant Brands International Inc. is in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, Canadas federal private sector privacy law.

The privacy agencies will look at whether the organization is obtaining meaningful consent from app users to collect and use their location data, information that can reveal habits and activities of individuals, including places they regularly frequent.

The federal Privacy Commissioner's office says it considers this to be an issue of great importance to Canadians given the very sensitive privacy issues it raises.

Tim Hortons said it is confident about resolving the matter and will fully co-operate with privacy regulatory authorities.

"Since Tim Hortons launched our mobile app, our guests always had the choice of whether they share location data with us, including 'always' sharing location data  an option offered by many companies on their own apps," it wrote in an email.

The chain said it recently updated the app to limit collection of location data to only while guests have it open, even if the customers has selected 'always' in their device settings.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2020.

Companies in this story: (TSX:QSR).
With trucks whizzing behind him where the Perimeter Highway meets St. Marys Road, provincial Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced Monday morning the province will soon construct a new interchange at the intersection.

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With trucks whizzing behind him where the Perimeter Highway meets St. Marys Road, provincial Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced Monday morning the province will soon construct a new interchange at the intersection.

Schuler said the thoroughfare is not only one of Manitobas most essential from a trade standpoint, but its also one of its busiest, with an average of 30,000 vehicles passing through each day, and as many as 52,000 at its peak.

Over the thrum of the 10 a.m. traffic, Schuler said the road had become a major concern from a safety perspective, and he hoped the new interchange  set to begin construction in 2021 and to be finished by 2023  would make it safer.

The intersection at St. Marys is currently an at-grade intersection with traffic signals, but even so, Schuler said there are frequent collisions and constant congestion.

The province is expecting a safety review and functional study to be complete by the fall, but Schuler said the government was going ahead of schedule with the interchange project, in part in an effort to "get Manitobans back to work."

The province already had plans to build the interchange before the novel coronavirus pandemic, but its funding will now be drawn from the $500-million Manitoba Restart program. Schuler said the project would be listed on MERX  a government contract site  Tuesday, but didnt say what its cost would be.

Within the $500 million, approximately $65 million is earmarked for highway projects such as the interchange. A design-build process will be used, the minister said.

Schuler pointed to the corner of St. Marys and the Perimeter Highway, telling reporters the intersection was a particularly dangerous spot.

He also said the prevalence of mud roads and non-signalized crossing points was an "unmitigated disaster," and the province eventually wanted to remove all those points to build the South Perimeter Highway to the same standards as a freeway.

While safety was a key concern, Schuler reiterated the perimeter highways role as a trade route, specifically in relation to the U.S. He said a goal of the new interchange will be to make the route more efficient and reliable for both domestic and international trade.

"As part of the Trans-Canada Highway, the South Perimeter Highway is one of Manitobas most important trade corridors and plays a strategic role as it also connects with PTH 75, our major route to the United States," Schuler said earlier in a news release.

"A new interchange will improve reliability and efficiency of Canadas international and inter-provincial trade flows and support the growth of our economy."

ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca
For the first time, the Royal Canadian Mint is producing a wearable medal  and it is to honour the essential workers and everyday heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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For the first time, the Royal Canadian Mint is producing a wearable medal  and it is to honour the essential workers and everyday heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 Recognition Medal, just smaller than a quarter, features on one side a heart and maple leaf icon, representing "the collective spirit of Canadians" while on the flip side are three people coming together to embrace with a maple leaf behind them and a heart in the centre. The text on it says Thank You and Merci while the micro-mirrors which make up the maple leaf produce a pulsating light effect to represent "Canadas strong heartbeat".

Because the medal is made with steel on the inside with nickel-plating over it, and comes with a magnet, it can be worn.

The mint has produced 150,000 medals, which are being released today and selling for $9.95. They can be purchased online at at www.mint.ca, by phone at 1-800-267-1871, Canada Post locations, and branches of TD Canada Trust and the CIBC.

Mint officials say it is able to donate about half of the selling price to Breakfast Club of Canadas emergency funding in support of children and families suffering food insecurity during the pandemic.

Thats because not only did the mint use repurposed materials for the medal, but its employees donated their time, skills and expertise to produce and package it.

Andrew Ellsworth, who oversees a team of 15 people in the mints metal plating facility here in Winnipeg, said not only did he volunteer to pack and put together the packaging that goes with the medal, his wife Jennifer, and children Madelaine, 13, and Nathan, 15, also joined in.

"Ive been working at the mint for 22 years and Ive never seen something like this," Ellsworth said.

"It even gave the kids something to do to help."

Madelaine said she was glad to help with the effort because the people the medal is honouring "are helping out and doing it for a good cause" while Nathan said "it was a fun experience and worthwhile and was for a very food cause."

Ellsworth said his wife was also honoured to help because, in her job, she sees front line workers in health care.

Marie Lemay, president and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint, said more than 250 mint employees were involved volunteering their time in both Winnipeg and Ottawa.

"It was just amazing," Lemay said. "We have a pretty passionate group of people."

Lemay said 150,000 have been produced but, depending on how popular they are, they could produce more.

"This is just a beautiful piece," she said. "The creation, the design, the tooling - everyone just put such passion into it.

"Theres no reason for anyone not to buy it."

And Lemay said the medals will also be available for purchase at the Winnipeg Mints boutique when it reopens on July 6.

In a statement, Breakfast Club president and founder Daniel Germain said "we have been responsive to the needs of hundreds of thousands of children for the past 25 years and we are proud to have upheld this tradition during these challenging times.

So far the organizations emergency fund has paid out more than $8 million to 900 schools and community organizations across the country to help distribute food or give grocery store gift cards to people.

"But our work is far from done," Germain said. "It is an honour for us to be considered by the Royal Canadian Mint as a quiet force supporting children and families across the country."

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Hes Canadas most decorated Indigenous veteran, and if a group of federal Conservative members of parliament get their way, Sgt. Tommy Prince will be the new face of the $5 bill.

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Hes Canadas most decorated Indigenous veteran, and if a group of federal Conservative members of parliament get their way, Sgt. Tommy Prince will be the new face of the $5 bill.

MPs Marty Morantz (Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley) and James Bezan (Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman) are two of seven Tory MPs in Manitoba who have started a petition and sent a letter to both Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada, urging them to replace former Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier with Prince on the bill. They are also joined by Manitoba Tory Senator Donald Plett, and Eric Melillo, Tory MP for Kenora.

"He deserves it and he should be on the bill," Morantz said on Sunday.

"Anyone might have different reasons and positions for who should be on the bill, but for me this is such a nice message for reconciliation and in line with the goals of the Truth and Reconciliation report."

Bezan said Prince "made some huge contributions in the service while in uniform.

"But it also is racism and discrimination. He never had the same veteran benefits others had. He was homeless and penniless when he died.

"Here is a way of righting those wrongs."

Sgt. Tommy Princes many honours include the American Silver Star and the Military Medal bestowed by King George VI. (Ken Gigliotti / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Prince, who was born in 1915 and died in 1977, was born in Petersfield and grew up at the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation. He was the great-great-grandson of Chief Peguis.

He volunteered for the Second World War and was trained as a sapper  a soldier who builds roads and bridges and lays and clears landmines  by the Royal Canadian Engineers and later volunteered to be part of the 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion, known as the Devils Brigade.

One of Princes better known acts of bravery came while he was behind enemy lines in Italy reporting on the enemys location. At one point, his communication line was cut, so, dressed as a farmer, he went out and repaired the line while pretending to tie his shoes. He even shook his fist at both German and Allied lines before going back to his post.

King George VI gave him his Military Medal while, on behalf of the American president, he received a Silver Star, one of only 59 Canadians to get that honour, and one of only three who received both medals. He also earned six service medals.

Later, while serving with 2nd Battalion Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry in Korea, he fought in the Battle of Kapyong and was part of the first Canadian unit awarded the United States Presidential Unit citation. He also received both the Canadian and United Nations Korea Medal and, after his death, he received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea when it was created in 1991.

A school is named after him in Brokenhead, as is a barracks at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa and Winnipeg honoured him with Sgt. Tommy Prince Street while Petersfield has Tom Prince Drive.

After the wars, Prince found it hard to adjust to civilian life and turned to alcohol. He was also forced to sell his medals, but, years later his nephew organized a pledge drive and they were purchased at an auction and are now at the Manitoba Museum.

Bezan said having Prince replace Laurier would also be fitting because, while he was prime minister, Laurier forced the legal surrender of St. Peters Reserve, and forcibly marched the Indigenous residents to what is now Peguis First Nation. He said St. Peters is also the mother reserve of Brokenhead.

"Putting Sgt. Tommy Prince on Canadas $5 bill in place of Sir Wilfred Laurier would be deserved retribution," he said.

Bezan said he is confident theres a good chance that Princes face will end up on the bill.

"Ive got my $5 on Tommy Prince," he said.

To support the petition, go to http://wfp.to/tommyprince

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi praised on Monday the sacrifices and efforts of medical teams in the country exerted during the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

The Egyptian people have the right to be proud of the sacrifices of their doctors and medical teams during the coronavirus pandemic, El-Sisi said.

According to the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, not less than 98 doctors passed away since the outbreak of the pandemic in mid-February.

El-Sisi's statement came a few days after Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly criticised a number of doctors, saying their absence from their posts at hospitals is the reason behind the recent surge in the number of coronavirus fatalities.

Madbouly's quotes prompted the anger of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate that said the prime minister ignored the real reasons behind the surge.

Since the start of the pandemic, Egyptian doctors have presented the greatest examples of sacrifice at work, under huge pressure from these difficult circumstances, a lack of PPE in some hospitals, and the continuous attacks on medical teams, while everybody stood idly by, read the syndicate's statement.

The syndicate said the premiers comments would incite additional anger directed at doctors and would increase attacks by patients and their families on medical staffs.

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Air France KLM group has announced that it will resume flights to and from the UAE from July 1.

With the progressive lifting of the global travel restrictions, Air France and KLM are gradually and carefully, restoring their network. Air France and KLM will resume services to Dubai, with 10 weekly flights, effective July 1.

KLM will offer daily flights to and from Dubai. Flights will be operated with a Boeing 777-200.

Air France will offer three weekly flights from Paris on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday with a return from Dubai on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; flights will be operated with an Airbus A350-900.

Our passengers comfort, well-being and health remain our highest priority. All of our flights are operated with additional sanitary measures to ensure our passengers safety. We profoundly thank our customers for their patience and the authorities involved in the UAE; in France and in the Netherlands for their continuous support, said Yeshwant Pawar, General Manager, Air France KLM, Gulf, Iran and Pakistan.

Prior to travelling, the Air France KLM group urges customers to ensure that they have met all requirements to enter the country of destination including the requirements for any transit point as these requirements are subject to change as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. - TradeArabia News Service
Manitobas economy is only starting to emerge from the COVID-19 lockdown, yet a poll shows 60 per cent of Winnipeggers remain somewhat or very optimistic about the citys economic future.

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Manitobas economy is only starting to emerge from the COVID-19 lockdown, yet a poll shows 60 per cent of Winnipeggers remain somewhat or very optimistic about the citys economic future.

Economic Development Winnipeg (EDW) surveyed 600 Winnipeggers during the first week of June, just after the second phase of reopening took effect. The poll was conducted by Probe Research.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Dayna Spiring, the chief executive officer of EDW, said the optimism people are still expressing is something the community can leverage when it comes to marketing the city.

The same poll question in September 2019, before there was any sign of the coming pandemic, showed 68 per cent of Winnipeggers were optimistic. While the numbers might be surprising, the poll also shows the number of people very pessimistic has almost doubled, from six per cent in September to 11 per cent in June.

Dayna Spiring, the chief executive officer of EDW, said the optimism people are still expressing is something the community can leverage when it comes to marketing the city.

'We need to make sure we do everything we can during the pandemic to support the recovery'  Dayna Spiring, CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg

"We have an opportunity in front of us," she said. "Manitoba has done a phenomenal job planking the curve and now we are rewarded for that effort by being able to get out and support our economy in many cases faster than the rest of the country. We have earned it. Now, how do we capitalize on that?"

Not surprisingly the results of the survey on economic perspectives were generally less positive compared to the September 2019 responses, but the gap was not as wide as it could have been.

Only 29 per cent said they and their families are worse off now than they were a year ago, 23 per cent think they will be better off a year from now compared to 27 per cent who thought so in September and 85 per cent said they were satisfied with their jobs compared to 81 per cent who felt that way last fall.

Since the survey was taken in early June in the midst of the second phase of the provincial recovery, the employment situation of many respondents was still up in the air.

Sixty-six per cent said they were employed either full or part-time compared to 76 per cent last year and 34 per cent said they were unemployed or retired, compared to 24 per cent who were in that situation last year.

Scott MacKay, the CEO of Probe, said his firm is used to seeing only marginal movement in the responses from Manitobans about their perception of the economy from quarter to quarter, having done similar surveys for different clients over the years.

"The movement here is interesting," he said. "What is a bit surprising is that the numbers arent worse. Optimism about the city and the economy in general is about 60 per cent. That is a nice, big, respectable number given the situation we are in right now."

But having said that, the number of people who are very pessimistic is much higher.

"That is a warning sign for us," Spiring said. "We need to make sure we do everything we can during the pandemic to support the recovery and to support our businesses to get us to the next stage. But it does not surprise me. We are in the middle of something that is totally without precedence and totally unknown."

But Spiring is keen to leverage the advantage Manitoba has over other provinces with its low rate of infection allowing Phase 3 of the reopening of the economy to take place.

"We are singing those praises everywhere," she said. "On the tourism side  which is a very significant driver of the economy  we are able to get people out to restaurants and bars and to our attractions."

She believes the positive response the province has shown in the pandemic can become an attractive message to potential investors.

"I think we have missed some opportunities to talk about how well Manitoba has done in planking the curve," she said.

She said many of the citys largest employers have been able to continue operating uninterrupted and have done so with creativity and entrepreneurial spirit and with no infections among their workforces.

"When we go out now talking to companies who are considering where to re-locate or where they want to expand their business well ask them: do you want to expand in downtown Toronto or do you want to expand in Winnipeg?  There is an advantage here."

Probe Research surveyed a random sampling of 600 adults residing in Winnipeg between June 2 and June 11, 2020 and can say with 95 per cent certainty that the results are within four percentage points plus or minus what they would have been if the entire adult population of Winnipeg had been surveyed.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
Canadas military recently reported the living conditions in some of the countrys long-term care homes appeared to be nothing short of horrid and inhumane. As many as 82 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths in Canada have been connected to long-term care facilities.

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Opinion

Canadas military recently reported the living conditions in some of the countrys long-term care homes "appeared to be nothing short of horrid and inhumane." As many as 82 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths in Canada have been connected to long-term care facilities.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was angry, sad and frustrated. Ontario Premier Doug Ford called it "gut-wrenching." Canadians, and the families of elderly residents, were stunned and justifiably outraged.

But those familiar with the long-term care sector were shocked but not surprised. We have been "sleepwalking for decades" in not addressing problems, observed Gregory Marchildon, former executive director for the Romanow Commission on the Future of Health Care.

Without clear ethical standards for long-term care, this wont be the last tragedy or crisis.

Exposed indifference

There are immediate problems to address. Our leaders rush to fix them should not obscure the deeper problem of the ineffective public accountability that allowed this to happen. Sadly, it took a pandemic and a military deployment to expose the political indifference to the suffering of so many elderly people.

Political accountability in health care is not a new problem. In the 2002 Royal Commission Report, Building on Values: The Future of Health Care in Canada, former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow recommended that the Canada Health Act be amended to include a sixth principle of "accountability." He said: "Canadians are often left out in the cold, expected to blindly accept assertion as fact and told to simply trust governments and providers to do the job."

Once again, during COVID-19, provincial premiers are saying to the federal government, "Just send us the money and leave the rest to us." This approach is part of the problem.

Failing to include long-term care in the Canada Health Act was medicares original sin. Even in 1984, when the act was being negotiated, the Canadian Medical Association warned that standards in long-term care were inadequate.

According to a recent Toronto Star poll, 86 per cent of Canadians support bringing long-term care under the Canada Health Act to improve standards of care.

Long-term care is health care

Romanow repeatedly made the point that health care is a "moral enterprise, not a business venture." Long-term care is health care. Canada needs a clear values benchmark by which to judge a governments performance and evaluate proposed reforms for delivery of care.

During the Romanow hearings, I worked with the Ecumenical Health Network (EHCN) of the Canadian Council of Churches. We organized dozens of community meetings across Canada. Churches had done this in the 1960s to support the introduction of medicare.

There was passionate enthusiasm for strengthening universal public health care. After hundreds of conversations, roundtables and discussions, the EHCN recommended A Health Care Covenant for All People in Canada to the Romanow Commission hearings in Ottawa.

Ethics was front and centre in Romanows final report. Romanow endorsed our idea and recommended that governments adopt a Canadian Health Covenant to provide a "collective vision for health care."

We believed a covenant would be an ethical compass to hold governments to account for broader standards that would safeguard care for people.

The EHCN Covenant reaffirmed the principles of public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability and accessibility. We went further to recommend additional principles that are relevant to those in long-term care today.

EHCNs first additional principle is social "solidarity and justice." Solidarity and justice mean that, together, we share the responsibility for the burden of illness. This is especially important as people get older.

Non-discriminatory care

Care must be non-discriminatory and open to all people in Canada. Those with special needs, and those from the Indigenous, LGBTTQ+, various cultural and religious communities, should have access to appropriate care.

Care should focus on social health and well-being, using internationally recognized determinants of health.

Health care, including long-term care, is a human right and a public good. Likewise, people have the right to participate in the decisions that affect them. It is deeply troubling to see the rights of residents and their families overlooked and even violated in this current crisis.

Canadas new front-line heroes have for too long been unrecognized, underpaid and unpaid. The EHCN Covenant requires governments to adopt measures that "honour the vocation of all who provide care, whether paid or unpaid."

Public administration must include public stewardship and accountability. Expanding for-profit privatization has not been good for long-term care. Even before the pandemic, the Ontario Health Coalition reported residents in for-profit facilities have a 10 per cent higher risk of dying and a 20 per cent higher risk of being hospitalized than those in non-profit centres. For-profit facilities spend 49 per cent on staffing, compared to 75 per cent by not-for-profits.

If Canadians want to know what the privatization of health care looks like, long-term care is a cautionary tale.

Before the next health-care crisis, now is the time for the federal and provincial governments to adopt a Heath Covenant and to implement the standards of the Canada Health Act in long-term health care.

David Pfrimmer is professor emeritus for public ethics and a fellow at the Centre for Public Ethics at Martin Luther University College, Wilfrid Laurier University.

This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca.
IN October of 1999, newly elected premier Gary Doer appointed Oscar Lathlin, MLA for The Pas, as minister of conservation. This was an entirely new department, amalgamating the former departments of environment and natural resources and parts of the former energy and mines (the latter subsequently assigned elsewhere)  no small task.

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Opinion

IN October of 1999, newly elected premier Gary Doer appointed Oscar Lathlin, MLA for The Pas, as minister of conservation. This was an entirely new department, amalgamating the former departments of environment and natural resources and parts of the former energy and mines (the latter subsequently assigned elsewhere)  no small task.

However, Lathlin brought with him a unique combination of experience and attributes well suited to taking on this tough assignment. He had been band manager for the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) where he was born and raised, a Manitoba public servant, a senior federal government official, had served five years as chief of OCN and had been a member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly for almost a decade.

A gentle and soft-spoken man, he was no stranger to the not-always-gentle world of government bureaucracy.

As minister, Lathlins mandate (alas, there were no mandate letters back then) was fourfold. First, consistent with the principles of sustainable development, in the traditional development-oriented areas of resource management  water, forestry, fisheries, wildlife and so forth  more environmental concerns would be integrated into their economic development and resource management activities.

Second, the department would closely integrate the previously separate environmental and resource expertise, to the benefit of program delivery in both areas.

Third, the department would begin to integrate traditional Indigenous environmental knowledge and culture into the departments activities. This would include greater Indigenous participation as both employees and clients of the department.

And finally, the department would seek to identify and develop new opportunities for the involvement of Indigenous people in the provinces resource economy.

Contrary to what one might expect in a department managing the provinces natural resources  resources to which Indigenous people have certain rights, protected by our Constitution and legal precedent  there were no Indigenous senior managers. In fact, there were few permanent Indigenous staff in any of the resource programs; Indigenous hires were confined mainly to seasonal work such as on forest-fire response crews.

Job one, therefore, was to prepare the work environment to embrace Indigenous knowledge and culture; to set reasonable targets and timelines to attract qualified candidates to designated full-time positions; and to track and report progress toward these targets.

Lathlin set up an Aboriginal Relations Branch (later called the Indigenous Relations Branch) headed by a director, thus bringing an Indigenous person to the departments management team. The branchs function was to co-ordinate the departments response to Indigenous resource and environment issues, liaise with First Nations communities and manage the departments responsibility to consult these communities on issues affecting them.

Responding to recommendations from the Consultation On the Sustainable Development Initiative (COSDI), the minister created, on the east side of Lake Winnipeg, a broad area planning process with the First Nations in this region, called the East Side Planning Initiative, managed by a provincial office staffed by Indigenous people.

Because many northern First Nations were continuing to struggle with impacts from Hydro development, Lathlin appointed a special Indigenous advisor to link departmental programming with these communities to ensure that community issues were being addressed. Later, another program was established  the Certificate of Indigenous Relations Program (CIRP)  designed to raise staff knowledge and awareness of Indigenous culture, as was an apprenticeship program to prepare Indigenous candidates for employment with the department.

Partnerships with Indigenous organizations were established to ensure domestic fishing rights were respected. The Aboriginal Resource Council was established to provide the department with advice on resource and environmental issues.

In less than four years, Lathlin not only created a new department of government with a new direction, but also gave a strong start to the long-overdue process toward full Indigenous participation in the management and development of our natural resources.

The relationship of Indigenous people to their environment is increasingly seen as a perspective that, far from being an anachronism, is essential if we are to stem the tide of environmental destruction. For all of these reasons, it would only seem prudent to take steps to incorporate that perspective  and the people who understand it best  into the inner workings of our government, particularly but not exclusively those areas concerned with the management and protection of our environment and its resources.

Lathlin realized the course he was setting was but a modest start toward a distant goal. We lack a systematic survey that would allow us to evaluate just how close we might be to his vision, further complicated by the fact resource and environmental functions no longer reside in a single department. However, many of his initiatives have been eliminated and anecdotal evidence of progress is not encouraging.

Reconciliation is not only about taking responsibility for past injustice; it is also about meaningful partnership with Indigenous people in the everyday life of our province. The initiatives Lathlin set in motion are a modest but important aspect of reconciliation. We need to revive them.

Norman Brandson was deputy minister of the former Manitoba departments of environment, water stewardship and conservation from 1990 to 2006.
Starting July 8, Museum at the Portage will reopen its doors to once again share the citys history with visitors, but only by appointment and visitors will be required to wear a face covering.

Vicki Vogts, president of the Portage Historical Society that maintains the museum on MacFarlane Road, said people will need to call 608-742-6682 at least a day before visiting to allow docents to sanitize any touched surfaces between appointments.

It will be nice that we can have people, because we wanted to reopen, Vogts said Monday. We hate being closed, thats for sure.

The museum is implementing new cleaning procedures, social distancing and mask requirements when it reopens next week in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Originally slated to open April 1 for the season, the museum remained closed due to the states stay-at-home order.

We really would love it if people wanted to start coming to see us, but with COVID, we dont know. We dont know if people are going to want to come or not, Vogts said.

Hand sanitizer also will be available for visitors, who will be limited to 10 at a time in the building, five on each floor.
Advocates for students joined Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey in celebration on June 26 after a federal court in Boston ordered U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to cancel the loans of 7,200 people in the commonwealth who were defrauded by Corinthian Colleges, a for-profit education company that closed its U.S. campuses in 2015.

"Thousands of Massachusetts students cheated by Corinthian have finally had their day in court, and they have won," Healey said in a statement. "This landmark victory for students will cancel the federal loans for thousands of defrauded borrowers, mostly black and Latinx students, targeted by a predatory for-profit school and abandoned by Secretary DeVos and the Trump administration."

U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin's ruling (pdf) in Vara v. DeVos came nearly two years after he ordered the U.S. Education Department to stop collecting on the loans because they were covered by a borrower defense application filed by Healey.

Pull Quote Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, a longtime critic of the current education secretary, tweeted that the ruling "is a huge victory against DeVos and a victory for all student borrowers."

Despite the ruling, DeVos refused to stop billing and harassing students.

This ruling is a clear and powerful statement of the rights of student borrowers, and a resounding rejection of the Department of Education's ongoing and across-the-board refusal to recognize these rights and cancel fraudulent student loans, Healey said.

Fraudulent practices

At its peak, Corinthian Colleges Inc., which provided primarily vocational training, operated 105 schools in 25 U.S. states, along with 17 in Canada, according to its website. The company, which began in 1995, had a troubled legal history from the beginning. The Los Angeles Times described the colleges as a collection of "castoff" schools that were taken over by Wall Street investors in 1999.

Pull Quote "This landmark victory for students will cancel the federal loans for thousands of defrauded borrowers, mostly black and Latinx students, targeted by a predatory for-profit school and abandoned by Secretary DeVos and the Trump administration"

Plagued with legal investigations for fraudulent practices, the company began closing locations, first in Canada. In 2015, it ceased all operations, stranding over 16,000 students and employees.

Corinthian Colleges and 24 of its subsidiaries subsequently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Our clients, and all 7,200 Massachusetts students who were cheated by Corinthian ... have been waiting nearly five years for the Department of Education to acknowledge their right to loan cancellation," said Toby Merrill, director of the Project on Predatory Student Lending at Harvard Law School. The project assisted Healey in developing the successful case.

"We thank Attorney General Healey for her long-term commitment to fighting for these borrowers, and look forward to the day when five-year, three-lawsuit battles to cancel obviously fraudulent debts are not necessary."

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, a longtime critic of the current education secretary, tweeted that the ruling "is a huge victory against DeVos and a victory for all student borrowers."

Sorokin ruled that:

The Education Department can't escape its obligations under the law by simply writing off the loans of people who happen to sue;

Contrary to ED's assertions, a federal court may review ED's actions and inactions with respect to borrower defense;

ED must act in a consistent and rational manner and must explain its actions;

"Overwhelming" evidence shows that ED has, in the past, repeatedly exercised its discretion to cancel federal student loans in response to an application, supported by evidence, from an attorney general;

"Overwhelming" and "uncontradicted" evidence establishes that the plaintiffs and their classmates are entitled to cancel their loans because of Corinthian's flagrant and widespread misconduct; and

So that students are no longer caught in "a game of ping-pong," the court instructed the agency to take action within 60 days consistent with the court's order granting relief to all borrowers.

Pull Quote The win in Boston came as House Democrats failed on June 26 to override Donald Trump's veto of a bipartisan resolution to invalidate strict new rules by DeVos on student loan forgiveness, which are set to take effect July 1.

The win in Boston came as House Democrats failed on June 26 to override Donald Trump's veto of a bipartisan resolution to invalidate strict new rules by DeVos on student loan forgiveness, which are set to take effect July 1. The lower chamber's 238-173 vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to overturn the veto.

In a statement responding to the unsuccessful override effort, Ben Miller, vice president for post-secondary education at the Center for American Progress, said that "Secretary Betsy DeVos has repeatedly put the interests of exploitative schools before students, and today almost the whole House minority showed its willingness to side with her."

"From the start, this administration has sat on its hands while tens of thousands more borrowers lawfully seek relief," he added. "And it has denied significant relief to students inarguably ripped off by predatory actors such as Corinthian Colleges through innumerate formulas that do things such as deny full relief to borrowers for not having negative earnings."

Louis Weisberg contributed to this story.
More than 200 gym-goers in West Virginia are being urged to quarantine after a Planet Fitness client tested positive for Covid-19, health officials say.

"Anyone who was at Planet Fitness between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 24 should stay at home for 14 days since being exposed, which would be until Wednesday, July 8," a statement by the Monongalia County Health Department says, adding that "about 205" people were at the gym during that window of time.

"We are urging people to get testing if they become symptomatic," said health department spokeswoman Mary Wade Burnside in an email to CNN.

West Virginia is seeing an increase in cases, about 400 in the past 12 days, the Monongalia County Health Department reports. In the 10 days prior to that, cases rose by about 240.

As of 10 a.m. Monday, there have been 2,849 probable and confirmed coronavirus cases and 93 coronavirus-related deaths across the state.

"Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of the community, we are closing the club for an additional deep cleaning," Planet Fitness Morgantown said in a recording when called by CNN for comment, adding the club will reopen at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The Planet Fitness corporate office was notified that a member of the Morgantown gym tested positive, and it is not aware of any additional members or employees reporting symptoms, according to statement from McCall Gosselin, Senior Vice President of Communications.

"We will continue to take every necessary precaution to ensure the safety of our community, and we have taken a number of steps across all of our locations, which include enhanced cleanliness and sanitization policies and procedures, extensive training for staff, physical distancing measures, reducing physical touch points in the club with touchless check-in, and more," the statement said.

CNN has reached out to the Monongalia County Health Department for updates and additional comment.
After nearly 38 agonizing years, the family of Kelly Ann Prosser finally has learned who killed her.

Police in Columbus, Ohio, said Friday they cracked the cold case on who abducted, sexually assaulted and killed the 8-year-old, all thanks to genealogical testing and a podcast tracing the history of the case.

Investigators say on September 20, 1982, Kelly Ann was abducted in Columbus' University District while walking home from Indianola Elementary School. Two days later, her body was discovered in a cornfield in nearby Madison County, Columbus Deputy Police Chief Greg Bodker said during a news conference.

Case details from the Ohio Attorney General's Office say Prosser had been beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled.

What was left behind was what -- after years -- helped investigators solve the case.

"This is a case that throughout the years all of CPD wanted to solve, and a case that affected all personnel on a personal level," Bodker said. "Imagine in 1982 collecting something that you didn't know would one day exist -- DNA."

Suspect was released months before killing

After one of the police department's "most intense investigations," evidence preserved from the crime scene proved to be the key for solving the case decades later, Bodker said.

Bodker identified Prosser's killer as Harold Warren Jarrell, a now-deceased man who was not mentioned in the original Prosser case file.

In 1977, Jarrell was charged and convicted with abducting a different 8-year-old girl from Tamarack Circle, on the north side of Columbus. He was released in January 1982, eight months before Prosser's abduction, said Sgt. Terry McConnell.

He's not currently a suspect in any other crimes in Columbus, according to Bodker.

In a statement read aloud by McConnell during Friday's news conference, Prosser's family thanked law enforcement for their dedication to their case over nearly four decades.

"When Kelly Ann left for school, the morning of September 20, 1982, we did not expect our time with her would abruptly end or that our future would change in every way imaginable."

"One moment we had this dazzling, mischievous 8-year-old little girl, then suddenly all we had left were memories, photographs that will never age, a calendar marking a dreadful new holiday, a grave, and pieces of Kelly's life stored in a box," the statement read.

Despite the new developments, the family said they feel no sense of justice or closure.

"Without any means of restoring the previous life that was taken there could never be such a thing as justice," the family said in the portion of the statement addressed to the media.

In time, however, the family said they will be "capable of showing empathy for the person who refused to show any compassion to our Kelly Ann."

"Forgiveness is not forgetting; forgiveness means letting go of the pain the incident caused us. And truthfully, hatred is too heavy a burden for anyone to bear," they said.

Tracking down relatives

Around 2014 or 2015, the DNA collected was entered into the CODIS, a national database of DNA samples used by law enforcement, but no matches came out of the database, McConnell said.

In March, the police department partnered with Advance DNA, a forensic genealogy research company, which used the DNA sample to assemble a family tree for the potential suspect and provide additional leads for the detectives, McConnell said.

Jarrell worked for a local radio station in Columbus for much of the 1970s and 1980s, while holding other odd jobs throughout his time there. Although he had already died in Las Vegas, police were able confirm the link between Jarrell and Prosser after obtaining DNA samples from Jarrell's living relatives, McConnell said.

After following the new leads from Advance DNA, detectives also realized that a 2014 anonymous tip cited a "similar name" to Jarrell's, though at the time it wasn't verified due to limited information, McConnell said.

AdvanceDNA said in a statement to CNN that their team "leveraged DNA matches to the DNA profile provided by the Columbus Division of Police" and that the DNA matches came from users of two genetic testing companies who had opted in for law enforcement matching.

"In Kelly's case there were no close matches, instead leads were developed through connecting a series of 3rd cousins," the company said.


(Photo: TRUIC)

An operating agreement is not required by the LLC Act in North Carolina. However, it is strongly advisable to have one, whether it's a single-member LLC or a multi-member LLC. This document has internal and external uses that the members will benefit from over time.

What is an operating agreement?

An Operating Agreement is an internal document that does not need to be filed with the state, except in the case of single-member LLCs. It's an agreement between members of an LLC that spells out who the members are and what percentage of the LLC each one owns, and how the business will be managed operationally and financially. It also explains how taxes will be paid, and how profits and losses will be shared among the members.

For a simple business, a generic Operating Agreement is generally sufficient. If a business requires complex ownership or industry-specific management, or has many members or investors, it's better to get help from a lawyer who can handle the complexity.

External uses of the Operating Agreement

Though an Operating Agreement is an internal document, it is also useful outside the company. It may be requested by a lender when the company seeks financing, by a title company when the LLC purchases real estate or by a tax official or an accountant when financial advice is sought. A lawyer might also ask for it when legal advice is sought and potential investors/members may want to look at it before putting their money into the business. Even a court will ask for the agreement if the LLC is party to a legal action, to prove that the company is well organized to handle any issues that may arise in the course of doing business.

Amendments

Because it is an internal document, the members can amend the Operating Agreement as the business grows. Whenever minor changes are made, such as change of address of a member, a new version of the document must be saved and signed by all members. At any point, the most current version is in use but older versions can be consulted when necessary.

Whenever complex changes are made, such as the purchase of one member's interest by another, or getting an investor, it is advisable to consult an attorney for help. Again, all the members must sign the latest version and the older versions must be kept on file.

Does a single-member LLC need an Operating Agreement?

It may come as a surprise that a single-member LLC requires an Operating Agreement. Protection of the member from liability of the LLC does not come automatically upon registration of an LLC in North Carolina. The single owner has to create an operating agreement to specifically spell out the separation of the business from the owner. This must be filed with the state and then implemented in order for the member to acquire protection over personal assets and financial accounts.

If separation of the LLC from the member is not specified in an operating agreement, the single member is held liable for the business' debts and obligations. This is so important that the single member must prepare the agreement correctly. TRUiC has guidelines and information on its websites for people who want to create the operating agreement properly for their North Carolina LLC. Learn more... Better still, the member can consult an attorney to get the right legal advice.

Never downplay the importance of the Operating Agreement

It is tempting to work without an Operating Agreement simply because it is not required by law. However, when many people co-own a business, disputes naturally arise, and the operating agreement is consulted to resolve the disputes. Also, when the document is filed with the state, it provides much-needed protection from liability for a single-member LLC. It can be concluded that an operating agreement is needed to form an LLC in North Carolina.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Several police agencies 'raided' a business in Middleville, Sunday afternoon. The proprietor was encouraging underage drinking....of lemonade. Abel Jones isn't old enough to drive, or possibly even ride a bike. But he set up a lemonade stand at his Middleville home Sunday, with plans to donate the proceeds to a local law enforcement agency, just to show his appreciation for them. New York State Trooper, Tara Mc Cormick, the public information officer for Troop T, learned of Abel's plans on social media.

"I shared the post on my own Facebook page and it got some traction from some other law enforcement officers that I'm personally friends with and between a few of us, we decided to put together a surprise visit to show our appreciation for his love of police officers," said Trooper Mc Cormick.

So officers from State Police, Town of Webb, Village of Mohawk Police, Herkimer Police and Herkimer County Sheriff's Office all met in the parking lot of West Canada Valley School and drove, in a caravan, to the boy's home. There, the excited young law enforcement fan happily accepted a snowmobile unit patch and K9 unit patch, as well as some stickers, from the officers. And the officers got more in return than a cold drink on a hot day.

"It's nice to know that people haven't forgotten we're good people, we're human beings, and we love the communities that we work in," said Trooper Mc Cormick.

Abel is donating the money from the lemonade stand to the Herkimer Police Department.
BATTLEGROUND, Ind. (WLFI) -- For the first time in 48 years, the Indiana Fiddlers' Gathering has gone virtual.

On Sunday morning, the organization posted a Youtube video of eight folk music groups sharing their talents via video recording.



"This would have been its 48th year of being outside," said Karah Rawlings, Executive Director of Indiana Fiddlers' Gathering. "When they started to lock things down and it was looking like having large social gatherings was not a good idea, we had to make a decision early on."

Rawlings said this year's show must go on so they decided to make it virtual. The team of organizers are calling this year's festival the 'Indiana Fiddlers' UnGathering Wish We Were Here Tour.' Each music group pre-recorded their performances, which were then edited to create one large concert video.

"The Fiddlers' Gathering is a small arts organization, we get a lot of community support, we're members of the Tippecanoe Arts Federation and we get funding from the Indiana Art Commission grants," said Rawlings.

Rawlings said being able to raise money through the festival is an important part of helping keep folk music alive.

"A lot of the artists that we work with we know they depend on some of this income during the summer that they get from touring and so we really wanted to try and support them during this time," said Rawlings.

Not only does the Fiddlers' Gathering festival support folk artists on tour it also supports other music programs for kids in the community. That's what Rawling said it's all about, keeping the music tradition alive for generations to come.

"Most of what we fundraise for is to fundraise actually throughout the year to run these supplementary programs that we do," said Rawlings. "To do our after school arts programs when we're able to do those, where kids can take banjo, fiddle, ukulele classes."

Rawlings said the organization has big plans for its 50th anniversary so this year and next year's festival are crucial in making it happen.

"We felt like if we skipped a year that would kind of just take away from our 50th so we wanted to make sure that we had our 48th show somehow," said Rawlings.

Fiddlers' Gathering is collecting donations through its COVID-19 relief fund for music artists here and for its music programs here.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)  The Tippecanoe County Health Department has confirmed that it has received notice about new COVID-19 cases at Rosewalk Village. Three weeks ago News 18 reported that there was a cluster of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the home with 16 residents and one employee.

On June 26th, 2020, Rosewalk Village confirmed on its website there are now 24 new COVID-19 cases among residents. That brings the total number of resident cases in the home to 50. The number of COVID-19 positive employee cases has gone up by eleven to now twelve employees positive for COVID-19.

Rosewalk Village has released a statement in response to the influx of COVID-19 cases at the home:

"As long-term care facilities nationwide continue to feel the devastating impact of COVID-19, Rosewalk Village of Lafayette has remained focused on the health and safety of residents and employees. Given the unprecedented critical needs of residents, Rosewalk Village of Lafayette implemented best practices for clinical care and infection control, conducting comprehensive testing and providing daily, proactive communication to residents, their designated representatives and employees. Communication is very important to us. Rosewalk Village of Lafayette has made COVID-19 data available on its website so that family members and care partners have easy access to this information...

Rosewalk Village of Lafayette - Senior Living Communities & Nursing Homes in Indiana | ASC

Rosewalk Village of Lafayette is close to Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health  Lafayette Central and Riggs Community Health Center.

We are also located near downtown Lafayette close to shopping and restaurants. You will have peace of mind knowing that loved ones are in a safe community where friends and family members are encouraged to visit often. From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, sought to be ahead of the curve, implementing safety and infection control procedures prior to guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) and continues to go beyond CDC and ISDH recommendations for clinical care:

Testing 100% of all residents.

Restricting all visitors.

Retesting residents who were COVID-19 positive to ensure proper care.

Screening each resident for illness daily.

Screening and taking the temperature of all staff, clinical partners and vendors entering the facility.

Requiring all staff to wear PPE at all times.

Cancellation of large group activities.

Exercising best practices for infection control.

Quarantining and cohorting residents and staff who are COVID-19 positive.

Long term care communities conducting extensive testing may report higher numbers of COVID-19 positive cases than other communities that do not prioritize testing. Rosewalk Village of Lafayette tested employees this month in cooperation with the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) as well. The residents and families we serve are very important to us and we will continue to move forward with compassion, and an over-abundance of caution and quality care."

In addition to the statement above, Rosewalk Village released another statement in response to allegations that residents were being mistreated during this pandemic:

"Our hearts are with our families who are separated from their loved ones due to the visitor restrictions. The ISDH conducted an infection control COVID-19 survey recently and the surveyors reported no issues or concerns at the facility. Asymptomatic, COVID-19 positive staff members, under the guidance of the ISDH, can care for COVID-19 positive residents utilizing special precautions. These staff members are separated from others, do not have contact with other staff members and residents and wear personal protective equipment.

We are very sensitive to the needs of our customers and understand that connecting our residents with their loved ones is incredibly important. Phones are provided in each room. Additionally, we offer access to communication devices and extra support to families who desire a visit with their loved ones through alternative methods such as telephone, email, text, video chat. Communication to family members from the care team is very important. Texts are sent daily Monday-Friday with the most current COVID-19 data. Customized, formal updates are made to family members weekly. However, family members are encouraged to call any time should they have questions. Activities are an important part of a residents day. Our employees have been creative in their efforts to provide in-room independent activities. Temporarily, hygiene and personal care are performed in the residents room. The facility offers a menu that includes alternatives and substitutions. Dietary restrictions and menu preferences are honored."

For more information on COVID-19 stats at Rosewalk Village in Lafayette click here.
A young boy was shot and killed while he slept in an apartment off 63rd Street and The Paseo. Police say the bullets came from outside the home.
Amazingly, volcanic landscapes have created more than 80% of all the surfaces on Earth. These are natures architects, and they are currently present on all of our planets seven continents. Volcanoes create mountains, valleys, plateaus and plains, and while they are dangerous while active, they also provide humanity with some of the most fertile land in existence. There are currently approximately 1,500 volcanoes active on Earth, some of which are on land, and others on the ocean floor. Italy is thought to be home to the oldest volcano, Mt. Etna, which is said to be about 350,000 years old.

Volcanoes can erupt, spewing ash through the atmosphere, or by spreading hot boiling lava down their slopes, destroying everything in their path. What does a volcano leave behind once it has blown its top? Here is a look at the majestic landscapes surrounding volcanoes, how they are constructed and what they have to offer.

10. The thickness of the magma erupting from a volcano affects its shape.

Mayon Volcano is an active stratovolcano in the province of Albay in Bicol Region, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Image credit: Puripat Lertpunyaroj/Shutterstock.com

Magma is the molten or liquid rock that resides inside a volcano. Once the volcano erupts and sends this stuff spewing, it is called lava. Each volcano is unique and the thickness or viscosity of the magma inside is something that helps determines what shape the volcano will have. Volcanoes that have steep, sudden slopes tend to have been formed from viscous or thick, sticky magma beneath its surface. Those that are flatter with more gradual slopes have been made by more liquid-like magma that flows freely.

Lava is dangerous stuff. When it erupts from a volcano and is fresh, it is said to be between 1,300 F and 2,200 F (700 and 1,200 C). As it flows down the volcano, it burns or melts everything it comes in contact with.

9. As magma cools, it turns black.

Image credit: Ralf Lehmann/Shutterstock.com

Lava is a liquid when it flows down a volcano and spreads to the surrounding countryside. At this point it is a fiery red, orange and yellow color. Once it cools, and crystalizes, lava turns into igneous rock that is often black. The word igneous comes from the Latin word ignis, which means fire. Igneous rocks are categorized into four main groups, depending on how much silica they contain. These groups are acidic, intermediate, basic, and ultramafic. Acidic rocks have the highest silica content, and ultramafic the lowest. Pumice is also a volcanic rock, and it is formed from lava that is full of gas. This rock is so light that it can float on water.

8. Volcanic landscapes fall into two broad categories: cones and fields of cones, and plateaus and plains.

Volcanic landscape of the Tongariro National Park. Image credit: Julien Carnot/Wikimedia.org

Volcanic landscapes can be beautiful- just look at Hawaii for confirmation of this fact. When it comes to analyzing their geography, you can say they are either made of cones and fields of cones, or a bunch of flat plateaus and plains.

Volcanic cones are shaped like triangular hills. They are what we traditionally think of when imagining a volcano, and they are made from volcanic material that has piled up around the volcanos opening in the Earths crust. There exist many types of volcanic cones including composite cones, cinder cones, spatter cones, and tuff cones.

An example of a volcanic plateau is the North Island Volcanic Plateau covering most of the central part of the North Island of New Zealand. If you travel to Australia, you can encounter the Southern Volcanic Plain in Victoria, previously known as the Victorian Volcanic Plain, extending to South Australia near Mt. Gambier.

7. Volcanic hot springs can be too hot to handle.

Hot water spring in Savusavu in Vanua Levu Island, Fiji. Image credit: ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock.com

Volcanic hot springs occur in active volcanic zones when heat generated below the Earths surface-geothermal heat-comes in contact with rock and water. Volcanic hot springs differ from other hot springs. They can sometimes produce superheated water that is so hot, you would hurt yourself or even die if you were submerged in it.

6. Volcanic landscapes can have constant explosions of water called geysers.

A crowd admiring an eruption of Stokkur geyser on Iceland. Image credit: Jakub Barzycki/Shutterstock.com

Another characteristic of volcanic areas are geysers. These occur when groundwater fills up in underground cavities that are heated by magma. Sometimes this water suddenly becomes steam and expands rapidly. When this happens, a column of hot water and steam suddenly bursts from a natural vent in the ground, rising up into the air like a small explosion. A geyser can look like a large water fountain but it is hot, and somewhat unpredictable.

5. Volcanic areas can emit dangerous gases through something called fumaroles.

Fumaroles in the Kamchatka Peninsula. Image credit: Elena Rykova/Shutterstock.com

It is not just lava, ash, hot water and steam that volcanic landscapes project.

Dangerous gases can result when hot magma runs through underground water. When hot magma meets water, it can create steam that carries volcanic gases like hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to the surface through vents and fissures. This release is called a fumarole. Fumaroles tend to occur near the end of volcanic activity, as the magma underground cools down, and can emit suffocating levels of carbon dioxide and acidic sulfide.

4. Rock can dissolve into mud.

Mudpots in the geothermal area Hverir, Iceland. Image credit: Roxana Bashyrova/Shutterstock.com

It is no wonder that ancient peoples thought the gods were behind volcanic activity. Mudpots occur in volcanic areas where geothermal water mixes with mud and clay. When this happens, acid and bacteria in the volcanic water can actually be harsh enough to dissolve nearby rock, resulting in thick puddles of bubbling mud.

3. When a volcano erupts, the ash and gas can cool the area.

Volcanic cloud shutting off sunlight. Image credit: Melkor3D/Shutterstock.com

We tend to equate volcanoes with heat, but they can also make things colder. When a volcano spews a lot of ash into the atmosphere, it can block out the sun, causing the environment to cool down. Most of these particles fall to the ground via rain in the days following the eruption, but some stay in the air and travel around the world. These tiny particles can stay aloft for months, cooling down large areas on Earth before they finally rain down.

2. The land surrounding a volcano can be very fertile.

A view of the terraced rice fields on the rich fertile volcano soil hills of Bali, Indonesia. Image credit: CHEN WS/Shutterstock.com

Volcanoes can be both destructive and constructive. After an eruption ceases and the magma cools to rock, the ash and lava can sometimes break down. When this happens, the soil becomes extremely fertile, packed with rich mineral deposits. Some experts say that people have kept on living near active volcanoes throughout history in part because the land surrounding them can be so good for growing crops, as in parts of Italy, Mexico, and elsewhere.

1. The heat of a volcano can be used to generate electricity.

Geothermal power plant located at Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland. Image credit: Johann Ragnarsson/Shutterstock.com

The geothermal energy created underground by volcanic activity can be harnessed. According to Britannica.com, some geothermal steam wells can produce 25 megawatts of thermal power through their hot water and steam. This can be used to drive turbine generators and produce electricity. In places like Iceland, geothermal reservoirs are routinely tapped as an energy source. In this way, volcanic landscapes are the gift that keep on giving!
Hong Kong is a coastal city, metropolitan area, and major port in the southern part of China. It has 260 peninsulas and territorial islands, and has a long, storied history.

To understand how Hong Kong relates to China, it helps to look back at the First China War, better known as the Opium War. By the 19th century, British merchants were reaping profits by trading in Chinese goods like tea, porcelain, and silk. However, the Chinese were not buying British products, and would only exchange their goods for silver.

To change things, British merchants starting smuggling opium into China, and would only take payment for these drugs in silver. They then used this silver to buy the Chinese goods. Widespread opium addiction caused the Chinese to take action to end the trade. They destroyed most of the opium, which led to later conflicts.

Hong Kong. Image credit: ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com

War Begins

In November 1839, the British defeated 29 Chinese vessels and evacuated British refugees from Canton. British naval forces bombarded the port of Ting-hai, and later captured several Chinese ports. After suffering more losses, the Chinese requested a truce in 1841. This was when Hong Kong and part of Kowloon were surrendered to Britain.

The war did not end until 1842, when Shanghai was captured and the Treaty of Nanking allowed the British to continue trading as they wished, including opium.

Land-Lease

Hong Kong remained under British rule until 1898. Britain negotiated a new land expansion of Hong Kong, and ended up signing a 99-year lease with China. This expired in 1997, and Britain returned Hong Kong back to China, classifying it as a Special Administrative Region (SAR) called the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

China permitted Hong Kong to govern itself for a period of 50 years. Hong Kong was allowed to keep many of its independent systems, and the plan was initiated under the one country, two systems doctrine. This is better understood as the coexistence of socialism and capitalism.

The legislature meets in the Legislative Council Complex in Tamar. Image credit: Tksteven/Wikimedia.org

Governmental Differences

Mainland China and Hong Kong have different governments; communist China is controlled by a single party, and Hong Kong is a limited democracy. Though the two share a chief of state (President of China), each has a separate head of government. In mainland China it is the premier, and in Hong Kong their chief executive is the head of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Hong Kong also has separate legal, judicial, and law enforcement systems. It is also known to have less government interference than the mainland; their peoples rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are protected.

Former trading floor of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Image credit: WiNG/Wikimedia.org

Economy, Money, Taxes

Hong Kong has a free economy, but it is not rich in natural resources. The region relies on imported goods for raw materials and food. They have independent finances, and China does not get involved in Hong Kongs tax laws. Hong Kong has low taxes rates and is responsible for its own policies that apply to foreign exchange, customs, finance, money, and trade. It also has its own currency, the Hong Kong dollar; the mainland uses the Chinese yuan.

Areas Of Deferment

There are two main areas where Hong Kong defers to China, and those are international relations and military defense. Hong Kong does not have its own military, nor does it have a separate international diplomatic identity from China.

Reforms On The Horizon?

2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition law protest on 16 June, captured by Studio Incendo from Flickr.

Five years ago, Hong Kong lawmakers voted on a political plan to change how the citys leader would be elected. Their 2015 proposal limited the pool of candidates down to two or three, changing it from the existing method of universal voting. The proposal did not pass, and democracy activists protested that doing so would have allowed China to screen out candidates that they disapproved of.

Another news story made the rounds in May of 2020, when Beijing passed through a security bill that challenged the one country, two systems doctrine. This bill bypassed Hong Kongs government, and could lead to long-term reforms. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Congress that Hong Kong no longer has a high degree of autonomy. In late May, Fox News reported that U.S. lawmakers were reassessing the 1992 U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act, which provided the city with economic benefits. This Act applied to tariffs on Hong Kong exports and access to certain U.S. technologies.
New Delhi, Jun 28 (UNI) Amid political attacks between BJP and Congress over the funding from Chinese firms, the latter on Sunday alleged that PM-CARES fund also received donations from leading Chinese companies.



Addressing a digital press conference here, senior Congress leader and party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi asked, 'Why has PM Modi received Chinese money in the PM-CARES fund, despite the overt Chinese hostilities?

'Has PM received Rs 7 crore from the controversial company Huawei? Does Huawei have a direct connection with People's Liberation Army of China? Has the Chinese company owning TikTok facilitated a donation of Rs 30 crore to the controversial PM CARES Fund?



The Congress leader further asked if Paytm, which has 38 per cent Chinese ownership, given Rs 100 crore, Oppo Rs one crore and Xiomi Rs 15 crore in the fund.



'Has Prime Minister Modi diverted the donations received in the PMNRF to the controversial PM-CARES Fund and how many hundred crores is the amount diverted?' Mr Singhvi also asked.



The Congress leader pointed out that reports suggest that as on May 20, 2020, the fund received Rs 9,678 crore.



'The shocking part is that though Chinese forces have transgressed into our territory, the Prime Minister has received money in the fund from Chinese companies.



'No one knows the constitutional or operational framework of the PM-CARES fund and how it is controlled or money given to it utilised. The fund is not even subject to audit by any public authority, including the CAG. PMO has gone to the extent of saying that this fund is not a public authority,' Mr Singhvi said.



'The fund appears to be solely run by the Prime Minister in an opaque and secret fashion with zero transparency and zero accountability,' he added.



Congress alleged that the Modi government continues to sidestep the brazen Chinese transgressions and occupation of Indian territory by Chinese forces in Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso lake area, Hot Springs and Depsang plains upto Y-Junction.



'Prime Minister Narendra Modi unashamedly misleads the nation and serves the sinister agenda of the Chinese by claiming that China has never intruded into the Indian territory, nor is it in occupation of any territory,' Mr Singhvi said.



'This is the greatest disservice to the nation. Chinese hostilities in recent years are well known - be it the occupation of the Depsang Plains up to Y-Junction in 2013 (from where they were pushed back by the Congress/UPA after a face off), be it the Chinese occupation of our territory at Point 30R Post in Chumar, Ladakh in 2014 (when Modi ji was playing Jhula diplomacy with the Chinese President in Ahmedabad), or the Chinese occupation of Doklam plateau in 2017,' he added.



The Congress leader also alleged that the Prime Minister has a special soft spot for China.



'Even as Chief Minister of Gujarat, we saw his close association in his four Chinese visits. He is the only Prime Minister, who has visited China five times,' he said.



UNI ASH RJ 1846
Joseph James DeAngelo, the former California police officer who prosecutors say killed 13 and raped dozens of victims as the Golden State Killer, is expected to enter a guilty plea Monday.
Another weekend, and another sensational and fact-free, front-page report in the New York Times aimed at portraying the Russian government as the focus of all evil in the world.

Saturdays front page of the Times carried an article headlined, Russians Offered Afghans Bounty to Kill U.S. Troops, Officials Say. A subordinate headline indicated the secondary target of the latest blast: Trump Administration Has Spent 3 Months Debating Response.

The article thus has related political purposes: to incite a war fever against Moscow, and to denounce the Trump administration for its supposed reluctance to confront Russia and President Vladimir Putin.

US Army forces in Afghanistan. (Image Credit US Army Flickr)

The article served to signal the American media as a whole to step up its propaganda to convince the American people to regard Russia as a deadly enemy and to condition them to support war with a country that possesses the second-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons on the planet.

Moreover, as Trumps polls plummet due to his disastrous handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and violent threats against peaceful protesters, a major aim of the medias renewed anti-Russia campaign is to divert mounting popular opposition in a prowar direction.

At this point in a commentary, it would be appropriate to review the factual contentions in the Times article and rebut any distortions. But in this particular example, there is no factual substratum, no matter how dubious, to address. The 1,500-word article, carrying no less than three bylines (Charlie Savage, Eric Schmitt and Michael Schwirtz), does not adduce a single fact to support its claim of Kremlin blood money.

Instead, the article reports the opinions of top officials of the US military-intelligence apparatus--unnamed, of course--as though they were facts, beginning with, American intelligence officials have concluded that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistanincluding targeting American troops

This is followed by a paragraph beginning with the inimitable words, The United States concluded, in which the CIA official dictating to his Times stenographers is given the authority of all 330 million inhabitants of this country.

The third paragraph claims that Trump and other top officials were briefed on the alleged Russian operation and discussed how to respond, a revelation attributed to the same officials. The article continues, attributing its assertions in the same vein:

 The officials familiar with the intelligence 

 The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity 

  officials were said to be confident about the intelligence 

 Some officials have theorized 

 The officials briefed on the matter said 

Perhaps the most specific sentence refers to what these unnamed informants did not say: The officials did not describe the mechanics of the Russian operation, such as how targets were picked or how money changed hands.

This is a particularly significant omission, given that only 20 Americans died in Afghanistan in all of 2019, many of them killed by the Afghan soldiers they were training, or by suicide attackers, neither of whom could credibly be described as motivated by the desire to receive Moscow gold.

The article admits, it was not clear which killings were under suspicion. In other words, this is an alleged conspiracy to commit murder in which no victims have been identified. This is convenient, allowing the Times to evade the thorny problem of naming names and attributing any specific death to a Russian connection.

The article notes the flat denials from the Russian government and the Taliban (whose fighters, after waging war on the US invaders for 18 years on religious and nationalist grounds, have supposedly become Russian mercenaries), as well as the refusal of any official representative of the CIA, Pentagon, State Department and National Security Council to comment.

Subsequently, the White House flatly denied the most politically charged claim in the articlethat Trump had been briefed on the alleged Russian conspiracy and had done nothing about it. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany issued a statement declaring: The CIA Director, National Security Advisor, and the Chief of Staff can all confirm that neither the President nor the Vice President were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence.

This denial gained confirmation from a source hostile to the White HouseHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi, one of the gang of eight congressional leaders who are regularly informed by the intelligence agencies about the most sensitive operations and issues. While denouncing Trump for doing nothing to respond to the supposed Russian attack, Pelosi said she herself had not been briefed on it.

It is hard to argue with the assessment issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which wrote:

This unsophisticated plant clearly illustrates the low intellectual abilities of the propagandists of American intelligence who, instead of inventing something more plausible, have to make up this nonsense.

But neither the entirely nonexistent factual support for the Times account nor the subsequent across-the-board denials slowed the media response to this anti-Russian stink bomb.

Within 24 hours, the entire continuum of the corporate media, from local daily newspapers to the main television networks, was dominated by reports on the supposed Russian campaign to kill American soldiers. The Washington Post , Wall Street Journal, CNN and Fox News all said they had confirmed the Times report, but since it was merely publishing the opinions of unnamed intelligence officials, this proves only that the officials expressed the same views to the other media outlets again without the slightest factual substantiation.

The media outcry was accompanied by demands from Democrats that Trump account for his alleged three-month silence on the issue, and from both Democrats and Republicans that retaliatory measures be carried out immediately against Moscow.

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) tweeted on Sunday morning: If reporting about Russian bounties on US forces is true, the White House must explain: 1. Why werent the president or vice president briefed? Was the info in the PDB [Presidential Daily Brief]? 2. Who did know and when? 3. What has been done in response to protect our forces & hold Putin accountable?

Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) wrote: President Trump was cozying up to Putin and inviting him to the G-7 all while his Administration reportedly knew Russia was trying to kill U.S troops in Afghanistan and derail peace talks with the Taliban.

Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), an Afghanistan war veteran now being vetted as a possible vice-presidential nominee, wrote on Twitter, Donald America First Trump is literally placing Russian interests ahead of American lives, and Republicans do nothing. Putting party before country doesnt just empower Trump to continue serving his own interests, it can cost American lives too.

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, told a virtual town hall meeting, Not only has he failed to sanction or impose any kind of consequences on Russia for this egregious violation of international law, Donald Trump has continued his embarrassing campaign of deference and debasing himself before Vladimir Putin.

Biden continued, His entire presidency has been a gift to Putin, but this is beyond the pale, adding, Its a betrayal of the most sacred duty we bear as a nation, to protect and equip our troops when we send them into harms way.

The WSWS is implacably opposed to the right-wing Russian nationalist regime of Putin. He represents the billionaire oligarchs, who enriched themselves from the destruction of the Soviet Union by Stalinism and the subsequent impoverishment of the Soviet working class through the restoration of capitalism.

But it must be said that, even if the allegations about Russian bounties were true, they would represent a drop in the bucket compared to the decades of American military-intelligence operations aimed at killing Soviet and then Russian soldiers, or allies of the Soviet bloc, as well as supporters of revolutionary-nationalist groups in various countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. The death toll rises into the millions: Vietnam, Korea, Indonesia, Brazil, Argentina, Angola, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen 

In Afghanistan itself, the Carter administration initiated what its national security advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, proudly predicted would become Russias Vietnam: an effort to bleed Soviet military forces by recruiting, arming and training the guerrilla fighters of the mujaheddin, the Islamic fundamentalist forces from which both Al Qaeda and the Taliban would ultimately emerge. This operation killed tens of thousands of Soviet troops in the course of nearly a decade of war.

More recently, US-backed Islamic fundamentalist groups have been unleashed within Russia, in the insurgency in Chechnya, and in Syria, where Al Qaeda-linked fighters financed by Saudi Arabia and armed by Washington have killed dozens, if not hundreds, of Russian soldiers and advisers. In one particularly bloody incident, US warplanes incinerated an estimated 200 Russian soldiers, designated as pro-Assad mercenaries in order to avoid admitting there had been a direct military clash between two nuclear-armed powers.

Not a word of this bloody record appears in the media screeds about Putins bounties or the warhawk pronouncements of Washington politicians from both the capitalist parties.
Last week Arkansas confirmed cases of coronavirus increased by 3,227, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 19,818. The state government has been pressing forward with reopening the economy at the expense of worker safety even as confirmed cases have been rising.

Over the weekend, Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson has issued no statement on the dramatic increase in cases, nor on the 264 predominantly working class people who have been sacrificed in the name of saving the economy.

Yesterday, the Arkansas Department of Health reported three new coronavirus deaths in Benton and Washington counties for June 27. In total, Benton Countythe birthplace of retail giant Walmarthas 18 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 2,573 confirmed cases, while in neighboring Washington County, 27 deaths have been confirmed out of a current total of 3,238 cases.

An American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) report grading all 50 state governments handling of the pandemic in prisons and jails, gave Arkansas a failing grade of F+. The report, titled Failing Grades: States Responses to COVID-19 in Jails & Prisons, found that state responses ranged from disorganized or ineffective to just callously nonexistent. The data reveals that no state has done enough and that all states failed to implement a cohesive, system-wide response to protect and save lives.

As of June 22, nearly 600 prisoners and more than 50 correctional officers and staff have been infectedthe worst outbreaks so far have occurred in prisons, along with meatpacking and processing plants. The ACLU suggests that states must reduce the footprint of their criminal legal system for the sake of public health and racial justice. Regarding the grading system, other states with an F+ grade include Alabama, California, Georgia, Kansas and Oklahomastates governed by both Democrats and Republicans. No states received an A, B or C grade, according to the report.

On Friday, Arkansas Secretary of Health Dr. Nate Smith said of the new cases, nine were in correctional facilities and 669 were in the community, to which Hutchinson followed up with an acknowledgement of this being the largest increase in community spread. According to Smith, on Friday there are 5,707 active cases.

Continuing his remarks, Hutchinson said the counties with the largest number of new cases are Washington County with 122, for a total of 3,238, Pulaski County with 84 (tot. 1,810), Benton County with 68, (tot. 2,573), Sebastian County with 33 (tot. 378), Faulkner County with 31 (tot. 409), Crittenden County with 26 (tot. 696), and Pope County with 22 (tot. 402). The rest of the counties are reported to have had fewer than 20 new cases.

Dr. Smith said out of the 5,707 active cases, 108 are in nursing homes, 621 are in correctional facilities and 4,978 are community cases. From Thursday to Friday, 22 health care workers tested positive for the disease. Officials stated there were no new hospitalizations as a result.

Dr. Smith also had stated that 63 people are on ventilators in Arkansas due to the virus, three less than the previous day, Thursday. Officials stated 6,897 people were tested Thursday, bringing the states total testing to 148,380 for the month of June.

Governor Hutchinson presented statistics of people in hospitals across the state afflicted with COVID-19: northwest Arkansas, 123 patients filling 43 percent of beds; central Arkansas, 105 at 37 percent; southwest Arkansas, 23 at 8 percent; northeast Arkansas, 28 at 9 percent; and southeast Arkansas, 5 at 1 percent.

Hutchinson also presented statistics on those in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU): northwest Arkansas, 58 COVID-19 patients in an ICU filling 44 percent of capacity; central Arkansas, 43 at 33 percent capacity; southwest Arkansas, 18 at 13 percent capacity; northeast Arkansas, 2 at 1 percent capacity; and southeast Arkansas, 9 at 6 percent capacity.

Hutchinson stated there are many churches that have experienced coronavirus outbreaks. Though some churches have temporarily stopped in-person services to prevent the spread, the state has seen many churches refusing to implement the guidelines set forth by the Arkansas Department of Health. The governor said he will not regulate what churches do, and that he will just make suggestions as to what is best for church-goers.

Nearly 0.66 percent of the states population of 3,018,000 has been confirmed infected with the coronavirus. This is set to hit 1 percent, or 30,000 people, in the coming weeks. The rate at which infections are occurring in the workplace, churches, restaurants, etc., indicates that the reopening of Arkansas economy has not only been ineffective, but deadly.
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Bolivia, which reached 30,676 this Saturday, has tripled since the country began reopening economic activities less than a month ago. The speed of transmission of the disease is reaching increasingly alarming levels, having exceeded a thousand new cases on five different days over the past week.

The Bolivian health care system is collapsing across the board. About two weeks ago, images of at least six people dying of COVID-19 in the streets of cities like La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz de la Sierra were reproduced in the media.

One of the cases was identified by El Deber as Juan Carlos Ch., who died on a street in Cochabamba after seeking aid at seven hospitals and not being admitted. Making the case even more horrendous, after that, three different cemeteries refused to take his body, as they were full.

Jeanine Anez at the celebration of 194th Anniversary of Bolivian Police, June 19.

This same situation has confronted many Bolivian families, who are being forced to keep the bodies of their loved ones for days inside their homes, or to bury them in an improvised manner, threatening to spread the disease even further in the communities.

Over the past few days, a number of treatment centers and a laboratory that processes COVID-19 tests have been forced to suspend their activities after reaching maximum capacity, shortage of supplies or massive contamination among their employees.

Health professionals at the Viedma Hospital in Cochabamba, one of the affected sites, held a protest last Tuesday. The workers held signs demanding: We dont want life insurance, we want to live. One of them told Los Tiempos: The words of the governor stood in the air. We are the ones buying our protective equipment, the government hasnt given us anything.

Another one declared: We asked the authorities for an isolation center, we have several infected colleagues who are in their homes compromising their families. We ask them to perform rapid tests because we dont know who is infected.

The same conditions have led workers to protest at other hospitals in Santa Cruz and La Paz. The absence of safe conditions is leading to substantial deaths of health care workers. Last Thursday alone, four doctors died from COVID-19 in Santa Cruz, bringing the official number of health care workers killed by the disease in the country to 48.

The advance of the infections also threatens the nearly 60 indigenous territories in Bolivia, most of them surrounded by municipalities with registered cases. Several territories have denounced the authorities for having abandoned them without access to health care or government bonuses. According to Miguel Vargas Delgado, director of the Center for Legal Studies and Social Research, the indigenous peoples, without exaggeration, are at risk of disappearing.

The coup regime led by Jeanine Anez has responded to the deadly spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bolivia with the escalation of its irresponsible reopening of the economy.

The government announced on Wednesday the creation of the so-called National Program of Reactivation of Employment, with the declared aim of reactivating the Bolivian economy. It creates a fund of 30 billion Bolivianos (about US$4.3 billion) to support programs transferring wealth to financial markets and corporations and financing public works and housing loans.

However, the police-state measures that have been implemented by the government under the pretext of enforcing quarantines are not being suspended; on the contrary.

In a June 19 event celebrating the 194th anniversary of the Bolivian Police, Anez, who was awarded with the order of the Gran Cruz, said: The moment we are approaching will be [the polices] turn to lead, together with its people, the construction of the necessary environment to reactivate the economy of the country and of Bolivian homes.

The blame for the social and health catastrophe is being diverted by the government with increasing accusations against its opponents. Anez attributed the collapse of hospitals to the precarious state of the health care system bequeathed by the administration of deposed President Evo Morales of the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS). And the growing accusations of corruption over the governments purchase of 170 ventilators were characterized by Anez as fruit of a network of conspiracy involving the MAS.

These accusations add to reactionary attempts to attribute a terrorist character to the political opposition that would justify using force to maintain the regime established with the military coup that overthrew Morales last November.

The protests and blockades erected in May by poor workers in Kara Kara, south of Cochabamba, against the governments starvation policy during the quarantine, have become the target of intense political persecution. Last week, two people were arrested as alleged leaders of the protests in Kara Kara, one of them a MAS candidate for deputy, Lucy Escobar, and were charged with assault on public health, terrorism and terrorist financing.

The holding for a few hours of a police officer, who apparently entered the Kara Kara blockade by mistake, was characterized by government minister Arturo Murillo as a kidnapping personally ordered by narco-terrorist Evo Morales. On his Twitter account, Murillo said that Morales searches for death to convulse the country.

On different occasions, Murillo and Anez repeated the slogan that Bolivia has two possible roads: the first is that of the MAS and evismo, which they associate with terrorism, political violence and the division of Bolivians, and the second is us.

The threat of the coup regime remaining in power indefinitely was underscored over the past week. After a series of postponements, Anez announced June 21 her agreement to hold new elections in September. However, she affirmed to have made her decision under pressure from her opposition, both the MAS and Carlos Mesa, candidate for Comunidad Ciudadana. They now should courageously assume the responsibility that they have for demanding with such insistence that there be elections in the middle of a pandemic, she declared.

But already on Tuesday, hours after the enactment of the election law, the government made a new and contradictory statement. The national head of epidemiology at the Ministry of Health, Virgilio Prieto, said in an interview that, due to the prospects of growth of the pandemic and collapse of hospitals, we may not even go to the polls.

Bolivian workers, peasants and the indigenous population are seriously threatened by the criminal policies of Anezs reactionary government in response to the pandemic and its efforts to fortify the dictatorial regime.

But opposition to this threat can be mounted only by means of the independent political mobilization of the working class and a break with the political opposition headed by the MAS, which plays the role of paving the way for the reaction. Morales reaffirmed last week that the need of the moment is for a national dialog for reconciliation (with the forces that promoted the coup) and building a post-pandemic economic agenda.
In the first week of June, Rossieli Soares, the secretary of education of Sao Paulo, Brazils largest industrial state, announced the purchase of millions of dollars of digital equipment for teachers, to be subsidized by the World Bank. This initiative follows the model developed by this agency of international financial capitalin partnership with billionaire philanthropists like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, as well as giant education companiesto put in place low-cost private education programs in Asia and Africa.

Persistently high student dropout rates were already widespread in schools throughout Brazil before the coronavirus pandemic. Exactly how millions of dollars worth of digital equipment, to be paid for by the workers themselves through cuts in education programs, wages and jobs, will bring impoverished students back to schoolwhether virtual or notis left unexplained by Soares.

According to a survey by APEOESP, the Sao Paulo teachers union, using reports sent by teachers, an average of only 25 percent of students are participating in online classes. According to the state governments own data, only 47 percent of students had access to the distance learning app created during the pandemic for state schools.

Rio Grande do Sul teachers protesting over delayed wages and working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic (Credit: CPERS)

Moreover, while this policy is carried out, education officials in both the government and the private sector are warning that the social and economic impact of the pandemic will provoke an enormous increase in student drop-out rates. In 2014, a survey of 271 institutions by the Brazilian Distance Learning Association (Abed) found that, among the obstacles to adequate learning, student evasion was the most cited, with 116 institutions declaring it as the biggest impediment. The main reason for the dropouts was the lack of time for students who had to work.

A 2018 study by the education NGO Todos pela Educacao found that 36.5 percent of all 19-year-olds in Brazil had not finished high school, a percentage that corresponds to 1.2 million young people, indicating widespread financial pressures that force youth out of education.

The fact that the pandemic intensified pressures on poor students to miss classes or abandon school completely in order to help with household expenses is ignored by the government, as well as the education NGOs and private education companies.

The World Bank loan to subsidize the acquisition of thousands of tablets and computers by teachers was promoted as a way to facilitate their work. Under conditions of increased financial hardship and mass unemployment, the loan, to be paid for by the workers themselves, is designed to introduce new obligations on the digital platforms for an already overwhelmed and ever-poorer workforce.

Such platforms will be made tools not for better teaching, but to widen performance evaluations, which will be implemented through mass measurable criteria. These criteria are designed by the same private sector organizations that have been campaigning with high-level government education officials and representatives of international financial interests for more distance learning platforms and large-scale exams.

Amazonas, Brazils largest state, was used as a model for distance learning. Having its entire territory located inside the Amazon rainforest, the state started its program in 2007 due to difficult access to thousands of isolated riverside and indigenous communities. Sao Paulos current secretary of education, Soares, was Amazonas secretary of education during two administrations, and was later appointed as secretary of basic education in the federal government, playing a key role in the national pro-market high school reform approved in 2017. In 2018, he became minister of education during President Michel Temers acceleration of the austerity measures which had been initiated under the Workers Party (PT) government of Dilma Rousseff.

In the beginning of April, Joao Doria, the ultra-right governor of Sao Paulo, who has been promoted during the COVID-19 pandemic as a champion of science and reason against Brazils fascistic president, Jair Bolsonaro, and commended by PT former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, announced cynically: So that no student is excluded, the four major telecommunications companiesClaro, Vivo, Oi and Timreached a deal with the government providing free internet access.

Similar deals were reached in the Federal District and the state of Parana. The distance learning platform developed by the Sao Paulo Education Secretary (Seduc), expected to be used by a million high school students, is based on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud, which, according to the state government, is being provided at no cost.

The real meaning of these deals is shown by Dorias record of intense cuts and privatizations along with the simultaneous contribution of hundreds of millions in donations from big business during his brief one-year mandate as mayor of Sao Paulos capital in 2017. In the first three months of his administration, Doria announced 255 million reais (US$81.5 million) in donations, including 15 million reais (US$4.8 million) from Microsoft toward access to its online education platforms and training for teachers. Later he would announce the use of only 18 percent of the citys annual budget for investments, the lowest in 10 years, having used a mere 7.5 percent by July.

Both the high rate of school dropouts and its social causes have been seen for years as an opportunity to place students in a lucrative market of private schools for low-income families and, more recently, the market of distance learning and gamified learning.

A study published in 2009 by the Getulio Vargas Foundations Center of Social Policies (CPS), in partnership with the NGOs Educar Dpaschoal Foundation, Todos pela Educacao and the Unibanco Institute, declared that among the main reasons for school dropouts were restrictions on income and [access to] the credit market which prevent people from exploring the high payback provided by education in the long term.

The study offers as a solution providing education credit, awarding of scholarships or the transfer of conditioned income. In other words, student dropouts are to be exploited as a lucrative market through exploiting the calamitous state of public education and offering a supposedly better quality education in the private sector. During the last decade, these efforts assumed the form of propping up distance learning and technology-based learning, and took a significant step forward with the approval of the high school reform of 2017.

The expansion of standardized testing took a new step in the beginning of May with the approval of a yearly edition of an originally bi-yearly nationwide set of evaluations, known as Saeb, created to track student performance in public and private schools. Moreover, for high schools, the test will become a new type of national admissions exam for federal and state universities, becoming a parallel version of the current exam, the ENEM.

Former minister of education Abraham Weintraub, who last week left the Bolsonaro government to alleviate its growing political crisis, had campaigned to keep the November date for the ENEM exam unchanged. However, Weintraub was forced to concede after the Senate approved postponing the date by an almost unanimous vote on May 19. Since the beginning of the pandemic, students have opposed maintaining the original date. By May 14, a petition created by the Maoist Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB)-controlled student union, National Union of Students (UNE), had gathered 170,000 signatures.

The resistance to changing the date of the ENEM was driven by the private schools in Brazil, which differentiate themselves from public ones by supposedly better preparing students for the exam. They are seeking to be reopen as quickly as possible, since they were forced to give discounts on tuition because of both the online teaching and the loss of income by the students parents. The daily Folha de S. Paulo reported on June 1 that up to 50 percent of small- and medium-sized schools may go bankrupt because of the pandemic.

At the same time, the maintenance of the ENEM date and the pressure to reopen the schools are part of the back-to-work campaign. In the beginning of last month, Weintraub said that maintaining the date was a pressure so that the governors will act to reopen the economy.

Weintraub conceded to the demand for a postponement in the midst of an intense political crisis that immediately revolves around the tactical disputes between Bolsonaro and his closest ministers, many of whom are active and retired military officers, and sections of Congress and the Federal Supreme Court (STF). These disputes are rooted in the fear that the grossly indifferent and criminal response of the Bolsonaro administration to the COVID-19 pandemic, now repeated by the state governors, will create an uprising from below that escapes the control of all capitalist organizations and institutions, including the pseudo left. The almost weekly oscillations in the politics of a return to work and now the reversal on postponing the ENEM after months of intransigence expresses this anxiety in ruling circles.

Brazil recently rose to second place in terms of total COVID-19 deaths and has the highest rate of increase in infections. Meanwhile, the massive protests against police violence in the United States are assuming an ever more international character, threatening to inspire an escalation of the uprisings that shook South America last year.

During the pandemic, many states throughout the country made deals with communications and education conglomerates and companies to implement distance learning, and have been promoting their respective campaigns for a return to work. This includes Camilo Santana, the PT state governor of Ceara, and Flavio Dino, the PCdoB state governor of Maranhao. On June 10, Dino stated that there are advances that can allow at the moment the opening of private activities.

In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, where Governor Eduardo Leite is now pushing for the opening of schools, a small number of education workers went to the governors building to protest, with one of their signs reading Schools closed mean lives saved! Leite is continuing the policy of almost five years of paying teachers wages in installments, delays in payments and wage freezes.

There is widespread opposition to these policies, not only in Rio Grande do Sul, but throughout the country. In Buzios, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, teachers planned a 72-hour strike on the online platforms after the education and administration staffs were called to go to school to discuss resuming classes. In Fortaleza, capital of the state of Ceara, strikes by education workers are also scheduled against the back-to-work campaign.

In Sao Paulo, Doria announced on June 24 that the state plans to bring 13 million students, from kindergarten to college, back to school starting on September 8. During the announcement of the plan, the secretary of education, Soares, promised cosmetic measures to prevent the transmission of coronavirus in schools, such as the use of masks, social distancing and sanitation protocols, but did not refer to teachers, students and school employees being tested.

Teachers who followed Dorias announcement of the plan on social media promptly responded in the comments section, writing, No vaccine, no back to work! and calling for a Strike for Life!

Teachers, students and their parents should reject all efforts by capitalist governments for a premature return to work and schools that threatens to worsen an already catastrophic situation caused by the pandemic in Brazil. The Brazilian Socialist Equality Group (in solidarity with the International Committee of the Fourth International) calls on teachers to build rank-and-file safety committees to save their lives and those of their students and families.
BT (British Telecom) is using the COVID-19 pandemic to step up long planned measures to push through massive job cuts and restructuring.

Two years ago, BT first announced its Better Workplace Programme restructuring operation and last June confirmed its intention to reduce its 300 sites down to 30. As part of the downsizing, BT will vacate its site in London in St Pauls, which had been its headquarters since the privatised company was set up in 1984.

BT employs over 100,000 staff. The reduction in the number of offices comes on top of proposals to cut its workforce by around 13,000, first announced in 2018.

BT CEO Philip Jansen, who took over in February 2019, vowed to continue the restructuring programme begun by his predecessor, Gavin Patterson. Quoted in an I article in May last year, Jansen confirmed that BT was set on a five-year cost-cutting plan to save 2 billion. The article stated, [A]sked during the interview if the companys headcount would be around 10 per cent lower after the restructuring plan had been implemented, Jansen replied this would not be a stupid assumption. The job cuts would come as BT introduces more automation in the businesses, with Jansen speaking of the necessity to end outdated practices.

A June 2019 Reuters report quoted a BT spokesperson boasting, BTs workplace improvement and consolidation programme is the biggest of its type ever undertaken in the UK and is expected to complete by 2023. Eight of its new proposed offices with contact centres would be located in Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Ipswich, London and Manchester.

BTs share price is down by nearly 40 percent this year, but some investors have taken advantage of the low price to snap up shares, expecting the restructuring to pay big dividends. A June 21 thismoney website article noted that the Saudi Arabian government sovereign wealth fund had recently bought BT shares.

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) has issued a series of statements on the plans, with the union concerned only how they can be implemented without provoking a rebellion among the workforce.

A report on the CWUs site of June 18 notes, BT Groups shock decision at the end of last month to attack redundancy and paid leaver terms by serving notice on the 2018 Pension Agreementa development made all the more provocative by the timing of the announcement which fell on the eve of the first ever compulsory redundancy of a team member grade employee.

Chris Power, of South East Central Branch, states, At the moment my branch has had one member go on compulsory redundancy from Enterprise. There are six more scheduled to go at the end of August In total weve got about 20 who will be made redundant against their will in our branch alone You have to wonder how many hundreds, if not thousands, more of our members are going to be made redundant in the coming months.

In response, the unions BT committee has agreed to a twin-track approach, under which talks will take place with the company in an attempt to defuse the biggest threat to decades of industrial peace since privatisation.

Weve already given the company every opportunity to see sense and change its position on the compulsory redundancies taking place in Enterprisetime and again proving that the surplus could be addressed in a different way, and saving a significant number of jobs in the processbut at this point in time they are not responding in the right manner. BT Enterprise was formed in April 2018 and brings together BTs business, public sector and wholesale and ventures businesses.

The CWU declared its aim is an acceptable way forward that meets the needs of both the business and employees. Only then does it raise the suggestion that if theres no way through to an agreement with the company, we will have no option but to ballot for industrial action.

Workers can have no faith in the CWU, which has spent the last years suppressing struggles by its members, including national strike action, which had been voted for twice by huge majorities at Royal Mail.

What is most revealing about the CWUs response is the citing of the extraordinary levels it has gone to over the past 30 years to cement its partnership with BT. A February 7 statement headlined, Stop this madness, CWU tell BT as one compulsory redundancy notice is issued, declares, A massive threat to more than three decades of industrial peace in BT took a dramatic and dangerous turn for the worse on Wednesday [February 5] as Enterprise division management issued the first compulsory redundancy notice ever to have been served to a team member grade employee in BT group.

It continued, The highly inflammatory move represents a huge escalation in what was already recognised to be the most serious challenge the union has faced in BT since the 1987 national strike.

The CWU stressed the role played over the years in enabling BT to cut jobs through voluntary redundancy. It stated that Enterprises bombshell that 367 jobs were at risk in November last year had triggering CWU fury as the company were refusing to commit to deal with the surplus using time-honoured protocols based on voluntarism which have seen more than 100,000 leave BT since privatisation without the need for a single forced exit

The CWU extolled the middle management role of the union, stating that in recent weeks it has repeatedly been the union, not management that has been doing most of the heavy lifting to get the number of at risk individuals down

CWU Deputy General Secretary Andy Kerr complained of the obvious lunacy of any suggestion that a company the size of BT cannot find alternative roles for a comparatively tiny surplus in Enterprise that pales into insignificance compared to the huge headcount reductions that have repeatedly taken place across BT, with the full co-operation of the CWU since privatisation.

The main concern of the CWU is to prove to BT it can be continued to be relied on to help smoothly implement the upcoming attacksCalling on management to stop pouring petrol on a fire that threatens to burn out of control if more compulsory redundancy notices are served in the coming weeks, Andy concludes: This is not a fight that the CWU has brought onin fact weve done everything we possibly can to avert it by identifying practical solutions that can and do exist.

In a final reassurance, Kerr insisted, the CWU is committed to work with the company to achieve everything it wants without creating a needless industrial relations and staff morale crisis.

BT workers seeking a way to oppose the attacks on jobs and conditions must take the fight into their own hands or see thousands of more jobs lost and devastating attacks on their conditions and pensions. A vital step in opposing these plans is the establishing of workplace committees independent of the CWU to take this fight forward.
First batch of 4 Rafale jets to arrive by July-end

New Delhi, Jun 28 (UNI) Amid rising tension between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, first batch of four Rafale fighter jets will fly to India in the last week of July.

The four Rafale aircraft are scheduled to depart from France on July 27 and fly to India with a stopover at the Al Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a defence source said.

There was a possibility of one more aircraft being delivered but was not confirmed yet, a second source said.
Three Republican Senators introduced a bill on June 23 that would force tech companies to allow US law enforcement back door access to encrypted data and communications on consumer electronic devices and applications.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (Republican from South Carolina), US Senators Tom Cotton (Republican from Arkansas) and Marsha Blackburn (Republican from Tennessee) proposed the draft bill called the Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act. The senators called the measure a balanced solution to bolster national security that would end what they call the warrant proof encryption on smartphones, tablets and computers that is used by terrorists and other bad actors to conceal illicit behavior.

The press release accompanying the introduction of the bill says that it would require service providers and device manufacturers to provide assistance to law enforcement when access to encrypted devices or data is necessarybut only after a court issues a warrant, based on probable cause that a crime has occurred, authorizing law enforcement to search and seize the data.

As has been repeatedly argued by the tech industry and data security experts, there is no way to develop lawful access to encryption without breaking the entire system that is now being usedespecially in the wake of revelations of illegal government surveillance of electronic communicationsby billions of people around the world.

Stopping short of naming specific companiessuch as Apple, which has so far refused to grant the FBI or local police departments access to encrypted data on its iPhonesCotton said of the bill, Tech companies increasing reliance on encryption has turned their platforms into a new, lawless playground of criminal activity. Criminals from child predators to terrorists are taking full advantage. This bill will ensure law enforcement can access encrypted material with a warrant based on probable cause and help put an end to the Wild West of crime on the internet.

Senator Cottons aggressive support for law enforcement access to the everyones encrypted information comes as no surprise. His advocacy for what will undoubtedly become a wild west of state attacks on Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures is of a piece with his recent call to send in the troops to restore order to our streets during the protests against police violence across the country.

The draft bill has three components. The first is that it provides the US Department of Justice (DoJ) the authority to require the largest hardware manufacturers, computer and mobile device operating system developers and communications providers to comply with directives to decrypt data upon request. The new law applies to tech companies that sold at least 1 million systems to consumers or had at least 1 million monthly active users in 2016 or any year thereafter.

Second, these qualifying companies must figure out for themselves how to solve the technical problems in complying with a DoJ directive. While the companies can subcontract the solution for law enforcement access to encrypted data to a third party, the firms are required to bear the costs associated with the development of the capability required.

Last, in a back-handed acknowledgement that the entire conception of law enforcement-only access to encryption is fundamentally flawed, the law absurdly offers a Prize Competitiona cash payment of an unspecified amountfor a winning individual, group, organization or university based in the US that finds solutions providing law enforcement access to encrypted data pursuant to legal process.

Responding to the introduction of the bill, Attorney General William Barr said, I am confident that our world-class technology companies can engineer secure products that protect user information and allow for lawful access. In fact, Barrs influence on the bill is obvious as there is a section of it that repeats more or less verbatim the novel legal arguments made by the attorney general last summer against the Fourth Amendment.

The Silicon Valley tech corporations issued a combined statement on Thursday through an organization called Reform Government Surveillance (RGS), which stated, The Reform Government Surveillance coalition strongly opposes the Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act. This bill would require companies to build encryption backdoors that would jeopardize the sensitive data of our billions of users and the security of our products and services. It would leave all Americans, businesses, and government agencies dangerously exposed to cyber threats from criminals and foreign adversaries and make us all less safe.

The global pandemic has forced everyone to rely on the internet in critical ways, making digital security more important than ever before for our economy and national security. Strong encryption provides users, businesses, and our government with the important tools they need to keep us protected.

Members of RGS include Apple, Facebook, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, Microsoft, DropBox and Snap, Inc and was founded in 2013 in response to the exposure by former intelligence analyst and NSA contractor Edward Snowden of mass US government surveillance of the public.

In a tweet the evening that the bill was introduced, Will Cathcart, head of the Facebook-owned WhatsApp, wrote, At a time when cyberthreats from criminals, hackers, and nation states are on the rise, our nation's leaders should not be calling on companies to weaken the encryption that allows us to communicate privately and securely. WhatsApp is an end-to-end encrypted communications platform and has 1.5 billion monthly active usersthe majority of whom live outside the USmaking it the most popular mobile messenger app in the world.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) said of the proposed Republican bill, The bill is sweeping in scope. It gives the government the ability to demand these backdoors in connection with a wide range of surveillance orders in criminal and national security cases, including Section 215 of the Patriot Act, a surveillance law so controversial that Congress cant agree whether it should be reauthorized.

The conflict between the tech companies and the Trump administrationas well as the Obama administration before itgoes back to 2015-2016 when Apple refused to assist the FBI in breaking the encryption on one of the iPhones of the San Bernardino shooters. As has been the case with each of the increasing claims that federal authorities must have unfettered access to encrypted data on-demand to fight child sex traffickers and terrorists, in the end, the FBI was able to hack the San Bernardino shooters phone.

The struggle to stop the US government assault on Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures as it pertains to encrypted private information and communications cannot be left in the hands of the tech monopolies. Motivated by global market share and competitive considerations against rival manufacturers, software developers and communications platforms from other countries, especially China, the corporate decision-makers in Silicon Valley will ultimately drop their rejection of back door access when it comes down to state ultimatums regarding the protection of American national security interests.

Only the mobilization of the international working class on the basis of the struggle against capitalism and for socialism can defend and protect the democratic rights of the people against intrusions by both the state and the tech giants.
Nearly 41 percent of lecturers at the University of Michigan Flint have been laid off since the university reported an $8.4 million budget shortfall.

Jennifer Hogan, a university spokeswoman, recently left a comment for a local NBC affiliate, stating, The pandemic has now exacerbated the situation and the university is preparing for a fiscal year 2020/2021 shortfall requiring significant budget cuts. The university has also suffered a steady decline in enrollment, which has increased the financial pressure on it.

Hogan explained that the cuts include salary reductions, voluntary furloughs impacting 16 percent of staff, reorganization of administration departments and layoffs of administrative staff, cancellation of certain contracts and projects, and a spending and hiring freeze. Thirteen percent of the staff cuts are full layoffs and 7 percent are non-reappointments.

Laura MacIntyre

The cutting of lecturers at U-M Flint by almost 41 percent will have severe consequences for the university. Laura MacIntyre, a lecturer in the sociology department and resident of Flint, stated, We were already in a precarious position. The horrible conditions that already exist are being exacerbated.

MacIntyre continued, Even with a union, we have sh*tty working conditions. Were supposed to have one of the best contracts in the country, so what does this mean for other lecturers in other parts of the United States?

MacIntyre is considered partially laid off. Her contract is 50 percent, which means she has a 50/50 chance of employment.

I was not offered any classes for the spring or summer semester, and I have a feeling that my fall classes will be canceled, she said. Explaining the use of the term lecturer at U-M Flint, she continued: In another system we would be called adjuncts. The lecturer designation is 1984 double-speak.

When asked about her income from teaching at the university, MacIntyre said, Its very hard to know what my income will be because of the cancellation policy, which was there before the pandemic. Last year I made $18,000, and that included the $10,000 increase the union got us. I actually qualify for food stamps and Medicaid, so with this job, Im living in poverty.

MacIntyre also discussed the compounding effect of the water crisis in Flint: Im one of the many still suffering from the Flint water crisis. Ive developed rheumatoid arthritis along with other health issues that have become prevalent among residents here.

The University of Michigan administration and regents recently voted to increase tuition across its campuses. For students at Flint, this will make the university even less accessible. Commenting on this issue, MacIntyre told the World Socialist Web Site, I think higher education is over for the working classfor anyone who is not elite and going to Harvard, Princeton or Yale. Its a debt system for the rest of us.

She continued, Our students are taught by workers who are in such precarious positions, and then were expected to perform a miracle.

Kenneth Litwin

MacIntyre also raised the issue of teaching in an online format beginning in the winter semester earlier this year: When COVID-19 happened, we were expected without any prep or compensation to transfer our entire class online. To revamp a class mid-semester is not fair to the professor and certainly not to the students. She noted that students were not given any reimbursement or compensation when the classes switched to online.

MacIntyre was one of many lecturers asked to take an intensive online development course over the summer, with no pay, in order to teach online courses. My department demanded that I take it so I could teach online. We were coerced to work an additional 1013 hours each week with no pay for seven weeks.

Dr. Kenneth Litwin, an associate professor in criminal justice at U-M Flint, raised issues related to accessibility to higher education and the burden of student debt. State funding of universities is declining, he said. That puts more pressure on universities to fill the money that was coming in with increased tuition, which makes it more difficult to access.

When I hear my students talk about the kind of student loans they have, it breaks my heart. I dont want them to be punished for the rest of their life because they are not wealthy enough to pay for it up front. I look up and I see future suffering in their faces.

In connection with the socio-economic position of Flint students, Litwin explained that many of his students are nontraditional and have more work or family responsibilities than students at U-M Ann Arbor, which has a more middle class and upper-middle class student body. Litwin also noted that some students are dealing with the long-term health consequences of the lead poisoning of Flints water supply.

He condemned what he described as not only an institutional problem, but a system that produces and deepens inequality. Its just heartbreaking to know there are these additional burdens placed on very intelligent, very passionate, very capable people who can do so much in this world, but are just so burden-laiden because they dont have the economic privilege to not be put in that position.

He described higher education as accessible but with shackles, and made the comment, Student loans are just a way to punish people who arent rich enough to pay for college themselves.

Litwin also raised the One University or 1U campaign that was launched by students and faculty across U-Ms three campuses to create more parity between each campus. The U-M name is on all campuses, and the university has financial resources that are available to use. They can choose to distribute those resources.

There is a significant disparity in funding between the campuses, with U-M Ann Arbor receiving about 200 percent the amount of state funding per student that goes to the Dearborn or Flint campuses. However, at a time when higher education is deprived of funding across the country, the solution to the funding crisis must go far beyond the call for redistributing existing resources within a single university system.

Across U-Ms three campuses there will be an estimated $400 million to $1 billion in losses by the end of the year. This is in line with a nearly universal trend among colleges and universities, which have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis has slashed state revenues. At the same time, revenues have been cut as a result of the suspension of sources of income such as sports, while measures required to control the spread of the virus have increased expenses.

Critical funding issues in higher education existed long before the 2020 pandemic. Budget cuts have been a nationwide phenomenon since the 2008 Wall Street crash and recession. Under both Republicans and Democrats, the US has allocated vast resources to bail out the major banks and corporations, provide tax cuts for the rich, militarize the police and the US-Mexican border, and wage predatory imperialist wars.

Even during the pandemic, when resources are desperately needed to fund health care systems and provide financial assistance to workers, the bipartisan CARES Act has demonstrated that the priority of the ruling class is to protect and increase the wealth of the financial aristocracy, to the tune of trillions of dollars.

The city of Flint is a constant reminder of the agenda of the ruling elite, under Democrats no less than Republicans. Deindustrialization, huge cuts to schools and social programs, and the poisoning of an entire citysuch is the recent history of Flint. The city exemplifies the real state of social conditions for the working class under American capitalism.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to announce later this week his intention to annex the most important parts of the Palestinian West Bank, which Israel has illegally occupied since the 1967 war with its Arab neighbours.

The cabinet is to meet to approve the move, set for July 1, after it gets the green light from US President Donald Trump.

Last January, Trump, in his so-called deal of the century, gave Washingtons stamp of approval for Israels Greater Israel policy including its annexation of settlements built on Palestinian land as well as other parts of the West Bank Israel deems essential for its security.

Israeli and Arab women block a road during a protest against Israel's planned annexation of the Jordan Valley, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, June 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

It would end all pretence that the Palestinians will ever be given control of even the truncated territories that presently make up the Palestinian Authority (PA)a series of disconnected Bantustans in just 15 percent of historical Palestine. President Mahmoud Abbas PA, which rules parts of the West Bank and functions as Israels subcontractor in suppressing the Palestinians, rejected the deal.

Netanyahu himself rejected the part of the plan calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state and the freezing of any expansion of Israeli settlements in areas to be included in that state. This is anathema to his right-wing political base. Indeed, some ultra-nationalist factions have opposed the partial annexation, fearing that they imply implicit support for a Palestinian state.

Netanyahus move is a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions. Enacted in the wake of the Second World War to prevent the repetition of similar actions carried out by Germanys Nazi regime, they outlaw the annexation of territory captured in war. But successive Israeli governments, protected by the US veto in the United Nations Security Council, have long acted in defiance of these and other international laws.

His plan, yet to be precisely defined, includes not only the settlement blocs around Jerusalem, enabling their rapid expansion, but also the 105 kilometre long Jordan Valleythe most fertile half of the West Bankas far as the northern Dead Sea area. The Jordan Valley is presently part of Area C that under the 1993 Oslo Accords was temporarily under military rule before being transferred to the PA in 1999. Area C has remained for decades under Israels military control.

The annexation of the Jordan Valley would mean Israels takeover of some 30 percent of the West Bank and the total encirclement of what remains of the Palestinian West Bank, making even a mini-statelet unviable. Most Palestinian farmers, who are not connected to the water grid, would be unable to access the Jordan River and would have to buy water from tankers. Jericho, the main Palestinian city in the Jordan valley, with about 28 villages and small Bedouin communities, would not be annexed, leaving it isolated and cut off from the rest of the West Bank.

The proposed annexation of the Jordan Valley is about 30 percent larger at 1,236 square kilometres than the area outlined in Trumps January 2020 plan of around 964 square kilometres.

Since those Palestinians living in the area would not be given Palestinian citizenship, if allowed to remain, annexation would entail a nakedly apartheid-style system of rule.

September 2019 annexation proposal by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Orange area of map: Jordan Valley area to be annexed by Israel. White area of map: Rest of the West Bank, including Jericho.

This has been prepared by measures enacted by the Netanyahu government, including the Nation-State Law enshrining Jewish supremacy as the legal foundation of the state. The law provides the framework for an apartheid state that would ghettoize the Palestinians, who comprise nearly half of the total population of Israel and the occupied territories, taken as a whole.

Such a system can only be accomplished by stepped up repressionwithin Israel and across the occupied territoriesand Israeli military rule in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Trumps deal of the century is bound up with his campaign of maximum pressure on Iran, in which Israel plays a vital role along with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, and his quest for US hegemony in the resource-rich Middle East as part of his plans to isolate China, viewed as an existential threat to Washingtons geostrategic interests.

Netanyahus plans are tantamount to a declaration of war against the Palestinians and a broader war in the Middle East, where Israelthe strongest military power in the regionacts as Washingtons proxy force. It has stoked dissent within Israel as some in the military-intelligence establishment warn of the explosive consequences.

Palestinians have taken to the streets to protest the annexation plans. On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) blocked roads leading to the village of Bardala, while at the Hamra and Tayasir checkpoints that control the routes between the West Bank and Jordan Valley, soldiers refused to allow non-residents of the Jordan Valley to cross.

An IDF spokesperson said that its roadblocks were part of the preparations against protests that turn into violent riots and friction with residents of Bardala and Tubas.

On Friday, the IDF carried out air strikes in response to two rockets fired from the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, the bourgeois clerical group.

On June 18, a protest of Israeli and Arab women against the planned annexationthat included blocking a roadwas organised in Tel Aviv by the Women Wage Peace movement. On Saturday, Combatants for Peace held a protest of Palestinian and Israeli activists at the Almog junction, north of the Dead Sea, where at least one person was arrested. But the largest demonstration took place on Monday, when thousands attended a rally organised by the PA in Jericho.

The IDF set up roadblocks to prevent access to the protest, provoking angry clashes. The protest was attended by the PAs Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, the UNs Middle East Envoy Nickolay Mladenov, and foreign diplomats, including the ambassadors of the European Union (EU), China, Russia, Jordan and other Arab states.

Israels neighbours, Egypt and Jordan, whose population is largely of Palestinian descent, fear that any instability in the Palestinian territories could spill over into their own unstable countries. Last week, Netanyahu despatched the Mossad chief Meir Cohen to discuss the annexation plan with Jordans King Abdullah, who has warned of a massive conflict if Netanyahu went ahead with his plans.

Speaking at the UN Security Council Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Mladenov urged Israel to abandon its plans, warning that they threatened the prospects for peace with the Palestinians.

France, Germany and the UK joined other European members of the UN Security Council in echoing these statements, and said they would refuse to recognise Israels sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, with calls from some European parliamentarians for sanctions or a boycott against products made in the settlements.

Mladenov was explicit about the fears among the major European powers, which have a long record of opposing Israeli aggression against the Palestinians but doing nothing in practice. Hinting at the severe economic and social hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, coming atop of decades of brutal suppression, he warned that the Israel/Palestine conflict has been marked by periods of extreme violence, but never before has the risk of escalation been accompanied by a political horizon so distant, an economic situation so fragile and a region so volatile.

While Trump had indicated his consent to Netanyahus annexation plans, which play well with his evangelical Christian base of support as Novembers presidential elections approach, he faces divisions within his administration.

On Thursday, Kellyanne Conway, a senior White House adviser, said that Trump would be making a big announcement on the issue, but such is the disagreement and haggling going on between the White House, the Pentagon and State Department that discussions have continued with no agreement and no public statement.

The resolution of the terrible situation confronting Palestinian and Israeli workers alike cannot be left with the regions ruling class and the imperialist powers. They must unite with their class brothers and sisters across the region and internationally in a struggle to put an end to capitalism on a world scale and reorganise society on a socialist basis.
An ongoing protest against police violence in Louisville, Kentucky was attacked Saturday night by what police say was a lone gunman, who fired more than a dozen rounds at demonstrators, killing one young man.

Tyler Gerth, 27, of Louisville was killed in the shooting that took place at about 9:00 p.m. Saturday night at Jefferson Square Park in the downtown area. A second person was reportedly wounded in the shooting but not severely.

Police found the man they believe to be the shooter but have yet to identify him. The Louisville Courier Journal, however, reported Sunday afternoon that the shooter is 23-year-old Steven Lopez. Police said they had been previously aware of the alleged shooter, noting that he had been asked several times to leave the demonstration by protesters because of disruptive behavior.

Lopez had been arrested on June 17 and charged that morning with inciting a riot, disorderly conduct, harassment and possession of drug paraphernalia. His citation noted he was in possession of a handgun with two full mags of ammo at the time of the arrest, the Course Journal reported.

The question then is if Lopez had been charged with such crimes, why did the police release him? Neither police nor city officials have so far offered an answer.

Police Chief Robert Schroeder admitted that the alleged shooter had been arrested a couple of times in the past several weeks. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said the suspect had been wounded and is hospitalized but did not go into details.

The demonstration Saturday night was likely more than a bit on edge after armed right-wing militia groups posted on social media plans to come that night for a counterdemonstration. Despite the posts, no counterdemonstrators appeared.

A graduate of the University of Kentucky and an aspiring photographer, Tyler Gerth had been active in the demonstrations.

It was this sense of justice that drove Tyler to be part of the peaceful demonstrations advocating for the destruction of the systemic racism within our societys systems, Gerths family said in statement. This, combined with his passion for photography, led to a strong need within him to be there, documenting the movement, capturing and communicating the messages of peace and justice."

A vigil was held for Gerth Sunday night on the public square where he was killed.

Louisville has become a center of the demonstrations against police violence after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month. Floyds killing fueled ongoing protests over the March 13 killing of 26-year-old African American emergency medical technician Breonna Taylor by three Louisville police officers.

Protesters have been at Jefferson Square Park since May 28 demanding that criminal charges be brought against Taylors killers. Protesters had established a camp site at the park, but police took Saturdays shooting as an opportunity to roughly seize and carry off camping equipment. Camping has now been forbidden.

The community that was built there is not ending because they decided to throw us out, Shameka Parrish-Wright said at a Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression press conference on Sunday morning. We will be back. Were going to come back stronger, and were not going to give up.

Taylor was shot to death by Louisville police, who conducted a no-knock warrant at her apartment. She was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, when the police burst in without identifying themselves, as is allowed with no-knock warrants.

Walker, who suspected the police were intruders, had his own gun and fired once hitting one officer in the leg. Taylor was struck eight times in a hail of 10 shots fired by plainclothes Detective Brett Hankison.

Hankison, who was fired earlier this month for wantonly and blindly firing 10 shots in the apartment, has not been charged with any crime.

The Louisville police also have yet to answer for a shooting during protests on June 1 in which a National Guard solider shot and killed David McAtee, a popular Louisville, Kentucky restaurant owner known as the BBQ Man.

Former Police Chief Steve Conrad was fired this month in the aftermath of the shooting of McAtee, since the police officers who had accompanied the National Guard soldier had not activated their body cameras in the encounter.
On Thursday, shareholders approved the rescue package that Lufthansa has agreed with the German government. This means that the last hurdle for its acceptance has been cleared.

The government is providing 9 billion in aid to the largest German airline, which has practically come to a standstill due to the coronavirus crisis. This sum will be used to thoroughly streamline and restructure the airline.

Preliminary estimates assume that at least 22,000 of the 138,000 jobs in the company will be cut. There will also be drastic cuts in wages and working conditions. However, the measures could be even more dramatic if the consequences of the coronavirus crisis drag on for a long time.

The trade unions have not only agreed to the package, they have even called for rallies to support it. The service union Verdi and the various sectoral unions are surpassing each other with their savings proposals at the expense of the workforce.

The Independent Flight Attendants Organization (UFO) reached an agreement with Lufthansa the day before the shareholders meeting, which will bring the company savings of half a billion euros by the end of 2023. Applied to the 22,000-strong cabin crew of the parent company to which the agreement applies, this means an average loss of income of 23,000 over three and a half years!

The savings will be realised by suspending wage increases, reducing working hours with a corresponding reduction in wages, reducing contributions to company pension schemes and cutting jobs. In addition, there are voluntary measures such as unpaid leave, further reductions in working hours and early retirement. Those affected will thus not only lose a large part of their current income but also their future pension provision.

The companys only concession is that there will be no compulsory redundancies for the next four years. This hackneyed formula has been used by the unions for decades to sell drastic attacks to their members. It does not mean that jobs will be maintained, but only that redundancies will be made through natural turnover. If this proves insufficient, the company has enough means of harassment at its disposal to drive employees from the company out of disgust.

The cabin crew union UFO has conducted several strikes against Lufthansa in recent years. Now, at the stroke of a pen, it is reversing everything achieved in the past. The UFO leadership now kneels before the company like a lapdog and is celebrating the drastic savings measures as a triumph of social partnership.

UFO and Lufthansa are now proving, after years of fierce confrontation, that they can unite and act responsibly, said UFO Chairman Daniel Flohr. The procedures agreed upon in January will be terminated, some issues that arose in the conflict-laden past will from now on be handled jointly and without coercion. He sees this agreement as a sign of a regained and constructive social partnership with the UFO.

UFO negotiator Nicoley Baublies rejoiced, With this package and the further solutions found together, we are finally putting our social partnership visibly on a new foundation.

Verdi and the Cockpit Pilots Association (VC) are still negotiating cuts with Lufthansa. But there is no doubt that they are prepared to make just as massive cutbacks as UFO.

Cockpit had already offered annual savings of 350 million affecting Lufthansa pilots, Germanwings, Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Aviation Training at the end of April. The talk was of them forgoing 45 percent of their salary. In the meantime, the pilots union is negotiating a crisis package for cuts totalling 850 million by June 2022 but has not yet reached a final agreement on this.

Verdi has always served Lufthansa as its house union. Verdi deputy chair Christine Behle is also deputy chair of the Lufthansa supervisory board and has been a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) for 27 years. She was largely involved in negotiating the rescue package on behalf of the grand coalition of the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and SPD.

Shortly before the shareholders meeting, Behle assured shareholders that Verdi was also prepared to make massive cuts. There was a constructive exchange on the question of what contribution employees could make to the crisis facing the company, she said. Appropriate collective bargaining solutions were being negotiated across the group, and negotiations would continue Friday, she added.

Thursdays shareholders meeting had been preceded by a filthy show which served as a fig leaf for the unions.

Major shareholder Heinz Hermann Thiele had increased his share in Lufthansa to 15 percent, threatening to blow up the agreement with the government. Since most Lufthansa shares are widely held and less than 40 per cent of shareholders had registered for the Annual General Meeting, he could have blocked the two-thirds majority required to accept the package.

Thiele was bothered by the fact that the German government was taking over a 20 percent stake in Lufthansa as part of the rescue package (for the 9 billion it could buy the group twice over) and sending two representatives to the Supervisory Board. The 79-year-old multi-billionaire, who according to Forbes is one of the 100 richest men in the world with assets of 13 billion euros, is known for his aversion to state influence in business, his rough capitalist methods and his right-wing views.

Thieles company Knorr-Bremse, the world market leader in brakes for trains and commercial vehicles, left the employers association in 2004 and has his employees work 42 hours a week, seven hours longer than in metalworking companies bound by collective agreements. He prefers to stash his billions in tax havens.

The billionaire may reject the entrenched institutions of social partnership and have a difficult relationship with the trade unions, but he knows very well which buttons to press so that they act in his interests. No sooner had he threatened to reject the rescue package than the trade unions began a campaign in its defence. They were now able to present it as a lesser evil against the Sword of Damocles of bankruptcy (UFO) and distract from the dramatic cuts they had agreed as part of the rescue package.

VC President Markus Wahl publicly appealed to all shareholders, Register for the Annual General Meeting and approve the rescue package. Verdi also advocated acceptance of the rescue package. UFO even called for a rally during the AGM to show the shareholders present and the public that Lufthansa employees stand by the company!

Thiele would never dream of blowing up the 9 billion package, from which he would benefit most, especially when his shares would become worthless if the company went bankrupt. His concern was to increase the pressure and prepare further rounds of redundancies and cutbacks.

The billionaire is currently attempting to extend his influence over the aviation industry, which promises high profits again after the drastic cure that has now been decided. This is one of the reasons why he has appointed former Airbus CEO and Lufthansa Supervisory Board member Tom Enders to the Supervisory Board of Knorr-Bremse.

Earlier this week, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SDP) and Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) spoke to Thiele and assured him that he had nothing to fear from the German government. They want to install two representatives on the Lufthansa supervisory board but want them to be independent economic experts and not political representatives. On Wednesday, Thiele gave the all-clear. Via the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, he announced he would agree to the rescue package.

The excitement over Thiele buried news that Lufthansa had decided at the beginning of the week, without prior warning, to shut down the holiday airline Sun Express, which it operates as a joint venture with Turkish Airlines. The German operation, with 20 aircraft and 1,200 employees, is to be discontinued. The announcement was hardly worth a comment by the unions, even though it shows what is in store for the other Lufthansa subsidiaries.

The events at Lufthansa clearly show the bankruptcy of the trade unions and their perspective. For decades, they have subordinated the interests of the workers to the profit interests of the corporations, within the framework of social partnership. There are no mass dismissals and plant closures in Germany that do not bear the signature of the trade unions and their works council representatives. At Lufthansa, the unions are now going so far as to organize rallies for a rescue package that includes the destruction of tens of thousands of jobs and massive wage and social cuts!

Not a single job or social achievement can be defended with these organisations, nothing at all! Their generous incomes and social status mean the trade union officials, works council leaders and so-called employee representatives on the supervisory boards stand much closer to the managers and shareholders than to workers on the assembly line or at their desks. Politically, they are vehement defenders of capitalism, whose bankruptcy is becoming clearer every day with the coronavirus crisis.

The crisis in the aviation industry cannot be solved based on capitalism and on a national scale. It requires the expropriation of the companies and their transformation into democratically controlled public institutions that serve the needs of society and not shareholder profit.

Workers in the aviation industry must break with the bankrupt trade unions and build independent action committees that network internationally and across companies and organise the struggle to defend jobs and wages. The WSWS will support them in this.
In spite of a steady increase in coronavirus cases, Ontario has entered the second phase of its three phase reopening of the economy.

The second phase includes barbers, salons, restaurants, swimming pools, campgrounds, tattoo parlors, and other businesses.

The reopenings are proceeding in spite of significant daily increases in COVID-19 cases. While lockdown measures have helped bring down the number of infections from a high of more than 500 per day, well over 100 infections continue to be recorded daily. On Saturday, 160 new infections were reported and on Sunday, 178.

The criminal disregard of Ontarios Doug Ford-led Progressive Conservative government for workers lives was underscored by its announcement last week that people who test positive for COVID-19 can be forced to return to work immediately if they show no symptoms. This policy, cynically described as work self-isolation, effectively guarantees that workplaces will become centres of mass infection.

The Ford governments reckless strategy of reopening the economy is being fully supported by the federal Liberal government, which declared decisions about lifting lockdown restrictions a provincial affair. More recently, Prime Minster Justin Trudeau and his Liberals have initiated a campaign to force workers off the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) program and back to their jobs. This includes bringing forward legislation that would threaten workers who use the CERB to shield themselves from being forced back to work in unsafe conditions with onerous fines, even jail time. (See : Canadian government threatens fines and jail time to force workers back to work )

The federal and provincial governments are violating all of the World Health Organizations recommendations by forcing workers back to their jobs amid a raging pandemic. Even Canadas Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, felt compelled to warn earlier this month that the number of COVID-19 cases could rise dramatically if the reopening is mishandled.

The breakneck speed at which the reopening has occurred will have dire consequences for the poorest and most vulnerable members of the working class, and those unable to work from home or socially distance. Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas have all seen a sharp rise in the number of cases since their reopening, helping push the number of new infections in the United States to a record high. The fact that the back-to-work drive is proceeding nonetheless has triggered mounting opposition among American workers, as shown by the work stoppages by Fiat Chrysler workers at the Jefferson North and Sterling Heights assembly plants in Detroit.

Ontario, the economic engine of Canada, has a population of 14.5 million. However, it only has the ability to test 20,000 people a day, and most large and congested workplaces are failing to provide testing for their employees. With the virtually non-existent implementation of contact tracing, it is logical to assume that Ontario will follow in the footsteps of the American states that reopened prematurely.

At least three Mexican migrant farm workers in Ontario have died as a result of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. At-risk workers across the province are being forced back to work, having been given the choice by employers between unemployment and risking their lives on the job. A report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives estimates that at least 1.7 million workers across Canada will have to choose between their health or a paycheck as the federal government looks to overhaul the CERB.

Governments at all levels have been under intense pressure from businesses to reopen as quickly as possible, regardless of the health consequences. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which represents over 200,000 businesses, has persistently and loudly lobbied for a reopening of the economy since the crisis began. One of its more vocal initiatives is the recent founding of the Canadian Business Resilience Network in partnership with the Government of Canada, which aims to develop business-led labour market strategies and help businesses be ready to sustain operations through the crisis, and a potential second wave.

Perrin Beatty, the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) since 2007, personifies the revolving door that exists between the executive committee of the capitalists in government and big business. Having served as a Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament from 1972 to 1993 and a minister in Brian Mulroneys cabinet for a decade, he headed the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters association, another business lobby group for eight years ending in 2007.

Beatty currently serves on the federal governments 17-member Canadian COVID-19 Supply Council, which is responsible for advising the government on the procurement of PPE (personal protective equipment). The supposed diverse membership of the supply council includes the CEOs of various businesses and business lobby groups and Francois Laporte, the president of Teamsters Canada.

While the trade unions are collaborating with the corporate bosses and governments to reopen the economy, the oppositional mood among workers towards this homicidal course continues to grow. Workers have filed at least 5,700 COVID-19 related complaints about unsafe working conditions in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, with at least three-quarters of those complaints coming from Ontario, according to official government statistics.

Legally, workers have the right to refuse unsafe work under Ontarios Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). But of the 265 work refusals between February and the end of May, only one was deemed acceptable. While Ontarios Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development conducted over 8,600 field inspections, more than half of those inspections were carried out remotely. The Ministry conducted similar remote inspections of long-term care facilities in April and May. Over 7,000 residents and staff were infected and more than 1,950 died in the long-term care homes, most of them at for-profit facilities plagued by PPE and staff shortages. (See: Ontario calls military into another for-profit long-term care facility ravaged by COVID-19 )

The denial of worker complaints is a deliberate policy on the part of the right-wing Ford government. Ontarios Ministry of Labour set up an internal advisory committee dubbed the Work Refusal Advisory Committee and subsequently renamed the COVID-19 Advisory Team. The membership of the committee has not been made public. According to Warren Smokey Thomas, the president of the Ontario Public Sector Employees Union (OPSEU), the union that represents the inspectors, senior ministry personnel have intervened to vet inspectors reports. Inspectors, said Thomas, are being told to send their reports and orders to lawyers and managers within the Ministry. This is not normal.

OPSEU is an affiliate of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), which represents 54 unions and over one million Ontario workers. It has worked with the government and employers to force workers back on the job amid the pandemic, while making phoney statements about ensuring safety at the workplace. Earlier this month, the OFL issued a pathetic statement that pleaded to the notoriously pro-business Ford government to respect the OHSA. The (Labour) ministry is disturbingly inactive when workers call on them for assistance, especially at this time when aggressive protections are needed for workers, bleated OFL President Patty Coates. This must change.

Far from organizing job action to prevent workers from being forced to work under unsafe conditions, the unions have responded to the pandemic and the biggest job losses since the Great Depression of the 1930s by deepening their anti-worker partnership with the federal Liberal government and big business. In May, CLC President Hassan Yussuff issued a joint statement with Perrin Beatty of the Chamber of Commerce advocating a long-term corporatist alliance between the unions, big business and government in the form of a national economic task force, that would help maintain the competitive position of Canadian capitalism, in the face of substantial new public and private debt, and transformational changes.

To defend their lives and livelihoods, workers will have to take matters into their own hands, through the building of rank-and-file safety committees in every factory and workplace independent of the pro-capitalist unions. These committees must fight for safety measuresincluding full access to protective equipment and regular testing, and the power to halt work to guarantee safe conditionsin opposition to management and the subordination of workers lives to capitalist profit.
An Australian Federal Court judge this month approved as fair and reasonable a class action legal settlement over fire-fighting foam contamination covering over 3,000 people and three polluted towns. The deal reached with the Defence Department, will see victims share only $126 million of a $212 million payout.

While the payout is possibly a world first for compensation for economic loss as a result of toxic PFAS contamination, over 40 percent of the settlement will be swallowed up as profits and expenses for the litigation funder and two law firms involved.

Three separate class actions were initiated in 2016 by 500 residents from Williamtown in New South Wales (NSW), 450 from Oakey in Queensland and 2,500 from Katherine in the Northern Territory after fire-fighting foam run-off from air force bases was found to have contaminated groundwater in all three areas.

Before the payout is distributed to the victims, Omni Bridgeway, the litigation funder will take $53.1 million in profits and $940,000 in costs. Lawyers from Denton and Shine law firms will take $30.1 million for their costs. Another $2 million will be used to administer the distribution of the funds.

The settlement releases the Defence Department from any further claim over financial loss, property losses, mental anguish or nuisance for those involved, even though the areas remain polluted. There is no admission of liability by the government. This still leaves it open to future personal injury compensation litigation once the health dangers become more difficult to obscure.

Workers and their families living in affected towns have seen property prices plummet, with some properties considered unsellable. Small businesses and family farms have faced a dramatic loss of income, leaving many financially chained to their contaminated properties.

Fire-fighting foam has been used in aviation fire and emergency training exercises since the 1960s. The foam contains a family of chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which contaminate water sources and build up in the populations that use this water. It was known to be toxic by the Defence Department as far back as 1987, but no action was taken to phase it out until 2000, and waterways were only discovered to be contaminated in 2012.

The potential dangers for those exposed to high concentrations are still being fully identified. The limited research available points to probable links with a number of deadly cancers and diseases. A Newcastle Herald investigation in 2017 discovered 50 cases of cancer that had occurred on Cabbage Tree road in Williamtown during the time period of the contamination.

As federal and state government authorities became aware of the extent of the pollution, following its discovery in Williamtown and later at Oakey and Katherine, they used every effort to downplay the impacts on the victims. They denied any adverse health effects, asserting there was limited to no evidence of disease or illness from PFAS exposure. Government health authorities only conducted blood testing after significant petitioning by local residents.

A federally-funded expert health panel report in 2018 attempted a whitewash, claiming there was only weak and inconsistent evidence of any adverse effects. The government then refused to carry out health screening on affected communities, seeking to protect itself from any future liability.

An independent expert report ordered by the Federal Court helped to vindicate the residents concerns. Prepared by Nick Osbourne of the University of Queensland, it said there is general agreement in the scientific community that the chemicals can cause kidney cancer, testicular cancer and high cholesterol.

This months settlement comes six years after Williamtown residents were informed for the first time that their homes had been contaminated.

The entire political establishment has waged a campaign to wear down the victims and force them to settle. A Greens-backed Senate inquiry in 2015 recommended, among other things, financial compensation but its proposals were non-binding. The Labor Party worked to block Senate motions calling for investigations into buyouts of victims properties. Empty promises continued for years, while victims continued to suffer.

Toxic PFAS has been the responsibility of countless authorities and governments, Labor and Liberal-National alike. It continues to be discovered at other sites and poses a danger to fire fighters and the general population. Earlier this year, PFAS chemicals were found at all Metropolitan Fire Brigade sites in Victoria.

There were 75 objections to the settlement from participants, many of whom argued that the compensation would be insufficient for them to leave their contaminated properties. A property devaluation figure of 21.5 percent was used to guide the settlement negotiations in Williamtown, but some losses were shown to exceed that.

Rob Roseworne, a resident living close to the Williamtown base, estimates he has lost $200,000 off the value of his property. He received a letter from the class action lawyers saying he was likely to receive just $32,986 for the property loss and $32,300 for inconvenience and distress. An Oakey cattle farmer, Diane Priddle, with losses professionally estimated at over $2 million, will receive just $152,000.

The judge insisted that the only alternative to the settlement was a trial that could take years and still result in a loss. Williamtown steering committee member Cain Gorfine told the court: We cannot afford another four years of legal action, mounting legal costs with the risk of getting no outcome whatsoever.

This settlement shows how the capitalist court system treats the interests of the working class. Justice would, at the very least, require full individually assessed compensation for those who have paid for this pollution with their life savings and health. Their suffering was essentially reduced to a risky but lucrative investment opportunity for litigation funders and law firms. During the proceedings, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee admitted that litigation is a brutal business, with a winner-takes-all model.

The Defence Department has displayed its essential hostility to those impacted by its operations. The Newcastle Herald recently reported that Defence had set aside $53.8 million for legal fees to fight six cases, including PFAS-related lawsuits.

Over the past 10 years, the government has spent $137 billion on major military weapons systems, preparing for war, but just $125 million on PFAS remediation.

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In the first round of Polands presidential elections on Sunday, incumbent President Andrzej Duda from the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) failed to secure an absolute majority of votes. As of this writing, he received 41.8 percent of the total vote. His main rival from the liberal oppositionist Civic Platform (PO), Rafa Trzaskowski, the current mayor of Warsaw, received 30.4 percent. The remaining votes went to nine other candidates. Duda and Trzaskowski will have to stand in a run-off election on July 12.

It was the first election held in the EU since lockdown measures against the coronavirus were put in place and lifted. Based on Polish media reports, the turnout may have been as high as 62.9 percent, which would set a record. By noon on Sunday, already 25 percent had handed in their votes.

The result is universally seen as a defeat for Duda and PiS. Duda received about 7.7 million votes. These are fewer votes than in the second round of 2015 and also less than PiS received in the 2019 parliamentary elections.

The elections had originally been planned for May 10. The PiS government had tried to insist on holding them even as the country went into a de facto lockdown. However, at the last minute, PiS was forced to delay the elections.

Fearing that any substantial delay would minimize the chances of Duda winning, they decided to hold them on June 28, under conditions where the virus is still raging in Poland and across Europe. The Polish president has the power to veto decisions by the PiS-dominated Senate and also has a say in the countrys foreign and defense policy. PiS only has a shaky majority in parliament and keeping Duda in office is key for its ability to rule in the coming period.

The elections will most likely contribute to a renewed spike in cases in Poland which so far has recorded over 31,000 cases. In Dudas campaign events, people were standing in close distance of each other and not wearing masks. Duda took pictures with his supporters without wearing a mask.

The callousness with which PiS has pushed for the election to take place, without appropriate safety measures put in placeand the fact that the liberal opposition went along with itspeaks to both the criminality and the profound crisis of the Polish bourgeoisie. This crisis is driven by both the escalating class tensions in Poland and internationally, and the growing conflicts between the imperialist powers, most notably the US and Germany.

In an unprecedented move, Duda had made a visit to the White House on Wednesday, just days before the elections, to meet Donald Trump. It was the first visit of a foreign head of state to Washington since the US went into a lockdown.

At the meeting, Trump announced that the US will be sending some of the troops to Poland that it is now withdrawing from Germany. The Russian newspaper Gazeta.Ru commented, Trump is exchanging Germany for Poland. The visit was a clear signal by both Duda and the White House as to which candidate in the election US imperialism will prefer.

Under PiS, Poland has oriented almost exclusively toward strengthening its longstanding alliance with US imperialism, while relations with the EU at large and especially Germany, Polands largest economic partner, have significantly deteriorated. With the full support of Washington, PiS has pursued a strategy of establishing an alliance of far-right regimes in Eastern Europe that would be directed against both Russia and Germany.

To the extent that there are substantial differences between PiSs Duda and Trzaskowski, they center on these differences about Polands foreign policy orientation. While both PiS and the liberal opposition are oriented toward preparing for war against Russia, there are heated disputes about which imperialist country they should rely upon primarily in their foreign relations.

Trzaskowski was put forward as the candidate of the PO above all because of his very close relations to Donald Tusk (PO), the former Polish prime minister and president of the European Council, and the EU. Tusk, who still plays a leading role in the PO, is the Polish politician with arguably the closest ties to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other German politicians. Between 2014 and 2015, Trzaskowski worked as the deputy minister of foreign affairs under Tusk, and was responsible for handling all key business with the EU.

While the high turnout in the election points to a growing politicization, both the advanced war preparations by the Polish ruling class and the coronavirus crisis and its devastating economic and social impact were systematically blacked out in the campaign.

Over 1 million people are now unemployed (5.8 percent of the population) as hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs in April-May. Among miners, unemployment stands at 9 percent. In the restaurant and dining sector it stands at 13 percent. Unemployment is set to rise to 8 percent by the end of the year. The economy is expected to shrink by 7.4 percent if there is no second wave, and by 9.5 percent if there is a second wave, which is almost inevitable given the premature reopening internationally and in Poland itself.

The impact of the virus on the health care system, which had been starved off funds for decades, was nothing short of catastrophic. Even the comparatively low number of cases and hospitalizations completely overwhelmed Polish hospitals. Entire cities were lacking in ventilators, which are needed to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients. As in other countries, there was a dramatic shortage of PPE and other basic medical equipment for health care workers.

The Western region of Silesia has been affected worst of all. Because mines were left open for months, even as the rest of the country went into lockdown, the virus was allowed to rip through the population of miners and their families. As of this writing, the Silesian voivodeship accounted for 12,000 cases, more than a third of the national total. Miners have made up at least a fifth of all Poles infected.

In neighboring Germany, where two million Poles live and many thousands go regularly for work, Polish workers have been heavily affected by the outbreak in the meat-packing industry. A large portion of the workforce at Tonnies in North Rhine-Westphalia, where over 1,500 workers were infected, is made up of workers from Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, countries that have been socially devastated by the Stalinist restoration of capitalism.

In an indication of the widespread social despair among the Polish working class at large, one Polish worker told the German magazine Der Spiegel that there could be no talk of social distancing at the plant, with workers standing 20 to 30 centimeters apart from each other. Outside the factory, workers are crammed into overcrowded rooms. However, he had no choice but to accept this job, even at the risk of infection. His family had gone into debt because his daughter was sick, and there was no way for him to earn anything close to a living wage in Poland.

The enormous devastation caused by the virus, especially in Silesia, has significantly undermined the attempts by PiS to appeal to social discontent among the working class and layers of the rural population after decades-long austerity.

The liberal opposition, meanwhile, is widely hated in the working class for years of austerity that it implemented while in power. The liberal newspaper Newsweek Polska noted that his chance of getting elected in two weeks largely depended on the ability of his campaign to eliminate major bombshells such as the raising of the retirement age, a widely unpopular austerity measure which Trzaskowski has supported in the past.

In his Twitter campaign video, Trzaskowski carefully avoided making any political statement whatsoever. Instead, he presented childhood pictures, pictures of his family, his dog, his books and workplaces. The only thing approaching a political statement were pictures of himself with Ursula von der Leyen, the former German defense minister and current president of the European Council, and a few other EU leaders.
Despite denouncing his political lynching, an Australian state Labor Party MP, Shaoquett Moselmane, today said he would seek leave from parliament during an investigation by Australias domestic spy agency into possible Chinese agents of influence.

Moselmane said he was not a suspect in the investigation and defended his democratic right to express his views on China. Nevertheless, he offered to stand aside from parliament, acceding to intense pressure from the Australian Labor Party and the corporate media.

New South Wales (NSW) Labor leader Jodi McKay yesterday declared that her party will move to suspend Moselmane from state parliament, simply because he is under investigation by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Labors decision places it at the spearhead in Australia of the escalating US-backed anti-China campaign, which went to a new level on Friday when ASIO and the AFP raided Moselmanes home and parliament house office in a large-scale operation.

Moselmane addressing a Sydney press conference today

The raids and the bid to remove Moselmane from parliament, all on the basis of unsubstantiated claims by the political police, are a direct attack on free speech and other basic democratic rights. They are a warning of a wartime-like atmosphere being whipped up by the political establishment and the complicit corporate media to intimidate opponents of the intensifying US offensive against China.

From the allegations splashed throughout the media, Moselmanes only offence has been to visit China nine times since 2009, mostly for a wheelchair charity, and make statements calling into question Australia being placed on the frontline of Washingtons economic and military confrontation with China.

Moselmane is a low-profile Labor loyalist from the partys right-wing machine who has sat in the state upper house since 2009. He has been targeted now to fuel an underlying political agenda. This is bound up with preparations for war against China, triggered by US imperialisms drive to maintain the global dominance it acquired through World War II.

Washington, the military-intelligence apparatus and the media regard the operation against Moselmane as the initial major public test of the precedent-setting foreign interference laws jointly pushed through parliament by the Liberal-National Coalition government and the Labor opposition in 2018.

Around the world, the raids on Moselmane were reported as giving a lead to US allies internationally for similar moves against individuals supposedly aligned with China. The New York Times, which is closely connected to the US state agencies, commented: The case is the first high-profile criminal investigation of Chinese influence peddling to be made public since Australia passed foreign interference laws two years ago. Similar articles were published in the UK and throughout Asia.

Soon after the raids last Friday, McKay orchestrated Moselmanes suspension from the Labor Party. Now he faces removal from parliament. It is not even clear if an elected MP can be legally suspended from parliament.

Underscoring Labors support for the anti-China operation, McKay said the decision to seek Moselmanes suspension from parliament had received unanimous support from senior Labor opposition frontbenchers, based on a briefing she received from the investigating agencies on Friday.

This is a bipartisan assault. The NSW Liberal-National governments Treasurer Dominic Perrottet had said on Saturday that the government would move a motion for Moselmanes suspension from parliament.

McKay admitted that Moselmane had not been charged with any offence. But she reportedly told her colleagues that she accepts the importance of upholding the integrity of the NSW parliament. No such concern has been raised about the role of MPs and ministers who have made multiple trips to the US and made speeches backing its allegations against China.

Former Labor federal senator Sam Dastyari, who quit parliament in January 2018 after a similar anti-China operation, went even further. He called for a royal commission into Chinese interference in Australia, laying the basis for a wider witch hunt. Demonising China, he told Nine News that politicians needed to be made aware of the consequences when you are dancing with these kinds of devils.

The flimsiness of the allegations against Moselmane was highlighted by a much-promoted special on Nine TVs 60 Minutes last night. The brief segment produced nothing new about the accusations, just replays of some of Moselmanes previously reported public utterances supporting aspects of Chinas policies, such as its timely alerts to the world about the emerging COVID-19 pandemic.

So threadbare was the program that its main talking head was Neil Fergus, a former high-ranking intelligence officer. Fergus said ASIO would not have taken this step lightly in launching raids against a serving MP.

The other featured guest was Alex Joske, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, a government-backed think tank that is sponsored by US weapons-making giants, such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Joske regurgitated material he produced for Clive Hamiltons pro-war book, Silent Invasion, which called for Australia to join a US-led war against China, supposedly as the only way to stop Australia from becoming a tribute state of the resurgent Middle Kingdom.

There were two revealing aspects of the 60 Minutes show. One was the presence of its reporter and camera crew during the early morning raid on Moselmanes home. This showed how closely ASIO, the AFP and the government worked with the media in preparing and setting up the raids.

Another was photographs of Moselmanes part-time staff member John Zhang at functions with Prime Minister Scott Morrison. This demonstrated how common it has been for parliamentary politicians, both Labor and Coalition, to appear at social and cultural events in Australias large Chinese diaspora. The photos also may have served as a message to the entire political elite to distance itself from the Chinese population.

An editorial in todays Australian indicated another widening of the anti-China net. It claimed that a one-time member of Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrewss staff had attended a training course in 2007 at a Chinese institution where Zhang had studied in 2013.

On the basis of this alleged remote link, the Murdoch media newspaper declared: Mr Andrews, whose government is a signatory to Chinas controversial Belt and Road Initiative, cannot insult Australians intelligence by dismissing such connections as conspiracy theories. All sides of politics, and other organisations with close ties to China, such as universities, should be careful of China extending its largesse.

The editorial ended on threatening note, citing a warning issued last November by ASIO chief Mike Burgess, that ASIO would continue to confront and counter foreign interference and espionage in Australia. The editorial concluded: Politicians and staffers have been warned. Protecting national sovereignty is paramount.

The Labor Party, which forged the US alliance during World War II, has been in the forefront of the anti-China offensive since 2010, when US protected sources in the partys inner cabal executed a backroom coup to install Julia Gillard as prime minister. She aligned the country completely behind the Obama administrations anti-China pivot to Asia.

Both Labor and the Coalition are thoroughly committed to the anti-China offensive by Washington, on whose military-intelligence apparatus and financial investment, Australian capitalism relies heavily. As a result, Australias people have been placed in the vanguard of the conflict with Beijing. But concerns remain in Washington about deep anti-war sentiment, and the dependence of sections of Australias wealthy elite on exports to China. Hence the ratcheting up of the witch hunt.

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25 years ago: British Tory crisis deepens following John Major electoral victory

John Major in 1996

On July 4, 1995, British Prime Minister John Major was reelected as leader of the Conservative Party against Secretary of State for Wales John Redwood. Major was saved from defeat at the hands of his Thatcherite opponents only through the intervention of his main pro-European opponent, Michael Heseltine. In the cabinet reshuffle that followed the election, Heseltine was named both deputy prime minister and first secretary of state, giving him virtually as much power within the government and the Tory Party as the prime minister himself.

The contest underscored the persistence of deep divisions within the British ruling class over integration into the European Union. While Major defeated his partys anti-European right, the latter gained fully one-third of the votes cast.

Major took over from Margaret Thatcher in 1990 when the majority of the Tory Party and the British ruling class rejected her opposition to closer integration into Europe. They feared as well that her social policies were alienating the Tories middle class supporters and threatening a social explosion in the working class.

Major, the compromise candidate, had the task of uniting the party. Yet unity on Europe proved elusive. Those opposing entry became more vocal following the crisis of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism on Black Wednesday, in September 1992, when the pound collapsed. After expelling the so-called Euro rebels for nearly toppling his government in July 1993, Major was forced to invite them back because of the governments extreme weakness.

The anti-Europe faction redoubled its challenge, with Employment Minister Michael Portillo preparing his candidacy against Major. The majority of the Tory press came out against the prime minister, reflecting the growing antagonisms over Europe. Throughout the contest, there was talk of a split in the Tory Party and the possible formation of a new semi-fascist English National Party.

Labour Party leader Tony Blairs candidacy was receiving increasingly favorable responses from the same Tory press that had turned against Major, as Blair set out to prove that his partys allegiance was not to the working class. Sections of the ruling class had concluded that a period of Labour in power would facilitate deeper attacks on the working class and provide the time necessary for forging a new right-wing formation out of the crisis-ridden Tory Party.

50 years ago: NYC hospital union settles for 25 percent wage increase

New York City hospital workers

With a strike deadline of July 1 for tens of thousands of hospital workers in New York City, their union, Local 1199, reached a tentative settlement with the League of Voluntary Hospitals that fell far short of winning the demands of the rank and file and provoked widespread opposition in which the Workers League, forerunner of the Socialist Equality Party, played a major role.

In an indication of the powerful position of the workers and the rising militancy of the working class as a whole, the employers agreed to raise the minimum hospital wage by 25 percent over two years, 15 percent the first year and 10 percent the second year. A cost-of-living escalator clause was to go into effect in the second year of the contract, but only if prices rose by more than 60 percent. There were minor improvements in vacation and benefits, but in return for these concessions, the union gave up its demands for a 35-hour work week, and agreed to send disputes over the job classification system to arbitration.

The Bulletin, newspaper of the Workers League, warned that union leader Leon Davis had capitulated at the last minute to Republican Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who intervened through his top state mediator, Vincent McDonald, to demand the scheduled strike should be cancelled. The Bulletin explained, Davis role was to keep a militant cover until the last minute and then appear as the savior who had averted a terrible crisis. In reality, he was forced into a near strike by the militancy of the ranks. At the same time he was only too happy to end it at the first opportunity.

At an 1199 delegates meeting on the eve of the planned strike, there was tremendous support for a motion by the Rank and File Committee, in which members of the Workers League participated, that the union stand firm on its demand for a 40 percent increase for the mainly low-paid workers. Davis responded by having the floor microphone removed at a follow-up meeting so the ranks could be more easily silenced.

The upsurge among hospital workers in New York City, then newly organized, was part of a broader offensive by the working class that included mass strikes by postal workers, Ohio Teamsters, GE workers, General Motors workers, and longshoremen, leading to many contract settlements in the 25 to 35 percent range. It was this rising militancy that compelled the Nixon administration to adopt the measures of August 15, 1971, ending dollar convertibility into gold, imposing a surcharge on foreign imports, and setting a ceiling on wage increases of 5.5 percent a year.

75 years ago: Landslide Labour victory in British general election

Clement Attlee

In a general election held on July 5, 1945, the British Labour Party won a landslide victory, sweeping the Conservatives from office and decimating the Liberal Party. The result reflected a growing political radicalization of the working class after six years of war and amid widespread fears of a return to the mass unemployment and poverty of the 1930s.

The results of the ballot did not lead to an immediate transfer of power, enabling Winston Churchill, prime minister of a caretaker cabinet, to lead negotiations with the United States and the Soviet Union at the Potsdam conference, which finalized the Allied carve-up of Europe at the end of World War II. Clement Attlee, the victorious Labour Party leader, replaced Churchill at Potsdam on July 28, five days before it ended.

Through most of the war, Churchill had led a national-unity type government that had Labours support. In June, after the final defeat of Nazi Germany, Labour had rejected Churchills offer for a post-war continuation of the de facto national coalition, triggering the dissolution of parliament and the scheduling of elections.

Labour was fearful that it would be bypassed by growing social opposition, particularly from its mass working class base, if it did not establish its nominal independence from the Tories. As a pro-capitalist party, Labour had fully supported Britains imperialist war effort, along with a ban on strikes and the political repression of the Trotskyist movement.

In the ensuing campaign, Labour leader Attlee advanced a program of social reforms, including the nationalization of some key industries, an expansion of publicly-funded housing, the establishment of a National Health Service and full employment. Churchill primarily ran on his war record, claiming that a Tory government would ensure security and advance Britains international interests after the war.

Labour won almost 48 percent of the national ballot, compared with 36 percent for the Tories. This secured Labour 393 parliamentary seats, a staggering increase of 239 seats. The Tories were reduced to 197 seats, down 189. The Liberal Party, which had governed with the Tories over the previous years, lost all of its urban seats.

Throughout Europe, broad sections of the population, especially the working class, were shifting to the left as a result of the experiences of fascism, war and the 1930s Great Depression. In countries such as Greece and Italy, anti-fascist partisans who had overthrown dictatorships were seeking to settle scores with capitalism. Mass movements in France and elsewhere in Western Europe also posed the possibility of establishing workers states.

The Stalinists, in line with the interests of the privileged bureaucracy that controlled the Soviet Union, collaborated with the Allied powers and capitalist parties in a bid to restabilize capitalism and prevent socialist revolution.

100 years: Conflict between German, French and British imperialism at Spa conference

German Chancellor Constantin Fehrenbach

On July 4, 1920, representatives of German imperialism met with the Allied powers for the first time since signing the humiliating Treaty of Versailles in 1919. The gathering took place in the Belgian town of Spa, the site of the German military headquarters on the Western Front during the First World War. The agenda was set at disarmament, reparations, coal exports (a vital issue for the French since the Germans had destroyed many French coal mines during the war), and the trial of German war criminals.

The German Chancellor, Constantin Fehrenbach, a leader of the right-wing of the Catholic Center Party, came prepared to resist British and French demands for the payment of enormous sums of war reparations.

As the conference opened, the French and British delegations sharply rebuked the Germans for refusing to begin discussion on the question of disarmament. There was no leading representative of the German military present, and the Allies demanded that one attend before the conference proceed.

On July 6, the Allies issued an ultimatum to Germany, demanding that it reduce its army to 100,000 men. The German delegation claimed that it was impossible to reduce the army from its current 200,000 soldiers because Germany in the present state of unrest, its delegation claimed, was overheated.

This was an accurate portrayal. In 1920, Germany was a boiling cauldron of revolution and counterrevolution. In Chancellor Fehrenbachs words, strike followed strike. Elements of the German army had already attempted a coup detat, the infamous Kapp putsch in March, which was repulsed by a general strike of the working class. The French believed that the use of German troops in the Ruhr Valley, Germanys industrial heartland, had violated the Treaty of Versailles and had sent troops to Frankfurt. The Ruhr Valley also saw battles between armed workers and the proto-fascist Freikorps.

The German delegation acceded to Allied demands on disarmament. No final sum was set on the amount of war reparations, although the proportions to go to each Allied country were set at: France 52 percent, Britain 22 percent, Italy 10 percent (though it had agitated for much more), and Belgium 8 percent. Germany was obligated to increase its coal shipments.
India slams Pakistan for linking Karachi terror attack to New Delhi, calls remarks absurd

New Delhi, Jun 28 (UNI) After Pakistans Foreign Minister accused India of being behind the terror attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, New Delhi on Monday outright dismissed the allegations, termed them as absurd and raked Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's description to Osama Bin Laden as a martyr in Parliament.



In a strongly-worded response, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said unlike Pakistan, India has no hesitation in condemning terrorism anywhere in the world including in Karachi.
As a game of who knew what when plays out with the administration -- this time about US intelligence that Russia was allegedly paying Taliban proxies to kill US and British troops in Afghanistan -- we can't lose sight of the big picture: Putin feels increasingly empowered under this President and that's a dangerous outlook for US national security.

It is important to understand whether President Donald Trump was briefed on this intel if it was, in fact, reliable intelligence. If he's lying in his denial about being briefed and he did know that our forces were at risk, Americans would have reason to assess that Russia paying for the murder of Americans isn't a redline for Trump.

The New York Times, which broke the story, reported Trump was briefed on the bounty information back in March.

Trump said that is not true, before tweeting on Sunday: "Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or @VP. Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax, maybe by the Fake News @nytimesbooks, wanting to make Republicans look bad!!!"

There are in fact times when Presidents are not briefed on threat reporting, but that's normally because the intelligence isn't reliable if it is still being vetted and there isn't a lot of confidence in its veracity.

In this particular case, there are indicators that officials had at some degree of confidence in the intelligence. A US official with knowledge of the matter confirmed to CNN that some measures were taken to protect US troops in light of the intelligence. It is possible that these measures were taken as an added precaution while the intel was being vetted, but this is the kind of development you typically flag for a US President.

The New York Times reported that a White House meeting was held to discuss possible response options. Even if this was a working level meeting, it is atypical to hold a White House meeting about responding to threat streams if you think they don't exist.

Plus, according to the Times' reporting, the intel was shared with the UK, implying a level of relative confidence in its veracity. It does not appear that reliability was a limiting factor here. Even if the intel was still being vetted, there were people who thought it was reliable enough to respond to in various ways. Based on my four years at the White House, that typically warrants at least a mention to the President.

Reliable intelligence on threats to Americans may be provided to the President in a number of ways: The Presidential Daily Briefing, briefing memos, oral briefings ahead of calls with counterparts and more. So, while reliable intelligence would likely be available to a President, there's no guarantee this President chose to digest it.

He has had a closed door policy when it comes to intelligence on other threats to Americans -- like Covid-19 or North Korea. Former National Security Adviser John Bolton recently said in an ABC News interview that Trump received intelligence briefings relatively infrequently and that he rarely read much when he did. So it wouldn't be out of character for Trump to opt out of intelligence briefings that would have contained this recent threat reporting.

The only other explanation is that multiple members of Trump's handpicked team failed, on multiple occasions, to brief him on this intelligence or to make him aware that vetting of this threat reporting was underway. Any way you cut it, incompetence brings with it fatal consequences. Actions were not taken to punish Russia for allegedly targeting Americans.

This failure to hold Putin accountable unfortunately comes as no surprise. If the intelligence is correct, four years into Trump's Presidency, Putin feels omnipotent enough to try to kill Americans. Trump has inaccurately blamed former President Barack Obama for letting Russia invade Ukraine when the reality is that Trump created an environment in which he's not only letting Putin attack our democracy, he is potentially letting Putin attack US soldiers.

Trump's failure to personally hold Putin accountable for myriad previous illegal operations would give the Russian leader good reason to think that Trump's a pushover even when it comes to the physical well-being of American troops.

Trump has shown little reluctance about cajoling and rewarding despots who harm Americans. Just look at his praise for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un even after American Otto Warmbier died following being jailed by Pyongyang. Or Trump's decision to "stand with Saudi Arabia" after the Saudi Crown Prince was accused of ordering the murder of American resident Jamal Khashoggi.

When it comes to the Russian president, the administration not only failed to impose penalties on Putin -- Trump offered Putin prizes like inviting him to attend a G7 meeting and announcing a drawdown in US forces in Germany which undoubtedly pleases Putin.

The who-knew-what-when trail is important to follow, but we do have to remember that to date, Russia has not been punished. That means that there may be ongoing, live threat streams to our personnel wherever Russia can pay proxies to try to kill them.

If the allegations are true, the first order of business must be imposing costs on Russia so that they don't do this again. That will require the President absorbing the intelligence and using it (and not his insatiable desire to placate Putin) to drive real, informed policy decisions. It will concurrently require the President to coordinate with allies. A coordinated response to Putin will be more impactful.

Unfortunately, if past is prologue -- Trump has an allergy to exactly those two things: integrating intelligence and coordinating with allies.

It's hard to imagine the President standing up to Putin based on what appears to be his desire to keep Putin happy. But if the reports are true and murdering Americans isn't a red line for POTUS, it's hard to imagine what is.
SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - A Sullivan city police officer found a dead passenger in a car he pulled over, now Indiana State Police are investigating.

The officer stopped the car just after 8:00 on Sunday night on U.S. 41 near County Road 300 North.

During the stop, the officer noticed the passenger was unresponsive, so he called for an ambulance.

48-year-old Cosme Guzman of Princeton was pronounced dead at the Sullivan County Community Hospital.

An autopsy is set for Tuesday morning.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Indiana is set to enter a Phase 5 of reopening on July 4th. If all goes as planned, the state will basically lift all business restrictions at that time. Just a few weeks ago, restaurants in the Hoosier State could open for dine-in.

News 10 spoke with a couple of Terre Haute restaurants on how theyre faring as they gradually return to full operations.

Bars and restaurants have had some time now to adapt and get used to what many are calling the new normal.

News 10 first visited 5th Street Nutrition in downtown Terre Haute. Employees say that the public has been extremely cooperative during this time. Staffers are wearing masks, disinfecting often, and allowing a maximum capacity of 20 people.

News 10 also spoke to Charlies Pub and Grub owner Cheyne O Laughlin. He says its been a few weeks since they have allowed 75% capacity, and the community has been incredible.

He says June has been their biggest month ever and sometimes, on weekends, the line is out the door. He says the community support has been amazing during the pandemic, and hes really happy with how theyve handled the situation.

Whether it is through carry out, delivery, or curbside, the support has not stopped at all, O Laughlin said, Were getting a tremendous amount of support at the dine-in level. Were seeing great crowds and our regulars back. Hopefully, it points to good things to come.

O Laughlin says he wants to give back to the community by letting them know why you should feel safe eating at Charlies and what to expect heading into Phase 5 of Indianas Back on Track plan.

He says they havent heard much at a local level, but they expect to be at full capacity this weekend as Indianas Back on Track plan outlines.

Employees are wearing masks and are continuing to practice thorough sanitation guidelines. O Laughlin says he understands why some people may think twice about dining out.

He assures the community that they will do whatever it takes to make you feel comfortable and best serve you.

Were following all the guidelines and all the procedures, O Laughlin concluded, Were going above and beyond in keeping your safety paramount in our minds. We also understand that people are hesitant and we respect that. We still want to offer them dine-in service to go and curbside if they feel they want us to come out to their cars.

O Laughlin says he simply cant thank the community enough for sticking with them throughout these tough times. He says to eat local, buy local, and simply stay local as we all work together here in the Wabash Valley to recover and get through this pandemic.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - City officials say they expect a nice crowd, for its 4th of July Celebration, on Saturday.

With Indiana set to enter stage five of its reopening phase, city leaders are setting guidelines for the event at Fairbanks Park.

No alcohol, personal fireworks or pets are allowed.

You're also asked to stay with your group, near or in your car, and social distance from others.

"I really think that it's really going to be kind of a kickoff for the summer this weekend," said Mayor Duke Bennett, "and I would expect more, and more people to be out and doing things, and just keep in mind that COVID-19 is still out there."

Saturday's celebration starts with food vendors at 6 p.m., followed by fireworks at 10.

Terre Haute Police will monitor the event and enforce park rules/regulations.

In case of rain, a date is set for Sunday, July 5th.
At least 14 states have paused or rolled back their reopening plans as the United States sees a surge in coronavirus cases across the country.

With July 4 celebrations approaching, officials are trying not to repeat scenes from Memorial Day, when thousands flocked to beaches, bars and parties while experts cautioned that crowds could lead to spikes in cases down the road.

In Texas and parts of California, bars were directed to close back down, while beaches in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach were ordered off-limits to the public during the upcoming holiday weekend. In Florida, on-premises alcohol consumption was suspended in bars statewide.

The risk of keeping bars and restaurants open is exemplified by a bar in East Lansing, Michigan, where 85 people contracted Covid-19 after visiting early this month.

Even states with low case counts have readjusted their reopening plans. Monday, New Jersey decided against resuming indoor dining, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said a decision on whether New York City could resume indoor dining would be made by Wednesday.

The "national situation compounded by instances of knucklehead behavior here at home are requiring us to hit pause on the restart of indoor dining for the foreseeable future," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said at a news conference Monday.

"This isn't a forever and for always, but this virus indoors, sedentary, lack of ventilation, close proximity, it's just a lot more lethal than it is outdoors," Murphy told CNN's Jim Acosta, noting that outdoor dining was generally going "very well."

The announcements come after a devastating week for the country, during which many states broke records for new confirmed cases in a day and the US recorded a record high of single-day confirmed cases with 40,173 reported Friday. New cases are particularly surging among young people in the South and West.

Oregon could see its hospitals overwhelmed within weeks if the virus spread isn't slowed, Gov. Kate Brown said Monday. And in Los Angeles County, there are just 200 ICU beds available, according to data presented Monday by Health Services Director Christina Ghaly. Hospital beds could be at capacity in just a few weeks, she said.

But the numbers of cases reported may just be a glimpse into how widespread infections really are -- a survey from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the total number could be up to 24 times higher than reported.

The pandemic has changed life everywhere, but no other country has seen as much illness and death as the United States. The US makes up about 4% of the world's population yet accounts for a quarter of the world's reported cases and deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

What happens next is unclear. Until a vaccine or treatment is widely available, public health experts have repeatedly pushed for mass efforts on behalf of the public good: social distancing, hand-washing, mask-wearing, testing, contact tracing and quarantining the sick.

Local and state leaders have vowed they'll do whatever it takes to stay away from a second shutdown. But many have stopped short of taking the option off the table.

Increase will 'get worse for weeks'

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar warned Sunday that the window of time to get the pandemic under control is quickly closing.

Governors across the US have partially attributed their surges to more widespread testing -- but former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden said Sunday that even with more testing and better prepared hospitals, "this virus still has the upper hand."

The increase in cases across the South is the result of reopening too quickly, Frieden said on "Fox News Sunday," adding that it "is going to continue to get worse for weeks."

And deaths will come too, he noted in a grim prediction that coronavirus fatalities will lag behind cases of infections by about a month.

Across the US, 31 states saw an increase in new coronavirus cases this past week compared to the week prior, primarily in the South and the West.

Another 15 states held steady compared to the week prior, and just four states saw a decline: Connecticut, Delaware, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Issues with testing, contact tracing and potential vaccine

The rise in cases comes as health experts have acknowledged America's efforts to stop the virus have fallen short.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, told The Washington Post last week that "something's not working" in America's testing strategy.

He suggested that the White House coronavirus task force is "seriously considering" pool testing for Covid-19.

Pool testing works by mixing several samples together into a "batch," or pool, and then test the pooled sample with one diagnostic test. If the pooled test comes back negative, then you have eliminated that group of people with one test. If you get a positive result, you can go back and test people individually.

In addition to the testing issues, new data shows that states have underinvested in contact tracing, which involves tracking down all of an infected person's close contacts to prevent further spread.

In April, the National Association of County and City Health Officials estimated that communities would need 30 contact tracers per 100,000 people.

But there are far fewer contact tracers than that in eight states rife with Covid-19 infections, according to new data obtained by CNN from Nephron Research, an independent health care research firm that has been monitoring contact tracing across states.

As of Monday, Florida has about seven tracers per 100,000, Texas has about 11 tracers per 100,000 and Arizona has about five tracers per 100,000.

Just six states have more than 30 contact tracers per 100,000 residents, led by New York and North and South Dakota.

In New York, Gov. Cuomo said the contact tracing system had quickly identified clusters of cases at a Westchester County graduation event, a Montgomery County aluminum factory and an Oswego County apple packaging plant.

"Thanks to our contact tracing program we found these clusters quickly, allowing us to address them immediately and help prevent the virus from spreading further," he said Friday.

Asked about the country's progress on contact tracing, Fauci was not impressed. "I don't think we're doing very well," he said.

Fauci also expressed skepticism that a moderately effective vaccine would stop the pandemic.

He said he would "settle" for a Covid-19 vaccine that's 70% to 75% effective, but that this incomplete protection, coupled with the fact that many Americans say they won't get a vaccine, makes it "unlikely" that the US will achieve sufficient levels of immunity to quell the outbreak.

Dr. Birx: Masks may partially protect you from getting infected

As communities again grapple with how to move forward, another question: What about masks?

White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx on Sunday pushed Americans to wear masks, saying that not only does evidence suggest masks "keep you from infecting others," but they "may also partially protect you from getting infected."

The government has mentioned the possibility before but has not made it a point of emphasis. The CDC says, "cloth face coverings are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected but does not have symptoms."

Birx also encouraged young people to wear masks when they venture out, adding, "and if they're interacting with their parents and grandparents, they should wear a mask then too because we know now how many of them are asymptomatic."

Vice President Mike Pence recommended that people wear masks when they cannot social distance. But he has refrained from requiring everyone to wear one and has instead deferred to local and state leaders, who are themselves following the lead of President Donald Trump, who has steadfastly refused to wear a mask in public.

Still, the mask-wearing message may be getting through. The city of Jacksonville, Florida, which plans to host a large Trump rally during the Republican National Convention in August, announced it will require face masks for public and indoor locations.
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - Face coverings are now required in Tupelo.

The City of Tupelo announced Friday the executive order would go into effect Monday, June 29 at 6 a.m.

According to the order, everyone who is in the city must wear a clean face-covering any time they are, or will be, in contact with other people in indoor public or business spaces where it's not possible to maintain social distance.

The city recommends all indoor public or business spaces require the public to wear a face-covering for entry.

Businesses should post signs at their entrances stating face coverings are required in order to enter.

Anyone who doesn't follow the rule will be asked to leave by the business owners if the customer is not willing to wearing a face-covering.

There are some exemptions. Face coverings are not required for:

Religious beliefs prevent wearing of face coverings.

Cannot wear face-coverings due to medical or behavioral conditions.

Restaurant patrons while dining.

Private, individual office or offices with fewer than 10 employees.

Setting where it's not practical or feasible to wear a face-covering, such as going to the dentist or swimming.

Banks, gyms, or spaces with physical barriers that prevent contact with customers and employees.

Small offices where the public does not interact with employees.

Children under the age of 12.

Businesses may seek an exemption by sending an email to covid@tupeloms.gov.

Open this link to read the full order.
IUKA, Miss. (WTVA) - Police in Arkansas arrested a man suspected of stabbing a woman in Tishomingo County.

Police officers in West Memphis, Arkansas, arrested Felix Perez on an arrest warrant issued by the Tishomingo County Sheriffs Office.

Tishomingo County deputies will transport Perez back to Tishomingo County at a later date to be formally charged. West Memphis is approximately 115 miles west of Tishomingo County.

The arrest stems from a stabbing incident reported early Sunday morning at a home on County Road 246.

The victim appeared to have been stabbed several times in the upper torso and head. Investigators did not indicate what type of weapon was used in the stabbing.

The stabbing victim has since been released from the hospital.

More charges are possible.
Updated June 29, 2020, 11:19 a.m.

According to Tupelo police, Grays has been located and is safe. Police provided no further information.

Original article below

TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - Police seek help locating a missing woman who was last seen Saturday in Tupelo.

According to the Tupelo Police Department, Rakiah Grays was last seen near Barnes Crossing Road and Dixie Creek Road, which is in the Indian Hills area.

She was last seen in a red Chevrolet Sonic with a Lee County tag.

She was supposedly going to West Point and her vehicle may have broken down.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at 1-800-773-8477.
AIBEA to hold National Webinars from Jul 1 to commemorate 52nd anniversary of Bank Nationalisation 20 Jun 2021 | 11:15 AM Hyderabad, Jun 20 (UNI) All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) has decided to conduct month-long National Webinars from July 1 to 31, through Zoom App, to commemorate the 52nd Anniversary of Bank Nationalisation. see more..

IDSA and Shoolini University Launch Centre of Excellence for Direct Selling 19 Jun 2021 | 8:16 PM SOLAN, India, June 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - In a unique initiative, Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA) and Shoolini University have jointly launched a 'Center of Excellence for Direct Selling in Academics' (CEDSA) which is to impart a year-long PG Diploma in Direct Sales starting Academic year 2021-22. CEDSA will be India's first 'Centre of Excellence' for Direct Selling. see more..

Adroit Biomed Ltd develops orally dissolving mini effervescent tablet to prevent, manage & recover from Covid-19 19 Jun 2021 | 8:12 PM Mumbai, Jun 19 (UNI) Even as the world is struggling to combat a record surge in infections and fatalities with the second wave of Covid-19, pharma maker Adroit Biomed Limited has developed an orally dissolving mini effervescent tablet, using glutathione, for prevention, management and recovery from the infectious disease. see more..

Union Bank of India inks MOU with NSIC to support MSMEs with credit requirements 19 Jun 2021 | 7:50 PM Hyderabad, Jun 19 (UNI) Union Bank of India ( UBI) on Saturday said that it has entered into an MOU with The National Small Industries Corporation Ltd (NSIC) under "NSIC Bank Credit Facilitation Scheme" to support MSMEs with credit requirements. see more..
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Partly cloudy early with thunderstorms becoming likely during the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 88F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms in the evening, overcast overnight with occasional rain. Low near 60F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Charleston, WV (25311)

Today

Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours. Thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 86F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers during the evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low 58F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Clarksburg, WV (26301)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 86F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Showers and thundershowers during the evening will give way to steady rain overnight. Low near 60F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Youth taking to natural farming on a large scale in Hamirpur 21 Jun 2021 | 7:27 AM Hamirpur (HP), June 21(UNI )Increasing threats of diseases in the human beings and animals due to the eating of the vegetables and cereals that were the grown using chemical fertilizers has compelled the people of the district especially the youth to take to natural farming that is also known as the zero budget farming. see more..

HP: Dedicated to his duty despite the constant threat of becoming contracting COVID 21 Jun 2021 | 7:23 AM Hamirpur (HP), June 21(UNI) In this time of COVID when even own family members leave the dead bodies and refuse to carry the suffering person to the hospital for treatment, there are many such persons who come forward and perform selfless duties amidst the constant threat of contracting COVID. see more..

Bring the benefits of loan schemes to the common people: ADM 21 Jun 2021 | 7:15 AM Hamirpur, June 21(UNI) Additional District Magistrate, Hamirpur, Jitendra Sanjta on Sunday told the bankers to provide maximum loans to the people to enable them to stand them on their feet and thereby help in the implementation of the schemes and programs of the central/state governments. see more..

COVID-19: MP CMs appeal 21 Jun 2021 | 12:28 AM Bhopal, June 20 (UNI) Underlining the fact that inoculation is the most effective weapon against the millennium scourge, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reiterated that an immunisation campaign is commencing from 1000 hrs on Monday.

In a message to the populace, the veteran leader averred, Our objective is to vaccinate in excess of ten lakh people on the inaugural day itself at a whopping 7,000 centres set up for the process. In this month, more than 50 lakh citizens will be administered the injections. I appeal to all sections  including intellectuals, public representatives, social workers and religious leaders  to motivate the masses. The second wave is almost over. The states positivity has dropped to 0.15 per cent and recovery rate attained 99 per cent. I heartily congratulate Premier Narendra Modi for assuming direct command of the vaccination.



UNI AC. see more..
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Kelly Reichardt was at the Berlin Film Festival when it first occurred to her that the release of First Cow might not go as planned. Her tender portrait of Cookie (John Magaro), a soft-spoken cook, and Chinese immigrant King (Orion Lee) in the Oregon Territory of 1820 brings a poignant flourish to her understated style. It also marks her first collaboration with A24, which hoped to build word of mouth: The movie found fans last fall in Telluride and in Reichardts hometown of New York; Berlin was the final festival stop before its March 6 theatrical release in North America.

As First Cow screened in Berlins competition, the coronavirus snaked through Europe, including a ballooning set of cases in Milan. The virus was really hitting Italy, Reichardt said. I remember stepping into the crowded lobby of the hotel where I was staying and wondering if we would all regret this.

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It didnt take long to find out. A24 opened First Cow in four theaters in New York and Los Angeles on March 6, just as both cities began to feel the virus impact. Two days after its release, with 76 reported cases across New York State, Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency. A week later, when the movie was set to expand to other cities, theaters started closing around the country. On March 15, the distributor pulled First Cow from release, announcing intentions to reopen it later this year, once the marketplace has rebounded from the limitations presented by COVID-19.

That hasnt happened yet, and the journey of First Cow has taken another turn. With the timeline for reopening theaters still unclear, the movie will become available for purchase on VOD platforms July 10 and rental on July 21.

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Sources at A24 said they hoped to plan special theatrical events for the film later in the year, but as the virus spikes around the country, such possibilities remain hypothetical at best. The company tried to schedule a July 17 day-and-date release of horror film Saint Maude, an effort that met widespread backlash (and, as major summer tentpoles have shifted from July to August, it seems unlikely to open then). First Cow is avoiding that fate, marking the first major 2020 title from the theatrically oriented distributor to become available on digital platforms without first completing its theatrical run.

Reichardt is a big-screen purist whose quiet, layered narratives benefit from the quality control of the theatrical experience, but shes been forced to come to terms with an unusual set of circumstances. When Im living in New York, its easy to be down on VOD, because there are so many art houses, she said. In a dream world, we would all be going to the movies, but since we arent, theres this option.

After Berlin, Reichardt traveled from New York to Los Angeles and back to New York. Along the way, we started washing our hands more and more, she said. When we were back in New York, the stores were selling out of Clorox wipes. A few days later, she was in Cambridge for a retrospective of her work at the Harvard Film Archives when the university closed. When Harvard shut down, we finally called it a day, she said.

By March 11, she was home under quarantine with the rest of her tour canceled. I dont know where we thought things were headed, she said. I couldnt have imagined that in three more months, there would be 126,000 deaths in the U.S. I wonder where in the story we are now.

Fans of Reichardts work may already see some of its biggest concerns resonating in the national mood. Over the last 20 years, Reichardts oeuvre wrestled with the alienating aspects of American identity, pitting angry and disoriented figures against powerful natural landscapes and an ambivalent society. From the soul-searching hikers in the Bush-era Old Joy to the nomadic woman searching for her missing dog in Wendy and Lucy and environmental activists in Night Moves, Reichardts characters wrestle with a broken world. With First Cow, she returns to the nascent era of American civilization she last explored 10 years ago with the meditative western Meeks Cutoff, this time with a more intimate two-hander.

Adapting a novel by regular co-writer John Raymond, Reichardt presents a set of characters who become unlikely allies in a barren land: They both see the potential to build a pastry business by stealing milk from the regions sole cow. The drama takes on a charming, bittersweet quality as these two likable young men are drawn to the potential of establishing themselves in a young country by cutting corners, yielding an unmistakable allegory for the corrosive impact of a society steeped in the drive to succeed at all costs.

In an interview a few days before the films initial release, Reichardt touched on her desire to deconstruct aspects of the countrys identity by exposing its flaws. Our ideas are repeated in several films, she said, noting the idea of the American mythology, how capitalism plays in with the natural world, and this idea that if you have initiative, you can just pick yourself up and put yourself in a better place in life. Supposedly, America offers that.

Revisiting the movie this week, she recognized that its central themes had taken on more specific ramifications. First Cow deals with issues of race and immigration, she said. It feels very relevant to me.

While Reichardts subtle filmmaking wont generate the blockbuster VOD figures that welcomed, say, Trolls World Tour, it guarantees a more immediate opportunity for audiences nationwide to access her work than anything she has made before. Thats unusual for the intellectual Bard film professor who seems more inclined toward the avant-garde crowd than making movies for the masses. In March, she mused on how frequently interviewers asked about whether she had Hollywood ambitions.

It is strange to me that people think Hollywood is the greatest end game, where the most interesting people are, she said. What other profession has this absolute place where you have to end up? Talk to Reichardt long enough and her cerebral tone makes room for the occasional dry wit. Yes, I wanted to reach a huge audience, so I made a film about somebody stealing milk from a cow with two unknown actors, she said, and chuckled. I guess it is a heist movie, though. Its fun to think of the films like that, but Im never under the impression that theyre for everybody.

While Reichardts movies have never been huge moneymakers, she has found an engaged audience on the festival circuit, where the specific nature of her subject matter generates a diverse set of reactions from around the world. Its cool when someone outside the world of moviedom sees a movie with some view of America that isnt completely celebrating itself, she said. Asked if she had any advice for viewers watching First Cow at home, the wit came back. Set your TV for the least amount of sharpness possible, [in a] completely dark room, with a single hit of Sativa for afternoon viewing, she said.

Reichardt added that if she had known the film would head to VOD, she might have reconsidered the 4:3 aspect ratio and spent more time on color correction. But she and her longtime cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt are always focused on the theatrical, so a lot of the decisions are made along the way with the theater in mind, she said. Her producer Anish Savjani had long pressured the pair to consider technical ramifications suited for home viewing, she added, but we never listen.

Reichardt offered a measure of appreciation for the impact of the VOD market for audiences outside big cities. Its incredible to have all these films from around the world, and from the earliest days of cinema, at your disposal, she said. Not that Ive been taking advantage of it. I havent been watching much these days. In terms of long-term plans for First Cow, Reichardt sounded as if her priorities had shifted once more. A theater screening here and there would be lovely, she said. I hope itll have a theatrical life down the line in a virus-free, Trump-free future.

First Cow will be available for purchase on VOD platforms on July 10 and for rental July 21.

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John Lewis: Good Trouble, a documentary about the civil rights crusader who became a 17-term Democratic congressman from Georgia, is a movie that could scarcely be any timelier.

And its also, strangely enough, a movie that feels outside of the current time.

How timely? Well, a couple of weeks before the premiere of the film, director Ava DuVernay and many others endorsed a proposal to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, for Lewis, who suffered a fractured skull when he was beaten on that bridge during Martin Luther Kings 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery. Its past due, tweeted DuVernay of naming the bridge for Lewis rather than Pettus, a senior officer in the Confederate army who later became a grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.

And the petition about the bridge is just one of many ways in which John Lewis: Good Trouble, which opens this week on VOD and in some theaters, is of-the-moment. There are many more ways, from Donald Trumps recent retweeting of a video that included a white power chant, to the most recent nationwide #BlackLivesMatter protests, to the state of Kentucky recently closing 95% of its polling places in a move that disproportionately affected its black voters.

Also Read: Donald Trump Bashes John Lewis Over Inauguration Boycott

There are forces today trying to take us back to another time and another dark period, says Lewis early in Dawn Porters documentary.   My greatest fear is that one day we will wake up and our democracy is gone.

At the same time, while Lewis is central to the struggles against systemic racism and oppression over the last 70 years, things have moved so quickly since the killing of George Floyd that his playbook of nonviolence feels generous to a fault. We will meet the capacity to inflict suffering with the capacity to endure suffering  we will wear you down, he said in the 1960s  but in the half-century since then, has racism worn down?

The film deals with the current times not by having Lewis address this particular moment  which, of course, had not yet been sparked at the time the film was completed  but by broadening into a wider discussion of voter suppression as it was used to disenfranchise Blacks in the mid-20th century and as it is being used today.

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The film is both a tribute and a warning  its part John Lewis greatest hits and part civics lesson about today. The result feels a little scattershot, but both of those sides feel important, even essential in these times.

Also Read: CBS News 'Deeply' Regrets Mixing Up Congressmen Elijah Cummings and John Lewis

John Lewis: Good Trouble begins with Lewis sitting on a stool in the middle of a studio, watching footage of 60s civil-rights marches play on screens around him. He is not one to look back and reveal details we never knew, or to offer surprising glimpses into his character  so instead, the film does a straightforward job of chronicling the life of a man who went from being a studious kid who wore a tie and carried a bible to high school every day, to a civil-rights crusader, to a congressional leader for three decades.

There is one startling moment when the congressman tears up as critic and historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr. tells Lewis that his great-great-grandfather got a voter registration card in 1867, as soon as he was able to  and that nobody else in the family voted until Lewis himself did nearly a century later.

The archival clips are mixed with more current, verite footage of Lewis walking around Washington, D.C., talking at rallies and in churches and meeting with aides. The new footage serves to place him in a current context, but it cant match the impact of even the familiar and grainy film clips from the civil rights marches.

Lewis says he was arrested 40 times before going to Congress, and about five times since then; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says of the 80-year-old representative, He challenges the conscience of the Congress every day that he is here.

Also Read: Anthony Mackie Says It's 'More Racist' That 'Black Panther' Is Only Marvel Movie With Black Crew

While the film is for the most part an unabashed celebration of Lewis himself, it often detours into an examination of voter suppression, particularly in the 2018 election in Georgia. The tie to Lewis himself is clear: He was instrumental in pushing for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which secured the right to vote for minorities without the barriers that were erected to prevent them from doing so. But the act was dramatically weakened by the Supreme Court in 2013, and since then 27 states have passed voter ID acts, moved polling places and otherwise made it more difficult for minorities to vote.

The battle that Lewis is waging in John Lewis: Good Trouble is on this particular battlefield, and it is one that echoes over the decades. He reminds us that our past is not past, says Georgia politician Stacey Abrams in the film.

John Lewis: Good Trouble is longer on that kind of praise than on any real insights into Lewis himself. But the man is certainly worthy of this kind of celebration, and its hard to imagine that anybody who watches the movie wont agree with Ava DuVernays push to rename that bridge.

Read original story John Lewis: Good Trouble Film Review: Portrait of Civil Rights Icon Couldnt Be More Timely At TheWrap
Michelle McNamara was an American true crime author, who spent her nights investigating a rapist and killer who would evade authorities for decades: the Golden State Killer. Now, HBOs Ill Be Gone in the Dark, chronicles her search for the man as she wrote her book of the same name.

Liz Garbus directed episode 1 of the true-crime series, which debuted on HBO on Sunday. The first part chronicles how McNamara began her obsession with true-crime, and also how she met her husband, comedian Patton Oswalt, and how McNamara balanced family life with pursuing her passion of bringing the East Area Rapist, as he was first known, to justice.

There is no one like him out there, McNamara says in the documentary. She teamed up with other internet sleuths and former detectives to trade information and theories about who the Golden State Killer, who ended up committing 13 murders and more than 50 rapes in California from 1974 to 1986, could be.

Also Read: 'I'll Be Gone in the Dark' Trailer: Michelle McNamara Explains Her Obsession With the Golden State Killer in HBO Docuseries (Video)

In 2018, authorities charged 72-year-old Joseph James DeAngelo with eight counts of first-degree murder, based on new DNA evidence. While he cannot be charged with rapes or burglaries from the 70s because of the statute of limitations, he was charged with 13 related kidnapping and abduction attempts, and he is appearing in court on Monday.

McNamara died in April 2016, the coroner ruling it an accidental overdose. She never saw her work lead to who authorities believed committed all those heinous crimes she spent years investigating.

Also Read: Golden State Killer Suspect Arrest: 'We Found the Needle in the Haystack,' DA Says

See below for four shocking details from the shows first episode.

1. His M.O.

The killer would sneak into homes with a bright light shining at the victims so they could only make out his silhouette, and he would always wear a ski mask and gloves and talk through clenched teeth.

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If there was a man in the house, he would have the women tie them up and he put dishes on their backs saying, if I hear these rattle, Im going to kill your wife.

Later, when McNamara received 4,000 pages of police reports, it became clear that he traveled through drainage ditches and would study his victims and learn about them when they were home.

2. Where McNamaras Obsession Truly Began

The turning point in McNamaras obsession with true-crime came when she heard about a kidnapping of a 13-year-old boy in Missouri, also known as the Missouri Miracle.

Ben Ownby had been kidnapped in 2007 from a rural school bus stop. McNamara wrote a blog post about how she thought the kidnapper was the same person who kidnapped Shawn Hornbeck four years earlier. And just a few days later, law enforcement knocked on the door of an apartment they thought held Ownby  only to find Hornbeck open the door.

Oswalt said there was a genuine addiction for McNamara after that, and there were constantly so many cases she was following up at a time.

Also Read: 'Golden State Killer' 2-Hour Special to Air on Oxygen in August

3. The Internet Sleuths Banded Together

McNamara teamed up with other internet sleuths to trade information and theories about who this killer could be, and McNamara even flew to Sacramento to meet a fellow sleuther, named Melanie Barbeau, when McNamara told her she had a theory about a suspect. The two drove around Sacramento to the crime scenes and traded ideas  and this is how McNamara would eventually get 4,000 pages in police files about all the rapes.

4. His Underage Victims

Out of his first 10 rapes in 1976 in Sacramento, two of his victims were 15 years old. Kris Pedretti, victim 10, was 15 at the time when she stayed home from a school dance because she had a cold. Her parents had gone out for the night, and at around 6:30 p.m., she started to play the piano, until she felt a presence next to her and a knife at her throat.

If you scream or move, I will put this knife through your neck and Ill be gone in the dark, she recalled him saying. He then raped her multiple times over several hours, and kept dragging her inside the house and back outside to a picnic table.

She stopped playing the piano shortly after the attack.

I always felt like there was somebody behind me. It was just a few hours, but it changed everything.

New episodes will air every Sunday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HBO GO, HBO NOW, and on HBO via HBO Max.

Read original story Ill Be Gone in the Dark': 4 Details From Episode 1 of Michelle McNamaras Golden State Killer Search At TheWrap
CND commemorates 75th anniversary of signing of the UN Charter and the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

 UNODC

Vienna (Austria), 29 June 2020 - In December 1987 the General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Every year, the Vienna-based Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), as the United Nations body with prime-responsibility in drug-related matters, organizes a Special Event to commemorate this day and to raise awareness of the challenges illicit drugs represent to society.

The 2020 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was organized under the overall theme Better Knowledge for Better Care emphasizing the need to improve the understanding of the world drug problem and with better knowledge foster greater international cooperation for countering its negative impact on health, governance and security.

Commemoration of the signing of the UN Charter

This year, the 26 June also marked the 75th anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations. Signed in San Francisco on 26 June 1945, the Charter called for the UN to maintain international peace and security; promote social progress and better standards of life; strengthen international law; and promote human rights. To commemorate this important anniversary, the CND Special Event started with a commemorative event, with Executive Director, Ghada Waly, addressing the event in her capacity as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, and the Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg, speaking for the Host Country.

Launch of the 2020 UNODC World Drug Report

Following the commemorative opening, the event continued with the launch of the 2020 World Drug Report. Ambassador Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Chair of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its sixty-third session, stressed in his welcoming remarks, that reliable and objective data were a crucial tool in the international communitys joint efforts to effectively address the world drug problem.

Illicit drug challenges have become increasingly complex, and the COVID-19 crisis and economic downturn threaten to worsen their impacts, for the people who can least afford it, said the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Ghada Waly. We need to better understand the many dynamics fuelling and feeding drug use disorders, illicit drug cultivation and trafficking so we can improve responses, provide better care and save lives.

The main findings of the 2020 World Drug Report were presented by Angela Me, Chief of the UNODC Research and Trend Analysis Branch, introducing the report consisting of six booklets. The report aims to support the international community in implementing operational recommendations on a number of drug policies issues, including the recommendations contained in the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem, held in 2016.

The presentation was followed by interventions from Member States, including the Permanent Representatives of Peru, Iran, Uruguay, Japan, Germany, Turkey, Colombia, Afghanistan, Cuba, Egypt, and representatives from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Nigeria, United States of America, the Russian Federation, Honduras and Albania. In addition, the President of the International Narcotics Control Board, the Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as a representative of the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care, addressed the meeting.

Discussion on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world drug situation, co-sponsored by the European Union and the UNODC

The CND Special Event concluded with a dedicated discussion, co-sponsored by the European Union and UNODC, on the impact of COVID-19 on the world drug situation, from various regional perspectives.

In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Chair, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, underscored that the COVID-19 crisis had a tremendous impact on the social, political and economic life across the globe, with the current health crisis increasing the vulnerability of people with substance use disorders. What we need is a truly coordinated and joint multilateral response to address the devastating impact of the pandemic on all spheres of life, he said.

Ghada Waly, Executive Director UNODC, and Floriana Sipala, Head of Organised Crime and Drugs Policy Unit of the European Commission, delivered opening remarks. The Chief of the UNODC Research and Trend Analysis Branch, Angela Me, made a presentation on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world drug situation, followed by a panel discussion on the regional impact of the pandemic, with interventions by Catherine de Bolle, Executive Director of Europol; Ambassador Adam Namm, Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission, Organization of American States; Amira Elfadil, the Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union Commission; Niyom Termsrisuk, Secretary General of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) of Thailand; and Jamie Bridge, Chair of the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC).

The panel discussion was followed by interventions from the floor, including by the Permanent Representatives of Afghanistan and Egypt, and the representatives of the Russian Federation, Ecuador, Ireland, Poland, Albania and China. A statement was also made by the President of the International Narcotics Control Board. Alexis Goosdeel, the Director of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, and Ambassador Mansoor Ahmad Khan, Chair of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its sixty-third session, delivered closing remarks.
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UPDATED: The only fireworks you see this weekend might be on TV.

The Los Angeles Sheriffs Lost Hills Station said via Twitter that Los Angeles County beaches, piers, beach bike paths and beach access points will be closed Friday through Monday for the Fourth of July weekend.

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The Lost Hills station, which is local to Malibu, issued the following statement:

Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors announced the closure of our beaches, piers, beach bike paths, and beach access points beginning 7/3/2020 through 7/6/2020. The Malibu/Lost Hills Station Beach Team will be patrolling the beaches throughout the weekend and late into the evening. This new order makes it illegal to trespass at these locations and is punishable by law to include, but not limited to, a $1000 fine.

Please follow the LA County Health Mandates. We want to ensure the health and safety of all our residents.

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The news was later confirmed in a tweet by L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn who wrote, We cannot risk having crowds at the beach this holiday weekend.

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That, as a heat wave sets in, with near-100 degree temperatures forecast in the Valley by Sunday.

PREVIOUSLY, MONDAY 4:10 PM On Monday, the State of California and the County of Los Angeles both set record highs in new cases. Officials at both levels of government were quick to warn that more restrictive measures may be in the offing.

California Governor Gavin Newsom indicated that he would likely be using the dimmer switch to toggle back reopening measures in more hard-hit counties. He said there were seven counties, including Los Angeles, that likely would need to step back their reopenings. If counties are not effective with preventative measures, the state will intervene and close them back down, he said. If counties remediation measures are not effective, I am committed to intervening, he said.

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Immediate action is needed, said L.A. County Department of Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, before warning that increased restrictions may be in the offing.

Asked about the upcoming Fourth of July holiday weekend, Ferrer said, We are looking at, with our beach mayors, all the options to keep ourselves safe. Asked if this is a make-or-break week, Ferrer continued, We cant sustain this rate of increase in positive cases. This train can be a runaway train if we dont put the breaks on it. We have to get our heads back into this new normal.

Both Ferrer and Newsom warned about the impact that even small family gatherings and barbecues could have if they included mixing households.

A report from the L.A. Times today States, Its now clear that Memorial Day was the beginning of something. A Los Angeles Times analysis has found that new coronavirus hospitalizations in California began accelerating around June 15 at a rate not seen since early April.

Memorial Day was on May 25 this year. Thats also about the same time the protests against the death George Floyd and police brutality began. The spike to which the Times refers occurred a little more than two weeks later (14 days is the outside incubation period for COVID-19).

So what does all this mean for the upcoming holiday weekend?

Well, on Friday Governor Newsom ordered hard-hit Imperial County to return to stay-at-home status. On Monday, Newsom said that there were seven counties, including Los Angeles, that likely would need to step back their reopenings. If counties are not effective in the measures, the state will intervene and close them back down, he said.

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We are considering a number of other things to advance and we will make those announcements as appropriate, said Newsom, augmenting the orders and advancing even more restrictive ones.

In fact, the governor could not even wait for his noon press conference today to order bars shut down in those seven counties. He issued that order midday Sunday. It is unlikely, if the numbers continue to escalate, that he will wait until after the long holiday weekend to begin augmenting the current restrictions.

Californias new daily total of infections on Monday was 5,916. It was only two weeks ago that the state first broke the 5,000 new cases mark.

In Los Angeles, Ferrer said on Monday that the county saw 2,903 new cases, a record high. The coronavirus has now infected a total of 100,772 people in L.A. County. The cumulative test positivity rate has increased from 8 percent to now 9 percent, according to the health department.

That does not bode well for the Fourth.

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City News Service contributed to this report.

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Meghan Markle spoke with Althea Bernstein, an 18-year-old Black woman, who was the victim of an alleged hate crime in Wisconsin last week, E! News has learned.

The Duchess of Sussex and husband Prince Harry called her over the weekend to "offer their support and hopefully be a small source of comfort."

According to NBC News, police in Madison launched a hate crime investigation after the young woman said a group of white men doused her with lighter fluid and set her on fire. The police department's incident report states that Bernstein told investigators that she saw four white men and "she says one used a spray bottle to deploy a liquid on her face and neck, and then threw a flaming lighter at her, causing the liquid to ignite."

Additionally, the report states that Bernstein was able to put out the flames and drove him. Once there, her mother told her to go to the hospital, where the 18-year-old was told that the liquid was, in fact, believed to be lighter fluid.

Meghan got in touch with Bernstein through the president of the Boys & Girls Club of Dane Country, Michael Johnson, according to Wisconsin news outlet Channel 3000. Johnson has also been acting as a spokesperson for Bernstein and said the Duke and Duchess talked on the phone with the young woman for about 40 minutes on Saturday afternoon.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's History-Making Moments

"Her and Meghan talked about the importance of self care and allowing herself to heal," Johnson said, per Channel 3000. "And she applauded her for the way that she responded and pretty much said, 'Hey Michael, give me her cellphone number. I want to stay in touch. And let me know when you want me to come back and talk to people in Wisconsin."

Johnson added that Bernstein was "moved" by the conversation with Meghan and Harry.

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"She's struggling," Johnson also shared. "It's a challenge for her, it's very, very emotional. I talked to her three or four times today, and I'll tell you Meghan lifted her spirits."

Further, Johnson shared with the Wisconsin news channel that the Duchess advised Bernstein to stay off social media to avoid reading negative comments and that the two discussed their share experience of being biracial women.

In a tweet shared by Johnson on Saturday, he wrote, "On the phone with Prince Harry and Meghan Markel the Duchess of Sussex. Prince Harry shared that young people voices matter and Meghan has agreed to talk with girls in Wisconsin and we will be scheduling that soon. Thank you for caring!"
WarnerMedia leadership told staffers Monday that the CNN Center in Atlanta will be sold, downplaying questions about whether the move signals impending layoffs.

Answering questions on an internal FAQ-style information sheet, WarnerMedia leadership explained why the iconic location in Georgia is being sold, but maintained that WarnerMedia will not be leaving Atlanta altogether: Our strategy is to consolidate our teams in state-of-the-art hubs to maximize collaboration. This is a strategy we are also implementing at our other primary business locations, most recently at Hudson Yards in New York City and our Ivy Station project [in Culver City, California], currently in development. We believe this creates a more collaborative working environment for our employees.

During the pandemic, we have learned a lot about working remotely and we will be looking at space solutions that are more agile for the appropriate teams, the internal document went on. Over time, some employees moving from CNN Center will be relocated to our Techwood campus in Midtown Atlanta or our building on Williams Street, near Techwood. We recently undertook extensive renovations to our campus to better foster a culture of innovation, creativity and collaboration, and will continue to invest in Techwood.

Also Read: More Critical WarnerMedia Employees Return to Offices This Week

One of the questions leadership responded to was whether the sale signifies impending layoffs.

While we continue to transform our organization, one of our stated goals was to find efficiencies in how our companies work together to ensure we can focus our investments and optimize our resources. WarnerMedia has a large employee base in Atlanta, and we invest millions to keep and attract talented employees here, said the document.

In a separate internal note to WarnerMedia staff, chief financial officer Pascal Desroches wrote that the company is still committed to Atlanta.

Further, he wrote, We recognize the historical relevance of the CNN Center. Ted Turner was a true pioneer who reinvented media when he launched the 24-hour news channel in 1980. WarnerMedia was proud to play a part in solidifying Teds legacy last December with the dedication of our Techwood campus to him, the unveiling of a commissioned mural portrait on our campus and a donation to the University of Georgia, in partnership with the Turner Family and Turner Enterprises, that established the Ted Turner Exhibition Hall & Gallery at UGAs library, the Ted Turner Scholarship Fund and the Ted Turner Maverick internship.

After a WarnerMedia email told staff that a very small group of employees are returning to offices this week, CNN president Jeff Zucker stressed to his company in an email Monday that the move wont have a major effect on the networks operations and that cleared, critical workers are still the only ones allowed in the offices. Most CNN employees are not expected to return to their offices until 2021.

Read original story WarnerMedia to Sell Atlantas CNN Center, Sidesteps Threat of Impending Layoffs At TheWrap
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 502,000 people worldwide.

Over 10.1 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some governments are hiding the scope of their nations' outbreaks.

Since the first cases were detected in China in December, the United States has become the worst-affected country, with more than 2.5 million diagnosed cases and at least 125,928 deaths.

Latest:

Arizona reverses reopening of bars, gyms, movie theaters US reports more than 38,800 new cases Over 200 urged to quarantine after positive case at a Planet Fitness New York state records lowest rise in deaths since March New York City's indoor dining 'now in question,' mayor says

Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern. Please refresh this page for updates

11:17 p.m.: IRS won't postpone tax filing deadline

The Department of the Treasury and IRS announced that the current tax filing and payment deadline of July 15 will not be postponed.

The original deadline to file was April 15, but it was postponed three months due to the pandemic.

Individual taxpayers unable to meet the July 15 due date can request an automatic extension of time to file until Oct. 15, but it is not an extension to pay taxes due.

For those facing hardship due to the crisis, the IRS is offering a number of payment options.

"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 in a statement published on the IRS website. "These easy-to-use payment options are available on IRS.gov, and most can be done automatically without reaching out to an IRS representative."

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8:42 p.m.: Los Angeles beaches to close July 4th weekend

Los Angeles County beaches will be closed during the Fourth of July weekend, the county's Lost Hills Sheriff's Station said.

Beaches, piers, beach bike paths and beach access points will be closed from Friday through Monday, officials said. Trespassers will be subject to a $1,000 fine, police said.

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The measure comes amid rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the county. Earlier Monday, Los Angeles became the first county in the country to hit 100,000 cases.

8:12 p.m.: Arizona reverses reopening of bars, gyms, movie theaters

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has ordered bars, indoor gyms, indoor movie theaters, water parks and tubing operators to pause operations, as the state sees a surge in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

The order is effective Monday at 8 p.m. local time and will last until July 27, unless extended.

PHOTO: Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announces a new executive order in response to the rising COVID-19 cases in the state, during a news conference in Phoenix on Monday, June 29, 2020. (Michael Chow/AP)

Bars can still provide take-out and curbside service.

The state is also delaying the start of the school year to Aug. 17 and prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people. Arizona schools typically open as early as July.

Most businesses were able to resume operations when the state's stay-at-home order expired in mid-May.

On Sunday, Arizona saw a record 3,858 new daily COVID-19 cases, and a record 2,691 hospitalizations.

7:05 p.m.: Los Angeles County surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 cases

Los Angeles County has become the first county in the country to hit 100,000 cases of COVID-19.

The county has also reported its largest daily increase of new cases, with 2,903. It now has 100,772 total cases.

Only seven states in the U.S. have more than 100,000 cases, according to data collected by the COVID Tracking Project: California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Texas.

Los Angeles County's public health director, Barbara Ferrer, blamed the increase on businesses and individuals "who haven't followed the directives," by failing to physically distance at businesses and having close contact with those outside their household.

The county's seven-day testing positivity rate has risen to nearly 9%, and hospitalizations have increased 27% in the last two weeks, officials said.

Ferrer said the increase in cases, positivity rates and hospitalizations is "alarming."

"If you're not part of the solution to slowing the spread, you're ending up being part of the problem," she said.

5:32 p.m.: U.S. airlines to strengthen travel policies

All major U.S. airlines will now require passengers to answer a health assessment during the check-in process, which includes agreeing to wear a face mask on board.

PHOTO: A traveler walks past screeners testing a system of thermal imaging cameras which check body temperatures at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) amid the COVID-19 pandemic on June 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Airlines for America, the industry trade organization representing seven U.S. airlines, announced the new procedures for all passengers. They include agreeing to wear a face covering at the airport, on the jet bridge and on the plane; offering assurance that they are free of COVID-19 symptoms, such as coughing or loss of taste or smell; and offering assurance that they have not had exposure to someone who tested positive or had COVID-19 symptoms in the last 14 days.

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines now or will require passengers to complete the temporary health acknowledgment during the check-in process, the organization said.

3:06 p.m.: WHO official warns pandemic is not close to over

Officials from the World Health Organization gave strong warnings about the pandemic, telling reporters COVID-19 is "not even close to being over."

Tuesday marks the six-month anniversary since the organization was first notified about the virus and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said people need to reflect on the progress made and the road ahead.

"None of us could have imagined how our world, and our lives would be thrown into turmoil by this new virus," he said.

Tedros urged global solidarity in fighting the disease and increases seen across the world.

"The worst is yet to come," he said.

2:38 p.m.: New Jersey backtracks on planned indoor dining reopening

Gov. Phil Murphy announced that New Jersey will pause its reopening of the state's indoor dining, which was slated for Thursday.

Murphy cited "spikes" in cases in other parts of the country where restrictions on indoor dining were lifted.

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"We have been cautious throughout every step of our restart," he tweeted. "We've always said that we would not hesitate to hit pause if needed to safeguard public health. This is one of those times."

PHOTO: Customers have a lunch outside a restaurant as the city reopens from the coronavirus lockdown, June 15, 2020, in Hoboken, N.J. (Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

2:15 p.m.: Utah governor urges Pence to encourage face coverings

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert told Vice President Mike Pence during his weekly conference call with governors that his state is becoming complacent and led to a "spike" in cases over the last three or four weeks, according to audio obtained by ABC News.

While Herbert, a Republican, stressed that the state's fatality rate is .8%, he urged Pence and the president to send a message to the public that wearing a face covering is the best way to fight the pandemic.

"I think mister vice president if you and President Trump could say -- not as necessarily a mandate but as a best practice, 'If you want to stop the spread, if you want to slow down the spread, as a best practice ... we recommend that you wear a mask,'" Herbert said.

Pence responded by reiterating that the administration would support leaders who promote face coverings.

"We were in Texas yesterday and we made it very clear that people should wear a mask whenever state local authorities indicate that it's appropriate, or when social distancing is not possible," the vice president said.

2:07 p.m.: Planet Fitness responds to case in West Virginia location

Planet Fitness said it is working with local health officials after one of its members tested positive for the novel coronavirus in West Virginia.

More than 200 people who use the gym on Fort Pierpont Drive in Morgantown have been asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days.

"At Planet Fitness, the safety of our team and members is our top priority," company spokeswoman McCall Gosselin told ABC News in a statement Monday. "We have been in communication with the Monongalia County Health Department upon being notified that a member in our Morgantown, WV location tested positive for COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution, the club is temporarily closed for deep cleaning and we are not aware of any additional members or team members reporting symptoms at this time. We will continue to take every necessary precaution to ensure the safety of our community, and we have taken a number of steps across all of our locations, which include enhanced cleanliness and sanitization policies and procedures, extensive training for staff, physical distancing measures, reducing physical touch points in the club with touchless check-in, and more."

1:30 p.m.: WHO official asked about Trump's 'kung-flu' comments

Officials from the World Health Organization were asked during their daily briefing about their thoughts on the president using racist terminology to talk about the pandemic.

WHO emergencies Chief Dr. Mike Ryan didn't refer to Trump by name but said, "many people have used unfortunate language in this response." During a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Trump referred to the pandemic as "kung-flu," to a laughing crowd of supporters.

"It is unfortunate if our global discourse is reduced to base language. That never helps," Ryan said.

The official added WHO would like to see a discourse that was more appropriate from all world leaders.

"In that sense, we encourage all people, at all levels, and in all countries to use language that is appropriate, respectful and is not associated with any connotations that are negative," Ryan said.

WHO officials added they are sending a team to China to investigate the virus' origins and emphasized the important of strong contact tracing programs.

12:21 p.m.: Cuomo pushes Trump to mandate face coverings as cases decline in NY

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo slammed the federal government and other states for not doing enough to curb the rise in COVID-19 cases and urged them to enforce safeguards.

Cuomo specifically called on President Donald Trump to sign an executive order that would mandate face coverings across the nation.

"We did it two months ago ... the other states are just starting to this now," he said. "Let the president lead by example. Let the president put a mask on."

Cuomo said he is concerned that the rise of coronavirus cases would hurt New York, which was once the epicenter of the pandemic but is now on a decline in the number of cases and deaths. At its peak in the beginning of April, the state saw its three-day average of new COVID-19 deaths around 763, and on Sunday, that three-day average was eight, according to Cuomo.

PHOTO: In an image made from video, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo makes a point about the novel coronavirus outbreak in New York while using a model during a press conference on June 29, 2020. (New York Governor's Office)

The governor also unveiled a sculpture of a mountain made of Styrofoam that he said symbolized the state's coronavirus case curve.

"I wanted to show New Yorkers what they did," he said. "And remember what we went through."

11:39 a.m.: Broadway shows suspended for rest of year

New York City's iconic Broadway shows will be suspended through the rest of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Broadway League, the national trade association for the Broadway industry, made the announcement Monday, saying theaters are now offering refunds and exchanges for tickets purchased for all performances through Jan. 3, 2021. The organization said it's working with city and state officials as well as key experts "to formulate the best plan to restart the industry."

Broadway shows were initially suspended on March 12 at the start of the pandemic. There were 31 productions running at that time, while an additional eight were in rehearsals preparing to open in the spring.

PHOTO: Signage of the Broadway play 'The Phantom of the Opera' is seen at Times Square in New York City on March 12, 2020. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

Returning productions are currently projected to resume performances over a series of rolling dates early next year. Tickets for performances next winter and spring are expected to go on sale in the coming weeks, according to the Broadway League.

"The Broadway experience can be deeply personal but it is also, crucially, communal," Thomas Schumacher, chair of the board of the Broadway League, said in a statement Monday. "The alchemy of 1000 strangers bonding into a single audience fueling each performer on stage and behind the scenes will be possible again when Broadway theatres can safely host full houses. Every single member of our community is eager to get back to work sharing stories that inspire our audience through the transformative power of a shared live experience. The safety of our cast, crew, orchestra and audience is our highest priority and we look forward to returning to our stages only when it's safe to do so. One thing is for sure, when we return we will be stronger and more needed than ever."

11:02 a.m.: New York City's indoor dining 'now in question,' mayor says

While New York City prepares to enter the next phase of its reopening plan, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday that indoor dining "is now in question."

De Blasio said the city is on track to move into phase three of reopening next Monday, but he will reexamine the indoor dining element and possibly pause or modify it. The mayor said he will have more to say on the issue in the coming days.

However, de Blasio said outdoor dining is "clearly working." The mayor announced that barbecue areas in the city's parks will be reopened for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend.

PHOTO: People eat outside of LENA Winebar in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City on June 27, 2020, as restaurants are now permitted to offer al fresco dining as part of the city's phase 2 reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

New York City, once the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak in the United States, entered phase two of reopening last week, which allowed restaurants to resume outdoor dining services.

De Blasio said the COVID-19 indicators -- including the daily number of hospitalizations and patients in intensive care -- remain below the desired thresholds.

"The New York City story is pretty damn good," the mayor told reporters Monday.

10:36 a.m.: UK needs an interventionist approach to economy, prime minister says

The United Kingdom should take an activist and interventionist approach to the economy to help it recover from the coronavirus crisis, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday.

"I believe personally that what the government has got to do right now is keep going with an activist, interventionist approach," Johnson told reporters. "But that's the way also to get business to be confident, to start investing, to start taking people back and start creating new jobs and driving new growth."

FILE PHOTO: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street in London on June 23, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Toby Melville/Reuters)

The United Kingdom has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The country has one of the highest death tolls from COVID-19 in the world, after the United States and Brazil.

Meanwhile, a recent forecast from the Bank of England predicts the United Kingdom is heading for its worst economic downturn in more than 300 years.

9:05 a.m.: Putin says he 'regularly' gets tested for COVID-19

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he gets tested for the novel coronavirus every "three to four days," according to a new interview with state-run television channel Rossiya-1.

So far, Putin said all his tests results have been negative, "thank god."

The Russian leader admitted that having to work from home was a challenge for him because he enjoys having direct communication with other people.

PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses school leavers and university graduates in Moscow on June 27, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

On Monday, Russia's coronavirus headquarters reported 6,719 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nationwide total to 641,156. Russia has the third-highest number of diagnosed cases in the world, after the United States and Brazil, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

Russia's death toll from the disease now stands at 9,166, after an additional 93 patients died over the past 24 hours, according to the country's coronavirus headquarters.

8:20 a.m.: Americans must 'act responsibly,' health secretary says

Amid a rise in coronavirus infections across the United States, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is calling on Americans to practice social distancing and wear face masks as people return to work and school.

"We have all got to as Americans act responsibly, even as we reopen and get back to work, get back to school and get back to health care, we've got to practice social distancing. We've got to use face coverings when we can't practice social distancing," Azar told ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos in an interview Monday on "Good Morning America."

PHOTO: Secretary Alex Azar appears on'Good Morning America,' June 29, 2020. (ABC News)

Many areas in the southern part of the country are now experiencing "very serious outbreaks," where the average age of people testing positive for COVID-19 is reportedly 35 or younger and many are asymptomatic, according to Azar.

"We have a lot more tools now than we had two months ago," he said, "but still there is a heavy burden on us in terms of our collective responsibility as individuals when we reopen."

What to know about coronavirus:

How it started and how to protect yourself: Coronavirus explained

What to do if you have symptoms: Coronavirus symptoms

Tracking the spread in the U.S. and worldwide: Coronavirus map

7:12 a.m.: Trump secures half a million treatment courses of remdesivir

U.S. President Donald Trump has secured half a million treatment courses of remdesivir for American hospitals through September, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Monday.

It's the first antiviral medication to show effectiveness against the novel coronavirus in human clinical trials.

"This is the drug that, if you're hospitalized, can reduce the length of your stay by a third," Azar told ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos in an interview Monday on "Good Morning America."

The deal between the Trump administration and California-based drugmaker Gilean Sciences allows U.S. hospitals to purchase remdesivir in amounts allocated by the Department of Human and Health Services as well as state health departments.

The federal government is working with states to make sure the drug "gets to the hospitals most in need," Azar added.

PHOTO: A lab technician holds the antiviral medication remdesivir at Eva Pharma Facility in Cairo, Egypt, on June 25, 2020. (Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters)

Gilead originally developed remdesivir to treat patients with Ebola virus disease. In May, the Food and Drug Administration authorized the drug for emergency use to treat patients hospitalized with severe cases of COVID-19. Since then, the U.S. government has been distributing treatment courses of remdesivir that were donated by Gilead.

There is currently no FDA-approved products to treat or prevent COVID-19.

Gilead announced Monday that it will charge $2,340 for a typical treatment course of remdesivir for patients covered by government health programs in the United States and other developed nations where the drug is authorized for use. The price would be $3,120 for patients with private health insurance in the United States.

6:18 a.m.: Over 200 urged to quarantine after positive case at a Planet Fitness

More than 200 people in West Virginia are being asked to quarantine themselves and watch for symptoms after a gymgoer tested positive for COVID-19.

The positive case is a client of Planet Fitness on Fort Pierpont Drive in Morgantown, and the Monongalia County Health Department is now urging members who were there between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. local time on June 24 to stay home for 14 days since being exposed. An estimated 205 people were at the gym during that window of time.

ABC News has reached out to Planet Fitness for comment.

The individuals should not leave their homes until July 8 or unless to seek medical care. Those who develop symptoms should contact their primary care provider and get tested.

"They also should do their best to stay away from others in their household," Dr. Lee B. Smith, Monongalia County health officer and executive director of the county's health department, said in a statement Saturday. "Ways to do this would be to stay primarily in one area of the home and to wear a mask if you must be around others."

PHOTO: Planet Fitness in Morgantown, W. Va., is seen in a Google Maps Street View image collected in August 2019. (Google Maps Street View)

West Virginia has seen an uptick in coronavirus infections in recent weeks. In the past 10 days, the Mountain State has reported an increase of about 400 COVID-19 cases. In the 10 days prior to that, the case count climbed by about 240, according to health officials.

As of late Saturday afternoon, West Virginia had reported a total of 2,782 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Monongalia County currently has 152 cases, up 21 cases in the past 10 days, health officials said.

Residents are encouraged to wear masks in public, wash hands thoroughly and often, and maintain a distance of six feet from others.

"These measures have proven to slow the spread of COVID-19," Dr. Smith said. "If we want to continue to open up businesses and avoid the need to reverse some of the steps we have taken, people must take these precautions seriously."

5:52 a.m.: New York records lowest rise in deaths since March

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Sunday the state's lowest death toll and hospitalizations from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

Just five new deaths were reported in New York state on Saturday -- the lowest single-day increase since March 15. The statewide death toll now stands at 24,830, according to Cuomo.

Hospitalizations also continued to drop -- now below 900 -- and less than 1% of COVID-19 tests were positive on Saturday, Cuomo said.

There were 616 new cases confirmed, bringing the statewide total to 392,539, according to Cuomo.

PHOTO: A man wearing a face mask prays inside St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City as it reopens for Mass at 25% capacity amid the coronavirus pandemic on June 28, 2020. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images)

New York, once the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic in the United States, and other northeastern states have made major progress in recovering from their outbreaks. Meanwhile, several southern and western states are experiencing an alarming surge in new infections.

An ABC News analysis found that seven states -- Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah -- have seen a record number of new cases since Friday.

4:39 a.m.: China sees decline in new cases

China on Monday reported just 12 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths, as the country which was the original epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic continues to see a downward trend in infections.

Five of the new cases were imported from overseas while seven were cases of domestic transmission in Beijing, where more than 8 million of the city's 21 million residents have been tested for the novel coronavirus in recent weeks. The Chinese capital has seen a recent spike in infections, though the number of new cases reported there on Monday was down by half from the previous day, according to China's National Health Commission.

PHOTO: A worker wearing a protective suit swabs a man's throat for a COVID-19 test at a community health clinic in Beijing, China, on June 28, 2020. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Overall, the Chinese mainland has reported 83,512 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with at least 4,634 deaths. There are still 418 patients receiving treatment for the disease, while another 112 are under observation for testing positive without showing any symptoms or for being suspected cases, according to the National Health Commission.

3:42 a.m.: US reports more than 38,800 new cases

More than 38,800 new cases of COVID-19 were identified in the United States on Sunday, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

The latest daily caseload is down from the country's record high of more than 45,000 new cases identified last Friday.

The national total currently stands at 2,549,028 diagnosed cases with at least 125,803 deaths.

PHOTO: People stand in queue to enter a restaurant on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Florida, on June 26, 2020. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)

The cases include people from all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and other U.S. territories as well as repatriated citizens.

By May 20, all states had begun lifting stay-at-home orders and other restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The day-to-day increase in cases then hovered around 20,000 for a couple of weeks before shooting back up to over 30,000 and then crossing 40,000 last week.

Nearly half of all 50 states have seen a rise in infections in recent weeks, with some -- such as Florida, South Carolina and Georgia -- reporting daily records.

ABC News' Alina Lobzina, Katherine Faulders, Marilyn Heck, Matthew Fuhrman, Bonnie Mclean, Sam Sweeney and Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.

Coronavirus updates: Arizona rolls back reopening of bars, theaters originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
ABC News

Hundreds of American Airlines flights have been canceled this weekend and Monday because of significant staffing and maintenance issues. As of Sunday afternoon, 123 flights were canceled Saturday, 178 on Sunday and 97 were canceled for Monday  largely the result of a high number of sick calls, combined with maintenance and other staffing issues. American told ABC News that most of the cancelations are on A320 and 737 aircraft, but that it may continue to cancel at least 50 to 60 flights per day for the rest of June and 50 to 80 flights per day through July.
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Hours after returning from a photo shoot in Italy, Hailey Bieber and husband Justin hit the open road for a couples getaway.

The 23-year-old model recently took to Instagram to share photos from a weekend road trip to Utah. According to People, the couple loved their first trip to Utah earlier this month that they decided to pack up their RV and make a second trip. The pair are even reportedly planning to make an adventure north to Oregan in the near future.

ALSO SEE: Kate Middleton's $259 floral dress may be sold out, but we've found 8 of the best alternatives to shop

Bieber took to Instagram to share photos from the trip with her more than 27 million followers, showcasing her laid back vacation style.

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The model hit the desert in an on-trend tie-dye sweater and pants, bike shorts and a crop top as well as the perfect mini dress for summer.

Bieber posed against a stone wall wearing a cream mini Violaine dress by celeb-favourite brand Reformation. The lightweight linen dress features adjustable spaghetti straps as well as square neckline with a flirty and delicate front tie.

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Bieber paired the $258 CAD dress with a floppy hat, Bottega Veneta lug boots ($1,100 USD) and a chic pair of Saint Laurent sunglasses ($395 USD).

Beloved by the likes of Emily Ratajkowski, Kaia Gerber and Lucy Hale, Reformations lightweight, floral dresses are a versatile summer essential that you can dress up or down.

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FILE - In this Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 filer, a woman wearing a sanitary mask walks past La Scala Opera house in Milan, Italy. Milans famed La Scala opera house on Thursday, May 7, 2020 unveiled a virtual journey through the storied theater and its archives with Google Arts & Culture in what turned out to be a strangely ideal moment: with theaters throughout Italy and the western world closed due to coronavirus. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

ROME (AP)  Italys La Scala theater is reopening next week after a four-month coronavirus shutdown with a series of four concerts before a reduced audience of 600, a third of its normal capacity.

General manager Dominique Meyer said La Scala was reopening one step at a time as the theater, located in the capital of virus-struck Lombardy, seeks to adhere to Italys strict hygiene and social distancing measures for artists and audience alike.

I think for many music lovers, the time has come to return to hearing live music, even if the means are reduced, Meyer told reporters.

The concerts on July 6, 8, 13 and 15 will feature small numbers of artists on stage performing arias, instrumental selections and other pieces. The July 13 concert features recent graduates of La Scalas academy to highlight the future of opera, while the final event brings members of the La Scala Philharmonic back home after performing a series of free concerts in Milan courtyards in June.

Meyer told reporters Monday he was pleasantly surprised that, even with social distancing in place, the theater was able to accommodate up to 600 spectators out of its capacity of more than 2,000. He said La Scala worked with experts from Milans Sacco infectious disease hospital to make sure all necessary health measures were adopted.

We are specialists in spectacle, but not in health, he explained.

Concert-goers will be required to wear protective masks entering and exiting the theater, though they can take them off once seated. La Scala assumes most tickets will be sold in pairs, so the floor plan has been arranged to have pairs of seats occupied, with spacing between them.

No intermission is planned and the the snack bar will remain closed to prevent lines from forming. Ticket prices range from 24-48 euros ($27-$53). Plans are in place for streaming the concerts and future performances, although the details haven't been worked out.

After the August break, La Scala returns in September with a performance of Verdis Requiem in Milans Duomo cathedral to remember Italys virus dead, followed by Beethovens 9th in the theater on Sept. 5.

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Plans for full-scale operas to resume are on hold, since Italys current virus-containment measures would preclude so many artists being on stage at once, Meyer said.

The Lombardy region around Milan was the ground zero of Europe's COVID-19 outbreak and still is registering double and triple digit infections every day. But health care officials say the situation is under control.

Italy has seen over 240,000 confirmed coronavirus infections and over 34,700 dead, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Experts say the true toll of the pandemic is higher due to limited testing and missed mild cases.

___

Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
In true 2020 form, there is a harrowing answer to Bonnie and Clyde and its Ken and Karen, a white St. Louis, Missouri, couple who pointed loaded guns at a group of Black Lives Matter protesters marching past their lavish property on Sunday.

In pictures and videos posted to social media, the couple  whose real names are Mark and Patricia McCloskey  can be seen barefoot on their front lawn, aiming an AR-15 rifle and a handgun at protesters as they pass by their expansive home. It should be noted, apropros of perhaps nothing, that Ken is wearing a pink polo shirt and khaki pants while pointing said gun.

Amid ongoing nationwide protests to demand that police be held accountable for the violence they disproportionately exert against people of color, demonstrators in St. Louis had been moving peacefully through the citys wealthy Forest Park neighborhood on Sunday evening to demand the resignation of Mayor Lyda Krewson. Protestors specifically called out Krewson for her decision to release the names and addresses of residents who had participated in anti-police brutality actions. But when protesters breached the gates of the McCloskeys gated community, the couple seemingly decided to go full vigilante to defend their property, known locally as the Neimann Mansion.

In pictures and videos shared to Twitter, the McCloskeys can be seen indiscriminately brandishing their weapons at the crowd, although its unclear whether or not the guns were actually loaded at the time of the altercation. At one point, Mark McCloskey appears to accidentally point his AR-15 rifle at his wife as he locks eyes with protesters.

Social media users were quick to bestow the Karen and Ken monikers usually reserved for entitled white people upon the couple, lumping them in with the similarly armed white protesters who have descended upon statehouses and capitals in recent weeks to protest the injustice of being forced to wear masks in public. And, in the hours since the images of them circulated, mock-ups of Karen and Ken Chadbro as a movie poster (with special guest Freedom Musket) have started to quickly go viral.

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To make matters worse (for himself), Trump re-tweeted a video of the McCloskeys holding weapons at protestors, just one day after the president tweeted another video in support of white power. Advocates of the Black Lives Matter movement have called Trumps actions to be racist and calculated, with the possibility that this could incite a race war.

The decision to aim weapons into a crowd of peaceful protesters comes during a period of heightened violence as national demonstrations for justice stretch into their second month. Just one day before the McCloskeys emerged onto their front lawn, a man protesting the death of Breonna Taylor  the Black 26-year-old EMT who was shot dead by police as she slept without ever being suspected of a crime  was fatally shot by a man in his early 20s in Louisville, Kentucky.

Despite their apparent recklessness, the McCloskeys are practicing lawyers who run a law firm from inside their palatial estate (now aptly dubbed the McMansion). And, according to the Daily Mail, one of Mr. McCloskeys clients is, ironically, a man who was a victim of police brutality.

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TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  The Taiwanese capital held its annual LGBT Pride parade on Sunday, making it one of the few places in the world to proceed with such an event in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

The parade in Taipei has drawn tens of thousands of people in the past, but participant numbers Sunday were reduced by both virus concerns and heavy rain. Taiwan's Central News Agency said that over 1,000 attended.

Those who did take part said it was a testament both to Taiwans ability to contain the pandemic and its commitment to rights for people of all sexual orientations.

Taiwan is the only place in Asia where same-sex marriage is legal, and its liberal political system has long promoted human rights, free speech and freedom of assembly.

American student Loren Couse, 28, said Taipei's ability to hold the parade was really impressive."

I think Taiwan has done a really good job so far, and I am really proud of living here, not only because its so open to people like myself, the gay community, but also because I think its such an example for the world and how to handle the pandemic so far," Couse said.

New York was among the cities compelled to cancel its gay Pride parade this year to comply with social distancing measures.

Taiwan has largely dropped such restrictions after quarantines and case tracing helped bring the coronavirus infection rate down radically. In all, the island of 23.7 million people has confirmed 447 cases, including seven deaths.
The global death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 500,000 Sunday, while the number of confirmed cases worldwide reach 10 million, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

The number of cases worldwide marks a milestone in the spread of the virus, believed to have originated in China late last year. However, with testing still limited in some parts of the world, the actual number of global cases could be significantly higher.

The United States continues to lead in the number of confirmed cases, with more than 2.5 million and a death toll of 126,332 by Sunday afternoon, according to NBC News' tally.

Vice President Mike Pence postponed planned campaign appearances in Arizona and Florida this week "out of an abundance of caution" because of virus spikes.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

Florida health officials reported a daily record of more than 9,500 new cases Saturday. South Carolina, Nevada and Georgia also reported record daily tallies. Meanwhile, Washington state paused its return to normal because of a rising number of cases and concerns about continued spread of the virus.

Brazil and Russia trail the U.S., with nearly 2 million cases between them.

In India, which has the world's fourth-biggest outbreak, confirmed cases have passed 500,000, health ministry data showed Saturday, with infections surging in major cities, including the capital, New Delhi.

Iran, one of the worst-hit countries early in the pandemic, launched a campaign Saturday to motivate a reluctant public to use masks as it faces a sharp increase in infections and deaths. Since restrictions to stem spread of the virus were gradually lifted from mid-April, cases have increased again. Almost 2,500 new cases were recorded in 24 hours, taking the total to 220,180, health officials said, according to Reuters.

Image: Mask-wearing in Iran (Atta Kenare / AFP - Getty Images)

The virus continues to spread even as a number of countries in Europe are relaxing lockdown measures to give their economies a boost after months of restrictions. Some, like Germany, are experiencing a resurgence, forcing local governments to reimpose partial lockdowns.

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Swiss authorities said Saturday that they had ordered 300 people into quarantine after a so-called superspreader outbreak at a Zurich nightclub.

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China's capital, Beijing, recorded a new outbreak linked to a food market this month, prompting a wave of testing, travel restrictions and contact tracing. But officials claim the outbreak has largely been brought under control, even though 14 new cases were reported in the city Sunday. Tens of millions of Chinese traveled during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival, which ended Saturday, with anti-crowding measures in force nationwide.
Patrons drink at an outside patio Sunday at the Down & Out sports bar in downtown L.A. Businesses like the Down & Out that serve food in addition to alcohol can remain open under stricter dine-in restaurant rules or asked to focus on takeout and patio service. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Citing the rapid pace of coronavirus spread in some parts of California, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered seven counties including Los Angeles on Sunday to immediately close any bars and nightspots that are open and recommended eight other counties take action on their own to close those businesses.

The order shuts down any bar, brewery or pub that sells alcoholic drinks without serving food at the same time. Those that sell food will either be subject to the stricter dine-in rules or asked to focus on takeout and patio service.

The decision was announced in a statement issued by the governor's state public health director, Dr. Sonia Angell. Bars in seven counties are immediately affected by the state order: Los Angeles, Fresno, Kern, San Joaquin, Tulare, Kings and Imperial.

Eight other counties have been asked by state officials to issue local health orders closing bars: Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Stanislaus.

"COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger," Newsom said in a written statement. "Thats why it is critical we take this step to limit the spread of the virus in the counties that are seeing the biggest increases."

Although bars were not open in four of the counties  Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Joaquin and Imperial  at the time of the decision, the action cites local health data that those counties should keep the establishments closed, state officials said.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti wrote in a tweet that he supported the governor's order.

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"As we started reopening more businesses, we cautioned that we may need to change course to protect public health from this deadly virus," Garcetti wrote.

Los Angeles County public health officials reported 2,542 more cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, the countys second-highest daily total of new cases since the pandemic began.

The list of counties affected by Sunday's order was based on daily reports on the spread of the virus, state officials said. Counties that have been on the state's watchlist for three to 14 days are being asked to close bars. Those counties being ordered to close the businesses have been on the state's watchlist for more than 14 days.

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"We are actively monitoring COVID-19 across the state and working closely with counties where there are increased rates and concerning patterns of transmission," Angell said in a written statement. "Closing bars in these counties is one of a number of targeted actions counties are implementing across our state to slow the virus spread and reduce risk."

Izzy Jimenez and Rebecah Giusti join friends for drinks on the patio at the Down & Out sports bar in downtown Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The decision was based, according to state public health officials, on data related to COVID-19 cases, hospitalization rates and what they describe as concerning patterns of transmission in those counties. State health guidelines for reopening bars were issued June 5, with the businesses allowed to reopen as early as June 18.

Sunday's action, however, shows that some of the counties meeting the original standard have reported worsening conditions as the days went on.

Bars, state health officials said, often operate with larger crowds of people who remove masks more frequently to drink, and loud music may force customers to raise their voices  potentially spreading more airborne particles. Contact tracing, needed to determine whom an infected person has been around, is harder when it comes to these establishments given the constant mixing of customers.

In Covina, Elvie's Inn was crowded and jumping Sunday night, but staff said the bar would shut down Monday, albeit under protest.

Angie Sharma-Weisberger, whose family owns the bar, said they reopened Elvies on the first day they were permitted to, installing plexiglass at the bars and tables and training their staff on protocols to reduce the risk of spread of the virus between themselves and customers.

They need to rethink this process going forward because COVID will obviously be part of our lives for the rest of the year, she said. We cant keep shutting down businesses at a moments notice. This is already a difficult business to begin with.

Sunset Beer in L.A.s Echo Park had just reopened its bottle shop Friday to a limited number of customers. Its owners did not immediately open the bar, where patrons can lounge and sip craft brews for a corkage fee, saying in an Instagram post that they had hoped to work their way to that point carefully and safely.

After Newsom announced his order Sunday, Sunset Beer informed customers that the business would again cease in-person shopping and revert back to a web-based ordering and pickup system.

Everybody has been so pleasant and understanding that its hard to believe that we are all still under quite a bit of stress due to all of this, the Instagram post said. We remain optimistic for the future - it may be awhile before we can get back to normal but we hope everyone will work together and look out for each other so that we can get there SOON.

Other Echo Park bar owners said they didn't bother opening during the two-week window the governor allowed. Physical distancing and other rules were unworkable in a bar environment, they said.

Brett Rubin of Bar Henry had anticipated he might be whipsawed again by shifting guidance from the government in what has been a dispiriting time that has left small-business owners to fend for themselves, he said.

"I want to give our local leaders the benefit of the doubt, and they are not getting leadership at the federal level," said Rubin, who called his councilman, Gil Cedillo, for direction Sunday. "But it feels like we are all grasping at straws. I'm sure many businesses will be gone, whether today or in six months, with the lack of help."

People walk in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

The decision by Newsom stands in contrast to recent choices to leave more of the decision-making authority to local officials. The governor has said it is possible additional sectors of the state may need to scale back on reopenings, but he has been hesitant to make those decisions in Sacramento.

This month, the governor ordered all Californians to wear face coverings while in public or high-risk settings.

The alarm over the rising case numbers extends across California, where statewide cases topped 215,000 on Sunday. Hospitalizations and infection rates are also rising, and officials cite several likely factors including reopenings, private social gatherings and the recent protests over George Floyd's killing in Minneapolis police custody.

Some officials are cracking down on scofflaw businesses, while others are preparing to help overwhelmed hospitals.

On Friday, Newsom said he was recommending that Imperial County reinstate stricter stay-at-home orders, after it continued to report the highest per-capita case rate of any county in the state, as well as the highest rate of positive tests.

The Imperial County Board of Supervisors took no immediate action to direct businesses to shut down, but local officials met with a state delegation Saturday to decide how to proceed.

In San Bernardino County, officials said that many hospitals are getting closer to reaching surge capacity and that they are making plans to open alternate care sites for patients if hospitals fill up.

In San Diego County, the health department Friday ordered an Escondido restaurant to close immediately, saying its proprietor refused to follow public health directives imposed to prevent coronavirus outbreaks. And Belmont Park, an amusement park in Mission Bay, was closed Friday afternoon by officials who said it was operating rides in violation of state guidelines. The shutdown came on the same day that officials announced San Diego County's highest number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases in a single day.

Another day of big increases in Los Angeles County coronavirus cases and hospitalizations prompted health officials Saturday to warn that the county is entering a critical moment and that some of the easing of stay-at-home orders is in jeopardy unless the trend changes.

If we cant find it in us to follow these mandates, including wearing face coverings and distancing when around others, we jeopardize our ability to move forward on the recovery journey, Barbara Ferrer, the county health director, said Saturday in a statement. Our collective responsibility is to take immediate action, as individuals and businesses, to reverse the trends we are experiencing.
(Getty Images)

Tim Hortons says its sales are gradually recovering as the coffee and doughnut chain reopens nearly all of its locations and customers begin returning to restaurants.

With 90 per cent of Tim Hortons locations now reopened, comparable sales have improved from down in the mid-40s as of mid-March to in the negative high teens as of last week, according to a letter released Monday by parent company Restaurant Brands International chief executive Jose Cil. The remaining Tim Hortons restaurants that have not reopened are located in malls, food courts, sporting complexes and other public facilities that remain closed.

However, the recovery at Tim Hortons lags those of the two other brands  Burger King and Popeyes  operated by RBI (QSR). Burger Kings comparable sales are flat compared to the same time last year, up from negative mid-30s as of mid-March. Cil cited strong drive-thru demand as a factor that helped boost Burger King sales. Popeyes, meanwhile, continues to thrive amid the pandemic, with comparable sales in the United States up in the high 20s, compared to being flat in mid-March.

Duncan Fulton, RBIs chief corporate officer, said the slower pace of recovery at Tim Hortons is due in part to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on breakfast demand, typically an area of strength for the chain.

Morning routines have been far more disrupted than lunch and dinner time, Fulton said in an interview.

Theres been a continued demand for lunch and dinner, whether or not youre in lockdown or whether you are at the office. But those morning routines  dropping in to get your coffee on the way to work, meeting friends on a Saturday and catching up  those have been completely disrupted.

While the pandemic continues to disrupt regular routines, Tim Hortons has undertaken several initiatives to try to bring-in customers and revenue while its dining rooms  a driver of 40 per cent of its sales  remained closed.

The company has seen delivery demand across its chain grow as more restaurants signed up with third-party delivery services. Before the pandemic, Tim Hortons had approximately 250 restaurants signed up for delivery with Skip the Dishes. As of late May, approximately 1,100 locations across the country were offering delivery through Skip the Dishes and Uber Eats.

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Tim Hortons also said it will open 1,000 patios across the country by early July, with the chain providing some funding to franchise owners to make the investment. Mike Hancock, Tim Hortons chief operating officer, said the company saw most demand for patio investments from franchise owners in Ontario.

Meanwhile, Canadas Privacy Commissioner has launched an investigation into Tim Hortons mobile app over the use and collection of geolocation data. A spokesperson for the company said it will fully cooperate with the investigation and we are confident well be able to resolve this matter.

RBI to address racial diversity

In the letter to shareholders, Cil also addressed racial diversity at RBI, which he said was insufficient.

Starting immediately, I am making a commitment to ensure at least half of all final-round candidates interviewing for roles with our four RBI offices will be from groups that are demonstrably diverse, including race, Cil wrote.

Fulton said the company will also review all aspects of its business when in comes to diversity, including its franchisee base and suppliers.

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Q&A: Hospital data and communication

Lilian Bravo of the Yakima Health District answered questions from the Yakima Herald-Republic regarding the countys hospitalization data and the districts communication with local hospitals.

How does the Yakima Health District and State Department of Health compile hospitalization data other statistics?

Each hospital sends a report to the Yakima Health District every day. Additionally, the Yakima Health District facilitates a weekday call with all the hospitals. The call provides an opportunity for the hospitals, the Yakima County Emergency Operations Center, the regional health care coalition and Yakima Health District to get situational awareness of the hospital system in Yakima County. It also provides an opportunity to identify challenges that may be occurring and create solutions.

Hospitals also report through a system called WA Health. This information is where the state Department of Health and all partners can view statistics on total bed usage, ventilator usage, and critical staffing shortages and other information. The Yakima Health District obtains hospital information from both the daily direct reports from the hospitals and the statewide reporting on WA Health.

When do hospitals provide updates to state and local health officials?

Hospitals report twice a day to WA Health. The hospitals report in the morning directly to Yakima Health District and then early afternoon during our phone calls. During the call, hospitals will report on the number of COVID-19 patients, bed capacity, ICU capacity, vent capacity, staffing shortages, supply shortages and any other challenge or issue they are having.

 Mai Hoang, Yakima Herald-Republic
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) members agreed during the open online session on Monday night that tripartite talks between the countries involved in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute should be conducted on the basis of understanding.

The meeting was held upon Egypt's request after renewed negotiations over the $4.8 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) failed to produce an accord last week, and Ethiopia said it will go ahead with filling the dam's reservoir in July even without approval from the two downstream countries.

The international body urged Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, engaged in a decade-long dispute over the hydropower project, against adopting unilateral actions.

France representative, Nicolas de Riviere, the current UNSC head called upon all concerned parties to respect the 2015 Declaration Of Principles signed by the three countries and solve the disagreements amicably.

"The dispute surrounding the Renaissance Dam, if not resolved to the satisfaction of all parties, could lead to further tensions in the region. Any escalation should be avoided to reach a consensus through dialogue", he said.

Riviere expressed his appreciation for the "major role" the African Union (AU) played to mediate between the three African countries.

He added that discussions held between the parties last week under the auspices of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the current AU head, are a step in the right direction and must continue.

The Security Council meeting saw the representatives of the US and Germany at the UNSC call on the three countries to reach consensus in the nearest time possible. The US warned against making statements or moves that may undermine the talks.

China, meanwhile, said it is ready to help in efforts to resolve the GERD crisis.

South Africa announced its rejection of unilateral actions that may harm any of the parties involved in the negotiations, adding that it will welcome any outcomes agreed upon by the three countries.

"We depend on the Declaration of Principles signed between the three countries in 2015 to resolve the dam issue," said the UK representative, insisting that negotiation is the only way to resolve the dispute.

The UK also stated it supports the outcome of the African Union meeting held on Friday.

Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan agreed during the AU meeting that Addis Ababa will delay the filling of the hydropower dam it is building on the Blue Nile until a final binding deal is reached, the Egyptian presidency announced on Friday, signalling progress in talks over the disputed project.

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Bagley, Mukai Named Interim UW College of Engineering and Applied Science Associate Deans

David Bagley and David Mukai have been named interim associate deans in the University of Wyomings College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Bagley is interim associate dean for graduate education and research, and Mukai will be the interim associate dean for undergraduate education.

Bagley will join the colleges leadership team and lead in key areas to support graduate education and research endeavors. He replaces Paul Dellenback, who will retire at the end of the academic year. Dellenback has been with UW since 1990 in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, where he eventually rose to become the department head.

I am excited to welcome Dave Bagley to our leadership team. He will provide strategy and vision that serve both students and faculty members, says Cameron Wright, interim dean of the UW College of Engineering and Applied Science. Daves accomplishments as a faculty member -- and his commitment to our mission and values -- have prepared him very well for this crucial role that spans both education and research.

Bagley says the College of Engineering and Applied Science has a proud tradition of developing students, new ideas and technologies that benefit the citizens and industries of Wyoming and outside the state.

I look forward to working with our terrific faculty, staff and students to build on that tradition as we work to further improve the well-being of the people and economy of Wyoming through exceptional graduate education and technical innovation, he says.

Bagley completed his B.S. degree (1984) in chemical and petroleum refining engineering from Colorado School of Mines; and his M.S. (1989) and Ph.D. (1993) degrees in environmental engineering, both from Cornell University.

After graduating from Cornell, Bagley worked as an environmental engineer with CH2M Hill Inc. in Deerfield Beach, Fla. In 1994, he started his career in academia, joining the faculty of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Bagley began his UW career in 2005 as an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, and was appointed head of that department in August 2007, a position he held through December 2010. In July 2008, Bagley was promoted to professor and, in January 2011, Bagley was appointed head of the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, a position he held through March 2015 when he returned to the professoriate in the newly created Department of Chemical Engineering.

He has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and other publications, and he is a member of various job-related associations.

Mukai will join the colleges leadership team and lead in key areas to support undergraduate education, including the colleges 10 baccalaureate programs, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology accreditation and the Center for Student Success.

I am delighted to welcome David Mukai into this key leadership role in directing these important efforts for the college. David brings with him not only an impressive set of professional experiences, but also a personal commitment to elevating engineering education in the lives of our students, Wright says. We are excited to have David join the Deans Office and help us best serve the college.

Mukai replaces Steve Barrett, who was recently named UWs associate vice provost for undergraduate education. Barrett has been with UW since 1999 in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Mukai says he is honored to be given the privilege to serve the college in his new role. He lists three areas that led him to accept this position: the opportunity to serve a wider population of students in the college; the talented and dedicated staff in the Deans Office; and the leadership in the Deans Office.

Finally, let me say that Steve Barrett leaves big shoes to fill, and I thank him for the example he has set during his years of service and his help in transitioning to this new role, he adds.

Mukai, an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, just completed his 20th academic year at UW. He has served in a variety of service roles within the college, including student-led projects. He has been published in several peer-reviewed journals and publications, and has received several on-campus awards.

Mukai received his bachelors (1983) and masters (1985) degrees in civil engineering, both from the University of Hawaii; and his doctoral degree (1991) in civil engineering from the University of Washington.
Greensboro, NC (27407)

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A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. High 92F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 73F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.
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Washington, DC - The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning the public about potential fraud schemes related to antibody tests for COVID-19.

Scammers are marketing fraudulent and/or unapproved COVID-19 antibody tests, potentially providing false results. In addition, fraudsters are seeking to obtain individuals personal information (names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, etc.) and personal health information, including Medicare and/or private health insurance information, which can be used in future medical insurance or identity theft schemes.

In response to the vast number of COVID-19 cases, and in an effort to return to a normal economy as soon as possible, researchers have been encouraged to devise testing methods that can be quickly and easily deployed to test large numbers of individuals for COVID-19 antibodies. However, not all COVID-19 antibody tests have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and their efficacy has not been determined.

The FBI warns the public to be aware of the following potential indicators of fraudulent activity:

Claims of FDA approval for antibody testing that cannot be verified

Advertisements for antibody testing through social media platforms, email, telephone calls, online, or from unsolicited/unknown sources

Marketers offering free COVID-19 antibody tests or providing incentives for undergoing testing

Individuals contacting you in person, phone, or email to tell you the government or government officials require you to take a COVID-19 antibody test

Practitioners offering to perform antibody tests for cash

The FBI recommends:

Checking the FDAs website (fda.gov) for an updated list of approved antibody tests and testing companies

Consulting your primary care physician before undergoing any at-home antibody tests

Using a known laboratory approved by your health insurance company to provide the antibody testing

Not sharing your personal or health information to anyone other than known and trusted medical professionals

Checking your medical bills and insurance explanation of benefits (EOBs) for any suspicious claims and promptly reporting any errors to your health insurance provider

Following guidance and recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other trusted medical professionals

If you believe you have been the victim of a COVID-19 fraud, immediately report it to National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or justice.gov/disastercomplaintform, or the FBI (ic3.gov, tips.fbi.gov, or 1-800-CALL-FBI).
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Borsodi Brewery announced the launch of Borsodi IPA, the second new product of its 2020 portfolio, available commercially from the end of June, according to a press release.

The new product portfolio was first announced in March, with the launch of Borsodi Hoppy, a "hoplager" with an IBU rating of 25.



Borsodi IPA is the brewerys first top-fermented beer, coming with a 5% alcohol content. The brewery used multiple types of hops and clean malt, giving it a characteristic bitter flavor. The design of the can follows the new, clean, modern ideas, just like in the case of Borsodi Hoppy.



"Feedbacks from the market and our own experience have shown that consumers were keen on picking our beers in the first months of the spring, so we cannot just stand still," says Zsolt Vuleta, the brewerys CEO.



"We would like to thank those who like Borsodis beers with another surprise: Borsodi IPA, the companys first top-fermented beer."



Vuleta adds that Borsodi always paid special attention to monitoring the needs of our consumers, adjusting and developing their portfolio accordingly. He argues that the success of Borsodi Hoppy confirmed that there is a demand on the domestic market for special beers.
- Egoagwuagwu Agnes Maduafokwa, a Nigerian student of Louisville Girls High School, is the most successful candidate of UTME 2020

- The brilliant girl had an aggregate score of 365 out of a total of 400 as she scored more than 80% in most of the subjects she sat for

- Egoagwuagwu hopes to study engineering in the university with the hope of using practical knowledge of mathematics to solve societal problems

Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

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It is no doubt that Nigeria is highly blessed with brilliant minds. No wonder some people say the country has so much untapped human resources.

Egoagwuagwu Agnes Maduafokwa is one of the beautiful minds the country is blessed with. She is the candidate with the highest score in the 2020 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations otherwise known as Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Egoagwuagwu scored 365 out of 400. Insideschool Nigeria reports that she is the president of the maths club and the first head girl of Louisville Girls High School, Ijebu-Itele in Ogun state.

She said she wants to study engineering in the university where she will be able to apply mathematical concepts to solve societal issues.

A collage showing the brilliant girl and a UTME centre. Photo source: Twitter/Insideschool Nigeria/Vanguard

Source: UGC

The brilliant girl is from Ihiala in Anambra state and she sat the UTME exam on Saturday, March 14 at St Michael Otedola Education Centre in Epe, Lagos state.

She had 72 in Use of English, 99 in Mathematics, 99 in Physics, and 95 in Chemistry.

In another story, there is truth in the narrative that hard work pays and a young lady with the Instagram name, princessmicah1, has shared spectacular graduation photos.

In the photos that have gathered congratulatory commentaries beneath her post, princessmicah1 was pictured proudly donned in her graduation regalia and cap. The young graduate posed for the camera to capture her happy moment in the motivating photos.

Faces of Ghana: 21-year-old female boxer's dream of becoming a world champion

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- A Nigerian man identified as Alex Adekunle James recently left social media users stunned with his story

- According to James who is a writer, he once returned a wallet containing $2500 to its owner

- The writer who revealed the wallet belonged to a House of a Representative member, explained why he returned the wallet rather than keep it to himself

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Nigerian man, Alex Adekunle James, is certainly one man who will pick a good name over wealth and a recent story which he shared via his Instagram page, proves this to be true.

According to James who is a writer, he once stumbled on a misplaced wallet containing $2500. James revealed there were several $100 bills, a couple of dirham, a Dubai insurance card and some debit cards which were both in naira and dollars.

Although James admitted several thoughts ran through his mind as he was in need of money, he however set his mind on returning the money. So, he started to search for the owner until he found him.

James maintains he has no regrets returning the money/@alexadekunlejames

Source: UGC

However, the HOR member didnt show the any sign of gratitude as he was on a call throughout his interaction with James. He didnt say a word to him.

James stated that even though he got no appreciation for his honesty, he didnt regret returning the money.

"I still felt so much joy doing the right thing. I saw it as an avenue to make God proud. I saw it as an opportunity to exemplify the values my generation needs to fix Nigeria. I saw it as the litmus test to what I have dedicated my life to in the last 11 years (mobilizing Nigerian youths to transform Nigeria into a first-world nation)."

James said that 3 days after he returned the wallet, the HOR member traced him to his house and apologized for his behaviour, explaining that he was on a very important call.

He then collected James account number and sent him what the writer described as a token of appreciation.

James ended his story with a few words of encouragement: "In our hands, Nigeria must be better! We need to exemplify the right values to pull Africa out of its rut. Let us set a new culture, tell me something that was hard but you did because it was the right thing."

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The success story of Rocky Dawuni | #Yencomgh

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Source: Yen.com.gh
Prather Receives UWs George Duke Humphrey Distinguished Faculty Award

Jonathan Prather, director of UWs Life Sciences Program and an associate professor in the Department of Zoology and Physiology, and the Program in Neuroscience, is this years winner of the George Duke Humphrey Distinguished Faculty Award. (Jonathan Prather Photo)

Like the songbirds he studies, Jonathan Prather is singing a happy tune.

Prather, director of the University of Wyomings Life Sciences Program and an associate professor in the Department of Zoology and Physiology, and the Program in Neuroscience, is this years winner of the George Duke Humphrey Distinguished Faculty Award.

Im more grateful than I can possibly express. The nomination for this award came from people I work with very closely, Prather says. Im honored that they would compose such thoughtful letters on my behalf. They also went out of their way to collect letters from former mentors and students at universities across the country. The fact that this comes as a result of kindness and support from all of them means the world to me.

Jeffrey Dunning, a UW Ph.D. graduate and now a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Medicine at Vanderbilt University, lauded Prather in his nomination letter. Prather served as a major adviser for Dunnings dissertation work at UW.

I worked very closely in the laboratory with Dr. Prather for five years, Dunning says. Whether we were brainstorming ideas on a whiteboard, making our own research tools, caring for a flock of birds or sitting in a darkroom capturing images on a microscope, Dr. Prather was present and enthusiastic, with his sleeves rolled up.

Named for UWs 13th president, who served from 1945-1964, the George Duke Humphrey Distinguished Faculty Award recognizes teaching effectiveness, distinction in scholarly work and distinguished service to the university and state.

Prathers research focuses on the neurobiology of songbirds as it correlates to learning and biological selection of a mate. In female songbirds he has studied, male song is the most important factor that influences the females choice of mate.

Ive enjoyed studying how the brain enables us to perceive the world and use that information to make decisions, Prather says. Ive been fortunate to have some great students join in this (songbird) project, and it has been really gratifying to help them grow into new stages of their careers.

Prathers research, teaching and leadership led to his being nominated and eventually winning one of UWs top academic awards.

While I always felt we were in good hands, the Life Sciences Program immediately made and has sustained a positive trajectory when Jon Prather took over as the program head, says John Willford, a clinical assistant professor in the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) Medical Education and Life Sciences programs, who nominated Prather. In addition to his efforts in the flagship, foundational course -- General Biology (LIFE 1010) -- Jon really cared about the entirety of the program and, equally, how we interacted with our stakeholders on campus.

Christopher North, a UW assistant lecturer of botany, gave kudos to Prather for teaching the demanding course while juggling his other obligations.

This is something that many unit leaders would hesitate to commit to, North wrote in his nomination letter.

Prather says the programs introductory biology course has a special place in his heart.

When I was an undergraduate, I loved learning about how the world around us works, and I love the fact that now I get to open the door of biology for a new generation of students, Prather explains.

Prather came to UW in 2009 as an assistant professor of zoology and physiology. He has headed the Life Sciences Program since 2016.

He has published two books and has led or contributed to 34 scholarly papers published in research journals. He received his bachelors degree in physics from the University of Virginia and his Ph.D. in neuroscience from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.
New Delhi: The wait is finally over! For those looking forward to the releases of Bollywood films, we have something that will make you jump with excitement. Disney+ Hotstar on Monday announced that it will release some highly-anticipated films on its platforms between July and October.

The four major films that are lined-up for release are - Akshay Kumar's 'Laxxmi Bomb', Ajay Devgn's 'Bhuj: The Pride Of India', Alia Bhatt's 'Sadak 2' and Abhishek Bachchan's 'The Big Bull'.

Sushant Singh Rajput's last film 'Dil Bechara's release date has already been locked for July 24. The release of these four films was announced on Monday by the four stars themselves via a virtual press conference, also attended by Varun Dhawan.

Besides, two other films which also skip a theatrical release are 'Khuda Hafiz', starring Vidyut Jamwal, and Kunal Kemmu's 'Lootcase'.

The theatres have been shut due to the coronavirus pandemic, but we can now watch our favourite celebs on screens.

Along with announcing the release of their films on Disney+ Hotstar, the stars also shared the new posters of their respective projects and spoke about it.

'Dil Bechara', meanwhile will be a tribute to Sushant, who died by suicide on June 14.

The release dates of 'Laxxmi Bomb', 'Bhuj: The Pride Of India', 'Sadak 2' and 'The Big Bull' haven't been finalised as of yet.
E-commerce major Amazon India on Sunday said it is offering close to 20,000 'seasonal' or temporary employment opportunities in its customer service (CS) organisation to help customers in India and globally with a seamless online shopping experience.

The new temporary positions -- being added to meet the anticipated demand in customer traffic in the next six months -- are open in Hyderabad, Pune, Coimbatore, Noida, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Mangaluru, Indore, Bhopal and Lucknow, Amazon India said in a statement.

Most of the positions are part of Amazon's 'Virtual Customer Service' programme that provides flexible work-from-home options, it added.

The new positions will see associates support customer services through e-mail, chat, social media and phone. The eligibility criteria for these positions include having minimum educational qualification of 12th standard pass and proficiency in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu or Kannada.

Based on the candidates' performance as well as business needs, a percentage of the current temporary positions are likely to be converted into permanent positions towards the end of the year, Amazon India said.

"We are continuously evaluating hiring needs across the customer service organisation in response to the growing customer demand. We estimate that customer traffic will further scale up over the next six months with the onset of Indian and global holiday seasons," Amazon India Director (Customer Service) Akshay Prabhu said.

He added that new seasonal positions will provide candidates job security and livelihood during these unprecedented times.

Earlier this year, Amazon had announced that it plans to create one million new jobs in India by 2025 through continued investments in technology, infrastructure, and its logistics network. The jobs ? created both directly and indirectly ? will be across industries, including information technology, skill development, content creation, retail, logistics, and manufacturing, and is in addition to the 7 lakh jobs Amazon's investments have enabled over the last seven years in India.

In May this year, Amazon India had announced adding 50,000 seasonal roles across its warehousing and delivery network to meet the surge in online demand for products after easing of the lockdown that had been put in place in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
New Delhi: Government on Monday launched the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme as a part of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal, launching the scheme said that the Scheme would generate total investment of Rs 35,000 crore and generate 9 lakh skilled and semi-skilled employment and benefit 8 lakh units through access to information, training, better exposure and formalization.

With a view to providing financial, technical and business support for upgradation of existing micro food processing enterprises, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has launched an all India Centrally Sponsored PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme to be implemented over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore, an official release said.

The expenditure under the scheme would to be shared in 60:40 ratio between Central and State Governments, in 90:10 ratio with North Eastern and Himalayan States, 60:40 ratio with UTs with legislature and 100% by Centre for other UTs.

Highlighting the role of local food processing units, Union Minister said that food products manufactured by the rural entrepreneurs in the villages have a long tradition of supplying Indian food products to the local population.

Union FPI Minister said that the unorganized food processing sector comprising nearly 25 lakh units contribute to 74% of employment in food processing sector. Nearly 66% of these units are located in rural areas and about 80% of them are family-based enterprises supporting livelihood rural household and minimizing their migration to urban areas. These units largely fall within the category of micro enterprises.

The Scheme adopts One District One Product (ODODP) approach to reap benefit of scale in terms of procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of products. The States would identify food product for a district keeping in view the existing clusters and availability of raw material.

Existing Individual micro food processing units desirous of upgradation of their unit can avail credit-linked capital subsidy of 35% of the eligible project cost with a maximum ceiling of Rs.10 lakh per unit. Seed capital of Rs. 40,000 - per SHG member would be provided for working capital and purchase of small tools. FPOs/ SHGs/ producer cooperatives would be provided credit linked grant of 35% for capital investment along the value chain.

Support would be provided through credit linked grant of 35% for development of common infrastructure including common processing facility, lab, warehouse, cold storage, packaging and incubation center through FPOs/SHGs/cooperatives or state owned agencies or private enterprise to use by micro units in the cluster. Support for marketing & branding would be provided to develop brands for micro units and groups with 50% grant at State or regional level which could benefit large number of micro units in clusters.

The Scheme places special focus on capacity building and research. NIFTEM and IIFPT, two academic and research institutions under MOFPI along with State Level Technical Institutions selected by the States would be provided support for training of units, product development, appropriate packaging and machinery for micro units.

All the processes of the Scheme would take place on an MIS including applications by entrepreneurs, their processing, approval of various projects by the States and MoFPI, release of grant and other funds and monitoring of the project. Individual entrepreneurs and other stake holders desirous of availing assistance under the scheme may contact the State Nodal Agencies of their respective states/ UTs regarding the roll out of scheme and contact points at the district level.
Bhopal: Around 20 to 25 new members, including some former Congress MLAs who joined the BJP in March, are likely to be inducted in Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's cabinet in its second round of expansion that is expected soon, sources in the ruling party said on Monday.

The sources said 14 to 15 BJP MLAs and around nine former Congress legislators, who joined the saffron party in March, are likely to get ministerial berths.

Chouhan flew to New Delhi on Sunday to hold consultations with the central BJP leadership over the much- talked about cabinet expansion, they said.

Chouhan last week said the expansion of the state cabinet will take place soon.

The initial 'mini' expansion of the cabinet took place on April 21 with the induction of five ministers, nearly a month after Chouhan took oath as the chief minister for a record fourth term.

Among these five ministers, two were former Congress MLAs.

The BJP came to power in March after Kamal Nath resigned as chief minister following rebellion by nearly two dozen MLAs of the Congress.

Most of these rebel MLAs were considered close to former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the Congress and joined the BJP more than three months ago.

Meanwhile, according to Rajya Bhavan sources, the visit of Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, who has been given the additional charge of Madhya Pradesh, to Bhopal on Monday has been postponed.
Amid the rising tensions between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is employing martial arts trainers to train their military officers stationed at LAC. Some reports claimed that at least 20 martial arts trainers have been sent to Tibet to train Chinese soldiers deployed near LAC.

But Indian Army is fully prepared for any kind of assault by Chinese forces and has deployed its Ghatak commandos in Ladakh near the border areas to counter the martial arts' trained Chinese Army. According to an Army officer, a Ghatak commando undergos a specialised 43-day Commando Training Course at Belgaum in Karnataka. The training includes running for 40-kilometers non-stop with a weight of about 35 kg which strengthens them physically.

Ghatak Platoons are specialized elite infantry platoons within Indian Army and their primary role and purpose is to be heavily armed spearheads or shock troopers in case of an operation or a conflict.

Ghatak Platoons are composed of the most physically fit and motivated soldiers in an infantry battalion. The Ghatak commandos are trained to flank around their enemy and attack them from the rear without needing any support from the rest of the battalion. Apart from weapons training they are also trained in hand-to-hand combat and also specialise in martial arts.



Ghatak commandos can undertake direct raids on enemy artillery positions, air fields, supply dumps and headquarters and can also direct artillery and air attacks while behind the enemy lines. They are also trained in heliborne assault , mountain warfare , rock climbing , demolitions, close quarter battles , and also in administrative and logistical roles.



A Ghatak Platoon is usually 20-men strong, consisting of a commanding Captain, 2 non-commissioned officers and some special teams like marksman and spotter pairs, light machine gunners, medic and radio operator. The remaining soldiers act as assault troopers.

To train them for their purpose, Ghatak commandos undergo training at Commando Training Course in Belgaum, Karnataka where the soldiers are evaluated through speed marches in battle gear ranging from 20 to 60 km, carrying their rifles and 20 kg of weight in their rucksacks. They are armed with INSAS Assault Rifles , AKM Assault Rifles , Pika General Purpose Machine Gun , M4 Carbine , B&T MP9 Submachine Gun , TAR-21 Assault Rifles , Carl Gustav Recoil-Less Rifle , SVD Dragunov Sniper Rifle , MP5 Submachine Gun and INSAS Light Machine Guns.

Depending on the mission, these commandos may carry other items like ropes, climbing gear, grenades, rocket launchers, laser target designators and night vision equipment.

When Indian Army conducted surgical strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the troops included the crack Ghatak platoons of the very same 6 Bihar and 10 Dogra battalions who lost 19 soldiers in Uri attack. Ghatak platoons joined two para commando units for the surgical strike inside PoK. Ghatak platoons were sent for the operation to ensure a sense of revenge was achieved.

In 1999 during the Kargil War, 18 Grenadier Yogendra Singh, who played an important role in helping the Army capture Tiger Hill, was also a Ghatak commando. Singh was later awarded Param Vir Chakra for his valour.

Lieutenant Navdeep Singh, who was martyred in 2011 during an encounter with terrorist in Gurez sector of Jammu and Kashmir, was also a Ghatak Platoon commander. Singh was awarded Ashok Chakra for his bravery.

Captain Chandar Chaudhary, who attained martyrdom on September 9, 2022 during a 'seek a destroy' operation against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, was also a commander of Ghatak Platoon.
New Delhi: The first batch of six Rafale fighter jets, which are expected to significantly boost the combat capability of the Indian Air Force, is most likely to arrive in India on July 27. The delivery of aircraft was earlier supposed to have been done by May end, but this got delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The first aircraft to be flown in is planned to be piloted by the Commanding Officer of the 17 Golden Arrows' squadron along with a French pilot. The first batch of seven Indian pilots has finished their training at a French airbase while the second batch would be going to France as soon as the lockdown measures are relaxed in both countries.

On June 2, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with his French counterpart Florence Parly during which she conveyed that the Rafale jets will be delivered to India as scheduled notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic in France.

The first squadron of the aircraft will be stationed at Ambala air force station, considered one of the most strategically located bases of the IAF. India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore.

The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and SCALP air-to-ground cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets.

Meteor is the next generation of BVR air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat. The weapon has been developed by MBDA to combat common threats facing the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden.

Besides the missile systems, the Rafale jets will come with various India-specific modifications, including Israeli helmet-mounted displays, radar warning receivers, low-band jammers, 10-hour flight data recording, infra-red search and tracking systems among others.

The IAF has already completed preparations, including readying required infrastructure and training of pilots, to welcome the fighter aircraft.

The second squadron of Rafale will be stationed at Hasimara base in West Bengal. The IAF spent around Rs 400 crore to develop infrastructure like shelters, hangars and maintenance facilities at the two bases.

Out of the 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighter jets and six will be trainers. The trainer jets will be twin-seater and they will have almost all the features of the fighter jets.

The IAF has been on a high alert for the last two weeks in view of escalation in tension with China following clashes between troops of the two countries in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed. The two armies are locked in a bitter standoff in the region for seven weeks.
New Delhi: Amid Sino-India border along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, Indian intelligence agencies have recently noticed activities of the Chinese Air Force at Skardu Airbase in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Zee News has come to more than 40 Chinese fighter jets, J10, have been witnessed in Skardu in the month of June itself. The Chinese Air Force is understood to have been preparing to use the Skardu airbase to launch an attack against India.

Since Skardu is merely 100 kms away from Leh and is much closer than any Chinese airbase, China is testing the capabilities of this airbase so that it can be used against India, which may have to face attack from the double front.

China is learned to have three airbases, including Kashgar, Hotan, and Nagri Gurgunsa, to launch its fighter jets against India in Ladakh. These three airbases, however, have limited abilities to take action against India. The distance from Kashgar to Leh is 625 km, Leh to Khotan is 390 km and Leh to Gurgunsa is 330 km. All these airbases are located in Tibet at an altitude of over 11000 feet.

On takeoff from such a height, both the fuel and the carrying weapon of fighter jets have to be kept low, reducing their firepower as well as range. Also, the possibility of getting caught on such a long-distance flight from radar also increases, according to Zee News.

For the Chinese Air Force, it will be easier to attack Indian bases, both Ladakh and Kashmir, from Skardu, which is around 100 km away from Leh is, while Kargil is around 75 km. This airbase has two runways, one of which is two and a half km long and the other is 3.5 km long. Chinese fighter jets can easily proceed and return to Skardu.

Notably, if India retaliates against Skardu, then Pakistan will have an excuse to start the war.
New Delhi: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday (June 29) said that the launch of Indias first human space mission 'Gaganyaan' will not be affected by COVID-19 pandemic and preparation are carrying on in the right direction.

Briefing about the important achievements of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Space over the last one year and some of the important missions planned for the future, Jitendra said that even though the training of four Indian astronauts in Russia had to be halted due to COVID-19, the opinion of ISRO's Chairman and the scientific team is that there had been kept a 'cushion' both in the training programme and launch deadline.

Jitendra said the training of astronauts has now been resumed and the launch is scheduled to take place as planned, before the 75th anniversary of Indias independence in 2022.

"A regulatory body called Indian National Space Promotion & Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) is to be established. This will help provide a level playing field to private players and encourage their participation," said the minister on the cabinet decision to encourage private participation in ISRO activities.

He opined that besides enhancing the capacity and resources of the space missions, increased participation of private players will also discourage the brain drain of talented space scientists and experts who were moving out of India in search of a break.

About Chandrayaan-3 Lunar mission, Jitendra said, "As of today, it is planned for launch next year. This mission will involve a lander, rover and a propulsion system to carry the modules to move but it would not have orbiter as the previous orbiter is fully operational."
Amid the rising coronavirus COVID-19 cases in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday (June 29) said that the Delhi government will create a plasma bank to fight the deadly viral disease.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal urged those who have recovered from coronavirus to donate plasma to help other patients. The chief minister added that conveyance to the plasma bank will be arrange by Delhi goverment for those willing to donate.

"The Delhi government will set up a plasma bank, I request people to donate plasma to save lives of COVID-19 patients," Kejriwal said. He also informed the media that the plasma bank will start operating in the next two days.

According to Kejirwal, clinical trails of plasma therapy were conducted on 29 coronavirus patients in Delhi and the result was encouraging.

"I request all those (who have recovered from coronavirus) that it's rare that you get to save lives. I request you to please come forward and donate. This is the true service of god," the Chief Minister said.

The plasma bank will be set up at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Vasant Kunj and the bank will act as the point of coordination between plasma donors and recipients.

"If you go there (plasma bank) to donate, there is no risk. We will arrange conveyance for you to go there and donate. We will announce numbers in a few days for this system," Kejriwal said, adidng that Delhi goverment will soon set up a helpline for queries related to donation of plasma.

Delhi currently has the second highest number of coronavirus cases in India with a total tally of 83,077 cases. The national capital has witnessed a huge surge in cases in the past few dyas.

Notably, plama therapy was called an experimental procedure by the Centre as there was "no concrete evidence to support plasma therapy as coronavirus treatment."
New Delhi: Apart from the Income Tax department, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also set to tighten its noose around Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, who has booked under sections of the Epidemic Diseases Act, Disaster Management Act (2005), Foreigners Act and other relevant sections of Indian Penal Code.

Saad has also been booked by the Delhi Police for culpable homicide not amounting to murder after some of the attendees of the religious congregation, which was held at Nizamuddin Markaz in March this year during the time of the pandemic, died due to coronavirus COVID-19.

He is also facing charges of money laundering.

According to reports, the ED upon scrutinising accounts of Saad and other Tablighi Jamaat members, have found evidence against the Jamaat chief, that establish his links with northeast riot accused and suspended AAP MLA Tahir Hussain and another Delhi riot accused Faisal Farooqui. Farooqui is the owner of Delhi's Rajdhani School.

In the last few months, the probe agency conducted multiple raids and searches at Tahir Hussain and other people associated with him and recovered several documents from there. Investigation revealed that all three Saad, Tahir and Farooqui made a lot of assets in the last few years.

The ED also found out that Saad has made investments in the luxurious building of Rajdhani School, which is owned by Faisal Farooqui, the mastermind of Delhi riots. Besides, Saad also had invested his black money in another school owned by Farooqui.

Aleem, a relative and a close of Maulana Saad, managed the entire transaction of money and investments of the Jamaat chief. He also used to oversee foreign funding at the Markaz.

The probe agency also found out repeated conversations between Aleem and Faisal Farooqui in call details during the Delhi riots. Aleem's niece was married to Saad's son.

Aleem had been living in Markaz and used to manage the Nizamuddin Markaz's functioning.

Maulana Saad is currently hiding at a luxury bungalow in Delhi's Zakir Nagar for last three months. Although the bungalow is owned by Aleem, the probe agency doubts that Maulana Saad has invested in this property too.

Saad is believed to have Benami properties worth crores of rupees at several places, which is also being investigated by the ED.

The ED had interrogated several people associated with Markaz, including Aleem and Maulana Saad's three sons.
UW Researchers Look for Answers as to Why Western Bumblebees Are Declining

Christy Bell, a Ph.D. student in the UW Department of Zoology and Physiology, observes a Western bumblebee. Bell and Lusha Tronstad, lead invertebrate zoologist with the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, are co-authors of a paper about Western bumblebees. The two have been working with a group of bumblebee experts the last year to fill in gaps of missing information from previous data collected about Western bumblebees in the western United States. (Christy Bell Photo)

A University of Wyoming researcher and her Ph.D. student have spent the last three years studying the decline of the Western bumblebee. The two have been working with a group of bumblebee experts to fill in gaps of missing information from previous data collected in the western United States. Their goal is to provide information on the Western bumblebee to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service while it considers listing this species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

The decline of the Western bumblebee is likely not limited to one culprit but, instead, due to several factors that interact such as pesticides, pathogens, climate change and habitat loss, says Lusha Tronstad, lead invertebrate zoologist with the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD). Western bumblebees were once the most abundant bumblebees on the West Coast of the U.S., but they are much less frequently observed there now. Pathogens (or parasites) are thought to be a major reason for their decline.

Tronstad and Christy Bell, her Ph.D. student in the Department of Zoology and Physiology, from Laramie, are co-authors of a paper, titled Western Bumble Bee: Declines in the United States and Range-Wide Information Gaps, that was published online June 26 in Ecosphere, a journal that publishes papers from all subdisciplines of ecological science, as well as interdisciplinary studies relating to ecology.

The two are co-authors because they are members of the Western Bumble Bee Working Group and serve as experts of the Western bumblebee in Wyoming, Tronstad says.

Other contributors to the paper are from the U.S. Geological Survey; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Canadian Wildlife Service; Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation in Portland, Ore.; British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy; University of Hawaii-Hilo; U.S. Department of Agriculture; The Institute for Bird Populations; University of Vermont; Utah State University; Ohio State University; Denali National Park and Preserve; and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.

This paper is the result of the Western Bumble Bee Working Group, which is a group of experts on this species who came together to assemble the state of knowledge on this species in the United States and Canada, Tronstad says. The paper shows both what is known and knowledge gaps, specifically in the lack of samples and lack of knowledge about the species. Some prime examples of where spatial gaps in limited sampling exist include most of Alaska, northwestern Canada and the southwestern United States.

Some areas in the U.S. have less bumblebee sampling in the past and present, Tronstad explains. This could be for a variety of reasons such as lack of funding for such inventories, lack of bee expertise in that state, etc.

Christy Bell (foreground) sets up traps to collect Western bumblebees in southwestern Wyoming. (Lusha Tronstad Photo)

Using occupancy modeling, the probability of detecting the Western bumblebee decreased by 93 percent from 1998-2018, Tronstad says. Occupancy modeling is a complex model that estimates how often the Western bumblebee was detected from sampling events between 1998-2018 in the western United States.

The data we assembled will be used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to inform its decision on whether or not to protect the Western bumblebee under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, Tronstad says. At WYNDD, we collect data, and that data is used by managers. Our mission is to provide the most up-to-date data on which management decisions can be based.

Tronstad says there are several things that homeowners or landowners can do to help this species of bumblebee survive and thrive. These include:

-- Plant flowers that bloom throughout the summer. Make sure these flowers have pollen and produce nectar, and are not strictly ornamental.

-- Provide a water source for bees. Tronstad says she adds a piece of wood to all of her stock tanks so bees can safely get a drink.

-- Provide nesting and overwintering habitat. Most bumblebees nest in the ground, so leaving patches of bare ground covered with litter or small mammal holes will benefit these bees. Be sure not to work these areas until after you see large bumblebees (queen bees) buzzing around in the spring, usually in April for much of Wyoming, so you can find out where they are nesting.

Tronstad says Bells research will continue this summer, as Bell will investigate pathogens in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming that affect Western bumblebees there. Max Packebush, a UW sophomore majoring in microbiology and molecular biology, from Littleton, Colo.; and Matt Green, a 2018 UW graduate from Camdenton, Mo., will assist Bell in her research. NASA and the Wyoming Research Scholars Program will fund Packebush to conduct his work.

The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funded the research for this paper.
Preparations for the upcoming Assembly election in Bihar are going on in full swing wiht the Election Commission taking one more step to hold the election on time despite the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

According to reports, the EC has now decided to train its employees for the upcoming poll and the training program is scheduled to begin from June 29 (Monday). In the first phase, training will be imparted to the employees of the Chief Electoral Officer office in Bihar. During this phase, master trainers will be given training.

After this, the master trainers will train the personnel of the districts, then the government employees will be trained at the subdivision level and the block level. The entire program will run for eight days.

During the training program, the employees will be trained for enrollment, voting, scrutiny, withdrawal of names, running electronic voting machines. According to the EC, a program has been designed to train the employees at various levels. During this time, special training will also be given to secure the electoral process during coornavirus pandemic.

According to the EC, necessary guidelines such as social distancing and wearing of masks will be followed. It may be recalled that a few days ago, the Commission had held separate meetings with political parties in Patna and sought suggestions for the conduct of election. During the meetings, political parties had given several suggestions for cinducting the election without any trouble. Most parties were in favour of conducting the poll in two to three phases.
New Delhi: There is a growing consensus in the highest echelons of the government that India and China continue to be locked in a hitherto unprecedented standoff - for almost eight weeks now - at multiple points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) border.

After the June 15 incident, in which at least 20 jawans were killed during a violent face-off with Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in Ladakh, several rounds of military-level to diplomatic talks have been held between the two nations to ease down the tension in the region. However, reports stated that amid the backdrop of talks, China significantly ramped up its military presence in the area and several other fiction points in eastern Ladakh.

According to information available to Zee Media, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval had in 2013 informed that China along with Pakistan has been spying against India, besides supplying arms to militant organizations in the northeast.

In an article titled 'Chinese Intelligence: From a Party Outfit to Cyber Warriors', former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Doval has described how Chinese spies are active in several countries including India and are spying for China in a planned manner. At the time when Doval wrote this article, he was associated with Delhi's Think Tank Vivekananda International Foundation. A year later, the NDA government in the Centre handed him the responsibility of the NSA.

As per Doval, China had intensified the espionage activities against India after Dalai Lama along with his 80,000 followers took refuge in India in 1959. Simultaneously, China also started building a road on NH-219 connecting Lhasa and Jinjiang in the Aksai Chin area.

On November 21, 1959, Karam Singh, who was posted as Deputy Central Intelligence Agency in the IB, lost his life in a violent clash with Chinese soldiers.

According to Doval, Indian intelligence agencies had started providing information about Chinese activities to the government, which, however, did not pay much attention to the inputs then.

In 2013, a Chinese army spy, identified as Pema Tsering, was arrested from Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala, for spying on Dalai Lama. Doval also said that Chinese spies have been found involved in a conspiracy against India by colluding with political and defence intelligence and also collaborating with northeast militant organizations for anti-India activities.

On January 18, 2011, a female Chinese spy, Wang Qing, was arrested from Nagaland. She was found to have held a secret meeting with Nagaland militant group T Muivah. India had then lodged an official protest with China on this matter.

According to Doval, Chinese intelligence agencies are very active against India and also provide arms and ammo, fund and training to militant groups in India. In 1966, a group of 300 Naga militants, who were trained in using arms in Yunan province in China, were sent to India. Muivah and Isak Swu, leaders of Naga militants, also included in the group, who had brought huge quantities of weapons from China, to be used against India.

According to Doval, the practice continues even now.

The report stated that in the last several years, China conspired to destablize the government in the Centre on number of occasions. And despite regular information, the government either ignored or refrained from saying anything on it.

A major revelation on the conspiracy against India by China was once again revealed in 2010 when northeast militant Anthony Shimray, who had returned from Nepal, was apprehended by Indian security agencies. Doval said that during the interrogation, Shimray disclosed that he was tasked to send a large consignment of AK 47s, M16 rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, and rocket launchers among other arms and ammunition from China to India.

These weapons were to be sent from China's Beihei through an agent from Bangkok to Bangladesh's Cax Bazaar. From there, the weapons were to be made available to militant groups of northeast.

While disclosing China's conspiracy against India, Doval claimed that Beijing had also been taking help from Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI against India. China and Pakistan had jointly set up an operational hub against India in Bangladesh capital city Dhaka with aim of contacting militant groups of northe
New Delhi: In a major retaliation against China amid the rising border tension at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India on Monday (June 29) banned 59 Chinese mobile apps including TikTok, UC Browser and Cam Scanner among others.

A statement from the government said that the apps are 'engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order'.

"It has been noted recently that such concerns also pose a threat to sovereignty and security of our country. The Ministry of Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about the misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India," the statement read.

Here's the list of Chinese apps on phones which have been banned by the government:

1. TikTok

2. ShareIt

3. Kwai

4. UC Browser

5. Baidu map

6. Shein

7. Clash of Kings

8. DU Battery saver

9. Helo

10. Likee

11. YouCam makeup

12. Mi Community

13. CM Browers

14. Virus Cleaner

15. APUS Browser

16. ROMWE

17. Club Factory

18. Newsdog

19. Beutry Plus

20. WeChat

21. UC News

22. QQ Mail

23. Weibo

24. Xender

25. QQ Music

26. QQ Newsfeed

27. Bigo Live

28. SelfieCity

29. Mail Master

30. Parallel Space

31. Mi Video Call  Xiaomi

32. WeSync

33. ES File Explorer

34. Viva Video  QU Video Inc

35. Meitu

36. Vigo Video

37. New Video Status

38. DU Recorder

39. Vault- Hide

40. Cache Cleaner DU App studio

41. DU Cleaner

42. DU Browser

43. Hago Play With New Friends

44. Cam Scanner

45. Clean Master  Cheetah Mobile

46. Wonder Camera

47. Photo Wonder

48. QQ Player

49. We Meet

50. Sweet Selfie

51. Baidu Translate

52. Vmate

53. QQ International

54. QQ Security Center

55. QQ Launcher

56. U Video

57. V fly Status Video

58. Mobile Legends

59. DU Privacy

Angry over Chinese aggression at LAC and killing of 20 Indian soldiers in Galwan Valley stand-off on June 15, there have been a growing demand for a complete ban on Chinese apps in the country. Some popular Chinese apps like TikTok, PUBG Mobile, Bigo Live, Helo and Likee had already started to witness a dip in download after the cross border tension at the LAC in Ladakh region.

Earlier on June 19, the Uttar Pradesh STF had directed its personnel and their family members to remove 52 Chinese applications from their smartphones amid the ongoing tension at the border with the neighbouring country. The order said that the Home Ministry has suggested not to use these applications as these applications are of Chinese origin and pose the threat of possible data theft.
New Delhi: The third round of military-level talks between India and China will take place in the Chushul sector on the Indian side of Line of Actual Control on Tuesday (June 30). The talks are being held in an attempt to de-escalate tension in eastern Ladakh and finalise modalities for disengagement of troops from the sensitive region even as China has significantly ramped up its military presence in the area and several other fiction points in eastern Ladakh.

The talks are expected to begin at 10:30 am on Tuesday.

The first two Lt General-talks between the two nuclear-armed nations had taken place at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC.

Also Read: Exclusive: NSA Ajit Doval warned 7 years ago on China, Pakistan teaming up against India

PTI quoted government sources saying that in the second round of talks on June 22, the two sides arrived at a mutual consensus to disengage from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh. On Tuesday, the two sides are expected to deliberate on the implementation of an agreement arrived at the first round of the Lt General talks on June 6, the sources said.

The Indian delegation at the talks will be headed by 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh while the Chinese side is likely to be led by the Commander of the Tibet Military District.

The tension between the two sides at LAC escalated after the violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops at Galwan Valley on the intervening night of June 15-16 that left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

The Chinese soldiers used stones, nail-studded sticks, iron rods and clubs in carrying out brutal attacks on Indian soldiers after they protested the erection of a surveillance post by China on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control in Galwan.

After the clashes, the two sides held at least three rounds of Major-General level talks to explore ways to bring down the tension between the two sides.
New Delhi: The Navy has increased its surveillance missions and beefed up operational deployment in the Indian Ocean region in the wake of India's seven-week bitter border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, people familiar with the development said.

The Indian Navy is also ramping up its operational cooperation with various friendly naval forces like the US Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force in view of the fast-evolving regional security landscape, they said.

On Saturday, the Indian Navy held a crucial exercise with Japanese Navy in the Indian Ocean region, an area where Chinese naval vessels and submarines are making frequent forays, they said.

Indian Navy ships INS Rana and INS Kulish were part of the exercise while Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces deployed its two ships, JS Kashima and JS Shimayuki, for the exercise.

The exercise assumed significance as it took place amid India's border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh and Chinese Navy's aggressive posturing in South China Sea as well as in the Indo-Pacific region.

"The aim of the exercise was to enhance interoperability between the two navies," said a source.

Navies from the US, India, Australia, Japan and France have been deepening their mutual cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region in view of China's growing attempts to expand military influence in the resource-rich region.

Following an escalation in tension between India and China in eastern Ladakh after the killing of 20 Indian Army soldiers on June 15, the government put all the three forces on alert.

The Indian Navy was asked to raise its alert level in the Indian Ocean Region where Chinese Navy has been making regular forays.

The people cited above said Indian Navy has increased its surveillance missions and enhanced operational deployment in the Indian Ocean region in the last couple of weeks. "We are increasing surveillance to track Chinese activities in Indian Ocean region," said a military expert.

The Galwan Valley incident on June 15 was the biggest confrontation between the two militaries after their 1967 clashes in Nathu La when India lost around 80 soldiers while the death toll on the Chinese side was over 300.

India and Japan are part of the influential "Quad" or Quadrilateral coalition which also comprises the United States and Australia.

In November 2017, the four countries gave shape to the long-pending "Quad" coalition to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence.

The US has been pushing for a greater role for India in the Indo-Pacific which is seen by many countries as an effort to contain China's growing clout in the region.
Three terrorists, including a top commander of Pakistan-based terror group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, were killed in an encounter in Anantnag district on Monday (June 29) morning.

With todays operation at Khull Chohar ranipora Anantnag by Anantnag Police along RR unit and CPRF in which two LET terrorists including one district commander and one Hizbul commander Masood are neutralised who belonged to Doda, Doda district in Jammu Zone becomes totally free from terrorists once again as Masood was last surviving terrorist of Doda District," Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said.

DGP Singh added that Masood was also involved in a rape case registered by Doda police and was absconding ever since. "He later joined Hizbul Mujahideen and shifted his area of operation to Kashmir," he said.

Sources identified the other two killed terrorists as Tariq Khan of Lal Chowk, Anantnag, and Nadeem from Kulgam. However, official confirmation was still awaited.

With the encounter of these three terrorists, the number of terrorists eliminated in Valley in this year so far has gone to 116 including 7 operational commanders of different terror outfits.

This was the 13th encounter in the month of June and over 40 terrorists have been killed in Kashmir valley in this month so far. Pakistan-based terror group Hizbul Mujaheedin remained main target of security forces. It is to be noted that Hizbul's longest surviving operational commander Riyaz Naikoo was also killed in 2020.
New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday (June 29) launched `Skill Connect Forum` and said that the state government is committed to provide impetuous to creating jobs by reviving economic and industrial activities.

After launching the 'Skill Connect Forum' in Bengaluru, the Chief Minister said the portal will connects both private entrepreneurs and job seekers on the same platform, adding "Under this forum, an unemployed will be imparted skills and then enabled to get a job."

Yediyurappa said the portal will provide a skilled pool of people for those looking to hire, besides providing jobs via registration.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan, who is also the Skill Development Minister, said that portal will be a boon to the youth seeking jobs and it will avoid unemployment issue to a great extent.

Narayan further said, "All these years, there was no information and communication between job seekers and recruiters. The portal will solve that problem."

The portal https://skillconnect.kaushalkar.com connects the job seekers and those who want to hire. People just need to register them on the portal by uploading their educational, skill qualifications and other details.

Similarly, companies looking for hiring a specific skilled persons can also register on the portal giving job discription.

If they find someone suitable for the specified job skill, the companies or industries can contact the job seekers directly and vice versa.

Pvt hospitals in Bengaluru asked to arrange 2,500 additional beds

Private hospitals and nursing homes in Bengaluru have been directed to set apart an additional 2,500 beds for treatment of COVID-19 patients, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said on Monday. The direction has been given in view of shortage of beds in hospitals, he said.

The Chief Minister also said there was no need for any panic in view of spurt in cases here and the government has made arrangements for good treatment and food in hospitals.

"Today we had a discussion with the owners of private hospitals. We have arrived at a conclusion that they need to arrange 2,500 beds by tomorrow," Yediyurappa told reporters after chairing a meeting with the hospital authorities.

Citing coronavirus data of the four metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, Yediyurappa said Bengaluru was better placed due to the efforts of the state government.

On Sunday, Karnataka witnessed the biggest ever spike in cases with 1,267 people testing positive of which Bengaluru's share was 783. The city has witnessed 3,314 positive cases and 533 discharges with total active cases of 2,692 and 88 fatalities so far.
Mumbai: A vehicle in Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar`s convoy overturned in Pimpri Chinchwad area on Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Monday (June 29), but Pawar`s vehicle passed on safely.

The driver of the vehicle that turned turtle received minor injuries, said Pune rural police. The car in which Sharad Pawar was sitting is safe.

The NCP chief was on way to Mumbai from Pune when the vehicle skidded off the road around 11 am near the spot where the British-era Amrutanjan Bridge stood. The 190-year-old bridge near Lonavla was demolished in April through multiple controlled blasts.

Notably, during the road accident, Pawar's car was on the front side, that's why his car survived from being hit. Pawar got down from his vehicle and oversaw medical support for the injured policeman.

Highway police said the vehicle was moved immediately and traffic on the Expressway resumed soon after.
New Delhi: The AAP-led government on Monday (June 29) submitted the Delhi High Court that the Delhi government has a shortage of medical staff. The court was hearing the case related to negligence dead bodies of COVID-19 patients in the capital.

The Delhi government also said that it has so far lost four doctors due to COVID-19, and several other doctors and medical staff are infected with the coronavirus. So, this is not the right time to file a complaint against the Delhi government.

Earlier, the Court has expressed concern over the delay in the cremation of COVID-19 victims and made the observation that more cremation infrastructure is urgently needed in the national capital.

A contempt case was filed in the High Court against the Delhi government on the negligence of the bodies. The petitioner has submitted that despite the court's order for the disposal of dead bodies, the same is not being followed due to this the contempt plea has been filed against the Delhi government as well as Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital.

Advocate Awadh Kaushik told the court that the Delhi government had submitted before the High Court that the cases related to the negligence of dead bodies would not come, but pictures have once again that the dead bodies are lying in the corridor in the hospital ward where patients are being admitted.

The petitioner sought to draw the attention of the court that the Delhi government is not following the court order, therefore, a contempt case must be slapped on the state government as well as medical director of the hospital.

The Delhi government's lawyer, however, told the court that a similar case would be heard by the Supreme Court on July 20. After this, the High Court deferred its hearing till July 29.
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday (June 29) once again took a swipe at the central government for the rising fuel prices and urged people to join the campaign against it.

Show his resentment on the rising fuel prices, the former Congress president took to Twitter and wrote, "Come and join #SpeakUpAgainstFuelHike campaign." This came after the state-run oil marketing companies raised the prices of petrol and diesel on Monday, a day after there was no hike in rates that were increasing continuously for three weeks.

Rahul also shared a video wherein a person could be heard saying that the government is 'rubbing salt on the wounds of people' by increasing the prices at a time when people are either unemployed or not receiving salaries.

"Amid coronavirus pandemic and tensions with China, the Centre has left the common man to fend for themselves. It is looting the country by increasing the price of petrol and diesel from the past 21 days. The poor and middle class people are helpless," the video narrated.

The video, shared by Rahul Gandhi, went on to urge the people to raise their voice against the hike, so that it lands on the "deaf ears of the government". The narrator asked countrymen to share the video of disgruntled people with the #SpeakUpAgainstFuelHike hashtag on their social media handle from 10 a.m. onwards on Monday.

At the outset, the Congress party has also decided to launch a five-day protest, starting June 30, against fuel price hike in each block of the country. The party would also hold protests, from 11 am-12 noon on Monday in front of the Central government offices against the fuel price hike, senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal announced on June 28.
UWs Kuznetsova Receives Hollon Family Award

Maria Kuznetsova

When students and colleagues describe University of Wyoming instructor Maria Kuznetsova, they use adjectives such as excellent, innovative, dedicated and caring.

Kuznetsova, an associate lecturer of psychology at UW-Casper, is the recipient of the 2020 Hollon Family Award for Teaching Excellence in Off-Campus Programs. In 1986, C.E. Jerry Hollon, a former UW trustee, established the award to recognize contributions to the general extension outreach programs of the university.

Kuznetsovas courses include Introduction to Clinical Psychology, Adolescent Development and Psychology of Adulthood. For most classes, she blends her distance course offerings with in-person delivery to her Casper students, says Narina Nunez, a professor in the UW Department of Psychology.

The students in Casper are taking a traditional course and expect the attention and intimacy that one might expect in a small on-the-ground class. The students at the other sites join a video conferencing class and have different expectations, Nunez says. I cant imagine being able to combine these two different class formats into a successful teaching experience. And yet, Maria clearly does.

Regardless of the course setup, students consistently give Kuznetsova high marks on her teaching evaluations.

Examining her evaluations over the last few semesters, she averages scores in the 4.6 range, says Sean McCrea, a professor and head of the UW Department of Psychology. These scores consistently exceed the benchmarks of the college and place her among the best instructors in our department.

Students praise Kuznetsova for her effective and engaging teaching style.

She ensures students understand the material and is engaged with students 100 percent of the time. I look for her name when selecting classes, a student wrote in a teaching evaluation.

Her interactive video lectures and weekly announcements are very effective toward instructing the class well, another student wrote.

Kuznetsova uses a variety of teaching applications to keep her classes interesting.

Dr. Kuznetsova embodies the highest levels of achievement in distance education, says Brent Pickett, UW-Casper dean. She takes platforms that are often seen as impersonal and anonymous, and makes them personal and engaging.

A former student agrees.

I understand that distance learning can be a challenge, but Dr. Kuznetsova makes it seem like you are learning in a classroom setting, says Tiffany Horne, one of Kuznetsovas nominators. Her timely responses and helpful feedback are specific to each student. Dr. Kuznetsova is a professor who shows passion in helping her students and is always easy to reach when questions arise.

Students and colleagues alike note that Kuznetsova cares about her students success, both in and out of the classroom.

She helped me not only with classes, but also with future endeavors and offered advice on what steps to take next, wrote a student in a teaching evaluation.

Maria demonstrates real dedication to her students and their well-being, McCrea says. As part of her service, she leads the Psi Chi honor society chapter in Casper, which provides academic and career mentoring for students.

Kuznetsova joined the UW faculty in 2011 and is the sole Department of Psychology faculty member at UW-Casper.

If I had to describe Marias place in our department, I would say that shes our rock, Nunez says. No matter what teaching assignment gets thrown at her, she always delivers a rock-solid performance.

Kuznetsova received a diploma of higher education in economics (2000) from Syktyvkar State University in Russia. She earned her M.S. in clinical psychology (2005) from the University of South Carolina-Aiken and her Ph.D. in developmental psychology (2011) from Virginia Commonwealth University.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 4 PM on June 30.

Prime Minister @narendramodi will address the nation at 4 PM tomorrow.  PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 29, 2020

PM Modi is likely to ask people to adhere to the new Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines for unlock 2. He may also talk about the government's initiatives for people amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

PM last addressed the nation through 'Mann Ki Baat' on June 28.

He had talked about the ongoing border issue with China, saying that India is tackling the issue with its neighbour and the country will emerge stronger.

Without taking China's name, PM Modi sent a strong message to the Chinese government saying that India knows how to be a good friend but Indians are also strong enough to give a befitting reply when someone tries to mess with their sovereignty.

"In Ladakh, those who challenged us were given an adequate response. Our braves made supreme sacrifice but did not let adversary prevail. We feel the pain of their loss. Their valour is India's strength," PM Modi said.

Earlier on Monday (June 29), in a major retaliation against China amid the rising border tension at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India banned 59 Chinese mobile apps including TikTok, UC Browser and Cam Scanner among others.

Meanwhile, MHA issued new guidelines for Unlock 2, opening up more activities in areas outside the containment Zones.

The new guidelines, that will come into effect from July 1, 2020, are based on feedback received from states and UTs, and extensive consultations held with the related Central Ministries and Departments.
Jaipur: The Rajasthan government on Sunday allowed religious places in rural areas, where a limited number of devotees visit, to reopen from July 1. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said all precautionary measures, including physical distancing, will be mandatory at these places.

The state government had on May 31 said that it will not open religious places till June 30 despite the Centre's new guidelines which allowed places of worship to reopen under 'Unlock 1'.

As part of unlocking, a committee was constituted under the chairmanship of district collectors. Based on the situation, large religious sites in urban and rural areas will remain closed, the chief minister was quoted as saying in an official statement.

He said protection of life is paramount for the state government.

The chief minister said only those religious sites in rural areas have been given permission to reopen where 50 or less people visit per day on normal days. During this, social distancing, sanitisation and wearing masks etc and other standard operating procedures need to be ensured, he said.

Gehlot also directed officials to do away with the mandatory 14-day home quarantine for people coming from outside the state.

"If they have any symptoms, they should get medical attention without delay," he said.

As of Sunday, the state's COVID-19 tally reached 17,271 and the death toll mounted to 399, according to an official report.
Dr Asheem Gupta, a senior consultant of anesthetics at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital in New Delhi, died due to coronavirus COVID-19 on Sunday (June 28). Gupta, 56, had tested positive for coronavirus on June 6.

"He was a frontline anesthesia specialist who contracted COVID-19 infection while on duty. He tested positive on June 6, when he had mild symptoms and was shifted to a quarantine facility. His symptoms aggravated on June 7 and he was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of the LNJP Hospital," the hospital said in an official statement.

Dr Gupta is survived by his wife and two sons. His wife had also got infected with COVID-19 but she recovered a few days ago.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has expressed frief over Dr Gupta's demise and said that Dr Gupta was known for going out of his way to treat patients. Kejriwal said that Delhi has lost an important fighter against COVID-19

"Dr Aseem Gupta, a senior doctor of LNJP Hospital succumbed to Covid yday. He was known for going out of his way to serve his patients. We have lost a very valuable fighter. Delhi salutes his spirit and sacrifice. I just spoke to his wife and offered my condolences and support," tweeted Kejriwal.

Dr Aseem Gupta, a senior doctor of LNJP Hospital succumbed to Covid yday. He was known for going out of his way to serve his patients. We have lost a very valuable fighter. Delhi salutes his spirit and sacrifice. I just spoke to his wife and offered my condolences and support. pic.twitter.com/0aD9nZmBoR  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 29, 2020

Meanwhile, India on Sunday (June 28) recorded more than 19,000 COVID-19 cases for the second day in a row taking the total tally to 5.48 lakh. The country saw a surge of 3,38,324 infections from June 1 till date.

As per the Ministry of Health data, the coronavirus cases in India stands at 5,48,318 including 2,10,120 active cases, 3,21,723 cured/discharged/migrated, and 16,475 deaths. The data showed 19,459 new cases, while 380 persons succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours.
New Delhi: In a major development in Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir-based separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani resigned as chairman of All party Hurriyat conference on Monday (June 29).

The statement read, "Chairman All party Hurriyat conference Janab Ali Geelani Sayed has announced total separation from the forum of All party Hurriyat Konfranse. He said, I had sent a detailed letter to the Hurriyat members of the forum stating that in keeping in view the current situation of the Hurriyat Conference, I announce total separation for this forum."

Geelani, 90, who has been under house arrest since August 2019, reportedly distanced himself from All party Hurriyat Conference due to certain reasons which made him take the decision.

Geelani has not issued any statement about his membership in own party Tehreek Hurriyat Conference, which is headed by Mohammad Ashraf Sehari. Ashraf Sehari's son Junaid Sehari was a top commander of Hizbul and was killed during an encounter in Kanimazar area of Srinagar.

All Party Hurriyat Conference is an amalgam of all separatist groups in Kashmir.

It is to be noted that Geelani had led the separatist movement in Kashmir since the 1990s and was a lifelong chairman of the Hurriyat. He was previously a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir, but later on founded his own party Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, in which he continues to remain a member.

Geelani became an MLA from Sopore constituency in 1972 and won in the Assembly polls from the same constituency in 1977 and 1987.
India marks June 29 as National Statistics Day every year to honour the Father of Indian statistics Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis. This year marks the 127th birth anniversary of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis who was a famous scientist and statistician and has played an important role in establishing the National Statistical System.

The day is is observed to popularize the use of statistics in everyday life and sensitise the public as to how statistics help in shaping and framing policies.

Professor Prasanta was born in West Bengal on June 29, in the year 1893. He did his education from Brahmo Boys School in then Calcutta after which he joined the Presidency College.

The great statistician is the founder of Indian Statistical Institute and he was also one of the members of the first Planning Commission of India.

He being the pioneer of statistical science in India, Prof. Prasanta Chandra open wide pastures of new knowledge for the advancement of science and society and thereby got the title of 'Father of Indian statistics'.

Prof. Prasanta died on June 28, 1972, at the age of 78.
Three unidentified terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces at Khulchohar area of Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday (June 29) morning.

Kashmir Zone Police said that the identities of the terrorists are being ascertained. A team of Jammu & Kashmir Police and security forces is carrying out a search operation in the area.

According to a top police officer, a joint team of Jammu and Kashmir police, 19 RR of Army and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search-operation in Khulchohar area after police got the tip-off of presence of terrorists in the area.

Official said as the joint team cordoned the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists started firing upon them. The joint team retaliated to the firing thus triggering an encounter. Security forces have retrieved the dead bodies along with arms and ammunition from the spot.

With the encounter of these three terrorists, the number of terrorists eliminated in Valley in this year so far has gone to 116 including 7 operational commanders of different terror outfits.

This was the 13th encounter in the month of June and over 40 terrorists have been killed in Kashmir valley in this month so far.

Pakistan-based terror group Hizbul Mujaheedin remained main target of security forces. It is to be noted that Hizbul's longest surviving operational commander Riyaz Naikoo was also killed in 2020. Recently Jammu and Kashmir police had claimed that Tral had now become free from Hizbul terrorists and its a major achievement because Tral had remained hub of Hizbul Mujahidden since 1989.
New Delhi: Amid the rising tensions between India and China, the Ministry of Information Technology banned 59 Chinese apps on Monday (June 29).

The official statement read that these apps are 'engaged in activities that are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order'.

Here's the list of 59 Chinese apps that have been banned:

1. TikTok

2. ShareIt

3. Kwai

4. UC Browser

5. Baidu map

6. Shein

7. Clash of Kings

8. DU Battery Saver

9. Helo

10. Likee

11. YouCam makeup

12. Mi Community

13. CM Browers

14. Virus Cleaner

15. APUS Browser

16. ROMWE

17. Club Factory

18. Newsdog

19. Beauty Plus

20. WeChat

21. UC News

22. QQ Mail

23. Weibo

24. Xender

25. QQ Music

26. QQ Newsfeed

27. Bigo Live

28. SelfieCity

29. Mail Master

30. Parallel Space

31. Mi Video Call  Xiaomi

32. WeSync

33. ES File Explorer

34. Viva Video  QU Video Inc

35. Meitu

36. Vigo Video

37. New Video Status

38. DU Recorder

39. Vault-Hide

40. Cache Cleaner DU App studio

41. DU Cleaner

42. DU Browser

43. Hago Play With New Friends

44. Cam Scanner

45. Clean Master  Cheetah Mobile

46. Wonder Camera

47. Photo Wonder

48. QQ Player

49. We Meet

50. Sweet Selfie

51. Baidu Translate

52. Vmate

53. QQ International

54. QQ Security Center

55. QQ Launcher

56. U Video

57. V fly Status Video

58. Mobile Legends

59. DU Privacy

The ban comes after the violent clashes between the Indian Army and China's Peoples Liberation Army at the Line of Actual Control on the night of June 15.

20 Indian soldiers attained martyrdom, whereas, over 45 PLA soldiers were reportedly killed.
Islamabad: The UAE has temporarily suspended all incoming flights from Pakistan until it sets up a special COVID-19 lab to test the travellers from the country, according to media reports.

On Monday, Pakistan's coronavirus infection tally crossed the 2 lakh-mark after 3,557 fresh cases were reported during the last 24 hours.

As the number of coronavirus cases went up in Pakistan, the UAE has decided to not receive passengers coming from Pakistan from June 29 until a special COVID-19 lab is set up to test them. The decision would also apply to transit flights originating from Pakistan, PTI quoted a tabloid stating.

The decision by the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority came after Dubai-state carrier Emirates already suspended services from Pakistan from June 24.

The Emirates suspended passenger flights from Pakistan till July 3 last week. The airline took the decision after 30 Pakistanis who flew on an Emirates flight to Hong Kong on June 22 tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The suspension will be in place till the country establishes a process of laboratory testing for COVID-19 for all departing travellers enroute to the UAE, the country's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced on Sunday.

"This is a precautionary measure to ensure the health and safety of all arrivals as of Monday, June 29, 2020," the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority said late on Sunday.

The GCAA called on all travellers affected by the decision to communicate with their airline to reschedule their flights, the Khaleej Times reported.

Meanwhile, Pakistan on Monday registered 3,557 new coronavirus cases, taking the total tally to 206,512.

These cases include 80,446 in Sindh, 74,778 in Punjab, 25,778 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 12,643 in Islamabad, 10,376 in Balochistan, 1,442 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 1,049 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to the Ministry of National Health Services.

"In the last 24 hours, 49 patients died and with the net death toll reached 4,167 in the country," the ministry said in a statement.

It also said that 95,407 patients so far recovered from the disease, while another 2,437 were in critical condition.

Another 23,009 corona tests were carried out during the last 24 hours, taking the number of total tests done so far to 1,262,162.

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that Pakistan started producing its own ventilators.

"The first batch of ventilators is ready. We will hand over 8 to 10 ventilators to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Three designs are in final stages and will be brought forward soon," he said. P
San Francisco: A special flight Air India flight carrying 222 stranded Indians from San Francisco departed for Delhi and Bangalore on Monday (June 29, 2020) under the Vande Bharat Mission Phase 4.

Taking to Twiiter the Indian consulate in San Francisco said, ''flight#21from San Francisco -AI 174 took off from @flySFO at 11.05 hrs (PDT) for DEL-BLR with 222 pax on board. Wishing them a safe flight!"

Vande Bharat Mission, which started from May 7, is in its fourth phase. The recent phase commenced on June 11.

As on Thursday, 3,64,209 people have returned under this mission., the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

In the first three phases of the Vande Bharat Mission, around 875 international flights were scheduled for operation from over 50 countries across 5 continents.

Indian Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said, ''More than 150K people have returned on VBM flights & 55K have flown out of India.''

More than 150K people have returned on VBM flights & 55K have flown out of India. With Phase-4 of the mission all set to soar, these numbers will increase significantly. More Indians will be able to return home. Today 4784 people returned to India from different countries. pic.twitter.com/F8KMP6vWmQ  Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) June 28, 2020

So far more than 700 of these flights have reached India, repatriating around 150000 Indians. The Indian government has also approved additional flight services to bring back Indian nationals who are still stranded abroad.

(With ANI input)
New Delhi: Actor Shekhar Suman on Sunday tweeted that he is travelling to Patna to meet Sushant Singh Rajput's family. He also said that he will urge Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to press upon a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the versatile star's death. Patna is Sushant's hometown and his family is settled there. Shekhar Suman too belongs to Patna.

"I'm going to my hometown Patna to meet Sushant's father and pay my respect to him and the CM Shri Nitish Kumar and all the admirers and fans of Sushant to press upon CBI enquiry for Sushant," he tweeted.

Im going to my hometown Patna to meet Sushant's father and pay my respect to him and the CM Shri Nitish Kumar and all the admirers and fans of Sushant to press upon #CBIEnquiryForSushant #justiceforSushantforum @NitishKumar  Shekhar Suman (@shekharsuman7) June 28, 2020

Sushant died at the age of 34 in Mumbai by suicide. He was said to be under stress and depression for some months.

Earlier, Shekhar Suman created a forum called #JusticeForSushantForum demanding a CBI probe into Sushant's death, even though the case is being investigated by Mumbai Police.

The final postmortem report of Sushant confirmed asphyxia due to hanging as the cause of death. However, Shekhar Suman demanded reinvestigation.

"We all will have to take a more belligerent stand and not be cowered down by the suicide narrative and whitewashed slanted theories. This time we won't listen. This time we won't be convinced. #justiceforSushantforum," the veteran actor tweeted after the postmortem report was out.

We all will have to take a more belligerent stand and not be cowered down by the suicide narrative and whitewashed slanted theories.This time we won't listen.This time we won't be convinced.#justiceforSushantforum  Shekhar Suman (@shekharsuman7) June 25, 2020

"So it has been declared that Sushant's was plain and simple suicide. Don't fall for that. I suspected this would happen. The narrative was set from before. That's why the forum has become all the more imp. Plz raise your voices for a reinvestigation," he wrote in a separate tweet.

So it has been declared that Sushant Singh's was plain and simple suicide.Dont fall for that.I suspected this wd happen.The narrative was set from before.Thar's why the forum has become all the more imp.plz raise your voices for a reinvestigation.  Shekhar Suman (@shekharsuman7) June 25, 2020

Shekhar Suman has been claiming that Sushant didn't die by suicide and he is a victim of foul play, which, however, has been ruled out by the Mumbai Police.
New Delhi: As more people have limited their exposure from face-to-face or physical transaction to online transaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of being targeted by online fraudsters has also risen.

The cyber criminals have become very active to exploit the vulnerability of customers in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

For the awareness of customers, the Reserve Bank of India has said that the customers must immediately notify their bank to limit their loss if they witness fraudulent transaction in their bank account.

If someone has fraudulently withdrawn money from your bank account, inform your bank immediately. When you notify the bank, remember to take acknowledgement from your bank. The bank has to resolve your complaint within 90 days from the date of receipt, the RBI says.

Customers should however remember that if the transaction has happened because of their negligence, that is, because of sharing your password, PIN, OTP , etc., they will have to bear the loss till they report it to bank.

If the fraudulent transactions continue even after you have informed the bank, your bank will have to reimburse those amounts. If you delay the reporting, your loss will increase and it will be decided based on the RBI guidelines and the policy approved by your bank's board, RBI added.

The RBI had in its 2017 circular said that Banks must ask their customers to mandatorily register for SMS alerts and register for email alerts, for electronic banking transactions wherever available.

RBI said that banks must mandatorily sent the SMS alerts to the customers and email alerts wherever registered.

Banks must also advise the customers to notify their bank of any unauthorised electronic banking transaction at the earliest after the occurrence of such transaction, and informed that the longer the time taken to notify the bank, the higher will be the risk of loss to the bank or customer.
New Delhi: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) on Monday introduced one-time password (OTP) facility for opening the National Pension System (NPS) scheme through internet banking.

However, the customers of banks (registered as POPs  Points of Presence), willing to open NPS account through internet banking of the respective banks, can open such accounts using OTP received on their registered mobile number.

For opening of NPS accounts through non-internet banking digital mode through POPs (banks as well as non-bank POPs), OTP received on their registered mobile number and e-mail can be used for paperless NPS account opening.

Post completion of KYC (Know Your Customer), POPs have to submit the NPS subscribers data/information to Central Record Keeping Agencies (CRAs) along with customers photo and image of signature with an undertaking that the KYC/AML guidelines/rules have been duly complied with.

POPs and CRAs have been advised by PFRDA to provide the required functionality of OTP based authentication, PFRDA said.

The National Pension System aimed at providing adequate retirement income to every citizen, ensuring financial security. It encourages people to start contributing towards the old age saving.

NPS has been designed to enable the subscribers to make optimum decisions regarding their future through systematic savings during their employment. NPS seeks to inculcate the habit of saving for retirement amongst the citizens.

Initially launched for Central Government employees, later it was offered to employees of various State Governments, corporate, and individuals belonging to unorganized sector and economically disadvantaged sections (NPS-Lite).

With PTI Inputs
Seoul: Samsung is likely to launch two new foldable smartphones in the second half of the year, with an affordable foldable handset model likely to come out next year, industry sources said Sunday.

Samsung is projected to unveil the Galaxy Fold 2 and the 5G variant of the Galaxy Z Flip at an event in August, along with its flagship phablet Galaxy Note 20 series, Yonhap news agency reported, citing the industry sources.

But its affordable foldable smartphone, presumably named the Galaxy Fold Lite, is not likely to make its debut at the event, they said.

The South Korean tech giant has been rumoured to introduce a version of its foldable smartphone that sells for nearly half the price of a regular Galaxy Fold.

Tech reviewers have predicted that the Galaxy Fold 2 will feature a 7.7-inch screen when unfolded, while having a 6.23-inch cover display, both larger than its predecessor's 7.3-inch and 4.6-inch displays, respectively.

Samsung is expected to use ultra-thin glass (UTG) for the Galaxy Fold 2, as it did it for the Galaxy Z Flip. However, many predicted that the second generation of the Galaxy Fold is not likely to sport the S-Pen.

The 5G variant of the Galaxy Z Flip is not expected to have major changes in specifications from the first model, according to the sources.

Samsung's unveiling of the new foldable smartphones will come amid stiff competition from Huawei and Microsoft.

China's Huawei is reportedly planning to release its Mate X2, while Microsoft is looking to introduce the Surface Duo in the third quarter of the year.
New Delhi: Actress Kamya Panjabi recently talked about her break-up with actor Karan Patel and how she slipped into depression after it. Kamya, who is now married to Delhi-based healthcare professional Shalabh Dang, broke up with Karan in 2015. She said that it took her over two years to "get back to normal".

"Frankly after Karan, it took me two-and-a-half years to get back to a normal life. It is after two-and-a-half years that I started loving my life, I'm was eating, sleeping on time, talking to my friends, and going to work and coming back. It took me two and a half years," BollywoodLife quoted Kamya as saying to a publication.

"I was into depression. I was undergoing counselling and there were lots of things happening," she added.

Kamya married Shalabh in February 2020. She has a daughter from her first marriage while Shalabh has a son with his ex-wife. Both the kids stay with Kamya and Shalabh.

Meanwhile, Karan Patel, who was the lead star of 'Yeh Hai Mohabbatein', is married to actress Ankita Bhargava, with who he has a daughter named Mehr.

Kamya currently stars in 'Shakti - Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki' and has shows such as 'Astitva...Ek Prem Kahani' and 'Banoo Main Teri Dulhann' to her credit.
At least 10 people, including 4 terrorists were killed after terrorists attacked Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi at 10 am on Monday (June 29). According to reports, four guards of the Karachi Stock Exchange were also killed in the terror attack. The terrorists hurled grenade near KSE followed by gunfire. Seven people, including a policeman, got injured in the attack.

Pakistani news agency Dawn quoted Sindh Rangers as saying that police and Rangers' officials arrived at the scene soon after the attack and eliminated all the four terrorists. Security officials are currently undertaking a clearance operation in the area. Police have recovered weapons and hand grenades from the attackers. Sources said that the terrorists were wearing police uniforms giving an impression that they were off duty personnel of the police.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail condemned the incident and said that those involved in the cowardly attack will not be spared.

Emergency has been declared in all hospitals in Karachi and II Chundrigar road has been completely sealed. II Chundrigar road is also known as the Wall Street of Pakistan. Karachi is one of the most important cities of Pakistan and is the financial capital of Pakistan.
In a major blow to China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders have said that a 1982 UN oceans treaty should be the basis of sovereign rights and entitlements in the South China Sea. It is to be noted that China has been repeatedly claiming to the entire disputed South China Sea on historical grounds.

ASEAN leaders said in a statement that disputes in South China Sea should be resolved in line with the international law, stressing on "the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation".

"Land reclamations, recent developments, activities & serious incidents have eroded trust & confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace , security & stability in the region," noted the statement.

ASEAN leaders said in the statement that it was important to uphold the international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 and to resolve disputes peacefully. The statement was passed by the core member nations Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.

"Further reaffirm the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and over-flight above the South China Sea, as well as upholding international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, in the South China Sea, work actively towards the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), consistent with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. Further stress on the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation. Pursue the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, while enhancing mutual trust and confidence," read one paragraph of the ASEAN statement.

US Secreraty of State Mike Pompeo has welcomed the ASEAN statement. Pompeo tweeted that "China cannot be allowed to treat the South China Sea as its maritime empire."
The Japanese government has no immediate plan to declare a state of emergency again despite an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in capital Tokyo, a Minister said.

On Sunday, Minister for Economic Revitalization Yasutoshi Nishimura said that he was wary of infections spreading from Tokyo to neighbouring prefectures, adding that the government was analyzing data from each prefecture to identify links in new cases between regions, and possible group infections, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to Nishimura, the government has no plan to reinstate a state of emergency for the time being.

He also said that the country`s medical system is more than able to deal with all COVID-19 patients.

The Tokyo metropolitan government said on Sunday that 60 new cases of COVID-19 infections had been confirmed in the capital, up from 57 the previous day and hitting the highest number of daily tally since the state of emergency was lifted on May 25.

The number of people in the capital who have tested positive for the pneumonia-causing virus now stands at 6,114, the Tokyo metropolitan government said.

Across the country, the confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 107 to reach 18,516, according to the latest figures from the Health Ministry and local authorities on Sunday.

The number excludes the 712 cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama near Tokyo.

The death toll in Japan from the pneumonia-causing virus currently stands at a total of 985 people, according to the Ministry, with the figure including those from the cruise ship.

It said there are currently a total of 46 patients considered severely ill and are on ventilators or in intensive care units.

The Ministry also said that in total, 17,164 people, including 658 from the cruise ship, have been discharged from hospitals after their symptoms improved.
Washington: President Donald Trump on Sunday denied that he had been briefed on reported US intelligence that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing American troops in Afghanistan, and he appeared to minimize the allegations against Moscow.

American intelligence officials concluded months ago that Russian officials offered rewards for successful attacks on American service-members last year, at a time when the U.S. And Taliban were holding talks to end the long-running war, according to The New York Times.

Trump, in a Sunday morning tweet, said ''Nobody briefed or told me or Vice President Mike Pence or chief of staff Mark Meadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians.''

"Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us'' he said.

The White House had issued a statement Saturday denying that Trump or Pence had been briefed on such intelligence.

This does not speak to the merit of the alleged intelligence but to the inaccuracy of the New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said.

Trump's director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, also said neither the president nor vice president was ever briefed on any intelligence alleged in the Times' report and he said the White House statement was accurate.

Trump's tweet came a day after presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said that the report, if accurate, was a truly shocking revelation? about the commander in chief and his failure to protect U.S. Troops in Afghanistan and stand up to Russia. Russia called the report nonsense."

"This unsophisticated plant clearly illustrates the low intellectual abilities of the propagandists of American intelligence, who instead of inventing something more plausible have to make up this nonsense,'' the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

A Taliban spokesman said the militants strongly reject this allegation and are not indebted to the beneficence of any intelligence organ or foreign country. The Times, citing unnamed officials familiar with the intelligence, said the findings were presented to Trump and discussed by his National Security Council in late March.

Officials developed potential responses, starting with a diplomatic complaint to Russia, but the White House has yet to authorize any step, the report said.

Trump responded to Biden on Twitter, saying ''Russia ate his and Obama's lunch during their time in office" But it was the Obama administration, along with international allies, that suspended

Russia from the Group of Eight after its unilateral annexation of Crimea from Ukraine a move that drew widespread condemnation.

Biden criticized Trump for his embarrassing campaign of deference and debasing himself before Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Trump tweeted that ''Nobody's been tougher on Russia than his administration.''
A Russian Sukhoi Su-30 was scrambled on June 26, 2020, to intercept American combat aircraft over the Black Sea. The United States of America P-8 Poseidon anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW) aircraft was flying over the neutral waters of the Black Sea when Russian Aerospace Forces radars tracked it along with an RC-135 reconnaissance plane and KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft.

Southern Military District launched the Sukhoi Su-30 twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter to intercept the US P-8 Poseidon, RC-135 and KC-135 aircraft and ensure they do not breach the Russian airspace.

"On June 26, 2020, the duty air defense forces of the Southern Military District promptly revealed the actions of USAF reconnaissance aircraft over the neutral waters of the Black sea and escorted them by a Russian fighter. At a considerable distance from the state border of the Russian Federation, US air force aircraft were continuously accompanied by Russian radar controls," stated the Russian Defense Ministry.

Posting a 1.48-minute-long video of the intercept on its Facebook page, the Russian Defense Ministry added, "To intercept targets, the SMD duty air defence fighter Su-30 fighter of the Black Sea Fleet naval aviation was lifted into the air. The crew of a Russian fighter jet approached the air objects at a safe distance, identified them as a US Navy P-8A "Poseidon" patrol plane, an RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft, and a US air force KC-135 tanker aircraft, which immediately changed the flight direction from the state border of the Russian Federation."

The Russian Defence Ministry published a video of its planes intercepting American aircraft over the neutral waters of the Black Sea. The footage shows a P-8 Poseidon, RC-135 reconnaissance plane, and KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft, escorted by a Russian Su-30.

According to Russia, its Su-30 pilot carried out the intercept and escort in "strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace" and returned to its base safely after conducting the operation.

Russian Defense Ministry newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda reported that 35 military aircraft of other countries were tracked flying near the country's airspace between June 19 and 26. "Thirty-five spy planes of foreign states conducted air reconnaissance along the borders of the Russian Federation and were tracked by Russias radars," the Krasnaya Zvezda report stated.

Apart from the 35 manned aircraft, a total of six drones, too, flew close to Russia's borders. The Russian fighters had to be scrambled 19 times to intercept foreign aircraft.

However, none of the foreign aircraft violated Russia's airspace, added the Defense Ministry.
New Delhi: The United Nations is "shocked and deeply disturbed" over video footage showing an alleged sex act in one of its official cars in Israel's Tel Aviv, according to reports. The UN has launched an internal investigation after a video clip was circulated widely last week on social media.

In the video, a woman in a red dress is seen straddling a man in the back seat of the vehicle, said Jewish Journal report. The driver and a passenger in the front are reportedly seen in the vehicle plying on HaYarkon Street, a block away from Tel Avivs beachside promenade.

On Friday afternoon, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reportedly confirmed to reporters in New York that the clip, which is less than 30 seconds long, shows personnel in the car likely assigned to the UN Truce Supervision Organization [UNTSO].

UNTSO is the Jerusalem-based peace-keeping mission established in 1948 to monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements and prevent military escalation, according to the United Nations.

We are shocked and deeply disturbed by what is seen on the video, Dujarric is quoted by JNS as saying during a regular briefing to UN correspondents.

The UN spokesperson further said, The behavior seen in it is abhorrent and goes against everything that we stand for and having been working to achieve in terms of fighting misconduct by UN staff.

UNTSO also issued a statement on Friday. It said, The Mission stands committed to the Organizations zero-tolerance policy against any kind of misconduct, including sexual exploitation and abuse, and reminds its personnel of their obligations to the UN Code of Conduct."

"As part of the Secretary-Generals commitment to transparency, we will keep the media informed upon conclusion of the investigation, the statement added.

There were 175 allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation among or against UN staff in 2019, of which 16 were substantiated, 15 unsubstantiated and the rest still under investigation, a BBC report said.
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low around 75F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low around 75F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Car Burns Up after Lit Firework Thrown Inside

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Police are looking for someone they say threw a lit firework into a moving vehicle Saturday night in Paducah, causing it to catch fire.The Paducah Police Department says firefighters responded to the 1100 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive shortly before midnight, and arrived to find a Dodge Charger engulfed in flames.Officers learned four people had been in the Charger at the time. One of the occupants said they were driving east on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive when someone in a passing vehicle threw a lit firework into their car. This reportedly caused fireworks inside the Charger to catch fire.The citys fire marshal and Paducah police detectives are investigating the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call the Paducah Police Department at 270-444-8550. Information also may be provided anonymously through West Kentucky Crime Stoppers by texting WKY and your tip to 847411 (tip 411).
McCracken Vote Totals: Harless Out of Mayor's Race

By West Kentucky Star Staff

Totals from Clerk Julie Griggs show George Bray getting 2,992 votes for 46.58 percent, Richard Abraham receiving 1,851 for 28.81 percent, and Brandi Harless got 1,581 votes for 24.61 percent. This means Bray and Abraham will be on the November general election ballot.









I ran for office to make the changes my community asked for.

I am beyond proud of the work we accomplished.

I didnt run to start a career in politics.

I ran because I wanted to serve. And thats what I did and will continue to do no matter what.

Thank you for all of the support. Ill keep serving proudly until December and in new roles after that. Shortly after the results were announced, Harless released the following statement on her Facebook page:

Raynarldo Henderson 2,854 for 14.41 percent; Sandra Wilson (incumbent) 2,590 for 13.08 percent; Melinda Winchester 2,292 for 11.57 percent; Carol Gault 2,269 for 11.46 percent; David Guess 2,021 for 10.20 percent; Lakilia Bedeau 1,761 for 8.89 percent; Robert Shy 1,453 for 7.34 percent; Mike Reed 987 for 4.98 percent; John Vontezmar 949 for 4.79 percent.





In the race for 1st District State Representative, Steven Jack Rudy received 1,824 for 86.32 percent; Carroll Hubbard 289 for 13.68 percent.







In the race for 6th District State Representative, Linda Story Edwards received 147 for 55.47 percent; Al Cunningham received 118 for 44.53 percent.







For the 1st District Court of Appeals race, Chris McNeill received 7,046 for 50.63 percent; Jenny Hines received 4,398 for 31.60 percent; C. Rene Williams received 956 for 6.87 percent.

PADUCAH - The McCracken County Clerk's office has released the results of the June 23 primary election, and Paducah's mayor will not be on the November ballot for re-election.In the city commission race, the top eight candidates will be on the November ballot. Since two people dropped out of the race before June 23 (Shannon Wathen and incumbent Gerald Watkins), only one person will not advance to the general election: John "Buzz" Vontezmar.
Officer-Involved Shooting in Paducah

By West Kentucky Star Staff





PADUCAH - An officer-involved shooting has a section of Audubon Drive in Paducah closed.A source told West Kentucky Star that McCracken County Sheriff's Deputies were in pursuit of a man from the Hinkleville Road area after trying to serve him with arrest warrants. The pursuit reportedly ended at the man's home on Audubon Drive and shots were fired between 3:30 and 4:00 pm.At least one person was injured and the area is sealed off during the investigation.Sheriff Matt Carter told West Kentucky Star he has turned the investigation over to Kentucky State Police.Trooper Adam Jones confirmed that, "KSP detectives and a critical incident response team are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting at the intersection of Court Avenue and Audubon Drive."He said there was no current threat to public safety and more details will be released as soon as they are available.
Two Arrested on Several Charges After Traffic Stop

By West Kentucky Star Staff





PADUCAH - The Paducah Police Department arrested two people after a routine traffic stop.Police arrested 34-year-old Jakyron Rashad Burnside of Union City, TN for reportedly having no brake lights, operating on a suspended or revoked license, possession of marijuana, driving under the influence (second offense) and having an open alcoholic beverage container in his vehicle.18-year-old Chrishonna Burns of Paducah was arrested on charges of receiving stolen property (firearm) and possession of marijuana.Police stopped a vehicle for having no taillights. They said there were open bottles of alcohol in the vehicle and it was apparent the driver, Burndside, had been drinking. He admitted to drinking and having smoked marijuana earlier in the evening. He was arrested and the officer found a small bag of marijuana in his pocket.In a search, officers reportedly found a handgun in a purse belonging to the passenger, Chrishonna Burns. She told officers that the handgun was hers, but a computer check revealed it was reported stolen last November.Burns was arrested, and admitted to officers she had a marijuana blunt hidden in her pants.Burnside and Burns were booked into McCracken County Regional Jail.
Child Dead, Nashville Man Charged after I-24 Crash

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MASSAC COUNTY - A four-year-old girl is dead, and a Nashville man faces DUI charges after a crash Saturday night on I-24.The Illinois State Police says their preliminary investigation showed a vehicle driven by 27-year-old Jose Coronel-Bautista was traveling on the ramp from US-45 to I-24 Westbound when it ran off the road. Coronel-Bautista overcorrected, his vehicle ran off the left side of the roadway and overturned.A four year old girl who was a passenger in the vehicle was pronounced dead on the scene by the Massac County Coroner. Two other passengers, 27-year-old Maria Alcantar-Morales and a 17-year-old boy were taken to the hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.Coronel-Bautista was arrested and charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol. Police said he was the only occupant wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.The ISP Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit is continuing the investigation.
Eggners Ferry Bridge Inspection Begins July 13

By West Kentucky Star Staff





AURORA - An inspection crew plans daytime work zone lane restrictions along the U.S. 68 Eggners Ferry Bridge at Aurora the week of July 13.The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the work zone is to allow the use of an Under Bridge Inspection Vehicle to conduct a detailed inspection of the bridge structure.This work zone will include a daytime closure of the multi-use trail that crosses the bridge. To help facilitate the inspection work, no pedestrian or bicycle traffic will be allowed to cross the bridge while this work zone is active.This daytime work zone will maintain one lane of highway traffic in each direction with all traffic moved to the left-hand or passing lane.
Husband and Wife Arrested after Mayfield Stop

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MAYFIELD - A Mayfield couple were arrested Saturday after a traffic stop.The Mayfield Police Department says officers got a call at around 5 p.m. that 31-year-old Cedric Lucious of Missouri had violated a Kentucky Emergency Protection Order by going to a home on South 12th Street.While searching for Lucious, officers learned he and his wife, 27-year-old Savannah Lucious of Mayfield were on West Farthing Street.Officers saw Cedric Lucious in the passenger seat of a vehicle and stopped it. When the passenger door was opened, an officer saw suspected methamphetamine in a plastic baggy in the floorboard. Savannah Lucious was also seen attempting to throw away drug paraphernalia.Officers arrested both suspects and took them to Graves County Jail.Cedric Lucious was charged with violation of a Kentucky Emergency Protection Order, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, third degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, and on Graves County warrants for EPO violation and bail jumping.Savannah Lucious was charged with tampering with physical evidence, displaying an illegal/altered registration plate, failure to maintain insurance, no registration plate and no registration receipt.
Bardwell Man Arrested for Third Time This Week

By West Kentucky Star Staff

BARDWELL - Two Bardwell men were arrested Sunday in a traffic stop, one of them for the third time this week.The Carlisle County Sheriffs Department says a deputy stopped an eastbound vehicle on Highway 62 driven by 54-year-old Gary Garrett of Bardwell after seeing it swerving in the roadway.The deputy found Garrett to be under the influence and arrested him. A search of the vehicle revealed open alcohol containers and a prescription drug that was not issued to Garret. He was charged with DUI, possession of a legend drug, and possession of an open alcoholic beverage in a vehicle.Deputies said 32-year-old Devin Roberts was a passenger in the vehicle. Roberts was released on a $2500 cash bond from charges related to an incident in Bardwell on Saturday. He had also previously been charged on Thursday for a felony theft of equipment from the City of Bardwell.Roberts was arrested for violating bond conditions that prohibited him from possessing or consuming alcohol. Deputies said he was found with beer, and was already under the influence.On the Net:
Air quality in our area dramatically improved on Sunday afternoon, from an index of 87 to 35 in just a few hours. Dust particles are no longer a major part of any impurities in our air with the exit of the Saharan dust plume. PHOTO:Air Now.gov

Dust Cloud Exits, Paducah Air Back in Good Range

By West Kentucky Star Staff





The dust plume known as the Saharan Air Layer is an annual phenomenon in summer and early fall. This week's cloud was one of the thickest in half a century, and nearly 5,000 miles long.







The Kentucky of Department of Health had issued an Air Quality Warning for all of Kentucky this weekend. Also, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management issued an Air Quality Action Day for all of southern Indiana.



You can check out the air quality in your zip code by going to the EPA's Air Quality website linked below.











PADUCAH - In the space of a few hours on Sunday afternoon, the remnants of the Saharan dust cloud exited the Ohio Valley and much cleaner air took its place.As of 6 p.m. Sunday, the government website Air Now measured Paducah's air quality at 35, which is in the lowest range for pollution and discomfort. Just a few hours before, the index was near 90, and peaked at 121 on Saturday, a range that could have been unhealthy to some people with respiratory problems.Nashville's air quality index rose to over 150 on Saturday, which indicated an unhealthy climate for the general public, but now most of the southeastern U.S. is also back in the good 30-50 range.On the Net:
Distance, Dose, Dispersion: Experts guide on Covid-19 risks in South Africa and how to manage them

Understand the three things that can make the most difference to easing the lockdown and reopening South Africa with the least risk.

Our lives have been turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic and by the lockdown, and further confused by shifting information. You might be wondering about the role of masks, whether to wipe down your groceries, and if the lifting of lockdown means we can all relax now. You might have concerns about how you can safely travel to work, what steps to take as you reopen your business, whether to attend a religious gathering, or what to tell your grandmother about how to stay safe.

It has become clear that some countries in Asia and Europe rapidly contained their epidemics through simple and relatively easy behaviour changes, rather than relying on changes in immunity or prolonged lockdown strategies. Our aim here is to share some basic essentials about how to minimise risk. Nothing is risk-free (for example, we take risks getting into cars, buses or taxis). But we can manage risks, which requires understanding how they intersect and amplify each other. It turns out that with this new coronavirus, open windows, masks and physical distancing are more important than obsessive hand sanitising and temperature taking.

Understand that we may be in for a long haul, adjusting our lives for at least the next few years. Some of these changes may be permanent (and may be things we should have done anyway, for TB and seasonal flu). We need to enable businesses to survive, our institutions to open as safely as possible, while we live our lives as naturally social animals.

We cannot be saved by government policy alone  the things we can all do are what will save South African lives. And those things are pretty simple.

Our Summary:

Do everything possible Outdoors ;

Open Windows ;

wear Masks ;

keep at least one metre Distance (two metres is better) from people,

Avoid Crowded spaces,

be Quick .

What causes the problem?

The way the virus spreads is that when we cough, sneeze, talk, sing or simply breathe, we spray very small drops of moisture into the air; these are respiratory particles. If someone is infected, the live virus will be present in these particles. These particles in our breath can spray quite far (several metres). If there is poor ventilation and no air movement, they can hang around in the air. They can land on surfaces (where the virus may survive for some hours) and if you are close to someone they can land on your eyes, nose or mouth. Most people who become infected get the coronavirus by direct contact with an infected person. It is also possible, but less common, to be infected from touching your mouth, nose or eyes when your hands have the virus on them from touching a surface.

What is the impact of the three Ds?

Distance: The further away you are from someone who is infected, the less likely you are to be infected by them or to breathe in particles they have breathed out.

Dose: To become infected you need to have contact with a minimum dose, which takes time and exposure to people with the virus. The longer you are exposed to an infectious person, the more people you are exposed to, and the fewer barriers (like cloth masks) between you, the more likely you are to be exposed to the virus. People who have symptoms or are about to develop symptoms, including mild illness, are generally more infectious  i.e., are able to produce larger doses of infected respiratory particles.

Dispersion: Because smaller particles hang around in the air, the movement of air makes a really big difference. The particles disperse quickly if you are outside, particularly if there is a breeze or wind. We also know that sunlight breaks down the virus. Small, enclosed spaces with closed windows are high risk, especially when they are crowded.

The three Ds interact! If you are outdoors, at least one metre (but preferably two metres) apart from others, for less than 10 minutes, your risk of becoming infected is incredibly low. On the other hand, if you are stuck in a room with closed windows, with someone with symptoms, your risk of getting the disease increases, whether or not you wear a cloth mask. Large known outbreaks have arisen in indoor functions in churches, weddings, music events, and restaurants or bars: places where a crowd of people are indoors, close together and talking and singing for hours.

Businesses, factories, workers and families urgently need to pay attention to the interaction of the three Ds. Physical distancing is very effective when outdoors or for short encounters (10 minutes); once you are in a closed space, its effectiveness dramatically diminishes. Masks and two metres distance are not enough if you are with people in an unventilated space all day. Evaluate your office, place of worship, business, planned funeral or other event in terms of the intersection of the three Ds.

What can we do?

Physical distance: This is your major defence from infection. The good news is that although the virus spreads easily, short periods of contact will not get you infected. Passing someone in a supermarket, paying for your groceries, brushing past a runner in a park is no problem. But sitting in a taxi with closed windows, being alongside a sick co-worker at a work station, or singing in a packed church, is.

Go for outdoors and open all windows: Outside air is your best friend, and we may all have to start dressing more warmly in winter as many activities move outdoors and windows stay open. Open windows whenever possible on public transport, in shops or at work. Unfortunately, the interaction of the three Ds means that taxi rides of more than 15 minutes are risky, even if everyone is wearing a mask  unless the windows are open.

Businesses, factories, offices  look at your windows and work out how to get air flow. Open all windows and utilise outside space. Restaurants, bars and shebeens should consider outdoor seating wherever possible. Streets with a number of restaurants should inquire into closing the street a few evenings a week, or every day, and putting tables and chairs outside.

Socialise outside if you can, keeping a two-metre distance. An outside braai or picnic is much safer than visiting someone in their house. Avoid visiting people or being visited inside homes for more than a few minutes. Have work meetings outdoors, if possible. If you want to have a gathering, such as a religious gathering or funeral, do it outside if you can. An outside shebeen, with physical distancing, is far safer than an indoor shebeen with masks and obsessive hand washing. Outdoor sport is very low risk, unless involving close prolonged contact. (Even outdoors, dont talk to someone up close for long; maintain distance.)

Wear masks: There is now lots of evidence on the effectiveness of wearing cloth masks in the community. A cloth mask traps the virus-containing respiratory particles during breathing, coughing or talking, and helps prevent them from moving away from the mask-wearer. (But why has mask advice changed? *See our comment at the end.) People who have very mild symptoms or are about to develop symptoms can spread the virus  this means that each of us might spread the virus unknowingly. If everyone wears a mask the amount of virus in the air is much reduced: we all protect each other. Therefore you should always wear a mask whenever you are close to people other than those in your household, especially indoors. It is also vital that you wear your mask correctly  it must cover from the bridge of your nose to over your chin at all times. Wash your mask daily with soap or detergent.

Offices, factories, banks, shops, malls, government services  any indoor space where people come into contact  must require everyone to wear masks. Employers should distribute reusable cloth masks to employees. Reusable cloth masks should be distributed in communities where people cant afford them.

As important as masks are, in an indoor space they are not a substitute for ventilation and distancing  you need all three.

Work in homes: If you work in someones home (domestic workers, plumbers, etc) or someone comes in to work in your home, insist on windows being open and dont be in rooms at the same time as them for long. Wear a cloth mask, carry and use your own hand sanitiser, and keep your distance.

Soap and surfaces: The virus is incredibly fragile, and washing your hands with any soap for 20 seconds kills the virus. Make soap and water (or hand sanitisers with an alcohol solution of at least 70 percent) as widely available as possible at workplaces, malls, shops, transport and offices. Soap works much better than alcohol-based sanitiser, is cheaper, and will result in less cracked hands. Invest in mobile handwashing stations in areas with a high concentration of people, like hospitals and clinics.

It is unclear how likely you are to contract the virus from surfaces, but it is wise to clean commonly touched workspaces and public areas often. Minimise touching and wipe down frequently touched surfaces  like door handles, lift buttons, railings, credit card machines. The virus dies quickly on surfaces; in laboratories it has been found in low doses beyond 24 hours on plastic and steel (but not on porous surfaces such as park benches, or grass). Whether this is enough virus to infect you is unknown, but surface transmission is very unlikely to be the major way you will be infected. Washing your clothes after going out, or washing your car, and wiping all your groceries is not necessary; just wash your hands and keep surfaces around you clean and dry.

If there is an outbreak in a venue, or an employee tests positive, wiping surfaces down with soap and water, followed by bleach, or other common disinfectants, is very effective in removing any viral particles that may still be present. And if you can leave the venue open and ventilated for 24 hours, this should be enough. There is no need for special chemicals, or deep cleansing or fogging or disinfection tunnels; they are no more effective than soap and water, and are associated with other health risks, including making asthma, eye and skin conditions worse. There is no need to shut down a facility for days; once surfaces have been cleaned, dried and disinfected, and spaces ventilated, work can continue.

Gloves are unnecessary for most people: you still need to wash them so you may as well just wash your hands. The one exception may be someone who handles lots of items  like a dishwasher or a cashier, where exposure may be higher (and they must wash their hands after taking the gloves off).

Air-conditioning: Employers, businesses, restaurants, offices: understand your air-conditioning system. A system that recirculates air is very risky, and has been linked to several call centre and restaurant outbreaks. You are essentially guaranteeing that everyone breathes everyone elses air. On the other hand, an air-conditioning system that extracts air and brings in air from outside makes an indoor space safer. But simply opening windows, where possible, especially if combined with use of a fan, may be more effective if it increases the movement of air. If well ventilated, a room can be safe in minutes, even if someone is coughing and highly infectious.

Hours: All shops and businesses that can extend opening hours to reduce crowding should do so. Limit the number of people in shops. Lines on the floor to signal distancing requirements have been very successful. Consider discounts for coming in at unpopular hours. All shops should consider having a pensioner-only (or also people with a health-risk note) hour at the beginning of the day. Older people, and people with diabetes, hypertension, HIV, cancer and obesity may be more at risk (we are still learning about the extent of risk), and enabling them to shop when it is least crowded, and when other people have not yet been into the shop, helps protect them. Consider leaving hotel rooms empty and ventilated for a day after someone leaves, and ask guests to open the windows when they leave, to protect cleaning staff. Factories, mines, offices and other workplaces should consider staggering work hours or days so that not every employee comes in at the same time or on the same day. Take turns in lifts (and always wear cloth masks). Tea and break rooms must be well ventilated and break times staggered to reduce crowding.

Family: We are social creatures; we need human contact. Many extended families have regular get-togethers. Unfortunately, if you are indoors with people who dont live in the same home, you are seriously increasing the risk of spread to your family. Even if you know who each person has been in contact with in the past two weeks (and you may not), one person who was exposed in a shop or transport or work, who is not yet showing symptoms, can expose a whole extended family, who can then expose everyone they work with. A high percentage of people are infected in their own homes and take the virus to work. In China, many infections occurred in the home, so homes with vulnerable members in them should consider wearing masks at home. Meet outdoors wherever possible.

We know that children are much less likely to be infected with the virus and even when infected have no or mild symptoms. Going to school is unlikely to be dangerous for them (though schools have to think about protecting teachers). Children are probably also less likely to pass it on others. But, sadly, you still may want to hold off from children hugging vulnerable grandparents for a while. One of the hardest parts of the lockdown has been stopping children from playing together. There is no easy answer here. From current knowledge it seems that there is likely to be some risk, and childrens behaviour when they are together is a challenge to all three Ds. If children play together, encourage outdoors, masks or face shields and lots of handwashing (before, during and after). Consider who they come into contact with at home (an elderly grandparent, someone with diabetes) when deciding about play arrangements. Perhaps discourage hugging and kissing.

Personal risk factors: People of all ages and levels of health have become very ill and have died of Covid-19. But we know that some people are at much higher risk than others. The most significant risk factors for being badly affected are older age (especially over 65), diabetes, hypertension, HIV, uncontrolled asthma and obesity. If you or your family member has one of these factors, consider getting someone less vulnerable to do the shopping, consider going to shops at opening time, before anyone else has been in them. Vulnerable people should avoid taxis, trains, buses and gatherings if they can.

Protect others: Stay home if you have any of these symptoms: a fever, a cough, body aches, difficulty breathing, loss of sense of smell or taste. Encourage workers to stay home if they have these symptoms. When you are not at home, wear a cloth mask to protect others, especially indoors. Wearing a cloth mask protects other people  and they protect you.

When should you test? Getting a PCR test for coronavirus is less useful than many people think. A test that comes back negative does not mean you dont have the virus; it has a very high false-negative rate  almost a third of tests. Unless you need hospital care (in which case you will be tested), the test wont affect how you look after yourself, and if you have symptoms you should isolate anyway as you may be infected.

How should you isolate? If you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, try to self-quarantine. Once you understand the three Ds, self-quarantining is not difficult to understand. If living with people, try to spend time in a room on your own or spend time outdoors. Try to avoid communal spaces wherever possible; when you cant avoid using these (the kitchen or bathroom), try to spend as little time as possible, wipe surfaces, wear cloth masks, and open windows.

Public toilets: There is some evidence that flushing a toilet sprays particles in the air which can have the virus in them. Tell customers, employees, and passengers on planes to put toilet seats down before flushing. Consider adding signs in all public restrooms with this message.

What about thermometers? Thermometers, especially the point at your forehead or oral ones, are actually very poor at telling your temperature, and may falsely create the impression that an infected person is not infectious. At a business or venue entrance they require close contact with the person with the thermometer. A person who has a fever from Covid-19 is likely to have other symptoms, so a simple symptom check is all you need.

Can you fly? Planes have very good air-circulation systems with particle filters that remove the virus from the air, which means that they are very low risk during the flight. But be careful of surfaces, and on short trips avoid the toilet if you can. You are far more likely to contract the virus in the airport while queuing, or waiting in a lounge or restaurant, than on the plane.

Communicate: Have clear communication about how to manage risk at work. Managers and policy advisers should realise that although policies need to be clear and not too complicated, at the same time advice that is nuanced but actually doable has better results than advice that is very simple but unrealistic in practice. Compare telling people they can prevent HIV by never having sex rather than by giving information about safe sex practices. The former is simpler but does not result in HIV prevention; it may be true but it doesnt help because it is not realistic. Businesses should anticipate they might have to shut down for a day and openly communicate.

No shaming: Dont judge or stigmatise people with Covid-19. Getting infected does not mean they were careless or have bad hygiene. Anyone can get infected, millions of people worldwide have been, and in South Africa, for every case diagnosed there are likely to be 10 others who have it but have not been tested, and may not have symptoms; it may be you. A workplace may have an outbreak despite taking all necessary measures. There is no need to shout at people exercising outdoors without a mask but at a distance, or in the park with their family; they are not going to infect you. Be kind.

Take it seriously: Covid-19 is real! If we all act together and help each other, we can dramatically limit spread, reduce deaths and protect our hospitals. Remember that anyone can get Covid-19 and become very sick. Those who were seriously ill can take a long time to fully recover. Even if you are not high-risk for severe illness, your actions create risks for others. Covid-19 is spreading rapidly in South Africa and this is the time for more, not less, vigilance.

This is in our hands: Covid-19 is here to stay for a while and is rapidly spreading; but we need to live, to see each other and to work. South Africa had an early and strict lockdown, but we always knew we couldnt do this for long. The easing of the lockdown does not mean the threat of infection has decreased. In fact, the opposite is true. We must not give up on containing spread: there is a lot practically that we as individuals, commuters, workers, managers and trades unions can do to protect ourselves and each other as South Africa reopens.

Why has information on masks changed? Early on we were advised not to wear masks, now were told everyone should wear masks  what gives? Three things. First, as this new pandemic hit, there was a worldwide shortage of masks that healthcare and other emergency workers needed. It was more important for them than for the rest of us to get the masks, as they are more exposed, and also expose more people. Second, we were told initially that masks are more important for sick people than for protecting those not infected. This hasnt changed, but what has changed is understanding how much spread could be caused by people who have mild symptoms or do not yet have symptoms. This means that everyone is potentially a sick person who is spreading, and if we all wear masks we limit spread. Third, the world is learning fast about this new disease: more information is emerging all the time about how much of an impact universal mask-wearing can have on reducing spread.

Lucy Allais is Professor of Philosophy, University of the Witwatersrand and UCSD, Director, Wits Centre for Ethics. Shaheen Mehtar, Professor of Infection control, Stellenbosch university. Willem Daniel Francois Venter, Ezintsha, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, University of the Witwatersrand. David Francis, Deputy Director, Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand. Shabir Madhi, incoming Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor of Vaccinology and Director of the MRC Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand. Alex van den Heever, Chair of Social Security Systems Administration and Management Studies, Adjunct Professor in the School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand. Imraan Valodia, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, and Head of the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand. Martin Veller, outgoing Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor of Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand.

This piece has been produced by an interdisciplinary group of academics working on Covid-19 and responses to it. The technical input is provided by members with medical expertise and has also been fact-checked by a number of other medical professionals, in accordance with the latest science.

This article was first published in the Daily Maverick/Maverick Citizen.




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Rescue members, including firefighters, rush to help trapped people due to the flood caused by heavy rainfall in Yichang of Hubei Province on Saturday. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

Firefighters of Yichang, Hubei Province rescued more than 1,000 residents from floods caused by heavy rainfall as of Saturday night, according to local authorities.

The city was hit by a 50-year record rainfall, with a downpour of 17 centimeters according to local meteorological authorities.

Local firefighters were called to the flood sites immediately after the rainfall started to hit the city in the morning.

The disaster response team, including 410 fire fighters and 69 vehicles, had rescued 425 trapped residents and relocated another 636 ones by 6 pm Saturday.

Some of the flood sites were located in mountainous rural areas and had become inaccessible to vehicles by noon, so rescuers had to walk half an hour with heavy equipment and relocate the trapped villagers with ropes, according to the local fire department.

Rubber boats have also been used for rescue, which is still ongoing.

Rescue members, including firefighters, rush to help trapped people due to the flood caused by heavy rainfall in Yichang of Hubei Province on Saturday. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

Rescue members, including firefighters, rush to help trapped people due to the flood caused by heavy rainfall in Yichang of Hubei Province on Saturday. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

Rescue members, including firefighters, rush to help trapped people due to the flood caused by heavy rainfall in Yichang of Hubei Province on Saturday. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

Rescue members, including firefighters, rush to help trapped people due to the flood caused by heavy rainfall in Yichang of Hubei Province on Saturday. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

Rescue members, including firefighters, rush to help trapped people due to the flood caused by heavy rainfall in Yichang of Hubei Province on Saturday. [For chinadaily.com.cn]

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)
Care workers could end up with just a quarter of a 500 gift from Welsh Government

This article is old - Published: Monday, Jun 29th, 2020

A union has written to Boris Johnson after claiming care workers could end up with only a quarter of a 500 gift from Welsh Government after stoppages.

Unison wrote to the Prime Minister after calculating that a carer earning above 12,500 would lose 100 to tax and 60 in National Insurance.

The increase in earnings of 340 would cause a knock-on effect with Universal Credit, which would reduce by 214.20, leaving just 125.80 of the original 500 award.

Unison, which represent care workers, has asked the Prime Minister to make the one-off payment exempt from tax and deductions from Universal Credit, after appeals to HM Treasury were waved away.





The money was promised to social care workers by First Minister Mark Drakeford on May 1 and extended to include kitchen, cleaning and other care home staff in June.

Unisons Tanya Palmer said: The Covid lockdown has shone a light on the tremendous work undertaken by thousands of mainly low-paid, female care workers in Wales.

They continued to care for our loved ones under difficult and frightening circumstances.

The Prime Minister clapped for care workers but they will feel cheated by Boris Johnson if tax and Universal Credit deductions leave them with as little as 125.

This bonus was meant for hard-pressed care workers and their families, not to disappear into the Treasurys coffers.

Unison has called on the Prime Minister to think again.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: We are deeply disappointed that the UK Government still intends to tax the 500 thank you payment we are making to carers in Wales as these one-off payments exist to recognise the extraordinary dedication and commitment of our social care workforce at the height of this crisis.

HM Treasury said Welsh Government received 2.3bn of funding to support people and it could gross up the payment so carers receive 500 after stoppages.

A Treasury spokesman said: We value the contribution of social care workers, particularly during the current crisis.

We also understand the collective response to Covid-19 needs to be UK-wide, which is why alongside our UK-wide support schemes weve provided 2.3bn of funding for the Welsh Government.

We are working with the Welsh Government to determine the exact scope of the proposed bonus.

Payments made in connection with employment are however chargeable to income tax and NICS unless explicitly exempt.

The UK Cabinet office was also approached for comment.

By Jez Hemming  Local Democracy Reporter
Council issue outbreak update: 1067 people tested and councillors told 19 more people test positive taking total to 185

This article is old - Published: Monday, Jun 29th, 2020

Wrexham Council have said 1000 people have been tested for coronavirus in connection with the local outbreak, with another document passed to us indicating 185 people have tested positive.

The council have shared a councillor-wide update on the local coronavirus pandemic from Councillor Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety.

In his briefing he outlines the background to the outbreak at Rowan Foods which employs approximately 1400 staff and the Track Trace Protect process going forward.

A second briefing PDF has been passed to us, containing further details, which is at the bottom of this article.





We have copied the entire update as released by Wrexham Council to us below:

Following the implementation of the new Test, Trace and Protect system a number of Covid-19 positive cases linked to the factory were identified and an Incident Management team (later forming into an Outbreak Control Team) was established. This team is led by Public Health Wales (PHW), with support from other partners included WCBC, BCUHB, The Health & Safety Executive and the Food Standards Agency. Once identified a mobile testing station was quickly sent to Rowan Food to test all workers to establish the extent of the outbreak. To date 1067 workers have been tested. All positive cases have been forwarded to the WCBC TTP team and given the demands, other Welsh Councils, most notably Powys, Swansea and Denbighshire and BCUHB has supported our team. The TTP project is a partnership involving all Welsh LAs, Health Boards and Public Health Wales in one Wales approach. Translation services are available and have been used. All contacts of confirmed cases have been given the appropriate advice from Public HealthWales. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited Rowan Foods on the 25th June. The inspector reported that he was satisfied that the company has taken all reasonable measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 on the site. Our officers raised the concerns of the community in relation to the outbreak on the reopening our schools. The Outbreak Control Team has not recommended any specific control measures with regards to educational facilities be taken. The town centre has re-opened within Government guidelines. Members of the Council and the public are reminded that Wrexham is open for business and looking forward to seeing people return to support our local traders whilst using all appropriate safety measures that are in place to safeguard them. We will continue to work with all our partner agencies to continue to protect our communities against Covid-19. The TTP process will continue and the success of the quick identification and response to the situation at Rowan Foods is a testament to its success. Members will continue to receive updates re the situation at Rowan Foods as it progresses.

The above update does not contain any new confirmed case figure. At lunchtime we asked the First Minister for information around that, and he said further details would be provided before the end of the afternoon. Todays regular Public Health Wales update did not give a figure for Wrexham.

Currently the last update on the confirmed cases figure, of 166 people, is based off information released at lunchtime on Friday  just over three days ago at the time of writing.

Thankfully councillors have forwarded us their, fuller, version of the update circulated internally that gives a range of extra information as well as revealing that 185 people have tested positive for coronavirus  an increase of 19 cases since Fridays data.

It also reveals that 70% of the tests came back within 24 hours.

Background

Rowan Foods, located on Wrexham Industrial Estate, is a ready meal manufacturer (approved meat products) which supplies a number of the major national retailers. It has approximately 140 product lines and produces approximately 2 million meals per week.

The factory employs approximately 1400 staff, with a significant percentage (potentially between 500 & 600) of those being agency personnel. The use of agency staff is as a result of seasonal demand for ready meal products.

Following the identification of a number of Covid-19 positive cases linked to Rowan Foods via the new Test, Tract and Protect systems an Incident Management team (later forming into an Outbreak Control Team) was established and led by Public Health Wales (PHW), with support from other partners included WCBC, BCUHB, The Health & Safety Executive and the Food Standards Agency.

Testing

A mobile testing station was sent to Rowan Food to test all workers and establish the extent of the outbreak. To date 1067 workers have been tested with a 185 testing positive and 856 negative. We are awaiting 26 test results which are yet to be cross referenced. A further 300 workers are yet to be tested with 150 of these either currently shielding or on long term absence (these will not be tested). The remaining 150 will be tested in the next 48 hours. The turnaround time for 742 of the samples was actually within 24 hours.

Trace

All positive cases have been forwarded to the WCBC TTP team and given the demands, other Welsh Councils, most notably Powys, Swansea and Denbighshire and BCUHB has supported our team. The TTP project is a partnership involving all Welsh LAs, Health Boards and Public Health Wales in one Wales approach. Translation services are available and have been used, these include Polish speaking contact traces and the Councils contracted translation service has been made available to the other local authorities.

All contacts of confirmed cases should isolate for 14 from exposure (or onset for household members) and any symptomatic individuals should be excluded for 7 days and offered testing. Contacts will be traced through the TTP system as normal.

Protect

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited Rowan Foods on the 25th June. The inspector reported that he was satisfied that the company has taken all reasonable measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 on the site.

Schools

Our officers raised the concerns of the community in relation to the outbreak on the reopening our schools. The Outbreak Control Team has not recommended any control measures with regards to educational facilities. Whilst it is recognised that children in households being identified as having Covid-19 may attend local schools or key worker hubs, as of today there is no reason to believe that the controls currently in place for these settings need amending.

Conclusion

We will continue to work with all our partner agencies in relation to testing, tracing and protecting our communities against Covid-19. The identification of the outbreak, the assessment as to it extent and implementation of measure to prevent its spread is an example of the TTP success. This has been undertaken in a matter of days and these actions will continue t be undertaken in order to protect our communities going forward.

It is not clear why that information was not been made public officially.
Leader of Wrexham Council appointed as chairman of Mersey Dee Alliance

This article is old - Published: Monday, Jun 29th, 2020

The Leader of Wrexham Council has been appointed chairman of the Mersey Dee Alliance (MDA).

Councillor Mark Pritchard has taken over as chair of the cross-border partnership, which supports business, jobs and infrastructure across North East Wales, West Cheshire and Wirral.

He will lead the partnership over the next two years  building on the work of his predecessor, Councillor Louise Gittins of Cheshire West and Chester.

Cllr Pritchard be supported by vice chair, Councillor Stuart Whittingham of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.





The aim will be to further develop the economic potential of key employment sites across the region  with the the MDA focusing on  cross-border transport connectivity, skills and employment, digital infrastructure and low carbon / clean growth.

These include Wirral Waters (part of Mersey Waters Enterprise Zone), Deeside Enterprise Zone, Wrexham Industrial Estate and Technology Park, Chester and Ellesmere Port (part of the Cheshire Science Corridor Enterprise Zone).

Cllr Pritchard explains: The region is already very successful in economic terms. But if we want to build on that, and encourage more investment, we need to make progress with these four key areas.

Better transport links  both road and rail  will be absolutely crucial to support business operations and supply chains.

Theyll also make it easier for people to commute  providing more job opportunities and helping firms tap into the wider workforce.

We also need to support the right skills within our communities. Thats a key factor in persuading employers to invest and create jobs.

Cllr Pritchard also says the Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of good digital infrastructure for both regional and national economies.

Now more than ever, businesses need the internet to survive and thrive, said Cllr Pritchard.

First class digital connectivity is no longer an optional extraits an absolute must.

Finally, we need to make sure that economic growth in the Mersey Dee region is kind to the environment. It needs to be clean and low carbon.

Thats really important for quality of life, and again a key factor in attracting investment.

Established in 2007, the MDA is a strong and experienced partnership  influencing key decision-makers to attract investment to the area.

Councillor Pritchard adds: Im looking forward to representing the MDA and helping to make sure the regions best interests are supported.

Wrexham, Cheshire, Wirral and Flintshire are wonderful places in their own right, with their own unique identities. But we also have an incredibly strong economic bond, and our voice is so much more powerful and persuasive when we work together.

With so many talented and committed organisations and individuals, the MDA can continue to secure investment for the region.

Its a challenging time for the UK economy, but Im excited about the future.
New businesses in Wales can apply for Welsh Government start-up grant from today

This article is old - Published: Monday, Jun 29th, 2020

A start-up grant has been set-up to support new businesses in Wales dealing with the severe impact of Coronavirus.

The fund will be worth 5m initially with flexibility for the future and will support start-up firms, which fall outside the UK Governments Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) as they only began trading in 2019.

Applications for this grant will open on today at the same time as phase two of the Economic Resilience Fund opens to applications.

There has been criticism that some freelancers and start-ups have fallen through the cracks of the financial packages that have been provided by UK and Welsh Government.





First Minister Mark Drakeford said the grant will help support new businesses in Wales who have been unable to access the existing financial assistance schemes.

He said: A number of people who have started a business in the last year dont qualify for support from the UK Governments Self Employment Income Support Scheme and it remains unclear if it will take steps to ensure they will change the criteria to help this group of people.

This is why we have acted and set up a start-up grant. This has come from our work with Welsh Local Government Association and local authorities to look at what more support the business community needs at this time.

The new start-up grant will support up to 2,000 businesses in Wales, with 2,500 each. This will provide funding to people who established their businesses between 1 April 2019 and 1 March 2020, helping them to continue trading through the pandemic.

The Welsh Government is also providing 1.7bn to support businesses in Wales. The support available in Wales includes more than 59,000 business rates grants worth more than 715m and the Development Bank of Wales Covid loan support, which has helped 1,000 small and medium enterprises.

To be eligible for the start-up grant, businesses must:

 Have not received funding from the Welsh Governments Economic Resilience Fund or the non-domestic rates grant.

 Have been set up between the 1 April 2019 and 1 March 2020 and have not qualified for the UK Governments Self Employment Income Support Scheme.

 Have less than 50,000 turnover.

 Have experienced a drop in turnover of more than 50% between April and June 2020.

 Applicants will need to submit a two-page application form and self-declaration supported by evidence.

Applications for the start-up grant and the second phase of the Economic Resilience Fund open from 29 June.

Economy Minister Ken Skates said: Todays announcement will be crucial in supporting new businesses, reducing the risk of firms having to close and people becoming unemployed.

Our Economic Resilience Fund has already supported thousands of businesses across Wales to plug the gaps left by the UK Governments package of support and the start-up grant complements this work.

The second phase of the Economic Resilience Fund will open for applications on Monday providing more opportunities for microbusinesses, SMEs and large businesses to apply for funding. Submissions for the start-up grant can also be made from Monday and Id like to thank local authorities, which will be administering this scheme.

As a government, we continue to work hard to respond to the needs of business at this incredibly testing time.

Minister for Finance and Trefnydd Rebecca Evans said: We have prioritised protecting the Welsh economy from the impact of coronavirus by providing the most generous business support package in the UK  support which represents 2.7% of our GDP. But our budget only goes so far and we have had to make some difficult decisions.

That is why we are calling on the UK Treasury to lift the rigid restrictions on fiscal flexibility so that we can begin our road to recovery and plan for a prosperous, post-pandemic Wales.

The grant will be administered by local authorities and businesses can check their eligibility by visiting the Business Wales website.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-28 21:25:07|Editor: huaxia

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Businesses in Hong Kong welcome national security legislation for the city, as it will restore the type of stability that businesses want, says a British barrister.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-28 23:14:12|Editor: huaxia

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Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, joins group discussions to deliberate a draft law on safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) during the 20th session of the NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers Sunday held group discussions to deliberate a draft law on safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), during an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, joined lawmakers in discussion.

Members of the NPC Standing Committee, some NPC special committee members and NPC deputies, including deputies from the HKSAR, joined the deliberation.

The draft law and a deliberation report, which were submitted by the NPC Constitution and Law Committee to the session, have had opinions from all sectors, including those from people of all walks of life in Hong Kong, fully studied and solicited, embodied the spirit of the related NPC decision and responded to the concerns of related parties, lawmakers said.

The draft, under the second reading at the session, has more accurate descriptions and more targeted and executable measures, and is in line with the actual situation in the HKSAR, they said.

Lawmakers called for prompt efforts to adopt the law and promulgate and enact it in the HKSAR, which will effectively fix the legal loopholes, lack of related systems and the weak links for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, effectively combat related criminal acts and activities and safeguard national security, as well as help maintain the prosperity and stability of the HKSAR, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of HKSAR residents. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 03:00:32|Editor: huaxia

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AMMAN, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Sunday condemned an Israeli decision to install an elevator linking parts of the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem with the Buraq Wall which is also known as the Western Wall or Wailing Wall.

Expressing Jordan's rejection to all unilateral Israeli measures, Daifallah Fayez, spokesman of the kingdom's foreign ministry, said this project will change the nature of the Old City and its Arab identity, according to a ministry statement.

It also violates the international law and decisions of the UNESCO, he added.

The Jordanian spokesman called on Israel to halt the shift of the identity of the Old City and abide by its commitments under international law. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 04:50:21|Editor: huaxia

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ALGIERS, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Sunday announced that the country will keep the land, air and sea borders closed until the end of the COVID-19 crisis, the official APS news agency reported.

President Tebboune also said in a cabinet meeting that firmer measures will be taken against citizens who do not respect preventive measures.

Algeria has closed all border crossing points with neighboring nations and suspended all flights and sea voyages since mid March.

Algeria reported 305 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections to 13,273 with 897 deaths.

China and Algeria have offered mutual help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Chinese medical expert team arrived in Algeria on May 14 for a 15-day mission to help fight the coronavirus, through sharing China's experiences in the spread of the contagious disease. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 07:09:56|Editor: huaxia

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Protesters (L) against the changing of the Mississippi State Flag, and a protester (R) with Black Lives Matter flag supporting changing of the state flag are seen in Jackson, Mississippi, the United States, on June 28, 2020. The House of southern U.S. state Mississippi on Sunday passed a bill to remove a Confederate battle emblem from its state flag, local media reported. A commission would design a new flag that cannot include the Confederate symbol broadly condemned as racist, said the reports, the new design would go before voters in November for approval. The state flag, adopted in 1894, nearly 30 years after the end of the Civil War, is the last in the country to feature the Confederate battle emblem. (Photo by Alan Chin/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The House of southern U.S. state Mississippi on Sunday passed a bill to remove a Confederate battle emblem from its state flag, local media reported.

The House passed the bill in a vote of 91 to 23 with broad bipartisan support, said the reports.

The bill now sends to the state Senate and Republican Governor Tate Reeves has said he will sign it if passed.

A commission would design a new flag that cannot include the Confederate symbol broadly condemned as racist, said the reports, the new design would go before voters in November for approval.

The state flag, adopted in 1894, nearly 30 years after the end of the Civil War, is the last in the country to feature the Confederate battle emblem.

The move came in the wake of weeks of anti-racism protests and civil unrest following the death of black man George Floyd in police custody on May 25, renewing attention on symbols of the Confederacy across the country.

African American people make up 38 percent of the Mississippi population.
Ethiopia told the United Nations Security Council on Monday that it is not a legitimate place to discuss a controversial dam Addis Ababa is building on the Blue Nile, adding that taking the matter to the UNs most powerful body sets a bad precedent.

"Ethiopia does not believe the issue being discussed today has a legitimate place in the Security Council," Taye Atske-Selassie, Ethiopia's permanent representative to the United Nations, told an open session held Monday to discuss the dam crisis.

This council should not be a forum for exerting diplomatic pressure, he said.

The meeting was scheduled after Egypt called on the UN to intervene to restart talks after renewed negotiations over the $4.8 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) failed to produce an accord last week, and following Ethiopia's announcement it will go ahead with filling the dam's reservoir in July, even without approval from downstream countries Egypt and Sudan.

"This year is an opportune time to begin impounding water in the GERD's reservoir. Currently the Blue Nile and the White Nile have above normal flow, Lake Victoria is at a record high level and [Egypt's] High Aswan dam is at a full supply level," he said.

During the first stage of the filling of the dam, Ethiopia will retain only above one-tenth of the average annual flow of the Blue Nile," the Ethiopian official said.

Ethiopia is of the view that progress at hand and a mutually beneficial agreement is within reach, the Ethiopian official said.

Egypt, which relies on the Nile for 95% of its freshwater, fears the dam will significantly cut the rivers flow, while Ethiopia says the project is key to its development efforts.

Sudan joined Egypt in expressing concerns to the UNs most powerful body, saying in a letter last week that the unilateral filling of the dam, located around 15 km from the Sudanese border, could cause substantial risks to Khartoum and endanger the lives of millions of people living downstream.

Sudan fears the giant Ethiopian dam will put the operation of its Roseires dam at risk if not properly designed, filled and operated.

Sudan on Monday called for setting up committees by the three countries to "reach amicable solutions within one week".

"Ethiopia must ensure that any potential negative impact of this project is properly addressed and adequately mitigated, in close consultation and coordination with downstream countries," said Omer Mohamed Siddig, Sudan's permanent representative to the United Nations.

The Sudanese official said reaching an agreement before the commencement of the filling of the dam is "extremely necessary" and that any decision on the timing and the rules of the filing "has to be agreed upon".

The Sudanese representative urged Egypt and Ethiopia to adopt a draft agreement Sudan had submitted during the last round of talks earlier this month as a basis for finalising a deal on the filling and operation of the mega dam.

He also called for "discouraging any party from any action that may jeopardise the efforts of the African Union," which convened online emergency talks last week between the leaders of the three nations in a bid to resolve the deadlock.

"We strongly believe that the African-led process can push forward the three parties' efforts to reach a comprehensive, fair, and balanced agreement."

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 07:16:09|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on June 28, 2020 shows seats marked with instructions on social distancing at the Ministries Complex in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Kuwait will start the second phase to return to normal life on June 30. The second phase will last three weeks. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 09:22:52|Editor: huaxia

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Rescuers work in Yihai Town of Mianning County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 28, 2020. Twelve people died and 10 others were missing as of 4 p.m. Sunday after a heavy rainstorm hit Mianning County in southwest China's Sichuan Province, local authorities said late Sunday. (Photo by Wang Yun/Xinhua)

CHENGDU, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Twelve people died and 10 others were missing as of 4 p.m. Sunday after a heavy rainstorm hit Mianning County in southwest China's Sichuan Province, local authorities said late Sunday.

The rainstorm that battered Mianning from Friday to Saturday triggered floods in Yihai Township, where 10 people were killed and seven others remain missing, according to the county government.

In Gaoyang sub-district, two vehicles plunged into a river after flooding damaged the highway, killing two people and leaving three others missing.

Torrential rains affected more than 9,880 people in Yihai and Gaoyang, cutting off local roads and damaging houses and crops. A total of 7,705 people were evacuated.

Rescue and relief efforts are underway. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 09:45:21|Editor: huaxia

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ACCRA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday announced a three-month extension of the incentive package paid to frontline health workers to help them fight the new coronavirus in the country.

He said late Sunday during his latest COVID-19 national televised address that all health workers will pay no income tax in July, August and September.

"All frontline health workers, as defined by the Ministry of Health, will continue to receive the additional allowance of 50 percent of their basic salaries for the three months," he added.

As of late Sunday, the country's number of COVID-19 cases increased to 17,351 with 12,994 recoveries and 112 deaths, the president said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 10:08:14|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian troops killed several gunmen when thwarting an attack in a village in the troubled northwest region recently, military authorities said on Sunday.

Several other gunmen, believed to be bandits by the military authorities, also sustained gunshot wounds during the attack in the village of Mara Zamfarawa in the northern state of Katsina on Friday.

Multiple military operations are ongoing in Nigeria's northwest region which has been wracked by years of violence, to rout out the gunmen there.

Banditry, kidnappings and other criminal activities have recently become rampant in the northwest region. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 10:52:35|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the international community to unite efforts instead of exchanging accusations in the fight against COVID-19, TASS news agency reported Sunday.

"In order to effectively combat the epidemic, we need to unite efforts rather than slap accusations against each other," said Putin.

He said the world could get rid of the COVID-19 threat by solidarity "rather than on the path of confrontation." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 10:56:19|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Sunday that 184 illegal immigrants have been rescued by the Libyan Coast Guard off the country's western coast.

"184 migrants, among them 14 women and 11 children, were returned to Tripoli (in) Libya by the coast guard. IOM staff are onsite to provide emergency assistance," the IOM tweeted.

The number of illegal immigrants rescued off the Libyan coast have increased significantly over the past few days, with the Libyan Coast Guard rescuing hundreds of immigrants, including women and children.

The fall of the previous Muammar Gaddafi's government in 2011 has created a state of insecurity and chaos in Libya, which made it a preferred point of departure for migrants to cross the Mediterranean Sea towards European shores.

Shelters in Libya are overcrowded with thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, who were either rescued at sea or arrested by authorities, despite repeated international calls to close those centers.

The IOM has repeatedly stressed that Libya is not a safe point of disembarkation for migrants or refugees. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 10:59:52|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Nine additional unidentified bodies were recovered inside mass graves in the city of Tarhuna, some 90 km south of Tripoli, said a local official.

The new finding brought the total number of recovered bodies to 19 since the the Libyan General Authority for Research and Identification of Missing Persons began working in Tarhuna, said Kamal Al-Siwi, chairman of the authority.

Before the UN-backed government took control of it, Tarhuna was the main military operation center for the rival east-based army.

Fatou Bensouda, an International Criminal Court prosecutor, last week expressed concern over recent reports about multiple mass graves found in Tarhuna and its surroundings.

"My Office has received credible information regarding 11 alleged mass graves containing men, women and children. These findings may constitute evidence of war crimes or crimes against humanity," Bensouda said in a statement.

"I call on the Libyan authorities to take all the necessary measures to protect and secure the mass grave sites and to ensure that all actions taken in this regard are conducted in a manner that will not prejudice future investigations," the statement said.

The east-based army has been fighting the UN-backed government troops for more than a year aiming to take control of Tripoli and topple the UN-backed government. The fighting has killed and injured hundreds of civilians and displaced more than 150,000 others. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 11:08:49|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The profits of China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) recovered in May as economic activities gradually normalized, official data showed Monday.

Month on month, the combined profits of SOEs surged 251.1 percent in May, recovering to 94.5 percent of the level seen during the same period last year, according to data from the Ministry of Finance.

In the first five months, their profits totaled 663.09 billion yuan (about 93.65 billion U.S. dollars), down 52.7 percent year on year due to the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

SOEs have generated combined revenue of 21.84 trillion yuan during the five-month period, down 7.7 percent from the same period last year, and their operating costs saw a 4.9-percent fall to 21.61 trillion yuan, the ministry said.

SOEs' debt-to-asset ratio came in at 64.6 percent at the end of May.

The figures, which exclude financial firms, were collected from SOEs in 36 provincial-level regions and those administered by the central government. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 12:02:47|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo shares dropped Monday morning as concerns over the future prospects for a global economic recovery from the pandemic were dashed by the number of global COVID-19 cases surpassing 10 million over the weekend.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 297.39 points, or 1.32 percent, from Friday to 22,214.69.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 18.93 points, or 1.20 percent, at 1,558.44.

All industry categories retreated, with iron and steel, mining and insurance issues comprising those that declined the most by the morning break. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 12:36:16|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top economic planner has decided to extend the policy of cutting electricity prices by 5 percent until year-end to help businesses overcome difficulties caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The policy, first adopted for the Feb. 1-June 30 period to mitigate the impact of the epidemic, will be extended to Dec. 31 and applies to enterprise users except those in high energy consuming sectors, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

The decision is aimed at reducing business costs and stabilizing the job market, the NDRC noted.

As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global industrial chains and dampened demand, Chinese authorities repeatedly stressed the important role of fee cuts in ensuring employment, meeting basic living needs and protecting market entities.

Official data on Sunday showed profits of China's major industrial firms dropped 19.3 percent year on year in the first five months of 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 13:22:35|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese online payment clearinghouse NetsUnion Clearing Corporation reported an increasing number of online transactions during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday that ended Saturday.

From June 25 to 27, about 4.2 billion online transactions were processed by the platform, up 50.15 percent from the same holiday last year.

The transactions involved 1.97 trillion yuan (about 278.22 billion U.S. dollars), up 25.48 percent from last year, the company said.

Compared with the three-day Tomb-sweeping Day holiday in early April, the number of transactions surged by 21.99 percent while the value marked a 10.61-percent rise, according to the company. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 13:55:27|Editor: huaxia

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Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the 13th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese lawmakers have met to hear a deliberation report on a draft law being reviewed at the ongoing legislative session.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presided over Sunday's meeting of the Council of Chairpersons, which heard the report on suggested revisions to the draft law on safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Based on lawmakers' deliberations, the NPC Constitution and Law Committee has prepared a version of the draft law proposed to be voted on.

The meeting decided to submit the draft to the current session of the NPC Standing Committee for review. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 14:11:13|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the world, with the death toll worldwide having topped 500,000, and cases surging in Latin American and African nations.

Global COVID-19 deaths surpassed 500,000 on Sunday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

Latest data from the CSSE showed that the current death toll stands at 501,281, while the number of confirmed cases has surpassed 10,117,000.

The pandemic has not reached its peak in the Americas, and the situation is "particularly intense" in Central and South America, Michael Ryan, executive director of World Health Organization Health Emergencies Program, said last week.

Brazil, the worst-hit Latin American country, on Sunday reported 552 daily deaths from COVID-19, taking its death toll to 57,622.

In the last 24 hours, 30,476 new cases were reported, bringing the national count to 1,344,143, the Brazilian Health Ministry said in its daily report.

The country ranks the second in the world in both the caseload and deaths, only after the United States.

In Peru, the Health Ministry reported Sunday 3,430 new cases, taking the national tally to 279,419 with a total of 9,317 deaths, with the capital Lima being the hardest hit region.

A total of 10,861 people have required hospital care, including 1,178 in intensive care units and on ventilators, according to the ministry.

The Peruvian government has said the nation's COVID-19 outbreak has reached a plateau and has begun to reactivate the economy with preventive measures in place.

Chile on Sunday reported a total of 271,982 infections, and a death toll of 5,509.

"The virus is hitting us very hard" in Latin America, Chilean Health Minister Enrique Paris said at a press conference Sunday.

Chile has a state of catastrophe in place, including a curfew in hard-hit areas since late March that has seen soldiers and police officers deployed in the streets to enforce lockdown orders and other restrictions.

Cases have also kept mounting on the African continent. The number of confirmed cases across the continent reached 371,548 as of Sunday morning, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Ghana are among the African countries severely impacted by COVID-19.

South Africa, the most-affected country in the region, registered a caseload of 138,134 on Sunday, of which 6,334 were reported in the past 24 hours.

South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Sunday urged his countrymen to prepare for a further surge in cases during the winter season.

It is anticipated that every province will unfortunately witness an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases, the minister said, identifying Gauteng and Western Cape provinces as the most noticeable hotspots.

Egypt confirmed on Sunday 1,265 new COVID-19 infections, raising the country's total to 65,188. Daily infections in Egypt have been surpassing 1,000 cases since May 28, with a record 1,774 infections on June 19.

John Nkengasong, director of Africa CDC, on Friday urged the African continent to brace itself for a rise in the number of cases after easing of lockdowns. He noted that the onset of the pandemic was delayed in Africa but the number of cases and deaths "is increasing rapidly every day." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 15:11:39|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's National Center for Communicable Disease (NCCD) on Monday confirmed one new COVID-19 case, bringing the total to 220.

"A total of 196 tests for COVID-19 were conducted across Mongolia yesterday and one of them was positive," Dulmaa Nyamkhuu, head of the NCCD, said at a daily press conference.

The latest case is one of the over 170 Mongolian nationals who returned home from Kazakhstan on June 10, said Nyamkhuu.

All the 220 cases are imported ones, mostly from Russia, according to the NCCD. Among the confirmed cases, 175 patients have recovered so far.

A French national tested positive for the virus on March 10, becoming the first case in Mongolia. So far, no local transmissions or deaths have been reported in the country. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 15:15:42|Editor: huaxia

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MAIMANA, Afghanistan, June 29 (Xinhua) -- An acting district police chief and an Afghan national army soldier were shot dead by a Taliban sniper in Afghanistan's northern province of Faryab on Monday, local police said.

"Shah Mohammad Arab, acting police chief of Khwaja Sabz Posh district, was inspecting a joint Afghan security forces' checkpoint on the outskirts of the district Monday morning," Abdul Karim Urush, provincial police spokesman, told Xinhua.

"During the inspect the militants conducted a shooting attack from long distance. As a result Arab and an Afghan National Army soldier were martyred."

The security forces launched a search operation in the district, in the northwestern of provincial capital Maimana, shortly after the shooting, the police spokesman added.

The province has been the scene of clashes and fighting for years.

The Taliban militants, controlling parts of Faryab, use rugged terrains and mountains as hideouts and frequently launch hit-and-run attacks against the security forces. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 15:26:43|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Monday he is willing to negotiate with the Palestinians on the basis of U.S. President Donald Trump's Mideast "peace plan."

The remark was made overnight in a pre-recorded address to a conference organized by "Christians United for Israel," a U.S.-based pro-Israeli evangelical group.

Speaking two days before his set date for annexing part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Netanyahu urged the Palestinians to "embrace" Trump's plan.

"I encourage the Palestinians not to lose another opportunity," said Netanyahu.

"They should be prepared to negotiate a historic compromise that could bring peace to Israelis and Palestinians alike. Israel is prepared for such negotiations, and I am prepared for such negotiations," he added.

Netanyahu has set July 1 as the date for his plan to annex the Jordan Valley, which makes up some 30 percent of the West Bank, a territory seized by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war.

The Palestinians and the international community have condemned the plan as a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 15:29:56|Editor: huaxia

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DHAKA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 24 bodies were found after a ferry sank in a river in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Monday morning, while an unknown number of passengers still remained missing.

Enayet Hossain, senior duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters, told Xinhua that "24 bodies including 14 men, seven women and three children, have so far been found."

He could not give the exact number of missing passengers.

According to the officer, the Dhaka-bound ferry "Morning Bird" capsized after it was hit by another boat "Moyur-2" in Buriganga river near Dhaka's Sadarghat ferry terminal at around 9:30 a.m. local time.

"We've come to know that the ferry was carrying about 50-60 passengers," he said.

A search operation was underway and a rescue vessel had been called in to assist efforts to salvage the ferry, he added.

According to the officer, many passengers were able to swim ashore after the ferry capsized. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 15:41:14|Editor: huaxia

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Students walk into the Jilin No.1 Elementary School in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, June 29, 2020. Students in their first and second grades of junior high schools and fourth to sixth grades of primary schools returned to school in Jilin on Monday. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 15:54:08|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- China's first law on community correction will take effect on July 1.

Adopted by the country's top legislature at the end of last year, the law aims to advance and standardize community correction work, help the subjects better re-integrate into society and prevent and reduce crime.

Community correction targets criminals who are sentenced to public surveillance, given a reprieve, released on parole, or permitted to temporarily serve their sentences outside prison, says the law.

The law calls for efforts to improve the use of information technology in community correction organizations and makes provisions in areas such as information verification and electronic positioning.

The law also encourages and supports enterprises, public institutions, social organizations and volunteers to participate in community corrections.

China began community correction pilot programs in 2003. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 16:17:11|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The local government in Indian capital city - Delhi Monday said it will create a plasma bank for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

The announcement was made by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He urged people who have recovered from the COVID-19 infection to come forward and donate plasma to help other patients.

"The plasma bank will start operation in the next two days. I appeal to COVID-19 recovered patients to donate their plasma," Kejriwal in a video address said.

The plasma bank will be set-up at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Science in the city. According to Kejriwal anyone who needs plasma will need a recommendation from a doctor.

Plasma therapy is one of the most discussed methods of treatment for COVID-19 and involves the transfusion of plasma from a convalescent coronavirus patient to a critical patient. The blood of a recovering patient is rich in antibodies produced by the body to fight the virus, which are expected to help the critical patient recover, Kejriwal said.

Clinical trials in plasma therapy started in Delhi in April.

India's top health research body Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) last month said there was no robust evidence to support plasma therapy as coronavirus treatment.

Delhi has the second-highest number of infections in India with 83,077 COVID-19 cases and 2,623 fatalities till date.

India's federal health ministry said on Monday morning that 380 new deaths due to COVID-19, besides 19,459 more positive cases, were reported across the country, taking the number of deaths to 16,475 and total cases to 548,318. Enditem
South Africa: Youth bear brunt of COVID-19

South Africa cannot expect to have a growing economy if young people are left behind.

That was the underlying message by the acting Director-General in the Department of Women, Youth and Person with Disabilities, Annette Griessel.

In her opening remarks during a webinar on the National Youth Policy review in the context of COVID-19 on Monday, she said young people take part in the economy.

Were fighting a global pandemic, which is caused by a global health crisis and is affecting all parts of our society. Our own analysis is that the pandemic is reinforcing existing fault lines in society, including exacerbating inequality, poverty and unemployment.

Citing a recent paper by the United Nations, Griessel said the research confirmed that COVID-19 would have a long-lasting socio-economic impact in all population groups including young people.

Therefore, she said, the pandemic offers an opportunity to create an all-inclusive economy and society, especially where youth is concerned.

We must ensure that the youth is not left behind concerning health, economic and social relief measures that were currently introducing.

The youth dividend is about ensuring that we proactively invest in young people to include them in the economy, to ensure they have an equal stake in the economy. But we cant expect to have a growing economy when young people are left out and left behind.

Griessel said the crux of the National Youth Policy is to serve as an instrument to enable government to think critically about what it can do to build a more inclusive and sustainable future for the youth.

Griessel believes that the pandemic and the recovery strategy should underpin the discussion and force government to think out of the box.

This is the policy that belongs to the Department of Women, Youth and Person with Disabilities. This must be a policy that belongs to all of us, government and civil society and particularly must have full ownership of young people.

The webinar, which was held as part of Youth Month, also focused on the numerous consultations with stakeholders to map a clear policy direction, and to ensure the youth of South Africa develop positively and can adjust and thrive in this new reality.

Youth unemployment

Speaking on behalf of Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the Head of Department, Mashile Mokono, said health has become the countrys number one priority in the face of Coronavirus, as they try to cushion the youth against the respiratory disease.

Young peoples education is disrupted, those who were looking for jobs could no longer do so, and they became socially isolated and anxious The youth are further locked out of the economy."

Mokono said the department has welcomed all the efforts, including the R500 billion relief to support vulnerable households, individuals and businesses from the effects of COVID-19.

Mokono said government must amplify the voices of the youth and be supported in decision-making positions.

Investment in young people is an investment in the future of our country, continent and the world.

The departments Deputy Minister, Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, said the main challenge faced by youth is unemployment.

Meanwhile, those living with disability continue to face enormous challenges in the labour market.

We know the results of lockdown will likely to intensify the problem and threaten livelihoods. Some people have started talking about the third pandemic, which will be the economic recovery.

Therefore, she said the reduction of youth unemployment and breaking poverty should be a priority.

Almost six million people want to work but dont have a job, but the rate of youth unemployment is higher.

Young people's many challenges

Senior policy analyst responsible for youth development in the Presidency of South Africa, Dr Bernice Hlagala, said other challenges faced by youngsters include mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, gender-based violence, poor sexual and reproductive health, as well as HIV prevalence.

We still have problems like racism, tribalism and other forms of discrimination," Hlagala said.

Meanwhile, there is a high suicide rate of 13.4 per 100 000 youngsters.

These challenges continue to affect young people and over and above that, we realise that there are serious challenges of resourcing youth development, where you find there are no human and financial resources to develop young people.

Young people should find their voice

President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Professor Glenda Gray, said the youth often bear the brunt of global pandemics.

If we go back and look at how the youth bore the brunt many times, for example, the legacy of apartheid, which limited their education and vocational potential.

HIV has also affected young people, especially adolescent girls and young women, she said.

Women and children also bear the burden of violence and patriarchy; they have double jeopardy when it comes to their sexual rights.

Meanwhile, they have to battle mental issues, which are aggravated by alcohol abuse and the loss of hope.

They will bear this impact for years to come. Their studies will also be interrupted and they will lose out on employment opportunities as the economy contracts," said Gray.

However, she said that this is a chance for youngsters to galvanise their power and forge ahead to be heard.

Were very worried about the issues of mental health and how it affects them.

Gray believes that youth can get involved in the solutions, as the globe fights the war against COVID-19 and help to make a difference for years to come.

This is an important time for youth to use their power to change the direction of the world and to ask questions about our education system, health system, the lack of equity for youth, and their ability to safeguard their future and become resilient to poverty.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-06-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Statement By H.E. Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt before the United Nations Security Council session on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

Your Excellency the Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations and President of the U.N. Security Council for the month of June, Distinguished Representatives of the Member States of the U.N. Security Council, Colleagues and Dear Brothers, Representatives of Sudan and Ethiopia, At the outset, I would like to congratulate the President of the Security Council for his able leadership of the Security Council during a time of unprecedented challenges and daunting crises.

Indeed, these are truly tumultuous times. Humanity is being tested by an invisible foe that has robbed us of countless souls, wrought untold economic suffering, and brought life to a standstill across the world. But as we face the scourge of this global pandemic, and as our frailty is laid bare before us, we are reminded of our common humanity.

We are reminded that, beyond the multitude of cultures and creeds, and the diversity of nations and peoples, we are, ultimately, a single human family, the welfare of which demands that we look beyond narrow self-interest and promote the bonds of solidarity within our global community.

Mr. President,

The matter on which I am addressing you today is of the greatest consequence to the Egyptian people, and requires, like our efforts to combat this global pandemic, a commitment to uphold the spirit of cooperation, and to recognize that no nation is an island unto itself, entire of itself, but part of a community bound by a common destiny.

A threat of potentially existential proportions has emerged that could encroach on the single source of livelihood of over 100 million Egyptians, The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a colossal project that Ethiopia has constructed across the Blue Nile, could endanger the security and very survival of an entire nation by imperiling its wellspring of sustenance.

While we recognize the importance of this project to the developmental objectives of the Ethiopian people, a goal that we share and support, it is essential to realize that this mega-dam, which is Africas largest hydropower facility, potentially threatens the welfare, wellbeing, and existence of millions of Egyptian and Sudanese citizens.

Therefore, the unilateral filling and operation of this dam, without an agreement that includes the necessary precautions to protect downstream communities and to prevent the infliction of significant harm on their riparian rights, would heighten tensions and could provoke crises and conflicts that further destabilize an already troubled region.

Accordingly, it is important that the Security Council consider this matter. As the body entrusted, by the international community, with the unique responsibility to maintain international peace and security, the Council is expected to exercise watchful vigilance to avert the escalation of tensions, to prevent the outbreak of conflict, and to contain crises that threaten to prejudice the peace in a fragile region. We trust that, in discharging these duties and fulfilling its responsibilities, the Security Council will act with diligence and vigor to resist instances of unilateralism that could undercut the foundational tenets of our international system that are enshrined in this organizations hallowed Charter.

As a responsible stakeholder, Egypt elected to bring this matter to the attention of the Security Council to forestall further escalation and to ensure that unilateral actions do not undermine efforts to reach an agreement on the GERD or prejudice the riparian rights and interests of downstream states, or, more alarmingly, to endanger the lives of almost 150 million Egyptian and Sudanese citizens, thereby generating greater tension in an unstable region.

We are, therefore, encouraged that the Security Council is holding todays session. This reflects the commitment of its members to ensure that this essential organ of the United Nations fulfils its responsibilities, as enshrined in the Charter.

Mr. President,

We in Egypt populate the most arid of the Nile Basin riparian states and one of the most water-impoverished nations on earth. This harsh reality compels us to inhabit no more than 7% of our territory along a slender strip of green and a fertile delta teeming with millions of souls, whose annual share of water is no more than 560 cubic meters, which places Egypt well below the international threshold of water scarcity.

On the other hand, our brethren in Ethiopia have been endowed by divine providence with plentiful water resources, which include an average annual rainfall of almost 936 billion cubic meters of water, of which a mere 5% flow into the Blue Nile, and eleven other river basins, some of which are shared with neighboring states, and all of which provide endless opportunities for regional economic cooperation and integration.

This means that, if the GERD is filled and operated unilaterally, in the absence of a mutually beneficial agreement that protects the lives and livelihood of downstream communities, it can place further stress on an already severely strained hydrological reality and endanger millions of people in both Egypt and Sudan.

Concurrently, however, we are unwaveringly committed to support our fellow African nations, especially in the Nile Basin and including Ethiopia, in their efforts to realize greater prosperity. This is evident in the fact that Egypt has cooperated with every Nile Basin state in constructing dams, in rain harvesting projects, in digging water wells, and the removal of waterweeds that constrict the flow of the river. This reflects our unshakable belief in our common destiny as Africans, and confirms our conviction that the Nile River is not the exclusive property of Egypt or of any riparian state, but the common heritage and sacred trust of all our peoples.

Therefore, for almost a decade, Egypt has initiated and engaged in painstaking negotiations on the GERD. Our objective, throughout these arduous talks, was to reach a fair and just agreement that ensures that Ethiopia achieves its legitimate developmental objectives, while minimizing the harmful effects of this dam on downstream communities. We endeavored, tirelessly, to reach an agreement that harnesses the developmental potential of this dam for Ethiopia, while limiting its many perils for Egypt and Sudan.

Mr. President,

Because the two letters addressed by the Government of Egypt to the Security Council, on May 1st and June 19th, 2020, have detailed the successive stages of the negotiations on the GERD, I will only recount the main milestones of these arduous talks throughout which we conducted ourselves with good faith and demonstrated a genuine political will to reach a fair and balanced agreement that preserves the rights and equities of all three riparian states that share the Blue Nile.

Since Ethiopia unilaterally commenced the construction of this dam, our negotiations have included numerous trilateral and bilateral summit meetings between the leaders of our three countries.

Moreover, in a testament to our enduring commitment and abiding faith in the values of our African continent, we attended and convened several regional bilateral and multilateral summits and meetings with our other African brethren in a bid to facilitate the reaching of an agreement that assures Ethiopia that it will generate hydropower efficiently and sustainably, while limiting and minimizing the adverse effects, and preventing the significant harm of this dam on downstream states.

We also held countless trilateral meetings between the ministers of water affairs and their technical teams, and many meetings of the ministers of foreign affairs to provide political support to these talks, and we established an independent committee of hydrologists to provide impartial scientific analysis of the scenarios of the filling and operation of the GERD.

Unfortunately, however, all of these efforts came to naught. To overcome the hurdles facing our negotiations and invigorate these talks, our three countries concluded, on March 23rd 2015, the Agreement on Declaration of Principles on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.



This treaty, the content and terms of which are unambiguous and unequivocal, was intended to provide greater political impetus and guidance to our discussions. It reconfirmed the legal obligation incumbent upon Ethiopia to conduct studies on the transboundary hydrological and socio-economic effects of the GERD and to undertake an assessment of its environmental impact.

It also reaffirmed Ethiopias political commitment and its legal obligation not to fill the dam without an agreement with its two downstream co-riparians on the rules governing both the filling and operation, which would guarantee Ethiopia the hydropower benefits of this project while minimizing its many harms on downstream states.

Regrettably, however, despite the fact that we contracted an international consultancy firm to conduct the studies on the effects and impacts of the dam, the process of undertaking these studies was obstructed, and as a result, they were never completed. Nor do we have unassailable guarantees regarding the safety and structural soundness of the GERD. This means that, in the absence of sufficient scientific data, communities downstream of this great structure, appear condemned to live in the dark shadow of a great unknown.

If, God-forbid, the GERD experiences structural failures or faults, it would place the Sudanese people under unimaginable peril and would expose Egypt to unthinkable hazards. Indeed, our concerns in this regard are not unwarranted. In 2010, the headrace tunnel of the Gibe II dam constructed across the Omo River collapsed within days of the completion of its construction.

It is also deeply disheartening that, throughout the winding path of these negotiations on the GERD, Egypt has been subjected to an unjustifiable campaign of unfounded claims that we sought to bind other parties to agreements from the dark era of colonialism.

The reality, however, is that every treaty relating to the Nile that was concluded by Ethiopia was signed by its government, free of any compulsion or coercion, and as an independent and sovereign state. These include a treaty freely signed by the Emperor of Abyssinia in 1902, that prohibited the construction of any waterworks across the Blue Nile that affect the natural flow of the river, and a General Framework for Cooperation also freely signed by Ethiopias late-prime minister Meles Zenawi and Egypts president in 1993, in addition to the 2015 Agreement on Declaration of Principles. Needless to say, all of these treaties remain binding and in force.

Mr. President,

As construction of the GERD neared completion, and as every other path towards an agreement proved unsuccessful, Egypt called upon our partners in the United States of America and the World Bank to join our talks in an attempt to bridge the gap between our three countries.

This led, after intensive negotiations, in which the three countries fully participated, and for the first time after almost a decade of talks, to an agreement that was prepared under the auspices of the United States and with technical input from the World Bank. This agreement, which Egypt accepted and initialed on February 28th, 2020, but which Ethiopia rejected at the eleventh hour, provided a fair and balanced, win-win solution, that promotes the interests of our three countries and preserves their riparian rights and equities.

This agreement, which is annexed to our letter addressed to the Security Council dated June 19th, 2020, is now available to the international community as a testament to Egypts good will and as evidence, beyond any doubt, that an equitable and fair agreement was available for the parties to sign.

Furthermore, because Egypt is dedicated to explore every possible avenue to reach an agreement on the GERD, it partook in the latest rounds of negotiations that were held upon the initiative of the Republic of the Sudan. However, these talks were also unsuccessful.

It is Egypts belief that an agreement on the GERD must be a legally binding instrument under international law, that must also include clear definitions that establish the threshold of significant harm that must be prevented, in addition to a binding dispute resolution mechanism to ensure the effective implementation of this agreement. On the other hand, it was argued that mere guidelines of uncertain and ambiguous legal value that could be unilaterally adjusted should suffice. It was also suggested that any such document would not include a firm obligation to prevent the infliction of significant harm on downstream riparians.

Moreover, in keeping with our principled position that the GERD must be filled and operated in accordance with a mutually beneficial agreement that promotes the common interests of our three countries, Egypt accepted the invitation of H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, to hold an Extraordinary African Union Bureau of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government meeting on June 26th, 2020 to deliberate on this matter.

The object and purpose of this meeting was to ensure that an agreement on the GERD is reached expeditiously. As such, it was agreed that inter-governmental technical negotiations will be held with a view to achieving this goal within two weeks.

Moreover, during this meeting Ethiopia committed not to take any unilateral measures by commencing the filling of the GERD before an agreement is reached.

This commitment can only be interpreted as an unequivocal undertaking to ensure that the filling of the GERD is executed in accordance with rules agreed upon between the three riparian states.

Any other understanding or interpretation of this commitment would reflect the lack of political will to reach an agreement on the GERD and reveal an underlying intention to impose an unacceptable fait accompli on downstream states and enforce the unilateral will of an upstream state on its co-riparians, and turn any talks into an exercise in futility.

Mr. President,

It is incumbent on the Security Council to take note of and welcome these outcomes of the meeting of the African Union Bureau and to call upon the three counties to comply with their commitments and pledges.

Filling the GERD unilaterally, without an agreement with Egypt and Sudan would jeopardize the interests of downstream communities, whose existence and survival depend on the Nile River.

Furthermore, the unilateral operation of this mega-dam could have disastrous socio-economic effects that will diminish every dimension of the human security of Egyptians, including food security, water security, environmental security, and human health. It will also expose millions to greater economic vulnerability, leading to increasing rates of crime and illegal migration. It would reduce water quality, disrupt the riparian ecosystem, damage biodiversity, and aggravate the dangers of climate change.

This eventuality represents a serious threat to international peace and security. It could also have serious, if not seismic, political ramifications. Downstream states would find themselves in an intolerable situation and create an atmosphere of animosity between our countries, and sow the seeds of discord between our peoples.

It is, therefore, necessary for the Security Council and the international community to exert every effort and support every initiative that is intended to lift this looming threat and remove this ominous peril on the horizon.

While our positon remains that the only viable solution to the question of the GERD is to reach a fair and balanced agreement, Egypt will uphold and protect the vital interests of its people. Survival is not a question of choice, but an imperative of nature.

Accordingly, we call upon the Security Council to encourage the parties to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement on the GERD, and to refrain from any unilateral measures until such an agreement is reached. Until our efforts are successful and an agreement is concluded, the Security Council should, as it discharges its duties, remain actively seized of the matter.

In this context, Egypt has presented a draft resolution for deliberation by the Security Council that is consistent with the outcomes of the African Union Bureau meeting. It encourages the three states to reach an agreement within two weeks, and not to take any unilateral measures in relation to the GERD, and emphasizes the important role of the U.N. Secretary General in this regard. This draft resolution is not intended to preempt or forestall any negotiations, but to express, at the highest level, the keen interest of the international community in reaching an agreement on the GERD and its appreciation of the dangers of acts of unilateralism in this matter.

While we continue to extend an unfailing hand of friendship to our brethren, we expect our kinsmen with whom we share the Nile River to reciprocate our good will and to act with responsibility. Much as we wholeheartedly support Ethiopias right to development, including through the use of our shared water resources, we believe that justice dictates that Ethiopia respect Egypts right to life.

Indeed, as H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi declared in his statement before a Joint Session of the Ethiopian Parliament, and I quote:

I urge us to lay the foundations for a better future for our children and grandchildren  a future where all classrooms in Ethiopia could have electricity  and where children in Egypt could drink water from the Nile as their parents and grandparents did  a future where the economies of both our countries would expand to absorb their entire labor force  with the purpose of guaranteeing a decent life to our peoples  so as to restore their standing among the family of nations given their glorious history and immense potential.

In conclusion, Mr. President I must reiterate that we stand ready to exert every effort to reach an agreement on the GERD. I call on my friends and colleagues in Ethiopia and Sudan to summon the spirit of brotherhood and kinship between our countries and peoples. Let us embrace the undeniable truth of our commonality and camaraderie. Let us grasp the opportunity that is before us to shape our fate, rewrite history, and chart a new course of peace and prosperity for our peoples.

I thank you Mr. President.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 16:19:23|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writers Zhang Zhongkai and Gao Han

URUMQI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- With an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters above sea level, few plants can thrive in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau.

But for Dildar Yakup, the highest county in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is an ideal place for new businesses to grow.

The 28-year-old ethnic Tajik is running a cafe and two restaurants in Taxkorgan. It is the only Tajik autonomous county in China, with about 81 percent of its roughly 41,000 residents belonging to the Tajik ethnic group.

His passion for entrepreneurship dates back to his college days.

Yakup, who grew up in south Xinjiang, attended high school in Shanghai in 2007 thanks to a program nurturing talented youngsters among the country's ethnic minority groups.

Yakup later studied tourism management in a local college, making his first business attempt in his sophomore year by working as an agent to help foreigners find jobs. After graduation, he started up a workshop with several friends to make ads on e-commerce platforms.

"Business opportunities abound in Shanghai, and it feels good to run your own business," Yakup said.

After staying in Shanghai for about nine years, Yakup went back to his hometown in late 2016, finding it to be also rich in opportunities and boasting a supportive business environment.

Taxkorgan in recent years has seen a growing number of visitors drawn by the county's snow-capped mountains, verdant grassland and Tajik festivities such as the eagle dance and polo. However, Yakup found that there were no restaurants dedicated to offering traditional Tajik food.

"Food is part of culture, and a stylish restaurant can also be a tourism destination," said Yakup, who quoted a well-known movie filmed in Taxkorgan to name the Tajik restaurant opened in late 2018.

The most popular dish in the restaurant is yak meat hot pot, which combines the inland's popular hot pot culture and Taxkorgan's yak industry.

Yakup then opened a cafe and became manager of a high-end Tajik-style restaurant, both of which are located near the county's popular sight-seeing spots. During peak tourism seasons, visitors have to make reservations beforehand, according to him.

More than 1.1 million trips were made to Taxkorgan in 2019, bringing in more than 1 billion yuan (about 141.3 million U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue. The remote county made it onto the top national tourist destination list in late 2019, and shook off poverty last year.

The burgeoning tourism market on the Pamir Plateau has not only drawn visitors, but also entrepreneurs like Yakup. His two major business partners Zhang E and Zha Juan, who used to work elsewhere in China, both decided to stay in Taxkorgan for career development.

Zha Juan, who has set up a tourism development company in Taxkorgan, is now participating in over 10 hotel-related projects in the county. She has made training local professionals a priority.

"They know all about local ethnic culture and traditions, which they can help retain and highlight, and this is key to sustainable tourism development," Zha said.

Yakup's businesses have created jobs for over 20 locals. Despite a fall in visitors due to the COVID-19 epidemic, he is still upbeat about business prospects.

"The impact will be short-term. After the epidemic ends, the pent-up tourism demand might generate surging trips to Taxkorgan," Yakup said.

In April, construction began on Taxkorgan Airport, expected to be the highest-altitude airport in Xinjiang. It will improve transportation and boost the county's tourism market once completed before June 2022.

Yakup also plans to make a foray into cross-border trade as Taxkorgan borders Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

"My hometown is changing for the better at a fast clip. I will be here for the long run," he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 16:37:51|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Monday detained at least 55 suspected drug dealers in Turkey's most populated city Istanbul.

The state-run Anadolu agency said anti-drug police units launched simultaneous operations in 53 different locations across the city to catch the suspects.

The raids were backed by a total of 400 police officers, including special action forces, and police helicopters, press reports said.

Police also seized multiple weapons and drugs in the operations, the TRT broadcaster added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 16:49:13|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The number of students dropping out of school amid their nine-year compulsory education period dropped by nearly 99 percent nationwide, from 600,000 in early 2019 to 6,781 as of June 14, China's Ministry of Education said Monday.

A guideline on further controlling the dropout rate and ensuring the implementation of compulsory education, issued by the ministry and multiple government departments, stressed all school-age children from poor families, except those unable to learn due to their physical condition, should not drop out of school.

The completion rate of nine-year compulsory education is expected to reach 95 percent by 2020, the document noted, calling for more ongoing efforts to make sure children from poor families have access to compulsory education.

The document stressed more work to make sure all eligible students from poor families return to school by the coming fall semester. It emphasized strictly preventing students from dropping out of school for epidemic-related reasons.

To help tackle prominent problems, more assistance should be provided to students who face difficulty in their studies, including tailored teaching schemes for them, the guideline said.

For those who quit studies to take up jobs, the guideline noted that a joint mechanism for persuading them to return to school will be set up and crimes related to child labor will face a harsh crackdown. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 17:12:47|Editor: huaxia

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HAIKOU, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Tansuo-2, the mother ship for China's manned submersible that is capable of diving to depths of 10,000 meters, has returned to Sanya in south China's Hainan Province after an 18-month renovation project.

The ship, mainly painted white and green, left from Fuzhou Port in the eastern province of Fujian Thursday before arriving in Sanya Sunday afternoon.

Owned by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tansuo-2 adopts an advanced electric propulsion system and positioning system, which can provide sufficient power and automatic cruise capability for deep-sea explorations.

It can carry 60 researchers and serve as the mother ship for China's new manned submersible Fendouzhe (Striver) and manned submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior), capable of reaching depths of 10,000 meters and 4,500 meters, respectively.

The ship is 87.2 meters long and 18.8 meters wide, with a full-load displacement of 6,800 tonnes. It has a maximum speed of 14.2 knots and a cruising range of 15,000 nautical miles, longer than that of the previous-generation Tansuo-1.

The renovation project started in December 2018 at Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Engineers have also upgraded the ship with more labs and increased cabin comfort for researchers. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 17:18:03|Editor: huaxia

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by Chen Jiabao

BANGKOK, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Hotels are shuttered in the dark, bars are closed and empty food carts are seen around Bangkok's once-bustling tourism associated street. Silence shrouds the city's party land despite the easing COVID-19 lockdown measures.

"Bangkok at night is deserted as never before. I can't believe it is a tourist haven where I've been living all my life. It's almost a ghost town," said local resident Anan who lives near Sukhumvit 24, an area home to starred hotels, large shopping malls, high-end and popular restaurants in central Bangkok.

Thailand has recorded no local transmission of COVID-19 for 35 consecutive days with all of the recorded infections being Thais returning from abroad.

Although the curfew imposed since April to contain coronavirus has been lifted and most businesses are allowed to open, most of them kept their doors closed.

"I sat around here the whole day. You're the second visitor to the shop. Foreigners are major visitors here, but now we could hardly see them," Apple, a masseuse in downtown Bangkok, told Xinhua.

"I got only 30 percent of my normal earnings, which could barely afford meals, but better than nothing," said the 45-year-old with two children under 10.

Apple left her hometown in southern Thailand and went back to Bangkok on June 1 when the country allowed massage parlors to reopen. "I can't wait any more," she said.

"The absence of foreign tourists means business is still very slow. We recalled only five workers from 15 of them," said Rada, owner of the massage parlor.

Inbound international tourists remains banned. Thailand's Civil Aviation Authority said commercial international flights will not resume in the months to come.

"We are operating at a loss, but we have to reopen to survive till foreign tourists return," said Rada with a bitter smile who offered a free coupon for every visitor at her parlor.

Rada is not the only one who tries all her ways to woo the customers back. Grand sales are seen in every shopping mall in the city, offering the best deal of the year with discounts up to 90 percent.

With no foreign tourists, tourism hotspots like Pattaya and Phuket have been hit even harder than Bangkok.

Tourism contributes to 18 percent of the country's GDP, of which 12 percent or 2 trillion baht (about 66 billion U.S. dollars) comes from international tourists.

Most tourist businesses are set up for foreign visitors. Without international tourists, most hotels, shops and restaurants have to shut their doors and many face business collapse.

In the first five months this year, Thailand takes in just 520 billion baht (about 17 billion dollars), a 57-percent drop from last year. The state planning agency estimates the country's economy will shrink 5 percent to 6 percent this year in its worst performance since the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis.

"The tourism sector of Thailand is in the plight of oversupply due to the absence of foreign tourists. To make it survive and fill the void of the foreign market, the cabinet has approved stimulus packages worth 22.4 billion baht (about 740 million dollars)," Yuthasak Supaporn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), told Xinhua.

He said the government will offer coupons on accommodation, transport, food and tourist attractions to stimulate 2 million domestic trips from July to October.

"All the measures are aimed to reinvigorate tourism by encouraging domestic spending and converting Thailand's 12 million local outbound travelers into domestic tourists," said Yuthatsak.

To regain tourist confidence, the TAT has set up Safety and Health Administration (SHA) certification for tourism business on hygiene, health and cleanliness. The TAT expects 70 percent of the tourism supply chain will join the new safety standards in two years.

The government also floated an idea to help hard-hit hotels by encouraging them to offer "alternative quarantine" to a limited group of foreign travelers to the country.

Foreign business people who registered for a self-funded isolation package at luxury hotels, known as "alternative state quarantine," are permitted to fly into the country. Hotels can sell them with upgraded accommodation and private doctor consultations.

As foreign tourism remains a vital part of the Thai economy, the kingdom is mulling to reopen its door to international tourists.

The current phase of border reopening is strictly limited to business trips. Skilled workers, expats with Thai families, students, and teachers are expected to be covered in the next phase, which may take place on July 1.

Meanwhile, ways in which the country can safely allow the return of tourists are being reviewed, among them is the idea of "travel bubbles" which would involve reciprocal travel arrangements with other countries that have shown they can effectively contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to spokesman for the government's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration Taweesin Wisanuyothin, short-term business travellers from China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore might be allowed back without having to spend 14 days in quarantine.

He said the "travel bubbles" idea has not been finalized but it was clear that it would not allow hundreds of thousands of foreigners to visit Thailand per year, adding that the plan will not be rolled out before August.

"The plan needs more talks, the fear of further outbreak still haunts tourism demand. The relax of immigration rules will be step by step, probably starting from limited destinations like Bangkok+Pattaya and isolated islands in Phuket," said the TAT governor.

"Tourism sector will be reset in the pandemic. We are turning away from mass tourism. Targeting wealthy groups, balancing the domestic and international markets will be the trend," he said.

"It will not return to the past when the influx of international travellers created euphoric sentiment for the country," said Annan, who just ended his second trip with his family around the country within two weeks.

School closure continues. Hotels and meals are in exaggerate discount. It's golden time to travel with your kids everywhere in Thailand without being disturbed by noisy tour crowds, he said.

"Gone is humanity, the crowds, the diners, the drunks. What a time of hard-won quietness! Yet I miss the roar of tuk-tuk cars at midnight, the noisy street full of bewildered foreign tourists and touting vendors-the messy charm of the city," said Annan.

"We are expecting Bangkok to return to what it was before. However, the empty streets remind me that the fun and charm of Bangkok will depart for a long time," said Annan. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 17:22:28|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish coast guard on Monday rescued 35 illegal immigrants off Turkey's Aegean coast, while four others went missing, the force said in a statement.

The incident happened when an inflatable boat carrying migrants to a Greek island sank near the Ayvalik district in the western province of Balikesir, said the statement posted on the website of the coast guard.

The rescue team was continuing to search the missing migrants in the sea, it added, without identifying their nationalities.

Citing the preliminary statements of the rescued migrants, the force said Greek Coast Guard teams "pushed the boat back to the Turkish territorial waters after damaging it."

Since the start of this year, a total of 11,633 migrants attempted to reach Greece via Turkey's seas, slightly down from 12,994 over the same period in 2019, according to the latest figures released by the Turkish coast guard.

The Aegean Sea was once the main route for migrants trying to reach Europe via Turkey. A deal was signed between Turkey and the European Union in March 2016 to curb the flow of illegal immigration.

Hosting over 3.7 million Syrian refugees in its territory, Turkey has been urging European countries to shoulder more responsibility. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 17:23:19|Editor: huaxia

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A C919 large passenger aircraft lands at the Turpan Jiaohe Airport in Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 28, 2020. China's indigenously-developed C919 large passenger aircraft has started high-temperature test flights in Turpan, a city known as the land of fire in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The C919 conducted a successful maiden flight in 2017. Now the aircraft has started intensive test flights from various airports to make sure performance can meet airworthiness standards. (Photo by Liu Jian/Xinhua)

URUMQI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- China's indigenously-developed C919 large passenger aircraft has started high-temperature test flights in Turpan, a city known as the land of fire in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The test plane arrived in Turpan on Sunday and testing will last for a month.

The test flight team from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the manufacturer, decided to hold the tests and collect performance data at Turpan airport after analyzing meteorological reports of airports nationwide, according to Wang Lifei, head of the airport's safety and quality supervision bureau.

Turpan is renowned for its harsh desert climate, especially its extreme summer. Between June and August, the average temperature there can surpass 38 degrees Celsius.

The C919 conducted a successful maiden flight in 2017. Now the aircraft has started intensive test flights from various airports to make sure performance can meet airworthiness standards. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 17:31:07|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Active firefighting efforts are underway on an area of 165,831 hectares across Russia, where 246 wildfires are raging, with the country's Far East being worst hit, official data showed Monday.

Fires have engulfed 41,284 hectares on the Chukotka Peninsula, 40,262 hectares on the Kamchatka Peninsula and 36,140 in the Magadan Region, the Russian Federal Aerial Forest Protection Service said in a statement.

Wildfires have also been reported in Siberia, the Transbaikal Territory, and some other regions.

The firefighting efforts are involving 3,340 people, 512 pieces of equipment and 45 aircraft, it said.

More than 530 wildfires on an area of over 20,000 hectares in Russia have been put out over the last seven days, it added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 17:35:51|Editor: huaxia

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COLOMBO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Over 1,200 people have been placed under a 14-day quarantine in Sri Lanka for failing to wear face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic which has infected over 2,000 people to date in the country, the police said on Monday.

Police said 1,217 people were arrested from the Western province for failing to wear masks in public places over the weekend.

Last week, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ajith Rohana said those who fail to wear face masks in public places will be penalized and legal action will be taken for violating health guidelines.

While the virus had been contained in Sri Lanka, the threat from it remained, he said.

Sri Lanka has detected 2,037 positive patients, out of which 1,678 patients have recovered and been discharged. Eleven deaths have been reported.

On Sunday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office announced that a night curfew which was imposed from midnight to 4 a.m. was lifted completely due to the containment of the COVID-19 outbreak.

President Rajapaksa said in a statement on his official Twitter account that with zero community spread of COVID-19 for over two months, it had been decided to remove the night curfew completely.

However, he urged people to follow the health guidelines by wearing face masks in public, and maintaining social distancing and hand hygiene.

"Be responsible, be safe and keep others safe," the president said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 17:41:07|Editor: huaxia

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DHAKA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh reported over 4,000 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total in the country to nearly 142,000.

Senior Health Ministry official Nasima Sultana said in a briefing Monday afternoon that "4,014 new COVID-19 positive cases and 45 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh."

"The number of confirmed infections in the country totaled 141,801 while fatalities stood at 1,783," she said.

According to the official, 17,837 samples had been tested in the last 24 hours in labs across the country.

She said the total number of recovered patients in the country now stands at 57,780 including 2,053 on Monday. Enditem
The director general of Lebanon's Finance Ministry and a member of the country's team negotiating with the International Monetary Fund resigned from his post on Monday amid a worsening economic and financial crisis, the ministry said.

The one-sentence ministry statement gave no details about Alain Bifani's resignation other than to say that it was received by Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni. Bifani had held the post for 20 years.

The resignation came two weeks after Henri Chaoul, a financial adviser to the Lebanese government in the talks with the IMF, resigned, saying there is ``no real will'' for reforms in the country.

Lebanon, one of the most indebted countries in the world, recently defaulted on its debt an has been negotiating with the IMF for weeks with no breakthrough so far.

The small country is going through an unprecedented economic and financial crisis that has seen the local currency lose more than 80% of its value against the U.S. dollar in recent months amid soaring prices an popular unrest.

Last week, IMF's Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that discussions with the Lebanese side have so far not led to a breakthrough on an IMF financial assistance program.

``The core of the issue is whether there can be unity of purpose in the country that can then carry forward a set of very tough, but necessary measures,'' Georgieva said.

Despite the spiraling crisis that has significantly weakened Lebanon's government, it has not taken any concrete steps in fighting corruption or started the badly needed reforms that the IMF and donor countries are demanding to help get the country back on track.

Bifani told the local Al-Jadeed TV that his resignation is an expression of rejection to the way the ruling elite is dealing with the crisis. He added that the route taken in the country is ``reckless'' and this will badly hurt the public.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 17:56:02|Editor: huaxia

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VIENTIANE, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Laos has conducted COVID-19 test on 14,907 cases since January, with 19 of them positive, according to Lao Ministry of Health report on Monday.

Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control under Lao Ministry of Health, Sisavath Soutthaniraxay, told a press conference in Lao capital Vientiane on Monday that Laos has been carrying out tests on a daily basis for the COVID-19 since January, with the total number of tests reaching 14,907.

All of the 19 confirmed cases have been discharged from hospitals.

On Sunday, a total of 1,665 people entered Laos through international border checkpoint. The temperature of each person entering Laos was checked and no one showed signs of fever.

The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control announced it has been monitoring 3,295 people at 89 accommodation centers across the country.

The Lao government has urged people nationwide to remain vigilant and continue to implement preventive measures to prevent a second wave of COVID-19.

Laos announced its first two COVID-19 confirmed cases on March 24, and the last patient was discharged on June 9. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 17:59:16|Editor: 

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ZHENGZHOU, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Yang Changtai, 49, is a household name in Dongyue Village in central China's Henan Province.

From an impoverished farmer to a well-to-do farm owner and then to a Party branch secretary, within six years Yang rewrote his destiny with his own efforts and support from others.

POVERTY-STRICKEN FARMER

After working for 20 years as a migrant worker in the capital city of Beijing, Yang had to return to his hometown in 2012 following a car accident.

Yang used his savings worth more than 200,000 yuan (about 28,250 U.S. dollars) that he accumulated over the years to venture into business. He started to plant tree seedlings and flowers, dreaming to "plant" a bright future.

However, after a few months, "gold" flower buds did not sprout. As a layman without farming technology and sales channels, Yang lost all his savings and incurred a debt of 80,000 yuan.

Yang's dream was shattered.

In 2014, his family became a registered poor household in the village.

SUCCESSFUL FARM OWNER

Just when Yang was planning to pack his luggage and return to cities again, Wang Tingwei, a village official in charge of poverty alleviation work, visited his home.

Yang's fate changed.

"Get up wherever you fall. We will help you to overcome difficulties," Wang encouraged the farmer to continue planting.

The grassroots official helped Yang apply for bank loans, seek professional guidance in tree and flower plantation. Besides, he provided Yang with market and sales information. Yang developed his own flower planting methods after several rounds of practice.

Flowers finally blossomed!

In just a year, Yang's plantation business helped him earn a revenue of 150,000 yuan, which not only paid off his debts but also helped him out of the village's list of poor households.

In August 2015, Yang expanded his business and founded Sifangjing Family Farm. The over 100-hectare farm cultivates organic rice, vegetables and tea, and raises crayfish and chicken.

As Yang's farm scale became larger, making standardized and branded products emerged as a new challenge for Yang.

In 2017, he registered the Sifangjing brand and started developing green agricultural products. The farm's products are now available on many e-commerce platforms in China.

PARTY BRANCH SECRETARY

Yang was elected as the Party branch secretary of Sifangjng Family Farm after it set up a Party branch in 2017.

"Only when all villagers cast off poverty can we realize the goal of common prosperity," he said. "I shoulder a heavier responsibility to help poor villagers increase incomes after I became a Party branch secretary."

Yang employed poor locals to work on his farm and provided them with seedling and flower plantation know-how and technologies free of cost.

So far, he has helped more than 100 villagers from 50 impoverished households to increase incomes.

Yang also established the industrial alliance of Dongyue Village in 2019, involving cooperatives, e-commerce companies and family farms. Last year, the total sales volume of the industrial alliance reached 2.7 million yuan.

"Next, I plan to develop agro-ecological tourism so that visitors from cities can see the culture of the village and have a taste of their childhood," said Yang. "We have many ways to make a fortune."

"I am a farmer who has shaken off poverty. I want to lead the villagers to get rich together," he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 17:59:26|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The head of Australia's special forces has acknowledged war crimes committed by some elite soldiers in Afghanistan, blaming "poor moral leadership" for the atrocities.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported recently that Major-General Adam Findlay, the Special Operations Commander of Australia, admitted that war crimes could have been covered up in a private briefing to Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) soldiers in March.

He blamed the incidents on a failure in leadership, which he described as "one common cause."

"It is poor leadership," Findlay said. "In fact, it is poor moral leadership."

The report said the government will face a difficult choice over how much to tell the public about SAS misconduct after Justice Paul Brereton delivers his long-awaited report to Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell in the coming weeks.

Findlay said in his briefing that Brereton has identified "trigger pullers" and "names that come up beyond the trigger pullers" who enabled war crimes.

He said that one positive out of the inquiry was the "moral courage" of SAS soldiers who have blown the whistle on war crimes.

"There is strength here. There is a moral code. The reason we got the (Brereton inquiry) is because people came forward (to expose war crimes)," Findlay said.

"(Winston) Churchill had a great saying: 'When you are walking through hell it is best that you keep walking.' That's what we are going to do. This is going to be a tough 10 years. And we have to rehabilitate the reputation and the capabilities and everything of this command ... we can't wallow in it."

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) revealed on Wednesday that two Australian special forces soldiers were under investigation for killing an unarmed intellectually disabled Afghan man known only as Ziauddin in 2012. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 18:02:39|Editor: huaxia

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TIANJIN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- North China's Tianjin port ranked first in liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports among China's LNG import ports in the first five months of this year, accounting for about 19.5 percent of the country's total LNG imports, according to the Tianjin Customs.

From January to May, LNG imports through the Tianjin port increased 24.8 percent year on year to hit 4.97 million tonnes as LNG price keeps going down.

The LNG imported through the port during the five-month period mainly came from Australia, Russia and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which add up to 75.4 percent of the port's total LNG imports.

As an efficient and green energy source, the imported LNG ensures the supply for winter heating and new energy vehicles like LNG buses in northern China. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 18:16:42|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Monday that it had resumed searching for 14 Filipino fishermen and passengers of a fishing boat that sank after colliding with a cargo ship off the Philippine province of Occidental Mindoro early Sunday.

Besides a PCG patrol boat, the PCG said in a statement that it had also deployed a plane and a helicopter to augment the search and rescue operations that started at 7:30 a.m. local time on Monday.

"PCG will deploy another multi-role response vessel to further intensify search and rescue operations," the PCG said.

According to the PCG, cargo vessel MV Vienna Wood, registered in China's Hong Kong, collided with the fishing boat, FV Liberty 5, in the early hours of Sunday about 27 km off the coast of the Occidental Mindoro province.

A total of 12 fishermen, including the captain, and two passengers were missing after the fishing boat sank.

A search and rescue operation was launched on Sunday but it was halted Sunday night.

The PCG said the cargo vessel with 20 crew onboard was sailing to Australia from Subic Bay in Zambales province of the northern Philippines, when it collided with the fishing boat that was headed to a fish port in Manila.

Investigations were underway to determine the cause of the collision.

The PCG said it had issued a notice to Mariners, asking all vessels in the area to be on the lookout for the missing persons and to report any information on the incident. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 18:26:02|Editor: huaxia

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A customer buys herbal medicine from a vendor at a market in Sanaa, Yemen, June 24, 2020. With medicine prices soaring in Yemen due to war and blockade, many residents are resorting to cheap traditional herbal medicine as an option that could save their lives. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

SANAA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- With medicine prices soaring in Yemen due to war and blockade, many residents are resorting to cheap traditional herbal medicine as an option that could save their lives.

Ali al-Atab bought medicinal herbs from a shop selling various types of herbs and spices in Almilh market in the Old City of Sanaa.

"I came here to buy medicinal herbs for treating urinary tract and gallstones, which are cheap ... so if they could cure me, it's great, and if not, there would be no harm," al-Atab told Xinhua.

Another customer Abu Sakhr Qaid said that he found herbal medication beneficial to the health of his six-member family.

"Herbal medication helps strengthening immunity against these chronic and epidemic diseases ... a lot of medicinal herbs are sold in this market," he said.

The war and blockade have left many residents with no options, but to go to the popular markets in search of an alternative way to treat their diseases and save their lives.

The war broke out in late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The five-year-long war has led to the collapse of more than half of the country's health system, and caused what the United Nations describes as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

Millions of Yemenis have become vulnerable to deadly epidemics, which are rife across the country, including cholera, malaria, diphtheria and now the novel coronavirus.

Vendors in the market say people are flooding in, seeking medicinal herbs at affordable prices.

"Many people used to treat themselves with these natural herbs, and now many more people are resorting to these kinds of natural herbal remedies due to the high prices of medicines," said Abdulaziz Lutf, a vendor at the market.

Doctors blame the ongoing war and economic blockade for the rise in medicine prices.

"Yemen imports all medicines from abroad in hard currency. So the reason for the increasing prices of medicines is the deterioration of the local currency against the hard currency due to the war," said a doctor Anas Abdullah in Sanaa.

He warned that some concoctions of herbs could put a patient's life at risk.

"Today, some were no longer taking one or two herbs, but rather taking concoctions of a large range of herbs that could cause a dangerous herbal interaction and health risks," he noted.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 18:26:12|Editor: huaxia

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CAPE TOWN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday urged South Africans to stamp out the stigmatization of people who have proven positive with coronavirus.

The stigmatization of COVID-19 patients has become one of the challenges confronting the country, Ramaphosa said in his weekly presidential address.

"As a society, we have a collective responsibility to stamp out the stigmatization of people infected with the coronavirus," the president said.

His statement followed disturbing reports of individuals being ostracized from their communities and of communities protesting against coronavirus patients being admitted to local hospitals and clinics.

This stigmatization "must stop", and South Africans must continue to be guided by facts and not rumors, Ramaphosa said.

"Just as we came together to promote acceptance of people living with HIV and stood firm against victimization, we must show understanding, tolerance, kindness, empathy and compassion for those who are infected with this virus and for their families," said Ramaphosa.

The stigmatization is driven by fear of contracting the disease and lack of understanding, according to Ramaphosa.

The best way to overcome the instinctive fear of illness and contagion is to observe the hygiene protocols that are in place, the president said.

"The fear of infection is well-founded and real," he said. "At the same time, we know what we have to do to protect ourselves and others."

The time when anyone could say they do not know anyone who is infected or affected by coronavirus has long passed, said Ramaphosa.

"Now, more than ever, our friends, families, colleagues and neighbors need our empathy and support," he said.

He urged South Africans to prepare for tougher times lying ahead "when we will at times find ourselves despondent and fearful as we see the numbers of people infected and dying continue to rise."

Ramaphosa quoted scientists and medical advisers as saying the rate of infections will go up before it comes down.

"It may be that things have gotten worse, but we are certain that they will get better," he said.

South Africa has seen the rapid spread of COVID-19 since the outbreak in early March, particularly in recent days when daily confirmed cases continued to surpass 6,000.

As of Sunday, the cumulative number of total cases in the country reached 138,134, of which 6,334 were reported in the past 24 hours, while a further 43 COVID-19 related deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 2,456. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 18:29:06|Editor: huaxia

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TAIPEI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The second cub of giant panda Yuan Yuan, born Sunday afternoon at the Taipei Zoo, is female and weighs about 186 grams, the zoo said Monday.

The newborn cub is in good condition but suffered a minor injury on her back, possibly by her mother, when she tried to grasp and cuddle with her, Taipei Zoo spokesman Eric Tsao said at a press conference.

The cub has been fed with the milk taken from Yuan Yuan by zookeepers, since the mother panda had failed to feed her for five hours since the birth, Tsao said.

"She had drunk a total of 18 ml of milk four times by Monday morning," he said.

Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan, the panda pair who arrived in Taipei as a goodwill gift from the Chinese mainland in December 2008, had their first cub, a female, on July 6, 2013.

According to the zoo, Yuan Yuan has received artificial insemination from Tuan Tuan every year since 2015. This year's operation, conducted on February 26 and 27, has been successful and she has shown signs of pregnancy, such as eating less, since June 2.

The cub was born at 1:53 p.m. Sunday after five hours of labor.

The Taipei Zoo extended gratitude to the mainland experts for providing expertise online, Tsao said.

"They could not be at the scene due to epidemic control policies, but closely communicated with us online, and provided valuable help," he said.

The zoo hopes that the panda cub will be healthy and grown-up enough to meet the public by this Christmas, he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 18:38:15|Editor: huaxia

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Ambulances are seen near the fire scene in Alexandria, Egypt, on June 29, 2020. At least seven patients were killed and seven medical staff members wounded on Monday when a fire erupted in a private hospital in Egyptian northern coastal city of Alexandria, an official medical source told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua)

CAIRO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- At least seven patients were killed and seven medical staff members wounded on Monday when a fire erupted in a private hospital in Egyptian northern coastal city of Alexandria, an official medical source told Xinhua.

"Firefighters extinguished a huge fire at the hospital that is likely caused by an electrical circuit malfunction," the source said on condition of anonymity.

"The smoke caused seven patients to be suffocated to death," he said.

The other patients who were not affected by the accident were transferred to other hospitals, he added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 18:39:26|Editor: huaxia

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A student walks into the Jilin No.1 Elementary School in Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, June 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

China will emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger than the United States, according to a report by U.S. media Yahoo Finance.

WASHINGTON, June 29 (Xinhua) -- China may emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic in better shape than the United States, U.S. media reported over the weekend, giving several reasons.

First, China has many fewer deaths, said the article written by Andy Serwer and Max Zahn with Yahoo Finance. According to the World Health Organization, about 4,600 people have died in China from the disease. Meanwhile, the tally of the United States has reached over 125,800 as of Monday.

As China was able to implement rigorous testing, quarantining and tracing, "the death gap will surely widen," said the report.

A medical staff member takes a throat swab sample from a man at a newly-adopted mobile testing vehicle in Xicheng District of Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Secondly, China has supported not only fast-tracking medical research for vaccines and therapeutics, but also contact tracing, hospitals and equipment, said the report.

China has also promised to share its vaccines when they come out, said the article.

Addressing the opening of the World Health Assembly session via video link in May, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced concrete measures to boost the global fight against COVID-19, such as providing international aid and making the country's COVID-19 vaccine a global public good when available.

Aerial photo taken on Sept. 6, 2019 shows a cargo ship of COSCO SHIPPING Lines transporting Italian products to participate in the 2019 China International Import Expo (CIIE) berths at the Port of Piraeus in Greece. (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua)

Thirdly, China's economy will recover faster than the United States', the report noted. Morgan Stanley economists expect China to be the only major economy to grow its gross domestic product in 2020, and the middle and upper middle classes are expected to continue to grow very strongly over the next decade.

"The U.S. is on the economic ropes longer than China is," Mary E. Lovely, professor of economics at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, was quoted as saying. 
Leading aid groups called Monday for increased access and funding for millions of Syrians at risk of starvation, on the eve of a key conference in Brussels.

More than nine years into the conflict, the fighting has receded but the humanitarian emergency remains acute, the international NGOs said in a joint statement.

"A staggering 9.3 million Syrians are now going to sleep hungry and more than another two million are at risk of a similar fate," they said.

The statement -- signed by the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, CARE, Mercy Corps and others -- said the number of Syrians facing food insecurity has risen by 42 percent since last year.

"Almost a decade of war has thrown Syrians into a spiral of despair and destitution that keeps worsening every year. International assistance is needed now more than ever," the aid groups said.

The Brussels IV conference hosted by the European Union and United Nations opens on Tuesday to assist war-affected people inside and outside Syria.

"Unless funding and humanitarian access are increased, many Syrians, including those living as refugees in the region, will be pushed to the brink of starvation," the aid groups said.

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock told the Security Council in New York on Monday that the levels of assistance "delivered across the border (into Syria) are far from sufficient".

Syria's "northwest continues to suffer... the cross-border operations need to be scaled up further", Lowcock said.

Failure to do so, he warned, "would cause suffering and death".

The war in Syria has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced nearly half of the country's pre-war population since it started in 2011.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 18:47:15|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Some Kenyans are looking forward to the reopening of the country on July 6 by the government through the lifting of restrictions put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19.

But the East African nation's plan to return to full normalcy faces challenges as infections rise exponentially.

The restrictions put in place include a partial lockdown in Nairobi and the coastal city of Mombasa and a nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew.

Some businesses like bars and schools and places of worship remain shut as passenger vehicles carry half their capacity to curb the spread of the disease.

Kenyans are optimistic that President Uhuru Kenyatta will lift the restrictions on July 6 when this round of partial lockdown and curfew lapses.

Kenyatta on Sunday in a virtual meeting observed that the restrictions will be lifted to help boost the economy.

"We will soon start domestic flights and this is what we will use as our trial in readiness for international travel over the next couple of days since we are opening up the lockdown in days," he said.

But jitters are setting in as the COVID-19 infections in the East African nation rise at an alarming rate. The Kenyan cases on Sunday crossed the 6,000 mark to stand at 6,070 after 259 more people tested positive.

The bulk of the cases have been registered in June, where daily positives hit an all-time high of 279.

"It is worrying that the cases are rising faster at a time when the government is supposed to lift restrictions to reopen the economy," said Fred Nderitu, who runs a vehicle spare parts shop in Nairobi.

Nderitu noted that the sharp surge in positive cases means the disease will spread faster if restrictions are lifted.

His sentiments capture those of thousands of other ordinary citizens, who are looking forward to full resumption of activities with uncertainty.

"I had hoped that starting next month, we will start carrying full capacity passengers but those infection numbers make it harder to entertain such thoughts," said James Mutua, a matatu conductor.

Health experts have observed that Kenya's infections are at an exponential stage, with the surge in numbers raising fears that the disease may overwhelm the health system.

So far, June has been the darkest month for the East African nation. As of June 28, some 85,142 samples had been tested and 4,049 people were found positive, according to the ministry of health.

In March, 3,419 samples were tested and 78 turned positive; in April, 19,108 samples were tested and 328 were found positive while in May, out of 57,527 samples, 1,615 turned positive.

According to Mercy Mwangangi, Health Chief Administrative Secretary, this is evidence that the number of those testing positive is on a sharp increase.

Mwangangi noted on Sunday that the reopening of the country depends on the level of preparedness of counties in terms of testing, treating and caring for patients.

This is because once the country is opened, infections are expected to spread from hotspots like Nairobi and Mombasa to the rest of the nation.

Kenya is currently implementing a home-based care model for COVID-19 patients to prevent the disease from over-running the health system.

The program is being implemented in conjunction with community health workers under county governments.

The pandemic has hit the East African nation's economy harder, with all sectors hurt, but in particular tourism and export trade.

According to the World Bank, Kenya's gross domestic product is expected to decelerate in 2020 due to the negative impact of COVID-19. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 18:55:34|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a teleconference on ensuring the livelihood of the fishermen affected by the fishing ban, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Han Zheng has called for solid progress in implementing a fishing ban in the Yangtze River basin, and providing a cushion for fishermen as they give up their boats and nets.

Han made the remarks on Sunday in Beijing while attending a teleconference on ensuring the livelihood of the fishermen affected by the fishing ban.

China began a 10-year fishing moratorium from the beginning of this year in 332 conservation areas in the Yangtze River basin, which will be expanded to all the natural waterways of the country's longest river and its major tributaries from no later than January 1, 2021.

The full-scale ban is likely to affect more than 113,000 fishing boats and nearly 280,000 fishermen in 10 provincial regions along the river, according to earlier estimations.

Han urged a thorough inventory of boats and fishermen to pave way for a "precise retirement" of boats and nets. The compensation should be handed out to the fishermen as soon as possible, he noted.

Efforts must be made to relocate these fishermen and help them find new jobs, he said.

Illegal fishing shall be dealt with decisively, while members of public and the media are encouraged to be vigilant about such activities, the vice premier said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 19:05:05|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia will hold a special meeting on COVID-19 via video conference on Tuesday, said a Cambodian foreign ministry's statement on Monday.

The statement said Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn will take part in the meeting from his Phnom Penh office.

"The ASEAN and Australian foreign ministers will share experiences and best practice on effective measures in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic," it said.

"They will also discuss ways to further strengthen partnership and cooperation in all areas of mutual interests, especially practical cooperation in public health emergencies and the post COVID-19 economic recovery," it added.

The statement said the meeting will chart future direction for mutual cooperation amid a tough and hectic time of the unprecedented global challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 19:21:15|Editor: huaxia

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YANGON, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities seized large haul of narcotic drugs worth 26.9 billion kyats (19.2 million U.S. dollars) in Shan state, according to a release from the Military True News Information Team on Monday.

Acting on a tip-off, the security force made a seizure near Yaypusan village in Tachileik township on Monday morning.

About 6.4 million of stimulants and 1,148 kilograms of stimulant powder were confiscated.

The seized narcotic drugs will be transfered systematically to the concerned authorities, the release said.

According to a latest release issued by the President's Office, a total of 1,196 drug-related cases were registered across Myanmar while 1,846 people were charged in connection with the cases as of June 20 this year, since the formation of the Drug Activity Special Complaint Department on June 26, 2018. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 19:45:33|Editor: huaxia

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Students wearing face masks queue up at a school dining hall in Cotonou, Benin, May 11, 2020. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

The World Bank will provide Benin with 50 million U.S. dollars to cope with the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic.

COTONOU, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank will provide Benin with 50 million U.S. dollars to cope with socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement reaching Xinhua on Sunday in the economic capital Cotonou.

Approved by the World Bank Board of Directors on June 26 in Washington, the financial package is to "help Benin mitigate the impact of the coronavirus health crisis in the socio-economic recovery phase", the statement read.

"This support will help bridge the gap in budgetary resources to meet basic social and productive sector needs," said Atou Seck, World Bank Country Manager for Benin.

"The spread of the coronavirus has led to a decline in economic activities, the country's economic growth but also the state's revenues while it has to meet pressing needs," he also said.

Students wearing face masks take a class at a school in Cotonou, Benin, May 11, 2020. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

The support is drawn from International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank fund for the poorest.

It brought the total amount allocated by the World Bank to Benin to address the coronavirus health crisis to about 90 million U.S. dollars.

So far, Benin has reported 1,124 confirmed COVID-19 cases of which 815 patients are under treatment, 295 have recovered, while 14 died, since the country declared its first case on March 16. 
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 20:04:04|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The Resources and Energy Quarterly shows that despite COVID-19, Australia's export earnings from resources are still on track to reach a record high in 2019/20.

Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt said in a statement on Monday that the new report confirms the resources sector continues to underpin the country's economy and has helped cushion the blow.

According to the official figures, Australia's resources and energy exports are expected to reach a record 293 billion Australian dollars (200.9 billion U.S. dollars) in financial year 2019/20, which ends on Tuesday.

"Iron ore demand has almost fully recovered in China and it remains on track to be first single Australian commodity to break the 100 billion AUD (68.5 billion USD) mark in annual export value," Pitt said.

"On current trends, Australia will overtake China next year as the world's top gold producing country to reach 30 billion AUD (20 billion USD) in exports.

"The sector has always been a key contributor to Australia's economic success and now it's playing a vital role in protecting the country from a much more severe downturn as a result of COVID-19," said the minister.

The report also found mining directly accounted for 25 percent of the growth in Australia's GDP in the 12 months to the March quarter.

Compared to 6.2 percent across all industries, employment in resources fell by 3.1 percent between February and May, according to the statement.

"Our government's focus will be all about jobs as we emerge from the COVID-19 economic downturn, particularly for younger Australians, and the resources sector is well positioned to play its part," Pitt said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 20:40:13|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on June 29, 2020 shows part of a hospital known as Chinese Hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan. According to locals, the hospital was built 45 years ago by China in southern Kandahar as a gift for the people of Afghanistan and it is named after an Afghan former king Mirwais Khan, but its locally known as "Shafakhanai Chinai" or Chinese Hospital, which is the major health facility in the southern region of the war-torn country. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in February in Afghanistan, the hospital has been dealing with patients infected with COVID-19 in the southern region and has the capacity to test 210 samples of suspected cases per day. (Photo by Arghand/Xinhua)

By Abdul Haleem, Chen Xin

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, June 29 (Xinhua) -- "I am thankful to China for building such a hospital decades ago here in Kandahar that today I and many other patients are receiving medical treatment here," said Mohammad Anwar, a suspected COVID-19 virus carrier, in talks with Xinhua.

According to locals, the hospital was built 45 years ago by China in southern Kandahar as a gift for the people of Afghanistan and it is named after an Afghan former king Mirwais Khan, but its locally known as "Shafakhanai Chinai" or Chinese Hospital, which is the major health facility in the southern region of the war-torn country.

The 600-bed hospital with branches including surgery, heart, neurology and children is the major health center in the country's southern region that receives patients from across Kandahar and the neighboring Zabul, Helmand and Uruzgan provinces.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in February in Afghanistan, the hospital has been dealing with patients infected with COVID-19 in the southern region and has the capacity to test 210 samples of suspected cases per day.

Anwar came from the restive Helmand province a couple of days ago and has been admited to the hospital to recover from the virus.

"I am thankful to China for building such a big hospital in our region but unexpected eruption of COVID-19 has added to its responsibility as persistent war kills and hurts many people everyday in the country," Anwar said.

"The hospital which receives hundreds of patients and war injured now also tests samples of suspected COVID-19 cases," Anwar said.

Some 31,000 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the war-battered Afghanistan and the hospital bears the burden in the restive southern region to test and treat the patients infected with the virus.

Confirming the challenge, head of the hospital Nematullah said that Afghanistan as a militancy-battered country is facing problems in all fields including the health sector.

"Mirwais Hospital is a regional hospital in the country's southern region, it provides health services to all patients including COVID-19 affected people but the number of patients is higher than the capacity of the hospital," Nematullah told Xinhua on Monday.

Since fighting resumes in the country after the winter break, the hospital sometimes receives more patients and injured people than expected, the doctor said.

The hospital has allocated a 23-bed ward for suspected COVID-19 patients but currently there are 30 suspected cases, head of the hospital said, admitting the capacity of the hospital is not enough to treat all patients.

The official also noted that the hospital not only treats COVID-19 but all diseases including heart problems.

Echoing the same viewpoint, a patient Ghulam Hazrat who was waiting for surgery behind operation ward said Shafakhanai Chinai is among the best one in our region, it receives thousands of patients daily but the number of doctors is much less than the number of patients probably due to budget scarcity."

Although the government has renovated the hospital and enhanced its capacity, the hospital is still in need of equipment and capacity building, locals said.

"I am thankful to China for building this hospital. I hope other countries could also provide support to help develop our hospitals as as to provide better health services to patients at this critical stage," Nematullah said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 20:45:39|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Aoun said Monday that Israel's decision to start oil and gas exploration in the disputed area with Lebanon near Block 9 is "dangerous," a statement by the presidency reported.

"This will complicate the situation further as Lebanon will not allow any violations of its internationally recognized territorial waters especially in the Exclusive Economic Zone where Block 9, which will be explored by Lebanon within a month, is located," Aoun said during his meeting with Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church Youssef el Absi.

The Israeli cabinet announced a day earlier that it has approved oil and gas exploration near the disputed area with Lebanon, raising concerns among the Lebanese about the possibility of an armed conflict between the two countries.

Lebanon has an unresolved maritime border with Israel that involves a triangular sea area of about 860 square km extending along the edge of three of its 10 offshore energy blocks.

The United States mediated between Lebanon and Israel to end the dispute over maritime borders but failed to reach any positive results. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 20:46:10|Editor: huaxia

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TASHKENT, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and CEO of the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Adam Boehler will visit Uzbekistan from Monday to Wednesday, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said Monday.

The two sides will discuss issues related to supporting the peace negotiations in Uzbekistan's neighboring country Afghanistan, as well as prospects for attracting DFC funds for investment projects in Uzbekistan, the ministry said.

The U.S. delegation will also hold talks with members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, the upper chamber of the Uzbek parliament, as well as Uzbek ministers of foreign affairs, to discuss investment and foreign trade, economic development and poverty reduction, it said.

The U.S. officials will also take part in the ministerial meeting in the format of "Central Asia - USA" (C5 + 1), which will be held online on Tuesday. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 20:52:26|Editor: huaxia

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TIANJIN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- North China's Tianjin port handled a total of 2.72 million tonnes of soybean imports from January to May, up 62 percent year on year, according to the Tianjin customs on Monday.

The imported soybeans are used for oil pressing and feed processing. As domestic pig production and marketing have returned to normal, feed demand has increased significantly, driving the rapid growth of soybean imports via Tianjin Port.

The main source of imports was the Americas, accounting for over 90 percent of the port's total. Enditem
Saudi and US officials on Monday urged the global community to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran, saying that failing to do so would allow Tehran to further arm its proxies and destabilise the Middle East.

The arms curbs on Iran are due to expire in October under the terms of Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The UN Security Council will decide on the matter and veto-powers Russia and China have signalled they oppose reimposing the ban.

"Despite the embargo, Iran seeks to provide weapons to terrorist groups, so what will happen if the embargo is lifted? Iran will become more ferocious and aggressive," Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs Adel al-Jubeir told a joint news conference with US Iran envoy Brian Hook in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in several proxy wars in the region, including in Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling the Iran-aligned Houthi movement for five years.

Jubeir said a shipment of Iranian weapons bound for the Houthis was seized as recently as Sunday. Hook said similar shipments were intercepted in February and last November.

The conference venue displayed weapons, including drones and missiles, that Saudi authorities said were used in cross-border Houthi attacks on Saudi cities.

"We urge the international community to extend the embargo on selling arms to Iran and on Iran's ability to sell arms to the world," Jubeir said.

Iran denies arming groups in the Middle East, including the Houthis, and blames regional tensions on the United States and its Gulf allies.

Hook said lifting the ban would "only embolden" Tehran, drive greater instability and trigger a regional arms race. "This is not an outcome that the UN Security Council can accept," he added.

Iran has warned it will respond if the embargo is extended and said such a decision would endanger the 2015 nuclear pact, under which Tehran agreed to halt its disputed uranium enrichment programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Washington withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to stop complying with key restrictions imposed on its nuclear activity by the accord.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 21:00:25|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- An integration of 5G and the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) is expected to become the most important infrastructure in the era of intelligence, said an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Liu Jingnan, also a professor at Wuhan University, expressed his confidence in the vast number of opportunities and innovative technologies emerging from the integration of 5G and BDS, said a report in the Science and Technology Daily.

The timing accuracy of the BDS system ranges from 20 to 30 nanoseconds, which can reach one nanosecond or even less through ground-based and space-based enhancements. The real-time positioning accuracy can reach one centimeter, Liu said.

As an infrastructure in the era of intelligence, 5G has the advantages of more bandwidth, larger capacity and large-scale connectivity, providing basic support to industries such as virtual reality, intelligent manufacturing and autonomous driving.

However, problems like the millisecond delay and virtual network location of 5G also restrict the remote control of driverless vehicles, Liu said, adding that the BDS system is the solution.

The system provides navigation signals of multiple frequencies. It also for the first time integrates navigation and communication capabilities, and can provide navigation services, short message communication, satellite-based augmentation, as well as precise positioning.

The integration of 5G and BDS is expected to serve fields including the self-driving industry. Besides, it projects the future development of the system by integrating with new technologies, such as big data and artificial intelligence, which will help promote change in production and lifestyle, as well as the innovation of business models.

In the mid-1990s, Liu led his team to participate in BDS research. From the BDS-1 to BDS-3, the team has conquered many key technologies of the system, said the report.

On June 23, China launched the last BDS satellite, the 55th in the BeiDou family, marking the completion of the deployment of its own global navigation constellation. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 21:08:14|Editor: huaxia

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CHANGCHUN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- A demonstration zone for cooperation between China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) was unveiled Monday in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province.

Several industrial parks promoting bilateral collaboration in IT, high-end equipment and intelligent manufacturing, food, medicine, and other fields will be built in the demonstration zone, with some projects currently under construction.

Covering an initial development area of 36 square kilometers, and a total planned area of 210 square kilometers, the demonstration zone is located in the northeastern part of Changchun, and will also include an international business functional area.

The National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planner, released an overall plan of the demonstration zone on May 12.

ROK is the largest source of foreign investment for Jilin, and the largest source of inbound tourists for the province. Jilin had more than 400 ROK-funded enterprises by the end of last year. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 21:18:45|Editor: huaxia

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French former Prime Minister Francois Fillon arrives at the courthouse in Paris, France, June 29, 2020. French former Prime Minister Francois Fillon, convicted of embezzlement of public funds by creating a fake job for his wife, was sentenced to five years in prison with three of which suspended, the Paris court ruled on Monday. His wife Penelope was given a suspended three-year sentence. Both were fined 375,000 euros (about 420,000 U.S. dollars). Fillon was also given 10 years ineligibility and his wife two years. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua)

PARIS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- French former prime minister Francois Fillon, convicted of embezzlement of public funds by creating a fake job for his wife, was sentenced to five years in prison with three of which suspended, the Paris court ruled on Monday.

His wife Penelope was given a suspended three-year sentence. Both were fined 375,000 euros (about 420,000 U.S. dollars). Fillon was also given 10 years ineligibility and his wife two years.

The lawyer of the couple said they would appeal after the court ruling was read.

Fillion served as French prime minister from 2007-2012. In January 2017 when he was campaigning in the presidential election, French press reported that Penelope, as Fillon's assistant, was paid up to 10,000 euros (10,800 U.S. dollars) a month for little to no work.

Investigators found that between 1998 and 2013 Penelope received a net income of 613,000 euros through three contracts known only to several very close allies of Fillon, but there was little documentary evidence of her actual work.

Fillon insisted that Penelope had been his most important employee and did real work for him in his rural constituency of Sarthe.

He denounced what he called a campaign of dirty tricks and denied having done anything illegal, but admitted that he may have made mistakes.

The scandal, dubbed "PenelopeGate", plummeted Fillon's ratings. Centrist Emmanuel Macron eventually won the 2017 election against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 21:24:11|Editor: huaxia

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JAKARTA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia brought down almost half of the country's areas where risks of COVID-19 transmissions are high and will involve more soldiers, policemen and doctors in reining the spread of the virus, an official said on Monday.

Within about three weeks, the number of districts and cities with high risks of the transmissions has edged down to 57 from 108, Head of the COVID-19 Task Force Doni Monardo noted after a cabinet meeting at the State Palace.

"The strides to weaken the risks must be intensified by all the stakeholders in each area," said Monardo, who is also Head of the National Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency.

Monardo, citing Indonesian President Joko Widodo, said that the 57 high-risk areas have to be heeded more during the mitigation.

He did not elaborate on the additional number of soldiers and policemen to be dispatched.

The Indonesian president has ordered to drift up the number of medical workers and the supply of medical equipment to curb the transmission of the virus, according to Monardo.

In spite of the progress in narrowing the high-risk areas, known as red zones, the head of the task force cautioned that the participation of all parties and their disciplines in applying the social restrictions are badly required to avoid the acceleration of COVID-19 transmission.

Indonesia has applied partial lockdowns along with physical distancing protocols and a movement to wear face masks to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The decline of the high-risk areas highlights the beneficiary of the move, though the number of virus infection cases remains afloat in the archipelagic nation

Since May, Indonesia has deployed nearly 350,000 troops and police personnel to enforce the lockdown.

COVID-19 has killed 2,805 out of 55,092 infected persons in Indonesia, the government's spokesman for the Novel Coronavirus-related Matters Achmad Yurianto reported on Monday. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 21:29:26|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday defended the government's decision to extend the national state of emergency until the end of July, noting that there is still a high risk of a second wave of COVID-19 infections.

While the country has entered the 5th phase of lockdown relaxation, Prayut said the decree had nothing to do with his government clinging onto power.

"The presence of emergency decree will empower the government the legal means to contain COVID-19," explained Prayut. "For example, state agencies can take immediate steps including the closure of Thailand's borders, businesses and leisure activities should a second wave occur."

Prayut also praised the Thais' collaborative effort in helping the country stay free from local COVID-19 transmission for more than 30 days.

"The state of emergency will only be for preemptive purposes only," said Prayut, noting that the government has already relaxed almost all restricted measures imposed previously to stem the virus.

Meanwhile, the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin said on Monday that pubs, bars, karaoke bars, massage parlors, internet and game cafes and tea houses can resume businesses, but only under certain conditions.

"Bars, pubs and karaoke bars can operate up to midnight, but they must observe social distancing, with each table separated by at least two meters, each chair by one meter and each group must not exceed five people," said Taweesin.

Convenience stores can operate 24/7, but shopping and community malls must close no later than 10:00 p.m. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 21:33:41|Editor: huaxia

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The Egyptian government on Saturday lifted a partial nighttime curfew that has been imposed in the country for three months. The decision includes reopening restaurants, cafes, theaters and cinemas with 25 percent of their capacity, while public beaches and parks will remain closed. Mosques and churches will also be reopened for daily prayers but weekly mass prayers will remain suspended. Worshippers, however, inside mosques and churches must observe social distancing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 21:46:03|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writers Lyu Qiuping, Lyu Mengqi

TAIYUAN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Shen Jilan, China's longest-serving national lawmaker, passed away on Sunday at the age of 90 in north China's Shanxi Province.

The provincial publicity department said Shen died of diseases when she was 91, as the Chinese traditionally calculate the age as the year of death subtracted by the year of birth.

Shen was the only person who had served all the 13 terms of the National People's Congress (NPC) since 1954. She was not able to finish the current five-year term which started in 2018.

According to China's Electoral Law, citizens aged 18 or above are eligible to be NPC deputies. Shen was elected to the NPC 13 times in a row.

Shen was the one who proposed the clause on "equal pay for equal work" between men and women, which was written into the first Constitution of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1954.

ICON FOR WOMEN'S LIBERATION

Shen was born into a farmer's family on December 29, 1929 in a remote village in the mountains of Taihang, a revolutionary base of the Communist Party of China in Pingshun County of Shanxi. At the age of 17, she married a man from the village of Xigou of the county.

It was a time when most women still had "lotus feet," the former custom of foot binding. Her mother-in-law kept telling her to stay at home. Only men worked on the land.

In Xigou with mostly barren land, villagers struggled to survive. In 1951, two years after the founding of the PRC, the village formed a cooperative to expand farming to make ends meet. Li Shunda, head of the co-op, asked women to join in farm work.

Shen was appointed deputy head of the cooperative and managed to mobilize women through door-to-door visits and persuasion, only to find they would not get the same pay as men.

No matter how much work women did, each of them could only get a daily maximum of five work points, half of those earned by a man doing the same work.

The work point was a labor pay system during China's planned economy, in which grain and other materials were allocated to farmers based on the work points they earned on the collective land.

To prove that women and men should be equally treated, Shen organized a manuring contest, in which women won while many men paused to smoke. As a result, Shen and other women obtained equal pay with men.

Li and Shen gained national fame in 1953 due to media coverage of the village co-op. As a role model for women's liberation, Shen attended the World Congress of Women in Copenhagen the same year.

Elected as a national lawmaker, she attended the first session of the First NPC in 1954. It was during the session that the first Constitution was passed, legitimizing "equal pay for equal work" as she had proposed.

LIFETIME LAWMAKER

Shen served several posts including deputy Party chief of Pingshun County, head of the provincial women's federation and deputy director of the standing committee of the People's Congress of Changzhi City.

While China was in transition from the planned economy to a market economy under the reform and opening-up drive since 1978, Shen grew a new identity as an entrepreneur.

In 1985, she started a collectively-owned ferroalloy plant with the bank loan, the first enterprise in Xigou. A walnut oil factory and a cannery were later built. Now, the village has more than 10 enterprises, with the villagers' per capita annual net income exceeding 10,000 yuan (about 1,413 U.S. dollars).

Villagers' efforts in forestation led by Shen and other cadres have transformed Xigou into a tourist attraction with the green landscape and red revolutionary history.

Shen volunteered to receive tourists, telling stories of the revolution in the Taihang mountains as well as her own tale.

The lawmaker also insisted on farming in her whole life.

In 2008, she was selected as a carrier in the Beijing Olympics torch relay at the age of 79.

Last September, Shen was awarded the Medal of the Republic, the highest state honor, for her significant contributions to the country ahead of the 70th founding anniversary of the PRC.

Over the past decades, Shen had rendered hundreds of proposals and suggestions to the NPC on issues such as poverty alleviation, rural development, education and anti-corruption. She refused to stop working even when she was seriously ill.

In May, she headed to Beijing to attend the third session of the 13th NPC.

"The biggest mission this year is to win the hard battle against poverty alleviation. As a farmer deputy, I know what farmers care and expect. We have the confidence and resolution to win this battle," she was quoted as saying during a group discussion at the session.

She also called for national efforts for drug control in a video, which was released ahead of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26.

"Drug use does harm to society and family. All-out efforts should be made in the fight against drugs," she said in the video.

A farewell ceremony will be held on Tuesday morning at the memorial hall of Changzhi City. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 21:46:34|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The values of Hong Kong's total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year decreases in May, at 7.4 percent and 12.3 percent respectively, the Census and Statistics Department of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced on Monday.

In May, the value of Hong Kong's total exports decreased to 317.6 billion Hong Kong dollars, and the value of imports of goods decreased to 331.3 billion Hong Kong dollars.

A trade deficit of 13.7 billion Hong Kong dollars, or 4.1 percent of the value of imports, was recorded for the month.

A spokesman for the HKSAR government said that the value of merchandise exports showed an enlarged decrease in May, in tandem with subdued regional trade flows amid weak global demand. Exports to Chinese mainland recorded a sharply decelerated growth, while those to many other major markets continued to decline by varying degrees.

Looking ahead, the continued spread of COVID-19 in various places of the world is still a key threat to the global economy, and Hong Kong's export performance will remain under pressure in the near term, the spokesman added. (1 U.S. dollar = 7.75 HK dollars) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 21:46:54|Editor: huaxia

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XINING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Eighteen infrared cameras have recently captured 13 images of Chinese desert cats in Qilian Mountain National Park in northwest China's Qinghai Province, according to the park's local administration.

Researchers also spotted the wild cats seven times, collected 133 feces samples, and found three dead bodies of the cats during a one-month survey on the vulnerable cat species, which are under top state protection.

"For a long time, Chinese desert cats could hardly be spotted due to its secretive nature and small population size, so the recent frequent discoveries indicate that the Qilian Mountain National Park's Qinghai section is a major habitat for the cats," said Liu Yanlin, a researcher from the survey team.

The survey, lasting over 30 days since May 16, was carried out by the Peking University and the Qinghai section of the national park, covering an area of 3,000 square km.

"The research will be conducive to the study and protection of the cats," said Yan Pinfa, also a member of the research team.

The 50,200-square-km Qilian Mountain National Park, one of the pilot national parks, includes 34,400 square km in Gansu Province, and 15,800 square km in Qinghai. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 21:51:50|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Uganda on Monday said it has delayed the reception of thousands of Congolese refugees who want to enter the country following deadly ethnic clashes back home.

Hilary Onek, minister for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, told Xinhua by telephone that the exercise to receive and provide asylum to an estimated 10,000 Congolese is postponed over security concerns.

The asylum seekers have been stuck in no-man's land between Uganda and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since last month.

Onek said the suspension follows the March incident where some wrong Congolese elements and local residents in Uganda carried out an attack on an army unit in the northwestern border district of Zombo, leaving three soldiers and 17 attackers killed.

"We have postponed it because of security concerns. You remember nearly a month or two ago when there were rebel activities in Zombo where some armed gangs from Congo came to attack UPDF (Uganda People's Defense Forces) and terrorize our people," said Onek.

"This is the same territory where all these so-called refugees are coming through. Now as government we are cautious. We want to ensure that we don't again now bring in the house the trojan horse where you bring your enemy in and attack you from inside," he said.

The minister said authorities are going to carry out proper security checks before the refugees are allowed into the east African country.

"We are just mindful. We want to be sure that we don't bring in again an enemy that is going to fight our government or fight the people of Uganda and bring other problems into the country," said Onek.

The minister said a new date to allow them into the country would be communicated.

Uganda, according to government officials, had agreed to temporarily open the border for three days starting Monday to allow in the refugees. The country had closed all its border entry points to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Uganda, according to the UN refugee agency, has some 1.4 million refugees, mostly from neighboring South Sudan, the DRC and Burundi. Enditem
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will address the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday on the expiration of a UN arms embargo on Iran, the US State Department said on Monday.

The United States is pushing the 15-member UN Security Council to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran, which is currently set to end in October under Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

The UN Security Council will decide on the matter and veto-powers Russia and China have signaled they oppose reimposing the ban.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 21:54:02|Editor: huaxia

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Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (3rd R), Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (2nd R) and Yang Xin (3rd L), charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy to Thailand, attend a donation handover ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, June 29, 2020. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday expressed his gratitude via the Thai media for China's donation of a batch of medical equipment to fight the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

BANGKOK, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday expressed his gratitude via the Thai media for China's donation of a batch of medical equipment to fight the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand.

The Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, acting on behalf of China, donated 1.3 million surgical face masks, 70,000 N95 face masks, 150,000 COVID-19 test kits and 70,000 PPE suits to Thailand.

Prayut also extended his condolences to the Chinese Embassy in regards to the recent floods in China and expressed his confidence that the Chinese government will handle the crisis efficiently.

After receiving the medical equipment from the Chinese Embassy, Prayut said the long-standing relationship with China will continue in all aspects including social, cultural and economic ties. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 21:58:47|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government said Monday that it will add another 18 countries and regions including Algeria, Cuba and Iraq to its entry ban list in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Starting from Wednesday, foreign travelers who have been to the countries or regions within 14 days of their arrival in Japan will be denied entry in principle, the government said.

These new additions are mainly in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, where the numbers of COVID-19 cases are increasing.

Japan will also maintain other border control measures such as suspension of visa issuance by its embassies in the listed countries and regions until the end of July.

Japan is estimated to have received only 1,700 foreign travelers in May, an all-time low and a 99.9-percent plunge compared to a year earlier with the travel restrictions in effect, the latest government data revealed.

Meanwhile, the government is considering relaxing travel restrictions on countries where the situation has improved.

The Japanese government also said Monday that it will not yet declare another state of emergency despite a recent spike in daily COVID-19 cases in Tokyo and an uptick in infections nationwide. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 22:01:21|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the African continent reached 382,652 as of Monday morning, up 11,104 from that of Sunday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

The death toll related to the pandemic rose 173 from Sunday to 9,657 as of Monday morning, the Africa CDC said in its latest situation update.

The countries with the highest tallies include South Africa with 138,134 confirmed cases, Egypt with 65,188 confirmed cases, Nigeria with 24,567 confirmed cases, Ghana with 17,351 confirmed cases, Algeria with 13,273 confirmed cases, and Cameroon with 12,592 confirmed cases, it said.

Southern Africa is now the most affected area on the continent in terms of positive COVID-19 cases, followed by northern Africa and western Africa.

Africa CDC Director John Nkengasong last week urged the African continent to brace itself for a rise in the number of cases after easing of lockdowns. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 22:01:51|Editor: huaxia

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Farmers collect tomatoes at farmland in Damascus, capital of Syria, June 29, 2020. A staggering 9.3 million Syrians are now going to sleep hungry and more another two million are at risk of a similar fate, international NGOs said in a joint statement Monday. Signed by the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, CARE, Mercy Corps, and others, the statement warned that "Syrians who have already endured almost a decade of war and displacement are now facing unprecedented levels of hunger leaving millions of people acutely vulnerable to COVID-19." (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- A staggering 9.3 million Syrians are now going to sleep hungry and more another two million are at risk of a similar fate, international NGOs said in a joint statement Monday.

Signed by the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, CARE, Mercy Corps, and others, the statement warned that "Syrians who have already endured almost a decade of war and displacement are now facing unprecedented levels of hunger leaving millions of people acutely vulnerable to COVID-19."

"COVID-19 restrictions, the collapse of the Syrian pound, and the displacement of millions of people have led to an unprecedented number of families in Syria who are no longer able to put food on the table," it said.

The statement said the number of Syrians facing food insecurities has risen by 42 percent since last year.

It noted that "unless funding and humanitarian access are increased, many Syrians, including those living as refugees in the region, will be pushed to the brink of starvation."

The statement further said that after nine years of war in Syria, the Syrians have been thrown into a spiral of despair and destruction that worsens every year.

"International assistance is needed now more than ever," it said.

Separately, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Monday that 80 percent of Syrians survive on less than 1.25 U.S. dollars a day, adding that the price of bread doubled in a few weeks.

It further said that 50 percent of Syrians don't have enough food to eat every day.

The Syrian war has been dragging on for over nine years, killing more than 380,000 people and displacing nearly half of the pre-war population of 23 million Syrians either internally or externally. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 22:02:12|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The Kremlin on Monday denied a New York Times report alleging that Russia offered bounties for killing U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.

"Once again, we can only express regret that one of the largest, reputable and high-quality world media outlets have been increasingly publishing elaborate hoaxes in recent years," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a daily briefing.

On Friday, the New York Times published a report, saying that according to U.S. intelligence officials, "a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan -- including targeting American troops."

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted on Sunday that "Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or @VP. Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 22:06:26|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Monday by five cases to 1,745 while the death toll remained unchanged at 34, the National News Agency reported.

Health Minister Hamad Hassan said eight teams from the health ministry were distributed on Monday among different Lebanese areas to test people and quarantine positive cases.

Lebanon has been fighting against COVID-19 since Feb. 21.

The country has received several donations from different countries for the fight against COVID-19.

The latest foreign support received by Lebanon for the fight against the pandemic was from China earlier this month which offered 17,500 masks, 1,500 protective gears, 1,320 goggles and 1,000 shoes covers to Lebanese public hospitals. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 22:15:25|Editor: huaxia

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DOHA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Qatar's health ministry on Monday announced 693 new infections of COVID-19, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 95,106.

"Some 1,468 people recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 80,170, while three others died, raising the fatalities to 113," the official Qatar News Agency reported, quoting a statement by the ministry.

A total of 352,659 persons in Qatar have undergone lab tests for COVID-19 so far, it added.

China and Qatar have offered mutual help during the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

On Feb. 21, five Qatar Airways cargo freighters flew to China carrying approximately 300 tons of medical supplies donated by the airline. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 22:22:12|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday expressed strong opposition to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's statements over China-Africa relations, saying that the statements ignored the fundamental facts and smeared China arbitrarily, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a news briefing when asked for comment to Pompeo's statements, in which he blamed China-Africa cooperation and China's transparency in handling COVID-19.

Since COVID-19 broke out, China has always acted in an open, transparent and responsible manner and provided timely information to the World Health Organization and relevant countries and regions including the United States, Zhao said.

China also shared the genome sequence of the virus, actively responded to the concerns of others, and strengthened cooperation with all sides, the spokesperson said, adding China has bought time and made positive contributions to the global fight against the virus.

Zhao said China will work with the international community to step up support for African countries and earnestly act on the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative.

"Some African countries have applied for such suspension with China. And we are now working on the specific details through close coordination and consultation to ease their debt burden and help them tide over the difficulties," Zhao said.

"We hope that the United States will focus on its own epidemic response and also contribute to the global fight against the virus through concrete deeds, instead of undermining and smearing other countries' response and spreading the 'political virus,'" he said.

The African countries and the international community at large have no difficulty in telling who is genuinely helping Africa and who is politicizing the debt issue, Zhao added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 22:34:16|Editor: huaxia

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A volunteer prepares food for medical workers fighting with the COVID-19 pandemic at a collective kitchen in Damascus, capital of Syria, on June 29, 2020. Syria on Monday reported 13 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 269 in the country, the health ministry said. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Syria on Monday reported 13 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 269 in the country, the health ministry said.

The ministry said 102 people have recovered and nine died.

The Syrian government has eased the measures taken against the COVID-19, urging people to undertake protective measures in their daily interactions.

China has offered help to Syria to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 15, China delivered the first batch of medical aid, including 2,016 COVID-19 test kits, to Syria. On June 4 and June 24, Syria received another two batches of medical supplies donated by China, including test kits, protective suits, masks, goggles and infrared thermometers.

On April 23, a video-conference was held between Chinese and Syrian medical experts for sharing the experiences in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 22:36:29|Editor: huaxia

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LILONGWE, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The newly sworn-in Malawi President, Lazarus Chakwera, had made some ministerial and key public office appointments, including Chief Secretary to the government and Attorney General.

An official statement released Monday by Secretary of Administration in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Cliff Chiunda, confirmed the development listing 8 appointments that Chakwera had made.

The president had appointed his vice president Saulos Chilima as minister responsible for economic planning, development and public sector reform while Felix Mlusu, former CEO for local insurance company, NICO Holdings, has been appointed as Finance Minister.

The new Malawi leader has appointed his lead counsel in the election case, Mordecai Msiska, as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs while Chilima's lead counsel in the election case, Chikosa Silungwe, is the country's new Attorney General.

Chakwera has also appointed Malawi Congress Party (MCP) National Director for Youth, Richard Chimwendo Banda, as minister of Homeland Security.

Former Secretary for Education, Zangazanga Chikhosi, now replaces Lloyd Muhara, as Chief Secretary to the government with former solicitor General, Janet Banda, as his deputy.

Prince Kapondamgaga, President for Malawi's Farmers' Union, has been appointed Chief of Staff of State Residences.

More appointments and restructuring are expected in the new government. Enditem
For months, experts have warned of a potential nightmare scenario: After overwhelming health systems in some of the world's wealthiest regions, the coronavirus gains a foothold in poor or war-torn countries ill-equipped to contain it and sweeps through the population.

Now some of those fears are being realized.

In southern Yemen, health workers are leaving their posts en masse because of a lack of protective equipment, and some hospitals are turning away patients struggling to breathe. In Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region, where there is little testing capacity, a mysterious illness resembling COVID-19 is spreading through camps for the internally displaced.

Cases are soaring in India and Pakistan, together home to more than 1.5 billion people and where authorities say nationwide lockdowns are no longer an option because of high poverty.

In Latin America, Brazil has a confirmed caseload and death count second only to the United States, and its leader is unwilling to take steps to stem the spread of the virus. Alarming escalations are unfolding in Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Panama, even after they imposed early lockdowns.

The first reports of disarray are also emerging from hospitals in South Africa, which has its continent's most developed economy. Sick patients are lying on beds in corridors as one hospital runs out of space. At another, an emergency morgue was needed to hold more than 700 bodies.

``We are reaping the whirlwind now,'' said Francois Venter, a South African health expert at the University of Witswatersrand in Johannesburg.

Worldwide, there are 10 million confirmed cases and over 500,000 reported deaths, according to tally by Johns Hopkins University of government reports. Experts say both those numbers are serious undercounts of the true toll of the pandemic, due to limited testing and missed mild cases.

South Africa has more than a third of Africa's confirmed cases of COVID-19. It's ahead of other African countries in the pandemic timeline and approaching its peak. If its facilities break under the strain, it will be a grim forewarning because South Africa's health system is reputed to be the continent's best.

Most poor countries took action early on. Some, like Uganda, which already had a sophisticated detection system built up during its yearslong battle with viral hemorrhagic fever, have thus far been arguably more successful than the U.S. and other wealthy countries in battling coronavirus.

But since the beginning of the pandemic, poor and conflict-ravaged countries have generally been at a major disadvantage, and they remain so.

The global scramble for protective equipment sent prices soaring. Testing kits have also been hard to come by. Tracking and quarantining patients requires large numbers of health workers.

``It's all a domino effect,'' said Kate White, head of emergencies for Doctors Without Borders. ``Whenever you have countries that are economically not as well off as others, then they will be adversely affected.''

Global health experts say testing is key, but months into the pandemic, few developing countries can keep carrying out the tens of thousands of tests every week that are needed to detect and contain outbreaks.

``The majority of the places that we work in are not able to have that level of testing capacity, and that's the level that you need to be able to get things really under control,'' White said.

South Africa leads Africa in testing, but an initially promising program has now been overrun in Cape Town, which alone has more reported cases than any other African country.. Critical shortages of kits have forced city officials to abandon testing anyone for under 55 unless they have a serious health condition or are in a hospital.

Venter said a Cape Town-like surge could easily play out next in ``the big cities of Nigeria, Congo, Kenya,'' and they ``do not have the health resources that we do.''

Lockdowns are likely the most effective safeguard, but they have exacted a heavy toll even on middle-class families in Europe and North America, and are economically devastating in developing countries.

India's lockdown, the world's largest, caused countless migrant workers in major cities to lose their jobs overnight. Fearing hunger, thousands took to the highways by foot to return to their home villages, and many were killed in traffic accidents or died from dehydration.

The government has since set up quarantine facilities and now provides special rail service to get people home safely, but there are concerns the migration has already spread the virus to India's rural areas, where the health infrastructure is even weaker.

Poverty has also accelerated the pandemic in Latin America, where millions with informal jobs had to go out and keep working, and then returned to crowded homes where they spread the virus to relatives.

Peru's strict three-month lockdown failed to contain its outbreak, and it now has the world's sixth-highest number of cases in a population of 32 million, according to by Johns Hopkins University. Intensive care units are nearly 88% occupied, and the virus shows no sign of slowing.

``Hospitals are on the verge of collapse,'' said epidemiologist Ciro Maguina, a professor of medicine at Cayetano Heredia University in the capital, Lima.

Aid groups have tried to help, but they have faced their own struggles. Doctors Without Borders says the price it pays for masks went up threefold at one point and is still higher than normal.

The group also faces obstacles in transporting medical supplies to remote areas as international and domestic flights have been drastically reduced. And as wealthy donor countries struggle with their own outbreaks, there are concerns they will cut back on humanitarian aid.

Mired in civil war for the past five years, Yemen was already home to the world's worst humanitarian crisis before the virus hit. Now the Houthi rebels are suppressing all information about an outbreak in the north, and the health system in the government-controlled south is collapsing.

``Coronavirus has invaded our homes, our cities, our countryside,'' said Dr. Abdul Rahman al-Azraqi, an internal medicine specialist and former hospital director in the city of Taiz, which is split between the rival forces. He estimates that 90% of Yemeni patients die at home.

``Our hospital doesn't have any doctors, only a few nurses and administrators. There is effectively no medical treatment.''

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 22:36:50|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government's Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday said short-stay business travelers and guests of the Thailand government from Chinese mainland, China's Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Singapore will be allowed to enter from July 1.

"This special arrangement will initially allow entry to 200 inbound travelers per day," confirmed CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin on Monday.

He said the number of inbound travelers will increase as more alternative state quarantine (ASQ) rooms are made available, and the special arrangement will allow entry to groups of no more than 10 people for a short period.

Taweesin said that inbound travelers will be tested for COVID-19 prior to travel and on arrival in Thailand.

"These travelers will be subject to being monitored constantly by health and security officials," said Taweesin. "They must submit their Thailand itinerary in advance and will only be allowed to travel by private car."

The CCSA also released a press release indicating foreign spouses and children of work permit holders, foreigners with residency rights in Thailand, foreigners married to Thais, foreigners seeking medical treatment in Thailand (except for COVID-19) and international students and their guardians, will all be allowed entry into Thailand on July 1 onwards.

Taweesin said that these foreign visitors cannot just purchase an air ticket and expect immediate entry into Thailand.

For foreigners work permit (WP3) and BOI certificate holders, they should contact their local Royal Thai Embassy or consulate for a permit to travel to Thailand, according to the spokesman.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) will arrange seats aboard repatriation flights for eligible passengers. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 22:38:12|Editor: huaxia

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JAKARTA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- A critically endangered Sumatran tiger was found dead at a plantation in Indonesia's province of Aceh, a local official confirmed on Monday.

Agus Arianto, head of Aceh's Natural Resources Conservation Agency, said that a team has been sent to the scene in Trumon subdistrict of South Aceh district to perform a necropsy to find the cause of the tiger's death.

Two weeks ago, the local police arrested four suspects for allegedly trading animals, including Sumatran tigers and sun bears, seizing organ parts of the animals as evidence.

The Sumatran tiger, the only surviving species of the Sunda Islands tigers once including the now-extinct Bali tiger and Javanese tiger, has been listed as a critically endangered species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List since 2008.

An estimate from the Environment and Forestry Ministry puts the wild Sumatran tiger population at no more than 600 as of December 2018 due to a loss of habitat and poaching. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 22:38:52|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Iran has filed a case with the Interpol to arrest a number of U.S. political and military officials "who were involved in the assassination" of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in January, Tehran Prosecutor General Ali Qasi Mehr said on Monday.

Qasi Mehr said that the list of 36 U.S. individuals, including President Donald Trump, has been availed to the Interpol.

These people have been accused of murder and terrorist acts against the Iranian senior commander, he was quoted as saying.

A U.S. airstrike on January 3 killed Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, along with an Iraqi militia commander, near Baghdad International Airport. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 22:40:04|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Thailand will reopen checkpoints on the border with all neighboring states to resume cross-border cargo transport and trading from July 1, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

CCSA decided on Monday to reopen a total of 37 checkpoints on the borders with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia, so that cargoes can be transported and traders can be allowed to cross the border, said CCSA spokesman Thaweesilp Visanuyothin.

That is part of the phase-5 easing of Thailand's lockdown measures against the pandemic.

The Thai border checkpoints which will be reopened include 14 connected with Laos, eight with Myanmar, seven with Cambodia and eight with Malaysia, according to the CCSA spokesman.

However, tourists from the neighboring countries are not allowed to enter Thailand via those border checkpoints. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 22:57:15|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council has issued a regulation to ramp up supervision of the cosmetics industry, according to a decree signed by Premier Li Keqiang.

Measures should be taken to better regulate the production and sales of cosmetics as their quality can impact people's health, said the decree.

The regulation seeks to improve the classification system of cosmetic products and their raw materials and streamlines the registration process to optimize the institutional environment for innovation.

It also requires efforts to strengthen the quality-control of cosmetic products and establish reassessment and recall systems to ensure safety and quality.

Illegal acts will be severely punished to improve the market environment, it said.

The regulation will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 23:02:01|Editor: huaxia

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Patients recovered from COVID-19 donate plasma at the National Blood Transfusion Center in Baghdad, Iraq, June 28, 2020. The Iraqi Health Ministry on Monday said that 1,749 new COVID-19 cases are detected, bringing the total infections to 47,151, while up to 1,852 recoveries were registered during the day. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

BAGHDAD, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Monday said that 1,749 new COVID-19 cases are detected, bringing the total infections to 47,151, while up to 1,852 recoveries were registered during the day.

The ministry also confirmed 83 more deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 1,839 in the country.

It also said that 1,852 people recovered during the day, bringing the total recoveries from the disease to 22,974.

The new cases were recorded after 11,172 testing kits were used across the country during the past 24 hours, and a total of 532,120 tests have been carried out since the outbreak of the disease, according to the ministry's statement.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement that it has launched a major awareness campaign on COVID-19 pandemic that targeted highly affected areas with the disease in 10 heavily populated neighborhoods in Baghdad for four weeks starting from June 29 to July 28.

"The campaign includes using mobile screens, booths, and mobile medical clinics to display WHO educational videos and audio messages on a variety of protection and disinfection measures," the statement added.

"Health is the responsibility of all, and raising people's awareness is instrumental to containing the aggressive spread of pandemics like COVID-19," the statement quoted the WHO representative in Iraq Adham Ismail as saying.

Abdul-Amir al-Shimmary, head of the Iraqi Medical Association, revealed in a statement that up to 775 doctors have been infected with COVID-19 and 13 of them have died so far.

Meanwhile, the media office of the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, said that the committee decided to continue the partial curfew to be started from 7 p.m. local time to 6 a.m.

The office didn't give further details about whether to continue or not the full curfew on Thursday, Friday and Saturday every week.

However, the high number of COVID-19 cases pushed some Iraqi provinces to re-impose full curfew, including Basra province and Maysan in southern Iraq.

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 install an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad.

Since March 7, China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 23:10:21|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities on Monday launched a campaign to crack down on illegal fishing in the Yangtze River basin.

Jointly deployed by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the campaign calls for efforts to secure solid progress on a fishing ban on the main river and numerous natural waterways in the basin.

Police authorities along the Yangtze River will organize a three-year campaign to combat illegal fishing, said Lin Rui, vice minister of public security.

Lin also demanded resolute efforts to cut the underground industrial chain of illegal fishing, transportation and business operations.

Agricultural authorities at all levels should implement targeted measures against illegal fishing and further improve joint law-enforcement efforts with other administrations, said Yu Kangzhen, vice minister of agriculture and rural affairs.

Public security organs investigated over 2,300 criminal cases of illegal fishing in 2019 and cracked more than 2,000 such cases from January to May this year.

China began a 10-year fishing moratorium from the beginning of this year in 332 conservation areas in the Yangtze River basin, which will be expanded to all the natural waterways of the country's longest river and its major tributaries from no later than January 1, 2021. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 23:12:24|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Thefts from online bank accounts have been surging in Japan as unsuspecting victims have been duped by fake websites of financial institutions into giving up their IDs and passwords, Japan's Financial Services Agency said Monday.

According to a survey conducted by the agency, such cases of theft from internet banks totaled 1,863 in the year to March, marking a 4.7-fold increase from the previous fiscal year.

Some victims, the agency said, received erroneous text messages and emails asking them to click on the likely financial institutions' links that take them to fake websites, where they were then asked to enter their IDs and passwords.

As a result, the agency warned people of an uptick in online thefts from banks and urged people not to click on suspicious links sent in emails or by text message.

The agency asked potential victims of theft from such scams to contact their financial institutions and report suspicious messages.

The agency added that physical thefts using stolen cash and credit cards were also on the rise in Japan, with 14,678 cases reported last fiscal year.

Targeting elderly people, the criminals posing as Financial Services Agency personnel or police officers duped the seniors into handing over their cards and Personal Identification Numbers (PIN).

The agency said they and the police would under no circumstances ask someone for their cash, credit cards or PIN numbers. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 23:28:02|Editor: huaxia

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VALLETTA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Maltese police on Monday arrested 11 migrants following a protest during which they smashed furniture in various parts of the Hal Far detention center in southern Malta, the police said in a statement.

The protest, during which the migrants were demanding immediate freedom, first broke out late Sunday but was quelled. However, a few hours later, it erupted again with the migrants going through various parts of the center, smashing anything that came in their way.

The police said no one was injured during the protest.

On June 20, the police mounted a nationwide search for 20 migrants who were not found during a roll call.

In line with Malta's immigration policy, migrants are held in detention until they are interviewed and their identity and papers are confirmed and regularized.

The detention center has some 600 migrants at the moment. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 23:29:44|Editor: huaxia

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MADRID, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) have urged the international community to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in their recovery from the hit of COVID-19 pandemic.

Dorothy Tembo, acting executive director of the ITC, and Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of the UNWTO, said in a document sent to Xinhua on Monday that the COVID-19 global pandemic has hard hit SIDS with disruptions in tourism, global supply chains and increased import costs.

According to the two organizations, tourism is a lifeline for many small islands, as the industry accounts for over 30 percent of the exports of most of SIDS and remains an essential job provider and source of tax revenue.

But impacted by COVID-19, UNWTO fears that international tourism could plummet at least 60 percent in 2020 even in the best-case scenario.

UNWTO has warned that international recovery may not start at least until 2021, urging the international community to support SIDS in the post-pandemic recovery.

Tembo and Pololikashvili have come up with a series of "bold" solutions they consider "essential" to help SIDS develop local strategies to recover from the pandemic.

For some SIDS, this might mean shifting local productions towards covering internal needs to lessen dependence on import and increase environmental sustainability.

They also suggested responses including embedding "blue economy" principles, building capacity of local supply industries in the hospitality ecosystem and facilitating investment with public-private collaboration.

Other solutions include supporting financial and technical capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to build back operations so that they are safe and sanitary and taking the period to train tourism workers and make SIDS more competitive, the directors said.

They also underlined the importance of long-term support for scaling up SIDS' digital infrastructure and skills.

Tembo and Pololikashvili believe putting some of these measures in place can contribute to building optimism so that SIDS can reposition themselves for sustainability.

The ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations that is fully dedicated to supporting the internationalization of SMEs. Enditem
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the coronavirus crisis had been a disaster for the United Kingdom but that it was not the right time for an inquiry into missteps.

"This has been a disaster," Johnson told Times Radio. "Let's not mince our words, I mean this has been an absolute nightmare for the country and the country has gone through a profound shock."

He said, though, that this was not the right time for an inquiry in the handling of the crisis.

On his senior adviser Dominic Cummings, he said: "Dom is outstanding."

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 23:40:57|Editor: huaxia

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LUANDA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Angolan national airline TAAG is due to receive on Monday one aircraft out of the total of six Dash 8 airplanes it bought in April from Canada, TAAG's CEO, Rui Carreira said on Monday.

According to Rui Carreira, the arrival of the first aircraft in the country was initially scheduled for the end of April but was further rescheduled due to COVID-19.

"With COVID-19, the manufacturer closed the production line. We established a schedule, in which we reaffirmed the initially planned deadlines. Therefore, the arrival of the second aircraft was scheduled for mid-July and so it will be," the TAAG CEO said, adding the other four aircraft were scheduled only after October.

The acquisition of the airplanes is part of the renewing process of the company's fleet, with Angolan state spending around 118 million U.S. dollars as a result of a financing contract signed between TAAG and the banking union, represented by ABSA Bank Limited.

The aim is to make domestic and regional routes more profitable from the point of view of fuel consumption, maintenance costs and overall operating costs, Carreira said, adding that conditions are being created to achieve the economic and financial efficiency of the company.

"When we decided to acquire these aircraft, we were thinking about opening new regional routes, but the pandemic and its implications place limitations on us. And one of them is not being able to open new routes for the time being, given the initial costs that are usually very high and that the company is not in a position to bear," he said.

The diversification of the company's fleet, combined with the reduction of operational costs, also aims to extend access to domestic flights for low-income people and to open new sustainable domestic routes, Carreira said.

TAAG currently flies at 17 domestic destinations and 26 internationals in Africa, South America, Europe and Asia, with a fleet composed of 13 airplanes.

Angola's Ministry of Transport said recently that the regular international commercial flights to and from Angola will remain suspended for an indefinite period. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 23:48:46|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The heads of the UN humanitarian, refugee, and development agencies on Monday urged international donors to redouble their commitment to Syrians and regional countries that host Syrian refugees.

The appeal was launched by UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, and UN Development Programme Administrator Achim Steiner on the eve of the fourth Supporting Syria and the Region conference in Brussels.

Governments and other donors are expected to announce pledges of support for a 3.8-billion-U.S.-dollar humanitarian response plan inside Syria and a 6.04-billion-dollar refugee and resilience plan for countries in Syria's neighborhood. The plans are currently 30 percent and 19 percent funded, respectively, said the UN agencies in a press release.

"The conflict in Syria has lasted almost as long as the First and Second World War combined," said Lowcock. "A whole generation of children has known nothing but hardship, destruction and deprivation. Nearly 2.5 million children are out of school. The economy is crumbling, millions remain displaced, and more and more people are going hungry. The world can do something about that tomorrow. Generous pledges, quickly paid out, can help the UN and humanitarian NGOs stay the course in Syria and get people the food, shelter, health services and protection they urgently need."

More than 13.2 million people, over half of the pre-war population, remain displaced inside and outside the country. This is the largest refugee crisis in the world with 6.6 million refugees scattered throughout the world. The vast majority -- over 5.5 million refugees -- live in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, said the press release.

After nearly a decade of hosting some of the world's most vulnerable people, host governments are struggling to sustain services to refugees. The situation is compounded by the disastrous socio-economic impact of COVID-19, it said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 23:50:38|Editor: huaxia

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NUR-SULTAN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has instructed the government to propose new strict quarantine measures within two days to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, the presidential press service said on Monday.

At a video conference with heads of several government bodies, mayors and regional governors, Tokayev noted that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country has increased by seven times since the lifting of the state of emergency on May 11.

"The interdepartmental commission did not cope with the task assigned to it. This must be admitted. The Ministry of Health was unable to ensure coordination of the work of central and local authorities," he said.

Tokayev said untimely and ineffective measures have led to the spread of the virus in labour-intensive industries, citing a mass infection at the Tengiz oilfield in the Atyrau Region where 1,222 cases were registered.

The president called for the uninterrupted supply of testing kits and an increase in the number of laboratories.

Amid a strain in medical resources, Tokayev ordered an increase in the number of hospital beds by 50 percent by the end of July and an expansion of medicine supplies within five days for COVID-19 patients.

At the conference, Tokayev also urged the government to make up a national plan to protect the health of Kazakhstanis in the medium term.

As of Monday, Kazakhstan registered 21,327 confirmed cases and 183 deaths. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 23:55:03|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 continues to rise in Kenya, giving hope that the East Africa nation can overcome the disease.

On Monday, total recoveries crossed the 2,000 marks to stand at 2,013 as 42 more people were discharged from hospitals, Kenya's Chief Administrative Secretary of Ministry of Health Rashid Aman said.

The recoveries in Kenya have picked up in the past weeks even as the positive cases surge.

"The high number of recoveries means that we must celebrate our health workers for their efforts in treating the sick," said Aman.

Close to 80 percent of Kenya's COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic, with a smaller number showing mild symptoms and others in need of critical care, according to the Kenya's Ministry of Health.

This is one of the reasons the country has been able to discharge more patients during the pandemic, noted the ministry.

Most of those discharged are being taken care of under the home-based care system, which has helped decongest hospitals.

But as recoveries increase, so are the cases of positive infections which stood at 6,190 on Monday after 120 more people tested positive. Deaths from the disease stood at 144 on Monday, according to Aman.

Francis Kuria, the head of public health from the ministry, said stigma is one of the main challenges those who have recovered have to grapple with.

On Monday, The European Union granted Kenya 275 million Kenyan shillings (about 2.7 million U.S. dollars) to help boost the government's fight against COVID-19. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-29 23:58:07|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said on Monday that Egypt always seeks for peaceful solutions with its comprehensive capabilities at the regional level.

"We vow to never forfeit a single right of our rights," al-Sisi said in a televised speech to the nation on the 7th anniversary of June 30 revolution that ousted former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.

"Egypt was hit by a wave of terrorism after President Morsi, who belonged to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, was toppled over mass protests against his rule," the president said.

"Terrorism has been one of the country's top challenges over the past seven years. Yet, we destroyed the terrorism infrastructure," al-Sisi said, adding that the country is located in a turbulent region that makes it difficult to isolate itself within its borders.

"The North African country's national security is closely linked to the region's security," he added.

Egypt has been fighting a wave of terrorist activities that killed hundreds of policemen, soldiers and civilians since the ouster of Morsi in July 2013.

Most terrorist attacks in Egypt over the past few years were claimed by a Sinai-based group loyal to the Islamic State regional terrorist group.

On the same day, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the development projects carried out by Egypt in the past six years cost the country 4.5 trillion Egyptian pounds (278 billion U.S. dollars).

Despite the pandemic's impacts on the global growth rates and tourism revenues, Egypt continues to achieve the highest growth rates in the Middle East and North Africa, Madbouly said.

The Egyptian president has inaugurated via videoconference two new airports: Sphinx International Airport on Cairo-Alex Road and the New Administrative Capital Airport, 35 km east of Cairo.

"The two airports aim to ease pressure on Cairo International Airport, located on the eastern side of the capital," said Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Manar.

The president also inaugurated on Monday the Baron Empain Palace in Heliopolis after two years of restoration work that cost more than 100 million Egyptian pounds (over 6 million U.S. dollars.)

The palace, originally built in 1911, is designated as a tourist destination, Egyptian Minister of Antiquities and Tourism Khaled al-Anany said on Monday.

Egypt announced resuming the international air traffic starting from July 1. Foreign tourists will be allowed to visit three coastal provinces to compensate for the losses of the vital industry caused by COVID-19. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 00:30:56|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The China Charity Alliance (CCA) has issued a set of rules to strengthen the regulation of charity organizations nationwide.

The rules, which will go into effect on July 1, make explicit stipulations on the management of charity archives and projects, social-value assessment of charity programs, and the evaluation of charity communities, among others.

Liu Fuqing, deputy head of the CCA, said that the alliance will organize its members to take part in training this year, with a view to learning the regulations.

China has more than 7,500 registered charity organizations, with net assets totaling about 160 billion yuan (22.6 billion U.S. dollars), according to statistics released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs in 2019. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 00:37:42|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Governments across the Sub-Saharan African region should embark on a realignment of economic policies to boost recovery from COVID-19 disruptions and strengthen resilience against future shocks, experts said on Monday.

The policymakers and experts who spoke at a virtual briefing in Nairobi said that the enactment of new economic policies was long overdue to enable countries to survive a recession linked to the pandemic.

"We must build a solid macro-economic policy environment, protect local investments and strengthen intra-African trade as we embark on a post-COVID recovery path," said Njuguna Ndung'u, executive director of Nairobi-based think tank, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC).

The forum, organized by the think tank which was attended by senior government officials and scholars in Nairobi, discussed policy options that could be adopted to boost economic recovery after months of downturn occasioned by the global pandemic.

Ndung'u said the continent could still weather COVID-19 related economic shocks if governments took bold actions like channeling stimulus packages to hard-hit sectors including hospitality, tourism and manufacturing.

"Some of the best practices that have worked elsewhere could be applied in the African context to boost recovery. They include capital injection to the private sector and investments in public infrastructure to lower the cost of doing business," said Ndung'u, a former governor of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

African economies have suffered from supply chain disruptions linked to COVID-19 and Sub-Saharan Africa's economy is expected to shrink by 3.2 percent in 2020.

Betty Maina, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Industry said that reimaging African economies and businesses should inform efforts to hasten recovery and create new job opportunities.

"There is an opportunity to establish a new post-COVID-19 economic order that guarantees a better income for households, foster innovation, competitiveness and growth," said Maina.

But leadership and foresight are required to accelerate this recovery through promoting local manufacturing, intra-African trade and formalization of small and medium-sized enterprises," she added.

Maina said that strengthening the resilience of local supply chains combined with less reliance on foreign imports is key to accelerate post-COVID-19 economic recovery in Africa. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 00:39:13|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock on Monday voiced deep concern about the situation in northwest Syria.

An estimated 2.8 million people in the northwest -- 70 percent of the region's population -- require humanitarian assistance. Mass displacement of almost a million people earlier this year and new economic hardships, aggravated by COVID-19, have left civilians in the northwest among the country's most vulnerable people, Lowcock told the Security Council.

Displaced families make up two-thirds of the current population of the northwest. The vast majority of displaced people sheltering in "last-resort sites" -- camps and informal settlements that fall short of even the minimum emergency standards for shelter, water and sanitation -- are concentrated in the region, said Lowcock.

In this environment, malnutrition rates have unsurprisingly been rising over the past months. Almost three in every 10 children in the northwest under the age of five suffer from stunting, he said.

Under the cross-border humanitarian aid delivery mechanism authorized by the Security Council, 1,781 aid trucks crossed the border from Turkey into northwest Syria in May. Most of this cross-border aid is food, and it is enough for 1.3 million people every month, he said.

Still, more and more children and infants are arriving at nutrition centers showing signs of chronic and acute malnutrition. Mothers arriving at the centers say they have long been priced out of food staples and medicines in the markets, leaving them solely reliant on the food packages delivered across the border. Some say they are also cooking weeds to supplement the food rations, said Lowcock.

The current levels of assistance delivered across the border are far from sufficient. The cross-border operation needs to be scaled up further, he said.

Lowcock asked the Security Council to extend the cross-border authorization. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 00:42:26|Editor: huaxia

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-- In Mianning County, one of the worst-hit areas in southwest China's Sichuan Province, rescuers aided with life detectors, sniffer dogs and demolition equipment are combing every house. Twelve people have been reported dead and 10 others missing as of 4 p.m. Sunday.



-- Chongqing Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters deployed more than 50 emergency rescue vehicles and excavators and over 300 speedboats and rubber boats to aid rescuers searching for victims.

by Xinhua writers Fang Ning, Wu Guangyu, Ke Gaoyang and Chen Shangying



BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities at all levels are making all-out efforts in rescue and relief, as torrential rains continue to wreak havoc, triggering flooding and geological hazards in vast stretches of the country.

Rescuers work in Yihai Township of Mianning County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 28, 2020. (Photo by Wang Yun/Xinhua)

The country has entered its rainy season since this month with rainstorms hitting many parts in southern China.

National observatory on Monday issued a blue alert for rainstorms as heavy downpours are forecast to batter the provinces of Zhejiang, Anhui, Hubei, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Hebei, and Shandong from Monday morning to Tuesday morning, making the regions flood prone.

President Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to prevent floods and geological disasters, intensify rescue and relief work, and ensure that people's lives and safety are the top priority.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed the need to put people first, and value their lives most in the battle against floods.

He underscored the necessity to coordinate epidemic prevention with flood control and disaster relief work, combine efforts at preparation for prevention with emergency response, strengthen flood monitoring and promptly identify risks.

Rescuers hand out breakfast to people at a relocation site in Damawu Village of Mianning County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 29, 2020. (Photo by Li Jieying/Xinhua)

In Mianning County, one of the worst-hit areas in southwest China's Sichuan Province, rescuers aided with life detectors, sniffer dogs, and demolition equipment are combing every house. Twelve people have been reported dead and 10 others missing as of 4 p.m. Sunday.

The casualties were mainly caused by a sudden mountain torrent, which diverted rivers to inundate houses and roads.

Rescuers are searching in the affected villages and the surrounding areas of the houses where the missing personnel were reported. The search has been extended five km downstream.

A total of 9,880 people were affected in the county. So far, 7,705 people have been evacuated to safe places.

Deng Bangxin, a commander of Liangshan forest fire detachment, led a 10-member team to arrive at the site on Saturday. "Aerial photos taken by a drone showed the disaster is serious," he said.

Rivers changed courses, triggering risks of geological disasters, forcing closures of highways, washing away five bridges, and damaging power lines.

Xinhua reporters saw excavators clearing silts and debris left from mudslides in the village of Damawu, one of the worst-hit in the county. Corn and potato fields are flooded.

Zhaxi Puncog, deputy head of Yihai Township, which administrates the village, said that after receiving the rainstorm warning on Friday, local cadres went to villages to send out warning by beating gongs and hand-operated alarms and started evacuating people.

"It rained so hard that water on No. 108 National Highway was flowing like a river. Only fire engines can carry people to run away through the road passage," he said.

Many locals were initially reluctant to leave their homes but conditions turned dangerous, and some of them were forced to leave.

So far, more than 2,100 people have moved to four settlements in the county, where tents were set up, each with three to five beds.

The weather in Mianning is scorching in daytime and rainy at night. In order to prevent people from getting heatstroke, medical personnel have prepared medicine and carried out psychological counseling.

People clean a street at a market in Ganshui Township of Qijiang District, southwest China's Chongqing, June 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

Meanwhile, in Chongqing Municipality, neighboring Sichuan, more than 210,000 people have been affected by heavy rainfall since June 26.

Chongqing Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters deployed more than 50 emergency rescue vehicles and excavators and over 300 speedboats and rubber boats to aid rescuers searching for victims.

Qijiang River that runs through Qijiang District of Chongqing is experiencing the heaviest flooding since 1940.

In Shijiao Township near the river, a group of 30-plus people are on guard observing the flood rise and persuading people to stay away from the river banks.

Zou Hong, Party chief of a community in Shijiao Township, said he has paid door-to-door visits in the community to alert locals of the flooding risk.

In Yuexi County, east China's Anhui Province, Li Dongliang, a resident in Pinggang Village, is clearing debris left from a mudslide that hit his house over the weekend, when sludge washed down a wall on the ground floor, while he and his family stayed upstairs.

"Local cadres helped us clear piles of silt," said Li.

The disaster relief staff brought excavators, loaders and engineering vehicles to help clean up the silt in their homes, while evacuating those in need to a settlement 3 km away.

Since the start of June, the accumulated rainfall in the county has been more than four times that of the same period in history. Rain-triggered disasters have affected more than 57,000 people. Local authorities have displaced more than 4,400 people to temporary settlements. No one was injured or killed. Enditem

(Video reporters: Ding Chunyu, Yao Yu, Liu Wangmin, Yang Hua, Liu Qinbing, Tan Yuanbin, Bai Bin; Video editor: Hui Peipei)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 00:44:28|Editor: huaxia

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Customers shop at a duty-free shop in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, June 29, 2020. Hainan province will ease the limitations on duty-free shopping with the quota to be raised from 30,000 yuan (about 4,230 U.S. dollars) to 100,000 yuan per person per year, and provide more categories of duty-free commodities. The policy will come into effect on July 1. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- China's Hainan Province will increase its annual tax-free shopping quota for travelers, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) Monday.

With effect from Wednesday, the quota will be raised to 100,000 yuan (about 14,123 U.S. dollars) per person each year from the current 30,000 yuan, the MOF and China's customs and taxation authorities said in a joint statement.

The categories of duty-free goods will also be expanded, said the statement, while some electronic products will be added to the duty-free list.

The current tax-free limit of 8,000 yuan for a single product will be lifted, and the number of categories with a single-purchase quantity limit will be significantly reduced, according to the statement.

The duty-free shopping policy was implemented in April 2011 and has been improved since then, with the sales of offshore duty-free shopping hitting 53.8 billion yuan and the number of buyers reaching 16.31 million by the end of 2019.

The policy adjustment will greatly improve consumers' shopping experience, release policy dividends and enhance confidence in the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, said an offical with the MOF. Enditem
The Kremlin on Monday rejected as "lies" media reports that Russian forces had offered to pay Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was never briefed about the reported Russian military intelligence efforts and blasted a New York Times report about them.

Asked about the reports on a conference call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said media outlets should take heed of Trump's comments and also said that Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had never discussed the allegations.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 00:47:21|Editor: huaxia

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TIRANA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Albanian President Ilir Meta on Monday called for a concrete long-term strategy in coping with COVID-19 situation, considering the increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in June.

Via a Facebook post, Meta said that the increasing trend in the number of novel coronavirus cases and in the number of fatalities asks for a concrete long-term strategy "to cope with and control the spread of the pandemic that is seriously endangering the health and lives of citizens."

"The alarming increase in the number of the citizens affected by COVID-19, especially the number of victims, compared to the period of the onset of pandemic and quarantine time, asks urgently for serious, responsible and transparent reflection," Meta said.

The president called on the government to continue coordination and communication with the other countries in the region, the European Union and the World Health Organization.

In his post, Meta expressed his condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives from the virus, wished for a quick recovery to all those affected, as well as emphasized the need for rigorous compliance with health protocols and preventive measures against COVID-19.

For the fourth week in a row, according to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Albania has seen an increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, in the number of patients that have required hospitalization or intensive care treatment, as well as a growing trend in the number of deaths.

On Monday health authorities reported a total of 64 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 2,466, with 1,438 recoveries and 58 fatalities. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 00:48:52|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong Customs and Excise Staff General Association, Hong Kong Immigration Department Staff Association, and Hong Kong Correctional Services Department Assistant Officers General Association Monday said in a joint statement that they fully support the National People's Congress (NPC)'s legislative work on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The statement said that legislation on national security is within the purview of the central government. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China, a local administrative region which enjoys a high degree of autonomy and comes directly under the Central People's Government. Safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests is the constitutional requirement of the HKSAR, and also in the interest of all the Hong Kong residents.

The statement said that the enactment of legislation for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR is to prevent, curb and sanction four types of criminal acts, namely acts of secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security.

The purpose of the legislation is to take effective legal measures to crack down on violence, cut off outside forces interfering in Hong Kong, plug the loophole in safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, and ensure Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and the well-being of Hong Kong people. Also, the law, with unchallenged position and authority, will further protect the legitimate rights and freedom of Hong Kong residents.

The statement stressed that members of the associations must be fully aware of their responsibilities as civil servants, pledge loyalty not only to the HKSAR government but also to the nation, fully cooperate with the National People's Congress in the legislation work of the national security law, and fulfill their duty of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, unswervingly support the HKSAR government and make due contributions to the steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 01:04:47|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday held a phone conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, with both sides opposing foreign interference in China's Hong Kong issue.

Wang said that China has always attached great importance to China-Egypt relations and is committed to deepening their cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi have established strong mutual trust and friendship, which has provided important strategic guidance for the development of the two countries' relations, Wang said.

Noting that China and Egypt are both ancient civilizations and major developing countries, Wang said the two countries always understand and support each other over issues concerning each other's respective core interests and major concerns, and always maintain fairness and uphold justice in international multilateral affairs.

Wang expressed his gratitude to Egypt for understanding and supporting China's legitimate claims on the Hong Kong issue.

Hong Kong is a part of China, Wang said, adding that establishing and improving the national security legislation is conducive to the steady and sustained implementation of the "one country, two systems" policy, which is not only in the interests of Hong Kong compatriots, but also in the interests of all countries in Hong Kong.

Noting that some countries and forces use human rights as an excuse to attack and smear China on the Hong Kong issue and to grossly interfere in China's internal affairs, Wang said their real intention is to disrupt Hong Kong and thus hinder China's development process.

Stressing that non-interference in internal affairs is a basic norm of international relations, Wang said that China firmly opposes politicizing the human rights issue and interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the guise of human rights.

By doing so, China is not only safeguarding China's own legitimate rights and interests, but also protecting the legitimate rights and interests of all developing countries as well as defending the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, he said.

On the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Wang said that China is pleased with the consensus reached by Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on continuing talks at a recent meeting of the presidium of the African Union Summit.

As a good friend and partner of the three parties, China sincerely hopes that the parties concerned will resolve their differences through talks and consultation, and find a solution acceptable to all three parties as soon as possible, Wang said.

China is willing to continue to play a constructive role, he said, while expressing his hope that the international community will create a favorable environment in this regard.

For his part, Shoukry said that relations with China occupy an important position in Egypt's overall diplomacy.

Egypt is willing to further deepen the traditional friendship with China, strengthen their mutually beneficial cooperation, consolidate mutual support, and push for the upgrading of the relations between the two ancient civilizations, he said.

Noting that the two countries hold the same position on the principles of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs, Shoukry said Egypt firmly supports China's stance and propositions on the Hong Kong issue and opposes interference in China's internal affairs.

On the issue of the GERD, he said Egypt is committed to reaching a just and reasonable solution with all parties concerned. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 01:08:00|Editor: huaxia

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YAOUNDE, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon marked its first ever edition of the United Nations Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day on Monday as the country struggles to recover from economic hardships resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak.

"We opted to organise this international day for the very first time to recognise the role of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the sustainable development of our country," Cameroon's Minister of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, Achille Bassilekin III told reporters during activities marking the event in the capital Yaounde.

"SMEs account for almost 97 percent of enterprises in Cameroon, and we believe that the contribution of that sector can be useful to overcome the challenges we now face because of the pandemic," he added.

Containment measures against COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon have greatly affected small businesses, including those run by women and young entrepreneurs, that have suffered from supply chain disruptions and a massive drop in demand in most sectors.

Government was working to create an enabling business environment for the SMEs, including support for access to finance, information, and markets, Bassilekin III said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 01:12:04|Editor: huaxia

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CHICAGO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- In a study posted on the website of the University of Illinois (UI) on Monday, researchers reported that their engineered T-cells attack a variety of solid-tumor cancer cells from humans and mice.

UI researchers started with a piece of an antibody that could serve as a receptor. The antibody was known to interact with a specific type of abnormally formed sugar attached to a protein on solid-tumor cancer cells in mice.

"We realized that because this receptor binds both to the protein and the sugar on the surface of the cancer cell, there might be room to change the antibody so that it can bind to more than one protein attached to the short sugar," said Preeti Sharma, a postdoctoral researcher at UI. "This could make it broadly reactive to different kinds of cancers."

The researchers tested whether changes in the sequence of amino acids in the vicinity of the abnormal sugar affected the receptor's binding to the site. This allowed the team to determine if the antibody could be slightly changed to accommodate other sugar-linked cancer targets.

They conducted a series of mutation experiments focused on the essential parts of the antibody.

"We generated almost 10 million mutant versions of our receptor, and then we screened those to find the property we wanted," Sharma said. "In this case, we wanted to broaden the specificity of that antibody so that it reacts not only to the mouse target but also to human targets."

Once they found the antibodies with the desirable traits, the researchers engineered them into T-cells and tested them with mouse and human cancer cell lines.

"Our engineered T-cells are showing activity against both human and mouse cancer cell lines," Sharma said. "And the T-cells can now recognize several different proteins that have short sugars attached to them. This is really important because in cancer therapy, most of the time you are going after a single target on a cancer cell. Having multiple targets makes it very difficult for the cancer to evade the treatment."

The abnormally short sugar chains on some types of cancer cells result from mutations that disrupt the molecular pathway that attaches these sugars to proteins. Drugs that bind to the aberrant sugars preferentially recognize cancer cells and spare healthy cells.

A method known as CAR-T therapy has been used successfully in patients with blood cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia. With engineered T-cells, the researchers said they have dramatically broadened the potential targets of this approach.

"Although these engineered cells are early in development, we are particularly excited that we can use the same T-cell product to study efficacy and safety against cancers in mice and humans," said UI biochemistry professor David Kranz.

The findings have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 01:14:06|Editor: huaxia

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U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook attends a joint press conference with Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir (not in picture) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 29, 2020. Saudi Arabian and U.S. officials on Monday called on the international community to extend a United Nations arms embargo on Iran, warning that the expiry would allow Tehran to destabilize the region. (Xinhua/Tu Yifan)

RIYADH, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabian and U.S. officials on Monday called on the international community to extend a United Nations arms embargo on Iran, warning that the expiry would allow Tehran to destabilize the region.

Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir and U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook held a joint press conference in Riyadh, where weapons, including drones and missiles, which were used in recent Houthi attacks on Saudi cities, were displayed.

Al-Jubeir said that Saudi Arabia is consulting with all the countries on the UN Security Council on the dangers of letting the arms embargo on Iran expire.

Hook warned if the UN arms embargo against Iran is lifted, Iran will be able to further develop its military capabilities and acquire new sensitive technologies and re-export to its proxies in the region.

"The weapons that we see here today are all the evidence we need that the arms embargo on Iran must not be lifted," Hook added, highlighting that Iran will never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.

Hook arrived in Riyadh after his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he discussed with UAE officials about extending the UN arms embargo on Iran, which expires on October 18, 2020. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 01:24:57|Editor: huaxia

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DUBAI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- China-United Arab Emirates (UAE) joint projects have resumed and achieved progress despite challenges facing the UAE due to the COVID-19 pandemic and dropping oil prices.

Shanghai Electric announced last week that it has completed the Molten Salt Receiver (MSR) tower top receiver, the tallest such structure in the world, in a record 240 days.

It is part of Dubai's DEWA IV phase 700MW Concentrating Solar Power and 250MW Photovoltaic Hybrid Project, which is currently the world's largest photothermal and photovoltaic integrated power plant project.

"This has been a very challenging project, especially with the important extra tasks related to keeping people healthy and safe," said Abdulhameed Al Muhaidib, project executive managing director.

Shanghai Electric, which is the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for Noor Energy 1, the project owner, has supplied personal protective equipment to all workers and implemented procedures for virus prevention and control.

The MSR is about 40 meters high and is mounted on top of the heat tower body, which is about 222 meters high. When completed, it will provide green energy for 320,000 households, reducing carbon emissions by 1.6 million tons per year.

"The successful intake of the MSR has enabled Shanghai Electric to accumulate valuable experience and laid a solid foundation in the field of concentrating solar power," Liu Minghua, executive deputy general manager of Shanghai Electric Power Generation Engineering Co.,Ltd, said.

On May 18, the Unit 1 of Dubai Hassyan 4600MW clean coal power plant project contracted by Harbin Electric International Company Limited (HEI) connected to the grid for power generation, which marked a significant progress in the construction of the first clean power plant in the Middle East.

Duan Tengfei, project manager of the plant, said HEI has successfully achieved synchronization at one attempt in Dubai, adding that the parameters of various systems of the unit were normal, and the equipment was running smoothly with excellent quality.

As a key project, which will play an important role in supporting the UAE Clean Energy Strategy 2050, the Hassyan project is the first investment project by the Silk Road Fund in the Middle East, and will also be the first clean coal power plant in the region when it is completed.

China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East (CSCEC ME) also announced recently the completion of Dubai Hills infrastructure upgrade project with a contract value of 1.53 billion yuan (220 million U.S. dollars).

The project includes road upgrades and the construction of surrounding municipal pipeline networks.

Cheng Qianli, director of the project, said "although we met some challenges in the construction, such as tight schedule, complicated structure of pipelines and others, we've completed the project on contract schedule."

Ashraf Amin, representative of the project's owner Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, hailed the high quality and efficiency of CSCEC in undertaking this important project.

This has enhanced the confidence of both sides in maintaining a long-term cooperative relationship, he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 01:42:04|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Israel's two leaders were at odds on Monday over the timing of Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main coalition partner, Benny Gantz, who serves as alternate prime minister and defense minister, were both holding separate meetings in Jerusalem on Monday with Avi Berkowitz, U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy for international negotiations over the annexation plan.

Netanyahu had already declared that he wants to begin imposing Israeli sovereignty over Jordan Valley, part of the West Bank, as soon as July 1, in accordance with Trump's plan for peace in the Middle East.

But Gantz told a meeting of lawmakers with his centrist Blue and White party that "anything not related to the struggle against the coronavirus will wait."

"Before making any political moves, we need to help the public to get back to earn a living with dignity," Gantz said.

In the afternoon, Netanyahu was quoted as dismissing Gantz's remarks. He told a meeting of lawmakers with his right-wing Likud party that he is working "discretely" with envoys of Trump, his close ally. "The issue does not depend on Blue and White," he said, according to local media reports.

Under their power-sharing deal, both Netanyahu and Gantz hold veto power over key government decisions. However, the deal allows Netanyahu to bring an annexation proposal to the cabinet starting from July 1, even without Gantz approval.

The annexation plan was accepted with widespread condemnations by the Palestinians, most of the Arab world, and the international community.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged Israel on Monday to halt the "illegal" plan.

"I am deeply concerned that even the most minimalist form of annexation would lead to increased violence and loss of life, as walls are erected, security forces deployed and the two populations brought into closer proximity," Bachelet said in a statement.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war and has controlled the territory ever since, despite international criticism. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 01:42:34|Editor: huaxia

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ATHENS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Workers painting parts of the road surfaces red were mingling with young Greeks partying on Syntagma square opposite the Greek parliament building on Saturday evening. Athens has been working non-stop to implement an ambitious project to transform the appearance of its center this June.

The plan, dubbed the "Grand Walk," foresees the creation of walking and biking routes across a large sector of the inner city and the conversion of the historic center around the Acropolis hill and the wider commercial triangle into pedestrian zones to connect all the major archaeological sites, museums and tourist attractions.

The aim is to allocate more public space to pedestrians and cyclists, facilitate moving within the city without the headache of traffic jams, promote the use of public transport and also enable social distancing in the COVID-19 era, city officials told Xinhua.

The "Grand Walk" is regarded as the most ambitious intervention in public space Athens has seen in two decades and is expected to be completed by 2022.

The pilot phase started this summer with the first changes to traffic flow and the demarcation of paths for pedestrians and bicycles in red and yellow, respectively. In the second phase, the changes will become permanent.

As of mid-June, works started in two main avenues. The number of lanes for vehicles was reduced, red and yellow lanes were created, and new plants and benches were installed, the Deputy Mayor for Urban Infrastructure and City Planning at the municipality of Athens, Vasilis-Foivos Axiotis, has told Xinhua.

"The Grand Walk frees up a total of 50,000 square meters, five hectares of public space to be given to pedestrians and cyclists again through the creation of seven kilometers of walking routes and three kilometers of biking routes," he explained.

"We seek a new balance in the city for sustainable mobility between drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians. It is not easy. Cities are not changing with magic wands," Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis told Xinhua on Sunday afternoon in front of the City Hall.

He has called for patience on the part of residents and visitors until the disruptive works are finished. The goal of the overhaul is to eventually make Athens more people-friendly and its environment more beautiful.

City officials seized the opportunity to speed up the implementation of the project as Greece is also gradually adapting to the new normalcy of the novel coronavirus.

The COVID-19 crisis has created a need for the decongestion of public transit and the creation of more public space.

"Historically, pandemics and public health crises have been catalysts for major changes in urban centers. We view this crisis as an opportunity," the mayor stressed.

The city authorities' ultimate aim is to revitalize Athens and improve the daily life of its citizens and the experience of tourists.

"We should not be proud only of our glorious past, but of the present and mainly of the future. Athens is a dynamic metropolis. Athens is a city that is changing," Bakoyannis said.

This city is always open to the world, warmly welcoming visitors, including from China, the mayor added.

"We will be very glad to welcome them. They have become parts of our life; they have become parts of our everyday life in particular here in Athens," Bakoyannis said about Chinese travelers.

"They (Greek and Chinese) are two ancient civilizations, which after thousands of years are still learning from each other today. This symbiotic character of our civilizations I think is what brings us closer and closer, despite the geographical distance," he stated. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 01:44:06|Editor: huaxia

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ADEN, Yemen, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The total number of COVID-19 cases in Yemen's government-controlled provinces increased to 1,128 on Monday, as 10 new cases confirmed.

The Yemeni Health Ministry said in a brief statement that during the past 24 hours, the number of recoveries in the government-controlled areas increased to 432 since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus on April 10.

Also, the government announced that the death toll from the deadly respiratory disease climbed to 304 in different areas under its control, including the southern port city of Aden.

The Yemeni government has taken several measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, including imposing a partial overnight curfew in Aden and other major cities under its control.

The government called on donors and relevant international humanitarian organizations to provide support to help contain the pandemic.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of much of the country's north and forced the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of Sanaa. Enditem
Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and his wife Penelope will appeal a French court decision finding them guilty of embezzlement of public funds, their lawyer Antonin Levy said on Monday shortly after the sentence was pronounced.

Levy said the sentence was unfair, that there was a conspiracy against the couple and promised there would be a new trial.

Fillon was sentenced to five years in jail, with three of them suspended, and fined 375,000 euros for embezzling public funds. The court handed Penelope Fillon a three-year suspended sentence and fined her the same amount.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 01:46:39|Editor: huaxia

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A vehicle sprays disinfectant in a park in Rabat, Morocco, on June 29, 2020. Morocco registered 238 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the tally of infections in the country to 12,290, the Ministry of Health said. (Photo by Chadi/Xinhua)

RABAT, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Morocco registered 238 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the tally of infections in the country to 12,290, the Ministry of Health said.

The death toll from the virus reached 225 as five fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours, said Hind Ezzine, head of the department of epidemic diseases of the Ministry of Health, at a regular press briefing.

The number of cured patients has increased to 8,833 with 93 new recoveries, she added.

China has helped Morocco in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

A batch of medical supplies donated by the government of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was transported on June 8 to Casablanca-Settat in Morocco.

On May 14, China Development Bank sent a batch of donation, including respirators and medical protective masks, to Morocco to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

China's Guizhou Province has also donated 15,000 surgical gloves, 20,000 medical masks and 2,000 protective suits to help Moroccan medical workers fight the pandemic. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 01:55:28|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, June 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been seeking answers on alleged intelligence that Russians offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing U.S. troops.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday requested an interagency brief for all members of the House immediately on this issue.

"The questions that arise are: was the President briefed, and if not, why not, and why was Congress not briefed. Congress and the country need answers now," Pelosi wrote in her letter to Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and CIA Director Gina Haspel.

"The Administration's disturbing silence and inaction endanger the lives of our troops and our coalition partners," she added.

Republican Senator Jim Inhofe, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, tweeted in a less tough tone the same day, "We need answers. I have asked the administration to share what it knows, and I expect to know more in the coming days."

President Donald Trump said late Sunday that intelligence officials told him that this intelligence was not credible and thus he was not briefed.

"Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax, maybe by the Fake News @nytimesbooks, wanting to make Republicans look bad!!!" Trump tweeted.

The New York Times first reported Friday that Trump had been briefed on the intelligence that Russian intelligence units secretly offered bounties to Taliban-related militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan during U.S.-Taliban peace talks.

The story also said the National Security Council discussed this issue at an interagency meeting in late March, while the White House thus far has not taken any actions to respond.

The Washington Post reported in a Sunday piece that Russian bounties offered to Taliban-linked militants were believed to have led to the deaths of several U.S. soldiers.

Twenty-two U.S. troops were killed in Afghanistan last year, which marked the deadliest year for U.S. service members in the Central Asian country since 2014.

The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001, and the death toll of U.S. service members has surpassed 2,400 in this longest war in U.S. history. Trump has long complained about the endlessness of the war and sought a full withdrawal from the Central Asian country.

The United States and the Taliban signed a peace deal in late February, in which Washington said it would reduce its forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 within 135 days. The agreement also called for the full withdrawal of the U.S. military by May 2021 if the Taliban meets the conditions of the deal, including severing ties with terrorist groups.

Commander of U.S. Central Command Kenneth McKenzie said earlier this month that the U.S. military had reduced its troops level to 8,600 in Afghanistan, fulfilling its first phased pullout obligation under the U.S.-Taliban deal. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 01:56:39|Editor: huaxia

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TUNIS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia reported on Monday three new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of the infected in the country to 1,172, two days after the reopening of its air, land and maritime borders.

According to the health ministry statement, a total of 1,029 patients have recovered in Tunisia while 50 deaths were reported.

After three months of closure due to COVID-19 pandemic, Tunisia reopened on Saturday all its air, land and maritime borders to receive Tunisians living abroad and tourists.

The Tunisian Ministry of Health had announced a health protocol to ensure the health security in the country.

China has helped Tunisia in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 16, China donated a batch of medical aid to Tunisia's Ministry of National Defense, including facemasks, test kits and medical protective googles.

Meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Wang Wenbin on May 1, Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh said his country is grateful to China for its support in Tunisia's ant-coronavirus fight. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 02:27:48|Editor: huaxia

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KUWAIT CITY, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait will resume commercial flights at Kuwait International Airport from Aug. 1, a Kuwaiti official said Monday.

Tareq Al-Mezrem, the Kuwaiti government spokesman, said in a statement that the government has approved a three-stage plan to resume commercial flights to and from Kuwait International Airport. The operation of the first stage will be at a maximum of 30 percent capacity.

On March 13, Kuwait suspended all commercial flights as part of the efforts to curb the rapid rise of coronavirus cases.

On June 25, Kuwait decided to start the second phase of restoring normal life. The second phase will begin on June 30 and will last for three weeks.

In the second phase, public and private sectors will resume work at less than 30 percent capacity, in addition to the resumption of operation in shopping malls, financial sector, construction sector, retail shops, parks, and pick-ups from restaurants and cafes.

Kuwait and China have been supporting each other and cooperating closely in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kuwait donated medical supplies worth 3 million U.S. dollars to China at the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak, while China has been facilitating the procurement of medical supplies by Kuwait.

On April 27, a team of Chinese medical experts visited Kuwait to assist the Gulf country's anti-coronavirus fight, through sharing with Kuwaiti counterparts their experience and expertise in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 02:28:19|Editor: huaxia

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VILNIUS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania and Germany will sign an agreement on temporary presence of troops in each other's territory, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said Monday.

"Germany is the key ally and support of the stability and security of Europe," Deputy Defense Minister Vytautas Umbrasas said in a statement.

Umbrasas will sign the document on behalf of Lithuania with German Ambassador to Lithuania Matthias P. Sonn Tuesday.

"This Lithuanian-German defense cooperation relationship has been in the works for the past 30 years, though in recent years this cooperation has blossomed into a full-fledged relationship in a number of areas, including procurement and acquisition, training and education, international missions and operations as well as readiness and deterrence initiatives," said Umbrasas.

The agreement lays out terms for temporary stay of troops of Germany and Lithuania deployed in each other's territories for training and exercises, according to the statement.

It will come into effect when it is ratified by the Lithuanian parliament.

Germany leads an allied multinational battle group of around 1,200 soldiers sent to Lithuania to strengthen defense. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 02:59:28|Editor: huaxia

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KUWAIT CITY, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait supports the humanitarian efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and is ready to strengthen the already existing cooperation, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah said on Monday.

Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and ICRC held on Monday a video conference to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait and the Middle East region and explore how to enhance cooperation to provide sustainable responses to the needs of affected people.

"Many changes occurred during the current crisis. It also shows the importance of emphasizing the cooperation between Kuwait and the ICRC in the framework of international humanitarian law, which is a pillar of Kuwait's foreign policy," the minister said at the conference.

For his part, Peter Maurer, the ICRC president, said that the continued partnership with Kuwait, KRCS and KFAED will contribute to the alleviation of human suffering through a dedicated collaborative approach to humanitarian causes.

Meanwhile, the ICRC shared its experience in trying to address those challenges in Iraq and discussed examples of its response in Yemen and Syria.

The event concluded with a joint statement, reiterating the continued support of Kuwait to the humanitarian efforts of the ICRC, underscoring the importance of the critical nexus between humanitarian action and development work. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 03:14:01|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday asked relevant countries to lift unilateral sanctions against Syria given the dire economic and humanitarian situation in the country.

The prominent factor causing economic and humanitarian crisis in Syria is unilateral sanctions, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed for the waiving of sanctions that undermine countries' capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Regional countries also voiced their concern over sanctions on Syria, holding that such sanctions have already affected the economy of the region, he told the Security Council.

"We once again strongly urge relevant countries to lift these sanctions," said Zhang.

There have been rich and convincing research and analysis, including those by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on how sanctions caused humanitarian consequences, he said.

China calls on OCHA to pay more attention to the negative impact of sanctions and the humanitarian situation in Syria and other countries, and update the Security Council with a comprehensive review in this regard, said Zhang.

China has growing concern over the economic and humanitarian situation in Syria, and is deeply worried about the suffering of civilians across the country, he said.

Since June 2019, there has been a 200 percent increase in food prices. The Syrian pound reached its lowest point on record against the U.S. dollar. The World Food Programme estimated that 9.3 million people are food insecure in Syria. The COVID-19 pandemic brings further challenges, he noted.

The Syrian government bears the primary responsibility to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria, including preventing and containing the spread of COVID-19. Its role cannot be replaced, said Zhang.

Concerning the security situation in Syria, China supports the cease-fire appeals made by the secretary-general and his special envoy for Syria, and calls on all parties to seize this opportunity to enhance political dialogue and mutual trust, he said.

Meanwhile, Zhang stressed the need to prevent armed groups and terrorists from taking advantage of the current situation to escalate attacks. "Effective, cooperative and targeted counterterrorism efforts must be put in place."

He reiterated China's firm position of supporting the Syrian-led, Syrian-owned political process while fully respecting the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Syria. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 03:59:25|Editor: huaxia

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AMMAN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Monday reiterated Jordan's position on rejecting the Israeli annexation of the Palestinian territories in phone calls with his Belgian and Spanish counterparts.

In a phone conversation, Safadi and his Belgian counterpart Philippe Goffin discussed efforts to reach an effective international stance to prevent the Israeli decision to annex the Palestinian territories and protect the peace process, said a statement by Jordanian Foreign ministry.

Safadi emphasized that if Israel implemented the move, it "will constitute a flagrant violation to international law and undermine the two-state solution and all pillars that have shaped the peace process."

Goffin stressed his country's stance to reject the annexation plans and commit to the two-state solution as "the only means to reach an end to the conflict."

In a separate phone conversation, Safadi discussed with his Spanish counterpart Arancha Gonzalez Laya the need to intensify efforts aimed at halting the annexation decision.

Safadi also commended the stances of Spain and the EU, stressing their rejection of the annexation decision and calling for adherence to international law and the two-state solution. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 05:17:30|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 225,000 in Iran on Monday. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's coronavirus cases continued the surging trend to exceed 186,000 with nearly 4,000 new infections.

Iran, the hardest-hit country by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East region, reported 2,536 new cases, bringing the total number of infections to 225,205.

The pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 10,670 in Iran, up by 162 in the past 24 hours.

A total of 186,180 patients have recovered in Iran while 3,037 remain in critical condition.

In the meantime, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey climbed to 198,613 after 1,374 new infections were reported, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted.

The death toll from the coronavirus in the country rose to 5,115 after 18 new fatalities were added in the past 24 hours, he said, adding that 1,214 more patients recovered, raising the total recoveries to 171,809.

Turkish president announced that the country will extend a wage support system covering workers whose working hours are reduced by their employers, and a financial aid program for low-income families for one more month to ease the impact of the pandemic.

Saudi Arabia announced 3,943 new cases and 48 more deaths, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 186,436 and the death toll to 1,599.

The kingdom also reported 2,363 more recovered patients, taking the total recoveries to 127,118.

In Qatar, 693 new cases of coronavirus infections were detected, bringing the total number to 95,106, of whom 113 have died and 80,170 recovered.

Egypt's coronavirus cases reached 66,754 after 1,566 new infections were added.

The Egyptian Health Ministry also reported 83 more deaths and 412 cases of recoveries, increasing the death toll to 2,872 and the total recoveries to 17,951.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced 449 new COVID-19 cases and one more death, raising the tally of infections to 48,246 and the death toll to 314.

The total number of recoveries from the virus in the UAE increased to 37,076 after 665 more fully recovered.

Iraq confirmed 1,749 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections to 47,151.

The country also reported 83 fatalities and 1,852 recovered cases from the coronavirus during the day, bringing the death toll in Iraq to 1,839 and the total recoveries to 22,974.

Kuwait reported 582 new cases, increasing the country's total number of infections to 45,524, of whom 350 have died and 36,313 recovered.

The country will resume commercial flights at Kuwait International Airport from Aug. 1 under a three-stage plan, the first of which will be at a maximum of 30 percent capacity.

Oman's Ministry of Health announced 910 new cases of infections, raising the tally in the country to 39,060, including 169 deaths and 22,422 recoveries.

Israel reported 686 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily number since April 2, bringing the tally of coronavirus infections to 24,441.

The deaths from the virus in Israel increased by one to 319 while the recoveries rose to 17,218.

It is worth noting that the number of active cases in Israel rose to 6,904, the highest since April 30.

On the same day, Israel's Corona Cabinet ministers unanimously voted on reimposing restrictions to limit gatherings following the recent high morbidity figures.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Israel Katz also announced an aid package worth 2 billion new shekels (580 million U.S. dollars) to help the businesses affected by the coronavirus.

Algeria said that 298 new cases of infections were reported in the past 24 hours, taking the tally of infections to 13,571, while the death toll hit 905 and the recoveries reached 9,674.

In Morocco, the tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 12,290 after 238 new cases were added, which included 225 fatalities and 8,833 recoveries.

Palestine reported 195 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the Palestinian territories to 2,443, including 621 recoveries and eight deaths.

In Lebanon, the number of COVID-19 infections increased by five to 1,745, while the death toll remained unchanged at 34.

Tunisia registered three new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 1,172. A total of 1,029 patients have recovered in the country while 50 deaths were reported.

Jordan registered seven more infections, raising the total coronavirus cases to 1,128, including nine deaths and 867 recoveries.

The total number of coronavirus cases in Yemen's government-controlled provinces increased to 1,128 after 10 new cases were added.

The number of recoveries in the government-controlled areas, including the southern port city of Aden, increased to 432 and the death toll climbed to 304.

Syria reported 13 new COVID-19 infections, taking the tally of confirmed cases to 269 in the country including 102 recoveries and nine deaths. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 05:18:11|Editor: huaxia

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NEW YORK, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Consulate General in New York donated 5,000 facial masks to a local primary school on Monday, providing help to students there in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.

"As a diplomat living in New York, I feel this is my privilege and also an obligation to join hands with everybody here to fight this pandemic, shoulder by shoulder," said Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping at a virtual handover ceremony.

The masks, sponsored by the Bethune Charitable Foundation in China, were donated to the Jermaine L. Green STEM Institute of Queens, a primary school with some 500 students, many of whom are from minority groups.

Huang expressed the hope that with the masks, the children could be better equipped during the challenging times.

Many countries, including the United States, extended a helping hand to China when China was in a tough battle against COVID-19 earlier this year, Huang said.

"The grace of dripping water shall be reciprocated by a gushing spring," he said. "As we are now in a better position, we should return the kindness."

The consul general urged China and the United States to lead the efforts against COVID-19, which would benefit not only the two peoples but the whole world. "By working together, we can win this war for sure."

He also thanked New York State Senator James Sanders Jr. for facilitating the donation, and extended an invitation to the school's students and teachers to go to China and establish friendships with the Chinese people.

Senator Sanders and representatives of the school, who also joined the virtual meeting, thanked Huang and the Consulate General for their generous support to secure the safety of students.

Tammy Pate, the community superintendent of District 28 in Queens where the school is located, said the donation "means more than we can express."

"You are mindful of us, and you are really thinking what is best for us," she said. "We thank you. We thank you. We thank you." Enditem
Austria and Turkey accused each other on Monday of responding inappropriately to clashes between Kurdish and Turkish protesters in Vienna last week, further straining already tense relations.

The violence began on Wednesday, when a brawl broke out after Turks heckled a Kurdish gathering in Vienna, police said. Kurdish protests on Thursday and Friday with around 300 people, according to a police count, then led to clashes with Turkish counter-protesters in which stones and fireworks were thrown.

Such violence is rare in Vienna, which has a large ethnic Turkish minority. Austria's conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is a vocal critic of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, and their governments traded barbs over the violence.

"Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg expressed to the Turkish ambassador the clear expectation that he contribute to de-escalation rather than pouring fuel on the fire," Austria's Foreign Ministry said after summoning the ambassador.

Earlier on Monday Turkey's Foreign Ministry strongly criticised Austria's handling of the protests, which it said were by groups linked to militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

"Austria's ambassador to Ankara will be invited to our ministry and informed of our concern," it said, accusing Austrian security forces of meting out "harsh" treatment to the Turkish protesters.

Austria said police intervention had prevented worse violence and pledged to find out who was behind the clashes. The police made 11 arrests and seven officers were injured in the clashes, the Interior Ministry said.

"Describing demonstrators as supporters of terror organisations is something we reject. The minister urgently requested that such statements be avoided in future," Austria's Foreign Ministry said, defending the right to peaceful protest.

PKK militants have been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 in a conflict that has claimed more than 40,000 lives. The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 05:30:01|Editor: huaxia

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HOUSTON, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Nearly half of new coronavirus cases reported Monday in the U.S. state of Louisiana were contracted by people under the age of 30, the state health department said.

According to the official figure, among the 845 newly reported cases Monday, 46 percent were among people aged 29 or younger.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards urged people to abide by the guidelines to contain the spread of COVID-19.

He tweeted, "96 percent of today's reported cases are associated with community spread, rather than congregate settings ... It's on all of us to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana."

Over the weekend, the governor warned that people aged between 18 and 29 are the fastest-growing age group for positive cases in Louisiana.

According to the state, the number of cases in the 18-29 age group, 10,779 total cases, has eclipsed all other groups. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 05:47:07|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for restraint in Malawi after opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera was announced the winner of the country's rerun presidential vote.

Chakwera beat incumbent President Peter Mutharika in last Tuesday's poll after Mutharika's victory in the May 2019 presidential election was nullified.

Guterres welcomed the peaceful holding of the presidential poll on Tuesday, said Stephane Dujarric, his spokesman, in a statement.

The UN chief called on all political actors to ensure that their words and actions promote an environment of peace, harmony and social cohesion among all Malawians. Guterres further urged all stakeholders to channel complaints related to the electoral process through established legal mechanisms, said the statement.

The secretary-general reiterated the United Nations' continued support to the people and government of Malawi in their efforts to further consolidate peace, democracy and sustainable development in the country, it said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 05:49:40|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday that the Israeli plan of annexing parts of the West Bank is rejected, whether it is partial or complete.

Abbas's announcement was made in a telephone conversation with Simonetta Sommaruga, president of the Swiss Confederation, the official WAFA news agency reported.

The report said that Abbas stressed that the Palestinians reject the U.S. Mideast peace plan, adding that it violates all the international resolutions.

The Swiss president said that Switzerland opposes any unilateral actions or any changes that violate international law and the international legitimacy, and called for Israel and the Palestinians for a dialogue.

Sommaruga told Abbas that her country will continue providing support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, mainly in the field of health to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

In another development, during an online meeting with 40 British lawmakers, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye accused Israel of planning to dissolve the Palestinian Authority (PA), adding that the Palestinians will not let Israel do so "because the PA was the result of the Palestinian struggle."

"The Israeli annexation plan threatens the existence of the Palestinian people and their just cause and also threatens security and stability in the region," said Ishtaye.

The Israeli government is planning to annex more than 30 percent of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley. It also plans to impose sovereignty on several Israeli settlements in the territory.

Tension between the two sides has mounted after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his annexation plan will be implemented on July 1. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 05:57:06|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, June 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday said that wearing a mask cannot be stigmatized, calling for facial masks in public amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"We must have no stigma, none, about wearing masks when we leave our homes and come near other people," McConnell said from the Senate floor.

"Wearing simple face coverings is not about protecting ourselves. It is about protecting everyone we encounter," he added.

He said that until there is a vaccine Americans needed to find a "middle ground" with "new routines, new rhythms and new strategies" between widespread lockdowns and life pre-coronavirus, wearing a mask is part of it.

The top Senate Republican's remarks came after a number of Republican senators have suggested President Donald Trump to promote wearing masks or wear a mask himself when appropriate.

Republican Senator Lamar Alexander, the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, told CNN on Sunday that if Trump wore a mask in public it would encourage his supporters to also wear masks so as to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, said last week that he would "prefer" that Trump wore a mask "because people would follow" his example, according to a report from The Hill.

Vice President Mike Pence said on CBS News on Sunday that the White House was trying to defer to governors and other local officials on wearing a mask.

Also on Sunday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said a federal mandate to wear masks in public was "long overdue" and faulted the president for not setting an example by wearing one in public himself.

Trump has been under growing pressure from both Republicans and Democrats to set an example for the country by wearing a face mask amid the current surge of the number of U.S. coronavirus cases, local analysts observed. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 06:01:41|Editor: huaxia

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KHARTOUM, June 29 (Xinhua) -- On the eve of mass demonstrations expected on Tuesday, Sudanese capital Khartoum is witnessing unprecedented security measures.

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok urged the participants in Tuesday's demonstrations to exercise maximum alert and follow the health instructions and guidelines to prevent further spread of coronavirus.

"I'm fully confident in the vigilance of the revolutionaries and their adherence to the weapon of peacefulness with which the revolution has triumphed over the forces of dark," said Hamdok in a speech to the Sudanese people on Monday.

Meanwhile, in anticipation of Tuesday's demonstrations, the Sudanese government on Monday announced the arrest of leaders belonging to the former regime over planning for hostile moves.

"According to reliable information about a meeting for leaders belonging to the dissolved National Congress Party and the Islamic Movement, a joint team of the military intelligence and the General Intelligence Service raided the meeting site and arrested the group participating in the meeting," said a statement by the office of Sudan's Information Minister Faisal Mohamed Saleh.

The Public Prosecution is undertaking the investigation procedures with the defendants prior to presenting them to the judiciary, according to the statement.

The Sudanese authorities on Monday tightened the security measures around the army's general command and main headquarters such as the Republican Palace and the Council of Ministers.

Additionally, security forces have been deployed on the bridges linking Khartoum, Omdurman and Khartoum North after Khartoum State authorities on Sunday decided to fully close all bridges on June 29 and 30.

Various parties have called for demonstrations on Tuesday. Some called for a demonstration to correct the path of the revolution, while supporters of the former regime called for a similar demonstration on the same day to demand the overthrow of Hamdok's government.

According to Sudanese media, quoting security sources, there are reports indicating plots to carry out assassinations, chaos and sabotage acts during the June 30 demonstrations to speed up removal of the transitional government, led by Hamdok.

Since August 2019, a military and civilian coalition has been in power in Sudan for a transitional period of 39 months, after a popular revolution that ousted the regime of former President Omar al-Bashir on April 11 last year. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 06:13:01|Editor: huaxia

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An ambulance is seen in Leicester, Britain, July 1, 2020. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced Monday the British city of Leicester will remain locked down because of COVID-19 as towns and cities around the country start to re-open. Non-essential shops have been ordered to close from Tuesday, schools that have only just reopened will have to close Thursday, and 330,000 citizens have been told by Hancock to remain indoors as much as possible because of the continuing high number of coronavirus cases. (Photo by Jon Super/Xinhua)

LONDON, June 29 (Xinhua) -- British Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced Monday the British city of Leicester will remain locked down because of COVID-19 as towns and cities around the country start to re-open.

Non-essential shops have been ordered to close from Tuesday, schools that have only just reopened will have to close Thursday, and 330,000 citizens have been told by Hancock to remain indoors as much as possible because of the continuing high number of coronavirus cases.

The easing of lockdowns across England has been signaled from July 4 but strict controls in Leicester stay and be reviewed in two weeks, said Hancock.

He told MPs in the House of Commons that controls will only remain as long as is necessary in the Midlands region city.

Hancock also said people in the city and some of its surrounding communities must get tested if they display any symptoms of the virus.

The minister said that across the country the number of positive new cases is now below 1,000 a day and the number of recorded deaths Sunday was just 25.

He said the seven-day infection rate in Leicester is 135 cases per 100,000 people, which is three times higher than the next highest city.

"Leicester accounts for around 10 percent of all positive cases in the country over the past week," said Hancock.

Following an emergency meeting with local officials in the city, which is just over 160 km north of London, further measures to tackle the outbreak in Leicester were agreed.

"Given the growing outbreak in Leicester, we cannot recommend that the easing of the national lockdown, set to take place on the July 4, happens in Leicester," Hancock told politicians.

Special laws will be introduced quickly to allow the local lockdown measures, he said.

"We recommend to people in Leicester, stay at home as much as you can and we recommend against all but essential travel to, from and within Leicester," Hancock said.

He added adherence to social distancing rules will be closely monitored, with further steps taken if that is what's necessary. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-30 06:32:20|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the United States is threatening to derail the nascent economic recovery as many states have either paused or partially reversed their staged re-openings, economists and officials have warned.

"Economic activity in states with the most significant increases in cases in recent days, including Arizona, California, Florida and Texas, appears to be rolling over," Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics, wrote Monday in an analysis.

"It is increasingly clear that many governors reopened their states too quickly, reigniting the virus and hurting their economies," Zandi wrote, adding containing the virus and supporting the economy are not mutually exclusive.

The bulk of the increase in U.S. COVID-19 infections has been in the South and West, with California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas accounting for the bulk of the increase, according to Wells Fargo Securities Economics Group.

"Some increase in COVID-19 cases was expected as the economy reopened and testing continued to ramp up. The rise in infections, however, has been greater than can be explained by testing alone," the Economics Group wrote Friday in a report, noting many states and metro areas have either paused or partially reversed their staged re-openings, which will weigh on economic growth this summer.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said on Sunday that the "window is closing" for the country to curb the surge of COVID-19 cases, while New York Governor Andrew Cuomo blamed the case increases on a failure to act earlier.

"I don't think this is a second surge. We're worried about a second wave. I think we're still in the first wave, and this is a continuation of the first wave, and it was a failed effort to stop the first wave in the country," Cuomo told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday.

Even in the absence of new containment measures, the renewed threat of the coronavirus will likely lead to more cautious consumer and business behavior and weigh on the recovery nationwide, according to economists.

"The third-quarter bounce in real GDP (gross domestic product) growth, which we have been expecting to be almost 20% annualized (after an over 30% annualized decline in the second quarter), is in jeopardy," Zandi said, urging Congress to pass another coronavirus relief bill to help support the economy.

"Lawmakers are expected to settle on another fiscal rescue package in the next few weeks, and the price tag should be getting bigger with the new infections. If they fail, the economy will almost surely contract again this fall," he said.

The U.S. economy contracted at an annual rate of 5 percent in the first quarter this year, according to the Commerce Department. That figure, however, still does not fully capture COVID-19's economic damage, and many analysts believe that the decline in the second quarter is expected to be much deeper.

A number of Federal Reserve officials have also warned that the U.S. economy is expected to grow more slowly than people had hoped months ago as the country cannot stop the community spread of COVID-19.

"My forecast assumes growth is held back by the response to intermittent localized outbreaks -- which might be made worse by the faster-than-expected reopenings," Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans said last week, expecting the U.S. economy unlikely to return to its pre-pandemic level of output until late in 2022.

"So even after three years, my projected recovery places us below where the economy would have been had the virus not occurred. Unfortunately, I think some previously expected trend growth has been permanently lost," he said.

Eric Rosengren, president of Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, estimated that U.S. unemployment rate will remain in double digits by the end of this year as efforts to contain COVID-19 so far have not been particularly successful in the country.

"This lack of containment could ultimately lead to a need for more prolonged shut-downs, which result in reduced consumption and investment, and higher unemployment," Rosengren said earlier this month, adding the economic rebound in the second half of the year is likely to be less than what was hoped for at the outset of the pandemic.

Since February, U.S. employers have shed nearly 20 million jobs from payrolls, reversing almost 10 years of job gains, according to the Labor Department. The unemployment rate jumped to a post-World War II high of 14.7 percent in April, and then moved down to a still very elevated 13.3 percent in May.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States has topped 2.56 million as of Monday afternoon with over 125,000 deaths, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

"Were the infection to grow exponentially because of relaxed social distancing practices among the states and communities, we would expect to see the number of cumulative coronavirus cases to approach 2.8 million in the week leading up to July 4, the next test of our willingness to stop the spread of infection," said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at accounting and consulting firm RSM US LLP. Enditem
New solar forecasting model performs best

A new mathematical model for predicting variations in solar irradiance has been developed at Uppsala University. It may help to promote more efficient use of electricity from solar energy. In tests of various data models, the model proved capable of making highly reliable forecasts, and emerged as the best for this purpose in some respects. The results have now been published in two articles in the journal Solar Energy.

As clouds pass overhead, solar power generation from a photovoltaic system fluctuates from one minute to the next. Local producers of their own solar energy (for a single property, for example) wishing want to adjust their electricity use according to supply may need to know, in detail, how the amount of sunlight is changing. Forecasts of solar irradiance (the amount of solar radiation reaching a given surface, measured in watts per square metre, W/m2) may be a way of achieving greater control of solar power production.

Project leader Joakim Munkhammar of the Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering at Uppsala University explains.

"Our 'MCM model', as it's called, serves to predict what will happen in the next minute, hour or day, based on what usually follows a particular solar irradiance level. This model has a simple design, is easy to train and use, and provides surprisingly accurate solar irradiance forecasts."

The model, presented to the scientific community last year, is based on a "hidden Markov model" - that is, a statistical model for recognition and probabilistic forecasting of processes and patterns. The MCM (Markov chain mixture) distribution model divides solar irradiance into levels and calculates the probabilities of sunlight in the next and subsequent time periods being at the various levels. On this basis, it is possible to forecast when, and between which levels, sunlight will vary, and to compare the forecasts with actual observations to see how well the former match reality.

The model has now been tested by both scientists who have worked on it previously and other researchers. This has included test runs to compare the model with several other models. In one study, in which the model and five established benchmark models (used for comparison, to evaluate the relative performance of new models) were tested, the new MCM model yielded the most reliable forecasts, especially for the near future.

The Uppsala researchers now hope it will be feasible to use their model to control technical systems.

"We look forward to working with other scientists and companies on testing the model with real physical systems, such as those for battery energy storage. We're going to try and boost the cost-effectiveness of storage systems by adjusting the charge, based on forecasts of local solar power generation," Munkhammar says.

###

The project, titled Development and Evaluation of Forecasting Models for Solar Power and Electricity use over Space and Time, is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency and will run until year-end 2020. It involves three collaborating partners: Uppsala University, the Foundation for Collaboration between the Universities in Uppsala, Business, and the Public Sector (STUNS in Swedish) and the Uppsala Region.

Doubleday K. et al. (2020) Benchmark probabilistic forecasts: Characteristics and recommendations, Solar Energy 206, 52-67, DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2020.05.051

Yang D et al. (2020) Probabilistic solar forecasting benchmarks on a standardized dataset at Folsom, California, Solar Energy 206, 628-639, DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2020.05.020

This story has been published on: 2020-06-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday accused fellow NATO member Turkey of "criminal responsibility" over its involvement in the Libyan conflict, in an escalating row with Ankara.

Turkey has increased its military presence "and massively re-imported jihadist fighters from Syria" even after foreign powers agreed earlier this year to end their meddling and respect a UN arms embargo, Macron told reporters.

"I think this is a historic and criminal responsibility for someone who claims to be a member of NATO," Macron said after holding talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Meseberg castle near Berlin.

Turkey's conduct in Libya is "unacceptable to us", Macron said, adding that the moment had come for Ankara to "urgently clarify" its stance.

Ankara supports Libya's UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in the conflict against the Libyan National Army (LNA) lead by general Khalifa Haftar.

France is suspected by analysts of backing Haftar alongside Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates, but insists it is neutral in the conflict.

Oil-rich Libya was thrown into chaos after veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi was ousted in a 2011 NATO-backed uprising.

Macron last Monday accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government of playing a "dangerous game" in the north African country that could no longer be tolerated.

Turkey fired back the following day, saying it was "actually France which is playing a dangerous game in Libya" by supporting military leader Haftar in his campaign to take Tripoli.

Tensions have risen over the last year between Macron and Erdogan, notably when the French leader said the lack of NATO response to a unilateral Turkish operation in northern Syria showed the alliance was undergoing "brain death".

The Ankara-Paris strains soared further this month when France denounced an "extremely aggressive" intervention by Turkish ships against a French navy vessel participating in a NATO mission in the Mediterranean, a claim Ankara dismissed as "groundless".

* This story was edited by Ahram Online

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The United States said Monday it was ending the export of sensitive military items to Hong Kong, no longer treating the financial hub separately from China.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was taking the measure due to China's push forward with a security law that Hong Kong activists say will curb the city's freedoms.

"We can no longer distinguish between the export of controlled items to Hong Kong or to mainland China," Pompeo said in a statement.

"We cannot risk these items falling into the hands of the People's Liberation Army, whose primary purpose is to uphold the dictatorship of the CCP by any means necessary," he said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.

The State Department will end all exports to Hong Kong on its controlled list -- items ranging from advanced ammunition to military hardware that already need the green light from the administration and Congress.

The Commerce Department in turn will stop making a distinction between Hong Kong and China on so-called dual-use US products, which have both military and civilian applications -- and are highly restricted when sought by Beijing.

Pompeo announced the decision hours after China in turn restricted visas to some Americans for Hong Kong.

The United States has been leading global outrage over a proposed security law, which would outlaw subversion and other perceived offenses in Hong Kong, to which Beijing promised autonomy before it was handed back the territory from Britain in 1997.

"It gives us no pleasure to take this action, which is a direct consequence of Beijing's decision to violate its own commitments under the UN-registered Sino-British Joint Declaration," Pompeo said.

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A number of international financial institutions have expressed their willingness to support Egypts plans to upgrade its state-owned companies, the Ministry of International Cooperation said in a statement.

The World Bank Group is looking forward to support state-owned firms' reform process in Egypt through enhancing the technical support and private capital utilisation, International Finance Corporation's (IFC) Country Manager for Egypt, Libya and Yemen Walid Labadi said.

Labadi made his comments during a video conference held on Monday with Egypts Minister of International Cooperation Rania El-Mashat, Minister of Public Enterprise Hisham Tawfik and representatives of international financial institutions.

Labadi stressed that the reform process in such a sector constitutes a crucial action regarding the second wave of Egypts economic reforms.

He added that the plan that the public enterprise ministry has set that purpose as decisive to develop the state-owned companies.

Meanwhile, El-Mashat said the meeting came to bosst relations between Egypt, its global development partners, and international financial institutions to exchange the best practices and experiences that help state-owned companies' restructuring programmes and them implement the expansionary plan of the Egyptian Aluminium Company (EGAL).

EGAL's expansionary plan, estimated at EGP 13 billion, aims to increase companies production by 250,000 tonnes annually.

Vice President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Khaled Hamza said the bank is eager to participate in such efforts and in expanding the private sector partnership in the manufacturing process in the domestic market.

Since 2018, the public enterprise ministry has adopted a plan to develop 26 public-sector companies to optimise their output and reduce their losses through a restructuring programme and the initial public offering (IPO) programme that targets listing 22 state-owned companies in the stock exchange.

For this purpose, the cabinet decided, in February 2019, to set up a fund to settle their debts to the banking sector, provide the needed finance for the administrative and technical development of the state-owned companies and help remove financial bottlenecks.

On 22 January 2020, the cabinet approved a draft presidential decree on establishing the fund, affiliated to the public enterprise ministry.

Through financing the restructuring of the public enterprise companies, the fund targets settling the debts which these entities owe to the banking sector, as well as providing them with all the necessary support they need to carry out administrative and technical reforms.

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Egypts trade balance deficit declined to $2.36 billion in April, down from $4.28 billion in the same month in 2019, a drop of 45 percent, the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) announced on Monday.

Exports dropped by 32.3 percent, reaching $1.84 billion in April, down from $2.72 billion in April 2019, according to CAPMASs external trade data monthly bulletin.

CAPMAS attributed the decline of exports to the export value decrease of some commodities, including fertilisers (by 9.9 percent), petroleum products (by 69.6 percent), doughs and food supplies (by 15 percent), and potatoes (by 18.6 percent).

On the other hand, the value of a number of exported commodities increased in April, including dairy products (0.2 percent), fresh fruits (20.2 percent), and frozen vegetables (3.5 percent).

CAPMAS also said that imports decreased in April to $4.19 billion, down from $7 billion in April 2019, a decline rate of 40.1 percent due to the decrease in the value of some of imported commodities, including iron and steel raw materials (by 30.1 percent), pharmaceuticals and chemical supplies (by 10.4 percent), wheat (by 45.7 percent), and elastomer raw materials (by 35.7 percent).

However, some imported commodities witnessed an increase in April, including corn (by 2 percent), refined oils (by 6.6 percent), and paper used in news printing (by 6.8 percent).

In March, Egypt's trade balance deficit saw an increase of $2.7 billion, up from $1.9 billion in February, according to CAPMAS.

Egypts non-petroleum imports declined by 24 percent in the first quarter of 2020, down from $13.81 billion in the same quarter of 2019, according to the General Organisation for Export and Import Control report.

Meanwhile, HC Securities, an investment bank, said in a report issued in April that prolonged lockdown periods and depressed international trade activity could lead to significant import savings, and that the trade balance deficit is expected to narrow to $31.5 billion in FY2019-20.

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Shortly after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Ghadeer, a woman from Homs, Syria, told humanitarian actors of the violence she witnessed against the backdrop of the lockdowns that came in response to the pandemic.

I met many women who also face violence at the hands of their husbands, violence has clearly increased. A friend told me that she is constantly suffering from domestic abuse since her husband lost his job."

Ghadeer once witnessed a wife being beaten in front of her children.

These stories paint a painful picture of the stark reality that women and girls continue to face in Syria. In March, the crisis in the country officially entered its 10th year, effectively marking one of the most protracted and complex crises our world is facing today. A decade later, Syria continues to experience an array of instabilities and challenges that continue to put the lives of innocent people at risk. With COVID-19 creating a crisis within a crisis, the consequences of insufficient action can be dire.

Today, of the estimated 11.7 million people in need inside Syria, 5.9 million are women and girls, exposed to an array of increased risks that include greater restrictions on movement for women and girls, family violence, forced and early marriage, and sexual and domestic violence. Meanwhile, an additional 5.7 million Syrians are refugees throughout the region and beyond. And even as parts of Syria appear to be stabilising, the situation is far from stable, particularly given the ongoing conflicts and mass displacements in the countrys northern region as well as increasing instability in parts of the south. Meanwhile, the socioeconomic ramifications of COVID-19 will inevitably produce further protection concerns and other challenges, including socio-economic, for a significant portion of the Syrian population.

This month, the international community convenes during the Brussels IV Conference on supporting the future of Syria and the region. In the run-up to this dialogue taking place, it is critical to understand the various dimensions of vulnerability from a needs perspective. The situation in Syria not only remains critical but has arguably become even more volatile due to the advent of COVID-19, which presents a myriad of health and socioeconomic challenges for the country and its people, both inside Syria and in host communities region-wide. Moreover, the cumulative effects of 10 years of instability have created a number of far-reaching structural challenges, including disruptions in community networks and safety nets that complicate the delivery of life-saving services. This situation is further compounded by a rapidly deteriorating socio-economic situation, increasing food insecurity and poverty across the country. The risks or deprioritisation of women's health and protection in the given context is very real and needs to be addressed hands-on.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) -- the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency -- firmly believes in a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young persons potential is fulfilled. This is precisely why UNFPA has continuously advocated for the fundamental right of every woman and girl to access quality sexual and reproductive health services and to be protected from gender-based violence (GBV). Today, it is estimated that more than half a million women inside Syria and female refugees throughout the region are pregnant. Providing them with medicines, equipment, midwives and doctors support, and working collectively to support basic rehabilitation of healthcare facilities in devastated communities, should remain a key priority for the global response to this crisis. Failing to do so will mean that more mothers and their infants will die, particularly in the time of COVID-19.

In 2019, UNFPA provided life-saving sexual and reproductive health services to nearly 2.4 million individuals in Syria crisis countries throughout the region. Maintaining and even expanding this life-saving work will require the continued collaboration of the international community, including through the maintenance and increase of flexible, multi-year funding to allow actors to respond effectively to the multifaceted challenges on the ground. Meanwhile, responding to GBV in 2020 will require taking the challenges presented by COVID-19 in perspective, and ensuring that any response takes gender, gender inequality, and the restrictions of movement that have accompanied this pandemic into consideration. These programmes must be made even more accessible to adolescent girls, who continue to be the most at-risk segment to GBV and life-threatening early pregnancies.

UNFPA has updated its 2020 regional Syria response to include funds required to respond to COVID-19, with an estimated total appeal of $137 million. This includes $6.5 million geared towards responding to the pandemic and its ramifications for women, girls and young people throughout the region.

Ensuring that gender issues, gender equality, and womens rights are consistently considered when tailoring resilience programmes is of paramount importance, particularly those that attempt to stave off the worst impacts of both the crisis itself and the COVID-19 pandemic. Such programmes are not only effective at delivering short-term support to people in need, but also stand to address many of the long-term structural challenges and socioeconomic ramifications of this crisis.

By Dr. Luay Shabaneh, the Regional Director for Arab States with the United Nations Population Fund.

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HEFEI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Emerging professions are opening up more job opportunities in China. Entrusted by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security in May, the China Employment Training Technical Instruction Center published a notice, planning to add 10 new professions in the country, including engineering and technical staff for blockchain, nucleic acid testers and evaluators of the health of senior citizens. Yan Ying, a seasoned technical expert with a blockchain company, said her team recruited more than 10 interns from campuses at the beginning of this year, and some of them have already started working. "We will have another round of recruitment this fall, and we hope to hire more talents," she said. The emergence of the new professions is a reflection of rising demand for talent in these fields, and the center's notice is a sign that China is paying increasing attention to and providing more support for emerging professions, Yan said. Creating jobs and protecting livelihoods are high on the agenda of the government. In May, China's urban unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage point month on month, but still, about 1.2 percent of the employed are in a state of furlough, a rise from previous years. Meanwhile, the number of college graduates this year will reach a record 8.74 million. The new professions are expected to help decrease the pressure of job hunting. With new professions come more job vacancies. For instance, the rise of livestreaming has led to more jobs in the fields of speech synthesis, dubbing and electronic sports, according to big data provided by search engine Baidu. Li Xinmei is a grid-based community worker in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province. The job is meant to help with communication, solving disputes, security, organizing activities, promoting laws and regulations, among others, in the community "grid" that one is in charge of. "As a grid-based community worker, my job involves so many aspects," said Li, 37. "We are in charge of daily management and services for more than 1,000 families in the community." Li said they are in dire need of more workers. After the outbreak of COVID-19, Li and other workers worked late into the night, and didn't take a day off for more than 50 days during the most busy period. "I heard that grid-based community work has become a new profession," she said. "The public will get to know the job better and our team will become bigger." China has organized training for these new professions. By early June, the China Employment Training Technical Instruction Center had uploaded on the internet training materials of 13 new professions, with plans to train 1 million employees in new vocations this year. "The development of science and technology has created a series of new professions, and the epidemic compounded the need for talents in these fields," said Wang Yunfei, an associate professor at the School of Sociology and Political Science, Anhui University. "Under such circumstances, job-seekers should enhance their abilities, while schools and society should guide them properly." Enditem


HEFEI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- A new high-speed railway route, connecting east and central China, started operations Sunday to serve regional integrated development. With a designed speed of 350 kph, the newly opened, high-speed section links Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, with Huzhou in Zhejiang Province. The stretch extends southward to Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang, and northward to Shangqiu, central China's Henan Province, via the already operating high-speed railways. As the train, known as G9394, pulled out of the Hefei South Railway Station at 8:56 a.m. Sunday, Chen Tao said he felt excited to be among the first batch of passengers on the new route, heading for Hangzhou. "I have to travel between the two cities for business reasons about five times a month. The new route provides me with a faster choice," said the 25-year-old who arrived in Hangzhou, more than 400 km away from Hefei, in about two hours. With a total length of 794.55 km, the Shangqiu-Hefei-Hangzhou high-speed railway can help further promote the development of central China and the regional integration of the Yangtze River Delta, which consists of Shanghai Municipality, and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui. Last year, China unveiled an outline for the regional integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, which is one of the country's most economically active, open and innovative regions, and produces about one-fourth of the national GDP. Local governments have rolled out a raft of measures to enhance cooperation and communication in the region. Transportation interconnection is just one example of the coordinated development of the region. The investment for railway construction in the Yangtze River Delta is expected to hit more than 87 billion yuan (about 12 billion U.S. dollars) this year, with the total length of new railway lines to exceed 1,000 km, according to the China Railway Shanghai Group Co., Ltd. "The opening of the new route ends the history of no railways in our county, and makes our transportation network with the outside more comprehensive," said Shen Mingquan, secretary of Anji County Committee of the Communist Party of China. Anji is well-known for tea production in Zhejiang. "The development of our company can also benefit from the new route, as it makes business exchanges more convenient, and greatly shortens the distance between our company and the target markets," said Shen Aqing, general manager of a machinery technology company in Huzhou, Zhejiang. The firm's products have been sold to Anhui, Hunan, Hubei, and other provinces. The Yangtze River Delta has the country's densest distribution of cities and towns, and is a strong driving force to the central and western regions, according to Fu Jiajia, an official with the Anhui provincial development and reform commission. Enditem


Chow Pak-chin says Western countries show their self-interest by supporting Madrid's right to protect its sovereignty while denying Beijing's.

Since the National People's Congress' announcement of a plan to enact a national security law for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, criticism has, as expected, been coming in from the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union's governments.

No matter what the political motivations of these foreign governments may be, it is simply out of place for them to comment - let alone interfere - in matters that are China's internal affairs.

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress condemned a resolution by the European Parliament on Hong Kong's upcoming national security legislation, against which it has spoken out.

While it is not only improper for a foreign government to comment on another country's own affairs, Hong Kong must protect China's sovereignty and security; and the new national security law will do just that.

The US has also taken issue with the legislation, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo going as far to say that this move is a show of disrespect by China against Hong Kong's autonomy. Frankly, Pompeo's comments couldn't be further from the truth. Quite apart from the fact that Hong Kong enjoys only a high degree of autonomy, and not full autonomy, we cannot ignore the point about the US' own national security laws, which are numerous.

In 1947, the National Security Act was introduced in the US following World War II with the intention of restructuring the country's intelligence and military agencies. The Patriot Act - which was swiftly passed after the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks - is another major national security law that came into being.

The UK, Canada, Australia and France have also introduced laws to preserve their nation's security and citizens' safety; so why shouldn't Hong Kong do the same for the security and well-being of the city and the country as a whole? There is a clear and present need for the new law, which is reasonable, proportional and constitutionally sound. In fact, it's considerably laxer in comparison to the US', for example; capital punishment is instituted for those who commit the worst acts of terrorism in the US.

Adhering to the "one country, two systems" principle, the law authorizes the HKSAR government to put in place measures of its own; for example, establishing a commission to take up national security responsibilities. The commission together with the rest of the SAR government will be held accountable to the central government.

The responsibilities of the SAR have been spelled out in Article 23 of the Basic Law, which states the following: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region "shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People's Government, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organisations or bodies from conducting political activities in the Region, and to prohibit political organisations or bodies of the Region from establishing ties with foreign political organisations or bodies."

So the question of national security and the responsibilities on the shoulders of Hong Kong have been spelled out from day one. Hong Kong is duty-bound to implement national security laws, which is entirely in its interests. Critics' claims that the new legislation breaches the Basic Law are entirely unfounded. Sadly, since Hong Kong has not been able to comply with Article 23 - even 23 years after the reunification - and given the developments in the past year, the central government has no choice but to act swiftly and accordingly.

Violent protesters have been blatantly waving British and American flags in demonstrations to openly challenge China's sovereignty over Hong Kong and demanding the return of British rule or independence for Hong Kong. Could anyone imagine the outrage if the boot was on the other foot, if protesters in other countries regularly waved Chinese flags and asked for Chinese rule? Would these governments not try those people for encouraging acts of secession and subversion, or even for unlawful collusion with external forces? As for criticisms that the Sino-British Joint Declaration has been violated, they ought to have a closer examination of the said document. Indeed, no one has enlightened us on exactly which clause in the Joint Declaration China has violated. There is definitely nothing in this document suggesting that China cannot enact a national security law for the HKSAR.

If Beijing were to put aside the "one country, two systems" arrangement, it could have simply extended the application of such existing laws to Hong Kong. The fact is, the new national security law is drafted within the "one country, two systems" framework. The central government is reserving onto itself only certain powers which are needed to deal with exceptional cases. It is purely fearmongering to claim Hong Kong people fear that Beijing is "imposing its will" on Hong Kong, as some 300,000 Hong Kong people have chosen to live in mainland cities, and so have more than 1 million Taiwan residents. In fact, the new law will ensure national sovereignty while bringing social stability back to the SAR.

As for the claim that Hong Kong residents will be looking to "jump ship" and move to "freer" places like Singapore, let me remind everyone what happened to YouTube star and Wah Kee restaurant founder Alex Yeung.

After giving a talk behind closed doors in a hotel in Singapore speaking about the disturbances in Hong Kong late last year, the Singaporean authorities withheld Yeung's passport for a month and accused him of organizing the gathering without a permit, which is illegal.

In actuality, this is a good lesson for Hong Kong people who think they can seek "asylum" in Singapore, and a reminder for Western governments who use double standards and claim that the Hong Kong government is infringing upon the rights of its citizens.

History has shown that many Western governments take national security very seriously. Look at the failed Catalan independence movement in Spain in 2017. Those who led the referendum were subsequently tried for the nonviolent effort leading to the referendum vote. The elected representatives of Catalonia were severely dealt with and received prison terms from nine to 13 years for the crimes of sedition and misuse of public funds.

If Spain, which prides itself on being an open, democratic society, was allowed to deal with its separatists so mercilessly when it comes to safeguarding its national security, why are some Western governments pointing an accusatory finger at China when it tries to safeguard national security?

The US and other governments are simply not being altruistic; they are being driven by their own economic and strategic interests. US politicians have been threatening sanctions against China and the HKSAR, overlooking the fact that the US has more to lose. The US invests US$30 billion annually in Hong Kong, and that's not including the many American companies that have offices, businesses and employees in the city.

And the fact is that after the passage of the national security law, Hong Kong still follows the principle of "one country, two systems". Hong Kong will remain an important and unique gateway to the huge mainland market.

Hong Kong and its people, as well as the rest of China, had been exposed to national security threats without the protection of any national security law. This vacuum has to be dealt with. This is the only way we can save the city, her people and guests.


Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, joins group discussions to deliberate a draft law on safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) during the 20th session of the NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers Sunday held group discussions to deliberate a draft law on safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), during an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, joined lawmakers in discussion.

Members of the NPC Standing Committee, some NPC special committee members and NPC deputies, including deputies from the HKSAR, joined the deliberation.

The draft law and a deliberation report, which were submitted by the NPC Constitution and Law Committee to the session, have had opinions from all sectors, including those from people of all walks of life in Hong Kong, fully studied and solicited, embodied the spirit of the related NPC decision and responded to the concerns of related parties, lawmakers said.

The draft, under the second reading at the session, has more accurate descriptions and more targeted and executable measures, and is in line with the actual situation in the HKSAR, they said.

Lawmakers called for prompt efforts to adopt the law and promulgate and enact it in the HKSAR, which will effectively fix the legal loopholes, lack of related systems and the weak links for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, effectively combat related criminal acts and activities and safeguard national security, as well as help maintain the prosperity and stability of the HKSAR, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of HKSAR residents.